Nobody's dick's that long, not even Long Dick Johnson, and he had a fucking long dick. Thus, the name.

The following morning, I found that I still couldn't sleep. My body and my mind were both tired, but I still remained restless.

Shadow Hoof was still passed out, and he hadn't woken up in the middle of the night to puke. I had a strong feeling that the way he felt last night was all in his head. Newbie...

I had read through two books off his shelf by the time the sun was up. One of which was a cookbook for the wasteland. I wanted to try these recipes sometime. They sounded good...

The other was a pre-war fiction piece; Daring Do. Great series. I hadn't read this one yet, and it was a shame I didn't know the rest of the title. The cover was pretty damaged...

I didn't really have any other reason to stick around for now, so I got up, filled a cup of water, put it next to his bed, and left his place, making sure to lock the office up behind me. He'd wake up when he was ready.

I pulled out a cigarette, put it to my lips, and lit the end as I made my way back to our room. Para and Fluky were still probably asleep. As for Petiole... Well... did ghouls even sleep?

By the time I got to the door, my cigarette was three quarters away from done. I pressed the smoldering end against the doorframe outside our room until it was out, then consumed whatever remained.

Hurk!

Still... still tasted better than tentacles... Fuck, I should have let that cool down a bit...

I winced as I opened the door, feeling it travel down to my stomach.

The two of them were still fast asleep, snuggled up close to each other.

Petiole wasn't anywhere to be seen, however.

I stepped inside, gently closing the door behind me. My equipment was still on the floor, next to the bed. The least I could do was take a shift on patrol and earn us some more caps. And so I began to slip into my barding with a new goal for a portion of the day.

By the time I was about halfway armored up, there was a light knock on the door. I finished getting my hooves in the appropriate slots so I didn't trip or stumble on my way to the entrance.

I cracked it open to see a full set of NCR ranger armor standing outside. It turned its head a little, looking directly at me.

"Charger." Omegas said with a nod. Agh... It'd take some time getting used to the voice of ghouls...

"Oh. It's you." I widened the door a bit and poked my head out. "Glad to see Petiole hasn't killed you."

He nodded again. "Speaking of which... Is he around?"

"Sorry, no. I haven't seen him all morning. Or most of last night, for that matter."

"Hm... Guess he left sooner than I expected."

"Left?" I raised a brow, opening the door all the way. "Left where?"

"Nothing to worry about, I assure you. He's just taking care of the ghoul infestation at the checkpoint. Volunteered for it. And seeing as ferals don't attack other ghouls... he sounded perfect for the job." He began to study my armored body before looking back up at me. "What's the occasion?"

"Oh." I smiled faintly. "I figured you'd want someone to do some patrol duty. I was willing to pitch in and do my part."

"That's thoughtful of you," he started quickly. "But no. Right now, we don't need anymore help."

I froze at his response. By my understanding, you could never have too much help... Now I just felt like I... wasn't wanted...

"If you want to catch up with Petiole, I'm sure you'll come across him on the road." He started to turn and walk away.

"What gives, man?" I asked aloud, stepping out and closing the door behind me.

He stopped, but didn't look back. "Have you ever been used, Charger?"

What... what type of question was that...?

"Yes..." I spoke softly, lowering my head a bit. "What of it?"

"How did you feel when it happened?"

"I felt... unimportant. A tool. Like I didn't belong..."

He turned and looked back at me finally. "I assume you didn't like it."

"Obviously..." I deadpanned.

"Then I suggest you leave. You and your friends. Take that radio with you, and stay away from Rivet. Stay away from the NCR. They're just going to try and use you."

"For what?" I raised a brow, tilting my head to the side a little.

"They want you to try and find the bunker again, so that they can wipe it out and take it over."

"So what?" I said, frowning. "Even if I knew where it was, I wouldn't stop them from taking it for themselves." I paused, then added on a softer note. "... So long as they didn't kill any of the unicorns there..."

"I imagine that after that, some with power would try and get you to give up the battery. At first, it might start with trying to buy it off you with caps or favors. Perhaps both. But after a while, they'd start to grow restless. Desperate. And so they'd start trying to frame you for things that the NCR frowns upon. And if that never worked, then they'd kill you and your friends. See, that's the thing about greed. Ponies think they're safe from it, but it's like a virus. No one is invulnerable from its effects. It can drive ponies to do things they'd never dreamt of doing."

"So, where does that leave you?" I replied coldly.

He paused for a few seconds before replying, staring behind that red, glowing visor that stayed fixated on my eyes. "I'm just trying to do the right thing. Most of the NCR is full of good hearted ponies, but every so often, there's one with more self interest. Even if they say it's for the good of the NCR."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I've killed a few of them in my time. It always comes down to the same thing in the end... Greed." He turned back around and started to leave. "Best of luck to you and your people, Charger. It was nice meeting you. I don't expect us to ever meet again."

"You're wrong, by the way." I called out, to which Omegas turned around, awaiting a further response. "About greed." I stepped forward. "Granted, it's not very common. Especially nowadays. But I believe that there still are truly good ponies out there somewhere, with wills of Tungstian." I felt a smile creeping on my lips.

He chuckled in his raspy, ghoul voice as he shook his head softly. But that only made my smile short lived, gave me a clenched jaw, and made my skin crawl. Blegh...

"If there are, then this world will devour them, assuming it hasn't already. In my eyes, everyone carries greed like lungs carry oxygen. It's inevitable. Greed is a means of survival."

Okay, now he was starting to sound like White Noise...

"Tell me something, Charger. When you were about to go help us with patrol duty, what were you really doing it for? The protection of others? Or the promise of caps?"

...

... I guess I was doing it for myself, wasn't I...?

My face seemed to wear the answer he was searching for, cause he continued.

"Exactly. Sometimes, we don't think about what we're doing. Even if it seems like we're doing something good and true, there's always a part of us that is doing it for personal gain. Payment, praise, or even to feel better, it doesn't matter. It's greed. And greed is a psychological virus that has infected this world far before the bombs ever dropped."

I hung my head down at the ghoul's... surprisingly wise, yet super depressing words.

"Thank you for everything you did, Charger. Pass it on to your friends."

With that, he turned and left.

"Para..." I said quietly as I nudged him. He groaned in response. "Para, wake up..."

"Five more... hours..."

"No, Para." I nudged his side with my hoof harder, and he cracked open his eyes, looking up at me, clearly tired. "We should leave..."

"What for?" He started to sit up, but stopped himself when Fluky hugged him tighter, pressing her ear against his chest. He looked back up at me with confusion in his eyes.

"I just... think we can do better elsewhere, in terms of living. I don't want to be in a motel any longer. After that motel in Saddle, they've grown tiresome. Need something fresh."

"I dunno, this place kinda grows on you after a while." He smiled faintly, to which I gave him a roll of my eyes.

"If I see another motel, it'll be too soon. I'm leaving, Para. You can join me if you want, but either way, I'm gone..."

We stared at each other for a short while in silence, until I moved in for a gentle embrace. I whispered in his ear before placing a soft kiss on his cheek. "Goodbye, Para... I had fun."

He didn't hug back, but instead, replied. "I don't know about Go Fish here, but where you go, I go too." I felt him nuzzle my neck affectionately, and I closed my eyes at his touch, before opening them and letting go.

"Go Fish?" I raised a brow, to which he regarded Fluky.

"Blackjack." He stated with a proud smile.

"... You do know that's not really Blackjack, right...?"

He scoffed and rolled his eyes, widening his smile. "Well DUH."

