Chapter 2: Fine line between realities
“Know your friends, but watch them tight!”

My head felt like I had been run over by a diesel locomotive. I saw that the others were slowly moving around as the fog was dissipating. My nostrils were filled with the smell of that fog which made the feeling that much worse. The others were starting to sit up as they recovered from their jump dream. Each one is different for everyone else and mine happens to be from one of the times I fell from New Cloudsdale when I was a filly. Strangely my wings never work in it. Out of the few times I had that weird dream it was always the same: falling with no control and then smashing through the ground as it shattered like glass.

A look around as the glow faded from the discs revealed the armaglass walls to be a deep blue color, except somewhat see through, while the door to the outside world was the exact same. I said a quick prayer to Luna hoping this place wasn’t flooded like the last and stood up.

We put the journal away with magic as We looked around at our surroundings. Rose and I trotted along a cracked overgrown asphalt road that was flanked by housing. It was still raining hard. We grumbled. "This rain is ruining Our mane!"

"You keep saying that." Rose replied dryly.

We glanced at her with a huff of annoyance as We spread Our wings out slightly. "Yes, well it may not bother you with your lab coat, but it certainly bothers Us! Our exquisite mane is much larger and requires more care. Just look at it getting dragged through the muck!" We pointed a hoof at the non-flowing mane as it dragged on the dirt. It saddened Us that rain caused it to not flow.

"Exquisite? It flows constantly!" She hopped off the ground with a sly smile. The mini-pony nearly bumped into a faded blue box trailer in the process of landing on the ground.

"And?” We tilted Our head as We replied in her mind. “We have no control over thine mane."

"Just pointing it out." Rose finally bumped into it. She spun around and looked at the door with the expression a filly gets when they see a candy store. Eyes the size of dinner plates and an open mouth grin.

We stepped around the flipped vehicle that had spilled its contents all across the street. And then stopped to wait for Rose as she dug through it. After a while, which felt like an eternity, she came back with a mouthful of scrap wires, cloth, and other things we split between the two of us. She put them away in her new saddlebags that she had acquired from that alicorn hunting stallion. Rose refused to wear the hat even after We washed it, so We put it on with the full intention to sell. Which includes that horrible rifle I borrowed from Candlelight! Fallen Angel is a much better weapon.

We continued southeast towards a row of large decrepit structures that were now skeletons of their former selves. Rose looked at Us. "Shell Shock can I ask you something without you getting angry?"

Her wet mane covered her face, which she cleared and We stopped to give her Our complete attention. "We will attempt to remain impassive, so ask away." We replied with a nod.

"How come you're easy to take out for an alicorn?"

We glared daggers at Rose. The thought of ripping such thoughts from her mind flashed through Ours. Though We did not act, instead We snorted a retort. "We did not have the proper tools and thus We could not fight properly until We killed that saddle pony!"

"I mean your shield. How come you didn't use it? I thought green alicorns had an impenetrable shield?"

Our ears folded back as Our face turned darker in embarrassment. "We... forgot about it, but next time We won't!"

Rose looked up as smoke lazily filled the sky despite the drizzle. “What is burning?” She asked as she followed it to its source with her gaze.

We looked at it and tilted Our head, also following it to its source behind the large structures. “We do not know, but it is in the direction of our objective for the journal."

*** ***

We looked down from what was left of a seven story tall office building with Rose on Our back. She pointed a hoof down at the wreckage that We could see clearly, which made the gesture pointless. Rain pelted Our head and Our mane still did not flow.

Two halves of a strangely angled vessel had crashed through the residential buildings to this spot, leaving a trail of debris. One half had split apart which spilt its contents and decayed bodies everywhere. The center of the front half was still smoldering. Which was producing the smoke we had seen. As We thought of picturing it whole, We imagined it to be a very large flattened trash can. Our eyes narrowed at the heavily faded words on the rusted side: Cloudchaser.

Then that means the journal is true?!

We turned Our head to look at Rose. “Stay here.”

“But th-”

“No! We sense radiation and it may be bad. If it is not then you can come.”

With a gulp she slid off onto the old roof and looked down at the wreck.

A hard flap of Our wings gave Us the lift to jump through the air. We landed roughly next to a group of bodies. As We stood there We felt the warm glow of radiation, but very very little. It felt more like an old hotspot that was now nearly to background levels.

We turned around around and knelt next to a long dead changeling skeleton in a brown sea coat. Which was odd as We have not seen their like in many, many, years. Our magic prodded at the body and We found nothing on him or her. So We moved over to the other body nearby which was a rotting pale gold pegasus. She wore a rusted 20mm gatling gun and rocket pod saddle. Our magic quickly removed it and tossed the weapon as far out of the area as We could.

As We looked over to watch it land We noticed Rose had moved down on the debris filled road.

However, as We inspected the dead mare’s suit. She blinked then quickly looked at Us with bright ruby red eyes. “The fuck you takin’ my shit for?!” She shouted in Our face.

We stepped back from the not so dead pony in shock as We tilted Our head and Our ears folded back. “Huh?”

“Oh I’m sorry? Did I stutter?” The rotting pale gold mare stood up and looked around before she looked at Us again. “I thought you could hear, but let me say that again slowly. What. In the fuck. Are you. Taking. My shit. For?!”

“We... We thought..."

“What’s the matter, huh? Never seen a ghoul before, Miss Wannabe Princess?” She walked towards Us as We backed up in worry. Our gaze went down to her heavily ripped and shot full of holes Shadowbolt uniform; the name and mask long gone. “Answer my fucking question!”

We looked around again at the wreckage as We bit Our lower lip. “We followed Our compass to here because We wish to know about this journal.” We floated out said journal as We turned to look at it. She stopped to flex her wings with a tilt of her head.

“Where did you find that?” she asked above a whisper. “That was with...” Her gaze went to Us as her ruby eyes narrowed. “So the fucker finally died. Well good riddance. The asshole got us all killed!”

“Was he not a friend?” We asked as Our head tilted slightly.

“Initially, but then he got the idea to knock off the Crystal Empire at the end of the war in 1051. It worked and we got half the EAF fleet to follow us with trillions in gold. Then Celestia sent two battle groups after us a few hours before the bombs fell.” She stood on her hind legs and waved a hoof about. “Real brilliant fuckin' plan!”

“We do not understand thy date...”

She rolled her ruby red eyes. “Yeah... alternate reality, time travel and everything. Imagine an Equestria where the-ANGEL!”

Before We could react she jumped at Us, tearing the weapon off Our back, and landed in a roll. Her roll finished with her standing on her hind legs with the rifle gripped in her hooves. She brushed a rotting forehoof across it lovingly as she grumbled. “Damn ponies can’t even keep their weapons maintained. Why did they stamp alicorn symbols on you, my precious? Tell me of your journey... I wish to hear it."

Our ears swiveled at the sound of movement. We looked over as the rusted saddle barely moved while Rose attempted to lift it, but failed miserably. The still standing ghoul deftly pointed the weapon and triggered a single shot in Rose’s direction. Her shot nearly hit Rose's head.

