Fallout Equestria: Weak Wings

Chapter 4: Great Wastes

“Because we're easy come easy go. Little high little low”

I Suddenly woke up on a sweat soaked mattress.

"You are lucky little one, Thanks to what Breakthrough has done."

I looked at Breakthrough. He looked at me slightly chewing his mane but he looked different than back in that cage. He was also munching on something, A snack cake? And he had goggles on. Curious was it some guilt or something or just an act?. A sudden pain in my brain made itself present. I felt like somepony just jabbed a knife into my brain. Damn I needed Vodka not a fucking hangover. Wait when did I last drink Vodka? In the Stable… I tried to look around and like Celestia herself was trying to mock me to my left on a bench lay a few bottles of whiskey with some residue still inside. “Uuugh where’s Breakthrough?”

"Breakthrough is here my dear, As you can see he has lost his sanity. Well Partially" I looked to where the voice was coming from. A Unicorn with some large piece of jagged metal sticking out of her head. With all sorts of tattoos and other shit you would see on a Zebra Witch doctor in the many Movies I watched in the Stable. Oh yes the cinematography room in the stable with over five hundred movies one of the only non-alcohol ways I was entertained in the stable. The Unicorn started to chant gibberish as she put something into the Cauldron and mixed it. Great two insane Unicorns. Dammit I don’t need more insanity. The Cauldron seemed to boil over a frothing liquid of many colours spewed over the Cauldron before being sucked back into the pot of brew that was the Cauldron

"If it wasn't for your friend you would be dead" Breakthrough was looking at a large cauldron in the middle of the room.

"Uhhh… Where am I?" I asked

"You are in my humble home, Its here because of this tome." The Unicorn pointed towards an old looking book. However I could easily read its title. "THE WASTELAND SURVIVAL GUIDE. By Ditzy Doo"

"Who is Ditzy Doo?" I asked foolishly

"Ditzy doo is a ghoul." said the Unicorn almost sadly

"A..A Ghoul?" I asked weakly. Hoping that the answer wouldn’t cause my stomach to wretch.

Breakthrough spoke instead of the other Unicorn. "They are ponies from before the war. Blasted by radiation. So unlucky. They didn’t die so instead they must suffer for hundreds of years, Their flesh rots yet… They still live."

"I Once met Ditzy Doo when my home was new . She gave me supplies at a dire time. This tome was her gift not some thrift."

Looking around I saw Breakthrough put something in his mouth.

"So Breakthrough what, what happened?" I asked.

"You were stung by a rad-Scorpion. I thought of leaving you behind, But then you're worth a damn" Said Breakthrough.  Seeming slightly less… Crazy. "Then I took you to this witch doctor-" The Unicorn stopped breakthrough mid sentence

"That is not my name."

"Anyway I took you here and this here… Unicorn made an antidote." Said Breakthrough looking at the Unicorn

"What now Breakthrough?" said thinking of what I should do. I know nothing of this place nothing of what is happening. And nothing of how my tale will end.

"I have no idea…. All I know is that I must follow"

I looked around. I felt like fresh air. I wanted to get out. Trying to get up I felt some pain in my hind leg. Not the one that was shot. I guess I was stung there.

"Now little one, You need a gun. To survive in the wasteland so crewel you need an effective tool."

"I don’t see why Bittersweet needs a gun. Just give her a bat" Replied Breakthrough

"Have you not seen her state? Giving her a bat would shorten her fate. Take my gun. Note it isn't a toy of fun" Said the Unicorn pointing towards a dark blue pistol with a chamber that could hold 8 bullets. "This has served me well, time for it to serve you as well. You will also need  ammunition."  The Unicorn walked over picked up the admittedly well-crafted pistol with a fleur de lis on the barrel  I was also given a few boxes of bullets . Then placed them on the bed I was on. Picking the gun it my EFS kicked in and noted me saying that I had just picked up The "Rangers Sequoia"

"Now friends I fear my end is near, I must ask you leave so I may in peace."

Breakthrough helped me up off the old most likely bug infested mattress.

