I didn’t sleep well that first night away from home. Maybe it was the cold, muddy ground of the canyon that made it difficult, but it was really just the surrounding in general. The canyon walls reminded me of the world I was in; a world I had never seen before. Fear clung to me like a dagger. I didn’t know anything about the wasteland, and that Dread pony expected me to know exactly where I was suppose to go. I never wanted to be out here to begin with, I wanted to be back home. I wanted to think this was all a dream, but knew that was wishful thinking. That being said, I couldn’t just pretend this was a dream, especially with Willow Wisp around. I wasn’t about to leave a pony as injured as Willow Wisp without any treatment. I needed to find somepony with medical experience if I was going to keep her alive, and I was going to make sure Willow lived.

Of course, that was not the only thing I was thinking of. There were so many things I didn’t know and so many priorities that organizing them all was difficult. I knew what I had to do first, and that was getting Willow Wisp to Manehattan, wherever that was. Without a functioning map on my PipBuck, I would be wandering the world blind with no idea of where to go. I wasn’t going to leave Willow Wisp out here alone however, or else I would be just as good as Dread. She needed to be brought someplace safe, and this White Light pony was the only pony I could really go to at the moment. Even if I don’t know how much I trust Dread, where else did I know to go?

The second priority was more personal. I wanted to give that Twister pony a piece of my mind. He knew I wasn’t the Bloody Angel, he said it straight to my face. Yet for some reason he still sold me out as this murderous pony. I wasn’t okay with that, my dad wouldn’t have been either. That was the reason sold me out in the end, because something about my father must of made him mad. What makes it even more concerning was that he somehow knew my father was dead. Twister wanted my father dead, a realization that burned inside me because of how angry it made me. I was going to make him pay. I was going to beat him within an inch of his life, and that’s final.

There were so many things I needed to know, but right now my main task was getting Willow Wisp out of here. She was mysterious, that’s for sure. Considering her state, the fact she managed to survive all that torture was an incredible. I wanted to know more about her, who she was, why she ended up here, but I couldn’t. She couldn’t explain it to me, even if she wanted to she couldn’t because she’s mute. It must have been a hard life, not being able to argue against anypony and gettin caught in something you don’t want. I understood what it was like to feel helpless, to feel like you didn’t belong. We were outcasts in this strange world whether we liked it or not.

As the sun came into view I finally decided to get up. I could hear the sound of dirt moving behind me, a slight pause before the sound repeated. I looked around to see Willow Wisp wasn’t in the little stand that had been our camp for the night. I got up and crawled over to my power armor, placing my shotgun and the rifle that I had used yesterday around them with the straps. As I got in, I saw Willow Wisp with a shovel in the clearing of the canyon. She must have found the shovel nearby, and I realize the sound of moving dirt was coming from her. There was a giant hole in front of her, and the bloody body of a raider as well. She looked over to me and waved, which I had returned even though I was worried. I could see blood on the ground around her as well as a trail leading to her position. She must have opened up some more wounds doing whatever she was going to with the hole.

I walked over and watched as she fell down exhausted. Seeing this I rushed to her side in a moments notice to check on her. The bandages from yesterday were covered in blood, and a trail going down her face as well. I shake my head at the young pegasus, wonder what was so important that she was risking her well being over it. I look into the hole with curiosity, and saw the body of multiple raiders in it. She was burying them! I guess even these assholes deserve some kind of burial, even if it was a canyon in the middle of nowhere. Was this what Willow Wisp did before she came here? I couldn’t see her cutie mark so I couldn’t be completely sure.

“You should get some rest,” I told to her in a motherly tone “You’re hurting yourself more than necessary. I’ll finish this one up for you but we’re leaving after that.”

Willow Wisp nodded in responce, moving away and quickly falling asleep on the ground. She couldn’t see it through the helmet, but I was looking at her great concern. I couldn’t understand what her thought process was, and why she was burying them to begin with. Not that I had a problem with it, but she shouldn’t have been doing anything when she is so injured. It was like some sort of duty she had to do, something that just made her do this. The only explanation was that it was responsibility she had before they captured her.

