Fallout Equestria: Aurora
By CaptainSparx
Chapter Two: Wasteland Welcome
“Some profound truth goes here”

Clouds.

The gray mass stretching as far as the eye could see. As a pegasus they held a special significance to me. They were often times a comfort. A warmth and joy expressed in large fluffy bodies, awe and mysticism in the wispy contrails up above. These clouds were neither. Cold, dark and foreboding. Casting their gloomy hue upon everything below. Equestria wasn’t supposed to look like this. At least, not the Equestria that I knew.

I pulled up the chronometer on my PipBuck. Mid-afternoon. “Perfect,” overcast with a hundred percent chance of gloomy. Well give it a few hours and it should clear up. It always did. Turning my attention away from the sky I surveyed the landscape around me. Pieces of garbage flittered wistfully in the breeze. Collecting in groups and dancing across the ground until the wind died. Overturned workstations and broken research equipment lay scattered around the immediate area. Several charred skeletons lay in awkward positions as the ponies that they once were had tried to hide from the balefire. This wasn’t much better than the stable itself. At least it was only skeletons. I shuddered at the thought of the desecrated remains still hanging and rotting in the stable. I felt guilty for leaving them there, but honestly what was I supposed to do. It wasn’t like I could bury them. I didn’t even have… oh look, a shovel. Well what was left of one at least? The handle long ago turned to ash, the blade bent and warped from the heat. Well maybe I could make use of it somehow. I looked about for something to carry it with.

The worksite looked like it had been picked clean of anything useful. My curiosity got the better of me and I started looking around for anything even remotely useful. I was quickly rewarded when I found a saddle bag crushed under one of the overturned tables. Lifting the table up a little I whisked the bag out from beneath. It had definitely seen better days but it could still perform its primary function. I dumped its contents on the ground. Several pencils, scrolls with designs of some sort on them, a few strange instruments I had no idea what they were used for. Useless stuff. The scrolls blew away in the slight breeze as I strapped the bag over my shoulder and put the shovel blade inside. Okay, honestly how does a device two hundred years old do that? Not only did it label the shovel as scrap metal but it also assigned a value of one to it. One what?

The rest of my scavenging was less successful. A few strips of leather, some tossed bottle caps, single pills here and there. I set the pills on a desk as I flipped through my first aid booklet. Seven Mint-als, some Buck and I had even located two intact syringes of Med-X. At this rate I could open my own hospital. I scooped them into my bag, letting the PipBuck inventory spell work its magic. Ripping off a piece of leather I chewed it as best I could. It wasn’t the best, in fact it tasted rather salty which made me thirsty. But at least it was something in my stomach. I was hesitant to try the radroach meat until I could find a way to cook it.

Water. Well that would have been something nice to find. The few puddles scattered about had noticeable green tints to them and sent my PipBuck into a clicking frenzy as it warned me of the radiation. Well I might be able to stave off hunger but without water I’d be dead in a couple days. Yay for happy thoughts. I made one last pass through the worksite to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. Good thing I did too. An old beat-up canteen was half buried in the earth under a unicorn skeleton. I gingerly moved the bones, not wishing to disturb the dead and bring a curse upon my head. Not that I believed in curses mind you. Just better not push my luck. The fluid inside was a nasty green sludge that more oozed than flowed as I poured it onto the ground. Well I might not have water but if I could clean this out and find water I would be set for a day or two.

Adding the canteen to my bag I headed up a small rise to the north of the worksite. It wasn’t much but the extra elevation should help me get my bearings. Well maybe if I knew what I was looking at it would.

I just stared at the vast expanse of… well, nothing. Mile upon mile of irradiated wastes in every direction. Directly to my east I recalled there had been a village. About five miles out, past a bog. Well if I was to find other ponies I might as well start there. Only one little problem. The bog had been problematic back in the day for travelers, but that sickly green tinge was enough to make me wish for a rad suit. Something I definitely didn’t have. Well I could always go around. But that would be at least three days journey either way. My only option was to go straight through. I started out as best I could towards the bog.

I sat thinking just outside the range where my rad meter would start going crazy. Still, the occasional click was warning that I didn’t have too much time to sort out a solution. I could walk through, maybe turn into a nasty mutated monster pony (like that was even feasible). Or I could most likely keel over dead in ten minutes. OR… maybe I could fly over. Well, there goes that idea. Or maybe not. I quickly pulled out my first aid book and looked up the effects of Buck.

I held one of the yellow-orange pills in my hoof. Promises of strength and endurance. Yeah that would let me fly until it wore off. And a shot of Med-X should null the pain for the duration. I just hoped it would be enough to get me across the bog. I shrugged and tossed the pill in my mouth. It tasted rather bitter and with nothing to wash it down the taste was lingering. I was glad no one was around to see my face as I pulled out one of my syringes of Med-X.. From my experience as a combat medic I knew the effects well. It had saved many a life on the frontlines and carried a low risk of addiction. Though given the amounts that we would go through to just keep ponies out of shock it was no surprise that addiction was pretty common. I uncapped the needle, tapping air bubbles out and pushing out a drop of the painkiller. Well here goes nothing. Jabbing myself in the shoulder like I had done to countless ponies before. Ouch. That hurt more than I expected. I pushed all of it into my system and then discarded the empty syringe. I seriously doubt I’d be fined for littering given the state of the worksite.

It took only a matter of seconds for the painkiller to work. My wings felt oddly tingly, though I could move them with no restrictions. I also felt, well… energized. I didn’t feel tired, in fact I felt like I could sprint the entirety of the running of the leaves right about now. Giving a few test flaps and not getting any of the sharp stabbing pain that I was used to was a nice side effect.

Lifting off the ground a few feet I hovered around, flew a large circle and pulled a fast straight before I touched back down. No pain, check. I was good to go. I pulled up the map on my PipBuck and set a waypoint roughly where I figured the village would be. Flying wouldn’t do me any good if I got lost. At least a waypoint would keep me flying in a straight line. Taking to the sky I rose to a height of only about ten or fifteen meters off the ground. High enough to be out of range of the radiation, yet low enough that I shouldn’t be killed by the fall should the meds just give out.

Dusk was rapidly approaching as I soared at a moderate pace towards the horizon. I didn’t want to push it by going too fast, and at the same time I was concerned about falling out of the sky. If I really wanted to push my luck I could fly up to the clouds and walk around up there. Then I’d definitely starve. My mind was starting to wander a bit. Mostly focusing on food. My attention was suddenly brought up to a small flicker of light in the distance as it was growing dark. I wasn’t too sure but if my luck held out I’d say that there was a campfire in the distance. In fact... gaining a little speed I pushed more to the south away from my waypoint to check out the glimmer of civilization. Maybe I could cook the meat I had. Oh stop it brain, you can wait an hour or two.

