Fallout: Equestria (IC)

[Lunas Legion]

"And if you try to take 'em, we'll use them. What happens then, huh? You attack us, we blast you into tiny pieces with the eggs. You die, we lose our main source of protection and die later. We both lose. I give you the eggs, we lose our firepower and die later. We lose again. Come up with a way that means we can survive another year without the massive firepower provided by our little eggs, and I'll think about it."

"How about this, I'll keep them from the Elder's grubby little hooves. That way, he won't use them against you. Deal? Also, if you don't, you'll have more to worry about other than me, and the Steel Rangers. Got it?"

"Still means we don't have the bloody eggs. We need that firepower to stay in the Institute. Give us a replacement to use as a deterrent and I'll consider handing over one or two. I might even throw a B.E.L into the mix if the firepower is good enough."

[The Flutterlands]

"How about this, I'll keep them from the Elder's grubby little hooves. That way, he won't use them against you. Deal? Also, if you don't, you'll have more to worry about other than me, and the Steel Rangers. Got it?"

"Still means we don't have the bloody eggs. We need that firepower to stay in the Institute. Give us a replacement to use as a deterrent and I'll consider handing over one or two. I might even throw a B.E.L into the mix if the firepower is good enough."

"Hmm..." Dark Heart thought about it, "I'll see if the steel rangers may have any goodies for me to give you, in return. 'Cause, we're pretty much low-tech."
Then Dark Heart made a smirk and began to laugh.
"And yet, we were still able to rob you senseless. HA! But, with all seriousness, we will see if the Steel rangers have any goodies to pay you back with, later. Deal?"

[American Anarchist Republic]

Tide rattled and shook the old cola machine, until a dirty bottle with a brown liquid in it popped out. He picked it up, flicked the cap off and took a swig."Ah. Refreshing." He said with a smile as he flew back to the pony he tried to help."Hows ya' friend holding up?" He said to the other one, as he landed and spilt a drop of his drink into the snow.

[Fantrum]

Believing that he had allowed his body enough time to slow down and relax, Thunder Flare cautiously placed his hooves below his body and pushed himself onto all fours. When he did so, some of his remaining blood went rushing towards his head, instantly creating a dizzying sensation. "Ugh...", was all the amber pegasus said in protest against the feeling. After balancing himself out, he lightly nudged Marci with his body in an "I'm-ok" gesture. "Whoa, there, stranger. Ain't anypony say anythin' 'bout attackin' others." Examining the pony in front of him, he wasn't quite sure what to make of the other pegasus. Yet, carefully, he offered his hoof out for a friendly shake. "Anyhow, howdy, I'm Thunder Flare. What's yer name, stranger?"

"Pleasure to meet ya'! Im Rising Tide." He said with a chipper smile. "Welp, I need to get some food." He said as he distracted himself from the strangers and flew into the air, as he began an search from the skies. He began a low sweep through the surrounding buildings, and stopped when he reached a old cola machine.

Marciline leaned close to Thunder, "I advise that we leave. Now." She didnt like the look of the random Pegasus, and his weird attitude kinda freaked her out. She had gathered together that Thunder could fly, but not as fast or as ably as with a full body of blood. She looked the stallion over, and for the first time, realized that she had placed herself in front of danger for him. She hadnt done that for almost anybody, and she had only just met Thunder a day ago! She shook off the feeling and got her mind together.

[Lunas Legion]

"Still means we don't have the bloody eggs. We need that firepower to stay in the Institute. Give us a replacement to use as a deterrent and I'll consider handing over one or two. I might even throw a B.E.L into the mix if the firepower is good enough."

"Hmm..." Dark Heart thought about it, "I'll see if the steel rangers may have any goodies for me to give you, in return. 'Cause, we're pretty much low-tech."
Then Dark Heart made a smirk and began to laugh.
"And yet, we were still able to rob you senseless. HA! But, with all seriousness, we will see if the Steel rangers have any goodies to pay you back with, later. Deal?"

