Wheeltreads’ Camp: The Gates

The gates look simple. Everyday wooden gates. A mare sits on top of the gates with a griffon. The blue unicorn mare lifts up her sniper rifle. “Not another step, now state your business and if you wish to trade. But at this moment we are on lockdown.”

“Need to see Wheeltreads,” Regina replied gruffly. “President Regina Grimfeathers of the NCR and with me is Calamity Deadshot, Element of Loyalty.”

The griffin scoffs. “NCR, just as bad as the Enclave. But since you have one of the Elements, we will open up the gate.”

Regina growled, and moved forwards and threateningly reached for one of her pistols but Calamity held up a hoof to stop her. “Easy girl, don’t want any trouble…”

The blue unicorn mare’s horn glows and the gate rises. She clambered down the ladder to stand by it. “Forgive Tiny here, he doesn't quite understand the meaning of manners. I’m Bulwark,” she greeted and held out a hoof. “Lovely to meet you,”

“Naw… Pleasure’s all ours, ma’am,” Calamity nodded, with a tip of his hat.

“Now I will take you to the leaders’ of the town.” Bulwark explained. The blue mare lead them past a statue and three graves. On a pedestal in front of the statue is a glass case with a cracked orb. A old, battered, and weathered journal and a Pipbuck rested nearby.

Out of curiosity, and glancing up at the statue of the giant Hellhound-like creature, Calamity walked towards the journal and opened up a page of it.

“The Enclave, they’ve placed us in cages... Tiria escaped but.. She promised to come back for us. It's been two weeks now... They’re trying to starve us,” Calamity read aloud. “ All simply because they’re thinkin’ we’re raiders… Damn those Raiders for being here! Oh no, they're comin’ to break another hoof of mine… Signed Kipkipe.”

Calamity closed the journal, and looked towards Bulwark with an angry glare. “Ya one of them? One of those who broke Kipkipe’s hoof? Starved him?” he asked, his voice rising in tone. “If Littlepip were here, and yer lucky she ain’t, she would’ve shot y’all to pieces right quick.”

Bulwark rolled her eyes. “Calm down Deadshot. I was captured by the Enclave too,” she countered. “That was written by the new leaders after Wheeltreads died during the siege to get this place back. Sadly… So did many others.” she whispered before she looked up to the statue. “She, Tiria was her name, died giving birth a year after. She came to rescue us. Finds a mate and then her entire journey leads her to slowly die from childbirth.”

“Celestia almighty…” Calamity whispered sadly, taking off his hat and holding it to his chest in respect. Regina wiped away a tear.

“What’s with the Orb?” she then asked, in a quizzical manner.

Bulwark stared at the cracked orb. “Her kind used to be ponies. A project known as Project Iron wolf,” she explained. “Scootaloo asked the only one who worked on it to find a way to continue the pony way of life,” she sighed trying to keep herself from crying. “Her own kind.. Kicked her out of their den at Shattered hoof. She learned this orb... transformed her kind from ponies into...that,”

Bulwark pointed to the statue of the wolf.

“Think Ah’ve heard rumors about this story, mentioned somethin’ about a thing called the Howlin’ Dance,” Calamity put in.

Bulwark nodded. “Wheeltreads is buried near her statue along with her… Mate and a creature known as a Rat Creeper known as Lilly nicknamed Pot Head.” Bulwark explained pointing her hoof to the cooking pot on the grave.

“Heard rumors from a… source, shall we say, that Wheeltreads was still alive.” Regina butted in.

She chuckles. “Oh he’s not the reason why those Raiders outside are scared to death. I will take you to them.”

“Good, cause I’m starting to want some answers ‘round here…” Regina muttered.

Bulwark led them through the city. A large robot that looked recently put back together turns to them with its one eye. Just staring for the moment, but Calamity shivered at the stare all the same. “Down Proto, they’re friends,” Bulwark told it.

The robot nodded went along on its patrol.

“Lovely form of guards ya have…” Calamity deadpanned as he watched the robot walk off.

“Yes, Wheeltreads found him at a Ministry of Technology hub.” Bulwark explained.

“Lemme guess, he’s the reason the guards are so scared, right?” Regina surmised.

Bulwark snorted before she laughed, shaking her head as she did so. “No.” she said simply. She then led them to an old house, knocking on the door with three soft knocks set to the tune of a “Shave and a Haircut.”

The door opened up. “Go on in and meet the leaders.” She stated bowing her head to them.

“Nothin’ ventured… ‘nothin’ gained…” Calamity muttered as he slowly walked inside with Regina.

