Six Hooves Under New Appleloosa
I held the cold metal of a pipbuck in my hooves. No pony saw me take it. No pony even knows it existed. Well, except for that stallion that fell out of the sky, but he was in a coma. I just needed to wait awhile and sell it off during the festival. It should go for a lot of caps, enough to help Bridget grow up right.
"Mommy!" Bridget spoke up behind me which almost gave me a heart attack as I shoved the pipbuck into an old lunchbox.
Sighing, I turned around with a smile. "Sweety, what's the matter?" I asked my daughter softly. She was an adorable mix of me and her half griffin father. While mostly a pony, she still had the wings of a griffin, their talons, and long, cat-like tail. She also had two horns on her head. It was likely a mutation, but I’ve always found them cute.
“What is it?” I asked.
"Can you sing me a lullaby?" she pleaded while rubbing her eyes. “I can't get to sleep.”
“Of course, Sweety. Now go climb back into your bed. I’ll be right over.” I told her. She groggily shuffled off.
Turning back around, I placed the lunchbox under a cloth and placed a few candles on top of it. It was not the best hiding spot to stash something valuable, but with how busy everypony was getting, I was sure nopony would have the time to be breaking in any time soon.
I made my way to the bedroom of my shabby home, though I shouldn't complain about it. A roof over my head was better than none after all.
Still, the Followers of the Apocalypse were scholars, not builders. I couldn't believe Mom managed to hook us up with this place free of charge. Sure she's working for them, but I hadn't expected her to go all-in for us.
The bedroom was simply a smaller squared off inside the main house with several old blankets and pillows piled in the middle of it. It was mostly because we couldn't afford a bed that didn’t have rusting springs poking out of it, so we made due. It was fine for me. I slept better on a hard surface anyway, but Bridget was different, so I let her sleep on top of the pillows.
Speaking of which, Bridgit was already curled up on a pillow. A blanket was haphazardly over her as her eyes watched me expectantly. Taking a seat next to her, I adjusted the blanket so that she was snugly tucked in. Lowering my voice to a whisper, I sang to her as I always had on tough nights like these.
“Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed.
Drifting off to sleep
Leave the day behind you
Drifting off to sleep
Let the joy of dreamland find you.”
Bridget relaxed as I sang the lullaby. She fell fast asleep before it was over. Giving her mane a gentle stroke, I couldn’t help but smile. She had the same color as mine; thick, sea green, and very wavy. It stood out harshly against her pink coat, but like her horns, it was something I was fond of.
As quietly as I could, I got up. The blankets helped to muffle my hoofsteps as I backed away out of the room. As soon as I was into the parlor, I made sure to close the door as softly as possible.
With a sigh and a stretch, I made my way to a locker near the front door. Inside were some of my clothes, my sword, and my SMG. I was just going to work so I just threw on my yellow dress and strapped on my sword. New Appaloosa was a safe town for the most part, but like fuck I was going let myself get caught unarmed.
*Click*
The front door opened. My mother, Prism, stepped inside. She was wearing a patchwork nurse uniform. Even though I was an adult now and taller than the average mare, she still dwarfed me. This was one of the only perks she actually enjoyed about being an artificial alicorn made by the mutant goddess. But, even if she wasn’t actually my mother, I’d still have cared for her even if she was a normal pony or even an unspeakable eldritch abomination
“Hey, Mom. Have they fixed the hole in the clinic roof yet?” I asked Prism.
She yawned, looking like she was ready to pass out. Alicorns can go for days without sleep, but this week had been hectic with all the new ponies showing up day after day, so she hadn’t had her normal time to wind down. Then that earth pony stallion fell through the clinic’s roof from out of nowhere, so I knew things can’t be all too fun for her right now.
“No,” Prism huffed. “They just threw a tarp over the hole and called it a day. The mayor cares more about setting up the visitor center and catering to wealthier ponies than to allocate funds to fix the free clinic.” She eyed me then sighing with a hint of frustration. “You know, that with the festival coming up, there are going to be other jobs out there for you to do. Maybe you should consider them and quit that tavern.”
“Other jobs? Yes. Better pay? No.” I rolled my eyes, feeling a bit annoyed that she was bringing this up again. “Also, with the festival coming up, we have a lot more clients coming in. Frankly, I'm starting to spend more time as a bouncer than as a dancer.”
It was not like I didn’t understand. Mom was a prostitute before being turned into an alicorn, and in that life, it cost her the life of her first foal. Even now, I see her periodically beat herself up over it. I wish I could help her see I’m not going down the same path she did.
“Don’t worry, Mom.” I did my best to offer her a comforting smile, “Once I have enough caps saved up, I’ll find a new job. Maybe I can even get work with the Gunrunners. You know Bridget loves being around her grandfather and her uncle.”
Mom sighed again. “Maybe that is better, but I wish that old buzzard would stop antagonizing the sheriff so much.”
“Maybe the sheriff should stop acting like a colossal bitch,” I retorted quietly.
“Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up.” Prism said as she looked away, rubbing one foreleg with the other one.
“Mom,” I took a deep breath and reminded myself that she is just trying her best, as was I. “you need to stop apologizing so much, not when it’s my own fault that I’m in this situation. I mean, if not for you, I don’t think I would be able to raise Bridget as well as I have.” That started to break down her sour mood. Sure, I grew out of my cute foal phase years ago, but I’ve got a new way to push those same old buttons of hers. “She’s almost too sweet thanks to you, and I can’t ever express how much that means to me.”
“Ya.” That got a little chuckle out of Prism “I’m still worried that, one day, she will start running around with a gun and fighting anypony who challenges her, just like her mother used to.” She offered me a bit of light-hearted side-eye as she removed her nurses uniform. With as much care and grace as she always tried to present in her life, she placed it on her nearby clothing rack. “Anywho, don’t work too late. You know Bridget hates it when she wakes up and you’re not home.”
Nodding, I made my way to the door but stopped just short of opening it.
“Mom, do you think I’m a bad pony?”
She shook her head. “Bad ponies either don’t ask themselves that question, or don’t need to ask themselves that question.”
“Now, stay safe.” Prism said with a smile.
“Thanks, and rest well..” I said as I trotted out of our home.
The outskirts of New Appaloosa was like any other wasteland settlement. It was made up of scrap metal and wood shacks, some piled up on top of each other. A few smarter ponies had even found and dragged a few busses over here and turned them into a solid home. The inner part of New Appaloosa was wholly different. The wealthier ponies pitched in on the construction of that place. The place looked like some old-world frontier town, built sturdier with actual fresh paint on its siding. It’d be nice if we could move into the better part of town, but then I would have to live near all the snooty assholes.
