> Fallout Equestria New Horizons: Lacunae and Rampage's vacation in paradise.
>  by starwars90001
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> This is bandit country! Let's have fun!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Just the two of us, we can make if we try.





The calming flow of rushing air blew through the red knotted ponytail mane, flapping freely in the wind. The mare it was attached to loved the sensation, it was the best thing to come from restoring this old wagon. It was a pleasure few could experience in the Wasteland, driving the open road.

As Rampage sped along the ruined empty roadway, the red striped mare spared a glance at her chilling passenger. Sitting next to her was a dark blue alicorn with a similar colored mane, dressed in a fancy dark dress that sparkled with gems. To complete the overly classy look she sipped from a glass of wine held in her magic while a feather hat blocked out the sun.

“Yo, Luu you sure it’s a good idea to wear that get up around the wasteland?” Usually dressing like that made you an easy target in the wastes, might as well paint a target on yourself saying shoot me.

“We can deal with a few troublemakers Arloste. Or you're finally not looking for a fight?”

“Nope, I just don’t want to ruin my wagon in a good scrap.”

There were very few threats in the Wasteland the two couldn’t deal with. The combined force of a mutant alicorn and an immortal zony death commando was a fight many didn’t choose to have. Yes, the sight of the two alone sent many galloping for the hills. Hell, that alone allowed them to wander the Wasteland unopposed even in settlements where their kind was not welcome.

It was under that idea they planned their next vacation, the shining jewel of the South, Dise.

“Think we should have brought Blackjack?” The alicorn said after sipping on the last drop of red wine. She floated a red bottle from the backseat and poured more of the red liquid into the glass.

“That ankle-biter gotta mess to up clean after that last job, Charity ain’t letting her off the hook mate. That fool ain’t getting a break for a year.”

“That mare ain’t right sometimes but I try my best to train her.” Lacunae let out a tired breath.

“howse the training going anyway?”

Lacunae sighed. “She has potential but lacks focus, her magic is slowly coming back but she lacks the knowhow to connect with her spiritual side.”

Rampage shrugged, turning her attention back to the road. “Give her time, she’s a problem kid you know, especially with what happened.”

With a tired ‘yeah’ the Alicorn looked at her long-time friend. “Let’s play some tunes to get our minds off work.”

Rampage lit up at that. “Time to play some MH Boom in this bitch.”

The sounds of smooth rhyming followed the wagon as it sped across the dusty landscape.

------------------

Silver Storm sighed, being the only mare in Marefort that took guard duty seriously didn’t come with a few drawbacks, Mainly staring at empty wasteland for hours on end. Her attention was focused on a Boat Sprite that was fighting a Radrat in the distance, she couldn’t figure out who was the predator or prey. Her eyes slowly moved away from the fight towards the soft hum that could be heard in the distance. Her gaze fell on a dot that was speeding towards the valley at a breakneck paste. 

Grabbing her Binoculars with a hoof she looked out the window from her post atop a cliffside.  What she saw she couldn’t be put into words, a stripe cream-colored mare drove a strange device Silver never saw before. Silver's heart stopped at what she saw sitting next to her. One of the goddesses.

“Luna?” Silver stared in shock as they approached with blinding speed. A thought suddenly hit her. They had no flag, they didn’t have permission to be on this land. The Crimson Hoof, the raiders that owned this land would tear them apart before they could reach the valley’s end.

unholstering her sniper rifle off her back, Silver Storm looked down the scope at the coming vehicle. Aiming at the front of the device she hoped her warning shot would send a message ‘stay away.’

“Come on Silver don’t let another group of ponies get slaughtered.” She couldn’t live seeing a goddess killed by these raiders. Biting on the mouth grip of the rifle it let out a loud bang as her shot flew true. She was the best shot around Marefort, never missed a shot, until now.

Her bullet struck but not the vehicle or its passengers, it bounced harmlessly off thin air as a blue glow flicked around the vehicle in the shape of a bubble. The light blue fading out along with the shape in moments as the passengers barely cared about the attack.

Silver stared in utter shock, checking the weapon to see if it missed fired, her attention was torn back to the valley as the sound of shouts and gunfire ringed out. Looking from her bird’s eye view of the valley, she saw scores of Crimson Hoof raiders appearing along the cliffsides.

Armed with battle saddles equipped with hunting and sniper rifles, a loud thunderous roar followed as they fired upon the incoming vehicle. All were met with the same resists Silver’s bullet brought, they bounced off the invisible shield, creating a chorus of impacts that sounded as if it was raining. 

Silver couldn’t wrap her head around what was happening, were the goddesses playing tricks on her? Was she daydreaming again? Whatever was happening she could only watch as the strange device sped through the valley’s trench, its occupants seeming to have a calm conversation in the wake of being fired upon.

The Crimson Hoof raiders were equally taken back by these strange invaders and began switching to more extreme measures. Certain ponies on the ridges began removing their rifles and replacing them with Rocket Launchers.

The loud bang followed by the screening sound of rockets flying through the air gave Silver pause. She’d seen it before. When the Crimson Hoof wanted a large carven or troublesome intruders dealt with they went for their ace in the hole, heavy bombardment.

Whoever these strange ponies were, they'd join the list of the Hoof’s victims soon enough.

The rockets flew towards their targets with murderous intent. The strange striped mare swung the will of the vehicle making the wagon bank out of the way of incoming death, explosions followed the wagon as it zagza around impacting rockets. Finally, a light blue field surrounded the vehicle, and to Silver’s shock, it began lifting off the ground.

Slowly it rose to the sky, ignoring the rockets as they impacted where the vehicle was. Silver fell back on her haunches, every thought leaving her mind as she watched. “WHAT THE FUCK!”

By silence that followed the wagon’s ascent, it seemed like every pony in the valley was stuck by what they were watching. The wagon piloting itself became higher and higher, until, finally reaching close enough to smash into Silver’s little shack.

The realization hit the mare like a sack of bricks, out of fear she fell to the floor and braced for impact. The crash never came through, instead, a loud scraping sound came from the metal scrap she called a roof. It sounded like the roof was torn off.

A few seconds later the scraping was gone, replaced by an audible roar that got quieter and quieter. When Silver Storm looked up she wasn’t surprised to see half her roof was gone. All she could do was just sit there wondering what just happened.

The sound of Galloping hooves could be heard outside but Silver didn’t care to meet them, finally, a bright red mare with a similar colored mane galloped in. Fear and confusion on her face. “Silver, what in Celestia’s name happened?”

All the grey mare did was turn to her old friend. “I think Luna just came through.”

----------

Zooming across the hilly valley the two mares laid back and took in the Southern Wasteland. Caledonia, a country that broke off from its parent, Equestria. When the great war started to go south, it wasn’t spared the balefire hell that washed across the planet. Many of its great cities were burned away like most of the world’s, but one remained. It rose from the ashes the last shining jewel of the wasteland.

Dise, the last great city. (At least in the south)

“Arloste I think we should pull over.” Lacunae gave a Winny as she sipped on the last drop of red wine.

Even with the dark shade covering her glowing eyes Rampage her best ‘really?’ look. “Luu, we’re getting drinks in the city, can’t you wait?”

The alicorn shook her head. “Not that Arloste, one of the tires is losing air.”

“Ah, shit.” the red stripe mare pulled over quicker than a bullet leaving a gun.”Told you we should have just flown over that valley.” Hitting a button on her left unhooked a belt around her waist. Flipping out of the open roof of the wagon, the cream-colored striped mare rushed to the back.

“You wanted to go the short route, and I told you the wagon could get damage.” The smugness that radiant from Alicorn’s voice made the stripe mare grunt trying to block it out. Rampage opened the truck to look over its contents. Inside were basic essentials of traveling the wasteland: two Anti-material rifles, a minigun, 30 healing potions, 10 grenades, hardened steel armor with spikes that could tear into a pony, Rad X, and of course spare tires.

“This gonna take a minute Luu, turn my playlist on.” Rampage said as she fished for the tools.

“RnB tracks or Funk?”

“I work better with RnB!”

Lacunae's horn lit up, a second later a knob on the dashboard turned and a button label ‘Holo’ was pressed down. Seconds later a smooth voice of a mare along with calming music blared from the wagon. 

Rampage shook her hips as she carried a tool in her mouth and a tire on her back towards the blowout. She hummed the songs as she set down and got to work. Lacunae on the other hoof looked at the back seat to see if any more wine remained. She was hit with the dark reality of being out of wine!

“Always at the worst times.” slight annoyance showed in the Alicorn’s usually calm voice. All she could do now seat back and impatiently wait until they were in paradise to wet her lips again. “By the Elements, my vices know when to make me suffer.”

The next ten minutes were the Alicorn and striped mare humming along with the music as the desert winds blow around them. They were parked in an intersection surrounded by hills as far as the eye could see, usually in the Wasteland one tried to avoid such inclosing spaces but for Rampage and Lacunae, they welcomed it.

Wiping sweat from her brown the striped mare looked up at the cloud-covered sky. “Even out here the clouds never end. At least it ain’t raining.” She said with a huff as she looked over her work. There was a sense of pride she felt in being one of the few ponies able to repair a vehicle in minutes, sometimes she wondered if she should open a dealership, sell wagons of the old world. She shook her head at the thought. “Luu it’s done, we can get moving again!”

Lacunae was in a meditative state, her eyes closed as she listened to the sounds of the wind blowing. “Good. We have company coming though.” Her eyes slowly looking eastward with an annoyed expression.

“Oh I know, I just was waiting until they got the balls to attack.”

A shout screamed throughout the hills as dozens of ponies charged from the east, carrying weapons in battle saddles or in their mouths, all bearing the signs of raiders. Strap-together armor showing off their previous victories was labeled across them. Their stampede towards the wagon sounded like thunder as they screamed death threats at the pair.

Rampage chuckled. “Yo Luu give me and my horseshoes a lift.”

Lacunae shrugged, none plus about the whole affair. “Make it quick, I will shield the wagon as usual.” Her horn glowed light blue as Rampage and a pair of steel spiked horseshoes in the cup holder were engulfed in a magical field. 

A second later both were launched into the air at blinding speeds, then falling eastward like a raindrop. The stripe mare caught up with her trusty horseshoes one by one as she fell like a rock towards the approaching raider horde. The raiders saw her approach and some began firing up at her, SMGs and rifles fired into the air hoping to hit their target. Bullets met their mark as pieces of the mare’s flesh were blown off, but to the raiders' horror, the wounds just seemed to heal up as if nothing happened. 

Each piece lost would grow back quickly as pink sickly light spread over each wound. Rampage laughed, a crazy laugh as she brought her forehooves forth ready for a landing.

Raiders quickly realizing what was about to happen quickly scattered as an unkillable demon fell upon them, only a light blue unicorn mare who was too busy reloading to notice stayed. Once she was done it was too late, Rampage’s forehooves smashed into her head like a truck into a child, the head becoming pasta as the striped mare’s legs broke. The two smashed into the ground creating a small dust cloud.

The raiders not taking any chances that killed the demon mare began firing into the cloud madly. From all sides, the field became a hailstorm of bullets, with some raiders accidentally hitting each other. After a minute all firing ceased as the dust settled, but standing on her hind legs was the demon mare with an evil smile. Her forehooves were bent along with her neck, which she properly got snapping back into place, each crack of bone making the raiders flinch a little. Finally, when she cracked her neck back into place she stared at them. “Aye mates, time to Chop Chop.”

Before any pony could fire she darted towards them like a bullet, the first victim a red stallion who had his eyes pushed in by hoof spikes. In a second she was on another, tearing out the eyes as she went, the next fool had her rib cage smashed in as Rampage bucked through the raider’s poorly designed armor. 

The other raiders started firing at her, but their attacks were as useless as before. The smarter ones took their chance to run, knowing full well this was a lost cause. Only to be stopped as a wall of magical energy surrounded them on all sides. They screamed and yelled, pleading to Celestia and Luna to save them as behind them rampage was a whirlwind of death.

Rampage was fast and brutal, she tore off one mare’s leg then smashed her head in, then proceeded to bite a unicorn's horn off. Within minutes a dozen ponies were dead or dying. 

The few that were left had given up fighting or fleeing, they were crowding or swearing at the demon mare in defiance of the killing spree. All were sheep to the slaughter, finally when the killing's done all who stood was the blood-soaked striped mare and one last raider.

She was a deep grey unicorn mare with a spiked crimson mane, she held a knife in a red magical field as she stared at Rampage. “Come on bitch, end it.” she knew she was dead but she would die on her hooves.

Rampage, facing away from the last raider on her hind hooves, staring down at her carnage. All was silent until she spoke, “So what’s your name?”

The raider didn’t understand, she readied herself for an attack but it never came. “Your name lady,” Rampage asked again. “What is it?”

“Pin- Pinprick.” The deep grey mare was at a loss for words at what was happening. Was the demon mare just getting the name of her last victim, making a list of the lives she'd taken? “What ya waiting cun-”

“Shut up already.” Rampage turned her head, that smile of hers sending chills down Pinpick’s spine. “Ms. Pinprick, do you have a family?”

“I ..I”

“Do, you, have, a family?” The words were getting colder and colder.

“I have a daughter.” Pinprick’s gutter her words as they came out, the raider spirit slowly dying in her.

“Oh well, your daughter is lucky ms. Pinprick.” Rampage turned and started trotting up to the mare. “You see me and my friend are here on vacation, decide to see Dise since we never have been there. And being our vacation we’re taking a break from our day jobs, and do you know what those are?” she was standing face to face with the grey mare. “Well do you?”

Pinprick just shook her head, she was cowardly now.

“Termination. See we’re the mares who get sent when a problem needs dealing with. A hellhound pack, a bloodwing nest, a raider clan. It’s our job to cleanse them from the Wasteland, and we’re very good at it.” Rampage chuckled a bit as Pinkpick coward back even more. “Now since this is our time off we don’t feel like doing that, so I’m giving you a proposal”

Rampage put a spiked claw under her chin and looked her dead in the eyes. “I want you to go and spread the word of what I did here. Tell every raider, trader, ganger, and pony you come across what I just did, tell them that was just me working alone, you don’t want to see what my Alicorn friend is like when she gets to work. Tell them that two Demon Mares are walking the Caledonian Wastes for the whole week and they better watch out, understand?” Pinprick slowly nodded.

“Good.” Suddenly the striped mare’s expression turned from a cruel smile to a cold unfeeling frown. “Oh and if I see you being a raider again. I’m not going to kill you, I'll rip out your teeth one by one, then your tongue, then your eyes, then your horn. Do you understand?” Another nod. “Great, we understand each other.” Her expression turned cherry as a filly, her tone not even in the slightest matching the death mare before. “Now scram you, troublemaker, you.”

