This didn’t feel like a fight to me. A fight was what I went through when raiders tried to ambush me. Having some drunken asshole come out swinging from the bar made for an amusing fight. No, this was different. This must have been what war felt like.

A lot of the ponies in the courtyard on both sides were dangerous folk. Most of them out here were probably reveling in the hell that this chaos presented. Some were most likely innocents, just fighting for their lives.

Right about now, I felt closer to the former than the latter.

Laughing, I beat, slashed, and blasted away at anypony close enough to me. When they fell, I picked up whatever junk they had considered a weapon and used it as my own. I knew my horn burned from the strain, but with buck, I didn’t care. It gave me the strength of six mares, and the ego of six Storms. I was a tempest of arcane anger and hot lead. Or, so I had thought.

“Boss, look out!” Caltrop had yelled out from somewhere behind me. His warning had of course came too late. There had been a sharp pain in my side as I was thrown from my hooves. A bloody, armor clad pony was quick to maneuver himself over me. The long nightstick in his muzzle glinted with fresh blood, and he raised it high to strike.

Something in my mind snapped. I was no longer in the prison, but on the train car again. The stallion above me wore the same disgusting smile. The spark from a shock prod ready to strike hung next to him. I screamed.

Dropping the weapons around me, I panicked. I’m not sure why my spell resolved the way it did, but I’m fairly sure it had something to do with the smell caked in my nose. The burned flesh from the slave block brought forth pictures of the bodies in my mind. All while I tried to use the only spell I had that could be considered offensive at all. The air around my horn heated and condensed as my magic warped it. With a spark from my straining horn, it ignited.

A jet of flame engulfed the the guard. He reared up as the flames charred through the gaps in the armor. Writhing, he slipped his helmet off and tried to unbuckle the armor. As he flailed in pain, a blue blur zipped up onto his back. Sandy dug her claws in around his neck, and bit down on his head with a growl. The bite did little, but the gashes she tore in his neck brought him down for good.

“Good job, Sandy!” I shouted out. The stallion on the train was done for, and I could get back to getting my revenge. Rolling over, I hopped back to my hooves and continued my way to the other block. Bodies lined the path, but among them lay something out of place. A pile of pink ash sat near the door. Brightshine had gotten out. Another contract successfully completed.

I slammed my shoulder into the door to the main block. A few bodies now laid sprawled amongst the open floor, but no hostiles met my gaze. As Caltrop and Sandy made it in behind me, I turned my attention upwards. There, in the wide glass window overlooking the block, was the shape of the Warden.

“You’re mine.” I snarled with an eager grin.

Another figure shifted in the office above, and the glass shattered down to the floor. The Warden’s scream punctuated his fall, ending with a meaty slap against the concrete floor. Above, stood Lockjaw. The asshole stole my kill, but I couldn’t hold it against him. Not that I cared right now anyway. I still needed something to kill before the buck wore off.

“Fucking... bitch.” The warden sputtered amongst the blood pouring from his muzzle. He smiled up at me, stubbornly clinging to life like a radroach in a collapsed ruin. This asshole needed a bullet to the brain. Instead, I let out a yelp as I was tugged back by the tail. The wooden desk he had once sat smugly behind crashed down onto him. The squelch that emit, and the gore that radiated around it meant I could save that bullet for somepony else.

“A desk? Really?” I laughed and looked back to Lockjaw.

He let out a throaty laugh. “You would’ve prefered something more plush? A couch perhaps?” He shook his head. “In my lifetime, I’ve learned it’s important to improvise if you’re going to survive.”

“That’s one hell of a way to improvise.” I pointed to the doors across the block. “Get down here, Storm and I are going to need your help.”

With a nod, he disappeared into the office again. Sandy brushed past me as she moved up to the desk, climbing on to it carefully. The Warden was dead. Even if he hadn’t died by my hooves, I’m at least glad my face was the last thing he saw. I hope he’d enjoyed it.

