Chapter 9: Marizona Springs.

The figure was done with his tough pony act after hearing how Trouble dealt with the prisoner he was soft on her. “Fuck was Trouble always that bad around you?” the figure asked perturbed.

“No, he got worse.”

The figure stopped his pacing and darted her a look she couldn’t see his face in the shadow.

But it must have been along the lines of “No Fucking Way.”

“How did the ranger respond to his… methods?”

“Night Light just sort of knew it had to be done.” Dawn said mournfully. She hated when torture was used. Trouble relished in it before long.

“What happened next, where did you go?”

“Marizona Springs.” She blandly replied

“Were you there for the shootout?”

“We lead the goddess-damned shootout, but we still had a day to go before we arrived and Trouble was nervous.”

The figure took his seat once more and asked one final question before letting Dawn resume.

“How the hell did you win that battle and what happened on the road to Marizona Springs?”

“Nothing really happened on the road we just talked, and we only won that battle because A- Trouble was in charge and B- A dead pony showed up to help.

The Figure shot her a look out of interest.

“The Eraser.”

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The Sun was setting over the land. It had been 5 hours since the angels and there was hardly a word spoke between them. Dawn was trotting sluggishly down the road, her head hung low. The Jet wore off and it put her in pit of depression .The weight off all the wastelands sorrows on her shoulders. Her thoughts went back to Trouble torturing that pony. And the worst of all this was the nausea in her stomach. The brown of the wasteland made her want to puke.

She felt remorse sorrow and bitter anger at everything, her companions, her old life her new life, this world.  

She felt sick at herself at how pathetic she was. A teary eye for a cutie mark? Give me a fucking break.

She was angry enough to break through the weight on her shoulders and angrily ask Trouble a question to see if she could hurt him. Fucker seems never budge an inch.

And there he was enjoying a drink of that putrid piss he called a drink rewarding himself for burning off a pony’s face who begged for mercy before the end.

“Hey Trouble, were you always an asshole or did you have to work on it?”

Trouble merely sighed and poked softly back “Easy kid, that’s the crash talking you’re not like that.”

Dawn was going to cave in she had to vent this anger somehow so she directed it at the pony she felt deserved it right now.

“How would you know? You’ve known me for what three days? You’ve had it easy. You have no idea what I’ve been through!”

Night Light was still pondering something in her head from when she was speaking to Dawn while Trouble tortured the angel all this was flying right over her head.

“Kid for God’s sake, watch wha ya say to mah, I know this isn’t you but I think you know if you keep it up I’ll do something we’ll both regret.” Trouble was trying to suppress his irritation but it was like a tumour.

“Well Trouble, who the fuck do you think you are? You think you can boss me around? I hate everything about you, you sick fuck!” she was breathing hard now venom in her words she didn’t mean it but she wanted to.

“Kid, shut your fuckin face.” He raised a hoof in the air and shook it Night Light was still in her trance.

“And another thing I’m not a kid, but you’d like if I was wouldn’t you? So you could fuck a filly! I hate you and your stupid accent you drunk! Fuck you!” she smiled in grim satisfaction it felt good to do this. Attack him get under his skin and generally to piss him off.

Trouble stopped walking he turned to face Dawn who was at the back of their little column. His muscles tensing.

He charged over and slapped her hard in the face sending her to the ground blood trailed from her jet-black cheeks. His face seething in anger, she never seen him angry until now usually he was calm under every other situation. His poison green eyes ablze with frustration Dawn trembling at his mercy.

He pointed his hoof accusingly at her as she lay there clutching her cheek. Fear paralysing her body. “Shut up Kid! Shut Up! If I wanted to fuck you I woulda let Brick Jaw have his fun first! Remember him do ya? He was the fuck I stabbed for your ungrateful arse! and so wah if I drink? You’d be a corpse if it weren’t fir mah! And fuck me ya say? Oh ho! Fuck You! More like it. Pull Yourself Together before I rip you in Half!”

Night Lights trance broke she was looking at the two she unconsciously walked ahead of. “Trouble, Dawn what the fuck are you doing?” she had a frightened expression Dawn was lying on the ground covering her face shrinking in fear. Trouble was towering over her ready to give her a beat down. Dawn’s poisonous words frenzied him.

Dawn broke down crying. It had all been too much, the hellish shit from the past few days. Walking Dead, Bullets whizzing passed her head, explosions. she shot up from the ground and squeezed her forelegs around Trouble and cried into his duster. Her only friend.

 “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! It’s hard, it’s so hard. Please don’t hate me!” She began to ball even harder her tears trickling off his duster “No pony likes me, they all want me dead I hate Me.” he gave up and just hugged her back.

“It’s grand kid, nah worries, I know it’s been a hard couple of days buh I promise ya I’ll let nuffin bad happen ta ya, you have me word. Ya know if anytin’s the matter I’m there okay?” Trouble spoke with understanding he didn’t hate her he actually cared for her. Or at least she thought he did if he saved her life on several occasions.

Dawn weakly nodded her head against where she buried it and broke their embrace she felt better now. That she let it out and some of the darkness that had loomed over her had lifted. She didn’t walk behind them now she walked next to Trouble a sense of comradery about them.

Night Light weakly smiled at them. She kept her thoughts to herself best not to burden them.

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After dark they picked a spot along the road to make camp. Night Light found some old twigs and desert plants and got a fire going the desert plants when burned gave off a pleasant aroma making everyone relax slightly. Something was very comforting about a fire on the cold desert nights, when all the heat left the earth for a few hours. Dawn was quickly drifting off, its been a long day for her. So she lay in her sleeping bag facing the fire. While Trouble and Night Light sat up talking awhile longer.

“Shit Trouble I thought you were going to kill her.” Night Light half joked to herself.

“It’s been a rough day, kid jus needed to let it out.” Trouble said in a supportive manner.

“You know what Trouble I’ve been thinking about something.” She inclined.

“Oh, and wahs that?” was the response.

Night Light let out a sigh.

“Do you think I’m a coward for deserting the rangers and staying?”

“Coward?” Trouble’s eyes narrowed like he didn’t quite understand.

“That’s what they all call me. The other rangers they tried to kill me for Celestia’s sake. What was I supposed to do? I-“ Trouble cut her short, she was getting emotional.

“Listen good, you’re the only one of them cunts who isn’t a coward, Starsky should have told the NCR to fuck off. You stayed where they belonged they’re cowards for submitting and abandoning the ponies they swore to protect for the last four hundred years.

In the Death Dealer’s part of our training was psychology, it’s eating at ya, but know this it’s eating at them more. Because right now as we’re speaking they know you were right, they fuckin know they should have stayed. You’re in the right and I won’t let any pony tell ya different.” Trouble said his voice steadily getting sterner.

Trouble’s way with words made her feel better about her situation she smiled her situation has been fucked for a while now and it seemed the world was against her.

“Hey Trouble, mind if I stick around after we reach New Pegas?” she optimistically asked trying not to get her hopes up.

“Night Light it’d be my pleasure.” Trouble smiled back at her.

Trouble by no means was a good pony but by any means he was a understanding one.

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Dawn awoke early Trouble and Night Light were fast asleep the sun was still hiding in the east soon to rise. Though Trouble tossed and turned in his sleep mumbling something indistinguishable. An old worn book with brown pages fell out of his duster and rolled upon on the desert floor as his body settled after the tossing and turning.

Dawn’s curiosity got the better of her in all the time she’d been travelling with Trouble she never seen him read, speaking of which didn’t he promise to teach her a few things.

