Chapter 31 Luck of the Draw

Orange Juice

I had chosen to go with my friends, and seeing the look on Poptart's face as we had left camp earlier, I think he had appreciated the faith I'd shown in him. Well that was just the way the Fort did things! He had become my friend, and we didn't turn our backs on a friend. I couldn't have chosen to go with them because that would have meant I didn't trust them. He was our friend now, so that meant treating him that way.

I knew the Guardian didn't reciprocate those thoughts. He would probably take them out if they even thought about going raider pony again. But I knew that they wouldn't, and I also knew that I could be the one to change the Guardian's mind. I would convince him, just like I always did.

Now we had a task to focus on. Our groups had all split off a couple hours ago. I had a radio in my power saddle, and I knew that the Guardian was close by, but it felt like a million miles.

The city itself felt dead. It was quiet, and so completely different than when I had gone through it so many weeks ago. Even a month ago, when I had first left the Stable, it had been lively in its own way. Now it was just dead silence. It was scary and chilling. All around the black husks of old skyscrapers loomed up into the cloudy sky. Shadows had fallen over everything, making the air cold.

Shivering, I realized just how cold it was. The power saddle had insulated heating, but the cold was pressing. I couldn't turn the heat high enough to keep it at bay. I wish I had a real saddle! It would keep me warmer than this hunk of metal! I pouted.

It had sprinkled earlier, and now I was waiting for it to rain. I was waiting in dread though, because with a heavy rainstorm came thunder and lightning, and I hated thunder and lightning! It was like the sky was angry at me! I kept glancing up as though to make sure it wasn't raining.

"Don't be a worry wart!" Pumpkin Spice came bouncing along next to me to cheer me up. I smiled gratefully at her.

"I just really don't like thunder."

Pumpkin waved me off, "Oh, it's not gonna be that kinda rain storm! Silly!" she stuck her tongue out at me.

"How can you tell?" I looked at the sky again, trying to see what she meant.

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise!" she screeched, and I laughed because I had no idea what she was talking about. She bolted off, to talk to one of the accompanying soldiers in our group.

"She's a wild one," Wonder smirked, and I glanced over my shoulder at him.

"I'm not exactly sure how she's gonna fight." I tilted my head, observing the pilot pony.

"Oh, don't forget Orange Juice, she has her ways." Wonder laughed, and as he came up next to me, he bumped hips with me.

"Oh hush Wonderbolt," I blushed at him. "You're making me blush."

"I like making cute colts blush," he winked.

Good thing I had on my power saddle, otherwise he would've seen my face turn from an orange to an apple.

Next thing I knew, we were coming up on a large circular building. "Ok, listen up soldiers," said the Guardian over the radio, "this is just one leg of our journey. Welcome to the Bittsberg Public Library."

"Once we're inside, I want everypony to fan out. This building is large. We have reason to believe there's a small outpost of ashlings within so take caution. We need to take out any enemies within, so fire at will." were the instructions the Guardian gave.

"Who's ready for this?" I asked with a shaky voice.

Pumpkin Spice shot into the air in front of me, as though she'd been fired from a cannon, "I was born ready!"

"You can say that again," said Wonder. The other two soldiers in our group nodded affirmative.

"Then I'm ready too!" I nodded, and together, we marched toward the library.

We had come across a little side entrance, but upon trying the handle, we found the door was locked. Good thing we had a demolitions expert on our team. He was a unicorn stallion, and when he placed the device he tapped his horn to it. It must be magical! Then he gestured for us all to get back, and moved back himself. We took cover behind some broken down generators at the rear of the lot, then watched as a flare from the unicorn's horn caused the device to trigger and explode, blowing the door off its hinges.

"Whoa!" I gasped, "That was so freaking awesome!" I cheered.

"Damn straight," said the unicorn.

Wonder smirked over his shoulder as he was the first one in, "We'll just call on you when we need you to light something up."

"Nothing special," he shrugged.

Wonder disappeared into the building. Pumpkin Spice was next to follow, then me, and the two soldiers on our tail. They would cover our flanks. Inside it was dark and gloomy. The air felt even colder in here than it did outside. So much for the power saddle's insulation. Maybe it was broken, I mean it was old.

"Colt, is that air permeating. It's like they fixed the AC!" Pumpkin Spice was shivering, her whole body shaking, and even her goggles vibrating.

The further in we went the darker it got. Our hoofsteps echoed off the thick white walls. I was getting creeped out, but I knew I had to be brave. I took in a deep breath as we rounded the next corner, coming to a door. Be brave OJ, you're safe with your friends. I told myself. But I think I remembered another time I had to be brave, and the darkness there had been just as deep.

The sound of the door to my cell sliding open with a hiss of air awoke me. My eyes focused on the cold gray ceiling above me. Just then, my blanket, as thin as it was, was stripped from me. The cold air surrounded me in an embrace that I wasn't ready for. I rolled over to come face to face with a red mare. I knew her face, and it was too many times that I had to see it. I winced, trying not to whimper.

