Fallout Equestria Omega's Trials

Chapter 6

“What the fuck?” I asked almost yelling.

“Well you asked what the more civilized way of settling it is.” He looked at me blankly I couldn’t tell if he was serious or joking. He pulled out one of the revolvers put it in his mouth and spun the cylinder.

“You’re being serious?” I was still hoping he this was a joke. “You are willing to shoot me over this?”

“Well yeah!” He had a grin that bordered on insanity. “It’ll be fun, the bullets are rub-“

“I don’t think we have a problem.” I smiled widely with my best stable pony smile.

“Okay…” He sighed and his entire posture drooped. “Just thought it may be fun.”

“No, it won’t be fun.”

I stood there in shock watching him put the gun back. I might need to find a better friend. I left him in the room his head hanging over the gun case.

I walked out into the crowding street and walked through the crowds of ponies. A good portion of them were armed and looked menacing. Seven ponies stood out from the crowd as in the crowd parted in front of them and their voices hushed as what looked like the most heavily armored ponies I had ever seen walked through the streets, each of them mounting heavy duty battle saddles and steel armor with additional weapons, on the flank of each battle saddle was beautifully caligriphied letter A with a bullseye on top of it. These ponies looked as though they could beat down mountains with just stares.

“Quite the site aren’t they?” A voice said from behind me.

“Yeah, who are they?” I watched them walk by as their armor and assorted weapons clanked with each step.

“A team of Angel Slayers, you met some of them on the train.” I tensed up. The voice continued. “Most likely after the bounty on your head.”

I spun around to see what I expected to be Beatrice but turned out to be nopony or griffin. Pausing there facing the inn’s main floor in a panicky cold sweat.

“Hey are you okay?” The purple feather weight unicorn from last night walked up next to me, wearing sunglasses.

“Yeah I’m fine, hey did you see anything behind me?”

“No…I wasn’t really looking though.”

“Great, I’m going crazy and have to guard a caravan tomorrow.” I mumbled to myself.

“You’re only crazy if you answer yourself.” She grumbled about hating hangovers. How many times could I survive shocks today?

She paused midway through the tavern and turned around.

“I swear to Celestia I’ve seen you somewhere before.” She put her hoof on her chin in thought. “Are you sure we haven’t met?”

“Positive.” I said panicky backing out the door and into the crowded street. I kept the same distance between us as she tried to follow me out the door listing off random places where she had been.

“Nope never been there came from,” Crap what was the name of that settlement my mom told me the DJ lives in,”Tenpony!” I said sharply, patting myself on the back.

“Okay, well sorry to bother you.” She perked her head turned around; heading to what I guessed was her room. I stood there for a second and sighed in relief. Then some irate pony reminded me I was in the middle of the street.

I trotted around town for a little while trying to find some way to spend time since Tick-Tock was insane. Seriously I thought to myself what kind of pony defaults to using guns to settle a disagreement that doesn’t need guns to be settled. I chalked it off to living in an unstable environment and most likely being beaten as a foal, he just had that look about him.

I was so lost in thought that I ran into a pony, not just a pony, but a mare, the mare who said she wanted to string me up by my entrails.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re goi-“ She paused and looked me over, suddenly her kill anything in the way melted to a kind hearted one of concern. “Hey, sorry about that, you alright.”

“Yeah I’m fine.” I smiled back rubbing my head, and feeling blood from where her horn had scraped it. I pulled out a bandage and covered it up.

“I meant from earlier, you don’t need to worry about him okay.” She rested her hoof on my shoulder. “We are going to get him.”

“Are you sure?” I asked hoping to maybe get some idea of what I was up against.

“There are hundreds of mercs all over the Hub looking for him, the Angel Slayers are here which means some serious shit is going to go down.” She looked at me then my hoof. “Is that a pipbuck?”

She ran through long list of questions and features about it. I made certain she knew the only way it was coming off was through amputation and she laughed.

“Never caught your name?” She asked sipping from a canteen.

“It’s…Scythe.” I spat out my fake name.

“Well nice meeting you Scythe, hope to see you again.” She smiled and walked off heading towards the edge of town she turned around. “By the way had fun.”

“I hope to see you again.” I waved and turned around and Tick-Tock was standing silently right behind me. I jumped and nearly fell over but he moved quickly to catch me.

