//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9 
// Story: Fallout Equestria: True Skies 
// by Acespadez1134 
//------------------------------//

I stood on the wet road looking at the rather large 2 story building with a sign that was covered with small lights, “Lucky's Tavern?” I said looking up at it. Most of the letters were from other signs as the big L was fancy but U and the C were these small yellow letters. The K and Y looked like they were hoof written in and the S was just spray painted on a large piece of wood with a light shining down over onto it. The Tavern part of the sign suggests that either he found a sign with an instant Tavern painted on it with a big 4 leaf clover on it, that was nicely outlined with some kind of lights, or this may have been a Tavern at one point. The building seemed to be made with some level of love because it only had minimal patching and only a couple of border up windows on the top floor.

I looked to Bubble who was standing on the back of a wagon with its wheels completely destroyed. She looked to me and gave a small half smile then looked back to the entrance, “so what do we do?”

I looked back as well as the large light gray earth pony leaned against the wall next to a screen door. He hardly moved except to occasionally glance at somepony walking in through the door. I swallowed a little, “ok… here's the plan,” I looked to her as she looked back listening closely. My brain did not like the plan I just came up with, but it was best I could do. My heart however hoped she would accept it, “you… you are my daughter and we are just looking for a quick rest and maybe a drink.”

‘Please Bubble… we need to-’

She gave a small nod with a smile, “that sounds like a good idea!” I gaped at her for several seconds and she cocked an eyebrow at me, “what?”

I closed my mouth and shook my head a smile spreading across my face, “n… nothing,” I leveled my wing out to her, “climb on… it will look better if you are riding on my back.”

She climbed onto my wing and before getting onto my back pulled the jacket from my saddlebag. I really never noticed her putting it back every time she got down but somehow she did. She laid it down and then curled up into it carefully dripping her tail over her muzzle and looking up at me innocently. My ear folded back and I smiled at her, “that's my girl.”

She lifted her head a little looking at me, her mouth opening a little but almost instantly closed it and slowly lowered her head back down and covering her muzzle. I watched her for a moment feeling like she wanted to say something, but seeing that she was ready I lifted my wings a little to keep her both steady and well protected. With a deep breath I put my best, don't fuck with me face, and started towards the door.

As we approached the stallion glanced at me. He had a very dark gray almost black mane and tail. His eyes were dark brown and his cutie mark was a… a gate? A door? With a red line across it. He looked to Bubble Gum as I approached and his ears folded back, “you are really going to bring a filly in there?”

I lowered one of my wings showing the blade along it. He gave a small whistle as his eyes traced the blade and I glared at the door, “If anypony wants to touch her… they will have to walk out carrying the limb they used to do that with.”

He actually managed to give a small grin and looked at her his hard eyes going soft, “good… she's… she's adorable.” I leaned down to try and look into his face to read what was on it but almost instantly his face hardened and he looked back to me, “ok… head on it… and be careful newby.”

I looked at him for several seconds but he just looked away. I turned to face the door, not quite taking my eyes off of him until I reached my wing out and pulled the door handle to pull the door open. A second wooden door was propped open with a can of black paint suggesting I was right about the sign being painted and once inside the strong smell of smoke and alcohol was so overpowering that I staggered. I shook my head and turned to the left and walked into the main room.

There was music that I guessed was something other than what DJ Pon-3 was playing as it was more instrumental. The room was full of ponies of every shape, size and gender drinking, laughing and getting high on drugs of all kinds. I turned to see one mare being laid onto a table, a stallion was enjoying the position as she wrapped her hind legs around him. I swallowed and lifted my wing to keep Bubble Gum from seeing as I continued to scan the room. There were a few wooden pillars with lights hung on them keeping the place lit, but the lingering smoke gave a deep gray haze throughout the room all except far past the tables of drunk ponies, a well lit cage stage stood. The inside of the cage was lined with barbed wire and had large amounts of blood on the floor and on the crude thick metal grating that made up the cage. A single large pillar of steel reached the ceiling from the middle of it and from floor to about half way it was brown with rust and dried blood. There was a small cage in the back of the larger stage like one that held a small door and what looked like 2 entrances on either side of the stage.

To my left there was a long barrel with lights hanging from the ceiling and shining lights down onto the bar. A few of the stools had ponies leaning on the bar drinking quietly except one mare who I guessed was the large bucks twin sister. She was just as big and her coat was a dark gray almost black and her mane was a light gray. She was wearing a leather outfit that covered her cutiemark as she looked around the room. She had a large weapon of some kind laying up against the wall next to her.

She took one look at me and gave a small smirk, “well… I guess I can get some eye candy once in awhile,” she gave a small wink, “looking to relax a little flyboy?”

I looked to her and gave a nod, “my daughter and I need some directions and something to drink.”

