A side story resolving a subplot from Lineage's story. A farmer pony of the Frozen North is on a search for his missing friend, all the while dealing with a shade of his memory.
Brick, otherwise known as Johnny Appleseed, is a quiet and stoic farmer pony who led a quiet life of farming with the help of a very dear friend of his. That was until a fateful event had him brutally beaten, farm raided, his barn burned, livestock mutilated, and the scream of his dear friend being whisked away by a passing raider group calling themselves The Fiends. Brick, utterly hopeless at the time, now finds a new life to live. One of journey and longing. Picking up his great grandfather's battle saddle and grenade launcher to be the only things on his person, he sets off in search of his mare-napped friend. But there is one issue.
He remembers the events. But there is a gap in his memory that spans 6 months. And not only does he have to deal with the harshness of the Frozen North. A mysterious shade seems to follow him at every turn.
(This is a short story to resolve a subplot in my main story, Fallout Equestria: Lineage.)
The Frozen North. A frozen wasteland where the once ever prosperous Crystal Empire now sleeps. Its regions cut off by a strange land formation. To those of the scientific minds, it is considered an ecotone border. To those that know its' history, it is two regions of land split between each other. The deserted expanse on the other side belong to the New Neighvarro Desert. Where gangs make their homes and the capital of the Neighvarro, The Strip, remains an ominous memento to ages long past. Along the 200 mile border is a vast gated expanse that is watched by the Republic of the Crystal Empire, a faction dedicated to ensuring the laws of the anarchistic wasteland be brought under control and the gangs that run rampant quelled with blood and fire. Most citizens of the Frozen North and The Strip do not like their land of freedom controlled, thus wars amongst them break out. But the gangs also have their own fair share. The Strip is a centerfold of activity, the city of sin. Run under the watchful eye of Mr. House, who then gave control to certain sections of the city to be run by three tribal members that had been reformed by the mysterious figure of the city.
They are called The Family. Three houses of gangs run by powerful figures through heritage and power. Each having their own territory to fight over and never seeing eye to eye. Yet, while the Neighvarro Desert is the popular conflict of nature, The Frozen North remains an uninspired and unconquerable land. Where the Empire sleeps, a foggy snowy mist dwelling at its' base. Beyond its' surroundings, a vast snow field filled with unimaginable dangers. That is, if freezing to death wasn't a common occurrence. The irradiated wildlife adapted to the cold and can survive the nuclear winter. The citizens that inhabit areas of the Frozen North have adapted to a lifestyle of trade and delivery. More preferably, the home of couriers.
Unlike most couriers in the Equestrian Wasteland, The Frozen North shapes its' couriers. An entire community centered in a small valley of snow, a town thriving with activity, is the home that these couriers make. Pleasant Town. The deliveries and ambitions of these couriers make them the most hardened citizens. They walk the roads of the Wastes, delivering with anything or nothing. These individuals focused on the mission, taming the wastes as they go. Indeed, the most hardened of badasses under the guise of normal day postal ponies.
Life in the Frozen North is a hard battle to be won. With the current Capital of the Wasteland being the epicenter of ongoing peace with straggling conflict here and there, the Frozen North, however, is not a fortunate soul. The influence of the many that liberated the land of Equestria remain focused to its' rehabilitation. While the Frozen North and the New Neighvarro Desert remain shrouded and buried beneath its' war torn past. Its' previous two century old conflict unknown to most. That is, until a mysterious broadcast made the waves all across the land. It's haunting voice nipping at the inhabitant's minds throughout.
The Veil of Equestria has been pulled back. And now you must walk the Road to Redemption
Along with the message spawned something even more haunting. A forgotten memory, shrouded by a shade. So much so, that The Strip and The Frozen North have dubbed this mysterious apparition The Shade of the Wastes. For wherever souls go to make a difference in fighting the good fight, or watching out for special individuals, the result remains the same. A whisper in their ears.
Walk with Equestria... Walk with Equestria... Walk with Equestria...
Walk with Equestria. The Veil has been pulled back and you must walk the Road to Redemption.
"Never a more haunting message spawned by the land." The voice of a gruffy yet smooth talking pony could be heard over a small junk-ish radio. Somewhere in the land, a lone caravan and its' defenders trek through the leg deep snow. Their movements slowed by the ongoing blizzard and howling wind. Two ponies took the sides of the covered wagon. Each bearing a winter coat modified by thrown together metal plates and barding. Anything to combat even the slightest of cold. On the driver and passenger seat sat an old couple. A battle scarred looking grey mustang, an earth pony, looked out between his snow goggles, his fur hood bellowing along with the overcoat he wore. Next to him sat a shivering skinny looking mare. Her wrinkles quavering along with her body. She blew her hot breath into her fur wrapped hooves and rubbed them together in a plotting manner. She hugged herself, even huddled with her husband next to her to gain any form of warmth. Her heavy earmuffs and hooded trench coat doing their best to keep the fragile looking mare warm.
"That, my lovely listeners, is a message to all of us. I don't know about you, but it reminds me of the future. Heh. Funny that. A future left open to us. The more we listen to this message, the more I can't help but feel a little more at ease with our friends down in the Capital Wastes, working their plots off to revitalize a war-torn land. The same could be said for us lucky folk of the North. That is right. It is time for some Lightbringer news." There was the sound of papers being flipped.
"As you all know, 6 months ago, the Lightbringer was woken up, claiming to hear the call of duty to the Empire. A voice directing her to our troubled ongoings. It feels like it has been forever since then, but I promise, the work of the Lightbringer and her friends are well under way. In fact, she was last seen leaving the downed piece of an Enclave prison carrier in a frozen shore town of Glaciel. Having contacted the people that now inhabit the mechanical beast that once flew the air to be ready for sea voyage to our neighbors of the East and West. An admirable ambition to those lucky souls that have made it their proud duty to make contact with our neighbors, I say, let the maiden ship Scorpan sail our seas and discover new horizons! As for the Lightbringer, she was seen heading west of the town. Who knows what she will find. But her work has been acknowledged to the RCE.
"Now, I know the RCE haven't had its' nice side showing for us even in our darkest. But there are some good in the force. It's like picking out the rotten apples from the good apples. As vocal as our society is, we must remember that there is still good left in this wasteland. Ah, and that reminds me. Onto some news about the RCE and their quest for law over the Empire. The roads have been cleared and abandoned encampments now housing stationed RCE begin to plan their next official order, courtesy of the RCE president, Campbell. The president states: 'Let it be known that with the rehabilitation efforts of our central neighbors, we too have decided to walk with Equestria. We have now instead focused our efforts into housing our soldiers to secure future communities to thrive. But rest assured that with the now upgraded functionality of the Hoover Dam, thanks to the Lightbringer, that a fresh source of water and electricity now flows through The Neighvarro Desert as well as a great boost to citizen and troop morale. Let us not exchange our hooves for iron, but instead our duty. And our duty as the Republic of the Empire is to protect its' citizens and reclaim the Crystal Empire back to its' former glory.'"
"I tip my hat to you, President Campbell. May your efforts bring good fruition to our land. And with another note to add onto this bit of news, the RCE have made communications with our neighbors in the south central. An NCR ambassador was seen shaking hooves with Marble Puck, or as she would be referred to as Major Puck, a legend and hero amongst the RCE troops. Serving over thirty campaigns in reclaiming areas of raider infestations and wildlife control, this mare is considered the voice of the Empire. And it is quite the honor to have the NCR work alongside our own rehabilitation. Now for the last bit of news." The sounds of paper being flipped. There was a small pause as well, a soft slurp and gulp before what sounded like a cup was placed onto a table.
"The Family and Mr. House are still rebuilding from the aftermath of one of the big three members of the The Family that caused ensuing chaos and havoc along with an invasion of horrible creatures. Yet, if you remember of vice, you must also remember virtue. And our land once had virtue. You know what that is, my listeners? Love. Love made the war turn around. With the marriage of The Omareta's right hand lieutenant and the Omareta boss's daughter Al Capony, a strange sensation flowed throughout the city, that seemed to have an unusual effect on most of The Strip. Heheh. You wouldn't believe me if I told you for those that missed it, but even the rats and pests were hugging one another. For once, the land had a taste of what it had before the bombs dropped. And I believe whole heartedly that love will win the day. It will even bring back our Empire. As with the President's love of the Empire, there must be more love shown to our land.
"And that is all the news I have for today. This has been New Pegas, bringing you not only a fancy fedora, but love as well. Because no pony knows loves you like you love the snazzy beat of your hooves to Sapphire Shore. And that pony is me. I love you." And with that, the radio started to blare a voice of a swing jazz singer of Sapphire Shore, making a statement and preaching about love like no other than the fire that burns for you. At least, that was all that could be heard as the wagon suddenly jolted and a loud cracking sound could be heard. The two escorting the caravan wagon along with the old married couple, swore almost at once. Inside the wagon, the wares of trade toppled over onto a pair of ponies. One having barding that is ready for winter for everyday and the other, a red stallion wearing nothing but a scarf. The pony in the winter barding rubbed her head and groaned.
"What the hell just happened? Did we run over a dead corpse or something?" she called out as she peeked her head out from the back of the wagon. The other pony, a stallion covered head to hoof with fur, adjusted his carbine on his back before leaning down and inspected the broken off wheel of the wagon. He clicked his tongue and looked up to the old buck who was looking over his shoulder at the pony.
"You hit a pothole. Damn road is full of them. I'm surprised we even made it this far." the pony called out over the howling wind. The other pony came around and adjusted the wheel a bit.
"Wherever "this far" is! I can't see the road anymore!" The other pony bent down and with both their efforts, they hoisted the wheel up and began to roll it over to the wagon. The two ponies in the back hopped out of the wagon, the red stallion adjusting his scarf a little over his muzzle, stoically observed the event. The mare was using both her magic and whatever strength she could muster to help lift the wagon, leaving the other unicorn pony to aid her. They couldn't get the wheel or the axel to align properly. The one pony holding the wheel huffed as if all the weight of his fur barding was hindering him.
"Damn. why can't you caravans use wood instead of cast iron? That shit breaks so much in the winter." when the pony mentioned cast iron, the old buck grumbled.
"Great. The heater under the wagon must be damaged too after we hit that pothole. Can't catch a break." he sighed. His wife's teeth clattered together, and she shivered, looking frustratedly at the buck.
"'Ah told ya' should'a done repairs, ya' ol' bucket!" she exclaimed, doing her best to make her voice heard over the howling wind. The stoic stallion in the scarf had remained quiet. A shadowed figure in what little sight the ponies could see. Yet, he could see them no problem. He has lived in the Frozen North long enough and like every local that has been born and raised here, they knew how to control their temperature in the freezing weather as well as adjusting their sight in the blizzard. The stallion sighed quietly into his scarf before walking over, catching one of the mares by surprise due to her limited vision in the snow. She stepped aside with a small yelp and the stallion bent down, putting his back under the wagon and easily lifted it. the wagon rightened itself and he even adjusted himself to level with the wheel. The two other ponies were baffled by the strength of the earth pony stallion. But that was to be expected of him.
He is a farmer. And tending to his fields practically every day built his body to the point that even the heaviest object can be lifted and moved with ease. Yet, he is no super pony like one of his friends. Compared to his super mutant friend, the pony was just an ordinary farmer. The pony eyed the one holding the wheel and taking his look as a "get on with it", the pony hurriedly aligned the wheel and the second pony that had helped him with the wheel withdrew a plasma torch. The pony began to sodden and weld the wheel. The old married couple, specifically the buck, eyed the red stallion before speaking up over the wind.
"What's your story, boy?" the buck shouted. The pony spoke clearly, despite the howling wind and muffled muzzle. He could be heard clearly amongst everypony present.
"'Ah don't have one. Jus' along for the ride." he stated. His voice was brass with a hint of southern baritone. He could feel a couple of eyes on him. But he ignored it. He didn't much care for recognition, let alone be bothered to tell his tale. 'Everypony out here has had it rougher than 'ah have. My tale won't matter' He thought to himself over and over again. Indeed, as rough of a journey and life he lived that led him to being where he is now, was just any typical event that would happen here in the Frozen North. It was hard enough to keep crops alive during blizzards and icy weather, but he knew several tricks that made it easier on him. He wished he could find several tricks to ease the torture some ponies have in the world.
Digressing the thought of being a second Lightbringer, he watched as the pony finally sodden and weld the last bit of the wheel. The pony then opened the side compartment of the wagon and inspected a winding mechanical pipe with a box tucked in the middle of it. The pony clicked her tongue.
"The heaters out because the pipes were leaking. Ice is covering the leaks." She began to move the plasma torch over the specks of ice, covering the holes where the leaks were after the ice melted. The red stallion eased out from under the wagon, the wheel holding fast as if it was brand new. The pony that was eyeing him was off to his right. He looked out from the corner of his eye, seeing the mare pull down her muffler and removing her goggles. The stallion narrowed his eyes. She looked a bit familiar. But he couldn't quite put a hoof why. Regardless, he gave a kind smile and nod. The buck on the driver seat kept eyeing the stallion before speaking up again, apparently taking intrigue interest in the pony.
"So. what's 'yer name, boy?" he called out to him. The stallion looked back to the buck.
"My friends call me Brick." he stated. The other mare let out a snicker.
"Brick? Sounds like a funny name. I mean, no offense, but it just sounds like something the colts and fillies would call someone with the intelligence of one." The fur covered stallion nudged the mare, making the mare rub her foreleg to ease the slight pain it gave. "What? I'm just saying!"
"Don't mind her, Brick. Thanks for your help with the wagon." The pony then narrowed his eyes at him. "Say... I don't reckon I saw you before we took off. Are you a stowaway?" Brick shifted a little before nodding with a sigh.
"Eeyup... I apologize for it." he said. The ponies arched a brow. "I had been traveling for two days straight and had stopped in the settlement. I must have dozed off." The other mare eyed him with slight suspicion. But then she smiled and put a hoof on the stallion's shoulder.
"No worries, Brick. I think you made it up to the stowaway by helping with the wagon repair." There was a sudden cry coming from the brahmin in the front of the wagon. The ponies and Brick quickly darted to see what was wrong. The brahmin was laying on its' side. The buck swore.
"Ahh, fuck! No, no, no!" he hopped off of the wagon and trotted over to the two headed cow creature. Both heads had their tongues lolled out and their eyes glazed and milky. The buck cursed up a storm. He then turned to the ponies and sighed. "Well, looks lahk we be pullin' the wagon from 'ere on." he stated. The stallion groaned.
"Great, more wagon problems. It's almost like this frozen hell is testing us." Brick grinned before walking over and unfastening the harness from the now dead brahmin. The snow and ice were beginning to freeze the corpse. It'll take years for the body to decompose. He leveled the harness and fastened it on him. Brick made sure that his battle saddle with his weapon of choice was okay for quick access before looking at the others.
"The Frozen North loves to test its' ponies. 'Ahve lived 'ere long enough tah know her like my fields back home." The buck was in awe as well as the other ponies.
"What do you mean? You're a local?" he then looked the stallion up and down before noticing the fur and accessories the stallion was wearing. Only a scarf. And the cold didn't seem to bother him. In fact, he remained stoic and unwavering. It was like the land had already decided him worthy to trek across it. The stallion then smirked. "Well, count our lucky stars. It's one of the land's chosen." Brick chuckled. As silly and amusing as the locals like to make certain parts of the wasteland as if it was an actual living being, it was beyond that and more. He just lived in the land long enough to be alive today. It was never an easy battle.
