Part 6
Back at the camp...
"First I see a pony destroy a Warhound titan", laughed Vorenze ,"and now we've got a donkey playing a fiddle!"
"WHAT?!" snapped Octavia, lowering the violin she had produced from behind her mane.
"Just a joke, just a joke", laughed Vorenze, raising a dismissive hand ,"but I guess now I really have seen everything".
"Really?" asked Pinkie, appearing from behind the low wall he was sat on ,"have you seen someone eat their own head?".
"Err...No".
"Well then, you haven't seen everything then", stated the party pony ,"and neither have I...HEY! Don't eat all those cookies! I want some!"
"Where did she even get all this from anyway?" asked Natalia, dumbfounded.
Twilight rolled her eyes.
"When it comes to the 'how and why' with Pinkie it's better not to try to work it out. You'll end up as crazy as she is".
There was practically a buffet meal laid out on what was probably once a long work bench in this ruined workshop.
"She's even found a big bottle of scotch here!" called Maria from one end of the table.
"Make mine a double!" called Bateman from the back of the transport.
"And what exactly am I supposed to put it in?" she shouted back.
Pinkie appeared beside her with a ridiculous grin.
And a hoof full of beakers.
"What...How..?"
"I'll have one a those if ya don't mind", said Applejack walking up beside Maria.
She took a sip from the beaker.
"HOOO WHEE!! That there's some strong stuff!"
"Oh? Really?" came a third voice.
Dash hovered behind them.
"Betcha can't handle it Rainbow", stated Applejack ,"it's a lot stronger than the cider back home".
"If you can handle it I can", challenged Dash.
She took a swig from the beaker.
The pegasus tried to keep her composure but her eyes started watering almost immediately.
"Ya can't drink that stuff like water Rainbow!".
"Did Pinkie find any more?" coughed Dash, her throat burning.
"Oh you silly! Of course I did!", came the reply. Pinkie deposited five large bottles beside the first.
"I just didn't know everyone would want this much!".
The reaction from the rest of the camp was a combination of shock that she'd found so much of a relatively rare commodity, and a longing to get their share.
The reaction from Applejack and Rainbow Dash was to face each other with a challenging grin.
"First pony under the table loses!" stated Applejack.
"You're on!" accepted Dash.
"Room for a human?" asked Maria.
"How about half of one?", joked Fenrick sidling up beside them.
The group crowded together, each one eager to out-drink the others.
Some with more enthusiasm than others.
First one out was Twilight, not even finishing her first beaker.
Fluttershy was right behind her.
Lyra backed out after her first cup, stating she wanted to keep a clear head. The remaining group just accused her of wimping out.
Vorenze also backed out here, also claiming he wanted to stay fresh.
He took a second refill and went to keep watch.
Slowly, the participants either left or fell asleep.
Pinkie was out fairly early too, although whether that was from getting drunk too quickly or her hyperactivity finally catching up with her wasn't clear.
Octavia and Rarity were having their own private contest.
Both having a habit of drinking socially had given them an unfair advantage.
It ended with Rarity nodding off with her muzzle in her beaker.
"YESH! HAI WHINN!", shouted Octavia swinging a hoof in victory.
The movement span her drunken form off her seat to land in a giggling heap on the floor.
This got a few laughs from the two ponies still standing.
Finally, after five doubles, Rainbow slid off her seat.
Applejack pumped a hoof in victory.
"Ain't no pony out-drinks on ah the apples!" she stated, trotting over to the back of the ruined room whilst downing the remainder straight from the bottle.
"Hoo! Ahm plum tuckered out!", finished the farm pony ,"night all".
She lay back against a wall in a corner with her hat over her face.
*****************************************************
Vorenze looked back at the camp. Now these were some unlikely allies. And he and the group owed the ponies a life debt.
"Whatever your mission here, ponies, myself and my men are.."
A cough from Maria and Natalia.
"And women... granted", continued Vorenze ,"we are in your debt. We shall assist you in completing your mission".
Lyra, being the only pony still conscious nodded in approval.
"We would appreciate your help", she replied ,"we were sent to recover an artifact, a staff".
"Any idea where this..staff...is located?"
"Around three kilometers that way", answered the green unicorn nodding in the relevant direction ," we then need to return to our home with it".
"And where is that?"
"There's a portal back in the trenches".
"Why do you need the staff?" asked Maria.
"I'm sorry but I have already told you too much", stated Lyra.
"But..." started Natalia, but Vorenze silenced her with a wave of his hand.
"That's enough", he said firmly ,"we all need some rest. Who knows what's still out there".
Grudgingly, the two women let the conversation rest.
Vorenze and Lyra looked out over the broken city scape as the last light faded from the sky.
The two moons above them cast the scene in to a dim light of varying grey hues.
This could be a long night.
Lyra shivered as the night air chilled her.
Vorenze threw his great coat around the pony and cuddled her to him.
The unicorn looked up at him with huge golden eyes and smiled.
"Better?" he asked.
Lyra nodded. She was secretly enjoying this, but didn't want to let on just how much.
The unlikely allies went back to keeping watch.
Gradually, the unicorn dozed off, leaning against Vorenze under his coat.
The commander looked out over the ruins. At least this watch would be warmer with his unlikely companion.
The area was secure. Nothing stirred.
Which was perhaps just as well.
That blue pegasus with the rainbow mane was snoring.
He'd heard quieter chain swords.
Vorenze contemplated shooting her, but figured that wouldn't go down too well with the others.
He threw a pebble at her instead, bouncing the small stone off her wing.
"Huh? Wha?" she muttered still virtually asleep.
She went straight back to sleep, but rolled over on her side which made her snoring far quieter.
"At least she won't give away our position so easily now", mumbled the commander to himself.
He let everyone get some much needed sleep, whilst he kept his quiet vigil.