The war never changed, it just grew. I remember an old pony telling me that once at the bar. Most of what he said was just bitter rambling, but that one thing just stuck into the back of my mind and never left. When the war started it was about coal and gems, the zebras had the coal, we had the gems, but neither of us wanted to share. Before long, we didn't need the coal, and they didn't need the gems. The war had no excuse to go on, but it grew, finding a new reason to fight. Every act of war was more extreme then the last, weapons got bigger, speeches more dramatic, and hate... the hate felt like a blanket of mist that draped over the land. It was true, the war had not changed, it never needed to happen back then, and it didn't need to go on now, but it did, it grew, it grew so big that it would soon devour us all in fire, despair, and most of all in the madness of hate. But what is one pony to do to stop it, no plea for sanity would be heard, no rash action would make them rethink their path, no sacrifice would be big enough to remind them that ponies were not meant to go war. So I just waited for the end, lived my life, worked the day, slept in my bed at night, and hoped that maybe, just maybe this would not all end in fire. What else was there for me to do?

Hate is a strong word, I would much rather say strongly dislike, it's a lot less personal for me to dislike something, than to hate it. So what would I strongly dislike? Well, for the last few years it has been the job placement office. There were a lot of little things that just irked me about coming to this place. The first was simple, lines going out the door half the time, you would think there would be less ponies looking for work with a war going on, but no, if you can't score a ministry job you will need two jobs to just support yourself. The second was something I'd never say out loud, the military recruiters were just non stop, even the office workers would hint at me joining the military, something I had no interest in. The last was an inevitability, actually talking to the office worker about getting another job.

The light blue unicorn mare never even looked up at me. With how many ponies she had to deal with, I could understand why. "Mister Slowtrot, I see this is the fourth time you have been here this year, and the ninth time in the last four years." She still did not look up, which did make me both relieved and a bit unconformable - maybe she was at that point were she was just zombied out at work, I've been there.

Wait, nine jobs? I thought it was six – no, wait, I also was able to get two other jobs outside of this office.... damn, eleven jobs in four years, I really suck at this work stuff. "Yes! That's right, I'm here to apply for another job." Oh this felt uncomfortable, at least I'd remembered to shower before coming here... but the dirty pony in front of me may have passed some of his smell onto me. Oh I hate- strongly dislike coming here.

The mare took a glance at me. I'm sure I was giving her my best 'not trying too hard' smile, but then again it was only a glance, so it might not have mattered. "Are you currently still employed at any of these jobs we placed you at? We do have others that need work." That was a hoof to the gut.

"No."

"Reasons why?"

"I was let go."

"Yes, the reasons why?"

I sunk into my uncomfortable seat. Why do they have to ask this question every damn time? Each time I'm here they have to be sadistic about it. It's not my fault it takes me longer to get a feel for a job then the other ponies, or that reading and writing were my weak points, or that I can't read a pony's feelings for the life of me, or that the customers have interesting things to talk about... okay, maybe it is me that has problems, but I am reliable and always healthy, that's something, right?

"Mister Slowtrot?"

"Oh, um, incompatibility, the managers felt that the job was not right for me." Well, they actually said that I was not right for the job.

"All four of them?"

"All of them." All eleven of them, more like.

"Well I'm sorry to tell you this, but due to the high demand of ponies looking for work, we had to start enforcing a limit for each pony that applies - you somehow are already over that limit."

"That limit is..?"

"It's two... a year."

Okay, I have to say that did lighten my spirits up a bit, just not enough to give me any joy out of it. "So I'll be going then?"

"Please do."

I really, really strongly dislike this place - not hate, that would be personal. So doing my best to ignore the military recruiter, I left the job placement office, and went back out into the city.

The city of Applewood. The best city to get lost in, with its bright lights, friendly ponies, fun attractions, and so much propaganda that it's become a parody of itself. War posters were everywhere, nearly every movie that was being released nowadays had some form of pro war theme going. When I was younger, there were a bunch of smaller theaters that would show old or independent films, but nowadays it's all the same. Most ponies say that it's just that the war flicks are what's in, but if you pay attention you can see the hoof prints of the Ministry of Image all over the place - not that I would say it out loud. I heard that Las Pegasus didn't have it so bad, something to do with a political party called the Enclave, the only group I know of to push against the war.

And now I'd made myself feel down by thinking about the war - not like there were really any other things to talk about, it's all that was ever happening. Why did food prices go up each month? It's the war. Why is it it so hard to even find a box of nails? It's the war. Why is it so hard to get a mare-friend? It's the... well that's more my problem, and now I'm feeling depressed.

