“Translucent, mind if Ah ask ya something?”

“I’m all ears, Burn.”

“How, exactly, did we wind up in this situation?”

“Well, first we-”

“Oi! Did I tell ya that you could talk?”

Translucent sighed, wishing she could rub her head as the sick looking pony waved a gun in her general direction. Not even ten minutes after leaving Nelson and they were being held up by some of the most pathetic Raiders she had ever seen. Seriously, they looked ready to fall over at any given moment, like a stiff breeze would be enough to kill them. Resisting the urge to snort, Translucent couldn’t help but quip; “Well, to be fair, you also didn’t say we couldn’t talk.”

“....I didn’t?”

Translucent rolled her eyes, “No.” then muttered under her breath, “Stupid raiders…”

“Well...ya can’t!” The Raider pony balked, his poorly maintained rifle being swung in Braeburn’s direction. His two flunkies, who looked marginally better than their leader, grinned greedily at Braeburn as the lead pony, who was dressed in rags, tired what Translucent assumed to be a seductive glance, “But your lovely looking mare friend can speak all she wants.”

Braeburn sighed, rolling his shoulders in his new jacket as he did, ”Ah’m a stallion, thank ya very much.”

“....Thank me what now?”

“...Quick question, how many fingers am Ah holding up?” He held up two on his left hand.

“Errr….one!” The raider glanced back at his friends for confirmation, who nodded, “Yeah, one!”

Braeburn glanced up at the sky, the gray, cloudy sky with pockets of sunlight beaming through. Celestia, He thought, if ya’re still up there...please tell me why ponies this dumb exist? Turning his attention back to the Raider, Braeburn lowered his arms slowly, “....Friend,” Braeburn spared a moment to force the vomit he felt at saying that word down his throat, “Ah think ya should sit down.”

“Why?”

“Cause ya happen to be sick.”

“....No I’m not.”

Braeburn glanced at Translucent, who sighed and rolled her hoof near her head, “Alright, Ah’ll bite. Why?”

“Cause I don’t feel sick!”

“....Can ya feel anything at all?”

“....N-no…”

Braeburn sighed and pointed in some random direction, “Go home, go get some medicine that ain’t stolen from other ponies, and think about your life for a change.”

“...But-”

“Ah said go!” Braeburn barked, which made the three stooges whimper and scurry off like a group of misbehaving children.

Sighing, he pressed a hand to his head, savoring the cool metal his fingers gave, but they did nothing for his growing headache.

“Hm. You’re really good at handling idiots.” Translucent chirped, “Something you picked up?”

“Let’s just say it’s something Ah got used to over the years.” Braeburn said.

“Anyway, how far away are we from Vanhoover?” She asked.

Looking at his Pipbuck, Braeburn played with a few of the knobs before answering her, “We’re about a day’s walk, according to this thing.”

“Well, guess that means we’ve got some time to kill.” Translucent said, starting to walk alongside Braeburn down a lane of houses, most of them were either burnt down or empty, but some were still in good standing. Knocking over a discarded can in her path, Translucent glanced at Braeburn, “So, got any good stories?”

At this, he frowned, “Ah…” A pregnant pause, “Don’t rightly think so. Didn’t really do much ‘fore all this. How ‘bout you?”

Translucent looked at him flatly, “Really? Braeburn the gunsmith, close cousin of Applejack, the Ministry Mare, doesn’t have any good stories?”

“Ah….” Braeburn stammered, and struggled to come up with a response, he sputtered out a few incoherent words, but soft giggling from Translucent made his anxiety die a little.

“Oh, relax, I’m just pulling your mechanical leg.” She laughed, “Anyway….Stories...well, how about the Lightbringer?”

“That one pony ya keep mentioning?” Braeburn asked.

“That’s the one.”

“Alright, shoot.”

“Well...let’s see here…” Taking a second to gather her thoughts, Translucent continued, “Well, first things first, The Lightbringer’s real name is actually Littlepip.” An image of a young mare entered Braeburn’s mind, a white pony with brown spots and a bright smile plagued him for a moment before Translucent’s voice pulled him back to reality, “She was a small mare from Stable 21. Unicorn, had a Pipbuck as her cutie mark, because apparently she was really good at fixing them, or something. Anyway, in Stable 21, I hear she was a bit of an outcast, a social pariah. Don’t know much about it, ‘cept their leader was a mare, but the one every really liked was another unicorn mare called Velvet Remedy.”

Annnd there it went. Forcing the image to the back of his mind, Braeburn glanced at her, “Who was she?”

“Remedy? Getting there. See, her Cutiemark is a song bird, so she’s really good at singing and whatnot, but she’s also a bit of a bleeding heart. Always wants to help ponies and refuses to use guns expect on robots or stuff like that. Back in the Stable, everypony really liked her singing, but one day, she up and decided to leave. Cause while her cutie mark was a song bird, it wasn’t a caged bird.”

Braeburn rose an eyebrow, “Ah take it she was a rebel?” He asked, a picture of a young mare with dark blue makeup and piercings filling his head.

“Not at all, see, she was trained as a nurse and really liked it. But when she got her Cutiemark, it was nothing but singing all day long...as far as I know.”

“Ain’t questioning ya.”

“Right, thank you.” Translucent paused to take a drink of Nuka Cola, “Anyway, Remedy wanted to leave her little hole in the ground, but couldn’t so long as she had a Pipbuck on her. So she went one Littlepip for help.”

“Right, then Ah take it the two of ‘em escaped together?”

“Eeehhh...Don’t know.” Translucent shrugged her shoulders, the motion almost invisible through her cloak, “All I know is through word of mouth.”

“Huh, so what happened next?”

“Along the way, they got separated I guess.” Translucent explained, “I think Remedy went to a raider camp, but Littlepip went to Ponyville.”

Ponyville….A frown crossed Braeburn’s face, “Is it safe to say that place is a hell hole too?”

“A little bit...But it’s better now.” Translucent offered weakly.

“Fer a given value of “better.” Braeburn shot back, a definite growl in his voice.

“....Anyway!” Translucent said loudly, “As it turns out, Littlepip was really good at sneaking around, and Ponyville had become a bit of a Slaver camp. Being the good pony she was, Littlepip decided to infiltrate and free some of the slaves. Most prominently among the captives? Derpy Hooves, now-”

“Whoa, hold on there. Derpy?” Coming to a sudden halt, Braeburn and Translucent looked at each other, “Ya don’t mean Ditzy Doo, do ya?”

