Authors note: This chapter starts very abstract. Please bear with it as it will all be explained as the story goes on. It was the best way I could come up with for telling the story from all those viewpoints.

Fallout Equestria: Silver Skies

Chapter 6: When Heroes Fall

Rain fell hard, the noise of the drops hitting the parched and cracked soil drowning out all other sounds. the lights of the compound shone through the night time rain, calling out to the unaware.

The hoof steps of the colt were unheard in the downpour. small, grey and winged, the young pegasus was far from intimidating. heavy carbines hung from his flanks, giving him a more dangerous look, but his eyes... his eyes showed nothing but raw anger. in those eyes, you saw the desire to kill.

The colt continued his slow pace, each hoof step bringing him closer to the compound. From the gloom of the rainstorm, two figures emerged flanking the colt. A steel Ranger, heavily armed and pacing forward relentlessly. A blue unicorn mare, wearing a black hat and jacket. guns hung from her flanks, rifles and pistols. her eyes filled with hatred and anger.

Behind the trio, yellow eyes filled the night. The figures of unknown ponies paced towards the compound. each step filled with determination, and towering above them all, two red eyes glowed.

War had come to the wastelands once more.

*** ***

Walker shivered under his cloak, the rain had been falling for most of the day and of course, Arcade had given him guard duty.

The green stallion tugged the hood of his cloak down over his sodden yellow mane. He had joined up with this band of mercenaries less than a month ago. Previously he had ran with a Raider gang who called themselves the Saints. It had been a good life, taking what you want from anypony you want. then they made the mistake of attacking a caravan heading towards Radar. Those things killed everypony with ease, no ghoul could move like that. and the scream... Walker still had nightmares of that night.

The green earth pony had ran. He had left his friends to die, but he had lived.

Phoenix and his crew had recruited him a few weeks later. the level of skill and weaponry had impressed Walker. As to why they had a filly alicorn bound and gagged with them was something he had been afraid to ask. Still, the filly was cute and he had to admit, one great fuck. Walker just wished he could have had more time with her.

The green stallion sighed and looked out from his stretch of wall into the rain. Guard duty was a waste of time, who the fuck would attack this place? High walls of welded metal surrounded the old cannery, towers fitted with heavy machine gun turrets covered the roads. The gates were almost half a meter thick. What sort of an idiot would dare attack this place?

Walker sneezed, “Fucking Arcade, I’ll catch my death of cold out here.”

There was a sound, just on the edge of hearing. Walker trained his battle saddles rifle out over the wastes. Peering out into the heavy rain, he made out movement. Then the sound came again, clear as a bell. Somewhere between a scream and a roar, It was a sound that reached into Walkers memory and pressed every fear button at once.

The stallion scrambled backwards in sudden terror. Walker tripped over the rusted safety rail, falling the thirty feet screaming, to the broken tarmac. Legs broke from the impact. A grey unicorn mercenary came from darkness of the rainstorm, attracted by the howls of pain. Walker dragged himself towards the cannery, both back legs shattered.

“What the fuck are you so afraid of?” The mercenary listened to the horrifying scream. “You're scared of a few ferals?”

Walkers eyes had shrunk to pinpoints. “Those... things are not ferals!”

“Then what are they? What has you so scared?”

Walker scrambled at the broken tarmac, desperate to get away from the walls. When the green stallion back turned to the dark unicorn, his eyes shook, the overwhelming fear clear as day. One word came from his lips, the sound making him shake even harder in sheer terror.

“Reavers!”

*** ***

Shujun watched with interest as a grey pegasus colt landed near the entrance to the Reavers Bunker. It had been a dull day and the zebra ghoul was looking for something to liven up his watch. scaring the colt should be fun.

Silently, the zebra ghoul watched as the colt trotted towards the entrance to the bunker. Shujun crept forward, silent as a shadow. the pegasus was only a few steps away now, Shujun leapt out, and screamed, the horrific scream only the Reavers could produce. The ghoul had seen many reactions to that scream, fear, terror, ponies wetting themselves. This was the first time he had ever been cracked across the face with a Pipbuck.

The grey colt stared into Shujun’s eyes, “Quit fucking around, I need to see Iron Will.”

*** ***

Lonestar sat at the makeshift table, watching the young Orion. When the youngster had last been at this table, he was full of life and cheerful. Now the colt was withdrawn and trembled at random times. young Orions eyes were what concerned Lonestar most, he had seen eyes like that before, on ghouls becoming feral. to see that look on a child was disheartening.

Iron Will looked down at the small pegasus, “What can Iron Will do for you?”

“I need your help, I... I need you to help me storm a compound and rescue somepony.”

The youngsters voice shook, what had happened to him? where was that funny and confident kid who had bested Iron Will?

“Iron Will wonders why you would need him? Radar has a respectable force of ponies.”

“I need to take the Gunners Cannery.”

Iron Will sighed sadly. “Little pony, Iron Will knows of that compound. the Reavers once considered trying to take it for ourselves. Many will die in that attack, We do not have the firepower to breach the gates.”

“If I can arrange that, will you help?”

“No little pony, Iron Will cannot do that. the Reavers must stay in the shadows.”

Lonestar watched the colt shake and begin to cry. “Excuse me. but why is this so important to you, youngster?”

Orion turned his haunted eyes back to Lonestar, “They... they took her...”

“Took who?”

“M-My... the pony I love...”

“Can you tell me about her?

“She is so kind... shy and cute, she healed me before we even met... what they are doing to her...”

“Iron Will thinks this pony sounds like Fluttershy, Iron Will wishes to know what is happening to her.”

Orion looked down, his eyes hidden by his mane. slowly the colt tapped a few buttons on his Pipbuck. a recording began to play, Lonestar was rarely moved by emotions anymore but hearing the rape and murder of children...

Orion stared down at the table, tears dripping onto the rough surface.

Iron Will never moved, his eyes seemed to glow like a banked fire. there was a faint cracking noise, Lonestar looked down to see the edge of the table shatter in Iron Will’s grip. with one hand, the blue minotaur reached over and turned the recording off.

“Lonestar? Rouse the Reavers, get everypony who can carry a weapon. It is time to remind the wasteland why they fear us. I once swore an oath to myself, no innocent will suffer while I can help. Iron Will is angry. Iron will is going to kill every single one of those who dare to murder children.”

With that, the Reavers went to war.

*** ***

The cannery was lit by long strip lights, hanging from the peaked roof. lines of dust covered machinery filled half of the room. at the far end of the room stood the loading docks. a wide open space with a concrete floor. the shutter doors had been replaced by sheets of welded steel. A heavy steel plate covered the door into the administration area, a maze of corridors and offices. wooden packing crates, some still filled with cans of Cram, lay in a pile off to one side. a catwalk of rusted steel ran along one wall, seeming to be held together with rust. a corroded metal staircase climbed up to the catwalk. dust and grime coated the line of windows that ran along next to the catwalk, shaking slightly in their two hundred year old frames from the force of the rainstorm.

A desk sat against the dirty stone wall, next to it stood a Power Armoured figure. Matt black armour, painted with flames. mounted on his armoured flanks were two massive weapons, a grenade machine gun, the standard weapon of the Steel Rangers and an odd triple barreled rifle.

The Power armoured mercenary stared down at his captive, each movement accompanied by the faint whine of moving servos. The alicorn filly stared back. after all both himself and his men had done to the filly, she still held out hope that this ‘Orion’ will come for her. after hearing about how the stupid colt was coming for her for all that time, it was growing tiresome. the little fool always talked as if the boy was some kind of legendary hero. a fucking colt is no match for Phoenix and his forces. The armoured stallion glared at the silver coated filly, where she lay chained by a ring around her neck to the floor.

“It has been weeks, yet you still are defiant. Why do you have so much faith in a pegasus runt?”

The small alicorn stared at Phoenix, her eyes still filled with hope.

“He is the one I prayed for, the one who rescued me. the one who always comes for me. my hero. when he gets here, no wall will stop him, no army will hold him back...”

Phoenix laughed, “You act as if I should be afraid. I have killed alicorns and Steel Rangers, yet you think I should fear a child?”

The room shook, dust fell from the rafters. gunfire echoed, then came a sound. somewhere between a scream and a roar. Phoenix trotted to a terminal mounted on the nearby wall. “Phoenix to wall, report!”

“Sir! we are under attack!”

“Those fucking Rangers finally worked up the nerve to take us on?”

“No sir! I don't know what these things are! they are everywhere! they're like ghosts!”

Explosions shook the building. Phoenix spun at the sound of giggling, the silver alicorn smiled.

“That will be him now.”

*** ***

The Reavers charged, the ground shaking from thousands of hoof falls. Ghouls of all descriptions showered the walls with gunfire while pegasi rained beam fire down from up high. Amongst the sea of ghouls, two ponies paced forward relentlessly.

Blackshot sighted down his weapon, each shot of the anti-machine rifle taking down a target. Turrets exploded as the black unicorn placed each shot with expert ease. Blackshot’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the gate.

“Dozer! Take the gate out, fuck it up!”

The muscled earth pony grinned. strapped to his flanks was a pair of huge metal boxes. Hatches on the weapons at either side of Dozers head opened, revealing six blackened holes reaching into the depths of the weapons.

Dozer smiled, “Knock knock, fuckers.”

Twelve rockets fired, streaking towards the heavy metal gate. the force of the rocket barrage blew the gate apart. Shards of metal rained down as the Reavers streamed through the breach.

*** ***

Blackshot stared down at the grey colt as he laid out his plan. Orion had a solid idea but it relied on numbers Radar could not afford to risk. As much as the black unicorn wanted to avenge the murdered children, he could not risk the town to do it.

“Orion, I’m sorry. I can't bring the Gun Runners into open conflict with these merc’s. the safety of this town must always be my first priority.”

The grey colt shook, the kids eyes were starting to worry Blackshot. Orion seemed to be holding himself together by force of will alone. The thought of being indirectly responsible for the murder of a stallion and three fillies, and the kidnap and rape of the pony the youngster finally admitted he loved...

The poor kid must be breaking apart inside.

“Iron Will...” Orion's voice was barely a whisper.

“What did you say, kid?”

The grey colt looked up, his eyes shaking.

“Iron Will... the Reavers. if they get to keep the compound... they might help.”

Blackshot rubbed his chin. with the sheer numbers of the Reavers, and the firepower of Radar... it was possible to do it.