The deep grey mare didn’t need to be told twice, she bolted away from the striped mare like a bat out of hell. Meanwhile, Rampage just put her forehooves on her side and shook her head like a disapproving mother. “Fillies these days, being raiders instead of parenting their foals. Ponies need to spank their fillies more.”

“Are you done scaring straight the youth?” Lacunae trotting up, a bored mannerism to her steps. Somehow she had found another bottle of wine. “Found this little blessing under the seat, must have rolled there.”

“Hey! That’s my secret sash!” Rampage protested.

“Don’t worry I’m not drinking it all!” She said as she floated two glasses filled with red wine around her. “I was thinking you needed a drink after that hard maintenance you did, I even added chems for your liking.”

Rampage’s face lit up like a foal on Heart’s warming “Ah, Luu you always thinking of me. I promise when we get to Dise I’m buying you a case of 30 year old wine.”

“Ah, Artslote you don’t have to do that for me.”

“Nope, you getting spoiled when we get to the city. Girl, I’m treating you.” The pair made their way back to the wagon as they spoke of the joy they would have in the city. Their joyous wants contrast the piles of dead left behind them.

“This is going to be a good week.” They both shouted as they drove off to the shadow of a city in the distance.
> welcome to Dise, we have dances and bullets for your brain!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


I'm bringing sexy back




The rest of the trip was a smooth ride (ignoring a few choice encounters with more Caledonian locals), both mares taking in the grandness of the Caledonian wastes. As they drove the shadow of the city loom closer and closer into view, its surviving casinos rising above the wasteland almost looking down upon it in shame. Only the rich and powerful could partake in their glory. But one stood above the rest, a tower that loomed above the great ‘last’ city lording over it, its tip was the head of a pink mare with blue eyes that watched the entire Wasteland forever.

“So how are you and soldier buck doing?” Rampage sat back with one hoof on the will as they drove around pits left from the war. Her shades barely hiding the eerie glow under her eyes. “How long until he puts a bun in the oven?”

Lacunae rolled her eyes, after 35 years of the striped mare’s vulgar humor she had built up an immunity to such things. “You know Artslote never in the 20 years of your marriage did I ever walk into your living room and ask. ‘How is your day Artslote, is your sex life good?’”

Rampage faked offensive at the mark as she barely held back laughter. “How could you say that Luu? We friends, I would never hide anything from you! If you had asked me about Priest dick size I would have told you his size length! In fact, I would have let you check-”

“Artslote Brown! Elements damn it you're as bad as Blackjack!” Lacunae could barely hold her drink as she coughed and laughed at the same time. Even after so long the strange mare still found a way to get under her stoic wall.

Rampage just smiled back in victory. “Hey, I ain’t a prev! My hoe days were years ago Luu. I found god remember” She paused a moment, letting words hang there. “By getting on my knees and praying under a cleric’s cloth.”

Lacunae spit up her drink and held a hoof to her mouth as the cough filled laughter came out. “You..You need help. You aren’t right Artslote!”

“What? do I need to go to church?” Lacunae didn’t have to look at Rampage to feel her grinning from ear to ear.

“No, stay away from the church. You're a demon corrupting the holy folk.” 

“Hey, we didn’t choose Demon Mares for nothing.”

The discussion was cut short when a shot rang out. A bullet bouncing off the invisible shield surrounding the wagon. Both mare's attention darted to the source, a unicorn wearing a blue uniform stood atop a wall made from scrap metal and old buildings that seemed to stretch on a few miles. He held a sniper rifle in his magical grip and was flanked on all sides by ponies wearing similar armor.

All of them were clustered around a makeshift gate with rifles pointed at the newcomers, some of them taking pot shots around the wagon as it approached. The message was clear, leave or get shot.

 Rampage sighed, it was a usual greeting she and her companion got in the wastes but having to deal with this on vacation was the height of annoyance.

“Luu work your magic and try to get us through this. I don’t feel like fighting the whole damn city on my week off.”

The alicorn sighed but nodded, being a powerful alicorn came with perks to getting what you wanted in the Wasteland, and Lacunae was a master of it. They stopped the wagon a few yards away from the gate, choosing to approach the diplomatic way rather than the usual flying crate trick. As they trotted to the gate a loud voice boomed at them.

“STOP RIGHT THERE, TAKE ANOTHER STEP AND WE BLAST YOU TO THE MOON!” A light orange mare barked at them through a microphone. She stood in a booth near the gate with a turret atop it. “STATE YOUR BUSINESS IN DISE FREAKS OR FACE FIRING SQUADS!”

Lacunae stepped up, making a few of the guards ready their weapons. She spoke with the gentleness of a kind nun. “We are simple tourists from Equestria, nothing more. We’ve come a far way and wish to relax in Celestia’s Paradise." The attention seemed to hang in the air like a knife, no pony moved, no pony said anything except for the mare in the boot, who seemed to be speaking into some device on her ear.

“YOU ARE TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTION UNTIL WE DETERMINE THE NATURE  OF YOUR GOALS HERE. ANY REFUSAL WILL BE MET WITH FORCE!” The clicking of several guns said there would be no arguing.

Lacunae sighed, it seemed she would have to use an old trick.

You don’t need to question us.

The light orange mare stopped, just staring off into nothing then shouted into the microphone. “ACTUALLY WE DON’T NEED TO QUESTION YOU.” 

We will just check your gear and vehicle, if we find nothing of note then you can be on your way.

“WE WILL JUST CHECK YOUR AND VEHICLE IF WE FIND NOTHING OF NOTE THAN YOU CAN BE ON YOUR WAY.”

The light orange mare was getting funny looks from her fellow soldier but none questioned her as she gestured to a few to comply with what she just said. A little later the Alicorn and her striped friend were driving their wagon through the gate and into the lovely sight of what could best be described as a ghetto.

“That took a while.” Rampage huffed as she looked around the makeshift town. it wasn’t much different from the usual wasteland slum, ponies barely surviving, most looking poor or barely making ends meet. The town didn’t lack in junkies, they clung to the alleys, their dirtiness even more pronounced than the other bystanders, whores of all shapes and sizes walked the street selling their ‘goods’. But all that mattered not as all eyes, poor, junkie, whore fell on the strange newcomers to their newly. “Sure you couldn’t have used your powers to let us just through the gate?”

“No.” Lacunae tried not to stare at the ponies that came from everywhere to look at them, she could feel their eyes barreling into her. She didn’t have to read their thoughts to know what they were thinking, it was the same stare she got everywhere she went. Had Luna, one of the goddesses returned to the wasteland? Had they come to save us?’


Lacunae knew those stares and every time she saw them it ate at her. “N-no Arloste.” Finally getting her mind back on the conversation. “If I just made her let us in, her friends would have expected something.” Lacunae at this point were just searching for anything to drown out the growing crowd. “The art of deception requires subtlety to work, not brute force.”

Rampage was none plus by the crowd gathering to look at them. To her being the freak pony in a group was her life experience, but she took note of her friend’s growing worries. “Say Luu I heard there was a place called the Ale House that has a fighting arena.” She smiled at her old buddy. “My friend minty told me about it. You can get drinks and watch me destroy zeebs.”

The alicorn nerves seemed to calm a little, she gave a faint smile knowing full well what Rampage was doing. “That sounds nice Arloste. I-”

“STOP!”  The attention of both mares shot forth as a strange voice yelled out. Rampage put her hoof down on the brake making the vehicle violently stop jolting its passengers forward. As the two mares regained their composure their eyes fell upon the strangest sight in the wastes.

A gathering of ‘mares’ blocked the road a yard away from the wagon. They wore gaudy black, white, and pink striped dresses. Their manes were uniform white with pink goggles stripped over their eyes,  music blasted from a boombox one of the mares’ carried. “What is this?” one of the ‘mares’ a dull blue one, sauntered up to the driver's side.

“What the fuck.” Rampage was feeling a weird mix of interest with confusion while Lacunae just went silent at the moment. “Holy shit Luu, this town is run by breakdancers.” Rampage’s confusion continued to grow as what appeared to be the leader approached her wagon door.

She spoke with a strange accent where her Ws and Ss were slurred. “My, my. It’s not every day such, strange and unique guests come to town." The mares trotted with a swing of a model on a runway,  her composure radiating confidence. “For who do I, Photo Finish, owe this pleasure of welcoming to our fabulous town?”

Lacunae mouthed the name silently, her brown scratching up as she looked at the mare deep in thought. Rampage didn’t know what to make of the weirdo, but she loved weird and felt compelled to add to the absurdness of the situation. “Well, I’m.” Rampage beat her hoof against her chest dramatically. “Arloste Brown, the fourth deadliest pony in the Hoof, the Rampaging zony of the Hoofington region.'' Photo seemed taken aback by all that but let Rampage continue. “This is Lacunae, the angel of Unity, priestess of some weird dead religion, powerful Alicorn, and all-around sob.” The stripe mare raised a hoof to her friend.

Lacunae whinny at that last part. The alicorn looked Photo Finish over intensely, her mind deep in thought as the dressed-up mare eyed them both. “My, my I didn’t know such mares of...high status would be visiting my town.” The faint hint of worry could be heard in Photo’s voice, the mare didn’t know much about the northern Wasteland outside Dise but heard of Hoofington. If half the horror stories were true these ponies are something to be feared. “Well darlings I mean no offense but why are you here?”

“We’re simple tourists, Ms. Finish.” Lacunae finally spoke, her gaze softening after seemingly coming to a conclusion about something. “We’re just here on vacation for a week, simply blowing off steam.” the gentleness in Lacunae seemed to put the dressed up mare at ease a little. “We’re not here to cause any pony trouble.” Lacunae looked to a crumbling building to her far left. “No need to have a sniper ready to drop us.”

Photo Finish almost went pale, her thoughts racing as she tried to respond to that. How had she known about the sniper? Was this alicorn thing all seeing? Did she read Photo’s mind? Could she see through walls?

Before she could say anything the alicorn cut her off. “It is alright miss Finish, we are used to such greetings in our travels. Our appearances leave quite an impression on ponies. The fact you chose to talk to us directly rather than attack or threaten us shows that you have a lot of civility to you.” Lacunae smiled warmly at her. “Truly the Photo Finish of the old world would shed a tear to see such ponies have taken up her image with such grace and beauty and such good fashion sense.”

Photo fell on her rump, her accent falling away as she was driven speechless. “Eh...eh thanks.” Very few times had Photo had left stun by some pony, this alicorn goddess thing seemed so smooth and calming yet Photo felt afraid of her. The fact she knew about the original  Photo Finish showed she was a knowledgeable pony yet she spoke as if she met her. 

“Eh, yes, yes!” Photo couldn’t let her gang or the townsfolk see their leader lose composure, she quickly regained her accent, bowing to the two visitors. “Well, this has been as you say, an interesting meeting. You darlings are welcome in the golouris town of Parasite Mound as long as you cause no problems. If you need our help you can find us at our Gallery of fashion.”

With that, the blue mare started to trot off gesturing to her followers to pack things up. That's when a loud “Hey!” stopped her in her tracks.
When Photo turned to see who was calling on her, she saw Rampage grinning ear to ear. “Did you say fashion gallery?”

The question wasn’t what Photo expected but the mare was always up for talking about her pride and joy. “Why yes darlings,” she said while holding her nose high and swinging her hair. “The Finishers are the bringers of civilization and manners through the art of fashion, by bringing back fashion we can bring back all the socialization that is inherent in it.”That answer made the striped mare smile even more.

She turned to her friend, practically radiating excitement. “Luu, I think we’re starting out our vacation here.”

------

The music blasted throughout the building like thunder during a storm, its beat pounding to the rhythmic flashing of stroll lights. The light fell on a runway with various colors creating a rainbow effect along the surface. Around the runway, various Finishers were cheering with some getting cameras ready. Lacunae sat in the middle of all of it, to her left sat Pear wine, and farther than that was Photo Finish waiting eagerly.

“Come out Ms. Arloste, the world is ready for your grace!” Photo Finish was beaming at this, her excitement was more contained than the rest of her followers but the joy of having a new model was beyond her wildest dreams.

The curtains opened revealing a stunning sight. Rampage wore a dress that wrapped around her body like a big scarf, its color pattern matching that of zebra stripes but these painted red and white, running along the platten were flower symbols painted the opposite of the stripe it was on. The ends of the dress hung below her flank like a flap, which seemed to shake with the slightest movement.

To top off the look Rampage wore a hat that matched the pattern of the dress but with the fine addon of feathers and spikes.

“Ah!” The shout made Lacunae look to her side, Photo just gasping in disbelief, her muttering silent words and moans. “She is...beyond beautiful.”

Rampage began trotting onto the walkway, her hips swung with force, her nose held high, and a trot like a pimp walking down the street. Finishers were singing her praises, cameras flashed, Rampage owed that walkway like a queen walking to her throne.

Lacunae chuckled a bit. Death commando one day, fashion queen the next. You really are something Arloste, just like your mother.

When Rampage approached the end of the roadway she struck a pose! Standing on her hind legs while her left hoof pointed up in the air and the other on her hips. The crowd went wild, hoof stomps followed cheering overpowered the music playing. Photo Finish got up and joined the cheering. “Encore Darling, Encore!”

Rampage struck another pose, this time blowing a kiss to all her admires. “Ah, you want more of this striped goodness huh?” Rampage started trotting back to the curtain with the same pimp walk. “Well, who am I to deny you. Get another dress and I’ll keep this show going.”

With a heavy sigh, Lacunae took a sip from her wine glass. “This is going to be an all-nighter it seems.”
> Getting drugs and liquor on the moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Standing before the gates of Dise was an intimidating sight. It was a mammoth of metal, wood, and, surprisingly enough, thick black paint. Most ponies felt small to the entrance to paradise but for Rampage and Lacunae, they faced larger doors to greatness.

Lacunae adjusted her sunglasses, the bites of morning sunlight that broke through the cloud cover giving her a headache. The night was something, Lacunae was drunk after the fourth show, the sixth bottle of wine finally getting her. Rampage was as bright and sunny as ever, Lacunae practically had to force her off that runway much to the Finishers' disappointment. But in return, she got several dresses including one they made just for her.

The dress was something only a mare like Rampage could come up with. It was a sleeveless dress colored to look like combat armor, the dress wrapped around her body leaving parts exposed revealing armor undeath, spikes colored black and white popped out the back of the dress. Rampage wore her trademark hoof cuffs except they were colored the same as the spikes.

“Think the car is safe with that gang?” Rampage said adjusting her outfit.

“The Finishers seem trustworthy, or at least as trustworthy as gang gets. Besides, I think they were so taken back by your performance they were partially begging you to join them.” Photo Finish was five minutes from asking you to marry her if I read her thoughts right. “So. Are you ready to see Celestia’s paradise?”