“Depends,” Translucent scrunched her face in thought, “Does she have a weird eye and a blond mane?”

“Bubbles as a cutie mark?”

“That’s her.”

“Huh.” Was all Braeburn said.

“You know her?” Translucent asked.

“Used to use her to deliver anything special to Little Strongheart when Ah was away.” Braeburn said, looking to the sky, “Can’t believe she’s still alive…”

“Well, she’s a Ghoul, so that explains it.”

“....Hey Lucent...do ya think-”

Translucent held up a hoof to stop him, “I know what you’re thinking, and no. The chances of anypony you knew still being alive, ghoulified or not, are insanely low. Ditzy’s probably the only pony you know that’s from your time, so don’t get your hopes up about your Strongheart.”

Braeburn knew what she said was the truth, but still, it hurt to hear. Celestia, this entire thing was just...just so fu-

“Little atom bomb baby, little atom bomb. I want her in my wigwam, she’s just the way I want her to be! A million times hotter than T.N.TTtttt!”

“Oh, hey! I love this song!” Before Braeburn even knew what happened, Translucent had started singing along with the music. Stretching his hearing to it’s limit, Braeburn noticed the music was actually pretty close by, almost…

“Well, howdy there!”

Right behind them.

Turning around, Braeburn was greeted with what had to be the weirdest thing he had seen since he woke up. A large, brown two headed rib cage showing….cow smiled at them. Large trunks and suitcases were roped onto it’s back, and both heads were looking straight. At. Them.

At this moment, Braeburn swore to never get into a staring contest with this creature.

“Hi!” Translucent greeted, completely unaffected, “Nice to see a friendly Brahmin!”

“Brahmin?” Braeburn repeated, completely confused.

“What? Never seen one before?” The head on the left snorted. It’s….his voice was deep and reverberating, almost like a slab of marble falling on concrete.

“Oh, now Reggie, don’t be like that.” The righthanded head said, a feminine voice as silky as honey...if it had been dragged through a cheese grater, “Young’n might be from the city.”

“I doubt it, look at the way the fool stands Lexina.” Reggie snorted, “All up on his hind legs, got no shame, he does.”

“Oh, maybe it’s a new fad.” Lexina suggested, “Look at those fake legs of his! Why, I bet he doesn’t even remember his old legs!”

That was kinda true, Braeburn mused, he hadn’t even really noticed the fact all sense of touch and pain was gone from his legs. In fact, he barely felt any pain at all-Oh, no, wait. There it is. Great.

Braeburn winced as pain swelled up in his legs, his lower legs. What did they call this? It was like some kind of...phantom pain. His legs were gone, but it still felt like there were there. At least, that’s what his brain told him.

“Ah’d appreciated if ya stop making me out to be a circus show.” Braeburn mumbled.

“Yeah, the legs are kinda off topic.” Translucent said plainly, “Anyway, who are you two?”

One of the heads smiled sweetly at Translucent, “Well honey, I am Lexination Fields. My brother here is Reginald Fields, we’re sorta one Brahim trading company.”

“Oh cool. I’m Translucent, this here is Braeburn.”

Reggie’s eyes lit up, turning his head to look at Braeburn fully, “Like the gunsmith?”

Despite the male head’s previous rudeness, Braeburn couldn’t help but smile proudly, “That’d be me.”

Reggie stared at him for a second, then said in his deep voice, “Nah.”

Deflating like a balloon, Braeburn slumped his arms down and sighed, “Ah, come on...”

“Don’t take it personally son, ya just don’t have the same look as that Gunmaker.” Reggie said in what Braeburn assumed to be a comforting voice.

“How do you about Braeburn? The gunmaker, I mean.” Translucent asked, “I thought most of it would be labeled as Ironshod.

“Oh, we ship all kinds of guns up and down the coast.” Lexina said, “Rifles, pistols, shotguns, you name it. We’ve seen all kinds of guns, and each gunmaker always had a bit of a “touch” if ya know what I’m saying.”

“For instance, that Braeburn fella?” Reggie said, “Always designed guns that had a lot of power and accuracy, not a lot of ammo.”

Floating her own shotgun in front of her for inspection, Translucent spared Braeburn a look, who rolled his eyes in return, “Well, I can certainly see that.” She said.

“Hm,” Lexina’s eyes twinkled as she looked at the gun in front of her, “Hey now, that’s a rare find. You offering to trade?”

“Nope.” Translucent said.

“Darn.”

An idea struck Braeburn, and his hand floated over to the black revolver resting in it’s holster, “Hey now, Ah don’t suppose you two could tell me ‘bout this here thing?” Drawing it, Braeburn held it in booth hooves for them it see. As Lexina’s and Reggie’s eyes scanned the revolver, Reggie whistled lowly in amazement.

“Huh, that’s a one of a kind.” He said, scrutinizing the revolver “A break action six shot .44 with glow sights, looks like something’s going on with the barrel too. That an inscription?”

Glancing at the barrel, Braeburn squinted at the gun. Come to think of it, he hadn’t really looked it over much since he got it, always had something else going on. Now though…

The revolver, colored in black with an almost midnight sheen, was a hefty beast. An ebony grip emblazoned with golden lines, a trigger and finger guard worked into the grip, the spur hammer chipped, but ready. The barrel itself was closed, and along it was a faded inscription, just like Reggie had said.

The gunsmith in Braeburn was waking up, and he wanted to take this gun apart, piece by piece to find out what made it tick.

“Hey, um. Equestria to Braeburn? You okay in there?”

Blinking, Braeburn found himself back in the land of the almost living, “Huh, what?” He sputtered.

“You were kinda staring at your gun for a while now. You okay?” Translucent asked, looking at him worriedly.

“Yeah, yeah, Ah’m fine.” He said, putting the gun away and turning his attention back to the cow...err, Brahmin.

“That’s a Griffon weapon you got there, sweetie.” Lexina said, “Where’d ya get it?”

“You got me and my friends killed YOU BASTARD!”

“On the ground.” Braeburn said.

Translucent blinked, “Wait, didn’t you-”

“Ah said, on. The. ground.” Braeburn repeated sternly.

“Alright alright, jeez.” Translucent grumbled.

“It got a name?” Reggie asked.

Braeburn titled his head, “A name?”

“All the best weapons have names Sweetie!” Lexina said, “Ratslayer, Blackhawk, The Victory Rifle, Old Faithful.”

