Fallout Equestria: The Ink, and The Cherry

      After Winter Rose worked her medical magic the rest of my group kinda just sat there. Occasionally starting conversations, but those didn't last long at all. Out of boredom I decided to check the condition of my new rifles. The assault rifle was in decent condition, but I'd need to fix it up before I went into combat anytime soon. The AMR on the other hoof was in pristine condition, and I had a decent amount of regular bullets for it. "Hey Flaming you got any spare assault rifle parts I can use?" I asked the colt.

      "Can't say that I do. I have a weapon repair kit if that'll work." He answered levitating the metal case that I assumed was a weapon repair kit. I graciously took the box, and opened it pulling out tools, and parts that I could use, and got to work. I kept the best working parts (barrel, trigger, spring, and the bolt) and replaced the rest. It was difficult, and I'm not even sure I even completely fixed it (my Pip-buck confirmed that by saying it was at 67% durability), but I was proud of my work non the less. "So how was your fist taste of the seven kinds of fucked up that is the wasteland?"

      My answer was pretty straight forward "I don't like it I'll tell you that. I just wish I could go back to before the bombs..., but that's kind of counter productive isn't it? I'd just get killed by the bombs, or go through this conversation again." Okay not that straight forward as I thought, but I was tired of being straight forward. I placed my rifle back in my bags, and trotted over to Cherry "Mind if I sit here?" I asked pointing to a section of dirt besides the mare.

      "Sure nopony else is using it." was her answer, and so I sat down next to her. By this point she was the only pony in our little rag tag group who hasn't killed yet, and the two of us were the oldest in the group! I mean Flaming is just a kid yet he'd already killed his fare share. I already knew Redemption didn't have any qualms with killing, but she had a solid reason for that considering how she was raised, and where she was raised...didn't make it right just made it somewhat reasonable. As for Flaming...I had no idea about his past, and I vowed to figure it out!

      "How are you holding up?" I asked her.

"I'm...okay not great, but I'm still here aren't I?" was her answer even though she put on a smile her eyes betrayed her. The wasteland was weighing down on her a lot, and she felt ready to just break down and cry at that moment. We sat there in silence for a hour, or two until Winter approached us a smile on her face.

      "Good news your earth pony friend is going to pull through! That knife severed two arteries I'm surprised she survived even twenty minutes with that wound." she told us, and I let out a breath I hadn't known I had been holding.

      "Thank Celestia...how much do we owe you?" asked Cherry rising to her hooves. I doubted we had enough to pay her, but she insisted we not pay her at all, and that it was her pleasure. I was a bit sceptical at her kindness.

      "Lemme guess you think it's to good to be true?" I nodded "Don't worry I won't double cross you I'm a nice pony." she exclaimed with a smile. I raised an eyebrow, but for now I would belive her..., but I would be keeping my eyes on her. "Well then I guess I should properly introduce myself. I'm Winter Rose I'm a traveling doctor, but you already knew that. Darkened Spectrum over there is my body guard because I'm a very fragile mare, and I need protection. I hate conflict, but I'm good with a needle!"

      Great another pacifist well at least she could patch us up if she would come along with us "Hey what do you think about traveling with us? Were bound to get shot at one point or another, and could really use the help!" asked Cherry before I could even open my mouth to ask her myself.

      She thought about it for a moment, and shrugged "Sure why not it might be fun! Besides it's not so different from my job as a traveling doctor now." she grabbed her saddlebags, and put them on "Well your friend will be bedridden for at least two to three days. There's only so much healing potions can do in such short time."

      Due to my limited medical knowledge I was going to take her word for it. "I wanted to ask. Do you know anything about that town over there?" Flaming asked pointing his hoof to the small settlement about a mile away from our encampment. It was mostly shacks, but a few were actually buildings surprisingly.

      "Not much never been there." Winter Rose told us "I've heard it's a nice place, but this is slaver territory which is why I hired Darkened over there to guard me."

      I took a look at the small town the slavers in the area didn't sit well with me. Any pony who sold ponies for money were just as bad as a monster in my book! As bad as they were...I don't think I could kill one. Raiders, and feral ghouls were insane, and needed to be put down...slavers were just trying to make a living. It was a living I wouldn't give a crap if they lost all their caps, but a living non the less. "Should we stop by?" I asked.

      "I don't see why not. I exhausted my medical supplies fixing up your friend over there, and I need to restock." Winter answered.

"Might as well. I haven't had a decent nights rest in a while." Flaming also put on the table. Darkened just shrugged, and took a long swig from a whiskey bottle.

      "Then it's settled were headed to the town when ever Redemption can be moved." I announced, and everypony (besides Darkemed who threw out another insult) got their gear ready. Turns out as long as Redemption doesn't strain herself to much it's safe to move her...as long as I carry her what am I a pack mule? Good thing she didn't weigh much.

       In about seven minutes (yes I counted) we were ready, and were headed out. We were tired, slightly hungry, and needed propper bedding for Redemption, and I was not going to spend the night outside!

      As soon as we came into the twenty to thirty foot range away from the gates a streak of crimson struck the dirt in front of my hooves causing me to jump back. "Who goes there!?" shouted a male voice through an megaphone.

      "I'm Winter Rose of Winter Roses traveling clinic. My caravan, and I were hoping to stop here, and rest, and restock before heading out!" shouted our doctor. There was a very intense moment of silence, and then the gate opened.

      "Better not make me regret my decision..." yelled the stallion again, and we entered the town.

      The town was named Bright Town...that was an understatement. The buildings were built mostly like Flamings shack with the exception of massive spotlights, and a neon light in the shape of the words 'Bright Town Club' what was it with ponies, and naming things after the place they are in? It annoyed me...alot. As in 'If I see another Celestia damned building with Bright Town in the name I'm gonna strangle Somepony!' kind of annoyed.

