"Doctor... Crimson... waking up."
"Okay, just check... when he does... everything is fine."

I groaned loudly as I came further into consciousness, my head aching like a brahmin had kicked it and my leg even more-so. I didn't open my eyes but I could hear parts of conversations going on around me, though parts of what was being said completely eluded me as I lay down on the...
Wait. Where was I?

My eyes shot open immediately and instinctively I began to spread my wings in an attempt to fly, only to find out that my wings were strapped to my side and instead of flying, I'd managed to fall off of the bed.
Immediately a female with a grey coat ran over to me.

"Please stop! Calm down! Please!"
I had almost let my guard down, then I noticed something... horrifying. My eyes darted from side to side to try find an escape, but none was obvious. Instead, I had to go through her, hoping that her bones wouldn't crush under my weight and that I wouldn't get that disgusting texture all over me... the texture of a ghoul.

"FUCK FUCK FUCK! I GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE"
"Please calm down! We're trying to help!"
"TRYING TO EAT ME!"

I smashed through her, pushing her to aside as I had, trying my best to run on unsteady hooves before I hit the ground, hard.

Feeling my eyes begin to open once more, I hadn't remembered what had happened. Where was? Oh, scrap that. I was... there was a bed.
Looking up I could see worried faces, looking to my side I could see I was back on the bed.
Turning to my other side I saw the ghoul again, instinctively my reflexes were to freak out once more.
Struggling to my hooves, I found I couldn't get up yet there was no visible restraint.

"Crimson."
My name? They knew my name? With that I calmed down, but for how long could I stay calm when I couldn't even move?
"Crimson, it's okay. It's me, Titan."

I looked at the pale earth pony, even without his armour he was exceeding any size a pony should be allowed to be in terms of muscle and height, even as an earth pony. Parts of his body had worn down and exposed patches of muscle under a dingy coat.

"Why can't I move Titan? What's going on!?"
"Calm down Crimson, it's okay. You're safe with us, even if we hadn't expected to meet you like this or so soon."
"We?"
"I'll explain later, right now you need to clam down and not hurt the medical staff."
"You mean the ghoul."
"The nurse."
"Ghoul nurse."

Titan sighed at my response, shaking his head in a mixture of pity and slight annoyance.
"Crimson, it's okay. You're being held down with simple telekinesis so I can talk to you without another incident where you knock yourself out in panic."
"It was hardly intentional."
"Precisely. You can't be trusted to look after yourself yet, your body needs some time to compensate the damage done."
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't realise your leg is fractured?"
"Wait, what?"
"Yeah. Superhoof fractured your front right leg, we assume. You'll still be able to walk if you absolutely need to, but we really don't recommend it. In fact, we're not letting you out until it has healed, and right now our shipment of hydra hasn't arrived."
"Well shit, you got no healing magic capable ponies?"
"Nopony."

I felt the magic holding me down let go, a soft smile from the nurse attendant behind Titan as she released me.

"Thank you. I'm sorry for freaking out earlier... I just don't like ghouls one bit after what I've been through, waking up to see a ghoul wasn't exactly the best idea."
"Well, you're awfully polite for a bigot, aren't you? Thank you anyway."
"Hey, when you've seen what I have, you have the right to be a bigot."

Titan interrupted now, obviously displeased.
"Crimson, shut it. I know you've seen something horrific, but haven't we all? That is the wasteland for you, and that's why we're fighting to stop it. If you can't handle the fact that some insane animal that used to be a pony did what it did, fine. Don't take it out on the rest of us who've been put in the same bath of radiation though. Besides, you don't look at every smoothcoat and see them as raiders, do you?"
"No, but I make sure to kill or execute the ones who are."
"Yeah, we heard you loud and clear, yelling out about being 'The Executioner'. One of our scouts even saw you do it, to their disbelief."
"I would do anything to keep my marefriend alive, anything to protect the ponies under me."
Titan just nodded in appreciation and left the subject.

So... I was stuck in a bed where I didn't know exactly where I was, where the only pony I knew was Titan and even then I hadn't known him for long. I had just walked into a city and started a series of fights with an unknown group that consisted of zebras speaking their old language and ponies so poor they were willing to risk their lives for anything they could possibly get, despite the risks involved.
What an interesting tale this had turned out to be already, all I wanted was a water talisman.

"I know that look. You're lost and you don't know what you're doing, you need direction both literally and metaphorically. You want me to go grab Cherry so you can at least have something familiar?"
Eyeing him, I spoke slowly and cautiously. "How the hell did you know?"
"You don't go for a little over two hundred years in life without picking up some basic skills like that. You see of many ponies come and go, birth to death. You learn all the more simple stuff like this before you've even realised it. Kind've sad, really. Anyway, yeah, I'll go get her for you now."

With that he trotted off through the doorway and down the hall, turning a corner. I'd wondered how long it'd take for him to get her and what kind of condition she was in. Worry filled me as I thought about that, the last time I'd seen her she was knocked unconscious on the floor, was she okay? I hoped she was.

Two minutes passed, it felt like an eternity staring up at the ceiling above and the walls surrounding.
It was obvious that they'd tried to keep the place clean, though both time and inability reduced its cleanliness with subtle brown stains in the corners. I could only hope those stains were dried in blood like I'd assumed and nothing else.

The sweetest of voices called out to me from down the hallway, my love. "Crimson? You there?"
My lips curled into a soft smile as I laid eyes on her, her beautiful face lit up my world as she walked up to me and gave me a small kiss. A single tear ran down my cheek as I looked at her, the worry and stress washing away.