"Kinda hard to tell if you're being serious or not sometimes."

He shrugged as he looked up at me, then nudged Fluky gently. She groaned, cracked her eyes open, and blinked a few times, before studying her surroundings. "Waz goin' on...?" She muttered in a slurred speech.

"We're leaving, Fluky." I stated casually. "Do you want to come with?"

"Yeah, yeah..." She sighed as she stood up, stretching her limbs and cracking her neck. "I'm up, I'm up..." She squinted up at me, frowning. "Where are we going...?"

"Somewhere safer." I hope...

"Did something happen here?" She asked in alarm; her eyes growing wide with worry.

"No. Just... I don't trust some here... I don't trust Rivet..."

"Ribbit?" Para grinned. "Who's Ribbit? His name sounds like a frog."

"Ribbit..." Fluky giggled softly. "Ribbit, ribbit."

"Ribbit, ribbit." Para joined in, but never let out so much as a chuckle. He never laughed, now that I thought about it... Odd...

"Ribbit!" Fluky started hopping around the room, sitting on her haunches after each jump to imitate a frog.

Para started getting into it as well...

Sweet Celestia, I was surrounded by idiots!

"I didn't say ribbit!" I called out, looking at the two of them.

Para looked at me, tilting his head curiously. "Ribbit?"

"RiVET!" I put emphasis behind his name as I put a hoof to my temple. I was already developing a headache, and I hadn't even been awake for an hour. I knew this wasn't from the alcohol, either. Not this time, anyways.

"Yeah, ribbit!" Para grinned again.

I let out a resigned sigh and shook my head. "Alright, whatever... Just pack your things. I wanted us out the door five minutes ago.

Fluky nodded, stood straight, and started packing her belongings into her saddle bags. Afterwards, she slid into a black, leather jacket that was just her size. She must have gotten it when I was away at the depot. It looked good on her, though. She looked punk, though I suppose the whole Blackjack body paint helped with that a lot. I just hoped her appearance wouldn't lead to any problems...

Then I saw her pick up a multi-colored launcher of some sort. I hadn't seen anything like it before, but it looked like it could certainly pack a punch.

She hoisted it on her back and slid some cartridges into her bags.

Well, so long as she had something to defend herself with... I was okay with that. Just hoped she knew the dangers of not just guns in general, but explosives especially.

Para got dressed, packed up his gear, and we started to head out.

Upon opening the door, we were greeted with a grumpy Rivet, who frowned down at me specifically.

"What gives? Why are you leaving?"

"How did you-" Oh. Right. Griffins have good hearing... Forgot about that.

"So what... I save your life, and you don't trust me now? That's that?" He began to glare. "What the fu-"

A pebble struck him in the beak, catching him by surprise, but only for a brief second. He stared Para down. "Do not tempt me..." He turned back to me; his eyes locked with mine.

"I can't trust someone that only protects me if they're getting paid for it. You're greedy. Like you said, I'm nothing more than bottle caps to you."

He sighed as he pinched the space between his closed eyes with his talon. "Look, kid... You go out there, chances are, you're going to die. If the ferals don't get to you, or the hell hounds, or the radiation, or some other monster in the wasteland, then Bristle or Fester will."

"That's a chance I'm willing to take. You're not getting the anomaly, and you're not helping the NCR get it."

"The anomaly?" He raised a brow. "Screw the anomaly! I'm just trying to look out for you."

"Yeah, for your own personal gain." I poked his chest with a hoof as I glared back, stepping forward. To my surprise, he actually backed up a little. "Kiss my ass."

...

I was genuinely expecting Para to throw a pebble at me for that. Instead, he spoke as my backside began to feel a little lighter.

"Well... if you insist..."

Then I felt my tail get raised... and a set of lips on my-OH FUCK ME!

I jumped from the surprising, yet arousing contact. He... didn't... kiss the flank...

He went straight for the hole...

... And he didn't just kiss...

I looked back at him in complete shock after feeling his tongue to see him grinning at me, giving me a quick wink. How did he manage to remove that part of my armor so quickly!?

"Para, why!?"

"Not Para." He stuck his tongue out playfully, and a second later, he blinked a few times, then shook his head before looking around, as if he had just woken up. He finally turned to me and smiled.

"Hiya."

"H-hi..." I gave him an odd look before re-attaching the armor and hesitantly turned back to Rivet. "I-If I find you following us, I'm going to shoot you..."

He stood there in silence, staring at me with a blank expression.

"Come on..." I continued as I walked past, leaving him to his thoughts. "Let's blow this popsicle stand..."

Para gasped as he followed close behind. "Popsicles!? I want popsicles!"

"There's no popsi-" I began to shout, before muttering to myself. "Why do I even bother...?"

We were back on the empty stretch of highway, heading south to the checkpoint. When we caught up with Petiole, we'd discuss where to go next.

Personally, I wanted to go somewhere far away from here. Somewhere out of Bristle's reach. Or Fester's, for that matter. Hoofington was a pretty good distance away, but that meant finding a mode of transportation. And even if we found one and went there, we'd still have to deal with the war that was happening. And while I was already going to die in about a year, I couldn't jeopardize my friend's safety. Not anymore than I already have.

Hoofington was out of the question. At least, for now, it was.

I didn't really know many areas outside of the bunker still, so I'd start thinking on it again when we were reunited with Petiole.

"I can't believe you did that, Para." Fluky said with what I could assume was a grimace. "That was nasty."

He raised a brow as he regarded her. "What did I do?"

"You seriously don't remember? You-"

"-Don't need to know." I interrupted, looking at her and shaking my head slowly. "It doesn't matter."

"Look..." She resumed. "All I'm saying is that he complained about you wanting to eat a dead radroach because of 'dental hygiene,' and he goes and does something like that?" She shuddered under her breath. "Blegh..."

"If I recall correctly, you were right there with him in the complaints." I regarded her coolly, and she hung her head a bit.

"Well... it is pretty gross..."

"Hey, it's good eatin'." I snapped, looking ahead once more. "It's nice to expand the taste buds every so often. You should try it sometime."

"Gonna start eating other ponies, while you're at it?" She said in a spiteful tone. Here it comes... "Or are you just gonna shoot them without finding out who they are?"

I kept my head forward, and my mouth shut. I know I fucked up with Saddle... and so I wasn't going to defend myself.

Besides... she had opened up to me a lot more, compared to how she was when we first met. I wanted to think of that as progress.

Hours later, down the road, we were starting to pass the donut shop that I had rested in with the caravan not too long ago. Fluky was on my back, as she was starting to complain about her legs cramping up from all the walking, about an hour ago.

Music played softly on the radio through our trek. Some of the songs, I had never heard before, but some, I had heard from before I came across Para and the UP-what's-it. Battery thing. Some were pre war, some were modern day, some were interdimensional... apparently.

I looked over at Para and poked his shoulder. He looked back at me, smiling proud.

"How's your head?" I asked.

"Hurts less." He said with a firm nod. "Headache is still there, but it's subsiding."

I didn't know what to make of that. Didn't know if it meant Happy was coming back and winning his body over again, or if he was giving up, and Tuner was winning. Still... Para was hurting less, and that was a small relief.

"Can we rest here?" Fluky asked, pointing at the building as we were starting to pass by it. "All this trekking is tiring."

"Excuse me?" I looked back at her from behind the visor of my helmet. "You're not the one covered head to hoof in heavy armor that's been gradually turning into a furnace for the past three to four hours. You can't complain about being tired from this..." I paused, then added more. "And it doesn't help that the Saddle fires are making everything uncomfortably warm out here. It's too hot, but you don't hear me complaining."