“Ya really need ta wash yah tail, you know that?” Caltrop blathered as he spit out some of my hair. I’d slap him for that, but with the buck in my system, I don’t think I’d ever stop hitting him. Though, part of me really didn’t think that was a bad thing. With my pause, I think he’d caught wind of my thoughts. “Hey, we’re friends, remember?” He flashed his nervous smile and took a step back.

Something outside exploded, and it reminded me that we still had another job to do. I’d spun and was galloping for the doors I’d pointed to. Pushing through them, I found that the bodies of the guards I’d shot had been dragged off. Even the bitch who’d stabbed me was gone, only a bloody smear on the floor remained.

I reached the corridor that split off to the cafeteria, stopping as gunshots echoed down the hall from the other direction. This hall rounded a corner, and presumably lead to the entrance of the building. I pulled out #4 and crept up to the corner slowly, listening as rounds now slapped at the steel doors to the outside. With a quick peek, I found the doors barred with an old fire axe. Laying against the wall, was a creme colored unicorn mare with a golden yellow mane.

A sickening sucking sound accompanied her breathing, and a fresh line of red poured from a bullet wound in the center of her chest. I’ve seen my fair share of these, and enough had been caused by my own hooves. Without a potion, she had maybe minutes to live. It would take that long at least to get back to Storm, and it was a gamble if she even had one.

“Heh, bet yer happy…” Brightshine gasped, weakly smiling as she glanced over to me. “Fuckin dipshits out there… too many ta fight.”

Somewhere inside, I wanted to see her die. I wanted her to suffer for what she put me through. With her like this, I should have been happy. That feeling never hit me. I’d gotten caught on the fact that she wasn’t going to make it out. I’d failed her brother, and I’d failed the job.

I was better than this. What happened to me? Storm was right, I’d become complacent and weak. So set in my ways, that I can’t adapt anymore. The only thing that gave me confidence to fight here was the buck, and even that was wearing off. Sure, Brightshine was a colossal bitch, but she was better than me. I resent that she could beat me like this.

No, she wasn’t dead yet.

“How many?” I asked. Killing my way out of here was the only hope any of us had. This meant that I needed information I could get. “Any chance the two of us could clear them?”

“Too many…” She coughed and pulled her rifle close. Shakely, she pulled herself up onto it. Amazingly, she fought through the pain and stood before me. Under the same circumstances, there’s no way I’d be able to stay calm, let alone stand with a wound like that. She was tougher than I could ever be, and I both respected and resented her for that. “Ah might be tough, but I aint bulletproof.” A full smile worked across her muzzle. “Honey, yah stairin... is it cause yah want ta tell me now yer inta mares afta all.” She let out a choking laughed.

Bulletproof?

“That’s it.” I tapped my hoof on the floor. “The tables in the cafeteria, they seemed fairly bullet proof to me.” The sound of Caltrop and Sandy finally catching up pushed that plan from my mind. “Fuck, there’s no way we could all get out though.”

“Four should be enough.” Brightshine gasped out. She eyed at her mane as she wobbled woozily. “With this much juice, ah can cast a shield ta fill the gaps.”

It was the most sound plan at the moment. Once past them, we could find a fortified position and return fire until storm could attack at their flank. Once we were safe, I’m sure I could find a way to stop Brightshine’s bleeding. She could still make it as long as we got past these last guards.

Turning around, I ran muzzle first into Lockjaw. For a big guy, he was silent when moving. He stepped back and took his eyes off Brightshine, and even with the augmented eyes, he looked sad. I’m sure he’d come to the same conclusion about the gravity of her wound as I had. Without a word, he pushed past Caltrop toward the inside of the block again.

“You two, stay here.” I prodded Caltrop as I passed him. He gave a whimper and Sandy gave me a quick bark. Charging down the halls, both Lockjaw and I flew into the cafeteria. In one quick action, he dropped down low and rolled over. He popped up under one of the tables, thrusting it off the floor. It slammed against the wall hard enough it’s legs sheared off, and the flat steel slab crashed to the floor. More interested in watching the spectacle, I slammed into one of the overturned tables I’d used for cover earlier.

