Oh fuck!

It is the ‘giant-worm thingy’ the terminal has been telling me about! And its mad as the Goddess’ endless solar flares! Its black, tentacle-like tongues are shown from its maw! And they open up like a flower blooming… only except that it's not a flower blooming; it has three maws!

And it doesn’t take a PipBuck to let me know that this monstrosity is a hostile!

“Everypony! We need to get out of here now!”

The giant worm lunged at Tootsie as I quickly dove to get her, easily avoiding getting devoured but also propelling us forward when it burrowed down into the ground! Agh!

It left a massive hole on the ground behind us with Bob nearly avoiding imminent impact as he was lifted over by the ex-Enclave pony, who had quickly flown in time to save him. (In fact, it flew faster than any pegasi would! Such exhilarating speed this one is!)

Though this was far from over; the ‘giant-worm thingy’ emerged from the ground again and its tongue-like tentacles extended out at it and Bob!

Bob let out an alarmed whirr as he quickly opened fire onto one of its tongues, which landed a direct hit but not before it managed to ensnare an armored pony! Fuck! Quickly, I pulled out the sniper and aimed at its tongue before pulling the trigger with my tongue.

BAM!

“Ngh! Let me go, bastard!” The armored pony said as the giant worm screeched in pain from its tongue being shot through, forcing to let the pony go. Bob was doing what he can do to hang onto its back as the worm screeched in pain and flailed its head and tongues wildly, with one of its tongue-like tentacles knocking them off from the air as they both plummet onto the ground. Thankfully they both landed safely, but the unnamed pony’s helmet was knocked away.

Bob landed onto the soft patch of ground, unharmed but dazed as he got up and whirred dizzily.

Tootsie looked on in surprise as the ‘giant-worm thingy’ briefly retreated, “The mystery pony has been revealed! Zero, I’ve solved the mystery!”

When was this a mystery?! I glanced at the armored pony… a mare?! So it actually is a she!

I could ask her name, but thanks to my lack of a PipBuck, I’m unable to do so. The Enclave mare glanced back at us as she was recovering from a knockback, “...why are you looking at me like th--”

She realized that she had lost her helmet, “Oh fuck! D-Do not think of me as a mare! Just need to find the motherbucking helmet…”

Apart from the mare’s vulgar sentences, the helmet was standing at the edge of a massive hole and dangerously teetering side by side. She immediately spotted it and flew to retrieve it before it had a chance to fall off into the bottomless hole, “Gotcha!”

We saw her put it back on and spoke, “Now then… dammit! Why is the voice alteration not working?!”

She took off her helmet and tossed it down to the bottomless hole out of sheer frustration, “Damnit! Now I can’t stay in disguise! How in the absolute fuck am I gonna stay incognito when other Enclave troops are gonna be all over my ass?!”

Well… rants aside, she looks like a pseudo-Spitfire. Only she’s far different than Spitfire herself; with a sky blue coat to go for and a steel grey mane to go for (same applies for the tail, I suppose). Her eyes are also faint gray that vaguely matches her mane, but still burns up flames inside! I need to remind Tootsie, Bob and myself to never get on her bad side…

And to think of it, she still has the fiery personality like Spitfire’s! She gave me and Tootsie a flaming glare, “What are you two standing around looking at me for?! That worm thing is gonna come back any second now, we gotta move!”

She’s right! At any rate, that thing will just emerge on the ground and devour us alive unless we get out of here! And without any bullets in me, I can’t take it down in one shot. Even if I still had sniper rounds, its a goddess-damned behemoth! I looked at the filly and lowered myself for her to get on my back. Tootsie was still shaken after having seen the ‘giant-worm thingy’ for the first time, “L-Let’s get out of there, Mr. Zero!”

She got up onto my back as soon as the intense rumbling noises resumed, “Let’s go!”

I nodded to her and we soon bolted out of here, with Bob riding onto the armored mare’s back. Soon, the giant worm erupted from the ground again and began to pursue us at dangerous speeds! Not sure if splitting up would be a good idea as without my PipBuck, I’m unable to keep up with my allies. And a possibility that we may never be reunited if this happens! No. I gotta stick with them. I don’t care how much this monstrosity wants us to split up so bad! I don’t want a similar outcome to happen!