“Sexy.” Reggie added, “Luna’s Judgment's, Black and White, Vigilance, and-”

“Little Mac…” Braeburn breathed, “Ah’ll give it some thought.”

“Anyway, where you two going?” Lexina asked.

“Vanhoover.” Translucent said, “Me and Brae-Brae here and travelers so to speak.”

“Huh, what a coincidence, that’s where we’re going! Care to join us?” Lexina beamed, while Reggie grumbled something about hitch hikers.

“Always happy to have some company.” Translucent said, glancing over at Braeburn for his approval.

He shrugged, non-committal, “Whatever floats yer boat.”

Walking along with the music being played at full volume, Braeburn soon found himself engrossed in a conversation with Reggie about, what else? Guns, guns and nothing else. Their discussion went from basic pistol tuning all the way to calculating the proper angle on a grenade launcher. Braeburn had to admit, Reggie knew his guns, almost as well as Braeburn himself, and he made most of them.

“Alright, what about the rifling pressure on a FF-47? Ah heard that was a bit of problem if mud got in the barrel.” Braeburn said.

Reggie rolled his eyes, “Bah, that’s the beauty of those old Zebra guns, you can throw all the dirt in Equestria in them and they’ll still work as it had been made that day.”

“Unless the action get’s roughed up.” Braeburn pointed out, “Useless as a fashion mare in the mountains then.”

“And the Bloombergs suffered the same fault, what’s your point?” Reggie countered.

Braeburn smiled, “Not if ya put a bit of polish into the ramp. Works like a charm then.”

“Ah, the old one touch,” Reggie nodded, acknowledging Braeburn’s point.

“Nice to see you two are getting along.” Lexina chimed in, “And here I was afraid you two would be at each other’s throats the whole way.”

“I wasn’t worried.” Translucent said, walking on Lexina’s side, “Braeburn doesn’t have a lot of bad bones in his body.”

“Hm, what about you honey?” Lexina asked, turning her attention back to Translucent, “What kind of bones do you have?”

“My bones are steel and my blood is nuka cola!” Translucent quipped, “That’s me, Translucent with a T!”

“...You’ve been waiting to use that, haven’t you?” Lexina observed.

“....Maybe.”

“While we’re changing the subject, I don’t suppose you two know why a fully functional assualt rifle is only worth 200 caps instead of three?” Translucent asked.

“That’s the normal rate Hon.” Reggie said, “Unless you’ve got mods for it.”

“Why though?” Translucent pressed, taking out the aforementioned rifle out of her saddle bag with magic and making the skeleton firearm float in front of her, “This is a really good gun! In prime condition too!”

Lexina shrugged. Well, shrugged wasn’t really the right word, it was more like she lifted her shoulder up slightly, causing some of her cargo to rattle around. “Well ya see, Sweetie, is that gun you’ve got there is pretty common around here. See, I can tell even from here that rifle is pretty new. Probably made a few days ago, not a lot of demand for off the shelf guns that haven’t been tested. That, and well, guns are worth much here in the northern territories.”

Translucent blinked, “.....Come again?”

“Guns aren’t worth a lot up here. Farming’s where it’s at.” Reggie said curtly.

“.....Farming, like, tied and true farming. With fertile crops?”

“Yep.” Lexina nodded.

“....Oh….Oh….Oh sonofa….” Slamming her hoof against her head and dropping her rifle into the pavement, Translucent groaned, “Now I get it.”

“Translucent?” Braeburn asked, glancing at Reggie with concern.

“Guns are worth a lot back in the Equestrian Heartland, why? Because you can’t grow anything there. Mine? Sure, but you can’t farm.” She groaned, “The ground isn’t fertile, you can’t grow plants or get clean water out of the ground. So you have to get guns to scavenge just to survive. Here? All you need is a hoe and some seeds, you have a renewable income in a hunter gatherer environment. That’s why guns aren’t worth as much here, armor too.”

“....No, see, Ah knew that.” Braeburn said, “Just wanted to make sure ya were feeling alright?”

“Just fine, just another world view shattered.” Translucent grumbled, “So, how are you walking on two legs anyway?”

“Uh-”

WHAP!

The Brahmin blinked as Braeburn laid on the ground, dazed and confused from his sudden fall.

“Uh…” Reggie and Lexina glanced at Translucent, who rolled her eyes.

“I get snippy when mad, sue me.” She said.

“How did you...?”

“I figured that he didn’t really think about how he was walking, and I wanted to see what would happen if I brought it up.”

“Yer a drinkin' buddy, Lucent.” Braeburn growled from the ground.

“I try my best.” Translucent replied cheekily.

“...So!” Lexina said, sporting an awkward grin, “Why are you two going to Vanhoover? Trying to see the old city again?”

“Actually, we’re going to meet somepony called Bertha.” Translucent said as Braeburn picked himself up from the ground, “Gotta stock up so we can save somepony called Code Talker.”

“Code Talker…” Lexina glanced at her brother, “That name sound familiar to ya at all?”

“Don’t think so…” Reggie grumbled, “We talking about…”

“No, I think they mean…”

Descending into a whispered conversation between themselves and slowing to a stop, Reggie and Lexina paid no attention to the world around them. As Braeburn made his way his way to Translucent, she grinned at him. In return, Braeburn bobbed her on the head with a fist.

“Ow!” Translucent said, holding her head with a hoof, “What was that for?”

“Ya know why.” Braeburn said, rolling his eyes.

“Well, how was I supposed to know you couldn’t walk if you were thinking about it?”

“....”

“Ha, Translucent 2! Braeburn 0!”

“Where’d ya get the first one?”

“You know why.”

“....No, Ah really don-”

“Ahem,” Lexina cleared her throat, which honestly sounded like a beehive being thrown through an engine to Braeburn’s ears, “I don’t suppose you mean the Code Talker in the Dragoon base?”

“That’s the one.” Translucent nodded.

“Give it up.” Lexina said bluntly.

“Come again?” Translucent replied, narrowing her eyes.

“That place is a fortress,” Reggie said, “You two will never get in.”

“How come?” Braeburn asked.

“That place always has folks going in and out.” Lexina said, “Dragoons, Polkas with “business” there. All sorts of folks moving about makes it near impossible to smuggle somepony out without being seen. And you two stand out more than most.”

Braeburn blinked, “But-”

“Listen honey, think about it.” Lexina pressed, “Dragoons mighty value their “workers” and like to keep ‘em. If ya try to get Code out of there without some sort of miracle, you’ll just wind up dead.”

