“I’m Tootsie Roll, and this is Bob! He’s my protector and best friend! What’s your name, mister?”

So the little, dark chocolate-colored unicorn filly is Tootsie Roll, huh? Her dark brown mane sure has pigtails with them as her name implies. She even had light brown eyes to go for, but no cutie mark to date. I could assume that when she gets older, she’ll contain tootsie rolls on her flanks. As for Bob? At least he’s not intent on burning me to a crisp. His small size isn’t to be messed with! His tail laser is enough to fry a minotaur with no hesitation!

As for me? Well, I could only point my hoof to the ‘0’ symbol from my lab coat sleeve to her. I hope she got the reference that my name is Zero.

“Your name is O? What kind of silly name is that?!” She lets out a playful laugh after obviously mistaking the number for a letter. I facehoof at her antics and opened up the interface from my PipBuck. It had the Personal Notes feature which is quite convenient for a mute pony like myself. Inputting at least two words, I showed it to the young Tootsie as it read as ‘I’m Zero’. Hopefully she’ll really get it.

Tootsie Roll took a closer look at the screen, “Ze...ro? You’re a number? That’s so silly!”

So is your pet robot, little one! My pony thoughts yelled out. I just let out an unamused expression regarding her, mocking my name in the most un-foal-ish way possible.

“I wonder if your cutie mark happens to be a number like yours!” Tootsie Roll said, with Bob still keeping a close eye on me in case I’d end up doing something I’ll end up regretting despite not deserving it. I looked at her who is lifting up my lab coat, my cutie mark being revealed but nothing like my name. Instead, it depicted a flask with liquid inside from my flank.

My response from her was, “Awww. That’s not a number! You’re a scientist!”

Well what’s it look like?! I’m indeed a scientist, not a number, kiddo! Just because my name is Zero doesn’t mean it relates to a number on my cutie mark!

Tootsie lets out a playful giggle before she took a good look at my SDM-9 Sniper Rifle. I looked at her in shock. Oh goddess damnit, she saw it!

“Ooohh… shiny! Is this yours, mister Zero?”

I gave her a nod. Yes, its mine. And no, you’re not allowed to touch it! Of course the young unicorn isn’t psychic. She’ll probably touch it anyway! Damn my inability to speak!

She tried to lift it up with her magic, though the rifle was rather heavy for her to lift it up as she grunted with effort, “Nnngh! Why is this darn thing so heavy..?!”

What do you think, kid? Its not some toy for you to play around with anyway! My pony mind replied to her. Hell, Bob is even heavier than the sniper rifle you’re carrying with! I patted a hoof onto her back to let her know that she needs to put down the rifle. Even when there’s no ammo inside, her pet (or friend) would open fire at me with no hesitation.

Bob took aim and was about to open fire at me with his tail that can fire off deadly lasers, Tootsie looking at me as she turned off her magic, “Oh… so that’s yours, Mr. Zero.”

I nodded to her before moving my hoof from her (it seems Bob’s really protective to the young filly) and selecting at least three words from my PipBuck and showed it to her that read ‘Where’s your parents?’. Her reaction was her chin being tapped by a small hoof in thought.

“Hmm… nope! Don’t remember my parents! They were probably taken by the baddies and never to be seen again, so Bob here is my one and only protector! And where are your parents?! Tell me, tell me, tell meeee!”

Jeez, calm down over there. You should know that I’m unable to talk normally, and contain your excitement for once! There could be nocturnal ponies who are out for blood by starting a major gunfight that could potentially kill us all, especially if the pitch black darkness would roll in! As for my parents? I merely shrugged to Tootsie Roll. I don’t recall having any parents in my foal years or even having siblings, though I was likely orphaned and raised in Lab-00. Guess my parents were dead too long ago.

“So your parents are playing hide-and-seek? No wonder! They must be really good at this game!” Tootsie replied to me. I feel like face-hoofing so hard right about now.

I went to retrieve back my sniper rifle to tuck it between my side and my saddlebags as Tootsie Roll told her robo-scorpion friend, “Its ok, Bob! He’s one of us! This numberized pony means no harm to us!”

