More than anything, they fucking itched.

The stumps where my rear legs once sat didn’t even hurt thanks to Null’s numbing spell. Unfortunately, the non existent limbs still itched like crazy. The fact that they were gone was still something I hadn’t completely accepted yet I don’t think. At the very least, I could still sit on the stumps.

Still, the trip back to wherever we were going wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Sure, riding atop the machine that mercilessly beamed my legs off wasn’t at all comfortable, but it would have been faster than walking. Had I still been able to do that, that is. Still, Null had become somewhat more of a chatterbox now that I was willing to go see this ‘Flint’ fellow. Though, he didn’t seem to trust me enough to give me back my magic.

Specter, the mare that had saved my flank, was apparently the closest thing Null had to a friend among the other hunters. She came from way up north, from a settlement just outside the ruins of the crystal empire. On top of having some sort of radiation mutation that made her semi-translucent, Flint saw an exceptional ability in teleportation from her and signed her on. However, as her first mission, she had to help capture her own family. She’s apparently been a raging bitch ever since.

“So, just try to stay out of her way when she gets like that.” He rolled his eyes. “I am not even going to tell you about Synchro. He is annoying enough to talk to, let alone ask why he is the way he is.” He levitated a half empty bottle of water over to me, which I took into my hooves gladdly. “Let us see… there is also Brushfire. One of those insane raider types. She killed, burned, and ate her whole tribe before Flint stumbled onto her. She only ever spends her favors on two things. Flamer fuel, and a fresh slave to cook up.”

“Wow, that’s genuinely terrifying.” I grumbled. It was hard to care about the others. Caltrop and Sandy were still out there, and I had no idea if they’d made it to the safehouse. On top of that, I have no idea if Storm had made it back to Mom in time. I drank up the water in the bottle and tried to forget all of it for now. No distractions until I can get myself set up for this.

“There’s our little filly, Dykem Blue.” He continued on. “She got her cutie mark working in the Fillydelphia pits. Somehow figured out how to imprint spells into normal objects without needing a gem. Killed four guards with an air compression spell she hid in a girder. From what I heard, they had more shrapnel in them than a whole minefield.”

“Wait, that’s impossible.” I spoke up. “Spells can’t be stored in anything but a gemstone or one of those archanotech spell matrix thingies.”

“Well, the spells she stores are extremely unstable, and destroy the object in the process of resolving the spell.” Null shrugged. “Believe me when I say I did not think it possible as well. It was a unique enough talent that Flint ‘requisitioned’ her from his brother.”

“Huh, learn something new every day.” I gave a snort and looked up to the sky. The sun was dipping down towards the edge of the cloud cover behind us. We were hugging the mountains on a dirt path east towards Filly, but that was all I knew. “Not that this isn’t fun and all, but I really don’t give two shits about you or your fellow ‘hunters’. If I work for Flint, it won’t be with any of you.”

“Suit yourself. Only one left to talk about was the new guy anyway.” He sighed in annoyance. “Don’t know much about him, but Martial is the biggest prick I think I’ve ever seen.” Hearing him say that name almost made my forelegs slip out from under me. I had to look for something to hold onto as my heart rate jumped.

“Say that again.” I perked my ears forward to make sure of what I’d heard. “What was his name?”

“Well,” Null rolled his eyes again and facehoofed. “He prefers the name ‘Ash’, but...”

“That stupid son of a bitch!” Just thinking about that little shit made my blood boil. I turned my anger on Null. “When we get there, you are going to take me too him. Then, you are going to sit there and hold him down while I beat all the life from his cold heart.”

“Woah there now. You will not kill him.” Null held his hooves up defensively. “Flint has a strict ‘no-violence’ policy amongst his employees. You have an issue with him, you have to take it up with Flint. Even that will cost you a few favors to do.” He eyed at me curiously. “If I might ask, what did he do? I know he was originally tasked to bring you in, but he has not returned since his failure.”

“He went to Baltimare to kill my family.” I grumbled. “And I have no idea if he has or not. I was on my way to meet up with my grandmother to find out what happened when you arrived.”

“I see.” His response was simple, but a puzzled look fell across his face. “Why would he attack your family?”

“My grandmother killed his whole tribe for raping my mother.” My muzzle twitched at the memory of the train car as it slipped through my mind. “I never knew, but he’s been around for years just waiting for the right moment to get his revenge.”

