"Didn’t know anyone would willingly walk into this place, not unless they were looking for trouble.

“Thank ya Gear Grinder, ah didn’t wannit ta get more damaged during mah trip.”  The voice of the supposed Future Nicky said to one of the pipbuck technicians.

I opened my eyes and realized I was once again in Stable Infinity’s infirmary–thankfully sans the blindfold and hoof cuffs.

“If I had a cap for every time I was knocked unconscious since leaving my own stable, I’d be the richest mare in the wasteland.” I said sitting up.

“Actually, Clashie, ya’d only have 4 caps fer that.” The young Nicky I was used to corrected.

“Thithe, the pathed oust when we goth tso the Tsariot.” Bugz interjected correcting her correction.

“Well, if she is making jokes then she is fine.  She just passed out from shock.” The Overmare said, “Now Nicky–Future Nicky–with Clash awake can you fill us in on how you traveled back in time and why?”

“Well, it took us ‘bout 20 years ta figure out how ta break the dilation bubble, or more accurately disable the talisman.  As ta how ah traveled back, ah swore not ta tell.  Time Travel is very dangerous, even just within this localized timeline.  Ah’m creating a paradox simply being here.”

“Well, then let's end this. as quickly as possible.” The overmare exclaimed.

“Well, it ain’t that simple.  We can’t just end the dilation.  We could if we had Doc Clockwork’s override key, but that would just end with us stuck roughly 840 years beyond the time we–Clash, Second, Bugz, and I–past me–entered.” Future Nicky went on, “No sense going back to when the mega spells fell, right?”

The Overmare hesitantly nodded her head.

“We are going to cause a fluctuation in the power grid, thus allowing an explosive device into the chamber to disrupt the temporal spell matrix of the talisman to disengage it permanently. To kill 2 birds with 1 stone we need ta realign are separate temporal pathway with that of the Clockwork’s factory from a month ago Infinity time–that should tax the system ta a point where power fluctuates.”  Future Nicky finished explaining.

“In equestrian?” I asked confused.

“We need to make it the same time as Clockwork, then make the talisman explode.” The overmare said attempting to dumb down the plan.

“Wait, um, there isn’t, uh, um, a way to preserve the talisman for, um, study?” Second said nervously.

“Ya spent the last 2 years of research trying ta preserve the talisman, there is no way around it Sec.  Meet me in the generator room, I need ta transfer Overmare control from Genome’s–Shit ah mean The Overmare’s office–to the computer down there.”  Future Nicky responded sympathetically before turning to leave with the Overmare.

“But, but, that talisman is a priceless, um, wealth of information.” Second said to himself beginning to panic, but he took out a jet inhaler and took a puff calming his nerves.

After that he left muttering “I trust my own judgment.” to himself trying to cope with his future self’s plan.

***  ***  ***

“Well, ah suppose time ain’t really of the essence at the moment, but ah thought y’all wanted ta get out of here ASAP?” Future Nicky asked annoyed as I entered the generator room.

“Well, considering this works The Overmare needs to oversee preparations for the stable dwellers new life in the wastes.  Bugz is helping them pack and Nicky–the present one–is teaching a crash course in wasteland survival.”

“Huh, if only ah had a wasteland survival guide with me.  Ditzy asked ma’ an’ pa’ carry a few in the caravan.  Said we should give them out for free ta any travelers we came across.”  Future Nicky said solemnly.

“I guess I’ll need to pick one up at some point.” I told her, “Why not end the bubble 20 years in the future? Why did they send you?  I mean I couldn’t explain or do this plan, but why not Sec? Or The Overmare–Genome was it?”

“We decided it was best ta end it at this point because–” Future Nicky said, but trailed off; tears forming in her eyes and her poofy mane deflating a bit.

“Because of what?”  I pressed.

“Because I didn’t want ta return ta Ollie and Bucky 20 years older without ya.” She said as a tear fell from her eye, “The last time we spoke–in the future that is–ah said some things ah wish ah hadn’t–Then ah couldn’t take it back when y’all committed suicide.”

“Oh,” I choked out, beginning to tear up myself, “I’m so sorry.  Not that it would really help, but I forgive you for what you said to me in the future.”

“Just promise me y’all will never commit suicide this time around–no matter how hard it gets or how bad things seem–if ya get ta that point, ever, promise me y’all talk ta somepony ‘bout it.  Your friends will be there when ya need them.”

“I promise, I will never commit suicide.  Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”  I said as we both wiped away our tears.

Then Second and Bugz entered the room.  The sound of the door interrupting our moment.  Future Nicky and a quickly wiped our tears and recomposed ourselves.

“Nicky–um, the other one–is, uh, still teaching survival tips and, um, The Overmare was needed elsewhere.”  Second announced as he entered.

Future Nicky entered a code into the terminal and the screen changed to what I assumed was what the overmare usually saw in her office.  she then hooked my pipbuck to the terminal and her pipbuck to mine.

“Be careful,” She said, “Same pipbuck, different moments in time, you get too close and they’ll cancel each other out–and possibly cause an explosion that will end time itself.”

“Oh, but files are ok?”  I asked incredulously as she transferred a file marked partial infinity key to my pipbuck.

“As long as the file didn’t exist in the past.  This won’t work if it is just my pipbuck.  Using yours makes it less paradoxical. Now activate that program so ah can access the minimal system control ah managed ta access in the future.” She said and I followed her instruction.