“Dozer!” The muscle bound earth pony looked up. “All bets are off, break out ‘Knock knock’. we may not be able to bring the town in on this, but you and I will go. we owe the kid that much at least.”

Orion looked confused, “What’s Knock knock?”

Blackshot grinned, “Dozer’s battle saddle. Twin barrage rocket pods. those things are supposed to be mounted on a tank. Dozer is the only pony I know who can carry one on a saddle, let alone two.”

*** ***

A single red pony stallion walked at a slow pace through the ruins of the gate. His long purple mane hung in clumps across his rain slick coat. white scars covered his entire body.

Three mercenaires, two earth ponies and a unicorn, stepped from the gloom of the rainstorm and opened fire. the scarred stallion seemed to vanish, appearing behind one earth pony merc. A blade on his hoof flashed, blood flew as the blade tore out the mercenaries throat. the unicorn tried to reload his shotgun but the stallion was on him before he could react. The hoof blade punched into the unicorns chest. the remaining mercenary began to back away, the rifles on his battle saddle spraying bullets wildly. a red hoof seemed to materialise in front of his eye, before the blade punched into his skull.

Myth flicked the blood from his hoof, the blade retracting with a faint metallic sound. The Crimson Flash continued his slow walk towards the cannery.

*** ***

Myth looked up from the line he was coiling at the sound of fluttering wings. a familiar looking grey colt landed on the deck, blue braces on his legs making clicks as the kid landed.

“Hey Orion, decided to take up my job offer?”

The kid looked through his matted mane with haunted eyes. “Myth... I need your help...”

“Sorry Orion, no more free rides.”

“No, I-I need your help to storm a compound...”

Myth blinked. The kid was a crazy fun pony, this was the last thing he expected to hear.

“Sorry kid, I can't leave my boat.”

The colt actually got down on his knees! “Please Myth, I’m begging you! those bastards murdered fillies from Radar just to kidnap Silver!”

Myth hesitated, this was something that upset him personally. but that life of violence was behind him now. his boat was his home, he couldn't leave it.

“Wish I could help kid, but some fucker would trash my boat while I was gone. I can't abandon it.”

The little colt sobbed, his tear filled eyes stared back at Myth. “I... I understand. You can't abandon your home. It's just after seeing what it did to the town, seeing Happy and Blackshot cry... I’m going even if I have to go alone.”

Myths eyes snapped back, ensnaring Orion’s with their fierce gaze. “What... did you just say?”

“I... I’m going alone if I have to...”

“Before that... did you say they made Happy cry?”

“She... it destroyed her. she saw those fillies born, saw them grow up.”

“They made Happy cry... I’ll be in Radar in three days. Nopony makes Happy Trails cry...”

*** ***

Walker shivered in fear.

The Hydra the merc had given him had fixed his legs, now the green stallion cowered inside one of the canneries abandoned offices. over and over, the terrified stallion checked his rifle. the gun may be his one hope of surviving this nightmare.

Gunfire echoed, The horrific scream of the Reavers seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. Then, from nowhere, the faint sound of hoofsteps echoed down the hallway.

Walker edged closer to the door and peered through the keyhole. after a moment a blue mare trotted past. Emboldened, Walker quietly opened the door.

The mare was pretty cute, a deep blue coat and peach mane. black bands hugged her flanks while a black cowgirl hat sat high on her head. She had a surprisingly large number of guns strapped to her legs and back, over a tight fitting black jacket. The green stallion smiled, maybe he could find something fun to do before those monsters out there found him...

“Hold it! don't move missy.”

The mare turned slowly, she had pretty nice green eyes too. And a unicorn to boot.

Walker was used to fear, it was easy to work with. here he had the mare blindsided, no way for her to draw a weapon. yet she simply stared at him, there was no fear, just a smoldering glare. For a moment her horn glowed a pale blue.

“You try magic again and you die. now remove those weapons and lay them on the ground, slowly.”

Her horn glowed, a heavy looking automatic lifting from it's holster on her left front leg. the slide snapped back with a dull rasp as she cocked the weapon. Walker bit down on the firing bit before him mouth, sex just wasn’t worth the risk.

*Click*

The stallion blinked. He knew there was ammo in it. he knew the safety was off, so why wouldn't his gun fire?

There was a faint metallic sound, Walker looked down. next to his hooves was a thin metal pin.

“You use an IF-61 ‘Hornbreaker’ assault rifle.” The mare walked trotted towards Walker as she spoke. “It is a pretty reliable gun, except the firing pin is usually quite loose. with a little tug, the pin will always pop out.”

The blue mare pressed the heavy pistol to Walkers head.

A single gunshot echoed down the hallway.

*** ***

Arcade smiled to himself, this was turning into a serious fuckup but here comes his chance to redeem himself to the boss.

With a faint click, as each blue medical brace fastened to his legs hit the tiled hallway floor, a grey pegasus colt trotted towards the t-section where the red unicorn hid.

Arcade was not much of a magic user, the only spells he really knew were levitation and a spell that let him see around corners. the red unicorn brushed a stray lock of his white mane out of his eyes and smiled, remembering the nice mare who had taught him that spell. so kind and trusting, and worth two hundred caps when he sold her to Redeye’s crew.

Arcades smile grew as the colt neared his hiding place. His revolver, a pristine IF-18 "Horseshoe", levitated at his side. Arcade stepped out and stamped his gun into the colts forehead.

“Say hello to my little friend! Move boy, and you die. now remove that saddle and come with me, any sudden moves and I pull this trigger!”

The kid stared. There was no fear in that gaze, no bravado. the colt just stared back.

“Pull it.” The colt took a step forward, “Pull the fucking trigger.”

This was not going according to the script! if you put a gun to a ponies head, especially a child, they should listen for fear of death!

“D-don't move! I swear to Celestia, I will fire! just drop the saddle. You're alone here, so listen to what I say and you can live!”

“Then fucking fire!” The colt took another step forward, pushing Arcades gun back with his forehead. “You can't can you? your asshole boss wants me alive, I die and your fucked!”

A chilling smile spread across the kids face. “And who said I came alone?”

A low snarl came from behind Arcades left ear, the sound reached into the red unicorns mind and hit the fear button. sweat began to drip from his face, the revolver dropped to the floor with a clatter as Arcade lost focus. he couldn't move, terror was total.

Shadows began to move along the corridor, the figures of unknown ponies trotting down the dimly lit hallway.

The colt’s smile was disturbing. “Good boy Nighteyes, Arcade? say hello to my little friend.”

*** ***

Lonestar stood in the courtyard of the cannery, looking at the battered map pinned to the cannery wall.

The fight for the outer walls was over, the Reavers had swept the defences aside with ease. with the weaponry from Radar, the battle was decided before it began. the ghoul army was clearing out the last groups of mercenaries, searching for captives and the young alicorn.

Lonestar peered closer at the site map, planning out the changes he wanted. the downpour was so heavy now, nopony could see more than a meter ahead of them.

“Hmm, if we convert that warehouse to house the ferals... no that won't work. Aha! the slave pens! we house the ferals in there after we upgrade them and move them into the solitary pens for treatment... Yes, that will work.”

“Well lookee what we have here brothers.”

Lonestar turned, three earth ponies stood behind him. all three clad in leather armour, all three stallions with matching yellow coats and orange manes. the three leveled the shotguns on their saddles at the ghoul.

“What can I do for you, gentleponies?”

The trio sneered at Lonestar. “Well, we were thinking you could die. guess you should have brought a gun instead of sunglasses.”

The ghoul smiled, “Oh I don't need a gun, all I need is a positive attitude and an Iron Will.”

“An iron will? that will stop us killing you?”

Two massive blue hands reached from the darkness of the rainstorm and wrapped around the necks of the earth ponies on either side of the talkative one. there was a cracking sound, cartilage snapping under the power of those hands as they squeezed. the blue hands opened, dropping the two ponies to the wet dirt. Their broken bodies fell like ragdolls. from the gloom stepped a figure from a nightmare. red eyes glowed, horns rose from it's head, one broken near the point.

The towering minotaur glared down the the remaining earth pony. Pink mist snorted from Iron Will’s nostrils. Lonestar watched with interest as a steaming puddle spread around the surviving mercenaries hooves.

“I’m going to have to say, yes.”

*** ***

Arcade stumbled into the room, the red unicorn turned and glare at the two ghouls who had dragged him here. the colt stepped up to the door, still wearing that disturbing smile. the zebra ghouls had dragged him through the twisting maze of corridors to this interrogation room. the only light came through the doorway. The white tiled room was pitch black, shrouded in shadows and darkness.

“Just kill me already. you won so end it. enough of this prisoner horseshit!”

The little pegasus grinned, “Oh, I won't kill you. and you are not my prisoner.”

Orion reached up next to the door and flicked a switch. Lights set in the stone ceiling shone. Arcade blinked and glanced behind him, standing at the back of the room was a pair of ponies. A massive black coated unicorn stood beside a muscle bound monster of an earth pony with a green coat. the monstrous earth pony took a step forward.

“Those fillies you found it so fun to kill... they were from our town.”

The black unicorn rolled his neck with a loud crack. “I am going to enjoy this.”

Arcade shot the colt a panicked look. “What the fuck is this?”

Orion finally lost his smile. “As I said. I won't kill you...”

The door closed with a clang.

The beating went on for quite a long time.

*** ***

“Report dammit! one of you assholes had better answer me!”

Phoenix had lost contact with the walls, then the courtyard, now everywhere was silent. occasional bursts of gunfire echoed and the odd scream split the air.

This couldn't be happening, there was no way a fucking child could wipe out this compound!

“Fuck! What the fuck is going on? who is attacking us?”

The alicorn was starting to creep him out. the giggling, the weird little songs. and that same teary eyed look of hope. This couldn't be the kid, there was no way he could have found an army strong enough to take his forces apart!

“You seem nervous. He is coming to kill you, you do know that right?”

“Shut the fuck up! if your so called hero is here, then I own his ass!”

“You don't understand... the Goddess thought he was just a child and it cost her two very powerful alicorns. he is coming to save me, you should run...”

“A fucking child is no match for my armour!”, Phoenix was angry, nothing before had done anything on this scale to his private army. Now he had a filly telling him to run?

Phoenix stepped slowly towards the chained alicorn, his heavy armoured treat raising small clouds of dust as they hit the ground. The armoured stallion stared down at the smiling filly, then struck her across the face with a hoof.