There are a few things I like to do when feeling depressed, the main thing I do - which was what I was going to do - is get a beer and a hay burger, good stuff. But it seamed that Stable-Tec was doing another demonstration, which blocked off the street where my favorite place to eat and drink, Sleepy Hooves Diner, was. Now, I don't like crowds, and this was a big crowd, Stable-Tec always drew a crowd, but I was going to have my hay burger and beer- well beers, a good three should make me feel better.

Stepping into the crowded street, I could see that there were different stall that Stable-Tec had set up. There was "PipBucks and you", where it looked like ponies were trying on PipBucks of different colors, "Styles of Stable-Tec, which was the same as before, but with Stable barding. Actually, that was all they were doing at each stall I could see, the only one that was different was the one that had in big bold words...

"RAFFLE!"

"Whaa!" Okay, I don't like being in crowds.

"Would you like to sign up for the raffle? It's free." It was a mare, a really pretty unicorn mare. Her orange coat was bright next to her blue stable barding, and her cherry-red mane and tail matched the red-and-green PipBuck she had on.

"Oh, a raffle? What's the prize?"

"There's lots of prizes! The big one's a ticket to a stable 90, we just got it finished a few days ago, so a lucky few will have a safe place to go when things turn bad." Well, that explained why the crowd was so big; everypony seemed desperate to get into a Stable. The real possibility of the end of our world does put a scare into a pony. I was not above such fears, but there was nothing I can do about it, other then hope that things did not get that bad.

"Okay, so where do I sign?"

She giggled. It was a cute giggle. "Don't worry, just give me your name, and I'll put it down for you." She raised her PipBuck, in a cute way, and smiled. It was a cute smile. Did I mention she was cute?

"Oh, the name's Slowtrot. Just Slowtrot."

Looking at the PipBuck, she used her magic to press a few buttons before looking back up at me, she had lovely pink eyes. "All done, just wait for the raffle to start, and if you're lucky we might call your name." She trotted off. She had a cute flank too, even her cutie mark was cute, a peace sign on an orange...

"... And I didn't get her name!" I got myself moving to catch up to her, but a crowd of ponies were already blocking my path, and she vanished from sight. Did I mention I hate crowds? So I gave up. A mare that pretty probably already had a special somepony, and she had a job, something I lacked... "Beer it is."

It took longer then it should have done, but I finally got to Sleepy Hooves Diner. I was less then happy to see it was quite busy, though I felt a bit stupid for not foreseeing that, how could it not be? Luckily there was a seat at the bar, all the way at the back, near the restrooms' entrance. Not my favorite spot, but it was open. The Diner's radio was also on, though it was just playing the music that was going on outside. Surprisingly enough Stable-Tec had gotten a band and singer to play, though it was nopony I had heard about.

Taking a seat, the manager of the place gave me a nod. Hay Maker was his name, he and his staff were to busy to take my order yet, but I appreciated that he let me know that he knew I was there. He's a good guy. With how busy things were, I knew that even if I got my order in soon, it would take some time for them to get the burger to me. At least I had a seat, and soon some beer. The place was like most diners - old photos, random knick-knacks - though what stood out was a military uniform, and a photo, the owners daughter had died in combat years before, a sight that had become common in the city, and one reason I did not what to join up.

"So, same as before?" It was one of the mares that works at the diner; earth pony, blond mane, tan coat, and a cutie mark of a dictionary. And she has a special somepony. I think her name was Summer Dream.

"Ya, I'll have a cabbage and hay burger, and three glasses of Strong Hoof pale ale."

"Three this time? That will be seventeen bits." I hoofed out a ten-bit coin, a five-bit coin, and two bits. Eating out felt far more expensive without a job.

The first beer came quickly; there were enough staff to keep things moving despite how busy things were, and it was good, pale ales were always a smooth drink. With something to wet my lips, I finally relaxed, well, relaxed to the best of my ability in a busy diner. The music from outside through the radio helped. Most of the music had been upbeat, and the current song was no different, though it would probably be bad business to play sad music when you're trying to sell stuff.

By the end of the song, my burger had arrived, and boy did it smell good, and taste good. The next song was the same as the last (well, different song, same tune), like they were just rewording the last songs in the hope that nopony would care. Nopony seems to. That was when I saw that the diner was starting to fill up with soldiers, uniforms on, short cut for their mane and tail, and all quite intimidating looking. I quickly finished my first beer.