She mouthed the word daughter and looked around before noticing the pink filly. Her eyes softened instantly, “aww… you poor thing.” she leaned back and slammed a hoof on the bar and yelled back, “HEY LUCKY! YOU GOT A NEW CUSTOMER!”

A gruff stallions voice rose from a room behind the bar, “Celestia's sweet smoking flanks Cedar!” a light yellow unicorn stallion walked out looking at the mare. He had a thick orange mane and tail that was hidden by a beret, he had wisps of orange going down the sides of his head and traced along his jaw line to a short yet well groomed pointed beard. He had a very sharp yet kind looking blue eye, his left eye was closed which had a thick pipe made from some kind brass hanging out of the corner of his teeth that was the same side as the closed eye. He looked to me and his one eye went wide, “well Celestia take me away and nuzzle my nethers… a pegasus huh?” His accent was thick but it didn't hinder his communication… in fact it gave him a rather rough tone.

I looked to him taking not of the nice suit he was wearing but I could still see his cutie mark which was a glass of some frothy drink with a 4 leaf clover by it. I gave him a smile, “yeah… my daughter and I would like something to drink.”

He eyed me skeptically the noticed Bubble laying on my back. She looked up to him and his jaw dropped and the pipe fell to the floor with a clatter his eye wide, “you… you brought a filly here?!” he glared at me, “have you blown a gasket there Lad?” he leaned on the bar not taking his eyes off me, “this is no place for a filly that young!”

He eyes glanced at something behind me and I turned my head slightly to see a few bucks talking while they looked at me. I frowned and looked back to the older looking buck, “If anyone touches her… they will be carrying out the limb they used to touch her back to their tables.”

The stallion just glared at me silently causing me to narrow my eyes as I stared him down. After a few moments a smile broke across his face, “well alright then!” he patted at a couple of empty stools across from him, “take a seat and I'll get you something to drink.”

Cedar tapped the bar to get the stallions attention, “Hey lucky! Anything the filly wants is on me!”

I let Bubble Gum walk onto my wing, slipping the jacket into my saddlebags, onto the stool. She looked to Cedar with a small smile, “t… thank you ma’am.”

She waved a hoof smiling back, “oh don't you worry about it sugar.”

Lucky levitated a Sparkle Cola with a long straw down in front of Bubble. The water that slid down the side of the glass bottle told me it was nice and cold making the fillies eyes widen along with her smile. She leaned her front hooves on the bar and took the straw in her mouth and began to drink.

He then set a glass down in front of me with a bottle of some kind of brown liquid in a fancy shaped bottle. He smiled and pulled out another glass and poured 2 glasses, “this will take the chill from your bones lad.” he took a swig as he looked to the happy Bubble Gum with a smile, but almost as fast as he smiled at her it faded, “oh shit…” he said in a low tone.

I took a sip of the liquid that sent a burning sensation down my throat that I loved and looked back turning my head slightly. A cocky looking buck with a dark red tailcoat was walking to the bar. He had a dirty blue mane and piss colored eyes as he looked to Bubble Gum. As he got closer I could see his coat was a light blue and he grinned as a cigarette was held in his dirty teeth, “well… isn't she just a pretty little thing!” Bubbles ears swiveled back. She glanced back to see the stallion lifting his hoof up towards her grinning, “If you want… I'll take her off your hooves for a-” he suddenly fell backwards gripping his hoof with his other hoof with a scream.

My wing snapped out cutting deep into the outstretched hoof. I also shaved the front of his muzzle to show off his pale pink skin under his coat and the cigarette butt was the only thing in his teeth now as he held his bleeding leg. He glared at me for a moment until I started to slowly fold my wing making the metal sing as it closed.

I held the drink in front of me as I looked down at the stallion with a glare of my own promising that the next time I did that I wasn't going to miss. His eyes went wide and he swallowed hard which caused his buddies to hurry over to help him up. They took one look at me and quickly fumbled out of the bar much to the pleasure of many of the bar ponies who watched the show. Many ponies laughed and clopped their hooves on the table at me.

I felt a small smirk on my face as Lucky chuckled, “don't supposed you want a job eh?”

I chuckled myself, “is it safe enough to keep the filly here while I do?” I looked to the stallion who looked back with a grave and slightly sad expression. My ears folded back, I have a bad feeling about this, “what did I ask stupidly.”

Before I could get anything from him the lights in the bar went dark with a bang, all lights except the ones over the bar and the few around the caged arena type thing. Loud cheers and yelling greeted a skinny and greasy looking unicorn stallion, a smirk that made me want to just buck him in the face out of principal. He walked to the cage with a pony wearing a cloak behind him. I could tell it was a she and a small chain came from the hood of the cloak and out to the unicorn who was flapping the end in a yellowish glow. The last pony to follow them was a very large buck. He smiled waving to the crowd with a scared goof. When he stepped into the light of the cage I could see she was an ugly dark green color with a dark, almost black, green mane and tail. His mane was slicked back with some kind of grease and he stood with a small patched cloak over his right shoulder. With each step I could see a bear trap latched to his right leg with a thick chain wrapped around it to keep it in place.

