.:+:.

Walking.

I didn’t realize how very much I hated walking- until we started off toward Arabino, over the rocky, dusty, hot terrain that made up the Wastes. I guess that it’s a good thing I’m a Pegasus, but what good did that do me, when my ‘Partner’ was a wingless Earth Pony? Flying was so easy, no having to go over hills, or around buildings, rocks, or whatever was in the way. The sky was open all the way, with no obstacles I’d have to try and avoid.

I let out a long sigh, head hanging as I floated just a few feet off the ground, wings beating past to keep myself aloft as we traveled at the slowest speed I could ever imagine. I could hear the clip-clop of Whiskey’s hooves on the ground as he walked just behind me, in full gear and hat on to shade his eyes from view, bandana up to cover his muzzle. It was kinda hot, despite the absence of any sunlight, and I caught myself wondering how he wasn’t burning up… I realized there really much point in flying if I was only a few feet above the ground, but at least it gave my legs a break- so that was sort of a plus.

We had left BaleFire the day after the fight with the raiders, and set out this morning toward the Manehatten Highway. Whiskey said it wasn’t far, and it really wasn’t, we could see the broken bits of it situated above the ground just from BaleFire, but he had insisted there was no point climbing to the top of the highway until we found the section of it that was more or less whole. And that was a good three hours away, to my annoyance- and, we had only been walking for an hour and a half.

I never realized how impatient I was until just now.

On another note, when Whiskey and I had returned to BaleFire yesterday from SpringTail, I had proceeded to collect the modest sum of 80 Caps from Sheriff Slim in reward for clearing the school- though I was fairly certain more raiders were gonna move in eventually anyway. I had patiently waited for Whiskey to sell off the extra loot he had picked up on the small job back in Craterside supply- all the while Brownie Bits had been continually looking back and forth toward me as if I was some sort of prize she thought was gonna get away from her. Whiskey had allowed the chocolate colored mare to badger me for a good few hours as he worked at the bench situated at the back of the shop. Brownie Bits was a bit too nosey for her own good in my opinion, and yet I only saw a sort of innocence in her. Her curiosity was a welcome relief to the otherwise horrible things I had seen from the WasteLand thus far.

After Brownie, Whiskey kindly dropped a purse of Caps in front of Vera-paying my ‘Bill’ in full without a word.

The look on Vera’s face was almost priceless, she could only look at him with a blank look, jaw dropped and completely frozen. Frozen, because the ridiculous amount of Caps she had charged had been dropped at her hooves, by the very Buck she seemed to have so much contempt for. I don’t know if it was because Whiskey had paid that shocked her most, or if it was the question as to why he would even help me. Of course Vera didn’t have any clue as to the deal we made back at SpringTail, I could understand her shock- I was shocked with myself for having agreed to the deal at any rate… I just couldn’t refuse it, I needed the caps, and I did want to know more about Arabino and ShieldTune.

But you could imagine my surprise when Whiskey came to me that very evening, and dropped a bag full of ammo, supplies, healing potions, and my shotgun- now repaired and improved- at my hooves. When I asked him what it was for his reply was;

“If’n yer gonna travel with me, ya might as well be prepared- we’re leavin’ in the mornin’. Don’t worry about the cost, ya’ll pay me back later. With insurance.”

I huffed a little at the thought, because I was still confused by the offer, and quite frankly- irritated at what he said. Insurance my ass, what insurance was he expecting? He was the one who just paid for me in full. I didn’t expect to make any money on this trip of ours, and we weren’t going to be seeing each other after Arabino.

I shook my head, not wanting to think on it anymore. So, I decided to see if Whiskey would answer a few questions. “I thought the Manehatten Highway was overrun with raiders?” I asked with a glance back toward the buck, trying to pull my mind away from how long this was gonna take.

“Only sections.” He replied evenly, without looking up toward me. “Ah cleared the section of it we’re goin’ ta a few nights ago- with yer help o’ course.” He said and I blinked once, “We should be good for a long while, maybe seein’ a few ‘ere and there.” His head bobbed a little, “We’ll be fine.” He relented with a small wave of his hoof toward me.

“Does the Manehatten Highway reach all the way out toward Arabino?” I asked, knowing there wasn’t any point since I could simply look to the map on my PipBuck. I’m pretty sure Whiskey knew I could as well, but he didn’t seem to care because he went ahead and answered.

