"So how far?" I asked, glancing up at Star as the larger earth pony walked beside me.

"Half a day across the desert, then we have to start searching for this Destiny facility. Which, no offense, has become more... complicated," he grumbled quietly, glancing at our companion following behind me.

My ears fell flat, while my head ducked in shame upon hearing his disapproving tone. Cherry clung close to my tail, she was still the same anxious wreck and that anxiety was swiftly mutating into depression, She was starting to realize that she was holding us back from moving in the manner we usually would. Nevertheless, it seemed under all the cold dread of her recent trauma, that brave pony that had taken action against the slavers was still kicking. My expenses at the gun store had allowed me to glimpse that side of her. She'd been close to a filly in a candy shop, a filly with the financial support to purchase almost anything that store had to offer. Even so, after only a few moments of looking over the state of the stock, I was surprised that the revolver she'd purchased even worked as well as it did. Although, I'd failed to mention that to her. Instead, most of my attention was spent on accepting her gratitude and assuring her she could have whatever she wanted.

Okay, so maybe not everything, I was convinced she would have cleared out the place had I not limited her to a set of armor and two firearms.

It hadn't taken her long to set her eyes on some barding, an old, modified set of stable utility barding, bearing the number five... The last digit, if there had been one, had long since been scorched off. I had a nagging feeling it had come from stable fifty-four, yet another revered shit hole to the southeast. Regardless of its cursed origin, it was protection. I'd survived with less before and by the sounds of the radio transmissions issued recently by other ponies, bad ponies were taking over the desert with nothing any better. Add to her arsenal a worn old assault rifle and a combat shotgun that was in no better condition, and I felt the need to give her something that was at least reliable. I'd told Zap-Zap that it would see some use and some use it would see, even if it wasn't in my hooves. I just really hoped we didn't get into a situation in which she had to use it.

Maybe you shouldn't have dragged her back out in the wasteland then? My mind snickered sourly.

I just knocked the wry thought to the floor with a mental buck to the face. We've had this discussion brain. I demand that you cease any further thoughts regarding this matter.

Even so, Cherry was no serious wasteland hardened pony. She was, however, a beneficial addition to our team. Her excellent aptitude with bartering and locks were both traits I'd convinced myself would be incredibly useful for ponies in our occupation.

Yeah, if she's not dead.

Just shut up, Brain!

After seeing to it that she was properly kitted out, and saying bye to yet more of my caps, we'd swiftly departed. Firstly, because I didn't want to have to keep Star waiting. Secondly, I didn't want that bitch at the bar finding out that I was taking her waitress on a far longer run than I'd paid for. A part of me just hoped she'd think that glimpse of Cherry last night was a dream or something. Nevertheless, she wasn't getting the pink mare back anytime soon.

"Urm... if I'm getting in the way I could..." Cherry’s tremulous voice trailed off at Star’s look of disapproval, the sound of her murmuring summoned me back from my slightly shameful mental argument with my mental reasoning.

I'd hoped she hadn't heard what we'd just said, and by his quiet tone, I assumed Star hadn't intended her to hear his issue either. My experienced partner, Star, and Cherry, a greenhorn to this line of work were still wary of each other. I guessed she was simply unnerved by somepony she didn't know, a far larger and far more solidly built stallion at that. I'd told her that she had to follow my orders without question. The mere act of demanding her trust and obedience stung at first, but I knew that the wasteland would be far less forgiving. Asking her to trust Star, however, was slightly more troublesome, in spite of his years of experience surviving and prospering in this line of work. I simply hoped she'd only have to take orders from me, which meant I'd have to stick with her wherever we went. As a result, I could see just why this had become far more complicated for my larger companion. She wasn't the liability, I was. I was the one who insisted on bringing a complete greenhorn out into the wasteland on a mission which was difficult for even experienced mercenaries such as Star and myself to accomplish. We weren’t taking her out on beginner grade missions to build up her skill and experience, as we might have otherwise have done, were we not already deep into wasteland territory and currently in the middle of the mission we had accepted.

I glanced back at the pink mare as her gaze lingered cautiously upon the huge buck donning his saddle mounted mini-gun, flamethrower, and his fearsome-looking and flesh-rending spiked armor. She may as well been looking at some Rider's tank.

And you thought it was a good idea to convince a traumatized pony that something that looked like that was a friend? My brain admonished in dry amusement.

I shook the snide mental comment off, replacing the thought with a quick response to Cherry's stuttered words.

"No, I want you to stick close to me."

I was almost on the brink of reciting the whole 'don't run into gunfire', 'don't step in front of a loaded weapon', 'don't go skipping into a raider den and the likes' routine, when more of that admonishing guilt watched over me.

Damn it, Dragonfire, she isn't a foal!

Add to that the fact I knew she'd agree with almost anything I told her because of her fear that I'd abandon her if she did not, and that remorse only grew like an already heavy millstone around my neck being replaced with an even larger and even heavier millstone.

Why are was I doing this? Of all the ponies in the wasteland, of all the ponies you could have saved, why this one? Why go so far to help her? Those frustrating questions kept repeating over and over in my mind.

I merely sighed, the argument that she was a pony who among all others was just trying to help finally forcing me to admit that there was a deeper emotional attachment forced upon me by the traumatic events of our first meeting. It certainly had resurrected a part of me which had long lain dormant.

I still hated myself for what I'd see in that office. Not the raider mare, or the foal, but myself. I'd seen the whole wasteland, the whole fucked up reality ponykind squatted about in, and it was that which had broken me? I realized that my ensuing time spent with her had established and strengthened a bond I had with very few ponies. Despite recognizing the moment in which I had formed a bond with Cherry, I was still no closer to an answer as to why I had formed my bond with her when I had not permitted myself to have such vulnerabilities presented by having bonds with non-battle-hardened companions.

I let out a long breath, my eyes still upon Cherry. I could see that under the frail vial of caution she was contemplating what I'd just told her, considering whether she was really with the right ponies. I swallowed, finding the words formulating in my head hard to stomach, and yet I bore no desire to get them out.

"You know... you don't have to stay with us. I mean you can by all means, but..." I stammered, the fear of her leaving me clogging my throat.

She glanced about, looking anywhere but at Star or myself.

"I... I probably wouldn't be able to find my way back," she admitted tentatively, her eyes finally looking upon me.

Once again, I simply found her cute. A fact that was swiftly turning my head upside-down, especially after the way I felt about her outside the gun store.

Wow, I didn't know wannabe heroes turned you on, Dragonfire? My mind snickered, using a mockery of Star's voice.

I mentally constructed a stable, into which I shoved psychological fucker inside before proceeding to securely lock the damn bunker before flooding the stable with something nasty, such as plasma or Cyanide, then instantly blurted something to distract myself from the idea.

"Alack and alas! That our strings of fate should ‘twine together and so journey with yon beaut mare! Oh, woe is us!" I behaved dramatically turning to face Cherry and lasciviously wriggling my eyebrows at her.

Despite everything she smiled slightly at that, her expression only confusing my usual set impulses even more. I fought to redirect my eyes away, but instead, the rebellious orbs dragged my gazed over her shoulders past her middle and back towards her…

Oh, look her hind hoof is all better, she is walking fine now, the potions had done their work and we had more if necessary.