“You two been there?” Translucent asked.

“Once or twice.” Lexina confirmed, “We try to stay away from it though, mighty unfriendly folks if ya know what I mean.”

“Rail Spike mentioned them being about “Survival of the fittest,” Braeburn said, “What made him say that?”

“They got a new leader, name’s...uh, what was it again Reggie?” Lexina asked, turning to her twin.

“I think it was...hm,” Reggie pursed his lips in thought, “...Something that starts with G...”

“Gal?” Lexina suggested.

“Gao?” Translucent added.

“....Gat?” Braeburn asked weakly.

“Gaius! That was it.” Reggie exclaimed, “Guy’s a Minotaur, really likes to fight for fun. Set up some kind of arena in his main base where they hold games. Stuff like fights to the death, capture the flag, and seeing how long you can last against that beast.”

“Beast?” Translucent repeated, raising an eyebrow, “We talking like some kind of creature?”

“Something like that,” Reggie said, “Never saw the thing myself, but I hear that whatever it is, it’s where the Dragoon’s get their name from.”

“...So a dragon then.” Translucent said flatly, “Like a big dragon?”

“Don’t know.” Reggie replied.

“Size? Weight? Any markings?”

Rolling his eyes, Reggie snorted, “Don’t know, don’t know, and let me think...Oh yeah, don’t, know.”

“We ain’t never saw it Sweetie.” Lexina said placatingly, “We just do business with some of the vendors there.”

“Hmmmm...Well,” Translucent bit her tongue, “We need more info, maybe a guy on the inside, probably fall back route too…Braeburn? You’ve been quiet, any ideas?”

“Hm?” Blinking, Braeburn’s head suddenly snapped up, “Uh, sorry Lucent, was a bit busy thinking.”

“About the dragon?” Translucent asked, “I wouldn’t worry about it, I don’t think it’s a real one. Probably just a mole rat decked in scary armor.”

“No, that’s not...Hm…” Braeburn shook his head, “Just need to think about something for a bit.”

“Well...let me know with whatever comes up.” Translucent said, her voice wavering slightly before turning her attention back to the Brahmin, “Well, thanks anyway for the info.”

“Your welcome Sweetie.” Lexina said, “Anyway, our stop is coming up here, you wanna continue-OW!”

Reeling back suddenly and lifting her front hoof, Lexina sputtered a curse which consisted of some of the foulest language Braeburn had ever heard. It was also one of the strangest things he had ever saw, (though that list was filling up quickly) as Reggie just rolled his eyes noncommittally and moved on. It was surreal, to see one side of the body completely ignore what the other side was doing and drag it along.

Stepping to the side to let them pass, Braeburn and Translucent shared a look before the unicorn offered a wry grin, “Brahmins, am I right?”

Braeburn opened his mouth to respond, then closed it, opened it again, before finally shutting it with a click.

“Anyway, I remember Rail Spike mentioning another Polka gang around here, think we should stop there for a bit?” Translucent asked, her left eye twitching for some reason, “Though he did mention that they were kinda trouble...but I think he was….okay, what is that?!” She snapped, turning her attention to whatever was causing her to squint.

Following her lead, Braeburn blinked as he spied the offending object on the ground. Walking over and taking it into his hooves, he found it to be a pleasant surprise. It was a rifle, no doubt about that, but it wasn’t the kind you would attach to a battle saddle. For one, it looked like something that was supposed to be held in your hooves, not at the side like a normal gun for a pony. It had a clip long, and thin, enough to be cupped around with your hoof, an elongated barrel with a wooden foregrip, and a pull back receiver. The grip was long enough to be held comfortably, and the trigger was just as long. A leather sling over the gun made it easier to carry over your side or your shoulder. It was obvious, any creature would be capable of using this gun in their hooves, so long as they didn’t mind a missing stock.

“Hey, that another Griffin gun?” Translucent asked.

Braeburn shook his head, “Nah, this here is an Equestrian Hoof Rifle.” Placing the rifle into his grasp, Braeburn looked down the sights, “See, back during the war, Equestria’s soldiers needed to be able to shoot over their heads or around cover and whatnot. Battle Saddles couldn’t quite accommodate that, and firing over a sandbag with a mouth gun was downright too hard. Now see, the only ponies who could do shoot from behind cover would be unicorns with your magic, but earth ponies and pegasi would be out of luck.” Releasing the magazine from the gun, Braeburn inspected it. Hm… .45 ACP rounds? Was it an SMG?

“So,” he continued, putting the clip back and dismissing his thoughts, “Ironshod started to make guns like these, guns you’re supposed to hold in your hooves instead of your mouth.”

“Huh,” Translucent eyed the gun, “Yeah, I can see it, guess that makes a good choice aside that shotgun you have.”

A jolt ran through Braeburn, “Err…”

“....You dropped it didn’t you?”

“In the mall, yeah.”

“....Eh, shotguns are easy to come by.” Translucent shrugged, brushing the notion away, “Anyway, what you do want to do with this gun?”

“Well, we should give it back to Lexina and Reggie, it’s theirs after all.” Braeburn said, lowering the rifle.

“....” Translucent sighed and rubbed her head, “You know, if you had told me that two years ago, I would’ve said “Too bad, so sad.”

“What made ya change yer mind?” Braeburn asked.

“Like I said before,” Translucent grumbled, turning her head, “The Lightbringer’s been an inspiration to me. Anyway, we should probably catch...up?” Looking around on the empty and narrow street, devoid of life aside from the greenery, Reggie and Lexina were nowhere to be seen.

Braeburn looked at Translucent and shrugged, there were no blips in his vision, and no one was showing up on his radar, “Ah got nothing.”

“How did they do that?” Translucent wondered, “I mean, they’re not exactly the stealthiest creature around!”

“Well…” Braeburn began, a coy smile on his snout.

“Don’t you start.” Translucent snapped.

Chuckling to himself, Braeburn wiped his chin and slung the firearm over his shoulder, “Alright, come on.” He said, starting to walk, adjusting the rope slightly so it wouldn’t interfere with his barbed bat.

“We going after them?” Translucent asked, hopping after him.

“Yep, said they had a stop coming.” Braeburn said, “They should still be nearby.”

“They aren’t showing up on your Pipbuck?”

“Nope.”

“Hrm...well, any ideas?”

Braeburn looked around, then pointed upwards at a nearby three story house with a caved in ceiling, “There’s a good high point up from up there, if we get ta the roof, we should be able to see pretty much everythin’.”