Silver cried out, the force of the blow sending her bouncing across the ground before the chain pulled taunt. the ring dug into her neck, almost choking her. Phoenix loomed over the child, slowly, his hoof raised, ready for a final stomp.

Phoenix span at the sound of rending metal. protruding from the metal plate covering the administration offices door, was a blade of rainbow light. with a screech of tearing metal, the blade slowly cut a wide cross through the steel.

There was a hollow thump and the plate exploded inward, chunks of twisted metal bouncing around the room. Through the dust and smoke strode a Steel Ranger, clad in gold edged armour. A blue mare stepped through next, her black cowgirl outfit almost hidden under the armoury of weapons strapped to her body. then a small figure leapt through, wings spread and glaring with fury. a scar ran down one side of his face, a jagged lightning bolt. The grey pegasus colt stared first at the chained alicorn then glared at Phoenix.

“Get the fuck away from my mare!”

*** ***

I stared at the armoured form of the stallion looming over Silver. This was the bastard who took her, this was the fucker I came here to kill.

Phoenix slowly stepped to the right, the flames painted on his power armour seemed to flicker in the light. Iron and Happy began to spread out, weapons at the ready. I held my ground, watching as the Power Armoured merc moved away from Silver.

“So you are Darkstar? With the reputation you have, I expected somepony more... impressive.”

I looked over to Silver, my eyes seeing it all. the bruise across her face, the pain in her eyes, the chains.

“You hurt her...”

“I had to pass the time somehow. You took far too long to come to me. Now will you surrender or will I have to kill your little fucktoy here and your friends?”

“Fucktoy?... Fuck you and fuck your surrender. I was raised to see the good in anypony, to find something redeemable about them. but you? there is nothing good about you. I’m here for two reasons. First is to rescue Silver.”

“Oh? and what is the second? to forgive me? to save me from this awful life of mine?”

“Not quite.”

Vengeance roared.

Happy opened fire, the boom of her automatic mixing with the chattering of one of her assault rifles. Hollow thumps echoed as Iron let loose with Severance, his machine gun opened up with an almost deafening roar. The barrage of firepower shook the Power Armoured merc like a ragdoll, sparks flew from his armour like a fireworks light show. Finally, he fell to the ground and lay still.

I still felt angry, a dark rage that refused to leave me. Silver had spent her life in pain, she had suffered for the amusement of some faceless monster. denied her freedom, dignity. even a name. and now this had happened, I would never be able to make it up to her, I caused this, my stupid ego had got me tagged with a bounty and now she had suffered for it. Fillies had died. I know I would never be good enough to make it up to her, but I would spend my life trying... if she will let me.

Silver’s eyes shone as I cut the chain binding her to the ground with my Rainblade.

“Silver, I’m sorry I’m so late.”

“Orion, I knew you would come for me. it is alright.”

“Silver... I’m sorry. It's my fault this happened, if I had just stayed with the Enclave and followed their orders...”

Silver reached up and laid her hoof on my cheek, her smile shone like the long lost sun.

“Orion, this was never your fault. If these ponies had not taken me, the Goddess would have. She refuses to let me be happy, even now I found my special somepony. I believe in you, I always will. you will always come to save me, my hero.”

“I’m no hero Silver, I’m a murderer... I know I will never be good enough to be with you but please, let me try...”

Silver brushed a tear from my cheek with a gentleness that surprised me, how can she accept me after what I put her through? how can she love a monster like me?

There was a faint thump from behind me and the world exploded.

I was thrown through the air like a ragdoll, bouncing across the concrete floor. What the fuck had hit me? I pushed myself back to my hooves, the room was spinning. I heard the sound of motors moving and turned. Phoenix slowly rose to his hooves, smoke curling from his grenade rifles barrel. Red lightning crackled across his armour, Seeming to repair the damage our guns had done.

“Nice try junior, but it will take a whole lot more that that to put me down.”

Ironclad took a step back, something I would have never thought I would see.

“I have waited for years to find a worthy opponent.” The flame painted helmet seemed to glare at me. “I am still waiting!”

The big triple barreled rifle fired with an almost deafening bang, a crate next to Happy exploded, showering the cute mare in chunks of processed meat. Happy dove behind a conveyer belt as the weapon fired again, blowing a hole through the machine wider than my hoof.

I span and unloaded from my saddle, the enchanted lead blowing holes in the power armour. Iron seemed to wake up and opened fire, His machine gun deafening as it joined the roar of Vengeance.

Phoenix fired his grenade rifle once more, A rippling line of explosions lifting my Power Armoured friend and sending him crashing through the stacked crates. I fired again and again, Trying to stop Phoenix as he fired at my friends. The armoured merc turned his attention back to me.

“You don't know how outclassed you are do you?”

I fired high, my shots sending a hanging light crashing down onto Phoenix. the armoured mercenary shrugged the heavy light fixture from his back and turned back towards me as I got close. My wings beat as I flew close to the ground and spun, Driving my Rainblade through his throat.

An armoured hoof slammed into my face, sending me bouncing across the floor one more. Happy tried to cover me with bursts from one of her rifles. Phoenix's laughter echoed across the room.

“You refuse to surrender? This is the Aegis armour! it is lined with repair and healing talismans. you cannot do enough damage to me to kill me. I am invincible in this armour, I will kill your friends then beat you bloody. I will use the caps from your bounty to rebuild this compound.”

Silver galloped towards me as I struggled to stand, her face filled with panic.

“I no longer need the bait...” The triple barreled rifle pivoted as it fired.

Silver screamed as the huge calibre slug punched through her wing.

“Looks like my targeting matrix needs recalibrating. this shot won't miss.”

The triple barreled rifle tilted as it aimed at Silver once more, I threw myself towards her. pushing her back just as the gun fired. that is why the second round went through me.

The big bullet hit me in my right shoulder and exited just behind my left wing. the pain was total, darkness began to crawl in from the edge of my sight. the force of the shot sent me rolling across the concrete floor. slowly I pushed myself back to my hooves.

Be strong, Be strong. She still needs you, you can't die yet.

Blood was filling my mouth, Silver stared at me as I swayed on my hooves. I felt blood flowing down my legs as I turned back towards Phoenix.

The armoured mercenary gave a loud sigh, “Well, now I guess I’ll have to see what you are worth dead.”

>Error.

>Fatal Injuries Detected.

>Seek Autodoc Medical Aid Immediately.

>Antiquity Override Enabled.

>Sats Version 2.5 Activated.

>Sats Burst Active.

My fading sight turned green, Vista was trying to tell me somthing but I couldn't read the words. my eyes had began to blur. I tried to toggle a shot at Phoenix's head, weirdly crosshairs began to spiral over my target, more and more. my ammo count turned red and counted down one crosshair for every round. I tried to fire.

>Warning.

>Sats Burst Will Exhaust All Pipbuck Functions For Forty Eight Hours.

>Begin Sats Burst?

>Y/N?

I mentally hit yes, the world returned with that odd hissing sound and Vengeance roared like never before. spent casings flew from the exhaust ports and fell like rain. blood dripped from my mouth as the special magic my Mom left me went to work. every round of enchanted lead struck the same spot. every one of my ninety seven remaining rounds slamming into the side of Phoenix's helmet, repair talismans fought with armour penetration magic. cracks began to spread from the point of impact, the barrage forcing the armoured mercenary back a step.

The last of my bullets fired, the barrels of Vengeance glowing cherry red. My vision was blurring more and more, through the haze and my fading sight I could see the spiderweb of cracks across his helmet. slowly a hoof sized piece dropped to the ground with a faint clang.

One green eye stared through the hole with amusement, “Impressive, But what was that supposed to accomplish?”

I spat out a mouthful of blood, “To g-give... Iron a... target.”

A hollow thump echoed from behind me, the blue blur of Ironclad’s Gauss cannon passing me and hitting Phoenix in that one exposed eye. gore sprayed from the hole as the concussive blast reduced the merc’s head to paste. trapped inside that helmet, there was no doubt the shockwave had reduced his whole head to paint. slowly the armoured corpse collapsed with a sound like pots falling from a shelf.

I was content, it was over. Silver was safe. my dream girl was finally safe.

I looked over to the beautiful filly, trying to smile through my pain. My blood was pooling around my hooves, splashing as I moved. I was going to die...

I felt so cold, blood was still trickling from one side of my mouth. I felt like gagging on the metallic taste.

Happy looked over the conveyer belt she hid behind, her eyes widened as she stared at my blood slick coat. “Orion... no...”

Ironclad limped from behind the crates he had crashed through. The Steel Ranger froze at the sight of me, blood flowing from the hole through my body. “Orion?”

Blood had spread out in a vast pool around my hooves, my coat was matted with gore. slowly, I reached out a trembling hoof towards the mare I loved.

“Silver... I... l-love...you...”

I fell into the darkness, my legs finally giving out as the floor rushed up to meet me.

*** ***

With a groan, I pushed myself back up to my hooves.

What had happened? I thought I was about to die, but now I’m back on my hooves. had Silver or Happy healed me? My leg felt weirdly light, I glanced down. my Pipbuck was gone, panicking I looked around for it.

This didn't make any sense, the bullet hole was gone. not even a scar remained. why was my Pipbuck gone? where was my battle saddle?

Silver had her back to me, staring down at a grey shape on the floor.

“Hey Silver, did you heal me?”

She never even noticed me talk, what was going on? what was she looking at anyway? whatever it was, it was covered in red. I must have bled over it.

“O-orion?” Silvers voice sounded so weird, like she was desperately trying not to cry. why was she so upset? I was fine! no pain, no bullet hole.

Happy limped towards me. her eyes never left the grey shape on the floor. I watched as she sat down and covered her muzzle with her front hooves. Ironclad reached up to his head and removed his helmet. his eyes downcast and filled with a sadness I’ve never seen in them before.

What were they all upset about?

I trotted forward and peered past Silver, maybe if I see what everypony was looking at I could get some answers.

I felt myself shiver, my eyes staring down almost unseeing at the sight before me. I scrambled backwards, tripping over my own hooves in shock and panic.

Laying there on the dusty concrete floor, surrounded by a pool of crimson, was the corpse of a grey pegasus. His black and silver mane was matted with blood, one front leg wore a Pipbuck. his striped tail slowly soaked up the pool of blood. a thin line of red still ran from his mouth and dripped to the concrete.

That... that was me! that was my body!

I... I was dead!

Silver reached out and shook my corpse gently by the shoulder.

“Orion.. wake up, don't leave me alone... wake up! please wake up! don't leave me! ORION! please don't go... please wake up... he... he won't wake up... why won't he wake up?...”