“Oh, that is a different story then.” Null tapped his hoof against his muzzle. “Grudge missions are forbidden. When you join Flint, you cease to be who you were. Your name stays the same, but all family ties and history must be forgotten. No exceptions.” Null looked at me with a grimace. “The only family you will have again is Flint and us.”

“What if I want to get married?” I asked mostly out of reflex. First I wrestled with my feelings for Caltrop, and now I blurt out about making it official? I don’t know why it mattered to me so much, but the suddenness of it left both Null and I silent for a moment. “Not that I will, but Ash said he was married.”

“You can…” Null was slow to speak. “But again, it will cost you favors to do. I am not privy to ‘Ash’s’ agreement with Flint, but she might have been included in it.” He paused again, but I could tell something else was on his mind. “And before you ask, yes, you will need favors to have a foal.”

The robot slowed down to a crawl as it came upon a forested section of road. The skeletal trees that lined this area were more clustered in this section than they had been anywhere else. They created mesmerising patterns as we crawled along at a slower speed. They looked as if they shifted side to side behind one another as we passed them. Then, as if somepony told them too, they aligned in just the right way to reveal a dirt path between them. It ran along a few of the hills that climbed up towards the eastern face of the mountain range before it disappeared around the other side of the largest hill. Slowly, the machine turned and started down the new path.

“Ah, we are almost home.” Null said through a sigh of relief. “The vineyard is just a few miles up this path. I normally like to take my time walking back, but I think this time it might serve well to stay with you.”

“What? You don’t trust that I’ll go?” I said as I wiggled my nubs. “Not like I’d make it very far.”

“No,” Null laughed. “I suppose not. But the others will know that you are not a threat if I am with you.” He leaned back and put his hooves behind his head. “Unless, you’d rather get shot again?” I’d been shot enough to last a lifetime already. Then again at that point, what’s one more scar to add to my collection?

The first thing I noticed as we closed in was that the ‘vineyard’ actually looked like one. Rows and rows of plants lined the hillside all across the valley on this side of the mountain. No oppressive walls or barbed wire fences sat near what I now realized was less of a single home, but instead was a large settlement. Dozens of slaves worked along lines of actually growing grape plants, tending to them at the gunpoint of only a few guards.

Above the fields were both shacks and small houses alike, most likely home to the slaves and the guards. Various generators kept a few lights running in them, and I could see a few ponies milling about tending to things. Further up the hill from those, were a pair of large buildings. One was three stories tall and ringed with balconies, while the other looked like a huge sheet metal barn. Both were brightly lit inside, but the large apartment-like building seemed oddly empty.

Finally, near the top of the ridge, sat a large, two story villa. It had a single balcony that ran along it’s entire second story, and even in the failing light, I could see a pair of ponies on it. It helped that they stood in front of a large open door that lead inside, but something told me that one of them had to be Flint. Once we got closer, the two ponies disappeared inside and shut the door.

The robot we were on was slow to make it along the path. The buildings crept closer at a dragging pace, but as the light of day shifted to an orange evening glow, we were nearly there. I perked my ears at an odd sound, as did Null. Another upbeat tune met our ears, not unlike the one the robot had been blaring. Null let out a grunt and shook his head.

“Why must he insist on listening to all of that racket?” He looked to me for sympathy. “Ever since Flint gave away half his collection, he has been playing his remaining records louder and louder.” He sneered when I didn’t give him the reaction he wanted. “Maybe he will turn it down now that I have reclaimed them from the prison.”

That made me sigh.

“I never wanted to hear that shit again.” I looked up to Null with a small smile. “Don’t think you’d be open to maybe just losing them again, do you?”

“Sorry, but he is paying me a good amount of favors for them.” He gave me a sly grin in return. Fucking typical.

For as run down as the barn building looked, I could see all sorts of shiny steel trusses running along the inside of it. Work Lights had been hoisted up and placed all over the scaffolding at various points to give the interior a brightness rivaling the sun itself. Assorted pony-high piles of scrap sat against a few rusted benches and tool cabinets. Parts of ponytrons, giddy-up buttercups, and even the hull of an ultra sentinel sat discarded and unused in the piles.

As we approached, a short and frail looking earth pony stallion climbed up and over one of the farther piles. His deep purple coat was stained with black streaks that I assumed were grease or oil, and his short, spiky teal mane adorned greasy black tips. The robot turned and pulled forward into the large barn, parking itself just inside. The mechanical hum shut off with a quick chirp just as the song on the record stopped playing.

