I locked the door to my hut and looked up at Canterlot. The beautiful capital now seemed forever out of my reach here at the base of the mountain where the rest of the zebras now lived.

“It’s for the good of Equestria,” I whispered to myself, repeating the line the bureaucratic ponies told me when they presented me with the relocation order. I wanted to help, and if segregation would ease the tensions it was the least I could do. Little did I realize it would be impossible to maintain my training for the Equestrian Games, and how much of a downgrade the living quarters would be.

I started my aimless walk in the most minimum attempt to keep my physic. A group of zebra bringing planks over to a nearby house passed by me.

Things have been getting better each day, the community came together and built a variety of amenities. Extra rooms to houses, aqueducts, blankets, and even a bath house. I tried helping but the amount of, what I would call nearly treasonous, anti pony sentiments shared by almost every zebra became too much to bear.

During my walk I caught a strange sight, a unicorn pony going door to door introducing himself. Ponies rarely visited Zebratown, yet this one almost looked like he was moving in.

“Hello there,” he waved as we crossed paths. “My name is Midnight Shower and I was wondering if you could help me with something?”

“I’d be happy too,” I said with a smile.

Midnight Shower returned the smile. “That is the kindest greeting I’ve gotten all day. Now I have been sent by…”

One of my ears swiveled as a conversation from across us started.

“You get my dash?” a female zebra asked. My other ear turned. Dash? I'm pretty sure that’s the name of the drug starting to plague Zebratown.

“Shut up you idiot,” a gruffer voice replied. “There’s a pony right there.”

“Big deal, no way he knows our language.”

“Hmph, you got my weapons?”

“Not here, I’ll have them at sundown, east side of town.”

“Good. I look forward to seeing those stuck up ponies beg for mercy.”

“Traitors,” I spat out.

“Excuse me?” Midnight Shower said, bringing me back to focus on the unicorn in front of me.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I bowed. “You will have to excuse me.”

“But-”

I knew I must have come off rude but I needed to report this to the ponies patrolling the town. They made their rounds every hour so I had a good idea of where to find them.

After getting out of view of the two zebras openly discussing their crime I broke into a gallop. It felt good to run again and after only a few turns I found the patrol. Leading them was a green coated stallion in pristine combat armor, flanked by a pegasus and a unicorn who only wore the minimum of protection and appeared rather disheveled for soldiers.

“Stop!” the leader ordered, he placed himself between me and the other soldiers. Realizing how it might look to have a zebra at full speed bee lining at soldiers I came to an abrupt halt.

“I don't mean you any trouble,” I said, trying to appear calm even with the adrenaline from my run keeping my heart racing. “In fact I'm here to report a-”

The pegasus whistled. “Well would you listen to that.” He poked out from behind the leader and strolled around me. “Ain't an ounce of zebra in that voice, could almost confuse her for Equestrian.”

One of my ears flicked. “I am Equestrian.”

“Aren’t we all,” he said, spending a little too much time behind me.

“Listen,” I spun on him, “I'm here to report a crime. There is going to be a bunch of criminals on the east side of town at sundown, trading drugs for weapons!”

“And just how would you know that?” he asked with a smile.

“I overheard them.”

“Sure, sure. That’s a believable story, or maybe you found yourself in over your head and decided to betray them.” He raised his eyebrow. “An equally believable story if you ask me?”

“What are you getting at?” I asked.

“Just that, if you really want to clear your name, you might consider coming with us for interrogation.”

“I’ve nothing to hide.”

A sly grin appeared on his face as he offered a hoof for me to lead the way.

“Wait,” their leader said.

“Sergeant SteelHooves?” The pegasus paused.

The sergeant grabbed me, and with the force only earth ponies possessed, pulled me to the side, out of earshot of the other two soldiers. “Do you have any affiliation with the zebras you're turning in?” His eyes stayed trained on me, watching for the slightest sign of deception.

I stared back. “No.”

SteelHooves placed a hoof on my shoulder. “If you go with them you won’t be going anywhere but prison. I can stop them from taking you now but after we arrest whoever you’re turning they’ll be back for you. Pack your things, and run home little zebra.”

I'm so sick of hearing that! First from mother, then some of my friends, even Relay. None of them understood!

