---

As we grew closer to New Appleloosa, the darkness closed in on us. The night was drawing in, and I believed Crystal. I doubt we’d want to be out here after dark. We arrived at New Appleloosa having a warm welcome into the village, a brown Earth Pony stallion with a creamy long mane and tail came up to us with a smile. He took off his hat and kept his smile on.

“Howdy there travelers, welcome to New Appleloosa. How can I help you fine folks today?” He spoke with a jolly smile across his face.

“We just need a place to stay.” I responded. “Maybe some food as well.” I looked around at the small town and looked at the map on my PipBuck. It said ‘New Appleloosa’.

“A place to stay you say? The inn has a couple of rooms, not of the best of quality of course…but it is good enough.” He pointed to the inn. “My name’s Sheriff Dodger, but everypony calls me Dodge.”

“What things do you normally do, Dodge?” I asked curiously, walking a bit closer to him. He put the hat back on his head and tipped it slightly.

“I make sure the town stays safe, I keep Raiders, Alicorns, Ghoul Ponies, Slavers out…well pretty much anything that brings harm to our town.” He frowned slightly, “I can’t always stop them attacking, sometimes I need help…but it’s never there. Either the Deputy is drunk off of his ass, or he’s out getting food.” He looked over to the inn, “well it was nice talking to you travellers, I hope you enjoy your stay.” With that, the sheriff trotted away, back to duty.

We walked to the inn, I opened the door for her and she nodded at me as a thank you. I followed her in, we saw many Ponies drinking together and laughing. It all seemed friendly, I still had some Raider blood on my face and coat, and so some stopped and stared at me. It was either pity or disgust.

“Just ignore the stares Tornado, let’s just keep moving.” Crystal spoke under her breath, walking to the counter. I glared at the Ponies staring, as I did they looked at my PipBuck and began to chuckle to themselves.

“Howdy there!” The barpony called over to us, “welcome to Appleloosa.” Crystal and I walked over, sitting down on the decaying stools. The leather padding was torn and hard and the metal holding the stools was rusted.

“Well, everything has been great so far…apart from the staring eyes of your customers.” I wiped some blood off of my face and wiped it on my jacket.

“So, you’re one of them Stable Folk?” She asked, instantly noticing the jacket. “How’d you get out?” She leaned on the counter, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know, I just…woke up outside the Stable.” I said, hanging my head low. “I have no idea how, or why I did…I just did.”

“Never mind sugarcube, now what would you folks like?” She looked at us both with a smile, “Apple Cider? Sparkle-Cola? Sunrise Sarsaparilla?”

“I’ll have an Apple Cider, and if it’s okay…can I have something to eat?” I asked calmly. “I haven’t eaten since…I don’t know when; I just haven’t eaten all day.”

“I’ll have what he’s having.” Crystal smiled and then looked at me with a slightly concerned look on her face. “Tornado, what’s the matter?” She whispered, gently stroking my back.

“Them, they stare at me as if I’m an animal, it’s only blood.” I looked up at the balcony above us, the walls were a maroon color, the counter was a wooden brown color and so were the floor boards. There were a couple above us, kissing. It actually made me angry to see that, so I looked down.

“Tornado, please…ignore them.” She gave me a nuzzle gently, “I promise, once we’re in our room, you won’t see them.”

“Our room?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You mean, us two…in a room, together?” I chuckled slightly, “I thought we’d be in our own rooms.”

“Too much to pay for that, I only just have enough caps for a room for both of us.” She stated, “So that’s going to have to do.” The mare came back with two Apple Ciders, her golden mane got in her eyes and she smiled at us.

“That’s two Apple Ciders, that’ll be ten caps.” I pulled out five caps and so did Crystal. The mare took them and placed them in her saddle-bag.

“Thank you very much darlin’.” She said with a smile. She trotted off down to the other end of the counter to serve another Pony. I gulped down my drink in thirst.

“And she forgot to get me something to eat, so I’ll help myself.” I looked both ways.

“Tornado…what are you doing?” Crystal looked at me confused; I reached over the counter and helped myself to some potato chips.

