Fallout Equestria: Don't Fear The Reaper

Fallout Equestria: Don’t Fear The Reaper

By: The Zealot

Chapter 11

Yeah, I know what you mean. I was a little detached in those early times, I mostly contribute it to the shock of where I ended up, combined with a vengeance that was very prominent in my heart. It’s not really an excuse, I do remember my first kill, I don’t regret it, but it’s never a feeling you get over. You never forget the first time you take the life of another sapient creature, pray you never have to go through that child. Yes yes, meaningful talk aside, let us continue the story.

Pushing open the door I almost immediately reholstered my pistol, the reason being that the casino was a full, lively place. There were multiple ponies around, none of them gangers. They went about with their lives, apparently not caring that the town they live in is full of dangerous ponies. I was about to take a step inside before I heard some music start up.

It started off with a combination of guitar, bass, and drums, melded together in a cacophony of sound that was loud yet pleasing to the ear at the same time, then came the lyrics, sung by a stallion who sounded to be in his mid thirties.

Life is so boring

It's really got me snoring

I'm wearing out the flooring in a cheap hotel

And I don't have to worry

I might be sinning

But I'm never gonna have to hear the ring of the school bell.

Doo-wee, do do do do do do do do do do

At this point the bass and drums took over, with occasional cords from the guitar.

Well don't you remember, you told me in December

That a boy is not a man until he makes a stand

Well I'm not a genius but maybe you'll remember this

I never said I ever wanted to be a man

I would have been content to listen to the rest of the song, but I was brought out of my trance by the sound of a pony clearing their throat, not ten hooves from me. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and looked up, standing in front of me was a stallion who looked to be at least in his seventies. He was wearing some more or less standard desert clothing, which covered most of his body. His mane was a dark blue with silver streaks going through it, his coat was a deep turquoise, his eyes were of gold and showed a long and hard past, filled with sorrow and loss. It was then that he spoke, in a voice befitting the age he looked, with a slight accent, not unlike the many other ponies I had talked to so far.

“I don’t know what it was brought you to Dice youngster, but you might want to rethink your plans. Whole towns gone to hell.” He ended that with a sigh and a shake of the head, I would feel pretty depressed if my town was suddenly taken over by bloodthirsty ex-convicts, but I didn’t really have anything much like a town to go back to, Stable 42 is… well, I don’t actually know, other than being strewn with corpses and painted with blood I would also think quite a few valuables were taken, it was no place to return to, anyway.

“I came here looking for some information, I was told to come here by the sheriff of a small town called Goodsprings, came about a stallion named Coin Toss, and the rest of his gang. According to the sheriff, they would have had to pass through here if they were to bypass Goodsprings and, well, I’m trying to hunt them down. I don’t suppose you would conviently know anything about them?” I didn’t have much hope for the convenient knowledge bit, but I can hope, right?

“Well, I do remember something about a large group of travelers coming through here, I don’t know where they were heading, I would suggest you ask the deputy, but the Boomers took him, don’t know if he’s still alive. If you really want to, the Boomers set up base in the old Silver Rush Casino, if the deputy is still alive, he’ll be in there somewhere. Why are you hunting after this stallion anyhow? If you don’t mind my asking, that is.” The information he had given me was interesting, and even though I'd rather not, it seems my only real option was to wipe out a group of ponies, if this is how my days would go every time I talked to somepony, I would really rather not live in the wasteland.

“Alright then, go to this casino, wipe out the gangers, save the deputy." This shouldn’t be too hard, I hope. As for what that bastard did, he came into my home, the only place I’ve ever know, and he killed everypony there. Foals, the elderly, everypony died, except for me. So, I’m going to hunt him down, I’ll go to the ends of the Earth if it takes that, but he will die.” I said, a tone and look of determination coming over me, I may not have experience in this wasteland, but I wouldn’t let anything stand in my way.

“I can’t say I approve of your motives, revenge is never a good cause, but if it helps this town, well, more help to you. Although, you may have the armies of seven different nations trying to hold you back. Keep that in mind, try not to make any enemies of the big players in the Marejave.” He replied with a tired tone, one of understanding and experience, perhaps he had been on a quest for vengeance some time in his life.

That all said and done I was about to leave the way I had come in, it was getting late and I was of the opinion that it would be easier to take out the so called ‘Boomers’ at night instead of in the ‘day’, however, I remembered the disassembled shotgun in my pockets, and thought to ask… Uh, I didn’t actually know his name.

“Um, one last thing, well two really, I don’t really know your name, mines Nevermore, by the way, and I was also wondering if you know anypony that might be able to put this back together?” I asked, using my magic to pull the pieces of the shotgun from my coat and float them in front of myself.