“Sounds good to me.” Translucent nodded, “By the way, what’s on the radio?”

Perplexed but accommodating, Braeburn flicked to radio tab, and listened.

“So...Been hearing a bit more about that old dome to the north. Nothing but rumors...I think, but anyway, there’s been a bit of a rumor that there’s something going on up there. A few of the Thunderhooves coming into the city mention that they’ve seen something moving about up there.”

Climbing to the top of the roof, Braeburn let out a breath of pure exhaustion as he slowly dragged his plot onto the top of the building. Whoever or whatever designed his metal legs clearly forgot to factor vertical travel into the process, because hauling his metal legs up and over the roof was not easy for him. He swore, that before he meets his maker, Braeburn would-

“You know Burn, I bet right now you’re thinking of whoever made your legs and wondering why they made them so heavy and probably declaring vengeance on them. But has it ever occurred to you that maybe you’re out of shape?”

And Translucent’s commentary was not helping matters.

Looking down through the hole where he climbed up, Braeburn made sure Translucent got a full view of his eye roll as he extended a hand to her. Rolling her eyes in return, Translucent used her magic to stabilize the “staircase” they had made out of bookshelves and cabinets hop on up right past Braeburn. Who sighed and pulled his hand back as Translucent passed by him with a swagger.

Peering out over the edge, Braeburn and Translucent looked over the landscape. In front of them was an odd sight, on one end of the landscape, to the east, was a forest. A healthy, green forest that overtook dilapidated buildings with overgrowth, the very picture of a serene view. On the other, to the west and the sea, was an almost barren land of steep hills and cliffs, what else? Ruined houses and destroyed buildings. It was actually beginning to grow tiresome for Braeburn, at first, seeing all the houses devoid of life was depressing, but as he started to walk through them, they were quickly becoming-

Something was jabbing him in the arm, “Hey, hey Burn. What is that?” Translucent asked, prodding him with her hoof.

“What?” He replied.

“That.” She pointed to the forest, and Braeburn squinted his eyes, trying to find whatever she was pointing at.

“...Alright, Ah give. Ah don’t see anything.” He admitted after a minute of searching.

“That.” She pointed at the forest again.

“Translucent, what are ya looking at?” Braeburn demanded finally.

“That….thing. With the trees.” Translucent said.

Blinking, Braeburn tilted his head, “Ya mean the forest?”

“....THAT’S a forest?” Translucent balked, “But it’s all pretty and nice!”

“Well, actually, now that Ah think about it, Ah think it’s more of a “woods” then a forest but-”

“Nevermind that! That’s not a forest! A forest has a bunch of poisonous trees and has a lot of bugs trying to kill you! It should not be that peaceful looking!” Translucent yelled, her eyes wide and getting into Braeburn’s personal space.

On reflex, Braeburn held up his hoof to her forehead and pushed her back slightly, “Ah think ya didn’t get enough sleep last night ‘Lucent.”

Undeterred by the metal pushing her back, Translucent whirled around, apparently on the verge of hysterics, “That’s it! I’m going back to the Equestrian Wasteland! I can’t take this crazy place any longer!”

“Translucent.”

“Give me the green soil! The vicious raiders! The place where guns are worth for what they are! I don’t want to live in this Arcadian Wasteland!”

“Translucent!”

“What?!”

WHACK!

“Ya done?”

“....Yes.” Translucent rubbed her cheek, “Thanks for that.”

“Right,” Braeburn gently held the underside of his hoof, where his hoof had bopped Translucent like a hammer, “Now, where do ya think Lexina and Reggie went?”

“Probably to that place with all the yellow.” Translucent said, pointing over his shoulder.

Blinking, Braeburn followed her hoof and saw what she meant. About half a mile away was a high school with yellow tappings on the outside, even from this distance, Braeburn could make out the faintest images of movement on the roof.

“Hm, think that’s another Polka gang?” Translucent asked.

“Maybe…” Braeburn kneeled down on his hunches, pressing his hooves against each other as he looked over the building in thought.

“Hey, you’ve gotten better at balancing.” Translucent observed, “Yet you fell down earlier when I mentioned walking, how does-Oh shit!”

As soon as Translucent brought it up, Braeburn found himself tilting forward over the side of the building with no way to stop himself. He was only saved from a grisly death by Translucent wrapping him in her magic and pulling him back to the roof. “Okay, note to self: Stop mention bipedal motion!” Translucent exclaimed as Braeburn righted himself firmly on the rooftop.

“Gotta agree with ya on that one Lucent.” He said breathlessly, warily taking a few steps away from the edge of the roof and heading towards the hole from whence they came.

“Yeah so anyways...to take our minds off it, why do you think they’re called Polka Face anyway?” She asked, following Braeburn.

“Don’t know, but uh…Back during the war, there was this one party pony called Cheese Sandwich,” Braeburn paused for a moment to drop down to the floor below them. Landing with a heavy thud that sent tremors through the entire building, Braeburn looked up to Translucent looking down at him, the sunlight pouring in above him and surrounding him in a circle of light. The shadows around Translucent’s face her hard to see, but he could make out the expectant look on her face. He mused it would make a pretty picture, but this wasn’t the time for that. Stepping to the side, Braeburn allowed Translucent to jump down after him.

True to form, she landed with far more grace, and far less noise, “Go on.” Translucent said without missing a beat.

As they made their way through the house, Braeburn continued; “Well, he worked for Pinkie’s Ministry of Morale, but Ah heard he never approved of the war. Even wrote a few protests songs about it.”

“And...Polka Face was one of them?” Translucent guessed.

“Ah guess so. That was one of his songs ‘fore MoM shut him down.” Braeburn shrugged, “Shame too, Ah reckon he was a good pony. Was mostly a silly song, but it was full of life, ya could tell just by listenin’, and it was mighty strange too.”

“Yeah, sorry to hear that.” Translucent said. “...How was it? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“The song? It was nice, but Ah prefer the classics like-”

“No,” Translucent rolled her eyes, “I mean, what was it like during the war? I’ve read a few journals from that time, but….”

Braeburn chewed on his lips, mulling over her question. How should he answer? To her, Wartime Equestria must have been some far off age, only seeable through the haze of a broken world. but for him, it was no more than two days ago.

Celestia, where does he even start?

“Well...Like Ah said before, Prewar Equestria was a lot different then it was during the war. A lot of things got repurposed, things like…” Braeburn glanced up, now that they were out of the building, “Ah, the clouds.”