“Nope, there ain’ any ol’ highways that reach all the way out to Arabino, Ah figure it wasn’ a big ‘nough town for one ta connect ta it.” He finally spared a glance up at me, and I met his teal gaze steadily as we continued on. “Bu’, the ManeHatten Highway does connect with the FillyDelphia bound Highway, an’ at tha’ same point- another road branching off o’ the main Filly’ Highway connects with another Highway that heads east a ways before hittin’ Filly’ again.” I nodded slightly, “We’ll take tha’ highway out as far east as we can, an’ then get off. We’ll get mu’ closer to Arabino on the Highway, a lot quicker, and a lot safer. Direwolves don’ come up onta the raised sections of the highways too often, we’ll meet less o’ them, and stay alive longer.”

I nodded in slight approval, “You thought this through.” I commented. “Any chance we’ll meet something other than raiders and Direwolves along the way?” I said, only half interested.

“Mmm… Bloodwings, Slavers maybe… There ‘re few little shantytowns on the Highway, so other folks ‘re a given ta come across.” He seemed to be running through a list in his head, “Maybe a few ghouls once we get off the highway, but other than tha’….. Ah got no clue.” He shrugged slightly, “Guess we’ll as we go alon’.”

“Slayers?” I questioned, seeing if I could get any sort of odd reaction from him. He had seemed to be sort of…… discontented with the mention of them earlier.

“Doubt it.” Whiskey answered curtly, “CoffinBone’s in the other direction- the Slayers don’t travel east so much.” He paused, his tone left no room for argument or question. “Why so interested?” He asked this time and I shrugged in return.

“Blank mind, remember? I figure I might as well ask questions now, better learn fast- right?” I answered coolly, and Whiskey only regarded me a moment before shaking his head and looking away. “You know…. Since you’re a Merc and all…. are you a part of any gr-?”

“Nope.” Whiskey cut me off quickly and I blinked, but decided not to press it. We passed into a strained silence then, and I didn’t feel the need nor the want to try and break it. Instead I turned toward my Pipbuck and played the next Audio Diary of Dr. HoofDrum, just to pass the time.

“Entry 3,

Katarina’s been keeping me busy for the past few days. She has seemed extremely interested in the research I have started up- much more interested than I had thought she would be. Upon my first judgment of Princess Katarina, I assumed she would be much less concerned with science and all the like- and much more concerned with the political state of Equestria at the moment. Though I do suppose that politics are more Princess Luna’s area.

But this then had me wondering why ShieldTune was created in the first place? What would the Princess want with such things anyhow? Talking with the other workers here in the facility I have gathered there are other ‘Zones’ as they called them- beside this one. Of course I figured as much, what sense would it make to have a single Zone, and to give it a number other than 1, but 4? But until I began to ask about, I hadn’t any clue as to how many of these Zones there were- and one of the Tactical commanders here revealed to me there were six different facilities in all.

Now I don’t know where these others are, though I am curious;

The muffled voice of another pony in the background called out to Dr. HoofDrum, their words I couldn’t quite make out though- only that the voice was the high, and slightly annoying shrill of a mare.

…Ah, there’s Ms. Wynter Coat now, I swear the mare won’t leave me alone. Oh well, better see what she wants of me- no use making the Zone coordinator angry with me only three weeks into the job.”

I shook my head and turned the Audio Diary off, instead letting DJPON3 radio play through my PipBuck as we walked on, the jubilant rhythm of a tuba filling the dry dusty air.

.:+:.

“Alrigh’, here’s where we get on, Darlin’.” Whiskey came to a halt beside the crumbling spire of the support that held up the Manehatten Highway above our heads, I paused beside him, glancing up at the road and narrowing my eyes.

“How do you plan to get up there?” I asked, then paused- my mind flashing with the memory of Whiskey jumping up the walls and roofs of the homes in BaleFire like some sort of freakish acrobat. Seriously, he must have been the only pony I had ever seen do that! ……. Not that I knew many ponies though.

“Ah’m gonna climb.” He answered, tapping a hoof to the support and lifting himself up on the crumbling stone, slowly he made his way up the tilted beam, higher and higher. I fluttered up next to him, slowly going higher as he climbed. I watched carefully, surprised not for the first time, just how sure-footed he was, and just how easy he made hauling everything in his packs up the almost completely vertical climb.

“I could have carried you to the top.” I commented,

“Doubt it.” He muttered, not bothering to look at me as he tried to keep all of his attention on his hoof-holds.

“What? Don’t I look strong enough?” I muttered a little hotly.

“Mmm… ya strike me more as the fast an’ agile type, not the strong and bulky.” He responded truthfully, and I relented to simply staying silent for the moment,

“I think you underestimate me.” I responded quietly once he managed to reach the top, and paused only to catch his breath a small moment. His ears flicked in my direction at the comment,

“An’ Ah think ya’ll underestimate me too.” He countered, aiming for my quite obvious doubt of his ‘techy know-how’ he had mentioned the day before- I still refused to believe he had the slightest clue on operating terminals, machines, or anything of the sort until I saw it for myself.

