Through the darkness there was only pain, my body feeling the burning ache I had never known before.
My breath feeling heavy and laboured, there was something bad that had happened, I just couldn't remember what.
I laid like that for what felt like hours, trying my best to resist the heat emanating from my leg that crept up my spine, that sickening feeling that told me my body was broken.

Sounds from the area around me drew my attention, conversations were being had and someone was moving about freely while others had a strange pace that gave off the impression that they weren't even trying to go anywhere... as if they were simply moving for the sake of moving. To stir my curiosity further, their movements were all short lived and within the same area.
Finally, this was what prompted me to open my eyes, to see the world around me as it had now become.

Beige. Beige was the first thing I saw, the only thing I could see.
Beige covered the walls around me, or at the very least, what I suspected to be walls. Looking up, the ceiling was beige too. Looking down, there was no difference.
Slowly however, my vision became clearer and I began to notice details that my blurry eyes had been unable to pick up on before.
Kinking my neck to see behind myself I saw something different, a door! A door of solid steel that was grey in colour stood in my path, blocking my movement before I could even attempt to do so. Even with it blocking my path, I was thankful that it wasn't beige at least.

It was a good minute before I could see clearly again, but now I could see I recognised where I was, even if I'd never been here before. I was imprisoned.
The walls around me bore the marks of ponies who'd come before me, their scratchings on the wall about 'zebra count', 'lost ones' and 'total fuck ups from some cunt in Canterlot' bore heavy on the wall. None of them made any sense to me, though I guessed that from the Canterlot comment they must have been from the old war.

Using all the strength I could muster, I brought my forelegs down solidly onto the ground below me, pushing my chest up.
I wobbled as I tried but felt stable enough for the next step, ready to see how well I could move. Putting my rear legs against the floor I began to push, only to fall back down crying out in agony not even a second later.

Upon catching my breath after the pain and having lost the urge to throw up from the sheer sensation, I spoke to myself aloud as if it made any difference to do so. "Why... why can't I get up?"
Looking around, there was nothing above me that would prevent me. There was no wires, no obstructions, no hooves to kick me back down. That was when I remembered what had happened moments before passing out.
Looking down at my left rear leg, I could see it was heavily bandaged.
Touching the bandaging with my magic, I could feel a small rigid outline within the bandaging itself.

Upon taking a moment to think about it, I realised I must have broken my leg during my attempt to get out of the factory. Yes, I remembered the fall now. I could remember the sheer terror of helplessness, my inability to prevent my body from clashing against the metal or to stop the sequence of supports that snapped after it. I now remembered it all vividly, the fright of that fall. It was almost like the time Crimson had dropped me, what with it being through my own stupidity in both cases that caused the event. What wasn't the same however, was he wasn't there to save me this time.

No, I couldn't let thoughts like those take over me right now. If I'm trapped, if I'm imprisoned somewhere, I had to keep my morale up. Remember my training, focus on what I have left first and foremost, figure out what my situation is and then make my choice from there.
Well, taking everything and assessing the situation didn't give me a lot of hope.
I was lost, albeit in a building that seemed warm and had a proper roof over it, at the very least.
As well as that, I had a broken leg. However, whomever had taken me had been kind enough to treat it, even if the form of treatment seemed to be primitive with just magic bandages and a splint.
I didn't know medical procedures personally, only basic first aid for if somepony's been hit. Maybe they'd done more than that, maybe not though.

So, I had to admit, the situation wasn't as bad as it could have been. It could have definitely been worse, I could have simply died on the fall or fell to the ground and been eaten by radroaches or radrats. Still, it wasn't my preferred option, this definitely wasn't the PLAC base.
I still had my Pipbuck, though I no longer had any of my weapons. Much to my surprise though, my saddlebags sat in the corner of the room, close to the door.
Now I had a good reason to try pick myself back up.

Pressing down upon the floor with my front two legs, I pushed my chest back up as I had before. Pressing my rear right leg onto the floor and keeping all weight off my left, I managed to pick myself up.
Standing there with one badly hurt leg, I slowly inched my way over to the door.
Inside my bags, everything was still there! My food, my supplies, even my ammo! Now I didn't know what was going on here, who would simply leave all my gear barring my guns sitting right next to me if they were to take me somewhere?

The thought occurred to me, perhaps whomever had taken me here wasn't someone hostile to me? Perhaps it was the Anarchists, or even the zebra group... who were they again? Zebras United or some such, right?
That would make sense, perhaps it was one of those two groups.
If that was the case, perhaps the door was just closed to give me some privacy? That made sense, if my guns were taken away purely to keep everyone including myself safe, the door would be open.

Pulling my bags over my shoulder with my magic, I took a deep breath. This was it, the time of truth. Pressing the handle down with my magic I was met with resistance. Frowning, I tried again with no difference.
Perhaps the door was just rusty? Pressing my hoof on it, I tried to use force to push it open. Under the force, the door budged but hit against its own frame as the lock prevented it from opening.
Lowering myself onto my rump, that proved it. I was trapped here and given my saddlebags for some reason unbeknownst to me.

To my right, a tired sounding older voice spoke with a soft accent. "Don't even bother wasting your energy, you won't get out."

"Um, excuse me, but who are you?" I asked as cautiously as I could, not wanting to offend whomever it may have been.

"Me? I'm nopony in particular. Besides, it's best not to get to know me too well anyway. I hear their taunts loud and clear," The voice paused for a moment and breathed in before putting on a mocking expression. "'cheer up, cheer up. You won't be in there for long, as soon as we've got The Executioner we'll be having all your heads on poles next to one another. Doesn't that sound like fun?'" The pony behind the voice sighed, desperation and resignation filling the atmosphere as he did.

"The Executioner, huh?" I asked with a cocky grin upon my face, even if it couldn't be seen. "Well, too bad. My Crimson isn't going to be caught that easily, you've got some time yet."

"Your what?" Another voice asked, this one female. "Wait." She immediately blurted out right after, not even giving herself a chance to think. "Your voice... why do I get the feeling I've heard it before? That name, too. Crimson... Crimson..."

"Crimson Wings aka The Executioner, as he likes to call himself." I muttered with a roll of my eyes. "He began calling himself that after taking swift justice to a raider out in the wastes on the trail to Curvetail Junction."

