Chapter 10: New Saddle Tower

“All most there” Brax grumbled as we were walking through central New Saddle.

Most of the buildings had no windows left, some were half collapsed and some roads were blocked off completely by a collapsed building and everything was covered in a layer of snow.

“Almost there?” I asked exasperated “all these buildings are unliveable, let alone a pony settlement being here.”

“You’ll see” Alyshia chipped in “I’ve lived in New Saddle for a long time and I can assure you that it is comfortable.”

I looked around and all I could see was smashed buildings, destroyed road signs, the occasional subway and graffiti layering the walls of most buildings.

A poster that was in poor condition was plastered to the brick wall of one of the buildings. It showed a very familiar pink pony with a pink and grey candy cane mane, she was quite old but the photo caught the pony well. Through her eyes it looked like she could see into your very soul yet she looked very energetic. The poster was captioned in large letters “Ministry of Moral” and below that in slightly small font “Pinkie Pie is always watching.”

“Amethyst why did you stop? What are you looking at?” Alyshia piped up.

“Oh sorry” I half shouted. I didn’t even realise I had stopped, “Just saw a poster that… never mind” I tailed off realising that nopony was listening to me anyway.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

After an hour or so we all agreed to take a quick ten minute break in the inner city park, which was really just a field of snow and a set of play equipment for fillies and colts. While everypony else was talking I decided to go take a little look. There were no play grounds in the stable so I had never really used one or gotten a proper look at one.

When I was about half way there I heard Alyshia shout “Amethyst, get back here. There is a lake there.”

I looked around and all I could see was ice “I’m fine” I shouted back.

“No… Thin ice” Alyshia shouted, “Get back here.”

I looked at the ground I was standing on. It looked solid enough in fact it looked no different than everywhere else.

Instead I continued over to the playground. I wanted to play on it but like I could, I was too big and the playground was too rusty and would likely buckle under my weight. The steel slide had holes all through it and the plastic tunnel that fillies and colts would crawl through had warped. Some parts still had graffiti and one which was etched into the steel pole was heavily faded dated back to two hundred and thirty years ago. I looked inside the warped plastic tunnel which contained the skeleton of a filly. I withdrew and felt a tear leak out of the corner of my eye. Did she die there when the bomb went off?

So instead I sat in the snow and looked over to my friends three hundred meters away. They had continued whatever they were talking about as they were not looking over to me. I looked up to all of the buildings around the park and imagined what it must have been like before the war, all the ponies that lived and worked here. The fillies and colts that played here, the ponies that had lived normal lives until the great bombs destroyed everything.

I got so lost in thought that I was not paying attention to my surroundings and what I did not expect was to turn and see a giant Radscorpion scurrying over to me with lighting fast agility. I had no time to take out any of my weapons, or for that matter move at all. The thing bowled me over and it lashed at me with its stinger. I heard my companions scream out “Amethyst” but as they did so I felt the stinger strike me in the stomach and sink through my barding and into my flesh with extreme pain before withdrawing for a second shot. I rolled over and the stinger struck right where my head was two seconds previously.

I jumped to my hooves and levitated the huge monster off the ground. I then levitated my magnum from my saddle bags and as I did so I heard some pony scream “Brax!!”

I panicked and my horn sparked causing the scorpion and gun to fall into the snow with a soft thump. I tried to levitate the gun but my magic wouldn’t wrap around the handle, without enough time to try again I instead picked it up in my teeth and shot at it five times, only hitting the Radscorpion twice making it fall into the snow which it did not move.

I looked to where my companions were and could only see two ponies, Midnight and Alyshia. Alyshia’s horn was flared and she was concentrating on something that had clearly fallen through the ice. My heart had lodged in my throat when I realised where Brax was.

Amidst the pain in my underside I galloped over to the broken ice and peered down into the watery depths. I saw a purple outline slowly move towards the surface. Alyshia had her face screwed up in concentration as she lifted the large stallion out of the water.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Fortunately Brax was fine when Alyshia had pulled him out. It turned out his armour had a small air tank for breathing when his normal supply for oxygen was cut. He said the armour didn’t leak so he didn’t need to be dried off.  I did not realise until now just how resilient my heavily armoured stallion companion was with his high tech enclave suit. As for me I gulped a healing potion to heal the painful wound on my underside.

The lifting on Brax had caused Alyshia some strain and she was quite exhausted, “Sorry Alyshia” I muttered knowing this was once again my fault.

“Quite alright dear” she panted, “Just please listen next time.”

“Amethyst you are really stupid you know that?” Midnight spat.

I was taken aback “Why?” I asked hurt.

Midnight shook her head and said “You just wander over thin ice and get yourself attacked and we nearly loose Brax, you’re like a little filly Amethyst, we have to keep an eye on you or you’ll wander off and do something completely and utterly stupid.”

I shrunk away feeling tears build. I hated when Midnight was angry at me. It made my heart sore and being called a little filly hurt too. It meant that Midnight was comparing me to a child rather than a grown mare who loved her.

“Well” I argued “I’m sorry then.” Brax was fine, I was fine and everypony else was fine I thought. “I’m not a filly” I finished in a mumble as an afterthought.

“Well act like one and we’ll treat you like one” Midnight scolded.

My ears perked back and I walked a full pony length behind my companions so I couldn’t be seen.

“Look Midnight, it’s all good” Brax grumbled “I’m fine don’t take it out on her.”

Midnight neighed and said “Well really? Sometimes with Amethyst, you’ve got to be. She is stubborn as a mule.”

I gritted my teeth as Midnight went on a rant about how many stupid things I’d done since I met her.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

“Here we are” Brax announced about forty five minutes later.

I looked around and all I saw was more damaged buildings. I felt a little groggy but I couldn’t help but ask “Your pulling my leg aren’t you Brax?”

“No he’s serious” Alyshia advised. “In there.” She pointed a hoof at the entrance of a subway terminal.

