Chapter Four - A Mining we will Go!

Slippery Sunrise Twist, the fastest draw in the west, stood before them. Rosie let out a whoop of excitement as she saw the robot pony stand up tall. Smalls noticed that like the robot ponies in the World of Refreshment it was designed to look more like a pony and less like a protectron pony. The robot’s head moved, sounding like rusted metal scraping across rusted metal, and a tarnished, to the color green, brass spittoon leaned mechanically toward Slippery Sunrise Twist and the sound of a pony spitting, and it echoing, sounded through the speakers around them.

“So, ya figured that ya could outdraw Slippery Sunrise Twist, fastest gun in the west huh?” she asked.

Rosie grinned brightly, “Oh, you bet your sweet ass I can!”

The Robot moved, stepping forward, and reached toward its side. It pulled out what looked like a revolver, tossed it to Rosie, and then stepped back, “Alright then, We take three paces, turn, and the fastest draw wins!”

Smalls noticed that Rosie looked like a kid on Hearths Warming morning. She stepped up to the robot pony, which looked as if it was supposed to be colored gray, but some of the rubber skin had long since peeled away and left a partially exposed robotic face behind. Smalls could see the lower jaw, teeth, as Slippery Sunrise Twist seemed to chew some non-existent tobacco. The robot pony turned, and so did Rosie. Smalls noticed a bottle cap, something with a red star inside of it.

“When this bottle cap hits the ground, we draw!”

With that it launched the bottle cap into the air, and the moment it touched down Rosie fired her revolver. Poetic wasn’t sure the old gun would actually fire, but amazingly it did. The bullet hit Slippery Sunrise Twist, and the robot Pony stood there for a moment.

“Wow partner, guess that I’m not the fastest in the west anymore!” she laughed, “Here, I’ve got a key for Mad Morning Star’s Mine.”

She handed the key to Rosie, “And I’ve got a set of duds to outfit ya while yer here.”

The robot pony walked over toward a box, and came back with a stetson, a vest, and a holster for the pistol. Rosie looked at the vest, passed on it, but put the stetson on, put on the holster, and then put her new revolver into it. The group of them walked out of the amphitheater that Slippery Sunrise Twist had been, and began walking toward the exit. Getting out they walked toward the entrance of the mine ride, and Smalls walked toward the door. He saw the large lock on it, looked at Rosie, and she used the key to unlock it. When she did the five of them stepped into the room. Several flickering lights, which looked like several lanterns, were hanging from the walls. On the right side of them was a large window, and what looked like a robot pony inside of it.

Smalls walked toward it, looking at the robot pony, unsure of what it was, when its head raised up. The Robot pony had several gashes in its cheeks, there were places that looked as if someone had shot at it from a distance, but remarkably it still worked.

“Well howdy partners!” it said, “My name is Ferrous Tool, pleased ta meet ya!”

It’s left hoof raised, tipped its hat, and then it looked at them, “Welcome ta Mad Morning Star’s Mine! I’m mine boss Morning Star’s right hand stallion, and if’n yer gonna go into the mine ya need ta know that there’s some dastardly lookin’ desperados down there. Why, they dun went and captured Swift Breeze, and are a holdin’ her hostage. I surely hope ya can save her. Wouldn’t be right ta have nopony else sing the anthem other than Ms. Breeze.”

He gave a laugh, “Course, if’n yer here for the history of Sparkle Cola I can help ya there too. Ya might have noticed the red star bottle caps,” Ferrous said, “They’re pretty special, and if’n ya can bring me twenty of them I’ll tell ya about the history of Sparkle Cola along with given’ ya a treasure that would make the richest pony envious.”

Rosie looked at him, “Well, I’m all for some treasure.”

Cosmic shook her head, “Do we even know what it is that we need to do here?”

Smalls looked at her, “Well those worm things seem kinda dangerous. I bet that what we need to do is clear them out, but I don’t mind looking for those caps and finding treasure too.”

Poetic grinned, “Why not,” he said, “While we’re in here we can look and see about whatever that robot pony was picking up from outside. It might be more of those worms.”

The five of them moved from the entrance with Ferrous and began moving deeper into the mine itself. As they walked the bridges they crossed, most of which seemed to be cable and wood bridges, creaked and groaned with each step. Looking down it looked almost as if there was a very long drop each time they crossed a bridge. Moving Smalls noticed something and moved toward the sight.

The pony leaning against the wall looked as if something had torn a huge hunk out of its haunches. There were several empty healing potions beside her, and he could see a small recorder. He lifted it, looked at the pony, and then played it.

“Damn it,” the mare said, “Fuck, this hurts so bad,” she swore, “I fuckin’ wish that I would have told bullseye to shove his idea about getting to Sparkle Cola world up his ass.”