The voice gasped, followed by a small squeal of delight. "Yes! I remember now! The pegasus! The one... the one who informed me..." Her voice trailed off into a sad, quiet tone that went nowhere with mutterings that made no sense.

With great curiosity, I gave the mystery mare the most caring and benevolent voice I could. "Informed you of what?"
Whatever it was, it had to be something important to her, no doubt about that. A mare doesn't just lose herself in thought like that without a good reason.

She began to whimper, sob even. Immediately I began to regret asking, but it was too late now. I tried to insist that it wasn't important for me to know, but I think we both knew that it wouldn't leave my mind if I wasn't in the know. Instead of holding onto her secret, she let it out the best she could between gentle sobs.
"He was the one who informed me... of the kids. Boulder, Rockface, Charmer, Lil' queen, Sugar Heart, Tangles and Platinum. How they died. At first when he told me, I was too shocked. I didn't register that they were gone, I was too busy being selfish and worrying about my own life and security to really think about it. Now I've been caught though, I've had all the time in the world."

Platinum? Fucking Platinum? Well fuck me, I now knew how she recognised my voice if even a little, she must have been Blessed Cradle!
"Blessed Cradle, is that you?"

"Yeah. You're Crimson's friend, right? The one who travels with him? Why would he tell me something like he did, does he not care about who he hurts?"

If I had been able to walk properly, I would've taken a step back in shock right now. Crimson not caring about who he hurts? Sure, he may be foolish at times, foalish at others and perhaps not always really thinking about what he does, but not caring?
"No, you have him down all wrong." I insisted. "He makes mistakes, but I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you. I really, really can't imagine him saying anything about what happened to hurt you. Hell, he was in the worst state I've ever seen him over that and I've known him well enough for the last few years to know he's never been as upset as he was."

"Whatever. All I can say is that I failed to do my job of keeping the children safe. Not only that, I wasn't even there to help Misty Days when she tried to get out've dodge. Maybe if I had been there with her..."

"Things wouldn't have been any different, aside from you falling victim too." I sorrowfully added. "I don't mean to make you feel worse, but there's nothing you could've done. We tried our best."

"Don't mean to make me feel worse, huh?" She blurted out before sniffing hard between sobs. Her voice now grew spiteful and angry. "Well good job, you've only gone and upset me further. Thank you very much."

Letting out a big sigh, I felt my head droop down to the floor. Shit. I really hadn't meant to do that, maybe I should've just kept my big mouth shut. I never was good at being convincing with my speech... how the hell did Crimson do it?
Before I could mull on it for too long however, the male sparked back up.

"Oh, don't worry about her, Miss. She's been through a lot as of late, blames herself for what happened." Yeah, I could see that. "Also," The voice continued. "she seems to have become somewhat depressed over the matter, as you can tell. She's been having mood swings for the last few days. Don't take it to heart, you were just unaware. I'm Pony Joe, what's your name?"

"Pony Joe? Wait, as in the Pony Joe who runs the courier service?" I was in utter amazement! Pony Joe and Blessed Cradle In the same place! Now it was just a shame that I was in no fit or fighting condition to attempt a breakout with them.

The old buck chuckled a little, drawing in breath after his laugh to speak. "The very one. You've heard of me then? How comes?"

"I... we had a letter for you to take." I explained. "I managed to find the addressee, in the end though. Me and Titan went your shop over in Slumside and found it had been ravaged by somepony and that you weren't there. We quickly found out you were kidnapped though, even had the blame pointed on myself at one point!"

The buck laughed again. "No, I know that it wasn't you. The authorities arrested me for 'dispensing sensitive packages of highly dangerous content to known terrorists and anti-coalition fighters'. A complete set up, if you ask me. I run a courier service, what did they expect? I don't check the packages in jobs, I just transport the goods and get my caps, they knew that when I applied for my license to do so."

"So, did you do that?" I couldn't help but feel like a filly asking all these questions, but it sure as hell beat sitting on my rump and doing nothing all day while trapped in a cell somewhere I didn't know and not talking to the folks around me.

"Oh, of course." He replied heartedly.

"Knowingly?"

"Yep. In fact, I'm a close friend of Titan. All the jobs I've done for the PLAC."

My eyes crossed and I paused for a moment. Had he seriously just willingly admitted to all this without fear? "Why... would you freely say that? So care free, I mean?" I was really confused now.

"Oh, come on." He began. "Do you really expect me to get out of here alive? It doesn't matter what I admit to now, as long as I don't admit to where certain locations are. I'm a free pony, free to say whatever I like because I know that any day coming could be my last. Sort've liberating in a strange, twisted way. I mean, look at me. There's nothing left to fear because I already know it's already just waiting on one final detail so why care if they know I willingly worked alongside the rebel forces of both the PLAC and ZUC?"

Scraping my hoof against the floor, I pondered upon his point. He had a really good point it seemed.

As if wanting to catch me off guard, he interrupted my thought process with a question of his own. "So, little miss. You haven't told me your own name yet. And what's this of Crimson Wings? I thought he was that pegasus from Four Ridges"

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Cherry Sundae and yes, Crimson is the pegasus from Four Ridges."

With a gentle humming, the older sounding buck pondered. "Oh, but that's not all, is it?"

"What do you mean?" I asked defensively, not liking where this could go.

"Something about him being the leader, no?"

"No." I responded sharply before taking a pause before continuing. "...Future leader. He's not the leader yet, even if he likes to pretend he is with the whole 'I'm the big boss' attitude he likes to don. Besides, how do you know and why is it important?"

"Oh, it's nothing really. I'd heard some rumours here and there about him, whispers about something somepony wants to do. I'm not really sure though, it never concerned me and I hear so much gossip that it's hard to keep track of what's true and what's important. As well as that, it's good to know of major players in the bigger world around you anyway, especially when your job is to be a courier and go places."

The tone of voice he took at the end of that told me he wouldn't be handing me any of those whispers, I just had to put it beside me for now and hope none of them were bad. I wouldn't be able to work them out of this buck, that was for certain.
Still, I knew as not just his guard but also his lover that any whispers would probably either upset me or make me worry, so I tried not to think about it. I didn't need to know, that's what I kept telling myself anyway.
Instead, I needed to keep myself focused on the surroundings around me and try to really figure out what I could do to stay alive.