‘We still on Level 10 hatred with him, Flashy?’ The Little Me asked suddenly and I blinked at the question, not sure why she would ask such a thing just now…?

Whiskey started walking, his hooves making quite a bit of noise on the pavement of the highway, as we began to pass in between the pile-ups of assorted wagons and spilled cargo, groceries, whatever they may have held- the things that had been pulled from the wagons and dug through by countless ponies over the centuries. I found my eyes lingering on everyone we passed, wondering who had been inside them when the bombs went off, wondering where they were coming from and for what? To be reduced to piles of bones rolling upon the pavement, their world gone in a split second?

It was sad, I felt sorry for them and yet I felt so detached from it all…… I glanced to my PipBuck to scroll over the map, in an attempt to see how far it was until the highway met the one leading to Fillydelphia- from where we were I would say another….. ugh, maybe three days. My attention caught on to the mark flashing on the screen, the one that registered our destination on my E.F.S.- Arabino.

A part of me told me that going back to Arabino was the craziest idea I could ever even consider, and yet there was another part of me that argued to keep going- that going back to Arabino is what I truly needed. I needed to know why I was there, what they had wanted from me, and even who I truly was. Yes, I knew my name… but nothing else, why?

I wish I knew, I truly did…. And that’s why despite my conscience telling me going back to Arabino was a bad idea, I was determined to get there, and it would seem that so was Whiskey. But this was going to be a long three weeks, I wondered if I would last that long…..

“So, Whiskey.” I called up to him, when I didn’t get a reply I paused. I couldn’t tell if he was actually listening to me or not, maybe he was ignoring me…. Or maybe he was lost in thought? “Whiskey?”

“What?” He muttered, not sounding quite so thrilled with answering some more questions. Maybe my curiosity about everything was starting to piss him off, maybe he hated answering the amount of questions I asked- let’s be honest, we had only been traveling for two hours now, and maybe his patience was running low. But I didn’t think I had asked so many questions…… I figured he must be used to being alone, and the silence that came with it.

“Tell me about yourself.” I said simply, trotting a little to catch up to his shoulder. The silence between us was waaaaay to boring, I needed to interact with sompony- even if it was this stupid buck I had found myself with. “Do you have family? Where did you stay before moving to BaleFire?”

“You don’ think those are a bit personal?” He shot back dryly, eyes fixed ahead and expression neutral. “We only jus’ met Darlin’.” I faltered slightly, not sure if I had offended him or not- wait a minute!

“How many times do I have to say it?!” I snapped, anger rising in seconds. “My name is not Darling!!” He waved my anger at the name off like he usually did though, and I was left to grumble under my breath.

“Are ya really so bored, all ya can think of ta do, is ask me questions like tha’?” He went on and I huffed.

“I figure I should know the pony I’m going to be spending the next three weeks with.” I replied and Whiskey just gave me a flat stare, “Think of it as insurance.” I added, thinking it rather witty based upon his remark the day before;

“… With insurance.”

“Now tha’ ain’t no fair trade, considering ya’ll won’ be able to tell me anythin’ ‘bout yerself in return.” He countered and I let myself fall away from walking at his shoulder, defeated. Because he was right, Whiskey could tell me about himself, about his life and everything. I couldn’t do the same, because I knew almost nothing about myself, so no- it wouldn’t be a ‘fair trade’ in information based upon that fact.

“Fine…” I muttered lowly, not particularly concerned if he heard me or not.

“Listen, Flash.” I perked up upon hearing him say my name- I actually think this was the first time he had done so since I met him. He didn’t turn to look at me, and only kept on walking but I knew I had his attention now, and he had mine. “Don’ take it personally, alright? Ah ain’t so used ta… company.” He paused, “…. It ain’t often Ah got anypony askin’ so many questions, an’ especially none ‘bout myself. Yer gonna have to give it a bit o’ time, alrigh’? We got plenty o’ time ta get ta know eachother, don’ need ta ask it all at once.”

I remained silent a moment, trying to let what he said sink in, to me it was surprising….. Because this was one of the most honest answers I had heard him give as of yet. It had dawned upon me by now that Whiskey wasn’t one of the most… honest ponies around- which I found rather ironic considering all his big-talk about ‘Honesty is a Virtue’ shit he pulled on me already. To be completely honest, I wasn’t really just bored. I only really wanted to talk with him, so I could get my mind off of thinking about ShieldTune, about the possibility that I could be some two century old pony who’d been stuffed in a pod before the bombs fell. I shook my head a little, the idea was utterly ridiculous! It couldn’t be possible, I would be dead by now! I could not be Subject Four, some other pony must have knocked me up the head and stuffed me in that stupid place for the hell knows what reason!

