Author's Notes:

Welcome Mr Number to our team. Check him out here.

I rolled over in the morning, there was still some noise from the previous night, but I felt nice. Nyota was still wrapped around me. The feeling of separation the sleeping bag was suppose to provide was counteracted by just how wonderful the sleepwear he gave me felt when he shifted. The noises next door bothered me, so I opened my eyes to see Nyota staring back.

“Nyota? How long have you been up?” I asked as he smiled and ruffled my mane.

“Long enough, apparently they are still going,” he replied, rolling his eye in the direction the noise was coming from. A loud crash jarred me from half awake to fully aware, followed by the distinct incoherent shouting from Jackal.

“Damn Pony Beds! They can't handle it!” Honey Hearthfire was screaming, and we heard several hooves stomping past. The commotion died down and the two of us just stared at each other.

“Just how potent is that stuff? Should I be worried about you?” I stroked his mowhawk and it sprung back into place. Nyota shuddered and then winced at me.

“I mean, a full strength dose can kill if it isn't dealt with properly.” Nyota replied and, before I could inquire further, he held up a hoof to my lips. “Let me finish, you'll likely die of dehydration or exhaustion unless you were prepared for it.” He smirked and nuzzled my cheek as his hoof moved away. “Don't worry, Chifundo and Quick Stitch should be fine. But the poison makes you keep at it regardless of the needs for your body.”

“I don't, you mean you would, all night?” He leaned in and kissed me softly, the levels of dread and confusion passed with our lips meeting.

“If it came to that, I'd hope you stop me, no matter what you had to do.” All I could do was nod back at him. The prospect of having to stop him, physically, was terrifying. “Until you're ready, no matter what happens, if I try to push you, stop me. I don't care how you do it but promise you'll stop me.” All I could do was stare in disbelief as I realized the possibility of having to shoot him. I'd accidentally shot Nyota before, but not on purpose. I found the courage to nod, for his sake, but I doubted I could bring myself to shoot him.

I wanted to hug him tightly and tell him I couldn't but right now I didn’t want to risk provoking him while he was still feeling some of the drug. “Can a simple drug really make a pony do something that awful? To somepony they a love? Could the coffee? Your smokes? The Med-X?” Nyota shook his head with a reassuring smile. I started to calm down. I was blowing this out of proportion.

“No, this poison specifically pushes the individual to do things they wouldn't ever think of doing. Unless both parties are under the effects, then it just brings out underlying desires and removes all inhibitions.” Nyota gave me a pet across my mane. “You’re over thinking it, I'm sure Chifundo and Quick Stitch won't have regrets. Sex is really fun, feels really good, and relieves a lot of stress.” I gave him a skeptical look and felt he knew exactly what he was talking about. He and Quick Stitch would know, they were medical ponies to some degree.

“Yeah Sunrise! Nyota here probably knows exactly all the right buttons to press and how to press them!” I started to blush from head to toe.

PINK!!! Seriously we were having a moment here and then you, you, you, made it slightly better. I melted into Nyota's hooves as he started to rub my back and send waves of relief to my muscles.

“Sunrise, when was the last time you remember... relieving yourself?” he was blushing as I let out long moan. He’d found a particular spot in my spine.

“Mom and dad kind of disapproved of sex, especially for me. They couldn't even get the whole fillies and colts talk out of their mouths when they caught me. They acted like some colt caught with a hoof in the cookie jar when, I umm... made noises and got busted.” I explained, but him moving his hooves across the tension in my muscles just made me moan as I melted into the bed. It felt so nice to not carry the weight of the world.

“Well then don't worry about being scolded by me. If you need to let off some steam, I'm not gonna judge you.” He stopped the massage and moved up to nuzzle my cheek. “Your parents at least tried to explain it to you. I only had old magazines and an anatomy textbook.” I snickered at him and rolled over stretching it out and feeling the last of my muscles leaving.

“Oh I had those too, as well as a couple of holotapes and even found their recollector with a few memory orbs!” I suddenly had the realization of what I'd just confessed and felt the need to be completely invisible. Without another thought I hid in the covers and felt like I might die of embarrassment.

“Sunrise, what were the orbs of?” He asked lifting the covers enough to see my face.

I slid out just enough to put my eyes into the light, “They were various ponies with a couple of different things. And the recollecter which I assume dad used and mom shared at the same time. I never knew griffin's bent that way.”

Nyota raised a hoof, stopped and looked absolutely disturbed, “I didn't need to know that. So you've actually experienced it through memory orbs?” I nodded and blushed even more than I had ever thought possible. “You're already more knowledge than me, love. Which reminds me, the way your memories interrupt your sleep and even when you're awake. I mean I thought you were having a heart attack from what your PipBuck was screaming out.” I heard his concern and tried to shake it off when Pink jumped in.

“You can't ignore this for much longer! You realize how it interrupts your life? He's right Sunrise.” Pink was tapping her hoof like mom had caught me slipping off with the recollector.

“Listen Sunny, you wake up exhausted and short tempered too,” I held up a hoof and nodded to him, taking the hint from the two of them double teaming me.

“Look first chance we get, we find a brain specialist and I'll get looked at alright?” My groan at the end emphasized to him that I was admitting defeat on the subject.

Nyota got up finally as I followed him, “Come on, let's go get a shower.” Turns out this town had hot water now, since the last time we were here. Nyota and I got at least a warm bath. I went first and put the sleepware back on afterward, which clung right to me. Nyota tried to avert his eyes and I turned his head to look right at me.

“Nyota, it's okay to look.” I'll admit it, I like it when he looked at me. It felt nice to have him looking. He went off to shower and I passed the bartender 5 caps every few minutes to extend his shower time. An hour, and nearly 100 caps later, I flipped a cap up into the air and as it came down, I was in a different place, in a different time.

The cap clattered to the metal floor and my eyes fell onto Coffee Stain. “Sunrise, why are you still going out in the wastes? You should be stocked up here in the fort.” Coffee Stain asked as I looked at her. She was blue now, with the coffee brown mane and wearing a filly scout uniform. I looked at my body and, yep, there was a deep scar along my belly. I realized now this was a past version of myself. The version that had already had a foal. There was no image of the foal, nothing about it came to mind. Just the painful stitches still sewn across my belly.

“Coffee Stain, I know I shouldn't; but who else are you gonna trust with explosives?” I looked at her and felt harsh pangs of guilt that echoed with every movement when the stitches pulled. A firm mental block kept me from knowing anything about where that scar had come from, almost like the same dread that crept up from the mention of Agent 88.

