Fallout Equestria : Silver Skies

Chapter 2: Harsh Reality

*BANG*

The log before me was hit with my shot, outside of the target rings...again....

With a muffled sigh I spat the gun from my mouth, the 9mm pistol was a gift from Happy. The crazy unicorn had insisted I have some kind of gun of my own. The stores had been empty of rifle rounds that would fit Vengeance. Story of my life, I own an amazing gun but I can't use the stupid thing.

Dozer had been seeing to getting me trained in the use of most basic firearms, but the heavy weapons were a no go, as most were bigger than me!

The mouth-held pistol was a little awkward to use. I had to grip it with my jaw and pull the trigger with my tongue, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. Plus, the trigger tasted of gun oil. Not exactly as nice as a razzleberry pie. It also didn't help that every colt and mare my age was able to hit the target on their first shot. I had fired dozens of rounds and had yet to even hit the stupid thing!

With a weary sigh, I picked the pistol back up and set to practice. Ok Orion, remember.... Sight on your target, wrap your tongue around the trigger. Aim with your eyes, see the target, squeeze the trigger, don't pull it...

*BANG*

A small hole punched into the outermost ring on my target. Yes! I hit it! Finally I hit the target! I may have used over a hundred rounds but I finally hit it!

With a frustrated smile, I sat down and took the pistol in my hooves. Sleek and black, perfectly weighted. Happy had really worked hard on this, but I was such a bad shot I was disgracing her work. I really wasn't good enough for Happy to go to such lengths for me. It still confused me. Why would such a cute... Not going there, Orion, cut it out... capable pony work so hard to help a stupid colt she found in a cave in the ass end of Equestria? Why would she work into the night to fix his gun? Well, she’s a gun obsessed lunatic, so that part I understand, but I still had no idea why she helped out so much. I'm nothing special, just a pegasus with a cool haircut.

I stared at the log. I had shot at this thing for days, and I had barely hit that log at all. Why was this shooting thing so hard? Reloading, now that was easy. Happy had rigged a contraption on my leg that had clips of 9mm rounds poking out. With little effort, I could eject the clip and slam in one of the many attached to my leg. Wow, I'm getting good at this gun-talk. Lingo? One of the two anyway.

Soft hoofsteps on the packed earth came from behind me. One of the colts who was practicing that day sat beside me. Something about being frozen for a few hundred years made me a big talking point for the younger ponies. That and being a pegasus.

“Hey Orion, still can't hit the side of a barn from the inside?” Yep, should have known.

The green coated earth pony colt next to me was named Firefly. He was kind of an ass. Pretty sure of himself and his skills. But heck, if I had gotten a cutiemark for sniping a Raider from 500 yards with a pistol, I'm sure I would be as cocky!

“You never get upset with me teasing you Orion. Why is that?”

I smirked at Firefly’s confused look as he scratched his buzz cut yellow mane with a hoof. “I've been teased by Happy Trails. Compared to her, you got nothin!”

Firefly’s face took on an awesome pout as the thought sunk in. The trolling skills of Happy Trails were legendary in town. She once had a slaver reduced to tears and begging to be shot just to end it! Yes, I have been asking about her around town. Not because she is cute... with that long mane... stop it Orion. No, I wanted to find out more about the crazy unicorn mare who had saved my life.

Firefly pulled out his own gun from its holster on his flank and with little effort fired three 9mm rounds into the target. Now it was my turn to pout. Why couldn't I shoot like that?

I was much better with a battle saddle. Dozer had altered one with a pair of rifles on it and let me take 12 rounds to practice with. It was odd, Happy had managed to build a machine to make 9mm ammunition from scrap metal and some powder scavenged from about the wastelands but the town still had to scavenge the higher calibre bullets. I had asked about it but her explanation gave me a headache after the first few moments. Something about rifling and firing pins. Too complicated for me, at any rate.

With that battle saddle, I hit the target with seven rounds - all close to the center too. With that I had thought the mouth held pistol Happy presented me with would be easy to shoot with... and now I know I can't shoot with it at all.

Ow! Firefly just poked me under my wing!

“Hey Orion, how did you get that wicked scar?”

I lifted my left wing, showing the three jagged lines slashed underneath, a momento from the day my Dad had become my hero.

“It happened back when I was 12...”

“Whoa hold up there!”, Firefly raised a hoof, “You never did tell me your age, I need context here!”

“Oh, sorry. I'm 17... or is it 217? Anyway, back then my Dad had taken me to an airshow in Cloudsdale. The Wonderbolts were performing and my Dad got me in to watch them. We never had tickets but an armoured pegasus easy twice the size of the guards trumped the lack of a ticket.

“I found myself smiling at the memory. Me, sitting on Dad's back as he glared down at the guard ponies. I don't think that I was helping, making faces over Dad's shoulder. Still, they let us in. Then again, I never met a single pony who would try to stop a pegasus that big.