"As much as I hate to say it, for now we have a deal Darky. But you know what happens if we're crossed and you don't want to end up as a nice ash pile on the street, do you?" Gunner chuckled. "Good luck persuading ol' Winestain to agree, you're lucky he didn't shoot your face off."

[The Flutterlands]

"Hmm..." Dark Heart thought about it, "I'll see if the steel rangers may have any goodies for me to give you, in return. 'Cause, we're pretty much low-tech."
Then Dark Heart made a smirk and began to laugh.
"And yet, we were still able to rob you senseless. HA! But, with all seriousness, we will see if the Steel rangers have any goodies to pay you back with, later. Deal?"

"As much as I hate to say it, for now we have a deal Darky. But you know what happens if we're crossed and you don't want to end up as a nice ash pile on the street, do you?" Gunner chuckled. "Good luck persuading ol' Winestain to agree, you're lucky he didn't shoot your face off."

Dark Heart chuckled, "That will depend on wither or not I'm still alive for you to turn to ashes, when this is over. But, I'll try to stay alive long enough to do my end of the bargain. Now, the Balefire eggs?"

[American Anarchist Republic]

"Pleasure to meet ya'! Im Rising Tide." He said with a chipper smile. "Welp, I need to get some food." He said as he distracted himself from the strangers and flew into the air, as he began an search from the skies. He began a low sweep through the surrounding buildings, and stopped when he reached a old cola machine.

Marciline leaned close to Thunder, "I advise that we leave. Now." She didnt like the look of the random Pegasus, and his weird attitude kinda freaked her out. She had gathered together that Thunder could fly, but not as fast or as ably as with a full body of blood. She looked the stallion over, and for the first time, realized that she had placed herself in front of danger for him. She hadnt done that for almost anybody, and she had only just met Thunder a day ago! She shook off the feeling and got her mind together.

"Oh, and by the way, I recomend you get him inside somewhere so he can heal up without much stress." He said as he began trotting off into the distance. Ya' did q good job Tide, you did a good job. He thought as his hoofsteps crushed the snow underneath. He took another swig off his cola, and went off on his way.

[Lunas Legion]

"As much as I hate to say it, for now we have a deal Darky. But you know what happens if we're crossed and you don't want to end up as a nice ash pile on the street, do you?" Gunner chuckled. "Good luck persuading ol' Winestain to agree, you're lucky he didn't shoot your face off."

Dark Heart chuckled, "That will depend on wither or not I'm still alive for you to turn to ashes, when this is over. But, I'll try to stay alive long enough to do my end of the bargain. Now, the Balefire eggs?"

Gunner shook his head. "We give the eggs once you bring the tech. Not before, only once I've seen what we're getting and have tested it. You might try and cheat us after all, and we better be getting a damn good deal for those little balls of destruction."

[The Flutterlands]

Dark Heart chuckled, "That will depend on wither or not I'm still alive for you to turn to ashes, when this is over. But, I'll try to stay alive long enough to do my end of the bargain. Now, the Balefire eggs?"

Gunner shook his head. "We give the eggs once you bring the tech. Not before, only once I've seen what we're getting and have tested it. You might try and cheat us after all, and we better be getting a damn good deal for those little balls of destruction."

Dark Heart simply smiled, "I'll see what I can do. Nice chatting with ya, 'Gunny'."
The griffin turned to his clan.
"Alright, let's move out. Hopefully the elder will be generous, for their sake. Now, let's take flight!"
Dark Heart lead the clan away from the institute. He hopes that the elder will understand the situation at stake. Who knows, if he pulls this off, maybe he could help heal some old wounds in the relationship of the rangers.

When the clan retuned to the phoenix building, Dark Heart told the elder everything that has happened between the AJ rangers and the clan.