It opened up its three gaping maws again, threatening to swallow us whole! Tootsie shouted to the mare with no name, “Quick! Shoot that thingamajig! We don’t wanna be food!”

“I don’t have much ammo left in me, but I’ll try! Just hang on, Bob!”

Quickly, she turned around and aimed at its tentacle-like tongues with Bob clinging his metal claws onto her shoulder plates as he lets out a frantic beeping sound. Soon, the armored aimed and fired her Plasma Rifles at its tongues.

PRRRROOOWWW! PRRROOOWWW!

Another direct hit! It screeched in pain and lagged behind and resumed to chase us, albeit slightly slower than usual. Some of its tongues were crippled, but now I’m starting to pant out of exhaustion; I’m slowing down as well! Damn my unathletic hooves!

Tzzzt. Tzzzt.

“Oh for the love of pete. No ammo, you guys!”

Just as I feared; she doesn’t have any ammo. At least with Bob, he doesn’t miss his shots because the laser from his mechanical tail never runs out of ammo!

“Don’t worry! My friend Bob has no limits!” Tootsie’s right. Bob can still hold it off, but even then his laser isn’t too powerful to kill it. At least we know that its tongues are its weaknesses that results in slowing itself down.

We’re in a huge, open area of nothingness besides the giant worm still in hot pursuit. Even if we were to hide inside a building, we’re sure to get buried alive! Over the horizon, there’s a residential area that’s heavily guarded by a small army of Securitron robots patrolling the place. Let’s hope they can help us, or just gun us down without reason! My hooves are getting so goddamned tired from all the galloping!

“Halt! Identify yourselves or we will use force!” One of the Securitrons warned us when we were nearing in an area we don’t know about. We disregarded their warnings and soon enough, their attentions were diverted to the giant worm as it erupted from the ground again, emitting it screeching roar. They soon opened fire at it with missiles to no avail; its body has a really tough hide to penetrate! It wasn’t long until they were of no match of this monstrosity.

Well it seems we managed to shelter ourselves inside a convenience store while also delaying the inevitable at the same time! My hooves were aching like Cadence’s non-stop lovings! The armored mare glanced at me while we took a breather, “Great… what now, genius? That thing will come after us once they turned those Securitrons into food!”

I merely shrugged. I’m too exhausted to think and Tootsie Roll went with Bob to scavenge any food left over for us. If I had wings, we would’ve made an easy escape. All I could do was lean back against the corner of the wall just to try and set my mind straight.

And I’m still without a PipBuck…

“Hey, kid… don’t take it personally. Sure I may a badass Enclave pony with a high rank to go for, but that doesn’t mean I work for them and enslave innocent ponies for a living. Besides, I have to speak out for you for the time being.” Her words were very reasonable as I smiled at her in thanks. I didn’t want a argue. Not that I wanted to anyway because I can’t speak at all. I heard her approaching me and sitting down next to me.

“We need to have a very short break before we can keep moving. Those robots won’t hold that thing back for much longer. Plus, I don’t have any more ammo for my Plasma Rifles so we’ll have to find those along the way. Just nod to me as a reply.”

I nodded to her as a response. I don’t know how far will we go as long as we’re being chased. I still wondered what her name is once we escape from this ‘giant-worm thingy' for good.

“Good! That’s the spirit!” She told me, as Tootsie and Bob returned with a couple of purified water bottles, along with a hoof-ful of boxed foods of different kinds. I’ll have to figure out her name later as I took a sip of water and sprinkled my open mouth with an opened cereal box as to quell my hunger with both of my fore-hooves of course.

Once that’s done, I got up to my hooves again before gazing my sights at the mare’s Plasma Rifles before looking out the window. It was still distracted by Securitrons, but who knows how long until it finished eating them off. Maybe if I can find a Reloading Bench, I can refill drained ammo for her. But as there isn’t any, all we could do is hoof it as far as we could.

I tapped a hoof onto her shoulder armor and gave her a nod. In return, she replied, “Alright. Let’s go, you three.”