Come on Dragonfire let’s not kid yourself. You want to do more than just look at her shapely hindleg, don’t you?

I swiftly changed the subject again, dragging the lustful idea back into a corner for harsh words later.

I needed more distraction, yes, distractions were good.

With that, I yanked my gaze away from the, thankfully oblivious, mare and to... The middle of nowhere. So much for distractions, not even raiders operated this deep into the desert, nothing but the sand blowing in a scorching wind. The horizon was broken only by dunes trailing streams of sand from their peaks and the towering red mesa far to the northeast. Straggly mutated cacti broke up the emptiness as did parched desert rocks, and the odd pile of rusted scrap. I'd never really understood how this place even got so hot or even why it was a desert, it rained buckets here most of the time. Not to mention none of it had seen the sun in centuries.

Under hoof, the cracked remains of a road were just visible beneath the invading sands, the long line of scorched asphalt stretching off into the distant dunes. Beyond, were the ragged brown outlines of hills, distinguishable from their flat-topped cousins to the west by their jagged peaks and lack of blood red stone. In the miles beyond them was the city of New Pegasus, a length we, fortunately, didn't have to traverse. As for our mysterious destination? I really hoped we'd be able to find it quickly. A part of me even imagined giant signs telling us exactly where to go, or even one of those monstrous smiling M.O.M billboards. Those I knew, were frail hopes. Like Star had said this was gonna be far harder with half of my focus divided, thanks to the addition of Cherry to our team.

"So, you get any leads on this place while you were in town?" I asked Star, seeking yet more distractions.

He looked down at me knowing full well the question was not one I'd be asking under normal circumstances, if it was normal then I'd be either boasting, joking or purring some sexual fantasy. No, he knew I was avoiding the true meaning of complications.

"Look, I'm not blaming you for anything," he told me firmly. "All I'm worried about is that you're becoming attached... More so than usual, and certainly not in the same way as usual. Usually, you’d never bring a complete neophyte on an advanced grade mission such as this. I also know that you would usually never allow your attention to be divided as it is right now," he added, never one to mince words.

I glanced away from him, sensing the concern in his tone and praying Cherry couldn't hear it.

"Dragonfire I know you, I also know what would happen if something did happen, and she isn't ready for this kind of life. Instead of dragging her into the dangerous wasteland, you should have arranged for her to travel with a trading caravan that was heading back to Churn and had her find work there while we took care of our mission," he continued warningly.

If such a thing had been said by any other pony I'd have bucked them into next Tuesday, but Star was right. He was right most of the time, in fact, he was nearly always right, and to think, I claimed that I was the smart one! I knew what he was worried about, he was not worried for his sake, but for mine. Yet I just couldn't leave Cherry with that sly bitch back in town, only to live through the same experience over and over, especially with the mental baggage of her recent encounter with the raiders. The image of that manipulative red associated stallion flashed in my mind and I had to rein in my murderous thoughts.

Nor would I let her travel back to Chun alone. Yet once I was back there with her I could get her a place, I'd let her share mine if needed, as long as she was safe and happy. Life was almost perfect there, so close to perfect that it hurt. For her, I'd trot the extra mile to make it perfect. Why? Goddesses know that I didn't know why, but I knew many aspects of my twisted brain were telling me it was the right thing to do. My thoughts were shattered a moment later however, my ears twitched upward as my head rose catching a distant sound carried on the dusty wind, a gunshot. Star had heard it too, stopping with a metallic clatter and looking up over the windblown desert.

"Sniper Rifle, I'd say high calibre," he stated, sniffing the dusty, arid air.

My visor sparked to life, having been dormant over my eyes to prevent needlessly draining my magic unless the situation called for it. Cautiously, my horn flared drawing one of my plasma rifles and bringing into the air before me. Another shot carried on the dry wind a moment later. I slipped back to my new companion, my eyes and targeting matrix scanning the desert horizon in all directions.

"Cherry, listen closely," I said firmly.

By her frightened look, I knew she'd heard the shot too, even if she was fighting to hide it.

"Cherry!?" I asked, almost shouting.

She tensed as if my words were a lifeline dragging her back from a torrent panic.

"Now listen, you stay right by me and do exactly what I say. Okay?" I instructed firmly.

She flinched, but nodded and drew her assault rifle with her lime green hued magic. I almost winced at that, the hope she'd never have to kill under my instructions rapidly fading as I'd always known it would. Another shot stole my attention, the lack of anybody being injured, dying or bullets impacting in the ground indicated that the shots were not directed at us, at least not yet.

"Don't think we got raiders, slaver caravan, maybe," Star reasoned, examining his surrounding environment cautiously before he took a heavy step forward.

"Stay behind me, only use that if you have to," I commanded Cherry, the words tasting bitter on my tongue as I reluctantly motioned towards the assault rifle.

A moment later I turned back to the direction of the sound, my gun hovering so that I was looking down the sight.

"You see anything?" I called to Star.

He gave no response as his eyes strived to see into the windblown dust storm. Then I saw something, a shimmer in the brown cloud. My matrix marked nothing, the target too distant and too hidden in the dust.

"Got something to the left," I advised, creeping forward while redirecting the barrel of my rifle.

"I got nothing," Star added wearily.

My eyes narrowed as something emerged from the dusty road ahead. The shape was blurred at first, but as we approached, the mangled metal skeleton of an old sky chariot became clear. All that was left was a corroded rusty frame, eaten away by the harsh extremes of the unforgiving desert. The bubbling decay appeared like a swarm of ravenous insects as time feasted upon the metal. Beyond the wagon the shimmer flashed again, this time right ahead.

"Ahead Star, straight ahead," I warned him, even though both my visor and eyes were still picking up nothing but the visibility-reducing cloud of dust.

"I got it, can't make out what it is yet," he added, squinting into the cloud.

A moment later, and we'd reached the broken remains of the skywagon. It was empty, save a few scorched books and two dust bitten skeletons, one of which had been the pegasus pulling the thing. Looking over the bones I wasn't hit by the woeful thought regarding who this pony had once been, instead, I was reminded just how much I hated pegasi. I doubted any wastelander who knew the truth about the sky liked them. Exhibit A, the fucking clouds. This one had gotten what he'd deserved long ago, assuming the warped remains were those of a buck. Regardless, his former chariot now provided us with a stopping point as well as cover from both the dust storm and what potentially hostile inhabitants which might be nearby.

"Wait here with her, I'll check ahead," Star ordered grimly, stepping around the wrecked chariot without concern for the brittle bones of the departed, which he crushed under his metal hoofs.

I nodded in acknowledgment, but he didn't even glance our way.

"First rule of combat, keep your head down," I advised Cherry as Star departed deeper into the dust storm.

The experienced mercenary in me almost forced me to push her head down with my hoof, yet I'd decided against touching her, experience and danger would instruct her in ways I could not. Even so, I knew it was not the best way to build her confidence back, and I'll even admit being firm with her was hard as I did not know when my firmness was too much, when it was just enough, and when I wasn’t being firm enough. As she nodded in agreement the memory of Red’s sickening misuse of somepony's trust only made my insides crawl that bit more. Ahead, Star's large armored shape was no more than a ghostly silhouette against the swirling sand. He'd stopped, his gaze panning the horizon. My eyes did the same and another shot rang from the storm, this time far closer. Star didn't even flinch, he wasn't the target, and as far as I could tell neither were we. Cherry jumped with weak "eep", startled by the much closer sound. In the moment I had to think faster than ever. The flicker appeared to the right. 'Hostile targets: 1' my visor declared.