…. Yeah! That had to be it, it had to be what happened!

VVVVVZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTTTT….!!!!

My legs fell from under me and I wrapped my forelegs over my head, eyes scrunched closed and biting down on my tongue, I could feel the sting of tears creeping up and I fought them back as best I could. My whole body was shaking, and the throbbing in my head was relentless, all other sounds were suddenly drowned out by the sound of cracking inside my head…!

Fuck…! Fuck…..! Sweet Celestia….!!! WHY!!!!!????

This was worse than it had ever been, before it had only been small shocks and now it felt as if someone had literally jabbed a cattle-prod into my brain and put it on full blast. I could tell my legs and wings were twitching, I hit my hooves against my head a few times, groans of pain escaping my lips. What had set this off?! Thinking about me being-?!

The pain increased tenfold and I could feel my consciousness slipping away from in the waves of utter pain passing through my skull, goddesses damn me, why did I have to think about that?! And why did… thinking have to… hurt….?!

“… Flash..?” Who’s that? I don’t think I recognize that voice…..

“Ms. Trake? Are you alright?” Trake? Who the hell are they calling Trake…..?

.:+:.

Six smartly dressed ponies stood around me, two of them were Unicorns, one was an Earth Pony and the other three were all Pegasi. We stood in the middle of a Marble Hall I recognized rather clearly, it was the same place I had stood- drenched and getting nasty glares from the ponies passing by once I had been dying of DireWolf poison. The two unicorns were of an identical pale yellow color with matching green eyes to go with it, each one adorned with a dark purple business suit as the left one held a mic in her Magical grasp and the other a notepad. The only distinction between the two was that Ms. Notepad had an emerald mane, while Ms. Mic had a pale orange one, both of them looked to me expectantly and blinking in confusion- I must have said something odd.

“Flash?” The pale pink Earth Pony on my right said quietly, her blue eyes wide as she looked to me in confusion, “You look like you dozed off.” She said slowly, brushing a piece of her tied back dirty-blonde mane with violet dye on the ends, from her face. Something about this pony struck me as familiar, and at the same time I didn’t know why. Her coat stood out amongst the relatively washed-out image of everything else, a beacon of color against the white floor, and the gray atmosphere. Even the colors of Ms. Mic and Ms. Notepad faded in comparison in the scene.

I felt myself smile apologetically and shake my head a little, it felt like my mane was tied back and… cut short I think? “Ah, no. I’m fine Scarlet, just thinking.” Scarlet? I promised her and turned away, I wish I could have gotten a better look at the pink pony but my attention had fixed upon the two Unicorns now. “Now, I’m sorry but what was it you two wanted?” I asked in a polite, almost bored tone of the two who exchanged quick glances. Three Pegasi stood a little behind me, all in soldier’s uniform, all silent, and all still. I couldn’t get a good look at them, I couldn’t get my head to turn, damn I wish I could have though.

I had no control of what was going on, and in fact… I didn’t feel like this was me- more like I was in somepony else’s body but not quite so, I was soooooooooo confused.

“Ms. Trake…” Ms. Mic started slowly and I lift a hoof, shaking my head and letting out a low sigh.

“Flash is fine,” I told her simply. She nodded and continued,

“We were looking to see if you had anything to report on the movement of….. VVVZZZTTTTT……….. And what the… VVVVZZZTTT…. Planned to do about the impending Danger?” Ms. Mic asked, but her words faded in and out between static while the scenery molded back from fuzzy gray to melting black and broke back into clearness once the static cutting off her voice stopped. The vision wasn’t complete, I wasn’t allowed to know all the details, my mind wasn’t going to let me.

I felt the pain of the static race through me to accompany the noise- the pain that was becoming all too normal.

My mouth opened to answer, I felt bored, and reserved, as if the questions weren’t enough to interest me, or maybe I just didn’t care. But the sound of the words didn’t reach my ears, just the sound of the static. A part of me felt miffed at this, I wanted to hear what it was I was supposed to be saying- but yet again, my brain wasn’t going to let me know, and then everything began to melt into gray. The image of the foyer blurred into unrecognizable mush, accompanied by the yellow of the coats of Ms. Mic and Ms. Notepad, who remained listening to whatever I was saying, taking down notes and looking rather interested- completely unaware of the building melting round them until they two faded into gray mush.

From the corner of my eye remained the strikingly pink coat of Scarlet, until everything was gone and I was thrown into black……

.:+:.