There was the sound of coughing, “I’m dying, I know it. The potions have managed to keep me alive, but I’m bleeding out, and those fucking things will be back. We managed to sneak in through one of the mine cart exits, and then for good measure we closed and locked the door behind us. Bullseye thought it was a perfect place.”

She coughed again, “I mean what fucker wouldn’t like a park dedicated to whiskey, whores, and fighting?” she asked, “Celestia’s tight anus this sucks.”

She coughed, “My name was Sweet Talk, I was the best damn shot of our group, and I hope those things ate Bullseye’s dick in front of him.”

With that the recorder went silent. Smalls looked at the others, and then back at the dead mare. Her body hadn’t begun to bloat, but mostly that was because of the large chunk of muscle missing from her haunches. The smell of decay was there, and it was thick, but he backed up. Together they moved away from the body, and they began to move back through the walkway. As they did the scene below them was something from the prewar era. A few old prospector huts, some camp fires, and a few robot ponies dressed like prospectors. They were slowly working on the earth, sifting through it. Behind them was something else moving.

Smalls jumped down, landing on the railing, and headed toward the movement. He could see the struggle, the worms had something, and they were attempting to pull whatever it was toward their waiting maws. Smalls dug the pistol out of his saddlebag that Poetic had hoofed over to him earlier. He aimed it, and hoped that it was loaded before firing. There was a moment of doubt, and then the crack of a shot being fired.

Smalls hadn’t even used S.A.T.S. yet, but he managed to hit one of the tentacles of the worms. He entered S.A.T.S. and aimed at the heads of the two worms. He fired and the first one managed to go through the head of the worm, destroying it, and causing it to flop around harmlessly on the floor. The second one seemed to try to go into the ground with its prey, but there was enough of a charge left on the S.A.T.S. to aim at the head again, and once more he fired. When he did like the other one its head exploded in a shower of gore. He stepped forward to see what was being attacked.

At first it looked like a mare, but a quick glance told Smalls that it was a stallion dressed as a mare. The stallion stood, shook, and looked at him.

“My hero!” he said nearing Smalls, “I was so sure that those things were going to eat me alive!”

Clouded Hope swooped down near them, “What are they?”

The stallion looked at her and shook his head, “So, you just into mares, or do you play the field?” he asked.

Clouded looked at him, “Seriously, what were those things?”

He sighed, “They’re Tatzlwurms,” he replied, “Nasty things that haven’t mutated despite the magical radiation and taint.”

Clouded Hope shook her head, “They’re like that naturally?”

He nodded, “Yeah, weird aren’t they?” he asked as he flicked his tail near Smalls, “and they like the taste of ponies.”

He moved toward a bag and dug something out. She watched as he took out two inhalers, quickly used them, grabbed a bottle and shook out a tablet which he ate, and then grabbed a tin and popped what smelled like peppermints into his mouth.

“Mmmm, the only thing missing is some Maredriian marching powder to make things extra smooth,” he said, “So, big guy, my hero, you interested in being a top?”

Smalls looked at him, a little confused, “A what now?” he asked, “I’m a pony…”

Clouded Hope shook her head, “Okay, wow, a little direct aren’t you?”

The stallion neared her, and she could see the skimpy dress he was wearing for the first time. It rode high on the flank, showing half of his cutie mark, not hiding any part of him. His tail was trimmed short, but was modestly long enough to cover up his stallion bits. His off white coat seemed dingy, but his face and muzzle were very feminine. His pink mane and tail were both braided, giving him the look of a mare that took care of herself.

A small flash of magic and suddenly he was beside her.

“You know it sugarteats,” he said before he flashed again appearing near Smalls, “But seriously, if you play the field I would so love to thank you.”

Smalls looked at him, “Ummm… Okay, I don’t know about playing, but we’re trying to get rid of those things in here, and see if there’s anypony else that needs saved. You’re welcome to come with us. Oh, maybe you can help,” Smalls said, “What can you do?”

He grinned, “I can suck your cock.”

Smalls backed up a little, “Ummm… I… Ummm….”

The stallion smiled a little demurely at him, “Aw, that’s so sweet that you’re flustered like you are,” he said, “Tell you what snookums, I’ll let you mull it over in your head for a while.”

He strutted past him, his faded red dress, which almost matched the pink of his mane and tail, rode up a little more, and Smalls looked toward him, seeing the stockings that he was wearing on his back legs. A set of fishnet stockings, both connected by strange little elastic bands and clips. He looked away before the stallion could look back, and he looked at Clouded Hope.

Inside of Stable 124 everypony was matched with the opposite sex. Their life expectancy was so low, most living only to be in their late twenties, that pregnancy and heterosexuality was constantly promoted. In truth most of the ponies that were selected to be together didn’t always like each other. They were simply chosen because they had the highest chances of gaining the most weight and having the lowest life expectancy.