She gently wrapped the book in magical tendrils and levitated it in front of her face it was rather tatty. Looked like some pony dragged it through the desert on a piece of rope and let it trail behind them.

She opened to a random page her horn lighting it enough for her to decipher the letters in the darkness

Advice:

The Good pony revealed to me a lovely little parable involving a dispute. I asked him “Does a good pony take sides?”  To which he replied “Never.” As the story unfolds he told me about this deal he was on. It was one of his last deals before he became the Good Pony all I know is it will be nearly impossible to find his old identity enough contractors disappear often enough to be able to tell one from the other.

It was an argument about a shipment he was escorting to a remote settlement somewhere outside New Pegas “It’s ashes now.” he said.

 When they arrived with the shipment which was nearly 3 months of provisions medicine, food, ammo usual. As the story unfolds the townies had been in a standoff with a large group of bandits in the territory for months that’s why they had to buy in bulk. But get this.

The deal was made just outside the town at night just under a mile outside of the settlement. After the Good pony arrived with his 3 other friends there were no townies. It was a fucking ambush. The townies could never in 2 years of hard undisturbed labour be able to pay for this haul so they tried to bush whack em.

But the lord beholds the fucking bandits show up! Start firing shots scared the townies off while they were turned tail running back to their little settlement the raiders decided they should be rewarded no more shots need by fired right?

Wrong, when they asked the good pony to hand over the goods as terms of payment he refused. Saying it wasn’t his to give away. There could have been a dozen of them he said of his 3 friends 2 of them were fucking killed in the crossfire.

Just him and one other pony against 12 or so raiders in open ground? That’s fucking suicide.

But he gave them a surprise, something we were thought growing up. The grenade bouquet. It’s a string of grenades with piano wire around the pins in a neat little bundle, he fucked it between the raiders and killed or mortally wounded the entire pack of the bastards, nice trick the fusiliers invented that one if I remember correct.

So it’s him and his buddy left. They way his buddy saw it they were all double crossed they should keep the shipment break the bulk sell it on. Go back to the contractor say it was an ambush and everyone is better off for it.

The good pony didn’t answer his friend. No.

 He shot him instead.

He burned the entire shipment it must have been worth a fortune I asked him, why did he shoot his friend? Why did he burn the shipment? Why did he throw away the opportunity? I would have tried to salvage the situation and make a turn over.

Simple really The Good pony explained his logic to how it was the right thing to do.

The raiders were bad ponies preying on the weak and helpless all for the petty wealth they would attain they’re Greed was their undoing.

The townies were out of luck ponies maybe they weren’t evil but they certainly weren’t honest or good they’re Dishonesty was their undoing.

As for his friend, he said his Disloyalty to the job was his undoing.

But the best part is he seen the shipment as a test, an embodiment of all things wrong with the world evil was magnetised to it, he had to purge the world of it. Many ponies wanted it, many ponies needed it but no pony had shown they deserved it.

And that’s how I know I’m nothing. I couldn’t bring myself to do what he done, the weak pony would have given in to the raiders the soft would give it to the townies and the cynical would have kept it for themselves. The Good pony they call him, he earned that name through blood and fire...

Dawn had discovered his journal but this was a recent log not 3 days old. How could it be more, when the hell did he write it? Trouble was a fairly talkative pony this must be very personal to him a guarded secret. She felt like she just betrayed him. This was his deepest thoughts inside his mind and he didn’t want her there to begin with to hear the advice of the good pony.

It cost him 25,000 caps it was for him only she felt like she just stole from him.

Trouble didn’t write like he spoke it was like an entirely different pony was writing this.

This was pretty far into the book about 4/5 of the way in it was filled with logs his adventures his thought processes the lot.

Dawn discretely hovered it over to his sleeping bag she didn’t want him to know she had a look. Out of respect… and a little fear.

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The morning came, the sun was slowly climbing into the sky. Night Light was still sound asleep in her small sleeping bag, her hat lying next to her. Trouble was awake the book no longer on the ground he greeted her “awrigh kid.” He said in his accented voice and his weird dialect.

“And good morning to you too.” She merrily replied Dawn kicked herself from her sleeping bag getting used to these early mornings was hard.

Trouble picked up a rock and threw it at Night Light she shot up with a jump looking around her in alarm Trouble laughed at her “Up and at em Ranger,Ha.”

Night Light looked at him first in anger then laughed it off “Trouble, you asshole.”

He smiled back “Would ya have me any other way?”

Dawn spoke up keen to get a word in “Where to now, those Purists and all.”

Trouble spoke “We gotta hit Marizona Springs for some supplies and that.”

Night Light wasn’t pleased with this. She called Trouble over with a hoof and whispered something into his ear Trouble replied in a shout “Fuck them, I’ll sort em out.” This didn’t put her to rest she just looked edgy. Dawn couldn’t help but wonder what that was about but she threw it to the back of her mind.

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They walked for a while the drabness of the desert sinking in, the sand. The corpse of the country they were walking through everywhere maggots feasting on it. When coming up on the road was an old fuelling station along the roadside. There were half a dozen or so ponies sitting around there loitering in makeshift armor foundling their poorly maintained gear.

“Eh, Trouble I don’t think these guys want to be friends.” Dawn said nervously they reminded her of the raiders in EverBright.

“Ya got that righ anyway kid, here listen, do nuffin if they start some we’ll give em some.”

Night Light kept silent but Dawn heard her slide the bolt back on her Valkyrie and tip her hat down.

As they walked past they kept their eyes on the road keen not to make eye contact or even acknowledge them. The five ponies were wide eyed, a few grabbed their rifles but other than that kept stalwart. One pulled back the bolt of a rifle at this Trouble spun round his revolvers in his hooves hammers pulled back aiming at the raider who made this fatal error. Night Light’s laser sight painting one raiders fore head Dawn unholstered Amigo way too late.

The raiders all shot up, caught off guard. One reached for his pistol Trouble fixated a revolver on him.

“Don’t be gettin any ideas now fellas.” The pony backed away from his piece the others slowly lowered their rifles Trouble nodding his head.

“Good colt yourself ya, no needta be acting the maggot.” He holstered his pieces and strode on past on his hind legs.

“We jus want the ranger!” one of the ponies called back Night Light was still aiming at one. She wasn’t as keen to leave as Trouble.

“Why?” Trouble asked back stopping in his tracks.

“She’s got a bounty of 5000 on her head, dead or alive we’ll split it.” Night Light shot a nervous look over to Trouble and Dawn.

“Really?” Trouble answered him enthusiastically. Dawn tugged at him confused. He shrugged her off.

“Oh yeah, 50-50 c’mon we can take her.” The speaker pony spoke up. A smile spreading across his face quickly wiped off when Night Light painted her laser over his skull.

“And why would I help you kill her?” Trouble calmly replied way too calmly, Night Light kept on snapping her head back and forth between the two parties.

“We’ll grease her right now, we can have some fun first if you feel like it, and you can have her first think of it as a bonus!.” Dawn seen Night Light’s face she was weighing up the odds a bead of sweat running down her brow, licking her lips.

Dawn pulled Trouble round to her and she whispered out “You can’t be serious, you can’t ju-“  Trouble covered her nuzzle with a hoof and winked.

He twirled round and flamboyantly strutted next to Night Light he rested against her shoulder stood against her with his elbow on her back.

