**Authors Note**

(Hey guys, sorry its been awhile since I posted, this chapter has been done for quite some time, but a commission is on it’s way, once its done its being posted on this chapter and a subsequent one along the way, next chapter is a bit of a doozy. I’m looking to increase overall length and content per chapter so there might be a few of these .5 things every so often, thanks for reading - Pistol Whip)

Chapter 19.5: Proposition

“Beware the red mist.” The Figure recited.

The memory sent shakes down Dawn’s left forehoof, “The red mist, probably, was one of Worthy’s top five weapons.” Dawn concluded nodding her head, thinking of how the pony loved the sight of a fine sanguine cloud.

“Weapon?” The Figure questioned.

“It wasn’t our bullets that scared off the mob, or Trouble’s grenade launcher scattering debris on top of them. It was that mist, they instantly knew what it was.” Dawn stated, her stomach feeling uneasy just remembering the pungent smell, the true odour of ponies.

“That they were breathing in their friends, that they were engulfing them, becoming part of them. How would you react If suddenly all the ponies you ever knew turned into a puff of red smog, thick droplets of their own bodily fluids and meat.” She hissed through her teeth in contempt.

“That didn’t stop you though, you still followed him into the depths without hesitation.The Figure accusingly pointed a digit of his exoskeleton at her. “Don’t sit there and pretend you didn’t have a choice.”

“I did have a choice, you’re right, Trouble offered me my share up front, plus the ten thousand he rounded me off to earlier, giving me a cozy fifty thousand and letting me be on my way.” Dawn clarified resting her chin on her scarred hoof.

“But you went along with him anyways.” The Figure pointed out.

“Obviously. I don’t know why. If you asked me then I might have had an answer, but now...” she said trailing off with dwindling confidence, “Trouble offered more than anyone has ever offered me before. He gave me what nopony would ever have given me, and more. Maybe it was gratitude, maybe I wanted to know more, maybe I wanted more. Maybe I realized, that Trouble wouldn’t be just a week in my life.” Dawn rambled.

“So what happened?” the Figure queried.

“We returned and the Show Ponies disappeared. It was just us, all gathered around in Trouble’s suite. Talking, until he brought up the offer.”

_____________________________________________________________________

The group were all back in the suite. Rico revealed his other weapon that had been confiscated to repay his debts. It was a black metal sub machine gun, an Uzi he called it. It was his sidearm, he was still cuddling the briefcase, running the blade of his oversized knife along the leather. Soothingly caressing it, a tranquil look on his face as he stroked it.

Worthy had removed his mask, and was busy smoking a cigarette with his brother, who had slipped back into his combat gear; he didn’t look complete without it. Worthy didn’t drink but he sure as hell smoked.

 Trouble had Worthy give him a manecut it seemed, despite just recently getting it cut, maybe it was a New Pegas thing but now all his hair was in a tight braid at the back, leaving only a thick linear strip running down the middle of his head. Making him look like more of a punk, tough pony. Night Light was speaking to Rico, idly chatting away as Dawn was left in the armchair listening in.

“Marizona ranger huh?” Rico asked her.

“Hell yeah, ever since I was a filly it was all I wanted to be, growing up in VDNKh.” She said, her voice filled with remorse at the mention of the town.

“I heard about what happened there. Sorry.” Rico sympathized.

“Not your fault, I’m over it. It was those fucking purist bastards that done it. One of the reasons I’m tagging along is I’m hoping to kill a few more of those cunts. There were good ponies in that town. Everything was good there, until the NCR built that damn station there.” Night Light angrily spat at the mention of the NCR.

Dawn couldn’t help but remember Trouble telling her to come along. That she owed him, Not her merely tagging along like she had a choice in the matter. Night Light generally had two moods, stoic or angry. She did both very well. Dawn thought she was taking all this very well. Too well in fact. Dawn remembered in VDNKh the large building at the end of the road, the tape she found. The two bottles of vodka and Night Light radioing in a report.

