I growled in frustration, pushing the wire back into place.

“Okay, let’s see if it works now.”

I flicked the switch on the toaster and waited a moment before checking the heating element.

“Come on! What is wrong with this thing!” I screamed, bucking the toaster across the room, the casing cracked against the wall.

“Sweetie, are you okay?” Mom called from the living room.

“I’m fine, mom!” I snapped. I quickly slapped a hoof over my mouth as I realized that I’d just screamed at my mother.

Unsurprisingly she was in the room a few moments later, giving me an unamused look. “Diamond…”

I groaned. “I can’t fix this stupid toaster! I don’t get it! I put the heating coils in, I got the casing back on right, I put it back together just like it’s supposed to be, and it isn’t working!”

She frowned. “Well that’s not good.”

“I know! I don’t know what the heck I’m doing wrong.” I growled angrily.

I levitated the toaster over to me and glared at it.

“You know, your uncle had a problem like that, once,” mom said, pulling me into a hug. “He just couldn’t figure out what he was doing wrong when he was trying to figure out some calculation or… something.”

“Calculation?” I blinked at her.

“His special talent was... basically doing physics. I honestly didn’t understand all that much about it.” She sighed. “But he ended up pacing up and down the hallway outside his room, muttering angrily and glaring at anypony who talked to him, telling them to go away.”

“Really?” I said in bafflement.

“Yeah. He was dealing with… oh, what was it called…” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Oh, that’s right. ‘Talent failure anxiety.’”

I frowned at her. “That’s a dumb name.”

“You can call it ‘cutie mark failure insanity disorder’ if you want, but it’s the same thing. Some ponies get really bad symptoms when they think they messed up at their special talent.”

“So, what happened?” I asked.

“Oh, well, honestly we all dragged him back into his room and tried to work on the problem with him.” She smirked. “It turns out that he forgot to carry a one. Repeatedly.”

“That’s dumb, mom!” I yelled. “I didn’t even do any math for this! How would that make a difference?”

“Did you think that maybe you’re missing something obvious?”

“Like what?”

"Well, if you put everything together right, and it still isn't working..."

She gently pulled the toaster out of my magic and looked at it for a moment before picking up the power cord and pointing to the end of it.

"You should make sure it's plugged in."

My face turned bright red, and my anger drained away.