It's not that I have a problem with the troops, or the military, but they seem to have problems with ponies my age not signing up. Well not just them, a lot of ponies. It's almost every day that I'm asked about joining up with the military. You don't have a job? Join the military. Your job is cutting your hours? Join the military. Your job sucks? Join the military. It's why I've eaten at this place for the last few years - the owner hates talking about the war, and so do the staff. Still, that never really stopped their other customers.

The second beer arrived almost as soon as I put my glass up to be refilled, drinking it calmed me down a bit. The soldiers were a bit loud as they took over the other end of the bar, but most of them just stood around. Finishing off the burger, the music had just stopped, and the voice of a farm mare began to talk.

"Hello everypony, and welcome! It's good to see that y'all are enjoying yourselves, and it looks like we have sold out of all our goodies, but worry not - we still have plenty of wonders you can order, just take our catalog on your way out."

The mare's voice sounded charming, a little off beat, but better then some of the squeakers they throw on stage.

"Now I know why y'all are here, so let's get this raffle started. Now we will get our really fancy computer here to sort out your names, and then call y'all for each prize. So our first bunch of winners will be getting a free set of Stable barding! It's stylish and practical...."

I was now more focused on my beer, already half done, feeling like they should offer bigger glasses. The solder had taken up more of the bar, as more of them showed up, the other ponies giving up their seats. Me? I was hoping they did not get this far down.

"Hey Sunflower, you know where we're going to be stationed next? Leave was only meant to be a week."

Wow she talked loud. Okay, just drink your beer, rather than eavesdrop on the nice soldier ponies at the bar, that's rude.

"I was told it's camp 223, but that got scraped, so we're on standing orders right now, why are you asking?"

"I may have been a little drunk when I checked in, but that's what I though they said to me, thanks."

Yet they talk so loud that I don't think I can call it eavesdropping, I just so happen to be in a room with them shouting their conversation. Finishing off my beer (damn I normally don't drink this fast), I was starting to warm up, got to love this good stuff. So I asked for my third glass, but it would take a little time as all the soldiers were getting drinks as well, I really don't like crowds.

At this point I felt a tap on my shoulder. Now with two good glasses in me, I swivelled around in my seat to see who it was. It was one mean-looking stallion. "Can I help you with-" he started.

"-Sorry but I'm into mares" and before I finished turning back to the bar, my brain was firing all the alarms, I'm a bucking moron who is now going to die. My last beer arrived, I mean my third beer, not my last, no not, I'll have plenty more tomorrow, after he is finished digging my grave.

A tap on my shoulder once more. Well at least it was a tap, so it maybe I wasn't dead... yet. Turning, though slower this time, I simply smiled weakly at the earth pony stallion who looked like he had taken a grinder to the face. "Sorry to bother you sir, but my friend needs a seat, and I was seeing if you could give yours up for him." I looked past the stallion and saw a unicorn walking on four prosthetic legs, who was not having an easy time getting through the crowd.

"Uhh, of course! Oh, and the beers are on me." There really was not much for me to say, not that I could think of, and I'm sure that the unicorn could kill me, missing legs or not, so I stepped down, letting his friend have the seat.

"Thanks sir, much appreciated." Such a polite stallion, ponies really should not go to war, bouncing and singing seemed to fit us better. Or was that the beer talking? Probably the beer.

On my way out I could see that the diner had completely filled up with soldiers From the looks of the stable barding that two had on their back, they were actually here for the same thing as the other ponies. So when I hit the ground, I knew I was in trouble, the laughing solidifying that feeling.

"Looks like he's had too much to drink, maybe you need some help home." Getting up I saw that the pony that was talking was a pegasus mare - light purple coat, blue mane with light blue highlights, and a cutie mark of what looked like a megaphone. She was also quite good looking, even the nick on her left ear had its charm. "I could help you home if it's too hard for you to walk, tuck you into bed."

I got myself up, and luckily I could get myself home just fine, really I just wanted to leave before they all got rowdy. "No need, I just tripped, I can get home on my own." Her face scrunched up and the other solders burst out in laughter once more. Did I say something funny?

"Looks like he's not into mares, Foghorn, better luck next time." the group laughed again.

Okay, at this point I would have backed out slowly, put room between me and all of them, and most of all would not say anything like "I am too into mares." Clop me with a train, I'm an idiot. They laughed some more.

The mare- Foghorn stared daggers at me with her eyes, "Oh then what is it, you got a marefriend?" Oh this is bad, soldier mares are way too aggressive, it's fun at first, but they get bite-y, and like whips, I personally didn't like whips, or getting bit.