Honestly, you’re clearly not helping. Being called Blueberry is one thing, but to use my name as a number isn’t improving my current mood!

I waved my hoof to the two as if asking to come along with me. Of course, with my lack of proper hoof-signs and inability to normally speak, I’m not sure how this’ll turn out. Hopefully they’ll make good substitutes to my former teammates whom had fallen at the hooves of Dr. Scalpel. But then I’ll have to supervise the young filly even with Bob taking care of her. But hey, three’s a team I hope.

“Oooohhh! Bob, we’re going on an adventure! Tootsie Roll, Bob and Zero in--” I interrupted her with a loud tap on the tree with my fore-leg. This isn’t fun and games, you know!

“Oh, right! Coming, Mr. Zero!” Both she and Bob began to follow me. Now to lead us out of the forest and somewhere safe where nopony would start to kill each other, or us.

We’re now out of the forest, though now I’m in desperate need of sniper ammo. I looked back the two and… where did they go?! I frantically looked around for them, they were gone! Surely they couldn’t have separated when I silently told them to follow me, would they? And even with Bob, he doesn’t provide us enough protection for his scatterbrained friend here!

Luckily, I saw the two returning back from having wandered around for no reason. And can’t they just give me at least a warning next time?! I was nearly worried sick of seeing you vanish suddenly!

Ugh, nevermind. I motioned my head to them to let them know that we need to keep moving, and to not separate again! Even with Bob, there’s no guarantee that he could survive those kind of attacks.

The two resumed following me again, with Tootsie just strutting along even when all hell’s already gone loose. We’re exiting the forest and entering the town of Mayne… only much more isolated than the residential one who were intent on killing each other. It looks so empty. Like, really empty. Not a single pony on sight.

“Ooohh… its a Ghost Town! Right, Bob?” Tootsie’s friend whirred in response. For once, she’s right. It is a Ghost Town. And my PipBuck isn’t picking up any neutrals or hostiles whatsoever. If I could just talk… then I’ll get no response, regardless. Yay.

I looked at the two and pointed a hoof at a nearby and abandoned workshop building to see if we can take a look inside.

Tootsie Roll and Bob looked at each other and nodded to me. “Yay! Let’s go inside! Let’s go inside!”

Its a workshop building, not some toy store! My pony thoughts told Tootsie Roll. You have to expect the unexpected, and there won’t be any toys to play around with. Just the killer creatures that are just dwelling to feast on us. Even if this town’s completely isolated, its far from it I can tell. I was even fooled when I first arrived in Mayne, when it was more of a hostile territory than just a ghost town. One thing’s for certain, I need ammunition for my sniper rifle or I’ll just be pointlessly pulling the trigger countless of times with no sniper bullets in it.

Let’s see what it has to offer…

Huh. Seems this one wasn’t looted like the ammunition store I visited. Lots of tools to go for so there should be a screwdriver in one of the toolboxes (or a lot, if I’m correct). I placed a hoof onto the toolbox lid to open it up to see what’s inside; duct tape, scrap electronics, and a screwdriver! Yes! Even if I can’t lockpick it myself, Tootsie Roll’s magic will help me pick through safes and doors!

Of course that brings up the question is if she’s efficient enough at picking through locks than harnessing weapons. One way to find out!

I grabbed the handle with my teeth and showed it to-- damnit, Tootsie! Why must you run off at the worst time possible?! I frantically looked around for her. This isn’t a playground, honestly! Then I heard her voice, “Oooohhh! I found a safe! And its locked, too!”

Did she say locked? If so, then this is my lucky day! I still had bobby pins in my saddlebags, so all the more for Tootsie to open it up for me! I quickly trotted over to her inside the management room, whom she and Bob are eyeing the safe. I stamped a hoof on the floor a bit to grab her attention as they turned around to see me, my teeth clenching onto the handle of a screwdriver I found. I pointed my hoof to it and then to the lock to let her know that she needs to lockpick the safe.