"Except now..." She muttered grumpily.

"Only because you are." I said with a faint smirk, looking ahead. "We're gonna keep going. Petiole shouldn't be that far now."

Suddenly, I felt Para blowing on the side of my cheek. I looked over, and he continued drawing in air, then blowing it back at me.

"Para..." I backed away from him a little. "What are you doing?" Weirdo...

He grinned suddenly. "Oh, you said it was really hot out here, so I figured I'd give you a blow job to help you cool down."

A BLOW WHAT!?

"P-Para!" I balked. "I don't think you know what that means! Don't... don't say stuff like that!" I felt myself blushing now. Damn it... I mean, getting a bj from that sexy stallion sounded nice and all, but... not in front of the filly! Agh, my suit was getting tighter!

"What's a blow job mean?" Fluky asked, to which I swung my head back at her, a nervous smile creeping up on my features.

"Don't say that. Please, don't say that..." I laughed nervously as I turned even more red than I already was.

"Why? Is it a bad word?"

"N-no... Not really... But... Fluky, you're too young to know... what that means..."

Birds, bees, trains, and tunnels...

"Unless you're a mare from Stable 99." Tuner stated with amusement after the song had come to a close. "Or Stable 89. Though, now it's referred to as 69. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge."

A look of dread grew on the fillies' features as she regarded Para's radio. He didn't really seem to process what just happened. Almost as if he hadn't heard Tuner.

Fluky turned back to me and whispered. "Did the radio just...?"

I nodded and put the tip of my hoof to my lips. "Keep quiet about it..." I spoke in whispers. "I don't want a whole lot of people knowing... I'll explain later..."

She hesitantly nodded and stared back at the radio questioningly.

Para was still clueless as to what was going on. He didn't even seem to be paying attention to our conversation.

"You know what...?" I turned back to the donut shop. "Let's catch a break here. I have to check on something anyways."

"Right there with ya!" Para beamed at me as he trotted for the building.

"Para, be careful!" I hissed. "Last time we were here, there were raiders!" My ears folded back. "... Sort of..."

"Neighbors? Here?" He said as he continued to trot. "If they're having a little get-together, I want in!"

Erngh... Damn it, PARA!

"Para, wait!" I started to go after him once I spotted a few reds on my E.F.S. in the same direction.

"With a smile and a trot. A hop to the top. A tune that never stops, and a bunny that never flops..."

"Para!" I began to run faster.

He burst through the front door and waved his fores over his head, shouting in a singing voice. "IT'S PA-PA-PA-PARA!"

Several of whatever occupied the reds screeched as they started to bundle up, going for him. He looked back at them and waved happily.

"Hiya!"

Deva Vu, anyone...?

"PARA, MOVE!" I shouted, charging full speed ahead. Fluky clung tight to my neck as I brought the rifle forward. My rear hoof burst with electricity in fear of him getting hurt. Or worse...

He looked back at me, keeping his smile. The next second, he was thrown to the ground and pinned by two radhogs that snarled and tried biting at him.

My hooves obtained purchase against the asphalt road as I stopped and aimed ahead. One was just about to sink its jagged teeth into his neck as he laughed, going on about how lovable they were. I quickly jumped into SATS to buy me some time. Time slowed down, and after targeting its head, I successfully drove a few rounds through its skull. I wasn't too worried about the other one just yet, as it wasn't close to ripping into him. But it was trying.

Or, at least it was, until it saw its friend die. It turned and growled at me.

That was the last thing it ever did, before three rounds shot down its throat and came out the back of its head.

As time began to speed up once more, Para got up, brushed himself off, grabbed his stetson, and placed it back atop his head before looking down at them. "Awwww... They're sleeping!"

Damn it, Para...

One more stepped out of the building. A big one... Bigger than any of us, combined. I was surprised it managed to squeeze through the window. I could only imagine it was the mother...

"Para, get out of there!" I shouted, before aiming at the creature and firing.

It screamed as bullets dug into its hide. But it wasn't enough. These were no more than the pokes of needles to it.

Para shrugged and trotted away happily as the beast went to focus on me.

"Fluky, I need you to run..." I muttered behind the bit.

"What?" She asked in alarm.

"Get off!" I blurted, switching to full auto and letting out a stream of lead, bloodying its face as it charged us.

Fluky hopped off at once and made a run for it, away from me.

The massive rat was about to run me down and stomp me out before I jumped to the side and started to make a break for it. The bullets seemed only to anger it...

It came to a stop and started to swing around. The last thing I saw before I was launched across the highway and rolling across the hard, cracked pavement was a tail about my size, swinging at me.

I was getting really tired of being knocked around like this... First, a giant beetle... and now, a giant radhog... What next?

Something had cracked inside. Something close to my gut... My ribcage felt like it had turned to glass, only so it could shatter. I coughed and wheezed, looking at the fight. If it could even be called that anymore...

The distinct taste of iron coated my tongue, and the warm substance leaked from my lips, forming a puddle on the floor. Spittle shot out as I coughed and struggled for breath.

Fluky was on the run, and Para just stood off to the side, watching her get chased at a distance. Could he be anymore useful...?

I felt the health potions in my pipbuck tending to my injuries, but it was taking all its energy just to repair my broken ribs and stop the bleeding. It felt horrible feeling a part of me break on the inside. It felt just as bad feeling it the other way around. I wish it had given me something for the pain...

I noticed a figure standing atop the roof of the shop, looking down at us through the scope of a sniper rifle. His armored form was lit up with a red LED.

Petiole...

Thank Celestia...

He aimed down at the beast and placed a round to the side of its head, but even then, that didn't seem to do much in terms of damage.

It did, however, turn its focus on him in a cry of rage. It started for the building, looking up at him. He placed another shot to its frontal lobe... or, at least, he tried. The hide was too thick, even for him...

It raised up on its rear legs, able to reach him quite easily now. He backed up, firing one more shot before he dropped down through the sun roof. Running never seemed to be an option for him. He seemed rather calm, considering his situation.

The radhog started making an attempt to squeeze through the window frame, this time, to get back in.

Suddenly, Fluky ran around the corner of the shop; her launcher hoisted over her shoulder, and the grip in her mouth. She fired a ball of red light at it, and with it, came a loud whistling, as if a bomb was ready to drop to the surface and destroy all.

Upon impact, the ball of light expanded into various flashing colors, such as red, blue, green, yellow, and white. With that, came an ear deafening boom of gunpowder detonating in what was once a small, compact, concentrated container.

The animal howled and screeched as its hide burned from the blast, thrashing about and swinging its claws at the air wildly. It turned towards me, and that's when I saw it...

She had taken out its eyes. There was nothing left of its left, and the right was dangling out of its socket, coated in red.

All the while, she opened the chamber much like a double-barreled shotgun would be opened, started loading in another mortar, then slammed it shut, aiming back at the beast.

Three friendly blips appeared on my E.F.S., directly ahead. They were bunched up together, but I didn't see anyone apart from Fluky and Para. Petiole's blip was still there, but I could't see him in the building from where I lied.

I continued to look around, and upon looking up, I saw three figures flying, but only two had wings.

One, a pegasus, another, a rather familiar dragon...

The third was being carried by the two, covered head to hoof in a set of power armor.

Damn it... Not them...

