"Come on out or we'll come in there and get you!"

"I'd like to see you try Brahmin-breath!" Sunrise ducked under a window after hurling her insult at the group outside. "Who the buck are these guys anyways?"

I peeked around the window corner. Certainly didn't look like any ponies I knew, they just looked like a bunch of raiders. In the very back I recognized a brown earth pony. He was one of the drunk gangers that was harassing Lily the day I left Desert Springs. Sure enough I saw him turn and he had a red string tied around his tail.

"Well screw me with a cactus. Look they're after me, you two just stay here and I'll deal with this." I walked to the door but Sunrise cut me off.

"No way we're gonna let you take on those losers by yourself, right Leek?"

He stared at her through his helmet and I wish I could have seen his expression behind that visor. "Are you crazy? This is none of our business let's just let her deal with her own problems. Probably deserves what's coming to her anyways." That was just uncalled for, he didn't even know me!

She looked at him pleadingly. "Come on, what would Elder Steelhooves do? We promised we would be better, like all the posters say. That's why we left the order in the first place remember?"

He stood motionless for several moments before sighing and walking to the door. "Alright fine, but you stay safe alright? I'm the one in the big scary power armor so they'll focus on me. Stay behind cover and stay as far away from me as you can, just like last time."

She nodded and dug a pistol out of her bag. "Got it. What about you?" She looked at me as she lined up behind her armored companion.

"Me? I'll just do what I normally do. Something completely irrational that get's me hurt." I said with a wink as I opened the door and stepped outside.

The wind was nothing more than a gentle breeze by now as the sun sat high in the sky. Well I couldn't actually see it of course, but you can always barely see where some of the clouds are brighter than others and I was taught that's where the sun was. Looking across the empty pre-war street I could count almost two dozen low life's they sent to get me.

In the back I saw the brown pony watching me with a scowl. This must be some kind of personal victory for him... "We finally found you bitch. Come quietly and I just might let you get back to the Baron in one piece like he wanted. If not... hehe, more fun for me."

"Fuck off sicko nopony wants to hear you talk anyways." Sunrise shouted from behind Leek as she edged closer to a partially collapsed wall to our right.

I adopted a defensive stance as the buck started laughing. No way I can take on that many guns at once, but if I can manage to split them up and take them on one at a time I just might make it through this...

"You really are stupid aren't you? You think even with your new friend there you actually stand a chance against all of us?" To accent his point several more ponies emerged from some of the nearby houses and buildings, many carrying some heavy weaponry.

"Even in that armor of yours you can't take this much firepower, so why not just give up?"

Leek stood his ground as the two miniguns started spinning over his shoulders. "You doubt the legacy of the Ministry of Wartime Technology?"

Several of the gangers stepped aside as a huge pony walked through the crowd. Okay he wasn't nearly as big as Boxer, but still he was a giant compared to me.

When I saw what he was carrying on his back my heart stopped. He dumped the bloody body of Finder onto the dirt at his hooves with a frown. "Every time I kicked this filly it said some pegasus was gonna come kick my ass for it. I kept kicking him but you never came, so I brought him to you."

My whole world slowed to a crawl. He was covered in blood, patches of his coat and mane were even missing. Goddesses he was barely even breathing! As if the radiation wasn't hurting him enough!

Oh I was angry. I've never seen red like that before. I spread my wings and poised to strike as I watched him with hatred. I hated seeing pony's hurt and it was so much worse if I was the one who hurt them. But this? I can make an exception. Even though I know I'll feel bad about it for a long time, somepony hurt my friend. And I was going to make them pay for that.

The pony grinned and injected some kind of drug into his leg. But I noticed the other raiders started to back off. "You wanted to find me? Well here I am, regretting that decision yet?"

He just laughed maniacally as he strapped a spiked helmet on his head. "Now this is what I'm talking about, this is a real fight!" He grinned and kicked Finder aside casually before charging at me.

I barely noticed Leek backing away from me, and the other raiders all hiding behind a wall as they watched the scene. All I cared about right now was that Finder was badly hurt. And I was going to hurt the pony that did it to him.

I charged and met the crazy buck halfway. He ducked and tried to ram into me but I easily jumped over him, raking his back with cuts from a wingblade as I passed. He barely seemed to notice and with faster reflexes than I expected he kicked backwards and sent me flying through the air. I rolled several times when I hit the ground but I managed to get to my hooves before he was on me again.

He threw a flurry of hoofstrikes at me, all of which were easily dodged. I landed counter strikes when I could but he just didn't seem to care no matter how many times I cut him. Whatever drugs he took allowed him to completely ignore the pain, and even worse his injuries were healing as fast as I could cause them.

One of his strikes connected with my shoulder and it was followed by two more to my face. This time he didn't press his advantage, and instead decided to mock me."From the rumors I was led to believe you were some kind of badass. What a let down."