My eyes widened, and without hesitation I toppled my startled companion, forcing her to the scoured asphalt. The shot sounded with a loud crack. There was a sharp whistle over the dusty wind and then an equally swift thudding sound as the bullet struck my dragon scaled armor. A dull pain blossomed from my back, leaving a bruise as the force was disrupted by the scales. A moment later it was confirmed that this shot hadn't gone unnoticed. There was a low whirring as Star's mini-gun laced the shooter with a hail of lead. All I did was look down at the tensed mare under me. My breath was quick and shallow, my body gasping for whatever air it could after that bullet impact, and my heart was thudding like the rapid tempo on a drum. Warmblood raced through my veins. Then I realized how I was positioned on top of Cherry and a great deal of that blood went to my cheeks.

For a long moment, all I could do was confirm to myself that she was still alive. If I'd have been even a moment slower she'd be blood splattered on the dusty road. My mind lingered on that grotesque vision as I harshly berated myself for the danger I was bringing her into. I closed my eyes tightly, trembling as I fought not to hug her.

Raider victims. No touchy, touchy.

Instead, I continued to assure myself that she was still there, that she was still alive, as I cautiously moved off of her. Then I began to realize that Star’s concerns were much more real. I'd made this far harder for everyone involved, especially for myself.

"Woah there, I ain't lookin' for a firefight!" A distant voice wailed from over the roar of the mini-gun.

Star Strike's rain of bullets halted as my head rose and I looked up where the shot had rang out from. Instantly my visor outlined the shape of an earth pony buck in the sand. He was swiftly highlighted as non-hostile, yet I assumed that was only after he'd lain his scoped rifle on the sand dune beside him.

Green? My simmering anger set in. He'd shot me, he'd nearly killed Cherry and my visor declared him friendly! I was beginning to doubt my own expertise.

"You sure this is a good idea?" Another gruff voice called, then came the distinctive sound of wings overhead.

I crouched down low, expecting an ambush as I saw the armored silhouette of a griffin pass over me. Yet she didn't attack, instead the shadow disappeared into the storm in the direction of the other voice. My expression was soured further as the other green outline appeared, yet at least she hadn't been the one to shoot first.

"Come over to where I can see you, both of you," Star's voice boomed into the visibility reducing dust storm.

I brought up my plasma rifle, our would-be attackers entering within firing range, and marked. If my visor was right then I shouldn't' need the gun, on the other hoof my, super well designed, supposed to be my best work visor, wasn't always right... apparently. I stepped back helping my rather shocked companion up onto her hooves.

"You okay?" I asked, giving her a fleeting glance.

"Yeah... that was just... Well, scary," she murmured, brushing herself off.

I just gave her a nod and she gladly took the opportunity for the non-verbal communication with an appreciative expression, instead, she opted for retrieving her rife from the asphalt.

"Woah there, ah didn't mean to take no shots at y'all." The buck emerging from the sand shroud declared.

His accent went strangely well with his a sandy yellow coat and brown mane. It also, I noted sourly explained the seemingly unintentional camouflage against the sand. Behind him the gray-feathered griffin was skulking wearily, her sharp yellow eyes locked on us. Taking a step forward I held my rifle up, Cherry mimicking my potentially aggressive stance by raising her own weapons. It was then that I noticed that our attacker's cutie mark was a broken bottle in the process of being shattered by a pebble.

"Sure look like you did to me," I growled holding the plasma rifle up to his head as he stopped.

He gulped, and his feathered companion looking like she thought everyone, but herself, were an idiot. I just prayed to the goddesses that she stayed green. As long as they were green then they were not monsters and not something I'd shoot. To the new buck's credit, he had left his rifle up on the dune and aside from some thin barding and his saddle bags, he was unarmed and unarmoured, the same could not be said for the Griffin, yet all her weapons were at least holstered in one of the ragged black harnesses griffins called barding.

"Sorry 'bout back there, I guessed y'all were more of them darn vermin," the buck said in an apologetic tone, the likes of which turned sour at the mention of 'vermin'.

"Is that so... You know you should have waited for me to check it out first before you shoot," the griffin scolded.

He just scowled at her.

"Oh, and would ya' have done any different?" he challenged, and her opinion of his idiocy levels seemed to double.

"I'd have done exactly what my contract states and my contract includes the stipulation of protecting your dumb ass. You’re making my job harder by shooting anything that moves! Your damn wild shooting is going to piss someone off and then they’ll decide to fucking end you, even if they have to walk over my damn corpse to do so!" she hissed, pointing a talon at him accusingly.

He merely scoffed at the idea, almost seeming insulted and the griffin simply sighed.

"You know, I swear I'd have to have been wasted beyond belief that day I said I'd help you," she moaned, her guard seemingly slipping as she did so.

"Well, I didn't hire ya' to shoot up reasonable looking folks," he added nervously.

I relaxed a little, evaluating how fair of an excuse it was. One, it was dusty. Two, we were hiding and mostly obscured. Then the positives stopped. Three, we were ponies! Not some damn 'vermin’' whatever that meant. Regardless, that combined with his seemingly humble surrender was enough to loosen my magical grip on the trigger.

"What vermin?" Star asked, his mini-gun's barrel poised at the bucks facial regions.

I could see the sandy pony fight not to squirm. The griffin regarded the situation carefully, yet didn't seem too eager to intervene as if this was some sort of lesson for her client. At that, I was beginning to believe them, however. No raider would do this, and no slaver would be brave enough to do what looked to be the right thing. My guns cracklings green barrel waved slightly.

"How about a name first?" I asked in a slightly more invitingly tone, and not at plasma enhanced gunpoint.

I could see his posture partially relax as I relaxed my aggressive stance, Star's min-gun position would decide when he’d be able to relax any further.

"Well, I..." He glanced to the heavy weapon's barrel nervously.

I looked to my companion and with a short turn of his armored bulk, the weapon moved away from our would-be attacker's eyes. Now his relief was more visibly expressed, and I could swear that I saw a sly smirk crossed the griffin's beak.

"Names Buck Shot, this is Gina." He motioned to the griffin. "Pleased to meet ya'. And urm, sorry again for shootin' ya,'" he explained in a nervously friendly tone.

Keeping a wary eye trained on the newly identified Buck Shot, I returned my weapon to its holster. Either, as his bodyguard had implied, this buck was really stupid or he really didn't mean to shoot us, both dangerous things in the wasteland. Nevertheless, he was unarmed, unarmoured and most importantly, he was green.

"Vermin?" Star asked again, looking down over the sandy buck, then at the griffin, as if it were somehow her responsibility.

She seemed to know that all too well and frowned sourly.

"Yeah, darn things got mah caravan. We were all saddled up over yonder when a group of those little scaly bastards came out an' jumped us," he responded, his weary tone quickly growing into one of irritation at the thought of the 'scaly bastards' he'd described.

"They wouldn't have if you'd have waited for me to check the place out first," Gina told him with frustration, but he merely shook of the idea.

"Ah ain't met no critter that I couldn't handle," he retorted proudly.