I felt really hungry as I inserted a cinnamon bun into my mouth. Oh no, please no not that taste! I wanted to hurl mentally but my host was thoroughly enjoying the cinnamon bun. I have never ever enjoyed one that much till I felt the sensations rolling from my past self.

Okay this is so strange! Wait does that mean, my foal is a filly scout? I wondered as Coffee Stain placed a hoof onto my shoulder. All attention went to her.

“Look Sunrise, you've done a lot for the scouts. Above and beyond, know that we will owe you a debt. Now I suggest you take a break, go to the doctor and get checked up.” I looked out the door into the wasteland, away from Coffee Stain.

Coffee Stain nodded, “You really need me alive don't you?” I felt a twinge of guilt pulsing through me. A few flashes of dealing drugs, cookies, equipment, wheeling and dealing, flat out swindling ponies. I shook my head and got a good look at the room. All metal construction, pieces of stubbornite in places. This was the fortress. As far as the eye could see, everything was metal, even the streets were laid with sheets of scrap. The ponies walking around were mostly filly scouts, I only picked out three cutie marks in the field of ponies.

“Look, we both know my foal is out there somewhere... where, I don't know. Who they even are, I can't remember. But I have to find them.” Coffee Stain nodded and picked up a weapon, her railroad sticker. A huge six barreled rifle that had a hydraulic pump feeding it with railroad spikes, which would pin a pony to a wall like a teddy bear with a nailgun. The worst part, they were usually still alive afterward.

“Alright then, off to Las Pegasus,” Coffee Stain said, and I nodded to her picking up my shotgun. It was the same shotgun from the unfinished stable, the same one I had on my back now. Just it was still chambered for 20 gauge and not the 12 gauge rounds I used now.

Coffee Stain gave me a hug and a tender kiss upon the lips. My eyes slowly closed in the embrace and I leaned into it. But I found as I opened my eyes, I was kissing another pony.

Nyota was kissing me on the lips and I blinked in surprise. I wasn't sure how long I'd been out but he snickered at me as he broke the kiss. “Thanks love, but I don't think the towel will help me at all.” Nyota said with smirk on his lips. I realized he was still dripping from head to toe. His shower time must have just run out. I was almost completely dry now, and the nightie no long clung to me from the damp coat of fur. He smelled lovely, sandalwood. How much of that soap does he really have. I took a few moments to examine myself.

I felt twinges of guilt and pain well up in my mind. I could barely see the c-section scar even with the negligee lifted while he wasn't looking but my mind felt so untouchable towards it. I couldn't remember anything, who the father was, how the pregnancy went, was my foal even a filly or a colt? None of it. I felt this sense of dread, that I had been a terrible mother or something awful happened, so terrible I couldn't remember.

Nyota rubbed a hoof across the scar, “It's okay Sunny, we'll find him.”

I looked at him perplexed, “How do you know it's a him?” I stared at Nyota completely lost as he pet my mane softly. Nyota just nuzzled me while Pink bounced into view with a few hops shaking her head. Pink? My child is...

“He doesn't know and neither do I. Just let him reassure you, okay? You need it.” I gave Pink a mental nod and frown at Nyota. I am not a good actor, either.

“I don't but I do know that if we call your foal we haven't met an it, that won't make you feel better so for now, let's just call him a boy?” I smirked a bit at him and nuzzled into his still soaked chest when I heard the squawk of a walkie.

“Sunrise, Nyota....” Chifundo sounded like he was in pain, trying to choke the words out. “Butter Toast has snuggles like a python has cuddles. HELP!” Wow, Chifundo was in enough pain he wasn't even keeping in rhyme! We both bolted out towards the market only to told that they had headed for the flophouse, somehow missing each other in the small town.

“Goddesses Bucking Dammit! This had better not be death by snuggles! Chifundo needs to learn to keep it in his sheath!” I almost stumbled as I heard Nyota cursing like a seasoned Equestrian naval officer. Nyota! Really!

Pink rolled in laughter as I glared at the two of them. It is the strangest feeling to try to keep vision to run around ponies and buildings while glaring at your stallionfriend as well as the pink demon with one eye each. I nearly went cross eyed from the effort as we bounded into the flophouse. The scene in front of us was both pain wincing and hilarious all at once. My own cringe level had reached a whole new high.

Buttered Toast had Chifundo draped over her shoulders like a fur coat, petting him so aggressively he had started to bruise from forehead to tail. “Pretty, Pink, Zebra.” She was so fascinated by her new 'toy' that she wasn't even paying attention to how much she was potentially hurting him.

“Do we, do we help him?” I asked Nyota before Quick Stitch appeared next to us from seemingly nowhere. When did he get stealthy? Also why hasn't he done anything?

“Sunrise would you try to take her new cuddle toy from the giant filly barbarian? Who can smash your head with her knee joint?” I gave a mental nod of ‘Point Taken’.

Wait! Buttered Toast! She really likes that, distraction time! I ran up to the bar and threw down 10 caps as fast as I could get them out of my bag. “I need buttered toast as fast as you can make it!” I called out to the kitchen. Honey Heartfirelooked at me like I'd lost my mind. I stared at Chifundo anxiously while Nyota and Quick Stitch looked on helplessly. Quick Stitch was especially antsy, it was like Nyota, watching me, get surgery... Did they do more than just have love poison fun?

Finally, after what seemed like an hour of watching new bruises appear on Chifundo's pink stripes, a pile of toast arrived on the counter for me. I took it in a hoof and walked toward seeing an older filly scout. Her coat reminded me of a Sunburst through the clouds with the hooves white tips like the very clouds concealing the sun. A violet summer flower bounced against her back that was her mane, I swore she was so clean if I smelled it; it would smell of lavender. The part that made me recoil a bit was the purple liquid filled syringe on her flank. Her eyes were the one thing that rendered her a bit unfriendly, she had dark blood red. “Hi there Sunrise, I umm... would like to talk to you.”

“That's nice,” I looked at Nyota then to Quick Stitch. “Either of you able to get close?” We all looked at each other like it was time to draw straws. I turned my head to see Chifundo getting a black eye when Buttered Toast clumsily patted him. She wasn't hurting him intentional but that filly was so very rough.

“I, can get him. Buttered Toast won't take a second thought at another Filly Scout near her.” The unknown mare offered. I looked at her and gave a soft nod.

“Who are you?” All of us asked at once looking at the yellow mare very perplexed.

“Oh I'm Scopola Mina, I'd like to talk about going with you.” She flicked her mane with a hoof in reply and started to slink around behind Buttered Toast. Honey Heartfire was at the bar leaning over watching the drama unfold.

