DJ Pon3's Assistant

It was my final day in Hospital, my severe headache had evaporated, my magic was returning and my sickness was mostly gone, I was however still connected to a drip and I still had my food tube in my nose. After having spent one week in this hospital bed, I wanted to leave and the only thing that had satisfied my boredom was my tinkering of the dragonfly robot.

My bed was covered in wire, screwdrivers, pliers, the dragonfly’s body, the wings and spare parts. I was working on replacing the burnt wire that the bullet had sliced, the dragonfly continued to astound me as I worked. It was beautifully made; the body was encased in titanium which branched out to a double tail, the hardware inside was nothing that I had ever worked on before, which was lucky as the bullet had missed crucial parts.

I had the dragonfly at eye level, working the wire into place with my weak magic when the doctor came in. I glanced up over my work and he said, “If you could put that down for a moment, I would like to talk to you.”

I put the machine down and looked up at him. I nodded and he shut curtains magically.

The doctor came to my bedside and said worried, “I couldn’t ignore this Amethyst. I’m not a councillor but could you tell me how you got those marks on your forelegs?”

I held my forelegs out, the bandages covered both self-inflicted and accidental; injuries. I felt a sickness rise within me, one that made me feel ashamed yet I remained defensive. “It’s not hurting anypony,” I muttered looking away from him.  “They’re not even visible anymore,” remembering the last my bandages were changed the cuts couldn’t be seen unless looked at very closely.

“The cuts will vanish yes,” Doctor Cascade agreed. “But it’s not the cuts, its how they got there.”

“What about it?” I said getting defensive.  “Its how I medicate myself, its how I deal with things. It’s not easy no, but…”

“Amethyst,” he said in a calm voice. “I will not disagree that things are often hard, especially in the wasteland and anything else that maybe happening in your life. But you cannot keep going like this; you need to talk to somepony, a councillor. Self-harm is a serious matter.”

“It’s not hurting anypony,” I repeated.

“”That is where you’re wrong,” he said solemnly. “You’re negative energy rubs off on your friends. Alyshia is absolutely distraught that you’ve resorted to this, and yes Amethyst. She knows.”

My ears moved back and for once, he managed to make me feel ashamed.  “I’m sorry,” I cried bursting into tears. ‘I’m stupid, I don’t need this.  I didn’t mean to hurt myself. It’s just that everything got so overwhelming.” I gasped for air, trying to hold back but it didn’t work. “Midnight n-not liking me and Lion-Lionel being horrible to me, afraid that everypony will just leave me and… I- I miss my home.” A bubble grew from my nose and popped. “I just want everything to be normal,” I finished, wiping my muzzle.

“Amethyst,” said a sweet, motherly voice.

“Alyshia?” I croaked, looking up to see her walk through the gap in the curtain. The purple unicorn trotted over to my bed and gave me a hug. It eased the pain a little. “I-“I looked up into her violet eyes. “I’m sorry,” I said, ashamed. “I didn’t mean… This.”

‘Do you need to see a councillor?” Doctor Cascade asked. “I can arrange one?”

I looked up to Alyshia. “I’m fine,” I sighed, looking back at the doctor. “I can talk to Alyshia. I looked into her face “That is, if you’re still want to talk to me.”

“Of course I do honey,” Alyshia said. “I still love you, even though you’re a little thief.”

I hung my head, my eyes on the sheets. “Sorry,” I repeated.

“Don’t be.” Alyshia gave me a hug, a huge motherly hug that I returned by placing my bandaged hooves around her neck.

“I might leave you to get some more rest,” Alyshia said as she broke the hug.

“How’s Midnight?” I asked before she could leave.

“She’s fine,” Alyshia reassured. “Actually I think she’s at the pub with Brax.”

I giggled. “Of course they are. She hasn’t changed one bit.” Alyshia smiled at me then left me alone with the doctor.

“When you’re done with this stuff, can you please pack it all away?” Doctor Cascade said. “I don’t need wires all over the floor.”

I nodded, levitating the metallic body back onto my lap.

“If you change your mind about needing to see a councillor, just let me know,” he finished.

I nodded and the doctor left me alone with my dead robot.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

My robotic dragonfly was all back in one piece, his four wings attached and he was ready to go. I plugged him into my pipbuck and changed the owner to me and his name.

His name… “Hmm,” I muttered. “His name?” I thought of when I first encountered the little contraption. He flew in front of my face and screeched “Meeeeeep,”

I smiled. It was the perfect name, so I put his name in the system. Meep... I ran a quick scan to ensure that the data was safe and it came up clear. I started him up from my pipbuck and his LED’s lit up, the titanium shutters over his eyes opened clockwise exposing his huge camera lens eyes and his wings jittered. I unplugged my pipbuck and Meep fluttered his wings and landed on the bed post.

I giggled. “Oh come here Meep,” I called to the dragonfly, my forehooves held open. Meep tilted his head and blinked; he spread his wings and fluttered over to me, and landed in my lap. He was quite large, but small enough to be somewhat of a lap pet. I pet his metallic back and he cooed.  I had never had a pet before, robotic or alive.