“My name is Kalita.” I pushed his hoof away. “And Equestria is my home.” I left him with a muddled expression as I re-joined the pegasus. “Let’s go.”

I jolted awake, the warning “Just get out of there!” at the tip of my tongue. However, the cramped tent of sleeping ponies cause me to swallow the words, I doubted waking up early screaming vague warnings would help my sanity case. I sighed. As if caring about the outcome of a dream zebra would help either. Why do I even care anyway, they’re zebras, they were supposed to be the evil ones, or at least that’s what every other pre-war poster would have ponies believe. Shot Chaser dispelled my prejudice of zebras before I had one, countless lectures about how no creature should be judged by the sins of their ancestors, and to base opinions off their actions instead.

I slipped out of the tent to be greeted with a dust storm free morning. A thin layer of dirt covered everything but the sky, which gleamed with orange and red hues highlighting the clouds. Movement under the tarp covering our caravan let off small plumes of dust.

“Good morning Melody.” I pulled her free from under the tarp. The brahmin gave a cheerful moo.
“Not often some pony wakes before me,” Gale said trotting up to my side. “Was it because of the voices?”

“It's not voices, it's one voice belonging to-”

“Magic ghoul following us. Yes, yes you said. I'm just checking. Especially with Nibble acting strange too.”

I raised an eyebrow and glanced back to the tent where she rested.

“Don’t worry about not noticing, she hides it well, but she's been having nightmares ever since the necromancer ordeal. Help me with this”

Gale untied the tarp and laid it out. As I flattened my corner one of Gale’s hooves rested over mine. I glanced over but he seemed not to notice as he straightened out his corner.

After folding and packing the tarp Gale and I prepared for when the others woke. Putting breakfast together, running through Clover’s inventory checklist, and clearing the tent of dust. While working Gale stayed uncomfortably close and constantly brushed against me. I bet he's trying to mess with me again. Eventually we finished and were ready to go.

Manehatten could be seen in the distance. Buildings barely stood on their decayed structures. Many of them missing chunks out of the side. Scorch marks and grime covered the entire city making it all a mix of black and brown.

“It looks like a rotting corpse,” I said, taking in the city.

“Great imagery.” Nibble rolled her eyes. “Better than this.” She waved a hoof over the remains of the small town we were passing. Nothing remained but debris and a few standing walls.

The crack of gunfight came out of nowhere. Two holes ripped into the left side of the caravan. Following the only direction the shot could have come from stood a three story building with faded yellow paint and hint of pink splotches that might have once been butterflies. Rooms on the third floor flashed, shortly followed by more gunfire as bullets rained down around us.

One of the shots severed the harness connected to Melody. The caravan slowed as the Brahmin pushed ahead not realizing it was no longer carrying us.

“Take cover!” Clover said taking off. He headed back for the destroyed town. The rest of us bailed out and took after him, but not before another round of gunfire. Gale let out a scream as he toppled over. I paused seeing blood stain down his back leg.

“I got him!” Nibble said, wrapping Gale in a purple aura. We hurried behind a mostly intact wall.

Nibble eased Gale to the ground. He grabbed his leg and pried the skin apart. Blood gushed out at an alarming rate completely drenching his leg and hooves. He wore the same smile he had during the time he operated on me.

“Ohhh, that hurts,” Gale nearly moaned, “But it went straight through. What a shame.” He reached into his bag and drank a healing potion. The blood flow stopped as the wound sealed itself. He got up and kicked over a rock to test the newly healed limb. “Good as new.”

Everypony ducked as bullets slammed into the stone wall protecting us, it cracked and wavered under the pressure but remained standing. Clover peaked his head around the corner for only a moment before pulling back. A shot grazed past the wall around the area he had just been.

“Damn they’re good.” Clover said blandly. “Nibble, Gale grab the caravan I'll cover.” Clover jumped out of cover and fired his battle saddle. On the other end Gale and Nibble poked their heads around the corner. In a moment Clover dived back into cover as the caravan lifted over head and dropped down.

“So now what?” Nibble asked.

“I doubt I can take them out from here.” Clover scratched at his chin. “Mangle is your cannon ready?”

