Chapter 6

The rain stopped just before morning, It had been a thankfully calm drizzle, enough to cool me off without soaking me to the bone. I'd been awake through all of it, too frightened to fall asleep. The one time I almost dozed off the screams echoing through my subconscious had jarred me awake.

Shaky came out to see me first, supposedly before anypony else woke up as I didn't hear anything from the shack. We didn't talk, just watched the sunrise while she sat on my lap. Stripe brought us breakfast, bacon again, it improved my mood, but not by much. Token stepped out and nuzzled my cheek.

"Feeling alright?"

"Better." I muttered.

"You want to come inside and try sleeping again?"

I shook my head.

"Okay." she said with an obvious note of concern before walking inside.

My little grey friend shifted in my lap and looked up at me, "What the h-hell d-d-did you dream ab-bout anyway?"

I gulped, I wasn't nervous, but my throat was dry.

"Some ponies I killed yesterday, they died very painfully."

"How?"

"Burning," I said at almost a whisper, "very slow burning. It didn't bother me too much when I saw it, but evidently it hit me pretty hard."

"I had b-bad dreams last night t-too."

"What about?"

"Same as always."

"I'm sorry sweetie."

She shrugged, "I'm starting to g-get used to it, as f-f-fucked up as that is."

I nuzzled behind her ear, trying to be reassuring, she jerked away, but shot me a playful look this time, not the angry one she usually had when I tried to be affectionate.

She sighed and stood up, hugging me again before trotting inside.

I sat, watching the fort wake up and go about its business, bodies to be buried, fields to tend, structures to repair.

Celery came to say hello, leaning on Salt to take weight off her bad leg. I gave Salt a quizzical glance as they turned to leave, she just smiled a bit and winked.

Shaky came back out an hour later and bumped her head against my shoulder.

"G-get up, you've b-been moping all day and we g-got shit to do."

I stared at her blankly and she head butted me again.

"Up dammit!"

"But Shaky!" I whined, falling over on her.

"D-dammit B-bandage," she grunted as she tried to hold up my weight, "g-g-get the f-fuck off me!"

"But, but, but, Shaaaky!!!" I wailed, pressing more weight down on her.

She grunted again when her legs finally gave out, and wriggled underneath me.

"G-get off me B-bandage! You're t-too fat!"

I gasped and hooked my head to look at her, "You did not just call me fat!"

"Yes I d-did! Now g-get your FAT ASS off of me!!!"

I pressed more weight down on her, she grunted under the strain, then scowled at me and stuck her tongue out.

"F-fine you win," she pouted, "now get off me!"

"Who won?" I said, cocking an ear.

"You!" she shouted.

"I what?"

"You won! G-get off!"

"Oh fine," I huffed, "you're such a baby."

"Whatever," she muttered as I let her up, "wait 'til I g-got my p-p-posse with me, we'll see who wins then."

"Oh goodness me Shaky, you wouldn't really release the horde of ten year olds on me would you?"

"Shut up," she said, stifling a giggle, "c'mon, we g-got stuff to do."

"What kind of stuff?" I asked as I followed her.

"I dunno, stuff, hell I just want to g-get out of the shack for awhile, Token talks to me t-too much when we're in there. P-plus you sitting there like a lump was b-bumming me out."

"Oh I'm sure we talk quite a bit more than you and she do."

"Yeah..." she paused for a bit and looked down slightly, "b-but I like talking to you."

I stopped her and held out my forelegs, grinning stupidly.

"That gets you a hug!" I exclaimed.

She sighed, "See, this is the reason I don't like talking to you."

I pouted, "But Shaky..."

"Oh n-not this crap again!"

I quivered my lip and she sighed.

"Fine..." she muttered then looked around to make sure nopony was watching and hugged me.

I hugged her back and held her there. She tried to wriggle away and I squeezed tighter.

"Not yet."

She wriggled harder, "B-bandage, stop please."

I shook my head and squeezed tighter.

"B-b-bandage, s-seriously, let g-go."

"But Shaky." I said playfully.

Then she started screaming.

"BANDAGE, LET GO!!!"

I released her immediately, she quickly moved away and nearly fell backwards, she was hyperventilating, and her eyes were teary and frightened.

"I t-told you to stop," she muttered, "why wouldn't you stop, why, why wouldn't..."

Shaky wasn't all there right now, I tried to step closer, but she cringed and backed away.

"Shaky," I said softly, "are you alright?"

She blinked away a few tears and sat there staring off blankly, "I, I don't..."

"What the fuck did you do?" I heard a very pissed off zony say behind me. I turned, Stripe was glaring daggers at me.

"We were hugging and I-"

"And ya didn't let go when she asked you to?" I nodded, he shook his head and sighed with frustration. "Dammit Bandage, she was doing so well. The nightmares were starting to fade, she was having an easier time in crowds."

"I'm sor-" I started, but he raised a hoof.

"I don't wanna hear it. Ya fucked up, simple as that, you can apologize to her when she stops freakin' out."

He trotted past me, forcefully nudging me aside with his shoulder.

"Shaky?" he said softly, she mumbled something, only half registering his presence, "Shaky?"

She stopped mumbling and looked up at him, then started bawling.

"C'mere kid, let's go back to the shack and you can rest for awhile." she nodded and he scooped her up, holding her to his chest with a foreleg as he trotted back to the shack.

Shaky kept muttering "she wouldn't let go." over, and over again. Stripe nodded sympathetically and tried to calm her as they went.

"Fuck." I muttered.

I followed them and slumped into my previous spot in front of the shack, listening for Shaky's breathing to return to normal. Stripe trotted out and scowled at me, I tried to say something, but he just shook his head and walked off.

I softly pounded the back of my head on the shack for awhile, taking in the weight of just how badly I'd fucked up

***

Shaky was curled up next to me, and we both lay there listening as the noon rain hammered the roof. I was going to stay outside, but she told me to come in, and she'd sat down next to me after I laid down on my sleeping bag.

"I'm so sorry." I said for the fifth time. She nodded, like she had the times before.

"I'm not mad, b-but next time I ask you to let g-go, can you just do it, please?"

I nodded and rested my head on her small shoulders, then sighed tiredly, my eyes were getting heavy again, but sleep wasn't on my agenda anytime soon.

I heard hoofsteps coming through the shack and felt Token nuzzle behind my ear.

"Hello love." I muttered sleepily.

"Have you slept yet babe?"

I shook my head and nestled my chin further against Shaky's shoulder. I was damn close to passing out, Shaky made an excellent pillow.

Token pressed her mouth to my ear and kissed it softly, "Try and rest, alright? Stripe wants to move out tomorrow and its a long walk to Tragedy."

I nodded again, she gave me another quick kiss on the ear and trotted back outside.

Shaky shifted next to me so I picked my head up off her shoulders and rested it on my forelegs. She got up and gave my neck a soft squeeze.

"I'm gonna go see if Stripe wants any help." she said quietly.