He pushed up an old pair of glasses with his hoof as he looked at us. Null grunted and slid himself to the side of the machine. He hopped off and looked back up to me. He wrapped me in his magic again and slid me off the machine as well.

“What the hell did you do to her?” The new stallion snorted in annoyance. “You can’t just roll her in here with two legs missing and no explanation.”

“Well Synchro, your stupid machine did this to her.” Null shot back. “If you hadn’t put…”

“Not her you moron.” The new stallion cut him off. “You know how hard it was to replace the one missing wheel suspension leg when I found this bot?” He hopped off of his junk heap and trotted over to the robot. “I mean look at her! You took her whole back end off!”

“Fair trade.” I snorted. Not even thirty seconds in and I see what Null was talking about. I can tell this guy is the most annoying stallion I’ve ever met, and between Caltrop and Ash, that’s saying something. Without warning, I found Null’s gag pushed back into my muzzle. Fantastic. Now I couldn’t even tell this guy off.

“The fuck did you say, bitch?” The stallion wheeled around on me as Null lowered me down. Null walked over and placed himself between us. He levitated and presented the records he’d mentioned to Synchro. It took the young stallion’s attention for a moment, but I feel that it was what Null had wanted.

“Look, she’s the one the boss has been looking for, but your little toy damaged her.” Null held the records just close enough that Synchro jumped at grabbing them. Null of course, pulled them just out of his reach. “You, owe me for that.”

“Really? That’s how this is gonna go?” Synchro deadpanned and raised his hoof to me. “What the fuck am I supposed to do? I can’t magically grow her new legs, now can I?”

“No, but you are the self proclaimed ‘robotics prodigy’, are you not?” Null levitated the records closer again. “Just build her some new ones.”

“It’s not that simple.” Synchro groaned out, eyes still locked on to the floating records. “Do you know how complex a set of prosthetics are? You can’t just make them in a few minutes, not for a price you could afford anyway.” He reached out for the records, but Null once again pulled them back.

“Well that is disappointing.” Null sighed and shook his head. “I guess I’ll just have to give these records back to Flint,” He paused and smiled at Synchro. “Along with my report detailing the fact that your little toy here had an upgrade that helped take his prized mare’s legs clean off.”

“Alright, alright, alright.” Synchro snarled. “Fine. I’ll help you just this one time.” He prodded Null in the chest with his hoof. “But we’re even for both this and the records.”

“Deal.” Null said, hovering the records over to the short stallion. Synchro scrambled to hold on to them, hugging them tightly.

“You know, you’re lucky I have something here that might work for her.” Synchro called out as he walked back across the floor. He disappeared around the back of one of the larger junk piles for a moment. The sound of squeaking metal and grunting was all I heard as I sat there still helpless to do pretty much anything. Wait, he didn’t tie my hooves up again.

I’m a fucking moron.

With a little effort, I tugged the gag from my muzzle and tossed it at Null. He stood there like an idiot with an amused grin on his face. There was a loud crack from the other side of the junk pile. Synchro trotted around it again a moment later.

“These should be good enough to get the bitch walking again.” He said as he dumped the rear half of one of the Giddie up buttercup robotic mare toys onto the floor. “Now, I believe at the very least, a thank you is in order.”

“Those legs are a joke.” I glared at them. “You expect me to walk around on toy legs?”

“What would you know about robotics?” He half chuckled, half growled. “You’re just a stupid bitch with only two legs.”

“I can see the same fake as fuck toy legs right there!” I pointed a forehoof to one of the rusting Buttercup toys in the pile nearest to me. “Right. There. I can see it. I'm crippled, not fucking blind you asshole!"

“You can use these to walk!” He shouted back at me. “What fucking more do you want!”

“I hope you’re not trying to rip anypony off, Synchro.” A filly spoke up from behind me. I couldn’t turn enough to see her, but I was guessing that this was the filly that Null spoke about. “You remember what Master Flint did last time that happened.”

“Isn’t it past your bedtime, Blue?” Synchro rolled his eyes with an aggravated sigh.

“Staying up late doesn’t make what she said wrong.” A new voice joined in from behind. Synchro’s face went as pale as a pony could get as light hoofsteps made their way closer to me. Null’s concentration wavered as he avoided looking at the approaching pony. “I hope you weren’t planning on giving Null here a bum deal.”