“Hmmm… oh! I see what you’re miming about! You want me to pick open the lock! Yay! I love picking locks!”

I lessened my toothy grip for Tootsie to grab it. Her aura from her horn was pure white as she floated the screwdriver off of me, “Now all that’s left is a teeny, tiny bobby pin and I’ll get this thingamajig open in a jiffy!”

I moved a bit to the right side for her to retrieve the bobby pins; all she took was one inside and soon began to pick the safe open.

“Picky lock, picky lock, gotta pick the locks!” She sang along while lockpicking the safe. I was quite surprised at the sight; for a mind-boggled filly, she knows more about lockpicking than I do! My ears picked up the sounds of a blessing.

“Ta-da! Safe is now open!”

Giving her a smile for a wonderful job, I placed my hoof onto the open safe door and looked at what’s inside.

Five sniper ammo cases? All in full? Hell yes! Now I’m fully armed and ready to go! Closing the safe and making a victory pose, I looked at the two and motioned my head to the side as if asking them if they’re ready to go.

Tootsie squees happily to me, “Yay! Let’s go to a candy store! Candy, candy, candy!”

I’m not all for sweets, but sure, why the hell not? Let’s give the already-hyperactive filly some treats so she’ll become even more hyperactive! We left the tool store and carefully made our way to an abandoned candy store. Still no hostiles, so far so good. Come to think of it, I’m having a bad feeling about this. This is way too quiet for a small town for it to be left abandoned. Even if my PipBuck hasn’t detected anything besides Tootsie Roll and Bob by my side, there could be somepony wearing a cloak that’s preventing my PipBuck from detecting it. Or some dreadful creatures just lying in wait.

Even though my pony mind is correct, I took a good look around the abandoned town; still nothing. To the candy store we go!

Mayne Candy Store. Who would’ve guessed? I’m betting a lot of stalls containing sweets inside must taste awfully stale, or sugary and sweet if she’s lucky. Trotting forward, there were a wide variety of candies stored inside the glass displays, ranging from simple circus peanuts to chunks of chocolate bars. Its a sweet tooth shoppe!

I carefully watched her, who was looking at a wide variety of sweets locked inside the glass door from the shelves. I fear that if she becomes too hyperactive from eating too much candy… well I hate to say that I’m not a dentist, and there’s no way I can tend her cavities so it’ll be a rather embarrassing but painful sight at this. As for Bob? He was zapping away the locks open for Tootsie to feast on. Seriously?!

All in all, there’s just nothing but sweets; none which interests me the most except for her. I just hope Bob’s actions doesn’t end up attracting unwanted attention. I selected at least four words from my PipBuck and showed Tootsie from the screen that read as ‘Don’t Eat Too Much’.

Of course, all I got was a frown from her in response from Tootsie Roll, “Okey-dokey-wokey.”

She took a small chunk of chocolate and took a bite. Her face scrunched in disgust and spat it out, “Blech! Yucky! Its stale!”

I tilted my head in a confused manner from her reaction. Stale? But weren’t they locked before Mayne spiralled into a state of anarchy? Unless of course there were gas grenades that somehow seeped inside and tainted all of the sweets… I’m surprised that she wasn’t poisoned yet, but I can’t take any chances. If what she said is true, then I’d better give her some Healing Potion before there’s a possibility that she could be poisoned from eating stale chocolate from the glass door that’s been melted through by Bob.

Opening up my saddlebag and grabbing a Healing Potion bottle with my teeth, I pulled it out. There was only a little bit left, but it’ll do for the young filly. I gave it to her so she can drink it to reduce the possibility of getting poisoned later on. She took a sniff and it and slurped her lips, “Ooohhh! It smells like blueberries! Gimme!”

Well, at least she’s referring to the potion bottle and not me or I’d be severely annoyed by it. She grabbed it with her magic and immediately chugged it down before chucking the now-empty Healing Potion bottle away, “Aaahh… that’s the ticket!”