“Nah, I reckon I’ll kill you boys instead or maybe we might have some fun with you first…”

Dawn seen the relief spread across Night Light’s face she almost began snickering if it weren’t for the life-threatening situation. The five ponies shrunk Trouble’s eyes narrowed the speaker pony panicked and dashed for his pistol.

Night Light fired two rounds into his head. Her rifle bouncing up and down “Pffat, Pffatt.” The pony tumbled in mid air.  his life ended mid stride. Trouble wiped out the remaining four with two blasts from each of his revolvers their corpses spinning upon impact blood spraying from their corpses as high velocity hunks of lead flew through their beings. Smoke slowly trailed up from the barrels of his magnificent pistols.

He smiled as he holstered his pieces. A perfectly executed play. Night Light burst into fully fledged laughter as if it were some inside joke between the two. Dawn started giggling as well. She couldn’t explain it, Trouble wrapped a shoulder round her and laughed as they went to join up with Black Dawn.

Through the fit of hysterics Night Light uttered something “Ha-ha-ha-ha Trouble that was a sick fucking joke ha-ha-ha.” He just nodded through his own laughs and kept moving.

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They walked on for another few miles after this incident when Dawn finally realised something. Trouble made her laugh at ponies getting killed, but first hearing their offer of rape and betrayal. She felt sickened by this. How she found a sliver of laughter, cruel delectable irony in the situation all induced by his superb act. She couldn’t tell if they were bad ponies or if Trouble was a superb comedian.

If you had shown her those ponies being slaughtered in cold blood by a group of other ponies or if the purists happened to pass them by it would have been sick. A haze of bullets would have pelted them, for no good reason but Trouble found plenty of good reasons and made it seem funny.

There was a small blip on the horizon built into the bottom of a mountain. Marizona Springs.

 One road leading into town from a hill leading down to where they were, an easily defensible place only two possible avenues of attack the desert or the mountain the town was built at a T junction. The two roads leading one from their perspective going right and the other going straight up the hill.

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The town was rather flimsy there was a small cordon at the edge of town. They got through 3 sentries idly standing by carrying old repeater rifles. They walked through with out any hassle, all the buildings were made from scavenged rusted metals rotted wood and whatever else struck the builders fancy.

There were 3 streets in the town all built along the T-Junction. On the road all the town’s people were hurrying along nervously. They walked onto the T in the road. To their left was a large building with a neon light display outside reading “Saloon.” Not very original but it said what it meant.

Outside were 3 ponies talking and smoking crude cigarettes. The saloon looked rather busy inside the noise could be heard from outside. One of the ponies outside approached Night Light “Hey aren’t you that outlaw?” he pointed his cigarette challengingly at her.

His 2 friends backed him up “Oh my fucking goddess it is! Sheriff Cedro!” Night Light aimed her Valkyrie at the lead ponie’s head barrel pressing firmly against his forehead Dawn was surprised how fast she had it out.

4 authoritative looking ponies galloped up the street wearing silver badges on their waistcoats. A cyan stallion with a handle brush moustache and a repeating rifle ran up and pointed his gun at Night Light, as did the other 3. Dawn and Trouble turned to face them. Night Light kept her eyes peering down her scope.

“Now lookey here Missy, we got nuff trouble as it is with them Purists breathing down our necks the last thing we need some gallivanting loose cannon, so your coming down to my office nice nd slow.”

Night Light sighed. She reluctantly dropped her gun it bounced off the worn road. she slowly paced from her piece “Sheriff, for Luna’s sake just listen to what I have to say.”

“Quiet, the purists are attacking at dawn, I don’t need yer excuses.”

Night Light shot back “Don’t you know who I brought here Sheriff?”

The sheriff looked over Dawn and then Trouble much longer than Dawn. Dawn almost felt jealous of Trouble at how he shadowed her presence.

“This is Trouble and his friend.” She gestured to them and winked.

Trouble took the hint and turned to face the sheriff raising onto his hind legs his hooves resting on his pistol belt trying to intimidate and Dawn shadowing in his wake.

The sheriff shrunk a little “Trouble you say…” he said his voice losing its former assertiveness.

“That’s right” Night Light continued.

“To help fight off the purists.”

Trouble spun around to face her as if to say “Are you fucking serious?” all the town was watching now. Passers by stopped overhearing what Night Light was saying in this show down. They broke into spontaneous cheering Trouble looked at Night Light with a face that read “And since when the fuck where you going to tell me this?”

She looked at him with imploring eyes he spat and the sheriff spoke up “Is that true mister?”

He looked back around and fell on all four hooves again and nodded towards the sheriff the sheriff holstered his weapon and smiled “Well alright, Ya hear that Boys? Trouble has come to help! So what’s the plan?” the sheriff and his subordinates looked at Trouble expectantly.

Trouble was befuddled his accent hardened as he fought to think “Ta be honest wiv ya sheriff yer boys knaw more than meself at tha moment, by any chance have ya sent in anay scouts?”

The sheriff beckoned him to follow  and they all walked down the street towards the sheriff’s office. Dawn had kept silent all this time and since all attention was on Trouble she asked Night Light a question.;

“Did you plan this?”

“Sort of, but hey it worked right?”

“Trouble is probably going to be pissed.” Dawn cautioned her

“Not until after he helps the town.”Trouble turned round and shot Night Light a furious look her eyes widened.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a hot idea…”

They walked into the sheriff’s office. Inside was a large polished oval shaped table with two dozens chairs around it and behind that several cabinets lined with repeater rifles. And in the far corner was a series of filthy empty cells.

  They all took seats at a oval shaped table that could accommodate all of them. Sheriff Cedro’s deputies spoke quietly among themselves for a while until the sheriff spoke “We sent in deputy Beltron here to scout out their camp last night.” He signalled for Beltron to stand. A handsome bronze coated stallion with a blue mane stood up.Dawn was starting to notice most ponies round here have weird names.

“Yessir, Ah counted bout five dozen or more maybe, they’ll be attackin from there mountain there Ah reckon.” Dawn found his accent to be a huge turn off.

The sheriff signalled for him to sit down and spoke himself “We got a message from them this morning bout three hours before you arrived some fancy feller with one o them big old trumpets and speaker systems said theys was attackin at sunrise tomorrow. Said he was gonna purify us.”

Trouble cleared his throat he was back to his normal speaking pattern “Alrigh, lads wah we got in the ways of munitions and pony power?”

The sheriff rolled a bullet to Trouble a small rifle round, Trouble palmed it and rolled it in his hooves the Sheriff spoke “I can roun up maybe a posse of two dozen and we got  three dozen rifles that fire that round and plenty o’ ammo.”

Trouble was further inspecting the round “This round has been recycled.” He bluntly observed.

“You got keen eyes mister, uh Trouble we got two fine weapon smiths in town but not a lot in the way of weapons.”

“Here kid show us a round your rifle there would ya?” he held out is hoof in her direction as she telekinetically slipped a round from Bad News from one of her 4 remaining full magazines and placed it in his hooves it was almost twice the size of the Sheriffs.

Trouble held the two rounds erect in his hooves he raised Bad News’ round which her Pip-Buck helpfully instructed her it was a .338 calibre round.

As he raised the .338 he declared “This round ‘ere can only punch it’s way through one of dem cunts visors wah makes you think your rounds can hurt em?”

There was nervous glances exchanged at the table the sheriff spoke “Well what do you…recommend?” Struggling for the appropriate word.

