Blackjack, an incompetent security mare from the dystopian Stable 99, suddenly has her monotonous life turned upside down when the stable is invaded by vicious raiders. Blackjack flees the stable with EC-1101, with the wasteland in hot pursuit.
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Somber. I don't know when you submitted this to be posted but you are a baaaad pony. Posting this the night before Fallout 4 ships. Trying to keep me up all night reading these. You are a bad pony. Thank you for these but I am stopping myself here... Well, until I have to wait for the UPS truck tomorrow anyway.
You missed your closing tags for the italics, Somber.
Demoman: Oh this is not good!
You're telling me! What happened?!
Oh fuck... That happened...
Spy: I've read the story so I'm fine, but... What have she done!?
Oh trust me Blackjack, you'll believe it sooner or later whether you find that hard to believe or not
Yep, though I wouldn't care much to be honest...
Every TF2 member: All were laughing from that exchange including me
So now they decided to split up eh? Hope Blackjack can handle this situation well... I'm very worried about her condition though...
Ahhhhahaha... I love Boo so much, she's so adroable
Awesome chapter well done!
I only have one thing to say to this.
ANTE UP!
I remember a certain dream.
Oh Blackjack, you so dumb.
Least she gets to see the bandages and not the skull with melted skin on it. Might not even recognize Blackjack then.
I should just use a Chrome extension to make every instance of Blackjack into Ignorance.
Oh Rampage, you're incorrigible.
Mechanical eyes must disturb her a little.
I felt the same way.
To me that just says, "Make sure Glory scavenges faster." Repair talismans would be useful.
Asking the important questions again, Rampage is on FIRE!
I want to know how that round stopped inside her.
Least she seems able to use two things at once now.
How was she not turned into a bloody mist? Augments must really hold her together.
And there's the whining Rampage talked about.
But Blackjack is all chewed up, metal, and covered in bandages. Hmmm, guess Splendid goes for anything with a vagina.
In an age of PipBucks and walking machines, Archi kicks it old school.
Hrrrmmmm, I got a funny feeling about this Chicken as well and if she has any ties to Scootaloo.
I get the feeling some author is going to have a lot of fun with Psychoshy and Rampage banter. I like it.
Press T and keep cycling through 12 hour waits.
Isn't methyl alcohol deadly? 10mL can make a person blind and 30mL is in the fatal zone.
There is no Be Smart pony. Only an alicorn of a similar color.
I don't know why, but I feel this more than some other scenes that seemed more intended to make the reader feel something.
No Psalm, it can be raised depending on the ballistic coefficient. The larger rounds can just carry their energy further which is very good. Need a 20 MOA rail for the scope though.
Hmmmm, I wonder what Lacunae would like. She needs to have a loved gun.
Cause Lacunae couldn't crush them into paste.
Well, part of her friends. The part referring to part of Lacunae, she doesn't have all of Twilight.
what we
as I
Shouldn't that be a period?
are you
The 'tea party' had me at a sudden wild grin on my face thinking about Party of One. Finally I got around to read this chapter.
And how. Honestly Blackjack's bit over the next couple chapters I consider one of the darkest parts, along with back when she tried to kill herself. Even more than the crap later.
Because sure, it's less "fate of Hoofington/The World" stuff, but to me heroes going against horrible adversity, even losing members! doesn't hit as hard as heroes just...breaking down.
You can't? Then what the hell have I been doing?
Good lord, Blackjack's completely losing her shit. Always something with that mare, isn't it? <.< I love how she learned entirely the wrong thing from Arbu.
It says something when I'm cheering for the team not only being back together, but all conscious at the same time. It's interesting how you've been splitting them up again and again in this stretch. And then in this chapter, it seems like BJ gets at least one heart-to-heart with each of her friends before she splits off from all of them. I wonder what that means...
So I was more or less done with Psychoshy the moment she showed up. P. sure I had a lot of unkind things to say about her in my review. <.< But now that she's following Blackjack around for reasons even she can't understand? Eh, I'm okay with it. Of course, I also don't see a lot of purpose in her, or should I say, any potential beyond either betrayal or a messy death. I guess I've put a mental "TEMPORARY" sticker on her forehead. At least she's been amusing.
I literally slammed my face on my desk how did i not realize it sooner it's PINKIE SENSE i'v been wondering wich one she's realated to and it's probably pinkie pie! i'm a idiot
just wanted to point out that blackjack Holmes is just as bad as Sherlock Holmes. drinking medical equipment to get off their a## drunk or high XD . almost didnt stop myself from giving the big, blue alicorn the accent
was i the only one thinking of the episode from MLP when Pinkie was having a little party with the inanimate objects when Blackjack was drinking the Rubbing Alcohol "with" the 5 statuettes?