Good. That’ll keep her safe and sound. I trotted over the counter to see what they have in particular, aside from tainted sweets. Just a hoof-ful of caps for me to collect from the cash register and a book. A Big Book of Arcane Sciences inside the cabinet from the counter? I let out an amazed surprise expression at the sight of such a big book filled with limitless knowledge! Eagerly, I wrapped my fore-hooves onto the book and pulled it off from the counter.

Gah! Damn, this book is heavy! Lifting it up from the heaviness of this book, I inadvertently dropped it at the counter before letting out an exhausted breath. Geez, there must be a lot of pages in it, but at least we’ll be fine here as long as Tootsie Roll and Bob doesn’t run off again. Opening up the first page of the book for the first time, I began to read. While most of the pictures from each page are unicorns, they mainly rely on unlocking terminals fairly easy. I let out a quiet sigh, just fantasizing of the wonders of endless science.

I looked back at the two, with Tootsie Roll looking up to me as I was reading the Big Book of Arcane Sciences.

“Ooohhh. That’s one big book, Mr. Zero! No wonder you’re a big, nerdy scientist!”

Well… yeah! Power of science! I gave her a small, playful grin to her and giving her a nod. Well I’m a scientist of course! I invent, build and repair things from scratch! And also including chemicals designed for medicinal use so long as it doesn’t involve PTMs or the usual overdose!

Of course, I highly doubt that Tootsie Roll can read my mind. She’s too young to having fully learned a spell involves reading ponies’ minds. I looked at Bob who was crawling onto the counter and scanned the book I found. Tootsie Roll looked right, facing at the windows from the entrance and saw shadowy-figure pony trotting along by.

“There’s a shadow-pony heading our way!”

As I read about ten pages of the Big Book, I heard Tootsie shouting of a ‘shadow-pony’ heading our way. I closed the book and checked my Pip-Buck. It didn’t warned me of a hostile heading inside, though I pulled out my sniper rifle from my side to take a good aim. Bob followed suit, aiming his laser tail at an unknown intruder. We didn’t want to take any chances on determining whether we’ll be getting a friendly or a hostile who’s about to enter the candy store.

The unknown pony figure trotted inside, and reveals to be just a regular, sleepless pony who is just browsing around fresh-looking sweets inside. She didn’t even noticed us at all, and my PipBuck even said it was only a friendly/neutral. I lowered my weapon and Bob looked at me in a puzzled manner. I’m confused as well; the mare’s completely ignoring us. No reaction, neither.

I looked at Tootsie who’s approaching at the emotionless mare and prodded a hoof at her. I hope she’s not planning on provoking her…

“Hey! Hey, ma’am! Hey! You! Are you here for treats? We have eeeeverything this shop has to offer! Just pay over to Mr. Zero and you’ll be on your way!”

I deadpanned at her comments. How the hell can I properly man the cash register?! I’m not even a shop owner!

Surprisingly enough, the mare paid no attention to Tootsie. She just acted like we don’t even exist. Afterwards, the mare just exited the store with the same lack of emotion we just saw.

Tootsie Roll frowned at the sight, “Awww come on! I’m not a ghost! Come baaaack!”

We saw her left the store and went somewhere else. I’m not even sure if she could speak like myself though I feel like its time for us to move and find something for us to eat. But the book I found is too valuable to be left abandoned! I can’t just leave it behind! I pulled the book and carefully placed it inside my saddlebags for me to read it later on. Despite its heavy weight, at least its not bringing me down.

I began to make an exit as I turn my head to the two, motioning my head for them to follow me.

“Yay! More adventures!”

Yes. More adventures. Adventures that are just waiting to strike us unexpectedly.

We’re back outside, but the cloud’s getting thicker now. And it wasn’t nighttime, but rather an approaching storm just gnarling its way towards Mayne, threatening to shower the depraved town with flash floods and sweep anything in sight. I looked at Bob, worried that he’ll become corroded and eventually short out from the rain. Need to find a safe place, and fast!

Tootsie nudged me a little, pointing the hoof at a bakery shop. I smiled brightly to her before we galloped (or in Bob’s case, skittered) our way inside.