"'Ah reckon that the land appreciates the hard work of labor." Brick said with a little bit of pride. He's a farmer through and through. There was always a sense of satisfaction to keeping his crops alive and his livestock fed. Or... was. The thought came back to nip and he began to hear a faint whisper in the back of his head.
Walk with Equestria...
Brick ignored the voice and motioned at the ponies. "Climb back on. I'll take ya' to your destination." The ponies nodded and got back in. The mare gave him one last look before putting up her muzzle and her goggles back on before climbing into the back. Brick then began to pull the wagon with ease. It was no more than a till to him. Brick smiled as he thought back to tending to his home. The field lively and livestock almost like family to him. Family... what was even more a family to him during his time as a farmer, was another pony in his life. Somepony he cherished along with his farm. Yes, Brick could see the figure in the distance. It was his dear and precious friend. It felt so long ago that they were enjoying coffee while admiring the hard labor for the day. Her kind smile, those gentle eyes. Brick remembered them fondly.
She also helped tend to his fields with him whenever she could. He couldn't help it, but she had brought him back up through his darkest moments. Always willing to get a little dirty with her hooves with soil than live high and mighty in a New Pegasus suite. He always appreciated a hard-working pony. Honest labor is hard to come by in this anarchistic world. And there was no pony he appreciated more than his dear friend. His eyes slowly went from happy to shock realization. He could hear the holler and cries of joy. The evil warmth that enveloped his fields and the metallic smell in the air. And then his name being called out.
Johnny!!
Brick shook his head. The harrowing memory being quelled back into his head. He wasn't sure how long he was daydreaming back to his old life. It must have been quite a while as they were nearing up a hill. He took one quick look around the area and knew exactly where they were. They were coming up to Berry Acres. Farmland that stretched far and wide. In fact, it was a marvel to behold. And when they got to the top of the hill, the buck smiled, and the mare groaned.
"Finally! Now to enjoy some real comfort!" the mare exclaimed. Indeed, the vast farmland the expanded before them looked well taken care off. Afterall, it is the Frozen North's pride and joy. Berry Acres. Private property, open bed and breakfast. It is also a thriving hub of livestock and crop trade. Brick could see the many roads that snaked through the property. The moving figures of Mr. Helpers and actual ponies walking between the rows. A massive greenhouse laid off about a hundred meters off to the back of the expansive looking mansion. Not only was this exclusively farmland, but it was also a production of metal as well. A bright grey snow-covered factory with smoking chimneys in the distance was branched off by a winding road. An Smeltington Hoof factory that was in complete working order. Brick could also see caravans and traders alike coming and going through the warehouses and barns that lined the side of the property.
Brick pulled the wagon down the hill and closer to the entrance. A rustic metal fence boarded off several hundred yards left and right of the property. Above it, a rustic fancy sign had the words 'Berry Acres' arced above it. As they passed it and got closer to the actual entrance of the property, Brick stopped an RCE guard approached them. The pony was dawned in elite looking winter barding. The white helmet with an insect like visor eyed Brick before turning to the old couple.
"Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Fiddle. Glad to see that your journey was safe along the way." The buck smiled and nodded his head.
"Thanks ta' the Lightbringer makin' it easier to travel. As usual, sir, we ar' 'ere fer rest and trade. Got a good supply of scrap an' junk fer ya'll!" The RCE troop nodded.
"Then it'll be the usual inspection before advancing any further." The RCE pony the circled the wagon slowly. Brick remained stoic and calm. Looking straight ahead but sensing and predicting the troop as he examined the wagon, he made a small grunt of approval from the ponies in the back. He then rounded up to the front and eyed Brick. "Dun' suppose you be into slavery now, Mr. Fiddle." The buck smiled and shook his head.
"Nah ser'! This boy was a stow away! But he made it up ter' us by helpin' fix our wheel and pullin' the wagon when our pullin' brahmin froze to death." The RCE troop made a wince and shook his head.
"I'm sorry for the loss." he stated. The buck shook his head.
"Nuh worries. We 'ave plenty back at ta' ranch." the buck was then bopped softly on the head by his wife and she grumbled.
"Enough wit' 'ta chit chat! 'Ah want warmth!" she exclaimed. The buck rubbed his head and grumbled himself.
"Alrite' ya' crazy kook! 'Ahm drivin'! 'Ahm drivin'!" he retorted. The RCE pony then waved them through and Brick pulled the wagon into the property. The way to the mansion was straight forward as can be. The crops lined the sides and were taller than the wagon itself. Brick led the wagon through the road and off to the left where a few dozen wagons were parked. Three RCE troops were stationed to guard the parked wagons. When Brick turned and backed the wagon up to a free space, The ponies hopped off and stretched a bit. Brick unfastened the wagon harness and adjusted his scarf over his muzzle again. As Mr. Fiddle was talking to one of the stationed RCE guards and the two hired guns escorted Mrs. Fiddle up the road where they were greeted by a pony on the porch of the mansion. Brick took the time to admire the property.
The amount of work and care into each and every crop. The livestock organized and well fed in the stable barn off in the distance. The fields tilled and grazed. That familiar stench of manure and the soft putty feeling of the mud mixed with the snow. He felt a little envious. But of course, he had every right too. Punch Berry is quite the idol for most farmsteads. She was the ideal farmhead known to the Frozen North. At least, to the honest hard-working folk. Was, because she had recently passed. It was quite a grievance for most. But now the farmstead is ran by her children, a brother-sister team.
Brick was so lost in thought, that he felt a shiver of surprise down his spine when he noticed the winter coated barding and the mare dawning them looking up at him. She removed her goggles and muffler.
"Brick, it's me." she said. Brick eyed the pony. The pony then held up her right foreleg and withdrew the sleeve, revealing only something stable dwellers were known to have. A fancy gadget that pretty much organized their lives. Brick balked a little as the mare threw her hood down and a brown mane that partially hid the grey horn on her head.
"Little Pip??"
Off in the distance, trouble was brewing. A figure on top of a hill behind the property eyed the valley. The farmstead was ripe for the taking. The pony was wearing animal fur and hide. The figure then turned when they heard the sound of barking. The bark was metallic. Before the figure was a camp. Enough to house a small militia. Exactly what the figure thought. Behind the covered face, a small grin was hidden. The two cyber dogs panted and wagged their wire like tails as the figure approached them. The figure scratched both of their heads before turning to a pony, one that wasn't wearing much barding, but enough to keep themselves warm. Metal spikes and a brahmin skull dawned over her head. She smiled wickedly at the figure. Behind the pony was a group of other less pleasing looking ponies. Matted manes and furs, several injecting drugs or stimulants into them as they sat around a campfire. On a spit roast wasn't animals. Nah, the figure wouldn't treat her people like animals.
No way were animals going to eat other animals. The flesh of caravan ponies did wonders for feeding the herd. Tents and makeshift quickly constructed areas dawned tarps to combat the cold. The spiked heads and body parts lining the gates of their encampments borders not only a display of trophies, but a sign of the ever-coming conquering of ponies. The figure gave a satisfied sigh as they watched their people feed off the corpse of a family and a couple of caravan ponies they had raided before making camp. The stock of food to feed them for tomorrow cowered in fear together in two cages. The figure eyed them. The caged ponies cowered. her gaze fell onto a filly and a mare. The two huddled for warmth, which was quickly replaced with fear. There was the sound of a foal crying in the mare's forelegs. The two backed away as the figure made their way over to the cage, the skull dawning pony following them along with the two cyber dogs. They barked and growled at the ponies in the cages, pacing back and forth, licking their metal sharp teeth and muzzle.
"Well, boss? What say we have a banquet tonight?" the mare with the brahmin covered head asked. The figure pulled down their scarf and removed the goggles. It was a mare. Her slightly tussled lemon mane and lavender fur hide stuck out amongst the sickly green, grey and pale blue ponies in the camp. She grinned and began to spoke.
"I say we enjoy tonight's feast and bedding!" she said, turning and raising her voice to catch the attention of the other ponies. She caught their eyes, making them focused on her. "That's right, fillies and colts! Tonight, is the night we take what is ours! We'll have more than we can fill our bellies with! We'll have more guns and ammunition than those gangers or metal heads could hope to have! We'll be known across the land, feared and inspired by us!" She gestured wildly to her audience. "The Fiends will rise from their ashes! Those RCE punks will get their reckoning! And might I add, plenty of ponies and food for our liking!" she then looked back at the cowering ponies in the cages. Her look wicked and her expression shadowed beyond maniacle. "So tonight! Have your bellies full! Plow as many mares and stallions as you want to sate your desires! It's on the house!" The whoops and cheers from the ponies were rising. "No need to thank me! Once that farm is ours, ain't no pony going to challenge The Fiends!" There was a roar of agreement from the ponies. But none more vocal than the skull dawning pony.
"Fuck yeah!! That's why you're the boss, Lavender!!" The mare scratched the two cyber dogs under their chins. They barked happily and wagged their wire thin tails. A filly yelped as the tail left a nasty gash on the foreleg. Her yelp caught the attention of Lavender, who turned and grinned.
"Have your fill, colts and fillies! I need you allllll rested for the raid." She chuckled maniacally as a Fiend pony came over and grinned wickedly, unlocking the cages. The caged ponies were too frightened to move. Soon, the area was filled with celebratory whoops and hollers, the screams of ponies mixing in along with the smell of burnt fur and flesh. The two howls of the cyber dogs, standing over a lifeless young colt and his mother, whose bodies were nearly picked clean at the chest, drowned out the cheers and whoops. So much so that even a passing patrol of RCE troops near the area hurried along, for fear that snow wolves were beginning to prowl.
"Welcome folks, to Berry Acres!" the sound of a gruff and stout stallion bellowed. His beer belly jiggling with laughter as he saw the advancing two ponies, Brick and Little Pip, approach. Brick smiled and nodded.
"A fine pleasure to be here, Mr. Berry." Brick said. The stallion had a gruff sounding voice and a waddle trot to back it up. It would have been almost comical to Little Pip, if she wasn't freezing her flank off.
'Strike me up the plot with an alicorn's horn, this cold sucks!' Little Pip thought with the clatter of her teeth. She glanced at Brick, who appeared to show no sign of freezing, let alone bothered by the blizzard. Little Pip had some expectations being in the Frozen North. She knew it'd be a snowy wasteland with hardly anything to make the land desirable to explore. With the small exception of a shack or two. Anything that looked relatively explorable were housing actual communities. Now that she thinks about, it's been only six months since she and her friends arrived in the Empire and rarely did they have time to explore anywhere here. The Strip was much more desirable than the Frozen North. 'At least I was warm enough there.' She focused back on the conversation that Brick and Mr. Berry were having.
"..and might I say you definitely have the marks of an honest hard-working pony, good ser!" Mr. Berry bellowed with a guffaw and pat the back of Brick, who didn't move much from it despite it sounding like it would have made Little Pip topple forward. Which is exactly what happened next when the stallion went to her and pat her back. Little Pip landed face first into the snow with an 'oof' and frowned with annoyance as she remained where she was. "Bwahahah! My apologies missy! you just had the look of fire in your eyes and I had mistaken you for a hardened waster!" The stallion adjusted the suspenders on his fancy suite. "So, what brings the Lightbringer here?" Little Pip groaned into the snow. She keeps forgetting that her reputation proceeds her. She wasn't bothered by it, but over the 6 months of hard work for the land of Equestria, she would think a hero like herself would at least get a bit of breathing room to just enjoy being a tad curious about the land.
Little Pip sat up and shook away the snow beard she had before looking at the pony. "Err... just in the area actually." she lied. Brick even narrowed his eyes at her, which made the mare squirm uncomfortably a bit. Mr. Berry, however, was more than delighted to hear it. he took ahold of her hoof and began shaking it a little too eagerly.
"Well, that's just might fine! Migh-ty-fine indeed!" he bellowed. It took a bit for Little Pip to notice that he had stopped shaking her hoof and she shook away the slight daze she got from it.
"Err.. yes. Well..." she began, but Mr. Berry wrapped his hooves around Brick's and Little Pip's neck and brought them close together, their cheeks pressed up against Mr. Berry's.
"Now, no need to be shy and all! You are more than welcome here at Berry Acres!" he let go of the two, the two adjusting their barding accessories. He waddled up the steps and turned to the two. "And let me be the first to say, it is an honor to be graced with the presence of the Lightbringer and her companion! I'll be glad to give you the grand tour of the property while you are here! Tonight's dinner and brahmin steak with sweet potato and corn!" Little Pip was about to protest, when Brick held up a hoof on her shoulder, causing her to look at the stallion. Brick smiled and nodded.
"'Preciate the hospitality, ser. But me an' Little Pip here are going to rest up a bit." The stallion seemed to ponder this before nodding and smiling.
"Well, then allow me to show ya' to yer' rooms! Right this way!" Mr. Berry turned and waddled his way to the front door. Brick and Little Pip exchanged glances before trotting after the pony.
Little Pip was in awe of the place. Despite some peeling wallpaper, the place looked pretty well maintained. A couple of maids were seen dusting off several places in a room and an old buck with balding white mane and a surprisingly well groomed stache bowed at them as they walked by. The mansion is three stories tall. The green and yellow zigzag wallpaper making it feel very homey. Portraits and pictures of what appeared to be the property's founding and previous owners dawned the wall down the hall that led to what the two could assume were the employee rooms and a break room. Next to the hallway was a staircase that spiraled halfway up to the second floor. Mr. Berry took them up the steps and lead them down to the hall on the second floor. They reached the end of the hall where a frilly looking curtain covered a window that looked out along the rows of crops, with the roof of a barn in the distance being visible. Mr. Berry unlocked a door to their left and opened it. It was a spacious room, two beds separated between a cabinet. A lamp was centered on the table. To the right of the room was another window that appeared to have been replaced. A radiator was running underneath it. To the left led to the bathroom. Next to the bathroom door, a dresser and a cabinet that had a frill drape on it with a vase. The strange purple flowers lay in the vase.
Little Pip eyed the flowers. "What are those?" she asked. Mr. Berry chuckled.
"Those, my curious Lightbringer, are lavender flowers. They give off a nice fragrance in the air to help ease even the most battle-hardened waster. Such as yourself." Little Pip gave him her best smile she could manage before rolling her should a bit. Sitting in that wagon was enough to cramp herself up. Mr. Berry took that as his que. "Well, if you need any accommodations, just holler at one of the servants and they'll be glad to help ya'. Dinner is in an hour." He then winked at the ponies before closing the door. Little Pip tested the bed. It felt different compared to the ones scattered around the Capital and The Strip. These felt... cleaner. Bouncier. And oh so soft and inviting. Little Pip suddenly let her body plop onto the bed and nuzzle the fabric with her face. It even didn't smell like two century old mold. She then felt eyes on her and she flushed a bit before looking up to see Brick, who was smirking at her.
"'Ah take it you dun' get much sleep." He spoke. Little Pip rolled onto her back and dangled her legs in the air, pretending to balance them.
"I've already slept for 12 years and a half. Honestly, I'm surprised things here in the Empire are like night and day compared to the Capital." She then looked at the upside-down stallion, who appeared to be occupied with the window. His eyes darting here and there as if searching for something. Which was indeed what was going on through the stallion's head. Though Little Pip wanted to dig deeper. "Hey, so... why are you this far out? I thought you were heading back to your farm?" she asked. Brick arched a brow at her.
