What a day. And New Hampshore’s just getting started.

With my teammates gone for good and me being forced to do the unthinkable, I’ve just killed a pony. My own teammate, Solar Eclipse. Not counting shooting down the first Raider (he wasn’t really worth saving anyway), she was my only surviving teammate who is now dead forever. I devoted myself from a scientist to a murderer, but even then, it was a mercy kill. A kill that I didn’t had any other choice, not when she had to gravely suffer like this.

It didn’t stop here; I lost both my right eye from a lucky Raider attack and my voice being taken away. But most importantly, my voice that was taken away by the bastard surgeon. Come to think of it, I’ve never done any hoof-sign languages before.

Either way, this wasn’t the kind of mission I was hoping for. Not by a long shot.

Overlooking a decrepit building with Sapphire Shore’s cutie mark made me wonder if she’s still reliving her legacy as a pop star. Of course, she knew she would win it had it not for Suri Polomare’s snide behavior and plummeting this city into a state of unrest. Perhaps I’ll make a visit inside, all while being totally unarmed and defenseless.

I took a good look at my PipBuck to see if there were any hostiles, only two, but rather far. Damn Raiders are still picking up my scent! Gotta hide!

I bolted inside the entrance of a building before these bastards have any chance of spotting me! I heard commotion, followed by a series of beeps from my PipBuck. I hid behind a wall and letting out a quiet, nervous pant as the Raiders began their manhunt for me. Are they ponies, or Diamond Dogs?! They can’t be both!

My ears picked up sounds of vulgar comments from outside as they continued their search for me (or possibly other victims for them to pick on), with me just venturing on inside the building. The plaque read at the center of a wall:

And a hoof-ful of skeleton ponies to go for. What happened in here? Were they killing each other, or starved themselves to death? My mind thought, but they’re dead either way. I trotted up the stairs leading to the second floor to search for anything valuable. And lo and behold, half of the computer terminals still work! I must be in technology heaven already!

Heading over to one of the terminals, I lightly shoved the skeletal pony off of his/her chair and taking the seat to boot up the terminal. Of course, password wasn’t exactly needed, so kudos for me! You’ve surely outdone yourself, Zero! Not just a scientist, but a master of technology!

Or so to speak. The terminal had three messages from the screen:

>Stocks crashed! Millions of bits gone!
>Supplies required for delivery
>RE: What’s going on?

Stocks crashed? Hmm… time to see what it says!

“Damnit! We’ve lost millions from our latest stock exchange from our loan with Manehattan Bank Services! And the Ponyunion Council had cut off our ties from recovering our assets! We’re going bankrupt, and nopony will shell out millions of bits to keep our businesses afloat! Brew Berrymore, we can’t go on like this. Whatever your plan was, the Council refused to cooperate with us. They informed us that they will no longer transfer bits overseas in order for us to stave off the debts we’re in. You did your best, but its time that you are relieved from your office. Until we settle our debts, we’ll be facing bankruptcy in the coming months. I’m sorry if it had to be this way, but I’m letting you go and never return. -Lucky Charm”

Well. Its no wonder New Hampshore spiralled into a state of chaos. Not sure if that was Discord’s wrongdoing or that the name Lucky Charm should be renamed as Un-lucky Charm instead, but it seemed that the city was at its mercy to begin with. Let’s see what the second one says regarding deliveries.

“Trailblazer, you are required to deliver medical supplies in Dodge Junction. The supplies over there are scarce and ponies are slowly dying from the deadly flu, so its imperative that you must deliver these supplies within two weeks. I’m counting on you.”

Whoever Trailblazer is, the name pretty much screams pegasus mare. I’m not sure if she even made it to Dodge Junction in time as I tapped my hoof against my chin, deep in thought. After some thinking, I opened up the third and final message from the terminal:

“What’s going on is that we’re losing bits! We’d ask Sapphire Shores to see if we can gather up some gems, but apparently she’s in a state of depression. And the mayor went AWOL when ponies were rioting over Suri being a cheating whore. Whatever’s going on, let’s just hope things will be okay by the next day.”