We went down through the Subway entrance to find a gate flanked by about six ponies. I was in front and I announced the ponies “Uhh, can we go through?” I asked the stallion nervously who was at the front.

He eyed me pointing a gun between my eyes. He then told me aggressively “Raiders are not welcome in New Saddle. Give me a reason not to blow your brains over the concrete…”

“Uhh” I stammered, my ears perked back but Alyshia came to the rescue.

“Boys, Amethyst here is no raider. She’s a beacon of hope in this wasted land, so would you be a darl and not point that gun in her face?”

The gun withdrew and the buck looked apologetic “Ahh sorry Alyshia, didn’t see you there” He said sincerely.

“Sorry kid” he muttered to me, “Be sure to take your barding off before you enter the tower.”

I nodded, personally not wanting to walk into a populated area wearing this torn horrible thing.

“Alyshia you know the drill, we need all your ammo before you can enter” A yellow stallion advised.

We all pulled out our ammo, which in my case it turned out to be just fifteen shotgun rounds and a few .44 bullets and handed them over. Brax on the otherhoof did not use ammo but he still handed over what looked like batteries that must be used to fire his guns. Midnight handed over a number of clips and Alyshia handed over some grenades and a few flat things I had never seen before.

The gate then opened and we proceeded into the subway, it had no tracks, it was just a path.

When we got through the gateway I pulled off my horrible barding and felt a wave of odour hit my nose and I gagged.

My coat was beyond disgusting. I could almost swear it had insects living in the blood that caked it.

“Oh my gosh, Amethyst you look horrible.” Alyshia said in a concerned voice “are you ok?”

I smiled at her. “Yeah, as ok as I could be I suppose.” I cringed before adding “I would really like a bath.”

Alyshia looked at my coat tutting. She then advised “We will book a suite when we get in and have some baths. I think you should go first Amethyst. I don’t want you to stink the room out.”

I cringed, and I looked at Midnight who tutted before saying flatly “you smell like a dead rat.”

Say it the way you feel I thought wildly. I just hoped I wouldn’t get looks from the other ponies.

I decided to change the subject as we moved along the passage, “Why can’t you take your armour off Brax?” I asked.

“This armour is not what I would call light” He growled, “I am not carrying it, I’ll take it off when we find someplace to stay… Unless you want to carry it miss unicorn?”

I shook my head saying “I ain’t carrying it. You can just keep it on then.”

“That’s what I thought” he concluded in a growl.

No need to be such an ass about it I thought madly.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

We reached a final set of gates where several guard ponies flanked either side.

“We require to search you of contraband before you enter the tower” The stallion wearing dark vicious armour advised of us.

I levitated my saddlebags to the smaller unicorn stallion who began to search my things. He pulled out my armour, guns, and books. He caught one book with an eye and smiled. He looked at me with my porn magazine floating in a field of his levitation “This is an odd condiment to find in a mares bag.”

Despite the embarrassment I merely shrugged.

He levitated my healing potions, poultices, bandages, painkillers then some syringes which I did not know of their contents.

“Sorry” He exclaimed. “No stampede allowed in. I’ll have to confiscate this.”

I felt my companions eyes fall on me. Midnight chided “I didn’t know you use Stampede Amethyst.” She gave me a very stern look “This would explain why your anger is out of control.”

“What” I stammered “I don’t use this, I found it and... What’s stampede?” I asked.

“We’ll talk about this later” Alyshia whispered who had already been searched.

I looked up at the stallion and nodded. He put these in a box with the label “Confiscated.”

He pulled out my orb of desire which for some reason I had completely forgotten I had and then pulled out my photo album.

I heard Midnight hiss something but Alyshia merely hissed back “Can we please save this for later?”

I hung my head as our bags were repacked and we walked into the building.

The atrium was beautiful. It was filled with polished brass fittings, beautiful clean chandelier lights, highly polished wood surfaces some which seemed a little scorched and the walls were hardly cracked. Ponies in suits and dresses bustled throughout the atrium. Before I could get a good look, Alyshia guided us through the automatic glass doors at the back.

My head spun as we walked into a massive space filled with tables and chairs and shop fronts with hundreds of ponies in elegant style clothing. I then looked up, the building was hollowed out with balconies looking down from each floor, it must have been about forty stories high at least. This caused my head to spin even worse and made my stomach churn which caused me to fall to my haunches.

“Up you get Amethyst” Alyshia said as she pulled me back to my hooves.

“Sorry” I muttered, “Open spaces make me sick.”

Midnight rolled her eyes at me.

As we made our way through the ground floor towards the elevators that would take us up to the temporary accommodation, I was starting to get looks from the other ponies. I tried to hide behind Alyshia but this did not work. I kept getting glances from some of the ponies which were saying in carrying whispers “Look at that mare over there, has she ever heard of a bath.” and “Oh my, I cannot believe ponies like her would exist. How has she not yet died in her own odour?” and “who bought that filthy rat in?”

This lasted until we were in the reception to the suites on level twenty five. I sank away into the shadows while Alyshia booked us a room for four.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Our room turned out to be quite nice. It was very open with two bedrooms, a bathroom and a window that looked over the outside, the buildings began to darken as night began to set in.

Alyshia trotted over and told me in a knowing voice “You sleep next to me. Midnight is sleeping next to Brax.”

“Why can’t I sleep next to Midnight” I whined.

“You know why” She said sternly.

“M’kay” I muttered, I levitated one of the soft slightly yellow towels that were folded elegantly on the bed spread and muttered “I’m taking a well-deserved shower.”

“Good, because you stink” Alyshia acknowledged.

When I stepped into the bathroom I had a sudden vision float to my head, Midnight pulling me out of the red blood bath into her arms before making out with me. Oh how I wished that would happen right now. But as they say I thought, that can only occur in my dreams.

Rather than taking a bath, I decided to take a shower, not wanting to be laying in Blood Soup. Unfortunately my magic seemed to have cut out again and I could not even levitate the bar of soap, so I used the hoof attachment. Not that it made much difference. It took me forever to wash myself and by the time my coat was pink the bath tub looked like I had murdered somepony in it, minus the body.

