Fresh, crisp grass crunched under my hooves as I casually strolled along the riverbank, the running water sloshing against the sides as it rushed past me and out towards the lake.
Looking up to the skies, the most gentle blue filled my eyes as happy looking clouds gazed down upon us all without any risk of rain to ruin the beautiful day.
The world around me was just so fresh and wonderful, the sights and smells were soothing.

In the horizon, large emerald green hills rolled across the landscape, sloping into one another to create a beautiful see-saw effect as they went on and on, only Celestia knew how far they went for, though they looked utterly gorgeous from here. Standing under the shade, I couldn't think of anything more suited right now then to simply lay beneath the tree and enjoy the fresh air. I was in utter bliss, a truly care free happiness I'd not felt for some time now. It was all wonderful, too wonderful.

From above me, an apple fell from the tree, landing next to my hooves.
Scooping it up, I took a bite and tasted the juicy wonders of a clean apple.
Nothing but happiness and wonder filled my heart as I lazily lifted myself into the air and sat upon a low lying cloud, listening to the birds sing for all to hear.

Looking around me, I saw no cities, only a small village where ponies built modest homes, one even resembling a tree!
Down below me the grass was growing and up above the skies were unending, everything felt peaceful.
This life was sensationally magnificent, peaceful, absolute... but it wasn't real.
Sighing upon the realisation that this could only be a dream, I lowered my head in disappointment that it couldn't be reality.

With an expectant, sorrowful tone of voice, I asked the only question I could think of. "Eos, is that you poking in my head again?"
The fact I'd realised it was a dream meant it could have only been her, my dreams always seemed to end so abruptly if I had noticed i was dreaming. There was no audible response however, though the world slowly began to melt into a dark mess as it all faded away into nothing.

My eyes opened on their own accord, a sad looking Eos shying away from me as she blushed.
"I..." She began to stutter. "I just... I... wanted you... to."
"Shhhhh." I began. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm not mad. What did you want me to...?"
"I just wanted you to be happy." She blurted. "To make sure that you had nice dreams, for all that you've done for me. For letting me confide in you, for holding me when I needed someone I could give my trust to."

Shaking my head at the frightened mare, I gently wrapped my hoof around her neck and pulled her head back to me so I could embrace her properly. As I did, she nuzzled into me and I felt her powerful muscles relax.
"Thank you, Eos. It was a lovely dream, just not something I expected is all. Most of my nights have been without any recently, and when I do I usually have nightmares about Platinum still. If you ever do it again, I promise I'll just enjoy it, okay?"
With what almost sounded like a sniffle as she continued to melt into my physique, Eos nodded. "Okay. Do you want me to put you back there now?"

As lovely as the dream was however, the way my stomach felt was too much to want to sleep just yet, now the dream had been broken.
"Sorry Eos, I feel a bit of a stomach ache from all the alcohol. I hope you aren't offended."
Pulling her head back with a lot more confidence, she smiled at me.
"Of course I'm not. We did give you a lot to drink, after all. Do you want me to go?"
"No." I replied, a smile on my face too. "Stay here, you seem to really appreciate this and I'll admit, I'm quite fond of some lazy hugs myself."

Suddenly the large alicorn lifted herself from her position and lifted me with her magic before laying down on the sofa and placing me upon her so that her chest was my cushion and her wing my cover.
I had to admit, laying like this was indeed a wonderful, soft feeling and could understand why everypony was so desperate to lay with me in such a way.

Looking up at Eos, there was something I needed to ask though. "Eos?"
"Yes?" She replied, smiling down at me.
"Why did you take interest in me in the first place? Why do you continue to take interest in me, even now? What makes my happiness something of your concern, why the affection?"
In a moment of shock, horror filled Eos' face. In a tone of low self worth, she hurriedly began to speak.
"Is this a problem? Do you not enjoy the company or the care? Should I stop?"
Again with the nervousness, to which I just put my hoof upon her lips and watched her face soothe itself as I gently shook my head.

"No, no it isn't a problem. I do enjoy your company and your caring nature. I wouldn't dream of asking you to stop, as long as it makes you happy to do it and doesn't cause any issues. However, I do want to understand. I've never met you before this journey, yet almost as soon as I leave, I find you coming into my new apartment room during the night and giving me visions while I sleep, abstract dreams of what used to be and what has become. Then, when somepony tries to kill me, you act in my defence and return me to the hospital I was at? Even further, after I witness a trauma inducing experience, you're there to comfort me as if you were a close friend?"

Taking a breather, I continued to lightly press my hoof upon her lips.

"From the stories I have heard from many ponies, alicorns are... were, very stoic, never seeking friendship much less helping ponies emotionally. Sure, I have heard stories of alicorn protection from bandits and such, but never emotionally. I suppose this is to do with Unity or The Goddess, but why me? Surely it isn't my status as the future leader of Four Ridges or even that I'm a pegasus?"

Relieving my hoof from her lips, she smiled at me once more. "You are right, Crimson. This has nothing to do with being a pegasus, though your status as the future leader of Four Ridges did intrigue me."
Running her wing down the backs of my ears, I felt a wonderful sensation of pure bliss overwhelm me as she spoke, my tongue falling out to the side as she continued to stroke as my eyes rolled back.
"I took notice of you because of what you did, rather than who you are. I was actually staying in the very same room as you that first night that you came to the Commons. I was using it as a retreat to hide away in after the loss of our Goddess. I watched as you came to the village."
I quietly nodded, wondering how this was of importance.

"What was the first thing you do upon your arrival? You go and find the manticore that recently went wild and you tamed her once more, offering her friendship so pure that she chooses to follow you instead of returning to her home to stay! You then come back with her after Cherry had obviously been in a fight, and make sure she survives whatever had happened. Now, not even a day later you and Cherry blow up the side of a mountain for rocks, in which you rally up the entire village to build a fortification for them that goes around the whole place."

Looking at her in a completely blank way, I couldn't understand the importance. "They needed some form of protection, what else was I to do?"
"Exactly!" She almost shouted. "You immediately think of the safety and security of these ponies you'd never met before! Then you go and train them in gun safety and general usage and defend them from not just one threat, but two? Crimson, you used high explosive bombardment! Nopony whose nothing has high powered aerial delivered explosives! And defending the village from the DZC raid? That is why you're important to me, Crimson. You proved yourself to be perhaps the most generous buck I've met, not even Titan can quite match up to fortifying a village on a whim and then making it capable of defending itself... and then defending it with supreme firepower unlike anything I've seen before. When I read your mind, I saw that you would likely help us if you either could or had something repaid to you, but I couldn't tell what it was that you were after."

I blushed, was I really all that? I mean, surely that wasn't such a big deal? Four Ridges was able to give fire support, Coltshire Commons was a nice enough place and any resemblance of civilisation should be held dear and protected... the fortification of the Commons didn't exactly cost us a cap or anything...

"Even now, I can tell you are questioning the true worth of all that. The look on your face says it all, you saw it as nothing. Crimson, it wasn't nothing. You changed their lives, completely changed them."
"Yeah, and I also cost Dust Buckets a leg when he followed me. Changed his life forever, didn't I?"
"I have seen this in your memory, it was an accident and accidents happen. Your actions there ensured that not only did the Commons have security, but also something to trade, medical supplies and expertise. You breathed new life into Coltshire Commons."