In the end however, there wasn’t a next day. Closing the terminal as I laid back against the chair, staring at a ruined ceiling.

New Hampshore was indeed doomed from the start. Be it from Suri or some freak accident, I’m surprised I hardly noticed the outcome during my years in Lab-00. But now, I expressed no desire in returning to Lab-00. In fact, its now experiencing the same way as it already is in New Hampshore! Hope everypony’s alright inside…

I’m still unarmed and I need to find something that’ll help me defend myself. Where do they keep their weapons in? In those two locked safes? From the maintenance room? What?!

How the hell am I going to pry them open?! This isn’t fair! Gah! Get a grip, Zero! Maybe if I can at least try to pick open the locks with a screwdriver and a bobby pin with my mouth altogether… no! Dumb idea! Too complicated to hold both tools in one mouth. If I was a unicorn, I would’ve made a complicated task not so complicated!

Groan. Maybe try wrapping both of my hooves together around a screwdriver and a bobby pin? Why not! I flicked my hoof onto the toolbox to open it up to find a screwdriver inside, with no other tools available. Clamping my teeth onto the handle, and grabbing a bobby pin onto the ground (the only one I found so far, the rest was stolen by you know who) as I begin to pick the safe open. Carefully placing the pin and the screw into the lock, I slowly torqued them to the right.

Steady, stead--

CRRNK!

Fuck! Both the bobby pin and the screwdriver snapped in half! I tossed those two away in a humiliating defeat. So much for uncovering their secrets. I could’ve wondered if those were lost bits inside, or maybe valuable weapons to get my hooves on. Guess now I have to be the defenseless pony in the wastelands. You can keep your secrets, New Hampshore. Not like I want them anyway.

Trotting downstairs meant my reward was all for naught, but at least the Raiders who were hunting for me had eventually left. Even ransacking the place even further. Guess they were bored like I am.

Making my exit means I’ll have to venture deeper inside this doomed city in hopes for finding things to defend myself. Maybe with some tunes, it’ll be less quiet. Lifting up my PipBuck, I turned on the radio as the song plays a random jazz to it inside. Not much, but it’ll help kill off the boredom. Looking around the buildings made me wonder how New Hampshore even looked like before they were partially destroyed. Or how it became a grim reminder if you misuse a stock exchange just to try and earn millions by bleeding bits dry from other stock companies.

The ground’s becoming too uneven, and I’m hearing faint buzzing noises. My pony head warned me. It wasn’t from my PipBuck or the song. If the Cazadores are planning a major swarm, I’d better get myself somewhere safe, and fast. Looking on ahead, I saw the manhole that’s completely left wide open. I shuddered at the sight, wondering what the underneath looked or smelled like. My lab coat’s already as ruined as it is, mixed together with my Stable replica outfit. The buzzings began to grow louder; its indeed a swarm!

I galloped to the open manhole and quickly and carefully climbed myself down into the sewers, as a swarm of angry Cazadores began to make its flight from a skyscraper building used as their nesting area. No time to wait, I need to keep going! Who knows if one of them flew inside the sewers just to hunt me?!

None of them went inside the sewers, but I kept going. I can’t stop to turn back to check now. I’ll keep on going until Celestia tells me to stop!

I eventually stopped and leaned against the wall to catch my breath. I figured a quick meal is in order as I set down my saddlebags and opening it up to eat up the second carrot I’ve been saving up. Despite the sharp pain from my throat due to the lack of my vocal chord, I ingested it safely. The pain wasn’t too severe thanks to the potion still taking effect, although it soon wore off.

I quickly took a chug of the healing potion to ease the pain from my infected throat before moving on. Looking down at the radar is flooded with red blips, indicating the Cazadors’ presence from above and overrunning the ruined city. Might as well continue on from below, lest one of them would fly down and go on a relentless hunt.

Goddess! The smell is getting worse! I hope there’s a way up where no killer insects are present or I’ll be bathing in tomato sauce for five straight days! Blech!