As they flew over, they released Destrier, who came plummeting down atop the beast. He aimed his cannons down and blasted it away with heavy, thunderous firepower. His guns seemed to do the trick, cause blood was gushing out with each shot, drenching his armor in red.

Tezu came in for another fly-by, breathing hellfire down on the animal's head. Thunderwing followed shortly after, letting out a barrage of lasers against where Tezu hit.

It screeched, growled, and thrashed around at the pain the three were delivering to it. Destrier fell off its back, but quickly recovered. Well, as quickly as one could in power armor. He aimed his cannons at its head, continuing to fire. It collapsed on its stomach, crying out in agony. Getting weaker by the second.

By the time his guns were run dry and in need of reloading, there was a ditch in the side of its head, exposing a brain now turned to mush.

The creature had fallen, and the team looked around at my party.

Petiole stepped out, reloading his rifle with ease. His LEDs turned green.

Thunderwing fluttered her wings as she made her way to me, before making a soft landing. She held out a hoof, looking down at me with a faint, warm smile. I grabbed it, and she helped me up. My body still hurt... But I wasn't dying anymore.

"Good thing we came when we did." She started. "Would've been a radhog's dinner, otherwise."

"I didn't ask for help..." I replied coldly, before glaring. "Who sent you?"

Her smile faded almost instantly. "Omegas told us you and your friends left, and why. We're not asking you to go back to Virtue."

"Good. Cause we're not going back."

"I wouldn't expect it of you." She smiled again, giving me a short nod. "It's just, you helped us. I figured we'd return the favor. That, and I imagined Petiole would have cleaned out the checkpoint by now. So someone had to pay him for a hard day's work." She reached into her saddle bags and pulled out a pouch as he started to make his way towards us. By the time he was passing by her, she tossed it to him. He let it strike his side and land on the ground; rattling the contents within.

He stopped and stared down at the bag. His LEDs turned blue as he looked up at her, then down at the bag again. "What was that for?"

"Your payment." She replied simply.

Without saying a word, he grabbed and pocketed it. His LED went green again.

"Well, my group and I are gonna take a break at Donut Joe's for a bit, before we hit the road again." I regarded Petiole. "We'll need to discuss our next destination."

"Why?" He tilted his head to the side.

"We're not staying here. I don't trust the NCR..." I looked back at Thunderwing, gritting my teeth at the realization I was in front of NCR company. "No offense..."

"None taken." She smiled and shook her head. "I'll admit, the NCR has problems. Maybe not as much as other factions, but there are still problems, as there are with any other organization or establishment. Nothing's perfect."

"Let me guess..." I started with a deadpan. "Omegas gave you his opinion on greed?"

She laughed softly. "Oh, you have no idea..."

"So, where are we going?" Thunderwing asked as we sat at one of the dining tables in the building. Destrier chose to stand, however.

My helmet was off, resting on the table the majority of us sat around.

"My friends and I are going to decide that." I stated, looking at her with a mild annoyance. "I didn't invite any of you to come along."

"Ah, but why not? I could use a little adventure. Get away from Virtue for a bit."

I sighed and shook my head. "Look... you're all nice. But I don't want any of you following us. It's nothing personal. But you're with the NCR, and I'm trying to get away from it."

"We don't work for the NCR." Tezu stated, regarding me. "We work for Omegas."

"Who is working for the NCR." I noted quickly.

"And who went against their orders when he told you to get out of Virtue, I might add." Thunderwing filled in, knitting her brows. "If that doesn't earn some level of trust, I don't know what will."

Blaze stumbled in through the doorway, gasping and panting. He wiped some sweat off his brow as he leaned against the counter, taking in as much oxygen as he could as he removed the face mask. It was the first time I saw him without it, but honestly, he looked just fine without it. Well... apart from the massive scar that traveled across his lips from top to bottom.

"Sorry I'm... late... to the party..." He said between deep, labored breaths.

Tezu smirked as he shook his head. "I told you that you wouldn't be able to keep up."

"Hey, I'm... only a few... minutes... late..."

Tezu rolled his eyes and pointed him to a seat at the table. The moment he sat down, I caught an aroma of sweat. I did my best to not show disgust at the nasty scent, but I couldn't exactly blame him, either. Hell, he ran what would take four hours to walk. That was actually very impressive!

Still didn't help the fact that he smelled like the locker room at the bunker, after a full day of PT.

"How did you run all this way?" I asked, regarding him.

He looked over and smirked, still panting as he removed his helmet. "Ask... Tezu." Then he winked.

Uh... Ask Tez-Oh!

My face must have turned bright red from his response, cause they were both laughing.

They must have been having A LOT of sex to build that kind of stamina up! Made me kinda jealous, actually...

Destrier put a hoof down on the table. "Enough chatter."

Everyone turned and looked at him, but he seemed mainly focused on me. "Where do we go?"

"Why are you looking at me?" I asked, before looking at everyone else. Okay, now all eyes were on me... "What?"

"Well, you do seem like the leader of your group." Thunderwing stated, nudging my shoulder with a hoof. "Makes sense to ask the one in charge... Charger."

Wait, why was I the one in charge, all of a sudden?

I looked to Petiole, but he just shrugged. "Sorry, Charger. But you are the leader here."

There was no sorry about it, honestly. I didn't have a problem being the leader. I spent my life being told what to do. I spent my life being used. I wasn't in control.

But now I was... and that felt... invigorating...

I felt powerful. Like I had meaning.

But it made me wonder why I was elected as the leader of my group. I was bound to make mistakes along the way. I had to plan carefully, and everything had to be well thought out. I wanted as little mistakes as possible... And the idea of making mistakes that hurt others made me anxious...

But... I was in charge...

I was in charge.

I was in charge!

I nodded before turning to the rest of the party. I tapped my forehoof against the table's scratchy surface a couple times as I started to speak. "I'm not familiar with the surface. I've been underground up until a few weeks or so ago. I know about Hoofington, Manehatten, New Pegasus, and Canterlot. And I'll say it right now; Canterlot is off limits. Period. So suggestions are welcome. Anywhere far from here, preferably. I want to get away from Fester and my chapter."

"What about Vanhoover?" Tezu asked.

"Vanhoover?" I asked flatly, raising a brow. I couldn't tell if he was joking or not... "That's Steel Ranger territory. I'm not going back there."

"Not that Vanhoover. I'm talking about the one up north of Saddle."

Blaze nodded in agreement. "That's not ranger territory. So we circle around Saddle and make our way up."

"I don't know... I don't really wanna go back that way..." I muttered, looking down. Fluky seemed to share the same sentiments as I. She was hugging her teddy bear close to her chest, and her ears were folded back as she hung her head down. I couldn't see her eyes past her mane.

"Well, in that case, there's Whinniapolis, Trottingham, Appleloosa, Fillydelphia, blah, blah, blah, shooba, dooba, bop, glop, chop, clippity clop..." Thunderwing said with a dismissive twist of her hoof as she rolled her eyes carelessly. "It'd help if we had a map, honestly."

I looked at Para's radio for a few seconds, before Destrier noticed.

"What are you thinking?"

"Para, I need your radio really quick."

He nodded happily and handed it over. I grabbed it and stood up, making my way to the restroom.

"Where are you going?" Thunderwing asked, raising a brow.

"Thinking."

"With the radio?"

"Don't question it..." Petiole filled in.

I closed the door behind me and locked it for good measure, before sitting down on my haunches, still holding the radio.

"Alright, Tuner. What do you got for me?"

"Hm?" He started. "Oh... Right. Sorry. I was paying attention to what was happening in Hoofington. Some crazy shit's been going down."

