Authors note: there are two scenes in this chapter that are sort of... graphic. My GF asked me to rewrite them in a less ‘emotion grabbing way’, but after a lot of thought I decided to keep them as is. After all if you guys take the time to read my stuff, the least I can do is not cut corners.

Silver Skies: Chapter 5

Broken Dreams

Dreams...

Everypony has a dream, a reason to struggle on. It’s only when you give up on that dream that life will break you down. Me? My dream was simple: a life with my family and friends. I just wanted to live that simple life with my parents forever, to hang out with Trick and Bell while we did our crazy antics, trying for our cutiemarks.

My dream is two hundred years dead, my world is gone. My folks and everypony I ever knew is now nothing more than ash in the wind. Why do I go on? I have a new dream. To lay my parents to rest and to be worthy of the pony I’m secretly in love with, little Silver Skies. An alicorn I rescued in Trottingham, she loves me. I know she loves me because I can see it in her eyes whenever she looks my way, and I feel so much for her. I would do anything for her. But she deserves better than me. Somepony else that can make her happy, unlike me.

I’m a killer; I’ve taken lives. I can argue that I had no choice, that if I had not pulled that trigger I would be dead. I could make excuses but it comes down to one fact every time. I killed those ponies. I made that choice.

My little home in Radar, it’s nothing special, just a single room with a bed in one corner. My workbench sat next to the door on the opposite side of the room, a sink and toilet filled one corner next to a rough shower. The water was always cold but there was a furnace outside I could heat water up with for my showers. unfortunately that means heading out into the dead woodland and gathering firewood.

I often lay awake until the early hours of the morning, thinking about what I’ve done. Have I left the world a better place than I found it, or am I just a better looking Raider?

Oh sweet Celestia, why do I keep doing this to myself? I’m not smart enough to think this way.

I climbed off my small bed and trotted to the nearby sink. The water was ice cold as I splashed it on my face. My PipBuck's Geiger Counter began to click slowly letting me know that the water was slightly radioactive. The water was gathered in the dish above the town via the rain, so it was a little contaminated.

A quiet whine behind me made me turn. Nighteyes sat on my bed, staring with those big dark eyes.The pup was worried about me. Or he was upset that he didn't have my warm body to sleep against. Knowing me, it was probably the latter.

“Sorry, boy. I Guess I woke you, eh?”

The little Liger puppy tilted his head and gave me a low whine. I trotted over and scratched behind his ears, smiling at the little fuzzball’s contented sigh. This little guy just loved me for who I was now, no illusions or thoughts of who I should be. It was comforting.

I know that to everypony I come across as confident and more than a little bit of a smart ass, but when I’m alone in the night, I find myself crying. I’m scared. Fuck, I’m terrified of what I’m turning into. Taking a life should never be easy, yet now I empty my guns into a pony and it never registers with me until I’m alone.

I curled up on my bed, Nighteyes pressed back into my chest with his little puppy sigh. I couldn't sleep and stared into the darkness of my apartment.

I must have drifted to sleep as when I opened my eyes it was daylight. Nighteyes was still asleep against my chest, snoring softly. Taking care not to wake the fuzzball, I slipped from my bed and trotted to my workbench. The paper folder I stole from the Enclave sat on the workbench’s shelf, with shaking hooves I lifted it down and opened it. The faces of my parents smiled up at me from the profiles inside the file. I had to be strong, I had to go on. I promised them...

A banging on my door made me jump, “Hey Orion! Wakey, wakey! I’ve got a surprise for you!”

As ever, Happy was loud and over excited. That mare will never change. Still that's why I call her my friend. I stashed my treasured folder back on its shelf and opened the door. Happy wore a wide smile under that black stetson hat of hers, her green eyes shone with excitement. Since we got back from the run in with the Reavers, Happy had been restoring the gun Dad had left me. The surprise had to be that she got it working and fitted it to a new saddle for me. I’d miss Vengeance; those guns have saved my flank more times than I want to admit, but that rifle came from my dad.

“Hold up a few minutes Happy.”

I took a can of cram down from my shelves and used my Rainblade to slice the top off. Nighteyes licked his chops and gave me an imploring stare. Grinning, I tipped the pink meaty... stuff into a metal dish and set it down next to his water bowl. The pup buried his head into the meat and didn't once come up for air.

Happy was literally bouncing on her hooves with barely contained excitement when I came outside. Without a word, the blue unicorn galloped away. I took to the air and winged after her. Happy led me to the Array, and once inside, straight to her workshop. As I walked through the door into her personal domain, a cloth dropped over my head. I reached up to remove it only for Happy to slap my hoof away.

“No peeking! be patient Orion.”

I sighed softly. If it made her happy, no pun intended, I’d play along. I stepped forward carefully. Happy wasn't the most tidy of ponies, so I was kind of worried that I’d trip over a half stripped gun or an ammo box.

Finally Happy whipped the cloth off my head, “Surprise! What do you think?”

I just stared. Happy had set up an old mannequin and strapped my battle saddle around it. I had expected her to remove Vengeance so Dragon’s Roar could be fitted. I should have known Happy would not stop with a simple refit. The rifle dad had left me hung from the left flank, while from the right...

Happy had outdone herself. Both of the assault carbines that made up Vengeance hung together. The barrels had been cut down and new metal made up the bodies of the guns. Both stocks had lots of holes drilled through them, The bulky drum magazines had been replaced with sleek, black painted box clips that seemed to fold around the carbines’ bodies.

Happy waved her hoof in front of my eyes, “Hey, you in there kid?”

I blinked, “Sorry, I’m just a little overwhelmed. Will it be too heavy to fly with though?”

“Oh don't worry, hun. I stripped your saddle’s carbines and replaced the shell with a lighter metal, the shorter barrels and drilled stocks cut the weight down even more. The new magazines are lighter but hold less ammo, you're down to a hundred and fifty per gun. All together you're around ten pounds heavier... maybe...”

“Happy, you got excited and went nuts at the idea of playing with my guns again didn't you?”

“Maybe a little?”

I couldn't help but laugh. I drew Happy into a big hug, which she returned with a smile.

“Thanks for always looking out for me. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't even be alive now.”

Happy gave me an odd look, “Don't talk like that Orion, you're alive now because you are very resourceful and you have your luck backing you up.”

I glanced back at my cutiemark, that blindfolded four leaf clover. “What if my luck turns though?”

Happy pulled me into another hug, “Then your friends will be there to help you, you’re not alone hun.” The blue unicorn gave me a playful bop on the head, “Now get yourself geared up, Ironclad is waiting for you at the range. I want to see his face when you arrive with that saddle!”

I had to grin. Happy Trails lived up to her name. Her aura of constant cheerfulness was infectious; nopony could stay sad around her. Happy levitated the saddle up and helped me strap it on. It felt heavier than I was used to, but the things I had been through since I woke up in this world had toughened me up a lot. Happy busied herself adding weights to balance the saddle out for me. After a minute or two of tinkering, Happy had got the guns around the same weight. It surprised me that I had little trouble flying with the added weight.

Guess I’m stronger than I thought.

Happy took the lead, skipping along with her trademark smile. I flew along behind her, getting used to the balance of my new setup. I still find it hard to believe that a pony as talented and cute as her would spend so much time helping a clueless kid she picked up in a cave.

Ironclad stood next to the target range tapping a hoof impatiently. For once his helmet was off and sat on the low box bench that served as the firing line. The blue earth pony turned his yellow eyes in our direction, no doubt seeing us on his E.F.S. I watched with a smirk as those same eyes grew wide at the sight of Happy’s handiwork.

“Happy, are you are totally insane? Why would the kid need so much firepower?”

“Well Orion does have bounty hunters and the Enclave after him...”

Ironclad stared blankly at the cute blue mare for a moment before letting out a sigh, “Alright, point taken. I guess it’s now my job to get him trained up with his new saddle.”

I raised a hoof. “Can I ask a quick question first? Why are you still with us Ironclad? You saved my life so we're even, plus the Rangers didn't strike me as a group to let it's members do their own thing.”

Ironclad stared at me with surprise in his eyes. “Alright... I’m not here on my own. I’m under orders to track you and report back my findings. My Elder wishes to know why the Enclave would place a bounty on a colt. I was given the job as I had already saved your ass once. Parents aside, they seem to think you hold some kind of secret information they want.”

It was my turn to stare, “They do know that I’m just a clueless kid, right?”

“They know, but they also know about your PipBuck. It's the kind of tech the Order confiscates. I think a survivor from Trottingham told them about the thing. I’ve had no orders to confiscate yours and I’ve reported it as defective, but I don't think they believe me.”

“Why do you think the Enclave wants me?”

“Honestly? because you pissed off somepony with influence.”

I had to smile; I was very good at pissing other pony’s off. Guess that albino pegasus had friends in high places.

High places, ha! I kill me!

And now my brain is making bad puns... Sweet Celestia, I’m messed up.

“So... would the Rangers come after me if they found out that I can open the Archon doors?”

Ironclad scratched under his chin thoughtfully. “Well kiddo, I’m not sure. The tech recovered from the few the Order has broken into were not exactly overwhelming. Also most is geared towards pegasi and can't be fitted to Power Armour. There is however one thing they may want to try to use you for though. One of the caches we control has a computer that refuses to respond to any input. The techs think it's genetically locked, not unlike your PipBuck.”

“You think it has something to do with me? Like the memory orb?”

“No, this computer was built before the war. That's the only thing we can tell for sure.”

I gave a sigh, “My brain hurts, can I stop thinking and try this gun out now?”

Both ponies burst out laughing at me, even I had to grin. Thinking is not my strong point, and likely never will be. Iron beckoned me over to the bench.

I stared out at the battered metal plate, riddled with holes and a small amount of rust. it looked like the range had seen a lot of use since Iron had rebuilt it. Three green dots, all in a triangle, hovered in the centre of my view. I bit down onto the bit, feeling the two triggers under my teeth before toggling off the safeties with my tongue. My left eye tingled as I peered at the target. A box appeared in the left side of my vision. The image inside seemed to be a closer view of my target that followed my eye-line and what appeared to be a crosshair overlaid in pale yellow. With a grin I zoomed in and took aim.

“Prepare for the awesome everypony!”

I bit down on the toggle and Dragon’s Roar fired with a bang. A tongue of flame leapt from the muzzle. There was a faint ping as the magnum round punched through the plate.

I blinked, “Um... I was expecting it to be set alight or something.”

Ironclad rubbed under his muzzle with a hoof. The Ranger seemed to be contemplating something. “Orion, take a few shots at the sniping targets will you? I would like to check something.”

I trotted over to the third lane and stared down at the playing card sized targets. The zoom was making it easy to pick out the white painted metal as it moved along on its wind turn-belt. I followed one target with my zoomed vision, hoping to get my eye in.

Dragon’s Roar fired with it's trademark tongue of fire. There was a faint ping as my round punched through the target on the exact spot I was aiming for...

“Um... how did I do that?” I was understandably confused, at long range I couldn't hit the side of a barn from inside it.

Ironclad and Happy stared at my Dad’s rifle. Happy was muttering under her breath as she considered something. Finally Iron broke the silence.

“I think what you have there, is an idiot proof sniper rifle.”

I had to groan at that, Happy poked at my rifle’s gemstones.

“I thought it was odd that there was so many magic gems on the barrel. I think it increases the speed of the round as it travels down the barrel. If each gem has an acceleration enchantment, that would explain the fire. It's the normal muzzle flash but pulled along with the air behind the bullet.”

And I understood maybe half of that. Luckily Iron seemed to sense my confusion; that or he understands I'm not all that smart.

“The gems make the bullet go faster, kid. Other than a little wind moving the shot, where you shoot is where it hits. A simple design that's perfect for you.”

“What do you mean Iron?”

“You can snipe while in the air now, and with some height, you could shoot down behind a Raider’s cover.”

Idiot proof. Well my Dad had known what I could handle alright. Mom liked to think I was clever but Dad knew I inherited his smarts. I was not stupid but I was no genius.

“Hey Iron, back when I got the gun you acted like you knew what it was?”

“Well I had my suspicions. What you have there is a modified IR-745. It was a low run lightweight sniper rifle being developed for use by pegasi. It was actually what led to the designs for the anti-machine rifles.”

“Why do I keep finding weapons that were limited runs? This is getting ridiculous now...”

Happy gave me a radiant smile that left me a little weak kneed, She’s still one hot mare.

With a laugh she said, “Please keep on finding them. Since I met you, I’ve had more new toys to play with than the Gun Runners have brought me in years.”

Ironclad wrapped one armoured leg around my neck, “So, kiddo, what's the plan for today? Target practice? More training with Happy on gun maintenance? Hiding from the fillies?”

“Actually I’m going to the store to barter for some supplies.”

"What do you need supplies for?" Both ponies asked me at same time.

I gave a sigh. I knew they would try to talk me out of it but I couldn't rest until I had done this. “I’m heading to Manehatten.”

Ironclad looked understandably confused. “Why the fuck would you need to go to those ruins?”

I looked down and scuffed at the dirt with a hoof, “It’s where my Mom died... I want to try and find her, and see her laid to rest...”