“There’s bound to be work for Angels, especially after their invasion of Marizona. Ponies will be bidding left, right and centre for Trouble to march into Germaney and skull fuck Gabriel to death. We’ll be doing a lot of trigger work.” Rico clarified.

“Good.” Night Light replied angrily.

Worthy and Trouble approached the table, the former taking a seat as the latter stood over them all. Trouble cleared his throat, and spoke in his professional tone.

“I have a proposition for all of you. Today you all earned your share of two hundred grand, forty grand each way. You can take it now, everyone pays, or you can listen to my offer.” Trouble began.

Dawn listen attentively as did Night Light, but Rico lay back relaxed in the armchair. Two fucks were too many to give for him.

“This whole fuckin’ region is on the brink of total war, Ponave will see what Marizona has seen, and Marizona is going to be hit again. Only much harder.” he said pounding his hooves together for impact  “There will be a slight break in the action, for ponies to put down their chips. I’ve already been contacted for another job. This one is good pay. But I’m not offering you a job, I’m proposing something much more: A family.” Trouble concluded.

“What?” Quired Night Light and Rico in unison, baffled. Dawn had figured he would say something like this.

“We make bonds, take care of one another, pool resources, supplies, caps, assistance. Everything that is mine will become yours, everything that is yours will become mine. I’m getting too old to keep this up solo, I need a team. Worthy is in, he’s always been family.” Trouble continued resting a hoof on Worthy’s shoulder.

“Count me in.” Dawn blurted out. All her life she longed for something more than her lonely depressing existence, travelling with Trouble was dangerous, terrifying, and at times unbearable. But, it was the best decision she ever made.

Night Light and Rico shot alarmed glances to the grinning mare. Trouble was smirking back at her, elated.

“I knew you would Dawn.” Trouble commented.

Rico almost reluctantly slowly nearly painfully raised his hoof into the air “You never let me down yet, and I need the money.” He moaned.

“Night Light?” Trouble questioned. All eyes bearing in down on her.

She rolled her eyes, and shrugged. Biting down on her lip she asked “Are we going to be killing Angels?”

“As many as we can.” Trouble answered coolly.

“I’m in.”

Trouble smiled maniacally at them. Nearly giggling. He dropped his professional tone instantly, squatting down onto the armrest of the chair.

“Okay, there is a pegasus up in Germaney workin’ fir the Trottingham boot boys methinks.” Trouble began, “Thing is, he’s gone missing. Last I heard he was spotted near Flankfurt, our job is to go in, and detonate an arms factory and get the pegasus out.” Trouble said, stamping the ground conclusively.

“A pegasus?” Night Light asked.

“Yeah, I don’t know his story. You’ll have to ask him. We aren’t being paid to get him out alive, buh it's a nice thought. Plus a pegasus would help our odds as a team.”

“You plannin’ on recruiting him?” Rico asked.

“Wings are invaluable. So, we take the job?” Trouble consulted his new ‘family’.

“Sure, Dad.” Dawn answered. Enthusiastically

“Uh, kid. I’m not yer dad, by family I didn’t mean it like that. Buh, whatever floats yer boat.” he said back still upbeat about the new order of things.

Dawn blushed terribly, feeling like a foal. She quietly thanked Celestia for giving her a black coat. She pretended it was nothing.

“Hell yeah.” Rico chipped in.

“Sounds fun.” Night Light added.

“I’m with you, as always.” Worthy said.

“Follow me. It’s about time you seen how we’re going to get around.” Trouble declared walking out into the hall. Rico gave a snicker before climbing out of his chair. Night Light and Dawn exchanging confused glances.

“Best ya all know, I accepted the job before I told any of you.” He said on the way out.

_____________________________________________________________________

Trouble lead them to Duct Tape’s All Around Repair Resort. The low rise building between Sodom and Saber Tooth’s.