"Okay," I replied. "so that answered why I'm important to you, what about my happiness? Why were you waiting for me in the apartment tower?"
"Do you think I would not follow you out of the Commons? Even if I hadn't, Titan was in Coltshire Town. He'd known about me leaving Coltchester and suggested the tower himself, seeing as he knew nopony used the structure. I followed you both, at a far distance behind. Far enough behind that I could just about see what was happening, but definitely not hear. That is why I was never involved in the fight with the ghouls, why I never saved the foals. I had no idea until it was all too late, I was more focused on what Titan was doing at the time, trying to decipher what was going on."

Sighing, I nuzzled against her further. "But you would have helped if you had known?"
"Of course, Crimson. I want to help everypony. If I had known what was going on down in the ruins of Old Coltchester, I would have rushed to your aid within a heartbeat. I'm sorry I couldn't do any better for you. When you stopped at the cottage, I spoke to Titan. He informed me of your painful experience and the plan to retrieve Maisy, and thus I flew to the apartment tower and waited for you, to speak to you."

"Okay, okay." I remarked. "So you've explained why me and all that, what about the affection though?"
Eos laid her head back as she considered what to say next, I just closed my eyes and waited for her response.
"Because without Unity, I feel lonely beyond understanding, Crimson. Before, I was connected to thousands of ponies whom I could communicate with at any time I wished, thousands. Now all I have is an ex-military bunker, of whom I only speak to my sisters, Titan and the medical crew. Of course, I've spoken to the others when we've made speeches, but never do we build a bond, Crimson. Titan worries for our safety, and thus will not allow many ponies around us. The medical crew have their jobs, meaning they are often busy. The other ponies fall under Titan's restrictions on their contact with us, for our own safety. You are the first pony I could enjoy the company of, truly."

Really? I found that hard to believe, what with the other two alicorns. "What of your sisters?" I asked as I brushed my hoof through her mane.
"My sisters? Myself and my sisters share our company, of course. Do not mistake my words for saying that we do not. It is just that we are all so accustomed to one another that it is as if we were one another, and perhaps we were, at one point."
Eos sighed again as she gave me a small smile before continuing.
"You however, are not them. Your kindness and open nature makes me feel at ease, your friendly smile making me wish to approach you on more of a personal level, than a purely business one. Aside from this, I am but a pony just like you, differences aside. Now The Goddess is gone, I had nopony to admire and relax with, until you offered me that luxury."

Now I could understand, I realised and appreciated her even more. "So, you're just wanting to feel normal? Cared about... wanted, perhaps?"
As fast as lightning, the mares cheeks turned a deep crimson comparable to my wings, an inaudible noise escaping her lips as she nodded nervously.
I couldn't blame her for what she did or why she did it, she hadn't hurt anypony. She just wanted to be cared for.

"Well," I felt the back of my throat choke up slightly as a grin came across my face. "if you want to feel cared about, I care about you. For the things you've done for me and the things you're doing for Coltchester, I can't help but admire and care about you. If all you ask is that somepony is there to hold you and make you feel appreciated, I'm sure that Cherry would understand if you came to me when you want to be embraced. It's not like that's cheating, right?"
The smile upon her face was immense and the kiss she gave me was so sudden that I couldn't even think about what was happening.

A split second later, she pulled away in a jolt and looked at me in horror of what she had just done. "Oh... Oh Trix- Oh! I'm so sorry!"
I just looked at her in pure confusion, as fast as the moment had begun it had ended and she was freaking out.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't... I...."
Before I could say a word, she was gone, rushing off towards her room.
Wondering what I should do, I decided against following her. I didn't want to upset her further, and no doubt she was too embarrassed by what she'd just allowed herself to do.
What would I do next time I saw her though? I didn't want to make her feel bad, but I was with Cherry now, and Cherry meant everything to me.

Before I could dwell on it any longer though, Titan came to my rescue by walking up to me.
"Come on, feathers. What did you do?"
"Feathers? Hey! I'm a pegasus, you can't say that to me!"
"Hey, you're the ghoul bigot, you're not gonna let me call you feathers for being a pegasus?"

Looking at Titan, I frowned. I frowned and frowned and frowned while staring at him so intensely I... couldn't help but burst out laughing at the end of it.
"Fine, you rotting sack of meat." I said between my fits of laughter. "Call me feathers all you like, I'm not really offended. You're just jealous I have them!"
"And you're jealous that I'm one of those ghouls who turned hard and crusty rather than soft and squidgy, otherwise you'd have so much fun threatening to beat me to mush, wouldn't you?"
A little chuckle came from both of us, but deep down inside I could tell that a small part of Titan meant what he'd just said.
Looking down at the ground below me, I couldn't help but feel a little bit bad.

"Okay Titan, I'm sorry, okay? I promise I'll try not to say anything to you, or even in front of you."
"Trying is the first part of doing, so yeah, okay kiddo. Now what's up? Why did Eos run into the room and start crying?"
"I... wait, what are you asking me for? Surely you should ask her?" I answered, flustered by his question.
"Nope, because she was laying with you until now. Why is it that she suddenly started crying?"
"I think I have to go speak to her again real quick, don't mind waiting here for a moment, do you?"
Titan nodded at me. "Go for it, see if you can't apologise or whatever. I don't like to see her so sad, you seemed to do so well at calming her down earlier."
I nodded back at him, intent on fixing the situation.

Knocking at her door, I received no response, only silence. I knocked again, only to hear her nervous sobs as she slithered on closer to it, slowly opening the door to me.
"What... what is it?" She wept. "Please don't tell me you're here to have a go at me."
I shook my head and lent in to her, giving her a soft kiss in return for the one she'd given me just moments ago.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she struggled to hold them back, though she looked confused she'd obviously enjoyed the moment.

"You..."
"I wanted to tell you that it's okay, but couldn't think of the words. So instead, I thought I'd return the gesture, but I can't do it again, I'm sorry. Cherry Sundae is my special somepony, and I know she wouldn't appreciate that level of affection. Cuddles? Sure. Kisses? Not so much."
"Then why kiss me just now?"
"I just didn't want you to be nervous or hate yourself for that first kiss. I enjoyed it, as sudden as it was, but I can't do it again."
With a sad little nod, she pulled me close and held me for a moment before looking at me tenderly.
"Thank you, Crimson. For tonight and for this, though I need some time to think."
"Sure. I'll go out and play with Titan or something, let you have some peace."

With that, she smiled at me as she slowly closed the door, her tears stopping as the last of them slid down her cheeks.
Poor mare, I really hated it when things like this happened.

"Come on Titan, grab whatever gear you want, we're going out for a stroll. I'm not in the mood to sleep right now and I promised Eos that we'd go out and play in the mud or something."
"Are you telling me what to do, Crimson?"
"Yup. Anything we can do outside at this time of night?"
"Thinking about it... yeah, there is. Just remember, I give the orders out here."
I smirked at him as he grunted in a mixture of amusement and distaste at my cocky attitude. "And I outrank you, captain. Listen to your higher-ups, or otherwise Lt. Colonel Wings will demote you, soldier."
It was then that we shared a laugh as we began to trot off to grab our gear.

As much of a nuisance as my cocky attitude could be to some people, it definitely made for some strong humour.
While Titan went back into the room to grab his gear, I made a quick divert to where Cherry and Sandstorm were sleeping.

Creeping into the room, I carefully made my way over to the bed. Cherry laid there, smiling as she slept, the quilt not quite covering her completely though. Noticing the slight chill in the air, I gently pulled the covering back over her and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek before whispering an 'I love you' into her ear.
Making sure Sandstorm was all tucked in too, I left the room, though as I left, I glanced back. Cherry's smile had grown ever so slightly larger, my own increasing in response.

