It was time. I said goodbye to Finder and Onyx, and was standing outside the bar next to a group of caravan ponies and brahmin. They had gotten into town the night prior, and many of them just slept outside with their goods or scattered around Beryl’s bar. Since he locked up all the booze at night he didn’t seem to mind people taking refuge in his establishment during the cold nights.

As they looked over their equipment and checked their gear, I turned to my own meagre belongings with a sigh. I didn’t have much, but at least it was all mine. My trusty knife sat in it’s scabbard on my right foreleg, and my saddlebags were tied securely around my midsection. Inside I had my thick coat to help with the high winds, some tools, canteen full of clean water (courtesy of the Oasis) and my old wooden training knife. I took that one out and left it on a box next to Beryl’s doorstep. Not like I needed it anymore, maybe somepony else could use it.

Lastly I had my wingblades. They were far from perfect, especially after the repair job I did on them after the… incident from the other night. But they were definitely still sharp, and I worked hard to ensure they wouldn’t cause me much excess drag while flying. I looked over each individual scale, ensuring everything was secured in place and everything was properly oiled. Satisfied with my checks, I turned to notice a few of the caravan ponies watching me.

“Can I help you?” At my question they all turned back to their work, occasionally glancing back when they thought I wasn’t looking.

“Probably never seen a pegasus before.” A large mare said as she approached from across the street with a bemused smile. She had a cream colored coat and a solid pink mane/tail. Her cutie mark was a shotgun overlaid on a shield. “Names Coach Gun, and I run this little outfit. I guess you’re the pony Vera sent me?”

We shook hooves and I was glad to see she wasn’t some grumpy old stallion or something. “Yup, name’s Updraft nice to meet you. And yeah I get those kind of looks a lot. Still don’t like it though…”

She laughed and hopped up on her wagon. The others taking that as a silent command that it was time to get moving. “Well if you’re anything like Calamity, I’m sure they’ll warm up to you faster than a hellhound can run.” Knowing just how fast a hellhound can run, I doubted that. “Shame he wandered off, was always nice knowing he was watching my back.”

"Wait you mean the Calamity? Only the greatest caravan guard ever? What happened?" She laughed at the enthusiasm in my voice. That buck was my hero! I always wanted to be just like him ever since I heard stories about him years ago.

"No clue. One day the Stable Dweller shows up in town and next thing I know our best helper headed south to save the world or some shit. Sucks since the bandits and raiders are only getting worse out here."

"Stable Dweller? Who's that?" I asked as I walked beside her wagon. The other guards seemed content to walk in silence, but I was grateful for somepony else to talk to.

"You don't know? You don't listen to the radio much do you kid?"

"We never get any reception in Desert Springs."

"Well some call her the Lightbringer, but the Stable Dweller is just a pony going around the wasteland doing good deeds and helping ponies. Probably has some kind of hero complex or something."

A few of the guards tuned in from behind us. "I heard the Stable Dweller can kill a whole camp of Raiders with just her mind."

"And I heard the Stable Dweller is ten feet tall; shoots lightning from her eyes, and fireballs from her ass."

Coach rolled her eyes. "If she were that powerful we wouldn't need to guard caravans anymore would we? Don't mind those two they'll believe anything." She sighed and took a drink of water. "But still it's a good thing they're doing. The wasteland needs more ponies like that."

Yes, it does. I always wanted to be that pony, the one to help those who couldn't help themselves. Even if there was nothing they could give to me in return.

I tried asking her about what else was going on in the south, but since she only guards caravans up here she didn't know much more than I did. Gradually we just settled for enjoying the quiet company of other ponies as we continued our walk. And sweet Celestia did we walk, on and on for hours. I had to alternate between walking and flying to keep my hooves off the hot ground. No idea how these ponies did this for a living everyday.

Eventually the Brahmin started acting funny. I soon found out why. We were traveling through some rocky, mountainous terrain. Collapsed buildings mixed in with the rocks to make this a perfect place to ambush caravans, as Coach had warned me.

But the real threat wasn't bandits or raiders, but rather the horde of ghouls that haunted this place. "Alright ponies you know the drill. Stay close, call out targets, and shoot anything that moves. I don't want anypony dying like last time."

One of the guards in the rear echoed her sentiment. "Poor Troubleshoot..."

Everything got eerily silent as we entered the makeshift passageway. Both sides of the road were lined with large boulders and damaged buildings. I felt nervous as I walked alongside Coach's wagon, but she seemed almost relaxed. I wonder how many times she's made this trip?

