A bullet hit the ground a few paces ahead of me and we stopped. Mek and I exchanged a look, mine of confusion, hers of annoyance. We both turned our gaze back to the village not a kilometer away.

“That was a warning shot, I take it we're not invited.” Mek observed.

We had spent the last two hours following the beach north to the village. Mek had been ready to go when I woke up, her coat having a new layer of oil blemished on it. Now that we were almost there it seemed that our trek would become a waste of time.

Not wanting to back down easily, I continued forward. Another shot hit the sand, this one a lot closer, knocking sand into my eyes.

“Now hold it Rain, don't want to tempt anything with an aim like that. Maybe it would be best if we just moved on?” Mek suggested.

I wanted to talk about Zerkash with his people, I wanted to return his harpoon. I also didn't want to be shot at. I was also hoping to get a potion from the zebras to get Mek out of the brace. She told me her leg wasn't bad, but I wasn't risking it, she did have a slight limp, despite her assurances. I eyed the harpoon strapped over my back. I need to do this.

“Mek, stay here, I'll be right back.” And as I continued forward I heard her start to follow me. I didn't want her to get hurt for my stubbornness, I turned to her and asked, “Stay here, I'll be right back, I promise.” She gave me a very concerned look but didn't continue following me.

As I moved to the village, another bullet hit the sand, right where my hoof was about to land, and as I stepped in the new hole I fell over, getting another face full of sand. Getting back up, I checked my EFS, still not close enough for the pipbuck to point out the shooter. I shook off my annoyance, took a deep breath and started running.

A bullet grazed my shoulder, sending a searing line of pain through my body. I didn't change my course. A yellow bar showed up on my pipbuck and I turned to it. I couldn't spot the zebra, but I still be-lined to them. Feeling another shot graze my shoulder I stopped and pleaded, hoping I wouldn't have to deal with any other streams of fiery pain.

“Please! Let me return this weapon!” I screamed at the bar, “It belonged to Zerkash, the zebra who saved my life.”

After a pause a small pile of sand moved up, pushing sand aside stood a zebra with a long rifle in its hooves. It stood on its back legs, propping the rifle between its forward hooves, his eyes lining down the sights, he could fire at me easily from that stance, but how was he keeping himself from falling?

“Zerkash saved you,” the zebra said, “and now he is dead. You are not welcome in our village. We acknowledge your desire to return his weapon. He died to save ponies, ponies can keep it.” He eyed the two wounds he had given me, and pulled out two potions of strange color from the sash on his side and tossed them in the sand in front of me. “Now, go.”

I reluctantly picked up the potions, hoping that they were the zebras equivalent of healing potions, and turned back to return to Mek. I was sad, but it was better than nothing. It was very unsatisfying to not be allowed to apologize to the village. Trying out one of the potions, it managed to taste worst then normal healing potions, but it did heal up my shoulders, letting out a sigh, I counted the good, we could fix Mek's leg.

I returned to Mek to find her with an upset expression on her face. She looked like she wanted to hit me.

“And just was that about, did ya have a death wish girl?” She asked.

“I wanted to make peace with Zerkash, getting a little was better than none. Since they gave us a warning shot I figured they wouldn't kill me unless I attacked,” I said, hoping that would be enough.

“Who's Zerkash, somepony that played a part in yesterdays events?” she asked. Oh, right.

Realizing I had forgotten to fill Mek in, I recounted everything concerning Thousand-Smiles's attack yesterday and answered her questions. Afterwards she nodded her head.

“I see what you meant about making peace.” She was eyeing the harpoon in a new light, her expression was slightly respectful. ”Still girl, you're lucky to be alive, shame about Ruby and Solar though.” I was lucky huh?

“It must be luck keeping me alive.” I said, somewhat bitterly. I gave Mek the other potion and after she drank it I checked her leg, everything seemed to be fine, so I undid the brace. “Well, we can't go to the village, but at least we won't be going into the wasteland wounded.” I pointed out, count the good, then asked, “So, where do we go from here?”

“Well, Sandstone is on the island somewhere.” Mek said, staring inland, “Since we still had a day left till the ship would arrive, I'd guess it would be quicker to cut across rather than follow the shore. Trouble is the risk of gettin lost, however once we make it to the opposite side I should be able to guide us to Sandstone, the Boiling Bay is hard to miss.”

“No chance of losing direction,” lifting up my picbuck to her, “do we have enough supplies to try and cross that mess?” Mek nodded. Not that it mattered if we didn't, where were we going to get drinkable water in the wasteland?

Giving the village one last look, we turned east and left the cool sea breeze behind us. I hadn't given up on Solar, he probably went through with his plan of fleeing to Equestria, after Thousand-Smiles's attack and the ship sinking, I wouldn't blame him for it. Would have been nice to say goodbye though. Maybe luck will shine on me and we'll run into each other in Tenpony Tower.

Before our encounter with the zebra guard, the walk had been quiet. Not wanting to talk to Mek since I woke up because it was early and hot and we fought last night and... Now that we're heading inland I became acutely aware of the lack of a breeze, it was hot out here.

“Soo, Mek, what's Sandstone like?” I asked, trying to get my mind off the sweltering heat.

“Well, its a place where decent pony and zebra folk mingle with factions like the IFA and Enclave,” wiping some sweat from her brow, she continued, “As well as pirates, traders, mercenaries, the ZC, and the Sandstone Armed Forces.”

“Okay,” I said, a little overwhelmed, “And who are the IFA, Enclave and ZC?” She looked at me in surprise.

“Girl, have you been living under a rock?” eyeing my pipbuck, she asked, “Are you fresh from a stable?” I paused for a second in confusion, a stable? What was she talking about? I took this opportunity to tell her about me living on an isolated island, as well as what Ruby had intended for me before a certain shark ruined everything.

“Well shoot, now I feel silly for throwing all that at ya. You've had some odd circumstances if you ask me,” she said and then explained, “IFA stands for the Ironclad Flotsam Alliance, its a fleet of ships that used their mobility and resources to shelter survivors when the bombs fell, it's the remnant's of the Equestrian fleet. Those ships are now mostly homes, the ponies living on 'em put in a lot of hard work to keep their homes afloat.” A grin cracked on her face, which was reflected on my own, seeing her happy again was nice. She continued, “I was born and raised in the IFA, my home ship is the Evercrest, fine ship. About as big as our old boat.” Shortly after saying that her grin died. She shook her head to keep herself on track.