“You boys said ya got weapon smiths in the town ah? Wah bout blast powder, wah you got in he way of demolitions?” Dawn was confused of what he said, ah? As in I oh right I, aye as in Yes? She patted herself on the back for being able to bang rocks together.

“We got plenty o’ blast powder no demolitions though.” The sheriff was keen to now where this was going.

“Have your smiths take out a wee bit of gunpowder and replace it with blasting powder, and ya have yourself tha most basic of high velocity rounds buh it should do ya.”

Trouble threw Dawn her cartridge back for Bad News she reinserted it into her magazine she was concerned over her low ammo she only had 2 full magazines left for Amigo which the Pip Buck labelled as .50(Magnum) maybe it was as easy as going into a store and asking for it.

The sheriff leaned into the ear of one of his subordinates and whispered for him to get the ammo to the weapon smiths.

“I’m supposing you lot are firing from repeaters yeah?” the sheriff nodded.

“Right.” Trouble stroked his chin “I’ll help you, buh the ranger is absolved got it?”

The sheriff looked at Trouble and sighed “We can’t do that.” He told him.

“Why not?” Trouble shot back he’s request was simple.

“She’s a traitor to the rangers traitors get executed, every pony knows that.” As if it was written in stone.

Trouble pointed a finger over to Night Light who was deep in thinking over the sheriff’s words and he started laughing the sheriff after a while interrupted his laughing.

“What’s so funny bout treason?”

“Treason!” Trouble boisterously exclaimed.

“She’s the only fucken one of them cunts who stayed! The rest of em fucked off left ya to rot! You fink Starsky is coming back? He’s already fucken dead! two hundred rangers went up there three months ago! They arrived two months ago and already over eighty are dead! She’s the only one who isn’t a fucken traitor and as far as I’m concerned the rangers desertedmonths ago and their all being slowly executed one by one now by the fucking Griffins no less!”

The congregation shot out of their seats taking offence .Dawn and Trouble remained seated. Night Light was glaring at Trouble not sure to be flattered or infuriated. Dawn was terrified being stared down by a dozen armed ponies inside their town. Trouble sat there scowling when he reached into his duster and drank from his flask. Dawn shuddered when she seen it, she could never look at it as just a flask ever since Trouble burned off that purists face.

He lit a smoke as well. The sheriff and his subordinates staring at him offended then Sheriff Cedro spoke up and pointed a hoof at Night Light “She’s a traitor! And she’ll hang!” he shouted.

“Sit The Fuck Down or I’ll save The Purists the bother!” the sheriff dropped his offensive shocked, as if he remembered that Trouble was trying to help. Dawn was yet to understand why he was so respected, the sheriff beckoned for the rest of his ponies to sit down.

“And the only fuckin reason I’m helping ya is cuz I’m doin it as a favor for the fuckin ranger! If you so much as chamber a round within a mile of her I’ll fuckin kill every one of ya.”

Night Light looked somehow offended and flattered at the same time.

“Alright Trouble we all know what you’ve done and we know you’re a very serious pony when it comes to kills, she lives but she’s stayin for the fighting.”

“I never planned not to be here for the fighting sheriff.” Night Light chipped in.

“Alrigh here’s the plan.” Trouble announced. He stood up and began to walk around the table.

“You boys got blast powder and as well as that any ammo you can give the kid there or the ranger would be appreciated, they’re comin from tha mountain fair nuff, four dozen of em.”

“Five dozen.” Deputy Beltron corrected.

“Four actually, we killed a dozen in our way in.” Trouble casually corrected the deputies bust into chatter amongst themselves the sheriff silenced them with his hoof.

“What are we going to do about them?”

“You have twenty odd ponies at your disposal they have twice that and four times the fire power, but they have two weaknesses we need ta exploit they’re pride and they’re slowness.”

“You gotta aim fir the visor. Only things your bullets can pierce or if your lucky you can lock their armor with a well placed shot to the head anyway.”

“What do you mean lock their armor?”

“We discovered when Dawn here,” he gestured towards her “Shot one of them purists in the head it disabled his helmet which controls his armor. It locks it, becomes a prison they cant use them machine guns they can’t do anything except hope their friends live long enough to get them out.”

“You said their weaknesses were what?”

“Their pride, they will only attack head on and predictably if we play smart we can use that and they are so slow in all that armor. It may be stronger than steel ranger armor but that doesn’t mean its as advanced.”

“They move at a snails pace their LMG’s are our main concern.”

“Them boys got light machine guns?” the sheriff anxiously said.

“Two on each pony, belt fed capable I’m guessin of round 1200 rounds a minute per gun and there is forty-eight of em left.”

“Sweet fucking Luna.” The sheriff said.

“Now we are gonna set up phase lines around the town split your ponies up into suitable positions and sturdy cover and pray, these are heavy shock troopers they are some mean sons of bitches.”

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Trouble was walking through the town barking orders at the ponies That the sheriff had round up. They were about half way through setting up the defences. The town had transformed into a makeshift fort within no time, sand bags and makeshift cover was everywhere.

Trouble kept looking over to the mountain where they were due to attack from. Dawn and Night Light followed him not sure what to do.

“Alrigh you three take up spots in that balcony! And Bullets don’t grow on trees for Fucks sake!”

“As for you four! Keep low at the cordon with the other four ponies! We need a tight main front!”

all this time ordering on the move he was advancing to the saloon. As he was at the door he turned to the sheriff “Right sheriff you take her from here I’m gonna grab some rest for later, remember the plan.” As he tapped him on the nose he stumbled inside the place was nearly empty now.

It was murky and rusted. Inside a rotted wooden bar stood at the far wall of the room. Old furniture lay around the room with decks of cards abandoned and empty glasses at them.  It appeared over half of the town’s population was chipping in for the defence which left them with about 45 or so ponies poorly armed.

Trouble pulled up at the bar and behind it cleaning a glass was a gray pony with a blue mane the pony serving spoke in an accent that bore resemblance to Trouble’s only much thicker as Trouble exhaled when he sat at the bar did the pony look up.

“Howya Trouble, I see ya dun brough doewn a lawd a fuckin wrath upon tis ere town.”

Trouble responded in their cryptic accent.

“Nah, shure ya know betta than tha Razey, is dem fuckin purists, dis ere town wah be fucked wivout mah.”

The bar pony looked at Night Light and Dawn as usual not much time was spent looking at Dawn but at either the Ranger or Trouble.

“Wahs da story wiv these boyce? Sure tha one thar is a fuckin ranger.”

“Gawd Razey is a laong story righ?”

“Awrigh, fuck me like.” Razey replied

“Giss sum o-dat special brew ya’s got down bee-low ah?

Razey nodded and walked into the back room.

Dawn and Night Light exchanged looks befuddled they hadn’t a clue at what was being said Trouble looked at them and said “Wah? Am I not allowed to have mates from the same place I’m from?”

Night Light spoke to him now since this is the first time they technically had alone

“Trouble, I’m really sorry about this but,” Trouble cut her off.

“Buh fuckin nuffin, ya somehow roped me inta killin roun fifty angels for a bunch of townies unless ya got about a hundred grand in caps we’re at an impasse.”

Dawn spoke up now trying to defuse the hostility “What’s with that other pony Razey right?”

Trouble’s harsh face broke into a casual friendly one “Aye, he’s from Bally na Poni the accent there takes a lil getting used ta.” That was an understatement.