The light from the fire illuminated two ponies sulking on the outer borders of its warmth. I alighted a little ways behind them. They didn’t move. I forgot how silent flight could be. “Ahem,” I coughed to garner their attention,

“Holy fucking hell!” One of the ponies shouted as he spun around in surprise. A unicorn. A unicorn with a shotgun aimed right at me head.

“Don’t shoot!” I raised my hoof up to my face in defense.

“Hey Torque, would you look at that. A flyboy.”

“I can see that Graft. Just shut up will you.” The unicorn snapped at his companion. A rather husky looking earth pony. He looked ragged, a little like a transient. In fact they both looked like that.

“Hey feather brain, yer mom ever tell you sneaking up on ponies is a good way to get yer head blown off?” Yer frickin stupid ya are.”

Lowering my hoof I glanced at the shotgun. A nice drum-fed twenty gauge with a tight choke. It had clearly seen better days but being on the business end I just kept my mouth shut. Torque eyed me suspiciously, as if sizing me up. I felt even shorter than I already was under his studious gaze. In fact I wouldn’t call it studious, more like crazed. This pair looked like they might be short just a few marbles.

“Well would you look at that, looks like he’s fresh outta the stable. You know what that means.”

The earth pony glanced at me, his eyes growing wide as he licked his lips. A drop of saliva hit the ground sending up a miniature mushroom of dust that glowed red in the fire light. “Really Torque? I’m so hungry I haven’t eaten a good meal in days.”

Torque scrunched his face against his hoof. “No you idiot, get the rope. A flyer will fetch a pretty cap… so long as they’re mostly undamaged…” I could tell things were quickly turning south. Though how much so was beyond me since this was all pretty new to me. I had found actual living breathing ponies out in this hell hole and they were holding me at gun point arguing if they should eat me or not! Yeah, so totally not a good day. Maybe I should pay more attention to things right in front of me. How long had those bars been red? My EFS showing one bar where the unicorn stood, the other moving slowing around at the far side of camp. Well, serves me right for following my stomach.

Shears returned with a coil of rope clenched in his teeth. I didn’t want to stick around for to party though. As soon as he was between me and the floating shotgun I struck out with my fore hoof. Catching Graft in the teeth with the edge of the PipBuck. Several teeth went flying as a loud crack of his shattered jaw set the tone. That would be my cue to go.

That Buck was some pretty impressive stuff. Sprinting as quickly as my legs could take me before I tore off into the air as fast as my wings could carry me. I didn’t look back, but the sound of racking was enough to make my wings pump even faster. I could barely see in the failing light, I had no concept of where to go, only an urgent need to get away. A loud crack filled the air as flames erupted out of the darkness. My rump felt suddenly numb and wet at the same time. I could complain about that after the Med-X wore off. Or not.

I was not okay. Picking myself up off the ground. Searing pain flooded my brain, wings like lead weights as they dangled at my sides, feathers brushing the ground as I pushed onward in what could only be described as madness. Blood streamed down the backs of my legs, my coat becoming more saturated with crimson at every step. A second report echoed through the air. Only this time I was thankful for having already fallen out of the sky. The shot flew upwards into the darkness, distant curses insulting my mother for having apparently gotten away. Well come daybreak I’d be a dead pony if I didn’t find shelter. Gah, I couldn't move, the pain just hurt too much. Hastily pulling out my last dose of Med-X I uncapped and stabbed myself in the rump with a half does. I’d need the rest later to get all fixed up so all I needed right now was to be numb enough to walk.

Or run. Running was good. The shouts were getting further and further away as my pursuers slowly gave up chase. The flickering torches floating back towards the campfire. I had barreled into old’ fences, careened into nearly invisible piles of rubble and even splashed through irradiated puddles up to my chest in the dark. I didn’t dare use the light from my PipBuck. I wasn’t that stupid. Though I could have avoided this if I’d just had gone to my waypoint in the first place. Maybe.

Slamming on the brakes before I slammed into a rather large obstruction. The overturned wagon half buried in the ground. Well maybe it was half a wagon. In fact it looked rather like… apple cart? The location name flashed on my EFS. I glanced down at the map on my PipBuck. Indeed, a small icon appeared on the map with the title, ‘Fritters Apple Cart’. Well Fritters, thanks for the shelter. Scrambling under the wooden shell that had surprisingly stood for two hundred years. I wasn’t about to question it. I just wanted to get to sleep before the pain kicked back in. The buffout was just fading and I could feel exhaustion washing over me. Flopping down on my belly, wings and legs spread out on the ground. No sooner had I laid down when everything went dark.

I ran. The screaming heads of ponies calling my name as they were devoured alive by the enormous insects. I was helpless to save them, unable to turn away. I could hear the laughing of two ponies as they paced around me. I struggled against the ropes that bound me. They only seemed to get tighter. Suddenly a stabbing pain gnawed at my flank and what sounded like a megaspell going off ripped through the air. The screaming rose to match the ear shattering explosion. I felt as if parts of me were being ripped away as the green light of balefire consumed everything around me...

I awoke with a start. Nightmares were terrible things. Some were just weird, others drew on our experiences to make the dream that much more livid. I was sweating heavily, panting as the screams slowly died to a distant wail inside my head. Everything hurts so much. Why. Oh I remember now. I’d been shot. Immediately glancing at my Eyes Forward Sparkle for any hostile blips. Nothing, not even a sliver of yellow. Well I guess that’s a good sign.

Picking myself up into a sitting position I poured the contents of my bag on the ground. Half a vial of Med-X rolled against my hoof. Well shoot, maybe using it hadn’t been the best idea after all. Glancing at my flank. Specks of black marred the matted red crust like pepper. This was going to hurt a lot. I jabbed the syringe in my thigh and waited to grow numb.
Picking up my canteen I crawled out from under the wagon. It was really cramped under there, stretching out my legs one by one. A murky pool of irradiated water lay several paces off. A nasty green tinge clinging to its borders. I wasn’t going to drink it no matter how thirsty I got but I really need to wash off all this blood. As fast as I could I filled my canteen with water and poured it over my back, scrubbing lightly with a hoof to loosen the matted mess. Despite the painkiller the pain was still quite noticeable. I finished up quickly and returned to the overturned cart. Setting down the canteen and pulling my knife out with my teeth. What I wouldn’t give for a hoofful of Med-X right now. Digging into the tattered flesh I picked out pieces of lead with the tip of the blade, cutting off any large flaps of skin that got in the way. Forget getting shot, getting unshot was hell! In the end there were seventeen little black pellets that I had pulled from my butt. I sat there in the pool of blood and water as the painkiller started to fade.