We carefully went outside, as there was one Securition left over the horizon. I don’t think he’ll even last so we made our way around the store for an alternative route we don’t know about. Only one thing’s for certain, my senses had warned me that it's about to pursue us again. Even with wounds that are shown from the giant worm, it was totally unfazed by attacks as we made ourselves scarce.

Of course, it didn’t took long for it to realize that its original preys were escaping and it pursued us again! We were a bit faster, but this one shows no signs of tiring! Damn this thing doesn’t seem to give up, could it?!

GGRRAAAWWAAARRR!!!

“Oh bite me, you overzealous tentacle fuck!” The ex-Enclave yelled out. Not sure how is smack-talking even gonna get it intimidated…

Its massive flailing tongues still show - despite showing signs of injuries - with the intent of eating us, especially with metal parts being displayed! It seems that it can eat through just about anything!

Tootsie held his hooves around my neck, “Go away, Mr. Beast!”

Its not going to listen to reason, Tootsie!

“Guys, we need to split up! I’ll find somewhere safe nearby with Bob on my back! I’ll go and get both of you afterwards!”

I shook my head as we’re still trying to prevent the worm from closing in. There’s no way! I don’t have a PipBuck with me and how am I gonna keep track of you guys?! Tootsie Roll told me, “The armored pony’s right! I wanna get out of here with you guys!”

No other choice, huh? I suppose that a nod will have to suffice.

“Alright. Bob, hang on!” She then spread her wings and flew off with Bob onto her back. The worm directed its attention to the duo and disregarding us in the process as I skid into a stop, watching the worm coming after the armored mare and the robo-scorpion riding shotgun. We even witnessed it launching itself in the air! As it plunged down, it narrowly missed them as I look on with concern. Come on, you can do it…

The ex-Enclave was luring the worm away from us to pursue them instead, as Bob did what he could to make sure its elongated tentacle-like tongues doesn’t reach to them as he fired lasers from his tail to keep it at bay. And so far, the worm wasn’t able to devour them thanks to the armored mare’s quick maneuverability and Bob’s excellent aim. The two eventually arrives at the cave from a high mountaintop, “Alright, Bob. Hop off of me and I’ll lure it back to me so I can get the other two.”

Bob nodded and watched her fly away as she looked down at the worm making its way up and shouting at it, “Hey, you giant tentacle-tongued bastard! Come and get me!!”

It lost attention to Bob and quickly turned its attention and attempts to lunge and extend its damaged tongues to her with no avail thanks to my ally’s amazing agility as she swooped down to retrieve Tootsie Roll next and leaving me last. Of course, instead of it coming after the two, it went after me! I quickly galloped out of the way as it narrowly missed me and it burrowed down into the ground. I frantically looked up to see the two flying back to the mountain as the ex-Enclave looked at me, “Just hang in there, kiddo! I’ll get back to you ASAP!”

I sure as fuck hope so! I’ll be worm food by then! My pony mind yelled out as I did my very best to not stand still; my senses were running wild, even my ears were twitching like mad! I quickly dove out of the way as it emerged from the ground with a threatening roar. Damnit, hurry it up! I can’t be shooting blanks at this monstrosity, and it will do nothing in the end!

I was sure out of breath from all the rolling around as it dangerously missed me, but one of its tongue-like tentacles caught my hind legs! Fuck fuck fuck fuuuuck! I thrashed myself around to no avail as it pulled me close to its gaping maws. Up above, she was swooping down as fast as she could and pressed her hooves down onto its tongues, emitting its screeching pain as it retreated back deep underground once again. Whew! What luck!

“Missed me? Now, hop onto my back and let’s go!” She instructed me and I was barely recovering from its tongue’s vice-like grip that had brought me close to becoming pony food as I clambered myself up onto her back.

“Now, hang on tight! This ride is gonna get wild!”

I gulped and wrapped my hooves around her and slamming my eye shut from the blistering speed she’s going. Too much speed!

On the plus side, the ‘giant-worm thingy’ wasn’t pursuing us again but I don’t think its planning on fully retreating from us. Without our ammo, we can’t hold it back or fully incapacitate it. We soon arrived at the top of a mountain cave.

I opened my eye and saw the ground and I nervously got off of her, but she wasn’t gonna wait and shook me off. Gah!

“There. Let’s just rest up for a while and keep moving.”