"Yeah, until now," she retorted with a loud huff, her rebuke thereby earning her another sour glance from her client.

I focused on the scaly description, there were only a few creatures that matched it in this part of the wasteland. Goddesses dammed rattle-tails or more likely geckos. I'd had a fair amount of encounters with both, the former was easily avoided. If you stayed clear of their dens then they wouldn't chase you to the next town and back. Given that Buck Shot was still here and none of those scaly creatures were pursuing him, I assumed it was the latter. Geckos, there was definitely no shortage of them around here, the little fuckers were often called the Radroaches of the Marejarvie. Like their mutated arthropod counterparts, the oversized lizards were easy enough to deal with, providing you didn't encounter the fire breathing or poison variants.

"I'm gonna assume you mean Geckos?" I asked bluntly, confident in my assumption.

Buck Shot looked at me, his eyes narrowing at the name.

"If y'all' mean the little lizard fuckers? Then yeah. There's a whole bunch of um' crawlin' 'bout down there," he explained, thus confirming my suspicions.

Beside him, I could almost see steam rising from Gina's feathers at the reminder. I gave the taloned merc a sly smile.

"And you couldn't handle that?" I taunted.

Her eyes narrowed as she flexed one of her sharp, black talons.

"Oh, I'll show you just what I can handle," she warned.

My smiled didn't fade at her frustration however, and I just nodded.

"Oh, I don't doubt that," I added slyly.

She looked like she was fighting the urge to take one of her revolvers and shoot every last one of us.

"So where exactly are these Geckos?" I asked Buck Shot, glancing ahead for any more indications.

He stammered, seeming embarrassed that he'd not told us their whereabouts before repeatedly cursing about the things.

"Ol' wagon stop. Just down that way. Was hold up in there last night, that's where those little fuckers jumped us!" he explained shamefully.

"I wish you'd have lasted the whole night, we were in there no more than an hour you idiot," Gina corrected bitterly, forcing her companion to scowl once again.

Scratch my previous thoughts, now they just seemed embarrassed to have been bested by Geckos. I took a dry breath from the sandy concoction that was the desert air. If he was right those Geckos were right in our way and going round in these conditions was not an option. Best case scenario we'd lose the road in the storm, worse a rad-glass storm would blow in from the Sheen and cut us into radioactive giblets in seconds. Add to that the fact we needed a place to rest for tonight and I'd mapped out our next move.

I glanced back at Cherry who was looking at the sandy buck before me. Wait no, she was looking past him. Despite still being slightly startled by the gunshot her eyes had become fixed of the finely maintained, golden rimmed sniper rifle that had unleashed it. My look turned curious, then concerned. I'd almost lost her only a moment ago to the very gun she was gawking at. There was a risk of such a thing repeating itself just over the next hill, albeit death by Gecko.

Could I keep this up? Was I doing the right thing? My mind repeatedly asked these questions as if they were a percussive beat.

But she was still here, ready to fight and brave the wasteland with me. Only because I offered her something slightly better than her previous life, only because she was too afraid she lose the opportunity if she didn't do what I say.

Abusing a ponies trust is not the right thing to do, you know? I stomped a hoof, much to the surprise of the ponies in front of me as I mentally screamed. No, she was not a foal, she was not some helpless slave, and she was not here because I liked her!

She was here because she was a pony who tried to make difference, and no matter what I couldn't let her failure rob her of that ambition. Nor could I let it smother another potential light in this dark shit hole of a world. I failed to notice the faces of the ponies before me while shaking my head.

Yes, Dragon you could save her, do your job and get her back to Churn, or you could make her into something to be proud of, something for her to be proud of.

First of all, I had to stop treating her like a foal, she could fight, she had skills we could use.

You've already had to save her twice. My mind stated bluntly. No, I could do it a few more times until she was safely back home if needs be.

Besides as long as these vermin were normal Geckos, then there was a little problem, I could even make a lesson out of it, the scaly fuckers were that stupid after all. I looked up to Star, forcing a smile that he recognized almost instantly.

"Y'all up for killin' some vermin?" I asked, slightly mocking Buck Shot's ascent as I replaced my plasma rifle with the Saddle blaster.

The sandy coated buck didn't even blink an eye at my weak mockery, he merely gave a light-hearted chuckle. His companion's humor on the other hoof, didn't seem to be so fake as she snickered. Star rolled his eyes, but I knew he wouldn't say no. If anything killing Geckos was entertaining, in addition to also making the desert that little bit safer, and he knew as well as I did that the ruins Buck Shot had described would at least provide a stopping point for tonight. Above all, we were presented with somepony who needed help, and despite shooting at us he clearly wasn't a monster. Above all, I made sure to help ponies who needed it.

There was a loud bang and a wet spatter as another oversized lizard head was turned to red mush beside me. I turned back from the pile of disintegrated dust I'd recently created to see the headless corpse collapse to the blooded asphalt. It seemed that Buck Shot hadn't been lying when he said these fuckers were sneaky. The familiar sandy coated buck stood just beside the dead lizard, his golden rifle relieved of its aiming stance as he trotted over.

"Think that's the last of um' out front," he stated, his tone buzzing with satisfaction as he looked over the ten or so dead Geckos, and pink ash piles, staining the asphalt about us.

The pair of us had come down here first, originally I'd have just had Star's cannons level the place from up on the dune, yet with Buck Shot's wares apparently still inside, it wasn't an option. Furthermore, I'd intended to leave him and Cherry up on the hill too, yet the sandy buck suggested against it. I'd thought to argue, obviously he didn't trust us near his wares unsupervised, yet having shot us only moments before I didn't think he was gonna openly say as much. Therefore, we were all down her buzzing about like a swarm of overly armed Bloatsprites trying to kill all the scaly fuckers.

The area itself had once been an old wagon stop along the long road through the desert, most of the walls had collapsed or been slowly eroded by the desert. A great deal of the places was buried under drifts of sand, two open garage doors sat on the right side each containing the corpses of rusty old wagons. Both appeared to have been in a state of repair that would never be finished. I'd cleared both the surrounding asphalt and smaller wreckages that were scattered about the place. Gina was flying above and Star had gone around back where several more sky wagons lay stacked in a sagging heap of dusty metal and rust. The pile's right side was almost completely covered by sand, making it almost indistinguishable from the other waves upon the desert sea.

Back there were two more structures, an old motel, the likes of which was half collapsed on its far side exposing many tattered rooms. Opposite, the still-standing section of the building crept round to the far left side of the wagon workshop. I could barely make out any of the upper levels on account of their long balconies being flooded by mounds of sand. Below, the doors to the place were no less consumed by the desert. Drifts of dust poured in through the shattered glass front, the sand was in the process of burying the reception area.

Directly behind the workshop was what appeared to be some sort of small broadcast tower. As of yet, I'd only been able to identify the building by the sight of the large rusted spire that stood atop it. On the rooftop beside the spire, I could see the rusted ruminates of a large sky wagon, the thing having seemingly crashed into the lower structure long ago narrowly missing the tower. A part of me wondered why anypony would need such a thing out here in the middle of nowhere, yet even before the war being stuck out in the desert with no means of communication was practically a death sentence.