The pony known as Razey re-emerged from the back room carrying a bottle of some golden liquid he poured out 3 double shots Night Light moved to the bar as did Dawn copying her companions. Trouble lifted his glass “Here’s to the fallen.” He downed his shot then Night Light and finally Dawn. she embarrassingly coughed hard after. It tasted like acid, felt like acid going down as well.

It was night now. Night Light and Trouble already powered through an entire bottle of the stuff running up a steep cost of 200 caps Dawn was content with just water the two were shoulder to shoulder having a drunken sung Dawn was getting sick of it.

All this time she sat there quiet, not fitting in. Just thinking about it all. Not listening to whatever they were jabbering on about.

Razey was drunk as well Trouble bought him drinks despite him owning the saloon.

He often joined in with an indecipherable wise crack or with the singing.

“Buddy, you’re a colt make a big noise playin in tha street gonna be a big pony some day you got mud on yo face ya big disgrace kickin yo can all ova the place singin.”

they sung in unison then they began to stamp in a rhythm something about it Dawn found very appealing if performed professionally it would be quite a song. Razey hummed along too drunk to actually sing.

“We will, we will, rock you! Everypony! We will, we will rock you!”

While they sung Trouble raised the empty glass bottle over his head. Dawn seen all the scratches his exoskeleton left on it. Her cheek started burning where he had slapped her, damn those things were sharp.

Dawn was caught up still in her thoughts. This Ranger Night Light was at best a nuisance to Dawn, she hardly even spoke to her. The bitch somehow got her roped into all this town defense crap when neither her or Trouble wanted to be there. And now she was coming to New Pegas with them. Dawn wondered what did the purists mean when they said they were going to purify somewhere.

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They all woke up in the corner they fell asleep in, Razey was still asleep behind the bar Dawn shook herself awake Trouble and Night Light were fast asleep still resting against each other Dawn looked out the window. The town was in turmoil.

All the citizens were running around with firearms in tow the sheriff’s deputies barking orders holding their repeaters. The sheriff himself burst into the bar, the slamming of the door and the pounding of it against the wall shot Razey out of sleep with a yelp as he fell out of his chair. The yelp woke Night Light and Trouble.

Night Light clutched her head in pain. Dawn could only imagine the pain her head was in after a night of the stuff they were drinking. Dawn was smart enough to spare herself, the sheriff rushed over to Trouble who was trying to compose himself.

“Trouble you need to see this.” The sheriff grabbed Trouble and led him to the door and pointed him towards the hill Dawn ran out after them.

Oh Shit. On the hill to the east around 40 white clad super sized ponies, armed to the teeth with those fear inducing machine guns. The townsfolk were set up behind dense makeshift cover from hunks of concrete and sandbags ranging from frontier style Cow ponies with repeating rifles to ragged and rough townsfolk with small revolvers.

Night Light ran out to join them freezing at the spectacle on the hill. Her jaw dropped the hill was littered with lines of near bullet proof ponies.

“Mister Trouble, if we survive this we can’t really com-pen-sate you for yer services…” The sheriff slowly said, he was transfixed by the angels.

“It’s grand sheriff, the ranger will see to that.” Dawn could have sworn she heard Night Light gulp.

A trumpet echoed over the town followed by a booming voice “PONIES OF MARIZONA YOUR BECKONING HAS COME YOU CAN ACCEPT US AND WE CAN PURIFY YOU OR YOU CAN PERISH LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS!!!”

The sheriff’s deputies kept glancing back and forth between him and the angels and the sheriff was looking to Trouble. Trouble kept his eyes riveted on the hillside waiting to see what their next move was.

“Lock and load, sheriff it’s gonna be one long day.” The sheriff signalled his men to move up he cocked his rifle and ran on.

Razey appeared next to Trouble with 2 blow back .45 pistols “Ya’know Trouble, ya donn havh hta do this.”

“Well Razey they can’t get by with jus you.” Razey sprinted into the corner of a building his pistols raised next to him in magical tendrils. He waited at the junction in the T.

 Waiting.

Night Light ran off somewhere without Dawn noticing.

Trouble rubbed his sleeve against his nose and spoke to Dawn next.

“Kid, get on top of there and keep your head down, save your ammo, bullets don’t grow on trees and there is a radio up there stay in touch.” He gestured towards the saloon’s roof some sandbags were erect with a small gap between them and makeshift scaffolding leading up to it.

She arrived on the roof the sun obscuring her vision she set up the bipod in the gap between the sand bags and took deliberate aim for the centre pony’s visor where she guessed the voice was coming from on his helmet.

Night Light was set up on a solitary position on a roof on the periphery of town closest to the hill. Across from her on a different rooftop a group of 4 with repeaters. The rest of the repeater ponies were set up down by the sandbags with the sheriff and Trouble, who was now wearing his intimidating  helmet.

A small rectangular radio with a large antenna and speaker began to buzz. Trouble’s voice came through “Kid ya copy? What about you, ranger?” Night Light had her radio pinned to her jacket “I copy.” Dawn felt it best to copy her more professional friends “Oh, Yeah I copy too.” She babbled out. Smooth.

There was a pregnant pause both sides never made a move besides the odd town pony fidgeting. The angels on the hill were majestically unwavering when Trouble’s voice buzzed through once more “Kid, take the shot.” Dawn didn’t bother responding she raised the scope to her eye.

Decisions. Decisions. Who is to die first?

She picked the middle pony, the speaker. When the said pony made another announcement “You have elected, death!” something was grim in the pony’s voice that echoed throughout the town.

Dawn gently rested the crosshair on his left eye slowly inhaling. She had all the time in the world. It felt right. She squeezed. the bullet soar through the air and blew open the left side of pony’s visor. It ricocheted around his skull not finding enough force to punch through the other end and shot back out the right side. Shredded grey matter oozed from the ponies visor getting caught up on the jagged glass shards.

The angels glanced at their fallen comrade all too slowly with their slow neck joints. When the front line began to advance at a walking pace. The width of their line exceeding the width of the road.

 Their laser sights flickered on lighting up the town the remaining half of their force remained stationary.

The two sides erupted into a menacing crossfire thanks to Bad News’s flash suppressor the shooter remained in an undisclosed position. Night Light shot out of her cover and volleyed at the angels the spent cartridges skittering out of the receiver as they spat lead down range.

The angels trudged slowly towards the town sparks skimming and flying off their armor as a town barraged them.

Trouble and the main body were largely suppressed and Razey was yet to make a move. Dawn slipped into the logic defying land of S.A.T.S Her prey’s blue visor was painted. With a loud crack and a smoke plume the pony fell hard to the ground.

The ponies on the hill sent another dozen in behind their comrades leaving 8 or so on the Hill. But there was something different about these ponies their helmets had extra room on the top presumably for horns.

Trouble jumped from his sandbag cover leaning out of it. He fired some of his explosive shells their way causing flashes up on the hill but the subsequent explosions sent the follow up rounds off course falling short or going wide of their targets leaving most of the first line unscathed.

The sheriff’s ponies were not packing as heavy firepower in fact their fire power was minuscule in comparison to Trouble. So far even with their new high velocity rounds it was only denting the angel’s armor maybe with enough concentrated fire they could puncture it.

Trouble was switching magazines once more. Dawn hovered her scope over Trouble to see if this were a new colour and if so how did it violently dismember ponies. He looked up and spotted Dawn aiming at him and made a rude gesture at her. She got back to work it was only yellow, more explosives.