“The Enclave is the pegasai who live above Equestria's cloud wall. There's a trade agreement between Sandstone and the Enclave. They get the city some rainclouds from Boiling Bay, and the Enclave...?” She paused to think for a moment, “I... don't really know what the Enclave get in return. But it must be somthin nice, them pegasai are not to friendly, well, Enclave pegasai anyways.”

As we traveled east, I saw that the terrain shifted slightly south into cracked dirt farther inland. Thinking that it would be easier to travel through dirt rather than climbing through sand dunes, I turned us towards the firmer ground.

“The ZC is the Zebra Council, pretty simple, the zebras that have a foothold in Sandstone work through the council to get things done and work around different traditions and all that other zebra stuff.” She answered, I doubted it was that simple.

“Lets see,” she continued, “Sandstone was made after the bombs fell, most of the buildings are made of stone, thus the name. You can meet all kinds of types there. Griffins, ponies, zebras, even the odd something or other every once in a while. If there's anything you want to know or buy, Sandstone is the place to find it in all the sea. However, since Sandstone is such a big deal, the land near it is home to raiders. If we spot any, we'll know we're getting close.”

“Raiders? That doesn't sound friendly.” I replied, my curiosity in full swing.

“Anope,” shaking her head, ”more often then not, they're worst than pirates. Often cannibals, one thing nopony wants is to be capture by raiders. If we see any we'd best avoid them. I don't know about you, but I'm low on ammo.” After a small pause, she turned to me, stopping me, and said, “If we get into a scuff with raiders, shoot first, shoot twice, and don't ask questions till they can't shoot back, follow?”

“We, we're suppose to kill them? Aren't they ponies?” I was caught off guard by the turn in conversation.

“No, they aren't, you'll learn that the first time ya see one.” She proclaimed, and we continued in silence for a few minutes, her words hanged foreboding in my head.

“And what's a stable dweller?”

“Ah, a stable dweller is a pony from a stable. Never met one myself, but I've heard of em. They all have that little toy on your hoof, and don't know nuthin bout the wasteland. And a stable is a shelter that was made to save ponies when the world blew up. Saved thousands of thousands of lives, some stables still have ponies in them that come up to the surface, and either get themselves killed or cause trouble.” After her explanation she thought for a moment, probably considering anything else she needed to tell ignorant me.

“Oh right, there's also the Boiling Bay,” she said a couple minutes later, “This island was hit by a megaspell when the war ended, a pony megaspell that melted half the island. That area is underwater now, the sea is constantly boiling steam into the air, you can see it for kilometers around. Sandstone is nestled in the bay, ships need to hug the shore to keep from over heating or capsizing.”

“Why would they make a city so close to a hazard?” Surprised that anypony would foolish enough to make a city so close to one.

“From what I was told, it was for protection, ships have to stay close to shore, city is easy to defend because of that,” she answered, well that sounded reasonable.

Reaching the dead plain, I saw that further southeast the ground rose, like a gradual hill sloping up over several kilometers. My eyes followed the slope to an abrupt end somewhere a couple kilometers away. Wanting a closer look, I turned us towards where the slope ended. It was still in the direction we needed to go. Mek either didn't care or didn't notice our slight alteration.

“So,” she started, seeing I had no more questions about Sandstone or Stable dwellers, “you plannin to head to Tenpony then?” I nodded, “Well, if its all the same to you, I'd think it best we split up after Sandstone. I'm grateful for you saving me, I'll stick with you till you get your transportation. But Equestria ain't no place for a sea faring pony like myself. Oh! You should try asking around about yer pops in Sandstone, somepony's bound to know something.” That was an idea I was intending to act upon.

“Are you going to return to Evercrest?” I asked her.

She thought about it then stopped. She suddenly looked reluctant.

“I'm... not sure. Well shoot now ya got me thinking. I don't know what I'm gonna do once you leave Sandstone. Guess I should work on that before it becomes a problem. Sandstones an alright place I suppose, but I have no intention of staying there any longer than necessary.”

“Why's that? Can't live on solid ground?” I asked, teasingly. She shook her head.

“There's a troublesome buck who's always around Sandstone. We go way back, and he's a real pain in the flank.”

“What's wrong with him?” I asked, and she let out a sigh. Looked like she said something she didn't want to.

“Plenty, but I'd rather not go into-” she was interrupted as we passed the break in the slope, now the broad side of a cliff towering above us. Rounding the edge we saw into a broken canyon. We being at the bottom, looking down the way it looks as if the ground had tried to swallow a metal building about twenty meters tall, thirty wide. The cliff side hung over the structure, as if asking for an excuse to tumble upon the building. The sight was definitely worthy of pause.

“Well fancy that, some old ruins hidden in a canyon, wonder if it was some pre-war research building.” Mek guessed, she would know better than I. “If it is, there may be medical supplies in there. As well as other things we could salvage and sell. If you're gonna try and get info on your pops in Sandstone, you'll need the caps.” Recalling our desperate lack of healing potions, the notion did seem promising, however the place didn't exactly scream 'its safe to go inside'.

“It doesn't look like the safest place to search for fortune.” I said, eyeing the rock face overhanging the research center. However, since my EFS was clear in all directions, we approached the building.

The building was completely coated in rusty metal, there were no windows and the front door looked as if somepony had blow it open. Being close enough to see the door, I noticed that some large rocks had indeed fallen on the structure, but it showed no damage from the supposed impacts. I decided to give the building some respect, this building looked tough enough to give Thousand-Smiles a run for its caps.

Risk the present for the future. Well, how dangerous can an old abandoned research center be? Feeling sure it was safe, I walked through the blasted doorway, and I found myself inside a hallway, it's walls burnt black from the detonation. Then I realized the front doors weren't the target of the explosion, at the end of the hall was a large sealed door that resembled a cog. It was two ponies tall and appeared to be embedded in the wall.

“Well shoot, whoever decided to blow this place up probably went and destroyed the access terminal in the process.” Mek complained.

I walked up to the large door, while the rest of the room was scorched, it looked as though the door itself was untouched. The door looked polished, no trace of rust or dust or dirt. To my surprise, when I reached to touch it, my hoof passed right through it!

“Mek, are insubstantial doors common?” I asked, my hoof still in the door.

Surprise evident on her face, she walked up to the door and also put her hoof through it. We looked to each other, sharing a moment of wonder, nodded to each other and walked through the false door.