“The Wonderbolts had been called the best flyers in Equestria and they lived up to that reputation. I had always seen flying as a way to get around, but all those tricks - the loops, the mind blowing feats of skill... it changed flying for me. I fell in love with splitting the sky with dives and spins. It was three days later when it happened. I was showing off my trick, a simple loop-the-loop to my friends. I judged it all wrong, and an updraft bent my wing the wrong way and I lost control. I crashed into the forest near the town walls and blacked out. I woke up with my wing in agony. I must’ve sprained it when I crashed. I was darn lucky that was all the injuries I had after crashing through those trees.

“It was surprisingly dark under the canopy of leaves, a few shafts of light fell through the gaps in the leaves leaving the forest in a constant twilight. Dry leaves crunched under my hooves as I stood.

“I didn't know which way to go.

“Every way I looked seemed the same, trees and leaf covered dirt stretched away into the gloom. The crash had thrown me off and now I had no idea what direction to head. If I chose wrong I would just end up deeper into this place and my folks always told me it wasn’t safe. There were creatures in the deeper forest. I thought it was an old mare's tale but those dark woods brought the stories to life. I'll admit, I was scared.

“A growl came from the darkness, yellow eyes seemed to appear all around me. I spun about, looking for a direction to run. Every direction seemed to be filled with those yellow eyes. Slowly the creatures advanced, it was like something out of my nightmares. Each seemed to be a pony sized dog made from wooden tree branches. Each had a jaw filled with pointed teeth.

“A low snarling began as the things closed in, slowly circling me. I was terrified! I beat my wings furiously, tears were streaming down my face at the pain in my wing as I struggled to take to the air. I managed to gain almost a meter up before a claw raked under my injured wing. With a scream, I bounced into the side of a tree. Blood ran down my flank from three deep cuts. The monsters began to close in for the kill.

“I pressed my back against the tree, shaking in terror, as those things slowly approached, closer and closer.

“Daaaaaaaaaad!, I screamed in fear, calling out to the pony I wished for most. Then a massive figure crashed through the leaves, hitting the ground so hard it left a crater. Huge ebony wings spread open, a silver mane floated as if caught in a strong wind. Scary silver flames licked at his hooves as my Dad faced those things down.

“His deep voice, always so warm and kind, spoke out in a low, cold way that chilled me to the bone: “One chance, Leave now.”

“The effect was incredible, every single one of those things whined and backed away before running away, yelping with fear. The silver fire winked out. My Dad turned to me with his usual warm smile.

“He then said to me; “Hey son, ready to go home?”

“I'm not ashamed to admit I threw my hooves around his leg and cried. That day my Dad became my hero.

“Dad took me back home on his back and Mom fussed over me. it took almost a month for me to heal but I'll always have the scars that remind me of who my hero was and will always be.

Firefly’s prodding hoof brought me back from memory lane. With a shake of my head, I snapped back to the present.

“So that was what your Dad was like, huh? I've heard fillies and colts all saying their Dad was the biggest and the best, but you can back that up.”

I had to smile, I missed my folks more than I ever thought possible, but I was at peace. They were heroes; ponies who gave everything to help others. I respected them far too much to sit and cry. If there was one thing I could do for them, it would be to find out what had happened to them and how they died. I knew it was a childish thing, but I was still a kid, I had to know how they died. Maybe my mom and Dad had had entered the freeze pods like me, maybe they were still out there. Until I could know for certain, until I could see them laid to rest, I would not sit still in any place.

>H.U.D. Restored, Reboot System?

Wait what?

I glanced down at my Pipbuck, the screen was glowing, displaying the same message that had scrolled across my vision, not really sure how Vista was doing it. Probably some kind of magic I was too stupid to understand.

“Hey Orion, why is your Pipbuck asking you stuff? From what I know, they don't do that. Ever.”

“I have no bucking idea.”

“Why do you do that? You never really swear. Just say its a fucking piece of shit or something, enough with the soft cursing already.”

You know it never really occured to me before that I was doing that, I guess the manners my folks lectured into me had sunk in more than I knew. With smirk I hit the blue button.

“Ok you piece of shit, reboot the hud.”

I was expecting some stupid message but not this! A green wave washed across my eyes from right to left, as it passed odd things appeared. A bar in the bottom left of my vision was labeled HP... whatever that meant. A counter in the bottom right read ‘0/0’. Well the AI is great at being confusing, but not as helpful as Mom said it would be. I looked around confused as hell, a green box highlighted my pistol, the words 9mm pistol floated above it. This could actually be useful...

I picked my gun up in my mouth and shifted it to a comfortable position, an odd dot appeared in the middle of my view. I tried to move the gun so I could ask Firefly what he thought it could be but the dot moved with the gun.

It couldn't be that... no way.

Five rounds spat from my pistol as a worked the trigger with my tongue, each slamming into the target close to the dot I could see.

“Wow! That’s pretty good! how’d you do that? You can barely hit the fucking thing, let alone shoot like that!”