“Hey Amethyst,” Midnight called coming through the curtain. “The doctor says-“I looked up and Midnight stopped mid-sentence.  “You got that thing working?”

I nodded, smiling. “His name is Meep. I’ve fixed him up.”

“He?” Midnight chuckled. “Don’t you mean it?”

I shook my head. “He’s a he to me. I don’t know why, I guess I’m strange like that.”

Meep looked over at Midnight. “Meep,” he called. He flew up and over to Midnight and landed on her head.

I laughed. “I think he likes you,” I giggled.

Midnight pulled Meep off her head and held him in her hooves.  He ogled at her with his huge eyes.  “You know, I think I’m going to like you,” Midnight said smiling, petting his head.

“Midnight? Have you told her yet?” Alyshia called from somewhere up the ward.

Moments later, Alyshia burst in. “Midnight what are you- You fixed it?” Alyshia gasped, staring at Meep who clung onto Midnight’s horehooves with his six legs. She looked at me.

“His name’s Meep and he’ll be coming with us,” I told Alyshia. “He should do fine, he’s large enough to fly long distances and hold his own with high wind.” I paused. “At least so I think,” I finished.

“He’s adorable,” Alyshia giggled, petting his metal back. “Look at how cute his eyes are. He’ll make a cute companion for us.”

“Uhh,” I said glancing at my two friends. “What was it you guys were going to tell me?”

“You’re being discharged,” Brax growled, bursting through the curtains. “At least very shortly, it’s nice to see how all you girls get distracted over a little metal dragonfly.”

“He’s not that small actually Brax, his wingspan is roughly a meter,” I corrected him.

Midnight blushed. “Well,” she said. “At least he can fly with me, I wonder how fast it- I mean he can go?”

“Travelling with three fillies, what have I gotten myself into,” Brax sighed with a hoof over his face.

Ignoring the elder stallion, I looked at my bed covers. They were covered in bits of metal, copper, plastic and spare parts.” I should really clean this up,” I sighed. I attempted to wrap all the junk in my magic at once but I couldn’t. Not yet anyway.

“Let me get this for you Amethyst,” Alyshia said. With a flick of her purple aura, she lifted all the junk and pushed it into the left pocket of my saddlebag.

“Thanks,” I said with a weak smile.

“Okay,” Doctor Cascade said coming through the curtains. “Amethyst, if you could just hope on out of bed,” I pushed myself up and I still felt quite weak. Doctor Cascade wrapped me with his magic and guided me onto the floor, where I stood on my own my legs a little wobbly.  “How’s that?”

“No pain,” I said, but my legs feel like spaghetti.

“They’ll be all good after a couple of days,” he reassured. “Now, if you could just step onto the scales.” I stood on the scales and he took my weight. “That’s looking a little better,” he said relieved. “We can take the tube out, but only if you promise me that you’ll eat properly Amethyst.”

My ears perked back. “Of course,” I stammered.

“You sure?” he said. “If you come back here as underweight as you were, I’ll keep you on the tube. Do you want to walk around with that thing in your nose?”

I shook my head. “No,” I told him.

Doctor Cascade turned the machines around my bed off before disconnecting the drip from my right hoof. I shuddered as I felt the needle leave my body. Next was the tube from my nose, this was uncomfortable. I coughed and spluttered as he pulled it out, but once free it felt relieving to not feel it in my nose anymore.

“Take care on your legs Amethyst, the bones are healed but they still take time to gain maximum strength. If you have any thoughts on self-harm, talk to Alyshia or come back to see somepony okay?” I nodded. The doctor smiled before turning to Alyshia. “No need to pay Alyshia, take it as an ex-student discount. Just remember to change Amethyst’s bandages every three days; the skin still needs the healing from the magic in the bandages. Alyshia nodded. “And ensure she eats, even if you have to force it down her throat.”

I will,” Alyshia said. “Thank you for everything Doctor Cascade.”

“My pleasure,” he said.

“Thank you,” I said to him as well. “Thank you for fixing me, and putting up with me.”

“It’s alright Amethyst. I just hope you’re not in here again.”

I laughed. “I’ll try not to.”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

“I need to see DJ Pon3,” I growled at Alyshia, attempting to get up from my new bed in our guest room. “He’ll have all my answers.”

“No,” Alyshia barked pushing me back into the covers as Meep fluttered past her head and landed on the bedpost. “Not until your better.” Alyshia pushed a plate of foul beans under my muzzle.

I sneered. “Can’t you do something with these? I dunno, cook them or salt them?” I pushed the plate away.

Alyshia sighed impatiently. “We don’t have a stove here, you’re not fit enough to come down to the eatery so we have to prepare you uncooked food.”

“Why can’t we go to DJ Pon3?” I asked impatiently crossing my still bandaged forehooves; I looked away from Alyshia to stare at the blank cracked wall.