"How'd ya' know I own a farm?" he asked quizzically. Little Pip was about to reply, when she stopped. She hesitated. She honestly... didn't know why. She racked her brain to remember where she had remembered hearing Brick owning a farm. Then, she had a sudden flash of a memory. They were in the Omareta hotel luxury suite. Around her was her friends and a few other ponies. She also remembered there being a Timberwolf. Her companions were chatting amongst each other. Calamity took the liberty of speaking with Brick. And she remembers overhearing the conversation.
"Say, friend. Ya' look like ya' a pretty built brute. Do ya' handle alot of heavy liftin'?" Calamity asked, tipping his desperado hat. Brick remained stoic but had a small smile on his face.
"More or less, friend. 'Ah used to own a farm up in the north. Tended to my crops everyday." Brick said. Calamity whistled a bit, resting a foreleg coolly on the windowsill.
"No kiddin'? Ya' look tha' part. But that saddle be speakin' a different tale." Calamity motioned at Brick's battle saddle. It was no surprise that Calamity had an eye on something valuable, even if it doesn't look it. The kleptomaniac pegasus was intrigued by the pony. Brick brushed the top of the sleek worn barrel.
"Eeyup. Belonged to ma' great grandfather who battled at the First Hoover Dam war. He was quite accurate with tha' pills. He showed me a few tricks for tha' weapon. Came out mighty useful." Calamity snickered.
"So, it's jus' as tough as tha' ponies in tha' North, aye?" Brick nodded and held out a hoof to the pegasus.
"Twas' the only choice ah' had on me. Name's Brick. Nice to meet a fellow farmer." Calamity smirked and shook the hoof of the pony.
"Calamity. But 'ah ain't no proper farmer. Yet. Though, ah' wouldn't mind pointers." Little Pip happened to look over to her best friend, Velvet. The pegasus's wife rolled her eyes playfully before winking at her.
"Boys." The attention was then shot to looking up at the stair well in front of them. The door above the balcony opened and Little Pip eyed a pony wearing a hood. Yet... something felt off. The pony didn't have a face. Or a structure of any kind for that matter. And the moment she met the eyes of the shade, her memory faded. As strange as it was, she probably thought it was something she was hallucinating that day. It was kind a long day of battling hallucinogenic gas.
"When we met at the Omareta hotel. Me and my friends were talking amongst yours and I overheard it from you and Calamity." she said. Brick nodded. He remembers Little Pip and her company showing up out of the blue one day while him and his companions were prepping for a journey in the suite. He had gotten to grow quite fond of the pegasus. Even went out of his way to talk about certain tricks to running crops and tending to them. As well as livestock managing. For a brief moment at that time, Brick had felt a longing feeling of homesickness. And yet, as strong as it was, nothing was stronger than his ambition to find his friend. Home didn't feel like home without her. Brick sighed and looked to the casually relaxed mare.
"As to answer yer' question. 'Ahm on a mission." Little Pip cocked her head. "Ya' see. about a year ago, 'ah ran a pretty good schedule. My crops were as tall as Berry's. Tha' livestock were like little kids. And while 'ah did all the heavy liftin' and such, 'ah... 'ah had a friend who would help me on the farm." The stallion smiled as the memory of the mare came back to him. A petite and carefree mare. He could remember her laugh, remember her calling him by his name when she wanted help with something. They did shop together. She went on caravan travels with him. Her company made the stallion feel right at home. Home...
My home is here. In Equestria.
Ignoring the silent whisper in his head, he sighed and Little Pip noticed the pony slump and look strangely... weak. His posture showing a sign of vulnerability that made her rather concerned for the health of the pony all of a sudden. She rolled back quickly onto her hooves and hopped off the bed. But Brick brought his head back up and looked at her. She could see the exhausted eyes staring back at her. And she remembers that look all too well. She has seen it in so many ponies back home. Even in her enemies did she see that look.
It was the look of a pony who was barely hanging onto hope. Who is hanging on to a thread of sanity and reasoning. That any moment, it could snap. The pony was giving off quite a negative aura. And as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. The stallion rightened his posture and rubbed his muzzle.
"Sorry about that. 'Ah just been haven't gettin' proper rest." Little Pip shook her head and smiled kindly at the pony.
"No, no. It's okay. I uhh... still need to control my curiosity sometimes. But uhh... I mean if you want to sleep, we can discuss this another time." The room went silent as the loud sound of a growl reached their ears. Brick arched a brow at the mare and she gave a sheepish smile, tapping the tips of her hooves together. "Err... when was dinner again?
Despite the exhaustion Brick was experiencing, he attended dinner with Little Pip. There were a couple of other ponies, including the Fiddle couple and the two hired guns. The dinner before them was a nice mix of greens and maize. There was bread and what looked like sweet potatoes mashed together. Brick helped himself to some bread and corn while Little Pip licked her lips and helped herself to whatever she found appetizing. Mr. Berry looked over the ponies that were happily dining. He sniffed in approval before tipping his gallon hat.
"Well, folks! Enjoy the food! Eat as much as you want. There's no need to be starving and cold!" Mr. Berry turned on his hooves and waddled out of the room with a maid following him after bowing to the ponies and closing the door. The sound of silverware clattering and mild buzzing chatter amongst the ponies filled the room. Little Pip and Brick couldn't help but feel wholly satisfied with the hospitality. She looked up at Brick with a bit of a stuffed muzzle and spoke through her food.
"Soh. Wash ta' deal witsh Mr. Berry?" she spoke. Brick casually chewed his bread before speaking.
"Mr. Berry is an interesting pony ta' be sure. He is tha' son of a rich farmhead who had recently passed away. Him an' his family have spent years before an' after tha' Great War expanding this valley. They bought property an' loaned them ta' farmers who were lookin' for good honest work. They invested into tha' land and it gave back. Soon after, they own tha' entire valley." He smiled. "There family is an inspiration to all farmers an' caravans that pass through here. An' tha' late Mrs. Vine Berry was quite the hospitable hostess. She was a combat nurse durin' the first Hoover Dam War." Little Pip listened intently, her mouth was in the midst of chewing as the story was being told. "When she passed not too long ago, her kids took over. Mr. Berry and his sister, Grape Berry, run the valley. An' so far, they haven't failed to please." Little Pip finally swallowed her meal and looked ahead at the portrait of the fireplace.
It was the picture of an old mare, looking quite stunning despite her age. She was dressed in a purple pre-Rarity dress. He white mane in a bun and her wrinkled purple and white hide blended perfectly with the dress she wore. Beside her from the chair she was sitting on was a mare. Her sharp violet eyes stared back at her. She too was wearing a pre-Rarity dress as well, only this one was white and captured her calm and commanding looking posture. Behind Vine Berry stood Mr. Berry. Dressed and groomed neatly in a white tuxedo. Their expressions were calm, commanding, yet respectable. They exhibited a powerful aura just by looking at them. Little Pip couldn't help but smile a bit at the ponies.
To think that these ponies were providing for the land and helping to take care of the denizens of this frozen hell. A sanctuary that commanded peace, order and the correct sense of duty. She then looked back to Brick.
"It's great to hear that there are actually better ponies out there still bringing what hope is left for our war torn home." she smiled. Brick smiled and chewed on his bread, swallowing after a bit before speaking.
"Eeyup. Tha' Empire didn't see much action unlike where you came from, but tha' radiation an' such seeped into this land as well as war." Brick tried to recall back to the books he read. The history of the Empire. Or what little he could remember that wasn't scratched, burned, faded or torn off. "The Empire was invaded by tha' stripes as well. But The Empire had a strong and valiant military power that they quelled anythin' that threatened peace. And the wars that were fought across the land was during a time when Sombra had jus' been defeated by Shinin' Armor and The Princess of Love, Candenza." Little Pip frowned at the name Sombra.
She remembers the tyrant all too well. Being nothing but a pain in her flank. But he wasn't just an annoyance. He was also quite a tactful fighter. Too many times have they came close to dying. Her heart felt heavy. She couldn't bear the memory of Velvet Remedy suffering from a poison tipped unicorn horn and Calamity on the verge of utter rage. But that's exactly what happened 6 months ago. When she and her friends were just discovering the luxuries and underbellies of the north, Sombra was always there to greet them. But... something strange had happened to her that she couldn't quite figure out. The Empire was suffering from a memory gap.
6 months prior to when the sky was suddenly flashed with a giant green megaspell cloud. She could remember it clearly. The horrible destruction that the technology had was beyond comprehension. It hurt to look at. The sickly green mushroom cloud. Homage even had to pause the broadcast to update the situation. Spike was also relaying the information to her before suddenly, there was a loud screech in Tennpony tower and a raspy voice began to speak. But the words were... incomprehensible. Only a few things stook out.
The veil has been pulled back.
It echoed over and over again. The voices suddenly were jumbled. It was the raspy voice, then the demanding voice, then the raspy voice again and the voice going from demanding to shock. Over and over, she could remember the broadcast being played throughout Equestria wide. She remembers having to work with Spike and several leaders of factions to stop another megaspell from being launched at the Gardens of Equestria. But... something was missing. There was more to it than that. A faint whisper in the back of her head nipped at her.
Walk with Equestria... Walk with Equestria...
She shook her head and looked to Brick, who gave a knowing look.
"Guess it really is affectin' everyone here in Equestria. Quite a strange epidemic if ya' ask me." Brick began to think. Was it someone telling them to do something? There had to be more than just "walk with Equestria". But what? Everything that lead up to it has been quite jarring. He remembers his journey. He was traveling with a group of ponies that he became good friends with. Yet, there was one thing that bugged him. Something or somepony was missing. Little Pip sighed.
"And we are still no closer to finding out where the broadcast is coming from. It's everywhere on the radio. And what's worse is that almost everypony I meet here have seen what they call the Shade of the Wasteland." Brick nodded. he shivered at the thought. There was one thing about the stallion that he felt he enjoyed more than farming as a hobby. It was being invested into the paranormal and superstition. He found it quite interesting to see how the borders of reality were ever clashing with an alternate reality so similar to theirs. And how each one manifests into their world. Creatures and ghosts alike. It felt rather thrilling than the everyday farming care. But he felt he juggled both pretty evenly.
There was suddenly a loud crash as a window was broken. The soft blizzard howling into the room. Brick balked as he saw a metallic apple roll across the ground. Without a second thought, he dove at Little Pip and kicked the table over.
"Grenade!" he shouted. To those that were fortunate enough to quickly react did. Those that weren't, were unfortunately hit the shrapnel. The house shook when the apple popped. Little Pip and Brick's table splintered and they were sent rocketing a bit into the far side wall. Brick grit his teeth, using his body to shield the mare. He grunted in pain as the dust seemed to settle. Little Pip was coughing, looking no worse for wear. Yet, she looked shocked and quickly reached into her saddle bag and pulled out a red liquid drink in a bottle. Brick chugged the health potion and he felt his back mend appropriately and his pain easing a bit. When their ears stopped ringing, the sound of peace was soon filled with shouting, gun fire and explosions. One of the hired guns was helping a grieving Mrs. Fiddle as she sobbed over what was left of her husband. The other took cover under the window and began firing back.
"Dammit... WE GOT RAIDERS!!" The mare shouted. Brick jumped immediately to his hooves and galloped out the door.
"W-wait, Brick!" Little Pip called out as she scrambled to her hooves. She quickly met up with the stallion and balked. "No..."
The fire was high, and bodies littered the yard. Crops were bent and some of the livestock were either panicking and running around or mutilated beyond recognition. Brick scowled and darted his eyes at the destruction. Several barns were caught on fire. RCE troops were scattered, trying to cover each other and their wounded. Farmers and caravaners were either fighting back or running in fear. The screams were jarring. But it triggered something with Brick. He blinked once and found himself being pinned to the ground. One closed as his face and muzzle was buried into the muddied snow. He could see the wicked grins of the ponies as they ransacked his house, mutilated and feasted on his livestock and started to burn his barn and his crops. There was a maniacal laughter as one of the raiders brought forth a beaten mare. Brick balked and struggled to free himself, but the raider sat on him like nothing. He was weak and feeling tired. Yet, he struggled to maintain his vision. The raider eyed the mare as they bound her together in a hog tie.
"No..." he began. "Please... stop..." he begged. The mare struggled as the raider began to explore every inch of her. Before the bigger one turned and fastened the rope onto his chest. He gave a wicked smile and laughed. The pony then began to gallop down the field, whooping and hollering as his audience also cheered. The mare was screaming as the pony ran through fire and jagged rocks. The pony came to a stop in front of the downed stallion. He scoffed and held the bloodied and partially burnt mare down on the ground with his hoof.
"Thanks for the girl and your food, sucker! We'll be enjoying ourselves this evening for sure! Let's ride, boys!!" Brick felt a heavy hit across his head, grunting in pain as his vision began to blur more and more.
"G-get away from me! No! Stop! Please, let me go! Help!! Johnny!!!" the cry for help was getting distant as well as the whooping and hollering. Brick managed to muster as much strength to stand up, but quickly fell back down. Bloodied, beaten, exhausted and coated in mud, the stallion watched as his hard work burned to the ground, his livestock that he cared for like his own children mutilated and devoured. And his dear friend... Calling for him when he couldn't do nothing. His expression was that of anger... frustration... and a quite vengeance that burned brighter than his crops. But all he could do was yell. His body not obeying his commands.
This completely took Little Pip by surprise. Brick was shouting. Yelling at the top of his lungs. Tears flowing down his face. It was as she feared for the worst. Brick had finally snapped. He quickly withdrew a pill from his saddle bag and loaded it into the launcher with the quickest sleight of hoof she has ever seen, and the stallion cocked the launcher. There was no more staying quiet. No more holding back. Brick had searched for too long. And this time, he will get the proper answers he was looking for.
The Fiends ran rampant. Crops were burning. Blood being splattered here and there. No prisoners on either side. No... this was more than a raid. It was a massacre. The fields and property were filled with distant and close by gunfire and explosions as well as shouting and screaming. Already, part of the mansion was destroyed. Down the mansion a few yards ahead were Little Pip trying to stop an angry Brick from continuing further.
"Brick, stop! Just calm down and listen!" Little Pip rasped as she struggled to push the stallion back. It was no use. Her hooves were scrapping the ground as the stallion walked forward with ease. Brick snorted furiously before looking down at her.
"Little Pip..." he rasped. Little Pip balked and looked up, backing away a bit. Brick eyed her, his eyes full of red and rage. Little Pip shivered a bit, but she stood her ground. This wasn't the first time she dealt with somepony in this state. As she was about to speak, the snow around them exploded softly as bullets grazed them. The two didn't hesitate and dove into the crops. Thankfully, the rows they were taking cover in weren't on fire yet. The two galloped quickly, diving down and crawling a bit before stopping. Little Pip and Brick breathed heavily. Little Pip then looked to Brick, giving him a frustrated look.
"Brick, I know you are unhinged at the moment over this, but you have to remain calm! You can't find your friend if you're dead!" she heard a whip of a bullet graze her mane and buried her face into the dirt before looking back up. "Please, Brick! Keep your head straight!" Brick eyed her and his furious look went to a stark realization. He then closed his eyes and sighed. Taking deep breaths for a moment, he then opened his eyes and his familiar stoic look came back. Little Pip sighed in relief before withdrawing a 10mm Pistol. Brick arched a brow. From the stories he heard about Little Pip, she would usually have her iconic scoped hunting revolver. Figuring that she must be saving its' durability for something bigger, he reached back and pulled out a silver metal apple. Little Pip eyed the area before looking back at him. "What's your plan?" she asked.