Gee thanks, oh great commander of a former Enclave…

Whatever that thing is, it has a huge bloodlust on us and is doing whatever it takes for us to become live food for it. Securitrons hadn't stood a chance and all we did was buy us very little time. In fact, nothing will ever get in its way. Not even the unfortunate Slavers that we happened to encounter as one of them met his bloodied, goried fate. And as far as I saw it can eat through almost everything it sees that’s in its way, be it flesh or metal. And none of our weapons were able to slow it down at all. Even Bob isn’t strong enough to put that thing down.

My hooves have had enough, yet I had no other choice but to unintentionally punish it even more as I saw Tootsie pulling my aching hoof to her, “Come oooonnn, we need to move! The mystery soldier told us soooo!”

Goddess-dammit all…

I got up from my hooves and adjusted my sniper rifle to ensure that its tucked in between me and my saddlebags and simply trotted along with them, venturing ourselves deep into the cave that’s not unlike Mount Gallopmore we were in yesterday. This felt more like a test of punishment than a test of endurance. I’m a scientist, not an athlete!

“Its not coming after us for now, Zero. Unless you want to sleep and wake up with your insides gone, we have to stay on high alert.”

My only response was leaning exhausted body next to her. I was too fatigued to respond but she pushed me back a bit with her wing to balance myself, “Hehe, hang in there kiddo. Lemme get ya some water from your saddlebags.”

I smiled in thanks as she pulled out a water bottle and placed the bottle tip onto my lips, “Here, drink up.”

I slowly chugged down the water to quench my thirst from my exhaustion. Ahhh… much better. She closed the bottle cap and placed it back inside my saddlebags, “There you go!”

I was no longer thirsty and trotted next to her to catch up with Tootsie Roll and Bob. We were led inside a hidden facility with a number of terminals and doors that leads to different paths. All of the terminals seem to be functional, but I really don’t have the time to read all of them as we don’t know when will that thing return.

“Just go whichever terminal and get the doors open to see where it’ll take us. And don’t take too much time, also!”

I nodded to her. I went to one of the terminals and booted up as it asked me for a password. Hmm… ‘gemstones’! Yeah, that’s it!

There’s two messages; one is to disengage the lock and the other to disable a turret. I suppose both are fine; none of us except Bob have any ammunition anyway. And… done.

I gave them a confirmed nod as I pointed a hoof onto the far right of the door that’s been unlocked. Tootsie was crazy enough to open the door first, revealing an empty room. The filly told me, “Just emptiness, Mr. Zero! Try again!”

One down, a couple more to go. And I have an uneasy feeling about this already. Who’d knew if somepony is watching me or the others, and without my PipBuck means I’m uncertain of any friendlies or hostiles! Alright calm down over there… time to boot up a second one. It didn’t need a password, but it sure as hell has no locking mechanism options for the doors. One thing that did caught my attention was a description of the creature we barely managed to escape. ‘Tatzlwurm’...? Hmm…

“This massive worm creature, known by the name Tatzlwurm, is a fearsome monster dwelling deep underground we found three hours ago. It has three, massive maws that resembles a blooming flower. Of course, we witnessed it devouring ponies and other animals alike in one gulp.

“To think such an amazing discovery proved to be far more dangerous than we’d have anticipated! It saw me and I made a run for it. I pleaded the pseudo-alicorns that the monstrosity is heading their way. Of course, they used me as bait. Bait for the creature to swallow me whole, but then it drew its attention to them and even they were of no match of the Tatzlwurm! However, it was wounded. I would think that its weakness were alicorn powers, but again, they were of no match.

“I’m not sure if the creature’s still alive as it retreated, but when it emerged from the ground, it sneezed… and goddess-damnit, its mucus were gross! They weren’t toxic thankfully, but it can leave living beings terminally ill…

“Its most likely to be dormant as of five days, but who knows when it’ll re-emerge from depths of Equestria?

“Bah! Either way, all that matters is this; the Tatzlwurm can eat through just about anything, friend and foe alike. And the tentacles from its mouth… once it catches its prey, their only means of escape is being eaten alive. Imminent death, in this case.

“At least I’m safe and sound! For now…

“Just hoping Celestia would be by my side.”