"So I keep hearing..." I said with a roll of my eyes. "Where should we go?"

"Well, I know where I'd go. Back downtown on Charger's ass." He chuckled as I clenched my jaw. "You taste wonderful..."

"So you possessed Para's body and did that...?"

"Ah, relax Charger. He doesn't know anything about it. I mean, Happy does... and let me tell you, he was anything but happy about it."

"No more." I snapped, glaring down at the radio as I set it down. "No more possessing Para, or anyone else, for that matter. Using his body to do shit like that...? That's just another form of molesting, isn't it?"

"Well, I didn't hear him saying no." Tuner replied with amusement in his voice. I felt the anger inside me start to boil. My hoof started to build up a charge... "Alright, alright... Calm down... I thought you would have liked it... I won't do it anymore..."

"Better not, Tuner... I won't stand for shit like that..." My charge was starting to die down a little, but it still lingered, all the same. "Now... where should we go?"

"You're asking me? I thought you were the one in charge."

"Sometimes even leaders need a push in the right direction. So where would you suggest we go?"

"Hm... let me take a look around. You're looking for an escape from your past, right?"

"Right."

There were a few moments of silence before he began. "Okay, well... this might not be what you're looking for, seeing as it's definitely not a good place to stay. But there is something there that I believe will do wonders to your cause... it's infested with ferals, but I suppose we could cut across the river and go to Portlandia."

I sighed, planting my face in my hooves.

"No, no... Hear me out." Tuner said quickly. "If the Steel Rangers are trying to find you, and they know that you know that you're being hunted, which they do, then they'd naturally assume you'd try and get as far away from here as you could. The last thing they'd expect is for you to be right next door to them. This gives you the advantage."

My ears perked up and I looked down at the radio, smiling faintly. "You know... when you put it like that, it actually does sound like a good plan... kinda. What's there?"

"Ferals. Lots of 'em."

Pfft... "We can handle ferals." Especially since we had Petiole. "What else is there?"

"A weapon. One that could prove extremely useful to you. It's a prototype, so finding it anywhere else is highly unlikely."

I nodded. This was starting to sound better... "Anything else?"

"... My past..."

For once, he actually sounded somber. He not only sounded sincere, but it felt like he was, too. Like I was seeing him for who he really was. No mask to hide behind...

"You used to live there?"

"Yeah... Some apartment complex in the city. It's still standing, but there's a lot of feral activity surrounding it."

"Do you want to go there...?"

"Y-yeah... Plus, there's that weapon... And anything else that's there might turn a profit. But please... be careful... The last thing I want is for someone to get hurt because of me. Guess I kinda already screwed that up with Para though, huh?"

I laid a hoof on the top of the radio, caressing its frame. "We all make mistakes, Tuner. I, of all ponies, know what I'm talking about. It's up to us to learn from those mistakes and better ourselves."

"Thanks, Charger..." He said softly. "You're a good pony..."

"I'm not so sure about that..." I stood up and grabbed the radio. "But thanks, all the same..."

I unlocked the door and stepped out. Everyone was still sitting at the table, discussing a variety of locations and what they were like, according to others in the party. The one I was hearing about currently was a personal experience.

Thunderwing's experience, back in the Mojave.

It didn't sound like she wanted to go there. I couldn't blame her...

"Hey." I stepped forward, catching everyone's attention. "I have an idea where we could go. Well... kinda. Not exactly a permanent solution."

"Well, spit it out, then." Tezu said impatiently.

"Portlandia."

"Portlandia?" Blaze sat up straight. "I thought you were trying to get out of this place!"

"Think about it. The Steel Rangers know I'd try and get as far from here as possible, right? So they'd send search parties far and wide to hunt me down and get the anomaly. I don't think they'd expect me to stay right under their nose."

Destrier turned to Thunderwing. "He proves a valid point... But it's risky."

"Yeah, well..." She started to pull out a cig from her pack. "What's life without risk?" She lit the end and took a pull off it, keeping the butt wedged between her pinions. She didn't sound too happy. I could only imagine the topic of the Mojave was to blame.

"There's something there I need. Not to mention that there's most likely some valuable loot. There's, however, a lot of feral activity there." I stated, to which Petiole sat up straight.

"I'm in."

"Knew you'd be." I said with a smile. I gave Para his radio back and sat down at the table again.

Blaze looked around at the group, clearly expecting something. But no one said or did anything. Eventually, he broke. "Seriously? No one's gonna say it? I can't be the only one thinking it..."

"Thinking what?" I asked, looking at him. He turned to me with a flat expression, then everyone else, expecting an answer. Still, none was given to him.

"Okay, maybe I am the only one thinking it..." He shook his head hard and sighed. "It's only a matter of time before they find you snooping around under their radar. Not to mention that if it isn't the Steel Rangers or Fester's raiders that kill us, then the ferals will. Even if it's not a permanent solution, that doesn't make it any less deadly. So what do we do when that time comes?"

I sighed as I pulled out my pack and smacked the top with a hoof a few times, before putting a cig to my lips, lighting up, and taking a pull off it.

"I'll come up with something..."

"Well, you best come up with something quick, cause they won't wait."

"I know that." I replied with a frown. "After this, we'll find a place to hunker down in for a bit."

"And what about the other flaws to this plan?" He continued. "We're crossing Steel Ranger and raider territory to go someplace that no one dares to go, for loot and whatever Charger needs to get that probably won't even be worth the risk!"

"Whatever we don't need, we can sell. We could always use the extra caps. And a plan is better than no plan."

Thunderwing stood up and stuck the cig in her mouth before talking. "I'm with Charger. We got what it takes. But I think we should rest a bit before we head out. Spend the rest of the day where we know it's safe."

"I second that." Tezu stated. Blaze rolled his eyes and shook his head.

I looked around, finally noticing that one of the ponies were missing from her crew. "Hey, where's Riot?"

"On his way." Destrier answered before heading to a more isolated part of the building.

"He doesn't have the stamina to move like Blaze." Tezu grinned, nudging his lover. Blaze kissed him on the cheek and smiled back, though I could tell he was still worried as all hell.

"How long have you two been together?" I asked, eyeing the cute couple.

"Five years now." Tezu replied.

Thunderwing left the table and flew through the broken sun roof. Fluky and Para went to a separate part of the building together.

"So..." Blaze raised a questioning brow, looking me over after Para and Fluky vanished to the back of the building. "Why does the filly look like Blackjack...?"

"Eh... Yeah, sorry about that... Para dyed her coat and mane. She's not in danger for looking like that, is she?"

"Not in any more danger than anyone else in the wasteland. She's too small to be the real thing, and she doesn't have cybernetics. Only an idiot would think she's the real one."

Wasn't the best of news, but... I'd take what I could get.

"So, tell me a bit about yourselves." I put both forehooves on the table between us, smiling faintly at the pair. I took another pull off the cig tucked between my lips and exhaled.

Tezu smirked. "What part of our story do you want to hear? When and how we got together? Or when I tried killing him?"

"You tried killing him?" I cocked my head to the side a little.

Blaze nodded simply. "How do you think I got this scar on my face?"

"Happened when we first met."

"And to think we were enemies at one point..." Blaze said softly, wrapping a hoof around the dragon. Tezu licked the side of his face playfully, and the pony laughed softly.

They were good together, by the looks of it. They were both happy. They loved each other. I could see it. They didn't have to say it, cause they knew it too. They carried a strong bond between each other's soul.