"Left side rooftop." One of the guards called out before firing multiple shots from a pistol.

Coach Gun frowned as she checked the rounds in her shotgun. Slugs, I noticed. "That was fast. Alright Everypony keep sharp they'll be all over us soon."

The closest guard behind me whispered a quiet prayer to Celestia. Poor buck, he only had a double barrel shotgun to defend himself with.

It started with a horrific shriek coming from somewhere ahead of us, followed by another. Soon the air was filled with the sound of ghouls screaming as they charged at us. This was so not cool, I didn't sign up to get attacked by a horde of zombie ponies!

Okay buck this noise, I threw my coat off and took to the air. No way I was just going to wait around until they were all grouped up. I was going to fight this on my own terms- "Ah!" I barely avoided an airborne collision with a pegasus ghoul flying at me.

Great, I didn't even have that advantage anymore. Oh well the wasteland rarely gives us what we want anyways. I saw three ghouls trying to climb onto a rooftop to jump onto the caravan below. I dive bombed them and tucked my wings in, nearly decapitating two of them and sending the third flailing off the roof before I spread my wings and gained my height advantage again.

Lazily dodging another pegasus I twisted and sliced one of its wings off with my wingblade as it passed. I made another pass at the ghouls below, this time taking out two in the road in front of the caravan. Another one of them jumped desperately at me as I passed but but dodging these slow moving monstrosities was easy compared to the hellhounds or Big Guns.

Ceaseless gunfire rang out from the caravan below as they desperately tried to break through the seemingly endless horde of brain eaters. Come on Updraft you gotta get in the game! Those ponies down there need your help. Oh and some fire would be nice right about now too.

I tried again and again but I just couldn't get my magic to do more than a tiny flame. Stupid magic! Why can't you work when I actually want you to... Grabbing my knife from its sheath I dived for the street below, starting from the back of the caravan to the front I picked off as many ghouls as I could without losing speed.

We were making good time through the ruins, those crazy Brahmin even helping to trample any of the ghouls that got too close. But the hordes were only getting worse and I wasn't sure how much ammo they had left. I redoubled my efforts, going slower and killing more ghouls with each pass.

It was really starting to take it's toll on my wings, and my ragged breathing was leaving me on the verge of collapsing. But I couldn't quit now! Not until every one of those ponies was safe and out of this place. I wasn't going to let even a single pony die today if there was anything I could do to stop it.

I never even saw it. I should have but I was too busy thinking about saving the others. Just as I finished another pass and started gaining altitude I felt something heavy hit my side and send me tumbling to the ground. The ghoul pegasus landed beneath me and took the worst of the impact, but I still had the breath knocked out of me.

As I struggled to get back in the air a deep pain erupted in my leg. I collapsed to the ground as the large ghoul started dragging me by my leg towards one of the somewhat intact buildings. Bringing dinner home for the kids huh?

I kicked it's head with my free leg once, twice, three times. It didn't really let go, so much as it's lower jaw came off as it's brain seeped out of the hole in it's head and onto my legs. Well that was just disgusting.

After pulling the monster's lower jaw from the deep wound it left, I slowly stood to observe my surroundings. The caravan was already speeding ahead of me, probably never even noticing I face-checked the asphalt back here.

Ignoring the pain in my leg I took off again just as two more ghouls reached where I was standing. I had to dodge several more airborne ghouls before I caught up with the others, but I was just in time to take down one of the abominations as it tried to jump from a rock onto one of the guards.

"Fuck!" I heard Coach Gun yell. One of the merchants was being dragged by the leg like I was before, and the guards were just too overwhelmed to help the poor mare. She screamed as another ghoul bit a foreleg and started pulling the other direction. They were trying to tear her apart!

Only one thought went through my mind: that mare had family and friends just like anypony else. She may have been just another wastelander to me, but to somepony else she might be the only reason worth living. She was the main character of her own story, but she was about to die one of the most brutal deaths the wasteland has to offer. And I'll be as damned as the worst raider if I didn't try to stop it.

I rocketed through the sky and landed on a charging ghoul, driving my knife deep into it's head before spinning and slashing at a second ghoul with a wingblade. Not stopping for an instant I pounced on one of the ghouls attacking the mare, driving my knife through it's skull as I bucked another away.

The second ghoul dropped the mare and charged at the new threat, and with superior strength he shoved me to the ground. The impact caught me by surprise and my knife landed several feet away. I barely held its jaws away from my neck as I struggled to get an angle to use my wingblades. "Run! Get back to the others while you can!"