"Why are you crying, Wingsy? Is it your wing? That is quite the nasty wound you have."
"No, it's not my wing. I mean, my wing does hurt, but that's not it."
"Oh? What's wrong Crimson?"
"I was just worried about you is all, last I remembered of you was you being knocked out."
With that she gave me the most warming of smiles and tenderly brushed my tears away with her hoof as she kissed me.

"Awh, babe! I'm fine, I just wish you were. Good news is that the doctors have said your wing looks like it'll heal up fairly soon, judging on old world textbooks. It means no flying for you, but it's only as bad as breaking the bones in your wing."
"Only as bad? Breaking my wing would take a week or two, maybe even longer to heal up!"
"Well, thankfully you're the only one so beat up."

I huffed in response, annoyed at how she could make that sound so cheery. "Hey! What do you mean thankfully?!"
"Well, because all I am is a little sore. You? You're out of the fight as it were until you're better, my orders. Besides that, they're going to need help and if we were both unable to fight, that would prolong our search out here a lot."

They were going to need her? What was she even on about?
"Wait, what are you on about?"
Titan walked by her side with his helmet back on, partially armoured up once more.
"The cause, our cause, to be exact. I've been speaking with Cherry, and we know of one water talisman, safe and sound. Trouble is, you'll need my help to get it."
"And so you want us to help you out before you'll help us out."
"Is there any other way? You're free to decline of course, we won't hold it against you. However, we need your help as much as you need ours."

Thinking about that for a minute, Titan had a fair point. There was no one way trade in the wasteland, everyone had their price both good and bad.
I started to wonder what my price might've been, though that was the last thing I'd ever wanted to fall to.

"Okay, if you want our help, you've got to not just tell Cherry, but me too. What is it you need?"
"Most of all, we need the support of the ponies. We of course are a part of the citizens, but we need the majority to support a popular uprising. We cannot and will not go ahead until we can rest assured it is what the ponies truly want. This isn't about ourselves, it's about the well-being of everypony here."
Nodding, I allowed Titan to continue.

"Once we have the popular support, it'll be time for infiltration missions and weakening the enemies infrastructure. If we're going to take down the D-Z-C, we're going to need to take their weapons from them and give them to ourselves. We'll need to cripple their ability to control the masses, take their ability to organise forces. We'll then need to strike hard and heavy on their leadership and take down the leader."
I put a hoof up to interrupt,

"No."
He gave me a questioning look. "No?"
"No. You don't strike for the top echelons of leadership first, that would be your downfall."
"What are you on about?"
"Leadership doesn't run top down, it runs middle, top, bottom. The bottom is the ponies with no power, the ponies who make the masses. They have no true capability to change things without a lot of help."
"Yeah, we all know that, but how does-?"
"Auh, let me finish. The top pony is a figurehead, a pony in charge to turn to in times of need, be it to blame or to seek deliverance. The middle is where the power is."
"How so?"
"The middle is where the masses are controlled from. The middle is all the technicians that keep the guns and buildings repaired and efficient, the middle is all the officers and council members who handle what needs to go to the top leader and what can be handled locally. Without the middle, the top falls like a house of cards under the strain. You eliminate the top and the middle will select somepony new to rise up."

He stood there speechless in awe, even Cherry did as I laid there with a grin on my face.

"Prove it. What would happen to this organisation if our leader died?"
"If you died, the uprising would still continue if it was the true desire of the pones. Perhaps it would be stunted, but a new leader would be found. Somepony would show the courage and qualities of leadership and they would be made the new leader. For as long as the need exists, it will be filled sooner or later."
"I'm not the leader though."
"No? You show the signs of leadership, you hold the proper qualities. So, you must be the middle then? Before we help you, I want to see your leadership."

Cherry cocked her head to the side slightly and turned her head between me and Titan.
"Crimson, are you sure this is wise? We're going to need his help either way."
"Yes, I refuse to help anypony topple any governing body until I know the leadership of the group."
"Normally I'd agree, but unless we have another option..."
Once again, his gruff and raspy voice spoke. "You don't, as far as I'm aware. As for seeing our leadership? No. It's too early to trust you on such matters yet."
"I demand to see them, end of."
"No, it's too ea-"

Titan's voice dropped as a large blue pony appeared next to me.
"Hello Crimson."
"Eos? Wait, you're the leader of this group?"
"Eos, what are you doing in here? You should be in the war room away fro-"
"Silver, I understand your worry, but Crimson is fine."

With that, she levitated me upright and slid her hooves around my chest and back with an embrace only a pony as magnificently big as her could do.

"Thank you, Crimson. Your actions have postponed the death of one of our most faithful, though her life is still at risk. We would be... most appreciative if you were to help us, be it through yourself or through Cherry Sundae, for now."
"Hey! How do you know my name? Why are you hugging my buckfriend? I don't exactly find it too pleasant to find you coming out of nowhere and hugging him without asking either of us first, thank you."
Stifling a laugh, I looked at Cherry. "Awh, Cherry, you getting jealous?"
"N..No! I just don't know who she is and she's hugging you without..."
"It's fine. She gives lovely hugs, but that's all. Her name is Eos and she's friendly."

Titan made a grumpy sound as he watched on. "Yeah, real friendly. Eos, what's with the sudden affection? Your type has always been so cold."
"Is it not within my right as a pony to desire affection? Is it not possible that Crimson was the first not too scared to give me admission to have some?"
"Well... of course. It's just... strange."
"I desire love and admiration. If that seems strange to you, so be it."