After a bit more scrubbing my coat came out beautifully white once again and after washing my mane and tail they felt silky smooth and not all knotting and glutinous like they did before. I felt better knowing that I could see my cutie marks once again rather than thick blood caking my flanks.

I washed the bathtub not wanting to disrespect my companions. Especially with one who is already pissed off at me for something so stupid.

I stepped out of the bathroom feeling very light and refreshed, the towel wrapped around my mane. Only Alyshia seemed to be in the main room at the moment.

“Hey Amethyst” Alyshia piped up, “Oh wow you look great clean.”

“Thanks” I muttered before throwing myself onto the lounge causing my towel to loosen slightly.

“What’s up?” She inquired, “You look sad. Actually you look sick.”

“It’s nothing” I mumbled.

“You don’t take stampede do you?” Alyshia inquired.

“No I do not” I said heatedly.

“Okay” Alyshia said looking relieved, “Well I’m going to take a shower.”

“Wait… where’s Midnight and Brax?” I asked curiously.

“They hit the pub” Alyshia said simply.

“Without taking a shower first?” I asked stunned.

“This is Midnight and Brax were talking about here? Wow Amethyst, you have been travelling with them much longer than I have and I seem to know more about them then you do” Alyshia laughed.

“Uhh… well…”

Alyshia merely shrugged “Brax is a big manly stallion. I honestly don’t think he cares what anypony thinks of him.” her mouth twitched before going on “Midnight is… well, she’s a boisterous mare who wouldn’t be what I call a lady. She’s like a tomboy I think” Alyshia concluded. “They don’t care much for cleanliness.”

Alyshia was just going into the bathroom when I shouted at her “Alyshia, can we go shopping together tomorrow?”

She turned her head and looked at me. She gave me a small smile before saying kindly “Of course. We aren’t going to be taking you around this tower without wearing anything.”

She then closed the door.

I laid on my back on the nice comfortable cushiony lounge caressing my stomach which began to churn even worse. I felt a headache coming on as well. I thought of my bags contents and the drugs and hoped that Midnight would believe me but my mind quickly wandered. The orb of desire floated to the forefront of my mind.

I levitated it out of my saddlebags next to the bed and gazed into it. I saw the image form and become sharp. I found myself quickly, my tail and mane striking against the white snow. I could not see the peach Pegasus. I looked harder and with a shock of amazement I saw Midnight instead. She and me… Together.... My mouth dropped and I could not stop staring. Finally I realised that this did not show the truth nor possibility and gazing into it for hours on end would not do my sanity any good. I put it away and floated out my photo album.

I opened it to the front page to an image of me as a foal, my father who was a white stallion with a brown mane and my mother. The only picture I had of my family, now in tatters. My mother and I were separate. We could not be any more apart. I felt tears leak down my cheeks as I flicked to the next page. It was Berry and I. We were both blank flanks probably around the age of six. We both wore our school scarves and Berry had a hoof around my neck. We were both smiling happily at the camera.

I looked to the next image, which my mother was cuddling me when I was too young to remember, my tiny horn poking out of a tuft of black mane, my eyes stark purple as I giggled.

The next was another image of me as a foal playing with a stuffed white unicorn mare with a purple curling mane and tail. The plush I still had at home in my stable.

I flicked over to the next image. Berry and I once more, she had her cutie mark which was of icicles. She had her pipbuck and maintenance barding on and I was a blank flank still wearing my school scarf. I remembered this image well; it would have been nearly two years since this was shot for my own cutie mark to appear despite Berry being my age.

I closed the photo album hugging it. My memories of my stable, of my previous life, of the easy boring life I had lived and the ponies I loved; my mother, my dead father, my friend Berry. I plopped the album back onto the lounge and it fell open to a much more recent photo, almost two years ago. The day I turned eighteen, Berry and I had cake levitated and we had a party with streamers, sweets and caffeinated drinks. Unusual for an eighteen year old as most ponies threw massive eighteenth birthday parties with tonnes of alcohol, popular ponies and sex. My Birthday was very quiet. I only had one friend and my mother.

I pushed the page back to the front with our complete family and let out a moan wanting my family, wanting a girlfriend, wanting to belong and be loved. Something I had lacked for a majority of my life.

Alyshia came out of the bathroom all clean and she saw me sobbing on the bed. She bustled over dripping a little  and she asked in a concerned tone “Amethyst, what’s wrong?” she caught sight of the photo I had in front of me. “Oh dear” She whispered, “Oh Amethyst come here.” She sat on the lounge and pulled me into an embrace. “You didn’t lose your family did you?” She whispered, I let out a moan and tears came fresh.

“I might as well have” I bawled, “my father is dead, my mother is a stuck up cow in the stable, I am out here, Midnight is not talking to me and I wanna go home…”

Alyshia pulled away, her hooves on my shoulders, she looked me in the eyes “Amethyst, you are a tough mare, you are going through a lot. I have heard of your deeds on the radio. You are not alone, you have us.”

I sobbed before telling her weakly “DJ pon-3 over-exaggerated a lot of that.”

She shook her head “No I don’t think he did, you are being modest.”

I let out a sniff.

Alyshia pointed a hoof at my photo album and she levitated it in front of us as she said warmly “Would you like to go through this with me?”

I nodded, feeling a little shocked that somepony would even want to look at memories of my past.

“This pink pony is your mother right?” Alyshia asked noticing some of the images when I was a foal.

I nodded.

“Aww you’re so cute.” Alyshia pronounced pointing at me with my stuffed toy.

I felt a smile break across my muzzle as I looked at myself playing with it.

“Who is this pony?” Alyshia asked pointing a hoof at Berry, “She is with you in almost every picture.”

“That’s Berry” I advised “She was my only friend.”

“Friend?” Alyshia glanced at me before asking “She wasn’t something… more?”