I nodded, yet again, and as my head went down I had the sensation of falling, and I drifted into sleep.

~~~

It was a nervous day for me, I was 6, a year late for my first friend pairing, and here I was, in Matchbox's office, preparing to meet my new best friend.

I shifted in the stiff chair provided for me, my mum gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Don't be so nervous dear." she said.

I looked up at her, and she smiled down at me, her red eyes twinkling. That was the only thing I got from my mother, my eyes, everything else I inherited from my dad. His coat, his mane, his smarts and his temper. He couldn't be here today, unfortunately, his work in the reactor always kept him busy.

Matchbox manipulated the box that was her namesake in her hooves, apparently after a fire when she was younger it wasn’t allowed to actually be filled with matches anymore. "I'm sorry for the wait ladies, the girl's parents are always quite busy."

"It's no trouble." Mum said politely.

The door open, I looked eagerly, and my heart nearly skipped a beat. Topaz, the Overmare, stepped in, her daughter bouncing after her. I didn't know the filly's name, I just figured mine out that morning, along with my special talent, Bandage, a cruddy name if there ever was one, Topaz had picked it out.

The blue filly with a rabbit foot cutie mark smiled at me nervously, her eyes not quite meeting mine, and I made my best attempt at a friendly smile.

"Bandage," Matchbox said, "this is Token, your new friend."

I tried to say something but only managed to let out a nervous squeak. Token looked off to the side and extended a forehoof, I shook it.

*2 years later*

School was done for the day, finally, I was waiting outside the seven year old class for Token, she'd probably slept through half her class again.

"History is so boring." she yawned as she stepped out.

"Just get through it, I want you to graduate a year behind me like normal."

"Whatever." she grumbled.

"Your mum is gonna get mad if she finds out you've been sleeping in class."

She chuckled, "Yeah, but what's she gonna do, exile me?"

We both laughed as we continued towards my parents' apartment, where we always spent time after school. Token's mum was still the Overmare, which kept her in her office for nearly 2 day stretches. Her dad ran the agricultural deck, and usually stayed there in case of emergency, much like my dad, who usually stayed on the maintenance deck.

Token usually stayed the night at my place, it happened so often Mum had moved a second cot into my room.

"Well if it isn't the albino nerd and mommy's little good luck charm." the sing song voice of a much hated bully called out.

Lemon Zest was standing behind us, sneering, his meek friend Hops standing next to him, looking more embarrassed than intimidating. Zest was a year older than me, Hops was my age, and while Hops was shy and nice, Zest tended to be a complete ass.

"Sod off Zest," I spat, "I'm not in the mood for your crap."

"Awe," he jeered, "did I hurt the poor cunt's feelings?"

I blinked, I didn't know what that word meant, but I really didn't like it.

"What did you just call me?"

"A cunt." he said again with his cruel smile.

I glared at him, something was building up, I was angry, but, really, really angry.

"Shut your mouth Zest." I said through gritted teeth.

"Or what cunt?"

I was on top of him now, his face and my hooves getting bloodier with each swing, Token and Hops were working to pull me off him, then I felt a grown-up's foreleg wrap around me and yanked me off.

"Jiminy Bandage!" my mentor Syringe said, "What the heck's gotten into you?"

He set me aside and said something into the intercom nearby Token sat next to me and helped me clean the blood off my hooves. A Security officer came running around the corner a few minutes later, Zest's mother.

"Is my baby alright?" she asked frantically.

"He's fine," Syringe said, "he's out cold and he's got a few loose teeth, but he'll be fine."

"I'm sorry." I whispered, Syringe nodded and patted my shoulder, Zest's mother picked up her child and ran him home.

*2 years later*

"You just pucker your lips and lean in." Token said.

"I dunno Token," I mumbled nervously, "us practicing together is kinda weird..."

"Oh come on!" she said, "You want Hops to think you're a good kisser don't you?"

I blushed, I didn't know what to think about that. I graduated yesterday, started my job training this morning, and this afternoon I was matched with Hops as a pre-mating relationship. I liked Hops, he was nice, but I didn't know if I liked him enough to be kissing him.

"All right." I mumbled.

We closed our eyes and leaned closer cautiously, our lips touching in what I thought must've been the most awkward practice kiss of all time.

"Well that was... odd." I muttered when it was finished.

Token blushed and coughed nervously.

"Yeah," she chuckled nervously, "never doin' that again."

I cocked an eyebrow, "You're acting weird."

"Nuh-uh!" she said, still blushing.

"Yes-huh! You're acting all nervous and stuff."

She coughed again and looked away, letting her long mane fall over her face and hide her eyes.

"Whatever." I said with a shrug, I trotted across the room and fell into my cot. "Night mate."

"Yeah... night."

*2 years later*

Fertility check, the day every 12 year old dreads.

Hops and I sat next to each other in Syringe's office, I had my forehoof resting on his. Syringe had already tested me, fertile, I had never been so relieved, we were waiting on Hops' results, he'd asked me to stay because he was so nervous.

"I'm sure it'll be fine Hops," I said for the fourth time, "there's only a one in two hundred chance."

He nodded, absently staring. Syringe trotted out of the test room, a grim frown on his face, my heart sank.

"I'm so sorry Hops." Syringe said.

Hops dropped his head, "When will I have to go?" he asked quietly.

"In a few months, when all the transfer paperwork is done, it won't be too bad son, you won't have to lay until you're sixteen."

"Right." Hops muttered silently, he looked at me, blinking back tears, "Thanks for staying Bandage."

*4 years later*

I was doing vertical crunches on the hanging bar in my room. I was confined to my quarters again, for fighting with Zest, like always. Ironically, by punishing me, they gave me more time to exercise, which made beating him up easier.

Token had managed to lessen my sentence to 2 weeks, and she signed up as my guard so we could still hang out on a regular basis. She'd been acting odd lately though, she and her match got along well but she always complained about him, and she would get nervous and started laughing like an idiot when we sparred and I pinned her.

"How many are you on mate?" she asked as she trotted in.

I strained for the last crunch and sighed with relief when I was able to relax, "That was number one hundred and fifty."

"Damn Bandage." she trotted up to me and got her face very close to mine as I hung upside-down.

"You know, I find physical fitness very attractive."

I blinked, confused, and she cracked up and started laughing.

"I'm messin' mate," she chuckled, "the look on your face, priceless!"

I chuckled and swung myself down, landing neatly. I grabbed the towel off my bed with my magic and trotted to my bathroom.

"What'cha doin'?" she asked.

"Taking my post workout shower, like always." I said as I worked the valves. "Care to join me?"

She stood there, blushing and mumbling incoherently before I grinned mischievously.

"The look on your face," I teased, "priceless!"

She rolled her eyes and shut my bathroom door with her magic.

*2 years later*

The odd mix of pleasure and pain ached through my body as I lay on top of him, Hops grunted a bit and I moaned softly as we climaxed. He pulled out of me and I rolled over next to him.

“Not bad.” I panted.

“Well thanks,” he joked, “glad to know I’ve got my technique down.”

I sighed, “I hate that you have to be down here doing this.”

He sat up and shrugged, “They let us do other stuff, I still get to brew drinks, most of us just consider sex one of the messier parts of the job.”

I hugged around his midsection, rested my head on his chest and looked up at him with a coy smile. “I hope you don’t consider me messy.”

He grinned and nuzzled me, “Never.”