"Now, Crimson, hold still. I should have some minor healing magic ability still."
With that, her horn pressed against my wing and an incredibly unnerving sensation filled my side as the skin patched itself together slightly, though still showed signs of damage and lacked any of its feathers.
"Oh, wow. Thank you Eos. Would it be too much to ask for my leg done too?"
"Unfortunately yes, my healing spell is very limited due to the fact I'm not skilled in it, so that's all I can manage. As for your wing, you still cannot fly and nor should you try. However, your wing will heal a lot faster and to a better overall condition then it would have otherwise."
"Thank you."
"Now I must go once again, I am needed elsewhere. However, before I do I must ask of you one thing."
"I pledge our support to you, Eos, as long as you may pledge your support in return once we're done."
"Of course, thank you. Goodbye for now."

Instead of disappearing back behind another cloak of invisibility however, the slender alicorn elegantly walked out of the room and down the hall.
Titan muttered something about breaking procedure and safety hazards, and Cherry looked bemused that I'd so freely accept Eos' affections.
I really hadn't understood though, wasn't like we'd kissed even!

Cherry gave a little shake of her head before giving me one last hug.
"Crimson, I'm going to head off with Titan now. You stay here, okay? I'm going to go plan what needs to be done and begin preparing, you need to rest up. Maisy is in the area above somewhere, from what I've been told, so I'll be safe. Heal up fast, Crimson. Gonna need you out there soon."

Staying in here as Cherry followed Titan out of the door was a terrible, gut wrenching feeling. I knew she had the training and I knew she could handle herself better then I could, she had newer armour and she had the advantage of magic.
She didn't have my wings though, or a shotgun. I thought about calling her name out and offering it, but I supposed her 9mm would do the job all the same, quieter too.

So what did I do instead? What could I do was a better question, with only one logical answer given the situation. I slept.
At first I felt restless, but after some time, I'd gotten so bored that I really couldn't help but feel sleepy.

"Goodnight."
I heard the nurse from earlier reply to me. "Seep well, Mr Wings."
I couldn't help but smile at her forgiveness, maybe not all ghouls were too bad after all.

"So, what do you make of what he said back there?"
"About what?"
"About the chain of leadership. I was a simple soldier pony, that's what I still am. I fought to protect those around me, I didn't fight to get promoted to some desk job. That's why I chose to go for RF Mission Support when I had the chance, I knew in that role that I wouldn't be risking a promotion to some worthless role while increasing my ability to protect my friends."

Looking at Titan, I couldn't quite grasp what he was trying to say.
"What are you getting at?"
"I mean that I never thought about all that stuff. I always assumed that if we took out the Caesar, the war would be won. That if Celestia and Luna were to fall, all would be lost."
"All has been lost, for everyone. Pony, zebra, griffin, buffalo, no matter what species, everyone lost. We lost our innocence with the start of the war, our world at the end of it and our souls with what we are today."

"That we did, that we did. I've watched for over two hundred years, I've seen it all fall apart. It wasn't like this at first, not at all."
"What was it like?" I had to know.
"Surprisingly peaceful, if not chaotic. To begin with, ponies simply scrambled about trying to survive and stockpile what resources they could. Most ponies died in the blasts, the cities being the biggest targets of course. The ponies out the country tended to manage fine enough. That's how I survived."
"Where were you?"
"I was in the middle of a battlefield, fighting zebra forces at the time. It was a tough battle, but then the zebras began to retreat, their full force turned tail and began to flee. Most units were happy to call it victory, but me and my commander wanted more, we wanted to put them into the ground where they belonged. Too many of the ones we knew died, we burnt for retribution."

Titan's voice carried an air of lamentation, obviously he felt bad. I went to say he didn't have to go on, but before I could he drew another breath and continued.

"I see the error of that now, I understand how killing those soldiers would've done no good. They were the same as us, scared and told that they had to go to war for their honour, for the protection of their friends, for their way of life. Anyway, they ran and we charged towards them until we saw deep shades of green, purple and blue filling the skies above. Missiles struck past and we fell to the floor in fear, thinking that moment was going to be our last, if only."
"That's when they hit the cities instead... leaving you out in the middle of the battleground?"
"Precisely. We fell back upon orders of high command, what was left of it. We tried emergency evacuations from the cities, what was left of them anyway. Needless to say, we only found radiation and death."

A choking sound filled Titan's throat, a guttural splutter sound almost like crying.
Lowering my head, I wrapped my hooves around him.
Titan had been through a lot, he'd seen his whole world collapse and changed before his eyes. Even after all this time, he still found it hard to think about... even after all these years.
That hit me hard as I sat there, silently comforting the ghoul who sat in half of his patchwork power armour.

"It'll be okay Titan, some day. Maybe not tomorrow, but some day ponykind will pick itself out of the ground, from the ashes scattered all over Equestria, and relight in rebirth like a phoenix. Some day."
"I hope so. I've... I've been fighting for so long. Too long, yet I can't give up until the job is done."
But the job would never be done, I thought. As long as there's ponies out there who have anything, there will be ponies who desire to take it by force.
Even flesh and blood isn't sacred, as sad as the fact was.

Once Titan had some time to recompose, we continued to make our way to the war room. I'd soon realised it was simply an abandoned under-surface hospital designed for military casualties to keep them safe from any zebra bombs or artillery.

"We're going to be travelling with a compliment of scouts, for your protection somewhat and for generally speaking to the public. The resistance needs to gain solid footing in East Slumside before we can take it from the DZC."