"Oh... oops?"

~~~

I blinked and yawned, feeling the fuzzy feathers of my… now coltfriend, I guessed, against my back, his right wing wrapped around me under the towel serving as our blanket. The cold morning air wafted under the cart, making me shiver. I opted to just stay there and continue to be comfortable and warm.

”It’s not going to last.”

“Shut up.”

”He’s just going to dump you.”

“Shut. Up.”

”I mean, come on. Already with the cuddling? You’re already calling him your ‘coltfriend’? Somepony’s moving fast.”

I growled and covered my ears with my hooves.

”Oh, like that’s going to help. So immature.”

“What th’ hell dae ye even want?”

”Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Just shut up and die,” I growled. “Go away, vanish, Ah dunnae care, just leave meh alone.”

“Knives? You okay?” Zim’s voice made me jump in surprise. “Are you sleep-talking or just muttering to yourself?”

“She’s nae me!” I hissed.

He blinked in confusion, and I felt the color drain from my face.

“Uh… aheh… sorry, bad dream.” I cleared my throat in an awkward manner.

The kind that never goes away.”

“S’alright.” He wrapped his hooves around my barrel and pulled me closer, planting a kiss behind my ear. “No harm done.”

I nuzzled into the elbow of his wing. “Zim… dae ye think we’re movin’ too fast?”

“Well… Honestly, we’re moving really damn fast, yeah. I mean, only one date.”

”How sad. Even he agrees with me.”

“But, that’s how a lot of wasteland relationships go. Too little time for ‘dating’,” he made air quotes with his free wing. “So ponies just get to know each other on the fly. Regardless, I’m okay with it, especially since I get this juicy flank.”

He gave me a gentle prod in my backside, making me squeak and blush.

“And that was probably the cutest sound I’ve ever heard you make.” he chuckled. "Who'd want to give that up?"

"Plenty of stallions, apparently."

Ignoring her, I kissed him. "How sweet ay ye."

"Hey, lovebirds, could you keep it down?" Zeed whispered, popping her head under the cart. "Some of us are desperately trying to get some sleep before we get to town today."

"Hey, which one ay us keeps havin' panic attacks?" I snorted.

"At least I don't puke after every one." She stuck her tongue out.

"It's nae mah fault! It's ae like Ah want tae." I harrumphed and pulled my pipbuck out of my mane. "It's almost nine, anyway. Why are ye sleepin' nao?"

"Uh… because I'm not getting up at the crack of dawn?" She rolled her eyes.

"Yer tryin' tae avoid Ashes aren't ye." I smirked.

The zebra deadpanned at me. “How am I trying to avoid her by sleeping at a perfectly normal time?”

”Pffft- HAHAHAHAAH! You’re such an idiot!” I blushed in embarrassment at her comment.

“Besides,” Zeed continued. “It’s not like she’s gonna suddenly start getting up in the morning, right?”

"Nope. You wanna just get some breakfast?" Zim asked.

"Aye, Aam fine wi' that." I rolled away from him and crawled out from under the cart, standing up and cracking all my joints, earning the usual pained grimaces of my friends. Taking a glance around me revealed that we were still on the foundations of some old house, surrounded by ruins, with the town of Loss only half a day away.

"Okay..." Zim shivered as he rolled out and straightened his jacket. "That, I could do without."

I pouted mockingly. "Awww... ye dunnae like mah joint-crackin'?"

"It sounds like you just broke something." Zeed rolled her eyes. "My medic senses are tingling."

"Uh-huh. Sure." I cracked a fetlock as Zim brought himself to his hooves, making him wince again.

"I'll laugh if you end up with arthritis." Zeed yawned.

"Anypony else up?" Zim asked.

"I'm up! Just making breakfast." Misty yelled from the other side of the wagon. "Pancakes for everyone!"

I heard a squeal from inside the wagon, and Kara shot out the front, stumbling a bit in her freshly-awoken daze, and running towards her mother's voice. "PANCAKES!"

"Ah could gae fer pancakes." I trotted after the filly, with Zim close behind, Zeed sighed and popped back into the wagon.

Misty was standing in front of a portable stove, a propane tank attached to a burner, flipping over a pancake with a twist of her fetlock. Kara sat beside her, her mane a complete mess, a smile on her face. I could see Nezan doing something with the vinedogs a good distance away.

I chuckled. "Aam guessin' ye like pancakes?"

She shook her head. "Nope. I love pancakes. Especially mom's."

"They're honestly the only thing I know how to make. Usually Nezan does the cooking." She patted her bulging belly. "But I figured since this one woke me up again I might as well make some."

"Gonna get jealous of her too?"

My ears went back as I pushed her back again.

"Jealous!"

I sighed angrily.

"You okay, Knives?" Zim asked.

"Aye. Aam fine, dunnae worry." I growled.

Zim gave me a worried look before putting a wing over my shoulder and giving a gentle rub.

Misty flipped several more pancakes onto the plate and put it on the table. Kara immediately snatched one in her hooves and crammed it into her mouth. We all laughed as she tried to chew the large pancake.

"Kara, slow down. I can make more." Misty shook her head in bemusement.

The filly gave a hard swallow and a happy sigh before grabbing another pancake. "But they're so good..."

"Also, I'm sure you're not the only one who's hungry." Misty pointed to Zim and I.

Kara looked at us for a moment before groaning. "Fine. I'll share the most awesome, delicious pancakes in forever."