I closed my eyes and rested there, taking in his scent, he always smelled like fresh lager, and now it was mixed with sweat, but sweet smelling sweat.

“How’s your new match?” he asked.

I sighed, “Same as the last three, a complete ass.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Why’d you have to go and be sterile? You were the only good guy I’ve ever been paired with.”

He chuckled, “Believe me, not my choice.”

“Sorry,” I muttered, “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know, that’s why I laughed.”

I sighed sadly, “Think they’d make an exception and let me marry you without being matched and without the chance of procreation?”

“Hmm,” he said, sarcastically scratching his chin, “a sterile male prostitute and a young doctor, breaking nearly sixty eight regulations and wrecking the entire stable’s tradition of marriage. Yeah, I think they’d go for it.”

I chuckled, “No need to be an ass about it.”

He glanced up at the clock above his bed, “My shift at the bar starts in a fifteen minutes, care for a round two?”

I laughed as I clambered on top of him, “Think you can last fifteen minutes stud?”

He laughed as well and pulled me close to him, “For you baby? I can last sixteen minutes.”

I smiled, “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

*4 months later*

My first kill, so to speak. I’d been doing surgery on an elderly mare, removing a cancerous tumor from one of her lungs, she hadn’t made it. I sat in the office, my head in my hooves, Syringe was outside telling the family. I felt a hoof rest on my shoulder, I looked up and saw Token smiling at me.

“You alright mate?”

I shook my head and she hugged me.

“Well, at least you’ll have something to tell lover boy next time you go to see him.”

“Shut up.”

“About you being madly in love with Hops or you talking to him about this unfortunate incident?”

I tackled her and pinned her to the floor. I couldn’t help getting angry.

“Shut, up.” I growled.

She just smiled, “You sitting on my like this is getting me all hot and bothered.”

I put my face up to hers and glared, “This is not a time for jokes, now shut up before I get carried away.”

She grinned wider, “Who says I’m joking?” She licked my cheek, “And you getting carried away sounds excellent.”

“You’re sick.” I said as a got off of her.

“Oh I know.” she said smugly.

I sat back at the desk and sunk my head onto it.

"Aww Bandage," she said, hugging me again, "I'm just kidding. I can't imagine how hard this is for you."

"It happens." I mumbled. "She was old, sick. It was a risky operation too."

"Mhmm, making excuses may be fine for other doctors, but I know you, and you always put the blame on yourself."

I teared up, then hugged her back, "Damn you Token."

"Oh hush." she soothed.

*1 year later*

The urge to bash my brains out on the desk in front of me was becoming overwhelming. I didn't have a problem with the new Overmare, but she apparently loved the sound of her own voice. I'd been called in an hour ago, and I was still in the introduction.

"As I was saying," she continued, "I believe your constant visitation of the prostitute Hops is causing problems in your relationships."

I sighed deeply, "Listen, Hops is a good friend, and I just happen to be a regular client. I gave up any delusions of a relationship with him the day he was tested."

She frowned, "Then why the constant visits?"

I shrugged, "I'm a young mare with sexual urges that need to be satisfied and he's a young stallion that is very good at satisfying said urges. I'm not his only regular, as I'm sure you know."

"Well, that's settled then, I suppose, but it doesn't explain the constant failures with all your matches."

"Perhaps it's because Matchbox would think that a square peg and a round hole would make a perfect couple?"

"That's not quite fair Bandage," she scolded, "your friendship with Token has lasted many years."

I shrugged again, "We all make lucky guesses from time to time."

*3 weeks later*

Sleeping was proving difficult, all the excitement of Token's birthday still had me jazzed up. It'd been a good day, lots of drinking, lots of dancing.

I heard hoofsteps, then Token nudged my shoulder.

"What's up Toky?"

"Can't sleep."

"Me neither."

She clambered onto my cot and scooted in next to me. I smiled and hugged her.

"Happy eighteenth birthday mate."

"Thanks mate." she said tiredly, she was snoring shortly after.

I was a bit pissed actually, Token being next to me would cut into my midnight masturbation. I wasn't proud of it, but I was banned from the brothel, I hated my new match with a blind passion, and I had an itch that needed scratching.

It wasn't the sex I missed though, frankly it seemed... off for some reason. I just needed an orgasm every once in awhile or my stress would catch up with me.

*3 months later*

Token was still crying, but at least not bawling like before, she'd composed herself for the funeral. The small arrangement of Topaz's family and friends gathered around the incinerator. She'd committed suicide, for whatever reason, and instead of doing it cleanly and asking to be euthanized in medical, she did it herself, with her late husband's straight razor. Token was an orphan now, she was old enough for her own apartment, but I'd set up some special living arrangements with the Overmare that let her stay with me.

Matchbox was in attendance, she and Topaz had been close friends. Her usual cheerful look was gone, she looked pale, her coat and mane were mangy, and her eyes were sunken in and bloodshot. The old arson was just staring blankly at the casket, not even she could take enjoyment in watching the flames lick at it.

Token cried the rest of the night as I held her, she didn't calm down until it was morning and I had to go to work.

***

Faces, so many faces. Dead ponies, my dead ponies, my kills. I remembered every single one vividly, the downside of being a sniper, seeing each face clearly in the scope. They were bad ponies, raiders, I even spotted the mare that I assumed raped Shaky. But I felt terrible for each one.

I was in a hallway of sorts, but it was dark, except for well lit framed pictures of the ponies. I found the raider that had scarred my cheek, right next to her was the buck that scarred my eye. The pictures weren't in any chronological order, which I found odd.

"Two of my favorites." a voice said, eerily similar to mine, but no accent, and a tone that seemed sadistic.

I turned to look, at myself? I was standing in front of me, my barding on, my face scarred and smiling wickedly, Victory strapped to my back.

"What, the, fuck." I said. A severe understatement, considering this was by far the strangest moment of my life.

The other me chuckled, "This is a bit odd for me too, I'm not used to visitors."

"Who the hell are you?"

She laughed, "I'm you, you're me, we're us."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm you Bandage, a part of you anyways, the part that finds killing..." she sighed and smiled warmly at one of the pictures, "exhilarating."

"That's sick."

She shrugged, "It's true, that little note of satisfaction you always get in the back of you're head from a well placed shot, that's me. Or that feeling that wells up in you that makes you, hmm, let's say, ram a knife in somepony's skull, or disembowel a pony..." she smiled sickly, "or burn a few to death."

"You bitch." I said through gritted teeth.

"Yes, insult yourself, that totally doesn't make you seem crazy."

"I've got a split personality, I obviously am crazy."

She scratched her chin and shrugged, "Valid point I suppose. But to your credit I was born after your days in the stable were through, so it's the wasteland making you crazy. And the little battles we've had the past few weeks have made me all big and strong."

She giggled, but not in a cute way, she somehow made it sound diabolical, "This is fantastic, now that you know I'm here, I'll finally have someone to chat with, yay!"

She ran up and hugged me, I tried to wriggle away the instant I smelled it, she reeked of death, literally. The scent of burnt flesh, decay, and blood. I knew this was just my mind, but it was real enough to freak me out and disgust me.

"Now," she said, "I believe that filthy blue hussy has been trying to wake you up."

"Filthy-" I started, before reeling back into consciousness.