I spit up some blood as I got to my hooves. "Don't worry honey I'm just getting started." About time I went on the offensive. I grabbed my knife from its sheath tied around my leg and lunged at him. He ducked and tried to kick one of my legs out. Too slow, I jumped into the air and brought a wingblade down on his head.

His helmet did it's job and deflected it, but he stood up noticeably slower and more disoriented. I lunged at him again but this time he didn't bother dodging. My knife stuck deep into his chest but he wrapped a hoof around my neck and shove me to the ground. With a kick he sent me rolling away as he ripped the knife from his chest with a grin.

I looked on with horror as the wound began closing in front of me, even the pool of blood at his hooves didn't seem to bother him. "What's the matter, never fought an Iron Pony before? Well I don't blame you few have and lived to talk about it."

I heard Sunrise shouting from somewhere behind me. "Updraft that guy is on some potent drugs! Only way you're gonna kill him is if you cut his head off or something!" Great, I knew combat drugs could be powerful but this was just ridiculous.

"Your friend is right. You thought Hydra and Rage were a potent mix? Try adding restoration potions, Rad-X, and a whole cocktail of other drugs. Not even your little armored friend there could take down a pony when they're riding out this shit."

"You're lucky I wasn't allowed to operate explosive weapons or else I already would have blown your ass above the cloud layer!"

He laughed as I once again took an aggressive stance. "Keep telling yourself that buddy. So you give up yet birdie?"

I charged him and ducked harmlessly under his strike. Grabbing my bloody knife in my mouth (ew...) I brought it up and slashed it across his neck. Blood went everywhere but I still had to roll away to evade his counterattacks. He charged after me despite the blood flowing down his neck, throwing swings and punches wildly as I dodged for my life.

I was so focused on his hooves I never even noticed the headbut coming at my shoulder. The spikes dug in deep, and with a shove he sent me rolling on the ground once again. This time he pressed the advantage and chased after me. I got to my hooves and tried to block his swing. Very big mistake.

The sheer force behind that punch nearly sent me off my hooves, and the second one impacted my chest as I tried to recover. Pain erupted all over as I struggled to breath, but he didn't let up. He threw a third and fourth punch into my chest, all so fast they landed before I even hit the ground.

"Hold on we're coming!" I vaguely heard Sunrise shouting as gunfire erupted around me. The whole world exploded into violence as the gangers returned fire on Sunrise. Then all other noise fell away as Leek opened up a can of murder with his miniguns, shredding the ganger's cover.

The 'Iron Pony' leaned down and whispered in my ear as I fought to catch my breath. "Well it's been fun but looks like our fight's over. Shame too, I really wanted you to live. But it's not like those idiots will probably be alive to pay me after this anyways."

He stood up and poised to bring a hoof down on my head. Not. Today.

I rolled to the side and slashed at his hoof with a wingblade, causing him to stumble away from me. "I will not-" I charged and jumped over him, bringing my wingblade down on one of his hindlegs to cripple him. "let you hurt anypony-" I jumped again and slashed at his neck just under the helmet. "ever again!"

When I landed and turned back to him, I couldn't believe what I saw. He was covered in fire, rolling around on the ground trying to put it out. All my anger was forgotten as I watched the pony burn to death in front of me. Even the firefight stopped as they all stared.

I looked at my wings to see the same fire slowly fading from them. I... did that? Oh goddesses I just set a pony on fire. He stopped thrashing on the ground as he stared up at me. His body was healing almost as fast as the fire consumed it, but the pain must have been unimaginable.

"Everything burns..." He let out a pained, crazed laugh. "Please... Kill me. Make it... stop..." I sat there motionless for only a second before grabbing my knife and walking over to him. He was still covered in fire but it... didn't burn me at all. It barely even felt warm.

"What is your name?" I asked as I sat next to him.

"Before I joined... the Iron Ponies... I was named Big Guns."

"I'll remember you." And with that I gave in to his request. I doubt even the best medical ponies could have saved him at this point, the smell of burning hair filling the air.

Most of the raiders were already dead or turned tail and left. But a few still remained as they looked on with unease. "What are you?" I heard one of them shout.

"She's a freak! Some kind of monster from the Everfree!"

"I ain't getting paid enough to deal with this shit I'm out!" One by one they all left, even the brown buck who looked at me with a lot more fear than he had before.

We won the fight without any of us really getting hurt, so why do I feel so terrible? I sat down and stared at the body of Big Guns, the fire starting to fade.

"Updraft? Dear we need to go, we don't have the supplies to help your friend." I barely heard the voice of Sunrise, but my attention was still fixed on the body. I did this. I burned a pony alive.