“That will have to wait till our friend is safe again.” Nyota replied as Quick Stitch took out some magical bandages in preparation. I approached Buttered Toast and extended the plate full of toast. She looked at me fearfully and stopped petting Chifundo.

“Pretty Pink Zebra. Sunrise, for me?” Buttered Toast slowly moved a hoof towards it.

“Yes, Buttered Toast, just be gentle.” Nyota waited on the tips of his hooves as the first piece of toast met Buttered Toast's lips. Scopola Mina grabbed Chifundo's hooves and eased him off her shoulders as she took the second piece very gingerly. “See Buttered Toast, Sunrise is nice and friendly. I promise you buttered toast and you can hug the pretty pink zebra, just be gentle okay?” I assured her. I stood there while she ate every bit of toast I had.

In the meantime, Chifundo had been stolen away and Quick Stitch was tending his overly heavy petting bruises. Nyota was on the ground laughing while Scopola Mina snickered and tried to suppress her laughing. Buttered Toast looked distressed when the toast was gone and even more upset as soon as she noticed Chifundo wasn't on her back anymore. “But, I want pretty pink zebra.”

I held up my hoof to her and got up onto her shoulder where I could stretch to caress her mane. “It's okay Buttered Toast, his name is Chifundo and I'll bring your Chifundo back soon; I promise.” I was doing everything in my power to be honest and not anger this mighty giant of a pony. “Scopola Mina, take Buttered Toast here back over to the Filly Scouts okay? Then come back and we'll talk.” As she left I headed upstairs while Nyota and Quick Stitch tended to Chifundo.

I came back armored up, equipment on, and walked up to Quick Stitch. “Care to give me an examination and a clean bill of health?” He blushed and looked away, then back at me, then away again as he slowly turned pink.

“Oh, I'm sure you're fine. I don't think I need to give you an exam.” Quick Stitch's uncharacteristic reply had me worried. I leaned up and scrutinized him.

“Sunrise, he thinks you and Nyota boinked last night! You sly silly filly!” Pink squealed in my ear and I felt a deep rage shooting up into me.

“What kind of mare do you think I am?” Quick Stitch winced as Nyota rushed over to grab my shoulder and try to calm me down. Chifundo wrapped hooves around Quick Stitch protectively in response. He looked just like Nyota holding me when somepony upset me. Nyota wrapping his hooves around me in response.

“No! I didn't say that, I just thought with the lingerie and with the love poison, you two had, maybe, possibly, I mean—” He stumbled with words till Chifundo put a hoof up to his mouth and then kissed his cheek. What all happened last night, and this morning, with you two? Did that love poison do that much?

“Remember Sunrise, it removes inhibitions but the feelings were there already. Likely those two had a lot of deep conversation between rounds with the twins.” Pink explained and I felt a twinge of hypocritical guilt for judging them.

“We didn't, but also how are you gonna explain this to Picline?” I asked looking at Chifundo rather upset at him now too.

“The spirits to Picline have advised, that I keep honest about how we acted.” Chifundo replied rather nervously and Quick Stitch hung his head nodding.

“I must own up for what we did and just hope Picline isn't too mad. Even if it was under love poison, we still made the decision.” Quick Stitch was twitching as he spoke only to have Chifundo work to calm him down. The two of us looked at each other while a zebra tried to shield us both from each other.

“Sunrise it's okay, calm down. Even if we had, there is no need to defend your honor. Lovers do what lovers do.” I stepped back surprised, the events of last night really starting to set in. I looked at Nyota wanting to be upset, wanting to scream but inside knowing he was right, we just stared into each others eyes. “If Quick Stitch wants to start a herd, he's more than welcome to do so.” I heard loud snickering from behind the kitchen bar, and saw one of the twins quickly ducking out of sight.

“You're right, what they do in the bedroom,” I paused for a bit. “May not be our business but in this case, with the drugs, it is our responsibility too. They are our friends.” I turned my head and looked at Chifundo and Quick Stitch, the two stallions blushing furiously while Nyota stroked my mane.

“We'll cross that bridge when we get there.” Nyota whispered while Pink was snickering so loud that I wanted to buck her right in the smug lips.

“Sunrise we are on this journey together, it is bound to happen that we become closer.” Chifundo replied and stopped his protective hugging of Quick Stitch. He pointed at me then Nyota, “Life is unconstrained by our expression of day, as the spirits have taught; it finds a way.” I deflated along with my anger towards him. They were right and I knew it, there was no sense in being upset with what other ponies thought.

He stroked my mane once with a hoof and my desire to make sure he knew I cared filled me. Slowly and gently, I leaned forward in my armor. It was awkward to move, even perfectly fit, but that didn't stop me from kissing him. He patted the plates and admired their craftsponyship as we made out. He pulled away, and I tried to keep the kiss going, though my armor and his height made it impossible.

“Well that is some real nice armor! I wish I could have found a bomb suit in your size but you're just a bit small for standard Equestrian military armor.” I puffed up and growled, all three stallions burst into laughter. I looked from Nyota to Chifundo and then Quick Stitch.

“What is so funny? I swear I could wear a bomb suit if I had to!” Nyota patted my mane patronizingly and leaned down to nestle his head against my mane. He took an inhale of my scent and relaxed his chuckles.

“Sunrise, what was the required height for the Equestrian military soldiers?” Nyota prodded as Quick Stitch and Chifundo both leaned in.

“4'3” minimum height.” I grumbled through grinted teeth.

“And how tall are you?” Nyota pulled back and pointed at my shoulder up to my head with a hoof. Quick Stitch walked over and ruffled my mane.

“I'd say about 3'2” but that is my opinion.” Chifundo had to hold his laughter in as I made the angeriest puffed up face I could.

“I'm 3'3” thank you!” I blurted out like 1 inch was going to make a difference. WHICH IT DOES! Seriously 1 inch is the difference in actually reaching the counter sometimes.

“The point still stands, doesn't it?” Nyota piped up and I lowered my head with no retort as Nyota stroked my mane softly. “I wouldn't have you if you changed yourself Sunrise,... besides your height makes you cuter.” His reassurance just made me more self conscious as I felt the burn of my own blush. Quick Stitch gave Chifundo a nuzzle. Wow is that what Nyota and I look like? It's so mushy but sweet at the same time.

Scopola Mina returned alone and took a seat between the two couples on the floor. She looked at Nyota and I then to Quick Stitch and Chifundo then back to me. “Hi! I'd like to talk to you about going with you when you head out.”