I focused my magic around it and tried to pull it up. My horn sparked and shot a stabbing pain through me. It dropped back to the floor with a slam, and I rubbed my sore horn softly. As if to show off, Lockjaw walked over and tipped the table over onto its top. He climbed onto the flipped table and put a hoof on each table leg. With a squat and a flex, each leg violently sheared off, and dropped to the floor. Walking to the next one, he then repeated the process.

I strained to even lift the one table onto my back. Brightshine was sure she could do this, but I’m sure that these would drain her magic too fast. With the back end of the table dragging along the floor, I walked back through the doors. The metallic screech along the floor was maddening. Every step sent a fresh shiver up my spine. My lightheadedness returned as the buck wore off faster. I couldn’t pass out now. If I did, we were all dead.

Caltrop trotted up next to me, ignoring my order to stay where he was. I was about to complain, but he nudged into my side. I felt the table lift as Caltrop kept pushing against me, and soon I wasn’t carrying it at all. Stepping aside, he grunted and walked faster than I had been, pulling the table up and around the corner. Looking back for Lockjaw, I almost didn’t duck in time.

The three tables he had horizontally balanced across his massive back, passed over my head as he trotted with little exertion. I followed behind him, with steps that felt increasingly less coordinated. By the time I’d gotten to Sandy, Brightshine already held them in her magic. It took me a moment, but the shape she had made wasn’t a square. I wondered why that was, right up until she effectively threw the extra table at us.

Even Lockjaw hadn’t been prepared for it. He absorbed most of the force as he was knocked back. The table slammed into Caltrop, who then slammed into me. Sandy had fast enough reflexes that as three of us went down, she’d ducked behind the wall. With another metallic screech, the table wedged itself between against the hallway walls. As Caltrop rolled off of me, I didn’t feel like pulling myself to my hooves. I was tired, in pain, and the Buck wasn’t helping me anymore.

“Sorry, but Ah'll be dead in two minutes either way. No need fer yah ta die with meh.” Brightshine yelled to us. As my vision cleared, I looked to the table she’d thrown. It hadn’t gotten stuck like that, she had placed it as cover for us. “Just let meh do this one meaninful thang with mah life before Ah die. And tell mah brother... tell him that Ah'll be waitin fer him with Burst an Mama.”

I didn’t have the strength to try to stop her. With my head spinning, I heard as she opened the door. Immediately, the air was filled with roaring gunfire. Ricochets and stray rounds slammed into the table and wall behind us. Finding the strength for somewhere, I managed to will my vision from spinning. The hallway was growing brighter by the second. I’d wondered why that was, but then came a flash that was brighter than anything I’d ever seen. Everything fell silent from outside, and the only sound that met my ears was Sandy’s whimpering and Caltrop’s groans.

“Fuck dat hurt.” Caltrop slowly scoot his way over to me. He prodded at my side hard and I whined. “Hey ,Boss. Ya dead?”

“Yeah.” I groaned out, wishing that maybe I had died instead. “What the fuck did she do?”

“She hit you with a table!” Sandy squeaked. “Then she got all glowy and I had to shut my eyes. Now they’re all just standing outside.”

I didn’t know what that meant. What the hell had she done? As Caltrop hooked a fetlock around my leg, my vision started to dim. At first I thought that maybe I was passing out, but the white I could see dimmed. I let out a cry as Caltrop hoisted me up over his shoulder, helping me to stand on my legs.

“Goddesses, would ya look at dat…” He muttered softly.

I clenched my eyes shut tightly. When I opened them again, I could start to make out what he was talking about. My eyes trailed from things like the fire axe on the floor, to the fire extinguisher on the wall. Each had a shadow that stretched at an odd angle, the blistered paint on them looking like they’d been exposed to a raging fire. Slowly, I traced from the shadows to the light that had cast them.

