When a former guard awakens in the aftermath of apocalypse she does what she can armed with hope.
When a soldier from a war long past, who used to be part of the Equestrian guard forces wakes up from her two hundred and five year slumber to find that everything is drastically different from her memory will she be able to keep going? Will she be able to find a reason to keep going amidst all the pain and death the wastelands of her home seem to be filled with?
"Systems rebooting, good morning unit E-0521." A voice played in my head and I looked around then grimaced as I saw a mirror.
"Well I guess karma thought my lust for steampunk soldiers was a tad extreme and made me one to." I whinnied.
"Ah well I might as well get situated with my surroundings." I leaped off the operating table landing with a clank and cantered out of the base. "Geez they could at least have the courtesy to keep this place clean for me." The old military base was falling apart before but now it looked like a breath would knock it over, good thing I didn't breathe anymore.
Well this is depressing maybe some music. I checked my systems for entertainment files and found one without a name. Curiosity got to me and I turned it on.
Up on melancholy hill there's a plastic tree
are you here with me?
Just looking out on the day of another dream. I nickered a bit at the last line of the first verse "I guess this is appropriate, does feel like I'm dreaming. I know the MAS and MWT are advanced but no pony is going to believe this project worked." I wondered how my parents would look as I walked out the door to the hall, I bet they'd be worried, last they'd heard I was KiA bet they'd be surprised to see me.
Well, you can't get what you want, but you can get me
So let's set up and see
'Cause you are my medicine
When you're close to me, when your close to me Something seemed ominous in the line about not getting what you want but I shook it off. "I don't have time to be paranoid my family has thought I was dead for Celestia only knows how long. I'll make it up to them though." I whinnied as I stepped closer to the exit
So call in the submarine
'Round the world we'll go
Does anypony know
If we're looking out on the day of another dream I started to wonder who was singing. "Soft melodic female," I grinned despite my confusion, "I do believe I've got another filly trying to get with me, maybe this time it'll have been Spitfire."
If you can't get what you want
Then you come with me I whinnied, "I can get what I want normally so that rules out the fillies back in Cloudsdale."
Up on Melancholy Hill
Sits a manatee
Just looking out for the day
When you're close to me, when you're close to me I was a bit confused, "What in Celestia's name is a manatee? I bet somepony made it up so they could rhyme this."
When you're close to me
The music stopped abruptly, "Quicker than if an orchestra was playing, a unicorn with a music spell? A high level one too considering how much music was playing."
"Please don't wake up... I'm sory, I'm so sorry but it's all gone, everything we worked for was for nothing, we didn't win, no one did, and I pray to Celestia you never wake up to see it. I convinced you this was the best choice... I'm sorry. I... I'm going to the Stable... you'll survive it I know you will, you were designed to be tougher than you were before, just please... don't wake up... I couldn't stand to see you hurt... even if I'm with Celestia in the clouds when you do... it'll hurt please... don't wake up." Came the soft voice of a mare.
We lost? So the zebras beat us? Then how did no one win? What had I missed? I walked outside uncertain of what I'd see, and looked around. The lands were wasted the sky was closed and rain poured, it would have been the perfect place to mourn all I had lost while I was asleep, too bad I didn't have tears to shed anymore.
* * *
"What in the name of Luna are you?" A spritebot asked me and I looked it over, "Pinkie? That you?"
The spritebot froze, then hissed, "How do you know that name. How are you standing here and how is it that you look preserved?"
I looked at him, I accessed some files to try and tell him who I was but then I was greeted with an inopportune message, files corrupted back ups inaccessible, do you wish to delete these files y/n? I sighed, "I wish I could tell you but it seems the files aren't here."
"Files? What on earth are you tal-" he looked a bit more close and noticed a rigidity that living beings shouldn't have. "Sweet Celestia... they actually did it... and to a pegasus... but... how?"
"You mean the whole being an android thing?" I asked not seeing the big deal, necessity caused genius after all so I had no doubt I wasn't the only android wandering this barren Equestria. I checked my calendar for the date, it was 205 years after I had officially died. I knew ponies were smart so surely I couldn't be the only one... but then why would someone who could acess Pinkie's legacy be surprised.
"An... android... you're... an android? You... look I don't know who you are, I'm not sure what would make any pony deprive you of the rest everyone, pony, griffin, zebra, dragon, and any other creature needs some day, but I will tell you this, if you value your life do not go to anyone in power armor to chat." The Spritebot said.
I was confused at first but what reason did this voice have to lie to me, "I suppose so, anyways thanks for the tip, anything I can pay you back with...?" I realized we hadn't introduced ourselves, but I couldn't introduce myself could I?
"Watcher, call me Watcher, and there's absolutely no way I'm sending you to he-..." he stared at me and realized something, "You're over two hundred right?"
"Yeah according to this calendar." I said not seeing his point.
"Tell me what would you do if you saw a pony suffering at the hands of another?" Watcher said.
"I'd tell the aggressor to stop and if that didn't work I'd make them stop." I said flatly again not seeing the point, I mean wouldn't any pony want to help?
"Then I think there's something you can do for me, I'm going to mark a location on your tracking matrix and I want you to save some fillies and foals being sold as slaves." Watcher told me
"Well I have no idea what slaves are but I know there's no price you can put on a pony. I'll get them out in ten seconds flat or my name isn't... oh right... that only works when you remember your name." I said and grinned sheepishly
Watcher chuckled a little, "Glad I can meet someone who's willing to help even after being told what I needed. Even if you can't remember your name. Say can you even fly?"
He was obviously staring at the my body and finding the weight ridiculous. I sighed, "You really think they'd preserve the life of a pegasus, let her keep her wings and then make them useless?"
He sounded a bit sad, "With everything I've seen in the past two hundred years I wouldn't say I'd be surprised if they did."
I felt a little unsure and tried my wings and rose a lot higher than I normally did, flames apparently had been added to help with uplift since I was 750 lbs heavier than I used to be wish I could find the instruction manual. I got the hang of it eventually and flew off to the location.
Watcher did just what he'd said he did, he watched me, "I really doubt she's one of the six but if she was it'd make my job much easier." * * *
"Listen up! I'm going to say this once, hand over the ponies you intend to sell and nopony gets hurt!" A bullet shot through my head as the slavers laughed.
I stood and sighed, "I really hoped I wouldn't have to do this the hard way. Each and every one of you is going to be treated to the definition of pain!"
The slavers looked at the hole in my head mouths agape. "How is she still standing?" One asked. "Is she a ghost?" Another asked, "The spirit of a pegasus out for revenge?" another questioned, then one took a look, "Sweet Celestia her head is sparking... there's no brain in there!"
The mare who said that was about to order the retreat when she got a pegasus shaped hole in her gut courtesy of my rocket augmented flying. The others looked at their boss in shock and dropped their weapons and stood terrified. I looked over them again, "Now I'm going to say this one more time, hand over your captives and no one gets hurt." They nodded, I was glad to know that they were capable of making smart decisions.
A voice chirped in my head, "Unit E-0521's head has been damaged, please seek out metal to supplement existing repair protocol." I looked at the guns and the collars the ponies I rescued were wearing, "Think you can sweet talk those collars into getting the buck off these ponies?" I asked and my AI chirped back, "Processing request, error no feedback overriding to serve the highest power around, error no highest power found unit E-0521 is now the highest power." I smiled, "Well think I could call you Sheila." My AI chirped, "Request granted, instructions?" I smiled, I loved when things went my way. "Sheila think you can get those collars to disarm? I'm pretty sure they're explosives" Sheila chirped back "Request pending, request approved overriding collars AI."
The ponies looked shocked as their collars fell to the ground disarmed. Then they looked at me fear creeping in their eyes, "Who are you? Why are you doing this?
I looked at them, "Don't know who I am, files are gone, as for why, wouldn't anypony else save those in need?" I saw their eyes go downcast, "I guess not huh?" I picked up the collars and guns and Sheila started the repair protocol as my head patched up.
"Can you please find it in your heart to get us to safety? We can go alone but the children... please help." A blue Earthpony mare asked, "I don't care if you're Enclave, I don't even care if you're some kind of raider, but please help us."
I looked at her like she was stupid, "Why do you need to ask? I'm not just going to abandon my duty, and I'm not going to abandon ponies I just saved." The mares stood there mouths agape and a filly cheered, "We got a superhero! War mare!" I cringed, "Hey easy with the nicknames I don't have a real name that I can remember but I'm pretty sure I don't want everypony calling me war mare." She looked downcast and then looked up, "Centurion!" I scratched my chin with a hoof, I was part of the royal guard before the procedure I had been tasked with protecting ponies from threats, it seemed fitting I nodded and the filly smiled. "Okay line up we're moving out! Who knows the nearest town?"
A mare told me the directions and I lead the way and tossed a revolver my repair protocol hadn't found compatiblle to the mare in the back, "I can take the lead but anything sneak attacks fire at it and yell loud and I'll be there to take them out." The mare nodded as I lead. * * *
We had found civilization! Well as much civilization as a barren homeland could give anyways, it wasn't much but as I looked at the sign for New Appleloosa I knew it didn't have to be the mares thanked me and the fillies went to play with locals. Pretty soon a crowd of fillies swarmed me and one a gray... Earth pony? Then where was that scar... oh... she had her horn taken off... the gray former unicorn Looked up at me, "Are you really a hero like the Stable Dweller."
I shook my head, "I'm not a hero any pony would save the weak and helpless. Really I'm just an old, old pegasus who just woke up."
She seemed confused and asked what I meant, "It's not like you can sleep for a really long time that'd be like being dead..." I looked at her and sighed. I suppose I had no choice, or maybe the shot to the head earlier was still being repaired and my common sense was damaged but I took a carbine I hadn't used in my repair protocol and found enough tin cans to cover the repairs I'd need after this demonstration, I opened fire and the fillies screamed, the guards came running and saw me standing rigid not bleeding with holes in my torso that were quickly patched up. The unicorn's eyes were shaking "M-miss just how long were you asleep?"
"Would you believe me if I said two hundred and five years?" I swear her eyes looked like they'd pop out of her head when I dropped that bomb on her, she told me to stay here and she brought back... a corpse?
The corpse moved and I blinked, I could be pretty accepting but this was a bit odd and this was coming from a mare who had seen bat wings on zebras. She held out a chalk board, "Hello! I'm Ditzy and I think we have to talk."
I recognized her name from somewhere and followed her to her store, I told her all I remembered about the war, about my home, my family, and about my... death. She looked over me sympathetically and wrote again "I'm sorry it's all gone." I looked at her, "I'm not." She seemed taken aback, before she could write out a question I spoke, "sure I was sad at first, I was terrified, but then I realized something, I wan't going to do anypony any good sitting on my flank doing nothing, the land is scarred but there are still ponies here, and I know deep down in my heart that so long as there are ponies we can rebuild and make everything better, maybe not perfect, but at least better."
I was a little sad to leave but duty called, I was a member of the royal guard when there was a war, I was a member of the royal guard when I died, and I would be bucked with Luna's horn 'till my legs gave out and my body gave up on me before I brought shame on the royal guard. "Sheila? You picking up any radio signals?" the chirp again, "Yes ma'am I have found three radio signals, one seems to be... patriotic in a way, another seems to be run by someone you might remember, and the last seems to be transmitting a distress beacon." I thought for a moment, "mark the distress beacon as my primary objective and play the radio run by this person you think I'll be familiar with." I waited a moment and the chirp came in, "Right away ma'am." * * *
"Good morning Wastelands! Now I know some of you are worried saying that maybe our heroic stable dweller isn't enough to save us all, well to all of you who say that I've got good news, a pegasus of all ponies is here to pick up the slack, she isn't with the Enclave either, but from what I've gathered she isn't a Dashite doesn't have a scorched off cutie mark, that shield is still standing strong. So a few of you must be wondering how this is possible, so here's a history lesson, a long time ago we had a royal guard made up of pegasi and unicorn, long story short they're all dead, even this one, unless you call being an android alive! That's right little ponies, our new hero is a mechanical Centurion so miraculous it'd make every single Steel Ranger get wet from overload on tech. This is DJ p0n-3 saying, bad ponies beware and thank you Centurion."
I didn't hear the thanks my mind was reeling from the name, "How in Equestria did Vinyl survive two hundred and five years, and why did she sound like a colt?" Sheila chirped, "Would you like to open communications until we arrive at our primary objective?" I thought, "Can you throw me on autopilot while I talk?" "Affirmative" I smiled, I'd be able to talk with a pony I knew, I had thought I'd never get to speak to a pony I knew again. "Sheila open communications." "Opening please wait. Communication established commencing autopilot subroutine."
"Vinyl! You devilish little unicorn you! How on Equestria did you manage to survive two hundred and five years? And why do you sound like a colt now?" I said expecting her to laugh it off and call it part of a new show.