I'd gone to reply, but instead my focus was lost on a sign above the doors.
"SECTION 3 - RESTRICTED ACCESS - AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY".
Personnel? I shrugged, though it seemed weird to use the word personnel over 'ponies'.
I'd also wondered why the door was extra large, but that was probably to help evacuation if needed.
As we walked in, a lone computer screen sat on the wall, one line of text flashing over and over.

">Coltchester experimental medical military base 01"
">Base integrity - Medium / Needs repairs"
">Please organise repairs to be made"
">Base defences - Inactive / Needs repairs"
">Please organise repairs to be made"
">Base lock-down features - Online / Inactive"
">Project Steelpony - Active"
">Project Iron Giant - Reactivation pending"
">Please reactivate Project Iron Giant"
">Base capability - 70%"

I tried to ask Titan about what all this stuff was about, but before I could even do so he was in the next room over and pulling off a map of Coltchester from the wall and placing it on the table ahead.

"We need to hold full support from Slumside before we can move over to either the old Dog Quarries south of here, or the farms to the north."
"What about West Slumside? What's the status quo there?"
"The West is ours, it's where those most willing to support us reside. You've seen them with your own eyes, you know the squalor they live in. They want us to change that, to take charge and make their lives better - or die trying."
"So you have the majority of the ponies there willing to rise up when the time comes?"
"Between six to seven for every ten, yeah. We think some of the others would pledge their support if it weren't for fear of reprisals if they were caught saying so. Others? Others have lost everything they can lose, their lives are as good as gone without any future change."

I couldn't help but admire him when he spoke, the passion he held for the ponies reminded me of Crimson in the way they both truly believed in the power of the ponies and their willingness to be servants to them rather then to try order them every time they spoke.
We hadn't been in Coltchester even a full day, but already I'd come to believe in this cause, perhaps it could be the redemption of the city.
We'd seen what it was like for the ponies here, we knew that this couldn't have possibly been a city without dissent.

"So, we make some friends over in East Slumside. How do you plan for us go about that?"
"Crimson would love this... we fight. We show the weakness of the DZC and at the same time, show our strength. They rule with an iron hoof through intimidation and physical strength. Foolish foals see them as the way to be powerful and respected. Terrified mothers see them as monsters who they bow to in hopes of avoiding being hurt or worse. All the while, horrified fathers are left with no option but to join their ranks or ultimately support them in some other way, lest they wish to be those who live in West Slumside and fail their families."

That was quite a predicament indeed... "What kind of attacks are we talking?"
"Well, we've found attacking head on is no good, guerilla tactics where we hit and run have been effective however."
"Any infiltration attempts?"
"Three, all failed miserably. Each time our agents have been caught either getting in or getting out, and hung for their troubles to make an example of them."
"Huh, that so?"
"You're not thinking of trying are you? There's no way it could work, they'd catch you for sure."

As he spoke, my magic encased me in a stealth cloak, removing me from sight.
"Huh, almost forgot about that. You thinking you could pull it off?"
Slowly I let down the field as I began to speak, as not to waste effort uselessly. "I could, but I'll need a goal, a distraction and something else. Before I agree to any missions like that, you have to tell me what targets you'd want to hit, what benefit they'd have by doing so and lastly, what diversion you can give me."
"Uh, well... I'm not too good with planning, I just lead the ponies in the fight. I was never an officer for a reason, I couldn't understand advanced tactics, just immediate effect ones involving flanking the enemy."

Really? Really? He was going to try and organise an uprising and new government like this? I facehooved.
"Look. You're going to have to tell me, what do they rely on most in Slumside?"
"The slave market is probably their biggest attraction to wealthy outsiders."
"Good. Taking down a slave market provides a lot of moral bonus, gives us popular support, and perhaps even more soldiers from ex slaves. Say this goes wrong, say I need them distracted somehow, how could you do that?"
"Uhm, Oh! The centurions wife! It's her birthday in ten days, it's a large public event. We could disrupt that, though security would be tight at the venue."
"Perfect. You organise a mass panic, something like a few smoke grenades would do the trick. Anything that would lower visibility or make the everypony scatter."
"Got it, sounds like something we could organise."

Now we were getting somewhere, and with that, I walked away from the table.
For a second I messed around on the dials on my pipbuck until I had the right frequency to broadcast.

"Broadcast code CS534, repeat, broadcast code CS534. Come in."
A gruff voice came from the other end. "Treetop?"
"Freight train?"
"Indeed, it's me. What's up?"
"I'm calling a code rainbow."
"Rendezvous?"
"Coltchester, west entrance. Leave tonight."
"Tonight?"
"Tonight."
"Got it."
"Further details upon arrival?"
"Of course. Come to rock and roll."
"Wilco. Good hunting."
"Princess speed."

"What the hell was that all about? Reminds me of my old army days."
"For good reason. We survive because we're professional, code speak is essential."
"Across all your force?"
"....No."
"Should I ask?"
"No."
"Okay."
"Sorry Titan, but some things just gotta be kept as they are."

We'd studied the map together and Titan showed me how far the military base expanded, pointing out where its entrance was found over in Slumside as he began to plan once more.

"So, we have our big event planned for the long term. What are we going to do short term?"
"Generally we go out, speak to the ponies topside. We find out what they need most and what's been happening."
"Uh huh, what else?"
"If we have the supplies? We do what we can. Otherwise we apologise and go to the next lot."
"That's the wrong approach there, then. We're going to need to stick with the ponies, get them the supplies from the DZC and give it to the ponies."