“Last fuckin’ warning dwarf.” the ghoul pegasus shouted.

Rose quickly made herself smaller as she cried out in shock and moved behind some rubble. “Sorry! But you really need to repair it!”

“With what?” The ghoul shouted back. “That is a MK.IX All Weather Ground Attack Platform. Some pissant stole my goggles and without them, it’s a pile of scrap.”

Rose peeked over her cover with her ears back. “Then I’ll take it off your hooves for some caps.”

“No!” The ghoul shouted as she shook her head.

We narrowed Our eyes as an idea came to mind. “Then give it to Us in return for us returning your rifle to thee.”

Her ruby red eyes looked at Us as she lowered Fallen Angel. “Deal. Now get out of my house before I shoot you. You have thirty seconds, go.”

“You mentioned gold... and an alternate reality?” Our head tilt increased.

She rolled her eyes while she put the weapon across her back. “Fine... I guess I’ll tell you if you found the journal. Come on we need to get inside first.”

*** ***

We followed the ghoul mare through the least damaged section of the Cloudchaser towards a room. As We did so We noticed the faded posters on the rusted walls were not the usual ones we normally saw... They were for armies that sounded vague and off. The inside of the airship felt old even before the rust took hold.

"We read thou megaspelled a city with this ship." We commented quietly.

“Why in Celestia’s name would you do that?!” Rose shouted in shock. “All those ponies...”

The ghoul nodded as she stopped at a door. "Trust me there was no normal pony alive there. You don’t want to know what had killed them all." She used her hooves to grip the round wheel. It gave a rust induced shriek as the ghoul spun it and opened the door. We followed and stopped momentarily to take in the room.

The room was large and looked like to be the ships cafeteria at one point. But this ghoul had converted it into a rather large bedroom. She had covered the walls with fabric and put a deep blue carpet down. In the center was a rather large wooden box and the room felt slightly warm to Us. One corner was occupied by a large bed which held scattered plates and bottles. On a slanted table next to it were three vials one fifth the size of a healing potion that glowed pink.

We trotted over to them and looked down wondering what they did.

"Get away from those!" The ghoul shouted and ran over. She shoved Us out of the way and blocked Our path with a wing. "Don't fuckin’ touch anything!"

"What are they?" We asked with a tilt of Our head.

"None of your goddamned business. Now back the fuck up."

We slowly backed away while We looked at Rose, then the ghoul. She turned around and put the vials away with an incoherent grumble. Rose slowly looked across the room with worry on her face.

"This other reality is destroyed like this one, isn't it?"

"About twenty years after this one if my memory is correct. Doesn’t matter how, now does it?" The ghoul said as she walked to the side of the room and laid down on the large bed with bottles and plates on it. She opened an empty bottle and took a drink. Our gaze went to the box in the center as We trotted over to it. "I wouldn't go near that if I were you." the ghoul said a bit loudly.

We looked at her and planted Our rump next to it, then touched the box. "And why not?"

"Because it's the warhead for a ship launched cruise missile. And before you ask... You no can has balefire bomb! It’s my plan ‘FU’ in case ‘they’ get through my defenses."

We looked at it as We smiled and nodded slowly. "We can feel its power and understand. This box we will not open, nor touch."

“Why do you have a balefire bomb?!” Rose shouted.

“‘Cause I do. Next question?”

"What was that about gold?" Rose asked with a tilt of her head.

The ghoul took another draw from the empty bottle while looking at us. She then held the bottle out in an offer. Rose shook her head at the offer. We could see the ghoul narrowing her eyes in anger, so We took the offered bottle in magic and drank some air.

As We floated the bottle back with a smile, We faked a gasp and wiped Our mouth off with a hoof. "Ah, that hit the spot."

"Stalliongrad vodka is best vodka!" The ghoul said as she leaned back and spread her forehooves.

"Who are 'they'?" We asked pointedly. As We wondered why she thought a balefire bomb to be adequate when it could level the whole city of Oakwood. As well as shower the rest of the island chain in radiation.

She looked around and whispered while motioning Us closer. "They fuckin’ tap on the hull and whisper shit all the fuckin’ time. If I ever catch one of them.... I’ll cut his heart out with this spoon!” The ghoul used a wing to hold up a wooden one that had rounded edges. “Did you see any when you walked here?"

"I didn't see anypony."

"We flew... or jumped." We spread a wing to show her We had wings.

Her eyes widened. "Who did that to you?! I'll find them and flatten their home with my saddle!"

"We already killed them."

"The saddle you just traded?" Rose asked.

The ghoul blinked in shock for a few seconds then shook her head quickly. "I would never trade Helga! Whoever told you that is a liar!"

Our gaze went over to Rose as We sighed and projected only into her head. "She seems... off and we should go before this gets worse."

The ghoul held up a decidedly empty and grimy plate in an offer. "Want some hay fries? They're fresh. Made 'em myself this morning." Her gaze went to other empty plates as she pointed with a wing. “I also have a bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich, daisy sandwich, and a double bacon cheeseburger.” Both Rose and I shuddered at the thought of meat as it could have be...

What are We saying? There was no food there as thy plates were empty!

"What is thy name?" We asked after politely refusing by shaking Our head.

"Ponies call me Ripper."

"We are sorry, Ripper, but we must go."

When We had finished her eyes were like slits in tank viewports. The empty plate she had been holding dropped to the bed as she sat up. "What the fuck for?! If you leave they will get you and then you'll tell them of my defenses after you break from the torture! You’re safer here with me."

"You blindfolded us, remember? How could we know of thy defenses if we could not see?" We smiled nervously and hoped the lie worked.

Her slitted gaze went from me to Rose and back as Ripper scratched her chin in thought. We could see she was trying to remember and could imagine gears turning in her head. "It's possible that I did. And the gold we took is with Canterlot. You can have it if you can find it."

We tilted Our head as Rose asked. "Canterlot? What is the gold doing there?"

"Well where else are ya gonna put a trillion bits worth of gold when ya gotta sail away from a continent in a hurry? Canterlot is huge and perfect for it!" Ripper picked up the grimy plate and began eating imaginary food while looking at us.

"How did you get here? In this universe." Rose asked as she slowly backed towards the door.

Ripper shrugged. "Sailed into a storm a week after the bombs dropped while running from the EAN and the ICN. The Cloudchaser sunk the Eclipse a few days before with a tactical nuke, but the pegasi from her damaged the Rising Sun which sank in the storm while pounding the hell out of the Ponyville. Which also sunk a couple minutes later. It was a hell of a storm and we nearly lost our whole fleet. When it cleared we were lost and turned towards what we thought was the direction of Trottingham. Then we ran into this goddamn misty island and everything went to hell!"

Our eyes slowly narrowed. "What of the other ships? Are they flying ships?"