Mangle stood on her back hooves and readied her weapons. She slammed her forehooves together only to have them clang and bounce off each other. She landed back down and shook her head.

“What about PM3?” Nibble said. “She still has one shot left.”

Clover grumbled. “No good, they would get you while you assembled it. Even if you levitated out of cover they could tear it up before you fired.”

Another round of bullets crashed into our cover, and a few cracks appeared along the stone.

“Should hold, but looks like we’re pinned.” Clover sighed. “Unless they come to us, and I doubt that will happen, the plan is to wait till nightfall and sneak away. Melody should have figured it out by then.”

Clover jumped into the caravan and tossed food cans to everypony. He grabbed one for himself and sat down. He mentally checked out as he began flipping through his Pip-Buck.

Before we ate I saw Nibble turn away and put her hooves together, I definitely heard Celestia more than once in her mumbling. I got half way through an eye roll before stopping myself. I may have thought prayer was a load of horse apples but it was important to Nibble, and I figure the least a friend could do is respect that.

After emptying my can I tossed it straight up past the cover of the wall, it came back down without eliciting gunfire. “Who do you think is attacking us?” I asked anypony willing to answer as I tossed the can up again only to have it simply fall back into my hooves. “Raiders?” On the third toss a bullet from out attackers hit the can. It clanked to the ground and rolled to reveal a hole, dead center through the bottom.

Gale scoffed, “A raider couldn’t make a shot like that in a hundred years. Raiders hide behind billboards and yell before attacking. Whoever they are, they're professionals.”

“Steel Rangers?” Mangle offered.

“Very unlikely,” Nibble said. “They use explosives. If it was them I doubt we’d be having this conversation.”.

“They’re Talons,” Clover remarked.

Now that was a name I knew, a group of Talons came through Dust once. The flock of griffons were hired to map towns near the base of the mountain. They stopped by the bar and cleaned out Shot Chaser’s supplies, all while I bugged them with endless questions. Until they started charging me a cap per question, I went broke that day. The conversation would have ended there but Mangle had her mouth open, a question about to be asked but she hesitated.

“Who are the Talons again?” I asked for her.

“Dust must be as sheltered as a Stable,” Gale replied. “The Talons are a mercenary group mainly composed of griffons. They work for caps and are known to be extremely loyal to the contract. If there is a contract to eliminate us the only way out will be to kill those involved.”

“So they'll come after us even if we escape?” Mangle asked.

“If it's in the contract.”

“What the fuck else would it be for?”

Gale shrugged. “Given our reputation a hit on us would cost a fortune, can’t say we’ve pissed anypony that wealthy off… Yet.”

“That's strange,” Nibble said peering around the corner. “Not sure why they attacked so soon.”

We gathered closer to see what Nibble was talking about. She pointed down the road. If they had waited we would have been in direct line of sight with the town a good distance away. So why didn’t they wait?

A cold shiver ran down my body as I repeated DJ pon3’s words. “Jib has hired Talons.”

“You okay Ardent?” Nibble asked. “You look pale.”

“We have to get out of here now!” I said in a panic. “It's Jib-hired the Talons-artillery.”

“Incoherent babble, another sign of mental distress.” Gale pointed out. My panic disappeared as I glared at him, almost hoping we exploded just to prove my sanity.

“We are about to be blown to bits.” Clover jumped out of the caravan. So he was listening. “We need a way out of here, ideas now!” Clover’s wings flicked around as he paced back and forth.

“Ardent has a Stealth-Buck,” Gale said.

“I couldn't close the distance in the time it lasts,” Clover said. “Gale, can you create a dust cloud?”

“Not one big enough to hide us all, love that you think so highly of me though.”

Clover paced faster. The same calm feeling I had when I faced the Sentinel washed over me. There has to be a way. My gaze drifted over all our assets. Nibble, PM3, Gale. That could work.

“Gale can you move a dust cloud?” I asked as I jumped into the caravan. I pulled out the pieces of Nibble's rocket launcher.

“I suppose,” he replied slowly, “But in case you're suddenly blind too you should notice there isn't one.”

All of them eyed me cautiously as I built the rocket launcher.

“We're going to make one,” I said recalling the size of the dust cloud that formed when fighting Cerberus. A jolt passed through the others as they figured out what I had planned.