"Do you have anyone in your life, Charger?" Tezu asked as Blaze nuzzled his neck.

"What? Oh... No." I looked down at my helmet, running a hoof across the top of it. "Not anymore..." I took another pull off the cig and leaned back in my seat. "Didn't die as far as I know. Just... left... Was given a choice, but honestly... there was no real wrong answer." Maybe she did the right thing, after all... Petiole was right about her. She had a chance to create life, and she took it. I wasn't so sure I could be mad at her for that...

"What was her name?"

I smiled softly as I looked at the two lovers. "Snow Star."

Blaze stopped nuzzling into his neck, and the two looked at each other silently, before turning back to me.

"What?"

"Red eyes, white coat? Blue mane? Unicorn? No cutiemark?"

"Y-yeah... Why?" I sat up, my heart starting to beat rapidly. "You met her?"

"Long time ago, but yeah. She was passing through Virtue. Shadow Hoof gave her a place to stay for a while, but one night, she just left. Didn't say goodbye."

"How..." I started to choke on my words as tears threatened to break loose. "How did she look...?"

"When she first showed up? Like she traveled far. Tired... Later on, it was revealed to us that she was pregnant. We offered to let her stay and live there, but she always seemed against the idea."

Tears burned at my eyes more and more as I was fed this news. She had survived. At least, she had, long enough to get to Virtue. I still didn't know about her present conditions, but this... this was great to hear. It gave me hope that she was still out there. Alive and well.

"I'm assuming that the baby is yours?" Tezu smiled thoughtfully, to which I nodded, sobbing a little.

"Y-yeah."

He nodded back, his smile growing a little more. "Well, if we had known where she went off to, we'd tell you."

"Somewhere off east." Blaze filled in. "That's about all we know."

I nodded again, smiling with welled up tears. "Thank you. Both of you."

"Don't mention it." He looked over at his boyfriend and booped his muzzle with his own. "On that note, Blaze and I are gonna go fuck one out. Catch ya later, Charger... Unless you wanna join us..." I felt myself blushing as they both looked me over as if I were eye candy, grinning.

I smiled back. "Heh... Maybe some other time..."

Blaze and Tezu both nodded happily before the two of them took off for the back of the building.

For hours, my heart was jumping with the joy with the news that Snow Star had made it as far as Virtue. I knew it happened years ago, but that was still great news. I needed that. It meant she knew what she was doing in order to stay alive. I imagined she had to face a lot of dangers on the road. Raiders, hellhounds, radioactive zones... She knew what to avoid. At least, in order to get as far as Virtue. And that gave me hope. Hope that she was still out there.

The excitement had traveled between my legs after a while, and Thunderwing and Destrier had noticed it, when she had returned to him to talk to him about something. The pegasus was laughing, but I also saw her blushing as her eyes took brief peeks downward. Destrier was just standing there, still and silent as a statue.

I got up nervously and made my way to the restroom. I locked the door behind me and pulled out the magazine I had gotten from 32 - the one Fluky had found - and opened to the page that she had landed on a while back. Where the lucky stallion was dominating that sexy mare...

I stared at the picture for a while, feeling the heat build up inside me, before I closed my eyes and imagined it was Snow Star and I in that situation... again. It was once. It could be again. And nothing could take us away from each other again. No Firebright. No Crimson. No Bristle. We could finally be ourselves. We wouldn't have to hide our true feelings for each other anymore...

I got to work with the thought of us being in that picture after stripping myself from my gear. It had been a while since I've done this in a while, anyways. I needed a little private vacation.

About ten minutes later, there was a hot, sticky mess in the toilet. I doubt anyone was going to use it, anyways.

I panted as I sat there, smiling at the thought of me and her as I pressed my back against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. I missed her so much, but I was going to find her... She was out there.

I shook myself from my daydream and looked down to see there was a bit of a mess on myself that I needed to clean up.

Right... right. Okay... uh...

I looked around for anything that I could use to wash myself. I could only imagine the water here was radioactive, so that was a no go. And I couldn't find any toilet paper... Hm...

I reached into one of the pouches on my armor and... Ah hah! I found paper!

I pulled it out and started wiping the messy parts down, before cleaning my manhood.

I sighed happily before I looked down, and that's when I saw it...

My heart sank deep in my chest when I saw writing on the paper...

Oh... no...

I quickly opened the cum-drenched note.

'That son of a bitch got me, Iron. I've seen what happens when someone gets nicked by those nightmares from the mi-'

The rest of the note was covered in the aftermath of my excitement. Didn't matter... I knew what this note was...

I had used someone's suicide note as a means to clean up my jizz! What the fuck was wrong with me!?

I heard a knock at the door, and I quickly scrambled to hide the note.

"Charger?" Petiole asked from the other side. "Are you done in there?"

Ahhh... fuck!

I quickly unlocked the door, cracked it open, and looked at him. His LEDs were blue for some reason.

"Charger, what's going on?"

"Oh, nothing!" I smiled nervously. "Nothing wrong! Just... musta been something I ate! Yeah, something I ate! That's it!"

He pushed his forehoof against the door, but I kept it from moving any further.

"Really, I'll be okay." I said with gritted teeth. "Just... need a minute."

"I smell semen."

Damn it, Petiole!

I groaned, opened the door a bit more, and pulled him in hastily, only to close it soon after.

He looked around at the mess I had made, then down at the note between us.

"... Oh." Was all he said before looking up at me, then back down at the note, then at me again. "You know... a lot of ponies would be furious if they found out somepony had used their final thoughts as a cum rag. But not Bouncy. No, I bet she's looking down at you right now, rolling around and laughing her giggly, horny ass off."

"You're not... mad?" I asked as my ears wilted.

He shook his head. "Not in the slightest. Though, I don't know how someone could stomach such an act."

"It was... an accident..." I hung my head down, feeling more miserable by the second. "I didn't know what was on the paper before it was too late..."

"Don't let this ruin the fun you had." He replied, pulling out a small, plastic container and making his way to the toilet.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I asked with a questioning raise of a brow.

"Collecting more DNA samples off you. I keep telling you, I'm thorough."

... Okay, gross...

That was unsanitary...

"I can just give you a fresh sample later, Petiole... Don't dig one out of the toilet, that's nasty."

"I'd prefer to not wait." Aaand there he went, scraping out his samples. That was just... engh...

"Alright, you have fun with that..." I said as I began slipping back into my armor. When I was suited up, I looked back at him to find he was still at it, but his LEDs were green again. Ugh... "I'm gonna go now..."

"Mhm..." He muttered, as if he weren't really listening.

With that, I left the room and closed the door behind me, making sure the magazine was secured in my pouch.

Riot had just stepping in through the front entrance. "Sorry I'm tardy. I tried teleporting, but my horn's burnt out for the time being. I went over my limits..." He rubbed his horn gently, wincing as he did. "Fucker's giving me one bitch of a headache..."

"Need some Med-x?" Thunderwing asked, reaching into her pouch as she sat at another table.

"Wouldn't hurt." He said softly, walking over to her. She gave him a wry smile.

"Well, that is the purpose of Med-x, hun."

He chuckled softly and shook his head. "Right."

She injected him with a shot, and he sighed with relief. "That'll do it..." He sat down beside her at the table and slouched. "Fuck, it feels good to sit down again..."

"Not for me." Blaze said as he stepped up with a smirk plastered on his face. "Tezu got a bit aggressive on my ass again." He proceeded to sit down and groan softly to himself as Riot gave him a disturbed look, scooting away from him a little, closer to Thunder.