Ripper drank from her empty vodka bottle then shook her head. "No. Only this one is a cloudship The others are surface ships. We were providing air support with two wings of pegasi and our twelve plasma cannons plus anti-capital ship missiles. We may have been followed by the other fleet, so watch out for them."

We briefly wondered if that was who ‘them’ were. But it did not last long as We asked. "How long hath thou been here?"

"You're seriously going to pull that speak on me?! Ugh, fiiiine..." She opened the drawer with the vials and pulled out a blank clipboard, then flipped through imaginary paper. "A day... Two..? Somewhere around there... Maybe a week?"

"And you're a ghoul already?” Rose asked. “Shock found the journal on a skeleton!"

"As for me being a ghoul?" Ripper shrugged and went back to eating her invisible hay fries. "Better than being a vampony."

“Vam... vampony? We do not understand this type of pony.” We replied as Our head tilted a bit.

“You don’t want to know,” Ripper commented in a serious tone and We nodded.

“If thou wishes we can search for 'them' and clear out any nearby." We made Our point by going invisible then spoke with Our mouth. "See? They won’t see Us."

She stopped eating air, then slowly chewed, and nodded. "Yeah okay. I'll be here checking on my traps."

*** ***

We looked at Helga in confusion.

A week and it was in that bad of shape to where it was so rusted one could not tell one part from another? Ripper must have been insane to think it only a week! We looked around at the rubble while putting it in Our saddlebags. Then frowned when it didn't fit. With a sigh We removed the saddlebags and placed them in a holder behind the weapon’s ammo bag. Next We levitated it across Our back and tightened the straps. A grunt escaped Us at the extremely heavy weight of the saddle.

We were surprised Ripper can use it as she is only a normal pony and not an alicorn!

We picked up the shiny trigger bit in Our mouth and expected a vile taste but found none. The 20mm gatling gun responded by spinning slowly with a shriek. We dropped it and took a look back at Rose, who was trotting over with a concerned look on her face.

"You know if she doesn't remember trading that..." Rose and I looked at the hull of the ship as Ripper tried to hide in a shadow, but her bright red eyes gave her away.

"We know. Her story is too wild to be anything, but false."

"Can I ride you?" Rose blushed at the realization at what she implied, but quickly added. "In a non-sexual way of course. It's just that I'm tired."

We laid down with a nod and Rose climbed onto our back, then We stood and trotted forward. After a while We turned onto a side street, that was overgrown with weeds and grass, then picked up our pace before Ripper realized that we were not truly looking for the invisible ponies she spoke of. Because even We could see she was off her rocker. We do not think her story to be true because of the changeling bones and her eating air.

Still some part of it must be.

Rose's tail flicked across Our face as We made a turn onto a main road which was just as overgrown. We glanced back with an eyebrow raised. "Rose, what are you doing?"

"Fi'n dis sa'le." She mumbled around some tool.

We rolled Our eyes and looked ahead as We floated out the tablet to see where to go for the collar marker.

*** ***

We slowed to a walk one street over from South Bay as Rose snored from Our back. We found it cute, but she better not make this a habit! As We peered around the corner of the brick building We looked at the compass marker that pointed us to a large mall.

The parking lot surrounded the building and was mostly cleared of vehicles; save for those halfway across that we suspect to be ambush points. One of the stores looked to be three stories high and the whole thing looked like a quarter mile long flat red barn that had sponsons in the center and was fortified with sheet metal over windows. Our gaze went down to the tablet to confirm this was South Bay.

We stepped out and trotted towards it as We scanned the rubble lined parking lot. When We passed by a vehicle, we stopped and sat on Our haunches as We put Our forehooves in the air. Rose slid off in a cry of shock and a soft thud.

"What is going on?" She asked as she dusted her lab coat off. Our gaze went around as a unicorn stepped out with a floating grenade launcher aimed at Us.

They looked at Rose as they said. "Is this alicorn your pet, or just transport?"

She looked at Us, her gaze lingered on the collar for a few seconds, then she looked at the security pony and nodded. "She is my slave and does what I tell her to. Observe." Rose looked at Us again. "Lay down." With a roll of Our eyes We complied. "Shake..."

We held Our hoof out and shook hers, but projected into her head. "We just laid down and thou want’s us to shake? Make it make sense!”

Rose looked back at the security pony. "See? Perfectly trained!"

He slowly lowered his weapon and nodded. "Alright, but keep an eye on it."

*** ***

Rain pelted the ceiling of what was once a mall, but was now a town called South Bay. The inside was spacious and had two floors of shops stacked on top of each other. Though it was about fifteen to thirty feet to the ground floor from up here. Most of the living quarters were department stores and ponies built housing from anything they could get their hooves on. In the center was a crumbled and rebuilt statue of the Princesses that gave the small community its running water.

We were standing inside the weapons shop, which was in the food district area. This was not like the other one in Candlelight. The shopkeeper had everything out in front of his re-purposed horse shoe store. Which made Us sad as We could not take the very beautiful scoped brush gun hanging above his head in a glass case. To the sides of it were other weapons ranging from pistol, to saddles.

We looked at the purple weapons shop pony suspiciously as he looked over the pipe rifle and other weapons we had laying on the counter. We were keeping the grenades and the hoofgun as it was very handy.

"Two hundred caps for the rifle, and five hundred for the rest of your stuff. Sound fair?" he asked as he set the weapon down.

We nodded and showed him the Annihilator. "Yes it does. Dost thee hath ammunition for thine missile launcher? We would like twenty blackpowder missiles."

"I don’t have that many, but can do a trade. Twelve missiles for three hundred and eighty caps with your trade-ins."

"That's outrageous!” Rose shouted, “Shock, don't-"

"Deal!" We dumped Our bag of caps on the counter with magic as We stuck out a hoof. He placed twelve missiles on the counter with a glare towards Rose, but we shook hooves first.

Rose huffed and stomped a hoof down. "I can't believe you just did that! Those missiles are only worth fifty caps each, not ninety!"

We looked at her, then the pony. "You... tricked us?"

He shook his head. "Did no such thing. You didn't try talking down the price and with you being an alicorn I figured you'd pay more."

Our ears folded back in realization at at what had just happened. "We understand...." Our gaze went to a glaring Rose. "We will listen from now on." We then looked at the ammo pony and asked. "May We get the discounted price?"

He shook his head. "Nope, already shook on the agreed amount."

"Good." Rose nodded. "Let this be a lesson to you, Shock. Try bartering with ponies sometime, it works wonders."

After Our trouble in Candlelight We counted Our caps for the pony and he took them with a nod. We looked across the racks of equipment behind him and scanned the various barding on display.

"Dost thou sell barding We could use? We seem to be getting shot a lot more lately and require the use of barding."

He shook his head. "Nothing big enough for you. Sorry. Other stores might though."

We nodded with a deep sigh. "We figured as much." Our gaze went to the sub-machine gun he hadn’t taken. "We require repair services. How much would it be to repair Our missile launcher?"