Happy hugged me tight, “Oh you poor thing... well, Iron, get your gear packed! We have a long walk ahead of us!”

This time both me and Iron asked the same question: "What?"

Happy gave us a grin, “You have to follow our little pony here for the Rangers, and I am not missing this adventure. Every time this colt goes anywhere, he comes back with something nice!”

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

It took most of the day for us to get our supplies together, so we agreed to leave in the morning. Manehatten was a long walk south but Happy assured us that she knew of a way to shave a little time off the trip. I was totally broke now; all of my caps had been spent on cans of food, bullets, and cans of cram for Nighteyes. I didn't want to take the puppy with me on this trip, but Iwas still worried he would end up killing somepony and turn into the monster Iron thought he was. The little guy was very affectionate and loved by the town. He was also helping keep the radroach problem in check. Nighteyes hated those things.

I had also bought myself a pile of healing potions and a few syringes of Hydra. It was kind of depressing how easy the storekeeper agreed to sell the drug to me. I was also offered Med-x, dash, stampede... Celestia only knows the names of the other things he offered. About the only thing I agreed to buy (apart from the Hydra) was a couple of pouches of Radaway. After Happy had drummed the dangers of radiation into my skull, I knew it was better to be prepared. Still, I refused the enhancement drugs. I would heal myself and my friends but there was no way I was going to use that stuff.

Dozer volunteered to keep an eye on my pet; the idea of the flying wolf cub hunting down the radroaches in his home had him excited. He must have quite the infestation, but then again his home was filled with discarded food wrappers and tin cans. It was a Celestia given paradise for them. Still, Blackshot had expressed in no uncertain terms that Dozer was going to clean his room before the week was out or he was out of a home. Blackshot always put the townsfolk first; it's why I respected him so much.

Dawn found us at the gates. The three of us laden with our full saddlebags. Happy gave me a grin and lifted her front left leg. My eyes almost popped out of my skull when I saw the custom holster fitted to her trademark black leg bands. In a black leather holster sat a heavy automatic pistol, wooden grips displayed an image of her cutie mark; crossed revolvers. That was the gun I fixed up as a thank you! That was the Desert Dog pistol I had dubbed ‘Reckoning’.

“Oh don't look so surprised, hun. You gave me this little beauty. It's only right I use it.”

I had thought that Happy would keep it as something to remember me by, the thought that she trusted my work enough to defend herself with it was crazy.

Wait a Luna loving minute... shes a gun crazy mare with insane skills. she must have checked it out first and did a little more!

I gave a wide grin, Happy smiled back and gave me a wink.

“Um... can I come too?”

I turned around. The nervous looking face of Silver Skies stared at me. The cute alicorn filly wore the bright pink saddlebags from my disguise, a battered looking revolver hung from a brown leather holster on her flank. Her eyes looked so hopeful, it hurt me so much to dash her hopes.

“Sorry, Silver, where we are heading is really dangerous. You need to stay here where it's safe.”

Silver stared with those amazing eyes of hers for a moment before they began to fill with tears. Without a word, she turned and galloped back into town. Happy gave me an odd look. Everypony seemed to know how I felt about Silver but refused to understand. She could do so much better than me. She is a cute mare with magic powers and I’m just a pegasus colt with a cool haircut. She deserves better.

Without another word, I turned and began walking south. Iron and Happy walked on either side of me.

Nopony spoke for almost an hour. Radar had shrunk away into the distance and was now out of sight. The silence was starting to get annoying, other than the wind and the sounds of Ironclads armour, there was nothing.

Just when I was reaching the point of screaming at everypony to say something, Happy asked me a question in a sad voice, “Orion, why do you hate Silver?”

I was shocked, “I don't hate her, I... I’m kind of... I like her.”

Happy gave me a glare that shook me to my core, “From what I’ve seen, I say it's more likely you hate her.”

“How can you say that? She is the reason I keep going in this fucked up world.”

“Then why can't you see how she feels about you?”

“She deserves to be happy, she needs a pony better than me...”

Ironclad waved a hoof, “Let me take this, Happy.”

The armoured Ranger slammed his hoof into my jaw so hard, I rolled across the dirt.

“You stupid, idiotic colt! She loves you but all you do is push her away? Has it ever occured to you she would be most happy simply being with you?” Iron glared at me, “No lies, no excuses. how do you feel about that filly?”

I couldn't hold it in any longer.

“I love her, okay? I love her amazing eyes, I love the way she hides behind her mane, I love the way she's always shy, I love everything about her!" I shouted back. Iron kept on glaring at me as I calmed myself down. "I... I need her to be safe, okay? I want her to be happy. I can't keep going in this fucked up wreck of a world. She's one of the few truly good things I have seen in this screwed up wasteland... and she deserves better than me.”

The truth was liberating.

Happy pulled me into a hug, “Then be with her hun, keeping her at a distance is hurting you both. you’ll lose her if you keep going on like this.”

That did it. The idea that I could lose Silver cut through the bullshit and the banks broke. I felt tears running down my face.

“You're both right... I was being an idiot as always. When we get back to Radar I’m going to get down on my knees and beg her to be my special somepony.”

“It’s about time!” Happy tipped her black stetson back and grinned at me, “You’re one of the bravest ponies I have ever met Orion, but you're also one of the slowest.”

“No arguments from me. I got Mom’s size, not her brains.”

Ironclad messed up my mane with an armoured hoof, “Don't worry kiddo, you're still adorable!”

“I am not adorable!”

Happy smiled and leaned over to Iron, “He is just so cute when he gets angry, isn't he?”

“I agree with you there, Happy. He's cuter than a newborn filly hugging a puppy.”

“Leave me alone!”

Happy gave a trollish grin, never a good sign. “I will stop teasing you if I can call you Grey Dash for the rest of the trip.”

Iron turned to Happy, “Grey Dash? You're gonna have to explain that one to me.”

“Please don't, Happy...”

“Oh, Orion was teased before his big sleep for looking like a monochrome Rainbow Dash.”

“So that's why he goes from cheerful to depressed in ten seconds flat.”

And that was the point I took to the air and fled south, my friends galloping after me laughing as they ran.

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

Three days of travel had brought us to a wide river and from the way my pipbuck was clicking, the waters were radioactive. The brown waters flowed southwards and looked a lot more like mud than water. I still remembered when this same river flowed clear and blue with thick green grassy fields along its banks as far as the eye could see. With a sigh I studied the blasted landscape. Cracked brown dirt and broken stones filled the the once green fields. It was so very disheartening to see the places I knew reduced to nothing more than a ravaged wasteland.

A little ways downstream stood a wooden platform. It sat next to the banks floating on the water with a low rail of rusted metal ran around the edge. Some kind of wooden shack sat in the middle filling most of the free space but leaving a walkway around the edge and a wide space near the back.

Happy had a spring in her step as she trotted towards the... Let’s just call it a boat.

As we got closer I began to spot ropes hanging over the side tied to large rocks and a tree stump. How that thing was even floating was beyond me, the wood seemed cracked and rotten. As we got closer I began to make out a layer of clay spread across the wood.

That would explain the rotted look.

Four ponies stood near to the boat, along with what looked like a two headed cow. The wasteland never stopped confusing me it seemed.

The group seemed to be two earth ponies and two unicorns. Three of them wore long hooded cloaks that covered most of their bodies, leaving only their muzzles in view. The fourth was a small unicorn mare with a short cut brown mane and a pale blue coat, a cutiemark of a crosshair adorned her flank. Fastened to her flanks, legs and back was a collection of blades and guns, far more than seemed necessary to me.

At our approach, the heavily armed mare levitated two heavy rifles from her back and aimed them at us before even turning to look in our direction. Piercing green eyes stared at us before she spoke.

“Not another step, state your business here or fuck off somewhere else. I don't give a flying fuck which.”

I blinked and turned to Happy, “Friendly sort. If we're all riding on that ‘boat’, we’ll soon be good friends.”

The unknown unicorn’s stare became a glare directed at me, “Tell the kid to shut the fuck up or he's full of holes. Fuck it, I’m taking no chances with you three!”

The sounds of those rifles cocking made me move, I slipped into the slow motion time of S.A.T.S. and lined up two shots from my Dad’s sniper rifle on the left gun and two from Vengeance on the right. My guns roared. Dragon’s Roar smashed one rifle from the air and sent it spinning away into the river, the enchanted bullets from Vengeance mostly missed, but what hit cut the gun to pieces.

The naked shock in her eyes was obvious, her horn glowed a pale blue for a moment as her magic began to levitate a shotgun from her back. The snapping of metal made her freeze. My battle saddle had cycled its rounds, Happy had drawn and cocked Reckoning, Severance hummed with energy while that big machine gun on Iron’s armour made a loud cha-chack noise.

Ironclad took a step forward and growled, “You tried to kill us, give me a reason in the next five seconds or I reduce you to a stain.”

One of the cloaked ponies stepped forward and threw back his hood, revealing the face of a white coated stallion with a short orange mane. blue eyes looked out to us.

“Please forgive Farsight, she has been guarding our caravan and as we have ran into more than a few Raiders... lets just say she is now a little quick to the trigger.”

Happy holstered her gun, “We’ll call this a misunderstanding if you can answer us one question...”

Everypony stared at the crazy blue unicorn as she stared hard at Farsight.

“Were those IF-64 "Bloomberg" Assault Rifles? The 5.56 model with the extended mags and scopes?”

“Happy... she just tried to kill us. If I wasn't fast with my guns then both you and me would have died. Why is the guns she used more important?”

Happy looked at me like I was crazy, “You know how rare it is to find a mint condition IF-64 with all original parts? It was one of the most reliable assault rifles ever made!”

“Just ignore her.” Ironclad took a step forward, “I will forgive you this time, but if you threaten my companions again then I will make your death a slow one.”

“Jeez, Iron, she was just protecting her friends. you would do the same for me and Happy so let it go.”

Farsight stared at us like we were insane. I know I wasn't, nor was Iron. Happy however was another story. “I just tried to kill you and you want to let it go?”

I grinned back, “No harm, no foul. You were protecting your friends, I can respect that. Nnow let's all hug and be friends!”

“Has that colt been hit in the head or something?” Farsight glared at me again while I gave my wings a playful flap, making me hover above the dirt. “And for that matter, what the fuck is a pegasus doing below the clouds? Are you a Dashite?”

“Not to sound rude but... what in Equestria, is a Dashite?”

Happy poked my with her hoof, “I told you about this Orion, Dashites follow the teachings of Rainbow Dash. They believe us surface ponies should be helped rather than ignored.”

“So Dashites are pegasi who are not idiots?”

From the laughter I guess I said something stupid again. Happy grinned at me and explained in a little more detail. “Alright, when the clouds were closed up like they are now, Rainbow Dash was the only pegasus who thought abandoning the surface was a bad thing. She refused to hide away up there and pretty much told the Enclave to go fuck themselves before leaving. From what the Dashite’s I have met tell me, they made Rainbow Dash into some kind of villain. Even held a trial without her to find her guilty of some made up crimes.”

My respect for the pony whose figurine I kept in my saddle bags rose a lot in that moment. For once it never bothered me to be compared to a mare with a character like that. Anypony who valued saving lives more than taking the chance to hide in safety was a pony I could relate to. After all, here I was away from the safety of Radar on my insane quest to lay my two hundred year dead parents to rest. If you could not stay true to yourself then you didn't deserve to be called a real pony.

A second of the cloaked ponies threw back her hood, revealing a quite cute yellow earth pony mare with a purple mane... scratch that, a grey mane dyed purple. I could see the roots growing through. Her voice sounded like somepony running their hoof down a chalkboard.

“The great Sweetie Belle wishes to move this along, her fame awaits.”

Farsight gave a loud sigh, “Thats Violet, she's a terrible singer who has convinced herself that she is the second coming of some mare who DJ Pon3 plays on the radio.”

“I am Sweetie Belle! You will refer to us as such!”

“Yea, that's so going to happen, Violet.”

It seemed like this was an old argument, and one I was not going to get into.

“Hey! Which one of you fuckers decided to gunfight by my boat?”

Every head turned to the pony who had spoke. A red earth pony stallion stood on the deck, his insanely long purple mane tied back with wound strips of cloth. White scars criss-crossed his coat and some kind of device was strapped to his left front hoof. I pointed my guns towards him, feeling unnerved by the way his blue eyes stared right into me. There was barely a flicker and he was gone! I felt a hoof wrap around my neck and the point of a blade pressed into my throat.

“I don't like guns pointed at me. Call this a friendly warning youngster...”

“Ok... point taken...” I was trying hard not to swallow in fear, I would cut my own throat!

“Oh let him go, Myth.” Happy seemed more amused than worried. “Orion was just being careful.”

Myth let me go and stepped back, the weird device on his leg gave a quiet noise as the blade that had been pressed to my neck, slid back into it's hidden sheathe. I’ll admit, I wanted one of those. It would go great with my Rainblade.

“Well Celestia shaft me with her horn! If it isn't Happy Trails! What are you doing out here? Last I heard you were still with the Gun Runners.”

“Oh I still am.” Happy gave the scarred stallion a warm smile, “But I’m on an adventure with these two for now.”