It wasn't all that bad in this part of town. We all looked after each other, so crime wasn’t that big of a problem… or at least, it didn’t used to be. Lately there have been more chems going around, and not the kind the Angels sell to the Followers of the Apocalyps. No. Instead, this was new and incredibly dangerous chems have started showing up recently. It was something that was only to got worse as more creatures show up and move into town.
As I trotted along, the ponies who normally beg, or simply made a nuisance of themselves, avoided my gaze as I’d made sure repeatedly that they knew better than to bother me. Without any interruptions, I made my way to my workplace, the Ruffled Feathers Tavern. Even before opening the door, I could hear the loud music and smell the thick cigarette smoke coming from inside.
The doors flung open. A drunk stallion stumbled out, sporting a bloody nose.
“Next time don’t whip out your dick, ya cheap fuck!” A light green earth pony mare shouted. Her long spiky bright red mane and tail flopped around as she moved. This was Rusty Cleaver, a pony who took pride in her raider heritage, and who I reluctantly called my friend. Though I might not expect it with her outward appearance, her passion was dancing, not raiding.
I watched her retreat inside for a moment then shortly returned to throw a bag down on the ground. The inebriated stallion scrambled to pick it up before shooting her an angry glare. With his bag in hoof, he stumbled off into town, hopefully never to grace this place with his presence again.
Glancing in, Rusty looked at me and winked.
“Boy, do I love those idiots!” She cackled and waved me in. “He didn’t even understand that I threw an empty bag at him and kept his caps. Momma’s going to eat well tomorrow.”
“It looks like there's enough caps in that bag to have a few guests join you,” I noted with a coy smile.
Rusty Cleaver shrugged. “Might as well. It’s annoying that we almost only meet up at work lately. That, and Light Step has been wanting to spend more time with Bridget.”
I nodded. “They are cute together.” I looked her up and down. She was wearing what looked like only spiked belts. “So what happened to your old outfit?”
She groaned. “Needed extra caps, so I worked the brothel late last night. Had some big fucker who thought it would be faster to just rip off my outfit. I gave him a black eye, and then he fucked me raw. Left a big tip too, so I’m not all that mad. I just need to wait a bit for a new outfit.”
I face hoofed. “Ya, and that’s why I don’t work the brothel or do chems.”
“A regular fucking saint.” Rusty rolled her eyes at me. “You’re almost as bad as your mother. You know that, right?”
“And I still don’t know how you produced such a sweet little filly.” I snidely shot back at her.
A clapping sound caught our attention. Of course it was coming from the tavern owner, Waterspout. “Ladies, ladies, please get to work. The clientele aren't going to spend their caps on hot air.”
He was an old bastard of a hippogriff stallion, but unfortunately, he had the final say of things around here because he paid our bills.
“Oh, you know that's not true. They will buy it if you tell them. It’s magical hot air.” Rusty chuckled before trotting back into the tavern.
Waterspout shrugged. “Sadly, that's true.” He looked at me and pointed at the back. “Move your flank. Bronze is going to be on stage soon, and she needs somepony to get her in the right mindset.”
Nodding, I trotted past Waterspout. I skirted along the wall to avoid the clients as I made my way to the back room.
As expected, there were a lot more outsiders than before. Some were on their own, others were in groups. Most were ogling the dancers. Fortunately, no Talon mercs had shown up yet. Though they tend to not cause much trouble, when it did happen, it was not unheard of some pony being found dead the next day.
Entering the backroom, I avoided one of the chefs as they passed by while moving some gecko meat to the grill. Further into the backroom, I entered the dressing room where I nearly knocked over a unicorn colt.
Why the hell was he here anyway?
“What in Roseland’s name are you doing here, Copper Wire?” I chastised the reddish-brown foal, “Why aren't you home and in bed?”
He stuck out his tongue at me before he answered. “Got a radroach in ma home, so mom is having me stay here.”
Again, I facehoofed, then looked over the foal towards his mother who was nursing a bottle of gutrot while half-dressed. Despite being covered in scars, Bronze Chain was a very pretty mare. It was too bad her deepest scars were mental ones. She’d had a hard life out in the wastes. Harder than most.
“Well, stay out of the way, Copper. I need to have a talk with your mom.” I snorted at him.
He picked up a busted radio and trotted off to an empty spot of the dressing room.
He really was a good foal. I would be glad to look after him if I didn’t already have Bridget to look after.
Trotting over to Bronze, her long gray mane gave her a foreboding look like she was ready to cast some evil spell on somepony, but I knew she was likely putting herself down.
“Bronze, you know what they say about drinking on the job, right?”
She stirred while taking a sip from the bottle. “I can drink as much as I want as long as I bring in the caps,” she retorted in annoyed defiance.
“No.” I took the bottle from her. The magic from her broken horn was barely strong enough to even hold the thing. “That's what the clients say when they’re trying to get a free performance out of you.” I placed the bottle of gutrot onto a nearby dresser. “I’m not going to tell you how to live your life, but like fuck I’m going to let you get cheated out of this job. You’re worth more than that.”
I leaned in close, smiling. “Now, let me see your face.” Bronze looked up at me. During which time, her mane parted. I could see that her mascara was running, but overall she looked fine. “Here. Let me help you get ready. Once I do, you can show everypony how much you’re worth.”
Bronze looked away. “Not much more than a slave.”
“Brahmin Shit, you're probably worth ten, and that's on looks alone. You’re strong, and you got skills not many do.” I told her as I fixed her mascara. “Trust me, if there’s anypony who can work their way to a better life, it’s you. Why I bet, in a few years, you’re going to have the caps to fix yourself up all nice and new. Personally, I find your scars quite sexy, but hey, that’s just me.”
She blushed as she said, “Do you always have to flatter me like that?”
“It’s all true.” I grabbed her dress, if you could call what was left of it that, and passed it to her. “If you were a stallion, I would totally jump you. So ya, it’s all true.”
“That didn’t stop you last week,” she reminded me with an amused chuckle.
“Gross!” Copper yelled from the back. We ignored him. Good foal, but the little shit perked his ears where they didn’t belong far too often.
After a bit more makeup, she was ready. “Like I said, you're sexy, and sometimes it’s hard to control myself. Sometimes I do wish I was more into mares, outside of looks at least.”
Bronze leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “Thanks for being honest. I wish you were, too.” She looked away. “And now I’m all hot and bothered thanks to you.”
“Then go ride that pole!” I laughed. “Show those stallions what they can’t have.”
She took a deep breath then got up from her dresser. “I think I will. And who knows, there might be a cute mare in the crowd.”
