"My hometown Clearwater Creek," said Flared Blizzard, "It resides within a mountainous valley and lies on the banks of a river. The town itself is divided into several districts. The town center is divided into two blocks connected by a concrete bridge, with the residential area lying in the nearby hills. Two bridges lead into the town from across the river. Beyond the river banks are several houses, a wagon repair station, a large sawmill, and the local Luna Church. Also, a dam also operates on the river, providing the town with hydroelectric power. Whatever you do, keep your weapons holstered."

Purple joked, "Is it a 'God damn?' Just trying to relax everypony up."

PFC Flared Blizzard replied, "It was built during the war according to the town's history. And it survived this long. So I guess so. Once the town was built so was the sawmill for blue-collared jobs and the dam was built so ponies wouldn't have to go around the town to cross the bridges to go east. According to some legends, a Stable was built underneath the town but I'd say it's true because my mother usually wore a 'Stable 199' utility jumpsuit. But what should I know? I'm the bastard son of a Grand Pegasus Enclave Non-Commissioned Officer and a whore. My mother she was a prostitute and a Grand Pegasus Enclave Non-Commissioned Officer was on furlough and went to the town. Well, one fun night and guess what I was convinced. My mom is a Unicorn and my father is a Pegasus."

Rocky replied, "Just like Purple's parents but reversed. His mom is a Pegasus and his father is a Unicorn."

They enjoyed a peaceful night and only Paladin Sapphire Heart and Purple stared up at the stars seeing how much of a lovely night it was. The filly slept on her back. It was a long track and they kept walking for a couple of hours.

***

At a truss bridge.

"Halt!" A town guard said, "Who goes there!?"

PFC Flared Blizzard replied, "It's me Divine Eyes. Let me and my friends through."

The red pegasus with black hair opened the barrier and replied, "Welcome home Flared."

The group walked on the bridge, passing another guard, a female unicorn in leather armor and a security helmet with a visor sitting on her ass with her hunting rifle in tow.

"Don't worry about Divine Eyes," said Flared Blizzard. "He's usually a pain in the ass who you'll have to warm up to."

They entered the southern half of the town and saw all of the shops were closed because it's two-thirty in the morning. They don't open until seven in the morning and are only open Monday through Friday the town never gets any trade caravans on Saturdays and Sundays. But the town's motel is always open even if it was hailing buildings the size of Manehattan.

It was ten caps per pony but Purple paid for himself, Paladin Sapphire, Critical Shot, Starry, Double Tap, and the filly. Rocky Road went with PFC Flared Blizzard to his house.

Rocky Road saw guards walk and patrolled the streets. The town only has twenty-four guards twelve during the day and twelve at night.

"Don't worry about the guards," said Flared Blizzard, "The night guards won't mess with you. There's Apple Parchment. He's an earth pony he's determined but alright. There's Virtuous Aura. She's a deer pony and she's the Guards captain. There's Neutral Carrot, she's a Kirin with a prosthetic horn but she's kind. There's Strawberry Burst and he's a Zebra but usually quiet. White Fang, she's alright even though she cheated on Apple Parchment with Lotus Smoke and there's Lotus Smoke he's an Earth Pony.

"There's Dusty he's a Unicorn, there's Littlebomb a small Earth pony who is small and short temper, there's Dakota she's an Earth Pony who wears a Stable 101 jumpsuit, there's Apple Jam she's an Earth Pony mare, and the mare we passed at the south gate she's Gambier Bay. The Day shift has Sunny Smiles she's a unicorn, there's Avenger she's a Pegasus mare, Hammer Strike he's an Earth Pony, there's Lemon Spice who's a unicorn and both a guard and a restaurant owner, there's Amethyst Strike she's an earth pony.

"There's Storm Wind he's a Pegasus, there's Storm Tornado he's a Pegasus, there's Midnight Lighting he's a unicorn, there's Flash Guard he's a Pegasus. There's his brother Flash Comedian, there's Sonata Striker a unicorn, Crispy Burn he's a Pegasus, there's Eagle Eye he's a Pegasus and the only sniper with an EWM (Equestrian Warfare Magnum) and his .338 Equestria rounds. The town's doctor is Mage Heathrow. She's an earth pony and her wife is Sprocket Locket a Unicorn. They'll patch you up. But they don't like being woken up at night. Heck, my old squad leader is here. Maybe I should stop by and see Lieutenant Onyx Locky Pocky. But she is usually busy."

Rocky Road replied, "What does Ms. Onyx do?"