“Ah, of course, how rude of me, name’s Cerulean Blur, although most people just call me Old Blu. On the matter of that there shotgun, yeah, I think I could fix it up. I used to travel with a few griffon mercenaries, respectable all of them, I fixed up their equipment now and then. Leave it here when you go off to take out the Boomers, I’ll have it fixed by the time you make it back.” He said, an old light returning to his eyes, he seemed somewhat lost in memories, so I just gave him a nod and gently set down the pieces on a table, after which I turned around and stepped out the door.

As I entered the cool night air I stopped outside of the casino and though, words began to formulate in my mind, along with thoughts of where I would go and what I would have to do. This world will never be what I expected, and if I don’t belong, well, who would’ve guessed it? I thought to myself. I had gone from a boring job in a safe place to live, surrounded by ponies I knew and loved, and then it was all ripped away, taken by one stallion and his gang. In but moments I had lost everything I had known, everything I had worked for, my only friend. As I thought of her I came up with only the hopeful thought that she had passed on to the Better Life, and that her afterlife would be filled with things she loved, there was a good chance I would join her soon, but I had to try, try my hardest, to stay alive in this horrible excuse for a world.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and started walking over to the large building with a sign marking it as the Silver Rush Casino, looking around the streets and buildings revealed nothing much, a few more buildings, some side streets, some of the buildings were probably the homes of the ponies that were holed up in the casino.

Reaching the doors I checked my EFS, finding that there were no life forms on the other side of the door, I quietly pushed it open, unslinging my rifle from its position on my back, using my magic to hold it aloft. The room I walked into was a dirty lobby area, there were two tables in front of a doorway serving as some kind of cover, to the right of the entrance was a counter as well as a door presumably leading to a back room. I made the decision that I would search the building for any loot after dealing with the Boomers and saving the deputy, that way nopony could sneak up on me while I was looking in a safe or something.

Shutting the door behind me I stepped farther into the lobby, noting that the only way onwards was through the door with tables set up in front of it, I walked around them and through the doorway, which opened up into a hall. Looking down it I saw that there was a large open room at the end with three doors along the side, one of which was a stairway. Stepping out into the hall I took to the shadows, walking down towards the large open room revealed that there were many mattresses laid out around there, and of course, multiple ponies dressed in dark blue prison barding, some of them wearing police armor. I counted out about twenty of them with varying levels of armor and weaponry. The ones wearing police armor had larger armaments for use, such as rifles, the few unicorns of the group got the advantage of magic, while the other ponies were using battle saddles. The ponies in less armored barding where using apparently common 9mm pistols, some didn’t even have those and were carrying around knives and lengths of pipe.

I unslung the rifle from my back and looked down the sights to get a feeling of range. I could probably hit at least seven of them from where I was, the others were out of range. Of course, that was if they were still, as it was, quite a few ponies were walking around. Now, there is an advantage of being a unicorn, that being the ability to hold multiple things at once. Keeping the rifle to my eye I also drew my 10mm pistol, along with my .45. I moved my way down the hall until I was at the point where the ponies in the room should have been able to see me by all rights. Activating SATS I spread out the points I was given to put at least two rounds into eleven different ponies, using the rifle for longer range targets and the two pistols for the ponies near me.

Taking a deep breath still inside the frozen time that is SATS, I finally activated the sequence. At the end of it seven ponies were dead and I had thirteen more shooting at, or running at, me. I ducked around the corner and started reloading, making sure to take my time so that SATS would also have time to recharge itself, I reholstered my .45 pistol seeing as how I didn’t have much ammunition for it. Raising my now loaded rifle to my eye and leveling my also loaded pistol I ducked back around the corner to see four ponies with knives and pipes chargin me, as the rest tried to line up a shot with pistols and rifles. Dropping into SATS I used the few points I had to take out the four ponies chargin me, using up most of my pistol ammunition. Once control returned to my body I lined up a shot on another unicorn mare, she was trying to do the same with a rifle similar to mine. I fired at her first, the round punched through her skull and she fell to the ground in a heap. I turned my attention to another pony with a rifle right in time to see a pistol round go past my face. Hastily lining up a shot I fired twice at him, two rounds to the chest later and he fell. It was at this point that the few ponies with rifles started firing, surprisingly, most of them missed. I say ‘most’ because one of them was good enough, or lucky enough, to hit me in leg. I dropped to the floor, my rifle clattering to the ground as I lost control of my magic.