~~~

I was on my back, on metal, moving, Token was standing above me, looking down with concern.

"Another nightmare?"

More than you can imagine, "Nah, just some odd memories, where are we?"

"On the sledge, almost to Tragedy."

I rolled onto my hooves, what I saw in the distance was amazing. Stripe had described it as a town, it was more like a city, large structures of metal, smaller houses made of concrete, and a massive neon sign resting on the tallest building that spelled out TRAGEDY.

"Damn." I muttered.

"Eeya," Stripe said, "looks like Razor's added a couple houses, couple merchants have probably moved in. Always nice to see the old girl growin'."

"Can we speed up?" I asked, eagerly staring at the city.

"Bitch," he said jokingly, "you wanna pull?"

"Not so much." I smiled.

"Then sit yer ass down and shut the hell up."

The city had a gate, two guards met us as we approached.

"Hey Stripe!" the mare on the left said brightly. Her drawling accent was exotic, to me anyways.

"Sup Tini, boss lady in?"

"Yeah, she been waitin' for ya since she heard 'bout Oasis."

"How the hell did she hear about that?"

"PON3 gave MYSTIKZ a tip and he ain't shut up about it." the buck said, "That pretty white one the sniper?"

Stripe chuckled, "Eeya, that's Bandage."

The buck extended a hoof and I shook it, "Heard you can tear shit up, more power to ya for killin' off them damn Vipers, fuckers been harassing settlements round here for weeks."

"Hear that," the voice in my head said, "we tear shit up, I'm a bit proud of that, aren't you?"

"Shut up." I thought back.

"You're no fun, but I'm impressed at how quickly you've picked up direct communication."

"Shut, up."

"Fine." she sighed.

Unsettling mental breakdown over, though I'd been shaking this fellow's hoof for quite some time and was staring off blankly.

"Sorry," I muttered, "spaced off there."

"Right. Anyways, we'll send word ahead, have em get yer suite ready. Need a second bed?"

"Yeah," Stripe said, "thanks man."

Stripe undid the harness and shrugged it off, we started entering when Tini stopped him.

"Oughta come see me later big guy."

He smiled and got closer, "That sounds great, but I got a feelin' Razor wouldn't appreciate you doin' patrols with a limp."

She laughed slyly, "Shouldn't be a problem stud, Ah got bar duty the rest of the week."

He chuckled, "Might take ya up on that."

"You know where t' find me." the peach mare said in a very low, suggestive tone.

"Friend of yours?" I asked him when we were out of earshot.

"Yeah, guess you could say that, met her about two years ago, we hook up every time I'm in town."

"She seemed nice."

"Yeah, Tini's a peach, no pun intended. Damn good lay too."

"I'm going to hit the market," Token said, "we're starting to run low on food."

"Pick up some healing potions as well love, we're dangerously low."

Stripe fished through his bag, pulled out a sack of caps and passes it to her.

"Go t' Quick Fix's stand and pick me up some Med-X and some Rage, tell him Stripe sent ya and he oughta give a discount."

"Alright." Token said trotting off.

"More chems?" I whispered sternly.

He laughed, "Ain't like I'm addicted, I always keep a hefty supply of Stampede on me, you know, in case a mob of ferals or a few pissed of manticores attack."

"Right." I muttered.

"Oh let the buck have his fun, if he wants to make himself a better killing machine then let him, then sit back and watch the chaos unfold."

I didn't answer her, me, whatever. I could almost sense internal pouting for not being told off.

"Oh shit." I muttered, "Token's birthday is tomorrow."

Stripe chuckled, "I got the perfect idea for a gift I'm bettin' she's just gonna love."

"And what would that be?"

"Gimme a couple hours in my loft and I'll get it sorted out."

There was a streak of grey and purple, and suddenly Stripe was on his ass being relentlessly hugged by a pony with bat wings.

"Stripe!" she exclaimed, "I'd heard you were back in Trottingham, shame on you for not coming to visit sooner!"

He hugged back and stood up on his hind legs. "Hey Nyx. Sorry 'bout that, the mares I now keep company with have been holding me up a few days."

She turned to look at me, she was wearing very thick welding goggles, but I could see a faint amber shine from behind them. She smiled a wide, fanged grin and leapt at me, hugging me with nigh bone crushing strength.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Madam Nyx, I run the brothel."

"Nice to meet you too." I coughed out.

"Oh, sorry about that," she said as she released me, "forget my own strength sometimes!"

"How exactly did you get like that?"

She chuckled to herself, "When I was young, I always wanted to be 'an exotic mare of the night' and when I was about ten, I got my wish, I crash landed in some killing joke and poof, batpony. Now at the time, I didn't see the downside, but when I returned home, my whole tribe that I was some sort of demon. So, they tried to kill me, and I flew away. Flew over the Divide, made it to Port, and the Walkers took me in almost instantly. Captain Dot practically adopted me."

"Two years later, in Flank, little Stripe and Little Ziggy popped out, and I was tasked with foalsitting the two little rapscallions while mummy and daddy were off laying siege to sea raiders. About four years ago when this place was good and set up, Stripe asked me to come to Tragedy and help Miss Razor run things, and here I am."

A young batpony assaulted Stripe next.

"Uncle Stripe!" he said brightly.

"Hey Vespers!" Stripe said, throwing the colt onto his back.

"Can we go play hoofball or somethin'?"

"As fun as that sounds I gotta go see the boss lady, tell ya what though, show my little friend Shaky round town for me."

"Okay!" he exclaimed, wooshing off Stripe's back and landing next to Shaky, who nervously cringed away.

"My son Vespers." Nyx commented as we left the two, "Apparently my condition is hereditary."

"Well, well, well," a voice said from above, "look what the cat dragged in."

"Razor," Stripe said with a smile, looking up at the black griffon leaning on the railing of the balcony of the largest building, "get yer ass down here and give Stripe a hug!"

She laughed, she seemed young, like a teenager, "Why don't you come up here old man? I'm in a meeting, and I sure would love it if they could see one of our founders is a huge zony."

"Lookin' to intimidate?"

"Is there any other way to go about politics?"

He laughed, "S'pose not, Nyx you mind givin' Bandage the tour?"

"It would be my pleasure," she nudged me with a leathery wing, "come come, we've places to see."

We walked through the streets, she pointed out the brothel, and the Mystical Beats club right next to it, we'd just left the residential area, the tall buildings were full of V.I.P suites, she nodded her head at the market, Token spotted me and waved. Then she pointed out what was in my mind the greatest building ever, the bath house.

"Goddesses. I could really use a good wash."

"It's open twenty four hours, you can just go on in."

It was tempting, beyond tempting, I was craving an actual bath, but I had to resist, for now.

"No, I should wait for my marefriend."

"Well that's sweet of you."

"How does something like this get started?"

"The brothel used to be run by Razor's father, who had several political contacts in the Union. When Stripe got here he helped Razor kill her father, she inherited all of his wealth, and got hold of his contacts. Then Razor went about the process of extorting, bribing, and intimidating more people, and earning quite a few favors. We set up the town, business started flowing, merchants moved in, plus we get paid substantial amounts of caps for keeping patrols on trade routes by the Union. Basically, we make a shit load of caps and call in favors for metal and concrete. There was an abandoned stable nearby that we salvaged water talismans and pipes from."

"Amazing."

"Yes, for such a young thing, Razor has excellent knowledge of business and politics. Stripe's muscle also helped quite a bit, Razor had him kick quite a few asses to get things done."

She laughed, "I believe I've talked more than enough, I'll let you enjoy yourself."

"Thanks Nyx."

I trotted over to Mystical Beats and went inside. The entrance room was a large bar, and past that was a set of thick sound proof double doors, though the soft rhythmic pound of bass was still getting through. I went to the bar, Tini was mixing drinks.

"Hey there." she said with a smile, "what's yer poison?"

"Surprise me."

"Can do," she chuckled, "so, how'd ya meet Stripe?"

"He saved us from slavers, about on hour after we left our stable."

She nodded while she worked several bottles of booze with her hooves and tail. "Yeah, big man saves folks more than he likes to admit. Modesty I figure," she chuckled to herself, "don't mind takin' credit for his bedroom prowess though. Then again, credit's due in that particular area."

I rolled my eyes and she laughed, pouring the fresh mixture into a cocktail glass and sliding it towards me.

"Drink up, tell me what ya think."

I took a sip, it was delicious, fruity, and the slight burn of alcohol was more complementing the beverage than making it unpleasant.