"It was you or him alright? Self defense. Come on soldier up, your friend needs you now." Leek put a hoof on my shoulder. I nodded and wiped away a tear. Getting up I trotted over to where Sunrise was bandaging Finder as best as she could.

I pulled out another RadAway but Sunrise shook her head. "Won't do any good, better to wait and let a doctor look at him."

I nodded and leaned down to speak gently into his ear. "Hey Finder how are you holding up?"

He couldn't open his eyes on account of his face being covered in blood, but he let out a quiet, pained laugh. "I'm not."

"Don't worry we'll get you back into town and get you fixed up alright? Just hang in there." The look on Sunrise's face told me we need to hurry.

"Okay here's the plan. I can fly him back to Nowhere by myself, but you two will have to walk. From here just keep the sun to your left and stay to the right of those big hills and you should find it."

Leek finished looting the bodies and stood next to Sunrise. "Actually we won't be doing anymore traveling by day. Maybe you ponies are used to this heat but we aren't from around here. Plus it's safer that way anyways."

I thoroughly disagreed about the safety of traveling at night, but I didn't have time to argue. I gently slid Finder on my back for the second time today. "Alright then keep the moon on your left then. Just be careful when you get there, some of the ponies aren't as welcoming as others."

He nodded as I gently took off from the ground, kicking dust up as I fought to keep that falling feeling in the back of my mind. Finder was counting on me I couldn't afford to be weak right now. The short flight felt like an eternity, but I finally could make out the small mining town built at the bottom of a mountain.

I landed less than gracefully in the street, earning a few colorful words from some nearby town ponies. I didn't have time for an explanation as I rushed in the bar and past a very confused griffon.

"Hello and welcome to the- Updraft what happened to your mane?" Onyx looked appalled but I didn't answer.

"I'm fine but Finder needs your help!"

She craned her neck to see his bleeding form on my back. "Right bring him back here, set him on the table. Gently!" After fetching some water and a few medical supplies she ushered me out of the room. As I sat in her waiting room I couldn't help but cry a little. I really hoped he was going to be okay.

Maybe I was crying more than a little... I buried my face in my hooves out of embarrassment as much as anything. I heard the sound of clicking talons before Griff sat on the floor next to me.

"He's going to be fine, you did everything you could to get him here." He patted me on the back before I heard the familiar sound of a cork being pulled from a bottle.

"But what if it wasn't enough?" I looked up at him and tried to wipe the tears out of my eyes. "What if my best wasn't good enough?"

He took a long drink of his whiskey. "Well your best was enough to save me right? Then I'm sure it was enough for him too." He offered me a drink, but I declined.

I was going to point out that Raze was in the middle of killing us all when I blacked out, but the black unicorn trudged through the door from the medical room.

"I need a drink." Was all she said before telekinetically pulling the bottle away from the griffon. After sating her thirst she passed it back and turned to me.

"He's going to be fine." I was already thanking and hugging her before she had time to react. "Hey come on now, get off will ya?" After I let go and she regained her composure, she continued. "He's most likely going to get away from this one without any permanent harm, but he is in a serious need for some rest. At least a week, maybe more."

Oh he won't like that one bit. "Can I see him?"

She shrugged. "Sure, he's out cold though. He'd be in much better condition if he didn't have radiation sickness on top of it all." I thanked her again and trotted to the room Finder was in. He was laying on the same bed I was before, covered in sweat and breathing shallowly. Goddesses he looked so weak, I hated seeing my friend like this knowing there was nothing I could do about it.

Onyx trotted in behind me levitating a water bucket and a rag. "He's really not in very good shape. You probably shouldn't be here dear."

"I don't have anywhere else to go..." I whispered as I rested my head on his bedside.

She sighed and set the bucket on the floor next to me. "You two were out there trying to raise money right?"

I slapped my face with a hoof. I totally forgot! "Okay maybe I do have something I'm supposed to be doing. But... I don't want to just leave him here, what if he wakes up?"

" I swear you two were cut from the same cloth... Then he'll wake up in a hospital bed in a safe town and you can see him when you get back. Now go on, shoo. No point in sitting here and sulking." She pushed me until I got my own legs moving.

"Alright I'm going no need to get all pushy." I pouted as I walked to the door. Glancing over my shoulder one more time at Finder I left the room with a sigh.

Griff was leaning against the wall near the door standing on his back legs in that weird way griffons do. "So what's the plan?"

"I'm going to go back there and bring back all the stuff we scavenged to sell for the orphanage. I kinda forgot about it before."

He nodded his head. "Figured as much. Well I'm coming with you. With your record you'll run into a pack of manticores on your way there and a hundred raiders on the way back." He pointed a talon at the shotgun slung over his shoulder. "You'll need the help."

I was afraid of this... "Actually, I think it would be better if you stay here. Not that I doubt your skill or anything, but I was planning to fly there, and well..."