Shame that didn't save the many scattered skeletons cast over the rusted terrain around us, leaning from the windows of rusted wagons like rags. Speaking of the wagons, and given the sound of gunfire and lack of explosions coming over the main structure, I assumed none of us had managed to hit any of their more explosive parts, nor any of the fuel barrels. Beside me stood Cherry, my prize pistol levitating firmly in her magic.

"Not bad," I told her casually, motioning to the several Geckos she'd managed to disintegrated.

She smiled at me proudly, but just like the last time I'd praised her I could sense a part of her that just wanted to be humbled. That only made my smile that bit wider as levitated my blaster forward and looked to the tattered door of the workshop.

"Ready for some more target practice?" I asked encouragingly.

The pink mare levitated the pistol up, mimicking my actions as she nodded. A moment later I found myself crouched beneath the far right corner of the garage. The ruined wall, and the great deal of sand that had mounted it, provided suitable cover. Not that I needed it, these Geckos didn't have guns. But this was, in my eyes, as much a lesson for Cherry as it was a mundane task for me. If I was going to make her wasteland ready, then she needed to get into the habit of taking cover right away.

Even so, as Buck Shot cautiously opened the door and a fresh mob of the scaly creatures rushed out to greet us, my attention was focused on every scaly fiend that strayed within ten hoof steps of her. Only for my mind to remind me that in doing so I was only undermining my own goals. I just told my thoughts to shut up... again. I'd take foal steps with this. Buck Shot didn't comment on the fact that in my distraction, one of the Geckos had just managed to catch my tail. His subsequent shot had saved my flank from a biting, not that it would be the first bite, but a bite nonetheless.

"How many more did you say there were?" I asked, looking to him as I reloaded and motioning for Cherry to do the same.

He glanced ahead over the fresh pile of dead Geckos and peered inside.

"I'd say, no more than twenty," he stated, his tone seething with hatred for the mutated creatures.

He reloaded his golden rifle. I nodded in mild thanks for his saving of my rump before a moment came later the roar of Star's mini-gun sounded from behind the main building.

"Well, ah think we got the last of um' out here," Buck Shot added.

Certainly looked that way, I added mentally.

Cherry's eyes followed mine until her gaze came to rest on the sandy buck too. I winced and for a moment, afraid the sight of another bloodstained pony would break her. Yet before I could say anything the mare's expression turned rigged and she swallowed. I had no distinctive proof that there wasn't something else going on in her head, but I liked to think that she was far stronger than she looked. The pony I was seeing now was the one that had refused to stand by while her friends were stolen from her. To resist that past trauma, and be able to bear the brunt of the pain, made her a far stronger pony that I was.

Nevertheless, I knew that this was just the start, and the fucked up entity that was the great and powerful wasteland had a lot more tricks up its sleeve. I forced that thought out of my head, taking a step back as Buck Shot moved over the scaly corpses and into the rusted old doorway.

"How are you holding up?" I asked my companion, secretly begging Celestia that I could ease the strain on her.

"Yeah, I think I'm good," she responded bravely, bringing up her weapon.

Once again I felt a strangely warm pride, like I was finally seeing the pony I'd saved, the pony that had tried to be better.

"Good, you're doing great," I told her, my friendly tone almost a joyful laugh.

She gave a weak smile, bowing her head slightly and focusing on the rusted door. Then there was a sudden bang, and she jumped. My head swiveled to the interior of the garage's main building.

"Blasted scaly vermin!" Buck Shot hissed as a Gecko lacking a left side slumped out of the doorway.

"You stay close to me, and watch my tail okay," I told Cherry, trying not to think of the many other ponies I'd said that to, for different reasons.

Regardless, she nodded, fighting to stay as humble as she could. Just like the last time, I could see that the responsibility I'd given her was filing her a pride, akin to that of a filly who'd earned the right to stay home alone for the first time.

"Ah'm gonna go on ahead. Guess there's a good dozen of um' in there," Buck Shot declared peering through the second doorway that combined with the first to form a small foyer. "Ah ain't' got enough rounds for um' all though," he added, his tone growing deeply frustrated.

I pulled my Saddle Blaster up, poking the barrel through the latter doorway.

"I'll clear them out, you just pick off the ones I miss," I told him, stepping through the doorway.

He nodded, yet was seemingly dissatisfied that he was not the one to be killing all of the creatures. Beyond a dusty waiting room greeted me. The floor was stripped of carpet, leaving only dried cork, plaster and sand in its place. The tattered wallpaper formed a patchwork of cracks, its dirt stained coat appearing like a dried riverbed, and flaking more than a ghoul. The roof was no better, a crumbling plaster mess that seemed unable to decide which of the deserts elemental extremes it wanted to be taken down by first. To my left was an almost bare wall save for an old, pre-war notice board. The metal frame was almost rusted through, the dust-stained glass panel having been smashed, leaving only a sharp jagged row of teeth around its edge.

Inside were several posters, most scorched beyond recognition, yet I could just make out one detailing a Pegasus aerial team adorning sleek black gear, with a rainbow-maned mare in the center. Apparently, decades ago 'victory' was 'just a wing beat away'.

Yeah, a wing beat to this fucked up wasteland.

Another poster displayed a similar message, yet I guessed 'keeping Equestria safe' wasn't an accurate statement either.

'Renowned Griffin assassin is jailed for war crimes against Equestria. Elusive criminal, Garro Nightclaw was arrested and convicted of a stream of illegally tasked and organized homicides. Griffin officials overseas refuse to offer sanctuary to one whom they have labeled highly dishonorable.' I almost laughed at that last one, a faded newspaper article.

Good description of every Talon merc ever you poor pre-war basterds. I mentally snickered to myself, making a note to let Gina see the article if I could.

The opposite wall was covered by a set of worn old lockers. Those that weren't warped, door-less or filled with sand were closed tight. Beyond them, on the far side of the room was the counter. A long wooden desk, now a creamy bleached color, stretching most of the room's length. Behind it was yet another notice board, this one shattered, rusted and empty save for some posters, all of them were too warped to read, and some faded scribbles. The whole thing hung crooked on its left side. In the center of the room below a long-dead light were Buck Shot's wares and about half a dozen angry Geckos.

The scaly little fuckers looked much like their textbook pre-war cousins. Only they were nearly the size of a small pony, had a mouth lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth and fingers tipped with claws. Most were too busy feeding on whatever was left in the bags, two rose up making their signature hissing sound before charging wildly. Running on their hind legs they were more than a little clumsy when it came to obstacles, and Buck Shot's bags made for plenty. My targeting matrix had already designated them as hostile, ten in total. The first was turned to dust, its momentum carrying a cloud of pink towards the smoking barrel of the upgraded energy weapon as it levitated round. The second stumbled, my shot hitting it in the back as it fell. With a meaty splat, the scaly mass exploded clawed limbs sprawling over the bags.

The light show hadn't gone unnoticed by the other Geckos, however. The remaining eight swiftly stood, charging in a similar fashion to their fallen predecessors.

By the goddesses, it was almost pitiful. The noises they made before attacking are pure entertainment.

One was greeted by a rifle round to the open mouth as to my right Buck Shot opened fire, two more were turned to dust and another lost its upper torso in a wet splatter of gore. The remaining four were unfazed. One tripped rather comically, sprawling over a fallen locker. Another, the foremost, leaped forward at Buck Shot only to be met by the hard end of his rifle as he swung it round and struck the creature across the muzzle. With a bone spilling crunch, the scaly mass fell flailing to the floor. The third was greeted by a blast of magical energy, costing it its torso. The last fell right at my hooves, hissing up at me as it frantically attempted to right itself. I reared up bringing my full weight down on it. I was not a big pony, yet I felt its frail skull crack all the same. The lizard twitched giving one last gargled hiss before it fell silent.