I look at the hole she had dug and then the shovel. Picking up the shovel, I started filling back up the hole she had created. As I did, something about it just felt different; something I couldn’t explain. I never really thought about it, but I had just killed ponies. Feral ghouls, radroaches, and things like those didn’t really have hopes and dreams, but ponies do. There was some sort of burden I felt filling up this grave, unable to believe what I was doing. Yet Willow Wisp had done it without any thought, like a machine.

I finished it up before going and grabbing the bag that Dread had left us. I wish I had some saddlebags, but I was going to have to carry it on my mouth. I took the helmet to my power suit off and through it to the side and pick the bag up in my mouth. I wouldn’t be able to bring the helmet with me because of this, but leaving everything in here would be a stupid. Lastly I nudge Willow Wisp onto my back, making sure not to wake her up. She was out like a light from the shoveling she had been doing, which must have been all night now that I think of it. That must have been why she saw me crying in my sleep.

Before heading off, I turn to the radio on my Pipbuck and turn it on. Traveling meant music, and I wanted some for the journey ahead. After fiddling with it for a few seconds, I manage to turn to a station.

“I don’t want to set the woooorld ooon fiiiirrre-”

I turn the radio off, instantly regretting having ever turned it on. It was the only radio station I could get from here and the song gave me a feeling that could only be described as… weird.

Turning to the path out of the cliff, I took a deep breath as I made my way towards it. This was it, I was about to go into a world I didn’t even know to a place I might not even find. Okay, technically I was already in that world but this time I didn’t have a gun constantly aimed at me. Everything was going changing before my eyes, and these very steps proved it. Every step of a metallic hoof filled me with something I never felt. Fear, but it was different kind of fear. This was the fear of entering a world I knew almost nothing about. It was the fear that I was getting involved in something bigger than me. Yet that didn't bother me as much as the lack of a path ahead; the fact I had nothing but a name to guide me.

As I walked out of that canyon, I looked out to a much different Equestria then I had ever heard of. Around me thousands of dead-looking trees, bare from the cold winter weather. There was a lack of plants and flowers, and grass everywhere I looked. Where was I? This didn’t look like anywhere I had read or heard on the radio. I shook the thought from my mind headed straight forward, know standing still wouldn’t answer my question. The world seem bare and quite. I start to think those raiders were the only ponies for miles. All I could do is hope. Hope and pray to Celestia that I meet so pony willing to help me.

I look around myself as I walked, taking in that blandness of the world. There was no road in sight, and despite the time of the year, there was no snow on the ground. Maybe that last one was because of those mega spells all those years ago. Maybe one had been misfired and landed here, or the air was to irradiated to let snow fall to the ground. Then again, I probably would be dead walking through here if either was right. Besides, the mega spells didn’t affect me. I shouldn’t worry about them.

After some time I finally found my way out of the small woods at the canyon’s top, and was greeted to that of a open field. There was much fewer trees here, and because of that I was able noticed a road in the distance with something on it. Narrowing my eyes I made out the shape of a pony, a unicorn to be exact. It was another unicorn! My face seemed to light up in as I realized what it was. Maybe they knew the way to Manehattan, or could help Willow Wisp out. Either way I was saved.

“Heeey!” I yelled to the pony hope filling my voice. They looked at me as I spoke, watching as I ran at them. Thank celestia, I’m saved.

Than the unicorn took out a gun as I got closer and pointed it at me. I stopped in my tracks as I saw this. Maybe I was wrong about being saved. The unicorn started walk toward me at a slow pace. His large gun grasped in magic, probably ready to fire at me. This was perfect, I manage to find a pony and the first thing they do is pull a gun out and point it at me. Well Dead Hooves, I hope you enjoyed this adventure, because it was most likely about to end before your eyes. Way to go you idiot.

“Don’t Move!” He commanded, his voice sounding harsh and authoritative, “Just tell me who you are and what you want and I may consider sparing your lives.”

Not taking any chances, I responded. “The names Dead Hooves, I’m new here in the wasteland. I need to get this pony here to Manehattan fast. She’s injured and in desperate need of a doctor,” I paused for a second before adding “And could you PLEASE lower the big, scary gun.”