He looked at his injured wing and grimaced. "Okay yeah, until my crew gets here I'm grounded thanks to that hellhound. But what about on the way back? Think you can fly with that much weight? You look pretty exhausted."

I didn't need his help pointing out how tired I felt after this morning. But I needed something to do to keep my mind off of Finder, and I made a promise to Quick. "I'm not going to. There's a few friendly ponies there that will be walking here at sunset, I'll just stay with them."

He raised an eyebrow. "Crossing the desert at night? I shouldn't need to remind you that's a pretty risky trip. Sure you can take it?"

I nodded confidently. "We'll manage. But thanks for asking." And with that I left the hospital before he could come up with another good reason why it would be smart to let him come with me. In reality I was just scared of him finding out how terrible of a flyer I was.

He was a super cool griffon merc who soared in the skies and outgunned his opponents before they even knew he was there. A real predator. And I was just... me. A pitiful excuse for a pegasus still learning how to properly preen her wings.

After waving to Beryl who was trying to win a staring contest with Geode, I trotted out the door and into the midday wasteland. I lazily flew a few pony lengths above the ground until I was out of sight. I landed with a less than graceful thud and kicked at the ground with a hoof. I was really not looking forward to getting there.

I walked slowly, taking a much longer route than when Finder and I had come before. With my Pipbuck I wasn't worried about getting lost.

Eventually my (thankfully peaceful) journey ended with the sight of the crater town filling my vision. As I walked around it's outer structures each detail of this morning was flashing through my head.

Of how courageous the two Rangers were, standing up to so many ponies just for my sake. About the uncaring look when Big Guns dropped Finder at his hooves. The sound of screaming and the smell of burning hair when I-

I sat down and shook my head. "Keep it together Updraft, you can fall apart after you help the kids. And I really should stop talking to myself, it only makes me..." I stopped mid sentence and smacked my forehead with a hoof. Okay brain you can just shut up now.

Moving on, I arrived at the site of this morning's fight. Nearly a dozen dead raiders were scattered around the street and surrounding buildings. Leek's guns didn't leave much doubt as to whether any pony who got caught in the crossfire survived. It was going to be a long day.

I did want to see if the Rangers were still in the same house, but I wasn't too keen on discovering first hoof if Leek was as trigger happy as he seemed. Instead I walked back to the house I left Finder in a few houses away. Where the raiders found him. Alone and sick.

Goddesses how could I have been so stupid! After walking through what was left of the front door, I immediately noticed just how much they tore the place up. It pained me to remember that most of the furniture was still organized and intact before they came. I hoped most of this was done in separate acts of violence than what they did to my friend. The obvious trails and spatters of blood told me otherwise.

They must have been in a hurry, because when I checked the bathroom all of our bags were still sitting in the bathtub untouched. Looking through one of Finder's bags I pulled out one of the rusty shovels he 'acquired' from somewhere. With heavy thoughts and a heavier heart I set about what needed to be done.

^^^

In total there were eleven graves, one noticeably larger than the others. Shortly after I started Leek emerged from the same house as this morning. He stood by the door and watched as I dug each grave. Finally after I had buried them all and was putting makeshift headstones over their graves, he trotted up next to me.

"Why?"

"Because they're ponies."

"They were raiders." He said flatly.

I ignored him. "And all ponies deserve a proper burial."

"They wouldn't have done the same you know."

He stood there silently until I had finished. I finally turned to face him, my eyes were probably still red and wet. "Should it matter? I don't like it when ponies get hurt. Even if they're the bad guys. Why can't every pony just get along?"

He shook his head before trotting back to the house, disappearing through the doorway. I sat alone in front of those graves until nightfall, no real reason to go anywhere else. I wondered what they were like when they were kids. Were they ever even given a choice on what kind of life they would live? What would they have done if they did have a choice? If we all somehow met before the Great War, would we have all been friends?

A gentle hoof nudged my shoulder. "You alright dear? You look like you've seen a ghost." Sunrise stood next to me as she looked at all the graves. "Something on your mind?"

I smiled and stood up, shaking my stiff limbs a little. "Just a silly dream. Guess you two are ready to head out?" She nodded and stood with me. "Mind if I tag along for the trip?"

She shook her head and trotted to Leek's side. After I gathered our things I followed behind them. Having this much extra weight on my back really made it hard to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Then again so did the bickering married couple.

"We're not having kids, and that's final. We don't have time for that!" Leek sounded like he was tired of having this conversation.

"And I said we are having kids, at least one. I know you want to settle down too. We've been wandering around the wasteland for so long..."

"But we haven't found a safe place yet. At least not one we would both be willing to spend the rest of our lives in."

"I know, but I'm just so tired of waiting. I'm starting to think there isn't a safe enough place anymore. Besides I know if somepony is trying to hurt my kid I'll stop them no matter what."

