//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Wastes Defender // Story: Fallout Equestria: Tales of the Wastes // by G-man64 //------------------------------// Tales of the Wastes Chapter 1: The Wastes Defender "If we must die, we die defending our rights.” There are many stories that the wastes of Equestria have some we all know like LittlePip a.k.a. The Stable Dweller, Puppy Smiles a.k.a. The Yellow Ghost, BlackJack a.k.a. Security, and Silver Storm a.k.a. Hired Gun. Maybe you even know of Buckshot a.k.a. the Scourge of Aliens. I’m known as The Storyteller and I’m stuck in an old print factory, so I decided to kill some time by writing some of the not so well known stories I’ve picked up on my travels. In hopes that someday, ponies will know of these stories because they were recounted in these pages. This is but the first tale that I shall share. He sought not glory or even the caps that came with it. He fought only for the defense of the defenseless. Raiders or Slavers, mess with those who are defenseless he’ll find you. There’s one thing the scarlet red pegasus stallion with cutie mark of his twin revolvers (Peace and Justice) crossed and hooves stained brown with the mud of the wastes couldn’t outrun. His own past. He came into a small settlement and headed straight to the bar. “What’ll you have?” the orange earth pony with a shot glass cutiemark behind the bar asked while lazily wiping out a glass. “I’ll take the strongest apple cider you got, and mix it with some Wild Pegasus,” replied The Defender. He took out his twenty caps and placed them on the table. He then reached into his battle saddle to see what he had left “Damn,” he thought, “only about thirty caps left.” “Hey,” he yelled to the bartender, “you got any bounties round here?” “Well there’s a bounty board over there on the wall,” said the bartender, pointing a hoof to the far end of the bar. The Defender gave the board a close look. “You got anything else?” he asked. “None of these scum are appealing for Peace or Justice to take out,” he said, pointing to the right then the left revolver in his battle saddle. “Well,” said the Bartender “there’s one more, but I took him off cause nopony was crazy enough to want to take him on.” “May I see the poster?” “Alright” The bartender reached under the bar and took out a rolled up scroll and handed it to the Scarlet Pegasus who unrolled it and saw the Raider on it. The pegasus had but one thing to say. “I’ll take him.” Everypony gasped “Are you sure?” the bartender asked, “he’s killed more than his fair share of us and, no offense, they were a heck of a lot stronger then you.” “But I have the power of Justice on my side,” the Pegasus said, pointing to the revolver in the left of his battle saddle “And I’m doing this to strive for peace,” he said pointing to the other revolver. He then started to leave. “Well,” the bartender said, “Nopony will try to stop you but I doubt anypony will help you either, so good luck.” “Luck,” the Defender said, looking back as he walked out “Is a loser’s excuse” As he was leaving a light pink unicorn with a bright red main and a green headband and cutie mark of a rose with many thorns started to follow him. *************************************************************************************************************** The Defender was heading east towards the raiders base when the unicorn from the bar stopped him. “Excuse me,” said the Mare. “Yes,” the scarlet pegasus replied, “can I help you?” “Well,” the Mare replied in a meek voice “you’re going after the raider who’s been attacking our town, and I was wondering if you’d mind me tagging along.” “Why, I’ve taken down bigger bounties then this guy single hoofed” “Yes, but,” She said sadly looking up with tears in her eyes. “He took my little filly and I want to help save her.” “Well, sorry, Red, but I’ll handle this myself.” “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear,” she said telepathically, removing a magical energy weapon and pointing it at the pegasus, “I’m coming with you.” “Fine,” he said. “I see you can defend yourself and you’re crazy enough to point a weapon at me, so let’s go, Red, but don’t expect me to use medical supplies on some mare I barely know when I don’t even have enough for myself.” “I have a name, you know.” “Well then, what is it, Red? I can’t call you it without knowing it.” “It’s Rose, and as for the supplies, I’ve got plenty for myself.” “Well then, Rose, let’s get a move on, I’d like to get this bounty done and have the caps in my battle saddle by sundown.” “O.K.” *************************************************************************************************************** It was another good hour until the two reached the raider’s base. Which was