As Blue stopped to stare at the sky covered in clouds, she felt a sense of unease and anxiety wash over her. With the horizon obscured, she was unsure of which direction to go and how to get off the stable grounds and into the rest of the vast and seemingly endless frozen wasteland before her.
The dark grey and ominous clouds cast a foreboding and ominous shadow on the landscape, increasing Blue's dread and fear of what may be lurking within the mysterious and unknown regions ahead.

Stepping forward out from the shadows of the stable grounds and into the icy and desolate arctic wasteland, Blue found herself curious about the surroundings and what lay beneath the thick layer of snow.

Her curiosity was piqued as she noticed one of the corpses lying in the snow was holding a strange object in its hooves. Intrigued and with nothing else to do in this vast and seemingly endless wasteland, Blue decided to take a closer look and examine the mysterious object.

As Blue crossed over to the frozen body of the pony, her curiosity was piqued by the mysterious object it was gripping in its hooves. Examining it closely, she attempted to comprehend its functions and reasoning for being kept in this position. Despite her confusion, she was driven by her desire to unearth the mysteries of the present reality she had been thrust into and the answers of the past she had forgotten.

Blue reached out to remove the mysterious object from the hooves of the dead pony. However, to her surprise, the object was stuck in its grip, making removal difficult.
Feeling frustrated, Blue tugged on the object, noticing the skin of the dead pony being pulled in the attempt to release the object. Frustrated and unsure of how to free the object, she tried different attempts and techniques to remove it.

Unable to free the mysterious object from the hooves of the dead pony, Blue began to feel frustrated and overwhelmed.
The cold and harsh environment was taking its toll on her, the chill from her sweat dripping down her face and body and the freezing temperature causing her breath to become vapor in the air before her.
Feeling both frustrated and overwhelmed, Blue could feel a chill moving up her spine from the freezing temperatures. With her patience waning, she began to consider other ways to remove the stubborn object from the dead pony.

Angry and frustrated by her inability to remove the mysterious object, Blue pulled harder this time, finally managing to rip it loose from the hooves of the dead pony. However, the force of pulling the object away caused her to fall back to the ground, gasping and groaning.

Suddenly, as she opened her eyes, she was met by a frightening surprise. Multiple bodies lay frozen in the snow, including the corpse of the pony she had been attempting to free the object from.

Filled with panic and fear, Blue rose to her hooves and stumbled back, unsure of what to do next.

As Blue took a moment to slow her breathing and soothe her racing heart, she struggled to forget the look on the facial expression of the dead pony. With eyes faded and a frozen wound with blood spilled out, death was becoming a new reality for Blue in this frozen and harsh world.

Unsure of what lay ahead in this strange and mysterious world, Blue found herself filled with doubt and fear as she realized the consequences of death and how she did not want to end up like the victims around her. With a renewed sense of urgency, Blue continued her mission to find answers as she searched the bodies of the dead ponies.

Blue decided to examine the strange object she held in her hooves, Blue pressed some buttons and it suddenly released a sharp and unexpected sound. Taken aback by the noise, Blue quickly retreated and stopped touching the object, taken aback by its unexpected response.

Shortly after, a disembodied voice broke through the silence, filling Blue with curiosity and surprise. The voice sounded feminine and spoke out of the strange object.

"Sound off, this channel is for radio silence unless you have something important to report," came the voice as Blue tried to grasp the meaning of the strange and seemingly cryptic message.

Contemplating whether or not she should speak back to whoever was speaking to her through the mysterious object, Blue considered the consequences.

She also wondered how the object could even detect her words and respond to them.
With a sense of curiosity and confusion, but also a desire to find answers, Blue made the decision to speak and respond to the voice coming through the object.

"Hello? Is anyone receiving this message? Who is this?" Blue asked, unsure of the response she may receive.

With her senses feeling on alert and her nerves tense, Blue felt the need to check her surroundings, wanting to ensure her safety as she engaged in conversation with the unknown entity through this strange and unexpected object.

After taking a moment to check her environment and make sure that it was safe to continue, she returned her attention to the object and waited for a response. Her heart was beating fast and she felt filled with a sense of anticipation as she hoped to receive some answers to her many unanswered questions.

Trying to figure out how to properly use this strange device, Blue accidentally held the button as she became frustrated and shouted "Why isn't this thing even working?! I just want to understand!"
Surprised by her own outburst, Blue quickly released the button and tried to contain her emotions. With questions still unanswered, she hoped that the mysterious object would respond and she could finally receive the answers she had been seeking.

The hair-raising screech of nails across a chalkboard suddenly ceased, shattering the ominous silence like a sledgehammer. After an agonizingly long moment of stillness, a voice spoke out from the strange object in a velvety, feminine tone: "Sound off, who is this? How did you get onto this open channel?"

Blue paused, her hoof lingering over the button, heart pounding in her chest. Was she doing something bad? After taking a deep breath, she pressed the button again, forcing herself to keep going. "I'm Blue... I found this device... in the hooves of a dead pony..." Even as her words rang out, Blue felt like she was doing something wrong, and a sinking sense of panic rose up inside her.

Blue didn't let go of the button, still struggling with a sense of uncertainty. Looking around, she saw bodies strewn about, her eyes finally resting on a massive wheel. The number 375 was painted on it, "I am lost... there's lots of bodies here... there's a number on the wheel... the number is 375," she muttered into the device, trying to make sense of everything.

"Blue let go of the button, unsure of what to say next. The noise of the device suddenly stopped, and Blue found herself alone with her thoughts for the first time since she found this bizarre object. After a long moment of silence, a strange realization dawned upon her: This device was her only hope. With a trembling hoof, she waited for a response.

The mare's voice spoke through the device, causing Blue to jump. 'Sound off, did you just say a number? It sounds like you're referring to a stable. We're actually near that location. We will be coming to you, so please hang tight."

Blue stared at the device for a long moment, not sure if it really was useful or not. With a heavy sigh, she set it down, breathing out a plume of frosty breath in the cold air.

Walking over to the stable entrance, she sat down, her eyes taking in the scenery around her. She felt like she wanted to lie there and do nothing, letting the wind blow through her hair as she simply watched the world pass her by.

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Blue opened her eyes to a sharp tap on her cheek, her heart leaping into her throat as she realized there was a rifle pointed directly at her face. With the wall behind her, she had nowhere to go, her knees trembling as cold drops of sweat trickled down her face. She swallowed hard, her eyes wide with fear as she waited for whatever horrors were about to ensue.

Blue strained her head to access her surroundings, despite the barrel pressed right up against her face. She managed to glimpse a nearby pony and three bird-like creatures, all dressed in gear that she was unfamiliar with. Her breath caught in her throat as she tried to make sense of the situation she found herself in.

"You. Get the fuck up. Right now. Slow and steady. Don't try anything funny, you got that?" The mare barked through the device, her voice tinged with a sense of authority. Blue was instantly on edge, her heart racing as she slowly rose to her hoof, doing her best to stay calm and obey the order given to her.

Blue felt utterly confused. Why was she being forced to stand, with a weapon to her face, just seconds after awakening from a seemingly peaceful nap? She couldn't make any sense of the situation, her heart racing as she tried to stay calm in the face of this unexpected and overwhelming force.

Blue noted with interest that the mare appeared to be standing inside a metal structure that was shaped like a pony. She was confused, and with her heart still racing, she said meekly, "Excuse me, um, can we please calm down? I don't understand what's happening." The mare didn't lower the weapon, but said sternly, "Don't argue, you're coming with us."

Blue's heart pounded in her chest, leaving her feeling utterly frightened and confused. She didn't know what to do, as her wings were hidden beneath the jacket, but her horn was visible to all. Still, she had no choice, and as the situation grew more and more ominous, she complied, hoping to find some kind of explanation or reprieve.

"Okay, okay, I'm going with you." Blue's voice was tinged with a panicked note of desperation. "Just... just don't hurt me, okay?" She said this with as much of a pleading tone as she could muster, hoping against hope that her sudden compliance and the soft pleading tone of her voice would be enough to spare her any harm.

The mare let out a sharp chuckle, the sound piercing Blue's ears like the crackle of a fire. "Good, you're not giving us any trouble. Makes things a lot easier. I've seen the ponies here, they were squadmates, lay dead, their power armor stripped from them and left to be forgotten... that's dishonorable. You'll be answering plenty of questions once we get back to the outpost." She turned to the gryphon beside her, saying, "Cuff her tight, make it strong."

"Make sure she doesn't do any funny business," the mare added, as the feminine-sounding gryphon nodded vigorously in reply. "Just in case, prepare a memory orb for our, um, unusually large unicorn here." Blue gasped as the gryphon removed a glowing orb from her bag and slowly brought it closer to Blue's horn. "Now use your magic or we'll shoot you and leave you to bleed out," the mare said, the tone of her voice making it clear that she was serious about the threat.

Blue's horn sprang to life with a flash of light, a look of growing fear crossing her face. As the world started to swirl around her, she could feel the bindings around her hooves tighten, as if someone was tugging the reins of control away from her. Before long, the last thing she remembered was the feeling of a hard, constrictive band being tightened around her hooves.

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Blue felt disoriented, out of her body and disconnected from her own self. Suddenly, she heard the voice of a male speaking from within her own mouth, a voice that did not seem to belong to her. "Princess Luna," the stallion inside her said. "Preparations are complete and the declaration of war is now upon us. All that's left for you to do, princess, is to establish several agencies that will help our war effort." Blue felt overwhelmed, confused, and utterly out of control, as her mind tried to reconcile the foreign thoughts and voices that she was hearing.

Blue could see the face of the other alicorn, this Princess Luna, and felt a surge of curiosity and confusion. Why did she feel so calm and grounded? Why did she know about this war that Blue had no idea existed? And why was she having these foreign thoughts and ideas, when just moments ago, she had been terrified and alone in a cold and dark landscape? As the questions swirled in her head, her memories of the strange orb came back.

Blue knew that the orb and this vision were linked somehow. With her growing curiosity and confusion, she tried to make sense of the situation she found herself in. How was she seeing this... Luna? And why did she know so much about this war and these agencies? And what did all of this mean for her and her current predicament? With so many questions in her head.

After a long silence, Luna finally replied. "I have the plans in place for six agencies that need to be established. I also happen to know the perfect ponies to run them, but I hope they won't turn down the call to Equestria. Our great homeland needs all the help it can get right now. I want to stress now that I am the princess of Equestria since my sister stepped down. I know running this war effort won't be easy, but with the help of these six ponies, we'll get through it." Luna let out a bright smile, her expression confident and determined.

The stallion responded, "Yes, your Highness. As your advisor, I will set up the meetings necessary for you to contact these six ponies." His tone was respectful and deferential, he quickly added, "Might I ask... who are these six ponies, your Highness?"

The stallion took in the information. "The six ponies who will run these agencies are the Element Bearers in Ponyville," Princess Luna said. "Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and... Pinkie Pie."

Blue watched in confusion as the stallion wrote down the information Luna had given him. He quickly jotted down a date and location, setting the meeting for one moon from now, while the sun was halfway in the sky. They would meet in the war room. Her head continued to tingle with curiosity, her mind racing with all the questions that had yet to be answered. This agency meeting seemed important, but for what reason? And how exactly would the Element Bearers help with the war effort?

Blue continued to watch as the stallion looked up at Princess Luna, his expression confident and resolute. "It's all done, your Highness. Don't feel bad about LittleHorn. The zebras are going to pay." Luna seemed lost in thought to Blue.

Luna quickly replied, "Yes, 'LittleHorn' is a major loss for my beloved sister. We care deeply and grieve for her and her loss." Blue couldn't help but feel empathy for the situation.

Blue was a bit confused, as she didn't understand what 'LittleHorn' was supposed to mean. Why had Luna mentioned it, and in such a sad and concerned tone of voice? She felt more and more overwhelmed, as her mind tried to make sense of all the information that had been revealed to her. There was a connection between Luna, and LittleHorn.

Blue was taken aback by the stallion's words. Had she heard correctly? Did the zebra mentioned actually kill... small ponies? Her feelings of confusion continued to deepen, why did the thought of harm. Being done to these little fillies and colts stir so much emotion in her heart? Her confusion grew, as she realized there was some deeper link between Luna, and LittleHorn.

Blue was filled with overwhelming sadness, imagining innocent little ponies having been murdered. It was heartbreaking, and it hurt her deep inside. But before she could try to find out more, the world started spinning around her in a blur of color, Blue felt like she was stuck in a whirlpool. She didn't know how to stop the spinning sensation that left her head spinning and her heart racing. She tried to focus on what was actually happening, but all she could feel and see was this blur of color swirling around her. She began to feel dizzy and overwhelmed, her mind and heart struggling to keep up with the onslaught of strange emotions she was feeling. She felt as though she was on the verge of discovering something profound, but the spinning would not stop. It seemed there was a deeper meaning to this strange orb than she knew.

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Blue slowly came back to her senses, feeling disoriented and confused. She was surrounded by tents and small towers, the glow of wood fires casting a warm light in the cool night air. As she was trying to understand where she was, she heard a gruff voice nearby. "Ah, the abomination is awake at last," the stallion's muffled voice spoke. Blue looked around, her eyes widening and her heart racing as she slowly realized that she was cold. Her jacket was gone and her wings were splayed out at her side. She felt completely vulnerable and exposed, a feeling she hated and feared.

As the fog began to lift from her mind, Blue suddenly felt something on her horn. The grip was tight, as the male voice spoke with hostility, revealing the truth of her captivity. "That's a measure so you can't use your magic," he said. "We also tied up your wings so you won't fly away from us, you abomination." Blue's eyes widened, as she finally accepted her current situation. A new sense of fear and discomfort swept over her as she realized she was completely powerless and at the mercy of whoever had captured her.

"My friend here," the voice said, revealing Blue's captor's identity for the first time, "found you outside Stable 375, among the bodies of fallen squadmates." Blue felt a sharp stab of fear and anxiety as the stallion spoke, her thoughts racing with questions and confusion. "You better explain yourself," he said, his tone menacing and cruel. "If not," he continued, "we just clamp a magical ring around your neck that, if you disobey, we'll blow your head off." Blue couldn't help but feel a shiver of terror run through her body.