“You really are insane!” Nibble yelled, “Do you know how close we would be to the explosion in order to use the dust cloud it kicks up.”

“Better than the kill zone we're sitting in,” Clover said. “Gale can you move it?”

“I've never-” Gale swallowed. “Yes, but it will take all my concentration. I'll have to catch up with you after I get it to the building.”

Clover nodded and began to explain. “Here’s the plan. Nibble is going to create a dust cloud. Gale is going to stay here and focus on moving it towards the building. We will use it as cover to infiltrate. After that we take out whoever’s inside. Understood?”

“Understood,” we replied in unison.

Nibble shook her head as she pushed me out of the way so she could take over preparing her toy.

Clover leaned down. “Ardent, I want you to use the Stealth-Buck at the first sight of an enemy. These are experienced fighters, not brain dead raiders.”

Oh, now he cares. I nodded.

Nibble finished loading the launcher and aimed it as close to our position as possible. Her hoof hovered over the fire button. Instead of her normal maniacal smile she grimaced.

“Clench your teeth and cover your ears,” she said. “This is going to hurt.” Her hoof dropped.

Even heeding Nibble’s advice the shock wave ripped through me. All my hearing faded into the background, replaced by a constant ringing noise. I closed my eyes for a moment as the dust cloud sprang up. When I opened them I saw Clover and Mangle galloping ahead. I ran after them but continually swayed to one side or the other as gravity seemed to constantly change which way it pulled. I kept my eyes on them, but their forms faded into the dust cloud.

I tried to catch up, tried to find them again, but I had no idea where I was going. I panicked realizing I had no idea which way to go, and thoughts of being out in the open when the dust settled crept into my mind.

Just before I went into a full breakdown I noticed my mane blowing slightly to the left. Gale probably controlled the dust with his wind spell, so I just had to follow the wind. I turned so the wind pushed against my backside and doubled my pace. As I ran I could slowly feel the world center itself and the ringing faded. Another form came into view, I had caught up to Nibble who gave me a smile as I joined her side.

Ministry of Morale Outpatient Facility, appeared in my vision as we reached the building. The front door had already been opened, or more accurately smashed off its hinges. Nibble and I leaped over the destroyed doors and landed on stained marble floors. The scent of cleaning chemicals still lingered in the air. A black moss spread across every window, only letting small amounts of light seep through. A decayed sign hung above a receptionist counter that read, “Freeing you from Wartime Stress Disorder.”

Before we could take another step the ground shook. A shockwave shattered every window in the building, blew away the dust cloud, and caused my Pip-Buck to click rapidly for a moment. I turned back to see a mushroom cloud composed of smoke and fire.

Jib had fired their artillery.

“PM3!” Nibble cried out seeing the destruction. My eyes traced a path from the edge of the explosion to the door. Nothing.

“Do… Do you think he made it?” I asked, unable to put Gale’s name in the question. Nibble froze.

“They, were firing at us from higher up,” Nibble said avoiding the topic, “so I bet that is where Clover and Mangle went. I think we should scout down here and make sure they don’t get flanked... and wait for Gale.” She headed to the back of the floor we were on. I turned to follow taking a final glance outside. Nothing but fire, destruction, and death.

The back exit had a rock propping it open, two griffons, who had been motionless, lay on the ground right outside. Both of them were in identical black padded armor. Their yellow talons and beaks were a strange contrast to the white and brown feathers. I stumbled through my bag and grabbed the Stealth-Buck just in case. Before I placed it into my Pip-Buck Nibble approached the guards.

“Are…” Nibble inched closer. “Are they dead?” She got next to one. My EFS provided the answer with the three neutral markers in front of me. Nibble poked one of the griffons and jumped out of her skin as the griffon rolled over with a grown. I stepped forward ready to enter SATS. Something wasn’t right, neither of them had weapons. Did someone knock them out? Not exactly something Clover or Mangle would do… or Gale

“Do we... finish the job?” Nibble said, levitating out her gun.

My heart skipped a beat. It’s the smart thing to do, what Clover would want. If they wake up while were here it would be a major issue, but if feels… wrong. A part of me felt relieved to know I had issues with taking their life.