Happy stared at the ground, her tears falling freely. “Silver... he's gone. Orion is dead. hes gone...” Happy shook with the force of her crying. “Hes gone...”

“No, he can't be dead. he finally told me that he loves me, theres no way he can be gone!”

Nighteyes stared at my corpse, the puppy ran to my bodies head and licked the cheek. Nighteyes gave a low whine and began to nudge my hoof with his nose. after a moment the Liger pup ran to the back of my corpse and tugged on my tail. I could only watch as the little fuzzball sat back and whined. Nighteyes let out a long, mournful howl. Happy broke down, dropping to the floor and wailing in sorrow.

Silver stood over my body, her horn glowing. “I can heal him... please let me heal him... let me save him like he always saves me.”

I stared, feeling tears on my own face. I was trapped outside that world, unable to hug Silver and tell her it will be alright. Unable to comfort my friends when they needed me there.

“No, please Silver. let me go, you deserve better.”

“How dreadfully droll.”

I spun around and froze. behind me was the weirdest creature I had ever seen. it looked like Celestia had taken random animal parts and glued them together! batwing, griffon claw, some weird fang... what the fuck was this thing?

“Oh you can see me? how wonderful! allow me to introduce myself, Discord, spirit of Chaos... or I was.”

“Was?” how in the name of Luna’s sweet flanks can you stop being the spirit of anything? something about this ‘Discord’ seemed more off than his look.

“Have you any idea how hard it is to create chaos in this world? I turn a road into soap and nopony cares. I make it rain chocolate milk and nopony even notices.”

“Um... no offense but why would anyone? have you seen this world? theres undead, monsters, things I see every single day that still scare me to death. life here is short and brutal, a little soap is not even worth mentioning.”

The freaky creature sighed, “This is so boring, nothing I do or change is even noticed. once I could bring Equestria to it's knees in an hour, now I’m lucky if anypony noticed anything has changed at all...”

“So that's what chaos is? changing something from the normal?”

“You don't know what chaos is? What pray tell, are they teaching you children these days?”

“Not to get shot, I didn't do well in that class...”

“Evidently, you ponies used to be so much fun. now all I see is despair.”

I turned back to my friends. Silver was cradling my corpses head and rocking back and forward. her body shook with the force of her sobs.

“Chaos is the change from the normal right? well in the wastelands, pain and sorrow is the norm. if you want to change anything, then make someponies life better, do better.”

“Thats... that's what she said. you're not related to Blackjack are you?”

“I don't even know who that is, but if you really want to do better... can you help Silver?”

“The sad little alicorn?”

Discord snapped the fingers on his griffon claw hand, a chalkboard appeared next to him from nowhere. For some reason he now wore a white jacket and thick glasses. his voice sounded like a pony from Stalliongrad. This thing was insane!

“You zee zis creature iz bound by threads of ze magics. she is ze puppet. understand, ja?”

I stared for a moment, unsure how to respond. “I could not understand a single word of what you just said...”

Discord sighed. with a snap of his fingers, his coat and glasses vanished. “You are not very bright are you? what I am trying to explain is that your little friend is bound to a powerful magic. one I do not have the power to break at the moment.”

“So... you can't help her?”

“Do you pray tell, realise that you are asking favours from an immortal being of immense power, and all you are asking me is will I help out a filly?”

“I’m not important, I’m not a hero... I’m not even all that smart. All I want is for her to be happy. even if that is without me...”

Discord was staring at me in a very odd way. “You are very much like him...”

“Him? him who?” I hated when somepony talked about something as if I should know what it is.

Discord stared at my friends as they stood around my corpse, Happy was hugging Silver tight as they cried on each other's shoulders.

“A long time ago, I was imprisoned in a statue in the gardens of Canterlot. My punishment for a few harmless pranks. Honestly, Celestia had no sense of humour. For years I watched as the little ponies went on with their lives, all the while desperately lonely. one day a big pegasus heard my voice, he could sense my words in his mind. somehow that pony was a creature of chaos like myself.”

Discord seemed almost sad as he continued his story.

“I tried to trick that stallion into releasing me, but he caught on fast. for months I was alone again. then he returned. for an hour he talked to me, just talked...”

Discord wiped a tear from his eyes, “Every day he returned and talked with me, day after day he came back and spoke of small everyday things, the weather, his wife. mostly about his son. When they decided to move me, that pegasus was the only one to object. I felt his death a few months later. I think that stallion was as close to a friend as I will ever have.”

This mystery pegasus already had my respect. “Who was that pegasus? did he tell you his name?”

Discord pulled his fang from his mouth and polished it on his coat for a moment, before putting it back in his mouth. how the fuck is he doing this stuff? “He was named Starshot.”

My mind went blank. Dad? he knew my dad?

“You... you knew dad?”

Discord pointed his lion paw hand at me, “You're Orion? the child he never stopped talking about?” Discords head snapped back to my friends.

“Oh her again...”

“Her?” Again with the things I should know but don't. I hate how everypony does this.

“Oh, you can't hear or see magic.”

Discord snapped his fingers again, it was like a veil was pulled from my eyes. from Silver’s back I could now see coloured lines, fading away as they got further away. With another snap of his fingers, Discord changed how I saw the world. I heard laughter, dark and mocking. my eyes picked out a figure above me, looking down from the walkway.

A faint ghostlike mare laughed down at my friends sorrow, a light blue mane, long and curled, a sky blue coat. her voice echoed as if being spoken my many voices at once.

“THE GODDESS IS PLEASED! THE LITTLE FOAL DARED TO MOCK US. NOW HE IS NOTHING! IF ONLY I ALLOWED YOU TO SAVE HIS LIFE.”

This goddess really gets on my nerves. this is what Silver has to put up with every day?

The mismatched creature gave a frustrated sigh, “These alicorns are just no fun, you prank them and they just get violent.”

I turned back to Discord, “Can you bring me back to life? Silver needs me with her if this is what she has to deal with.”

Discord gave a loud sigh, “Once maybe, as I am now I cannot do much. It will take time for my magic to return to me. unless of course, you have a source of wild magic handy?”

I gave a grin, “Sorry but ghosts don't have pockets.”

A thought occurred to me, why had nothing come to collect me? when I nearly died in Manehatten there was a tunnel... something calling to me. here there is nothing, just the dark laughter of the Goddess and the grief of my friends.

“THIS IS PERFECT. I DO NOT NEED HIS SPIRIT, MERELY HIS FLESH. THROUGH YOU, MY LITTLE FAILURE, I SHALL SEE WHERE THEY LAY HIM TO REST. THEN I SHALL TAKE HIM FOR MY OWN PURPOSE!”

Discord reached out with his lion paw and grabbed one of the threads of magic coming from Silver. I watched, confused as the fun, yet crazy spirit pulled a set of scissors from thin air and snipped the thread in two. I couldn't help but grin when he waggled his eyebrows at me.

“What did you just do?”

Silver stood over my corpse, her eyes closed. her black mane hung in clumps, shrouding her face. tears still dripped from her face to the concrete floor.

“THE GODDESS ALWAYS WINS, NOW YOU WILL SHOW US WHERE THEY BURY THE REMAINS. THEN YOU...”

“Shut up...” Silvers voice was barely a whisper.

“YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO THE GODDESS LIKE THAT FAILURE, YOU WILL DO AS I COMMAND!”

Silver looked up, her eyes opened slowly. I never thought I would ever see it from her but there was naked anger showing in those amazing eyes.

“No, I won't. all my life you made me suffer, for your own twisted amusement. and now I had found somepony that was mine, and mine alone and you want to take him from me as well... he was mine...”

Sparks began to flicker from Silvers horn, her hair began to move as if there was a wind in the room. I could only watch as Silvers eyes turned completely white, the dust on the ground around her hooves began to swirl, swirling around her as if she was the centre of a tornado.

“Discord! what did you do to her?”

The... whatever he is, rubbed his chin. Discord seemed confused as he pointed to the rising dust storm around Silver.

“She isn't related to Twilight is she?”

“I don't know! now tell me what the fuck you did to her!”

“I cut the thread that was draining her willpower, stopping her from being who she is if you will. I never expected this though, this little filly seems to have a lot of magic. “

“What the fuck does that mean?”

I was panicking, Silver had began to float. her eyes glowed, arcs of lightning began to spark from her body. what was happening to her? I couldn't help her and it was tearing me apart.

“A wild magical surge, that is quite the rare occurrence.”

My pooled blood had began to join the growing storm around Silver, a crimson mist making it hard to see her. Happy and Ironclad had begun to back away from the floating alicorn, wild strikes of raw magic arced like lightning in every direction. wind came from nowhere and sent piles of crates crashing to the floor. lightning strikes even setting one crate on fire.

Silver had tears flowing down her face still, I could feel her still reaching out to me. as if to show me I was right, a thin blue thread stretched from my corpse and began to snake towards where I stood.

“This won't end well...” Discord seemed nervous. “She can't control this.”

“What will happen to her?”

“Wild magic will build and if she can not find a way to ground it... she will explode.”

“Explode?!” this can't be happening, there has to be something I can do to help her!

“Orion...” Silvers voice had an odd dual tone to it. “I couldn't save you, please don't leave me alone...”

“That does it...” I tore my eyes away from Silver and glared at Discord. “You did this! you said you are change, all you have done is create more fucking pain and misery!”

“Well, I don't know. It might be a good thing...”

I shocked myself when I found my hooves wrapped around his neck. I pressed my forehead against his. “You pathetic, spineless fucker! You act high and mighty, you pretend to be some force of nature. but in the end all you are is a fucking coward!”

“You can't speak to me like that! I am Discord! spirit of...”

“Shut the fuck up! you are not the Spirit of Chaos! Chaos is the change from the normal, you just created more of the same shit I always see in this fucked up world! a filly giving her friend a sandwich makes more chaos that you!”

“Well, I don't know...”

“Well I fucking do! you said you can't give me back my life right? then change me into something else! make me an earth pony or something! as long as I can go back to her I don't give a fuck what!”

“But I would need a source of chaotic magic for a change of that kind.”

I pointed the the swirling storm that had swallowed Silver, “There is your source!”

The rage drained from me suddenly, leaving me feeling so desperate.

“Please Discord, please help me, please help her...”

“You would really give up being a pegasus?”

“I would give up my wings anyday if it means she is not alone...”