I shook my head. Truth be it, I never had feelings for Berry, then I told her “I loved her like a sister. She was the only pony there for me.”

“Ahh ok” Alyshia said flicking the page “Oh wow you were late” She announced pointing an image of me at my Cutie Mark Party.

I put a hoof behind my head turning slightly red “Yeah I was... Just a little”

She looked sideways at me when she reached the image of my eighteenth birthday party before asking cautiously “Amethyst? Do you mind if I ask? How old are you?”

“Uhh I’m nineteen, I turn twenty in two months” I shrugged.

“Oh wow, you are still very young.” She frowned then asked “Tell me about your feelings for Midnight.”

I rubbed my foreleg with a hoof feeling a little uncomfortable. But then again, I just told her about my family and she was very good to talk to. I didn’t think she was the kind of pony to judge me.

I opened my muzzle and told her “Midnight is a beautiful pony. I have loved her since I met her back at the hospital in Cantal. At first I didn’t think I did and maybe it was just admiration. But when I think about Midnight my heart feels fluffy and I feel funny right here.” I pointed a hoof at my breast, “Midnight has saved me lots of times and she is always great comfort. She has a shoulder I can cry into, eyes that I can look into and when I am in her hooves, I feel all goo-y. My orb shows Midnight and me together.” I wrapped the orb and showed it to Alyshia.

“Where did you get this?” Alyshia pronounced looking into the orb.

“Some zebra from my stable gave it to me. She was quite nice but slightly creepy” I advised as I remembered the Zebra who ninja snuck up on me while eating.

Alyshia nodded as I withdrew the orb. “What are you doing outside of your stable?” she inquired.

Oh no here it comes. So I told her my story of why I left the stable. When I was done she looked concerned.

“Oh Amethyst, that is so much burden. You poor dear” She said sadly. She then frowned as if making a decision. “Uhh, Umm.” She looked quite uncomfortable but I merely waited. “If you don’t mind, is it ok if I come with you? You could really use the support… I mean, there is nothing really stopping me from leaving so it wouldn’t be interfering with my life. I am quite handy with medical spells and can help out in battle. I promise I will not be a burden…”

I felt some relief wash through me. The addition of an actual medical pony with me was like finding gold. She looked to me with desperation in her eyes. I waved a hoof for her to be quite and smiled at her “Of course you can come with me. I would love for you to come with me.”

“Oh thank you Amethyst.” She beamed at me then she gave me a strong hug. I wrapped my hooves around her and returned it feeling some of the weight fall off my shoulders.

I heard the door open and we broke apart. Midnight and Brax had come back.

“Age is no barrier, is it Amethyst?” Midnight sneered from the door frame.

“Midnight…” Alyshia said. She looked abashed and quite offended, “are you suggesting that I would lead Amethyst on like that? Or for that matter date somepony ten years younger than myself and the fact that I’m strait.”

Midnight sneered and left the apartment again leaving Brax to start ruffling through all his junk in his saddlebags nearby, most of which was still wet.

I felt myself getting upset. I loved Midnight and seeing her angry at me like this over something so small made me feel even sicker to the point I wanted to vomit.

Finally I couldn’t contain it “Midnight will never love me” I howled, “I don’t deserve her.”

“Come on Amethyst, calm down” Alyshia cooed, “You are a good pony.”

“No I’m not” I bawled.

“Yes you are. You saved me; you have saved all those ponies out there” she intoned, her voice soft and understanding “Midnight is tough, she’ll be ok.”

I felt my stomach suddenly contract and I vomited all over my underside.

“Amethyst!” Alyshia half shouted looking worried, “are you ok?”

I coughed the sick out and gagged. Alyshia then wrapped her magic around me and marched me into the bathroom. “Come on Amethyst, pull yourself together, Midnight doesn’t hate you, she is just a little upset, she is old enough to not let a petty squabble get in the way of your friendship.”

“I’m feeling sick” I mumbled holding my forehooves to my stomach; my head was also hammering with the worst headache. I decided to let Alyshia mother me. She had placed me on the shower matt as she filled the bathtub with water. I took two big breaths and finally I managed to pull myself together. “Thank you Alyshia” I croaked from the ground.

“No problem” she said. She then smiled at me, “I would give you a hug, but you are covered in sick.”

When the bath was full Alyshia placed me into the tub. “I think I can wash myself” I piped up feeling a little uncomfortable.

She let out a little laugh, “oh I don’t think you can.”

“Why?” I tried to grab the soap telekinetically but as expected nothing happened.

“Burn-out Amethyst” She said simply, “you used up too much magical energy when you were out in the wasteland.

“I didn’t use that much energy” I told her. I began to feel weak, like I did when I was a filly and couldn’t do any magic. I used little energy, how could I have burnt out?

She held me in the water with her magic and began to attack my coat with the bar of soap.

“How are you feeling?” She asked.

She turned me onto my stomach and washed my back. I opened my muzzle to talk and water went in my mouth causing me to cough. “Ops sorry dear.” Alyshia said apologetically before continuing my wash.

I tried again “I feel sick” I mumbled again, “and I want to say sorry to Midnight.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for Amethyst” Alyshia told me as she looked into my eyes. “I am sure Midnight will forgive you, she just needs some time alone I think.”

“What about Brax?” I asked, “He has said very little.”

Alyshia shook her head “That stallion doesn’t care I don’t think, he just doesn’t want you ponies fighting.”

Alyshia then pulled me out of the tub causing my mane, tail and coat to stream water everywhere. She then towelled my coat then wrapped a dry towel on my mane and tail. She then took in my body as if looking for something. I just stood there unsure what she was looking at. Her horn then flared and all the nicks, bruises and spots where the fur had been taken out healed.

“Whoa” I gasped.

“Well I am a medical pony” Alyshia said proudly.

Something must have been off in my face as Alyshia asked “Something wrong Amethyst?”

I gave a small fake laugh and said “No nothing, it’s just that as a filly I wanted to be a medical pony. I just… didn’t fit the requirements.”