Once we were inside, rainfall poured in like rampaging buffaloes. At least Bob’s unscathed, and even he clambered up to my back as a sure sign that he clearly hates water Of course, it wasn’t without my PipBuck warning me regarding incoming hostiles heading our way! Damnit! If I could just tell Tootsie Roll to hide somewhere or get behind me, she wouldn’t get hurt!

I wrote down three words from my PipBuck and showed it to her, reading as ‘Get Behind Me’.

I hope there’s nothing but Radroaches, but I could be wrong. Probably more Ponelurks like the one I barely managed to escape yesterday, just waiting for them to strike us...

What I heard instead were skittering noises heading our way, and they turn out to be five giant worker ants! At least two of them began to skitter towards us, but me and Bob took aim as he was the first to fire his lazer at it. It was a hit, though it kept skittering towards him like nothing happened! Meanwhile, I took careful aim with the help of S.A.T.S. and slid my tongue around the trigger before firing at its head. Enough to hit it, but not enough to kill it.

A second hit didn’t killed this monstrosity, but it was enough to damage its antenna for it to become frenzied and direct its attention to other worker ants. Bob was still firing his lazer at the frenzied ant, but the ant didn’t even paid attention and it became a free-for-all for the other ants! I let out a sigh and looked at Bob before giving him a smile as a thanks.

Though we’re not safe yet. These bastards won’t stay brawling each other until one or all of them are dead and come after us next. I looked behind to see Tootsie Roll covering her ears as she looked at me, “I-Is the bang-gang o-over yet?”

I shook my head to her. Apparently she’s afraid of gunfire, but what can I do about it? Me and Bob are doing what we can to defend ourselves and her fear isn’t going to improve the situation we’re in. I heard sounds of screeching from ants attacking their own kind. My PipBuck notified me that there’s four left now, as they’re coming in small yet terrifying numbers. Here comes the second wave!

Four of them took a wild approach on us and we opened fire at the other two, hoping one of can hit their antennas.

Of course, neither of us managed to hit them and my S.A.T.S. are still recharging. We moved back to avoid getting ambushed by two other worker ants, but ended up stumbling back from a broken tile that resulted in me falling off balance and onto my back!

Gah! Goddess dammit! My sniper rifle was off of my hooves and fired a stray shot against the crumbling ceiling as the other two preyed on me. I scrambled back from their menacing pincers intent on turning me into pony fillet! Oh fuck!

A portion of the ceiling cracked widely before rubble began to rain down on the killer ants, knocking one of them unconscious and the other dazed from a good chunk of rubble that left it disoriented. Huzzah! Thank you, Celestia! But now Bob needs my help! I grabbed my sniper rifle and went on to help out Bob, who is still firing at the worker ants. Tootsie Roll was hiding behind a table, still covering her ears.

“Make the chitters stop!”

I heard her speak out loud with worry, but I can’t stop to check her. I need to help her friend out! I slipped into S.A.T.S. again and took a careful aim at its antenna and opened fire.

Bam! Right into the antenna and made it turn against its own kind! Don’t worry, Bob! You’re safe! I heard the ceiling that my sniper shot with began to crack open again but wider this time; its threatening to collapse! I looked at Bob who is okay, amid having his metal claw slightly damaged from the worker ant attack before Tootsie scampered her way to us whilst the rubble trickled down, “Mr. Zero! Bob! They’re bringing the house down!”

She’s right! And we’re gonna get buried inside if we don’t get out fast! But if we get outside and its still raining, Bob will suffer heavy corrosion and blow up in the process! There has to be a way out without torrential rainfall… My thoughts were right; getting out of the bakery is suicide so long as Bob is with us. There needs to be a basement somewhere as we galloped inside the kitchen before the abandoned bakery shop has any chance of burying us alive.

Where is it?! Where the hay is it?!

“Mr. Zero! Down here in that storage thingy!” Tootsie Roll shouted at me, pointing her hoof down into the storage room. I looked at the right and saw worker ants still attacking each other as the rubble from the ceiling began to collapse and blocking the entrance, killing all the ants inside. Sucks to be them, but now I need to get out of here and fast!