“You think FM, will be jealous?” As those words left his mouth my heart stopped.

“What are you talking about?” I stuttered, had I been flirting? Had she been flirting? I thought we were just two ponies having a good time.

“It’s obvious when it doesn’t involve you.” He answered before turning around. “Now I have to go and prevent that purple pony you talked with robbing the room.”

The rest of the day went pretty well for the wasteland; I was introduced and threatened by the rest of the griffin mercenaries. None of them brought up the Angelo’ Death bounty or disguise so maybe Tick-Tock was right to trust her. Still pissed me off to no end I was almost ready to accept Tick-Tock’s offer for a duel, I’d empty his gun beforehoof.

“Hey Scythe come over here.” Tick-Tock called me over to a table he was sitting off by himself with Beatrice and in front of him was a bowl of white stuff. “Remember when I told you I’d get you some ice cream for you to try.” He pushed the bowl to me. I looked it over, smelled it, and licked it. The taste was unlike anything I had ever had before; it was sweet and had the delicious flavor of vanilla in my rush I ate the entire bowl in a single lick. Tick-Tock and Beatrice were barely holding back laughter.

“What’s so funny? Do I have SWEET GODDESS!” Now I knew what brain freeze felt like. I rolled around on the ground hooves clasped around my head and they just laughed.

“Not so fun is it Scythe?” He fell back laughing. “Just remember that feeling next time you target me with that damn spell.”

Finally the pain faded I stood up and leapt at him, he easily side stepped and I rolled head over hooves into a pony standing in the doorway knocking her down and landing on top of her and I think I broke my braces too. I looked down at the mare and realized I was positioned awkwardly on top of her and quickly stood up and backed away.

“I’m so, so sorry. Are you okay?” I stuttered nudging her. She looked at me and started laughing, through my electric green coat I was blushing. She stood up and looked at me through her glowing red eyes.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad to see your mood’s improved.” She smiled sweetly.

“Thanks.” I racked my brain trying to think of things to say that didn’t sound stupid. I don’t see her flirting.

“This is going to sound awkward but I forgot your name?” She kept her friendly smile.

“O-“ Tick-Tock interrupted me before I could give her my real name.

“Hey Scythe aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Tick-Tock appeared next to me with a calm pleasant smile.

“I’m Star Fury.” Her demeanor changed to a more business type and less relaxed. I glared at Tick-Tock.

“What are you in town for?” He tilted his head a little. She gave an awkward forced smile.

“Hunting down Angelo’.”

“A bounty hunter then?” His tone went to one of curiosity, and he looked at me was it me or could I just tell he was trying not to laugh.

“Kind of, I’m not really after the bounty, that’s the bonus.” She looked away from the coated pegasus and back to me. “Can I talk to you in private?”

We left Tick-Tock down stairs with the griffins that he seemed to be more comfortable with than the ponies. Even if they acted awkward around him.

“Tick-Tock is…” She started to try her best to place her hoof on the right word.

“Insane? Drunk? Nuts? Doesn’t know how to act?” I smiled jokingly counting out the adjectives on my hooves.

“Let’s leave it at a good friend.” She smiled back warmly. “But, hey the reason I asked you up was cause I wanted to know if you’d like to come with me, to the, well I can’t remember what it’s called but affectively it’s a party, for the bounty hunters and Angel Slayers that are going out tomorrow.”

I should’ve said no, I’m in a relationship, I have other obligations, I need to try to get some sleep before the griffins start up again. Stupid other head doing the thinking.

We got to a warehouse on the other side of town she opened the door and about fifty tough looking ponies were dancing to heavy bass beats and strobe lights, some were off to the corner drinking or eating and hanging from the ceiling was a banner saying “Eat, Drink, be Merry, FOR TOMORROW ANGELO’ DIES!”. It dawned on me again that this was not the right place for me to be, then I started to think about how cute Star Fury looked in the strobe lights, and how good she looked in the tight leather armor. I started dancing.

I had never been to a party, except my birthdays but those were small with only a few ponies mostly adults from the stable council. However, those weren’t really parties like this one, all the ones at the stable ran like clockwork this one ended at ??? which was fine by me because I was having a blast. Until my legs almost gave out on me and Star Fury drug me over to a table.

“You’re a really good dancer!” I shouted over the music.