“And what are you doing with a Ranger and a pegasus colt in the first place?”

“The colt is my son, this Ranger is my husband.”

I felt my jaw hit the floor, I think Iron was having the same reaction inside his armour. Myth just laughed.

“I’m sorry, I just had to try that!” Happy giggled like a filly on helium. “Orion here is a friend who had done a lot of good for Radar, the Ranger is kind of his bodyguard, you might say. Don't be rude and say hello, Ironclad.”

Our gruff Steel Ranger just nodded. Myth gave us a warm smile. “Pretty antisocial, but who gives a fuck. Listen up! On my boat I have a few rules. One, listen to you captain, that would be me. Two, shut the fuck up with any of your complaints or I throw you overboard. Three, you break it, I kill you. Easy rules to remember, and if you forget then then get ready to walk. Now this barge will not get you to Manehatten, the river will drop us at a bend around ten to fifteen miles away. Deal with it or fuck off and find somepony else to give you a ride.”

I will be the first to admit, that scarred stallion scared the crap out of me. I mean how the fuck did he get behind me like that?

The second cloaked unicorn approached me and threw back her hood, the green mare stared at me with one red eye. Her other was covered with bandages that wrapped one side of her head, hiding most of her short emerald green mane. that eye stared at me with a sadness that even I could see. After an uncomfortable moment she spoke with a voice that carried deep pain.

“Thank you, young one, it is clear your group could have killed us all with little effort. We attacked first but you seem more interested in making new friends than revenge. May I ask why?”

“Well...” I never thought of it like that before, but it was true, “What I have seen in this world was mostly hate and pain. My folks raised me to look for the good in everypony. I don't think violence is the answer to every problem.”

“Where are your parents now?”

I looked down at the dirt and sighed, “They are both dead... please, I can't talk about it right now.”

That sad, red eye looked into my soul. “I understand. We all have our pain to bear, our own sorrow... I will respect your wish and leave you to your thoughts.”

With a slow nod, she turned and walked back to her group. The white stallion gave me a nod of thanks and turned to help his friends climb on board the boat.

Ironclad trotted over and stood next to me, “That mare has seen something horrific, and those bandages... I think she was tortured.”

“She seems so sad, I never even got her name.”

Myth motioned us to his boat, “Get your flanks on board now or I leave your asses here! And have your payment ready or be ready to start swimming.”

I was about to step on the boat when something caught my eye, something white was half sunken in the mud on the other side of the river, in a small space between a group of large rocks. Ignoring my friends calls, I flew over and took a look.

The scattered bones of a unicorn lay spread around the muddy space, some bones cracked open and chewed on. The skull and rib cage were still connected, along with one single front leg. it almost seemed like the pony had been reaching for something before they died. My E.F.S. was clear so whatever had done this was long gone.

Something orange poked through the wet mud by the end of the dead pony’s outstretched hoof. I pulled the thing out but the thick mud made it hard to work out what it was. With a burst of inspiration, I leapt into the air and flew out over the river and held whatever it was under the surface, the brown waters darkened as I shook the object, the mud washing away.

I was feeling a little excited as I pulled it out the water. I held a small statue of an orange earth pony mare with a yellow mane. Three apples made up her cutiemark and a brown stetson cowpony hat sat on her head. My eyes traced the words engraved into it's base.

“Be strong...”

It was weird, as soon as I said those words my gear felt lighter. With a shrug, I dropped the little figurine into my saddlebag, next to my Rainbow Dash. I don't know why but it felt... right, like that was what I was meant to do. I flew back to the boat and landed in front of Happy.

“What were you doing over there, hun? You find something?”

“Another of those little figurines, like the Rainbow Dash one my Dad left me.”

“Can I see?” I lifted the orange figurine out of my saddlebag and held it out. Happy peered at it closely. “Well, I would say she stole my hat but Applejack had that look way before me.”

“Applejack? Who is she?”

Happy gave a sigh, “Did you listen to any of my lessons? Applejack was the Ministry Mare of the Ministry of Wartime Technology. The M.O.T. created the Steel Ranger armour.”

“Are you two done? Can we go now?” Myth gave me a cross look. “Now if the kid has finished fucking around in the mud, he can cast off the lines.”

I gave Myth a smirk, he was a real tough pony and all but I knew a punishment when I saw it. I flapped over to the ropes and slipped the knotted loops from around the rocks and the tree stump. The lines began to drag along the cracked earth as the current took the ...barge I think would be the best term, in its grip. I took to the air and flew onto the boat. Myth took one side and at an unspoken agreement, I took the other. Soon we had the ropes coiled up.

“Not bad for a little, feathered fucker. I could use somepony like you to help out on the boat.”

“Sorry Myth, but I kind of have my own quest I have to do right now.”

The scarred stallion grinned at me, “Well if you need a few caps, then feel free to come back.”

Happy sniggered at me, “Wow. Hey Iron, is it me or does our little pony make friends far too easily?”

Iron tilted his helmet covered head, “I do have to admit his cheerful personality seems to cheer everypony up.”

I just grinned. I liked to make friends.

“Ok everypony, it's time for the pay up or start swimming game.” Myth looked from my group to the caravan ponies now resting at the back of the barge. “I’m not greedy and I’m not one of those armoured asshole Rangers, no offence Ironclad. Fifty caps a pony gets you your ride and food for the three day trip. Now fork them over or get the fuck off my boat.”

I watched as everypony formed a line, that's when it occurred to me that I had blew all my caps on healing supplies. Happy waited until the caravan ponies had paid the fair before taking Myth to one side. The blue mare spoke quietly to that intimidating stallion. After a moment the two trotted back over.

Myth seemed annoyed. “Fine, you three ride free this run. Now we are even Happy, no more favours.”

A voice like the singing of cats called out, “Sweetie Belle wishes to know why they did not have to pay and we did.”

“Fuck off, that's why. Your choice here is simple, shut the fuck up or get the fuck off my boat.”

“Sweetie Belle will not be spoken to like...” the loud mare never finished that sentence before Myth’s blade was pressed to her throat.

Now I knew what to look for. I caught some of his movements. The scarred stallion bent his back legs and leaned his weight into them, then pushed off into a low run, not unlike how us pegasi learn to fly. What was shocking to me was the sheer speed of every motion, no wasted movements, no stalling. Myth flowed from one point to the other in fluid ways that blew my mind. I’m not a smart pony but I can recognise a master at work.

Sweat run down Sweetie... Violet’s face as Myth pressed the point of his blade into her neck, stopping just short of drawing blood.

“In three seconds, one of two things will happen. You open your mouth and I stick my blade through your throat or you shut the fuck up and live. Entirely your choice.”

The yellow coated mare was shaking, then again I am scared of that stallion too. Myth lowered his blade and sheathed it, the naked terror in her eyes was a terrible thing but at the same time it shut her up. With a voice like hers, that was a good thing.

The strange mare with the bandaged face was sitting at the back of the boat, her hooves crossed on the rail. I watched for a moment, unsure if I should talk to her again. She had seen something that hurt her. It wasn't my style to dig into anypony’s past but at the same time, maybe talking about it would help her.

I trotted over and sat down next to her, saying nothing as the wind blew our manes around.

“I’m Orion, what's your name?”

The green mare turned her sad, red eye to me. “Why do you seek to speak to me?”

I reached up and scratched my mane, “Well...” I didn't want to offend her by prying, “I talk a lot and my friends need a break from me.”

“Then why talk to me? Surely one of the others would be more suited.”

“Well the stallion I don't know about, Farsight probably wants to shoot me, Violet’s voice gives me an urge to throw her overboard and Myth just scares the piss out of me.”

The corner of her mouth twitched, the green mare shook for a moment then burst out laughing. I glanced behind me, every pony from the caravan was staring over with shocked looks.

The sad eyed mare held a hoof out to me. I bumped her hoof with my own “My name is Zephyr, thank you for that. I missed just simply laughing, it has been so long.”

“If you need to talk... well I know I’m not the best pony for the job, but I’m here.”

“You may be the best qualified here, I see it in your eyes. You know loss and pain. You know suffering and have seen it in others.”

“Hows this? I’ll tell you my story. Then if you need to talk, I’ll listen to yours.”

“That seems fair.”

I stared up to the grey clouds. “I should tell you about my folks first, of how they saved me from the apocalypse...”

*** ***

I talked for almost an hour, Zephyr listened quietly. Not even asking any questions.

“And that brings us to this boat. what happened here, you already know.” I rubbed my hoof across my eyes, my face was wet from tears I don't even remember shedding.

Zephyr’s voice was barely a whisper, “You do know pain, yet you remain in good spirits. This filly, Silver? She is your anchor? The reason you don't break?”

“I’m not good with feelings but I love her. It took a hoof to the face to make me admit it but I know I couldn’t go on without her.”

Zephyr sighed softly, “I grew up in a village near Fillydelphia, it had no name and it's gone now. We had nothing, even Raiders did not bother with us. Redeye decided we were worth enslaving though. We had no real weapons, knives and a few small arms at most. We never stood a chance.”

The green mare stared out over the muddy water. “Redeye was not kind to us. Almost half of the survivors from that raid died in the first week, I was spared from the labour camps because of my special talent.” Zephyr pulled a small set of pipes from under her cloak. “I make music with these, my mother taught me to make and play them.”

I watched the sad mare run a hoof across the pipes almost wistfully, “I was given to one of Redeye’s lieutenants, a sadistic stallion named Spectre, he used me like a toy, made me play in exchange for not killing or raping me or any of the other slaves... one day he got bored and decided to burn my eye out with a poker, then he tried to make me choose three slaves to die that day.”

“I couldn't do it, so he beat me half to death and dumped me in the wastelands with no supplies. If Boulder had not found me...”

I glanced to the caravan ponies chatting with Ironclad, “Boulder is the stallion leading your caravan?”

“Yes. Boulder saved my life. He took me in and kept me safe until I could stand on my own hooves again. He has led his caravan for years, Farsight is his oldest friend. I stay with them and those who join because I simply have no home to return to...”

I smiled, “Well if you need a place to call home, come to Radar. We have room and the ponies there were nice enough to adopt me. And let’s face it: all I am is a pegasus with a cool haircut.”

Zephyr stared at me, her eye wide, “You mean that? there is a town that would give me a home?”

“Sure, if you get to Radar before we get back, ask for Blackshot or Dozer. They run the town. Just say Orion is calling in a favor.”

“I have heard of Radar, is it true that they enslaved a ghoul army?”

“Thats a new one on me, we did find a group of ghouls who we trade with. But slavery? No...” my voice grew cold, “I’ve been inside of those cages, felt the same hopelessness as you. Blackshot once told me that any Slavers who turn up at the gates are shot. Nopony is owned, we are all free.”

“You are a strange one. So young yet so focused.”

I gave a grin, “I’m not sure my friends would agree with you, I am pretty random at times.”

Zephyr gave a surprising giggle, “I feel strange, I had thought to never smile again. How is it that a young colt can make me laugh so easily?”

“Well, I’m not a smart pony, but I am a silly pony! I like to smile and make others smile.”

The sad eyed mare wrapped one of her legs around my neck and pulled me into an awkward hug. “Thank you young one. Finally speaking to one who truly understands has helped a little.”

“Hey Orion!” Happy’s best troll voice called out from behind me, “I may have to tell Silver you have been hugging other mares behind her back!”

“Wait, no! You wouldn't dare!”

I took off and flew at Happy, trying to tackle her. The crazy mare made me chase her around the shack twice before catching me in her telekinesis and holding me just out of reach. Behind her, still sitting at the back of the boat, Zephyr stared down at the pipes in her hooves. Slowly she brought them to her mouth and began to play.

I think for everypony on that barge, the world stopped. What came from those pipes was not music, it was pure soul given wings. Sad and yet utterly beautiful, it reached into your being and soothed the pain. I fell from the air onto my plot as Happy’s magic collapsed. I barely noticed. Zephyr’s music had us all enthralled. Happy had tears running down her face, Ironclad was a statue. I just followed the example of the caravan ponies and let my jaw drop.

Finally the song ended, Zephyr turned to us with a sad smile. “I’m sorry for my terrible playing, but I had to say goodbye to those I have lost in my own way.”

I just stared. “If that was terrible, then what you would call great would bring the world to tears. You are beyond amazing...”

Zephyr blushed in the fading evening light.

*** ***

We had been drifting down the river for two days now, Myth had barely left the shack like cabin in the centre of his barge. I sat at the front (stern?) of the barge with Happy and Ironclad in the morning light, enjoying the breeze and the calm. Iron had been avoiding Violet like she was a hellhound, her horribly out of tune voice seemed to get to him more than us. My guess was his armour increased his hearing somehow. If so then the poor guy couldn't escape it. In the background I could hear Zephyr talking with Violet as I enjoyed the cool breeze.

“I am not sure about this Violet, what if it upsets everypony?”

“The great Sweetie Belle merely wishes to grace them with her genius before we leave this boat.”

“Alright Violet, but if anypony is upset, it is on your head.”

A haunting melody began to play, the sound of Zephyr's pipes filling the air. Then a screeching voice began to sing utterly destroying the serenity.

