//------------------------------// // Ranger Rouser // Story: Fallout: Equestria - Beyond the Badlands // by A Pony Typewriter //------------------------------// Ranger Rouser Morning. The sun shines and its ray bathed everyone and everything on the Wasteland. A gift given it was. A gift that was acquired in the path of violence, loss, grief and sacrifice. A gift that that went missing and was given back. One which will be treasure always. The golden rays penetrated through an unbroken window at the end of a hallway. It struck the back of a man, casting shadow that blanketed the hallway on the second story of the inn. The man stood unmoving, face shaded with the helmet he wore. Two adolescence hound observed quietly from around the top corner of the stairwell. Watching the unmoving alien that is the Soldier. They had been looking at the veteran combatant from the break of dawn, even after they left for chores given by the yellow pony, the creature hadn't moved an inch. Being young, many things were new to them which led to curiosity. "C'mon Pawl do it !" told one Hellhound to another. "You sure about this Rockie ?" asked Pawl, "what if he tries to kill me. You saw what the skinny one did to Rufus' brother." "That was different c'mon." Rockie taunted, "What's the matter you chicken ?" Insulted, the young hound named Pawl slowly approached the unmoving alien. His heart beat faster as he came close. He wasn't sure what he was afraid of, but it brought out sweat from his body. Uncertainty of future events clouded Pawl's mind, millions of scenarios came in and out of his trail of thought. Questions concerning of what would happen after he interacted with the creature that stood at the end of the hallway. He regretted accepting that dare. Unknowingly, he had walked to the creature he didn't know. There were just inches between Pawl and Jane Doe. The young hound froze, petrified at the distance between him and it. He did not dare too look up. He looked back at the stairwell. Rockie was still there with expression of disbelieve, but gave nod. Against what his emotion told him not to do, Pawl moved his vision upward. Before the hound did what he was supposed to do, the creature grabbed a bugle from its belt. Jane Doe played a tune on his bugle. A tune he was familiar with. A tune which awaken his co-workers many times whether they wanted to or not. But this morning, his music awaken more than his team mates. Dell woke up to the sound of Jane's bugle. He groaned, irritated at the rude awakening. An attempt to sat on the bed was foiled by the sleeping mare's head resting on the Texan stomach. Avoiding waking up the slumbering pony, Dell let his ears be assaulted by the bugle tune and laid back down on the bed once more. It didn't last long as the beige mare woke up to the same sound. Her eyes blinked several time and looked at Dell. She complained, "Does Jane do this every morning ?" "Nope. Not every mornin'." Dell pointed out, "You got somehin' on yer face." Past Tale wiped the saliva from the corner her muzzle and jumped out of bed. She put on her saddlebag, eager to leave the hound populated town. The Engineer put on his ten-gallon and his hang dried red shirt, then pulled out the red toolbox containing the Dispenser from beneath the bed. Then slung his Rescue Ranger to rest on his back then check on his Pip-Boy. The time said quarter to seven . Both mare and engineer heard a commotion outside, voice belonged to the Boston youth penetrated the walls. "So where we goin' next ?" asked Dell. "I'm going to Tenpony. Maybe pick up a few jobs there," Past Tale said. "Why don't cha' asked fer job back in that town...uhm..." He checked his Pip-Boy, "Junction R-7." "Nah. NCR wouldn't have a job for me right now," she explained. "Why not ?" Dell inquired. "Well the day I met you people. I was carrying NCR's last caravan. One of them anyway." she explained, "With the thing out west, Hoofington and the 'raider cycle'. NCR won't take chances with its caravan." "Raider cycle ?" Dell questioned her. "Yup, that's what we call 'em." Past Tale informed Dell, " Some Raiders are nomadic bunch who are...well mad. Usually they come back to where they came from after a while." "So they just spin 'round in circle," Dell hypothesized. "A big circle I should add." she told the Engineer, "That's why I got my flank handed before you guys went in." "Ya know. you know a lot," praised the Texan. "That's the reason for my hot flank ain't it," she said. --- --- --- With the sun now brightly visible and midway to zenith, it was their time to leave Ponyville. Breakfast was cooked by the humongous Russian. Men and mare gave thanks to Fluttershy and the albino hound for everything they had offered. They traded waves of goodbye as six men and trader mare made distance from the hound sanctuary. "What a strange bunch they are," said Fluttershy as she waved a