I stared to Scopola Mina and then looked at my companions. “I mean, is Coffee Stain sending you just to keep eyes on us?” I genuinely felt suspicious. Coffee Stain's actions and what I remembered didn't seem to make the best image of her. Was I her lover before? Is that what Pink meant by her comment about me and mares? I looked over at Pink in the corner of my vision who just stayed quiet and avoided my gaze with a guilty look on her face.

“Well no, I just felt it was finally time to move on. I've got my mark and all, not to mention I'm one of the older scouts.” Scopola Mina moved her hoof and gave the more disarming smile she could manage. I could hear something in her voice, honesty.

“You know we aren't going anywhere safe right? I mean we are certainly likely to get you killed.” Nyota stepped up between us and stood halfway blocking my view of Scopola Mina.

“Your group has a reputation around here for doing the impossible.” All of us were taken aback by that statement. Have we really? We just rescued a few ponies and managed to get Hot Cross Buns, half a year after he'd been missing. “And, to be honest, travel would do me some good. Coffee Stain mentioned that Sunrise was a former scout and I should consider going with her. I am eager to find new chemicals to make, I also heard you could use a decent cook, well here I am!” Scopola Mina puffed her chest out all proud and as if to demonstrate her determination.

“I don't know, I mean, we've had an awful lot of ponies trying to go with us since we got back to town.” I hesitated and looked at Quick Stitch or Chifundo for help.

“Genuine mare if she can protect, I see no reason to object.” Chifundo chimed in support of Scopola Mina. I stared at him and furrowed my brow. I couldn't tell if I should be more upset that I was actually understanding him more, or that he was encouraging more ponies to put themselves in the line of fire for us.

“Sunrise, we're gonna need all the help we can get,” Quick Stitch gulped when he looked at me to see the expression on my face. “Maybe we should consider it? Have Alguacil see if she can defend herself and then maybe decide?” He winced at me then looked at Scopola Mina like she was suppose to speak up.

“Oh! I'm pretty good with a laser rifle.” Her horn glowed a pearl white and floated out a HP AER-12 laser rifle. HP standing for High Power. They are made to blast through armor. I marveled at the device as she placed a gem pack in and I heard the high pitch whine of power up. She kept it pointed at the ground and I could see the safety was still on.

“Whoa! Shiny! We haven't seen a decent MEW wielder in quite a while.” Pink leaned and reached out to pet the rifle. I swore it dipped just slightly from her touching it.

I grumbled, not sure I wanted another pony with us but having little choice if all my friends were in, I let out a sigh through my gritted teeth. “Alright, if Alguacil says you can defend yourself, you can come with. Just please be careful, please?” I hinted at and Nyota booped my nose.

“Sunrise, you're always so worried about anypony except you getting hurt. I'm beginning to think you don't believe you can die.” Nyota leaned down and the realization hit me. I've never considered the possibility. Ponies say I've died before but I don't remember that. I didn't even think I would die when I dove onto my own grenade. I took a step back from Nyota and felt a shock of fear echo through me.

“Sunrise, don't let that get into your head! You aren’t invulnerable butttttttttt...” Pink carried the last syllable of but till I paid attention to her instead. “Neither are any of the foes you're gonna face. You can do this! Just keep faith in your friends okay?”

I felt utter dread piece me. My heart accelerated and I felt a very real need to be prepared to defend myself. The possibility of dying, the idea that Nyota was mortal; horrified me in a way that I had never considered. I'm not concerned about dying so much as I'm worried about what will happen to Nyota if I'm gone. I extended a hoof and Scopola Mina turned the hoofshake into a hug. Alright I guess I like her, only in the world before the Stable would you get a hug to make a new friend. We went out looking for Alugacil and ran into a griffin in tears passing us, holding his gun. He was wearing a Silver Fang uniform and we heard Alguacil shouting in the distance over gunfire.

“Where is he?” Nyota asked, the traumatized griffin pointed back towards a shooting range with Alguacil shouting like an Equestrian drill sergeant at the guards doing target practice. We approached to discover nearly a a pile of empty casings at each of their feet from how long they'd been here shooting.

“Alright, you maggots! If you wanna survive an enclave assault, shoot their wings!” He grabbed a rifle in the hooves of an earth pony and helped him aim. Then did the same with a unicorn mare's telekinesis.

“Alguacil, what did you do to that poor griffin?” I asked as I approached them.

“He knows what he did! He better be back when his gun is fixed.” Alguacil shot and continued giving loud shouting instructions to all the guards, working and drilling them. We found out they had been doing this everyday since we had gotten back to town.

Alguacil handed me a set of armored dusters, “You earth ponies know how to make things better by tearing stuff apart right?” I looked at him then the dusters and some instinct was kicking in. My eyes saw pieces of plate that were wrong on one, correct on the other. The griffin pieces of over-armor had faults between them, but my mind was automatically putting together how to tear both apart and put them together.

“Yeah, I can, give me a minute.” I lost track of time and zoned out any conversation anypony was having as I ripped apart one of it's good qualities or flaw fixing pieces and put it into the one I thought was in the best shape.

“Chifundo, Quick Stitch, Scopola Mina,” I called the three of them over and they all looked at me stepping up.

“While I work on this, I need you to go to the filly scouts and negotiate for a set of Mama Dueches, LMGs and a lot of ammo for them. Lastly, at least two punt guns with buck and slug shot.” I kept working and they hadn't moved when I looked up at their confused faces.

“Who is Mama Deuches, I do not get your purchases.” Chifundo replied and I just facehoofed.

“Right, slang used in officers manual is not the same as the wasteland.” My hoof dragged down my face while Nyota hugged me with a chuckle.

“Go on Sunrise, explain it. I don't even know what you are referencing.” Nyota replied and I looked at him out of the corner of my eye.

“Alright, Chifundo you three need to go acquire for the town, using me as the bargaining chip, at least three M2 heavy machine guns, .50 caliber with at least 500 rounds of ammo each. In addition to that, some Hoof Breaker-15's like what Corners used on her battle saddle with ammo and lastly, ask specifically for punt guns with at least 20 buckshot shells and 5 slug shot shells each.” I explained the idea Pink had given me while I was being massaged. With that much firepower they could actually fight off a razorback class sky ship. The machine guns could easily put up enough fire to prevent pegasi from assaulting them and the punt guns with slugs would put holes in assault airships and vertibucks.

The three of them understood, now, and trotted off to get what I needed while I resumed my work to the rhythm of gunfire behind me. When I finally looked up, I saw Sparrow approaching with several of her company. Jackal was in chains, his cyberclaw removed and in the center of them.

