“You two.” I addressed the two guards, “See to the defenses and kill whoever it is that's ballsy enough attack.”

“Yes mam!” The two guards saluted and left.

Gunshots and the occasional explosion could be heard all over the camp. A lone raider frantically ran towards me.

The raider was a brown-coated stallion, standing before me, gasping for breath as sweat dripped down his forehead. “Boss… Something… Happ-“

Cutting him off I spoke. “Gather yourself first and speak slowly.”

The stallion sank down onto the ground, his chest heaving as he took a moment to catch his breath. He sat there, resting briefly before continuing. “Something happened to our guns, and somehow our slaves managed to take our good guns.” The stallion was at this point panicking. “We’re having to use our hidden stash of guns, but they’re was only five to give out. The rest of us are having to fight in melee. Boss, what should we do?”

I was smiling, purely for the fact that everything worked out. “Why yes, give me that gun.”

The stallion looked at me unsure if he should give me his. Eventually he relented and hoofed over his pipe rifle to me.

“Good, now lead me to where most of the fighting is taking place, I’ll show them why Scarlet is not to be trifled with.” Determination filled my voice as I commanded the stallion.

He got up, nodded his head, and said. “Come, Boss, follow me.”

We galloped as fast as we could. Halting as we arrived at a hastily built wooden barricade, with four dead raiders that littered around it.

I spotted two raiders finding cover behind the barricade. Just as I reached the barricade, the stallion that had accompanied me was shot in the head and fell, now lying in a pool of blood.

One of the two raiders, a silver-coated earth pony mare, perked up when she spotted me.. “Ah! Boss your here.” The mare exclaimed, “On our left there's this pony howling like a bloodhound being backed up by those stupid farmponies, and to our right the slaves, which I have no idea how they removed their shock collars, but they did, and now we’re getting shot at by them while half of our guns don’t work.”

“I see…” I faked a solemn expression, “What’s our current situation?”

The mare looked around as the gunfire and explosions grew in intensity. “I’m not gonna, those chickenshits managed to kill ten from our original thirty, while we so far have only managed to kill about two or three of our slaves. We haven’t gotten any from the farmponies.”

In many ways I was glad to know that Orange and Cherry was safe, I can tell because even now I can hear Cherry having the time of her life just blasting away at the raiders.

I peeked over the barricade and took a couple shots at the now freed slaves taking cover behind overturned tables. Intentionally missing my shots.

“Damnit.” I cursed, “Those fucks are well protected. We’re gonna have to go around.” Then I pointed a hoof to the mare. “You will go first.”

The mare looked at me in horror. “Um. Uh. Um, mam, are you sure that's a good idea, boss?”

I stared at her dead in the eyes, and with a stern voice I asked. “Did I fucking stutter?”

The mare stared back now visibly more terrified at having to leave the safety of the barricades. Before she got up, ran out only to be killed mere seconds after leaving.

And to top it all off she did not have a weapon, so even if she survived there was no way for her to fight back.

I turned to face the other raider, a dark-blue coated unicorn stallion. “You. Go now.”

“Oh hell no I ain't going, especially not after what happened to her.” The stallion said, in defiance of my order.

I pointed my gun at him, and he pointed his… pickaxe? At least it looked like a pickaxe.

I stared at him with steely eyes. “Don’t make me repeat myself.” I said, letting the threat hang in the air.

“Oh hell no boss, I’m not going out there and that's-“ I didn’t let him finish as I fired my gun hitting him in between the eyes. He rapidly fell down a pool of blood forming where he now lay.

Then I heard a loud booming voice from Crimson’s tent. “THE BOSS IS DEAD!”

Well, the jig is up, I knew that sooner or later these raiders would figure out the fact that their leader is dead, what surprised me more is that it took them this long to find out.

I shed my disguise, feeling the green flames engulf me for a moment before I am back in my natural form, and not too soon as I spotted Orange galloping over to my position, Thunderhoof by her side.

