"War, war never changes...well, maybe if we started fighting with sticks. No wait ponies have done that before. Those crazy fucking tribals, man I hate tribals. There just...big fuckheads...yeah. Real big assholes too. Not like ponies who speak normally are any different, we just think we have better reasons when we act savagely towards others...Dammit! How long How I've been out here? I told them that i'd be right back! I just had to take a quick piss, and then something shiny caught my eye, then I tried to reach it but I wasn't done pissing...Things got messy after that. I'm a better pony for it! Stronger, faster, smar-cooler! Yeah, hela cool...What the hell...?" Smoke in the distance caught my eye. It was a fire maybe...who would camp out here, its crawling with raiders. No, smokes black, smells..."Shit...". No, no, no, come on...come on...I ran. I had to. I had to know...

I'd been searching for them for awhile now. I thought they deserted me, guess something else could've happened. Theres no way they'd get murdered by a bunch of chem addicts. No fucking way...Distraction! I need to think back, think back on something good...They day we left...

~~~

My custom barding shifted as a trotted into the saloon. The Rusty Pegasus...yuck...It was a nice place in the small town of Rider. Little vomit here and there but nice and homey. We had taken a few years to gather supplies and prepare for our longest haul this year. We just had to, freshen up. I mean what better place to prepare for a life or death trip than to get a little shit faced right? It sounds even better when you add the seven caravans we have to drag across the waste land. Papa says: "We gotta meet the quota!" What a croc of shit. Who the hell wants to keep there good name in this fucked up place? I'd sell my name for some clean water and a clean mare and call it a fucking day! I would sell it though, Its Lonely Road...what a crap name. Can't deney this job puts edible stuff on the table and hair on your balls, unless some raider burns them off with a jury rigged flame thrower. I swear, there getting more well euiped each day. The other day there was at least five with laser gatlings! Ok...maybe just two...and maybe they didn't work. But, just the thought of them having weapons like that, its like giving a ripper to hyper active foal or something. Anyway, I was thirsty, so I went along with the others to grab a drink. Not like I had a choice or needed any persuasion. Empty Bottle was the owner, ran the place with her sister. Never understood her name until I heard the stories. Made more sense then. She claims its because she was destined to clean empty bottles for the rest of her life, oh, and that her parents where assholes.

"Empty! Hows life!"

"Go fuck yourself..."

"Glad we had that talk! Ok, i'd like a full glass of..." I looked at the glass next to me,"...whatever the fuck that is..."

"Sure Lonely, you gonna pay? And that includes all the other times as well..."

"Ummmm..." Its not that I didn't have the money...I just don't want ta pay up is all," I promise Empty, i'll pay you back when we come back around. Shuldn't take long. In fact, it'll be in like...Two days! Yeah, two days, i'll py back and then some!"

She scowled at me with her cold pink eyes." Fine...but I wanna see those caps Lonely. I mean it..."

She brought the mug to me and slammed it on the table. It was steamy, smelly, and...Fuck it, lets drink up!" Whoa!" the drink, sorry, the sludge crawled slowly down my throat and settled in my stomach.

"Hows it taste.." Empty Bottle asked smirking at me.

"Honestly...not bad. I'm positive you spit in it though."

"Actually that was Wash Cloth, she's gotta crush on you. Likes watching stallions drink her spit up. Oh and thats Brahmin mucus, hope ya enjoyed it."

I looked over at the dirty sandy mare waving at me and bating her eyes. I waved back nervously. I don't know whats worse, the mutated cow snot or the dirty mare spit...Oddly enough, it was kinda-

"Lonely, we'er heading out. we don't have time to goof around." Candle Stick stepped in and a few of our caravaners followed. She was a crimson mare with a midnight purple mane and tale. Her horn was white and so was her barding material. She had a long barrel shot gun on her back and a sharp machete. A key chain hanged from a circular hole in the handle. It was a mare and a stallion holding a heart in a hug. It was dirty but it shined like diamond.

"So you like it..."

"What, what are you...oh."

"Well..."

"It's a nice present Lonely, anything else you want to point out? We have to go come on..."

I followed the mare outside. Empty yelled at me to remember my tab, I wasn't gonna pay that stupid bitch. Hah! I mean its not like she can find me where i'm going. I'll be halfway across the wasteland before she can even spell two days. Bet she doesn't even know what a two is! Hahaha...yeah, any who, Candle Stick was loading up our caravan. We were to meet up with Papa, and the others. Dean, Arson, and Boulder were with us. The brahmin were fed and we were ready. Ammo, potions, more ammo, sharp weapons, blunt weapons, even more ammo, dynamite for some reason and hey look...ammo! Yup we were ready.

I strapped my barding up a little tighter. It was uncomfortable but its saved my life on countless occasions. I've taken hits from all kinds of munitions, nothings punched through. A few bruises and burns but i'm like a steel paladin in this thing. Nothing for the head though...eh, Lucky I guess. I got my favorite hat from the foot locker under the seat of the wagon. I made sure both of my double barrels where tucked in there respective pockets. Yes, i'm ready to brave the big bad terrible wasteland...