He took the missile launcher and inspected it. "Two hundred caps, but it won't be perfect and those blackpowder missiles will play hell on the tube, so don't run them all the time."

"Is this sufficient compensation?" We pushed the sub-machine gun towards him.

"Yeah. Give me an hour or two."

We turned away from him as We walked out of the room and made a left into the large hallway. Then followed the walkway towards a cafe bar. As We stepped inside everypony stopped to look at us.

We smiled nervously as we projected to all. “We only wish a drink, no trouble. Please.”

Most went back to talking, but a few kept looking at Us and most specifically Our slave collar. We suspect that collar to be why We are not being attacked as ponies think We are Rose's slave.

There were fifteen tables that were partially full. A few ponies played cards at two of them and five plush looking tables that were empty. At the back were a set of stairs leading towards the second floor. To Our left was a large bar that was partially occupied. Our gaze fell upon the large mirror behind the bar top and We slowly walked towards it. However as We neared it a tan crystal unicorn stared back at Us wearing tank crew fatigues, a gas mask, saddlebags, and had a cybernetic foreleg.

We took a step back in shock, and so did she, as We wondered how she was here. Our gaze went around to the bar patrons; the tan me followed suit. We were unsure as to why she was here. As that is not Us anymore and We do not wish to see her imperfect form! We wish to be like the Goddess had been, perfect! We gripped a whiskey bottle in magic and prepared to throw it.

But the image faded to a scowling green alicorn with a flowing mane. Slowly, Our gaze went over to a worried Rose as We put the bottle down and backed away.

"We are sorry, but we must go." We replied as We bolted from the bar to anywhere but near a mirror.

*** ***

Thunder rumbled overhead as rain fell from the dark cloud filled night sky . We sat on the roof of the tallest place in South Bay with wings outstretched to let them get washed. To Our left was a corrugated panel propped up by a set of wooden sticks with makeshift walls and bedding. A fire pit in front of Us that was pointless for making a fire at the moment.

The compass marker for South Bay led Us to this spot and the rain hid my fear.

I do not want to be reminded of the past. It makes me feel horrible. I had joined Unity because I believed the Goddess was right and alicorns were the future of ponykind, but now...? I sighed deeply.

Hoofsteps behind Us caused Us to turn Our head, but We saw nothing. Then a blurry outline of an alicorn laid down next to Us and shimmered, revealing Sister, as We pulled Our wings in.

We touched horns and the world faded into nothingness.

Sister sat next to Us and looked into Our eyes. "A purple contacted me and said you were travelling with a Steel Ranger spy. I came to ask if this were true."

We blinked in shock at the accusation. "N... No! Rose is not a spy.... At least We do not believe so. We are trying to collect caps from her and have told her nothing!"

Sister nodded. "I believe you, but watch her carefully. I know you might be a little slow on some things, but you really are a smart pony. You mustn't put yourself down like this."

We hugged her and smiled. "Sister thine wings are mutilated. How can We be so smart if a pony tricked Us with cake?"

"Did you kill the pony who did it and learn from your mistake?” We nodded and she nuzzled Our forehead. Though We think she may have kissed Us before she continued. “Then it is a lesson and you will be smarter if there's a next time."

"We... I found something and require help."

"Alright, show me what you've found and I'll see if I can help." We hesitated on breaking the connection and Sister's brows knitted together. "Something else on your mind?"

"Yes... We were told that you wished Us to die and so thou abandoned Us to the Steel Rangers."

Her eyes went wide as her jaw dropped. "Who told you that?! Shell Shock, I love you and would never harm you. I really did have something important to do!"

"Such as what?" We tilted Our head. “Because the way ponies have been treating Us these few days We find your actions suspect.”

"I went to check out mention of a stable built for crystal ponies on this island. There We found it abandoned and was as if they never went inside. I'll even take you there to show you!"

We nodded and severed the connection. The world around us swirled and faded as it brought us back to rain drenching reality.

A frown formed on Our face as We do not remember crystal ponies building stables. Then again they were a big company, and so it does not surprise Us that they did so. We laid everything out for Sister to see under the makeshift shack. She looked across all of the items then brought the tablet closer and tapped her hoof on tit a few times.

“This logo was also on the stable door.” Her hoof went to the detonator as Our eyes widened. “And this I take it goes to your collar?”

“Yes... please do not touch it.” She looked at Us, then the button and hovered her hoof over it. “Sister... no, don’t!” It moved closer. “I swear I didn’t say anything to Rose!” She grinned at me and inched it closer. I pleaded with my eyes. “Don’t! Please believe me!”

She pressed it.

........

....

I stared in shock as she started laughing at me. My magic wrenched the detonator away from hers and noticed I something off with it.... So I pressed my hoof against the overly bright button and found it did not move.

“It’s a fake! You got double tricked!” Sister giggled.

I threw the fake detonator down and stomped on it with a sneer. My hoof smashed it into plastic splinters. Then I reached out with Our magic and undid the clasp for the collar as We ripped it off Our neck and tossed it down. We saw the inside of the collar was lined with lead for weight. In Our anger We tackled Sister to the roof.

She blocked one of Our blows with her hoof and a smile. “Oh come on!” She drew her legs in and kicked at Us. Which sent Us flying back. We rolled to Our hooves and bucked towards her. But she deftly dodged it as she giggled. “It was a big red button!” We turned around and lunged at her again, which she side stepped, and caused Us to fall flat on Our face in a puddle. "I just had to press it, how could you not?!"

We groaned and with a huff, We got to Our hooves. “We dared not bring it out,” We said as We put all Our weight on one hoof and. The maneuver caught her off-guard and struck her jaw with a hind hoof. “For fear of pressing the button!” we finished as We landed back on all fours.

Sister rubbed her jaw then smiled as We nodded. “I’ll let you have that hit, because that was mean of me. You have to admit you had it coming. I mean you seriously believed some pony whom you just met when they said that I would abandon you? When we thought it was just us two alive?”

“You never respond to our telepathy!" Our gaze swept across the rooftop as We looked for something that had moved at the edge of Our vision. Our sight lingered on water running into a drain pipe and we stared at it.

“Yeah, well I can’t do telepathy, so I-”

***===***===***

Sister?

The rain poured down in a torrent and muddied up the hill. I floated the IF-12 to my eye while I looked around the forest for zebra’s. But the brush was almost so thick that we couldn’t see the hooves in front of our faces. Zebra’s were out there, but I didn’t know where exactly.

Sister, are you alright?

Spotting movement in the trees above I aimed the IF-12 and let a shot go.

A rocket flew towards me in response. I ducked as it struck the muddy hill eight feet below and I heard ponies screaming. I jumped and slid down next to them, covered in mud. One of them had taken shrapnel in the face and was squirming in pain as a medic tended to the wounds. Movement in the corner of my eye caused me to turn and bring the rifle up to block a zebra’s flying kick attack.

Sister, wake up! Please?

***===***===**

Sister held Our shoulders while she repeatedly asked. “Shock?! Shell Shock are you there?”