They followed him into the small office in the front. Inside was an old, but well-maintained old workshop. Cans of motor oil lay scattered about, tins of turpentine and canisters of WD-40 were everywhere.

A young unicorn mare sat behind a workbench, acting as a makeshift counter. She had a short brown mane to keep her hair out of her eyes and a thick burgundy coat. On her flank was a long roll of silver tape.

She sat on a stool, tinkering with a small mechanical contraption with a surgical screwdriver. Engrossed on the task at hoof, her red eyes straining on the miniscule detail. A blue bandanna keep the sweat off her brow, oblivious to the newcomers.

She gently twisted the screwdriver as she bit down on her tongue. An audible click could be heard, the mare threw her head back and let out a sigh of relief, she turned and addressed the visitors.

“Hey Trouble.” She addressed him, eyeing up the others.

“Duct Tape! How’s me motor?” He asked casually.

“Oh, she’s fine. I changed the oil, fitted new spark plugs. Rico told me of the new paint job you wanted.” She remarked, wiping her oil covered face with a filthy rag.

“Wah paint job?” Trouble asked in monotone, his expression falling. Rico sniggering behind Dawn.

“Eh...” Duct Tape said, she gestured him into the next room as she sat there. Trouble burst into it, Dawn following him, Rico pushing past to get the first look.

“Awesome.” Rico declared.

Dawn would have chosen words to those effect.

The garage housed a huge armored mechanical machine lay in there. Armoured plates shielding the back, no roof, a huge machine gun resting in a back carriage lined with seats against the metal plates, leaving the middle open. The machine gun itself was mostly barrel, a huge ammo box at its side, with bigger rounds than Dawn has ever seen. In the front was a steering wheel and proper seating for a driver and shotgun.

The vehicle sat on four huge thick studded tires. The body was finished in a purple coat with a vibrant yellow trim, boldly stamped along the length of the vehicle was “ The Rap Mobile.”

“The fuckin Rap Mobile?” Trouble exclaimed.

He spun to face Rico, clearly displeased. A goofy smirk stretched across his face. Dawn didn’t see the fuss, she never saw anything like this before. Plus she thought it looked cool.

“The Rap Mobile.” Rico repeated.

Trouble facehoofed. “Of all the fuckin things, why The Rap Mobile?”

“I updated your music selection.” Rico sniggered.

“Arsehole.” Trouble murmured.

“Before any of you come rolling out with me, you’re getting a medical.” he said definitively “And” he added glaring at smirking stallion “I’ll tell Bone Twister there is something up with your colon if you don’t shut up Rico.”

_____________________________________________________________________

They were back on the Strip standing outside the white clinic building. “Doctor Bone Twist’s New Pegas Clinic Open All Hours!”  sat Between Shangri-La and The Luck of the Coltic.

The group entered, inside was a pristine white building with polished white tiles, clean marble flooring covered in a coat of varnish. A tall unicorn stallion walked out from a door in the back. He was middle aged, he had a charcoal coat, a mint green mane, and wore a long lab coat. He was inspecting a clipboard that hovered in front of him, scanning through it intently. Mumbling a few words to himself before finally looking up to see the group.

The stallion gave a warm grin. “Trouble.” he calmly addressed him.

“Doc.” Trouble retorted.

“Rico.” The Doctor addressed.

“Doc.” Rico retorted.

“Worthy.” The Doctor addressed, nodding off to him.

“Doc.” Worthy replied.

Dawn began to feel a little uneasy with all these unnecessary and tedious formalities.

“What seems to be the problem?” The doctor politely inquired.

“Well, Bone Twist,” Trouble began “I need you to check up on my crew ‘ere. I’m not bringing a sick pony into the fight. Compile the results and have them sent up to me suite.”

“No problem Trouble, maybe your young mare friend here would like to accompany me?” The inappropriately named doctor Bone Twist asked, gesturing towards Dawn.

“Uh.” Dawn uttered.

“Sure, go ahead Dawn. I’d trust this pony with my life.” What about hers?