The second line of ponies began to open fire now. Twice the usual barrage was unbearable. Bullets were tearing through the buildings leaving beams of light surging through the dark buildings the sun was still only high enough to adequately illuminate the remaining 8 unicorn angels on the hill side. They were carrying something on their backs a satchel of some description.

The noise was unholy, the constant sound of an orchestra of machine guns firing over a 1000 rounds a minute and well over fifty machine guns was torture. It wreaked havoc on Dawn’s ability to aim it was so discombobulating.

The citizens of the town were beginning to take losses. A foolish colt broke from cover and fired his revolver wildly at the regulators. The rounds dinking off harmlessly against their armor. They focused on him shredding the poor bastard to pieces almost carving his torso in two. When a young mare run out towards his body and tried pulling him back by the mane. The angels perforated her leaving a trail of 20 holes along her carcass.

Trouble volleyed at them once more killing another 2 decapitating one with a lucky shot. Ripped off at the neck his head lolled out still intact with an aghast expression on it.

Dawn smote 3 more with well placed shots and stopped for a mag switch she glanced over at Night Light who was finally successful in killing a regulator leaving a trail of small holes in the visor.

Dawn was on about 30 rounds of ammo left for her rifle. Night Light kept looking at her Valkyrie her magazines were transparent.

The front line was reduced to little more than 4 spread out angels. But the second line were nearly half way to town every pony focused fire on the remaining first wave. Hammering their armor eventually ripping through felling the final four little more than 100 yards outside of town.

The second line were running at full capacity 20 ponies with 8 left on the hill still waiting.  Dawn realised the first wave were little more than  scapegoats something to use to move up the central body, what a squander of life.

Dawn began to work on the second line she started from left to right her accuracy was getting worse, her sight picture was shaky. It was her nerves. They were giving out again. She let go of her rifle and lay flat behind the sand bags the angels hadn’t even shot at her yet and she was trembling. Maybe it was the fear of having those guns hit her again. She was hyperventilating her chest rose and fell rapidly. Everything was jittery when she looked over to the radio a small head was sticking out from behind it.

Dawn slid it out. She sighed in relief. Jet, Trouble seen something going awry and stashed it here she hastily removed the cap and stabbed herself in the hoof with it.

She moaned in Ecstasy. Relaxation crept across her body but not before the world flashed red around her she began to drift off but then.

She was wired. Her internals went into overkill, her heartbeat must have tripled. Her movements sharp and precise she rolled over to Bad News and once she peered down the scope time slowed. it was moving at half the usual pace her breathing drastically steadied.

She blew out the visors of four more ponies consecutively in 1-second intervals 7 rounds in 4 seconds not efficient but very effective. Their line was thinned to about 13. But blood was building at the town’s barricade. Most of the sheriffs 2 dozen ponies were dead. Those in strategic positions on balconies were dead. In fact they were the first to be targeted.

 It was just Dawn and Night Light who remained on the vantage points every other pony was lying in a pool of their own blood or that of their friends. Friendship in bloodbaths.

Night Light was being soloed out  4 or more Angels have their guns strained on her spitting out lead at super speeds. She ducked low most bounced off her solid cover or flew past her head. A bullet whizzed through the crown of her hat jettisoning it off the side of the building. Night Light noticed and collapsed behind her cover shitting herself.

Trouble and the sheriff were in a word. Fucked. Most of the town’s ponies had fled for their lives many of which getting mowed down in the process maybe 2 score remained in the town cowering somewhere there was little more than 12 defenders at the barricade and they were being hit hard.

Most of the inexperienced ponies were frozen rigid with fear too afraid to die and one bleeding to death begging his comrades to finish him off too afraid to live.

Razey peered out now from his cover now pistols in tow the angels were 70 yard out now he galloped up to the barricade blasting his pistols in sync the bullets tearing through the angels ranks slaughtering 2 more. He crashed next to Trouble and reloaded and nodded in affirmation and he pulled a black metallic mask with a tinted black visor and mouth piece  out from some unseen place and fastened it around his face.

Razey, Trouble and the sheriffs remaining ponies bombarded the angels to minimum effect Razey was scoring kill shots like never before.

Now the angels were done to maybe 10 on the second line 8 on top of the hill Dawn glanced up at them only to see they were looking right at her. Literally glancing at her looking right down the scope Trouble looked over to her the sun was rising high now her scope was giving off hell of a glint. Trouble waved her down and through the radio “Your Scope! Hide The Fuckin Scope!” Night Light was still pinned down across the way her cover was getting ropey.

The 8 on the hill removed the satchels from their backs and took out from them long cylindrical tubes. With plenty of oddly shaped objects. they erected the tubes with their magic and dropped the objects into them and with a deafening pop and an echo the objects erupted from the tube and towered into the sky and began a descendant with a loud whistling noise.

 “MORTARS!!!” Trouble roared through the radio “KID GET OFF THE FUCKIN ROOF!!!” Dawn averted her eyes to the sky. The keenness Jet gave her could distinguish smoke trails.

 They were right above her head Night Light jumped from the roof she was on and tumbled onto the ground and reclaimed her filthy hat. Dawn hesitated, the mortars fell from the sky right on top of her surging her high into the air the saloon exploding sending debris, flames and shrapnel everywhere the liquor inside ignited blowing out the first floor with a purging blue flame. She barrelled though the air everything around her was red. Her head was spinning uncontrollably about. She was disorientated she remembers spinning though the air and slapping the ground with a hard thud followed by a crack.

Dawn rolled onto her back. She was breathing shallowly. Her eyes looking straight towards the sky, her head wouldn’t move for her. The Jet kept her organs running at full speed but not much else was working. One of her hooves was definitely broke every part of her was in agony. The whole right side of her body was nearly engulfed in the blast the other side she landed on was not much better. Night Light darted over to her the town was in flames the bombardment hadn’t ceased everypony was retreating or fleeing for their lives. The barricade was in smithereens this situation was fucked.

Night Light slapped her on the cheek trying to rouse her motionless body “Come on Black not now!” she began dragging her with one hoof. Dawn’s head lolled downwards she seen Trouble and what was left of the sheriff’s ponies and Razey running for dear life towards them outstripping a hail of bullets.

“Shite c’mon ta fuck Trouble we’s gots tha a fuckin town ta save!” Razey said after removing his mask, Trouble replied more concerned with Black he rushed over to her and took out 2  healing potions that were at the ready and tipped them into her mouth she was too weak to object.

The potions shot a meagre amount of life into her with a jolt. Her body was jump started she could operate her joints again. She looked to her right fore-hoof, jagged pieces of shrapnel were jutting out of it in a spiral. She couldn’t raise it at all. What she seen was Trouble put his hoof against it and with a quick “Sorry.” He yanked them out. The spiral ripped free Dawn let out a heart-rending cry it was the most painful thing she had ever experienced. Hot metal being ripped from her body tearing even more on the way out. As crimson flowed from where it was lodged down her hoof coating it red. She saw her Pip-Bucks screen.

It showed a rather unhappy pony with suave hair and in a jumpsuit he looked in pain it read percentages around the different part of his body.

Head: 47% Concussion

Troso: 45% 2 Broken Ribs

Right Fore hoof: 2% Crippled

Left Fore hoof: 56% Sprain

Right Hind hoof: 70%

Left Hind hoof: 38% Fracture

Fuck, the healing potions had boosted what the numbers were. And they were steadily improving. Medicine takes time to work after all. She could breathe again but that only intensified the pain. Mortars rained from the sky the second line couldn’t get a clear shot there was too much smoke. The towns people were either bits on the ground or running south towards the Ponave desert. Night Light and Trouble dragged Dawn into some shelter and in the shelter there was Razey the sheriff and 6 others.