I had fully intended to use the healing potion only in the most extreme circumstances. This should qualify. Popping the top I chugged the potion down, oh crap. *hic* Maybe a little *hic* too fast. It tasted vaguely of… raspberries. At least I hope that was what it was supposed to taste like. Two hundred years could do a number on flavor I’m sure. The warmth of the liquid flowed down my throat and spread throughout my body. My butt started to get really itchy as the skin closed over the holes I had made and a soft velvety layer of fur sprouted. From behind I *hic* looked like a patchwork quilt. There were also several other beneficial side effects I noticed. One was the potion had momentarily quenched my thirst. The other I discovered when I crawled under the cart to retrieve my gear. My hoof was perfectly *hic* healed. That was a sure sign I hadn’t broken it. In fact if it had been broken my leg would have gone the same way as my wings. I was lucky I wasn’t crippling myself. Once I had repacked my bag I pulled the bandages off my ankles. Okay I’m pretty sure that wasn’t supposed to look like that. The murky green sludge had caked underneath the bandages from my escapade the night before. Scraping it off revealed several green tinged scars where the damaged tissue had been exposed to radiation. The healing potion had fused the wounds and radiation together. It wasn’t too bad apparently since my rad meter wasn’t clicking. Is that… *hic* glowing. I stared closer. Passing a hoof over to cast a darker shadow. Yep. The scars were glowing. “Well shoot… that can’t be good.”

Pulling out fresh bandages I wrapped the more noticeable hoof to cover the glow. The last thing I needed was a glowing beacon at night telling everypony where I was. Or rather wherever it was that I was heading. I couldn't head back towards the waypoint on my PipBuck without passing by the pair of crazies. I still really wanted to get to that little village. It would only be several hours by hoof if I made a wide pass… The distant report of a shotgun carried on the air. Yep, definitely leaving now. I changed my waypoint for a place in the middle of nowhere. A point I hoped would allow me to circumnavigate the hostile group. I hope there isn’t more of them. Clambering out from under the cart I stood up, spinning around to locate the waypoint in my EFS. Gotcha. A quick check of my bag and barding and I was off at a trot.

Water. I could hear the sound of the trickle for what seemed like a mile away. Okay, maybe not a mile but it sure feels like it when you’re dehydrated, hungry and mostly just a miserable mess. The waypoint had taken me out along a ravine that I followed until I was nearly perpendicular to where I wanted to go. Locations didn’t seem to appear on the map other than Stable 33, and Fritters. I was thankful the terrain features were two hundred years old so I could at least pick out where the village was supposed to be. The ruins of several buildings were all that remained of the village. A blip on EFS alerted me to the location of ‘Village Ruins’ being added to my map. Great, even the PipBuck couldn’t remember what this place was named. Watching my step amongst the rubble, I followed my ears towards the sound. I paused when I broke out into the village center. A shattered pipe poked out of the ground several feet, water trickling out into a small pool. My rad meter clicked, but not fast enough to deter me. It was the cleanest looking water I had seen and I just couldn’t help myself. Plunging my whole head under the stream as I gulped down the cool refreshing liquid. Water dripped from my mane as I swallowed. Then shaking most of the water from my mane I took a more dignified drink. Oh goddesses this was perfect. I took a third drink as I rummaged about my bag for the canteen. After several rinses it was clean enough to use and I filled it to the brim before capping it.

What was that? Above the steady trickle of water was a soft clanging sound. It was steadily getting louder as I paused to focus in on the sound. It was coming from roughly the direction I had met the not-so-friendly ponies the night before. I glanced in the direction of the sound, trying to pick up any bars on my EFS display. They must be pretty far out if they weren’t showing up. Still the fact that I could hear them coming was a little disconcerting. Placing my canteen in my bag I skirted the far side of the town square. I wasn’t about to just run up and say hi this time. No, my best bet was to watch silently and hope it wasn’t the crazy pony pair.

I scrambled up some stairs, the house had been gutted by fire and most of the outer walls were just barely standing. I was inherently grateful for the natural lightness of pegasi ponies as the beams only creaked slightly under my weight. I settled down on the second story by a blown out window. In fact most of the wall had fallen out as well so I kept further back. I figured anypony traveling these parts might know of the water so it was a likely spot they would cross. I made sure I could see the makeshift watering hole from my hiding spot, shifting some rubble and charred timber to form a bit of a makeshift barrier. I finished just in time. Seven bars flashed to life on my Eyes Forward Sparkle. Three red, no four. No three. One of the bars kept changing. The other three though stayed a steady yellow. I watched the bars move to the south and then stop. No not stop, they were coming right towards me. Slinking further back into my shelter as a wagon burst into view. It wasn’t like any wagon I had seen before. Two decently sized earth pony bucks pulled the wagon, a large metal animal cage bolted to the back of the transport and covered in the front with a tattered tarp. They were flanked by a rather unkempt unicorn stallion and a rather mutilated looking earth pony mare. The unicorn floated a weapon at his side. I recognized it almost instantly. I had stared down its barrel long enough to know it was trouble. The fresh looking red stains on the unicorn's coat told me how he had probably gotten it. Okay, a more organized and more dangerous group of crazies by the looks of it. I looked around for the three yellow blips. I didn’t see any other ponies.

The wagon hooked a sharp left. No their right, my left. The back half of the wagon was uncovered and I suddenly could see the non-hostiles. Two ponies lay slumped on the floor of the wagon as it bounced along. They looked pretty wretched as it were, I’m sure the conditions weren’t helping. I figured my third yellow was in the front of the wagon, obscured by the tarp. Odd. It must be a prisoner transport of some kind. Only the guards looked rather unprofessional and to be honest… a lot like the type of ponies that I had encountered the night before. I was really not liking my odds of finding help out here in this damn Luna forsaken hell hole. Maybe I could learn something if I could get closer. I didn’t see a PipBuck on any of them so they shouldn’t have an EFS. Actually if they did have Eyes Forward they definitely would have found me.