little more than an old ranch house and a barn. "O.K.," said The Defender, "the barn is probably where the raiders are keeping the prisoners" “Wait,” replied Rose “what do you mean probably you have a battle saddle. Doesn’t it have a HUD?” “Well,” he replied, “thanks for the concern, but this things barely a battle saddle. It holds guns, has pockets and that’s pretty much it its old as can be” “Where’d you get it anyway?” asked Rose “Maybe I’ll tell you another time, but for now, let’s get back on subject. The prisoners are probably in the barn” he replied. "So?" asked Rose. "So I have a plan we'll let loose all their prisoners. That'll cause a distraction and make most raiders leave the house. Probably the only ones left will be the boss and a few high ranks a.k.a. easy pickings." "Alright" With that they made their way into the barn. The sight inside was gruesome; there were ponies in cages all over the place, some stuck with their dead cell mates; others starving or dehydrated. There were cells with young fillies and colts, but there was one cage with a sight that made Rose cringe. "No," she said. "What?" "That's my daughter," she said pointing to the lifeless corpse of a unicorn filly not even old enough to have a cutie mark yet. "Why Celestia, Why her, Why my daughter" she asked bawling her eyes out. "Well," said The Defender, "most slavers and raiders will kill one or two young ones to show the other young ones they mean business and it was just bad luck that it was your daughter. But that doesn't change the plan. How are you at picking locks?" "Not the best I’m better at hacking and look there’s a terminal," she said, pointing to an old computer. “Sometimes the locks are electronic and can be…” "Look, we don’t have time for something that may not work. I got some bobby pins and a screwdriver. Let’s see how you are at these locks,” he said, tossing her a screwdriver and box of bobby pins from out of his battle saddle. With a slight sigh she took the pins and screwdriver with her magic and replied “alright.” Rose set to work and to everypony she freed, The Defender gave the same orders. "Wait till my cue then make a bee-line for the door. Understood?" They all just nodded. Then the last cage was unlocked. "NOW!!!!!” All the former prisoners, young and old alike, ran out of the door. *************************************************************************************************************** Meanwhile, in the ranch house, the raiders were playing some poker when the commotion began. One pony in metal armor looked up from his hoof. "Ya guys hear that?" he asked. "Only thing I hear is you losing," replied another. "Shut it," said a large pony at the front of the table "I heard something too. Let's put my winning on hold while you all see what this commotion's about." With that, everypony other than himself, the stallion on his right, and mare on his left, went to see what the commotion outside was. *************************************************************************************************************** "Man," said the raider in metal armor as he and the rest of the gang entered the barn, "I don't like the looks of this." "And you shouldn't," said the defender as he down floated behind him. Then he used Justice to put a bullet right between the eyes. "What the," replied a Mare in leather armor, as Rose disintegrated her with a single blast. What followed was an all out gunfight bullets and magic blasts flying everywhere. There were ponies with their weapons in their mouths and some with them in hooves. There was even a battle saddle or two. There were guns and lasers even a fire ax. But, in the end The Defender and Rose beat the odds. “I thought this would be hard,” said The Defender “right, Rose?” Though when he looked over he saw that she wasn’t in such a great condition. “ROSE!” he yelled. “H-Hey Defender,” she said in a weak voice. “Yah,” he replied. “R-Remember how I said I had medical supplies for myself?” “Yah.” “I might have lied a little.” “Don’t worry,” he said reaching into his battle saddle. “I’ll save you.” He pulled out some magic bandages and a couple of healing potions. “Whatever happened, ‘to you’re on your own’?” asked Rose confusedly. “What, I can’t change my mind?” asked The Defender with a slight smile and a little laugh. “I guess you can,” Rose replied weakly. “There we go,” he said putting the last bandage on her wounds. “Stay here and take these in case you feel weak,” he said putting down a few potions. “Thank you,” Rose said in a slightly stronger voice. “I will,” With that, The Defender walked out of the barn towards the old ranch house. *************************************************************************************************************** He