The terminal’s screen glitched out as numbers scrolled across my pipbuck’s screen.  When it finished there were some new options on the screen.  She hit the option labeled open containment and a panel on the wall opened to reveal a small black oval talisman with pulsating purple and white markings on it in a shielded alcove.  It didn’t look like any talisman I’d ever seen or replaced in Stable 13.  It looked almost alien in origin.  From it streams of purple electricity arched into the walls.  

Future Nicky then hit the option Synchronize Local Clocks.  Then the text changed on the screen to say “Sync clocks to local date and time for today.”  She then hit a few keys and entered a code I have never seen used to hack a terminal with and the word “today” changed to the date we entered the stable–30 days ago.  She then hit enter.  The entire stable shook for a few seconds and the lights flickered.  When they did, the alcove’s shield dropped allowing arching purple electricity to expand to the generator room.  Without a word Future Nicky pulled out a grenade from her saddlebag–that looked like a regular grenade and a matrix disruption grenade tethered together–and threw it into the alcove.  The shield reformed just as it exploded sending a shockwave of purple static from the talisman that was thankfully disbursed by the shielding before the shielding fell away again. When it did the talisman was charred, twisted and dark.

***  ***  ***

It worked.  

We then raced up to the stable door and were lifted up the elevator shaft by either Ollie and Hour’s magic or flown by Bucky and Bugz.  Eventually all the scientists and their families were standing in the time brother’s lab.

“Oh darlings you had me so worried!” Ollie exclaimed hugging both Nicky and I.

“Well bug brain, I see you have revealed yourself to the Infinityites, based on the fact that they don’t have pitchforks and torches, I’ll assume you didn’t spook the villagers too much.” Bucky said playfully punching Bugz’s shoulder.

“You can thay that.” Bugz replied sheepishly, “wathn’t like this when we enthered.”

“Well, this was indeed an unexpected, but fortuitous turn of events.”  Hour said as Ollie released her hug, “I did not expect there to be any ponies down there, let alone a group of scientists.”

“Well, actually they are the original inhabitants of the stable from Project: Infinity and other parts of the MAS.  Long story short Dr. Clockwork installed a time dilation talisman in stable.  Unfortunately we had to destroy it to get out of there.” I told him, “Sorry.”

“It is fine as long as you are all OK.  We can at least study the wrecked talisman.” Hour reassured.

“How long were we down there?” I asked.

“About 22 minutes, give or take.” He said reminding me of the 22 minute difference between my pip buck's clock and that of Clockwork's, “you went down there, then 10 minutes later I returned with your friends and the elevator wasn’t working.  10 more minutes of trying to figure out why, then the ground began to shake and 2 minutes  after that we heard Genome calling up to us from the bottom of the shaft.”

“Well, at least it wasn’t years later.” I whispered to myself, “Now I have somepony I need to talk to.”

“First take this,” Hour said handing me 500 caps, “For a job well done.”

I put the caps in my saddlebag and trotted over to the corner of the lab where Future Nicky was sitting with a pained expression on her face.

Was it just me or did she look almost see through. I thought as I approached with an unsure smile.

“Thanks for all your help–for time traveling back to save us.”  I told her.

“It was nothing.” she said barely above a whisper, she then clenched her eyes in pain.

“Whoa, Nicky, what's the matter?”  I asked in concern.

“Nothing,” she rasped, “Ah only existed in a timeline where ya got stuck in the stable.  Since you're out, Time is erasing me.”

“There must be a way to stop it!” I panicked.

“No, need.” she said with an eerie calm in her voice, “It was the price ah was willing ta pay ta save mah friends.”

She began to become more see through and her back half began to dissipate into purple and white sparkles.

“Ah wonder if ponies’ll still get together the same way they did in mah timeline?” she asked herself wistfully, “Genome and Second were a cute couple.”

“Wait really, Second and the Overmare?  Wow–”  I said in shock, trying to hide my sadness for the future version of my friend as she faded from existence..

“Huh, well, he’s got game.” She joked as her front half began to dissipate as well, “Oh, and Clashie, when the time comes, remember looks can be deceiving, a creatures past or physiology shouldn’t be taken at face value.”

The last word echoing slightly as she faded completely from existence.  The only thing left of her was her pipbuck–which was apparently mine 20 years older.  Remembering Future Nicky’s warning about time ending explosions I cautiously picked up the pipbuck in my non-pipbucked hoof.  Suddenly it began to glow purple and white.  It turned into a cloud of sparkles just like Future Nicky had, but the dust was blown by some unseen wind to settled on my pipbucked hoof.  The device began to glow and feel slightly warm against my leg.  Then the dust faded and the normally green lit screen turned purple.

What the hell just happened? I asked myself in a slight panic, Well, at least time didn't explode.

***  ***  ***

After a month in Stable infinity–though only 22 minutes in the wasteland–it was odd to go back to eating 200 year old food instead of the fresh versions found in the stable.  Now that I had been spoiled by tasting the food fresh, the apple bombs tasted staler than I remembered, but 200 years of rads added a unique flavor fresh ones just didn’t have.  I really couldn’t explain it.  As I munched on the sugary treat, we all discusses our experiences from the stable.  

Ollie, Bucky, Hour, Minute, Second, Genome, Bugz–disguised as Archer–Nicky, and I sat around a table in Clockwork’s tavern The Tickwater.  It was built in the far side of the open air market.  The bar was built from rusty scrap metal and rotten wood and the metal tables were apparently scavenged from the factory’s break room and were somehow devoid of rust.