After the conversation died between myself and Pony Joe, I hobbled on over to the back of my cell and laid upon the bed. It wasn't overly comfortable, but it'd still do better than the floor. I was thankful for that, very much so.
Pony Joe and Blessed Cradle had begun to speak about something some time later, but I didn't listen in. I just looked at the ceiling above and tried not to concentrate on the nagging pain that ran through my leg. Instead, I thought about how I'd fucked up after blowing the intersection, how my mistake could have cost my life if I hadn't been so stupidly lucky.

As the pair were talking however, a loud banging came from outside as hooves smashed against what sounded to be metal grating, coming closer and closer to us.
The sound of an opening door was punctuated with a loud voice, leaving me confused. "You fuckers, shut the fuck up! I'm trying to spend my time in peace and all I can fucking hear is you!"

"Oh fuck off and stop being an ass" Blessed spat back, her mood quickly having swung from somewhat neutral with a tinge of sadness to anger. "I've had enough of your complaining about us speaking as if we're meant to fucking sit in here in silence or something. What you going to do about it, huh?"

"Blessed..." Pony Joe tried to assert himself, to calm her down. Instead, she ignored his attempt to try get her to focus on something else.

She spoke out again, louder this time. "No. What the fuck is he gonna do about it? What else are we meant to do huh?"
Although I couldn't see the mysterious stranger who'd I assumed to be a guard, I could tell that he was getting angry. His breathing rate increased and the sound of frustration as his hooves scraped on the floor was something I couldn't help but pick up on.
Something about the way he moved and the sounds it produced told me he was a big pony, but not too large. The weight in his steps and lack of clanging metal didn't sound like he was wearing armour however.

Pony Joe and myself both paused, aware that staying silent was a good idea right now. Blessed didn't seem to get the idea however, and began to taunt the guard.
Suddenly, a resounding stop filled the room and the guard began to shout. "I've had enough of you. We'll see whose brave enough to taunt me in a second!"

With that, he stomped his way over to her cell and the sound of the door opening filled my ears, immediately followed by a crack.
Blessed cried out in pain as another crack hit, her body falling to the floor. I now realised what was happening and worse, realised I couldn't stop it.
The sound of his hooves repeatedly smashed against the poor mare as she sputtered, cried and whelped in pain. The poor mare was taking a beating and to my horror, that wasn't the end of it.

Within moments he stopped hitting her, though now he'd began to speak in a harsh tone as she sobbed. "Open your fucking mouth and be quiet."

The young mare replied back pitifully, doing her best to stand up to him. "N... no."

Now with a sinister tone in his voice he spoke again, worry filling my mind as I felt helpless not knowing what was going on. "No?" He spat at her and with that hit her once more. "Open your mouth and be quiet otherwise I'll make this even worse on you. Don't make it worse for yourself."

The poor mare tried to resist again, tried to tell him she wouldn't. Instead of being able to get a full sentence out however, she was hit down to the floor and picked back up.
Just as she was groaning in pain from the battering, her voice became muffled and a mixture of gasping for air and her crying filled the room. My blood ran cold imagining what could be happening but his sudden grunting alongside the spluttering sounds ran a cold chill down my spine like lightning. It had dawned upon me what was happening.

Instinctively in defence of the mare, I called out to him. "Oh, a big fucking stallion are you? Fighting some defenceless fucking foalsitter who doesn't know how to fight? Forcing yourself upon her because you can't get any pleasure from anywhere else? Come on over here then! I'll fucking show you what kind of stallion you are! You're a fucking coward! Come try that with somepony who won't make it so easy on you!" I shouted in rage, not wanting to hear any more of an innocent mare being hurt so badly. Normally that would be Crimson's reaction, to encourage and engage in aggression and violence.
Now that the sick fuck had decided that he'd have his way with her however, now it was one of the few things I couldn't stand for. Crimson may have had that moment with Platinum, but that wasn't to say I would be any more tolerant of such a crime.

"What the fuck did you just say to me, meat?" The guard replied, his anger rising as he stopped abusing the mare.
The moment his appendage slipped out of her mouth she gasped and spluttered before falling to the floor as he stepped out of the cell he stood in and made his way over to my own. "I'll fucking smash your horn and do worse to you if you dare speak up again."

"Go on, fucking try it. I dare you, I double dare you! Go on! Fucking try it you cunt!" I bellowed. "You think you're oh so tough, how about you prove it?!"
Now I was snarling, I was just as angry as he was. No-one fucking threatened that shit on me! No-one fucking acted like this around me either! I may have had a broken leg but I still knew how to fight.
Adrenaline pumped through my body and made me feel stronger, tougher, bigger. It made the pain in my leg seem like nothing as my muscles tensed up readying for the lunge I'd throw. All I had to do was wait for him to open up the door.

With the moments passing the door opened and before me stood a sight I hadn't expected, a donkey with broad shoulders and a grim face stared at me. Scars down his eyes on both sides and one across his neck told me he was no stranger to fighting, most likely close range or even melee fighting. Still, I had no time to give up now. Especially not with my hoof flying at his face!

Before he could even react, my blow struck against his forehead, dazing him momentarily. I tried to throw myself forward for another swing, but the fact of my damaged leg meant I didn't have the ability to push off from the ground like I'd needed to. Instead, I found my swing falling short as I fell face first down into the ground.
Instinct got me to roll upon landing, hopefully moving out of the way of any incoming strikes aimed at me in retaliation.

As I moved my body quickly reminded me mid-roll that even despite the adrenaline coursing through me that My leg is broken or at least fractured and I couldn't expect to have full mobility. Damn it.
Still, that wasn't enough to stop me completely and despite the fact that the pain slowed me down, I'd avoided getting hit all the same.

Now the ass stared at me with an equal mixture of anger and confusion before going straight back to plain anger with having missed his reaction shot. Within a split second he was already throwing another two strikes at me which I ducked for the first attempt but the second caught my side, knocking me off balance.
Stumbling around the floor, I span around as quick as I could manage to regain my balance and bucked him to the face, sending him onto his rump in another moment of bewilderment.
"Didn't fucking expect to get hit back, did you?" I taunted the bastard before swinging for him with a strong right, colliding my hoof into his jaw.