“Firefly, I'll be completely honest with you, I have no idea...”

I was staring at the counter in the bottom right of my sight, 9/120. Was Vista actually keeping track of how much ammo I had for the gun I was holding in my mouth? Still the aiming assist will come in handy. There were a lot of creatures out there, none of which I could remember the names of, Still it didn't hurt to be prepared.

“Hey Orion! Blackshot is looking for you!”

Dozer trotted up to us wearing his trademark smirk. The big pony was fun to be around, though he didn't really know what to make of me after I showed him the hoof fighting Dad taught me. Heh, I still remember the shocked look when I flipped him onto his back. Not as hard as it seems really, as I was taught the size of your opponent means nothing. Use his weight and size against him. As Dozer had leaned into a swing of his left front hoof, I ducked under and wrapped my own front hooves around the limb. With a roll of my body, his own swing pulled him forward and flipped the big pony over.

With a wave to Firefly, I followed Dozer. Hmm, I got an idea. Dozer gave me a curious look as I lifted a hoof and focused on it. A little snow swirled around and formed a small snowball. With a grin at Dozer I threw it, hitting Firefly on the back of his head. With a happy grin a followed Dozer back towards the array, leaving Firefly’s confused mutterings behind us.

“What the fuck? Snow? Its hot as hell out here! where the hell did snow come from!”

Must not giggle, must not giggle, must not giggle...

Dozer led me into the massive building at the centre of town. Happy told me it was called the array, no idea what an array is, but it seemed like something I was supposed to know.

We found Blackshot in Happy’s workshop, officially it was just the workshop, but nopony would argue that it was Happy’s domain. Each wall was covered in a different kind of gun; rifles on one, pistols another. The heavy weapons were stored in a locked cage. Happy herself stood next to a workbench, Vengeance lay in pieces across it. She was tinkering with it again?

Blackshot stood at a second bench below the rifle racks, working on his battle saddle with that sweet rifle. One day I swear I'll talk him into letting me fire it.

“Hey boss, I brought the kid like you asked.”

Blackshot turned, “Thank you Dozer, now I need you to check out the perimeter guns.”

With a nod, the big pony left us. Blackshot smiled down at me.

“Orion, I hear you want to leave Radar and venture into the wastelands?”

“I’m sorry, I would love to live here but... I know it seems odd but I have to find out what happened to my folks. I can't rest until I know for sure.”

Blackshot gave me one of his all knowing smiles, “Kid, I know what you feel, Your parents were your world. If I had the same chance I would do the same.”

“You lost your folks? Sorry, I didn't know...”

“Relax kid, they were killed by Raiders when I was your age. Oh, and the Raiders are gone too. I had to reclaim my father’s gun from them.”

“I've been meaning to ask: what is that thing? It’s a lot bigger than any rifle I've seen... not that that’s saying much...”

Blackshot beckoned me over to his workbench, stroking the big gun with a hoof he explained. “This is an Anti-Machine rifle, its built as a sniper weapon but able to punch through the thickest of armour.”

“Sniper?” I knew the term snipe from chatting with Firefly, but sniper? That was a new one.

Blackshot gave me a smile, “A sniper uses a very long range weapon, with very high accuracy.”

I gave him my famous ‘not a smart pony’ look. The big guy chuckled at me.

“Ok, somepony that uses a gun that fires a long way and lets you hit stuff easier.”

“Oh! Why didn't you just say so?”

Happy levitated the now reassembled Vengeance over to me, the duel rifles shined with all the attention Happy had lavished upon them. Each moving part gleamed with gun oil, even the gemstones had been replaced.

“Wow Happy, you really spent a lot of time on this thing huh?”

Happy gave me a smile that left me feeling weak-kneed, The girl is hot ok?

“Sorry I keep taking your gun apart Orion, it's just such an unusual battle saddle. I worked out almost everything about it but I still can't figure out what the enchantments are.”

So that's why she’s so obsessed with Vengeance, The mare is a master of gun design and my weapon is something she can't work out. That's actually kind of funny. I couldn’t help but grin at the thought. Blackshot coughed politely.

“Orion, are you still intending to leave town? If you wait a year I can have a group go with you and you will at least be trained enough to handle most of the hell out there in the wastelands.”

“I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I've thought about it a lot and I just can't sit around.”

Blackshot gave me a look that clearly stated ‘you’re an idiot’, “Orion, don't go yet. You won't survive out there. I'm not saying this to scare you, you really won't survive!”

“Oh come on! What would go after a colt like me if I don't piss anypony off?”

Happy stared hard, “Raiders, Slavers, Cannibals, Bloodwings, Radscorpions, Feral Ghouls, Steel Rangers, Bloat Sprites, Enclave... want me to go on?”

I sighed, I knew I was being foalish but it hadn't been a month since I lost my entire world. Not knowing was tearing me apart inside.