“That’s the spirit! Now, knock ‘em dead,” I told Bronze as she trotted off to the stage. The music shifted as another pony left the stage. With that part of the job done, I needed to get ready myself, so I threw off my dress as I trotted to my dresser.
Ready for me was a set of fishnet stockings, a spiked collar, and panties that were mostly just string. Looking over at Copper, he was engrossed with taking apart the radio in his hooves, so I felt comfortable dressing up without him peeking. It was an odd thought that, because most of us didn’t wear clothes half the time, yet having this one felt... dirty somehow.
I shook the thought from my mind and finished getting dressed.
“Star?” a meek voice called out. I turned to see another one of my friends, Cloudy Sunrise, dressed in a clean white nightgown. “I’m so glad you're here. He… he’s back.”
She was a small pegasus mare with a light orange coat, pink eyes, a light pink mane, and tail in a tight curl. She had a cutie-mark of a cloud with a pink heart in the center. When she first arrived here, she had a hard time adapting to life here, so I helped her out. I helped her get her a job here, but that’s come with a bit of a cost in the form of a few issues.
She had a reputation of being quite innocent, despite working in a place like this. This has turned into a problem a few times so far. Some ponies have become almost obsessed with seeing her. Like most who couldn’t handle the ‘look but don’t touch’ side of the business, a few have crossed a line to get close to her. So far I’ve had to break a few bones to help keep her safe, but some ponies just don’t know when to stop.
Worse was I knew who she was talking about. The town’s grave digger, Topsoil, was known for being a bit off in the head. The stallion seemingly never bathed or did anything to take care of himself. Yet, from his opinion of himself, you’d have thought he’d been crowned king of the wastelands.
“Just sit down and take a breather, Cloudy. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.” I assured her while putting the last stocking on. “Now he didn’t do anything to you, right? The boss doesn't like me kicking a pony out before they spend any caps if they haven’t done anything wrong.”
She took a seat, looking at her hooves. “Well, he did try to talk to me. He kept going on about how he wants to save me and all.”
I rolled my eyes. “The usual crap. I don’t know how a pony who can't even take care of themselves can even begin to help another pony. Here, I can’t throw him out, but I’ll talk to him again. I’ll try to convince him to just leave you alone.” She shot me a glare. In response, I put my hooves up defensively. “Hey, trust me, I’d like to break the fucker’s nose as much as you do. But, as long as he doesn’t do anything past talk, then Waterspout doesn't want any trouble.”
“I know, and thanks.” Cloudy sighed as she slammed in her seat. “I’ll ask Waterspout if I can skip waitress duty for the rest of tonight.”
“You do know that he will want you to do more work on stage, then,” I said with a wink.
“Ya, but...” she said as a small smile crept on her face. “if Topsoil tries to interrupt me on stage, the other clients might break his nose.”
“Oy, if you need somepony blooded, I can do it!” Rusty announced as she practically threw herself into the conversation. “Just need them to get a bit drunk and too close with their hooves, then pow! Right in the kisser!”
“Alright, if you’re up for that sort of game...” I cocked an eyebrow. “You should know it’s Topsoil.”
“You know,” she stopped in her tracks and let a small shiver work its way down her spine. “I don’t think I need to smell like trash for a week. Sorry, Cloudy.”
“And I rather you stop trying to cheat the customers like that,” Waterspout said, all the while holding a bag of caps. “I’ll also be putting this in the tip jar, if that’s alright with you, Rusty.”
Rusty huffed. “Ya, ya, but I better get a good share tonight. I got shit to do.”
“Such as getting on stage once Broze is done,” Waterspout scolded her. “and this time don’t invite another pony on stage with you. I swear, it’s like you're trying to get yourself fucked up there.”
Rusty chuckled a bit too excitedly. “You know ponies would pay to see that, right?” She winked at Waterspout before trotting to her seat.
Waterspout shrugged then moved over to us. “Cloudy dear, you can’t just run off to the back like that. You know it’s not good for the tavern’s image.”
He was nicer to her because she brought in most of the caps, which was fine by me, though sometimes he tried to push her a bit too hard. I was still worried that, one of these days, he will convince her to work at the brothel again when she's not ready for it.
Then again, she also knew what I would do to him if he did try it, so I wasn’t too worried.
“Sorry boss,” I cut in to defuse a situation before it began, “but can you give her a break from the customer floor tonight, or at least until I can take care of an issue? She can do double duty on the pole if that’s fine.”
“Again?” Waterspout asked with a huff. “That’s fine, but please resolve it sooner than later. Cloudy is still our best drink pusher and I rather have her down there getting the clients drunk than on stage.”
“Thanks, boss,” Cloudy said quietly. “And thanks, Star.”
“Seriously, why have you not banned that loser yet?” Rusty spoke up as she powdered herself.
The boss shook the bag of caps. “Because that grave robber throws around enough caps to pay for you twice a night, Rusty.” Rusty physically shivered. Waterspout nodded. “Thought so. Now keep quiet about it, and focus on your job.”
“Alright. I’ll see if I can sell Topsoil a bottle of our strongest and send him home.” I proposed as I finished putting on a thick coat of mascara. It was a bit tacky, but the clients seemed to like it. “Maybe convince him to wash himself before coming here next time. If anything, then most patrons wouldn’t mind using their own hooves to shove him out the door.” I got out of my seat while grabbing the bottle of gutrot Bronze left behind. Popping the top, I took a swig before passing it to Waterspout. It felt like I was about to spit up fire because of how strong it was, but that’s the way Bronze seemed to love it. “Where do you fucking get this shit, Boss?”
“We got a new merchant in town. Real shady fellow with how bright his smile is, but sells a lot of the shit that’s hard to get,” Waterspout answered. “Also, if you do have to rough somepony up tonight, can you at least avoid breaking any of my shit?”
“No promises, Boss,” I warned him as I trotted out of the dressing room and back out into the tavern.
Bronze was on stage, giving everypony a show as she practically twisted herself around the pole. She showed off how flexible she could be.
Seriously, if she were a stallion and not an alcoholic, she’d have probably given me a second foal by now.
I passed by a few stallions who were quite focused on the stage. Their eyes followed her every movement. It was too bad for them that she only had interest in mares. Also, too bad for me too, but alas, that’s life.
A few of the tables had some of the girls sitting at them, chatting it up with the clients and getting them to drink more as they themselves drank watered-down cheap booze. Everpony knew we did it, but nopony seemed to care. I guess they just liked the positive attention. It was why Cloudy was so popular, being such a sweet mare. She didn’t come off like the rest of the mares here, and it always caught the clients off guard.
At the far end of the tavern, at the bar, was the unfortunate result of Cloudy being so popular. Topsoil.