They heard many voices once they were inside the small dwelling. “We need to be ready to fight whatever is coming!” someone shouted. The voice sounded robotic in nature. With a cautious glance shared between them, Regina and Calamity walked further inside.

The interior was filled with all kinds of inhabitants, gathered around the small war room and a table. A teal mare, one very large mutated rat with a gun strapped to his leg, a robotic pony, and two Raiders in trash comprised armor and last but not least,a pure black griffon.

The first one to look up is the rat. “Ah welcome, welcome. I’m King Cannonball. I don’t really lead this town... Just a town in a war-torn Hell known as Reaper Fields,” he said as a greeting. “if you want the leaders....”

He points to the three. The robot pony turns his red eyes staring directly at them.

“What is the core value of Friendship?” The robot pony asked.

“Uh… Magic?” Calamity guessed.

The robot pony shook his head. “Sadly if it was that simple…” he trailed off. “But logic dictates that it’s not. Now how may we help you?”

“You been listening to the news lately?” Regina asked. “The daily blues, along with the two Enclaves preaching right and left about bettering Equestria...” she said sarcastically.

“Yes, we heard that load of trash. Good thing Tiria is not alive.. She would go back to being very anti-pony again. Saying even the NCR is a threat since they wish to bring back a silly war.” The robot stated. “A war that I saw happen as those bombs fell. Walking the world 210 years alone does things to many... But not to a robot.” He added

“Why you…” Regina snarled but Calamity stopped her.

“Easy girl… This is their house,” he warned.

The teal mare smiled. “Oh don’t worry about Silver. He’s easy to get used to.”

She has a baby pup strapped to a bag hanging on her neck.

“Tiria’s?” Regina guessed.

Kip nodded. “Yes..everypony here… watched. Even the one named Ditzy Doo gave her a dream to see the sun and the moon before she passed. Which is sadly our lives...” She smiled weakly.

“Ah’m sorry…” Calamity apologized. “For being part of this… Well, whatever this is.”

“You aren’t Enclave anymore, Deadshot so I won’t kill you like I should.” The black griffon said. “But you have come in peace. Let the one better than all of us with no sins speak for us.” The black griffon stated.

“Great, more preachy types…” Regina muttered, having had enough of that lately.

“Yes I am sure. I’m Silver Gunner. I am sure you have seen my hoof work in areas.” The robot pony chuckled mechanically.

“Yeah, Ah’ve seen your… work,” Calamity grimaced. “The Silver Gunner walks, isn’t that yer calling card?”

“Yes, it is. I don’t give mercy to those who don’t deserve it. If they threaten peace, they must burn. Such is the way of logic.”

“How’d that old comic book quote go?” Calamity asked himself. “Oh yeah…
With blood and rage of crimson red,

Ripped from a corpse so freshly dead,

Together with our hellish hate,

We'll burn you all--That is yer fate!” he quoted. “...Or somethin’ like that. Bet you’d love that line, eh?”

Silver nodded. “Now I take it you wish our help?” he asked. “The leader of the NCR doesn't just go anywhere, after all…” he trailed off.

“Yes, we need help. No shame in admitting that,” Regina replied. “War’s going badly, we’re fighting on two fronts, possibly three. Two against both Enclaves, and a third on the PR front dealing with Winter’s words. And we’re losing.”

“Hmm well, I did hear Scootaloo is alive. So we will help... But!” He then interjected and added: “It stays silent about who we are. The Enclave almost killed every creature here once before.”

“And you don’t want it to happen again…” Regina trailed off, looking towards Tiria’s pup, with a nod of understanding. “Any good men you can spare?”

“Jabari. His father was one of the zebras that helped stop Tiria from getting assassinated on her deathbed,” Kip put in. “Got a few nasty skills that would serve you well.”

“I’d like to meet him.” Regina said. “Where is he?”

“We will call him. CROW!!” She called. “Crow, get your flank down here!!”

A crow lands on the table turning from a bird into a changeling.

“Holy…” Calamity whispered, his senses screaming to go for Oathsworn. Regina went for her pistols.

All of the creatures inside the building pulled out their weapons, aiming for the two. “Oh all this fuss and bother over little ole me?“ The changeling smirked.

“Crow, please go get Jabari and stop being such a donkey.” Kip said, slightly exasperated by her friend’s behavior. It showed as she rubbed her temples. The changeling nodded flying out of the building.

