Waking up in the morning to the sight of Cherry smiling at me was still strange, we hadn't been around one another for long yet we already felt so good. I raised my hoof and tenderly touched her cheek with a gentle brush in an effort to wake her up peacefully.
A loving kiss was placed on my forehead as she whispered for me to rest.
Rest? We had no time for rest, I thought as I fought back the urge to yawn and concede.

Slowly and almost painfully pulling myself out of the bed to the whines of Cherry, I slipped my armour back on.
There was only one more thing to do here now, we would have to speak to the mayor and offer Tank Mercenary Group services.
I highly doubted the capabilities of the villagers for another attack just yet and I wasn't going to let this hard work go to waste.

I looked to Cherry to ask if that'd be something they'd be able to do, but instead she'd already fallen back asleep.
Lazy mare.

The wind blew, as it always seemingly did up here, gently against the glass as I walked out of the room.
My stomach began to ache and I remembered I hadn't eaten anything last night... damn was I hungry.
I looked into the horizon and saw the village was as quiet as the rest of the wasteland, no shops to buy any fresh food from so it looked like we'd be delving into our Rad-spider portions, though that would have to wait for a moment while I checked on Maisy.

Fast asleep as I'd assumed, Maisy lay there snuggled up in what seemed to be her corner of the place. Whenever I'd seen Maisy in her old owners house she'd always laid in this corner in that same old way. Whistling a gentle tune slowly woke her up, and brought her paw crashing down into my side, knocking me clean over before she scraped me up into her arms and laid on me.

"Maisy." I coughed as I spoke, trying to not let her crush me was hard. "Maisy."
She whined but slowly opened one of her eyes back up to look at me before giving me a little more room to breathe.
"Maisy, it's time to get ready to go. We'll be leaving today. You're coming with us right?"
She just nodded and licked my face gently.
"Well then missy, I'll be cooking up some rad-spider bits in a minute, want some?"
With her tail she used the scorpion-like stinger to open one of her cupboards before peering inside to see practically nothing left before looking bad at me and nodding, puppy dog eyes on full.
Trying to speak through my giggles I began. "Well of course you can have some, come on. I'll go cook some up now."

Her smile made all the crushed ribs feeling fade away as she lifted herself off me and picked me up in her powerful jaw before opening up the door and flying out of the house.

Getting Cherry to wake up wasn't all that hard in the end, as soon as the scent of cooked rad-spider had hit her, she was falling over her own hooves all messed up in the bedding before she even had time to think.
I tried to stifle the laughter but eventually I broke out into full blown fits.
Her pout was just enough to bring me off guard before smacking me round the face with a hoof, bringing me to the floor.
Apparently I was supposed to 'know my place', which was strange because usually it was the other way around.

After having had breakfast I told her the plan. She didn't seem all that interested in leaving our suite but after a headbutt to the side she was a lot more inclined to leave the room... even if it was only to chase me so she could return the favour.

She yelled at me at the top of her lungs. "CRIMSON!"
I simply paused mid air as I slipped my duster on as she ran toward me.
"GET HERE AND RECEIVE YOUR PUNISHMENT MISTER"
Looking at her I lifted my head up in the air, turned to her and casually began my response. "Nope."
I flew as fast as my wings could take me from the reach of her magic.

That really set the mood for the rest of the morning, and I found it just as much fun as she found it annoying, constantly letting her feel my tail or hooves with her magic, but still unable to outright catch me.
I began to tease her, holding still for a little longer each and every time before shooting off again, each time making her more and more frustrated. It was the best exercise a lad could have.

Then it happened, she caught me. My life was over.

I'd expected her to pin me down, which she had. What I hadn't expected however, was the lack of blows to the head.
Instead, she sat there and pushed my head to the side so she could get a closer look at my new battle wounds.
Gently she brushed her magic against my sliced cheek, carefully caressing the scars., I let my guard down as she softly whispered my name with a sadness to her voice.

Sighing, I looked to her.
She just smiled at me... then hit me as hard as she could.
My head rang and spun as she climbed off and threw me through the air between her magic and a kick and got me on my feet.

"DON'T EVER, EVER DO THAT AGAIN CRIMSON. RECKLESSLY RISKING YOUR LIFE LIKE THAT. SO HELP ME LUNA, I WILL END YOUR LIFE MYSELF."

I simply stood there dazed as my head pounded and my vision slowly came back from the brown and grey blur of the floor and walls around us. Goddesses I felt sick.
Then I hit the floor and closed my eyes to rest for a moment.

"Crimson. Crimson, are you okay?"
Ughhhh. Who? What?
"Crimson?"
I simply shook my head through the pain and felt a sudden rush of agony run down my spine.
It was completely unbearable, my head felt as if a radbit had dropped a tree on it or something.

"Crimson, don't move your head any more then you have to right now. Can you hear me?"
I groaned in agreement and outstretched my hoof.
"I'll take that as a yes. Now, here's what happened.... Well... Cherry fractured your skull."
Whoever was talking stopped for a moment and I heard a small whining noise which almost sounded like 'sorry'.
"My name is nurse Lucky, which fits for you tight now because you're lucky Cherry noticed she'd hurt you worse then intended. Now, stay still for a moment because I've got to do this very carefully."

I felt a strange pressure press against my back and all my hooves before I figured it must have been magic holding me still, I obliged not having any clue of what was happening anyway.
I groaned more out of the sheer tormenting pain as I felt a prick of pain before a warm, soothing, almost pleasurable sensation worked its way up my neck and into my head.

"I've just fitted you with an IV drip into the top of your spine, it should feed straight to your wound hopefully so you'll be stuck here for a day, but with any luck it'll turn from possible fracture to minor concussion over the course of the day, and you should be fine to leave tomorrow after another day of rest."

I began to whine upon hearing that. Rest? I had no time for rest! I had to go find a new water talisman!
"But- but- but-" I began. The nurse just put her hoof to my muzzle.
"No, Crimson. Rest."
I brushed her hoof with a wing and began to speak again.
"The water... the water talisman. Need... need to find a new one."
"You're in no condition to-"

That was as far as she got before mine and Cherry's pipbucks began to blare out.

"This is Pocket Change of Four Ridges, repeat. This is Pocket Change of Four Ridges! Crimson, Do you copy? Cherry?!"

I slowly opened my eyes to look at the pipbuck, still a mess of blur of colours and shapes.
"Cherry... answer. My eyes are..."
I couldn't even speak properly. Either the drugs, the damage or the pain was stopping me from doing anything useful.