stopped briefly outside of the house to check on supplies. He had plenty of ammo for Peace and Justice and, they were in excellent condition (thanks to a few revolvers he took off of the raiders). But he was low on potions and bandages, thanks to helping Rose. “Well, now or never,” he said slowly opening the door. “Hey,” said the large pony in metal armor at the end of the table. “So, did you take care of the problem at the barn?” he asked not looking up from the table. “Actually,” The Defender replied, “the problem’s right here.” “Well, well, well,” the big pony replied, finally looking up from the table. “This proves one thing I’ve always believed: good help isn’t around anymore. But you seem able to handle yourself. The name’s Axle Rex. I’m the leader of these raiders, and I’ll cut you a deal. You join me and you can live we got a deal”? “I’d sooner roll in killing joke and be infected with taint than JOIN A LAWLESS BUNCH OF BASTARDS LIKE YOU!!!!!” yelled The Defender with noticeable anger in his voice. “Come on, you can be my right hoof man” “Hey,” replied the Stallion next to Rex. “I thought I was your number two.” “Just be happy I let you live, Gun Grease,” Rex replied calmly. “I still wonder why you do keep him around, Honey” said the mare next to him. “Because, babe, he makes a great fall pony for when it hits the fan.” “Hey, you forget?” asked The Defender quizzically “I’m still here!” “Right, Grease, Babs, take care of him.” “RIGHT!” they both said. Then Babs charged at The Defender with spiked horseshoes while Gun Grease gave support fire from an assault rifle. When this began, The Defender leapt into the air and began flying in the limited space he had. Limited though it was, it was enough to evade the shots from Gun Grease, and get out of Babs’s way. Then from his higher vantage point he unleashed a volley of bullets from the right of his battle saddle. Gun Grease and Babs fell like two sacks of bricks with shots right between the eyes of both. “Well, well, well,” Axle replied, “looks like you’re better than I originally believed. My offer still stands. You can join me, and be my second in command. I’ll even throw in 5,000 caps. What do you say now?” “My original statement stands,” The Defender replied. “I’LL NEVER JOIN A RAIDER GROUP, EVEN IF THAT MEANS THE DEATH OF ME!!!!!!!!!!” “Well then,” Axle said “I accept that challenge,” He pulled off his armor sides, revealing a pair of wings. He then took out a knife from his left side and a small ax from his right “Let’s do this” Axle flew up to The Defender’s height and began slashing at him with both of his weapons. “Why do you reject this?” Axle asked, still trying to strike down The Defender. “The old world is gone all that is left is the lawless wastelands and those are nothing more than a blank canvas ready to be painted with the blood of the weak. The strong shall rise, and the weak will be lucky to be our slaves.” “You’re close” The Defender replied, “but the blank canvas isn’t to be painted with the blood of the innocent. It’s with the blood of lowlifes such as yourself. Equestria was a beautiful place at one place in time and, it will be once more, but there’s no room for a rotten limb such as you on the beautiful tree that Equestria will be.” Then The Defender shot with both of his battle saddle’s revolvers at the same time missing with both. “Too bad you believe that, because it’ll kill you one day,” Axle said with a wicked grin. “And that day’s today.” As soon as he said this, he had a burst of speed and raced towards The Defender and slashed his wing with the ax sending him plummeting to the ground. With that, Axle headed down to The Defender. His knife rose, “You see what being a hero gets you. You could have lived and been rich, but your morals have gotten you killed.” The Defender lay helpless as Axle came down ready to finish the fight, when all of a sudden, a bolt of magical energy came flying through the doorway hitting Axle’s knife turning it into a pile of pink ash. “WHAT THE!?” he yelled. When he turned his head, he saw Rose with her weapon pointed at Axle. “Lay off my friend or else the next bolt is going straight to your head, and you saw what it did to your knife,” she said. “Fine. You win this round, but you ain’t seen the last of Rex,” he said flying out the door and off towards the north. “R-Rose?” The Defender said weakly. “Yes. Just sleep for now. When you’re done, I’ve got some things to show you.” *************************************************************************************************************** A few hours later The Defender awoke and saw Rose standing over him. “Where am I? Where’s Rex? Please tell me he’s dead after what he’s done.” He said “Relax, I carried you upstairs. You’ve been