While it didn’t had the journalist’s name, I soon came to realization that the ‘giant-worm thingy’ I looked up from the past terminal turned out to be a Tatzlwurm. It was a massive worm-like creature with its predator-like instincts locked forever and devour anything in its way, even to its own kind (though we only saw one). It was impervious to any kinds of damage and despite that we managed to wound it, it was still after us relentlessly and giving us no breathing room to go for. It was pure monstrosity.

Its tongue-like tentacles were inescapable, and I nearly fell victim to it. Had it not been for my ex-Enclave ally, I would’ve become today’s special. I can barely walk with my hind-legs; its muscles were still recovering from the constriction that resulted from its vice.

The mad chase was far from over. I’ve only managed to delay the inevitable. And who knows what’ll happen if it emerges again? It’ll cave all of us inside the facility we’re in!

This is pure punishment from luck that’s tearing my ass a new one…

“Hey, Zero! What are you waiting for?! An invitation? Hurry up and get those doors unlocked!”

I snapped out of it and looked at her a nod. Right! And the doors can’t be lockpicked normally; they must be unlocked via the terminals.

Onto the third one!

No password needed again and I disengaged the lock and pointed it onto the first row on the left where the door is as it made an unlocking sound to it. Tootsie quickly galloped over to it, “On it!”

She opened the door and revealed to be a storage room inside, “Ooohhh… there’s ammo! More ammo in it!”

“Aww yeah! Nice going, little filly!” The older mare went inside to collect any remaining ammunition inside, including plasma ammo. I smiled at the good news before I went into the next terminal. Of course, my eye caught attention of the diagram of what appears to be a map layout from the whiteboard. All six of them have six question marks with behind us being a long path we’ve been earlier today. I merely shuddered at the sight as there was no door whatsoever.

Anyway, time to boot it up. This time it was a lot harder with very long words to choose from. Somepony isn’t too creative with passwords…

At least I managed to get one password right. Of course, I’m not even bothered to name them. It also feels like a puzzle, trying to open the correct door that’ll lead us to a new pathway from multiple terminals set on each row of desks.

Let’s see if this one works…

The door from the far left opens on its own as Bob skitters his way towards an open door and lets out an amazed whirr. He’s looking at a new, unlocked pathway that’ll hopefully get us to the bottom of the mountain and make our exit.

Tootsie turned her attention to her robo-scorpion friend and trotted over to him before looking at the open door, “Ooohhh… there’s a new path! Miss, Zero just unlocked a new puzzle for us!”

I turned off the terminal and joined up with the two. The armored mare had just finished collecting sniper rounds and plasma rounds as she regrouped with us, “Got them all! Now to stuff them into the scientist nerd’s saddlebags!”

Heh. I suppose my efforts had paid off. Now then, shall we go?

We went into a narrow passageway (which wasn’t what I wanted, but it's our only way to get to the bottom of the mountain) and down the stairs, quickly and carefully.

It wasn’t long until I felt the ground inside beginning to shake softly again; the Tatzlwurm is looking for us.

I motioned my head at the three for us to pick up the pace a little. We’re not gonna have much time yet and we need to move now!

We galloped (or skittered in Bob’s case) down the stairs a little faster now before arriving at an elevator shaft. I quickly wrapped my hoof around the lever and pulled it back as gate doors slid shut and took us down to lower levels. Soon enough, my tail began to twitch wildly as the rumbling noises became intense and the Tatzlwurm suddenly emerges from the wall, barely devouring us!

We were thrown back against the elevator wall and the worst is yet to come. It burrowed itself back inside but the elevator shaft was severely damaged as the unnamed mare warned us, “Oh fuck… hold on, everypony!”

I quickly held onto the elevator railings as Tootsie held on to me and Bob skittering onto the unnamed pony’s back as the elevator shaft soon begins to give way and plummeted down to the ground at dangerous speeds!

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEECHHH!!! BOOOOOOMMMM!!!

“Gah!!!”

“Meep!”

Bob let out a dazed whirr with his systems inside being literally shaken from the impact as Tootsie was caught by our ex-Enclave ally when she was propelled forward, “Ack! Got ya, little filly!”

