Chapter 17: Race Against The Clock

-seven hours to the scourge-

Music blared everywhere throughout the town. Clopton was alive with ponies and the such. C-l-o-p-t-o-n, Clopton Artemis programmed her pipbuck with the unrecognized town. Despite it's seedy reputation Clopton was actually very well structured. Everything was centered around the Super-Luxe hotel and casino. On top of the hotel was a large tower that had lights spiraling down it and connecting all over the town.

“This place is a spectacle to see at night Arty-girl.” Hans commented happily, completely ignorant of the slaughter to come.

“I bet it is.” Artemis casually replied as they continued to walk into the city.

Outside the center with the Super-Luxe, Clopton was divided into four main streets that had the majority of it's attractions. The main drags had your usual brothels, bars and drug dens. If you wanted the freakier fetishes or harder drugs you had to go off the main roads. At that point you were on your own.

Main Street South was dirty and littered with garbage all sorts. The street itself was mangled from the apocalypse almost two-hundred and fifty years ago. Almost every building had been re-purposed as some business with bright neon signs to announce it. All sorts of people: ponies, griffons, even the occasional zebra clamored about the city. They stumbled with liquor bottles, brawled with one another, walked with their hired lover or smoked from bongs and injected needles into themselves.

Artemis noticed that some of the denizens of Clopton were eying them as they walked into town. Some gave disgruntled distrusting expressions, some had more pleased faces on them, but probably for the wrong reasons and others just did not care about her and Hans. Maybe that was best, they could use anonymity for this mission anyway. A pony from the sidewalk came running to Artemis in an excited trot. He was a gray buck with a black mane and a maroon beret. He came accompanied by two other ponies with cameras.

“Yes! You! Asketh and you shall recieveth!” He exclaimed overjoyed with Artemis for some reason.

“You alright?” Artemis was bemused. She knew not to give anyone here to much of her time but she was simply curious.

“You sweetie, you are exactly what I need for my movie!” He said mimicking his hands like a camera screen.

Artemis had a growing sensation in her stomach this would be counterproductive to their mission. But oddly she found the whole situation comical and she wanted to continue it, even though she had no intention of partaking in any scheme of this stallion's doing.

“What is it, some kind of movie?” Artemis surmised from the cameraponies.

Hans interrupted with a cross tone as he put a hoof to her chest. “Baby girl he's wanting you to be in a porno of his.”

She knew it, no surprise there but still it was funny. “Like adult entertainment?” She said feigning ignorance.

“Yeah sweetie.” Hans then turned to the directorpony. “So listen here, thanks but no thanks. She'll be having no part in your films.” He said with a hmph.

“Wai, wai, wait. Are you sure? Are you her agent or something?” The directorpony inquired frantically trying not to lose his dream actress.

Hans rubbed his chin. “Yeeeaaahh, her agent.” He said liking the title. “How much we talkin' here?”

“Hans!” Artemis complained a little embarrassed.

“Well, we can pay three thousand caps. But look mister, I desperately need your client. If I don't have her then the plot will be a shell of it's potential.” The directorpony whined dramatically.

Artemis chuckled. “Plot? Isn't it just a girl getting plowed for about thirty seconds then the viewers get off and stop watching?”

The directorpony became flustered and blushed. “N, no! My viewers are more refined. We watch it for the plot! Besides, it's not just a girl getting plowed thank you very much. This is not porn, it's erotica. You see it's about this griffon and this Enclave pegasus that fall in love. Really romantic, very small amount of sex. Say you wouldn't mind eating a little muff would you? If you already do then great but uh so yeah.” He finished his spew nervously and awaited Artemis's response.

“Well I hate to break it to you but my barn door doesn’t swing that way mister.” Artemis said, the disappointment was prevalent but he still did not give up hope.

“Well could you just do it for a scene maybe we coul-”

Hans put his hoof on the director's mouth. “Listen here cameraboy, all questions go to me. Let's talk, let's walk. How about we go to a bar and talk about business eh?” He spoke charismatically.

“Hans, what're you doing?” Artemis whispered in his ear.

“Don't worry baby I got a plan. Just look pretty.” He whispered back and patted her head.

They passed the body of a dash fiend that died with a needle still in her arm. Her body was decaying on the streets and no one would give her a proper burial, her corpse would just stay there until some business owner had his thugs move it or some pervert got a hold of it. As disturbing as the image of this nameless corpse was it was equally saddening. This mare's only purpose in life was to find that next fix. Who had she been before being addicted to dash? What did she have to do for that next fix? When had she overdosed? What were her last thoughts?

“Artemis darling.” Hans called out from the door to a bar. Reluctantly she left the corpse of the dash fiend.

The bar was called Vice and it was very dark inside with it's tinted windows and dim lighting. Many of it's patrons were quiet and kept to themselves or their table. A gravel gray mare with a stained cobalt dress sung a slow and eerily beautiful melody while a pianist accompanied it with a dark theme. The group sat down in a cramped booth and a weary mare trotted to the table to get their order. Artemis noticed that the waitress had a collar around her neck, a slave collar. It reminded Artemis of her mother, Priscilla. She wanted to see her mother badly, the woman who risked everything for her. Now Artemis wanted to see her fly free and unshackled, like a griffon is supposed to.

“What would you like Ms?” The slave waitress asked timidly. Even with the dim lights Artemis could make out several bruises on her face.

“... I'd like a Scotch and Soda please.” Artemis asked nicely.

With a servant like nod she left back into the kitchen without a word. Artemis rubbed her forehead, she was going to need the alcohol. She had a bad feeling this city would depress the hell out of her. All the rampant chaos and hedonism. It reminded her of Gryphondale. Gryphondale was friendly by no means but somehow it couldn't have worse than or as bad as Clopton. Gryphondale had order, stability and law, horrible brutal law. That was the worse attribute of the Legion; you could hate them with all your might, to your very core. But they had order in this chaotic and orderless world. They had civilization, as unforgiving as it was. Artemis felt like she was being torn in two, her stomach was pained from the inner conflict; one side that respected the Legion for their stability and order, the other that despised the Legion for all the pain and suffering they brought. But without order you had chaos, you had Clopton. Artemis hated it, but she preferred the civilization that held her mother as a slave. What kind of daughter did that make her?

~six hour to the scourge~

Artemis sipped her drink quietly as her agent Hans bartered with the shifty erotic movie director. They were talking about up front pay, the money when the job was done, what all she had to do. Even though Artemis trusted him, she was beginning to feel that Hans was playing to close to the fire. Now Artemis no longer found the directorpony funny, now he was just a nuisance. An hour had passed at the restaurant and the pretty mare's performance had ended just leaving the sounds of clanking glasses and plates to hear. Artemis was tempted to just shoot the director so her and Hans could be on their merry way, which you could do that in Clopton. No law remember.

“It's a deal, two-hundred and fifty caps up front and three thousand after the movie.” The director said extending a hoof and a pouch of caps.

“Wait, let's not put our dirty money out on the table. Let's go into the back and move the money.” Hans suggested casually as ever. “Arty sweetie, would you be so kind as to stay behind and watch the table for us?”

“Uh, sure.” Artemis agreed however perplexed.

“C'mon pretty-boy.” Hans nodded to the director as he climbed out of the booth seat. The director and his cameraponies followed.

Artemis turned her neck to see where they were walking off to. Hans lead the trio down a shadowy hallway, probably where the bathrooms were at. With this city as degraded as it was then she could only imagine what the bathrooms must be like.

“What are you planning Hans?” Artemis thought to herself. Reluctantly she turned back to her drink. In one hard swing she drank it all down and returned the glass to the table with a loud clank.

“Mares and gentlecolts, please put your hooves together for the Rad Pack!” A mare with an elegant accent announced. The crowd jubilantly applauded at the declaration. Four stallions walked across the stage with four unique instruments to match. After talking to the crowd they began to play a bombastic number with snares drums and a loud trumpet.  Artemis didn't find this song half bad and before long she found her talons tapping the table to the rhythm of the song.