“Every night in my dreams

I see you, I feel you,

That is how I know you go on

Far across the distance

And spaces between us

You have come to show you go on.”

Ironclad slowly stood and paced away, around the side of Myth’s shack.

“Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the heart does go on

Once more you open the door

And you're here in my heart

And my heart will... hey, get off me! no, stop it!”

‘Splash’.

Ironclad trotted back around the shack and sat next to us with a contented sigh. me and Happy shared a look before breaking out into a fit of giggles. I shook my head, and with a grin, grabbed one of the mooring ropes in my mouth and took off.

It wasn't hard to find Violet. The awful singer was thrashing around in the river like it was attacking her. I dropped the line across her neck and waited until she had bit down on the rope. With a grin, I flew back to the boat and began to pull on the rope, Boulder joined me a moment later, between the stallions strength and my own meagre muscles, we soon had Violet back on deck. The obnoxious mare stood dripping and shivering for a moment before rounding on Ironclad.

“How dare you do such a thing to the great Sweetie Belle?”

Ironclad reached up and removed his helmet, revealing his scarey yellow eyes. “Get the fuck out of my face now, or I will throw you overboard again.”

Violet backed away, not surprising with those freaky eyes. The mare was shaking with more than the cold now. Zephyr caught my eye and gave me a smile, it was good to see her more alive and not so sad.

Boulder trotted up to our group. “Sorry about Violet. You would not believe the trouble she has brought down on us this trip. With a little luck, this will get her to pull her head out of her ass and realise how bad she really is.”

I gave the white stallion a grin, ”As long as she doesn't sing anymore, we’re all good. that screeching could call down anything on us.”

The day wore on, the gentle rocking of the boat and the warm breeze almost made me relax. The river rolled on. More mud than water. The landscape flowed past. Scrubland with brown grasses and shrubs. A metric shit-ton of rocks lay around the banks. The occasional sky chariot rusted in the fields while dead trees rotted by the banks. Besides a few Radgators, nothing bothered us and between Farsight, myself and Ironclad, the seven Radgators died in ten seconds flat.

In the distance I began to make out a grey blur on the horizon. As the morning passed by, more of the blur came into focus. Tall grey stone buildings, some still sheathed in glass, shining in the second hoof light.

Manehatten, City of Dreams.

Before my big sleep, I had planned on coming here to find my fortune. I had it all planned out in my head. Become a famous flyer and live the million bit dream: eat good food, meet all the fillies and spend my nights in clubs dancing to the new dubtrot music I heard about. It was going to be great. Now I was coming to the city and all that awaited me was Raiders, Slavers and monsters.

Fuck my life.

It was strange. Here I was about to head into, from what I hear, one of the most dangerous places in the wasteland, but I was unafraid...

Maybe it was because I was finally going to find one of my parents. To see my Mom laid to rest. I knew the best I could hope for were blackened bones, but I still held out a foalish hope I would find her alive and well.

I guess I won't ever admit to myself that the worst is the norm in Equestria now. The wastelands take everything good and spit out nothing but misery and pain.

Well, foalish or not, I was still alive so it wasn't impossible that my Mom was asleep in a freezer tube like I was. Dad was gone forever, history proved that already. When I thought about him though, I felt no sadness, just pride.

My Dad, the orphan turned hero. He was still my role model, my inspiration. I was forever proud to have been his son.

“Hey Orion! Equestria to Orion!”

I blinked back to reality and turned to Ironclad, the armoured blue stallion gave me a grin.

“You were out of it there kiddo, nervous?”

“About this trip? Strangely no. It's just the idea I can see my Mom put to rest... it's hard for me to focus on much else.”

“Understandable, Orion. Two hundred years is one long time for anypony to worry about somepony you care about.”

I glanced about, “Hey, wheres Happy? I've not seen her all morning.”

For once, the Steel Ranger looked uncomfortable. “Well she...”

Iron was interrupted by the door of Myth’s shack swinging open with a bang. Happy trotted out with a wide smile on her face. Myth was a step behind, wearing a contented smile.

Wait! Did they? Oh now I’m just jealous. Wait Orion, focus on Silver. She’s the one you want.

Myth glanced around and spotted me. “Ah, just the colt I want to see. Happy tells me you know a lost hoof fighting style.”

I shot Happy a glare, the cute mare just grinned and shrugged at me. I sighed, “I know a little Archon style my Dad taught me.”

The scarred stallion smiled at me, “How about a little sparring match?”

I gave a wing shrug, “Sure, no guns and no drawn blood?”

“Agreed.”

I followed Myth around to the space at the back of the boat and shed my gear. My guns and saddlebags piled up against the side of Myth’s shack. I arched my back and rolled my shoulders, hearing the satisfying cracks and pops as the tension left my muscles. Myth rolled his neck and shook out his legs. His blade was still attached to his leg and that I got a closer look I realised it was screwed into his leg, not attached by buckles. Thick screws on cross plates looked as if they had been bolted through his leg’s flesh and bone. I gave a shudder. That must have hurt - a lot.

Myth began to back up in a circle, I did the same in the opposite direction. My wings spread out as we paced. Myth moved, almost vanishing with the speed. I had been waiting for that and beat my wings down, throwing myself to the right. My sudden move caught the scarred stallion off guard, I landed on my left front hoof and used my momentum to spin around and launch a kick at Myths flank. Myth leaped backwards, his hooves skidding over the rough planks. the corner of his mouth curled up in a smile.

“A reactive style that uses your opponents movements against them. Excellent.”

Myth leapt forward and spun on his front hooves, his rear hooves shot out towards my face. I leapt backwards, avoiding the kick by such a small amount that the wind from it stirred my mane.

The scarred stallion launched forward before I could regain my hooves. One front leg catching me across the throat and pinned me up against the cabin wall. there was a quiet ‘snick’ sound as his hoof blade popped out and pressed against my chest.

“Give up youngster? I have you pinned and a blade to your ribcage.”

It was tough to speak with the leg pressing into my throat, but I was able to rasp out a reply.

“Look... lower.”

Myth glanced down and swallowed. I had a blade on my hoof too, but mine was rainbow colored.

“Thats something no stallion should pull.”

“Well, let me go or you will no longer be a stallion.”

Myth gave a loud laugh, “I like you kid, you got spunk. Call this one a draw.”

Myth released his grip and I fell to the deck with a thump.

“A draw? seriously? I literally had you by the balls!”

“Kid, let me tell you why you still would have lost.” Myth gave a wide smile. “That looks like an energy blade so it would have cauterised the wound, I would not have bled out. Sure it would have hurt like fuck, but all I needed to do was press forward and my blade would have pierced your heart. you would have been dead in ten seconds.”

Well that shut me up.

I sat down on my haunches and sulked, why is it these tough ponies... and minotaurs... throw their fights with me and then prove I would have lost? It's not just annoying, it's disheartening.

Happy trotted over to me and gave me a hug. “Don't worry so much Orion, it's rare I see Myth enjoy a fight at all. Most ponies don't even see his first attack coming.”

Well something to be proud of at least. “Hey Myth, how did you learn to fight like that?”

Myth locked me with a cold stare, then sighed. “Come with me.”

The scarred stallion led me into his cabin and motioned me to sit on a chair near the door. I took the chance to be nosey and looked about. The small cabin was actually quite cozy, the wall opposite the door was filled with a long bed, with a metal frame. From under the old sheet I could make out piles of tattered books under the bed. The chair I sat upon was in a corner to the left of the door while to the right sat a huge metallic chest, rusted and battered. Pinned to the wall above the chest was a hoof drawn map and even to my own uneducated mind it looked very precisely drawn. On the wall my chair sat against was a row of nails with wide leather cloaks hanging loosely from them.

Myth dropped onto his bed, the stallion locked his eyes with mine “What I’m about to tell you does not leave this room, you speak of this and I will hunt you down and kill you. Do we have an understanding?”

I swallowed nervously and nodded. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

Myth watched me go through the movements of the promise then asked, “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Um... I guess pinky swear is out of fashion. I promise not to speak of this to anypony.”

Myth raised his hoof and slowly turned his hoof blade in the dim light. “To start with I should explain this, it is a cybernetic implant. I was forced to have it implanted but I will admit it comes in handy.”

“Forced?”

“I’m getting to that so shut the fuck up and listen. I was born a slave. All I knew was the crack of the whip and the feel of the collar around my neck. One of my owners noticed how quick I could move and decided I could make him some caps as a pit fighter. I was twelve years old when I made my first kill. They locked me and five other colts in a sewer pipe and told us to kill each other. To make it more fun, they began to fill the pipe with water. Only I survived, I killed two ponies I had known all my life that day. It turned out murder was my special talent. My cutiemark had appeared during that fight: a dagger with a red lightning bolt coming from it. My owner had it burned off that same day.”

Myth sighed, “I’m not sure now how many ponies I have killed. After a while I just stopped counting. Just like my scars from the fights, it just became a meer detail after a while. I gained some fame as a pit fighter and as the years went by I picked up the nickname ‘the Crimson Flash’ for the speed of my kills. The pits were my whole world. I was dragged around the wastelands in a flea ridden waggon for years brought from one blood soaked hole, to the next. This thing...” Myth held up his hoof and popped out the attached blade, “This was a ‘gift’ from my owner. A cybernetic implant controlled by thought. Anesthetic was out of his price range, it seemed. I was awake and screaming when this was fitted. Took fourteen hours.”

The scarred stallion smiled, “A year later my owner made the last mistake of his life. He tried to trade with a Gun Runner caravan. Blackshot and Happy were both on that run. The Gun Runners took one look at me in chains and wiped out the slavers in under a minute. Blackshot himself blew my owners head off. I had my freedom... and it was terrifying. I’ve had these chains all my life, being told what to do and when. Now it was up to me; my own choice. Happy insisted I come with them, she showed me how good freedom could be, and other things too...”

I felt myself blush as the meaning of his words sank in.

“Happy has a lot of respect for you, and her trust is not given out freely. She trusts you and I stand with her. Most ponies in this day and age would have left that singer to drown. You went out with nopony asking you to give her a line to grab onto. Your fighting skills are pretty solid too. I don't know what you are doing going to Manehatten, but if you get Happy killed, I will hunt you down and make you suffer, you get me?”

“Myth...” I locked eyes with the tough stallion, “For something to even hurt Happy, it would have to kill me first. I lost everypony I ever knew, I lost my family and my entire world. If I lose my new friends, I would be as good as dead. I swear by Luna and Celestia, I will die before I see my friends come to harm.”

Myth gave me a slow nod, “Thats all I needed. Now I see why your friends speak so highly of you. Even your Ranger friend seems to have respect for you.”

“Wait a minute. Iron said he respects me?”

“His exact words were: ‘That little feathered fucker is the luckiest and bravest pony I have ever met. If he wasn’t so annoying, he would be what I would call a hero in this age of suffering.’ Or something to that effect.”

I muttered a little under my breath at that. It was so very like Ironclad to give compliments like a sword. Two edged and cutting.

Myth rolled off the bed and trotted to the door, opening it with one hoof, he turned to me and smiled. “I like you, kid, you may be a little old fashioned, but you got guts.”

The door swung shut, leaving me alone in the gloom and to my thoughts.

If I found my Mom, what then? Where would she most like to be laid to rest? Would she prefer to be buried or cremated? I really didn't know, it wasn't something I would ask anypony. It hurt too much to think about.

Why was I really on my stupid quest? Just to see my folks at peace? That was part of it. I needed to know why Mom made my Pipbuck and my Rainblade. I needed to know why I was stuck in that tube. I needed to know why Pinky Pie had convinced my folks to make the gear I carried. I needed to know why I was always in the right place to help out anypony who required it.

Note to self, stop thinking like this. You are not, repeat, not smart enough for it.

*** ***

Midday found the barge tied to a tree stump at a rock strewn bend in the river. The grey towers of the Manehatten skyline loomed in the sky; they looked so close I could reach out and touch them.

Mom...

I could feel her out there. She was waiting for me in that ruined city, waiting for me to find her. I had no idea where to look, but if I had to I would search that entire city until I found her.

The caravan ponies left as soon as Myth tied the barge to the stump. Boulder bumped hooves with me. Zephyr kissed me on the forehead, leaving me weak kneed and blushing. Violet just sulked... no big loss then.

Myth came over to our small group and grinned. “Wish I could come with you three, you could use the help in there.”

Happy smiled back and hugged the scarred stallion, the two nuzzled for a moment before stepping back with embarrassed looking smiles. Myth pointed his hoof at me, “You had better take care of her, kid.”

I grinned back, remembering our talk in his shack. I gave a nod. I swore I would protect her and I always keep my word, a trait my folks used to make me tidy my room and do my homework.

“If you're all finished with the touchy-feely crap, can we move on?” Ironclad turned his helmet back and forward, no doubt glaring at us. “We really don't want to be outside when the sun sets.”

Iron was right, I didn't know enough about this world to tell him he was wrong. I would have to trust in the skills of the gruff Ranger. With a final few words of farewell, we set off. We had gotten maybe five miles closer to the city when a whistle made me turn. I could make out Myth sitting on the roof of his barge’s cabin. My scoped sight zoomed in. Myth raised his bladed hoof and crossed it over his chest before holding it high. I lit my Rainblade and returned the gesture.