Rampage shook her head with the look of a prizefighter ready to take on the world. “Let’s go show paradise how demons have fun.”

As they approached the gate they were met with unusual greeters. Robot guards were posted around a makeshift fort that barely looked like it could stop a foal. No, it seemed they guards themselves was all the protection the fort needed. 

They were vaguely pony-like in the way a flower is treelike. They were stout torso like boxes with rounded edges lacking any pretence of legs and instead were balanced by two wheels: one in the front, another in the back. Rather than a head, a stand with a monitor served: showing the static face of an annoyed pony with a rather fancy helmet. Off the back of the machine, where a tail should have been, was a beeping red antenna. Most distressingly were panels etched into the surface of the pony, that, when threatened opened an array of huge automatic machine guns.

Lacunae rolled her eyes while Rampage scuff. To them these things were childplay’s compared to machines they fought. thoughts of how long these things would last in a fight danced through their heads until one of the machines rolled up to them. “Submit a credit check of 2,000 caps or a passport to enter the city.”

“Hump. It seems they don’t want spawns of the wasteland getting in with those prices” Lacunae grunted as she magically opened a saddle on her flank and floated out a sack.

Floating it over to the machine, the screen of the machine lit up into a blue haze that washed over the sack. Numbers began appearing on the screen doubling in five digits, finally the number the machine fell on was 12,680. After a few minutes the numbers disappeared, replaced with a smiling face of a pink pony. “Welcome to Dise, enjoy your stay honored guests.” Something told Lacunae that wasn’t the normal greeting but her thoughts fell away as the massive gate opened.

On the other side stood the impressive beauty of Dise. To their left a building labeled “The Moon’ was sight to behold. A larger neon sigh glowed with such force that it demanded you look at it. A fountain sat in front of the building, jets of water blasting into the air like a dance while multicoloured lights created a rainbow effect. The stairs were lit up in a pattern that flickered off and on. on them mares in wearing ‘interesting’ revealing tight clothes danced to the enjoyment of onlookers.

To the right  were a collection of hotels and skyscrapers that rivaled The Moon. Down the street was a hotel made up of three large circular buildings that looked almost like large barrels of alcohol connected by a series of bridges and a large rectangle centre first floor in which each building rose from. In front of the building was a large sign stating 'The Ale House!' complete with exclamation marks.

In another direction, a larger building labeled ‘The Black Slander’ rose to out shadow the others. A tower stood on its top as a giant arrow pointed into the sky. But the most eye-catching thing about it was the top was shaped like a pony’s head, the familiar face of a certain pink pony Lacunae was very familiar with, watched the city with that same cheerful smile she always had. “They got her likeness down.”

Down the street was a hotel bigger than the others but instead the glamour the others showed this one was worn and tore. The name 'The Clips And Clops' hung shamefully on the building with dirty dried colors. One could believe it was dead if not for ponies coming out of it

Rampage trotted off with the same energy she gave during her fashion show. “Well, Luu let’s get this party started.”

-----------------

Dise was no stranger to weird visitors, it came with the territory of being the shining gem of the south. The last city as some called it. Raiders, Steel Rangers, Pegasi banished or fleeing the clouds, Dise was used to the idea of every pony wanting a piece of it. Many in the city quickly gave such visitors a quick glance before returning to enjoying the high life.

But the coming of what can only be described as a Goddess and her weird zebra/pony friend in a weird ass dress and glowing eyes got the attention of most ponies. Ponies were lining up to see the strange newcomers, many whispering concern or shock at what they saw. While many came to look, the visitors barely took notice of the crowd, more interested in their discussion.

“Where are we going first, Luu? Luna looking ass place? beer place? that ghetto hotel down the street? Or the Pinkie Pie tower?” Rampage pointed to each as she called them.

Lacunae looked around, they stood under a statue that itself stood in an intersection leading to all four casinos. “I have some interests in this Moon place.” To the alicorn, anything designed after her old teacher always caught her attention. She often laughed a little at how her teacher would feel knowing a casino was based on her. “We start there then after a few hours we’ll go do that fighting ring you talked about  yesterday.”

“Sweet, with that blurring over there I think they got a dance floor!” Rampage stuck a pose. “Dise ain’t ready to see these hooves move! Let’s go!”

Rampage galloped off, the crowd breaking apart to let her through, Lacunae shaking her head and following after her.

The inside of the Moon was much to Lacunae's idea of a Luna theme casino. Much of the room was dark creating the feeling of midnight except for small fake moons that hung from the ceiling creating dim light. What she did not expect was the amount of ‘tasteful’ clothes the mares wore while serving drinks to customers.  On the wall a stage with a single pole sat, a mare swinging herself around as stallions and other mares cheered her on.

“Hump, I don’t think Luna would approve.”  Lacunae turned to see if her friend was coming. They had asked them both to give up any weapons at the door. Not much of a hard request for Lacunae but Rampage. 

“And I think that’s it.” Rampage placed the last knife on the table. The  Greeter Pony was completely silent at what was before him: 15 knives, Rampage’s hoof cuffs, 20 grenades, 15 10mm pistols, Lacunae’s Minigun and anti-material rifle, and Rampage's spiked dress.

 I Have to admit, Arloste’s super strength comes in handy when traveling.

“Welp, time to go enjoy myself.” Rampage trotted off leaving the greeter speechless.

“En-enjoy your-stay.”

As the two mares across the casino floor the same stares they got outside followed. Mares dropped their drinks, gamblers ignored their bets allowing others a chance to cheat, and the mare dancing on the pole fell off when she saw the duo. 

As the pair approached the long bar the bartender, a larger yellow stallion wearing a funny hat, stopped preparing drinks and watched with a curious eye as both mares took their seats. Behind him stood a wall of drinks with liquors that only a civilized place like this could buy or make. 

Lacunae looked with the intensity of a doctor studying a patient. She studied that wall for several minutes, Rampage getting bored while the bartender didn't know what to make of this. Finally, after a long pause, she gave her answer. “I will have Bloody Alicorn mixed with Sunny Island Love wine, four months old, ice, shaken, and a lime with it.” 

The bartender was comprehending her as if she just asked for gold, Rampage just rolled her eyes so hard. “Damn Luu, why don’t you ask for the whole god damn bar.”

“Hey, don’t judge me. I’m treating myself on vacation.” Lacunae stuck her nose up in the air. “Mama needs her wine after a long month of fighting Hellhounds.”

The bartender silently muttered the words as Rampage sighed. “Fine, I guess it's our vacation, it ain’t vacation time if you ain’t living it up.” Rampage smack the counter making the bartender jump. “I want every drug you got, you hear me?”

The bartender blinked in confusion. “Every drug miss?”

Rampage raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, every drug, in every form. In fact, get me ten of each.” 

The Bartender was lost for words but shook his head and got to work. “Hump. And my order was overbearing.” Lacunae said, giving her friend a smug look

“What? Luu that order is baby sauce to me. You’ve seen me chug drugs heavier than that.”

“Oh, I remember high Fridays. Also, you jumped off a cliff one Friday.” Lacunae said with a hint of mockery in it.

“One time Luu. One time. I did a little Dash-”

“You used 50 Dash inhalers Arloste.”

“I was testing my limits Luu.”

“Testing your jumping limits. And don’t get me started on the Popcorn accident.” Lacunae chuckled.

“Oh fuck you. You and Maria let that happen you bitch.” Rampage was doing her best to sound offended but was barely holding back laughter. 

“Arloste, your stomach literally exploded, we had to gut you so that your bows could regrow.”

“Hey at least you got to see inside me Luu.” Both mares burst out laughing, always finding a way to trade shots.

The rest of the patrons and waiters at the bar went dead silent at the conversation they were hearing. The same thought running through their heads. What the fuck are these freaks?

Finally, the bartender brought their orders, rampage’s taking up a portion of the counter. Lacunae was in heaven, taking small sips from the wine glass as she let the favour wash over her. Rampage was being a complete beast, eating pills like candy, inhaling Dash like fresh air, and slammed needles into herself like nobody’s business.

Onlookers tried to avoid the pair but were stunned at the rate drugs and liquor was consumed. Finally one of the waitresses had the courage to walk up to the pair, scarcely tapping Rampage on the shoulder, and gulping when the striped mare met her gaze

“Hey- hey, hey cutie.” Fear was written on the mare’s face, her legs wobble a bit as the striped mare looked her over. “Yo- you want a piece of this?”

Rampage studied her before busting out laughing. “Girl what’s your name? How old are you?”

“May- Mayflower.” She was a young pegasus mare with a green mane and sun yellow coat, her cutie mark that of a rising flower. “I’m 23.”

Rampage sighed. “Girl why are you hoeing yourself? Why aren't you doing something better with your life?” 

She turned defensive, this was clearly a discussion she didn’t want to have. “What’s it to you huh? You don’t know me!”

Rampage scuffed, she had seen mares like her a thousand times before. “Let me guess, paying for your drug addiction?”

“I..” was all she could muster.

The mare slightly looked away as Arloste sighed. “The Wasteland turns mares into sluts.” Rampage put a hoof on her shoulder. “Girl I was like you 40 years ago, partying, doing drugs, being a useless gang member, selling my body to get what I wanted. I was a high-tier wasteland hoe until I met the stallion of my dreams, after I met him I knew that life wasn’t a good one and quite that shit cold turkey.”

Rampage flipped open one of her saddle packs and pulled out a sack, shaking it at Lacunae’s face, the alicorn’s horn lit up as she kept drinking. From the sack, a collection of caps floated into a large pile. Rampage grabbed an empty drug tint in her mouth and waited as the caps floated into it. “This is 6,000 caps. Get yourself clean, go home, fix your life and be a better pony. Maybe go find yourself a mare or stallion.”

The mare was lost for words, she fell on her ramp unable to process what was just given to her. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she spoke softly. “Thank, thank you.” The idea that some pony could be so kind in this city to do such a thing, was a miracle. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She was bowing to the strange mare now audibly crying.

Rampage held a hoof up to calm her down. “I didn’t do anything, girl, I just gave you the tools to fix yourself. Whether or not you improve is up to you, now get. I'm relaxing.”

As she walked away she kept uttering the words. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Finally, she put the tint in her mouth, galloping out of the building. Leaving a crowd of stun bystanders to go over the drama that played before them.

Rampage turned back to her drugs, her good deed done for the day. “Kids these days.”

“The world’s a cruel place but if you teach a pony how to survive and thrive they can make it into a paradise. Such is the element of survival” Lacunae spoke the words as only a priest could recite.

“Amen sister.”
> Come to the Moon, we have pole dances and mind control
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next few hours were a haze of Lacunae trying out different games or chatting with the staff. Both mares broke off for an hour with Lacunae playing the slots while Rampage chatted up a lot of waiter girls with her former hoe life.

“Hump.” Lacunae grunted as she lost another hit, usually, gambling wasn’t her thing but it was vacation time. “Curse ponies for giving into the elements of Luck and chaos and creating these boring machines.”

Her comment got a chuckled as she heard hoof steps walking up to her. He was large by the sound of him, and the way he walked alerted Lacunae to the fact he wanted something. “The Lucky Mare ain’t smiling upon you It seems.”

Lacunae looked to her side to see a large red stallion in a checkered suit with a pitch black mane sitting beside. “Ring ding baby, having a good time at The Moon?” Lacunae could read his scumbagness from the way he smiled, she wasn’t having anything he was selling but she would play along.

“Yes and no.” Her answer made him cock his head. “These games of Luck and Chaos are fine but distractions I don’t take pleasure in. No, it is the Elements of Nature and Age and the drinks they create that is my joy.”

She looked at him hoping that her words got the reaction she wanted. “Eh, yeah. Whatever floats your boat doll face.” the confusion she read on his face told her the wisemare talk worked.

“So.” the alicorn’s tone got real. “What do you want?”

The stallion gave a half-hearted chuckle as he tried to find his words. “Well doll face, we’ve been watching you for a while, listening in on your talks, and we got a deal for ya, you dig?”  Lacunae raised an eyebrow, already knowing what they wanted. “Boss has a job for ya. Wants you and your friend to come up to the penthouse floor.”

Lacunae could easily refuse the offer, the politics of this city was not why she came. But she could have a joke at their expense. “Alright, I shall see your master. But my friend over there.” Lacunae pointed down the casino floor where Rampage had gotten on stage and was showing the dancers how it’s done. “She stays down here. I’m the business manager of the two of us, any job offer is done by me.” And she didn’t want Rampage killing anyone, they had enough problems up north. “Lead the way.”

--------

The elevator doors opened to a long hallway that was dimly lit, the red pony gave a gesture allowing Lacunae to leave first. “Such a gentle stallion.” She said mockingly.

The door they came upon down the hall opened to a massive staircase with a gold railing that had gems invented into it. Lacunae rolled her eyes, already she could see the insecurity in this pony. But she proceeded up the staircase at the red pony’s beckoning. 

When she reached the top she became more put off by what she saw. The floor was set up to make every part visible, the walls were windows that gave one the perfect view of Dise. A large ballroom with a crystal chandelier, a huge outdoor deck, and patio with a large pool, a gilded telescope, a huge heart shaped bed sectioned off in the corner, an entire wall of swanky looking paintings, a golden tub. And Finally, a metal room with the words ‘Boss’s Office painted on it.’

The red stallion knocked on the door a few times, minutes passing until the door flew open. “What took you so fucking long?” A small, lithe royal blue unicorn with cropped black mane sat on a cushion as he smiled with teeth too clean for him. “Well, come on I don’t got all day.” he waved a hoof cushion across from him. 

Lacunae took his offer as the door closed behind her. Leaving her and the blue stallion alone as he picked a bottle of wine and drank from it.  “Drank?” He shook the bottle in an inviting way.

Lacunae refused, conducting business while drinking was unprofessional behavior. Plus she didn’t want his backwash. “eh, you're lost.” He took another then sat the bottle on a caster to the side. “Introduction time. I’m Roy Mustang, boss of the best casino in Dise. The most powerful gang with all the best luxuries left in the world. Any pony that fucks with me ends up buried in the desert, or worst. Long story short  I run this joint.”

Lacunae had to admit the pony was being upfront with his boasts, even if they were insecure. She felt she needed to one-up his pretentious rant with one of her own. “Lacunae, the angel of the Goddess, Priestess of the Elements, Employee of the Crusader corporation, and Finally a Demon Mare of Security.” She saw her titles got the expected ‘what’ face from the blue stallion.

“Damn bitch, you couldn’t have shortened it to Lacunae?” He rolled his eyes as he laid back on his cushion. “Everypony friends? Good? Good. A Long rambling short I want you and your friend to join my operation as a full member Mustang! No trial, no building yourself up through the ranks. You will be on the same level as Mayhem out there.”