He grinned at me through the missing lower half of his helmet.
"You thinking of taking the resources by force?"
"If we need to? Yes. You say your forces are strong at guerilla tactics? We ambush the enemy convoys as they move or we make hit and run on their stockpiles, keeping the method of attack and approach changed up each and every time if we can help it, because the moment we get lazy and follow through with the same method for the third time in a row is when they start to shore their defences from that type of attack."

With a shy little scuff of the ground with a hoof, Titan looked down as he spoke to me.
"Just one thing, isn't that a lot more risky then what we're currently doing? We don't have the forces to keep receiving losses."
"You expect to win the support of the ponies while you're too afraid to take risks? While you're too afraid to get the items they need to survive with more comfort? What kind of example does that set? How do you think that makes you as a prospective future leader?"
"I, uh..."
"It makes you look weak. Sometimes, taking the risk wins you the jackpot. In this case, the jackpot is the betterment of the lives of everyone here, be they pony, zebra or otherwise. I assume there are some zebras who aren't in the forces, correct?"
"Yeah."

Taking one more look at Titan, I knew our little talk had come to an end. He was ready to lead the soldiers, he just had to remember to stop being so painstakingly careful about it. From our time planning, I could see a new, more confident about himself Titan that had previously only showed in the thick of a fight.
This pony was war material, leadership of a unit or perhaps even an army, but I couldn't imagine him leading a city.

"Get your armour on, your gun reloaded and put on some cologne, we're going to go see the ponies we're doing this for."

We traversed the tunnels with Titan's scouts ahead of us, leading the way. Titan himself knew the way like the back of his hoof, but this was my first time consciously travelling through here and took in as much as I could as I tried to memorise the route.
Passing by many clean rooms, some of them had stacks of pre-war documents still unsettled in neat piles upon the desks within. Something told me there was a deep level of respect for where they stayed, despite the age of the base.

"Remember mares and bucks, we'll be entering the city after a big fight. Security is going to be heightened more then likely, and if you find any posters depicting a bounty for any of us or our friends, take them down. Got it?"
"Yes sir, we understand."
"What about me?" I asked. "Anything I should know?"
"Hm, you should be fine. You're new to the city and Crimson was the one who got all the attention after his little exploit. Nevertheless, be careful yourself. If you can obtain any robes to cover yourself with, make good use of them for a little further protection."
Nodding back at him, I took note. A set of robes did indeed sound a smart idea to try conceal myself and blend in with the peoples of Coltchester.

As we approached the exit, one pony ahead carried on over to the large cover in front of the opening while the rest of us halted a few feet behind.
Poking his head out, he turned back to us and nodded. "All clear, we're free to go."
Titan's low voice filled the air with a thickness in the way he spoke, a strangely soothing sound. "Thanks Lightstep, come on you lot, lets go."
In pairs we made our exit as Lightstep held the large door open for us, closing it slowly as I'd made my way out.

"Scouts, remember the mission. You're to talk to who you can, find out what you can and remove any bounty posters you can. Cherry, keep an eye out for Maisy, get her fed if she needs to be, though reports say that some of the radspider meat stockpiled in DZC stock houses has mysteriously vanished, so that might have been her since we didn't do it."
"Okay. You remember what I told you too, right?"
"Of course, I don't forget after just twenty minutes, Cherry."
"Just checking! Come on, lets go, like you say."

With that, we made our way out from behind a broken house, two of the scouts scattering off to the left as soon as they got round the corner, the other four sticking with us for a moment.
"So, where to first Titan?"
"First we'll check out the marketplace, though the mix of supporters and rebels is quite even in the locality, it's good to strengthen what we already have."
"Got it."

Making our way along the cracked roads, I'd noticed how much Coltchester had changed from the oppressive emptiness to a place filled with both the poor and those who obviously had something to flaunt. Ponies haggled their goods to us as we walked on by, though most of it was stuff we hadn't wanted anyway.

"Round up, round up! Get your radspider kebabs! One hundred percent fresh!"
"Forget his kebabs, get my radbit burgers! Full of meaty goodness from the recent radbit massacre!"
"Oh, not this shit again, Thin Slice! Everybody knows that your burgers cause diarrhoea!"
"Only for you, zebra sympathiser!"
"You want to watch your mouth? I'll have the coalition take you away otherwise."
"No! I won't bow down to their oppressive rule and they know that!"
"That's why you're always getting beaten, you're on the losing side. Now get your crap food away from mine, dirtbag."

Looking at the pair, I couldn't help but giggle at the two vendors arguing,
"Say, pretty mare! How would you like a free radbit burger?"
"Who? Me?"
"Yes, of course! I've not seen a mare such as you around here before."
"Oh... uhm... well, uh... yeah. No, I'm new here."
"You're not frightened off by that jackass and his false accusations are you? The quality of my food is fine."
"OF COURSE SHE IS YOU MORON!" The purple pony on the other side of the road shouted back. "NO-ONE WANTS TO FALL ILL FROM YOUR FOOD. GO AWAY BEFORE I DO GET THE GUARDS."
"Uhm... I..."
"Yes? I'm sorry for his behaviour."
"I'm really sorry, but no. It's not what he's saying, I just can't imagine eating a radbit burger... I mean, Prince Snugglebums is a radbit."
"Who is a radbit?"

With that, I took Prince Snugglebums out of my saddlebag and sat him on my back, to which he took up his usual post atop my head.
"My radbit! Prince Snugglebums!"
A warm smile made it's way across my face as I blushed a little at the vendor giving me a puzzled look before smiling back at me.

Titan stood by my side at this point, after casually having browsed some of the other stands leading up to the two meat vendors.
"Well, what a sweetheart you are. I suppose there's no chance for a sale with you then?"
"No, sorry about that."
"Okay then. Perfer et obdura."