Slowly the pony lowered his gun, allowing me to get a better look at him, or at least the attire he wore. He wore old goggles, probably pre-war, and a dusty jacket with a few old blood stains. His muzzle was covered by some sort of neck warmer that seemed to be tattered, showing some bullet holes in them. His mane was covered but his tail showed being short and yellow. The gun he held was long with a scope, it was nothing like the my shotgun, obviously built for long range. It had a zebra like paint design but with a red coloring to it. This must have been one of those zebra rifles dad had told me about, though I don’t remember zebras being red.

“You’re a stable dweller?” He asked me, throwing the gun over his back.

“What’s a stable?” I replied back him, tilting my head in confusion.

“You’re kidding right?” He chuckled. “I thought you said you were knew out here?”

“I am,” I whined with annoyance “I didn't live in a ‘Stable’ or whatever the hell it is. I lived with my father until a few years ago, and never traveled this far from my house. I was dragged out here by somepony named Twister.”

The pony once again started laughing, first soft before growing much louder. “You… you met Twister?” He said, taking heavy breaths between his laughing. “You met Twister, and lived? That’s a first for me.”

I looked at him with a straight face as he fell to the ground laughing. If I could have, I would have held my hoof to my face in disbelief. Sadly the way my power armor was built kept me from being able to do this. I just looked on, unable to believe that this was the first pony I encounter out here. After what felt like forever, he finally recover from his little laughing fit. This was the pony I was asking directions from… will isn’t that just great.

“Never thought I would see the day someone survived Twister,” He managed to say, seeming to have recollected all his thoughts. “Let alone meet the pony who did, but I believe you. If you don’t know what a Stable is, then you probably don’t know that Manehattan is on the other side of Equestria, and you're heading away from it.”

My eyes were the size of the moon having heard that “What!” I shouted in utter disbelief. “I thought I was closer to it than that. How long is it to get there?”

“Calm down,” He said, rolling his eyes at me. “Listen, I hate to tell you this but if you’re heading to Manehattan then it’s a good fifteen day journey at the least. If she needs medical attention I know someone at a small settlement nearby. I was just leaving from it but I wouldn’t be better than anyone else than.”

“You don’t understand,” I said to him “It wasn’t that I know where Manehattan is, I don’t even know where my house is anymore. I was kidnapped and taken to a raider camp because Twister tried to sell me out as the Bloody Angel.”

He looked at me like I was insane, a sure sign he didn’t believe that. “You fucking with me? Or were those raiders so dumb they couldn’t tell the difference between a mare and a stallion?”

“Well, they fell for it,” I replied, looking off in the distance and shrugging my shoulders “He knew I wasn’t the murder. He said something about my father, which means my father is responsible for something else. I don’t know what pissed him off, but I want to know what it is and fuck him up for what he did to me.”

He walked to my side and looked at Willow Wisp. There was some sort of sympathy that showed in his eyes as he looked at her. He put a hoof on Willows back and closed his eyes before turning back to me. He must have known something about her. He wouldn't have acted like that otherwise. What was it that made him worried?

“You found this poor slave tied up where again?”

I looked at him with rage, his question making me boil. Slave! Was he trying to insult Willow? Because if he was he was doing a very good job at it. I wouldn't have been this angry otherwise. He seemed to noticed my anger and took a few steps back before clarifying.

“I-I didn't mean it like that,” He tried to assure me, but I kept staring angrily into his eyes. “You didn’t know she was a slave, did you?”

I soften my gaze, seeing that I had taken him to harshly. I softened my gaze and looked back at Willow Wisp. I knew that pony had been through a lot, but was that the reason she seemed to listen to me without arguing? Was that the reason she was mute? Did some stupid slavers rip her voice out or something? If that was the case, how did she end up in the raiders camp? Was she in a similar position that I was in? I looked at the unicorn seeing that he was waiting for me to answer him.

“No,” I replied shaking my head. “I didn’t know. Sorry about that.”

“Apologizing is for foals,” He said, “Out here, there is no reason to apologize for anything. I’ll take your apology for now and say thank you, since this is your first time out here, but remember that for that future.”