If I had any certainty about these ponies, is that there would be only one pony they would fear enough to act this way. Both Null and Synchro cowered slightly more with each step towards us. The suspense could be cut with a knife, and all I wanted to do was turn to face the pony who had given me so much trouble over the last week.

“N-no, sir.” Synchro stuttered. “I… I can fix up some p-proper legs.”

“There, now was that so hard?” His voice was as slick as oil. That worried me, seeing as silver tongued assholes had talked their way around me in the past. Then again, none of those ponies were probably as intimidating as he is. With a few more steps, he walked around to where I could see and smiled down to me.

He was as gorgeous as Ash thought himself to be.

Why the fuck did he have to be so damn good looking? Why are all the stallions that ruin my life so fucking good looking! His platinum coat didn’t have a single hair out of place. The blond mane he wore down the sides of his head perfectly framed his gentle looking fuchsia eyes.

“Miss Percussion Cap, I presume.” He spoke as he leaned down. “You are a particularly hard pony to find, you know.” A little chuckle escaped his muzzle from that before he turned his gaze to what was left of my rear legs. “Oh, that certainly is a shame.” He frowned and shook his head softly.

“Null said that you could fix me...” I said softly. As soon as he gazed back into my eyes, I lost my train of thought.

“Yes, I certainly believe I might be able to help.” A smirk crept across his muzzle as he looked back at Synchro. “A mare of your talent would be a shame to let go to waste for something as unfortunate a situation as this.” He cocked and eyebrow and shot his glance back to me. “However, I assume you’ve been told my help comes at a price.”

Something about the way he looked at me then made my skin crawl. Was I ready to trade away my freedom for something like this? Null said that sometimes I don’t have a choice on my contracts. What if he sends me after some pony like Storm? Could I even accept the fact that I’d have to try to kill her, let alone pull the trigger?

“I have a few terms of my own.” I shut my eyes as I spoke. I didn’t want to get distracted by anything. This was too important. “One, is that my family gets left out of your contracts.”

“My dear,” He chuckled again. “You must know already that I am not the only pony in the wasteland to place bounties. I cannot guarantee…”

“Just your bounties.” I cut him off. From the gasp that I got from the other hunters around me, cutting him off might not have been the smartest thing to do. Though, he wanted me enough to go through the trouble of bringing me here, so I figure I can push the limits a little bit.

“Okay, that is agreeable.” He replied sharply. I could tell that he’d already become frustrated. “Is there anything else?”

“My friends. I work better with them than without.” It was a simple request. I just wanted to make sure that Caltrop and Sandy could be kept safe and close by. Assuming, that they had arrived at the safehouse in one piece, like I hoped they would have.

“That's not the story I've heard. Though, I do have to thank the bumbling stallion you were with. His mistake gave me the perfect chance to set this all up.” He had a bit more of a general tone to this. I’m sure he’d entertained the possibility of me asking, which made his answer all the more expected. “Sadly, my offer only extends to you.”

“I’m told that for an amount of favors, a hunter can buy anything from you.” I opened my eyes and looked up at him. He wore a smug smile now, but it was shrinking as I spoke. “How many would it take?”

“Well,” His smile returned as he let out a good laugh. “lets not get ahead of yourself.”

“You want me to work for you, I need my friends to work.” I simply glared at him. This was something I needed to have. I’m bartering with one of the most powerful stallions in Filly. If he didn’t accept, he’d kill me without a second thought, I’m sure of it. So why not go for broke?

“Well,” He said as he curled a perfectly kept forehoof under his chin. “I guess if you're willing to go into debt for them, I can't argue.” He looked around to each of the others around me. He dragged the silence out before he returned his gaze to me. “I guess I could for… let’s say, one hundred favors.”

The room became deathly silent. Nopony moved a muscle as each held their breath.

“Deal.” I held my forehoof out to Flint with a smile. If I was going to sell my soul to him, I might as well have gotten everything I wanted out of it.

“You sure about that?” His grin grew wider than ever. He was positively ecstatic. “I don't think you fully grasp…” He paused as I kept my eyes determined and locked on to his. “Alright, if you're sure.” Slowly, he took my hoof with his and shook. “Welcome to the family.”

“What?” Synchro whined and stomped a hoof. The suddenness made me flinch, and it wiped the smile from Flint’s muzzle. “That's not fair!”

“Yeah!” Blue joined in. “I can't even get an advance on five favors, let alone a hundred!”