"You saw nothing.” I opened the bag and began to eat. Crystal looked at me, shocked. “What?”

“You’re going to have to pay for that.” She sighed, rolling her eyes slightly. “You know that right?”

“Nope, I am not paying…” Crystal gasped and looked around. I finished the bag surprisingly quick and stuffed the bag into my saddle-bag.

“So you’re a thief, am I right?” She asked in curiosity. She began grinning, “That could be useful.”

"I was the best thief in Stable 30, I stole the Overmare’s keys once and I also stole…a guard’s baton.” I chuckled slightly, “they never detect me.” I got the last drop out of the cup; Crystal only was half way down hers. I the remaining caps I had on the counter.
“I’m heading up, I need a shower…hopefully they have showers.” I talked to another mare; this one was in charge of the rooms.
“We’re looking for a room, me and my friend. What rooms are available?”

“Room 23 is available, feel free to take it. It’s only fifteen caps.” She said to me with a smile, “great deal right?”

“Yeah, I have left my caps on the counter…over there, that’s what I’m paying.” I pointed over to the caps on the counter, “thanks.” I started to walk upstairs, passing the couple who were kissing. I looked away from them, feeling rage build up. I never really had love back in the Stable; unfortunately no pony really liked me back there. I was always the ‘self-centred’ type, I couldn’t really care about any pony else but myself.

I reached room 23, opening the door and walking into it with my head hanging low. I lifted my head up to see the room’s maroon colored wallpaper had been slightly torn, the floorboards were scratched and the lamps were slightly dimmed. It wasn’t a great room, but it was better than nothing. I looked around for a shower or bath tub of some sort, I opened the door to a room, turning the light on and seeing a shower. I sighed in relief and proceeded towards it. I stank of blood, puke, shit and other disgusting stenches that roamed the Wastes.

I took off my bloody Stable 30 jacket and laid it on the rusty door knob. I turned on the shower and stepped under it, trying to wash the bloodstains from my coat. The PipBuck didn’t seem to get effected negatively under the water and the water was purified oddly enough. The sound of the door opening passed my ears and I called for who was there.

“Hello, who’s there?!” I asked cautiously. I turned off the shower, listening to the approaching hoofsteps. “Hello?!” Crystal came around the corner, seeing me dripping wet. She squealed and quickly hid behind the wall.

“Tornado! I’m sorry, I didn’t know!” She caught her breath back, slowly coming around, keeping her head down.

“It’s fine, I just needed to wash this blood out of my coat, it’s gone…but I still stink.” I sighed and came out, drying myself. “I just wish I could get rid of it.”

“It’ll go over time Tornado, now here.” She passed me my jacket, still trying to avoid looking at me. I grabbed it and put it on, zipping it up.

“Thank you, you can look now.” I chuckled slightly. I shook the remaining water in my mane out and straightened it out. “I’m going to sleep now, I don’t know about you.” I climbed into the surprisingly soft bed and pulled the stained bed covers over me, trying to get warm.

“I came up to go to bed, so of course I am.” Crystal got into the bed next to me, but didn’t get too close to me. She closed her eyes, falling asleep almost instantly. “Goodnight.” She spoke with a yawn.

“Night.” I responded, closing my eyes slowly. I fell asleep surprisingly quickly, let’s just hope nothing bad happens in the night.

---

As dawn reached the Wasteland, the sky’s vomit green glow shined into the room, I was already up. I was known for waking up early, I never really stayed in bed. A few moments after Crystal woke up; we prepared ourselves for the journey ahead of us. Seventy miles was a long journey for ponies like me who were used to traveling a mile or two just to reach another zone. We left the room, moving quickly down the stairs. It was the early hours of the morning, so not many Ponies would populate the bar and different sitting areas.

As we reached outside, Sheriff Dodge found us and trotted up to us. He had a small frown on his face, as if he didn’t want us leaving so soon.

“Hi folks, leaving already?” He asked curiously. I was right, the frown was from that. I took an inhale of irradiated oxygen and spoke.