"How did you reach this station and how do you know who the first dj p0n-3 was?" A mare asked. I hadn't expected that... "Sheila open visuals" "opening" a screen flashed in front of my face and I stared into the eyes of a gray unicorn with an electric blue mane and tail. "You're... Centurion aren't you?" I nodded seeming glum, "Is that how you know her? Did you meet her? Do you have any of her music?" I felt like I should be asking her questions but the only thing I could think to ask was why this land seemed to raise my hopes and smash them when I wasn't wary. "I knew her I was at her show when she covered Rarity's fashion show, it was a disaster." I chuckled a bit before continuing, "and yeah we met, our bodies too at a few points." I blushed a bit recalling that and the unicorn just gasped lightly, "As for her music it might be somewhere in the entertainment files... I... did find a recording can you edit it?" The unicorn nodded, then I sent it to her, "You'll know what part needs to be edited." She noddded and I looked at her, "You're a decent pony and go out of your way to warn other ponies of any dangers... can I interest you in a front row seat?" She looked confused and scared, she was cute like that then I clarified for her, "I'll give you the code for access to my eyes." She looked amazed, "I'll be able to see what you see?" I nodded "Sheila grant miss...", "Homage, my name is Homage, Centurion" "Sheila grant miss Homage the access codes to my eyes so she can see what I see whenever she desires." Sheila chirped "Affirmative transferring done. We have reached the primary objective reached please descend 2 miles." ----- Footnote: Level up New perk - Pony of the past: You've been around since all the tech lying around was brand spanking new and you were always tech savvy and knew just how to make the most of them + 5 in science and medicine for every level. Thanks to Kkat for pioneering this series Mimeziga for making me realize it didn't have to be too dark and Somber for giving me an idea of why Centurion's still okay My Little Pony (C) of Hasbro and Fall out (C) of Bethseda The song used at the beginning is On Melancholy Hill by the altered to be pony related if you thought it read well I'm sure they'd appreciate it if you listened to their music.
"She's down we've got her," an excited whinny came as I felt my body go heavy, "I knew she'd take the bait she's a hero after all." The mare in metal armor seemed a bit excited, "I can't wait to strip her apart and see what makes her tick think of how much more effective the Rangers will be when we have our armor on the inside of our skins! No one will know who's a Ranger and who's not!" I was feeling a bit sick that they'd be willing to do it to themselves.
"Ma'am what should we do with the bait?" A young buck asked the commander. The commander just looked at him dully, "What do we normally do with those who've outlived their usefulness to us?" He straightened and saluted, "Ma'am yes ma'am we will execute them post haste." The commander smiled, "see that you do."
I'm sure if I had blood it'd be running cold but all I heard right now was my head screaming for me to move, but I couldn't and then I saw them execute a mother in front of her children who could only cry and my body started to listen, I flew into the young buck knocking him to the ground as I smashed my hooves into his helmet, "You! Do! Not! Kill! A! Mother!" I emphasized every word with a buck to his head courtesy of my forehooves and the other Rangers could only watch as his helmet dented in and oozed blood out.
I began chuckling as the rangers looked at me clearly scared, and then something snapped and I began to sing.
Total slaughter,
Total slaughter
I won't leave a
Single soul alive
La di da di die
Genocide
La di da di da
An ocean of blood
Let's begin the killing time
They shook in terror and began to run, I knew I wasn't off their target list. In fact I would probably be a lot higher on the list now that they'd seen I could force myself into action even when my mechanics weren't working. I walked to the mother as her children cried over her. "You... you're that..." She coughed up blood before continuing, "Centurion everypony's been talking about right?" She coughed again as I nodded. She looked at me she knew she wouldn't make it, "Please... take my children... take care of... Rosalin and Merryweather keep them safe in my place... I don't want to see them unless it's from something natural... I... my kids need to survive." I looked at her and then her kids, they'd be a liability to me, they'd probably slow me down and I knew it.
"I promise I'll keep them safe or be ripped to shreds trying." I said solemnly and the mare smiled as she passed on knowing that her children would be safe in my hooves.
* * *
"Why are we here Miss Centurion?" the youngest of the fillies asked, the older was quieter, probably more effected, she probably thought her mom would be around forever when I was her age I'd felt the same way. I looked at Merryweather, she was a darling little unicorn her bright turquoise eyes catching the dim lighting of the waste land just so, making it look like they shined, her red mane a contrast to her alabaster coat.
"Unless you two can grow wings we need transportation. If we're really lucky it'll still be here." I said
"What exactly will still be here?" a crash resounded as Rosalin spoke and an armored chariot flew out of the window and landed smack in the middle of the road we were standing in with little more than a few scratches. It looked almost new despite being around for 200 years. She looked at it and then to me, "That's what we were looking for, new as the day I begged my old man to buy it for me." Rosalin looked more confused by this revelation her blue eyes scrunching in concentration, as her magenta mane fall across her brow, her luminescent white coat a gem among the dull browns of the Wastes. "Why would you have a chariot if you can fly?" She finally asked.
I almost gave her a look that told her just how stupid I thought that question was but I stopped when I realized there was a shortage of pegasi in the Wasteland. "Well back when I was your age." She looked at me questioningly. I sighed so she could ask, "Wouldn't that be about 5 years ago?" She said and I shook my head, "Try two hundred and five." Her jaw must have dropped three feet."Okay anyways, back when I was your age Pegasi, Earth ponies, and Unicorns all lived together in... well not exactly harmony but it was pretty good, I had a friend named Fortune, she was a unicorn liked freaking people out with fortune telling. Problem was she wasn't exactly... well inclined to walk for miles and miles, and it was hard to fly with somepony on your back. So I begged my dad to buy me a chariot so I could have fun with my friends, took five weeks of begging before he relented, said I probably outwhined Rarity when she was whining the Diamond dogs into freeing her." I chuckled remembering the day, father had been pulling his mane out from all of my begging until finally he saw he couldn't win and bought it for me.
"Anyways hop in I'll get in the harness, anywhere you two want to go to take your mind off today?" I asked, hoping they'd take me up on the offer.
Rosalin was quiet but Merryweather bounced, "Oh oh oh! I know! Ponyville! I've always wanted to see where the Ministry Mares met!" I chuckled, "One trip to Ponyville coming right up!" I flew them towards our destination hoping they'd feel better after the trip.
* * *
All that waited for us was a scene of carnage, whatever there was that I remembered of this place had been washed with blood. There were bodies all around most of them seemed to be raiders a few seemed to have been unlucky ones. I heard Merryweather crying as Rosalin hugged her telling her it'd be okay and then I heard a clicking and jumped in front and a bullet punched through my head and got lodged inside. Merryweather screamed and Rosalin looked shocked that I'd take the bullet for them.
"Ow... and here I thought they'd removed my nerve endings before they brought me back." Merry and Rosalin just stared, and then I got the pleasure to hear Homage, "Hey I was just listening in, mind telling me what you meant by they?" Sheila put her on screen for me and I looked her in the eye with a hole through my head slowly mending, she seemed disturbed then I spoke when it was done, "Sorry about that my repair function took a little power from speech control. Anyhow I'm talking about Project Restoration. You know about the megaspells but ever wonder what they did with their most valuable soldiers before then?" Homage nodded and I smiled glad she seemed interested and not disgusted, "Well, that's where Project Restoration came in, what better way to spook an enemy that was highly superstitious than to confront them with something they couldn't explain, the dead walking perfectly fine." Homage seemed horrified, "Me? I got the honor of being talked into it by some pony. I don't remember who. All I do remember is that when I was about to die I was about to accept it then next thing I know I'm being knocked out to be restored and enhanced. The sniper from earlier probably ran when they saw that the bullet did nothing to me. At least I thought it did nothing until a minute later it ripped out the other side of my head and Sheila said, "Warning self repair function is offline please go to the nearest technician for repair." I groaned wondering what shoved the bullet out and saw Rosalin with it wrapped in her magic her glowing horn flickering out.
Rosalin whimpered when I looked at her, "I'm sorry I thought it was hurting you." I couldn't stay mad at a filly and I sighed, "you two happen to know of any ponies that are extremely good at repairs?"
* * *
I looked at the technician like he was mad, "Okay you want me to tear off my skin so you can sell it as clothes and then you'll be willing to fix me?" He nodded and said, "I doubt you have enough caps otherwise."
I looked at him confused, "Caps?" He nodded, "what are you a stable pony?" I sighed and before I began Merry bounced as she spoke, "She's a two hundred and five year old super hero pegasus that took a bullet in the head for me and Rosy!" The technician looked at me, "super hero huh? I think this town could use that. Tell you what clear out the raider infestation blocking the road up north and I'll fix you up and fix these two up with some armor." I sighed and nodded, "One condition though, I want them to stay here, they almost got shot once with my protection I'm not looking forward to an extermination job with them." He nodded, "It's fine Rosalin and I are friends." I saw him looking longingly at her. As soon as we were out of his work house and out of earshotI asked what his deal was.
Rosalin was about so speak when Merryweather happily bounced and cut Rosalin off, "Wrenchy has a crush on Rosy we used to live here with mom, when dad was here!" Well that would explain why he was willing to take them. I nodded and went to the store to look for scrap metal, a stall with an image of a rearing filly on it's hind legs. "The crusaders are still around?" The filly at the counter looked up at me confused.
"Miss how did you know who we were? I ain't never seen a pegasus whut knew about Crusaders." I thought about how to say it and figured to introduce myself first. "Hey there I'm Centurion your friendly 205 year old guard mare willing to take a bullet for another pony." The filly looked at me and started laughing. "That was a good 'ne!" She looked at me again, "Oh... you actually meant it? Well if'n your that Centurion DJ P0n-3 talks about what'chu doin' buyin' scrap metal?" She said as she saw me looking over her selection. I sighed and turned around and she just meeped, "w-what how are you still standing?"
I looked at her, "Well ever seen robots?" She nodded, "Think of me as a more advanced one of those." She screamed and I asked what was wrong, "T-them robots are killers they don't do nothin' but kill ponies!" I rolled my eyes, "Do I seem like a killer to you?" She looked me over and apologized. Then I got down to business, "Do you have any information on the raiders up north?"
"The ones blocking the trade roads? All I know is they got rocket launchers and don't like no ponies." I sighed, this was just perfect.
"Thanks for the information." I was about to walk off when I remembered something I'd heard Twilight talking about while I was near her office at the MAS hub asking about Project Restoration "Say you wouldn't happen to have any stealth bucks would you?" * * *
I had to admit I was surprised when the filly told me I could have a discount since I had known the original Crusaders, I hadn't expected anyone to care about Applebloom Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle in this day and age. Still that 50% off really helped since I had to work on barter and most of what I could barter were things my repair protocol couldn't use. I ended up trading in the power armor from the ranger I killed and his grenades and ammunition for the five stealthbucks she had. It's not like I need to use a weapon too often anyways. I was a 750 pound wrecking ball with wings for Celestia's sake.
I popped the Stealthbuck in as soon as I got over their hide out. I dropped down and followed the furthest raider as he made his rounds, the buck didn't have time to scream when I wrapped my hooves around his neck and snapped it. His body fell with a dull thump and I moved to pick off the Raider in the watch tower with the bazooka, I picked it up in case it had metals my repair function could use. I placed it in my bags and moved on to pick off the remaining guards in the yard outside the... wait that was the school I went to when I was a filly... Cherilee deserved a proper burial. If I found her body in there I would bury her no matter what. I finished off the raiders in the yard as the first stealth buck wore off I set it aside in my bag wondering if the metal was good if not I'd toss it in the next dumpster I saw. That just left the inside I popped my second stealthbuck into the slot in my back. I looked through the window, these ones were a lot smarter they went in groups I'd have to be sneaky to take them out, after all I couldn't heal and I wasn't sure if they could. I went inside and flew high to the ceiling to scope the main room there weren't any raiders here thankfully so I went through the next door and saw a group of three talking.
"Damn it you broke her! I wanted to be the one to break her!" Said a big Earth Pony mare I shuddered imagining what they were talking about, "quit your whining, you can break the next one," her companion a Unicorn buck. The third a lime green unicorn rolled her eyes, "Shut up and let's eat." I finally saw what they were talking about as they lowered their heads to eat. A small lavender mare with a light purple main and a cutie mark of an oil can and a wrench was shivering. I couldn't allow it to happen I ran into the buck who had called told his associate to quit whining and slammed him into the wall then dropped him and stomped on his throat shattering it under hoof. I moved on to the two mares who were already pulling their weapons one had a pool cue the other a shot gun. I charged up to her faster than I thought I could and punched, I felt a bit ill when I saw that my hoof had gone straight through her gut and her spine. The pool cue smashed over my head and the last Raider whimpered, "W-what the buck are you?! WHAT THE BUCK ARE YOU?!" She cried as she tried to grab the shot gun her partner had dropped when her concentration dropped with a bit of her innards. She got it aimed before I punched through her lower jaw my hood exiting her skull. I suppose I would have felt like an executioner, but I was never about ending lives I was about protecting the lives of the endangered. I looked at the mare they seemed to have been planning to eat and picker her up over my back. I checked the E.F.S in my armor giving it a cursory glance. Sheila asked why I didn't use it more often and I told her a good soldier didn't need a radar to be aware of her surroundings. The Raiders were gone these three must have been having a break when I broke in and killed every pony, I saw a group of skeletons in the corner and sighed as I set the mare I rescued down, "Stay here and don't make a sound, the Raiders are gone but there might be other dangers around." She nodded her eyes vacant. I walked over to the skeletons all of them seemed to be unicorns, I began wondering if this Raider group hated unicorns when I saw an Earth pony skeleton clutching a picture of a class that I recognized. Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle had all sat together when the picture was taken trying their best to look innocent when one of their cutie mark attempts went wrong, and I knew only one mare who would have come here to die if she had no other option. I'm sure I would have cried and said it was unfair if I could cry but I knew I couldn't change it, "Well Cherilee, I'm glad I can give you a resting place better than this." * * *
The mare I had rescued was worried I had left her and rushed outside only to see me digging with a shovel in my teeth and the skeletons from the school behind me, a single tree stump from what used to be an apple tree would act as the tomb stone for the most important grave. I finished digging her grave and carefully I picked up Cherilee's remains and set them in the ground before I wrote into the stump, "Here lies Cherilee beloved teacher, her love for her students was matched only by her wisdom and kindness." I smiled mournfully as I began to bury her, I was sure somewhere up above she was happy she finally had a resting place away from the atrocities the Raiders had been committing in her school.