Lacunae expected this was the offer, these things often followed them around. Requests, job offerings, recruiters tracking them. it came with the territory of being what she, Rampage, and Blackjack were, living deadly super soldiers. What warlord wouldn’t want an alicorn on their side, or an immortal death machine like Rampage, or a cybernetic super pony like Blackjack? Every job they got there was always a worm begging to join their petty side.

Lacunae letting this joke continue asked in a fake honest way. “What would I get from joining you and not say the NCA. They seem more powerful and they’ve already given me an offer.” That was a lie about but she expected the real thing would come by day’s end. However, it got the reaction she wanted out of Roy, a hint of fear.

He tried to hide it but Lacunae could read ponies like a book. “NCA? Those bitches couldn’t give you a proper meal yet any offer worth taking.” He smiled that scummy look that all these low lives give, clearing his throat as he spoke. “We can give you better than that. Being a Mustang, no, being a high Mustang means you get a VIP room at the top floor, free freshwater, a good time in the city, five-star meals, all the best drugs and whores in town.” He sat back confident he had convinced her. “You're getting the offer of a lifetime Missy, don’t throw it away because some fake-sounding government is giving you a handout.”

“You know I’m already employed right?”

“So? quite it. What could that Crusader thingy have that the Mustangs don’t?” 

My free will. Explaining that part would be hard for a pony like you to understand so I will let you down easy. “Sorry, I must decline.”

Roy stood, his blue face turning red. “Bitch you don’t say no to Roy  Fucking Mustang. I’m giving you the opportunity of a lifetime and your saying fucking No!” Lacunae shrugged uncaringly. 

“For all your boasts, for all your glamour, the impression I get from you is one of weakness and fear.” Lacunae purred the words she laughed at his building anger. “Why should I surround myself with ponies who wield fake power.”

Finally, he burst into rage. “Bitch I will mount your head on my wall and have your friend downstairs selling her body for life! Don’t you fuck with me-”

Roy went dead silent, his eyes rolling back as he fell back on his cushion. His mouth hung open as if to say something but no words came. He seemed almost brain dead, Lacunae loved this look to him. Now Mister Roy I have a few orders I want you to fulfill. First, you're going to release any pony in your debut. Second, you will give three thousand caps to all your employees. Third, you will sign your casino over to the Finishers as a partnership. They will get all your assets and employees.  And Fourth, after all of this is done. In the Dead of Midnight, you will shoot yourself in the head with a gun.

Now please tell me to leave and never come back. His eyes came back, he struggled to move as he groaned in pain.

“Eh? Eh, where, where was I?” He was daze but his thoughts were coming to him. “Oh, oh yeah! Get the fuck out bitch and never come back to my casino!” With a light up of his horn, the door swung open.

Lacunae being polite listened and trotted out of the room with a ladylike movement. As she approached the staircase where the red stallion stood waiting. She gave him a deep look that burned into his eyes, his posture changed to a dazed one as he held his head. Listen to every command he gives unquestioningly, now escort me down stairs.

“This way missy.” The red stallion spoke the words that were distant. “Time to collect your friend and go.”
--------

When Lacunae entered the main floor again she was met with an all too familiar sight. Rampage being the center of attention, The striped mare was partially eating up the whole room, the crowd was surrounding the stage as the striped mare danced her heart out. The shouts of “Go Rampage! Go Rampage! Go Rampage!” drowned out the sounds of slots and music, becoming an audible cry.

Lacunae shook her head. “She’s always in the spotlight.” Waving through the crowd of cheering ponies to the front of the stage. Rampage barely took notice as she approached. “Arloste. Arloste.” Lacunae sighed. Her horn lit up in a light blue glow, the same glow encasing the striped mare.

Rampage gave a sad huff. “Luu I was showing off my dance moves.” She crossed her forelegs like a mad filly.

“We’re getting kicked out Arloste. Sorry, we got let go.” That got a sad aw from the striped mare and the gathered crowd.

“Luu what did you do?” The disappointment in Rampage’s voice was measure and her day was ruined.

Lacunae let out an audible groan. “Me and management had disagreements. Now stop reliving your whore days and come on.” Rampage hung her nose up “Remember the fighting area we talked about earlier. Guess where we’re going next?”

At that Rampage lit up, breaking free of the magical grip and galloping off the stage through the crowd of onlookers. “Fuck this place! Let’s goo Luu.” Rampage was half to the entrance when she remembered her weapons, walking over to the greeter she started rushing him as she stomped her hoof impatiently. “Come on dude, I got ponies to beat up.”


Lacunae just smiled as she trotted off. You're still that same filly I knew since you were a child.
> The Main Event, fight for fame
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ‘Ale House’ was the opposite of the glamour of ‘The Moon’. were the Moon sought to create an atmosphere of darkness with every vice in plain view, the Ale House had an air of fanciness to it. Instead of pitch-black floors and dim light, the Ale House had bright red carpets with wall light the shined bright gold everywhere. Instead of whores and drugs being served, fancy high-class food and drinks were prepared for only the highest of guests.
In other words, this was paradise to Lacunae. She took another bite of her freshly prepared meal, a plate of freshly grown vegetables tipped with special sauce was a delight she’d thought in all 200 years she’d never enjoy again. She took small bites of the dish, savoring the flavor like wastelanders savor clean water.

Her companion on the other hoof was...another story. Sitting across from Lacunae was a conga line of meats, plate after was stacked with meats from every animal you probably could kill and then some. All cooked differently from rare to well done, all with different ingredients and spices. The consumer of all this raw flesh was devouring it like there was no tomorrow. Compared to Lacunae Rampage looked like a pack of wolves eating corpses as she chewed down on one piece after another. The other guests and waiters just watched in disbelief.

“You know Arloste they say too much meat can be bad for you.” Lacunae took a sip of hard ale, not evening sparing her friend a glance as she ate like a lady. “They say it messes up your bowels.”

Rampage took one look at Lacunae after taking a huge bite of a steak. “Fuck those ponies, I eat what I want when I want to. Fuck healthy living.” And with that, she went back to smashing.

Lacunae sighed, when Rampage’s mind was made up it was hard to change. “Okay but don’t blame me when you start throwing up after getting into the ring."

Rampage shrugged. “Hey, if I throw up I can earn the title the vomit mare.”

“You have no shame do you?”

“No.”

Lacunae rolled her eyes half-heartedly. How they were friends was beyond her but she enjoyed the striped mare's company more than anyone.

A ghoul waiter was giving them strange looks as he passed them, every few seconds he kept giving them glances which Lacunae noted. Finally, after Rampage had finished another plate the ghoul trotted up their table, putting out a notepad with his mouth and sitting on his haunches. He didn’t pull out a pen Lacunae notice. “So do you need anything else Miss?” though he had the usual ghoul rashness in his voice he seemed to do it with a hint of class to him.

Rampage was too busy eyeing gecko legs to care for another meal. “Let me finish this then come ask me.”

The ghoul chuckled at the response. “I see that black hole you call a stomach hasn’t closed ya Arloste.”

Rampage stopped mid bite to look up at the ghoul, he was a green buck with skin that rotten away around his lips and eyelids. Rampage’s eyes narrowed and then widened as she looked at him. “Goldie?” She got up from her seat to give him a deeper look. “Goldie ridge is that you?”

He crossed his forehooves as he nay. “Well, damn striped Zeeb bitch. 15 years and you already forget your pal Goldie the gravedigger!”

“Goldie it is you, it is you!” She threw her arms around him and embraced him into a big hug, he returned the gesture with the two patting each other on the back as they laughed in joy. “Motherfucker I missed you! Why are you in this dump?”

They broke off to look at each other. “Look at you motherfucker. A waiter? What did your love of Stable crawling die or something?”

Goldie shook his head. “Nah, just made enough money to settle down somewhere. Heard this place was good so I came here. Why are you here though?”

“Me and Luu on vacation after saving the Hoof.” She shrugged. “You know boring stuff.”

“I heard there was a fight between the Reapers and some cult.” He gave her a questioning look. “What happened?”

“Weird cult ran by a crazy A.I. tried to take over.” She seemed so none plus compared to the extremeness of what actually happened.

“So same old Hoof?”

“Yup.”

“I miss home sometimes.” The ghoul looked over to Lacunae with a wide smile. “Luu how you doing? Still believing in that old horse shit.”

Lacunae raised a glass to him. “Yep, and seems you given up your stupid horse shit too.”

He waved a hoof at his old buddy. “I still go into Stable, caves, and death traps. Only now I do it for the boss.”

Rampage got a little worried at that. “You in debt? cause we can pay that off” 

Goldie smiled, even after so long she was still there for him. “Nah, I work here willingly. Boss is a hard case but she’s fair and smart.”

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” The smooth voice of a mare followed by hoof steps approached from behind the pair. “So these are the two causing all the commotion on the Cross huh?” The trio of ponies looked behind them to see a strange mare coming with guards around her.

She was green except for her greyish mouth, her body thick yet with slender legs. Her ears were longer than a pony, seemly flopping with her movement. She wore dark shades that would normally make her look threatening to ponies but to the mares, she was just another pony.

“Ah cool a mu-” Goldie moved fast to close Rampage’s mouth, turning his head around and giving his boss a sheepish smile.

“Eh, Lacunae and Rampage, this is my boss, Miss Molly. Miss Molly these are my friends from the Hoof, Rampage and Lacunae.” Rampage sensing something was off just waved her hoof, while Lacunae raised her glass.

Molly seemed to regard the two visitors with a sense of interest, but she gave Lacunae the most attention. “Well, you ponies leave quite a presence wherever you go. Both of you are the talk of the town.” She finally regarded Rampage with a huff. “I heard your some type of saint and dancer. So.”

She trotted closer to the pair with her bodyguards taking a position at both sides of the table. “What brings such strange visitors to the town of Sin? Especially my home?” She took an empty seat in the middle of the table, going back to staring at Lacunae.

Rampage was about to answer when Lacunae cut her off. “We’re on vacation for the week, we came to the ‘last’ city to judge if it really lives up to the name.” She met the green mare’s glaze with one of her own, she knew intimidation tactics when she saw them. Was this mare trying to tell them to leave? “In fact, Rampage has come here to judge how good your fighting arena is.”

Molly laughed. “Oh, is that right? “ she leaned back in a relaxed position. “You want a shot in my arena. Think you're good enough?"

Rampage finally chined in. “Yep, that’s right lady.” Rampage stomped her hoof down on the table. “I came here to do one thing and one thing only. Judge how tough Dise is by beating up your toughest people. Get your ponies, zebras, donkeys, bulls, whatever. I’m here to show ya how tough the Hoof is by making that ring my throne, showing Dise it ain’t shit.”

Lacunae just rolled her eyes. Really Arloste you could be a wrestler in the old world with promos like that. 

For all her boasting it seemed to work, Molly showed a faint hint of anger at that rant. She kept her classy demeanor but was angier in her movements as she grabbed Lacunae’s wine bottle and took a chug much to Lacunae's annoyance. “Well, hon, that was a fine boast. But do you have the skills to back it up?” Her tone was serious now, the classy demeanor falling away. “In my arena ponies don’t always walk away.”

Rampage trotted up to the green mare, getting face to face with her. “Bring them all out, I want to fight everybody you can call.”

Goldie tried to wrestle Rampage away from his easily angered boss. “Rampage you can’t fight all our talent! We need them!” Goldie wasn’t afraid for Rampage, he was afraid of how many dead fighters they would have at the end of the day.

Rampage just looked at Goldie with that grin she gave whenever killing time was around the corner. “Sorry Goldie, you're going to need to find new talent after I’m done.”

Lacunae took a sip of her wine and sighed. This would be an all-nighter again.

--------

The arena was a thing only the new world of the Wasteland could create. What was once a high-class playhouse with a stage for performance, had been turned into a fighting ring with it’s stage outlined with steel bars made into a cage. Where once a chandelier stood, now that was a billboard with the names of the fighters on it.

The crowd was large tonight. Word had spread of the strange striped mare entering the ring and soon tickets to see her fight sold out like hotcakes. The house was packed with ponies of every race in seats as far as the eye could see. The room was ecstatic with life as ponies placed bets, gossip about who would win, and cheered on the display. Lacunae and Molly both sat in the second story balcony watching the events below unfold.
.

“Well, now your friend seems to bring out the lifeblood in ponies.” Molly leaned back in her chair, she seemed to be enjoying it.

“She likes being the center of attention.” Lacunae tried to get under the casino owner's skin “Can you blame her. Her appearance by itself demands all eyes on her at all times. She can never not be the odd one out in a group, no she takes that attention and uses it to express herself.”

Molly gave an annoyed huff. Obviously, something about that seemed to hit a sour spot in her. Lacunae knew why but she kept her words to herself. “Let’s see if this attention seeker gives a good show.” Molly took a microphone sitting table and began speaking into it “Fillies and gentle colts! Today I bring you a special event! Today, a new challenger has entered our ring. She has challenged all of Dise to fight, Declaring ‘Dise ain’t shit compared to the Hoof.’ Saying she plans to claim our arena in the name of Equestria!” That got boos from certain members of the crowd.

“We are at the Ale House have decided to answer her wish. She will be fighting a tower style tournament against all the Ale House’s best fighters. Until she fights the ringing champ, Torr!” The crowd went wild, fight like this were a once in a while thing. Very few ever went for the champion spot.

“So let’s welcome our honor guest: the stranger from a strange land, the striped mare, Rampage!” Some of the crowd cheered harder than others, Lacunae could make out Goldie cheering among them. “And her first opponent, the bullet mare, the pegasus killer. Lighting strike!”

A blue blur flew onto the stage, circling Rampage then quickly stopping in front of her. Revealing the form of a sturdy blue pegasus mare with a green mane, she looked like she chugged drugs with the crazed look she gave Rampage. 

Rampage just nay. “Listen lady this is a fighting ring, not a drug lab. Take your Dash ass back to the crack house before you OD on the stage.”

The mare just snarled. “Gonna rip and tear your guts!!!! Rip and tear! Rip and Tear!”
“Let the fight begin!”

The pegasus rushed Rampage with such blinding speeds making her a blur, a living lighting strike. It looked undodgeable, it seemed for all the striped mare’s boast she would eat her words. The bets were 10 to 3, most in the crowd had money riding against her. Seeing the pegasus flying towards Rampage like a speeding bullet, Lacunae cracked a smile.

Rampage jumped out of the way in a nick of time, the speedy mare missing her and crashing into the cage with a metal clang sound. In the air, Rampage did a somersault before landing neatly on her hooves. The crowd went wild, hoof stomping filling the room. As the pegasus regained her composure Rampage yawned and stretched uncaring of her opponent. 