“Clouds?” Translucent tilted her head, then nodded, “Oh right, the Pesagi.”

“Yep, Pesagi were some of Equestria best fighters, on account of being able to fly and all. The Zebras had no real way of countering ‘em ‘cept for their robots. So some Pesagi liked to charge a few clouds with lightnin’ to fry ‘em. Worked for a bit, then Zebras learned to insulate their machines.” Braeburn went on, “It was things like that, Equestria would build something better and bigger, Zebras would find some counter fer it. Weren’t long ‘fore Equestria went into total war, and the Zebras did the same.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen a few of the pre war facilities...what’s with the lack of catwalks?” Translucent asked.

Braeburn shrugged, “Needed to cut down on costs. War ain’t cheap Lucent.”

“I figured as much.” Translucent said, “...Can I just say how weird this is?”

“What is?”

“This.” Translucent pointed at Braeburn and herself, “A 200 year old fossil and a run-away, what are the chances of us meeting?”

“Not much,” Braeburn mused, “But...Wait, run-away?” Braeburn repeated, tilting his head, “What’d ‘ja run from?”

Translucent blinked, “A runaway? What do you….Ah crap.” Cringing, Translucent just shook her head, “Uh, listen, could you forget that you heard that?”

Braeburn opened his mouth to refuse her, but he closed it and sighed. Looking at Translucent’s jittery and anxious body, it screamed that she didn’t want to talk about whatever was bugging her, and well, Braeburn wasn’t about to pry into other ponies’ past ‘less there was a reason for it.

“Ah hear ya, dropping it like a sack of rotten apples.” Braeburn agreed.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Translucent nodded at him, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” With a roll of his shoulders, they continued on in silence. Neither one of them seemed to be in a mood to talk, and despite feeling some lingering curiosity for Translucent’s past, Braeburn didn’t air his questions. If she wanted to tell him, she would tell him, simple as that.

‘Less was secretly an alicorn, or a changeling in disguise. But what were the chances of that? After all, Celestia and Luna were the only Alicorns in Equestr-

….Right. He had to stop doing that to himself.

Coming up to the school house with yellow marks, Braeburn and Translucent were greeted by the lazy sight of a single rust brown earth pony resting on a chair and leaning back, listening to a radio playing some tunes. He appeared to be asleep with a magazine over his head. Daintly reaching over and picking the magazine up, Braeburn spared a glance at the cover before turning his attention back to the sleeping earth pony.

Unlike the raiders Braeburn had encountered earlier, this guy looked healthy. Well, he looked like he had eaten in the past week, at least. True to Polka Face fashion, this guy wore a yellow bandana on his head, which kept a scruffy mane from interfering with his eyes.

Looking back at magazine in his hands, Braeburn raised an eyebrow at the cover, “Astoundingly Awesome Tales #1: My Liver and I (A Twisted love Tale).” It featured a mare, white coat color with a red and black mane, she holding a bottle of whiskey with a whole bunch of wires hooked up to her midsection. She appeared to be paused in thought, somehow looking somber despite the drink in her hooves. Putting the magazine away for later, Braeburn raised his hand to wake the sleeping pony.

“Don’t.”

Stopping mid-action, Braeburn turned to glance at Translucent.

“Let’s uh...head inside first.” Translucent said, looking about the area with care, “You know what they say about sleeping hell hounds.”

“...Ah thought that was hippos.”

“Same difference.”

“No, Ah don’t think…..” Braeburn paused, then shook his head, “Whatever, why don’t ya wanna wake him?”

“Just a feeling.” Translucent said.

“Translucent, Ah’m-”

“Braeburn.” Translucent said with far more force, “Please….just trust me on this.”

“....Alright.” Sighing, Braeburn removed his hand and turned, “Ah’ll follow yer lead on this one.”
“Thanks, you can go back to party leader after we’re done here.”

Though Braeburn wanted to know where on Equestria she gotten the term “Party Leader” from, he spared a nod to Translucent and followed her inside the schoolhouse.

Once inside, the first thing Braeburn took notice of was the cool air and dim lighting, appropriate for a stone work building. They were looking at a fairly large entrance hall, with a second floor balcony overlooking them, presumably for students to have a view to the outside world, if not for the long Ministry banners covering the walls and other kinds of propaganda strewn about damn near everywhere.

The second thing he noticed was the two flabbergasted Polka ponies looking at them in complete shock, food dripping out of their mouth. So naturally, in response to this, Braeburn did the only thing he could.

Raise his hand and say; “Hi.”

“Who are you?!” The first one yelled, reaching for his weapon as the other scrambled to wipe their chin.

“Wanderers, looking fer work.” Braeburn bluffed, glancing back at Translucent who nodded in agreement.

“Yep, saw your yellow paint outside, Polka right?” Translucent asked, catching the two ponies off guard.

“Y-yeah.” The one with the gun stammered, a male unicorn with a black and white tattoo, “You talked to Mud right?”

“The pony outside?” Braeburn asked, to which the unicorn nodded, “Seemed mighty sleepy, so we just let em rest.”

“Damn fool’s always sleeping.” The other one growled, a female earth pony a jagged scar over a closed eye, “He’s supposed to be the door-pony, how’s he supposed to do that if he’s always napping on the job?”

“It’s like he asking to be robbed.” Translucent added.

Nodding in agreement, Tattoo glanced at his companion then back at Braeburn, “Well, we don’t need any mercs...but…”

“How ‘bout an engineer?” Braeburn asked, which got their attention. Continuing with more confidence, Braeburn stepped forward, “Ah can fix or make just ‘bout anything, so long as ya got the caps for it.”

“We’ll uh...show ya to the boss.” “Tattoo” said, “Always happy to have a good fixer here.”

“Oh, by the way, before we forget,” Translucent spoke up, “We’re actually looking for a friend of ours. A Brahmin? Have you seen them?”

Tattoo and his friend, who Braeburn dubbed “Scarface” in his mind, shared a look, and the unicorn shrugged, “Well actually-”

“The boss’s is usually the one who does business with outsiders.” Scarface cut in, closing Tattoo’s snout with a well placed hoof, “I think he mentioned your friend earlier. A Brahmin with a lot of stuff, right?”

“That’d be them.” Braeburn nodded.

“Great!” Scarface grinned, “Come on then, the boss will definitely want to see you.”

As the two Polka ponies turned away from them, Braeburn glanced sideways when Translucent walked up to his side.