“Phew, hey baby girl I'm back.” Hans said sitting down on the side of the booth.

“What did you do Hans?” Artemis pried.

“I, convinced them to give us their money early.” Hans answered slowly and threw a bag of caps on the table nearly hitting her empty glass. “All three thousand of them.” He added smugly.

“You robbed them didn't you.” Artemis surmised.

“You didn't call it that six years ago, back then it was re-appropriation.” Hans retorted.

“Hans we can't steal stuff anymore, let's go give them the money back.” Artemis suggested honorably.

Hans scoffed. “Why are you being so self righteous all of a sudden? This is Clopton, it's a free-for-all.”

“We've grown up Hans, we don't steal anymore.” Artemis said bitterly.

“Honey, I am three years older than you. And if you didn't notice I've been living in a whorehouse for the last six years.” Hans countered sharply.

“Besides, I kind of locked them in a broom closet, so, yeah.” Hans rumbled immaturely. Artemis and Hans were the best of friends and the worse enemies at times. She couldn't stand Hans when he acted like this.

Artemis had left that part of her life behind when Hans decided to stay at Madame Rope's brothel. By herself Artemis could not perform big jobs like they could together so she had to start earning money honestly. So like so many griffons in the Equestrian Wasteland Artemis became a mercenary, defending caravans and thus Artemis Arrow & Associates was born. Triple A was the name of her one man merc band. Sadly Triple A never caught on; besides the Legion Region was a bad economic place for private armies. The Legion didn't leave a lot of room for competition. But regardless Artemis had given that life up and started fresh and now here she was again.

“How about we split up, clear our minds and get back to the mission. That sound good?” Hans suggested hiding his irritation.

“Sounds good to me.” Artemis replied. She left before Hans could interject, and she left him to pay the bill with that dirty money.

~five hours to the scourge~

Artemis was alone, which felt kind of good actually. For the past week and a half she had been with this motley little group of hers. Reflecting, Artemis was shocked at how abruptly her life had changed in little more than a week and the colorful characters she'd met. Aroma, the meek, shy and surprisingly resilient earth pony mare from Stable G. Being reunited with her old friend Hans. Verity, the quite, stalwart griffon centurion that was now romantic investment. Hayseed and Lady, two innocent parents that got dragged into their suicide quest for the number station along with their two foals. Grandpa, Coffee Cake. He remained a mystery to her, him and Skipper. Artemis imagined they would have been invaluable to help find the number station. Last but not least those two green twins, as each day passed Artemis began to question whether or not they were really there or figments of her imagination.

“Help! Help! Somepony help me!” A voice cried in dire peril.

Without a second thought Artemis drew her pistol and shifted through the alley following the voice. She would have drew her famas that she was more accustomed to but she had left it back with the others to prevent it's theft. Changing tactics Artemis flapped her wings and gained some altitude over the garbage cluttering the alley. She skimmed the wall and peeked around.

Artemis was shocked when she saw the songstress from Vice beset by a group of filthy rouges. The poor mare was being backed into a corner behind the very same bar. The ponies corralling her threatened her with their vulgar vocabulary.

“If you participate nicely we won't kill you.”

“Yeah! We're gonna fuck you then we're gonna fuck your corpse!”

“C'mon babe it's not so bad, you ever been raped by a mare?”

What was it with raiders and necrophilia? Sheesh! Artemis's path was clear. Thankfully she remembered to turn on her EFS and SATS. While SATS was taking it's sweet time booting up the raiders made a lunge for the songstress. Immediately the sound of cutting and laceration along with bloody screams filled the already chaotic air. Artemis couldn't wait any longer she turned the corner and took aim.

POW POW POW! The pistol rang off three rounds. One of the raiders grabbed his back as he fell back off the mare.

“Huh!” The female rogue looked back. With her face in full view Artemis slipped into SATS and fired a bullet directly into her right eye, exiting her temple in messy red mist.

“Shit, I ain't dyin' over some pussy!” The last raider exclaimed as he fled.... Only to be put down a second later with a shot to the back of the head. Thank you SATS.

Holstering her pistol Artemis lowered herself to the ground and landed. She hastily walked over to the mare being assaulted. Those few seconds of inaction really hurt her. She was lacerated all over and her gray coat was stained with red cuts and bruises.

“Don't worry, I'm gonna get you help.” Artemis reassured the mare although she was in bad condition.

The songstress gurgled an stirred weakly. “Please.... get me to... the Followers. On Ashbury Avenue.” She asked painfully.

“Where is that?” Artemis asked beginning to pick her up.

“It's.. at Old Maremon Fort, you can't miss it. It's a big walled place.” She said before falling limp in her arms.

“Aww shit, stay with me. Dammit.” Artemis cursed. She flew high into the sky to get a view of Clopton.  She scanned for this Maremon Fort.

The whole city was a small labyrinth with haphazard roads and destroyed buildings. However there was one place without lights from the Super-Luxe, a small walled hovel surrounded by a field of rubble on the outskirts of town. That had to be Maremon Fort! Quickly Artemis flew to the fort.

Sentries on the walls took aim only to be dismissed as soon they recognized Artemis's cargo. Artemis landed inside the fort, over the walls. Several doctors huddled around her. Examining the wounded mare. The doctors themselves were haggard, tired ponies.

“What happened to her?” A doctor asked frantically as she scrambled to find her medicine.

“She was almost raped by some raiders an-”

“No no no, just tell us what physically happened.” The doctor interrupted hastily as she rustled through her equipment.

Artemis quickly named off her wounds. “She was cut several time, and some blunt trauma.”

“Hmm, okay. We'll take her.” The doc' said and had some help bring a stretcher to transport her.

“How much will that cost?” Artemis asked. She wasn't afraid of the price, maybe she just wished she had some of Hans's stolen caps to pay though.

“Nothing. The Followers of the Apocalypse charge nothing and help everyone. Doctors without borders so to speak, now please I must get to the OR.” The mare said and ran off in a dash to a tent with the songstress. Leaving Artemis alone again.

~four hours to the scourge~

“So, what you're saying is that the Followers of the Apocalypse are a totally benevolent faction of doctors and scientists that give free aid to anyone in need?” Artemis inquired once again unable to believe it herself.

“You would be correct. You must be a local of the San Palomino, most locals are surprised about us to. Some even think we're spies, anarchist, coming under the guise of benevolent doctors.” The Followers guard said casually.

“Where did you guys come from? Artemis questioned.

“We're from the NCR, or the New Canterlot Republic. A great civilization that came out of the broken body of the Equestrian northeast and mid west. I'll admit, we're not perfect but our people live stable lives and that's a lot in these times.” The stallion said stoney.

Artemis nodded normally to his statements then popped another question. “Then why are you guys out here in the San Palomino? Does the Legion know about you?”

“We're only allowed near the border. Our superiors told us that scouts identified a large, possibly hostile faction and to go no further than Clopton. So here we are.” He seemed wary of being here away from his home. But that unknown faction.. he was talking about the Legion wasn't he....

“So, the NCR. You guys control Fillydelphia right? Cause I'm heading there as we speak.” Artemis asked.

The guard raised an eyebrow. “Trust me, you don't wanna go to Fillydelphia, the place is hell on earth, a twenty-four hour war zone.” That did not bode well for her mission. Why did everything always put them in some hellish war zone? Why not a relaxing beach? With Artemis's luck there would probably be killer sea shells anyway.

The doctor trotted up to Artemis and the disinterested guard pony. She look tired but from her expression Artemis could tell the songstress would be okay.

“Okay, we've helped her out. She should be just fine. You don't know who you saved, I'd hold onto that ace if I were you.” The doctor said as she exited the tent and removed her mask exhaling. With the knowledge that the Followers were trained doctors that offered free services; Artemis planned to get Aroma the care she needed.

“Right. Say, you guys wouldn't happen to have anything that can cure deafness would you?”Artemis inquired obtusely.