Dawn followed the doctor into the room he came out of. It was a small medical office, only a small fraction of the entire clinic.

Inside the side office was various medical apparatus; from stethoscopes, to heart monitors and band aids.

“Now, what's the name?” Bone Twist politely asked.

“Black Dawn.” she answered shifting uncomfortably.

“Black Dawn, eh?” he said, jotting down her details. “It’s a nice name. Much better than a doctor named Bone Twist. So how did you meet Trouble?” He casually chatted away.

“Eh, he helped me out.” She vaguely put it.

“No, saved me.” She corrected herself, feeling it wrong not to do his actions justice.

“Saved by him? I saved him once, as thanks he bought me a damn clinic. I don’t have to tell you how expensive property is in such a small place like this.”

“You saved Trouble?” She asked.

“Yeah,” he began as he channeled magic through his horn “found him in the desert, it's a miracle he survived. I never seen a pony so torn up before. I took over half of my stock to bring him around.” he said, as a soft glow emerged from his horn.

Dawn felt a tingling sensation race up and down her body, “Easy, it’s just a examination spell.” Bone Twist reassured.

Dawn wanted to know more about what Bone Twist knew “Why’d you do it?” She questioned. Dawn figured surely if you found a pony like Trouble unable to move and dying. You wouldn’t think twice about looting him, or just putting him out of his misery. Maybe just leave him to rot, but knowing the wastes, maybe toy with him first.

“Save him? I have too much compassion, to just watch ponies die, even if I can't do anything to save them. When I seen Trouble, my brain warned me, he looked like well, trouble. But when I woke him up three days later, he swore to me I’d be rewarded. Now I’m Pegas’s premier doctor.”

Dawn found this pony very interesting. He had a lot to say, and was quite polite. A rare trait out here.

“When was this?” Dawn inquired.

“Oh, a lifetime ago it seems. Fifteen years this year I think, I met him a few months before his casino takeover. I didn’t get the clinic right away, he vanished leaving me with a stack of caps. A few years later a courier tracks me down and says Trouble has a gift. It's hard to forget a pony like him. We travelled for a bit after that.”

Dawn listened intently, keeping her mind off the tingling that made her want to flail like a lunatic.

“Travelled?” Dawn asked, wanting to bite down on her hoof with the perpetual tingling.

“Not very far, to the nearest town. He’s good company, but back then he was a lot... Wilder than he is now. Mellowed with age. All that smoking and drinking has taken a heavy toll on his body, though he’s still a Ursa Major of a stallion.” Bone Twist’s horn ceased to glow. Gently and thankfully, the annoying tingling sensation seeped out of Dawn’s body. She gave a shiver glad to be back to normality.

“I mean, he’s not even forty, but not many ponies in his line of work reach that age. Hmm, as far as your well being is concerned you’re a well developed sixteen year old mare, a little malnourished. But other than that you’re fine.” Bone Twist summarized.

“You know my age?” Dawn asked, there was no way he could have guessed so accurately, unless.

“The spell can determine when you were born and, well, when you expire.” Bone Twist said a little sheepishly.

“And?” Dawn asked hesitantly.

Bone Twist chuckled “Relax, your life expectancy is only a rough guess. The spell only gives a rough estimate unless you’re terribly ill. You’ve got plenty of years ahead of you.”

Dawn wasn’t put at ease by his words, one thing she always dreaded to consider was her own mortality. Who isn’t scared to die?

“Thats all Black Dawn. I’ll compile the detailed report later tonight.”

“Uh, thanks.” Dawn managed to blurt out.

She left the office and Trouble brushed past her “So how’d she do Doc?” he asked as he shut the door behind him.

_____________________________________________________________________

The check ups had been completed. All in all they went well, nobody came out sobbing.

Which was a good thing. Worthy came out with a blood pack, which made everyone except Trouble uneasy it seemed.