Apologizing is for foals… That's something I wouldn't forget. This pony didn't seem to have any care what he said, and he certainly didn't seem to regret anything. Then again he probably didn't need to considering that gun. That didn’t stop me from noticing the occasional glance back to Willow Wisp. I didn’t say anything, but considering the way he has acted it felt rather odd.

“So why are you out here?” I ask, deciding it was my turn to get some answers. “And how did you know Willow Wisp was a slave?”

“I’m just a lonely traveler wandering the wasteland,” He told me. “Ponies around here call me the Sharpshot, and it's a name I've taken. If you want anything to call me, call me by that. As for the slave thing,” I once again saw him glance back to Willow. “I had some traveling around the Ponyville area not so long ago and ran into some slavers. Took them down pretty easily, but the slaves they had were pretty well beaten. This Willow Wisp here definitely got the worst of it though. Never seen those assholes ever go this far.”

I look back at Willow Wisp, wondering if it was really true. Was she a slave? That answered part of my question about who she was, but it didn't keep me from wondering how she ended up like that to begin with. To think they were treated that badly, and for what reason? I guess I shouldn't have been all that surprise with a title like ‘slave’ but you think that whoever she was a slave for would take at least a little respect for her. I mean seriously. Imagine being a slave and the slaver coming up to you and whipping you. Not because you did anything, but so you are kept for doing anything. That was the kind of torture I saw Willow having to go through.

“What the hell was Dread going to do with you?” I whispered, not knowing what Dread had planned for this pony. I turned back to Sharpshot, taking a deep breath before speaking. “Well if you know a place we could get medical help I would love it if you showed us the way.”

Sharpshot sighed heavily before looking at me. “I guess I gotta help you somehow, considering I made such a bad introduction,” He said somewhat angry. “But before we do that, have you done anything to tell Willow Wisp there that she's free? I'm not sure if she knows or not.”

“She stayed up all last night burying the raiders I had to killed,” I explained to Sharpshot. “I want her to get some sleep, it doesn’t look she has gotten much in the past few days,”

Sharpshot let out another sigh and looked at me. “Guess you got a point. If that’s what you want it’s what she wants, that’s all slaves know. Just a warning for the future: until you tell her she is free she’ll do anything you ask her to, even if it’s to kill herself. No joke, I saw a slaver do that before,” He put his weapon around his back and started walking away. “Come on,” He motioned me to his side as we started making our way to wherever it was we were going.

“So tell me something,” He said curiously “I get that you got captured and everything, but why didn’t you ever think of leaving home? Don't tell me you weren't curious about whatever was out here.”

“Never really had the opportunity to,” I explain to him. “I was born with a paralyzed lower body. The only way I’m able to move is with this power armor, which my dad had modified to help me move.”

“Huh,” He said quite intrigued at the fact. “I guess that could definitely be a setback. Not many ponies like you survive out here in the wasteland with conditions like that. Usually ponies leave them to die or something along those lines. You should consider yourself lucky that your father kept you around.”

The anger once again built up inside me, hearing those words about my father. My dad would never abandon me, I know it. He always told me how much he loved me, how much he cared. I was the only thing he had left, and he alway complimented me about how much I was like my mother. Stubborn yet kind with a good eye for killing. We had relied on each other to survive, and I’m surprised I have lasted as long as I have without his guidance. He always told me stories about my mother and him, sometimes I thought he saw me as my mom more than her daughter. I didn't really care, and that was important. He deserved to live, considering what I did.

“I have you know my father is the sweetest pony in history,” I explain to Sharpshot, holding my head high. “You would think the same thing if you ever knew him.”

“Yeah yeah, I’m sure,” I could hear the sarcasm dripping in every word he said. “Let me guess, he told you he was part of some great group that helped keep the wasteland safe. I won't deny the power armor, but usually those kind of things are made up to make foals think of their parents are heroes. I'm telling you, any stories your dad told you probably aren't true, and he ain’t a hero,” I opened my mouth to protest but he spoke once again. “Let me guess, you’re going to tell me something like ‘my father knew the elements of harmony’ or ‘my father saved a town from nuclear devastation,” I closed my mouth. While not exactly as exaggerated as that, somehow he read into exactly where I was going with it all. “It’s just a big fucking lie okay? The ministry mares have been dead for more than sixty fucking years and the mega spells hit seventy-five years ago. If you have a problem with it, take it up with father fucking time, understand!”