The doctor raised an eyebrow. “You don't look deaf?”

“Oh, no no. It's now for me, a friend of mine busted her eardrums a couple nights backs and she can't hear anymore. I was just wondering if you guys had like a potion or some kind of ointment I could have.” Artemis voiced sheepishly.

The doctor put on a pleasant face to mask her exhaustion. “Well I'd have to see the patient before I could give a diagnosis. You see, we used to have junkies lie to get morphine for their “buddies” that couldn't make it to Ol' Maremon. You see where I'm coming from right?” She asked. But Artemis understood; from the doctor's perspective Artemis was trying to get free drugs to get high on. Artemis felt embarrassed to be in this position.

“If I go get my friend, will you see her?” Artemis asked.

The doctor nodded. “Yes, our doors never close.”

Artemis was relieved. “Thank you, I shall return with her soon.”

Well shit. This was a bad setback. It would take her nearly two hours to go get Aroma and bring her here and three if she wanted to find Hans, Celestia only knew where he was at or if you really wanted to know. Cutting the goodbyes short Artemis flew away from Old Maremon Fort and back to their wagon way outside the town. The sky burned a hot orange in the sky as the sun began to lower. She was running out of time before the Legion scourge. Artemis looked down at the residents as they walked around the streets in drunken stupors, yes Clopton was a horrible place but they didn't deserve Legion fires. No one did.

She wished she had told the Followers to flee Clopton while she was still at the fort. But, sometimes you can't bemoan about what you wish for or what you wish you had done. Sometimes you have to work with what you had and what Artemis had was three hours, two figuring in the time it takes to leave Clopton. Her blood boiled with anxiety and resolve. The clock was ticking as she flew into the sunset.

~three hours to the scourge~

Artemis flapped her wings as she came down to land. The others came out to greet her. Verity was the first to meet her, followed by Aroma who exited the wagon in a clumsy disorientated trot. The dual “cluncks” of the closing doors signaled Hayseed and Lady coming to see her as well.

“What happened, where is Hans.” Verity rumbled showing a slight alarm.

“It's okay, I just need Aroma. I found doctors, good doctors that can help her.” Artemis assured her boyfriend. From his expression he did not believe these doctors in Clopton were as good as they appeared.

“I want to go with you.” He proclaimed in his steely voice.

“But I thought you didn't like Clopton?” Artemis reminded.

Verity straightened his gaze. “Sometimes, you don't get things your way in relationships. I was wrong to let my obdurateness put you in danger. So now I will accompany you back to Clopton.” He left no room for argument but then again he could find Hans while she took Aroma to the Followers.

“Very well Verity, while I take Aroma to the Followers you can find Hans for me.” Artemis said as she knelt to Aroma.

“He's probably busy getting hoofed in some dive bar.” Verity commented with disdain. “And who are these Followers?” He added suspiciously.

“You wouldn't believe it if I told you. They're professional doctors that offer their service for free and they accept anyone!” Artemis said happily.

“That's great, it's nice to see a group not built on violence or slaves.” Lady said pleasantly surprised.

“What!” Aroma yelled loudly. Hayseed promptly handed her a paper and pen. Aroma soon scribbed with her mouth and held the paper up.

“What's going on? Where is Hans? Did you find help? - Aroma.” Now Artemis wrote a reply to her deafened earth pony friend.

“We found some help. I'm going to take you to the Followers and see what they can do. - Artemis.” Now Aroma began to compose her return message.

“Thanks Artemis this means a lot to me, no one back home would have done this exce-” Artemis had to cut her thank you short.

“Don't mention it, it's what friends do. But I'll explain later. We're pressed for time at the moment so let's save the speeches until later. - Artemis.”

Aroma nodded with a confident smile and held her hoof out. Artemis returned the hoof bump and flapped her wings. Aroma mounted her back and, damn for some reason Aroma smelled really bad. Ignoring her friend's odor Artemis took to the sky with Verity in tow.

“Hayseed, have the wagon ready to move upon our arrival. I have a feeling Artemis is going to wait until the last minute.” Verity told him ominously.

Aroma clenched onto Artemis's neck for dear life as she and Verity flew across the landscape. The sunset was being engulfed by a purple, starless night. They were elegant and balanced in their flights. Artemis was flew more deftly than Verity, her wings were designed for stealth and agility. Verity was slower in flight than Artemis but he could take far more punishment than she could. If it was him that was shot at White Tail then he probably could have shrugged it off. But Artemis was glad she took the bullet instead, better her than him.

~two hours to the scourge~

“Hmm, yes, uh oh. What do you think?” A group of doctors examined Aroma. They held their Otoscopes inside her ears. Their grimaces did not bode well for a happy ending.

A doctor grimly walked to Artemis. “Well, we would say she has a ruptured ear drums or severe barotrauma but if I can be frank her tympanic membrane is just fucking gone. I mean just straight bing bam boom! Whatever happened to deafen her, it funneled down her ears and tore through her eardrums like toilet paper.” The doctor said completely stupefied by Aroma's condition.

This was exactly what Artemis feared and by the expression on Aroma's face she was losing hope to. There had to be a way, Artemis just couldn't leave her friend like that for the rest of her days!

“Please doc' is there any way you can make her hear again? I'll pay if I have to.” Artemis implored.

The doctor was silent for a minute pondering something. “Well there is one way she might have a chance to hear again.” She said vaguely.

“What?! What is it?” Artemis raised.

“....Well, we could experiment with cybernetics. But this wouldn't just be a cyber-prosthesis, it's a cyber-organ; the bleeding edge of technology even before the war.” The doctor said with an astounded tone.

“Would, you guys even have a pair?” Artemis inquired forlornly.

“......Yes...We do. Our scientist are slowly unraveling Stable 101's mysteries of cybernetics. But you see it's very expensive and it's one of the few things that we have to charge for.”The doctor confessed regretfully.

“How much? I'll pay it.” Artemis said impulsively.

“It's ten thousand-dollars for one, and I believe you need both of her ears right? So it would end up being twenty-thousand dollars and not to mention the weekly dosages of neuropozyne to prevent scar tissue buildup and implant rejection. In the end it would even out to twenty G's and the two thousand dollar neuropozyne doses every week. I'm sorry.” The doctor finished glumly.

Artemis tried to hide her shattered hope however in vain. She tried not show her disappointment. This world, it just had a way of giving you hope; then snatching it back cruelly. There was no way she would ever be able to make twenty thousand caps. Even if they all pooled their money together they would be lucky to make half, not even mentioning the neuropozyne Aroma would need to halt implant rejection. It looked like the cybernetic hearing aid was a dead end road; but where would that leave Aroma? Artemis couldn't imagine dragging her into dangerous situations being unable to hear. She imagined Aroma, confused and frightened as she traversed a hellish battlefield while a hidden sniper put her in his crosshairs.

“Well. Thanks for your time, we'll be going.” Artemis said sorrowfully. She nodded to Aroma who instantly understood the bad news.

“Wait! I will purchase her ears!” A voice shouted from out of sight.

Artemis turned her head, hesitant to believe and curious who volunteered to foot that bill. There trotting.. no, hovering to them was the gray mare Artemis had saved a couple hours ago! The gray pegasus was adorned with several bandages and she carried her dress in her saddlebags. She had an elegant grace to herself with an air of gentleness. She quietly landed and walked over to Aroma.

“You have a good friend my little pony, she helped me so now I'll return the favor.” The gray mare was very soft spoken. Aroma opened her mouth to inquire what the pegasus mare had said but decided against it and simply nodded.

“Aww you poor dear, don't worry. I'll get you all the help you need.” She said and gave Aroma sweet hug.

Artemis was jubilant. Out of the blue this mare had saved the day and possibly Aroma's life.  The worst part was that Artemis didn't even know her name Well that was going to change real quick.

“Wow, thank you, thank you.” Artemis said gleefully and held out her talon.

