Ashes To Ashes; Dust To Dust

Change.

Change is something we all dread. We don’t like change when it happens but, sometimes it is necessary. Over time we all change whether we know it or not. We change for jobs. For people. And we change to survive. In war many soldiers had to adapt and change in order to fight another day. I know that we all aren’t soldiers but, we do change. We have to change in order to survive. To change we must make decisions that make us into who we are. Whether it’s a good or bad change depends on the person or pony. Change is something we have to deal with even though we dread it.

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It was an early morning; the smell of autumn was in the October air. I was walking down the busy main street of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The wind being made by the nuclear powered cars and bikes hitting my brown hair that wasn’t covered in my black leather hat sending it in all directions but, I couldn’t give a shit as today was my seventeenth birthday. October 23rd 2077. The cold being bounced off my brown leather duster and leather hat making me look like an old west cowboy; just minis the big iron on my hip. I wasn’t from the city; I was from a small town about an hour south call Tahlequah but, I was here for a special gift from my favorite uncle. He didn’t know what it was but, he got a deal from the people from Vault-Tec. I continued walking down the street getting looks from the people I was walking by until I came to a building that had a little man on the door with a blue and yellow jumpsuit with his hand stuck out and giving me the thumbs up; he was saying “Vault-Tec a new future… underground.”

I just shook his head in a little chuckle at the thought of going inside those Vaults a little funny. My uncle tried so hard just to get me a spot inside but, they denied me. My uncle was outraged at the thought of his only nephew being denied a guaranteed future. To satisfy him Vault-Tec decided to make a test subject for a new device they just supplied the Vaults. They said to send me to their Tulsa branch to get the device called a Pip something that is only how much I found out.

I stood outside the Vault-Tec branch of Tulsa. I sighed and opened the door to be greeted by a bustling lobby full of people in suits and all wearing large devices that took up almost the entire forearm of the arm that it was worn. The lobby itself was made like a fancy bank with the walls behind covered in what looked like granite. There were also two staircases about ten feet away from the receptionist’s desk I looked around to see the receptionist’s desk. The thump of my leather boots on the tile made my presence known. To them I was like an alien from my country look to my young appearance but, I didn’t know nor cared until I reached the receptionist’s desk. Behind it was a young woman about the age of twenty or twenty-one. She was tapping away on a terminal with a phone stuck between her shoulder and her ear. She had the same device around her right forearm.

“Yes… Yes ma’am. I should have you appointed by Thursday of next week. Yes, I hope that you enjoy your spot in Vault 54, thank you for your time.” She said hanging up the phone then, noticing me. “How may I help you, Sir?” She asked in a well practiced tone.

I looked back and forth with sweat starting to form on my neck. “Umm, I’m here for the package that your boss had sent for Parker Williams.” I said uncomfortably with the sweat going down his neck. I was wondering why he felt like I was in a hurry.

I was snapped out of his thought as the woman placed a metal box on the granite top. “This is the package that you’re looking for. Inside is a Pip-boy 3000 mobile device.” She said opening the metal box revealing the same device that everyone inside was wearing. She took it out and reached out her hand. “Please, give me your left arm.” she asked motioning me to give her my arm. I was hesitant at the request. Last time someone asked this they injected me with psycho that made me go on a rampage. I didn’t want a repeat of that. “I won’t bite.” She said with a nice smile that made me cave. I gave her my left arm and she opened the device like a shackle. She clamped it down on my forearm then, the sounds of drills came out of the Pip-boy. I was looking at the device with confusion and alarm. The woman giggled at me as I looked at was stuck to arm. “Don’t worry, it automatically seals once it’s on the user.” I looked at her and sighed in relief.

“Ok, I was starting to get worried that it was drilling into my arm.” I said jokingly as I continued to look at the pretty receptionist and he smiled.

She sent a smile in return. Her face turned to surprise then; she began to laugh a little. “I almost forgot another part of the pip-boy.” She said handing me a fingerless glove with a wire coming from the center of it. “This keeps track of your vitals. But, just so you don’t have to go to the hospital and mess up that cute face of yours. Here some stimpaks.” The woman said placing four stimpaks inside my hand which I threw them into my duster. She cleared her throat and sat straight. “The pip-boy comes with many different features like a compass, topographical map…” She continued with the features; I placed the glove on his left hand tuning her out then, the in a flash of green two bars appeared in my vision. The one that was on the left said on top HP and the other one on the left AP. Below the one that had HP was a bunch of green dots then, as he turned to the door six red dots appeared. I raised an eyebrow.

“You said that this thing had a compass right? What about a Heads up Display?” I asked my muscles starting to tense as the amount of red dots begin to mount up.

“Yes, it does. Why?” the woman said with a confused look.

“Because…DUCK!!!” I exclaimed while tackling the woman behind the desk. The moment that we touched the tile floor bullets began to rip apart the lobby. People were starting to scream and run in terror and confusion. Green dots began to disappear one by one from my HUD. I got up on one knee and was kneeling on my right knee. In the time of five seconds most of the green dots were gone. “Shit!” I cussed under his breath as the door opened to reveal eleven masked people with assault rifles, 10mm submachine gun, and assault carbines. I ducked down looked at the woman; who was terrified. “Do you have a gun of any kind!?” I exclaimed as quietly as possible.

The woman was beginning to tremble with fear as she grabbed her purse and took out a small .32 caliber pistol. “This is all I’ve got.” She said giving me the pistol. “Please, get me out of here!?” she cried out as softly as possible. The sounds of crying and moans filled the room. Without warning the attackers were starting to kill off the survivors of the initial attack.

“Alright, boys collect their pip-boys then, continue up the building! Leave no survivors!” A deep voice boomed across the lobby.

‘Shit!’ I thought as the gunshot crept closer and closer to us. I looked at my HUD and saw that one was turning fast. I looked up to see a mask man in black tee-shirt and camouflaged pants with an assault rifle. Without realizing I brought up the .32 pistol and fired twice into the attacker’s chest. He didn’t even see me until he had two holes in his chest. He looked down then, fell on the ground dead. I froze seeing the body of the attacker fall as time slowed to a crawl. Then, time sped up making the body splat in a pool of blood. The red dot disappeared on my HUD; his rifle scattering across the tile floor to a staircase. “Shit!” I yelled seeing my best chance of a weapon being dashed away like the morning fog. I looked at the woman and she was too terrified to move let alone speak. My gunshots have alerted the others and they were starting to shoot at the desk. ‘Thank god that this desk is made of granite.’ I thought to myself with the red dots were moving back and forth so much that I lost which was which but, I had a choice: move or die. I looked at the woman again. I brought her to her knees and made her look me in the eyes. She was terrified at what is going on. “I’m going to get the fallen rifle by the stair well. Can you cover me?” I asked. She didn’t respond. “Can. You. Cover. Me?!” I asked again slipping the pistol into her hand. She looked down at it like it was evil but, she held a strong grip. “This is the best change at surviving.” I said looking again in her eyes. “Can you do it?” I said almost yelling. She nodded once and I smiled. “Good. Now, I’m going to dash in 3...2...1. NOW!” I yelled dashing across the open space. I heard three shots come from the desk then, a burst of gunfire. Not at me but…her. I slid behind the corner of the wall next to the wall. I grabbed it and pressed my back against the wall. I looked behind the desk and she was on the floor in a pool of her own blood. She was staring at me. I couldn’t stop looking at her. She was smiling with calm eyes. I looked at my HUD and she was still alive. I looked back at her and she coughed up blood. Then, she mouthed the words: Live for me. Then, a single gun shot from a masked man similar to the one I killed with her pistol.

He didn’t notice me until I aimed the assault rifle at his chest. I took a deep breath then, for some reason time slowed to a crawl. A small sign said: Welcome to VATS or Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System. In this mode time is slowed and you can que shots on a person(s) or animal(s). How many times you can que a shot is how many AP or Action Points you have available. So, the next time you want to operate VATS just concentrate on a target and take a deep breath. Now, go out there and kick some ass! The sign disappeared as fast as it appeared. I looked around and saw three men in the same uniform as the first man I killed. I looked at the man that killed the Woman whose name I didn’t know. I qued two shots on him and one at the man that was about to fire on me. All of them about 65% I took them anyways just to see if I got lucky. I let VATS go and I fired without control. Two of the three men went down. I was about to fire again but, all I heard was a click. ‘Fuck!’ I thought as the attackers began to fire on me. I pressed myself against the wall; the bullets hitting the corner of the wall taking chips out of it smothering my view. I closed my eyes and turned my back away from the hail of bullets. When it stopped so did all of the firing did.

Then the same voice that ordered the killings started to boom again. “Come out now! We know that you are out of ammo! There is nowhere to run!” The moment he said that six heavily armored guards came running down the stairs with 10mm sub-machineguns, assault rifles, and one guard had a rifle that looked like an AK but, was long, had a small magazine and riflescope. The guard with the odd rifle stayed at the top of the stair case with some cover.

A guard came to me and aimed his rifle at me; which made me raise my hands but, then he looked at the dead three attackers and he nodded. “I’m kinda of out of ammo. Can you spare a mag or two?” I ask keeping an eye on my HUD kept track of the last eight attackers as they moved around. The guard didn’t say anything but handed me three mags. I reloaded the rifle and chambered a round; I placed the last two magazines in the inside pockets of my duster. I peered around the corner and smiled. I stuck out my hand with my middle finger up. “You know what I say to that you, Jackass?! I SAY GO SIT ON IT AND SPIN!” I yelled taking my rifle around the corner and firing catching two of the attackers in the fire. Two dots faded from the HUD. I retreated behind the corner just before more rounds hit the granite corner. I looked back at the guards. “There’s six left. You think we can take them?” I asked.

The guard nearly chuckled. “You took down five of them on your own by pure luck and then there is us the train professionals. I think we take them. Now, move aside kid. Play time‘s over.” He said pushing me to the side like a little kid. The guard jumped out taking a chest full of bullets but, managed to bring one of the bastards with him. ‘That makes five of them left and four of us left…’ another guard on the opposite stair well got a face full of buckshot from a combat shotgun. ‘Make that five to three.’ I peered around the corner again just to get a bullet graze my cheek. I recoiled and put my hand to the scratch. I took a deep breath and jumped sideways towards the desk and getting full view at what I’m facing two 10mm subguns one assault rifle, a revolver and a missile launcher. Bullets passed me making holes in my duster and some grazing my legs. I looked down at the kind woman that pretty much saved my life. Her eyes were still open. I placed the butt of my rifle on the ground on my right side; I placed my hand over her eyes and softly closed them. My ears were starting to thump more and more as the gunfight continued. I was about jump up and fire again but, I heard a bouncing noise then, a splash. I looked down to see blood covered grenade. I scrambled to my feet and jumped out into the open just as the grenade exploded sending bits and pieces of the woman and all of those whose bodies were near it.

I was about to get up but, was kicked in the gut by a steel-toed combat boot. I clenched my stomach and looked up to see an assault rifle barrel right in my face. “Move and you die.” A voice bellowed from the man holding the assault rifle to my face. I was about to say something then, the sound of a combat shotgun shredded the man’s head making it a red mist. The man’s body collapsed onto of me pinning me to the floor. I looked up at the stair well to see where the shot came from. There were more and more guards coming down the stairs. Then, there was a silence as the attackers had four of themselves against about thirty guards and more are still pouring in. They all pointed their weapons at each other making an uneasy standoff.

“Drop your weapons and get on the floor! NOW!” the chief guard yelled out holding his combat shotgun’s stock against his cheek.

A loud laugh boomed. “Bullshit! Fire away!” the same deep voice from earlier boomed again then, the sound of a missile launcher firing. Then, a large explosion hit the top of the stair case again. The explosion sent about nine different guards flying in bits and pieces. That explosion rocked the lobby and made the entire lobby get enveloped in gunfire again. Men screaming and moaning as the attackers systematically took out each guard. I looked at the missile launcher as he reloaded. I then, heard a large splat right next to me. I turned as much as the body on top of me would let me. I looked to see half of an upper torso land right next to me the face of the guard was staring at me with hallow eyes. I finally lost my lunch and sent the bile onto the body on top of me. My stomach burned and I slumped on the floor; the man’s blood and my bile soaking into my duster. I felt tired but, I had to get this body off of me. With the strength that I barely had I managed to get the body off but, I got a bullet to my left side sending me sprawling on the ground. The red crimson of blood began to spread onto the floor. A message came from my HUD <Bullet injury. Seek emergency medical attention or insert a stimpak.> I ignored it as I began to crawl behind the desk where a couple guards were firing from with the dead guard with the long rifle behind me. When I got there I quickly took out a stimpak and injected it into my side. If felt my side start to cool down and seal up from the shot. It would scar but, I didn’t care. I pressed my back against the desk and I looked at the dead guard with the rifle. ‘Why did I drag his body here?’ I then looked at his rifle across his chest. It was the AK long rifle with a riflescope. I sighed and took the rifle for some reason. I didn’t know why I took the rifle but, I did. I had the sling across my back. I then, took out the magazine of my assault rifle to check the ammo. It still had some but, just to be safe I placed a fresh on and threw the old on back into my duster. I looked up both the staircases to see that about there is only ten guards left total.

“Shit.” I murmured to myself wondering how I made it so far into this shit hole. I looked to the guards next to me just in time to see one of them get a head full of lead. His head exploded into bloody gore. Some of it splattered on me. My stomach tried to vomit again but, I had nothing in there. The other guard was looking down at his downed friend in horror.

That horror turned to anger as he roared a battle cry grabbing his friend’s 10mm subgun and dual wielding two of them. Two of the red dots went down but, so did he. His weapons scattered across the floor when he fell dead. Then, an explosion rocked the left stair case killing another four guards and maiming the last guard. ‘I have to get rid of that missile launcher.’ I thought to myself see the last green dot vanish on the left stair case. I looked to the right staircase to see the last two guards pressing their backs against the wall getting ready to attack again. I was about to say something but, they jumped out to fire only to get another missile. The resulting explosion knocked me back in the open just in time as another one hit the desk exploding it into thousands of little pieces. Some of the pieces made holes into my leather duster, hat and scratching me up pretty good. I had my assault rifle and the weird sniper rifle on my back. I got up and pinned my back against the wall. ‘I have to time this just right.’ I thought as I heard something being hinged open. I jumped out and brought the rifle to my cheek and opened VATS. My shots had a 20% chance of hitting my target but, what did I have to lose. I qued as many shots as possible and let VATS go. I fired three three-round bursts into the weapon. The first burst went wide hitting around his feet, the second hit the launcher’s legs and the third burst hit his weapon but, one stray round hit the missile as it was being loaded into the launcher itself. This caused a large explosion ripping apart the missile launcher and the launcher. Bits and pieces of the launcher were spread across the entire lobby.

That only left one more bad guy and me. I saw one red dot left on the HUD but, he wasn’t firing at all like he was waiting for me. “Well, I’m not one for disappointment.” I said to myself getting on my feet and walking out with my assault rifle in my hands ready for action. But, the red dot wasn’t in the lobby but, he was standing still. I raised an eyebrow and walked to the door. I opened it with one hand to see a large man without a mask; with a shallow beard and a deep scar running down the side of his face that looks like he was from the frontlines.

He was looking west to my left at the skyline; he then looked at me with a revolver in his right hand. He smiled when he saw me with the blood all over my duster. “You look like a true cowboy you know that?” His deep voice echoed through the weirdly empty streets. “Having a good couple of rifles are always good to have.” He said cocking his revolver making me aim my assault rifle at him. I looked at my action points and saw that I was still recharging but, I saw a couple of numbers below that. 15/35. I just shrugged it off for the moment and I would figure it out later.

“Why did you attack us!?” I yelled having my rifle aimed at his head. He didn’t say a word and just sighed. “WHY!?” I yelled almost on the verge of tears. “Why did you kill all of those innocent people!? TELL ME!? NOW OR I WILL BLOW YOUR FUCKING HEAD OFF!” I yelled shaking my rifle.

The man sighed again and aimed his revolver to my head. I was about to fire until with his left hand he punched me in the chest with a sickening crack; knocking the wind out of me making me drop to my knees and sending pain into my chest. I looked up to his revolver barrel. “You really want to know?” he asked with a blank face void of emotion like a psychopath. I nodded. “Because I wanted to save them from the horrors of what’s going to happen.” he deadpanned.

I was confused by this and asked. “What horrors?” my hand tensing around the grip of the assault rifle.

He sighed and looked back at the sky with some streaks coming down. “You are about to find out, young man.” He said decocking his revolver and placing it back in his holster. “If you survive this… you and me aren’t finished here.” He sighed. “I hope that you don’t change with what’s going to happen.” said just as a mushroom cloud appeared about a couple miles away. I raised my arm to my eyes to protect them from the light then, the shockwave came knocking me away about a hundred yards scraping me in every which way but, my hat managed to stay on somehow. I landed on my back pain raging through my body where several bones are defiantly broken. I sat up though the pain just in time to see the debris cloud coming towards me. I sighed. “Well…Shit.” I said just before the debris cloud hit me.

A part of a poem that my uncle made in his time in the army came to my head when it hit me.

Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust.
This is my time alone.
In this time I wish I wasn’t.
Battles wage in my time alone.

Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust.
The guns blaring act as a horn.
The blood staining the snow.
I wish that God would show.

Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust.
The planes roar and men die.
The fires of hell we can not fight.
The world is now burning.

Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust.
The pain is here and will not go away.
I wish that my friends were here.
So, when the bombs fall I would not die alone.
Ashes… to Ashes: Dust… to Dust.

I thought I was going to die but, I just didn’t. The life flashing before your eyes was total bullshit. I opened my eyes to a cloud covered sky. I tried to get up but pain shot up my body from all over. I looked at my pip-boy HUD and it was flashing red. My HP meter was slowly going down. ‘Shit’ I thought. I began to read the messages that my pip-boy was flooding me with. <Advanced Radiation poisoning> <Broken and cracked ribs. Left arm broken and right leg broken.> <lacerations covering body and massive bleeding!> <You’re Screwed.> I nearly chuckled at that last but, the pain stopped that. I felt tired and cold. I sighed and sat up through the pain and looked around. I was in what was once a flourishing field that produced crops and the like but, just a little to my right was an long dead apple orchard with a barn in the distance. I dug out another stimpak from my blood covered duster and inject the needle to my side again and I was starting to heal. The HP bar stop and increased some but, I was still below a forth of my original health. The warnings stopped mostly. The only sign on the right of my vision was <Caution: Advanced Radiation poisoning.> I sighed and tiredly getting up and shaking the dust off my duster. I looked down at my pip-boy and saw that it was on items menu. I switched it to the ammo section with the little wheel thingy. I was confused on why it said that I had .308 ammo but, I had 50 rounds of 5.56 ammo and eight rounds of .308. I switched to weapons to see that I only had one. The weird rifle on my back. I looked at the name of it: PAP M77 PS DMR (Designated Marksmen Rifle). I just shrugged and began to walk towards the barn and see if I can find anything. I decided to unsling the rifle that I had to get a closer look as . I was right that it looked like and is a bigger AK but, chambered in .308. It had a side rail mounted scope and below it had AK pattern sights. My HUD had the numbers 8/00. “I guess that it means ammo count then. Convenient.” I said to myself charging the rifle.

Using the rifle as a crutch; I began to move around. I looked back and forth until my sight reached an almost destroyed barn. I smiled and began to limp towards the barn. Once I got inside the forest my Geiger counter began to click again. “Damn it.” I said limping faster to get out of the radioactive orchard. I dashed out of the forest then, a marker appeared on my HUD. You have discovered Sweet Apple Acres. I raised an eyebrow and looked at the barn. The top part is gone and the used to be nice looking house looks like it is half way to collapsing. I shrugged and continued to limp down towards the barn. Once I got to the destroyed doors I saw that there wasn‘t anything worth looking through and decided that I should go down the path . It took me a bit to get to the bridge and when I got their it seems like a fight was here but, that was a long time ago. I got on the bridge and the smell of death assaulted me; nearly making me vomit what little I had in my stomach. I shook my head and continued down the bridge. When I got in I realized I was in some sort of village or town that has been decimated by what looks like a bomb of some kind, more and likely a nuke or something. I looked at the houses and huts of the small town. There was nothing here but, curd paintings and when I rounded a corner I saw hanging bodies making me stop in place and stare at them. It wasn’t human but, I felt really bad for the poor thing. All I know that it has hooves and is…I tilted my head to get a better look and raised an eyebrow. Purple? But, it was just a torso with two legs hanging on hooks and chains. I shook my head and continued to limp forward towards a long dead oak tree. As I got closer the sweat on my neck began to form again. I had the feeling that someone or something was watching me and it was making me nervous. I checked my HUD and there was about six hostiles moving all around me ignored them for the moment trying to reach the door. I reached a door that lead into the tree and another appeared sign on the upper left of my vision‘You have discovered Ponyville public library!’ I raised an eyebrow ‘Ok, that’s good to know.’ My HUD was starting to pick up a couple of non-hostiles when I opened the door. I raised up the large rifle and flicked off the safety. I used the lower iron sights for the closes quarters of the library.

I looked up to see a pair of cages was hanging off of the ceiling by chains. I looked at my HUD and saw that is were the non-hostile marks were coming from. I traced the chain to a post upstairs. With my rifle in the lead I crept upstairs towards the post. From the stairs I got a view of what was in the cages. Two ponies. “Odd, but, there are some things that I don’t just want to question.” I said shrugging it off and untying the chain and slowly lowering the cage with both of the ponies in it. I kept doing it until I heard the cage hit the wooden floor. I grabbed my rifle and ran down the stair toward the door of the cage. When I got to the cage itself I saw that the two ponies. They both were filthy and covered in blood. I froze realizing where the blood was coming from. They were both mares. I quickly opened the cage by using the butt of the rifle to break the rusty lock. I opened the cage putting my rifle on the floor. The ponies just stared at me with scared and weak eyes. I felt bad for them. I reached out my hand and they hobbled back towards the back of the cage. They looked like mother and daughter; both of them were grey but, the filly had a white mane instead of the brown one that the mother had. I sighed and took off my hat revealing my brown hair. I gestured with my hand for them to come closer. “It’s alright. I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to save you two.” I said retreating my hand as they just shook their heads. I sighed and got on my knees. “Please, come with me. I will take you to the nearest town and see if they have a pony doctor.” I said putting my hand out again.

The Mother looked at her filly and then, back at me with tears in her eyes. “Please, get us out of here. But, my daughter…She can’t walk those bastards…” She couldn’t speak as she began to sob. I nearly jumped back when she spoke. I mean, it scared me but, I didn‘t lose my cool and reached my hand farther. “They rapped her until she couldn‘t walk. Please, get us to New Appleloosa. I will pay…” she was about to say more with tears in her eyes but, I waved her off.

“You don’t have to pay me. Besides what would I buy?” I asked joking well knowing the answer.

“Ammo, guns, medical supplies, and other shit.” She said wiping the tears from her eyes.

I sighed and chuckled. “You got a point there. Lets go.” I said lightly taking a hold on her child. The mother and the filly squeaked when I got a hold on her and took her out of the cage. I softly laid her on the ground and took off my duster revealing my grey Hard Rock casino shirt then, wrapped it around the filly. I cradled her in my arms after my rifle slung over my shoulder. The mother softly came out of the cage limping but, able to walk. She sighed and looked up at me.

“Thank you for rescuing us. Do you know where New Appleloosa is?” She asked with a little confusion.

I turned to her with her filly now softly falling asleep. “No Idea!” I said with a little more enthusiasm and noise then needed.

She faced hoofed and sighed. “Thirty second of being with you and you already giving me a headache.” She said looking up and seeing my new pip-boy and she smiled. “Good thing I know where it is.” She said flaring her horn forcing my arm down and she began to tap away at it. My HUD then said Location Marked. “Now…” She said opening the door. “lets-” She couldn’t finish her sentence before a bullet hit her in the chest turning her into a lifeless corpse. I was in shock as the six hostiles outside began to laugh.

“Look at her drop! That is fucking awesome!” I heard a voice outside yell out in laughter.

I calmly sat the filly on the ground and patted her on the head as she slept softly. “You sleep softly and I will take care of those bad ponies.” I said putting on my hat and handling my rifle. I softly walked outside to see six ponies in cobbled up barbing and in a semi half-circle. All of them celebrating their kill of an innocent pony.

They all looked at me with confusion. “What the fuck are you?” One of the raiders yelled out having a sledgehammer in his magic aura.

I shot him a cold glare making the pony flinch. “I’m your worse fucking nightmare.” I said bring up my rifle and taking one shot. The .308 round exploded out of the barrel then, made its way into the pony’s skull showering his friends in his brains and gore.

“Shoot him, Shoot him Shoot him!” one of them yelled firing a shotgun that completely missed. I brought my rifle to the other pony and shot once hitting him in the jaw taking off the lower half of his head. That the other start firing a couple of the rounds grazed me but, I ignored it. I fired twice both hitting their marks killing two more ponies. One of them tried to flee but, using VATS I shot him in the leg crippling him. I ran to a side of building just a raider behind a rock was shooting at me with a carbine in her mouth. ‘That’s nasty.’ I waited until she reloaded before jumping out. Using VATS again I aimed right for the head. I released the machine and then, my rifle kicked. The bullet flew through the air and hitting the raider right between the eyes. I looked at my HUD ammo count 2/00.

I only had two shots left and I had to make them count. I to walk towards the last raider whistling an ominous tone. He was trying to crawl away from me with a wide but, I slammed my boot on his back making a sharp crack; the raider screamed in pain. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going, you little shit?!” I asked with a great sadistic tone. I flipped him over with my boot and pressed it down on his chest. I noticed his sawed off shotgun laying open hinged open. I looked back to the raider that I had pinned under my boot. “Now, you are going to tell me where the fuck am I or I’m going to leave you here for the vultures.” I said pressing harder on his chest making a couple audible cracks.

The raider looked like he could barely breath and was crying out in pain. “You son of bitch.” He breathed out just before he looked in me in the eye. “You fucktard are in the Equestrian Wasteland. Welcome to hell you little shit.”

I chuckled and brought up my boot then, slammed hard on his chest breaking more ribs possibly puncturing his lungs. “Thanks, Now…” I paused looking at the forest the left of us seeing a couple of hostile creatures. I looked back down at him with an evil grin. “I’m going to feed you to the wolfs.” I said grabbing the collar of his barbing..

As I began to drag him to edge of the forest he began to cry out. “NO NO You said that you would let me live!”

I looked at him as I dragged him to the edge of the forest. “I said that I wouldn’t leave you for the Vultures.”

“NOOOOOOO ” He screamed and kicked until I got to the edge of the forest where I could hear the growling and rotten breath of the wolves. “Please… just kill me.” he coughed out blood coming out of the corners of his mouth. “Just kill me.”

I looked down at him his face was bloody and bruised along with his entire chest. I glared at him. “You should have thought of that before you fuck with me and hurt an innocent Mare and her filly.” was all I said before I threw the entire raider with strength I didn’t know I had into the forest. “Have at him!” He screamed for his life as he was flying through the air. I turned around just and began to walk away then, I heard the sounds of ripping and tearing flesh. I began to walk back to the tree but, I stopped when I saw the raider with the carbine slumped over the boulder. I bent down and grabbed it then, started to inspect it. Even with the teeth marks on the grip it didn’t feel that bad. I took out the magazine and realized that the bullets were 5.56. I smiled taking out an assault rifle mag and slapped it in the rifle. A perfect fit. I slung my M77 across my back and took the rifle with me as I made it back to the oak tree. I looked down at the sleeping filly and sighed. I turned my head back to the dead mother. Her eyes were still open and filled with tears.

“I’m sorry and I wish I could have prevented this. I promise to bring your filly to New Appleloosa on my life.” I said just on the verge of tears; I closed her eyes and softly preyed to God to let her pass. I went to the filly that was still wrapped in my duster; she was sound asleep. I picked her up and went out the door; setting my marker for New Appleloosa. I had my carbine across my chest carrying the little filly down the road following the marker. The amount of red hostile marks indicated the scavengers that are starting to feast on the bodies of the raiders. “I hope they get sick.”

