Author's Note

I think i like writing shorter chapters better, i'll be able to post more frequently!

(i swear i'll make myself a cover next chapter)

If you think this chapter or story is bad, then I encourage you to tell me why in the comments so I can get better, Thanks!

A moment worth appricieating

why won't they just let me go?

answer: They don't trust me, that's pretty obvious.

answer number two: they think it would be too good for me.

Why that is what I don't understand.

you mean what, i'm supposed to suffer a little before they let me go to satisfy Flame Bash’s and Silver Shine’s sick sense of justice? I'm supposed to fucking throw myself on a sentry cannon and let it tear me to fucking shreds to please them? Should I fucking walk around like a hermit, in frayed clothes, humbling myself and moaning about how 'I don't deserve to live because I've done so much wrong' for them to give me a break? And even if! What if the other ponies I meet want the same thing? Am I supposed to do this over and over with everypony I meet?

No! I will fucking not!

***

The swamp spread out before me, the waterlogged ground, the consistency of which resembled pudding, threatened to bog us down. The only thing that protected us from getting stuck, and since it was getting pretty cold, freezing in the slush, was a wooden footbridge that crossed the swamp in a straight line.

“Hurry raider! Maybe someone is still alive!” Bear Hearts shouted to me seeing that I was Barely trotting.

Well, too bad, because somehow I don't feel like running today! My legs are sore!

I had to run away from Radwolves because Silver Shine convinced Bear Hearts to use me as a bait.

"You guys might get more caps for somepony alive, but me? I won’t get shit. ”

Unlike Flame Bash who was rather good looking, regardless of facial expression, Bear Hearts had a face that was not pleasant. And with the slight profession that had set in on her at this point, one could say bluntly that he looked nasty.

Appearances are deceiving. In this case very much so.

"I don't do it just for the money, and you shouldn't either."

I laughed, "Sure, because anyypony would do that for me."

"If you don't ever try, it's gonna be like that for sure."

Yeah, fucking sure. Eh.

I nodded my head sideways and sighed, but quickened my step

Bear Hearts beamed slightly, and turned his head to look in the direction he was running in.

The walkway was wide, a pony could pull a cart over it without too much trouble. That much space allowed me to walk fairly freely, so I could look around and observe my surroundings without worrying about losing my balance or falling off into the mud. I stared at the weird trees we passed from time to time sticking out of the sludge. Almost completely leafless, and surrounded by crowns of roots sticking out of the mud around it, each a few tens of centimetres long.

"Do you see anything?" Bear Hearts asked me, seeing that I was looking at one point for a long time.

"No... well, actually yes, a swamp all around, and some three cocksuckers on the footbridge in front of me." I told him, making breaks for catching my breath between every other word.

Bear Hearts turned around muttering something to himself, and correcting the big rifle he carried on his

No offense, I think you’re cool Bears, I just don’t want it to be obvious.

"Well, we're here!" Flame Bash shouted, pointing forward.

Curious to see what the asshole had found, I ran up together with Bear Hearts, and we saw a dilapidated cart made of wood. Dragged out from the pathway, partially submerged in mud, and torn into pieces with a great force.

There were three bodies lying by the cart, at least that's what I saw. The bodies of ponies, a normal sight, but what caught my attention was that two of them were huddled together. The two ponies, afraid to move lest Aliflats sense them, were frozen in the mud.

Looking at this, I felt something like a .... emptiness. I stared at them for a long time.

…

"Aliflat work." Silver Shine stated, “ they're probably here somewhere submerged in this mud," he nodded toward the cart.

Flame Bash lifted his head up and groaned in exasperation, "Winter’s around the corner and we get a job like this? We were supposed to take only the easy ones at the end, Silver!”

Aliflats. They jump out of the mud on you and drown you under their weight. Not the worst way to die.-

“--ot of money.” Silver Shine finished, snapping me back to here and now again.

Flame Bash sighed, "Damn it. Well, looks like nopony’s there, we should check that wagon then, -find out who they ate."

"Or if somepony survived." Bear Hearts added

"How?” Flame Bash turned to bear hearts while making sweeping movements with the front legs, “look how they tore it apart! There must have been at least several of them, and you know what they are like before winter sleep!"

“I’m just saying we shouldn't assume the worst-case scenario right away.”

Flame Bash calmed his tone, “You and your optimism are gonna get us killed someday.” He shook his head. “And that there, is the perfect example,” he added while pointing at me with his leg after a moment. In response, I reared and crossed my front legs, one vertically and the other horizontally in a vulgar gesture.