hoof. "Indeed they are." the hound asked the yellow mare, "Did you saw the red lightning ?" By the time Ponyville wasn't visible with just an eyesight, the sun was beating down hard on the Wasteland. Mare and men walked without much protection of concentration of vapor known as clouds. None of these bothered them, all of them had experienced this situation many times before. As they walked only the Boston youth was making a sound, and annoyance. Scout was yelling at their veteran combatant about putting drug into his ration the other night. The 'white stuff' as Jarvis recalled. He told Jane about being unable to sleep through out the night, and waking up to the tune of Jane's bugle. All of them were remarks of complaints. They followed the beaten, tattered, sun baked road that was marked by the Engineers Pip-Boy as a road. It was far from a road and leaned towards a dirt path. "How far is this 'Tenpony' anyway ?" asked Dell. "It's only a half day walk. I've been through here thousands of times," she stated. "Alrighty then," Dell asked once more, "Anyway that can tell us if we're close ?" "Tune in your radio," she said. Dell activated his Pip-Boy integrated radio. At first the thing they heard was a song mid-way through its performance on air, then it was replaced by the host's voice. "Gooooood morning children ! It's that time of the day again and it is time for the news." "There have been reports of an alien sighting in the town of New Appleloosa. Also NCR sources have been tellin' DJ-Pon3 that there will be no caravan operation 'till next week. Well it seems I'm not getting that new toaster anytime soon." "And the weather...sunny with patches of cloud here and there.Thanks for listening children. Now back to the music." "We're almost there," the pony announced. As they followed the four legged roving trader, the scenery changed. Approaching Tenpony, the empty, never ending view of dried, scorched earth was replaced with houses. The sign of an urban sprawl was visible, left and right was once homes to ponykind, what was left now was barely standing walls, construction debris and the occasional fridges and bath tub left laying among the ruins. But not all was in a condition beyond reconstruction, some survived the blast two-hundred years ago. Their windows and doors were boarded. All that left standing were memoir of the past. The group moved deeper into the suburban area, where houses were replaced by abandoned stores. The scenery was no different from the previous. Shattered windows, debris on the street and ponies skeleton lay about on a bus shelter. The Engineer checked his Pip-Boy once more, the map told him where he was. Some place called Fetlock. Scout's rambling came to halt as Soldier's palm sealed the young man's mouth. Jane told everybody to stop. He pulled out his shotgun and ran to a nearby alleyway, the rest followed. Tavish asked, "What 're ye seei'n lad ?" "Robots !" Jane answered in a hushed tone. "What ?!" let out everybody else. The men tensed at hearing the word. Past Tale didn't, instead he was confused at how were her saviors reacted to hearing the presence of metallic machines. But she remembered that there were no robots in the area, and never been one, deactivated robots was a possibility, she thought. The beige mare asked, "What kind of robot is it ?" Jane took a peek on to the street, and reported, "Four legged, with miniguns. They're trying to make us think they're farm animals !" "Wait. What..." Before the beige mare could asked again Soldier had already hollered an ear piercing battle cry. The helmeted man ran towards the two 'robots' with shotgun barrel pointing at them. Expecting the worse, Dell deployed his Dispenser and beat it several times with The Jag. The 'robots' did heard Jane's shouting and began spinning their armor attached minigun. Hail of lead were sprayed toward Jane Doe, he did a roll and took cover behind a pile of debris. When the bullet storm halted, he emerged from cover and began spraying pellets at the two 'robots'. None of the shells fired penetrated the metallic figures, instead one of them ran for cover and the other one aimed the multiple barreled weapon at Jane. "HEEEYAAAAAA!!!!!" Before the four legged metal laden figure could fire his deadly barrage, a hurricane of bullets impacted on its armor. It left dents and scratches, but some went through it. The metallic figure let out a howl of pain and collapsed in the middle of the street. Heavy stopped firing because the beige mare was running in front of him. She galloped towards her helmeted savior, she bit and yanked Jane's tail. The man with helmet flanked by a pack of cigarette and an ace of spade land bottom first to the street. She shouted, "What are you CRAZY! That's an Applejack Ranger you're shootin' !" She took a moment, recollecting her breath. Then the beige mare realized what she had done. She yanked