Even when I was just a little foal, I would never stay still for long. Hyperactive, Mom called me. Even my friends thought I was crazy. I hung around with a colt named Trick and his younger sister, Bell. The siblings were so alike it was scary, both had a smooth yellow coat and light blue manes, the only way to tell them apart at first glance was that Trick was bigger and Bell wore her mane in a braid. Paddock Town was a small village, so there wasn't a lot of ponies my age to be friends with. The youngest besides Trick and Bell had been my aunt Summer, and she was ten years or more older.

The three of us had got up to all sorts of adventures, trying to find out our special talents and gain our cutiemarks. We had our own little clubhouse, a cave just into the edge of the woods. I think we made a good group; Bell was the quiet one, Trick was the cautious one and me? I was the crazy one with the bad ideas. Heh, we even tried to come up with a name for our little group: the Cutiemark Questers? We never really got the name down.

It's strange how much I miss those two. It was the silly things, the three of us being taught to read and write by mom (she became our teacher, kind of embarrassing), playing catch, showing of my aerial tricks, pouting at how much stronger Trick was than me... you never realise just how much small things like that matter to you until they are gone forever.

Happy poked me with a hoof, snapping me back to the present again. Sweet Celestia I have got to stop daydreaming like this!

“Orion,” Happy gave me an oddly serious look, “Please don't go. I don't want you to die...”

Happy hugged me tightly, Why was she so worried? I would only be gone for a few days if all went to plan.

“Kid”, Blackshot smiled at me, “I get it, I really do. You're going through with this no matter what we say?”.

I nodded.

“Well we will have to at least get you fitted with some gear, I don't think we have barding that would fit you but I'll make sure you have a few hundred rounds for your pistol, some healing potions and enough food. I have to ask though, where are you going? Nopony knows where Starshot died and I have no idea where to even start looking for your mother.”

It was a very long shot but there was only one place I knew my folks visited often, if there was any hope for me to find a clue about my folks it would be there.

“I'm heading to where my godmother is buried. Trottingham.”

<====0oxo0====>

The next day found me outside the gates, Happy and Blackshot had been true to their word. Saddlebags hung over my flanks, packed with clips of 9mm ammo, tinned food, purple potions and Vengeance. I still had no bullets for it, but Happy had shown me how to load the feed belts. If I finally found those elusive bullets I could try that thing out.

Happy explained my Pipbuck’s map to me, for once the technobabble sank in and I demonstrated the function five times before she was satisfied.

Happy gave me a hug before launching into yet another session of warnings.

“Orion, Trottingham is not how you remember it, the city is filled with gangs, Slavers and theres talk of one of those alicorns overseeing it all.”

“Alicorn? Like Luna?” I'll admit the thought of a cute pony girl like Luna being there made my hooves tingle.

Blackshot shook his head, “Kid, alicorns are a plague. They hurt ponies and drag them away to join in their so called ‘Unity’.”

“So not like Luna?”

“No kid, they are nothing like Luna.”

Dammit, no Luna like ponies? Truly this was a barren and hellish world.
Oh no... Happy is giving me her trolling smile...

“So you like Luna, eh Orion? Does her star filled mane make you tingle, do those soft wings make you sweat? Does her flank make you..”

“Happy! Leave the kid alone!”

Thank you Blackshot! I really didn't want to discuss my crush on Luna with the biggest troll in equestria!

So with so final snippets of advice and a few hugs, all from Happy, I set off on my quest.

Trottingham was around 200 miles northeast of Radar, around five hours as the pegasus flies. To pass the time I switched on my Pipbuck and tuned into DJ Pon3. Happy had shown me the station and I loved the music to bits! I switched on in time to catch one of the stallion’s newscasts.

“Hello Children! You're old friend DJ Pon3 has some more news for you today.
You all know about our lightbringer, the Stable Dweller? Well it seems she has inspired other ponies around Equestria to fight the good fight. I've received word of the Security Mare kicking some serious Raider tail all across the hoof, random groups of ponies are working to stomp out slavery after Security laid down her own law...”

The station crackles for a moment before a gruff mare’s voice shouted out an angry quote, “If I see you doing this again I'll turn you into paint!”

I liked Security more than the Stable Dweller. She was like me, rough and tough- I wish... but the Stable Dweller was an impossible standard to live up to.

“Now before you all grab your guns and head out to fight the good fight remember, if you die you will help nopony. Leave the bullets and blood to those that know what they are doing. This had been DJ Pon3, Bringing you the truth, no matter how much it hurts. Now here’s some Sweetie Belle to help you through the day.”

I'll admit, the girl could really sing, so I was a fan of her songs but I really wanted to hear more about the Security Mare. That girl could kick tail and make it look good.

My flight to the ruined city was very uneventful, the only thing of note was some weird metal ponies watching and tracking me with their guns as I flew into the city.

Although the place was a wreck I still recognised enough to find what I sought from the start; a single headstone under one of the only living trees in sight. With a thud I landed and looked around. Nothing of note was in sight so I read the headstone as I had done on so many occasions before.