Unfortunately for me, he took it a lot better this time and threw me down onto my back with an explosion of anger. My head bounced off the floor and dazed me momentarily as he charged.
Before I could attempt to get up he was already atop of me, smashing his hooves down into the ground either side of my head as I did my best to dodge. With my busted leg kicking his rear legs out wasn't an option, it'd only leave him in a position just as strong for him and weaker for me.
With that I attempted to hit his chest but it didn't seem to do much, there was just nowhere near the amount of room that I'd needed to use all my strength.

Upon the failure of my attack the bastard hit me back and I quickly found my face getting pummelled into the concrete below as his first, second and third series of hits landed successfully, making me reel in pain and really fucking wish I had taken more hoof to hoof combat training lessons.

Within quick succession, this fight had gone from even to me under him and in a bad way. From the look in his eyes and what he had been threatening to do to me, I didn't want to think what would happen if I couldn't bring back the tide to my side. I would not be a victim. I would not give him that chance. Trying to roll out from under him was useless as he climbed atop the moment I got free. Narrowly avoiding another hit, I decided there was only one way to get out from this situation.
Throwing my head up at him I plunged my teeth into his neck as tightly as I could, causing him to scream in pain with what little breath he could gather.
The large donkey reared up in pain and I used that to my advantage, holding onto his throat and wrapping my forelegs around his shoulders to pull myself back up off the floor and harm him further.

Without warning another powerful thump came to the side of my head, knocking me off and back down to the floor, my head landing next to my bag. My vision turned white and all sound seemed to be dominated by a ringing as colour slowly came back to the world around me.
Looking up, his face was scrunched up as he snarled something at me that I still couldn't quite make out.

"Fucking bitch!" He cried out, barely catching his breath back as he rubbed his throat. "Now I'm gonna fuck your ass with your own horn, just to make sure you scream!"
My eyes widened once more. No! No! No! He would not be getting that pleasure! I had no choice now, I had to do whatever it took to defend myself with no care about limits.
Just as he threw himself atop of me once more, I felt his hips smash against mine as he pushed his body down upon my own. I had to do something drastic.

Lunging my mouth at him again, I tore at his throat as viciously as I could before rolling his body off. I needed a way to end this fight right now and looking at my bag, I knew exactly what would make the difference.
Using my magic to probe through the items as quickly as I could, my hooves pounded into his face repeatedly to keep him occupied. It would have been a lot easier if I had been able to buck him around the room, but that was no option.
Within seconds of searching I thankfully pulled my screwdriver out of my saddlebags side pocket and quickly levitated it right to his eye, ready to stab into the squishy and easily penetrated weak spot.

Now I spoke in the most menacing tone I could between laboured breaths, trying to recoup from all the energy I'd wasted and pain I felt. "If you want to keep your eyes, genitals or life..."
He looked back at me, the screwdriver ready to plunge deep into him. He paused in hesitation and as I stopped panting I spoke in a hushed whisper to emphasise my point. "If you want to keep your eye or hell, even your life, you'll listen to me now. You will not be riding me or any other of the captives, got that? Nor will you come back because If I see you again, I will not hesitate to defend myself to any extent required. This is your one chance."

The donkey looked at me nervously for a moment, unmoving in both his placement and posture. From behind him, the sound of hoofsteps came around the corner. Before I could do a thing his head fell back and his hoof swung at me, colliding with my face. The blow caught me off guard and knocked me onto my damaged leg causing me yelp in pain before collapsing down to the ground again, throwing the screwdriver across the floor and under my bed as I fell onto my back.
My face really hurt, my leg burned in pain and I was sure I was bleeding somewhere across my forehead. Still, that wouldn't matter if whomever just came in was any of his friends. I began to shake in fright of the thought of what could happen if they were. Two versus one especially when so heavily wounded was never good odds, I would be severely outmatched.

"Private." A calm, collected voice spoke. It wasn't the tone of a question however, but of a demand.

The donkey immediately returned to a disciplined tone of voice and looked to the pony who stood before him. Something seemed familiar about the pony though I couldn't tell why as the donkey spoke. "Yes sir. I was just checking up on the prisoners, sir."

"I heard shouting, private. Two doors are open and you're in one of their cells. Care to explain yourself?"

Now the donkey began to hesitate and mutter his words, occasionally stuttering and obviously visually worried over where the topic had gone. "Well, uh, the prisoners were getting aggressive sir."

A grunt of displeasure came from Pony Joe's cell before he spoke. "That's a damned lie and you know it!" He called out, anger growing with every word. "You came in here barking orders for Blessed Cradle be quiet despite simply talking with me and when she refused, you beat her before forcing yourself upon her! When you did that, the other one called you out on being a fucking coward rapist and you went to her instead!"

The pony went to the other cell first, checking on Blessed Cradle who laid on the floor still groaning in pain before speedily trotting over to my cell and looking on in horror as I laid across the floor, blood dripping down my forehead and over my eyes, pooling across the floor slightly now that I had been immobile.
Slowly he mouthed some works I couldn't make out and turned toward the donkey.

His tone was cold now, though I couldn't have expected what was about to happen. "Private."

"Yes?" The donkey said in turn.

The sound of the crack was almost deafening in the silent room. The donkey fell to the floor, his eyes wide in shock as he went to get back up. Again he was struck by the pony who wasn't even as big as him, yet he fell back down as if he'd been hit by a collapsing building.
Strike after strike, the donkey fell down. He'd attempted to strike back at one point, but found himself gripped around the shoulders and thrown down to the floor before being kicked around in a righteous fury. Kick after kick rained down upon the donkey until his face was easily as bad as my own, his squeals for mercy left ignored under the sound of his skull and ribs being hit with immense force.

At the end of it, the pony stood panting over the body of the now heavily shaking donkey, pain overwhelming him after the beating he'd just received. Instead of trying to get up, he now laid there, submitting to the pony above him.
Slowly the pony leant in to speak, but found a hoof smash against the underside of his jaw in return and the donkey attempted to rise back up.
The pony stood in awe as he had, allowing the donkey another chance to fight back and getting knocked down for it.
Now the donkey was up and fighting again, the pony needed my help.