Making our way out of the door, Titan waved at the guard as we left.
"Keep an ear our for any news, okay Dark Dew?"
"Got it boss, stay safe out there. You sure you'll be fine?"
Nodding my head, I flashed my shotgun and pistol at him. Titan saluted and the donkey saluted back.

Making our way across the alleyways, there was nopony in sight with some weird sounds off in the background, which led to me feeling confident enough to ask a question without worry of being overheard.
"So Titan," I casually started. "a donkey guard?"
Looking at me as we walked along, he showed no emotion, positive or negative.
"What of it?"
"I dunno. I just..."
"Assumed that this movement was only about ponies?"
"Well, somewhat, yeah. I mean, we have the odd donkey over in Four Ridges and even these two zebras, but they're two out of over a thousand residents, so as you can imagine."
"I know what you're getting at, you're not used to them as being common and therefore didn't expect them to play a big part, but they do here. You'll see, real soon. Zebras and donkeys have as much right being in the P.L.A.C as a pony."

I couldn't argue with that, not that I'd wanted to. Titan could tell I was purely curious rather than trying to be insulting about it, so he seemed pleased that I'd asked about it, almost as if it made him proud that no matter what, he stood up for everyone instead of picking sides.

Walking along, the sounds of ponies filled the streets, selling their wares and singing about how the day end brought hope for another pint down their throats in songs that carried no tune, only drunken slurs.
It was much to my amazement however, when it turned out not to be ponies, but instead, donkeys and zebras that were singing and selling.
Titan snickered as I stood in awe, I'd never seen so many of them in one place!

"Where... where did they all come from, Titan?"
"They come from the shanties to the north. 'During the day the ponies come out to play, during the night the zebras and donkeys come for the pint and fight.' Or so goes the old saying from here. The truth is less that they're after a fight and more that they simply prefer the night."
"Why is that though?" I couldn't get my head round it, why would they prefer the night so universally? I mean, I'd seen one or two zebras during the day, and we'd encountered the DZC troops, but by the amount of them here, it seemed that the zebras avoided the day almost.

Titan simply raised a hoof and pointed out towards the crowd. "When you look at them, what do you see?"
What did I see? I saw a bunch of zebras! "Uh, Titan?"
"Go on, what do you notice about them." His voice so casual, almost mockingly so.
Looking closer at them, I had noticed something. Their stripes blended in together, almost as if they were one.
"They... blend in well?"
"Exactly!" He almost shouted as he smiled at me. "They can move around without identification a lot easier at night. Now, I'm not saying that every zebra looks the same to me, I've put my old racism aside after all these years. However, it's a natural part of their genes. The lands they originate from are a lot more dangerous then any part of Equestria ever was, and so their bodies developed that natural camouflage to make them seem as one, so the threats would be less likely to attack."

Blinking in shock, I looked out as I realised just how much sense that made. I couldn't believe it was something so primitive, though that didn't quite explain it.
"There's more to it, isn't there?"
Titan nodded. "I never was big on zebra mythology, though they speak of a maiden of the stars and the stars being evil or something... which is strange, you'd think that makes them avoid the night, but for some reason, they seem to prefer it for it. Never did ask because I didn't want to get into a fight over it."
Again, that was something I could understand. He harboured old grudges that even when he'd let go of consciously, there had to be a part of him still that would always find it ridiculous and alien.

Stroking my chin thoughtfully, there was still something that eluded me. "Okay, what of the donkeys then? I can understand the zebras now, perhaps it's also to do with avoiding us ponies. What of the donkeys though?"
Titan dismissively shrugged as he continued onwards. "No clue. Some of them are close friends with the zebras, others prefer the night for their own reasons. Generally the donkeys are a split between day and night, though they stick out of the way during the day, usually working the mines down to the south."
Well, couldn't ask for a better explanation then that, I supposed.

"Let's go meet some of these zebra and donkey locals then, huh?" I asked in my happy mood, despite the way my stomach still felt like crap.
"Yeah, sounds like a plan. Perhaps we can find out some information on Pony Joe, too.... who knows, who knows."
With that, we headed towards the nearest street vendor.

[Song: Bob Marley - Three little birds]

As we came closer to the main marketplace the sound became louder, only now I recognised it not to be random noise, but music! A pair of zebras had been sitting in the middle of the market, one playing what looked to be brahmin skin hoof drums while the other sang a happy, laid back song about how everything was going to be okay.

"Every little thing is gonna be alright?" I muttered to myself.
"Well, what else would they sing?" Titan asked in return. "We're all going to die tomorrow so lets be sad?"
"Well, no. I mean, I don't expect them to sing depressing stuff... I just didn't expect them to be singing at all, you know?"
"What other entertainment is there in the wasteland?"
"Rum, mares, med-" I stopped there, realising what I was saying.
Titan raised his eyebrow at me though, obviously having caught my blunder. "What was that, Crimson?"
Immediately I thought of the only thing I could do, lie."Nothing."
"'Med'... go on. What was you going to say?"

Looking at the tall buck, I knew he wouldn't let this go until he'd gotten his answer.
"It really isn't important." I tried to tell him, hoping he'd drop it anyway.
"Oh, go on you big baby. You were gonna say something you aren't sure you should be enjoying, weren't you?"
"Not so much that, just..." I stumbled upon my own thoughts. For as charismatic and quick thinking as I was, even I could be tripped up from time to time.
"Just?"
"Only something I enjoy when the circumstance is... adequate. I'm not like the lowlifes you see just bumming around because of it."
"Med-x, right? I understand, the stuff is... soothing. Look, as long as you're not off your head while out here, as long as you don't risk anyone else's safety, you aren't my child so I wont scold you."

I couldn't help but feel a higher level of respect for Titan after he said that. "Understood, hadn't planned on it. Thanks, Titan."
"Hey, we all have our demons kid. Like I say, as long as you don't put anyone else at risk through it, pony or zebra, I've no room to berate you over it."

As our conversation ended, I noticed the two zebras move onto a new tune. This song was similar, but slightly different.
"Don't worry, be happy." I found myself joining along.
With that, the pair turned to me.
"Ah, what is this we see? Oh, but it is a pony!"
"Uh, hi?"
"Hello there pony, what brings you out during our twilight hour?"

Titan pulled a small bag of caps out and threw it to the pair, much to my confusion.
"Go on guys, let him be. We're here to have a walk around, make some more... friends, if we can. Mind telling us what you know?"
Within an instant the one whom was drumming rummaged his hooves through the bag before nodding to his friend.
"Okay, Titan." He began in a much more stern voice, a deeply serious tone about him. "What are you after? Whose missing? Or is it something else this time?"
"Old Pony Joe of the courier service and Blessed Cradle, an ex-DZC foal-sitter. Both were captured by DZC forces, apparently kept locked up at the moment. I want to know where."

Rubbing his hoof against his chin, the zebra nodded. "I'd heard about Old Pony Joe, not about this foal-sitter though. I don't know where they are, though I might be able to find out who does. You come back in a few hours, I'll have had them tracked down and see if they have any information for you. Be warned, they may have a charge of their own."
"Fine by me, I don't leave anyone behind, no matter the cost."
Smiling, the zebra nodded. "I remember, thank you. Oh, one more thing, DZC presence is heavy tonight, be careful."
"Thanks for the heads up Zared."

Moving along, Titan led the way. The roads were filled with zebras and donkeys selling their wares, which was somewhat surprising to me, having seen how things were the previous day.
However, I supposed it shouldn't have been such a shock. Everyone had to eat and drink, which meant that somepony or somezebra would have to sell those goods.