“Well, Alguacil, you lot keep improving things around here, I'll have to actually buy them more bullets if they keep getting better.” Sparrow mocked while Alguacil tipped his armor plated sombrero.

I looked up from my nearly finished work of sewing and combining plates, “Well, I have a few more ideas about that courtesy of Pink.”

Almost on que the radio squawked, “Sunrise, I require you to talk, they seem to be about to balk.” I stitched the last couple of plates in place and looked at Sparrow.

“Give me a minute, I'll ask why Jackal is in chains and what is going on in a second.” Nyota offered me the radio and I took it. Nyota and Sparrow began to talk as did Jackal. I couldn't hear what they were saying as I made my way somewhere slightly private to talk over the radio.

“Chifundo, give the radio to Coffee Stain.” I asked him and a moment later Coffee Stain came over the radio.

“Sunrise! How are you? How can I—” I slammed the button and cut her off with a high pitched whine of protest from the radio.

“Coffee Stain, cut the crap. Chifundo asked for heavy machine guns, .50 caliber, punt guns, and a few LMGs. I gave specific model numbers because they were Equestrian military standard. Now you said you owed me and assured me the Filly Scouts would do whatever they could.” I took a breath as Sparrow approached. “This town needs defenses, real ones beyond just bodies with rifles. What's it going to cost?”

“Well I mean... wait, you want a punt gun? You mean a Duck Murder-8000? And M2 heavies? Those aren't just lying around, they are rare and expensive.” Coffee Stain squawked back over the radio while Sparrow looked at me stunned. I looked at Sparrow and clicked it back.

“Sparrow, I know we've given you more mouths to feed and haven't exactly been subtle about stuff. But we did get Hot Cross Buns back and you have an armorer now. I figure you won't object to the trouble caused by the love poison and other inconveniences, if I make sure nothing can ever happen again.” I felt genuinely guilty that we had likely brought the Enclave down on the town eventually not to mention there was likely some reason that Jackal was in irons. I was pretty sure her adopting Nugget and her making the love poison was likely going to be blamed on us too. Not to mention all the things DJ Pon3 was saying on the radio by now if I just turned it on.

“Sunrise we need to talk when you get done with Coffee Stain on that radio.” Sparrow replied and her wing was holding that 45-70 gov revolver. After a second, I recognized it as a HH-7 submitted by Colt Firearms. It was made to put down a Diamond Dog or even a teenage dragon in just one shot. The same size dragon that was in irons surrounded by guards right now.

“Coffee Stain, what can you get me?”

“Well I mean, we could get you six 5.56 machine guns and maybe a 2 gauge for around 1000 caps.”

I looked at my PipBuck, it read 2783 caps between my personal caps and the bag of caps I was keeping for our potential companion expenses. But what Coffee stain was offering was useless. “Sunrise, don't take that! It's a terrible deal and she didn't include ammo. Make sure you get her to repeat what you are getting verbatium and get it in writing from Chifundo.”

“Pass the radio back to Chifundo.” I told her and waited.

“Chifundo hold this close to your ear and turn the volume down.” I took a breath and counted to three. “Listen here, you tell her the following you want in writing, I will give her the schematics for my bombs, let them make a schematic for my shotgun, and negotiate from there. In exchange, we want two Duck Murder-8000s, with 20 buckshot rounds and 5 slugs, four .308 machine guns, six 5.56 machine guns with 1000 rounds for 5.56 and .308 for each. Negotiate from there and call me back when you get something solid.” I cut the radio and looked up at Sparrow.

I knew Chifundo could be a very pretty stallion and we'd seen him negotiate good deals before. I just hoped he wouldn't be as trusting as we had been in the past. Dealing with Coffee Stain now felt slimy for some reason. “Sunrise, Jackal here has caused quite a lot of trouble and your friend, that pegasus that showed up has kinda used all our scrap to make armor for a couple of ponies and you.”

I shook my head, “Your new Armorer, he's not really a friend but he is staying here.” I corrected only to have her cock the gun. Oh come on! I didn't do anything wrong right?

“We appreciate everything you've done but we need to talk about getting a resupply of metal and this dragon friend of yours has a few things to answer for.”

“Oh come on! Nyota can vouch for me, it's just a bed.” Jackal called out to us angrily. I looked at Nyota who had moved away from the group. His embarrassment was plastered over his face like a colt with his hoof in a cookie jar. I walked right up to him and Sparrow followed.

“Nyota, we'll talk with Jackal, in a second.” I turned around to Sparrow. “Alright fine what do you want?” Sparrow releases the hammer on her gun and let it slide into place.

“Well I'll give you this, you've done a lot of good. Your group has really done a lot of good and I figure you can give me something better than just plugging this dragon in the head and fixing the various problems he and you caused with his scales in place of metal.” My jaw dropped. I had expected they might lock him up for a bit, they might even like kick him out. Kill him!? Over a some bedroom antics.

“I see, you aren't used to wasteland justice.” She replied as I even saw Honey Hearthfire over there with a double barrel shotgun pointed at Jackal. “Well here's the deal, we need scrap and Jackal here says he knows where it is. You are gonna help him go get it because I trust you. Or if you aren't up for it, I'm putting a bullet in his brainpan.”

Alguacil stared stunned as everyone had stopped firing on the improvised range. Nyota trotted over towards me. I felt a deep seeded rage building up, put into a no win situation. Either help this dragon or watch him die. Sparrow was even trying to pass the buck for killing him onto my head. She may be pulling the trigger but I was going to be making the decision.

“Okay, fine, but I have a couple of conditions.” I rolled over my tongue to try to put it all together. Pink help here!

“Sunrise, you're nicer than ever could be! I’d leave him to die while throwing a road party on the way to the secret stable! But you’re not me and that is what makes this more entertaining!” Pink sighed and rolled her eyes and I mentally prodded her to continue while Sparrow stared me down. She shrugged and hung her head. “Make Sparrow put him under her wing as a soldier and forgive him of all his wrong doing. That way she can't just shoot him next time he screws up and she does it in exchange for the weapons and barrage balloons for defending the town.” I winced at the thought that my efforts for charity were not going to be used as a political decision to save this dragon's life, for a second time.

Sparrow tapped her hoof expectantly while we debated and Nyota stroked my mane trying to keep me in check. “Alright in exchange for whatever weapons we get from the Filly Scouts for the town's defense and the salvage Jackal claims he knows where it is; then you will agree to make him to take him on.”

Sparrow grumbled, “I will forgive him and consider making him a merc with us.”

I growled at her and stomped my hoof, “Sparrow you know that isn't what I meant!”