Brick held up the apple. "Tha' usual decoy. What about yers'?" Little Pip rubbed her chin in thought, casually avoiding a stray bullet.
"I was thinking we'd rush out and use as much distractions as possible. We'll have to take the raiders by surprise." Brick nodded and stood up. He kept low a little bit as he took out the pill he had loaded previously and replaced it with another pill. This one was colored blue. Pumping the launcher, he then nodded to Little Pip.
"Ready." Little Pip nodded and upon hearing a loud thump, she dove out of the crops they were hiding between and at some convenient fate, three Fiends were standing over a downed RCE troop and was about to execute the trooper when they turned to see the mare. And not a moment too soon either. She closed her eyes and the blue pill popped over their heads. The Fiends screamed in panic from the blinding light and Little Pip took aim immediately. With amazing quick reflex and display of skill, Little Pip pelted all three in the head. The three crumpled to the ground and Little Pip took aim at three more advancing Fiends. Their carbines were in such poor condition that Little Pip only felt nicks and pelts. There was another thump and the sound of an explosion. Body parts along with dirt and snow exploded from the ground and Brick emerged from the crops. Little Pip quickly chugged a health potion, unaware of a Fiend with a bent rusty golf club sneaking up behind her.
However, Brick rushed and tackled the Fiend to the ground. The earth pony's strength overpowered the Fiend's and they went rolling down the road a bit. The Fiend, however, was much nimbler and managed to pin Brick on the ground. He rose his bent golf club over his head before the raider's eyes widened and the life left his eyes. The Fiend crumpled over Brick, who grit his teeth and pushed the dead raider off of him. He looked over to see the downed RCE aiming a 9mm in his direction. The barrel smoking. The trooper winced and Little Pip helped the trooper up. The pony's helm was broken on one side, and they could see a fierce and in pain looking blue eye and a brown colored bang of a mane. Blood was trickling down their head and over their eye. Brick trotted over to them and took over in helping the pony steady while Little Pip looted the corpses.
"Tch... Dammit all... I don't know how they managed..." the RCE pony began. Brick narrowed his eyes. "They came in during the blizzard. They were able to get past our E.F.S... And these are state of the art high grade issued visors..." The pony looked at Brick intently. "And I thought raiders were stupid... but I didn't think they'd have the balls to pull of an organized raid like this..." Little Pip perked up and cocked her head as she stuffed a metal apple in her saddle bag.
"Organized?" she asked quizzically. Brick nodded.
"From my experience in dealin' with tha' Fiends, they are pretty organized. As doped up on chems n' other drugs, that don' mean they are entirely stupid." he said. Little Pip found it baffling those savages could be so organized. It's one thing using numbers and rushing to take over a settlement. It's another when they take advantage of the blizzard currently and somehow bypass their E.F.S. Little Pip furrowed her brows and stood up, reloading her pistol before looking at the two ponies.
"Well then, I guess we'll fight fire with fire. Can you get into contact with any of your squad?" she asked the RCE troop. The pony put a hoof to the side of their helmet and Brick could hear the garbled static. The pony shook their head and sighed before pushing off of Brick and able to stand up right. Little Pip got curious as to how the pony was able to regain their stature despite having been downed so badly. "What just happened?" The RCE troop pat their ballistic covered chest.
"Auto Stim built into the suite. Quite handy with dealing in small injuries. If anything, it fixed a sprain or two. Broken bones and flesh it cannot repair." The conversation was disrupted with distant shouting and gunfire. It sounded like the fighting was growing distant but further behind the property. The three looked back at the destruction the Fiends left in their wake. The lucky few that managed to survive the attack were tending to each other and a couple of RCE troops were scattered about trying to aid the wounded and grieving their own. Brick felt the nip of his anger come back, but he quickly quelled it. Brick then started to piece things together.
"Tha' Fiends aren't pushovers. Me an' my friends have dealt with them plenty o' times. They may be organized an' not as stupid. But they still are stupid ta' fall for simple tricks." Brick smirked. He couldn't help but nicker quietly. Something that he had always found amusing to observe about raiders. He furrowed his brows when his memory was being fuzzed up with a shade standing next to him. The mysterious figure still an enigma to him. Brick turned to face the sounds of fighting. "Listen... there is a pony 'am searching for. She might be apart o' this raid. 'Am going to look fer' her. An' maybe help out in tha' effort of reclamin' Berry Acres." He looked over his shoulder, looking stoic as he eyed the RCE troop. "Yer' free to do whatever ya' want. But tha' moment I see ma' friend. 'Am going to try an' talk to 'em." The RCE troop may not have shown it, but their one eye was able to show the frown at the idea.
"You'll be dead and stupid to try and reason with savages. And if your friend is dealing with The Fiends, she may be held liable to a death sentence under RCE law. There is no peace for the wicked." Brick eyed the RCE troop challengingly and the troop returned the look back. Little Pip looked between the two and then clapped her hooves together.
"Well, now that we got that out of the way! If you two are done having an ego trip, we have a Valley to save?" The troop looked at her, as did Brick. The troop sighed and rubbed the back of their broken helmeted head.
"Your right. Besides, there is a low chance she'll be running with this raid." The pony kicked up a service rifle up from the snow, catching it and dusting it off before clipping it to their battle saddle. Little Pip smiled and looked to Brick.
"What's that saying that most farmer's say? 'Let's ride'!" Brick looked at Little Pip stoically, making her give him a sheepish smile and clearing her throat. "R-right, to the uhh... fighting and stuff!" Little Pip began to trot ahead in an exaggerated motion.
"Is that mare stupid or just plain ballsy?" the RCE troop asked, walking up next to Brick. The two began following after her as Brick spoke.
"That's the Lightbringer for ya'. Always willin' ta' help when she can."
The three ponies snuck between the greenhouses. The Fiends were helping to themselves by vandalizing and breaking windows and plants. They sounded like they were having the time of their lives. One of the Fiends chuckled to herself and plopped herself down on a corpse of a Mr. Helper. She took the saw arm of the robot and ripped it off. She swiped the air with the arm, as if testing it to see how well it would be against the flesh of a pony. Finding herself unimpressed with it, she tossed it behind her. She pulled out a chem, a hydra, and jabbed the needle into her neck. She gave an ecstasy grunt, her tongue lolled out as the drug began coursing through her. She pulled the needle out and tossed it behind her. However, she didn't notice that it was caught in magic and it hovered back in front of her. The mare must have been too drugged up to really be surprised by it. She just gave a chuckle and tapped the floating needle.
"Helloooo, tooth fairy! Has I beeeeeen a gooooooood baaaaaa-" no more words were said as the needle was forcefully jabbed hard into the head of the pony. She gave a gurgle hiccup before falling back off the Mr. Helper corpse. Little Pip gave a slightly disgusted look before moving over the body. Zipping past the mare is the RCE trooper. The pony deftly treaded the snow quickly, catching up behind a passing patrol of four Fiends. There was a soft shink of metal being unsheathed. And as quickly as the knife was drawn from the trooper and plunged into the neck of the Fiend, the trooper was already onto the next, snapping the neck and rushing forward taking the two front Fiends and clocking their heads together. The Fiends grunted and crumpled to the snow before the trooper whipped a 10 mm out and executed the two Fiends. Unfortunately, the pony's weapon wasn't silenced, and it quickly drew the ire and awareness of nearby Fiends.
"Kill them! Take off their flesh and loot!" a rabid sounding Fiend shouted as she hopped out of stacked pile of dirty manure. The Fiends began surround the trooper and Little Pip. There was an audible thump and the two planted themselves firmly down on the ground, covering their heads. There was the sound of sparking electricity and the many shouts of the raiders around them. The bodies then crumpled to the ground and the two ponies stood up and dusted themselves off of snow. Brick emerged from the side of the greenhouse and studied the raiders. He had been studying each one like a hawk. Trying to see if he could make out any of them being his friend. There was one thing that he accepted when going out and searching for her.
He wouldn't be satisfied with his search unless he can see his friend alive or dead. And if the worst-case scenario he feared would be the amount of trauma the mare would suffer if alive, suffering nothing but being a broken and hollow husk of the bright and cheerful fiery mare she was. And if found dead, he would erect a proper burial for her on his farm. He will pray and hope for her poor soul to be at peace and go on into the afterlife in the one place she loved the most. As the stallion studied the knocked-out raiders, he snorted, finding that none of them resembled or even had a hint of his friend. The RCE troop took that as a sign to go ahead and execute each and every one of them. Little Pip grimaced as the trooper showed no sympathy or emotion when they did.
RCE troops showed no sign of any remorse. No wonder they are a big deciding faction in the Empire. Granted, no pony should ever show much emotion to savages. But they used to be ponies. Just given the wrong side of life and luck. Little Pip looted the corpses and spread whatever she could between them. The RCE troop held up a hoof after stuffing rounds for his 9mm and gave a "shush" to them. They then pointed to a barn where a couple of mutilated chickens and brahmin lay. The three had remained quiet as they made their way towards the distant gun fire. The Fiends had made quite an advancement in the valley. And with the soft blizzard going on, there was no telling if there were Fiends or RCE troops scuffling about. The ones they killed were celebrating too early. The RCE troop motioned over to the worn-down barn. The big double doors were showing that they had been blasted open.
Little Pip and Brick took one side of the door and the RCE troop skirted around the side. Little Pip and Brick peeked in and saw a horrifying sight.
There was an RCE mare tied to an X shape wooden beam that looked hastily built. A fire was burning underneath the trooper. The burning smell of fur and flesh reached their snouts. Upon closer inspection, the RCE trooper mare was alive. They could tell, based on the pained groans coming from her. The mare was being cooked inside of her barding. Tears flowing down her cheeks as she tried to keep a brave face. They could see the Fiend poking the fire with the tip of their carbine. In front of them were two dead RCE troops on the ground. A sickening sound as two Fiends helped themselves to the entrails of one while the other poked and prodded the side of the other untouched corpse. The mare let out a pained whimper as she grits her teeth.
"Y-you bastards!! Nggg... I-I'll fucking kill you all!!!" she shouted. She was then hit across the head, letting out a pained grunt as a ferocious sounding voice spouted.
"Shut up, bitch!" the raider ordered aggressively, placing the smoking red hot barrel against the cheek of the mare. The mare let out a pained scream as the barrel seared her flesh. Brick gave a grim look, but Little Pip was starting to feel sick to her stomach. Taking a moment to gather herself, she was about to rush in when she spied a shadow dive through the window and the raider found himself yanked back, the mare letting out pained surprised gasp. There was a guttural gurgle as a sharp knife was sliced through flesh. The three Fiends that were in the barn heard the attack and one managed to get a couple of pops off their carbine before a glint of light flew through the air and impaled into the eye of the raider. The raider screamed and stumbled back, only to be shoved aside as a maniacal looking raider dove at the trooper. Little Pip entered S.A.T.S. and took aim at the head of the pony. The pistol rang out and the mare landed at the foot of the trooper with a loud thud and a soft skid in the ground. The trooper hopped over and rushed at the other that stood up and laughed, brandishing the dismembered leg of the dead RCE troop they were feasting on like a bat.
The trooper was quick to react, blocking the attack and locking a hoof around the leg, yanking the raider forward and then ducking low, spinning and locking their hooves around the raider's extended leg and bucked them over their shoulder. The raider went crashing into the side of the wall and before the Fiend hit the ground, the trooper whipped out the 9mm and fired three times into the pony. The raider slipped down the wall in a ragdoll fashion, lifeless. The trooper then turned to the downed raider, but a voice bellowed.
"Hold fire!" The trooper looked to see Brick trotting forward with Pip following behind him. She looked over to the RCE mare trooper and went to her, offering a health potion. The mare looked exhausted, her barding charred. Little Pip sighed in relief, seeing that the pony was still breathing and alive. She carefully helped the trooper down and forced her to chug the health potion.
"I am glad we made it time. Though I wished we got here sooner..." Little Pip said, looking to the mutilated half eaten corpses. Yet, she was ignored as the trooper and Brick stared each other down. It didn't last long as the raider got up and roared ferociously. The trooper reacted, but Brick was surprisingly quicker. The stallion tackled the raider through a window, shattering the glass. Brick pinned the raider down and looked down at the pony with such poison in his eyes.
"'Ah want answers..." he began. The raider spat into the snow, unable to direct it to Brick as he had their face down into the snow and mud.
"Fuck off, flesh bag! I don't have to tell you shit!" the raider growled. Brick glanced over his shoulder to the trooper, who hadn't moved from their position, eyeing the pony.
"Mind if 'ah have a lil' chat with this one?" he asked. The trooper snorted and scrapped their hoof on the ground before turning to aid the traumatized RCE troop with the help of Little Pip. Brick returned his focus to the raider. The raider chuckled manically.
"You think you are so tough! You flesh bags are beneath us! Do your worst! I won't talk!" they shouted. Brick applied pressure on the raider's head and forcefully pressed his hoof to make the raider eat mud.
"Shit eatin' is probably yer' best delicacy. But 'ah ain't here fer' bullshitin'. Yer' gonna' talk. Who is runnin' this raid?" Brick lifted the raider up a little, seeing the fury and aggression in the raider's eyes. Seeing as he wasn't getting an answer so quickly, he thought of an idea to make the raider talk. Replacing a hoof with a hind knee, he reached back into his saddle bag and pulled out a metal apple. The Fiend eyed the frag before their eyes widened at the sudden realization that the apple was going somewhere where the sun wasn't shining.
"What are you!? W-wait!" the raider let out a pained cry as overwhelming pain shot through their body. Brick growled.
"Start talkin'! Whose leadin' this raid?" Brick asked again. The raider growled and tried to struggle, but Brick's strength was greater. "'Ah wouldn't move around too much." there was the sound of a click and Brick held up the stem. "Relax, this ain't worse than what yer' friends do on a normal day. 'An frankly, 'ah should a let tha' RCE kill ya' where you stand." Brick snorted angrily but remained stoic. "But maybe yer' an exception. You can answer some simple questions an' I'll give ya' a good head start before the RCE come find ya'. If not, well 'ah hope your sphincter is tighter than a bee's stinger." The raider gave a fearful look now.
"Okay! Okay! I'll talk! J-just take it easy, guy! Wh... what do you want to know?" the raider pleaded. Brick clicked his tongue before responding.
"'Ah was askin' who is leadin' this raid." Brick said, eerily calm. The raider was quick to respond.
"I-I-I don't know who is really leading this raid! We were planning this two months ago! I-I swear!" The raider yelped as the feeling of something behind them shifted. Panic struck the raider as they were quick to follow up. "I-I swear! I don't know! B-but I do know somepony who is big in our party! Y-you can ask them!" Brick tsked the pony.
"Tsk, tsk. If you ain't inclined to spill tha' beans. What makes you think a raider boss would be willin' to answer? 'Ah reckon yer' just tryin' to send us ta' our deaths." Brick spoke, shifting the metal apple. The raider was quick to respond again.
"J-just hold on, now! I-I can give you a name!" the raider pleaded. Brick arched a brow.
"A name is not gonna' help." he said. The raider shook their head.
"I-It does with The Fiends! H-Having name over our group makes us weak!" Brick arched a brow. He glanced up to see Little Pip coming out of the barn window and walking over to them. She gave a bit of a disgusted look before taking note of the raider.
"Does it now? I didn't think having a name over somepony really mattered that much in combat." she said. The raider shifted, but Brick tapped the apple to remind them. The raider gulped and spoke.