Here lies Sunspot

Our own element of Harmony

Taken From Us Far Too Young

Equestria is lesser for her passing

Rest in peace

The pony I never knew, Dad had told me that she had to be my godmother as she had shaped the pony he had became, her love had made him into the hero he was. I'll admit it was a strange idea. The pony who was my godmother died before I was born but at the same time anypony who helped my Dad to become the legend he became had my respect. As Dad had described her, Sunspot was the kindest pony who ever lived, as a filly she had sacriced her life, giving up her magic to save Dad’s life.

I looked at the shining silver symbol engraved on the headstone, a heart surrounded by a sunburst. I reached out and touched it, my hoof snapping back as a spark of silver leapt to my hoof.

“Don't you just love it when the slaves come to you, Chains?”

I turned to the voice, only to meet a metal clad hoof , crackling with electricity coming the other way. The weapon connected with my head and the world turned black.

<====0o0====>

Oh my head...

The world began to fade back into existence for me. I could hear a faint ringing next to my ear, slowly my vision cleared.

“Ow..”

There was a squeal of surprise as a pony scrambled backwards. I was in a cage, and it stank...

Pushing to my hooves I took a look around, the cage was quite large, rusted and floored with old straw, and from the itching in my coat, full of fleas too. A small mare cowered in one corner. Her coat was a very light grey, almost silver. A ragged black mane draped across one side of her face. A short horn poked through her tangled mane. She was a unicorn, then. She looked terrified of me... not sure why anypony would be afraid of little me.

“Take it easy, I'm not going to hurt you..”

The little unicorn mare gave me a fearful look and slowly came out of her huddle in the corner, small wings flapped nervously, Ok, wings and a horn? The girl is an alicorn?

A shockingly sweet voice spoke in my mind, “Everypony hurts me... the Goddess lets them...”

I raised a hoof to the ach on the side of my head, my coat felt sticky. Blood? There was no cut and even my headache was fading... That means this alicorn girl healed me?

“Thanks for helping me. I'm Orion, what’s your name?”

She peered at me through her tangled mane with teary eyes, just asking for her name upset her?

“The goddess has not given me a name, I am just a rejected failure so I don't deserve one...”

Whoever this ‘Goddess’ is, she was already pissing me off. This girl was so sweet, she healed my wound and never asked for anything and this ‘Goddess’ let some fuckers hurt her?

“Who is the Goddess? I don't think I like her.”

“The Goddess is the creator, she created all of us alicorn’s. We are all connected to her mind as a whole. When a pony is absorbed into Unity, their soul and mind become a part of the whole.”

Oh this was a level of fucked up that was way over my head. Huh.. I'm swearing a lot more, the blow to the head must have done something. Focus Orion. This girl is alone and scared, think how you would’ve been if Happy had not found you?

“If I understand this right, this Goddess sees everything each alicorn sees? So she’s aware how you're hurting?” She nodded. “And she can hear what I'm saying right now?”, Another nod.

Ok, time to do something I excel at, something completely stupid that could get me killed. “Ok, Goddess? YOU STUPID FUCKED UP BITCH! YOU ACTUALLY WATCH AS THIS GIRL IS HURT? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? I DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT YOUR RULES OR IF YOU SAY SHE IS A FAILURE BUT IF YOU REFUSE TO HELP HER, I WILL FIND A WAY MYSELF!”

The little alicorn was staring at me with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open in shock.

“Nopony has ever talked like that to the Goddess before! Unity is silent!”

I had to grin, if that upset this goddess then what I was about to do would be even worse.

“She refuses to name you. Nopony should ever be nameless.” I glanced about the cage, looking for some kind of inspiration, finally my eyes settled on the cloud cover through the bars above me. With a smile I turned back to her, “Well fuck what the Goddess wants, I'll give you a name!” I walked over to her and she cowered on the floor, her hooves covering her head. After a moment, she looked up confused, only to see my hoof extended towards her. “Pleased to meet you... Silver Skies.”

“Silver... Skies? Silver Skies...” With that, Silver threw her hooves around my neck and hugged me tight. I felt her tears soaking into my coat as I gently, but awkwardly, hugged her back.

“Thank you! Thank you, Orion. Thank you so much!”

“Touching...”

I spun around, putting myself in front of Silver protectively. Two earth pony stallions smiled through the bars. One had a dark red coat and wore leather barding, his mane was styled into spikes. Metal shoes were fixed over his hooves, occasionally crackling with electricity. His left front leg had a very familiar pistol and ammunition rig attached to it; the same rig Happy had made for me.

His partner was heavily built, with a brown coat and shaggy mane. Chains wrapped his body and hung loose around his neck.

The red stallion spoke again, “I never expected you to be awake yet. My power hooves usually keep a pony out for most of the day. I take it our little fucktoy behind you helped?”