"Pockets, this is Cherry Sundae. I can hear you. What's happened?"
There was a pause for a moment, then the old buck began to speak once more.
"Kingcakes is dead. I've been hit but its only a flesh wound. Fallen and Dusk are under fire right now. We're in Coltshire Town and we're all putting up a defence, but these raiders are armed with some heavy ordinance."

I could see Cherry spin around and turn her head to me as she continued to speak.
"Sniper rifle? About thirty odd of them? Led by a Zonkey?"
There was a hesitation over the airwaves for a moment before he began to speak again.
"Y...Yeah. I take it you've run into them then?"
"Yeah. Could say that. Hold on, I'll be right there. Crimson won't be coming though."
"What?" The fear was obvious in his voice, though I couldn't tell if it was for me or for his own life.
"How will you get here in time then? What happened to Crimson?"
"I'll tell you later. I've gotta go."

With that she hung up, kissed me on my nose and pinned my wings with her hooves.

"You. Are. Not. Going. Anywhere. Got it?"
I whined. She scowled at me.
"No. No whining. You're nowhere near fit to move, let alone fight. Besides. I need to repay that fucker. I'm taking Maisy and we're going over there to sort them out."

I had no choice. She was right. I couldn't stop her if I tried.
I just lay there on my belly, unable to move. She took the helmet off my armour and magically held it at her side.
"Also? I'm taking your helmet. My turn."

I watched as her figure walked out of the door. I was worried, absolutely worried.

As soon as Cherry left the building, I spoke to the nurse and got her to go through my pipbuck.

I'd contacted Tank Mercenary Group and asked Cherry's background and combat experience. I'd expected something average, maybe having gone out once or twice and patrolled the wall plenty. What I hadn't expected was what I was told.

"Sorry, but I just don't have allowance to those files Crimson!"
"What do you mean? You're the administrative pony in charge, you must do!"
"These are 'Romeo' level files Crimson. Whatever is on them, it's something serious."
"As the son of the Overmare, I am telling you, I need to know her history."
"As the guy behind the keyboard, I'm telling you. I can't access the files, I'm not permitted."
"Fine. Type what I say now. Stable over-ride code Prise."

I heard the presses of each key and then the satisfying beep sound as the computer unlocked its files.

"Right... okay. Says here she was... is... no. This can't be right."
My gut wrenched at the thought of his hesitation, this was a pony who was all business and never hesitated to be clear and precise.
"Says here she's active special forces. I wasn't even aware we had special forces."
At that moment I heard the sound of stuttering.

"M....M...Mayor"
I stayed quiet, listening into the conversation.

"Specialist. What is it you're doing on that computer."
"I..."
"Let me see... why have you opened the files on Cherry Sundae? How did you get into these?"
I had to speak up now or risk this bucks job.
"Mayor. Here. Broadcaster."
I heard the sound of heavy hooves against the floor, making their way closer to the broadcaster. Even over the ringing in my ear, I could tell when she approached despite being the other side of a broadcaster.

"Crimson? I take it that's you on the other end of the line?"
"Yeah, its me."
"Got a reason you wanted those files?"
"Cherry has gone off on her own. I need to know how capable she is."
She gave it a moments thought before speaking with a smooth as silk tone. "She can handle herself."
"Special forces I hear."
She huffed. "Yeah. Special forces. That's all you're going to find out. Only I and your mother are to know more, besides her of course."

I went to argue, but I knew in my current state it'd probably only end up with me dying from exhaustion, so I let it drop.

"Before I go Mayor, I have a proposition..."

It only took Mayor Gut-Rot five minutes odd to arrive, but it took the best part of an hour to come to an agreement over my pipbuck on how to protect Coltshire Commons with T.M.G forces. Gut-Rot hadn't wanted a lot of protection at first, nor did she want to give up a lot of the resources in the Commons.
However, after some fierce discussion involving possible artillery bombardments in the future for worst case scenarios in times of dire need and top rate protection and town controlled asset management, they finally came to an agreement that T.M.G would gain access to the new zone of the hospital and gain complete ownership of the old hotel.

Barring the suite which remained my own personal property... after I piped up about that particular piece of it all.
The mercs would be allowed in the hotel, but by the Goddesses themselves I would not allow my personal suite to be used by anyone else. I had some plans for that room.

It was also agreed that while the mercs would have to use their own supplies, they were at free liberty to use equipment and staff from the local hospital if they received any wounds that required medical treatment, or if need be, could use town supplies for a price if they hadn't any of their own.

All in all it seemed like a fair deal... for once. The mercs would leave for the Commons tomorrow and the town would finally, truthfully be defended, capable and a new bastion of hope for the wasteland.
The needs of the many.

I smiled as I felt myself lull back into a sleep.

We flew through the air, slicing the wind with precision and speed. My rifle rattling as we pushed through faster and faster, the comforting weight letting me know it wasn't going to come off.
I loved flying on Maisy's back, she always made me feel so safe. I had wished Crimson did the same, but at least he was more exciting to ride.
It hadn't taken long to get Maisy in the air and flying to Coltshire Town, though admittedly she was unsure about it without Crimson around.

I could begin to notice the smoke coming from the outskirts of the town when I heard Crimsons voice, I turned my head and prepared to shout at him before realising it was through my pipbuck.

"As the son of the Overmare, I am telling you, I need to know her history."
"As the guy behind the keyboard, I'm telling you. I can't access the files, I'm not permitted."
"Fine. Type what I say now. Stable over-ride code Prise."

My blood ran cold and my heart skipped a beat. What would he say? What would he do? Would he forgive me for keeping secrets?
No... he hadn't asked... there wasn't a need to tell him.

My hearing and vision went dull as I was sunk into deep thought, then I heard Crimsons voice speak up again.
"Cherry has gone off on her own. I need to know how capable she is."

...More capable then you'd have ever thought.

"Special forces I hear."
"Yeah. Special forces. That's all you're going to find out. Only I and your mother are to know more, besides her of course."

I'd felt guilty listening into the conversation, but I'd felt worse about not having told Crimson about any of this. It wasn't my fault though! I was bound to secrecy until he became Overstallion!
I simply sighed and turned off the radio, switching my focus back to the town ahead.

We came into view of the ponies below and immediately I could see the raider army still besieging the town, their leader at the middle of the crowd, commanding like the coward rather then fighting like a true leader, like my Crimson.

"Maisy. this is the plan, you've gotta fly high and slow the on the first pass, I'm going to use my rifle. After I've fired two shots, I want you to give me a minute to prepare myself, then you're going to dive, fly low and fast, I'll make a strafe on them with my SMG. Feel free to take a swipe if you get the chance."