The unicorn stopped in the middle as the mare walked behind him almost obediently. His deep yellow mane was neatly groomed and his suit was even nicely kept as he grinned to face the crowd waving a hoof gesturing the stallion. The room erupted with delight at his presence as the stallion flexed a very muscular foreleg.

The skinny unicorn's horn grew brighter and he spoke with an amplified voice, “YES! IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!” the crowd roared again and he chuckled, “well tonight we have a prize most fine!” his voice called out over the crowd and he pulled the mare forward.

Bubble Gum gasped as she sat watching with her Sparkle Cola in her hooves. I looked at her for a second before looking back. Just then he pulled the cloak off revealing a mare like which I had never seen. Her soft sea green coat made her brilliant lilac mane and tail pop. Her mane was thick and hung down over her right eye almost covering the side of her face completely, and it was tied with some kind of mane tie about chest level. The rest of her mane dragged slightly on the ground. Her tail was similar with some kind of tie and the tail just dragged on the floor because of its length. Her deep pink eyes were almost cat like as they looked out across the crowd in fear, well the one I could see. Her wings, which were belted together and to her side, were leathery with a single claw also were a midnight purple in color.

I remembered reading about them in books during school but I thought they were just made up. I leaned forward setting my glass down, “Bat Pony?” I said in a low voice.

I could almost hear her whimper over the crowd as he gestured to her, “Isn't she just the sexiest mare you have ever laid your eyes on?” The crowd agreed with hollers and whistles at her. Her ears folded back and she took a step back. The announcer laughed, “now who wants to take the champ on to have her and his kingdom?!”

The whole place went silent as both he and the large buck inside looked over the crowd. The announcer just laughed and looked to the stallion. He let out a loud cold laugh, “that's because no pony is stupid enough to take me on” he looked to the mare grabbing her chain and pulling her forward with enough force she stumbled and fell. He moved around behind her as she tried to stand back up. He placed a large hoof in the middle of her back between her shoulders and forced her front half down smiling at the crowd, “normally I'd take her up to my room and break her right but…” he looked down at her his smile widening, “this time I'll have a first go… then I'll pass her around the whole bar for everyone to have a turn!”

The whole bar erupted with cheering as he laughed. I just stared at the mare as she looked around frantically, tears rolling down her face as she wiggled to get free. Suddenly our eyes meet and I could see her mouth asking me to help.

I gritted my teeth hard and stood up and roared over the crowd, “I CHALLENGE!”

The room instantly went quiet and slowly all eyes turned to look at me. I was breathing heavily as I felt every fiber of my being wanting to pull that disgusting stallion apart.

The announcer smirked, “well then… first… you need to have something worthwhile to give up… what will it be?”

I swallowed and opened my mouth to answer but I was cut off by Bubble Gum yelling back, “YOU CAN HAVE ME!”

I felt my heart sink as I looked at the little filly, “Bubble…” I looked to Lucky who looked as stunned as me. The announcer waved for her to walk up and Bubble hopped down and went to the caged arena. I looked to Lucky, fear building up inside of me, “if… if anything happens,” he looked to me and his expression became hard but he nodded. I sighed and nodded back before turning and walking to the cage.

The announcer was locking both the mare and Bubble Gum into the back part of the cage before turning to me, “Oh! By the way… no armor… he isn't wearing any so you cannot.”

I raised an eyebrow and lifted my leg, “what about a pip-buck? Only fair since he does have some protection on his leg.”

The unicorn looked to the large stallion who gave an amused smile and nodded. The announcer smiled back, “sure thing kid! Like it's going to matter much to you eh?” he started to laugh along with many of the other ponies around me. That lasted until I got out of my armor.

I stepped back out of my armor and tensed my muscles and flexed my wings. The unicorn looked impressed at me and I made my way to the other cage door and into the arena. It looked a lot larger on the inside and even with my build I could get some wing and hover space. The announcer took stood between us and raised a hoof but stopped as he looked out from the cage. Lucky held a piece of paper in front of the cage glaring at the unicorn, “alright… I am putting my half of the Tavern if you put your half up. I'm putting towards the fly pony.”

The unicorn gave a cocky smirk, “alright then Lucky… you're on!” he pulled a piece of paper from a pocket and the took the other. He levitated them into the locked cage which Bubble Gum took and held. The unicorn smiled at her, “Thank you for holding them for me sweetie.”

She frowned giving him a glare of pure ice, “I'm holding them for when Splitstream wins asshat.”