He was a moderately tall and thin earth pony, with a tan coat, and an oily slicked back dark brown mane. He also always wore the same, ill fitted old tattered gray suit, and an equal tattered fedora. Bets were that he’d likely taken them from some dead pony who wore it better and never gave it the courtesy of a wash.
It all gave him this forced sense of sophistication, like he was desperately trying to look stylish. It might have actually fooled some drunk mare once or twice, though his stench would’ve ruin that the moment they got halfway across the room to him. I was used to my fair share of ponies who didn’t bathe as much as they should, the wasteland is chock full of them. But throw in over 200 year old cologne, along whatever comes out of a dead body, and he came off worse than the most foul ghoul you could ever have the displeasure of meeting.
It was sad, really. Because despite all that he could still get a pass by a few tasteless mares in the wastes. Except, that too was dashed the moment anyone got a taste of his ‘winning’ personality.
I sat… next to the seat next to him. “Topsoil, what did I say about bothering Cloudy?”
“Here to get in the way of me and my princess once again?” He offered me a deranged smile, like this was some sort of game to him. I kept myself from cringing, as Topsoil was a delusional fuck. “You know she doesn't belong here, in this evil, vile place.” Who knew, maybe it was all just a game to him.
“And what, have her help you dig graves? You know, that does sound so much better than what she already does.” I said sarcastically, though truthfully, it did pay quite well. With how often ponies die around here, it’s stable work digging graves. But working with him would not be worth all the caps in the wastes. “Maybe if you could get her a job in the nicer part of town, then that would be a big help. And well, it would go a long way to convince us all to be nicer to you.” Not that any of the ponies from that part of town would even listen to him, I don’t think he is even allowed in more than half the buildings unless there’s a corpse inside.
“No,” He took a gulp of his shitty beer, some dirt from his lips had falling into the drink before going down his throat. “we would leave this place, find a new, better life. One befitting a mare as beautiful as she is.”
I sighed in irritation. Despite things having improved over the last few years, it was still the wasteland, and running out into the wastes without a plan, it would be a death sentence for a pony like Cloudy.
"Listen Topsoil, I'm going to be honest with you, and you seriously need to listen to me.” I was really not in the mood tonight to deal with the likes of a mightier-than-thou pony like him. “Cloudy doesn't like you, she has made this clear many times now. She is not going to run off with you, and even if you do clean yourself up and fix that head of yours, she will still not want to be around you. So take my advice. Fix your shit, and try again with the next mare that comes through here."
Topsoil scrunched up his nose, causing some more dirt to fall off and into his beer. "I see, just you want her all to yourselves! You’re going to use her until she is all used up, and when she is of no use to you, you will throw her out with the garbage!" I cocked an eyebrow as he glared at me. "I'm onto you, and I will save her from this place!"
"You need to settle down." I told him calmly, which was only going to piss him off even more. “Look, why don't you buy one of our whiskey bottles and think things over?” It was fine by me if he got angry. All it would take was him taking one swipe at me, and then I could force him out of the tavern. And then probably take two showers just to get this stink off. "I would rather not have to get physical and throw you out, so please, reconsider."
Oh I so wanted to smash this prick’s face in. I could see him seething with anger, his eyes not letting looking away from me even as he slammed his dirty beer. Come on, do it. Give me an excuse!
A small bag of caps then landed on the bar between us, drawing our attention to an even more repulsive pony.
"What do you want, Deputy False Cap?" I said, holding back a snarl.
"I'm just keeping the order," The short and pudgy brown earth pony stallion said to me mockingly, as he slicked back his greasy red mane. “or do you not want me to do my job?” The fucker never came around when any of us actually needed law enforcement, but he always seemed to appear to bust our flanks whenever possible. "Now I'd like you to stop aggravating the town’s best gravedigger. There was an… accident earlier today, and the Mayor doesn't want bodies piling up anywhere in town."
“Fine, but he has to go,” I let myself relax, as the situation was now out of my hooves. More than anything, I really didn't want to deal with the sheriff, or her deputies. Not just tonight, but ever. "If he’s still here, Cloudy will not come out unless she's on stage."
“Not a problem to me.” False Cap snickered to himself. "I do like how she shakes that tail of hers." He then looked over a Topsoil and pointed at the bag of caps. "Buy yourself a bottle of whatever, Topsoil, and cool your head off. The Mayor needs you to dig two graves in the morning. Now, chop-chop, tonight won’t last forever you know." he clapped his hooves together, blatant in his mockery.
The bartender passed Topsoil a bottle of cheap corn whiskey, and I watch him slowly sulk away, glaring at me the whole time. Despite his delusions, he knew not to get on the bad side of the sheriff. She was the one who paid him and kept the town from chasing him out into the wastes, so as always, he fell in line. The deputies word was law here, whatever it might be.
Once Topsoil was out of the tavern, False burst out into laughter. "Fucking loser. Even when he was a slave in Pillydelphia, the sheriff only kept him around out of pity." The slimeball then shifted his gaze over at me and pulled out a few caps. "Be a doll and send Cloudy over, and one of the other mares as well. Maybe that slaver bitch, you know I love to see Bronze kiss my hooves." Holding back my quickly build rage, I got out of the seat, only to have False slap my flank. "If ya ever need some extra caps, I'd gladly pay for a night with ya."
"Deputy, I already got my hooves full with the normal riff raff, and have no interest in being your whore." I so wanted to break one of his legs, maybe two. Sadly the sheriff would’ve come down on me like a lightning bolt. And unlike how I had it years ago, I’ve got a filly to look after, and she was more important than taking an asshole down a peg or two. So I trotted off to the back room, finding an old trash can, and proceeded to kick the shit out of it.
"I know Topsoil can be hard to deal with, but is that really necessary?" Waterspout interrupted as he spun a pen in his talon.
“No.” I gave the trash can one more kick, leaving a very visible hoof imprint on it. "Topsoil was his normal stupid self, I can deal with that. Its Deputy False Cap that I can't fucking stand." Looking over at Waterspout, he then face clawed. "Speaking of which, he wants Cloudy and Bronze to join him."
Waterspout took a deep breath, groaning in frustration. "Damnit, I need the girls out there to make caps, not as part of a bribe." Putting his pen away, the Hippogriff clapped his claws together, and put on his best, 'we all suffer together' smile. "Can you go on the dance floor? I'm going to have Rusty go back to mingle with the customers." He then turned around, and headed back into the dressing room.
I followed him in, and trotted to my seat to get ready to put on a show.