sleeping in his bed. As for him he’s gone. How’s your wing?” she asked worriedly. “Fine. Just wish I had a few…” he was interrupted by Rose handing him some magic bandages “Wh-where did you get these?” “Come on, I’ll show you.” she said as she dressed The Defenders wounds. *************************************************************************************************************** She led him back to the barn and pointed to the terminal she’d pointed out earlier, “There were a few interesting things on here,” she said “Like?” asked The Defender. “Like, first off, I was right,” she said tapping a hoof on the screen. “The locks were electronic, so it was a waste of our time picking the locks on the cages.” The Defender facehoofed. “Secondly it opened that safe over there,” she said pointing towards an old wall safe. “And, inside, there were enough medical supplies to replace what you used on me as well as.” she said taking out a small box, “these.” The box had pre-war armor piercing rounds for revolvers “You could probably use them,” she said handing them to The Defender. “Lastly, there were records of trades, and this one in particular caught my interest,” she said opening a trade ledger. Entry Eighteen: Sold: A young Unicorn Filly to a group of Slavers. I don’t know why they wanted her she didn’t even have a cutie mark yet. All I know is that I got a cool 500 caps and their heading west easiest caps ever. We weren’t gunna use her for anything anyway. “What’s that mean?” The Defender asked quizzically. “It means my daughter might still be alive.” “That’s good but Axle is also still alive. You should have finished him when we had the chance. I guess there’s nothing we can do now, so let’s just head back to town and collect our rewards” “Kay” Rose said nodding in agreement. *************************************************************************************************************** They headed back to the bar. Once inside, the bartender looked surprised to see them and said, “Well, after the first few hours I thought you two were done for, but I guess you’re back. That in itself deserves a reward.” “Well,” replied The Defender, “we also took care of your little raider problem, so can we get a reward that too?” “Right, well, here you go,” he said dropping a bag with 500 caps onto the table. “Thank you,” said The Defender picking up the sack. “Hey, Rose, here’s your half,” he said dumping 250 caps out. “Thanks,” she said. “Hey barkeep, give me another half n’ half of apple cider and Wild Pegasus.” “Alright but one condition,” “What?” “This one’s on the house, and I’m paying for your and Rose’s stay at the inn tonight,” *************************************************************************************************************** The Defender woke up the next day and saw 250 caps on the pillow next to him along with a note which said: Dear Defender, I won’t need these caps, so please take them. Signed, Rose “Well, guess I’m back on the road alone,” he thought as he was walking out of town, only to be interrupted by Rose. “I don’t need the caps cause I’m coming with you,” “What?” “I have no more purpose to stay here without my daughter, so I’ve got to find her, and you’re going west” “Fine. Come on Red.” “Alright, Defender.” “I have a name, you know.” “Well, then, what is it, Defender? I can’t call you it without knowing it.” “It’s Dante, Dante Gunner.” “Alright, Dante, just one more question.” “What?” “Where’d you get the battle saddle?” He looked back at her with a sly smile and responded by saying, “Well, there’s a story for another day.” Footnote: Level Up (Dante) New Perk: Counter Canter – Your fancy hoofwork (or agile flying if you are a pegasus pony) keeps you out of harm’s way. Opponents suffer a -5 to combat skills when attacking you. Companion Perk: Trusting Friend (level one) – You’ve wandered the wastes so long you thought you would forever be friendless, but you’ve proved yourself wrong as long as Rose is your companion you get a +2 to your CH. Footnote: Level Up (Rose) New Perk: Silent Gallop – You have mastered silent movement, allowing you to move quickly and still remain quiet. You can Sneak at full speed with no penalties. Companion Perk: Forever Defended – As long as Dante is your companion you get a +5 to Damage Threshold. Quest Perk: Reason to roam – Your daughter is out in the wastes somewhere being used by slavers. Until she’s safe by your side you get a +1 to ST, PE, EN, and AG Dante’s S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Strength: 6 Perception: 5 Endurance: 7 Charisma: 3 Intelligence: 6 Agility: 6 Luck: 7 Rose’s S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Strength: 3 Perception: 7 Endurance: 9 Charisma: 5 Intelligence: 9 Agility: 4 Luck: 3