“You’re not so bad yourself!” She shouted back to me smiling. “Mind if I ask you something?”

“Sure, go ahead!” I smiled back.

“My group is all mares, and I was wondering if, well if I could convince them that is, if you would like to tag along with us?” She smiled shyly looking at the floor while she asked. “We could really use your pipbuck, and the SATS thing you talked about sounds really bad ass, I’m sure we could hunt down and kill that bastard!” She was really excited about this. My brain froze trying to form the words to turn her down.

I felt something hit me upside the head. I turned around to see what drunken pony had wandered off the dance floor or got pushed out of the maj pit. I had to squint through the flashing lights but finally got a look, she wasn’t drunk, and she wasn’t dancing, it was Beatrice. She signaled me to follower her with her head, when we were clear of the warehouse she started talking.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” She snapped hitting me again.

“What do you mean? You’re the one hitting me!” I yelled ducking on the ground with my hooves over my head like in one of those old war demonstration videos my tutors made me watch.

“Tick-Tock had to go through a lot of shit to keep you alive and you are bumping flanks with one of the ponies who want you dead!” She hissed picking me up by my mane. “He may let himself be used as a doormat but I don’t.”

“Well he’s insane!” I stared her dead in the eye.

“No, just…messed up. It really hurt his feelings the way yo-“

A shotgun was racked behind us, she pulled two revolvers out that were holstered under her wings and turned to face the leather clad mare with glowing red eyes.

“That pony has been through enough, leave him alone!” Her shotgun was covered in a green glow and pointing directly at Beatrice’s face, the mare’s eyes unwavering.

“Mare, this doesn’t concern you.” Beatrice answered pointing both guns at Star Fury, her gaze just as undaunted. She clicked the hammers back on her revolvers with her freaky thumbs. “I’m merely disciplining one of my employees.”

“I think our ears got enough of your discipline last night.” She slid the action back on her gun. “I don’t particularly tolerate slavers or anyONE who works with them.” Why was she looking at me?

“We agree on something then.” She chuckled still keeping her guns trained on Star Fury. “Can’t stand the griffins that work with the bastards. I’m a caravan guard for now, and don’t be pissed cause I actually get some.”

“Yeah and how many caps did that set you back?” My jaw dropped, my eyes became as wide as saucers. I didn’t dare look at Beatrice for fear of her ripping my head off with her gaze alone.

“You Little Bitch!” She brushed the floating gun aside and launched herself at the unicorn. Star Fury tried to levitate her but she had built up too much momentum for her to stop, and instead of stopping her it only slowed her down, not enough to get her time to get out of the way.

The petite griffin and the unicorn rolled over the rocky ground, biting, clawing, and bludgeoning each other as they tried to kill each other.

“What’d I miss?” Jerry said walking up behind me with Tick-Tock behind him; he smirked seeing the griffin and the unicorn tearing at each other. “Oh girl fights, pity, one’s not my type.”

“Should we do something?” I asked standing up and turning to see the fight and found it oddly hot.

“Not until it gets out of hoof.” Tick-Tock answered pulling out a sparkle cola. “Jerry, Scythe, want one?”

“When would that be?” I asked taking the soda.

“Whenever one of them is about to pull to trigger, or slit a throat, or do permanent damage to the other.” Jerry chuckled taking a sip then looking at the bottle in disgust. “GAHH! You gave me diet.”

“Sorry about that it was either that or a Quantum.” He said taking a sip apathetically. “Last time you drank a quantum you said ‘It felt like getting punched in the face getting a fist full of sugar shoved down your throat and that your piss glowed for a week’.”

“True.” He said taking another sip. “Still…diet.”

Tick-Tock quickly chugged his soda and placed the bottle on the ground. Then walked over to try to pull Beatrice off Star Fury, in reality he was barely making her budge tugging her on her armor. Seeing his plan not working Tick-Tock bit her tail, hard. She swung around clawing at his face, he wide eyed stepped back from the serious of slashes at his face but finally caught an upwards slash across his cheek.

“You done?” Tick-Tock asked her indifferent to the fact he had just been attacked by a griffin he said he trusted.

“Tick-Tock…”she looked at her talons. “I’m…I’m…”

“It’s alright, doesn’t even need a healing potion.” He smiled and walked away picking up the soda as he passed and throwing it in a two hundred year old trashcan. I trotted over and helped Star Fury up and she waved me away.