[Fralinia]

Bright had followed Crossfire to the house where they had set up shop. When he had seen the damage done by the explosions, he immediately kicked into high gear.
"Crossfire, if we want to keep using this house as a base of operations, I'm going to need some willing ponies and a fair amount of material. That roof wasn't in the best of shape anyway, see, now it's sagging down and there's cracks running through the walls all over. I'd say that this place is close to falling down any minute. Get those guards out of there."
Bright turned to Sulphur. "How are you feeling today? Still cold?"

[Socialist Shadow Republic]

Marciline leaned close to Thunder, "I advise that we leave. Now." She didnt like the look of the random Pegasus, and his weird attitude kinda freaked her out. She had gathered together that Thunder could fly, but not as fast or as ably as with a full body of blood. She looked the stallion over, and for the first time, realized that she had placed herself in front of danger for him. She hadnt done that for almost anybody, and she had only just met Thunder a day ago! She shook off the feeling and got her mind together.

"Oh, and by the way, I recomend you get him inside somewhere so he can heal up without much stress." He said as he began trotting off into the distance. Ya' did q good job Tide, you did a good job. He thought as his hoofsteps crushed the snow underneath. He took another swig off his cola, and went off on his way.

Thunder Flare, while happy to get know other ponies, agreed with Marci's sentiment. This Rising Tide had acted quite peculiarly. But, before he could respond, the pegasus from before came swooping back in, this time with a soda bottle. Thankfully, all the pegasus had come to do was offer advice. And, then, Rising Tide turned and left. Facing his alicorn companion, Thunder teased her. "Aww, Marci, ya scared the poor fella' off." Chuckling mildly at his own joke, he turned back towards Moon Tower and began to trot through the currently thin layer of snow. He would much prefer flying. But, it was obvious that wasn't going to happen. Well, that is, unless he really wanted to press his anti-splatter luck. "Hey, Dar-err-Marci," he started, a sheepish smile beginning to manifest on his face. "Where should we head to, now¿"

[New Willow]

Bright had followed Crossfire to the house where they had set up shop. When he had seen the damage done by the explosions, he immediately kicked into high gear.
"Crossfire, if we want to keep using this house as a base of operations, I'm going to need some willing ponies and a fair amount of material. That roof wasn't in the best of shape anyway, see, now it's sagging down and there's cracks running through the walls all over. I'd say that this place is close to falling down any minute. Get those guards out of there."
Bright turned to Sulphur. "How are you feeling today? Still cold?"

Sulphur's eyes were still red for the few tears she shed for the pony she didn't know. She looked up at Bright; trying to recompose herself.

"I-I'll be fine, I have to get use to the cold sooner or later right?" She responded, in a downed voice. The cold still nipping away at her.

She looked around; not paying much attention to the new... thing? She would have been freaked out by its appearance, but she's already seen burnt ponies, lion bird's, and other undesirables. 'Should I tell him now, or later?' She delved into thought. 'Don't be stupid; a pony died, the closest thing you have to a home was attacked, and the only thing you can think of is romance? She countered herself. She sighed looking at the ground, before looking back up at Bright.

"...Anything I can do to help?" She looked over at Crossfire, and back to where the dead pony was. Today wasn't shaping out all that well.

[The Flutterlands]

The trio were silent, staring at the crime scene. After hearing what Bounty had to say about Pitch being the true culprit. They instantly realized that they just got themselves caught in another war. But, they were ready to fight. After all, it's just one unicorn versus an entire party of Zeolites, a bounty hunter, and themselves. The Unicorn is alone, and that's what matters. Still, today is a dark day indeed. Two, of them in a row. What is the world coming to?

[American Anarchist Republic]

Tide kept on trotting, untill his stomach felt wierd. He put his hand up to his mouth and coughed blood. He could barely mak it out from his red mane."Aw Shit.Aw Shit!AW SHIT!" He whispered as he began coughing heavily. "Aw, Shi-" He stop mid-sentance, when he looked at his cola and collapsed, his bottle broke, breaking the silence with loud noise. He began coughing up more blood, contrasting the white snow.