Blue quickly shouted, "I'll comply," in a more panicked voice than she would have liked. But she knew instinctually that showing any sort of hint of defiance would only make her situation worse. As the realization washed over her, she spoke again, this time in a quieter, more controlled tone. "I'll answer any question," she said, trying hard to keep her voice calm and steady, as her heart raced and her mind spun with confusion. She still didn't understand the events that had brought her to this moment.

She looked at the stallion in front of her, noting the strange metal shell that he seemed to be wearing in the shape of a stallion. This only served to make her even more confused and distraught, as she tried to make sense of the strange events that had brought her to this moment. Her breath became even more shaky as she tried to keep her emotions in check, hoping beyond all hope that the stallion would not sense her fear and vulnerability.

Blue took note of the metal shell around the stallion, realizing that this was the same metal shell the mare who gave her the strange orb had been wearing. This connection led to more questions, and her curiosity grew even stronger. Why had she been asked to touch the orb? What did this mysterious mare want from her? Why were there two sets of ponies wearing this shell?

Blue felt a sudden tap to her head, and looked up to see the stallion looking down on her, his expression frustrated yet stern. "Hey stop blanking," he said, his tone slightly ominous. "Answer the question I said to you." She tilted her head, looking up at him with wide eyes, "Question?"

His expression darkened, and he spoke in a harsh, aggressive tone. "One and only one more time or I beat you into the ground. Why were you around Stable 375?" Blue felt scared by his anger and growing hostility, and realized she had to tread very carefully.

Blue didn't have an answer that could satisfy the stallion, but she also feared for her safety. If this stallion was so intent on getting information out of her, what would he do once he got what he wanted? She tried to keep going, desperate to find some kind of escape. But he was fed up with her pauses, as he reared up his metal hoof and punched her in the face. Blue felt a searing pain, her cheek indented with the shape off his hoof. Tears filled her eyes, and she tried to curl up in fear and agony, waiting for it all to be over.

Blue tried to say something, her face feeling swollen and bruised due to the strike of the stallion's metal hoof. Her cheek stung, and when she tried to talk, her words came out in a garbled mess. As if he didn't have the patience to wait for her to speak. He slammed his hoof into the other side of her face, causing her entire face to rock and tumble back.

"Speak the fuck up abomination," the stallion yelled, his tone cruel and venomous.

Her voice muffled by the sound of her own blood which spattered his visor. She tried to plead and speak

Blue tried to speak, her words coming out in a garbled mess as she begged for mercy. "Please... I came from inside... I didn't hurt your people..." She cried and begged for mercy, a look of fear and anguish on her face. She was bruised and covered in blood, her face still hurting from the stallion's punches. The look in her eyes betrayed her desperation, as she hoped the stallion would stop beating her long enough for her to explain her side of the story.

Both sides of Blue's face were covered in bruises, her facial swelling even worse. Blood coated her teeth, as her entire face was covered in a bloody red hue. She laid on the ground and sobbed, spitting out blood and struggling to breathe. The stallion froze, his hoof raised to deliver another strike. He listened carefully to her words, his look of anger fading slightly. As silence fell, he slowly withdrew his raised hoof, taking in the sight with a new intensity.
"Tell me more," the stallion barked out, standing above her and studying the area in which she lay. Blue felt a pang of fear mixed with curiosity and apprehension as he stared down at the hoof print left on the ground beneath her. Snow and mud clung to it, along with her blood. She wanted to tell him that her memory of the events was somewhat foggy, but she didn't want to reveal that to him just yet. Instead, she decided to try to explain what she could.

Her words caught the stallion's attention, as he took in her bruised and bloodied face. He watched her struggle with her words, and her pleas for mercy with growing curiosity. "I woke up from a tube," she explained, "and I explored the abandoned Stable 375. It was mostly destroyed, bodies everywhere, I didn't kill any of them..." As Blue struggled to speak, the stallion could hear her choking on blood and crying uncontrollably. "That's the whole truth," she finally managed to speak, "I don't know who I am... please spare me."

Blue felt immense gratitude towards the mare who had just spared her life. As she said her thank you, a small smile spread across her face, despite the immense pain she was still in. The mare offered her a bottle, and Blue drank from it, feeling the pain and soreness begin to lessen as she took in the potion. "Not all of us are bad," the mare said, as she helped her to her hooves. Blue tried to stand, but was still unsteady, needing the mare's help to balance.

Blue turned to look at the mare, as she struggled to speak through the lingering soreness and swelling. "What did you give me?" she asked in a hoarse tone, her voice still somewhat distorted from the beating she had taken. The mare stared at her, appearing kind, and friendly, despite the grim circumstances they had just faced. "I gave you a healing potion," the mare explained, "it should help ease your pain and quicken your recovery. I believe in kindness and compassion, even towards those who may not deserve it. What is your name?"

Blue felt a flicker of hope in her heart, as the mare showed kindness and understanding towards her. While it still might not change the overall state of the world, it felt good to know that she wasn't completely alone, that there were some ponies who still remembered what it meant to show compassion towards others. The mare continued to stare, as Blue realized that she could still not fully see her expression, because of the metal shell and helmet she was wearing.

"I'm Blue, at least I think that's who I am," she replied, "but I'm so sorry for whatever I am?"

Flex spoke with a muffled voice that sounded like it was coming through something, similar to the stallion's. "I'm Flex," she explained, "I oversee this small encampment when Head Paladin Falcon is away on a squad mission." Her voice was a little intimidating, given their recent encounter with the stallion.

"Two more tips," Flex continued, "These alicorns are a threat, and should be eradicated. However you seem different, you got a mind of your own. Second tip, always second guess everything, no stranger is ever friendly." Blue took in this advice, nodding solemnly.

Blue felt a deep sense of relief at Flex's words, feeling the tension ease slightly. She looked towards the direction of Paladin Falcon's encampment, her curiosity piqued when Flex spoke about her innocence being the reason Blue was still alive. She didn't know what that meant, but it felt ominous, and her heart rate quickened at the thought. She took in everything that Flex had said, taking her words to be a warning for the dangerous world they lived in.

She nodded vigorously as Flex continued, "I'm going to escort you away, don't lag behind please, we don't want you in our camp, this was just to pry information." Blue was thankful that Flex hadn't tried to kill her on sight, and waited to be escorted away.

Blue walked alongside Flex, following closely as she was escorted away from their encampment. When she spoke up to ask about the orb Flex had forced her to touch with her horn, she was surprised by the mare's swift response. "It was a memory orb," Flex explained, "They serve as confessions or memories left by many who died long ago, the one we gave you was." She paused for a moment, before continuing, "Due to what others said, A memory of Luna's top royal advisor, she gave away information in the memory of her plan for the state of Equestria."

Blue listened intently to Flex's explanation, struggling a bit to understand everything. "What is Equestria, who is Luna, and what war? I'm afraid I have no memories at all," she said, hoping to receive more clarification on the world as it was before. Flex seemed to sense her confusion at all she had learned, as she provided more context. "The pre-war before everything went to shit," Flex began, "Luna oversaw the conflict and war effort of Equestria when she took over the throne, when her sister Celestia stepped down."

Blue listened carefully as Flex spoke about Luna setting out to gain help, and the six ponies she had reached out to. The realization that the ponies in their camp were the survivors of the "pre-war" that had nearly destroyed Equestria stunned Blue, as she tried to process the magnitude of the event.

"Megaspells rained down," Flex continued, "and killed most who stayed on the surface, some went underground into the stables." Blue looked up at the sky, sad that so many had died. She wondered what had happened to the ponies who lived underground.

"How did you find out about this?" Blue asked curiously, "How long ago did this happen?" The mare explained that she had learned about it from the books she and the others had been given as foals, and she had also used memory orbs to learn more. This surprised Blue, as she never expected for something like a memory orb to exist. Her curiosity was peaked, as she wondered what else these orbs might contain.

"I never looked into the memory orb I gave you," Flex added.

Blue realized that Flex had a horn which she had been hiding, due to the metal covering on it that blended it in with the metal armor. This made her wonder what other secrets were hidden underneath Flex's metal shell. She followed Flex attentively as she spoke, taking interest in everything the mare has to teach her about this changed and strange world they lived in.

Blue decided not to pry any further, since Flex had said that she didn't want to reveal her secrets.

"I'm flesh and blood under this," Flex said, "Just a regular pony like you, this armor protects me and allows me to protect others." This statement made Blue feel a little better, knowing that Flex was another living creature like herself.

Blue followed Flex as they walked, eventually arriving at a point where Flex decided to leave her on her own. "This is where I leave you," Flex said, "We left your weapons inside your saddle bag." Blue nodded in understanding, recognizing how fortunate she had been to have met someone nice like Flex. "So that's what you call this." Flex had called her a "innocent pony". Blue felt touched by Flex's words, and was thankful to have met her.

Blue's swelling went down, and she could finally see better, taking in the snowy surroundings. She then asked Flex, "What were those birds with you earlier?" Flex simply replied with, "I'm not telling you this. Its classified for an outsider." Flex walked past Blue and kept walking, leaving Blue alone to look around at the surroundings, spotting lights off in the distance. She then looked in her saddle bag and gasped, her jacket was inside of it. Without saying a word, Blue took her jacket and put it back on. She was no longer shivering in the cold.

Blue shuddered, her face covered in icicles, frozen bits of sweat, and blood. She felt a sense of urgency, not wanting to pass out and freeze to death in the cold. She shook her head as she continued, trying to force herself to stay calm. "This jacket is nice," Blue said, "but I need to find somewhere warm to fall asleep..." Her words came out in a soft whisper as she continued to tremble, her thoughts quickly turning dark as she realized how close she was to death. "I...don't want to die... I must survive," she thought to herself.

Blue shook off her panic and continued walking, going towards one of the places of light that were in the distance. She hoped to find shelter there, as she had realized that she would not survive the night if she stayed where she was. The cold gnawed at her bones, making it hard to walk and focus on anything other than survival. Her mind was filled with thoughts of heat and warmth, as she tried her best to make it to the light in the distance.

Blue felt a sense of relief when she had her jacket back, noticing immediately that it should've helped to shield her from the biting cold. However, she did notice that it was getting darker, and the wind was picking up. Snow began to swirl around her, making the lights in the distance obscure. Her tail and mane fluttered around, caught in the wind like a flag. She shook, her teeth chattering and her legs beginning to falter under the cold.

Blue had trouble hearing anything but the wind, as it roared loudly. It blew tiny specks of ice crystals in her face, making it even harder to see. Panic set in, as she continued to push forward, hoping desperately to find some shelter soon. Her limbs were starting to grow numb now, so she tried her best to speed up. She knew she couldn't survive out in the cold much longer, so she had to keep moving.

Blue felt relieved when she looked at her Pipbuck, seeing an icon for a shack just 25 feet in front of her. She hurried forward, her legs screaming at her to stop but she ignored the pain and continued rushing towards the safety of the shack. Snow built up on her jacket and ice formed on her legs, tail, and mane. She was exhausted and frozen, but she knew she had no other option but to keep pushing forward, hoping to make it to the shack without collapsing from exhaustion and cold.

"Please PLEASE! LET ME MAKE IT!" Blue screamed, her heart pounding in her throat. At that point, her body was starting to feel hot despite the cold, her face covered in snow and ice. Her legs began to falter, struggling to keep moving, but she forced herself forward despite the pain, wanting desperately to get to safety. She was determined to make it to the shack, despite how close she was to giving up and succumbing to the cold.

Blue saw the light coming from the shack, feeling joy at finally making it there, but her legs gave out, causing her to fall to the ground. Despite the cold and exhaustion, she continued to crawl forward, determined to survive. She was starting to feel sick from pushing her body to the limit, but she tried her best to focus on the light ahead of her, willing herself to keep moving, even when her body told her to stop. She had come this far already and was not willing to give up just yet.

Blue crawled toward the stairs of the shack, trying to lift herself up, but without strength, she couldn't manage to do much beyond crawl. When she got to the top, she saw that the door was locked, and panic set in. Her heart starting pounding even harder, as she had no more energy to spare. She weakly put her hoof onto her side, trying to catch her breath and regain some energy. The door was the only thing standing between her and safety, and Blue felt utterly helpless in this moment.

Blue leaned up against the door, trying to catch her breath. Her lungs felt on fire, and each breath brought her pain. She felt herself losing consciousness as her body continued to freeze, but she fought to stay awake. She couldn't risk losing consciousness now, or she might never wake up again. She tried to focus all of her remaining energy to stay awake and gain the strength to open the door, so that she wouldn't die out in the cold.

The door swung open before Blue could register what was happening, causing her to fall backwards and bonk her head. Still dazed and confused, she slowly looked up to see another weapon pointing at her, along with an unfamiliar face. The individual didn't seem to recognize her, and she tried her best to collect herself as she heard the individual call her a "raider".

"What... you?" The individual said, "Raider bad." Blue tried to respond, but her mind was still too foggy for her to form coherent thoughts. Instead, she just stared at the individual in confusion.

"No want raider! Raider steal, and kill yak family." Blue watched with growing concern as the individual in front of her seemed to be fixated on her being a "raider". The individual didn't seem to be understanding that Blue wasn't a raider and was just trying to survive the deadly cold. Blue tried to speak up in her defense, but she still felt too weak to speak clearly. She just continued to stare up at the individual, hoping that they would realize that she wasn't a raider and was only wanting to find shelter.

"F..friendly... please.. help." Blue slowly raised her hooves, trying to show that she meant no harm. She hoped that the gesture would be enough to convince the individual in front of her that she was friendly and that she just wanted to seek shelter from the deadly cold. Blue continued speaking in a weak voice, as her body was beginning to lose its remaining strength, but she forced herself to continue. "P..Please help..."

"P..Please.." Blue mumbled, her voice barely audible as she fought against her fatigue and exhaustion with every bit of endurance she could. Blue felt herself struggling not to succumb to the cold, her body beginning to slowly shut down as it tried to conserve energy. She didn't know how much longer she could go on for, feeling like she was at her limit.

Blue felt like she was struggling to keep her eyes open, her head feeling heavy and her vision getting blurry and faded. She attempted to open her mouth again, but she couldn't seem to gather the strength to speak any further. In a last desperate effort, Blue tried to reach toward the individual in front of her, her hands trembling and her hooves unable to maintain their strength for long. She felt herself slowly losing consciousness, as the cold finally took its toll on her body, but she held onto the faint glimmer of hope that the individual in front of her would help.