Maisy didn't make a sound, but simply flew high. I laid carefully across her broad back and lined up the first shot, a big buck in full armour, just like the ones from before. Slipping into S.A.T.S I casually held my breath, just another shot.

They say that your life flashes before your eyes when you die, that your soul rises to the skies above to be with Celestia and Luna.
I don't think that beast had even the slightest part of a moment as the round sliced through his armour and caused a catastrophic mess.

Another moment for me was another body and it always felt as if I was standing in an ocean of blood.
Each and every time I killed I knew that it was another chance for the wasteland, to improve, removed from existence.
Yet I still continued because it was the lives of these ponies who were willing to rape and kill, make victims of anybody else... or the lives of many innocents.

I came out of S.A.T.S and began to breathe again, recollecting my thoughts as the raiders below began to turn on their hooves to their fallen friend, if they were friends in the first place.
Preparing myself for another round in S.A.T.S I lined up my aim ready to go into the deeper perception.
Once more I hit back into S.A.T.S and lined up another shot, this time aiming for the leader of the gang.

Maisy hit some air turbulence and bounced. I missed. Instead I'd hit the pony beside him. I fucking missed! I never miss!
I hung around in S.A.T.S to recollect myself, presuming the momentary guilt to be the reason.
If Crimson were here, he'd simply laugh at me right now, make a joke, no doubt.

As I stared through the scope however, I noticed I had yet again hit one of their medic ponies.
Was that a bonus or a loss for pony-kind? Yes they were a raider, yes they were making life harder for the good ponies out there...
No. It wasn't a loss. They might have not been shooting their gun, but they were helping raiders, and they probably didn't have any medical training anyway bar a quick jab of a needle.

S.A.T.S closed and Maisy began to descend. Strapping the rifle onto my back and prepared my SMG.
Just like how vultures come down for the carcasses after a fight, we dived for the decaying body of the fighting force.
Gravity played its tricks on my brain and I felt almost weak as Maisy levelled from the attack.
I hadn't even time to notice what had happened, but as I looked forward I saw blood all over Maisy's claws.

Before I could even aim my SMG into the crowd a cry came from the Zonkey bastard.
"FUCK! IRON-CLAD HAS FALLEN, RETREAT TO BASE."

I looked to the crowd and felt Crimsons helmet jingle with a burst of wind. I slowly placed it onto my head using my magic and began to speak to the crowd.

"YES, FLEE. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT SHALL FIND THEIR LIVES STRICKEN FROM TIME ITSELF. SPREAD NO FURTHER EVIL."

Maisy flew back to a decent altitude and I considered another shot, but decided better of it. There was no need to go looking for a fight and risk death, or bring yet more decay upon the land.
After slipping the helmet off and reattached it to my barding I gently stroked Maisy's mane and told her to land where the smoke was coming from, so we could survey the damage done.

Gliding through the air we came to a stop in front of the bodies of the fallen defenders, my heart ached amongst the further destruction and corruption of an already disturbed world.
I looked over the bodies, Kingcakes and Pocket Change lay amongst the others.
I didn't dare take anything from them, instead, I simply sat there and cried.

Maisy laid at my hooves and looked at me, gently nudging my face with her nose as I clenched my eyes shut.
Speaking through the tears was tough,
"I'm sorry Maisy, I'm sorry."
She just made her soft whine and scooped me up against her fuzzy chest and cradled me like Crimson might've.
Crimson... how I'd needed him so badly right now.

Dusk and Fallen came around the corner from the sounds of my sobbing, immediately sounding distressed upon sight of Maisy, crying out.

Dusk was the first to speak, unusually. "Shit! Like we haven't had enough to deal with already!"
Fallen began to shout right after. "Yeah! Fucks sake! Right... You, beast. Put Cherry down right.."
That was when they saw me, unharmed, in Maisy's arms.
Dusk's jaw dropped in confusion and Fallen began to stutter something nonsensical.

"It's all okay guys, she's with me. Before you ask, yes, she was the manticore which uh... we saw on the way."
With that, Dusk went back to his same old stoic self as Fallen kept up his look of disbelief.
"But... but... how? When? Why even!?"
I gave a half hearted laugh as I began to explain.
"Crimson's new pet."

Maisy didn't like that one bit, and showed her displeasure at the notion by giving a huff and looking away, despite still holding me as though I were her own baby.
"Okay, okay. Friend. Mine too."
Maisy smiled and gently put me down so I could go talk to the two remaining guards.

Dusk looked at me solemnly, probably expecting some horrific response as he posed a question. "So. Where is Crimson? What did happen to him?"
Looking straight at him in the eye, I sniffled as I began to speak.
"Oh, Crimson? He's... resting up. He got shot up by some automated security system he now apparently has ownership over and the concussion I accidentally gave him."

The way I said it sounded so nonchalant that even Dusk dropped looked at me with a puzzled face.
Fallen broke the silence with his oh so witty commentary, along with a wink.
"Oh, you like it rough in bed do you? Is he a wild lover?"
I'd felt tempted to smack him across the head with that comment, but after doing so much damage to Crimson, decided not to.

"Nope. Haven't had any fun in too long actually, I've been wounded. Which if you must know, I sure do miss and yes, yes he is."
My grin made me feel confidence that normally took Crimson standing by my side or being on a mission to have. Fallen just looked disappointed I'd outgunned him in wit and Dusk laughed, for once.

We all stood there for a moment until the sombre nature of our meeting caught up with us once more.

"So." I asked. "I suppose we ought to get the bodies out off the side of the road, prepare a grave for them and sort out what's going to be of your mission then?"
Fallen Arrow went to give a hard stare in my direction, but Dusk put his hoof in the way and nodded.
"Yeah. As much as we'd all like to sit around moping about the loss of Kingcakes and Pocket Change, You're right. Fallen, I'll let you strip Pockets if you feel up to it.."
Fallen just nodded and began to take the valuables off Pockets corpse. Dusk did the same with Kingcakes.

I sat down beside Dusk as he slowly took the pieces of armour off the corpse, and gave a soft sigh.
Doing my best to be there for him, I placed my hoof on his shoulder and spoke softly. "I'm sorry, Dusk. Was he your friend?"
He didn't even turn his head to look at me, instead he just carried on.
"Yeah... he was something like that."
"Something huh? You two were close?"