[Fantrum]

Marciline leaned close to Thunder, "I advise that we leave. Now." She didnt like the look of the random Pegasus, and his weird attitude kinda freaked her out. She had gathered together that Thunder could fly, but not as fast or as ably as with a full body of blood. She looked the stallion over, and for the first time, realized that she had placed herself in front of danger for him. She hadnt done that for almost anybody, and she had only just met Thunder a day ago! She shook off the feeling and got her mind together.

"Oh, and by the way, I recomend you get him inside somewhere so he can heal up without much stress." He said as he began trotting off into the distance. Ya' did q good job Tide, you did a good job. He thought as his hoofsteps crushed the snow underneath. He took another swig off his cola, and went off on his way.

Thunder Flare, while happy to get know other ponies, agreed with Marci's sentiment. This Rising Tide had acted quite peculiarly. But, before he could respond, the pegasus from before came swooping back in, this time with a soda bottle. Thankfully, all the pegasus had come to do was offer advice. And, then, Rising Tide turned and left. Facing his alicorn companion, Thunder teased her. "Aww, Marci, ya scared the poor fella' off." Chuckling mildly at his own joke, he turned back towards Moon Tower and began to trot through the currently thin layer of snow. He would much prefer flying. But, it was obvious that wasn't going to happen. Well, that is, unless he really wanted to press his anti-splatter luck. "Hey, Dar-err-Marci," he started, a sheepish smile beginning to manifest on his face. "Where should we head to, now¿"

Marciline began trotting down the oppisite street that Tide had taken. "I seem to have that effect. You should have been there in Shady Sands when I first met Aradesh." She laughed to herself, "I nearly got shot! Of course-" She takes a long look at something off in the distance, "Back then, my race meant something to the effect of impending doom." She perks up again, "Thanks to this one stable dweller though, they didnt kill me outright, even started making us citizens later on." She felt good discussing her past with Thunder, like a pressure in her mind was slowly being released. She stopped, "Wait, you dont even know what the New Canterlot Republic is, do you?" Looking at the Pegasus stallion.

[The Flutterlands]

-snip-

[Socialist Shadow Republic]

Marciline began trotting down the oppisite street that Tide had taken. "I seem to have that effect. You should have been there in Shady Sands when I first met Aradesh." She laughed to herself, "I nearly got shot! Of course-" She takes a long look at something off in the distance, "Back then, my race meant something to the effect of impending doom." She perks up again, "Thanks to this one stable dweller though, they didnt kill me outright, even started making us citizens later on." She felt good discussing her past with Thunder, like a pressure in her mind was slowly being released. She stopped, "Wait, you dont even know what the New Canterlot Republic is, do you?" Looking at the Pegasus stallion.

Trotting through the snow, the cold nipping at his hoofs, Thunder listened intently to Marci. Thinking for a moment, Thunder Flare shrugged at Marci. "Can't say I do. Back home it's pretty isolated. That, an' I'm the youngest; muh siblin's like t' tease me an' keep me in the dark." Sighing at the thought of back home, he explained, "haha, I've been away no more than two days an' I'm already homesick." As the two continued, he confided in Marci the type of farm he lived on, what it was like, how many and who his siblings were, their quirks and oddities, and memories he had shared with them.

"Hehe, one time, when I was young, I went out wanderin' 'bout. An' guess what I run int'? A manticore cub. Now, when they're lil' 'uns they're cute an' cuddly. So, naturally, me an' it have a good ol' time playin' 'round. Well, jus' as a couple a' muh brothers find me, so does the momma manticore. Haha, the dang thing would've ripped me t' shreds had muh brothers not fought it off." He was thankful for somepony else to talk to other than his own family. Realizing something, the pegasus told Marci, "ya know, you're the first pony I've ever met 'sides muh brothers an' sisters."

[American Anarchist Republic]

Tide barely managed to get himself, as he still coughed blood when he stepped on a shard of glass from the bottle."GAH! God damn...Never..drink a..." He mumbled as he stumbled around, cringing with each step. He barely made it into an alleyway when he vomited. He leaned against a old building as he smeared with his own blood.