The individual in front of Blue spoke up, calling her a "stupid pony", but clarified that she was not a "raider". Yak then closed the door and dragged Blue inside, next to the fire. "What is stupid pony doing in blizzard," Yak asked angrily. Blue felt herself being pulled into the warmth, feeling a bit of relief but still exhausted. She was too tired to give a proper response to Yak's question. "Cold out... want shelter..." was the best she could manage in reply.

Yak looked at Blue in disbelief, annoyed at her response. She couldn't seem to comprehend why anyone would be outside, risking their lives in such a deadly cold. Yak grumbled to herself, calling Blue a "stupid pony" again, and then repeated herself. "If no raider, or other creature get pony, environment kill pony, stupid pony." Yak seemed convinced that Blue didn't know what she was doing, but she didn't bother replying to Yak. She was simply too tired and cold to continue this conversation.

Yak pulled Blue closer to the fire, wanting Blue to get warm. Blue's eyes were struggling to stay open, and she felt nauseous. She wanted to speak up, to say that she agreed with Yak about needing some strength, but her limbs felt too weak to say anything. "Pony will probably catch sickness..." Yak said as she pulled Blue towards the fire, Blue feeling too exhausted to disagree with her assessment at this point. She felt herself being tucked near the fire, trying to gain warmth as her eyes began to shut completely.

Blue fell unconscious near the fire, feeling her consciousness slipping away. She felt herself coughing and sneezing, a symptom of whatever illness Yak had mentioned. She was too tired and cold to do anything about it. Her body felt exhausted, her limbs struggling to keep themselves together, as her eyes closed. As they did, she could feel the warm fire nearby, but all she could think about in her exhausted state was the relief she felt as she slipped into unconsciousness.

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Blue awoke hours later, feeling a bit better, but to her horror, her nose was still stuffed up and she continued to cough. When she did, ice cubes came out along with her coughs, shocking Blue. "Pony knows now. Blizzard is twisted. Brings sickness. Pony will be encased in ice. Pony will shatter. Seen before... Happens to all infected. Takes 3 weeks though. Yak not sure if cure. Never seen one infected again." Blue was terrified, not wanting to die from being encased in ice, but unsure of what to do with this information.

Blue tried to get her bearings, realizing that she was in a place that had been melted due to the fire, likely thanks to Yak's intervention. Her muscles felt sore, as if she had just exercised for hours despite the cold. She felt scared and cold, her body still shivering, even though she was near the burning fire. She felt a sense of relief from the warmth, but also anxiety from being in such a scary situation. She felt her spine shiver with fear and the cold, not knowing what was going to happen next.

Yak suddenly spoke up, saying "Say something before Yak kicks you out, Yak not running charity." Blue looked up, feeling nervous at the thought of being kicked out. She didn't have the energy to even stand up right now, let alone leave. But she didn't want to get kicked out either. She tried to speak up, but her voice felt almost completely gone. "I... um... not a raider," was all she could manage, her breath raspy as she forced herself to talk.

"Yak knows stupid pony. All ponies dumb. Seriously makes Yak mad. Assist Yak with tasks. Yak will supply pony a place to stay for a couple hours. That all. What is pony name?" Blue felt a bit offended at Yak's words but decided not to say anything about it. She didn't want to push her luck or anger Yak at this point. "I.. am Blue. What is... Yak's name?" Blue asked, feeling out of breath as she spoke. "Can... help Yak." She hoped that helping Yak would ensure that she didn't get kicked out and left to freeze outside.

Blue's concern for her health escalated when she recalled the reassuring words of Winterflake. "If Pony worried about sickness, sickness happen in blizzard only," the yak had told her. Yet, Blue was unable to shake off the anxiety which was gnawing at her heart and mind.

Blue wanted to thank Winterflake for providing her with words of comfort, but she could only manage a raspy and painful whisper: "Water... mouth is dry...?" The sore and aching body of the mare alicorn was a stark reminder of the peril she had recently endured during the ferocious blizzard.

Winterflake scurried away to locate a container of water, and Blue found her mind briefly distracted and her mood improved by thoughts of the heroic feats she performed to save herself from the roaches in the stable. She felt some comfort in that and was reminded that even though she was just a stranger to Winterflake, she had helped her anyway. "Yak give Blue. You stranger but helping yak anyway," Winterflake said to her, and Blue felt touched by the gesture. "Blue may become maybe friend. Yes. Despite being stupid pony, pony is funny," Blue acknowledged, her mood lightened at least.

Grateful for the water, Blue gripped the container firmly to drink, despite her bodily aches and pains. She coughed a bit as she took sips, but she persevered and gulped down the water, feeling like the large chunk of ice inside her throat was slowly melting away.

Before Blue could even ask, Winterflake had already shown her thoughtfulness and consideration. She had provided Blue with warm water, rather than cold, because she was acutely aware of the symptoms of the dreaded Sickness, and that included a chunk of ice inside Blue's throat. Winterflake was also quick to mention that she had never come up with a name, perhaps indicating that she had always been content with her generic appellation.

A wave of gratitude swept over Blue as she sipped on the water. As she tried to absorb Winterflake's kindness, she felt a rush of emotions, feeling both shocked and relieved at being able to speak fully once again. "Thank you. I don't know what to do," Blue murmured, still struggling to put into words her thoughts and feelings in the moment.

Blue's uncertainty about her future was evident in her words. She had been told that she would succumb to the debilitating sickness in just a few weeks' time. Deep within her, she hoped that she would be able to discover something that could cure her in time, but the overwhelming sense of hopelessness was evident in the bleak tone of her voice.

Despite her gratitude, Blue was also wary, as Winterflake quickly asked her if she was up for some task. Blue knew that her situation was grave, but she wanted to help her kindly friend, and perhaps doing so would also help her uncover a cure for her illness as well. She wasn't sure what the task was, but she nodded in agreement regardless.

Blue was taken aback by the gravity and intensity of Winterflake's request, feeling her heart tighten at the thought of inflicting harm on another living being. "I've never killed anyone before..." she whispered, the shock of the proposal dawning on her. Despite her concerns and hesitations, however, the guilt and outrage at the injustice done to her friend's family also made her determined to help. "But for you...I'll do it," she stated, resolute to see justice done.

Blue's determination to help Winterflake and avenge her family gave way to another troubling thought. Despite her apprehensions and initial shock, she had felt a surge of adrenaline upon hearing the news about the death of Winterflake's family. More importantly, she had realized that she felt...good...about the prospect of killing bad people? This realization confused and disturbed her. Was she really deriving pleasure and enjoyment from the harm she was going to inflict?

Blue found herself questioning her own feelings and motives, her mind swirling with confusion and worry. "What's happening to me...?" she wondered inwardly, feeling the anxiety and angst rise within her as she contemplated the dark turn that her mind and psyche were apparently taking. She knew that the situation was dire, but was it normal for someone to feel this way when thinking about hurting and killing others?

Winterflake noticed the strange and unsettling expression on Blue's face, and Blue's mind felt like it was in turmoil. It was evident that Blue was struggling with the prospect of hurting another sentient being, especially the idea of enjoying it, and Winterflake felt a stab of concern. Yet, despite Blue's ambivalence, she finally nodded in agreement, and Blue's voice carried a touch of odd excitement and even...pleasure? "I will help...if it's bad people. Mmph." Blue finally murmured, causing even Winterflake to feel somewhat spooked by her reaction.

"Taking one last glance at Winterflake's humble abode, Blue was suddenly filled with unexpected longing and a strange but comforting sense of nostalgia. She wondered why she knew about such things - what was a fireplace anyway? Why had she recognized a bed, and why did she think that the sheets and pillow on top looked strangely itchy?

As Winterflake led the way outside, Blue followed her, the mysterious box the yak had mentioned catching her attention as well. The thought crossed Blue's mind to linger just a few moments longer, but she had to help Winterflake. With a reluctant nod, the mare alicorn followed Winterflake into frozen tundra.

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Outside, Blue was greeted with a strange sight - it appeared to be some sort of warehouse, where a group of burly-looking ponies and griffons were gathered. They all seemed to be busily preparing something, and the air was filled with an odd tension and anticipation. Winterflake, however, said nothing and simply led the way towards her friends, seemingly unperturbed by the strange sight.

Blue wondered what they were going to do, but she quickly followed Winterflake as the yak seemed determined to go forward. Where were they headed, and more importantly, what were they up to?

As Blue and Winterflake approached the group of ponies and griffons, she took the time to quickly observe the situation. The strange tension in the air had intensified, and Blue felt herself growing increasingly more anxious. She glanced at Winterflake, trying to gauge the yak's thoughts and feelings, but Winterflake remained silent and inscrutable.

Uncertain and worried, Blue nevertheless followed Winterflake into what looked like a sea of ponies and griffons, trying to make sense of what was about to happen.

Blue found herself walking alongside Winterflake into the midst of the group of ponies and griffons that had gathered. However, they all seemed to have a singular mission in mind because they had been intently preparing for something - sharpening their blades and making sure they had enough arrows. The grim expressions on all of their faces made Blue's ears prick up at every little sound, and she found herself becoming more nervous with each passing moment.

Blue tried to make sense of what was happening around her as she followed Winterflake, wondering what she had gotten herself into.

As the group of ponies and griffons prepared for something, Blue couldn't help but grow more worried. They all seemed to be focused on a common goal, sharpening their blades and making sure they had enough arrows. Blue's ears were on constant alert, her heart pounding wildly at her chest as she tried to understand what was going on, and what she had unknowingly walked into.

Winterflake still remained silent as they continued into the throng of ponies and griffons, and Blue was unsure whether to feel reassured or even more terrified by her yak friend.

Blue felt her stomach churn as she observed the group of ponies and griffons gathering in the warehouse. Their grim expressions and prepared weapons left little doubt as to what they were planning to do. Blue turned to Winterflake, desperate to know what was going on, but the yak remained silent and inscrutable. Blue's heart was pounding wildly at her chest, and she felt so afraid that she could barely speak.

"W-Winterflake...w-what...what's happening?" Blue finally managed to say as she looked at the yak with wide, fearful eyes.

"Winterflake...please...what is...happening?" Blue whispered nervously, feeling the icy tendrils of fear spreading through her whole body. The group of ponies and griffons still remained focused on their weapons and their mission, ignoring Blue and Winterflake as they stood in the midst of them. Blue tried to compose herself, but she seemed incapable of doing so in the face of the terrifying situation she had walked into. Her heart was pounding wildly at her chest, and she felt the onset of panic rising within her. "Please tell me..."

Blue stood in the midst of the group of ponies and griffons and continued to stare at them, her eyes begging Winterflake for answers. She was terrified and confused and didn't understand what was going on or why? Why were they all gathered here in the warehouse, armed and ready to fight something? What was their mission? Her heart continued to pound wildly in her chest, and she felt the onset of a full-blown panic attack.

Blue found herself surrounded by the group of ponies and griffons, all of whom were armed and ready for a fight. She desperately begged Winterflake for answers, but the yak seemed to have a singular focus. Unable to contain her curiosity or her mounting anxiety any longer, Blue finally asked the question that she had been dreading to voice: "Why are you all here...what are you going to do?" As the words left her mouth, she felt the onset of a full-blown panic attack, her breathing becoming short and jagged and her eyes wide and unseeing.

Blue's words only seemed to prompt even more tense and determined looks from the group of ponies and griffons who remained focused on their weapons. Feeling the adrenaline pumping through her veins and the tears filling her eyes, Blue tried to remain calm but failed miserably. Unable to hold back her panic, she turned to Winterflake once more, her voice pleading, "I...I don't understand what's...what's going on...what are...what are you all going to do?"

The group of ponies and griffons remained focused on their mission, their grim expressions showing no sign of pity or concern for Blue's plight. Seeing their reactions, Blue turned to Winterflake for the last time, her voice trembled with anxiety and fear. "Please, I don't understand what's happening! Why are you all here? What are you going to do?" As Blue begged for answers, she felt the onset of a full-blown panic attack, her breathing becoming short and ragged, her thoughts racing in her mind and her body trembling with fear.

"Winterflake put a palm over her mouth, stifling a cry. "Quiet! Listen," she whispered, pulling her towards the group of fighters. "They're working against slavers, raiders. Just like our people. They're the only ones brave enough to fight... to protect us. They're our friends." Winterflake took her hand and pulled her towards the group, whispering to stick close. "This entire tundra... these peaks... controlled by slavers, raiders. We must help our friends."

Blue waited outside the room Winterflake had just entered. She looked around the warehouse, taking in her surroundings. The place was huge, with tall ceilings and rows of shelves lined with destroyed boxes of all different sizes. The air was cold and still, and there was a faint smell of dust and oil. Blue couldn't see inside the room Winterflake had entered, but she could hear muffled voices coming from within. She had a feeling she was asking for a favor from her old friend, so she had to be patient.

She watched intently as the others tested their weapons, making sure everything was in working order. She took in their expressions, noting the concentration on their faces and the look of determination in their eyes.

Bluemoon's attention was drawn to the weapons laid out in front of her. They looked oddly familiar to her, but she couldn't place exactly why. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her head, causing her to lose focus for a moment. When she could see clearly again, she found herself in a strange place - there was no warehouse, just a field with ponies running towards zebras. She watched in horror as gunfire rang out from both directions. Suddenly, she blinked, and everything was back to normal. It had all been a strange.

Blue had a feeling of dread, but at the same time, memories of something long past washed through her brain. Then, just as quickly as they came, the images began to fade from her mind. She looked up at the mare who was polishing the guns, and was surprised to find that they looked so familiar to her. However, she couldn't put her hoof on exactly why. "These guns... I don't really know anything about them," she muttered, "but they do resonate with me." A sense of unease filled her heart.

The mare glancing up from her work with a smile, "You enjoy guns, I take it?" She raised an eyebrow, looking at Blue with a bit of curiosity. The mare had been polishing the guns for some time now, and was just about done with the task that had been assigned to her. Having taken a moment to look up, she was suddenly struck by how familiar the mare's face looked to her. "Have we met before?" Blue asked, frowning in thought.

Blue felt her heart sink a bit at the mare's reply to her question, but the mare's next comment brought a faint smile to her face. "Nice to meet you, Polish." She extended her hoof toward the mare, offering a hoofshake. "I'm Blue. I don't really have a good reason for it... just the name that sticks." The mare's remark about the wasteland only served to dampen her spirits a bit more, as she couldn't help but think about the endless possibilities for danger outside. She felt her worries build as she stared at the guns.