********

“This has been one fucked up birthday.” I said to myself adjusting my grip on the filly. I walked and walked and walked through into a desolate desert. My shirt was being soaked in my sweat making me stink. The filly was still sleeping as I walked through the blazing heat. Vultures were starting hover about me as I followed the neglected sand covered road. With nothing to do but, just walk I looked at my pip-boy and went to the radio section.

There was two stations that I could get. I pressed one of them. “nd sisters lets rejoice in the power of Unity an…” The voice sounded charismatic and mesmerizing. I just shook my head and shut it off.

“Nope.”

I flipped to the other one then, a voice that sounded like he was really hyped came out. “This is DJ-PON3 and as always I’m broadcasting from tenpony tower in Manehattan. Giving you the truth no matter how much it hurts. Here is today’s news. Everypony knows the raider hangout in Ponyville right? Apparently, there was a bone-afied Human there! Yes, you heard me right ponies; a Human has arrived in the Equestrian Wasteland! This human has single handily taken out the entire gang of Raiders in Ponyville. But, be warned he is well armed and skilled. From our reports that are just now coming in is that he killed five raiders with five shots from a semi-auto .308 rifle from the shells on the ground. He interrogated the last one and threw the raider to the wolves; literally. What he wanted to find out we don’t know. But, there is no need to shoot him on sight; he has a good side too. He is said to be carrying a injured filly that he as rescued from those shit head raiders and on his way to new Appleloosa. Sadly, when the ponies that giving me the reports right now say that the mother of the filly was kill just inside of the door of the library. But, there is something to remember folks; when a human appears something big is going to happen. Usually, a really big boom and asses getting kicked but, that is from past experiences from history. He is said to be wearing a black leather hat and has wrapped the filly in his duster. We don’t know his name but, all we know that his a lone rifleman…yeah, I like that. His name is the Lone Rifleman. Rifleman, if you are listening to this come on by and lets talk. I’m sure that my listeners well be glad to hear from the man himself. Now, here is a song from a famous mare from before the war that we all know and love. Here is Sweetie Bell!!” After he said that a sweet voice that could have been made of honey filled my ears.

I raised an eyebrow at this and chuckled nearly waking up the filly. “The Lone Rifleman? Uh, that has a nice ring to it but, I like Parker better. And in the hell did this get on the radio so fast, I mean damn. That just like two and half hours ago.” I said to myself looking at the distance. I sighed as my marker was just blinking every so often. ‘This is a long ass walk.’ I thought to myself with a sigh.

“You know you really shouldn’t cuss around a little filly.” a voice replied out of nowhere scaring me nearly making me drop the filly. “Don’t drop me. I’m fragile.” the voice said again out of nowhere.

“Where in the hell is that coming from?” I said looking around the area only seeing the occasionally Vulture hovering over head.

“Down here.” The voice said again turning my attention to the still sleeping filly.

I rubbed my head with my free hand. “I must be going crazy.” I said to myself wondering that same statement.

“Nope, you are already crazy but, that’s not the point. I’m the filly you rescued.” the voice said again now in a squeaky girl voice.

I looked down at the sleeping filly. “But, you’re asleep how in the hell are you talking to me?”

I heard a mental sigh. “there is a thing telepathy, look it up but, this is how I speak to my friends when I’m sleeping or grounded. You know that you are really loud when you talk, right?”

I chuckled. “You’re not the first to say that but, why are you talking to me?” I asked making me look like I’m crazy talking to myself.

“I don’t know you just seem like you could use somepony to talk too. You know that you are full of radiation right? I mean what happened? Where you hit with a balefire bomb or something?”

“Ok, first what in the hell is a balefire bomb and two if it is anything like a Nuclear bomb then, yes. I don’t know how or why but, the resulting boom sent me to this hellhole. But, what is your name?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, how rude my name is Thorn Rose. My Father is New Appleloosa and he should let you stay the night. Just be warned he has been know to have a little…temper. But… Oh, we’re here.” She said making me look up to see what looked like a ring of stacked railcars. I stopped about thirty yards confused at what I’m seeing. ‘That went by pretty fast.’

I was about to get closer when I heard a voice yell across to me. “State your business or b…” A pony what looked like combat armor stared at me with horror and fear. “your that human that DJ-PON3 told everypony about the ‘Lone Rifleman’?”

My face went flat and I looked at the buck. “Yeah, my name’s Parker nice to meet you too.” I sighed adjusting Thorn in my arms. “Can I come in? I mean damn it’s blazing hot, there’s bugs everywhere; in all different shapes and sizes to be precise. I also got a injured filly here and she needs medical attention!” I yelled across the space between me and the guard. He looked nervous as hell and looked like he was jumpy on the trigger which how much ammo I have wouldn’t be good for me or Thorn.

I walked a step forward “Stay back!!” He yelled with fear in his voice he jumped back edgy on the trigger bit near his mouth.

I was about to speak again before another voice came from behind the guard. It was an older buck that was a grey and black stallion with a small beard and sheriff’s hat. “What’s going on?!” He said to the young guard, nearly scaring the shit out of him.

“The Lone Rifleman is here.” the buck said clearly shaken by me doing nothing.

The older buck looked down at me and chuckled. “So you are the Human that has been kicking raider ass and saving fillies.” The buck said with a grin forming on his face. He turned to the younger guard. “Let him in, I think that he has a long day.” With a sigh the young guard whistled and then, in a yellow magic aura a large metal plate about 15x15foot was lifted revealing a bustling town full of ponies.

My HUD on the corner of my vision said: New location discovered! New Appleloosa. “So, this is New Appleloosa?” I said stepping in getting the attention of every pony. “What happened to the old one?” I said jokingly well knowing something bad has happened to it.

Chapter end.
Parker Williams AKA The Lone Rifleman: Level Up!
New Perk! Grunt: your battle in the Vault-Tec building and in Ponyville have taught you how to handle semi and fully automatic rifles. When handling semi-auto and fully automatic rifles in combat your Guns skill is raised by 10.

Reunion

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Family.

Family is something most of us have. Some don’t. Some have a happy family others not so much. Even your friends can be your family and your rock. Family is something that most of us cherish. But, when that is taken away from you it’s heartbreaking and painful. You feel like you don’t know what to do. But, when they come back with the help of a stranger you will be grateful and feel as happy as you ever been then, the pain and hurt goes away. It only hurts…when you know that you won’t see them again.

I stepped into the bustling town and smiled with the heavy metal gate hitting the ground with a dull thump. The town looked like it was made out from an old train yard. The walls were really made of old rail cars wielded together. I began to walk into the town; every one of the ponies were staring at me as I made my way to what looks like a makeshift hospital. I stopped just outside of it and studied how it’s made. It looks like that it took three cars and wielded them together. They knocked out a couple of the inner walls of the cars to make a larger room. I opened the door and walked to see a mare sitting at a desk typing away.

“Welcome to the New Appleloos- Thorn!!” the yellow mare yelled looking up pretty much jumping over the desk and taking the injured filly from my arms with her magic. She was starting to cry on the filly waking her up.

Thorn looked sleepy eyed and started to look around. “Where am I?” She asked stopping at me and she smiled. “Hello, Parker. Thanks for getting me here.” She said with a sincere smile.

I smiled and adjusted my hat. “No problem, kid. I was glad to do it.”

The mare holding Thorn looked at her then, back at me. “Are the one who rescued her?” she asked on the verge of tears again. I nodded and got a immediate response. She tackled me but, I held my footing and she was hugging me with Thorn in the air still wrapped around in my duster. “Thank you so much. Her father is the doctor here and he will be happy to hear that you have rescued her.” She separated from me and she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Just thank you. If there is anyth-” she was interrupted by a masculine voice coming through one of the doors.

“Rose? What is with all of the commotion? You shoul-” A bright green buck with no horn came through the door and stopped in place staring at me in shock. “A…Are that human that has been all over the radio?” he said clearly shaken. I nodded then, in a flash I was knocked to the ground and he was starting to punch me in the chest making a few audible cracks. He was crying and screaming. “WHY DID YOU GET MY WIFE KILLED?!?! WHY!?!” he continued to scream and yell throwing punches at my chest and face. I did my best trying to block them but, with hoofs those hurt.

He kept doing that and accusing me of killing his wife. After about ten seconds I had enough and punched him square in the jaw knocking him off of me. Before he could get up I was on him. I kicked him in the stomach knocking the wind out of him and back sprawling on the ground.. My anger was already building up from the stress from the last day. “DO YOU THINK THAT I ENJOYED GETTING YOUR WIFE KILLED?!?! UH?!” I screamed getting the attention of several ponies outside. “DO YOU THINK THAT I WANT THIS?!?! THOSE FUCKING RAIDERS AMBUSHED US RIGHT OUTSIDE THE FUCKING DOOR, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!!” I yelled kicking him in the chest again making a crack. “I KILLED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE BASTARDS BECAUSE THEY KILLED HER!!!! I COULDN’T STOP IT!!! SHE WAS THE ONE THAT OPENED THE DOOR!!! IF I OPENED IT AND I WOULD BE DEAD THEN, YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTER WOULD BE STILL IN PONYVILLE; MOST LIKELY GETTING FUCKING RAPED!!! BE GLAD THAT I GOT YOUR DAUGHTER BACK IN ONE PIECE, YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!” The buck looked up at me with a fear filled and bloody face then, he looked at Rose unwrapping Thorn from my duster. I took a deep breath and knelt to his eye level as he got up. “If I could… I would have taken the shot and still got them here alive but, I couldn’t. I will never forgive myself for what happened.” I said sticking out my right hand and smiling. “Now, why don’t we start off with a clean slate. My name is Parker Williams.”

He just stared at me with fear for a moment then, got a shit eating grin and took my hand. “Name’s Red Cross. Thank you for getting my Thorn back here.” He then took a deep breath. “I’m also sorry about sucker punching you.” he said looking over me as I was standing up. He looked at my pip-boy and he eyes went wide. He turned to Rose and yelled “Rose, get me ten doses of RadAway right now!!”

Rose had sat Thorn on a bed in the back of the office. She turned to Cross and nodded. “Yes, sir.” She said running off to the opposite side of the office to a door.

I was about to ask Cross what’s wrong but, something came through the front door. I turned to see the old buck from the gate. He looked pissed. He between me and Cross. “What the hell is going on here?!” his voice was edgy like his was getting ready for a fight.

I turned to him and smiled. “Nothing at all, sir. Just a little misunderrrrrrrrrrsssaaaaann-” I couldn’t finish speaking before I fell to the ground passed out.

********

I opened my eyes and looked back and forth on the ceiling. “What in the hell happened?” I said to myself drowsy sitting up. My head was pounding. “Ow.” I looked back and forth in the room full of cots nobody was seen. I looked at my HUD and only saw three non-hostiles. I twisted my body and placed my feet on the wooden floor. I looked down to see my cloths all except for my boxers that I had on were neatly folded with my hat sitting on top of the pile. I sighed and began to get dressed. When I put on my burnt jeans and dirty shirt I placed my holey duster over it all: I raised an eyebrow when I did. It felt a little off and heavier but, I just shrugged it off. To top it off I placed my hat right on my head. I looked around for my rifles and saw them leaning against the wall. I put the M77 across my back and from what the pip-boy says it my carbine that I took from the dead raider is a service carbine in 5.56 and adjustable plastic stock. I slung it over my shoulder and walked out the door. It was the main office with Rose, Cross and Thorn. Rose was at her desk. Cross was playing with Thorn who was now walking on all four legs. Happy as can be. I smiled and cleared my throat getting attention.

“Parker!” Thorn exclaimed running to me and hugging my leg. I smiled and patted her on the head.

“How you doing, Thorn?” I asked picking her up and hugging her.

“I should be asking the same question, Parker.” Cross said getting up and walking to me. When he got to me he had a shallow smile. He looked up at me. “You had over 850 Rads in you according to your pip-buck.” he said pointing at my pip-boy. “Plus, several broken and cracked ribs. I also took out a bullet lodged in your back. What trouble you got in to get 850 rads and a bullet?” I was about to say that I got blown up with a radioactive bomb but, he put up his hoof before I could speak. “I don’t want to know.” He sighed in irritation. “You’re lucky that you came here when you did otherwise you would be dead right about now. For the future take these.” Cross shoved a couple of liquid packets of RadAway. Cross cleared his throat. “Alright, now to pay for the supp-” He stopped speaking by getting a cold glare from Rose and Thorn. “Fine.” He sighed and looked up at me. “The supplies that I used to flush out the rads and take out the bullet are on the house for saving my Daughter. Those three packs of RadAway are too. Anymore and you are going to have to pay for them.” He said a little coldly.

I chuckled. “Thanks cus I don’t have any money or whatever you use for currency.”

Thorn looked up from my arms as I carried to her to the bed that she was playing on with a big smile. “We use bottle caps as currency if you’re wondering.”

I looked at her dumbfounded. “Really?… Really? Eh, not the weirdest thing I’ve heard. I am in the post- apocalyptic world of talking Technicolor ponies.” I shrugged. I sat Thorn down on the bed and covered her with a blanket. “You be good now, I don’t want to save you twice.” I said chuckling. She giggled and hugged me.

“Be Safe.” She said hugging me around the neck constricting the airflow to my lungs.

“Need…Air.” I choked out. Tapping out.

“Sorry.” She said letting me out of her death grip.

I rubbed her on the head. “It’s alright, kid.” I chuckled. “I will be sure to take it safe. I’m a tough S.O.B.” I smiled. “I’ll be back.” I got up and nodded towards Cross. He nodded back and went into the room with the beds mumbling something. I got up using the carbine as a crutch to get up. I slung the rifle over my shoulder again and walked by Rose. “Hey, Rose where is the general store?” I asked adjusting my duster under the weight of my rifles.

She looked up from her terminal and cleared her throat. “The store is called Absolutely Everything. It is just a couple of cars to the right you can’t miss it.” She said getting back on the terminal. I nodded thanks and was about to exit the door to the town. “Also, one more thing.” she said.

I turned back to her with a confused look. “What?”

“Don’t freak out when you see the owner. She…She’s different. What you do, don’t do two things. One, don’t call her a Zombie and Two what ever you do. Don’t. Comment. On. Her. Eyes. She will freak and she has a lot of ties to a lot of ponies around the wasteland. So, just be nice. See you around. Hopefully in one piece and not flooded with enough radiation to kill a Manticore.”

I chuckled and faced the door. “I’ll keep that in mind.” I said walking out into the blazing heat. The moment that I walked out was the moment that I was getting stared at. I just shrugged it off and went to the right. I followed the directions that Rose told me that lead me to a trio of cars like the hospital wielded together and one of the walls knocked out to make a door like an old fashion saloon.

The sign that was hanging said:

Absolutely Everything.

Yes, I do deliveries!

No hooves, nasty stingers? No Service.

Ask me about special deliveries! I won’t answer but, I will get right on it!

Wasteland Survival Guide! Available Now! Free first copy for every family!

I looked up at the sign and nodded at it. “huh, I should probably ask about that wasteland survival guide.” I pushed open the door and walked in to see the most disgusting but, coolest thing I ever seen. It was a small Pegasus mare but, most of her blond mane was gone. Bits and pieces of her skin were missing and looked like they were continuing to flake off. She was behind a wooden counter with some bottle caps on it. Behind the counter was a whole assortment of items, food, water, weapons, ammo, armor/barbing, and other random shit. Some other shit on selves in rows remind me of the Super Duper Mart. I knocked on the wooden frame of the door. “Umm, hello?” I asked.

She turned around and she was wide eye when she saw me but, as I was looking at her I couldn’t decide which eye to concentrate on. I just looked at the one looking at me. She quickly wrote something on a black board and held it out with her mouth for me to see. She waved for me to come closer excitedly. I just shrugged and moved along the wooden floor. I looked around to see only that the whatever it is; is the only thing that is in the store. When I came to the counter she smiled and put her blackboard in my view. She had written on it with chalk it said: Hello! I’m glad you are up and healthy. How do you like your improved duster?

I looked up at her with a confused look. “Let me guess raiders cut out your tongue?” She sadly nodded. Feeling guilty I quickly changed the subject. “What did you do to my duster?”

She quickly and systematically wrote on it again. She held it out again and it said: For saving Thorn I’ve armored your duster with scraps of combat armor that I had laying around. It should protect you from light shots like from pistols, and light caliber rifles. I’ve also put ammo pouches on the inside of your duster for your carbine and sniper rifle. Anything else you are going to have to pay for. Also to pay for the pouches I took your sawed off shotgun. Sorry, but generosity can only go so far. I smiled.

I looked up at the mare. “It’s alright. Is there anything else?” I said raising an eyebrow.

She nodded and erased the board again. She wrote again with her mouth and she showed me the board. It said: yes, I have spare caps that I owe you. About two hundred and fifty. She then, after I was finished reading she placed three bags on the counter. Two were medium sized bags and one was tiny.

I looked at her from the bags. “Let me guess the big ones are a hundred and the tiny one is fifty?” I asked. She nodded. “Alright.” I said taking one big bag and the little one then, stuffing them in a small pocket in my duster next to the leather ammo pouches two of which were holding my assault rifle mags. The mare looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “How much is the ammo around here?” I asked leaning on the table. She smiled and pulled up another black board but, this time with info on prices. I looked for a how much the 5.56 and .308 is. My eyes were clued to how much the .308 was. Six caps per ball round. I looked at her. “Can you lower the price on .308? Six caps a rounds seems a little much.” I said taking off my hat and plowing my hand through my hair.

he mare thought for a moment before erasing the six and made a four. Then, she wrote something on her board. ‘This is because for saving Thorn and making those raiders pay. Four caps a round of .308 and three caps for 5.56.’

I looked at her and nodded. “Thanks.” I took a deep breath. I checked my pip-boy to see that I had 64 rounds of 5.56 and two rounds of .308. I looked back at her. “Sorry to be rude but, what is your name?” I asked.

She smiled and wrote on the blackboard. ‘My name is Ditzy Doo.’

I smiled. “Alright, Ditzy. I would like 8 rounds of 5.56 for 24 caps. Also, 14 rounds of .308 for 56 caps for a total of 80 caps.” I said dumping out the bottle caps. I sorted them out and handed her the eighty caps. She counted them and scooped them up and placed them in a cash register. I took a moment to look on the shelves behind her and I smiled as I saw a couple items I like. “how much for the revolver and gun Belt?” I asked pointing at the set.

She erased what was on her board and wrote again. ‘Hundred and ten caps.’ She wrote. She knew what I wanted. She flew to the set and grabbed it with her mouth. As she was doing that I looked to my left to see a wanted poster for a pony named: Snapper nailed to a post holding up the ceiling. I raised an eyebrow scanning the poster. Wanted Dead or Alive for illegal Enslavement, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, and Assault on Security Guards of Tenpony Tower. Reward: 750 Caps. Last Known location: Old Appleloosa. I grabbed the poster when Ditzy came down with the ammo and supplies that I ordered. She looked at me with an raised eyebrow. She tapped me on the shoulder while in the air. She had her blackboard in her mouth. I looked down to read. ‘You still owe me a hundred and twenty caps or a hundred and forty-five caps for 24 shots of .357.’ I threw the hundred cap bag on the table with thirty-five caps from the fifty cap bag leaving me with 15 caps left.

“I’ll take the .357 ammo also.” I said shoving the caps towards Ditzy and taking the gun and belt along with the ammo for my rifles. “Thanks…” I said looking at the poster again. “Is this bounty still up for grabs?” I asked looking at her. She looked shock but, sighed. She nodded. I sighed. “I wouldn’t take this if I didn’t have to. Can you tell me where Old Appleloosa is?” I said showing her the poster.

She hesitated before she took my arm with her hoofs and dialed in the coordinates of the town into my pip-boy. My HUD said New location marked! She then began to softly write on her board like she was thinking that she is going to regret doing what she is going to do. She lifted it up so I can read it. ‘Be careful when you go there. It’s a Slaver community. If you are caught and captured you are going to be put into slavery. There is a train that we use to trade with them…’ I looked back at her with a raised eyebrow full of shock.

“Why are you trading with Slavers?” I asked with anger starting to build in my voice.

She sighed and wrote a little more. ‘We trade with them so they leave us alone but, back to the train. If you are sure you want to go I can convince the train operators to let you get on but, you owe me.’

I looked at her and smiled. “Alright, I’ll owe you one as long as the favor doesn’t involve anything too dangerous or sexual; I mean you’re cute and all but, I’m not into that kind of stuff as long as I have most of my sanity.” She giggled a little making me smile but, she nodded. “So, when does the train leave?” I asked.

She quickly erased her board and wrote again. ‘Tomorrow at noon….’ I was about to read more when she slid a big white book with a pony skull with bold black writing on top : Wasteland Survival Guide. I looked at Ditzy and she nodded towards the board. ‘I suggest you read up. Something tells me that even if you are some what good at combat doesn’t count for crap when you are in the desert dying of thirst and hunger.’ I nodded taking the book and gear and stuff it in my big pockets on the bottom of my duster for later. I placed my hat back on my head; I was about to leave when my stomach rumbled with hunger. Ditzy laughed. I felt my face burning with embarrassment. She erased her board and wrote on it again. ‘There is a restaurant in one of the wooden buildings in the center of town. Just go there and they should give you some food for a price. Just don’t cause any trouble.’

I smiled and placed my hat on my head. “I would never. Besides I’m going to need to prepare for the hunt.” I said slinging my carbine over my shoulder. “I hope to see you again.” waving good bye. Ditzy was a little hesitant but, waved goodbye.

I stepped outside to see the sun in the late afternoon sky. Curious I looked at the date that my pip-boy had. 10/24/2267. My eyes were glued to the year. 2267? I looked around the town studying the ponies and then, everything clicked. The armor, the bottle cap currency, raiders, the wasteland survival guide all of it clicked into place. “Some serious shit must of have happened. Probably something to do with a be series of big ass booms.” I said to myself start walking towards what looked like an outdoor bar and grill.

When I got to the center of the town ponies were giving me the weird stares. I grinned and went to the navy blue bartender on the outside grill. I sat on a stool and looked at the grill. There were some kabobs on it sizzling on a grill making my mouth water. “How can I help you, Sir?” The bartender said snapping me out of my trace.

I looked up with some drool coming off my chin. “Uh?” He pointed to his chin indicating something on my mine. I wiped it off with my sleeve of my duster. “Sorry.” I said looking back at the kabobs. “How much for the Kabobs?” I said starting to drool again without realizing.

The buck chuckled. “You must be hungry.” The buck said levitating a kabob into my hand. I was about to reach into my caps pocket but, he waved me off. “No charge this one’s on me. I like you. You make me laugh.” he said making me smile placing three caps on the counter. He looked at them with raised eyebrow and looked at me. “I said this one’s on the house.”

“I’m not paying for it. I’m giving you a tip. Take it. It would be rude.” I said before taking a bite of the meaty kabob mixed with a couple of veggies.

He smiled and nodded taking the tip. “Thanks. If you need anything food wise just look me up.” he said sticking his hoof across the counter. “Name’s Barb but, most ponies just call me Sauce.” When he said that something on the corner on my HUD said ‘New Appleloosa fame gained!’

I swallowed the bite of kabob and shook his hoof. “Name’s Parker but, it seems ponies are going to start calling me The Lone Rifleman.” I said making up both chuckling. I placed a couple more caps on the table. “How much is a canteen full of water?” I asked.

“Twenty caps for one liter of water.” He said nearly making me spit out my mouth full of kabob.

I swallowed my bit and looked at him. “That is a bit pricy.” I said thinking for a moment. An idea popped into my head. “You a betting pony?” I asked.

“I like a nice game or two. What do you have in mind?”

I chuckled. “How are you at flipping a coin?” I said slapping down a quarter that was in my pocket. He just looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “If you win…” I said holding up the coin showing him the different sides. “I will owe you a favor but,…if I win you give me a discount on this one thing of water. Deal?”

Sauce examined the coin. “Sure, I will take you on that offer. I call…Heads.” He said throwing me the coin. I caught it with my hand and flipped it the air and let it land on the dirt. I was shocked at the coin. It landed on heads. I picked up the coin in defeat. “Looks like you owe me a favor now. But, I will cut you some slack. I will give you two bottles of water for the rest of your caps.” He said making me smile.

“Thanks.” I said throwing the rest of my twelve caps on the table. He scooped them up and placed them in a pouch around his waist. With his magic two plastic bottles of water appeared from below the counter. Just before I swallowed the last of my kabob and threw away the stick; I looked up at Sauce. “why are you so nice to me? The rest of the ponies have been giving me stares as if I have a disease or something.” I said I grabbed the two bottles of water and tucking them inside my duster.

Sauce just shrugged and began to wipe down the counter. “I really don’t care really. In the wasteland you see a lot of weird things. You are not the weirdest thing I’ve seen.” I raised a eyebrow at this.

“What’s the weirdest thing you ever seen?”

He chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. But, I saw a manticore getting plowed by a buck.” My mouth was just hanging open from what he was saying. “Closer your mouth before a bloatfly flies in.” He laughed making me close my mouth. “But, trust me it was just as disgusting as it was weird.”

“Ok.” I said getting up from the stool and shook off the dust and food from my dirty duster. “Until I see you again.” I said gathering my carbine and walking off waving.

I didn’t realize that it was getting dark when I was talking to Sauce. I sighed and looked back at the hospital which its lights were still on. I shrugged and decided to go back. I opened the door and stepped in to see that Rose was still on the terminal tapping away. She didn’t notice me which gave me a nice little idea. I crouched down just so she didn’t see me. I began to sneak my way to the desk but, just at the last minute I heard a little squeak of joy. “Parker!” I heard Thorn squeaked out loudly blowing my cover. I looked up at Rose as she looked down with a smug face. Then, I felt something grip me in a death hug sending me to the floor.

“Nice try but, Thorn is the best security guard against you now. so no sneak attacks. Now, get off that dirty floor.” I sighed and got up with Thorn still in her death hug. I lifted her weight in my arms so she didn’t fall but, she continued to hug me. “You got back pretty fast. Please don’t tell me you hurt already.” she said with that ‘really’ voice that my friends made. I froze for a moment thinking about my friends but, Rose snapped me out of it. “Hello?” She said waving her hoof in front of me.

“Sorry, what were you saying?” I asked with a sheepish smile.

Rose made a huff and sat back in her chair. “What do you need, Parker? Cross is asleep.” she asked.

“I just need a place to sleep tonight. I’m leaving tomorrow at noon…Plus, I need to catch up on some reading.” I said taking out the wasteland survival guide.

She blew the white mane from her face and she smiled. “I guess you got that from out local Ghoul Ditzy?”

I raised an eyebrow. “So that’s what she is. I was afraid to ask her.” I said sheepishly smiling and rubbing the back of my head.

Rose sighed and looked at Thorn who was starting to fall asleep in my arms again. “Yeah, you can stay the night for this one night. But, you have to put Thorn to the bed. Her bed is in the back in the closed off area of the cot room. Can’t miss it. Just don’t wake up Cross.” She said pointing to the room that I woke up in this afternoon. I nodded and began to make my way to the door. But, just before I could open the door, a force of I assume magic tugged on my arm with my pip-boy. I turned back to Rose and saw that she looked like she had something she want to be say.

I looked at her. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

That seemed to snap her out of her trance. She looked up at me. “I know that you are going to Old Appleloosa tomorrow at noon.” She said on the verge of crying. “If you could after you take care of what you are going to do. Can I ask you a favor?”

I solemnly smiled and walked to her with Thorn in my arms. “What do you want me to do?” I asked putting my free hand on the side of her face making her softly look at me.

“My sister was captured last week while scaving in the Dodge ruins and she is said to be a slave there waiting to be sold to the highest bidder.” She began to cry. “I…If you can please save my sister and get her back. She is the only real family that I have left besides Cross and Thorn! Her name…is Cream Pie. She looks like me only with a black mane… Why did I have to let her go out there?! ” She looked down moping her tears starting to hit the wooden floor like rain and continued to mumble.