"Must you share this information?"

"Well, if no one else will listen, then who else but you? I mean... he's so big, and he carries a massive load. Wouldn't be surprised if one of these days, he fills me up completely."

"Remember when we talked about watching what you say in public matters?" Riot stared flatly. "Yeah, this is one of those moments. Not all of us are gay."

"I am." I said, stepping forward with a faint smile. "Well, bi really."

"Oh trust me." Blaze replied, looking me up and down. "Tezu and I already knew." Then he winked.

"Ugh..." Riot slammed his head against the table's surface. "Ow, damn it..." He began rubbing his head from the impact. "I walk eight hours, and I finally arrive only to hear about someone's anal fixations..."

"I remember this one time, when Destrier gave my ass a good pounding..." Thunderwing said with a smirk. "So there we were on patrol duty, and-"

"Please, Celestia... if you're merciful, kill me now!" Riot blurted, covering his ears.

Thunder, Blaze, and I all shared a laugh at Riot's misery.

"Sorry, Riot." Thunderwing said, stretching out a wing across his shoulder. "We'll stop."

"Yeah..." He muttered as he looked down, before getting up. "Think I'm just gonna... sit somewhere else now."

With that, he walked over to a separate table to keep to himself.

I couldn't help but feel bad for the joking around. "Did we do something wrong?" I asked, looking to Blaze and Thunder.

"Guessing he's still upset over his girl..." Thunder replied with a somber look.

"She's not my girl anymore!" He snapped, glaring at her with murder in his eyes.

Ouch... touchy subject?

I knew what that was like...

"Right..." She paused, looking down.

"What happened...?" I asked quietly.

"Dumb cunt cheated on him, then got killed for it." I caught a smile creeping on her face. "Bitch deserved it."

"... Oh..." I slumped down in my seat. "Damn... Who killed her?"

She pointed a wing over at Riot silently before reaching into her bag and pulling out her pack of cigs. She looked me over before lighting hers, then rolled a spare across the table. "My treat."

I smiled faintly and took the offer, lighting the end with my zippo.

She continued on from there. "Found out where they were hiding, loaded up his shotgun, broke in while they were testing the bed springs, and blew both their brains out."

"Holy shit..." I muttered before taking a pull.

"Yeah..." She looked down as she took a pull off hers. "He's not really someone that'll just let his heart be played with like that. Can't say I blame him either..."

"When Tezu and I were on a scavenger run, we found him outside the house, holding his shotgun to his head, crying. We could both feel the anger and frustration trapped inside him, so we tried to help." Blaze took Thunderwing's cig and took a pull off it. All the while, she scowled at him until he put it back between her lips. "A few days later, he agreed to come to Virtue with us."

"He really proved himself when a radscorpion tried making its way into town." Thunderwing added. "Dual wielded combat shotguns like a mad pony and blasted away at its eyes. He seemed to really enjoy it, too. So we made him a part of Virtue's security team."

"He sounds like a badass." I said, before taking another pull off my cig, smiling as I looked at him. He was having a cigarette too, but he wasn't acknowledging anyone.

"Oh yeah." Thunderwing chuckled. "He sure knows how to put on a show. Sucks he wasn't there to take on that radhog. I'd have paid to see that... No offense to Destrier, of course. That was pretty badass, too."

I heard an acoustic guitar playing softly towards the back. It was coming from the radio. At least I knew where Para was.

Lyrics started, but I couldn't make them out from here.

Petiole stepped out of the restroom, then eye'd the giant radhog outside, before walking over to our table. "I imagine we're staying here for the night. So I'm going to cook what I can of the rat outside, in case anyone's hungry."

I quickly raised my hoof with a broad smile, waving it around frantically. "Yes, me! I'm hungry! I want!" I started pointing at my chest with my hooves, tapping them against me repeatedly. "Me! Over here!"

"Settle down, kid." Petiole said calmly, before looking at the others. "The radiation levels aren't high enough to be a problem, but it wouldn't hurt to take a rad-x before consumption, just to be safe."

Oh, it's been so long since I had food I favored. I didn't care about the radiation that may have come with it. I'd deal with it later.

"We don't travel at night, so it'd be best if we hunkered down here for the rest of the day." Thunderwing said with a firm nod. "Good thinking, Petiole. I'd rather not be at the checkpoint with the smell of burnt flesh..."

Petiole nodded back. "I'll get to cooking then."

I stood up as a harmonica began to play, and I followed the source of the sound, going through the back exit of the building.

I walked down the short stretch of hallway and stopped at the door that remained ajar. I carefully opened it and peeked my head out to see Para sitting on his haunches.

Fluky sat beside him on his right as they looked out at the distance. Little Buddy was on his shoulder.

Para had his hoof around her shoulder, bringing her in close as she sobbed and whimpered under her breath.

Well, I got a job and tried to put my money away.

But I got in too deep, and I could not pay.

So I drew what I had from the Central Trust.

And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus.

Everything dies, baby, that's a fact.

But maybe everything that dies someday comes back.

Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty, and meet me tonight in Atlantic City.

The harmonica came back, and the two of them - three of them - just sat there in silence as the music played.

I knew what Tuner was trying to do. I couldn't really tell if it was working for her, though...

Now, our luck may have died, and our love may be cold.

But with you, forever I'll stay.

We're goin' out where the sands turnin' to gold.

So put on your stockin's.

Cause the night's gettin' cold, and maybe everything dies.

That's a fact, but maybe everything that dies.

Someday comes back...

The guitar made a few more quiet strums, as if the song was coming to an end, but the harmonica made another auditory appearance a few seconds later.

Para started rubbing Fluky's arm a bit, trying to comfort her as she cried in his embrace. Shortly after, he took off his stetson and placed it atop her head with a faint, yet sad smile.

"It's not fair..." Her voice wobbled. "What did I do wrong to deserve this...? To deserve him...?"

Para didn't reply. I wasn't entirely sure he understood what was even happening. He knew she was sad, but that was it, as far as I knew. Death was an unknown concept for him.

Now, I been lookin' for a job.

But it's hard to find down here.

It's just winners and losers.

And don't get caught on the wrong side of that line.

Well, I'm tired of comin' down on the losin' end.

So honey, last night I met this guy.

And I'm gonna do a little favor for him.

Well, I guess everything dies, baby, that's a fact.

But maybe everything that dies, someday comes back.

Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty.

And meet me tonight in Atlantic City...

The song started to fade as the last line repeated itself, but her tears kept coming. The song was a bit dramatic for this specific situation, but everything was a game to Tuner, after all...

"I can't live with him, but I... can't live without him, either..." She said in a broken voice. "He's trying hard to keep me safe, and I get it, but... the memories are killing me, Para... And whenever I see him, I see what happened back at Saddle... I hear it... How do I forget something like that...?"

"You just gotta not worry, and be happy." Para replied. "Don't worry, be happy now." I caught him smiling, and she laughed under her sobbing breath.

"You're bad at this, Para..."

"I'm back at this? Back at what? Being the light of the party?" He grinned, looking down at her.

She giggled a little more at that and began wiping her eyes with her hooves. Shortly after, she clung tight to him and nuzzled his chest, closing her eyes in the process. If she hadn't, she could've have seen me right then and there, eavesdropping...

I backed away and closed the door as gently as I had opened it, then calmly stepped back into the diner where everyone else was.

Before I could sit back in my initial spot, Petiole waved me over from outside. I stepped out, next to the campfire he was preparing.