“Look, we have a long journey ahead of us. We just have to keep moving, as much as we’d like to stay…we can’t.” I responded looking at him, “just keep this town safe.”

“I shall, it’s what I do best.” He tipped his hat and a grin appeared on his face. “Until the next time, I wish good luck on your travels.” He left us, saying no more words. His duty was to guard the town, and it’s what he had to do. No choices, no other options. He runs this town and he guards this town.

As we left the town of New Appleloosa, we began to trot in the direction of Manehattan. The sight of the morning Wasteland, the decaying land, sent memories into my mind. I suddenly remembered the day my parents died; it was a morning like this…the Wasteland looked no different than to what it is today.

The path ahead was blocked by Ponies wearing heavy steel armor. Their threatening helmets and body plating said it all, they were Steel Rangers. Something lied ahead of which they didn’t want us to find out.

“I’m sorry, but the path to Manehattan has a Hellhound infestation, no travellers are allowed to pass through this area.” A mare Steel Ranger stated, walking up to me. “If you want to gain access to Manehattan, you will have to find an alternate way around this area.”

“So nopony can pass? Not even traders?” I asked, looking up at the steel barricade they built. It was shoved between two huge rocks, and these rocks went on until Manehattan was in sight. Obviously the Hellhounds lived the caves in these rocks; I could see why they blocked it off. Steel Ranger patrol came in and out of the restricted zone continuously.

“No traders, no civilians, nopony. And if you try to fly over, we’ll gun you down before you even take off the ground.” I heard a menacing chuckle from her behind the helmet, “so back off from this gate, and find another way around traveller.” I glared at the Steel Ranger before walking onto the ashes, dust and dirt. We had to go around and see if there was any passage to Manehattan.

“Steel Rangers, unpredictable.” Crystal commented with a sigh, “Literally, I hate them. They think they fight for good, but to be honest…I think they aren’t on anyponies side. The only thing they want to do is fill Raiders with holes.”

“Is it me, or are they assholes?” I replied while we walked onto the dust, rubble and dirt surface of the Wastes. We travelled down into the wilderness, many fresh corpses were spotted. I cringed at some of the sights, disembowelled and mutilated bodies were there. Crystal seemed disturbed and kept glancing over her back.

“Something’s wrong here.” Crystal softly commented, she looks around noticing a camp of Raiders near them. “Raiders, we have to go around them, come on.” Crystal began to sneak around them, trying to stay out of vision. I cautiously followed closely.

I felt the urge to kill the Raiders. I just wanted to rush in and slaughter the fucks; I had my reasons to hate Raiders. They killed my parents and held my sister captive. I tried to fight the urge to slaughter them all; I started shaking my head trying to shake the homicidal thoughts away. Dammit, they wouldn’t go.

“Tornado, Tornado! Calm down.” Crystal groaned, “Please, you’re going to give us away!” She walked up to me. “Tornado?”

“I’m going to kill them all!!” I shouted at the top of my lungs. It caught the Raiders attention and Crystal quickly dragged me into a cave and held me against the wall.

“Who’s there?!” A Raider called over, the sound of hoofsteps getting closer was heard. Crystal held me against the wall, holding her hoof on my mouth. “I said, who’s there!?” His voice sounded like he had a sore throat. As if something was blocking his throat from getting air out.

I pressed my body weight against her, trying to push her off. Every word spat out of the Raiders mouth made me want to hurt him more. I somehow got pleasure out of killing Raiders, a lot more than I thought I would have. Unlike last time, I felt more violent. I just wanted to see the sight of a Raider begging for mercy while I held him down, bashing his skull in. Oh Celestia it felt good!

The hoofsteps were heard again; this time the sound of them fading away was heard. She released me and looked out; she looked back at me and nodded.

“Try not to be so violent. We need to go around them somehow, maybe this cave leads somewhere.” She looked into the darkness, taking a few steps towards the pitch black darkness. “Maybe this leads straight to Manehattan.”

“It won’t, it’s probably going to be filled with Hellhounds. Just like the Steel Rangers claimed with the passage back there.” I responded, walking out back onto the Wasteland. I looked at my PipBuck, checking the map.