“Don't mention it, you saved my life, it's the least I can do.” She said shaking Artemis's hand. “My name's Serendipity, you've probably heard of my father.”

“I, I'm afraid I haven't.” Artemis confessed. Pegusai were a rarity in the San Palomino.

“My father's general Calamity of the NCR, he's in charge over at Hoofer Dam. I should take you there so you can be properly rewarded.” She said gingerly; but those two words rang like a death knell, like a  grim clock.

Hoofer Dam.... Artemis's mind began to race. What if this was destiny drawing her to her doom? But she hadn't found the number station yet and was nowhere near close to finding it. Those words alarmed Artemis and anxiety crept into her thoughts.

“You alright?” Serendipity asked worriedly. Artemis snapped herself out of her anxious thoughts.

“Uh, yes I'm fine. I.. don't think we'll be able to make it to Hoofer Dam. But this is more than enough.” Artemis tried to squirm out of going to the Dam.

“No. I insist, please. It's not far from Clopton.” Serendipity persisted.

“Well I-” Artemis argued quietly.

“Ms. Serendipity, are you sure? That is a lot of money.” A doctor counseled, which internally ticked Artemis how he made her and Aroma seem second class. But regardless Artemis shrugged it off, she had a lot to be thankful at the moment.

“Yes. Doctor, make it happen. I want this mare to hear again by dinner. I'll write you the proper checks just get to work.” Serendipity ordered pleasantly.

“But, well, we should. Very well ma'am.” The doctor's protests were defeated.

~Not long later~

The orange mare lay on an operating table with a breathing mask on. Aroma was put under by an anesthetic spell from one of the many unicorn doctors. Her heart monitor beeped rhythmically with each heartbeat.

Heart rate: 68 bpm

Oxygen feed: clear

Anesthetic: spell in full effect

The sterile surgeons went in for the operation. The head surgeon examined Aroma's ears carefully before requesting his tools which a nurse promptly handed him. One nurse rolled Aroma on her side with one ear facing the doctor. He made his way into Aroma's ear canal ever so carefully and removed the busted fragments of her eardrum. Cautious as not to hit the walls of her middle ear, the surgeon tediously held his instruments steady as he prepared the ear canal.

Now it was the Porta-Doc's turn to do the tricky part. Tech assistants put the machine over Aroma to scan her head and obtain a layout of her ear and where to place the cybernetics. The machine buzzed and whined until becoming very quiet. Using it's several arms the Porta-Doc performed the surgery on a scale that normal doctors would have difficulty.  Now the surgeons prepared the cybernetics for implantation.

Minutes later the Porta-Doc raised all of it's arms back to their normal position. Now it was the doctor's jobs to finish it. Precisely, they connected the cyber eardrum to the nerve endings the Porta-Doc had erected to work with the prosthesis’s own artificial receptors. This would allow Aroma to hear as normally as she could before she lost her hearing.

“Gentlemen, I think we did it.”

~45 minutes to the scourge~

Aroma stood before Artemis, Serendipity, and the other doctors who eagerly awaited to see if the surgery was a success. Artemis could see the tiny implants in Aroma's ears however small. Just below Aroma's ears Artemis made out the head of a small black screw in her skin. Aroma's face seemed to lighten up as a doctor tinkered with the devices.

“Test. Test. Test. Test. Test. Can you hear us?” The doctor asked hopefully.

“.... Yes, I can.” Aroma answer with a normal decibel voice!

“Yes!” Artemis exclaimed as she grabbed her orange friend and hugged her excitedly.

“I can hear again! I can hear!” Aroma shouted jubilantly and returned Artemis's hug with one of her own.

Artemis began to feel some liquid pride on her eyes. “Hah, now you got me acting all sappy.” Artemis said comically.

Artemis sat her friend back down on the ground. They were both overjoyed at the success of the surgery. One doctor commented to Aroma that she could raise and lower the volume as needed with the turn of a dial. Serendipity approached the duo after signing the proper checks for the payments. She handed Aroma a small bag with several syringes full of a bright green liquid.

“I'm ever so glad you can hear again. This here is your neuropozyne, it will help your body adjust to the implants. Just be sure to inject yourself with one of those every week and you'll be just fine.” Serendipity explained cheerily.

“Implants?” Aroma asked confused and touching her ears.

“Oh, I guess you couldn't have known..” Serendipity backed away sheepishly as if she were guilty of something. Artemis stepped to explain the situation to Aroma.

“You see, your eardrum were busted and we had to give you a prosthesis. Ms. Serendipity paid for it all you see.” Artemis explained but saw Aroma was still under distress.

Aroma whimpered and lowered her ears trying in vain to hide them in her mane. Now Artemis noticed two more small screws in the cartilage of Aroma's ear.

“I'm, I'm, I'm a frankenpony?” Aroma sniffled.

Artemis immediately tried to deter Aroma from seeing her situation in that cynical manner. “No no no, you just have some cybernetic implants, in fact, your better than the average pony.” Artemis said encouragingly. But her speech failed to raise Aroma's spirits.

“I'm a monster, a cybernetic abomination, an abortion of science..... Stellar!” Aroma cried in emotional agony.

“Who's Stellar?” Artemis inquired trying desperately to derail Aroma's hysteria.

Aroma despaired. “I'll never go home now, I belong out in this world.” She grieved.

“Don't talk like that Aroma, you're still you and that can never change.” Artemis reassured her friend but by now Artemis knew Aroma was depressed.

“I never asked for this.” Aroma said dourly; the sadness in her voice gone. “You did this to me, you turned me into a monster!” Aroma stated with rising anger.

Artemis stepped back. She had never seen Aroma so upset. Tears gathered on Aroma's eyes and an angry scowl crossed her face, everyone stepped back. Aroma began to breath in slow heavy bursts as tears rolled down her face. Artemis felt truly guilty; it had never crossed her mind what Aroma wanted or was okay with this operation. She had crossed an important line with her pony friend, or if Aroma would still call themselves friends. That question was soon answered when Aroma drew her BFR and aimed at Artemis.

“You, turned me into, a monster.” Aroma hissed holding the revolver in her mouth. Quickly the Followers soldiers drew there weapons and took aim at Aroma but not firing, yet.

Artemis didn't know what to do. Normally when someone pointed a gun at Artemis would react like any other combat scenario but this, this was alien and Artemis was frozen as she stared down the BFR's black barrel.

“Aroma.. don't do this.” Artemis tried to reason with Aroma.

'Why? I'm a monster, it's what monsters do.” Aroma lamented.

“Look around you Aroma, if you shoot me the guards will kill you in turn. We can all die, right here, right now or you can lower the gun and we can talk about this.” Artemis bartered uneasily with the hysterical mare.

A war waged in Aroma's teary eyes. One side wanted to murder Artemis for her transgression and the other, wanted to lower the gun. After an hour long second the latter faction won by a hair and slowly Aroma lowered the BFR.

“Aroma, sweetie.” Serendipity whispered in her soft angelic voice. She walked to Aroma knelt down by  her.

“Aroma, you're not a monster.” Serendipity said with a kind, motherly tone.

“No!” Aroma interrupted. Serendipity's plea had fallen on metaphorically deaf ears.

But Serendipity did not stop, she held Aroma's shoulders bringing their eyes to lock on each other. “Aroma, it's not what you are that defines you. It's what you do, the choices you make, the lives you touch that defines who Aroma is.” She held her hoof to Aroma's heart.

The BFR fell out of Aroma's mouth and landed with a lazy thud. Aroma's mouth was agape by Serendipity's words; she was in the midst of a new revelation. Artemis watched in awe as Serendipity had talked Aroma from her hostile position. She felt similar to her situation back in White Tail; everything seemed ethereal or dreamlike and the sky had a unnatural glow to it while the clouds seemed to rumble overhead almost like a battle raged with embers fluttering in the breeze..... Wait a minute. Fuck! The scourge! The Celestia damned scourge was happening right now, time had escaped Artemis!