Approaching the stands, some of them had stuff I'd never expected to find being sold in a place so squalid.
Clean clothes from the past hung from stands that made sure they weren't even the slightest bit dirty, though dusty all the same.

"You after my vintage clothes, my good sir?" Somepony asked from behind me.
Turning my head to the pony out of respect, I found out they weren't a pony at all! A donkey stood proudly as she held up a hoof to point to the clothes racks. "While I may not have access to scavenge the best of what Coltchester can offer, I can offer you high quality vintage clothing! I know that sounds bad, not having the best, but it simply isn't something I can do without access to the north-east district."
"North-east district? What's there?"
"You must be new here... figures. The north-east is where our..." The donkey looked away in disgust before turning back and forcing a smile. "'Oh so lovely' leaders live... mostly, anyway."

So, the north-east was where their leaders lived? It seemed that we would have to make the time to have a little trip up that way some time soon, once I was healed up and we had Maisy back.

Pulling me back into the moment, the donkey smiled as she spoke to me, a genuine smile this time. "So, is there anything you like?"
"Two things, actually."
"Oh?" The smile on her face grew larger. "What might they be?"
"Number one, that dress there."
Pointing to the dress that hung on the end of the rack, the Jenny extremely pleased by my choice.
"Oooh! The fit and flare one? Oh how I do love the way these two greens blend into one another, an elegant yet demure piece. A gift for somepony perhaps?" She asked with a long note of compassion in her voice. "This is the type you'd see somepony wearing to a gala."
"Yeah, my marefriend. I reckon she deserves something nice, for all she's done for me. Deserves to be treated nicely anyway, she doesn't seem all that confident in her own worth."
"Well then, this sounds like it would suit her perfectly! I hope she loves it as much as I do."

Without anything more being said, she was already carefully taking the dress down and placing it into a protective cover... which truly amazed me. Protective covers for dresses in a place like this? I suppose they had to be kept clean somehow.
"Now, what else did you see that you liked?"
Smiling back at her, I looked around for a moment before leaning in and whispering. "Your attitude, both in general and towards the DZC. Are you interested in hearing more?"

For a moment she stepped back and looked at me, no longer with a smile covering her face, a hard look taking its place.
"You're new here, what do you know."
"I know of poorness and prosperity, of oppression and rebellion."
"Oppression of whom?"
"Everyone who isn't DZC affiliates."

Looking around, she nodded and let out a crack of a smile again. It seemed I'd passed her test.
"Well, I'm already with a group, I'm sorry."
"Not these Anarchists I've been told about by my marefriend, I wonder?"
"Those punks? No. They just want chaos."

Behind me, a rough voice spoke out. "The P.L.A.C. Hey there Deenice, how are things?"
Without a thought, I waved him off for being so rude as to interrupt. "Titan, I'm trying to convince-" ...wait, Titan?
"Convince her to join the cause? Good attitude but you're too late. She's with us already."
"Ah, very good Titan, thank you. Despite the DZC being so thick in the area, I've been unmolested. They're too busy looking for somepony right now, some pegasus or something."
"You're looking at him right now."
"I said pegasus."

I laughed as they spoke, pulling my garb off just enough to extend one of my wings.
The look of surprise amused Titan as much as it did myself! Oh how I loved being a pegasus.
"You're him, you really are, aren't you?"
"Yep, guilty as charged, hee hee!" I couldn't help but laugh at how surreal the situation was, I'd only come out for a walk!
"Well then, in that case, I owe you! I was going to charge you one hundred caps, but seeing as the DZC are a lot more interested in finding you then they are annoying me, I've been able to get along and sell my goods with ease. Tell you what, fifty caps and your marefriend gets this dress."
"Think you could take it to the HQ for me? I'll be out here for a while longer."
"Sixty caps and I'll do that now, deal?"
"Deal."

Getting a good bargain was something I absolutely loved. Sure, I could've asked for a lower price on the delivery, but something told me that getting near half of the price cut off and the dress taken to Cherry was as good as it was going to get.

"Oh, one last thing. Ask for a Cherry Sundae, it's for her. She'll be asleep right now so if you wouldn't mind, just leave it somewhere inside with a note or something. Thank you!"
"Perfer et obdura to you, pegasus."
"Crimson, and dolor hic tibi proderit olim to you."

Titan gave a small laugh as he smiled. "Well handled, Crimson."
"Thanks, Titan. Bargaining is my strong point."
Titan just facehooved at me before laughing more. "I meant the trying to convince her to join the cause, but that too. Got a good deal, better then I'd manage."
"Oh!" I laughed. "I just think we ought to get as many people to our cause as possible."
With that, we made off as Deenice packed up her stand and set off for the HQ.

Walking down the dusty road, I couldn't help but feel a little out of place. Titan showed none of this discomfort however, as he casually strolled on through, nodding to donkeys and zebras as we made our way.

"So." Titan began, pausing until he knew he had my attention. "Where would you like to head first? This is only the start of it all. There's the courier service station we could go to, though I doubt we'd find anything more than me and Cherry did earlier."
"Think we'd find anyone who has any idea what happened?" I asked back, shrugging as I did.
"Probably not."

Without any warning I fell to my side as a pair of soldiers pushed through us.
Picking myself off the ground I looked at the offenders, all dressed up in their DZC armour.
Titan shook his head in disgust but didn't say a thing, though I was sure going to.
Taking one look at me and the grin across my face, Titan knew what was going through my head.

"Don't do it Crimson."
"Stop me."
Facehooving, he grumbled. "Oh Celestia no."

"Hey, you!" I shouted, running over to the pair and routing them. "You got a problem?"
Dismissively the pair gave me a deadpan look as I blocked their path. "Huh? Get out of our way, pony."
The grin on my face grew larger as I lowered my face in an aggressive manner. "Oh, you want to make me get out of your way again?"
"Get out of our way pony." They'd said it again, only this time they had a definite tone of aggression in their voice as the other simply stood there, staring me down.
Leaning in, I smiled at them both as I whispered into their ears. "The Executioner doesn't like it when he's mistreated."
Their eyes widened as I pulled Forgiveness from my garb, glaring at them with intent.

Without a word between them, the zebras eyes widened in a mixture of fear and anger.
Out of instinct they both went to rear up in an attempt either to pull away from me or attack, but before either of them could do a thing I was already lunging forwards at the one on the left, slashing into his throat with my blade.
Blood came gushing out of the wound as the zebra fell to the floor, his armour clattering as it crashed, his body falling limp. The first of the two zebras were already dead, half of the job done.

Less than a moment later, the other zebra struck me as hard as he could, knocking the blade from my mouth out onto the floor, a slight moment of being dazed taking over me.
Taking the chance, the zebra stuck another two times, knocking me back but not off my feet.

He screamed as he backed up to buck me. "You'll pay for that, pony!"
Noticing the urgency of the moment, I dropped down to my hooves and the kick went high.
The zebra unsteadily landed on his hooves, put off balance by missing his target. Now was the perfect chance to strike.
Without a moments pause, I headbutted straight into the opponent's groin, making him fall onto his face in agony of the sudden blow to the sensitive part.
Now it was my turn to strike back, turning around and bucking him with lightning speed, knocking his hind legs out an causing him to cry out in further pain.