Orange abruptly came to a halt upon laying eyes on me. "Damn, your impersonation of Crimson was so convincing," she exclaimed. "Even though I'd only heard about Crimson's personality from others, I nearly took aim and fired at you!"

I raised a hoof to my muzzle and coughed, of course I can count myself lucky that Orange hadn’t taken a chance to shoot me, seeing as though her aim with that rifle is impeccable.

“Why yes, I thank you for not shooting me.” I responded, acknowledging the understandable inclination to do so,“ Afterall I had taken the form of their leader.” I said.

Orange looked sheepishly at me. “Weeeell, to tell you the truth I only refrained when I spoke to the stallion organizing the slave revolt, speaking of.” Orange stopped and then waved over at a figure behind me.

Craning my head to look behind me, I spotted Jam Tart accompanied by two others, both stallions, approaching Orange and I.

Jam Tart looked the same except for the fact that he doesn’t have a shock collar around his neck, a cigarette in his mouth, and wearing what has become the standard raider armor, just without the spikes. His group stopped just shy away from me. Jam was smirking throughout their walk.

“Well, well, the queen graces us with her presence.” Jam said, still smirking, “Plan worked like a charm, bastards didn’t know what hit em.”

A smile graced my lips as I nodded in response to his words. It was then that I couldn't help but notice a decrease in the frequency of gunfire. “I noticed that the shooting is dying down.” I said Voicing out my observation.

His smirk grew into a grin, “Hah! Me and the rest of the freed slaves, with help from the farmponies, have mopped up the camp, except for one last holdout at the south side of the camp.”

We had arrived at the south side of the camp and true to his word there’s a big green tent surrounded by makeshift barricades, which is… also surrounded by makeshift barricades built by the farmponies and the freed slaves.

At that moment, I had once again assumed my Starry Skies disguise and was also wearing my gear that Orange had brought over to me. I navigated towards the spot where Cherry Splinter was crouched behind a makeshift wooden barricade. She was accompanied by a cream-colored stallion, his disheveled dark yellow mane adding to his rugged appearance, and a sapphire-colored mare. The aqua hue of her short mane glistened faintly. These two were unmistakably the freed slaves, their collars leaving faint marks around their necks as evidence of enslavement. All three figures peered intently at the last raider holdout. I approached them, positioning myself just behind Cherry Splinter, with Jam and Orange following suit.

Cherry turned behind her and sported on a huge toothy grin when she spotted me. “Hah, so she lives!”

“So it would seem.” I respond with a nod. “On a different note I was told that this was the last place that needed clearing?”

Cherry Let out a hearty laugh before responding to my question. “Oh you bet! Got the bastards surrounded, nowhere for them to run.” Cherry then looked back into observing the raider holdout. I positioned myself next to the stallion who paid me no mind. Orange also sat beside me on my left, while Jam Tart said he was going further along our side of the barricades. I began to observe and counted about five raiders outside, maybe more inside.

Before I could conclude my assessment, a sharp gunshot echoed through the air, its target aimed in my direction. The bullet struck the barricade just beneath my muzzle, causing me to instinctively retreat behind cover. My hooves gripped my chest as my heart raced, its beats reverberating through my frame. I looked to my left and saw Orange unslung Thunderhoof aimed and she fired the weapon using her hooves.

“Got 'em!” Orange yelled before firing another shot, and got back down to stare at my face, her frown was enough to make me aware of the depth of my visibly shaken appearance. “Holy tartarus, that was close, you okay?.”

I nodded, before calming back down and with a sigh I spoke. “Yeah… bullet missed barely, damn.”

The stallion to my right looked worriedly at me, upon seeing that nothing had happened to me he went back to what he was doing previously. I levitated my RK-30 rifle, checking how much ammo I had inside of the mag, I cautiously peered back out, careful not to expose my muzzle.

I saw that the raider holdout had been in disarray, after Orange had killed one and wound another. I retreated back down when I heard somecreature galloping towards our direction, I turned towards the direction of the galloping and spotted Jam Tart rushing his way towards.