Artemis drew her fama- wait, she left it back at the wagon! Dammit all to hell! Artemis grabbed her m1911 and tossed Aroma the BFR  despite being recently threatened with it early. Serendipity looked shocked by the sudden change of heart warming displays of emotion but now it was time to fight!

“Wsas wrong Artemisss?” Aroma asked holding the revolver in her mouth and situating her tongue.

“Aroma, it's the Legion. They've come to scourge Clopton of the map and we have to find Hans and Verity.” Artemis declared already feeling tense, this was the first she fought the Legion since her mental breakdown at White Tail and she was determined to do things differently this time.

“Where would they be at?” Aroma inquired. She sounded like she was calmer but Artemis wasn't going to try anything.

“Wait, hold on. What's happening?!” Serendipity exclaimed severly confused.

Artemis knew these Followers stood no chance against the Legion and the Legion had no interest in slaves or prisoners; not during a scourge. Quickly Artemis formulated a plan to the best of her abilities.

Hesitantly Artemis unlatched her pipbuck and handed it to Serendipity. “Get out of Clopton and go to this marker, try to stay hidden and if we're not back before long then leave without us.” Artemis marked the position of the wagon on the pipbuck.

Before Artemis could continue a doctor spoke from behind Serendipity. “We can't go! We're doctors! We're the Followers of the Apocalypse, it's our job to help everyone and we must stay right here and fulfill our duty to the people.” He cried. The crowd proper began to murmur with nods in his favor.

“This is not time for dogmatism! Even if you offered your help to them, they would not take it! They will mount your heads on walls. The Legion cannot be bargained or reasoned with.” Artemis said with finality.

There was a pregnant pause amongst the crowd until one lone doctor raised his head. “... That's what they said about the Zebras, and the Hellhounds and the Alicorns.” He said calmly. “You can keep your mistrust, I'm going to move past the hate and fear.” He concluded and walked to the gate of Ol' Maremon.

“No! Don't!” Artemis implored.

Nevertheless he continued to the gate and opened it. He held his arms wide as he shouted to his fellow Followers. “Come brothers, let us no longer be stunted by fear! Come brot-!” His rally was cut short as, as a Hellhound legionnaire walked by the gate! Since when were Hellhounds a part of the  Legion!?

“I'm not your enemy! I'm a doctor, just get me to the wounded pon-!” The doctor grunted in pain as the Hellhound picked him off the ground with one hand. Enough was enough Artemis and Aroma drew their pistols and aimed at the legionnaire. Unfazed, the Hellhound tightened his grip around the stallion until his body squished like rotten food. Organs and viscera oozed out him as feeble breaths escaped his dying lips.

Artemis and Aroma were too shocked to fire at the legionnaire. The Hellhound threw the corpse to the ground and left, continuing the slaughter.

“Goddesses no! Not my husband!” Cried a mare that attempted to run to her husband but was stopped abruptly by Serendipity.

“No, we have to go!” Serendipity told the Follower sternly.

“But that's my husband!” The mare said frantically.

“I know but we have to leave now.” She turned to address Artemis and to stop any opposition to abandoning Old Maremon. “We'll go Artemis, meet you there.... Good luck.” She said grimly.

~Later~

Artemis and Aroma left Old Maremon Fort to retrieve Hans and Verity, wherever they were at. Griffon legionnaires swarmed the sky forcing them to take alleys and the town roads. Dead ponies and the like littered the city. The Legion killed indiscriminately and in droves.

Bullets whizzed past Artemis and Aroma as they made their way through an alleyway. Instinctively, Artemis jumped to a wall for cover. Aroma hid behind a dumpster, she was beginning to learn.

“Artemis, I hear some kind of buzzing, it's a machine.” Aroma alerted her. Now would be the time for a  pipbuck.

Not ten seconds flat later two Sprite-Bots hovered erratically into the alley. They were fast and darted from one position to another. These were modified Sprite-Bots however, their behavior, model make and oh yeah the machine guns on each side made one believe the Legion had re-purposed them to suit their needs in battle.

A loud rattling sound was the prelude to a barrage of bullets that erupted from the drone seconds later. Artemis's senses failed her and she flinched! Three rounds were deflected by her armor but would leave severe bruises, the other two were buried in breast and Artemis was thrown back by the injury.

“Artemis!” Aroma shouted as the drones pivoted to gun down their next target. Quickly Aroma hurdled herself into the dumpster, and closed the lid landing with a rustle of garbage bags.

Artemis rolled to her right and began to lift herself back up. Her chest burned like fire, a grunt escaped her as she rose off the ground. Standing now, Artemis put her talon to her wound. Tiny splats of crimson lay on her fingers.

“Ugh, fuck me.” Artemis groaned in a low grumble.

“Yah!” BANG! Aroma burst out of the dumpster and fired her BFR but the drones had strangely vacated the alley. Aroma realized this and exited the garbage hastily to get to Artemis.

“Oh my gosh are you okay?!” Aroma asked worriedly. “I shouldn't have jumped in the dumpster, the minute I did that I immediately remembered you were hurt, it was a reflex I'm sor-.”

“It's, fine. Let's just find Hans and Verity.” Artemis said irritably. She wasn't angry with Aroma it's just, getting shot can make anyone cranky.

Aroma nodded without a word and Artemis retrieved her pistol from the ground. They pressed onward to the open streets. The streets of Clopton were in utter chaos, more so than usual. Flames engulfed old building and collapsed, dead and the mortally wounded littered the streets, embers fluttered in the air. There a constant roar in the air as well.

“Brothers to me!” A prime ordered as he spotted Artemis and Aroma exiting the alley. Several lesser legionnaires joined to his position.

“Aroma, get to that chariot and stay low.” Artemis ordered her friend. Aroma dashed and jumped into the cart.

Artemis barely finished reloading as one recruit swung his machete wrapped in a magical aura. The blade clanged of her armor but it was still to close for comfort. She jumped into the air to have a top-down position over her blade-wielding attacker. Quickly Artemis dropped the legionnaire before he could unholster his .357. The unicorn buck fell with a thud.

“Found you!” Another legionnaire shouted as he discovered Aroma hiding in the chariot. Artemis aimed to stop him from executing Aroma but- POW! A second later his back erupted in a spew of his own lifeblood. Artemis landed in shock and found a shaken orange mare entrenched inside the chariot.

“Holy hell, where'd you find that piece?” Artemis asked Aroma where she found her new mossberg shotgun.

“I, I just found it here.” Aroma studdered peculiarly. Then the prime legionnaire barked more orders for his men to attack.

“Artemis stay here and stall them, I have an idea.” Aroma whispered. Before Artemis could inquire more Aroma jumped out of the vehicle and ran into an alley by the legionnaires they were facing.

“Fire!” BA-POW-POW-BANG! The prime had his veteran men organized into a small firing squad. They fired their mosins' in unison with each other with resounding pops.

Playing safe Artemis ducked behind the breaking and splintering chariot. She only raised her hand over cover to fire blindly. POP! POP! POP! Her pistol fired and began to click. As Artemis reloaded she realized she was getting low on magazines for her pistol. They couldn't use all their ammo fighting these guys when Hans and Verity could very well be on the other side of town. Quickly Artemis's mental complaints were replaced by a very real pain in the back of her head.

“Gah!” She shouted. Artemis turned and saw a recruit about to hit her again with the hilt of his sword and this time, do more than just damage her.

Artemis quickly dropped her pistol and grappled the young griffon. He landed with a “Oof!” on the ground and kicked Artemis off him. Hand-to-hand wasn't her strong suit but she didn't have a whole lot of options at the moment.

Artemis managed to kick his sword away and they struggled again. They both fought viciously. The recruit managed to punch Artemis in the beak, blurring her vision and making her tear up. Artemis retaliated by tossing him over her back using his right arm.

“Fire!” The prime legionnaire shouted and his men took aim.