Titan stood at the side the whole time, not doing a thing to help nor hinder. I wondered why that might be, but there was no time to be distracted right now, there was still a zebra to handle.
With a moment spent recomposing myself, I calmly walked over to Forgiveness and picked it back up, sliding it back into the makeshift holster I'd make in my garb.
Stepping over the body of the dead zebra, I make my way back to the one who laid there, wincing in pain.

Kicking him to his side, I lowered my head and looked him in the eyes as I spoke.

"You, zebra." There was no malice in my voice now. No hate nor disdain, just calmness.
He didn't respond, so I kicked him again, only gently this time however.
"Zebra, speak. I might offer you something if you do."
Slowly he looked back at me as he whimpered. The pain and hate was obvious in his eyes, but even more prevalent was his fear. With a shaken voice, he spoke. "What?"
"Do you wish to live another day? To see the end of this night?"
The frightened zebra nodded slowly, his lips trembling with terror as I pushed down firmly on his neck with a hoof.
"You will go back to your unit. You will tell them what happened here, how I bested you both in a fight. You will tell them that 'The Executioner' walks these streets, searching out those who would uphold oppression. You tell them what I did, and what I'm about to do to you. You will live, but I am going to leave you a mark of my mercy, a shorthand of justice. Try not to flinch, you'll only take an eye out or worse if you do."

The zebra gulped and held his eyes shut tight as I pulled the knife back from my clothing, and gently skimmed it down one of his cheeks. The sharpness of the blade drew a speck of blood, but I hadn't cut him deeply..
To my surprise and his courage, the zebra didn't move in the slightest as I made my motion. When I pulled the knife away from his face, he opened his eye in confusion as I grinned.

Putting the blade away, I helped him off the floor and gave him a stern look that told him I would finish him off were he to even think of betraying what little trust I had given to him to carry out my orders without trying anything stupid first.

"See that?" I began. "That was me being merciful. I could've cut your eye out, I could've cut you deeply. Instead, you get off with the tiniest of cuts. Let this be a lesson to you, you don't fuck with The Executioner. You got that?"
Giving me a look of horror, disgust and respect all in one, he ran like his life depended on it. To be fair to him, it had.

Titan just shook his head at me as he spoke. "What was that all about Crimson? Why let him live and reveal all these details he now has on you? Hell, he no doubt saw me, what if he makes the connection?"
"If he makes the connection, I'll have to hand him his dues for remembering someone who had no part in the fight. With what just happened, he'll be left more traumatised by what I just did than what you didn't do."
"Exactly!" Titan shouted. "Why? In the name of mercy? How was that mercy?"
"Why? You of all ponies should know the effect of demoralising the enemy force, to make the enemy see you as some kind of demon. It makes them question their will to fight, weakens the enemies power base. As for doing it in the name of mercy? He lives, does he not?"

Titan went to object, but I shook my head and raised a hoof before he could speak.
"He lives. I may have left a mark, but I made sure it was only a shallow cut. He will tell his unit now of what I do and they will be angry but also frightened for their own lives... and faces."
"I just..." Titan interjected, before taking a moments pause to consider his words. "I just think your method was... ruthless. How do you think your people would react if you did this to them?"
"I wouldn't do it to them, nor do I intend to ever control Coltchester. I am ruthless for the sake of necessity, Titan, not because I enjoy it."
Titan's voice was agitated now, confused on how any of what I'd said made sense. "How is it necessity?!"
"It's necessity to weaken the DZC as fast as possible, to crush them so you might lead me to the water talisman. Remember, I have over a thousand ponies to look after, getting to my goal as fast as possible is necessity. The longer we stick around here tip toeing around methods that truly demoralise and weaken the enemy, the less time I have to save all of those ponies. Okay?"

Titan gave me a questioning, almost dirty look as he took what I'd said in. "Are you saying your ends justify the means, Crimson?"
"When the ends are protecting my people, providing them what they need. When the means are taking down a force of oppression so a greater good may take over? Yes. My methods may be ruthless, brash and otherwise unjust, but right now, my ends justify my means. The needs of the many must always outweigh the needs of the few, and the few in this case is the DZC soldiers whom I may harm, scar or kill."

Once more Titan went quiet, looking in all different directions as he thought over what I'd just said. It was obvious by the look on his face, he hadn't liked what I'd just told him, he hadn't been behind it or approved of it.
Deep down though? Deep down he understood, deep down he knew I was right.
Deep down, he knew there was no other way.

About half an hour had passed and already, the streets were thick with DZC soldiers. Donkeys, zebras and even the occasional pony dressed in their varying armours patrolled the streets, looking for signs of further violence and danger.

"Titan!" A voice called out from behind us, the sounds of rapid hoofsteps following up on the clatter.
In response, Titan turned his head and smiled. "Surefire. Glad to see you around."
"Titan, you have to come back to base, there's too many of them out here!" The orange pony exclaimed before calming himself down. "I mean... one minute there was only so many of them, then all of a sudden it seems like their whole force for this area is on high alert."
Titan gestured to me with a hoof before agreeing. "It is. He set them off, on purpose no less."

The orange pony looked at me with a face of utter bewilderment. "Why... why on Equestria would you do THAT?"
His body language told me he was extremely agitated by this news, though I didn't worry.
"Because they pushed me over."
He looked at me, then at Titan, then at me, and back at Titan once more. "He... is he serious?"
Titan groaned. "Unfortunately, yes."
Looking back at me, he threw his front legs into the air for a moment in disbelief. "You fucked them all of because they pushed you over? Why? How even!?"

Smirking away, I couldn't help but let out a little chuckle. "You don't fuck with The Executioner and get away with it. I fucked them over, took one down and left the other alive to go spread the message of how I won't tolerate the DZC."
"Wait... you mean, you're the one who came along and made such a big impact so suddenly?"
"Yeah, suppose I am. Like I say, I don't take shit from the DZC and that got me a name for myself. I'm here to do a job, to find something and helping your revolution will get me that something, so I'm making sure they know I'm here to do business and either get out of my way or get into the ground."

Surefire rolled his eyes at me before looking back to Titan. "You coming back to base then or are you staying out here, sir?"
"At ease, Surefire." Titan remarked. "I'll be hanging out with Crimson around the streets a little while longer. Someone we need to see, try to find someone else."
"Would you like me to corral up a group of three or so to shadow you, in case the reckless one causes another fight?"
I looked at him. Me, reckless? Never...
"Normally, I'd say go ahead. Tonight? no. Too many enemies about, too much risk. We'll be fine. Carry on as you were."
Surefire didn't say anything more, instead he gave Titan a salute before trotting off.

"Good call there, Titan." I quipped.
"Huh? You saying it was a bad move?"
"No, really, good call. Too many of us would draw too much attention. Besides, if anything happens, I can handle myself and fly away if needed. You avoid anything you don't have to do, okay? I understand what it's like, putting others before yourself."
"I would say that I find that hard to believe, Crimson. Saying that though, you are out here after all, so I suppose you have a point."

Titan looked out at the traders that lined the street ahead. "Feel like getting to meet the locals some more?"
"Sure, why not."

Most of the traders in the street didn't have much to say to us. Some of them refused to even acknowledge us based purely on the fact we were ponies, others because they simply had too many customers to deal with our idle chatter. The latter of the two I couldn't blame, though I found those of the former to be very disrespectful. Still, guess I had no right to complain.
As we went up and down, we heard one merchant in particular shouting about the winged devil, I just looked at Titan and laughed, needing to hear the news about me.