They rested Dawn’s back against the wall and let her rest.

Dawn could stand again but she choose not to. Bad News was in a bad way. The scope was smashed. The magazine mangled it’s a miracle the receiver was intact but it was jammed with a bent cartridge.

She could hardly move but still Jet was helping. She sat there propped against a corner while they were arguing amongst each other. Trouble didn’t bother himself with their squabbling Razey did with the sheriff and his ponies as did Night Light.

Trouble got in close with her. Dawn’s breathing had steadied she was about ready to get back on her hooves just the pain pinned her down. He was face to face with her crouched down the mortars pelting down like rainfall outside their little hovel which was nothing more than a two story reinforced concrete building. the only structure capable of taking this kind of shelling. It must have been a mechanic’s workshop, sure felt like it.

He took off his mask and took a swig of his flask and forced it into Dawn’s mouth she didn’t resist even though he knew she thought it tasted like mutant piss from when they first met.

 “A lil something fir the pain, eh?” that’s not the first time he’s said that to her.

The drink like before really did numb the pain though it didn’t mix well with the Jet.

Dawn liked Trouble, he knew how to comfort a pony. While they were all arguing about Celestia knows what he was keeping her company. Looking after her.

She got to her hooves. The argument ended Trouble inspected Bad News and sighed “I’ll sort this out later.” He muttered and gently placed it back.

“Razey got any ideas?” Trouble asked the indecipherable pony.

“Ah, do indeed.” Razey replied

“What-the-fuck  are you asking him for?” the sheriff butted in trying to take control of the situation.

“He’s just owns a fucking saloon.” He spat at Razey with contempt and disrespect.

Trouble slapped the sheriff hard knocking the hat off his head. The sheriff’s deputies raised guns to Trouble. Dawn noticied that the handsome bronze deputy Beltron was not among them.  The sheriff clenched at his bleeding cheek he hit him a lot harder than he did Dawn when ‘she was out of line.’

“That’s the fucking Eraser your talking ta! Razey? Eraser? Fuck sake Razey I thought ya woulda told some pony!” Razey sighed.

 Dawn felt it wasn’t the time for a fucking reunion party. The sheriff though was shitting himself on the ground. He should have gotten up a long time ago.

Night Light had a stupified agape face on her. This must be one of them wasteland legends scary sounding ain’t it? “The Eraser.” Dawn had to wonder who the pencil is. Or maybe that was just the Jet and alcohol speaking.

The other ponies lowered their guns and Razey spoke “Fir Fucks sake Trouble why ya gon dun tha now?”

“Enough Bullshitting Lads, we got angels to kill.” Trouble retorted.

The sheriff was in disbelief “Razey I had no idea,”

“Well, too fucken late fir tha now annait.”

Razey took hold of the situation reloading his pistols Night Light who was quiet until now reloaded as well.

“Neow, Lads, we’re furty-fuor shades o fucked righ now, Sheriff you nd your lads git outta ere meself nd Trouble will sort this out. Head one mile south roun up the civies I’ll cach up wiv ya’s” with a nod the sheriff and his remaining six ponies galloped out from cover and south to follow the band of refugees. The smoke from the mortars masked the town now outside their shelter was little more than a white haze.

Razey refitted his mask which drastically altered his voice “Here is the plan, we charge out there like the fearless fuckers we are and wipe them out.” Simple. Dawn wherever her head was. It was in a happier place. She was hardly conscious, the concussion made her head throb painlessly since the painkillers were working so fucking well.

Trouble and Razey went outside. Trouble told Night Light to stay behind look after Dawn. The remaining angels were already inside the town the unicorns ceased their bombardment on those conditions alone.

There was maybe 10 in the town. Holy fuck not far from where they were those angels will be flying blind or not. Those visors might actually have a secondary function. Turns out they didn’t. Whereas Trouble and Razey’s visors actually worked.

The two skulked up opposite ends of the road. The debris which the mortars created made the town tricky to maneouveur. They angel’s formation moving into town had splintered they were wandering aimlessly clumsily against the rubble they created.

Trouble unsheathed his knife “Relentless” and his axe. The two snuck up to their own prey. The angels were oblivious to this.  Razey jammed his pistols into the face of an angel and smoked them with a double shot. The angels were at a major disadvantage, they were too blind and too slow for this lightning war.

While Razey killed his angel Trouble was face to face with his. He yanked the helmet off the pony revealing a young mare she let out a scream for help just before Trouble buried his axe between her eyes. He jumped back out disappearing into the smoke and dust.

The other angels fired blindly into the cloud before them. Razey and Trouble skulked low crawling up on their bellies. Razey let loose 3 more double shots felling 3 more angels. They spotted the flashes in the cloud and fired at him but he was already somewhere else in the fog.

Trouble approached another one from the side. He lifted the pony up on to it’s hindlegs the angel panicking started blindly firing into the air the other angels let loose some more random volleys out of fear. He threw the pony to the ground and pulled off their helmet.

With the appearance of a scared sapphire blue stallion the machine gun fire ceased. Before the pony had the wits to scream in terror Trouble broke the pony’s neck with a swift buck to the throat.

The angels finally formed a circle by backing into one another their metallic rumps linking them up. They fired in sync, spray and pray their most common tactic. Trouble and Razey were ghosts. No pony could see them. But they were there.

The unicorns on the hill were still holding fire. Dawn and Night Light were still in the building Dawn felt an overwhelming urge to laugh but hadn’t the faintest idea as to why.

Night Light sat in the far corner with a concerned look stroking her Valkyrie and wearing her ruined hat.

The angels fired and fired but hit nothing. They ceased after nearly a whole minute of deafening machine gun fire spent cartridges in a small mound around them acting like slippery ice.

Razey jumped from a hunk of rubble firing his pistols in unison killing 3 more almost immediately. The circle was dwindling down to 5 now while Razey lay down fire Trouble charged in with his blades letting out a battle cry.

He charged one plunging his knife through their visor. He spun the pony around using it as a shield for the oncoming fire the lingering 4 unleashed the full wrath of their machine guns on  Trouble or rather his shield. Razey scored another kill thanks to this diversion and he galloped off towards the hill leaving Trouble to wipe out the last of the second line the angel’s bullets ricocheted off his meat shields armor.

The angel’s machine guns were glowing soft red. Their rate of fire slowed and slowed and slowed.

Until there was nothing more than a soft tapping noise of an overworked hammer of a machine gun.

He dropped his meat shield it bounced off the ground with a loud clang the bullets lodged in its armor falling out with soft dings. The angels pressed their machine guns but they were still cooling Trouble threw his hooves on one of their helmets ripped it off and hacked the jaw off the pony who was wearing it with his axe. The pony let out a loud gurgling noise and Trouble finished him with a knife through his eye.

The next pony he came upon tried rearing up but the armor hampered her too much. He swung his axe through her visor smashing it. Not killing her she let out screams as she was blinded Trouble yanked out his fluid covered axe spun it in his hooves and used the spike behind the head and finished her off driving it deeper into her skull deeper than the head of the axe could reach.

The pony’s screams ceased the remaining two were terrified one tried to flee and slipped on the spent bullets that lay scattered on the ground. The pony landed face first on the ground in a comically slow fashion. Trouble let out a maniacal laugh through his helmet and slowly paced towards the one stupid enough to just freeze up. Trouble pinned this pony to the ground with a pounce and jerked off the helmet revealing a colt little more than one anyway. He had been crying behind his helmet.

