The Little Gems We Forgot
Fallout Equestria: The Treasures of the Hoof
By: ExpertBridge
Based around the fan fiction Fallout Equestria and Project Horizons by Kkat & Somber
Chapter 1: The Little Gems we Forget
“If we can’t find the fundings to make bullets for weapons, why don’t we find a solution towards a better and safer alternative!”
Time, about the end of the world. Where am I? Stuck under a world full of power and glory I can’t even get my hooves on. Probably for the fact that I’m just a bodiless soul roaming these sad, lonely streets. Greeted by my past friends I find my soul hardly at a rest, the call for me to just give in and see the city for the glory it is. Not how I see it, this city was destroyed. Consumed by technology of great power and ever since that corrupted program got out I’ve been really busy trying to decipher what’s giving it direction. EC-1101, the key to equestria, held in the hooves of a mare. If only she knew how insignificant her quest was.
Not saying I know what to accomplish with such power but I know a few powers who do, Contigum has been watching her ever since, and the souls here keep cycling along with what she plans and that, zebra she allows?! Ugh, can I just say he’s a bit of an arse. Going around conspiring about some myth about the Maiden of the Stars and that some Eater will consume us all. Celestia so help me they both get on my nerves, even if I know I’m trapped, even if I know my soul is lost in the void. I’m certain some day I can return to this land of the forsaken and give what I can to serve my duty and put my soul to rest, maybe...souls can dream, can’t they?
* * *
I woke to find myself on the outskirts of the core, my body aching as I rose from the rubble of what was left of my own house.
“Ugh, next time I’m getting a-” wait, body?! I immediately looked down to see I was alive, I held my hoof to my face as I rushed around to see if I can find a shard of glass or something to see “I’m alive” I rasped, sounding very terrible. “I’m...fuck...if this is a nightmare, I’m not surprised. My ex wife was scarier than this!”
Looking at my reflection, I began to realize I’m a ghoul, saved of my features. “Wow, I...I died though! I should be dead! A liquid puddle that’s nothing more!” I began to panic but my heart wasn’t racing, slowly I began to panic. “ This, this isn’t right! Why me! Why Celestia, how could you forsaken me a cruel fate like so when so many others have suffered to survive this atrocity!”
I began to cough heavily, a little blood of what I had left splattered from my mouth onto the mirror. “Nevermind, figured I’d work myself up for no reason from waking up. After all there are questions to be answered.” I began to calm down looking at what I can salvage from my own home. “Let’s see, wow there’s not much other than my old revolver I got from my buddy working at the MWT here.” picking up my.44 magnum I was gifted with my magic, I began to check and see if the rounds were still any good as well as the ammo I had stashed when the bombs fell. “Wow, it’s almost as if it was never hit!” I shouted as I began to hear some movement nearby.
Fuck, someone’s here now?! Of all the time to deal with a burglar in my-” A radroach, or whatever...just like in my dream…” I said as I shot a round straight on the head of the dam bug. “Guess dreams do come true…” Wait, dream?
* * *
I didn’t think I’d find my collection of ammo to be good still, my buddy Listren told me they’d survive almost anything! My Celestia he was right, good thing too because on my way out of what was left of my home I began to take notice of the hell I now live in, first off. I was lucky my pipbuck was equipped, second, it needs to be repaired, lastly, if this theory is correct I’ve been dead and everything I’ve dreamed has been what has been going on in actual time while I was away in the afterlife.
It doesn’t take long for me to figure this out, makes sense right? If anything I’d like to know why I’m given life, as well as how I could help prevent this epidemic with the Eater and the Legate. I may not know much of these two things but all I know is that he’s working with Contigum and if that’s the case then the MoP might as well make me a detective for finding naughty ponies. I know the two are up to no good, since when is there a Zebra in the core?! On top of that he’s survived in the core! It doesn't add up...sadly my thought process on this was interrupted by a group of reckless bandits looking for slaves.
“Ey look guys, it’s a healthy stray! Boss will give us a bonus he said if we found one good for work right?” Okay, I’ve seen their kind before. Maybe if I barter? Wait, I have only my revolver, the clothes on my back, and my ammo in my saddlebag as well as my pipbuck.
“I’m not looking for trouble, now if you think you can get an easy slave to do your work for you like me then you have another thing coming” I replied as coolly and calm as I possibly can in a situation like this.
“Oh? What are you going to do, you’re outnumbered, unarmed and if anything carrying something barely of any value for RedEye, don’tcha know?” Yup, he’s eyeing my dead pipbuck. Why wouldn’t they though? I don’t blame them.
“Sure, it’d be the smart and easy choice to give in. If anything you’d probably either cut my leg off, sell this thing here and sell it to someone for a low price but knowing this. I don’t think I’d let you do that.” If I had stats then this would be easy, if I had an E.F.S then I’d have been able to avoid them here.
“So, ya think mocking us will get you any-” BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! click’ was all that was heard when he turned from his fellows laughing from my attempt of mockery. The slaves they’ve captured just looked at me in awe in shock and surprise, these were families, friends with one another. “You’re all free now, don’t expect me to take any of the loot here. I’ll be fine, if anything I’d recommend finding someplace that isn’t here. I’m not really sure how to say this but I know this isn’t the place here.” I began to walk but something pulled onto my tail and I stopped.
