(The Next Day)

        Morning has just arrived in New Appaloosa, well it would of arrived if the clouds weren’t covering the sky. But you get the idea of what I ment, anyway the town was beginning to flood with ponies of different sizes and ages. So far nothing seem to be out of the ordinary….well the one thing that stands out was this small tower of black smoke that lead to the Iron Lich himself reading a book. Most of the ponies in Appaloosa stayed as far away from the lich as the fire in his furnas burn. But the children played around the lich and on him without any fear as he reads.

“Well I see someone is enjoying himself.” Said Sunny walking up towards the lich.

Asphyxious looks up with his skull like head and nods at her. “Just reading to pass the time. I have no need for sleep in this form as you can see.” He then carefully with one of his clawed hands picks up a filly off from his back and put her back on the ground.

“I could tell seeing how some of the little fillies and colts are using you to either play on or sleep on.”

He nods at that and laughs a little. “They remind me of Pupa when she would just sit with me or sleep on my lap as I would work back in the den.” He said as he careful where and how he moves.

“Yeah most of these little ponies lost their parents from raiders, born without one, or just abandon.”

“That to bad.” Said Asphyxious as he looks at them.

“Yeah a sad fate for them in this hellhole. Anyway just wanted to let you know the others are awake if you want to head back inside.”

“Okay.” He said and get up then walk off to meet up with the others.

[Science Department]

“I don’t see why I have to take this radaway stuff.” Said Vanessa smelling the strange orange substance. “It smells like something you get from a bootleg hobo.”

“It’s Radaway Vanessa.” Said the minotaur scientist. “It get’s rid of any radiation that you may have come into contact with. Only downside to it it has a salty aftertaste”

Asphyxious walks in his human form and stop when he see the needle in the minotaur hand. “...” He then slowly backs away from them.

“Get in there you pansy.” Sunny said as she kick Asphyxious into the room. He cry out as his face hit the floor.

“Damn you.” He said as he get back up and his eyes widen. “Oh no you’re not coming near me with that.”

“Relax stupid Professor Blue Stone isn’t going to hurt you, he’s just getting a blood sample from Vanessa and Samantha.”

“NO!” He screams and try to run out of the room past Sunny. “You're not taking MY blood!”

“......What was that?” Asked Littlepip as she walked into the room.

“A idiot that’s afraid of needles.” Said Sam with a deep sigh.

“I get the feeling he’s gonna be like that everytime he see’s a needle.” Said Vanessa.

“Yep.”

“Should one of us go after him?” Littlepip asked.

“We’ll get him after getting our gear and armor upgraded. So can we have our stuff back or what?”

“Your stuff is in the locker over there next to the closet. I have to say the material that you gave was very interesting to say the least.” Blue Stone said as he examining the a monster’s scale. “To think that there were monsters who scales are stronger than a dragon’s scales.”

“Yeah you be surprised at how strong some of the monster scales are. Hey Littlepip, mind if I have a look at that thing on your wrist if you don’t mind?”

“Why do you need to see my pipbuck for?”

“Just wanted to do a little upgrading that’s all.”

“Since when are you an expert in technology?” Asked Samantha.

“I took a few robotic engineering classes in High School, so if you don’t mind I would like to see her pipbuck please.”

“......Fine.” Littlepip horn started to glow as she took her pipbuck off and handed it to Vanessa. “You better not break it or anything, because that’s the only one I have seeing how I could bring anything else with me before I left the stable.”

“Oh come on this me you’re talking about, when have I ever done anything that would break something?”

“What about that time I gave you that gameboy?” Said Sam with a knowing smile.

“.........Shut up.”

(Rooftop)

Asphyxious was looking out with a careful eye for Sam and her friends to show up. As well as for anyone who looks like a doctor with a needle in hand. He always hated those things he can’t remember why.

“Seriously? You run off to the rooftop after seeing a needle?” Samantha said as she walked next to Asphyxious.

Asphyxious looks at her and sigh. “Hey I don’t know why I hate them so much? I just do.” He said looking over the town. “Wish I could do more for them, you know.”