7755921 Ah, yes! Party of One, seems like a natural episode to think of for that scene. Shame I didn't think of it.
Blackjack, my suicidal hero buddy, you are going insane.
Sleep, girl. Ghouls sleep. Mortals sleep. Immortals sleep.
Hell, even Luna slept!(goddess of the Night)
And even robots have a rest mode, and they aren't even living!
You gotta sleep, BJ.
For the first time since the beginning of this story, the first time I can ever recall, you actually acted aggresively against Glory.
That just ain't cool, girl.
Huh, Boo's turning out to be one smart cookie.
Boo is adorable, Scotch and 21 give me the dawws, and Lacunae is still best pony. Carrying on!
reminds me of a line in one of the old "Chronicles of Amber" books by Roger Zelazny: "if i designated an heir i would be signing that person's death warrant. i left the line of succession deliberately muddled to prevent a bloodbath." (a slight paraphrase, it's been a LONG time since i read them)
I don't know why, but i absolutely love Psychoshy
Boo is such a sweetheart!
You know... I was gonna wait until I finished reading this whole thing to really, fully sum up my thoughts pertaining to here, but...
Boo is freaking adorable!
Oh, everything she does is just like having a pet dog!
And that just has me terrified, 'cause I know adorable don't find no grounds here at Camp Edge Dark! If it's cute, cuddly an' makes ya smile, then that's all the more reason somethin's gonna come right along to stomp it out!
I do have to say, I absolutely love this story, I love every dark twist and turn this takes, every harried swerve, (me with my educated words) I am enjoying this.
7118923
You've been having the flick a syringe, not wave a wand duh
Dear Celestia... why do I find myself loving Boo so damn much? I had thought that I loved Glory and Lacunae, but damn is Boo just unbelievably adorable!!!
How is this possible?!?!
9305027
Accident... pure accident.
6619708
"Oh fuck... That happened..."
What happened in the original FoE that caused this?
9601256
The town of Arbu (the town in which Littlepip committed genocide) is a family-heavy settlement that seems normal enough. The most notable things about it to most ponies is a radgator ranch; where they make most of their livelihood trading radgator meat.
Littlepip encounters them fending off raiders and helps their fight. Later on Littlepip finds the raiders cut up in the basement of one of the houses; implying the settlement has supplemented the radgator meat with the meat of ponies that have fallen attacking Arbu. Pip snaps and murders the whole town for being cannibals. The children are the only ones she doesn't kill (on purpose).
As an important footnote: In the original story ponies don't turn into crazed cannibal raiders for eating other ponies like they do in Project Horizons. That's strictly a Project Horizons thing. Pip's rampage was purely about her personal values; not self-defense, quarantine, or justice.
The banter is one of my of PH
PROTIP: To kill the Cyberdemon, shoot it until it dies
Ante’ up and good luck
I always thought Manhattan was to the east not west
Itll still be there. You can do sidequests for a little while
Did boo leave with the others to chapel?
Edit: nevermind. She did
What is her problem? Does she think acting like a though asshole who curses like a sailor is cool? She really is a teenager going through a phase right now, isn’t she?
PH doing what it does best: a some seemingly unimportant thing and suddenly making it a lot more important than anyone expected.
We have this very minor character who only showed up in one chapter very early in the story before getting killed off in the very same chapter. Yet, 30 chapters later, we’re getting his backstory. And not just his backstory, because it turns out he is part of a whole group we haven’t even heard of yet. And now we're also getting introduced to this new group, their history and their relationship with the Reapers. Because why not?
As a sucker for lore, I welcome this.
The Highlanders are Hillbilly stereotypes. Although considering that goats and sheep are sapient this shouldn’t bother anyone. Unless, of course, the citizens of Equestria thought of them as lesser begins because of good old speciesism.
Don’t you hate it when you’re in the middle of a gang war, having the time of your life and then some eldritch horror shows up ruining the fun for everyone? I think we all haven been there.
Thank you Rampage! Thank you so much for saving me from having to read through to more Blackjack angst and self-loathing. I hereby grant you the title of second-best pony in this story.
Sorry, but the top spot is taken and nopony is going to replace P-21.
It’s not about trying to do better. It’s about setting impossibly high standards for yourself and hating you for not being 100 % perfect.
Also, that impression was pretty spot on.
And Rampage continues being awesome. That’s a pretty good summary of Blackjack’s character and also explains the flaw a lot of her opponents have. The believe that Blackjack has a hidden agenda. That Blackjack couldn’t just be a pony who tries to help others.
Zodiac sent her bounty hunters after Blackjack and tried to guilty trip Blackjack into giving her the EC-1101, because she didn’t thought of simply asking Blackjack for help. Sanguine tried every dirty little trick he could think of, because he never expected her to simple help him save his family because it’s the right thing do to.