Me? I wasn’t any better. The harsh impact had broke me inside and out. I felt some of my bones break from the impact, and I was squirming in sheer pain. Damnit all… damn everything to hell…!

“Are you alright, Tootsie?” She spoke out.

Tootsie nodded in response, “I’m a bit hurty-wurty, but I’m okay!”

The same can’t be said for me. I was broken in various places as she looked at me with worry (even though only some of my bones were broken, but the fatigue had contributed to it), “Oh no… Tootsie, go and check on Bob... “

She trotted over to me, “Zero..? Are you okay..?”

I was far from okay. I was writhing in pain! I can’t even scream and even then my voice is non-existent! She lets out a worried gasp, “Oh no… guys, Zero’s badly hurt! We need to move ASAP!”

And just my luck, I wasn’t the only one who was hurt, “Bob’s hurt too! He says that his systems are hurt inside!”

“Oh damnit… hold on, we’re gonna make a run for it! Zero, just hold on until we can get ourselves to safety.”

I was now onto her back, with Bob onto Tootsie’s back as we were led into a straight and narrow corridor. Oh Goddess, how much I hate small spaces…

I weakly wrapped a hoof around the neck from my ex-Enclave of an ally as the two galloped as quickly as they could, but the rumbling noises soon erupted behind us; the Tatzlwurm has once again resumed chasing us! Damnit, all! Leave us the fuck alone, stupid worm!

“Oh fuck! Hoof it!” She quickly picked up the pace as Tootsie scampered on next to her, with Bob firing off his laser but missing each of his shots from his damaged state. The Tatzlwurm began to tunnel its way behind us as it was trying to extend its crippled tongues to no avail. Despite this, it was still doing what it can to catch up to us and swallow up whole by repeatedly clamping its mouths to us! To make matters worse, the entire area was violently shaking that’s threatening to bury us all inside and not just from an eat-it-all worm!

I weakly motioned myself forward to her, urging her to pick up the pace as it was trying to close us in! I slightly tilted to the side as I was about to fall off balance, but is stopped by her wing when she felt me about to fall off, “Whoa there, kiddo! Just hold on, we’ll get us out of this cave!”

I was held on by her wing, the rubble crumbling down on top of us as the everything-eating worm extended its tongues at us in an effort to catch its prey. Of course, our exit was nearly sealed before Tootsie Roll was the first to make a dive for it, and she was the first to get through with Bob as he clambered onto the ground.

I struggled to keep myself balanced onto her back as she fired off two Plasma Rifles from her battle saddles to blast her way through the rubble with the newly-acquired plasma ammo she found.

PPRRROOOWWW!! PPRRROOOWWW!!

With the rubble cleared away, she soon opened up her other wing and flew, “Hold on tight, Zero! We’re gonna outfly this worm bastard!”

Ohfu-!

The rubble behind us had soon sealed the exit, trapping the Tatzlwurm with it inside. Oh fuck me in the ass…

On the plus side, it stopped chasing us. Again. And it’ll be the last time I’ve ever seen it could give us a deadly chase. I’m now too hurt to even make a run for it. I closed my eye and just rested onto my armored ally’s back. She looked back at me with worry, “We’ll take you somewhere safe and away from that thing… the convenience store is just nearby.”

I didn’t nod nor shook my head in response. I was just trying to ignore the pain that’s slowly cutting me inside in the most un-prettiest way possible. She turned her attention to Tootsie Roll, “Let’s go, you two. We’ll rest up here. We need to heal Zero up. We’ll deal with your robo-scorpion friend later.”

“Okey-dokey-wokey… don’t worry, Bob! You’ll be better in no time!”

Judging by Bob’s condition, he’s been extensively damaged from the fall and the laser from his tail had been barely able to function. I’m just glad he’s still alive because the last thing I’d ever wanted was to see Bob self-destructing himself to his death.

I wasn’t any better. The impact had left me dazed and my sniper rifle came dangerously close to slipping itself off of me. Had it slid any further, then I would’ve been totally defenseless and forcing me to rely on my pair of allies with more weaponry than I do. But even that would mean they won’t last too long unless I can aid them. I wasn’t too sure who the pony from the Terminal even is, but the nameless pony never had the time to sign his own name and had to stop to make an immediate leave.

