Chapter 17: The Comedian and The Cannibal

The Figure was sitting there with his chin resting on his hoof, thinking.

“His brother?” The Figure asked disenchanted.

“Well, he comes from a big family.” Dawn chipped in.

“So what happened in New Pegas? Some sort of alcohol fueled rampage across town?” he said in a snarky tone.

“Eh, I wouldn’t go that far. We met Trouble’s best friend. Well Trouble kept referring to him as a brother, but he’s just weird like that.” Dawn said  relaxed, giving her mare’s take on the situation.

“Who?” The Figure asked concerned.

“The comedian.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Dawn looked at Inky in confusion, the Show Ponies exchanged worried glances. Night Light was staring at Dawn her eyebrow cocked up in bewilderment.

Trouble stood there, staring at Inky until finally he spoke breaking the silence.

“Did you pat him down?” He asked his voice distant from serious.

Inky exhaled calmly and replied “Yeah, he has something for you, right now though he’s up in the lounge, you should have a drink with him, Rico is going on stage soon.”

“Nice one, comp him everything and give him back his gear.” Trouble added as he began to waltz away.

“What?” Inky called back.

“You heard muh, no brother of mine is to pay a fuckin’ cap ‘ere so long as I’m alive.” He declared, raising his hoof for emphasis. Inky gave a grin and shook his head going back to his mundane work.

Trouble hollered back for a final time “And I wan’ his gear delivered to my suite now. Not later.”

Dawn rushed to Trouble’s side as they all followed him upwards, Flint Fang took the spot to the opposite of Dawn.

Dawn spoke first and softly, making sure none of the Show Ponies, especally Tyke couldn’t hear her “What’s a cannibal?”

Night Light answered, this being the first time she spoke in a long time, “A cannibal is a pony who eats other ponies.” She answered bluntly. Dawn shot an angry glance at Night Light for being so obtuse but then it sunk in.

Dawn’s face fell. What the fuck? This was her guardian's own blood. He was okay with this?

Flint fang spoke next, her voice riddled with shock and disruption.

“You have a cannibal in the family? And you’re just going to roll with that?”

Trouble kept stoic, ignoring them.

They walked onto the landing of the lounge, in a word it was “Classy.” Dark and sleek, a long bar stretched down the length of the wall, behind it was spirits and liquors of every colour and size. Everywhere was rectangular and circular polished mahogany tables.

A sapphire unicorn stood behind the counter, polishing a glass, riveted on his own precision cleaning. The high class lounge was nearly abandoned. All except for one table.

Near the railing overlooking the stage was a lonesome pony. Clad in a tatty and worn black cloak, with strange faded designs snaking up and down its length. He sat staring aimlessly out onto the stage, Dawn glimpsed his face, she shuddered.

A mask, it was a huge circular mask. Grey in colour spreading back behind the hood of his cloak. The mask was fearsome, for a mouth it had a larger than life grin, spreading ear to ear, wide and inhospitable with spiked teeth, red trickles escaping the corners for extra intimidation. His eyes were terrible, huge slanted eyes as if he had furrowed angered  eyebrows. Completing the look of a menacing and murderous smile.

Dawn felt her eye twitch. The pony’s neck slowly turned to face them, all Dawn could imagine him doing was chuckling. She hadn’t any idea why. It seemed appropriate for the mask. A icy and empty chuckle for this cold blooded pony.

Dawn looked to Trouble, to see his reaction. his eyes were ablaze with glee, that menacing grin he had with that scarring sweeping his face.

“Brother!” Trouble called out, overwhelmed with joy. He broke into a sprint, dodging tables, dashing across the lounge on his hind legs. The pony rose from his seat without a word. Trouble flung his hooves around his brother, embracing him, squeezing him in tight.

The pony hugged back, Trouble let out a fit of laughs and lifted him up. “Wha the fuck are ya doin’ ‘ere? Last I heard you were down in an aroun’ Germaney.”

Trouble dropped him down onto his hooves with a thump, his brother remained stoic and silent. Trouble called back to the disgruntled group “C’mon would ya’s? He doesn’t bite.” Trouble faced away from the group towards his brother and whispered,

 “That’s a lie if ah ever told one.”

The pony broke his silence, a regal and cultured voice replied. “Glad to see you haven’t changed either Trouble.” His accent, the polar opposite of his brother’s.

_____________________________________________________________________

The Figure interrupted Dawn, “The pony you’re referring to is a notorious assassin.” The Figure dimly chimed in.

Dawn chuckled “I’m well aware of that, he... Caught me off guard.” Dawn struggled for the correct term.

“How so?” The Figure replied.

“They’re so different, it’s weird. I figured him to be some sort of heavily armed huge guy who shatters bones with ease. Not what I got. He’s interesting to say the least.”