Standing as still as a statue, was Brightshine, or what was left of her. The charcoal black pony looked like a replica. It was joined by a semicircle of other char black pony figures, each with a shadow that trailed off away from her. The wind outside picked up. One by one, the pony statues collapsed into a heap of ashes, until Brightshine alone was left. My vision finally normalized, and as it did, the wind howled through the door. The soot and ash from Brightshine whiped away, not leaving a pile like the others, but instead, a solid crystalline version of her that was clearer than any glass in the wastes.

“She… she did all dat?” Caltrop stuttered. “But… what kinda spell does dat?”

“It’s in her name.” I sighed. Fucking hell. She didn't need to do that for us. The shield plan would have worked, and we could have all made it out. Fucking cunt just wanted to show me up and make me owe her one.

And I hated being in debt.

“I’m sorry I can’t do more…” One of the unicorn slaves spoke softly. She was stitching up hole in my side after she stopped me from dying. “You shouldn’t bleed any more, but you’ll need to make sure the wound doesn’t get infected.”

“Thanks.” I grumbled amongst the admittedly dulled pain.

Sometime after I’d passed out from blood loss, Storm and the slaves finished the fight in the courtyard. Then I guess they decided to set up camp here, because that’s where I’d woken back up at. The dead were cleared, and the slaves were huddled together in small groups. Some of them were crying, others laughing. Most just looked sad, and I hated it. This many ponies was just uncomfortable to be around in the first place, let alone a bunch of do nothing slaves.

The inmates from A block who weren’t bloodthirsty douchebags had gathered up the food stores, and were steadily distributing it to the starving slaves. Caltrop happened to be so lucky to get a half a can of prewar spinach. Walking over, he offered me some.

“Nah, I ate before I came to rescue you. You have it.” I grunted as I sat up. As I did so, a commotion split the crowd from the entrance to Cell block A. Storm was leading a whimpering and bloodied stallion across the yard to me. She kicked him and sent him sprawling to the dirt a few feet from me. He whined and looked up to her with fearful eyes.

“Go on.” Storm spoke sternly to him. “Tell her what you told me.”

‘Then… then you’ll let me go?” He whimpered. He gave a weak smile as she nodded. “Camp… it’s run by Mr. Flint. He’s the one who puts the contract ponies in here.”

“And?” Storm growled, making him flinch. If it weren’t for the fact that Storm was pissed, I’d have slapped him and told him to grow a pair.

“...And that he’s the one who authorizes all the high level bounties in Filly.” He spit out. “I swear, that’s all I know!” Whining, he scrambled up to his hooves. I wasn’t about to let an asshole like him leave though. Quickly, I drew #1 from my side and raised it against him.

“No.” Storm shouted and shoved him out of the way. Before I could reorient the gun, she kicked it from my magic and screamed. I found my head snap sharply as she hit me with a left hook. I saw stars and yelped. In the confusion, she placed herself over me and pinned me down. “Have you learned nothing?” She seethed through clenched teeth. “Look around you. Every choice you've made has ended in disaster. It's time to stop playing little miss badass and grow up.”

“Fuck off, Storm.” I shouted. Twisting and torquing myself only served to make my side send bolts of pain through me. Her hold on me was absolute, and I was going to sit here until she decided I could go.

“Listen to me!” She pleaded. Here eyes were locked on to mine, and she looked more worried than I’d ever seen her. “I'm only telling you this because it happened to me. You can't continue to just go off half cocked anymore. Things are changing here in the wasteland, and I know you know it's true.”

“So what are you waiting for?” I huffed out. However true that was, she didn’t need my help. “Go off and save it again.”

“I can't.” She took a deep breath as she shook her head. “One day you'll understand, but if you don't change, you'll never live to see that day. No more killing out of spite, no more foalish revenge. You are my grand daughter, and I expect you to be better than that.”