“God this is boring. Lady if I wanted a good exercise I would go for a run.” Rampage took one look at her opponent then laid down on the stage on her side, her hind hooves crossed, one forehoof on her cheek, and the other laying lazy on her back. “Here I will give you an advantage” 

The crowd was confused by this change in action, some were booing and yelling ‘get up and fight!’ Lighting Strike finally getting to her hooves stared at the striped mare with a murderous aura of a devil. with a loud Battlecry flew into the air and dive bomb towards her prey like an angry god bring down thunder.

Rampage yawned, she rolled out the way of attack, laughing like a filly as she did so. Lighting Strike followed her bringing her hooves down at every turn.  Rampage just kept rolling, rolling, rolling. Lacunae laughed at the display loving the utter disrespect Rampage showed.

“STOP RUNNING AND FIGHT ME!” Lighting Strike kept trying to stomp her, but Rampage was like a slippy rat. 

“Well, if you insist.” At that Rampage hopped over the pegasus and landed on her hooves, and with one fast buck, she sent Lightning flying into the cage bars. 

She bounced off the bars with an audible crack, she went lump as she fell to the floor. The crowd went wild, cheers and boos following the attack. A few minutes passed before Molly sighed and grabbed the microphone. “Our winner by knockout. Rampage!”

Rampage struck a victory pose. The same pose she gave on the runway at the Finishers gallery, it was the pose of a mare who knew she was on top. “Is that all Dise has. All this booze and drugs have made you all soft.” She smiled darkly at the crowd. “Play time’s over. Time to show paradise what happens when demons come to play.”

---------------

The next few fights weren’t fights, they were one-sided slaughters. Rampage’s next opponent was a unicorn who could create magical fists strong enough to smash through the floor. She lasted a minute before Rampage sent her flying.
The next guy was an earth pony buck who could bend steel and smash through bricks. He lasted two minutes before Rampage broke his legs.

Next was a tag team of mares who could perform combos so fast their hits looked like bullets. They were both piledriven into the stage.

After that was a Minotaur that looked like he ate nails for breakfast without any milk. He was smashed into the bars so hard they cut into him.

Finally, four fighters teamed up to take on the mare, all were former rivals but beating this visitor became a top priority. Four ponies on one would be on fair if the four weren't leaving the cage on a stretcher, one had their teeth kicked out, another lost a leg, another bent into a circle counterclockwise, and the last had their tail ripped off.

The crowd was filled with a mix of fear, excitement, anger, and confusion. No pony knew what to make of this strange mare, the most striking thing about these fights was the fact she never got hit. It seemed unreal, who was this weirdo and where did they learn how to fight?

“Fillies and gentle colts! It seems we’re coming up on the grand final. Next round is between the new up and coming sensation, Rampage! And our champion stone wall pony, Torr! Bets are half 5/5, a first for any pony fighting Torr!”

Rampage stood on the stage alone, her hind legs crossed as she sat. The bored look painted on her showing she wasn’t very impressed with the Arena and its offerings. On some level she knew she would find no challenger here, this wasn’t home, very few places in the wasteland could breed deadly ponies worth her time and this place wasn’t it.

The ground under her began to shake as the pounding sound of hoof steps entered the cage. Rampage looked back with morbid interest and saw a sight that made her eyes widen. A pony, no, a giant trotted into the cage from the right. His piss yellow coat revealing strains of blood on his hooves. He was large, big enough a simple slap could send a pony flying. His muscles matched hers’ in terms of their body weight, impressive by pony standards. It was no wonder he was the champion, few could fight such a monster and survive.

Most ponies would take one look at such a force and give up, most would coward at the sight of such a beast. But Rampage did what she always did when faced with a worthy foe, smile.

“FINALLY A WORTHY OPPONENT! I WILL FINALLY ENJOY MY VACATION!” She shouted at the top of her lugs for all to hear. Her eyes change from their normal pink glow to a sickening green hue. “WE WILL HAVE FUN! LET THE BLOODBATH BEGIN!”

The crowd cheered and shouted the names of the fighter they were betting for. From the balcony, Molly and Lacunae watched with renewed interest. The former taking curiosity in the mare’s newfound excitement and the letter looking on with a disturbed expression.

“Your friend seems to be letting her winning streak go to her head.” Molly seemed to be enjoying Rampage’s theatrics but Lacunae was in a state of fear.

“You have to call off this fight right now.”

“Why so hon? This is the biggest of the evening.” Molly looked at her sheepishly. “What? afraid your little friend is finally going to get hurt?”

Lacunae grunted. “No, your pony is going to die if he fights Rampage like this.” Lacunae couldn’t believe here of all places Rampage allowed her to take over her mind. “I could try to convince Rampage to ease up, maybe throw the fight.”

Molly snarled at the idea. “You will do no such thing hon. This is my best turn out in years! A lot of ponies paid good money to see your friend down there draw blood or bleed.” From behind a gun bush against Lacunae’s back, the alicorn didn’t care, she already knew the pony was there, she had sensed his aura when she came up here, “Sit hon and watch the good show. We don’t want to have blood spilled outside the ring do we?”

“You would let your own best fighter get torn apart just to have a show?” 

“Ponies die in the Wasteland hon, Torr’s my best fighter but I have replacements lined up if he ever bit it.” Molly looked down at the arena with a cold smirk. “To be in Dise is to gamble with your life, win or lose however I always have backup plans.”

Down in the cage Rampage and Torr circled each other like two wolves ready to pounce. “Me Torr. Who you?” his voice was that of a large oaf. 

Rampage cocked her head. “Your executioner.”

The large pony struggled to say the word as if learning rocket science. “Exe..cuter.” He didn’t have time to finish as the striped mare rushed him. Though he was slow and clumsy his swing hit Rampage with such force it sent the mare flying into the top of the cage, bouncing off with it a clang. 

Normally Rampage would dodge such a strike with ease, but it was no longer about fighting. In this state, she wanted to feel the blood lust, the enjoyment of giving pain, and the thrill of death. She stood motionless for a minute, Molly started counting down. But with a jolt of joy, she jumped to her hooves like a skipping filly. “Not done yet mate.”

Cracking a few bones back into place Rampage then begin trotting up to a confused Torr. “Let’s try that again.” She rushed again, and he swung again. Normally one hit from Torr would end a pony but this mare was a whole other case.

She got up again, cracked a few more bones back, and skipped over to the buck. “Come on big oaf. Gimme your best shot.” Mockingly pointing to her chin wanting the stallion to hit her. “I won’t even fight back.”

“You make fun of Torr.” The piss yellow pony was getting angry, clearly not taking well to her jokes. “Me break you!” With an angry huff the pony spun around, and buck with such force it created wind pressure. when it connected with Rampage’s face the mare’s head snap back to the point she was looking at her back. She was sent flying smashing into the cage bars again. 

Sounds of cheers, boos, with some mixed worry spread through the audience. Molly seemed a bit disappointed in the fight. “ Well hon, seems like your friend’s boasts were the end of her.” She looked at the alicorn. “Shame, I expected more out of her.”

Lacunae wasn't paying attention, only looking on with concern, but not for her friend.

Torr waved at the crowd happily, another win for the ringing champ. He didn’t like killing ponies but sometimes he didn’t know his own strength. He was soaking in all the praise when suddenly it stopped, replaced by gasps from the crowd. When he looked around to see what the deal was his eyes upon the sight of the striped mare getting back on her hooves.

Even with her head bent, even with one of her legs broken, and bleeding from the eyes, she got back on her hooves. She sat on her haunches, using both forehooves she grabbed her head, with a sickening slow turn she broke her head back into place, screaming while laughing at the same time. 

The audience was left speechless, for a packed room it fell dead silent outside a few whispers. Even Molly was completely dumbfounded at what she saw. With one last crack Rampage moved her broken leg back into place. “Time to chop chop.”

With athletic speed, she darted towards Torr before he could react. Diving under his legs and landing right between his midsection. Torr tried to move but Rampage was faster, with a brutal buck she kicked him directly in the stomach. To every pony’s surprise in the theater, Torr was sent flying like so many ponies he fought. 

He crashed into the bars hard enough they bent from the extreme force. He fell to the stage in a coughing fit, Rampage was already on him. Grabbing his left forehoof with both of hers’ she pulled. The buck tried to get to his hooves, tried to fight back, tried to stop coughing but couldn’t. The demon mare kept pulling and pulling until finally a sudden jerk to the right caused the limb to snap.

Torr roared in pain but his attacker wasn’t finished. rushing to his midsection, she begin delivering a series of beatings to the down giant. His rib cage crack, his organs broke, he began vomiting with blood mixed in.

“Come on! Come on!” she laughed like a mad mare. “I hear the pain, the screaming, and I want more!”

Finally, a hit piercer his stomach, its contents gushing out like a fountain. But this didn’t stop the mad rage of the striped mare as she kept beating him. 

Lacunae had enough. Arloste stop! Repress her now!

Rampage stopped mid-punch, her eyes going wide as she fell back on her haunches. For a solid minute, she froze like a statue, eyes slowly changing back to their pink hue. Rampage put a hoof to her head as she dazedly looked around. “Sorry Luu, I, I shouldn’t have let her out.”

Arloste you could have hurt ponies if you let go too much! If you had escaped that cage what would stop you from going on a killing spree?!  Lacunae’s thoughts were an ocean of anger, her stoic face barely holding back the disappointment she felt. Arloste Brown, don’t do that again understand me?

Rampage nodded, looking around confused but then placing her hoof in the air, her victory achieved. The crowd yelled chanting the name of the new champion of Dise. "Rampage, Rampage, Rampage.” Noncare about the fact she just beat her opponent half to death, or her violet blood lust she gave into, no for them that was the fight of their lives.

Molly gawked at the display, clapping her hooves together in a pleased manner. “My, my, your friend lives up to the rumors.” She reached over and grabbed the mic off the table.“Well gentle colt and fillies, with flying colors I announce our new champion, Rampage!” The striped mare seemed to hang her head in shame despite the roars of praise from the crowd. “Bet chits can be cashed in at the Box office in the back of the theatre, the next fight is between THE Batmane and Crazy Thunderhoof Facecracker at Eight AM. Be sure to come early for the best seat! In the mean time feel free to enjoy our many amenities. The White Tie restaurant is open until midnight, and of course the buffet is open 24/7.”

Rampage wasn’t listening, she just started looking for the cage’s exit in shame.
> Looking up to your heroes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sometimes we don't see the good we do in the world.



The striped mare sat in a chair in the lobby, ignoring most of the passing ponies and those that gave her praise. Only when an alicorn appeared before her did she raise her head to greet her.

Lacunae stared down at her friend, a look of barely held anger on her face. She said nothing, just stared with longing eyes at the disgrace before her. Finally, Rampage spoke. “I know I shouldn’t have let her out, I don’t know what I was thinking.” Lacunae took that like a mother coming listening to her fillies excuses, she just scolded her friend. “I wanted to let loose you know? I thought with how strong he was he could take it.”

Lacunae’s expression was unchanged. “Arloste, we are not in the Hoof. We are not in battle, and even then you should not let her loose.” Her voice was loud and commanding drawing the attention of bystanders. “If you had escaped from the at Elements damned cage you would have gone on a killing spree before I stopped you. Arloste Maria Shijaa Brown, you do not unleash any of your inner selves unless me and Blackjack are near you. We’ve been over this!”

Rampage looked away in shame, not wanting to meet her friend’s cold gaze. “Do not fight anymore ponies in this city unless I agree to it, understand?” Rampage nodded, Lacunae’s voice made no argument in this. “It’s late, I think we should find an apartment for the night.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting your get together?” Molly said as she trotted up, her shades covering her golden eyes as guards flanked her. “If you're not busy, I’d like to see you in my office.”

“I’m sorry miss Molly, we’re not accepting job offers.” Lacunae shot that idea down before it could fly.

“Actually I would like to hear your offer.” Rampage got the same death stare from Lacunae. “I Will listen to it on the condition you let us stay a free night here.” Rampage gave a weak smile not to Molly but to Lacunae who was scolding down at her ‘friend.’

Molly seemed not too pleased with the idea but kept her displeasure quiet. “You have a deal hon, but your Alicorn friend stays out of it. I just want to see you.” Rampage sighed in relief at that last condition, escaping Lacunae was a top priority right now. “Good, I will have my ponies escort your friend to your room while you follow me to my office.”

As Molly trotted off Rampage hopped to her hooves, she waved to Lacunae who gave her a ‘we’re not done with this talk’ look. Rampage barely noticed as she was already half way down the hall much to the alicorn’s annoyance.

-------------

The office of a casino owner is usually thought to be something of a luxury, in a building of vice one would expect it’s owner to be the main recipient of such vice. Instead, Molly’s office left much to desire, her carpets were worn, her walls tour with one filled with bullet holes. And her desk was missing a leg being held up by books.

Rampage took it all in while Molly walked over to her desk. “Eh, not the showy type huh?”

Molly Shrugged. “An office doesn’t have to be glamorous to be functional. Besides.” As she took a seat behind her desk she grinned evilly at the striped mare. “I use this room more for when unruly guests need to learn a little discipline.”

Rampage could tell some pony else was in here with her, she expected this gang leader wouldn’t trust her alone but she thought there would be more security than this. Maybe the green mare thought the room itself would be intimidating enough, she doubted this was her actual office.

She put the thought behind her and took a seat in a chair next to the desk. With a nervous cough, she struggled to find the words to say, still in a mood from the night’s events. “Hey listen. I’m sorry about Torr.” She hung her head in shame, usually, violence was her calling but when that inner self came out that was, well a part of her she wished to forget. “I lost myself when I fought him, I should have had more control of myself. I will pay for his medical bills if he’s alright

Molly seemed confused at the striped mare’s kindness, the impression she had gotten from Rampage was that of the typical wasteland ganger, her shame at her actions almost seemed to conflict with that. “He’s a tough buck, we have the best doctors in Dise looking to fix him up right now.” That made Rampage brighten up a bit. “But I didn’t call you up here to talk about him. I want to talk about you.”

“Me? Let me guess you want me to work for you.” Rampage could already feel the words coming.

“No, Hon.” That shocked Rampage for a minute. “I wanted to meet one of my heroes.” That made Rampage more confused. “When I heard a red zebra and alicorn arrived in the city, I could hardly believe it. I’d heard stories about Hoofington, stories of the legendary Reaper gang and their immortal red rampaging zony.” For the first time in a long time, Molly gave a pony a warm smile. “You know your a legend, right? Many gangers, merc, and most mixed ponies look up to you.”

Rampage was no stranger to being a folk hero, one expects a legend to build around them after 60 years of adventures. But the idea of even this down south ponies and creatures still looked up to her puzzled the striped mare. “Nice to know I got fans down here, I wouldn't have expected I was that big.”