Mount (Un)Pleasant Island: Somnambula’s Light:

Riptalon panted as his claws hit the floor, Iron galloping right beside him as the creature -Iron would later call it a Skullcrawler- scampered up the side of a wall and shrieked again. Iron took this brief moment to fire off a shot from his peacemaker, and hit it dead in the eye, a splotch of green blood hitting the wall.

“Run! Now it’s really going to be pissed!” Iron shouted as the two got moving once more as another shriek came from behind them...

Wheeltreads’ Camp: The Arena:

Panting and sweating, and covered in blood stood a golden Zebra, sword in hoof. A multitude of dead raiders lay around him.

“So, what you got left for me?” Jabari shouted to the box seats above him. His ears twitched, before he whirled around, drawing his blade only to face Crow.

“Man… How many times have I told ya not to go and sneak up on me like that?” the teenage zorse asked, catching his breath and letting his heartbeat get back to normal. “Could have lost your head, like that guy over there…” he trailed off, pointing to a nearby body. Decapitated, of course.

“Yes... anyway your training to go find.. Her is put on hold. I need you to come back and talk to Silver Gunner.”

“‘Bout what?” Jabari asked.

“The leader of the NCR is here,” Crow said simply, and that got the zorse’s attention at once.

“Perfect…” Jabari smirked. “Just who I was hoping would come to call. She’s got some explaining to do, that’s for sure…” he trailed off, a slight growl in his tone. If the President of the NCR really knew what went on here, behind the scenes she might not be so keen to ally herself with the group set up here. Or maybe she did know, and she just didn’t care. Either way, they needed to have words. Shaking away his thoughts, Jabari sighed before he looked at Crow. “Well, aren’t you going to ask how all... this (Here he gestured to what had just occurred) happened?”

As he asked that, he thought back…

“And now, please, ladies and gentlebucks, will you give a warm welcome to the thing that should not be, the zorse… Jabari!” the announcer's voice echoed, and the crowd roared. Jabari sighed to himself, every time he entered the arena he was greeted with… that. A constant reminder of what he was, a freak of nature. Zebras and ponies should never have mixed, and yet here he was… an exception to every rule.

The Raiders sent out to greet him gave devilish smiles.

“Don’t know what buck whored himself out to create you mate, but going to fix his little mistake…” as he drew a long sharp sword.

“You’re going to die in here freak!” one said, as he readied his IF-9 shotgun. Others drew weapons of various types as well, each raider quite willing to kill him. Honestly, Jabari didn’t know what scared the Raiders outside of the arena into working for the leaders of the settlement but as he drew his shock sword, he doubted it was him.

Well, time to remedy that he supposed. His sword crackled to life, and Jabari -even as he gripped the sword in his hooves- had to admit he was smirking a little at the fear incited in the raiders.

“What? Afraid of me now? A freak?” Jabari snapped bitterly. As he and the band of raiders circled each other, bodies from the last bloodfight still stinking up the joint all around him, Jabari began to hum an old song he once heard sung by this mare named Velvet Remedy, whoever she was.

“Tell the rambler,
The gambler,
The back biter
Tell 'em that Celestia's gonna cut 'em down
Tell 'em that Celestia's gonna cut 'em down…” he hummed to himself as he raised his blade.

The raiders slowly encircled him, each of the six raising a gun and grinning ghoulishly as they prepared to perforate him thoroughly. Jabari's ears perked as the various clicks of the raiders cocking their weapons sounded around him, the anxiousness plain on the three whose faces he could see. Time seemed to stand still for a moment before, with a titanic boom, the raider with the shotgun pulled the trigger and the fight was on.

Jabari immediately hit the dirt, not knowing where the shot had gone as he slid low across the ground toward one raider, slicing his chest open as the others open fire. Jabari gets behind the raider, hauling the body in front of him as a shield from the gunfire even as he lashed out at the raider to his right, taking a leg off and sending him screaming to the ground even as he hears the remaining four click on empty chambers, a relieved grin spreading across the zorse’s face at the sound.

He lets the lifeless body of the raider drop to the ground and moves like lightning, disemboweling the third raider as they fumbled for reloads, two of them dropping the rounds with trembling hooves as Jabari separates the fourth's head from his shoulders.

He moves fast, slitting the fifth raider’s throat, then turning and driving his sword through the heart of the sixth raider, pulling the blade free and letting the body drop to the ground, the only sound in the stadium his panting from the exertion.

“And now… His final challenge!” the announcer roared, as the sounds of a gate opening were heard, and the sound of two massive hoofsteps filled the air as a muscular form stepped out. Jabari swallowed nervously. A minotaur, with one very large sword in hand. No, not a sword, an oversized meat cleaver if anything else. And he looked like he knew how to use it.