"Fantastic, what is it?"

"Mah own special recipe, call it Peach Tini’s Miracle Tonic."

"Well Peach Tini," I said, raising my glass, "you mix one hell of a drink."

"Thank ya miss. You oughta check out the club, Ah'm sure DJ MYSTIKZ'll wanna gab at'cha."

"Maybe I will."

"Right through them doors."

I nodded, belted down my drink and trotted through the double doors. The sound hit me like a sledge hammer. The bass causing my organs to vibrate, my eyes bulge, and my ears throb. The wub, the bass, the electronic rhythm, it was... intoxicating. Even the floor was pulsating, but with light, and dancers. All looked drugged off their mind and more enthralled in the music than they were with dancing, unaware of each other's presence.

I moved to the edge of the mob and closed my eyes, letting the beat move through me, as stupid as that sounds. I stood there for an unknown period of time, bobbing my head and swaying, when someone nuzzled my flank a little too affectionately. I wheeled around, ready to cold cock somepony, but it was just Token, smiling at me.

"Enjoying yourself?" she yelled, though compared to the music it could've been a whisper.

I got closer and yelled back, "Yeah, this is great!"

"This is some odd music."

I grinned and started bobbing again, for some reason my ass had taken up the beat as well, bouncing left to right with the rhythm.

"I love it!" I yelled.

Someone nudged me, a guard, she grinned as I continued to sway.

"MYSTIKZ would like to speak with you, follow me please."

I nodded and motioned for Token to follow, and bobbed my way through the crowd. The guard led us through a velvet rope and up some staircases to the booth above the sound system, she opened the door to let us through and shut it behind us.

I was actually disappointed the booth was mostly sound proof, and the music was merely a soft throbbing whisper.

DJ MYSTIKZ stood on his hind legs, stabilizing himself on his equipment and working several complicated dials and knobs with his magic. He had large headphones on, and was bobbing with the beat in his ear. He glanced at us and held up one hoof, then switched out records and adjusted knobs before resting the headphones on the equipment and turning to greet us.

His coat was a dull grey, but his mane was a vibrant gold, his eyes were covered by odd looking green bug eyed goggles, and he had a squashed and shredded top hat resting on his head with his horn protruding from a hole in the brim. His cutie mark was a record with a large jagged scratch going through the center.

"Ladies," he said with a smile, the black light in the room making his teeth shine like neon, "have I heard some things about you. Kicking raider ass all over the place, surviving odds that would easily kill most, and PON3 wasn't lying when he said you were pretty little things."

"Might I ask, what are your names?"

"I'm Bandage," I said, "she's Token."

"MYSTIKZ," he said, taking off his hat and bowing, "at your service, a pleasure to meet you both."

This guy was suave, cocky, it was kinda funny.

"We should tear out his throat and take those goggles."

"Quiet you."

"It's nice to put a name to Trottingham's newest legend, makes the news reports so much easier, I'd love to get an interview actually, if you find the time."

"I'll think about it."

"Noticed you enjoying the music." he said with a smug grin.

"Oh it's fantastic! Never heard anything like it."

"Well, since you like it so much..." his horn glowed green and his magic turned a few knobs, then he pulled out a jack cable and plugged it into my PipBuck, and unplugged it after a few seconds.

"There you are," he said brightly, "every song I've got, oh and have these ear pieces, gives you the club experience."

I took the ear buds and put them in my saddlebags, then a pair of goggles smacked me in the face.

"What the hell?" I said with annoyance.

"Complimentary, think of it as a thanks for agreeing to the interview."

The goggles were like his, but with deep red lenses, I put them on but let them rest on my forehead. I nodded thanks, MYSTIKZ smirked, put on his headphones and waved us out.

***

A warm bath has always been something I've enjoyed, a warm bath with a lover, I found out, was at least ten times better.

Token and I relaxed across from each other in the long pool, submerged except for our heads, which we'd already washed the grime off of.

We were in a VIP bath, separated from the rest of the bath house, Stripe had apparently called ahead and told them we'd be coming.

I sighed, the relief spilling through me was ridiculous, muscle tension I didn't know I had was melting away, along with a thin layer of dirt.

Token smiled at me coyly and took a breath before disappearing under the water. She emerged right in front of my face and smiled again before kissing me. I wrapped my forehooves around her midsection and pulled her closer. She moaned softly and opened her mouth, our tongues locked. This might best describe my idea of paradise, Token, warm water, and sloppy make outs.

She broke away, smiling once more, and submerged herself again. To hell with making out, what she was doing with her tongue now was far better.

I leaned back, resting my head on the side, closed my eyes, and let the pleasure pulse through my body.

Token came up for air and rested against me, kissing up my neck.

I sighed deeply and held her tight, nuzzling her affectionately.

"Remind me to thank Stripe for setting this up." I said.

"Oh I will." she said.

Suddenly she was giggling.

“What?” I asked.

“You’re the ‘newest legend of Trottingham’,” she snickered, “such a cheesy thing for a pony to say.”

“Yeah, but it gives us some good press I suppose, could mean more work in the future.”

“Hmph, and compared to Oasis, mercenary work should be a cake walk.”

I nodded and slid under the water, preparing to return the favor.

***

Token went to Mystical Beats after our bath for a drink, I had Nyx direct me towards Stripe’s suite. The tall building had an elevator, sort of, it was a well built platform connected to a complicated network of pulleys. Stripe was in the ‘Founder Suite’ at the top of the building, apparently each of the building had one. The room was large, and interestingly decorated. Carved masks and ornamental weapons hung from the walls, several different guns scattered here and there, and a rack of pony skulls simply labeled ‘fuckers’.

Stripe climbed part way down the stairs on the far side of the room and looked at me. He was wearing thick rimmed reading glasses and looked utterly ridiculous.

"Hey boss, come on up I got somethin' to show ya."

I nodded and followed, the loft of the suite was lined with bookshelves, each one packed with books in pristine condition.

I gave an impressed whistle, "Nice collection big guy."

"Thanks." he said as he trotted to a desk in the corner, nodding me over.

On the desk were three books, 'Sexual Anatomy of Different Pony Races', '500 Positions to Spice Up Your Love Life', and 'Unicorn Sensuality'.

"Uh-"

"Think of these books as a gift from me to you to her." he said as he readjusted his glasses, "Now, I've marked pages of specific interest to your situation with red sticky notes, I recommend studying thoroughly, though I'm guessing that shouldn't be a problem for ya."

I coughed nervously and opened the first marked page in 'Unicorn Sensuality', "Guess it couldn't hurt..."

He chuckled, "Trust me on this one. Oh, an' read 'em somewhere else, I got a lady friend comin' over in a bit."

"Right," I said, rolling my eyes and scooping the books into my bag, "enjoy your date big guy."

"I always do." he said mischievously.

***

I was in the bar of Mystical Beats sitting in a booth closest to the door of the dance floor, listening to the faint throb of the music as I read. Shaky was curled up asleep on the soft seat next to me.

Token was at the bar, getting utterly smashed, I'd had to shoo away a few bucks that were getting a bit too cheeky, but otherwise she was enjoying herself.

I'd wondered why a city as large as Tragedy had looked so empty during the day, and the answer was obvious, its citizens preferred the night life.

The club was packed, both the bar and the dance room, I'd been invited by multiple ponies to multiple parties all over town, and there was literally a line outside the brothel. Truly a deviant's paradise.