Titan spoke, his rough and raspy voice spoke as softly as it could once more. "Dolor hic tibi proderit olim."
The look upon the vendors face changed from simply happy to what seemed almost scared, until I realised it was awe.
He smiled as he nodded to us, one by one and we continued back down the road.

Leaning into Titan's ear, I began to whisper a question. "Titan? What does 'perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim' mean?"
"Be patient and tough, for some day this pain will be of use to you."
"Ah, I suppose its your way of identifying members, maybe?"
"Yes, precisely. Those who believe in the cause understand the cost of what it takes to reach our goal and will strive to endure any pain that they may receive on the road to victory, for it is all we can do."

"Do you know of anywhere I can get a cloak? Perhaps one for yourself wouldn't be a bad idea, hmmm?"
"My armour too much of a status symbol you think?"
"Not so much for fear of being mugged, but what about this coalition?"
"If they recognise me, so be it. If I am to lead the fighting, I need to be recognised by my own. I do not travel without the protection of the Prise."
"The Prise? I'm sure Crimson mentioned something about that... back while I was away in Coltshire for the first time."
"No, surely not. I doubt very much that he had even known the term."

Rolling my eyes at him, I couldn't believe what he had just said. Did he take us for uneducated tribals or something?
"Oh please, the prise as a term is a very old one."
"Is that so?"
"Angels of the skies and stars that gave birth to the princesses, they who watch over us and influence the outcomes of what they can. A lot of old ponytales, really."
"Still, the prise of lore and the prise of my protection are not the same. The likelihood is not high, even with her action. Still, it does not matter."

Did he just? I couldn't help myself, I had to do it.
"Oh, okay. Yeah, I see. Doesn't matter because you might be wrong huh?"
"Are you really going to insult me like this?"
"No, it's called teasing, you old grump. Teasing, remember?"
"Hmpf. Perhaps if you reached my age, you'd lose your knack for such humour too."
"Hope not." I gave him a little wink as I playfully tilted my head backwards to him. He really needed to lighten up.

Trotting along we'd passed a lot of different stands, some empty some filled to the brim with little things that had looked like they'd been scavenged from the surrounding area. Surprisingly, one merchant had two guards by her side, both donkeys in heavy metal armour that almost looked to be imitation of Titan's, as low tech as they were.
Actually, scrap the use of low tech, sheets of metal simply welded together fit the bill a lot better here.

Casually making my way up to the stand, I saw why they were here. The vendor was selling guns, and they looked to be high quality of that.
With a sure smile I looked at the somewhat ageing coffee brown donkey behind. "Perfer et obdura?"
"Uh, what? Look, I have no time for you if you're outta your mind like the rest of the nutcases round here, but something tells me you were just trying to fit in. Either stop wasting my time or you'll be punished, you here to buy or you gonna walk?"

My cheeks burned red. "Oh. Sorry, what do you have?"
"You got any fifty calibre for my sniper rifle?"
"Fifty? Fuck no! Get out of here before I report you to the authorities. Only the Donkey Zebra Coalition is allowed that kind've gear, so don't you dare even bring that up again. I'll let you off this time since you're obviously a visitor, but if you come back here, I will have the guards drag you away, got it?"

I stared at the vendor in shock and hit into S.A.T.S, considering my options. This vendor was obviously a supporter of the DZC and the way they were behaving was simply out of line, but alas, killing them for that alone wasn't my thing. If the time came that they chose to turn their guns on me, it would be self defence. This? This would've been murder over a dispute, though I had no guilt about using S.A.T.S to give myself time to think and calm down.

Coming back out out of S.A.T.S, I looked over to Titan.
"Come on, lets see what other stands there are. I'm not going to stand by and be threatened by this piece of shit."
"Oh, I'm the piece of shit am I? I work hard to provide for our glorious leaders and army, yet I'm the piece of shit? You want to start a fight with me, red? I'll have the guards down on you faster then a dead pegasus falling from the sky."
Images of Crimson filled my mind, the horror etched itself across my face and I could hardly contain myself.
Still, I knew I had to, for now.

Titan ushered me away, knowing that if it went on much longer it'd possibly end up in a bloodbath. Even if I didn't shoot first, there was an awkwardness in the way that he walked that told me he was just as agitated as I.
No doubt he'd have loved to take a shot at them himself, if he could've.

A cold, calculated voice spoke in low volume next to me. "He's our first target."
"What do you mean, Titan? We're not ready to start a fight yet, are we?"
"Not yet, no. Though when the time comes and we go aggressive, he's a primary."
"Got any reasons behind that, other then hate for him?"

Titan paused for a moment, nodding his head at me.
"Supplying the enemy? Being proud of that? That makes him a military target in my mind, not a civilian. Just because you're not on the front line."
I couldn't help myself from interrupting. "Just because you're not on the front-line, doesn't mean you're not a military valued asset. Enemy supply lines must be cut for a successful campaign."
"Yeah, exactly. He's a source that feeds directly with no need for a supply line. To take him out is to take away from enemy capability, to leave him in only strengthens them. Besides, his guards were Donkey heavy troopers, renowned for their no nonsense attitude, more-so then zebras even. They're a big threat to the community."
"I see."

Half hour had passed, we'd seen more vendors but nothing special was happening. Titan spoke to some of them, though each and every one had said there was something wrong, none of them would say what.
It was truly tiring to try and win the trust of the people when they wouldn't open up and tell you what needed to be done.
The last of the scouts had left us twenty minutes ago, after reaching their location to break away at.
Now things began to change however.