Discord pushed me away gently. I think he realised just how stupid I was, I mean I just tried to strangle somepony that could destroy me with a thought. I watched, feeling confused as Discord pulled a stick from thin air and poked one end into the swirling storm around Silver. He span hit around for a moment then pulled out what looked like... well candyfloss.

Discord took a bite and held it out to me. “Want some?”

“Um... no.”

Discord finished off his treat and licked his lionpaw with a contented look. Slowly he held his griffon claw up to his face, white lightning crackled around as he grinned at the claw.

“That should do it.”

Discord grabbed the questing thread from my corpse and stabbed it into my chest. pray you never feel a hand inside your ribcage, moving around. it wasn't as painful as it was wrong. The weird creature pulled his hand from my chest and then gave the thread a yank, almost pulling me from my hooves.

“Are you certain you wish to do this? once I change your vessel, there is no going back.”

“I keep telling you, I don't matter; she does. if you can get me back to her, to give me a chance to save her... then what happens to me afterwards doesn't matter one bit.”

Discord smiled at me. “You asked for it.”

The Spirit of Chaos snapped his fingers and my world vanished.

*** ***

I never felt so much pain before.

My body was suspended in the air, every part of me felt as if it was being cut and burnt at the same time. not even when Azure Sky tortured me, had I felt pain like this. I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes, the idea I was going to loose my wings was destroying me but all that really mattered to me, was her.

My eyes slowly opened. Silver floated before me, her eyes wide and unseeing. tears flowed freely down her face. My blood was splattered across her face and matted in her mane. I tried to move but whatever I was changing into was stopping me from moving until it was done.

A bolt of raw magic lightning struck me in the chest, magic arced between myself and Silver. something was pulling from inside me, trying to follow the magic to Silver. at the same time I felt something trying to enter my changing body.

My legs began to hurt less, then light washed over me. bright and glaring. Suddenly I could move again, I couldn't feel my wings anymore. I couldn't bring myself to look back and see them gone, not yet.

The roaring gale around Silver began to force me backwards as I dropped to the floor, Discords changes finally finished. Magical lightning hit me and burnt through my coat. One step at a time I forced my way closer to her, each hoofstep a test of endurance. My body did not move like it should, my limbs felt weird but I pressed forward. my mane whipped around my face in the magical winds, static earthing itself with loud pops.

She was so close, I reached up to her. the lightning arcing between our chests was agony. She was so close, I had to get up to her. Please Dad, I don't know if your watching over me, but I need your strength with me now.

I felt them, my wings. I had given them up for her yet I could still feel them. I’m not a smart pony but I know when life cuts me a break. I didn't even question it as I beat my wings down, slowly forcing myself towards the pony I loved. The roar of the magical storm was deafening, the swirling winds filled with dirt and blood, hiding everything from view.

“Orion... I’m sorry. I could not save you...”

Her words tore at my heart. I pushed on, sweat pouring from me as I got closer and closer. I never thought one meter would be so hard to pass. I reached out and drew her into a hug, Silver felt so very cold. she was as stiff as a board and didn't even seem to know I was there.

“Silver! I’m here, come back to me, please!”

Her voice still had that weird echo, “Orion, don't leave me alone...”

I didn't know what to do, so I kissed her.

Silver struggled in my grip, fighting my kiss. then, she seemed to calm, her struggles growing weaker as I wrapped my hooves around her body and hugged her tight. her eyes slowly closed, tears still freely flowing down her face. all the strength seemed to go out of her, her body going limp. the howling storm seemed to shrink around us, leaving the two of us suspended in it's eye.

I could feel my coat burn from the constant arcs of magic striking me, the pain was bad, but nothing like whatever Discord had done to me. He had given me this chance though, I was here with her. if I couldn't save her then I would die with her.

Static was building up, making my mane float and crackle. the air itself felt charged as if something was about to happen. I failed... I couldn't save her.

“Silver... I love you.”

The world went white.

*** ***

A hoof prodded at me.

“Orion? is... is that really you?”

I rolled over, trying to get comfortable. “Let me sleep for five more minutes mom... I don't have school today.”

“It has to be him, have you ever met another kid this strange Ironclad?”

“But we saw him die Happy, all that blood. there was a hole right through him, nopony could survive that!”

“I know Iron, but it has to be him. nopony else has that cutiemark. I want to know what has happened to little Silver Skies first...”

My eyes shot open, my limbs flailing in panic. I couldn't see!

“Silver! where is she? is she ok?”

A metal clad hoof pressed me back to the ground gently. “Calm down, she is alive.”

I felt every muscle relax in that instant. she was alive...

“I don't know if you really are Orion yet, so don't move.”

My eyes cleared. Ironclad was holding me down with one hoof, Happy had her big automatic pistol out, pointing it at me. her face showed confusion, you would think she had seen a ghost.

“Iron... I don't know why you're doing this but please, let me go to Silver. Keep your guns on me if you need to but let me go to her.”

“O-orion? is that... are you really...?”

Silvers voice was filled with such hope. I struggled to get up, to even turn back to see her face. the weight of the big Ranger had me pinned. I beat my legs against his, fighting to get up. Silver was right there, why wouldn't they let me up to go to her?

Silvers voice seemed free of her usual timidness, “Ironclad? please get off him.”

“No can do. Until I am sure this is really the kid, he goes nowhere.”

A crate of Cram smashed into Ironclad, seeming to fly from nowhere. Iron was knocked off his hooves. from the angry sounding muttering, the big Ranger was more annoyed than hurt. I took the opportunity to roll to my hooves and turned to Silver.

*fwoomp*

I could not get my wings to fold back down, they felt as hard as diamonds as I stared at her, jaw on the floor. Silver was different, she was never fat but now her body was so slim and toned. her black mane hung in locks, red streaks running through it. her eyes and smile had my heart pounding in my chest. I fell in love all over again.

Silvers wings popped out as she stared at me. “Wow... Orion, you look great like that.”

“Like what? what’s happened to me?”

Happy trotted over to me, holstering her pistol as she went. “Now I know you're Orion. nopony else is quite as dense as you, hun.”

“Happy, you guys are scaring me now. somepony tell me what is wrong.”

Happy reached over and tapped on my forehead, or something near to it. slowly I reached up with a hoof and explored under my blood and rain wet mane. my hoof found something there, I traced the shape. it was short, so small it would be hidden under my stylish mane if it wasn't soaked, faint ridges spiraled down it's length.

“Is... is this what I think it is? A horn?”

Ironclads guns made loud clicks as he removed the safeties. I stared into the business end of Severance, more than a little afraid. The big Ranger stared hard at me.

“I’m still not convinced that you really are Orion, the colt was not a fucking alicorn.”

“I’m an... alicorn? does that mean I have magic? I can do spells?”

Silver trotted next to me and nuzzled into my neck, leaving my wings stiff again and a deep blush across my face. “I’m not sure Orion, but I don't think so.”

Iron never moved his guns from me. “Prove to me you are the kid, or I fire. you have ten seconds.”

I could hear Severance hum as it began to charge, how can I prove that I am me? What do I have that nopony else has? I can't use my Rainblade, my Pipbuck was just dead weight right now. Think Orion, use your brain for once!

In the end I just threw a snowball at him, I’m not smart enough to think of anything better. it was almost comical watching the snow slowly slide down his helmet and drop to the floor.

“You’re Orion alright, there can't be two little fuckers as annoying as you.”

I grinned, I knew I was annoying but I would bet Iron was smiling under that helmet.

“I can't hear anything...” Silver sounded confused.

“By now I bet Iron Will has taken the compound, that's probably why it's so quiet.”

“No Orion, I mean it's silent. I can't hear the Goddess, I can't hear Unity.”

Happy gave Silver a hug, “Then that means you’re free, hun.”

“Free? I’ve left Unity? but what do I do now?”

I kissed Silver lightly on the lips, making her blush.

“Now you get to live, first you’re coming home to Radar, then you get to be whoever and whatever you want to be.”

The was a flash of white light, so bright even Iron cried out. When I could finally see again, I looked around, expecting an attack. It was weird, nopony else was here but us and a Power Armoured corpse. I turned back to Silver, Sweet Celestia is she hot now. Something was on her flank, not that I was repeatedly checking out her flanks... yep, I’m not even convincing myself here. I looked closer.

“Orion? what are you doing?”

“Silver... you have a cutiemark.”

“Don't be cruel, alicorns don't get them. I thought you loved me...”

Happy smiled, “He's telling the truth, you have your cutiemark hun.”

Silvers eyes grew wide, my very sexy marefriend looked back at her flank. Her cutiemark was so different to anything I ever saw on a mares flank, And I have looked at a lot of mares flanks. A full moon shone, illuminating the black shape of a bird in flight. stars curled up in a horseshoe shape under the moon, wrapped in vines. I had no idea what it meant. At least now I have an excuse to stare at Silvers flanks.

“Thats embarrassing Orion, I mean I don't mind you looking at my flanks but...”

Silver blushed bright red as the three of us looked on in confusion. Iron decided to break the news. “Silver, he didn't say anything.”

“But I heard him! he said he had an excuse to stare at my flanks!”

Oh pony feathers...

“Silver, I thought that but I never said it.”

“But how? I could hear his thoughts? Did turning into an alicorn give him telepathy? was his butt always that cute?”

I turned and gave my rear a little shake, “I don't know about the telepy thing but my butt was always this cute.”

Happy stared at the two of us with confusion, “Are you telling me that you two can hear each other's thoughts?”

“Well...” I gave a wing shrug. “Sort of, I can hear some of her thoughts now. it's like we are linked somehow, like two ponies...”

“With one soul...” Silver finished with a smile.

I gave her a hug, just because I could. Happy seemed, well happy, no pun intended. Her eyes shone as she watched us. “So you two kids are an item now?”

I rubbed my chin with a hoof, “Well, there are a few cute fillies back in Radar. a colt like me should keep his options open.”

Silver swatted me with her wing, “You’re mine now, Orion. no fucker will take you from me again.”

I blinked, did she just...?, “Silver, since when do you swear?”

“I... I don't..., it just slipped out.”

“Thats what he said.” That earned me another smack from her wing.

“Two ponies, one soul...” Happy seemed to ponder something. “I think you two kids are linked at the soul, that would explain why you can hear each other's thoughts and why you picked up Orions potty mouth.”

“Potty mouth? I am insulted! I swear when it is appropriate.”

“You always swear.”

“And it's always appropriate.” I grinned, “Sorry but this is how I deal with the day. if I can't laugh then... I don't think I could keep myself together at all...”