The chuckles around the ring made him falter a little, even the large buck laughed. He turned back and gave Lucky a smirk, “start packing… I'll see you out when the pegasus is dead.” I felt my insides tighten at that but he made his way out of the cage and the doors locked leaving both the large buck and I alone. He was a bit larger than me but I held my glare and he just looked at me amused. The unicorn yelled as soon as he was out of harm's way, “WHEN YOU'RE READY! FIGHT!”

Before either of us even moved a mare's voice called from the crowd, “don't break him too bad King! He's a cutie!”

I felt my skin crawl as I seen the mare who said it and was utterly shocked that it wasn't a mare. He looked and dressed like one but there was no missing obvious signs the way he sat on the stool.

I gave a shiver and the stallion King chuckled at me, “don't worry… I won't keep you alive for that.”

I smirked back lowering myself a little, “thanks… and after I kill you… I'll make sure he doesn't get to have your corpse… because he kinda seems the sort.”

He gave a hearty laugh tossing the Cape over his shoulder and kicking at the floor, “that's it! Let's make this a fun one for me!”

With that we ran each other both with intent of ending the other, him for the crowd and me for a mare I didn't know and now Bubble Gum. I had to win now and I was not going to mess around.

Just when we were about to collide I kicked off the ground and with a sharp flap of my wings I dodged right sharply. He stumbled a little expecting to run headlong into me but when I was not there he had to adjust and get his balance. I wasn't going to let that happen as I beat my wings and ran as fast as I could, gave a small jump, did a somersault and just before I got to him I struck my back leg out and gave him a kick right in the side just behind his ribs. He coughed as the wind was knocked out of him and I dropped. He staggered but only slightly allowing me a second to get to my hooves and crouch down readying another go.

He turned his head to look at me and was… smiling… crap…

“I gotta say… it's been awhile since any pony has managed to get a good hit on me.” he slowly turned dropping his head down, “with a guy like you… I may have to even the playing field.” I cocked my head confused and to my horror he turned and walked to his cape. After flipping it over with a hoof I could see the drugs he had in it taped to the inside. The crowd hissed and booed him as he took a brown bottle and lifted it to his mouth and downed the rest of the bottle of buck.

I swallowed nervously as he then pulled out a needle of something I had never seen before and injected it into his flank. His pupils dilated and he gave a low primal growl and charged. I tried to dodge again but this time he flicked his head and hit me just hard enough to knock me from landing properly and I landed with a roll. I looked up then to the announcer glaring, “Isn't this cheating?!”

He just looked at me with a smug grin, “no rules in a fight to the death.”

I glared at him, “when I'm done killing your pet… you're next.”

He gave a cold chuckle and pointed a hoof. I looked back in time to see a large hoof just before it slammed into the side of my head sending me sprawling. I held the side of my face feeling like I was hit by anything but a pony, and if I had seen this guy in a dark alley… I would have said he wasn't one.

He laughed as his eye twitched, “how did that feel little guy?” he had a thin silver strand of drool slowly oozing from the corner of his mouth.

I rubbed my face and worked my jaw, “If that is the best you got… this will be quick.”

He laughed, “I'm not done yet!” he started to stomp the hoof with the bear trap on it on the floor.

I wasn't about to see how he was going to cheat this time so I gave my wings a hard flap and took off towards him. His eyes widened at my sudden speed burst just before my hooves slammed hard into his muzzle. I shivered as I felt and heard several teeth crack, but once again he just staggered back. I landed on my hooves and he spit several teeth and blood to the floor and just glared at me with a wicked smile. It was then I noticed something coming off his hoof and looked down to see the chain was loose. I followed the chain to my left hoof and swallowed.

I tried to move but he yanked the chain and the slack snapped up wrapping around my leg from hoof to the top of my pip-buck. He was so strong as he swung me around and slammed me hard into the metal beam in the middle with a resounding Bong!

Pain erupted from my ribs and I was sure if my head wasn't ringing and the loud sound of the beam I would have heard a few crack. I hissed as I slowly tried to get back up and he laughed, “well it looks like the computer thing saved your leg,” I staggered to my hooves and he grinned blood oozing from his mouth, “but I have other ways to break you!” and he pulled with his unreal strength.

I felt my hooves leave the ground again but this time I was a little more prepared and just before I slammed into the barbed wire cage I flapped my wings and stopped myself. I started to fly up to get away, then the chain went taut and my leg started to pull back. My eyes went wide but it was far too late as he yanked hard on the chain. I stopped instantly as my shoulder gave a sickening pop, and I dropped back to the floor hitting the ground grabbing my shoulder screaming.

My head and vision were swimming as pain radiated from my very dislocated shoulder. I could hear sounds but everything sounded like I was under water, the pain keeping me from being able to focus on anything. I opened one eye and noticed the cap and a bright red inhaler sticking out inches from me.