With a chuckle, I levitated two off the plate and gave one to Zim and took a bite out of the other.

"Huh. This is really good," The stallion said. "I like Knives' pancakes a bit more, though."

Kara scoffed. "Yeah, well mom's are still better."

"What do you think, Knives?" Misty asked.

"Well, Ah can't actually taste it, but it's soft and moist. Ah like it." I swallowed the mouthful and took another bite.

"Thank you. My mother taught me how to make it, like, right before I left Dream Valley." Misty grinned.

"Hey, whaddaya mean you can't taste it?" Kara gave me a suspicious glare.

I sigh and rolled my eyes. "Ah have nae sense ay taste or smell. Haven't since Ah had an accident when Ah was a filly."

Her ears went back, and she suddenly looked ashamed of herself. "O-oh... what happened?"

My own ears twitched as I grimaced. "Ah'd... rather nae talk about it much. Ah fell and cracked mah head. Let's leave it at that."

"Wow... that's..." her ears went down further. "That really sucks."

"Aye. Ah lost a few ribs, tae." I shrugged. "Still... nae th' worst that can happen. It's rarely a problem unless mah allergies get involved."

Misty's ears perked. "Allergies?"

"Citrus, aye."

Misty seemed to relax a bit and returned to making pancakes. "Oh, good. You freaked me out for a sec. Thought I, like, poisoned you or something."

"Wouldn't be your fault!" Zeed called from the wagon.

I frowned. "Stop eavesdroppin'."

"For somepony with allergies, Knives doesn't pay all that much attention to what she shoves in her face." She giggled.

"Hey, Misty, want me tae teach ye how tae make radroach burgers?" I smirked.

I heard Zeed make a gagging noise, and chuckled.

Misty put down another stack of pancakes and took a look at the tent by the wagon. "Kara, could you see if Vill is awake?"

"Sure, mom!" The filly trotted to the tent and lightly tapped on the flap a few times. She stuck her head in after a moment. She came back out a second later with Vill crawling her way out. The young mare stretched and yawned before she waddled over to join us around the stove.

"Morning, Vill. Pancakes?" Misty smiled.

"Please." She rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Around nine." I grunted.

Zim passed her the plate of pancakes. She immediately wolfed down three of them.

"Hungry, I'm guessing?" Misty laughed.

Vill blushed. "Uh... yeah, sorry..."

"Hey, you and I are eating for two. We're allowed to do that." The winged zony snickered and smiled. "Besides, I can totally make more. We have, like, a ton of this stuff, so eat as much as you want."

"Really?" The younger mare asked, a smile spreading across her face.

"Yup. Everyone, dig in!"

Within ten minutes, the first plate of pancakes was gone. It was followed by a second, most of which was eaten by Vill and Kara. While I'd stopped on my fourth, they seemed to have started racing each other, each having eaten about four of the medium-sized pancakes. When they reached their fifth, Vill stopped, patting her bloated belly and letting out a satisfied sigh. "Okay... I'm stuffed."

"Hah! I win!" Kara yelled before wincing and rubbing her own stomach. "Ow... I think I ate too much."

"Did ye even taste it?" I snorted at Vill.

Her ears went back. "Well... yeah... it's the first time in a while I've been able to eat something without hot sauce."

"Hey, pancakes!" Nezan said cheerily, trotting towards us with the vinedogs in tow.

"Better get some before I scarf 'em all." Misty kissed her husband on the muzzle.

"Nah, it's fine." He replied. "We can probably get to town by around two. We might wanna get moving soon, though. The dogs are being finicky. Probably smell raiders."

Misty winced. "Okay, yeah, maybe we should get moving again."

"Hey, relax. Take your time, okay?" He rubbed her back, between her wings.

She gave him a gentle nuzzle, and hoofed a pancake to him. With another kiss, the stallion took it and stuffed the whole thing in his mouth.

"We shouldn't be in any rush, unless there's something else we're doing here. Heart doesn't seem to even wake up 'till late in the afternoon." Zim said.

"Actualleh, even when she does get up, she's more like a zombie until ye put a few cups at coffee in 'er. Can barely manage more than five words at a time." I added. "Assumin' she hasn't changed tha' much, anyway."

"She still did when we were working together." Zim glanced around. "We mostly pushed towards the city at night. As a matter of fact..."

He zipped up into the air, looking around at the broken buildings before shooting towards one a ways off.

"Hey! Zim!" I called out. "Where are ye goin'?"

There was no reply.

I frowned and glanced at the others, who shrugged and started talking amongst themselves. A moment later he came back with a case labelled ' Heart's special ammo'.

"What's that?" I asked.

He grinned around the handle. "Her favorite percolator. I'm surprised she never came back for it after that botched run."

I hrrm-ed. "Ah think Zeed should give it tae her. It could put Ash in a good mood, at least."

"Why would she be in a bad mood?"

"If she has a foal, she's probably pretteh stressed out, aye?" He replied with a nod. "Well, since she loves coffee sae much, she'd be pretteh damned happy if she got that thing back? Since Zeed wants tae make up wi' her, let her dae it."

"Fair enough, Zeed it is." He nodded.

"Nao, let's get ourselves ready tae move." I kissed him on the nose.

He kissed me back.