Using all the strength and courage I could muster, I picked myself off the floor for one last attempt to end this. I couldn't see my screwdriver so I just had to rely on normal strikes this time, but with any luck I'd be able to manage it all the same.
Hobbling over to the donkey as he pounded a few blows into the pony below, I taunted him as I got close enough for him to hear me whisper into his ear.
"Hey, fucker. Guess what?"

As he turned his face towards me, I struck with all the energy I had left in me, launching my whole body at him.
Under me he went, falling to the floor. Now it was my turn to smash hooves into someone's face. One hit, two hits, three hits, four, five.
Five hits before the donkey gave up and looked like he wasn't going to get back up any time soon. Taking a breather, I crawled back into my cell and huddled up into the corner, hoping that my action wouldn't call down any punishment upon myself. Besides, the bastard deserved it.

It took a good minute before the pony in the corner of the room had managed to pick himself back up from the floor, though he immediately kicked the donkey in the ribs as he walked past him.
As the ass groaned in pain the pony leant down and whispered something about authority into his ear, though from where I was I couldn't make out exactly what was being said and my head hurt too much to try anyway.

With the clearing of his throat, the pony spoke as he looked down upon me. There was a small smile upon his face, making me worried about what he was thinking. The moment I heard his voice, I felt strangely calm however.
"So, you again." Looking into his eyes there was a small glint of recognition, though I couldn't tell why. I just watched as he smiled and carried on. "It's been a while, hasn't it? I guess I should thank you for what you did just there, even if it is strange for a prisoner to be protecting their own captor and guard. Hah."

Looking at him, there was something strange in the way he spoke. He was acting as if he'd known me from before this yet I couldn't recognise him in the slightest. There stood this buck who while admittedly attractive, wasn't anything close enough to memorable in terms of looks... his colours were pretty mundane with his cream coat and grey mane. There had to be something that was making him act this way, but I couldn't tell what. "Excuse me, but may I ask something?"

"Of course, a question for a question. Quaint, no?"

With that he shot me a look of honest happiness as I went cross-eyed thinking about it. Who in the wasteland spoke quite like that?! Still, he'd given me permission to ask a question... I think. "Do you know who I am?"

"No, not quite." He began, his smile growing. "Don't mind telling this stallion your name, do you?"

Taking this moment and turning to to my advantage the best I could, I asked another question before answering his. "If I tell you my name, you'll tell me why you're so happy to see me?" With that, he gave a nod. "Okay, well if you want to know, my name is Cherry Sundae."

"Cherry Sundae? Ahh, well miss Sundae, it's a pleasure to meet you again. We've met before, and that's why I was so surprised to see you again. Before you ask, we met when there were some extra precautions going on to do with security. I was assigned to be the troop leader for the market, searching everyone for any illegal goods such as explosives and smoke grenades. You are the mare who threatened my life and let me live for the price of keeping control over myself."

Suddenly the realisation hit me, it was him! The leader of the small group who had almost shot Storm!
My jaw dropped in disbelief as I looked at him more closely and tried to envision him wearing his armour and helmet that he had worn that day. Looking at him, I could tell he was watching my face with every passing second, analysing my reaction.
Slowly his eyes opened up a little further and his smile loosened to a more casual state, comfort beginning to set in.

"You..." I muttered, barely audible to even myself. "Why? Why did you keep me alive after you found me? Do you want revenge for me having possibly humiliated you in front of your troops? Am I here to be hurt, tortured and suffer for what I've done?" The thoughts ran through my head, my blood running cold as I imagined the pain he may have wanted me to experience.

Instead of answering in some sadistic method though, he actually seemed quite hurt by it! That wasn't something I had expected to see, but with my question he stepped back and looked at me in shock as if I had just said the unthinkable.
"Me, hurt you? Cherry, no. I saved you so I could say thank you."

I just blinked, not muttering a word but instead letting him continue.

"You had the chance to kill me there and then. My troops might not have seen what happened there, I don't think any of them had. You could have easily killed me and either moved on to the rest of my crew or simply slipped on by. Instead, you bargained for the safety of those around you, you bargained for me to regain my cool in a moment of fear and confusion. I don't like to admit it, but that moment then was one of weakness from myself. My original orders were to imprison or exterminate any whom seem sketchy, though I wasn't willing to go and do that unless pressed. When things moved to chaos, I didn't know what else to do."

Not quite sure what to make of what I'd just been told, I tired not to sound too aggressive as I spoke. "So, you go to order your troop to fire into the crowd anyway?"

"It wasn't what I wanted to order, but think of it this way: I was in the middle of enemy territory, despite all that the Coalition likes to claim about having utter domination over all of Coltchester. I was outnumbered thirty to one, easily. Any number of ponies, zebras and donkeys could have a gun and any number of those could be anti-coalition. When the trademark smoke grenades of the Anarchist movement sparked off, I knew I was in trouble unless I could do something to cull the crowds aggression. It wasn't an easy choice for me to make and if I could have stopped you from pinning me like you did I still wouldn't have it any other way. You forced my hoof into the right decision that day."

I looked at the pony in front of me who now sat down with a humble look in his eyes, sincerity in droves filling his voice.
It took me a few moments to take in all what he had told me, but now I was beginning to understand.
"So, I made a truly meaningful impact on you, huh?"

To that he gave a small nod in response. "Of course. As a member of the honour-guard, I honestly don't know how I would have been able to cope with what it would have caused if it wasn't for your intervention."

"How do you recognise me though? Also, doesn't imprisoning me seem a little bit weird of a way to say thank you?"

"Maybe, but that's a much better way of saying thank you than to either let you die from infection and blood loss or even with a bullet to the brain, as no doubt would have happened if I hadn't picked you up. You were laying in the middle of the battleground wearing armour meant for combat, not long after a highway had been destroyed with explosives and not far from the scene of it all. Some would even go as far as to suggest you might have done it."

With that, he gave me a stare that pierced through my eyes into my very soul. The way he smiled at me told me that he was implying that himself, but I knew that if I openly admitted to such an action then my death would be imminent for the deaths and destruction I caused. Giving a small gulp, I tried to make the most convincing smile that I could while I murmured something to the effect of "oh yeah' and gave a paltry chuckle to go with it.