“I’m going to take my chances! Do us a favor and turn the light on the PipBuck on.” Crystal said, walking into the darkness. I followed her and called for her.

“We can’t, we don’t know what’s down there!” I exclaimed, sighing. I slowly walked into the darkness, seeing that Crystal was completely devoured by the dark. I sighed and turned the light on, it glowed a bright healthy green, lightning up the path ahead. Crystal still wasn’t in sight, but as I walked down, her face came into vision.

“Finally, you decided to come down here. Now come on, I’m confident this leads somewhere…look, signs.” She pointed to the wooden signs on the crumbling walls of the cave.

The signs said things like:

‘No peace, no harmony.’ ‘Radigators ahead, you have been warned.’

“Radigators?” She looked up at the sign, “there’s going to be water somewhere in this cave, we just have to be careful where we go. Watch your back.” Crystal trotted into the darkness, “are you coming?”

“Yeah, of course.” I gulped, trotting up to her and then walking at the same speed as her. I looked at her, showing a small expression of fright. “S-so, these Radigators…what are they?”

“They’re mutated Alligators, they tend to live near watery surfaces on the land…but it looks like, this cave has a few living in it.” She commented, “They’re stronger in numbers, hell what isn’t?”

“Well, l don’t think we should go down here.” My voice was shaky, as if in fear. I was scared; I didn’t know what these things would do to me if they got hold of me. We delve deeper into the cave, now reaching a small water fall. The water was irradiated, obviously showing it was coming from outside. The stream fit through a small hole in the rocks walls, I moved closer, the light of my PipBuck revealing blood coming from the hole and flowing in the stream.

I tried to look into the hole, but I saw nothing. “Uh Crystal?” I dabbed my hoof in the water, looking at the blood trickle down my hoof and onto my PipBuck. She didn’t hear me, she was busy looking around. I quickly got back up and trotted over to her, trying to forget what I saw.

As we got deeper, the water got deeper. Larger puddles of dirty water were found and corpses were found by the river. Blood trailed into it and the stench of flesh was in the air.

ROAR!

We froze, looking around ourselves in full alert. We heard something getting closer to us as we stood there in fright. Multiple enemies were detected on my PipBuck, we were doomed…and really we actually were! A pair of reptile type eyes were spotted as a dark, mushy green snout poked out of the darkness, and into the light from my PipBuck.

“That doesn’t look good.” I gulped; I used my wings to grab the rifle I got from the Raider out. It felt awkward holding a rifle with my wings, but I finally got the hang of aiming. “C-come on!”

“Tornado, stand down!” She used her magic to show peace, she slowly approached it. “It’s okay; we don’t want to hurt you.” The Radigator snarled and prepared to attack Crystal directly.

“Crystal, move!” I kept my sights on the Radigator, “I’m going to shoot!” I exclaimed, placing my feather on the trigger. “It’ll kill you.”

“No, I’m trying to show that we mean peace.” She looked at it for a while. But I was right; it was going to kill her. It instantly lashed out at her, knocking her onto her back. Radigators came out of the shadows.

“Crystal, come on!” I yanked her onto her hooves and then I quickly looked for a way out. “No way out!” I targeted the Radigators with S.A.T.S and selected the head on the one that attacked Crystal.

BANG, BANG, BANG!

The bullets hit the Radigator, but a small amount of the sickly green blood came out. It barely did any harm, but it did some damage. I placed Crystal onto my back and then placed the rifle away, flying up and over them, landing on the other side of them.

“We have to run now!” I quickly ran ahead, Crystal trailing closely behind me. The Radigators chased us, licking their wide jaws, hungry for meat. I quickly dived for cover, revealing the rifle once again. I targeted it again with S.A.T.S and shot it. Once I shot the bullet, I blew the Radigators head off with a stomach churning splat.

The others ran around the corner, following the glowing light from my PipBuck like a pack of wild dogs. I targeted three more of them in S.A.T.S, a bullet going to each of them once I pulled the trigger.