~~~~

"I can't do it!" Zeed sobbed.

I gave the gate guards an apologetic look.

"Axy, breathe." Nezan said. "You can do this, you just need to relax."

"She's gonna hate me!"

"Somehow Ah doubt that." I rolled my eyes.

"She won't even wanna talk to me..." the mare sniffled. "Luna's moon, I wouldn't wanna talk to me after what I said."

"Sorry about this." I whispered to one of the guards. "Ah didnae expect her tae break down right here."

"Eh, no biggie." The cheery, but scruffy-looking mare shrugged. "It's not like we're busy 'r anything."

"Zeed, trust me on this, she will not hate you," Zim said. "I don't think she hates anypony. Well, unless you're a slaver. Or a mass murderer, but other than that, she's probably the friendliest pony I've ever met."

"Wait... I thought you said she slept with someone else?" Vill scratched her head.

"Well, yeah, but I... the way I treated her... screamed at her..." Zeed's ears fell.

"But she messed up, and even admitted it. Why would she be mad at you?" The expectant zebra said.

"Exactly! Why would she blame you for getting mad about it?" Nezan threw his forelegs into the air. "C'mon, Axy, it'll be okay."

"But-"

Zeed was interrupted by Misty, who placed a wing over the taller mare's shoulder and gave a warm smile. "Zeed, I haven't known you for that long, less than a week, and most of that was, like, traveling, but I can tell that you're totally a nice, caring mare. She'd have to be wicked crazy to hate you."

"Yeah, she's pretty chill about a lotta stuff. Just don't hurt anypony who doesn't deserve it." Zim patted the zebra on the back.

"I... I just..." Zeed sighed. "Okay, I'll... try to stop panicking."

"No. You're gonna stop panicking!" Kara frowned, her voice stern as she scolded her step-sister. "It'd be, like, totally uncool if you just let her think you still hate her. Just tell her you forgive her, and that you're sorry for being a total lolo kook!"

The filly harrumphed after her brief tirade, and crossed her forelegs over her chest.

Nezan burst out laughing. He was soon joined by his wife, and Zeed started chuckling as well.

"What?" The filly asked. "What's so funny?"

"Sorry, kiddo. It's just adorable when you start talking like your mother." Nezan wiped a tear from his eye.

Kara blinked before she frowned again. "Heeeey, that's not funny. Stop making fun of me, dad!"

Nezan pulled his younger daughter into a hug. "Alright, alright."

"She is right, Zeed." Misty said. "Relax."

Zeed took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I can do this. I can do this."

"So, business or pleasure?" The chipper guard asked.

"Business, technically. Is Split still in charge?" Zim asked.

"Uh... just security. Why?"

"Because he's probably trying to pull off some dramatic entrance thing." A voice with a Trottingham accent called out above us. From the roof of the building beside us, a mare's head popped out. She hummed thoughtfully for a moment. "Or maybe Crunch is rubbing off on me. Anyway, hi Raid! Gimme a minute and I'll be right down."