[Das Metro]

Opium turned to look at the Pony who had just seated herself next to him. He stared for a moment with a slight twinge of concern. Opium could tell this Filly was definitely on the younger side, so without the usual verve and charm, Opium spoke in an interested and perhaps a bit paternal tone, "Oh uh, hey kid, you alright? You're looking a little worried. Are you coming down from something? If thats the case, sorry, I don't sell to foals." He frowned and looked back to his soup. The Dash high was long gone and he felt inadvertently sore all over. He felt like he needed a Ment-al too, and a cigarette.

Thistle shook her head, "I'm alright, thank you... i-its been quite the run since I fled from my owners in Baltimare and I'm sore all over." The filly replied, conveying a nervous tone to her voice as she tried covering her massive revolvers with her small shaking wings. The HUD of Thistle's spectacles flashed red momentarily before dissipating, she couldn't really read, but knew that the pony was taking some sort of drug. Thistle hated drugs, they made her life miserable, the only good they did was the flood of Med-x to numb the pain of having her forehooves ripped off. Her experiences as a slave has shaken her, if she were to die now, she was glad to do it as a unshackled pony.

These thoughts of the past have flooded her conscious, she held back tears as she was completely withdrawn from reality, "I'm Thistle Whistle... No longer property of Skylord Aeolus..." she whimpered.

Opium glared at her with an analytical stare. So, this filly was an escaped slave. Oh, this was just too good, Opium smiled and chuckled, looking at his half full bowl of soup. His hometown was a days trot to the west, he had planned on going there. Opium vaguely remembered the name. Dirt, or something like that on account of how damn dirty it was. Opium thought the name was stupid, but with this filly, he had other things on his mind. He stuck a cigarette between his teeth, his last one, and lit it absent mindly. Opium blew smoke for a moment before looking down at Thistle. He gave a comforting smile.

He set the bowl down and puffed more smoke as the cigarette set him at ease. "Your a slave? Escaped I presume. I can smell your fear." Opium stared at her with a straight face before smiling jokingly and giggling, "Nah, I'm kidding, but you sound like a nervous wreck, which is understandable if you are actually an escaped slave. I'd be pretty nervous y'know, especially if I was sitting next to me." Opium paused, "My name is Opium High! Or as my friends in Dirt call me, 'That Psychopath'. Mhm... Mhm... Y'know Thistle you have no idea how many caps I could make by taking you home to Dirt. Who were your handlers before you were sold?"

[Das Metro]

No Name got shakily to his legs and trotted in place for a moment to get used to walking with the wound. After a moment he turned to Eris and decidedlt ignored her questio about Hellborn's frantic monologue, "No, its alright, nothing lasts forever. I needed to let Timberwolf go anyways. I don't want any more reminders to distract me from my new job. Why don't we just go back to Moon Tower and be happy, getting a cutiemark deserves celebration doesn't it?" Though his words were happy, his voice wasn't. As it trailed onto the bit about the Cutiemark it held a certain animosity, a bitterness. No Name absently turned to Ruby and felt the cut on the side of his head and took a step away from her, "No, I want to keep this. Its not too deep, but it'll still scar. I want something to remember when I think of Pitch Black."

Eris stubbornly rejected No Name's resignation. "Still, could fetch a nice price." She looked into the colt's eyes, "Let me tell you something about cutie marks," She motions to her flank, pulling away her saddlebags to reveal the tornado with a house flying around it. "They dont determine your destiny" She let the bags fall back into place, "You are what you make of yourself." She turned to Ruby, "I dont believe I caught your name." She was about to continue, but something caught her eye. Looking though Ruby, she grabs Ruby's head and moves it just out of the way, getting a better look at the thing. She squints as she marches around the pony. As she neared, she found that her suspicions were correct, and she jumped around the bend to find!... A passed out Zebra? 'Well thats anticlimactic.' She thought as she approaches the sleeping? form. She moved to jab a hoof at the zebra, but as she trotted forward, she found a nice patch of ice and went flying forwards, landing in a heap on the poor Zebra.