“Not much you can do for them really, this place is a wasteland that can’t be brought back from the brink of destruction.”

“The whole world can’t be like this right? I mean there has to be places better than this.” Asphyxious asked.

“It’s kinda hard to explore the world when you can’t even leave Equestria, not to mention with all the raiders and slavers around you won’t last long out here.”

“Add to that you have monsters to deal with to.” Asphyxious said as he looks at her. “So we ready to go?”

“Yeah we’re ready to go…...I have a request I want you to do.”

“Okay what?” He asks.

Samantha reached into her pocket and tossed a well wrapped item to Asphyxious. “I want you to give this to Vanessa when the time is right.” Asphyxious looks at it and unwraps it. “Inside it is a box of homemade cookies and a letter for her to have.”

Asphyxious wraps it back up and looks at her. “Why are you giving this to me?” He asked.

“Just encase I forget, I was always forgetful when it comes to giving something important to someone.”

Asphyxious smiles a ther and poke her in the ribs. “Hey now don’t talk like that I’ll give this back to you and make you give it to her okay.” He said with a big smile.

“Thanks, but you hold on to it and give it to her when the time is right.”

“Don’t get yourself killed now, I may be a Lich but I’m not going to put you through being brought back okay? It hurts like hell.” He said calmly.

“Relax, this is me you’re talking about. I’m pretty much shooting from a long distance so I won’t get killed by someone.”

“I could send one of my ghosts to keep an eye on you if you like, Abby a sweetheart.” He said as he get up.

“Look I know you care about me and all, but don’t worry about me okay? This wouldn’t be the only time I did something like this.”

“Okay… I’ll try. But if things go wrong just call alright.”

“I will. Now come on, Vanessa and the others are waiting for you downstairs to go over the battle plan.” Asphyxious nods at her as they go down to meet the others.

(Moment later)

[Slaver Train]

“Okay so you all know the plan right?” Sunny asked.

Asphyxious nods at her as he get both his shotgun and SMG ready for the rade. “Just getting my gear ready.” He said as he picks up his cutlass and it give off a glow.

“Okay, Littlepip and Vanessa will cause a commotion in the center of the place. Samantha and Silver Heart will go in from the side and snipe anypony that are attacking from a long distance, and Asphyxious and I will search inside and get any slaves out of there.”

“If all else fails I can raise the dead to give us an opening to get out.” Asphyxious said as he stand up.

“We’re trying not to make as much noise as possible.”

“Only if the plan fails will I do that.” He said calmly the walks over to Silver Heart. “You any good with that?”

“I been out here in the wasteland for the past 30 years, I’m pretty sure I’m good with this.”

“Okay could you do me a favor and look after those two for me. Once this is done I’ll have to go back home and I don’t feel right leaving them by themselves.” Asphyxious said as he looks at him.

“I make no promises, but I’ll try if we survive this.”

“Sure we will, after all we’re all badasses here.” Asphyxious laughed as he walks away from the pony. Asphyxious then go into the other cars and sommunds two of his ghost. “Banjo, Abby I need you two to stay hidden and keep an eye on the two Displaced for me okay.”

“Sure can boss, I’ll keep my eyes on them.” Said Banjo as fades away. The one called Abby nods at Asphyxious then smiles as she fades away as well.  

“Look alive ladies!” Yelled Vanessa as she summoned her long sword. “We’re getting close to Old Appaloosa!”

“Now the real fun starts.” Said Asphyxious as he held his SMG in hand standing next to Sunny Day.

“Remember stick to the plan and don’t lower your guard.”

“Ya we know.” Said Silver heart annoyed as he stopped the train before they reached Appaloosa. “You’re saying that we might buck up or something?”

“After being around other ponies that don’t listen, you can’t expect me not to repeat myself.”

“Anyway we can’t bring the train any closer otherwise they’ll just take our only means of escape.”

“Lets get going then.” Said Asphyxious as he opens a door and hops out.