Solution: say sorry, and get out of there, simple. "No, not right now." New plan: run, run, by the goddesses stop talking and get out of their. "I'm just not..." I finally got myself to shut up, but it was too late. So ya, this was going to get ugly.

"Just not what, into ME personally, was that what YOU were going to say?" If I ever had an ex-marefriend, I think she would be like her, frightening yet sexy, oh dammit, now I'm thinking of her in a sexy number, what is wrong with my brain right now!?

"Well, no not that." I felt my flank hit the door, I had been so concentrated on her that I didn't know we were walking to the door.

"Then what?"

"That well."

"Well?"

When did I get up on my two back hooves, and how was she still eye to eye with me- oh right, pegasi can do that.

"Military mares play too rough." Bucking damn it, she was going to kill me! Prove me right, but kill me. Foghorn looked pissed, the daggers were now cannons, and I think I saw pink pony at their trigger laughing along with the other soldiers. Foghorn pulled her hoof back for a strike, and I pulled mine up to defend myself, but then the world blurred as I felt myself fall back.

Opening my eyes, I looked up and saw the sign for Sleepy Hooves Diner, which meant I was outside, and so the pain at the back of my head was probably from me falling. Better then getting my face caved in, I guess. Looking at the door, I could see Foghorn being held back by her friends, I could also see she was holding her jaw as though it had been hit... time to go!

Disappearing into the crowd (did I ever tell you that I liked crowds?), I found myself at the raffle. The crowd here was thick, easy enough for me to not be found by an angry pegasus that I may or may not have accidentally kicked in the face.

"Well we got one more prize before the main event, that's right one more before we give out the things you've been waiting for! I present y'all the PipBuck 2500! Now I know what you're thinking - why give this out, we already gave out three PipBuck 3000s? Well that's simple, they're a collectors item, Stable-Tec only made a few of them, but they were just too super duper expensive to make, so the techs had to drop this model and make something smaller, and easier to make."

The PipBuck look a bit bigger the normal 3000s I saw now and then, but what stood out was that it had what looked like a second pipbuck that would attach to the upper leg. The thing would cover all but the hoof, and the shoulder. Overall it looked more like a peace of armor than a PipBuck, and I bet it'd be real uncomfortable to have on.

"....and the winner of this fine piece of tech, is... Slowtrot! Slowtrot, come up and claim your prize!"

I could see the headline now: 'sexy pegasus kills earthpony with a pipbuck 2500 in front of crowd'. Maybe if I don't go and collect it, I'll be safe. Ya, just stand here as that cute orange unicorn points me out... oh clop me with a tank.

Well I give up, I'll take the thing and run, ya that's a good plan, great plan. Getting through the crowd was very annoying, but I didn't see that pegasus whats-her-name anywhere, which was good. On my way, a few ponies gave me some glares - PipBucks were expensive tech, even the outdated ones, so I could understand why they wanted one. The rest of the ponies were more distracted, chatting to themselves about getting into a Stable, I could hear one old mare talk about giving her granddaughter the ticket if she won. Overall, it was the tickets that everyone really wanted, they wanted that peace of mind that if the world did end, they would have a way out, a safe place to stay away from what this stupid war would create. For myself, winning the runner up prize felt close to right. Not that I didn't want a ticket to a Stable, that would be fantastic, but there were better ponies them me that should get it. Though thinking about it, a bunch of assholes were probably going to win this one.

"And here is our winner, Slowtrot! Come on, don't be shy, that's for the MoP's Ministry Mare!"

There was a chuckle from the crowd, but it wasn't the same as the bellowing of the soldiers, making me even more nervous as a walked up the steps. I do dislike crowds.

I could now clearly see the announcer; and older earth pony mare, tan coat, bright green mane, and bucket of apples as her cutie mark. Next to her was the orange unicorn, she was holding the microphone in her magic for the other mare, showing poise even as the speaker abruptly walked up to me. "So how does it feel to get your very own PipBuck? These things are built to last, something you can hand down to even your grandfoals."

Now I've only really been a one night stand for a mare, never having a marefriend myself, so that comment hit me with a little hope mixed with a lot more depression. Not that I showed it, working retail helped with fake smiles. The crowd was really starting to make me feel uneasy, all the ponies looking at me... I never liked crowds. "I feel... lucky." Smooth, real smooth, the crowd can't tell you're a moron with that.