Flared Blizzard replied, "She goes out exploring and brings back useful shit. Like scrap metal, clothing, weapons, ammo, medicine, and anything that somepony will buy or use. But she lives outside of town. Why she left the Grand Pegasus Enclave is anyponys guess."

The two left town and went to Private First Class Flared Blizzard's house is a nice single-story house with a master bedroom and a smaller bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room. The two cuddled in bed.

***

In Purple's motel room. Purple was sound asleep while Double Tap was awake and didn't know what to think. She wants to get payback on the Grand Pony Enclave for killing her fillies but wants another filly.

Paladin Sapphire in two rooms down with the filly keeping her safe and sound.

Double Tap thought about asking Purple if he could give her a daughter or son. But they hardly know each other. So while Purple slept she knocked him out but didn't know if it worked or not.

***
In the morning.

Everyone met up at a restaurant for breakfast. Flared Blizzard bought all of them breakfast which was bacon and some Fancy Buck Cake's. But Purple was surprised they had coffee which was made of roasted coyote tobacco chew and honey mesquite pods. Purple didn't like it but he still drank it all.

Flared Blizzard paid for their breakfast. When they walked out of the building they heard a chirping sound so they went to the west wall.

***

At the west wall, they saw giant black ants and the ants are the size of houses coming towards the house. The dayshift guards came over and brought some heavy weapons like Missile launchers with White Phosphorus missiles which may be rare but are powerful enough to stop the giant ants due to how hot it is. No sane pony or mutated creature ain't going to cross land that's five thousand degrees hot.

They also shot at the huge ass ants until town guard Eagle Eye said, "Shoot the antennas! Shoot the antennas! It makes them go into a frenzy and attack each other! Shoot the antennas!"

Eagle Eye had a better chance because of his EMW sniper rifle and its powerful .338 Equestrian round which was common with Equestrian Marines snipers and scout snipers. While the others had a harder time due to their weapons not having scopes and some weren't made for long-range combat.

They fought the giant ants and killed them.

"What the hell was that?" asked Purple, "What the hell are they?"

Flared Blizzard replied, "Giant ants. Big ants. They're about twelve to twenty feet long and tall as a single-story building. We've never seen the queen or queens before nor how they reproduce. We've sent scouts out to find their nests but none returned so we've guessed the giant ants got them."

Purple replied, "Well we're not going to go after them without some additional help."

They went shopping and what caught Purple's eye was a Balefire Egg Launcher and it was in pristine condition. He asked how much the Balefire Egg Launcher was and the stallion shopkeeper told him it cost fourteen thousand caps.

What a rip-off! Purple thought, But I'm here for better gear and all that.

"I like to have a 'private viewing,'" said Purple. "If that won't be a problem."

The shopkeep replied, "If you follow me sir."

Purple followed the stallion underground there were two ponies standing guard and they opened up double doors. There were three walls full of weapons.

"What is your taste?" asked the Shopkeeper.

Purple replied, "Close to medium range. Something precise, robust, strong, and get the job done without wasting too much ammo."

The Shopkeeper replied, "So A shotgun and some type of assault rifle?"

Purple replied, "Yup."

The Shopkeeper replied, "I think I have something you'll like."

The shopkeeper placed a custom-made Super 45 semi-automatic combat shotgun. It had a full stock and has some custom texture.

"Custom-made shotgun in the pre-war days for a faster rate of fire for the Equestrian Marine Corps. Faster fire rate than the IF-9 but only has eight rounds but can be modified more to hold ten shells. But the custom textures allow you to carry it with your hooves or wings should your hooves or wings get... wet. A classic. It has a custom bolt carrier release and charging handle."

The Shopkeeper got a fancy post-war but neat-looking assault rifle. It had a suppressor, red dot sight, and a fifty-round magazine.

"Steel and plastic made with a steel barrel and the outer barrel has small lines in it to help it cool off," said the shopkeeper. "It's powerful enough that enemies including powerful ones will be dropping dead in two shots in the 5.56mm rounds."

"What about the 'pointy ones?' Can I see those" asked Purple, "Just in case it gets messy or in hoof-to-hoof combat."

The shopkeeper replied, "Ah yes. I was hoping you would ask for that."

The shopkeeper bought out a box and opened it and it has Ballistic knives, Butterfly knives, Combat knives, Daggers, Fighting Knives, Trench Knives, Throwing knives, Hunting knives, Pocket knives, Survival knives, Switchblades, & Utility knives.

