//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7- Exploring the Badlands. 
// Story: This looked easier on paper. 
// by TheOctoWriter 
//------------------------------//

"Nope, doesn't look like it." Spike said as he scanned the entire map.

"Awww.... but I'm getting hungry." Sunset said with a whinny.

"Did you just..." Spike was about to say.

"Hey I'm a pony, don't judge." Sunset said slightly pouting.

Spike couldn't help but laugh at this, it was just too cute.

"H-hey stop laughing! It's not funny!" Sunset said now pouting angrily.

"But it's so cute..." Spike said laughing even harder.

Gummy decided to speak up.

"We're almost there. Prepare yourselves." Gummy said.

But Spike and Sunset continued to banter.

Then the conductor yelled.

"Next station stop- The Badlands!"

Spike and Sunset stopped what they were doing and stood up,  gathering their belongings.

Gummy did the same.

"C'mon guys, let's go explore the Badlands!" Spike said with a smile on his face.

Sunset just frowned at him.

"Aw, c'mon Sunset, I said I was sorry."

Sunset didn't say anything.

"Who's got a frowny face? You do!" Spike said his smile growing wider.

"Well... I tried." Spike said shrugging as he got off the train.

"All aboard for Canterlot!" The conductor yelled as passengers got on.

The train then left leaving the trio at the train station.

Spike stomach started growling.

"Uh oh..." Spike said.

"We must go forward and found out what that small town is-"

Gummy stomach then growled loudly.

"Anyone up for some food?" Spike said with a sheepish look on his face.

They stopped at a small bar.

"Um... Spike, are you sure this place is safe?" Sunset asked with a skeptic look on her face.

She and Gummy kept a safe distance away from the bar.

"Safe?" Spike said as he looked at them.

" Only one way to find out." He said as he opened the door a crack and watched.

"What the hell are you looking at!" One pegasus said as he started fighting with a earth pony.

Their fight managed to knock over a table full of patrons.

They all got up covered in alcohol and looked really pissed off.

The bar once erupted in a massive fight as chairs were swung at faces.

And bottles were used as weapons.

One of the losing patrons got thrown out of the bar.

He landed near the Sunset and Gummy with a swollen face and limbs bent at strange angles.

Spike walked back to Sunset and Gummy.

"It's perfectly fine!" Spike said with a oblivious smile as he proceeded to walk inside.

Sunset and Gummy reluctantly followed inside.

Not even 10ft into the bar, Sunset was already being drunkenly hit on.

"Hey honey...w-why don't you ditch these two clowns and come home with a real stallion." The obnoxious earth pony said, whiskey staining his breath.

"No, go away." Sunset said turning away from him.

"Aw c'mon, these fools don't know how to treat a lady like yurself." He said as he wrapped a hoof around her and tried to pull her closer to him.

"Get off me!" Sunset yelled trying to push him off her.

Gummy pulled out his sword.

"Step away from the lady." Gummy said coldly.

"Hahaha!" The earth pony said as he looked at Gummy.

"You're just a lizard! What are you gonna do about it?" He said as he started grabbing at Sunset's more... private areas.

"Hey! Where do you think you're grabbing! Don't touch me there you pervert!" Sunset said furiously as the pony started poking around her legs. 

"Help!" Sunset cried out, she tried to fight this pony off.

She tried stepping on his feet.

And squirming out of his grasp. 

Sunset even smashed his jewels with a hoof.

But nothing was working!

This asshat just didn't wanna give up!

Gummy didn't respond he was just about to rush forward and swing at this asshat, when suddenly a purple fist rocketed towards the earth pony's face and send him careening into the bar stools. 

"Hey buddy..." Spike said looking down at the earth pony with a scowl. 

"Pick on someone who can actually beat your drunken ass."

"Big G is down!" One earth pony yelled out.

"Hey what's the deal! Picking on our boss." Another one said.

"You're gonna pay for that kid." Big G said as he got up and wiped the blood from his lip.

"Teach this punk what happens when you mess with The Z Stallions."

The gang prepared to bum rush Spike when suddenly Gummy blocked their path.

"You're not going to be hurting anypony else today." Gummy said as he sheathed his sword.

"I'll make sure of that." He said as he raised his armored fists for combat.

Gummy face showed silent fury.

It was so potent that it could kill a bull with a single glance.

Too bad these thugs aren't too keen on body language.  

"Let's get em'!" One earth pony said as they all charged at Gummy and Spike.

Gummy nimbly dodged most of their drunken blows and punched at them.

They didn't last long, after a few heavy punches to the face. They were all on the ground or slumped across bar tables.

Spike turned quickly to see five guys knocked out around Gummy.

He was amazed that Gummy took them out so fast.

Spike on the other hand, saw the tank like pony he had to deal with.

He didn't like his odds.

He started punching him as hard as he could.

It didn't work.

He tried kicking him in the head.

The thug merely looked at him.

Oh crap... Spike said as he got hit by a big fist that came barreling towards him.

Spike managed to get back up on his feet.

Although his legs shook.

Oh crap I'm getting the fear jitters. Spike thought as he saw that his legs wouldn't stop shaking.

He then tried throwing beer bottles at this pony's face.

The bottles exploded in a shower of glass once they made contact with the pony's face.

The beer bottles worked!

They managed to cut the pony's face and cause lacerations.

But it still didn't stop him.

Spike smashed chairs against this pony's family jewels.

But it didn't work.

The pony then grabbed Spike and smashed him against a bar table.

The force of it was so strong that Spike went through the table.

Spike tried to get up but he was seeing double.

His body groaned in protest as he desperately tried to get back up.

The pony took advantage of this and grabbed Spike and picked him up, carrying him over his head.

He then looked around.

The pony spotted a alcohol display and carried Spike over to there.

He bit down on the pony's hands.

It didn't work.

Oh crap! Spike said as he struggled to break free.

Then a sword slashed at the pony's back and legs.

The pony cried out as the pain became too great and he collapsed on the ground.

"Phew!" Spike said as he got back down to the ground.

"Thanks Gummy!" Spike said.

"No thanks is needed." Gummy said.

"I was simply doing my duty. they were thugs." Gummy said in disgust.

"Yeah, let's go see how Sunset is doing." Spike said as he and Gummy walked over to Sunset.

"Hey Sunset, you okay?" Spike asked.

"Yeah Spike I'm fine." Sunset said.

"Just a little shaken up."

"Let's get outta here." Spike said.

The trio left the bar.

So they've survived my thugs eh? a certain god said with a goofy smile.

"OH MY, the property damage they caused!" The god said with a chuckle.

"And that DELICIOUS collateral damage!" He said drooling a little then licking his lips.

He then frowned in realization of what happened.

"It doesn't matter. They won't be able to stop me anyway."

"Muwahahahaha!"

Then the god coughed.

"Oh... note to self. Don't evil laugh for too long."

"Once I sent the green one away. I can take care of the rest of them." The god said with a big evil smile.