“Sweet Celestia Amethyst, you’re acting like a child,” Alyshia scolded. “Eat your food before I get Cascade to reapply your food tube.”

“I don’t want to eat that,” I said pushing my plate away, still refusing to meet her gaze. “Get me an apple, or roasted pear or-“

“That food is expensive Amethyst,” Alyshia snapped. “We can’t afford it and it’s served in the restaurant. Which you are not fit to go yet.”

But-“I protested, snapping my head back to her.

“No,” Alyshia snapped. “Do you want to be wandering the wasteland with a pipe pumping food down your throat? Do you want a pack of mashed foodstuffs being pumped into you while you risk your neck?  Be an adult for once Amethyst and look after yourself. I’m deadly serious, eat this or I’ll get Cascade in here right now to reapply your tube.”

I scrunched my muzzle and pulled the plate and fork to me magically. I began to eat. The beans were stale and soft, they burst under my teeth and the inside was like cold paste. My stomach did not like this food, it churned as it fell in and it was all I could do to hold it down.

“Don’t you think you’re being a little harsh on her?” Midnight asked coming into the room. “Sorry for eavesdropping by the way.”

“I need to be Midnight, “Alyshia sighed. “I feel like I’m looking after a foal, not a grown adult.”

“That’s not fair,” I shot at her. “I’m trying my best.”

Alyshia ignored me. But it was Midnight who spoke. “We’ll see DJ Pon3 tomorrow Amethyst, you can come with me.”

“What no!” Alyshia barked. “No she’s not going.”

Midnight shrugged. “If there’s somepony willing to help her, she’s willing to go. Alyshia, she’s an adult. She can make her own decisions. “

“No she can’t, she won’t even eat-“ Alyshia began,

“You can’t exactly stop her,” Midnight interrupted. “She’s a full grown mare, a mare that is but a week away from twenty.

“I-“Alyshia stammered. “Fine she can go. But I’m coming.”

“I want you to come Alyshia,” I said before swallowing another mouthful of those foul beans.  “I need a level head like yours. I am however perfectly capable of looking after myself. I’m not a filly you know.”

“I know that Amethyst,” Alyshia sighed. “But sometimes, you act like a foal.”

“Gee thanks,” I growled.

“It’s true,” Alyshia shrugged. “Now how much have you eaten?”

“Enough,” I said pushing the plate away feeling queasy.

“Half, well that’ll have to do. I’ll put it in the fridge and you can finish it tomorrow.”

That was one thing I most defiantly was not looking forward to.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

I spent much of the day going through memory orbs to pass my time as Meep sat by the window, wings outstretched, soaking up what little light could penetrate the clouds. Alyshia and Midnight had gone shopping while Brax went to look at guns. Most of the memory orbs were just mundane information from other stables that didn’t mean anything. Some were cracked. These were ignored. I picked up another memory orb at random and focused my magic on it. I felt the familiar sensation of being sucked down a pipe.

========OooO…OooO========

The image that swam before me was that of a stable, similar to mine but in the medical ward. My host was a mare from her soft panting, lack of extra parts and she was a unicorn, my favourite type of host.

She glanced out the window and there was a group of ponies running from the stairwell that lead to the floor below.

“Father?” she called out, “Father, they’re coming from the bottom stairwell.” My host levitated a large gun into vision.

“It’s alright Silver, if they barge through the door, we got them,” came the gruff voice of an older stallion guarding the door with what appeared to be a massive fifty calibre rifle levitated.

My host, Silver looked back through the window in time to see a pony with frosted eyes, patched fur and rotting skin move so fast it defied reality. The pony jumped on an earth pony mare who screamed, the undead pony, or was it a zombie pony I didn’t know what. It bit her hard on the neck. She screamed and writhed on the ground as the pony jumped off her and made for another victim. The mare stopped moving. Suddenly she jittered and she was foaming at the mouth, after a full thirty seconds she got to her hooves with her foaming mouth. Her eyes frost and unmoving, she made eye contact with us and Silver screamed before ducking her head.

“Silver shush,” her father snapped. Too late, the pony gone zombie smashed her way through the door and made right for me, or my host, foaming at the mouth.

BAAANG

My vision turned red as gore showered my host, the zombie pony obliterated from the overlarge gun her father had fired. “Thanks,” and a gasp was all that escaped my hosts mouth. But it wasn’t time for rest, a second pony was drawn to the sound of the firing gun, but Silver had her gun ready and she fired, one hit the torso and did nothing, the second hit it in the leg causing it to skid across the floor, streaking the bloody floor with foam.

BAAANG

The pony exploded against the floor as the massive bullet tore it to shreds. “Aim for the head,” Silver’s father said.

My host was shaking with fright. “S-Sorry father, I’m just a little scared.” A shriek sounded from outside that made Silver’s hair stand on end. “The bite,” Silver whispered, “turns you into one of those… Things…”

“I know darling, I saw, we need to move, before more come,” her father told her. “C’mon,”

My host, still shaking snuck out after her father. Shrieks of the zombies and screams of the still sane could be heard down the corridor, of which was covered in blood. Some of the ponies didn’t turn and were instead mauled, the flesh and blood strewn across the floor. “Where to?” Silver gasped with a hoof to our nose from the scent of the air which was thick and coppery.