Slowly, Flint pushed himself back up to full height and shifted his gaze between them. He wore a look that read both astonished and offended at the same time. Both Synchro and the filly took a step back unsteadily.

“Tell me, is there something wrong with what I've done for you two?” His voice was soft, but commanding. He glared over at Synchro, which made the lithe stallion shiver. “Do you not have your toys? Or enough free time to yourself?” He turned his gaze to the filly behind me. “Maybe you've forgotten the hospitality that I've granted you with hot meals and a roof over your head.”

“It’s just…” Synchro tried to speak up.

“Silence!” Flint shouted. From down on the floor, I could feel his voice resonate through the cold concrete. He had the voice of a leader, and I’m not going to lie, but it was a bit terrifying. “To look on another pony’s things and covet them is greed! How can you want for more when I have already given you so much?”

“You should instead look up to this mare and not ask what she has, but what you can give to her.” He dropped his voice and lowered himself to the floor again. He slowly reached his hoof out and stroked it through my mane. I was conflicted, not sure if to let him or do it or pull away. Now that I’d agree’d, I had no idea what he’d do next. But he continued talking. “She has been granted a place in my family, in OUR family. Any you will not be jealous of her.” He looked back to Synchro. “Is that clear?”

“Yes, Master Flint.” Both Synchro and Blue spoke at the same time.

“Excellent.” He said as the smile returned to his muzzle. “Synchro, I expect her to have ACTUAL working legs by tomorrow afternoon. For now, I have an old medical wheel brace she can use. I will have it brought down from the Villa shortly.” He got back up and turned to face Blue. “And you, little missy, have to get to bed. It's a big day for you tomorrow. Even though he just returned, I’m sending Ash and you out early.”

“That’s fucking right!” I blurted out. Flint looked down to me in confusion, only to meet my anger head on. “That asshole is going to answer for what he did.” Just as I finished, Null shoved his gag back in my muzzle and held it there tightly.

“What she refers to, Master Flint, is that Ash took up her contract as a means to exact vengeance on Miss Cap’s family.” The way he phrased it left out a whole lot of adjectives that I would have used, but if what he said was true, Flint wouldn’t stand for it.

“Oh dear, that just won’t do.” He looked down to me with a frown. “As Null might have explained, your past ends when you become my property.” He paused and canted his head. “With your prior requests as the exception, of course. But that is not important right now. No need to worry, I will send the wheelchair down for you.” He let out a disappointed sigh and turned to Null. “Please bathe and clothe Miss Cap, I’m sure being on the run has left her quite uncomfortably dirty. Then you may escort her up to the Villa when she is ready.”

“Yes, Master Flint.” Null spoke and removed the gag from my muzzle. I was really beginning to hate the taste of leather. With the ability to speak restored, I felt something else come back. There was a particularly tingly feeling to it, but I could feel my horn almost hum with my magic again. Just after that, my coat, hat, and saddle bags were dumped onto me as well.

“I must take my leave for the moment, Miss Cap.” Flint said as he stood in just the corner of my vision. “But I do ask that you bring your appetite to the villa, I’ve been waiting to hear all about the last few weeks from you over dinner.” He took a half step forward before pausing. “Oh, and one last thing. With this unfortunate news you’ve bought, I’ll have to arrange for some entertainment afterward.” Even without being able to see all of him, I could tell he was nearly vibrating with enthusiasm. “I’m sure you’ll love it. I mean, what kind of host would I be if it wasn’t just to die for?”

As he walked away, he belted out a long string of giggling laughs. With the stress of the moment over, I felt my mind clear in an instant. Everything I’d just done hit me at once. While my agreement with Flint over Storm and Mom kept them safe, I screwed up with Caltrop and Sandy. Flint isn’t going to let them simply exist here. Effectively, I just sold myself into debt in order to make them his slaves as well!

Fucking smooth. My life is just as I wanted it, all it cost me was the freedom of the three of us. Storm was right, I’m just a fuck up. It doesn’t matter, so long as I got to be a fuck up with new legs and my friends around. I mean, other than ‘technically’ belonging to Flint, everything isn’t so bad here, right? As I sat in thought, a cold breeze swept into the barn and sent a shiver up my spine. Who was I kidding? Like always, I’d probably just dug myself another foot closer to the bottom of my grave.

In the last moments of evening sunlight, and arguably the only good moment of the day, my missing legs finally decided to stop itching.