Quickly Artemis picked up the young griffon and held his dazed person in front of her.  BA-POW-POW-BANG! They fired at Artemis, but ended up killing their comrade instead. Artemis heard the pained grunts as the griffon was shot to death, tearing flesh and the cracking of bones accompanied his cries as Artemis finally dropped her shield as the firing concluded.

As the legionnaires started reloading and loud burst rang from the Legion side of the street. Artemis looked expecting Verity or Hans but instead saw Aroma! Aroma must have snuck into the building and assassinated the prime. The soldiers scrambled inside to eliminate the assassin and avenge their superior. Artemis saw the orange mare cornered at the top the stairs across the street.

Artemis easily ran across the street and hugged the outside wall by the doorless doorway. Aroma fired blindly to keep the enemies at bay but she couldn't hold out for long.

“Aroma, here!” Artemis yelled and waved her hand expectantly. Aroma lobbed her shotgun over the heads of the confused legionnaires. Artemis caught it and aimed at the troops on the stairwell.

BOOM! -chick chick BOOM! - chick chick BOOM! -chick chick. The buckshot thinned the mass clogging the stairwell. This was the first time Artemis had killed any Legion peoples. It felt, strange maybe even therapeutic? To see the pain on those Legion bastards face's as they were knocked down.

Aroma walked down the stairs and looked at the bodies aghast. It was obvious, she was disturbed at their mangled bodies and the bloody splatters on the wall. Artemis saw the prime legionnaires missing half of his head lying on the floor.

“C'mon, we have to keep moving.” Artemis said adventitiously and threw Aroma her shotgun which she caught in her mouth.

They exited the back door of the desolated apartment and found themselves in a small series of backyards with swings and small rusted jungle gyms. Artemis took this time to reload and check her wound, which was now beginning to hurt again now that combat had ceased. The duo hurdled over an ancient picket fence that was a shadow of it's former self.

“Locked.” Aroma pointed out as she tried to open a backdoor. Artemis examined the lock carefully, she was an expert locksmith if you didn't know.

“I got this.” Artemis said confidently. She turned and picked up a large rock off the ground and with a great heave she tossed it through the glass CRACK! Artemis nonchalantly reached her arm in the broken window and opened the lock from the inside.

“After you.” Artemis said politely as she held the door for Aroma.

“You really are an expert locksmith Artemis.” Aroma said with a smirk.

Upon entering the house it was immediately obvious that this house was better preserved than the surrounding houses. However, that did have it's goods and bads. The home was darker with all of it's windows boarded from the inside and the many shadows cast by the furniture that called this place home.

Everything seemed to slow down to a normal speed as combat ended and the adrenaline faded from Artemis's veins but the war continued outside regardless. Aroma walked in careful not to step on the glass that littered the dirty tile floor. She flipped the rusted switch in vain as the lights failed to come on.

“No lights.” Artemis commented as her breathing slowed.

“But I can hear, it's like I have enhanced perception.” Aroma said motioning to her ears.

“Of all the Celestia damned time I could have really used a pipbuck, I give it to Serendipity.” Artemis complained dourly, Aroma looked at her, puzzled.

“Artemis, why do you say Celestia?” Aroma asked bemused.

Even though this was far from the appropriate time Artemis couldn't help but be intrigued by her question. Why did she use Celestia in vain? Being a griffon, Artemis knew little to nothing about Celestia and Luna nor did she care. Artemis didn't know what the old griffon way of life was, but she would like to know about her shattered culture. Truthfully, she wasn't sure what griffons believed. The Legion praised Celestia, but in reality the Legion worships strength.

Artemis did believe that there was something beyond this world, something after death. A judgment of sorts. Besides, it helped her sleep at night believing the monsters in this life would get what they deserved in the next one. It was either that or believe that the raiders, thieves and killers really got off scot free in the end, that was to morbid to believe Artemis just couldn't think that way. She just couldn't.

“I guess it's because I don't know any better. You ponies say Celestia, so it just bled into my vernacular.” Artemis answered after her short reflection.

Aroma was silent, it was not the answer she had presumed. “Tell me something about you.” Artemis said as she began to open the kitchen cabinets looking for anything that may possibly help.

Aroma sat herself in a dirty kitchen chair and began to think. Artemis yanked out drawer after drawer with the sounds of miscellaneous object being shifted back and forth. Aroma was silent, she was thinking in vain. She really couldn't think of anything to tell Artemis, or more likely Aroma was hesitant to reveal something.

“Who's this Stellar character you keep on mentioning?” Artemis inquired as she meandered about the kitchen.

Aroma took an uneasy breath before speaking. “Stellar's... my, was best friend back in Stable G. We were the best of friends.” Aroma confessed with a melancholy tone.

Artemis's scavenging slowed. “You never mentioned her before. Did she work with you in Engineering?” Artemis pried nicely.

“Well, actually...” Aroma began. “When our Stable computer selected the candidates for the election, Stellar was the one chosen. Not me. I, took her place in the election.” Aroma explained with a sorrowful tone.

Artemis slowed to a stop. She closed her current cabinet and sat down with the orange mare who was noticeably saddened. It wasn't her intention to upset Aroma, but now Artemis was beginning to see the light of her friend's situation.

Aroma's stable, Stable GoE-EoHS was organized into a social experiment. This experiment centered around the stable dwellers electing a candidate, chosen at random by their supercomputer to leave the stable and go out into the wasteland. This is where Artemis's knowledge faded. She did not know exactly why the elected one had to venture out into the waste and make a group of friends to bring back to Stable G. However, that was still foggy and Aroma was just as in the dark as Artemis was on that part. Artemis imagined Stable G adorned with a massive supercomputer selecting the names the unlucky ponies and she imagined the candidates campaigning desperatly to stay in the stable. Not even mentioing that she had a pack of three hunters after her.

Then Stellar was added to this mix. From what Aroma's story told, it was Stellar that was chosen to be a candidate but Aroma put herself in the election so Stellar wouldn't have to. Aroma had sacrificed herself so Stellar could remain safe in Stable G.Artemis imagined the day Aroma lost everything, the results came in and Aroma would be leaving the stable. The sacrifice one makes for a friend.

“.... Goddesses, you, faced certain death just for a friend.” Artemis said sorrowfully awestruck.

“.. That's why I was so upset about my ears.” Aroma said as she lowered her ears to show the cybernetics. “I felt like I was turned into something of the wasteland, a creature, not the stable pony I was before.” Aroma admitted. “But only now do I see how selfish that point of view was, I'm really grateful for your help, and ms. Serendipity's. I'll have to apologize to her.” Aroma noted.

Artemis only nodded. With that she resumed her search for something to help her gunshot wounds. It was most likely that she'd just have to hold out and press onward until they got to the Followers at the wagon but damn some painkillers would be nice, maybe even some morphine.

Her chest wound had crusted and stopped bleeding but was extremely sore and any kind of vigorous movement would cause it to bleed again. She guessed what she could realistically find in the house was some bandages. Those would more likely than not, be upstairs or wherever the bathroom was.

“Get my six Aroma, I'm gonna head to the bathroom and look for some bandages.” Artemis ordered casually, but Aroma returned her with a confused expression.

“I mean, follow me and watch my back.” Artemis explained and Aroma understood that and gingerly pushed in her chair with held her mossberg in her mouth.

The pair crept through the living room. It used to have been a homey place back in it's hayday. It had a ragged, filthy couch that was opposite a large table and a busted radio rested on a dusty shelf on the wall. Several pictures of a long dead family could be found knocked over or broken in their frames.

The chaos outside seemed to be intensifying and the rattle of gunfire was resounding from outside. Then came a loud series of explosions that shook the ground and rumbled the house alarmingly. Dust fell from the ceiling as it began to reveal it's failing integrity.

“Fucking hell, that sounds like some serious firepower they're laying down out there.” Aroma swore as she tried to peek out a boarded up window.

“I thought the Legion didn't use, like modern technology?” Aroma asked as Artemis removed her from the window.

“They usually don't, and besides this is a bit excessive even for the Legion. I think that was artillery we just heard.” Artemis assumed with surprised tone.