A ladder! Yes! Time to get out of this putrid sewers inside… except my ears picked up gurgling noises. It wasn’t my stomach, so I turned my head and saw bubbling waters inside.

What the--?! Is somepony taking a swim inside?

At least that’s what my mind pony mentioned. Of course, I was obviously wrong; a thing emerged from the waters, my PipBuck picking up a red blip. Not good.

My eyes went wide. What the hell?! Its a pony-crab thing! And its hideous-looking! I scrambled up the stairs, but the pony-crab thing began to pursue me. It looks heavy, especially with its back shell, and pincers to go for!

Aside from its face, it was all scary-looking combined with its intention to dice me to death. Gotta move, fast!

I’m back in the city with no Cazadores this time, but now I have a new threat pursuing me; the pony-crab thing is still after me! I could hear its clacking pincers, intent on turning me into pony filet! Damn you, Wastelands for pitting me against this freak with nothing for me to defend myself!

I’m starting to become exhausted with the pony-crab thing closing in on me. When did this become an ‘out of the frying pan and into the fire’ type of scenario?! I slowed to a stop and allowed it to close in on me. Maybe if I can give it a bucking, I could slow it down. Or become today’s special if that doesn’t work. Here goes nothing!

As its pincers lunged at me, I kicked it back with my hind-legs hoping for a hit. It didn’t killed it, but it was enough for it to recoil back, saving my death. Of course, I only managed to get it even more pissed, so now the deadly chase resumes!

For a pony-crab this size, its still able to pursue me relentlessly. I’m starting to lose my breath, yet this thing is still able to catch up to me?!

Then, gunshots were heard as they successfully shot at the pony-crab thing while narrowly missing me in return. It let out a pained screech before its attention now focuses on the gunfire, ignoring me completely. Just when I was safe, some of the shadowy ponies began to aim at me and started to fire at me. Wah! I’m not some hostile, much less a target practice!

I barely escaped into a junction of the street, seething in pain as I felt some of the bullets going through my foreleg and hindleg. Goddess damnit! I hope the pony-crab thing can kill those bastards for me, but of course, it’ll come for me next. I’m still alive, but damnit it hurts so fucking much! Almost like having a metal pole shoved inside my asshole!

I quickly looked around for a safe place inside so I can patch myself up, or I could slip unconscious and not be able to wake up for good from the blood loss. I didn’t even know I had hostiles, because they were all aiming at this monstrosity. Now they decided to shoot me? I’m not some common Raider! Or unless they are one, but I couldn’t tell because of the low visibility from the thick clouds. I arrived inside a small, abandoned medical facility for me to find any medical kits to treat my very first gunshot wounds.

I can’t believe its everypony for themselves… how am I this foalish?! Even if I seek help, the last thing I’ll be getting is something far worse than a gunshot wound, or even my vocal chord pulled off of my throat! Clearly, my pony mind was right and either way, I could’ve been either crab food or be shot to death. I just had to narrowly escape from certain death. My teammates were my allies, and they would’ve been by my side… oh fuck it! What’s the point?! My teammates are gone! I’m seriously by myself, especially with my PipBuck.

After venting my rage inside my mind, I began to poorly patch myself up with the dressings I found in the medical lockers. And to chug down the half liquid of the healing potion so it’ll begin to heal. And I’m still unarmed, my hindlegs didn’t do much to the giant bastard. I hope it got what it deserved from the bullets, but now I just need to find a place to briefly rest up after those antics. Who were they? And why were they firing at me?

I didn’t know they had a shoot-on-sight policy, so its no wonder these ponies who attempted to gun me down were crazy! I took a look at my PipBuck and turned off the radio. Looking at the name of the creature I’ve previously encountered turned out to be a Ponelurk. No wonder it had only a deformed face of a pony, much less having large, crab-like claws and legs, and a hard shell on its back. Even if I had weapons, its face is too small to get a good aim anyway.