BLAM, BLAM, BLAM!

I managed to kill one of them; the other two bullets missed the Radigators. Crystal was hiding behind a rock.

BLAM, BANG, BOOM!

I managed to manually take down the two I missed, blowing the first ones right front leg off and the others tail off. They collapsed. Dead. One managed to leap onto me, pinning me down. As it did that, it started to bite into my neck, but I managed to shove its jaws off before they could deal some real damage. Minor bleeding, nothing more. It bit into the arm with the PipBuck on. It dug deep into my flesh, making blood stream down my arm. I tried shaking off, yelping in pain.

Crystal came over and shot it in the head, making its gooey blood splat onto my face. She offered me a hoof and pulled me up, while having her pistol levitated to her side. “You’ll be fine Tornado.” She said, looking at the others running at us. “We have to go, come on!” She quickly ran ahead, I followed but I found myself limping.

My PipBuck notified me with a message:

You’re crippled; find a doctor, use a Healing Potion, Syringe, or sleep to heal your limbs.

Trouble was, there were no beds, no doctors or Healing potions, or any medical items whatsoever. Crystal had some, but we couldn’t stop now. All we could do right now was run. Crystal took a path into a more claustrophobic cave; this is where matters got worse. I had claustrophobia, so in spaces like that I found it hard to breathe. I’d rather have trouble breathing than have my face gnawed off by a bunch of Radigators.

“Hold on Crystal, I’m coming.” No response came from the cave, but I counted to three in my mind and slipped into the small passage. I quickly moved down there, trying to avoid any more injuries. I limped up to Crystal who was waiting for me; I began gasping for air slightly.

“Tornado?” She asked with deep concern. “Are you okay?” Her voice was soft as she took a closer look at me; I nodded and tried to control my breathing.

“Can we just get to the end of this tight…tunnel, please?” I asked, trying to catch my breath. She nodded and trotted ahead, while I followed closely. I needed to get air, I couldn’t breathe at all. I already regret coming down here, I’d rather get gnawed to death by Radigators.

“It’s not long now; I can see a light ahead.” She pushed her way through, while looking back at me. “It’s okay Tornado, you’re going to be fine.” Crystal and I reached the end of the tunnel, at least. I could feel a gentle breeze press across my face, blowing my mane slightly in the air. She pushed through, grabbing my hoof and pulling me out. We weren’t outside the cave, but we were near the surface again. I turned the light on my PipBuck off (since the ceiling of the cave had a hole in it, it allowed sunlight through) and the light lit up the whole room. It was good to breathe in fresh air, well when I say fresh…I mean irradiated.

“Now we need to find a way out of here…before more come.” I said, limping slightly. I collapsed in pain and sat against the rough, rocky wall. I groaned and looked at my wounds, seeing the wounds were deeper than I thought.

“Tornado,” She gasped, sitting down next to me. “Let me take a look.” She gently held my injured hoof, as she did I let out a painful hiss. She pulled out her medical kit and pulled out some bandages. She slowly wrapped them around the bleeding wound, “just try and keep still for me, please?”

“It hurts though.” I hissed, flinching slightly. She held my foreleg still and kept wrapping around it until finishing. She tied a knot in it and stuck duct tape down onto it.

“It should heal up over time, I promise. I’m out of Stimpacks, but bandages should do the trick.” She stood up. “You were right, we never should have gone down here…I got your hurt, and for that I’m sorry.” I placed a hoof on her shoulder as she said those words, I turned her to face me and I looked into her eyes.

“No, we chose the right way. No matter how dangerous it was, we still got through the worst part alive, if there’s any more we now know what to expect. Now come on, let’s get moving.” I slowly walked away from her, looking around the small area we were in. This was going to be a tough one.

---

Footnote: Level up!

New perk: Just a Flesh Wound, melee defences is boosted by 15% making you less vulnerable to melee attacks; also your training in unarmed combat has gone up by 10%, making you 20% more agile in combat.

Current level: 3

Next Chapter: Chapter Four: The Steel Rangers Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 8 Minutes