“Oh ok. So what did you end up doing in your stable?” she asked curiously.

I gave her a weak smile and told her “I worked in maintenance. I mostly worked on terminals, robotics, stable lights and the like. I know I’m not good at much, but technology is something I’m rather good at. I don’t know why my cutie mark isn’t a robot or electronic cabling or something.”

Alyshia smiled then said knowingly “your cutie mark is unique Amethyst, besides, never let your cutie mark dictate your true goal in life.”

I nodded and then followed Alyshia outside the bathroom. Without warning my legs gave out from under me causing me to fall in a heap to the ground.

Alyshia ran over to me and screamed “Amethyst what’s wrong?”

I felt tears leak from my eyes as the pain doubled in my stomach, I felt my heart clench unpleasantly before it too began to ache with pain and finally I shook my head. “Alyshia, I got stung” I mumbled, “By the radscorpion.” I didn’t think they were venomous; in fact I would have thought if they were venomous that when I had taken the healing potion it would have cured the poison too. But this would be the only reason I would have gotten ill so suddenly I thought.

Alyshia’s eyes widened with shock. “Brax” she yelled, “Amethyst is sick.”

“So?” he shouted from the bathroom, he was clearly taking a shower.

“No you- never mind” she finished; Instead Alyshia levitated me onto her back and ran out the door. Along the way to where ever it was she was taking me I lost consciousness, where I did not know.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

When I came round I was experiencing instant deja vu, the soft sound of ‘beep, beep” filling my ears and my heart sank. Not again I thought. I opened my eyes and the first thing I noticed was that I wasn’t feeling sick or unwell. I felt a little stiff but overall I felt quite good.

I quickly noticed my companions, all of them were around my bed in what appeared to be a hospital room. My curtains were open and I noted that there was at least another six beds, most had their curtains drawn except for the one opposite mine which had a injured green stallion resting in a bed like mine.

My companions were whispering to each other so I gave a small cough to indicate that I was awake. “Amethyst” Alyshia almost shouted, “Sorry” she whispered when Midnight put a hoof to her mouth to indicate for her to be quiet.

“How are you?” Brax inquired.

“I feel good” I muttered “What happened to me?” I asked knowing the answer already.

“Poisoned” Alyshia said automatically. “Radscorpian as you indeed told me when you were on the brink of passing out.”

I noticed that Midnight was hanging slightly back looking a little uncomfortable but I gave Alyshia my attention, “Yeah sorry” I muttered “I should have told you sooner.”

Alyshia shook her head “It’s ok dear, just make sure you tell somepony when you get hurt ok?”

I nodded and as I did so Midnight threw her hooves around me sobbing “I’m sorry Amethyst, I didn’t mean to be so narky, you could have died and I would have been angry at you.”

Wait what? I was expecting Midnight to scold me again but instead I pet Midnight on the top of her head awkwardly, “Don’t be” I muttered “I can be a bit naïve sometimes, perhaps a little stupid and lacking in common sense too.”

“A bit naïve?” Brax snickered.

“Fine, a lot naïve” I corrected, “Don’t be sorry Midnight”

Midnight withdrew, she looked a little angry with herself. I just smiled and told her “I still love you Midnight, don’t beat yourself up, I deserved it.”

“You nearly died” she said weakly.

“Not really” I giggled, “Alyshia got me here on time, s’all good.”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

After being cleared to go by the doctor during the afternoon of the following day I headed back to my room with Alyshia and Brax as Midnight had gone “Shopping” by herself apparently.

When we got back I saw Alyshia quickly dash into our room. I followed but the door was locked. “Uhh, Alyshia?” I stammered knocking on the door.

Alyshia ignored me and about twenty seconds later she came back out. “What was all that about?” I asked.

Alyshia gave a little laugh before saying “No nothing dead, nothing at all. Now lets take you for a shower shall we?”

“What?” I stammered “can’t I go for a shower myself?”

Alyshia then said “Fine, but you might be a while.”

“Why? I asked. She facehoofed and I understood “Right my magic” I said glumly.

“Oh that reminds me” Alyshia muttered fiddling with her bags before levitating out a little bottle of pills, “Take these, they will bring your magic back faster.”

I took the little bottle and nodded.

I then went for a shower by myself.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

After my shower, which took longer than normal, I took my tablets and left the bathroom to Alyshia who was waiting patiently while tapping her hoof on the ground. When she saw me she smiled and said “about time. It’s time for you to get changed.”

“Changed?” I blubbered after Alyshia requested me to get changed into something nice, “I haven’t any clothes.” Unless she meant my defiled barding I thought to myself. I wouldn’t put that on if you paid me.

Alyshia trotted into our room and came back out with the most stunning deep purple dress I had ever seen levitated in front of her.

“Midnight bought this for you, she knows your size you see” she piped up “I think it goes great with your eyes.”

“Thanks” I muttered. I didn’t deserve this dress I thought, I felt that Midnight was trying to make something up to me, she didn’t need to buy me that dress, her time with me last night was plenty.

Midnight had somehow mysteriously disappeared while I was showering, “where’s Midnight?” I asked looking for my beautiful white pegasus friend.

Alyshia shook her head and said nothing as she prepared the dress to put on me.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

After five minutes of Alyshia telekinetically getting this dress onto me I finally stood in front of the mirror looking at my reflection. The dress was the same shade of purple as my eyes, the seams were silvery, the dress was heavily layered and it was also quite heavy. It came with a brilliant purple and silver laced saddle that matched the dress perfectly.

She tapped my flank “Turn around dear. We should add some make up as well” Alyshia muttered as she levitated some mascara and eyeliner and did my eyes. When she was done she then smiled and told me quietly “You are a beautiful pony Amethyst. I can see how you got your name. You really shine like a gem.”

I looked at myself in the mirror and for the first time for who knows how long, I saw a legitimate smile break across my muzzle. I actually felt good about how I looked.

“Thank you Alyshia” I cried and threw my forelegs around her neck, “Thank you for being such a nice pony to me.”