No Name shrugged and trailed off for a moment as Hellborn returned to his head, "You are going to find Pitch Black right?"

No Name nodded to himself, "Yes."

Hellborn gave a satisfied purr, "Good. Good. I want him. I want to taste his rotted hide, I want to partake of his blo-"

No Name interrupted him, "We are going to swiftly bring justice to him. That is all."

Hellborn groaned, "You're no fun..."

No Name sighed and turned to see Eris and a... Zebra. He raised an eyebrow and moved protectively to Eris' side. No Name shot Katai a look and then returned his icy gaze to the ground.

[The Moon States]

Eris stubbornly rejected No Name's resignation. "Still, could fetch a nice price." She looked into the colt's eyes, "Let me tell you something about cutie marks," She motions to her flank, pulling away her saddlebags to reveal the tornado with a house flying around it. "They dont determine your destiny" She let the bags fall back into place, "You are what you make of yourself." She turned to Ruby, "I dont believe I caught your name." She was about to continue, but something caught her eye. Looking though Ruby, she grabs Ruby's head and moves it just out of the way, getting a better look at the thing. She squints as she marches around the pony. As she neared, she found that her suspicions were correct, and she jumped around the bend to find!... A passed out Zebra? 'Well thats anticlimactic.' She thought as she approaches the sleeping? form. She moved to jab a hoof at the zebra, but as she trotted forward, she found a nice patch of ice and went flying forwards, landing in a heap on the poor Zebra.

No Name shrugged and trailed off for a moment as Hellborn returned to his head, "You are going to find Pitch Black right?"

No Name nodded to himself, "Yes."

Hellborn gave a satisfied purr, "Good. Good. I want him. I want to taste his rotted hide, I want to partake of his blo-"

No Name interrupted him, "We are going to swiftly bring justice to him. That is all."

Hellborn groaned, "You're no fun..."

No Name sighed and turned to see Eris and a... Zebra. He raised an eyebrow and moved protectively to Eris' side. No Name shot Katai a look and then returned his icy gaze to the ground.

Noticing the other pony around her Katai shot a smile and bounded over to him in a single bound. "Hello pony male, I hope you have much to tell. My name is Katai I hop you will grace me with thy's" Katai spoke enthusiastically with a smile and offered a hoof to both No Name and Eris while standing up.

[Das Metro]

No Name shrugged and trailed off for a moment as Hellborn returned to his head, "You are going to find Pitch Black right?"

No Name nodded to himself, "Yes."

Hellborn gave a satisfied purr, "Good. Good. I want him. I want to taste his rotted hide, I want to partake of his blo-"

No Name interrupted him, "We are going to swiftly bring justice to him. That is all."

Hellborn groaned, "You're no fun..."

No Name sighed and turned to see Eris and a... Zebra. He raised an eyebrow and moved protectively to Eris' side. No Name shot Katai a look and then returned his icy gaze to the ground.

Noticing the other pony around her Katai shot a smile and bounded over to him in a single bound. "Hello pony male, I hope you have much to tell. My name is Katai I hop you will grace me with thy's" Katai spoke enthusiastically with a smile and offered a hoof to both No Name and Eris while standing up.

No Name looked up and stared at Katai's hoof with an impassive glance. He smiled apologetically and stood stoic, "Forgive me if I don't shake hooves. My name is Jury, I would hope you have a clean conscience Miss Katai." 'Jury' nodded and returned his eyes to the snow below.

[Fantrum]

Noticing the other pony around her Katai shot a smile and bounded over to him in a single bound. "Hello pony male, I hope you have much to tell. My name is Katai I hop you will grace me with thy's" Katai spoke enthusiastically with a smile and offered a hoof to both No Name and Eris while standing up.

