//------------------------------// // Nineteen // Story: Fallout Equestria: Wasteland's Beauty. // by D1scordant //------------------------------// Chapter Nineteen “Oh please, oh please, oh please say...” “YOU’RE PLANNING ON MAKING LOVE WITH LEAD?!?!” She said way too excitedly. “VANILLA!” I interrupted sharply. Lead face-hooved. “Were you?” he asked, a small grin on his face I sighed. My face had to be bright red. “Of course not.” I replied, rolling my eyes. Then, to make things more uncomfortable, my sister walked into the inn, “What are you guys talking about?” she asked. “Diamond wants to sleep with Lead” Vanilla replied. She was trying to make me squirm. And it was working, dammit! My sister chuckled. “Vanilla, you’re embarrassing my kid sister.” Ruby said. Grr! Why did everpony call me 'kid’!? “I know, and it’s soooo fun!” The cream coated pony replied. I sighed. Those two always gave me this kind of crap around Hearts and Hooves day. They always gave me a hard time for not having a coltfriend, only this time I had one. I could only imagine what hell they’d give me this year. And now Desert Blossom walked in. She was headed towards the kitchen, crying. Abandoning the slightly embarrassing discussion Vanilla and Ruby were now having, I trotted after her. “Hello, Diamond.” she said looking up from the sink sadly, and pouring a drink from a bottle of whiskey. “What’s wrong, Blossom?” I asked. She sighed. “It’s nothing, Diamond.” She paused with another sigh, “Well, I guess I might as well tell you.” She poured another drink, and poured one more for me. “Two years ago, on Hearts and Hooves day, my... My partner was murdered by raiders.”She continued, a somber expression etched on her face.”I never really got over it. She was the only other mare out here like me, that wasn’t a raider or slaver, that I’d ever met.” “I’m sorry” I said “It’s OK, Diamond. It isn’t like it was your fault. It’s just...” Desert Blossom paused “Oh, here I am just rambling again, Just like last year. It’s not important, Diamond.” she finished “ I just need some time alone.” I nodded “OK, Blossom.” With that I turned and walked back into the main room. Vanilla had left, Ruby was sitting in an old recliner reading a book, and Lead was sitting at the table. The grey stallion Had half the table covered in various gun parts. Sitting at the other end of the table was the colt we found in Las Pegasus, Inkie Blue. The colt had what looked like a chess board and a few random objects. I walked over to investigate. “Hey, What are you playing, Inkie?” I asked He looked up. “Oh, hello, Miss Diamond.” He said with a smile. I was glad to see he remembered me.” Well, I’m not really playing anything right now.But my 'sister’, Shining Blaze, showed me how to play this game. She said it was called checkers. Do you want to play a game?” I nodded “ You know what, I would love to.” Inkie smiled again. “Thanks” As I sat down at the table, I heard Lead nicker. I glanced at him “What?” He chuckled “ Aren’t you a little old to be playing checkers?” I rolled my eyes “ No, No I’m not” I replied, sticking my tongue out at him foalishly.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “King me!” I sighed, as I levitated one of the few pieces I had captured onto one of Inkie’s. The colt was giving me a run for my money at this game. He was really good at checkers, I was not. I jumped one of his pieces, only to have my last three jumped. Inkie won again. I heard lead laughing. “That’s eight to one.” he said, smiling. I shot him a look,”Who’s counting?” He laughed. I rolled my eyes. Where all colts this immature? Inkie got out of the chair, and looked at me. “Thanks for playing checkers with me, Miss Diamond.” the blue colt said. I turned back to Lead with a frustrated look on my face. He started laughing again. A few seconds later, I joined him. I found it kind of funny that I was playing checkers with a foal After I had stopped laughing again, he spoke up. “Diamond, I was wondering. Would you be my special somepony tomorrow?” He slid a heart made of rusty old gun parts over to me. “Please.” I smiled,”Yes Lead, I will.” I kissed him on the cheek. then glared at my sister, who had almost fell out of her chair, laughing. She stopped, smiling sheepishly. “Sorry, Sis. You know I really don’t mean anything by it, right?” I nodded. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I sat up groggily in my bed at a knock at my door “Darling, you need to get ready for your date today!” Winter called from the other side. I rolled out of bed and landed with a thump on the floor. It had been too long since I had good sleep. Right now, I felt like death warmed over. “OW!” rubbing my head, I got back to my hooves, walked over, and opened the door. “Good morning, Diamond, I brought you some coffee. Sorry, but Desert Blossom didn’t have any milk or sugar.” Oh thank Celestia, coffee! That was one thing I had really missed from Stable sixty-seven. I thanked Winter and levitated the mug of the wonderful hot black liquid to my mouth. I didn’t really like it black, but I took a sip anyway, and burnt my tongue. After a few minutes, two mugs of coffee, and a shower, Winter had started messing with my mane. “Oh, your mane is a nightmare, all these tangles and knots. And don’t get me started on those frayed ends!” She complained “ I may have to trim, if you don’t mind” “It could do with a trim, Do what you have to, just don’t make it too short.” I replied The white unicorn levitated a pair of scissors, and began trimming my mane. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ After about an hour, winter deemed I was ready for my date. My mane was tied up in a pony-tail and was wearing my dress. The red silk felt smooth and clean, unlike my rough armored stable barding. It also fit perfectly. I loved it “Thank you, Winter” “Oh, don’t mention it, Darling,” She replied with a grin.