I left her chin making her look up at me. “I will bring her back. Even if I have to take bullet after bullet I will get her back here safely. I promise.” I said getting up and looking at the time on my pip-boy. It was 8:53. I looked back at Rose as her tears began to dry a little. I patted her on the head making her look up at me and I smiled. “I will bring her back no worries. And you don’t have to pay me.” was all I said turning around and going into the cot room. Leaving her speechless.

I followed Rose’s instructions and placed Thorn in the cot next to Cross in the enclosed area. I looked around to see a couple of injured ponies covered in bandages and gauze. I sighed and closed the curtain of the enclosed area and sat in the same cot that I woke up in earlier. I took off my duster and rifles then, placed the duster on my cot; then leaned the rifles right next to the cot. I took off my boots and sat them up straight right next together. With some time to kill I began to take out all of the stuff in my duster. The holster and .357 single action revolver. I examined the .357 a little more. It had a nice blued frame and wooden grip. Even with the bite marks it fits in my hand pretty good. I swung out the cylinder and smiled at the six empty chambers. I took out the box of .357 ammo and filled the six chambers then, swung in the cylinder with a nice click. I placed the loaded handgun on the cot and began to fill the front moon clip holders. I filled three of them and shut them closed. With an extra magazine that I found the butt of the rifle, I filled ten rounds into the first M77 magazine and four in the last one. I stuffed the full mag into the rifle on a closed bolt and the half full one into one of the mag pouches that Ditzy made. I decided to take out the mags for the carbine seeing that I had three I smiled. Perfect. I loaded up the mags until they were full. 72 rounds of woopass. I stuffed them in the right ammo pouches in the inside of my duster. With all of that finished in just like five minutes.

I decided to lay back on the cot and crack open the Wasteland Survival guide.

“The Wasteland Survival Guide By Ditzy Doo…”

Chapter Complete.
Parker Williams: Level up!
No new perk.
_____________________________

Sweet dreams

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Chapter three: Sweet dreams
Trust.

Trust is something that I barely had with some people back home. Here, I have even less trust as it is every person or pony for themselves up to a point. But, sometimes you have to trust someone or somepony in order to do something great or evil depending on what you do. It is trust is what builds relationships and it is betrayal that destroys them.
_________________________________________

The next morning I woke up the book was in my face and drool going down my cheek and staining the paper. I sat up causing the book to fall on the floor making a dull thud on . I looked around to see that one of the ponies from last night were gone but, the other was still here and covered like a mummy. I swung around and planted my feet on the floor. I stretched my shoulders and yawned. I smacked my mouth and looked at my gear. My duster was hanging from the edge of the cot and my boots were on the floor one was fallen. I popped my fingers and neck before getting in my boots. I got up and placed on the gunbelt with my revolver in its holster around my waist and tightened it. I put on my duster covering most of my cloths and gunbelt. I grabbed my M77 strapping it across my back I took the carbine slamming a magazine inside then, charging the rifle chambering a round with a soft click. I moved my duster and check my .357 magnum. I swung out the cylinder and spun it whipping it back in with a click. I holstered it again. To finish it off I placed my hat on top of my head. I looked at my Pip-Boy smiling 11:24. “Just enough time to find the train.” I said to myself picking up the book and putting it back in my duster. “I really to find a bag or something cus this is getting ridiculous.”

I looked around the room once more My HUD only had four non-hostiles on it. I could tell that they were the ponies I was thinking of. One was running back and forth, one was just sitting still and the other was milling around. The forth one was the pony that was mummified with bandages. I dusted off my duster then, began to walk toward the door. It was closed and I just noticed a mirror. I was filthy and covered in grim mixed with blood on my skin. A faint scar from the round that grazed my cheek. I sighed and began to chuckle. “All I need is a pair of black mirror Aviators to complete this look.” I said grinning. I opened the door to the usual scene. Thorn earning her name by bugging Rose who was on her terminal typing away then, there was Cross who was now in the other room what looked like a store room. I smiled at this. I was fully geared up to kick some Slaver ass and save some ponies. I took one step…one and Thorn was on me like stink on a skunk.

“Parker I’m glad that you’re up!” She said hugging my leg.

I looked down at her “You say that every time I wake up from sleeping.” She looked up at me with sad puppy eyes that made me cave. I sighed and bent over rubbing her head. “I’m glad to see you walking normally.” I said getting a smile from her.

“Yeah, my dad used regeneration potions to heal my nerve endings.” I smiled patting her on the head.

“Be good now, I’m going to be gone for a while and I don’t know when I’ll be back.” She looked sad like she just lost her favorite toy. I sighed. “I’ll be sure to bring you something.” I said getting back up. I looked at Rose. “Hey, Rose do you know where the Train is?” I asked.

She sighed and turned in her swivel chair. “Yeah, I’ll show yeah. I need to walk around more often” She said getting up from her well used chair; stretching.
********

“That is a nice train.” I said looking over the train reminding me of the old west steam engine trains. There was flatcars and boxcars holding supplies for the Slavers. A red caboose in the back to stop the train in case of runaways or going down steep mountains and going around curves. Then, one passenger car that holds the ponies. That was going to an awkward ride there is anybody in there. What struck me odd are the four giant ponies about five feet tall and built like tanks were strapping themselves to the front of the train. Every so often one of them gave me an odd look. “Why are those ponies strapping themselves to the front of the train?” I asked looking down Rose.

She sighed looking back up at me. “They pull the train because we don’t have any coal for the engine to run off of but, they love to use the whistle. There are two teams of puller ponies that run the train. When the first team gets tired or needs water the other team takes their place. They use the caboose to stop the train when going down the mountains and when the teams trade places when pulling up the mountains.” She looked up at me. “Be careful when you are there. If you caught they will try to kill you or make you a slave. Make sure you get what you’re there for and get out. Ditzy has told me that the train ponies will stay there for about an hour to unload and load the trade goods and if they a gunfight they will leave. After that and you are not on the train you’re on your own. No back up nothing. Just…don’t make a scene. After that Ditzy says that she wants to call on her favor that you owe her.”

I chuckled. “That was fast.” I said to myself stepping forward towards the train. I turned to her just before climbing on. “I’ll be sure to bring back your sister in one piece I promise on my balls that I will.” I said making the yellow mare earn her name.

“Yeah, just go before I tell the sheriff. He doesn’t like it when ponies cause trouble with a dangerous town just over a mountain.”

I tipped with my hat. “In case you didn’t notice. I’m not a pony.” I said climbing on the 200 year old train. I was the only one in the car besides a hooded figure in the back of the car and seems to have a rectangular box wrapped in a blanket or cloth. More and likely a rifle or something but, I couldn’t tell.

I took a window seat and sighed. ‘This is going to be a long ride.’ I thought looking around for something to do. I decided to take out the Wasteland Survival guide again. “Alright, I was just at the end of mines.” I said flipping through the pages. I looked outside just as the train began to lurch forward. After a bit of just looking outside I was really surprised to how fast we are going. I mean we must be going about a good sixty miles per hour. “Not bad for some ponies.” I said to myself turning my attention back to the book in front of me.

After about an hour of reading I’ve learn quiet a few things. That I was right about the bombs 200 years ago. That there are also robots and automatic turrets in this world so I would have to be more careful when going into a building. I read the part about raiders. It turns out that they are usually on chems called Dash, Buck, and some other shit. I knew that I would stay away from that shit so I just skipped that part. Back on the raiders. They usually are on the chems. Their weapons range from anything from a rusty kitchen knife to a working missile launcher on rare occasions. I turned to the next page to see what other knowledge this book holds. The book revealed a Chapter on Slavers. I smiled and adjusted my hat. “Alright, now this is a chapter I could read.” I said pretty loud forgetting the buck in the back. The chapter was pretty short despite my enthusiasm. It said: ‘Slavers are known to have around 25 to 75 Slavers per camp on most occasions and well armed on every occasion. They don’t care who they hurt to get their slaves or ‘product’. Slaughtering entire towns to get the foals and other youthful ponies just for a profit. They are abusive and can not be reasoned with if you have something they want. In their camps they usually have one or more pins to house the slaves until they are sold or dead. Be warned to those who think that they can save the slaves. If you free any of their slaves especially those who have been already sold and awaiting shipment; The slavers will come after you and try kill you…Slowly. If they catch you and you messed with them; they will torture you, beat you just to an inch of your life. Then, they will sell you off into slavery. If you are still thinking you can take them on. Make sure you have plenty of ammo, medical supplies and friends with you because you will be outnumbered.’

I sighed closing the book and stuffing it back into my duster. I decided to look at the wanted poster again. “Alright, Snapper. Wanted Dead or Alive for illegal Enslavement, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, and Assault on Security Guards of Tenpony Tower. Reward: 750 Caps. Last Known location: Old Appleloosa. Gender: Male. Race: Earth Pony. Color (Coat): Swamp Green. Color (Mane and tail): Bronze. Cutie Mark: Whip and skull…” ‘Cutie Mark? What in the hell is that?’ I thought looking at the poster more. “…Scars: three scars from jaw to bottom of neck. Umm, at least I know what he looks like.” I said folding it up and stuffing the poster back into my pocket. I looked outside to see that we were already going up the mountain. I sighed a little as the train moved along a cliff showing me a desolate wasteland with a thick cloud cover over head. It had a peaceful feel but, mixed with so much dread and death. The shells of cities that once according to the book once held millions of ponies. It gave me a bad feeling but, I couldn’t look away from a lone city in the distance.

“I wonder which city that is?” I mumbled to myself; the train passing the view and going into a tunnel. It got dark for a bit then, we got out revealing a small old western town. I smiled bringing up my rifles to my side. I charging my M77 getting up on my feet. “Looks like its go time.” I said strapping the rifle across my back and bringing up my carbine. I adjusted the stock so I could see the sights better and so it could feel better. I placed that back on the seat and took out my .357 and swung out the revolver seeing that I was loaded. Satisfied, I whipped the cylinder back in. I did a little spin and holstered it. The train slowly came to a stop then, I made my way to the back of the train; leaving the hooded buck behind me with the weird box. I stepped off the car to a part of a run down loading station. The town looked like it was made in a hurry. . But, it was in total ruins except for the large barn and a couple of the buildings that weren’t falling apart just by gravity.

I quickly moved behind the loading station just before several ponies with scars covering their faces boarding the train. I grin backing away from the station then, towards the town. I crept behind the buildings catching view of several ponies in barbing patrolling a chain linked fence with razor wire on top. I pressed my back against the wall as three fully armored ponies with what looks like a fucking mini-gun, a missile launcher, and a flamer. I looked at my gear and sighed. “I didn’t come really prepared for this.” I said checking my HUD ammo count. 24/48. ‘Alright full magazine for everything I have on me but, it’s not much. I’m going to have make every shot count.’ I lined up a shot with the carbine at the flamer when I saw a yellow mare and black mane near the slaver with the flamer. ‘Shit! She too close!’ I brought up my carbine with the barrel pointing to the sky. I noticed a door to the side of building that lead inside. I crept towards the door with the coast was clear. I softly pushed opened the door to reveal a office of some kind. I looked back and forth in the room seeing nothing on my HUD showing no signs of life in the room or any part of the building. I softly closed the door and locked it. I saw that there wasn’t anything worth looking through just an empty room full of crap. I saw a staircase going up the stairs making me bring up my carbine to my shoulder. I quickly went up the staircase and cleared the room. Nothing.

I saw a couple of desks with some pony skeletons sitting in the chairs slumped over the backs and over the desks. I sighed and shook my head. “Poor bastards.” I looked around the desk opening them only collecting a few bottle caps here and there. In one desk I found six round of 10mm. I shrugged and threw them into my duster. I was about to go back down stair when I saw something reflect the dust filled sunlight on the desk near the window. Curious, I decided to look at it. I bobbed and weaved between the desks towards my target. I was confused when I saw it. In a thick layer of dust and other crap a perfect snow globe of Appleloosa; it had a pony in a yellow and blue jumpsuit with a cowboy hat and gunbelt. Shrugging, I scooped up the snow globe and threw into my duster.

I quickly and quietly ran down stairs. I pressed my back against the wall cracking open the door just enough for me to look out. It was the same three slavers that were patrolling the pin. When they went around the building, I slipped outside and dashed across the alley. I crouched down looking back and forth down the single street. It was empty and quite except for the pin. ‘I don’t like this. There’s something going on.’ I thought seeing that it was clear dashing across the street in the alley one building away from the pin. I looked back at the pin and sighed. ‘I’ll get them on the way out.’ I thought making my way to the barn.

“Ok, you son of bitch where in the hell did you put my Buck!!! I said right before I kicked him in the stomach dropping him to the ground.” I heard a angry voice just to the side of me just in the alley next to the building. The voice was starting to come closer. I wasn’t thinking then, panicked. I looked straight ahead of me and saw the building’s front door was cracked open. I dashed jumping into the building closing the door with my foot just after I landed. “What was that?” the same voice from the alley said going by the door.

“I don’t know. Probably some ponies fucking. Don’t think on it too hard, hurts your head.” A feminine voice replied.

“You’re right. Lets get back to the boss’s party.” The buck said.

I was on the floor panting. “Goddamn it.” I mumbled.

“Took you long enough.” A male voice came from behind me scaring me making me draw my revolver. I looked at what I was aiming at. It was the hooded buck from the train.

I sighed decocking my revolver. “Don’t scare me like that. I almost shot you.” I said getting up and dusting off my duster. I holstered my weapon and picked up my carbine. The buck was sitting on a wooden rocking chair with the same box wrapped in the blanket leaning against the wall next to him.

“Sorry…” He said with a light chuckle. His face still being covered by his hood. “As an apology I will let you have whatever weapons in here.” He said gesturing toward an open weapons locker with the broken lock on the ground. I looked at it getting a big grin on my face. Even what very little there was. It still stocked with a lot of weapons, Rifles, pistols, and I think a missile launcher. I looked at the hooded buck tipping my hat. I went to the locker looking at the weapons. I saw only a few weapons I knew what they were and could use.

“Nice.” I said taking a 12.7mm pistol and five eight round clips including the one in the pistol; along with a fifty round box of 12.7mm and .357.

“Sorry but, there wasn’t any regular ammo for your carbine. It’s a popular round so it’s hard to find.” the hooded buck said when I was holding a metal apple. “You might want to handle that carefully because that’s a grenade.” He said making me get a big grin stuffing the grenade into my duster. He sighed as I was inspecting the 12.7mm pistol.

I locked open the slide of the 12.7mm checking the chamber and sighed. ‘Could use some repair but, still useful.’ thought sliding back in the clip and chambering a round. “You ever going to tell me your name?” I asked seeing the ammo section for anymore .308. I found a twenty round box and stuffed it into my duster pocket.

As I was doing this I heard a soft chuckle behind me. “You have a lot of room in that duster of yours.” The buck said taking off his hood.

“Yeah, it has carried a lot of things in the three years that I’ve had it. So, are you going to be gabbing or you going to tell me your name?” I asked stuffing the 12.7mm pistol in the back of my pants. I turned around to see that he was a gun metal grey unicorn. He had a large 10mm pistol levitating with the barrel pointing at my face.

“I’ll tell my name if you tell yours.” he said with a smirk. He had a black mane and a scar at the base of his neck and the rest of it was concealed by the clock as it went down. He had cold blue eyes that could kill or at least injure.

I just busted out laughing startling the pistol wielding buck. I wiped a tear from my face. “Really? You had to point a pistol to get me to say my name?” I asked looking at his shocked expression. “Sorry, I think that is just rude but, funny.” I sighed sticking out my left hand. “Name’s Parker Williams or but, I think that some ponies are going to start calling me the Lone Rifleman or some other bull shit. ” I said with a smile.

He cracked a smiled and put down the gun. He got off of the rocking chair and trotted to me. “Nice to meet you, Parker. I’m Silver Cloud.” he shook my hand. But, before I could react he had his pistol to my balls. “Now, I know that you are doing a bounty from your loud conversation with Ditzy Doo.” He said looking up with a wise grin. I raised an eyebrow. “I want in.”

“Why should I let you?” I asked getting the gun pressed harder on my balls.

“Because I’m the one with the gun pressing against your balls. Plus, you stick out like a sore fucking thumb around here. I just strolled into this building while you tried to be sneaky. If those guards weren’t drunk or high right now they would’ve found you and you would be filled with holes. That’s why.”

I sighed and looked at the gun at my balls. “Fine, we can split the bounty 50/50. Ok?”

He grinned “How about 40/60 and you sell their weapons.”

“How about 40/60 and I get to sell there weapons and you help me free the slaves.”

He studied me for a moment or two then, taking the pistol off my balls. “Alright, buddy we got ourselves a deal.” he holstered the pistol looking at my gear that I had. “You really didn’t come prepared for this did you?” he asked well knowing the answer. I shook my head. “Well, perhaps I can help you.” He said going to the arms locker where I got the 12.7mm pistol. “It won’t be much but, it will be better then, what you have arms wise.” After about a minute looking through the ammo case he took two assault rifle magazines filled with ammo.

“Hey, I thought you said they didn’t have any ammo for my carbine?” I said while he levitated me four of the magazines.

“You owe me for this but, all I said was regular ammo. The boss around here keeps the good stuff for himself. He has hidden away a good five boxes of armor piercing ammo.” He said as I placed the last magazine into the ammo pouches in my duster. I only had two empty pouches left. I decided to place the spare mags of the 12.7mm into one and the grenade into the other.

“Armor piercing?” I asked taking one of the mags and slamming into the carbine. I chambered a round. My HUD next to the ammo counter said AP.

“Yes, Armor piercing. It will defeat most armor including Power armor on most occasions unless you are facing a juggernaut or something then you’re fucked.” Cloud said taking out five more mags then, sticking them into a chest rig that he made into whatever armor he is wearing. “Alright, we good to go. They’re having a party for their boss’s birthday in the barn so most of them are in one place. I suggest that you make use of your long rifle there and make a distraction.” He said taking out the box and laying it on the floor. “When they are scrambling I will take out the target and make sure that the slaves and foals are good to go. Just keep them scrambling by shooting their high command. As I mean the ones ordering everypony around. Any objections?” He said unwrapping the blanket from the plastic box.

I raised my hand. “One, the moment that there is shooting is the moment the train leaves us. How are we going to get the slaves out safely?”

That made him rub his chin. He thought for a moment and looked at bag of white plastic looking stuff with wire all over it. “We could black mail them?” He said pointing to a bag next to the rocking chair.

“How?” I asked.

“We could wire the C4 to the foundation of the barn after we take out the sentries guarding the pin and foals. After we have secured the slaves onto the train we kick open the door then, politely ask for Snapper maybe some caps. If they try to pull anything blow the place on top of them. Then, scaving for Snapper’s body. That sound good?”

“Yeah, that doesn’t sound too bad. lets do it.” I said going to the door opening it with a mission.

********

“Ok, when they come over shoot the Flamer’s tanks engulfing them in flames their weapons shouldn‘t go off but, the ammo has a fifty-fifty chance of going boom.” Cloud whispered with both of us peering around the corner of the building behind the slave pin; the guards are making their rounds terrorizing the slaves in the process. “When the slavers from the loading dock come to put out the flames, I’ll shoot them. Got it?” I didn’t respond as I got down on one knee and took out my carbine. I lined up the sights when the Flamer Slaver came around the pin corner. The two others were still around her. I made sure that they weren’t near the slaves when I took the shot. I took a deep breath and concentrated then, went into VATS. I focused on the weapon’s tank. I smiled when I saw that I had an 90% chance of hitting it. I qued two shots and let VATS go. I fired twice. One went wide hitting the dirt in front of them making the guards stop looking around for where the shot came from. The second one hit the tank causing all three of them to be engulfed in flames.

There screams of agony reached the sky as their skin and flesh melted under the flames. The smell made me gag some. I saw that Flamer’s dot was gone then, a second one. But, the third one was fading in and out. “HEELP PLEASE!!!” He was screaming and sure enough one hostile reading came. I retreated behind the building just time for the scene to unfold.

“That the fuck happened!?!” The loader yelled trying to put out the flames by stomping out the flames with his hoofs. “I knew that Flamer would be a bad idea but, Nooo. Nope listens to Soap.” We heard him sigh. “I need to just raid the armory and mess then, get the hell out of here. I didn’t even want to be a slaver, I wish I can just get out of this job.” Once he said that his indicator went green.

I looked at Cloud just as he was getting ready to dispatch the loaders with a suppressed marksmen carbine. “Hey, don’t shoot the one stomping out the flames.” I whispered looking at the young buck about from what I can tell about this world and its weird aging thing; he is my age maybe a year older. “His friend and Foe indicator on my pip-boy says his isn’t hostile.”

Cloud just looked up at me with a raised eyebrow. “You sure?” I nodded towards him making him go back on the rifle.

“Yeah, I feel generous today. But, you can take out his friends, I don‘t give a shit about them.” I said looking over Cloud.

“What’s going on here, Soup?” One of the other three Slavers said coming from behind him looking down at their three charred friends.

“I don’t know, sir. All I saw was the Flamer going up in flames and killing all three of them.”

The one that was talking to Soup looked irritated. “I don’t give a shit. Why in the hell are their bodies still here!?” He yelled back hoofing Soap making him fall onto the ground. “I don’t know why the boss took a liking to you and freed you but, I don’t give two holy flying monkey shits about you. Get these bodies out of here and make sure then, gather any weapons and gear that hasn’t been burnt to a crisp then, put them back into the armory.”

I tapped Cloud on the shoulder. “Take that asshole first.” I whispered getting a suppressed shot as a response. The asshole fell on the ground dead with a single hole in the chest where his heart is.

The other two looked at the body wondering what just happened. “Spoon? You ok?” He got a bullet to the face for an answer.

The other one freaked out then, starting to run toward the barn. “Oh, we got ourselves a runner.” Cloud said to himself shooting down the Slaver like a dog.

The entire time Soap was standing there shocked and frozen in fear. I took a deep breath smiling then, walk out from the corner into view. He looked at me and was shocked again. “Hello, Soap. I heard that you wanted to get out of here and your wish is here by granted.” I said going to the light blue buck’s eye level. “But, you are going to have to do something for me.”

He stared at me; his eyes filled with fear “W…What?” he was starting to shake.

I smiled and patted him on the head. “Three things.” I said holding up three finger of my right hand. “One, I want you to release the slaves and foals. Two, I want you to get them on the train. Three, get on the train yourself and leave this place. That’s all.”

“Y…Yes, sir.” he stuttered out. Going though the charred bodies of the three sentries. It took him a moment but, he found the keys to slave pin. He ran and began to do his thing.

I looked to my right just in time to see Cloud trotting right next to me with his Marksmen Carbine slung around his neck. He was looking at Soap who was releasing the slaves from what looks like explosive collars. “Are you sure that we can trust him?”

One by one they began the slave began to wobble out. Most of them were weak using each other for support. All of them had severe scars across their backs some of which were still bleeding. I sighed. “No, I’m not. But, in order to build trust you have to trust them.”

I noticed that all of them were adults. I looked at Soap as he finished with the last slave the yellow mare with black mane. Rose’s sister. I walked up to her as she limped out. She was wide eyed when she saw me. She fell onto the ground shaking with her legs over her head. “Please don’t hurt me.” Her back was criss crossed with whip lashes some were still bleeding. It made me sick to see this but, I had to control myself.

I sighed again and began to pet her mane. She opened her eyes in surprise. She looked up with teary eyes. “Don’t be afraid. Your sister Rose sent me from New Appleloosa to get you.”

“Rose…She remembered me.” she said in disbelief as if she didn’t think she would be saved.

I smiled withdrawing my hand. “Of course. She’s your sister. Now get on the train before the fireworks start.” I said getting up. She looked up at me then, Cloud. Cloud nodded. she limped away towards the loading station along with the rest of the slaves. I looked around for Soap to make sure that he was good. But, when I got to what looked like an old sheriffs station I saw the door get kicked out. I saw Soap letting out malnourished and injured fillies and colts outside. Soap looked at me with fearful eyes. I nodded towards him and he ran with the foals toward the train. I tell you there was about twenty five foals and maybe thirty adults. “That train is going to be packed.”

Cloud looked up at me. “I know it will. But, we still have business to attend to like making our caps.” He said beginning to trot down the main road with his saddle bags filled with C4. We ran to the barn like our asses were on fire. It took us about ten minutes to set the C4 in the proper places.

The sounds of partying and bar fights could be heard as me and Cloud met at the barn doors. “Ready to kick some ass?”

He smiled and faced the door. “Is water wet?”

“Yeppy kiiiii ya MOTHERFUCKER!!!!” I yelled kicking in the front door making the sounds of the party stop dead. They all stared at us with my carbine in my hand. It was total silence except for a glass bottle breaking on the floor. “Hello, bitches! Daddy’s home!” I yelled. As if I shot someone they all pulled their guns on us. The sounds of lasers charging, rifles being loaded, etc.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you!” Cloud said with a sadistic smile waving a detonator. “This detonator is linked to six enchanted blocks of C4! The moment I press this trigger or if it is shot the explosives will make the entire building come down on top of you assholes…” Cloud paused to look up at the ceiling seeing assortment of hooks, beams and a hell of lot heavy objects. “And from what I can tell from tell there are a lot of heavy object that would kill every single one of you!!” he yelled.

The slavers looked at each other then, one by one they began to put down their weapons. A big old black buck with a grey beard that looked like he got in a fight with a Mr. Gutsy fighting robot from his burns and scratches on his face came up to the front of the group. “What the fuck do you assholes want that you want to ruin my birthday!!!” he yelled sending spit in my face.

I wiped the spit off my face with my hand. “First of all. Say it don’t spray it.” I cleared my throat. “Second, we are here for two things.” I said holding my two fingers One, Snapper. He is wanted for several charges from the Tenpony security force.” I said taking down one finger.

The old buck sighed. “Is that all you want?!” He said looking at us as if we’re crazy.

“No. Second, I want five thousand caps for me and my colleague here.” Gesturing to me and Cloud.

The buck glared at me and sighed. “Is that all?” He growled flicking his head toward us then, two large brown bags with the aid of levitation fell in front of us.

I looked at a Mare with a pair of mirror black aviators. “I would like her shades.” Pointing at the mare who was surprised at the request.

She looked back and forth looking at who I was pointing at then, when she realized I was pointing at her she yelled “I’m not giving my damn glasses to that what ever the hell that thing is!!” Pointing back at me.

The boss looked at her with some irritation. “Are you seriously questioning to the ponies who happen to have us by the balls?!”

“If you haven’t noticed, I don’t have balls. But, fine.” She said throwing the glasses at me. I caught them and placing them on my face darkening my view. I then, picked up one of the heavy bags and placed it into Cloud’s saddle bag. Cloud was grinning when the weight of the caps pulled on his side. I took the second one and put it into my caps pocket in the inside of my duster.

“There happy?” The boss said his voice starting to get more irritable. “But, seriously one of my most horrible employees?” The buck said turning around to the group. “Send that lazy good for nothing dipshit up here so these guys can get out of here and we can continue partying!” He turned back to us, the sounds of scuffling and duct tape came from behind him in the group. “You’re lucky that it’s my birthday or I would have had you guys shot on the spot.” he said the smell of alcohol came off his breath in waves making me wave my hand in front of my nose..

“Tic-tac?” I muttered. We waited for a moment before Snapper was thrown out of the crowd with his hoofs and mouth tapped together with duct tape. I took out the wanted poster and checked the description. “Yup, this is our guy.” I said swinging my carbine across my back and picked up the heavy hog tied buck then, put him over my shoulders like a sack of potatoes. “Thanks, I was glad I didn’t have to shoot up the places.” I said stepping back.

The boss glared at me. “The only reason I’m giving you that limpdick is that he is lazy and he has a drug problem messes with profit. Plus, he takes more profit then, you did in one week.” The moment he said that it made me cringe tighting my grip on snapper’s leg making him make muffled scream of pain. “Besides, if the tenpony tower ponies want him then, I don’t want to mess with that. Just be glad that I didn’t shoot you on sight. So now that you have him give me the detonator so we can disarm the C4.” He said gesturing for us to give him the detonator.