Leek groaned inside his helmet. "You're already talking like you're a mother..."

Sunrise laughed and nudged his shoulder. "Mare's instincts, isn't that right Updraft?" She turned her head to look at me. "Updraft?"

They both stopped and I nearly walked straight into her. "Huh? Oh sorry, what did you ask?"

"Dear is killing that raider still bothering you that much?" Leek snorted and walked a few pony lengths away.

I sat down and stared at my hooves. "No it's just... You two have been talking about having kids, and it hurts knowing that I'll... That I'll never even get to have that kind of talk with anypony."

And here comes the tears. Great. Leek snickered as Sunrise put a hoof on my shoulder. "Why not, get nervous around stallions or something?"

Sunrise's glare silenced him. "That's not what she meant idiot. I'm not going to pretend I know what you're going through, it must be horrible. But I do know a little about losing something precious."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a yellow ball, stained brown from dirt and years of use. "I grew up with the Steel Rangers, my dad was a paladin and my mom was a scribe. They were my whole world. Then one day when i was still just a filly we got attacked."

"Back then RedEye was just getting his operations started, and he needed to prove he wasn't somepony to mess with. They attacked us at night with heavy weapons and those damn anti machine rifles. My father was one of the first to die, but my mother... She died protecting me, distracting some of them long enough for me to run and hide. There weren't any other survivors."

She examined the ball in her hooves before carefully holding it out for me. "This is all I really have left from them. It may seem silly but this little ball has always meant a lot to me. But now I don't just live to remember them and carry on their dreams. Now I have a life and dreams of my own, so I want you to have this. It's hardly a replacement for what you've lost, but maybe it will make it easier until you find something really worth living for like I did." She smiled and glanced at Leek.

I wasn't sure exactly what to say to that. I mean it was just an old tennis ball, but clearly this was very important to her. "Thank you." I finally said while almost reverently taking the tennis ball from her hooves before placing it in my bags.

We continued walking in silence after that, the others occasionally making mention of the passing scenery. It was already dark, and rapidly getting colder. I was fairly used to this since I lived here my whole life, but I doubted the other two were used to the extreme changes in temperature between day and night.

We were almost there when I noticed a red bar in my vision. I rubbed at my eyes until I remembered my Pipbuck. Then there were two, three, dozens of red lights started filling my vision. They were all around us! I realized quickly there was only one thing that could sneak up on ponies like this with such large numbers. They weren't around us, they were beneath us!

"Sand snakes!" I yelled before dropping my bags and grabbing on to Sunrise. I grunted as I lifted the mare off the ground on my back. Immediately dozens of snakes ripped from the ground with incredible speed. They swarmed Leek, moving too fast for the Ranger to bring his guns to life. They couldn't bite him through his armor, but they were certainly going to give it their best.

"What are those!?" Sunrise certainly seemed to be handling being this high better than I was.

"Sand snakes. They bite and they don't let go. They may not suck you dry as fast as a bloodwing will, but a whole nest like that can kill you in a second. And that's not counting their paralyzing venom."

Leek struggled valiantly against the crushing force of so many of the snakes, but within moments he was pushed to the ground as they covered him. "We have to help him!"

I looked over my shoulder at Sunrise and tried to fight off the growing dizziness I was already starting to feel. "Will that pistol of yours punch through his armor?"

The look she gave me either meant yes, or that she wasn't too eager to find out. "Okay I have an idea, but I need to set you down first. They sense movement in the ground so just don't move and they shouldn't know you're there."

She nodded grimly as I descended a safe distance from the pile of snakes. I landed gently and she climbed off my back and gingerly stepped down onto the desert floor. Every cautious movement we made seemed like we were moving in slow motion.

Using my wings I flew a couple pony lengths away from Sunrise as I concentrated. Okay remember what Finder said. I have to get angry if I really want to use my magic. I thought about the events of today, but that just made me feel depressed. I tried thinking about how unfair it was that I had to leave my home because some creep can't take no for an answer. But that's what led me to meet Finder, and he's the nicest pony I've ever met.

I settled for thinking about the Wasteland and how screwed up the world is. I've read books and seen pictures of what Equestria used to look like. About what life used to be like, before ponies and zebras blew everything up.

I closed my eyes and grit my teeth. Seriously how could they have been so selfish! They killed everyone, ruined the whole world over a bunch of dumb rocks! And they got off easy for it too.

They all died, most of them probably didn't even know how. But ponies are fighting and suffering every day now because of what they did. The unfairness of it fueled my anger as I thought about how stupid this all was. I soon felt a familiar warmth in my wings.

Opening my eyes I charged at the pile of snakes. One thing about sand snakes is that they are terrified of fire. Several had already begun to slither away, but I slashed a wing at the writhing pile to get their full attention.