"Well why don't you try it on? Trust me on this, they feel like a second skin." That I doubted, I betted they felt like you had a chunk of steel on your leg, with some padding.

Before I could say that I was not interested in putting on the PipBuck right now, it was already floating in front of me, the orange mare had it in her magic, opening it up for me. "Try it on mister Slowtrot, it wont bite." Well, if she says so, why not, my left leg is free.

The PipBuck clamped onto my left foreleg, and all the way up, just below my shoulder. It all felt a bit off, like something was trying to push into me, and my eyes started to feel like they... wow, lines and numbers, zeros and ones, zeros and one... and gone. Well that was weird... the world had frozen, oh by the goddesses, had the world crashed like the computers I used- no wait, time had just slowed down, why in Tartarus had time slown down? Text appeared before my eyes.

Welcome to the Stable-Tec PiBbuck 2600 registration spell. By registering this PipBuck to yourself this PipBuck will protect all sensitive information, as well the user's mind from tampering. Do you wish to register? Y/N

Wait what... oh, I think I'd heard about PipBucks doing stuff like this. Nothing like this exactly, though. Well, I might as well give it a shot, having everypony frozen was starting to creep me out, like being in a room full of mannequins. So how do I say yes to thi....

Registration spell now active, PipBuck systems will be locked until registration is finished.

Time returned to normal speed. "Everpony, let's give Slowtrot an applause!" the crowd was a bit louder than they were before, but I knew it was for the Stable tickets, which was fine by me. The orange mare lead me off stage, which was nice as I was still a bit confused by the PipBuck, and my eyes were hurting a bit, so I gladly followed her, and away from the staring crowed.

"Sorry you didn't get a ticket Slowtrot, maybe at the next event in a month." She gave me a small smile. If I'd held any resentment, that little smile would have stripped it from me. "I heard it's going to be at the docks, so keep an eye out."

"Thanks, it's not like I expected to win anything, much less a PipBuck, so it's been a good day." She walked to the back exit, opening the curtain for me. "Umm..."

"Yes?"

Okay just be calm and ask her name. "Sorry, I didn't get your name?"

"Well, I didn't give it." Oh I felt it, right in my heart, some pony just stabbed me.

"Oh, sorry, my mistake." I trotted through the exit, not wanting to embarrass myself more.

"It's Warm Breeze, that's my name." I looked back, to see her wave before closing the curtain. Warm Breeze, even her name was cute, oh I am so going to the dock next moth.

My apartment was just down the street, and well I felt like taking my time to get there, it was probably the alcohol, but I felt my luck was turning up. I still didn't have a job, but Warm Breeze had given me her name, most of the time mares just ignore me. Well, all the time they ignore me, but this was different. "Flowers, flowers, I know roses are too expensive, and well they're all expensive right now, what gives!" Orange coat, red mane and tail. "Coltifornia poppies, and Cardinal flowers! I can easily pick a few outside of the city. I just need to know where Stable-Tec is staying, and have them delivered to Warm Breeze." Wait, would that be too soon, I didn't want to look desperate.

"I thought you said you didn't have a marefriend. I don't like liars." I froze, not as in the weird PipBuck froze, but that normal 'you are going to die' froze.

I did my best to turn around with grace, but failed, nearly falling over as I did so. "Oh hi, umm.. miss?"

"Foghorn, my name is Foghorn" Who names their kid Foghorn? Never mind, that's not important.

Ya, the light purple coat, blue mane pegasus mare had found me, still real good looking in her uniform, and short hair, and still scary. "I'll remember that." I should, I was told fear helped with memory, and if there was something I needed fear to remember, it was remembering names, that's why I said Warm Breeze's name every few steps, just so not to forget it. That was also why I couldn't seem to hold a job, the boss saying stuff like how I should already know all the keywords, or where the parts are, or even the stupid random numbers in the stupid random spots....

"Equestria to idiot, are you there?" Oh her face is way to close to mine!

"Uhh.. well.. sorry, and uhh, well I don't have a marefriend." I quickly backed up. "I also get a bit lost in thought."

"Then pay attention, it's rude to ignore a girl when she's trying to apologize." Wait what? she's here to apologize?

"Ahh, okay?" Dammit, don't talk, just let her not kill you, good plan, great plan.

"It was, well... I was out of line. I had no right to get angry at you like that, or to try to strike you." This was all true, though now I was feeling a bit bad- no Slowtro,t don't fall for the mare's trick, don't feel guilty for what she did. "So, well... I'm sorry." she had a look in her eyes that made me feel like somepony had just shoved a pin in my heart.