Molly chuckled. “Don’t sell yourself short hon. Your stories are so awe-inspiring that a lot of non-ponies around the Wasteland look up to you.”There were no lies in her words, just complete love-driven honesty. “The story of a mutant zony rising up to become feared and respect is the envy of many in the wasteland. From your friend Goldie, who told me stories of your exploits when I was a filly. To even Torr, who named a move after you.” That kind of hurt a bit, Rampage would have to visit him in whatever medical center he was at. “It was you who inspired me to take over this gang you know?”

“Really?”

Molly nodded honesty. “Yes, my little zony, you inspired me. As you notice my looks.” Rampage knew already. She was a mule, a pony donkey hybrid. She was going to comment how cool that was until Goldie hushed her, she took the hint it was a sore spot. “In Dise every creature that isn’t a unicorn or earth pony is looked down upon. When I was a filly even most of my own family looked down on me as a mistake. Growing up here was hard on me, but hearing of a zony freak of nature that went from slave to fear wasteland warrior.” Molly seemed embarrassed. “That got me through tough times.”

Rampage didn’t know what to make of this, the gang leader came off at first as the cutthroat ruthless leader type, but seeing how she was pouring her heart out like this gave the striped mare pride in her achievements. 

“Yep. you inspired me to rise up from my sad place in life and make something of myself.” Molly was blushing a bit, Rampage could tell this wasn’t her usual mood to any pony. She was probably a bit ashamed to be fangirling this hard. “I rose to become the leader of Biases and turned this casino into the second most influencer in the region, all while looking up to you.”

Molly grabbed a box from her desk and placed it on its surface. The box was sealed tight with chains surrounding a complicated lock, it took Molly a minute dial turning to unlock it. But when she did, the contents caught Rampage’s eye. Sitting in the box were two golden Hoof Cuffs. “I want you to have these my friend as thanks from non-ponies like me.”

Rampage’s jar hit the floor, the shame she felt from the fighting ring was gone, replaced with burning happiness inside. “Thank you, I, I don't know what to say.” The striped mare almost fell out of her seat but knew the words to say. “Thank you. You have no idea how much all this means to me.” Moments like these, creatures like Molly, they reminded the striped mare no matter her inner demons she was still a good pony, a hero in the eyes of many. Not just another demonic spawn of the wasteland.

Wiping away a tear a thought came to her mind. “Miss Molly, can I ask you something?”

“Ask away I’m all ears.” 

Rampage knew she had to do right by a pony she hurt, she had to be his hero. “I want to visit Torr where he’s being fixed up.”
> To be a wise in a land of greed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The silence was the long-time friend of Lacunae, a friend she often welcomed. Yes, in the quiet she was left to ponder her thoughts, life, and the sad state of her friend. The silence was a remedy she welcomed after the centuries of painful noise.

She stood near the window watching the nightlife below, watching as ponies came and went in the brightness of the city’s endless lights, sensing their emotions, feeling their magical auras like a sea of life. It would be a thing of beauty to her if this place wasn’t home of vice. “Hump, such beauty wasted on the Element of Greed.” She looked from building to building, casino after casino, bar after bar, high society whores, and drugs being pushed everywhere.

She didn’t care, most well-off towns in the Wasteland were the same, yet this town could be so much more. When she got into a conversation with her escort to this fine room he told her of the four gangs that ran the city. The four casinos that gave out every pleasure known, each at war with each other for power. When She asked about schools, hospitals, churches, and general structures outside of vice the pony simply laughed. Saying “This is paradise, not a homeless shelter. Everything has a price here.” The only group the pony knew like that would be the Watchers, a group of doctors and teachers who made it their goal to help those in need no matter what, and yet the pony talked about them in a dismissive tone.

Lacunae sighed and trotted over to her bed. It was a fancy thing along with everything else in the room, a large bathroom with marvel floors, the queen size bed with fur sheets, the air smelling of fresh scents, and a fridge filled with drinks. While she looked down on the city it’s many amenities were joyous to her.

“And onto the news” The smooth gentle voice of a stallion came from the radio sitting on a nightstand by the bed. “Well, my little ponies today has been a strange day in the city of lights, strange than it usually is around here. The word spreading out town,  Luna’s visiting us! That’s right my little ponies an alicorn and her strange zebra friend have been seen around Dise, visiting the Moon and the Ale House. They’ve left quite an impression on our little town with the zebra going on to pay off a prostitute's debts and for her rehab. On top of that, she’s now Dise champion prizefighter! Well, words can’t describe what I’ve heard, but I will say this. If you two mares want an interview please come to my station, I’m all ears. In other but probably related news stories of two ‘Demon Mares’ roaming the northern Wasteland, killing raiders and Steel Rangers that have been terrorizing the Caledonia Wastes. Apparently, it's their day job to kill to wipe out the trash of the Wasteland but they're taking a break in our neck of the woods says, one survivor. The kicker, these Demon Mares are an Alicorn and a red zebra, now I wonder who that can be? Well, that’s it for today, this is Mr. New Haygas with a song from Sweetie Bell.”

“One day in town and we’re already the stars of the show.” Lacunae just laid down to forget it all. Her letting the quiet of her mind take her. She tried to find peace but her thoughts kept going to her long-time friend, and how she was dealing with the events of tonight. She had known Arloste for years, she knew of the essences of other souls trapped inside her. She had seen her struggle to control them for decades, and she had watched as Arloste tame them. But every now and then her inner demons would take control of her when she gave into them.

But was it always her fault? wasn't Lacunae's job to help Arloste in her darker moments? Wasn’t it her job to make sure her friend wasn’t consumed by the demons inside? Had she not sore to Arloste's mother, Shujaa, to be her the little filly’s guardian? It was her duty to protect her daughter not just as a friend but as a guardian angel. When Arloste fell it was her job to pick her up, that’s what an angel does. She felt needed to find her friend and apologize.

 A knock at the door ended those thoughts real quick. With a groan, the alicorn pulled herself away from the soft fur sheets and dragged herself to the door.

Opening she was greeted by a lemon-colored mare dressed in a doctor’s uniform, a strange eyeball symbol on her lab coat. Lacunae groaned again. “I will not join your faction or cause, I’ve already told off three other messenger ponies already.” The NCA one was the most bothersome, the constant speeches about bringing law to the wasteland made her head hurt. “Please leave me alone.”

Before Lacunae could close the door the doctor pony quickly placed herself in the doorway. “Please wait!” Lacunae was growing angrier by the minute but the mare ignored her as she charged in. “We don’t want you to join! We just want to come down to the Watcher’s fort for questions and tests, that’s all!” The mare’s breaths were fast and pleading. “We just want a study of an alicorn up close!”

Lacunae rolled her eyes so hard, if it wasn't a job offer it was doctors and scientists asking to study them. “Are you the Watchers?” The doctor nodded. “Fine, I’m not doing anything for the rest of the night.” Lacunae sighed, her quiet taken from her. “What’s your name, Miss?

“Bright streak.”

“Of course it is.” Lacunae sometimes hated that theme names caught on in pony culture. “Well, Ms. Bright Streak I was interested in your organization so I will bite. I wish to speak to your leader first, so take me to your fort.”

Bright Streak was ecstatic at the request, bowing and giving thanks. “Thank you, Miss?

“Lacunae.”

“Ms. Lacunae, you will be rewarded for your time.” Bright Streak looked five minutes away from kissing the alicorn’s hooves.

Lacunae just felt tired already from the experience, already regretting her decision but the mare seemed to mean well. “Lead the way Ms. Streak. I will be your humble guest.”

-------------

Lacunae wasn’t expecting much and yet was still disappointed. The operation the Watcher called home was just a rundown fort on the north end of town filled with a sea of tents serving as doctor’s offices. She watched as doctors and nurses came and went, the place seemed to be overflowing with patients with most of them looking like addicts. Lacunae could hardly believe there was a school or proper medical service here.

Her escort had led her into a larger tent that functioned as a waiting room, rolls of plastic cheap chairs faced a hastily put together desk. She had been waiting there an hour along with an overweight pony who was fast asleep. Lacunae wouldn’t mind the quiet but the large pony’s snoring ended that peace.

Finally, a blue unicorn with a stethoscope around his neck walked in from a side opening. He was mostly normal except for his eyes, there were small black voids that seemed to almost glow. “Hi there.” For his off-putting eyes his manners and attitude were that of a gentle stallion. “When I hear there was an Alicorn in Dise I could hardly believe it.” He trotted up to Lacunae and put a welcoming hoof out.  “Clean Cut Ms. Lacunae.”

“A pleasure.” She took the kind gesture.

From behind Clean Cut a Minotaur, a large, two leg, muscular creature with two hands and a small head with horns that could impale a pony walked in. For most ponies, the sight of such a creature glaring at them would send them running to the hills, but for Lacunae, she had met such creatures before, plus she was half his size. “A Minotaur, interesting.”

“Oh, this is Ginger. Our resident guard and war refugee.” Clean Cut waved the big fellow over. “Come say hello Ginger.”

The Minotaur was in a constant state of glaring at the alicorn but gave out a friendly hand.  Lacunae ever the maiden took the Minotaur hand with a ladylike bow. “Nice to meet you, Mister Ginger, I’m Lacunae.” The Minotaur looked confused at her, obviously, he wasn’t used to getting such flattery so he bowed back in respect.

“Now, you wanted to test me or something?” The alicorn gaze fell back on the blue stallion.

“Yep, not every day we get an alicorn dropping into our laps.”  Lacunae started questioning what type of tests they wanted. “Oh don’t worry it’s just tests of your magic and radiation intake.” His horn sprung to life and a clipboard floated out from a pocket in front of him. “We’d heard stories about Alicorns up north, about their attraction to magical radiation. We were hoping you extend our knowledge of mutations and their connection to radiation.”

It seemed like a nice enough reason to help, still Lacunae couldn’t shake the feeling this was because of something else they wanted. “Very well then, let’s get this show on the road.”

---------------------

As a host, Clean Cut was a welcoming pony compared to most ponies in the wasteland, when Lacunae inquired about his organization the stallion gave a long-winded rundown of their founding ideals, and goals in a matter benefiting a college teacher. Even her questions about the factions of Dise and their history were met with the same overly detailed breakdown. And to top it off, there was no strain in the stallion’s voice about explaining, no annoyance from asking questions about the world around them. No, he seemed to enjoy this almost lecture-like discussion they were having.

“And that’s there’s only four gangs instead of one.”  He said as they kept trotting through the camp.

“Interesting. A balance of power at knifepoint, so this town’s is one run by the Elements of Fear and Control.” While she sought to put the city’s politics as far away from her as possible, hearing about them still interested her. This city has changed a lot since I last set hoof here, yet it’s still a city controlled by Elements of Greed and Fear. The more things change the more they also stay the same. “Tell me, do any of these gangs seek to control the Watchers?”

Clean Cut chuckled at that as if the idea was the silliest ever. “Oh no, we’re of such little notice that gangs roll their eyes at us.” He looked around at some of the ponies moving through the camp. “Plus being a neutral zone where any pony can get treatment helps.” 

Interesting.” Lacunae looked around the camp now with inquiry, the idea such a kind organization existed in the wastes especially in a city of vice-like this unmolested seemed impossible. However, she started to notice whenever they walked by any pony they scattered like rats, at first she thought it was because of Ginger. Clean Cut had told of her of the Minotaur army and its war with all of the Caledonia Wasteland, apparently, they sought to destroy the city and Lacunae had taken that as the reason the ponies were fleeing but now she wasn’t sure.

“Ponies around here are a bit jumpy aren’t they?” She hoped that would be a hint for Clean Cut to explain their reactions. The Blue buck sighed in disappointment though.

“Never mind them, their just not used to have strange visitors around.” The topic seemed like a sore one from the annoyance in his voice.

Lacunae raised an eyebrow at that. “Are we scaring them? I would have thought ponies would have gotten used to Ginger being around, isn’t me?

Clean Cut looked away in shame. “Yes and no.” He stared at the alicorn with sorrowful eyes. “See the Watchers are divided up between two groups of ponies. The followers of Watcher and the followers of Celestia’s vision.” That made Lacunae groan internally, she could already tell where this was going. “See the Watchers believe that every creature deserves to be saved as the way of the Watcher. We will provide aid, education, and cybernetics to any pony or creature that needs it. But Celestia’s vision.” He trailed off a bit as if the words bothered him to say. “ They believe Goddess Celestia has a vision of harmony that has been lost in the Wasteland. They view Zebras as mockeries of ponies that destroyed Celestia’s holy land, they see all nonpony races as beneath Celestia’s grand vision as side creations. They hate pegasi for stealing the sky from us with the cloud cover, they hate ghouls and your kind as monsters they need to be purged. And the look down on cybernetics as abandoning your soul.”

“Oh, so their a normal religion in the wasteland.” Lacunae just chuckled at all that which shocked Clean Cut. “Do they burn heretics on a symbol of the Sun?” For Lacunae crazy cults in the wastes were as normal as raiders, you couldn’t travel five miles in the Wasteland without bumping into some death cult. “Do they kill ponies?”

Clean Cut didn’t know how to answer that. “No, they mostly do protest like last week they protested the Ale House since a Mule runs it.”

“Well, that just makes them annoying moral preachers. A good change for the Wasteland in my opinion.” Clean Cut didn’t know how to respond to any of that, he expected a more disgusted reaction from the alicorn but she was none plus about the whole thing. “The Wasteland with a few angry Celestia thumbing moms is better rather than say black robed ponies tearing your insides out in Luna’s name.” Clean Cut saw the point in that viewpoint so he just nodded his head in acceptance.

The alicorn took note of Ginger’s quietness at all of this, she did not like talking over any creature so she tried to enter him into the conversation. “Tell me Mr. Ginger.” she moved closer to him which the large bull backed up a bit. “Is your silence because of this alienation?”

He didn’t answer her, only looking at her with the same glare he gave everything, she just gave a friendly smile. She knew how much alienation hurt, the hateful eyes that stared at you wherever you went, burning into your mind like bullets. She hoped that she could be a friendly reminder that not every pony hated him

Clean Cut was amused by the ladylike treatment of the Minotaur, in fact, she was the first pony he’d ever seen be this kind to him since they recovered him. “Oh, his silence isn’t from ponies being wary. No, it’s from his brethren.”

“Brethren?”

Clean Cut nodded his head. “Yes, Ginger here was left for dead by the Minotaur army. After we took him in he swore a vow of silence until his brothers in arms leave Dise.”

The alicorn understood the idea, it was just something she couldn’t get behind, she stopped in front of the Minotaur with meaning in her voice. “Mr. Ginger if I could ever be inclined to tell you something.” The Minotaur's glare broke, replaced with confusion. “I know Minotaur culture, I know the reason you’ve taken this oath is that your people have abandoned you, That in their eyes you are a disgrace for being saved by the enemy. I know how it feels to be cast out and forgotten by your own kind, to walk the path of an exile is never an easy one but you should never allow it to control you.”