Breaking cover to gain intel. Not like I haven’t done this before. Only usually when I do this I have a powerful weapon in my hooves as backup and a team of ponies as backup to my backup. Oh and the stakes are usually pretty high. This was a little different. I was going in alone, armed with only a knife against ponies, who for all I knew were just doing their jobs. I could feel the rush of adrenaline, my rapid heartbeat, taking shallow breaths as I moved from one piece of cover to another. The group was a block… half a block… two buildings away now. I snuck into a small storeroom where I could hear voices without being seen. They seemed rather lost in conversation with each other as they set up camp around the water hole. So long as they didn’t set up camp indoors I would be fine. I pressed my ear to the wall and kept an eye on my EFS. “Ah come on, buck up will ya.” A husky male voice carried through the walls. “Knock it off Racket, leave the kid alone. Keep squawking and yer gittin watch all night. Again.” A stern and rather crass female voice. Not really feminine in the least. “Kid,” the female continued. “Take watch for now, and somepony get me something to fucking eat.” Yeah, really crass indeed. I watched as the indecisive bar moved off from the others. Holding my breath as he walked past my hideout and took up watch a little further down the street. Poking my head around the door I could see his back. A light blue stallion, tan mane and tail sat looking out at the devastation. He wore a set of grungy leather armour with some metal reinforcements here and there. A red bandanna was tied around his forehead to keep his mane out of my eyes. He hadn’t noticed me and I couldn’t exactly leave without being spotted now.

“Too bad ‘bout those raiders, could’ve been a pretty cap or two.” I shrank back into the dark room and continued to listen. “Shove it horn head. Their raiders. Worth more dead than alive these days. Besides they’d eat our stock if you don’t keep an eye on ‘em.” “Hey boss, how ‘bouts a little fun?” The husky male from earlier. There was long drawn out silence. I could only imagine the glare the mare was giving the other stallion. Finally she spoke, breaking the tension. “I don’t care whatcha do with the stock. You know the rules.” Rules? Stock? What were they… “Yeah don’t permanently damage them or it comes out of your cut.” This wasn’t really making much sense. Just who were these ponies? “Hey. Horn head. Care to exercise some quality slave flank with me?” SLAVES. My jaw metaphorically hit the floor at the word. I didn’t hear what was said next but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have liked it anyway. I really needed to get out and away from this place. Come on brain. Engage, think, do something.

Watching the blue stallion from the doorway I was preparing to bolt. Then I froze. A trio of EFS blips at the side of my vision as two stallions walked right into the building I was hiding in the back of. Between them, led by a rope, an off-yellow mare. She looked terrified as she was ‘escorted’ by the two larger stallions. The pair was preoccupied with tying the leading end to a desk so I was a little shocked when I glanced at the mare and saw her staring at me. Her mouth moved silently but I just panicked and backed into a corner of my dark room. I spent the better part of two hours hiding on the other side of a wall as the two stallions ‘exercised’ the mare. If it wasn’t for the unicorn’s shotgun laying by the door, the two stallions bigger than myself and the guard sitting just outside I might have made a dash for it. Heck, I might even take a pony or two with me. But instead I was petrified with fear. Fear of being discovered, or worse. I couldn’t even hold my knife still in my teeth and had to set it down to keep it from falling and clattering on the ground.

I watched them leave. Practically dragging the exhausted and battered mare back to camp. I caught the expression on the face of the guard as he followed them with his gaze. He looked furious, and in that brief moment he was a blip of yellow. I really needed to get out of here. But I couldn’t leave now. Maybe if I’d have stayed hidden I could just walk away at nightfall. But hearing what was going on… no her eyes as she stared into my soul were enough to convince me. I was going to kill every last one of those wretched slavers and make them regret their choice of career. All I needed was the cover of darkness. And maybe a plan.

Okay, no plan is still a plan. Right? The ultimate in the element of surprise. Even I had no clue what I was going to do. As the sky grew darker the slavers had set up a small fire for camp and were eating some canned food. I can’t imagine it would taste very good after two centuries but, ehh. Can’t be too picky I guess. My stomach rumbled as I watched from a distance. The guard pony had left almost an hour ago and I used the opportunity to sneak out and scout out the rest of ‘Village Ruins’. A partially destroyed three story building stood two blocks away and was an opportune vantage point once it got dark. I could see the camp and the ponies about the fire. A faint shimmer on the wagon, and the four bed rolls laid out opposite it. What I really needed was a sniper rifle. I had no doubt I could pick off at least the unicorn and one other pony before they would scatter. Screw that. I just needed a gun. Other than the unicorn with the shotgun it appeared that only the pony guard from earlier had a gun. The mare had a large hammer-like device. Various spikes and junk fashioned onto the head, glistening in the flickering fire light. The other stallion I’m sure had a weapon. I just hadn’t seen it yet.

One by one three of the ponies set off to sleep. The last, one of the stallion rapists from earlier, took up watch. He must not have been really into it though as he spent more time focused on the fire than actually keeping watch. It wasn’t all that cold out. Well maybe my thick barding, wings and my simmering rage was what kept me warm. Quietly I returned to the storefront I had been trapped in earlier. If I rushed up quickly maybe… no too risky. I need to make as little noise as possible. Can’t risk him sounding the alarm. An idea sprung into my head. Maybe it was a half-baked plan. But it was better than nothing.

The sleeping ponies snored heavily. Sending up a silent thanks to Luna for the sound that helped cover my advance. Clenching my knife in my teeth I pressed up against the far side of the wagon. “Huh… who’s there?” My heart froze. “Hmm. Just the wind. Nothing to worry yourself over Racket. It’s just the wind.” Letting out the breath I had been holding. That was really close. I snuck around the back of the wagon. I dared look inside. The mare from earlier slept in a fitful slumber. Her body quivering as she took short sharp breaths. Against the bars under the tarp was a rotting corpse. Okay, that’s just… WHAA!! It moved! The dead pony moved. Its sides rose and fell rhythmically. I had almost dropped my knife in sheer fright. Wait. I had dropped my knife. I looked down. Floating just inches off the ground, wrapped in a very faint sheath of magic. It just hovered there, turning over slowly. Panicked I looked to were the slavers were still… yes the unicorn was still asleep. Then what… o...kay. Glancing back at the wagon I saw the third occupant. A petite unicorn mare. She looked rather dirty but the faint glow around her horn told me more than the open eye that studied me. If she hadn’t caught the knife I would have been caught for sure. Then again, she wasn’t killing me with it at the moment. Well not yet anyway. The knife floated up to mouth and I bit the handle as the magic faded. One long look at me then she motioned with the slightest move of her head.