I slowly looked at her as I blinked and recovered. “Yes, sorry...”

She looked into Our eyes with worry as she placed a hoof on Our forehead. “Are you alright? I’ve been trying to get your attention for two minutes!”

I trotted over to my gear and started to put my stuff away while I said. “I’m okay now. Thank you for being so worried.”

“What was it?”

We shook Our head with a smile and floated up the journal. “It was nothing. Just a memory of when I was a crystal pony.”

“A memory of what?” Her brow arched.

“Of nothing important. We do not wish to speak of it.”

Sister saw she couldn’t get anywhere and so she looked over at the journal. “What is that?”

“Something We found, but think to be false as We met the most insane ghoul and believe it to be hers.”

"And that rusted saddle?"

"The ghoul's. She took a large automatic off Us and so We took this." A light went off in Our head and We smiled. Sister took a step back. “We have something to show you!”

“Uh-oh.”

We dug through Our bags with magic until We found the bottle of Ray. We quickly spun around as We held it out and offered it to her. She eyed it suspiciously as she took a sniff and winced from the smell. “This.... is alcohol...”

We nodded. “Yes. It is much better than the other drink, trust us. What's the worst that could happen?"

*** ***

Sister and I sat at a table in the bar from earlier singing loudly in tandem with the song on the radio.

“Knock it off you two!” The barkeep shouted as he facehoofed. “Drunk’s are bad enough, but alicorn drunks?! Why... why me?”

I looked over and smiled at him as I held one of four empty bottles and wiggled it side to side. “More Ray!” I shouted.

“NO!” he boomed in response. “You two are cut-off! Most ponies pass out from one of those!”

Rose was snoring as she drooled on her food pillow; having passed out earlier. We were unsure of what time it is, but We do know that DJ Snow was on and that was good enough for Us! Our hiccup turned into a loud burp that caused ponies to look over. We covered Our mouth with a hoof. A smile was on Our face as We glanced around at the other ponies before We slurred. "I hope no one saw tha..."

Sister's gaze went to Rose. "Are you gonna do it, or am I?"

"No... I shall do it." We replied as We stood up and walked around the table. We giggled as We glanced around and foated out a black marker Sister had found somewhere we do not care where.

*** ***

Why dost thine head hurt so much?

It was like my brain was trying to escape through my temples and my mane was positively on fire, not to mention my ears hurt! The sunlight burned even through my shut eyes. My front half felt oddly warm which caused me to wonder why. As I opened my eyes, slowly and painfully, I saw I was in the makeshift bed on the roof of South Bay with my wing around a...

"Who the fuck are you?!" I shouted with my mouth in shock and immediately regretted it as that caused my head to hurt even more.

"Ow... stop yelling!" The large pink earth pony clutched his head with a hoof as I scrambled from the cuddle. The pink stallion sat up slowly while I scanned the rooftop quickly and saw just us two.

"Sister?!" I shouted and galloped around the various ventilation ducts in a large circle as I looked for the sneaky outline that surely must be there! "What kind of prank art thou pulling on me?"

My head whipped around to glare at the stallion as my eyes narrowed. He had some sort of ring in his ear and wore a Pipbuck on his left foreleg. I reached up at the dull pain in my ears ear and felt two matching hoop earrings on both sides. "What happened last night?"

"We got married." He pointed out by tapping his ear which caused my eyes to widen.

"What?! No no no! This is a prank by sister!" We galloped around again, looking for her, then stopped and tried to connect with her. But We could not find her anywhere. Slowly, We looked at the stallion and let out an exasperated sigh. "What is thy name? As We will not refer to you as... ‘husband’."

"Bucky."

We remembered something vague Livewire had said and pulled out the tablet as We brought up the picture folder. However as We flipped through them Our ears pressed against Our head more and We frowned deeply. "These are false! We would never kiss an impure stallion, let alone marry one!"

The tablet was put away quickly as We hefted the heavy saddle, placed it on our back and galloped towards a door. We did not care as We smashed through it into a stairwell and went down two flights of stairs. When We reached the bottom We bucked the door open and galloped through the grey maintenance tunnel.

We slid to a stop outside the tunnel and looked around at the two level mall. Fifteen feet below Us was the first level and there were ponies walking around. We jumped, landed on the first floor and galloped towards the ammo shop. A few shops looked to have been broken into overnight.

We turned left at the large statue as We picked up our pace.

‘This was false, it has to be!’ We thought as We weaved in and out of ponies. Eventually We came across the ammo store and slid to a stop. After composing myself I trotted through the door and smiled at the stallion who glared at Us.

"We wish to pick up thine missile launcher that We dropped off for repairs last night." We said with a nod in greeting.

He set it on the counter, but pulled it back with a hoof as soon as We attempted to slide it towards Us. "Somepony broke in last night and stole my personal Brush Gun. Do you happen to know who?"

We shook Our head, which We regretted but did not let it show. "No, We were asleep all night. Bucky can confirm it." With a sheepish smile We took Our weapon and placed across Our back before leaving the shop behind quickly. We took a closer look at the goings ons at the time and saw a few ponies eyeing Us suspiciously.

‘Perhaps We did more last night than drink and sleep’, We thought to Ourself.

As We turned into the cafe/bar We saw Rose without her marker mustache and drawn on glasses. With a sigh We shook Our head. Her reaction would have been priceless to see!

She smiled at Us. "That was quite a night."

We stopped mid-stride as Our eyes went wide. "It was?"

She nodded. "Yup, you and that pink stallion, what was his name...? Oh! Bucky!"

"We do not know what thou means!" We huffed and walked around her. The barkeep looked at Us strangely, so We looked back at Rose who was grinning. "You did this trick to Us!" We said as it dawned on Us.

"You drew on my face while I was sleeping!" She shouted. "Payback's a bitch ain’t it?" Then Rose smiled while she held up a right foreleg to show Us that the Pipbuck was now attached. "Bucky had the tools to attach this. Thank him for me, will ya?"

With a resigned sigh We smiled because Rose pranked Us! But that was quite an elaborate prank for her small size to move Us while we slept. However We remembered something about earlier and gulped. "We... should get out of here before other ponies wake up."

As We turned We noticed a mustache drawn onto Our face in the mirror and the color drained from Our face.

*** ***

Again Rose was on Our back trying to fix the saddle as We walked through the overgrown streets of Oakwood. Though We do not know why she was trying to fix the weapon as it is clearly a lost cause. She stopped tinkering and looked to our left at a large store.

"Somepony is over there." Rose commented.

"Friend or foe?" We asked.

"Green is friendly, so... friend."

We nodded and kept walking towards where the compass tells Us, which is south. Though We were unsure of which note We were following as it had no information beyond 'go here'. With a frown We turned down a side street. Unsure even more so as the buildings had quickly become residential. As We turned Our head We saw Rose looking at her Pipbuck in confusion.

"What is it, Rose?"

“Um... We’re on top of a destination apparently.””