Nyota dug into my high thighs to keep me from moving and attacking Sparrow. I could feel him inhibiting my stance to make sure he had control over my body movement. Oh come on! I've only nerd raged out twice! I'm not about to hit her, I just need to make sure we are clear. “Look, you take him with you and tell him he proved himself and I'll agree to put him in a uniform if he wants it.”

“Well then uncuff him and release him to Sunny's custody.” Nyota chimed up as he released his grip on me.

Sparrow put her revolver away and motioned her wing. The chains came off and Jackal growled, “And give me my claw back along with the attachments.” One of the earth pony mares reached into her saddlebags and produced the cyber claw along with a few other things. Jackal growled and snatched them away. I swore as soon as he was in possession of them, he grew two inches in height and bulked up a bit of muscle.

“Alright Sunrise, he's your responsibility. He does anything; I hold you responsible till you get back.” The Silver Fang mercs all turned and left as a group, leaving my friends and Jackal along with a whole lot of explanation to be given out. Chifundo, Quick Stitch, and Scopola Mina arrived back with a smile on their lips of a job well done. “Now get him out of my town before dark and I change my mind!” Sparrow called the last bit like a veiled threat which meant we were setting out, today.

“Nyota, you've got some explaining to do!” I shouted which deflated the smiles of all my friends almost instantly. I pushed myself up to a very nervous looking Nyota who started to back away only to have Jackal standing behind him.

“Ya know Nyota, you've got one very nice flank here.” Nyota immediately shifted to where he was standing perpendicular to us. I was on his left, and Jackal on his right. There was a click of the cyberclaw reattaching. It powered up with the whine of a spark battery. I was quite upset that he hadn't mentioned this several days ago, considering we had encouraged Jackal and his antics repeatedly.

I growled while Jackal gave him a set of 'Hey Baby' eyes.

“Okay look, we used to run together before I became a courier. With Stripes leading us along with Crackers and Helmet Joke.” He looked at me trying to look for a way out of this and then finally hung his head. “Listen Sunrise, I've done some things I'm not proud of. Including a lot of drugs that I used to do with these guys.”

“Oh, Nyota! Seriously, a lot of drugs? Let me tell you, this guy was the life of the party! The sheer amount of dash and stampede he could take and keep going. We all thought for sure he'd kill himself but nope.” Jackal reached over and was giving Nyota a noogie, which made him wince and try to shift away from him. I grabbed onto Nyota's shoulders and held him still, Jackal stopped as I gazed into his eyes.

“Nyota, I love you. I wouldn't have let you hold like you do or talked about what we did last night if I didn't.” I lifted his head while propping myself on his shoulder to be eye level with him.” Next time, tell us, all of us.” I kept our eye contact and felt a certain softness for him. He hadn't told me because he was afraid I'd judge him. Deep down though, my heart ached for his touch and yearned for him to be better than this.

Nyota kissed my forehead and let out a soft blow as he rubbed the back of his head. “Alright, love I just thought you would be more upset than this.” I was upset honestly but not in the same way he thought I was.

“I might be quite upset with you, but I'm more upset you didn't trust us, your friends, especially me, with this.” I wrapped a hoof around him while our friends and Jackal watched this tender moment. Jackal decided to interrupt it by thrusting his hips into Nyota's rear which made him jump forward without warning and kiss me deeply.

“There! Now Buck already and get it over with you two!” He declared in a gruff roar. Chifundo and Quick Stitch snickered, while Alguacil grabbed him by the ear, and dragged Jackal away from us who just kept chanting 'Ow Ow Ow!'. Alguacil was having none of it through and got him just far enough away that he could stand between us and him.

I didn't break the kiss through, I just held it there and my eyes fluttered closed while I pressed our chests together. The feeling of his heart beating faster in rhythm with my own made me feel a warmth and depth of love I'd never felt before. Nyota's displays of affection had always embarrassed me before but now I didn't care. I wasn't sure how long we were kissing but Scopola Mina grunted and cleared her throat to get our attention. That ended the moment and I looked at them. With a few pushes of my body armor to straighten out the outer fabric and shaking my head to remove the light headedness as well as remove the thought of just how horny I was right now.

Thanks for reminding me body that you really really wanna let him. But no, it is important to me; that I know my parents are okay with this. So much happened during the war, a zebra of all ponies to fall in love with. I have to restrain myself, I have to know my parents are going to support us and I have to know they are safe. I took a long exhale and got back to the issue at hand. Reminding myself that this was one more step towards finding my parents and seeking out said approval.

“So umm... what did you guys manage to get Coffee Stain to agree to in writing?” I prodded to change the subject away from Nyota and I's public display of affection, even if Quick Stitch looked all misty eyed at us and even Alguacil had a slightly softened expression on his face. Jackal just snorted and started to speak only to find a griffin talon around his snort keeping it closed.

“Coffee Stain has made a written agreement, but she requires metal of earth pony magic containment.” He explained and Scopola Mina stepped up.

“Alright, let me lay this out in simpler language. I spoke up because Coffee Stain was trying to pull a fast one. She isn't happy that I showed loyalty to you over her.” Scopola Mina took a breath and gulped. “Alright, she has agreed to get you six light 5.56 machine guns with 300 Armor-piercing rounds each. Two medium .308 machine guns with 300 rounds each. Two Duck Murder-8000 1 gauge punt guns with the ammo you asked for. And I convinced her to turn over a SEGA turret but we're gonna need stubbornite, a lot of it and 2000 caps.”

Nyota, Alguacil, Jackal, and myself all looked at her perplexed, “What in tarnation is a SEGA turret?” Alguacil squawked as he spoke and glared at Scopola Mina like he shouldn't trust her.

“A SEGA turret is 6 combat auto-shotguns rigged together into an armored ball turret. It has an ammo changer for slug and buckshot.” Scopola Mina shivered. “I've seen in turn ponies into paste with a single burst so it should keep any pegasi or anything really from getting too close or just put up so much flak that no pony wants anywhere near it.” My jaw dropped as a memory of such a weapon shot into my head for the briefest of moments.

I saw the walls of the Filly Scout fort, Fort Mint Cookie. It had six such turrets along the walls, with a pony in them 24 hours seven days a week. Anyone who attacked the fort at anytime would have at least two if not three such turrets blazing away at them.

They were made out of the old veritbuck side ball turrets, using their mechanisms for power and gyro-movement while replacing the 5.56 LMGs that are normally mounted there. Instead they had three full auto shotguns on each side that had two firing modes. All firing blazing away and tandem, left – right side shooting. I rubbed my forehead to shake the memory and was back with my friends all looking at me concerned.