"You still wear that filthy hat," Dean asked as he polished his rifle in the covered part of the wagon," You can't just walk up to some rotting body and put on their clothes, its disgusting..."

"Dean, you shit in a bucket. We all do when were on the move. Why the hell does it matter if he's wearing some dead ponies hat?" Boulder stepped in. He was a large grey stallion with scraggily orange mane and a burn on his cheek."We aren't really the cleanest group of ponies in the waste ya'know?"

"We do what we have to, I get that, but a dead guys hat? Come on, thats not important."

Arson looked up from his straw hat and groaned. He never did like the arguing," You two should stop flirting and just get it over with already. You bicker like a couple. And if Ol' Lonely want to wear his dead ponies hat, then let it be..."

The two stallions finally shut up. I never paid them any mind on that regard, my hat. I liked it, I took it, I never looked back. Its my hat now so fuck that dead dude and whoever knew him. This is my head and it needs a hat! On it! And it does!

Soon enough we reached Papas caravan and the other five wagons. They were all making last minute checks. Zella was pregnant, so the wagon needed to make room. Doesn't happen often, but when it does we take that kid with us. Thats just the way it is. We took this job and the contract is binding and deadly, as in it'll be a messy end for early termination. So we had to make sure we didn't get any pregos, but when it happened, we told 'em it changes nothing. It was nice though, contracts or no, we were a family and we all liked doing this. We were a caravan that actually liked caravanning. Even if we ran into some pesky tribals or crazed addicts. Even rival caravans, we were together...

"Papa! Were here! So, whats the-"

"Boy, why the hell are ya out ya wagon!?"

Yup, family..." Just thought I'd check on progress...Wheres Mama?"

"Busy, and you know that we would make progress if ya'd stay in yer wagon..." Papa put me in a headlock," Make me self clear!?"

"Yes, sir, I get it!"

"Good," He released me then chuckled," What is it ya need Lonely?"

I stared at the the strong stallion, the old guy was pretty massive. He was a vomit green and had several scars on his shiny bald spot. Had a large gray beard and eyes a s sharp as knives. I swear he could cut down an whole army with that stare. His cutie marks was...seven wagons..." Zelly, is she really coming with us. Our doc is good but...babies?"

"Your worried about that ol'mare? She'll be fine, besides we gotta quota! And a contract! Do what your told and you want die! Simple right boy?" Papa slapped my back, I swear he almost broke my spine..shit!

"Yeah, yeah...ouch...So, what about this stuff?"

A few crates with some gun parts and ammo. Ammo, ammo, ammo! That and a few amor pieces, some kind of symbol on them, looked heavy." This stuff is heavy anyway, I paid a few ponies in Rider to pick it up and stow it away. We'll come by later..."

"Later...we'er gonna be gone for at least another year! Right?" I asked, remembering a certain payment.

"Don't worry boy! We cutting it short this time but not too short. Don't worry about the tab, won't stop long."

I exhaled, hah, really don't wanna pay," Awesome!"

"Come on now we gotta get goin now, get on git!"

Papa pretty much threw me in my seat next to Candle Stick, she giggled at me as I struggled to sit up right." Not! Funny!"

"You have to love 'em though. His a good pony, when it counts anyway..." Candle looked over at me as she riled up the brahmin to move.

"Yeah, your right I guess. Does he have to be so damn rough though? I mean his like a diamond dog!" I brushed my barding, not that it looked any better before...The wagon got in position and we started moving further and further from Rider. It might be a small town but it was bigger than most. Could see it for miles away, but if you couldn't, your ass is far, far away. Learned that the hard way several times, several places.

"How long...?" Candle Stick asked. She was still looking forward, straight faced...

"Huh?"

"You know...how long have we been doing this? How long have we known each other Lonely...?" Candle smiled at me. I felt weird, she always does this.

"Look, we been doing this forever and we've know each other forever. Thats as good as your answer gets." I huffed slouching in the wagon, trying to get comftable. The sun was out and hot. Shining right on me, I felt like a damn target. I squinted as we continuesd on in the wasteland heat.

"Oh come on Lonely its just a question. Don't get so offended all the time."

"Your always doing that, messing with my mind. What do you want Candle?!" I through my hoofs up, still squinting. I bet I looked pretty damn stupid doing that.

Candle Stick had a different look on her face this time," Sorry Lonely, just thought i'd break the ice before I get all serious..."

"Seriou- What the hell are you talking about? Are you high, you taking chems?"

"No Lonely, i've been thinking. How long can I keep this up, out here? I don't want to die doing this. Its nice being around you...well when your not being a complete ass. But, I just can't do this forever, I need to leave, escape. I can't wait for that damned contract to end."

Candle wasn't always a flirtatious asshole. She use to do a lot of poetry, at night, nothing but candle to light the mood. Didn't take long for the wasteland to ruin that though. Raiders destroyed the town and half the ponies in it. I feel like she'll start rhyming if she gets anymore serious than this. I understood her fear though, even if she wouldn't admit it. Radiers are scary, dying in the waste is scary, dying last..."Hey you made it through that shit Candle. Papa made sure we gave those ponies a proper burial. We can pull through for another year or two."