"W-we believe that having a name over one of us is a power unlike any other! When you know the name of a Fiend, you can do anything with them! I-It's what our late overboss, Motor Head, put into our heads!" Little Pip cocked her head curiously.
"That sounds very close to superstition." she commented to Brick. Brick nodded.
"'Ah understand a little. Demons don't like ta' have their name thrown about willy nilly like. At least, tha' lesser ones. But know a lesser demon's name an' you have all tha' power over them. It seems tha' Fiends live up to this idea." The raider nodded quickly.
"Y-yes! Motor Head believed he was visited by a demon one day when he was shooting up a needle. Claimed that the demon told him a prophecy of greatness as long as his following didn't mention names amongst themselves! Said the demon would curse us all if we did!" Little Pip nickered.
"Sounds like he had a little too much chems. So. What's the name of the raider boss leading the raid?" The raider didn't hesitate.
"Th-they call her Mash Pit! B-but her real name is Fizzle Crunch!" Little Pip slumped and shook her head. A little too innocent sounding for somepony that relishes in anarchy. The raider spoke again. "I-I told you everything I know! P-Please, pull it out and let me go!" Brick nodded. But he didn't pull out the apple. Instead, he walked past the raider and straight ahead. "W-wait! Where are you going!? Don't leave me here!!" the raider cried. Brick sighed and looked back at the raider.
"One last question. Do you know where yer' boss is?" he asked calmly. The raider shifted but thought better about the idea.
"U-up to that smelting factory! Th-they plan to take it over and use it as their main HQ! P-Please, take it out!" the raider cried again. Brick looked ahead.
"You can relax. It's just a smoke apple." Brick began walking forward. The raider sighed in relief.
"Oh, thank Celest-" Little Pip covered her face as the apple exploded. Bits and pieces of the raider flew everywhere. Little Pip looked in utter shock and disgust when a bloodied intestine plopped sickeningly at her hooves.
"Sweet Celestia's cake hole!" Little Pip turned to Brick and galloped after him. She wanted to see nothing more of what just happened. She looked at Brick worriedly. "I-I thought you were going to spare them! What was that!?" Brick didn't look at her. He kept walking ahead, eyes on the distant factory chimneys poking over the hill.
"Lil' Pip. From where you come from, the land was no different before you brought back the light of Equestria." The stallion continued as he loaded a pill into his launcher. "But up here in tha' Frozen North. Yer' influence falls short. It's nothin' personal about it. I just believe that the Empire had its' own fair share of trouble in tha' past and cut off all ties with events that lead to tha' megaspells droppin'. Our land didn't escape tha' war unscathed from it, however. It had its' own tyrant and war goin' on. An' the Ministry Mares influence rarely touch tha' Empire." Little Pip furrowed her brows worriedly. The stallion continued. "But tha' Old World is alive and hauntin' this land even before tha' shade has been sighted. I dunno what is happenin' ta' us, Lil' Pip. But our home. Equestria is stirrin'. And we are bein' reminded of it. You gave hope to Equestria. But tha' Empire needs more than just hope. It needs love." Brick motioned back at the now fading scene as the blizzard was covering any remains of destruction. "An' after twelve an' a half years of yer' supposed sacrifice. Love is in scarce supply." Little Pip frowned before shaking her head.
"You were there at the Family wedding, weren't you? You felt that feeling, didn't you? It was powerful. Love is still here in the Empire, Brick. There is no need to keep going down this dark path. Yes, the Fiends are awful and deserve what they get, but the land is still large and unexplored. We have to be better ponies." Little Pip faltered a bit.
We have to be better ponies.
The whispering voice echoed in the back of her head. She shivered as she could feel a distant reminding of the broadcast that spawned out of the blue six months ago. 'Who had said that before? And why did they make it apparent for us to remember the Old World and how we can fix it?' Any conclusion of the thought failed to satisfy her question. She eventually sighed and walked with Brick up the hill and through the towering snow dunes. The factory came into full display.
The steel-blue painted building towered at five stories high. The smoking chimneys spanned several yards separated from each other. The building then split into a smaller building at two stories high. A water tower installed at the top of the third story roof. Beneath the expanse of the building was a decrepit lot where ponies would probably use to park their carriages and such back in the old days. Brick eyed the tower, taking in the intimidating sight of the factory. That such a place could exist just a bit of ways away from a valley of frozen country. Over the factory's entrance was an engraved metal sigh that read:
Smeltington Smelting Co. Smelting for your future by the tons!
Surprisingly, the one thing both ponies noticed about the factory was that it looked untouched. As if the raiders had just gotten in and had not been given a chance to decorate the place with vulgar graffiti or body parts. But it appears that the case was different. For when the two took one hoof step into the lot, they immediately took cover behind a charred and worn down wagon as the wall turrets sprang to life and began pelting the ground where they once stood. With the soft beeping and the whirring of the turrets, Little Pip and Brick peeked through a crack in the wagon, studying the positions of the turrets. Brick then frowned and closed his eyes in thought, trying to picture any proper scenario to get through it.
"There has ta' either be a back way in or we go in, guns blazin'." Brick stated. He then opened his eyes and looked to Little Pip. "Yer' call, Lil' Pip." Little Pip studied the building before pondering her decisions. As many decisions she has made, she then had a thought.
"Well, I'd say we try and sneak in the back way. I can pick whatever door is locked and we can sneak in, avoiding a head on assault." she looked to him. "If your friend happens to be one of the raiders guarding the front, we can pick them out from the shadows. And if she isn't there, we head to the Overboss and gather any info there. Once you can confirm if your friend is among the Fiends here or not, we will set up an ambush." Brick nodded before looking ahead.
"Heroes first." Brick said with a small smirk. Little Pip gave a playful roll of her eyes before the two crouched and keeping themselves out of range of the turret sensors, crept their way to the side of the factory. The back looked just as protected with security. Little Pip and Brick looked around before Little Pip looked up and saw a staircase above them with a ladder hinged up. Little Pip smiled and pulled out her 10mm. She then pulled out a worn long cylinder. Brick watched the mare work as she took aim and with a soft sound thwap from the gun, she hit the lock, breaking it and the ladder clattered down. It stopped, not reaching the ground and was suspended enough for a pony to jump and reach it. Brick walked over and bent down, motioning Little Pip to use him as a step to climb up the ladder. When she did so, making her way up the stairs, Brick followed after her, pulling himself up onto the ladder.
The two made their way up to the third-floor roof. They immediately took cover behind a rusty worn-down ventilation shaft. Three Fiends were warming themselves up around a fire. A cooking spit roast over the fire. They were frying chickens and using stolen barding as fuel for the fire. The three were so preoccupied that they didn't notice two ponies move a little closer to them. Brick reached into his saddle bag and withdrew a red apple. He pulled the stem and cooked the grenade for a bit before tossing it over the vent and one raider took notice of the apple that bounced once.
"What in the-?" There was a loud pop and all three started to scream. Their fur and barding catching fire and quickly spreading over them. One rushed past their hiding spot and jumped off the building. Little Pip furrowed her brows before motioning to Brick. As the other two Fiends writhed and screamed from being set on fire, Little Pip pulled a bobby pin and screwdriver, going to work on the door. It took her a couple of tries, but with a soft click, she opened the door carefully, peeking her head in and looking left and right. To her left, a staircase that led to the next floor. The right, led down to the bottom floor. A sign on the wall telling them that left was the upper offices and right was the observation catwalk/assistant manager office. Little Pip kept low, Brick following after her. She looked both left and right, biting her lip a little in a curious struggling thought. Brick put a hoof on her shoulder, making her look at her.
"'Ah'll take tha' lower floor. You take tha' higher ground. We'll cover more area that way." Little Pip furrowed her brows once more.
"Are you going to be okay? She could be on any floors here." she asked. Brick gave her a reassuring smile.
"There's still a chance she ain't 'ere." he replied. Little Pip still looked worried but nodded. Little Pip went off to the upper levels while Brick turned his attention down. He went down the steps and down a hall, being careful and an ear open. When he turned onto a catwalk, he felt a wave of heated air blast him. He looked and saw a large, open industrial area. Conveyer belts with scrap metal and other bits of metal laid still on them. Overhead were two big cast iron pots, holding molten melted metal inside of them. He crept low and carefully on the catwalk. He could count six molten vats that would aim down into furnaces. The more he crept down the catwalk, the more he began to sweat. He studied the ground like a hawk. Signs showed that the Fiends have indeed been through here and also there were signs of other ponies. Workers most likely as tools and tipped over metal scraps littered the floor off of the conveyer belts. Straight ahead was a dead end, so he turned left down another conjoining catwalk. Upon reaching a metal door and opening it, he balked as he suddenly found himself having guns of all kinds aimed at him. Below, above, ahead. The Fiends had gathered into the next room and were chanting something that Brick couldn't quite make out. Up above were protruding walkways that he would assume were the offices. He remained stoic as he stepped fully out of the door, holstering his launcher.
The Fiends leered at him with such hungry expressions. Their eyes violating every part of Brick. The stallion made his way down to the center of the catwalk, the molten vats below them boiling with extreme heat. Two Fiends approached Brick and prodded his head with their carbines, leading him a little further ahead as a broken off catwalk rested above them on the fourth floor over the offices. Ontop of it was a brahmin skull wearing mare in tribal barding. She grinned and spat to the side as she shifted her heavy fire hydrant hammer over her shoulder. Next to her was another pony that was sitting down on a chair. A hastily made throne behind her. Brick saw two cyberdogs resting at her side, panting from what he could imagine was the heat from the smelting factory. The pony was a lavender colored mare with a blonde mane. Her violet eyes staring down and judging the stallion. Painted tribal marks rest on her cheeks with a horseshoe marking completely over her face. She wore a tattered and ragged cape over a metal spiked armored barding. She held a metal bent staff with a pony's skull on it. She grinned suddenly and looked over to her left.
Brick balked as he saw Little Pip being held at gun point along with the stout stallion that was Mr. Berry. The pony looked rather beaten and bruised, but no worse for wear. He looked rather panicked and afraid while Little Pip looked rather annoyed about her sneaking being a failure. She looked down and met Brick's eyes, giving a knowing look before hissing a bit as a Fiend prodded her head with the tip of their rifle. The pony stood up from her hastily made throne and walked forward, the Fiend's chanting getting louder and vocal. She then raised a hoof and the chanting quieted. She smiled wickedly and stared down at the stallion.
"You're either very brave or very stupid to just walk in here without a plan." she shouted down to him. Brick narrowed his eyes. The pony continued, pacing softly back and forth as she spoke. "We Fiends are gathered here today not as a normal bountiful raid. But an homage to our late Overboss, Motor Head!" The Fiends cheered. Brick remained stoic, letting the Fiends speak their part. "Yes, it was unfortunate news to hear that he had passed. He had taught us the ways of the Frozen North! He had tamed the New Neighvarro desert! He is the one that walks the land! A demon among Fiends!" The Fiends cheered again. The pony throw her hoof out in a display of exaggerated gestures. "The Fiends are the demons of the wastes! Our influence is powerful! Ponies cower before us! We show them the true hells of the wastes! For those that fight the land's influence, rather than nurturing it to fruition, shall be fed to the land! And in return, the land feeds us! Teaches us that we are the true light of the wastes!" Little Pip snorted.
"Sounds like a load of hog wash to me." The brahmin skull wearing pony didn't like that and turned to her. Little Pip tried her best to not feel smaller than she usually is to the bulky height the brute. She had to play this smart. Taking to heart the words of Brick, she looked the supposed new Overboss of The Fiends. "If Motor Head taught you the ways of the land, then you should know that eating ponies, raping and pillaging is not something the land desires." The pony grinned.
"But that's where you are wrong, my little Lightbringer." she cooed at her. "The dead return to the earth. They fertilize the land. Make it bloom even better than before! The howling cries of the Empire bid to our will, as we treat them with the departed and the bounties of the land." She turned her attention to the celebrating Fiends underneath the catwalk below Brick. Brick could see that several workers were being held at gunpoint. But not enough to run a factory. Which means the rest must be somewhere else in the building. He kept his focus on the Fiend leader. The pony pat her chest with a hoof. "We demons of the wastes shall not falter in our conquest! Everyone in the Empire to the San Palamino wastes will know our cause! They will join it! Or else be offered to the land's ever thriving beauty!" Brick shook his head.
"But from what 'ahm hearin' as of late, The Fiends are startin' to run thin. You don't have the numbers like ya' used too. The RCE took care of that." The pony closed her eyes and nodded.
"Aye. Indeed, the ones that roam the white fields have been a constant conflict to our conquest. But we will have our returning triumph. You cannot kill a demon! Only temporarily dispel it! And when the demon comes back, they'll be stronger. And their names will empower them to continue the cause!" Little Pip was about to speak, remembering a vital piece of info from an unfortunate raider. But Brick beat her to it.
"But from what 'ah read. Demons hate ta' have their names said. It's a challenge ta' them. Makin' them weak. Ain't that right, Fizzle Crunch?" He was expecting the pony to react in a manner almost similarly like the brahmin wearing pony... oh. 'Well, buck me.' The brute looking pony roared loudly, startling Little Pip and Mr. Berry as well as the leader and several of the other Fiends. She hoisted her hydrant hammer over her shoulder and leaped from the perch. She landed on the catwalk with a loud metallic clang. Brick was impressed that the catwalk was able to stay strong from the heavyweight. But her impact was enough to cause it to rattle and wobble. The Fiends that were keeping Brick company bolted away and off the catwalk as Brick took a couple of steps as the pony snorted, red in her eyes. She was livid. Her glowing red eyes glinting under the skull.
"You... dare... call me that name!!?" she roared. She stamped her left hind hoof heavily on the catwalk, making it rattle and wobble. This time, Brick had to retract his impression. He could hear the metal creaking and groaning. "You dare... mock the name of Mash Pit!!? I... am the right hoof of The Fiends!!! I'll mash you into bits!!! Feed you to the others, once I've had my fill!! You'll die this day, worm!!" Brick wasn't sure how to react, but he knew one thing. He deftly bolted aside, realizing that the brute was quick. Too quick for that matter. Where he stood seconds ago was the loud metallic crash of the hydrant impacting the catwalk. The catwalk wobbled, making Brick hold onto the railings to keep his footing. The molten vats of metal below them now being the next threat of this endeavor. Mash Pit roared and swung horizontally with the hydrant hammer. Brick ducked and felt the wind of the weapon whip past him. The railing, however, wasn't so lucky. With a loud metallic shatter, the pieces of the railing flew and scattered below them. Brick bolted back and rounded the corner of the catwalk as Mash Pit brought the hydrant hammer down again. She snarled and barked.
"Quite runnin', worm!!! And let me mash you!!!" Brick galloped down the catwalk and made his way to the middle of the splitting corners. He had to think of something. He deftly loaded his launcher with a metal apple, but hesitated. He can't use live explosive around the place. Mash Pit was making the catwalk creak and groan with the weight of her and her weapon of choice. That and it could explode prematurely due to the heat. He pocketed the apple back and pulled out the red colored metal apples. Perhaps incendiary will do? Brick took aim as Mash Pit rounded the corner. With a loud thump, the red apple pop upon impact hitting her skull. The fire began to spread around the Fiend. But to Brick's surprise, that only enraged the pony. She snorted and holstered her hammer onto her back, scraping her hoof on the metal. Her fiery brahmin skull burned menacingly. With the red glint of her eyes under the skull focused on the pony, Brick couldn't react in time. The brute showed surprising quickness as she bull-charged him. Brick had no room to dodge or enough distance to round a corner. He planted his hooves down on the metal and locked his forelegs around the horns. The fire singed him as he gritted his teeth.