He just looked at me, almost angrily, before sighing and beginning to tear up.
I gently pulled him off the ground with my magic and took him round the corner so we could be in private. I'd given a nod to Maisy to stay put and make sure no-one else touched the body.
I hadn't meant to push Dusk over the edge, but it seems he would've tipped at some point with or without me.
Dusk didn't need anypony else seeing him like this.

"He... he." Dusk began to stutter.
I simply held his head to my chest and stroked his mane, giving a soft soothing sound to try calm him down.
"He was my... he was my brother. The only pony around who knew my name, besides myself. He only came so he could protect me, and that's why he died."

Damn, I needed Crimson right now. He'd understand what to do, what to say. Me? I had no hope. I was never any good at speaking to bucks unless it was to do with the mission.
Crimson...

"Shhh. I'm here for you Dusk. If you need anyone to talk to... I know I'm not a lot of good at this, I never have been, but I'll listen. Though if you want someone who knows what they're talking about... Speak to Crimson. He's the one who calmed down Maisy, got her to be friendly. No doubt he'd be better to talk to then me."

That was the best I could do. Stroke his name and offer to listen, but I truly had no idea what else I could do.

[Song: "At the grave" (Two Steps From Hell - Starfall)]

Ten minutes later Dusk had pulled himself together and walked back out, to finish the job. Me and Maisy began digging two graves just down the path as Fallen slowly clambered along with the corpse of Pockets.

"The grave is ready for him, Fallen. Have you got everything of value off the corpse?"
It wasn't easy to say, it never was. However, we were all taught the importance of stripping down valuables from a fallen comrade. I'd done it more then enough times myself to know it was never something we wanted to do though.

"Yeah." Fallen quietly confirmed. "He's clean of everything, bar one cap in each of his pockets."
I nodded. One cap for Charon and one cap for his respect.
Death wasn't something we took lightly like others out in the wastes did.

Before long Dusk had prepared Kingcakes body in the same manner and was ready.
Respectfully I levitated the bodies down into their graves and we began a quiet prayer for their souls.

"Celestia above, guide these two souls into the heavens. Your love and tenderness we seek, through death we join with you as we had been before. Let us live by your law, as we once did before. May you have mercy on these two loved ones, may you have mercy on us all."

It began to rain as the prayer ended, as cliché as it would have seemed in the old world. To us, it was a signal that the Goddess had forgiven them of their crimes, the blood swept clean.
Maisy, along with Fallen, sought shelter inside the nearest building. Me and Dusk, however, stayed out in the rain just a little longer to mourn the loss of Kingcakes and Pocket Change.

Dusk scratched something up against the wall with his knife before he left and as he walked off I found myself unable to resist the temptation to look.

'B C'

Not much later in the day I spoke to one of the merchants around this part of town. Coltshire Town was a lot larger and it would definitely take more then a day to get to know everyone.
I looked around the stalls and watched as sales-ponies brought more of that gear out after the attack, having received a level of safety required to trade once more.

"Hey! My name is Cherry Sundae. May I ask yours?" I smiled at the old buck hoping to make a good impression. It seemingly worked as he smiled back.
"Well, since you're being nice and polite, sure. My name is Custard Cream."
The white buck bowed his head to me and I blushed, curtseying in return.
"Custard Cream huh? Funny, One of our traders is called Custard Tarts."
That got a chuckle out of him, unbeknownst to me as of why.
"Tarts, oh Tarts. I know who you mean. We like to joke that we're related and that I'm his uncle. Good buck that one. Good buck."
Now I understood, I couldn't help but giggle myself. I smiled at Custard Cream again and thanked him for managing to cheer me up so easily.

"So, anywhoo, I reckon you didn't come for just a chat. Did you?"
I bit my lip as I pondered on his question for a moment, before beginning to speak.
"Well... yes and no. mostly no though. First of all I have to ask a question, regarding a very... I'll admit, rare, piece of technology."
Without even a blink or asking what I might be going for, he spoke. "Rare technology huh? Sounds expensive."
I sucked in the air around me, knowing I'd most likely made some trading mistake.

"Yeah. Rare, unfortunately. I'm after a water talisman."
Custard Cream just looked at me and chewed on his own teeth, before finding the words to speak.
"Water talisman... you're right, that is rare. Given how rare, I'd have to charge you for any information I have that would lead to one.
A sour taste filled my mouth and I began to pout upon hearing those words. Damn Crimson, why aren't you here to do this for me? Oh yeah, I beat you to concussion!

Thankfully the old buck looked at me pouting away and thinking to myself and interrupted my moment of soggy thoughts with another comment.
"Though, I do believe that Crisp Bake just across the road may have some kind of idea. He runs that shop over there in that particularly run down building. He deals in unique, antique and advanced technology."
My face lit up and I grabbed Custard with my hooves, planting a great big kiss on his cheek.

Almost like a filly my voice came all shy as I looked up at him.
"Thank you Custard Cream."
He smiled and laughed to himself, as I trotted out across the road up towards the surprisingly solid looking door, amongst the decrepit, decaying decorations and walls of the shop.

The wall was pockmarked from previous firefights, burned from both the great war and seemingly numerous fires, and had vines growing up and digging into what was left. Yet still in defiance, it stood, weakened and damaged, but still it stood.
As I walked through the door the inside hadn't looked a great deal better either, the roof showed signs of damage where cracks of light poured through and the floor had seen better days, stained tiles from still water and dirt spreading almost the entire distance as almost empty shelves fell apart upon themselves.
If this was supposed to be an antiques shop, all it sold were the memories of a once better time.

Something caught my eye in the distance, and upon further inspection I noticed that where the wallpaper on the back wall was peeling, there was what seemed to be a metal backing, which seemed extraordinarily strange to be amongst the broken and destroyed isles of the once proud shop.
I walked up to it and tapped it lightly with my hoof, rewarded with a strong bang that sounded reinforced yet still as if there might've been an area behind it.

"Hello?" I asked, hoping to catch this mysterious Crisp Bake fellow.
"Hello? Crisp Bake? Are you there?"
I was greeted with silence as I continued to wander within the confines of the shop, aimlessly picking up random objects and observing the way they'd been broken over the years.
That was when I heard the hoofsteps from somewhere behind me, behind the metal wall, as I turned around.
"Hello?"

Still nothing.
I could've sworn I'd heard movement, but if they weren't willing to come out or even communicate with me, it seemed like a pointless waste of my time. I'd have to go speak to Custard Cream again, maybe he'd know how to get Crisp Bakes attention.