Silver was crying behind me, So they.... oh fuck no! No way are they taking her!

“Well as you were so nice as to volunteer for slavery, I'll let you keep her for a few more hours, then the boys get their turn.”

Ok, now I really am angry, no pony has the right to do that!

“Touch her and I’ll kill you.” I didn't recognise my own voice, it was so flat and emotionless.

Red pony laughed through the bars at me, “If Redeye didn't value pegasi so highly I would drag you out of that cage and beat you bloody for that. Still, with what you will fetch I can forgive a little bravado.”

And with that both ponies trotted away laughing. I gave the cage door a shake, locked tight. The roof was barred and there bars of the walls were too close together for me to squeeze through. How was I going to get her out?

“Orion... you... you should escape... don't worry about me...” Silver Skies stared down at the floor, tears still dripping from her face, “I can teleport you outside the cage, get away from here... forget about me...”

“Come with me, Silver. I don't abandon my friends.”

“I... can’t ... the Goddess gave me the power to teleport another pony, but not myself. One of her jokes...”

“Well maybe I can find a key or something? Or maybe I can get help?”

“The Steel Rangers have been trying to take the town for almost a year. You're strange, Orion. Strange but different... you really want to help me...”

Silver’s horn glowed and there was a flash, I suddenly found myself outside the cage! I threw my hooves against the cage door, praying it would open. No luck...

“Orion, go! Get out of here! she touched my hooves gently with hers. our eyes locked together, “You can't help me if you're dead or in shackles!”

Shouts came from all around, the flash had been noticed but I couldn't leave her! But I had to. I had to in order to save her. I wouldn't let her be hurt anymore!

“I'll be back Silver! I promise!” I pried my eyes away from her and galloped away, determined to get a key.

I passed cages, filled with ponies of all kinds. Each watched me pass with a look of despair. A large building stood past the cages, if there was a key anywhere it would be there!

“The pegasus runt is out! Spread out and find him! He’s here somewhere! If he went skywards then those metal morons would’ve shot him down. Now find him, or I'll take his cost from your hides!”

Thank you, red pony, I love you too.

I galloped towards the building’s open doors, glass cases filled the wide rooms. Most were smashed open and looted; the bones of dragons lay fallen across display stands. This was the Trottingham museum, Mom had taken me here once. A bullet smashed an intact case of fossils to my right.

“Hes in the museum!”

Oh shit...

Flying now low and fast, I sped through the display filled halls. There! A small hole was broken through the wall next to a blackened display case. Dimly through the bullet holes and burns I could make out some kind of gun. No time to look! Bad ponies with guns are after me! I folded my wings and dove through the hole.

I was in a long corridor, wooden doorways lined it left and right. At the far end a door lay smashed from its hinges. I raced along, trying each door and finding it locked.

Ok, panicking now...

Finally I ran into the open door at the corridors end, a rusted sign above the door frame read ‘Storage’. Maybe I could find an open window or at least one I could break. Shelves lined every wall, covered in boxes and bags. In desperation I ransacked everything close to me, hoping for a gun or something I could use to get free. A few rusted pistols lay in pieces across one shelf, some kind of metal apples filled a box below it. One metal case opened and was filled with those elusive 5.56mm rifle rounds, already loaded for a belt feed. Typical! Why do I find this when I don't have...

A green box on my Hud highlighted a dirty saddlebag in one corner, seemingly just thrown through the door. The text labeled it ‘Orion’s Saddlebags’. Hoping against hope, I ripped it open and beheld the most glorious sight. Vengeance, my battle saddle, still neatly packed. With practiced ease I assembled the weapon and fed the rounds into the drum magazines on each side. I was struggling to fasten the straps around me when the sound of thundering hooves echoed down the corridor. Red pony and his men charged towards me.

I had nowhere to run and they knew it, The gang slowed and trotted towards me.

“You led us on a merry chase boy, now I will give you that beating I promised you. Then me and the boys will celebrate with your little friend.”

Five... six... seven... eight... nine... nine ponies, all armed and armoured. They didn't consider me a threat and let’s face it, who could blame them? If I was a big pony all geared up like them, I wouldn't be afraid of a trapped colt either. Trembling, I pulled the last buckle tight.

The sight of the battle saddle gave some of the Slavers a reason to pause their advance, Red pony still came for me confidently as I backed up. My rump hit the back shelves. Please just leave me alone...

“You know I may take one of your legs as a lesson to any other escapees, or maybe I'll take off your wings and keep you as a pet! I’ve always wanted a dog.”

The twin dots of Vista’s targeting helper lay across red ponies chest. If I bit down on the bit before my mouth he’d be dead... Can I do that? Could I do that? I had issues shooting a log! How can I take a ponies life? Even a pony as evil as him?

The Slavers had reached the broken door, I pressed into the shelves. They obviously enjoyed my fear from the smiles, I still couldn't fire. not even to save my own life! Dad,what should I do?