Quickly, I made a run for it and narrowly avoiding cement raining down from the ceiling. Tootsie and Bob were inside and waiting as I dove into the open entrance and slamming the door shut. Made it! And not a moment too soon neither!

As derelict as the bakery shop was, the storage room is the only intact place we can take shelter in until the rain can finally stop… if there are any windows of course. And its dark, too! Tootsie Roll? Bob? Where are you?

I switched the light switch and the bright light flickered on, revealing to be a storage of freshly-baked bread from the shelves. These’ll be enough to satisfy our hunger (not counting Bob as he’s a robo-scorpion). I saw Tootsie Roll just hugging her injured friend, “Oh Bob… I’m so, soooo sorry I let you into this danger!”

Bob let out a sad whirr as a response. I slowly approached at the two and seeing the injured Bob who’s mechanical claw was barely functioning, as well as cracks from his visor. If I could understand what he said, he would tell her that it was alright and that he wanted to protect her and me from harm.

I looked at my saddlebags and pulled out the duct tape and scrap electronics I obtained earlier and I looked at the slightly damaged Bob. I could fix up his pincer and his visor, though I’ll have to get better tools along the way. For now, it’ll have to do. I inputted three words to Tootsie from my PipBuck, as it read as ‘I’ll fix him’.

“You will?! Thank you, Mr. Zero!” She hugged around my hoof and I gave her a heartwarming smile in return. It won’t be much, but it’ll do until I can find better parts to restore his condition. At least his hull wasn’t too bad.

Bob at first went into his defensive position when I leant down to him, but Tootsie told him, “Don’t worry! Mr. Zero will patch you up!”

I quietly chuckled at her comments as Bob eased up a little for me to make some repairs on him. Its alright, Bob. I won’t hurt you, even if you did attempted to hurt me before.

I attached some of the scraps into his metal claw which had loose wires from the attack by carefully clinching the spare with my teeth and tying it around for it to function again. Afterwards, I tore up a piece of duct tape and covered up the cracks of his visor. I repeated the same process until his cracks are covered up. Its not much, but it’ll have to do until I can find somepony who can fix him up to perfect condition.

There! Not good as new, but enough to get you back up and running, Bob! I heard him emit his happy trills as to thank me for patching him up. I patted onto his hull as a means of saying ‘you’re welcome’ as Tootsie looked at him, “Are you ready to go, my robo-scorpion friend?!”

Even after our battle, Tootsie’s excitement was unfazed and still content of her friend. I poked to her and pointed to the direction of a freshly-stored bread from the storage shelf. I figured that we should begin eating before getting out of here.

She went on to get fresh bread, “Okey-dokey-wokey! One fresh bread coming riiiight up!”

Of course, Bob can’t eat normal food at all. He’s just mechanically purring lightly as Tootsie came back with a footlong bread, “Let’s eat!”

We began to eat up bread she gave it to us except for Bob, just to curb our hunger. Even though I still have a half-eaten maize and a carrot left, this bread is delish! The outside is still raining, so I’m not sure if Mayne’s suffering a flash flood right now. At least it beats being caved in or our robo-scorpion friend won’t last against the heavy rainfall.

Once we finished eating, I looked back through the empty shelf behind me and I could barely see a hatch door that leads down below and hopefully leading our way out. Although if that’s true, I don’t think Bob can climb his way down himself and would need to be carried along. And even then, he’s too damn heavy, even if I’m quite taller than him! What to do… could he?

I got up from my hooves after our rest and motioned my head at the two, prompting them to follow me. I led them towards the hatch which is, of course, locked with no chance of lockpicking, but rather a key to go for. And that key is basically long gone after it was partially collapsed.

I pointed a hoof at the lock for Bob to fry it open and he did so by firing the laser from his tail, single-handedly disintegrating the lock for us to open up the hatch. As we opened it up, it revealed to be a ladder that’ll take us down below and immediately Bob climbed onto my back and clamped his metal claws down my shoulders. Guh! That had to hurt!