"...comes during the night, and takes all of your stock! Be warned! Be wary of the winged devil!"
Takes all of your stock? Okay, perhaps it wasn't me. Now I was truly curious.
"Excuse me my good sir."
"Beware!" He shouted back at me, his black and white mane flying everywhere as he threw his hooves about.
"Ahem. Excuse me, sir."
"Beware!" He shouted again, really annoying me now. I lifted a hoof and banged it on his table, startling him from his routine.
"Excuse me, but what is it that's going on here?"

Finally the zebra looked at me before talking to me, rather than at the crowd as a whole.
"The winged devil... it came during the night, while I was preparing my store! I was to sell meat, but now have nothing!"
"Winged?"
"Yes! Winged!" He exclaimed. "For you see, I was in my home when it snatched the bodies from the hanging line where I gut and bleed dry the carcasses. There is only one way into this area other than through my home, and that is from the air!"

Raising my hooves to cover my ears a moment I gave a shake of my head, the volume of his voice was really making my headache I'd received from that last fight a whole lot worse.
"Look. Shut the hell up with that volume for one, and did you see what the perp looked like? Pony? Zebra? Something else?"
"Oh. I'm sorry. Yes, I did."
I looked at the loudmouth in glee, now my head felt some level of peace again.
"It was not a equine of any kind, this I am sure. Wings of red and coat of sand, tail of a stinger and a noise I did not understand."
"Sounds like Maisy." Titan noted.
I couldn't help but agree. "Yup, sounds just like her indeed."

The zebra looked at us both before shaking his head dismissively. "It doesn't matter, a price on the head of this beast is two hundred caps."
Raising on eyebrow at him, I scoffed. "It'd take more than two hundred caps worth of ammo to take her down unless you got lucky, for starters. On top of that, she's mine, as in, my pet. Anyone who raises their weapon to her has to go through me first."
"You couldn't possibly say such a thing! It is a beast!" The zebra shouted again, agitating me further.

I took a deep breath and stepped back as Titan stepped forward.
His response was to open with a slur. "Look, stripe. That pony there? Just got through a fight with two fuckers far tougher than you, by himself no less. Maisy is his pet and he's serious. We'll do our best to find her and make sure she doesn't do anything like this again, but don't make threats when you have no clue how far they'll be taken, got it?"
The zebra spat at the ground in our direction and muttered a 'likewise' at us before I had to walk away.
Any more of his crap and I'd have ended up in yet another fight, this time with a civilian though.

We continued our stroll, away from the merchants as to avoid suspicion and to get away from the zebra who'd pressed my tolerance levels further than was safe.
It wasn't long until a zebra stopped us in the street.
"Titan! Titan!" He called.
We both turned around, I was amazed at how many ponies and zebras knew Titan.

As we did, Titan showed signs of recognition of the zebra who casually approached us at just above trotting speed. Though I had no clue whom it was, something had seemed strangely familiar about them.
"Zared? Hey."
Ah, of course, the zebra who Titan had paid earlier! Now I realised why I'd thought I'd seen him before.
"You two have a meeting in five minutes, down the alley over there. The contact won't reveal himself unless you are both waiting before the time comes, he's a very paranoid pony."
"Outright paranoid or just nervous?"
"Paranoid but calm. Can't blame him with what he's known in the past. Anyway, you best go wait for him now."
"Thanks, Zared. You're a real help."

And so, we waited. We'd been waiting for over five minutes in the alleyway that Zared had told us about, but nopony came.
Me and Titan began playing a few games of naughts and crosses in the dirt, neither of us having much advantage over the other, though I had won eight times to his six.
Suddenly, a rustling from the rooftops above caught my attention, causing me to raise my head to see what it was.
The shimmer of a blade sparkled against the candlelight of surrounding buildings before he dropped down before us, a pony dressed in all black with a slightly curved sword caressed against his back.

"You must be the two I'm waiting for, judging by the fact you haven't moved for the last ten minutes."
"We were told five, you're late." I replied.
"Can never be too careful in my line of work, Executioner. I had to be confident you were the right ones."
I looked at the pony, none of his coat was visible, only his eyes. He was one shady character, indeed.
"How do you know me, mystery buck?"
"I know a lot of people and a lot of things, it's what I do. It's not important how, but it is important why. You're after my services, you two, yes?"
Myself and Titan nodded in unison.

"Well then, there are two requirements. First, there is a spy in the area. All work for the DZC, I want them gone before I give you any information. Secondly, I want you to reconfirm who you're trying to find. I've been told of the targets, but I need to be sure."
"Can you guide us to the spy?"
"No, unfortunately not. All I know is they're posing as a merchant, but I have no clue who they are. It does not matter how they are dispatched, just make sure they're gone. Word is, they're after me, and you. That can't be allowed."

I smiled at him, I had an idea who it might've been. "I may know who that is, I'll try find out. Now, the names of our friends, right? Old Pony Joe and Blessed Cradle."
The buck nodded. "I will find you when the job is done."
With that, he jumped up onto one of the walls and onto the next, climbing with expert skill. Within moments, he was gone from sight and we had a new objective.

Walking up to the third merchant, we let them deal with their customer before talking.
"So, you uh... on hard times right now?" I asked innocently, trying to make it sound like I cared for more then one reason.
"Yes, but not more then usual. I do what I can. Thankfully the DZC has been too interested in finding and capturing that pegasus, leaving me to my job."
"You with any... dissenter movement?"
The zebra stepped back in alarm at how casually I'd say it before looking around. "The ZUC have contacted me... but I don't feel it's wise to meddle in such affairs."
"Sorry to keep you from your work, then. Have a good day."
"You too, pony." he replied before we stepped away.

Damn, this search was damn annoying. I knew who my prime suspect was but Titan was insistent we tried other vendors first, though something still didn't seem right about that zebra before.

Speaking to the next vendor, we got much the same. Donkeys and zebra alike were just busy selling their wares, some had recognised Titan and greeted him happily while others had tipped their metaphorical hats towards the ZUC and Anarchists, though as the time went on and merchants ran low, I still had my doubts on the authenticity of the one zebra from earlier who had made my headache worse.

Just as we approached the next vendor, a certain zebra approached us. I could only tell who it was because the annoying tone of voice that had earlier given me a headache... it was him.

"Hello there, speaking to vendors are we? I see you aren't buying any wares, however."
"Screw off before I get another headache and thump you." I muttered under my breath, not even looking his way.
"Oh, pony. You're willing to thump me? I don't think my friends would like it too much... Executioner."
Turning around, I smiled at him. He was a terrible spy, revealing himself so easily. Slowly the smirk fell off his face though as he saw just how happy I was to see him.
Looking over his shoulder, I saw no DZC soldiers within sight. I decided to take my chance and lean closer to him.

"Executioner? Huh, never heard myself being called that before. New one to me."
"Don't lie, pony. I've had a visit from somezebra that pointed you out... and now, you've been pointed out to the rest. I wouldn't normally be so reckless as to do this... but I wanted to watch your face when this happens."

From the sideline, eight zebras stepped out of the crowd, all wearing light leather armour that didn't quite match the usual gear they wore.
Looking back at Titan, I gestured for him to run along and get away as the zebras slowly made their way over to me.
Instead of complying however, he just dug his hooves into the ground and lowered his head in anticipation.

The air was tense, filled with an electric that threatened to set the whole street off in explosions, both metaphorical and quite literal, almost. Looking up to the sky, I saw the clouds swirling in a pattern that comforted me. I was going to enjoy this.
Putting one hoof in front of me, I held the zebra spy at range as the grin ran across my face.