The mare barely got to her hooves before another ghoul tackled her to the ground, feverishly trying to bite her in the side as she screamed.

"Oh for Celestia's sake!" I twisted and dragged my wing across the ghoul’s neck, the blades cutting through it's rotted flesh like water and nearly decapitating the monster. Shoving it off I rushed over to the mare and kicked the ghoul off of her, putting a hoof on it's chest before cutting it's head clean off.

The ghouls only gave us a few moments rest, but soon there were countless more charging at us. No way I could keep fighting them off so I grabbed the flailing mare in my hooves and took to the air.

"Put me down! Put me down right now!" She screamed as she squirmed around in my grip. Carrying her heavier weight on my tired wings was already a strain, moving didn't help!

"Stop it! You'll make us both fall! Just close your eyes for a second and-" She fought her way out of my grip and I had to dive to catch her. This time I made her straddle my back as the ground kept getting closer. With one last desperate effort I was able to level out and glide until we caught up with the caravan outside of the ruins. Of course it would have been a lot easier if she hadn't wrapped her hooves around my neck like she wanted to strangle me...

Our landing was less than graceful, with me ending up on my belly while she laid on my head. She immediately crawled off and started hugging the ground. "I'll never leave you again!"

I groaned as I laid on the ground. My everything hurt and I really wanted a nap right about now...

A familiar hoof was offered to help me up, and I smiled as I graciously accepted it. Coach Gun laughed as she helped dust me off. " In all my years that was about the craziest thing I've ever seen. You got some kind of a death wish or something kid?"

I stood still for a moment as I enjoyed getting to breath again. "I've just seen enough dead ponies for a while."

She sighed as she watched the other mare stand up shakily and try to put on a smile. "I know the feeling. That girl is like family to me, I can't thank you enough for saving her."

I watched as she tried to walk, obviously limping and trying to avoid putting weight on the hind leg that the ghoul bit. "I wasn't fast enough though, if I had been faster she wouldn't be so hurt."

Coach nickered and slapped my head lightly. "Don't be ridiculous that wound will be healed up in a week tops, you did just fine. And what about yourself? After all you're the one who volunteered to brawl it out with a dozen ghouls after all."

I looked down at my battered and bruised body. Thank Celestia I have such a dark coat so most of the injuries don't show. "Eh, I've had worse. Honestly I think a long night's sleep will be enough. And maybe a drink or two..."

She laughed as we made our way over to the others. "I hear that, tell you what when we get to New Appleloosa drinks are on me. How's that sound?"

"I'd say that sounds real good boss." I took up my spot beside her lead wagon as she climbed up and grabbed the brahmin's reigns.

"Alright everypony we made it this far without losing anypony but we aren't home yet so stay sharp! The slavers all packed up but there's plenty of raiders that took their place!"

We returned to our slow pace as the sun started setting. Coach informed me we would reach New Appleloosa just as night fell. Meaning I still had at least an hour of more boring walking...

"So what did you mean when you said the slavers all left?"

She took a last draw from a cigarette before tossing what was left to the ground. Litter! "Like I said before. One day the Stable-Dweller strides in and takes Calamity on some kind of heroic adventure or some shit. They walked right into old Appleloosa, wiped the floor with the slavers, and rescued a whole bunch of slaves by loading them up on the train. The few slavers left didn't stay around long to see what a bunch of angry wastelanders would do once they realized how vulnerable they were."

"Wow seriously? That sounds like something out a comic book or something..." That mare sure is brave to do something like that, I'd be scared to death to even go within sight of a place like that.

"I know right? Then just days later Shattered Hoof has some kind of tissy with RedEye's slavers, and with the help of the wasteland heroine not only do they win and start opening up their borders to caravans, but she also killed a dragon! Like a real, fire breathing dragon!"

"That's awesome! I wish I could meet her, I bet she's got a ton of cool stories to tell." Again two of the guards behind us decided to join in our conversation.

"Yeah and I heard she's super hot too."

"Yeah but not as hot as that other mare traveling with her, what I would give for just five minutes alone with a mare like that..."

"Shut-up." Me and Coach said in unison, before a realization struck me. "Wait how do you know what either of them look like? Have you actually met them?"

Coach Gun leaned over and whispered in my ear with a wink. "Imagination is a powerful thing dear." We both shared a laugh at the Bucks' expense as they both tried to stammer out excuses.

We finally reached New Appleloosa, and despite how much I wanted to come here since I was a filly I just couldn't make myself feel very excited. This week was just too much, too fast. As soon as we walked through the gate they closed it behind us. Anypony else will have to stay outside until morning I guess.