Iron tilted his helmet as he stared at me, “Orion, you once said something like that before. what do you mean? your one of the most confident ponies I have ever met.”

“You want the truth?” I sighed, “I’m terrified. everything I see scares the fuck out of me. the monsters, the death, bones everywhere... where I grew up, you never saw anything so horrible, if I don't hide behind sarcasm and bad jokes then... then I don't think I could go on.”

Silver wrapped me in a hug, “Orion, I love you for being you. all I need is you to be you and I can go on with all that has happened to me in my messed up lifetime.”

I found myself hugging her back, crying like a little filly. It wasn't right that I had this stuff happening to me, I should be with my folks. I should be living a life of peace and having fun with my friends, not fighting for my life, not having to kill to stay alive. the mask had slipped, the facade I had hidden behind had fallen.

“I can't keep doing this. killing, being a freaking hero... I am no hero. I’m just a dumb kid. I know I'm in way over my head. When we get back to Radar, I’m going to ask Blackshot for a job. I want to have a life without constant death. I want to stay safe for once.”

I smiled at Silver as she blew a strand of her red streaked, black mane from her eyes. “And above all else, I want to be with you Silver. I want to be worthy of a girl like you.”

“Aww that's so sweet, kiss my hooves and we will call it even.”

Ironclad groaned loudly, “Just great, she picked up his fucking sarcasm as well... now there are two of them.”

“Now to ask the obvious question.” Happy pointed a hoof at me. “How, in the name of the Goddesses, are you now an alicorn? it should not be possible!”

“Well... I had help.”

“Help?” Happy gave me a look that plainly stated ‘cut the crap’. “What could have helped you become an alicorn? You're not going to claim one of the Goddesses did it?”

“Nope, it was a freaky spirit. I was watching you guys, I was dead. A weird spirit started talking to me and doing strange magic. When Silver was in trouble, I begged him to help me, he couldn't return me to life but with the wild magic around... he could change me into something else.”

“You're telling us a magic spirit did as you asked and made you into an alicorn?”

“Actually... I asked to be an earth pony or something. I just wanted to get back to Silver.”

“You were ready to give up your wings for me?” Silver gave me a kiss on the cheek.

Happy prodded me with her hoof. “Enough with the avoiding the question, Who helped you?”

“He said he was called Discord, some kind of spirit of Chaos.”

Why has everyone gone so quiet? Did I say something stupid again?

“Discord?” Ironclad seemed skeptical. “Describe him for me...”

“Um... that's kind of tough. he looked like somepony had threw leftover animal parts together. lion paw, griffon claw, bat wing . he had a long snakelike body and antlers. oh! and a single fang hanging out of his mouth.”

More silence. I so wish somepony would just explain what stupid thing I had done this time, rather than this silent treatment.

Iron looked at me, with almost painful slowness he asked a single question.

“You’re telling me, you; a clueless colt. Convinced one of the biggest threats in Equestrian history, to help you?”

Iron seemed confused as he began to rant. “ You...I... just what in the fuck is with you? how in the fuck do you do this shit? Sweet fucking Celestia! how can you have luck like this? You escaped an Alicorn who frankly scares the fuck out of me, then an Enclave base, Survived torture that would break most ponies, killed that over powered alicorn... now this? what in the fuck? how the fuck? just what in the name of Celestia are you kid!?”

Silver gave a really smartass grin, “Hes my little pony. what else do you need to know?”

I had to grin myself, “Iron, I don't know why this stuff happens to me. I really don't. All I know is that I am done. adventures, killing... my quest. I know what happened to my folks now, my Mom is at peace. I just want to grow old with the girl I love.”

“Aww. That is so sweet, hun.” Happy gave me a trollish smile. “I don't think you you like that though. Also, I’m a little old for you.”

Silver licked my ear, making my wings as hard as a rock once more. Wow, This Silver loves making me flustered... I could get used to this.

Ironclad glanced back at the armoured corpse, seeming to contemplate something. After a moment, the big Ranger looked back at me.

“What do you want to do about that Power Armour? If we leave it, somepony else will take it and there will be another Phoenix wannabe out there.”

“Hmm...” I rubbed my chin with a hoof, “Take it to your Elder, I don't like the idea of the Rangers having it, but I hate the thought of some Raider ending up with it more.”

Iron nodded and trotted away towards the doorway we had blown open. I guess he was going to use the mercs radio equipment to call for somepony to pick it up.

“Silver...” This thought had been bugging me. “When did you learn telekinesis?”

Silver seemed almost lost as she stared at me. “Orion, I... I don't know...” The silver coated filly stared at the roof before continuing. “When I was cut from Unity I got some of my moms memories. I know she was a unicorn, I know she was forced into unity while she was pregnant with me. She was a pretty good telekinetic, and she loved my dad. I don't know who he was but I can feel her love for him.”

“Your mom sounds cool.”

“She... I don't know if she even exists anymore. In Unity, every soul is connected and the Goddess can pull parts of them away and give them to others. I think my mom is just a few memories stuck to other souls now...”

Silver buried her face into my mane and sobbed quietly. “Orion. If the Goddess forces me back into Unity, She will do the same to me. I don't want to be nothing but a memory, I don't want to be just a part of another soul!”

“Don't worry Silver, the Goddess will never force you back into Unity. I won't let her.”

“Thank you... I don't know why, but I feel safe around you. your tiny, weak and scared. yet the thought of you makes me brave, being near you makes me happy.”

“As nice as this is, we should get a little sleep before heading back to Radar.” Happy gave us both a warm smile. “lets find somewhere to bed down for the night.”

I grinned widely as a weight settled on my head, my questing hoof found warm fur. Nighteyes gave a happy sounding bark.

“Heya little guy, miss me?”

Nighteyes happy bark made me grin so widely I thought it would remove the top of my head. Everypony was alive, everypony was safe. the world was a little better.

I saw a figure standing near the pool of my blood, Discord smiled.

“Thank you.”

“Orion.” Happy sounded confused, “Who are you talking to?”

“Just saying thanks to a friend.”

The smile of the crazy spirit seemed to hang in the air long after his body faded. So long Discord, I hope you find your way. I hope you find a place to be happy.

I followed my friend and my girl out into the office area. Everything had changed in that room, I was no longer a Pegasus. I had a pony who loved me and was now free. And a little bit of a troll. My friends were alive and well. My luck had finally come back to me.

*** ***

Silver was all smiles as she trotted along the dirt path. Orion trotted along next to her, grinning ear to ear, and throwing out jokes that had the Reavers escorting them back to Radar crying with laughter. The way the grey colt acted, the way he was full of life. It was infectious, Even the ghouls were joking and laughing. The good natured trolling between him and Happy was hysterical to listen to.

Silver smiled to herself, this is why she had fallen for the smartass colt. His confidence, the way he put everypony first. He couldn't see it himself, but he was a true hero. In Equestria nopony went out of their way to help others, there was the Stable Dweller and Security, but how many fillies get to say they have their own personal hero? how many girls have somepony who will take on a fucking army to save them?

The crazy colt was so gentle, so warm and kind. Silver had not seen anything like what he had done for her from the moment the Goddess forced her soul into this body. Selfishness, brutality, pointless cruelty. these are the things she had grown up experiencing. She had grown to accept that no matter how she tried to help others, they would hurt her for it.

Then her life had changed. in one moment, a single act of kindness had given her such hope. that scrawny grey colt, reaching out a hoof in friendship. Giving her a name, an identity other than a failed experiment. His refusal to leave her to save himself, standing up for her against terrible odds.

The Goddess had mocked her feelings, trying to tell Silver that she had no name. that all she was was merely a failure. The goddess had put her immature soul into the body of a newborn, allowed her to grow. A life of torment, trapped in that terrible place, before those horrible tanks...

The silver coated alicorn shivered, She could not begin to tell Orion about the horrors she had seen there. After ten years, the Goddess announced her a failed experiment. She was supposed to have gained new powers from growing up, Ones that did not exist in Unity. She had been given as a gift to Redeye, who gave her to one of his lieutenants as a toy.

For six years she had been beaten, six years of being raped. then a smart mouthed kid had shattered her despair and sorrow. She would never forget the sight of that small colt, standing protectively in front of her and calmly telling two armed Slaver’s that he will kill anypony who touches her.

He came back from death itself for her, how could she not love him after all he had done? How could any girl not fall for a pony so pure, so innocent. The world had changed him, he had killed but he never lost that spark, that drive to find the good in the darkness around him.

He had freed her from Unity, he had given up his own body to be there when she needed him.

He was a miracle...

Orion was a dream come true, a pony from a better time. a selfless colt, trying to leave the world better in any way he could.

Silver smiled, for all he was, he loved her.

A pony like him had fallen for her. For the first time in her life, she was loved. For the first time in her painful existence, somepony truly cared for her and her alone.

For the first time since she was born, Silver was happy.

*** ***

I trotted along, smiles all round. two days of travel had passed quickly, full of jokes and Happy trolling me for giggles. Iron had stayed at the compound to see the Aegis Armour sent to his Elder. Iron Will had come with us to finalise some new trade agreements, though for some reason he kept spouting rhyming phrases at Silver. something about showing you rock or wrathing at somepony.

Life was as it should be, relaxed and fun. I had my friends at my side, I had the girl who loved me. what more could a colt want?

Music!

I tapped at my Pipbuck, after a few moments Dj Pon3’s voice echoed from the speaker.

“Hello children! It's your old pal DJ Pon3 again with the news.

“Now children, remember Equestria’s youngest hero? Darkstar? The colt who freed Trottingham? well it seems that being a ray of hope in the darkness of the wastes was a bad thing. A mercenary force, led by the infamous Phoenix attacked the youngsters adopted home, murdered and raped three fillies and kidnapped his marefriend.

“These mercenaries then recorded the sounds of them raping the poor filly and broadcasted them back to our young hero. Darkstar was away from the town at the time of the attack, recovering here at Tenpony Tower from serious injuries. when he got home and found out... well Equestria, hold onto your hats because you will never believe this!

“According to my sources, the young colt raised an army and annihilated Phoenix and his company in one night. And to top it off, this army was the Reavers! yes children, the campfire storied you have all heard are true. Reavers do exist. but this is the strange thing, the bodies of the fallen were not consumed as the stories say, but buried. The Gunners cannery is being converted into a trade town by the ghoul army.