“I can’t,” I said, taking a step back.

Nibble smiled. “Well they don’t have weapons, so they won’t be a issue, right?”

I nodded and we turned to go back inside. We stopped as a foreign voice cried out.

“Hurry up! They might have gotten in but contract is over now that the fireworks have gone off.” Two griffons swooped down landing next to us. “Franz is… packing… up…” It took them a moment to take in the picture.

The griffons reached for their weapons. Nibble leapt back inside and I slammed the Stealth Buck into place. The effect was instantaneous. I lost track of my own limbs as I became virtually invisible. However, the smaller of the two griffons seemed to know this trick and let an automatic weapon unleash where I was just standing, where I still stood. I dove to side but at least one shot tore into my back leg. I clenched my teeth keeping in the scream. The griffons backed into each other. I saw the glow of Nibble’s magic and a metal apple peek around the corner. Oh shit, no way I’m outside the blast radius.

“Wait!” I said pointing my muzzle away from them hoping that would make it harder to find me. Everypony-griffon froze. I took a deep breath and pushed down the pain. ”Walk away from this.”

“After what you did to our comrades.” The one that shot me replied. “Fat chance.”

“They’re fine, take them and go. You said your contract was over.” Taking a note from Clover’s handbook I added, “or I could kill you now.” I tried to sound confident.

One of the mercenaries brought a wing out, placing it over the beak of her unconscious friend. The tips of her wing fluttered against the shallow breathing. She motioned to the other Talon and they grabbed their friends. Every moment that passed was agony and I could feel my blood starting to pool around my back leg.

The female griffon scanned around until her icy blue eyes stopped right on me. I glanced down to check if I was still invisible, which I was. How in the hell? She smirked and tapped her beak before taking off.

The moment they were out of sight I pulled out a healing potion and drank it. Under the list of most painful things to happen to me getting shot is below impalement. I let out a breath of relief as the pain slipped away.

“Clever,” Nibble said coming out of cover. “We should- Are you okay!”

My Stealth-Buck wore off revealing me lying down in a small pool of blood. Nibble ran to my side and flipped me over. She saw the empty potion bottle and scrunched her nose.

“Don’t scare me like that.”

We made our way to third floor when voices outside one of the rooms caught our attention.

“I didn’t ask who,” Clover’s voice echoed down a hall. “Where are they?”

Nibble and I peeked inside an open door. Mangle had a griffon pinned to the ground. Clover stood over him with a hoof on his neck. We stepped inside, a balcony had a view of where we were taking cover. The ground glowed a dark, smoldering red and nothing remained of the town.

When we came inside Clover looked at us, than past us.

“Where’s Gale?” he asked.

We both looked away, my eyes landing on a strange device with straps and a helmet with suction cups all over. It was plugged into an electrical conductor. Clover gritted his teeth and threw a back leg into the Talon’s side. The mercenary yelped. Mangle’s mouth hung open. She pressed down on the legs she had pinned until they started to crack. The griffon screamed.

“I've lost my gear, my ride, and now one of my soldiers,” Clover growled. “If you want a chance of getting out of here alive you're going to tell me where I can find those responsible.”

“They are a few miles east of here,” the griffon gave in. “There were seven of them, unarmed aside from that giant artillery thing.”

“Mangle let him go,” Clover said coldly.

Mangle’s eyes narrowed. “What if he’s lying?”

“Why would he, not sure why he held off telling us in the first place, I doubt Jib had the forethought to add keeping their beak shut into the contract.”

“But he killed Gale.” Mangle applied more of her weight against the griffon’s legs until he winced.

“No, but we are about to go find the ones who did.” Clover thought for a moment. “However, the Talon’s are responsible for making us walk. Only right we should return the favor.” Clover and Mangle shared an insidious grin. Simultaneously they reared up and brought their weight down on the griffon’s wings. I grimaced as a cacophony of cracking bones and a horrified scream filled the hotel.

“What a lovely noise,” a voice from the hallway said. Everypony turned to see Gale limp his way into the room.

Gale looked like he had… well, been through a giant explosion. His mane and coat were tangled and scorched. His coat lathered with dirt.