Jabari ran to the left to avoid the massive swing, but was soon grabbed by one beefy fist as the crowd roared in approval. He found himself tossed towards a wall and he smirked as he rebounded off of it towards the minotaur.

The crowd gasped at what happened next, as Jabari’s blade met the minotaur’s cleaver. What happened next was… well, entirely predictable as the electricity from the shock sword traveled up the cleaver like a conductor and into the minotaur’s body. Jabari dived to the right as the minotaur fell forwards, and hit the ground with a massive thud.

“Forgive me but I don’t need to know about your painful life and all that crap, Jabari,” Crow replied, snapping him back to reality.

“Well, might as well see what she wants…” Jabari muttered to himself. “Probably should freshen up though, doubt ole Regina wants to see a zorse covered in blood and guts and all that.”

Crow sighed. “You’re being sent to look for Star Shooter? I can only guess as to what she wants,” He shook his head. “Come on clean up and let's go.”

Few moments later, a much cleaner Jabari -a tri-barreled magical shotgun on his back along with his zebra shock sword- walked towards the war room with Crow at his side.

“Silver, I brought the crazy bat-shit insane zebra.” Crow said as he mockingly transformed into a mouse rushing under the table.

“Zorse, learn the difference dumbass,” Jabari huffed as he pulled up a chair and began tending to his shotgun. “It’s not hard to learn, man…”

“Zebra shock sword… Don’t see one of those that often…” Calamity mused to himself.

“Family heirloom, I suspect…” Regina replied. “I’d imagine the Zebras in New Roam have some, but you’re not likely to find one in the Wastes these days.”

“Alright, Jabari. I am taking you off the search for Star Shooter. In doing so I will be leaving for the Hoof. I need to see what is going on for myself there.” Silver added

“So, no soul-sucking demons there?” Calamity asked. “Or is that what yer going to look for, see if the rumors Blackjack told us all about are more than just a pile of horseshit?”

“You do know Blackjack was a large drunk, right?” Kip deadpanned.

“Her reputation is… legendary.” Regina replied simply.

Shadow rolled his eyes. “Right... anyway he’s all we can spare right now. It’s almost time for The Maze.. A local nest of Radscorpions to attack us,” he clarified. “Something they do now and again.”

Kip looked around nervously.

“Not exactly all we can spare… The ghoul, the one who wandered into town last week. She’s been getting antsy, wants to join the larger fight at hoof.” the teal mare commented.

“Wait, you don’t mean... “ Shadow trailed off nervously, and Kip nodded.

“Yes, I mean exactly that,” Kip said, placing an old and battered wood carved shield, with a trophy in the center of the table. “The Gray Ghost.”

As if on cue, something flew in through the window. A great stench filled the air, and Calamity let out a “By Celestia!” as he covered his nose. Four paws landed on the table, and a rotting satire of a griffon hen, as that was the only way to describe the sight, gazed around the room.

The griffon reached towards the old shield, and gazed at longingly, as she placed it in her saddlebags and whispered: “Been looking for that…”

“You’re… You’re him… it… Her…” Regina whispered in shock. “The Gray Ghost.”

At that, both Calamity and Jabari drew their weapons again. Silver Gunner glared at them harshly.

“Easy, she’s on your side, or have you not heard the rumors?”

“Yep, working with you guys. Can’t be flying solo forever, and these guys just want to keep to themselves, even if I told them time and again, isolationism is only going to get them killed!” the Gray Ghost exclaimed in a tone of exasperation.

“And I’ve told you, we have our reasons,” Kip replied with a tinge of anger, mixed with sadness as she looked down at the pup she was carrying.

“Well, so what is it exactly you need us to do, Madam President?” Jabari asked, eyes still watching the infamous Gray Ghost in front of him. “Please don’t tell us it’s just border patrol of someplace nobody really gives a damn about.”

“Maybe that, maybe something else. Depends on what’s needed to be done most at the time,” Regina replied. “Soldiers… Short order nowadays thanks to both Winter Breeze and Stormy Skies.”

The Gray Ghost let out a small growl at that last name, and unconsciously flipped out her claws muttering: “Scripture-quoting bastard. Had enough of this loyal dog that, and Pegasi superiority this…”

“Yeah, well, ya both may get yer chance to kill some of his little followers considering both they and Winter’s Enclave seem to be gearin’ up to go to war against each other. Hearin’ rumors that there’s a big attack planned, just don’t know where or when,” Calamity put in. “Believe me, Ah’ve been wanting to shoot some of Stormy’s little loyal dogs myself, given that they’re bringin’ shame to the pegasi name.”