No Name looked up and stared at Katai's hoof with an impassive glance. He smiled apologetically and stood stoic, "Forgive me if I don't shake hooves. My name is Jury, I would hope you have a clean conscience Miss Katai." 'Jury' nodded and returned his eyes to the snow below.

Eris shook the Zebra's hoof, with much more vigor this time, and shot a quizzical look at No Name. She decided that she would let it slide until they were in a more private setting. Turning to Ruby and addressing the entire group, "Come on everypon-" She caught herself, "Everyone, lets walk away from this place." She shuttered at the sight of the hanging stallion and the reek that was coming from the scattering of shacks. She started off down the street, and hoped everyone would follow. As it were, she had never had such an assortment of acquaintances before. "So, Katai, what is it that you have come so far north for?" She attempted to strike up idle conversation.

[Fantrum]

Marciline began trotting down the oppisite street that Tide had taken. "I seem to have that effect. You should have been there in Shady Sands when I first met Aradesh." She laughed to herself, "I nearly got shot! Of course-" She takes a long look at something off in the distance, "Back then, my race meant something to the effect of impending doom." She perks up again, "Thanks to this one stable dweller though, they didnt kill me outright, even started making us citizens later on." She felt good discussing her past with Thunder, like a pressure in her mind was slowly being released. She stopped, "Wait, you dont even know what the New Canterlot Republic is, do you?" Looking at the Pegasus stallion.

Trotting through the snow, the cold nipping at his hoofs, Thunder listened intently to Marci. Thinking for a moment, Thunder Flare shrugged at Marci. "Can't say I do. Back home it's pretty isolated. That, an' I'm the youngest; muh siblin's like t' tease me an' keep me in the dark." Sighing at the thought of back home, he explained, "haha, I've been away no more than two days an' I'm already homesick." As the two continued, he confided in Marci the type of farm he lived on, what it was like, how many and who his siblings were, their quirks and oddities, and memories he had shared with them.

"Hehe, one time, when I was young, I went out wanderin' 'bout. An' guess what I run int'? A manticore cub. Now, when they're babies they're cute an' cuddly. So, naturally, me an' it have a good ol' time playin' 'round. Well, jus' as a couple a' muh brothers find me, so does the momma manticore. Haha, the dang thing would've ripped me t' shreds had muh brothers not fought it off." He was thankful for somepony else to talk to other than his own family. Realizing something, the pegasus told Marci, "ya know, you're the first pony I've ever met 'sides muh brothers an' sisters."

Marciline listened to Thunder's tale about his life, asking only a few questions. She particularly enjoyed the bit about the manticore. While the alicorn knew that they were heading into a random direction that was carrying them into the heart of the blasted out city, she didnt care. Honestly, she loved the chance to just slow down and talk, as it seemed there never were enough of those moments in the past. "Well, Im glad it was me, anyone else might have been a bad influence!" She joked, "I bet I could spin a few tales of my adventures." She stopped, looking sheepish, "If you want to hear them..." She trailed off shyly.

[Neo Byzantine Empire]

Crossfire cleared the Rubble out of an old houses doorway; ponies clearing the larger, central manor which served as their former base of operations; now condemned in the wake of the attack. She sighed; feeling so powerless, incapable of protecting a subordinate... No, more than that; a companion. None of these ponies were bound to her by anything other than their will, and she knew this. They might have found themselves moved in some way by her charisma, but in the end it was their choice and their choice alone whether or not to follow... Much like it was her choice whether to dwell or ensure the hardship and sacrifice they'd all endured for so long would not be in vain.

"Everypony..." She answered, turning to the crowd gathered around the corpse, and newcomer from distant lands. "Find yourself a project and get to work. There are plenty of buildings that need rubble cleared, buildings that need to be made livable; do not waste the materiel either, as we can use it later. I'll take care of our guest." She said, approaching the Buffalo and bowing her head respectfully. "Welcome, traveler. What brings you to this corner of Tartarus we are trying to tame?"