They all returned to the Luck of The Coltic in the lounge, and shared a few drinks until the stack of reports arrived. Everypony except Dawn and Worthy. She settled for water and Worthy outright refused service.

Inky Pistachio was the delivery pony. “I got those reports you were waiting on Trouble and that business dossier made up.” Inky said. He dropped them is separate piles on the table, one thick folder, and 5 thin ones.

Inky quickly departed when Night Light asked “Business Dossier?”

“Its our business card, our details, experience. Usual shit clients are interested in. Within two weeks every major player in Marizona, maybe even Equestria will have their hooves on a copy of this.”

Trouble flipped open the large dossier.  He turned it over to Dawn and nodded for her to read. She wondered if his response would be encouraging about her prying into his diary.

Dawn scanned the document, it was all above board. It was a profile set.

Trouble

Age: 40

Nationality(P.O.B): Coltic

Sex: Male

Type: Earth Pony

Height: 6ft 4in

Weight: 440 lbs

Coat: Scarlet

Hair: Black

Eyes: Green

Exp: Death Dealer (Monarch, ret.), C.P.L.A (Captain, ret.), PMC, Stalker affiliate, Wolf Pack(Former)

Qualifications: Trained in Hoof to Hoof, Demolitions, Marksmanship, Weapon Handling, Infiltration, Chemical Handling, Munitions Manufacturing, Tactical and Strategic Education.

Roles: Explosives, CQC, Direct action, Bio-Warfare, Command.

Worthy

Age: 37

Nationality(P.O.B): Coltic

Sex: Male

Type: Earth Pony

Height: 6ft 1in

Weight: 360 lbs

Coat: White

Hair: Green

Eyes: Amber(1)

Exp: Death Dealer(Reserve Operative, ex.), C.P.L.A (Lieutenant, reserve.), PMC, Arms Dealer, Inmate(‘The Labyrinth’), Sanguine Brother(ex), Stalker affiliate.

Qualifications: Stealth, Infiltration, Hoof to Hoof, Weapons Handling, Field Medicine, Munitions, Chemical Handling, Marksmanship(Advanced), Terror Tactics.

Roles: Sniper, Scout, Fear Unit, Brawler, Infiltrator, Guerilla, Medic.

Ricochet

Age: 27

Nationality(P.O.B): Trottingham(Nationalized Marizona)

Sex: Male

Type: Unicorn

Height: 6ft 5in

Weight: 310 lbs

Coat: Brown

Hair: Red

Eyes: Blue

Exp: Trottingham Boot Boy(Marizona), PMC, Bodyguard, Chemist, Razor affiliate.

Qualifications: Marksmanship, Chemistry, Social Skills, Field Medic.

Roles: Medic, Marksman, Chemist, Negotiator.

Night Light

Age: 19

Nationality(P.O.B): Marizona

Sex: Female

Type: Unicorn

Height: 6ft

Weight: 315 lbs

Coat: Silver

Hair: Silver

Eyes: Grey

Exp: Marizona Ranger(Ex.), PMC.

Qualifications: Survival, Stealth, Improvised Weapons, Marksmanship.

Roles: Scout, Survivalist, Direct Action, Marksman.

Black Dawn

Age: 16

Nationality(P.O.B): N.C.R

Sex: Female

Type: Unicorn

Height: 5ft 9in

Weight: 265 lbs

Coat: Black

Hair: Gold

Eyes: Blue

Exp: PMC, Apprentice to Trouble.

Qualifications: Learning in field, getting salty.

Roles: Sniper, Direct Action.

That was the opening pages, this thing was nearly an inch thick. She began to wonder if the ponies named here were in any particular order. As list neared the end the ponies experience and qualifications were getting measlier and measlier, with her being the lowest common denominator.

“Tah’s a fuckin’ team.” Trouble said.

“Getting salty?” Dawn questioned, seeing the odd comment in her qualifications.

“My usual clients would get it. Dun worry.”