"Hey, so my friend said you guys are fighting slavers and raiders out in the winter peaks, but I honestly have no idea what those things are." Blue pauses, realizing how silly her question might sound to Polish who is likely more informed than she am. "You know, I've never heard of any of those things before. Do you think you could enlighten me?" Blue adds

Polish turned back to Blue with a look of worry on her face. "You don't know what a slaver or raider is?" She asked, sounding troubled. "They're the ones causing all the problems out in the winter peaks... the ones we're trying to fight. Slavers are people who kidnap and sell other ponies... they're awful. Raiders are... I don't really know how to describe them, but they're not very nice ponies at all." She shuddered, remembering the things she had heard about the slavers and raiders.

"As a mechanic, I am tasked with maintaining our weaponry, ensuring they remain functional and ready for combat. However, I have never actually engaged in direct action against these slavers and raiders. Instead, I support our troops from afar by keeping their equipment in tip-top shape so they can effectively combat these foes and keep the innocent townsfolk safe from harm. While I may not personally be involved in the bloodshed, my contributions are just as indispensable to our defense."

Blue looked around, confused as Polish explained, "We travel all over Winter Peaks looking to assist people with raider and slaver problems. That's who I meant by 'townsfolk.'"

A light bulb went off for Blue as the bigger picture came into focus. Suddenly, the stakes were clear. This quest wasn't just about fighting bad guys and saving people. It was about a much bigger cause. They were working to create a brighter future for those affected by the ongoing conflict

As she listened to Polish describe their group's cause, a look of understanding flashed across her face, saying. "Ah, I see. Well, that's not actually a bad cause. I might assist you guys from time to time," She asked. "How long have you guys been a group doing this?' Blue's question hung in the air, awaiting an answer.

"We've been a group for several years now," Polish replies, "It started as just a few of us, but we've grown significantly in that time. We've gained a lot of experience and expertise in dealing with raiders and slavers, and we've helped countless folks who were under their yoke. We're glad to have you on board, Blue. I'm sure you'll be able to contribute a lot to our mission with your skills and knowledge."

"A whole seven of fighting against these people? I've never heard of a group so dedicated to protecting others. It's amazing what you've been doing."

Blue looked on, her face drawn and upset. "I actually don't know that much about fighting," She admitted. "I wish I could help you guys a lot more." Blue's words hung in the air, her sadness evident to all those present. All she wanted was to be of use to this noble cause, and here she was, stuck feeling like nothing more than a burden. If only she could contribute in a meaningful way, maybe then they would value her as much as she valued them.

"No worries! Even if you're new to fighting, you can still help us in many ways," Polish assured Blue. "Your willingness to learn and contribute is what's important. We can't do this alone. We've assisted countless townsfolk with problems related to raiders and slavers. It's tough work, but someone has to do it. And now that you're here, perhaps we won't be so overwhelmed with all the work."

"But I'm just one mare, what could I possibly do? The raiders and slavers are armed."

"You don't have to be a warrior to help a cause," Polish explained. "We could always use an extra set of hooves. You could assist with organization, report writing, and keeping track of supplies. Even our little group has gotten too big for one person to handle. You wouldn't believe all the work we have to do just on a routine basis. So, if you'd agree to help take on some of that workload, we'd be more than grateful."

"Thank you for assuring me, Polish," Blue replied with gratitude. "I know I'm new to this world, but I really want to help and make a difference. I want to assist the townsfolk and help you guys defeat the raiders and slavers."

"Wait, how new are you to the wasteland?" Polish asked, raising an eyebrow at Blue. She was clearly confused by Blue's lack of experience in this environment. Maybe Blue had been sheltered or never left the safety of her home but whatever the reason, it was evident she needed some guidance.

"Oh, my!" Polish exclaimed, stepping back in surprise as she saw the horn on Blue's head as well as her wings. She pointed her gun at Blue and yelled, "Don't come any closer, you freak!"

Blue seemed confused and a bit upset by Polish's reaction. She didn't know what she had done to make her so scared.
However, Polish was taken aback by Blue's strange appearance and she wasn't sure how to react. She had never seen an alicorn before and she was afraid of what the creature might do.

"W-wait, please hear me out!" Blue pleaded with Polish, who had now backed up a few more steps. She continued to hold her gun firmly at Blue, ready to shoot if the alicorn tried to move any closer.

Polish had heard rumors about alicorns and their ruthlessness. She remembered the stories of alicorns kidnapping and transforming unicorns into more of their kind, and she didn't want to become the subject of those stories.

"Please don't hurt me," Blue pleaded as she grew increasingly scared. Her wings unfurled and she was now shaking with fear. Polish continued to point her gun at Blue, unsure of what to do. She had never seen an alicorn before and she was unsure of how the creature would react.

She tried to stay calm and assess the situation. Blue was clearly not a threat, but Polish was still afraid of what the alicorn might do. She was struggling to decide what to do next.

"Polish, stop this nonsense!" Winterflake yelled. "Blue has done nothing wrong and she's not going to hurt you. Put the gun down and let her explain herself."

Polish was confused by Winterflake's sudden appearance. She was still afraid of Blue and she didn't know if the alicorn was going to attack. But she trusted her boss, so she slowly lowered her gun and stepped back.
Blue was still terrified and she was shaking with fear, but she was relieved to see that Winterflake had come to her aid.

As Blue felt perplexed, wondering what had caused her yak friend's usual manner of speaking to change, Blue posed a question to them. "What caused this sudden alteration in your speech, Winterflake?" Blue inquired, with confusion evident on her face."

"Ah, you see, I was simply testing your intelligence." Winterflake replied with a slight smirk.

"Anyway, I heard from our old friend that there's a raider settlement that took over a nearby abandoned facility. They're apparently using ponies in those disgusting pit fights they enjoy so much."

"We need to take the raider settlement out, and soon. It'll be dangerous, but we need to save any ponies who are being held captive."
Winterflake turned to Blue and added, "Can you come with us? It'll be risky, but your alicorn magic could come in hoof."

Winterflake's words had wounded Blue deeply. "You tested my intelligence? Am I stupid?" Blue's voice trembled with uncertainty, as she struggled to reconcile her self-perception with Winterflake's judgment of her intellect.

Winterflake chuckled, "Hah! I guess I misread you earlier. I thought for sure you were putting up a facade to trick people in this wasteland. But you're actually as innocent as you seem. Which is bad, because you can't afford to be caught off guard in a place like this." Blue's face lightened as Winterflake recognized her naivety, which was a welcome change after being grilled for being treated dumb. She was relieved that Winterflake had come around to her genuine nature.

Winterflake said, "Okay, we're running out of time. Let's get going. Blue, you do know how to shoot, right?"

In response to Winterflake's question, Blue nods. "No, I'm unfamiliar with handling a gun. But I'd prefer to avoid using it if possible. I'm not a fan of violence, and I don't want to become a killer like everyone else out here."

Winterflake seems slightly annoyed by Blue's answer. "Don't be a wimp. In this world, you either fight or you die. And I'm not about to let anything happen to my friends. So suck it up and grab your gun before we make our way to there. We don't have all nightfall." Blue nodded agreement and they set off, following Winterflake's lead.

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Winterflake and Blue as they approach the abandoned facility. Light was fading, casting a dark, ominous shadow over the area.
The doors to the facility stand wide open, inviting them to enter. The structure looks old and decrepit, with years of decay and neglect evident. Winterflake looks at Blue, her face set with determination.

"This is it," she says. "We need to be extra cautious when we enter. Keep your gun ready in case we run into any trouble."

Along with Winterflake and Blue, there were five other ponies accompanying them, including Polish. She shot a disgruntled look at Blue, clearly still upset that an alicorn like her was helping out. Winterflake didn't seem to notice, as she was focused on entering the old abandoned building safely.

The ponies made sure their guns were loaded and ready to fire as they approached the abandoned facility. Blue turned to Winterflake, "I'm not sure how to load my gun." Winterflake responded, "Let me see it."

Blue looked down at her gun, her eyes filling with uncertainty. "I don't think I can do it," she said as she looked up at Winterflake. Winterflake raised an eyebrow, clearly doubting her ability to load the pistol. Blue gulped nervously, her eyes darting around. She brought out the gun, looking at it nervously, her hoof trembling slightly.

Blue looked down at the gun with growing fascination, her eyes filling with awe as she took in its details. The number 1911 was stamped on the side of the pistol, and Blue was mesmerized by this piece of weaponry. She continued to gaze at it in a dazed, almost drooly state of wonder. Winterflake noticed Blue's expression and raised an eyebrow, slightly concerned. "What's gotten into her," she wondered to herself.

Blue was still caught up in her daze, staring at the gun with her glazed-over eyes. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Winterflake stood next to her, seeming impressed. "I knew you could do it Blue!" Winterflake praised her. Blue looked down at the gun and saw that she had somehow loaded it properly. She was confused and impressed at the same time. As she looked back at Winterflake, she saw her nod in approval. "Wait, how did I...?" Blue trailed off, still not believing what she had accomplished.

"Be careful, I've heard there are at least 8 to 10 raiders occupying this abandoned facility," Winterflake warned as she and the other ponies took cover behind the entrance. Suddenly, gunfire rang out, followed by the insane giggling of two Raiders who had emerged from the darkness. One of the stallions with them was hit, his head blown apart and blood showering the entrance wall. His skull fragments flew in every direction, one of them piercing the closest stallions eye, causing him to wince and run partially blind. Winterflake shouted, "Regroup!"

"Run run run! It makes it more fun!" the Raiders' mare shrieked with reckless laughter, her words echoing off the walls of the abandoned facility. She reveled in the chaos and violence, relishing in the pain and suffering of her victims. The Raiders continued their attack, firing away at the helpless ponies who were desperately trying to find cover. It was a bloodbath and the mare's mad laughter filled the air.

Blue jumped behind a large mound of dirt for cover, her heart pounding in her chest. She turned to see her companions hiding behind a broken-down machine. It looked somewhat familiar to her, but she didn't have time to think about it now. The sound of gunshots and screaming filled the air. Blue could hear the Raiders' hysterical laughter, mocking their prey as they continued their merciless attack. She was overwhelmed with fear and adrenaline, her breathing heavy as she tried to stay focused and find a way out of this situation.

Blue was terrified. She had seen the stallion die just a moment ago and she could not fathom how quickly life could be taken away. In that moment, she was almost paralyzed with fear. Yet, she knew she had no choice. She closed her eyes and fired blindly. And she heard a scream, and a gurgle, and the madness of the Raiders' attack was silenced. Blue trembled, both from fear and from the rush of adrenaline that flooded her body. She didn't dare to move, not wanting to see what was left of her enemy.

The gunfire started back up again, bringing Blue back to the reality of the situation. She heard the sound of gunshots coming from both near and far away. But, she didn't want to move, too afraid of what she might see. The gunfire was loud and chaotic, and she could not bear to watch what was happening.

She kept her eyes closed, hoping it would block out the sounds of battle and the screams of her fellow ponies. Yet, the gunshots continued, ringing out over and over again, until eventually, there was silence. Blue waited, still too afraid to open her eyes.

Suddenly, Blue felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She opened her eyes to find Winterflake next to her, blood covering her face and body. The look of rage in her eyes made Blue step back in alarm. "What the fuck was that, Blue? Why weren't you fighting?" Winterflake snarled, her voice filled with pure anger and frustration. Blue trembled, stunned by the sight of Winterflake and the sudden shift in her demeanor.

"I... I... I froze up." Blue was stumbling over her words, her voice small and weak in the face of Winterflake's anger. Winterflake kept staring, her eyes boring into Blue, like she couldn't believe what happened. Blue shrank away in fear, feeling guilty for her inaction. But, she couldn't find her voice, her throat closing up as she tried to explain what had happened. Winterflake continued to glare, her eyes like razors cutting into Blue.

Winterflake pushed Blue towards the facility, her angry face glaring at her, her voice filled with frustration. "There's more hiding in there. You go in and take care of it. I'll clean up the mess of the three who died. I don't care what you see, and you don't get to run away." Winterflake turned to the dead ponies as she started cleaning up the blood, her back towards Blue. Blue was still in shock from earlier, trying to process what had just happened. Feeling overwhelmed, she slowly made her way inside.

Winterflake paused, and looked up at Blue. She seemed a bit taken aback by the question. "Why are you cleaning it up?" she asked.

Winterflake didn't reply. She just yelled at Blue to "get moving" and pushed her forward forcefully. Blue jumped with a start and quickly went inside dropping her gun into her saddle bag and closing it. Just as Blue stepped inside, a warning shot echoed through the facility. She froze for a moment, and then continued walking deeper inside. She was nervous as she approached the unknown territory, and her heart was beating rapidly in her chest.

"Oi, don't fecking move another step," a hostile voice called out. Blue halted in her tracks and looked around, trying to see who it had come from. "Otherwise, we use ya for target practice. My pals would love to use ya for that."

Blue was shocked and a bit scared. She knew she was outnumbered, but she still didn't want to follow their orders. The voice seemed to come from one of the Raiders, but she couldn't see where they were. She tried to keep calm and make a plan.

Having heard that threatening voice, Blue knew she was in a bad situation. She tried to be logical and felt she could be useful, thinking that maybe they would need her in some way. She took a deep breath and spoke up, trying to sound confident.
"Listen," she said, her voice still shaky with fear, "I can help you." She hoped that her words would be enough to spare her life.

"Wurk? Tha's a laff." The mare bellowed with a wild, sickening laugh. "Get a load o' that horseshit asphalt," she said to the stallion, who still had his rifle pointed directly at Blue's eye. She seemed to delight in Blue's fear and helplessness, her eyes gleamed with excitement. Blue stood still, unable to figure out how she could possibly help these raiders. She just wanted to survive.

"She finks we are like slavers," the mare Raider sneered, clearly disgusted by the idea. "Hah! We're Raiders! You little shit, we got a shit for brains." Blue felt a rifle butt strike her eye, and she let out a cry as blood trickled down her face. "Awww, red's cute on that purdy face," the Raider mocked her, clearly delighted to have caused her pain and humiliation. Blue felt powerless and angry, but she tried to keep calm and play along as best as she could.

As Blue looked around desperately, she noticed that there was another Raider behind her, the one who had whacked her with the barrel of the rifle. She felt her heart rate increase, fearing the worst. Would this Raider be even more brutal than the ones she had encountered a moment ago? She tried to remain calm and think of a way out of this situation.