“Sunny, you alright you spaced out there a bit.” Nyota asked while running a hoof back and forth across my face. I shook my head lose and smiled.

“Yeah, I think that sounds fine. We just need some stubbornite.” I replied to them with a exasperated sigh.

“I mean where we are going, there is supposedly a Q-Series Mare Minivan Mark III.” Jackal rattled off and I thought about it. Q-Series? Mom considered one of those if she could find it. It was made of stubbornite frame and plating. Way too heavy for her to move through. I remembered the last time we looked at a carriage, mom had tried to move one of those. Nyota smacked me in the back of the head softly to keep me here.

“Focus, Sunny. We have to get moving, not let you day dream.” Nyota reassured me. I walked up to Jackal and held my PipBuck up to him as I brought up my map. “Mark where we are going on here and we can get moving.” I leaned up to the dragon. In all honestly I didn't know if Sparrow would actually turn around and kill him or not. He used the scroll wheels to maneuver the cross hair over what used to be Blight-wood. I took a second to look at the marker.

“So what is there exactly?” I looked up at the teenage size dragon. “And just how do you know Nyota?”

Pink flashed up into view with a sign: 'Your reputation isn't sufficient with Jackal to have this information.' “Well, ya know, We just ran together for a while, ask him if you wanna know.” Jackal shifted around and then turned to the rest of us. “As for what is there, it's the Blight-Wood Parking Pavilion. There is a whole mess of scrap there but they also have raiders there too.” He explained and tried to nervously rubbed his head.

I looked at Nyota who blushed and shied away from my gaze. I felt like there was something deep inside him that he had hoped would never see the light of day. He looked at me from the corner of his eye and the guilt spread across his face. I had inner demons, they were obvious and often right in front of our faces. But here, Nyota's were laid bare and it was like a dam breaking that he had wanted to keep protected.

Chifundo approached him and placed a hoof onto his shoulder, “Nyota you do not have to tell, we are fine waiting on for your reveal.” Quick Stitch joined in with a hug of Chifundo and Nyota. They all looked to me expectantly and I trotted up to squish against them with armored plating. Scopola, Mina and Alguacil stood to the side, looking at each other uncomfortably. When the hugs were released we all stood around but the moment would not last.

“Can we go now you bunch of ponies, all this hugging is making me itchy.” He scratched at his scales and shifted walking towards the town gates.

The road was a hard and long walk, to say the least. The closer we got to Blight-Wood, the stranger it became. First were the back paths and side roads we were taking instead of the main highway. Anytime we got close to the main highway, my E.F.S. would pop up with red pips while everypony drew weapons for combat. Jackal would then immediately steer us deeper into the wilderness.

We came to a halt when something shocking appeared over the next rise.

With a name like Blight-Wood you would expect desolation, maybe plantlife that wanted to kill a pony. Instead it was like a barrier between worlds, of bountiful grass, brush, and trees appeared before us. It was strange as we came over the rise to the Blight-Wood, a straight unwavering line separated the wasteland dirt and this fertile grassland. The line was so straight that even a professional carpenter would be impressed.

Everypony looked to me as I approached it. Nyota took a few steps ahead, into the grass. He was misty eyed and moved his hoof over the grass a few times, scraping it. Then he knelt down and took a bite of it, chewing carefully. We all stared at him shocked.

I would have welcomed greenery a few weeks ago, now I was suspicious. I cross the barrier and expected tons of magical radiation or some other form of tingle on my skin. Instead, my rad counter registered zero. Absolute zero.

No background radiation at all, not even a hint of magical contamination. I scrolled through my PipBuck scanner settings looking for anything Gamma, Theta, Beta, Alpha, even just solar radiation from the sun. Only the solar was higher across the line as I waved it back and forth.

“Sunrise, this place, it's scaring me!” Pink was chattering her teeth over her hoof with little flakes of it flying off like flash against a metal cast figure.

I wanted to ask Jackal if he was sure it was this way, but my map marker told me what I wanted to know. We were going into Blight-Wood, whether we liked it or not. Everyone was staring at me playing with the PipBuck this whole time waiting for my response, except Nyota who was enjoying the feeling of grass under his hooves. I have to admit I would have, too, if not for the unnatural angles and Pink's reaction.

Jackal rolled his eyes, “Come on ya stupid ponies! If that thing's rad counter isn't clickin.” He shoved me out of the way and everypony followed along with him. Nyota and I exchanged glances.

“It's like Oasis, before the legion came. Green, alive, wonderful.” He took another mouthful of grass and chewed on it. It probably didn't taste the best but I was just as curious. I took a tentative bite, it was sweet to my surprise. Like morning honey dew with a velvet cake texture. I spat it out and shuddered. A feeling of ice cold paranoia ran through me.

“This, this isn't normal grass. It shouldn't taste that way, hell it shouldn't have any good taste at all!” Nyota looked at me perplexed, and shrugged. He took a flower into his mouth and chewed on it.

We caught up to the rest of the group and entered into Blight-Wood. The city was overgrown in vines, buildings in some places burst with them. Some of the taller structures were collapsed, only held in place by the overgrowth. In one case a skyscraper had the top dozen floors suspended by vines growing out from it.

Our pace slowed, there were no red pips, only gray and blue ones. Jackal was still gray to me, my friends blue, and then there were dozens of other gray and blues ones that scattered before us as we moved through the side streets and alleyways. The light was fading as we walked in silence. I could feel the tension, we were all afraid of what would come along if we made noise. The bunnies and field mice that ran past us didn’t even look at us. They were running from something scarier than we were.

Chifundo broke the silence, “So where does a dragon get a claw that is made from Iron's Maw?”
I looked at Chifundo confused, not sure if he was referencing a place or the material.
I swear if I ever have an entire day without Chifundo puzzling me, I will consider a second apocalypse on the way.

Jackal looked a bit off guard and Nyota stopped in his walk. His face was spelled out with dread as he turned to Jackal. “I mean there is this city called Megalopolis. Protected by layers of shielding and tons of egghead ponies. They have a whole lot of tech from before the bombs fell. Apparently the bombs only managed to damage the mountain it had been built into.” He paused and flexed his claw, visible upset as Nyota ran up to him and put a hoof against his side. Nyota shook his head at him and Jackal threw him back with a claw.