Dawn flicked onto a random page on the dossier, amazingly she landed on her own first page. There wasn’t much on her, but, she was interested.

Synopsis:

Black Dawn, served with Trouble from the age of sixteen.She’d never killed a pony until the day she met him. She grew up in Dry Town, on the periphery of the NCR and left to try her luck in the trigger business.

Her first experience in the field was with Trouble in the demolition of Ever Bright mills. There, she exceeded in natural ability and soldiering potential. A superb shot despite being inexperienced, she can keep a level head in combat.

Having killed more ponies than some mercs twice her age already, she fought alongside Trouble and Night Light in the defense of Marizona Springs, serving as a sniper. Within her first week within the wastes she earned an excess of 12,000 bottle caps. More than the average annual wage of most mercenaries.

Her skill set is rapidly increasing, she’s proven in the field already. An investment of a mercenary, in five years, she’ll be one of the greats. A natural killer being honed by a trained killer, the next Trouble.

That was the synopsis of Dawn, there was more pages. Through reading it she realised that a lot of her details were somewhat embellished to her. And that ponies reading it already need knowledge of Trouble and what he does, or what he done.

Which, by no stretch of the imagination, was easy to believe. Dawn yearned for more information on Trouble’s past. Him simply introducing himself has stopped ponies in their tracks. Not surprising, even his looks are a deterrent.

While Dawn was busy reading, the others flicked through their medical reports. The odd time commenting on the results.

“Under-fucking-weight?” Rico read from the sheet in annoyance.

“Mine is just saying I’m getting old.” Worthy commented.

Trouble, from his sealed report, pulled out a small plastic cylinder of pills. With a suppressed uttering of a few curse words, he quickly glanced over his report.

“Hmph!” He grunted, placing the report face down on the table.

“I’m gettin’ older, weaker ‘n’ stupider, not ta mention ‘e gave me these,” he said  jangling the pill bottle in annoyance.

“Fir me stamina. All the fags and booze slowin me down.” he said, turning his head away with a pissed off face, his hooves crossed in a childish huff.

“Yours kid is jus’ put on some weight, too dainty. A breeze would knock ya over.”

Night Light spoke up “When do we roll out? The longer we sit here, the more Angels will mobilize.”

“We lock and stock the, ugh...” Trouble grimaced,  “...Rap Mobile, with guns, supplies, munitions. Everything. Then we roll.”

“What do we call ourselves?” Rico asked.

Dawn flipped shut the dossier reading the boldest and biggest line of text on the cover.

“The Family.” Dawn answered, in unison with Trouble.

She looked up at him, he looked back. She wondered to herself, what thoughts were racing behind those eyes of his. He was probably thinking the exact same thing she was.

“You ponies head on up, I need Dawn for one final thing, gather up all the gear we’ll need. Or that you’ll want.” Trouble said, not breaking eye contact with Dawn.

 Worthy silently rose and left. Rico followed suit, and Dawn couldn’t help but pick up on the fact these ponies were bound to have history. Night Light gave a worried glance to Dawn before leaving with the others.

It was just the two of them. Like it was in the very beginning. The foal in the palm of the giant. Him saving her, in a godforsaken place. Now their circumstances were drastically altered. He was still saving her, only now, she didn’t need so much saving, she had a family at her back, even if none of them really believed they were one. She didn’t need the others, not with Trouble as a friend.

“What is it?” Dawn asked sincerely.

He finally broke eye contact, turning his head to the side, His new haircut seemed fitting, no sides to it, only one tight pulled back strip running into a thick braid, it suited him.

“Am not entirely sure you know what you’re going in ta.” He answered back.

“What?” Dawn asked, flabbergasted.

“Do ya know wah the braids represent kid?” Trouble questioned.

“No.”

“Where me and Worthy come from, the braids were a sign of a warrior. A warrior clan, a family. My stripes, do you know what they represent?” Trouble continued posing questions, Dawn had wondered why he painted himself in the way he did.

“No.” She again responded.