She pulled me away smiling, “You don’t’ need to thank me. You need to thank Midnight for finding you such a beautiful dress.” Alyshia then looked at the door before adding “I think I might need to start getting ready myself, if you will excuse me for about twenty minutes, I need to take a shower.”

I nodded “Sure thing.”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Alyshia was getting changed when the suite door opened. I was laying on the lounge reading my book on ‘telekinetic tricks’ by hoof and I looked up from the sound of the door. Midnight and Brax came back in. I got up and walked over to Midnight. She took a look at me and her mouth gaped open. Brax looked a little shocked as well.

I looked at her directly in the eyes and apologised for the way I behaved “I’m sorry for being such a moron Midnight; I don’t deserve a friend like you.” I took a breath and finished “This is a beautiful dress by the way.”

Midnight walked up to me and gave me a hug “I am sorry too Amethyst. I should have talked to you rather than cold shouldering you.”

When we broke apart Midnight pulled out a thin silver necklace with a dark purple stone. The stone gave off a very hardly noticeable glow. “You didn’t spend all our bits – I mean caps on me did you?”

“Nawww.” Midnight professed “We got the caps from the shit that Brax has been collecting.”

“Brax supplied me with these?” I asked shocked that the stallion would be so generous.

“Supplied the caps” Midnight corrected.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Turns out that we were all going out for dinner, Alyshia was wearing a lavender dress that went well with her coat and mane, Midnight a simple black dress and Brax a brown suit type thing. It felt awkward on the way downstairs to the restaurant, I was way over dressed, I outshined my companions and ponies kept glancing at me.

“I think I’m overdressed” I muttered to Alyshia.

“Nonsense. You are stunning Amethyst, this is your night.” She said loudly.

“Besides, you’re making these rich snobs jelly.” Midnight piped up

I felt like I had a big spotlight on me when we arrived in the very splendid restaurant, where we were served expensive and slightly better tasting food that we ate in the waste land. Bananas cut in elegant styles or peas cooked in a different way.

Very full with my fill, Midnight and Brax dragged Alyshia and I to the pub where they wanted to have a drink. It was dingy inside and smelt of smoke. If I was over dressed in the restaurant I didn’t know what I qualified for in here. There were also quite a lot of sleazy stallions checking me out making my stomach twist, “I ‘m not going to stay for long” I muttered.

“Oh Amethyst don’t be such a chicken” Brax grumbled, “Pubs are great, good chatting, great place to get the ins and outs, nice and relaxing.”

“I beg to differ” I muttered. Alyshia looked uncomfortable here as well but Midnight looked at home.

Midnight and Brax ordered drinks and Midnight pushed a bottle of Vodka in front of me. “I don’t drink” I mumbled pushing the bottle away.

“You do now” Midnight laughed putting a straw in the bottle “This is very light Amethyst. Alyshia is drinking the same thing.”

I nodded and sipped the alcoholic beverage, it was sweet and the taste that alcohol had was very mild, it was quite enjoyable.

I looked around the pub and noticed that stallions were looking at me. I sunk low trying to hide behind the brim of the table.

“Amethyst?” Midnight hissed, tugging on my hoof. “What has gotten into you? “

“Creepy old stallions keep looking at me.I shuddered unable to finish.

Midnight looked around before getting up and said loudly looking at a group of stallions who were looking at me “What are you lot looking at?” They turned away.

After my second vodka I decided it was time to head back to the room, I had enough of being stared at. All three of my companions nodded as I left into the cleaner air outside the pub.

Rather than heading up to the room I decided to take a look around. Most of the shops were closed as it was rather late, so instead I stepped into the Elevator and pushed the number ‘45’ button that was the highest it would go. With a lurch of my stomach the elevator began its trip to the top of the building.

With a ding I stepped out onto the top floor and walked up to the side of the balcony that looked down to all the floors all the way to the ground floor. When I looked over the side I quickly withdrew feeling nauseous, I still had this issue with heights and open spaces.

I walked along the top floor and found that most of the doors were residence of ponies that lived here. I knew Alyshia lived here and it made me wonder what floor she lived on, if only to see the door number. These doors were all marked in the 900s.

I saw a gruff stallion stick his head out the door and he waved at me. I tilted my head and pointed a hoof at my chest and he nodded. I came a little closer to him cautiously.

"Come in" he whispered

The curious side of me wanted to go in but it was over-ridden by worry. I shook my head, my ears tilting backwards. This stallion looked very similar to the stallions from the pub, he smelt of alcohol and stale tobacco. I knew that in his house was not a safe place for a young mare like me, especially when wearing this dress and makeup which was making me look ten thousand times better than I actually looked.

He started towards me and I turned tail and ran. I had no magic or anything to protect myself and would never have believed anything to happen inside the tower. He might not have been harmful but I had difficulty trusting some ponies since I entered the Equestrian Wasteland.

I went back to my room where I waited around for my companions to get back.

Alyshia came back after about an hour and she seemed rather good despite having a few drinks. I myself felt a little strange and I assumed I was a little tipsy from the drink I had.

Alyshia pulled me into the bathroom and helped me out of my dress and clean up my makeup. This took almost as long as getting it on. By the time I was done I felt tired enough to crash.

“I’m heading off to bed” I muttered to Alyshia as Midnight and Brax returned.

I entered Alyshia and my room and threw myself into bed laying on my back staring up at the ceiling for a long time. We needed to move soon I thought. We had already stayed here for too long already.

The bedroom door opened and to my surprise Midnight came in, she was wrecked. She stumbled into the room and turned the light on before closing the door and locking it.

"Something wrong?" I asked her.

She said nothing and flapped her wings and flew up and crashed into the bed next to me. She crawled over to me. I looked in her face and I could tell she had way too much to drink.

"Midnight are you ok" I asked her.

“ah'm fighn Ametsthys" Midnight slurred.