It was dark on the other side, it was also cool, that 'door' seems to be keeping the hot dry air outside! I flipped my light on to see down the dark hallway. The air was heavy, mildew and dust assaulted my nose and I sneezed. Lights in the ceiling lit up and let out a light buzz, taking a moment to appreciate the cool air, Mek went ahead of me.

“Sure is nice of this place to light up for us. Lets see what we can find, and then leave. This place is already beyond strange for me,” she said, even though checking it out had been her idea.

Wandering through the first floor we found evidence that the facility had been abandoned before the bombs fell. Shelves and desks had been emptied, there were no corpses, and no sign of turmoil.

Mek found in the mares restroom a small metal box with an emblem of three pink butterflies. The box was locked.

“A fine piece of old equestrian engineering right here,” she pointed out, indicating the lock, “Made over 200 years ago and it still works fine.” She pulled out a screw driver with her mouth and started working the lock with it. With a hard jolt and twist, the lock was destroyed and the contents of the box were revealed, two healing potions and some Med-X.

“And that's how its done!” she said proudly. Noticing my confused look she added, “What? It's stupid to have a locked medical box, I was doing Equestria a favor by destroying that lock.” What ever you say Mek. That's when it dawned on me, she didn't use her magic to work the screwdriver.

“Mek, why do you use your mouth over magic?” I asked, she was taken aback by the question and flushed slightly in embarrassment.

“I like to get my hooves dirty, its more satisfying to work with tools with my mouth and hooves over my horn.” She replied, clearly she should have been born an earth pony.

We continued upstairs, the second floor had more of, well, everything in it. The first floor was bare walls, nothing smaller than abandoned furniture. The second floor had posters, paperwork, information. Many of the posters in question had a yellow mare with pink hair with some slogan about peace or doing better. The second floor also had a label, 2nd floor, MoP office & labs.

During the war, the equestrian war effort was led by six ministries, now my history tutelage was never completed, but anypony that knows anything about medicine knows about the Ministry of Peace, or MoP. It was the ministry that tried to end the war through peaceful means, the ponies working in it being doctors and physicians that helped pony and zebra alike. It's a little tragic that it was also the MoP that created the first megaspells.

Considering the label over the door, I went back down to the first floor to see if it had been labeled as well. 1st floor, Glyph-mark Research greeted me from above the doorway. Why were ponies researching zebra cutie-marks?

Heading back to the second floor, Mek had found more potions. It wasn't too surprising that the MoP offices would have them. Something caught my eye in one of the labs, a pink talisman. I knew what it was, though I couldn't recall from where.

“I found a healing talisman, that should catch a fair price right?” I asked Mek, and she nodded.

“Good eye Rain! That could easily be a thousand caps right there, now the trick will be finding a buyer that won't try to scam it or steal it from us.” She informed me, I guess we lucked out finding this facility.

The medical equipment made little sense to me, the floor had four labs, only one of the labs looked like something a doctor would use to heal patients, it was also where I had found the talisman. The other three labs had strange arcane devices attached to the ceiling that neither Mek or I could make heads or tails of.

Heading up to the third floor, its name caught my eye, 3rd floor, Cutie-Mark Research. Mek was eyeing a green terminal embedded into the wall next to the door. While she tried to fiddle with it, I walked to the door, trying the latch, it opened.

“How'd you do that? It was locked.” Mek asked, annoyed at me.

“Don't look at me, I tried the latch and it opened.” Honestly, I'm still a little caught up on the fake door somepony had tried to blast through on the first floor.

The atmosphere in the third floor was different. The faint smell of rot hung in the air, the walls bore scratched marks, the floor had paper spread all over it. Everything on this floor looked like somepony came through just to knock everything around. The only exception was a small room with the words 'VP Red Quill's Office' imprinted on it.

In the room was a terminal on an old metal desk.  The bones of a pony, wearing a long white coat, rested in the corner, which I tried to avoid. I didn't want to touch anyponies dried out bones. On the back wall was a bookshelf filled with decayed tomes. Next to the terminal were two small glass orbs, each giving off a very small amount of light.

“Looks like it's still logged in,” Mek said from the other side of the terminal, then eyeing the orbs, “Wanna take a look while I inspect the orbs?” she asked.

“What are they?” I asked, eyeing the orbs.

“Memory orbs,” she said, ”little balls of someponies memories, specific memories. Depending on the contents, they could be valuable to the right pony.” She then sighed, “Only a unicorn can look into them however, which means I'll have to check their worth.” It sounded like she didn't want to admit that. She went to the door, closed it and locked it.

“Keep an eye on me and don't cause any trouble while I'm out, memory orbs take time and I'll be unconscious while watching it.” she warned. Sounds like checking out memory orbs was a big risk in the wasteland, good thing I'm an earth pony. I nodded to her and she lay down, wrapping one of the orbs in her purple magic before passing out.

Eyeing over to the terminal, it seemed simple enough to use, it was kind of like a less portable pipbuck, without the bells or whistles, and a lot more buttons. The terminal was filled with reports written or recorded by the VP, all of the written ones had two time stamps. I assumed that for whatever reason, the written reports were done twice, thus two time stamps. Time had not been kind to the data on the machine, almost all the reports were either illegible or static, but there were three I was able to pick out.

The first was a written report dated about a decade after the oldest time stamp.

The CP on Break's daughter was a complete success. Saphy will be having her cute-ceañera on Thursday, I'll be bringing the carrot cake. I've never seen Break this happy before. I think reporting to the nobles can wait till after the party.

I was honestly expecting something more morbid, the report was happy, which ended up bringing a smile to my face.

The second report I found was a little more interesting, and more morbid, taking place twenty two years later.

“Break... hasn't been the same since her husband died,” A tired female voice started, ”She's been pushing our resources and is starting to alienate our zebra companions. This war has been hard on all of us, but I think Break is blaming herself for the entire thing. She's enlisted the MoP to aid in our research, I think she's trying to make a megaspell focus for CR. We all had our part to play in what happened, I can't stand seeing her take it all on herself. I intend to follow her example and I have started to seek outside aid. Today I've pulled some connections with the nobles under our favor to secure a focus for the CDM. The CDM caused all this, but I'm certain we can use it to save Equestria from annihilation.”

Well, that was certainly ominous.

I found myself thinking about the purpose of this floor, no, the facility. 3rd floor, Cutie-Mark research, I could guess what the C stood for in all those acronyms, just what did they accomplish here? My eyes fell on the skeleton in the corner, looking closer, I saw a small tag on her lab uniform, 'Vice President Red Quill of Destiny Labs'. There was no office for Break in this facility, did that mean there was another facility that she operated from?