Suddenly, a pale gold pegasus ghoul landed in front of us in a cloud of dust and glared with ruby red eyes that flared bright.

As We looked at Ripper We noticed something that was not there before at the Cloudchaser. A gleaming yellow sapphire in a rusting iron necklace, a long flowing tattered purple and gold dress over her Shadowbolt suit with a ripped wide brimmed hat. The brown grass that covered the street was half as tall as she was.

"You whore!” Ripper shouted as she stood up and drew Fallen Angel, but made no attempt to aim it at us.

I pointed at myself. “Me?”

“Yeah, you! How dare you steal Helga! I let you in my home and you steal her from me. Forcing me to come get her and expose myself to them?! Now I have to plant new traps because they will have disarmed my old ones!”

“You asked me to fix it." Rose replied as she peeked out from behind Our head.

Ripper blinked in shock and tilted her head. “Well, how far along are you?”

“So far I’ve gotten the feed system repaired with some scrap and various parts, but what are the goggles you spoke of?”

“Gem powered flying goggles with a black leather strap. Buttons on the side for night vision, infrared, and a heads up display. They plug into the saddle with a cord that is also missing.”

"Can't a Pipbuck's S.A.T.S. replace them?"

Ripper shook her head. "I doubt it. The goggles are keyed to the weapon platform. They are like a screen to a terminal. They give a crosshair for the guns and rockets, and a projection circle for the bombs."

“Okay, we’ll look for them.”

“Thanks, but you’re carrying things you shouldn’t have.”

“Red bar!” Rose shouted.

It happened before We even had a weapon out. She dug into a pocket with her wing and withdrew a strange looking device; it was about seven inches long and olive green with two silver bands on it. She gripped it with her teeth and pulled on a ring as the lever popped off before she tossed it towards us. Our shield went up as the weapon landed two feet in front of us at the same time she dove for cover. Our magic gripped it as We tried to toss it away.

But then a blinding bright light followed by a loud bang caused my world to go black.

*** ***

My ears rang loudly as the world slowly came back into focus.

I was lying on the ground and so was Rose. Whatever weapon Ripper had used was luckily non-lethal, but I have never seen its shape before. As I sat up, I noticed my bags were open and Ripper was nowhere to be seen. We turned Our head as We began nosing through them.

A lever action Brush Gun with a hoofmade scope was there, a large grey business suit with an overcoat, a large wide brimmed hat, the Annihilator, our caps, ammunition, the rolled smelly tube, a brown pistol harness, a pair of glasses, some bottles of Sparkle-Cola, and other stuff, but not the journal, nor the tablet or box from the tunnels.

“She robbed Us!” I shouted with my mouth because my head hurt too bad to use telepathy.

Through the ringing I heard Rose ask. “What?! I can’t hear you!”

I looked at her and used my mind despite the pain. “We were robbed by Ripper!”

“What’d she take?”

“The journal, Our tablet, and the box from the tunnels!”

Rose looked in a random direction as she pointed a hoof. "There's a marker for your sister this way."

*** ***

“Red bar to your right!” Rose shouted from Our back as we ran down the cramped stairs with the Brush Gun floating in front of us.

As we turned right We brought it up and aimed down the side of the barrel at a brain floating in liquid. Our brush gun roared once as it sent a .45-70 slug into the dome and shattered it in a spray of glass and sparks as We caught the shell casing casing with magic. We floated it to Rose so she may reload it at a later date. The tracked tin can robot slumped over dead before it could finish its shout of calling us zebra scum.

We looked around the narrow metal hallway and waited for more robots, but none came so We quickly pressed forward under Rose’s guidance.

“Left up here at the door.”

As We turned left We spun on a forehoof and she held on tightly. Our hind hooves bucked down the wooden door without bothering to see if it was locked. We bolted inside after the pony We were chasing, which wasn't Ripper as not even Rose's Pipbuck knew where to go. We could not locate the Cloudchaser either because it was found before she got it attached to her leg.

We turned right into darker tunnels and went down more stairs. At the bottom We slid to a stop on a catwalk in amazement at the giant underground room. There were four or five levels going down and Our target was three levels down. As We gave the brush gun to Rose We climbed onto the railing and jumped off much to her surprise.

Our maimed wings attempted to flap as they slowed Our fall while the pony ran off. Hooves clanged loudly on the metal catwalk and We quickly broke into a gallop as We brought out the Brush Gun. We aimed down the scope in front of him and pulled the trigger with magic.

The shot struck the pony in a leg causing him to tumble in a heap as he slid to a stop. Our hooves echoed slightly in this empty room. Which We found silly as to why anypony would build a room this big that houses nothing. Slowly Our gaze fell upon the normal sized impure pony and We sneered at them as they tried to hobble away.

"Where is Sister?!" We shouted. His pained expression turned to a grin as he chuckled, causing Our eyes to go wide. "Where is she? Tell us!"

"Two floors down." He laughed. "She'll be dead by the ti-"

His head caved in as the brush gun sent a slug into it and painted the metal floor with his insides, causing Rose to start in surprise. We stepped around the body and ignored taking their gear as We can do that later.

"Looks like we go through here." Rose commented as we reached a door.

We followed the stairwell down, then took a left and put the brush gun away so We could go invisible. Rose stayed quiet and shifted her weight to tell Us which way as We moved quickly and silently through the half-dark tunnels. We passed by rooms that We did not bother to check, then made a right and followed the stairs down more. After a while We felt slightly tired.

Again We walked along after turning right and came to a stop at a wood door. We took a deep breath and tried the handle which was found unlocked. Our nose gently nudged the door open as We heard a gasp from Rose.

We looked around the room which appeared to be a series of open-air jail cells, but in one was Sister. Her wings were bound by metal and chained to the wall. Her tail was unmoving and something was wrong with the wall.

My spell instantly failed as my mouth hung open upon seeing four alicorn skulls mounted to the wall behind her.

"Sister!" I shrieked and ran over to the cage. My forehoof destroyed the truly feeble lock before I slid the door open and ran inside. I picked up her head and immediately touched horns.

The world around us faded to nothingness as I sat over a large chocolate brown unicorn mare with two crossed revolvers for a cutie mark. She looked up at me with unfocused eyes. "I'm so cold..."

I wrapped a wing around her and pulled her close. "Please don't do die! What is making you like so?"

"They... something... in this room... is killing me slowly. Not sure what, but I started feeling colder and so tired. I think my magic is being drained."

"What do I do?"

"End my suffering with a bullet."

I blinked back tears and shook my head. "No, I can't kill you!"

"Then shut up and lets get out of here before it gets you too."

I felt something nudge my shoulder so I broke the connection and looked up at Rose. "Let's get her out of here before ponies arrive!" She quietly exclaimed.

"Tired..." Sister moaned in agony.

As I looked around Sister’s body I saw that Rose had already unlocked all the chains. So We ducked Our head under Sister's chest and hauled her onto Our back. Rose looked perplexed. "I don't think I can get on your back with her."