(Old Appaloosa)

        What was used to be a town filled with both ponies and buffalos that used to work together was not a place for Slavers and Raiders to hangout at. Old Appaloosa was nothing more than an empty shell of a city, what with it having somewhat wrecked building, off railed box cars, and metal structures that hold slaves in cages hanging off of them or next them. It didn’t really help them either since it was raining heavy outside. One slaver guard who was not paying attention to what was around him. Felt a gahlot hand cover his mouth as a blade into his back and out of his chest. The slaver could not scream as the light in his eyes slowly faded.

“So where would they keep the slaves Sunny?” Asphyxious asked as he carefully pulled the dead pony off to one side and put the body in a dumpster. “I’m pretty good at this cloak and dagger stuff huh?”

“Mostly outside and inside.” She said looking around the corner to make sure nopony was there.

“That won’t make this easy on us.” He said wiping the blade on his trousers.

“Which is why I had Vanessa and Littlepip act like decoys to get everypony’s attention.”

“Okay but where do we go from here?” He asked looking around. “This places looks pretty dead to me.”

“For the time being we’ll keep them in the train cars until we can make more room for them in New Appaloosa. That or let them live in the train or move them into Diamond Dog Town.”

“There a town of Diamond dogs? Cool.” Said Asphyxious as the carefully move deeper into the town.

“I wasn’t so thrilled about that, that is until we met the new king of the town.”

“Interesting.” He said calmly as looks down a street. “Can’t see anyone but there two in the bar and five in the building over there.” Asphyxious said pointing at two buildings with no windows.

“Anyone guarding them?”

“Doesn’t look like it, but something wrong. It looks like most of these buildings are empty.” He said looking around.

“What do you mean empty?”

“As in no one living in them. If this place is a slave town then we should see more than this and hear it. It almost like a ghost town out here.” Said Asphyxious as they both carefully cross the street.

“Hm…..Either this a trap or Van and Pip are doing a hell of a job as decoys.”

“Then why aren’t we hearing any fighting?” Asphyxious asked. “Could something else have happened you guys don’t know about?”

“Like what? Unless there was somepony or something that could of taken them out then I don’t know what else that can do this.”

Asphyxious nods at this and looks down a road. “Let just get the slaves and get out. We’ll worry about where the Slaver’s went later.” He said as they make there way down the road.

“*Sniff Sniff* You smell something?” Asked Sunny Day.

Asphyxious stop and sniffs the air. “Ya… What is that?” He asked looking around.

“It almost smell like-.” Before she could finish her statement both her and Asphyxious heard a loud roar pierce through the sound of rain falling and thunder. “That can’t be good.” She said

“I take it don’t rain a lot out here?” Asphyxious asked pulling out his cutlass. That when they saw Vanessa and Littlepip run around a corner then past them.

“OUT OF THE WAY CHAOTIC GORE MAGALA & GREEN PONY WITH A HORN & WINGS ARE AFTER US!!”

“What the fuck did she just say?” Asked Asphyxious as he blinks at this as they ran away.

“Um, we might want to hide. LIKE NOW!” Sunny Day said as she pushed Asphyxious into an empty build as the Chaos Gore Magala ran past them.

“Okay… What was that.” He asked again laying on the floor with Sunny on top of him.

“Chaotic Gore Magala.” Sunny answered showing him a picture of it in the monster hunter book. “Despite the unique name, Chaotic Gore Magala is actually just a normal Gore Magala which has been traumatized or otherwise interrupted during the process of molting into a Shagaru Magala. As a result, only half of one side of its body has fully molted. Because of its improper molting process, it is left looking like an amalgamation of Shagaru Magala and Gore Magala.

“So we found out what happened to the slaver’s then huh?” Asphyxious asked as he get up. “So do we help or stick to the plan?”

“Stick to the plan, after we get the ponies out we’ll help out in taking out that monster.”

“Okay.” He said and go back outside. “I just hope everyone stay out of trouble.”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

(Vanessa & Littlepip Third person)

“DAMMIT! WHO’S IDEA WAS IT FOR US TO BE THE DECOYS!?

“IT WAS YOUR DUMB PLAN!” Yelled Littlepip as she keeps running.