"If you hadn't found me...," Candle paused and sighed," I can't keep this up Lonely. This land is hard, unforgiving. I've seen good ponies put down like wild animals. I've seen ponies turn on each other, kill each other, hell, even eat each other...Thats just too far for me..."

I wanted to say something but I couldn't think. I had like fifteen jokes about cannabalism all lined up, something told me too soon. I wasn't the best pony to talk to about shit like that. I have no idea what she wants me o say. Yes Candle, lets run away together! Is that what this is about? After the silence came more silence. We didn't talk for some time. I hid my eyes from the sun, Candle had some magic hood blocking the sun from her face. Lucky, unicorns have all the fun. The whole trip was me thinking of shit i'd rather do than get burned by the sun. Eat an actual pastry, find out if that dirty mare is clean in at least one spot, lick whatever that stain is on my barding, figure out who farted, find another shotty, find another hat, not exactly in that oder though...I diverged my attention between Candles plot and the key chain I found. I always liked junk, its random treasures in the waste that made this place a little better to deal with. Ever now and again i'd find something worth putting in my pockets or my pouch. Thats how I made the barding. A bunch of padding from other crap armor stitched in and weaved, skillfully I might add. Shottys where taken from some dead unicorn. Couldn't hold'em with magic but I have a system. One sits in my front hoofs holster and the other only hind leg. Taste a little bitter holding the handle in my mouth but I manage. Gets stuff dead, dead is good.

"Ever heard that story...?" Arson asked me, looking from under his straw hat.

"I've heard a lot of stories Arson, you need ta give it a name for me to know if I had heard or not," Not like i'd give a fuck though. Arson is always full of shit.

"Story of a cursed pony, waging war with cursed weapons. Guess its a legend, you can guess what happened to the bastard if its that."

Boulder pointed to his cheek," Only story I care about is when you burned me, every tell that one?"

"Twas an accident my lady, you happy now, I apologized again...Now anyway, this warrior was powerful with every kind of weapon possible. Swords, bombs, energy weapons, guns, every weapon imaginable. This pony was a god among lesser ponies, a real hero. But you wanna know how he got so powerful?"

"Not really Arson, you just start talking and expect me to listen to another pointless story?"

"Come on Lonely, this ones good." Arson chuckled," Wont lie, most shit I tell is bullshit, but hey this story might be important..."

I sighed, Candle Stick was being all stoic and boring, Boulder and Dean weren't doing anything interesting...," Fine...I guess..."

"Great, anyway, this 'Hero' was the same as any other pony in the waste. Just some punk who'd do anything to be powerful. Apperently he gave his soul to become famous, stronger, and be amazing at anything. So he got just that..."

Arson took a long pause so I dared to ask,"...Ok, what happened next Arson?"

"Hmfp, he would be efficient with any weapon he laid his hoof on. They would gain attributes that no weapon could undergo.Some would be subtle others would be monstrous upgrades. Although of course theres a catch. Every weapon he'd use would drain his life force, killing him slowly. Not only that, the ponies that looked up to him would tear down his statues and posters and spit on his grave. Basically all that fame meant nothing, the curse he made possible would destroy his good name and pass it on to the next pony seeking power. Sucks right? All that glory only to be disrespected and forgotten in time. Guess thats what he gets for trying to be a 'Hero'..." Arson chuckled in a raspy tone. Couging a little...

"That...," I paused, it was a shitty deal. I didn't think it'd be that hard to help a few ponies out but it gets to be a chore. Some poor fool always needs you to do something. Its true that our caravan saved Candle Stick and some others. I ways actually suggesting we just leave'em. I saw how pitiful she looked and..."...I hate your stories Arson...Got any with a happy ending?"

"I got some stories about quick merciful deaths, thats as good as it gets."

Of course," Ok thats it. Hey! Stop this train! I gotta piss!"

"What the hell are you doing!?" Candle Stick watched as I stood up to ring the bell hanging from the side of the caravan. It was for emergencies, I needed to piss, really badly." Lonely Road sit down!"

"Hey come on I need to piss!"

"Lonely Im serious your going to-"

A huge bump caused me to fall over the side. Oh but don't worry, these assholes finally stopped to laugh at me. Damn! My neck! I was embarrassed, I'll admit...but hey, at least they stopped. Papa put me in another head lock and let me go when I said i'd start pissing on him. It was just a little pee break i'd be done in no time. I ran over to a ridge, perfect cover for anyone trying to peek at my gorgeous rod! I may have underestimated how much I needed to let this out, I swear I was there for hours...Wait...whats...Something shiny poked out from the cracked dirt. A diamond, gold, a really shiny bullet that would still be awesome if I could just reach it. Come on just a little more. It was so close! But I was unable..."Whoa shit!" I fell in the dirt and the shiny object burst from its dirt prison. I wasn't done draining my fluids, body didn't seem to care that i'd just busted my jaw on the ground. But there it was! A brand new, slightly used, tooth! A tooth!? Well, its mine now! Silver and shiny and mine! Haha!...

I looked over the ridge. Didn't see this coming...There gone...damn shiny tooth...