The Figure laid back in his chair “Dawn, he’s killed more ponies than everyone in this Stable combined.”

“We’re in a Stable?”

_____________________________________________________________________

The others pulled chairs around the brother’s table under Trouble’s direction. The brother hadn’t even spoke another sentence yet, he was either not very talkative or waiting till he had everyone’s attention.

They all sat around two different tables, side by side. Night Light, Blood Letter and Flint Fang at one. The Brother, Trouble, Little Tyke and Black Dawn at the other.

Finally after getting settled Trouble hollered over to the Bartender “Mixer, Giss a round!”

The Bartender, Mixer glanced over to Trouble before taking his apron off grabbing his notepad and briskly trotting over.

Trouble collapsed into his chair after what felt like an eternity “Fuck me Worthy, take off that mask, you’re making the Show Ponies nervous.” He said joyous.

The pony silently reached up to his mask and slowly pulled it off. He gently placed it on the table his head ducked low. He lowered his hood and looked up upon their faces.

A snow white earth pony with a green mane, wearing a black leather eye patch over his left eye stared back at Trouble.

One big amber eye scanned the group before returning to  Trouble, he spoke “Trouble, two things. One, who are these ponies? You never worked with anyone else in like eight years. And Two, I’ve got a letter for you.” Worthy said blatantly.

“A letter?” Trouble replied, caught off guard.

“Job comes first. As always.” Worthy said routinely. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a small envelope. He slid it across the table to Trouble. Trouble, looking worried opened the letter with one of his sharpened talons, all eyes were on the two. All conversation ceased.

Trouble dumped the contents onto the table, with a loud clank a small rifle cartridge bounced off the table along with a small piece of paper.

Worthy’s eye widened he went to speak “I knew nothing about that, I swear.” He quickly said, Dawn had no idea why he was so upset about a bullet in an envelope. But she could see the shock in his big amber eye.

Trouble, took it in first before reaching for the letter. He unfolded it and half showed it to Dawn. It read:

“Kill the pony who hands you this letter, all sins will be forgiven and a place in Celestia’s kingdom is yours.”

 - Gabriel the Archangel

Trouble laughed, Tyke leaned over to Dawn across the table and whispered into her ear.

“A bullet in the mail is a death threat, it means ‘you won’t see the next one coming’.”

Trouble placed the letter openly on Worthy’s side of the table, Worthy quickly scanned it and said “So how’s this going to go down? I just got here and I missed my brother.”

Trouble shrugged, “Let me answer your other question first, this ‘ere is Black Dawn, she’s a stray buh I reckon she’ll make for a good fighter. That there is Night Light, Marizona ranger, she plays her cards close to her chest, buh she doesn't mean anything by it. As for these fine ponies, Flint Fang, Blood Letter and eh, Tyke.”

Worthy looked around the group before nodding and saying “Pleasure, I’m Worthy.”

Flint Fang spoke back “So you’re the cannibal, eh?” She said in total deadpan.

Worthy let out a chuckle “You have no idea how much a name like that is worth on jobs. But please for the time being just call me Worthy. What are operatives from the Thundering Herd doing here?”

“R&R we’re gonna need it to. The noose is tightening around Phoenix. Glascow will have to get by without us.” She replied.

“Get by without you maybe. Soon as I get the call I’m going back.” Blood Letter said, he spoke nearly perfectly, but there was definitely a repressed accent there that he never quite lost.

Tyke spoke back to Blood Letter “You know it’s never gonna fly Letter. Once the Colonel catches wind of you leaving, she’ll throw a tantrum. Phoenix has to be held.”

“We’re not even based in Phoenix right now, most of our forces are in Detrot. Fucking days away. Phoenix is only one city, Glascow is closer to Bearlyn, the line should be there!”

Worthy interrupted their argument “Glascow isn’t taking the brunt of the Angels, I know that for a fact.”

“Do ya now?” Trouble asked.

The Show Ponies like expectantly at Worthy, Blood Letter looked repulsed by Worthy’s interruption.

“Yeah I do, I spent the last two months running jobs for those assholes. I spent a lot of time with Gabriel’s right hoof pony, General Rauch Brecher. He knows that every ounce of supplies out here runs through Phoenix, he knows that’s where all the military might is. Glascow is a fraction of the threat, even with the proximity. Phoenix is due for a siege. If Phoenix falls everyone will choke, so Marizona and eventually the Ponave will fall.” He concluded.

The Show Ponies were all listening intently. Flint fang posed another question, “What about the Midlands and up North. What about Fillydelphia, Friendship city? Red Eye?”

Worthy replied in his regal voice with a tint of bemusement from all the attention “No plans for them as far as I know, Gabriel has a hard on for Red Eye. If you want to know about Red Eye, you’ll have to ask Trouble.”