After getting our payment from the three merchants, Coach Gun divided the earnings among us evenly coming out to 250 caps each. With a cheer the other four guards all ran straight to the local bar, while me and Coach followed at a much more leisurely pace.

"So what's on your mind dear? Something's got to be bringing you down, you don't even look happy to be getting such quick money."

I sighed and stopped as we watched a group of kids playing in the street. "That obvious huh? Honestly there's a lot of stuff going on right now and I just don't know what to do next. Everything was fine last week. I had a good job, steady life, and I even made a few friends. I finally felt like I had a real family."

My mind raced and I talked faster as I went on. "Now I don't even have a home, my only friend is really sick, I'm constantly fighting for my life against raiders and slavers and hellhounds and I don't know what to do next and
apparently I'll never even get to have kids anymore and-"

My mind came to a halt when Coach slapped my face hard. "Simmer down Sally. Now quit crying and start over." Had I been crying? Sweet Celestia I'm a wreck aren't I?

"I'm sorry... I..."

She patted me on the back. "Listen how about you tell me about it over a drink? Sounds like you could use one."

I wiped away my tears with a hoof and rubbed my cheek where she hit me. (That hurt!) "Yeah, I would like that."

"Wow. Sounds like you're a pony with a problem." Coach Gun took a long draught of her hard cider before slamming the empty glass down. I had barely touched mine, being too busy telling her about my life after leaving home.

"Just one? I figured my head was more screwed up than that judging from the nightmares I've been having." I said with a mirthless smile.

"Okay so I'm sure you've got a whole bunch of problems, but luckily for you I know exactly how to solve them." She said with a smile as she waved the bartender down and ordered another drink.

I perked my ears and spun in my barstool (these were so cool!) to face her. "Really? You can help me?"

"Sure can.” She adopted a smile as she spun around and leaned her back against the bar. "Tell me, when's the last time you had a nice roll in the hay huh?"

My gears in my head ground to a halt as I tried to process what she just said. Did... did she really just ask that? "Beg your pardon?"

"You know, the ol' in and out, bacon makin', playing catch, barneymugging, coitus..."

My face turned more red with each new phrase... "Okay I get it you can stop with the gross analogies already. Don't you think that's kind of a personal question?"

She laughed and punched my shoulder. "Well I should hope it isn't too public. Come on a young hot mare like you? I bet you have to fight the stallions off with a stick am I right?"

"Well actually... um... I've never actually... you know..."

"You've never what? Wait... You mean you're still a-"

"Shh!" I grabbed her and shoved a hoof over her mouth. "You don't have to tell the whole world!" I whispered in her ear. I was already embarrassed enough just talking about this with one stranger, I didn't need everypony in the whole bar to know.

She laughed and pushed my hoof away. "Wow I just can't believe it. How old are you?"

I shrunk in my seat as my face burned. "Twenty... Almost twenty one."

She gasped dramatically before clapping her hooves together. "Right! We'll just have to fix that won't we? So see any bucks you like? Or maybe ponies of a different sort?" She asked with a wink as she looked around the bar.

"No, I don't." I all but buried my face under my hooves on the bar. "And there's actually a... a reason why I haven't... you know..."

She tilted her head before a realization struck her. "Oh so you’re one of those old fashioned fillies saving yourself for that very special somepony huh? That's cool."

She sat there with a grin that told me this conversation probably wasn't over yet. But after almost a minute passed and she started talking to other ponies too quietly to hear over the bar’s commotion, I finally relaxed enough to sit up and take a sip of hard cider. The bartender makes it himself! "So are mares off limits too?"

I nearly choked on my drink! Please tell me she's not implying what I think she is. "Look I'm flattered and all but that's just not my thing." After a moment a slapped my forehead with a hoof. "I mean if that's what you're into I wasn't trying to offend you or anything I think ponies should get to make their own choices and I'll just shut up now..."

The further I bumbled through my apology the more I felt like an idiot. Good job Updraft you only know one pony in this whole place and you probably just offended her.

Rather than the angry or snide comment I expected she instead broke out laughing. "You thought I was offering? Sorry dear but you're a little young for me."

"Oh. Well then if I find a hole to bury myself in will you promise to build a house on top to make sure I'll stop making myself look like an idiot?" My fall was complete. I don't think this situation could be any worse.