"RAIN!" I shouted, and within a moment, it began to rain. At first it was only spitting, though within moments a true downpour began to wash down upon us, making almost all of the people flee for cover.
Titan muttered something inaudible under his breath, but that didn't matter. What mattered was I had my rain, my natural prowess at forecasting the weather spot on as always.

"MAISY!" I called out, hoping she might be nearby.... then it started.
The spy charged toward me, though Titan immediately ran straight into his side, sending them both thudding down into the ground nearby.
With the street clear, one of the zebra soldiers advanced on my position with a spear in his mouth ready to slash at me, but I wasn't going to give him the chance.
Reflexively I hit into S.A.T.S and lined up a chance to use my shotgun. Coming back out, the movement was as clean and easy as I had planned it, the spray blasting into his face.
Bits of gore showered the street and zebras behind as his skull caved in from the force of the pellets.

The remaining civilians in the street fled into the buildings surrounding, now not only was the rain a deterrent but a fight had broken out and no-one wanted to be caught by the crossfire. That didn't matter to me though, I was glad that they were out of the way. Less innocents to worry about getting hurt, after all.

At once, two more zebras stormed from their position in unison with a third not far behind, things were going to get tricky.

Titan was busy having a hoof to hoof fight with the spy he'd knocked over, both trading blows with a deadly precision, winding one another each and every time. Activating S.A.T.S again, I lined up my first shot to cripple the legs of the zebra fighting Titan and the second and third aiming at the general mass of the oncoming zebras. Coming back out of S.A.T.S, I was ready once more.

"CHARGE THE BASTARD!" One of the assailants screamed just a moment before my shot rang, blowing out one of the original zebras legs out from under him, shredding it apart as he fell to the floor screaming in sudden pain.
Twisting around to take my other shots, the enemies rushing me had covered the distance a lot faster then I had expected them to be capable of, and only managed to get the first shot off into the chest of the closest of the two before he smashed into me with his whole body, yelping in pain as a few pellets tore into his neck and the rest pierced through his light armour.

The shotgun was knocked from out of my mouth as I was thrown to the floor by the weight of the oncoming zebra in the sudden attack, losing my best method of defence against the second.
As soon as I landed, a set of hooves stamped on my hind legs and I cried out in pain, causing me to flinch upwards and headbutt the smartass who thought it was a good idea to attack me in the firstplace.
My muzzle collided into his neck, causing him to step back as his eyes went wide from the sudden blow, leaving him unable to breathe properly.

Before I knew a thing, five more zebras stood over me, all anxious to beat the living shit out of me and most likely kill me there and then, given the chance. I wasn't going to give them that opportunity, however.
Biting onto the handle of Forgiveness, I slashed upwards at the first hoof that came in my direction, cleanly cutting the base in a horizontal line.
Blood gushed from the wound as the zebra crumpled under the sudden injury, allowing me a moment to roll out of the way and pick myself back off the floor... to find myself backed against a wall.

Titan began to fire my shotgun into enemies I couldn't see, though they definitely weren't the ones surrounding me right now. One by one they lunged at me with vicious blows that knocked the wind out of me once more if they hit, smashing against the weakened walls and causing small cracking sounds if they missed.
I tried to use S.A.T.S once more, but instead I found myself unable to as it still recharged.

Without S.A.T.S, there was only one thing I could do... I raised my leg and covered my face with my pipbuck as the blows rolled in, knocking me back down to the floor. I was very thankful that none of the other soldiers had been armed at this point, though even without weapons the zebras proved to be highly dangerous with their unarmed combat skills.
Blow by blow I felt myself weakened, my shoulders taking hits and what felt like blood running from down them.

"MAISY!!!" I cried out as loud as I could, though I still questioned if she was within earshot. I really needed my helmet right now, how much it would've helped to have my full armour.
Titan smashed into the side of my attackers with his hind legs, throwing three off course in one go.
The other two zebras turned to look at him, at which point I took the chance to pull out my pistol and raise it to the side of his head.

The cold steel press upon his temple made the zebra shake just moments before fragments of bone went flying out, spraying blood all over the road and partially onto the wall of the opposite building, the lifeless body fallen limp down onto the dirt as the rain already began to dilute the redness of the floor into something less.
The last zebra smashed Titan around the face before he could react and another twelve arrived.

Shit, this was no good. We were heavily outnumbered and losing this fight if they were going to keep doing this.
All at once they charged us, though this time they were properly equipped and in their normal armour, all of them using knives, swords or spears.

Once more I tried my best to pick myself off the floor and began shooting at them, dropping two and wounding another three. As they arrived, only a quick roll dodged the spear that tried to stab into me as Titan continued to blast into them with the shotgun until the chamber clicked on empty.

"CRIMSON, EMPTY!" He yelled at me.
"TITAN, BUSY!" I yelled back, I had no time to give him a reload. Firing the last of my shots, I wounded another two before finding my own magazine to be emptied.

"MAISY!" I called out once more, and to my utter surprise, a roar followed. It sounded too far away though, she'd have to find us... it would be too late.
In my moment of distraction, I missed the sight of a spear lunging at me, piercing through my robes and into my side.
My eyes shot wide from the pain, a gasp for breath was my only reaction as I fell to the floor.
The pain burned in my side, though it felt more of a skimming blow than a vital one, it still brought me out of focus as the blows landed on my head.

Laying there, the zebras took turns in kicking me from side to side. One blow hit the side of my head and slightly blurred my vision, though I couldn't be sure if that was from blood loss or the head damage.
I tried to fight back, but it was useless, I was surrounded with no ammo left in my pistol.
From what I could see of Titan through the gaps between the hooves of the zebras, he was being beaten by four donkeys as they surrounded him though he put up a good fight, it was obvious they were overpowering him.

No! This was not going to be how it went! I grabbed my knife once more and tried my hardest to lunge at the zebras surrounding me. Getting a lucky hit, the knife dug itself into the chest of one of the zebras and caused him to step back, eyes wide as his blood slowly poured out of his mouth and from the blade itself. He fell down as I was kicked to the floor once more, a new rage filling the zebras.

Like sweet music, I heard Maisy roar again, closer but still too far. I tried my best to cry out to her, but I found it hard to breathe, let alone speak or shout with the pain I was enduring. Everything felt heavy now, though I had to resist! Resist damn it!
The burning, aching sensation filled my whole body now, almost unbearably so. If I somehow made it out of this, I was going to make sure that every single one of these fuckers got what they deserved.

Then they stopped. Abruptly they just stopped as my ears rang, two of them dropped to the floor, limp.
They'd died from something, though I couldn't tell what.

Looking out in the direction they now ran, one donkey, one zebra and one unicorn stood with their weapons aimed at the zebra forces before charging towards them.

"FOR ANARCHY!" The donkey cried, though his battlecry was short lived. Before he could make another movement, a spear made its way through the back of his skull and out from between his eyes, the body falling onto its side as if it was in slow motion.
The other two looked at one another as a loud click sound rang, the pair of them jumping out of the way as they were surrounded by another four zebras and a donkey from behind.

The ground exploded, taking the both the anarchist and DZC donkey's and three of the DZC zebras with it, filling the area with a green and red smoke.
The unicorn charged at the four donkeys still fighting with Titan only to be stabbed upon the armour of one as he lunged at the oncoming pony. The spike on the heavy armour slicing through the throat of the grey unicorn and dropping him down to the floor in a new puddle of blood.

This was it... it really was lost.
There was no way we could win now... no way to pull this back.