"Rise and shine buck." she snipped. "I got something for ya, and I think you're gonna like it." she smirked.

"Come on, I-I just woke up!" I gasped. "I'm tired! 5 more minutes!" I complained.

"What kinda little kid are ya!? Listen here colt, I ain't your mom, and if I have to tell you twice you're not gonna like what I do to ya!" Tide snapped at me. She had bark to her bite. I didn't wanna end up seeing her bite.

"Yes ma'am! S-sorry ma'am!" I shot up, and fumbled to get out of bed. My struggle caused me to trip as I got up and I fell face forward straight into Tide herself! "Oh no!"

I landed on top of her and her face was twisted in anger, "What in Stable 28 do you think you're doing? Get your backside of a donkey off me!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I repeated, this time cowering as she stood over me. But she surprised me when she smiled.

Sighing she said, "Colt, you're fine. Tonight's special. You know why?"

"Nuh-uh," I gulped.

"I'll tell you, but why don't you come with me first?" she looked evil as she left the room smiling. The door remained open.

"A-am I on queue?" I called into the corridor, but when I peered outside my cell, nopony was around. I looked back and forth, checking the hall for guards. But this was Tide we were talking about.

I glanced up at a camera that was watching me closely, a red light in its eye blinking. "Well hey there mister eyeball!" I beamed up at it. "I think today's a special day!" it would've asked me why if it had had a mouth, I just know it! "Oh, well, I don't actually know why it's special mister eyeball. Except Miss Tide asked me to come with her, so I gotta go now!" I giggled to myself as I waved bye-bye to the camera, then galloped off in the direction I thought the red devil mare had gone.

I reached a doorway and a voice in my Pip-Buck stated, "Access granted." that was strange. But I bet Tide had gone this way! Inside the access tunnel, the lights were dim. The tunnel was long, and led straight away. I trotted, keeping my head held high. I knew this was Tide in question, so I'm not sure why I galloped so freely to my doom, but I knew I had to be brave. I always was.

"Tide? You there? I'm not sure where you went!" I called, one hoof to my mouth. I put my hoof down on the icy flooring, stopping and glancing around. The door leading to the cell block had closed, and the light shone red. It was super far away, and I'm not certain, but I think red meant it was locked.

"Hey, get a move on! I don't got all day!" yelled a certain mare, from way up ahead. It seemed that the hallway twisted up ahead, but I couldn't tell if that was the shadows playing tricks on me, or if it actually curved rightward.

"Silly shadows," I giggled, "tricks are for kids! Can't you just point me in the right direction?" Almost immediately the lights snapped on, making a loud banging echo along the metal walk. My heart skipped a beat, and my smile wavered, "Um, I'm not sure I expected you to answer…"

I shook myself off, 'Be brave,' I told myself once again. The further I went, however, the more prominently I could feel my heart pound against my chest. "Tide?!" I called.

"Hey! Shove off!" I heard a voice. I glanced in the direction I'd heard it come from, a small side corridor. I think the voice belonged to a stallion.

"What's it to you? You're mine, beneath me, so you have to do what I say."

"Not right here, leave me alone!" I heard a cry from him.

"Listen to your masters you piece of manure!" shouted a second mare, her voice more shrill.

I took a step toward the corridor. "UP!" snapped Tide, suddenly right next to me. I jumped around, facing her. "What in tartarus do you think you're doing now?"

"I-I…"

"We're out in the middle of the hallway! Anypony could find us here! Come on…!" the stallion sounded desperate.

"I have to help him!" I cried, spinning on my hooves and running for it. 'Be brave, be brave!' I repeated to myself, trying to get it clear in my head. Tide behind me had tried to snap her teeth at my tail, but she'd missed.

"Get your ass back here! You're asking for it!"

"I know…" I had no idea what I was thinking, but I knew I didn't like hearing that stallion cry like that. I ran full speed ahead until I came to two mares, beating on one lonely stallion.

He looked up at me. On the floor, he lay covered in bruises from where the mares were kicking on him. He was crying now, and looked at me with pleading eyes.

"What do you want?" snapped the first mare, a light pink, almost white.

"I-I…" I couldn't break eye contact with the poor stallion. "Leave him alone!" I yelled.

"What the hell?" snapped the blue mare, her horn sharp as a knife. "Why don't you go back to whoever queued you, or we'll give you the beat down too."

I closed my eyes tight, gritting my teeth, "I. Said. Leave. Him. Alone!" I don't know where I summoned up the courage, but with each word, I took one hard step forward.

"Oh yeah? Or what? We'll have you whipped." said the pink mare.

"Yeah! By Tide, too," said the blue one.