I looked at cloud who was smiling. “Give it too him. We’ve got what we need.” I said turning around beginning to walk away.

“Fine.” He said dropping the detonator and kicking it over. “Just don’t press the shiny red button underneath.” He said catching up with me.

We walked for until we made sure they were out of ear shot. “You gave them a fake trigger didn’t you?” I said walking with the train in sight.

“Yup.”

“You are going to blow them up the moment this train leaves aren’t you?”

“What gave it away?”

I rubbed my chin getting closer to the loading station. “Well, you have another detonator sticking out of your saddle bag and two you were on the train for a different reason besides the bounty. I knew that nobody that was within earshot when I was speaking to Ditzy. There wasn’t anybody in the store either. You just got the idea of making me join you for the bounty when I was reading the wanted poster out loud. What you really wanted to do was save the slaves and take out the slavers in one fail swoop, didn’t you?”
That made Cloud just stare at me when I continued. “That’s why you didn’t put more a fight when we were negotiating the bounty split when I said that I wanted you to help free the slaves. I’ve been in this wasteland for about a day and half maybe and I already know that most ponies try to get what they want for less.” I looked down at Cloud as we were hopping onto the loading station. I tipped my hat. “I may be an idiot but, I’m perspective.” I looked at the passenger car and it was filled to the brim. There was no room for me and Cloud. The foals were sitting on the seats comforting each other along with the adults who are sitting on the floor. I couldn’t imagine what they went through. I looked at Cloud was thinking about something. “Cloud.” I said softly nudging him with my leg.

He was snapped out of what ever thought he was in. “Huh, What?” he said looking up.

“It looks like we are sitting in the caboose with out little friend here.” I said adjusting Snapper. I looked at the red caboose and sighed. I climbed on followed by Cloud. The moment that we got on the train lurched forward then, began to speed up. I opened the door to see that a few of the Slaves who decided to hunkering down inside. This gave me an idea. I turned to Cloud who was behind me. “Hey, Cloud we aren’t going to be in the caboose. My friends here are going to have some fun.” The slaves looked at me for a bit then, turned to look at the floor.

Cloud looked at the slaves then, at Snapper. “Alright, that’s cool with me.”

“Hey, guys.” I said getting their attention once again. “Do you recognize this guy?” I said turning to give them the view of Snapper. All of them glare at him with unquenchable rage and hatred. I smiled when I saw this. “Here, this is a present from us to you.” I said throwing him on the metal floor with a dull thump. Snapper moaned in pain from the sudden hit. The slaves continued to look at him with unimaginable rage. “You can beat the shit out of him if you want. I don’t care just make sure that he is a live alright. I don‘t care if you break his legs, his nose and smash his teeth in. Just make sure he lives.” I said tipping my hat. I put my hand on the handle just as the slaves got up and started to surround the Slaver who was screaming muffled screams of mercy. “Have at him.” I said closing the door shutting off any noise coming out. I didn’t want to hear that but, they deserve to have a little revenge.

I looked behind me the flatcar was moved back on for some odd reason. The train was starting to go up the mountain. Holding onto the rails I followed them to the back of the caboose. When I got there I saw that Cloud was sitting against the back of the caboose. I smiled. “You do want to send them farewell present?” I asked Cloud.

He got a wicked grin. “Yeah, and you are going to be glad you got those shades. There nice by the way.”

I adjusted them. “Thanks, now give them a proper send off!” I yelled sticking out my arm and pointing my finger to the sky.

“Sweet Dreams motherfuckers!!” Cloud said calmly pressing the trigger. A large explosion rocked the town sending the barn and train station into the sky in splinters and flames.

I raised an eyebrow at the station blowing up. “When did yo-”

“Oh, that? I did that before I met you. You might want to hold onto something.” Cloud said scooting up and hugging the railing. I followed his lead by sitting down and hugging the rails with my feet just above the rails. Then, about a second later a huge force of air hit the train nearly making it go off the tracks. I held onto my hat the moment that it tried to go with the wind. When it was over a huge smoke stack coming from where once a barn and station once stood. From where I was I could only see maybe ten or so figures that were starting to move around then, scattering.

“Well…Damn.” I said taking off my shades. I looked at the smoke stack that was at least ten stories up now. “Well, ponies are going to be seeing that for a while.” Then, after a brief moment a message appeared on my HUD. ‘Unity Infamy Gained!’ I looked at Cloud who was now sitting against the side of the caboose getting ready for a nap. “Hey, Cloud.” I yelled over the sounds of rocks hitting steel. He looked over at me with a raised eyebrow. “What’s Unity?” I asked thinking it wasn’t anything big.

My thoughts were quickly dashed by his expression. Total fear. “What did you say?” His voice clearly shaken and filled with fear.

I raised an eyebrow. “What’s Unity? Because my Pip-Boy says that we got some Infamy from blowing up the Slavers.”

Cloud without warning slammed the back of his head against the side of the caboose. “Celestia fucking damn it!! Why didn’t I think that they could be with fucking Unity!?!” he slammed his head again.

I was starting to get concerned with Cloud when I saw blood trickling down his neck. “What the fuck is wrong?!” I exclaimed almost jumping towards him.

Cloud rubbed the back of his head then, looking back at his blood covered hoof sighing. “We are fucked. That’s what’s wrong.” flicking some of the blood off of his hoof.

I walked on the unstable platform of the rust covered caboose and sat next to Cloud. “Tell what is Unity?”

He looked at me with fear filled eyes. “Unity is something that you don’t want to mess with. Unity is one of the most powerful groups in the entire wasteland. Barely anypony survives their attacks and the ones that do don’t last very long from disfigurement and blood loss.” he looked at me. “Let just prey to Celestia and Luna that we don’t get found by those freaks of nature. But, that is all we can do for the moment.” He said flaring his horn and enveloping his head in his blue aura. I looked with curiosity at what is his doing. Little by little the blood started to stop. When it stopped completely his magic evaporated. He looked at me with a smug grin trying to hide his fear of Unity. “Minor healing spell.” he said setting his head against the caboose looking up at the sky; his marksmen carbine is across his lap.

Sighing, I placed my hat over my eyes to take a nap when the sweat on my neck started to form. “Fuck me!” I exclaimed looking behind us; where a large amount of hostiles appeared on my HUD. I got to my feet making Cloud look up at me with confusion.

“What’s wrong?” he asked getting the sound of gunfire coming toward us. A few bullets hitting the back of the caboose.

“That’s what’s wrong!” I yelled grabbing my carbine pulling back on the action then, letting it snap closed. I took out the magazine checking the ammo count. 22/98 AP is what it said on my HUD for the ammo count. I reinserted the magazine then, adjusting my duster. “Get ready for a fight! Cus here it comes!!” I roared firing at what looks like a griffin. I fired three times. Two shots struck; one hitting the lower torso and the other the joint on a wing. It fell to the ground screaming in pain. “Please don’t tell me that was a griffin!” I screamed firing on a couple of Slaver ponies on the ledges above us. Several shots found there marks sending the attackers plummeting to their deaths if the shots weren’t enough.

“I don’t know what to tell you then.” I heard suppressed shots from behind me. I turned to see several Slaver ponies laying on the flatcar dead. “Where are they coming from!?” I heard him yell narrowly dodging several bullets that we meant for him.

“I don’t know but, just keep them from getting to the passenger car!” I yelled back firing a salvo of 5.56mm death at a griffin that landed on the roof of the caboose. “Three on your eight!” I yelled at him getting several shots in response, the Slavers dropped.

“Thanks!”

I turned firing on a couple of griffins that managed to get on the flatcar until my rifle ran dry. I quickly switched to my .357 and fanned the hammer four times dropping the last stubborn griffin. Bullets were grazing me in every which way. “Reloading! Cover me!” I yelled with a grin on my face for some odd reason. I let free the empty mag pulling out a fresh one and slamming it in to my carbine. I released the bolt flipping the safety of the carbine one flip farther making me discover the fun switch. I got a grin on my face putting the stock to my face and fired on a single pony that was about to shoot Cloud. I fired a rapid three round burst killing him. The number of Red dots kept creeping up towards the passenger car. “Cloud, go to the passenger car now and protect the ponies!!” I roared sprinting across the shell covered platform toward Cloud; firing a full auto burst on a Slaver that was dropped off by a griffin. The slaver caught a couple of bullets but, kept firing on us. I fired again catching a bullet to the left shoulder. Pain roared through my shoulder. Ignoring it I put my sights on the slaver and fired a five round burst. He finally dropped his blood starting to pool and shift with the train.

“What about you!?” he yelled over the gunfire that was starting to eat away at us.

“Just go! I’ll be fine!!” I exclaimed pushing him toward the car. He looked at me with confusion. “Just fucking go!” I yelled kneeling firing a couple of ponies on top of the car. I took off my M77 rifle and shoved it into his side. “Take this if you run out of ammo for your rifle!”

“I won’t go without you!” he yelled back refusing to go. Grabbing the rifle in his aura.

I grabbed him by the collar of his robe, sending his face just a few inches away from mine. “We don’t have fucking time for this. Those ponies are defenseless and we are being shot at us!” I paused shooting a three round burst into a griffin that trying to attack us from the air. The griffin fell off the train and a cliff. I reloaded looking Cloud after he just killed another slaver that got on top of the passenger car. “Now fucking go!!” I yelled picking him up and throwing him at the door just before I got shot in the chest several times my duster absorbing the lead but, not the impact. I dropped to the ground gasping for breath pain shooting through my chest making it hard to breath. Cloud got up from his flight and crash then, looked at me with concern. I got on one knee firing the last two shots of the .357 dropping a Slaver that landed next to me from the caboose. Cloud tried to step forward but, I stopped him. “I’m fine! Just protect the ponies and worry about me later!” I got back on my feet again just in time for a griffin making a run at me in the air. I brought up my carbine up but, the griffin knocked it out of my hands with a swipe of its talons sending the carbine over the railing down a cliff that we were going by. “Oh come o-” The griffin tackled me to the metal floor trying to claw out my eyes before I could finish my witty remark. We began to tear away at each other. I was punching the griffin in the face, chest and any where I could get a hit on. The griffin was literally tearing away at me with its talons. My blood was staining my duster on the inside from multiple wounds and punctured bruises. After a brief and fruitless effort I was finally pinned to the ground just barely keeping the griffins beak away from my face with my boot. I had the claws wrapped entangled with my hands. Then, the train took a sharp right turn making both us started to roll towards the left near the edge of the flatcar and cliff. I using the momentum when we were on our sides I used my other foot to kick the griffin the chest sending it over the edge.

When the train straightened out the griffin came flew back from the fall then, when he was a good ten feet above me; he dive bombed me. In a split second I drew my 12.7mm pistol and went into VATS. Time slowed to a crawl; the griffin was close enough that I could see my reflection in its rage filled eyes. I had a 95% of hitting the griffin’s head. I cued up five shots taking a mental deep breath before letting go of VATS; letting the machine take control. I fired five times turning the head into a bloodbath of gore and brains that covered me. the momentum of the dive bomb hit me knocking me to the ground and pinning me. I felt several bone snap from the impact sending a fresh wave of pain through me making me yelp. I was breath heavily and was sore; blood was starting to pool around me from different parts of my body, pain was making my body numb but, I had to get up or I was going to die. Using as much strength as I possible could use, I shoved the heavy corpse from on top of me and fall off of the train and cliff. I got on one knee to catch my breath. I looked at Cloud who had three magazines on the ground with bullet casings littered the ground around him with bodies of slavers everywhere around him. His rifle’s muzzle was smoking from the rabid firing. He looked at me with a big grin and I nodded in response. With the break in the fight for the moment I looked at my HUD; surprised to see the number of hostiles was dwindling. I smiled but, I realized that let guard down too soon when another griffin tackled me throwing us both off the ledge. I was in free fall with the griffin pushing me to the ground. The wind was blowing my duster around and making my hat fly off going off into the wind revealing my brown hair. I was now in the griffins territory and I thought that I was going to die but, I wasn’t going die without a fight as I doubt that fate would give ma a third chance at life.

It was starting to claw at me tearing through my duster’s armor with ease starting to draw more and more blood. After about a second, I grabbed the left claw with my left hand pushing him to my right making his side venerable; I brought the 12.7mm to his side with my right hand and fired twice making him roar in pain and starting fall freely. With his claw still in my hand I brought him close then, I head butted the griffin making it lose even more control. Using momentum I grabbed onto his back. Just before he could roll me off and regain control; I grabbed his wings and pulled making his screech in pain again for a few more moment before we hit the ground. The force of the impact sent me flying across pavement scraping me and what‘s remaining of my duster. I rolled and tumbled until I came to a full stop. Pain was flooding in every part of my body, and I couldn‘t move for the most part. My HUD was flashing red again with the urgent messages. <Broken legs, Broken knees, Concussion, Broken wrist, Broken ankle, Sever blood loss, Sever internal bleeding, Bruising on 45% of body, Multiple lacerations detected, Broken fingers.> <Please seek emergency medical attention! Please, take stimpak(s) to help stop injury until medical personal arrive!> I blinked blankly at the warning signs for a moment wondering what the hell happened but, the pain reminded me as it hit with its full fury. “Fuck…” I moaned looking around at the sky. The dust from the train was leaving me behind. I weakly reached out my hand to the train’s dust with my vision blurring. “Please…Don‘t leave me.” I murmured to the fleeting train. My head was pounding and my eyes were getting heavy. The alerts still flashing with my HP bar was being depleted.

“No…” I muttered slowly reaching my hand into my duster pain shooting up my pain in every movement screaming at me just to stop. I found the right pocket feeling for the stimpaks. I felt one of them grabbing it; I then, jerked my hand out then, plunging the needle into my side and pressing on the plunger with what little strength I had left. The minor relief came when my ribs snapped back together and healed; along with the scraps and some of the bruises healed fully. “I’m not going to die here.” I said to myself with the messages were starting to disappear. <Sever bleeding stopped, Sever internal bleeding stopped, minor bone healing, bruising covering 15% of body, lacerations healed.> <Please seek medical attention!> <Please, take another stimpak and wait medical personal!> Groaning, with some of the dull pain still there; I got to my feet and nearly fell again having to catch myself on the pavement. I got on one knee catching my breath. After a minute or two I got back on my wobbly feet. I pushed over my duster to see if my .357 made the fall. I sadly sighed seeing an empty holster. I had to find one of my weapons, I scanned the area in front of me. I looked to see the body of the griffin on the smashed body of a metal wagon with a blood waterfall coming off of it, just about ten feet or so away was my 12.7mm pistol. Seeing it gave me a little hope begin making my trek way towards it. I was tired from the fight and the fall along with a day without food doesn’t help either. I took one step at a time; each time I tried to make sure that I didn’t fall on my face. Little by little I got closer and closer to what could save my life. Finally, I knelt next to the pistol and grabbed it with my right hand. The moment that I did my HUD flared up. 1/40. I made a tired smile tightening my grip on the pistol. I looked at the dead griffin that was now a hood ornament, I made a light tired chuckle just before it flexed it talons. Without hesitation I fired the last round into the griffin’s skull splattering its brains across the pavement. “And stay dead.” I said slumping against the wagon’s still straight side. I sat there for a minute; my eyes were getting heavy and tired. My throat was burning from the lack of water in the desert air. I took out one of the two water bottles that surprisingly survived this entire ordeal. I unscrewed the cap and downed the entire bottle in one go making me feel a little refreshed. I looked at the empty dented banged up pistol, reaching into my duster and grabbing another magazine. I ejected the empty catching it and placing it into the ammo pouch that’s empty. I sighed reloading the beat up old pistol and putting it into my holster. I rested my head against the metal wagon and closed my eyes for a moment.

********

I ripped open my eyes and looked around to see that I was in the same place. Several vultures were circling above me. I looked down at my Pip-boy and was shocked at the time. 5:16. “Fuck, I fell asleep for two hours? And I didn‘t get robbed and killed, how about that.” I said to myself scratching my head reminding me that I lost my hat, saddening me a little. The pain was still there but, duller then, before.

When a little strength that gain from the nap, I used my knee as a crutch; I got up on my two feet and popping my neck. “This walking ain’t going to do itself.” I said following the road adjusting my duster. For about thirty minutes later I came upon a what looks like a pile up of metal wagons and what appears to be buses. I moaned again beginning to make my painful trek around the crash. I walked between the wagons and buses with my hands in my duster pockets. My legs were aching from the landing and parts of my torso are bruised from the gunshots that the stimpak didn’t fix. I came to an old abandoned bus that was tipped over with all windows busted in. I didn’t pay much mind to it until I heard a growling noise then, was sounded like squishing flesh.

Curious, even when I’m half dead; I walked up to the tipped over bus and looked inside through the windshield. I wish I hadn’t for what I saw horrified me making me recoil in disgust. There was ten or eleven ghouls feasting away at a dead pony merchant inside. It was a fresh kill there was several dead ghouls inside and some on the outside with a couple of magazines littering the ground along with bullet casings. I nearly vomited at the sight but, I just dry heaved catching the attention of a couple of them. Just looked at me baring their rotting teeth then, came sprinting at me with a awful growl. Using VATS I killed both of them but, once they were down my HUD was picking up readings all around me. I looked to see Ghouls crawling out of the wreckage. “Goddamn it.” I barely muttered. Then, with energy that I thought I didn‘t have I was starting to sprint like my ass was on fire. The ghouls were popping up everywhere. I was bobbing and weaving through the wreckage dodging ghouls in every which way; my feet and legs were telling me to stop and take a rest But, my brain was saying get your fat lazy ass out of here so I don’t get eaten by ravenous ghouls! I followed my brain. I looked to my right to see a small wall of wreckage. I jumped up on a hood using momentum to jump on top of the small wall about six feet tall. I took the time to take a few shots killing a few but, more and more kept appearing from the gunshots. I would long run out of ammo before I could kill them all. So, I made the only rational decision: I fucking ran. I looked behind me to see that the ghouls were climbing over the wall with ease along with the ones now appearing out of the wrecks most of them covered in black blood making me sick a little. I run until I saw a bridge that was still somewhat intact except for the gapping hole about ten feet wide and getting wider from corrosion. “God fucking damn it!” I yelled sprinting to the remains of a bridge that went once went over a large riverbed.

I stopped at the edge of the bridge looking behind me at the hoard of feral ghouls. “Fuck this shit.” I murmured sprinting with what little energy I had left. When I was at the edge I jumped making the stupid mistake of looking down. It was a good hundred feet off the ground on solid bedrock and rusted old wagons. Realizing that I wouldn’t make it by doing a hop skip and jump; I reached out with my hand hoping for the best… and it did. My hand hit the hard pavement and concrete jolting my arm with a stinging sensation, a hot liquid crimson began to trickle down my arm from my hand. I reached out with my other hand grabbing onto the ledge. I was hanging there for a moment then, with a burst of the last remaining energy I pulled myself up onto the bridge. I flopped down in the spread eagle exhausted and tired. I looked to my left to see the ghouls running over the edge plummeting to their doom. “Thank…God.” I rested there for a moment gathering what remaining strength I had left. When I gathered enough energy to get onto my wobbly and aching feet and sighed. I had my hands on my knees resting from the sudden five hundred yard dash. I looked at the ghouls again; they were still going over the edge. It was breaking my heart to see how many lost souls turned into monsters like but… “There are some things that are just the way they are.” I said dusting off my newly holed duster but, for the most part it’s fine. I looked at the position of where the sunlight is coming from to see that I had about an hour and half of sunlight left. I looked at my compass and saw that there was a blank arrow underneath my compass. I raised an eyebrow at it. I looked back at the time 6:07 PM. I sighed and flipped to the DJ-PON3 station to see what’s new around the wasteland.

“HEEEEEELLLLLLLLOOOOOOO, everypony! This is DJ-PON3 as always I’m broadcasting from tenpony tower giving you the news no matter how much it hurts. Today’s weather includes chances of death with partial dismemberment! Now, for the five day forecast! Now, for the real news. Everypony, you all remember that human that appeared a couple days ago that kicked raider ass? I do too. It appears that he went on a rescue mission saving a total of 59 ponies from the Old Appleloosa slavery camp. Mind you that half of these ponies were foals. But, don’t fret as if he would leave the slavers alone when was rescuing. From the reports of only about seven survivors, he and a colleague had planted enchanted blocks of C4 on the barn and train station of Old Appleloosa. They demanded three things. One was a Slaver by the name of Snapper that was wanted by our very own Tenpony Security Force. Two, was five thousand caps that was split between them half of which was used for the slaves for housing in New Appleloosa. Three, and get this a pair of black mirror Aviators that the human thought was cool. The boss that was alive at the time was celebrating his birthday when the explosives went off that’s how The Lone Rifleman and his colleague got the drop on them. Now, that is some smarts. But, I do have some bad news regarding the Rifleman. On the train ride by they were attacked by Unity Raiders and griffins. One of said griffins tackled the Rifleman just after he had a fistfight and killed another griffin; They were sent over the side and off a cliff. There is a high chance that he didn’t make it. Yet, another pony or person that died while trying to make a difference. But, Lone Rifleman if you are listening to this and are still with us. I give you props because you are now the toughest SOB that I know now. If you are ever in the neighborhood come and I would love to talk to you as would the rest of my listeners. Now, that is the news. Here is a song that just gives us hope for survival. It was written and sung by sweetie bell when a friend of hers gave his life so that somepony else could live.” After he said that music that sounded sweet and uplifting but, it had a dark undertone that made you want to continue on. I did just that, I continued on towards the arrow by following the road for about an hour listening to the songs that radio filled my ears. It was nearly dark with the sun setting in my face and the moon rising to my back. I could feel the cold that start to creep up towards me and trying to engulf me. I stopped right in front of the once great farm.

There was about a good fifty acres of land that was fenced. The arrow pointed at the house. I looked at the windows that were amazingly still intact. Just looking around with the darkness that was now starting to engulf me, I started to see lights in the windows. I took a deep breath keeping my pistol close. “Just hope they’re the friendly type.” said hoping but, I doubt it. The moment that I got off the rode my Pip-boy said ‘New location discovered! Littlestrong heart’s farm!’ “Ok…That’s good to know.” I said slowly limping towards the front door. I knocked on the door and then, the sounds of hoofs on wood floor.

I leaned closer to the door and I could hear voice’s. “Honey, grab the kids and go upstairs in the spare bedroom. I’m going to see who it is. If you hear gun shots make sure that you lock the door until you are sure that they are gone.” A male voice said just before the sound of a break open shotgun closing. I gulped. The door was slowly opened to reveal a olive green buck with a light orange mane about the age of thirty with a small tobacco pipe in his mouth. He looked at me with shock and fear. “Y…You are the human that DJ-PON3 keeps telling us about.” he said dropping the pipe from his open mouth. “What do you want?” he said his left side was tensing.

I raised my arms in the air, my duster’s sleeves falling a little showing the scars that I got from the griffins but, showing that I meant no harm. “I’m just here for some rest. I’ve had a long day.” I said my eyes were starting to get heavy and tired. “Please.” I said.

The buck thought about this and nodded. I smiled but, before I could take a step inside. “I will let you in on one condition.”

“Ok?”

“You are to give me any weapons that you have on you until you leave. Do you accept?” He asked.

“Yes, I do.” Pushing away my duster revealing my pistol. I grabbed it and handed it to him butt first. He grabbed with his mouth making me cringe at the thought of having to do that but, I held my composer.

“Comm omm inmm.” He said his voice muffled by my pistol. I stepped into the old farm house. It reminded me of…home. I lived in a farm house for better part of my teenage life and it looked really close to my house. I stood in the hallway waiting for the buck to come back. I looked back and forth seeing every part of the hallway. There was three entrances to different rooms of the house along with a staircase that goes upstairs to the rooms at the end of the hallway. After about a minute or two, the buck came back without my pistol. He was still kind of skittish that I was here but, he was a little more calm then, before knowing that I didn’t have any weapons. “Come on we are just about to have dinner before you arrived.” He said waving me to a dinning room where two unicorn fillies sat what looked like twins both of them had teal colored coat with brown eyes with bronze colored manes and tails. What threw me off was that one was bigger then, the other looking maybe about a year or two older plus, they seem to be the only ones that were excited to see me as they stared at me with fascination. The mother a light brown unicorn with the darker mane and tail was sitting on a wooden dining room chair looking at me with absolute fear and uncertainty.

They all were staring at me like was a monster that was about to kill them. “Umm, I’m glad that your husband let me stay here tonight ma’am.” I said looking at the mother who was snapped out of her trace and surprised that I had manners.

She was hesitant for a moment before speaking. “Yes, we heard about you on the radio. I think that it was wonderful how you saved all of those ponies. But, how in Equestria did you survived that fall?” She asked flaring her horn opening a seat at the end of the table . “Why don’t you take a seat and we can talk a little.” She said looking at me then, her husband. “Wood, get our guest something to eat. He must be starving after the long day he has had.”

I stopped him tiredly. “I’m good ma’am maybe in the morning but, right now…” I said almost passing out right then, and there; falling onto one knee. The mother squeaked along with the rapid gasp of concern.

“Are you alright?” Wood said using his shoulder to help me up.

I got up on my wobbly feet with Wood‘s help. “ Thanks.” I looked at Wood’s wife. “I’m sorry but, I just need to rest. Out running a hoard of feral ghouls doesn’t do well for energy.” I said joking dryly.

She smiled and looked at Wood. “Honey, can you please show our guest to the spare room please.” She asked.

Without saying a word Wood began to trot away leaving me to support myself. He trotted towards the staircase leading upstairs. I followed his lead toward the wooden stairs that were older then, all of us combined. This places was defiantly made for ponies or something just a little bigger. We came up to a single hallway where there were five doors. One of which I thought was a bathroom; the walls were covered in peeling wallpaper. When me and Wood got the last door next to the window he turned to me. “I’m letting you stay here tonight and tomorrow because of all the good you have done for the ponies that we heard about. But, if you threaten my family in anyway shape or form. You are getting two shells of double buckshot in the chest and that’s a promise.” He said making me face him with a glare. He expression soften when he placed his hoof on the door handle “Other then, that this is your room until you leave.” he said opening the door to a bed about the size of a twin with a thin blanket and pillow. There was a window just at the foot of the bed facing the road, along with a lamp on a nightstand. There was a large wooden cabinet in the corner that seemed that it hasn’t been opened in long time. I just shrugged and turned to Wood.

I looked at Wood. “Thank you very much.” I said getting on his eye level. “If you want me to do anything around the house I would be glad to do it.” I said with a weak tired smile.

Wood grinned. “I just might take you up on that offer. If you need anything just holler.” He said closing the door; leaving me alone in the dusty room. I walked to the bed and sat on it making the box spring squeak. I took off my duster revealing my torn up shirt and jeans mainly my shirt though. It was almost in rags now so I took it off revealing even more of the scars from the fight. I was just wearing my jeans, gunbelt and boots in an empty room with nothing but, a lamp. I got up taking my duster and shirt hanging them over the rail on the foot of the bed. I took off my gun belt with a clank and slumped it over the railing with my duster and shirt. I sat back on the bed taking off my boots. They fell off then, I began to reflect on the last couple of days and tears started to form in my eyes. “I just want to go home…” I said tears starting to flow freely hitting the floor in a pitter patter. I began to sob for what felt like hours and hours until I heard the soft click of my door opening. I looked up wiping my nose with my arm to see one of the fillies. The oldest of the two.

She looked at me with a confused look on her face. “What’s wrong, mister?” she asked her voice reminding me of a eight year old girl.

I sighed looking back at her. “Nothing, just I miss home.”

She giggled and ran up to me. “Why don’t you just go back then?”

I got a shallow smile on my face and I petted her on the head. “I wish it was that simple…” I laughed a little looking down at her. “I’m sorry but, I don’t know your name.” I said looking down.

She got a big grin on her face. “My name’s Apple Pie!” she said making me smile.

“Nice to meet you Apple. My name’s Parker Williams.” I said patting her on the head.