As my front left hoof made its way out of the door I heard a faint cry for help, strained as it was I could just about make out something....
"T- T- The counter. The button at the-"
I turned back around and rushed to the counter, looking at it I couldn't see any button... I bobbed my head down below wondering if it might've been under the dusk - of course! There it sat.
I pressed the button and part of the wall shifted, revealing a walkway as the front door clanged against the inner wall.

Rushing in all I could see was clean glass, metal and counters. They'd all obviously been looked after properly, and I noticed that everything of value was hidden in here. Still, that didn't explain the faint cry for help. I made my way through the shop to the clerks desk and saw a blood trail leading into the employee zone.
My own blood ran cold as I turned the safety off on my SMG. If there was something, or someone, of danger in here, I'd need that.

Instinctively my training kicked in as I bust through the door, slamming myself into S.A.T.S to try and make sense of the situation.
Two armoured... pegasai? I stared at them for a moment as time seemingly held still and took note of their armour.
Heavy enough to deflect most projectiles, lightweight enough that it wouldn't impede their movement or flight. I assumed it was from the same branch of technology that made Steel Ranger power armour.
The odds in this fight? I would lose without some clever ploy if things got violent, so I waited one more moment in S.A.T.S to examine further...

That's when it hit me. Their weakest spot must've been the eyes, underbelly or perhaps even the groin.
It would take some freak miracle to be able to just that last one to my advantage, however.
I came back out of .S.A.T.S and stopped in my tracks, simply staring at the two armoured pegasai.

"What the fuck... Who are you?" One of them asked. He had a strong commanding voice, would've been attractive in any other situation. The other spoke straight after in a much younger, more inexperienced and thuggish voice.
"Another dirtsider. This time a unicorn. Huh. You think you're the security for this place or some shit?"
"Nah, Drift. Security in this town don't wear armour. Besides, this ones red and pink all over. Too cute to be of any real harm."
"Yeah, so cute I might just fuck her now. What you think?"
I interrupted their little discussion with a look of disgust on my face at that last comment.

"I'm not security, no, but I am a part of the TMG and-"
"TMG huh?" The younger of the two spoke one more. "That stand for The Menacing Girly? Haha!"
I gave him a dirty look and spoke in a no nonsense tone.
"Tank Mercenary Group. Specialist Cherry. You have three seconds to explain your actions before I call my pet down upon you."
Again the older and more experienced buck spoke.
"Tank? Never heard of it. Talon perhaps, but not Tank. Go away dirtsider, before we include you in our business."

I looked behind me to check I had a clear running, I still did.
Turning my head back towards them, I spoke slowly.
"Three... Two.... One... Times up colts."

Magic enveloped myself as I turned invisible, much to the dismay of my opponents... Or so I had thought.
Suddenly they brought their guns to aim upon myself. Even as I moved around them, they followed me.
That was when it hit me; they must have had E.F.S as well!
My odds of survival without injury, let alone death, had just dropped another score.

Racing around the two bucks was easier then I had thought it would be however, for as light as their armour must have been for them to be able to fly, it was still enough to kill their ability to manouver in tight spaces where everything was of value to them and they didn't want to trash it all - that had to be the only reason they hadn't simply brought their wings into matters.

I ran up to the younger of the two and smacked him to his side with a quick applebuck as the confused pair continued to try keep up with my frantic movement.
My horn began to really be sore with the intensity of the spell I was using to keep myself somewhat cloaked as I ran, I wasn't used to moving this fast while actively camouflaging.
I used the moment of his weakness to my own advantage as I brought my hoof down against his chest plating.

An amber shot flew past me, narrowly missing my face and instead scorching the wall behind me. I had to begin moving again!
I brought myself round a few more times, racing down different isles each time to try and get another kick to disorientate the opponents ahead of me, but I knew I couldn't keep this up.
My horn was beginning to burn in agony already as my magic overextended itself to try and keep up.
Before long they'd land a shot against me or I'd simply tire out and they'd both still be relatively fine.

Suddenly I felt an entirely new sense of pain run up my side as my right flank was punctured by something sharp.
That was when I noticed not only did they have their guns, but they also had stingers for tails! How didn't I notice that beforehand!?
It tore deeper into me as it got caught inside me and I wailed in pain as I ran away from the stinger, blood flowing down my side.

Doing the only thing that I could, I snapped back into S.A.T.S to try think about the options I had left to me.
Crisp Bake, if still alive, would be ultimately useless in a fight right now against these two ponies.
That wasn't even thinking about his wounds - he'd lost a lot of blood and while I was no medic, I knew from my field experience that it had to be so much that while he wasn't dead from that alone, he wouldn't be able to move fast enough to get away from a radbit, let alone anything else.

I looked into the hallway again. The old shopfront still stood with the main door open, though the isles were far more spacious and would no doubt give the armoured ponies their wing advantage.
Still, I had no choice. I had no idea how well my 9mm bullets would penetrate even the weaker points of their suits, let alone the chest and carapace.

Snapping back into reality, I did my absolute best to run while my side punished me for my mistake.
Running while crying out an allies name would normally be considered cowardly and dishonourable.
This time? This time I had no shame as I cried out Maisy's name and jolted out of the door towards the exterior of the building.
Behind me I could hear the angry yells of the young buck, threats of tearing my eyes out and murder on myself and my friend 'Maisy'.
I came round the corner too fast however and slipped on the mouldy floor where a damp spot had been.
My horn gave out for a moment as the buck followed me out, flying, and hovered over me in mid air.

An excited tone overtook the younger of the two. "Permission to... 'waste' this dirtsider, captain?"
Smugly, the captain let out a little grunt of approval before speaking.
"Permission granted, soldier. I won't be filing any reports on anything that didn't happen and no-one will be getting any punishment."

Looking at him, I noticed that the the young buck's codpiece was his most lightly armoured part, looking as if it was barely armoured at all and I saw my moment to take full advantage of that fact.
Using my magic to turn invisible again brought me extreme pain and almost made me breathless, but I knew if I didn't take this chance now I'd be maimed, violated and murdered right here right now.
Jumping back to my feet and beginning to run again I made my way around the corner, up over the shelf and jumped down on the confused buck who had stood there puzzled at how I'd just gotten away.
Two hoofstrikes to the face dazed him beneath his armour and I pulled my SMG out of its holster and firmly placed it against his genitalia, the flimsy covering proving to be little more than a sheath.

Spitting and snarling, I began to threaten him. "It would be so easy to pull the trigger right now, give me a reason not to."