Everypony is so used to being selfish that they can’t wrap their heads around the idea of somepony that is almost desperate the kill herself to help others.
I like P-21, so it really hurts to admit that she’s probably right. Even if I want her to be wrong.
It puts a lot of thinks into a new perspective. Him taking care of Blackjack when she almost died to radiation poising after hugging the Ghoul? He didn’t do it because he cared, he did it because without Blackjack he had no purpose.Him siding with U-21 and being willing to kill Blackjack? He did it because he was separated from the rest of the group and had no one else to follow beside U-21.
I doubt he would’ve become Deus but if he had sticked with U-21 he probably would’ve become just another raider. Maybe even torturing and raping mares as “revenge” for Stable 99.
Yet…
Part of me wants to believe that he’s better than that and that Rampage is just cynical. He could’ve blown up Blackjack in Flank. He could’ve shot her when she gave him the gun. He could’ve gotten his revenge. Yet he didn’t do it. He decided to forgive her. So I want think that he’s a better pony than Rampage gives him credit for.
Well If you had put a bullet in Sanguine when you first met him in the area and lot of ponies would still be alive today. Not that I criticizing her. On the contrary, I agree with her wanting to avoid killing others. Although sometimes it’s the only option left. Raiders wont stop raiding because you talk to them nicely.
Wise words Blackjack. But there were a lot of things wrong in your stable even before Deus. The hidden abuse of children, the Overmare being a petty tyrant, the Security Chief avoiding to do anything about it because she felt the chain of command had to be mainted, relationships and love being discouraged…. Just to name a few things. The ponies of Stable 99 stopped working together a long time ago. They were a bunch of strangers who happened to be stuck inside the same place.
We have reached the part where the Arbu massacre in FO:E happened. For Littlepip this was her low point. But with all the bad stuff that Blackjack went through I can’t help but feels that PH deliberately put Blackjack into so many shitty situations to actually make what happened in Arbu pale in comparison. Like if this is some sort of competition who had it worse. I know it’s silly but still…
“You snapped and killed a group of cannibals in a fit of rage? That’s cute! I had to put down 40 foals and then later had to gas my whole Stable just after I thought I had saved them all. I also rapped my best friend and accidentally caused another foal to get ripped apart by Ghouls.”
Despite this, this scene and Blackjack’s reaction are really well done. It shows the massacre from the perspective of an outsider who has no context. So, for Blackjack it does indeed look like Littlepip has snapped. Worse, Blackjack knows how easily decent ponies can turn into monsters. Seeing a good pony like Littlepip, who tried to save the Wasteland and whom Blackjack probably considers a far better pony than herself, breaking and turning into another Deus or Sanguine must by heart wrenching for her.
Funny! Last time Notshy went to MegaMart there was a crowd of fans cheering for her. Guess Raiders are only awesome if the victims are somepony else and not yourself.
Just when you thought that Blackjack would finally catch a break. There are no more bounties on her head and after destroying the Hoofington branch of the Steel Rangers, Big Daddy probably had enough gratitude to tell every Raider in the region not to touch Blackjack. So, she’s finally be able to walk around without having to worry about getting ambushed? Wrong! Now there’s a whole cult coming after her and they even carrying top-notch equipment no crazy cult should have access to.
Looks like we got another side quest for Blackjack.
We both know that it’s not going to be easy. It never is. Just make sure to not drag Scotch along this time.
Or maybe you could just not do it? You don’t know if the secret of the EC-1101 is really important enough to risk your live and lives of your friends again and again. Feels like Blackjack is developing some sort of tunnel vision. She has to crack the mystery of the EC-1101 because she has already lost so much and can’t give up now. Sunk Cost Fallacy.
Let see: Glory is in love and can’t go home anymore: P-21 is following Blackjack because he’s desperately looking for a purpose; Rampage is having funny and hopes Blackjack will find away to kill her; Lacuna is accompanying Blackjack by order of the Goddess; Scotch is looking for her father’s approval and is staying with the only other ponies from Stable 99; Boo is following the nice mare who gives her tasty stuff to eat.
And Notshy has lost the only pony she cared about and no place else to go.
That was honestly the last place I expected to see again in this story. So much nostalgia.
Yes, this suck, but it’s not Blackjack’s fault the mare decided to go after Blackjack. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.
A typical Blackjack move. Do something your opponent doesn't expect.
Oh great! Fanatics who believe that they have a righteous cause. Probably a good idea to try and take one alive for more interrogating at some point. If that’s the case maybe you should try to talk to her? Seriosuly why has none of the ponies who wanted the EC-1101 every tried that. Really makes me appricated Dircetor Xorza (was that her name?) in Homelands. Frist bad guy who actually sat back and thought: “Hey maybe we shouldn’t wasting our resources at antagonizing that pony who’s pretty good at screwing up or plans. Let’s try and figure out what she wants and maybe we can come to a mutual agreement that benefits us all.”