Everypony was not happy, but we all knew it had to be done, otherwise we might be out of a job for a few days during a busy season. Everything done in the tavern was legit, so the Sheriff never had a reason to bother us. But, something as small as that was not going to stop False from making shit up if he didn't get special treatment. We could tell somepony about it, but nopony that mattered would hear us, much less believe us. So, we had to cater to that scumbag.
After a moment, I was alone in the dressing room. Well, Copper was here, but he was busy with his radio. I could only groan in frustration, looking at myself in the mirror, gussied up to be all pretty. Mom once called my mane a curly mess, now it was a glossy, long and wavy sea green. All the cuts and bruises I once proudly displayed in my younger years, were now covered by my smooth sea blue coat. Ponies still knew not to fuck with me, but I clearly looked like a show mare now, who grinds on a pole for caps.
"Right, I’m a show mare who grinds on a pole for caps." I told myself.
Maybe after the Lightbringer festival, I can take mom and Bridget out of this shithole and go back west to the coast.
The dance music started up, and a red light flickered within the dressing room, signaling that it was time for me to get out there. I quickly stretch out my legs and back, and trotted off to the dance floor. Passing through the curtains, I trotted along a narrow walkway, and to a big brass poll.
The ponies in the crowd were enjoying themselves, smoking and getting drunk, with some playing cards in our small casino section of the tavern. Cloudy and Bronze were at a booth with False, putting on their best fake smiles as they served him free booze, and let him touch them. Rusty was on the bar, having engaged a drinking contest with several rough looking ponies.
Getting a fetlock wrapped around the pole, I lifted myself up, and began the dance. It was just me showing off how flexible I can be, one of the very few perks of the job, and all the while looking as seductive as possible. The clients eyes were on me, following me as I slowly spun around, pulling off an even more difficult position each rotation, and giving them as good of a look at my body as possible, fuling their lust.
All the while, I did my best to keep my eyes subtly on False. If he tries anything, job be damned, I'll teach him a lesson. There’s only so far any of us could be pushed.
The music changed, and I planted my back hooves onto the ground, as the most embarrassing part of the job started. Swaying my hips to the music, and giving my best seductive look at the clients. I was now directly challenging them to lust after me, and some responded with flustered faces. There was one out of towner stallion, around Cloudys age, who was leaning in a bit too close to watch the show. So I made sure to give him a wink, and a better view. Another, older stallion sat back, relaxing as I moved my rear, sipping his drink, seemingly content. All good signs we had clients ready to throw caps around.
My time on stage went on longer than I liked, forcing me pull out all the tricks I knew, and debasing myself to the crowd. I actually did like the dancing, it was fun, and helped get my blood pumping, but the learing eyes got tiring after awhile.
As the dancing continued, I had stripped most of my outfit, thrown at exited clients, marking them for the attention of the other mares. When the music finally stopped, the marked stallions had a tavern mare hanging off them, practically feeding then booze. The mares were mainly the brothel workers, having sniffed out the ponies with the most caps to spend for the night.
Before getting off stage, I saw Cloudy and Bronze next to a now drunk False, the good booze he had been drinking now replaced by the new cheap shit we were selling. It was clear the two planned on giving him a massive hangover, unfortunately Bronze was also looking a bit drunk as well. At least the two looked like they had things under control, so I trotted back to the back room without feeling too worried.
"You may not be one of our best dancers, but I do love your stamina out there." Waterspout praised me as he clapped his claws together. "I think we should be able to make up for the losses with those marks you pointed out."
"Ya, some stallions are going to be happy tonight." I said as a cracked my neck. "I'm going to take a smoke break, let my legs recover before I collapse."
"I thought you quit smoking?" He asked with a chuckle, and passed me a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
I took them. "Ya I did, so don't you go telling no pony."
“It's none of my business.” He shrugged. "Now don't be long, as I’m sure there's a few ponies who want to buy you a drink, and I need those drinks sold."
"Ya, ya." I mumbled as I made my way to the back door. Taking a step outside into the cool night air, a unicorn mare was already out here, huffing on a cigarette. It was one of the mares that worked during the day, so she must’ve been getting off soon after working extra hours. She dropped her burnt out cigarette, and pulled out another one. She patted herself down for a light, so I passed her Waterspouts lighter, and a cigarette for myself.
“Thanks,” she said, lighting up both cigarettes. “Can you believe some ponies? Just because they have the caps, they think they can treat us like cheap whores. I’m an expensive whore Celestia damnit.”
I took a drag of the cigarette, it’s smoke filling my lungs. “So, then I’m not going to get a five cap quickie?”
She snorted, then coughed, causing smoke to come out of her nose. “Oh fuck you bitch, it’s ten caps for a quickie, but only because you scare the assholes away.”
“Doesn’t work on False.” I said feeling a bit dejected.
The mare's ears picked up. “Is that slimy asshole here?”
I nodded. “Cloudy and Bronze are currently getting him smashed.”
A smile formed on her face. “Nice, I think I’m going to work a little longer tonight.”
“You’r realy going to fuck him?” I said, raising an eyebrow.
She shrugged. “Depends if he can get it up, but I’ll still get paid either way.”
I chuckled. “Your not an expensive whore, your just a crafty whore.”
“Caps are caps. But if you're ever interested, come see me sometime.” She trotted to the back door, shaking her rear a little before going back inside. “I’ll even give you a discount.” The idea sounded fun, but last I heard, she had caught a bug, so even if I felt like tapping some mares flank, it was not going to be hers.
Alone outside, the music from the tavern was just a low rumble, competing with the sound of the wind running over the wasteland. I took another drag of the cigarette, finally sending a wave of calm over me, all as the wind cooled my fur and skin.
Looking up at the sky, I could see the stars. The constellations were like a map to me, able to tell me where I was, and what direction I was facing. It would all have been perfectly relaxing, except for a bad smell in the air. Taking another drag from the cigarette, I looked over to see Topsoil standing at the corner of the tavern. He looked drunk, wobbling with a nearly empty bottle of whisky on the ground next to him.
I sighed. “Topsoil, go home, your drunk.”
He spat on the ground. “Why do you keep getting in my way, all of you keep getting in the way of our love!”
“I will beat the shit out of you if you keep at this Topsoil.” I warned him. “I’m not in the most pleasant moods right now.”
“You, and the others keep telling her lies!” Topsoil then chuckled. “But that’s going to change.”
Rolling my eyes, I took a step towards him. “You better scurry off to the fucking hole you live in by the count of three, or I swere to the goddesess, you will be eating through a straw.”
He then pointed at me. “No you will be the one to… to… you are fucked!”