“I’m fine don’t worry, nothing a good night sleep won’t fix.” She grunted not even looking at me. Why did I get the feeling I goofed?

I was back in my room Tick-Tock was somewhere. He told me to be sure I was packed and ready to go with all my weapons and gear ready, finished saying Beatrice will probably be ready at 8. Why did nothing bother him? Not even being attacked by the griffin he says he trusts bothers him. How could you be that stoic and function? He didn’t get angry as far as I could tell even when somepony was attacking him he just smiled. What happened to him, what did Angelo’ do to him to turn him into that? What had he done to Beatrice, to Star Fury, why, if what Tick-Tock had told me was true that he used to be the best, what had happened to make him fall?

“Goddesses why is this bothering me?” I looked to the black clouds in the sky. “All I have to do is survive three months, then I get to go home, just two months and twenty-seven days left.”

“Hello?” A small timid voice came on over my pipbuck, FM sounded like she had been crying. “Omega, are you there?”

“Yeah FM, I’m here.” I smiled hearing her familiar voice.

“Thank the princesses, are you alright?” She sounded like she was about to start crying again. “How are you?” She was barely holding back her tears.

“I’m fine.” I smiled at my pipbuck imagining her smiling face. “How’s my mother.”

“She’s her usual self, in public.” Her tone sounded worried. “In private I think she cries.”

“Have you tried talking to her?” I asked.

“Omega, I can’t, she’s the overmare if she found out I knew.” I heard her shutter through the pipbuck. “Or the stable council found out.”

“FM please.” I begged.

“Okay, I will.” She answered warmly.

“Thank you.” I smiled at the reverberating bar on the screen. “By the way, do you want to know how far away I am?”

“Yes!” She squealed.

“I am, 45 miles away.” I heard her gasp, then start talking about power and frequencies and calculations going into stuff that was way over my head. She laughed and then tried to explain to me what she said, then when I still didn’t get it she drew diagrams, then made me draw diagrams, until I lied and said I understood her.

She was asking me all kinds of questions about the wasteland and the ponies that lived there. I left out me being hunted, Angelo’ Death, the real severity of my injuries. Then I brought up the enigma, Tick-Tock.

“…what in the name of Cellestia is wrong with that pony?” She responded I could imagine her cute jaw dropping and stammering to find the words. Then one of Beatrice’s screams filled the air.

“Griffins.” I said to her anticipating the question. “And I have no idea, he doesn’t talk about himself. I think somepony hurt him a long time ago and he hasn’t recovered yet.”

“That probably happens a lot out there.” She answered and I could imagine her nuzzling me. “He probably needs a friend. Let him know you’re there to talk about it when he’s ready.”

“Yeah, that’s what friends do right?” I said uncertain. “I mean so I’ve heard.”

“Yes Omega, that’s what friends do.” FM groaned. Her tone changed to something more somber “Hey I got to go. Be careful, and keep an eye out for your friend, and Omega don’t ever change. ”

“Don’t worry I promise, that’s a Pi promise, and Pi goes on forever.” Nothing could hide the depression I was feeling.

“Bye, I’ll talk to you soon.” She sounded hopeful then cut out leaving me alone in the dark. I put the earplugs in which dulled the shriek to something bearable, something I could sleep through. I rolled over in the bed and as I was dozing swore I saw a pony standing on the roof or the building opposite me but then my eyes closed and I slept.

I stood in the Hidey House, staring at the pony hanging from barbed wire begging me to kill him, seeing me as his saving angel. I pull out my gun and pull the trigger the trigger. I watch the bullet move at SATS time and stare in horror as the bullet shatters Syph’s horn. I did this before I can do it again I think gathering the courage to kill her mercifully like I did last time. I put the gun to her head activate SATS and pull the trigger. I turn to look at Tick-Tock but where he stood a few days ago is now a bloody and injured FM.

“You’ve changed Omega, you promised me you wouldn’t.” She says blood flowing out of now empty eye sockets. “Why did you lie to me?”

“FM I didn’t change! I had to…there was no way to help her!” I argued gesturing to the corpse on the ground.