Foghorn flapped her wings, slowly lifting up. She was a bit scary, but it was a bit unfair of me to compare her to that other military mare. Though Foghorn did look like she could give me a bite mark that would last a month... not the best memory. "Foghorn, wait!"

She hovered in the air, looking down at me. It was hard to tell if she still looked sad, or was annoyed now. "What?"

"I know this nice place I like to go for lunch, nothing real fancy, but the place is quiet, and the food is good. Mind if I show you it? Would tomorrow sound good?"

I could see a smile, a small one, but only for a moment. "That'd be lovely, but I ship out tomorrow, to Hoofington. But thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it Slowtrot." She flew off, not all that fast, but fast enough that she was gone in seconds. Well now I can blame the war on why I can't get at least a date... ponies really should not go to war.

Welcome home, a small one-room apartment, that I can only afford for another month... this city is way to expensive to live in.

The walls were bare, but the few shelves I had were piled with the junk I had collected over time. My clock was over ten minutes fast, mostly for getting myself up in time for work... it no longer served a purpose. Ya, I'm going to be homeless before this year is up, how in Tartarus did I already go through four jobs, I'm not that shitty a worker. Putting my saddlebag next to my bed, I just flopped down on the nice and friendly mattress that was my bed, oh did it feel good to lie down... and there's the loose spring.

My eyes had started to hurt, and had a bit of a headache, nothing all that bad, but it felt weird. Rubbing them with my right foreleg did not help, but now I was sure that I could see something just at the corner of my eye. I guessed that it was just stress, I was going to be homeless soon, even if I did pull out more bits from the bank, the rent would bleed me dry. All of this just felt like too much to deal with right at this moment - I rather take such things day by day, and speaking of day, I was feeling a bit drained, and sleepy. "I'll just deal with it tomorrow." I shut my eyes, for whatever didn't need to be done today is tomorrow's problem.

I awoke to a really bad headache, and my eyes felt like somepony was pushing down one them. I also felt like shit all over. To top it all off there was somepony knocking on my door loudly, and it was only making my head feel worse.

Getting out of bed- well, more sliding out onto the floor with a thud, I walked- well more crawled to the door. It took me a few tries, but I finally hold of the door handle and opened it. "Ey, ye, socks are, are, why?"

I think I could hear a gasp, but what energy I had was gone, so I decided sleep was the best course of action. "I'm a pretty... pony." Fuck my mouth.

Footnote:

Slowtrot

Special:

Strength: 6

Perception: 4

Endurance: 9

Charisma: 4

Intelligence: 4

Agility: 4

Luck: 9

Trait Identified: One in a Million - When Slowtrot gets a critical hit, it hits hard, but so do his critical fails. x2 multiplier to critical hits and fails.

Trait Identified: Good Natured - Slowtrot studied less-combative skills as he was growing up. His combat skills start at a lower level, but other skills are substantially improved.

Trait Identified: Forgot how to Door - Slowtrot does not remember things as well as other ponies, but he tries his best, for better or worse. Temporarily -1 to intelligences +1 to luck whenever entering a new area.

Trait Identified: Words said Backwards - Slowtrot can read and write, just not as well as other ponies. He gets a -50% boost from magazines and books, but gains 5 points to all skills when music is playing (it helps him concentrate).

Perk Identified: Educated - Slowtrot gets +2 skill points when he gains a new experience level. You gotta love public education.

Author's Notes:

Thanks for giving this story a shot. I'll probably be editing it for a time, but I have a good idea were to take it.

First off I want to thank Kkat for making Fallout Equestria, I have never read this much before in my life, and I'm actually enjoining myself, and even writing a real story which I have never don before. Dark tragic story's about ponies in a apocalyptic wastland are magic.

Second, thanks to Gamma Deekay, your story Monster finally got my gears going on how this journey sould start, Keep up the good work.

Third, thanks to The Wadapan for editing chapter one, it's something that will greatly helps the readers, I do my best, but it's people like you who do it better, and give a story the polish it needs so to shine.

Others I want to thank: Somber for making the most awesome of a mind fuck of a hero story I have ever seen. FuzzyVeeVee for taking all my feels and giving them wings. mimezinga for making a grown man cry. No One for a damn fun story that just sucks me in. FD Imaginations keep up the good work, your heart is in the right place. CoffeeRings has my best wishes, hero is quite the interesting character to read.

I will also reserve thanks to anyone that helps me keep at this, as writing is not my thing, but as you see here, I gave it a shot.