“To- to the…”  Silvers father shook his head. “We’ll go to the orchard,”

“Right,” a brave voice sounded from our muzzle.  Silver pushed her head up. “Let’s do this.”

We snuck across the corridor; my host’s ears perked listening for noises, her father in front. “Hold up,” he growled at an intersection. He stuck his muzzle around the corner. “All clear, c’mon.”

Jumpy, Silver rushed forward and I felt her left hind hoof slide out from underneath her. She slipped on the blood stained floor,

BANG

Silver’s heart jumped as her magic slipped on the gun after accidentally firing it and pain erupted from our rump as she hit the floor, her gun followed suit. “Silver look out,” her father roared. Silver turned, scared and a zombie pony was running at her at full pace, its milky eyes set on her, its foaming mouth trailing saliva. Silver screamed and her father fired his gun at it.

BANG

He missed and Silver lifted her gun in her magic just in time to hit it with the butt of her gun. The pony yelped and hit the wall, but as if it felt nothing it got back to her hooves and lunged at her. Silver blocked again but it knocked the gun from her hooves. Abandoning her gun, her wrapped her blue magical field around the zombie as it tried to bit her neck, it was too powerful to hold, Silver struggled with her telekinesis and just before her magical field  collapsed she heard the a gunshot and I was once again reminded of how it felt to have warm gore blown all over you. Our vision went red from blood which Silver blinked out; gore however covered her silvery coat.

More shrieks sounded from nearby and Silver’s eyes became warm and teary, but she did her best to hold up. “C’mon darling, quick, they appear to be attracted to the sound.”

“Okay,” Silver said quietly. She got back to her hooves, gun in the air and quickly chased after her father. Silver kept glancing over her neck, scared of more zombies would arrive. A fear that came true, just as herself and her father turned the corner, Silver caught a glimpse of about three zombies coming up from the corridor they just left. “Father,” she moaned quietly. “There are more in that corridor.”

“Never mind darling let’s just…” RAAAAAAAHHHH

Father walked head long into a zombie pony which he hit with the butt of his gun. It tried to lunge at him and I raised my gun and shot it. The gunshot echoed through the stable.

Raaaaahhhh

The hooves of the three ponies from around the corridor clopped loudly as they ran up the corridor we just left. “Silver run!” her father roared.

Silver ran for her life, just behind her father. The ponies from behind were faster but we had a huge head start, we ran up the stairs into the next floor, cries of normal ponies could be heard from up here rather than those of the zombies.  The shrieks of the ponies we left behind however became ever so audible as a stitch developed in Silver’s side, the sharp pain pieced her chest but she could stop. She ran as fast as she could up the corridor and turned left again before running up to the next level once again. My host looked back as she ran up the stairs and one of the ponies was at the foot. She raised the gun to our eye level and shot it, she hit it in the left leg which separated from the body but that didn’t stop it running up the stairs with three legs.

Silver looked back and she ran into her father’s soft rump unaware that she had reached the top, she stumbled and fell onto the stairs, the zombie pony was on top of her and she didn’t know what was going on. “Silver,” her father roared. “Silver no.”

I felt the adrenaline from Silver rush to her veins and she stuck out with a hoof, hitting it in the face. The zombie recoiled, its unseeing eyes locked on for the kill. Silver hit it with her gun and just as the zombie dodged and tried to bit her, she was covered in gore once again. RAAAAH!!!

The other two had arrived and that’s when Silver’s father levitated her to her hooves and pushed her behind him, his hooves forceful.  We could see what was happening but Silver’s father blasted away with his guns, “Run Silver,” he roared, there are about ten down here, get to the Orchard!

BANG

BANG

BANG

Her father fired his gun with purpose. “Father, I-“

“RUN!” he roared. “Go!”

Silver turned and obeying her father, ran for her life. She skidded around another corner, gun ready she expected more but was lucky. We ran right and finally Silver ran for the large doors at the end of the corridor. Silver skidded to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked. Silver banged her hoof on the door “Let me in, please,” she cried. Silver’s heard was racing, her head was spinning and she was clearly scared for her father.

A ponies head appeared at the window of the door and nodded. It took a few seconds but they opened to allow her passage. The ponies quickly shut the doors and put a bar in the handles. Silver began to cry, “My father, I left him… I- He told me to run for it.” A stranger put their comforting hoof around our shoulders. “It’ll be okay,” she said. “I’m sure he’ll come, we just need to wait.” Silver looked around, there was about twenty ponies holed up here.

A shriek was heard and Silver had heard it. Her heard dropped like a stone, “There’s a stallion coming,” a pony said looking out the window.  My host rushed to the window and Silver’s father as running for his life, gun discarded and being pursued by about eight zombies.  “We can’t let him in,” a pony said, “He’ll let them in.”