Purple got seven throwing knives, a utility knife, a survival knife, a hunting knife, a trench knife, a fighting knife, a dagger, and a ballistic knife.

The Shopkeeper told Purple that the rifle is one hundred and seventeen bottlecaps, the shotgun for sixty-five bottlecaps, ten bottle caps per throwing knife so seventy bottlecaps, twenty bottlecaps for the fighting knife, fifteen bottlecaps for the dagger. Forty bottlecaps for the ballistic knife, thirty bottlecaps for the utility knife, thirty-five bottlecaps for the survival knife, twenty-five bottlecaps for the hunting knife, and forty-five bottlecaps for the trench knife.

It cost Purple a total of four hundred and sixty-two bottlecaps which he happily paid it and walked outside of the underground part of the shop back to the main lobby and left but when he opened the door he saw it raining.

His Geiger counter that was built into the Pipbuck wasn't going off and that told him the raindrops weren't contaminated with Balefire Radiation but actually safe. They were even safe to drink without being purified. Purple stood in the rain only to sit down and had his two frontal hooves stretched out with his eyes closed and had a smile on his face.

"I'm singing in the rain. I'm singing in the rain," Purple sang. "What an Illustrious affection. I'm walking down the street with a happy smile just singing in the peaceful rain."

Rocky Road, Paladin Sapphire, Critical Shot, Starry Cultivating, Flared Blizzard, and a lot of the town's citizens were staring at Purple thinking he was a nutcase dancing around in the rain like it was nothing.

Paladin Sapphire went outside in the rain and joined Purple dancing, even wrapping her right frontal hoof around his and jumping around in circles in happiness. Everypony thought the two were insane or a couple of nutcases.

The two also shared a long romantic kiss in the middle of the dance.

"I love you," the two said simultaneously before sharing another romantic kiss.

They continued to dance in the rain until it ended. Paladin Sapphire noticed something with Purple's hair and it had some jet black in it and she pointed it out.

"Your hair is black?" asked Paladin Sapphire.

Purple replied truthfully, "My hair is striped and down the middle is jet black. But I dyed it purple. The only reason I dyed it purple is so it wouldn't remind me of Arsen."

Paladin Sapphire replied, "You're perfect the way you are. Don't hide any part of you even if it'll remind you of someone. Just stay yourself."

Purple replied, "You're right. I'm not going to re-dye my hair again."

Purple got Rocky, Critical, Starry, Flared Blizzard, and Double Tap and they went on their way to find the giant ants' nest even if it's suicide. They had a rough location but nothing concrete of a solid location but they think it'll be a huge anthill in the ground or some kind of hole in the ground.

When they entered some farmland they saw torn to shreds Brahmin and rib cages and bones of ponies that were eaten by the giant ants. Everyone was scared to go down it until they heard loud chirping sounds and a giant ant appeared down below. All of them fired their weapons and it retreated back into the cave.

"We're going to need big guns," said Purple. "I don't think our normal weapons will do."

Purple lit up his horn and got Sentinel Glace and his team and teleported back to the hole which Purple was the first one to jump down with Double Tap being the last.

***

"Well we're in a different hell," said Critical. "A new batch of hell."

Starry replied, "Giant ants. Well, I'm scared."

Purple replied, "I'm scared too and I don't feel less of a stallion saying that."

What scared them wad that some town guards jumped down to clear out the ants even though their leather armor won't protect them nor their IF-9 Combat Shotgun and Brush Gun won't be enough firepower to stop or kill'em all.

Sentinel Glace and his team turned on their power armor flashlights to see better and they saw a giant ant and heard a chirping sound before they quickly killed it. They knew they would have the firepower if they stuck together and not split up. Even though they could cover more ground, they didn't want any unnecessary deaths.

New gun going to try the Super 45 with the eight-round tube magazine, Purple thought. That's one more shell than the IF-37 Police Special with the seven shells. Semi-auto here I go.

Purple switched over to the Super 45 Semi-Auto Combat Shotgun and for some reason, he held it with his wings and used his magic to fire it. The giant ants were no match for them until they came to a fork in the tunnel with a tunnel going southwest, a tunnel going southeast, and the tunnel going south and they're currently going south.

"Do not split up," said Purple. "The fewer of us there are, the higher the chance we'll die."

Paladin Sapphire replied, "This place is creepy. Needs to be 20% cooler."