Night Light shot Trouble a dirty look, Dawn hadn’t a notion as to what they were all discussing. She knew of the Angels and heard tell of Phoenix, that was it.

Trouble let out a sigh, “Tha was a long time ago. Eight years is a long time for any pony. All I did was do a few jobs for him, he paid good. But he wasn’t getting a little too bossy with me, I don’t take sides. Bad for business. Stay on the fence, it will double your profits and give ponies a reason to not kill you. Remember that kid.” He stared at Dawn the entire time, that response was meant for her  more than anything.

Luckily the bar pony Mixer arrived, defusing the tension he asked in a grizzly voice to Trouble “What’ll it be boss?”

“Giss a pint of lager, give the kid ‘ere a, eh, Red Pegasus and Vodka, she’ll like that. The rest can order for themselves.”

“Scotch.” Said Flint Fang.

“Bourbon.” Said Blood Letter.

“Whiskey.” Said Tyke (oddly enough.)

“Double Vodka.” Said Night Light.

“Sparkle Cola.” Worthy said.

 Everypony stared a hole into Worthy’s head. Dawn was surprised, the way Trouble drinks, she would have thought it ran deep in the family.

Embarrassed, Worthy said “What? I don’t drink.”

_____________________________________________________________________

The Figure reached into his suit jacket and yanked out another folder.

“This is the file on Worthy.”

He splashed the contents of the folder onto the table. The folder lay open in front of Dawn, it was identical to the one about Trouble, his picture pinned to the corner, this one of Worthy had him pose at the edge of a cliff near a camp fire somewhere. Somewhere that had grass, something Dawn identified as a rarity.

He was standing to attention, with his rifle at his hip. It was a portrait picture, versus someone taking a quick snap of Trouble in a bar.

His base details were laid out the same way also.

Name: Worthy

Aliases: The Cannibal, Jaws

Nationality: Coltic

Sex: Male

Age: 36

Affiliations: Death Dealer (former), C.P.L.A Lieutenant, Stalker affiliate

The file on Worthy was nowhere near as thick as the one on Trouble, surprisingly. Although they knew vastly more on Worthy than Trouble.

The Figure cleared his throat and began to speak.

“You said not long ago you learned about Trouble’s past rather soon. Don’t skip that part. But for now, what next? I find the best place for information is the bar. Ponies are more inclined to talk there.” The Figure said a little cocky with his assertion. Even if a little naively put.

“I find that too be true, especially with Rico.”

Ricochet.

 She smiled reminiscently of the times they shared together. He just had a way of deflecting the sadness of the world.

“What about Worthy? He talk much?” The Figure asked.

“He was a firm believer in ‘Loose lips sink ships’ but once he decided we were trustworthy he spoke as much as any of us.” Dawn remembered how he kept pulling Trouble over to have a “private” word with him.

“What next? Ricochet, am I right?” He asked leaning inwards expectantly.

“Yeah, Ricochet, as his mother used to call him.”

_____________________________________________________________________

The drinks arrived, Dawn sat looking into a weird reddish almost brown luke warm liquid wondering what the fuck to do next. Night Light begun conversation with the Show Ponies, and Trouble and Worthy were just starting to speak.

“Worthy, where the fuck were you the past year? No pony could nail you down. Me and the kid met a robot who knew my exact location up near Dead Water.” Dawn couldn’t help but notice he brought Watcher up. That was unexpected. He fucking lost it at him after all.

“Mother of fuck.” Said Worthy shaking his head with disbelief for himself. An  aghast expression on his face.

“What?” Trouble asked intrigued. “Don’t tell me it was a repeat of that Hellhound nest we landed in.”

“Fuck no, it was easily ten times as bizarre.” Worthy corrected.

“Then tell me what happened?” Trouble insisted.

“You won’t believe me.” Worthy said deterring Trouble, but at the same time just luring him.

“Fuckin’ hurry up and tell mah!” Trouble demanded his accent bleeding back into his voice.

“Alright, I spent six months in the company of ; a renegade Steel Ranger scribe, a fucking invincible Canterlot ghoul and a winged zebra.” Worthy quickly and bluntly stated.

“What the fuck?” Trouble replied.

“Told you, I took a job from some steel rangers to take the scribe back alive, the zebra was just a bonus if I could bring him back. They didn’t warn me about that fucking ghoul, he was a soldier during the war. You should have seen the cannon he was carrying. Crack on it like thunder. It would slice you in half at two thousand yards.” Worthy said, his voice steadily becoming more gratified with every passing sentence.

“So what happened?” Trouble asked.