I began digging the rest of the graves as the mare I rescued watched confused. "Why are you burying them?" I looked at her, "Because other than the ones the Raider's killed recently, it's likely that I knew these skeletons or their parents." She seemed disturbed, "Don't be stupid that'd make you-" I looked at her with eyes far to old to belong in my body, eyes that had seen so much and yet that still held a few sparks of hope and happiness, "Over two hundred years old."
She laughed, "There's no way that you can be that old." Then I turned around to show the hole in the back of my head. The wires sparking a bit and she whimpered, "What are you going to do to me." I looked at her and smiled, "Take you back to town and make sure my kids are okay."
She looked at me, "How can you even have kids?" The smile died and I could tell she knew I didn't want to talk, "You have a right to know. I saw their mom get killed. She begged me to take care of them and protect them. I promised her I would and I refuse to dishonor the name of the royal guard by lying to a dying mare or leaving two fillies to die in the Wastelands." It was quiet while I dug the rest of the graves and put the bodies to rest in them, when I finished and paid my respects to Cherilee.
I looked up at the mare "Think you can walk on your own miss?" She nodded, "I'm Strider by the way... I hope my son wasn't worried about me." I looked up, "Strider who's your son?" She looked at me oddly, "Why his name is Wrench." I had just saved the mother of the colt who suggested I let myself get skinned. I wonder if he had ever planned on repairing me or if he just wanted something to make me save his mother.
* * *
When I got back into town Wrench ran to his mother and hugged her crying, "I thought I'd never see you again!" He sniffled, I wondered if Rosalin and Merryweather were lying about him being able to fix my head, then I looked at his cutie mark of two gears and figured if anyone could do it it'd probably be him.
"I owe you so much for clearing out those raiders and saving my mom!" He was blubbering probably felt bad about using me. If he had just asked and told me his mom was in danger I would have run in anyways.
"It's fine listen if you oculd fix my head up then I'll be fine to get going with Rosalin and Weather." I said and Strider's head shot up. "Rosalin... and Weatherberry? They're mother... died?" I sighed, "I'll be honest it was actually an execution." Strider shook, "And you did nothing?" I looked at her, "They hit me with a magic pulse grenade my systems were fried and I had to muster every bit of will power to kill the colt who shot her before she bled to death." Strider said quickly, "You are not taking those children from here they deserve a normal life!"
I replied by looking at her tensely until she shivered, "I told you I made a promise to a dying mare that I would keep them safe, I am not breaking that promise." Strider looked pissed at that comment, "Are you saying I can't keep them safe?!" I looked back and countered, "Are you saying you'd be able to take a bullet to your head and get back up to keep them safe?"
She fell quiet, and I continued, "That's how I got the head wound I barely heard the sniper and dove in the way of the shot. Rosalin pulled the bullet out with her magic right through the section housing my body's repair protocol." Strider looked at me, I couldn't tell if her look was of fear or admiration. "Okay you win, get your repairs and make sure you keep them safe. If you ever come back to this town for repairs without them in tow I will make sure every system in your body is destroyed." I chuckled, "You won't need to, if I ever lose them to anything that's not nature it'll be because I was broken down so badly I couldn't repair myself." ---- Footnote: Level up! New perk: Dashing fighter: Speed for all combat actions increases by 20% enjoy being 20% faster and 20% cooler than your opponents. Quest perk: Steadfast protector (I): When you or your companions are below 50% of your health your damage resistance to all weapons increases by 5% and your resistance to crippling increases by 10% Unarmed skill: 50
"You know I had some doubts about you two being able to handle yourselves." I said as I avoided a slug aimed at my head with a quick roll as buckshot splattered the offending mare's face, "But I have to say you're a lot better than I thought you'd be." I knew there mom was dead they knew it, there was no point looking back, that was my motto, when you don't look back you're forced to look forward and that keeps you moving. Still I liked to think that maybe, just maybe I had become something of a mother to them.
"That was the last of them should we go collect a some caps or some supplies?" I asked, Weather looked up "Can I get a toy?" I smiled at her and ruffled her mane with a forehoof, "Weather for managing that sniper so well I'll get you anything you want in all of the Wasteland." She smiled happily knowing she'd done well. Rosalin just rolled her eyes, "Honestly I'd prefer caps, supplies run out easily and we don't know what they'll be willing to give us for this job it might be good or it might be garbage." I chuckled, she was a very smart pony. I looked them over, "Anypony up for a bit of singing while we fly back into town?" I said as I got into the harness again. Rosalin and Weather both said they'd like it and I thought about what to sing, I checked my entertainment files for some ideas and a certain song caught my eye I began smiling. "You girls are in for a treat."
Summer don't know me no more
Eager mare that's all
Summer don't know me
He just let me love in my sea
'Cause I do know, Luna, from you that
just died,yeah
I saw that day, lost my mind
Luna, I'll find maybe in time
You'll want to be mine
Don't stop that buck when it comes
It's the dawn, you'll see
Bits won't get there
Ten years passed tonight you'll flee
If you do that, I'll be some
To find you
I saw that day, lost my mind
Luna, I'll find, maybe in time
You'll want to be mine
I saw that day, lost my mind
Luna, I'll find, maybe in time
You'll want to be mine
Maybe in time
You'll want to be mine
Maybe in time
You'll want to be mine
* * *
"You're giving us a house here?" I was really surprised we'd only been helping out New Appleloosa with it's problems for about three days. The mayor looked at me seriously, "How many ponies do you see with smiles on their faces these days?" I looked around, "Well it looks like just about everyopony's smiling why?" I didn't see a point to his question, then he scratched his chin with his hoof, "I see and how many do you think were smiling before you cleared out the infestations of raiders, took out that attacking Chimera, and helped with repairing damaged houses?" I thought for a moment, "I don't think anypony was." He smiled, "That's exactly why, you've given us something no amount of caps has given us, you've given us happiness, you and your fillies are welcome here any time you want."
I smiled, then I realized it meant there wasn't much work to do around anymore I called up Homage, "Hey, you know anywhere that could use the help of a Centurion?" I was worried for a moment when there was no answer then Homage yawned into the microphone, "I"m sorry did you say something?" I chuckled, Homage looked like a tough mare she could handle herself I was just being a silly pony getting so worried about her. "Yeah do you know anywhere that could use the help of a Centurion?" Merry pouted and I chuckled, "Sorry make that a Centurion and her apprentices." Rosalin rolled her eyes but Merry was satisfied. "Let me just check the okay it looks like Gawd's got a few jobs rounded up at Shattered Hoof their griffins and a bit rough 40% of the profits go to improving Shattered Hoof are you okay with that?" I rolled my eyes, "Do I look like a pony who's concerned with caps? I just need enough to make my girls happy and I'm happy them and Equestria are all that really matters to me." I nuzzled Rosalin and Merry, "So girls ready for an adventure to a new town to help?"
Merry seemed excited so I was happy, but Rosalin... well she was being Rosalin a bit quiet distant, we'd have to have a talk if I could ever get her alone. "Okay girls hop in the chariot if you need to go to the bathroom just give a tug on that reign and I'll land at the closest place we can." Rosalin sighed, "We get it you don't want us ruining the paint job, jeez." I looked at her, "No I don't want you holding it in, it's bad for your health and that's one of the few things I'm concerned about these days." Rosalin looked down, "Sorry it's just a little hard to get through you know?" I had hoped to talk to her away from Merry but it had to happen now, I walked over to her and gave her a hug, "I know it hurts. I know I'm not your mom and I know no pony can ever replace her, but I will always be there for you until the day I finally break. I know you probably won't want to believe this but I love you and Merry more than you'll ever know." Rosalin raised an eyebrow, "And why might that be?" I sighed, "Because I had a kid once before I died." Rosalin for her part did seem shocked, "You were a mother?" I nodded, "I wasn't the best I put Equestria and my job before my kids and Celestia help me I feel terrible about that every day of my life. But I have to keep going, maybe she survived maybe she had a family, for all I know somewhere in those clouds is my great great great grand daughter and before I see her I've got to make sure this place is as clean as it can be. But most importantly, I have to make up for not stopping the Rangers from killing your mother and to do everything in my power to make sure you and your sister are okay." Rosalin was on the verge of tears, "You idiot!" I just sat on my flank while she hit me over and over again, "You could have been broken by those raiders without your repair function! You could have been gone, you could have left Merry and I all alone!" I smiled a bit as she started to slow down wearing herself out, "And I also could have left the Raider's alone knowing how dangerous they are to the ponies down here. I'm not willing to let them endanger others. I'm one of the only Pegasi down here and a lot of people seem a bit displeased with my kind. So I have to show them just how loyal I am to the country I love even though it's gone." Rosalin blinked, "Why would you be loyal to a country after it's gone?"
I looked at her, "The same reason you're not happy with me, because you don't want to betray your mom. Equestria was were I was born, it was where I was raised, it was where I died, and it's where I have a chance to help it be reborn." She just looked at me tears in her eyes, "How did you figure all of that out?" I just smiled, "I already told you, I was a mom a long time ago, and while I may not be your mom, I'll be bucked by Applejack in the face if I let you two be hurt by the land I loved as long as I lived and that I still love to this day."
* * *
I landed in Shattered Hoofs and was approached by a Griffin almost off the bat, "We don't allow Enclave past this point." I smiled as I looked at her, "I'm not Enclave miss." She looked suspiciously at the chariot with the sleeping unicorns in it and at me smiling like I had a screw loose, "If you're not Enclave where do your loyalties lie?" I smiled again, "To Equestria, and to it's inhabitants, griffin, dragon, pegasi, earth pony, unicorn, every single solitary creature that's out there trying to make this place better." She looked at me a bit surprised, "Okay then, why exactly are you here?" I smiled, "For some jobs." She looked me over, "You don't look like much but Gawd doesn't let us oust out of looks since the Stable Dweller gave us this land." I smiled again, "So where can I find the jobs?" The griffin jerked her head towards a bill board covered with fliers." I looked at her, "The fliers are for the jobs?" She laughed, "No the fliers are for people looking for jobs." I didn't see a difference until I went up and saw that they all said the same thing "gun for hire" I grabbed one and put it on and a young griffin approached me, and tugged on my tail holding a stuffed pegasus I recognized as Rainbow Dash, "Miss my little sister went missing... she said she was going to check out Appleloosa but it's slaver territory."
A shiver went up my spine, and I looked at the griffin, "Can you keep the kids I came with safe and entertained?" The griffin nodded, "Then you get the Centurion special discount, 100% off." I jerked up into the sky and flew off "Sheila set primary objective at Appleloosa!" "Affirmative new target confirmed." "Sheila?" "Yes?" "Thank you for everything, I haven't had time to say it but you've been a wonderful partner, and in case I don't make it back I just want you to know that." "The sentiment is... returned."
After a couple minutes flying at my top speed towards Appleloosa I felt my hooves pressing into something, I yelled, "Sheila!" "How may I help you?" was her response, "ETA?", "Calculating... calculating... at current rate you should arrive in 1 hour and 30 minutes." That was too long who knows what those slavers would do to that griffin. "Sheila?" "Yes?" I knew this was stupid idea, "drop all energy except what's necessary for my head to function and funnel it into my speed." "Warning that could result in the equivalent of a Sonic rainboom and could tear you apart if you don't succeed." I growled, "Sheila I don't have any other choice do it now!" "Affirmative." I felt what I was pressing into get ripped through like paper as a loud explosion formed behind me my limbs seemed to be on fire as I moved every inch of my body was over heating Sheila was citing warnings left and rights about which parts were about to overheat and stop functioning unless I could get repaired, I knew I'd have to get repaired after this, and if I was lucky I could manage it before Rosalin and Merry were up.
* * *
"Sir!" A young pegasus new to her job yelled to her commanding officer "What is it Lieutenant Claurisa?" General Gale asked. "A sonic rainboom has been detected in the Wastelands!" She replied seeming panicked and confused about what was going on. Gale sighed, it would have to happen two days before he could retire wouldn't it? His wife and his kids were all at home just waiting for him to get home to a dinner so they could be a family and have fun together, it looked like his plans to retire and have a nice quiet life would have to be postponed though. "Okay search every pegasus we've sent down in the last twenty years and check there maximum speeds." Claurisa started to type furiously into her cloud terminal, "No match sir!" Gale pounded his hoof on the table, "WHAT?! How can there not be a match?!" He knew what this meant, he couldn't dispatch the Wonderbolts or the Shadowbolts to deal with someone they didn't know who could perform the Sonic Rainboom. "We're going to need to send her in..." Gale sighed, Claurisa gasped, "But you know she inherited her great great great grandmother's stubbornness!" Gale slammed his hoof on the table silencing her before she could protest more, "DO YOU THINK I WANT TO DO THIS? WOULD YOU RATHER WE HAVE A ROGUE UNKNOWN FACTOR RAMPAGING THROUGH THE WASTELAND WITH OUR SECRET WEAPON?" Claurisa quieted down, "I understand sir, when should we dispatch her." Gale sighed, "In three days we're going to need to make sure the Enclave realizes this as a threat and not a test or something."