“No,” Silver roared, Silvers magic wrapped around the bar wedged in the handles of the steel door.

“No you can’t!” A pony roared, “You’ll kill us all.”

Silver ripped the door open as her father closed in on it. “Everypony get ready to help me with the door when he comes in,” Silver cried. They waited and but a few seconds later, the stallion ran through the doors before and everypony in the room pushed the door shut.

The zombie ponies hit the door with a crunch and the steel bar was put back in place. Silver ran over to her father and hugged him, they were both very tired as my host and him huffed and puffed. “Well done Silver,” we were pulled into a fatherly hug that I would have yearned for back in real life. “I love you so much Silver, I’m really sorry about mum.”

Silver began to cry and as she did so, the memory blurred and my head span, I felt myself leave the memory and my host.

========OooO…OooO========

The coppery blood smell from the memory lingered when I exited the memory, my stomach turned and leaning over the bed I vomited onto the ground, the beans I had eaten ended up on the floor. The door to our room opened and my heart dropped as Alyshia and Midnight entered the room, laden with food shopping. Alyshia dropped the food onto the table and trotted over with a packet of something in her magical field.

“I got these from the shop; I know they’re not really…” Alyshia paused. “Amethyst, what happened?” she asked concerned glancing at my vomit.

“Sick,” I coughed. “I went inside the orb,” I held the memory orb up. “I kinda vomited when I came out of it.”

Alyshia picked up the container of orbs in her magic and put them on the bedside. “I’ll clean this up but, seriously Amethyst.”

I sank back into bed feeling a little shaken as Alyshia cleaned up my vomit. “Sorry,” I said as she came back to the bedside.

“Don’t be,” Alyshia comforted when she had finished cleaning up. “I got you some food that you should hopefully be comfortable with.”

“It better not be in a can-“I began.

Alyshia giggled. “No it’s not in a can,” she said. “I’ve bought some salted plums, some dried apricots and crystalized pineapple.”

“Crystalized Pineapple?” I asked perplexed.

Alyshia held up the packet in her magic. “They’ve been crystalized in sugar, but please only take them for a snack. They’re laden with sugars so they’re not that healthy.”

“Thanks,” I said relieved. “Hopefully they’ll taste okay.”

“I’ve also bought some salt, seasoning, herbs and sauce to add to your canned meals, just to add some flavour. Shame I’m a terrible cook,” she finished with a sigh.

“I think Brax can cook relatively well. As long as Midnight isn’t waving meat in his face,” I said a little too loudly.

“Hey,” Midnight grumbled from the table.

“I won’t forget that time you made me cook your food,” I growled.

Midnight scowled over her bags just as Brax walked in, his huge saddlebags bulging and a large sniper rifle tied in place.

“Where did you go?” Alyshia asked eying his bags. “You didn’t steal all that did you, we haven’t got the-“

“I sold things,” Brax said simply. “I sold all the junk I collected and all of Amethyst’s specialised ammo.”

“You sold my special ammo?” I shouted, “It’s not your to-“

“You didn’t have a gun to use them in, they were destroyed,” Brax sighed impatiently. “Unless you want to throw the ammo then I suggest you be grateful.”

He came to my bedside and placed the sniper rifle on my covers. “It’s the best I could find, twenty five calibre, perhaps a little big for you but you handled the other sniper rifle well so I thought you might want something a little bigger.”

I picked it up in my magic and examined it. The scope was much larger, the body shiny and almost new, the barrel was huge and from the LED number display on the side it held a maximum of fifteen bullets before reload.

“It can take a five ammo slot extension and a laser sight but that’s an overkill. Besides I couldn’t afford them,” Brax said simply. “Oh and I got fifty rounds of ammo for it.”

I looked through the scope and held it at eye level. The size was big but with some practise I thought I could handle it okay. “It’s a nice gun,” I said smiling at him. “I just hope it’s as good as my last one.”

Brax frowned. “Your last one was a piece of junk, this one can hit targets twice the distance and do five time the damage and hold three times the ammo.”

“True, I just think I might need to get used to it,” I sighed. “What of my other guns anyway, this thing is impractical for direct combat.”

“I got you a .44 magnum, scoped like your last one,” Brax said pulling out the small but powerful handgun. “I also got you this,” he pulled out a short double-barrelled shotgun that looked like it had barrel cut off.”

“No Brax,” Alyshia growled looking at that gun.

“Why not? She needs a gun that’s good at close range,” Brax said holding the gun up. “It’ll blow a pony’s head clean off.”

“Absolutely not,” Alyshia roared. “I will not let you give her a dangerous gun like that, not some home modified-“

“Alyshia,” Brax snapped. “The gun is perfectly sa-“

“I don’t care how safe it is,” she snapped back. “You will not give that filly a gun that could blow up in her face.”

My heart stopped. That filly?

“I could handle that gun,’ I said. “I mean it’s just a shotgun.”

“It won’t-“Brax began ignoring me. “It’s safe,”

“It’s safe until it backfires in her face,” Alyshia argued back. “No and that’s final.”