"Then lead the way, Rose." We motioned with Our hoof and she started trotting out of the room.

*** ***

We set Sister down on the ugly bed of a grimy white apartment bedroom five stories above ground. Her condition was slowly improving, but it may take a long time like this. With Our magic We placed the raincoat to Our stolen suit over her like a blanket and nudged Sister with Our nose, but she didn't move. Our ears folded back in worry.

So We touched Our horn to hers as We looked back into her memory, starting from when We had drawn on Rose's face as that was what We last remember.

***===***===***

I felt a giggle rise in Sisters throat as she watched me draw on Rose's face. Her body felt similar, yet different. Sister watched as Bucky trotted over with drinks yet I don't remember him being there?

I watched myself take the glowing gold drink with a smile. Bucky drank his own while watching me nearly guzzle mine down. Then the three of us talked for a while before Bucky and I got friendly, and that was when Sister pulled out the tablet. Taking our picture as we kissed for Goddess knows what reason, then he and I trotted off leaving Sister and Rose.

Sister ate some food including what Rose was using as a pillow. That caused her to wake up with a snort. Rose quickly looked around the cafe. "Where's Shell Shock?"

"She left in the company of a stallion to do Goddess knows what." Sister hissed while glaring at the door.

"Well I should buy a room. Food is very uncomfortable and I need a bath now..." However Sister couldn't hold her giggle in and she started laughing at Rose. "What?" Rose tilted her head. “What’s so funny?!”

"Look in the mirror!"

Rose turned around to look at the mirror behind the bar and We could see her expression. Her eyes widened to the size of pie plates. "Aaah! Who drew on my face?!" Rose whipped around to glare at Sister. "You!"

Sister shook her head with a smile. "Nope, it was Shock. Might I recommend you find her and do the same? She likes to sleep on the highest point of a building when she does actually sleep. Though I’d give them a few hours before they pass out."

"Anything else?" Rose tilted her head.

Sister scratched her chin with her hoof. "Do you have any earrings and can you move her?"

She then outlined a devious trick and with a nod from Rose, Sister floated her the marker. Rose stood up before trotting off towards the barkeep. She gave him some caps and left up the stairs. Sister went back to eating and drinking.

After probably an hour or two of skimming her memories I stopped as a teal earth pony with a braided strawberry red mane trotted over to Sister with drinks on her back. Sister eyed the mare with suspicion, however the mare smiled.

"I'm Eclipse and I couldn't help but notice such a lovely mare all by her lonesome."

Sister did not introduce herself, but they did talk about various things before Sister started getting woozy and her world spun throwing her off balance as she looked at her hoof. "What is...?"

“I can’t believe both of you are so gullible...” Sisters head slammed down on the table and Eclipse's voice was faint. "...Welcome to hell."

***===***===***

We broke the connection and Our world faded back to reality.

Now We know who to go after regarding the bounty on alicorns. As We looked around the two bedroom apartment We saw a note nearby.

Tried to get your attention, but you wouldn't respond so I wrote this. I went out to look for some parts for the saddle and I'll be back before nightfall. Don't worry I'm sneaky and my Pipbuck will keep me alert.

Rose.

P.S. Give Bucky a kiss for me, would ya?

We tilted Our head in confusion as Our ears flopped around. Because Bucky was not with us at the time and We were unsure why she wrote that.

But hoofsteps caused Our ears to swivel towards another room as the aforementioned pink stallion came walking into the room. We groaned in annoyance as We facehoofed. Bucky wore a set of black cloth saddlebags over a black duster and cowpony hat. In a foreleg holster was a suppressed .357 revolver.

We narrowed Our eyes and looked at his solid yellow mane. "How did you find Us? And do not think to call Us 'wife'."

He lifted his foreleg. "Tracked you with my Pipbuck. You ran off in quite a hurry this morning."

"Because We do not recognize you! Husband or not, We do not remember agreeing to anything last night."

He shrugged a bit. "Well after we broke into pretty much half of South Bay you said I was the stallion of your dreams and somehow we ended up married... I think we annoyed the hell out of the pony that did it though?"

"I was shitfaced!" I shouted with my mouth, then glanced at Sister as she stirred slightly. She flexed her wings as she shifted positions and mumbled how Shock is loud in bed.

We looked back at Bucky as We made a silencing motion with Our forehoof, then trotted into the other room, and sat down on the ruined blue couch.

Bucky shut the door and sat next to Us as We scooted farther away. "How could you believe a drunk mare?!"

"Because I was drunk too?" He shrugged. "Though I don't remember this much complaining from you."

We glared and held up a hoof as We touched our other one to it in a specific gesture as We asked. "Did we...?"

"Well.... I don't remember. We fell asleep in one place, then woke up in another, so I’m assuming no."

"Then last night did not happen and We shall not speak any more of it." We replied with a nod.

"Alright. What now?"

"Well without you putting the Pipbuck on Rose We would have lost Sister, so thank you.” We gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then Our voice hardened as We sat up and looked at him. “You must go. Stop following us as We do not wish you to be hurt by ponies hunting us.”

He nodded. “I’ll be in South Bay if you ever want to talk or something.” Bucky reached into a pocket and withdrew some tools. He took off his Pipbuck and gave it to Us. “Here take this. I really don’t need it as all I ever did was use it for the radio.”

We took the device and tools with a nod, but made no effort to put them on. We watched as Bucky slowly headed for the door. He hesitated, looking back at Us, so We smiled.

“Be careful.”

*** ***

“What a doozy of a storm that was, eh folks?” DJ Buccaneer’s voice crackled out from the wall radio. We still had yet to attach the Pipbuck as We were unsure how.

Of course it clamps onto your leg, but what if it is a trap? If it were then that would be bad.

”Seems like the Steel Rangers lost a scheduled resupply ship in the storm, but eh. I don’t care about that. What do I care about? Not much really. Apparently somepony put a bounty on the two alicorns we got here, but I’m not telling you who or how much. Why not? Because I’m the pony with the mic and I don’t take sides. Here’s some White Rabbit for your troubles.”

Rose slowly walked in with overfilled saddlebags as she asked. “Why do you have Bucky’s Pipbuck?”

We held it up and looked at it as We wondered if We should put it on or not. Rose seemed to like hers, and the E.F.S. would help us immensely. That way We were not forced to rely on Rose to tell Us what to do. We floated it over to Our outstretched foreleg, placed it over the spot and found it comfortable to look at, but it felt oddly heavy.

“He gave it to us.” We said while looking at its dark screen. Our head tilted a bit as We smiled at it.

“Want me to attach it? It's simple. I can show you.”

“No, not yet as we are unsure if it is a trick.” We explained as Our head shook slightly.

She nodded as she walked over to Helga and set down a bunch of scrap parts. A few looked to be weapons. Though We were unsure where she found said broken weapons and so We asked. “Where did you get those?”

“An armory a few miles away. “ She replied without looking up from her task. “Whoever looted it before couldn’t take these and you have no idea how long it took me to get back.”