"Ho-ly SHIT." came the angry burst from said Tide. "Who the hell do you think you are?" at first I thought she was talking to me, then when she shoved past me I realized with a start that she was in fact talking to the two mares. "You would use my name to threaten MY queue? How dare you! And I'm taking him to the bucking dance tonight. You pieces of trash!"

I widened my eyes at the same time as the two mares did. "T-T-Tide!" the first gasped with a stammer.

"We didn't realize you were along," the second took a step back.

Tide looked down at the stallion on the floor, "Oh colt." she shook her head, bearing a creased grin, "You attacked this stallion?"

"Um, yes," said the pinkish white mare. "Isn't that okay? He disobeyed us."

"Normally, I'd be fine with it. But as the dance is tonight, I think it's disgusting. You should be getting this guy all spruced up so you can make yourselves look better, instead, you've used him to his last drop and tossed him out. And guess what? Your bucking queue has expired, meaning you've got nopony to take with you tonight. Now you've done it!"

I didn't get it. Tide was never this worked up, especially over one of us. And I had especially expected her to lash out at me, not the mares. What was so important about this dance, and why was she acting so strange?

"Hey Tide? Are you feeling okay?"

"SCRAM! BEFORE I SCRAMBLE YOU!"

"Oh shit, run!" said the blue mare and in a rush, both mares were gone.

"Damn…" Tide sighed. She glanced down at the hurt stallion. "Listen bub, that was a one time thing. Especially since you'll be decommissioned before the next dance for sure. I'm all for kinks and getting it on in a fun place like out here. But today? No bucking way! They crossed a line." she looked around. Then her eyes landed on me. She took a step toward me and I immediately through up a hoof to deflect a blow from her. But instead she put something in my hoof. "Here kid, give it to him. Say it's from you." she spoke quietly so he couldn't here, then she glanced over her shoulder at him.

"Oh! O-Okay," I nodded vigorously before I handed the health potion bottle to him. "H-hey, I brought this for you."

"W-why'd you come for me?" he gasped, choking down the liquid.

"Because you were hurting and it isn't fair!" I pouted.

"Life isn't fair," said Tide, "but today's too important to mess up. Now come on. Before I lose my patience. We've wasted way too much time already.

"Ok!" I nodded, and was about to bound after her when I heard the stallion say something. I turned to him.

"Sheesh, am I lucky." he tried to smile. He had pretty green eyes, that matched his beautiful green coat.

"Bye Green!" I giggled, then rushed off.

"I think today's gonna be more than bravery," I glanced around, "but together, we have all the luck we need." I don't know why I had thought of it, but as friends, I knew we were stronger together. I could be braver around them.

"Luck? What's luck got to do with anything?" Pumpkin Spice cocked her head.

That's when Wonder opened a door, "Inner Atrium," he read a sign as he crossed the threshold. We all went in after him, coming onto a balcony.

I rushed over to the railing, looking into the room. Up above was a glass ceiling, and way way down below was a shiny marble floor. It depicted the image of two mares reaching for the sky, between them, a globe. I wonder what it was all about.

That's when I noticed that the floor was thick with shadows, and in the center of the room stood two ponies, both wearing dark cloaks. The far wall was the center of their attention, where tall bookcases could be seen. One held a book in front of himself, but the book was afloat on dark colored energy. The shadows themselves!

At the sound of the door shutting, the free cloaked figure turned to us. He whispered to his companion, then lowered his hood, "Well, well, well, aren't we lucky?"

"Lucky?" Pumpkin Spice cocked her head again, "Seriously, what does luck have to do with anything?!"

I put my forehooves up on the rail, "Who are you?!" I called down to them.

"Who are we?" the one carrying the book glanced over to his partner. Making eye contact with me, he lowered his hood. A shaggy black mane fell out, one eye covered by his bangs. The eye we could see was a dark red in color, like blood. The first stallion had a spiky blonde mane, his eyes a deep blue. Both were unicorns with tall curved horns.

"My name is Stingray," said the white haired unicorn. There was a smile on Stingray's face. He looked immensely pleased.

"And I Rogue," stated the black haired unicorn. "We are the Twin Dragons of the Circle of Ash." he had his eyes narrowed, a dark look on his face.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" I called down to Stingray and Rogue. "What book is that?" I smiled down at the two.

"Why do you think we should tell you that?! Do you think I'm stupid?" yelled Stingray. "Funny!"

"Dragons?" Pumpkin laughed, "But dragons have wings!"

"On the contrary, we are dragon slayers," said Rogue.

"But are dragons even real?" I asked him.

"Of COURSE they are!" Pumpkin laughed even harder, "Don't be silly OJ!"

"Not a single pony has seen em though! Ever!" said Wonder.

"I have," said Stingray. "I've killed one."