Ya, he had lost it to the booze. “One, the only fight you can win is one of who has the worst stench. Two, I don’t care if the mayor needs his ditch digger tomorrow, that prick can go choke on a dick for all I care. And three…”
*Thwack!*
…
…
…
It felt like some asshole had hit me in the back of the head with a shovel, and I was now being carried on someponies back...
Actually I think that was exactly what was going on, which was not a good sign, and that meant some pony was going to die.
"Fuck, does that pony even wash himself?" A voice of a stallion spoke quietly as he carried me. It didn’t sound like it was Topsoil...
"Ya bro, every time the wind stops, I almost fucking gag. Even the shit cleaners don't smell this bad." This time it was a nearby mare, also whispering.
I slowly opened my eyes to peek, not making any sudden movements so to not tip them off that I had woken up. From what I could see, both individuals near me were earth ponies, in similar spiked black leather armor. Ugh, raiders. And they seemed to be from a clan, as the vest they both had on had an emblem on the back. It was a flaming skull wearing a cowpony hat, along with the words ‘Route 50 Desperados’ printed under it. It was oddly detailed for a raider outfit, but then again, most of the uncivalized dumb raiders had been hunted down years ago after the clouds came down. The mare also had a shovel on her back, confirming that yes, I had indeed been knocked out by a shovel, and that bitch was the one who did it.
Looking around subitaly, my eyes fell upon the pony who the raiders were following, Topsoil. The fucker had gone too far this time, and I was not going to let him off with just breaking a leg. Oh, he was going to pay dearly for this.
Slowly, I moved my legs, finding them bound together. Shit, making an attempt at a surprise attack like this would be a dumb idea. I needed to get free of the bindings, otherwise I was fucked.
"Hay, how much longer? Last thing we need is a bunch of townies coming looking for the whore while she's still on my back." The raider stallion spoke up.
“Just over this hill,” Topsoil looked back, still pissed off and drunk. "now stop whining or talking. I'm not paying you for any of that."
"Cunt." The raider stallion said under his breath.
They trotted for a few more minutes, to a flat and secluded plot of land. The place had small mounds of dirt all over the place, with one spot having large mound of dirt… and a pony size hole next to it.
"Fuck, is this an unmarked graveyard?" The raider mare blurted out.
Topsoil trotted over to the hole, and turned around, showing the shit eating grin on his face. "Bring her over, I have a few words for her." The raider stallion trotted over, and dumped me on the ground, where Topsoil then began slapping the side of my face with his hoof. "Wakey wakey, Star!"
I opened my eyes, glaring at him. "You know I am going to kill you for this!" I said spitting at his face.
“No, I don't think you will.” He frowned, wiping the spit off. "And once I have you out of the way, Cloudy will finally come running to me."
"Hay, you said were going to just rough up the whore, not kill her!" The stallion raider spoke up.
"Ya, that’s just bad karma!" The raider mare added. Huh, raiders with morals. How novel.
Topsoil raised his hoof. "I'm the one with the caps here, and I'm not going to kill her, I'm just going to leave her in her grave for the night."
I tested out my bindings, they were on tight, but not so tight that without some dedication I probably could free myself. The issue was dealing with the raiders once I got free. They both looked like they could more than handle themselves in a fight. I was going to need to make it quick, catch them off guard, otherwise they will just stomp me.
Fortunately, Topsoil felt like monologuing, giving me the time to ready myself, finding some jagged rocks in the ground to rub my binding on.
"After you have had time to think in the hole, maybe you will realize how wrong you are, and what I'm trying to do for Cloudy." He began to spout loudly, his eyes not blinking once as he spoke. Yeah, there wasn’t a pony home between those dead eyes anymore. He’d completely gone insane. "By keeping her at that place, it will only corrupt her, sending her into the hooves of some filthy stallion who would only abuse her. But sluts like you like to see that, you get off on it! You love to see her hurt, because you’re all jealous of her. Yes, your kind only know how to hurt others, stallion eating mares, all of you, every last one. But Cloudy, she’s different, and I will save her!" He shouted, rallying and whipping himself up into some sort of psychotic rage. “She's my light in this dark world, and I will not let some barbaric slut like you to get in my way!”
I might have been scared if I didn't find it all so pathetic. “The only pony in your way is yourself, you sniveling piece of shit with legs.” It actually made me laugh as I looked at him with disgust. "What did you get in your gucked up head that you even had a shot with Cloudy, or with any mare?" I shouted, and he stumbled back.
"You, you don't understand the shit I've seen, that I’ve been through! The horror of being trapped in philadelphia, and the horrors inside. Free ponies like you can never understand, not unless you lived through the same nightmare I did!" He shouted as he pointed at me accusingly. "And that's what I'm saving Cloudy from! Ponies like you will only drag her down into that nightmare, all because you’re ignorant to the horrors of the wasteland. No, no, no I will not let you do that to her! I will show you what that nightmare is like, and then you will see how right I am, how I am the best hope for her!" He growled as he got close to me. "I am a hero, but all of you refuse to see it."
"Have you ever stopped and asked yourself if you're the bad pony in all this?" I snarled the question at him. Alright, nearly through these bindings. I just needed an opertunity...
“Only the guilty need to do that.” He scoffed and stepped up to stand tall over me. "Unlike you, I have nothing to be guilty about!"
I took a deep breath, and regretted it as his stench violated my nose. "Ya, I've had enough of your pathetic delusions." Without a wasted movement, I lunged at him, teeth bearing. He flinched, turning his head and causing me to miss his throat. Instead, I clamped down on his ear. Like ripping through a tough piece of meat, I bit the fuckers ear and ripped it off. He let out a delightful scream as I spit it to the ground and gagged. He tasted even worse then he smelled!
The two raiders responded quickly, jumping in for a tackle, but I managed to roll out of the way. Then, with the now weakened ropes, I pulled as hard as I could. The frayed bindings digging into my skin as I freed my hooves. Blood splattered onto the ground from the gouging wounds left behind by the rope, but I was free, and ready to beat the shit out of these cunts.
"Holy fuck, ya see that bro?" The raider mare said in shock.
The raider stallion smirked. "Ya, that mare is no whore, but still fucked all the same."
The raiders charged, and I took a step back, readying myself for the fight. The stallion dove at me like an angry brahmin, and I took the hit as I jumped back, returning the favor by slamming my hooves down onto his head. He wobbled, but before I could follow with another attack, the raider mare tackled me, knocking me to the ground. Rolling away before she could trample me, I quickly got back onto my hooves.
The mare then grabbed the shovel with her mouth, and charged again. She came at me, wildly swinging the thing at me. Her attacks were over exaggerated, winding too far back, swinging too wide. Maybe she didn’t realize she was leaving herself open, that or she didn’t care. She had power, but no skill. I waited for her to wind up for another attack, and then headbutted her. The mare dropped the shovel as she stumbled over onto the ground, spitting out a tooth.