“Did you try Scythe?” Star Fury said from behind the bar. “Seems a fairly Angelo’ Death thing to do. You got something you need to say?” She asked sharpening the sickle.

“I didn’t have time to try!” I yelled at her backing away from the floating blade. A mirror was levitated next to me and I saw my jet black coat, electric green mane, and sickle cutie mark. Tanglebones stood by in the corner holding the mirror.

“Well then Angelo’ are you ready for payback?” Hammer said taking a swig.

“No stop don’t he didn’t do anything.” Tick-Tock lazily rocked back on his chair staring at the ceiling.

“Shut-up!” Hammer yelled as her head fell off her shoulders coating the table she was at in blood.

“No reason to lose your head.” He said falling out of the chair limply.

Pfft! Pfft! Two sharp pains hit my rear legs as Tracer stood in an elevator a bullet wound in his skull. Four ponies fell on top of me as another one’s stomach explodes in my face and my shot gun falls too floor in pieces. Tick-Tock whistled.

“Been out four days and you already have quite the body count, nowhere near as good as his though.” Jerry said loading his shot guns while gesturing to the picture on the wall of winged pony wearing tattered black robes, atleast they would’ve been black except for all the red blood and intestines covering them, two red eyes glowed from under his hood, at the end of each hoof was a six inch long serrated blade made specifically for killing on the way out.

A pony pulled the action of his assault rifle back while stepping on my legs and leaning over the pile of dead.

“No stop please.” Tick-Tock said indifferently from the floor as the head of the pony exploded open and he fell on top of my legs. The pony’s eyes rolled over and glared at me.

“Well I don’t think I’ll have to cut off your legs to make sure you don’t get away.” Star Fury slashed off my right fore hoof. “But just to be sure.” Then she took the left.

FM’s voice came through the Pipbuck. “How are you feeling Angelo’ or is it Scythe?”

“FM it’s me Omega!” I screamed as I was rolled over and the sickle cut through my skin and muscle.

“The Omega I knew didn’t kill ponies; he didn’t get shot at all the time.” She answered. “And he promised he wouldn’t change so it has to be somepony else.”

I felt a sickening pull as my intestine were levitated out of me. Tick-Tock laid there limply on the floor asking Beatrice for help.

“Sorry Tick, but he endangered the caravan.”

“Okay makes sense.” He grinned cheerfully and looked back to me getting eviscerated.

My mother walked up, but she was younger. “Sorry I’d love to help you Omega but the wasteland breaks heroes. I already gave you all the help I could.”

“But…mom…” I gasped blood dripping from my mouth.

“By the way did you ever meet your father?” She tilted her head.

“Mom…please…” I gasped.

“I already told you why I can’t.” She looked to the painting on the wall. “I don’t want to end up like him.” She pointed to the pony walking out of the painting then trotted off behind the stable door closing it as she went.

“Mom…Please!” I begged. The pony completely exited the painting and steadily floated to Star Fury and tore into Star Fury as I tried to warn her but she ignored me.

Star Fury’s limp bleeding body fell down on top of me as the pegasus tore the blades on his fore hooves out of his victim. He walked over to the limp grinning body of Tick-Tock and tore him in half. I screamed help as he proceeded to kill everypony at the party unnoticed all of them looking only at me, each of them baring a different scar. Finally he killed the last one and stood over me staring at me through his cloak. He pulled out a gun and put in in my mouth.

“Let me help.” Golden Delicious’ reflection said walking around from behind Angelo’ missing a large chunk of skull and putting a gun inside my mouth. My tongue tensed around the trigger. I hurt so much, it was the only choice I could make, and I pulled the trigger the gun clicked back, empty.

I woke up covered in sweat, and tears, my pipbuck’s alarm started to go off. I blinked trying to remember where I was. My legs hurt, my head hurt, I ran to the bathroom and vomited up what little I had eaten. I hadn’t been hungry for few days not with all the shit I’ve seen; now I wasn’t going to be sleeping for a few days either. I couldn’t wait for this nightmare to end, just three months I kept telling myself just three months.

I had put my barding on, my knife in a sheath on my leg, slung the sledge hammer over my back, I opened the other two packages Tick-Tock had left me. The smallest one had a canteen with the ‘Stable-Tec’ logo and a note that said “Reminder of home”. The other package had some apples and carrots. I holstered the 9 mm and 10 mm slung the assault rifle on my back to where I could quickly grab it. I had just finished filling the canteen with slightly irradiated water when there was a knock on my door.