"I might be able to help." Please no. Please in the name of all that is holy let that mare's silky smooth voice be talking to somepony else. "I'm not much into dark coats, those ponies usually tend to be pretty depressing. But for a cute pegasus like you I can make an exception."

I felt hooves drape over my shoulders as somepony leaned against my back. I'm doomed. "I don't suppose there's any way I can talk my way out of this is there?"

Coach Gun grinned and patted me on the head. "Nope I already paid her. You two kids have fun now." She said over her shoulder as she walked across the bar to sit with the other guards from the caravan.

I finally built up the courage to turn around and look at my tormentor. She was a little older than me with a blonde coat and red mane with a touch of pink. Sweet Celestia where did she even find lace stockings?

"Relax dear once we get to my room all you have to do is lay back and enjoy the fun. I promise you won't regret it."

I blushed hotly as I climbed down from my seat and grabbed my bags. "Go easy on me? It's my first time to... you know..."

A wicked grin crept onto her muzzle as she leaned in and whispered in my ear. "No promises."

Oh my.

I lazily cracked my eyes open in the dark, dusty room. I could see daylight filtering in through a window, but somepony had hastily nailed a blanket to the wall to cover it up as much as possible. With a yawn I sat up and stretched my legs and wings.

I felt good. Granted it was probably as much to do with the sleep I got as it did with other... activities from last night. But maybe Coach Gun was right, maybe I really should loosen up a little.

I felt somepony stirring in the bed next to me as she wiggled until her head appeared from under the blanket. "Morning sleepy head, you have a good time last night?"

I couldn't help but blush a little as I recalled last nights... exercise. "Umm yeah I guess you could say that..."

She laughed and sat up in the bed with me. "Good. I always try my best when it's a pony's first time. Try to make it at least a little special."

"So is this what you do for a living? Or..." Celestia this was awkward. But I didn't feel like getting up yet and if we didn't talk about something I feel like she'd start getting other ideas on how to pass some time.

"Not really, only for special cases. I usually make my caps from working in the bar downstairs, but this is a good way to make some extra caps here and there. Plus I always love seeing faces like the one you made last night when I-"

"Okay well I think I'd best get going since the sun is up and everything. Thanks for the warm bed and all but I gotta go now bye!" I was already walking out the door with my things by the time I finished talking.

I heard her laughing over my shoulder. "You're cute when you're nervous, come back and see for some more fun, on the house of course."

Run while you can Updraft. I made my way around the indoor balcony and trotted down the stairs to the bar. To my surprise there were quite a lot of ponies eating food and drinking alcohol already. I guess when you live the life of a wanderer you don't live by much of a schedule.

I found a spot to stand at one end of the bar and waved down the bartender. After going over the options I decided to have some kind of apple dish they made locally. I couldn't help but ask where they get the apples from.

"Don't worry about it." He said before walking off to tend to another customer. Well now I am worried...

I took off my leather coat and stuffed it in my bags before stretching my wings and legs. Most of these ponies seemed used to seeing a pegasus so I wasn't too worried. I still got plenty of odd looks and a few scowls, but at least nopony was threatening to throw me out of the bar yet!

I was just about to hop up onto an empty seat and get comfortable when I felt something pull on my ear. Hard!

"Get over here right now! We need to have a word." It was a mare's voice coming from across the bar.

"Ow, ow, ow! Cut it out I'm coming!" Whoever it was didn't listen, much to the amusement of several of the bar's patrons as I was dragged along the floor. After scrambling across the whole room and feeling like a filly being scolded, I finally arrived at the hooves of... Smiles! Oh dear...

"Alright pegasus you have exactly ten seconds to tell me why you didn't tell me who you were back then or else I'll have to engage in aggressive negotiations."

Is she crazy? Okay dumb question... "What are you talking about? I did tell you my name!"

"Aggressive Negotiations it is!" She yelled excitedly and pulled me out of the bar by my tail.

"That wasn't even ten seconds. And let me go you maniac!"

She grinned and looked me in the eyes. "No, the Maneiac was a comic book villain from old Equestria. My name is Smiles, like I told you before. Now tell me who the fuck you are, or do you think you can actually fight me and win?"

Seriously what is with this pony? "I already told you! My name's Updraft and I'm a town guard for-"

"Wrong." She caught me off guard by levitating me up and shoving my head into a barrel full of water. I felt her press her weight against me as she held my head under with her hooves. "Come on you really expect me to believe you're just an average guard? Who are you working for!?"