Taking a small stroll inside the hospital facility had slowly given me a terrible reminder of how I was abducted back then… only except it looked a little more modern. And without the crazed surgeon who kidnapped me and permanently restricting my ability to speak.

New Hampshore’s gone amok. Even if I’d head on back and reasoned with them, I’ll probably be executed on the spot. My pony mind said.

I slid my saddlebags on the floor and clambered myself up onto the tattered hospital bed just for a brief rest. Rolling onto my back and pressing my hoof on the button from my PipBuck to detach it, I took a good look at it.

Remembering how Olive Oil gave this PipBuck to me as a special gift… it felt like a curse. A mother-bucking curse! I bashed my head against my own oldest PipBuck, figuring how I would’ve been better off yet so damn naive to even accept it as a gift.

My ears picked up robotic-like sounds and checked to-- wait… I removed my PipBuck off of my hoof. Now I can’t tell if I’m picking up a hostile or a friendly! I just closed my eyes (or eye, thanks to my permanently-damaged right eye) and waited for the inevitable to happen.

As the robopony arrived inside, I slowly opened my eye and saw it looking at me. Its a… nurse?! I was rather flabbergasted at the sight, especially from my recent encounter of course. One thing’s for certain, at least its not planning to kill me. It, or she, looked like Redheart with metallic parts and visors as eyes. She even had a nurse cap around her head. I’m still not sure if this one’s sentient, as she was built for limited programming purposes such as tending the injured. Or the opposite.

She then spoke to me in a robotic and mare-like tone, “Hello, my little patient! My name is Nurse Roboheart! Is there anything I can do for you?”

Okay, she’s not hostile. Whew! What a relief! I just hope she didn’t caught me stealing. I was bleeding and needed to find a way to heal myself! I showed her my (poorly) patched foreleg and hindleg, and they were still bleeding a little.

“Oh dear. Better get you a new one for me to patch you up!” Nurse Roboheart told me as she wheeled off to get medical supplies (if there’s any remaining of course). I was thankful that she wasn’t the least bit of a mindless, homicidal robopony. Who’d knew what’ll happen if somepony tampered her systems?!

I heard whirring noises as I saw Roboheart return with roll-up bandages carried onto her back. I simply relaxed back as she told me, “Now, hold still and let Nurse Roboheart take care of you!”

For a non-hostile robotic mare, she sure did a great job at patching me up better than I was. She even slid my PipBuck I previously took it off back onto my hoof. I have to admit that she’s been quite generous in nursing me back to health for a robotic pony. She reminds me of… no-no. Don’t let this get into you, Zero. She’s just a robot who treated me well. Nothing more.

Roboheart took a scan around me, probably thinking if I’m a threat to her or not. Of course, I heard a small beep from her. I gulped (or tried to anyway) from the sound.

“What happened to you?” The robotic nurse asked me. Since I’m unable to talk normally, all I could do was tilt my head up to show her my crudely-stitched throat.

The response I got was her ears whirring down in a sad tone.

“Oh no… what happened to your vocal chords? They’re gone!”

Heh. Tell me about it. Bastard surgeon pretty much stole my voice so that I can’t speak normally at all. My pony thoughts replied to her, even if Roboheart can’t read my mind.

“Its too bad I don’t have a voice modulator for you, young patient. Everypony had left and never sought to make newer equipments.”

I gave her a sad nod from the bad news. Guess I’ll be silent for life, huh? I gave her a pat on the metallic head with my hoof as a thanks. At least she patched me up better than I did. I got off of the hospital bed, hearing her happy whirring noises from the patting.

After wrapping my saddlebags around my waist, I looked at Roboheart and motioned my head a little, wondering if she would like to come with me.

“I’m sorry. But I’m not allowed to leave this facility, as I’m programmed to treat the wounded.”