“Oh…..right…..WELL I DIDN’T THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO US!”

“THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS TO US!”

“GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE WORMS!!!” Yelled the dark green alicorn who was riding on the Chaotic Gore Magala.

“Well now what do we do!?” Vanessa asked as she and Littlepip made a hard right turn. “We can’t just keep running for long.”

“We need some way to fight that thing. Don’t you have anything to slow it down?” Asked Littlepip.

“Give me a second.” Vanessa said as she looked around to see if there was something to slow the monster down or kill it. Just as she did she notice some of the boxcar hanging from sturdy, but weak chains. “I have an Idea.” She said as she pulled out a throwing knife.

Littlepip looks up and pulled out her shotgun. “I see what your planning, will it work?” She asked as the monster was getting closer.

“It’s better than anything we have planned.” Vanessa said as she threw a knife at the hanging box cart they were running under causing it to fall. “Now keep running!”

“I’m not stopping!” Yells Littlepip as she keeps up with Vanessa. Without even looking behind them, they heard a loud crashing/bone crushing sound from behind them.

“Did it work?” Asked Littlepip as she kept running.

“Don’t know, but we better hide if that monster is knocked out.” Just as they made a left turn, Vanessa grabbed Littlepip by the waist and rolled into an abandon building. Upon entering the building the due hid underneath a table with a cloth covering it. “Well at least we know what happen to most of the ponies here.”

“What do you mean?” Asked Littlepip as she looks up at Vanessa.

“You didn’t notice how quiet it was when we were looking around?”

“Well…” Said Littlepip as she thinks about that.

“Wow and Samantha says I don’t pay attention to details.”

“S-Shut up…..can you let me go now?” She asked with a blush.

“Oh….um….sure, sorry about that.” Vanessa released her grip on Littlepip. “Okay I guess finding your friend Velvet Remedy might be harder than I thought.”

“Yeah, but we have other things to worry about.”

“You mean the Chaotic Gore Magala or that crazy pony with a horn and wings?”

“Both and that pony was an alicorn if I remember the story’s.” Said Littlepip as she looked out side.

“Well that good to know what that thing was. So is the coast cleared?”

“I think so… But i get the feeling if we go outside we’ll be attacked again.”

“What makes you think it won’t attack us while we’re in here?”

“Well think about it. If that was true, then wouldn’t this place be in ruinings by now?” She asked looking outside.

“.......Good point.”

“Not only that shouldn’t we see more ponies running around and slaves screaming in fear?”

“Again good point.” Vanessa pulled herself up from under the table as she walked near the door.

“Wait, I just thought of something. One pony alone riding a monster wouldn't make all the Slavers and Raiders leave this place. They would do everything in there power to take them down so where are they?”

“That or she’s their leader and gone crazy with power.”

“That to…”

“..............I’m heading outside, you take the rooftop and snipe it so I’ll know it’s coming.”

“Got it.” Said Littlepip as she heads to the roof.

With her hand on her long sword, Vanessa rushed out into the middle of the street. Just as she made it outside she notice that the body of the Chaotic Gore Magala was still crushed under the cart that Vanessa made to land on it.

“Well what do we have here?” Called a voice from above her.

“I’m surprised that you were able to avoid the boxcar that landed on you pet.” Vanessa said looking up at the sickly green alicorn floating above her. “Guess you’re a lot smarter than most raiders.”

“Raiders? Is that who you think we are? Don’t make me laugh we’re nothing like that scum.” The Alicorn said with a smile. “And my pet is not so weak as you think.”

“Unless your pet is able to survive a heavy blow to the head, then it would seem you’re pretty much all alone.” Said Vanessa but then notices the alicorn horn start to glow. Then the Chaotic Gore Magala growl as it slowly start to get up.

“.......Fuck, didn’t see that coming.”

The monster growled as it get up and looks at Vanessa bearing it teeth. “Want to know how I came across this dragon?” Said the Green Alicorn as she lands on it back.

“Let me guess, you bought him from a bunch of raiders or something?”