She placed a hoof on his chest. “ I know how it feels to be an exile in a world that hates your existence, but you must never let how others view you control your life. Not brothers in the west or the ponies in this camp. You are Ginger before anything else, and if others see this as a problem then they are nothing for you to care about.”

The Minotaur stared at the alicorn for a solid minute, no words were spoken as his expression softened to a smile, finally, he grabbed the hoof on his chest and in a move that shocked even Clean Cut he spoke. “Thank you.”

Lacunae warmly smiled at the bull, she wasn’t the priestess she expired to be but she damn well tried. “You're welcome, my friend.”

Clean Cut lost his normal deposition at what just happened in front of him. He couldn’t believe an alicorn of all ponies got Ginger to talk, the Minotaur didn’t talk to any pony except him and a few others in the Watchers. This mare had a way with words he’d never seen. “Eh? We’re here.” The stallion pointed to a tent that had antennas sticking out of its top, a sign with bright red letters saying ‘LAB” hung from the entrance.

Lacunae walked past the shocked stallion with a ladylike trot before turning back to Clean Cut. “Well come on, it’s rude to keep a lady waiting. And I do wish to continue my quiet time.” As she entered the stallion and Minotaur exchanged glances before following her in.
> To teach beilever to unbeileve, for the truth hurts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The truth you cling to is nothing but lies



Most of the tests were simple enough: blood tests, reaction tests, physicals. The only test that made Lacunae raise an eyebrow was when Clean Cut brought a bottle filled with magical radiant water, something about wanting to learn about radiation's effect on creatures on magical radiation attune creatures. By the end of the test, she was a glowing flashlight of radiation. 

“I don’t think this test was safe Mr. Cut.” The glowing alicorn stared over to a corner of the room where Clean Cut and Ginger were dressed in radiation suits.

The stallion chuckled at the display. “We’re fine, you seem to be taking it well.”

“For my kind, magical radiation is very relaxing really.” she thought about that phrase for a minute. “Think about it as getting a massage from radiation.”

“Interesting.” Clean Cut pulled out a clipboard and began taking notes. “Now, let’s test your magical abilities.” He pointed his pen to a table to the side of the room, white tins set neatly in stock on it. “I want you to lift all those med packs off the table.

Lacunae nayed. “Filly’s play, I can do better than that.” With a  light-up of her horn, she lifted the packs, the table, the medical bed, a cybernetic leg that rest on a rack, and picked Ginger off the ground. 

“Amazing!” Clean Cut was fan gasping at the sight. “Tell me is this your normal magical strength?”

“No, I can lift more than this even without radiation enhancement. The power-up is only helping me do this without strain but I could go farther than this.”

“Farther?”

“Yes, in this state I could probably lift up this entire camp.”

“Really?” There was a little disbelief at such a claim. Clean Cut had seen unicorns lift everything from boxcars to large steel beams, but no pony he knew could lift so many ponies and objects without burning themselves out.

Lacunae felt the doubt in his mind, she rarely had to break out her true power but this wasn’t the time or place. “Yes, it drains all my normal magic, but I could take it farther if I became one with myself.”

“One with yourself?” The Phrase escaped Clean Cut, in all his years of magical study he’d never heard that before. Was it an alicorn thing he thought? perhaps she had learned some secret spell?

Lacunae took the confusion as her chance to play wisemare and teach this pony of science the old ways of magic. “You see Mr. Cut there are forces that run throughout our world that move and change us everyday. I take it you know of the Elements of Harmony?” He nodded his head. “Good, ponies seek harmony in all things, we are followers of the Element of Harmony whether we accept it or not. But Harmony is only one of many Elements that move our world: Chaos, order, death, life, time, conflict, male, female, and various others create cause and effect in our world.” 

She brought the cyber leg to her face, something felt wrong about it. Something that shouldn’t be there. She kept explaining her faith as she studied it, hoping her host wouldn’t catch on. “All things in our world are connected through the Elements, we are their agents in everything we do, we call upon them when we act whether we know it or not. We are the Elements and the Elements are us.” There was power in this leg, a power she knew all too well. But how did it get there?

“But we can do more than be agents of the Elements. We can tap into their power if we become one with ourselves. To do it one must be in complete balance with themselves, no one Element must have complete control over you there must be peace within all things.” She glanced at the stallion and Minotaur to see they were hanging off her every word. “Only then can you achieve true oneness. I hope my explanation was good enough for you.”

“I, I never heard of this. Is this something you discovered?” Clean Cut for the first time in a long time was speechless at something, for the second time that night this mare had shocked him.

“No.” She stated matter factly. “This was an olden belief from a time when ponies still worship the Elements. As civilization developed ponies gave up the old ways, they forgot the way of the Elements and soul. Magic became scientific rather than a way for ponies to connect to the forces of nature.” There was a hint of resentment in her voice. “Magic has become viewed as nothing more than convenient powers, not as an extension of the Element’s will. Centuries of academic studies and oversimplification of magic has hurt the world.” She sighed, no matter how much she hated what magic became she knew in the end this is how most viewed it. “But I have ranted long enough, is this test done?”

“Eh, yeah! You passed all expectations.” She floated the cyber leg into her forehooves, there was no doubt about it. These Watchers were doing something with this power, she knew what. One only uses this power when they seek one thing, complete destruction. She knew that a group like this could never exist in the Wasteland without having their sins hidden, and this was a big sin. “Now we just need to get rid of all that radiation before you can trot around the fort.”

“Oh, that is no problem.” With a soft light blue flash, the glow she emitted was gone. “A clean body is a clean soul.”

Clean Cut nayed, this mare couldn’t stop impressing him. “You're something else, you know that.” He was about to say something else when a thought across his mind. “Oh, I forgot, your friend came in a half-hour after you did. Apparently, she wants to pay for Torr’s medical bills and everything. I can take you to her tent if you want?”

“Thank you but do you mind if I keep this?” She held the cyber leg in her hooves.

“Oh sure! It’s last year’s model so we’re keeping it as back up if we need spare parts. We have a whole warehouse full of them.” A whole warehouse full of this bringer of death. “Why? Do you want a cyber replacement?” He asked politely, she sensed a hint of worry in him.

She floated the leg looking at its inner components to fane interest. “No, I’m just impressed by its craftsmanship. Outside the Hoof, Cybernetics are rare finds, and this is a well-constructed beauty.” That was a lie, she had seen more advanced than this, but lies require flattery. “I wish to take it as a souvenir back home, compare it to the cybernetics of Pre-war Equestria.”

He seemed to take the compliment, almost blushing at her kindness. “Oh thank you, you can have it for putting up with all our tests.” She guessed this device of mass destruction had a switched somewhere, and without its true purpose would never be known. He probably thought the alicorn wouldn’t look any deeper into it but few understood her talents.

She needed to look into this, she needed to put a stop to this. any pony using this power covertly had no good intention, and whatever these Watchers were planning did not bold well for this city or the Wasteland.

But first, she needed to comfort her friend. “Thank you, Mr. Cut, you’ve been a great host..” Lacunae was cut off by shouts coming from outside.

“COME OUT FOUL CREATURE!”  They were loud and defying but with a sense of command in them.

Lacunae looked to her host for answers as to what this was but he seemed just as lost. Deciding to take a look at what was all the commotion the alicorn trotted out of the tent and into a crowd of ponies that surrounded the tent on all sides. They looked like normal Watchers but she could see some were patients here, some looked at her hatefully while others looked on in disgust. In the center of the crowd was a small white mare with a blonde flowing mane, and the Cutie Mark of a rising sun, she stood atop a soapbox like a preacher ready to spread the good word.

“Excuse me?” Lacunae was too confused by what was happening, was this an angry mob, did they plan to attack? “Can I help you?”

“You hear me fowl spawn of the Wasteland! You take the image of Goddess Celestia to lure the faithful from her light! Only to turn them into horrible mockeries such as yourself! Well we will not stand for it monster, leave the city of Celestia and never return!” The mare saying this was small enough to be a filly yet she preached like a priestess before a grand audience.

Realization of what was happening hit her and the alicorn tried her best not to laugh. “Oh my, my, my, we got a true believer. This is rich.” She looked to Clean Cut who trotted out beside her.

 “Ms. Lacunae met Righteous Song, Priestess of Celestia’s Vision.”

Lacunae burst out laughing, getting glares or confused stares from every pony. The irony of the name and mare was too much for her. “Oh, when I hear of Celestia’s vision I pictured angry old Celestia thumbing mares. Nice to see my predictions were correct.” That made Righteous Song seeth a bit under her breath. Lacunae trotted closer to her, not taking the mare or her followers as any threat she decided to poke the bear. “Tell me oh wise Priestess, why am I a front to Goddess Celestia?”

The small white mare growled at the question. “Did you not hear my words fowl demon. You steal the image of Goddess Celestia, you prev her good name with lies of unity between ponies, you seek to turn her once great kingdom into your false paradise.” She turned to the ponies gathering around her. “We will not allow such evil to take our land away from us!” That got stomps of approval from some in the crowd.

Lacunae glanced back at Clean Cut who looked like he wanted to dig himself into the ground. “Tell me, Priestess, you're called Celestia’s vision. Do I not fit into her great vision whatever that is? Was Celestia not loving to all creatures in her kingdom? Are we not all in need of her love?” Lacunae could tell her questions were angering the mare by the minute, she loved messing with the followers of Celestia that popped up after the world ended.

That struck a sore spot, Righteous Song let Lacunae have it like no pony would. “Celestia’s vision is for all ponies to live in peace and Harmony. Mutants like you, Griffins, Zebras, Minotaurs, Ghouls, Cyborgs, and everything else that torture ponykind doesn't deserve the beauty of Celestia’s vision!”

If Lacunae wasn’t laughing before she was now, she’d met all kinds of ponies that worship her former teacher’s sister to a slavish extent. And every time she found joy in bursting their little bubble. “So I’m not part of Celestia’s great vision? So what is her great vision? The Wasteland.” The number of death stares she got from the crowd would make a normal pony coward but Lacunae ate this shit up. “You forget your ‘goddess’ is the reason you live in a Wasteland, to begin with. Your ‘goddess’ started the war that ended the world fool! It was under her leadership that Equestria declared war on the Zebras and dragged the world into war! My existence as an alicorn, cyborg soldiers, and the mutants born out of balefire bombs was caused by Goddess Celestia’s great judgment!”

Righteous Song was fuming, her bright white face turning red in anger. If Lacunae didn’t overshadow her the mare would probably fight her. “What would a false alicorn like you know of her greatest? Your words are just lies to break the faithful.”

If she wasn’t enjoying her vacation when she came to this city she was now, Lacunae always loved this next part. “Because I met her.” Righteous Song just nayed at that. “Oh no, I met her. Do you think this form before you was how I always was?” Some in the crowd were staring the alicorn over, most questioning such a claim, only ghouls living so long and she lacked their zombie-like features. “Before I was taken in by Unity and reborn into the form in front of you I was servant great Luna. I was closer to Celestia than most ponies at the time were.” Lacunae’s tone became cruel and she spoke the words slowly. “Celestia was a fucking coward. Who abandoned her sister to clean her mess. But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself.”

Lacunae’s horn lit up and the world became blinding light. Thousands of them, an ocean of memories flooded through their minds like a roaring waterfall. Memories of a forgotten age, of ponies and events from a pony’s life who was long gone. Lacune looked through them all, she filled the crowd’s heads with her memories of the Two princesses they worship as goddesses, showing them how mundane and imperfect the gods they believed were. But there was one memory she wished to burn into their heads forever so they knew who their precious Celestia really was.


-----------------

The Canterlot gardens were a thing of beauty, multi neatly cut scrubs were made into pieces of art. Butterflies danced in the morning sunlight as newly bloomed flowers bacon them. The gardens usually had many visitors but today it had only two. A pitch-black unicorn with a white pluff mane and an alicorn with a rainbow-like mane that sparkled. The Alicorn was attending to the garden, cutting leaves and watering flowers as the unicorn watched her. She was dressed in strange black combat armor that meddled with her coat, she looked like a shadow in the bright idyllic place. Her expression was a scowl as she watched the alicorn work, the alicorn paid her no mind almost if she wasn’t there.

“Why?” That was all the unicorn asked.

“No, Psalm, I can’t.” Was her answer.

“Can’t or Won’t?

There was a hint of strain from the Alicorn, she dared not answer that.

“Your sister is risking her life for her ponies while you sit here with your flowers.” That hurt the alicorn more than she knew. “Our troops need all the moral support on this front, ponies are dying and breaking, why aren’t you being their princess, why aren’t you leading them?”

The alicorn looked down at the ground in defeat and shame, she fell back on her haunches as the weight of it all took its toll. “I don’t want to see it Psalm, I can’t see my ponies being killed. I can’t see my sister becoming a killer again, becoming a nightmare.” Tears started welling up in her eyes. “I never want any of this you know. I never wanted my ponies to suffer this war, I don’t want to see how I turned them into monsters.”

Psalm broke at that, she trotted over to the alicorn and grabbed her by the shoulders, making the larger being look her in the eyes. “You started this war! Everything that’s happening outside is happening because of your actions.” Her usual quiet voice was now a violent rant. “You started the war for fucking coal but the minute it came too much abandoned it all to your sister. You're an alicorn, the symbol of the greatest of ponykind, but look at you. You're a fucking coward who ran off when the deck was stacked against you, you don’t deserve those wings!”

Celestia couldn’t respond, she had no comeback, no explanation, just a look of utter defeat. “Your right, your completely right.” She couldn’t, she knew nothing she would say could please the unicorn. “But won’t join the madness, I can’t give up what remains of me. I just can’t become a killer like every pony else.”

Psalm threw her down in complete disgust, not even bothering to look at the alicorn as she walked away. “For 1000 years you babied Equestria, keeping ponies from growing up from the horrors of the world, from experiencing the Elements of Chaos and destruction. Then in our darkest hour, you left us, your world of Harmony was destroyed and your not rising to deal with it. “ She was just out of the garden when she stopped cold. “Let this be a lesson fool, you can create a world of order and Harmony but Chaos will always exist. Those who did not rise to the change the Elements bring are doomed to be destroyed by them.”

With that, the unicorn walked out of the garden leaving the alicorn to the sounds of blowing wind and birds.

------------------

The light fell away as the world came back, every pony was dazed as confusion spread among them. They all saw that vision, they saw their goddess in her weakest moment. Few knew what to make of it, even more, were questioning what they saw. Lacunae’s eyes glossed over all of them, watching as the faith they so heavily believed in was put into question. Some seemed to refuse what they saw, most were questioning everything they believe. 