Happy stared at me like I had sprouted a horn, “Orion, where did you learn that salute?”

“Salute?”

“That motion you just did. That’s a pitfighter thing. It’s a farewell to a respected opponent.”

“Well Myth made it to me... is that a bad thing?”

“Hun, you never fail to amaze me. Pitfighters only use that salute as a farewell to an equal.”

“What? No way am I his equal! He could kick my flank so hard, every pegasus alive would feel it!”

Happy grinned from ear to ear, “Looks like you made friends with yet another big hitter! Fillies and gentlecolts, I present to you the next Element of Harmony! One colt to make friends with them all!”

I felt my ears droop as we trotted onto a tarmac road leading into the city. Why was this stuff always on me? I’m just a stupid kid! Why does all these badass ponies and minotaur’s like and respect me? I really am nothing special. A little lucky maybe, but that's all.

Happy nudged me with her flank, “Enough sulking. Where are we heading anyway?”

“Um... I don't know...”

Happy and Ironclad stopped to stare at me. It was Ironclad who broke the uncomfortable silence.

“You mean to tell me, you came to this shithole with no idea how to find your mother or even an idea where to start looking?”

“Well... kind of?”

“You...he...” Ironclad turned to Happy, “What in the fuck are we supposed to do now? It will take months to search Manehatten!”

Happy pointed at my Pipbuck, “Orion, can that thing find your mother?”

The idea would’ve never have occurred to me! I tapped the blue button and prayed this would work. “Vista, locate Mom.”

>Acknowledged.

>Interfacing With Local Nodes.

>Linking To All Available Networks.

>Ministry Of Moral HQ Located.

>Plot Route And Add Location Tag?

“No! you stupid piece of crap! find my Mom!”

I was shaking with frustration. How can I be so close but not have a way to find my mother? I stomped around, kicking at anything that came close. Why was I so stupid? Mom was here, yet my stupid brain couldn’t think of a way to find her!

Happy laid a hoof on my shoulder, “Calm down, Orion. Ask it to find your mother’s real name.”

Happy’s words gave me new hope. “Vista, locate Antiquity, locate Page.”

>Acknowledged.

>Interfacing With All Available Nodes.

>Error.

>Network Locked.

>OIA Override Accepted.

>Linking To All Connected Networks.

>Processing.

>Processing.

>Overriding Private Networks.

>Hidden Maneframe Detected.

>Overriding Security Protocols.

>Connecting To Network Nodes.

>Warning.

>Data Corruption Detected.

>Isolating Corrupted Node.

>Reformatting Corrupted Node.

>Processing.

>Processing.

>Processing.

>OIA Agent Antiquity Piptag Located.

>Plot Route And Add Location Tag?

“Yes!” I almost screamed the word with excitement. This was it! I was finally going to find Mom.

I was bouncing on my hooves as we entered the city. The sheer desolation shocked me. I remembered seeing pictures. Raised rails, vast towers, massive buildings with glass walls, ponies all around. Life. What greeted me was terrifying.

The buildings were falling apart, the roofs collapsing in, the towers were shattered, surrounded by massive piles of rubble. The great glass towers were broken, moss clinging to the steel structure. Metal beams reached from the broken buildings towards the sky, looking like the bones and skeletal remains of this once great city. Houses all around stood open to the elements, sagging with rot and age. The railways still stood, the metal trackways casting deep shadows over the rubble strewn roads.

The ponies who built these ruins are dead and gone, killed by the balefire. It has been at least two hundred years since they built the city. The walls, built to house families, had outlived their inhabitants. Homes were now tombs for the countless dead. Rusted sky chariots lay half buried in the rubble or rusted in the streets. It was the bones that really got me. Everywhere I turned I saw the blackened remains of the dead. So many dead ponies, How could anypony do this over coal?

Red bars filled my EFS to the right of the first intersection, it was strange but I couldn't see anything. I was about to ask Iron about it before he held a hoof up to what would be his lips without the helmet, and pointed up. I used the zoom from Dragon’s Roar to look above me. In the shadows under the railway I could make out bats. Not just any bats, but the biggest fucking bats I had ever seen. Every single one was at least three times my size! Iron motioned towards a ruined skyscraper and we followed him through the broken windows at the front into a black marble entrance. A desk sat at the back near a pair of metal detectors and three elevators. Iron turned to us.

“Happy, Orion, those bats up there are the reason I don't want to be out at night. We call them Bloodwings because they suck blood. Just one of those things can drain a pony in seconds. if one sinks its teeth in, you’re dead. No potion can save you. You’ll be dead and dried out.”

Happy gave me a nervous smile. I couldn't hide my own fear. The idea of winged death silently coming after me... it scared the Equestria loving crap out of me. Iron did something with my Pipbuck, something about sharing tags? I don't understand that stuff in any case.

Our Steel Ranger led us silently out into the ruins, his heavy tread the only sound besides the wind. Happy stepped lightly through the wreckage of the city, her hoof falls silent. I hovered just above the ground, not trusting myself not to trip or knock something over. the idea of waking those bat monsters still scared me. My EFS was showing red in every direction. Occasionally I made out the shambling figures of Feral Ghouls, or spotted radroaches, massive rats and a few other kinds of pests.

Only once did we actually fight anything. I peered past the rusted wreck of a sky carriage and saw something that scared the hell out of me. A massive black, winged wolf stood with it's back to us, eating the corpse of a pony. The sight of that monster made me think of Nighteyes. There was no way I was going to let my little pup turn into that!

The corpse turned it's head and looked right into my eyes, the pony was still alive... blue eyes stared into my own silently begging for peace. For death. My blood began to boil. Nopony should suffer like that. Ever.

Before my friends could stop me, I launched myself high and dove at the Liger. My Rainblade lit with a snap-hiss sound that seemed almost deafening in this pool of silence. The Liger turned towards the sound and with a flap of it's own wings, bounced backwards. My blade descended stabbing through the chest of the dying pony.

His final words were barely a whisper. “T-thank...y-you...”

The Liger began to circle me slowly. Easily twice my size, it watched me with deep black eyes. I could tell it saw me as a meal, not a threat. A low snarl came from it's blood splattered muzzle, the weird fear effect or it's snarl making my wings fold against my body. Slowly it came towards me, so confidant in its ability end my life.

Bang!

A single SATS guided magnum round removed the top of it's skull. Fear or not, SATS still worked. The massive wing wolf looked surprised for a moment, before slumping to the ground. Ironclad came stomping over to me his voice was filled with anger as he began to shout at me.

“What the fuck were you thinking? We could have snuck past without that fight! Next time listen...”

My hoof slamming into his helmet shut him up, I shook my hoof for a moment to get the feeling back and pressed my face against his hemet. I don't know who was more surprised, him or me as I shouted back into his face.

“No, you listen! That pony was being eaten alive! I don't give a fuck what he had done but nopony deserves that! If I was suffering like that, I’d want help! If you're so callous that you can walk away from that kind of suffering without another thought, then you're exactly what everypony sees the Rangers as a bunch of high-tech fucking Raiders!”

“He’s right, Iron.” Happy had trotted up to us while I screamed in Ironclad’s face. Her heavy automatic hovered at her side, pointing at the still form of the Liger. Her voice was filled with sadness as she continued, “If Orion had not jumped in, I would have. If you can't see leaving that pony to die in that kind of agony is wrong... then you have no place with us, you have no place in Radar.”

I was still angry as I began to trot away, following my mom’s tag once more. I glanced over my shoulder at the still form of my armoured friend. “Iron... would Steelhooves have left a pony to suffer like that?”

Ironclad lifted his helmeted head to look at me and sighed. “No. Steelhooves would’ve taken on an army to see a single pony put out of his misery. You’re right. I’m sorry.“

“I never thought a Steel Ranger would be such a crybaby.”

I turned back forward, silently cursing myself for not paying attention to my EFS.

Nine ponies came out from behind the sky chariot, piles of rubble and a broken shopfront. Each wore armour seemingly made from leather along with a collection of small arms and rifles that were strapped to their flanks, along with a selection of knives, crude spears and swords. I so needed this right now to work off the anger.

A blue unicorn sent what looked like a metal apple with a blue band sailing towards us. I sidestepped and crossed my wings in front of my face.

Time for my favorite trick.

Back in Paddock town, Mom bought me water balloons on hot summer days. Trick and Belle would join me in a three way war, well I say three way but the siblings would often gang up on me. I learned this trick by accident while shielding my face, and it soon became my favorite way to catch anypony off guard.

The apple touched the feathers of my wings, I drew them in a little to cushion the impact then flicked both wings out fast. I gave the shocked unicorn a grin as the apple thing bounced back and landed at his feet. There was a blue flash from the apple. The unicorn shot me a look of hatred before drawing a rusted revolver.

“Kill the Ranger, save the mare and the colt. We can have some fun with them!”

I gave a smile. “You guys don't know who you’re fucking with, so to be fair, I’m giving you a chance. Run. Leave now and you live. Stay, and I can’t guarantee you’ll live much longer.”

From the laughter of the Raiders, it was clear I was being underestimated again.

“Last warning, your standing between me and my Mom. not a good idea right now.”

The blue unicorn laughed harder, “Well if your mommy is here, then I will find the bitch and...”

His body gave what looked like a dance as the stream of enchanted lead from Vengeance shredded him like tissue paper.

“Don't ever talk like that about my Mom...”

Happy and Iron stood shoulder to shoulder with me as the Raiders began to back away. A display of the firepower of my saddle tends to do that to bullies. I thought for a moment they would run, then a heavy calibre round hit Irons helmet, knocking his head to one side. Happy dove to the left, rolling behind the broken remains of a fallen walkway. Iron stood his ground and went to work, the chattering of his machine gun mixing with the hollow thump of Severance. I took to the air, gunfire tracked me as I twisted and looped.

In desperation, I dove behind the rusted metal sign for a nearby shop front. from my second floor vantage point I could make out the remaining Raiders as they spread out, trying to encircle us. I saw a buttery yellow coated earth pony stallion, sighting through a familiar looking rifle at Iron. Then it hit me where I had seen the big rifle before. It was the same kind Blackshot used. An Anti-machine Rifle!

My eyesight turned green as I slid into SATS. All of my AP, never did find out what that meant, went into targeting that stallion. My guns thundered; magnum rounds and enchanted lead flew. My luck was with me as my first round hit the stallion in the spine as he fired, the gun jerking to the right. my burst of lead left no doubts that the stallion was dead. Living things have far fewer holes in them.

Holes... stop it Orion, this is no time for perverted thoughts about mares. You're in a gunfight for ponies sake!

I began to fire bursts from Vengeance and random shots from Dragon’s Roar at the surviving Raiders. Iron was obliterating anypony stupid enough to poke their heads from cover. Three ponies had been reduced to paste by Severance already. Happy was placing careful shots with her sidearm taking out one shotgun wielding Raider and pinning down another freak that had a battered looking 9mm pistol. With those six down and Happy and Iron pinning down two more, that left one missing.

I glanced around, a flash of movement caught my eyes. The last Raider, a green unicorn mare was sneaking up behind Happy with a wicked looking knife in her mouth. I took careful aim and bit down on the bit of my saddle.

Click, click.

No... I can't be out of ammo, not now! I looked around in desperation. No way Happy would hear me over the gunfire. The Anti-machine rifle lay across the rubble below me. the gun was damaged from my shots but it was my only chance. I dove towards it, ignoring the gunfire tracking my dive. I pushed the corpse of the stallion I had killed to one side and put my shoulder under the gun. Sweat rolled down my body as I put all my strength into lifting the big weapon.

How did Blackshot lift these things so easily?

Let me help you there, sugarcube.

I had no idea where the voice came from. In my mind I saw a familiar looking orange mare put her shoulder under the rifle and lift and my legs straightened as I began to rise with the massive weapon, my mouth wrapped firmly around the trigger. I peered down the scope at the Raider right behind Happy. I saw the knife raise in a telekinetic field.

Boom!

The recoil of the gun firing threw me backwards. The rifle exploded, flying shards of metal sliced into my flesh as I was thrown back. A long spring impaled my throat, leaving me struggling for air.

As I hit the ground, I saw the results of my shot. The heavy round passed so close to Happy’s head her main whipped back from the passing wind and her hat was blown off her head. The Raider was hit in the throat, the heavy round taking her head right off. My only thought as I lay bleeding was: ‘At least Happy is ok.’

The sound of gunfire stopped. As I lay gasping for breath, I could hear Iron and Happy calling out for me, their voices getting louder.

“... I’m sure that shot came from near here, hun. It had to have been Orion who fired, a Raider would have kept shooting.”

“I agree, Happy. Something is wrong here. I’ve not heard one wiseass comment in the last few minutes. That's not like him at all. I’m worried.”

My vision was getting dark, I was desperate for air but the metal stuck in my limbs and the spring in my throat left me with no option but to lay there and gasp for air. A familiar pink maned unicorn climbed over the rubble, her eyes grew wide as she spotted me.