the man's tail. Jane's tail. But she didn't remember any tail among the men. She spat and screamed. Their habit was rubbing on her. The other metallic figure stepped out of its cover. It fired four missiles that landed feets behind Past Tale. The explosion rocked downtown Fetlock. Seeing the pony disappeared among the rising dust, Dell sprung into action. He left the alleyway with Rescue Ranger aimed towards the four legged metallic figure. BLAM! Sh-clack BLAM! Sh-clack The guns ammunition didn't hit the flesh hidden beneath the steel, but the brightly colored shell marked where he had hit it. Dell yelled, "Demo! Stickies on tha' target !" The Scottish cyclops pulled out the Scottish Resistance. He aimed high and pulled the trigger twice. The spiked explosives soared through the air, it arched down to the ground, landing close to the armor laden figure. Explosion and smoke followed not long after. Dell signaled an all clear to those who were still hiding on the alleyway. Jarvis, Viktor and Tavish ran out from their cover and followed Dell. Running to aid Past Tale and Jane Doe. Dell plowed through the dust and smoke first. He found Jane, unmoving but breathing, his condition wasn't surprising at all, just shrapnel cuts here and there, injuries that the veteran combatant was familiar with. The same can't be said to the pony they rescued. Past Tale had sustained a much heavier injuries, most of body was covered in blood and breathing in short and unsteady rhythm, Dell couldn't tell how bad, but the amount of blood pouring out told him it was bad enough. He did the only thing he could to mend her condition, "MEDIC !" Dell tried putting his arm on the wound, applying pressure to the wound in attempt to at least slowed the amount of crimson liquid leaking out of the mare. He called again, the Medic didn't arrived. The Texan turned his head, only to be greeted by Scout, Medic and Demoman, standing with hands in the air. He focused back on stopping the bleeding. He looked forward and up. There were more of that mysterious, steel masked and armored figure on roof tops, alleyways and at both ends of the street. They were saying something, he didn't heed to what those words were. THWACK ! Dell went down. --- --- --- The sensation of a thousand knife punctured the Texan cranium. He winced, trying to numb the pain. He fully recovered the function of his eyes and nothing was a blur anymore. Dell found himself in a room, a small room, and laying on the floor . Plastered to the walls was posters, worn and yellowed, depicting a pony chasing after a ball. The wrench beater tried to moved his arm, they were tied. With motion over his two most useful limb crippled, Dell sat and wait. Waiting didn't do him any good. The Texan stood up and walked to the door, there wasn't any handle. Dell thought it must be an automatic door, like ones he would find in a mall or offices. He waited, still nothing happened. Inside, alone with nothing to do but listen to an electrical hum that was coming from the walls, the Southern man put his ears to the door. There wasn't much to listen to, except for the hum, and unfamiliar voices beyond the room. "Let me talk to this one, please ?" begged one of the voices. "I agree. Let her do the talking. Maybe this one will answer," said another. A different one said, "Give her a chance will ya !" "I would like to, but you heard what Paladin White Lance said," said someone else. The first voice said, "Look the 'thing' you got locked up in there is probably someone from a Stable. Hell, I'm sure it came from a Stable !" The other supported, saying, "The thing got a Pip-Buck for Luna's sake !" There was a grunt, then voice that disagreed told the rest, "Fine ! If Lance knows about this you're on your own. And I will not come galloping if one you got hit by a shovel !" Then the door slid open. Dell Conagher's face met the cold floor first. The first thing he saw was a metal pole with red lining at the bottom. Something held his head and turned it to face one of the 'robots' Jane had attacked. Dell's goggle covered eyes bore into the black visor, and whatever behind that visor bore back into the Engineer. It commanded, "Get up !" Dell stood up. Only to received a swift and powerful kicked to the chest by the four legged, armored, visor-wearing figure.The Texan flew and hit the wall, and fortunately landed on the bed. Dell writhed in pain, clutching the spot where he had been bucked. The one that kicked him left the vicinity, and two other entered. One of the armored figure approached the beaten Texan, and administered a colored liquid into his system. Dell felt the wave of pain in his chest subsided, but didn't disappeared. He thanked the metal figure, "Much oblige." "Don't thank me. It is my job after all." the metallic figure asked with a feminine voice, "So which Stable did you and your friends came from ?" Dell