I picked up the shovel just as the stallion charged in for another attack. He’d learned from his mistake and attempted to buck me. Unlike the mare, his kicks didn't waste as much movement and didn't leave much of an opening.
He managed to get one good hit, knocking me down. I managed to use the momentum to bounce myself back to my hooves just as he came in for another kick. I used the shovel as a shield, his hoof denting it. But it allowed me an opening, and I quickly thrust the shovel at him, gouging the tip into his chest.
With a slam of his hoof, he brought it down on the wooden shaft of the shovel, breaking it in two. I didn't skip a beat, and immediately thrust the splintered wood into his face. With a grunt, he kicked me in the chest, knocking the wind out of me and sent me flying back.
I slowly got back up, spitting blood onto the ground, and finding myself next to the open grave Topsoil had made. The raider stallion stomped on the broken shovel, bleeding from both his chest and face.
"Bro, ya okay?" The rader mare asked the other rader.
"Ya, just surprised me, that's all." He then looked over at me, and smiled. "Real savage for some brothel house whore. Those skills are wasted on some week townies. If ya come with us, I'm sure Gramps would love to have ya join ta clan."
The mare cocked an eyebrow at him. "Really bro?"
He laughed. "Why not, the bitch got looks that kill, and is savage like a yao guai. I think I'm in love."
Both the rader mare and I rolled our eyes.
"I'm flattered and all, but no, I got important things to take care of in town." I said as I sat up straight. "Speaking of which." I looked around, trying to see where Topsoil had snuck off too."
*Pop!*
I felt a sharp pain in my chest, and looked down to see a small hole in me, blood trickling out.
*pop, pop*
Two more shots came from the large dirt mound, hitting me in the gut. Topsoil peeked out from on top of the dirt mound, holding a .22 pistol in his muzzle. Are you fucking kidding me?
"Oh you fucking cunt!" I spat out, along with some blood, and stumbled a little from the pain.
He spat out the pistol and jumped down to me. "That's what you get!" He shouted, jabbing his hoof into my chest, hitting one of the bullet wounds.
I retorted with a hoof strike to his chin, knocking him back, but also causing my back hooves to slide back into the grave. Losing stable ground I fell down, my back legs dangling inside the grave, and my wounds scraping on the ground.
Topsoil got back up, rubbing his jaw, and giving me a bloody smile. "I win! I win and you lose!" He trotted up to me as I weakly attempted to pull myself up. "It's over Star, your game is done. I will free Cloudy of this terrible world, and you can stay in this hole and die."
Fuck it hurt, and I was making me hungry. I looked up at Topsoil, and cracked a smile of my own. "You delusional fuckwit, I will admit that our lives are not the best, but it's far better than what you have made for yourself. All this talk about the nightmare you went through." I laughed, which made me cough, which hurt. "Like the fuck I care, its probably no worse then some shit I’ve seen myself."
He put a hoof to my head, and began pushing. "Just get in the grave already." His voice dripping with malice.
I tried to strike his face, but he made sure it was out of reach. I slid back, my legs unable to push me back up, as the pain was draining my energy.
Then, with one last push, I fell back, landing on the soft soil of the grave. It was deep, so deep that a pony couldn't simply climb themselves out of. I just laid there, fuming with rage at this situation.
"Now shove the dirt back into the hole!" Topsoiled yelled.
"Fuck off ya creep!" The raider stallion shouted back. "We ain't burying nopony alive, that not what ya paid us for. If ya want ta do that, fucking do it yourself."
A loud frustrated groan came from Topsoil. "Fucking usless! Whatever, give me my shovel." I heard two thuds, and the raiders start laughing, followed by another frustrated groan from Topsoil.
I laughed as well, calming down a little. The pain from the gunshot wounds dulled a bit, which really wasn’t a good sign. Checking the holes, they were already closing up, and the bleeding had stopped. Ya, I knew what came next.
I sat back up, looking at the sky from within the hole, seeing that clouds were starting to move in, likely meaning rain, so I took a deep breath.
Saint Roseland protect me
Hold your Rifle for all to see
Thundering loudly through Luna's night
Keep me safe till Celestia's light
In noble battle did she fall
Protecting us from evil's thrall
Now she leads us all
keeping us from sinful fall
I couldn't remember the last time I sang that song, but it brought back old memories of violence and brutality. It was something Prism wanted so desperately free me from. She’d tried her best, and yet here I was, in a grave as some loser wanted to bury me alive.
Worst of all, I was getting really fucking hungry.
Looking around, the grave, it was not all soft dirt, it having several stones sticking out, meaning escaping was not impossible. No, infact getting out was going to be quite easy.
Dirt started to fall in, but that didn’t matter. I reached up and wrapped my hoof on the first stone, then another and another. Finally, with one last push, I lifted myself out of the gave, my back hoof kicking off a rock as I rolled out into the fresh air. Looking back, I locked eyes with Topsoil, his expression turning to that of shock.
The raider stallion burst out into a bellowing laughter "Oh ya missy, I am definitely taking you back to the camp with me." He trotted over to me, and I turned to face him, giving him a smile. With a swift swing of his left foreleg, his hoof slamming into my gut, practically knocking the wind out of me, but not knocking me out. Looking him in the eyes, he tried to pull back, but I held onto his leg, my mouth watering.
I’m so fucking hungry...
"Bro, what's wrong?" The other raider spoke, but it was too late, I had him trapped in my gaze, my evil eyes working their magic.
Opening my mouth wide, I couldn't resist. I mean he was so generous to offer, it would be rude if I didn't take a bite. Breaking eye contact, I dug my teeth into his leg, and he cried out in pain. I was lifted into the air as he swung his leg up and around. He was only freed once his own flesh gave way. Which was also when I went rolling off into the dirt.
I hit the ground hard, not that I cared, and I quickly got up onto my hooves. The raider stallion stood there in shock, breathing heavily, like he had just woken up from a nightmare. His leg had a muzzle sized chunk missing, and he was bleeding onto the ground. I gave him a bloody smile, and swallowed, my stomach gurgling in appreciation in the offering of meat.
The raider took a step back, all the bravado he had before now gone. "Fuck this shit, were not getting paid enough to deal with a monster!" He said with a quivering voice before turning around, and running away.
"Bro, wait up!" The raider mare yelled as she chased after him.
With the raiders gone, I turned my attention back to Topsoil, who now looked very confused, and worried.