“Excuse me, but what is your name sir?” was a mare and her child standing by, looking really tired and hungry. Her son hiding behind her, as if I was a threat to be reckon with.
“I don’t know if I should tell you this, but I’m not from the wasteland dear, just an old fellow whose name was lost and forgotten in time. Just call me, the Mysterious Mustang.” With that being said I grabbed the cowboy hat of one of the slavers I killed and sat his hat upon my head, walking towards the chaos of what’s to come next.
* * *
After walking around for a moment I began to realize not much has changed over time, sure everything looked like shit but if anything I saw this coming. How the Hoof began to ran before is the same as today. Good news is, Flank seems very promising for riches. By that I mean they’re making their profit. I’m not one for all the shows and drugs but a nice drink can ease my mind if anything. I decided to unwind my troubles looking for a bar, unfortunately it was a little too close to where I was avoiding, eyup. They’ve done it, Stable 89 is now...69. I’d love to see Stable Tech’s face after looking at this!
“Move, you-” A mare said as she tried to push me over before looking me over. “Oh, so terribly sorry sir. I’m just trying to get to work is all."
All dressed up in lingerie, great. "Oh, so sorry m’am. I was just about to had there and see if y’all had a bar or something other than a strip show. I’m not really looking for anything of that sort, just a drink.” I politely asked as while she tried to fix her attire.
“Um, well if you’ve been living under a rock it’d be right up where Mixers is. If anything I’m new here just as much as you are.”
Well, that’s just fine and dandy. “Name’s Raven, if you were wondering.” she looked at me for a moment. “Do I know you? I’ve never seen you around, on top of this I heard that a slaver group was ‘lost’?” She said, then put her arms around my shoulder.
“Ah I’m just teasing ya, come on. let’s go get you that drink mr...” Oh, my name! I’m surprised it didn’t even come to mind I’d actually have one.
“Just call me Mustang.” I replied as her eye went wide.
“It was you ain’t it! HA!!” she shouted as everypony just stared for a moment as we walked into the club. “Sorry, but thank you for that.” she said quietly.
“What for? All I did was stop a couple of slavers trying to make a quick buck. Wouldn’t you have done the same in my situation?” I replied as she just shook her head.
“No, I’d have sold myself off without an issue. Guess this is why I’m workin’ for Caprice here ain’t it? Well, I had family on that route and I’m just glad they won’t have to deal with that. My mom, she could have...with my little brother too, been sold off to Red Eye. I’m glad somepony showed them that slavers down here aren’t going to get away, especially if it it means taking ponies to that horrid camp.” she shuttered then sighed. “I’ve heard some pretty bad stuff in Fillydelphia, about how they treat their slaves. I’m so grateful of you I just…” she snuggled her muzzle to my coat and began to cry as I held her in a wretched place here.
I tapped the bar to signal for a drink as the robot began to mix whatever it was, I could care less. I can’t really taste anything after my ’rebirth’ anyhow other than the slight burn the alcohol give me falling down my throat. After a moment she stopped and asked “Could you maybe stay with me tonight? I don’t want to be alone and if anything I’d like to maybe talk to you more.”
I haven’t even said much! What makes you think-”Sure, but you have to get the room number. I’m going to be here for a bit until you get off.” Great, now I can’t even communicate with myself here. Has being dead somehow made me a chick magnet?! Sweet Celestia if so then I better be careful, I don’t want to get tied up in relations just yet. Why did I even say yes?! Was it because I felt bad? I don’t really know how to feel, I saved her family. I basically did, all in an effort to protect my sorry ass.
They were going to sell me, as if I was a piece of product. “O-okay, thank you so much Mustang.” She rubbed her eyes and smeared her make up a bit as she broke her sobs down a bit then gave me the best hug she could muster. “I’m sorry if this troubles you of any sorts, I know you probably didn’t even plan on being there. I’m glad you did though, so I uh…” she looks at her hooves from where she was crying and at my dry coat which now had a smear of make up from her. “Sorry, I’m uh...I’m going to go clean up and get to work now. Thank you for the talk, again and sorry about-” I put my hoof up to her muzzle and silenced her.
“Isn’t a problem, know that we all have troubles in this world. Somepony will find the balance of order, of hope, there are still innocent one in this world too. For how long is the question we have? it’s up to us to keep those morals alive, sacrifice what you can, persevere what is thrown, hold on to what hope you have left and remember that we can all deceive who we are. I’m not here for play, I’m not here business, I’m here for one thing and that’s to make sure my past doesn’t repeat itself here. You keep doing what you must, I have only one thing I do and that’s wander on until it happens again.” she just looked at me, puzzled and confused as I got up and began to walk out.
“I’ll be there tonight but just for the night, nothing more, nothing less. I’m here to protect, to prevent, and to save.” and with that I drank another shot and walked away from a mare whose only life she’s known was to follow a dream of hope.
* * *
So I decided to look around town and get a feel of this area, seems like the Enclave were building upon a...oh crap...not this again...
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Footnote: Level Up!
New Perks: Not Even a Scratch- Does being a ghoul make you a terrible shot? Naw, just means you need a little more practice. You get an additional bonus to accuracy when presented in a hostile environment.
Broken Pipbuck- Looks like it could be repaired, but without it you'll have to rely on ghoul senses. +1 PER