told them, "Sorry to disappoint ya'll but I didn't came from a Stable." "You hav'ta came from a Stable. I mean you got your own Pip-Buck," said the other one standing nearby. "A Pip-Boy. And why am I being held anyway ?" he demanded an answer. Both mystery figure revealed themselves through detaching their helmet. They were turned out to be ponies, minus the horn. One was a buck with coat of mariner blue and bright orange mane. The other was a mare, wine red mane and coat colored off white. Dell was amazed at the fact that these ponies had created such protective device. "Well you're being held cuz someone one of our shot our patrol," the Ranger buck explained. "And you are in the middle of it." The mare said, "Its not you is it ?" "Kinda... but I ain't the one started it," Dell answered sheepishly. "Any idea who they might be ?" the buck questioned further. Dell admitted, "Ah' hate tha' snitch but ya'll ain't robots after all. It was Jane." "Who ?" both ponies asked. "Did ya bring in the one wearin' a helmet ?" Dell inquired. The buck facehoofed saying, "Should've known." "If you don't mind me asking. Who are you anyway ?" the Engineer questioned. Neither of the ponies in armor could answered when their superior came barging in. He shouted, "Get yourselves topside !" He saw his subordinate were disobeying order, but it didn't matter there was something more important. The mare and buck left in a hurry, but Paladin White Lance stayed, he approached the Engineer and said, "Whatever you are, go topside too !" "Ain't I suppose to stay here," Dell informed him. "Ah'm all tied up an' everything." "Well now you're not," the steel clad pony told him. He took off his helmet and visor, with his teeth he unsheathed a combat knife strapped to the armored hind leg. The Paladin then went to slice the rope that tied the Texan arms together. He gave Dell a warning, "But If you try to run I'm going to make sure a bullet went through to your head." Dell understood, "Gotcha' " --- --- --- The sound of lead being fired was around them, bullet was flying in only two direction, theirs and whoever shooting them. But it didn't made sense, their opponent grasped on an advantage to pull the trigger and rain led everywhere, without having to stop. They were forced to take cover over a five minutes ago, and still they were suppressed, not able to move an inch. Some had tried, they ended up forced to meet a hail of bullets. Normally a shot or two wouldn't pass through their protective barding, but a hundred being projected on to just one pony was something else. Applejack's Ranger can only sit and wait. Listening to the threat thrown by their opponent. "KEEP HIDING ITTY BITTY TINY ROBOTS !" Heavy roared. The Dell crawled out of manhole with the armored pony that had let him loose. On the surface, he realized bullet was whizzing all over, he held his hat and crouched. Dell followed Lance to an overturned dumpster, to greet them was three other ponies in heavy barding. "What's the situation soldier ?!" Paladin White Lance demanded. The ranger being questioned replied, "Not good, sir !" He explained, "The hostile is in that dead end alley. And seems to have an endless supply of ammo." White Lance asked again through the roar of Sasha, "Any casualty ?!" "Knight Night is bleeding, Rusty is out of ammo and Sterling's guns is out of action, Crusader Repo's squad retreated to the cab depot," he reported. "Where the hell is your commanding officer ?!" Lance asked without politeness. "Crusader Rally and the rest is taking sniping position above the grocery store," the Ranger told him. Dell locked his sight above a building with a fruit and vegetable for a sign. It was true, there were armor covered ponies above it, with firearms. How do these ponies held guns, Dell didn't know, a unicorn with their magic he had witnessed, but those who weren't puzzled him. Maybe it's in the design he thought. "How do you shoot a rifle ?" Dell asked. "Is he for real ?" asked the Knight hiding behind the dumpster. "Yup. How do you pull the trigger ?" Brandishing his fingers to the two ponies the Texan stated, "You don't have any o' these." "We pull the trigger with hooves, any pistols and battle saddles with our mouth," explained Lance. With information received, realization struck Dell, they were going to shoot Heavy. But the Russian didn't got shot although snipers had taken position, instead Heavy saw them and shift his six-barrel, lead spewing machine at those at the roof. The Ranger with the rifle was taken by surprise and was forced to flee from the ledge of the rooftop, letting the sniper rifle to drop down to the street. Dell tried to hatch a plan without getting shot. Screaming for cease fire wasn't in the list, with Heavy's Minigun firing, his voice would only be dampened. Shooting him the leg only agitate him further. Without warning, Paladin White Lance