"Take that ya' blasted vermin!" Buck Shot added, as the Gecko bested by the fallen lockers meet the wrong end of his rifle.

I just rolled my eyes, all boring gun ponies just wanted to keep hearing the bang of their oh so precious firearm.

"Ah reckon that's the last of ‘um," he stated, kicking the twitching dead mass aside, before trotting over to his wares.

Eagerly looking through them the buck frowned.

"Ow, well this is just fuckin' merry, ain't it?" he growled pulling what looked like a ragged cloth from one of the torn bags. "Ghoul mare sold me that back in up New Appaloosa, damn fuckers go an’ chewed it right up," he hissed, tossing the ragged mass to the floor.

My spark died slightly at the mention of that place, it had been my home once and I knew that mare, I mean who didn't? Yet that, for me, was a long time ago. A time I'd tried to forget. Buck Shot's next reveal only tested me a bit further. The wasteland survival guide. I was glad that such a thing was now nothing more than a torn mess of chewed paper and gecko saliva. With that brief sting of nostalgia sparking an emotional flame I didn't want to kindle, I swiftly set my gaze about the room. There I promptly noticed something I'd missed previously. Behind the counter was another door, slightly hidden behind the crooked notice board.

"I'm gonna check the back," I told Buck Shot.

The sandy stallion glanced up, first to me, then to the door.

"Fine by me," he said swiftly, before eagerly returning to his bags.

Cautiously, I trotted over moving around the counter.

"You still with me, hun?" I asked Cherry as I noticed the pink mare trotting up behind me seemingly oblivious to all else.

For a brief moment, she looked hurt as if somehow she shouldn't be there. I swiftly cursed myself for being so bland and corrected myself with equal haste. My smile summoned her back from that dark place, and she nodded.

"Yeah, I guess..." she stuttered seeming to struggle for words as she thought deeply. "I just want to make sure I don't miss anything, that's all," she swiftly blurted.

Well, that was a lie, albeit it with some truth, yet I didn't say as much. I just nodded and pretended to take pride in the fact that she thought I was a good enough teacher. Even if my real pride was in the fact she was still choosing to follow me.

Dragonfire, you really shouldn't invite more death and trauma for yourself, my mind snickered slyly.

I beat those thoughts with a mental hammer before turning to the hidden door. With a flare of my horn, the notice board straightened and fell to the floor. A moment later and my magic infiltrated what had once been the handle, opening it with a click. Thankfully it wasn't locked. Inside was a small room with cluttered shelves on one side and a pile of cardboard boxes stacked on the other. 'Robronco' was written on most of them. In that moment I was glad whoever had once worked here hadn't had the chance to build any of the dismantled robots. Getting in here would have been significantly more complicated if that were the case. On the far side of the room was the faint, green glow of a terminal, flickering beneath a layer of sandy dust.

At times I was surprised the things still worked after all this time, yet I knew what everypony said about stable-tec.

When they build something they... yadda, yadda, yadda. I trailed of mouthing the words silently to myself.

On the floor beside the terminal was a safe, the likes of which was just as dusty as everything else. Furthermore, its lock was untouched. Nopony had tried to get into it, in fact, it didn't seem like anypony had been in here for centuries. The coast clear, I holstered my Saddle blaster and moved over to the terminal, blowing away the dust only to find it locked.

Well, the wasteland wasn't gonna make everything easy. I sighed looking to my Pipbuck before hooking it up to the terminal. Okay Dragon, let's see how much you've lost your touch.

Several backouts and one almost broken screen later, I was in. The password was 'hero' of all things and it had taken me that long to find it.

Let's just not talk about this again, my mind unanimously agreed as I agreed as I looked over the contents.

I unlocked the safe first, after that, I found three audio recording which I swiftly download onto my Pipbuck. Inside the safe were a few stacks of pre-war bits, rather pointless, but I took them regardless and a stealthbuck, once again rather strange, but it was mine now. Finally, I found a memory orb. A memory orb? I'd seen many of these things before, and for a moment I was nearly in it. Yet my magic waived the moment I felt its touch. I'd had the misfortune of accidentally getting locked in one of these in combat before, that was one of the first ones I'd encountered and I'd never seen Star as unhappy as he was afterward. Still, if they hadn't taken me prisoner, we'd never have found their secret camp, and I wasn't a good prisoner especially when unarmed. That and I don't think those ponies had ever dealt with a mare in the heat before?

Not that such natural cycles actually do you any good. My mind snickered.

I lassoed my wandering thoughts with a shake of my head. I still liked to see memories, it was the only way I could see what may have still been if it weren't for monsters. But if nothing else, they were interesting. The only condition was I had to do it where there was absolutely no danger, basically in my room back in Churn, but I was able to bribe my way into exceptions. That said, I picked up the swirling sphere in my hooves and placed it into my saddlebags for my Pipbucks sorting spell to deal with, yet as I glanced into the safe I saw something else.

A photo, dusty and old. It was almost completely faded yet the safe had guarded it well enough to ensure somepony saw it before the end. It was an image of an old brown earth pony stallion smiling proudly beside a red and dark gray coated mare, both wore the same happy expression. Below them were two more ponies, a pale coated unicorn filly with a brown mane and beside her, an older cream coated earth pony mare with magenta mane and green eyes. None of their cutie marks were visible. The youngest of them, however, just seemed delighted to be a part of the image.

I swallowed, they were all so happy, so... My sight wavered as my head dropped to the left, they were a family, a true family, and now they were dead, they'd died such a long time ago. Fortunately, by the lack of bones in the room, not here. The image of those dead outside swiftly challenged that assumption, however. They'd deserved more than to die because of monsters with big mega-spells and balefire bombs. I let out a small sigh, slipping the photo into my saddlebags.

You don't even know them, I mentally remarked, and yet I was taking the image with me anyway.

Then, all of a sudden Cherry screamed. My head shot up as I turned, the pile boxes to my left exploded and came tumbling down. The distinct form of a gecko's tooth filled maw appeared right in front of my visor, 'number of hostile targets: 1' it declared obviously. I reached for my weapon, but it was so late.

Fuck me, this was not gonna be pleasant.

In that instant, there was a zapping sound, a boiling hiss, and mild groan the Gecko vanished before my eyes. 'Number of hostile targets: 0' my targeting matrix decreed as the pile of pink ash fell at my hooves. My eyes widened, my mouth falling open as I looked around to see Cherry standing panicked and shivering behind me. She was panting fast, her muzzle open as her lungs demanded more air than it could take in. Her horn was glowing with a faint green aura and levitating in the same sparkling hue before her was Zap, Zap.

My energy pistol. She'd saved me. Not exactly from death, Geckos were not that strong, not to mention I had my helmet. But she had spared me a serious facial mauling. My horn flashed steadying the pistol in the air as her magic flickered out. It had been a very a quick shot, I remarked to myself admirably.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, you got it," I told her soothingly, as her panic cocooned her away.