All of us sitting there like we were and just talking like normal ponies should made me happy.  Happier than I had been the whole time I was in Stable Infinity.  Like magic the depressing feelings I had been feeling washed away and I noticed the luminescent, crystalline shine began to once again emanate from my coat and mane.  It took me a second to realize Genome was staring at me.

“Whoa, this is amazing.” she said in an awestruck tone, “So it just activates like that when you are happy?”

I blushed, “I, uh, don’t really know.  I was just happy to be back with my all friends and started glowing again.”

“Well, even without a DNA test I believe without a reasonable doubt that you are a crystal pony.”  she replied with a smile.

I was going to ask more about the crystal ponies when a loud hum emanated from the Clockwork gate.  I turned just as a large hole was melted in the center of the gate.

As the metal sagged it revealed the bloody remains of Tin and Scrap–right in the center of the melted hole–was their murderer.  A tall and slender, green and black, unicorn robot.  It's green Cyclopes eye coldly scanning the crowd.

“I am sorry for the gate and the death of the 2 guards.” It said in an upbeat, cheery tone of voice, “but if they’d just let me in when I’d asked, unnecessary deaths could have been avoided.  Now, give me Crystaline and the filly known as Nicky."

Bucky took to the sky in an instant and landed in front of the robot.

“Who are you and what do you want with my friends?” he asked harshly though a gritted beak.

Nicky just hid her face in her hooves and muttered, “Stupid curse.”

“Well, I’m Flim-bot 6000 and it is nothing personal, it is just business.  Marker has tasked me to bring him the body of Crystalline and Nicky.  He also wants to retrieve his stolen property.”

“You aren’t getting them without a fight.” Bugz–still disguised as Archer–said trotting up next to Bucky.

“Too bad.” Flim-bot said, he then began to charge the magical energy beam that was his horn and somewhere music began to play, “Well, lookie what we got here, circuits of mine, it's the same on every job.  Ponies with good morals, no scars, and not a drop of blood to be found. Maybe they're not aware that there's really no need for this teary despair.  That the key, that they need to solve this bloodshed shortage I will share!”

There were a bunch of panicked muttering from the crowd that appeared to go in time with the music.  Then Flim-bot open fired as he continued singing his twisted tune, “Well I've got opportunity, In this very community. You’ll bleed, You’ll die. At the hooves of the famous Flim-bot hunter. A bounty hunter beyond compare”

Bucky and Bugz flew away moments before being vaporized by the beam.  It struck the factory.  The nicely timed “R-U-N” letters of  the sign came loose and fell to the ground with a crash. Scattering the ponies in the market as they ran for cover.

“Beyond compare, that's exactly the reason why, you see. No pony else in this whole place will give you such a chance to be where you need to be. And that's a new world, with tons of bleeding.  Fresh squeezed and ready for drinking. More blood than you could drink in all your days of thinking.” the bot kept singing.

Bucky Landed on the factory roof and put his sniper rifle’s scope to his eye.  Ollie and I grabbed our weapons and got up from the table.  Before leaving I turned to Genome.

“Make sure nicky stays out of this.” I said, then I turned to Nicky, “You are a capable fighter, but I couldn’t live with myself if you got killed.”

Nicky protested, but Genome blocked her attempts to follow us.

Ollie and I ran off to join the fight as the robot sang its twisted chorus again, skillfully dodging sniper shots from Bucky and arrows from Bugz, “Well I've got opportunity, In this very community. You’ll bleed, You’ll die. At the hooves of the famous Flim-bot hunter. A bounty hunter beyond compare”

“Hun, we need to get it away from town.” Ollie shouted as we ran then fired a shot at the bot.

The enchanted buckshot struck the ground a few feet in front of the bot and disintegrated a small indent.

“I suppose by now you're wondering 'bout my peculiar mode of killing, I say, its really thrilling. And I suppose by now you're wondering, where is this promised bloodshed? Any horse can make a claim and any bot can do the same.  But my circuits and I have something most unique and superb.  Unseen at any time in this big new world. And that's opportunity.” Flim-bot sang firing the beam again at Bucky’s position.

Bucky took to the sky, but was thrown by an explosion set off by the beam and plummeted into the market.

“Bucky!” I shouted around Blazing Sunset’s mouth grip so it sounded more like “Bwunkoo!”

I flicked my tongue on the trigger firing wildly at the bounty hunter robot.  The energy beams were yellow and the gun made a crackling sound followed by a pop before firing.  One shot grazed the bot’s side and it began to ignite in a yellow blaze.  Though that did not appear to hinder it as the fire waned and went out shortly after it lit.

I followed Ollie as she ran passed the bot and out the melted gate. I spat my gun back into its holster.

“Yo, bucket of bolts, you want me come and catch me!” I taunted as I ran at full gallop.

It turned and not missing a beat it ran after us continuing its song, “Folks, it's the one and only, the biggest and the best. The unbelievable, unimpeachable, Indispensable, Totally indestructible.  Flim Flam Brothers' Super killer Flim-bot 6000.”

Bugz and Bucky flew over the bot and down to our level as we ran.  It was odd to see Bugz fly while his wings were disguised.

“So, what is the plan?” Bucky asked.

“Draw it away from the town.” Ollie said loading more shotgun shells and firing a shot behind us.

“What? That’s it?” Bucky said shocked.

“I’m improvising!” she barked back.

The sound of a beam charging just a few feet behind us reminded us of our metal aggressor.  

Then as if on cue the sadistic singing continued, “Well I've got opportunity, In this very community. You’ll bleed, You’ll die.  From the Flim Flam Brothers' Super killer Flim-bot 6000.”