This was the first time I had been shot you understand, all ponies that worked in security were trained on how to deal with gunshot wounds, but not many of us had ever actually been shot. The gang ponies lowered their weapons and started to move towards me. My only choice now was be taken captive or force my way through my pain, I chose the latter of course. Pushing myself to my hooves I grabbed my rifle with my magic and ducked around the corner, falling back against the wall. I looked at my leg to find the dark metal of the bullet lodged in. There are some advantages of being a unicorn, magic comes to mind. I set down my rifle and pistol and focused as hard as I could, fighting to maintain control as I pulled the bullet from my leg. My wound clear I thought of what to do, then I remembered the box of medical supplies I had found. Pulling a healing potion from my pocket I opened it up and downed the purple liquid, feeling better almost immediately, I watched as the hole in my leg closed up. Getting to my hooves I tested my leg and found I could put weight on it with no pain at all.

I then remembered where I was, quickly pulling my rifle in my magical grasp back to me, I loaded the rounds I had used and turned around the corner yet again. The gangers had taken back to their old positions, training their rifles at me. I acted quickly, well, maybe not. I hit SATS and watched as time halted, giving me the ability to place carefully calculated shots into the heads and chests of the seven ponies left, I would be left out of ammo if I didn’t kill one of them, yes, but between my rifle and pistol I was sure they would all be on the ground soon enough. I hit accept, time continued, and when I finally got control of my body there were two ponies left alive, albeit barely. I reloaded my rifle and pistol, stepped out into the room, walked past all the corpses, and picked up a pegasus stallion by the throat.

“Now, you are going to tell me where the deputy is, or I will make your last moments in this world extremely painful. Now, where is he?” I said in the coldest, calmest voice I could manage, it worked apparently, for he answered not second later in a scared and shaken voice.

“H- he’s in the storage rooms, b-behind the door marked ‘employees only’. Celestia forgive me, for I have sinned.” He managed his final prayer before his neck snapped in two. His lifeless body fell from my magical grasp, to join the rest of his fallen comrades. I turned to the other pony left alive, a unicorn mare, unable to stand due to wounds. I ended her pain quickly, a 10mm round to the head, and the life left her eyes.

I had to kill these ponies, they were criminals, the attacked a town, but that didn’t mean I would prolong the suffering I had caused. I took my time, the deputy should be the only pony left alive, I had time to loot the bodies. It took me awhile, but at the end of seven minutes I found myself with quite a few new things. I had taken the bulletproof bardings of some of the gang members, using a knife I had picked up to cut off the ‘NCRF’ patch and anything else tying it to the gangers, I put it on under my coat and over my still worn stable barding. It was black, relatively light, and should at least help me stay alive. It also had many more pockets across the chest that were full of 10mm and 9mm magazines. I had a few new rifles to fix up mine, if the parts were worth it. Quite a few new pistols, most of them 9mm but a few 10mm ones. I could use those to fix up my own, and sell the rest. I was also now in possession of around two hundred bottlecaps. There was also, of course, a large supply of ammunition and explosives. The amount I did not count, but I did know I wouldn’t run out anytime soon. As for the explosives, around twenty sticks of dynamite, five apple shaped fragmentation grenades, and little else. There was a final thing I deemed worthy of taking, upon the head of the apparent leader, for he had more armor and better weaponry than the others, there was a very nice cowpony hat, similar to the one of the Goodsprings sheriff. Placing it on my head I made my way over to the storage room, keys from the leader floating in my magical grasp.

Upon opening and unlocking the door I was treated to the sight of a young earth pony stallion tied up and on his side, his coat was of yellow, his mane was a dirty white. He opened his eyes when he heard the door open and I saw they were an amethyst purple. He tried to make himself smaller, tried to back away from me, of course, this was not possible due to his bonds.

“You are the deputy, yes? Don’t worry, I’m here to get you out.” I said, waiting for a response from him. It took me a moment but I noticed that he was gagged with some dirty looking cloth. “Ah, sorry, didn’t notice that.” I said, removing the gag from his mouth and using my new knife to cut his bonds.

“Ugh, that thing tasted horrible. Thanks for saving me ma’am, I’m the deputy, or, I guess I was. Can’t really have a deputy without a sheriff. Um, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just make my way out of this casino and go back to the Sapphire & Ruby.” He said, getting to his hooves and stretching, with a nod of his head he tried to walk past, I held out a hoof to stop him.

“Now look, this might seem a bit mean, but I saved you for a reason. Stallion in the casino, Old Blu, said you might have some information about a stallion named Coin Toss and his gang, now, I’m not asking for much, just tell me what you know and you can walk out of here and get back to your life.” I really didn’t want to be cruel to this guy, he was a prisoner here for goddess knows how long, but I needed information, and now was a time I could demand he give it, before he could deny me.

“Well, alright then, I don’t usually give out information, but you did save me. Here’s my journal, I don’t quite remember when those fellas’ came by, but it should be in there. Um, just return it before you leave, please?” He said, hoofing me a leather bound book. I gave him a nod and lowered my hoof to let him pass me, at which point he crossed the room, presumably to return to the casino.