“Nice, to meet you, Parker! I’m going to bed just wanted to say good night.” She said hugging me. Smiling, I hugged her back. When I did it brought back memories of my family and home again then, the tears started to flow again.

“Good night Apple. Sweet dreams.” I said separating us.

“I will!” She exclaimed running off and closing the door on her way out. I was sitting there once again alone with tears in my eyes thinking of home.

“Home…” I said laying down on the bed with the tears flowing cheeks. I laid there for a minute thinking of the last of my family…“Uncle Buck, I hope that you’re ok and that you‘re still up and kicking ass.” I said with a sad tired chuckle.

Chapter end.
Parker Williams: Level Up!
Silver Cloud: Unknown…
New Perk! Free Fallen…I’m…Free Fallen rank 1- With each rank of this perk it prevents additional 20% of fall damage then, a 10% increase in health regeneration for blunt trauma.
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Determination.

Determination is what drives us to do what we want to do. In this wasteland you have to have the determination to survive even when everything seems to be going down the drain. But, don’t give up hope as it is determination that drives us to do the things we do. It is determination that keeps up going when we feel like we should just stay the way we are and gets us up in the morning after a long day of fighting. It is determination that helps you make sure that your family doesn’t get hurt even it costs you your life.
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I softly opened my eyes to the morning light fluttering in through the duster stained window. I laid there for a moment and breathed taking in the sounds of the house. I could hear sizzling food and hoofs going back and forth downstairs on the wooden floor. I looked at my Pip-boy to see that it was 10:26 AM. I was still sore from the day before and pain still made its dull presents known in a couple places around my body. I took a deep breath and sat up looking around the room again. The nightstand to my right and the weird locked cabinet in the corner. I pushed off the blanket planting my feet to the floor. Popped my back and neck before getting up. I was definitely feeling better then, the day before. Taking a deep breath I got up and walking to the end of the bed gabbing the remains of one of my favorite T-shirts. Slipping it on covering my fresh scars I walked towards the door. Just as I grabbed the door handle; I looked at the cabinet with a little curiosity. “Hmm.” I hummed just before I opened the door. I walked out to the deserted hallway then, the smell of cooking assaulted my nose; making my mouth starting to water.

Once I smelt the food, I was walking a little bit faster down the hallway. I went down the stairs to see that both Apple Pie and her sister were running back and forth through the hallway through the rooms. It made me smile reminding me when I was a kid; I made my way downstairs. Once, my feet hit the wood floor, I was assaulted by both of the fillies as they started to ask me questions. “How are you Parker?! Did you sleep well!?” Apple said joined by her sister.

“What are you!? Where do you come from!? Where did all of those scars come from!? Can we be friends?!?” She said in rapid succession almost like a question machinegun. They were spitting out the questions faster then, I couldn’t even speak to answer before a feminine voice flowed in from the dining room.

“Girls, give the buck a rest! Bring him in here, he must be starving!” The mother yelled from the dining table, the sounds of plates and silverware being placed. I was about to say something but, my stomach rumbled betraying me. Apple pie looked up at me with a smile and grabbed somehow with her hoof towing me into the dining room where some eggs, some corn, and mutant fruit sat on five plates. The mother looked at me with a still uneasy smile but, it better than last night. “Morning.” she said placing

I was staring at the food ignoring her for a moment before her voice snapped me out. “huh? What?” I said snapping my vision at her. She was pointing at her mouth indicating that I was drooling. “Sorry…” I said wiping the drool off my face with my hand. “I’m just really hungry but, good morning.”

She giggled a little. “It’s alright, I’m sure that you are more than hungry.” She levitated a seat backwards gesturing me to sit there. I complied walking to the seat and sitting down with both fillies sitting next to me on both ends. The mother had a plate of food in front of me consisting of eggs, corn, and the mutant fruit. I looked at her with a questioning look. She smiled. “Yes, you can eat now if you want.” the moment that she said that I went to town. I devoured the corn and eggs before I knew it and then, I was going for the fruit. I looked at it for a moment before taking a bite out of the fruit eating it like an apple.

It tasted like an orange. I ate the rest of it without realizing that Wood had sat down across from me with his wife sitting at his side along with both the fillies staring at me as I ate. When I finished I looked at them wiping my mouth with a napkin that was next to the now empty plate. I made a sheepish smile after I finished wiping off my mouth. “Sorry, I was a little hungry.” I said my stomach was now at least half way full.

The mother giggled making Wood ease up a little. “It’s aright dear. I would be too if I had the kind of day you did.” She said taking a bite of eggs.

Wood looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Speaking of which. How did you survive the thousand foot drop off of the cliff? I mean you have to be very lucky that you even survive the fall let alone run away from ghouls afterwards.”

I looked at him after taking a drink of water. “Oh, yeah. I landed on top of the griffin that tackled me off the train.” I said casually taking another drink of water. Wood and his wife looked at me in disbelief.

“I’m sorry but, I didn’t catch your name?” Wood’s wife said drawing my attention to her.

“My name’s Parker Williams.” I said leaning back into the chair.

Wood’s wife smiled. “Well, nice to meet you Parker. My name’s is Honey Suckle.” She said pointing to her. “These are our fillies.” She said gesturing to Apple Pie first then, to her little sister. “I think you already met Apple Pie.” She said patting her daughter on the head. “The little one over there next to you that was blasting your ear away with questions at you is Lotus Spring. She is just filled with energy.” She said looking at the little bundle of energy that looks like she is about to explode. She then, looked at her husband pecking him on the cheek. “This is my husband Wooden Rabbit but, we just call him Wood.” He just grunted at the his name munching on his meal. “But, can you continue on your story about the griffin?”

I just shrugged and looked at everypony on the table. “Not much to tell. As I was getting up after killing a different one he tackled me sending us both over the cliff. A second later it started to claw away at me adding to the wounds that the first one inflicted on me while we were having a little fist fight.” I said letting them get a closer look at my arms revealing about a good dozen or so scars on each arm. “After about a few moments, I caught it’s claw threw the entire griffin to the side drawing my pistol. Fired twice into its side sending it out of control. I used the same claw to pull me closer butting the griffin making it lose more control in the air. That explains the big bump on my forehead.” I said pointing to the whelp on my forehead. They just stared at me a little in disbelief even Spring was sitting still; listening to my story. “Then, I climbed onto its back as we got closer to the ground and grabbed its wings using my knees I pulled away from its body making maximum velocity just before we hit the ground. It was only thanks that I had the griffin on the bottom is that I survived the initial fall. I tumbled away about fifteen or so yards away getting major injury reports from my Pip-boy. After about a moment or so I injected a Stimpak or what your world calls a Healing Potion. That’s how I survived the fall.” I said rubbing my head. “I lost my favorite hat on the way down though. It sucks my uncle gave me that hat on my fourteenth birthday” I said sighing and taking another drink of water.

Wood grinned when I said that. “Is it a black leather hat with the letters P, A, W?”

My face lit up when he said and I almost jumped over the table. “The letters scratched in with looks like a knife?” He nodded. I got the biggest grin on my face. “I don’t care it you are giving me automatic rifle and missile launcher. All I want is my hat. Where did you find it?” I said getting a laugh from the small family.

Wood was still grinning. “I found it on one of the fence posts near the road when I wad tending to the fences. If you want it, it’s in the living room on the hat rack. Just cross the hallway into the living room and it is immediately on your left.” When he was done speaking I got up and walked pretty fast to the living room but, when I was in the hallway I heard a knock on the door.

Wood was about to get up but, I waved him down. “I got it.” I said opening the door to a griffin in a suit and tie making both of us give each other a raised eyebrow. We stood there for a few silent moments. “What you want?” I asked breaking the silence. ;

The griffin shook his head and smiled. He was about my height and had perfect feathers; not a single one was out of place. His wings looked they have never seen combat; not a single feather was out of place. He gave me a bad feeling. “I’m here to talk to Wooden Rabbit he owes us some caps.” he said making me raise my eyebrow again.

“For what?”

He looked at me studying my body seeing if I was a threat. “Does it really matter?”

I glared at him. “Yes, that is all that matters.” I said stuffing my hands in my pockets.

We stood there in dead silence the sounds of hoofs hitting wooden floor and hushed whispers that I couldn‘t make out. After about a moment or two he spoke up. “May I come in?” He asked pushing me to the side and into the hallway. I glared at him again closing the door. Honey Suckle was putting up the plates with the help of Apple and Spring. He looked at Honey and cleared his throat. “Miss Suckle can I please get a drink of water please? I‘m quite parched.” She looked at him then, at me while I was glaring at the griffin.

“Yes Mr. Fig, just wait in the living room with my guest. I’m sure that you both can talk about something. My husband will be down with the payment in just a moment.” Suckle said putting away the dishes along with the kids.

He looked at me and smiled. “Yes, why don’t we go in the living room while we wait and talk.” He said going into the living room. I didn’t say anything and I went to the sofa while the griffin sat across from me in a easy chair. I sat down on the old sofa and the sounds of the springs straining against my weight filled the room; I was glaring at him entire time. He looked me over again noticing the scars up and down my arms then, my torn up shirt. “Must of gone into a big fight to get all of those scars on your arms; they look fresh. Please do tell how you got them.” He said sounding like a high society douchebag.

“Yeah, I got them in a fight with a couple griffins. I killed four others before that with a rifle.” I answered coldly, making look a little impressed. But, I saw him flinch in his eyes; he was afraid of me. Good.

“How did you survive? Even though you are about average height for a griffin in this part of the wasteland but, from the way you look you couldn’t be that strong.” he said in disbelief losing part of the high society bullshit.

I made a dark chuckle. “I think that was the same thought those griffins thought when they decided to tackle me but, look at them now. Probably being eaten by scavengers of all kinds just for thinking that. Same. Exact. Thought.” I said leaning back into the sofa with a dark grin. “One was from a couple of guns shots and another was from a thousand foot drop.” Mr. Fig had shocked written all over his face. “He had a real tough time flying when I was holding back on his wings. And landing on a metal wagon at forty miles per hour didn‘t help either.” I said making him quiet. He’s eyes were filled with fear now just from my little story. “I just want to tell you if you piss me off, I won’t be afraid of taking another.” I said making the griffin stretch out his collar in discomfort.

Suckle came in with the water in her aura handing it to Mr. Fig. “Here you go Mr. Fig.” she said her voice sounded…disgraced.

Mr. Fig took the water with his talons taking a drink. “Thank you Mrs. Suckle that will be all for now.” he said waving her off like a servant; making me grasp the couch cushion in anger but, his voice was a little shaky, that was the only reason I didn‘t rip the couch cushion. He looked at me with a smile. “You’re that human that DJ-PON3 was talking about on the radio for the last couple of days.” he said quickly changing subject.

I looked at him with a blank face. “Apparently.” I deadpanned just when Wood came into the living room with bag full of caps in his mouth.

He was looking ashamed and depressed when he came to a stop. “Here you go, Mr. Fig. Five hundred Caps” letting Mr. Fig grab the bag full of caps.

Mr. Fig got up holding the caps bag and opening it; grinning when he saw the amount inside, making me clench my fists again on the cushions nearly tearing the weak fabric. “Thank you, Mr. Rabbit. I will came back in one week for the other five hundred for the month.” When he said that he pushed it too far for me. I sprung up and superman punching him dropping him to the ground; letting the bag full of caps drop, scattering them across the floor.

“I fucking had it with you asshole.” I said grabbing his collar in my fist and began to drag him to the door. I kicked it open and threw him out onto the dirt and sand of the desert. He looked back at me, he had a black left eye and blood was coming out the side of his head. “Get the fuck out of here before I kick your ass again and make you my bitch.” I said while he got up and began to fly away. “The next time I see you here I‘m going to personally put my gun up your ass and empty the magazine and that’s a promise.” I yelled slamming the door closed. Once, I did a message came on my HUD. ‘Feather Company infamy gained!’ Ignoring it, I turned to see that Wood and Suckle were crying to each other on the sofa. I sighed and went to them. “He won’t bother you again.” I said taking my hat off the hat rack and placing it on top of my head.

Wood looked at me with sorrow mixed with anger. “You fucking idiot.” he said making me feel guilty about something.

“I was just trying to help.” I said sitting in the easy chair.

Suckle looked at me with tears in her eyes. “You doomed us all.” she said. They were just words but, it felt like a knife was going through my heart.

“What did I do?” I asked rubbing my forehead.

Wood patted Suckle on the back while she cried on his shoulder. He looked back at me. “We had to pay protection money or they would have killed us and sold our daughters into slavery; making them their play toys. Now, that you have thrown Mr. Fig out. He is going to come back with an army and kill us all!” he exclaimed making me feel like I was just hit in the face, stomach and balls with a super sledge.

I sat there for a moment thinking of what to do while, Wood and Suckle were trying to figure out what to do. “We could always pack up everything and leave.” Suckled suggested in the background of my thoughts.

“No, they would catch us by dusk. How about we pay them double and pay them the five hundred next week?” Wood replied.

“No, we can’t pay them that. That was all of the caps we have. I…I just don’t know what to do.” Suckle said sobbing again.

The entire time they were talking an idea popped into my head. “I’ve got an idea.” I said getting their attention.

“What? Just so you can fuck us over again? No thanks. You already caused enough trouble for us. I want you gone by tonight.” Wood replied before he turned away trying to comfort his wife.

I sighed getting up and making my way to them. I got on his eye level and I stared at him. “I’m going to fix this. But, both of you are going to have to trust me if we are all going to make it through this.” I said looking at both of them. “Do you trust me?” I asked. They looked at each other with uncertainty.

They looked at me and it was Wood that spoke. “Yes, because we don’t any others options. What are you going to do?”

I smiled. “You know that locked cabinet in my room?”

Wood raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, I was never able to unlock it. What are you thinking?”

I thought about it for a moment. “If they are going to kill us then, we are going to make them pay for it first.” I said placed my hand on his shoulder.

Wood looked at Suckle and she sighed looking back up at her husband. “We are going to die anyways, why not die fighting?” She said ensuring Wood.

He looked at me with a grim and shallow smile. “What do you have in mind?” he asked.

“Do you have a crowbar or something of the nature?” Wood nodded making me get a big grin on my face. I tapped him on the cheek making him jerk back . “Good, meet me in my room in a couple minutes. It’s time to crack open that cabinet, bring my pistol also in case the crowbar doesn‘t work.” I said getting up and looking at the windows. “This is going to be a busy day.” I said walking towards the stairs.

********

I walked into my room to see that my duster was laying on top of my bed folded neatly along with my stuff was in a neat pile right next to it. My magazines were sitting in a pile all loaded up and ready including my 12.7mm mags. I raised an eyebrow at this walking towards my stuff. I saw the snow globe from Old Appleloosa. “Really, out of all my shit that I lost in the fall, the fucking snow globe survived?” I said to myself walking up to my stuff. When I got close enough I saw that my duster was repaired pretty good with some nice stitching work in the tears. I grabbed my duster to examine it more closely to see that even the armor underneath it was repaired somewhat. The leather was thicker in some places where the larger holes were repaired. “Who did this?” I said to myself feeling my now repaired duster.

“I did.” A voice coming from behind me scaring and making me jump. I turned around holding my chest to see Apple with Spring right behind her.

“Don’t do that. You almost gave me a heart attack and I don‘t need that.” I said taking a decompressing breath.

“I’m sorry…” She said looking down at the floor with the sad puppy eyes.

I sighed and walked to her. I knelt on the floor and patted her on the head. “It’s alright but, what did you do to my duster?” I asked.

She looked up at me with a big smile with an total . ‘Hook, line and sinker.’ I thought when she leapt towards the bed taking my duster into the air. I got up as she spread it out in the air. “I sewed the rips and tears of the duster along with the armor that is inside. It was really easy anyways just a simple needle, tread, and a little of scrap leather armor from the store room.” She said laying the duster back on the bed neatly next to my gear. She looked back at me with a shallow smile. “I know that you and daddy are going to fight the bad ponies. I help you as much as I could because I know that you mean well.” She said trotting off with her sister in tow, leaving me alone in the room.

I looked at the open door for a moment before I snapped my attention to the cabinet. I walked to it and starting to examine it. The lock on it was a little rusted but, in good shape. “This thing won’t go down with out a fight.” I said to myself looking at the wood around it. It was rotting a little making me smile.

“What did you say?” Wood came in with three items. My pistol, the crowbar and his double barrel shotgun.

“Nothing, I was inspecting the lock and the wood around it.” I said eyeing the shotgun that was in a saddle holster. The crowbar was hanging off and my pistol was stuffed into band of the

He followed my gaze and sighed. “This is in case you try to pull something if we open it.” He said with his muzzle taking out my pistol sending it to the floor then, kicked it to me. “We need to hurry they will be here by dusk but, the bright side it is going to be a full moon tonight so we can see them through the filtered moon light.

I bent over picking it up and racked the slide. I stuffed it behind me in my waistband. “Alright, this is going to require both of us if we want to open this thing.” I said going over to Wood where he handed me the crowbar. Then, with a running start I jammed the crowbars flat edge between the door and frame it was a tight fit. I tried to pull back all it did was drive the crowbar deeper and pop my back. I stepped away defeated. “Damn it.” I muttered in frustration. I looked down at Wood and he shrugged. “A little help would be appreciated.” I said looking at the now stuck crowbar.

Wood trotted to the crowbar before spinning round on his front hoofs and bucked the crowbar moving the wood a little but, it sent Wood flying across the room and face planting on the wooden floor. I was cracking up seeing him skid to a stop. “Ok, now it’s on.” He said quickly getting up and looked up at me. “A little help would be appreciated.” he said copying my tone.

I grinned and adjusted my hat. “Now…Don’t go stealing my lines.” I said before we both at once ran up to the crowbar and kicked it at the same time. The wood popped a little insuring us that we are making some progress.

We went at this for about an hour saying nothing but, grunts. We reeled back from the last assault on the door. The wood around the lock was about ready to give. I looked at Wood he was spread eagle on the floor tired. I was leaning on my knee with my feet sore and probably blistered. “Damn, that fucking thing is stubborn.” Wood breathed out.

“Tell…Me about it.” I said getting up and facing the almost knocked down door. The wood around the lock was cracked and some parts splintering. “We are close a couple more and I think we are good.” I said getting ready for one more kick. Wood got up and shook himself off. “You good?” I asked.

“Yeah, lets get this damn thing open.” He said getting ready once again. “Now!” he yelled sending us both running at the crowbar. I did a Spartan kick while Wood did another buck with the final combined force the wood around the lock gave splintering and the door snapped open letting the crowbar go and clanking on the floor. From the sudden lack of resistance, I face planted right in front of the cabinet while Wood stood on his four hoofs. I looked up at him as just stared at what is in the cabinet.

I got up and dusted myself off looking at him. “Yes, I would love a hand getting up. Thank you very much.” I turned around to see what Wood was staring at. “Damn.” was all I said looking at what I was seeing. There was at least seven rifles a mix of a couple lever actions, carbines, and assault rifles. Then, there was seven pistols in a mix of three semis and four revolvers in a little slot just above the rifles on the weapons section of the cabinet. I looked closer to see that there were about twenty different round bottles with pink liquid, around ten bottles of brownish liquid in the same kind of bottles, and a large first aid box underneath three different suits of combat armor. One of which looked like it was made for a griffin. One the bottom of it was a gas mask that looked like it could fit me. Then, right underneath the rifles was a section of ammo. There was four small ammo cans.

“Am I dreaming or all of those weapons and supplies there.” he said looking over the cabinet.

“No…No you are not.” I said grabbing the gas mask and taking off my hat. I threw my hat on the bed and placed the gas mask on. It fit perfectly. I looked down at Wood who was giving me weird look. “Are you my mommy?” I said void of emotion but, in a British accent.

“What?” Wood said in confusion.

I cracked up and took off the mask. “Nothing, just a joke.” I said clipping the mask onto my belt loops of my jean. I looked back at the amount of weapons and supplies. “Who ever owned all of this sure was prepared.” I said taking out an assault rifle and placed my check on the stock checking out the sights. It reminded me of the assault rifles back home just a little better stock. Instead of having the wooden butt stock it had a black adjustable stock like the old M4 series of assault rifles from the early 2000s. I took it and opened the bolt seeing that I was in almost perfect condition. “Damn…” I said setting the assault rifle on the floor while Wood took a crack at opening the first aid box that was next to the dozens of bottles. I took out a lever action rifle then, began to examine it. It had a large lever loop for hoofs. I shoved the loop down opening the chamber, revealing that it was loaded. I took out the round putting the rifle back in its respective spot. It was a .44 magnum round after a quick inspection.

The sound of a lock clicking open drew my attention to the first aid box that Wood had opened. It was filled with more of the bottles pink and brown, rolls upon rolls of bandages, and some syringes of Med-X. “Holy shit. That is a lot of meds.” He said closing the box with a couple of clicks. He looked up at me and nodded. “I think we just might have a chance.” He said after hook an assault rifle into his mouth and hooking it up to his saddle making him smile. He looked back up at me from the saddle. “Take whatever weapons and ammo you want, then, bring the meds downstairs and we‘ll split them. After that we will decide what to do next.” Wood said taking the box in to his mouth and turning around making his way out of the room leaving me along.

“I was waiting for you to say that.” I said taking the .44 magnum rifle into my hands and placing the .44 round into the magazine slot and pulling back on the lever chambering the round. I decocked the hammer placing the stock against my cheek. It had basic buckhorn sights but, it would do. I smiled and slung it across my back then, bent over to pick up the modified assault rifle. It had the basic sights and charging system as the ones back home except it had the modified stock and a rail just in front of the rear sight. I grinned and slung in over my shoulder. “Ok, lets see what pistols we have here.” I said to myself taking a semi-auto pistol. It was a .45 auto pistol, like everything else was in surprisingly good condition. It had a three dot sight and a seven round mag; one round smaller then, the 12.7mm but, still has a lot of knock down power. It was also the commander model so it had a four inch barrel and housing spring. Liking the pistol, I threw it onto my bed. The other pistols were two 10mm, one 5.56 revolver, a .357 single action army version, a blued .44 magnum with a four inch barrel, laser pistol and a hunting revolver. I looked at the pistols for a moment decided on what to take. “Fuck it.” I said taking the 5.56 revolver and the .44 magnum. I threw them on the bed next to the .45 auto. I squatted down to look at the ammo cans. I took out the middle one placing it on the floor. With a soft clank I hinged open the can to see that it was filled to the brim with ammo of different kinds. “Damn…When I die I’m going to hug the hell out of the thing that had all of this.” I said taking out eighty five rounds of .44 magnum rounds along with ten twenty round boxes of .45 auto. I took this to my bed and placed it next to every thing. I took off my rifles setting them on top of my duster. I looked back at the armor that seemingly that could fit me. Sighing I walked over to the cabinet that was half gutted now. Taking the fifteen pounds of protection off of the hanger. I slipped it over my shirt surprised that it actually fitted. It had the basic armored Kevlar along with ten rifle ammo pouches and five pistol on the front.

I took a deep breath getting used to armor weighting me down. I looked back up at the ammo section taking five mags for the .45 auto and placing them into the pistol pouches in the combat armor. I took five moon clips for the .44 magnum. I looked at my duster and hat calling out to me. Smiling a little I turned around walking to my duster putting it on. With my duster on I put on my gun belt and putting my 12.7 pistol inside the holster. I tucked my .44 magnum into the front of my pants underneath my shirt and combat armor; taking out the .357 moon clips and replacing them with the filled .44 moon clips in the little holders. I also decided to place the fifty-five rounds of .44 magnum into the ammo loops on the back of the gunbelt. I strapped my trail carbine on my back and placed my assault rifle on the bed.. I sat down on my bed and began one by one put the magazines into there respective places. After about five minutes I had all of my gear back into my duster. It was really starting to get heavy but, I could deal. I looked at my Pip-boy to see that I was carrying around forty pounds of gear no water or food. I looked on at the foot of the bed to see a satchel hanging off of the post underneath my hat. Shrugging I took off my and placed it right next to me. I took the satchel off then, placed the strap across my chest leading to my left side. I got up placing my hat back on my head then, went to the potions that were scattered everywhere inside the cabinet. I scooped up every single one of the potions and threw them into the bag with a clank.

I looked at the cabinet one more time before grabbing the other two heavy ammo cans and walking out of the room. I walked down the hallway and down the stairs to see that chaos was unfolding. The fillies were running around with hammers and tools to the living room and dining room. I stepped on the wooden floor getting the attention of everypony that was running around with boards of wood and nails. The window’s in the living room were partially boarded up. ‘This was going to be a like a siege but, I have a feeling it won‘t last that long.’ I thought walking my into the dinning room to see Wood and Suckle discussing something when they notice me coming in. “Did you get everything you need.” Wood asked.

“Yes, I got everything that WE need.” I said placing the heavy ammo cans on the table. “If we die then, we are going to take as many of those bastards down with us.” I said taking out the 5.56 pistol and sliding it to Suckle who took it with in her aura in confusion. “I’m not leaving you kind folks. I made this problem and I’m going to fix it.” I said putting my assault rifle on the table.

“But, why did you give me the pistol?” Suckle asked.

I sat down and sighed. “Just in case that me and Wood are overran and killed.” I said placing the potions on the table. Wood and Suckle looked at each other worriedly. “But, that you don’t have to worry about because we’ve got a lot of potions and medical supplies.” I said opening the satchel letting some of the potions roll out.

Wood looked at me. “What about our daughters? What would happen to them if all of us are killed?”

I looked at him and sighed. “Do you really want to know?” I asked not getting a response. We sat there for a moment as the fillies moved the supplies back and forth. I cleared my throat breaking the silence. “But, I won’t let that happen. There are still more guns and ammo upstairs with some combat armor. They should fit both of you.” I said getting up and slinging my assault rifle. I looked at them. “What time do you except that they should be here?” I asked.

“Around sun down but, that’s in about five hours. We don‘t have that much time.” Wood replied.

I chuckled lightly. “Then, we should get busy.”

********

For the next four and half we all ran across the house; nailing the boards into the windows with just enough room for our rifle barrels. We had the ammo spread out between me and Wood along with some for Suckle who was getting the kids up stairs and ready for the fight that was going to happen. On the porch outside we nailed wood boards and sheets of scrap metal to the back and front on both of the pieces of cover to make the maximum protection for both me and Wood. After digging around the cabinet Wood had taken one of the 10mm pistols along with the assault rifle that he had taken earlier. Suckle took the 5.56 pistol that I gave her earlier along with a hundred rounds of 5.56. I’m definitely going to hug the hell out of who ever had all of this gear after I die.

“Well, we got everything done with half an hour to spare. I told you that we were going to be busy” I said sitting down and leaning against the outside of the farm house behind my barricade. To my right was Wood doing the same behind his drinking some water.

“When this is done and over with I’m going to kick your ass then, hug you.” he said taking a breath.

I chuckled. “I wouldn’t expect nothing less but, just a word of warning I’m going to fight back.”

Wood chuckled in response. “I wouldn’t expected nothing less.”

I looked over and cleared my throat. “What did I say about stealing my lines?” I said getting a chuckle. “But, hey Wood can I get some of that water, please?” I asked. In response he threw the bottle over to me. With my right hand I caught it and took a good long drink quenching my thirst. I sighed in relief and slide the bottle back to him. “Thanks.”

“No problem. How much ammo do we have?”

“Well, I think that I’ve got five hundred rounds of 5.56 for myself and the same for you. We gave Suckle a hundred rounds for her pistol. I’ve got about three hundred rounds of .44 magnum for my carbine and revolver. You have a hundred rounds for your 10mm and two hundred rounds for the .357 revolver and rifle you have in reserve. For my .45 I have around seventy rounds. My 12.7mm pistol has the eighty rounds. Your hunting revolver has about fifty rounds of .45-.70. I think we are more then, ready.” I said adjusting my hat to the setting sunlight. I looked at the amount of ammo that is sitting in front of me in mags. My assault rifle was leaning against the wall to my right. My trail carbine was leaning sitting across my lap. My pistols are all around my body. My 12.7mm is in my holster on my gunbelt. The .45 is in a cross holster on the combat armor underneath my duster.