“I cornered them, had them lovely in my crosshairs. Crippled the zebra. I thought to myself that she would run out to help him, then I’d nail her, a crying baby draws a lot of attention, but the scribe. Her training at least told her to keep her  head down. Got in close with the cloak and knocked her out with the flail, she was a fighter that one. That’s when mister ‘I’m so fucking unkillable’ showed up. He took a crack at me, I cloaked seen his scope glint and dropped a round down his scope into his eye.”

Worthy finished by jamming his hoof into his eye patch. Worthy unlike his brother didn’t have an exoskeleton. Dawn found it harder and harder to believe these ponies were even related. Trouble had his own way of speaking in circles or with small sayings, Worthy spoke bluntly and put things in a frank lighting.

“How did you get them out? There could have been no way to contact the rangers.” Trouble asked.

“Rendezvous at an old safe house, three days away. I poisoned the scribe and let the Zebra slowly bleed out, while I fastened a rope around both of them and had her drag him through the desert. Would have been a lot faster if she didn’t resist, or if her ribs weren’t so badly damaged. But she hauled ass, it’s interesting to see how ponies act when they know they’re on the clock. I told her how long she had to live without her cooperation and with it. A smart girl like her could weigh up the odds well enough.”

Trouble just took a cigarette out and lit it, enthralled at what Worthy had to say, Tyke was listening to. She clearly had appreciation for Worthy’s method as did Trouble. Dawn was a little disturbed by it. There was no emotion in his voice. Just the facts, blunt and bludgeoning like an impacting hammer or maul.

“Yeah.” Trouble ushered for him to continue.

“Three long days, I knew I was being followed. The fucking zebra wouldn’t shut the hell up, always gossiping or antagonizing me, the scribe was too busy dying, she fought back once. She had this beautiful revolver, I told her I might have held onto it. I had to scorch her a little to get her back in line.”

Dawn was beginning to find he was a little more...Unforgiving than his brother.

“Finally I managed to talk her into obeying me, promised her revolver back if the Steel Rangers didn’t cough up, I never like those cunts anyway. They always underestimate. Always had a high opinion of themselves. So finally we reach the safe house, my choice. Remote, around a bunch of hills and steep gradients. Little cover. I patched up the cargo and waited, the rangers were due in less than twenty four hours. The zebra  whimpered when I had to fix his wing. He knew I was toying with him, he should have known better than to try and get to me. I can play rough better than most. He’s lucky I actually qualified as a medic for winged creatures.” Worthy continued, hinting at something on the last sentence.

“Fuck off, I don’t like the enclave and there was no griffins in the family. Why bother?” Trouble replied defensively. Worthy got a little satisfactory grin and continued.

“Anyway, the scene was set, I was in a vantage point in the hills, a two way radio was set up near the shack the zebra laying subdued out the front, the secondary objective lay before them as a down payment. The scribe with me to settle accounts. Little did they know I jammed the transmit on the radio without affecting the button I heard every word they said.” Worthy said smugly even though he did look a little disgusted as well.

“And?” Trouble pressed eager for more.

“Rangers showed up, they planned on icing me, not a cap between them. So I got mad, I started quoting that old book, that scribe was there egging me on. She had brains, more than me. I snapped. Freed her and fucking trampled those rangers, they panicked once they remembered they hired a sniper, and an invisible one at that.”  

Dawn had to wonder what he meant by invisible, he made mention to cloaking to get in close already. Both her and Tyke were intently listening to the story.

“I popped one with my rifle and decided I was going to smelt the other ones into their own suits of armor, I dunno why, poetic reasons maybe. The rangers would be at one with their suits making them real steel rangers. Then all of a sudden thunder shows up. Blows the fucking shack to pieces, the bastard was targeting me. At first I couldn’t believe it, my cloak ran dry, I found a hovel. Three inches of rock another five of soil a few feet deep. I found him in my scope, holy fuck. I seen him staring at me through a blown out scope, if you seen his face. I never thought anything could have walked that off let alone tail me for three days.

That rifle punched through the rock - through the soil - through my armor plates and right through my bone. The wound was so huge you could have fed rope through it.”

“Fuck, what happened next?” Trouble asked a little perturbed and for him, that was odd.

“Role reversal, I was their bitch.” Worthy said a little ashamed.

“I bet you liked that.” Trouble said laughing.

“Fuck off.” Worthy replied, annoyed at Trouble.

“Rico has been on for awhile, come on, it’s his new show. I helped him fuckin’ write it. It’s good, kid come here.” Dawn looked over the balcony as Trouble had ushered, on the stage was a brown unicorn with a red mane in a white suit with a microphone.

“He’s an old friend.” Trouble said.

 The pony Dawn could only guess was Rico was on the stage and busy entertaining the crowd, he spoke with a funny accent. It had it’s own weird tone that made him sound a little angry or perplexed on every sentence.

He paced around the stage speaking his tone and pitch constantly shifting.

“Why do mares watch porn until the very end?” Rico paused.