Ahead of us I saw a cave and began to formulate a plan.

“Bucky, Ollie, Bugz!  We need to lure him into that cave.  You got any matrix disruption or frag grenades?”

“I see what you’re getting at.” Bucky said, “but Nicky has all the explosives since she is the best with them.”

I facehoofed–which was an amazing feat while running for my life, “Well, we need to cause a cave in, if we don’t destroy him he’ll at least be trapped.”

“Clash, hun, I do have a matrix disruption mine, but those need to be set up and then stepped on, they don’t work like a grande.”  Ollie called between shots–shots that almost all missed or did nothing, but slightly scorch Flim-bot’s body.

“Young filly,” Flim-bot said in rhythm with the music, “I would be ever so honored if you might see fit to let my circuits and I kill you and bring your smashed, and might I add disgustingly fleshy corpse back to Marker?"

“In your electronic dreams!” Bucky called back.

We arrived at the cave–Flim-bot still in hot pursuit.  At the entrance Ollie activated and set the matrix disruption mine.  In the darkness of the cave we finally had cover to hide behind.  The music began to echo in the cave as Flim-bot neared slowing his mechanical running.

“Well I've got opportunity, In this very community. You’ll bleed, You’ll die.  There’s no need to cry. I’ll show you ponies a world of delectable bloodshed.” Flim-bot said as ponies chanting “bloodshed” was added to the musical accompaniment.

Then Flim-bot stepped on the mine.  There was the crackle of electricity and the music fizzled out, the final note echoing in the dark cave.  We poked our heads out of our hiding spots.  Flim-bot laid in a heap of metal limbs–his green eye now black.  Hesitantly we began to move out of the cave.

“Now what?” Bugz–oddly still in his Archer disguise–asked.

“Well, in lieu of any other explosives, we are screwed.  Clash could fire her gun at it.  I saw that burning enchantment.  So not just the heat from the beam itself, but the ensuing fire will heat the bot until it overheats and explodes.” Bucky respond.

“N-n-n-not so fa-a-a-a-st” Came the voice of Flim-bot, “The Flim-bot 6000 is equipped with a quick restart in case of matrix disruption.  And now I’m Angry.”

The robot pushed itself to its hooves and its green eye turned red.  Then it charged and launched a beam of energy at us.  We were too close to safely dodge and we wouldn’t be out of range quick enough if we ran.

Well, Luna rape me on the moon! I thought.

Then I thought of a crazy idea.  I looked at my coat–it was still shinning like a crystal.  

Back in the standoff with Marker, it acted like light armor  I thought as the beam got closer to us. Maybe–  

Not thinking about it a second longer I spun around and blocked the beam from my friends with my body.  And that is the last thing I remembered of the encounter.

***  ***  ***

“Class, please turn to page 108 in your textbook, The Chaotic Reign of Discord.”  The teacher drowned from the front of the classroom.

The slide projector changed to a picture of a strange creature.  It had an assortment of various creature parts for its body.

“This is a dragonaquus,” The teacher went on, “it has the head of a pony and the body of a bunch of other creatures.  It is known as Discord, the spirit of chaos and disharmony.  Many moons ago he ruled equestria in an eternal state of chaos.  He was stopped twice, once by the goddesses and again by the–”

“Excuse me Mrs. Script, but one of the undesirables is here.” a colt named Silver Sonnet called from the back of the classroom interrupting the lesson.

All eyes in the classroom turned to face me staring wide-eyed in the back of the room.

“You unwelcomed, filthy, undesirable, what are you doing in my classroom?” Mrs. Script said in a disgusted tone as she trotted angrily towards me.

“I was, um, here to organize and clean the bookshelves, ma'am, but I was so interested in the lesson I got distracted.” I said sheepishly avoiding eye contact.

“Did you ever stop to consider organizing the bookshelves after class is over?  I don’t need your filth tainting the brighter minds of this stable.”  Mrs. Script asked.

“Well, I um–” I stammered.

“Class, change of plans,” Mrs. Script said coldly, “Today we learn how you deal with unruly undesirables.”

At this point she was towering over me and I visibly trembled with fear.  She raised her hoof and smacked me hard sending me sprawling to the floor.

“Filthy,”

SMACK

“Undesirable,”

SMACK

“Dumb,”

SMACK

“Piece of trash.”

SMACK SMACK

I felt the bones in my face break and tasted blood in my mouth.

“Please stop,” I blubbered, spitting up blood, “I didn’t mean too, it won’t happen again!”

“Would anypony else like a go?” Mrs. Script asked, a sedistic pleasure present in her voice.

The whole class raised a hoof and the voice whispered excitedly at the prospect of beating the living daylights out of me.

“You she said.” Mrs. Script said as the lights flickered.

Suddenly the room was full of my friends.  Nicky, Ollie, Bucky, Bugz, Archer–as a separate entity from Bugz–Nicky’s parents, Hour, Minute, Second, Future Nicky, Genome, the list goes on.  Alive or dead, far or near, they were somehow gathered in the classroom of Stable 13.  The door opened and in trotted Marker–the wrecked form of The Chariot just outside the door.  The wall opposite the door melted away and Flim-bot entered–an image of Clockwork ablaze behind him.

“Well, well, well.” Marker said in his charismatic voice, “Looks like the gangs all here.”

I–suddenly back to my correct age–backed up against the back wall of the classroom only to bump into the bookcase.  Marker smirked and a white flash filled the room.  When it died down the rows of desks were demolished and and the pulped remains of all my friends soaked the floor.