I was on the third book, 500 positions, and roughly 143 of them pertained to us. I'd done extensive study on the first two, Unicorn Sensuality was by far the most helpful, but this one was proving extensive and a little too exotic for my taste.

A claw tapped the table in front of me, catching my attention, Razor was sitting across the table from me.

"Hello." I said absently, looking back to my book.

"Hey, mind if I smoke?"

"Sure."

She lit a cigarette and let out a relieved sigh.

"Bandage right?"

I nodded, vigorously studying the '69' position.

"Stripe said some good things about you, said you were a bit of a bad ass."

I chuckled, "I'm sure he exaggerated a bit."

"Undoubtedly," she said, tapping her cigarette on the table's ashtray, "but, I've come to learn that there's always some truth in what the old man says."

"Any reason in particular you're telling me this?"

She shrugged, "Just making small talk."

Shaky stirred, sat up and took a sip of my scotch, then rested her head on my lap. I massaged her back softly until she was snoring again and took a sip myself.

"Cute kid."

"She has her moments."

"She was brawling with half the kids in town earlier, good thing Vespers was there to stop her or we might have a few dead ones."

I set my book aside and looked at Razor, slightly concerned.

"What were they fighting about?"

The griffon shook her head and took another long drag before grinding the cigarette into the tray, "Someone made fun of her speech impediment from what Nyx told me, little fuckers."

"They c-called me s-s-stupid," Shaky muttered, drunkly and sleepily, "so I b-b-beat the shit outta 'em."

She giggled a bit, "Teach 'em t' f-f-fuck with Sh-shaky."

She sat down in my lap and tried to take another sip of scotch but I levitated the glass out of her reach.

"I think you've had enough sweetie."

Shaky just pouted and rested her head on the table.

"You're about ready for bed huh?"

"Nuh-uh!" the filly protested, "It's n-not even m-midnight."

I scooped my books into my saddlebags, belted down my drink, levitated the agitated filly onto my back, and said goodbye to Razor. Shaky was swearing, I think, it was mostly drunk and incoherent, the price of poor judgement on my part.

I collected Token on my way out, and helped the poor thing stumble back to the suite.

Stripe was in bed with Tini when we arrived, not active thankfully, but asleep. Stripe had his forelegs wrapped around her and she was snuggled against him. He blinked a tired eye open and brought a forehoof to his mouth. I nodded and quietly helped Token into bed.

I set Shaky in the large empty space of the bed before crawling in next to Token, but she just scooted up and settled in between us.

“You could snap the little drunk one’s neck while she sleeps and have time to reach your weapons before Stripe even knows what’s going on.”

“Can I please just sleep in piece, you know without you talking or plaguing me with horrific monsters?”

“Oh sweetie, I don’t give you the nightmares, that’s your subconscious fucking with you, for some reason you feel guilty about killing ponies that deserve it.”

“Just shut up dammit!” I said aloud.

The room stirred, everypony looked at me, my face flushed and I looked down.

“The fuck are you looking at huh?!” I yelled.

Token shifted, even in her drunken stupor she managed to look concerned.

“Babe?” she said softly.

“I would recommend making a hasty escape.” my crazy offered. I complied, rolling out of the bed and exiting the suite at a near gallop. Way to make myself look less insane.

I needed a drink, or a bath, or something dammit, something to take my mind off this crazy bullshit..

“Move over,” she said, “momma knows what we need.”

“What the hell is that supposed to-”

Then I sank back, and down, and into a box of sorts, staring out of my eyes, but from a distance. There was, me, the other me, hovering above, curled into a ball.

“What the fuck is going on? What the fuck did you do?!”

“I took control silly, I’ve done it before, just never completely. Before, I just slightly guided your actions, now that I’m strong enough I can toss you down into the cage and do whatever I please with our body.”

She went about collecting and equipping our gear, which was in the locker just outside the door, then stepped into the elevator and trotted outside when it reached the bottom floor. She steered our body to Razor’s office and trotted in casually, approaching Razor’s desk.

“What can I do for you Bandage?” Razor asked, looking up from her papers.

“I want a job,” the voice that wasn’t mine said, “a bounty, something, I don’t give a shit. I just want to go shoot someone.”

The young griffon smiled behind the veil of cigarette smoke and fished a paper out of her desk, setting it down in front of us.

“This look good to you?”

“Raider camp,” the other me read aloud, “two miles east of here, seven hundred caps?” Our mouth stretched into a cocky grin that felt completely unfamiliar to me, “Piece of cake.”

“Excellent,” Razor said, passing a pencil to us, “sign at the bottom please.”

She signed, even the signature wasn’t mine, and trotted out of the office.

***

Slaughter, total slaughter, the best way to describe what she did to that raider camp. She’d picked off the few guards cleanly, and quietly, and then stormed the rest with the pistol and knife, mutilating the faces of a few in the most horrific ways I’d ever witnessed. There’d been one survivor, a filly, close to Shaky’s age, a raider, but a kid nonetheless. She’d taken a shot to the gut and was now begging for the last few minutes she had. The thing controlling my body just grinned maliciously and shot the child in the face. A buck whipped around the corner and shot us in the shoulder, she barely flinched and shot wildly in his direction with the pistol, dropping him after a few shots.

We limped back, I berated her for the murder and for not bringing any healing potions, she just mentally jeered at me. Razor was waiting patiently at her desk, the other me said the job was done, the griffon smiled and set a sack of caps on the desk, then set the paper we’d signed into a filing cabinet.

“I’m tired,” she whined once we left the building, “you take back over.”

“I’m not sure how,” I said angrily, “you didn’t necessarily explain it.”

“Simple, wait for the other one to get tired and will yourself out of the cage.”

I thought hard, trying to push my way up, and with some effort it worked, the process was odd, my mental self literally just grabbed hold of her and tossed her back in the cage, then I was jerked back into consciousness.

I limped to the suite, stormed past the medley of concerned friends and went to the bathroom mirror, then dug the bullet lodged in my shoulder out and sucked down a healing potion. I was panting, sitting with my forelegs on the sink and staring blankly into the mirror, pulling bullets out of myself still hurt like all hell. Token peeked her head in with a look crossed between hung over and concerned slapped on her face.

“You okay?” she asked softly.

“I’m fine!” I snapped, “Just go back to bed.”

“Alright.” she said at almost a whisper, giving me one last concerned glance before trotting out of the room.

I wiped the blood off the floor and trotted back out into the hallway, stripping my gear and tossing it back in the locker, all except my goggles, which I’d forgotten were still on my head. Shaky caught up with me as I started to descend in the elevator. She winced as we stepped outside into the early morning sun and I passed her my goggles.

“Wear those, they’re shaded, it’ll help a bit.”

“Thanks,” she muttered, “why d-does my head hurt so d-damn much?”

“You’re hungover.”

“What’s that?”

“It means you don’t feel good because you drank too much last night.”

“Drank t-too much what?”

“Scotch I think, you were through your second glass and well on your way to completing a third before I walked us home.”

“That yummy s-stuff? What was in it?”

“It’s alcohol sweetie, it’s bad for you. Frankly I shouldn’t have let you have any but I figured you could handle it considering how you burn through smokes.”

“Well how d-do I make my f-fuckin’ head quit hurting?”

“There’s a diner in town, we’ll go get you some greasy food and some juice, that always helps Token out.”

“Kay.” she said, trying to walk on three legs while she rubbed her temple with the fourth, “What was up with you last night?”

I paused and scrunched my face, fighting the urge to snap at her, “It’s complicated, just leave it at that.”

“Okay.”