“What about meds?”

“According to your knowledge, we have thirty healing potions, ten regeneration potions and fifteen syringes of Med-X. We have slit the potions between us for fifteen healing and five regeneration. The Med-X is split between us and Suckle with your daughters. Five for each of us.”

“Good.” he said taking another drink of water. He then, took out a cigarette from a pack. He stuck it in his mouth and lit it with a match. He took a long drag and let out the smoke. He looked at me and offered me one. “Want one?”

“Sure.” I said getting up and taking the cig from the pack. With a lighter that I found in the corner of my room underneath my bed I lit it and let the smoke fill my lungs. “My mom would castrate me and my uncle would kick my ass if they saw me smoking.” I said letting the smoke out and returned to my little barricade. I slumped down to the ground against the wall on my left; we built the walls with the same amount of materials as with the main barricade to protect up from side fire. “Thanks.” I said taking the cig out letting out the smoke.

Wood took another drag before speaking again. “I never asked, how did you come to our little home that we loved to call the Equestrian Wasteland?”

I just shrugged. “I don’t know really. One moment I had a barrel to my forehead and the next I got blown up by a Chinese Nuke. When I woke up I had over 850 Rads in my along with a pounding headache in the middle of a field.” I said getting up and stretching. I spat out the cig when the ember was getting to close to my lips. I stomped it out with my boot and looked at the horizon. Dust was being kicked up because of something and it was giving me a bad feeling. Sweat was starting to form on my neck. “Wood. Hand me your hunting revolver I need to use the scope on it.” I asked looking down at him. He was staring at me in shocked before snapping out of his trance and tossing me his hunting revolver. I caught it placing the scope on the area of the dust storm. “Get ready!!” I exclaimed throwing him the gun back. I turned around grabbing my assault rifle and getting behind the barricade. Wood must of looked through the scope and saw the same thing. There were at least a hundred ponies and griffins all armed with rifles, pistols, SMGs, sledgehammers, lead pipes, etc.

“That’s a fucking army.” Wood said his voice filled with fear . “All of this for five hundred caps?”

I sighed and got up. “No, I think it because I made the little asshole cry and he just wants revenge. But, he isn’t going to get it.”

“How?!”

“Because…In the valley of shadow of death, I have no fear for that…I’m the toughest motherfucker in the valley.” I said kneeling behind the barricade resting the assault rifle’s forearm on the railing that makes up the top of the barricade; aiming my assault rifle to the dust cloud. “Don’t fire until you can see the darkness of their shadows!” We waited for what felt like hours before the bullets began to fly from the dust cloud. We didn’t fire until we could see the dark figures with our naked eyes. “NOW!!” I exclaimed firing; the recoil slammed into my shoulder as I fired in bursts knocking down ponies and couple of griffins who were on the ground. Still more and more came. I heard the automatic firing of Wood’s assault rifle. “Get some!!” I yelled firing again dropping a couple more figures and knocking up dirt. We fired and fired as they got closer. The barricades were doing their jobs by absorbing bullets. I reloaded my rifle and snapped by the handling chambering a round. They were about fifty yards away from the road now.

“Get some you bastards!!!” I heard Wood yell firing his rifle. “My dead mother can shoot better then you assholes!”

I just fired as they got closer then, their indicators started to appear on my HUD. “Finally!” I yelled going into VATS. Time slowed to a crawl and I took a mental breath. ‘Alright, lets see who is going to die first.’ I thought picking a mare who had a sniper rifle; I cued two shots on her. I switched to a griffin that had a assault rifle in its hands. I cued on the wings once, then I cued on three other ponies with axes and lead pipes. I let VATS go and letting my Pip-boy do its job. My assault rifle barked fifteen times. My one of my three round burst went wide on the sniper but, the second got her and dropping her. The third hit the griffin in the torso, leg and neck. Not necessarily accurate but, that did better then, I thought. The other two went wide just hitting other ponies in their legs. After that was done they were really close. They have past the road and are about a hundred yards away from us.

Me and Wood let our weapons rip tearing down pony after pony after griffin. But, now they had a good idea where we are. I ducked down and pressed my back against the barricade reloaded my rifle. “These fuckers aren‘t all that smart!” I yelled dropping the bolt before jumping out just to get a salvo of bullets into my chest knocking me down and knocking the wind out of me. I gasped for breath as pain roared in my chest..

Wood looked down at me as he reloaded. “Are you OK?!”

I got up and shook my head. “Been better!” I yelled getting back onto my feet and grabbing my assault rifle from where it fell. I quickly reloaded my rifle and jumped up firing on a couple of ponies that tried to rush us they dropped blood was all around them now. I adjusted my aim to see that they were now circling the house taking pot shots at us every chance they get. I got down on my stomach and wiggled to the edge of the barricade. I looked around to see a griffin charging Wood who was trying to clear a blockage. “Fuck that.” I said firing half my magazine into the griffins side dropping him.

“Thanks!” Wood exclaimed getting his rifle back in order and firing on the ponies that now surround the house. The bullets were starting to get closer and closer. I jumped up getting a bullet to my left shoulder and side.

“Fuck!” I yelled kneeling. I quickly jabbed a syringe of Med-X and the pain soon vaporized like the morning mist. I got up and fired until my rifle went dry. “Shit!” I yelled dropping down just before a volley of bullet could hit me. I reloaded my rifle to see that Wood was pressing against his side blood was streaming out of his combat armor. He quickly chugged down a healing potion the blood quickly stopped. “You ok!?” I asked crawling back up to the barricade.

“I’m good.” he yelled reloading again.

I jumped out to see that more raiders were coming. “Damn it! More are coming!” I yelled out firing again at the remaining initial forces dropping a couple of the ponies. I looked down at my ammo supply seeing that it had dwindled to half its original size. My ammo counter on my HUD said 14/384. I fired again until my mag went dry. I reloaded and pressed my back against the barricade with Wood on my left.

“I’m going to eat good tonight!!” a raider with a fire axe yelled out jumping right next to me and swung down with his axe.

“Shit!” I yelp jumping out of the way of the axe which slammed imbedded itself into the wood. I quickly pulled out the .45 auto and fired twice both times hitting the raider in the face making it a headless corpse. It fell backwards; the axe was still imbedded into the porch. Bullets started to graze me and my just freshly repaired duster. A bullet grazed my in the nose making me get up and behind my barricade. I looked over to see that Wood was reloaded his rifle again. I peered around my barricade to see bodies upon bodies of raiders littering the ground. The ones from the initial attack were now hiding behind rocks and any cover they can find. There was about twenty-seven raiders left. I was about the fire by the familiar sound of something hinging closed. “Missile launcher!!” I yelled diving away from the missile as it hit Wood’s barricade making it into shrapnel and splinters. I looked back at him to see that he was…dead. His lower half of his body was gone and his lower torso was covered in shrapnel and splinters. Blood was pouring out of him making a pool of blood and brass. I quickly got up my ears were ringing. I looked around the raiders were charging. Some reason I grabbed Wood by his collar and drug his body inside while firing on a couple of raiders with my assault rifle that tried to . When I was inside I locked the door just before the raiders could get in. I was about to drag Wood’s body into the living room but, I felt something pull on my pull on my leg. I looked down to see that Wood was still alive. I was horrified at that moment but, instead of freaking out I grabbed a syringe of Med-X and injected it into him before he could say anything. “There you go it should ease the pain.” I said looking at my half dead friend.

He looked like he was building the strength to say something. I was about to hush him but, something in the back of my mind held me back. “Give…Me…A…Gun.” he said painful breaths between each word conserving energy.

I quickly moved my duster grabbing my 12.7mm pistol. I handed him the butt of the pistol. “Here, give those bastards hell. I’m going upstairs to make sure your family is safe.” I said as he bit down on the pistol.

“Drrraggmmm mmmeee orrrver bbbbyyymm stairs.” he said through the pistol in his mouth. I smiled tiredly.

Without saying a word I dragged Wood to first step of the staircase. I lowered myself to his eye level. “I will protect your family with all my strength until I die. I promise you.” I said just getting a nod.

I turned around to the sounds of the door being knocked down with an axe. Wood looked at me. “Go.” he said perfectly with the pistol in his mouth. I nodded and ran up the stairs making a dash for the spare room. I knocked on the door.

“It’s me, Parker!” I yelled out and then, a second later gunfire began to ring out. “Open up!” I yelled out banging on the door. Then, it unlocked. I quickly opened it and closed it locking it in one fluid motion. I turned around to see that Suckle had the pistol pointed at me until she was sure that it was me. She lowered it and looked me blood was still dripping down my arm from my shoulder. She stared at me when she realized that more gunfire came from downstairs. Tears were starting to form on her eyes as she realized what was happening. “I’m sorry. We could only hold them off for so long but, I’m going to get you out of here!” I said pulling my .45 auto pistol and reloaded it. I holstered it and putting my assault rifle back into my hands. I unlocked the door and peered into the hallway. It was clear but, it wasn’t for long before several raiders came in looking around talking.

“I can’t believe that one pony with a pistol killed eight of us. I mean that is one tough son of a bitch.”

He was about to say more when the mare next to him glared at him; stopping him cold. “Shut the fuck up alright! I don’t give a shit about it. We still need to find the family and that human!” She yelled at him, making him jump back. She then, looked down the stairs. “Come on you assholes we don’t have all day! Mr. Fig wants us to meet him in the barn in fifteen minutes with the human and the family!”

I quickly and quietly pressed my back against wall. I looked at Suckle and the fillies. I gestured them to get down and they complied as I got out the grenade from Old Appleloosa. I peered through the door again to see that the raiders were arguing about something. I smiled retreating from the door. I pressed my back against the wall with my finger in the pin of the metal apple. I pulled the pin and released the spoon. “1...2...3.” I murmured before opening the door and rolling the grenade like a bowling ball.

They looked at it as it rolled in the middle of them. “Shit!” one of them yelled just before the grenade went off. I dove back into the room before it could send shrapnel my way. I looked at Suckle and the fillies making sure that they were alright. Once, I made sure I cracked open the door again to see if any of the raiders survived. They were all dead or real close that I didn’t consider them a threat. I walked down the hallway leading with my assault rifle. I looked downstairs seeing nothing on my HUD on the inside of the house. I looked back and forth as I made my way down the stairs.

When I got down stairs I saw that Wood was finally dead but, with eight raiders dead in front of him. The 12.7mm pistol was locked open from a empty magazine. I knelt down next him; his eyes were open blank and looking up at the ceiling but, I think that he saw paradise or at least something better then, this hellhole. I softly closed his eyes and sighed. “You did well brother, your family would be proud.” I said to myself getting up and turning around noticing that it was quiet, a little too quiet. With my rifle in the lead I walked outside only to get a butt stock to the side of the head; knocking me unconscious.

********

I snapped open my eyes to see that I was in a cow stable. I was on my left side without my duster and combat armor. I looked around to see that I was in the barn next to I tried to move my arms to get up only to discover that I was tied up with my hands in front of me with thin but, strong rope. ‘What am I? A courier?’ I thought trying to get up but, my left shoulder was bandaged for some reason that I couldn’t understand. I waited for a moment before the door of the stall opened revealing a raider with a huge grin on his face and levitating my assault rifle with its barrel pointing at me. “Get your ass up; it’s show time.” he said with enthusiasm kicking me in the stomach with his hoof. I grunted getting up just barely and looked at the raider how was holding me captive. “Come on! Get your ass moving!” he said turning the rifle and hitting me in the stomach with the butt stock. I grunted again dropping to one knee making me feel the butt of the .44 magnum that was in the front of my pants. After a brief moment I got up and looked him straight in the face.

“When I get out of this I’m going to kill you first.” I said bending over to face him, making him flinch from the sudden threat. I stood up straight and turned around to see a bonfire roaring in the front of the barn. It was at night maybe around I walked with the rifle pressing it’s barrel against my back. I walked around the bonfire to see Suckle, Apple, and Spring all tied up with tears in there eyes. Shock was all across my face. They have been through hell; all of them have been beaten to an inch of their lives. I nearly ran to them but, something hit me in the stomach making me fall on my knees.

“Nope, can’t have you rescuing anypony right now.” a familiar voice said to my side. I looked up to see Mr. Fig with a grin; which is kind of weird how he has a beak. He went around me studying me while I’m on me knees. I looked at him as he circled around and stopped in front of me. He bent down to face me at eye level. He had a black eye and bandages around his head making me chuckle. “What’s funny?” He asked sarcastically.

“You look like someone hit you with bad end of an ugly stick then, shoved it up your ass.” I said getting a fist to my jaw as a response. The taste of copper filled my mouth as I recovered from the punch and spat out the blood. “Worth it.” I said looking back up at the griffin.

The griffin wasn’t in usual suit and tie but, in a suit of combat armor made for a griffin. He looked at me while he shook off his fist. He looked a little pissed. “I don’t like when I have to do that but, that time I did.” He took out a pistol from a body holster and showed me it. It was my 12.7mm pistol that saved my life more then, a couple times. He rubbed my face with it and turned around to Suckle, Spring, and Apple. Then, it clicked.

“Don’t do it! Please, it is me that you have business with not them!! You are going to kill anybody; kill me!!” I begged him as he walked behind Suckle who was sobbing fiercely.

He looked at him pointing the pistol to the back of her head. “Oh, I will but, after I kill these nice ponies that trusted you so much.” He said putting his face right next to Suckle’s and pressing the side of the gun to her cheek. He looked at me with a wicked smile and licked his beak. I turned to Suckle to see that she was looking at me with fear and sorrow with tears in her eyes. “Just remember that this is your fault. You should’ve stay out their business.” Mr. Fig said getting up behind her standing up straight and firing into the back of her head splattering her brains across the ground being illuminated by the bonfire. I tried to turn away but, the raider behind me with his magic force me to watch the horror in front of me.

“Mommy!!” Apple and Spring screamed out crying as Mr. Fig came from behind Apple and pressed the barrel of the gun to her head. Apple looked at me with teary eyes. “Help u-” She couldn’t even finish when the pistol barked again killing her. Her expression was full of shocked fear and forever written on her face as she laid on the ground blood was pooling around her and Suckle.

“Please…Stop this!” I pleaded tears starting to form on my eyes. Spring looked at me with tears going down her cheeks.

Mr. Fig looked at me as he stepped behind Spring with another wicked smile. “Of course. I’m happy to accommodate…” he said looking at me while fired again killing Spring. She fell like her mother and sister. It made me feel sick and when I felt the bile; I let go of my breakfast right in front of me. I looked up just as Mr. Fig walked up to me with a wicked smile. I glared at him with a rage that I haven’t ever felt. I was gritting my teeth until he got close enough for me I could smell his breath. “Now, don’t you look like you about to kill somepony.” he said getting up and placing the pistol against me forehead. “You are not as fun as I thought you would be.” he said making me snap.

With my tied hand I grabbed his arm and pulled up making him jerk the trigger; the bullet from the pistol hit the raider with my assault rifle in the chest making me drop it. Then, before Mr. Fig could react, I pulled down on his arm and head butted him on his other eye making him lose balance then, tumbling to the ground; the pistol skid across the dusty plain. I moved to the side away from the fire just as a burst from an SMG from the raider on the other side of the fire roared hitting the dirt where I was sitting at. I did a roll and managed to pull out my .44 magnum out of my pants. I got up on one knee and went into VATS; making time slow to a crawl once again. There were three active targets; two raiders and Mr. Fig. I was really tempted to cue as many shots on that monster as possible but, I only had six shots and I had to make them count. I cued twice on the first raider that was coming out of the barn with an assault rifle and twice on the raider with the SMG across the fire. I had a sixty percent chance at hitting both of them. I took a mental breath and let VATS go. The machine did its job, taking control of my body firing twice on each target. On the raider that was running out of the Barn the first shot went wide but, the second shot hit him in the chest knocking him down and skidding to a stop. VATS quickly moved to the raider across the fire who decided to take this time to reload when I was firing on his friend. He was standing with his broadside to me. Idiot. I fired twice hitting him both times dropping him to the ground. I got up on both feet with my .44 magnum in my hands just barely with the rope eating away at my wrists.

I walked up to Mr. Fig who was getting up from apparently being knocked out. He held his head and half way to his feet but, he was knocked down again by my boot. He looked up at me with shock and fear. “They didn’t need to be kill them, you fucking monster!” I yelled kicking him in the stomach. “You didn’t need to take innocent lives!” I yelled again kicking him again cracking a few ribs. Mr. Fig grunted in pain. “Oh, does that hurt?” I asked with a fake concerned voice. “Let me help it!” I exclaimed kicking him in the face making more blood come out of his head. He yelled in agony holding his face. I then, took him by the collar raising him up to my eye level as I knelt down; pressing the barrel of the revolver to his head. He looked at me with his one good eye. “All you had to do was kill me and you would have been done with it but, you decided to get your fucking revenge by killing innocent ponies!” I yelled bitch slapping him with the barrel of the revolver, blood was spattered from his nose across his face.

He looked at me with more fear then, before but, he smiled. “It was all your fault.” was all he said before I dropped him firing twice into his head making him nothing but, mush on the ground; blood splattered across my face mixing with my tears. I was standing there alone with bodies all around me, blood is everywhere and flowing like a river across the thirsty wasteland. I stood there with my pistol in my hands before I dropped it onto the ground. My legs got weak and I slumped onto the ground on my knees then, began to sob like I haven’t sob since my parent’s deaths. The tears were flowing down my arms and onto the dirt.

After about a good five minutes I finally went dry and sighed. I looked at the bodies of Spring, Suckle, And Apple. I took Mr. Fig’s talons and used them to cut myself free of the binding rope. I got up taking my revolver with me and stuffing it into my pants. I looked at the house, then, the barn. I forced my legs to move toward the barn until I hit something on the ground. I looked down to see that it was my assault rifle. Without a thought picked it up and dusted it off slinging it over my shoulder. I moved back into the barn to see my duster, hat and combat armor hanging on a couple hooks. My trail carbine was leaning against the post where my gear was hanging. I walked up to it taking my gunbelt taking it off the hook. I sighed putting it around my waist and buckling it in. I took my .44 magnum out of my pants opening the cylinder and ejecting the moon clip. I pocketed the shells and moon clip then, reloaded. I holstered the revolver then, looking at my combat armor. It still had all of my ammo on it along with my .45 auto. I took it off the hook and slipped it on. Then, last but not least my duster. Taking it off placing it over my armor and gunbelt. To top it off I perched my hat on top of my head. I looked back at the bonfire that was still ablaze when I strapping the trail carbine to my back. I looked at my Pip-boy and switch to the ammo section. I had a hundred .44 magnum rounds, seventy .45 auto rounds, three hundred-sixty rounds of 5.56 and seventy-two rounds of 12.7mm. I switched to the info section and saw the time. 8:24 PM. Sighed and looked out of at the bodies of the ponies that treated me with nothing but, kindness and I got them killed. Mr. Fig was right it was all my fault but,… “I’m going to make this right.” I said walking towards the bodies.

After about thirty minutes I wrapped all four members of the small peaceful family in sheets from the beds soaking up the blood from their wounds. One by one I placed them next to each other on top of the fresh stocked bonfire that I had put out with some dirt. After I was done, I had went back to the porch grabbing Wood’s assault rifle took out the magazine then, returning to the bonfire. As a sign of respect I placed the assault rifle on top of the family before stepping back. I took out a torch that was ablaze from the barn. I stood there for a moment tears starting to roll down my cheeks. “May whatever gods…” I paused for my voice catching tears rolling down my cheeks streaming down my cheeks like a roaring river. “What ever gods that you in believe in give you all permission into paradise because I know, that you all deserve it. I wish that one day we shall meet again but, I know that I don’t deserve it. I’m here for a reason and I must continue on making up for my failure here. May you all rest in peace.” I said solemnly placing the torch in the bottom of the bonfire. It soon caught ablaze and I stood there taking out my assault rifle switching it to semi-auto. I fired five times pausing between each shot before taking the next one ceremonially. I reloaded the rifle and slung it over my right shoulder with my hand holding the sling. My satchel strap across my chest filled with food, water, medical supplies, ammo for my weapons, the gas mask, a pair of binoculars that I found on Mr. Fig and something called a Stealth-Buck. I was confused about it when I first got took it from Mr. Fig before slipping it onto my Pip-Boy’s attachment slot. My Pip-boy took it and it said <Stealth-Boy! One Charge!>. After I took it off and stuffed it back into the satchel before I started the ceremony. I stood there doing the American salute in honor of them and my family. ‘Rest in peace Mom and Dad. I shall see you again.’ I thought to myself turning around beginning to walk away into the darkness of night with the fire at my back. I stopped at the road looking once more back at the bonfire. “I shall not forget you and I shall not forgive me for that this, is all my fault.” I said adjusting my duster with the feeling of cold enveloping me as I made my way down the road going west towards New Appleloosa.

Chapter end.
Parker Williams: Level Up!
No Level perk!
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Surprise perk! Survivor’s guilt rank: 1- Due to you being the only survivor of the fight with Mr. Fig and watching him kill the family right in front of you. you’re going to have problems coping with the deaths of them making you more cautious when letting ponies trust you and more distant. When you are doing quests or favors for other people, ponies, etc. Especially, if you have to protect someone, you are going to gain extra +2 prescription and +1 Endurance but, you lose 1 Charisma while doing so. Just hope to god that you don’t earn the other two ranks of this perk.
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The long road ahead Pt. 1

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Chapter Five: The long road ahead Part 1

Failure.

Failure, it is something that we all dread. Failure in school, work, friends, family and life. We try to avoid it as much as possible. We strive not to fail with all of our hearts. But, we all aren’t perfect, we fail at the worst times. I have failed in keeping the promise I made to Wooden Rabbit. I promised him that I would protect his family and I let him down getting his family killed. I just hope that I can do something, anything just so I can forgive myself but, I know that nothing I do will make up for my failure.
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My eyes fluttered open only to be blinded by the rising sun on the horizion then, thrusting my hand in front my eyes to block it. Sighing, I sat to see the remains of the still smoldering fire that I had kindled up the night before. I smacked my lips, scratching my head making my hat fall off and onto the dirt. I picked up my hat dusting it off then, perched it on my head. I got on my feet picking up my trail carbine and slinging it across my back. I picked up my assault rifle and slung it over my shoulder. After all of that was done I dusted off myself off taking off a giant poof of dirt and sand; nearly making me cough. I looked around to see that I was still near the road and that was the only determinable object around me. Sighing again I looked at my Pip-boy it was around 9:43 AM. I switched the map to see that I was about a days walk from New Appleloosa. I raised an eyebrow. “How long did I walk?” I said to myself confused at the fact that it would have taken at least three days to walk back to the town. Scrolling down on the map function of the pipboy to little Strongheat’s farm. I felt a ping of guilt hit me when I saw the location but, I quickly shook it off, looking back at where I was to see that I was about. “forty-eight miles? I must have been walking for a long ass time.” I said shocked at the amount of distance I traveled last night. I looked up at the road ahead seeing nothing but, the mirage coming off of the road.

I dusted my pants off then, beginning to walk down the road. The moment that I touched the road I fiddled on the radio until I got to DJ-PON3. “Lets see what news there is in the wasteland.” I said letting the voice of the DJ fill my ears.

“Hello, everypony this is your favorite Disk Jockey of the wasteland speaking once again from Tenpony Tower; what’s a disk? Hell if I know.” I chuckled a little as he continued. “Latest news on our friend the Lone Rifleman. From the scattered reports from the infamous mercs known as Feather Company say that they have placed a five thousand cap bounty on our hero.” When those words hit my ears my entire body tensed up freezing me in place. ‘I’m no hero…I let that family die. I could’ve stopped it but, I didn’t.’ The thought flooded my mind when heard the words uttered. “So, that means that he did survive the thousand foot drop from that cliff. Now, that is what I call Endurance.” he said snapping me out of my trance. “For the reason behind the bounty are still rumors but, the most popular belief is that he killed the Boss’s son; for reasons unknown called himself Mr. Fig. It is believe after a short battle at a farm house near where he supposedly fell off the cliff; he was captured. But, the facts are still fuzzy. All that we know is that the reporters say that they found a griffin’s body near a large ash pile that loosely matches the description of the infamous griffin but, his head was blown off and pulverized with a high powered round so it is going to be while before the body is identified. The Lone Rifleman’s body wasn’t found so we must think that he must be alive. So, if you are hearing again Lone Rifleman my offer to an interview is still open as long as you’re alive. So, don’t get shot now and that one was for everypony.” I chuckled at that. It was an obvious reaction not get shot but, still at least he gets an A for effort.

“Also, from reports on the group known as Unity have been making more appearances lately. A word of warning they are not the goddesses’ return I repeat they are not the Goddesses‘ return; they are dangerous and if you see one that are bound to be more near by. Along with the fact that if you see them…they see you; So…run as fast and as your legs will let you.” There was a brief moment of pause as that advice sunk in. “Now, that is out of the way. I hope that you all have a less depressing day and don’t get impaled. Now, for some of the most famous classical music star since before the Great war, Octavia!!” He said followed my smooth flow of classic music lead by a cello that flooded into my ears.

“That’s nice but, a five thousand Cap bounty? I’m here what? Three days?” I said chuckling adjusting my assault rifle. “I guess I can expect to see a little more action.” I said chuckling at myself again before walking down the road with a smile on my face. Why I was wearing a smile? I don’t know. I looked at the cloud covered sky as I walked getting an eyebrow feeling a raindrop on my nose. “Well, I wonder what asshole predicted this weather?” I said putting my hands in my duster pockets. It was starting to sprinkle little by little soaking the road then, after about fifteen minutes the rain started to come down harder and harder until it was pouring like a fucking hurricane. “Well, at least I’m getting a makeshift shower.” I said pushing on through the storm as the storm hammered me with no end in sight Looking at the sky getting my face I was starting to come into a steep gorge with the road going right down the middle, it reminded me of Death Valley in California but, as the road narrowed I stopped right before I went in and started to study

The road turning from a two lane to a one lane as I approached closer to the gorge. “That looked like it was a pain in the ass for the ponies that had to drive through this.” I chuckled to myself looking at the tops of the ledges where easily anything with a gun from the size of a pony to a griffin could fit. I looked back down in front of me and saw that I was going into a funnel making me feel uneasy. I looking at my Pip-boy to see if I can go around the gorge. “Fuck.” I muttered realizing that it would take around a week to get around it. I sighed adjusting my rain soaked hat. “This… is goin’ to be interestin’.” I said taking my assault rifle off my shoulder and putting it into my two hands. I began to walk into the tight gorge with my rifle at the low ready with my finger just on the trigger guard. I walked into the gorge; the water from the rain was falling on me like a waterfall; soaking me even more then, the rain. I switched off my radio making the sounds of water hitting rock and pavement flood my ears. This place was making me nervous with each step going in. It went on like this for about fifteen minutes nearly pulling the trigger a couple times when I heard a noises that just turned out to be small rodents. Then, that is when the first hostile indicator on my HUD popped up. I immediately pressed my back against the uneven rock wall looking up; the water from the rain was streaming off my face cooling my skin and soaking into my T-shirt. I saw some small rocks fall from the ledge and fall onto the road with a dull echo that was drowned out by the pounding rain.. I was pressing my back against. I stood there for a moment looking back at where I came in at; realizing that it was too far to make a run for it. “Shit.” I muttered to myself looking at my HUD again seeing four more hostiles.

I looked back to see that they were getting closer and almost above me. I then, began to hear their voices they all sounded like ponies. “Alright! The human from the radio is said to extremely tough to kill! But, not to worry if you see him; shoot on sight! We will come help you the moment that we hear gunfire!” he exclaimed getting a large roar in response. “But, we don’t need a repeat of last time. I’m talking to you Razor. Thanks to you we don’t have any mines left at the bottom of the gorge. But, at least we got the arms shipment to make up for it.” Once he said that my blood ran cold.