A voice carried through the alleyway ahead. "Help! Please! Somepony!"
Looking at Titan, we both knew we had to go check it out. I rushed off ahead of him and ran between a series of buildings and jumped over a fence only to find the way was blocked, I'd have to go around further.
"SHUT IT YOU SLAG, YOU'LL DO AS I SAY, WHEN I SAY, OR ELSE. YOU GOT THAT?!"
"Please! Somepony!" She cried out in pain as I heard a hoof strike down on her, her cry of pain getting closer as I ran around.

"Gravel, grab her front hooves. I'm going to show this bitch that I take what I want, when I want. Then I'll burn her stand down to the ground after I'm done to really prove my point, HA!"
"Oh, I love it when you've got a plan boss. Can I join in?"
"No, I want to hear her crying in pain without your cock in the way. You can have her once I'm done."
"NO, NO! PLEASE NO! PLEASE SOMEPONY! ANYPONY!"

It was sickening what I was hearing, how could anybody do that to another?
From the sound of it, it was just over the wall, but I couldn't climb over! Fuck!
There had to be something... something to climb on or up or...
That was when I realised, I was standing next to a house! A house that could see over the wall!

Kicking the door down with my hind hooves, I paid no attention to what was inside. Immediately I rushed up the stairs ahead of me and kicked each and every door down one by one until I could see the event unfold in front of me.
The mare below had just been kicked to the floor once more as the buck took place above her, ready to defile her body.
I couldn't let that happen, I wouldn't let that happen.

The bullet flew true, colliding with his left eye a moment before he could enter the mare. Two other bucks immediately turned to face the window I'd fired from, but I gave them no chance.
Turning my gun to the first, I blew his head off using S.A.T.S and put the rifle back onto its holster on my back, before reaching out for my SMG with my magic and jumping out of the window onto the third buck below.

As soon as I landed though, the buck was on top of me, throwing armoured hooves into my side and tried to hit my face..
At the top of his lungs, he bellowed at me. "YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL MY OFFICER AND I WON'T AVENGE HIM?"
I covered my face as I began screeching back at him. "YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND BY A RAPE AND NOT BE PUNISHED?"

Prince Snugglebums jumped off my back and ran away into the corner, hiding next to the mare who had already crawled under her stand. Now I could really begin to fight, knowing I wasn't going to get him hurt.
Watching him run away proved to be a mistake though, as a cocky voice came back from him as he whacked me with enough force to send me sliding. "Yeah, yeah I do. Actually, I think I'm going to have you instead."

Oh, not this shit again! I'd already had enough of that crap with the enclave soldiers saying this shit!
"You want me? Come and get me!"

I stood back up and dodged his attacks, rolling out of the way and bringing my SMG to face him.
Before I could fire though, he knocked the gun out of my hold and out of view under one of the stools.

"You're all alone now, bitch. No gun to use on me, what you gonna do?"
"TITAN, ANY CHANCE YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE YOUR WAY HERE RIGHT NOW WOULD BE REAAAAAL HANDY. YOU THERE MAISY? HERE GIRL!"
"Your friends ain't gonna save you now!"

Another hoof collided with my face, I went skidding once more, my jaw seriously hurting as I spit up a bit of blood.
The sound of Titan's hoofsteps was still too far away, it really did look like I was alone now.
Once more the buck charged me and stamped his hooves into my chest, I doubled over in pain and he knocked me onto my front.
No... my hooves shook. I had to move otherwise I was in the perfect position for him.

"Yeah, you wanna stay just like that, don't ya? Make it real easy on yourself."
I spluttered up more blood as I went to talk, feeling the pain in my stomach. "No."
"Oh yeah? No huh? You look like you want it so badly."
He approached cautiously, but I now had a plan. Just as he went to mount me, I rolled onto my back and magically pulled my knife out from my armour and lodged it deep into his throat.

His eyes shot wide as his hooves trembled, his body falling to the floor. Falling atop of me.
As he did so, the handle of the knife stuck against my armour and lodged itself even deeper into his throat, almost completely swallowed in the gore that was his neck, completely cut open by the attack.
Rolling the body off myself, I recoiled in horror of the amount of blood that had managed to completely cover my lower half.
Within half an hour I would be one of the more sticky mares in Equestria, barring whores.

My magic pulled the knife out of the corpse. "Justice... yeah, that name for this knife really is apt now."
The mint green mare with her white mane cowered beneath a wooden stand filled with clothes as she watched me pick myself up.
"Y... Y... You saved me?"
"Yeah. You got lucky, kid."
"Are... are you here to take what you want from me too?"

Looking at the poor mare in confusion, I held out a bloodied hoof to her in consolation. Amazingly, she reached out and let me help her off the floor, despite the blood.
"Of course not. I heard your cries for help and knew I had to check it out."
"Why?"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because you could get yourself killed? Because you can find yourself on the wrong side of the DZC? I already am, and if they find out you did this..."
"Good, let me be then. If this was the DZC, all the better. I'm... working for the organised rebellion."
"The organised rebellion?"
That was all she managed before she passed out from a mixture of exhaustion and shock.

When the mare had come back around, she saw myself and Titan calmly sitting down opposite her, after having had two of the scouts and Titan "dispose" of the bodies and "rectify their lack of need for equipment".
My stomach had still been killing me after the blows I took, but thankfully they had a healing potion on them, fixing the damage done to my jaw and insides.
Still, it wouldn't remove long lasting ache, only fix up the actual damage done.