“How the fuck did you make it out?” Mangle said, taking a step towards him.

“That impossible cow came to the... rescue. She bulldozed me almost out of the blast zone.”

“She ok?” Clover asked.

“Has she ever not been?”

“Good. Here is what happens next. Ardent and Mangle are coming with me to wipe these fuckers out. Nibble stay with Gale and see if you can salvage anything. We are now out of supplies so I suggest you use what you have on you sparingly.” Clover glanced at the griffon who cowered in fetal position holding onto one of his limp wings. “Gale set his wings and get him out of here. Understood!”

“Understood,” we replied in unison.

“Why me?” I asked, trying to make sure only Clover heard me.

“Despite not seeming like it, you are an earth pony,” Clover explained. “Nibble and Gale won’t have the endurance to make it over there in time to make sure they can’t get away. Now let's go.”

We had been running for nearly an hour, and to my disbelief I maintained pace the whole time. No doubt Mangle could run faster, but Clover never once told me to pick up the pace and I took the lack of criticism as a compliment, or just about the only form a compliment Clover would give. The sun had set a while ago, and in the distance I could see the glow of a fire. Clover swooped low.

“That’s them,” he said. “Bastards are celebrating. Like the griffon said they're unarmed. We finish this tonight.” Clover flew up higher and Mangle increased her speed, leaving me in the dust.

When I saw the glow of the fire I thought we were close, but the tower of flames continued to rise as I galloped, it reach ever higher almost seeming like it wanted to burn the cloud cover.

The flames mesmerized me until the first scream screeched through the silence of the night. I stopped dead in my tracks as a massacre played out before me.

The light of the flames hid all details, only outlines of ponies remained, but Clover’s wings and Mangle’s power hooves kept them distinguished from the survivors of Jib.

They ran rampant through the camp, slaughtering anypony in their sight. Mangle slammed one of them into the fire. The pony made it out, only to run about screaming as the flames spread throughout their body. Clover took cruel shots at those running away trying to only hit limbs. One of his shots struck a pony, far too small to call an adult, it caused them to glow a bright red before turning to ash. At one point Mangle slammed down on one of the ponies who had their leg injured. Her attack tore the pony in half, showering the area in innards. I could only watch in horror as the ponies I had been traveling with cruelly murdered defenseless civilians. Luna help me.

The massacre finally came to an end with the last citizen of Jib crawling back towards the fire with a useless back leg dragging him down, details of the stallion finally visible. He had a violet coat and a sunflower mane, his cutie mark a golden shield.

Clover and Mangle approached him also stepping into the light.

“Damn that DJ Pon3,” the earth pony said. “Doesn’t matter, we still denied what you wanted.”

“And that was?” Clover said staring down at him, his yellow eyes never more clear with the flames reflecting in them.

“The weapon you desired burns.” The citizen chuckled waving at the fire. Near the base, the glow of hot warping metal shined through. Clover spat and fired his battle saddle. The attack piercing another limb as the stallion screamed.

“That's for ruining my ride,” Clover said monotoned. He fired another shot, another scream. “That’s for destroying my supplies.” Another shot into the ponies last working limb. Each wound a cauterized hole of steaming flesh. “And that is for not giving me what I earned.” Clover turned and walked away with Mangle following his lead.

I walked up to the last citizen of Jib. Clover had left him to die, slowly. Did he deserve this? Was it justified because they attacked us? No, Elpis attacked first, and if it was anything like the massacre here. I shuddered. I can’t just leave him like this. Nibble’s words came back yet again. What you would be doing is merciful.

I entered SATS, the stallion’s head highlighted by the spell with an almost impossible chance to miss. I queued up two shots…

No! This is not mercy! I cancelled the spell. Mercy is more challenging and I have a feeling on what it looks like. I reached into my bag and set my last healing potion next to the stallion.

“What’s the point,” the stallion wheezed. “I've nopony else to protect.”

“I’m just giving you the option,” I whispered.

I fired my battle saddle into the distance and glanced back, neither Mangle or Clover bothered to check what I had done. They simply headed back the way we came. As far as they were concerned the last survivor of Jib had been eliminated.

Footnote: Level Up New Perk; Rad Resistance: +25% radiation resistance permanently.