He must have surprised a lot of ponies, even Mash Pit herself. Brick struggled, but he was able to keep himself planted on the ground and was only being pushed by the mare. Mash Pit roared and shifted her weight, catching Brick off guard and scooping him up. She then flipped him over her back before delivering a good buck kick to Brick's side. Brick groaned in pain as he spiraled down the catwalk. Thankfully, his momentum carried him away from the vats. Bad news was, he could have sworn he heard his ribs crack. He rolled to a stop and grimaced as pain shot through him. Through one eye he saw the mare turn back around, the fire having been quelled on her hide. She unholstered her hammer and shifted it over her shoulder, stomping towards the downed farmer. Brick gasped in pain as he tried to crawl away, feeling his body scream at him to stop. But he couldn't.
Memories of his farm burning and the Fiends celebrating as they dragged his friend away came back to him. Up above, Little Pip watched in horror at the scene. She had to do something. She looked over her shoulder to see the two raiders preoccupying themselves with dumb grins as they watched the beating below. She smirked. Brick was right. They were organized, but they were still stupid. She whipped out her silenced 10mm and entered S.A.T.S. Taking aim, the two fiends found themselves crumpling to the ground, dead. Mr. Berry looked surprised, but then eyed Little Pip as she held up a hoof to shush him. She then reached into her saddle bag and withdrew a blue colored apple. It was a Zap-Apple. A Fiend she looted previously had it on them. She pulled the stem and heaved it with her magic over to the ponies. The Overboss noticed it too late as the metal apple bounced off the head of Mash Pit and it popped with electricity. With the metal that was on the mare, she roared in pain, stumbling back as the electricity caused her to kneel down. Brick took this opportunity to take a couple of health potions. He could feel his bones and flesh mending properly and with newfound vigor, he stood up, shaking away the dizziness that was still there.
He loaded his launcher with a blue apple and pumped his launcher before positioning himself at the split offs of the catwalk. Mash Pit recovered from the temporary shock and snarled again. Holstering her hammer, she scraped the ground again.
"I'll gore you this time, worm!! Here I come!!" Her nostrils snorted with anger and her red eyes from the skull glinted. She bull-charged him again. Brick was ready this time. He pulled the trigger and with a loud thump, the blue apple flew and popped in a direct hit on the mare. He had closed his eyes too as the flash bang did its' work. Mash Pit halted her charge and roared as she then took her hammer and flailed it around wildly. Little Pip up above, keeping out of sight with Mr. Berry from the Fiend leader, who was too invested into the fight, darted her eyes around. She activated her S.A.T.S. and took aim at a hanging cast iron cauldron. Aiming for the bolt and nut, she used all of her charges to whittle away the bolt. When the bolt came undone, the cauldron tipped and molten splashes of heated metal pelted Mash Pit. She hissed and flailed wildly again, disoriented and angry.
"Bastard!! Where are you!!? I'll kill you!!!" she roared. Buck gritted his teeth. He had to end this now. This pony wasn't his friend in the slightest, so it was only right to do this. He galloped, ducking under a stray swing and spun around, delivering a good buck kick under the chin of the pony. The brahmin skull cracked and shattered from the earth pony's impact and the face of the mare was exposed. Indeed, it wasn't his friend. The scarred face looked shocked and with the kick he gave, she stumbled back and the railing gave way to her weight. She yelled for a brief moment before being cut off as she splashed and vanished into the molten vat below. Everything went quiet. Quiet enough that Brick's ear flicked when he heard the cauldron above creaked and groaned. He galloped quickly away from the middle of the catwalk as the cauldron finally came undone and bent the part of the catwalk that Mash Pit had stood moments ago. It bounced and fell into the vat that Mash Pit fell into, sinking in. The fire rose from the vat. Brick panted as he looked down into the molten vat. He spat blood into it and rubbed his muzzle.
"An ironic fate for a spawn of hell." he stated. He then glared in the direction of the stunned and disbelieved Fiends. Seeing the farmer eye them with such venom, they dropped their weapons and hightailed it out of the factory. He then looked up to see Little Pip giving a sigh of relief and Mr. Berry looking ecstatic. However, it was short lived as Mr. Berry gasped and hid behind Little Pip. Little Pip eyed the cyberdogs drooling and eyeing her back. The Overboss grinned wickedly at them. Brick clicked his tongue as he saw the ponies being led out into the next room. There was the sound of cheering. This time, it was from the worker ponies below.
"Kick ass, guy! You showed that savage what for!" one shouted.
"Screw them tribal raiders!! They deserve to be thrown in like that bitch!!"
"I-I hope this job has workplace raiding insurance..."
Brick took off without a word as he bolted into the next room of the building, galloping his way up to the roof. He still had questions that needed answers. He didn't care for praise or a hero's welcome. He wasn't any of that. He had no makings of a hero. He lacked the compassion and values that heroes like Little Pip had. He was just a farmer. A plain, ordinary farmer. He reached the final story and a door that led to the roof. He took a moment to catch his breath. The fight had taken a bit out of him and taking a swig of a health potion, he felt his energy returning. This was it, the point of no return. There's no going back from this decision. She was the last Fiend to continue on. The faction was no more. She would either fight for her cause to the last or give up and turn herself in where she will be executed like the savage she is. Brick closed his eyes. The memories of his farm coming back to him. It would take a lot of work to get his farm back together. But he didn't mind it. Whether he'd do it alone or miraculously have help with his dear friend, it would go back to the way it was. This was his last bastion of hope.
He opened his eyes and stepped through the door.
Brick hurried to the top of the roof where the other ponies and the Fiend were. The Overboss was staring down at the expansive valley of Berry Acres below her. The light snowfall making it seem peaceful despite the fact that moments ago, an awful raid had happened. Brick saw Little Pip and Mr. Berry being watched by one of the cyber dogs, while the other whined, sitting next to the mare. The Fiend pet the dogs head before sighing.
"The Fiends could have made this land prosper. Bloomed out of the snow. The land gives to us and we return it in kind." the mare began. Brick had his stoic look, standing a few feet away from the mare.
"Raiders don't make tha' land prosper. They take from families. Destroy everything ta' satisfy their needs. You don't save tha' land. Only causing it ta' wilt an' die." Brick clicked his tongue. "An' let me guess. You think that today's raid, if it had gone the way you wanted, would have saved tha' land? That yer' kin would nurture tha' land back ta' health?" The mare said nothing but nodded. She then looked ahead out into the valley, studying it before turning around to face the stallion.
"You spit on tha' name of every settler that works honest livin' to provide for their families. An' you are justifying raidin' as tha' cause to save it? Them chems are bad fer' yer' health, miss." She rasped a chuckle and grinned.
"Perhaps so. But the chems help us see the land for what it truly is. It combines nature in harmony. The earth whispers to us. To our souls. And we have only need to listen. Motor Head showed us the way. He became a necessary evil to save this land. And we planned to show the ponies that it is a cause we are willing to see through." Little Pip retorted.
"Bullshit! Raiders are nothing but rapists, slavers and downright vile individuals to ever exist. You destroy lives and everything that ponies hold in value and morals. Your kind is the reason why this land, specifically the Empire, has no love in the first place!" The tribal raider eyed the mare.
"And what makes you think you would help the lost return to the light, Lightbringer?" she asked. "We do not judge who joins our cause. Only that they devote themselves to live off the land as they please." Little Pip slumped and cocked her head with annoyance.
"I'm sorry, it's a little hard to follow, got a little bit of bloat-sprites buzzing in my ear." she retorted. Little Pip has spent so many years dealing with pony's problems throughout her travels that having to chat with a tribal would be the last thing she thought she would be having a discussion with. The zebra tribes were different. But unlike The Fiends, they showed reason and, in the end, provided effort to aid Equestria in its' need. To a point.
We need to be better ponies.
The voice whispered in her head. That damned broadcast was really getting on her nerves. She would have to recollect her thoughts later. She looked at the raider and eyed her coldly. The Fiend frowned.
"To put it in your terms, Lightbringer, you brought sunshine and rainbows to Equestria. But here in the Empire, your influence falls short. We have heard of your heroics, but they do not reflect here. There is no love and there is no hope. Or so you say." She motioned toward the valley. "The land may look dead. But it is far from it. If you show the land enough love and respect, life will be given." she then pointed at Little Pip. "You, who have traveled the wastes. Saw the land dying. Fought battles to save it. You even sacrificed yourself to save it. And yet, here you are, breathing and alive. In fact, you are what inspired The Fiends in the first place." Little Pip bristled a bit, but remained quiet. Where was the raider going with this? "We became demons, because the land needed the necessary evil to ensure its' growth. You were just a normal pony, but you ascended and brought light and hope to the wastes. And while you basked in the warmth and praise of your heroics, Motor Head felt the inspiration from you and decided to spread the word." Brick arched a brow.
"Yer' actin' like Motor Head was a normal pony before. You sure he wasn't brainwashed into being a tribal raider?" The mare scoffed.
"You who walk among the rows should know better. You follow the same cause. To bring life back to the land. Motor Head used to be a head scribe of the ones who bear metal. But he felt his talents lacking and thus left the place to spread the word of the Lightbringer. He did well for a while. But in the Frozen North, nothing is well. He saw the land dying. He wanted to save it. To bring life into it. But no pony would listen. He buckled under his despiration to save the land, only to be called insane and just a would be hero. And when a courier delivered a special package to his doorstep, the Eden's Apple, he found himself being visited by the demon." She started to pace back and forth slowly. "The demon came to him in a dream. Told him to begin a following. A cause worth fighting for. Even if he had to be the one who sleeps in the earth in the eyes of everypony else. He would need to become a demon in order to save the land. With the price of this info, he had to give up his name and take on a new one. And taking the demon's words to heart, he set off, building The Fiends up one by one. Gathering ponies who were desperate and needed that small bit of light of recognition."
Little Pip and Brick couldn't believe what they were hearing. A raider justifying themself? No way in the world did a raider just state something that sounded conflicting. This just means, for Little Pip, that these raiders of the Frozen North aren't all savage. And she hated to admit, but it does bring up a certain attention to a problem she noticed. The Empire indeed was dying. And not because of the war that scarred it. But because the land was so damned cold. So dead. The crops most settlers tried to raise were either dead or able to survive with scarce hope. The same could be said about The Strip. Brick spoke.
"If 'ah recall, a passing courier slaughtered Motor Head an' his general in a Stable. Even freed some trapped caravanners and Stable ponies." The mare scowled.
"And yet, the name of the courier eludes us. They challenged our rise in power. Tossed everything we've worked for into the ground. Stomped on it like a little foal." Brick narrowed his eyes. He remembers indeed hearing about a courier passing by and defeating the leaders of The Fiends. But... again, he couldn't quite remember the details of what happened after. He was out with a couple of his friends and when they returned to the Roulette Hotel, there was a bloodied and tattered figure of a pony resting on the couch. He remembers Goldenlee freaking out. And when she went to turn the pony over, the pony's face was fuzzy. Completely blank. The mare hissed in pain, causing the ponies to eye her.
"Every damn time, that image of that pony comes back and haunts me. I remember, it was the same courier. We had caught them. Turned them over for our entertainment. And they fought another..." she shook her head, scowling. "I can only say it's the land calling out to us. To save it. The Lightbringer's sacrifice inspired us to fight for our cause. To save this dying land." She pet the cyberdog's head again. "You may call us demons. Monsters. No morals whatsoever. But we are the necessary evil to save this land. And I'll be damned if I let a farmer and the slayer of tribes to end it." She whistled and the dogs turned towards Brick and Little Pip. They growled, licking their metallic choppers. "My pets are capable enough to stop you. And when I'm rid of you, I'll retreat back into the land and rebuild the Fiends again. We planned for months on this raid. And I plan to complete it." Brick stepped back a bit as the cyberdog crouched low and growled hungrily. Little Pip looked rather worried as the one guarding them turned and snarled. Mr. Berry cowered behind her.
Then, something happened that caused the Fiend leader to balk and jaw drop. Brick pulled out a red ball from his saddle bag. He held it up and waved it to the cyberdog. The cyberdog growled and snarled, eyeing the pony and the ball. Brick placed the ball down and backed away. Brick studied the cyberdog as it approached the ball hesitantly. It sniffed the ball curiously. The other cyberdog turned around and cocked their head at the other. The Fiend leader looked between the two, baffled and speechless.
"Wh-what...?" she began. The cyberdog sniffing the ball spent a good bit focused on the ball. It then sat down and looked up Brick. Brick saw the red eyes vanish from the dog and replaced with a pleasant hazel color. Brick pulled out a blue ball next and held it up for the other cyberdog. The one that was sniffing the red ball began to lay down and start chewing on it. The other dog left the two ponies it was guarding before walking over, hesitantly, sniffing the air. Brick put the blue ball down a little bit away from the other dog. It hesitantly sniffed the air, sniffing towards the ball. IT spent a little bit longer than the other before it picked it up in its' mouth and walked over to the Fiend leader, laying down and chewing on the ball. The mare slowly looked to meet Brick's eyes. He remained stoic. But he then nodded to the dogs.
"Mr. Olive Garden an' Ms. Waterlog were raided after mah' farm was raided by yer' kin. They lost everythin'. Including their pets. As old as they were, they heard about my ordeal and that if 'ah happen ta' come across their missin' dogs, that 'ah would show 'em their favorite toys." HE then walked over to the one chewing the red ball. The dog growled, but Brick held out his hoof and the cyberdog sniffed it. As if recognizing the scent of the pony, the dog began to wag its' tail. Little Pip observed the confrontation with stark interest. Brick then began petting the cyberdog. It whimpered and allowed it to be petted. The Fiend leader wasn't happy. She bristled and looked down at the one at her hooves.
"Dumb mutts! What the hell do you think you are doing!? Kill them!!" The dog ignored the pony, chewing happily on the toy. Brick spoke before the mare was able to do something she would regret.
"Listen. 'Ah don't know if you were a part of the raid on mah' farm. But 'ah just want to ask. Do ya' happen to know where Lavender Violet is?" The mare balked, looking back at him with shock. What is this feeling? The mare stared at the stallion. She suddenly grimaced and held a hoof to her head, a searing headache coursing through her as memories began to flood back to her.
‘Where am I?’ Lavender thought. The starry scape around her glittered like a million fireflies. It was quite the breathtaking sight. She had never seen stars before. She then looked ahead and saw a fuzzy haze, mist that was morphing and forming, almost as if something was trying to break free. But the mist started to transform and before Lavender was a shade in the form of the pony. Upon seeing the sight of the shade, Lavender, despite all her bravado as being the new self-appointed Fiend leader, was terrified.
The shade gave off an intimidating aura. Almost as if fire was surrounding it. The shade then started to walk towards her and upon it getting closer, she could see the pony clearly. Golden eyes, a fiery mane and a warm and confident smile. This pony looked familiar. Her mind was racing in trying to figure it out. Before she could register what to do, the shade then bowed its’ head and its’ horn glowed.
Lavender suddenly saw herself standing in front of a barn. The red paint peeling and shedding on itself. Snow blanketed the decrepit tiled roof. Her tattered cape cloak fluttered in the soft snowy wind. Her ears flicked when she heard distant voices. She turned around and gasped. Through the snow and mud, she saw something that she hasn’t seen. Or she had. A long time ago. She stood in the middle of a trail. Beyond it to the sides, were crops that were tall and lush with green and life. The snow that blanketed the crops softly, sparkled in the light sunlight that was beaming through the dark and dreary clouds.