With my blood dripping down onto his back, my camouflage wore off again. I couldn't keep up the spell any longer and to try would've just caused a burnout.
A cold sweat overcame him as his voice trembled and his words became nothing but an incoherent mumbling.
He'd messed up proper this time, and if he made one wrong move, I'd not hesitate to blow his testicles right off his body.
His commander turned to me, gun raised and readied, before realising the predicament he was in.

"One wrong move... he says goodbye to all of his stallionhood."
I pressed the gun further against his partners testicles and gave a cold, hard stare at the captain.

"What are you, Security reincarnate?"
"You already asked that." I told him. "My answer remains the same. No. Specialist Cherry of Tank Mercenary Group. Oh, by the way... take the piss out of TMG again and I'll go through with this threat."

The commander looked at me for another moment before stepping forward with one hoof and lowering his head to a battle stance.

"What makes you think I can't shoot you dead right here, right now, and accept Drifter as a loss?"
The pony below me simply laid there speechless at his words, unable to say a word. That or unwilling, he'd be a smarter pony then he made himself out to be if so.

I calmly answered his question with confidence. "Maisy."
"Maisy?" He repeated back to me
I slipped Crimsons helmet back over my head and spoke with adrenaline pumping through my veins, this fight was over.

"Maisy. Here girl!"

I nodded off to our right, over at the cracked wall. Moments later glass and bricks went flying everywhere as the doorway was extended into a protruding hole, possibly threatening the security of the entire structure but doing the job no less.

There stood Maisy, my manticore friend, holding guard over the captain with a claw to his throat, pinning him against the wall.
I took the helmet off and smirked.

"Still think you're so tough?"

Moments later we heard more metallic sounding hoofsteps coming toward us from down the road. I looked towards the commander and hissed at him.
"More of your kind? Do I need to blow his balls off right now and prepare for another fight?"
"N...N...No. Not that... not that I know of."
"Who are they then?"
"I don't know."
I looked at Maisy and spoke calmly. "Tighter."
She pressed herself against the scared buck even further and he began to struggle with his breathing.
"Who then?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" he cried out.

Moments later, our question was answered with the sight of Rangers. These rangers however, looked a lot different to the usual ones, having painted their armour red with apples on their flanks.
"Who are you?" I snorted, still firmly holding my SMG in a magical grip against the terrified soldier who had been quiet this whole time.
"Applejacks Rangers. Headhunter squad Bravo Alpha Sierra Tango Alpha Romeo Delta Sierra... or BASTARDS for short. We hunt the worst of the Enclave soldiers who have quickly made a name of themselves for their crimes against ponykind."

"So, you've been following these two, have you? What for?"
One of the bigger bucks took a step back to allow the most decorated of them all to step forward, his armour dented more then any of the others, but also had more intricate details then the others as well.

"These two particular enclave soldiers were part of a bigger squad. When one of the others refused to set alight to a building with innocents inside, they shot him and left him to burn too. Since then we'd seen their trail of destruction as they've gone around raping and murdering merchants who carry any old world technology, before scavenging the most prized possessions and anything of value to them."

"Well, there's only two here. What about the rest of them?"

"We caught and killed them. These two managed to slip away from us each and every time we'd get into a fight with the group. We've taken no losses, astoundingly. They on the over hand have lost three of their comrades."

I looked down in disgust at the buck below me, still shaking, still speechless. Lifting my head back up to look at the ranger yet again, I asked what he would do to the two now they had been caught.
He looked at me and without an ounce of mercy, but instead full of conviction, he spoke.

"Execution. Pure and simple as that. If it had been a case of they hadn't done these things, that they were simply enclave soldiers who had only followed basic orders, we have our own orders to bring them back to HQ for imprisonment until the war is over and either resettlement can be agreed upon or sentencing can be decided if they have committed any non-major crimes."

I considered firing a single shot into the groin of the exposed buck, but decided that the rangers would no doubt make it a much more merciful, less painful death then a moderately slow death bleeding out from a destroyed nether region.
So instead, I pistol whipped him with the butt into his nethers so his ability to walk, let alone fly, would be utterly crippled.
It was the least he deserved after intending to rape me, much less all his victims.

I looked at Maisy, whom still had the captain pinned against the wall as she had before.
"So, How are you going to make sure that the captain over there can't fly away."
A stone cold voice answered me.
"We execute them here and now. They deserve no less."
Just like Crimson...
I couldn't stand to watch, so I walked out of the building and heard him speak once more as I passed through what was previously the doorway.

"May Celestia know what to do with your souls. One. Two."
I couldn't hear him say the word three. In perfect unison both of the heavy .500 calibre revolvers sprung into action and further removed the filth from the wasteland.
At least their blood wasn't on my hooves... this time.This time I was clean of the slaughter.

It had been another fifteen minutes before I'd managed to remember to go check up on Crisp Bake. I'd brought one of the local medicine practitioners with me but thankfully it turned out that the blood trail was from a mostly superficial wound across his cheek and a lost tooth.
I nodded the quick fix doctor off and sat down next to Crisp Bake.

The brown buck with mauve hair was quite sight to see, I'd never seen such an odd combination of colours, but that only made him all the more interesting to look at while he spoke.

"Thank ya darlin'. I thought I was dead for sure when those punks showed up. Seemed mighty fine at first, showing me all this technology they had to offer."
I simply smiled and nodded.
"You're welcome, Crisp Bake."
"Now, about that. How do you know my name, hey?"
"Custard Cream told me."
"You must be after some of my gear, I take it. You're looking to pay however, I hope?"
"Of course. Of course."

At this point he shook himself and loosened up.

"I'm sorry, that was awfully rude of me. What's your name, miss? I heard you saying something about a Cherry earlier, right?"
"Cherry Sundae, yeah."
"Well miss Sundae, glad to make your 'quaintence. Much appreciated you saving my life and all that."
"Hey" I said as I gently nudged his shoulder. "Gotta look out for one another, right? The wastes are bad enough without everypony dying to one another."
He nodded his head again and smiled at me.

"Now... what is it you're after exactly?"
I looked at him, a strained look passed over my eyes as I began to grow weary from everything that happened in the day already.
"I don't suppose you have any clue where to find a water talisman of all things, do you?"
Instead of acting surprised he simply paced around his shelves for a moment, looking at everything he had, then at the wall where a giant map of Equestria hung.

"I don't have a talisman, no. I know that Friendship City recently got two though."
I gingerly interrupted him, a sorrow in my voice...
"Friendship City is... gone. Wiped off the map by Enclave."
He didn't have any words for the matter, instead, he gave a sombre nod and placed his hooves up on the map gently.