“Or not.” Flim-bot cackled.

I tried to run, but the bloody pulp held me to the floor like wonderglue.  Sudenly the projector turned back on, the same image of the creature known as Discord appeared on the bloodsoaked projector screen.  All the color drained from the image until it was just soild tan like the dragonaquus statuette that was at the bottom of lake marechigen.  Then the image moved and looked right at me just as Flim-bot charged his horn.

“Sorry, i’m late to the party.” it said, “Oh, looks like things got a bit out of hand–what is a hand?  I suppose I could say hoof, but I only have one”

He then split into 2 images and began to argue with himself.  Flim-bot released his beam, but it seemed to travel in slow motion as it traveled across the room.  The dragonaquus–Discord?–regained his focus, bacame one image again and turned his attention back to me.

“Time to wake up Clash.” he said and the dream fell away.

***  ***  ***

I awoke in Clockwork’s clinic.  It was based out of the factory’s old infirmary and break room.  It was as old and decrepit as the time brothers’ lab had been and did not look the least bit sanitary, but in the wasteland it was the best they could offer.  I was wrapped from head to hoof in healing bandages which was odd since I was pretty sure I just took a direct hit from a disintegration beam.  I looked around and noticed that the clinic was rather full of patients.

I guess our hope to keep the settlement safe hadn’t worked out since Flim-bot did fire on the town before we lored him away. I thought with a sigh.

“Oh good you're awake.” the familiar voice of the former Stable Infinity Overmare  said, “I’d love to research your mutation sometime.  The radiation seems to have taken you supposed ‘crystal pony-ness’ and made it literal.  Your coat is some kind of natural armour.  You took a direct hit from a disintegration beam and barely got that beat up. You should be, well disintegrated.”

“Overm–Genome? what are you doing here?” I asked in surprise sitting up, but feeling a sharp pain in my stomach I decided to lie back down.

“Well, the clinic was short staffed even before that crazy robot attacked and with my background in genetics I decided to help Dr. Twitchy Hooves out.” She said, “We are old friends.”

“Yes, yes, Miss Genome and I go way back.” a ghoul unicorn–who I assumed was Dr. Twitchy Hooves–rasped as he entered the room, “Back when I was Dr. Stitch Hooves, but in my ghoulness I developed a bit of a twitch and so the nickname stuck.  So how is our Crystalline savior this evening?”

I wondered what kind of twitch he had developed upon his goulification, but it didn't seam like the right thing to ask–and might have come off as rude.

So all I said was, “Good, just got a bit banged up.  And my name is Clash.”

“Well, I advise you keep those healing bandages on until morning.  If you still hurt then and we have any left over healing positions–we are in short supply after that robot attacked–you can take one then, but your injuries don’t necessarily warrant one right now.  You are free to go.”  He said.

“How many caps do I owe you?” I asked getting to my hooves, ignoring the pain in my stomach.

“This one’s free of charge.  Saving the Stable Infinity dwellers and then the settlement is payment enough.”  He said before leaving to tend to other patients.

“Ok thank you.” I called after him.

“Once we salvage the genetics lab from the stable, be sure to stop by and redo that test, even if the results are certain.  Your friends are in room 15 at the inn.” Genome said before following after Dr. Twitchy Hooves.

***  ***  ***

“Tho, we thure Thlim-bot ith dead?” Bugz–back in his changeling form–asked Bucky as I hobbled into the room.

“Well, he seemed to be a military grade assaultron, but programed with a really odd personality.  They don’t go down easy.” Bucky replied.

“And ah hear they explode when defeated.” Nicky chimed in.

“Well there wasn’t any explosion, darling, so it is likely just trapped from the cave in.” Ollie said, the worry present in her voice.

“What was with that song it sang?” I asked making myself known.

“Clashie! Yer ok!” Nicky chirped and ran over to me for a hug, but stopped upon noticing my bandages.

“Yeah, it was like he was trying to sell you death in a catchy song.” Bucky said, “I’m glad to see you survived that shot.”

“Since it would appear Marker has put a bounty on me and Nicky’s head–with yours soon to follow after recent events–We should probably avoid spending time too much time in major settlements incase Flim-bot returns or some other badder bounty hunter.”  I said sitting on the mattress laid out for me.

“Well, I do know of some well fortified settlements in Applewood and The Collector’s place should be pretty secure being an old MOA hub, but I see your point.” Bucky replied.

“Well, let's get some sleep, we have a long walk ahead of us to Applewood tomorrow.” Ollie said shutting off the lights in the room with her magic.

***  ***  ***

“Good morning wasteland, here is some news coming from the west.  Another sighting of Crystalline.  This time in the settlement of Clockwork.  Turns out there was a stable under that old clock factory and Crystalline rescued the inhabitants who–get this–were the original inhabitants of the stable.  They were trapped in some kind of time dilation field until Crystalline came in and bucked it to the moon.  Then when a robot bounty hunter began to attack the settlement, Crystalline was there to stop it as well.  Which brings me to something I need to bring up.  Marker has set a bounty on Crystalline–I’m not even going to encourage you by saying the amount.  Now like with Deus’s bounty on Security, don’t give into it.  Security, Crystalline, they are just fighting the good fight and trying to make the wasteland a better place for everypony.  And again if you take the bounty it is counted as raider activities by Tenpony Tower and your caps will not be accepted.” The DJ’s voice boomed.

I angrily hit my pipbuck against the ground, “Why doesn’t he ever mention you guys?”