“What if I tested it first?” Brax asked. “What then?”

“No,” Alyshia said finally.

“I’m an adult,” I snarled impatiently from my bed. “I think I can handle this on my own.”

I was once again ignored as Brax finally said; “What if I modified it? Gave it a longer barrel, put new springs and clean out the housing? I can make it compact but safe, I’ll test it in the field myself before I give it to her.

Alyshia sighed. “Fine, but you need to prove to me that it’s safe. I wouldn’t mind a standard shotgun but… How much experience do you have with modifying guns anyway?”

“I specialise in laser weaponry but I can do normal guns too, I used to sell modified guns during winter when slave trade was low,” Brax said simply, “anything to make a living.”

Brax put the gun back and pulled out a box looking gun with three red LED lights in a straight line on the side. “She can take mine until I fix it,” he said. “Don’t overuse it though Amethyst, the batteries for this thing are expensive.”

“What is it?” I asked, still seething. “A laser shotgun, it shoots three direct lasers in a cone.”

I had never used a laser weapon before but I guess the time was now.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

The following day was dedicated to speaking to DJ Pon3 to find out whom or if the Tenpony Tower was willing to part with a water talisman, whether we had to do errands or earn more caps. I was willing to do anything. Alyshia was helping me get into a pink dress that she had loaned me, my recently mended forehooves proved a challenge to get into the hole of the dress.

“Owie,” I cried retracting my left forehoof. “Is this even necessary? Can’t was just go in coat?”

“Sorry dear,” Alyshia apologised. “I think it’s better to mingle with the ponies of the tower, I think its best if we made a good impression. I even doubt we’ll get to see the actual DJ Pon3.”

“Really?” I asked, “Why?”

“He’s secretive, doesn’t like ponies know who he is, most ponies speak to his assistant,” Alyshia answered.

“Who’s the assistant?” I inquired.

“A young mare by the looks of it,” Alyshia sighed. “His assistant left about a year ago the last I had heard.”

“By the looks of it? So he does or doesn’t have an assistant then?” I asked.

“He might do, I don’t really have many connections here anymore though,” Alyshia said anyway as she seized my forehoof and yanked the dress on. “There we, doesn’t that look nice?”

I looked in the cracked mirror. I kicked the dress at the back and sighed, “Pink doesn’t suit me, do you have another colour? It’s also too big.”

Alyshia facehoofed. “You’re a smaller pony than me, of course it’s not a perfect fit but it looks fine Amethyst.”

“Ready to go?” Midnight asked coming out of her room.

Midnight wore a black and white casual dress that complimented her colour. She looked very pretty. “Why can’t I have a dress like that?” I asked Alyshia. “That one actually looks good.”

Midnight giggled as Alyshia snorted. “Is that seriously your dress Alyshia?” Midnight snickered.

“Yes it is,’ Alyshia growled.

“Pink? I mean, I don’t have anything against the colour but it… Surely that couldn’t suit you; I mean you’re a purple unicorn.”

“It was given to me by my mother for my ball after I finished medical school, Alyshia seethed. “It was dark violet then.”

Midnight rolled her eyes, disbelieving. I couldn’t argue with her. What was Alyshia washing it in to go pink?

“Where are my socks?” I asked, changing the subject.

“No socks,” Alyshia said simply. “Not until I’m sure you’re not going to cut yourself again.”

“I already told you,” I growled. “I won’t.” My forehooves were still bandaged anyway.

“Anyway, we had better get going, our appointment is in ten,” Alyshia said beckoning over to the door.

I turned to leave, Meep fluttered over and landing on my back. “Meep no, you stay here with Brax, we’ll be back soon okay?”

Meep beeped once and his eyes went sad.

We’ll be right back. Meep beeped once again in understanding.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

“Okay,” Alyshia said standing in the corridor outside the studio for Tenpony Tower. “Let me do the talking first but it’s you that they need to talk to.”

I nodded and Midnight smiled. Alyshia knocked twice and after a brief pause the door opened revealing a short young unicorn mare with a blue mane. Actually I take that back, she was very short, even shorter than I by at least half a horn.

“Hi,” Alyshia began. “We’re here to see DJ Pon3, I made an appointment yesterday.”

The mare smiled warmly, even as she did so she looked a little saddened but she did well to hide it. “Hi,” she said, “The names Homage, DJ Pon3 did say something. He’s broadcasting at the moment, but do come on in.”

The three of us stepped into the large studio room. This room was very large, a large alicorn water fountain stood in the middle, pictures hung on the walls and two sofas lay nearby with a small coffee table. “Please do take a seat, make yourselves at home, I’ll get some refreshments.” The three of us looked at each other and nodded. We took a seat on the sofa and waited for homage. “Do you think she’ll know who I am?” I asked quietly.

“Not too sure,” Alyshia whispered, “She’s DJ Pon3’s assistant, and from what they were saying on the radio, they think you’re dead.”

“Why would they think that?” I asked stupidly.