“Zebras, hundreds of years before Equestria was settled, it was us and them. We fought over everything, for anything, food, land, water, for sport. They were fantastic fighters, as were we. They adopted our braids, and we adopted their stripes.” he continued.

“Why are you telling me this?” Dawn inquired, it made no sense to have them alone for him to say this.

He brought his gaze back to Dawn, his eyes half shut. His scarred face, every time she looked at it, it made her uneasy. Maybe she’d never get used to it.

“You’ve earned a braid, you’ve not earned your stripes. And,” he said raising a talon for emphasis, “with your stripes comes an exoskeleton. If you want it, that is.”

She sat there confused. She didn’t know what she wanted, she recalled Trouble telling her the pain was excruciating having the exoskeleton ‘installed’ but she knew the benefits of one. But, it couldn’t have been that great, after all his brother didn’t have one.

The thought of the stripes though, they seemed, appealing.

“What have I got to do?” she asked.

“Kill, kill, kill. Hurt ponies, burn them, stab them, blow them up. And learn.” he clarified.

She got all of it, save the last part “Learn?”

“Me and Worthy, Rico too. You’re green. We’ll show you things. Get your qualifications, roles and experience up. Your resume is too weak right now. Even with me on it.”

“So, why am I here with you?” Dawn asked, wanting to cut to the chase.

“You're the next me, so, time to make it official.” Trouble rose from his chair. Rising to his full height on his hind legs.

“What?” it feels all she is ever able to say to him is that stupid word ‘what’.

Trouble extended his hoof to her. “There’s somepony I’d like you to meet, in this very casino.”

She clasped it confidently. Trouble rounded the table, pulling her up as he walked with her.  Her hoof above her shoulder as Trouble towered above her, he led her into a back room. Behind the bar. The bartender Mixer was there saying not a word.

Inside the darkroom was a tired, elderly unicorn mare staring at a blank canvas. Her coat colour had faded to the point of a dull gray. Her mane was the same colour, her eyes were hardly open. The life had faded from them, retaining the same colour as the rest of her body.

The only thing in the room besides the mare and her canvas was a round table and a small chair. The mare slowly craned her neck to the visitors. Her expression blank.

“This Dawn, is... Well, she doesn’t have a name. She usually never speaks, only to those she deems worthy. Us around here call her, Feeble.”

This mare struck Dawn as... She lacked the capacity to interpret her, as she looked over her she felt a pang in her heart. Her tatty dress sparsely covering her body. She couldn’t speak, not in the presence of such a pitiful pony. She reminded her of House. Only, more... Pony.

Trouble guided Dawn by the hoof into the the small chair, the old wood creaking as she rested herself in it. He stood behind her, releasing his grip on her hoof and firmly grasping her shoulder.

Feeble’s dreary eyes slowly drifted over to them. She blinked, remaining stoic.

“Immortalize this moment.” Trouble commanded.

Feeble gently closed her aged and wrinkled eyes, her horn faintly coming into life.

“This is where your new life officially begins.” Trouble whispered to her.

She felt herself grinning as she rested her hooves up onto the table relaxing. She still hadn’t a clue what she was here for. Trouble removed Bad News from her back and rested the rifle it on the table, its name plate facing up.

“Didn’t I promise nothing bad would happen to you?”

“This kid, is where it all begins.” Trouble said, strangely mournful.

“For you at least, this is where it all escalates.”

“Are you ready?” He asked her one final time.

“It’s going to be hard isn’t it?” She asked back serenely.

“Yeah.” came the response

“We could all die.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m ready, as long as you're there, I’m ready.” she said definitively.

“I promised nothing bad was going to happen to you, as long as I’m around nothing will, the wastes won’t get you like they got everyone else, I’ll kill them all before they touch you,” he said grimly.

“What do you call a step down from Trouble?” he asked himself.

“Mischief.” he whispered into her ear. His demon smirk spread across his face.

Quest Started: The Family