“Ironclad! I found him! Get over here now! He's hurt!”

Rubble clattered as my friends climbed over the debris to where I lay bleeding. Iron took one look at me and ripped off his helmet.

“Happy, get a shot of hydra out of his bags and any healing potions you can find! We have to get that out of his throat now!” Ironclad leaned in close to me, “Hold still kid, this is going to hurt...” and with that, he bit down on the spring and ripped it out of my throat.

I felt myself choking on blood. My limbs twitched. There were jolts of pain all over my body as Happy pulled the shards of metal from my flesh. I felt a needle stab into my shoulder, the ragged flesh of my throat tingled. Then, as if a gift from Celestia herself, I drew in a gasping breath. Once I stopped struggling to breathe a potion was pressed to my lips and by Luna’s hot flanks, it felt so good as the pain receded.

Happy helped me up to my hooves. I was more than a little shaky but my friends were safe. To me, that's all that mattered.

Ironclad looked from me, to the shattered rifle, then back to me. “Did you fire that shot?”

I coughed a little, clearing the last of the blood from my throat. “No, I was eating the rifle and that spring went down the wrong way.”

“Funny. How the fuck did you even lift that thing, let alone aim it? That rifle weighs at least twice what you do.”

“I’m not sure how to explain it. I tried to lift it, I was desperate to help Happy... then Applejack lifted it with me.”

“You hit your head kid? AppleJack is dead, has been for two hundred years.”

“Well you explain it then! All I know is AppleJack helped me when I needed it...”

Happy pulled me into one of her awkward hugs. “I believe you, hun. Strange things happen around you all the time. After befriending an army of ghouls, a ghost helping you out is a small thing. In any case, thank you. You saved my life back there.”

I smiled. My friends were alive. All was right with the world.

*** ***

Ironclad led us through the ruins, the daylight had begun to fade away. We were following the tag while searching for a spot to hole up for the night. The Raiders had not had anything worth taking other than some ammo for my guns and a pair of revolvers that Happy had claimed; there was almost nothing of note. Well there was one thing, I now had a very sharp combat knife sheathed on the rig happy had made me to hold my 9mm pistol. I had also taken almost two hundred caps from their remains. ‘Danger money’ Happy called it.

Iron stared into the dark entrance of what was once a sweet shop.

BonBon’s Candy Mountain. Even the name sounds tasty!

A lamp on his helmet lit and shone into the gloom. Shelves lined the walls filled with what looked like black tar.

Guess I won't find any sweets I can eat then.

Iron led us inside and pulled down a rusted metal shutter with an ear splitting shriek. Happy pulled some of the shelves apart using her magic to pry the wood from its brackets. Soon we had a fire going, its flickering light illuminating the derelict shop. The smell of hot sugar from the burning shelves was driving me insane, so I went exploring.

My hooves clicked quietly along the black and white tiled floor. A thick layer of dirt had accumulated across the surface. Back in my day this place must have looked amazing. Near the back I found a low glass counter. I could not see through the glass it had so much dust on it. Along the wall were rotted cardboard boxes displayed long decayed candy bars and wooden bowls filled with black sludge and sweet wrappers. I flicked my Pipbuck’s light on and headed round the back of the counter. More boxes were neatly stacked against the wall and there, huddled in the corner, lay the bones of two ponies. I sighed out loud, this kind of thing should be just another sight, as common as rocks to me by now, but the sight of those two ponies, a unicorn and an earth pony, huddled together almost broke my heart.

There was a picture on the floor near the remains, I rubbed at the glass with a hoof. two ponies stared back at me, a smiling green unicorn with a light green and white mane, and an amused looking yellow earth pony with a two toned mane - blue and candy-pink. The way the unicorn sat on the pictures park bench was weird, but her smile was infectious. A little plaque along the bottom of the frame read: “Lyra and BonBon at the park.”

I looked back at the two skeletons. They had died together, in each other's embrace.

“Lyra, BonBon... I wish I could do more but let me do this at least.” I took a breath and pressed my hooves together in my Mom’s prayer for the dead. “May Celestia guide you home, may Luna guide you through the night, may you find rest at your journey's end. Now your Harmony is passed, may you sleep with the ones you lost. Rest now, find peace.”

One of the boxes spilt and a metal tin bounced to the floor making me jump. After I calmed myself down, I peered closer using my Pipbuck’s light. It was a sweet tin, ‘BonBon’s Candy Stars’. There was a sticker on the side: Vacuum Sealed! Forever Fresh! I looked down at the little tin and smiled.

“Thank you, BonBon.”

“Orion, who are you talking to back there?” Iron’s spotlight almost blinded me when he shone it at me. He saw me squinting at him and turned the light off.

“I was saying a prayer for the ponies who died in here. This was their shop. It's only right I do at least that much.”

Happy grinned at me, the shadows danced along her face in the flickering light of our campfire, “You’re such a nice kid, your parents would be so proud of the pony you are today.”

I smiled back, took the sweet-tin in my mouth, and headed towards the fire to find a spot to sleep.

*** ***

The doors intimidated me. Black painted and rusted, and easily two stories high.

We stood before a tall office building, rusted vehicles sat in the parking lot. The front of the building had collapsed, burying the main entrance under tons of rubble. A sign next to the road read ‘Future Industries. Tomorrows Technology, Today!’ Catchy slogan, but not very helpful. I was going to just fly up through one of the broken windows a few floors up until Ironclad pointed out something he called a ‘turret’ mounted high on the wall. As he explained it, that thing was a gun that would track and shoot me if I got into its range. Not a fun thought.

We had circled the building for a half hour, looking for another way in until Happy found a tunnel leading downwards behind another wall of rubble. The square shaped tunnel stretched down into the ground, made from concrete and lit by flickering light strips set into the roof. Flaking red paint was layered on the lower half of the walls.

The tunnel only sank around thirty feet underground but led under the building. Without daring the turrets, this looked like our only way inside, but with no terminal or even a keyhole, how do we get in?

Iron tapped his hoof against the metal of the big doors. “Hm, probably made from titanium and blast resistant alloys. At a guess, I would say five feet thick. We’re not cutting through this thing.”

“Any ideas on how to get it to open?” I was understandably anxious to get inside; Mom was in there somewhere.

Happy nudged me with her flank, “Ask that Pipbuck of yours to knock hun. It found this place so might be able to get us in.”

That made sense, I hit the blue button on my Pipbuck. “Vista, can you open this door?”

>Negative.

Just fucking great. Now what?

>Interface Detected.

>OIA Access Code Required.

>Operative ID Orion Confirmed.

>Two Unknowns Detected.

>Issue Temporary Operative Status? Y/N?

“Wait, operative? I don't even know what that word means! And what the fuck does OIA mean?”

“Office of Inter-ministry Affairs.” Ironclad was staring at me, “They were said to be involved in most of Equestria’s secret projects. They also served as a buffer between the ministries, a go between if you will. As for operative, that was their name for anypony on their staff involved in a secret project.”

“Doesn't explain how I’m listed as an operative. Until Vista, I had never heard of the OIA.”

Happy poked me with a hoof, “A mystery for another day! Now see if it will let us in!”

I poked the button again, “Issue temporary status.”

>Acknowledged.

>Status Is Issued For Twenty Four Hours.

>Status Will Be Revoked Without Warning If OIA Protocols Are Broken.

Great, we are supposed to follow a set of rules I don't even know.

There was a loud groan and the rusted red doors began to slide into hidden alcoves to the left and right. the room behind them was pitch black, I could almost make out something in the gloom, something big. Lights came on suddenly, illuminating the room before us.

Holy fuck...

Sitting in the middle of the room, taking up most of the vast space, was a robot painted in rainbow colours and sitting on four thick legs capped with wheels. Massive cannons sat on either side of it's body. It was like a giant rainbow crab. Now I knew why the door was so big, it was the only way anypony could have got that thing inside. Iron and Happy had frozen in place. The big cannons began to aim towards us.

>Status Will Be Revoked Without Warning If OIA Protocols Are Broken.

Maybe this was a test to weed out spies? See if they back down at the sight of that robot? Regular staff wouldn’t give it another glance. Time for something stupid.

“How many times must you two gawk at that oversized toaster? Come on now or we’ll be late for the appointment.”

I trotted towards the robot, heart in my mouth.

The big machine rolled backwards on its wheels and lowered its cannons. There was a door to the right. I headed over and pulled it open. Happy and Iron stood back in the tunnel, looking at me like I was insane.

“Come on! I’m not getting on the boss’ bad side because you two are dragging your hooves!”

My friends trotted over to me, keeping an eye on the terrifying machine. As the door closed behind us, all three of us let out a sigh of relief. Happy grabbed my face in her hooves and kissed me hard on the lips.

“Orion, that was amazing! How did you know what to do?”

“I just thought, what would a normal OIA operative do? They wouldn't be afraid of the robot out there if they saw it every day.”

Ironclad laughed. “Kid, you are crazy.”

We followed the corridor behind the door for a short way, before it turned a corner and connected to a staircase. A black painted doorway led out into a dimly lit foyer. Black marble made up the walls and floor. There was broken glass and scorch marks everywhere.

As ever, pony bones lay around, but these had the look of being thrown, as if some great force had thrown them away from the broken glass. square lights cast a feeble glow and the air felt stale. From the rubble blocking the doors out, I guess this was the main entrance.

Mom’s tag led us to a second staircase. The door to this one was locked, however, or it was until Iron bucked it off its hinges. The concrete steps spiraled up into the gloom above us.

At the first landing I opened the double red painted doors and stepped through. The corridor must have been nice once. Thick red carpeting, oak paneled walls and strip lights running down the ceiling. Now everything was scorched and burnt. More pony bones lay in twisted positions against the walls. Even to a wasteland novice like me it was clear these ponies had died in agony.

Nopony spoke as we reached a heavily burnt door around a third of the way down the hall. a metal nameplate was fixed to the wall next to the door. ‘Antiquity’

Mom...

I was shaking when I pushed the door slowly open. The room was massive. Shelves lined the walls, filled with burnt and scorched books, tables sat pressed together in the middle of the room, covered in burn circuitry and blackened crystals. A big window filled one wall on the opposite side to the door with a small table sat under it.

There next to it lay the remains of another pony. Like a zombie, I stepped slowly towards those bones. A unicorn. Oval glasses melted to the skull. Light flickered from a Pipbuck around one leg.

Mom...

I knew I should have expected it, I knew what this world threw at me... but I missed her so much. I wanted my mom back.

Happy cradled me in her hooves like a newborn while I cried my heart out. Why was the wasteland so unfair? Why did this have to happen? Why can't I have my mommy back...

Happy stroked at my mane, whispering gentle words telling me not to stop my tears, but to encourage me to cry my sorrow out. Her mane and shoulder were soaked by the time my tears stopped flowing.

Iron laid his hoof on my shoulder, “I keep forgetting you're still a kid. you are always so confident, so fearless. I guess everypony has their own pain to bear. And after seeing your mother like this? I’m sorry Orion.”

>Proximity Override Detected.

>Antiquity Protocols Engaged.

>Display message? Y/N?

I stared down at the screen of my Pipbuck. I was shaking like a leaf as I toggled the message to yes.

Static spread across the screen, after a moment a familiar mares face came into focus. a pale yellow coat, lime green mane and glasses. Purple light flickered behind her.

Mom...

“Hello Orion. I guess this means Pinky was right... if you're seeing this message then you're sitting crying on the shoulder of a unicorn with a peach mane.”

Happy looked shocked, then again who wasn't?

“Orion, I’m sorry I can't be there for you now. You are your own pony now, so strong and handsome. I’m so proud of you son...” Mom looked behind her, “That purple you see behind me? That's a magic shield. One that will fail soon, so before it's too late let me give you a gift. Vista override code epsilon four.”

>Code Acknowledged.

“Vista, unlock version two point five SATS protocols.”

>Reconfiguring.

>Estimated Time for Completion One Hundred Hours.

“Activate Starlight system and download files SS dash one seven four, through two twenty seven.”

>Acknowledged.

>Download Complete.

I stared with my jaw hanging open as mom worked my Pipbuck better than I could from beyond the grave.

The was a bang in the video’s background.

Mom let out a loud sigh. “There goes another generator... I can't talk for much longer, don't go looking for your dad’s remains, there wasn't any after he saved us all. I pray that Pinky Pie is wrong about what's coming, but no matter what happens, no matter what you see, stay true to yourself and remember, your dad and I will always love you. We are forever proud.”

The flickering purple behind moms image disappeared, the window blew inwards as emerald flames engulfed the image. The last thing I saw was my mom smiling before the green fires swallowed her and the image turned to static.

Tears dripped onto the screen. I wasn't alone, Happy sat next to me, silently sobbing.

“I... I don't know what to say. She knew she was going to die, yet the only thing on her mind was her son. I’ve never seen a pony like that before... you really are your parent’s son, Orion.”

Ironclad nudged me with his hoof. “Come on kid, let's see her at rest.”