“Burn, I still got that feeling.” She whispered, “I really don’t like the look of those two.”

“Ya think they’re lying?” He asked.

“I think we’re walking into a trap.” She returned, “And...I’m hoping against hope here, but I think there’s a chance that Reggie and Lexina have been killed.”

Braeburn turned to her, stopping abruptly with horror written on his face, “What in Equestria makes ya say that?”

“They were carrying so many supplies it’s not even funny.” Translucent said, “Believe me, I know several raider gangs that dream of that kind of haul.”

“...Ya think they might have done that?”

“I wouldn’t put it past them.” Translucent muttered, “But for now, let’s just play along. See what we see and all that.”

Following Tattoo and Scarface through the school house, Braeburn had to admit, they actually had a pretty workable “home” there. Though many of the classrooms they passed had remained untouched by the occupants, many of them had bothered to set up sleeping rooms and the like in some of the cleaner rooms. But Braeburn’s heart bleed a little as they passed by a blackboard with a mathematical equation on it. The numbers were faded, and the dust hanged in the air, but still...Still, it was a just another reminder of what was lost.

Tearing his eyes away from the board, Braeburn spared Translucent a glance. She seemed calm, eerily calm. Her step was undeterred, her sight was straight ahead, and her demeanour wasn’t as bombastic as usual, in fact, everything about her body language wasn’t what he had come to expect from her. No wayward glances, no nervous shuffling, nothing. Was she right? Was this a trap?

….Well there was no point in fretting about it. The world already died, so what else could go wrong?

Apparently, a lot.

Braeburn held back the urge to vomit as he stared at the pig being roasted over a fire, it’s skin was a rich brown, and the ponies surrounding it were looking at it eagerly as it cooked. Their mouths watering as one pony began carving out pieces of flesh to eat with a knife.

“Hey Boss! How’s it cooking?” Scarface asked, trotting up to the one holding the knife in it’s mouth.

Spitting the knife out, much to the dismay of the gathered ponies, the “Boss” turned to her. He was a blue earth pony of medium size and build, dressed in leather with a yellow band on his left hoof, “Good, been roasting nicely.” His eyes flickered to Braeburn and Translucent, “And who are they?”

“Mercs, Boss.” Tattoo said, “Said they were looking for work, and the tall one said he’s an engineer.”

“Hm...A fixer huh?” The Boss mused. Glancing behind him, he barked, “Oi, Cleaver! Prepare lunch for the rest of the crew, and be sure to “save” a piece for our friends down below.”

“Got it boss.” One of the ponies said, Braeburn wasn’t sure which.

“So…” The Boss looked Braeburn over, his eyes resting on the Pipbuck for a moment before turning to Translucent, “Mercs huh? Gotta say, I wasn’t expecting to see any of ya when I woke up today. Why don’t you step into my office?”

“Why?” Translucent asked, “Can’t stay right here and talk?”

“Hm.” The Boss chuckled, “Let’s just say business and lunch don’t mix. My office?”

Braeburn and Translucent shared a look, and they nodded.

“Lead the way.” Translucent said.

“Good. Nice to meet some reasonable folk now and again.” The Boss said, starting to walk away with the duo in tow. Tattoo and Scarface staying behind to eat lunch, their talk fading into the background. As The Boss lead them through the School’s winding hallways, Braeburn couldn’t help but notice the box...thing on the pony’s side, it looked like a gun, but...Since when did guns need a battery pack? That would just be stupid.

“Nice pig you got, surprised it didn’t have two heads.” Translucent commented.

“Yeah, lucky find.” The Boss said, “Poor bloke was limping around outside, whining for help and all that jazz, so we decided to help ourselves. Had a helluva time digging that buckshot out it’s leg.”

“Ya killed him?” Braeburn balked.

“Yeah, what of it?” The Boss returned.

“....Nothing.” Braeburn finished, looking at Translucent as she sighed in relief, “Just gettin’ used to things, is all.”

“My friend here’s a big believer in the old ways of doing things. His momma brought him up right.” Translucent said with a roll of her eyes.

“Hm, if only we all were that lucky.” The Boss commented, “By the way, your names?”

“I’m Translucent, he’s Braeburn.” Translucent said, then added; “By the way, we’re actually looking for a friend of ours. A Brahnim carrying a lot of stuff, you seen ‘em?”

“Maybe.” The Boss replied, pausing to open a door which Braeburn recognized as the Principal's office. The door was half-torn off it’s hinges, so the pony in front of them had little trouble pushing it aside with his snout. Moving around a half caved in desk with a Terminal resting on it, The Boss took up a seat on a wooden chair behind the desk.

“Nice place.” Translucent observed, looking at the worn out walls and broken doctorates that lined them, “Really brings in the natural light.”

“Thank you.” Following her gaze, The Boss chuckled, “Hm, I tell ya, you think that the pony who worked here was smart?”

“This is the Principal's office.” Braeburn shrugged, “Ah bet he was.”

“Hm, and do you think, that me setting up here, makes me smart as well?” The Boss asked, shifting his gaze back to Braeburn and Translucent.

“Can’t rightly say so, seeing as how we just met ya and all.” Braeburn replied, crossing his arms.

“Hm, now see here. I know you’re a fixer, and that makes you pretty smart as well.” The Boss said, sitting down in his chair, “So, as two smart ponies, I think we can come to some sort of agreement.”

“We’re just looking for a Brahmin.” Braeburn repeated.

The Boss nodded, “I know, I know, but let’s say that on top of knowing where they might be, I’d have a job for you as well.”

Translucent snorted, “We’re just interested in-”

The heavy thunk of a leather pouch landing on the desk cut Translucent off.

“....In hearing about what this job of yours is.” She finished, staring at the pouch with wide eyes.

“Lucent…” Braeburn groaned.

Turning him aside, Translucent leaned over and whispered to him, “Look, it’s just a job, and we need the money.”

“But we need to find-”

“And this guy might know something.” Translucent insisted, “Don’t forget, you can never have too many friends in the Wasteland.”

Braeburn furrowed his brow, but sighed, “...We’ll turn the job down if it’s bad.”

“Right, ‘course.” Translucent agreed.

“You two done?” The Boss asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Translucent nodded, “What’s the job?”

“Basically, we have two...friends down in the basement, carry all kinds of gear. Don’t worry, not your Brahmin friend.” The Boss added, “Anyway, we hoping to figure out how their stuff work, which is something only a fixer can do.”

