Fallout: Equestria - Memories of a Caravaneer

Chapter 4: Dancers and Damsels

“Blue moon, you saw me standing alone…”

Walking into Waterhole, the griffon told me a bit about himself. His name was Ironclaw, and he was the deputy sheriff for the town. He had been on guard duty when he encountered me. Looking around, I saw the buildings had the same look as the entrance: made of aged wood with typeface signs. Stopping in front of a building, Ironclaw looked at me. “I’m stopping for a drink. Come in if you want.” He said. And with that, he left.  Looking up at the building, I saw that it didn’t have a typeface sign. Instead, it had a sign made up of neon letters reading OASIS SALOON. Shrugging, I entered the bar and was both surprised and disgusted by what I saw. Inside, the worst ponies and zebras from all corners of the wastes had gathered. You named it, this place had it: Outlaws, bandits, the whole shebang.  The saloon itself had a bar, tables, and a stage, probably for live music. Scanning the building, I saw Ironclaw sitting at the bar, drinking a Sparkle Cola.

Sitting at a stool next to Ironclaw, I pounded my hoof like an impatient foal. “Whaddya want?” the bartender asked me. He was a dark green stallion dressed in a shirt and apron, with five o’clock shadow to boot.

“A bottle of Victory Punch.”  I replied.

For those of you who don’t know, Victory Punch was a drink they made before the war, manufactured by a subsidiary of Sparkle Cola called The Victory Punch Company. The five flavors the drink came in were Party Punch,  Banan-za, Orange Morange, Great Grape, and Tropi-Colt. Getting out the drink, the barkeep held out his hoof for the payment. I dug out the exact amount of bottle caps needed, and handed them over.

Sipping his drink, Ironclaw told me about the place. It was run by a pony named Full House and his goons. They had “bought” the saloon from whatever poor sap had run the place, and had been causing trouble ever since. As Ironclaw was talking, a stallion dressed as a cowpony walked onto the stage, microphone in his hoof. “FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS!” he shouted. “Tonight, for one night only, you will get to see our favorite dancer Epic Rainbow as she dances for your pleasure!” Several zebras hooted. “And no, not that kind of pleasure!” the cowpony said. “And now…heeeere’s Epic!” A spotlight shown, but nopony came out.

“Uhhh…tonight’s show will be slightly delayed…” the cowpony laughed nervously. All of a sudden, I heard a mare’s terrified screams.

“Did you hear that, Ironclaw?” I asked. The griffon nodded.

“Probably Full House causing trouble.” He said. “Let’s go.” We then headed towards the back of the stage, towards a dressing room.

Footnote: Level Up!