She then crawled on top of me and before I could say anything she stuck her muzzle very close and planted a kiss on my mouth. Everything else did not matter at that very moment, I returned the kiss very passionately and Midnight did not relent, she worked her tongue around mine. I could taste the alcohol inside her mouth and yet I loved every second of it.  Her mane fell into my face and I could smell Midnight’s beautiful aroma, a beautiful flowery yet sweaty smell that made my mind fog.

She withdrew and her body then slumped on my chest, I felt horny yet I began to feel guilty. I could not let Midnight do this, she was so drunk, normally she would not do this and I allowed her to. If she found out tomorrow, I would be so screwed that I returned her kiss and if it went further. I shuddered to think. I would not let this go any further or for that matter want her to go any further unless she professed that she loved me for the pony I am. I did not want to lose myself to somepony who did not love me. I wanted it to be special.

"That’s enough Midnight” I said sternly. But she did not move. “Midnight?” I moaned “I don’t want to do this, I c-cant.” But she just laid there and did not respond. So with a heave I pushed her off me and she just slumped on the covers. She seemed to have passed out. I wiped my forehead, I felt very hot particularly between my hind legs.

I let off a sigh and I heard a knock on the door. I sat bolt upright my heart hammering in my chest as Alyshia spoke through the door “Amethyst, are you in there? Why is the door locked?”

I jumped up, my mind working slowly. I looked at Midnight who was still asleep or passed out on my and Alyshia’s bed. This would look very awkward if Alyshia saw Midnight in the same bed as me so I tried to push Midnight off the bed. But she was too heavy. I could not use my magic.

“Amethyst what are you doing in there? Are you ok?” I heard Alyshia again.

“I’m fine” I called back and I trotted over to the door and pulled it open sticking my head through the crack and holding it so Alyshia could not come in. “Uhh could you wait a moment?” I asked her awkwardly.

“Amethyst why are you all sweaty? You look like you have run a marathon.” Alyshia advised me looking slightly shocked. “What are you doing?” She asked suspiciously.

“Nothing” I said perhaps a little too quickly.

She pushed the door open telekinetically and barged in saying “What are you hiding from…” she looked at Midnight and finished “Me.” Alyshia blubbered a bit then looked at me sternly.

“I swear I didn’t” I started.

“Amethyst you didn’t just have sex with Midnight while she was blind drunk did you?” Alyshia asked harshly.

“No I didn’t” I told her defiantly.

“Then what is she doing in our bed with the door locked and you looking all tired and sweaty?” She asked.

“Look nothing happened” I lied. “Midnight came in, locked the door, and fell asleep on our bed.”

“You are a bad liar Amethyst” Alyshia said sadly, “You could just tell me the truth?”

My ears perked back and I scowled. “Fine” I grumbled. “She came in, locked the door, jumped on top of me, we made out for a minute or two and I then told her ‘no more’ and she passed out on top of me.”

“That’s all that happened?” She asked suspiciously.

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye” I sung. “Anyway how could we have sex? I am a virgin who has no idea what to do, Midnight is so drunk I doubt she would know where to look, she might start caressing my mane rather than-“I stopped, knowing that was way too much information for Alyshia.

“Ok I believe you” Alyshia mumbled, “But” She said harshly, “I feel sorry for you in the morning.”

“Why?” I asked.

“If Midnight remembers this, she will see this as an act of betrayal, she would never have kissed you if she was sober, and she likes you as a friend Amethyst but no more than that. The fact that you let her kiss you and that you didn’t try to stop her… You have to remember that she is your friend, you are supposed to look out for her when she is drunk, not use her when she is in a completely different mindset. You effectively used her.”

I nodded feeling bad. I really did enjoy the kiss but will that all be worth it I thought? Would risking my friendship with Midnight be worth a two minute kiss? No. I must be more. I wanted Midnight as a friend. She does not love me. She was my friend, not my special pony just for me. As much as I wanted that, I was Midnights friend, not fillyfriend, not girlfriend, not marefriend, just my best friend.

I then decided to make a pact. I looked up at Alyshia and nodded before saying confidently “From this day forward I will pretend to have no feelings for Midnight so she can be my friend.” I stopped then began to wonder if I could do it.

Alyshia raised an eye brow before saying “So you are going to keep your muzzle from between Midnights hind legs then?”

“Wait what?” I stammered “I-I’ve never… been?”

“Yeah, you have Amethyst.” Alyshia sighed, “Well I’m going to put Midnight to bed so I can get to sleep.”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

After Alyshia came back and fell asleep next to me, I too tried to get to sleep, but all I could think about was Midnight. I kept reliving the kiss, the smell of Midnight, her beauty, the feel of her tongue with mine, all this did nothing but increase the pressure inside me and I grew hot all over, I was way to horny to even think about going to sleep, I needed to relieve the pressure but not next to Alyshia, not in the same bed, that would be way to awkward and what if she woke up? I could not stand the smug look on her face as it came swimming into view. I considered leaving the room but what if I woke Alyshia up? She would get suspicious. What if I took too long, time was never a problem before, and I’d always been in the privacy of my own room.

Fuck it I thought wildly as the pressure became too much to handle. I didn’t care so I snuck up to the door and opened it very slowly and silently before pushing the door closed but not latching it. Everypony else was asleep. Thank Celestia. I dashed to the bathroom and pulled the door open and slid in before locking it. Finally I thought raising my hoof armed with my thoughts of Midnight.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

I woke up the following morning with a slight headache and feeling very sleepy still. I rolled out of bed and hit the floor. “Damn” I mumbled rubbing my forehead. “What a night.” I got to my hooves and saw that Alyshia was already up. I looked around and trotted slowly to the door and pulled it open, hoping to the goddesses that Midnight was still asleep. “Thank you Celestia” I mumbled when I saw only Alyshia in the main room.