The effect was immediate, and the snakes that weren't on fire quickly fled back underground. The remaining few were stomped into bloody puddles by a very angry Steel Ranger.

"Little fuckers are annoying." He started wiping his hooves on the ground to get the blood off.

"Maybe to you but they're lethal to the rest of us, so I'm gonna fly with-" Gunshots from Sunrise's pistol cut me off. I quickly turned to see several of the snakes coming out of the ground around her.

And just like that my concentration died, and so did the flames covering my wings. She fired every shot in her semi automatic pistol at the snakes moving faster than they had any right to. She managed to get two, and a third bit into her saddle bag uselessly. The fourth however sunk it's fangs deep into her leg. Pain crossed her face before her body went limp.

I rushed to her side, cutting the less threatening snake in half before turning to the second. It had coiled itself tightly around her leg, not wanting to let it's prey go.

"What are you waiting for pull it off already!" Leek shouted as he tried to catch up to me.

"Can't. Those fangs are long and curved, once they go in they don't come back out. You would be more likely to break them off from the snake's head, then she'll definitely die."

He stopped next to me and the tenseness in his voice worried me. "So what are you suggesting we do?"

"Unless you have any healing potions, we wait. That snake is small he won't take much. When he let's go we kill him and take her back to town. Even a full grown sand snake is rarely enough to kill a pony." If all four had gotten to her though...

Seconds dragged on as I recovered my dropped bags, and I was sure Leek was going to take matters into his own hands. But fortunately the snake let go and started to uncoil itself. He didn't let it get far before he crushed its head under a hoof.

I knelt down and gently prodded Sunrise with a hoof. She groaned but didn't move. "She'll be fine, but she won't be able to move for awhile. I think it would be best if I carry her so we can get off the ground in case more of them show up." I didn't give him the option to disagree as I gingerly picked her up and laid her on my back, her head and forelegs draped over my shoulders.

I led the way slowly, Leek trailing behind and constantly moving his head back and forth. Checking for red bars? Finder had mentioned they have something able to do that in their armor, like my Pipbuck. But I thought Pipbucks were created by Stable Tech, not the Ministry of Wartime Technology. Maybe they worked together?

"Why?" My thoughts were interrupted by Leek's augmented voice.

"Why what?"

"Why are you trying so hard to help us? Not like you owe us anything. You helped us this morning, and we returned the favor. Going out of your way to help other ponies is far from normal unless you think you can get something out of it."

I looked at him with a smirk. "And what about me screams 'normal' to you?"

He actually laughed at that one. "I suppose you have a point there. But still just because she trusts you doesn't mean I have to."

Wow maybe this guy just never had any friends before. "Alright fine. How do an prove myself to you then?" Since obviously saving his marefriend from sand snakes wasn't good enough.

His answer took me completely by surprise and I nearly tripped over my own hooves. "What's the one thing you love the most?"

I stopped dead in my tracks as I tried to get my brain working again. I opened and closed my mouth several times with answers that all died before I voiced them. I was going to have to think about this...

We continued walking as I repeated the question in my head over and over. Well I've loved blades since I was a filly, it was how I got my Cutie Mark. But I also loved all of my friends too. And complete strangers... Eventually I had my answer. "I love love itself."

He facehoofed. "That is so lame..."

"No really that's my answer. That feeling you get when you see a married couple holding each other, when a colt and filly kiss for the first time... Love is what makes life worth living."

"That is so corny! Come on really, that's your answer?"

I was starting to get really tired of his cool pony act. "Alright fine then what's your answer huh?" I prodded his chest with a hoof.

He didn't look at me. Instead his visor turned to the unconscious mare laying on my back. "She's the only one." His voice sounded distant, like he was deep in a memory.

I sighed as we started walking again. I really should have expected something like that.

^^^

Everything hurt. My muscles burned and protested every movement, but we made it. I realized this was the first time I had actually walked into town. The whole place was lit up with amber lighting coming from lanterns hung on buildings and old street lights.

Griff was perched on a rock just outside of town. Upon seeing us he rushed over to meet us. "That walk took a lot longer than it should have, everything okay?"

When we got closer to the light I nodded my head to Sunrise. "Sand snake got her. Should be fine but I'm going to take her to see Onyx just in case.Griff this is Leek. He's a friend so be nice. Maybe show him a place he can spend the night while I'm at the clinic?"

Leek snorted. "What like some kind of date? I'm not leaving her side, much less to follow some Talon around a town."

Griff took a threatening step towards the Steel Ranger. "You got a problem with griffons buddy?"

Leek matched his stance, almost coming nose to beak with the tall predator. "Only if their low life scum. Which since that's all of your kind, then I guess I do."