He stopped just us, taking quick breaths to recover before he spoke. “Alright, so I talked it out with the rest of the guys… and gals, and we agreed to launch an assault, however we need the five of you here to lay down suppressing fire.” And he turned to face Cherry, “And you… just do whatever.”

Cherry let out a hearty laugh. “Oh they’re going to get what’s coming to them, and I’ll make sure of it.”

“Right, well good luck and Celestia speed to all, we’ll attack once we start hearing shots.” Jam said before galloping back into the direction he came from.

Orange and I exchanged a swift glance, our weapons at the ready. We simultaneously lifted our heads above the barricade, unleashing a barrage of gunfire upon the raiders.

It didn’t take long for the raiders’ to return fire as I watched the stallion next to me fall down, his face becoming a bloodied mess. I continued my barrage, emptying my mag before putting on a fresh new mag and continued.

The raiders, sensing the advance of our allies, shifted their focus away from us. This diversion of their attention left them exposed and vulnerable to our relentless gunfire.

But it was all for nought as the raiders outside were caught and overwhelmed in the ensuing melee when Coco’s and Jam’s forces reached though not before killing two of our allies.

Orange looked in my direction, then at Cherry’s. “Now’s the time we gotta link back up with the rest of the group.”

Cherry flashed us a grin, before she vaulted over the barricades, galloped a few paces forward before turning her head to face both Cherry and I. “Come on! Let's not miss out on all the fun.” before she continued galloping toward the tent.

We had reached the tent, Cherry and Orange had split off and walked into different directions while I continued approaching Jam and Coco who were deep in a conversation, when Coco noticed our approach he waved us over. “Hey, great to see you three doing well.” Coco paused for a brief minute, “Well there’s still some inside the tent, Jam and I were planning to head inside, or alternatively we can just blow up and level it instead, I mean we did find a cache of dynamite, what say you?”

Dropping down to my haunches I pondered the question. On one hoof blowing up the tent will end this fight immediately, but destroying any valuable items inside, but entering the tent will allow us to gather any valuables inside, but at a great cost of more casualties for our side.

I stood up, “Set up the dynamite, we’re blowing up anyone and anything inside.” I said with conviction in my voice.

Coco and Jam stared at each other, both turning to look at me, Jam spoke up. “You sure?” he asked.

I nodded, gazing at the tent, I discerned three shadowy figures, each brandishing weapons and aiming them towards the entrance. I turned to Jam and affirmed, "Yes, I am. Whatever's inside isn't worth the cost of life we've endured in battling these raiders."

"Alright, set up the dynamite! We're going to blow up that tent!" Coco's voice rang out, prompting everyone to immediately spring into action, busily preparing the dynamite. I observed the three silhouettes inside the tent, initially in a state of frenzied panic, but then gradually settling into a resigned acceptance of their impending fate, realizing that they wouldn't be going down fighting. I turned, walking away.

I strolled for several minutes, by now I had removed my Starry Skies disguise and I am back to my default form, I arrived at a hill that afforded me a view over the aftermath of the battlefield. Atop this hill stood a solitary dead tree, bearing witness to the violence below. I sat down with my back behind the tree, I watched as the ponies who survived had begun collecting any valuables and burying the dead.

Soon After I arrived, a loud explosion rang out. Turning towards the origin I spotted the tent having been obliterated by the dynamite explosion. My attention quickly shifted from the explosion as I heard the distant sounds of cheering, spotting Coco and Jam sitting atop the pedestal addressing a crowd of eleven ponies which included the ponies from the farmhouse. As for the contents of what both were saying I do not know.

It was then that I heard hoofsteps coming to my left, craning my head to the left. I spotted Orange and Cherry approaching me.

Orange, stopped next to me and sat down next to me. “Hey.” Orange began, “Pretty hectic couple of days huh.”

I chuckled, “yeah, woke up, met you, met Cherry or rather captured Cherry and somehow convinced her to turn into an ex-raider.”