“One day... be better?” I couldn’t believe the shit I was hearing. She was treating me like a fucking foal! “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Brightshine gave her life to save you. Who else are you going to drag down inadvertently? What if you got Caltrop killed? What if Sandy was the one who died because you couldn't change yourself?” She stepped off of me slowly. “I'm not going to be here to fix your mistakes anymore. You've got friends to rely on now. If you don't let them down, they'll be better than any weapon and make you feel more alive than any revenge you could take.”

“So you won’t stay, and you won’t help.” I spat at her. Getting back to my hooves, I rubbed at my sore cheek. “Then tell me, what the fuck are you going to do?”

She sighed again. “It was a mistake to ever assume you could handle a job like mine. You’re reckless, hot headed, and shortsighted. You’d never be able to stand up to the pressures I face without cracking.” Turning towards the entrance of A block, she looked back at me with a frown. “Do you even know why I was in Filly in the first place? I was there to close up my services with my last friend. Your mother was right, I’m too old for this. So I’m done. If I don’t stop now, I’m going to get myself killed.”

I didn’t believe it. Not for one, fucking second.

“You say it’s all my fucking fault? What about Ash? You’re just going to leave me to clean up your mess this time?” I shouted. She stopped where she was. “Don’t act like you haven’t made mistakes, Storm.” Picking up #1 in my magic, I floated it over and reholstered it. “How many have had to die over the years because of your mistakes? Dozens? Hun...”

She whipped around and cut me off with a shot from her rifle. Her shot hit me just above the stab wound and I cried out from it. I dropped to the dirt as she worked the action, aiming another shot for me. In a surprising move, Caltrop walked forward. He placed himself between her and I, giving a snort in anger.

“Knock it off.” He shouted. “Ya wrong about PC. Yeah, she could stand ta be nicer, but she’s a good mare.” His words made Storm lower her rifle a few inches. “The Storm I’d always heard about wasn’t ever dis cruel. She believed in helpin ponies.” He shook his head. “Ta be honest, I expected more from somepony so revered. It’s easy for ya ta stand there and say all dat ta her. Life delt her a bad hand, but she’s dealin with it. Maybe it ain’t the way you would, but maybe it ain’t her dat needs to change.”

Where did this come from all of a sudden? Where the hell was the whimpering, weak stallion that I’d been traveling around with? Deep down, you know why. A month ago, I wouldn’t have given somepony a second glance if they asked for something. Now, I’d gone charging headlong into a prison to save Caltrop.

“Watch your tongue. I would shoot you as well,” She paused and leaned to glare at me. “But at least you’re a pony who stands up for somepony other than herself. She’ll need that from you from now on.” Storm remarked as she slung her rifle onto her back. “Get your things together. We are returning to Timber tonight, and we’ve already wasted too much time as it is.” With that, she disappeared into the cell block.

With her words running around in my head, I flopped down. I hated the fact that she’d always acted like she’s better than everypony else. The problem is, she always had been, and I resented that fact. She was always right. Not just about this, but about a lot of things. Every time I’ve just been too stuck in my ways to see it immediately.

Sandy approached me slowly as Caltrop sat down with a sigh. I’ve never seen Storm act that way before. Yeah, we’d argue, but she’s never been this physical. There’s something more to it than just retiring, I know it.

Adding to the weirdness, Caltrop was now standing up for me? I know he’d said that he was my friend, but was this what friendship did to ponies? Did it make them do short sighted things on the chance it might make things more bearable? Am I okay with that in my life?

I don’t even know what to think anymore.

“I’m sorry, Boss.” Caltrop muttered. “I didn’t mean ta get ya inta dis mess.” He shook his head and looked down at the can in his hoof. “Always screwed things up everywhere I went before. Don’t know why I thought dat could ever change.”

I was reminded of the farewell note in his bag, and I sighed. Even though it made my head throb, I snatched the can from him with my magic. Bringing it to my muzzle, I ate it’s contents quickly.