She pulled my head up just long enough for me to take a breath before she shoved it back under. "Is it the Enclave? Talons? Some special branch from the Steel Rangers?" She paused a moment and casually rested a hoof on my head. "It's not RedEye is it? Or maybe you're just some kind of genetic freak from the Hoof? Not the craziest thing I've seen."

Enough! I shoved her off and spun around, knocking the barrel over in the process. "That's it! I'm not enclave, I'm not some sort of secret super soldier, and I'm not a genetic freak! I'm just a pony trying to mind her own business and you're really starting to piss me off!"

She stared at me for a few moments before she started giggling uncontrollably. "Oh wow the rumors are true! You really do heat up when you're angry."

What.

I looked back at my wings and sure enough the water on them was floating off as steam... Oh dear. I was suddenly becoming very aware of the attention we were getting. A small crowd had gathered around us, some cheering us on to keep fighting.

"Who's the two crazy mares?"

"Wanderers that came in last night."

"They fighting over a stallion or something?"

"Nah I bet it's money."

"No way it's definitely a stallion. And the wet pegasus looks pretty hot too."

"Yeah but I bet the crazy one is better in bed."

Okay now I was mad for a different reason. Seriously did these ponies have nothing better to do than watch two strangers fight in the street? Not to mention they were thinking about... those kinds of things while they watched.

A mare walked over to the two bucks and slapped one on the cheek. "Don't you start eyeing other mares like I'm not here. Besides don't you know who those two are? Red talks about Smiles all the time, and he was talking about that pegasus mare all morning!"

The buck she slapped scowled. "I can't believe you actually listen to that crazy old guy instead of the DJ. Half the time he makes that stuff up you know..."

"You can't prove that, besides at least I know who old Red is. Nopony even knows who or where the DJ is so he could be lying too."

"Alright break it up everypony. What's the problem here?" An older buck shouted as he and two others dispersed the crowd. They all wore leather armor and had battle saddles in fairly good condition. I noticed one of them seemed to be brandishing his pristinely cleaned battle saddle quite proudly.

Before I could answer him Smiles intervened and put a hoof around my neck. "Oh it was nothing really just a friendly tussle between two old friends. Isn't that right Updraft?" I opened my mouth to disagree but the cold look she gave me murdered that little idea. I nodded my head fervently and put on a fake smile as the guards eye us suspiciously.

"Uh-huh. Well don't let me catch you two causing any more trouble or you'll both be spending a night in the hole."

Smiles stood up straight and with a serious face she saluted him. "Yes sir, officer sir." I simply couldn't have face-hoofed hard enough...

The older buck snorted and turned to leave. "I'm too old for this shit."

"Come on dad just remember, you're only as old as you think you are. Old age is just a state of mind!" One of the younger guards said cheerfully.

"Shut up and go find me a drink." The young buck sighed but with a smile he trotted into the bar without a word.

"So new best friend..." She wrapped a hoof around my neck again and adopted a big grin. "You wanna do a favor for me?"

"Nuh-uh, no way I'm going to do some kind of ridiculous favor for a crazy pony who just tried to drown me." I shoved her off and took a few cautionary steps back.

"Relax you'll get paid... and quite a lot too. Plus you'll get to kill a bunch of feral ghoulies! That's always fun right?"

"The answer is still no, go find someone else please." And with that I turned tail and walked back into the bar. Of course she wouldn't give up so easily, as soon as I sat back down at the bar she sat next to me.

"Oh come on, please? I promise I'll make it worthwhile. Who knows if you do a good enough job I may have more work for you later too." The nice bartender brought me my breakfast with a sympathetic smile. I paid him six caps and smiled back.

"If I don't want to work for you now, what makes you think I would want to work for you later too?" I asked as I took a bite of the apple whatever-this-was. It wasn't anything too special, but it was a good deal for six caps.

"You're really starting to make me feel a little violent you know that? Alright fine what's it going to take to make you do this for me?"

Okay wow she was going to go that low just for my help? This must be pretty important to her. Well now I feel like a jerk, but she needs to stop pushing people around like she can do whatever she wants.

"Alright fine I'll do it, but on one condition. Get me a new knife to replace the one I lost in my last fight and I'll help you."

"Done." She grinned and slammed a knife onto the bartop. I blinked before picking it up in my hooves. After a brief examination I gently set it back on the bar and slid it back to her.

"Nope I want a good one like the one I lost. That flimsy piece of scrap isn't worth the effort it would take to keep it sharp." I went back to eating my breakfast as she scowled and dug through her bags looking for another knife. By the time she gave up I had already finished my food and was getting bored.