“Bob is scared of heights…”

Of course he is, Tootsie Roll. His vice-like grip hurts like hell, though! Tootsie was the first to head down the stairs from the open hatch as I went second, with Bob still clinging onto me and his claws are still hurting my shoulders!

Geez, loosen up a little! I don’t have robotic parts like you, Bob! My pony mind protested. I just hope my shoulders can hold out a little longer before we reach the bottom. It feels like a long way down, and I wouldn’t even dare to look down!

Let’s hope there’s a bottom of the ground, or I won’t be able to feel my fore-hooves the next morning!

We finally made it to the bottom and Bob released his vice-grip off of my shoulders. Damn, I was starting to ache! Any more and I could use a Hydra to restore broken bones. Looking up ahead, there were lots of lit light bulbs dangling above by wires. It seems we’re inside a mining tunnel deep under the fallen bakery shop. Even with lights, my PipBuck doesn’t have the flashlight ability for me to see the map. And it feels rather cramped as well, despite a more (but barely) breathing room.

“Here, lemme take these off for you!” Tootsie used her spell and proceeded to remove the bandages that were wrapped around my fore-leg and hind-leg. They were fully healed, and I gave her a smile in thanks before motioning my head at the two for us to keep moving. Hopefully we’ll reach to the surface if its not raining still.

Of course, it was just a temporary thing as we traversed deeper into the tunnel in hopes of finding our way out, and there was little lighting to go for. I can’t even see the map from my PipBuck! And its getting rather darker as we went deeper inside.

I stopped for a moment and selected two words from the barely-visible screen and showed it to her, reading as ‘Light spell?’.

As Tootsie squinted her eyes to see what it says, she let out a nod to me, “One working flashlight coming riiight up!”

The small filly struggled briefly for her spell to work before her horn lit up and giving us a bit of brightness inside. Not much, but it’ll do for us to not end up getting us separated. There’s a small dot of orange up ahead; we must be close to exiting. I galloped towards the light and the two followed me, “Hey wait up, Mr. Zero!”

There’s no time to wait, we needed to get out of the mining tunnel! Who knows what’ll happen if we remained inside?! As I nearly exited, I could almost feel the outside again but quickly skidded to a stop. Looking down, there was a cliff, and the elevation is steep! Damn it, Wastelands! How dare you trick me into leading me into a false exit?! At least the two stopped behind me or they could’ve followed suit by jumping down to our doom.

Tootsie Roll looked at the dark and gloomy orange skies, “Wow… its beautiful!”

Well, at least it stopped raining. The bigger problem is that we have to backtrack and find another route that won’t take us to the cliff again. I let out a quiet yet frustrating grunt, stamping my hoof against the ground and even shooting up a glare at the deceiving skies.

Ugh… whatever. Time to go back and find a different route. I waved a hoof at the two to inform them that we have to go back inside the cave in hopes of finding an alternate route. There were multiple pathways I didn’t found, mostly because my PipBuck wasn’t lit enough and Tootsie Roll’s spell wasn’t fully harnessed. It felt like we’re in a goddamn maze, a maze that I had no desire of it.

Where the hell’s the exit? Hopefully we don’t run into any danger that’ll kill us all. Goddesses, show me a way out for once! Of course, the goddesses aren’t mind-readers so its unlikely that they’ll even listen to me, much less show me a way out of the mine tunnel.

Up ahead, there’s an unused minecart connected to the rails. Hopefully this can lead us out of the tunnel, or end up taking us to a dead end.

“Ooohhh! A mine cart! Can we ride in it?! Can we, can we, can we?!”

Yeah sure, let’s ride a minecart that would either get us trapped even more or possibly derail on its own just to kill us! My pony thoughts yelled out in the most un-sarcastic manner ever. There isn’t any other option except to get on the cart and hope for the best. All three of us got onto the minecart as I pressed the lever forward with my fore-leg and it began to roll down, soon picking up speed from the slopes.

The filly and her robo-scorpion friend were having fun, but I'm sure as hell not! I clung my fore-hooves onto both sides of the minecart as twists and turns were barely keeping itself balanced, with me hoping that we don’t reach a dead end!