*** ***

The flames were dieing down, Mom’s pyre burning down to nothing but ashes. For over an hour I had sat there in the street, watching the fire take what was left of mom’s remains. Happy had levitated her down to the street and after getting past the robot again, we had all gathered wood for her funeral pyre. This wasn't like the fire that had taken her life; this was purifying.

Happy gathered my mother's ashes with her magic and sealed them in a plastic jar she had scavenged from somewhere. I packed the ashes carefully in my saddlebags and as I did rain began to fall; so cold and yet so refreshing. I stared up at the grey clouds, my mind empty of all but one thing.

“Mom... may Celestia guide you home, may Luna guide you through the night. May you find rest at your journey's end. Now your Harmony is passed, may you sleep with the ones you lost. Rest now, find peace.”

The rain mixed with my tears. I would bury her ashes at the monument, at least that way I knew she could somehow be close to dad forever.

“How sweet and touching.”

I spun around but something gripped me by the throat. My guns began to bend as the leather of my battle saddle stretched and split. Vengeance and Dragons Roar spun away from me, joined by my saddlebags as the unseen force squeezed and lifted me by my throat.

Happy drew Reckoning with her magic and pointed it behind my ear. “Drop him now, bitch!”

I don't think I had ever seen Happy look so determined before. Ironclad came galloping towards me, Severance humming with energy. The rusted wreck of a sky chariot dropped from the sky, landing on my armoured friend. The boom of Happy’s automatic rang out, almost deafening me with it's closeness.

Purple magic flashed, knocking Reckoning away like a toy. The same magic wrapped around Happy’s neck. There was a flash and we were elsewhere. Wind whistled around as I stared at the monster before me. The white alicorn mare gave me a hate filled glare.

“Remember me, you little grey fuck?”

Azure Sky... oh fuck.

The psychotic alicorn draw us together, me and Happy dangling by our throats and choking. her purple eyes glared at me. “This time there is no Enclave to save you.” Her eyes turned to Happy, “You however, I don't need.”

Happy dropped, falling away towards the distant ground. her screams carried by the wind. I thrashed around, batting at the air, desperate to get free. The insane alicorn laughed at my struggles.

“Aw, the little grey fucker thinks he can save his little friend? Well let’s give you a chance shall we?”

I was swung left and right, gasping for breath. Azure Sky whistled for a minute to herself then gave me a chilling smile.

“Ok, little doggy. Fetch.”

The magic holding me disappeared. I dove for all I was worth, the twisted laughter of Azure Sky chasing me as I shot towards the ground. I could make out the blue spec that was Happy, my wings burned with pain as I pushed myself harder than I ever had. I was getting closer, and closer. My mane whipped behind me as I drove myself past my limits.

Happy was getting closer, I could see her face as I got closer. The ground was coming up too fast.

Faster, Orion, faster! You have to get to her now!

Happy smiled at me, I saw it on her face. Acceptance. She knew she was going to die.

“Please no! Somepony please help me!”

Woah there, sugarcube, calm down and listen.

Come on AJ, this is my thing!

Now you listen to RD young’un. She might be a showoff but nopony knows flying like her.

I was hearing voices, though at this point I would take help from Nightmare Moon herself if it saved my friend.

You’re doing it all wrong! This is Scootaloo all over again. Don't tuck your hooves in, stretch them out front and back. Keep them together.

I was desperate, I followed the instructions of the little blue mare in my head with the rainbow mane.

That's it, now don't beat your wings, keep them level and flap hard. That's the way! Now hold on, this is going to be so awesome!

The wind became a roar in my ears as I began to speed up, faster, faster! The air pushed back at me, the ground was coming up fast.

Seconds away.

Happy stared at me, her eyes wide as streaks of black and silver erupted from behind me. My contrail! I actually made my contrail! The biggest step in any pegasi’s life, reaching speeds where you can acutally leave a trail behind you. Ordinarily I would’ve squeed with joy, but right now my friend needed me.

I was so close to her. My body suddenly felt like it was on fire! I shot forward, even faster and tackled Happy less than a foot from the ground. My full strength and speed went into that tackle, driving the air from both our lungs and sending us sideways.

I managed to roll Happy to my front with me clutching her like our lives depended on it. I tried to slow us down but there was no room. A rotted wooden house came up so very fast. I rolled and put myself between Happy and the wall, there was a crash of breaking timber, a loud snap and I blacked out for a moment.

I forced my eyes to open, I was in agony. My left wing hung loose at my side. There was no doubt I had broken it.

“Happy? Are you...ow... sweet Celestia that hurts, you ok?”

Happy lay unconscious on a broken pile of rotted wood. blood was trickling from a cut on her head, but she was breathing. I smiled. She was alive.

Purple magic gripped my broken wing and dragged me back high into the sky. I screamed in pain. Azure Sky dangled me in front of her, occasionally giving me a shake just to hear me scream.

“I hope you didn't forget about me. I’m not done with you yet. You know what the Goddess did to me after I failed to catch you?”

Her magic wrapped around my limbs, pulling them out away from my body. then my wings stretched out, leaving me sobbing in pain. The combat knife on my pistols rig levitated out, hovering inches from my right eye.

“I’m going to take my time, I’m going to have my fun before I drag your carcass back to Maripony.”

The knife bit into my flesh, just above my eye and began to slowly descend. I tried not to scream as it bit deep, the the point stabbed into my eyeball and twisted. Tears flowed down my face along with blood as the psychotic alicorn carved my eyeball from my skull. The blade flicked out, the bloody remains of my right eye falling away, then the blade sliced into my cheek, drawing slowly up to the ruins of my eye.

“Fun, but I want more screaming.”

The bloody knife span away into the wind. I felt the magic holding my left front leg tighten.

“Make a wish, fucker.”

Snap.

I screamed like never before, the jagged ends of the broken limb tearing through my flesh. warm blood flowed down my leg as I thrashed and wailed in pure agony.

“Lets try for a double whammy shall we?”

I felt the magic on my back legs tighten, Azure giving almost playful tugs, trying to heighten my fear even more.

Snap. Crack!

My screams must have been heard as far as Canterlot, everything began to turn black as unconsciousness began to claim me.

A white horn pressed to my head, through my blurry tear filled vision, I saw the shape of a white alicorn healing me.

“C-Celestia?”

“Not even close.” My eye cleared, Azure Sky continued casting her magic on me. “Don't get the wrong idea, this will stop the bleeding and keep you awake. I wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun. Like this, for example!”

Crack!

My remaining wing was twisted the wrong way around, I could feel the shattered bones grinding.

Azure Sky leaned in close, almost muzzle to muzzle with me.

“Beg, beg, you little grey fuck, and I won't break your other leg.” I spat a mouthful of blood in her face. One of her eyes began to twitch. “Fine, we’ll do it your way.”

Snap!

I couldn't even scream anymore, I was in too much pain. The monstrous alicorn shook me like a rag doll, screaming at me while I whined in pain.

“Beg! Beg and I'll let you pass out! Beg me, you little fuck!”

I glared at her.

Azure stared into my one remaining eye, “So you won't beg for yourself? Then let’s see if you beg for your friend down there!”

No! Happy was in no condition to fight.

Azure wrapped my broken body in her magic and floated me above her back occasionally shaking me to hear my cries of pain. Slowly we began to descend. I looked down, Happy still lay unconscious in the ruin of the house and Ironclad was nowhere to be seen. I have to help her.

Be strong, she needs me, be strong.

I reached out, my Pipbuck dangling on it's broken limb. The pain was unbearable.

Be strong.

Broken bones cracked as they rubbed together.

Be strong.

Tears of blood flowed down my face. My hoof rested on the back of Azure Skies head.

“So you're ready to beg? What do you have to say to me?”

Be strong, be strong, be strong, be strong, be strong... be awesome!

“Be fucked!”

My Rainblade lit, the prismatic blade cutting into her skull and coming out under her muzzle. her body shuddered for a moment then went limp. Her magic disappeared, the limp body dropping. As I fell, the wind rolled me onto my back.

I felt at peace. There was no sound but the wind as I fell bloody and broken towards the ruins below. My broken limbs trailed after me flapping loosely in the roaring wind. All I could see was the distant grey clouds. I felt myself smile through the agony. I was dead. I accepted it just as Happy had done moments before. There was no way I could survive this fall, but at least Happy was alive. That was enough. Tears and drops of blood fell with me, seeming to float as they kept pace with my fall.

Mercifully I passed out long before I hit the ground.

*** ***

Voices... voices and pain.

I knew the voices. Why couldn't I put names to them?

A gruff voice, sounding almost metallic...

“Sweet fucking Celestia! What did she do to him?”

A female voice, so familiar...

“Iron, you know some field medicine! Can't we help him?”

“Happy, anything we give him like this will kill him, we have to get the kid to a doctor, and now!”

“But where?”

“Get him onto my back, I know you’re concussed, but we are going to have to run.”

“But your leg is broken!”

“Happy... we don't have time for this. Get him on my back, you take his gear.”

I blacked out again.

Shaking. I felt myself bouncing, my mane stirring as if in a wind before I sank once more into the darkness.

“Open the fucking gate!”

“State your business here!”

“Please, we need medical help! We have a seriously hurt child here!”

“Before you enter this tower, you must turn over all the ammunition for your weapons.”

“Fuck the weapons! We have to get the kid to the doctor now!”

“We have these procedures for a reason. Nopony may enter until they have been checked and searched.”

“Please... I’m begging you, at least take a look at him.”

“Fine, my young filly, lets take a look at this... Celestia fuck me with her horn! You two get a stretcher now! You, go tell Helpinghoof to get an operating room set up and grab every medical supply he can find. Go!”

The darkness pulled me under again.

“Get ready to set the limb, every bone must be set before we can use any potions or Hydra.”

“He’s waking up!”

“The med-x will put him back under. Now set that bone before we lose him!”

Crack.

My screams chased me back into the darkness.

Light.

Distant light, golden and warm. It seemed to call to me.

Behind me was nothing but darkness and pain.

Come young one, your time is done. Come find peace.

Peace. That would be so nice...

The distant figures beckoned to me, shining with golden light.

“No, Orion! Go back!”

A giant silver figure stood amongst the gold. Who was this Orion he called for?

I carried on trotting towards that warm golden light.

“Orion, your friends still need you!”

Friends? What friends?

“Silver needs you!”

Silver? Who was... I saw her, that shy pony with the black mane. Those amazing eyes. That smile. She needed me... I had to go back... she needed me... she... needed... me...

Turning around, I galloped towards the darkness and pain.

*** ***

Slowly my eye fluttered open. I could feel one side of my face wrapped in bandages. My legs were all in pale blue braces, wrapped in yet more bandages. My wings felt heavy, I guess they were splinted or something.

I was in what I guessed was some kind of hospital room. The bed I lay on was uncomfortable but surprisingly clean for the wasteland. A ragged plastic curtain hung on a rail around where I lay and there, in a ragged looking chair next to my bed, sat Happy Trails.

The crazy unicorn looked so sad, a strip of bandage was wound around her head. She was looking down at the ground in front of her and didn’t notice me.

“W-w-what’s... a... guy... g-g-gotta do... to... get a... d-d-drink a-around h-here?” Speaking was a struggle, the constant throbbing pain and the thirst I was feeling made my voice sound broken.

Her eyes shot up towards me and the transformation on her face was amazing. It lit up with a delighted smile.

“Orion! You're awake! You're really awake!” she exclaimed leaning against the bed.

“If I... I’m n-not, then this... this is t-the shittiest... dream... e-ever...”

Her laughter was music to my ears. Tears were flowing from her eyes. “Orion, you shouldn't be making jokes. Concentrate on getting better. We... we almost lost you. Your heart stopped... what that bitch did to you...” The blue mare’s tears of joy turned to ones of agony, “I heard her telling you to beg... your screams...”

“H-Hap... py... it's o...k... you’re s-s-safe. All... matters...” it was getting hard to stay awake.

Happy kissed me on the forehead. “Get some sleep, hun. You're safe here.”

The darkness pulled me under once more.

*** ***

I drifted in and out of consciousness, never seeming to stay awake for more than a few minutes.

I had heard Happy and Iron talking to the doctor. It was a Celestia given miracle that I was alive, let alone that I had woke from my coma at all. There was arguments sometimes, demands for caps.

I forced my eye open, I had no idea how long I had been out for this time. Ironclad sat in the chair this time, his helmet off. Reading a battered looking book.

“Hey I-Iron. T-t-take... taking a day... off?”

The blue earth pony smiled at me. Iron laid his book down on my bed. “Hey, kiddo. Doc said to make you drink this if you woke up.” Iron carefully dribbled a healing potion into my mouth. It was so hard to swallow, but the warm feeling as the magic went to work was worth the struggle. I felt my throat fix itself.

“Thanks, big guy. At least I can talk now.”

Those freaky yellow eyes looked so sad. “Orion, there’s something I have to tell you. We couldn't cover the costs for your care. So we kinda had to sell your Dad’s rifle.”

I blinked. Just like that, it was gone... my last gift from my dad...

“We tried to barter everything else we had. Burned through all the drugs, loot and potions... that gun was the only thing in good enough condition that these stuck ups would accept. I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok, Iron. That gun saved my life. My dad would be happy. How did I even survive that fall? That height should’ve left me as a stain on the tarmac.”