King slammed a hoof into my back and pressed me down hard as he put most of his weight down on me. I groaned as he leaned down, “pathetic!” I tried to look at him but everything was swimming still. He focused my head straight and then I saw something that hurt worse than my shoulder. Bubble Gum was watching from a hole in the gate tears running down her face. She was yelling something but her voice was just mixing with everyone else's. The mare was trying to comfort her but she was not holding it together either.

He just laughed, “I have to thank you… now I can give that mare bat to everyone in this room to play with because,” he gave a cold spine tingling chuckle, “because I will have that filly of yours.” My eyes widened as I looked at Bubble Gum. He leaned close so I could smell the blood and reek of his breath as he said slowly, “I will let her know… every night… that you failed her and let her become my new plaything.” I started to shake as my vision began to focus and I gritted my teeth hard. He chuckled, “want to tell my little… what are you doing?” I was pushing myself up so he pushed harder onto my back, “stay down…” I pushed more so he leaned back and pushed both hooves into my back now, “Stay Down!” he bellowed. My wings and my good legs continued to push. I was growling deeply as he lifted off his hooves to slam down on me, “I SAID ST-”

I took my chance a with a snap of my wing pushed myself forward and landed on my good hoof curling my body up as I balanced and the inhaler of Dash between my teeth. I heard his hoof smash the ground where I was and as I looked back into his eyes of complete surprise. I growled around the inhalers my eyes glaring holes into his, “Fuck off you piece of pony shit!”

My body was now a coiled spring that I let loose with a staggering amount of force sending my back legs back with a kick and I pushed with my wings and my good leg sending my hind legs into his muzzle. I heard the sound of snapping as my hooves hit with enough force that he was driven up onto his hind legs in a daze. Using my good hoof I pressed the plunger down and took a deep breath in taking all of the Dash into my lungs then slowly let the breath out. Almost instantly the room began to slow to a crawl and I looked around for something. The chain swung in front of my and I got an idea as I grabbed it in my jaws and I worked my wings hard to pull me past the dazed monster. The Dash was wearing off rather fast as my speed pulled the chain taut but this time it was my turn to make his shoulder pop loudly. He screamed as he fell back his head slamming against the metal beam with another Bong!

I didn't stop and I pulled the chain around the beam banking enough to keep my speed up. The chain wrapped around his throat once then twice and I didn't have enough of the chain to continue so I stopped. I planted my hind hooves against the beam and wrapped the chain in around my good leg and pulled with everything I had. He continued to kick and flail with his hoof that wasn't wrapped horribly around his back. I looked down into his eye as I pulled the chain, cracking enamel. He looked to me as the bulged with hate as his face started to turn a sick blue.

I glared, “Fuck off and die.” I gave the chain a hard yank and something in his throat collapsed. I continued to hold tightly as his body began to still and when he finally stopped moving I continued to pull. I stopped when I felt something touch my leg and looked to see Lucky next to me. I dropped the chain and landed weakly on my hooves… well most of them and I dragged my dislocated leg. Lucky cut the chain from around my pip-buck and it fell to the floor with a clatter. I looked out over the crowd my vision starting to become dark and gave a bellowing scream. The shout of a certain pink filly yelling something behind me caused me to turn slowly. I smiled as she started to run to me crying but my legs stopped working now and I fell to the floor. I watched as Bubble raced to my side but before she did, everything went dark the only sound was Bubbles crying, the last thing I remembered.


******


I slowly opened my eyes and everything and everyone was gone I was alone in a dark room with a single light over the top of me. I slowly stood up and looked around spinning around in place, “hello?” My voice sounded high which cause me to look down at myself. I was a foal for some reason. I felt my heart begin to race, “h… hello? Bubble Gum!”

“You don't deserve to know where she is.” came a familiar female voice that seemed to come from all around me.

I spun around looking, “Momma? Where… where are you?” a light came on a little bit aways from me with a single pony hunched over. I slowly started to walk towards the pony as fear started to spread through me for leaving my light to go into the darkness, like the darkness was going to just end me. I reached the edge of the light when I started to hear crying.

The pony whose coat was a soft pink with a tied back purple mane was crying hunched over. Her wings drooped by her like she lost all of the will to go on and just sobbed. I could see something in her hooves as I moved closer, “a… are you ok?”

Sunny Storm turned and glared at me, “you killed our foal! You monster!” I stumbled back as she held up the limp form of the little colt from the raider nest.

I shook my head as I backed up, “no… no that wasn't me!” my hoof hit the edge of the light and slid back off the edge. I started to slide back more into the hole making me glance back to see a factory floor with a bunch of ghouls looking up at me hungrily. I looked back into the light to see an older mare standing next to the mare comforting her as the dead foal turned into the limp form of Bubble Gum. I looked to the mare in desperation as I tried to work my wings but to my horror I didn't have any. I called out to the mares but nothing came from my mouth.