The idea that a male could be interested in another male was a foreign concept. It wasn’t something that seemed wrong, exactly, but Small Fry didn’t know really how to feel about it. He found Clouded Hope pretty, and Rosie was silly and attractive. Cosmic was kinda like a sister, or what he assumed a sister to be like. He knew that he was attracted to mares, but this confused the living Tartarus out of him.

He shook it off, not sure where to put his feelings, not sure where to try and understand them, and instead he gave Clouded Hope a smile, one that she returned, and he found his way back up to the walkway. The unicorn stallion they saved stood by, and the group of them began to make their way toward the ride itself. When they got into the center waiting area he could see dozens of broken robot ponies, all of which had been dressed up to look like outlaws. Near the ride itself was a skeleton in a cage that was hanging over the pit.

The evidence pointed to the skeleton being Swift Breeze. She wouldn’t be singing any anthem anytime soon, but more to that there was the sound of somepony screaming for help. Poetic looked around, and he could see how high the ceiling was. Without missing a beat he lifted up and looked toward the sound. He could see that part of the waiting area had broken down, and inside of it was a gryphon hen. She was holding onto part of the old wooden floor, and huge tentacles, compared to the others, was attempting to pull her down. He quickly brought his sniper rifle up, aimed, and fired a shot.

The first shot struck one of the tentacles causing it to pull back. The others let go of the gryphon hen and she darted out going toward the rafters where he was. The entire floor began to shake under Small Fry, Rosie, Cosmic, the rescued unicorn stallion, and Clouded Hope. A moment later the head of a giant Tatzlwurm ripped through the floor near them. It let out a deafening screech, and then it faced the collection of food before it. Its tentacles struck out, trying to grab onto the nearest pony, and Smalls activated S.A.T.S. He aimed inside of its mouth, hoping that he could do some damage. It roared as the ten millimeter round ripped through the flesh inside of its head, it struck the ceiling of the room, causing dirt and wood to come crashing down. Small Fry hit S.A.T.S. again, taking six more shots, trying to kill it, and each shot tore flesh loose, spraying viscera and gore, but not bringing the giant creature down.

Smalls tried to fire again only to find that he was now out of ammunition. He heard the sound of Poetic’s rifle, and the giant Tatzelwurm screeched again. Another shot, and then another, and finally the giant Tatzelwurm went limp. He moved toward it, finding it not moving, and then bumped it. Rosie walked toward it, kicked it, and felt something. She picked up a broken knife from the ground, stuck it into the side of the giant Tatzelwurm and pulled down. When she did several half digested ponies and brahman slid out.

Cosmic noticed how some of the bodies were small, foals, and she nearly puked right there. She shook her head, “Oh Celestia, that thing was eating ponies,”

Rosie looked at it, “And it won’t do it anymore. So, the reapers get this area?”

Small Fry nodded, “Yeah, I want the reapers to have it.”

She nodded, “Good, the first thing we’re doing is gathering all of the smaller of these things, and we’re throwing them on a fire. After that, well it’ll be kind of fun to have a place where whores, drinking, and gambling was encouraged. I guess that’s what we’ll keep this place doing.”

They walked toward the door, opened it, and noticed that it led right back behind Ferrous Tool. Rosie looked at the robot and then grinned. “Plus, I’m going to find enough of those star bottle caps to find out what this mysterious treasure is.”

The group walked out, and when they did the Unicorn stallion saw a stage. He walked toward it, moved up to the top of it, and Small Fry watched as he tested it. Then he looked toward Smalls, smiled and then looked at the others.

“Well, it’s been a while, but I do like performing,” he said, “My name is Lèvres D'ange, and yes, my ancestors were from Prance. Well, I like to think they were,” he said, “It’s certainly a better name than Fix’it.”

He smiled, “So, for today only, for my hero, and the rest of you,” he said waiving his foreleg, “I present the incredible singing talent of Lèvres D'ange.”

He cleared his throat, his horn lit up, and the sound of a guitar began to fill the area. It wasn't a simple tune, and it wasn’t slow like some of the music that Small Fry had heard on the radio before. It was fast, driving, and then Lèvres D'ange looked at him.

♫Till sex do we part,

But we’ve already gotten past that stage

This isn’t going to fall apart

And I think that I deserve some praise

For the way that I am

Despite trying to overdose

Wanting to be comatose♫

If anyone would have asked Clouded if she thought that Lèvres D'ange could sing she would have said no. But having heard him, and seeing him perform, she had to admit that he could sing and perform. It didn’t mean that she liked him. She moved over near Small Fry and put her wing on his back. He looked at her, and noticed that she was instead looking at Lèvres D'ange with a sort of angry glare.

“Ummm, okay, lets go find some of those bottle caps,” he said.

*You’ve unlocked Confirmed Bachelor! You can now unlock unique dialogue with same sex characters, and you can inflict up to ten percent more damage toward all stallions.*