* * *
"Get off me you bucking cowards!" A lone Griffin was facing off against several slavers trying to collar her when an explosion sounded in the sky and something sped towards them, no pony or Griffin moved they all stared in shock as a crater two feet deep formed when a pegasus mare landed.
The silence was palpable, and then one of the slavers smiled, "We got a streak of good luck boys! A Pegasus and a griffin delivered themselves to us! Get a collar on her!" I stood there and waited for the one with the collar to get close and then I delivered a buck that snapped his rib cage in he fell to the ground coughing blood until he choked, "So who wants some." My stare told them all they really needed to know about the situation, I didn't come here for a fight, I came here for a massacre, and if they didn't run they were going to be a lot worse off than the Wastelands were. The mare of the group growled and started to yell to retreat, I didn't like that very much I was on her in seconds and a hoof punched through her throat blood spilled down it as I tossed her aside. "Come one come all to this little game, it's so fun you could just die when you play!" One of the bucks with the group launched forward with a knife in his jaw I socked him so hard with a forehoof the knife cracked with his face. There were two left, "Come on it's two against one you've got guns, stop trying to hit me and hit me." They unleashed a spray from their SMGs but I flew out of the way and then slammed one into the other and stomped through them both before I calmed and walked towards the griffin. "Hey." She took out a knife, "Stay away from me!" I sighed and looked at her, "Your sister's worried sick about you, you know." She blinked, "My sister?... How do you know that?" I looked at her, "I got hired to bring you home, come on, I need to make a stop at New Appleloosa for a few repairs. Do you think you can stay close to me until we're back at Shattered Hoof?" She nodded and we took off.
* * *
I walked in to New Appleloosa and was met by a few of the fillies of the town giving me a few gifts, some health potions, ammo, a few bits of food. I looked at the Griffin I had rescued, "Hey kid!" She looked at me. "My name's not kid it's Ganya...." I smiled, "Well Ganya you hungry?" She looked at some of the food, "A little but don't worry abou-" I cut her off by tossing a can of cram to her, "Eat up." She ate voraciously and thanked me as we walked to Ditzy's store, "Hey Ditzy!" She wrote out "Hello Centurion" on her black board and before she could ask what she could help me with I told her, "Ditzy don't worry you don't have to be a proper store clerk with me. I need a few repairs done and you're one of the few mares around here I trust to do it. She nodded and I laid on the table.
"I thought you came here for repairs." Ganya said, I looked at her, "I did. go ahead Ditzy." Ditzy came back with a knife and proceeded to cut through my skin and Ganya turned pale, "You're killing her stop!" I looked at her and said to Ditzy, "You know you'd think she'd realize I wasn't screaming." She looked at me, "Y-you enjoy this?" I looked back at her, "Not particularly no but things break down over time and my repair function only works for wounds if something over heats then it's broken until fixed." Ganya looked at me, "What the hell are you talking abou-" The she saw the metallic body underneath my skin, "You're a robot?" I rolled my eyes lightly, "Not quite android, I'm still me I'm not programmed I'm just a less killable me than I was during the war." Ganya looked terrified, "You fought in the war?" I nodded, "Fought and died, one of the dragon attacks got me, I was helping out Rainbow during one of the Dragon raids and then it sliced through my back I was weakened by it and got sick soon after and died from illness." She looked at me, "Then why were you?" I smiled, "Brought back? To be honest some pony talked me into going into Project Restoration, it's a lesser known program, officially I died, unofficially I was the first pony based test for a cybernetic pony that could be used to terrify Zebras, there were plenty of mice and cows we tested it on, even a dog or two but I was the first pony to have it done." Ditzy had already begun fixing all my over heated parts and finished up I looked at her and waited for her to hand me some scrap metal so my repair function could heal the cut.
"Thanks Ditzy, oh right I managed to pick you up something and forgot all about it! I found these on a few of the Raiders I took out around here." I took three packs of muffins out of my bag and gave them to her her eyes lit up. She wrote began to write "How did you know?" But I stopped her at how, "I'm two hundred and five years old I recognized your name when I heard it but it took me a while to remember who you were." I smiled and put a hoof around her shoulder, "Man did you ever make some great conversation back then, remember all those bets you and Pinkie made about cooking?" She nodded, "I still can't believe you won the contest of confusing Twilight I place twelve bits on Pinkie's Pinkie sense winning out." I chuckled, "Glad to see you again I have to take Ganya here back to Shattered hoof, tell Silver Belle I said hi." I walked out of the shop with Ganya looking at me with a mix of respect, fear, and disgust. "I can't believe you touched it I mean did anything get on you." I have Ganya a harsh stare, "That 'it' was and still is one of the best friends a I could ever ask for, she puts her self last unless it's absolutely necessary for her to take something, and she has never ever given up on hope even after two hundred and five years two hundred of which she began turning into something that Wastelanders fear and hate." Ganya shrunk, "I'm sorry it's just she looked like you could catch infections from her..." I looked at her eye brow arched, "oh... right... you don't get those do you?" I smiled and shook my head, "Come on let's get to Shattered Hoof and get you back to your sister." ---- Footnote: Level up New Perk: Maternal might: When somepony who you're travelling with is injured to 25% of their health you become 50% stronger and faster until they've recovered. The song used is El Manana with by the Gorillaz with slight alterations.
"Thank you for bringing your my sister back!" Ganya was being hugged by her older sister her face seemed to be going turning a bluer than the Rainbow Dash doll between them. "Gardenia you're choking me!" Ganya was coughing, "Excuse me, much as I enjoy this display of sisterly love." I looked over at Rosalin and Merry snuggled up to each other, "Think you can point me in the direction of a bed for those two?" Gardenia pointed me towards the main keep, "You'll have to ask the guards if you can have a bed for the night." I grinned, "Think you could put in a good word for me? I don't think many people like me here." She nodded, "I do owe you for my sister... um... do you think your kids will like her?" I looked over, "Her?" She was holding out her plushie. "It's the most valuable thing I have other than my sister... please take it." I tried to avoid it but then finally I took it, "I'm sure Merry will love it, and make sure to keep an eye on your sister."
I waited for her to give her word to the guards and walked in after her.
* * *
It was about night and I had made camp for the three of us outside of the forest. Things were looking up, after we left Shattered Hooves, Merry and Rosalin were a bit more chipper and Rosalin was being more open with me. Things seemed like they were never going to get any better and it was the best time. It's funny how looking on a past that should make you mad only makes you sad. That night was when the last vestiges of the pony I was died, we were ambushed by slavers one of them had a rocket launcher and they had the advantage of surprise a rocket shot out towards Rosalin and Merry my first move was to get in front of it despite knowing I'd be torn to pieces. I knew they'd probably suffer without me but their lives had made me feel so great, like my past and all the things I'd done wrong all the things I had to atone for were just minor inconveniences instead of mountainous problems. It's funny looking back, I knew they'd suffer but all that mattered to me was that they lived, even if they had to be slaves they'd be free, some hero like the Stable Dweller would free them, someone who was actually worth the title of hero, the opposite of me.
"Afraid you're not allowed to die yet." A voice began to chime in my head and my mechanics forced me to move without my input, "you're one of the best toys I've ever gotten to see in action. I'm afraid you'll be playing my game a little longer." What?! Some sick twisted pony thought this was a game?
"Let me go! I have to save them!" I began to protest against the voice and whatever was behind it that was controlling me.
"Sorry but every game's got a price. You get to lose what you hold dearest! If you win the game though... you can do whatever you want after. You win the game and you win your freedom." What did he mean I win my freedom? Wasn't I already free? More importantly what was this sick freak talking about game's having a price and how could he or she think that the life of a pony was a price!
"I'm not going to forgive you...I'll play your game but my prize will be your head, and I intend to collect it the second we're done!" I wouldn't let this freak live not after Merry and Rose were gone... they were what I had left... they were what made me better. This monster, they couldn't be called a pony after what they'd done, had made me break my word, a guard could never break their word, and I would have my revenge, for the honor of the guards, for myself, and for Merry and Rosalin.
"So your wish is my head? Well then that'll be your prize. Though a good player should know there past. You have 24 hours to get to the location I marked on your body's E.F.S. system. You fail and the game ends. Oh and you know a protagonist who can heal themselves so easily is boring so I'm turning off the auto repair function and your AI. This is a single player game. You'll dance to my tune or you'll lose your chance at revenge." The voice cackled.
"Fine... but at least tell me what the name of the monster I'm going to kill is." I said in as menacing a voice as I could muster between all of my pain.
A cackle responded, "Oh you ponies are too much. Monster? How is me killing somepony anymore monstrous than you killing somepony? Do you remember those slavers and raiders? Did they deserve to die or be pitied?" I was quieted, "And you have the gall to need a name? Do the many wasteland rivers have names? Do the clouds have names? Fine I'll sate your curiosity. You can call me Astaroth it's an old name from another world and it was the name of a harbinger of death. I really love to break my toys, I wonder how long it'll take you." I didn't chuckle I didn't grimace I knew what I had to do to find peace. Astaroth would die or I would, one of us would remain standing and the other would fall.
"Anyways tick tock you better get going. You might just find a legacy when you get there. That is if those stable-tec dim wits did anything right." Astaroth cackled.
* * *
A big metal gate. I had had the closest things to my daughters since I set my priorities wrong for a big metal gate. I had lost my entire reason for clinging to my pony-ness... for a closed metal gate with the number 12 on it. Now I was really going to kill Astaroth.
"Okay what the hay Astaroth! I'm at the location the door's locked!" I yelled
"Have you tried knocking?" Astaroth cackled, "Okay fine I'll open it up but you get a time penalty of an hour you've got about 1 hour and 30 minutes left to find out your name."
"Well I guess I just need to find a pony who has family that knew m-." A seagreen mare in a suit with the number 12 walked by I'm not sure why I felt I needed to ask her but I did.
"Ma'am! May I ask if you know who I am?" She looked me over after I asked, "Well clearly you can't be alive, a ghost come to haunt my family for my great great great great grandmother's mistakes?"
Mistakes? Are you trying to tell me I had found someone who'd wronged me? "Come to finish the job Sky Piercer gave you? Come to claim your revenge for the procedure she talked you into not working? Well have you Storm Chaser?"
I don't know, I don't know who she means I get vague blurs of a crimson unicorn mare. "Storm Chaser?" I asked.
"Yes you, why did you decide to come here, did Sky's message enrage you so much you've come to seek revenge for her lying and not letting you die? For not giving you peace?" I didn't know would I seek revenge? Was that who I was as a pony? "No, I'm not claiming revenge but thank you."
I called Astaroth, "Storm Chaser." There was silence, "Very good you found your name, I suppose you want a reward, I've got a suitable one how about a sound file?"
"How about nothi-" I began to say but it started playing, "Dammit she's crashing! Somepony we have to stabilize her! Start a reboot! We are not losing her! Project Rebirth can't be set back she's the first pony test subject! Every pony move move!" a silence as a life support machine started beeping again, "She's stable... I don't know when her reboot will complete all her systems were down. I'm sorry Storm Chaser... I'm so sorry... please forgive me, I'll visit you when I can... for now we have to report that we succeeded in bringing life back."
* * *
Where had I heard that voice before? I played it back in my head. Sky Piercer was the one who left for the stable. She performed the experiment? Why me? What was she to me? Did I have a marefriend? Was I a filly fooler, ugh this stupid game was making me look back on my life. I hate looking back on my life all that's there is pain and numbed pain.
"So back from your trip?" Astaroth's voice again I guess I'd gone catatonic because the seagreen mare I talked to earlier had come back with a gun probably thinking I was after her for revenge. "Oh and it might be best to not get shot with your repair function off. It doesn't let you handle well with bullet holes in your chassis."
"Then why did you turn it off?" I practically screamed as I bolted out the door I came through to the wastes and flew off before she could shoot.
"How do you value a toy that doesn't break? If you think it'll last forever what keeps you from mistreating it?" Astaroth responded.
Astaroth had a point, a terrible point given we were talking about a pony's life but still a point, "I hope you know I hate you."
"I know you do, but you know something else all games and no work makes you a bit boring, why not take a load off and do some good for the Wasteland? Maybe save some slaves, or kill the slavers who killed your replacement kids." Astaroth said
I didn't think you could freeze in midair but I did for a few minutes before falling, "YOU ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO BRING THEM UP AGAIN DO YOU HEAR ME?!" I yelled.
"Oh would you rather they suffer for the rest of their lives in slavery because you died protecting them? Would you rather they die in fear rather than in comfort since they didn't see it coming? Am I the monster here for letting them die or are you for trying to save them for a life of terror?" Astaroth responded coldly.
How did Astaroth know just where to hit me? Why me? Surely others deserved this more! Wait did I really just wish this torture on another pony? Was I turning into a monster? "Fine! I'm playing your game answer my questions!" I yelled wanting something out of this.
"For that challenge? That was the easiest one and you still nearly failed. So here's an answer to a question you haven't asked yet but I wish you would. You are the biggest idiot I've ever seen in the Wastelands."
"Hey that's uncalled for!" I yelled in reply
"No uncalled for would be me telling you that you didn't realize that for every good deed you do you may be hurting someone else! Ever wonder why slavers turn to slaving? Did you ever think that maybe they had families?"
"They shouldn't have done it it's wrong..." I started to doubt myself.
"So it's wrong to be willing to sacrifice your morality to save the life of your children? Interesting answer. I'll be sure to let the starving filly of that slaver you killed when you first got here that it was wrong of her mom to care enough to do anything to feed her." Astaroth replied in a dark seductive voice.