"Alright fine we'll go to the store and I'll buy you whatever kind of knife you want. I need to get more bullets anyways." She hopped off her stool and tapped her hoof impatiently as I slowly climbed out of mine and stretched. I took a quick look in my bags and did an inventory check, then put my leather coat back on.

She sighed as I dusted my bags off and slung them over my back, securing the straps tightly. Deliberately taking as long to do each step as possible. "You know when we met awhile back, I didn't know you were such a bitch."

I grinned and sauntered to the door. "Well you know what they say about payback..."

"What do you mean it's closed?!"

"I mean what I said missy. Ol' Ditzy had an important delivery to make so she closed up shop and took her gal with her. Ya'll just have to wait till she gets back." The younger guard from before was sitting casually by the door of the local shop, it's name 'Absoluely Everything' was proudly proclaimed in big block letters.

"Well let me in so I can trade with you and you can give her the caps later or something."

"It doesn't work like that. Besides it's not like I work for her or something, I was just sitting here in a shady spot."

"Oh darn, looks like I won't be going with you on your trip. A shame too I was so looking forward to it..."

"Oh come on! Somebody has to be selling shit around here right? No way that ghoul is the only one with a store here." Smiles was practically begging at this point, she really must want me to go on this trip with her.

I really didn't like the tone she took when she said 'that ghoul', and as the guard stood up and took a more defensive stance I figured he didn't either. "Like I said before miss, you'll just have to come back around when ol' Ditsy is back in town. And I'd suggest doing it somewhere else."

I had already started walking off at this point, and Smiles scrambled after me to catch up. "Hey wait we can talk about this right? There's got to be something else you want besides knives right? How about a really nice gun?"

"Nope." I said bluntly and continued walking down the main street of the town. There's supposed to be a clinic around here somewhere...

"Tell you what, if you help me out I'll give you a quarter of the profit of what we find down there." She stepped in front of me and put on a big smile. At my sour look she changed her tactic and started pouting. "Okay fine. Half?"

"Down... there? Definitely nope, as much as I hate those clouds I really don't want the ceiling getting any shorter. If it's in some kind of tunnel then you can forget about it." I walked around her as I spotted the clinic.

"Okay fine!" She said with an dramatic sigh as she grabbed me by the shoulder and spun me back around to face her. "You're in."

"Pardon?" This conversation just got even more confusing. Not surprising considering the crazy pony I'm talking to.

"Look it's pretty obvious you're looking for something to do. What happened to your friend?" Okay that was a low blow, I don't think she has the right to ask about that... "If you do this for me, I'll get you into The Shadow of Light."

Well that was unexpected. Sure it sounded interesting enough to check it out, but I needed some more information first. "And what makes you think I would want to join your little club?"

She laughed and gave me a knowing smile. "Little club? Girl you have no idea. Why wouldn't somepony want to join up with us? For starters it's a good cause, since I know you like to be a hero of something. But more importantly, it's fun, you get to play with all kinds of fun toys like this armor, plus it's some of the best money you'll find in the wasteland!"

Airem's words flashed through my mind. Some ponies do it more for the money than for the good they are doing. "Congratulations you're a salespony." I sighed and continued walking back to the clinic. "Okay I'll come with you, and I'll think about joining you guys. But I still expect at least a quarter of the profit from what we find down there." I had a good idea on where that money can be used.

"Deal." She answered immediately as we stepped into the local clinic. Overall it had a more professional aesthetic than the one in Nowhere. No offense to Onyx, but those pre-war mattresses are hardly sterile. But this place had several medical beds, at least two secondary rooms, and several medical boxes lining one of the walls.

An older mare trotted out from one of the other rooms at the sound of our arrival. "Welcome! My name is Candi, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Well I can think of a few things..." Smiles said with a sultry voice. I swatted her with my tail and tried to not think about last night's activities involving more participant's.

"Yes I was just hoping to purchase some medical supplies for a trip."

"Well you're in luck I just refreshed most of my stock. Come back here and we'll see what you need."

We walked along an old dirt path as we listened to the radio in Smiles' armor. After some bargaining I managed to buy four healing potions from Candi for one-hundred and twenty caps. I thought I did pretty well but Smiles says I still got ripped off. I restrained myself from mentioning how much I was able to get out of this deal instead of a single knife or gun she originally offered.

She also insisted I buy RadAway just in case, but I managed to convince her I didn't need it without telling her why. As we walked the radio continued to play some of the most depressing music I'd ever heard.