Kill them. Free us. Seemed to echo in my head as she locked eyes with me. What do you think I‘m trying to do. I nodded my head in the affirmative as she closed her eye and went back to her fake sleep. Her breathing much too slow and shallow. What. I noticed these kind of things. She was really trying to fake it but doing a terrible job. Shrugging it off as I moved around the back of the wagon. Peeking around the corner the slaver sat with his back to me. Kill them. I rushed the stallion, my steel flashing in the firelight. Wrapping a hoof around his neck and covering his mouth as I swung the blade and dug it deep into his neck. Warm dark liquid squirted my face and dripped down my barding. The stallion struggled, I twisted the knife. The stallion lashed out with hooves, bruising the side of my head and slapping my thigh as I put my other hoof around his neck. Jerking both hooves back with a loud snap. The limp body slid off the knife and slumped to the ground. Blood covered my forehooves, face and neck. I could taste the iron in my mouth as it dribbled down the edge of the blade. One down. Three to go.

“Wha… What’s going on?”

“Sssit” I hissed around the handle. Somepony was awake. So much for that plan.

“Everypony up! We’re under attack!” The unicorn shouted as he levitated the shotgun up to him, firing a round into the air to rouse his compatriots. He hastily looked around, latching on to the dead body slumped over by the fire. I dashed into the shadows as soon as that blast went off, running for the three story vantage point. “There! I saw a tail.”

Oh this is going swimmingly. I picked up my pace, I really couldn’t afford to get shot. Again. Either I would lose them on the way over or if I was really lucky I could get the unicorn into a small room and get up close and personal with my steel. “Apple, you watch the slaves.” The mare’s voice grated my ears. Somepony got up on the wrong side of the bed roll. “You’re with me horn head. Give me some light.” Oh damn it. A sphere of light shone out from the unicorn's horn and illuminated a broad area in front of him. Running faster now.

KaBLAM. A shot rang out, peppering a wall on the other side of what had once been a street. “Did you get it?” The mare shout out as they ran in pursuit. I really needed a gun of my own to even the odds. “I don’t think so… he’s too damn fast.” Fast my ass. They were rapidly gaining and I couldn’t keep up this pace forever on an empty stomach. I made a sharp left, then a right at the next alley way. Zig zagging my way towards the tower, then dashing inside as a second blast ripped into the doorframe mere seconds after I cleared it. Too close. I quickly moved up the stairs.

“He’s in the tower, damn it.” The unicorn snapped, coming up short just outside the door. “I bet it’s rigged.” Oh that would have been nice. If I had actually planned something like that. Maybe if I survive this I can add that to a list of escape options for the future.

“Ya got the poopers?” The mare glanced up at the building. I was thankful the unicorn was focusing his light spell on the ground around him and not up. I would be an easy target standing on the ledge right above them. I watched as the Unicorn levitated out a small metal sphere. I’m boned. Grenades. They were going to bring the building down and me with it.

I just happened to glance back to the camp. Oh hell no. Not on my watch. I spread my wings and took to the air. The pain was insignificant compared to the rage that flowed throughout my system. Under cover of night I swept over the pair carefully planting the explosives. The slaver still in camp had pulled the battered mare out from the wagon and locked the others back in. Oh you want a rodeo too do ya? Well how about a facefull of hoof! I slammed into him and we both went rolling on the ground.

He regained his hooves faster than I had expected and charged for his rifle that lay propped up against the wagon. I flicked out a wing and tripped him up. He ate dust and scrambled to get back up. I was on top of him before he could recover. Pinning his hooves on the ground as I sat on his chest, blade in teeth against his throat. I hissed through my teeth. “Any last words!”

“Please, no....” Wait. That wasn’t him. That came from behind me? TWACK. Ow… ow ow..ow… ow. Stars. I see stars, I staggered around clutching my head with a wing and hoof. Who had… I shook it off and focused on the mare standing beside the slave, rifle clenched in her mouth. Some of my blood smeared on the stock. Damn, earth ponies have a nasty swing. Where was my knife? Where… I ducked as the mare charged and swung much too high. “Keep your filthy hooves of my coltfriend!” She swung again, but this time I was ready. I caught the end of the rifle in my hooves and swung my whole body with the makeshift club. Wait. Coltfriend?

Twisting the rifle from her already failing grip I rolled with it and came up barrel aimed at her head. It was a simple reflex. Drilled into the heads of anypony who had half a sense to stay alive in battle. Only if this was a test I would have failed. I didn’t pull the trigger.
“Please… you have to help us…” she panted then collapsed to the dirt. The ‘coltfriend’ rushed to her side and actually tried to help her. It might have been pretty convincing except for the fact that his EFS bar was a blatant red. Then again I was the one pointing a gun at them. I would be hostile to anypony doing that to me too.

“Are you insane? You’re going to get us both caught.” The stallion snapped as the mares breathing returned to a ragged, yet more normal rhythm. “She was captured by slavers, it took me a week to find her and this was the first chance to get away and you’re botching it up.” Yeah, whoop-de-do, good on me. Was it bad that I actually sort of believed him? If I hadn’t been stuck hiding during the whole raping debacle and his apparent rage at the pair… I could at least give him the benefit of the doubt.

“Get in the wagon.”

“Wait, what!” He started up but froze when the safety on the gun clicked off. “You have to believe me.”

“Tell you what. Do as I say and we can talk about this later. Without you stabbing me in the back.” Pausing to think what I should say next. I said the first thing that came to mind. “Right now I’m going to kill every damn slaver I come across so either do as I say or I can just blow your fucking head off right now.” I immediately cringed as I said that. Whoopsie, didn’t mean to say it quite like that.

“Damn you to hell…” He muttered as he helped the mare to her hooves and they clambered back into the wagon. I locked them inside, placing the key in my bag for now. I fully intended to be back as soon as I finished this. Then we could discuss things like more civilized ponies. And not shooting each other over it.

A series of muffled explosions carried on the air and was followed by a low rumbling as the three story was brought to the earth. Time to finish this. I took a few seconds to look for my knife and found it lying a few paces from the fire. Slinging the rifle over my back I dashed off to find another hiding spot.