“Happy caught you. Almost burnt her horn out doing it too. Kid...” the big blue Ranger looked uncomfortable, “I was scared we was going to lose you. For the first time in fifteen years I was actually afraid.”

Iron saw my confused look and continued.

“Remember when I said that I thought of you as a little brother? Well there’s more to it. Back when I was your age still training with the Rangers we were separated into two pony teams. To learn teamwork. The Elders still discriminated against me for my mutation and assigned a clumsy colt named Hard Cheese. To say he was a handicap was an understatement. The instructors wouldn’t let him near live rounds for fear he would blow his own hoof off. That’s how badly they wanted me to fail.”

The big stallion looked almost sad, “I took him under my wing, to steal a pegasus phrase, I took him training with me. My extra lessons taught Cheese how to shoot, survival, weapons maintenance... the list went on. He wasn't stupid, he just couldn't get everything down first try like expected. He was a year younger than me and one day he started calling me bro. It kind of stuck and he became my little brother. I looked out for him, beat the shit out of his bullies, helped him learn what the instructors refused to spend time teaching him. The look on the Elder’s face when he found out we had placed top of every single class was priceless. We were separated as soon as we passed basic. He was killed by Raiders on his first patrol...”

Ironclad sighed loudly. “Orion, you're so like him it hurts. Cheerful, always seeing the best in everypony, refusing to back down to anything. It’s like I have my brother back. Seeing you so hurt, being trapped and hearing your screams... unable to help...” He bit back his frustration and looked up at me, “I can't take losing somepony I call friend again. I just can't.”

I smiled, “I’m not going anywhere, Iron.”

*** ***

I had been laid up on that bed for almost a month, that’s what I was told. During that time I had met my doctor, a nice earth pony named Helpinghoof. He seemed to care about his patients a lot.

My injuries had healed up mostly. Three of my legs were still in braces, my wings were stiff but but not painful anymore. Knowing I could still fly was enough to keep me smiling for days. Hydra had restored my eye, but left a lightning bolt shaped scar down half of my face.

Happy was leading me through marble lined corridors. The marble floors seemed scuffed from age, but were polished to an almost mirror finish. It still hurt when I put my weight on my legs, so I was flying behind her.

“Happy, just a quick question. Where the fuck are we?”

“Oh we are near the exit, just by the shopping area.”

“No, seriously. Where the fuck are we? Other than the hospital bed, I’ve seen nothing of this place, so I don't even know what it is!”

“Oh! This is Tenpony Tower. It's a place really rich ponies live.”

Why was that name so familiar?

Happy led me out into the blinding sunlight, well the second hoof sunlight. I looked up in awe at the towering structure before me. The building reached towards the sky with most of its windows still intact.

“Hello wasteland! It's your ol’ pal DJ Pon3 bringing you the news!”

I looked around. Off to the right two armoured unicorn stallions sat listening to a battered radio.

“Now children, remember the young colt brought to our very own Tenpony Tower? well my sources tell me he will make a complete recovery. Pretty amazing when you remember that long list of injuries he came in with.

“In other news we had a visitor to the studio, a mare who called herself Sweetie Belle. Nope, no relation to our favourite singer. Now children, I gave her a chance to sing for my assistant, to show the talent she was telling everypony she had. Let me play a little for you...”

A horrible, out of pitch voice came from the radio. Both guards covered their ears and winced.

Guess Violet got here safe.

Wait...

I fluttered over to one of the guards. “Excuse me, but is it true DJ Pon3 lives here?”

The orange coated unicorn gave me a suspicious look, then stared at my braces.

“Hey, your that colt they brought in. Good to see you up and about, kid. Anyway, DJ Pon3 has a place up at the top of the tower. If you look up at the roof, you can make out his broadcasting equipment.”

I looked up again, there was some kind of metal tower up there and metal dishes. kind of like the one radar hid under.

“Hey, kid.” The guard gave me a knowing smile, “What can you tell me about that mare you came in with?”

“You're interested in Happy?”

“Her name is Happy? A nice name. Well, I’m more than interested. I mean, have you seen those flanks? She’s trim, she’s cute as fuck, she has an amazing mane... and she’s standing right behind me, isn't she?”

I grinned and nodded. Happy stood behind the guard wearing her best trolling smile. This was not going to be pretty.

I looked up at the distant rooftop.

I was invited... I was unsure if my wings could get me up there. Fuck it.

I left Happy to troll the guard into submission and flew skywards. Contrary to what most believe, flying high is harder than flying close to the ground. Low down you have to dodge around trees and such, but up high you have crosswinds, updrafts... the list goes on.

I was panting for breath when I finally set down on the rooftop. I took a moment to try and catch my breath. Flying was hard work when you're hurt. Glancing around I saw a door set into a square block like structure. Top of a stairwell, I guessed. Above me a metal tower reached towards the clouds studded with small radar dishes. Before I could make out anything else the door banged open and a grey unicorn mare with a short, two toned blue mane burst through. Some kind of weird pistol floated in her levitation magic. I swear to both Luna and Celestia, that thing seemed to point itself at me.

“Who are you?” She had a nice voice. I think she was the mare who interviewed that mare I saved in Trottingham.

I raised my front hooves into the air. “Um... please don't shoot. I was invited?”

“DJ Pon-3 has no appointments today. I should know. I’m his assistant.”

“Then you’re who I’m supposed to see, he asked on the radio for me to drop in for an interview if I was ever in Manehatten.”

The scary pistol lowered slowly, “Just who are you?”

“My name is Orion, some called me Darkstar.”

“You’re that colt from Trottingham? You had better come in then.”

*** ***

This chair was so comfortable, I sat in a big library. Books filled the shelves around the chairs and couches that ringed the table. A huge painting of a landscape filled a section of wall. Most of my attention was focused on the mug of hot chocolate before me though. So sweet and good.

The steel grey unicorn was watching me with a smile as I sipped at the hot, sweet drink, her own mug on the table before her.

“Alright, introductions first. I’m Homage, DJ Pon3’s assistant. I handle all his interviews. Now, not that I’m saying you're lying but how can I tell if you are the Darkstar from Trottingham. No offence, but he was a blankflank.”

I rubbed at my chin, “Hmm, how about I tell you something DJ Pon3 never told over the radio? There has to be something that was not said.”

Homage smiled.

Sweet Celestia, she is hot! Orion, cut it out now. She is armed.

“Well there is one thing that springs to mind. What’s the name of the town the freed slaves were escorted too?”

I gave a grin, “Radar, it's controlled by a faction called the Gunrunners.”

The incredibly sexy unicorn smiled widely at me. “You really are the same kid! You have to tell me everything! Where did you come from? Where do you live? Why did the Enclave put a bounty on you?”

“Whoa! Slow down! How about I tell you my story from the start. Just please don't let DJ Pon3 tell the full thing on the radio.”

“Agreed, we will only use your interview.”

“Well, I should start with my parents...”

**** ****

“Never lived in a what? “

Homage was roaring with laughter. I was telling about my encounter with Fallen Snow, about how I trolled him like a boss.

“In a gay bar!” I was having a lot of fun. Homage was an attentive listener. She did have a habit of interrupting me to ask questions. Every single thing seemed important to her, no matter how small the detail. The damned sexy unicorn was dedicated to the whole truth.

“You know. I think Little Pip would like you. I know Blackjack would, you’re brave and have a good heart. Also, you're a little crazy!”

“Crazy? How do you mean?”

“In the middle of an Enclave base, being interrogated by a pegasus with no known rank, you decided to crack wise and annoy him? You’re more than a little crazy, a real smartass colt.”

“Orion the smartass colt? I like that!” I struck a pose, reducing Homage to hysterics.

The fun unicorn glanced at a clock on a nearby shelf and sighed. “As much fun as I’m having, I have to get the broadcast set up for DJ Pon3. Can you come back tomorrow and finish the story?”

“Only if you have more hot chocolate.”

Homage smiled at me, “I think that can be arranged.”

*** ****

Homage showed me to an elevator and pointed out how it works to me. I rode the thing all the way down to the hospital... clinic? Not sure which. I walked out over the marble floor, my braces making small clicking sounds, at least until Happy tackled me to the floor.

“Orion! Where have you been? You disappeared on me and... why can I smell hot chocolate?”

“Ok. Firstly, ow. Still healing, remember? Anyway, remember back in Radar? The mare I saved in Trottingham on the radio?”

“No. I missed that.”

“Oh... well at the end of it, DJ Pon3 said if I was ever here to give him or his assistant an interview. I’ve been telling my story to Homage. Man is she hot.” I didn't say that last part out loud did I?

Happy gave me a seductive smile, “Hot, eh? Is she better looking than little ol’ me?”

I felt my face burn as Happy fluttered her eyelids at me. “Not going to rise to that, Happy. “

*** ***

We stayed in the tower for another week. Homage was very gracious and shared her hot chocolate with me each day.

You should’ve seen her face when I broke out the tin of sweets from BonBon. It was something I would always remember.

Still, for all the fun I had telling Homage my story, the sight of home was welcome. We had taken a ride on Myth’s barge back downstream. One look at my braces, and Happy telling him what had happened, had convinced him to let us ride free once more.

No long after the gates of Radar stood before us.

Home. I was home.

Now there was one thing on my mind. Get the girl. Or at least beg her like a lovesick puppy and hope she would be with me. The three of us were all smiles as we trotted through the gate. Dozer and Blackshot came to meet us.

I grinned and gave a wave, the two stallions did not return it. Blackshot had a battered looking Pipbuck levitating at his side.

“Heya Blackshot! ‘sup Dozer!...” I said still trying to raise some form of a response.

Neither pony smiled, both seemed at a loss for words.

I laughed nervously. Something felt off. “Has anypony seen Silver? I need to beg her to be my fillyfriend!”

The way nopony would meet my eyes was starting scare me.

“What’s up with you guys? What happened? For fucks sake, tell me what's wrong!”

Blackshot looked me in the eyes finally. “Orion... something happened while you were away. Something bad...”

Dozer looked like he was about to cry, “Happy... I’m sorry. Nightingale, Rose and Summer are dead. Arclight too...”

Happy looked as though she had been hit in the face. She fell to her haunches, tears running down her cheeks, “But those three were just fillies... what happened?”

“Arclight let them come with him to gather firewood. They took young Silver with them. They...” I had never seen Blackshot like this. The massive unicorn was weeping openly. With a shaking hoof he reached out and touched a button on that battered Pipbuck.

“Just one guard? Boss, are you sure that alicorn is so important?”

“Shut the fuck up and wait, Arcade. That filly is just the bait for this bounty.”

“What about the others?”

“Kill the unicorn, do what you like with the fillies. Just leave one alive.”

I heard gunfire echo, screams of young fillies, then laughter.

“Hold them down! Leave the small one for last. She can be our messenger.”

More screams, this time of pain. There was cruel laughter of stallions in the background, along with a wet slapping noise. It didn’t take a genius to understand what was going on. I was shaking with anger, Happy was crying like a newborn.

“Wow, Arcade you were right. Fillies are the best fuck around! I love the way they scream.”

“The alicorn didn't, she just cried.”

“Who gives a fuck. Just kill them and let’s get this show on the road.”

Three fillies screamed in terror.

Three shots rang out.

“Now you listen, I know you will hear this message ‘Darkstar’. Your hide is worth a lot of caps to me and I hear this alicorn is worth something to you. Each day that goes by my boys will have their fun with her. If I get bored, I will kill her. You have until then to turn yourself over to me. Don't try anything stupid, you don't have the numbers to attack my compound. You will surrender to me and I might let your little friend live. The Phoenix has spoken.”

“Hey, boss?”

“Yes Arcade?”

“Can we have some more fun with these two before we go?”

“By all means.”

A filly screaming in terror and pain. The voice of Silver called out to me...

“Orion! Help me, please! Orion... please come for me!”

“Turn it off...” I whispered. Nopony budged. “Turn it off!” I yelled, tears blinding my eyes. My mane hung loose over my face as I stared at the ground.

>Location Tag Added.

>Gunners Cannery Discovered.

“Happy?” my voice sounded weirdly calm. “Can you fix up my guns for me?”

Iron laid a hoof on my shoulder, “What do you think you’re going to do Orion? I know of that Phoenix. It would take a division of Rangers loaded for bear to make a dent in his compound.”

I looked up. Ironclad took a step back when he saw my eyes.

“I’m going to kill them. Every single fucking last one of them is going to die.” My voice sounded so calm, like I was telling them about the weather. “I’m going to fucking kill them all!”

Iron stared at me through his helmet. “Orion, that pony is a professional. He will have researched you, found out about your friends, learned about your weapons. I don't doubt he knows of every weapon in Radar! There is nothing you can think of he won't see coming!”

My voice sounded so low and cold to me. “No, he won't see this coming...”

Level Up!

New Quest Perk Added: Guardian.

Some faint traces of your father’s magic has been passed on to you. This perk permanently adds +1 to strength and agility. In addition, if a teammate’s health drops below 20% you gain an additional +1 to strength until their health rises above 20%.

Guns 48

Unarmed 32