“Darlin’?”

I groaned, my head was still pounding but at least I didn’t feel like the cattle-prod was still in my head on full-blast. I carefully brought a hoof to my head and rubbed my temple gently, trying to get the lasting throb to die away completely. The ground felt hard and rough under my body, I dragged my other hoof across it- feeling like I had been placed atop a raggedy old blanket.

I was aware of the soft beeping of my PipBuck, but I didn’t bother with it for now, instead I focused on opening my eyes. It was dark, like… really dark. Granted, it was always a really dim gray outside with the Cloud Curtain and everything, but this was a very dark gray that bordered on black, I had to let my blurry vision sit a moment so it could unblur and adjust. I figured the day must have fallen into night…. Wait, how long had I been out?!

My head snapped off the blanket in an instant, making me feel light-headed and dizzy at the sudden movement. I squeezed my eyes closed, I figured I should try to let the dizziness pass before I did anything stupid and passed out again…. Yeah, that would be pretty smart huh?

“Well the’, finally awake?” I cracked an eye open to peer through the darkness, spotting the form of Whiskey spread out on the asphalt across from me, the dying embers of a makeshift fire between us. We were tucked in between the forms of four overturned carriages that blocked us from the rest of the world and only left the sky open, dark and colorless as ever. Whiskey remained looking at me with a stoic expression, bandana pulled down to rest around his neck and hat beside him, hooves tucked under him and sniper leaning against the underside of a carriage with his bags, his Assault Rifles remained on his back securely. That had to be uncomfortable, but what he was waiting for- Raiders or DireWolves, I hoped we didn’t see any tonight- I didn’t really feel up to a fight right now.

Considering it was night already, I guessed that I had been out all day. A quick glance at my PipBuck told me we were not in the place that I must have blacked out, while it also flashed a warning for some ‘Mild Cranial Damage’ that was slowly going down in the level of severity…. Wait, since we weren’t where we were….. did that mean Whiskey dragged my sorry ass all the way out here?

“Yes….” I answered after a moment, finally registering he had spoken to me. He blinked, “Did you…. Carry me all the way out here…?” I asked lowly, feeling a little embarrassed at the thought, he’d already done it once- when I was pumped full of DireWolf Venom.

“Yup.” He answered carelessly, shaking his mane a little and closing his eyes.

“Sorry…” I muttered, hating the fact that I had been rendered unconscious around him for a second time.

“Ain’t so bad, yer not too heavy.” He said with a glance my way, “Barely broke a sweat. Don’ go worryin’ ‘bout it.” He told me, but I knew I wasn’t going to stop worrying about it anytime soon. I hated I was so helpless, and I hated that my brain was so damn fucked up too. “So, mind telllin’ me what in the hay happened?” He asked and I sighed.

What happened? My brain fried itself because I was thinking about…. Vzzztt….. Ok, not thinking about anything!

“It’s….. complicated.” I muttered, “I just………. My brain… It kinda…. Overloads when… well….” Ugh!! Why was this so hard to explain?

“Memory loss thang?” He asked and I nodded.

“I think that’s what it is.” I replied with a slight nod. “There’s…. this little shock, whenever I think about certain things. And this time, it was bad… like really bad… so much so I blacked out.” I muttered.

“It’ happened before?” He asked and I shook my head quickly.

“No, this is the first time.”

“Anythin’ interestin’ happen when ya’ll were out?” He asked as if he already knew the answer, I tilted my head at him and he shrugged. “Ya were mutterin’ something about… ‘Scarlet’ Ah think.” My ears perked at the name,

“Uh, well…. I sort of, saw something.” I answered, “A few ponies… one of them was named Scarlet, but I don’t know who she is.” I paused, eyes narrowing at my hooves as I fought to go back to what I had seen, but it was starting to fade now and I could hardly remember anything that had gone on… what were those ponies names again? Ms………… Padlock and Milo? No that didn’t sound right... Damn.

“Interstin’….” Whiskey murmured to himself, making me look up at him. “That all?” Was that all? No, I don’t think it was… but now the vision was quite useless, the details had left and I couldn’t force my mind to bring them back. My ear twitched slightly, and my lips pulled into a small smile. You know what? I did remember something…. “What’s the smile fer, Darlin’?”

“I don’t remember a lot of it, but there is something I do remember.” I told him and he blinked in return, my smile grew more. Perhaps it was stupid but the fact that I could remember anything that hadn’t been told to me by anypony in this fucked up WasteLand felt like a treat!

“I remember my last name… Trake.”

.:+:.

Footnote: Level Up

Author's Notes:

Next Chapter will be on July 1, 2016

Please Enjoy~!