I remembered something he once told me, “You will never be truly strong until you're fighting to protect something, son.” I wanted to protect Silver. I had named her so she was now my responsibility- but I still couldn't fire!

“You know, after we're done with your little friend, I think we’ll kill her. she’ll be your only food for a month, so I hope she tastes as sweet as she fucks.”

Vengeance roared.

<====0o0====>

I felt sick, I threw up twice. The stopping power of vengeance was staggering. The rounds had passed through the Slavers without even slowing, blowing limbs from bodies and all but cutting red pony in two. It felt wrong, covered in the sticky blood of nine ponies... I had killed nine ponies, cut them down like it was nothing...

Gunshots hit the shelves behind me, Dazed I barely noticed as one shot glanced off my Pipbuck and another grazed my leg.

I fired down the corridor, screams of pain echoed. Had I killed another? How could I stay sane? Still in a daze I took back Happy’s pistol and rig and bundled it into my saddlebags. As an afterthought I took red ponies power hooves and fastened them to myself. On his belt was a ring of blood splattered keys. I took those too. I had to keep my promise to Silver. I squeezed back through the hole, barely fitting with Vengeance now strapped to me. Wait... why didn't I just use the door the Slavers used? What is wrong with me? That display caught my attention again. A burst from Vengeance tore through the bulletproof glass.

The weapon was some kind of huge rifle, way to big for me to use. At a loss as to what was part of this thing or what was display stuff, I just bundled everything into my saddle bags and slung the rifle between my wings.

There didn't seem to be anypony here, maybe when red pony died his group splintered and ran?... When I killed him.

My mind isn't working right... I keep missing minutes of time as they happen.

It was almost a relief when a bullet tore through my leg.

The pain made me focus, seven pony Slavers had spread out through the hall, in their centre stood a large blue alicorn. She was truly blue! Mane, tail, coat... even her eyes, all the same shade of blue. Her voice had an odd echo to it as she shouted at me.

“THE GODDESS DEMANDS TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHY YOU DARE MOCK US!”

“And?” I don't know why, but right now I feel a great urge to be a smartass. Maybe it's the high and mighty attitude of this ‘Goddess’, that or ponies who talk in third person just annoy the crap out of me.

“YOU WILL NOT MOCK US! WE DEMAND TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE NOW! WHY DO YOU DISRUPT THOSE WHO SEEK UNITY?”

“Seek? Your saying ponies who come to you seeking this Unity wish to be beaten, abused, raped and locked in a cage? Well fuck your Unity! You want to know who I am?”

I was starting to get very angry, this bitch was trying to say those poor ponies out in those cages wanted this?

“My name is Orion, the son of Starshot the Starlight Archeon.”

“STARSHOT? YOU'RE HIS OFFSPRING? EXCELLENT! YOU MUST JOIN US IN..”

Vengeance roared once more.

The alicorn got a magic shield up in time. My bullets bounced off, ricocheting wildly and cutting the remaining Slavers to pieces. I stepped forward, struggling on my injured leg. The force of the twin rifles barrage had begun to force the alicorn to back away.The ammo counter in my vision was getting dangerously low. It would give out long before her shield did. Time for something stupid then.

I focused my weather powers, concentrating on her face behind that shield. the air began to cool rapidly and then a sudden snowstorm erupted around her face.

“What the fuc...” Her concentration faltered and Vengeance tore through the weakening shield and shredded her body. I kept firing until the guns ran dry.

I staggered through the doors of the museum, feeling dizzy with bloodloss. Unlocking random cages as I went I finally reached Silver Skies’ cage. The girl stared at my blood covered body as I swayed on my hooves. With care I finally unlocked the cage. A crowd of freed ponies had gathered behind me.

I picked a pony at random and tossed the keys to her. “Let everypony else out...” and with that my strength gave out and I collapsed. Before passing out I heard Silver scream my name.

<===0o0===>

I don't know how long I was out for but when I came too I was laying on a dirty bed. My leg was bandaged. The dirt smeared face of Silver was asleep near my face, she had fell asleep clutching my hoof in hers... history has an odd way of repeating itself. With a smile I nudged her awake, I watched grinning as she rubbed her eyes sleepily then looked at my face.

“Orion!” Silver wrapped her hooves around me so tightly I struggled to breathe!

“Silver! I... can't ... breathe!” Finally she let me go with a very sheepish look, and a blush? Why would she be blushing?

“I-I thought I was going to lose you Orion. You're my only friend...”

I wrapped my hooves around her and pulled her tight, the poor thing had suffered so much that even an idiot like me was precious to her.

“Silver listen to me, I want you to head to Radar. When you get there ask for a unicorn named Happy Trails, tell her you were sent by me. Tell her it was AP and recoil reduction enchants. She will know what I mean.”

“I don't want to leave you’ Orion...”

I laughed, “Oh don't worry, I'll be heading there too. Somepony has to show these ponies here the way.”