“Goddamn it.” I muttered again before slowly making my way deeper into the gorge. The more and more I closer into the gorge the more hostiles that my HUD was picking up making my neck sweat despite the rain. I kept my head on swivel looking back and forth on the road and up on the ledges where a fucking army of raiders was looking for me. My heart was pounding so hard the closer I got in the gorge is that the thump is almost the only thing I could hear. But, I kept going until I fell backwards into a small cave about three times the size of one of those shitty metal deathtrap shelter that were everywhere. It had a ceiling blocking parts of the rain for which I was grateful. I got up and shook myself off. I holstered my .45 auto pistol back into my combat armor and grabbing my assault rifle. I took the sling off of my shoulder putting the rifle into my hands ready for action. I pressed my back against the wall of the small cave peering around the corner to see that the ledges were sloping down sharply to a camp made of wagons and scarp metal. I knelt down doing a complete half-turn facing the direction of the camp and took out the pair of binoculars from my satchel. I raised them up to my eyes making my vision jump to the wall of wagons. “Fuck me in the ass with a unicorn’s horn on a Thursday.” I muttered looking over the amount of raiders that are patrolling the walls. ‘One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.’ I removed the binos from my eye with an worried expression. “There are nine sentries guarding the walls not to mention the other thirty or so around and about on the ledges then, there are the ones inside the camp that I haven‘t seen yet. I could really use Cloud’s silenced carbine right now.” I said retreating behind the little cave’s mouth. I slumped down on my wet duster with my assault rifle leaning against the rock wall next to me and sighed. “How am I going to do this?” I said rubbing my chin. “There are around forty of those bastards and only one of me. Not the kind of odds I like.” I said to myself as it was starting to thunder and lighting. I looked up at the storming clouds. “I can’t stay here; that’s for sure.” I said scratching my head. “hm.” I hummed peering around the corner seeing and putting my binos to my eyes once again.

My vision jumped again. I scanned around to see if I could do anything. I got a big grin on my face when I saw a saddle bag full of those apple grenades that I come to love; from my uncle I learned that If you shot them then, a big boom is result followed by a big mess. They were in the middle of a little camp underneath a makeshift metal shack where six of the sentries were sitting around But, then it hit me; I don’t have a scoped weapon so I can’t take a precise shot. The closest thing a precise gun is my trail carbine. But, I could sure as hell try. I scanned again to see if I can find anything else for a better target. I tensed when I saw the weaponry. Most of them are carrying hunting rifles, cowboy repeaters, SMGs, and assault rifles but, what scared me the most was they had two missile launchers. “I really hate those things.” I said getting off the binos; remembering my past experiences with them. Both times it ended really badly for me or someone else. I got back on them studying the Launchers.

After about five minutes of observation I noticed the they keep the ammo for the missile launchers in the saddle bags opposite of the actual launcher for quick reloads. The only problem is that I only have two or three shots at the most before they find me. With buckhorn sights it is going to be a tough shot especially at a hundred fifty yard shot at a target about the size of princules can just a bit bigger plus the timing of the shot, the bullet drop and not to mention that this is pistol round. If had my M77 that would be a far easier shot but, I will have to make do. But, that raises one question. “Do I hit the grenades or the missile launchers?” I asked myself taking my eyes off the binos. I looked at my Pip-boy getting a grin when I did. “Why not all three?” I said getting back on the binos looking at my targets. “VATS don’t let me down.” I said taking my trail carbine from my back and into my hands. I knelt down at the lip of the cave with the barrel right next to it. Rain was beating on my duster and hat soaking it almost all the way through the water resistant leather. I put my right hand fingers through the loop of the lever bringing the stock to my cheek.

The sky roared and cracked from the storm. I checked my HUD ammo counter 8/120 then, looked back at my targets. I took a deep breath three times without exhaling then, let it all go. When I was out of breath I went into VATS. Once, again time slowed and my targets jumped closer. I looked at each one of them until I got to my initial target the grenades. I looked at my chances of hitting it and mentally sighed. I had a 45% percent chance of hitting them but, I placed two shots on it then, I went to the missile launchers just as they turned with their ammo facing me broad side. I looked at my chances again; I had a better chance of hitting them at 55% on both of them. Mentally smiling I cued two shots on each ammo pouch full of missiles just finishing off my AP meter. I took a look around again while I was still in VATS; good thing about this I may have limited shots but, I still have unlimited time in here.

I looked to see that the nearest raider on the ledge was about a fifty yards away so I can dispatch him after the other have a little boom party. I switched back to the sentries but, before I released VATS a ice cold voice whispered ‘Something feels off. ’ Something was nagging at me not to shoot. I thought about it for moment and realized that something was giving me an awful feeling of dread in here . I got off the rifle and retreated back into the cave; pressing my back against the wall again. “God fucking damn it.” I hissed almost banging my head against the wall. I sat there for what seemed like hours but, according to my Pip-boy it was just three minutes. I sighed and looked out past the ledge into the sky. I looked at the thundering cloud cover with fingers of lighting flashing across the sky. Then, in the flash of lighting I saw five or six black dots come streaking across the sky toward somewhere at high speeds. I raising an eyebrow I placed my binos to my eyes to see what they where.

My vision magnified just enough to see the outlines of the figures that were flying at high speeds. After about a second or two I finally found them again. I focused on them I could see wing beats, hoof shaped feet, a…horn? Then, in a flash they did a sharp turn towards my direction. I lowered the binos and stared at the spot where they were. “Well, fuck me.” I muttered before frantically strapping my trail carbine across my back and picking up my assault rifle; getting ready for whatever is coming.

Then, with a flash of lighting the figures turned once more towards the raider camp. A second later a large force rocked the camp sending metal shrapnel and wagon parts flying down the street. I pressed my back against cave wall bracing myself as the powerful wind gust went by carrying the debris. As fast as it happened it stopped. I peered out again to see that the camp was…wiped out. Blood and body parts were everywhere blowing outward from a crater; in the middle of it was standing four figures. ‘Four? I thought I saw six.’ I thought looking back at the crater. I tightened my grip on the rifle grip even with the pounding rain I could feel sweat forming again and my chest was feeling heavy. “I don’t like this…” I muttered as the smoke cleared with a powerful gust revealing the four figures into clear view. They were massive compared to the ponies of the wasteland. They were taller by about a good three feet maybe my height. They had horns and wings but, kind of freaked me out about them is that they don’t have are their emotionless expressions. They were different colors, green and dark purple almost black as night. There were two of each color but, I was still confused on where the other two went. But, they still counted as hostile on my HUD

I took a deep breath and continued to look at them as they began to move. They faced my direction and one of the purple ones stepped forward. “COME OUT NOW AND JOIN UNITY! IF YOU HIDE OR FIGHT YOU WILL DIE! YOU HAVE ONE MINUTES!” The purple pony thing’s voice boom picking up some dust.

A moment later gunfire erupted from the ledges above me. The bullets fired from the raider’s guns were picking up so much dirt that it masked the freaks of nature. A couple of missiles were firing hitting them then, after the explosions silence. The dust cleared revealing two of the freaks standing there; their horns flared holding up green shields with utter concentration but that was all that was there. “Where in the hell did the others go?” I muttered to myself just before screams of agony were heard above me. The red dots on my HUD where disappearing one by one at a rapid rate as was the screaming and gunfire.

I just stood there in horror as I realized what was happening then, my fears were confirmed when a upper torso of a raider was thrown down in front of the small cave that I was hiding in with a splat. The raider was still breathing heavily with bone and intestines were oozing out along with a wave of blood. The raider looked at me with surprise and I thought he was going to scream but, he muttered. “Kill me, please…” he said looking me in the eyes with blood coming out of his mouth. “Please…” Sighing I took out the .45 Auto.

I aimed down the sights at his head as the screams continued. “You deserve pain and misery for the things you’ve caused but, I’m giving you mercy unlike you gave to those you tortured and I hope you burn in hell.” I said firing a single shot into his head sending his brains across the pavement of the road. I holstered the pistol back into my combat armor looking into his glassy eyes. A small shadow moved in his eyes making me jump back into the cave grabbing the stealth buck from my satchel and jamming it into the slot on my Pip-boy. A message appeared on my HUD.<Stealth boy inserted. Activate? Y/N> I looked back outside the cave to hear the sounds of flapping and it was getting closer. I looked at the Y and blinked activating the Stealthbuck. Then, with a faash sound my body and equipment became transparent and wavy like water. I crouched down and looked at my HUD again seeing a small timer. 14:55 secs left. I looked at my transparent arm where my Pip-Boy was to see that I think it was meaning the Stealthbucks. Then, the sounds of hoofs hitting pavement drew my attention to one of the entrance of the cave to see one of the freaks of nature looking at the body of the raider I mercy killed. I shouldered my rifle as quietly as possible aiming at its head. The screams have stopped and only six hostile indicators were visible on my HUD.

The freak of nature then, flared its horn levitating the spent .45 auto casing from my pistol and began to study it. After a few moments the other three floated down next to the one studying the case. “What are you looking at?” one of the green ones said in a creepy mono tone voice.

“The human was here. The goddess shall be pleased that we are close.” the purple one said throwing the case towards me hitting my right boot delaying the ping of the empty case. It may have been muffled but, it was like an explosion and I wasn’t the only one to notice it. All of the freaks looked directly at me like I was in plain view. ‘Fuck.’ I thought as one of them a green in fact walked up to me looking me straight in the eyes but, then a mouse went by snapping the freak out its stare. With a stomp it killed the mouse splattering the guts everywhere. The freak then, like it forgot me went back to the group.

“The human was here but, it seems that we missed him by an hour. The goddess says that we must find him.” was all the green freak said before every single one of them began to fly upwards through the pounding storm. I waited until that the hostile indicators on my HUD disappeared before I collapsed gasping for breath as if I was about to

“Holy fuck.” I said pressing my hand to my chest; letting my rifle fall onto the wet ground next to me. “What the fuck were those things?” I said leaning against rock wall. I sat there for a good five minutes until I realized my stealthbuck was still on. I flipped the switch and I materialized into view again. I grabbed my rifle again laying it across my lap. A message came across my HUD again. <Seven minutes and 48 seconds charge left on Stealthboy!> “That’s good to know.” I breathed getting up to my feet using my rifle as a crutch. I shook the water off from my duster bringing my rifle to my grasp. I sighed walking back into the road to see the large crater the freaks of nature made. I walked up to it my rifle ready for any stragglers that survived the attack but, from the screams and blood that was spilling over the ledges. “I didn’t want to see those things did to those raiders.” I said crossing the crater that had blood and bone pooling in the center. It turns out that the gorge ended right where the barricade was. I walked past the wreckage of the two buses. As I exited the gorge I heard something step through something thick like blood. I turned around to get a combat knife pressed against my throat behind held my an aura of blue magic. I tried to jump back but, I couldn’t move my body from the waist down as the muscles unnaturally tensed. I looked around for the source of the magic finding nothing. “Show yourself! You already have me by the balls so why not show up to the party?” I yelled the blade pressing harder against my neck. Then, with a flash of blue light blinded me making me shut my eyes. My assault rifle was then, knocked out of my hands with a wet clatter.

I opened them to see a light blue freak of nature and I sighed. “Son of a bitch.” I muttered in irritation. “What the fuck do you want? I places to be and things to do.” I said giving it a glare. I don’t know where this attitude was coming from because I was quiet frankly scared as hell right now from the screams from the raiders these things are dangerous. Its dark blue mane and coat where somehow fully dry like it has never been wet.

“YOU ARE THE HUMAN THE GODDESS DESIRES! COME WITH ME AND YOU WILL BE WITH UNITY!” the freak said nearly making me deaf. My mind began to panic when I heard Unity. ‘Shit.’ I thought as the freak stepped forward

“Can you at least turn off the caps lock?!” I said rubbing my ears. I then, looked back at her as she pressed the knife to my throat. “Also, fuck you and your goddess or what ever you call the bitch!” I yelled.

That seemed to get to the blue freak as its eyes turned green. “HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE GODDESS! YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOU INSOLENCE!” The freak roared bringing up the combat knife into the air about to make a swing at me when a bolt of lighting actually struck the knife when it was at the apex of the backswing. The bolt of electricity traveled through the knife into the ground blinding both me and the freak. For a brief second my muscles relaxed and was able to jump back doing a roll. When I stopped on my back I drew my .45 auto still half blind but, before I could fire a single shot in the direction of freak; my finger was frozen in place right in front of the trigger. “Cock sucking son of a bitch!” I yelled in rage trying to fire but, to no avail. After a moment when my vision returned I could hear and see the freak having a dark laugh. “YOU ARE STUBBORN! THE GODDESS WILL BE PLEASED TO HAVE YOU! BUT, SHE COMMANDS THAT YOU MUST BE BROKEN BEFORE YOU CAN SEE THE TRUE VALUE OF UNITY!” It yelled again before twisting my entire wrist with a sharp snap sending the shock of pain through my entire arm; it was enough for me to drop my pistol onto the ground. But, it didn’t stop twisting my entire arm sending me onto the ground with my face kissing pavement. I felt my shoulder pop out of place and my arm on the verge of breaking, I could feel the bruises I couldn’t see much from there but, I could hear the sound of hoofs hitting the pavement as it got closer. “ARE YOU READY TO STOP STRUGGLING!? IF NOT I SHALL CONTINUE!”

I turned my head just slightly to see the emotionless freak. “Go fuck yourself with your own horn, you stupid bitch!” I yelled glaring at her.

That seemed to piss her off as she raised her hoof and stomped on my left leg with a snap. Pain shot through me again adding onto the pain from my wrist. “YOU SHALL BEHAVE! I WILL BEAT YOU TO AN INCH OF YOUR LIFE BUT, DON’T WORRY THE GODDESS WISHES THAT YOU ARE ALIVE!!” She roared again stomping on my leg again shattering it in multiple places; making me scream in agony. My HUD flooded me with messages. <Multiple fractures and breaks in left femur!> <Broken left knee cap!>

“AHHHHHHHHHHH! God damn it!!!” I screamed through the pain. “You are so fucking dead!!” I yelled before it stepped away with the same emotionless face.

“YOU CAN NOT KILL ME! I AM A CHILD OF UNITY AND THE GODDESS!!” I think that she was going to say more when blood began to roll down from the center of her chest. She looked down and touched it with her hoof recoiling from what looked like pain and shock. She glared at me. “HOW DARE YOU HARM A CHILD OF UNITY!! YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES!!” She raised up a hoof again placing it over my head but, instead of it slamming down and crushing my skull; three more large streams of blood came from its chest making stumble backwards with a pained and confused looking at me before it collapse right next to me mostly. Its head fell onto my back slamming my chest against the ground harder; knocking the wind out of me. The magic from the freak disappeared along with the pressure on my arm evaporated with a sighing relief. I tried to get on my feet but, my leg and wrist weren’t going to allow me to do that without a long and painful fight. I laid there for a moment as the pain began to numb my entire leg. With my uninjured hand I moved the corpse from my back making it give a wet splat onto the pavement.

I took a deep breath before putting both my hands on the pavement pain roaring through my right wrist. Ignoring it I pushed up using my knees as pivots I land on my back the pain came back with a vengeance from the use. I looked at my HUD to see my HP bar was occasionally losing a bar. More and likely from internal bleeding and bruising. I looked down on my chest to see the strap for my satchel and my mind went into light speed. “I’m a fucking idiot…” I breathed putting my uninjured hand into the satchel; grabbing a healing potion. I looked at the spherical bottle before biting on the cork then, chugging it down. I nearly gagged at the taste of the potion. “I hate strawberries.” I muttered under my breath feeling the rush of relief flowing through my leg and wrist. I looked my Pip-boy and flipped to the medical screen. My left leg was just barely healed. Sighing, I grabbed another of the disgusting healing potions and chugged it down. The bruises on my arm and the dull pain in my leg were starting to disappear. “Fuck…” I said getting up on my wobbly feet. I looked over at my pistol laying on the ground where the freak made me drop it. I stumbled over to it bending over to pick it. When my hand was around the grip I saw the freak’s eyes look at me. I then aimed my pistol at its fucking head. “Fuck you bitch.” was all I said before I fired twice splattering its brains and skull across the wet pavement.

I took out the old magazine and slamming in a new one. I holstered the pistol looking over where the bitch threw my assault rifle to. Conveniently, it was right next to the body. I picked it up checking the magazine and racking the action. I slung it over my shoulder looking down at the freak’s chest. “Who saved my ass?” I asked myself not expecting an answer.

“That would be me jackass.” A familiar voice said from behind me making me from reflex I turned around kneeling aiming my rifle at a familiar cloaked figure. He was about fifty yards away so, I couldn’t see the face but, I could see the weapons on each side. A suppressed Marksmen carbine was hanging off his side but, my attention was drawn to a very familiar rifle on his other side that I was happy to see.

I grinned lowering my rifle. “Hey Cloud, how are yeah?” I asked getting a sigh as an answer.

“Is me saving your ass going to be a common occurrence?” he asked shaking his head facing hoofing.

I walked up to him and smiled. “Maybe…Maybe not. Depends on what mood I’m in.” I said before the freak popped into my mind. “Also, in the fucking hell is that thing?!” I yelled over a clap of thunder pointing at the dead freak.

Cloud looked over my shoulder freezing a little before speaking. “That’s an alicorn and that is the freak of nature I told you about on the train before you got tackled by a griffin. Also why in the hell are you in raider gorge?!” he yelled gesturing towards the gorge behind me.

I raised an eyebrow at him then, a chuckle. “You know me, trouble just seems to follow me like stink on an ass. Speaking of which why are you here?” I asked looking up at the storm which was starting to get worse.

Just before he could answer another large clap of thunder along with several fingers of lighting. “I’ll tell you when we find a place away from this storm. I think I might of have seen a small rock over hang about a quarter mile away. If we run we will just get away with soaked cloths.”

Then, a bolt of lighting struck down hitting the Alicorn burning it to ash. We just both stared at the chard ash in confusion. “I think we should.” I said running out of the gorge to open wet desert leaving Cloud in my dust.

“You asshole!” He yelled galloping just to catch up to me.

We ran for about seven or eight minutes until we came to a small outcropping that was right next to the road. There was a small cave about three times bigger then, the one that I hid in at the gorge. I took a sharp left turn right into the cave when I was in I nearly collapsed bracing myself on my knees. “Damn…nature you scary…” I said plopping onto the surprisingly dry dirt floor.

Cloud shortly came in with his hood off. Water was streaming off of him. He looked at me with a chuckle. “You can run when you want to.” he said dropping down on his ass looking slightly winded.

I chuckled in return taking a breath. “Yeah, I’ve been told that.” I looked around the cave seeing some pieces of wood laying here and there. “I’m going to get some the wood over there and make a fire.” I said gesturing to the pieces of wood boards. “This storm seems that it will rage for the next couple hours at least. Take some food my satchel here if you are hungry.” I said slowly getting up taking off my satchel and placing it on the ground along with my rifles and duster revealing my .44 magnum and .45 auto. Cloud gave me a odd look as I began to walk over to the wood. “Where did you get the weapons?” He asked just before I grabbed the first piece of wood making me freeze at the question.

“Why?” I asked grabbing a several pieces of wood into my arms before making my back to the small space that Cloud had cleared for the fire.

Cloud looked at me with a annoyed and confused look as I threw down the boards into the space and began to make it into a small little tepee. “Why? Because look at all of the shit you have now. A trail carbine, a .45 auto, a new assault rifle, .44 magnum and a suit of combat armor that actually fits you. What did you do? Fight off an entire army?” He asked flaring his horn making a small spark in the wood until it was set ablaze.

When he said that the weight of Wood, Suckle, Spring, and Apple’s death hit me like a sledgehammer right into the chest. I sat there watching the burning fire before I spoke. “Yeah, I did. Didn’t you listen to the radio? I’m some kind of hero for defeating an entire army of mercs who have apparently placed a huge bounty on my head.” I said forcing a smile onto my face even though I felt like breaking down and crying.

Cloud chuckled. “Yeah, I heard about that. You know I really hated those ass wipes. They take any job as long as it pays. No morals, nothing.”

I chuckled at Cloud. “Well, you are right about that.” I said digging into my satchel taking out two cans and a can opener. “I hope you like corn.” I said tossing him a can which he caught with his magic.

“Thanks.” He said taking out his own can opener. He opened it quickly his can as did I with mine. We sat there eating in silence listen to the fire crackle along with the pounding rain. After a bit of eating I took out a bottle of water before taking a drink. Cloud looked up as I did. I noticed this after taking a good drink I gestured it to him to see if you wanted a one. He nodded munching on his two hundred year old corn. I twisted the cap on before tossing it to him which once again he caught with his magic.

He took his drink before tossing it to me which I let it fall onto my duster that was drying out. We then, sat there again munching on the food before I spoke up breaking the silence. “So, why are you here?” I asked scooping up the remains of the corn in the can.

When he swallowed with a satisfying sigh he looked back up at me. “Well, I was going to see if you were still alive. You actually have a several ponies worried when they heard that you got into a wrestling match with a griffin while free falling a couple thousand feet. Thorn was begging everypony that was going out to go out and search for you. When she learned that I was going out to look for you. I tell you not I couldn’t see a filly more excited.” He said we both chuckled. “I’ve spent the last two days looking for you until I came upon a sigh that said ‘Danger! Raider gorge up ahead.’ From knowing for about an hour I already knew that you had no idea what that meant and were going to go there. It then, began to pour for a bits. I stayed in a small shack for about an hour listening to a radio. That’s how I learned of that attack and mercs. After that time I knew that you probably got yourself into trouble and went out to find you. That’s when I heard a large explosion. I ran as much as possible until saw the smoke stack and heard the gunshots. Got up on a hill setting up a position close enough were it would be a short walk with my Marksmen carbine. That’s when I saw everything. The Alicorns tearing the raiders in half with ease one by one. I looked around for you until I saw a small pistol coming out a cave and killing a raider that was torn in half. After a bit, I saw the Alicorns look at each other after hearing the odd shot before one of them flew down followed by the others. I couldn’t see much else until they left going north.

“Which was a huge relief when they did.”

Cloud raised an eyebrow. “By the way? How did you escape the group as they looked straight at you?”

I chuckled. “I had a stealth buck on me and I used it to escape them. Some what.” I added in.

“That’s awesome but, back to the story. After they left I saw you emerge out of the small cave you were hiding then, well you know the rest. The invisible Alicorn appeared with a knife in her magic. When I saw that I decided to book it and hoof it. I ran towards you until I saw the lighting hit the knife in backswing. I sat up a position aiming my rifle at the Alicorn’s chest just as it broke your wrist. I shot once hitting it square in the chest. Before I could fire again it broke your leg. I fired three more times and the rest you know.” He said throwing the tin can behind him.

I smiled a little. “Nice story and thanks for saving my ass but, that doesn’t answer my question.”

Cloud got a grin on his face. “You catch on fast don’t ya?”

“Only when I want to be.” I replied. “But, continue on.”

Cloud sighed. “Alright. Ditzy told me to go and find you for two reasons. One, is to make sure that you were alright and two she is calling on your favor that you owe her.”

I chuckled at that. “Yeah, I guess that would happen. What else?” I asked.

“For personal reason?” I nodded. “Well, three reasons. One, I owe you caps. Two, I have your rifle. Three, hell I like ya. Plus, I don’t have anything else better to do. So do you mind if I tag along with you on your favor?”

“Sure, but on two conditions.” I said holding up two fingers. “One…”I said taking down one figure. “I want my damn rifle back. I can trade the trail carbine some where or keep it; I don’t know but, I want my M77 back. Two…” holding up two fingers. “If you try to betray and kill me for selfish reasons…” I leaned in closer to the fire so he can get a better look on my face. “You better do it on the first shot or you better fucking run. Other then, that we’re cool.” I said leaning back on a rock with a grin.

Cloud looked at me with a confused look before busting out laughing. “Alright, I can agree to that.” He said flaring his horn lifting the rifle into the air and to my side. I reached out with one hand grabbing it out of the air. When I had it with its full weight I smiled. I shouldered it looking through the scope seeing the mil-dot reticle and got a big grin on my face.

“That’s nice. It feels good to have this thing back.” I said with a sigh.

Cloud got a big grin on his face. “If you like that check the magazine.” he said gesturing towards it.

I raised an eyebrow before slowly looking down at the rifle in my lap. I flipped it to see that magazine was different from the ones before. I looked back at Cloud. “What did you do to my rifle?” I asked with a bit of anger and curiosity.

Cloud chuckled at me for bit. “I had it modified so that it took extended hunting rifle magazines. Think of that as your share of the bounty especially since you didn’t get to take that many weapons from slavers.”

I nodded at it taking out the magazine like a regular hunting rifle. The mag well was taken off from a hunting rifle then, modified the receiver to take the well and magazine. The magazine was fully loaded with ball .308. “Thanks, I was actually kind of afraid to lose the magazines since they were only two in the entire wasteland. Plus, it was getting kind of annoying how I had to reload the magazines every time I wanted to fire more then twenty rounds.” I said reinserting the mag into the rifle. “Thanks again. Also, you know what Ditzy wants?” I asked.

Cloud shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know really. All I really know is that a town called Fort Key has gone quiet for the last couple weeks. I guess we will find out when we get back to New Appleloosa.” I smiled at that and nodded.

“Good.” I said before a question popped into my mind. “Hey, how were the ex-slaves when you left to find me?” I asked throwing in another piece of wood.

Cloud sighed looking out into the rainstorm. “From what I hear pretty good. The caps I gave them was enough for each one to rent a place in town for about two weeks before they have to leave. Can you believe that some of the foals were actually parts of some family around the area? Thorn is happy that you saved Rose’s sister. Cross is stressed but, happy for the business mainly because of Thorn. She has Cross wrapped around her little horn.” he said chuckling before a loud clap of thunder rocked the cave causing us both to look up at the ceiling of the small cave.

“It looks like this storm isn’t going to let up for a while. So what do you feel like doing for the time being?” I asked.

Cloud looked at me shaking his head. “Well, we just ate. My gear has been repaired and cleaned. I don’t have a book to read. So, we are stuck talking to each other for the time being. Unless you got a brighter idea?” he said all of that in a sarcastic tone.

“Well, sorrrrry. You don’t have to be an ass about it. Do you have any spent casings?” I asked hoping he said yes.

Cloud raised his eyebrow in confusion. “Yeah, why?”

I smiled. “Do you know how to play chess?” I asked.

He looked at me with utter shock. “You what now? You know how to play chess?” he asked shock filled his voice.

I just shrugged my shoulders. “It was one of my uncle’s favorite games. He kicked my ass a lot but, it kept him happy especially after he came back from the Yangtze campaign in China. Speaking of that hellhole. He still had his old Marine Combat armor with the duster and matching helmet. That’s how I got my duster right there.” I said gesturing toward it. “He said it kept him warm, safe and brought him good luck in his time in that hellhole and for my fourteen birthday he gave me the duster from his armor hoping it would do the same during my life in a hellhole of my own.” I looked back at Cloud was rolling his hoof gesturing get it over with. “Alright, yes I know how to play chess and I was wondering if you knew how to play and had any spent bullet casings. I have some but, just enough for one side of the chess board.”

Cloud smiled. “Yeah, I think I got enough for my side. So, lets do this.”

********

“Checkmate motherfucker.” I said tipping over his king while he just stared at the board in utter shock and confusion.

“That’s ten fucking games in a row.” He looked up at me with his jaw hanging open. “And you said that your uncle kicked your ass all the time?” I nodded in response as he just continued to stare. “Ok, I think that’s enough humiliation for one day.” he said collecting the spent casings into a small pouch. “Later I want a rematch.”

I leaned in with a big grin on my face. “Bring it on motherfucker.” I looked outside to see that the storm was starting to wind down some that it wouldn‘t just pound the hell out of us. “I think we should go in the next hour or so.” I said with a good sigh before a question popped into my mind. “Where those Alicorns from Unity?” I asked making Cloud stop in mid pick up of a .308 case.