In the distance, she could see a rickety windmill, spinning softly but free in the wind. Lavender began to walk forward, her attention span going from the crops to the fertile tilled soil. Her ears flickered and her instincts began following the distant voices. They were getting closer as she got close to a dingy two storied house. She stopped and hesitated. Something told her that she shouldn’t be seen. ‘Wh-what is going on? What is this… feeling?’ She gasped as she saw the hazy shade stand next to her. It didn’t seem to acknowledge her presence, however, it did turn to her, walk through her and enter into the crops. Lavender felt strangely warm when the shade stepped through her. She turned to watch the shade go deeper into the crops.
Hesitating, Lavender eventually followed after. Following the voices of the ponies getting closer, she could make them out clearly. It sounded an awful lot like her own voice. And then there was another, more familiar voice. Lavender peeked through the thick crops and spied a young and pretty lavender mare with a slightly curly chestnut colored mane and tail. She was staring down with a satisfied smile at a stallion. His red hide a little splattered with mud and snow flaking his black mane. He was using a hot plate, on it a metal water can. He scooped up snow and bits of mud, placing them in the metal water can. The hot plate heating up the already boiling the mix inside. He took a metal ladle and began stirring it. It was such a strange sight to see. The mare was quite fixated on the stallion. The one that had kicked Mash Pit into a molten vat.
His expression was stoic, but a small smile was on his face. Lavender watched from the edge of the crop field, blending into the rows. The stallion placed the ladle down and took the water can, placing it into the snow. It hissed and steamed, cooling it before he picked it up again and began watering a bright and warm colorful mix of flowers. It was so surreal. The Fiend leader never has seen such life being tended too. Flowers? In the Frozen North? Green? Amongst the bleak and barren snow? It almost felt like home.
All roads lead back to home.
Lavender saw the shade standing next to the pretty mare. It studied the mare.
“Johnny, you ever thought about expanding your farm? You own 60 acres of this valley. You should go and meet with the Berrys! They’ll definitely fund your work!” The mare said to the stallion. The stallion shook his head, not in disagreement to the mare, but to spread the warm water over the flowers. He placed the can down to his side and taking his muddied hoof, he began softly petting the flowers, wiping the drops off to prevent the droplets from freezing the plants.
“‘Ah would. But ‘ah really can’t leave mah’ farm at the moment, Vy.” The stallion responded. The mare pulled herself away from the railing and went down the steps, sitting down next to the stallion and helping him wipe the droplets off his flowers.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” The mare perked up and looked at him with a smile. “What if I go and tell the Berrys? They can send somepony out and see the amount of work you put in? Then you can get the caps to fix up your barn! I’m sure the critters would love a new space.” The stallion nodded. The Fiend felt her head ache softly. The mare called him Johnny. His name rung through mind like an echoing bell. Her eyes widened in realization. Johnny Appleseed. ‘I… this is so familiar…’ but it was. And deep in her heart, she knew it. The stallion had gained a reputation amongst other passing farmers and settlers doing trade.
She would be on the porch or next to the stallion as the ponies would admire and praise his work. Even one pony stated that they had thought about settling on the land, but had heard the soil to be unclean and the worst part is being surrounded by hills where the winter weather would funnel and collect, killing anything that would have any chance to flourish. They had called it the Dead Zone. But the stallion would puff his chest out with pride as he spoke about his great grandparents that settled in the small valley and began to bring it to life 80 years ago. How they worked hard to bring a dead land back to life.
The Fiend stared wide eyed at the scenes flashing before them. She found herself back in the starry void before another flash blinded the mare a bit before finding her vision returning and standing out on the porch. She then looked to see the pretty mare tending to the animals. The brahmin and chickens walked freely around the pins, only gathering when she poured brahmin feed into the feeding troughs. She sprinkled seed for the chickens and even began to pet and feed a bighorner, a giant ram like creature. It chewed happily out of her hoof.
“There you go, big guy~ Don’t you worry, when Johnny has the funds, he’ll find you a nice and pretty girl for you.” She cooed. The bighorner just chewed away, looking quite neutral. After it ate out of her hoof, the bighorner spoke.
“Dad’s gonna get me a girl?” The bighorner asked. The mare nodded.
“Uh-huh. And she’ll be the prettiest bighorner you’ve ever seen.” The mare replied happily. The bighorner continued to chew as it spoke.
“While thast nice ‘an all. The only prettiest thing ah’ve seen is you, Lavender.” It said. Lavender giggled and scratched the head of the creature.
“You’re such a sweetheart.”she replied. The bighorner shook its’ head.
“‘Ah dun know why dad hasn’t asked you, yet. Yer’ the only mare ‘Ah’ve seen that bothers with him.” Lavender went a little pink in the cheeks*
“O-oh gosh, Charlie. I don’t know how to respond to that.” She said, trying her best to laugh it off. The bighorner, Charlie, nudged her with his muzzle a bit.
“Have ya’ tried askin’ him? A stallion like him is hard ta’ come by. He makes tha’ grass taste good. ‘An ‘ah seen tha’ way you look at ‘em.” Lavender began to turn red.
“Charlie is right, dearie.” A brahmin head spoke as the other was busy eating into the trough. “I’ve seen it myself. He’s very sweet on you and I haven’t seen him look at any other pony like that other than you.” Lavender balked, her eyes widening.
“B-Betty, d-don’t say that!” Lavender stated, covering her face shyly with a hoof. Betty smiled.
“Relax, dearie. You’re quite amusing to tease.” Lavender huffed and gave her a playful pout.
“Don’t get my hopes up.” She then smiled. “Thank you, you two. Honestly, I think I’m ready to ask him though.” Charlie “baahed” in a laughing manner.
“About time! You go get ‘em girl!” Charlie scraped a hoof in the snowy mud proudly. Betty nodded along with a couple of other unoccupied brahmin heads.
“We’ll be rooting for you dear.” Lavender felt confident. The critters having only boosted it. With a bit of skip in her trot, she made her way to the gate. Suddenly, there was a loud pop and something whizzed right by her mane. Lavender blinked, confused as to what had happened. Her daze was broken when she heard Betty mooing rather painfully. She turned and saw, to her dismay, Charlie laying in the ground, the snow beneath him having been coated in red. All hell broke loose.
She balked when a couple of more loud pops sounded and something screamed by her. She fell to her stomach, covering her head as now the pops were being accompanied by cheering and whooping. She saw something zip past her, a pony in animal barding, chase after two chickens, diving for one and then taking it by the neck in their teeth, the pony wrangled the chicken’s neck and with a loud pained “bawk”, the chicken went limp. She stared in horror as the pony pulled out a ripper, revved it and turned to a barhmin that was unaware of its’ danger. Before she could witness more of the gristly sight, she felt something hit her on the side and caused her to roll over onto her back.
She suddenly found herself terrified, seeing another pony in animal barding hop onto her and began wrestling for her neck. Lavender grunted and screamed as she tried her best to wrestle away from the pony.
“Woooooweee, we got a live one, boys!!” The Pony over her whooped. The sound of the farm animals were pained and loud. The snow beginning to splatter with blood spots. There was the sound of some glass breaking and the smell of burning wood and flesh filled the air. Lavender grunted and delivered a good hoof into the groin of the raider, causing the raider to groan and get off of her. She pushed the raider away and bolted for the gate, narrowly missing a spray of bullets that shattered the fence. She dove into the crop field and panted heavily as she tried to make her way through. She had to warn Johnny. The farm was being raided.
Lavender looked back and to her shock, she saw bottled fire being thrown into the air and crashing into the fields, the fire beginning to envelop the fields.
“Johnny! Johnny, help!! The farm is being raided!! Johnny!” She cried out as she pushed her way out of the burning crops. She galloped, her eyes wide with fear as she grew closer to the house. She then gasped as more bottled fire flew through the air and pelted the two storied house. There was again, more whooping and cheering. Lavender screamed and cried. “Johnny!!” Lavender then felt the wind leave her as a raider hit her hard in the stomach with a bat.
She vomited her lunch out as the raider caught her and hoisted the mare over his back. He whooped again, catching the attention of another raider.
“Woooowee! What a catch!” He shouted, laughing. The other raider was chewing on a ear of corn directly from the stem. It gave a twitchy chuckle. Lavender Violet looked over to the house, unable to really move as the wind was still trying to reach her lungs. She then heard the sound of struggling from inside. The raider turned and she looked to see two other raiders bringing out the stallion. Blood trickling down his face. He looked winded and exhausted.
His eyes fell onto her and she tried to say something to him, only to choke on her words. The raider then tossed her down and taking a rope, hogtied her and took the other end of the rope in his teeth. She struggled to fight off the raider. But unable to really recover from being hit in the stomach, she found herself being dragged through the mud and snow as the raider cheered and laughed.
Lavender, who had now found herself being thrown back out into the starry abyss. She felt tears in her eyes. The desperate look of the stallion shot back into her mind. He was terrified. Worried about her. And yet, he looked angry and frustrated that he couldn’t do anything about it. Lavender found herself sitting down on her haunches.
“Why… why are you showing me this? I don’t… I don’t want to remember anymore after this… please don’t make me watch myself again…” the mare was having trouble comprehending this. The shade had formed next to her and lifted a hazy hoof onto the mare’s shoulder. Lavender turned, blinking once and finding herself in a cave. The area expanded around her, vulgar graffiti and gore decorated the place. The pungent smell as the mare found herself standing in front of Motor Head. The metal spike trash wearing Fiend leader eyed her and several other slaves on both sides of her.
They looked up at the raider, terrified and shivering. Lavender’s eyes widened as she remembered this. The day she had to shut herself off from sanity. Lavender felt the fear and unknowing fate well up inside of her and she trembled. Motor Head stood up and looked to a pony in metal barding. His Flamer active and aimed at the slaves. She couldn’t hear anything, other than Cooker’s Flamer spew fire over them.
Lavender felt herself trip as the slaves tried to scatter. But being chained to one another, they were catching or beginning to catch fire. Lavender patted her potato sack barding out and looked around desperately. She saw a raider laughing in the front of the crowd. Lavender gritted her teeth, the fear and adrenalin coursing through her. Fortunately for her, the other slaves were crumpling to the ground, the trauma and burns getting to them. With the gasoline doused chains shackling them together, Lavender had to be quick.
She then heaved with all her might, dragging three dead and charred bodies with her and then heaved again to move to the other side, the other side beginning to crumple and begin to weigh her down. She cried and whimpered as she used as much strength as she could to get to the raider. The raider wasn’t laughing. Just amused that the mare was reaching toward them. What she didn’t know is that she had the attention of Motor Head and Cooker. They watched as the struggling Lavender desperately reached for the raider’s gun. The raider looked up to the Fiend leader and Motor Head nodded.
The raider pulled out their energy pistol. Lavender had no idea how to work the thing, but instinct and fear took over as she snatched the pistol from the raider and fumbled with the gun. The gun then shot out a bright red laser beam. Getting a quick grasp of what she did, she aimed the gun down at her hooves and blasted the chains off. She was about to shake them off when an on fire slave fell on her. She screamed as the slaver cried in pain at her. The burning smell of flesh and fur was strong and the pained terrified expression of the slave would haunt her for a long while. The mare grunted and shoved the pony away and then fired the energy pistol at the pony. A gruesome fate for an unfortunate soul.
The pony screamed again and disintegrated into burning ash. Lavender shook away the chains but found herself kicking and screaming as two raiders picked her up and dragged her. They then threw her onto the ground, right at the hooves of Motor Head. Lavender looked up, her breath shaky and unsteady. Motor Head grinned between crooked yellow teeth and held out a hoof to her.
“I can sense the demon in you. Take my hoof and let me show you Eden’s Apple.” The memory finished as Lavender saw her hesitated hoof reach out to the raider. Lavender was then thrown back out and the starry abyss greeted her. This time, with unnerving laughter, the smell of blood, decay, the painful feeling of needles and the screams of other ponies and the snarling barks of the cyberdogs. Lavender stepped back, looking panically around her.
“N-no! Please, stop! I-I didn’t want to do it! I-I had no choice!!” She then came face to face with the shade. It eyed her judgingly. She grit her teeth and shouted at the shade. “Why are you showing me this!? Just leave me alone! I want everypony to leave me alone! I Had to do it to survive! There was no other choice!” The shade said nothing. It was unable to speak. Yer, its’ eyes still showed her that it understood. Lavender could feel it. The egging need to survive and to be alone filling her up. She fell back on her haunches and put her hooves over her head, shaking it furiously. “Get out, get out, GET OUT!!” The shade didn’t obey. It took one step forward and Lavender began to hear increasing whispers.
All roads lead back to home. If you just stop and turned around.
Turn back, turn back.
Lavender Violet screamed.
“Please, don’t do this to me! Somepony… anypony…” she began to feel fear once more. A feeling she had discarded ever since she was inaugurated into the ranks of The Fiends. The feeling of power when they had raided others and having turned two old neighbor’s pets into killing machines. She basked in the triumph of rising in ranks. And now, a feeling she had been ignoring for a long, long time. Longer than fear. It was loneliness. She found herself alone, with power and fear as her weapons of choice. Her ideal goal matching that of Motor Head’s. To bring the land back to life as an old forgotten friend had once done.
Maybe that is why she felt so inclined to continue the Fiends. She would morph them into something better, something to exhibit power and life. Even if they had to take it by force, she would see the land free of barren loneliness. Lavender reeled back and screamed at the top of her lungs.
“STOP IT!!!”
ooOO000OOoo
Brick remained quiet. Stoic. Eyeing the shade that had suddenly appeared in front of them. Little Pip studied the shade, seeing the haze lazily make out a pony. Lavender Violet was on her side, holding her hooves to her head, trembling. Brick shifted when the shade then looked back to him. He balked. A familiar feeling, ringing in his mind. He sighed and smiled.
“Was wonderin’ when you’d settle this.” He said, addressing the shade. Little Pip cocked her head at the pony. The shade made a strange gesture. Almost as if it was apologizing. But Brick seemed to understand it quite clearly. “No need ta’ apologize. Ya’ still make quite the ruckus even when yer’ not aroun’.” Brick, sitting down on his haunches, relaxed and smiling. It was bizzar to Little Pip. Why was the stallion being casual and friendly with the shade?
Perhaps the shade was indeed communicating through a form of magic she isn’t familiar with. Brick then got up and walked towards the trembling Fiend. He looked over his shoulder to the shade.
“Thank you. ‘Ah never get to say it properly to you.” The shade morphed and disfigured itself, making it hard to tell what it is saying or even expressing. But Brick nodded. “Whenever yer’ ready to come back ta’ us. Yer’ home. We’ll be ready.” Lavender looked up and screamed, spying the shade behind Brick. Brick, however, sat and pulled the mare into a hug. Lavender tried to fight him off, but the feeling of familiarity took over. What turned to fear, turned to realization. Realization to surprise. Surprise being welled up with tears. And then tears became sobs.
Little Pip looked worriedly at the two. Mr. Berry waddled over next to her and sighed.
“‘Ahm just as stumped as you, Lightbringer. ‘Ahm a farmer, not a wanderer.” He said. But Little Pip shook her head.
“I think Brick found his friend.” Mr. Berry scoffed.