"Though, that doesn't matter. The other thing about me imprisoning you is that I can find out your name, age, status and what medical things you require for your leg. I've had the medics give it the once over thus far, hence the splint, but that's hardly enough. Speaking of which, I have a syringe of med-x and a healing potion for you, if you would be so kind as to tell me the rest of those."

With a cheeky grin, he bit his bottom lip in an attempt to be even more attractive. Admittedly, it worked but it made him look more cheesy and coltish than manly and seductive. With a whispered chuckle, I shook my head.
"I'm sorry, but I'm already taken. I have a special somepony and he means a lot to me for many different reasons. My age though? Mid to late twenties."

With that, his head lowered slightly and he gave a small pout. "Somepony special huh?" And with that, a sigh. "Care to speak about him? Love... is a rare thing out here, it's something that I hold dear."

Speak about Crimson? I hesitated. "Uh, I'm really sorry, That's probably not a good idea. Don't ask me why, it just isn't."

"Is that so, huh? I guess you wouldn't like to explain why either then. Well, what about your exact age?"

My age again! Did he really need to know? "You haven't even told me your name yet." I quipped back, hoping it would throw him off the scent.

"Oh, my apologies. My name is Blueheart, and as mentioned earlier I am a captain in the Coalition and one of the honour-guard. My own age is thirty one, though I daren't say that matters now you tell me you have somepony."

"That's a point, why even ask? What, am I something special to look at or something?"

Immediately he responded to my question. "Well, yes actually." I couldn't believe what I was hearing! My cheeks burnt and I looked down to the ground as I began to scuff my hoof against the floor.
"Yes, you are very beautiful, Cherry Sundae. The moment I saw your face against mine, I saw what true beauty can be. I had fantasised about meeting you again if only to look at you once more but I never thought for even a moment that I really would."

With that I spluttered in embarrassment, but not against him but out of my own low confidence on the matter. "I..what..well..uh...wellyeahokaylet'smovethetopicnow. Yeah, let's move the topic because you know, special somepony and all that."

With a sigh, Blueheart reached into his bag and handed me both the vial of healing potion and syringe of med-x. "Here, have them. I had hoped that maybe we'd be able to talk for a little longer, but I can see I'm only making you uncomfortable. If you're going to use the med-x, be sure to do it discreetly though. I told medical that we'd lie and say it was for me, though if anyone else finds out we're both going to be in a whole lot of trouble. You more so than me by a long shot. Well, I'll be going now. I wish I'd been able to learn a little more about you, but such is the way of things."

Just like that, he'd given me the medical goods and stood up before walking off towards the collapsed guard. Grabbing him around the neck he began to drag him outside.
Just as the pair had gotten through the door my broadcaster began to beep loudly, indicating a call. Now really wasn't the right time for a call from Mayor Su-.

The voice of a now very familiar buck called out to me causing me great joy and alarm at the same time. "Cherry, Cherry, can you hear me?"
Looking down at my pipbuck, I really didn't want to let Blueheart know who he was. Instead of returning the call, I tried my best to ignore it while fumbling around for some headphones so it might not attract the captains attention.

Again he called my name. "Cherry? ...Cherry? Please, Cherry?"
Well shit. Looking into the doorway the captain now turned around, his ears twitching to hear the sounds of my broadcaster better.
"Cherry? Oh princesses, please say you're okay. Please. Cherry? I need you to be okay, please."

And with that, he walked on closer and with a beaming smile, looked at me before nodding his head and sitting back down opposite me. "So, this your buckfriend?"

For a moment I paused, but it was useless to try resist now. If I lied he would know the very same second the words left my mouth, there was no choice but to tell him the honest truth. "Yes."

With the most innocent look upon his face that I had seen thus far, he asked a question of me that seemed rather redundant to ask in the first place. "Can I listen to your conversation?"

With a sigh of my own, I agreed. "Okay, but only if you stay quiet and definitely don't go and say anything that will worry him. He's foolhardy and young and if you make him worry he'll only become aggressive, no doubt. He just cares too much and thinks he's got to do the best for everyone at all times is all."

"I accept. Now, feel free to speak as you would otherwise."

Hitting the return broadcast button, I began to transmit my side of the conversation. "Crimson? Is... is that you?"
I was sure it was, but I just wanted him to really say so. There was something comforting in that.

Within a split second he began to cry out in joy at my response, reaffirming how comforting he could be even with the small things. "Cherry! You're alive! Oh my word, I was so fucking afraid that I had lost you. Oh goddesses, I'm so sorry Cherry. Oh so sorry. I really, really am. I was knocked out from the blast, I think, and the next thing I know, I'm here at the HQ."

"Knocked out from the blast, huh?" The captain mused.

Ignoring him, I focused back to Crimson. "You're safe? Good. I've missed you, but look, you really shouldn't-"
I worried that speaking too much about what happened would alert the captain, but now it was too late. He put his hoof over my broadcaster for a moment, blocking the microphone.

"Crimson? That name is extremely familiar with me. By any chance is he the one and only Crimson Wings?"

Growling at him, I had to try deny it. "No, I won't tell you!"

"Cherry? What's going on?" Crimson asked in a worried voice, the sound muffled by the captains hoof.

In a very cloaked tone, Blueheart began to lay a subtle threat upon the proverbial table. "Please, Cherry. Don't forget that I just brought you some things that by normal standards would get you in very serious trouble. Now, I'm not saying that I would alert anyone to those things, but nor would I try and hide them for you either if you keep refusing to answer some simple, harmless questions."

Seeing as my options were limited to just one, I had no other choice. "Fine. Yes, yes it is. Happy now? Good, keep your end of the bargain though." It wasn't what I had wanted to say or do, but there really wasn't any alternatives. He was right, if I was found with contraband items inside my cell there would be no telling of what the punishment would be for me and that was the last thing I needed.

Just like that, his tone turned a little friendlier once more. "Of course, of course. One more thing, I want to speak to him right now."