 To see if they get married.” Trouble snickered.

Rico continued

 “So I was at the bar the other night and I spotted these two large mares talking, and they had these really strong accents. So I asked ‘Sorry are you two mares from Glascow?’ they said ‘Whales’ and to which I said ‘oh right sorry, are you two whales from Glascow?”

Rico got a chuckle fit from the audience who had already been warmed up, Rico continued.

“So a drunk rich guy walks into a coltic bar and shouts ‘I’ll give a thousand caps to the first pony to drink twelve pints one after the other without stopping!’ not a word. One pony gets up and leaves... About five minutes later the same pony comes back and says ‘yeah I’ll do it!’ The bartender lines up the twelve pints. The young coltic fella necks ‘em. One after the other. He slams down the last glass, grabs the cash and walks off. The rich guy can’t believe it and shouts ‘You agreed to the bet after you walked out! Where did you go?’

The young coltic fella replied ‘Down to the pub around the corner to see if I could do it first.’”

Trouble turned to Worthy and said “He really wanted that one in.”

“Here’s one for next time you're with the inlaws,” Rico announced to the audience.

“what's the main difference between marmalade and jam? I can’t marmalade my cock up your daughters arse.”

“Okay enough dark shit.” Rico said.

“I was walking through Freeside a few days back, when this thug put a knife to my throat and screamed ‘Give me any recognizable organisations that you have, that provide goods or services to the consumer NOW!’ I couldn’t help but think ‘He means business.” Rico got a clap from the audience for the wit alone on that one.

“Now, what I like to do is come up with word caps for me jokes. Like five words for example, here's a headline one. ‘Urine bandit, takes the piss. And a four word joke now.

Castration. Balls to that.” Rico got a wolf whistle and another clap from the audience.

“I remember my father’s last words. We were all gathered around his deathbed, he opened his eyes for one final time and said right as he was closing them ‘knock knock’.  Bastard.” Poetic.

“I was accused of being rude the other day, this huge mare came and I got up to offer her my seat. She said to me ‘I’m not pregnant’ and I said yeah but if you lose a few pounds you never know what might happen. I didn’t really, it was really pathetic what I said really. ‘Oh, oh sorry’ then I was walking away and I wondered ‘why am I apologizing? I’m just trying to be nice.’ So I turned and said. ‘Fuck off’, yeah! I was on fire.” He said  in a cocky elated voice.

“Do we have any Coltic Ponies in tonight?” Rico asked the crowd.

A cheer erupted from one of the booths, Rico stopped to stare at them awkwardly, and said.

“Glad to see we have the problem contained.” He said.

“Cheeky fucking bastard.” Muttered Worthy bemused.

Rico froze on the stage staring at the tables he pointed his hoof and said “Holy fuck, there is a wee colt in the audience tonight are these your parents? A wee wholesome colt. Would ya look at that!” Without letting the family reply he continued, leaning in close and sincerly whispering.

“Don’t worry... Your mom knows you clop.”

“Your mom clops too.”

“Sometimes your mom clops with your dad.”

“But what they don’t know is, you clop thinking about your mom and dad clopping.”

Rico got a fit of awkward hysterics back from the crowd.

He started smiling himself.

He looked at the colt and said, “For the next few minutes I’ll be abusing you so bad you’ll think I’m a friend of the family.” Tyke herself had a small chuckle, Dawn didn’t get it.

While the others were enrapt with the performer Tyke tugged on Dawn, she turned to face her and Tyke casually asked, “Wanna have a drink by ourselves?” Dawn didn’t mind so she gingerly nodded. Tyke without permission grabbed Dawn’s drink and placed it on a table away from the main group, she sat herself down and gestured Dawn over. A little nervous Dawn took her seat opposite Tyke when Tyke asked her, “So how did you get that scar.” while she took a gulp from her drink.

“Eh, long story.” Dawn said sheepish while she shrugged.

“We’re not going anywhere, I’d like to hear it.” Tyke reassured.

“Well,” Dawn began, taking a sip of her drink. The liquid was a blend of strong and sweet, it bit into her almost, as it seeped down her throat. It felt good, so she took another drink, a longer on this time.

“I can tell you that, or I can tell you from the point I actually entered the wastes from. Hardly a week ago, it’s hell of a story.” Dawn felt more charismatic now, more confident too. She had no idea where this brashness was coming from, but she suspected it had something to do with the liquid in her glass.

“From the beginning is fine with me.” Tyke said.

“Well, it started with me digging a hole underneath the wall of the NCR, I spent weeks just trying to get through it. I had to leave, that town was killing me, I couldn’t stand another day there. Every day was just isolation and abuse. There was a choice to be made. Run and try my luck at having a better if not shorter life. Or live a long dark and depressing one. The choice was clear. So on the night, I packed up what little I could scrounge and dived into the unknown. If I had known how rough and bloody and hellish it would be, I would have done it anyway.”