Suddenly a chain wrapped around my hoof and I heard the evil laugh of King, “say goodbye to everyone you know and love!”

I tried to call for help but Bubble Gums lifeless for just asked me, “why Split?... why,”

The chain pulled and I was yanked from the edge to the waiting maws of the ghoul ponies as I fell.


******


I woke with a start as a wet cloth gently dabbed my brow. A soothing voice that was as smooth dark chocolate and delicate as a feather in the wind gently cooed to me with a sweet accent, “please… calm yourzelf Splitstream…”

I slowly lifted my head because the pounding in my skull made fast movements unbearable and looked to see the teal Bat pony smiling sweetly at me. She had a wet cloth in her hooves as she gently dipped it into a bucket of cool water and wrung it out before patting my head with it. I blinked slowly at her, “a… am I dead?”

Her eyes went wide in surprise as she looked back at my disbelieving expression. She then raised a hoof to her muzzle and giggled, I felt something stir in my chest that I had never felt, “no… at leazt I think not.”

I started to try and lift myself up, “what… happened?”

She placed a hoof on my shoulder to keep me still, “you zaved me and your little filly but-”

My eyes snapped open and I shot upright looking around frantically, “Bubble Gum! Where is she? Is she ok?!” we were in a large room that had 2 other doors that were in front of me and one to my right. I was on a rather clean mattress in front of a fancy but ragged looking couch. There was an end table with a shameless lamp on it giving a soft glow of light as the window behind the couch was very dark. Off in the corner of the room was a stove, a dirty sink and a refrigerator that hummed softly.

She lifted a hoof to calm me and as soon as it touched my cheek I felt my butt slide to the floor. She smiled again her one eye that I could see full of kindness and warmth as she cooed again, “she is zafe and happy that you are well… she is down with Cedar and Lucky,” sensing another jolt inside me she quickly added, “after you won Lucky clozed the bar and kicked out the other poniez.”

I sighed and started to lower my body and aching head back down. She adjusted herself and gently lowered my head onto a pillow. Now that I knew she was safe I took a deep breath in through my nose as she placed the cloth into the bucket. I could smell a sweet and soothing scent coming from her as she looked me over. She gently lifted my wing that I had burned and it sent a tingle down my spine.

I recoiled my wing and looked at her in shock, “w… what are you doing?”

She cocked her head, “your wing… it haz damaged featherz in it. They need to be properly preened for them to grow back.”

I felt my cheeks burn and my eyes widened, ‘oh... oh she doesn't know what that… oh boy…’

I cleared my throat, “I… I can do it myself…”

She frowned a little, “no Splitstream… you can hardly hold your head up, let alone turn it to your wing…” She gently with a soft grip lifted my wing, “do not worry… I know what I am doing.”

“D… Don't!” I said suddenly my body tingling as she held my wing. I clenched my eyes tightly to calm myself, “preen… preening is… normally left for pegasi to do by themselves u… unless they… are umm…” I seen her confused expression as I opened my eyes slightly. I swallowed hard, “pegasi have very sensitive wings and preening is often used as… um… f… foreplay.”

Her eyes went wide in shock as her cheeks glowed brightly, “Oh! Oh my! I…” She let my wing go and closed her eyes lowering her head a little, “I… I am zo zorry Splitstream.”

I sighed letting out a breath that I was holding to keep myself calm. I closed my eyes, “i… it's ok… you didn't know…” I looked back at her as she opened her eye to look at me, “you… you never told me your name yet.”

She raised a hoof to her muzzle in shock again, “I… I didn't did i?” She politely cleared her throat and cocked her head giving me a heart melting smile, “My name iz Serenity.”

I stared at her something thundering in my chest as I looked at that face smiling so sweetly. I swallowed hard as the thundering was making breathing a bit hard and slowly started to sit up, ‘what is happening to me?’ the pony in my head asked.

I looked to Serenity and echoed my brains question, “what happened to me? How badly am I injured?”

She shook her head, “Iron Gate and Lucky pulled your leg back into itz socket then they managed to get a few healing potionz into you to heal you up well…” She leaned close, “iz something wrong?”

I leaned back from her the thundering becoming louder as she did so, “n… no… i… its…”

She leaned closer her eyes scanning me, “you look nervous and your face is quite red.” she placed a hoof behind my head and tilted my head down and gently pressed her lips to my forehead. I wanted to melt and I wasn't sure why as she pulled back, “you are quite warm too… are you sure you are ok?”

I panted looking at her lips that just touched my head, I was being a little colt because she was unlike any mare I had ever seen. I felt juvenile, even after everything I had just gone through, this beautiful mare was making me feel like I had never seen a mare. She leaned in close almost muzzle to muzzle looking into my eyes now, “this… this look… I… I know this…”

I whimpered softly not wanting to admit I was being weak for her, “what… what is it? Help me!”