“Hun, your not the only supermare he talks about. So he doesn’t mention us. His job is to inspire hope, he means no offense to us by leaving us out.” Ollie said resting a hoof on my back trying to comfort me.

“And lastly,” the DJ went on, “Crystalline was last seen continuing farther west towards Applewood. I wish good luck on her journey and say hi to my counterpart in the area, the lovely Miss Variety. Now here is some more Sweetie belle.”

I listened as we walked along the road until the music began to fade to intermittent notes among static. So I opened the radio feature and selected Variety News from the list of stations.

“Hello my honeycrisps,” crooned a sexy sounding mare’s voice, “it would appear that apples and oranges are at odds once more with mounting hostility between the Golden Globe Apples and the Orange Oscars leading to small gang scuffles along the walk of fame. Travelers are advised to avoid the area. Though the Slummy Scums of the Applewood river settlement of River Bed have offered protection details to travelers willing to risk it for the price of 250 caps a day–if you don’t mind a smelly guide that it–no offence to any Scums listening in.  In other news my astute Observers have told me that the Mareily Hillers haven’t been out to play in the last few days leading many to worry that the old Applewood ghoul population have been wiped out. If anypony has a clue about what happened to the old ghoulies please let me or an Observer know since no Observers that have gone to investigate further have returned. Now back to more movie orchestrals with the theme from the popular Harry Trotter series.”

The music track to a movie I’ve never heard of began to play casting a whimsical atmosphere around my friends and I as we walked over the crest of a hill and first laid eyes on the City of Applewood.

The city was a mishmash of vastly different architectures. Which was evidence of the truly diverse melting pot the city once was. There was clearly earth pony brick-by-brick structures next to extravagant buildings that only a unicorn could craft next to perches set in trees for griffons and buildngs made of cloud for pegasi. Zig zagging through the center of the town was a concrete riverbed full of brown, green, and oddly rainbow sludge slowly flowing west to the sea.  There were 2 mega spell craters. One along the shore line to the west that was mostly filled in by a bubbling, radioactive ocean and surrounded by the remains of a pier side amusement park. The other was to the north rather close to a hill dotted with fancy mansions for every race imaginable. Directly to the west of the northern crater a larger mountain rose above the city. On the once green face of the mountain a set of large white letters–greyed overtime by dust–said spelled out Applewood.  Though the “A” was leaning back against the mountainside, the second “p” was crooked and the top of the “d” was just rusted metal scaffolding.

“Well, you heard the lady on the radio,” Bucky announced snapping my attention away from the view, “We go to see the Slummy Scums in River Bed.  We may not need the protection, but they might know the safest route to the sign. I’ve got a friend that owes me a favor or 2, so we might not have to pay the 250 caps a day. We may at least get some kind of discount.”

Everypony nodded at the suggestion and we began to head for the Slummy Scum's camp.

***  ***  ***

“Eezefray owingglay oulghay!” Shouted a rag wearing Slummy Scum guard with a riot shotgun, “Ogay ackbay otay Areilymay  Illshay.”

“She isn’t a glowing ghoul, Smear.” Bucky said to the guard.

“Wait you understood that?” I asked Bucky, but he ignored me.

“Omecay againay?” Smear asked.

Bucky sighed, “Eshay isay otnay aay owingglay oulghay.  Eshay asay aay inormay utationmay. Eshay isay onypay.”

“Ouryay umscay eechspay isay ustyray, Uckybay ymay iendfray.” Another older unicorn with a brown coat and black mane said as the gate was opened, “Single letter words don’t get an extra ‘ay’ added to them.”

“Excrement! Finally a pony that doesn't speak in just that annoying Scum Speech.” Bucky said with a sigh of relief.

“Scum Speech?” Ollie asked.

“Take the consonants from the beginning of the word, add it to the end, then add ‘ay’. Words starting with a vowel just get an ‘ay’ added at the end and single letter words like ‘a’ and ‘I’ are left alone.” Excrement explained, “It is the language of the Slummy Scums.”

“Good, now I don’t have to do all the chatting with you guys. I wish all of you would just speak equestrian. Anyways, Exy, I need to cash in that favor you owe me. This not-a-glowing-ghoul is Clash Coat, the other mare is Ollie Factory, the filly is Nicky, and lastly the buck is Archer” Bucky told the elder buck.

“Nice to meet you all, I am Excrement, the leader of the Slummy Scums. Follow me to my tent to discuss this favor I owe you.” He said turning around showing his cutie mark which was a pile of shit.

We all followed and Excrement shouted to his tribe, “Isthay isay Ashclay Oatcay, Ollieay Actoryfay, Ickynay, Archeray, anday Uckybay. Eythay areay ymay uestgay anday ouldshay ebay eatedtray accordinglyay. Omprendecay?”

There was a muttering of “Esyay iefchay” as we entered the camp and the door was closed behind us.

The camp was a series of tents and ramshackle dwellings made from debris on either side of the Applewood river bank. Slats of wood and broken concrete created bridges over the foul looking and smelling water of the river. As we neared Excrement’s tent I learned partially why it stunk so much as a young colt did his business into the river of sludge. The sight and general smell of the place made me gag and almost lose my lunch.

Once inside his tent Excrement handed out air fresheners to everypony. Everypony, but Bucky, practically shoved them up their nose to escape the smell.

“So, what favor are you cashing in on?” Excrement asked getting right down to business.

“That time I saved your smelly ass from those blood wings.” Bucky answered.

“Huh, fair enough, what do you want?” Excrement asked.