“How would I get there?”

Follow the mountains to the southwest until you see a dead forest. Follow the edge of that until you see a big bowl, you can't miss it. Should take you around four hours or so flight time.”

Her eyes seemed doubtful.

“Silver, I promise that I’ll be there as soon as I can. I promised you I’d be back to let you out, didn't I? I keep my word.”

It took some more convincing before Silver agreed and we all set out in the morning. Vengeance was out of ammo and there were no more in the stores, so I had stripped it back down and stored it in my saddle bags. I had Happy’s pistol rigged up again and my newly acquired power hooves strapped to my front legs. Silver was almost invisible against the clouds as I led the ragged freed slaves out of Trottingham.

After around a half-hours walk, we cleared the outskirts of the city. None of the gangs seemed to want to try and attack us. Then again, if a colt had took out a gang of Slavers and the alicorn in charge I’d be terrified to pick a fight in case he decided that my gang was next.

The ground past the city was dry and dead, no grass grew and the few trees were rotting. After about an hour of trekking through this dead landscape two metal clad ponies stepped out in front of our group. Each wore some kind of full body armour, blank visors betrayed no emotions as they stared at us, weapons mounted on each side of their armour tracked us. These armoured ponies could kill us all without breaking a sweat.

I was the only pony armed, so I approached openly with no hostility. I could hear their voices slightly muffled.

“Unknown group, estimated number is around thirty. Only one seems armed. What are our orders?”

“Our orders still stand, Roughshod. Any and all gangs leaving the town will be eliminated.”

“They don't look like a gang, only the colt is armed. They look more like slaves than Raiders...”

The rifle fixed to the first metal ponies armour barked, the heavy round reducing an unarmed ponies head to chunks. I lost it, my weather magic flared, engulfing both metal clad ponies heads in a swirling cloud of snow. My wings flapped, sending me flying towards the one who had fired.

“What the fuck is this? I can't see! Call for backup!”

“Death from above!” I crashed down onto the aggressive ponies back with my lame battle cry. He never even twitched, I heard laughter through the steel before his voice echoed from a speaker in the helmet.

“Death from above? You're kidding right?” His laughter faded as I lifted a power hoof. Energy crackling around it.

“No! No wait!”

My hoof smashed down on his back, followed by a stomp from both hooves that forced this asshole down to his knees. I flipped over his left side, putting his body between me and the second metal pony.

“Get him off! Get him off me!!”

“No shot! No shot!”

I screamed at the metal pony I was beating on, my power hooves slamming into his side with every word. “All I wanted was to visit my godmothers grave and I get attacked, enslaved, shot and am forced to kill just to stay alive! Then I have to deal with a fucker like you who finds it fun to murder unarmed ponies?”

The metal pony was having trouble standing and was whimpering openly. My hooves smashed down again and again. I refused to give him the chance to turn and target me with those guns on his sides. Finally my power hooves just shattered and the metal clad pony dropped to his side, crying in pain. The second metal pony just stared at me, a big gun on his flank began to spin.

“Stand down! Stand the fuck down right now knight!”

A third metal pony galloped towards us, bigger than the other two with gold edging to his armour. He stomped towards me as I shook of the remains of my power hooves. Then to my surprise, kicked the downed pony hard enough to send him sliding across the ground.

“Knight Bloodscar, will you kindly inform me as to what the fuck you were thinking when you opened fire on a non combatant? And don't lie to me, your radio is still open.”

The metal clad pony struggled to his hooves, moaning with pain. “Sir, our orders were to...”

“Your orders were to neutralize hostiles! The only pony in this whole group who’s armed is a child! One who- I might add- just beat your flank into the dirt!”

“Sir... I...”

Their commander suddenly had an eery calm to his voice,“Thank you for volunteering! Your orders are to take your partner here and escort these refugees to wherever they are heading. When you return you're both being transferred to the Hoof! For every refugee that doesn't make it you will be there for another year and I will be checking. Dismissed.” The way he whispered the last word sent shivers down my spine.

Both armoured ponies slunk away, one visibly limping. The newcomer beckoned me to follow with a hoof. With how the other metal ponies had treated us, I was more than a little apprehensive. Still, after he kicked the asses of those two ponies and forced them to protect the freed slaves, I guess he wasn't so bad. Ah screw it, I’m too tired to think this through, so I’ll just go with him.

I was led deep into a camp, armoured ponies were everywhere, all seemed to salute my guide. Finally, I was led into a tent. My guide turned from me and reached up to his neck. There was a hiss as he removed his helmet, revealing a dark blue coat and a short light blue mane. Dropping the helmet onto a map covered table sitting to one side, he turned to me.

Those eyes scared the fuck out of me. They glowed yellow, and were like those of a snake. The narrow pupils were vertical slits, not round. I've never seen anything like it on a pony.

“I am Paladin Ironclad of the Steel Rangers. Now kid, can you tell me what the fuck has happened in that city?”