The guard mare shrugged. "I guess you can come in then?"

Zeed took a deep breath, and I gave her a pat on the back. Following the others in, I noticed that almost all of the building were in a severe state of disrepair, some looking like they would fall apart at any moment. Ponies and a few zebras milled about, most with calm, if not happy, looks on their faces. Almost none of them looked to be over age twenty.

"So, what brings you back here, then?" The earth pony mare asked as she stepped out of the structure.

"Oh wow." Zim blinked. "You're pregnant!"

"Really? I was wondering why I'd gained weight, had cravings for the oddest things, constantly feel movement in my womb, and terrorized my not-quite-but-might-as-well-be-husband with severe and random mood swings." She giggled. "Any other stupid questions?"

I sighed and raised a hoof. "Aye, Ah got one."

"Oh? Do tell." She smirked.

"WHY IS EVERYPONY AROUND MEH GETTIN' KNOCKED UP?" I screamed, pulling on my mane with my forehooves and drawing the looks of about half the ponies in the area. "Vill's pregnant, Misty's pregnant, Ash apparently was pregnant, wait, wait, let me guess... Zeed! Are ye pregnant too? Don't answer that!"

I let out a long growl of frustration.

"Well... how long have you been holding that in?" Split whistled and turned to the staring masses. "It's alright everypony, just a bit of frustration."

"Knives, if you think this is bad, you couldn't even take a step through my high school without bumping into some pregnant mare." Zim chuckled, rubbing my back with a wing.

I covered my face with a forehoof and growled into it. "Apparently th' universe likes remindin' meh ay mah shortcommin's."

"Not just the universe."

"Fuck everythin'." I spat on the ground.

"You okay, Knives?" Zim asked.

I pinched my brow with a fetlock. "Aye. Don't mind meh, just a bad mood."

"Right, then. Once again, what brings you to Loss?" Split smiled. "I'm guessing you'll want to visit Heart for a tick?"

"Actually, she's the main reason we're here. Although..." Zim snickered.

"I'll nip this in the bud now. Yes, Crunch is my lover, yes he's the father. No, actually, I was already sleeping with him before you left." Split sighed. "Anything I missed?"

"How far along are you?" Zeed asked.

"Oh, about ten months." She gave a warm smile. "Anyway, I'm Banana Split. Nice to meet you."

"Steel Ranger?" Nezan tapped his chin.

"Oh, no, not at all." She waved a hoof.

"Well, this is Zeed, Nezan, Misty, Vill, Kara," Zim said, pointing to each of us in turn. "And this is my marefriend, Knives."

I beamed at him, a small blush on my face.

"Nice to meet you all." The mare grinned.

"So how's Heart been?"

"Fine. Want me to take you to her?"

Zim, Zeed and I all blinked.

"Ye mean she's actually up?" I said incredulously. "Before four? Seriously?"

"I know, surprising, isn't it? She's been trying to get up earlier recently. Probably gone through a whole field of coffee beans this week alone." Split laughed. "She's playing at the bar right now, and Crunch is over there watching Snow."

"So, is it a colt or a filly?" Zim asked.

"Probably the most adorable filly I've ever seen. I swear, the sheer cuteness is what's been killing the raiders outside." She snorted a laugh and shook her head. "Come on, I'll take you to them."

She motioned for us to follow her through the city. We did so, leaving the cart behind with the dogs, who stood there in their eerily still manner, just staring at nothing I could see.

One of the things I noticed was that there seemed to be construction going on everywhere I looked, with holes in buildings being patched up with pieces of other buildings, the air was filled with the sounds of hammering and drilling, none of it particularly loud.

"Wow... this isn't at all what I expected." Misty said. "I thought this place was surrounded by raiders?"

"It is, but they're so scared of Hearteater that they won't go anywhere near the place. On top of that, any time the city's attacked, everyone grabs a weapon and fights." Split's smile widened. "Most of them are ex-slaves. No intention of going back to that."