Griff prodded the Ranger as a scowl formed across his face. "You're Lucky Updraft here doesn't want me to show you how good I am at opening tin cans like you."

"Hey come on you two, at least pretend to like each other?" Don't know why I bothered, they weren't listening to me anyways and I was far too tired to stop them.

Leek laughed and I heard some clicks within his armor. "Hah I'd like to see you try birdbrain. What happened to your wing? Guess you aren't as good as you think you are."

"Please... stop fighting..." Everyone stopped and turned to see Sunrise weakly holding her head up, her eyes barely open. "Updraft's right... Can't we all just... get along?"

Leek rushed to her (and mine by default) side and gently put an armored hoof on her shoulder. She smiled weakly up at him, but I could tell she was about to fall asleep again.

"Come on let's go get her better. Leek you're welcome to follow, but you better not cause any trohble. Griff would you do me a really big favor?"

He nodded. "Sure thing, I'm stuck here for a while longer anyways."

"Could you take these bags to the orphanage? Quick will be glad to see what all we brought back."

After he slung the bags of scrap over his back he nodded and walked off in the direction of the orphanage.

Without another word I slowly made my way to Beryl's Bar. To his credit Leek didn't say a word despite the looks many of the ponies were giving him. Steel Rangers were not highly thought of in most of the wasteland it seemed.

After entering the bar however, I froze as all eyes turned on us. Talons, over a dozen of them had filled the bar. Beryl looked stressed out of his mind, and the other ponies in the bar all looked like they were wary of making the wrong move. But when the Steel Ranger and a pegasus walked into the room everyone went silent.

I ducked my head and tried to become as small as possible as I walked across the bar and into the clinic. Leek wasn't helping with his cool guy attitude, walking as tall as he could and making sure to look at every griffin we passed. The short walk felt like a funeral march, but thankfully we made it to the clinic without a fight breaking out.

"Not again... what happened this time?"

I shook my head and walked passed Onyx, giving her a good look at Sunrise. "Sand snake got her, I think she's fine but I wanted to be sure."

Leek stood by the door, presumably watching for any griffons to wander too close to the clinic's door.

Onyx nodded as she looked the mare over. "Yeah she's fine, just needs some rest. But I really would like to check that bullet wound out, make sure everything heals properly."

That's right, the wound from this morning I gave her my healing potion for. I sure hope the bullet isn't still inside her. "Okay well I'm going to get something to eat. Leek I'm sure Onyx won't mind you waiting here, but seriously please try to stay out of trouble. This town is safe, nice, and quiet. Let's keep it that way." He didn't say a word as I walked past him and back into the bar.

And suddenly I wanted to disappear again. While their stares weren't as intense before and there were still plenty of conversations going, I still felt the attention of a room full of predators. I noticed Griff sitting at the bar with a large, female Talon and figured that was my safest chance to get some food. I sat next to him and ordered some pre-war food from Beryl. He looked relieved to be selling anything other than meat this evening.

"So Updraft what's the deal with the Ranger asshole?" Griff was eating some kind of cooked rodent while drinking his usual whiskey.

"I don't know what his problem is. But he and Sunrise helped me out this morning when more Red Tail idiots came looking for me so I'm trying to give him a chance." I sighed and rested my head on the bar. Today was not a fun day.

"Red Tail idiots?"

"Yeah remember how I said I can't go back home? Well those guys are the reason."

"Birds of a feather huh Griff?" The large Talon next to him intoned and shook his shoulder.

"Oh right sorry, name's Updraft. Town guard of Desert Springs and now a wandering radioactive pegasus." The Talon tilted her head but extended a hand to shake my hoof.

"Name's Vera, but this sorry lot just calls me Captain. So you're the one who rescued this idiot from Las Pegasus?"

I was going to disagree with her definition of rescue but Griff cut me off. "Yeah she's with me, so none of you scoundrels start getting any ideas alright?" He raised his voice loud enough for the room to hear. It was rewarded as I was called some not so nice names and a few catcalls rang out.

Oh dear, I tried to get so small in my chair I wasn't sure if Beryl would be able to see me over the counter. Vera laughed and slammed the rest of her drink.

"Relax pegasus we may be scoundrels but we aren't raiders. But enough small talk, I have a business deal for you."

"Oh? What's that?" I sat up and perked my ears. Right now all I really wanted was to sleep and wait here until finder was awake. But I really could use some caps since all of mine got stolen.

"A caravan will be coming through here in two days. I promised them two of my Talons, but plans changed and I need everyone I can get to handle a different problem."

At my questioning look Griff answered me. "Those bandits killed four of us, and that isn't going over very well. Captain decided if we wanted to secure any business deals here in the future, we needed to deal with them first."

"Whoa back up a second. You guys are going after the Sand Dogs? But that's crazy!"

Vera narrowed her eyes at me. "You don't think we can take them?"