We stepped into the diner, which was almost completely deserted, the mare at the front counter greeted us with a smile.

“Hey there!” she drawled, “What can I getch’all?”

“Do you have eggs?”

“Yes’m.”

“Bacon?”

“Yes’m.”

“Alright, two orders of that please, any juice?”

“No ma’am, but I can mix a bit o’ RadAway with some water an’ it’ll taste like juice.”

“Water’s fine thanks, two glasses please.”

“Alright then, that’ll be fifty caps an’ it’ll be right with ya, take a seat wherever ya please.”

I gave her the caps and guided Shaky to a booth in the corner, she sat across from me, pouting and rubbing her temples with her hooves.

I sighed and leaned over the table, “Let me see your head.”

She recoiled a bit, “Why?”

“I’m going to cast a light relief spell, that should ease your headache a bit while we wait.”

She nodded reluctantly and leaned forward, I touched my horn to her head and casted the spell, she sighed with relief and slouched back in her seat comfortably.

“Why the fuck didn’t you just d-do that in the f-f-first p-place?”

“You’re not the only one having a rough morning kid.” I said with a small hint of agitation as I stared out the window.

“You hungover too?”

“No, but I had my body snatched from me last night and had to dig a bullet out of my shoulder this morning, which fucking hurts, so I’d appreciate it if you would just stay quiet for a bit!”

She pouted slightly and looked away, “Sorry.” she muttered.

I sighed again and rested my head on my hooves, “Don’t be Shaky, I’m just a bit off right now is all, rough night.”

A waitress placed our food in front of us a few minutes later, I ate slowly, picking over the meal, Shaky had greedily devoured it and already sucked down her water.

“You g-gonna finish that?” she said, staring at my food intently.

I ate the bacon but scooped the rest of the scrambled eggs on to her plate, “All yours.”

“So,” she said as she chewed her eggs, “what do you want to do today?”

“What do you mean?”

“I figure Token and Stripe aren’t g-gonna b-be up for awhile, we should go do something.”

“Well, I dunno. What do you want to do?”

“Can we go to the b-bath house? My m-mane is getting all ratty.”

I shrugged, “Sure, if you want.”

***

I sank my head in the warm water, letting dried filly blood wash off my face. Shaky worked my goggles back over my head as I emerged.

“They look b-better on you.” she said.

I shrugged and rested them just under my horn, Shaky stuck her tongue out and dove deeper into the pool.

It was odd to see her play without Stripe or other children around, but she was enjoying herself, swimming around the pool. I pulled the shaded lenses over my eyes and rested my head on the edge, trying to erase the stress of last night’s events. Someone nuzzled my cheek, I blinked my eyes open and smiled up at Token.

“Happy birthday love, sorry for snapping this morning.”

She hopped into the pool next to me and planted a kiss on my cheek, “It’s fine babe. What was up with you last night?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.” I said, nervously glancing away. She turned my head back to face her and pulled my goggles back up, looking me over with concern.

“I’m fine,” I lied, smiling what I hoped was a reassuring smile, “really.”

Still she stared, stroking the scar on my cheek, “Okay.” she said after awhile, not sounding the least bit convinced.

“Are you two g-gonna kiss?” Shaky asked, “T-tell me if you are cause I d-don’t wanna watch. Mare’s kissing all the time is kinda weird.”

Token pressed her nose up to mine and smiled, her gorgeous cobalt eyes locking with my red ones.

“I dunno,” she said, “I kinda wish I had a third party seat to watch the two of us go at it.”

Our lips locked next, then our tongues, a certain grey filly squealed with disgust.

“I t-told you to w-warn me dammit!”

I grinned at my mare as we broke away, then pressed my mouth to her ear, “I’ve learned a few things I want to show you tonight.” I whispered.

“Sounds nice,” she whispered back, “what time?”

“Whenever we can get the suite to ourselves.”

She rested her forehead on mine and hugged me, I hugged back and started kissing her again.

“D-d-dammit B-bandage!” Shaky yelled, “Warn me!”

***

Systematically pouncing on Token throughout the day was becoming my new favorite way to torture Shaky, and the actual pouncing wasn’t all that bad either. Token made for easy prey, she didn’t resist much, and the occasional bad touch was definitely spicing things up a bit. All a warm up for the main event later in the evening, which was looking to be excellent. I stopped eventually, not because I got bored of snogging, but because I gave Token the caps from the night before and ordered her to go shopping. Shaky was relieved, I was a bit disappointed, but found a new way to torture her and vent all my extra affection at once, I cuddled the crap out of her.

I’d let her go when she told me to, or when I sensed she was getting frustrated or scared, but once she relaxed I pounced again, cradling her in my hooves and nuzzling like a mad pony. It all stopped rather awkwardly as she giggled out “Stop it Mom!”

We both just stared, I was stunned, she was embarrassed beyond belief about the slip. She wriggled out of my grasp and backed away a bit, muttering apologies.

“It’s fine!” I reassured, “You just slipped is all, nothing to be embarrassed about! I called a teacher mom once by accident!”

She hung her head, and I saw tiny droplets of tears hitting the dirty carpet of the suite, “Your mom wasn’t dead though.” she said quietly.

I sighed and sat down next to her, scooping her into a hug, “Sweetie, making a slip like that isn’t disrespecting your mother, I’m sure she’d be fine with it.”

“I know,” she said, trying to hold back more tears, “it j-just reminded me of her, w-we used to p-p-play like that a lot...” she laughed and sobbed at the same time, “‘Cept b-back then I wasn’t so freaked out b-by t-t-touching.”

“Your mum must be so proud of you Shaky.”

“Why?” she asked, “I cry all the t-time.”

I chuckled a bit, “You’ve earned the right to cry as much as you want kid, you were put through so much shit, and most ponies would let that own them. You? You’re ten, and you’re doing the best you can to shrug it all off. Yeah, your mother is damn proud of you, your dad too.”

“You think?”

I squeezed a little tighter and nodded, “Why wouldn’t they be? You’re strong. I admire you a bit actually.”

“You’re teasing.”

I shook my head, “I’m serious. You’ve got more willpower than forty ponies to get up and dust yourself off after shit like that.”

She looked up at me with those teary golden eyes, I smiled down at her and wiped the tears away, then pushed her mane out of her face. She smiled back, then hugged me tight, pressing her face to my chest. We sat there for the longest time before Stripe came up and asked what was going on, at which point we broke away and awkwardly stammered excuses.

***

“I think I like Vespers.” Shaky said as I braided her mane later in the afternoon.

“The batpony colt? Do tell.”

“Well,” she started sheepishly, blushing a bit, “he’s kinda handsome, and he’s really n-nice to me, and he tried t-to stand up for me b-b-before I, you know...”

“Started beating the tar out of every snot nosed little shit that made fun of you?”

“Yeah.”

“I hope you’re not asking for advice, because I’m stumped on the whole young love thing. It was easy in my stable, get matched with someone you most likely hate and see where it takes you.”

“I just thought I’d t-tell you. Not like it m-m-matters anyways, we’re leaving t-town in a few d-days.”

“True,” I said, nodding, “but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to him about it.”

She shrugged, “I don’t even know if I wanna d-date a b-boy who’s ass I can kick.”

“You sure you can kick his ass? I’ve hugged his mother, she’s strong as a damn bear.”

“Wouldn’t m-matter, I’m still a b-better fighter, Daddy was in the Steel Rangers before he met Momma and he t-taught me how to fight. Lot’s of s-stuff about power armor too, b-but that’s never done me much good.”