"Well then, who goes?" Silver Shine asked after silence fell

They both turned and looked at me

"The lightest one." Flame Bash replied with a grin, “Maybe he’ll be useful for something again.”

“Fuck off both of you!” I bursted at Flame Bash, and at Silver Shine who I noticed was looking at Bear Hearts in an asking manner.

“Alright.” he said blankly, to which Silver Shine smiled slightly, and Flame Bash very widely.

Wha–

“Prepare to fly, raider!” Flame Bash shouted happily.

Their horns started glowing, I felt their combined magic envelop me, and start slowly lifting me from the ground while I trashed my legs in the air and shouted insults at them.

“In life, you have to appreciate moments like this,” Flame Bash said to Silver Shine, and they both chuckled as they levitated me over the mud.

between the heads of these two cocksuckers I saw a brief flash in the distance. somewhere maybe a hundred metres from here, Where the road was turning and passing one of these strange trees.

Then I heard a bang, they all turned around, and at that exact moment Flame Bash bursted with a wail of pain, and collapsed on the wooden walkway. Suddenly the whole magic that enveloped me disappeared, and I fell into the cold mush close to the walkway.

With a loud, worried… no, a scared shout, Bear Hearts jumped over Flame Bash, shielding the lying orange pony with his own body. Meanwhile, Silver Shine jumped to the side, hoping that burrowing himself into the mud, and a wooden footbridge protruding hoof-high from the mud would shield us from the fire.

I lay still in the brown sludge. No alifat hadn’t jumped on me yet, that’s a good sign.

I carefully crawled towards the walkway, watching the surface of the mush all around me for any movement.

If any Aliflat was to jump on me, at least I’ll know when to hold my breath…

Silver Shine tried to simultaneously retrieve the weapon slung across his back, and pull health potions from his pockets while I dug into the mud as deep as I could cursing repeatedly. He concentrated on the potions. gave me one and levitated it to my muzzle as I got close to him..

"Give it to Flame Bash! Quick!" I grabbed it but didn't flinch. He’s gonna fucking shoot me! And I'm supposed to save that asshole ?

"Do it!" Silver Shine shouted at me

“Fuck off!”

“Do that or I’ll crush your larynx right… now…” He started shouting, but downed his voice to a low growl.

“I hope that some bullet will snap off that fucking horn of yours.” I muttered to myself

Reluctantly, I looked at Bear Hearts standing over Flame Bash, firing in the direction of the attacker who was barely visible in the distance

If I don’t get fucking shot in the process!

A bullet hit Bear Hearts right front right knee. it bent under him and he fell down on his front cursing loudly.

Just like that!

I don't think that's anything serious. Or nothing that couldn't be fixed with a potion. And now that he lay on the ground, I could hide behind him to give Flame Bash the potion!

I took a breath, and prepared to jump onto the footbridge, but then, another shot tore through bear Heart’s armour. That’s what I assumed by the short wail of pain that followed. I couldn't see where it hit him, but the effect of it I saw was just fine. He fell completely limp on the footbridge in front of Flame Bash. I froze in place and watched him fall.

Seeing another one of his friends go down, silver shine shouted a curse, and fired away from that same rifle he shot me with when we first met. I was glad to stand on the other side of that barrel.

Then I snapped to reality.

Oh shit They're both hit! Fuck! Shit! Were fucked!

"Give them the potion you useless bastard!"

Alright! Alr…

I stopped myself from preparing for a bold sprint.

We aren't fucked. They are fucked.

and that leaves, just you. I thought turning my head to Silver Shine

"If we survive this, you're gonna have to let me out!" I shouted to him, half joking and probing him over the sound of gunfire.

"Not now! Give them the potion!"

"Now, you asshole! Answer!"

"I... I'll think about it!" he said without leaning out from behind the scope as bullets whizzed past us

"Silver Shine! Ple–" I stifled what I just wanted to say

The same situation again.– I thought as I felt anger rise in me. Was I seriously going to beg him already? Fuck no!

Enough asking. You're not gonna let me go you motherfucker. Isn't that right?!

As I felt my frustration dissolve, I felt a smile make its way on my face. I took a step towards Silver Shine. To be right behind him.

Then I swung

I think I'm going to enjoy this.

And hit him with the lower side of my hoof in the ear as hard as I could.

He screamed, covered that ear with a hoof, and flopped onto his back.

I climbed on top of him and started beating him across the face with my muddy hooves.

Making me do all the most dangerous jobs!? Using me as a bait for radwolves!? Forcing me to give a healing potion to Flame Bash?!