We’ve gone from a Blackjack who had trouble killing ponies to a Blackjack who dispatched Raiders and Slavers without a second though to a more mature Blackjack who wants to avoid killing and only uses it as last resort. That’s some great character development right there.
Blackjack’s On-screen Body Count: 165 (+ 5 Harbingers. I assume the ex-ganger who went down screaming didn't survive.)
Interesting. The group who ambushed Blackjack consisted of ponies with almost no combat experience (the first mare) , Raiders (the screaming idiot) and competent fights (the brown Unicorn). Makes sense, since they are a cult who are attracting desperate ponies from all over.
Just bring a bottle of Wild Pegasus. That will do the trick and is a lot cheaper. Blackjack isn’t really a mare of high standers. Or any standards.
They are totally doing it. Don’t care what anyone else says but the way they are interacting with eachother, gives me odd couple vibes.
And thus Blackjack set the Enclave into panic mode because they now thought RD is back. Thus they started Operation: Cauterize and now Blackjack can blame herself for that as well.
Okay probably not, but I can already tell that Blackjack making a simple joke about RD being alive while reach Thunderhead and result in someponies – and by someponies I mean. Lighthooves – taking action that will result in more death ponies.
This smells fishy. She’s obviously a spy.
Next, you’re going to tell me that you can't heal bullet wounds with few bottles of Sparkle Cola. You really are the worst doctor Glory!
Sarcasms. That’s a good sign.
Thank you Glory for being the voice of reason and trying to prevent Blackjack from rushing straight into the next horrible place full of horrible things that are guaranteed to kill/traumatized your group again.
He’s making his own decisions instead of blindly following Blackjack and he wants to spent time with his daughter. That’s awesome.
Okay that’s a kind of mental breakdown we haven’t seen before. Instead of the usual self-hate she’s actually afraid.
All work and no sleep makes Jack a dull mare.
This really is a whole nother level of crazy. Just when I thought Blackjack couldn’t get worse.
Wow this is just depressing. Poor Blackjack. She needs a hug. Lots of hugs.
I bet that “Appaloosa” mare is among them.
I know this is just Blackjack trying to distract herself from her demons. When she has to deal with ponies trying to kill her, she doesn’t have to worry about her sleeping. But the idea isn’t half-bad. They are only half a dozen so splitting up isn’t an option for them. And Blackjack alone without the two Repaers and the Alicorn is just to good of an opportunity to not take the bait.
Even if they have radio devices and call for backup, they can either case after Blackjack with every available gun (thus allowing the others to safely reach Chapel) or have to split up their forces (which still means that Rampage, Notshy and Lacunae have to face a smaller group).
Not sure if she wants Blackjack to die or to look badass. Probably a bit of both.
They never learn, do they? Trying to kill Blackjack in a firefight is a surefire way to drastically shorten your life expectation.
----------
Okay we have a new group of bad guys who want Blackjack death called the Harbingers. And they are actually an organized force who believe in a higher goal. This sounds interesting.
Notshy has joined the group. This was unexpected and I’m curious to see how long she will stay with them. She certainly has the necessary mental traumas required to be part of team Blackjack. I’m really glad she’s more than just a reference to some memorable Fluttershy quotes. She’s kind of an asshole who deserves a good spanking, but she’s not a terrible character. Plus, it’s always nice to have a character around who is utterly confused by Blackjack's behaviour.
Speaking of Rampage, she was great in this chapter. At first glance she’s just a crazy Raider, who loves fighting but there’s a lot more going on inside her head and she is surpassingly smart.
So how long until Blackjack not being able to slow down, will lead to another catastrophic breakdown? I bet it’s going to happen within the next two chapters.
Wonder why you're hiding Applesnack. Feels weird to have him apart of the Macintosh's crew but never let Blackjack meet him. Hope he maybe comes up later?
Murky has entered the chat.
Star spawn appears and eats everypony. Just another day in the Hoof.
Hoofington Rises Watch - Level 1
Hoofington Rises Watch - Level 2
Her life would be so much easier if she could figure out the trick to sequence breaking these dungeons. It probably involves something like, “keep Lacuane at your side at all times, find an undetonated balefire egg, and make her swallow it.”
“By the Goddesses, I am SO grateful I picked the merchant class.”
Blackjack running a workshop on how to manage your chaotic evil party member.
Long term exposure to Blackjack breaks everypony eventually. They all break in their own special way. But they all break.
Are you kidding? HOOFINGTON RISES at this very moment. We’re probably already up to level 2.5!
All this shit is straight up awful
And just like that we’ve switched from heart rending back to fucking epic. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten this much whiplash from reading before.
What? You are telling me a doctor can’t remove all of my addictions with a single needle?
What is this, a prophet?