"Good to hear," Nezan said.

Zeed whimpered a bit as we approached what was very obviously a bar, what with the drunk ponies stumbling out and the muffled music.

Zeed took a deep breath and whimpered. "I can do this. I can do this."

"Relax, Zeed," Nezan said. "Just relax."

Split opened the door, letting out the sounds of a guitar and a familiar voice.

"-you know how I feel,
It's a new dawn,
It's a new day,
It's a new life,
For me
And I'm feeling good..."

Ashes was sitting on top of a stage on the left side of the room, completely focused on her playing. There were bags under her eyes, her mane was tied into a ponytail with a thin, pink ribbon, her glasses were perched on the end of her nose. She had a small smile on her face. Tables around the room were occupied mostly by cheery equines with drinks in their hooves or magic. A grinning ghoul in a suit stood behind the bar itself.

Zeed whimpered and backed away. "I can't do this!"

I sighed. "Nezan, maybe ye should calm her down a bit? I should get Ashes ready fer it. Might nae want tae surprise her like that."

The stallion nodded, and went to his hyperventilating daughter's side.

"I'm gonna stay out here," Misty said. "I'd rather not be bringing Kara into any bars yet."

The filly groaned. "Mooooom..."

Vill shrugged and sat on a nearby bench, massaging her stomach.

"Well, then, I suppose that's settled." Zim and I followed Split in and to a nearby table. She let out two quick, sharp whistles, and one of Ashes' ears twitched towards us. She glanced over and grinned at Split, then at Zim. Her jaw dropped as she caught sight of me, and the chord she was about to play turned into a twanging sound. I waved casually.

"Uhh..." she said, turning to the microphone as she realized she was being given confused looks. "S-sorry about that, guys, uh... I'm gonna have to cut this last song a bit short, there's somepony I really need to hug right now. Sorry, Zero."

The ghoul at the bar shrugged, and moved to buck a jukebox at the end of the table, starting up some punk rock song.

Ashes then proceeded to jump of the stage, charge through the room, and body-slam me out of my seat, rolling both of us across the ground a short distance before somehow popping back to her hind legs with me trapped in a tight hug.

"Oh my gosh I can't believe it's actually you you're seriously here oh my gosh oh my gosh I could just cry right now!" Her eyes were brimming with tears of joy as she held me.

I gave her a few weak taps on the shoulder. "Ash! Need air!"

I gasped as she let me go with a sheepish grin, and I sigh in relief as air filled my lungs again.

"Sorry, Knives, it's just..." she laughed. "Wow... it's been three years. I thought I'd never see you again. How've you been? What... and what the heck happened to your eye?"

I touched the cheek under my right eye. "Och, eh... Clothesline shot meh in th' face."

Her eye twitched. "She what."

"Ah'll tell ye later. How've ye been? Ah heard ye have a foal?"

"Yeah. She's backstage with Crunch right now. She's just such a cute little filly." Ashes beamed. "And I've been great! I'm guessing Raid told you about Loss?"

"He told meh that ye took down a slaver base."

She blushed and scratched her neck. "Well... it's not like I did it myself."

"Ye look like ye lost some weight. Ye alright?"

"Oh, yeah, I've been trying to wake up earlier, and... well, I kinda haven't had much of an appetite. Heck, the only reason I'm even awake at the moment is 'cuz I drank a can of Brawnco and two cups of coffee. Anyway, what are you doing out here?"

"There was a riot. Zeed and Ah ran."

Her hoof went to her face. "Another one? Oh, goddesses... is... do you know if Uncle Gate is okay?"

"Sorry, Ah dunnae. Haven't seen much of him since... since mom died..." I sighed.

"I'm... I heard about that." Her ears went back. "Sorry about your mom."

"Anyway, like Ah said, Zeed's with meh," I said. "She's outside havin' a panic attack."

Ashes blinked. "Why?"

"Apparently she thinks yer goin' tae be mad at her."

She blinked again. "Mad at her? For what?"