Every hit on his face felt like such a treat. Finally, I waited for this for too long!

He pulled himself together, shielded his face, and focused magic on his horn. I saw a white bright streak rise around it. He shot a bust of bright frizzling bust of magic at me, and made me jump off him to avoid the magical bullet. This gave him time to get up. all muddy, just like me, he stood up on all fours, and with his eyes wide open, aiming his horn at me. Rushing before he could collect enough strength for a next bullet, I grabbed a full hoofful of mud and threw it straight into his eyes. He managed to shield his face, The horn was glowing stronger and stronger, Fuck!

Then, I heard another bang, and a shot hit Silver SHine from behind.

His focus shattered, horn stopped glowing, and he started staggering. I used the moment, and pounced on him.

We both fell, our heads hitting the footbridge and the rest of our bodies falling into the mud again. I picked myself up faster, and before Silver Shine could get up, I hit him in the head with my hoof as hard as I could. It disoriented him.

I've had enough of that fucking horn of yours!

I hit his head again, hard enough that it hit the footbridge below. Then I grabbed it in my hooves, put it against the wooden walkway so that the edge touched the Base of his horn, held him tight, and while he shouted for me to stop, while desperation tok over his eyes, and his horn was starting to glow in his last desperate attempt to protect every unicorn’s greatest treasure, with a wide smile, I hit the top of his horn with my right hoof.

To see him scared. The ever stoic asshole begging me to stop! Now that’s something you don’t see everyday!

Apart from a cry of pain, I saw no effect, so I took a swing, and struck again, with all my strength. A nasty crack of broken bone and a scream of unprecedented agony declared my success. Panting, I moved away from Silver Shine, looking at my work with satisfaction.

You can't choke me with that magic of yours anymore.

He lay there, breathing shallowly and unevenly with his eyes wide open, staring at me in horror.

It was the first time I had seen emotion in his eyes. He was always so calm.

I should have just let myself go, but oh well, I like it that way too!

And now let's finish this.

I grabbed him with my foot by his mane, he tried to defend himself, so I hit him in the middle of his nose. this always ends in tears, no matter how tough you are. Now with eyes full of tears he couldn't see anything, and he couldn't defend himself. I pushed his face into the mud, and held it.

Two Second

Ten seconds

Haha! Look how keeping me turned out for ya-aaaa…

Suddenly, like a wave of shock, like i was bucked with two hooves at the stomach. A realisation hit me.

I pulled his face out of the brown cold mush. And as he took a breath, The last thing I expected was to feel relieved. Yet I felt exactly that.

Ifell on my rump into the freezig mud right where I stood and started beating myself at the head.

no no no NO!

My breathing got shallow and quick. My stomach started turning and i feld sick like i have never before. The freezing mud below me didnt matter anymore. I…

I am not like that anymore!

I didn't–

I'm not!--

I had no choice! Yes! I had no choice!

Suddenly, shots from a distance began to fly again around me.

Don’t think about it now!

I quickly pulled him out and started searching through his muddy clothes. And just as I expected, he had both remotes. The one from the electric collar I just threw in the mud, the other from the bomb collar had a key. I lay down fairly flat, and in the dark tried to hit the hole on the bomb collar with the key.

As I drove the spanner like this over the surface of the collar trying to feel for a hole, I heard a tired groan from the left.

Bear Hearts, was lying down and breathing rapidly looking at me with a furious expression.

He had seen everything.

"You..."

"Shut up!"

"I should have-"

"You should have let me go! I roared furious. “I wouldn’t have done this!” I shouted, my voice cracking from sheer frustration and fury, “It’s your fault!"

I found the keyhole. Stuck the key in it, and with the click that I waited for for so long, yet now it gave me no satisfaction, the Collar fell into the mud below me.

and without waiting for a reply, I took off, and started sprinting down the log in the direction we had come from. And so running, as gunshots wheezed past my sides, I ran, and ran, and ran.

It wasn’t my fault. I had no choice! They made me do that by refusing to let me go! Yeah!

But I kept running. Away from my captors, and away from my own actions. Again.

Then I stopped, closed my eyes and screwed up my face.

An inevitable thought appeared in my head. One I would very much like to ignore, but couldn’t.

I looked up and groaned reluctantly, like when you have a chore that you need to do, but you don't want to because you know how much additional work it is.

“Fuck!”

I can’t fucking keep breaking shit and then running awayyy! What am I going to fucking do now? Fucking go to another village just to be kicked out ot killed?

“Ughhhh, Fuck!” I shouted angrily, and turned around.