"Cherry?" I added in the same warm tone, noticing she was a lot tenser than usual.

I merely assumed it was shock, the little fucker had come out of nowhere after all. She took another deep breath then coughed, gasping more before finally wheezing

"It's gone, I got it?" she asked.

I gave her a nod, glancing back to the pink ash pile. In the floor behind it was a hole.

Funny never seen a Gecko burrow before? But I guess there was first for everything. At least I didn't have to worry about my targeting matrix wasn't fucked for missing it.

Moments later I looked back to Cherry as she began to calm down. Her breath slowed enough to allow her nostrils to take over and her eyes closed tight as she swallowed.

"How'd I do?" she asked, coughing as her true voice surfaced.

I placed a hoof on her shoulder, wary that I might have to take it off at the first sight of irritation in the mare.

"Um... saving my hide from most unpleasant experience, I say um... nine points out of ten," I offered kindly.

She smiled, her exhalations slowing, then I was once again expecting that impossibly cute pride. Instead, her expression fell flat, as if the achievement were stolen by some cruel pony in her head.

"Cherry, you okay?" I asked, lowering my head to hers.

The pink mare gave a weak sniff.

"Yeah, I'm ... I just never actually saved anypony before," she stated softly.

All the praise in the world is no good unless you feel it inside. My mind remarked, and for once I couldn't help but listen.

I frowned, she hadn't saved my life, as such, but I didn't need to tell her that. She was smart enough to know that Gecko had only a small chance of actually killing me, but that wasn't the problem.

How many times has she let somepony down before? What didn't you really know about her? I bucked my mind back into shape. Dragonfire you've been through this shit before, help her! I told myself firmly drawing the words out as if speaking to an infant foal.

"Hey missy, you saved me from a face full of Gecko. Don't you go thinking you're no good," I countered, acting on what felt like social instinct.

I'd imagine if it had been anypony else demanding something of her like that, the pink mare would have bolted and for a brief moment, I was afraid I was no expectation. Yet she managed a frail smile, a weak fire casting away the cold of her depressive anxiety. I mirrored the expression, she looked impossibly innocent like that. My horn flickered, and my magic shifted bringing Zap, Zap down between us. Cherry's eyes watched the energy pistol closely as I snaked it by her head and into the front holster of her modified utility barding.

"Now you can keep it knowing you've more than earned it," I told her.

She looked skeptical at first, I could see that doubt in her eyes. Yet like with the scene outside she did her best to force it out.

"I'll take good care of it," she assured me for the second time and I nodded.

"And I'll take good care of you," I assured her in return.

"Oh that place up on the hillside, ah ain't' heard nothin' but bad news 'bout it, they say it’s haunted," Buck Shot explained, leaning back against the wall opposite the door to outside.

Gina slowly shook her head at him from her watchful position by the door. After clearing the whole place and blocking all the strange burrows, we'd all made it inside for the night. Star had removed his outer armor, yet was covered in what smelt like a coat of overcooked Gecko. Now the buck was laying beside me it was irresistible to lean my frail little body into his larger, more muscled body. The strangely pleasant smell of well-working stallion breaking the foul musk of dead Gecko. One of my forehooves was raised and I brushed it through his mane. I'd removed the armor from said hoof, as well as my helmet, both of which sat on the floor beside me. As did a rather sleep deprived Cherry.

As of the past two hours, she'd been asleep, but getting her to stay that way was still a challenge. The raiders had certainly done a number on her nightmares. Not only that, but I practically had to force her to eat. Star was about the only thing that had kept me from losing it. I was more worried than I'd ever expected, but she had my gun, a trusted well-maintained gun. She'd the skill to kill a Gecko, yet she was still far from safe; no matter how much I kid myself I couldn't protect her indefinitely.

That said, I waited until she was asleep to cuddle up to Star. I didn't want her to think she had to share me, she needed me as a whole to pull her through this, and she could have my attention. But Star deserved at least a platonic cuddle.

"Haunted?" His deep voice boomed beneath my ears sending warm chills through me.

Buck Shot looked back from the mocking griffin by the door, his rifle slung around his shoulders. He looked more than a little uncomfortable to see me almost like a towel draped over Stars back, but I gave him the fortune of closing my eyes so not to meet his as he awkwardly blushed.

"Yeah, they call it the Prissy Ghost, say it keeps the place far cleaner and more organized. Can't say ah've seen it myself, but ah heard plenty stories."

"Ha, yeah right," Gina interrupted with a huff.

I opened my eyes at that, raising an eyebrow as did my companion. The 'Prissy Ghost?' Just like the griffin implied, that was ridiculous. I said as much, but the sandy buck just shrugged and Star grumbled.

"What about a location?" Star asked, as I once again laid my head against him pondering the wild implications of a Prissy Ghost.

"No, can't say ah have one. Ah just know it's in the hills and no ponies been there since the war," Buck Shot offered, glancing out to Gina as if awaiting another sly comment, yet the griffin's eyes were locked on the dusty world outside.

"If no ponies been there since the bombs, then how do they know it’s haunted?" I asked confidently.

Buck Shot looked back and shrugged. I lower my head with a smirk, it was horse apples, just as I suspected. Still, this whole job had me slightly on edge. Pre-war experiments and some pony paying a whole lot of caps to get info on them, not an ideal set up. As for the place itself? Destiny, I recalled. I'd never heard of it. Not like the ministries, Robronco, Ironshod and the likes of Stable-tec. Star's head turned as he looked forward, I had to really hold back my urges as his thick muscles shifted below me.

No, I couldn't do this as much as he deserved it, we were at work and if Cherry saw me, well…

Reluctantly, I moved from his back and looked forward.

Damn, now I'm bored and guilty. Star deserved affection and I couldn't give it to him.

Instead, I'd nothing to do but sit here and listen to ridiculous ghost stories. My head drooped to the floor, leaning on the dusty cork and wood. My eyes closed lazily then opened, the left sphere falling upon Cherry, the right on Stars forehoof.

Damn it Dragonfire, leave Star out of this! I hissed at myself, and my right eye sealed.

Cherry, however, overpowered my mind's demands. Her breathing was heavy and her sleep less than peaceful. But she was so innocent, she didn't deserve any of this. She was one of those ponies the wasteland didn't deserve to toy with, those raiders didn't deserve her and strangely I felt that I also, was undeserving of her. That going off my deep lust, but I'll admit if she were not traumatized I might have made a move on her cute flank by now.

No! Dragonfire, damn you no! Leave your utterly sexually craving mind out of this! Fucking everypony won't get you what you want! Besides she's a mare it doesn't work like that. My mind screamed impatiently. Nature's workshop door doesn't swing that way!

Usually, I'd have emotionally collapsed at my mind's cruel accusation. But instead, I fell into a slump. I had to save her and fight off the fact that she was incredibly cute. I grumbled some more, glancing back over myself.

Fuck you um... the goddesses? The wasteland? Some mysterious omnipotent entity with an irritatingly fancy voice? Whoever gave me this useless barren body and stopped me from setting myself right, fuck you!

My head slumped against my left forehoof. Then I looked at my Pipbuck, well there was one thing. I retrieved my set of ear blooms and prodded at the flickering green screen with a hoof. Entry one the fuzzy image stated as I found the recording.