Right now? Was he kidding? I sat there in shock, not sure what to say for a moment. "What?! Hm. Fine."
For a moment I paused, looking down at the pipbuck again. Was this really a good idea to let the two speak? I couldn't be sure that Crimson wouldn't say something to set the captain off or that the captain wouldn't say something that would set Crimson off, but I had to give them both my trust right now.

As I thought over it all the captain sat there staring at me before leaning and whispering into my ear. "Tick tock, Cherry. May I?"

"Okay, okay. Just let me tell him first, okay?" The last thing I needed was to just throw him at Crimson and make the situation into a balefire bomb waiting to go off. It was bad enough as it was!

At this point, he pulled his hoof away from my foreleg and smiled. "Okay."

I took a moment to breathe and collect my thoughts, figure out how the hell to word what I was going to say to Crimson to try make sure this didn't get out of hoof, but again, all I could really do was trust the pair of them to play by the rules and be on their best behaviour. Still, I couldn't blame either of them if anything happened, this was a extremely stressful situation for all of us it seemed.
"Look, Crimson. I've been captured by the DZC. However, the pony whom captured me is somepony who I've ran into before. We spared each-others lives then and he's decided to spare my life now. I'm being treated admirably though I have been locked up, as you might assume." At this point I paused for a moment, hoping that he was listening. "Captain Blueheart would like to speak to you, Crimson. Be polite, okay? For me?"

All control was handed over to their pair now as I just watched the captains eyes grow softer and he smiled at me again before focusing on my pipbuck. Crimson let out an audible sigh over the waves, though that was at least a little reassuring because it meant he was giving in to my request, no doubt.

With that, the captain spoke loud and clearly. "Hello, Mister Wings. My name is Blueheart, I am a captain of the Coalition's Slumside regiment. I've heard a lot about you, Executioner."

A strong tone of apprehension was obvious in Crimson's voice as he replied. "Excuse me, but how do you know my name, both of them in fact?"

"Oh, come now." The captain began. "You really didn't think that a threat to the coalition such as yourself could simply waltz on into Coltchester, cause such a stir as to punch my commanders wife in the face and then execute one of the Zebrican patrols, cause chaos in the streets and then remain anonymous, did you? And the latest and greatest feat of blowing up the highway? You were spotted reclaiming the C4 that we assume did the job, after all."

Looking at the captain in horror, he shot me another smile. He knew! He fucking knew all along! Oh, that was fucking evil of him, lying to me like that! I mean, I guessed that he thought I might be a little more responsive if I thought that maybe I wasn't known to be responsible at all, but fuck!
Catching onto my panic though, he gave me a small shushing sound as he tried to coo me back to peace which, begrudgingly, I did.

Now I really didn't like having let him in on this broadcast, but there was nothing I could do. Instead, I just had to grin and bear it and hope to Celestia and he wouldn't put me on death row any time soon.

The rest of the call had gone pretty poorly from that point. The captain had mentioned about how his original orders were to kill me for suspected treason and treachery against the state of the Coalitions rule and as a way of getting back at him but then how he had been going against those and keeping me alive.
Crimson blew up into a fit of rage and I could only imagine what was going through his head as he barked out his responses, anger filling every syllable of his voice as he spoke.

Thankfully it also turned out that we had something important to the captain, his brother and sister in law.
I'd told him about how it was me who found the pair and brought them into PLAC care to get medical treatment and that won me some respect points by the look in his eyes, though I still didn't know what to think of him at all now that the conversation had ended.

Now I sat alone, waiting for the time when there would be no guards. Though there was nopony in the immediate area from the sounds of things, there was someone walking around not too far away. If the captain hadn't lied to us about their routine for shift changes, we had a small amount of time to speak to one another without issue. For that, I couldn't wait.
Crimson had annoyed me with his outburst but that was nothing, especially not with why he had the moment of anger. I couldn't blame my poor love. He was simply frustrated over my situation and I really couldn't say I wouldn't have felt the same way.

Staying awake while waiting for Crimson's call wasn't easy, but eventually I made it while laying down on my bed.
"Cherry... Cherry, it's me. I just want to let you know... I love you. I'm sorry I wasn't there to keep you safe, to get you back here. I'm sorry I couldn't do better."

Upon hearing his words my heart melted and my tired eyes closed, thinking of his face as he spoke. Holding my forelegs close to my chest, I imagined that maybe if his voice was close to my heart that I would feel like he was here, holding me. Perhaps he might have been imagining the same thing, I sure hoped that he would be. Every moment spent away from him was painful because all I wanted was to have my cheek nuzzling against his, to make me feel safe once more.
"It's okay, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I didn't stay with you, to keep you safe. You're the more important of us two, I should have done my job better. Nevermind, we're both alive. I love you too, Crimson."

"Cherry?" Crimson paused until I gave a small murmur in confirmation. "Remember that.. no matter where you go - I will always stay by your side.. even if I can't be there myself, I will always be in your heart. Again, I love you. Goodnight."
My cheeks must have been scarlet as they burnt and my hindlegs rubbed together in pure joy as I heard his words slide into my ears and fill my heart with hope and love.

With that, the call ended. That didn't stop me from squealing to myself about how much he made me feel special though and even if he wouldn't hear it, I knew he would know what I whispered next.
"I love you too, Crimson. So very, very much."
And with that, I held my pipbuck close to my chest and closed my eyes, gradually falling asleep to the thought of Crimson holding me.

As I lay there on the sofa with Eos, things were calm. I was infinitely glad to be able to speak to the apple of my eye, though it wasn't the same to do so through pipbucks as it was in the flesh.
Being unable to nuzzle into her, to taste her lips and smell her natural scent... they were experiences I really missed and vowed that the very moment we got back here, I would take full appreciation of.

Sighing to myself, I wasn't sure what to do. The sleepy alicorn still laid across my chest though I could tell she was beginning to wake up after my conversation.
Looking down at the large mare, I began to stroke her mane and tried to gently coo her back to sleep.

Instead, she just looked back up at me. "Crimson, I can't quite sleep right now. My body feels tingly all over and... well, I don't know what to say. Stay awake with me?"

Groaning in tiredness, I didn't know what to say either. "Probably the alcohol."

"Uuuuughhh.. Are you sure you can't make it better for me? My heads dizzy and I want you against me, but it's not working with me laying on you like this. Fix it----"

Chuckling to myself over her inexperience, I responded with all the sympathy I could. "I can't fix it, you have to wait it out."