The town guards didn't listen and went through the tunnel going Southeast while Sentinel Glance, Paladin Solar Comet, Paladin Sundancer, Knight Parmmica, and Knight Aurora Skies. There were another four former Steel Rangers who were a part of the team but they're still in the town of Crimson to help defend it. Not adding in this group besides Sentinel Glace are all mares. Three unicorns and an Artificial Alicorn due to Purple's anti-discrimination policy and she's in the Wasteland Guardian Powered Armor Platoon.

They continued and saw a fancy sign written by a group of survivors but they didn't know if they were still alive or dead.

"Speakin' in fancy," said Purple. "No wait It's upside down."

Purple flipped the sign right side up and said, "Giant ants. They enjoy eating us and dragging us to their nest for their queens to eat. Pregnant mares are usually eaten first with colts and fillies being the last. If anypony sees this. GET THE FUCK OUT BEFORE YOU'RE MADE INTO A SNACK FOR THESE CREATURES!"

All but Paladin Sapphire and Purple continued with Paladin Sapphire and Purple went with them knowing it was suicide. But in all three tunnels, they saw ponies' ribcages nearly every step and they knew what killed them.

All of the tunnels lead to a giant hole in the ground with four giant ants with wings. But the tunnel leading south Purple, Rocky, Paladin Sapphire, Critical, and Starry had to fight a few Giant Ants who tried to cave in the tunnel to stop them from getting access to the queens and the eggs. But that didn't work.

They killed the ants and looked down at the defenseless queen giant ants who chirped for help only for them all to fire down upon them killing the queen ants and the eggs. They don't have to worry about Giant Ants terrorizing the pony communities in a seven and a half miles radius around the hive.

Down below they saw the green screen lights which are officially familiar to Purple's Pipbuck screen light so Purple went to check it out and it is a Pipbuck. But it's on bones now of a former town guard before being chewed and eaten by one of the Queen Ants. When they went back through the tunnels they saw several more and really fourteen more Pipbuck 3000's. They were the scouts that Flared Blizzard mentioned and they were former Stable Dwellers but don't know what Stable is due to their skeletons now and there's no Stable Jumpsuit.

***

Back in Clearwater Creek, they had their weapons holstered and secured; only town guards can walk around with their weapons drawn.

Flared Blizzard told them that if they have a gun out everypony will give them the death glare and shops and restaurants will refuse to trade with them until they put their guns away in the holster or are not equipped. Not adding the guards will follow them from a distance to make sure they ain't going to pillage, rape, murder, and so on not adding they have a raider in the group. Not adding some of the stallion guards want a 'piece' of a Raider mare and Double Tap fits the ticket due to she has 'Raider' written all over her.

Flared Blizzard told them as well that his town is split not that it's split east and west with a river splitting it half and around but in social class with citizens who are the guards, and leader aka Flared Blizzard's mother due to they were Stable Dwellers and as they call 'others.' But mostly called non-citizens. One way to be a citizen is to be born in it of a Citizen and Non-citizen having a foal but whoever the mother is well it's a 50/50 chance with the mother being a Citizen the foal will be a citizen. If the mother is a non-citizen the foal is a non-citizen.

Flared Blizzard even told them that non-citizens can take citizens' tests in the guard building which is a two-story blue building with a sign facing south and east that says 'POLICE DEPT' but 'CET' rusted off but can still be seen. Not adding it's the higher-powered guns are stored like Rifles, Magical Energy Weapons, Sniper Rifles, Assault Rifles, Scoped Assault Rifles, Automatic Rifles, Missile Launchers, Miniguns, Grenade Machineguns, Rocket Launchers, & Magical Energy Shotguns.

What crept Purple out was that the citizens of Clearwater Creek referred Purple as a fellow citizen even though he wasn't. They only say that they see a fellow Stable Dweller from a mile away even if he isn't wearing a Stable Jumpsuit but he quickly got over it. Not adding some of the mare guards gave Purple bedroom eyes or affections looks or blow him a kiss without using their hoofs. Even with how close Paladin Sapphire was to Purple they know that the two are a couple but that didn't stop them.

Paladin Sapphire wanted her adoptive daughter back but Flared Blizzard told her that his mother was watching her and took her to the town hall. The Guards wouldn't let them all in; only Purple and Flared Blizzard were allowed.

Purple got Paladin Sapphire and his adoptive daughter and Flared Blizzard was kind enough to put in very grateful words for them even though he didn't know them for long and her mother gave them all including the filly citizenship to the town making them citizens even Double Tap as well.

One thing about Citizenship in the town as well: they get residence in the town, most of them have a place to stay in an apartment building besides Rocky Road and Flared Blizzard. Flared Blizzard had his own house and Paladin Sapphire had the same apartment with Purple due to the two being a couple.