"She had a filly...?" I began to hate myself wondering what I'd have done if my child had ever needed me. Considering I picked wrong I probably wouldn't have. I decided to put my country first and my child second... I had to face it I only kept Merry and Rosalin around when we got the house because I needed to atone for my failure as a parent. What's worse even when I tried my best I still failed. Why wasn't I mad? It wasn't my choice to fly away this time! Why was it that all I could feel was sadness?! I needed to win I needed to kill Astaroth for everything that was so messed up about what he did! Why couldn't I stay mad!
"yeah and it's time for me to go, playing with such a fun toy has made me quite tired, see you in the morning! Or more than likely I'll play with you again, you're going to be such a fun toy!" Astaroth said happily.
"Go buck yourself with Luna's horn you sick freak!" I yelled in response, I had known Luna and sure I felt bad about using her name in an insult but even she'd have to agree that this Astaroth deserved any insult he got.
"Good night, oh and one more thing your repair function was bugging me so if you try to reactivate it you'll self destruct. Oh and I deleted your AI the thing wouldn't shut up, you should thank me it'd have talked your ears off!" Astaroth cackled and the call went dead.
* * *
"Good morning Equestria! DJ P0n-3 here talking, now I decided to talk about heroism today. What makes a hero? Is it a mask? is it a costume? Is it blood? Is it an urge to wear underwear in front of everyone? If you said yes to any of these questions, you've been reading way to many vintage comic books. See a hero is someone who sacrifices of themselves for the good of every pony else. They put themselves last to protect everyone else, That's why ponies like the Centurion who willingly throw themselves in danger because it's the right thing to do are heroes to me. Now little ponies you might be saying 'but we can't all throw our lives away Dj P0n-3 we have people we have to live for!' Did I say throw your lives away? No I didn't well except saying that... say no one's going to edit this to make me sound like I said throw your lives away right? 'Cause that'd be really dumb I mean why would I even say that? Oh right going on a tangent, sorry about that, but what I said is heroes make sacrifices. So all I'm asking all of you to do my loyal listeners is when you can afford it do the right thing, Centurion and the Stable Dweller may be trying to help but they can only do so much so let's show our support by telling them they're not alone!"
"Hey why haven't you called recently Centurion?" Homage called me again... I shouldn't have answered, "Storm Chaser..." She seemed confused, "What exactly?" I repeated, "I said Storm Chaser... that's my name. It's who I am and what I am. I chase trouble I'm not a hero those who get involved in me sink or swim, and the storms I chase wear you down every step of the way." I said I must have sounded depressed, "Are you feeling okay Chaser?" Homage asked. "Tell me... if you had a kid and you messed up and you got a chance to start over and to make things right... and you still messed up how would you feel?"
"... Pretty bad I suppose, but what does that have to do with anything?" Homage asked, I sighed, "Do you notice the lack of noise and the lack of a harness on me..." She gasped, "They aren't... please tell me they didn't." I nodded, "They did. I'll never live down my failure... I know I won't... but I'll avenge them... the monster who caused it won't be satisfied with this. He turned off my auto-repair function and can control my body, my AI is gone and I'm dancing to his tune. I'll find the killer... and I'll kill him so that I can have some peace before I go myself."
"You're going to kill yourself?!" Homage practically yelled. "No... I'm going to do all I can for the Wastes until my broken body is consumed beneath it. I won't stop or get repaired I have to face my penance with Celestia and Luna in the clouds or with Discord below. There's nothing left for me here but revenge and after I get that... I'll do as much as I can before it's the end." Homage looked at me teary eyed, "Please the wastes need ponies like you please reconsider!"
"I ABANDONED MY DAUGHTER TO SERVE MY COUNTRY! THE TWO GIRL'S WHO I PROMISED TO KEEP SAFE DIED BECAUSE I COULDN'T STOP SOMEPONY FROM INTERFERING WITH MY SYSTEMS! I AM NOT A HERO LIKE YOU SAY I AM! I AM A SCARED PONY RUNNING FROM THE PAST SO IT CAN'T CATCH ME!" I wasn't aware I could cry, but I guess it was a day of firsts I never told anypony that much about me before, "And... it's finally catching up... I can't hide from it anymore. The Wastes need somepony better than me. I'll try... I'll bucking try to make it a better place but I won't let myself be repaired I'll keep going until I break."
Homage was crying, "I'm hanging up now... cheer up you still have one hero to look up to... that Stable Dweller. I'm nothing to her, just a scared little filly who never wants to stop running. I've slowed with age, I can't keep evading my past forever. I've got nothing left and I'm going to be eaten alive by the emptiness. All I can do is improve what we have until I kill the monster responsible for Merry and Rosalin dying and then until I die myself. Nothing you can say will stop me... be glad you still have one hero. Something that's worth facing the cruelty of the world for... but what do I have? Nothing... I'm at my limit I can't go further so don't try to tell me not to die." I hung up, it'd sting her for sure, she might be emotionally reeling for a while, but I felt a bit better letting somepony know. I sighed and waited for Astaroth's call.
"Oh you're still up? Well not that that's surprising or anything it's not like you need sleep. Well are you ready for today's game Storm Chaser? I have a lot of things planned for you and when you reach the top of this mountainous journey I'm sure we'll be able to talk before you claim your prize. Maybe I can get you to break yourself before you try to break me!" Astaroth cackled, "Anyways let's get down to business." ---- Footnote: level up! New perk: Thief: Hey it's not stealing if they're dead it's treasure hunting! Gain 5 points in sneak and lock picking. Quest perk: Avenger's fury: Your shield has cracked and broken and those you wished to protect are gone. Permanent + 1 to strength and 5% resistance to all damage types. Speech: 25
"Why would I joke with a fun toy? I told you you're challenge is to wipe out a slaver camp." Astaroth replied.
"Okay then what's the catch?" I said in reply a bit suspicious that he'd call this a harder challenge than finding my name from a descendent of Sky Piercer in Stable 12.
"Oh? Why does there have to be a catch I just said wipe it out." Astaroth replied.
"Well this challenge will be easier than I thought!" I said in reply and I swear I heard the bastard chuckle.
"Well let Celestia's sun guide your journey bye now!" He hung up... on me. After all the hell he gave me he was the one who got to hang up?
* * *
"It's the rabid dog of the land run!" I heard some slavers shout. Not like it mattered to me anymore I had nothing left in me that cared for these slavers anymore. I brought a hoof down onto the one I dropped on and felt a crunch as his skull was crushed underhoof blood drenching my sky blue hoof. If they were so eager to call me a rabid dog I'd have to show them the difference between a dog and a wolf.
One popped out from behind with a gun I bucked him in the gut and knocked the wind out of him and turned to deliver a strong kick that knocked his head off. How many had they enslaved and killed? How many suffered because of them? They didn't deserve anything but the end I gave them. The last of the slavers begged for his life. "Please I'll never do it again I swear!"
I looked at him and I swear he wet himself, "Your mistakes have been made your punishment will be death."
"But I have a family to take care of!" Normally that would have struck a chord with me but I only laughed in this cyan colt's face.
"How many families have your actions torn apart? How many times do you think you've sold a pony to a gruesome death at the hands of their 'master'?" I spat acidically remembering who it was that pulled the trigger on the closest thing I had to family since I'd woken up to this bleak world. Slavers deserved no sympathy no matter their reasons they all deserved the same atonement for the deaths their actions caused, they all deserved to meet their end at my hooves, and I'd stack their bodies as high as it took for me to get to Astaroth and wring his neck so he could find his atonement to.
He looked at me fearfully and blasted my head with a revolver, he was pretty good, if I was alive I'd have been dead but since I no longer was I stared at him the side of my face scorched from the bullets entry, I'm sure I looked like death to him, how suiting since I would be the cause of his death. "Say your prayers."
"Luna, Celestia, anypony sa-" I cut him off by stomping through his torso through his heart. "Too long." I didn't feel bad about doing it, he'd been in the wrong.
"Bravo bravo Storm Chaser, I loved every second of it, you really are a fun little toy!" Astaroth's voice came on, "Oh right, I thought I'd mention something, you missed one."
I looked around. "What the hay are you talki-" Then I saw a foal going to the colt I just killed. "Daddy? Get up... please... get up don't leave me all alone!" Oh for the love of Luna... Astaroth wanted me to kill a child.
"What's the matter he has every reason to hate you and he'll keep trying to kill you! After all your more of a monster than me now aren't you?" I began to protest then I thought about what I'd done, I hadn't known these slavers, they weren't the ones who killed Rosalin and Merry. I looked at the foal he looked back with a gaze filled with hatred and fear. Fear of the monster that wrecked his life, hatred of the mare he'd try to kill. "Well finish the job. If you don't I won't answer any more questions and Merry and Rosalin never get avenged. Don't you want to make me atone for being a monster? Or maybe you don't want to be a monster to kill a monster? Well here's your chance, are you going to give up revenge and let this foal kill you taking the easy way out and embracing the utter nothingness of death? Or are you going to take his life and make sure he doesn't have to suffer the world without his father that you so cruelly took?" Astaroth cackled, that bucking lunatic was getting off on this! That soulless creature was enjoying the thought of me killing a foal! He knew how to play me... I had to... I had to what? Give up? Lose my one chance at letting Rosalin and Merry's lives have meant something? Lose my chance to give them a monument they deserved? Lose my chance to take the head of the lunatic who would continue to spread chaos to the Wastelands until everypony was dead? I... Was my hoof this bloody before?
I looked down. In my thought my body reacted when the foal took his father's gun. I had caved in his ribs with a forehoof and as he lay coughing up blood from his lungs being punctured I smashed his skull. Celestia help me I was a monster... Just like Astaroth had wanted.
"That's a good toy! Well I'm satisfied for now... Let's just say your day isn't done yet though Chaser, you've got a lot more of my game to play before you get to see me, but I'll let you ask a question now." Astaroth said cackling like a mad pony, probably because he was a mad pony.
"Why are you doing this?" I found myself asking before I could stop myself to ask something that'd help me figure out his location.
"Why does anyone do anything? Is it because it's the right thing to do? Well it's helping millions by killing a few so that's possible. Is it because I want the same in return? I clearly don't because I'm enjoying myself far to much to crave death especially from a toy like you. Is it because I feel I have to? Like I said I enjoy it and no pony enjoys being told what to do so clearly that's not it. Maybe it's because I like it so much." Astaroth replied.
"I want an actual answer that isn't wrapped in enigmatic horse apples!" I yelled.
"Oh? Well why didn't you say that? Oh right, I just have to refer to my previous answer to see why. Hm let's see... oh yes that's why, as I've said before you're by far one of the dumbest toys I've ever encountered!" Astaroth cackled with glee.
"Oh and that's it for questions right now, I'm going to grab some lunch, can I get you anything? Maybe some pony flesh, I'm certain these two little fillies meat is quite good!" He cackled again and I stood frozen.
"You... bought and killed... Merry and Rosalin to eat?" I said not believing it even after I said it.
"Whatever gave you that impression? Maybe I've just found some carcasses that I'm eating since beggers can't be choosers." Astaroth replied, I could hear the smugness in his voice knowing he had managed to trick me. I really really hated him.
"Tata for now. Oh and one more thing you have... fifteen seconds to run." Astarroth began.
"Wait wha-?" I began before a slam sent debris flying at me and cutting into my body before falling off the metal body underneath and some punching through.
"Target spotted." Began a rather gleeful voice. Target spotted? What the hay was this crazy thing talking about? There wasn't a target within miles I mean the only pony here was me... oh. "Stand still and I'll make sure to make it slow and painful!" The voice practically dripped with madness and pleasure all at once.
"Don't you mean quick and painless?" I said and was rewarded with a forehoof slamming into my face at high enough speeds to dent it a little.
"I know what I said you little insect!" The voice replied as my vision swam I was sure I saw wings, but that was impossible right? There weren't any other pegasi around... right? I didn't have time to think as a shot gun barrel got pointed directly at my face and I dodged to the side as the blast went off tearing away the synthetic flesh along the right side of my face.
"Ooooh a little robot toy! I used to have one when I was just a filly!" The mare said a crazed look in her eye and a creepy smile making her seem menacing even to me.
"So you'll let me go?" I said hopefully.
"I loved breaking that toy! I never thought I'd have a chance to break a life sized one!" She finished. Well there goes my hopefulness, I'd have to remember that the Wastelands had a way of making your life hell when you decided to hope for something. Wait was this crazy mare still talking? Why did she seem upset? I suppose I should have the courtesy to listen instead of thinking.
"I said what do you think about that you little undead Dashite filly fooler?!" She screamed.
"I'm sorry what? I was just thinking about how much your parents must be crying knowing they forgot they needed to spank psychotic brats like you." I replied and she screamed again punching into my torso and removing a few wires as pain shot up my body. Great she found the nerve suppressors that kept me from feeling pain. I really needed to remember that I should never taunt an opponent until I've beaten them.
"IT. IS. ON! I WILL BUCKING MURDER YOU!" She yelled again.
"How about a little louder, I think Fillydelphia didn't quite hear you!" I yelled socking her in the mouth and chipping her teeth.
Blood poured from the chipped teeth, I guess her gum line absorbed a lot of the shock from my hit. "You... made me bleed."
"Yeah, we're fighting did you think you wouldn't get hurt?" I said in a tone that told her just how stupid I thought her comment was.
"NOBODY HAS EVER MADE ME BLEED AND LIVED!" She yelled and I swear I could see the muscles in her body tense up. Oh great, I'd gone from fightin a raving psychopathic pony to fighting a raving psychopathic pony fueled by rage and hatred, my odds were sure looking up!