"One last thing I can do for you is to give the book by Ditzy Doo" the Unicorn pointed at the wasteland survival guide. Taking it I placed it  in my saddlebag. Then walked to the door telling the Unicorn my first and final farewell.

I opened the door. Light flooded in, To an extent. Should have been brighter I may have been blinded. No more noise like the stable lights buzz or the sounds of slavers talking. Cutting meat or having sex. Just the wind. In the distance gunfire interrupted nature's silence.

"Ponies kill and die for even the most essential of things we need to live. We will find many along our path." Breakthrough muttered. He seemed less crazy than when we were back in the slaver town. Almost like it was just some mockery of a show. An act. I distrusted Breakthrough. This would be a long journey. "The trip will take two and a half days. Two days if we go through one night. We will see Los Pegasus at the end of day two."  Looking at Breakthrough I simply nodded. "The walls are at least thirty metres high and there are snipers with weaponry that earn their reputation"

I wished I knew I could fly. That would make the trip shorter. Admittedly leaving Breakthrough behind at this moment in time wasn’t a sound idea.

"I think Los Pegasus radio is still on. damn those show tunes are good."

"Breakthrough I think my Pip-Buck may pick it up. Just tell me what station?" I idiotically asked. "Oh it already picked it up" I pushed a button  on my Pip-buck. It buzzed static as it tuned in and the last part of a really swingy song played.

"Aint love a buck… In the Head?"

Then a smooth accented voice

"Howdy folks its Mr Los Pegasus here we got some news coming right up" News. Could be useful. "As of three days ago  the old world facility known as stable 34 opened up. And was then raided by the criminal Slave Collar. As of yet it is not known how many were enslaved or what their condition is." Well that failed to inform me of anything.

"In other news, The los Pegasus area is being plagued by a gang of raiders called the Rotten Apples. A gang of well armed Drug addicts whom engage with security forces have caused the death of an entire patrol. Steel Nerves. Owner of the Ravens nest casino and creator of the Los Pegasus security released a press statement on the issue. He quote: Is saddened by this latest attack of security but given the other casinos position on the security deal not enough resources can be allotted to this problem.

This news just to hand. The ghost town of Rusty saddle was the site of an explosion that caused what appears to be an underground facility to collapse in on itself. Los Pegasus? Los o Problems

"Now this is a really special song just for you!. "

The stallion's voice was replaces with a heavy double bass  tune.

Listening to the radio Breakthrough and I trotted through this dessert. Bones occasionally were found as we crossed this sand swept sea. The radio played turning minutes into hours. Only interrupted by the occasional gunfire. I guess this is what life is like now. A life of constant fighting for survival under the guise of laughing Warlords. More weapon fire. Automatic weaponry. Yet Breakthrough and I continued. The day became night. Finding wood was hard but we eventually found an old tree Blackened and withered. From who knows where. Lighting the bits of branch we cut off was hard but eventually worked.

"Bittersweet… I am really tired I haven't slept in a while. Wake me in three hours. Ill watch over you after. You still are weak but you can survive three hours." I opened my mouth to object but closed when I saw him just collapse on the ground from exhaustion.

I looked up upon the sky. The endless sky cover obscured the night sky I was sold in the stable.

Eventually after three hours I woke Breakthrough and he took his shift. My sleep however was far from pleasant. It was one of the few times I actually dreamt. I was just thinking what vile things Queen Bee was going through. It was a nightmare. Was she being molested? Somepony cutting off her ears or cutting her tongue out? I couldn't escape. "ttersweet" I couldn’t escape "Bittersweet" I couldn’t celestia help me "BITTERSWEET" I woke. Breakthrough night next to me. "Thank luna I thought you were in some weird coma"

"What?" I replied.

"You know, A coma it isnt that unlikely you weren't waking up… Anywho I got some old cereal and opened a Sparkle Cola for you." Those words were welcoming. And at that same second my stomach rumbled.

"Thanks Breakthrough" I replied. Reaching over for the cereal and the sparkle cola.

"Bittersweet. I must ask… Can you fly?" I immediately sighed.