We were inside an abandoned convenience store where I was carefully placed behind the counter after our slightly long trek. My body wasn’t letting out spastic movements as the worm had stopped chasing us, for now.

“Damn, kiddo. You’re badly hurt. Hold on, let me take off your saddlebags and heal you up. A little Healing Potion wouldn’t hurt, now would it?”

I softly shook my head in response as I opened my mouth to allow her to pour the potion for me inside before gulping it down and laying back, allowing the potion to repair the bones (again) in me.

“Tootsie, go with Zero. I’m gonna check outside.” The ex-Enclave ordered the filly.

Tootsie performed a salute, save for Bob who was struggling to do the same gesture, “Yes, ma’am! Come on, Bob! Let’s go and guard Zero!”

Oh brother…

Bob reluctantly skittered next to her, letting out a weak whirr along the way; he was still in a state of disrepair. Are they supposed to be Celestia’s babysitters to supervise me? I’m older than this silly filly!

I felt my tail twitching slightly before I let out a soft gasp. Damnit, no! It can’t be! This bastardized worm still hasn’t given up the chase?! Its still looking for us! Doesn’t it know when it give up?!

Outside, the unnamed ex-Enclave was scouting around the area in mid-air when she heard rumbling noises, “Huh? Was that my stomach? No, it can’t be my… oh fuck! Its back?!”

The Tatzlwurm emerged from the ground once again after having burrowed its way down from being completely caved in. Despite having much more visible wounds showing, it was pissed as hell.

GRAAAAAAWWWWAAAAWWRRR!!!

Inside the convenience store, we heard the Tatzlwurm’s enraged roar. Tootsie let out a nervous gulp, “M-M-Mr. Monster is still a-a-after us, Z-Z-Zero!!”

Nothing I can do about it. My bones are still under repair, and to deliberately go out and assist my armored ally would be suicide. It just can’t be killed easily, not by a long shot. Even my sniper rounds, Bob’s laser and my unnamed ally’s plasma rifles didn’t even make it flinch in pain, apart from its tongues. Instead, all it did was retreat back until it has an opportunity to strike us without warning.

Outside, the ex-Enclave took aim at the Tatzlwurm who was now angrier than before. She shook her head upon realizing it, “No, I can’t waste ammo on this giant bastard. Need to lure it out of here…”

She then glares at the wounded Tatzlwurm, “Hey, big and ugly! Come and get me!”

She then flew up high which led to the already-pissed off Tatzlwurm to pursue her, lunging itself to her in an effort to devour her whole to no avail; her aerobatic skills were paying off easily. She did led it away from us, as I let out a relieved sigh as I heard distant roaring noises. Please come back alive…

Back outside, she had eventually led the Tatzlwurm at the edge of the cliff and stopped momentarily as she looked at it. It paused, taking a brief sniff of its prey before it opened up its three gaping maws and lunged at her. She flew up as high as possible, with one of its maws grazing through her armored hind-leg as it plunged down to its doom.

“Guh!” She snorted as she watched it plummet to its demise, “Haha, so long, sucker! Now to get back with my team...”

“Yay! The mysterious ally has returned!” Tootsie cheered as the ex-Enclave of an ally had made her way inside and ruffles up her mane witha hoof briefly.

“‘Sup, squirt? Zero doing okay?”

Tootsie nodded and led her to me. I was asleep, on a cold, hard floor as the potion were still working on fixing my broken bones together.

“Huh… sleeping like a little colt, isn’t he?” She looked back at her slightly damaged armor from her hind-leg.

“Well, at least it beats being eaten alive.”

Tootsie asked her excitedly, “Was the big bad worm gone?!”

She nodded to the filly, “Yup! It ain’t bothering us no more!”

“Yay! We’re not worm food anymore! We’re not worm foo--”

The armored mare hushed at Tootsie, “Ssshh… we don’t want to disturb him. He needs to rest up for now. If you like, I can tell you a nice, little story about me until he wakes up. As for my name? Well, my name was not important, but I figured that you ponies, and robotic scorpion, have earned enough trust for me to tell you everything about me. Now then, here’s a little story about me…”

Footnote: No Level Up.

Author's Notes:

A backstory depicting a titular former Enclave character can be found on Google Docs.