“Yer’ friend bein’ a raider, Johnny. ‘Ah can’t help you.” Brick blinked and looked up to the stout pony.
“How’d you know mah’ name?” He asked. Mr. Berry nodded toward the shade behind him. Brick was surprised. “So, I ain’t the only one seein’ it?” Little Pip nodded.
“I see it too.” They all looked at the shade and in one blink of an eye together, the shade vanished. Mr. Berry stroked his chin.
“Well, ‘ah’ll be. ‘Ah thought it was hog wash. But it turns out the Ghost really exists.” Brick smiled, turning back to him.
“‘Ah can understand that.” He said.
The four ponies and the two cyberdogs made their way out of the factory, the workers in tow behind them. The RCE had managed to secure the valley and had arrested the Fiends that were unfortunate to be caught. They were shackled and had their hooves over their heads. And RCE trooper began to stand behind them. One by one, The Fiends were executed. Several of the workers spat in their direction. Little Pip and Brick with Lavender resting on Brick’s back walked with Mr. Berry next to them.
A grizzled looking pony stepped forward and pulled off their helmet. The stallion as grey with a blonde buzz cut.
“I must say, Lightbringer, your reputation proceeds you.” He said with a smile towards the mare. Little Pip looked to Brick.
“I think Brick deserves most of the credit. He took on an Overboss. Kicked her directly into the molten vats.” She stated. The trooper looked at Brick with an uninterested expression. Mr. Berry stepped forward and adjusted his suspenders.
“Come, now. Don’t look down an able bodied an’ honest to goddess hard workin’ pony like Johnny here.” The RCE troop cocked his head.
“What’s a ‘jaw-nee?’” He asked. Brick stepped forward.
“That’s mah’ name. Johnny Appleseed. But most ponies call me Brick.” He said. The RCE trooper, again, showed no interest.
“Right. So, you took on the Fiends single hoofedly?” He asked. Little Pip frowned.
“He may not look like much, but he did save The Valley. Once he killed the Overboss, the other Fiends ran and into your hooves.” The RCE troop sighed and nodded.
“No need to be too humble, Lightbringer. Your contributions also weigh heavily in the fight for the Valley.” Little Pip rubbed her mane a little frustratingly.
“Look, whatever the case is, The Valley is safe.”
“Aside from the property damage.” Mr. Berry chimed in. Little Pip slumped.
“Yes, but Berry Acres was the only place the raiders hit full force. They were so focused on the heart of the Valley, they ignored everything else.” The RCE troop looked grim.
“While you aren’t entirely wrong, The Valley gets hit constantly by raiders. The Fiends were the only ones that managed to do any damage. Speaking of…” he then motioned at Lavender on Brick’s back. “I can’t help but notice the tribal tattoo on that mare. She’s a Fiend.” Little Pip was quick to speak up.
“Wrong, she isn’t. She’s Brick’s friend who happened to be disguised as a Fiend. She did it to survive.” She said. The trooper arched a brow.
“Really? Because I recall that an agent of ours that was in the fight stated that the Lightbringer was making her way with a pony to the Smeltington Factory. Stating that they were looking for someone among the Fiends.” Little Pip tried her best to hide her surprise.
‘Ahh, gore my plot with a horn…’ The RCE trooper looked at Brick.
“So, this is the pony you were looking for?” Brick nodded.
“Eeyup.” He stated. The trooper looked at the stallion.
“You do realize what this means?” Again, Brick nodded.
“Eeyup.” He said. The trooper then saw the challenging look and he returned it. The tension suddenly felt intense.
“You do realize you are going against RCE law. Are you sure you want to do this?” Again, Brick didn’t hesitate.
“If it needs ta’ be done.” Little Pip was about to chime in when Mr. Berry spoke up.
“Now, hold yer’ horses, everypony. ‘Ah think we need a lil’ say in this.” The stout pony waddled up to them. “It is mah’ family ranch.” The trooper didn’t take his eye off Brick.
“Go on.” The RCE trooper stated. Mr. Berry walked up to Brick, patting his shoulder. Brick could feel Lavender shiver.
“This boy ‘ere has done the unbelievable! ‘Ah will tell ya’ on me late mother’s grave that this boy saved mah’ workers. He dealt the blow that chased ‘em off. He’s a bonafide hero.” Brick shifted slightly. “And if it weren’t for his taming of tha’ cyber dogs too, we would’a been skin an’ bones, yessiree.” He then turned and smiled at the stallion. “An’ ‘ah ‘ave never seen a pony tame a wild beast like ‘em. Look at ‘em. He motioned to the cyberdogs, the two-colored balls for the appropriate dogs were being chewed as they sat next to Little Pip. “They’s jus’ puppies, now. An’ ‘ah owe mah’ life to this ‘ere boy.”
The RCE trooper looked at Mr. Berry, wondering when he was going to get to the point. Mr. Berry harumphed.
“An’ a hero deserves a reward. No offense, Lightbringer.” Little Pip coolly wiggled a hoof in a “none taken” motion. “An’ so ‘ah ask ya’, boy. What does our hero of The Valley desire?” Brick didn’t hesitate to look back at the mare. Lavender was exhausted and still terrified. But her eyes met the stallion’s. Such warmth. Such kindness. So full of life. Lavender Violet already knew in her heart what the stallion desired. His home. She was thankful she was wearing silly face paint underneath as it his her cheeks going pink. She then sighed and stepped onto the ground. She then faced the RCE troop.
“I understand wholly of what I was involved in. I… I lost the way for a time. Having to act as one of them just to survive.” She felt a tear trail down her cheek. “The things I’ve seen and the things I had done to stay surviving… I couldn’t… I don’t know what is real or not…” The trooper eyed the mare. She then reached back and undid her tattered cloak, dropping it at the ground and then using the snow to wipe off the face paint. She then shook her head furiously and the trooper and Brick had to shield their muzzles as large amounts of dust and ash rose into the sky off of the mare. Her blonde mane now a faded brown. The curls matted and frizzled. The transformation was quick and there was a tattered and exhausted looking mare. One that Brick couldn’t help but smile and put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder.
Lavender Violet smiled gently and put a hoof over the stallion’s. She took a deep breath and looked at the RCE trooper. “Sir, I renounce the ways of The Fiends and will work the fields to pay for the damages we have caused.” She stated. The RCE trooper growled.
“Under Republic law, a raider of any kind, no matter affiliated or unaffiliated, shall be tried and executed. There is no excuse to the wickedness of the acts.” Little Pip balked.
“That’s just asinine! You’re flexing your power over some conflicting ideal! The Republic is supposed to help ponies, not turn their backs on those in need!” She retorted. The trooper frowned at her.
“I thought better of you, Lightbringer. Considering you are a hero in the Equestrian Wastelands, you aren’t a citizen here in the Empire. So, I’d suggest minding your own reputation.” Little Pip did a double take. Did she just get slapped in the face by her reputation? Brick frowned and stepped in front of Lavender.
“With all due respect, sir. Yer' troops were struggling ta' counter attack. 'Ahm assuming we handed tha' Fiends to yer' ponies when one of their leaders was killed." He eyed the trooper. "'An Lavender has been through six months of hell, fendin' for her life. RCE troopers are aware of tha’ dangers of tha’ Frozen North. ‘Ahm sure you have undercover agents deployed among factions ta’ observe them an’ relay intel. Typical military espionage.” The trooper scowled.
“You have no idea what you are talking about. The Republic is law and that’s final. I won’t hear it from a farmer.” Mr. Berry cleared his throat.
“Now look here, sir. ‘Ah pay yer’ ponies to defend mah’ family’s heritage, The Valley mind you, an’ you deem yourself proper ta’ accuse a pony that has done more than yer’ troops can handle. Now, are we goin’ ta’ discuss this with yer’ superiors? Or ‘ahm ‘ah goin’ ta’ have ta’ find more reliable services? Lightbringer. ‘Ahm sure you have quite a few friends in yer’ war hero days?” Little Pip smiled and nodded.
“I am friends with the head of NCR after waking up. And since they recently made contact with the RCE, I can relay somethings about the faction. If they haven’t already noticed it. I even have a few contacts with oh… I don’t know… half of Equestria?” The trooper did not look pleased by the slight smugness of Little Pip. Mr. Berry turned back to the trooper and clapped his hooves together.
“Well, that settles it, then! Yer’ ponies are free ta’ go whenever ya’ want, ‘general’.” The trooper clicked his tongue and turned around, trotting towards his troopers to relay orders. Lavender and Brick felt a huge wave of relief. Lavender then rested her head on Brick’s shoulder, the exhaustion catching up. But she smiled.
“Thanks for never giving up on finding me.” She said. Brick nodded with a smile in return.
“Knew in mah’ heart you were still kickin’. Even if ‘Ah was told otherwise a few times.” Lavender then furrowed her expression, as if coming to a conclusion. She then looked to Mr. Berry, standing determined.
“Mr. Berry, no amount of gratitude can be given to your generosity. Having renounced my ways, I will put down the rifle and pick up the till. I will work hard to fix the damages the raid caused. If you’ll have me.” Mr. Berry beamed.
“‘Ah’ll be honored!” He replied. Brick stood next to Lavender with the same determination.
“‘Ah too, will pick up tha’ till.” Mr. Berry looked estactic.
“Why, that’s even dandier! ‘Ah remember tha’ letter you writ to ma. Wanted ta’ see the “Walker Among Rows” work his magic!” Lavender and Brick exchanged smiles.
“That, sir, is a mi-ghty-fine idea.” Brick said.
And so the tale of the wandering farmer comes to an end. The Walker Among Rows has put down his rifle and took up the till to work the fields once more. With his past reputation merging with his now current status, Johnny Appleseed gave life to The Valley for years to come.
Lavender Violet, having been saved from her tormenting nightmare, found peace once more with the fields of The Valley. Yet, while the road to healing is a long and treacherous one, her days with the Walker proved to be fruitful and hopeful. Accompanied by her cyber dogs as guardians and helpers, she begins her walk on the Road to Redemption. However, the events she had dealt with, will forever haunt the mare til the day she dies.
With the defeat of Mash Pit, The Fiends had scattered and fell right into an RCE ambush. With the raider’s power and influence no longer a threat, the RCE now can remain focus on another raiding group that is notorious in the Empire. However, the stationed RCE troops during the raid on The Valley have been demoralized. Yet, no change in their position has been affected and newer troops replenished the ranks of those that have given their life to the defense of The Valley. Tensions between the Valley folk and the troops remain at high.
Mr. Berry continued to watch over The Valley, pleased that the conflict had been dealt swiftly. With the Walker’s help, Mr. Berry began to expand his family’s influence beyond the Valley in the coming years. Remaining an inspiration to those, even beyond the Empire.
As for the Lightbringer. Little Pip overlooked the rebuilding of Berry Acres, providing aid when needed. After several weeks, she vanished into the soft blizzard, off on another journey to scout out the Empire. Yet, as she travels the Frozen North alone or with companions, she would also take note of the wandering shade. The ghost that haunts the Empire, relaying a message over and over in the minds of her and those around it.
Walk with Equestria. Walk the Road to Redemption.
Afterwords
Deep in the caves near Ponyville, a grown purple dragon has his eyes focused on the many monitors around him. The dragon, Spike, flicked between screens, ever the silent watcher. He heard a faint sound that made him turn and eye the shadows. From the shadows stepped out a pony. A long brown and tattered duster and straw hat giving off a mysterious aura. Yet, Spike smiled with familiarity in his eyes.
“Been busy, have you?” Spike asked the pony. The pony tipped his straw hat and leaned agains the cave wall.
“The Lightbringer has connected one of the chains.” He stated. Spike nodded.
“I saw. The Valley is quite an interesting place, don’t you think?” He asked with a small smile. The pony gave a small smile back. His glossy eyes remaining straight ahead to the monitors.
“She can’t seem to stop getting herself in trouble. I don’t know what I’m going to do with her when she wakes up.” Spike chuckled.
“Who, Little Pip, or your sister?” The pony bowed his head.
“Who else? I’m sure the Lightbringer has taken notice as well.” Spike shrugged.
“We can ask her now.” He wiggled a joy stick and one monitor showed a distant small figure of a pony, covered head to hoof in winter barding. The pony took notice of the camera and waved a bit. “So! Everything settled in The Valley?” The pony nodded. Spike frowned and looked to the other pony in the room. “Resting her voice?” The pony didn’t make a gesture when replying.
“The data Security provided through her Pip Buck’s data is still jumbled. Little Pip can only do so much behind a screen. At least, her shell can only do so much.” Spike sighed.
“Your father should have let her rest. She did enough. Why was he so hell bent on waking the past? Defiling the rest of war heroes?” The pony, again, didn’t gesture as he spoke.
“He was a complicated pony. Even to this day, I still don’t understand the curse he gave me. The conflict he set up for my sister. Our family’s lineage. He took whatever ambition to his grave.” A voice came through a speaker.
“I think I can answer that.” A monitor flicked to life and the face of Little Pip looked back at Spike. “From what I could find in the database, Courier One had left some interesting memos here. I think he wanted me to find them. He even left an audio clip that the Gardens recorded when he woke me up.” There was a crackling sound and a garbled deep voice broke through.
”So, the tale of the Lightbringer ended here. Interesting.”
There was the sound of something being rummaged through.
”Still breathing. Hm. A tough one. Refuses to die. Perhaps… I can use her to get the message across. Ahh.”
There was a garbled crackling pause before the voice broke through again.
”My daughter. Always one step ahead of me. Even if she doesn’t realize it. Now with the Lightbringer awake, Equestria can be inspired to do the same.”
There were more garbled static before the audio file blipped off. The room was quiet before Little Pip spoke up through the speaker.
“Whatever Courier One planned, he wanted us to see it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have snuck and fought his way up to the Gardens.” She nickered. “I even heard he got past Security herself once.” The pony in the cave with Spike arched a brow.
“You don’t seem upset, considering he invaded the Gardens and wanted you to wake up. For a dead pony, you certainly have alot of energy left in you.” The pony said. Little Pip sighed and bowed her head.
“Unfortunately, this is as much as I can do from beyond the grave. And there are so many candidates for the Gardens, it’s hard to keep track of everything.” She said, exasperated. Spike gave her a reassuring smile.
“Don’t sweat it too much, Pip.” He said. “You’ve done enough already. Just recharge your batteries and let me monitor everything for a while.” Little Pip smiled back from the screen before looking past Spike to the pony in the corner.
“So, how long do you think it is going to be before they wake up? Hopefully, not as abrupt as Courier One’s attempt at waking me up.” The pony smiled under the rim of his hat that covered his face.
“So far, only three have managed to quell the beasts within them. Now they are awake and undergoing training. As for the others, including the Ghost, are still sleeping. Yet, the Ghost is a special case.” He peeked out one glossy eye from under his hat. “So long as the chains remain unattached, the Ghost will keep roaming. And we need to banish the shade to rise her from her slumber.” He then looked at Spike. “You look tired, Watcher.” Spike snorted smoke from his nostrils.
“He’s still out there. I’ve been catching him all over the Empire. And word is that he has been also seen in Dodge. Tenpony, Common Wealth. He’s been everywhere. It’s as if he’s toying with me.” He growled as he looked back to the monitor. He watched as the winter barding pony walked further and further away from the hovering sprite bot. “I won’t rest until he’s completely gone.” The pony pushed himself off the cave wall and turned around, tipping his hat as he looked over his shoulder.
“Then we have alot of work to do. When the Crystal Empire awakes, only then, will we finally, truly rest.”
