Tales by Balefirelight (a Fallout: Equestria Group Collab)

Water

by G-man64

“How am I supposed to survive if I have to risk my life every time I need water!?”

“I need a drink… This anger won’t leave me till this thirst has.”

(Choose whichever opening quote you think work’s better)

The end of Equestria hit everyplace, though some harder than others. Out in this desilit desert there’s one thing above all else, water. They who control water, control the entire area.

Not that that matters to me and my friend, we don’t care where we got it from, we were just seeking water.

“I still can’t believe this,” he said to me, “We’ve been wandering for how long? Where’s this fabled Oasis?” he asked.

“We’ll find it,” I replied, “I’m sure of it, or I’m not,” then we both passed out.

*****

I woke up staring at a vision of beauty, a light blue unicorn with a significantly darker blue mane, and in her telekinesis water, a full canteen, “Are you alright?” she asked in a beautiful voice, “Some of the townsfolk found you two on patrol, and brought you here.”

“Alright,” I replied still weary, “But where is here?” I asked.

“Oasis,” she replied pulling back the curtain of the hut revealing one of the most beautiful sights I’d ever seen in my entire life traveling the wastes. This town was gorgeous (almost as much as her), beautiful houses that looked untouched by megaspells, seemingly happy ponies walking around, and at the center of it all a beautiful fountain.

The fountain itself was a statue of a seapony holding a jug, that jug was overflowing with crisp clear water, flowing into a beautiful pond, somehow surrounded by palm trees.

“How?” I asked stunned, “How can such beauty exist within this desolate desert?” I asked.

“Well now,” the mare replied, “That statue’s the key,” she said, “The water flowing from it made this an oasis in the desert even before the war, and after it, well it just made sense to settle around it,” she said with a gorgeous smile.

“Aren’t you afraid?” I asked, “Afraid of something like raiders?”

“Not at all,” she said, “I mean look at where we are, this isn’t a place anyone can get to easily.”

“Well still, I wouldn’t feel right if me and my friend were to just sit around after you helped us so much, please allow us to join patrols, or guard or something, we’re something of mercenaries,” I said.

“Well, alright,” she said with that same cheery smile, “Be happy the townsfolks trust me.”

Me and my friend guarded for days, listening to the town, helping as we could, and learning more and more about them. Eventually we knew what we would do.

*****

Night fell, and we were ready, he stood guard as I took my screwdriver and pried at the statues jug, “Won’t be long now,” I said, “This thing has to have a talisman in it, we’ll get it, get out, and get our pay, I guess our source was right after all.”

“I know,” my friend replied, “Seemed crazy, a town acting as an oasis in this desert, no way that was true but I guess it was.”

Then it happened, that mare who woke us up, the one who took our offer, “What are you doing?” she asked rubbing her eyes, “Why are you messing with the fountain?”

“Sorry,” I said, “Remember how I said we’re mercenaries? Well this was our job, get a water talisman.”

“It doesn’t need to be like this,” she cried, “You can stay here, be honest ponies, you’ve done so much why do this now?”

“Because we have a job, I’m sorry,” I said starting to cry.

“So am I,” she said as she started to ignite her horn, I didn’t care what spell she was going to do it wouldn’t be good for us.

I took my silenced pistol and shot her right between the eyes, “Sorry,” I said, “We have a job.”

“Got it,” my friend said holding aloft the talisman, it was truly a beautiful sight.

“Great,” I said, “Now let’s put as much space between us, and this soon to be dead town as possible before morning,” I said solemnly.

I really didn’t want to kill her, I won’t lie I kind of had a crush on her, but that’s business.

In this desert, you do what you can for water, even if it means hiring a few mercs to basically kill a town so that you can cement yourself as the sole source.

And when you’re those mercs, you do what you can to finish the job, even if it means betraying the one mare you thought you’d love.