She smiled softly, “then… forgive me being zo abrupt.” she leaned back and pulled the wet cloth from the cool bucket and wrung it over my face.

I swung my head back gasping for breath as my mane dripped water. I sighed a little feeling a bit relieved, “t… thanks”

She gave a small nod smiling, “my pleasure master Splitstream.”

I froze then slowly looked up to her, “pardon?” please tell me I heard that wrong…

She frowned a little, “well…” She fidgeted with the end of her mane, “you… you won me so… you own me an-”

“NO!” I shouted making her almost fall back as she recoiled. I was standing on my hooves glaring at her, and when I realized what I did I took a breath to calm myself and offered her a hoof, “I'm sorry… but no… I saved you so you can be free.”

She gently took my hoof and I brought her in front of me noticing she still had the collar on with the blinking light, and her wing were still belted together. My ears folded back as I felt a twang of annoyance.

She followed my gaze and waved her hooves, “pleaze don't be mad at anyone… I… I told them not to take them off… I… I did not want you to be upzet because they took them off,” she reached back picking up a remote, “after Lucky took my chain collar off this one made him nervouz zo he forced the zkinny unicorn to give thiz up. He zaid the zwitch to turn it off waz on here.”

I looked at the remote with a big red blinking button that pulsed in time with her collar and a small switch below it. Without a word I reached a wing over and flicked the switch off making the light die on both the remote and collar. Her eyes went wide as I took the remote and set it down on the floor and with a stomp smashed it to pieces. I could see her eye as fresh tears began to well up inside them feeling anger to every and any pony who would do this to anyone. I used my wing to tilt her head back slightly and leaned in close grabbing the clasp of the collar in my teeth. She smelled amazing and I could feel her trying to choke back sobs… or something as I worked it. With a small snap it came off and I grabbed it in my teeth and gently slid it off her.

I watched as she reached a hoof up to her neck and gently rubbed it with the tears in her eyes that started rolling down her cheeks, “I… I am a free pony?”

I set the collar on the end table and looked back to her with a soft smile, “yes… you are your own mare… no pony should or will own you as long as I am around.”

She gave a small hiccups as the emotions flooded out of her. The lifetime of being treated like a thing instead of a pony finally ended. She leaned forward her hooves covering her face as she began to cry, but I would not let her cry on the floor as she started to slowly sick to it, so I grabbed her and pulled her close letting the stunning mare cry into me. I gently stroked her mane as she sobbed openly, I could feel my chest becoming wet with tears but she needed to let this out. My physical pain was nothing to her emotional pain so I could wait.

After a few minutes she finally started to calm down and leaned back rubbing her eyes with her hooves, “t… thank you Splitstream.”

I nodded when she looked at me her smile grateful, “you are welcome…” I stood up and moved to her side, “now… about these belts,” I reached my muzzle out to her wings.

She moved a little and placed a hoof to my muzzle smiling, “If I don't get to help with your wingz… no helping with mine.”

My jaw dropped as stammered, “bu… wha… this… that isn't… but.” she just smiled gently at me and I swallowed hard and laid down lifting my wing, “f… fine!”

She laid down next to my face the other way looking back a little. I cocked my head as I saw something wrong with her teeth as she spoke, “open your wing pleaze.” I timidly opened my wing and she guided it with a hoof and gentle nuzzles with her muzzle. Even the slight touches should be nothing to me, but because it was just her and I and she was being very careful and… and I really really… I think… I liked her.

She looked back, “ok… I will be gentle.” she turned her head back to my wing.

I closed my eyes and tensed up, I had never let anypony, including Sunny, do this and now I was about to let a gorgeous mare that I just met and saved do it. I felt her muzzle press into my wing and gently nuzzle against the dead feathers as her teeth gently grabbed them and pulled them from my wing. I lowered my head and pressed my face into the pillow as my face began to burn and tell sensation. Her slow and careful movement's sent tingles down my spine. I bit the pillow as her teeth gently raked against the fleshy part of my wing.

She whimpered softly speaking in a low tone as she turned to look back at me. The light catching her eyes just right making it glow, “z… zorry… d… did I hurt you?” I just shook my head and closed my eyes tightly. I could hear the smile, “a… all right…” I felt her move away from my side then heard her hooves gently move in front of me, “Splitstream…”

I opened my eyes my face burning from ears to my chest as my heart thundered in my chest. I looked up at her and she gently placed her hooves under my chin and lifted my head. Even though she wasn't using any force my head moved like it wanted to… closer to her face… closer… closer…

I had been kissed by a few different mares in my life, only two came to mind which was Sunny and Peppermint. This however was something more as her lips pressed against mine. Every fiber of my being felt like it was sparking and I felt explosions going off in my head. My eyes were wide open for a few seconds before they closed, like i had seen these explosions. It was nothing as deep as the other kisses I received but it was everything that they were not and I wanted to just stay like that forever.