Okay not my first choice. But when they had deduced I wasn’t in the wreckage I had to act fast. Scrambling up a fire escape I tossed little chunks of rubble to draw them into a small alley way. The unicorn came into view first, scanning the area with his light. I centered the sights on his head and pulled the trigger. Nothing. A little click and no report. A jam, a dud? I didn’t have time for this. Quietly setting the rifle aside and pulling the knife out in my teeth. I picked up a piece of rock and hefted it down the alley away from me. The unicorn froze, then turned towards the sound of the rock striking several tin cans. Yes, just go that way. Keep focused on that direction.

Slowly he made his way down the alley. The mare followed a little ways behind him, looking back over her shoulder every so often, yet with an easily predictable pattern. Catching the rhythm I waited till she just started to look forward again and then took to the air. The pain shot like fire along my wings. I was just thankful I didn’t have to try flapping as I glided silently towards my target. Just as the mare started turning around I kicked her in the head, sending her into the dirt. She let out a muffled shout but it was too late. The light went out and the shotgun fell to the ground as I slammed into the unicorn. Grappling with him in the dark. Each time he tried to get a spell off I would smack his horn. I had dropped my knife when I had collided with him so it was an old fashioned brawl. “Get the light back up ya idiot! I can’t see!” The mare shouted. I could hear her fumbling around in the dark. Their eyes hadn’t had time to adapt to the night like mine had. Diving away from my opponent as he swung wildly, hoping to hit something, anything. My hooves closed around the cold steel and smooth wood. “Come on Heady teach him what for!” The mare hollered as she suddenly tumbled over some rather loud metal debris. Rolling onto my back I swung the weapon around and pulled the trigger. Okay I took the safety off and rolled to the side as the unicorn slammed his horn into the dirt where I had been laying. Ouch. That would’ve hurt. The unicorn staggered from his missed blow and I brought the shotgun in line with his head and fired.

My ears were ringing. But when I could finally hear again I could hear the mare calling out in the dark. “Did ya get him?” She was fumbling frantically with a striker as I walked over the dead body of her companion. His head a lump of mushy brains and bits of bone. “Horny you got him right?” A small flame appeared in her hoof and lit up her face.

I stepped into the small glow of light and reared up on my hind legs. Spreading my wings as I held the shotgun in my hooves. “Oh yeah, I got him.” KaBLAM.

I took some time getting back to camp. My wings ached and hung loosely at my sides. At this rate they’d never recover and I’d be grounded permanently. Not that it really mattered that much. I didn’t really have a desire to fly in that mess of gray cloud that covered the sky as far as the eye could see. Though it would be nice to see the stars again. Real ones. Not the spinning around my head, clutching my head in pain kind.

I drug myself back into camp. In the firelight I could make out the bloody smears on my jacket. A few bits of both the mare and stallion dripping off me as I set the guns down by the fire. The jammed rifle and the shotgun. Drawing my attention to the wagon as four sets of eyes watched me. I pulled out the key and held it in my hoof. Blood staining the rusty metal as my fur matted red around my hoof. Note to self. Don’t step in ponies who have been blasted at point blank with a shotgun. That was a nasty business. Who knows how many times I’d have to wash to get it all out.

I was really exhausted and suffice it to say I actually considered leaving the ponies locked up while I got some sleep. That thought quickly left my mind and I put the key in the lock, gave a twist and pulled the lock free. I swung the door wide and took several steps back. Nopony moved. Everyone held their breath to see who would make the first move.

“Well now. That rescue took long enough.” The unicorn yawned as she sat up, stretching out her forehooves and rolling her shoulders. “Now if you’d be so kind as to help me down from this cesspit so I can shoot this damn filth in the face.” She glared at the slaver. To his benefit he cringed and hid behind his mare friend.

“Sure, but don’t kill him. I, uh… we need to talk.” Really what was it with these ponies. Everything just felt off about, well… everything. The unicorn dragged herself to the edge of the wagon and glared down at me. Oh my… she’s a cripple. I could just make out the rough callouses where a brace had likely been removed. Her eyes bored into me. Kill him. There was that thought again. Nope not listening to it. Not listening.

“Are you going to help me down or what feather brain?” She held out a hoof. Pushy, pushy yeesh.

“Yeah, sure… just no more shooting.” Glaring back at her. She seemed to ponder it for a little bit then nodded her head in agreement. “Okay how do we do this?” I set my forehooves on the edge of the wagon and before I could think she had grabbed me by my shoulders and swung herself around onto my back and slid down onto the ground. Her hooves running along my sides and wings. I felt a sharp prick and instinctively pulled my wing to my chest.

“Hmm… Not as fluffy as you look.” She twirled the feather in the air with her magic. I was about to say something but was cut off when she pressed a hoof to my lips. “Uh-uh, if I can’t have guns then I at least get a feather.” She tucked it behind one of her ears. The dull brown piece of my plumage contrasted by the stark green striped mane of the yellow-green mare. Fine, I could part with one feather. Just one though.

“Don’t get any ideas,” I hissed at the other three still in the wagon. The creepy zombie pony stood up and hopped, or rather oozed to the ground. I wasn’t sure which. His flesh was rotted and blistered in many places. His face had sloughed off and drooped and swung with every movement. Okay I take it back. This is whole lot nastier than bugs. I dry heaved several times as the, the, thing just stood there watching. Then it spoke.

“Not seen a ghoul before?” Oh goddesses, why did it have to talk. I trembled as I took several steps back, shaking my head. “Hmph, stable ponies.” He turned to the side and I could see the mismatched flesh on his flank with a falling bomb cutie mark. “You’re all the same. Expect everything to be normal and shit out here. Should have stayed in your hole fly boy.” I stammered, searching for words. “What, goddess got your tongue. Though so. Now I’ll be on my way, I’ve a long way to go and a lifetime to get there so if you’ll excuse me.” He started off into the darkness. I just stared blankly after him until his EFS bar flickered out of sight.

“Blecch, good riddance. He was creepy for a ghoul anyway.” The unicorn sat by the fire and was rifling through the belongings of the first slaver I had killed. “Hey, you got feathers in there too or you going to stop drooling like a moron?” She tapped me on the head with a small stick levitated in her magic. A drop of saliva dripped on my hoof and I was immediately brought back to reality. I closed my mouth and looked back towards the mare. She had completely stripped the corpse and was sorting the various items into two piles.

“He’s… he…” Zombie, undead pony, mutilated monster of the wasteland? All those sounded more fitting than ghoul.

“He’s a ghoul. Call them anything else and you pretty much sign your own death warrant.” She stooped her sorting and focused on me. I could see the other two ponies cautiously getting out off to my side. “Ghouls are weird. Something happened with the radiation that did something freaky to them. Most are really old, like before the war old. But still only a few can remember that anymore. Two rules. Play it cool and don’t piss them off; and two, don’t mess with ferals.”