Curious to learn more, I turned back to the terminal, and found the third working report. The third report was in fact the final report. The tag was a date I recognized, the day the megaspells went off.

“I did it, CDM worked as projected, today's the day it all ends. The princess failed to learn about the stables in time to condemn them. Thousands of ponies were involved in Stable-Tecs work, and thousands more were chosen to survive the apocalypse, and despite how many ponies were involved, the princess didn't learn of it in time to matter. CDM succeeded, we've bought our race another two centuries. However, Break has done... something. I'm not sure if she tried mixing CR and CA together, or if she made a new kind of CDM, but whatever it was, she's doomed Equestria, the CPs I took today were evidence enough. I can only hope the remnants of my CDM will be enough to deal with Breaks mess. Celestia help us all... To you listening to this recording, I implore you, If you happen upon anypony with sapphire eyes and a golden cutie-mark. Please. Kill. Them. That is the mark of Breaks final work, and they are cursed to repeat our mistakes and bring about another Equestria killing disaster. Our world cannot survive another...

The message died down to static before ending, punctuating my thoughts.

What? Beware of ponies like me? Bring about the second apocalypse? What in tartarus was this all about! Before my thoughts could do any more screaming the terminal's screen shifted back to static before showing a buck with a long curly silver mane, and a dark blue coat. The buck was both handsome and bulky, and talking.

“I didn't think you'd fall for this one, you old coot, that's why I didn't put too much effort into it, so if you escape then I guess its because I overestimated you. It's fine either way though, I'm not really out of anything besides half an hour of my time. Either way do me the favor and stay dead this time.” The buck calmly asked before the screen turned off.

My EFS came alive with red. A hole opened up in the ceiling and a metal automaton swiveled to my direction and started shooting. Letting out a short curse, I quickly ducked down. I pulled out Trust and waited for the turret to let up. To my horror it started shooting at Mek! Celestia damn this turret's target choices! I jumped out of my cover and after four hateful shots the machine became scrap.

Mek had been hit by a couple rounds, thank Celestia the junk she had in her barding protected her from lethal impacts. Seeing that she hadn't flinched when she was hit, I quickly moved to extract the bullets before poring the potion over her wounds. I doubt I could coax her to drink in this condition. Relieved that Mek was no longer in danger of bleeding out, I took in my situation.

The red on my EFS wasn't moving, so I assumed that other ceiling turrets had been activated in the rest of the lab. Horseapples, we'd have to go through most of the building to get out. At least its safe in this room for now, Mek needs to hurry up with that memory. Considering us safe for the moment, I calmed myself down and my mind wandered to the recordings.

Sapphire eyes and a golden cutie-mark, father had a golden quill, we shared the same eyes, I have a golden note. If my father saw that last record, I could understand why he left us on the island. Come to think of it, he left shortly after I got my own cutie-mark. If father knew about this, could he be-.

I don't know enough to start making wild guesses that would only fill me with doubt. That aside, somepony had set a trap for somepony else, and I was the unfortunate mare to spring it. Well, once Mek wakes up we can tackle this together...

No. I shouldn't assume the luxury of time. Mek said she was low on ammo, if it's just turrets between us and the exit, I could manage that, probably. I moved her behind the desk, just in case, and opened the door to the bullet storm that awaited. Before leaving the room I noticed a small round turret with a glass circle that was following me from the corner of the room, since it didn't show on my EFS, I ignored it and moved out.

EFS didn't differentiate between what floors the turrets were actually on, but with its aid I was able to avoid unexpected fire, and made quick work between turrets. The machines were actually too slow to be a threat to me, as long as I managed to shoot them first. Hop out from behind a corner, pop into SATS, destroy them before they start shooting, rinse repeat.

I was honestly surprised at how well I was managing the turrets. I guess no guilt was involved with 'killing' machines, which helped. It was also just how slow they seemed to me, if I had the room I suspected I could out run their rotation. I mean, the bullets, I can't dodge bullets, but I can dodge the line of fire fairly easily. The turrets also seem to be, well, stupid. They'd fire at me until I go for cover and seem to lose interest after several seconds, turning their guns away.

Taking turrets down, just don't be careless and this will be fine. Count the good.

Momentarily enjoying the fact that we didn't have to deal with the second floor, I proceeded down the stairs to the first floor. Knowing about the turret on the other side of the door, I got Trust ready and opened it. Only to be sprayed by fire, literally. I bolted past the green stream of fire and got SATS up in time to destroy the flame thrower turret before its aim could line up with me. Why was my side hot?

My bandages were on fire, and in a moment of panic I got my harpoon out of its holster and dropped it on the ground, using it to cut the bandages off me. Then I rolled around to kill any flames nipping at my mane. My pipbuck was clicking slightly, a small amount of radiation accompanied that fire.

I didn't feel any pain, but I still checked for burns-

On the left side of my body, where I had burned from yesterdays explosion, was a patch of sky blue fur, intertwined with dark blue stripes. Zebra stripes. What in the goddesses names was this? Did this happen because I asked Zerkash to stay? That wasn't just some self indulging dream, that actually happened?

Count the good. Ponies will be able to pick me out easily, its the mare with the blue stripes! And hey, the stripes actually do look nice. And I'm a big deal, because I have gem blue eyes and a gold cutie-mark. I am awesome...

Nope, not working. I started to break down. For some reason, my family was connected to this 'Destiny Labs', and whatever they did, it clearly made me something other than a normal pony. Repeat their mistakes and bring about another 'last day'? The scales need to change, but if I'm supposedly the final nail in Equestria's coffin, wouldn't the best way to tip the scale be to kill-

Foolish Rain, if you die, you'll be unable to find out why you should die. Or even if you really need too. Don't let the final words of somepony who died two centuries ago sway you to thinking that the world ends with you. No single pony is capable of that, just as nopony is capable of saving it.

The zebra who saved my life three times was lecturing me from beyond the grave. I let out a bitter chuckle. I had always thought that hearing my mothers voice was a natural thing. Now I was guessing it's something else, something to do with this building, its history, something to do with Breaks final work.

Wait, nopony can save it? That's saddening.

Of course nopony can save it. It took many ponies and many zebra to break it, it would take many of both, and many other races, to fix it.

So, why the stripes?

Would you rather have scars, I think they make you look quite attractive, for a pony.