Of course she can’t. She’s a robotic nurse and won’t even leave the facility whatsoever. I let out a quiet, sad sigh upon hearing her reject my offer to have Nurse Roboheart accompany me. Looks like I’ll be on my own again. I gave her a small and disappointed smile as I trotted off of the abandoned hospital. Her response was, “Be careful out there! Not everypony lives another day…”

Tell that to my dead teammates…

It seems there’s little buildings now, as far as I saw. I must be leaving this dreaded city already, all while still being so damn vulnerable! Is there of any chance I can find one of those? Looking at the radar from my PipBuck, the map shows me that I’m close to exiting New Hapshore and arriving in another area. I looked back at the depraved city, seeing that its done enough harm to me, both physically and mentally.

I ventured too far from my home place, but I can’t go back anymore. I’ve already devoted myself as a scientist for Lab-00 and therefore have no intention on coming back.

Taking a step forward of the eerily empty streets, I took a small glance at the torn billboard (with a picture of the upper half of a pony torn away), reading as:

Just here for a visit, not to reside there! My pony thoughts called out, as I made a long journey inside Mayne. What kind of name is ‘Mayne’ anyway? Is this the home of different styles of mane? I’m no expert in mane-styling but either way, I’m wondering what it has to offer. Probably a new way to get killed or get abducted by crazed ponies.

Mayne looked to be more rural than like the bustling skyscrapers of New Hampshore. I checked for any hostiles from my PipBuck. None so far, good. Though I’ll have to keep moving, its not safe to just stand there and wait for a deadly surprise to happen.

The streets are just empty. No sign of life at all, with half of the houses already abandoned, even some with doors barricaded with wooden planks. Stores were also abandoned inside, but now the skies are turning dark orange. Nighttime was already setting in and whatever happened over there, they didn’t lived off. And there’s not a single light in sight, so its basically unsafe to just explore in the dark. Time to move!

Looking left, there was a door left ajar. Most likely to be an abandoned house and soon enough, I entered inside as pitch black darkness rolled in. Hope any surviving residents living here doesn’t accuse me for breaking and entering. I took a good look around, and not a sound inside. Good. And there’s some barely-lit lights still working inside. More than enough for me to rest up for the night.

I arrived inside an abandoned kitchen and opened up the fridge door. Two fresh Maize, a Nuka-Cola and Whiskey. I’ll leave the Whiskey and take those three, I’ll need them for my nightly meal before resting up.

Storing them inside my saddlebags, I left the kitchen and let out a tired yawn. What a hectic journey this has been, especially with the Ponelurk nearly turning me into pony fillet. Not to mention these shadowy-figured ponies opening fire at me. Clearly, I wasn’t even a threat. Or they most likely misled me to a Raider which is either a mistake or their shoot-on-sight policy meant that they had little regard to anypony, even when they’re obviously innocent and mean no harm.

Looking ahead, there’s a secret passageway that leads down to the basement. Inside, there were bunk beds, storage shelves and a lit lantern. One of the beds I saw was a recording placed on one of the bunk beds. Perhaps I’ll listening to the recording whilst having a meal.

Turning on the recorder as I prep my meal, there was a following message:

“I don’t know what happened out there in Mayne… shit just went down before we knew it! We had no electricity, gunfire keeps erupting and the darkness is consuming us all!

My friends, my own friends, even went as far as to steal my bits, just to try and stave off the last few meals ever since Mayor Mayne was assassinated and the City Hall taken over by theses… these god-damned ruffians!

At least Crescendo Melody, my only friend, cared for me. Like an older sister she is. But even then, she was only here to try and make me forget the horrible situation going on here. She told me ‘Its okay, Tether. Everything will be alright’, but the next day became worse! I found her… dead. She wasn’t just raped, but dead as well! I found her body completely gutted, insides and all! I’m gonna get them… I’ll get them sooner or later!

Those bastards will pay for this!”

As the message ends, I paused for a moment. This message was eerily similar to Solar Eclipse, only the differences were being kidnapped by that crazed surgeon going by the name Dr. Scalpel. Even if I wanted revenge like him, I’ll accomplish nothing in the end. As much as I love to consider Solar as my sister, I don’t. She was not only my friend, but my teammate. Same goes for Carbon Monoxide. Nothing more.