I try so hard to walk that path, to come on home to you;
But every time I see your face, duty calls! I don't know what to do.
I hear your cries from these battle lines, in my sleep I see your tears.
Even in this horrid war, the memory of your smile wipes away my fears.

Oh for Celestia's sake. "Can you turn that off or something? It's only making me feel even more depressed."

Smiles shrugged. "I actually like that song but whatever. Red's probably on the radio by now anyways." She stopped and fiddled with the armor on her left leg. It had a screen resembling a small terminal, and she tapped away at it until her radio changed stations. A much different tune filled the air as we began walking again.

I'mma rockin', I'mma rollin', I got a fire in my soul tonight! I'mma rockin', I'mma rollin', we're gonna start this party a'right!

The song ended abruptly, replaced by the aged voice of a stallion. Despite the obvious hoarseness of his voice he clearly wore his age well. "Hell yeah now that's some music!" A mare's voice could barely be heard in the background. "Watch my language? Hogwash it's my radio station I'll say what I want to say!"

“Now where was I? Oh right, time for some news!” Sounds of shuffling papers could be heard as he cleared his throat. “Now ya’ll remember me tellin’ that story about the Stable Dweller right? Well if not I’m sure you heard it from that DJPon3 buck.”

“Anyways that little gal is at it again! And isn’t she just full of surprises. Now the first time I told you about her adventures, she was busy kicking slaver flank out there at Appleloosa. Next she went and sent a bunch of RedEye’s minions packing at Shattered Hoof, helping out some raiders and killing a dragon in the process. Well at the time I wasn’t too sure about the idea of helping raiders, even if it meant RedEye gets a few less slaves.”

“Well don’t you worry none cause Grandpa just got the rest of the story about what all went down all those days ago. Turns out the raiders of Shattered Hoof were being manipulated by one mister Topaz, also known as the giant dragon that the Stable Dweller killed. Turns out he was gonna eat them all up for a tasty snack. Now that he’s out of the picture a Talon by the name of Grimfeathers is running the place and plans to make some big changes. Even opening up for trade, and boy do they have gems to trade.”

“‘But Grandpa, what did that fearless filly do next?’ I hear you ask? Well last word I got was that she was heading towards Manehatten to see that crazy DJ-PON3 up in his big tower. But with her record no telling what might happen when she sees all those hoity toity ponies in there, hoarding all that safety. Well that’s all the news I have for now kiddies, let’s get right back into some of that good old music with one of the classics. It’s Hoovesiana Red and his hit blues single, Red's Dream.”

“It was a dream, dream I had last night. Dreamed I went to Canterlot, set the whole nation right…” The slow paced song continued and sounded almost lacking, like it wasn’t complete yet. But maybe it’s simplicity is what made it so enjoyable. I found myself nodding my head to the music as I thought about the news ‘grandpa’ had mentioned.

This Stable Dweller was really working hard, really trying to make a difference in the wasteland. And I know what Airem says is true, that even the little things we do can make a big difference. But I just wish I could be there with her, fighting dragons and defying RedEye. Fighting monsters and armies that most ponies can’t stand up against. Instead of looking through a radioactive crater for scrap.

Which I couldn’t even do that, so maybe it’s better that I’m here instead of being on some crazy adventure to save the wasteland.

“We’re here, one ancient factory dead ahead.” Smiles beamed as she saved me from my own thoughts. As we crested a small hill a large factory came into view. “Robronco Research and Storage facility. Placed in the middle of nowhere to hopefully keep spies out and put is beneath the notice of zebra infiltrators. Guess it worked well enough since it’s still standing.”

I looked over the large building and it’s many, many defenses. It was surrounded by a large fence with an empty skywagon lot outside. Along the rooftop were several machine gun turrets, and patrolling around its exterior were a dozen protectaponies with magical energy weapons. If that’s what was on the outside, what kind of security did they have inside the factory?

“What exactly are we here for anyways? That’s a lot of stuff to fight through down there, is it really worth it, whatever it is?”

She rolled her eyes and hopped onto a rock. “Of course it is! I wouldn’t have walked all the way out here if it wasn’t. Now come on it’s time to party!” She loaded a fresh magazine into a combat rifle with her magic and charged blindly down the hill. I really should find less crazy ponies to be around…

“Well might as well get to it, what’s the worst that could happen?”

Author's Notes:

Hay Thar! Apologies if this chapter seemed slow and a little lacking, it was necessary as a setup and I promise the next one will be much more action packed. In other news last chapter release hit an all time high in daily viewers! Thanks a bunch you people are awesome! >^_^<