“Yeah, well, we got lucky, I mean she could’ve just resisted and continued fighting back, thus forcing us to kill her…” Orange paused, taking a look at the cleanup effort beginning to dwindle down, before turning to look back at me. “But I’m glad that it worked out and she saw reason, cause I view her as a friend, sure she’s a bit reckless during combat. That's something we’ll have to work on.”

I smiled, “I don’t think she’ll change her ways.”

Orange chuckled, then smiled “Well one can hope.” The mare then stood up. “Come on, they’re probably wondering where we are, let's go.”

She began walking downhill. I stood up, redonned on my Starry Skies disguise, and followed soon after.

We’re back inside the farmhouse, this time it’s packed with ponies, former slaves from the raider camp. As for me? Well I’m currently in the basement undisguised speaking with Jam and Coco in private.

All three of us were sitting on chairs, a table in the middle with a map of the local area displayed.

“Well, color me surprised, wasn't expecting a changeling to have helped us out.” Coco said.

Jam, let out a hearty laugh, and slapped Jam on his shoulder. “Hah! Your way up north, practically changeling territory.”

Coco, having been slightly embarrassed. “In hindsight the name ‘Olenian Hive’ should’ve given us a clue of where we were.” Coco, paused, turning to look at me. “I guess we were too busy to run from raiders to notice, but anyhow, still thank you for coming when you did, not sure if we would’ve made it if it weren’t for you.”

I nodded, “The pleasure is mine, and as the currently available Olenian Queen, I formally welcome both you and Jam’s entourage to Olenia.”

Jam stood from his chair. “Actually about that, Jam and I as well as both of our groups we’ve been talking.” Jam paused, taking a sip from his canteen, before continuing. “We were wondering, with your permission, we’re asking if you’d allow us to stay and start a settlement here? Yeah Coco’s group is tired of constantly being on the move, and my group is tired of being forced to work for bitch raider.”

I smiled, then stood “Of course you can stay, however beware choosing to stay means that I’ll be granting you Olenian citizenship, but all that is required as proof is a royal Olenian dictum written by me.” I paused, gently levitating the map from the table, rolling it up before carefully depositing it into a nearby barrel. Next, I retrieved a sheet of parchment from a dusty shelf, shaking it free of any debris, and placed it neatly on the table.

Both Jam and Coco appeared to be confused, when Coco spoke up, voicing their confusion. “Um I don’t mean to be rude, but how in the Celestia hell are you gonna write on that?”

I chuckled in response. "Well, magic, of course. It's to demonstrate that this dictum is authentic, leaving no room for doubt."

Both stallions nodded in understanding. I began casting a special kind of spell exclusive to Olenian Queens to begin writing. Both stallions began to be mesmerised as words outlined in green began appearing on the parchment, before ending it off with a green seal depicting a changeling and a deer shaking hooves in unity, a red rose just above the changeling and deer.

“With that settled.” I began, as I levitated the dictum to Coco, who in turn pocketed it inside his saddlebag. “Do you have a name for the settlement you're establishing? This used to be known as Tuulinen Niitty Kentat or Windy Meadow Fields.”

Coco, and Jam got up and huddled together in discussion, occasionally taking glances at me. However it didn’t take long for the two stallions to come into a consensus.

“We’ve decided on Liberty Meadow.” Coco said, “Furthermore I’ve chosen to keep Meadow to symbolise the Olenian geography, and Jam added Liberty into the name to symbolise the freedom that former surviving slaves achieved, this settlement shall be a safe haven for slaves who’ve escaped.”

“That sounds wonderful.” I said, smiling. “I can’t wait to see what will come of this place.”

“Hehe, yeah well, the name’s not official, Coco and I still need to run it by everyone else.” Jam said as went up the stairs presumably to inform the others.

Following soon after Jam, I disguised myself and trailed behind Jam. Before opening the door to exit the basement, I turned to Coco. “Well I’ll be off. If you need anything let me know.”

“Yeah, I’ll stay and wrap up everything here.” Coco responded.