Oh shit. "Oh no of course not that's not what I meant at all. It's just that's awfully generous of you to risk your lives like that for us ponies like that..." Smooth.

"We're not doing it for you. We're going to go kill those fuckers because they need to die. They're hurting my business, and they killed four of my Talons. Plain as that."

Nice one Updraft, why not ask her how good of friends they were to her, maybe family even. I decided to change the subject before it was too late. "So... You want me to guard a caravan?"

Vera still looked mad but at least it didn't seem directed at me anymore. "Yes, you and two more ponies. The caravan already has a te of it's own guards but they're taking a dangerous route. Don't fuck it up alright? She's an old business partner of mine so you better keep them safe."

Griff nodded and leaned over to whisper in my ear. "Ask about the pay, she like that."

"So uhh, Captain. This sounds like a pretty risky job, what's the pay?"

She laughed and stood up. "Vera will do, you aren't exactly a Talon after all. Coach Gun always pays well and takes care of her ponies, so I'd say at least 150 caps. Remember pony, fuck this up and I will find you."

She narrowed her eyes and raised two talons, first pointing them at her eyes then at mine. Okie dokie lokie...

As soon as she walked off I perked my ears as a noise started filling the room. Griff watched me with a knowing smile as I searched the room for the source. "Come on I think you'll like this."

He led me through the crowd to the opposite side of the bar. In the corner two identical looking griffons were standing on their hind legs, each holding something I've never seen before. They looked like the guitars I've seen in an old book, but a little different. What amazed me though was the sound they were making.

The griffons were making music! It wasn't the same as listening to the radio, this was real music I could watch them make. I sat and watched them as they each took turns playing their instrument, playfully mocking the other as they tried to outdo them. I guess the other Talons were used to the show because they didn't pay them any special attention, but I couldn't take my eyes off of them.

I noticed Griff stand up next to them, holding a guitar in his hands as he nodded to me. Soon the twin griffons were playing at the same time and I was surprised when Griff joined in. His guitar made a much deeper noise than the others. The three of them played through the song as if they had done it a thousand times, not even paying attention to their hands or instruments as they looked out over the crowd.

A rhythmic clap had begun in the crowd to accompany the music, and soon the whole bar was alive as griffons and ponies alike cheered the musicians on.

All but the little pegasus sitting right in front of them. I was too awestruck to participate in the cheers as they finished their song. They wasted no time in starting another song as one of the twins set his not-guitar down and hefted a huge instrument I've never seen before. Even standing on his hind legs it was almost as big as he was!

A third 'twin' joined them. Like the other two she was huge even for a griffon, but the instrument she carried was like a small guitar. If I wasn't so dumbfounded I might have made a joke about big griffons with little guitars.

As soon as they started playing I was surprised to see a small colt walk up to them holding what I recognized as a violin. He was nervous and played more quietly than the others, but as the bar's patrons cheered he got into it just as much as the rest. He stood up on his hind legs proudly, playing his little instrument surrounded by giant griffons.

They played for what felt like an hour as I sat and watched. Sometimes they would swap out instruments, one of them would play some kind of solo. It wasn’t until they played a particularly sad song that I found I just couldn’t enjoy the music anymore. As the female griffon stepped forward and sung about her home and how much she wished she was there, I found that I just couldn’t shake the homesickness I felt.

Nodding goodbye to Griff I made my way back across the bar to the clinic. It was much quieter back here, and I was grateful Onyx was too busy in the bar to notice me come back here. Leek was still standing by the door as he watched over his sleeping marefriend. I wondered if that buck ever went to sleep. Sneaking into Finder’s medical room I tried to be as quiet as I could as I sat next to his bed. He was still asleep, his breathing was ragged and his coat was matted down from all the sweat.

I sighed and pulled the mostly dry towel from his forehead and replaced it with a cleaner one soaked in warm water. My voice was no more than a whisper. “No matter what, I’m going to help you find a home. Someplace you can really live like the kind pony you are. You deserve so much more, but I think that’s the best I can do.”

I laid my head on the side of his bed, watching him breath until I fell asleep at some point.

Level Up!

Filly’s League: Years of practice with your blades has honed your skill with melee weapons. +5 to melee damage. (Rank 3, maxed rank)

Author's Notes:

Hey everybody! Thanks for sticking around this long, I apologize for the long wait between updates. Unfortunately while I mostly have the next chapter written, it will likely be a while until I can release it. As some of you may know, I'm shipping off to boot camp! I'm actually posting this while waiting in the airport for my flight. Just know that the story isn't dead, and hopefully I won't be either x3

A big thanks to Kkat for writing Fallout: Equestria, and for letting us dabble in her work. And of course a big thanks to The 24th Pegasus and LoyalLiar for letting me borrow their ideas for my own devious plots.