She took out a grenade and tossed it at me and I ducked for cover. Right into the line of fire of her back mounted sub machine gun. "Why do the psychopaths get the best bucking weapons?! What sense does it bucking make to let a psycho have access to this kind of stuff?!" I said as my body got riddled with holes I'm pretty sure one of them nicked my lungs, it was for show anyways but still internal bleeding hurt.
Okay I have to kill her it'll be simple I mean I had Sheila on my si-... oh right. Did I mention I really hate Astaroth yet? I don't think it can be said enough. I mean I can make a game out of seeing how many times I can say that before I'm sick of it! Well at least this mare seemed to be an idiot... well, a bigger one than me anyways. "Hey look a group of ponies in pain!" I yelled and pointed down the road. She looked like she filled with glee or was about to get off on the thought. "I should have brought popcorn where are they!" She turned and I took my chance and knocked her out. I should have killed her but something about a psychotic kill first ask questions never pegasus on my side when I fought Astaroth seemed like a good idea. I just had to figure out how I'd go about wording the question for her. So instead of killing her the same as she'd kill me I found a length of chain and tied her up then began to carry her all the way to New Appleloosa so I could get repaired.
* * *
"You know I never took you for that kind of mare." The mayor said seeing me walk into town with the pegasus chained up, it's not my fault it looked like some kind of fetish job! I'd skipped my military classes on the days they taught about how to bind POWs. Well more accurately I was puking my guts out from the rigorous training and the fact that a few of my fellow trainees thought it'd be funny to put some broth into my food that made you nauseous when ingested, they got sent ot the Ministry of Morale for that but came back the same. I knew Pinkie was a trickster so it didn't surprise me when I found her picture on the cannister of broth.
"Har har. Nice one Mr. Mayor how about next you make a joke about me having inadequate wing size?" I said making clear I was annoyed by his childish jest.
"Geez lighten up I was kidding, anyways just don't go around with her like that in public. " He replied.
"Oh my you're right! Here I was planning to get her a little leather collar that said 'mistress' little slut toy' and showing her off! How foolish of me I am so glad you told me not to do that!" I said sarcasm dripping from every syllable.
"You were really going to..." The mayor began, honestly colts and their minds sometimes, I shot him a glare that said finishing that thought would be a bad idea, "Erm... right anyways just uh... nevermind just go do whatever it is you need to do in private..."
I went to my house unlocked it and tossed my captive on the bed. I left and locked my house up then walked to Ditzy Doo's shop. "Hey Ditzy i need repair work done!" I said and the ghoul came out then looked at me and her jaw dropped. She began to write when I cut her off anticipating her question. "Big fight, there were slavers and a surprise for me, we'll talk about it later I'd appreciate those repairs now, and about payment I found you some muffins and a few bottle caps, also a recipe for muffins, I don't need it since I can't taste but you might like it." I brought out 700 bottle caps, essentially all I had in terms of finances, two boxes of muffins and the recipe. She looked at the bottle caps and wrote.
I read slowly, I never learned to read in my head glad Ditzy didn't mind. "Okay let's see... 'Keep the caps the muffins and recipe are worth a whole lot more to me.'" I swear I could see a bit of a sadness in her eyes but she quickly erased her writing from the black board and continued, "I'll do the repairs as quick as I can, but don't you have a program for this kind of thing?" I looked at her and shook my head, "It got disabled, I'd rather not talk about it now." She nodded and motioned to the table where I lied down waiting for her to cut me open and start using the parts she had to fix me up where I needed it.
* * *
"Thanks Ditzy." I began as I walked out of her store and towards my house, so I wasn't as seamless a pony as I was before and a bit of my coat was gone showing off some of the metal beneath, it was better than nothing, and Ditzy even offered to give me some light armoring to make up for the lack of a repair function, not that I took it, seeing her shop as much as I had made me realize she probably needed caps a lot more than I did, especially when she was taking care of Silver Belle.
Now that just left the question of how to get the psycho pegasus on my side. Then it hit me. I knew just what to say and I smiled. I got to the door unlocked it and went in to see the pegasus struggling with the chains, apparently she wasn't good at picking locks, good news for me since I wasn't that good at placing them.
"Hey you're up." I said and she spat at me. Okay I had expected her to try and chew my head off so things were already going better than I had planned! "Anyways I've been thinking, maybe you should come with me."
"Why should I?!" She yelled.
I looked at her, "You like breaking ponies right?" I replied looking directly in her eyes. She nodded, "good well see, down here the ratio of good ponies to bad ponies seems to be 1 to 15 and growing. Stick with me and you'll get to break a lot more." Her eyes lit up, "I get to break thousands of toys?" She asked. It was creepy how she thought, but also very useful. "Yes, if you come with me." I said. She nodded and I removed the chains then she smacked me in the eye with a forehoof, unfortunately for me Ditzy didn't have the wires needed to replace the ones this pegasus had ripped out so it actually registered as pain. "That's for tying me up you buck wit!" She spat. Okay she didn't kill me, admitedly she didn't like me but hey I was alive right? Then she tore something off of her mane that I hadn't noticed before and stomped it to pieces, it looked like a tiny camera was inside. "Uh what was that?" I asked, she instantly spat, "Our ponies watching over us" and began to laugh crazily.
* * *
"Sir the tracking device has been smashed." A sigh resounded, "Of course it did, because nothing can ever go right for me can it?" A dull gray commander with a mark of a black cat on his flank said. "Fine... I guess we just have to try something else. Can we send the Wonderbolts?" "Negative sir they're dealing with Dead Eye Calamity." He sighed again, "Right, of course they are, fantastic... how about the Shadowbolts." "Considering the mare we sent was locked up for killing twenty five of them by 'playing with them' as she put it, I don't think that'll work." A silence fell, "Okay then I give up somepony else can deal with this!" A smack was heard, "Ow okay okay honey! Geez let me take a break some time!" Another sigh marked his frustration, "Okay I guess we could always send down that new project the higher ups have been working on. What was it again? A pegasi hybrid?"
* * *
"So you're telling me. Our ponies the loyal protectors of this land.... sealed up the clouds and haven't done a bucking thing to help the ponies living down here." I said when the pegasi from earlier finished explaining what happened while I was asleep, "Did I ever mention I really really hate this?" She shook her head, "Good, well get used to me saying that."
"Falling Star." Okay I hadn't expected her to speak, or at least not in anything that didn't have a curse word in it. "Okay Falling Star, I'm Storm Chaser and I think we can work together and get along just fine." She rolled her eyes, "yeah yeah yeah, friendship and togetherness and all that bucking nonsense who do I get to kill." She was surprisingly straightforward, "Well no pony here, I'd rather not have a house in a ghost town." She growled, "We'll go when you think you have enough supplies. I'm going to sell all my scrap metal, you should follow me and familiarize yourself with the area in case we're ever attacked." She nodded and we walked to Ditzy's store I could already tell the mayor was starting rumors because all over I heard whispers, "I can't believe she's that kind of mare." "I heard she came in with that pegasus all chained up." "I heard she's buying a collar and leash to put on the pegasus." "I heard that she's a pretty cool girl, she fights bad ponies and doesn't afraid of anything!... What? It was a joke. Oh fine I heard she enjoys tying up ponies. There happy I gave into talking about her liking bondage?" We got into the shop and I took out all the scraps I wanted, "I'm selling these I'd like to stock up on healing potions, food, water, rad away, and anything else that can help my Star keep up." Star glared at me, "If anyone's going to slow anyone down it's going to be you slowing me down you stupid bucket of bolts!" Ditzy for her part looked surprised at the attitude of the company I kept, "Uh don't mind her she's just upset because she has uh..." Come on think brain think, what kind of excuses did I use at school to get out of things? "Really bad diarrhea!"... well that kind of explained it brain, but now I have to make sure not to get to close to Star for a while if I didn't want to have to explain a knife in my back as a work related accident next time I needed to get repaired. "Yeah she's upset because uh... her... you know hurts... because of all the diarrhea..." Wow I was just painting a big sign that said stab me before I say something else stupid for Star wasn't I? Ditzy nodded she probably knew I lied but got the supplies I asked for some vitamins and a few drugs I really didn't want to know about. She wrote down the total and how many caps I had and I sighed and sold her the ammunition for Merry and Rosalin's weapons, I didn't let them sleep with them since I didn't want them doing anything drastic. Great call on my part, my decision almost certainly meant when I was forced away from them that they died, truly I was a genius for not letting them have the means to protect themselves! I really needed to stop talking down on myself before I tried to figure out where my shut down button was or I wouldn't get my revenge.
We went outside and Star immediately slapped me, "YOU BUCKING FOAL I OUGHTA KILL YOU, YOU PATHETIC BOLTED TOGETHER PLATE METAL PLOT FREAK!"
Oh great, now more rumors were going to start about who wore the pants in our non-existent relationship. Just what I need! Ponies who assume I'm some kind of sexual deviant, hooray could my life get any better? Hey I didn't know I could think in sarcasm! "Would you like a whip miss?" Oh joy oh rapture someone made a joke and brought a whip now my heaven is complete and I can die and be disatisfied with the real heaven! "Thank you young colt!" She grabbed it. Oh crap she actually was going to! Wonderful now I get to never show my face in town without being laughed at! Celestia could you please kiss me? I mean I'd like to be kissed and know I'm loved before you ram your horn right up my plot until I scream in agony and pleasure until you lose interest! I didn't even care that I was dishonoring a goddess right now by saying that! I was about to get whipped. In public by a mare I just let stay out of prison when at this point she clearly needed to go in one. Then the stinging started, and the ponies just watched wide eyed. "Ow Star quit it! Please stop!" She grinned wildly, "Nuh uh! You're going to feel just how bad you made me feel you bucking bucket of bolts!" A few ponies giggled, "Oh my I didn't know she was a glutton for punishment!" "She's so cute when she's not a harbinger of the end times for other ponies!" "I wonder if she left anything in my house when she helped fix it, I don't want anything kinky around my kids." Okay I was seriously considering finding out where my shut down switch was since I don't think I can live this down. Well it can't get any worse right? Star produced a branding iron with the word idiot on it. I really need to learn to shut the buck up and not think about this kind of crap. "Is she getting branded?" "Oh dear cover the kids eyes!"
"Now hold up!" The mayor to the rescue woo! "I can't let you do that! I mean think of the children watching. If you're going to do something like that then I must ask you to do it at your home." I really hate the Wastelands. "Fine I'll stop here." Star at least didn't try to hit the mayor and she was giving up one of the Goddesses liked me! Or just enjoyed seeing how scared I got. "However, I do plan on riding you harder than ever you stupid bolt head." Celestia do you enjoy bucking me? I'd enjoy it a whole lot more if you didn't RAM YOUR HORN IN EVERY SECOND SO THE PAIN NEVER STOPS. Yep I was mad, are you saying you wouldn't be in my situation? I just got whipped in public by an escaped prisoner I had helped escape and given freedom because I wasn't able to have a good enough excuse on the fly. To make matters worse now I'm talking to myself! Great I'm going crazy is this what it feels like to be Astaroth?
* * *
"Why did you do that?" I asked as we flew towards a new game location, we got to destroy a town of slavers. I really wonder why Astaroth is making me kill ponies that I probably wouldn't mind killing anyways.
"Are you ever going to do anything as stupid as that around me again?" She asked briskly probably anticipating ways to torture her prey before she killed them.
"No... what's your... oh. You're forcing me to act the way you want or get hurt aren't you..." I said
"Wow you are a smart pony want a cookie?" She said mockingly. I really wanted to punch her but the repair bill for my body wouldn't be worth it.
"Target's coming in sight don't slow me down you automotronic oaf!" She flew down towards the camp. I wondered if I should mention I was the one carrying the bulk of our healing potions and they'd all be armed wiith guns. I decided not to since she decided it was wise to whip me for not being able to think of an excuse on demand. Maybe a few bullet wounds would make her think before acting.
"Run she's got a freaking Rpg!" Wait that wasn't Star. Okay that stung that really really stun a psychopath was doing a better job at protecting the innocent by smiting evil... than I was... that just hurts. Celestia if you're listening to me from somewhere I'd really advice you invest in lube... BECAUSE IT BUCKING HUTS WHEN YOU BUCK ME THIS HARD. I flew down after her and saw two slaves in collars one a unicorn with turquoise eyes a red mane and an alabaster coat the other a unicorn with blue eyes a magenta mane and a white coat staring at me with pain in their eyes. "You left us to die... why would you do that?" They asked. Rosalin and Merry were alive? Sure they hated me but they were alive that's what mattered. I ran to hug them and saw them explode into bloody chunks before my eyes there wasn't an explosion though and I looked around and saw them again. "You left us to die! You lied to our mother! You wanted us gone you thought we slowed you down! You wished for us to just die!" What was going on my head was screaming at me tears tinged in my eyes. Where they ghosts haunting me for leaving? "Well I gave you your wish! They're gone they're dead!" A cackling came and a hooded figure stood in their place demonic wings jutting from it's back. "They're gone and it's all your fault!" I recognized the voice... it was Astaroth. "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!" I yelled and he vanished and I was staring at Star, "I want you to bucking move you foalish loaf You're standing on the perfect vantage point to pick off the slavers who decided to run." Wait slavers running?