"Hey there again."
"Oh. Oh my. You're still..."
"We're still here?"
"Well... yeah. Did I pass out or something?"
"Yeah, just that exactly. Look, we want to talk to you. I want to talk to you."
"What do you want?"

I looked over to Titan and then back at the shaken mare.
My body was telling me that I should be feeling the same, I had after all just been in the same situation, but I had to be strong and comfort her. I at least had a chance and used that to stop what was going to happen.

"First of all, we want to buy some of your robes. We need to disguise ourselves when travelling and we've found the perfect pieces for both of us, so, how much?"
"H.... How much?"
"Yes, how much for them?"
"L... Look. You saved my life back then, even if they didn't kill me, losing all that I have and being raped would've killed me. Have them for free, it's the least I could to repay you."
"Are you certain?"
"Absolutely, please take them."

Gently I pulled the mare in for a hug to show my appreciation as Titan picked out my new set of robes.
The hood of them cast a shadow over my face out quite well, making it hard to tell who I was underneath without it being removed.
Titan had found one which would've fit him normally, but it had meant to be out of his armour.
Nonetheless, he decided to take it with him just in case, a wise choice in my opinion.

"Now, there is one more thing, miss?"
"Silk Swirls."
"Okay, Miss Silk Swirls, there's one more thing. We're with the PLAC, and we'd appreciate it if you joined our cause."
"Do... Do I have to come with you right now? There's thing I need to... ponies... oh."
Titan stepped in, a smooth bow to her before he spoke.

"Of course not, my fine mare. I or any of my associates can come collect you at any time you please, though I would recommend you make it sooner rather than later, for your own security. Normally, we don't require our members to come live with us, in fact, a lot of the west side of Slumside are actively in support of us. However, in cases such as yours, we would prefer you be safe. Your safety may be at risk, if these scumbags had told anyone they were going after you. All the same, the signs of the fight at your stand are not good, as you would assume."
"I understand. You would provide me with somewhere to stay? Food to eat, water to drink?"
"Of course."

She cautiously raised her hoof to her chin as she thought for all of three seconds before nodding in agreement.
"Give me three hours. There are ponies I wish to speak to, to advise to join the cause if I am going to be brought into this. I had heard the rumours but was unsure before, now you have won my trust. Promise me these attacks will stop outright when you have come to power, and I will risk my life to make it so."
An earnest smile filled Titan's face. "Again, of course. I pledge to you that these attacks will stop once and for all. This is no way for somepony to live."
"Is there any way I'll recognise your associates?"
"If someone speaks the words 'perfer et obdura' you should speak back 'dolor hic tibi proderit olim'. This is our sign, our motto. Likewise, you may speak 'perfer et obdura' and if they are to say 'dolor hic tibi proderit olim' in return, you are in friendly hooves."

The frightened mare gave a little bow herself as she repeated the phrase a few times over, before saying it to us each personally.
Watching her pack up what she could manage before donning a cloak herself, I could tell she was nervous.

Titan stepped forward and looked into her eyes one last time before she went.
"We meet at the market. We will recognise you, or you will recognise us. Either way, we will be there and speak the words of truth. Stay strong, we will seek you in the hours gone."
Silently, she nodded before scuttling off out of sight around the corner.
Our job here was done, though I'd known that a single person was not enough for a rebellion.

"You handled the situation brilliantly, Cherry. Thank you."
"Brilliantly huh? I could've and almost had gotten raped! How the hell is that handling it brilliantly?"
"You could've, but you didn't. You've been trained excellently in hoof to hoof."
"Yeah? Well I never was too brilliant at it. It's why I keep my range, something I'm a lot more confident with."
"Even still, you managed to take down an attacker who was bigger and stronger then you. It's not all about how many you take down or who you take down, but how the outcome goes. End of the fight, you win or you lose, and you came out physically hurt but not molested nor the loser."
"So fighting is just about who wins and loses to you?"
"I'm not sure. Just understand that you did well, okay?"
"Okay."

We began to walk out of the square and back onto the main road to go further into Slumside when from our left flank, we heard a commotion.
Turning our heads to see what it was all about, eight ponies in armour similar to the sets worn by the raiders who had attacked Coltshire, Town and Commons, stood.

"THERE, THERE THEY ARE!"

It was time for either fight or flight.

As promised, I'm going to keep advertising the fact that the head picture came from WavemasterRyx, who can be found:http://ask-the-waves.tumblr.com/ !

I'm sorry for how long this chapter took to write. I'd had a week off from work and thought that I could leave it until then, but when I had the week off I didn't have it in me because all I wanted to do was rest.
Now I understand where I've been going wrong, and I will begin to rest properly instead of keep on worrying.
My plan is to read my story from start to finish, to see it as (you) the reader does, and revitalise myself.

This doesn't mean the story is stopping. It just means I understand where I was going wrong now.
My next step is to finish up the rewrite on chapter eight and make it less rushed, more graphic and in general, better.
Then I'll be working on chapter thirteen right after, and my goal if I can, is to have it released before / on the 24th to mark the 6 months since release.
The original conception of the idea for Broken Bonds was actually on the 13th of January, 2012, while I was waiting for my operation - but the first release was on the 24th, followed up on the 26th with chapter two.

Though I won't cry if I can't. I do need to relax about all that, after all.

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, please feel free to let me know of any problems! Thank you, and goodnight.

Lastly:
Thank you both Kkat and Somber for both writing amazing stories that have inspired me to write. Without you two, there would be a massive hole in my world, and I don't know how I would've filled it otherwise. Thank you.