I took twenty minutes to look over everything in the journal that was recent, apparently Coin Toss and his gang had left towards the South-East, perhaps Old Blu knew about some places near there that they could’ve gone. I placed the journal into a pocket and turned around, looking over the room of corpses. They would never get a proper burial, would probably start to rot soon in the desert heat. I shook my head and with a sigh I made my way back to the lobby room, I was about to leave before I remembered the back room.

Walking behind the counter I tried opening the door, only to find it was locked. I was never the most active pony, but the door didn’t look to be in such good repair, two hundred years couldn’t have been good for it. I turned around and bucked the door with all my strength, hearing a satisfying cracking sound and the feeling of broken wood. Turning back around I saw the door lying on the floor in pieces.

Walking inside I noticed a bed in the corner, as well as a working terminal, there were also a few hooflockers and a cabinet, as well as a work table. I made my way over to the terminal first, pressing a key lit the screen up, showing that it was a log of sorts.

[Cracker Jack’s Log]

February 23rd, 2278

I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool. I’m gettin’ tired of startin’ again, somewhere new. Every time we have to move, ‘cause of the NCR or something else, I just can’t take it anymore. Pretty soon, pretty soon I’m gonna step down. Maybe get Full Circle to take over. I don’t know, I just know I need out. This whole gang, hell, this whole place, I gotta leave it behind. Leave the Marejave, maybe go out East. This’ll probably be my last log, whoever ends up gettin’ put in charge, it’s been fun, but I’m never comin’ back.

~Cracker Jack

[End Log]

Interesting, maybe he was the stallion whose armor I have now. Maybe he wasn’t so bad, he was wanted to leave the gang, perhaps he couldn't take what they were doing. I’ll never know, not that it’s important, just another life that the Wasteland will claim, another one that I've taken. It won’t be the last, I know that. I powered down the terminal and turned to the hooflockers, there were three of them. Opening them up and looking inside saw that only one had anything in it, there was a black case inside. It was large, not too large, but large enough to be interesting. I picked it from it’s case with my magic and levitated it to my back, I would open it when I got back to the casino. Turning once more I opened the cabinet. Inside there was food, canned beans and the like. Gathering a few cans I put them in my pockets, I couldn’t carry too many due to the way my coat was made, but I would be fed for a few more days. It was then that I noticed, back in the dark of the cabinet, there was a bag. Pulling it out with my magic revealed a dust covered grey single bag, they were made to be worn on the back instead of over ones flanks, books that I had read back in the stable claimed they were never popular, and so few were made. The few made, however, were apparently very durable, as this one was not even slightly damaged, only a tad dusty. Shaking off the dust I look inside the bag, finding nothing I close it up again. Moving the black case and rifle from my back, I replace it with the bag, securing it with two delta straps, coming together against my belly. With my new bag in place I open it up and slip the case inside, along with it goes the journal, and my heavier food items. These items are joined by most of my ammunition, leaving me with about six reloads for each weapon in my pockets. Closing up the bag I sling my rifle over it, very happy to find that everything fit and that it wasn’t overly bulky.

With nothing else to be found in the room, I turn and walk out the, now shattered, door. Going back into the center of the lobby I take a look around, nothing else seems to pop out as interesting, or useful. Shaking my head I walk over to the front door, pushing it open with my magic, I use a hoof to shield my eyes from the midday sun. Seems I had been in there longer than I thought, odd. Shaking my head yet again I walk back down the streets to the Ruby & Sapphire Casino, finding myself at the door I push it open as well, greeted by more music. It started off quite, the strummings of a guitar, soon followed by the voice of a stallion.

Keep you in the dark

You know they all pretend

Keep you in the dark

And so it all began

At this point drums and bass started up, the song continued.

Send in your skeletons

Sing as their bones go marching in… again

They need you buried deep

The secrets that you keep are ever ready

Are you ready?

I’m finished making sense

Done pleading ignorance

That whole defense

Spinning infinity, boy

The wheel is spinning me

It’s never-ending, never-ending

Same old story

What if I say I’m not like the others?

What if I say I’m not just another one of your plays?

You’re the pretender

What if I say I will never surrender

In time or so I’m told

I’m just another soul for sale… oh, well

The page is out of print

We are not permanent

We’re temporary, temporary

Same old story

I stopped listening then, and went off to see if Old Blu had any insight on the directions I had read.

Quest Complete: Clear out the gangers and save the Deputy.

Item Effect: Courier’s Bag: +20lbs to carry weight.

Hoofnote: Level Up (Level 7): Medicine increased to 34. Speech increased to 44. Perk Gained: Shadow of Death: Even when surrounded by death and destruction you keep your cool, managing to have a level head even in the middle of a valley of corpses.