“C'mon, let's not tarry. Let's go get your bandages and make a beeline to the wagon.” Aroma suggested as more shells hit the city.

“But we-” More bombs exploded from the sky. “Fuck it, I told the Followers to wait for about thirty minutes. We need to find Verity and Hans before we leave.” Artemis exclaimed yelling over the explosive noise. She had given up on the bandage, if they lingered in Clopton their possibility of a horrible fate would be astronomical.

“Well they're not gonna find us in here, let's get out there.” Aroma opened the door and gasped in horror.

Artemis looked outside and was aghast as well. Utter desolation, Clopton was ablaze. Fires burned everywhere and shouts, cries, the whistle of shells raining down and the constant gunfire were all that reached Artemis's ears. Trails of black smoke loomed over the from the cannon fire in the sky. It was White Tail all over again only this time the destruction was absolute.

There was a foal in the middle of the street, the child looked injured and close to death. Artemis was not going to let this child die like the White Hoof filly that Valiance decaptiated. Not again. Without looking for hostiles Artemis dashed to the child's rescue.

“It's okay, we're gonna get you to safety.” Artemis assured the colt as she slid to him.

The child looked at her miserably, he was bedraggled and forlorn. He had seen everyone he knew, possibly his entire family die right before him. “Get away from me!” He shouted with his meager might.

Artemis was taken aback but not deterred. “No, I'm trying to help you.” She reiterated for the colt.

Then the child pulled up his shirt revealing a locked vest strapped with explosives....

Artemis clamored to her feet and tried to backpedal but before she could get to her feet the child exploded. Fierce heat and extreme pressure erupted knocking her back. Artemis felt herself become airborne but she never hit the ground.

A child, they used children for suicide bombers! Artemis had no word to describe the wickedness of the Legion. Just when she thought they reached the depths of depravity they would always surpirse her. But an innocent child...

“Artemis are you alright, answer me!?” Aroma's face was blurry in Artemis's sight.

“A child, Aroma they used a child.” Artemis coughed.

“Artemis they're here.” Aroma said, she hadn't heard Artemis. Who were they? Artemis looked around herself and saw she was in a magic aura, Hans's teleknietic spell.

Artemis looked and saw Verity and Hans who was using his magic to hold her off the ground. As Verity landed Hans laid her down gentily. Artemis rolled on her side, fighting vertigo as she picked herself up.

“Arty I was so worried. Listen we have to leave. Verity told me everything.” Hans confessed solemnly. He was carrying several saddelbags on him.

Artemis stood up. “.... They beat me again, the Legion, they won again.” Artemis concluded begrudingly as Clopton burned.

“We're not out of this yet. We have to get to Hayseed and his wife.” Verity reminded in his cold, indifferent tone.

Artemis wanted to kill Verity right there, right now. He was a legionnaire, a decorated legionnaire. She wanted to gut him. But those emotions were counterbalanced by mind; Verity hadn't ordered the scoruge, or even strapped the bomb to the child. But regardless Artemis was deeply perturbed and full of righteous anger.

“.......... Let's go. I've had enough of this place.” Artemis said coldly.

The group left Clopton. Much of the fighting had moved to the inner parts of the city making their exit easier than expected. The outskirts of the city were nothing more than scorched, bombed-out structures; there wasn't a building over one story left standing. Artemis kept her rage inside her, she couldn't bare to look at Verity for fear she might do something drastic. She began to ponder if she wanted to be his girlfriend right now. Artemis could tell she wasn't in the right state of mind so she would hold her tongue.

They made their way back to the wagon, there were no words exchanged between any of them. A silence fell over them, maybe there was something about surviving a mass slaughter that had a way of shutting you up.

~They arrived at Hayseed's wagon, weary and exhausted~

“Where are the Followers?” Artemis asked Hayseed with a sense of urgency.

“The who?” Hayseed replied as he started up the engines.

“Shit. This isn't good.” Artemis groused. What had happened to-!

“Artemis! Help!” A voice shouted. Artemis looked and saw Serendipity with several Followers sprinting to the wagon from over a hill.

Before Artemis could ask what they were running from specifically a hulking metal vehicle crossed the hill in pursuit. It was a Leopard2 battle tank! A goddess damned tank! Cannon and all! Worst of all, it bore the flag of the Legion. It roared and wheezed as it's engine sped up to crush Serendipity and the Followers.

“Holy shit!” Hans yelled. “Get in! Let's bail!”

“No. There's no escaping it on this road, the gun will tear us to pieces.” Artemis said then she hatched an idea, it was insane but they didn't have a lot of options.

Artemis surmised they only had a few seconds before the tank came to bear on them so she spoke quickly. “Hans, Aroma. I want you guys and the Followers to get in the wagon and peel out of here.”

“But baby you just said that-” Hans interjected but Artemis cut him off.

“Me and Verity will stay behind and distract the tank, hopefully if you guys can get far enough away me and Verity can just fly out of it's range.”

“Wait, Artemis. I can't strike my brothers.” Verity injected regrettably.

“Dammit Verity of all times. Just distract them, I'll do the fighting then.” Artemis said irritably. Verity seemed... less than pleased.

The Legion Leopard ran over an unfortunate Follower. His body popped like a bloody balloon under the sixty ton tank. As Serendipty boarded the wagon with the remaining Followers Artemis could nearly stare down the tank's main gun. The wagon's engines hummed and the wheels began to spin.

“Artemis! Here!” Aroma shouted as she threw a small rectangular box to Artemis who propmty caught it. “Oh and don't forgot this!” Aroma added. She threw Artemis her baby.

“Oh I missed you.” Artemis told her famas. She opened the box and found several magazines along with six hand grenades.

“Okay, I think now we can keep the Leopard on us Verity.” Artemis determined. The plan was to damamge the treads and if they were lucky it could immobilize the tank cutting the battle short.

“Remember, don't kill the legionnaires, just stop the tank.” Verity propmted cautiously. He had none of his weapons drawn and he obscured his face with part of his armor. Artemis knew Verity was being annoyingly vain about fighting legionnaires and she wanted to slap him because of it.

PAM!-KABOOM! The Leopard fired it's main gun at the wagon as it made its way down the narrow road. The resulting explosion sent dirt and sand flying into the air. The wagon swerved dangerously, if it rolled they were done for! Artemis imagined Hayseed steering hectically to stay on the road and the guys in the back holding on for dear life.

Artemis loaded her rifle and fired three shots in succession to capture the tank's attention. “Hey child-killers, can't catch me!” Artemis antagonized the Legion tank.

While the expressions of it's pilots were unseen Artemis knew she had their attention as it slowly changed course for her and Verity, who was still shying from the battle. She stared down her iron sights and fired several rounds before the main gun came to bear.

PAM-KABOOM! The tank fired but Artemis was able take flight before the blast could have damaged her. Wind beat against her face as she dived into the sky and she brought herself to hover over the Leopard. A small hatch opened on top and a legionnaire took hold of the tank's mounted gun.

Artemis gasped and dashed away in any direction. She immediately heard the repeating sound of the heavy machine gun. Artemis knew her armor would be useless against that caliber of a weapon, one shot and she was done for.

Suddenly the rattling noise of the gun halted. Artemis looked down and saw Verity struggling with the gunner. Hastily Artemis descended to his aid. Verity was half-wrestling with the gunner to cease his firing at Artemis. Verity wasn't returning any of the gunner's punches instead he was trying to grab his hooves so he could break off away from the tank. Adamant not to physically harm any legionnaires. However this was not Artemis's case.

“Hey pony boy.” Artemis said mockingly. The stallion released Verity and turned but Artemis smashed his face with the butt of her famas in a swift preemptive strike. The famas hit with a unpleasant “crack” to the gunner's face. His goggles broke and he slumped back into the tank accidentaly closing the hatch as well.

“Dammit.” Artemis cursed under her breath. She could have hopped inside there and disabled the pilot, and maybe even comandeered the tank.