"What about the slaves?" I asked, "What about them they were helping slavers I did what you asked and killed the bad ponies it was quite fun how they screamed!" If I wasn't in such disbelief that I was frozen in place I'd have facehooved, "THEY WERE FORCED TO HELP THEY ARE SLAVES!" I yelled, "They still could have chosen to die I'm sure some of them wanted to." I really really wanted to slap her as hard as I could. "What I can't joke?" She said growling at me.
Wait joke... "You mean you didn't kill the slaves?" She looked at me, "In my experience a collar makes you one of the good guys." Oh right... she was a prisoner of course they had some way to keep them from leaving. "Look that's not a subject to bucking joke about." She rolled her eyes, "Don't make me brand you you Luna forsaken abomination to all things magic."
Did I mention that the Wasteleand sucks yet? I swear I could write a bucking poem about it at this point. In fact I may as well try while Star picks off survivors. This little poem is entitled I hate you wastelands. How do you suck Wastelands let me count the ways, You give hope ficklely then you take it so icily, you tear apart family and make us all wearily run to the deaths in our future with utmost certainty. Hey I was good at poems maybe my cutie mark should be a quill and paper with the words buck you wastelands on it, at least then it would represent what I felt instead of what I had proven a failure at doing. ---- Footnote Level up! New Perk: Intense training: Through rigorous training you have become smarter! Miracles happen hallelujah! +1 to intelligence
"Why did she leave us with those slavers?" Asked the small alabaster unicorn for the umpteenth time this week. "I don't know." Came my response in a tone that pleaded for her sister to stop talking. "Why did she fly away?" My pleas fell on deaf ears when Merry was involved, "I don't know." Came my standard reply to all of my sister's questions this week, "Do you think she hates us?" Okay that was my breaking point, "I SAID I DON'T BUCKING KNOW. I DIDN'T BUCKING KNOW THE LAST HUNDRED TIMES YOU ASKED ME AND FIVE HOURS FROM NOW WHEN YOU ASK ME AGAIN I STILL WON'T BUCKING KNOW AND I'LL STILL BUCKING SAY I DON'T KNOW!" Merry just started crying, "You're mean Rosy!" Of course I felt guilty for snapping at Merry, I knew she was probably just in shock from having to fight off slavers with a knife and a frying pan, it really was lucky that the rocket was defective and curved off course though. "Hey... please don't cry I'm sorry it's just been really tense. I don't know what Centurion was thinking because I'm not her so please understand I have my limitations." That wasn't enough to stop Merry, "You yelled at me!" She whined, in a very obnoxious tone, "Ugh if I give you my Candied apples will you stop whining? Please?" I was already resorting to bribery, this was not a good sign for the power balance in this group but at least the crying stopped for now. "Okay... but I get rights to all the sweets we find!" Now it was my turn to be a little depressed Merry knew I had a sweet tooth. "Fine... promise to share some?" I pleaded, "Nuh uh! It's mine you agreed to it." My thoughts turned to how much it sucked to have a sister sometimes, sure the good typically outweighed the bad but situations like these made me realize just how annoying she could be when given the inclination. Merry was happy at least so no more whining for the moment. "We have to find some kind of shelter do you have that radio we found on the slavers still? We might be able to jerry rig it as a homing device." I always was a quick thinker under pressure. Merry brought the radio out like it was a treasure, it might have been because it let her keep track of Centurion.
"This just in my little ponies, DJ-P0n3 signing in with recent news, if you're a slaver you better watch out because the Centurion's going on a war path for your heads. Now I'm not sure why she would be so vengeful on these ponies but I know what they're doing is wrong. So here's a heads up, if you're thinking of being a slaver it might be best if you don't if you like to keep your head, after all listen to this testimony from a few freed slaves!"
"That psychopath opened fire on a slaver that was in bed with a mare! She nearly blew the poor mare's brains in killing the bucking slaver! This freaking pegasi is out for blood!" Came a shrill voice probably a pony that'd need years of therapy to cope with the amount of gore the recent freedom she got came with.
"What's more this isn't even the Centurion they're talking about, this is her company, we've got a pony able to tame psychopaths and utilize them in the field. Now how many of you can say that? Because we aren't talking Raider crazy here we're talking crazy crazy a few of the mares there said she looked like she wanted to kill them too! Now I know what you're thinking, isn't this turn of events a bad thing since we now have an android pegasi toting around a kill crazy pegasi who wants to kill every single pony she encounters? The short answer is no, the long answer is she seems satisfied with killing bad ponies so Celestia help you if you're a raider, slaver, or harming another pony!"
"..." I was quiet for a moment, "What's a psychopath?" Merry asked, "It's a kind of pony I'd never picture Centurion travelling with... something has to be up." Merry seemed disappointed, "Does that mean she doesn't want us around?" She asked. I thought for a moment about what I knew about Centurion, she was loyal to a fault and had a child when she was younger... maybe she thought she failed again and was wreaking an unholy revenge, why else would she be on a war path with slavers? "I think she might not know we're alive... do you still have that doll she gave you? There might be a bit of her coat on it."
* * *
"Okay, so we're out of healing potions now." I stated plainly after Star tired herself out from killing a group of Manticores. Alone. Without any supervision. I really feel like she's a child at heart, a twisted, twisted little child. Maybe she didn't have parents or maybe they died. "We're going to head back to New Appleloosa to stock u-... what in Celestia's name are you doing?"
"What does it bucking look like I'm doing?" Star grunted, "It looks like your desecrating a Manticore corpse for no reason." I replied, "No I'm desecrating a manticore corpse for the bones so I can use them to make a decent weapon for an idiot like you who insists on hooves alone." She said in a snide tone, "That's because hooves are all I need!" I shouted, "Blah blah blah, all I hear is I'm a pin cushion for bullets because I don't have the common sense to acquire a weapon when it could save me costly repairs to my body." Okay child at heart or not that really really pissed me off.
"Okay do whatever we're leaving in three minutes do I make myself clear?" I said sternly, "Yes mother," she replied in a snide tone and rolled her eyes, "Do you want me to go to the bathroom too so we don't have to stop on the way?" Okay scratch the idea of her pissing me off, she was infuriating me, there was a distinct difference in that the latter made me want to beat her to within an inch of her life and the former just made me want to yell at her.
* * *
"Are you done yet?" I sighed, "No." "How about now?", a grunt, "Still not done." "Oh... okay... are you done now?" I really wanted to scream but she wasn't sure exactly what i'd bribe Merry with this time so i didn't think it was worth it, "No, I'll tell you when I'm done please go play or something." Merry ran off towards the woods. i thought i could finally have some free time to work on the tracking device and the homing device from the radio parts, she even had enough to make an ear piece that let her tune in to the radio, Merry would enjoy that. Then Merry ran out chased by a group of raiders. At least they had guns, now all I had to do was take them out and take the guns, with just a knife a frying pan, and my ingenuity on my side, I liked those odds. The first ran into the knife that floated pointed at his chest in front of the tree he was running by and that was the end of his heart. The second was a bit smarter and tried to take a pot shot, then there was a clang as his shot gun flew out of his teeth and he clutched his mouth in pain. I comandeered the shot gun and cracked the raiders skull with it's butt. The last Raider was a little tricky and manged to mount Merry about to bite her before a vine clutching one of the trees started to strangle her. "Okay Merry search the bodies for anything I can use for tools." I said calmly as I went back to my work, not a hint of adrenaline in my system. "I found a bobby pin and some caps!" She said joyfully, "anything else?" I said hopefully, "I found this in the woods!" She produced... a rock, this will be a big help I thought spitefully before noticing the flattened sharp edge. "Okay hand it over," I held a hoof out and took the rock and used it to unscrew the last bolts on the radio, it was trying to work on technology with my magic so the reprieve was helpful. "Well now we're getting somewhere, I can finish the Homing device with this, the tracking device is going to take a few materials that are better than this... do we have anything we can trade with AJ's rangers?" I asked, "I found a zappy gun on a body!" She said. I began to think, okay so a laser pistol,, was there anything we could use that for or trade that for that'd work out? "Can you fire it?" I asked, "No it says something stupid about me not matching the DNA sequence of the owner." I smiled, "You know I think we can work with this." Now it was just a simple matter of overriding the DNA scanner and making it scan objects instead of a specific pony and finding a power source. "Any spark batteries?" I asked hoping my luck would turn out well. "Nope!" Merry still seems happy. Well that's just great, so where can we find some quickly? I began to think and listed off the places mom had told us she'd visited and their surroundings and looked around.
"There!" I yelled happily and charged off towards a tower, it was an old radio station, it wasn't functioning, but they certainly had to have some way of charging their equipment when it was still active didn't they?
* * *
"Of course it has to be locked when we're out of equipment to get past it..." I looked around and saw a computer, "Maybe it's controlled here..." I started the hacking process and had to back out four times before I got it, the password had been, Lilac I saw a gate override and a few files on the computer, I opened the gate and told Merry to gather what would be useful then turned my attention to the files.
"I can't believe this idiocy! I don't care who Applejack thinks she is or how powerful she is right now she's working poor Lily to death with all the overtime on this stupid project! Her brother is already dead, this armor wouldn't have saved his life because the only reason it's going to exist is because he died! I can't believe how she thinks making a suit of armor in memory of her brother will help her at all! It's just going to make her constantly feel guilty over not having done something or said something that kept him from going to Shattered Hoof reviewing each and every possibility in her head until it drives her mad!"
Okay that was a personal file, well I suppose the next one could be important and not just some long dead pony's opinion. I thought as I began to go to the next file.
"The project at this station is going well, the spark batteries were a problem at first but we've managed to find a way to recharge spark batteries made of aluminum carbonate using a solution of water and few metalloids mixed in with a mild shock from an underpowered lightning spell, it gives about 99% of the full charge and the new charge acts as the full charge so it'll dwindle over time but we aren't going to lose power and work any time soon. Pretty soon we'll be able to weaponize white noise and force the zebras to do what we want while they're in a trance."
The tone of this one sounded different from the first, maybe this computer was used by more than one pony and they respected the privacy of each other? Okay one more file let's go I thought as she I the final file.
"The experiment failed today, it seems that the white noise makes the subject a lot more prone to violence, we'll send a full report to Twilight Sparkle... She's certain to be saddened by the loss of Roseluck but we had no choice, she volunteered to test so that if it worked Apple Jack's project would be scrapped, after she attacked Professor Barley Day we had no choice but to put her down, we're preparing her funeral and eulogy and Apple Jack is going to allow Lily to attend without an absense pay cut. This failure has meant we've wasted two years of our lives in a failure, Barley seems depressed by this fact, it may be wise to take him to the MoM before he does something drastic."
Okay well that was a load of worthless information, I thought. I looked to see Merry with a cart filled with spark batteries, normally this would seem absurd but I noticed that these batteries had a slight green tinge at the top. Were these the rechargeable ones that the file talked about? If so it's fair to say we just hit the jackpot, I thought to myself and smiled, things are coming out Rosy!
* * *
"Ah I see you're awake Delta." A voice fluttered in my consciousness. "We've got a special assignment for you, one that will show the Enclave just how worthwhile their investments were, it's time for their cash cow to produce." Cash cow? Is that what they made me? I was certain I signed up to have my illness treated for free not to become some kind of cow. "What did you do to me?" My voice came out as a gurgle a dry throaty cough would have sounded more eloquent. "Why we just made you better like you asked." The mare said innocently a knowing smile playing on her lips. Then I coughed up blood. "Oh don't worry that's clearly user error, we really should have gotten a smarter test subject." Test subject? But what were they testing... where were my wife and kids? They were here last time. Wait where was here? This wasn't the hospital I was kept at. I began struggling against cold bands against my waist. Was I so dangerous I had to be locked down? What had I done? Or maybe the question was what had they done to me? "Where is my family? What have you done to them!" The mare I asked smiled a twisted little smile, "Done? What have we done? Don't you mean what you did? After all it's hard for a family to cope with the loss of their father." I blinked, "Cope with the loss... what in the hay are you talking about I'm right here!" I yelled and she smirked again, "Really now? All I see is an Eldritch Abomination!" I was about to reply when she held up a mirror, burning red eyes, fangs, bat wings, a stinger, what the hay was I looking a-... oh Celestia I was looking at myself wasn't I? "What did you do?!" I yelled struggling against the bonds keeping me in place again, she just smiled, "Like I said, we made you better." I lost my temper then, "BETTER MY HOOF I CAN'T SEE MY FAMILY I CAN'T SEE MY FRIENDS YOU MADE ME A MONSTER!" She just smiled, "No you made yourself a monster when you didn't read the fine print." Fine print... the stuff they told me I didn't have time to look through? It gave them permission to do this?! "Now we have a job for you to do, maybe you remember Falling Star." I grimaced and she laughed, "I guess it is hard to forget your first isn't it? How did that go for you again? Oh right you woke up in a tub missing one of your livers." How did she know all of that? I looked at her more closely then noticed a boiling beaker on her flank, that explained it, my aunt, the one who had always hated me just because of my gender.
