Author's Note

I’m not feeling well, but I wanted to get this out before school starts up for me again. Updates for this and An AI’s tale will come at really slow pace starting in a few weeks.

Chapter 1: Welcome to... Manehattan?

The rain hasn’t stopped, in fact it’s gotten worse. The sound of rain plinking off of my helmet and the soft thumping of my boots against the concrete as I increased my speed to a quick jog was all I could hear. Making my way to the closest building to get out of the rain, I entered through the front of the building, I appeared to have entered in to some sort of lobby area. The floor had some sort of a design on it, but it was too faded for me to tell what it was. On the left there’s some faded or broken furniture, while on the right there’s what looks like a reception desk, with a Fallout looking terminal sitting on it. The thing I found strange was that the desk was only that the desk only went up to my waist. Thats odd, why is it so short? Or maybe I’m just really tall.

I vaulted over the desk and checked out the terminal, only to find the screen broken, revealing the inner workings of it. I let a small sigh before looking around again, and seeing that it’s starting to get dark outside. I also realized how cold and wet I was, my uniform practically plastered to my shivering body. Wish I added NVG’s to this kit, that would make it easier to do things in the dark. I walked over to the old couch, ripping off a leg and some fabric, then proceeded to wrap the fabric tightly around the couch leg. Pulling out my lighter, I lit the fabric and used it as a makeshift torch. With my new found source of light and warmth, I went further into the building, soon coming across a staircase; they appeared to be pretty stable, so I went up them to the second floor. When I got to the second floor, I found my self in a hallway with a bunch of numbered doors. Am I in some hotel? I would think so, considering the area downstairs looking like a reception area with a small lounge.

Something seemed off, like I was being watched. I quickly turned around, and found nothing. I grabbed my 1911 out of its holster, holding it in one hand and the torch in the other. I slowly made my way down the hall, listening for any noises. My heart was pounding in my ears as I walked, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I prepared to run if I had too. Approaching the first door on the left, I tried to read the number on it, but all I could make out was a three and what looked like a zero; I slowly opened the door, and I found my self in a hotel room, through the darkness I could make out a shape on the bed... and it was shaking slightly. I enter the room and approached the bed, I hear the soft sound of terrified breathing. When the figure was illuminated by the torch I stopped in my tracks. Laying there on the bed, I saw a small filly, and when she looks up at me I can see the terror in her eyes. I then hear her soft whimpering, I take a closer look and see her cradling her foreleg, which is bent at an off angle; It’s evident that it’s broken. I stick the handle of the makeshift torch into the nearby nightstand, which grants me enough light to see.

Cautiously, I put my 1911 back in its holster and I unsling my medical bag, pulling out a splint and a morphine. I go to gently grab her foreleg and she pulls it back slightly, before letting out a small yelp of pain. “I’m just going to fix your foreleg, okay? I’m not going to lie that this will hurt as I straighten your leg, but I have something that will help with the pain.” I say, showing her the splint and the morphine auto injector. She still looks terrified, but weakly nods. I reach for her foreleg again, and this time she doesn’t try to move away; I start to move her broken foreleg back into position and she yelps in pain, her eyes tearing up as she tries not to scream. Applying the splint and making sure it isn’t loose, I then inject her with the morphine, keeping a close eye on her breathing. Taking a chance to look over her, I could see that her coat is a grey, with her mane and tail being a pitch black, her eyes were a soft blue, the only part of her that had any color. “Can you tell me your name miss?” I inquired softly, trying to sooth her fears.

“M-my name’s A-anomaly. W-w-who are you?” The filly known as Anomaly responds, her voice quivering slightly.

“Well Anomaly, I’m Blackjack. It’s nice to meet you. Now, how did you break your foreleg?”

“The caravan I was with g-got attacked by raiders. I was really scared, a-and I ran, I slipped on the stairs and broke my foreleg. I-I limped ho here because it was close, and when you came in here, I-I though you were going to kill me.” Anomaly responds, her voice starting to crack. Never though I would be talking to a pony. Nonetheless one that can talk back to me, it’s weird. I don’t think I could know how terrified she must have been and probably still is.

“Can you tell me where your caravan was going?”

“W-we were going to Tenpony tower, it doesn’t matter though, everypony in my caravan is probably dead or worse.” Anomaly says, a grim tone in her voice.

“Alright, *sigh* after I get some rest, I’ll take you to Tenpony if you can guide me there. That sound good to you?” I ask softly. She seems to ponder this for a minute, before nodding. “Alright, first thing tomorrow, we’ll head to Tenpony, where ever that is.” I take off my helmet and set it on the ground next to me, then I grab a pillow from the old bed and place it on the ground, letting Anomaly sleep on the bed. She needs the rest more than I do. I put my helmet, Tar-21, and medic bag in a pile before I extinguish the torch, settling in for the night. My thoughts linger on the fate of Anomaly’s caravan as I drift into a dreamless sleep.