"No… I've never needed them. I have Weak Wings" I sighed again "I'm also afraid of… Heights"  Breakthrough's ears shooting up.

"Well… That’s interesting" I munched on the cereal. Then took a sip of the sparkle.

I ate for about ten minutes without speaking another word. The Sparkle Cola washing the cereal down. Admittedly the cereal was stale and the cola was flat. But I cant complain. After Breakfast we continued to wander through the dessert.  Up and down sand dunes. The radio the only other companion we had. After another two hours I entered into my Pip-Buck's inventory management system trying to find something that would calm me. Although I didn’t look like it my nightmare was just taking a toll.

"Sparkle no, Rangers Sequoia  no, Baked beans no, Aha, Vodka." The inventory management system somehow ( Hey I said I don’t understand these magical matrix jargon) Made my vodka appear at the top of all my stuff in my saddlebags. Taking it out I let the liquid touch my lips. Ohh Vodka I don’t want to leave you again.

A part of me thought that I shouldn't indulge in such…. Uhhh… Sinful pleasures. Looking at Breakthrough I saw a canister of some red gas inside an inhaler. Taking a deep breath in the gas was gone. I simply shrugged and took another swig, Ohh damn I missed that feel of hard alcohol as my wings extended. And another Damn I missed you . Anot- No more?. I dropped the bottle. My migraine left me

It was about three PM when we came across it.

Breakthrough whom was in front of me ran up the next sand dune. And stopped. Dead still. Walking up beside him I saw what it was. A massive field of Bones, Tattered tents all along a river. The bones weren’t recent. They were bleached white. No Pony was here. An undisturbed Graveyard. Breakthrough spoke up.

"We need to walk through this graveyard of old"  This disturbed me. Yet only Breakthrough knew where we were going.

We walked through this undisturbed graveyard. I noticed there was no weaponry.  Like Everypony just died. The place made me vomit on more than one occasion. The damned taste of bile stayed on my tongue.

"Uhh Breakthrough. Do you know what happened" I eventually asked near the edge of this massive graveyard.

"Parasites in the water." Breakthrough replied. He then added "Worms that enter the victim through the mouth, ears, nostrils… Anus. From there they feed on the victim and multiply like mad, Size matters. Large ones that can only enter through the mouth or anus generally multiply faster, Takes a hour or so to multiply enough to cause the victim literally explode as they all bore out of every point in the body, Bringing the flesh with them. Smaller ones that you cant see take a few days to kill. You NEVER drink out of these rivers or water holes around Los Pegasus all of them have these little buggers in them"

I puked again. What was left of my Breakfast was regurgitated.

When we finally got out we kept going. Not looking back.

We continued to walk. As day became night we kept walking. We needed to get to los Pegasus. Eventually on the horizon we saw a bright haze in the sky. Then the top of a building. It was in the distance but that was what Breakthrough claimed. I just imagined. Some kind of civilization in this sea of Anarchy and Barbarianism. Yet it was poisoned apple. The profits gained were mainly by casinos the Rich become richer while the poor are lead into crime too pay off debts.

As we came closer I could make out a large wall around Los Pegasus. It got larger as we came closer. I could make out spotlights constantly waving. We found many waterholes. Many long dead skeletons. Many long dead victims.

As we approached we found many destroyed houses. Made long before Balefire apocalypse.  Breakthrough advised that we then stick to the main road into Los Pegasus just in case stationed snipers thought we were raiders or other undesirables.

We got closer and I saw to my surprise  there were two walls. The first was  about 10 Ponies tall the second about 30 or 40. Ponies tall.  With equally spaced sniper towers. Covering all major angles of approach. We waked closer. It was about ten PM, We made it in good time. Right up to the gates, reinforced with metal signs and concrete.

We were here… Civilization at last. Standing at the gates of outer Los Pegasus I wondered what we would find… The gates opened

Note added: Level Up

New Perk added: Rare one, You are from a stable, That’s rare. You’re a Pegasus from a stable… Even more rare. As your reputation with different factions grows the percentage of having friendly random encounters increases with that faction and vica versa. So if a faction hates you with a passion you will see a hell of a lot more than before.