      Other than those few things it was a nice place no radiation, the beds were cheap (20 caps), the food was good, and the ponies were actually really nice. Especially this young little filly by the name of Daisy I met in the inn.

      "Welcome to my daddy's inn mister!" said an energetic young filly as we entered the inn. She was an earth pony with a blood red mane, and eyes, and she didn't have a cutiemark yet. "I'm Golden Daisy, and I'm 5 years old!" she said with a smile that just screamed adorable. My heart melted...

      "Hi I'm Ink Well, the pink one is Cherry Berry, the pegasus mare is Winter Rose, the pegasus stallion is Darkened, and the colt is Flaming Bullet. Our friend is at the medical area at the moment, but I think she'd like to meet you." I told her, and she smiled and nodded again. She was so fucking adorable! I just wanted to hug her she was so cute.

      I was just about to ask about her day when a stallion at the counter called us over. We did as asked, and took a seat. "I would really appreciate it if you stopped talking to my daughter." he told us a hint of venom, and anxiety in his voice. I tensed up a bit all of my molecules screaming run, and or duck, but I remained still. "Now" he said calmly...I preferred the stallion when he was angry. His coat, was the same as Daisy's, but his mane and eyes were brown "What can I get you?"

      Cherry apparently unaffected by the awkwardness that had transpired said "We'd like some rooms, and some canned pre-war food!"

      "Which canned food did you want? Pea and beans, or canned peaches?"

"Surprise us!" was her answer. I just sat back, and looked around I saw Daisy talking with a few more filly's that had a look I couldn't explain in their eyes...it looked like they were in pain, and or sick who knew I sure as hell didn't. At another section of the inn, or I as I like to call it 'that bar with the weird stallion running it' was a small room with a pool table. I was going to visit that table sometime today!

      "Your room is the first on the left." said the stallion pointed out a window behind him to the line of small shacks behind the pub. I nodded, and Cherry grabbed the small pile of Pea, and bean cans the stallion placed on the counter, and we stepped back out into the town.

      We found our 'room', and placed our food, and random stuff down  and rested for a bit before headed to the market. It was around 7:25 PM, and shops would be closing soon, and I wanted to sell most of our surplus ammo, and guns. "I'll be back by eight." I told my friends before taking off to find a shop that might be open,

      Luck was in my favor a general store was open, and the shop owner was rather nice. She took all my junk, and I walked away 5000 caps richer. Who knew pilot lights would be worth so much here? As I walked back to our shack I came across a shop labeled 'Bright Town Labor Force HQ' "A job sounds nice." I told myself walking into the building...suddenly my perspective on this town changed as I saw the posters showing fillies, and colts with big red 'For Sale' tags on them. My rage bubbled as I saw a stallion walk out with a filly I recognized a collar around her neck. Daisy was just made a slave...I cocked my rifle, and blew the stallions brains out onto the wall.

      Next I sprayed a five round burst into the mare at the counter. Is it too much to ask to find a place without slavery, or canabalistic bitches in it? When the deed was done I holstered my rifle, and approached Daisy whom was trying to force her collar off she stopped when she noticed me, and held her front legs out as if to protect herself. When the attack she suspected never happened she lowered her legs, and saw me grabbing some keys off the stallions corpse. "Come here so I can get that collar off." I told her shaking the keys in my magic grip.

      She blinked registering what she just heard "But aren't stallions supposed to abduct fillies, and colts who don't have masters?" she told me confused.

      "I've only been in the wastes a few weeks now, and while that might get me paid..." I began "Slavery, rape, and child abuse is were I draw the line." I slipped the key into the bomb collars back, and twisted releasing the collar, and causing it to the ground. She rubbed her neck, and looked up at me with a smile.

      "Thanks mister...are you going to help free my friends too?" she asked with puppy dog eyes. I was going to help anywho, but her cute little face further strengthened my resolve. I nodded and that smile broke into a full on grin her eyes set into a look of determination. I passed her my old 10mm, and a few mags. She wielded the gun better than I had.

      I grabbed the mares keys, and opened a door in the back of the room, and was greeted by the sight of fillies, and colts sitting in rusty old cages soiled with their own filth. Rotten fruit was sitting on plates inside the cages, and they poked at it obviously not hungry for rotten fruit.

      I got to work freeing the children, and giving them some actual (although 200 years old, and preserved) food, and told them to wait for me there. They nodded one of the colts looked at me star struck. Daisy was talking to another group passing out some water when I heard the click of a weapons safety clicking off. I lit my horn, and swatted the gun from the pony behind me's own magic grip, and spun around.

      I was facing the mare from the counter. I apparently missed anything vital due to her combat barding...I really needed armor. There was blood in her light blue fur, and purple mane. Then I realized she had another gun "Just fan tucking fastic!" I yelled to the heavens. The mare raised an eyebrow, and began to squeeze the trigger...then her head exploded. I turned, and saw Daisy my pistol in her mouth her tounge on the trigger.

      "Boom heshot" she said through the guns handle as it was clamped between her teeth. She spat the gun out, and re said it "Boom headshot." she spat at the new corpse, and turned to face me "Can we go find my dad. I'd like to thank him for selling me to these creeps!" she said her voice full of venom. I of course nodded, and she picked up her gun "Well wat are weh waitn fer?" she said through her guns handle again. I grinned, and cocked my gun...that fuck was going to die!

Footnote Level up

Perks gained-

Child at heart- 20% more barter, and speech when talking to children. Also opens new dialogue options.

Sharp Reflexes- Your time in the wasteland has sharpened your reflexes, and reaction time. + 2 perception, and 2 agility