~~~

I tripped over a smoldering body. Not sure who it was but the straw hat made it clear...I averted my eyes, the burning smell was not pleasant. I trotted slowly through the wreckage, it looked like a war zone. Mamas wagons was completely engulfed in flames. Dead ponies littered the cracked ground, raiders and friends alike...why did they leave...what happened? I saw Zella and Marrow, no pony should die like that. The raiders got to them last. The skin was peeled in some places, bite marks, stab wounds...I searched through the wreckage, most of the valuables were taken, I felt a little better knowing everything important to me was on me. I searched through more of the wagons, finding a friend here, another here, dead on there, and, yup, more ponies I know that are dead. The wagons were in a semi circle formation. Looks like they didn't have time to prepare for an attack completely. Yeah, the rear, they were surrounded. One spot left wide open would be death. Found Papas body, strongest stallion alive, downed by a shot in the head. Candle Sticks wagon was just up ahead...just need to reach it. I didn't see much. Looks like she was crushed by the wagon. A puddle of blood surround her body. A hoof was left exposed. I saw a strange orb sitting in the blood, nothing I had ever seen before. Well, if Candle died for this..."Sorry..." rolled the orb into my pouch, maybe i'll make a shrine out of it. Or sell it...no, bad pony....Dammit. What now? every things gone. Shipments fucked, I can't complete the journey on my own, i'd die without the stuff in most of these trunks and footlockers. Which most of it has been looted or burned to a crisp. Now fucking what!? I spied the key chain from Canldes machete, I took it, to...remember her. I looked over the wreckage, bewildered by the fact that I couldn't find all the bodies that weren't here. I took what I could, which wasn't much, and went on my way. A few twelve gauge rounds, a knife, some healing potions. Some rad-x, still looks good. Dirty, dirty water. Guess its back to rider...

"Dammit gotta pay that fucking tab!" I stubbed my hoof as I walked past a plank that read: Welcome to Rider. Bad hoof writing but readable. Couldn't see the place anywhere though. That means I got a ways to go huh... I kept stubbing my hoof though. I looked down and it was...a lunch box? I kicked it outa of anger, damn, thing!" Take this you...shit face!" I kicked it, then I heard it...the rattling of bottle caps. Holy crap, money in the ground! Wait...no, no, I know what this is. I'm surprised that it didn't go off. Just a bottle cap mine, not worth dying over... How many did I break my hoof on.

"Come on, get it out!"

"I'm trying, i'm trying..."

What are they...? Those idiots! An electric blue mare and a white mare with black stripes on her legs. They were well armored, nice guns too. That blast however would make all that pointless. " Hey what the hell are you doing!?" The electric blue mare stared me down with velvet eyes, quickly drawing her ten millimeter automatic. The other mare stopped tugging on the box and stared with fearful yellow eyes. She cut her eyes between her rifle on the ground and me," Ok, calm down...I just-"

"Shut it, Hazel, pull it out already!" She aimed it with practiced steadiness, the other slowly tugged at the lunch box at her hooves. Still watching me, Hazel kept it up. I wanted to stop her, t I felt as soon as a sound left my mouth i'd be dead...," Just leave us be..."