I nodded as I continued my work, she’d only wanted one braid going down the side of her face but I wasn’t very good at this sort of thing.

“You d-done yet?” she asked.

“Almost, sorry about the wait, I’m kinda shitty at braiding.”

“It’s f-fine, wish I had a horn, I c-could do it myself.”

“Magic isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” I said as I finished the last braid and tied a knot on the end.

“B-bullshit, I’ve seen you use a gun and a knife at the same t-t-time. I’m stuck with jamming a p-pistol in my mouth and working the trigger with my t-t-tongue.”

“Think on the bright side of it sweetie, it’s strengthening your tongue, and one day you’re going to be able to make your partner very happy.”

“Eww! That’s gross!”

I shrugged, “It’s true though, I know Token would appreciate if my tongue work improved a bit.”

“Omigosh! Stop talking about this!”

“Then again the moaning probably means she doesn’t exactly dislike my work...”

She jammed her hooves against her ears, shut her eyes and shook her head with disgust, “Bandage that’s f-fuckin’ nasty and I don’t want to f-fuckin’ hear about it!”

I pulled her hooves away and gave her mane a good tousle, “Hush, I’m just teasing with you.”

“It’s still gross...” she mumbled.

I rolled my eyes and made my way up the stairs to the library.

“Where ya goin’?”

“Upstairs to read.”

“Can I come?”

“Sure.”

Shaky scrambled up the stairs after me and let out an impressed whistle as we reached the top of the stairs.

“The big guy certainly has a nice collection doesn’t he?”

“Yeah,” she said, looking over all the bookshelves, “think he’s got the D-daring Do b-b-books?”

“Oh, I’m positive that he does.” I laughed and trotted towards the bookshelf that someone had taken the time to line with velvet, Daring Do was carved into a brass plaque with almost no rust.

“Woah,” she said, “Stripe must really like Daring D-do.”

“I think he just wants them taken care of, it must’ve taken him ages to collect the full series in this condition.”

“Guess so, can you g-get me the Griffon’s Goblet?”

I carefully grabbed the book with my magic and rested it on the desk in the corner.

“Sweet,” she said, eagerly clambering into the chair at the desk, “waited forever to start this one.”

And there we sat, for a couple hours or so, me reading the last few positions Stripe had marked out in detail, Shaky reading a rather well written children’s book. Evening rolled around, Stripe came and collected her, clearing out the suite for Token and I, winning points, every damn day.

Token came up a bit after he left, smiling like an idiot, I told her to wait in the suite and that I’d be back up in a few minutes. There wasn’t anything I needed really, but I had a big sexy entrance planned that I didn’t want to skip.

***

Token had passed out shortly after our 2 hour romp was complete, I was holding her now as she smiled in an almost drunken daze and drooled slightly onto the bed which was covered in- well, let’s just say it was covered in something I enjoyed very much and leave it there.

It’d been good- no, fuck that, more than good, it’d been fucking fantastic, for both of us. I was utterly drained afterwards, mentally and physically exhausted but in the best way possible. We were both filthy as well, sweat and another very nice substance were drying on our coats, I’d tried getting us both into the bathroom for a shower, but my legs were jelly right now, and I wasn’t able to wake Token up.

I worked up enough strength to roll myself out of bed as silently as possible and stumble to the bathroom at a near crawling pace. I left my goggles on as I climbed into the shower and worked the valves, they hadn’t come off the whole night I’d realized.

I nearly moaned as the hot water came spewing out of the shower head, scrubbing myself and letting the new pleasant soreness ache away felt fantastic. A familiar muzzle pressed into my crotch, then moved away as a face rubbed against my flank. Token's new infatuation with my 'choice ass' was a bit odd, but all this rubbing was warming me up to it.

She moved her face away and stood next to me in the spray of water, brushing against my side as she went. Stripe's shower was spacious, plenty of room for her to stand at my side and smile while I nibbled her ear affectionately.

"I hope you're not trying to prompt another round," she said, "I don't think I can take another tongue lashing like that."

"You're the one prompting me with all that rubbing back there."

"Nonsense, I was just enjoying your ass as nature intended it to be enjoyed."

I chuckled and gave her a quick kiss, she smiled and pushed my goggles up to my forehead, locking our eyes.

"I love you Bandage."

"I love you too Token," I said, smiling back, "happy birthday."

***

I was groggy when I woke up at around noon. Token was still fast asleep. My goggles and the thong I'd worn for last night's events were on the night stand, I put on the former and tucked the fabric into my saddlebags.

"Finally awake sleepy head?"

"Dammit," I muttered aloud, "I was hoping for a quiet morning."

"Oh don't be like that. I should be the one complaining, I had to endure you taking it to the blue one all night."

"And I had to endure you murdering a filly, I'd say we're even."

"Still pissed about that are you?"

"Yes, very. I'm actually surprised you didn't go and kill someone while I was asleep."

"I would've, but you utterly exhausted us last night with all that filth."

"You have a very warped view of what is and isn't filthy, the fact that you find making love filthy in comparison to murder is a bit unsettling actually."

She giggled, "And yet talking to an alter ego is perfectly normal."

"I understand that I'm crazy, and keep in mind the only reason I speak to you is because you would harass me even more if I didn't."

Token yawned and hugged me from behind, kissing up my back.

"Morning." she yawned.

"Good morning love."

"Last night was fantastic."

"It was wasn't it?"

"Mmm, hope you kept that kinky black thing."

"It's called a thong love."

"Whatever it's called, it looks sexy as hell on you."

“Glad you think so.”

“You can’t see it but I’m making a gagging gesture right now.”

“Quiet, or I’ll have nasty morning sex with her.”

“Shutting up now...”

“Think we’ll head out today or are we going to relax a few more days?”

I yawned and stretched, some soreness from last night had reemerged. “As much fun as it’s been staying here, I’m ready to leave and get back to work.”

She laughed, “Yeah, we haven’t done paid work in a week. Good thing we got Stripe’s discount on everything, otherwise I think we’d be out of money.”

"Come on," I said, rolling out of bed, "let's go and enjoy one last bath before we go."

She stretched, all her joints popping like normal.

"Sounds lovely," she said with a smile, "you know, if I didn't think they looked fantastic on you, I'd say you were weird for wearing those goggles for so long."

I pouted and rested my prized shades over my eyes, "I love these things, they make me look cool."

"That they do babe."

Shaky greeted me with an unexpected hug as we trotted out into the street. Kind of awkward actually.

We found Stripe waiting at the gate, smoking a cigar. "Strip." he said as we approached.

I recoiled for a moment, "Excuse me?"

He kicked the crate resting near his hooves at us, there were two well put together black suits of armor inside. A large yellow 80 was painted on the flank of both suits.

"Riot armor," he said casually, "shit's gonna start getting tough when we cross through Old Trottingham, don't want a manticore tearing you two to shreds."

"Considerate of him."

I smirked a bit, he cocked an eyebrow.

"Thanks big guy."

The armor fit well, the plating was light, slim, definitely protective. It didn't hinder movement either, just as flexible as my leather gear.

Token's had a blue band painted around the left foreleg, mine had a similar band but colored white.

“How do I look?” she asked.

“Ra-” I started, but Stripe cut me off.

“Yes, yes,” he said as he strolled passed us out the gate, “you compliment her, she compliments you, who gives a flying fuck let’s go!”

I rolled my eyes and followed, giving one last glance over my shoulder at Tragedy.

Footnote: Level Up!

New perk: Four Eyes: +2 Perception while eye wear is equipped.