“Shut up you dolt.” I tossed the can at him lightly. “I didn’t just bust you out so you could get all mopy on me. If I thought you weren’t worth it, I wouldn't have done it.”

“Ya think I’m worth it?” He asked slowly, looking back to me with a weak smile.

“Maybe.” I grunted as I stood up. My closed wound had welted up with the bruise from the rubber bullet. It hurt to walk, but at least I could do so. “Still figuring out if your useful enough to keep around all the time.” I couldn’t help but give a small smile to him.

“But… what about me?” Sandy asked softly. I looked to her as she hung her head and sat dejected. “What if I’m not useful enough?” She curled up with a whimper and put her arms over her head.

It was probably in poor taste, but I laughed. Once I started, I fought to stop. Between each round of laughter, I whined and cried about my side. The notion was just so damn hilarious to me. Only when she looked up with teary eyes could I force myself to regain control.

“Sandy… you’ve already been ten times as useful as he has!” I shuddered in pain as Caltrop just rolled his eyes. “Pup, you can hang with me for as long as you want. Besides, I know Caltrop knows the answer to every question you’ll ever have.” That would be revenge enough. While combat hadn’t been the way I’d normally like to avoid annoying conversations, I had grown to miss the ability for actual interaction.

“I’m gonna ignore dat comment outa my desire ta be ya friend.” Caltrop remarked smartly.

Sandy blindsided me with a hug. For a moment I worried about her claws, but as she pressed warmly into me, it was pushed to the back of my mind. I put a hoof around her and pulled her close. Never in my entire life would I have imagined how good having friends would make me feel.

“I told ya dat ya’d like hugs.” Caltrop whispered as he leaned closer to me. I looked up and found his smug face smiling at me.

“Shut it.” I spat back playfully. “Do me a favor and take your saddlebags back. I’m tired of carrying your shit, and I don’t want to walk all the way back with it rubbing against this wound.” Thats when it really hit me. I would have to tell Brightshine’s brother I’d failed. Today had already been a whirlwind of emotions, but to have to do this? I hated the thought of it more than anything. Rubbing Sandy’s head, I pushed her off of me as Caltrop took the bags. “Get yourselves ready and meet me out front, I have to go do something first.”

I went looking for Lockjaw. Brightshine was better than me, I get it, but it didn’t mean she could go and do what she did. Even though she had died, I needed to give her back to her brother. I would do it on my own if I had to, but I really hoped that I could have his help. As I wound my way through the building towards her, I didn’t catch even a glimpse of the large cybernetic stallion. That is, until I got to where Brightshine was.

“She’s heavier than I thought a glass pony would be.” Lockjaw groaned out as Brightshine was carefully tied to him. Storm yanked the rope in her muzzle and tightened it around him. She let out the slack and stepped back with a sigh, looking over the rigging.

“It’s because diamond is much denser than glass.” She gave Brightshine a tap with her hoof. Her ear swiveled around as she listened to me approach. “Come to argue with me some more?”

“No, I came for her.” I grunted. “Her brother deserves her back with him.”

“Well, at least you understand that much.” Storm glared at me as she lifted her pipbuck. “We should have been on the road…” She paused and looked over to the mountain cliff we had camped on before. She sniffed at the air, which in turn made me sniff. The air was becoming thick with the smell of burned corpses.

“I thought that smell would have drifted off by now.” I scrunched up my nose in disgust. “Did you really have to flame so many?” Seriously, it was just getting worse. Caltrop and Sandy came out the door behind me and had probably been baffled by us sniffing the air.

“It’s not coming from the prison.” Storm shook her head with a growl. Without warning, she took off toward the cliff path we’d used to get down. “It’s coming from Timber!” She shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Oh, fuck me.” I groaned as I took off after her. Brightshine’s brother can’t die because of me as well. There is no way I’m was going to be responsible for killing their whole family. Pain in my side, dehydration, and exhaustion be damned. We were going to get him out of there alive, he could bury brightshine and move on with his life. He had to.

I had to.