Blood began to pool from the wound on Blue's cheek. It was split open, the chill air making the hot crimson feel cold on her skin. The pain grew unbearable, her head feeling light. She felt the ground beneath her sway, her thoughts running wild with fear and confusion. She wanted to scream, to cry out for help, but she knew that would only attract more attention from the Raiders. She looked towards the mare Raider and hoped that she would take pity on her.

"Just listen," Blue said with a slight waver in her voice, despite the pain she was feeling. "I know how to survive in this wasteland and I'm not a weakling. I think your group could benefit from having someone like me around, just think of all the things I could teach you." The female Raider listened to Blue, her expression twisting. "Is that so?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

The mare Raider mocked Blue, her voice dripping with pleasure. She seemed to enjoy Blue's pain and suffering. The other mare grew impatient with her and said, "Stop playing with the prey and just kill her already."

The mare Raider shrugged. "Or send her out to the mines, we could use the extra labor," she said. She looked Blue up and down, as if judging whether she would be suitable for mining work. Blue held her breath, not sure what would happen next.

The stallion Raider didn't seem as amused by the idea of having Blue around. "You're no fun, Lil," he said as he scoffed at Lil, the female Raider. Lil ignored him and kept pointing her rifle at Blue, looking her up and down.

"How much work could you actually get out of this thing?" Lil asked, her eyes narrowing at Blue's size. "She's big for a unicorn" she observed. Blue felt like she was being appraised like a piece of livestock.

Despite her injured eye streaming blood, Blue stood before the Raiders, desperate to convince them of her worth. Ignoring the mocking taunts, she continued, "I know how to survive in this wasteland and I'm no weakling. I can hunt and forage for food, cook for the group, and I have knowledge of medicinal herbs." She hoped that her skills would be enough to sway them, and that they would accept her as a member of the Raider group.

Blue knew that she was lying, just so she could survive. Yet, she tried to think of any useful skills she might have that could appeal to the Raiders. After all, her life was at stake and if she was lucky, they wouldn't call her out for lying.

The Raiders looked at each other and began to laugh. "You're a riot," one of them said sarcastically. "You're so bad at lying. Nothing grows out here, there's no animals to hunt, and we don't need and cook." They continued to jeer at Blue and laugh at her failed attempt at gaining their favor. Blue couldn't hide her frustration and fear, feeling completely powerless as the Raiders taunted her. It seemed to be hopeless.

"Looks like the bloody Fangs are eating good tonight!" the Raider snickered, her laughter sounding insane. She looked at Blue, a look of malice on her face. Her eyes gleamed with excitement, as if she was looking forward to Blue's demise. The other Raiders laughed along, eager for the meal and entertainment they expected to receive. Blue tried to hold back her anger, knowing that it would only make things worse. She had to find a way out of this situation before it was too late.

"We didn't agree to the 'Bloody Fangs'," one of the stallions shouted angrily at the mare. The sudden outburst from the stallion took Blue by surprise. But, being the intelligent unicorn she was, she immediately realized that this tense atmosphere might be her chance to escape. The Raiders were bickering and distracted, and that was the perfect opportunity to flee from the danger. She waited for the right moment, and then she sprung into action.

"We never made you our leader Mary bloodthirsty," one of the Raiders corrected her. "You don't get to choose the name. We are The Vicious FangClan!" It seemed like the Raiders couldn't agree on their name or their leader. This confusion created the perfect opportunity for Blue to escape. The Raiders were too busy arguing amongst themselves to notice her. She had to move quickly before they caught on.

Lil laughed, clearly enjoying the fight this was starting to turn into. She seemed to delight in the chaos and turmoil, not caring about the outcome as long as it entertained her. She looked over at Blue and smirked, enjoying the sight of her fear and confusion. It seemed like Lil was the type of Pony who enjoyed seeing others suffer and was not someone Blue wanted to deal with, if possible. But, she couldn't risk angering the Raiders further.

Suddenly, Lil got very upset, realizing that Blue was trying to sneak away. She shouted "hey get back here bitch!" out of anger, trying to intimidate Blue into staying. The other Raiders looked over, surprised by Lil's sudden aggression. Lil stood there, glaring at Blue, waiting for her to obey. Blue stood her ground, trying to remain calm and composed despite her fear and desperation. She knew she couldn't afford to antagonize the violent raiders further.

With Lil's shouts ringing in her ears, Blue decided she had no choice but to run away. As she did so, she happened to spot a cage covered in cloth. She quickly walked up to the cage and worked on the lock, trying to figure out a way to get it open. After two hits with her baton, she managed to break the lock and managed to open the cage. Bullets flew past her and one hit her leg, causing her to scream in pain. Despite her injury, she forced the cage door open.

As the Raiders scrambled and yelled, Blue believed that maybe the people they had captured would be in the cage, and that she had freed them. She took a step away from the cage as a giant paw came out, shaking the ground and causing Blue to step back, feeling scared of what she may have released. She didn't know if this creature was friendly or dangerous, and she felt helpless in the face of this formidable opponent.

From inside the cage emerged a giant bear with blue fur and star-like patterns. It roared at the Raiders and spat out ice breath, sending the Raiders scrambling in fear. The Raiders panicked, began firing, and took aim at the bear. They were yelling "Take the fucking thing down! The stupid bitch let out our highly coveted Ursa minor!" They continued to fire, but the bear easily deflected their bullets and claws with thick hide. Blue's eyes widened as she witnessed the bloodshed. She didn't know whether to feel grateful or terrified.

As the bear attacked the Raiders, Blue stealthily snuck around, using her baton to break open the locks of the cages actually holding ponies and gryphons captive. Mary Bloodthirsty saw Blue and narrowed her eyes at her, however, she fled with the bear as it gave chase. Blue, on the other hand, continued her efforts, breaking free and helping the beaten up and broken ponies and gryphons. When she was done, she then guided them to the entrance, waving for Polish and Winterflake to come over as the gunfire faded into the distance.

"You managed but what the hell came out of there," Blue said, fidgeting from the pain in her leg and on her cheek. She then turned to Winterflake, saying, "I unlocked a cage, and that thing came out they called it a Ursa minor. Any chance you know what that is?"
Winterflake shook her head and replied "No, but you got the captives good job," she chuckled lightly. She continued, "despite you not assisting and getting my men killed... I don't know what I'm going to say to my old friend, knowing some of his friends are dead," Winterflake says, finishing her sentence about her old friend. She was worried about how her old friend would react to the death of his group members. Blue, however, was still focused on the Ursa minor. She was now wondering if it was safe to stay close to it. She turned her attention to Winterflake and asked "So, do you know if this Ursa minor is dangerous?"

Winterflake simply stated, "I don't have the faintest clue, looks like a giant bear. Never seen one like that before." Blue's sadness grew as she realized she would get no further information about the weird bear-like creature. She was now unsure what to do next with the unknown Ursa Minor.

Blue winced from the pain and asked Winterflake. "Do you happen to know where I can get any help for my wounded cheek?" Winterflake stated, "We have a pony who knows medicine that can help you, however." She paused, thinking of which requirement to disclose first. "You are going to need to pay in caps, only those that show the best performance on missions can get free treatment." She shrugged, "If you don't got the caps you are shit out of luck."

Blue was saddened by this as she considered her options. Then, she remembered something and suddenly took out a bottle. However, she had forgotten which one was the healing potion and which one was an unknown potion she had obtained. Unsure of what to do with this bottle, she drank it, despite knowing it could have negative effects. Immediately, Blue felt strange, almost as if something strange was taking over her body. She wasn't sure if the Potion would be beneficial or harmful to her situation, but she hoped for the best outcome.

"Whoa, what the hell?" Blue couldn't believe her eyes. She watched in amazement as the bullets fell out of the wounds in her leg and the holes closed up, healing themselves. She couldn't believe it! She felt amazing. The chills inside her body were gone, and she felt alive and fantastic. She couldn't believe her luck. After everything that had happened, she finally felt good and in control again. She felt like she wanted to take advantage of this newfound power.

Winterflake and Polish both looked at Blue with curiosity. Winterflake was the first to speak up and ask, "Hey hey, you good, Blue?" Blue looked back at them calmly, as if everything was fine. She even coughed and laughed playfully, acting as if it was nothing and was just in "the afterglow of this potion I took." She pointed to the bottle with the title, "Taint," and Winterflake immediately responded by pulling Polish back. "Don't fucking get that near the Unicorn," she said in her aggressive tone.

"The locals told me the puddles are full of that Taint," Winterflake stated, "Clearly the unicorn I saw must not have been a local." She turned from facing Blue to facing Polish. Winterflake was now even more cautious, keeping Polish as close as she could. She was clearly on high alert.

Blue stared at Winterflake in thought as she responded. She seemed embarrassed and apologetic. With a sigh, she spoke again, "I'm sorry... I didn't know. I won't do this again." With a slight smile and hesitant tone, she followed up with her question, "Um... may I ask what the place was you visited?" Winterflake nodded in agreement to Blue's apology, while keeping her eyes glued on Polish. She now seemed slightly more relaxed, now that she knew that Blue was remorseful and willing to listen.

In response to Winterflake's question, Polish shook her head. However, she still glared at Blue, clearly unhappy with her actions. But, seeing as Winterflake was starting to relax now that Blue had slid the empty bottle of Taint into her saddle bag, Polish continued to stay still and listen. Clearly, she was still on edge about what Blue might do next. She had to trust her to not make any other mistakes, but she wasn't confident.

Winterflake answers Blue's question, stating, "Near splendid Valley, I didn't stay there though." She paused, as if to choose her next words carefully. She continued to speak, "The locals say that hellhounds, and well... Your own kind, the freaks of nature." She couldn't help but sound slightly judgmental, as she spoke the last words. It was clear she wasn't thrilled with the idea of Blue and her fellow Alicorns.

Blue closed her eyes, looking a bit sad as she responded. "I'm not like them..." she said, "at least I don't think, I don't have any memories, and I don't even know how I'm supposed to act." Winterflake paused, then looked at Blue. She wanted to respond, but Blue immediately cut her off, saying "It's fine, I understand, I might know what horrible things the other Alicorns did..." Blue paused, then ended her sentence with "... but I promise you, I won't ever do what they do."

As Winterflake went to apologize, Blue quickly cut her off. "We have something to do. The raiders said there's mines. We need to find them, and save whoever is down there." Blue was determined and didn't have time for apologies. Winterflake realized this and agreed to head into the mines with Blue. "Right, Polish, stay here with the others," she said, leaving no room for debate about that.

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After a few minutes of searching, Blue and Winterflake managed to find the entrance to the cave. As they approached the mouth of the cave, an awful stench greeted them. The warmth coming from the cave gave Blue a foreboding feeling. They both looked around warily as they entered the cave, trying to see if something lay in wait for them inside. Winterflake quickly, pulled out her gun, as she looked around the dark cave cautiously.

"Are you also nervous to an extent?" Blue asked, her tone worried. Winterflake simply responded, "Anything other than being on edge is weakness, Blue." She then instructed, "Make sure your pistol is out." Blue quickly moved to follow Winterflake's orders, removing her pistol from her saddle bag after opening it, can closes it again. Holding the pistol in her hoof. Blue was now fully alert and prepared for any danger that may arise as they ventured further into the dark and eerie cave.

The stench that Blue was familiar with from her stable had become even more intense. It was like death and dust, but now the cave was even warmer than the stable was. She could feel the heat on her face, causing it to sting a bit. However, she pressed on past the unpleasant scent and continued looking around the dark cave, her pistol still held in her hooves. She hoped that nothing would happen, but she was ready for anything as she proceeded with caution.

"Hey, do you know how to use that horn of yours?" Winterflake asked, turning to look at Blue, as they continued to move forward through the dark cave. She then gave Blue a suggestion, saying "If you know how to lift things, use that magic to wrap your gun and boom, your hoof will be free to use still."

"You seem to know a lot, Winterflake." Blue was impressed and a little surprised by her knowledge. She focused her magic, just like she did when she lifted the jacket towards her back in the stable, and saw the magical glow form around the gun. The sound of her horn magic echoed throughout the cave and deeper within. They both heard a screech, followed by more screeches, and the sound of hoofsteps was approaching closer. It was becoming more clear that danger was nearby. Blue had to be even more cautious now.

Blue and Winterflake both froze in their tracks, as they heard the screeches and hoofsteps approaching. Blue's horn cast a glow over the area, revealing some decaying, pale ponies, with patches of fur. They had longer bodies and their hooves looked like claws. Blue yelled, "Run!" She quickly backpedaled, with Winterflake right behind her. Winterflake began firing her gun, desperately trying to hold off the creatures that were quickly catching up.

They both continued running, until they soon reached the entrance of the cave. "Hurry!" Winterflake yelled, "Use your magic to push the loose rocks on the entrance and collapse it!" Blue quickly focused her horn, blasting out a blast of magic at the loose rocks near the entrance, causing them to come crumbling down and seal the entrance. They were now safely outside but they knew that the creatures were still just inside the sealed cave. They could do nothing but wait.

They both stood there, panting heavily, as they realized they had escaped the dangerous creatures for the moment. Winterflake turned to look at Blue, impressed but also a bit concerned. She realized Blue used magic that she didn't know she possessed. "I wanted you to use your levitation magic but that worked out too." Blue said, clearly a bit bewildered and confused. "I don't know... how or where that came from. It was just an instinct," she added, still trying to figure it out. Clearly, she was unaware of how powerful she can be.

Blue looked up and noticed that Winterflake had a claw mark on her rear. She immediately panicked, worried that Winterflake may have been injured. "Winterflake! Are you okay?" Blue asked, her tone a mix of panic and concern. Winterflake responded quickly, dismissing Bluemoon's worries.

"No, I'll handle it. I got healing potions," she said, trying to ease Bluemoon's fears. She wasn't injured at all, the claw mark just left an ugly mark on her rear.

Blue looks on as Winterflake pulls out a healing potion from her bag and drinks it down, before throwing the empty bottle to the ground, breaking it against the rocks. As the wound heals, she sees the reaction from the creatures in the cave. The entrance to the cave rumbles, as she hears muffled screeching coming from inside. Bluemoon is relieved that Winterflake seems okay but she is also worried about what those creatures might do, if they escape the sealed cave. She knows they have to be cautious.