I smiled at that. So Rain, pony marked by your family features, lay here and wait for somepony to put you down, or take action and put out some fires. I wasn't a pony that sat and waited when action could be taken.

And I wasn't a normal pony. For some reason, that really bothered me. This facility stole the blanket of blissful ignorance I was wrapped in, and now I had questions that needed answers. My father knows, this was the family responsibility he didn't want me to get involved with. Now, I'm involved. I need to find him, and get answers. But first, the turrets. One problem at a time.

I reloaded Trust and got back to work. I'd imagine that if I just up and died, the zebra, and pony, that died to save me would be pretty cross with me. And I personally wouldn't be fine with it either, if its one thing that bothered me, its an unanswered question. I paid little mind to the small round turrets staring at me that didn't show on my EFS and got back to work. The scales need to change.

Almost an hour and a half after she went in, Mek finally stirred from the memory orb. She was surprised to find that her barding had new holes and blood soaked in it. I had tried to drag her out of the room and downstairs, but I gave up before I could even get her away from the desk. Fatigued from battling the turrets, and she was freaking heavy!

“Welcome back, how was the memory?” honest curiosity in my voice.

Confused as to weather she should answer or ask questions of her own, she decided to ask first.

“Why is my barding shot up?”

“Well,” I sheepishly replied, “when I watched the last recording, the facilities weapon's activated and you got shot a little, but I took care of the turrets.” at the expense of most my ammo, I neglected to add. “So, how was the memory?” I asked as she started to appraise her barding.

“It was a party, a cute-ceañ, cute-cean... a cutie-mark party of all things. I was some unicorn buck, and that felt all kinds of weird. It all happened before the war, it was very... nice. Everypony was happy.” After she finished looking herself over, she appraised me and got a surprised look when she noticed my new stripes.

“Have those always been there, and you've been holdin out on me?” She asked.

“Completely new, weird right? Do you think they look good on me?” I asked with as much bravado as I could muster.

She got up and paced around me, eyeing me from side to side, deep in consideration.

“I think, to the best of my judgment, that they look mighty nice on ya sweetie. You're definitely gonna turn a couple a heads with them.” We both shared an awkward smile.

“Well, this was an interesting detour, how about we get on our way to Sandstone?” I suggested, trotting to the door.

“I still have the second orb,” she said, ”but I guess I can check it later, was there anything interesting in the records. I mean, there must have if somepony set up a trap for somepony else with them records.”

“Just an interesting touch of history that's somehow connected to me.” I said, “Something about how ponies with blue eyes and gold cutie-marks are gonna blow up Equestria.” Her brow furrowed at that.

“That's a mighty silly thing to say, if ya ask me.” She said, I couldn't give her a reassuring nod however, it was still eating at me.

Destiny Labs, near the end of the war they were working with megaspells, just what had they accomplished before the bombs fell?

We walked down to the first floor and back to the magical door. We crossed it side by side. On the other side was a campfire with half a dozen surprised ponies looking at us, night trickled past the blasted doorway behind them.

Several of the ponies were decorated in pony parts, they smelled of rot and putrice. I would have gagged had the campfire not dampened the smells affect. Mek was right, nopony would wear other ponies, these were raiders.

Seven of us were dumbly starring at each other, the raiders at me and Mek because we were still standing in the false door, and me at them for the simple fact that raiders are terribly disgusting! Mek was the first to act, she whipped out her shotgun and took out the closest raider, and charged the others, causing them to scramble stupidly for their weapons.

Another pony died in front of me, but this time I wasn't mollified, like I was when Ruby killed Rusty. I felt nothing, that pony probably deserved it, I couldn't feel sorry for it. It? That pony wasn't even a pony to me.

These ponies wore their scales around their necks, they killed other ponies and wore it like a trophy. Their scales were not unlike mine, my scale was being weighed against the lives that perished for me, their scales were weighed against the lives that perished for them. I came upon a cold idea. Two negatives make a positive, right?

Ruby said that the wasteland breaks ponies, that without a virtue, vice, or drive, they would be poisoned by the wasteland. I saw these ponies and wondered, is this what it looks like to be poisoned by the wasteland? I didn't understand anything about virtues or vices, but I did understand being driven. I now had questions that needed answering.  As I pulled out Trust I couldn't help but wonder, was this how I was going to do it, was this what it meant to tip the scales?

Who was Winter Rain? She was no hero. She never aspired to help the wasteland, only to help herself. Help Mek to get me to Sandstone, help another to help myself. I was no hero.

'Tip the scales', I was weighing the lives of others against my own before I even left my island. Simple cold logic dictating my choices, my health versus the lives of nineteen pirates, nineteen is greater than one. Zerkash and Ruby died for me, two were greater than one, I owed two lives. I needed to save more lives then what I owed, and I was certain, ending the lives of these raiders would tip the scale to my favor.

Is this how it happens? I kill these raiders and suddenly the scales are in my favor, does that mean I could kill whoever I wanted until the scales reached zero again? I steal their lives and gain?

Aiming Trust at the nearest raider, still fumbling for their gun, I pulled the trigger.

The hammer fell, I closed my eyes, I didn't want to see the bucks life end by my hooves. Click. My eyes opened in surprise.

The gun was loaded, it refused to fire. And with that little noise, that only I could hear in the chaos. I realized what I was.

I was a pony supposedly capable of killing Equestria. My weight was offset by a dead pony and zebra, I needed to tip the scales.

I needed to save myself. I needed to kill them, they're monsters. I would be no less of a pony for killing them. I just had to kill the raiders.

If I don't kill them, Mek will die, and the scales will tip further against me.

I could be a killer, or I could be a pony.

The scales needed to change.

So I shattered the notion of my life being weighed against the lives of others, and put my weight on a new scale.

My weight was now weighed against the entire wasteland. The wasteland would either kill me, or falter. I would never be able to bring myself to outweigh the wasteland, but I could make it shift, even the smallest amount would be worth it. I would make it shift. Either way.

Tip the scales.

Tipping the scales, I dropped Trust, I would not steal another ponies life.

“Mek, don't kill them, please! Take them down, but don't kill them!” I pleaded.

She saw the tears in my eyes, and her expression changed from battle fueled anger to concern,  she nodded. I grabbed the harpoon, hefted it between my mouth and hooves, and joined the battle.