Titan was knocked down to the floor, the donkeys about to finish him off. Then they would return their attention to me, and take my life...
I closed my eyes and began to cry, less from the physical pain I felt and more from the mental anguish of knowing I'd failed, of knowing I wasn't strong or tough enough... that I had cost us everything. My tears stung my eyes and blurred my vision even further until I could only make out colours, I was surely going to die like this... like a coward.

...Then she roared.

Opening up my eyes, she was a beautiful sight.
Maisy stood over me, looking down at me sorrowfully before turning her head towards the donkeys attacking Titan.
All at once they charged her, though her powerful claws practically laughed at them as she threw them to a side, one by one.
As fast as lightning, she was over to the first who'd she'd knocked down, picking him up in both of her paws before tearing him into two, his guts falling out into the road.

The second screamed in horror as she made her way over to him with the same speed and determination, only silenced when she crushed his skull with a powerful blow.

By now the other two had gotten themselves up and were charging at her along with the zebras who had been wounded previously, but she showed little care. One furious swipe and the head came off of the third donkey. Picking up the fourth, she threw him at the oncoming attackers, incapacitating him and one of the zebras.

Before anything else could be done, one of the zebras fell into two halves, before another fell to the ground, missing its legs.
I stared at Maisy, though she wasn't the cause. She looked at the crowd of zebras who were suddenly dying with as much confusion as they had as the third, fourth and final zebras died within mere seconds.

Another two zebras came charging at Maisy from behind her as she watched, one stabbing his knife into her leg as she turned to bite the head off the other, her cry of pain only furthering her anger as she knocked the second zebra down and killed him with a single punch from her powerful right arm.
With another cry of pain, she pulled the knife out of her side using her own teeth before flinging it off to a side and picking me up in her paws.

"You... you came for me girl?" I stuttered breathlessly, finding it hard to do anything.
Her whine as she licked me all over and pulled me close to her chest and wiped my tears away which was supremely comforting, she still wanted me safe even after being gone for a few days. I couldn't have asked for a better friend out of her.
Putting me onto her back, she walked over to Titan and helped him onto his own hooves. Amazingly, he was still able to stand, though even as he stood it was obvious that he would have trouble walking.
In any case, he came out of it a lot better then I had, all the same.

Slowly the cause of all the other killings became apparent as the pony with the katana walked up towards us. Maisy was unsure what to do, but from the lack of any of us showing aggressiveness and the fact he'd just made her job easier, she knew he must've been somewhat friendly.

"Sorry I couldn't help sooner, this bloodbath could've gone on longer if it wasn't for me making sure none of the others came though. Look, we don't have enough time to talk, the distraction is only going to last so long before they come here and find all this. Where is your base?"

Titan looked at the buck dressed in black from mane to hoof and coughed up some blood from the sounds of it before speaking.
"Your name, first. Then we'll go to our base, as we talk."
"Neon."
"Titan. That's Crimson and she's Maisy. This way."
"One last thing, first."
Titan's response to that was to snap. "ONE LAST THING? WHAT NOW?"

The buck stepped back before pulling out something made of glass from his bag. "Drink up, you both look like you need it."
Titan fell onto his ass and apologised before downing his potion while Neon climbed up onto Maisy and gave me mine.
I hadn't felt completely fine from it, though what was absolute agony had begun to calm down and simply be a very uncomfortable sensation of simple pain.

In one last act before we went, Titan had the brilliant idea of picking up all my gear for me. There really was no way I was going to be able to find it myself, let alone carry it when I was in a state like this.
"Thanks, Titan." I gestured blindly as he did so.
"Hey, I ain't gonna let them have your gear. Thanks for letting me use your shotgun, by the way."
"Just wish it had been more use."
I tried to laugh at this, but it hurt too much and instead I found myself coughing up a spot of blood with the effort. Laughing was off the cards for now.

Maisy carried me and Neon walked beside Titan as he hobbled towards the base.
Staying true to his word, Neon told us what he knew.
"Blessed Cradle and Pony Joe are still alive. They're being kept prisoner." He started.
"We know that," Titan replied. "what we need to know is where and how guarded."
"Where? Central district at the west barracks in the old military base. How guarded? Surprisingly lightly, right now. Seems they'd rather have guards posted over in this section than at the base itself."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Seen it for my own two eyes on the guards and heard it from the most reliable source I have for the location. They're there."
"You're a middle-pony?"
"No, a spy. Spies use other spies as a network. It's how we know so much. Trust me, okay? They're there, along with other prisoners."

Titan sighed. "Yeah, I feared as much. They're probably doing it because all the activity as of late."
"All the more reason..." I croaked. "To kick their ass."
I closed my eyes at this point, just waiting for the journey to be over. It wasn't a long one from here, but it felt like it was taking forever already.

As we reached the base, Neon parted.
"You're not going to come with us?" Titan asked.
"No, jobs to do, ponies to meet. I have my obligations, though I swear by my flesh and blood, I serve the same cause as you. I may not be a part of the PLAC, but I know all about you and your cause, Titan. Much the same with the ZUC and Anarchists... it's how I organised for such a smooth get away from that scene. Your hideout won't be revealed, I give you my word."
Without anything more being said, Neon ran off into the distance before jumping up onto a low wall, scaling the next and over something else. He definitely had talent, had to give him that.

Entering the base, the door keeper initially freaked out over Maisy, but the presence of Titan made it all better. I was surprised she fit in through the halls like she did, but it almost seemed as if they were made to be big enough for a manticore like her.

Making our way down the hallway, I heard Cherry's voice calling out for me, asking if it was us who had just come back.
Maisy put me down and I began to stumble down the hallway on my own accord as she stayed close behind me, making sure I didn't lose my balance.
Turning around the corner, I saw her head poking from out of the doorway. Her beaming smile turned to one of absolute horror the moment she saw me however...

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/ !

So, longest chapter I've written to date with a whopping 13,127 words before the credits! With credits? Whatever it shows up as.
There is, without a doubt, flaws in the writing both in terms of grammar and story, in the second half of this chapter... okay, in my whole chapter... no, in my whole story.
Yes, there is flaws in my whole story and I have no clue why you lot still read it.

...But you do! and I love you all for it.
Seriously, it means a lot to me that you do.

I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to write, as always. I worked hard on this chapter today (1st Oct... well, 2nd technically, my time now!) adding a good 7k words in one sitting.
Yes, in one sitting, with distractions galore, I wrote you all 7k words.

So I apologise for how low quality the writing is. I apologise it's probably lacking in the fight scene and I've probably OP'd Maisy again -- but that's what she is, OP in terms of strength & endurance.

Anyway, enough idle chatter. Thank you all for reading, it DOES mean the world to me. Chapter 15 was my original "end of story" goal but as I began writing, it's gotten longer and longer, changed so much and I never expected any kind of fanbase.
I'm surprised each and every time I look at how many of you there are, how many views there's been. You're wonderful.
Thank you for giving me this chance, especially since it's my first time writing ANYTHING (outside of school projects back in the day, of course.)

I hope you all have a wonderful night, I hope this chapters been good enough for you and I wish you all happy times.
If anyone is interested in seeing art, I'd like to take a moment to remind you that the art tumblr & ask Crimson/Cherry (all in one) link is in the description if you're at all interested in seeing / asking.

Lastly, a huge thank you to Kkat for writing Fallout Equestria in the first place and an even bigger thank you to Somber for writing Project Horizons - which helped me through a lot and inspired me to write my own story, even if I know I could never even begin to stand in his shadow.

Goodnight all, this is Kippershy, signing out.