When she saw me she waved a hoof over to me. My heart sunk hoping she did not notice me leave the room last night. I was in the bathroom for way too long to make any kind of excuse as to why I was gone. Although Alyshia made no mention of it as she smiled at me and said quietly “We need to go shopping today for supplies, new armour and clothes for yourself, food, ammo for Midnight and… oh geez we have a lot to do today.” She then glanced at me before asking “When are we expecting to go?”

I thought for a moment, I really enjoyed the stay here but we were stretched thin on caps already and we couldn’t afford to stay for much longer. I took a breath and said confidently “We leave tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Alyshia inquired, “Don’t you want to go to the spa and get a massage?”

I nodded. Going to the spa would be great and I was really looking forward to it when Alyshia told me she wanted to go with me. We needed to get going so I told her “We will go to the spa on the way back, if I have my water talisman I still hold my promise. If not then why not?” She began to look a bit down so I said “Alyshia we don’t have much caps left and I don’t want to stay here for too long.”

She nodded looking a little disappointed. She then put her hooves around my neck into a hug “Oof Alyshia? What?” I tried to break out of her hug fearing my neck might break.

“Thank you Amethyst, I will hold you to that.”

“Ok” I muffled, “Can you let me go please?”

She let me go, then said looking at my body “I think you’re going to have to go bare coat Amethyst. You haven’t any clothes.”

“Don’t I?” I grinned, I pulled my freshly laundered black fluffy socks onto my hooves non-magically.

“You cannot be serious Amethyst?” Alyshia goggled.

I looked in the tall mirror trying to strike a sexy pose “Why not?” I said seriously “Don’t you think I’m sexy in socks?” I then threw my flanks up in the air causing my tail to flick up.

“Oh Amethyst” Alyshia facehoofed but stifled a giggle, “you can be a funny pony sometimes.” Alyshia then levitated and strapped my saddlebags to my back before she magically pulled my socks off causing me to hit the ground as she then folded them again and placed them on the bench.

“I’m going to buy more socks today” I said to Alyshia as we walked out the room. I really liked the socks I thought to myself, I didn’t know why but I liked socks for some reason.

“Why isn’t Brax or Midnight coming with us?” I asked already knowing the answer.

“They have hang over’s, they drank too much” She said matter-of-factly. “Not that any of us took advantage of that” She seethed.

My head dropped slightly feeling guilty “I’ll apologise. I promise” I muttered.

Alyshia then changed the subject “We need to take you back to the doctor as well. We need to get your magic checked out”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Alyshia and I burst back into our room, saddlebags packed with merchandise. We had spent almost all our caps.

I myself bought new barding which was quite lighter than the other set I had, this barding did not cover the flanks which I believed to be better, I would be able to move much swifter in this new barding. I bought a very similar set of winter clothing that my barding was woven into. This set was anti-tear I was advised by the Tailor, magically infused material. This would make sure that this set did not become a torn mess like the set I had discarded.

I bought a new sniper rifle and sold my almost busted one as well. I bought some magical rounds for the sniper rifle too, which were enchanted to be armour piercing and to explode once they entered the body. I told myself not to use these unless I had to. I also bought a novel which I took to be the first in a series “Daring-Do and the quest for the sapphire stone.” And six pairs of socks, I bought another black set this time with my cutie mark embroidered into them as well as a purple set, striped set, as well as a Luna set which had moons and stars embroidered.

I dumped my saddlebags and checked the time on my pipbuck. It was nearly five pm. I sighed and pulled out the tablets Alyshia gave me and took one.

Midnight bustled over making me feel uncomfortable as our last encounter swam to the forefront of my mind. “What did you get Amethyst?” She asked.

I showed her my merchandise and she simply laughed at all the socks I had, one for each hoof, 6 sets of 4 plus the set I already had. I had 28 individual socks. “I never knew you were into socks Amethyst.” Midnight laughed. I simply shrugged.

“How are you feeling?” I asked nervously.

“Uhh… bit of a headache I can tell you that, I remember jack all from last night. I think I did something stupid but I don’t remember” She advised.

“I didn’t see you do anything stupid” I lied.

“Don’t you lie to her Amethyst?” Alyshia called over to me, “If you won’t tell her I will. I think it’s better if it comes from you.”

Midnight looked confused, “Uhh what did I do or whaa?”

Fuck. I looked at Midnight who still looked confused. I took a deep breath and told her what happened “Midnight. I am really really REALLY sorry, I didn’t mean to. I should have done something but…” I said the rest very fast “While I was in bed, you came in and started making out with me, I didn’t stop you and I took advantage of you and I returned the kiss very passionately. Nothing else happened because I wouldn’t have allowed that. But you passed out on top of me and Alyshia walked in and that led to an awkward night.”

“What?” Midnight looked confused and clearly had not taken what I said. I simply blubbered unable to repeat myself.

Alyshia came to the rescue “What she is saying Midnight is that you went into our room while Amethyst was asleep and you started making out with her, she then returned your kiss and very passionately at that. Nothing else happened.”

“I… k-kissed Amethyst?” Midnight blubbered looking stunned “No... Way. You guys are pulling my leg.”

“I’m not pulling your leg Midnight” I told her seriously “I am very sorry.”

“Amethsyt you don’t need to be sorry.” Midnight told me, “This is my fault. I should not have gotten that drunk, I played with your heart Amethyst, It should be me who’s sorry.”

“Y-You?” I asked stunned. “No Midnight, you were drunk and I took advantage of you.”

“Of course you did Amethyst. There is no way you could resist being close to the pony you love. I played your heart.”

“No you didn’t. I could have stopped myself, I could have stopped you. I just didn’t because I‘m selfish.” I said defiantly

Alyshia cut in “let’s just share the blame, Amethyst you are sorry for using Midnight, Midnight is sorry playing with Amethyst’s heart. We are even. So no sorry needed?”

“No sorry needed.” Midnight and I said in unison. We then hugged saying sorry to each other anyway.

Level up

New Perk: Poison Resistance: Your exposure to Radscorpian poison has given you a 15% resistance to all poison effects. In addition you now have a 15% chance to not be poisoned at all when stung by a venomous animal.