I opened it expecting to see Tick-Tock but it was Star Fury some scrapes and bruises from last night’s fight with Beatrice.

“I’m letting you know my offer still stands, my group was reluctant but when I explained pipbucks to them they agreed.” She was looking at me differently than last night harder if anything.

Tick-Tock walked around the corner before I could answer, the scratches from Beatrice scabbed over his face. He stood off to the side waiting for me to answer. He really had no idea how awkward he was making this. Star Fury followed my gaze then jumped back when she saw Tick-Tock standing there silently.

“I’m sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you.” He tipped his hat. “…forgot your name.”

“N-N-No problem.” She stammered looking at him with a where-did-he-come-from look. “It’s Star Fury.”

“Scythe, we need to be going, everyone is waiting except Beatrice she’s still waking up.” Tick-Tock said looking towards me.

“Wait, you said we are moving out first thing in the morning.” I answered trying to keep my voice controlled.

“Yeah I did say that.” He tapped his hoof upon his chin. “Well might as well get some breakfast.” He turned around and trotted down stairs. Leaving my jaw dropped on the floor.

“Well…my offer stands…” She stammered wandering what just happened. “if you want to join us we are leaving in two hours.”

“Okay, but I think I’m going to be staying with Tick-Tock.” She looked at me confused. “He’s saved my life more times than I care to count, he bent over backwards to get me this job and I really don’t want to make him look bad.”

“Okay, then I guess bye?” She trotted down the stairs staring at the floor.

I stood there stupefied for a moment before going downstairs. The griffins and pony were sitting around eating…meat…Tick-Tock…a pony…was eating meat. I guess this is the wasteland some things were expected to be disgusting. I felt sick my mind drifting back to the ponies that had died because of me.

“Bacon?” Tick-Tock offered me a plate through clenched teeth. I tried not gag.

“Tick-Tock…I know you may not know this but…ponies are vegetarians.” I looked at him and he stared.

“Yeah I know, but it’s bacon.” He looked at me like the word bacon made everything perfect. “Besides, as long as I don’t eat too much I’m fine.” He took my look as a no and flipped the plate and caught every piece of bacon.

“That’s disgusting.” I blurted out and he laughed.

“Stable Ponies.” He shook his head. “Can’t teach them the wasteland, can’t sell them to slavers.”

I groaned and walked downstairs trying to remember how long a pony could go without sleep and not lose their sanity when I bumped into Beatrice at the top of the stairs. She looked me over as if deciding if I was worth her time. Then shook her head and brushed past Tick-Tock saying something to him under her breath and he just smiled and shook his head and said something I didn’t hear.

Downstairs the three griffin mercs were finishing up eating and getting ready to go. To be honest they looked less like they were going to guard a caravan and more like they were expecting a full scale war. One of them had a minigun! A fucking minigun!

“Bit over armed aren’t they?” I asked Tick-Tock when he stepped outside.

“Yeah, typically ponies guard caravans themselves and may hire one or two griffins for support.” He looked back to Beatrice who was rapidly eating her breakfast. “Makes me wonder.”

“Everything alright?” I asked and he gave me a blank look.

“Yeah, just some things have been bothering me.” He popped his neck.

Obviously I’d have to pry this from him. “Like what?”

“Why she took the contract in the first place, I know she can’t be that strapped for caps.” He looked at me. “She also suggested that we hire you on instead of just taking you along the caravan.”

“Maybe with the Angelo’ stuff going on the oth-“ He shook his head.

“No she’s been doing this run for a few months.” His eyes narrowed. “Angelo’ didn’t show up until a few days ago.”

“Okay, do you have any ideas?” He responded by shaking his head, it was weird seeing him worried, almost terrifying.

“I’m hoping it’s nothing.” He looked back to me. “Keep a careful eye on your EFS, let me or Beatrice know the second something red pops up, even if it’s a radroach.”

He trotted off towards the caravan without another word.

(Level Up) Mare's Man-Congrats you devil, you get plus 10 to speech checks when making 'idle conversation' with the opposite gender.

I'd like to thank my friend Sara for doing my cover art and editing, and kkat for creating Fo:E