"What the hell were those things," Blue asked, confused and frightened. Winterflake tried to reassure her. "Unfortunately, I'm not as experienced as you think. I have no clue what those things are," she said. Winterflake had no idea what those creatures in the cave were, but she felt a bit relieved now that the cave was sealed. She hoped they would be safe outside, but she was more on edge now that she'd seen those monsters.

Blue turned away from the sealed cave and moved further away. She clearly didn't want to be in that area anymore. "I don't wanna be in this area anymore," she told Winterflake. "I think we should move on." She wondered what to do about the people they had saved. "Are they even able to move in their condition?" Blue didn't want to waste time trying to move them if they were too injured, so she waited for Winterflake's answer.

Winterflake calls out "Polish!" and she rushes over quickly. She asks, "You are back so soon? What'd you find down there?" Blue listened in from the side, waiting to find out what Winterflake was going to say next. She was curious to hear what they had discovered. She hoped nothing too dramatic would come of whatever it was they had found.

"Nothing," Winterflake says to Polish with an air of confidence. Blue watches closely and is curious as to why Winterflake is seemingly lying. She responds with "All the ponies down there are dead." Blue is a bit concerned but she trusts Winterflake, since they had been through so much together. They all decide that one of them should go and get their entire group and their doctor to come take a look at the ponies. Blue listens in, wondering who their doctor was, but she was intrigued and willing to go along with whatever they decided.

Winterflake says "I think we should make Blue do it, since she's new and needs to earn more favor." Blue looked slightly annoyed but tried to keep a calm head. "Polish come with me and help bring the ponies out of the cold and in the facility, we need to stay here for awhile." Winterflake then looked to Blue, waiting for her response. Blue had no choice but to agree. She needed to earn more favor with the group, and so she would have to do as Winterflake suggested.

"Well okay, I'll do that for you," Blue said quietly. She seemed slightly bothered but tried to keep her cool. "I'm sorry I didn't help in the fight." Blue's voice caught in her throat as she spoke. "I'm sorry I got them killed," she then said, her voice filled with guilt. Winterflake looked at Blue with some concern.

Winterflake and Polish looked at her with a mix of worry and resentment. "Look... I'm never going to trust you as much seeing what you are," Polish said to Blue. "I'll tolerate you and work with you, maybe I'll even join you when you need it." Blue felt like the group wouldn't fully accept her after this. She tried her best to stay calm and not let her emotions get the best of her. "Just know I am a bit sorry," Winterflake said, trying to be a bit comforting here.

"It's fine," Blue said with a calm tone. "I understand, Polish. I'm an alicorn." She then added, "Just let me do a bunch of good though and I'll change your mind of me." Blue seemed determined to do what she could to redeem herself and earn back the trust of the group.

"I'll start with bringing you the group and the doctor," Blue said, "It will take a while though." She then turned and started to leave, to go and find their group and their doctor.

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Blue returned to the group, after going to find their doctor. She was well on her way to meeting up with the group, having already found their doctor. She was now snacking on three of the bars she took from the stable and had possibly a whole month's worth of snacks in her saddle bag if she didn't share it with anyone else. It seemed like she was taking responsibility and doing what she could to help, despite the polish's earlier reaction to her.

"Hey, I was told you were the doctor?" Blue asked with a calm tone. She was now wearing her jacket tightly around her. She seemed mildly nervous as two guards watched the doctor work, but tried to keep her cool. "Hey, dumbass," one of them said aggressively to her. "Doctor Biopsy is busy, she's tending to the wounded from the previous attack we dealt to the slavers out near the ruins of the crystal empire. Either say something important. Or move the fuck along."

"Ah.. um.. this.. uh is very important," Blue said quietly. She couldn't quite find the strength or confidence to speak loudly in front of the guard, who now began yelling at her. "Speak the fuck up, yes or no," the guard shouted, clearly frustrated at Blue's quietness. Blue felt even more anxious and stressed, as the guards continued yelling at her. "Yes or no? It's not that hard." He repeated.

"Yes," Blue answered forcefully. This seemed to appease the guards, who stopped yelling. She had now calmed down slightly, after taking some deep breaths. She seemed happy that the guards weren't yelling at her anymore. It was a big relief for her.

"Good, guess you ain't so dumb," The guard said, no longer yelling at Blue. "No funny business here" he added. "If ya try anything," he continued, "you gettin a bullet between ya eyes and left to be a practice body fer the ol doc ta work on." Blue was relieved that the guard seemed to be calming down and that he was now willing to listen to what she had to say. She didn't intend to make any trouble and wanted to stay away from any more conflict.

As Blue entered the building, she felt relieved that the guard had finally let her through. As she looked around, she noticed the doctor seemingly removing pieces of metal from another pony's body. "Damnit... there's more bomb shrapnel here than flesh," Biopsy said sounding exhausted. Blue kept her distance, trying to not interfere with the doctor's work. She wanted to help as much as she could but she also wanted to respect their profession and keep out of the way as much as possible.

Blue continued to watch the doctor work, intrigued by her skill and dedication. However, she couldn't help but notice how exhausted and stressed the mare seemed to be. After a few moments, she saw the doctor take a flask from inside her coat pocket and begin to drink it. Blue watched with curiosity, wondering what was in the flask and whether it was helping the doctor stay focused and in good spirits during such a strenuous task.

"A lost cause... there's nothing more I can do," Biopsy said, wiping the sweat from her brow. She was startled when she saw Blue looking at her, and shouted "What do you want?!" Blue got a better look at the doctor, who appeared terrible and exhausted. Her eyes were sunken in, she was pale and sweaty, and her mane was a mess. This was surprising to Blue, who had not expected the doctor to look this way.
"Don't be afraid," Blue then said gently.

"I came here to take care of business set by Winterflake," Blue explained to Biopsy, "She and Polish are just five hours from here... They are in dire need of our help." Blue went on to explain that there was a group of ponies who were in rough shape, unable to make the trip. She felt compelled to help them in any way she could.
Biopsy's ears perked up at the news that a group of ponies needed help and that Winterflake and Polish were nearby. She suddenly seemed more alert and eager to help.

Biopsy responded "I'll help." She then informed Blue that they had a working wagon, which they had enchanted with a talisman to make it move on its own, which would cut the trip down to only 3 hours. However, due to the amount of equipment and supplies that they would need, they would only be able to fit 5 ponies on the wagon, and she suggested they take 2 to make it 4. She then added that multiple trips would be needed due to the amount of hurt people they would need to transport.

"What's a talisman?" Blue asked the mare, curious to learn more. "What you raised in a stable?" Before Blue could answer, she was cut off by Biopsy, who seemed annoyed by the waste of time. "I can see your Pipbuck," Biopsy said sharply. "Fine, I'll explain." She then added, "However, I expect you to trade a favor since you are wasting valuable time." Blue wasn't expecting this response, but she wanted to learn more. So she decided to accept Biopsy's terms.

"Well, since I'm helping out anyway, I'll assist you, too."

Biopsy rolled her eyes and continued, "A talisman is a gemstone and it can do many different things. The one we have happens to make the wagon move quickly and on its own. This has been very helpful in moving supplies from one place to another.
Unfortunately, we have been ambushed on a few occasions, but we mostly managed to make it out unscathed."

Biopsy pointed to a machine and said, "Well, we have to get a move on. Stop standing around and come help me with this." She took another sip from her flask and then pocketed the flask. She added, "We are going to take a while doing this. Hope you are strong." Blue could tell by the way Biopsy spoke that she was a pony who wanted to get things done quickly and efficiently, even if it meant working hard. This was something Blue admired and respected about the mare.

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It had taken both Blue and Biopsy a long time to complete the task, but they had finally finished. The both of them were tired, and Biopsy said that she was going to take a nap. "Okay, it will take three hours," she said, "I'm going to catch some well-needed shut eye... I haven't slept in 37 hours." One of the guards would drive the wagon, and Blue was told to keep an eye out. Biopsy then went to the back of the wagon and promptly fell asleep.

Blue looked around, taking in her surroundings. She noticed the snow falling gently, but it didn't seem like there was a blizzard outside. She saw lights throughout and tents littered the area. The building she had emerged from with Biopsy was giant. Blue felt overwhelmed at the size of this world. "This world is so big," she thought to herself, feeling a bit scared and awed at the same time. Her heart rate began to accelerate slightly as she tried to process everything that was happening so quickly.

"I feel so small..." Blue continued with a sigh. She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed and inferior in this large, strange world. Her heart rate kept increasing, as she felt like she was having a full blown existential crisis. She felt helpless and lost, like she was just a tiny pony in a big and scary world.

Blue quickly moved into the wagon, and a mare sat next to her. She had icy silver mane, her eye was scarred, and she wore what looked like worn thick hide. The mare asked Blue with a grin, "Why you staring? Like what you see?" Blue immediately looked away, not wanting to be caught staring at the stranger. She felt relieved to have something else to occupy her thoughts, and decided to concentrate on looking out into the dark night ahead.

"Hey," the mare continued, "I know I'm good looking and have stories, but I don't bite." She then asked Blue's name. "What's yours stranger?" Blue responded back, "I'm... Blue, that's all I know about myself." That's all she could answer for now, since that indeed was all she really knew about herself. She felt like a stranger in this new and unknown world, hoping that she could find out more about herself and her past through her adventure.

Lumi looked at Blue with a grin. "Ah, I'm Lumi," she said. Then she added in a soft voice, "Ask away, we have time." As the wagon began to move, Blue was startled and slightly off balance. She slipped forward a bit into the mare and said "Oh I'm sorry!" To which Lumi simply replied, "First time riding in a wagon, huh?" Lumi seemed slightly amused by how interesting and cute Blue was, and was eager to know more about her.

The wagon continued to move as Blue corrected herself and went back to her seat, feeling more nervous than before. "I'm so sorry," she said honestly. "Yes, it's my first time," she added. She shared her feelings of feeling small, and how it was overwhelming for her, due to the size of this new world she found herself a part of. However, despite that, she was still willing to help as much as she could, and to do her best.

The wagon continued to move, as the two ponies engaged in a conversation. Lumi then said, "Ah, I wouldn't worry all too much." She shared her advice to Blue, "Just go with the flow, and everything will work out." She said that this was how she views the world, and offered to tell Blue some stories instead. "I know there's no stories you can currently tell me," Lumi mentioned, "But I'm open to tell you some since you seem eager."

Blue was embarrassed to learn how easy to read her emotions are, and felt a bit shy. "Well, um how'd you come to be a part of this group?" She was curious to hear Lumi's story, and how she ended up joining this group. Perhaps it would be something she could relate to, and find comfort in knowing that she wasn't alone in this new and strange world.

"Ah, the heavy hitting questions first," Lumi sighed. She then explained her tragic past in detail, "I was sold by my parents to slavers. I spent years working myself to near death everyday, I was hardly fed... I had to please many, many people." Lumi had experienced true horror, abuse, and misfortune in her past, and the effects of it still lingered. Yet, she had found hope and redemption through the group of ponies she now called friends. Blue felt inspired by Lumi's strength and determination to push forward despite her past experiences.

The conversation between Blue and Lumi continued, as Lumi shared more and more information about her past. Blue could see that Lumi was a survivor, yet she didn't seem too sad or broken by her previous traumas. She seemed content, or determined, like she was never going to let those experiences define who she was. She expressed a sense of gratitude and loyalty to the group that helped her out, even if she felt like she would never be able to fully repay their kindness.

"I'll never get my eye back, or the horn they chiseled," Lumi shared, "but I won't let those disabilities stop me from working as hard as anyone else." She was determined to overcome her physical limitations, and to stay strong despite them. She wasn't going to let her past define who she was now, and was proud of her hard work and dedication. Even if it meant she had to work a little bit harder than other ponies sometimes, she considered it a small sacrifice to make in order to survive and prosper.

Blue was touched by Lumi's tragic story, and could feel her heart aching for her. "I... I didn't know," she said. She felt overwhelmed by the cruelty of some ponies, and didn't understand why they would be so terrible to others.

"It's fine!" Lumi laughed, trying to reassure Blue. "I'm just getting back at these monsters, and saving others in the process." She was determined to stay positive and move forward, despite the hardships she'd faced. She wanted to make a better future for herself.

Lumi's expression got serious as she turned to look at Blue, her eye piercing. "Blue, you'll get used to the wasteland," she warned her. "It will warp you, and change you." She continued, "It's up to you to figure out which way your path molds, I would hate to see someone who appears innocent twisted and choosing the wrong path." Lumi spoke from experience, and was concerned about Blue's future. She didn't want to see another innocent pony go down a dark path and become corrupted.

"I will do my best to not let that happen to me, Lumi," Blue promised her. "I promise you, Winterflake, and the group that I am helping."

"Don't just promise," Lumi replied with a soft smile. "Do 110 percent. Always."

Lumi was clearly a survivor, even after all her struggles and suffering. She had maintained her kindness, despite it all, and was proud of her ability to stay generous and thoughtful towards others.

Blue noticed Lumi's armor and asked, "What's with your warn armor?" Lumi replied, "This was a gift from the head of this group. He gave it to me when I joined their guards." She explained that she had been through a lot of battles while using it, and had taken many beatings while on missions for the group. Lumi also told Blue about her tragic mission to the ruins of the Crystal Empire. Despite the loss, she still remained hopeful and smiled back at Blue, as a sign of her strength and resiliency.

Lumi pointed to the hundreds of markings on her armor. "Every mark on this armor is from me," she told Blue with a soft smile. She explained how it was a way to remember all the ponies the group had lost, as they had gone through tough times during the last 7 years. "It's been a tough 7 years," Lumi confessed, "but we are still kicking, we aren't however as big as we used to be." Lumi was determined to continue fighting, and stay a resilient force in this world despite her hardships.

The stallion who was steering the wagon asked Blue, "Hey where do we go from here?" Blue walked up to the front of the wagon and looked at her PipBuck. "We go about straight for another hour, and then turn left and keep going for 2 more," she replied. The stallion thanked Blue for her guidance, and continued his task of driving the wagon. They were quickly approaching their destination, and Blue's knowledge was invaluable for making sure they got there smoothly and safely.

"Hey, I never had one of those fancy pipbucks before," Lumi said, "or had one in general. How do these things work?"

Blue couldn't help but feel a little impressed by the amount of features and capabilities of the pipbuck. She looked at it and was excited to see the different options that it offered her, but still was a bit confused by its functionality.

"Well, I'm not completely sure," she said, before messing around with the different tabs on the screen.