Dawn retold all the events of her new life. Tyke listening attentively all the while.

“I knew I was fucked, but then, somehow. Trouble showed up and saved me. He wiped them out without making a sound, that was my first lesson with Trouble. He may not look it but he’s as undetectable as a ghost when he want’s to be.”

Dawn summarized some parts and went into others in great detail.

“That’s when I found these beauties.” Dawn said as she rested her Pipbuck hoof and Amigo on the table, Tyke’s eyes widened as she gawked greedily at the pristine pistol.

The story was retold with a few skeptic details left out, but the more Dawn drank the more inclined she was to let them slip.

“Next thing I knew, I was flying through the air, shrapnel and a raging fireball spewing everywhere, I was dragged through the streets into a safe place, when I looked down to my hoof, there was a spiral of metal shrapnel stuck in me. And after the fighting I woke up and there it was, the scar.” Dawn concluded the story by raising the wounded hoof high into the air with pride. As if it were a recovered artifact at the end of a crusade. Pride welled up in her. She never really seen it like this before she told Tyke, she coveted this mutilation. In a weird sense she seen it as a memento of her arduous journey.

“Thats hell of a story.” Tyke said finishing her fourth drink. Slamming the empty glass down on the table.

Dawn was only on her second drink but she was already light headed. The atmosphere in this place was perfect. Dawn thought randomly. Tyke went to speak but a joyous cry came from Trouble behind her.

She turned to look, there standing on the landing was the sweaty comedian Rico. Trouble beckoned him over, he stood up to greet him.

“Rico, howya keepin!?” Trouble bellowed.

The Brown tall stallion smiled back and called over “Still prettier than you, ya cunt.” He spoke now with an accent that was lost on the stage. Dawn better studied this pony now.

He was a tall and a little thin, brown unicorn stallion in his youth mid 20’s or so. His mane was a bright red and his eyes were a wild electric blue, He was wearing a sweat drenched suit. the suit lacked a bottom half exposing his flank, he was tilted just enough for Dawn to see it. His cutie mark was a curving bent out of shape rifle cartridge making a perfect ark. Dawn found it a little hard to imagine what his special talent was, or how he earned that cutie mark.

“Have a fuckin’ drink with us, ya need ta meet these fuckers!” Trouble said with a strange tone of sincerity despite addressing them as ‘fuckers’.

“Why not?” Rico said dashing over to the table. He quickly levitated a chair over, crashing down next to Trouble and Worthy, he threw his hooves into the air with an air of defiance and a thrilled look on his he asked.

“What did I miss?” in a total anti-climatic tone, a small mischievous grin on his mouth.

Trouble and Worthy exchanged sly glances for a moment before Rico continued.

“Worthy! I never seen you in what? Nine months? You alright brony? Trouble who the fuck are these ponies eh?” Rico asked ecstatic.

Trouble lit another smoke took a long pull before using it as a pointing stick for all the ponies. He went through them one by one. Flicking his cigarette at each designated them in turn “Blood Letter, Flint Fang, Night Light, Black Dawn and Tyke.”

Rico addressing the whole lot of them said charismatically “Pleasure meeting you, Trouble what you doin’ now? I need a favour.”

“I’m headin’ up to the suite now, gonna change into something a little more comfortable, then I dunno may come back ‘ere have a few or, ‘ave a few quiet ones in the suite. Wah’s the favour?”

Rico looked over his shoulder before quietly saying “Best we discuss it in private, eh china?”

Trouble sighed, he forced himself up from his chair and announced “Alright, Show Ponies wanna stay up with muhself? I got plenty o’ room.”

Flint Fang shook her head, “We may come up for a few rounds later, we’ll book our own room.”

“Righ,” Trouble said a little disappointed “I’ll see ya soon Show Pony, what about you Worthy?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He snidely said.

“Alright gang follow me.” Trouble said before breaking into a brisk pace.

Dawn hurriedly left her chair as did Night Light, quickly following Trouble. “See you later, yeah?” said Tyke optimistically calling out.

Dawn snapped her head around and nodded. Tyke smiled in response and went to join the other show ponies, who all began a hushed conversation. She felt a little gratified with the knowledge she made a new friend or at least, she hoped she had.

Worthy and Rico walked parallel with Trouble, Dawn and Night Light had caught up with them before the stairs.

Night Light turned to Dawn, “So what did the little Show Pony talk to you about?” She asked with an air of caution.

“Not much, just asking me about, me really.” Dawn couldn’t nail down what their conversation was about, it was mostly just her retelling her story since she left the NCR.