The pony in my head wanted to scream when she finally pulled away. It was only a few seconds but it felt like a lifetime as she smiled to me. She looked over my back and giggled, “don't ztop that giggle… pleaze…” I heard my mouth say in a daze.

She looked at me again her face still red but eyes wide with surprise, but she smiled and giggled again. I sat up my fore hooves feeling like jelly as I looked to the mare my heart letting my eyes see her like I had never seen a mare before.

I took a deep breath in closing my eyes, “can I be honest with you?”

“Yez…” She said with a tone of innocence.

I let the breath out, “you… you are the first mare that has ever done that to me…”

She smiled at me, “which part? Preen your wingz or make them stick out straight?”

My head snapped around with a crack of my neck and sure enough my wings were out stretched back completely stiff. I groaned and lowered myself down to the mattress covering my face.

She giggled again and I felt her nuzzle the side of my face, “juzt zomething I will have to get uzed to huh?”

I dropped my hooves and looked up at her in disbelief, ‘did… did I hear that right?’ I thought.

“Did… did you just…” I asked feeling like maybe my mind was messing with me because of my crush.

She nodded, “I am free… zo… I wish to try a real relationship on a pony who haz earned it.

My ears perked and my eyes went wide, “re… relationship… but… but we just met and… and we hardly know each other and…”

“And you zaved my life at almozt the cozt of yourz… I can clearly zee that even if we just met that you have zome kind of feelingz for me and after everything you have done for me,” she layed down and nuzzles the side of my head, “I would be crazy to at leazt not try.”

I felt my heart skip a beat and for a second I thought it would stop and I nuzzle back, “how did you manage that which no other mare has and work right into my heart?”

She giggled again, “to be honezt… I only reached you after Bubble Gum did and they wanted uz to be alone and become friendz. Bubble however… she told me to just kizz you becauze you needed one from a pretty mare.”

I felt a chuckle, “of course she did,” I felt her move a little angling her body so her wings were by my face, “w… wha…”

She looked back with an expression that made her look edible kinds of cute and she said in almost a whisper, “y… your turn… and yez… my wingz are just as zenzitive.”

I looked to the thick belts binding her wings closed and swallowed, “alright…” I took a breath and leaned to the first belt which held her wings to her side and began to pull the strap out being careful as I did so. My ear swiveled as I heard a small sound come from her and felt her tremble slightly but I finally managed to get it off and pull it free. The belt that held her left wing to her side was a different color, was quite tight and was a bit stiff as I pulled it free. The small whimper that escaped from her made my cheeks burn. The last belt which held her right wing was not as tight but was much thicker. It came off a bit too easily but it didn't make her feel uncomfortable. I gently used a hoof to help her open and stretch her wings.

She whimpered this time in pain as her wings opened little by little making me fold my ears back. I know a hurt wing is one of the worst pains ever and with how long it seemed like she was wearing these it probably hurt to even move them.

I looked to the bucket and pulled out the cool damp cloth and draped it over joint and gently massaged it. She squirmed giving a small sob of pain at first but she calmed down after a few seconds looking back to me her cheeks red with blush.

I gave her a smile, “I had my wing in a cast for a long time… this was the only way I was able to recover quickly.”

She looked longingly at me but gave a small, “Thank you Splitst-”

I shook my head, “you can call me Split… just Split.”

She gave another smile and nodded, with that I leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her wing. Her eyes went wide and she let out the most adorable moan. She looked back at me with a mixture of surprise and a bit of longing. I gave her a small smile and stood shakily to my hooves.

“Let's get down stairs before we jump right into bed with each other,” I said before looking down at her with her outstretched back legs  and her tail softly draped over then in a slight curvy pattern. I swallowed as I reached her flank that looked like a heart that was mostly outlined by a crescent moon.

They lingered there and for several seconds I really want it to jump to that but I bit my tongue and shook my head. I looked to her and maybe it was me but I think she wanted it too but she shook her head, “yez… I agree… let uz head down together.” I helped her to her hooves and when she winced as trying to fold her wing back up I smiled and let it drape over my back. She looked at me with a thankfulness then we walked to the door. I opened it and let her walk out first before following and taking my place next to her.

I did not know if this was real relationship but for the first time I was happy. I also realized, as I looked at the beautiful mare smiling back at me, I want to keep both her and Bubble Gum safe and that was not going to be easy. Then another idea blossomed in my mind at the thought of Bubble Gum and Serenity and deep down in my heart… I wanted to hope that maybe… there was a chance at happiness for both of them.