"Yeah right," Pumpkin Spice guffawed, almost like she was gonna burst. Then to my complete surprise she actually did! Into a confetti bomb, the strands of paper and glitter flying everywhere.

"Do you wanna taste of our power, to prove it to ya?!" yelled Stingray.

"Ha! Go for it!" said Pumpkin Spice, who was standing right next to me. "Should be a piece of cake!" I noticed she was actually eating a piece of cake.

"Where did you get that?" I asked, pointing at it.

"Hey, Pumpkin, are you sure it's a good idea to tell them it'd be easy to take us out?" Wonder asked her.

"No, why do you ask?" she was licking frosting from her hoof.

"Well, ya know, kuz I think we can take em on just fine." he winked at her.

"Big talk, coming from a small pony."

"Pfft," Wonder chuckled, "I'm sure I'm way bigger than you." he planted a hoof on the floor, and I noticed the spikes he liked to wear.

"Hehe," I giggled.

"Good catch OJ, not sure you would've caught my drift there," Wonder winked at me.

"Your drift?"

Pumpkin slid up between the two of us, "Iiiii don't think he did."

"Enough talk!" Rogue yelled. "Conversion of darkness!" Suddenly the shadows convulsed on him, billowing up in a giant blob around his form. He was lifted up, becoming a humongous shadow version of himself, and standing as tall as this balcony.

"Oh colt," I gulped, looking up at him.

"We've gotta a pony in power saddling, a gunman, a demolitions expert and a field medic!" yelled Pumpkin Spice.

"What about you?" Stingray was suddenly atop the balcony, balancing on a railing, his cloak billowing before him, before coming to rest.

"Oh, you know," said Pumpkin Spice, "I'm just a mane stylist." she smiled at him.

He looked confused, "Just a mane stylist?"

"Yeah! A mane stylist with a bag full of cherry bombs!" she tore open a sack, reaching inside and tossing something at the unicorn. It exploded in his face, and as he fell backward, I thought he would hit the ground. That had to of killed him. However, I watched as he did a flip in the air, landing perfectly on his feet.

"Wow, you'd think red flames that tart would at least make a pony blink…" I think Pumpkin Spice was the only pony blinking right now.

Guardian

I glanced around, passing yet another row of books. I'm not sure what had just happened, but my entire team had just disappeared on me. "Roseanne! Lockwood! Where in Equestria did you disappear to?!" I called into the bookshelves.

"They aren't here you know," said a silvery slick voice, echoing through the shelves and straight into my mind. What in the world?

"Show yourself!" I snapped, and I instantly pulled out a laser rifle. It was a high caliber, modded gun, that I'd spent countless hours on. It's name was Piercer.

"You're ability to requip is impressive, but, I've seen better."

"Ha! That's not my only ability." I spun around, and as my hooves crashed to the ground, my armor clanged at the same moment I pulled the trigger. A mare was standing before me, wearing a long dress that conformed to her body, and slitted near her rear to allow for mobility.

A spell was triggered, a ripple in the air, and the bolt from my rifle passed right through her. That's when I noticed she was a unicorn. A gray unicorn with a long flowing mane, as deep and blue as a lake. Her dress was to match, and it was speckled like a thousand white stars in the night sky.

"Meet your doom stallion, my name is Missy."

"You're funny!" I blasted her again, but her horn glowed, and the laser beam passed right through her.

"That's not gonna work." she vanished, and suddenly from behind I was slammed into with a force that sent me flying into a nearby bookshelf. Books fell around me.

"How in tartarus are you able to do that?" I fired at her, trying to put a few more bolts in her, but nothing hit. "How'd I end up with somepony I can't even shoot?!" I yelled.

She shrugged as she came closer to me, "That's just the luck of the draw I suppose." then she smiled a dark and sickly sweet smile.

"Fine!" I yelled as I reached behind me. "I guess I have one more trick up my sleeve."

(Chapter 32 set for 4/10/18 at 8:15pm CT

Wow! What a hefty chapter. Prepare yourself for action, because there's gonna be a ton of it! Cherry Bomb! XD

First thing I wanna touch on is OJ's flashback. I made a tribute to a certain pony, and if you've read Stable 28 there's no way you could've missed it. That's right, it was Lucky Charm, better known as Green for the better part of the story. Sooo, it may seem OJ might have inspired Green's name, way long ago in his past. Gah, such a sad story, but if you wanna know more and haven't read The Incident of Stable 28, get to it! I highly recommend it ;)

Now then, Pumpkin Spice, amiright? Lmao! She may be a mane stylist back home, but oh baby does she have the goods. She can put up a fight, just you wait. She doesn't collect Nipony candy for nothing, but that's not all she has collected in her lifetime. I'll have different moves of hers introduced as this goes on. It's exciting!

I can't wait to show off the latest battle scenes, I have some intense action in the works. But for now, we'll just have to wait and see :D Love ya guys!)

Brohoof! /)