Taking a step forward, he grabbed the blade end of the broken shovel, and pointed it at me. "Y… your a cannibal." He then laughed nervously, "I knew you were a monster, and now I will slay…"
I wiped the blood dripping from my mouth, but not the crimson tears falling from my eyes as I locked mine with his.
My eyes began to burn as I poured all my furry into the stare. It was fueled by my disgust, my hatred of him. Closer, and closer, I got closer until we were noise to noise, then I blinked, breaking the spell. With a whimper, he fell back, almost falling into the grave, saved only because I grabbed one of his forelegs.
"Please don't kill me!" He sniffled. "I was just trying to save her, I'm a good pony!" I pulled him up coser, and grabbed his leg with my other. "Oh thank you, than…" he whimpered in pain as I began bending it the wrong way. "Stop, please stop!" He pleaded, "I'll give you caps, I know you need them! Just… just look inside the graveyard, I got a stash under the green stone! Just please sto…"
*Crack*
Topsoils leg broke, and he gave me a satisfying scream. I let go, watching him fall into the grave. He continued to screaming in pain, holding his broken leg. He wouldn’t die by my hoof, but at the very least, the wound would ensure that he was not getting out any time soon.
I didn't say anything to him. He wasn't worth wasting any more breath on. Instead I'd let the local wildlife take care of him, as the scent of blood would soon send something nasty over here, and make a meal of this disgusting stallion.
There was a rumble in the sky, then rain started to come in from the distance. Good news for me, as it meant I didn't need to wash up at someone's place first. I wiped the blood from my bleeding eyes, and made my way to the official graveyard before heading back to the tavern.
Because after all, Topsoil did say there was a stash of caps under a green stone.
_______________________________________________
My friends were at the tavern waiting for me, worried that something bad had happened. I didn't go into details, just that Topsoil had called me out, and hired some goons to fight me.
I knew they would be happy to hear what really happened, but I felt that it was best to keep it to myself. When Waterspout asked me why I had taken so long, I just told him that the goons were tougher than I thought, so it took longer to scare them off. After that, I was told to go home early, as I was too muddy to do my job.
So with my evening finished, I bought something to eat from the tavern and made my way home. The loss of more than half a day's wage was annoying, but I at least found more than enough to make up for it. Just another step closer to getting us out of this town.
_______________________________________________
The next day went by as it normally did. Prism fixed breakfast for us, and then I took Bridget to school before returning to bed. I got up a few hours later, the sound of knocking waking me up.
Groggily I trotted to the front door, ready to tell some pony to fuck off. Opening the door, I came face to face with the grouch mug of the old unicorn mare sheriff, Ashy Oaks. Behind her, stood a still hungover False as well. Great, just what I wanted to wake up to.
"Fuck off, Ashy." I attempted to slam the door, but she jammed it with a brick, and pulled out her oversized revolver.
"Miss Star Charter, lets not make this scene.” She offered me a grunt as she nudged her gun through the cracked door. “So, let me inside and we’ll talk."
“Fine, but make it quick.” Groaning, I opened the door, and backed up, letting her, and an ill looking Deputy False inside my home. "What can I do for the great Sheriff Ashy Oaks?" I said, putting on my best tavern mare smile.
"Cut the crap Star, what did you do to Topsoil last night?" False barked, the deputy turing a little greenl, and if he threw up in my house, I was going to be pissed.
"I scared him and his hired thugs off after they dragged me out of town, that's all." I said, sticking to my story.
Sheriff Ashy cocked an eyebrow. "And who were those hired thugs?" She asked. “If they did in fact exist, that is.”
I then gave a description of the two raiders, knowing that ponies like those would never talk to a pony like the sheriff. Still, they did stand out with those jacket, so that had to lend me some sort of credibility.
False huffed and smirked. "And you expect us to believe such a…"
"Deputy." Ashy spoke up, and interrupting False. "There was a report of ponies matching those description hanging out in the outskirts of town lately. I'll have to send so pony out to investigate more thoroughly, and unless you want to do it..." She said, eyeing the hungover deputy. He shrunk back, giving her his answer. “That’s what I thought.”
Out of morbid curiosity, I had to ask. "So, what happened to that cunt?"
The sheriff sighed in annoyance. "After he didn't show up at my office at sunrise, I sent ponies out to go get him. Unfortunately, we found Topsoil dead at the bottom of a grave, already half eaten by a pack of rad-roches. There were signs of a struggle, but the rain washed away most of it. Because you were the last to see him, you’re first on our list to question."
“Oh dear!” I faked surprise, hiding how suspicious it was that they quickly found that unmarked graveyard. "Topsoil dead, how tragic! But hardly my fault. Yeah I pushed him into the grave, but he was very much alive when I left."
“Don't play coy with me filly,” The sheriff drew her revolver and cocked the hammer as she shoved it in my face. "If I find out you had any involvement in Topsoils death, I will personally dig up his grave and throw you in there with him. Now you better keep your fucking noise clean, because I will be there to break it if you don't." She then uncocked her revolver, and returned it to its holster. "Now, I expect to see you at my office, and for you to give one of my deputies a more detailed description of these two thugs, understand?"
"Yes, yes. I'll head on down there shortly." I answered. I’d done the town a favor by putting that asshole in his place, but he wasn’t supposed to end up dead. Shit, you’d think they’d have thrown me a celebration to match the lightbringer festival for helping to get rid of his smelly ass. But Ashy would never see it that way. No, the bitch was as crazy as he was, albeit in a completely different manor.
"Good, now I'll be heading off. Now that we’re currently in need of a new grave digger, the mayor wants me to focus on that first." She trotted out of my home, followed by a wobbly False.
Once the door was slammed shut, I breathed a sigh of relief. Trotting over to the dresser, I removing the candles and cloth. Underneath was the lunch box, just where I’d left it. Opening it, the pipbuck was still inside, along with all the caps I’d retrieved from the stash last night.
I don't know how, but Topsoil actually had hidden away enough cap for my family to get by comfortably for the next few weeks. And if I got lucky, and could sell the pipbuck for a good price, then we had months of caps to get us by. I might even have the caps to pay the right ponies to help repair my reputation, and get the sheriff off my ass for once. Then I could get a better job, and we could stop just getting by.
I closed the lunchbox and put everything back on top of it. It still wasn’t the best hiding spot, bit it’d do. I'll have to hold off finding a better place until I had more time. First, I needed to stop by the sheriff's office before I'm needed at the schoolhouse to help the teacher look after the foals. Then after that, maybe I can head to the market and buy a safe if there's one on sale...
_______________________________________________
Fallout Equestria: Six Hooves Under New Appaloosa
By: Dice Warwick
By, Dice Warwick