"Because she thinks she treated ye like crap. Ye know she has problems."

"What... treated... but... what?" She frowned. "Okay, she and I need to talk."

"That ye dae." I smirked. "Aam glad tae see yer alright, Ash."

She hugged me again. "You, too, Knives. Let's go deal with Zeed before she explodes or something."

"Oh, drat. That means I have to get up again." Split sighed.

"C'mon, lazy-butt." Ashes giggled as she helped the other mare to her hooves.

"Like you have room to talk." Split gave the grey mare a light punch on the shoulder and made for the exit.

"Hey, I was still working when I was pregnant."

"Yes, well aren't you the perfect athlete."

"Yup. Years of working out." Ashes stuck her tongue out.

We stepped back outside the bar to find Zeed breathing into a paper bag. Ashes' smile shrank a bit as she exhaled.

"Hey, Zeed," she said. "What's up?"

The zebra froze, and gulped audibly.

~~~~~

"There it is, fillies. Loss." Xixixix grinned proudly.

Wretch stared down at the walled city with an exhausted expression. "Yaaaaay..."

"Oooh..." Green said. "There's so many ponies down there..."

"Yep. Loss is pretty big. I was glad to hear it got liberated. But we're not going in." He pointed off in the distance. "That building over there, is where we'll find your 'special' memory orb."

"Yes. We're goIng 1n." Wretch growled. "I'm tired and I have a headache."

"I thought you wanted to find it as quickly as possible?"

"...right, fine. Just... ugh..." the unicorn sighed. "My head..."

"What's in there?" Green asked.

"Canturbury Psychological Research Division offices. One of them, anyway. They should have the location of any 'special' projects like your orb." Xixixix shrugged. "Probably full of automated defenses. Robots, turrets, blah, blah, blah. Should be easy."

"Yeah... easy." Wretch rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, easy!" The stallion started trotting merrily down the slope, humming to himself. Green giggled and followed suit, with Wretch continuing to trudge along behind them.

The building was several stories tall, unassuming, with no windows or decorations. A shattered sidewalk ran around it, resting in a sea of sand-covered asphalt.

Xixixix kicked open the broken glass doors, further shattering them, and yelled. "Lucy! I'm home!"

The response came in the form of several turrets dropping from the ceiling and letting loose a volley of red-colored energy. He yelped and ducked out of the way. “Well… I was right about one thing…”

“Can you not be stupid for once?” Wretch yelled, whipping out her shotgun and immediately firing several shots, taking out the turrets in a few blasts each.

Green simply took cover behind a bench, far away from the entrance to the building.

“Hey, I’m never stupid! Dumb, maybe, but not stupid!” Xixixix crossed his forelegs over his head and snorted. “And stop yelling at me.”

“Goddesses… let’s just get this over with so I can do what I need to do.” The pink mare stormed into the structure, leaving an impetulant zebra and a cowering filly outside.

“Just for that, I’m not coming in with you!” He shouted back.

"Fine!" Wretch continued deeper into the facility. "Idiot."

Another turret was shot down within moments of its appearance. A second didn't even get the chance to fire before it exploded in a shower of sparks.

Wretch glanced around the lobby, muttering unpleasant things under her breath.

She smiled as she caught sight of a building map on the wall, and after examining it for a moment, started towards the nearest stairwell. The top floor was mostly barren, with dust-covered walls, white tiled floors, and gurneys lying about. The pink unicorn checked each room as she went past, looting every bit of medical supplies she could find, filling her saddlebag almost to bursting.

Eventually, she came to an office door, easily opening the lock by sticking her leg through the broken window and letting herself in. She was met with the sight of a computer, it’s skeletonized owner sitting in the chair in front of it. Shoving the long dead pony aside, she took the seat and started magically typing away.

~~~

No stat changes.

`

To-Do List:

Active Quest:

Sifting Through The Dust:

1) Find information on the location of Ashes.

2) Find information on the location of Obsidian Knives

3)Find information on the location of Nezan Kazdri