Instead of responding she simply turned to me and began to nuzzle herself into my neck, planting small seductive kisses as she did. It was surprising to me and although a part of me really enjoyed the sensation, it was wrong. Instead of letting it carry on, I gave her a gentle swat on the nose. "Naughty Eos."

With that, she whined. "But... but..." Her eyes looked at me with longing, her cheeks rosy. "It feels..."

Where before I was shocked and confused, I now understood what was happening. She mustn't have been too experienced with drinking, now she was horny. Looking down upon the usually graceful mare, I didn't know whether to laugh or be serious with her.
Still, from all my time being the kind of stallion I was, I had known many mares drunk and horny.
Drunk and horny mares were only second place to drunk horny mares who were also in estrous in terms of desire.
There was only two options I had, compromise or to go with the flow.

Instead of giving in to temptation I knew that my only true option was compromise, the hurt it would've caused Cherry would be too much to bare for one night of fun. "Look," I began in a soft yet stern tone of voice as I gave her my offer. "if I give you a kiss, will that make you go to sleep? 'Cos if not, I'll call Sandstorm over and I'm sure he'd love to sleep atop of us both. Cherry means too much to me, I can't do anything further but if it gets you to sleep, I'll give you that."

For a moment she paused and thought about her options, then with a defeated sigh, agreed with a smile and gave a bout of sudden enthusiasm behind her nod. Rolling my eyes, I'd always known that mares were mysterious and complex creatures from some strange place not found in Equestria, but I could never truly get enough of how weird they were, it always made me laugh. At least it solved this problem.

Placing my lips against hers, I noticed her eyes flutter closed as I gave her what she wanted. It was only supposed to last for a moment, just enough to get her to calm down from the apparent horniness that the drink had bestowed upon her. The kiss went on for a few seconds longer than planned however as she reached out closer to me to continue as I pulled away and from the racing of my heart and heat I could feel between us, I was enjoying it a lot more than I should have.
Still, pulling away I stroked her slender neck and whispered out to her. "There. Now sleep, I'm calling Sandstorm over to make sure you get no funny business for making that kiss longer."

Again she whined but that was no defence against my stand on the matter, besides, I was protecting her from her own impulses and regrets when she realises what she would have done in the morning.
Sandstorm hadn't come the first time I called him, prompting me to go find him wrapped up in his blanket in his bed.
Looking down at the sleeping colt, I sighed softly. I really felt sorry for him, losing so much so soon and then having the pony who rescued him going missing within a day or two.
Picking him up I carefully cradled him in my hooves as I used my wings to hover me off the floor and carried him over to where Eos sat on the sofa, his eyes beginning to open as I laid myself down.

"Wh.. wha?" He muttered, still half asleep.

I just ruffled his mane softly and stroked his back. "It's fine, go back to sleep Sandstorm. I just wanted you to be close to me and Eos right now. I don't want you to be alone, you've been alone for too long."

Looking at him as his eyes welled up with tears, I felt bad for waking him up and saying something like that, especially now that he was beginning to cry. Holding him closer, I felt his hooves reach around my chest and his muzzle bury itself into me. Gently I wrapped a wing to cover him further and stroked his mane as Eos pouted before snuggling herself into the mix.
Before I could say thing to Sandstorm, he whispered to me as he closed his eyes for the night. "Thank you."
Just like before, my heart melted.

Footnote:
Cherry Sundae level up!
Perk unlocked! Toughness!
You've proven yourself capable of standing strong despite the tough conditions you're in! When you have crippled limbs you gain +1 END when you enter fights thanks to your extensive training and conditioning alongside adrenaline!

25 Unarmed attained.

So, chapter nineteen. On top of that, tomorrow (23rd, it turns out!) is Broken Bonds' 1st birthday!
One year, a whole damn year of Broken Bonds. It's come quite the way from what it used to be, huh?
I never expected the story to go anywhere near this long, chapters or chapter length. I never expected that the storyline would mutate and expand itself, making something much more deserving of the title Broken Bonds.

I know my progress over the last year has been rocky at times, I apologise. I wish I was a faster writer, but I'm not.
However, instead of focusing on that, I'm going to focus on all I have done.
230,000 words in a single year? Okay, sure that it's probably closer to only 220,000 of actual story - but that's still pretty impressive in my own opinion - maybe not like Fuzzy, but still something.

Speaking of, I'd like to thank Fuzzy this time around. He's a god damn good guy who genuinely cares about all his readers and even the people (like me) who don't read Murky Number 7. I've only tried to read it once and found it not my style, though I'll be giving it another go sooner or later thanks to how amazing he is as a person.

He gave me tips and motivation to keep myself being productive when I asked, without making me feel like I was wasting his time by doing so.
He's improved his story for the better when people saw an issue, when he saw an issue. He didn't have to, but he did it for the readers.

That's part of why (but not only why) I'm planning a rewrite on all the chapters up to the very most recent ones. It won't be anything major, but it will be improvements (I hope.)
If you want to save the originals, feel free. I have no issue with that at all, be it for comparison or simply to have them.

Also, I want to thank Kkat for being amazing in two different ways this time. First of all for the whole creating the universe and making it so lush and free to create our own content in as writers, also for taking the time to reply to me here and so graciously allow me to tackle something never covered in the original Fallout Equestria.
Before you ask - no, it's nothing like the Shattered Hoof Ridge revision that Somber wrote in his latest chapter - it's actually to do with the food supply in Fillydelphia.
You'll see it mentioned in the rewrites, though it isn't a major plot piece. Just something you may enjoy seeing.

Lastly. thank you for giving me this. Thank you for enjoying my work, for following it, for giving me the motivation to do all this.
I honestly do not know what I would have done with myself for all this time without Broken Bonds, it takes so much of my focus up when I've got nothing else to focus on (and even when I should be focusing on other things!) and I couldn't have possibly made it without all the support I've had from all of you.
I love you all, thank you ever so much.

To all those who comment, to all those who speak to me on steam, you especially. Though to you who don't comment but rather give me a like and follow the story - you too count.
Every view, every favourite, every like and every comment means a lot to me.
Thank you all.