“Yes, those are what most of Unity is. But…” He voice changed from joy to dreaded fear the moment I asked. “But, that was just a scouting party. I have seen a group as large as thirty at one time taking over a desolate city called Fillydephia. From you have seen what they can do in a small group of five or six. I saw what happened to that Celestia forsaken city, those alicorns killed every single raider, pony, mutant, or anything that provided any resistance. I witnessed all of this when I was just a colt. Me and my pare…” He paused in mid sentence at the mention of his parents. He looked down at the dying fire, staring down at the crackling flames. He stayed like that for a good minute or two. He looked back at me with his blue eyes; his eyes…they were filled with sorrow and dread. “I’m sorry…But, yeah they are from Unity.” He finished putting up the pieces into a small leather pouch before stuffing it into his saddle bags with a sigh.

I looked at him before reaching into my bag taking out a pack of cigarettes. “You want one?” I asked hoping to cheer him up.

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow before shaking his head. “Nah, I quit that shit a long time ago but…thanks. I’m glad that you care.” he said getting up and putting on his cloak. “And that’s pretty much a rare thing in the wasteland.” he said chuckling. Even through that I knew that he had his own demons, I was going to try and help him.

I looked back outside to see that the rain was now just a steady rain other then, a down pour. “Well, I think it is safe to go.” I said getting up kicking dirt onto the fire smothering it out. I knelt down grabbing my duster throwing on right before the satchel. I strapped my M77 across my back before slinging the assault rifle over my shoulder. I had my trail carbine in my hands looking at it thinking of what to do with it. “Hey cloud can you hold my trail carbine for me? I already look like I’m going to war.” I said with a chuckle.

Cloud looked at me and chuckled. “Sure, but it will cost you some ammo incase I need to use it.”

I nodded with a grin on my face. “Alrighty.” I grabbed a fifty round box of .44 magnum out of my satchel. Flaring his horn Cloud took both of the box and the rifle. “Are ready to go?” I asked just as he put the rifle on his side.

“Ready as I will ever be.” When he said that I walked out side dawning my hat; ready for the rain to beat down on it again.

I stepped outside to be greeted by a light rain; one that was cool to the touch and energizing. I always loved this kind of rain. I adjusted my assault rifle on my shoulder as Cloud came to my side. “It will take about half a day to get there and since the storm delayed us for two hours it will be just before dusk when we get back.”

I just shrugged at this. “Alrighty, that sounds good. I just hope that we don’t hit any snags along the way.” I said as we made our way down the soaked road. My HUD is picking up a bunch of indicators where the Alicorns killed all of the raiders. Most of them were hostile but, a few were friendly. I smiled and began to whistle a random tune.

********

We have been walking for about three hours, mostly in silence looking out for anything that would be dangerous. We talked some but, mostly small talk nothing major. Plus, I told him the entire story until I met him at Old Appleloosa. I decided to skip the farm and the fight with Mr. Fig. Cloud knew a little bit about the fight and I wanted to keep it that way. All I did was just fill him in about stash of weapons that I found in a abandoned house.

Every word that I said made me feel more and more guilty about Wood and his family’s deaths. But, that’s a weight that I’m going to have to shoulder alone. After that we have been walking in silence for a while until he broke the silence. “What was that?” he asked stopping in the middle of the road looking out to a some outcrops of rock about fifty yards away.

I stopped looking back at him. “What?”

“I thought I heard something. Probably nothing.” He said shrugging.

I stood there until he caught up to me. “What did you think you heard?” I asked starting to met his pace.

“I don’t know but, I feel like it we are going to find out soon.” He paused before speaking again. “By the way how far is it until we reach New Appleloosa?” I looked down at my Pip-boy and switching to the map section of the info; seeing that we aren’t that far away. “Not that far maybe about fifteen minutes. If it wasn’t for the rain we could probably see it by now.” I said adjusting my assault rifle on my wet duster. I looked at my HUD for a moment just out of habit now and for a brief second I saw a hostile indicator appear then, disappear. “Well, damn it.” I said taking off my assault rifle getting a good grip on the weapon. “You were right Cloud we were going to meet it real soon.” I said looking down to see Cloud staring right into the rain covered mist. “What are you staring at?”

He began to bolt. “Run bitch run!” He yelled out making me confused before I looked at the direction where he was staring at. I saw something move for a second then, nothing. I tightened my grip on my rifle. Then, I saw it. My HUD picked up a single hostile indicator right in front of me. I stared at it for a moment before I could determine what the fuck it was.

“Oh fuck me.” was all I said before a giant scorpion came rushing me out of the mist. I pivoted on my heels and hauled ass. “Fuck that shit!” I exclaimed even with the weak leg I still caught up to Cloud who was in full gallop. “You left me back there to die! You asshole!” I yelled looking back. The giant scorpion was huge which was making me run fucking faster. It was at least a good fifteen feet tall on the peak of its tail. I turned around back peddling and began to fire at its legs trying to cripple it. My bullets didn’t do shit as the scorpion’s hard outer shell was deflecting them mostly. “Can you fucking help me!?” I exclaimed lunging to the side dodging the stinger.

“Aim for the fucking eyes!” I Cloud screamed firing his Marksmen carbine taking out one of the six eyes. The scorpion roared in anger and charged faster. I did what Cloud said and fired the rest of the magazine into its eyes taking out two of them. It roared again in agony before I made one last charge. I reloaded my rifle ditching the empty into the wet desert and slamming in a new one. I snapped back the action before firing again in controlled bursts while back peddling; aiming wasn’t easy especially when I’m fucking dodging a giant fucking scorpion stinger. Cloud step sided the stinger nearly getting grazed by the poison spewing appendage.

“You alright!?” I yelled firing again hitting another one of its eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fine! Just keep shooting!” he yelled firing his marksmen carbine until it went click. Celestia fucking damn it!” He exclaimed reloading. I fired again hitting the second to last eye. Just before I got to Cloud it roared before skittered away into the rain.

When it disappeared from my HUD I collapsed breathing heavily on the ground followed by Cloud doing the same. “God fucking damn it.”

We laid there for a few moments catching our breath. “How…far…are…we…now.” Cloud breathed out.

I looked at my Pip-boy which was still on the map function. “Well, I’ll be a son of a bitch. We made it.” I said looking to my left to see the wall with two or three armed guards. “You know some help would of have been appreciated!” I yelled getting up from the ground. Cloud looked up at me before getting up. I braced myself on my knees taking a few breaths before picking up my assault rifle. I faced the gate with a smile. “Can you please open the gate? We got some business with Ditzy Doo!”

After few mumbles coming from the guards the same yellow aura of magic engulfed the steel gate and began to rise slowly. When it was fully raised Cloud and me looked at each other. We walked inside to see that pretty much half of the town was crowding around the entrance all were shoving each other as we entered. A message came on my HUD again. <New Appleloosa Fame Gained! Respected and admired!> Then, a couple ponies were almost sent flying before a really excited filly that has earned her name numerous times came and tackled me to the ground. “Parker your back! I’m so glad that you did, oh my gosh if you died I don’t know what I would do. You are one of my best friends parker, I’m so glad that you came back!” She said really fast all on one breath.

I just chuckled while the rain poured on us more and more. “Slow down. I’m glad that you care that I’m back. But, this can wait until we are back inside.” I said picking up the filly before getting back onto my feet. I placed her under my armpit so she would just hang there. I smiled as she just hanged there with a goofy frown on her face trying to figure a way out of her little trap.

“You stink you know that?” she said looking up at me as I walked towards the hospital.

“I agree with that.” Cloud said joining in.

“Yeah, walking through a desert, fighting off raiders, slavers, and wild animals with taking a shower in four days does that. Now, lets get inside before Rose yells at me for getting Thorn wet.” I said squeezing my arm with Thorn We walked through the door to find that Rose was sitting next to her sister while she slept. The door’s bell announced out presence and when she looked at me, Cloud, and Thorn soaking wet from the rain; I could have died laughing at her expression. But, all I did was just laughed. “Rose you should see you face right now.” I said adjusting the little filly under my arm.

Thorn looked up at me with small smile. “Can you let me down now? I’m sure that my coat is going to turn into a giant puff ball if I’m hang dried.” I chuckled at that and I answered by letting her fall onto her four hoofs. “Thanks!” she squeaked hugging my leg.

Rose was sitting there the entire time her mouth just hanging open in shock. “Y-you really are alive…” was all she said before the second time in the span of ten minutes I was tackled with a rip crushing hug. “I’m so glad that you made it.” she said hugging harder crushing all of the air out of me.

“Need…air…” I barely able to breath out.

She separated from me letting my lungs suck in air. Rose chuckled. “Sorry, I…just…I’m just so happy that you got my sister out of there along with a bunch of others. A lot of ponies are really grateful for what you did.” She said letting me get up.

“It’s alright.” I said getting up and dusting off my soaked duster. I looked at Cloud who was holding back a laugh. “Have you met my friend Silver Cloud. He saved my ass from being ripped in two by an Alicorn.” I said patting Cloud on his back. Then, a second later I felt my shine getting kick with a hard hoof. I then, hopping around like an idiot holding my shine yelling “God damn it. What was that for?!” I finally stopped seeing right in front of me.

“Well, I was just checking to see how your reflexes were in your left leg since you got your femur smashed by the Alicorn.” Cross said with a small grin on his face.

Thorn and Rose looked at me when he said Alicorn. “You what!?” Rose yelled starting to look over me to see something. After a few moments of this she finally stopped. “You seem alright but, why in the hell did you fight an Alicorn!?”

I just raised my hand that said ‘My bad.’ “Sorry but, it really wasn’t my choice at the moment. I actually escaped five others five minutes before hand. It had a knife to my throat. But, I need to talk to Ditzy about a favor. Cloud can you tell them the story?” I asked.

“Yeah, I can but before we go. Where are we going to stay?” He asked. “I like being soaked and carrying shit all the time but, we need a break every now and then.” he said in a sarcastic tone.

My pondered on this for a moment before I could speak Thorn popped in again. “Why don’t you stay with us?! We got plenty of beds in the cot room!”

Cross sighed leaning towards Thorn. “Sweetie, we have a bunch of injured ponies in there right now. We don‘t have the room.” He looked up at us and sighs. “I’m sorry guys, I would love to help but we barely have room for us to sleep.”

Thorn looked back up at her father. “Come on dad! They helped aunty Plum! You’ve got to help them so how!” She said almost on the verge of crying. “Come on daddy. They need our help.” She said hugging his leg.

Cross sighed again. “Alright, I will try to help them.” He looked up at us from his daughter. “I think there is some room in the commons house. If not talk to the sheriff but, I would be cautious when talking to him; he is a little pissed off that you went to Old Appleloosa but, not to mention the fact that your friend brought 47 new ponies into the town. It is thanks to the caps your friend gave to him so the town can take care of the injured ponies; that you can even come here. So…don’t think you can get much from him.” Cross looked down at Thorn and Cloud. “Hey, Thorn why don’t you go and talk with Cloud? I’m sure that Parker and I need to talk about some arrangements about the housing.”

Thorn squeaked “Alright!” before running along with Cloud to the other side of the lobby. I turned my head to see that Rose was walking back to her sister Plum.

I knelt down to his eye level; placing my hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, I know that you have done a lot for me in the last four days. For my appreciation I want to give you this.” I said taking out Suckle’s 5.56 revolver and reaching it out for him to grab.

He looked at it before he looked at me. “Why are you giving me this? I’m not a gun toting pony anymore. My wasteland adventure days are over. It wasn‘t until I had Thorn th-” He couldn’t finish when I embraced him in a hug.

I could feel the stares and raised eyebrow going in my direction from all across the room. “I’m giving you this because, I found it with a note.” I let go of the embrace with a smile. “It said that the previous owner of the weapon was a mother. She used it time and time again to protect the ones she loved before she died of natural causes and who ever found it I’m giving you this so that it can give you luck when you need to protect the ones you love and cherish.” I looked at Thorn was now sitting across the room talking to Cloud telling her how she found me or at least I think so; with Cross following my gaze. “I’m giving it to you for your help and so you can protect her. She is still young yet has experienced so much misery; she is tough but, I can tell you that she is going to repress all of the misery when she is older. I want you to be there when she begins to remember.” I looked back at Cross before a loud clap of thunder rocked the railcar. He met my gaze; his eyes were filled with confusion and other emotions. “In order for you to help her you both need to be together and alive but, most of all strong. Strong for her and you. She is your daughter and you need to be strong. That’s why I’m giving you the pistol to help you get strong when the going gets tough. Like my uncle says. It’s better to have it and not need it then, need it and not have it.” I said patting his back.

He looked at me for a moment before looking at the pistol. He was silent for a moment. “Alright…” he looked up at me with some determination and hope. “I will take it…” He looked over to Thorn who was laughing along with Cloud. “For her and for your gratitude.” he then, bit into it before beginning to walking off.

“Hey, Cross.” I touched his shoulder getting his attention. “If you tell anyone pony or human alike that I got emotional with you I’m going to kill you.” I said with a chuckle. He nodded with a chuckle. I got on my feet turning my attention to Cloud. “Hey, Cloud we need to talk to Ditzy so come on.” I hollered across the room interrupting his and Thorn staring contest.

He looked at me nodding. “Alright! Just give me a sec so I can win the five caps that this filly will soon owe me.” The moment he turned back to face her Thorn blow into his face making him blink.

“You were saying about the five caps?” She said in a mocking voice. I heard Cloud curse under his breath before handing her five bottle caps. When I got over there Cloud was on his hoofs and ready.

“Come on before Thorn steals all of your caps.” I said getting a chuckle from Thorn and Cross.

“Alright, and Thorn I want a rematch when I get back.” He said sticking out his tongue getting one in return from Thorn. I sighed and walked out the door; followed by Cloud. For the third time today my hat and duster were again getting assaulted by the rain making a nice pitter patter sound. I looked around seeing that most of the ponies were either inside or running through the rain to get inside. I heard Cloud step next to me in the wet mud.

I didn’t say anything while we made out our way to Absolutely Everything. I just looked around seeing some ponies looking our way through windows which was kind of freaking me out. We walked in ringing the small bell what was on the top of the door frame. I looked around for Ditzy seeing no sigh of her. But, I saw an oddly placed muffin on top of a plate right next to the cash register. I looked at Cloud and he just shrugged. I turned back to the muffin walking towards it when we got to it I could see the steam coming off of it. I leaned onto the counter looking for the cute little ghoul. “Hello? Are you here? Ditzy? It’s me Parker and Cloud.” I looked down at Cloud who was looking up past me. “What are you looking at?” I asked looking up getting a metal pot hitting me in the face as an answer. I fell on the ground holding my face. “God fucking damn it! Oh my fucking god that hurts!” I yelled out rolling on the ground as Cloud is just dying from laughter. “That really fucking hurts! What the fuck is this?! A bad cartoon!”

I heard a set of hoofs hit the wood floor next to me then, the sounds of frantic writing met my ears. I looked up to see the sweet little ghoul frantically writing on her little chalk board. She saw me looking at her then, she shoved the black board to me. It read ‘oh my gosh oh my gosh I’m so sorry. Please, don’t be mad. It was an accident you just surprised me when you said your name! please, forgive me.’

I chuckled before getting up on my feet dusting off my duster…again. “It’s alright.” I rubbed my face. “But, damn that hurt. I’m going to feel that tomorrow.” I looked down at Cloud who was still laughing. I raised an eyebrow before kicking him making jump in surprised making me chuckle. “Get off your ass we need to get serious.” He quickly scrabbled getting himself up. I turned back to Ditzy quickly erasing her board her eyes look like she was on the verge of crying. “It’s alright Ditzy. We all make mistakes we aren’t perfect other wise we wouldn’t be living in this hell hole.” I said getting a little chuckle from her. I smiled getting a nudge from Cloud. “Alright, Ditzy you said that you wanted to use your favor?”

She looked up surprised for a moment then, she nodded before flying behind the counter. She laid her little black board on the counter before taking a bite of her warm muffin. She made a satisfying hum before writing again. We waited for about a minute before she was done. She turned it around shoving it towards me. It read ‘Yes, I am calling in your and Cloud’s favor for getting you both on the train. This is what I want…’ I quickly looked up at her making a shit eating grin. “You better not make this a sexual favor.” I said chuckling making the ghoul plant her face on the ground in embarrassment. “I’m just kidding with you.” I said looking back down. ‘…I want you to help guard a caravan going to Fort Key. They haven’t been heard from in weeks; so I and some others are sending a supply caravan towards the Fort and I want you and Cloud to help guard it with four others. It is near the city of Baltimare so except some little to moderate fighting. It is going to be a eight day trip after that you are free to do what ever you want to do. You and Cloud are going to be paid four hundred caps up front. This is just to re-supply the fort and to see if anything is wrong. If there is; get the hell out of there then, come back and if possible with the supplies. You leave in the morning at dawn so make sure you have everything that you need and want. If you want my advice get a book or something because this is going to be a long trip.’

I looked up at her with a smile. “Alrighty.” I said scooting the board over to Cloud so he read it. “What are your rates on ammo now?” I asked. She nodded before biting into the ammo rate board. .308 was pretty much the same along with 5.56. “You got any .45 ACP?” I asked looking over the board. I looked up to see that her placing two fifty round boxes on the counter. She took the ammo board; writing with her little chalk. She twisted it around again showing me the price for the boxes. 200 caps for two boxes. I sighed before taking out my caps bag out of my duster. “Alrighty, two hundred for the .45s and I think a hundred and fifty .308 rounds with fifty armor piercing rounds. To top it all off I would like two hundred rounds of 5.56.” I said looking around the shelves to see if anything is worth while. Then, something caught my attention. It was bowie knife; once I realized that a smile grew on my face “How much is the bowie knife?” I asked pointing at the blade by then, Cloud had finished reading Ditzy’s board; which allowed Ditzy to grab and erase her board.

She quickly wrote on her board before showing me the writing. It read ‘250 caps. They’re rare so you are going to have to pay the rare price, sorry. But, if you include that your total of caps are…1750 caps.’ She looked at me with a questioning look before quickly erasing her board and writing again. When she was done she shoved it to me again. It read ‘how are you going to pay for this?’

I looked up with a shit eating grin. “Also, I need ten extended hunting rifle magazines and three assault rifle magazines.” I said making Ditzy sigh a little but, laugh.

She took her board again with a soft smile before writing again. ‘It must get kind of annoying of having to write everything you have to say.’ I though as she finished chalking down her words. She turned it around showing me and Cloud the words. They read ‘Alright, the magazines with the knife and ammo will cast you a total of 1900 caps. Anything else before you buy me out? Hahaha.’ I chuckled at the last bit.

“Yeah, one more thing. Do you have any books or comics?”

Cloud looked up at me and shook his head. “You are a shopoholic.”

I looked down at him. “Dick. I’m just getting the shit we need. We got over 2500 caps on us. So don’t worry.” He huffed for a moment before I turned back to Ditzy who was munching on her warm muffin. “Sorry, he is just being a dick from losing ten games of chess in a row.” I looked down to see a lock picking magazine and a medical book. “You think an even 2000 caps would be good for all of this?”

She shook her head. She took her board and wrote on it again. ‘No, 2150 caps for everything unless you have anything else to trade.’

I smiled at that before reaching into my satchel and taking out the seventy-two rounds of 12.7mm. “How about these? Will you make it to 2000 caps even if throw them in for you Ditzy?”

She looked at the box of rounds before looked up with a smile and nodding before taking the rounds and 2000 caps. Cloud looked up at me with a smile. “Alright, we got everything we need. Lets go before the common house closes and we are stuck in the rain.”

I looked down at Cloud. “Alright, Ditzy I think that is all we need for the moment.” I said grabbing the supplies that Ditzy has placed on the counter and stuffing them into my satchel for later. I looked back at Ditzy with her board in her mouth that said one big bold word that took up the entire board. I made a small laugh with a smile. “Of course Ditzy while I’m out there I will get some muffins. Also, thank you for the supplies. I’m sure to come back here. Lets go Cloud.” I said turning around getting a wave good bye from Ditzy.

We walked outside of the store to see that the storm was starting to get worse then, it was already. “Again? This is worse then, what made us go in that cave.” Cloud commented just before fingers of lighting streaked across the sky. “Lets go to the common house and rest up. We got a big day tomorrow.” He said starting to walk off to a large wooden shack next to the bar and grill I ate a couple of days ago.

“Alrighty, lets go and we can have some dinner. I’m fucking starving and the sooner we got to bed the more well rested we become.” I said passing the Sheriff who was sitting in a rocking chair sleeping with his hat over his eye, he cleared his throat getting my attention.

“Hey, son can I talk to you for moment?” He asked tipping up his hat to look me in the eyes his voice still a little raspy like before.

I looked at Cloud who was looking at the Sheriff then, at me. “Cloud, go on ahead to the common house. I’ll catch up with you later.” I said getting a nod from before he continued on. I turned around to see the Sheriff gesturing towards a chair next to his rocking chair.

I walked up on the awning covered porch; sitting down on small chair. From this view I could see everything in town and everypony walking through the drenching rain. It was a some what peaceful scene except for the fact that you never see the sun and the chance that you could get ripped in two and being rapped to death. ‘That was nice thought.’ I thought just before the Sheriff cleared his throat again making me turn my head to him. He placed a cigarette in his mouth and just lit it with a match. “You smoke?” He asked.

“Not really.” I responded just before clap of thunder rocked the town.

He chuckled before letting out his smoke. “That’s good. Smoking will do nothing but, just kill you faster. I do it because I have nothing else to do.” he said with a light chuckle. I chuckled along before he spoke again. “You are going to Fort Key on the supply caravan?”

“Yes, I am with my friend Cloud.” I responded.

The Sheriff look at his town again sighing. “I’ve protected this town for about seven years now. Not much happens except for a few things here and there. I would do anything to keep the hard working ponies here safe and sound. Cause’ I know that a lot of them need the rest; don’t you agree?” He asked facing me.

I made a small smile and nod. “Yeah, I do. But, what is this about?” I asked raising an eyebrow.

I got a loud chuckle as an answer. “Straight to the point, I like that. But, you get want I mean. That I would do anything to keep my friends safe.”

“Yes, I got that. I would do the same thing for any of my friends.”

The Sheriff took inhale of the cig then letting out the smoke. “My nephew is going on the Supply Caravan. He is young and inexperienced just like you but, you can actually fight.” He said pointing at my M77 that I leaned against the ground. “From what I hear you have a leveled head when you are fighting…well most of the time. When you go out there I want you to make sure that my nephew is alright when the bullets start flying.”

I just stared at him in confusion. “I’m sorry sir but, I can’t promi-” I was interrupted by him raising his hoof.

“I know what you are going to say. It’s the wasteland you can’t promise anything. All I’m saying is just try and make sure that he gets back. But, if he di-” He couldn’t finish when it was my turn to raise up my hand.

I sighed and looked him in the eye. “I will try my hardest to make sure that he gets back alright.”

The Sheriff nodded and cleared his throat. “I know you will but, just in case. I want you to give him this if he is on his last breath.” He said reaching into his pocket and taking out a small silver locket. He stared at it in his hoof for a few seconds handing it to me. “It was his mother’s. That is the only picture that we have of her and him together. She died when he was four so he barely remembers anything of her. If he dies I want you to give that to him so that his mother can help find peace. But, if everything is ok at the end and he survives. I still want you to give it to him.” He said as I opened the locket. It was a picture of a light pink coated mare unicorn with a darker pink mane and brown eyes holding a bright green unicorn wrapped in a small blanket. “Because, I know that after this; he wants to explore the wasteland and what not.” I looked up to see that he was looking at me. “Can you promise me that you will try your hardest to make sure he gets out of this alive.”

I smiled closing the locket and carefully putting it into my before looking at The Sheriff. “I’ll try I promise. What’s his name Sheriff?”

He sighed scratching his head. “Mugs is his name. He can be a hoof full. But, that’s all I want you to do.” Nodding, I got up on my two feet grabbing my M77 into my hands. I took a deep breath through my nose as the water began to drip down my duster. I looked behind me looking at the Sheriff as he cleared his throat again. “By the way my name is Railright and if you pull that shit you did in Old Appleloosa again; I’m personally going to kick your ass. You are just lucky that you kill most of the Slavers in the explosion or they would‘ve killed all of us.”

I tipped my hat with a grin “I’ll keep that in mind Railright. You have a nice evening now.” After that I heard him mumble something about never letting anypony off like that again. I walked off; my boots squishing in the mud of the town. I walked with my hands in my duster side pockets towards the common house. I stopped right next to the bar and grill I ate at a couple days ago. I looked past the little stand to see a stack of rail cars about four high with a glowing sign that said Turnpike Tavern. “Huh, didn’t notice that before.” I just shrugged before walking into the common house. When I came in I saw a bunch of heads pop up some of them had giant smiles on there faces.

Then, a moment later I was flooded by ponies I think that were the slaves that me and Cloud rescued that were saying ‘Thank you so much.’ ‘I can’t repay you.’ and all of the like but, then a single red mare around the size of Rose except more well built and broad shoulders. She didn’t have a horn so I except her to be an Earth Pony. She turned around before yelling “Be quiet!” It was loud enough to make my ears ring. “Everypony go back to there bunks and get some sleep!” When she said that the ponies began to disperse a little by little.

“Ow!”

The mare turned around to see me cupping my ears. “Sorry, but I need to do that to quiet them down.” She apologized with a sheepish grin.

I blink a couple time before looking down at her. “It’s alright. Just give me warning next time cause’ that hurt.” A moment later some ponies were shoved to the side to reveal Cloud making his way to the head of the mob.

“What’s going on!?” he yelled out as soon as he made it to the mare’s side.

“Well, I nearly went deaf from this young mare right here.” I said gesturing to the mare who was now blushing.

“I’m not that young…” She said beginning to trail off with a soft blush.

I chuckled looking at Cloud. “So, where are we sleeping?”

“We have a little corner to sleep in so we don’t have to worry about being stabbed in the middle of the night.” He said with a laugh.

The mare snapped out of her little trance and looked up at me. “If you are looking for a place to sleep then, I can arrange you to sleep closer to the door. If you want.”

I looked at her in the eye with a smile. She had pretty brown eyes with a pink mane. “No but, thank you for your offer. What is you name so anyways?” I asked with a yawn.

I was slugged in the leg by Cloud who was yawning. “Quit that shit. I’m going back to bed.”

The mare giggled. “He doesn’t like yawning.”

I knelt down rubbing my leg. “Apparently, damn that hurts.” I looked up to her with a grin. “Don’t worry; I’m going to get him back for that. Name’s Parker.” I reached out my hand.

She smiled before shaking my hand with her hoof. “Name’s Steam Mirror. It’s nice to meet the…” She hesitated on what to call me.

I chuckled. “Human, I’m a human.”

She smiled. “It’s nice to meet the human that saved my and everypony else’s life from Old Appleloosa. We can’t thank you enough. If you need any don’t be afraid to ask.” She said giving me a wink. Before I could say no she turned around flicking her tail in my face and walked away. I quickly got up before I saw something I didn’t want too.

I walked in the direction that Cloud went off to; to find him sleeping in a cot with his gear in the corner including his cloak. I walked to my cot taking off my satchel and combat armor and throwing it in Cloud little pile. I leaned my rifles against the corner with his Marksmen carbine but, when I was placing my gun belt on my combat armor Cloud turned over to reveal his scars that his cloak always hid. A trio of scars went down from the base of his neck to his mid-stomach. I stared at them for a moment before he turned over again with a deep breath. I was tempted to wake him up and talk about it but, it felt wrong to do so. With a sigh I began to prep for the long road ahead.

Chapter end.
Parker Williams: Level Up!
Silver Cloud: Level Up!
Companion Perk!- While Silver Cloud is your companion when ever you are looking down a scoped weapon he is going to act as a spotter pointing out enemies.
New Perk! Playing dead- For escaping the Unity alicorns your sneak skill has been raised by 10. When around enemies all except for alicorns and griffins in sneak mode they lose 1 perception.
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Fallout: Equestria- The Lone Rifleman

by BlastingCap

Prologue

Ashes To Ashes; Dust To Dust

Reunion

Sweet dreams

Please...Stop

The long road ahead Pt. 1