Righteous Song for her part seemed in complete denial. “You're lying. You're trying to brainwash us! You Created that memory to break us.” Her firm belief was shaken but not broken. “We will not be broken but your lies.”

“Lies?” Lacunae let the word hang in the air as she looked the priestess over. “That was as true as they get, that was the goddess whose vision you all seek to make real.”

“Do not believe the lies of this monster brothers and sisters!” Righteous Song pointed an accusing hoof at the Alicorn. “Her vision is a lie, she only seeks to move the faithful from the true path.” Few in the crowd agree at them, most were confused not knowing what to make of any of this.

Lacunae knowing she had weakened their resolve went in for the final blow. “If Celestia’s vision was to create a world of Harmony for ponies, but all she succeeded in creating was a world of Discord. If you view me as a horrible spawn of the Wasteland then you must blame Celestia for my existence and see me as part of her vision.” 

Those words seemed to crack the foundation that Righteous Song stood on. Few took her side, most looked broken as the faith they had so long believe started to wane. The few that kept believing stood firm glaring at the alicorn but most ponies begin trotting off. Righteous song tried inspiring them against the alicorn but her words fell on deft ears. “No my ponies, you can't believe what a devil says!"

Lacunae watched the small mare with sad pitiful eyes, the shame she felt for a mare to dedicate her life to her belief only for it to be shattered in an instant. But Sometimes you need to wake ponies up from their disillusion. “Shall we go, Mr. Clean Cut?”  She looked to the doctor pony beside her, she had spared him the truth she gave them but he still looked a bit afraid of her.

“Yeah, follow me.” His expression was shocked at what just happened but he kept his thoughts to himself as he made his way down the camp, Ginger walking close behind him.

Lacunae let out a breath she was holding back. “I hope the rest of my vacation is peaceful compared to today.”
> The friends we kept heal us, sercets we kept destroy us
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After that ‘religious experience’ the rest of Lacunae’s tour of the camp was quiet as most ponies now avoided her. Clean Cut still spoke freely to all her questions, being more inquired by Lacunae’s stunt than scared off by it.

When they finally reached their destination, Clean Cut bid her farewell as he shook her hoof. “Your friend is waiting in there, Miss Lacunae.” He was a gentle stallion, a rare find in the Wasteland. “I got to go but if you need me I stay inside the fort itself.” With that, the stallion waved goodbye then wandered off with Ginger in tow.

“It’s nice such kind bucks still exist out in the world.” She said as she entered the tent. The inside looked like a well-kept doctor’s office, the usual dirt ground was covered by a neat hexagon pattern rug. Lights attached to wires that ran throughout the tent’s top.  medical tools lay on a table neatly next to the patient's bed. Lacunae saw a familiar striped mare she knew all too well. Rampage was sitting in a chair right next to a sickbed that hosted a large yellow pony, next to her was the green Mule from the casino along with Goldie.

“You're going to be alright Torr, and when this is done I'm going to buy you some ice cream.”  Rampage held his hoof like a mother caring for their child, looking into his eyes with a comforting smile. “The nice ponies here are going fix you up good as new, I made sure of that.”

“You mean it misses Rampage?” 

“I mean it big guy, you put up a good fight. You deserve a good reward for being such a tough stallion.” For a mare who could bring wanton death upon any pony, she was also a beacon of kindness in the Wasteland.

Lacunae didn’t interrupt, seeing this side of her friend was a blessing. Most looked at Arloste as a spawn of death and destruction, yet Lacunae knew that wasn’t true. Arloste, not the Rampage title the world gave her, was as kind and loving as they come.

“Hey Luu, come to say I told you so?” shame still carried in her tone, she still hated herself for what had happened.

“No Arloste, I’m not here to judge you.” she trotted up to the striped mare as she kept holding Torr’s hoof. “I’m sorry for what I said to you, Arloste. I know you don’t have control of yourself all the time, it’s my fault for not acting first.” 

Rampage stared at her, Lacunae could tell she had been crying. “No, its mine. I went overboard and let her gain control, I’m to blame for when my demons came out.”

Lacunae embraced her in a hug, she would not have her friend look down upon herself. “No, you are my friend Arloste, it's my job to keep you from hurting yourself. I let Molly stop me from helping you cause I didn’t want to fight the whole casino, your failings are my own. A true good friend is there for you in your darkest hour and I wasn’t.” the alicorn looked down at the striped mare, for all their years together, for all the pain they went through, they could still turn to each other in their moments of weakness. The world may be a cruel place but if you could find a kind shoulder to cry on you found a piece of true paradise.

“Thanks, Lacunae. You're everything I need you know?”

“I know, and you're the best friend I’ve had in centuries.”

The two stood there for a minute before breaking apart, Molly and Goodie kept quiet the whole time, this was their moment and no pony should take that from them. “Well, Arloste shall we continue our vacation after we’re done here.”

Rampage shook her off in a laugh. “That’s enough excitement for tonight. I just want to eat a steak than go to bed,”

Molly broke into their talk, taking off her shades to show her golden eyes. “Since your friend, Miss Arloste here paid for all of my best fighters treatments out of her own pocket I feel it’s generous to let you both stay in your VIP sweet for the rest of your stay.”

Goldie added. “And I will be your personal room service, bring you all you need. Plus I can escort you girls around town, and show you girls the sights.” 

The two mares looked at each other, today was the first day of their vacation and they were going to make the rest of the week one to remember. This was their time away from being Demon Mares, here they could just be themselves.

“Let’s make this week a good one Arloste.”

“Sure, let’s take Torr and Goldie with us when we’re done here. We will go exploring, parting, drinking every liquor imaginable.”

They both laughed as they hugged each other, the bystanders could only smile at the beautiful friendship in front of them. For this was the true paradise that every pony sought.

------------------

The week was an eventful one if ever, probably the most shaken up the city had gotten in years and all because of those two strange mares. Clean Cut didn't know what to make of them, they were the most dangerous two ponies he’d met, living up to the stories he’d heard about them. Yet they seemed almost too normal, too pony to be the Demon Mares.

When word of them arrived in the city, he had all eyes on them at all times. Every faction did really, No pony knew what they were capable of, every faction was banking their bets they’d destroy the barely held together peace in the city. But instead, they seemed almost disinterested in the city, for its wealth and power it promised they cared none for it.

For strange powerful mares who possessed powers he barely understood, their reasons for being here were so mundane. They were on vacation.

That revelation made all of Dise let out a collected breath. “And they're leaving tomorrow, Celestia bless our souls.” Clean Cut felt fear he was holding in all week leave him, even though the mares were on vacation they left quite an impression wherever they went. In the time they'd been here the city began to change slowly into something else. The Finishers took over the Mustangs, the feral ghouls in the undercity were cleared out, the ponytrons had been acting funny, Celestia’s Vision had broken up, crime in the city went down, the Baises and Finishers seemed to be working together. He found it ironic that Demon Mares left a positive change in their wake. But these events filled him with a hint of fear in his stomach.

What if they discovered his plans, what if everything the Watchers had done up to this point came crumbling down. He was dreading the alicorn the most, she was...otherworldly in her ways, almost like a wisemare. Her knowledge and magic put Clean Cut on edge more than any other pony.

More than her striped friend Clean Cut kept his eyes and ears to her at all times, watching her with a closer than any other pony in the city. And yet nothing, it was that for all the trouble they caused they avoided Dise’s darker secrets like unaware fillies.

“I wonder if I should have recruited them.” Clean Cut shook the thought from his head, they were too dangerous to let into his inner circle. No, just let them leave. “Probably for the better. Still those tests got interesting results.” Clean Cut muttered to himself as he looked down from the observation deck above a cylinder room.

Below him stood an eldritch thing, a large darkened five sided chamber whose walls were bent differently from each other, all moving towards the middle of the ceiling. Runes of some long forgotten language were written along every surface. 

In the center sat a table covered in blood with three lanterns around it standing on what looked like black shelves. The flame of the lanterns burned dimly, for their fire wasn’t earthly. It was the flame of the dragons, Balefire, the same flames that consumed the world and turned it into a wasteland.

This was a place of sin and Clean Cut knew it. But for the future of the wasteland it was needed, to save the city he had to control it first the only way to do that was to destroy the chaotic order it had now. With this chamber he would unleash chaos that would collapse the gangs, then he and his Watchers would sweep in and save the city.

It was a fool proof plan, no pony expected a bunch of doctors and teachers to have this power. No, they would blame each other while he caused their downfall in the background.

He looked to the side of him, a few scientists who had joined him on his sinful crusade. “Is the next patient ready?”

“Yes sir. Next pony’s another war veteran. Limb loss, general skull fractures, and bone reconstruction.” The doctor was a golden mare with rude eyes, she studied the clipboard as she listed off the injuries.

Clean Cut nodded. “No shortage of soldiers it seems.” After when the city was his, he would have to find a way to end that horrible war. “Well bring him in.”

Just as the mare was about to press a button her head exploded into gore. Clean Cut jumped back in shock as ponies around him met the same fate, a tapping sound following every pony’s death.  Panicking he looked around for the attacker only to be met with a 22. Silencer pointed between his eyes. 

It floated calmly in the familiar light blue aura he feared all too well. “The art of deception requires subtlety to work, not brute force. You Watchers understand that well?”

Clean Cut stared into the cold eyes of the alicorn, her wise beyond years expression was gone, replaced with the eyes of a killer. Every thought swam through Clean Cut’s mind at that moment but only one word came out. “How?””

“The Elements create the magic we use Mr. Cut. Like rivers of water some of us hear them flow, and the magic you used is like hearing a waterfall.”

“We’re trying to save this city!” He pleaded. “You’ve seen it! This city is run by vice when it could be so much more! This city has the resources to support the entire region, lift up this part of the Wasteland back to civilization!”

She was unmoved by his words. “I’ve heard such arguments before mist Cut and I will hear them again. I’ve seen that mindset destroy civilization, burn towns to the ground, enslave children, and mutate ponies into monsters from your nightmares. And every time I hear it again and again you know what I seek to do to the creature saying it.”

“Wait!” was his last words as the pistol fired. A small bloody dot appeared between his eyes as a pop sound followed. His body went limp, falling to the ground as blood poured from his face.

“Purge them.” She looked over the chamber below. In her heart she knew what to do, this power would belong to no one again, she would destroy it along with anybody who knew how to work it. No one will dare bring such horror to the world ever again, not while she still served the Elements.

Her horn flared to life and magic encompassed the entire chamber below. And with might few thought possible she tore that chamber down, wall by wall, rune by rune until the entire complex came crashing down.
> Demons in paradise make it into a heaven
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heaven is good but it could be better.


Rampage packed the last souvenir into the truck. Wiping sweat from her forehead the striped mare trotted to the front of the vehicle where Photo Finish was talking with Lacunae about something. “I hope you darlings find the dresses up to your liking.”

“Thank you Miss Finish I’m sure my friends back home will love them.” Lacunae floated over a sack of caps for the mare’s trouble. “If we ever come back I will have to see how your new casino is doing. I have a friend who would love to try your dresses.

Photo blushed at the comment. “Anytime darling, and please do come back. Dise feels lesser without you two.” She looked over to Rampage, her blush turning redder. “You be safe out there my darling.”

Rampage blew her a kiss. “You too cutie, be safe in that new casino of yours. And hey if you ever come up north you can stay in my apartment.” 

Photo waved her off. “Oh you fiend, you.”

“Don’t leave without saying goodbye to me.” They all turned to see Goldie galloping up, a mare behind him. “Me and a special some pony wanted to say goodbye.”

It took a minute for Rampage to remember who the mare was, she was clean-cut, smelled nice, and looked cleaned up. “Mayflower?”

She nodded her head. “Yes, I wanted to say thank you before you left. Without you, I’d still be in a bad place.” She started fishing something out of a saddle around her waist. Pulling out a strange helmet that had a breather mask attracted to it, a red visor covered the eyelids, emitting a red glow. “This is an old commando helmet from the pre-war days. This baby can take anything up to .44 ammo, only about thousand of these were made.” She held it out for the mare she looked up to take it. “Me, Goldie, and a lot of ponies around town pulled our money to buy you this.’”

Rampage fell on her haunches, she almost started crying then and there. “Oh, baby you didn’t need to do that.”

“We assist. After everything you’ve done, especially for me.” Tears rolled down Mayflower’s cheeks. “The world needs more mares like you two in it” In a quieter hush voice she said. “Please come back someday.” 

Rampage kissed her on the forehead before hugging her tightly. “You too girl, take care of yourself while we're gone.” She looked at Goldie with a friendly goodbye. “You too Goldie.”

“Pss, don't worry about me, I didn’t survive 200 years for nothing. Don't die with that new job of yours. Protecting the Hoof, never thought you’d go play the hero.” He pointed an accusing hoof at the striped mare. “I want to come up there and see the city for myself.”

Rampage laughed as she trotted then hopped into the seat of her wagon. “Okay old-timer, catch you on the fast lane.” Lacunae got in beside her. “You behave now.”

“If ever Dise is ever in trouble, put out a signal call to The STARS, and the Demon Mares will be there to restore order and bring hellfire upon those who wronged you.”

Rampage bit on a leaver forcing the engine to roar to life. As the ponies around the wagon backed up, waving goodbye to strangers from a strange land, the wagon drove off as the ponies shouted their goodbyes. 

Dise was no stranger to weird visitors, it was the shining gem of the south, the ‘last’ great city. Every pony from miles around wanted a part of it. The city usually swallowed them up with ponies either dying or leaving the city as poor wrecks. But one day two mares arrived, for them this city and its cruelty was nothing, they fought worse. For they were Demon Mares, mares who stood above the horrors of the Wasteland as its masters. They left that city not as wrecks, not as dead mares walking, but as role models that showed some ponies that there was hope and kindness in the Wasteland. And where there was no soul one began to grow in the city of sin.

---------

Silver finally placed the last piece of the ceiling back into place. It was annoying finding all the pieces again but after a few days of searching and asking Wildfire for help, she’d finally got it done. “Celestia don’t let it break again.” She wiped the sweat off then made her way back to her post, back to watching the nothing of the valley. “Yep, that’s enough excitement for me.”

As the mare stared down at the wasteland a quiet hum began to build. at first, Silver Storm thought it was nothing, probably a bloat fly. But the sound kept building until Silver's eyes widened in shock.

“Oh Celestia No, No, No.” Silver fell to the floor covering her head ready for what came next.

Her roof was torn off again as the wagon flew off the shack. The Wagon flew down to the valley below as a light blue field carried it down gently. If the Crimson Hoof was there they left the vehicle alone, they knew nothing they could do would stop it. Silver Storm rose from the debris covering her head to see her roof was completely gone again.

Several minutes of silence followed until. “Luna Motherfucking damn it!”