“Whee! This is fun, Bob! Are you having a blast, Mr. Zero?!”

Hell no!

We finally escaped from the mine tunnel the minecart slows to a stop, though it soon derails after the cart rail has run out. We fell off to the side and all three of us were ejected from the cart, with me on the back as well as Bob and Tootsie Roll. We were dazed, but we’re finally back onto the surface.

“Ooohhh… that was fun, let’s do it again! Again, again, again!”

Worst. Ride. Ever.

I got up on my hooves and shook my head to regain consciousness. My saddlebags were alright, except it was drenched with blue liquid… no! The Healing Potion bottles spilled open! Fuck!! It even ruined my half-eaten Maize and a carrot! As if this ride wasn’t bad, my inventory’s ruined! All ruined!

I dropped my stained saddlebags and the remnants of the potion spilled open, revealing to be maize and carrot, all soggy and wet from the potion. My sniper ammo wasn’t any better; they were filled up by the same potion that had spilled during our wild ride. I’m not sure if they still work or that they’ll likely jam if I reload.

Just my luck. Just my fucking luck. I tossed my sniper rifle onto the ground in the worst humiliation the Wasteland has ever given me! I shot up an even angrier glare at the skies who are laughing at my misfortune, and Celestia be damned if I ever get my hooves on them!

Bob looked at her confused as Tootsie took a look at me. I was on the verge of just screaming silently at the skies for pulling such a sickening prank on me.

“Mr. Zero…? Is something wrong?”

My ears shot up at her voice before I took a look at her, my anger mixed with utter grief and sadness, just trying to lose the waterworks in me. I just need a little more time to collect my thoughts together…

Celestia, I’m ready to be sent to the sun right about now… That’s all my mind could ask for. Instead, my response was both Tootsie Roll and Bob just nudging both of my hooves together as I took a good look at the two. I had nothing to say to them (which is obviously the irony).

“It was just an accident… no biggie, right?”

More than just a ‘no biggie’. So far, luck was against me than with me and looking at the barely-lit map, we were still in Mayne. We just somehow arrived in a dense forest equivalent to the Everfree Forest, but without the vicious creatures hunting us down. Just an empty, lifeless forest. Looking back at my ruined items, I closed my eye and grabbed the muzzle of my rifle with my teeth. My ears flat from luck being a total neighsayer, I looked at them and waved my hoof to come with me. I even carried my partially stained Big Book of Arcane Sciences around my back, just to be the pack mule I am now.

Without a word, both she and Bob proceeded to follow me. The skies were about to go completely dark and I even abandoned my things that were ruined from a minecart ride gone wrong.

Nearby, there was a small camp up ahead with a lit campfire and a tent. Inside the tent were two roll-up beds. My PipBuck even called it a ‘Abandoned Campsite’. I checked for any hostiles and its true that there weren’t anypony even guarding the campsite. Only a squirrel on a stick was still cooked from the campfire, and I’m not sure if I can even eat it myself. It just looked… unnatural.

At least I had a hefty meal with bread that’ll keep me from craving for dirt to hold off my hunger, but the latter result was a major disaster.

We went inside the tent. I didn’t want to hear a campfire song anyway, as Tootsie Roll and Bob went into a second roll-up bed for them to rest up. I laid down on the bed I was in, my hooves clung onto my sniper rifle.

As I went to sleep to forget about everything we’ve encountered today, Tootsie looked at her robo-scorpion friend, “Poor Mr. Zero… I hope he’s alright, Bob. I’d hate to see the scientist nerd waking up all messy and stuff. Good night, Bob!”

Bob let out a soft, robotic trill as the two went to sleep.

Her comments are doing more harm than good to me… just lay off the petty jokes for one day, will you..? My lamented pony mind spoke to Tootsie.

Just leave me alone, and let me sleep in despair from the horrible luck…

Footnote: Level Up.
New perk: Finesse - Your attacks are smooth, graceful and precise. You have a higher chance to score a critical hit on an opponent in combat, equivalent to 4 extra points of Luck.