I ran into the raider I intended to shoot right as his old weathered rifle came to bear on me. He fired, the bullet lodged into my saddlebags as I shifted to the left and went into SATS, I saw that it worked the same for melee weapons as it did for guns, and toggled three hits, one to his weapon and one to each of his front legs. I swung wide, knocking the rifle out of his grip, cracking the barrel, and sliced into his front legs, he was disabled. I kicked his gun out the door and moved to the next raider.

There were three still stnading at this point, all focused on Mek. A unicorn mare behind Mek saw me and looked past me, her horn glowed and as I moved to engage with Mek's attackers. I felt something press against the back of my head. She smiled as I heard a click from right behind my head and winced, Trust didn't fire.

The mare, alarmed, tried to fire Trust five more times, I was paralyzed by the prospect of my own gun killing me. Fortunately it didn't, and with the mare being distracted with me, Mek had taken down the other two raiders. Out of frustration she chucked Trust at Mek, The gun almost seemed to shift slightly in the air, hitting Mek on an 'armored' part of her barding. Mek was almost upon the mare when Trust hit the ground.

When the gun hit the ground, it fired, and I saw the unicorns horn explode in bone and blood, she let out a terrible scream, cradling her head. I saw Mek wince as she looked at me, but not seeing my gun looked around in confusion, finding it under her, smoke still escaping the barrel.

“Luck indeed.” She said.

I eyed Trust, this gun had a story, and only Ruby knew it. I picked up the gun and quietly thanked it for keeping me from making a terrible mistake.

The fight over, I wiped the tears from my eyes and ask Mek to go through their possessions, having her take anything that wasn't food and water, while I tended to their wounds. Mek looked like she wanted to object, but still did as I asked. Mek had broken several legs, and I made splints for the wounds with their own weapons. If they want to shoot again, they'd have to make a painful choice.

Now... what to do with them? I suspected that anywhere with rules would have raiders shot on sight. Leaving them like this would make them liable to be killed by other raiders or wildlife. Now that I had spared them, well, most of them, what was I going to do with them.

“I got nothing,” I admitted, turning to Mek, “any suggestions?”

“Why did you spare them?” she asked, rolling her eyes at me.

Because if I didn't, the scales wouldn't have changed. I had a feeling, a gut feeling, that Trust would have shot me when the unicorn used it on me had I not changed the scales.

“Because the wasteland is terrible enough as it is, I don't want to add to it.” I said, looking at the raiders, I came to a conclusion and addressed them, “Tomorrow morning my friend and I will be leaving, if we come across the five of you again and you're wearing pony parts, I'll let her take care of you, and I won't patch you up. Got that, no more killing, okay?”

They all nodded, but I think only the unicorn and the one I fought were honest about it. Leaving them alone isn't the best idea, but I honestly had no better option. I could stay with them and talk to each of them, get their story and try to talk the poison out of them, but I doubted I was capable. And I'm selfish, talking to them would take up time I could be spending unraveling what I am. I also doubted that Mek would be willing to stick around for that long either. And putting them down wasn't an option.

Leaving Mek with the raiders, certain she'd be fine on her own with five injured ponies. I went out into the night, the moon hadn't risen yet, maybe in a hour...

“Zerkash, can you teach me how to use your harpoon?” I asked the air. I needed to learn how to fight with less lethal methods. Trust was useful, but it was a little too powerful when it comes to not killing ponies.

I closed my eyes, and let my body move with the harpoon. At first my movement was awkward, my swings wide and messy. But as I got into it, I felt more guidance in my swings. More certainty in the thrusts. I went from wielding the weapon in my mouth, to using it with my hooves, not to dissimilar to the way the zebra holding the rifle at me earlier today held his gun. Soon the practice felt more like a dance. I moved with speed and grace through the canyons entrance. And after a time, it ended. I was winded, from physical exertion, that hasn't happened since before my dive for water back home. My arms and legs were tired, and I drank some water, my eye catching the first rays of moonlight.

“Ya sure worked up a sweat swinging that big stick around.” Mek said, with a teasing smile on her face.

“Well, since its mine now, I best know how to use it.” Why did her grin get wider? She shook her head, clearing whatever thoughts she had conjured up, and asked me.

“Are you going to 'sing' tonight?” She seemed eager for my reply.

I didn't see a reason not to, so I nodded. To my surprise I had an audience tonight, and felt a little nervous. Mek insisted that the raiders listen in.

So I started my song. Mek surprised me by joining in as well, at first it was awkward and a little off, but as she continued it swelled and joined in with my note. In the voice I could only hear, a zebra also joined in. And a fourth voice joined as well, but I couldn't place its origin. Tonight's song felt strong, just as strong as the nights I sang with my mother. The song, our song, swelled into my companions, one alive and one dead, and filled the night with harmony.

The halls of Destiny Labs were covered in blood, ponies lay on the ground. A light blue mare with her head perforated by a shotgun blast in front of me.

To my left was a light blue unicorn, with a gray ponytail mane, her horn blown to smithereens.

To my right was a mare with dark blue stripes, a harpoon sticking out of each leg.

Three other light blue, striped on the left side mares lay on the ground, cradling bruises, broken bones, swollen cheeks.

With Trust in my mouth, I moved to the mare with the harpooned legs - I looked up at the mare standing above me, a rusty old gun in her mouth, she put the barrel to my head.

I pulled the trigger, watching myself die - I felt myself die.

BLAM. I killed.

BLAM. I died.

BLAM. I killed.

Now it was just the earth pony and myself, blood dripped down my face from where my horn was, the other three mares sporting new holes in their heads.

She walked up to me, my head ached, I tried to defend myself, but my magic was gone. The light blue mare was now soaked in blood, and she walked up to me, placing Trust on my head - I placed Trust on the unicorns head.

“I don't want to die - I don't want to kill.”

Rolling, rolling, on the rusty sea.

There was a noise, a melody, no, a lullaby.

Let your worries shelter, in our family.

Click.

Sleeping, sleeping, on our rusty home.

Trust fell away like smoke, as I hummed the lullaby.

Let your fears falter, you are not alone.

The unicorn disappeared. The corpses vanished.

Dreaming, dreaming, on the rusty plain.

Destiny Labs faded away, the atmosphere dissipating.

Let your nightmares pass, in our ships embrace.

Darkness washed over me, and I felt at peace.

When we left in the morning the raiders had apologized to Mek and I, and even buried the one Mek killed, their wounds had been healed, besides the unicorns horn however, and I wondered if Mek had given them her potions. They went further into the canyon, but not before giving us some direction to Sandstone and a town called Rustic between here and there. We never got their names, and they never offered them.