"Hi, Lucky it's mom here. I just wanted to leave you this message before you leave, seeing as I have to work an' all. Anyway, and I know we've told you a lot, but I just want to tell you how proud I, and your father are that you've gotten this position. As for your sister? I'm sure she's proud too. Well, seeing that your father will be working at the garage tomorrow you'll probably see him on your way up there. As for me, I just what to say don't forget about us little ponies when you're a big executive of a private company, and well I love you, sweetie."

The voice was soothing and kind, that of a seemingly proud mare. I could sense it in her tone like it was lined with golden affection for the pony in question. I had no definitive proof, but given the place I found it and the mention of at least two younger ponies one of which was a sister, I guessed this was something to do with the family photo I'd found in the safe. They really did love each other then? Hearing it was far more heart-wrenching than seeing it, and yet I'd seen far too many snippets of a world long dead to feel utterly heartbroken by anymore. That was both my defense and my shame

Entry two:

"Rotor, those strange ponies in suits were here again today. They claimed to be from the Ministry of Moral, yet they didn't seem that way to me. I even asked Autumn Meadow, you know the mare who works at the misery hub in Manehatten, I asked her when she did me that favor. She hasn't a clue. Apparently, the ministry doesn’t work that covertly and they certainly don't wear black trench coats that scream creepy. Anyway, they were asking about Lucky and when I told them she'd got a new job at that place they just nodded and told me to have a good day. Well, I tried contacting her and couldn't get through. If you ask me it's probably just the stress of a first big time job on her end. Now I'm not saying you should skip out on your work, I know you've got a lot going on down at the garage with those robots, the posts an' all, but maybe it would be better if you were here if those ponies come back. I don't know something about them was just off and no it wasn't the obvious clothes they were just curious and then, well... Not curious all of a sudden. Anyway, I've got some things together for dinner tonight and now Lucky's moved out we have the house all to ourselves for a change. Look forward to seeing you later."

Entry Three:

"Those ponies are here again! I just went to the window and caught two of them at the door. Well, I haven't opened it, and damn you for not being here. Brilliant husband you are, leaving me to put up with theses weirdoes. Anyway, I don't intend to see them a second time. I'm sneaking out the back. I still have that present your cousin gave me if try and follow me. I'll be coming to you so if you haven't read this message by then I just tell you in person, and if you're not there then first of all where the hay are you? Second, I'll be in the back of the garage."

I looked curiously at the flickering green array of files and numbers. Somepony centuries ago had been either really bad or unfortunately misunderstood. Thinking it was the one in the photo made me feel somewhat sympathetic to her plight, even if she may have once been some form of master criminal. I didn't know much about the ministries, but what I had heard about the one in question was mainly about its rather unique way of treating those who it suspected of criminal activity, especially later on in the war. The Ministry of Moral all fun and parties on the outside, all fucked up and dark on the inside, but hey, at least they served cupcakes.

I just sighed, nothing I hadn't heard before. All the ponies back then were fucked up, only for the entire world to take up the mantle when they inevitably blew themselves to pieces. Levitating my stuff back into my saddle bags I felt my magic brush against something else, the memory orb. It wasn't hard to think that this was something to do with the favor mentioned in the recording, given that the M.O.M were once again involved. Then I assumed the stealthbuck was 'the present' as she called it. Obviously, she'd not been caught as it was still very much here. Regardless, I pulled out the orb.

"I wonder what you could be?" I ask myself, in a hushed tone, rotating it curiously in my forehooves.

"Well, no danger here," I declared with shrug, leaning my horn down to touch the orb before anypony could stop me.

A second later and the magical connection flared and in an instant the dark dusty ruin fell away.

The dark reality was replaced by a bright sunny meadow. I felt the sun's warm touch on my coat or more specifically my host's. Its blissful light blessed the bright, green grass as it beamed down from the endless blue sky. If it had been me I'd have just sighed. There was no point in going over the argument of what we'd lost or given up because none of that would bring it back. Yet for now, I could see the sun, the sky, and lush grass and trees. As much as it appeared to be infinite at first the meadow itself didn't stretch on forever however. Instead, it was stopped at a bearer, a tall, white picket fence to be precise. Beyond, the tight wooded square was the harsh sands of the desert.

Well, at least nothing had changed out there. I noted as I saw the same sandy dust bowl.

In the left corner of the garden was a tall apple tree, and in the right, a sky blue shed. Beside it was a guarded flower patch filled with a whole manner of beautiful colored flowers. Back against the wall of the shed, a wooden frame supported a magnificent rose bush, each brilliant red flower like a crimson star blessed by the goddesses themselves. Below a plethora of blues, oranges and yellows drifted upon a sea of lush green leaves, cut off from the lawn by a small stone barrier. Knelt down on all four hooves before the flower patch was a pale gray coated mare with chocolate brown mane, the cutie mark of a golden star on her flank. She was a unicorn, her horn almost completely covered by her mane.

Speaking of her looks if it had been me here and now, I'd have been all over her. Instead, my host was glancing nervously to her hooves as the mare tended the flowers gently. From what I could see of the pony whose memory I was viewing, she was a dark coated mare with what appeared to be strands of deep red mane invading her eyes.

"Um, Lucky?" my host asked tentatively, looking up and swallowing.

The mare ahead looked back, and unfortunately, and my host didn't seem interested in leaving her eyes upon her flank.

"Yes, mother?"

Okay, now I could see why! This may not have been my body, but I was fucked up for even entreating that previous idea.

My host swallowed nervously again, seeming incredibly twitchy as she approached.

"You know we're proud right, both me and your father. We're all very happy?" the words swiftly slipped through my host's muzzle and Lucky smiled as she looked back.

"You're not afraid are you?" she asked seeming almost amused.

My host stopped, glancing down before looking back.

"Well, no, it's just we love you and after your sister moved to Ponyville we only had you, and now you're leaving we..." The deluge of words ceased as her emotions formed a lump in my host’s throat.

"Hey, mom," Lucky, stated lifting my host's head with a forehoof.

There was no resistance from her as our eyes met, hers. They were sad, yet happy. My host's sad, yet proud.

"You know I'll always be thinking of you," she assured my host warmly, before wrapping her in a loving hug.

I may not have been there, but I felt something I didn't when to feel in my subconscious at her embrace. My host didn't share the same sick impulses, instead, she wrapped her hooves around her daughter.

"I love you, sweetie," she whispered into the cream mare's ear.

"I know you do. You never stop reminding me," Lucky laughed, releasing her mother and looking to the flowers at her hooves, disturbing one with a poke.

My host looked at her actions and smiled.

"You know if you sister saw you doing that to her old roses, she’d go mad," she warned softly.

Lucky looked back.

"Maybe she shouldn't have moved so far away then," she suggested with a slight giggle.

My host rolled her eyes as Lucky continued.

"Hey, at least I won't be as far away. Heck, I'm stationed in the facility just up the road, you could say it was like destiny," she said.

Then the dreary wasteland world fell back into place in all of its dull and hostile splendor at that word. Destiny? It was a peculiar word indeed.

Footnote: Level up.

New Perk Added: Exterminator Level One - When it comes to the wasteland's irritating vermin you're the pony to call. Gain + 10 damage against all creatures when they're below 20% maximum health.

Updated artwork for this chapter kindly provided by: Rainbowsurvivor and Pandesalvado respectively.