“Safe passage through the Apple Orange war zone to the sign, except without the 250 caps a day charge.” Bucky responded.

“Fine, but this counts as 2 favors cashed in.” Excrement said begrudgingly, “Imeballslay! Omecay erehay eetiesway!”

A muddled brown, unicorn mare with an off white mane walked into the tent. She had one green eye and one brown eye and her cutie mark was a ball of some kind of green liquid. It it weren't for the pungent aroma practically penetrating the peppermint air freshener shoved against my nose she could pass as a desirable in stable 13.

“Esyay atherfay?” She said in a beautiful voice that seemed out of place with her appearance and stench.

“Ouyay areay oinggay otay escortay Uckybay anday iendsfray otay ethay Applewooday ignsay. Ouyay areay ermitedpay otay ashway inay ethay athhousebay irstfay.” Excrement told his daughter in Slum Speech, “Itay alsoay ightmay ebay oodgay otay earway atthay airay eshenerfray essdray.”

“Essay atherfay!” She said excitedly, “I ancay ebay eadyray inay a alfhay ourhay!”

She then left the tent.

“You can wait for her street side. The bath house is Lotus & Aloe’s Bathhouse and spa. Trust me it smells better up there than down here–unless you don’t mind the stench–most visitors do mind so it is no offense if you do.” Excrement said to us.

Faster than you can say “super duper party pony” Ollie, Nicky, Bugz and I were out of the tent, out of the camp and back street side.

***  ***  ***

A half an hour to the second Imeballslay–translated to equestrian her name would be Slimeball–met up with us on the street outside the bath house. At first I barely recognized her since her coat went from muddled brown to light tan and her mane became pure white. It really made me wonder how much filth was on her back in the camp. The thing that cued me into that it was the same mare was her cutie mark that was visible–and noticeably lighter green–through her dress made of air fresheners, her 2 colored eyes and her sent–less smelly than before her bath, but still noticeable under the myriad mint air fresheners .

“I am honored otay be your guide.” She said mostly in equestrian as she came up to us, “Owhay do you wastelanders deal with being so clean? I feel naked–anday I’m wearing a dress.”

“Well, we aren’t usually just-out-of-the-bath clean, sweetie, but we manage.” Ollie told her.

“Are you sure you don’t want more armor?” Bucky asked, “That dress won’t protect much if we get in a firefight.”

“Ifay all goes according otay plan, there will be no fighting. Ifay there isay, I have a way otay avoid it. My father gave you ankystay–I mean Stanky?”

“Yes, and a surprisingly clean saddlebag.” Bucky said handing her the items.

“What does Stanky do?” I asked.

“Itay releases a stink bomb that should knock out any aggressor–even ghouls.” Slime said beginning to walk down the street, “Ownay, follow me.”

***  ***  ***

We took the long way zigzagging through back streets.  Anytime we heard a gun fight we backtracked since we didn’t want to get drawn into a gang fight. Eventually we found ourselves near the hill with all the fancy houses. My pipbuck informed me I had discovered Mareily Hills and began to click slightly due to the nearby mega spell creator, but it was still in the green.

“Wait, guys, hold up.” I said stopping and changing direction to walk towards the gate.

“Oh that is just ethay ghoul community. They have been silent orfay a few days.” Slimeball informed us.

“Yeah that mare on the radio mentioned that.” Ollie said.

I stopped and turned back to my friends, “Well we are already here, couldn’t hurt to take a look around, right?”

“There is access otay the sign on the top of the hill. Normally we go a different way since The Slummy Scums are on bad terms with the hillers, utbay yes we can go that way.” Slimeball interjected.

“Ok then it is decided.” I said returning to trot to the gate now followed by my friends and our guide.

***  ***  ***

Mareily Hills was an utter ghost town. According to Slimeball there was a little over

100 ghouls living there, most ghoulified Applewood actors, actresses, and business ponies from before the war.

We split into groups of 2 to search more efficiently. Ollie and Nicky started on the top of the hill on the left side of the street, Bugz and I started on the top of the hill on the right side, and Bucky and Slimeball started on the bottom of the hill working back and forth across the street.

The first house Bugz and I came to was a mansion built into the burnt husk of a tree. From what remained of the paint it was once tan with red shutters and a red roof. It had 5 separate sections on different branches of the tree, but either from time or the mega spell blast 200 years ago, only the biggest structure in the center of the tree was still intact.  The others either littered the ground around the tree or looked too unstable to safely search. The biggest structure had at one time had a ramp to allow non-flyers into the house, but that too was too unsafe to use so Bugz flew me into the treehouse.

Inside was very typical of a home of the rich and famous–at least as far as I knew from a few old magazines I’d found in my stable–it had a large kitchen in the back and a nice dinning room next to a half wall. Near the door I entered through there was some chairs and a sofa facing a cracked TV.  Any other room must have been in the fallen or unsafe sections.

I turned my attention to the dining room table. It was still set for a family of 4 including fresh–if 200 years old really counted as fresh–cram still on the plates and some sparkle cola in dirty cups.

“Hey, Bugz, take a look at this,” I said pointing at the table, “It is still set as if somepony was not expecting to leave.”

“Then what happened?” Bugz asked.

“Aaaaah! Get away from me you shit stain!” A decidedly ghoul voice shouted from the street below.

Without thinking I ran out the door and began to fall out of the treehouse when the rotten ram broke.  Luckily Bugz ran out after me and caught me.  He then lowered me slowly to the ground and we were then able to meet up with the others in the middle of the street as they closed in on the terrified ghoul.