The raiders seemed different from last night, they seemed more like ponies than savages. Did something happen that changed them? Was getting beaten up by two ponies all it took to cleanse the poison of the wastelands? Maybe it was something else, kindness?

“Did you give them your potions?” I asked Mek, thinking that might have been it. She looked at me like I as some sort of fool. And then she bopped me on the head!

“No I did not, your little song healed them, you striped fool.” she said. Wait, what?

My song healed them? Thinking about it, it seemed a little obvious now. How had I missed that? Back when Peg Leg talked to me he mentioned his aches feeling better, and my fractured leg hurt less. I recall the one time I got injured scaring sealurks from my island, I was fine the following morning after spending the prior night singing. My song healed. And others could sing with me. Was that also part of the 'Destiny Lab' mystery?

If I'm suppose to be some sort of pony doomed to kill Equestria, talking to souls and singing healing songs would seem counterproductive to that prophecy. I once again thanked Trust for preventing me from killing the raiders.

We need to reach Sandstone and find answers. If I can't find anything about my father, then I can look for information on Destiny Labs. We had a desert to cross, and according to the raiders, it would take two days from here.

Several hours after we continued, the flat terrain gave way to rocky hill, and we spotted a road made though the valleys and followed it to Sandstone. Or at least we would, but first we'd have to deal with the red bars on my EFS.

“We have trouble,” I whispered with concern, “three ahead of us, and one behind.” I had noticed the red one behind us earlier, but didn't mention it because they hadn't revealed their selves or moved towards us. Now that we were coming on the other three, I cursed my negligence.

Mek readied herself, passing the curve of the hill were three well armed unicorns. Two of them had heavy barding that looked like it could take a beating, they were carrying rifles with their magic. The last had a really large battle saddle, I wasn't sure what kind of gun that was, but I certainly didn't want to find out first hoof! Clearly outgunned, we opted to not pull our guns out, yet, not with that battlesaddle pointed at us.

Solar had told me about battlesaddles, Peg Leg almost killed me with one. Not unlike saddlebags, they are guns strapped to the side over a ponies back. A small bit is attached to a ponies muzzle that you bite down on to fire. Battlesaddles, from what Solar said, come in all kinds of varieties, almost always with the intention of being high firepower. And the battlesaddle on this buck looked heavy enough to pin me to the ground.

“Somethin the matter boys?” Mek asked, walking slightly in front of me, shielding me, to my surprise.

“Shut it bitch,” the heavy gunner said, “we aren't here for you, step aside and we won't turn you into a bloody mess in front of your mare friend.”

Mek gave me a backward glance, and after seeing me nod, reluctantly moved to the side.

“What's this about a bounty?” I asked as the buck in the middle approached me, the two others keeping an eye on Mek.

“You're our payday, now get on the ground and stay put till we have you tied up.” he ordered, and I did as he asked, we were outgunned, and pulling a stunt now would get me and Mek killed. I was their payday? Once again somepony sought to get caps from me, and I found myself more angry than afraid.

“I do say, you have quite a mouth on you, do you kiss your father with that mouth?” an unexpected voice exclaimed from the hill to our side. At the top of the hill was a unicorn wearing a soot singed cloak over his body, his head expose. The beige buck with a short orange and yellow striped mane started walking down the hill towards us. I heard Mek let out of painful groan. I was confused at this change of events, did this buck intend to help us?

The heavy gunner turned his guns on the buck before being swallowed by a ball of fire, causing me to jump several steps back. The heavy armored unicorns backed away from their leader as his munitions exploded from the heat, ending his painful screams with a reverberating blast that knocked me over.

“Anypony else feel like pointing their guns at me?” The buck asked. His horn gave off a glow that matched his topaz eyes. He glared at the two survivors and they balked. “Good, good, wouldn't want to have to ruin any other good equipment. Now, the price for harassing my friend and her lover is...” he said while staring at the two, “everything but your lives, drop your armor and guns and you can return to Rustic alive.”

One of the bucks started to run away, a topaz flare later and there was a wall of fire between the runner and his escape route.

“What's it going to be?” He asked, I could feel his smile from here.

Two minutes later a pile of possessions lay before us. The robed buck turned to Mek.

“Mek my sweet! How have you been! I got you some presents,” and he nudged the pile towards her with his muzzle. Mek threw her wrench at him, he caught it with magic and he let out a sigh, rolling his eyes, “I've missed you too Mek.”

He moved so that he was facing both of us, then to my surprise, offered me his hoof.

“Pleasure to meet you miss bounty, my name's Tabben, not my real name but it's real enough for you. I want to first thank you for being so lovely,” wait, what? “as well as keeping loving company with my mare friend here, and finally for pissing off Wildcard.”

This, Tabben, radiated a level of confidence that made me take several steps back. Mek got in between us, glowering at Tabben.

“Now whats all this about a bounty and pissing off Wildcard?” Mek asked him.

“Exactly!” he replied. He paused for several moments and seeing that Mek wasn't amused continued, “I quote '2000 caps to the mare with the light blue mane with the stripes on her left side, captured and delivered alive' was put on the bounty broadcast last night, as well as details about where said mare was, and the the lovely company she kept. I saw this group leave Rustic not too long ago and decided to follow them, and look what turned up! Now normally I wouldn't leave the comforts of my home to help some random stranger, but this random stranger was a mare, so my good nature shone through and I came to save this striped mare from any mercenaries that would try to lighten Wildcard's day.” His perpetual smile widened as he added, “And to my good fortune, her and my good friend Mek are lovers!”

“We are not!” Mek was quick to correct.

“Oh, so I still have a chance to find my way into your heart, oh praise be to Celestia the wasteland is-” she slapped him and he fell to the ground. He got up, rubbing the side of his face, and let out a sigh.

“Okay Mek, whats going on, last I saw you, you were still with Peg Leg's crew on the ship your heart was anchored to. Tell me, as a friend.” Mek glared at him, then her expression softened as she sighed as well.

“Ship finally sunk, Rain here pulled me out of my rut and I've been following her since, you're here to keep her from being assaulted by bounty hunters?” She asked, Tabben nodded.

“And to poach her virtue from-” and he was slammed into the ground again.

“Is this the buck you were talking about Mek?” I asked. Not sure if I should be alarmed or concerned, which got a cold look from Mek.

“She TALKED about me? You sure you're over your rut dear?” His voice had gone from playful to sympathizing as he continued,  “Need to return to Evercrest and bond with family you left for a seven year bout of guilt?” Mek didn't answer, her head hanging low. Tabben turned to me.