"Oh what's the matter Delta?" She said sinisterly. "My name isn't Delta and you know it!" I yelled in response, "Oh but I think you'll find it is now that you're just an experiment Delta." She said smirking, "My name is Cumulus Bolt!" I yelled in response and got a punch in the right side of my face. "I think you'll find that your name is Delta especially since your dead right now Cumulus." She said smiling. She faked my death? Why would she... was the Enclave betraying me for the time I took off from the fields without permission? My second daughter was being born for Celestia's sake! "Now you just have to find Falling Star." I looked at her, "That's it?" I said wondering why it would just be to find her, "Oh not quite it, you also have to kill her company and her." I knew I had every reason to hate Star but for some reason taking her life seemed to cross a line. "I AM NOT A MONSTER REGARDLESS OF WHAT I LOOK LIKE! I AM THE SAME PONY I ALWAYS WAS AND I WILL BE THE SAME PONY UNTIL I DIE!" I roared hearing the bonds creaking as my rage pumped adrenaline into my body. She simply smiled probably too content with how much pain she caused me to hear the creaking, "Well I guess that means you aren't since as I've mentioned several times you're dead." I had had enough and finally the bonds snapped and my wings spread my new... tail I didn't want to call it a stinger, wrapped around her neck and began to choke her. "YOU WERE NEVER FIT TO BE A MOTHER YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT!" I began to growl and snarl, "THAT'S WHY YOU NEVER FOUND A COLT ISN'T IT? YOU KNEW THAT ANY EVIL THE OFFSPRING HAD WOULD BE FROM YOUR BLOOD!" I continued to choke her, she was struggling, I was turning into a monster, I didn't even care, after eight years of living through her hell while mom and dad were hunting a Dashite and having to put up with her she didn't deserve my sympathy. "NOW ALLOW ME TO CLEANSE EQUESTRIA OF YOUR DEMONIC BLOOD YOU BUCKING DEGENERATE ABOMONATION TO CELESTIA AND LUNA'S IDEALS!" I said as my tail grew taut and the point rammed through her skull dripping blood from the tip as I stared at it and smiled. "I won't be ruled by my past and I won't forgive you even now." I said as I walked off, Star deserved a warning of what was going to come after her next, if I was Delta and I was being assigned that meant Alpha Beta and Gamma failed, so I shuddered to think what kinds of abomonations they'd come up with next.
* * *
Is it my fault Rosy's so upset? I began to wonder, "Rosy are you okay?" I said as she was contemplating her work a grim look on her face. "Huh oh yeah I'll be fine Merry anyways I think we can start tracking Centurion now." I knew that tone that was her, 'I deal with my own problems tone' I hated that tone more than radroaches! "Now give me that stuffed toy so I can find a sample." She held out her hooves and I put Ms Fluffy in them. "Be careful she's sensitive..." I began to plea, "She's not even ali-" She looked at me, "Uh that is to say she isn't aligned with Celestia right now which is why she's feeling so bad." That made less sense than when she told me that babies came from wishing really hard to Celestia and Luna. "Okay..." I'm sure I sounded skeptical but Rosy just searched Ms. Fluffy and yelled in frustration. "THERE'S NOTHING THERE I GET SHE'S AN ANDROID BUT SHE SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF GENETIC CODE LEFT OR SHE'D BE A ROBOT!" I whimpered and hid under a table waiting for her to calm down.
Rosy saw me after a few minutes of tearing up the old station and sighed, "It's okay it's not your fault sorry I got so upset." I crawled out slowly and she hugged me, "You know I love you and I'd never intentionally hurt your feelings or you. I'm so sorry you had to see that." I cried a bit into her coat and a few drops fell on my back. Was Rosy crying? No that couldn't be it Rosy was the toughest big sister ever! It had to be raining and we were under a crack in the roof or something because Rosy never cried. I knew she'd always be there and be my strength even if the world fell apart around me because she was the best big sister any pony could ever have.
"Hey pack up those spark batteries we're heading to the nearest town to stay the night..." Rosy said her voice sounding a bit distant with a tinge of sadness I managed to pick up. "Okay Rosy..." I said back a little sadly and began packing everything we might need. If Rosy was already sad I wanted to do what she said and make her happy again. Just like mom would have done for us... I... no I can't think of that I have to be strong like Rosy if she can keep going I can too!
* * *
I failed her, it's my own fault really I should have known it wouldn't work... but I just wanted to be hopeful about something in this crummy world we lived in. I should have known there wouldn't be a sample of Centurion's genetics on her stuffed toy and I should have let her keep the radio. I was a terrible older sister, I'd have to make it up to her somehow, maybe if I found a way to contact some of the ponies Centurion knew I'd be able to get Merry back to her and leave her, she deserved a better sister than me, I knew it, and it was only a mater of time until she knew it to. She's all I have left mom's gone now... but that's exactly why she deserves better than me, I can't be her mother, I've already failed at being her older sister by letting her get nicked during the fight with the slavers.
I'll give her to Centurion and that... other pony to take care of her... and then I'll leave them behind and walk down the path towards Celestia and Luna up above where mother will be waiting for me, at least I hoped I'd be able to ascend to her after I'd proven to be such a failure. Maybe my future lied below with Discord where a failure like me would be welcome. Wait Merry seemed to be talking.
"So what do you think?" She said smiling, "I'm sorry could you repeat that..." I said glumly. She sighed, "I said, maybe I'll give you half of the sweets we find." I thought for a moment, was Merry making a geniune act of genorisity to cheer me up? Was I really getting that bad? I smiled a little, "That sounds... nice." I knew I had to cheer up for her if she was willing to do this. She seemed happy with herself and we headed towards New Appleloosa.
* * *
Wow could Storm be a real grumpy pony, I'd called her an idiot a fifth time and she bucked me in the teeth. After all I'd done for that bucking ingrate! Like not killing her for starters, and not killing ponies that were good by her definition, and... there are probably other things I'm just forgetting right now. Oh I knew why she did it, she was still upset about the whipping wasn't she? Not my fault that's how my parents let me know I was doing something wrong. I mean how else would it get through a stubborn ponies head? Wasn't every family like that? Well maybe not two hundred and five years ago... oh she's giving me the silent treatment, "HEY BUCKET BRAIN!" I yelled.
"Ugh what now Star?" She said clearly irritated. Well I was irritated too, "When we get home I'm going to give you a bucking spanking!" I growled, "Oh shut the buck up I am sick and bucking tired of hearing you today." I growled more menacingly, "Oh yes act like a rabid animal, that raises my opinion of you!" She said sarcastically. Then I bit her tail, "OW WHAT THE HAY STAR ARE YOU BUCKING CRAZY I COULD LOSE MY FOCUS AND DROP OUT OF THE SKY!" I smirked, "Sounds like a personal problem to me bucket brained steel flanked bucker." She looked really angry and a little embarassed now, I hate to say it but I liked that look... wait was I... no I couldn't fall in love with such a loser could I? I was Falling Star the ender of lives and... oh the way she was looking at me right now was making me feel a little frisky.... No stop it body! You are my tool and I will not have you disobeying me! Wait... how was I keeping my flying going when I was focussing on this mental argument? I looked down... "I don't think I was this close to the ground before..." Then I felt a thud as I landed on something hard and stopped with a few bruises. "Okay that cinches it, you almost made yourself a Star pancake, you are not allowed to call me an idiot anymore." I really disliked that smirk she had on her face and I bit her nose. "OW WHAT THE HAY I SAVED YOUR LIFE AND YOU BIT MY NOSE!" I growled, "Well maybe if you were humble about it I wouldn't have to put you in your place bolts for brains." She glared at me, okay this angry look wasn't quite as good as the last one what exactly was different there? Wait was she blushing then? Oh ho... this metal mare did have a weakness then didn't she? I smirked thinking of all the ways I could tease her about it, this was going to be the start of a really great day, maybe even eternity I kinda liked it down here, better than those stuffy ordered clouds with all the boring pegasi.
* * *
Crimson again, dang it whatever they did to me didn't cure me if anything it looks like they sped up the disease. I wheezed into my hoof again and more blood splattered out. "Why the buck would they do this if they didn't cure the disease?" I asked then thought back to my aunt, oh right it's because auntie always loved to see me suffer. Any remorse I had about taking her life left when I realized she probably didn't want me to be cured. "Ugh... I still need to find Star and warn her... sure I hate her but even she deserves a decent chance if they're going to make more monsters like me." I coughed again and a few drops of blood coated my hoof, I was racing the clock and the clock was starting to speed up. "How can I find her..." That's when I looked down and saw quite a few bodies riddled with bullets. "Follow the carnage then..." I flew following the carnage and came upon an odd sight, a pony looting one of the bodies. I snapped and dropped in front of him "WHAT IN EQUESTRIA DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! YOU DO NOT DISHONOR THE DEAD!" I yelled and he shivered a bit then yelled back, "THIS BUCKER KILLED MY MOM!" He said with tears in his eyes. That changed everything, "You kill him yourself?" I asked, he shook his head, "You want to get even?" He nodded, sure my body was being ravaged but I couldn't stop myself from taking sympathy on him, after all I was the same way when my mother died, I got into fights in school all the time looking for something to keep my mind off the cold hard fact, my mom died and no matter what I did, nothing could ever change that. I cut the head off the corpse with the point of my new tail and gave it to him. "Keep this close to you and let him know every day he can't escape his guilt in the afterlife." I knew it wouldn't do anything, but I also knew the colt needed something to keep him going or he might just lay down and give up living like dad did. "Show him what it means to be a pony and show him what a failure like him hates the most, show him that you're better than him." He nodded tears in his eyes. I knew it'd be hard for him, it was for me, I knew I needed to get going but I couldn't yet, I went closer to him and hugged him, "and remember this your mother loves you no matter where she is, and she wouldn't want you to be sad." I hated when other ponies told me that when I was still in school, the teachers told me, the principal told me... it didn't matter she left me alone and dad followed her. Yet here I was just twenty years later saying the same thing to another pony and I realized they didn't say it because they wanted to say it so much as they knew I needed to hear it even if I didn't like it.
"Now I have to go remember what I told yo-" I was cut off by a fit of coughing and blood dripped from my muzzle slowly, "I have to go... keep yourself safe kid, I won't forgive you if I see you up above any time soon." I flew off before he could ask if I'd be okay, I knew I was going to die, but I also knew that if I didn't act I'd have two ponies joining me. I could die happily if I was able to say that I had saved others, that I had defied my aunt when she told me I was worthless and that I only ever thought of myself.
* * *
"Okay we're getting repairs and some canvas to make a crude shelter for when we need sleep, nothing more." I said glaring at Star. "I get it I get it now let go of my ear!" I had pinned her right ear between some teeth to keep her from protesting. I let her go and she ran off, "I'LL HAVE MY REVENGE BUCKING BOLT HEAD!" At least she was running towards the store and even though I knew she would probably get revenge what was she going to do? Kill me? Fat chance I was already dead and she knew it. It's not like she could get that whip again anyways the colt who gave it to her got chastised by the mayor. I trotted to Ditzy's store and gave her some caps, "My right wing got a little shot up because somepony rammed me!" I yelled loud enough for Star to hear, "WELL IF YOU HADN'T SMASHED THAT SNACK CAKE WITH YOUR CLUMSY BUCKING HOOVES I WOULDNN'T HAVE HAD TO WOULD I?!" She yelled back and I sighed, she really was a kid. "Anyways Ditzy I brought a few more muffins and I got some ammo to trade that covers it right?" Ditzy nodded and I got on the table while she worked.
* * *
Okay I was sure the clock was cheating. Another reason to stop presented itself, a young filly with an odd emblem on her barding was rushing into a group of ponies with guns... alone. I slammed down into the group and began to choke and stab my way through the crowd until one remained, I looked at him as menacingly as I could, "Run... now!" I growled and he dropped his gun and ran, the filly looked at me, "Thanks but why would a monster help?" Ow... that's gratitude, "I'm not a monster whatever I look like, I'm a pony... and if you need to know why it's because life is sacred and the way you were rushing to your death is insulting to ponies like me." She looked at me confused then I coughed up some more blood and she grimaced, "Are you going to be okay?" I looked at her, "I'm fine... just keep yourself safe... got it?" She nodded and I flew off I had lost Star's trail a while ago so I had to rely on dumb luck to pick a direction to fly in.
* * *
"Okay we got what we needed let's go!" I yelled at Star who was staring at a paddle. I dragged her off by her tail and out the door, "We're leaving now move" I yelled in her ear and she shot up quickly and I shot after her as we flew towards Vault 13 Astaroth said it'd give me a clue about who he was and that there was no time limit. That gave me time to think of how to beat him, I began to play scenario after scenario in my head most ending in failure some ending in a few broken bones. The most optimistic outlook had me working for him for eternity... ugh the easy path sucks, okay now to factor Star in and... I got team killed in most of them. In fact the best case scenario I still got shot but it went through me and killed Astaroth and then Star came down and beat me senseless... wow this was really depressing, I guess that's why I try not to think too much. "To answer that, no you don't think to much beause you're unique, you see most ponies use 10% of their brain, you use .01% which is why you don't think much. I'll fix that a little if you promise to play more... maybe make it 1%" Of course Astaroth taunted me, "Buck that I'll make myself more intelligent on my own!" Astaroth chuckled, "With what a bunch of intensive study to train your mind?" I thought for a second, "Yes!" Astaroth sighed, "How does that even... if you can't... ugh forget it I don't even care do whatever you want I know you have some media files that are documents to study go ahead and study I'll let your autopilot work if it means not talking to you anymore right now..." I couldn't believe it... I beat Astaroth! Okay more accurately I got him so confused he stopped caring but a win's a win. Now I could kick back relax and study to make myself smarter while autopilot worked. ---- footnote: Level up! New perk: Oblivious seductress: You aren't sure why but for some reason a lot of mares have been giving you funny looks, oh well nice to be noticed, +10% to speech when talking with ponies of the same gender Quest perk: what is this I don't even...: You've become quite adept at confusing people when you talk, whenever you have a persuasion check +10% to the base.