Night Light looked Dawn seriously in the eye “Don’t trust them, Show Ponies are notorious for their ability to gain the trust of others, they’re looking for something out here. Tell me who did most of the talking, you or her?”

“Eh, now that you mention it,” Dawn stammered out before Night Light resumed.

“See? Blood Letter kept on asking me about the Ranger presence and about where I stood with the NCR, if they ask you for a favour, or help with something, tell me or Trouble okay?”

Night Light more established than asked, she had no love for this place. Dawn didn’t ask why, Night Light had a habit of playing her cards close to her chest.

They weaved silently through the gambling tables, drunk ponies cheering and hollering at the games. The drink clouding their reasoning, Dawn had no doubt in her mind none of these ponies were turning a profit.

At the end of the gambling den was a metal panel in the wall with a button next to it, one arrow button up the other pointing down. Dawn was baffled to say the least.

Trouble jabbed the arrow pointing downwards, it lit up and they waited in silence. Rico spoke “Listen, Trouble. I just need some help with a deal and,” Trouble raised a hoof to cut him off.

“It’s private enough to call me away from the bar, what till we’re up in mine. You can tell us then.” Trouble announced still staring at the metal panel.

With a ding, Dawn jumped, alarmed by the foreign and disembodied noise. The metal panel slid backwards revealing a tiny box capable of accommodating half a dozen ponies. A solid almost blinding yellow light source was overhead inside the box, casting aside any shadows that strived to survive. Illuminating every inch of cold metal.

 Trouble and the rest stepped into it, cramming into the small metal coffin.

Dawn looked at it, scanning it up and down, she was genuinely nervous by this, there was a small crack between the casino floor and the metal box, it was less than an inch in width, but it may aswell been a mile. She stared into the crack as if it were a bottomless abyss that she would plummet into. And it seemed the crack was staring back into her.

She backed away intimidated. Trouble extended his hoof kindly, “No worries kid, no worries. Jus’ step on in. It’s only an elevator.”

Worthy rolled his eyes and Rico suppressed a guffaw. Dawn was even more disheartened by their condescending nature, even with Trouble’s support. She didn’t even know these ponies.

Trouble looked back at the two “Fuck you two, we’re all on the same boat ‘ere.” he said disgusted by them.

Trouble spoke again, trying to comfort her. “Kid,” he said apathetically, Dawn looked up at him, terrified. “Please.” He said as he extended his hoof further. The metal digits were outstretched, nothing could make him look friendly. Or his brother with the eye patch and mask, which thankfully wasn’t adorning his face.

Dawn courageously took a step forward. She inched over the gap, careful not to touch it. Her hooves felt like lead, every time she attempted to lift them they weighed an impossible amount. She tried to steady her breathing but to no avail. She had no explanation for her acting this way, but she couldn’t help it. She was overwhelmed by it.

Dawn’s nostrils flared as she inhaled quickly, Worthy sighed in anger and bit down on her mane and dragged her in, Dawn let out a shriek, terrified. All too quick, she wasn’t ready, this was too soon. Trouble looked at him in shock “Da Fuck ya think you’re at?” he said in anger.

Worthy replied through a mouthful of mane and a squirming  Dawn kicking out “Wh-ut ahre yhou wahiting fhor?” Dawn’s hooves slipped on the cold metal as she tried to break free, Worthy was too strong, he yanked her in, just enough that the tips of her hooves were past the crack.

Trouble swore under his breath, Night Light stood looking torn, not helping her. Trouble slammed a button and the metal panel slid shut with a ding. But Dawn didn’t hear a ding, she heard a cheerful chirp from a demon receiving fresh meat, she let out a wail as Worthy still held her.

“HEEELLLLPPP!” Dawn screamed kicking out. Night Light bit her lip and stepped forward, she shoved Worthy “Let her go you bastard!” She raised her hoof to him, Trouble dove in to stop her. This was while the world was fading away from Dawn, something welled up inside of her.

A burst of magic erupted from her horn as the world imploded and was replaced with darkness, the last thing she seen was Night Light taking a swing at Worthy and all hell breaking loose in their tiny metal cell. Turning on each other like dogs.

_____________________________________________________________________

Dawn came around, the scene was very different. She was still in the elevator but this time. She was alone and in the bowels of hell. The polished metal of the elevator now was bloodied and grayed, she lay in the corner not quite feeling anything, no fear, no relief just a state of tranquility. Across from her was a corpse propped up against the corner, a purple pony with a gaping hole in his forehead, whose brains had been splattered on the metal behind him. She didn’t recognize him, he looked like all the other tourists. Sharply dressed, well groomed even if poorly. Dawn tried to rise to her hooves, the elevator was shaky and swaying beneath her. But she felt no weight on her hooves as she rose.

The once solid yellow lighting of the elevator was now flickering on and off in an unsteady and dispersed pattern.