"I looked through this thing before," Blue continued and explained, "but I only mainly paid attention to its map tab. It's been a great help before, but I guess It wouldn't hurt to check the other settings." Blue then moved over to the radio tab that was displayed on the screen, and pressed on a buttons managing to enable the station. That was labeled "Everest Towers radio." This brought attention to a new voice, who Blue had never heard before.

The voice of a nasty sounding person came through the speaker of the pipbuck. "Welcome to Everest Towers radio, where we broadcast daily to the wasteland of Equestria," they introduced themselves in a smug tone. "We got news, music, and more to help inform and entertain you!" Blue wondered if they had something interesting to share, since the station seemed to have been getting good reception in the area. She couldn't help but feel a little impressed by the quality of the broadcast, and she felt curious to hear more.

"Listeners far and wide," the voice on the radio continued, its tone raspy and gritty. "I have some great news for you today."
Blue and Lumi both paid attention, curious to hear the news that the voice on the radio had to share.

"There's been activity from the caretakers," the voice announced, "they managed to take out a notorious band of raiders under the leadership of Mary bloodthirsty."

Blue lets out a sigh of relief, impressed by the caretakers' work in keeping the winter peaks safe for everyone. Blue felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction at the caretakers' efforts to fight back against the raiders, and make the winter peaks safer for everyone. The news on the radio had been good news, and it was clear that the caretakers were working hard to make Winter Peaks a better place.

They both continued listening to the radio, interested to hear what else the announcer had to say.

Lumi remarked, "Seems we have been getting good recognition and talked about. Here, I thought no one batted an eye at the things we did."

Blue turned to her and said, "Huh?" Lumi then replied, "I'll group, we're the caretakers. Has no one told you our name yet?"

Blue was a bit embarrassed to have not known this, but wasn't too surprised. There was still a lot to learn about Equestria and all the groups and factions making up the nation.

Lumi chuckled, "Well, not surprised. Leave it up to these people. We're the caretakers, we happen to..."

She stopped and sighed, "You already know that, that's our name."

Blue nodded, and they both continued to listen in to the radio broadcast. They were both wondering what other news and information the announcer would have for them.

"A bit of trouble listeners," the announcer continued, "it seems that there's been alicorns spotted near winter peaks recently. No further news on why, just keep an eye out listeners, you never know if there's one hiding among you."

Lumi and Blue both perked up at the mention of alicorns, a group of ponies known for their exceptional magic and power. They both had not heard of any alicorns being near winter peaks, although it could be possible. They continued listening intently to the radio broadcast.

The mention of alicorns made Blue feel a bit uneasy. On one hoof, her own alicorn magic was something she was still coming to terms with. On the other hoof, she knew that rumors and hearsay had painted alicorns in the past as cruel and oppressive, and she wanted to be nothing like them.

She chuckled nervously, trying to shake off her unease, and tried to focus on the radio broadcast again. Lumi was also paying close attention, eager to hear more news from the announcer.

The radio DJ gave one final message as the broadcast concluded. "Something big happened near Stable 375," they said. "Rumor has it that a shadowy figure came from that place, spent a couple of hours there, and was then escorted by the Steel Rangers. After that, the entire environment suddenly disappeared. It was as if it had been vaporized by a powerful light. Whoever this mysterious figure is, someone's out to get you. This is Everest towers DJ, signing off. Next up, an hour of music."

Blue and Lumi were both completely shocked by the radio announcement. "That's a massive feat," Lumi said, "I wonder who the mysterious person is."

Blue chuckled, but she then thought about what the announcer said, and suddenly felt her stomach drop. It had been her. She was the mysterious person from Stable 375, and she had been escorted away by the Steel Rangers. She remembered the stallion punching her.

Blue began to mentally question what she had to do with the stable being vaporized. She shook a little as she thought about the recent events. 'This must have to do with my missing memories,' she thought to herself, 'Am I that important?'

She felt conflicted, unsure of what exactly was going on. She was afraid, and was unsure of what to do next. She remained on edge, wondering who was pursuing her.

"Hey Blue? You with us?" Lumi asked, sounding concerned.

Blue snapped back to reality, and looked up. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was lost in thought. What is it?"

Lumi looked at her, still concerned. "You haven't said a word for the past five minutes. You okay?"

Blue looked back, still puzzled and afraid. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being hunted or tracked. "I'm not sure," she replied. Her mind was still racing, wondering what would happen next.

"Lumi... I came from Stable 375, and I..." Blue couldn't find the words. She was feeling overwhelmed, and she couldn't explain everything to Lumi right now.

"Hey, you are cool, Blue," Lumi said, "No need. Your business is yours."

Blue nodded, still feeling conflicted. She appreciated Lumi's understanding and support, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was going on. She knew she couldn't stay in one place for too long, or whoever was after her, would find her.

"Thanks for the entertainment, don't get that much around the warehouse. No one usually has a pipbuck," Lumi said.

"No problem," Blue replied with a smile, "I enjoyed chatting with you too."

Despite her worries and concerns, Blue was glad she could bring some entertainment to Lumi. It wasn't easy living in Equestria, and entertainment like this could help keep minds off the stress and strain of reality.

Blue looked closer at Lumi, noticing more of her features. Blue liked how the mare presented herself. Her fur was a moonlight blue, her eye a beautiful aqua color, and her demeanor and confidence were very attractive to Blue. She was starting to feel more comfortable with the mare, and Lumi's presence was helping to alleviate Blue's stress and anxiety over her current situation. It was a welcome distraction.

Blue rubbed her eyes and looked away, feeling confused but also intrigued by her feelings for Lumi. She fought with herself, trying to understand why she felt attracted to her, and what her preferences were. She couldn't deny that Lumi was attractive, but was it just that? Or was there more to it? Blue was definitely confused, and she continued to fight with her feelings as she tried to make sense of them.

"I... helped take out Mary Bloodthirsty and her raider gang," Blue said after a moment's hesitation, "I was there with the caretakers."
Lumi turned, surprised and curious at this revelation. It was obvious by her tone that she was wondering why Blue hadn't told her about it before.

"That must have been dangerous," she said. "I'm glad you're alright, Blue. Now I understand why the Steel Rangers escorted you away from stable 375. They must have known about your accomplishments."

Blue tilted her head, looking confused.
"Wait... But I didn't..." she began to say.
"I'm not stupid," Lumi cut in, laughing. "I'm stubborn and sometimes too helpful, but not dumb. I put the pieces together very easily, and how you responded just affirms this."
Blue frowned, feeling a bit embarrassed and put on the spot. She still wasn't sure what to say, and Lumi's insight into the situation had left her speechless.

"Okay," Blue said, "but the Steel Rangers escorting me away from Stable 375 was just a coincidence. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Lumi cocked her head to the side, looking skeptical. "That's quite the coincidence, Blue. Can you blame me for being suspicious?"
Lumi laughed, her tone playful and teasing. "Oh, Blue," she said, "You need someone to help keep you out of trouble. Just take the compliment on what I said, I just had you figured out."

"Yeah," Blue replied. "I'm sorry, I'm just on edge."

Lumi nodded. "Blue, it's okay to be on edge here," she said. "Just don't let it stress you out. Stress doesn't look pretty on you."
Blue laughed weakly, feeling embarrassed but also relieved. Lumi was right, she needed to calm down. She was being too paranoid, and overthinking things. She needed to chill out. She tried to take a deep breath and refocus herself on the present.

"Thank you again," Blue replied. "You have been a massive help for easing my mind."
Lumi nodded. "Hey, no one said I couldn't lend my ear," she replied with a grin. "I'm here to help, Blue. Just let me know what I can do."

Blue laughed nervously, thankful for Lumi's reassurance and assistance. It had been a long day, and she was exhausted but still stressed. She appreciated Lumi's kindness, and tried to push away her stress and worries for the moment.

“Even though we are strangers in a way, we still share a bond because you chose to be apart of the people who saved me,” Lumi said. Her words were soft, and her face never left the smile that she had when they first met.

Blue nodded, smiling back at Lumi. She really liked her smile. It was warm, inviting, and made her feel at ease. “Thank you for saying that, Lumi. I’m glad I could help,” she said.

“We almost seem to be there now,” Blue said, and Lumi nodded in agreement. “Yeah, well, it’s always work, but it’s honest and good helping. Say, what happened?”

Blue rubbed her eyes, thinking back to the encounter. “Um... three ponies died... I managed to fire off a shot, I think it killed the raider... and released something called an Ursa Minor."

“Hardcore Blue!” Lumi exclaimed. She admired Blue’s combat skills and bravery in dealing with the dangerous situation.

Blue didn't share the same sentiment, and she was racked with guilt over the three ponies that had died. She hated herself for feeling like she had let them get killed, when Winterflake had made her feel shitty about it. She wished that she could have done more, even though she knew that it wasn't her fault. It was an impossible situation, and Blue was glad that she at least managed to take out the raider.

"I don't feel hardcore, I just closed my eyes, took the shot, heard screaming and gurgling, and then I didn't dare open them," Blue said. "I didn't want to kill anyone, but Winterflake made me go on a suicide run because I failed to assist. I froze up. I didn't want to kill anyone."

Blue's breath was hot, and it vaporized as she spoke, like steam rising into the air. It was clear that the encounter had traumatized her, and she was still recovering from the experience.

Blue was taken aback by something she never expected--Lumi's embrace. She didn't know how to respond, but she was grateful for her support and encouragement.
"Look," Lumi said, using a mature tone of voice. "You will grow stronger. I can help you, and even accompany you. You clearly need support.

Blue felt a sudden rush of emotions at Lumi's kind words. She hadn't expected that, and it was overwhelming to receive such support from someone she barely knew.

"But... we barely know each other," Blue protested.

"Doesn't matter to me," Lumi replied. "You radiate an innocent nature, and I know you wouldn't hurt me, so therefore I trust you. I taught myself to see people's feelings, and it pools off of them like a mist."

Blue was taken aback by Lumi's perceptive statement. She had never met someone like Lumi before, and she was amazed by her ability to read people. She felt honored by Lumi's trust and support.

Blue thought for a moment, and then finally said, "Okay... I need as much help as I can get. I don't mind having someone as a companion. I've been doing things on my own for almost two days now, and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed."

Hearing her own words, Blue realized that she really did need someone there to support her. She was feeling very isolated and alone in the world. Lumi's presence and help would be very welcome.

○○○○○○○○○

Blue had fallen asleep, and when she woke up, she was disoriented and confused. She stretched and yawned, trying to get her bearings, and realized she must have fallen asleep. She felt a bit better and a bit more refreshed after her nap, but still exhausted and weary.

Lumi was still there, and the two of them had made it to the facility they were staying at for now. Lumi was busy attending to some personal matters, and hadn't noticed Blue awakening.

Blue rubbed her eyes and face as she started to stretch. Her legs felt slightly sore, and her body felt more relaxed after the nap. She slowly got up to her hooves and yawned, feeling refreshed but still tired.

"O-oh, you actually made it. I would've thought you would've died out there," Winterflake said in a smug tone.

Blue turned towards Winterflake and didn't quite know how to respond to her comment. She felt a bit insulted, but she also wasn't surprised that Winterflake would be this rude. Winterflake was known for her blunt and callous behavior, and Blue was used to it by now. She didn't waste her time replying to Winterflake, and simply went over to Lumi to help with whatever she was doing.

"Good job regardless," Winterflake said, then she suddenly added, "However, come here, I have some other things you need to take care of."

Blue looked at Winterflake with mild curiosity, not sure what she meant by 'other things'. What did she want her to do now? Blue walked over to Winterflake, wondering what she had in store for her now. She hoped it wasn't too dangerous or difficult.

Winterflake said, "You are going to keep a look out with the stallion. It's a shame you couldn't bring more, but thanks to you, these 10 victims might actually survive their injuries. After they're done, they're going to be the first to be transported and then the equipment, too, with a guard in the wagon."
Winterflake then added, "Finally, Biopsy, Lumi, Polish, and me will go and you'll see us off. We need someone to make sure we get out safely. There is no room for you, unfortunately."

Blue stopped, confused by what Winterflake had just said. "Wait. What do I do after that? Where do I go?" Winterflake, however, lied. "You go off and do something else. We really don't have room. Plus, I think it's best you go and try to learn more about the wasteland and kill some people before coming back."
Blue looked stunned, feeling a bit manipulated by Winterflake's words. She understood why Winterflake wanted her to leave.

Blue felt something well up inside her, and suddenly, without warning, she punched Winterflake right in the face. Winterflake staggered back, growling in shock. Blue looked at her in surprise, and before she could say anything, she reared up and kicked her in the face, knocking her unconscious.
The two were caught in a fight, with Blue starting it and Winterflake escalating it. Blue was knocked out, but Winterflake's injuries were unknown. This was a dangerous situation, and things had escalated quickly.

○○○○○○○○○

Blue remembered her vision blurring into white, and then everything going dark and silent after Winterflake had kicked her. She felt the ringing in her ears as she lost consciousness.

It was unclear how much time had passed before she came to. Was it minutes? Hours? A day? She had no way of knowing. But when she finally woke up, she was in a dark and silent place. Her head felt heavy, like it was filled with cotton, and her ears were still ringing. She slowly tried to catch her breath and gather her bearings.

Blue sat up and scanned the area. She was in the facility on a makeshift bed. However, everyone was gone, the equipment she helped Biopsy with was gone, and so were the people she came with. She suddenly heard something and saw Lumi appear from behind the wall.

"Hey, looks like little mutie is awake," Lumi said.

Blue shut her eyes. She tried to process what had happened, but her head hurt, her eye was swollen and bruised, and now she even felt cold. She finally noticed her jacket was gone and started to panic.

Lumi said, "Hey, stop that. I would've killed you in your sleep if you were dangerous. You might be an alicorn, but I haven't seen any others, so I don't have a preference. If I'm supposed to be scared of them."

Blue felt a bit relieved by Lumi's statement, but still had her guard up. She was unsure if she could trust Lumi, especially after all that had happened.

Blue sat up, and after taking in the reality of her surroundings, she turned to Lumi and asked, "Why did you stay?"