broke cover and galloped to the fallen rifle, his action made Misha to shift fire. He reached it without receiving a round, but now he was stuck, blocked by a never ending hurricane of led. White Lance had no other option. The Paladin slid the scoped weapon towards the dumpster. And was caught by Dell's foot. He mouthed a no, he was afraid that the alien was going to use it on him and the soldier behind the dumpster. To his surprise, it didn't instead the red clothed, two legged, hat wearing thing stood in the open. Holding the rifle was awkward. It lack of a trigger guard, and the trigger itself was strange in design, then again it wasn't meant to be used by him. Although he wasn't as good compared to one of his missing co-workers, Dell peered through the scope. BLAM It struck his Dispenser and caught the attention of a brother of three sisters. Misha shifted again, but didn't fire. "Engineer !" he shouted. Knowing the enemy had stopped the barrage the armor laden ponies emerged out of cover, guns trained at the big Russian, but the Paladin intervened, "Hold your fire !" he commanded. Engineer told his huge member of the team, "Simmer down Heavy, they ain't robots." Heavy complied. --- --- --- Back underground, Dell took a look at what a Stable looked like. He was given a little tour while heading to his holding cell along with Misha. The tour was given by the mare that had talked to him earlier. She felt bad about holding the strange creature and his companion back to captivity. But orders are orders. They walked through winding hallways, unlike when he went back topside through the elevator. He saw many things but mainly ponies in armor with an apple red stripes went about their duties. Dell passed another room, through a glass window he saw, on an operating table lay the pony he had found inside her own wagon. Past Tale was unmoving, bloody bandage all over her body. Dell gasped. "I'm sorry," apologized the mare Ranger. There was concern in Dell's tone as he said, "Will...she be alright." "I don't know," she said and sighed in disappointment of not knowing. Dell stood, watching the beige mare that was beyond his reach. He put a hand on the glass pane, and muttered, "Please let her be okay." Heavy put one of his large arm on the short Texan shoulder. Misha gaze pierced through Dell's goggle. It was seemingly cold, no muscle on the Russian face moved, but Dell knew that it was a reassuring gaze. The Russian, the Texan and the Ranger mare continued their journey to the living quarter, back to the room that would serve both men prison. As they approached their cell, a disturbance was in progress. Sound of shouting, arguing and loose items being thrown about was audible as they got closer to their prison. They arrived to found Rangers had been waiting in front of the door way to the room next to theirs. "I WASN'T CAPTURED BY YOU CLANKING MAGGOTS," Soldier yelled from the room, unseen by both Dell and Misha. "I VOLUNTEERED !" Two Rangers came flying out of the room with bottles of beer following them, right on to the wall of the Stable's residential space. A team of Ranger pushed a shield that was almost as tall as the ceiling, a make-shift shield created with material including some of the Stable's paneling. They sealed the room with the barrier and their bodies, denying freedom to the irritated prisoner. It didn't stop Jane from trying. As the high-barrier vibrated and clanged, one of them told Dell, "YOU ! Get your friend to calm down and you'll be freed !" Misha and Dell, couldn't believe their luck and looked at each other. "JUST MAKE THAT THING STOP !" Dell said, "Took of your helmet and open the door." All the Applejack's Ranger present stared at each other, Dell couldn't see it but they were trading looks of disbelief to how simple the solution was. There was a momentary pause, the group holding Jane at bay had seen the thing took out several of their own, mostly through a shovel slapped on to the helmet. But they did it anyway, opened the door, stayed back and hoped that no shovel came swopping to their face. Emerging from his room Jane asked, "WHERE ARE THOSE METAL SCUM ?!" Dell lied, "They're gone Soldier." "I swear if I ever found them again, I will strangle each and every one of them good-for-nothing metal maggots with their own WIRING !" he announced. The situation had subsided, the Rangers cranked down their hostilities towards Jane, but their Star Paladin was still disgruntled and ashamed at how one opponent was able to sent so many of his troops with a weapon that was considered a tool. Though they avoid ed charges, Dell and Misha were sent to the room where the Texan had been held, accompanied by the mare that had talked to Dell previously. Dell asked her, "Why are we still bein' held ?" She explained the situation, "You're not entirely released. That's the Elder's decision." The Texan asked