The humming of the elevator came to an abrupt end, Dawn stood facing the retractable metal panel, it slid opened.

Bullets whizzed through the air, the once glistening and lavish casino lay in ruin, feral ponies with guns were firing beserkley at her. Dawn was frozen rigid with fear. Three bullets sailed her way passing harmlessly through her chest. Her teeth chattered. her eyes welded shut, it took her a few seconds to realize something crucial. She wasn’t dead. She wasn’t even there. Disembodied once more, in a spectral state free to traverse. Her body incapable of emotions right now, the casino was in ruins, large gaping holes were in the walls, this was no longer the Haven of New Pegas as she knew it.

 This was, or is another time. A darker chapter in its history.

3 ponies in combat gear poured into the elevator carrying well maintained automatic rifles firing back at the ferals with exquisite form and accuracy, while wearing some of the finest combat armour Dawn has ever laid eyes on. It was sandy in texture with thick pads and vests covering their vitals. It was nowhere near as effective or thick as Trouble’s or her own, but it gave a look of coolness and professionalism.

 More tatty feral ponies poured onto the casino floor carrying SMG’s and pistols, firing upon the well armed band. The three ponies entered the elevator pressing their backs against the walls, narrowly avoiding the bullets.

One of the ponies, a gray earth pony with a black mane slammed the button at the very peak of the button list, the door slid shut, bullets leaving dents and marks. Showering the ponies in sparks.

The two ponies opposite the Gray pony, a red unicorn with a khaki mane and a blue unicorn with a yellow mane looked at each other before the brown coated unicorn spoke.

“What now, sarge?” he asked terrified, his voice trembling.

The gray pony slunk to the floor next to the corpse, tired and worn down.

 He said “I dunno, Pyrex, I’m not even sure I’m the sarge anymore. Everyone is down, we need to get in contact with somepony, there is bound to be other surviving units.” The gray pony spoke with an air of authority and dwindling confidence.

The red unicorn spoke next, his voice just as scared as the soldier identified as Pyrex.

“I don’t wanna die sarge.” The pony desperately pleaded. It was pathetic, but dawn knew he was only voicing their mutual feelings.

“Nopony else is dying today Goalpost. Now sit easy, we’ll get out of here.” The unidentified “sarge” said reassuringly.

The sarge took a deep breath before forcing himself up, replacing the magazine in his sleek black carbine. Pyrex spoke again,

“Sarge.” He said devastation clear in his voice.

 “The others aren’t coming are they?” The expressions of the ponies in the small metal coffin fell, the sarge looked at the corpse in the corner then at him mournfully and said

“No, it’s just us. I’m not the sarge. Not anymore. It’s Hotspur until we find out who's left.” He said deflated.

Goalpost made a glum counter point “What if we’re all that’s left?” The band of soldiers went into a deathly silence.

The elevator came to a halt, and dinged once more, shooting all the ponies into alertness forming combat stances. They strained their rifles on the door, it slid open revealing a dark derelict  corridor with a worn down wooden door at the end.

The group moved forward in unison keeping their rifles at the ready, they trudged silently down the corridor, Dawn attempted to follow them in her spectral state, as she began to follow in their footsteps the world dissipated from before her and she returned to the darkness.

_____________________________________________________________________

Dawn came back to the present gasping for air. She kicked out in a spasm attack, the next thing she felt was her head banging against...

Soft carpet?

Her eyes shot open, towering above her was a disgruntled, yet relieved looking Trouble.

She smiled up at him, glad the ordeal was over. She looked down the corridor, it was the same one the band of soldiers skulked through, only refurbished. Exquisitely at that.

At the end of the corridor was the elevator, it sickened her just to look at it. She lay there begrudgingly staring at it, when Trouble spoke.

“Worthy, didn’t know. He’s a good pony, just a little impatient sometimes.” Trouble said apologetically, he blamed himself for what happened. And in a sense he was right to.

It was only now did Dawn realize how tired she was, her hooves seemed to suddenly ache and her muscles were burning inside her.

She meekly disclosed to Trouble “I’m tired.” she was staving off the temptation to fall asleep again. Trouble grinned and replied.

“Healing potions are all well and good, but after a week like that, there is no helping being knackered as fuck. Ya can sleep inside my gaff. You’ll love it, it’ll be just like home.”

“Home.” Dawn mouthed as Trouble cradled her into a ball and carried her down the corridor. The powerful Trouble hefted her into his grip with ease, he trudged down the corridor on his hind hooves. Dawn seen an open heavy duty door, light beaming out from behind it. Her head bobbed up and down as Trouble carried her into the light.

“Home.” She whispered, smiling the word felt good, alien to her, yet warming. The Light from behind the door shining upon her face, the door slowly swung open, granting Dawn refuge inside.

Home.