"I will but-"

"Go! No talking, just go!" Her velvet eyes scared me a little as her face contoured with an angry look.

I took a deep breath, it'd suck to die when I only wanted to help," Please here me out..."

The mare trotted to me and smaked me down, Her hoof rested on my barding and her gun pressed against my face," What I say!? I said leave, no talking! How hard is that to do!?" The gun pressed deeper into my skull, I could see her tongue squeeze slightly on the trigger. The sub machine gun shacked in he mouth. Damn...damn....damn! I have to piss again...

A sickening wet explosion tour her away from me. She looked at her friend in horror as hazel lay there without her hoof, and botte caps lodged in her face. The mare screeched in an unnatural tone as she gurgled for the other mare to help her. The mare rushed to her side and held her in her hooves. She stared at her friend in a mix of sorrow and disgust. She looked up at me as I walked closer," I'm not here to hurt you...I tried to warn you..."

"Help her! Please! Please! Help her...please!" The mare pleaded and sobed. Dammit, I didn't want to help them...it'd cost me every potion I have...I opened my pouch. The potions were cheap. It'd take two to do the work of one. First thing first, we needed to take out the bottle caps and pieces of lunch box. The electric blue mare nodded when I told her what was needed. She whispered something to Hazel and she noded," You have something hard..."

"Wha- Oh yeah...heres a knife."

"Have you done this before...?"

"No...."

"Just...try your best...please..." She placed the knife in the mares mouth. She handed me the mare I carefully set her down and began. I didn't want to dig out the bits with the knife...not yet. I took the bigger chunks first. I clamped down hard with my teeth and tugged the bottle caps out of her face. She squirmed but the mare held her down, still whispering something that soothed her. I finished up, only a few whimpers this time. It could be that she was loosing to much blood and energy to react anymore than she did before.

"Ok...the knife..."

The mare took the knife away," What...? No, I..."

"Shhhh, stay calm..."

"Easter...I can't do this much longer..." I started digging out the bits in her hide. She epped as I continued. Some were too deep, I hoped the potion could pick up the slack.

"Hurry drink this..."

"Will this heal her leg...?"

"Doubt it. She'll heal up enough for you to take her to Rider. Docter there is a true prodigy. He'll fix'er up good." I lifted Hazel onto Easters back. I put her hoof in a pouch Easter had free." Keep straight that away, Rider isn't too far..."

Easter kissed my lips," Thank you stranger. If you hadn't taken the time to warn us, we'd be dead. Maybe the waste isn't completey lost." She stared in my eyes for awhile with a hardened look. She must have broken a lot of rules when It came to trusting me...Easter began to trot to rider. I couldn't bring myself to go after her, not terribly ready to pay that tab. Besides something caught my eye when I was helping them out.

~~~

The grave yard was pitiful really, but why not. Maybe I'll be a grave digger for now. Well...nah, but there could be some cool trinkets there. Maybe some more silver teeth. Not my favorite random treasure, but hell, why not. Dirt was being thrown over the side, I got closer. The dirt was getting kicked up fast. I could hear mumbling as I approached. Not that I cared much for meeting more crazy ass ponies but...

I saw a few more hoof prints around the grave. Were there others here? I looked at the cloak on the branch of a dead tree. It ruffled with the breeze that blew by. Well...not making friends up here, maybe this pony is more interesting than I'm thinking. I mean, sure, they dig up dead bodies but why not right? Fuck let just jump down already!"Hey-"

I couldn't speak. Seven bullets. Seven from a revolver...It was a crimson red, cream handle, Blood red seven. The bullets. They hit me so fast. I dropped quickly. I couldn't move, couldn't breath. One in the neck. Three in the chest. The others in my legs. So fast...my barding didn't even...Can't...can't....Mare...above me...mumbling something. I fucked my friends over because I had to piss. Over some useless tooth, I guess this is payback huh...Tried to be a hero...just one nice thing...now I can't even live long enough to know if it meant something. What an adrubt end...can't end this way...just...can't...

My eyelids grew heavy as I fought to keep them open, my breathing was faint. The mare above me sounded sincere but it didn't matter. I was dead, dying, whatever...Its over. At least I didn't die alone...

Author's Note

First of the seven mistakes, the others will be connected to this story. Fallout fanfics are everywhere but I just needed to get mine out there. I just had this idea one day and I just had to do it. Fallout is pretty cool, even if the game is basically unplayble now...

Anyway, this will probably have seven chapters and it'll be done with. I'm hoping they'll be a small demand for this to be turned into a full fledged adventure. Have no idea if I can do that but I can try...