“Well, if I’m going to be working with you,” the Gray Ghost began. “Best I introduce myself -Seriously, put away the gun eh? Only ponies these claws are going to be used on are those who preach Stormy’s scriptures- (She directed this to both Calamity and Jabari) hmm? Name’s Gabrielle, but you can call me Gabby. Everyone does.”

“Gabby huh?” Regina asked gruffly, extending a paw to her fellow griffon. “That’s a nice name.”

“Yeah… Don’t let it fool you though, not very sweet,” Gabby said in an attempt to seem tough, before she whispered sadly “...Not anymore at least…”

She then looked at Regina, straight in the eyes.

“T-tell me… A-are the rumors true?” Gabby asked, her voice quavering. “Is Scootaloo really alive?”

“Yeah, she is. Been a great help to-” Regina started, before she was pulled into a bone-crushing hug of relief by the ghoul griffon and former Cutie Mark Crusader.

“Oh thank Celestia!” Gabby exclaimed, tears strolling down her face. “I-I’d heard rumors she was alive from over the radio, and from Raiders, but… but I just didn’t…”

“Want ta believe they were true?” Calamity asked. “Afraid ya’d find out that they were just that, rumors, or worse… Lies?”

Gabby nodded, wiping away her tears. She had an image to maintain as the fearsome Gray Ghost of the West, and that image was starting to shatter like glass.

“Hey…” Regina said softly, dropping her tough “President of the NCR” image for the moment. “No need to keep up that false front you display to anyone else who meets you, I can tell already you were close friends. I know if I heard my brother was still alive, and found out they were more than just rumors… I’d be relieved too.”

“W-what happened to him?”

“Enclave soldier, killed him while we were trying to gather intel battle strategies on how they worked,” Regina explained. “Wished it was me instead of him, almost ending up costing me dearly…” she whispered, placing a paw on her breast, imagining a gaping wound there for a brief moment.

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Gabby whispered, hugging Regina again. This time, not out of relief, but out of sympathy.

“It’s alright, got the bastard that killed my brother in the end. Gave him a face full of Little Gilda.” Regina smirked, and Gabby swallowed.

“Not sure I would have wanted to see that…” Gabby trailed off, looking rather green.

“Trust me, not pretty.” Regina clarified. “Really not pretty, not much left of him after I got through with him. Just a mess to clean up.”

In the background, Calamity muttered: “...Still can’t believe she used an anti-air cannon on one pegasus…”

Apparently, Shadow and Kip heard him and both winced in unison and shared a look of what could be described as either respect, or fear.

“Now,” Regina said, taking back her ‘Present of the NCR’ image as she looked at both Gabby and Jabari. “Are you ready for what you’re about to get into? You’ll be facing Enclave Soldiers, some of whom will be highly devoted to their cause, to the point of religious extremism.”

“Anything to clean up the wastes,” Gabby said, a smirk gracing her beak. “How’d that old speech by Princess Celestia go? Oh yes… We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in Equestria, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our lands, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!”

Calamity smirked and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Now that’s the spirit. May be a li'l ole griffon, but ya’ve got spunk that’s for sure.”

“Sadly, if half of what I’ve heard is correct,” Jabari began. “Spunk won’t be enough to win your war. Your war, not ours. I’m only defending this settlement, not anywhere else.”

When Gabby opened her beak to refute that, he continued. “Been born that way of thinking, that’s probably the way I’ll die thinking. Defend me and mine, that’s how I was raised.”

“...Clearly you need better parents…” Gabby muttered to herself quietly. Unknown to her, Jabari had heard him.

“...You may very well be right.” he thought.

Author's Notes:

Okay, first off, a huge thank you to so many people. First off, Megaskullmon for being my co-writer on this chapter, (And helping me build Jabari's character some) Eagle-Paladin of Shadows for writing Jabari's fight scene, and Rainbowsurvivor for suggesting the scene with Iron and Riptalon.

Now, the identity of the Gray Ghost is finally revealed, after months of mentions and small clues. Wasn't expecting this were y'all, I'll bet any of you, now. And she, along with Jabari will be the final additions to the main cast.

'Nother fun thing I liked about this chapter, aside from the world building, was Regina. I actually liked expanding on her character a bit more than RuinQueen did in Survivor's Guilt,
where Regina hardly gets any lines if I remember correctly.

Now, till next time, stay and be kind. And as always, thoughts and comments are appreciated.