“Your name please, I'd like to know the name of the lovely damsel I'll be protecting.” He requested. I didn't like the idea of this buck protecting me. For one, he killed a pony right in front of me with little provocation, and two, he's giving me and Mek a headache!

“I'm Winter Rain, and I don't want your protection, you didn't need to kill him.” Well, it seemed there are still some fights I can't win, what just happened was evidence enough, but that didn't mean I needed this killers help.

“So I was to let him blow me up,” his brow furrowing, “his sniper take my head off, his goons buck-handle Mek, and turn you in for caps?” He shook his head, noticing my pipbuck, “This is the wasteland, have you ever been in the wasteland? Ponies kill ponies to steal from ponies or to save ponies from ponies.”

“You killed them because it was easy, and then threatened the survivors into giving up their possessions!” Not that stealing their goods had bothered me, it was just something to hold against him. And what was that about a sniper? I turned to look at where the fourth red bar had been, and saw some smoke rising from the hillside behind us. “My mistake, you killed two ponies!” He shrugged in response.

“The price of calling my friend a bitch is steep, the price of aiming at me to kill is steep,  and yes I know the two thugs didn't personally call Mek anything, but they could have at least told the smoldering corpse that that's no way to talk to a lady. Also, I had no intention of killing those two, saying I'd kill them was a bluff, and they fell for it. As for the sniper, anypony that takes upon that role must accept the likelihood of suffering a painful, hateful death.” Tabben declared.

This buck wouldn't be a protector, he'd be a liability, so why wasn't Mek standing up for me?

“Now then, Winter Rain, that's an interesting name,” his grin returned, ”there's power and meaning in names, I wonder if your mother named you, or your father. Winter Rain can stand for the coming of winter in the fall, carrying connotations of death and disappointment, as well as hardship and cold certainty. It could also stand for the coming spring, the return of life and hope for a brighter tomorrow, the shedding away of hardship.” His analysis of my name had me taken aback, he continued, “The names of ponies carries weight over their lives, almost as much as their cutie-marks. I've always wondered if parents realize what they're doing when they name their children, or if they even have control over themselves when they pick the name. Mek hasn't told you her true name, has she?” I shook my head, he nodded in return.

Who exactly is this buck?

”Who ARE you?” I asked, his name wasn't enough, how can a pony this full of himself survive in the wasteland? He cleared his throat.

“I am Tabben, colt of the Evercrest, murderer and philosopher, lover and hater, the most loyal friend you'll ever find, and most hated as well. Passion is my magic, fire is my soul, words are my weapons, and today I'm offering my hoof to you in protection, and maybe someday friendship, maybe. I'm rough around the edges and if not managed carefully, you will be burned, however I am a great asset to have when ones life is on the line. But be warned, I show no mercy to my enemies, and hold betrayal in the highest contempt. A pleasure to meet you Rain,” and he bowed before me.

Dear Celestia, he loves the sound of his own voice.

“Mek, why haven't you said anything, are we really letting him help us?” I asked.

“Wildcard has a price out for you,” she replied, “you're going to need all the help you can get, sweetie.” She gave a weak smile before turning to Tabben, “Ya so much as make a pass at her-”

“I'll be tied to a cannon and tossed into the sea, I know the drill Mek, I'll tease, but I won't touch, she's your friend after all.” Mek was taken aback.

“Whats gotten into ya Tabben? You're not always so... considerate.” Mek asked. This was Tabben being considerate? Tabben thought on that for a moment.

“I'd imagine that you're in the rough of it since your ship sunk, even I know how to act like a friend when I need to.” Tabben said, sounding hurt that Mek had to ask.

“I'd like a word with her, alone if you'd please Mek.” Tabben said as he turned to me.

Mek gave him a skeptic look but moved away so we could talk in private.

“So, I come down here, risk my head for you, and you have the audacity to insult the way I go about it?” He said, anger radiating from him.

“I have no intention of accepting a pony that thinks they're doing me a favor by killing for me,” I stalwartly replied, “even if they're Mek's friend.”

“In that case you should thank Mek, you thankless filly. I didn't come out here to save you, I came out here to screw over Wildcard. You are nothing. The fact that you've helped Mek is the only reason I'm still going to help you after saying what you've said. I don't care about your story, and I don't care about your stripes. The second Mek is done with you, you are on your own. This is the Celestia damned wasteland, get your head out of your flank and smell the ashes.” He said.

We shared a glare for a couple moments before Mek cleared her throat, breaking the spell.

“Well, lets move on to Rustic,” Tabben said while turning to Mek, “it's safer there,”  looking between the two of us, he asked, “What's the plan, were you heading to Sandstone, and where after that? Just feel like pointing out that Sandstone isn't going to be safe for you Rain.”

“They're going to be looking for stripes right? I should be fine if I cover up.” I suggested, Tabben looked skeptical, and appraised me, then Mek.

“Mek, I'd recommend putting some of that heavy armor on, you're gonna need it if you intend to keep her company,” he said, pulling out one of the sets in the pile to her. Mek begrudgingly did so.

After fitting it on, she took one of the saddlebags and switched out the items in her utility barding to the bags. She clearly didn't like removing her barding, but she took caution over comfort. She was now padded down with light gray barding that covered her sides and chest, as well as the fronts of her legs. The armor looked heavy, but she didn't seem hampered by the weight.

“We'll need to buy you something at Rustic, but as I said, it'll be safe there. I'm friends with the entire town.” Tabben said, “So, the plan?”

Mek turned to me, looks like I was steering this ship.

“We're going to Sandstone to gather information, if I can't find what I'm looking for then I'll instead be looking for a boat that'll take me to Tenpo- no, Friendship City. After that I'll be out of both of your manes.” And Tabben will be out of mine. Mek, for some reason, didn't seem too happy about that.

“Sounds like something resembling a plan,” Tabben said, “but first, Rustic. We'll be there a few hours before nightfall, but I think it best to sleep there rather then out in the wasteland. Leaving in the morning, we'll make it to Sandstone by mid afternoon if we avoid any stops.”

It sounded reasonable, and that annoyed me. I nodded and after Mek picked up the pilfered goods, we continued on our way, our obnoxious buck in tow.

Footnote: Level up. Lvl 4.

New Perk: Running Circles - You deal 20% additional damage to stationary targets. Next Chapter: 4. The Rustic Route Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 29 Minutes