When night came Paladin Sapphire and Purple had their first night outside of the town of Crimson with a makeout section and it was different. Purple could feel Paladin Sapphire's tongue in his mouth.

Flared Blizzard and Rocky Road also had a dirty makeout section.

***

Paladin Sapphire and Purple were both gone done with their sex and she went into the kitchen to make dinner which she made her famous or infamous wasteland chili. The trio ate in peace and they went to bed and Purple cuddled up with her even though throughout the night Paladin Sapphire did fart a lot. But Purple wasn't bothered by it due to him loving her for who she is even with all of her imperfections.

Purple also gave Paladin Sapphire a smooch on the head and said, "Don't worry I'm going to protect you and be there for you, and I will not be the type to ditch you. You're in good hooves."

Paladin Sapphire felt warm and safe with Purple due to the fact that he actually kept his word and will actually protect her, something her parents didn't do when she was a filly or when she needed them. She also kissed him on his nose because she felt safe around him. She felt more secure and safe than when she was with her parents and sisters who shunned her and kept her out of everything.

Not adding Paladin Sapphire saw Purple as a father to his friends and soldiers who always had the support for his soldiers and friends and always stands up for them when they need the help. But she saw a papa wolf in Purple's eyes knowing that if somepony hurts anyone of his friends or family they are going to be in a world of pain that nopony ever been through and make them wish for death.

But in her journal Paladin Sapphire wrote, "Purple or Lavender is the only pony I know you simply do not want to piss off."

But Purple knows that Paladin Sapphire Heart has mommy, daddy, and sibling issues and didn't want to talk about them. If she heard about what happened to her sisters she would enjoy that Purple's brother Base is going to have tons of sex with them, and all that and make sure they won't like it. But if she was there she would applaud Base if he raped them as payback for how her parents raped her as a filly and teenager.

During the night Paladin Sapphire Love Heart actually had a dream of watching Arsen rape her sisters and she had a sinister smile on her face and she had a big old smile in the real world.

Double Tap dreamed of rebuilding her raider gang but she also wants to cry. Her gang may have been full of raiders but they were like brothers and sisters to her and vice versa. They may have been full of drug fueled jackasses who enjoy murdering, pillaging, and rape but they were family not adding her kids were killed by the Grand Pony Enclave and they weren't even eight years old with the oldest being six years old and the youngest being only a few months old.

Rocky Road thought that she found the special somepony but still can't wrap her head or brain around why her brother betrayed them. But she didn't sleep for long so she headed down to the river and watched it flow thinking why her brother betrayed them and went to serve under Arsen Walnut Nimrod aka Base. Rocky thought he might've reasoned or bargained with Arsen for something better or what not or vice versa such as he'll get to lead his own army or have his own land or something like that.

Starry wrote a letter and sent it with a caravan to her parents farm to see how they are. She didn't have the courage or backbone to see them in person thinking she's a killer. While her parents do see her as a killer but not in a bad way but in a good way they know she's killing ponies and creatures who deserve it. They still love her and unknown to her that they pray at night to Princess Luna to protect her to keep her alive.

Critical Shot joined Eagle Eye on a night on the town to make sure no raiders or no bad ponies broke in or something. The two wondered if they would make a great pair due to they're both snipers with deadly aim even though they favor different rounds with Critical favoring .30-06 and Eagle Eye's favoring .338 Equestrian Magnum rounds.

Critical Shot also found out that Eagle Eye does have an apartment but he prefers living on the roof on top of the old fire station under the bell tower with a mattress, a pillow, a blanket, and a chair during the day. He looks out for enemies while at night during night attacks he uses another sniper rifle in the same caliber but with a night vision scope.

***

While sleeping there was a window shattered and an almost quiet bang Paladin Sapphire jumped up and saw Purple with a harpoon gun.

"What happened?" asked Paladin Sapphire.

Purple replied, "I think he got the point."

The two went to check it out and it was a Zebra stallion in black battle fatigues, khaki vest, and khaki-colored combat helmet and he was armed with a Zebra Assault Carbine, suppressed assassin pistol, a Zebra shock sword, a steel dagger, a crossbow, and some smoke bombs/smoke grenades.

Purple and Paladin Sapphire took the suppressed assassin pistol and steel dagger before going back to their apartment and going back to bed cuddling up with each other and Purple having his right-wing around her to keep her safe and sound.

Author's Note

The Assassin Pistol is based around the Walter PP the .380 ACP version