“Ferals?” I took several steps and sat down next to the guns. The other two ponies sitting opposite the fire from me.

“Yeah, the real zombies. They lost their minds and would as soon as eat you as look at you. Best to avoid them if possible, kill them really quick and quiet like if you can’t.”

“Thanks for that, I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Eh, don’t bother. You probably won’t last out here long enough to meet one anyway.” She smirked and resumed her odd sorting.

“Well I think he did pretty decent for a stable tramp.” The words stung a little from the slaver stallion. He was really pushing it right now. He wanted to talk, then let’s talk.

“Yeah, I’m a real tramp. And you’re filthy slaver trash.” I growled at him from across the fire.

“Yeah, not the best idea I’ve had but hey, live and learn momma always said.”

“That’s what you’re uncle said.” The earth pony mare sighed and lowered her head.

“Oh, that’s right. He was always getting in over his horn, heh.” He let out a hesitant chuckle, ceasing once he noticed no one else was joining him. “Yeah, right then. Um, what do you want me say?”

“That you’re a fucking filthy slaving son-of-a-mule and he should shoot you between the eyes after he gelds you.” The unicorn offered. We all stared at her in shock. “What? It’s what I’d do.”

“How about no.” Mentally locking her idea in a safe and tossing it into the ocean and sending the key to the moon. I so didn’t need that mental image in my mind. “Let’s start with names. My name is Sparx, I’m from Stable thirty three. What about you?”

“Static. Hunter and general nuisance. I still think you should geld him.” The unicorn quipped. She turned and shrugged as I furrowed my eyebrows at her getting her to shut up.

“I’m Rusty Needle and this is my coltfriend Silver Apple. Most ponies just call me Rust though. We’re both from a settlement about a week's journey north.” The light yellow mare brushed a hoof through her almost orange mane. “Were heading to New Appleloosa and hope to start a family.”

“Yeah, assuming we can get there in one piece,” Silver grumbled. “It’s not an easy a journey with all the slavers and raiders. Plus we have to go through Ponyville to get there.” His armour accented his mane and tail and it did appear different from the other slavers. More well-built and also considerably less bloody.

“Huh, Ponyville. Yeah, nice little place. Loved it there.” The trio gave me an odd stare. “What? I used to live there.” I said in defense. Okay um maybe I should have kept quiet. The looks I got were even more confused. “Yeah about two hundred years ago… maybe it’s changed a bit.”

“I think he’s few feathers short of a feather duster.” Rust whispered to Silver, just a little too loud.

“Ha, and I thought ghouls were crazy.” Static snorted, trying not laugh. “Come on Feathers. Nopony lives in hole in the ground for two hundred years and looks as crappy as you.”

“Fine don’t believe me, I’ll just go back into stasis and wait another two hundred years. Oh wait, I can’t because the powers failing and I can’t wake the others. Guess I’m stuck out here.” Static looked questionably at me and then to the other two ponies. “Oh, and unless I can somehow get my hooves on a suitable power supply the rest of the stable’s going to die. It would have been better to be burned alive in the balefire than to wake up trapped and dying in that underground prison.” The echo in my mind rose in pitch. The countless lives lost to that terrible fate. Was I wrong in wishing I had died, not wanting to put up with what was left behind? Wow, you really were there. Two hundred years ago and… oh have mercy. That screaming, make it stop. The voice called out in my head.

I looked up, my eyes meeting Statics as she looked on me with an expression of pity, fear and pain. “Get out of my head.”

“Huh what?” Silver looked back and forth between me and the unicorn.

“Get the fuck out of my head.” I growled at Static, rising to my hooves and letting the screams rise, paying attention to the part that pained me. The painful grimace on her face contorted into a silent scream as I focused on driving her out.

“Sorry, sorry… I just… I’m sorry.” She whimpered, lowering herself to the ground as I stood threateningly next to her.

‘What’s going on? What do you mean, she was in your head?” Rust cocked her head to the side. As if looking at it from a different angle would yield a better answer.

I looked from Static to the pony pair and back. Her eyes pleading with me to keep her secret. Yet how could I? Secrets were a liability I couldn’t afford anymore. If I wanted to gain ponies trust I need to be as truthful and forthcoming as possible. Especially if they might put two and two together and only get three. “She’s a telepath. She can read minds and project her thoughts into the minds of others.” Well that explains the odd voice in my head earlier this evening. The pairs’ jaws dropped and they stared in shock at the unicorn mare trying to melt into the ground in shame. I can’t… I concentrated hard, blocking out the signal. It’s been awhile since I’ve had to worry about telepaths. Forming a mental block was something all special intelligence personnel were trained to do. I just happened to have a lot more experience than most. “If you're going to say something, say it out loud so everypony can hear you.”

Static covered her head with her hooves. “If I could walk I’d buck you in the head for that.” She seemed obviously disturbed. “You just had to go and blurt it out didn’t you!” She shouted, looking back at me, tears begin to roll down her cheeks. “You don’t just go telling ponies you’re a mind reader. They’ll think you're an alicorn spy or something…” She sniffed, rubbing her nose with a hoof. “Most ponies will kill you soon as they find out.”

“Mind reader. Should have known. Always wondered what that little voice in my head was.” Silver grumbled. I could see Statics fears had been well placed. If looks could kill Silver would have burnt the unicorn to a crisp.

My stomach growled. “Alright nopony is killing anypony. Got that.” I slammed my hoof on the ground for emphasis. “Now I don’t know about you but I’m famished. So if anyone knows where I can get some food we can all discuss this in the morning.”

“Well there’s the food crate on the front of the wagon. We were pretty low on water but we planned on stopping here anyway.” Silver trotted over to the wagon and popped open the lid to a small hoof locker that doubled as a seat. “Let’s see,” He rummaged around a bit. “Cans, cans oh and look more cans.” He said dryly, pulling out several small tins with faded labels. “So um… how do we open ‘em?”

I didn’t hesitate to grab one of the cans from him and whipped out my knife. Stabbing the can I worked the blade around the rim. The top fell off with little jagged edges dripping with some two hundred year old slop. I stared at the brown sludge that had once been a tin of beans. I could see the mares both eyeing me. It wouldn’t surprise me the slavers kept them deliberately underfed. I passed the first can off to Rust and grabbed a second. Opening it and passing it over to the unicorn, tears still wet on her cheek. By the time I had a can for myself Rust had finished and fidgeted with a second can. I hesitantly passed her my knife to cut the can open. I had guns in case she tried anything. Not that I expected anything to happen. “Hey, this stuff ain’t half bad.”