“One trade caravan stopped there and reports the ghouls to be very friendly and open to trade. Infact Boulder, the caravan leader, has claimed that he is making that a regular stop on his trade route. And now a message to all those ponies out there who might think that colt is an easy catch for a pile of caps, do you want to get on the bad side of that army?

“This is DJ Pon3, bringing you the truth. No matter how much it hurts. Now a little Velvet Remedy for all you lucky listeners.”

I grinned, no pony hurts my girl.

Two ponies, one soul.

*** ***

Three days had past, being the only pony Silver would be with had earned me the hatred and envy of every colt in town. Silver was pretty much scaring the hell out of the fillies who had their eyes on me, well lets just say she made it clear that I was hers, and hers alone.

I can't help but smile when I think of the moment we got back home. I led through the gate, the town coming to greet us. My new horn was hidden by my mane, so that could stay a secret. then the colts got a look at Silver, Sweet Celestia I have never seen so many open jaws in one place. More than a few colts were... displaying their attraction.

I had a group of fillies stop me. One girl, obviously the leader of the group gave me a calculating smile.

“You’re cute, I’ve decided that you are my type. I will let you be my coltfriend.”

Silver trotted up next to me and glared at the cream coated filly, as she flicked her curly yellow mane with contempt.

“Orion is mine, back off.”

“I don't recall allowing you to talk, a crybaby like you is not ready to have a coltfriend.”

“If somepony tries to block, show them that you rock...”

No idea what Silver meant with that line.

Silver’s horn glowed, I felt a tug on my leg and glanced down. My matt black 9mm pistol shifted from it's rig and floated up to eye level. I tried not to laugh at the look of horror on that self righteous fillies face as the slide slid back with a dull rasp.

“I said back off, Orion is mine. I won't ask again, now piss off before I blow your kneecaps off.”

Needless to say, they never stuck around after that.

Another fun advantage of returning, was Firefly was more than a little scared of me now. the sight of Iron Will, and the way I laughed and joked with the minotaur, well the idea I had such powerful friends scared the fuck out of the headstrong colt. In fact, he had barely said two words to me since I came back.

Blackshot had returned yesterday, I had taken the chance to ask him for a job and had gotten a great one!

With my ‘gift of the gab’ as he had called it, Or a smart mouth as Silver put it, I was a natural choice as a negotiator for trade with other towns. Heck, maybe my reputation as ‘Darkstar’ would help ponies trust my word.

I had got a longass lecture about responsibility before the big unicorn actually assigned me to a caravan. In short, be a smartass and he will kick my flank. To be fair, I understand. I am a smartass. Blackshot wants me to understand that I’m not just being myself here, I’m representing the town, anything I say reflects back on the Gunrunners

For the first time since I woke up, for the first time since I found my world and family was dead. I was truly happy. Now I could build a life, just as my Mom and Dad would have wanted for me.

For the first time since I woke up I could make a life for me and the pony I loved and not be afraid of what may happen.

*** ***

Silver trotted along happily, Orion had been assigned to a caravan heading to the Reavers new home. Blackshot wanted to see if Orions smart mouth could get a better trade deal on the stockpiles of weapons seized from the now dead mercenary force.

Orion had insisted that he wouldn't leave her behind, and so she had been given a job helping with the loading of the caravans wagons. Secretly, she was excited. It gave her a chance to develop her telekinesis and see the world without the Goddess tormenting her and stealing all of her happy memories.

Silver smiled at the grey colt as he flew backwards over the caravan, his front legs curled behind his head.

“Ah, the joy of flight. Don't you just love wings?”

In response, the unicorns and earth ponies with the caravan pelted the smartmouth colt with lumps of mud.

The road was still made up of soggy mud from the rainstorm a few days back. the soft ground made it hard going for the two earth ponies dragging the cart. The four wheeled waggon was piled with boxes of guns, a heavy sheet of cloth covered the cargo and protected it from the rain. The two ponies hauling it were brothers, both shared the same green coat and shaggy black mane. Both ponies were good natured and very muscular, probably built up from years of pulling the carts and waggons of the Gun Runners. Even their cutiemarks were identical, a waggon filled with red boxes. Silver couldn't tell the brothers apart so tried to avoid using their names. Lock and Key, or the brothers dim as Orion had dubbed them. Still, the name they tagged him with was twice as funny.

“Hey, Flappy.” Lock... or possibly Key mocked, “Why don't you get down here and try pulling the cart for a bit?”

“I don't think that that would be a good idea. If I get all sweaty before we get there, then what impression would that give? Lets face it, you need me to stay sexy.”

Silver giggled as the caravan erupted into laughter. the good natured joking between everypony was keeping spirits high. The two unicorns, a yellow coated mare with an orange mane named Spirit, and her husband Quartz, chuckled. The purple coated unicorn stallion was interesting to talk with, so many stories of his adventures as a scavenger before he met Spirit at a trade post.

A metallic click broke Silver from her fond memories. Orion was staring across the rock strewn scrubland. a second metallic sound echoed as his saddle chambered a round.

“Something is out there, My EFS is picking up something. theres at least five...”

The shot seemed to come from nowhere, a single bolt of purple energy streaking out and striking the grey colt in the chest. His mouth opened in a silent scream. A glow spread from his chest, slowly spreading out and filling his body with light. Parts of his wings began to flake away, the centre of the colts chest began to fold into itself, flakes of flesh floating away.

Silver watched in horror as Orion burned away before her eyes,the energy eating him from the inside out. there was a flash of light and he was gone. The world seemed to go silent as his saddlebags and battle saddle dropped to the dirt with a faint thump.

Gunfire came from the rocks as Raiders began to pour bullets and beams of energy at the caravan. Spirit tore the rainproof sheet from the wagon, her eyes filled with fury. Quartz levitated a single weapon from the packed wagon, barrels began to spin as his wife slammed a drum magazine to the side of the minigun. bullets washed across the Raiders, tearing the attackers apart on the storm of fire. Lock and Key pulled weapons from the cart and added their own firepower to the storm of lead.

Behind the waggon, unheard in the deafening gunfire, a silver filly cried. Clutching a battered battle saddle to her chest.

*** ***

One week later.

Happy stared at the Archon memorial. It broke her heart to be here, to be doing this but the funny kid who had saved her life deserved a proper send off.

Orion's death had been announced on the radio by DJ Pon3, along with the plans for a funeral. Amazingly, the stallion had asked for a minutes silence. Orion would have thrown fits of laughter about that.

A surprising amount of ponies had gathered to give the young pegasus the farewell he deserved. Iron Will had arrived with Lonestar, ponies from Trottingham had arrived in small groups, most of Radar had made the treck to the memorial. Ironclad stood off to one side, silent and unmoving. Blackshot and Dozer quietly thanked each pony for coming, even the scarred Myth had came. All alone, before Orion’s memorial, sat the silver alicorn filly. The poor girl had not even spoken a word for days.

Orion’s memorial had been set up just ahead of the Archon statue. A simple block of grey stone, a picture had been sealed behind a sheet of glass and set into the stone. Drawn by one filly from Radar, the trademark grin of the colt smirked at the world. A simple nameplate had been screwed beneath the portrait.

Orion

Hero to many, Friend to all.

Blackshot cleared his throat loudly, the ponies all became silent as the black unicorn began to speak.

“Orion was... well Orion was an idiot. Not the brightest spark there ever was, but he was the best kind of idiot. somepony who would never learn when to give up. a pony who never knew when something was impossible.”

The big stallion wiped a tear from his eyes before continuing. “The kid came to us as a scared and confused colt, a little shell shocked but I saw in him a drive to see the better in the world. Even after finding everything and everypony he had ever knew was hundreds of years gone, he still fought to make the world better. no matter what the world threw at him, Orion refused to be anything but himself. the kid was a shining light, a pony from a time where harmony was the norm. Just by being himself, that crazy colt brought so much joy into this bleak world. Today we lay his soul to rest, today we say goodbye to our friend.”

Happy slowly paced to the memorial. Her tear filled eyes stared out at the crowd of ponies. with her voice cracking from the emotions tearing her apart, she spoke out.

“Orion was my friend and a hero. he threw himself into things that would kill anypony just to help somepony he cared about. I remember in Manehattan, I lay bleeding and concussed. Orion had dove from the clouds to save my life, doing what he did best, the impossible. An alicorn nutcase had dropped me and Orion saved my life. A tiny colt dove from cloud level and caught me, that stupid colt broke his own body to help me. Orion... He was tortured, each limb broken one at a time, his eye cut from his skull, just so that nutcase could hear him beg...”

Happy stared out at the ponies who had come to see the young hero laid to rest.

“Orion refused to beg, he never gave up. Even with all his limbs broken, even with blood pouring from his wounds, he refused to give up. With every single limb broken, he drove his hoof blade into her skull to save me. even knowing the fall would kill him, he put his friends first. Orion cared more for others than anypony I have ever met. I think this wasteland is now lesser for his passing. If a kind pony like him must suffer and die then there is more wrong with this world than we ever knew.”

Happy stared out at the sad eyes of the ponies who had come to the funeral, her own eyes brimming with tears.

“Orion had no living family, his parents died hundreds of years ago but they made sure he would live past them. Orion was a freezer pony, stored in some way to see the future. He came from a time when hatred was just a distant thought, when peace and harmony was a daily thing. Each day here, I saw him try to bring back that better time in any way he could. I... he...”

Happy couldn't keep herself together anymore, her soft words broke into sobs as tears flowed down her face. Blackshot wrapped a leg around her neck and pulled her into a hug.

A small figure stepped from the crowd, her emerald green mane blowing in the wind. there was a sadness in her one red eye, the other covered with clean white bandages. The small green mare reached under her brown cloak and pulled out a small rack of pipes, slowly Zephyr lifted her instrument to her lips and began to play.

Happy sobbed as the haunting music began to play, it was the same song Zephyr had played on the barge to say farewell to her family. Orion would have appreciated the gesture. Ironclads still form seemed to shake, the big Ranger trying to hide his grief. Everypony seemed to be struggling to keep themselves together. The young colt had left such an impression on all he had met. His out of date morals had been such a different way of thinking that it had changed ponies views on the world.

Finally the song ended, Blackshot spoke once more.

“I know nopony wanted to be here for this but let us see Orion to rest in the same way he would have for any one of us. Let us see him to rest with the prayer he taught us.”

Everypony bowed their heads, Iron Will towering above everypony. Each pony pressed their front hooves together, or hands in Iron Will’s case. The gentle voices of the assembled crowd spoke out into the night.

