//------------------------------// // New Game // Story: To be Redeemed // by shattered_sky //------------------------------// The large navy blue unicorn looked at the occupant of the other cage anxiously, Dolores was curled up in a ball and shivering. Her leg and side was wrapped up in a blood soaked black garment and she was drifting in and out consciousness. She groaned and lay on her back. “Dear God it hurts so badly. What is even going on?” She sobbed “You’re quite the resilient one ma’am.” The stallion remarked. He was wiping his bloodstained hooves with a handkerchief. He fumbled with it for a bit before moving to stuff it into his vest’s breast pocket. He let out a sigh and tossed away the once white garment. He pawed at a black ring around his slender and pointed horn. “W-where am I?” She croaked as she struggled to sit up. She let out a cry of pain as she dragged herself to rest against the steel bars. She hissed and shut her eyes tightly. She opened her eyes and blinked, staring at the middle aged stallion with a blank expression. “You are a unicorn.” “I’ve noticed ma’am.” He teased. “Also you are a cat.” He added. “I’m pretty sure I drank alcohol, not drugs.” She grabbed her head and gritted her teeth as previous events came back to her. “That all happened? No no no no, it must be stress. Or am I going mad?” She asked herself. Her train of thought was interrupted by another jolt of pain. “If it’s of any assistance to you, touching me would reveal if you are just hallucinating.” He frowned. “Then again, for some hallucinations can be touched and they can touch you.” At her irritated expression he coughed into his hoof. “Ah forgive me. Where are my manners? I am Blue Moon Miss Senna.” “Excuse me?” “I didn’t mean to, but I saw your name etched on your gun. Do pardon me.” She decided not to correct him. She looked around the dark cave they were trapped in, a lantern giving a dim light in the corner. She studied the torn coat used as bandages. “You helped me?” She asked. Blue Moon nodded in response. “Thank you.” She smiled and Blue Moon gave an embarrassed look. “I did what any Stallion should.” He sobered and he rubbed his muzzle. “However there is still a bullet lodged in your leg. I had no tools to remove it.” She swallowed. “I could die from lead poisoning. A few days at least if I don’t get it removed.” “I’d imagine our captors would offer no such aid. And my comrades are under the impression I’m at Las Pegasus right now. It would be some time before somepony would come for us.” He sadly concluded. “We’ll need to work together, to sort ourselves out of this mess.” “Me? What can I do!?” She squeaked. He blinked, startled at the outburst. “I was under the impression you were an adventurer. They gave quite the fit at the trashing you dished out.” He raised an eyebrow. “Pray tell, what are you then?” “I’m just a waitress!” She complained. “I’m just looking for my boys. Oh, I wonder if they’re all right.” She sobbed. “Then how did you do all that?” “Well they suddenly shot at me so I defended myself. I’ve never fired at another person in my life!” She paused as she remembered the firefight. She smelled burned flesh and tasted iron in her mouth. “I killed two of them… Oh dear God I Killed people.” She trembled and tears streamed down her face. Blue Moon looked at the cat with pity for a while. “Senna. Please look at me.” He spoke up eventually. She sniffed and turned to Blue Moon. “I need to ask you to put those thoughts aside for now. I’m asking a lot of you but we need to find a way to escape.” He spoke in a firm tone. “How can I? I’ve killed people.” “Because you did the right thing.” He raised his head. “W-what how can you say that!?” She got up with a start but immediately sank down with a cry of pain. “Those ruffians were evil. Those sand raiders carried a cannon with them. The ponies they were going to trade it was going to use it to hit caravans going through the area.” He walked over and held the bars of the cage. “Ponies in certain areas rely on those supplies to live. So in my opinion that makes you a hero.” “It doesn’t make it right!” “It’s justice. A civilian has as much right to dispense justice as a lawpony does.” Dolores snorted. “Fuck. From where I’m from self –defense is shooting someone who steps on your property.” She glared at him. “I can’t just say I did the right thing. Murder is the worst thing someone can commit. You expect me to just brush that fact aside?” She demanded. “No. I asking you – begging you in fact – to help me and yourself. We have loved ones out there for us. So you need to push those thoughts aside. And focus on what’s important.” He smiled. “We can schedule a therapy session later.” She wiped her tears aside and sniffed, she took deep breaths and calmed herself. A fire was set in her eyes and she nodded resolutely. “I can do that.” “That’s the spirit!” He beamed. “Now, we need to find a way to escape these cages. Can you pick a lock?” She shook her head. “No…” She got up with a grunt and leaned against the bars of her cage. She looked around, she hoped someone carelessly left behind something she could use. Nothing. They both studied the cage, Dolores concluded that she would just break her claws if she attempted to pick the lock with them. Not to mention she had no clue how to do that. “How are these cages anchored anyways?” Blue Moon bit his lip. “Hmm… They weren’t here the last time I was in this cavern. And I don’t see anything holding these down.” He shook his head. “This is going to ruin my teeth.” He bit the bar hard and managed to lift it a few inches. He let it drop and fell back. “Curses! I’m not strong enough to lift it.” He sat on his haunches and panted. Dolores walked forward and closed her eyes. She flashed forward a few inches forward and smacked against the bars. She collapsed with a goofy smile on her face. Blue Moon was surprised by her use of magic. “Are you alright?” A few minutes later she stirred and clutched her head. She lifted herself up again and tried it again. This time she reappeared on the other side. “I say, that is quite the surprise. Waitresses from your lands learn spells and gunplay.” He teased. “It’s a long story, now let’s try to get you out.” She shuffled over and slipped her paws under the cage. She gritted her teeth as she lifted it a bit, he joined her and together they managed to lift it enough so he could slip through. He quickly slid out and they slowly lowered it back. She leaned against him as her wounds reopened. She bit her lip to stop herself from screaming. “We’ll need to retrieve your weapons. With my magic disabled you’ll need to shoot our way out.” Dolores winced. “The alternative is that you find a way to remove the inhibitor ring on my horn. If we can remove it I can teleport us out.” “I’ll need my stuff back either way however.” She concluded. She hissed and sucked in a breath. They walked slowly, side by side. They came near the entrance they saw a few Sand Raiders sprawled around, drunk. They were using the suitcase as a make shift table. They carefully retrieved it along with her guns. She was thankful she didn’t have to shoot anyone else and it seemed they were home free. They were going to leave but Blue Moon stopped. He pointed to a key ring on one of the unconscious guards. Dolores moved to grab it but the guard stirred. Blue Moon rushed forward and stomped on the guards head. With the keys acquired they managed to remove the ring. “Now, I simply need to orient myself on our location then we can teleport ourselves away from here.” He whispered as the sun began to set in the distance. “Oh? I’m afraid not trash.” A female voice condescendingly replied. They turned around slowly. Blue Moon backed away nervously at the sight of the figure. “Y-you!” Dolores squinted. “Is she a vampire pony?” Her eyes widened. “Those exist here!?”