I simply looked away in sadness. Not any of the things he said were exactly what my father said, but he had a point. Were all those stories he told me lies? Were they all just to make me love you more? No, I didn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe my father was a pony like that. He was a good pony. A pony who helped others, and a pony who loved his daughter. Sharpshot didn’t know anything. He didn’t know a damn thing about me far.

“Shut your fucking mouth you… you BITCH!” I yelled back at him. “You don't know a thing about my father. He was kind, brave, maybe had a little bit of an ego but still. He was more of a pony than you’ll ever be! So shut the hell up you INSUFFERABLE BITCH!”

I heard something scratching the power armor behind me, and looking back I saw Willow Wisp completely awake. My yelling had apparently woken her up, and she was looking at me scared. Oh… oh no. That wasn't what I wanted. I never wanted Willow Wisp to hear me talk like that, but she just had. We all stood in silence for several seconds. I look at Willow Wisp, ashamed of how I had just acted in front of this poor mare.

“Sorry you had to hear that,” I apologized, not caring about the fact that Sharpshot was rolling his eyes at me.

Willow just slid her way across the back of my power armor and hugged me. I looked to Sharpshot, who was in amazement at the sight. It was clear he had never seen anything like this between a pony and a slave... or a traveling companion would probably be a better choice of word. He didn’t understand what I had seen her like back at the camp. She had looked even worse back than, but I could see the stains of blood on the back of my power armor. At least she wasn’t opening up more wounds like she had been, but what there was open was still very fresh.

“Maybe you shouldn’t set her free,” He joke. “You two may need each other.”

I looked at him, still furious “She isn’t my slave,” I corrected him “She’s my friend and traveling partner, and we're going to beat that son of a bitch named Twister till he can’t breath, got it?”

He sighed. “Whatever you say, but you two are in no shape right now to take him on. First thing to do is get your “partner” fix on up for the road ahead, which means we need to head to somepony who knows how to fix someone up. So can we please just get going? The long she sits the worse it will get.”

I got to admit, at least Sharpshot knew where he was going. I still didn't forgive him for what he had said earlier about my father, but I guess he probably had his reasons for saying that. Must have had a hard foal hood or something like that, probably lost his parents when he was young. That said I wasn’t going to take the chance to find out. He seemed like the kind of pony who would kill because of something simply such as a question, and I didn't want to learn if that was true.

As for Willow Wisp, she seemed to be happy just hugging me for the moment. Than again she must have been happy that I hadn't abandoned her, or it could just be the fact she was a slave… again. I hated thinking about the idea of her being a slave. I didn’t need to know how she was treated so horribly by somepony, or how she had come bared such a cruel title in the first place. I wanted to be as happy as her at the moment, but I couldn't get my mind off of the idea. I wanted to make her life better, and if I find the pony that had owned her, he was in the same boat as Twister.

“Alright,” I finally say, trying to act as courageously as possible. “Lead the way Sharpshot.”

He nodded and start headed off towards the settlement, Willow and I following close behind. Everything was changing, I knew it at that very moment. I was going to find things I would have rather have been kept secret, and meet ponies who would end up becoming great allies and die for the safety of us. It’s a law of the wasteland to me, that you either survive or you die. I learned it from all those years alone, and in the end you have to take every step necessary to live. I was going to live. I was going to survive. I was going to show the entire wasteland I'm more than just a paralyzed pony. I was going to show them the truth.

Author's Notes:

Looking back on the older chapters, I get a feeling on just how much better of a writer I've become. I know most would go to an editor or something before submitting, but the thing I want to remember is how I manage to get better. It's the reason I do all the editing, writing, and planning for the story, and even if things don't work out at first, you just got to keep going. If I had stopped where I was at this point, back when the story was more disliked then liked, I wouldn't be able to call myself a good writer. I have respects to those of you who use editors, but this is my style. If I want to show I'm a good writer, then I'll prove it by myself.

So please like, comment and follow to show your support for this story and for me as a writer. Every time I see another like and follow, it just gives me more spirit to continue onwards.