“I wonder why?” Midnight hissed. “Maybe because you were attacked by a giant freaking dragon, had all your bones broken, attacked by three alicorns and-“

“Shh,” Alyshia growled.

Homage came back with a plate of biscuits, cups and a bottle of water levitated in her magical field and placed them on the coffee table. Midnight grabbed a biscuit the moment the plate hit the table. Homage took a seat on the other sofa. “DJ Pon3 will probably be a while but if you want I can relay anything back to him.”

“That would be nice,” Alyshia said. “Thank you Homage,”

“It’s alright,” she laughed. “Anyway what can I do you three for?”

That was my Que. “Hi, I’m Amethyst and I’m from stable 86. I left a few weeks ago-“

“Oh really?” Homage asked surprised. “We thought you were dead, I mean after that dragon attacked you, we never saw you after that.”

I frowned. “How did DJ Pon3 see me?” I asked curiously.

“Oh, DJ Pon3 can see most of Equestria,” Homage said. “He said it on the news and everything, I mean I saw the footage, it was pretty bad.”

I shook my bandaged forehoof. “You could say that,” I sighed. “What brings us here though is not my injuries or my tales. I’m actually out here looking for a water talisman, since I left my ponies are in danger of dying. That’s probably why DJ Pon3 can see me doing all kinds of things like entering stables and such.”

Homage listened intently and said, “That seems like a dilemma, I’m unsure how Tenpony Tower can help?”

I glanced at the fountain and saw a sparkle of blue, that familiar blue that I saw from the Talisman I held in New Saddle.

“The fountain’s water talisman is owned by the tower,” Homage answered. “They all are, even with the many towns going without water they do not give any of them away.”

I looked at her surprised. “But each one can. It can help ponies, my ponies other ponies out there.”

Homage nodded. “I agree with you Amethyst, but that’s the decision of the tower, even the residents here know. You’re not the first one to come here seeking one.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Alyshia sighed. “But I can see why they are held onto.”

“Why?” I asked, a little infuriated, “To power a water fountain while ponies die?”

“No,” Alyshia said. “The talismans are heavily sought after, give a town a talisman and then they’re a target for thieves. At least here they are protected.”

“I think that’s probably one of the reasons,” Homage sighed. “Although I do know of some places that nopony goes, or is unwilling to go, where you might have the best chances of finding one.”

“But this is different,” I argued. “Our stable is safe, it’s just got a broken talisman, the new one won’t be stolen.”

Homage poured herself a drink of water and took a sip. When she set the glass back on the table she said; “The talismans are not to be given away,” Homage said simply with a shrug. “If the Steel Ranger ever found out where you’re stable is, they will pilferage it, not only for the talisman but for any other object within that holds any kind of technological significance.”

“No one is going to find my stable,” I growled. “It’s hidden in a network of tunnels that not even I know-“

“Amethyst,” Alyshia interrupted. “We aren’t getting a talisman here. “The tower cannot offer us one.”

I looked at Homage and she nodded looking solemn.

I deflated and gave off a heavy sigh. I released that this task seemed to be impossible. “We’ve looked everywhere,” I growled. “Everywhere… And I still have nothing.”

“We got that one from New Saddle,” Midnight interjected. “But it’s broken.”

“And a load of good it’ll do us,” I snapped remembering the broken sapphire talisman that clung in my hooves.

“There are places,” Homage muttered. “Conveyed rumours, places that not many ponies go, not even the Steel Rangers.” Homage took a sip of water. “Would you like some water?” Homage asked.

Midnight nodded,

“Yes please,” Alyshia said politely and I didn’t answer. Homage poured all three of us water; Midnight and Alyshia thanked her and took a sip.

“Anyway,” Homage said placing the water back on the table before getting to her hooves. ‘I’ll just find the map, just give me a sec.”

I levitated my water and took a sip. “Amethyst, could you lighten up a bit?” Alyshia said quietly with accusation. “You’re sounding like a bit of a bitch at the moment.”

“What?” I burst. “No I’m not.”

Alyshia glanced at Homage who was rummaging through books and scrolls. “Just… Homage is trying to help us; the least you could do is listen to her and accept her help.”

“Fine,” I whispered shooting Alyshia a dark look.

Homage returned after a few seconds with a rather old map of Equestria. “So,”

Homage said laying the map out. She moved the bowl of biscuits and water bottle to keep the map flat. “We’re here,” she said pointing a hoof at Central Manehattan. “Here is Fillydelphia,” she pointed at a city in the south east. “Fillydelphia used to be abandoned by most ponies, but recently a pony that calls himself Red Eye has converted a portion of it to a… Well,” homage paused lost for words. “He keeps slaves there anyway,” she said. “He has pilferaged all kinds of things and he would have quite a stock of advanced stabletech.”

“So,” I said pointing at Fillydelphia. “I should go to a slavepen and rob it? Would he have a water talisman?”

Homage giggled. “No I don’t recommend you rob it, actually you should stay away from there is what I’m trying to say.’

“Right,” I said with a nod. “Where else?”