“No I found him dying in the wasteland badly hurt. I know how to heal with my magic and sadly it the only magic I know how to use, but this dragon now helps me after I helped him. With his power I now have nothing to fear in this deathtrap anymore.” She said sounding proud.  

“With this dragon by my side I have nothing to fear from anypony! Not even that worthless pony Red Eye!”

“..........” Not even saying a word, Vanessa slowly turned around and began running off.

“...Hey… HEY! GET BACK HERE!” Yelled the Green Alicorn as the Chaotic Gore ran after her.

“Samantha where the hell are you!?”

(Samantha’s location)

“D-Dammit.” Samantha said as she was staggering against the wall from her injury she got from Silver Heart.

“Sorry about that love, didn’t think the git would turn on ya.” Said the ghostly Diamond dog as he reloads his pistols.  

“Y-You have nothing to be sorry about.” She said as she coughed up some blood. “I just never thought he would turn on me during this quickly.”

“Too right I do Asphyxious is going to lose his shit when he hear about this.” Said Banio as he go over to her and looks at her wound. “Is it bad?”  

“.......Let’s just focus on finding Vanessa and the others.”

“No what we need to do is get ya some help. I hate to say it but you’re in no shape to be moving around, I’ll call Abby and she will get the boss okay? I’m sure he can help ya…” Said Banjo as he looks at the blood.

“.......Fine.” She said as she pulled her bowgun up Banjo let out a ghostly howl into the air before keeping an eye on Sam. “Sorry about this.” She said as she hit Banjo with a paralyze bullet.

“W-what the, how did ya?” Banjo asked as he tried to move.

“While Mark wasn’t looking I took a sample of his lich form and had the boys in the lab to make me some bullets that can hit ghosts like you.”

“Heh, ya chicky girl… Shoulda known this would happen at some point. Anything you want me to pass on before ya go? This is going to break his heart ya know?” Asked Banjo as he sit there.

“........The effects should wear off in about a few minutes or so, but if you do see him tell him to give Vanessa the thing I gave him.”

Banjo sigh as she left. “I hate sad endings.” He said to himself.

“Please…..just let me make it in time before it’s too late.”

(Flash back to a few minutes earlier)

“Alright Silver Heart, all we have to do is kill anyone that’s sniping. Shouldn’t be that hard to do seeing how it’s just the two of us.” Samantha said as she took up a sniping position on an abandon building rooftop.

“Yeah should be easy.” Said Silver Heart.

“Hey, you okay? You been really quiet since the train ride.”

“It nothing, just that friend of yours said to keep you and Vanessa safe.”

“Ugh, I really wish Mark would stop worrying about me like that. I mean it’s not like I’m gonna get killed by somepony out here…..well besides the raiders, slavers, and monsters.”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“What do you-” Before she could finish asking, Samantha heard a gunshot and felt a sharp pain in her chest.

“Oh will you look at that, it seem I was too late to stop some slaver that shot you.” Said Silver with a twisted smile.

“S-Silver? B-But why?”

“Oh come on, you think somepony can stay alive out here without being a good liar? Now that just stupid, I was never on your side. All I did was tell you what you wanted to hear. Now I can go back to the others and tell them the sad story of how you stay behind to save the little slaves.”

“B-But aren’t we friends?” Samantha asked as she fell to the ground gripping her chest.

“HA! Friends? No not at all, there no making friends out here it just kill or be killed human.”Just as Silver Heart was about to shoot Samantha again, they both heard a click.

“Good to know my boss won't feel guilty about taking ya soul.” Said a mysterious voice as it  made Silver Heart head explode into pieces.

“D-Damn, and Sunny Day really like…..him.”

“You need to get inside love. No telling if his mates are around.” Said Banjo as he keep a look out.

“Yeah *cough, cough* let’s get inside.” Samantha said as she limped her way inside the building.

“Damn, Asphyxious is not gonna like this.”

(End of flashback)

“Please…...don’t let it end like this.”

(Vanessa and Littlepip)

*CRASH!!!*

“Keep running Pip! Asphyxious may have the the dragon distracted, but we need to deal with this crazy pony!”