“None of your pony touchy-feely shit! They only promised what they would take, not what they would add.” He growled at him and stomped his foot. A red pip appeared on my E.F.S. behind us. The growl echoed around us down the streets and the red pip faded away, chasing the echo. I flinched at the dragon’s yell and moved to Nyota's side. “If you knew half of what they did to me for this claw and all its random little attachments, you wouldn't want to touch me. Damn ponies.”
Creature noise started to pick up. Birds at first, then guttural chirps and harsh territorial shrieks. Jackal held up a cyber-claw to his lips, “We need to find a place to rest. There are mole rats here as big as Sunrise and geckos that can swallow entire ponies whole, around here.”

Alguacil drew his revolver and spun it, taking flight overhead. “Stupid griffin, I'd fly it I thought it was safe. Somepony motion him down here.” Jackal growled with a contempt towards the rest of us. Chifundo went about flagging him back to earth. “Worst of all is the Manticores and Hydras. Not to mention the bugs here are bigger than what you even see in the wasteland.” Jackal pointed at Nyota, “That rad scorpion you killed in Las Pegasus is about their average size round here.”

“You didn't feel like that was worth mentioning? Did you know about this, Nyota?” Quick Stitch pressed in at us as Alguacil landed and joined us.

“Nyota didn't know and that's the truth.” Jackal huff and little electrical bolts shot out of his nose to punctuate his point. “So let's keep moving before one of those creatures realizes we're in their territory or some shit.”

This place is so beautiful, overgrown without ponies, wildlife running free. But hidden in that beauty, is something deadly isn't there Pink? I looked at her and she was shivering, huddled up in the corner of my vision wrapped in a blanket fort. She nodded and zipped up her blanket fort to hide there.

At that exact moment, a dumpster flew out of an alleyway just in front of us, and smashed into the vine encrusted wall. It crumpled like a tin can and centuries-old garbage smashed with it onto the moss covered street. We all jumped, there wasn't a pip on my E.F.S. Everyone dashed to take a look. Nothing there, nothing at all. Everyone stayed tense , weapons drawn. We waited for nearly two full minutes in dead silence for what had thrown the garage can at such high speed. You don’t want to go looking for whatever does something like that, you prepare in case it’s looking for you.

“I think we should probably look for somewhere secure to bed down for the night.” My suggestion cut the silence. We exchanged silent nods of agreement, Jackal included, as each of us spread out to look at the various store fronts and buildings. One of them had to be safe, secure and accessible. Many of them were overgrown with vines and trees. I noticed a bush with pretty white flowers on it and started to approach when a metal claw grabbed my flank.

“Stop there little pony. Don't be stupid and touch those. Bushes with flowers on them will knock you out, then start to seed inside you. I've seen ponies and dragons turned into plant food by their seeds. Feelers or something sense you and shoot you with a cloud of pollen that puts you out.

They keep pollinating you to keep that way while using your for food.” I stared at him, wondering how something that beautiful would be so deadly. Nyota coughed and hit his chest as if trying to spit out the flower he ate earlier. Chifundo and Quick Stitch gave solemn nods. I thought I even saw Chifundo giving a prayer under his breath.

Wow, even the flowers wanna kill me here in the future.

Scopola snickered, “I wonder what drugs I could make out of those flowers!” I turned to her and wasn’t sure if I wanted to hit her or hug her for that comment.

I walked up to a convenience store, its windows all crushed by thick bark covered vines that formed solid walls preventing entry. A door was still there, and a quick test proved its lock was too. My hoof kicked something.A small device with a couple of very thin long prongs similar to the screwdriver I'd modified. I picked up the object only to have Alguacil's claw snatch it from me.

“Hey! Nice find, kid, this here is an autopicker. We can use it to get this door open.” Alguacil pushed me aside, grinding my hooves over the stone stairs ‘til I was on the road pavement, stumbling in my heavy armor. Our companions gathered from where they were searching for a way to get in any other structure as Alguacil worked the autopicker. I noticed old dried blood on the storefront entrance. It had blended with the muddy brown paint, more than any pony could survive losing.

“Alguacil, are we sure this is a good idea?” I asked hesitantly, Nyota gave me a worried look as Quick Stitch took out his flame pistol. Chifundo walked up to the door, his rifle in hand before laying down and bracing to use his new larger caliber hunting rifle. The same rifle I had found in the guard tower almost a month ago, now modified for his use with a scope and sleek new bolt. Jackal stood behind Alguacil trying to give him pointers and Scopola Mina pulled out a Magical Energy rifle with her magic, floating it nearby. A brand new looking AER-7 infantry light assault gun at that.

There was a loud click behind us and we all turned to see the door easing open. The silence and tension were shattered by the loudest alarm I'd ever heard. My E.F.S. lit up like a Heart's Warming Tree, except all the lights were red. Panic welled up inside as we scrambled through the door, towards some of the red dots. “Sunrise, find the terminal and turn that alarm off!” Quick Stitch called out to me as my friends and Jackal moved to bar the door with their bodies.

Massive slams of some creature on the other side threatened to break the metal door down and left dents in it. This was a medium sized grocery story, a Whinny's Needs. I recognized it from before the Stables. These had most everything one could need at hours after midnight; food, chems, tape, office stuff, and even beer. My nostalgia was shocked back by another slam into the door as my body kicked in to race behind the clear counter.

I found a terminal on there along with three speakers on the ceiling broadcasting the alarm. Another slam and the door whined as metal started to strain. I tried to login to the terminal and it asked for a password. A posted note drifted down onto my hoof, flipping it over there was a passcode and username provided. User: Clerk 002, Password: 12345Six. At least they were creative with the six.

I hammered the keys as fast as my hooves could move and saw the disengage alarm command hitting it first. The pounding to get in stopped and the red lights muddled around outside. My head hit the counter with a sigh of relief. “That could have been worse.” Jackal and Nyota at the same time patted my head while the group spread out to search the room we were in. It was small, just three isles including the ones along the walls. I clicked on my PipBuck light as I pulled back to my side of the counter away from our group. My hoof covered my mouth failing to stifle my squeal.

You would think that eventually I would get used to skeletons and dead bodies but no, I will never get used to it. Nyota, Alguacil, and Jackal were over the counter to see the pony skeleton in the powder blue Whinny's uniform. They all looked at me with stares that could kill. The clamoring to get in resumed and the door whined while the walls echoed with banging of some sort of claws and hooves. The racket was deafening and we all looked in every direction to try to see where something would come in. My shotgun was out, bit in my mouth while Nyota and Jackal held the door closed. Chifundo was on the counter rifle braced, Scopola Mina her laser rifle out and my E.F.S. screamed with lines in red in all directions.

This was going to be a very long night.

Level Up Status - 88% to 9

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Sunrise Splatter Art, now available