Finishing my can, I pulled out the radroach meat and with a little help set it to cooking over the fire. Apparently the insect meat was fairly common and made a decent meal once it was cooked. Though if you really had to you could eat it raw. If you can get past the heavy acidic taste. “So what brings a stable pony like yourself out into our beautiful wasteland?” Rust asked as she finished of her second can. She curled up on one of the beds and was promptly joined by the blue stallion.

“I told you, the ponies in my stable are dying and I can’t wake them up without more power. So as soon as I can find a replacement I can wake them up and um…” Shoot. What then? Set them loose in this forsaken wasteland. Let them pine away in the damp darkness of the stable. Tell them everyone they loved and cared for is dead and wait for them to kill themselves. Yeah, I might need a plan that goes beyond just waking them up. “Know of any good places to settle a mob of likely deeply traumatized and potentially suicidal two hundred year old ponies?” No response. “Okay… is there any central government in place, anywhere?”

“Well you could come with us to New Appleloosa. They have a sheriff I think.” Silver chirped, his head laying across his marefriend’s back. “Other than that nope. Equestria’s been without any unified leader or government for nigh on two centuries. Small tribes here and there, a village or two scattered about.”

“Well it would be a start. Where is this ‘New’ Appleloosa?”

“Two days west of Ponyville by hoof. And Ponyville’s a good two three day trip from here.” Static buzzed. “I’ve been around. Not the nicest and safest of routes but I know the way well enough to not get lost.”

“And why should we trust a stinking no good mind reader.” Silver snapped. Really, he wasn’t winning any points with the whole me not blasting his head off thing. “You’d probably lead us right into a trap. Right to your creeping alicorn goddess friends.”

“Maybe I am. I’d be glad to be rid of you, you klix ci ku trii pony. You make me sick just looking at you.” Static hissed. Her speech interspersed with strange clicking noises. I had heard those strange sounds before. No not sounds, words.

Wait. Alicorns? Like the princesses. I vaguely remember a report mentioning an experiment at Maripony. Maybe it had been successful. “You said alicorns. I assume you don’t mean the princesses?” Of course if one of the sisters was alive then I’d need to report to them for duty and they could sort out how to fix the stable.

“Pfft, as if. Sunbutt and Moonface died when the bombs fell. Nope, these alicorn things are creepy telepathic monsters. Either you join them and die, or if you're really lucky they’ll let you work with them a bit before they force you to join them and die. They might just take over your body if they’re in the mood. Real nice folk.” Silver sneered. Rust just looked tired as she rolled her eyes, resting her head on her hooves.

I walked over to Static and whispered something in her ear. She seemed a little suspicious at first but then nodded and started scooting herself to the far side of the wagon. “If you two will excuse us for a moment. I need to have a private chat with our telepathic friend. Though you may seriously want to reconsider your accusations against her.” I gave firm a stern nod in the direction of the firearms. I seemed to get the point across as he gulped and flattened his ears against his head. Then, dismissing myself from there company I joined Static on the far side of the wagon near the dribbling pipe. Using the sound of water to help drown out our conversation.

“You too huh. Just hurry up and shoot me and be done with it. You were a soldier, you know how to kill ponies. Just… just make it quick.” Static spoke softly, her eyes closed as she hung her head in defeat.

“I’m not going to kill you. I just need a few answers. I won’t believe this goddess shit until I see it.” A shiver ran down the mare’s spine. Yeah, if you expected someone to kill you and they said they weren’t that would seem like torture. “First answer me this. Cru kli ci ci trii iek.” Chirping the shrill notes and clicks with a well-practiced accent.

Statics jaw dropped as she looked up at me. “Tei ri caucii?” Her dialect was a bit off from what I was used to but I could still understand her.

“No. I’ve just spent a lot of time amongst your people.” As much as I’d like this chance to stretch my linguistic abilities I still needed to keep tight reigns on the situation. “I lived with a tribe up north for a little over a year and made some friends. I picked up chatter over time. By your dialect I’d say you’re from near Mount Reinier?”

“My nest traces its roots back there yes. And your accent, you said a northern tribe. But the royal chatter is rarely heard these days. So that would mean you were with the...Dark Nest?”

“Well I wouldn’t know about that. They really started coming around once they kicked out the queen. But that doesn’t really matter. What matters is why you are out here alone. Where’s the rest of your nest?”

“My nest was destroyed almost two years ago. I was out scavenging when they were attacked. No one else survived so I wandered around doing odd jobs here and there. Eventually I hurt my legs in an accident. A few months later and I was out hunting for a village when those slavers go the jump on me. That pretty much sums up my life.” She paused for second. “It sucks.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. But I think at least we can clear up this mind reading goddess crap.” Oh wow, she was strong. I tried to breathe as she hugged me tight.

“Oh thank you, thank you, thank you.” She repeated over and over as I struggled for air. Gasping in a breath once she finally released me. “Uh whoops. Sorry about that.”

I helped the crippled unicorn back to camp and set her down on one of the bedrolls by the fireside. I had a better understanding of her and I think I could hopefully defuse enough tension that we would all be alive come morning. Silver watched me with leery eyes. He hadn't taken back the rifle, though I could tell he wanted to. “She’s not a spy.” I said flatly. The stallion just rolled his eyes. “She’s from a tribe of ponies that communicates telepathically. It’s perfectly normal for them and they can’t force you to do anything.” Suggest things sure, but mind control? I doubted even the princess had been capable of that. “If I’m going to go with you you’ll have to at least tolerate her. And if you so much as set a hoof on her to harm her, so help me I’ll shoot you so full of holes you’ll make a sieve jealous.” Or I’d just turn him to paste. That is what the shotgun seemed good at.

“Yeah sure, whatever.” He waved his hoof dismissively.

I glanced down at the guns then turned back to face the stallion, a smirk on my face. “Oh and I would give me back that ammo if I were you.”

____________________________
Footnote: Level Up.
New Perk: Friend of the Night- Your eyes adapt quickly to low-light conditions.

Traits Acquired:
Hard Headed "Get out of my head"- Due to numerous encounters you have developed a mental block to telepaths. When active you take -4 PER and -2 INT
Fluent- You have mastered a foreign tongue: Changeling Chatter