“I am running, but I’m running out of steam here if you haven’t notice!”Littlepip said as she dodged an oncoming magic beam from behind. “Faust that was close!”

“DAMMIT WHY WON’T YOU JUST DIE!?” Vanessa yelled as she jumped over a dead body of a pony.

“STOP RUNNING AND DIE LIKE THE BANDITS YOU ARE!” Yelled the Alicorn.

“We’re not bandits, we’re heroes that are freeing the slaves you been keeping!”

“Stop lieing to me! There no such thing as heroes!”

“Well you’re looking at two that are you mutant freak!” Littlepip said as she fired at the Alicorn only for her to summon up a barrier to protect herself. “Dammit! I thought she said she can only heal?”

“Well apparently she was lying about that seeing how she keeps shooting at us with beams of death.” As the duo made their way through town, they heard what sounded like a dog howling.

“What the hell was that?”

“Sounded like a Dog howling?” Said Littlepip.

“I doubt it could be a dog.” Vanessa said as she pulled out another throwing knife and threw it at the alicorn’s left eye when she wasn’t looking. “Ha! Finally I hit you!”

The Alicorn gritted her teeth as she pulled the knife out of her eye and looked at Vanessa in hate. “I am going to KILL YOU!”

“Did you just buck up?” Littlepip asked as she started to back away.

“WHEN I’M DONE WITH YOU YOUR HEADS WILL BE MOUNTED OVER MY FIREPLACE!”

“I might have fucked up yes…….we better run.” Just as the duo were about to make a run for it, the alicorn’s horn started to glow as she shot at the hanging box car to block their escape route. “Shit not good.”

The boxcar fell and blocked their path. “Now you're trapped like rats!” Said the Alicorn with a smile. “Dragon Kill them!” She screamed.  

That when they then hear a dieing roar as the monster fell from one of the buildings covered in cuts. That when they heard a voice. “I don’t have time to deal with a little shit like YOU!” They looked up to see Asphyxious covered in blood.

“What took you so long to get here!?”

“Hey I had to cut through everyone who got in my way!... Wait, Abby did you howl!” He calls out and the ghostly Diamond Dog appeared next to Littlepip and shakes her head no.

“Wait you know what made that sound?”

“It was ever Banjo or Abby, but seeing she here and didn’t that means…” He stop and his eye fills with worry. “Sam…”

“Y-You killed my pet.” Asphyxious looks at the Alicorn and narrows his eye at her. “I’ll make you pay for what you did to it monster.”

“Please. I’ll say this much you're right I am a monster, the most feared kind of monster. A monster with no remorse.” He said coldly and start walking. “I have other things to worry about so I won’t play with you.”

“Don’t you dare turn your back on me you freak! You think you can just walk away from me!?”

“Yes because you're weaker than me.” Said Asphyxious as he start looking for Sam.

“HOW DARE YOU CALL ME WEAK!” The alicorn’s horn started to glow as she aimed it at the lich. “Well then seeing how you’re calling me weak I might as well take care of the weaklings to show you how powerful I am!” She then turned her attention towards Vanessa as she fired a magical beam of magic at the human huntress. Asphyxious turned after she fired drawing his cutlass ready to run and try to stop the attack. Before the spell could hit Vanessa, she was pushed out of the way of the attack by a familiar huntress with a bowgun. Time seemed to have slowed down as Vanessa turned around to see Samantha pushing her out of the way with a smile on her face.

“I’m sorry.”

His eye widens at what he saw next. “No…” Asphyxious said as he watched Samantha fall to the floor.

“S-Samantha?” Vanessa said as she slowly walked towards her fallen friend.  

“Wow. I was trying to kill the brown mutant monkey, but I guess that’ll do for now.”

A tower of blue fire explodes from Asphyxious as he give off a horror filled roar. “I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!” The air fills with magic as the very ground  itself give way. He transforms into His Lich form in all it horror and glory.  

“I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER!” He screamed as he teleported up to the Alicorn and ripped her horn from her head.