*** ***

We walked through the streets of Oakwood to think. We had left Sister in Rose’s capable hooves a few hours ago however We do not fully trust her, but We have no other choice.

The ground beneath Us began rumbling and so We jumped onto the roof a nearby building. But that proved a mistake as the rumbling was intensified by the height. Our gaze went around the street as vehicles and wagons shook and bounced. Our legs spread out to keep Us balanced as the shaking continued for sometime. We watched in worry as a building crumbled in on itself in a dust cloud.

Slowly, the shaking of the ground died off and left Us to wonder what is going on.

*** ***

We sat across from Sister and Rose inside the white apartment. The latter tinkering with Helga's vulcan while the former slept. The small mare had the saddle torn apart and strewn about on the grimy floor. We were unsure as to how she knew how to take it apart or even what to fix on it. But We suspected thy Pipbuck to have a hoof in it as she keeps looking at the device every so often. Her progress had been extremely slow and Rose kept swearing to Celestia and Luna every so often.

We had wondered if perhaps she should have asked the Goddess for assistance.

After Our thoughts were interrupted again We looked to Sister in worry, because her condition remained the same for almost two whole days. Except We were not worried about her dying from lack of food or water as our bodies do not require such things, but we do like...

"Radiation."

"Hm?" Rose hummed as she looked back at Us. "What was that?"

"Sister needs radiation, We think."

Rose pushed up her glasses with a hoof and nodded. "From what I know of alicorns that just might work, but it would also harm me and I don't wanna turn into Ripper: eating invisible food and looking hideous. Do you have a plan?"

"We... do not have one, but the Crescent Moon has an engine room with a leaky reactor that has provided for us in the past. However..." We flexed Our wings and looked out the window at a much taller office building across the street. "We do not know where that is."

"I know that place and lose my caps there a lot. It's thataway," Rose pointed at the wall.

The Pipbuck on Our left leg beeped and We looked down at the dark blue letters. New objective found: Escort Sister to Moonville.

We had no idea how it did that, nor did We truly care but it was a question that popped into Our head.

It called this place Alicorns Perch. Which We deemed adequate as it had been Our home for two days if thou included yesterday when We left Sister here as day one. We had tried to use S.A.T.S. last night while Rose and Sister were sleeping, and found it did nothing beyond highlighting the two even though Rose claims it is a targeting spell. We shall figure it out someday.

On the floating dark blue compass at the bottom of Our vision was an arrow pointing northeast. Both Rose and Sister were blue bars on said compass. According to this Pipbuck We have five caps, and six hundred caps worth of assorted barding, Our brush gun was worth eighteen hundred and We had twenty eight shots left with six casings of .45-70 rounds. The dirty dark grey business suit that We now wore was worth a hundred caps.

Our Annihilator Mk.I was confirmed to be a missile launcher by the Pipbuck, and worth almost twice as much as the brush gun. There is no way We could ever sell such a gift from Sister. We pulled the weapon from the floor, inspected it, and found that the Pipbuck even displayed its condition as being fair.

We looked at Sister, as We leaned the weapon against the wall, then Rose and tilted Our head. "Rose, what is your cutie mark?"

She set down the barrel assembly and clicked her forehooves together. Rose’s voice was unsure. "It is... have you ever seen Rainbow Dash's cutie mark?"

We gave a nod to Rose. "We... remember it from ministry posters. A cloud with a multicolor lightning bolt. Why dost thou ask?"

"Well mine is similar. A monochrome lightning bolt on a black thundercloud."

"How did you get a similar cutie mark to her? She’s a pegasus."

Rose turned her head, dug through her saddlebags and withdrew a figurine of the cyan pegasus in question clenched firmly in her teeth. "Bec'uh Ah'm aw'um." Rose mumbled around the toy's base as she grinned.

We chuckled with a smile. “May We see your cutie mark?”

“No.” Her sea green eyes narrowed behind her glasses as she spoke that one word, then put the figurine away and went back to work. “But I found it with this audio recording.”

With nothing to do, We listened as Rose played it from her Pipbuck’s speaker.

There was silence and the crackle of static was followed by a mare coughing. “How is this city... be empty?!” The sound of hooves walking on asphalt filtered out as the mare walked. After more coughing her hoofsteps stopped as she noisily unfolded a paper. “Where’s the damn date on this? Five years ago... But...” She broke into a coughing fit that lasted for almost a minute. “...Where the hell is everypony? I haven't seen anyone in weeks!”

Rose clicked off the recording as the mysterious mare resumed her walking. “I'm thinking it was a recording made by Ripper." she said as she put it away.

We shook Our head in disagreement. "They do not sound the same."

"I say they are."

"Even if you take the ghoulification into account they are not the same. Their voice is differing in pitch."

"Look, Shell Shock. I know you may be knowledgeable on weapons, but I think your time in Unity has muddled your senses and I'm sm-" Rose gulped down the rest of it.

Our eyes narrowed as We knew exactly what she wanted to say. "You're like other ponies. You think We are stupid!"

"No!" Rose's ears folded back as she looked down at the weapon. “That wasn’t what I was going to say...”

"Say it." We ordered in her mind. "Tell Us what you really think of Us."

"I... I didn't mean it like that!" Rose looked over to Sister then to Us with worried eyes. "I simply meant that I have had more practice listening to ponies talk. I taught foals when I was younger."

"Very well..." We nodded slowly as We crossed Our forelegs across Our chest. "I will accept your answer and put this aside... for now."

Rose put her tools away and trotted over slowly while she looked into Our eyes the whole time. She sat down and We thought she was going to show Us her cutie mark, but she simply said. "I'm sorry I offended you."

We gave her a slight nod of acceptance but Our glare stayed. "Apology accepted."

"How come you talk in the 'we' all the time?"

"Because We... I... can't really think of... myself as anything, but being a part of Unity. I was in it for so long..." My gaze went to Sister. "I have trouble thinking as an individual like her and... not a part of something much grander."

Sister rolled over and pulled a pillow over her head with her hooves. "Make it stop!" Both Rose and I were at her side quickly. I nudged Sister with my nose and was wing slapped in the face. "I'm trying to recover from having my magic depleted to the point that it was killing me, and you fuckers won't stop talking!"

We looked at Rose and sighed. “Sister will be better! She is always grumpy in the mornings.”

Shell Shock: Level up!

New Perk - Intense training: +1 to perception.

Side quest accepted - ????

Main quest completed - Ties that bind.

Side quest completed - Secrets of the forgotten.

-850 Karma.

South Bay reputation set to Shunned. Stop stealing things thy little thief!

Rose: Level up!

New perk - Jury Rigging: That looks like it’ll work. If not duct tape fixes everything! Can repair items with similar items.

Side quest accepted - Puff the Magic Dragon. Fix the MK.IX AWGAP ‘Helga’ with parts you can find for Shell Shock. Just hope she uses it against your enemies and not you.