Resuming to my meal amid my heart just slowly tearing itself apart, I guess a Whiskey should’ve sufficed. But even then, it could’ve greatly hinder my scientific skills in the process.

Maize done, now to lay back and rest up for the night. Of course, gunshots rang out and did my very best to ignore it and sleep it off.

The next day I’m now showering myself in a small, irradiated water to clean myself up from the filth I was thrown so far and even washing off the uncertain feeling from me. The sounds of my PipBuck slowly clicking up wasn’t exactly music, but it was close.

Turning off the shower handle and shook myself clean, I was a clean stallion to go for. For now of course, because the Wastelands here know nothing of proper hygiene. Not now, not ever. Putting on my stained outfit and saddlebags around me, its a good time for me to leave and see what Mayne has to offer. I’ll probably get a welcome with a bullet to the head anyway.

Either way though, if that message I listened to last night was true, then its safe during the day but not so during the night. Whoever Tether was, I’m not really sure if he sought revenge from them. Possibly ended up the same fate as Crescendo Melody did. Even so, I’m basically going solo for this one. Exiting the bathroom and out of the abandoned home, I was greeted with other pony settlers; armed to the teeth too!

Yet, they weren’t hostile at me. Even with rifles and shotguns around their Battle-Saddles, my PipBuck showed me nothing but friendlies/neutrals. They were all asleep. Looking right, I saw them even using dead pony corpses as their mattresses! Eugh! I winced at the sight. I’m guessing they’re nocturnal?

But seeing them fully armed isn’t a pretty sight, with me being fully un-armed! Maybe there’s a local firearms shop I can get one myself? Looking at the map from the screen, there were a hoof-ful of undiscovered places of interests. Might as well give this rural town a shot.

I wandered around the ruined town to search for a firearms shop and see if a decent weapon will help me defend myself, should anything bad happen.

Hmm… where is it? It has to be around here somewhere. These signs from the buildings are quite sparse, so I basically can’t tell.

“Y’lookin’ fer sumthin’, sonny?”

My ears picked up the sounds of an elder pony before glancing at him. If I could still talk, I would’ve told him that I was looking for a firearm of the sort. All I could do is make up a sign language, posing in front of him like I was holding and aiming an imaginary rifle at nopony before looking at him in hopes that he would know what I mean.

The older stallion squinted his eyes at my pose before saying, “A rifle, eh? Too bad we got nun’ of those. Try lookin’ for dem if ya like, them rebels stole everythin’ they had.”

Huh… no wonder there was gunfire all over the damn place last night. I’d take one of their weapons, but that’s surely a foolish way to die, isn’t it? I simply waved at the old man and just went on my way. The elder one? Fell fast asleep afterwards.

My search resumes for a weapon I need to defend myself. Judging by the buildings, it seems the Mayor Mayne was indeed assassinated. Well, goddess damn it. This won’t make my search any easier.

Luckily, my PipBuck displayed its name that read as ‘Bucks Galore!’. Of course… I can’t really tell if this is really a firearms shop, or its a shop containing… stuff. Stuff that even I don’t wish to know. Nevertheless, let’s see what they have to offer!

Upon entering inside, there was nothing to offer! Nothing! The old colt was right; there wasn’t anything to find and obtain inside at all! How can this be?! Surely they wouldn’t leave a miniaturized gun that does laughable damage, or even a rifle that shoots confettis! Is there at least one weapon that isn’t stolen? Trotting around inside to see if there’s anything not stolen, there were tons of empty ammo boxes and floors littered with used ammo cases. Those ponies took survival way too far, I can tell.

And oddly enough, the shop owner isn’t there neither. Weird how nopony’s manning the Bucks Galore! shop, especially when things went out of control. Maybe if I can check behind the counter, I could find something useful. What the--?!