The tank began to swerve spasmodically as if the pilot was trying to dislodge her. Verity landed by her and grabbed onto one of the tanks armor plates. He had a line of blood running from his nose and had several scratches on his face.

Artemis wanted to belittle him for this ridiculous sentiment of clemency for the Legion at such an inconveinient time. She wanted-!

PAM-KABOOM! The tank fired at the wagon since Artemis and Verity were no longer on the attack! It's gas guzzling engines rumbled and wheezed as it began to make up lost time on the wagon chase.

“Shit, Verity stay here.” Artemis dashed off the tank to get the small box of grenades Aroma had tossed to her.

Box in hand Artemis flew in front of the tank's path. Artemis felt the gun's eye on her and the immediate, fiery death that would follow. SATS would have helped because Artemis was basic when it came to explosives anyway but recklessly she took two grenades and rolled them like bowling balls under the tank, particularly underneath the treads.

PFFT! POW! BOOM! The tank seemed to be lifted if only for a second. Verity was bucked off by the explosion. However the tank was not halted but now Artemis was a prime target.

Artemis hissed a cursed in frustration. As she readied two more grenades she realized in horror that she had stared down the main gun a second to long and instantly she was tossed violently.

PAM-KABOOM! BOOM!BOOM!

Artemis smacked the ground with a head splitting “crush!” She could only hear a loud unending buzz along with her jumbled thoughts.

“Uhhg, am, I dead?” Artemis couldn't tell, or feel much of anything. But a voice began to speak to her, it sounded distant and far off but became increasingly clearer.

“.........Artemis....Artemis......Artemis...Artemis.. Artemis!”

“C, Celestia?” Artemis moaned. But instead Verity's face came into view.

“Artemis, get up!” He ordered trying to coax Artemis to awakening. She had been ragdolled by the tank's gun but not killed luckily.

“Ver... Verity?” Artemis questioned.

“Yes, it's me Verity, c'mon you're gonna be fine. You just have to get up!” Verity assured Artemis.

Sorely, Artemis rolled to her stomach. The smell of scorched fur and feathers assualted her nose and a sickly feeling rumbled in her tummy.

“Uhg, Verity I don't feel too good.” Artemis said weakly.

“It's okay, you're alive and all your limbs are intact so let's-” Verity was interrupted as Artemis vomited her stomach's contents and spots of blood with a nasty hurl.

Verity was digusted but tried to hid it and stop Artemis from falling into her own filth.

“Help, me up, please.” Artemis requested faintly holding up her talons. Verity assisted her without hesitation. Leaning on him, Artemis was able to see the damage done.

Her armor was scorched to high hell and was virtually useless. Her wound from Clotpon was bleeding again and she felt tiny bits of shrapnel in her chest and forelegs.

PAM-KABOOM! The Leopard2 resumed firing at the others.

“Verity, I have an idea.” Artemis announced weakly, still using him for support. Verity shook his head disapproving. He propped Artemis up against a boulder.

“No, you'll kill yourself.” Verity denied her.

“I wasn't asking your permission..” Artemis rebuttaled faintly, fighting to keep her head up. “That tank has to go, we can't play mercy now. It's them or us.” Artemis added.

Verity seemed to cringe with that realization. If they didn't stop that tank they were as good as dead.

Reluctantly Verity asked Artemis about her new plan. “What is this new plan?”

“We, take that last grenade, and shove it down the main gun.” Artemis concluded pointing to their final grenade.

Verity looked in disbelief. “Artemis, that's suicide. You were lucky to survive that first shot now-!”

“We ain't exactly swimming in options dear.” Artemis said weakly as she crawled and grabbed the final  explosive.

“The Leopard2's firing at the wagon. If you fly me at it while it's not firing then I think I can do it.”

Verity analyzed their situation to the best of his abilites. “Blast, okay fine. But you have to leave me alone about wanting to spare the legionnaires.”

“Fine, sure, let's just do it before I blackout.” Artemis agreed wobbily.

PAM-KABOOM! The Leopard2 fired at the wagon. It couldn't withstand any more punishment! One more shot and they were done for! Verity held Artemis by her waist as they flew head first descending towards the Legion tank. It felt strange having Verity touch her- no, stay on task they only had one chance at this.

Artemis blinked her eyes rapidly as the wind assualted her face. She held the final grenade in her right hand. The approach was going well enough until the top hatch reopened and a very angry stallion with a bloody nose and mouth manned the machine gun and rotated to her vector!

“Of all the times!” Artemis griped with good reason.

“Do a barrel roll Verity!” Artemis shouted to Verity as the gunner opened fire.

Instantly her world spun and rotated, she felt like she might be sick again but they had avoided the turret's fire. Verity manuvered their bodies on the approach to the main gun when suddenly Verity  released a pained whimper and his grip failed for a split second, Artemis surmised some of the tank's gun fire hit him. The gunner turned his head into the hatched and he barked at the pilot inside. Returning to the mounted gun the Leopard2's main gun elevated to their degree, the pilot now had his eyes on them!

“Now Artemis!” Verity shouted intensely. Artemis almost stalled, but she broke the flinch and slammed the grenade down the cannon as they dashed by the tank.

BOOM! KABABOOM! The tank exploded once with the grenade then again when the munition inside detonated. One second it was a deadly enemy that threatened them with imminent death the next, a ball of fire that lit the night sky and burned fiercely. The burning chassis flipped in air before landing off the road.

The two girffons landed roughly but alive. Artemis stared at the burning machine with utter disbelief at their accomplishment. The others back on the wagon had to see it as well. Artemis could only watch in awe.

“Nrgh, we, really did it.” Verity said sharing the same disbelief. He was beaten and brusied badly, she could hear the fatigue in his voice.

Without a word Artemis wrapped him in a tight embrace. “Goddess dammit Verity we actually did it.” Artemis iterated with shock.

“I, guess we did.” He answered, now a peacful quiet began to blanket the long road.

“We won Verity, we won today. Not the Legion.” Artemis whispered triumphiantly. Artemis pulled Verity closer and deep kissed him, it was her first time she'd ever done that so it was fumbly and awkward but she felt Verity returning the kiss. Yes she had also just vomited no two minutes ago but to hell with it.

The moment was picture perfect, the two of them kissing in front of a Legion tank as it was enveloped in a great inferno. The burning fires kissed the surrounding surfaces with a hot orange glow.

Artemis released Verity from their beak lock. Now she began to feel the exhaustion of the night's fight. Verity, with all of his cuts and scratches gave her a small smile. Artemis held his head as their foreheads touched. They were silhouettes with the fire's light.

~later~

“Sweet Celestia, that was the craziest shit I ever saw!” Aroma bounced gleefully as she tossed her pair of binoculars and ran to Artemis and Verity.

“Yes, I will admit that was quite the feat you two.” Serendipity articulated nicely.

“Hell, Arty just, dayum!” Hans exclaimed as he went to his friend. It meant the world to be back with her foul-mouted motley crew. Artemis felt overjoyed, for a second back there she began to question if she was in over her head about taking on a tank.

“Awtemiz, you the shit.” One of the foals said innocently. The surprise on Hayseed and Lady's face, priceless.

“I wasn't alone.” Artemis reminded the gang. She turned to Verity with a thankful expression.

“You guysmust be exhausted. C'mon, me and the Followers will patch you guys up and you can talk about the battle tomorrow.” Serendipity insisted and the surviving Followers nodded in agreement.

Artemis and the others boarded the wagon and the Followers went to work on mending her wounds. Across from her, the Followers began to help Verity as well. He would cringe slightly as they cleaned his cuts.

“To Hoofer Dam Mr. Hayseed.” Serendipity declared cheerily.

Those words made Artemis worry. Hoofer Dam, her place of destiny. She looked to Verity who seemed to reflect her worry as well. But this time Artemis felt confident and whatever the future could through at them they could fight.

Today was victory, however small, but a victory nonetheless and that was enough for Artemis...

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