"I said what I said," Lumi replied, her words calm but with a tinge of sass in her voice. "And besides, I wouldn't mind seeing the world and doing more outside of just fighting slavers and raiders all my life. I've been doing it for a long time. Plus, you seem fun."
Blue felt pleasantly surprised to hear Lumi admit that she found her fun. It gave her a bit more trust

Lumi also said, "I didn't like how you handled that, punching my superior in the face. She might have deserved it, since she's an ass a lot, but you had no right though. Where did that come from?"

Blue felt herself getting defensive, but didn't want to cause a scene. She chose her words carefully, hoping Lumi would be satisfied with her answer.

"I-I didn't mean to," Blue said, lowering her gaze. "My body just reacted before I could think. It won't happen again."

"I hope so. I made sure you didn't get killed; Biopsy helped you onto the table but supplies were spread thin. They weren't going to treat you."

Lumi then said, "They were upset that I chose to stay behind, but I admit if they hate me, they hate me. I'll always make it up to the caretakers, now the question is. Are you going to?"

Blue didn't know what to say after hearing that. She thought about it, wondering if the caretakers would accept her back after violently attacking a supported member and getting three people killed. She wondered if they were just going to forgive her that easily. It felt like there were consequences for every action in this new world. She had no idea what to do next.

Blue looked sad, but Lumi quickly said, "Quit that shit. You need to look forward. Who fucking cares if you did that? Make up for it. Hell, go kill the top slaver groups. That's what I think would give favor to the caretakers."
Lumi's harsh words snapped Blue out of her sadness real quick. She suddenly felt a bit more motivated and inspired. Why should she let herself be so down when she could turn this situation around? She could prove Lumi right and make up for what she did.

"You are right," Blue agreed. "I'm sorry." Blue slowly hopped off the table and almost fell, but Lumi caught her. "Whoa, whoa. Settle down mutie, take this slow. You might have a concussion. I spent awhile guarding Biopsy."
Blue suddenly felt a bit dizzy, and held onto Lumi for support. It was probably best to take things slow for now.

"You seem to help me a lot, why?"
"Because you seem new," Lumi replied. "And you need help. I wouldn't turn away from helping one in need. Also, I want to see the rest of the wasteland. I want to feel like I could help people outside winter peaks."
Blue felt a little guilty that she had been so dependent on Lumi, but her words about wanting to help others warmed her heart a little. "Thank you," she said softly.

Being careful not to pry, Blue looked away from the cutie mark on Lumi's flank, a snowflake with a cage over it. She wondered what the story was behind the symbol but didn't want to ask. Blue wasn't sure if Lumi would want to share that information with her. Curious but not wanting to seem nosy, Blue simply nodded and turned her attention elsewhere.

Lumi said, "We should probably stay here for a bit? Unless you might have a healing potion inside your saddle bag?"

Blue rummaged around, and finally found a healing potion, along with some of her bars missing. She took the potion and downed it after removing the lid.

Lumi said, "I got hungry. I stole some of your food, I wasn't going to eat anything these raider scum had lying around. This stuff is toxic."

"Is it really bad?" Blue asked, a tinge of concern in her voice. She didn't know how bad the food might be, but she was grateful that she didn't have to eat it. She knew she had her own food, however, she also did the math and figured out that she only has enough food for a little less than three weeks. Now that she understood how much food she had, she was going to have to be wise about her rationing and make sure she didn't run out.

"If you don't want to share more of that," Lumi said, "then I suggest we should actually get a move on."

Lumi paused, and then added, "Also, I don't know what the food would do to you, but the raiders are filthy."

Blue saw lumi was glad that she was willing to share a bit more of her food with her. She didn't want to risk eating anything that might make her sick. And the knowledge that the raiders were unhygienic gave Blue even more reason to stay away from their supplies.

"I think I'm feeling stable enough to walk on my own now," Blue said, her relief clear in her voice.

Lumi let go of the blue, who stepped her hooves a bit unsteadily but managed to stabilize and not fall. She was still a bit dizzy, but the healing potion had done its job, and she was ready to move on.

"It's probably best to make a quick exit," Lumi said, her voice full of enthusiasm again. "We don't want to be caught lingering in here any longer than necessary."

"Yeah we should," Blue agreed, "depending that those raiders might actually come back, we should."

Outside, she took a look at the landscape. The light was coming out, but she couldn't tell very well because of the cloud that was covering the entire sky. She wondered how she would navigate in this unfamiliar place.
Lumi, however, seemed more confident and sure-hoofed compared to Blue. She led the way with calm and purpose, making sure to keep an eye out for any dangers.

Blue paused her observation of the landscape and kept an eye out in front of her, watching for any dangers. She slipped her gun out of her saddlebag and closed it, making sure to have a means of defending herself even though she wasn't familiar with the weapon. She also needed to keep her guard up in case those raiders returned, or any other potential dangers. Lumi, however, had become more cautious and vigilant, constantly checking their surroundings as they moved forward.

As the light spread over the landscape, Blue saw that there was a group ahead, and she and Lumi stopped in their tracks.
"What should we do?" Blue asked Lumi, but before she could reply, she felt a gun being put to her head, just like Lumi. A wave of fear rose in her belly as the situation shifted in an instant. It was clear that they were in danger, but from who? And what should their next move be?

"Okay, drop your fucking weapons right now and turn around slow," a voice ordered.

The voice was loud and commanding, filled with no hesitation or doubt. Blue and Lumi felt the pressure of the situation, and quickly dropped their weapons and turned around slowly. Their brows full of sweat, and they hoped that they would be spared and not end up dead right there.

Lumi seemed more composed than Blue, but Blue noticed that she was still wary of the better-dressed gryphon in front of them.

"Okay, we did as told," Blue replied, and she and Lumi were tied up, their eyes covered.
"Oooh look there Gale, this one is an alicorn, I think she's gonna sell for a good price," the voice said, laughing frantically.

Blue felt a chill run down her spine. She wondered where they were taking them, and what their ultimate fate would be.

"Maybe, but I don't think her friend will sell for much." Then the voice said. "Actually, let's give her back to the snowflakes. Seeing as she's got their brand."

Lumi, however, didn't take this so kindly. She fought back, saying "I'm not going back there! You can't make me!'' Unfortunately, she was silenced with a thud to the ground.
Blue didn't know what was happening, and all she heard was the voice saying, "Bitch is a fighter."

The voice continued to speak, saying, "Make sure she's hog-tied, and tie her muzzle. I don't wanna hear a peep from her."
Blue could only listen, and imagine what they were doing to Lumi. She heard another thud, and someone gasping for air.

"Hmmm alicorns are strong," the voice continued, "perhaps you'll help defend us. You'd look nice with a chain around your neck."

Blue was filled with fear at the possible future they were envisioning for her.

Blue's hooves shook, and she tried to stay calm. "Awww, the alicorn is scared?" She heard the voice say. "You want the others to save you? Fraid you're shit out of luck. We haven't seen any other alicorns here."
Blue felt a wave of panic flow through her, realizing that she truly was alone. She had no one to come to her rescue, and her situation was becoming more dire by the second. She needed to remain calm and focused in order to find a way out of this.

Blue questioned mentally, 'They think I'm with the alicorns? Maybe I could use this to my advantage.' She thought longer, her mind racing with thoughts:

'Wait, what if I...?' But her horn had been clamped by the gryphon and she couldn't use her magic. She was stuck, unable to do anything. The gryphon probably knew that she couldn't use magic with her horn clamped, and it was beginning to look like a hopeless situation. Blue tried to think of any possible way out of this predicament.

Blue heard the voice on the ground still gasping and saying something. "I'll fucking kill you," she made out. Another loud thud, and a cry was heard, making the situation seem even more dire than before.

Blue tried to listen to what the voice was saying, but her attention was drawn to the loud thud. It didn't sound good, and the voice seemed to be struggling for its air. Who was it? And what happened to them? The future looked uncertain, and Blue needed to think fast.

"Hey, don't break the merchandise before we get it to the snowflakes, dumb fucking raider." The voice said, sounding irritated.
Blue was confused by the comment, but it seemed like the voice was referring to her or Lumi as "merchandise." It was all beginning to make sense now, and Blue didn't like it one bit. They weren't going to be sold to the alicorns, they were going to be sold to others. Possibly even as slaves.

"But it's sooo funny watching them squirm!!" the other voice said.

But the female voice cut them off, shouting: "If you touch the slave one more time, I'm going to-"

Her sentence was cut short as gunfire began ringing out. Blue dropped to the ground as the raiders rejoiced. But the rejoicing was cut short by further gunfire ringing out, and the voices of the slaves shouting, "You dumb raiders, you killed our boss! We shouldn't have trusted you fucking brain-rotten ponies."

Blue crawled, and heard Lumi gasp and say, "B-blue... we need to get outta here.... I... I can't walk on my own."

Gasping was heard, and Blue rushed to the source to find Lumi. She managed to get the eye cloth off, but Lumi seemed injured and unable to walk on her own.

Blue knew that she needed to get Lumi somewhere safe, and fast.

Blue said, "Don't worry. I'll get us out of this."

Blue felt the cloth come off her eyes, and she could see again. Lumi's nose was bloody, and she saw that they had broken her hooves.

Her friend, looking weak, removed the clamp as she winced at Blue with shock and fear.

"Blue... please...," Lumi said, her voice shaky and unsure. She knew she needed help, badly. A sense of urgency spread through Blue, as she knew she had to get Lumi somewhere safe quickly.

Blue looked at Lumi for the first time and saw that her friend looked truly afraid. Lumi said quietly, "I don't wanna go back there....," her voice trailing off, as she remembered what had happened before. Blue was struck by a moment of deep empathy for her friend, seeing her in such a vulnerable state. It was a stark contrast to the confident and spirited image that Lumi had shown before, and showed just how much the previous incident had traumatized her.

Blue levitated Lumi onto her back, and despite the weight, she rose to her hooves and tried to walk away from the violence. She managed to get away slowly, despite the binds, but she heard gunfire still ongoing. Blue wondered what else her horn could do.

She focused and said, "Protect me." A barrier formed around her, giving off a blue hue. The bullets bounced off the barrier, and Blue looked relieved to be safe. She turned to Lumi and said, "Don't worry, I'll get us out of here. Just hold on."

As Blue and Lumi made their way to safety, they heard the slavers sounding alarmed.
"Don't let that slave get a-"

A bullet flew into the slavers head, and their head exploded on impact. The body collapsed onto the ground.

Startled, Blue and Lumi stopped for a moment, but they had to keep moving. They couldn't let their guard down. They didn't know how many more slavers there were, but they had a good head start and had to capitalize on the opportunity.

As Blue and Lumi kept going, the gunfire slowly began to slow down, but the laughter did not.

"More meat, more meat! Feed feed feed. Murdering feels so good," the multiple voices were saying. The raiders were getting closer, and Blue and Lumi had to pick up the pace if they wanted to escape.

They tried to pick up their pace, but the bonds were making it difficult to run away. They had to stay alert and aware of their surroundings, as at any moment, they could be outnumbered by the slavers or raiders.

"Why you running?" One of the raiders said. "Don't you wanna stay and be our meal? Those dumb slavers always selling perfectly good food, it's no fun!"

Another raider shouted, "You run and you die!"

Blue turned to see, and she recognized the raider as Lil. Lil was the least crazy of the bunch and seemed to have some sense of morality. But, Lil was still a raider, and Blue and Lumi had to be careful around her.

Lil inspected closer and gasped at seeing Blue, saying "Wait, weird unicorn?" She continued, "Ooh so you were just a tiny alicorn, now ain't that sweet." Lil giggled, then grew serious and pulled out a wooden plank with saw blades on it.

"You are in for a fuck ton of hurt," she said. "We owe you for driving us from our little slice of home." Lil turned to Lumi and said, "My friend wants to say hello." Lumi was frozen in fear, wondering what Lil meant by her words.

Lil giggled and turned to Lumi and said, "This is my friend!"

She shown off the plank with saw blades in her hooves. "They want to really get intimate with your insides."

Lumi's eyes widened, and she felt a chill run up her spine. She could sense the danger, and she had a feeling things weren't going to end well. "Please don't," she said softly, holding still, hoping that Lil would show some mercy.

Blue heard Lumi's words and was concerned, but didn't want to let Lil see that. She spoke up, saying "Hey, Lumi, I will make sure you are safe. I'm not letting a raider touch you."

Lil giggled and responded, "Ooh what you gonna do? We outnumber you stupid bitch, once that magical defense drops, my friends are going to tie you down and I'm going to let boardie explore your flesh!" She added, "You get it? I love violence."

Blue felt disgusted by Lil's crude and vile descriptions of what she would do to her. It was like the raider took pleasure in the thought of causing pain and suffering. The thought of being powerless to stop it was terrifying. Blue felt anger brewing in her stomach, but she tried to remember to stay calm. They had to get out of this situation, but first, they needed to stay alive.

Lil laughed in glee, pushing more of Blue's buttons. "And while we do that," she said, "my friends are going to make you watch while they rip your friend apart and eat her alive."

Blue felt the anger rising within her, but she tried to keep a level head. She needed to stay calm and focused, because if she let her emotions get the best of her, she would be putting Lumi and herself in even greater danger.

"Why," Blue said, straining her emotions. "Why would you...? Because you got some of my buddies killed. I liked them. Revenge is revenge."

"Mary Bloodthirsty is missing, and I rounded up these fools. Thanks to the slavers who we betrayed, I got a band of raiders under me now."

Blue felt helpless with rage and frustration coursing through her, but she forced the emotions down and tried to stay focused. Lumi was counting on her.

"Who knows?" Lil said, still laughing. "Maybe I'll just chop your horn off, wear it like a necklace, and make you my personal hoof stool. I'll treat you even like a punching bag to let my anger out on, and until one day when you are so broken mentally and physically ill, throw you out and have you die alone. No one would ever have gave a fuck about the tiny alicorn."

The words stung, but Blue tried to stay focused. She couldn't afford to be provoked in the moment.

Lil thought for a moment, then said, "Hmmm, how about I let my raiders force feed your friend there, and giver her the raider disease. You'll be forced to either kill her or she kill you."

Blue felt that final push, and she let her anger soar. Everything in her vision went completely white. The rage that she had been holding back suddenly manifested in her power. The magic around her grew stronger and brighter.

level up: You have increased mental focus and control over your magic, you learned telepathy. If you so choose you can listen in on any other creatures thoughts.

Author's Note

Oh wow. I didn't know it would take this long to revise the story, but it took 3 whole days of rewriting. Thank you for your genuine support, it means a lot! If you want to offer more feedback, please do!