There’s a dead pony?! And he’s holding onto something precious? Trying to hold back the smell, I could see he’s holding onto a sniper rifle. State-of-the-art, too! It’d be a shame if I took it off from his dead hooves, but what can I do about it? And looking at him again, his name was Tether, the same pony who swore revenge from the audio I played it last night. The caramel-colored stallion pretty much never made it. He either died defending this shop or had sought refuge there to make his final stand against those bastards he had to avenge for his dead friend. At least he made some effort, but a sad way to end like this. Its surprising that nopony had even cared for him, much less recover his dead body from a bloodied gunfight. It was just total anarchy for a small town.

I gingerly wrapped my hoof around the rifle and slowly pulled it off of his dead hooves.

I’m sorry about this, Tether. Its nothing personal. You served your purpose at defending yourself from harm. Looking at my PipBuck, it was an SDM-9 Sniper Rifle I acquired. Looks to be military grade with an advanced scope, but with no bullets to go for. Guess he fired all of them just to ward off these anarchist ponies that were trying to kill him (and succeeded). I finally have a weapon, but now all that’s left is some sniper ammo for me to put it to better use.

‘Enjoy your stay!’ the sign tells me. Over my dead body! Day one of Mayne and I’ve already begun to hate it. Even with ponies still asleep, some shot me with glares with intent on killing me when night falls. This is not a great place to stay, and I need to get out of this town from becoming a shooting gallery. With my sniper that has no bullets, I’m still vulnerable.

Venturing myself deep into the heart of Mayne (and out of this damned town), I arrived at a park to relax myself. Sitting down on the bench, I nommed on another Maize I had to curb my daily hunger. It was not before my ears picked up a faint giggle. Quickly, I turned my head towards the source of the sound. Nothing.

I shook my head to clear my mind. Geez, and I thought the pony residents were crazy and cold-hearted. I resumed eating Maize before a second faint giggle went into my ears. Who the buck is laughing?!

Looking at my PipBuck, it didn’t detect and friendlies/neutrals or hostiles. Okay so I’m being a little crazed, but where’s that sound coming from? Might as well save this for later and look for somepony who’s doing foal-like activities.

Exiting the park with my new Sniper safely tucked between my side and my saddlebags, I had to find the source of the playful laughter. How the hell is this fun and games when this hostile territory is not a common playground?! I heard more giggles, and I’m traversing into a seemingly dense woods. Looking around at the burnt trees and leaves turned to ashes, I could even wonder if this will lead me anywhere to the source of a foal-like laughter.

Then, I saw a small pony figure. A foal? Filly, maybe? Unsupervised?!

“Hehe, come on, Bob! Stop! That tickles!”

Bob? Who’s Bob? My pony mind wondered.

The two figures revealed to be a young filly…

...and a robotic scorpion?!

I inadvertently stepped on a twig, causing it to snap. It grabbed the scorpion attention and it fired a laser at the sound, barely missing me!

I recoiled back from the shot. And just my luck, no bullets from my sniper rifle. I heard it make whirring noises as it makes an approach towards the sound. I looked at it, seeing that its fairly small in size but with amazing firing power! Fuckfuckfuckfuck!

Oh goddess, I’m so dead!

The young filly yelled out, “Hey, Bob! Where are you going?! Come back!”

Of course, I could pretty much die without making a noise as the robotic scorpion took a good look at me and was about to finished me off. The unnamed filly intervened and waved to him, “No, Bob! I didn’t tell you to shoot him! It was just an accident!”

With that thing nearly burning my coat to a crisp? Like hell it was just an accident! I quickly pushed my sniper rifle off of me to ensure the young filly to not mistake me for a common Raider. Please just say the word…

The filly lets out a giggle before looking at me, “Sorry, mister! Bob didn’t mean to do that, even though you look like a meanie Raider!”

Oh of course, I get to be degraded. Real cute, kid. Real cute.

The small robo-scorpion lets out a mechanic whirr as it (or he) skittered behind her. Who is she? And why did she had that robo-scorpion with her? Come to think of it… where are her parents?

Footnote: Level Up.
No New Perk.
Quest Perk Added: Computer Whiz - If the Terminal gets locked out on your first try, you can always go for a second try.