“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.”

Silver had not moved or spoken at all during the funeral. In the silence following Orion’s prayer, the sound of the alicorn fillies tears dripping to the dried dirt was almost deafening. Her voice was barely a whisper as she pressed a hoof to Orions picture.

“Please... please come back to me Orion.”

*** ***

“Well children, Equestria’s youngest hero is now at rest. My heart goes out to his friends and especially to one young filly. This has been DJ Pon3 bringing you the truth, no matter how much it hurts. Now a little Sapphire Shores to remind us all, things can get better.”

Homage stepped back from the mic and sighed. She had liked the youngster, his optimism had reminded her so much of Pip and his quick mouth had reminded her of Blackjack. She was going to genuinely miss that colt.

Homage turned to the screens of the MASEBS, for the past week she had been trying to reconstruct a fragmented message that the towers had picked up. Only one word in ten could be understood so she had decided to draw the message from every source she could to put it back together. News was news after all. It was her duty to tell the whole truth and if somepony wanted to hide something so bad they fragmented a message, well she had to find out why.

Homage levitated a headset up to her ears and played the latest compiled message. There was still a lot of distortion but a male voice could be made out, seeming to be in a lot of pain.

Homage ran the message through a few filters, getting excited at how close she was. This time the voice came through clearly. Her eyes widened in shock, the headset clattering to the floor.

“Oh Celestia, please no...”

*** ***

Happy sat in her workshop.

Life without the constant insanity Orion had brought was dull. but she had tried to move on. The kid had been dead for weeks, Iron Will had returned to the reavers, Ironclad had gone back to Trottingham.

Before he left, The yellow eyed Ranger had gave her a radio frequency so they could stay in touch. Happy had gotten into the habit of calling Ironclad once a day, a source of comfort for them both.

“So anything new happening in Trottingham, Iron?”

The radio was in need of some work, Ironclads voice crackled from the speaker.

“Well my Elder has set up shop in the museum, with all the space in there it's being turned into a fully functional facility. They have even set up a lab to study that armour we took from Phoenix.”

“Sounds like you have a busy time ahead of you.”

“You have no idea... So no change with Silver?”

“No, she still spends all day at Orions memorial. She's even taken to sleeping in his room... I’m getting worried about her.”

“I don't think she can accept Orion is gone. Give her time and she'll move on. Well I have to get back to my duties, I’ll speak with you tomorrow.”

“Bye Ironclad.”

The radio crackled for a moment before going silent. Happy sighed and pushed herself to her hooves. A dust sheet caught her eye, as it had every day for weeks. Her horn glowed for a second and the sheet pulled free. An old clothes dummy stood on it's post, a battle saddle hung from it's flanks. Vengeance gleamed in the light, still clean and oiled. Happy was at a loss as to what should be done with the gun. The sheer stopping power would make it a great addition to the towns armoury, but it deemed disrespectful to just give it to somepony.

Happy stared at the gun, lost in her memories of all the times she had helped the youngster learn how to care for the weapon.

“Happy! you in there?”

Dozer poked his head in through the door and sighed.

“Happy, you are going to want to come out front. Theres a stallion from Tenpony Tower asking for you or Ironclad. says he has a message for you.”

“I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone right now Dozer. please tell him to go away.”

Dozer trotted in and pulled something from his back, there was a faint thump as Dozer dropped the long item to Happy’s workbench.

“He said to show you this.”

Happy sighed loudly and trotted to her table. Her eyes grew wide at the weapon of her bench. Painted black and studded with red gems, the rifle had a sculpted muzzle and twin sickle magazines. Dragon’s Roar lay on her bench, the rifle Orion’s father had left him.

Happy looked up to Dozer, “You better take me to him.”

Dozer led Happy out to the front hall of the Array, an earth pony stallion stood in the middle of the hall, looking nervous. His pale orange face stared out from under his brown leather stetson hat. A brown leather duster hung low on his flanks.

Happy stared at the stallion, her mind filled with thoughts as to where he acquired that gun. Why had he brought it here? What did he want?

“I’m Happy Trails, you wanted to see me?”

The stallions voice seemed strained as he spoke.

“Miss Trails, I’m a courier from Tenpony Tower. DJ Pon3’s assistant hired me to bring you a recording, Miss Homage was quite insistent I make the best possible time. She instructed me to give that gun over to yourself or the Steel Ranger Ironclad, To prove I was on the level if you will.”

“Whats on the recording?”

“I’m sorry miss, but I have no idea. Part of the code couriers live by is never open the package, as such I have not listened to it.”

The courier reached under his duster and pulled out a small digital recorder. Happy stared at the small device, quite rare to find a working one in the wastes. What was so important that this ‘Homage’ would send a courier over the wastes and even give up a rare device like this?

Happy lifted the recorder from the stallions mouth with her magic, still feeling more than a little confused. The courier tipped his hat with one hoof and turned to leave. Happy’s eyes never left the recorder. With a small shrug, Happy pressed play with her magic.

A mares voice began to play.

“Hello? Right you can't answer me. My name is Homage, I interviewed Orion back at Tenpony Towers. I’ll cut to the chase, a few weeks back my equipment picked up the fragments of a message. It is my job to find news for DJ Pon3 so I worked at restoring it. You need to hear this.”

A second voice began to play, so filled with pain and fear it pulled at Happy’s heart instantly.

“Please... It's Orion... The Rangers have me... Dragonsreach... They are torturing me... Please somepony... help me... Please...Anypony.”

The recorder fell to the floor with a clatter.

*** ***

“Your sure about this Happy? You are one hundred percent sure that was Orion?”

“Iron, it was him. Our little pony is alive.”

“And he sounded hurt?”

“Iron, he's being tortured! “

Silence came from the radio on Happy’s workbench, after a minute of silence the Rangers voice crackled from the speaker again.

“There is no way in Equestria my Elder didn't know about this. I will find a way to get the kid free.”

“Forget that! Lets get Iron Will and the Reavers and get him out of there!”

“Happy... I’ve been to Dragonsreach. Even with the Reavers all in Power Armour, we would all die before we got within a mile of that place. Turrets cover all directions, it was built to fend off armies four times the size of the Reavers.”

“So theres no hope?”

“I’ll speak to my Elder, they have to let him go... Don't tell Silver Orion is alive.”

“But why? His death destroyed her.”

“Because she will rush to him and die, Leave this to me Happy.”

“So there is nothing I can do to help?”

“Pray to the Godesses, we will need their support on this.”

*** ***

The metal hallways echoed with screams of pain and the heavy footfalls of the two armoured Rangers.

“The prototype is unsalvageable?”

“I'm afraid so sir. Frankly I'm shocked it worked even once.”

The first Steel Ranger stopped, the lights reflecting from his gold painted armour.

“It is a pity we never got the rest of the tech with the prisoner, How is the progress on the energy blade research?”

“Not all that well I’m afraid Star Paladin. We are able to replicate the base technology but there are things we cannot replicate. The prisoners Pipbuck is of an unknown design, I had our techs create a copy to experiment with but it appears the device is run by some kind of advanced artificial intelligence.”

“How advanced would you guess Major?”

“Well sir, it has hacked into our systems more than once and has been able to corrupt all probes into the Pipbucks memory. We were able to replicate the blade after some improvisation, there is an unknown system with a magic we cannot identify. We found that we could create the blade by infusing a gem with balefire and using it as a replacement but without that AI to monitor and regulate, the blade will not stay stable for more than a few seconds.”

The golden armoured ranger began to pace down the rusted metal hallway again, the screams got louder as he and his green armoured colleague approached a dirt smeared window.

“And has the prisoner gave us any information?”

“No sir, It's almost as if he does not know anything.”

“What methods have been used thus far?”

“Well sir, the prisoner was unconscious for days after the teleporter prototype was implemented and was a little hard to handle when he awakened. We intercepted and fragmented the transmission he sent from his Pipbuck. Verbal interrogation soon proved fruitless, I decided to move to physical interrogation after he called me a ‘Tin clad jackass’ and asked me if I was talking to him just to ask him on a date.”

“Understandable, Continue.”

“His pain tolerance is surprising, beatings didn't seem to phase him. He appears to have some kind of combat training, The blade caught us by surprise and injured one Ranger before we removed the Pipbuck. After a day I moved on to incisions, this got a much better response. Electrical interrogation did not get us much of a response, we assumed this is because of him being a pegasus. Small arms fire to the extremities worked well and breaking limbs got a much better reaction. We had assumed the horn was a mutation but it has proven to be quite sensitive when shattered. The removal of one eye, although extreme has reduced the prisoner to a sobbing wreck.”

“And he still has not told you how to bypass a genetic lock?”

“No Star Paladin, He still insists that he knows nothing about the technology.”

“Continue the interrogations until he talks.”

Both ponies stared throw the viewing window. A small grey pegasus lay strapped to a vertical table. One side of his face was a crimson mask, blood flowing freely from a hollow eye socket. Tears flowed from the one remaining eye. Blood trickled from the shattered remains of a horn, thin cuts criss crossed his entire body, still seeping blood. His face was blue and swollen, teeth missing from his mouth. Both wings hung limp and lifeless, clearly broken. All four legs had multiple gunshot holes.

The colts voice was almost a whisper through the pain.

“P-please... I d... don't know... anything.”

*** ***

Happy stared up at the dark clouds from her perch on the spire of the towns signature dish. Night had fallen and a light rain had begun to fall. Happy pressed her front hooves together and closed her eyes.

Luna, Celestia... I don't know if I really believe that you watch over us, but theres a pony who needs you to watch over him tonight. Orion is in trouble, he is hurting. He has done so much for others and never asked for anything in return. Please, I’m begging you... send help, send somepony to save him...”

*** ***

In the desert to the far north of Appaloosa, A star fell.

The clouds parted as the star fell to earth, Trailing silver flames. The tremors from the impact was felt as far Manehatten. The night sky was lit from the flash of light, flames littered the blackened crater. sand had turned to glass from the heat of the fallen stars impact.

From the crater, a figure rose to it's hooves. A coat as black as night seemed to drink the light from the flickering flames, huge wings spread. Muscles seemed to flow under the black coat, while a long white mane and tail blew in the wind.

The unknown pegasus raised it's head and opened his eyes, one eye marred by a long scar. Blood red irises stared into the night, seeming to glow. A deep voice came from his muzzle, barely heard over the roar of the fires and the howl of the wind.

“Hold on Orion, I’m coming.”