“Well, just another place that might have them. But you will most certainly die if you did,” Homage said with a shrug. “Maripony is a research facility on the edge of a megaspell crater.”

I raised an eyebrow. “The place where I found my last talisman was on the edge of New Saddle tower how is it dangerous?”

Homage shook her head. “True, but it’s not radiation you have to look out for. It’s the Alicorns and the Hellhounds.”

“Hellhounds?” I asked. “What’s a hellhound?”

“A Hellhound is kind of like a mutated dog,” Midnight said. “They have these long claws that can rip through anything, the can even rip through the armour of a Steel Ranger like it is nothing.”

“Oookay,” I said not liking the sound of giant dogs that can cut a pony to bits.

“But I think you might be better of here,” Homage said pointing at a sizable town called “Dijoneigh” which was a distance east of a place called “Old Oneigh,” and quite a distance from Manehattan.

“Why there?” I asked.

“Dijoneigh is an old mining town. Kind of like Old Oneigh but they farmed predominantly diamonds before the war,” Homage stopped to take a drink before continuing. “Anyway, it’s bigger than Old Olneigh and has two schools which might host a water talisman and it has a hospital which is still standing well.”

“Does anypony live there?” I asked.

“Umm, no,” Homage said truthfully.

“Why? I mean, if there are valuables there?” I began.

“Well,” Homage said hesitant. “I mean, it’s in the Splendid Valley.”

Alyshia and Midnight gasped lightly but I blinked. “So is it still Splendid?” I asked already knowing the answerer.

“No Amethyst,” Alyshia said. “Splendid Valley is like…” she paused. “Nopony goes there.”

“Oookay,” I said. “Why doesn’t anypony go there?”

“Taint,” Homage said simply.

“Taint? What’s taint?” I asked.

“It’s some form of something,” Homage whispered. “Nopony knows its origin. It like mutates things. They say the plants and animals are tainted too and can infect ponies. “

“How is this any dangerous than stealing from a Slave Trader or going to Maripony?” I asked inquisitively.

“Maripony is in Splendid Valley,” Homage sighed impatiently. “But… Red Eye has a fortress in Fillydelphia, and I highly doubt he keeps any talismans stockpiled.”

I looked at Alyshia and Midnight then back at Homage. I scratched my head with confusion before asking curiously, “Why does he collect them?”

Homage laughed. “You need to listen to the radio more I think Amethyst,”

I blushed slightly, covered my eyes with my hooves and shook my head out of embarrassment. I hadn’t really been listening to the radio recently. “No,” I confessed removing my hooves from my eyes.

“Red Eye wants to rebuild Equestria,” Homage told us, “but the way he goes about it is completely wrong. Red Eye uses the talismans to enable supporting towns to prosper; the ponies in turn support him for that. His use of slavery though is terrible; many die in areas of high radiation, exhaustion and trying to collect technology from stables. Although, it is winter and any talismans that he happens to have will of course not be transported until spring.”

“Thank you Homage,” Alyshia thanked politely. She looked at Midnight and I. “We have some thinking to do though, if that’s all.”

“No problem,” Homage said with a nod. “Just be careful, although Splendid Valley is less hostile in winter, it is prone to blizzards at this time of the year.”

“We’ll take note. Thank You,” Alyshia nodded. “Come on you two.”

Midnight grabbed two more biscuits. I thanked Homage and we made our way out of the studio.

“Well,” Alyshia sighed. “What now?”

“I’m not sure,” I said as we began to traverse the flashy corridors of Tenpony Tower back to our accommodation.  “I mean Splendid Valley seems like the place to go. I mean it’s too dangerous for ponies to go there for no reason; therefore it’ll be more likely to have what we need. But at the same time-“

“’s too dangeroroush,” Midnight finished for me with a mouthful of biscuits.

“Swallow your food before talking Midnight,” Alyshia asked.

Midnight Swallowed. “Well, Homage is right, Splendid Valley is dangerous. I think we should go to Fillydelphia first.”

“It’s got a good chance of holding one too,” I sighed. “But that’s dangerous as well.”

“We’ll need to talk,” Alyshia piped up “We’ll talk to Brax as well,”

I nodded. “We leave in two days.” We rounded a corner and I sidestepped a half dead pot plant.

“Amethyst, you need more time than-“Alyshia began, but I cut her off.

“I don’t want to stay cooped up here,” I argued. “If it makes you feel better, three days.” We stepped onto the elevator to go down.

Alisha’s eyes narrowed; “Fine, we’ll assess you in two days and if I’m happy we’ll go.”

Midnight winked and whispered, “Don’t push it or we’ll be here for a week.”

I laughed. “I won’t let her keep me here that long,” I whispered back. “I’d rather eat an entire tin of off beans.”

Midnight snickered and Alyshia shot us a dark look. Midnight straightened her face and looked up at the ceiling as I tried my best not to laugh.

“For now anyway,” Alyshia said seriously; “we are to remain in Tenpony Tower until we know what to do.”