He placed a few branches down before going back to collect some more from a nearby tree.

"I've been thinking on what I saw in your memories, and I need to ask..." He paused and regarded me. "What are your thoughts on Para?"

"I thought we already went through this." I said, raising a brow.

"Yes. But there's something else, isn't there? Something you're not talking about?"

"I don't..." I shrugged awkwardly. "I don't know what you're talking about..."

"I saw your dream about him, back in the motel, way back in Saddle. The one where you two were cuddling?"

"Dream?" I frowned. "That wasn't a dream."

"Gotcha." He pointed a hoof at me.

Damn it...

"Okay, so I might have a crush on him. So what?" I shrugged again, smirking. "Can't handle the gay?" I paused, and that smug look vanished. "Was... was that cuddling thing really a dream...?"

He nodded before snapping a branch in half and picking up both ends, then tossing them in a small pile, before going for more. "Yes, it was a dream." He paused, only to break another branch and throw the smaller pieces in the same pile as before. "Do you plan on doing anything with him?"

"I dunno. I don't see why it really matters." This was getting a little personal now... This wasn't really his business.

"It matters, because he has the mentality of a colt."

"So? He has the body of a full grown stallion." I replied with a sheepish grin.

At once, his LEDs flashed red, then blue, and he looked me over, staring for the longest time...

"What?" I scowled. "What now?"

"And he has the mind of a colt." He reiterated with emphasis. "A child. You don't see anything wrong with that?"

"Don't see why I should. It's not like he's actually a colt."

"He is, mentally. The things you're saying... that's dangerously close to pedophilia, Charger!"

"Oh come on!" I laughed, waving a hoof at him. "Pedophilia, my ass."

"Do you have a thing for Fluky, too?"

That's when I stopped and stared at him in cold silence...

"... That's different, Petiole. She's a kid. Both mentally and physically. Sure, I like her. But in that way? Hell no."

"What do you like about her?" He asked quickly, before coughing a little. He put a hoof to his throat as he tried controlling his vocals.

"She's tough." I replied just as fast. "Doesn't take shit from anybody. If there's a problem, she'll make sure to let you know. But she also has a soft side... She was raised well, which I imagine isn't common on the surface nowadays." I began to glare at him as he went back to snapping branches. My hoof started to crackle with electricity as a red glow grew behind me. "And I resent your false assumptions that I'm some filly fondler... or colt catcher..."

"Just needed to be sure, Charger. Looking out for the group and all that..."

I walked around him and stepped in his path, looking deep into his visor. I was beyond pissed at that point... My hoof proved it. "How about you take a deeper look in my head then, you undead, soul whispering, sack of pink shit." My hoof began to flare up even more than it already was as I gave him the look I gave so many other unicorns before I tortured and killed them. "I'm a murderer. Not some freak that molests children... But of course, if you don't believe me, you can always just put a gun to my head and fulfill our agreement a year early. I'll even make it easy for you." I pressed my head against the barrel of his rifle, still glaring up at him. "Go on, Petiole. Do it. We both know I deserve it. What are you waiting for?" My voice started to raise. "Do it, motherfucker! Pull the trigger! Be a hero!" I started breathing heavily... shaking...

Admittedly, I was scared of what was waiting for me once I died... But I knew that whatever hell I was going to be thrown into, I deserved it.

He stared down at me in silence for a long while, before backing up and walking around me to drop more branches in the pile that he was going to set on fire for tonight.

"Come on, you wrinkly raisin!" I looked back at him. "Do it! We both know you want to!"

He looked back at me without saying a word, and I continued to glare back at him. His LEDs remained blue.

"Whatever, freak..." I said, making my way past him and going back to where I was going to sit earlier.

Some of Thunder's team were watching from a distance, then stepped aside once I made my way in the building.

"Hey, are you alright...?" Blaze asked, looking me over with worry.

Tezu had joined the table while I was gone, and was now sitting beside his lover.

"Don't wanna talk about it..." I muttered as I pulled out my bottle of absinthe. I ripped the cork off the bottle with my teeth, spat it out, and started chugging.

"Whoa..." Thunderwing spoke softly. I could feel them watching... Judging... Fuck, I didn't care. I needed this... "Hey, slow down..." I felt her wing on my arm, trying to bring it down.

The burn ended up making that happen, however. Not her.

I coughed violently as I slouched over the table, slamming the bottle on the surface.

"What's goin' on, man?" She asked carefully, as if it were a sensitive topic.

"Doesn't matter." I looked at the contents within my bottle to see I had gotten down a quarter of it just now. Half empty, give or take...

I could already feel it starting to hit me. Figured as much. I was drinking on an empty stomach.

"Just gotta have fun." I smiled forcefully at the people around me, then went back to chugging.

They weren't buying it.

Couldn't really blame them...

I wasn't either.

That fun I mentioned?

Yeah, that was very short lived.

At some point, I had passed out on an empty stomach.

Guess I wasn't having dinner tonight.

When I woke up, it was sometime in the middle of the night, when everyone - or almost everyone, as I was sure there was someone on watch - was asleep.

It came to my attention that my helmet was on backwards. When I removed it from my head, a puddle of drool parted from my lips - which I proceeded to smack together a few times - and slid out of the protective head gear onto the table.

My bladder was urging me to go outside and find a nice, quiet place to take a piss, so I quickly stood up, slipped my helmet back on properly, and activated my pipbuck light. The room lit up in a dim red as I made my way for the back exit. I had doubts the plumbing here worked anyways...

Along the way, I caught Para and Fluky cuddled up together once more in the corner, fast asleep. In most cases, I thought it was sweet. But this time, it was only a foul reminder of what Petiole said to me earlier that night.

My hoof started to crackle again, shaking me out of my deep thoughts. I looked back to the hall that led to the back of the building and resumed course. My bladder certainly wasn't going to wait...

I checked around my surroundings once I stepped outside, but I didn't see any reds on my E.F.S. Just blues.

One of them was moving around from either inside the building, or on the roof, but I couldn't tell who it was.

I hastily slipped behind a green dumpster and did my business, standing up on my rear hooves as one of my fores pressed against the exterior wall of the building, while the other assisted in aiming the stream somewhere where it wouldn't splash against my rear hooves.

My body was thanking me for it, and I sighed with relief as I released what had been slowly building up inside me for hours. Now, if only there was a way I could release the anger that was being bottled up...

I didn't want to lash out at anyone. But if it came out all at once, then that was exactly what would happen...

A part of me wanted to punch Petiole in his stupid undead face, but that wouldn't solve anything. Only that I respond to problems with retaliation. I didn't want to be that guy...

I sighed as I hung my head down, took my forehoof off the wall that I was using as a support to keep me up on my two hind legs, and dropped down to all fours once my business was concluded. Usually, I wouldn't have had to stand like that, but it seemed morning wood came a bit early for me tonight... The slightly cold night air probably had something to do with that.

Sigh...

I carefully zipped up the groinal part of my armor and started to walk back inside. It was a bit tight, considering the hard on I had... But I'd just have to try and ignore it. I was most definitely not in the mood...

I'd just have to deal with Petiole in the morning...

Author's Notes:

Special thanks to Kkat for FoE, Somber for PH, Alchestbreach for radio genocide, Nylten for drawing awesome pictures for Radio Static, my dear friends and fans that read through this story (and love it), and Pines.

The song in this is Atlantic City, by Bruce Springsteen. For some reason, I had the urge to add that song into the scene with Para and Flukes. Hope you like it.