“Prisoners?” Translucent tilted her head as Braeburn frowned.

“Sorta.” The Boss shrugged, “See, those two tired sneaking in here for some stuff of our’s, can’t say what, as they never got far. Anyway, I’m hoping that either you two will either get them to spill the beans, or see if you can get something off their gear. Had a lot of fancy stuff on them, things kinda like your Pipbuck, actually.” The Boss finished, glancing at the heavy device on Braeburn’s arm.

Glancing at it, Braeburn frowned slightly, “Sorta like that thing on your waist?”

The Boss blinked before turning his attention to the device on his side, “Yeah, actually. Haven’t gotten the damn thing to work.” To prove his point, The Boss took it into his mouth and began fiddling with it.

Sure enough, even as the pony adjusted every knob and switch on the thing, the device didn’t operate at all. Braeburn crossed his arms and tilted his head, “Huh. Maybe it’s out of juice?”

“Maybe.” The Boss shrugged, putting the thing away, “Anyway, those two are downstairs, get them to talk and these caps will be all yours.”

“Sounds easy enough.” Translucent said.

“Hm.” Braeburn grunted before turning around with Translucent in tow.

Shutting the door behind them, which was more or less courtesy at this point, Braeburn and Translucent waited until they were out of The Boss’s hearing range before Braeburn whirled around and said, quite calmly: “Are ya out of ya flippin mind?!”

“Okay, I think it’s a little early to be dropping f-bombs.” Translucent said, holding up a hoof to placate Braeburn.

“Ya know what Ah mean.” Braeburn shot back, “Ah’ve got nothing against doing an honest day’s work, but Ah’m not about to hurt another pony just ‘cause some fool asked me to!”

“Neither am I.” Translucent replied, “Look, as much as I enjoy our positions being reversed, I’m not saying we actually go through with it. From the sound of things, whoever, or whatever’s downstairs, could be a really big help to us if they have advanced tech like that laser pistol.”

Braeburn stared at her blankly, confusement all over his face.

“....Oh right. Fossil.” Translucent faced hooved, “I’ll explain later. Right now, let’s just say it’s a fancy pistol. Anyway, I’m not saying we actually go along with it, just until we get the whole picture.”

Braeburn bit the inside of his lip, clearly considering Translucent’s argument.

“And besides,” Translucent finished, “It could actually some unlucky raiders. No skin off our backs.”

Braeburn let out a sigh, “Alright, we’ll see what these ponies are.”

Translucent did a mock salute, “Sir, yes sir.”

Chuckling, Braeburn rubbed his chin, “Ah never made it past private.”

“Aw,” Translucent poked him in the arm, “Sergeant Braeburn has a nice ring to it.”

Braeburn rubbed the spot where she poked him, chuckling with mirth.

“Anyway, where are we going?” Translucent asked, glancing at Braeburn’s pipbuck.

Braeburn narrowed his eyes, and turned to the left, “About seventy meters that way.”

Translucent glanced at him, “Huh, it tells you?”

“Only when we get close to the marker.” Braeburn shrugged.

“....That’s kinda dumb.”

Braeburn rolled his eyes and started walking, “It’s two hundred years old, give it a break.”

“I will when it does something cool.” Translucent replied, following him, “Like, if it can play movies, or something. I’d try to buy it off you then.”

“Ah’ll let you know if that comes up.”

Letting silence fall, Braeburn, with Translucent in tow, followed the marker on his radar through the school, occasionally passing by the odd polka pony as they did. The smell of BQ lingered in the air, much to Braeburn’s disgust. Eating meat...What a stupid idea. Ponies were herbivores damnit, that’s why their teeth with flat! Desperate times, sure, but still! It’s not that hard to farm apple trees! Why, if Braeburn’s weren’t legs cut off, then he’d be able to feed an entire city! All he needed was some apple seeds, water, and a bucket of-

“Burn, Burn!”

Translucent’s voice snapped Braeburn out of his thoughts, bringing him back to reality, “Wha?”

Feeling Translucent’s hoof on his shoulder, her sarcastic and familiar voice clear, “Burn, I’m sure that door is very sorry for whatever it did, you can stop trying to kill it with your eyes.”

Blinking, Braeburn took a step back to look around. They were standing in front of a wooden door towards the back of the school, at least, that’s what a quick glance at his Pipbuck told him. Strange, when did they…

“You were kinda lost in your thoughts there Burn.” Translucent said, “You do that from time to time.”

“Oh.” Braeburn felt a rush of heat come onto his face, “Sorry.”

“Hey, not to worry!” Translucent said, chipper, “I checked the map for you, we’re right where we need to be.”

Braeburn double checked the Pipbuck’s map. Huh, she was right, the marker blipped lazily in front him. How did he miss that?

Clicking his tongue, Braeburn tilted his head and shrugged, “Well...Alrighty then.”

Reaching for the door knob, Braeburn pulled the door back, and was greeted by a blast of cold, chilly air that engulfed his entire body. Even Translucent seemed taken aback by the rush of cold, her cloak fluttering slightly against the torrent of wind.

“Well…” She said dryly, “That was a whiplash.”

There was no light from the entrance, but Braeburn could make out the descending staircase in front of them. Flicking on his Pipbuck’s light, the stairs were blanketed in neon green, and with a final glance back at Translucent, he descended downwards into the black.

The only sound was the creaking of wood under their hooves. There was no water dripping, no rush of air against the wood, there was only the heavy hoof-falls of Braeburn and Translucent. For the lack of a better word, it was eerie. But more to the point, it was unsettling.

Though, to be perfectly honest, it was a feeling Braeburn was getting used to pretty quickly.

Finally arriving at the bottom of the staircase, Braeburn held up his Pipbuck, trying to get the light from the screen to extend as far as it could.

“Geez, would it kill them to get a heater down here, or something?” Translucent muttered, using her magic to pull her cloak closer.

“Haaa...these jerks wouldn’t know warmth if it bit them in the ass.”

Braeburn blinked, and turned to the sound of the voice.

The neon light followed, and washed over a pair of ponies huddled together in a cell. Both of them dressed in tight body suits, and one of them, the one who had spoken and facing them, she had a white, curvy mane...light blue coat…Raspberry eyes.... it was...was...

“Enclave.” Translucent hissed, eyes narrowing, “Of bloody course.”

“Hey there…Braeburn.” Flitter spoke.

Level up!

Commando-Your military training is coming back to you, Automatic weapons now do 20% more damage.