“Whoa!” Littlepip said in both fear and amazement. “He ripped through that barrier like it was nothing.”

“I WILL BRING YOU ANGNEY!” He roars as he grabs both her wings breaking the bones in his grasp and pulls them from her back.

“Dear Faust, I’m think I’m going to be sick.”

Asphyxious then grabs the Alicorn throat and held her up to his skull like face. “YOU TOOK FROM ME SOMEONE THAT I CAN NEVER GET BACK! AND FOR THAT I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!” He screams as his metal claws go titer around the pony neck before there was a snapping sound then her neck explodes in blood and gore.

“T-That was something I didn’t want to see when coming back.” Said Sunny Day walking out of a broken building.

Asphyxious didn’t move as he looked into the dead eyes of the pony in his claws serving with hate. Everyone could feel it coming from him as he held the dead body up. “I’m going to kill you again…” He said darkly as he drops the body.

“Hear me, I’m going to bring you back and kill you AGAIN!” He roars at the dead body.

“THAT’S ENOUGH!!!” Yelled Vanessa as she punched Asphyxious in the face. He slowly looks at her as the tears run down her face. “You have magic right? Then help Samantha then instead of wasting time with this freak.”

Asphyxious looked at her in horror. “Oh god, you’re right.” He quickly go over to Sam and start to try and heal the damage.

“It’s not going to work.” Said Sunny Day looking over the damage done to Samantha.

“Shut up.” Said Asphyxious as he try to heal Samantha wounds.

“It’s not going to work because she’s been shot in her vital areas.”

Asphyxious transform back to his human form and punches Sunny in the face. “SHUT UP!” He go back. “I’m going to save her life she going to be okay damnit!” Tears run down his face as he works.

“LOOK AT HER IDIOT!” Sunny Day said as she recovered from her punch to the face. “You and I both know that the wounds on her can’t be healed with magic.”

Asphyxious grits his teeth trying to think of a way to save her. “Everblight…” He said softly then start yelling. “Everblight you hear me you stupid dragon! Save her life and I’m yours, I’ll follow your every order just save her please!”

“D-Don’t.” Samantha said while coughing up a huge amount of blood. “Don’t…...be an idiot….you idiot….”

Asphyxious looks down at her as tears fall from his face. “I can’t lose you… I just found out I have some family left you can’t go….” He said as he held her in his arms. “Please don’t go....”

“*Cough, Cough* I don’t know who this everblight is, but…….but if…..if you do….w-what will happen t-to your family back home?”

Asphyxious just looks at her as he try to hold in his pain and sorrow. He just hugs her and cries. “Please don’t go....”

“........I’m sorry…….you know I don’t have long to live.” Samantha reached out to Asphyxious’s face. “You know what to do when I’m gone.” Asphyxious nods at her as he looks into her eyes.

“S-Samantha?” Vanessa said trying to hold back her tears. “Y-You idiot, why the hell did you do that? Your job was to keep an eye out for any snipers not to get yourself killed protecting me.”

“Hehe…..guess I fucked up huh? S-Sorry, but someone had to look out for you…*Cough, Cough* you were always not that aware of your surrounding.”

“I told you when we met, to never do that stupid human shield crap for me! Why don’t you ever listen to me?”

“........Guess I’m an idiot…...to the….very…..end.” With her final say Samantha closed her eyes as darkness soon consumed her vision. Asphyxious let it all out as he cried the pain he was feeling in side.

“...........We’re leaving.” Said Vanessa as she began to pick up the dead body of her dear friend.

“.....Not… Yet…” Asphyxious said through grited teeth as he wipes his face and looks at Vanessa. “I’m burning this place to the ground first… That okay with you?”

“Do what you want with this place….when you’re done meet us at the train.”

“...Thank you…” He turned back into his Lich form and give the order to his Bane Knights. To burn Old Appaloosa to the ground.

(Moments later)

“Welcome back.” Sunny said as she was waiting outside the train with an ice pack on her face.

Asphyxious gets out first and helps Littlepip lift something wrapped up out of the train. “Where should we put her pip.” Asphyxious asked his voice sounding hollow.