"Over here in Coltchester we have Stable 78 which is rumoured to be the headquarters of a gang known was the Coltchester Crushers, lead by a Zonkey. I'm pretty sure they may have been the ones who attacked us earlier today - though usually they leave us in peace, so I can't say for sure, nor can I confirm that to be their hideout.
Though if it were true, it would undoubtedly have a working water talisman and food recycler, given their numbers."

I looked at him with a deadpan expression... because yes, attacking a gang of thirty raiders who were somewhat organised and armed was the perfect way to get the talisman. Nevertheless, I still mentally noted that down as a possible source of a talisman if worst came to worst, though it would almost undoubtedly require the full force of Tank Mercenary Group to pull off such an endeavour.
With that, he continued...

"Failing that, there is this abandoned Stable 77 right here, on the far side of Coltchester. That's a dangerous trip however, as the road to Coltchester alone is no less then four days journey for most and as many days to reach the other side safely - again, that was before hostilities with the Coltchester Crushers. You may find that they make travel... troublesome, as they tend to keep a good hoofhold over the control of Coltchester."

He took a moment to breathe and think on his words, before beginning to speak again. I simply stayed quiet the whole time.
"The local populous there often require C.C provisions ranging from food to ammo, and thus if you get on the bad side of the gang, you're often found dead within a day or two by random mobs trying to prove themselves strong enough to join the gang."

I thought about it for a moment, then asked.
"Anything not near Coltchester? You know... just in case?"
He looked at me, then at his map, searching for anywhere else.
"Well... There is the Ranger base over in Maneford, 176, No good going there. Rumour has it there's also a 153 nearby that location, not sure where though. My guess would be as good as any, but look out for isolated buildings if you go out that way. Apart from that, I got nothing. Sorry miss."

I nodded, and began to open my mouth to mention payment, but because I could even reach the first syllable the old buck spoke.
"As for payment, my debt is paid for this. I know my life is worth more then a little information, but I'll continue to provide information if I get any. If you do happen to find yourself a water talisman, that right there would be us absolutely even. Fair?"
I nodded. "Fair. Thank you."
He nodded back and I politely made my way out of his store.

Maybe I didn't need Crimson to do all the smooth talking after all... Though that thought lasted until I walked out and saw Dusk sitting down, gloomy and upset. Nope, I definitely needed him for this one.

I lowered my head as I walked over to him, keeping my tone quiet and comforting. "Dusk..."
"Cherry."
"I'm sorry about what happened to Kingcakes. I always knew him to be a brilliant colt back in the day, and he was a fine mission support when I'd had him once or twice. I know this doesn't say even a scratch of who he was personally, but to me, he was always a great buck."
Dusk looked at me with tears in his eyes still.
"He joined up because of you Cherry. He joined up because you asked him. He joined up because you were asking for help from the rest of us."

I nodded. Kingcakes death was on my hooves, whether I'd like to admit it or not, whether I was directly at fault or not. He'd willingly volunteered, yes, but only because it was me. Someone whom he had an immense amount of respect for.

"I'm sorry Dusk. It's my fault, I know."
"No... You're wrong. It's not your fault. I just wanted you to know... he did it because he respected you, and... I respect you too. You've not handled this as another loss, you're trying your best to be there for me, thank you."
I held him against my chest like we had before as he sobbed.

"And you're right. He was a great buck. Know how he died? He died protecting me. He died protecting the merchants. He died protecting us all. Not just by being here, but he literally held four of them off at once so we could pull back.
I tried Cherry, I tried to stay there! I wanted to protect him like he was protecting me! But... but... he yelled at me, and the bullets were flying too close."

I just nodded and let him continue.

"Then he kicked me to get me moving, and four of them came at once. He told me to pull back, that he had it sorted.
Cherry... he gave me the chance I needed to get out of the line of fire, just as he died.
He died a hero, not just to me, but to all these merchants too. You have to know that. His story can't die out with me."

I pulled my head back and looked at him in the eyes, brushing the flicks of mane out of his.
"His memory won't die with you, Crimson will give him the greatest honorary decoration he has the power to, and give you and Fallen Arrow decorations of the homeland. I promise you. As Spec Ops, I have the power to bring up this issue officially. As Crimsons marefriend? I'll encourage him personally. I promise, something will happen."

We sat there for a little longer, me holding this hulking earth pony who was crying like a baby, normally so stoic and calm, but now reduced to the base elements of a pony.
That was when he looked at me and said it.

"Cherry... I can't go on any longer. I've already spoken to Fallen about this, and specialist Strawberry Strudel.
Fallen agrees we can't wait around here, but is willing to stick out here. Strawberry Strudel is happy to stay as long as he has a guard and is promised more to continue the journey, but won't go any further until he has others protecting him. I need to return to Tank, recover from this and perhaps just be on wall security duty or something for a while."

I nodded once. "Sure. We have the tower apartment over in Coltshire Commons under our control thanks to a deal that Crimson is setting up today, as far as I'm aware. The Commons has been fortified by our effort with a perimeter wall that runs around it, you'll all be safe there, and you can go back to Tank from there either by yourself or wait for the first group recon team to return from settling in. How's that sound?"

Dusk gave a murmur of appreciation as we both rose to our hooves.

"Come on. Let's head off now, yeah? No point in wasting daylight."

With that we all gathered up and made our way back to Coltshire Commons. The Brahmin wasn't too pleased with Maisy being around at first, but soon enough got used to her after realising she wasn't going to eat him whole or rip either of his heads off for fun.

My head ached and pounded. It didn't feel a whole lot better then it had earlier in the day, but it was showing signs of improvement as at least I could see straight now and focus on what was ahead of me, rather then just fuzzy images.
Laying there as I woke I wondered what had been happening to the other two. I closed my eyes again and felt myself lull back into a restful peace.

My dreams had been quite hazy, yet pleasant, which I expected was a side effect of concussion and a healing potion IV drip directly into my spine. As I laid there my eyes beginning to open I took note of my surroundings, everything was peaceful at the very least it seemed.
I looked around to see that it was still somewhat light outside, but only just.

Suddenly two figures caught my eye as they walked through the door, paused, then came straight towards my bed.
"Hello?" I called out to them, no response bar their continued path towards me.

One of the bucks, the bigger of the two, looked towards his friend and spoke.
"This is the one who did my sister in, right?"
"Yeah" replied the other. "He's the one who kicked her across the street for nothing."