Satisfied, I exited the basement and stepped into the hallway on the first floor. From the nearby living room, the sounds of joy and laughter reached my ears.

A far cry from when we first arrived, when it was just three ponies hunkering down inside. Thinking about it now, this area is a good location for a settlement to form. I’d have to visit Smalstad and inform them of this new settlement, but for now I’ll head outside.

Giving a small nod to a stallion who I was passing by, I exited the farmhouse and already I could see tents forming around the front porch, no doubt these were taken from the now destroyed raider camp.

I embarked on a leisurely stroll around the emerging camp that was taking shape around the farmhouse. As I wandered, I noticed Cherry participating in some sort of drinking game with two others. Personally, I could never understand the allure of such activities, but who am I to judge? They are free to engage in whatever activities they wish, as long nocreature is hurt, though in this particular case both of her companions is on the floor with bottles in hoof. All in all, the emerging camp is bringing a semblance of "normalcy" to this desolate wasteland, or at least, as close to it as one could hope for.

“Hey, *hic* Starry.”

As I was about to leave, and head for a different area, I heard a voice call my name. Turning towards the source, I spotted Cherry struggling to keep her balance as she called out to me.

“Yes Cherry?” I asked, as I saw Cherry wobbling towards me.

After a series of stumbling steps, Cherry came to a stop right beside me, her hoof finding its place on my shoulder. "Hey... I just wan- I just wanna say, Aur-Starry, that you, yes hic you've been a reaaalllllyyyy great friend in the shor hic time we've known each other..." Cherry paused to take a swig from her bottle before continuing, "Moreso, than my previous ga-friends."

“Well that means a lot to me.” I said, “But first you're drunk, as in really drunk.”

Cherry looked offended, or at least as close as one could be in her state. “Whaaa? I’m not drunk, you're drunk.”

Shaking my head, I spoke. “Come on let's get you to bed.” I began to drag Cherry along, much to her chagrin as she began thrashing about, though it quickly subsided as she passed out. I lifted Cherry from the floor and placed her upon my back.

I spotted Jam walking to me, a big smile plastered on his face. “Hey, good news, I talked about it with the rest, and they’ve agreed to keep Liberty Meadow. So in other words, welcome to Liberty Meadow.”

“That's great, I’ll try to mark Liberty Meadow on any Olenian maps I come across.” I said. “Anyways have you seen Orange?”

“Nice, and yeah Orange, with some help from my group, brought over Crimson’s tent, said that it’ll be where the three of you stay, it's behind the farmhouse.” Jam said. “Well at least until we can build proper housing.”

I nodded, and we exchanged farewells before I proceeded towards what was now not only my tent but also Cherry's and Orange's. It took me several minutes to reach the area behind the farmhouse, and as expected, the tent stood there waiting for me. In front I saw Orange tending to a campfire.

She took no time in noticing me as she brightened up. As I stopped in front of her she asked. “So how did the meeting go?”

“It went very well, and also welcome to Liberty Meadow, the wasteland’s newest settlement.” I responded. “And before you ask, yes Cherry’s passed out, and yes she’s drunk, so I’m taking her to bed, and afterward I’m heading off to bed.”

“Hey, that's great! And yeah not surprised. Welp, good night.” Orange said, “I’m not tired yet, so I won’t head off to sleep much later. Oh and before I forget our stuff’s inside.”

I nodded, then entered the tent. The inside is still the same, with the table and chairs still in place, now devoid of any bloodstains, the bed also in the same spot. The only notable change was the presence of two sleeping bags, neatly arranged along the sidewalls of the tent. Orange, Cherry and my saddlebags were located next to the table.

I gently laid Cherry on top of the bed, while I picked one of the sleeping bags and got down, and I drifted off into sleep.

Author's Note

Whew, I finished this chapter, after taking an impromtu two and half month long hiatus, finished this chapter, which by the way was halfway finished before the hiatus.

Anyways chapter 10 is finished, hope you enjoy!

I have an erratic upload schedule