“Please, I didn’t ask for this…” the colt coughed out. There was no air in the smoke cloud. Trouble brought his knife to the colts throat. The colt didn’t object he merely began to cry Trouble was doing this too slowly when suddenly “BANG”

Trouble shot a look in the direction of the shot. It was Dawn with Amigo she fired a shot in the air and was now pointing it at Trouble covering her mouth with a rag.

“Dhn’t hdo iht Throuble, ohr I’hll Blhast h-h you.” She was woozy. She could hardly stand that smoke corrupting her lungs she could stand for maybe another 30 seconds. He knew she was delirious, trying to force him to spare his life.

“Kid, only for you. But he’s your problem” He took the bottom of his knife and smacked it hard against the colt’s head knocking him out. He went over to the angel who was trying to stand up after falling. He stood over the pony’s back and took the helmet off he was met with

“AHHH PLEASE DON’T I’LL DO ANYTHING JUST DON’T KILL ME PLEASE!!!” the pony was shaking his head wildly thrashing harmlessly on the ground Trouble spoke gently to this pony.

“Shame, warriors don’t beg for their lives.” He clutched the pony’s head amd forced it against the ground. The pony continued his whaling Trouble carved the pony’s neck moving the knife up and down his neck in quick jerks sanguine pouring from the carving.

Dawn dropped the rag “TROUBLE WHY?!?!” she let off a shot. She missed widely and collapsed. Passed out on the ground the last thing she seen was Trouble kicking Amigo away from her as she drifted into unconsciousness.

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 Dawn awoke. The sun was setting outside. She was in the place they used for shelter. Razey, the sheriff and a few other ponies were wandering about trying to salvage what they could.

Night Light was watching over her “Trouble she’s waking up!” Trouble came into view.

Dawn’s head was in shambles. She could hardly think or see for that matter. Every part of her ached and she had the worst headache she’s ever had. She lay there in her own bedroll covered in her own sweat. Blurry eyed as Trouble as came into view.

“Ya know kid; I never had you figured for a pony of the people.” Dawn thought he’d be furious “Weird thing ya done, putting a gun to me head tellin mah to let the bastard live.”

Night Light butted in “Go easy Trouble, she’s been through a lot today.” That beautiful voice of hers could talk a wall into crumbling. Trouble though was a lot smarter than a wall, scarier too.

“I will, she’s earned her first proper scars today, I’m proud of her.” He lifted her hoof up so she could see. Her eyes widened. There were a spiral of white scars on her right fore hoof where Trouble pulled the shrapnel from. They were in a word “Earned.”

She didn’t hate them. In fact she kind of liked them besides what could she do about them. They were pretty deep, pretty torn up. She noticed the scars were the same colour as those underneath Troubles right eye white and rippling. So Trouble took a face full of shrapnel it seems.

“Ha-ha but kid, never point a gun at me like that again.” He cautioned her.

Dawn spoke up her throat felt like it was sandpapered. Though so she kept it short “Water…” Night Light hovered out a canteen and slid it over to her Dawn was starting to recuperate a  meagre amount of strength. She wrapped the canteen in a faint glow and drank. She never thought water could taste that good every drip made a physical change to her body it was a magnificent feeling.

Now she could talk she only had one question on her mind “What happened to that pony you let live?” she had to know was it in vain.

“The pony you saved ya mean, he’s grand nuff I suppose helping the sheriff, took forever to get him out of that armor though.” Dawn felt relief wash over her body. Trouble was going to kill him and he didn’t seem bothered by him walking around, she couldn’t tell if he was really cold or really warm hearted.

Night Light spoke up now “Sheriff! Come here!” sheriff Cedro came over to the band as did Razey faces covered in filth, dust and blood.

“Yeah, miss ranger?” The sheriff politely said.

“What now, for the town I mean?” there was concern in her voice. She had a point all the surviving ponies had nowhere to go. Their houses were demolished and who’s to say the Angels won’t come back with a bigger force.

“Mister Razey here proposed that we become, er what you say they were called?”

“Travellers, we’s be off wandirin da roads hey, like the gypsies up roun Monaneigh hey, fucken quik finkin hey, we loot these fuckers guns, whael deel em on, their worth a fucken fortune.” Razey seemed pleased with his own ingenuity.

“Like a permanent caravan. Not much left for us here, those of us that are still alive we’ll wander sell on these guns maybe in time set up somewhere else, as long as we got the Eraser that is.” The sheriff signed off on.

Night Light spoke up “It’s about time the Eraser made a comeback,”

Razey took over “Nah, The Eraser wasz a bad fella, we’re gonna nead a raisin fir ponies nah to fuk wiv us The Eraser is it but when this is all over I’m still Razey.”

Dawn noticed now how Razey was dressed. Not the same casual way he was in the saloon now he was clad in black combat armor wearing his pistols across his chest in leather holsters he was quite scary looking now.

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Dawn passed out again her head was defunct. Running on minimum capability when she woke it was dark outside. Ponies walked around with lamps burning bright white. Dawn felt much better than she did earlier. Her body was ready to function again she checked her Pip-Buck once more she looked at the map feature it read Marizona Springs (Ruins) how did it know that?

She then checked her vital signs on it her concussion was all but gone her right fore hoof from a 2% went up to a 40% maybe that was from the bandages that were applied when she passed out the second time.

Trouble came into the room with the colt that he was going to kill outside of the smoke cloud he had a maroon coat slightly darker than Trouble’s and a purple mane and outside his armor his cutie mark was well an anvil.

The pony approached Dawn and started to speak “T-Thanks for you know, I’m Screws.” He put out his hoof.

Dawn shook it softly he was happy to be alive but he wasn’t ready to try his luck.

“Screws ere says that the purists have actual opposition, the ponies over at Phoenix are putting up hell ova fight they even hired a Pegasus merc.”

“Pegasus?” Dawn asked back she was taught all pegasi were long sine dead.

Trouble spoke back Screws backed away from him “Ah, got kicked out of the enclave this one, dangerous fucker if ya believe what they’re sayin bout him.”

A couple questions whirled around Dawn’s head like who the fuck are the enclave? And where the fuck is Phoenix? She went with the latter.

“Where’s this Phoenix?” she asked.

Trouble answered but first he said “Screws the ponies down there will get better use of you than we will besides I wanna have words with her alone.” Screws sheepishly nodded and wandered outside.

“Phoenix is north of here closer to Germaney, its home to an organized crime syndicate known as the Prodigies. Jus a name though most of them are fuckin dumber than a bag of hammers, but they basically own a city well the ruins of one anyway. It’s a centre of trade they got three water talismans fuckin three!”

Dawn knew the significance of water out here nothing lives without water.

“Kid, you got a lot to learn, I’m here to make it easier so is Night Light. I fixed your rifle but the scope had to go.” He gestured to the wall there it was polished and cleaned magazine had been removed must have been unsalvageable but other than a missing magazine and scope the gun was immaculate.

“C’mon kid, get some more sleep we’re leaving for New Pegas in the morning oh and I got you a present!”

This roused Dawn’s attention but she was sort of let down when he unveiled a scavenged machine gun but she was once told never look a gift psychotic mercenary pony in the mouth.

Footnote: Level Up!

New Perk: Finesse – You’re Proficiency in combat is outstanding! From now you have a +5% chance of scoring a critical hit