again, "Alright. But ah' wanna know where's the others ?" "The others ?" she asked him, hooves tapping her chin. "Skinny one, one wearin' a coat and another with an eyepatch," Dell informed. "Oh, them. They're just down the hall," she told Dell "The one with the eyepatch is with uhm... who was it ?" "Jane," said Dell. "Right." She told Dell, "I'll let you see that pony if you want to." "I'd like that, " he replied. "But isn't this a military installation or something." "Oh no, this was used to be a Stable, we're just using it as headquarters," the mare explained. "C'mon," the mare led the Russian and Texan out of their prison. They retraced their steps, passing many more ponies clad in heavy armor, painted with lines of red. Arriving in front clinic, the medical personnel told them that there were not to be admittance to the operating floor, which include the whole clinic. Dell can only watch from behind the window, as the mare he rescued were wrapped in bandages and attached to tubing that injected medical liquids into her system. Dell put his palm on the glass. On the contrary from the time Engineer and Heavy went down to their cell, the clinic was now filled with more patient, most of them were sent there because Jane had beat them with his shovel. How the Soldier had beaten them through their thick armor, Dell had no idea. "Again, I'm sorry," apologized the Ranger mare. Her apology was answered with silent, and she turn to gaze the floor. "Can you bust one of ma'h colleague outta jail ?" Dell requested. The mare turn to faced those goggle covered eyes with an expression of disbelieve. What this alien creature requested was beyond her ability. It would be treason to bust out a detainee. "I can't do that," she told the ten-gallon wearing creature. "Ah' mean bring 'em up here," Dell corrected. "I'll have to ask Paladin White Lance..." Dell interrupted, "That ain't gonna work, just Mr. Viktor up here, don't tell yer officer about this." "But.." "Bring Doktor here. He will fix sick ponies," the huge Russian told the mare. --- --- --- Another room, another pair of men. The sound of footsteps never ends, only at one point it paused, only to continue to sound. It roam the confined space back and forth with impatience. The footsteps was not alone, accompanied by dings on the metal walls, as baseball reflected on its cold, hard surface. "Doc, relax will ya," the Bostonian suggested. The Medic stopped, and looked at the young man who was laying on the bed, he told Scout, "How you are able maintain positive thoughts in these situation always intrigued me." the Scout gave a smirk of thanks, Medic answered back, "But this is not ze right time to do so !" "Fine do whatever ya wanna do," Jarvis said. "Hey you got more one o' them aspirin Jane gave me last night ?" "Aspirin ?" Viktor asked. "I have no such thing, but I do found something similar vhen ve were in that town," Medic reach to one of his belt-pouch and threw out tin for the Boston youth to catch. Scout revealed what it held, small tablets of white. He asked, "You know what it does ?" Medic answered, "Nein." Suddenly the door to their prison slid open. A white mare with wine red mane stood on the door way, clad in armor, she asked, "Which one of you is...Victor ?" Medic hesitantly raised his hand. She said, "Please follow me." The German doctor left the Bostonian alone in the room. He was led by the mare to the clinic where his short colleague and the burly Russian had anticipated his arrival. He asked, "So vhat are ve doing here ?" Dell point to the direction of the clinic. "But Herr En..I mean Herr Conagher, ze battery is almost depleted," he informed the Texan. "It's okay these ponies need it more than us right now" Dell informed him. "But if ve ran out..." Medic asked skeptically. "Tiny ponies are ill, they need medicine," answered Misha. "If ze battery runs out," Medic gulped. "I vill have to utilize alternative methods." "All you gotta do is make those ponies feel better," Dell simply told. Medic turned to the patients beyond the window, "Vell I never experiment on horses." The man of medicine opened the clinic door, there was a shout of denial to his entry, but he ignored it. Pushing through the medical team of Stable 29 Applejack's Ranger and saying that he was a qualified physician, the Medic stood by the bed that held the beige mare, and readied his healing apparatus. To the clinic crew, it looked like the strange being was going to shoot the unicorn mare, they alerted the rest of the Rangers. When they arrived, the healer had already pulled the trigger. Instead of gunfire and death, a beam of red gently approached and touched the beige mare. Below the cover of blood soaked bandages, wounds were mended, fur grew, and consciousness regained. Viktor turned to the injured Rangers. Their bruises and cuts disappeared in an instant. "Where am I ? " moaned the beige mare.