“Vanessa wants her body to be cremated.”

“Okay get some wood please, I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“She said she’s going to use the train engine to it.”

“Oh…okay. Can you…Look after Sam for me.” He rubs his eye as he get back on the train. “I’ll be back.”  

“Where are you going?”

“To talk with Vanessa.” He said as he go in the train car.

“Judging by the way she looks, she might be in the bar area of the train.”

Asphyxious walks down the train cars till he finds Vanessa. She was in the bar part of the train car. “Room for one more.” He asked. Vanessa said nothing as she was lost staring at her drink. Asphyxious go up and start to pour himself a glass as he sit next to her. He looks at the glass then just drinks straight from the bottle. He coughed at the drink as it burned his throat. “Fuck…” He said as he rest his head on the bar.

“.............”

“Two fucking years. I don’t even know if I really am this Mark guy, I was…” He take another drink. “If I knew…..Fuck!” He hits his head on the bar and start to cry. “What the fuck am I anymore!” He sniffs and try to get himself under control.

“Pretty much the grim reaper in some cases.”

He laughs bitterly at that. “Don’t mean I have to like it.” Asphyxious then pulls out the cookies that Sam gave him. “She…...wanted you to have this.” He put them on the bar and slides them to Vanessa.

“What is it?”

Asphyxious laughs a little as he wipes a tear away from his face. “Cookies.” He said and looks at her. “She said they were homemade…there’s a note too, don’t know what it say.”

 “I’ll look at it later…...thanks.” Vanessa said as she reached for the item and placed it in her pocket.

“This… Is the first time I’ve seen a Displaced die. I knew we could I just…..I didn’t think it would be of someone who was part of my old life.” He said as he take another drink.

“You might want to head back home, you family must be worry about you being gone for this long.”

“I will, after we’ve seen to Sam, then I’ll go home.” Asphyxious as he wipes his face.

“You can if you want. I already said my parting words, so you best say yours before I cremate her.”

“The worst part is I don’t know what to say.” Asphyxious put a hand over his face. “What do you say when you can’t even remember the ones closest to you.” He take a deep breath. “I just, I wanted to know more. I wanted for her to meet Pupa and watch them play.” He said as tears run down his face.

“There’s nothing left to do now, but to move on really.” Vanessa said as she pulled out a cigar and begins to smoke it. “If we let depression hit us, then that would make Samantha mad.”

“I’m bad when it come to losing someone, like this old dog we had. When it died I cried and cried.” He smiled sadly at that. “I don’t even know how I remember that…”

“............Here.” Vanessa reached into her other pocket and tossed a plush of Samantha at Asphyxious. He looked at and slowly pick it up then cried again holding it.

“Thank you.” He said as he sit there.

“Keep it, Samantha made me two by accident so I figure you need the second one more than I do.”

Asphyxious take a breath as he calm down. “Thank you… I think I’m good now.” He said as he get up. “You ready.”

“Yeah….I am.” She said as she called Littlepip over to bring the body to the engine room. “I’ll be patrolling the area to make sure no one attacks us.”

“Sure you don’t want to say some words before we start?” Asphyxious asked as he looks at Vanessa.

“I already said my parting words to her while you were burning the town to ashes. I’m pretty okay on my end.

“Okay.” Said Asphyxious as he looks at the fire. “I Didn’t know her long, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t family. I felt when I met her things just clicked, like meeting an old friend you haven’t seen for a long time. Where ever she is now, I hope she stay out of trouble. The last thing I need is to bail her out of it.”

He smiled a little at that. “I guess for me no matter how short our meeting was. You were family to me, I won’t forget you. Hey, I think I’ll name one of my kids after you once there born. Goodbye Sam I won’t forget you.”  

“Goodbye to you to…..Mark.”

Asphyxious stopped to look behind himself to see if someone was there, only to see nothing but the barren wastelands.

“Hey you okay?” Asked Littlepip.

“It… Fine.” He said with a smile as a tear run down his check. “We just said our goodbyes.”

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