“Get that stinky Slummy Scum away from me.” He shouted, “She tried to shoot one of their stink bombs at me.”

Slimeball just staired blankly at the ghoul–Stanky laying unceremoniously on the ground at her hooves.

“Calm down you near-feral ghoul! She is our guide, we are just investigating the ghoul disappearance. That stink gun is the only weapon she has and she didn’t plan on using it on you.” Bucky shouted at terrified ghoul.

“Whoa what happened? Who are you?” I asked as I trotted up to everypony.

“Slime found him hiding in a closet, he got spooked. Didn’t help that the ghouls here dislike the Slummy Scums.” Bucky replied.

“We are here to help, what is your name? What happened to the ghouls who used to live here?” I pressed, sounding oddly urgent.

“I’m Cube Brick,” the ghoul said, “The slavers came through and rounded us all up. I hid in a closet when they came, I guess they missed me. Please, if you are here to help, they have my family. Even the shit stain can help. Please get my family back.”

“Do you know where they are camped?” Ollie asked.

“And stop calling her a shit stain, meat bag, her name is Slimeball.” Bucky cut in uncharacteristically angry.

“Sorry, Slimeball–is that really much better? It still sounds insulting if you ask me.” Cube said.

Bucky just growled.

“Anyways I think I heard them say to send the merchandise to the other side of the hil. That must be where their camp is.” Cube explained, “I–I can help guide you there and help get my wife and son back. I need to make up for my cowardice.”

***  ***  ***

10 minutes later we were all marching down the steep muddy other side of the hill.  The dead trees didn’t help with visibility, but it was clear that a slaver camp was at the bottom of the hill based on the fire and plume of smoke.

We crept quietly–or as quietly as we could–towards the camp. Cube Brick lead our group followed by Bucky, Ollie, Nicky, and I. Slimeball took up the rear hoping her stench wouldn’t give away our position.

When we got a few kilometers from the camp Cube Brick took off down the hill at full gallop.

“Guys, I got six more!” He screamed.

Before we knew it we were surrounded by heavily armed and armored ponies.

“Nice job Cube Brick.” The pony I assumed was the leader said, “What an interesting haul. A griffon, a young filly, a smelly earth pony, a unicorn buck, a unicorn mare, and–what are you?”

I said nothing.

“Yo miss glowey, speak when spoken to.” Another pony slaver shouted.

“I can handle the slave myself Deadweight!” The leader shouted firing his rifle at Deadweight, who died instantly, falling over into a pool of his own blood.

“I don’t know. I just glow.” I said bitterly.

“Well you're not a glowing ghoul that's for sure.” The leader said, “bet you’ll fetch a hoof full of caps up in fillydelphia no matter what you are.”

***  ***  ***

Footnotes:

Clash Coat: Level up

New perk added: Reflection – magical energy weapons have a 20% chance to reflect back at the pony who fired it.

Pipbuck Upgrade: Paradox Upgrade – new features unknown, but the display is now purple.

Nicky: level up

New perk added: Extra Explosive – you always seem to have all the explosives. You are more likely to find explosives when scavenging.

Quest perk added: Glimpse of the Future – you have seen a glimpse of what your future could be. +3 to perception. you also gain an extra 15% more experience points anytime they would be awarded.

Ollie Factory: level up

New perk added: the Art of Improv – you are a very quick thinker and fast on your hooves.  +1 to agility, enemies are 20% less likely to land a critical blow on you and you are given an extra 5 seconds before you set off explosives set by enemies.

Bugz: level up

New perk added: Don’t spook the villagers – + 2 to charisma and 3 to luck if your disguise is forcibly removed. You will also require 4 less for skill checks if that happens.

Bucky: level up

New perk added: Sniper Griffon – Your chance to hit an enemy’s head while using a scope is increased by 25%.

New companion: Slimeball (AKA Imeballslay) -level 3

Strength - 4

Perception - 7

Endurance - 4

Charisma - 5

Intelligence - 7

Agility - 7

Luck - 6

Tagged skills:

sneak

Traits:

Little Stinker – you reek.  No pony likes to be around you long. This unlocks unique dialogue trees that get to the point faster, but might skip important background information. Skill checks are also decreased by 5.  This trait doesn’t effect ponies in power armor.

Quest Completed:

Some Infinities are Bigger than Other Infinities

Quest Updated:

Marking Marker – Find out more about the raider Marker, how he becomes intangible and how his arcane attack works.

                      Find and kill the raider Marker.

                      (Optional) Face and kill/defeat the bounty hunters sent by Marker

New Quest Added:

Pacifist – Get through the Apple Orange War Zone without being drawn into the gang war.

          √ (Optional) Meet with the Slummy Scums to hire a guide to safely get through the Apple Orange War Zone

Stinky and the Ghouls – Resolve the quarrel between the Slummy Scums and the Mareily Hiller ghouls

Mareily Hills Ghoulies – √ Investigate the Disappearance of the Applewood ghoul community of Mareily Hills.

                             √ Follow Cube Brick to the Slaver’s camp

                                Rescue the enslaved ponies

Faction Status:

Stable 13 – Vilified

Marker’s Gang – Vilified

The Chariot Hotel – N/A disbanded

Finders (West Branch) – Liked

Gun Runners – Liked

Clockwork – Accepted

Stable Infinity – N/A merged with Clockwork

Slummy Scums – Liked

Golden Apple Globes – Neutral

Orange Oscars – Neutral

The Observers – Neutral

Mareily Hillers – Neutral