I looked at the duo and started to recognise the smaller of them both, who was still stronger then myself.
"Hey, the flight show is postponed for now, come back tomorrow when I'm over this concussion eh?"
I was too tried and weary to offer anything else, despite resting all day.

Suddenly I noticed a wicked grin work its way across the bigger bucks face.
"Oh, It's not just postponed, flyboy. Your show? It's cancelled, over."

A dread filled my heart and shock of pain ran down my spine and filled my entire body as they ripped the IV drip feed out of my it and threw it to a side.
The needles hanging there limp, slowly dripping out medicine until one of them switched the nozzle to stop wasting the precious resource..
The smaller of the two then proceeded to unlock the bed wheels and wheel me across the room, out of the door.
I could tell this wasn't going to be ending well already.

"So, where do you two think you'll be taking me? You do realise I'm a very important buck and if I'm hurt, you will both be found, neutered and then killed slowly... right? Hell, when my dad died, they shelled the entire area for a full hour non stop, then went on a stomp to cleanse the area of remaining thugs."

"Keep talking tough, big guy. End of the day you'll be another corpse on the side of the road that no-one will ever find, much less care about. See how there's no-one around right now? We planned this. They're all listening to the mayor speak about how your little group plans to come round and protect us all. It's going to be sweet getting protection from your mercs while we know we killed you."

I gulped,

No-one saw them walk off with me as I laid on the bed, still unable to move
Every time I tried to tilt my head or look in another direction, my head gave me agony, making sure I couldn't even see which direction where we were heading in.
They had taken me out and fifteen minutes of walking to somewhere secluded, they stopped.
I was going to die. I knew it and they wanted me to.

"So, now you haven't got your pet to save you, how tough are you going to be, wings."
I looked at the buck and spat in his direction.
"The name... is Mister Wings, to you. As for how tough I am? Give me a healing potion direct and I'll show you."

Instead of a healing potion, I was given a firm kick to the side, sending both myself and the bed flying to the ground.

The big buck kicked me again as he began to shout. "Your time to die, bastard. You should've never come here."
"Hey, Save some for me!" Followed up the smaller of the two.
He smacked his hooves into my chest repeatedly, stomping on me five times before the bigger one pushed him out of the way for another kick.

I tried to crawl out of the way, but I couldn't move fast enough. Another blow to my side sent me skidding across the ground and hitting into what felt like the hooves of another... but I didn't see anypony there...

"Stop." Commanded a voice which came from nowhere.

The big buck laughed as he spoke. "Ha. You think talking like a girl is going to make us stop attacking you? You fucking wimp, flyboy."

The voice spoke again, yet there was nothing there... then it clicked, I thought I'd heard that voice once before.
"I am not the pegasus. You would do well to heed my warning, for it is your last."
"Yeah, who are you then?" Taunted the smaller buck.

Her magic wore off and a stern look held her face like stone.

"My name? You don't deserve to hear my name. Just know I am his Prise, and if you do not heed my warning, it would have been a waste of my breath to tell you that, even."

"An alicorn huh? What you gonna do, nag us to death? You may be taller, but we're stronger."

With that the big buck smashed his hooves into her side and sent her flying, before putting his attention back into me, throwing me into the air to try and kick me before I landed.
However, instead of being kicked or landing on the floor, I found myself engulfed in a magic hold and gently lowered onto the floor, as the alicorn rose into the sky.

"You have dared to kick a goddess? Your life, submit it to me now."

A loud crack was heard and the brute fell to the floor lifeless, blood pouring out of his eyes, ears and mouth.
The other buck charged toward the midnight blue goddess pony but was simply met by being levitated himself... higher and higher he rose, screaming at first, but suddenly finding his voice muffled.
Then he dropped.

From thirty foot he dropped. If he had wings he would've survived, but he hadn't. His skull exploded upon impact with the ground and stained the muddy floor with a maroon tinge.
I looked up at my saviour as she ever so graciously glided down to my foot, and began to speak as softly with me as she once had before.

"Crimson. My apologies for not having intervened sooner. We... we are unsure of when the proper time is as of yet, though your safety cannot be put into such peril in front of us. Please forgive me."
I stared at her in amazement as she lifted the bed back up and gently lifted me back up with her magic onto it, before looking into my eyes and smiling.
She began to push me back to the hospital while I laid there speechless, unbeknownst to me what to say or do in such a situation, without any idea of the proper gesture of appreciation.
Instead, I just thanked her and let her take me back.

Placing the IV drips back into my spine was surprisingly easy for the alicorn, as her last act before vanishing into thin air and leaving via the door.
I was absolutely stunned, clueless as to why anything had just happened the way it did, but grateful for the salvation all the same.
...I liked my little guardian angel. That was for certain.

Half hour had passed when Cherry arrived back at the hospital with Maisy, a sombre looking Dusk, a drained looking Fallen Arrow. The specialist and the brahmin followed them closely, but Pockets and Kingcakes were nowhere to be found.
Cherry began to explain to me everything that had happened, how Kingcakes had valiantly sacrificed his life for the safety of the rest of the group, how Pockets died of his injuries, and how Dusk was going to need to talk to me when she was interrupted by an urgent beeping from my pipbuck.

"Hello? Crimson here."
"Crimson, This is Lemon Gaze. We're finally at the outskirts of Fillydelphia, along with Custard Tarts and his group. We've had minor skirmishes with lone raiders and wildlife, but no losses... but there is one massive problem."
I could tell the shaking in his voice even over a pipbuck, I didn't like this. "What problem is that, Lemon?"
"...It's Red Eye,"
"Lemons, please. What's happened?"
"...Red eye is dead."

Footnote:
Cherry Sundae level up!
Perk unlocked! Active Camouflage level 3!
.At this level of Active Camouflage, you're able to run while covering yourself! This is extremely draining on your energy however, and is a sure way to exhaust yourself quickly.

25 Speech attained.

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/ !

A massive massive massive thank you goes out to my readers - I cannot begin to apologise enough for how much I have let you down as of late. It's not something I've been meaning to do, I just haven't head the strength within me to keep it up.
At one point I was considering scrapping this whole project - but to do that would be to scrap my life itself.

Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for being there for me.

Katarn & Tea get honourable mentions for Katarn being an amazing emotional support and Tea because in chapter 5 he did a lot to help me and I repeatedly forgot to give him special mention - so here it is. Thank you Tea, your reviews are always so much appreciated, and Katarn, you're amazing and you know it - I say go ahead with your story - hey, you gotta now, everyone knows!

Thank you so much though, both - and all of you. Thank you. I'm sorry I made you wait so long.

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