Fallout: Equestria- The Lone Rifleman
Ashes To Ashes; Dust To Dust
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Change is something we all dread. We don’t like change when it happens but, sometimes it is necessary. Over time we all change whether we know it or not. We change for jobs. For people. And we change to survive. In war many soldiers had to adapt and change in order to fight another day. I know that we all aren’t soldiers but, we do change. We have to change in order to survive. To change we must make decisions that make us into who we are. Whether it’s a good or bad change depends on the person or pony. Change is something we have to deal with even though we dread it.
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It was an early morning; the smell of autumn was in the October air. I was walking down the busy main street of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The wind being made by the nuclear powered cars and bikes hitting my brown hair that wasn’t covered in my black leather hat sending it in all directions but, I couldn’t give a shit as today was my seventeenth birthday. October 23rd 2077. The cold being bounced off my brown leather duster and leather hat making me look like an old west cowboy; just minis the big iron on my hip. I wasn’t from the city; I was from a small town about an hour south call Tahlequah but, I was here for a special gift from my favorite uncle. He didn’t know what it was but, he got a deal from the people from Vault-Tec. I continued walking down the street getting looks from the people I was walking by until I came to a building that had a little man on the door with a blue and yellow jumpsuit with his hand stuck out and giving me the thumbs up; he was saying “Vault-Tec a new future… underground.”
I just shook his head in a little chuckle at the thought of going inside those Vaults a little funny. My uncle tried so hard just to get me a spot inside but, they denied me. My uncle was outraged at the thought of his only nephew being denied a guaranteed future. To satisfy him Vault-Tec decided to make a test subject for a new device they just supplied the Vaults. They said to send me to their Tulsa branch to get the device called a Pip something that is only how much I found out.
I stood outside the Vault-Tec branch of Tulsa. I sighed and opened the door to be greeted by a bustling lobby full of people in suits and all wearing large devices that took up almost the entire forearm of the arm that it was worn. The lobby itself was made like a fancy bank with the walls behind covered in what looked like granite. There were also two staircases about ten feet away from the receptionist’s desk I looked around to see the receptionist’s desk. The thump of my leather boots on the tile made my presence known. To them I was like an alien from my country look to my young appearance but, I didn’t know nor cared until I reached the receptionist’s desk. Behind it was a young woman about the age of twenty or twenty-one. She was tapping away on a terminal with a phone stuck between her shoulder and her ear. She had the same device around her right forearm.
“Yes… Yes ma’am. I should have you appointed by Thursday of next week. Yes, I hope that you enjoy your spot in Vault 54, thank you for your time.” She said hanging up the phone then, noticing me. “How may I help you, Sir?” She asked in a well practiced tone.
I looked back and forth with sweat starting to form on my neck. “Umm, I’m here for the package that your boss had sent for Parker Williams.” I said uncomfortably with the sweat going down his neck. I was wondering why he felt like I was in a hurry.
I was snapped out of his thought as the woman placed a metal box on the granite top. “This is the package that you’re looking for. Inside is a Pip-boy 3000 mobile device.” She said opening the metal box revealing the same device that everyone inside was wearing. She took it out and reached out her hand. “Please, give me your left arm.” she asked motioning me to give her my arm. I was hesitant at the request. Last time someone asked this they injected me with psycho that made me go on a rampage. I didn’t want a repeat of that. “I won’t bite.” She said with a nice smile that made me cave. I gave her my left arm and she opened the device like a shackle. She clamped it down on my forearm then, the sounds of drills came out of the Pip-boy. I was looking at the device with confusion and alarm. The woman giggled at me as I looked at was stuck to arm. “Don’t worry, it automatically seals once it’s on the user.” I looked at her and sighed in relief.
“Ok, I was starting to get worried that it was drilling into my arm.” I said jokingly as I continued to look at the pretty receptionist and he smiled.
She sent a smile in return. Her face turned to surprise then; she began to laugh a little. “I almost forgot another part of the pip-boy.” She said handing me a fingerless glove with a wire coming from the center of it. “This keeps track of your vitals. But, just so you don’t have to go to the hospital and mess up that cute face of yours. Here some stimpaks.” The woman said placing four stimpaks inside my hand which I threw them into my duster. She cleared her throat and sat straight. “The pip-boy comes with many different features like a compass, topographical map…” She continued with the features; I placed the glove on his left hand tuning her out then, the in a flash of green two bars appeared in my vision. The one that was on the left said on top HP and the other one on the left AP. Below the one that had HP was a bunch of green dots then, as he turned to the door six red dots appeared. I raised an eyebrow.
“You said that this thing had a compass right? What about a Heads up Display?” I asked my muscles starting to tense as the amount of red dots begin to mount up.
“Yes, it does. Why?” the woman said with a confused look.
“Because…DUCK!!!” I exclaimed while tackling the woman behind the desk. The moment that we touched the tile floor bullets began to rip apart the lobby. People were starting to scream and run in terror and confusion. Green dots began to disappear one by one from my HUD. I got up on one knee and was kneeling on my right knee. In the time of five seconds most of the green dots were gone. “Shit!” I cussed under his breath as the door opened to reveal eleven masked people with assault rifles, 10mm submachine gun, and assault carbines. I ducked down looked at the woman; who was terrified. “Do you have a gun of any kind!?” I exclaimed as quietly as possible.
The woman was beginning to tremble with fear as she grabbed her purse and took out a small .32 caliber pistol. “This is all I’ve got.” She said giving me the pistol. “Please, get me out of here!?” she cried out as softly as possible. The sounds of crying and moans filled the room. Without warning the attackers were starting to kill off the survivors of the initial attack.
“Alright, boys collect their pip-boys then, continue up the building! Leave no survivors!” A deep voice boomed across the lobby.
‘Shit!’ I thought as the gunshot crept closer and closer to us. I looked at my HUD and saw that one was turning fast. I looked up to see a mask man in black tee-shirt and camouflaged pants with an assault rifle. Without realizing I brought up the .32 pistol and fired twice into the attacker’s chest. He didn’t even see me until he had two holes in his chest. He looked down then, fell on the ground dead. I froze seeing the body of the attacker fall as time slowed to a crawl. Then, time sped up making the body splat in a pool of blood. The red dot disappeared on my HUD; his rifle scattering across the tile floor to a staircase. “Shit!” I yelled seeing my best chance of a weapon being dashed away like the morning fog. I looked at the woman and she was too terrified to move let alone speak. My gunshots have alerted the others and they were starting to shoot at the desk. ‘Thank god that this desk is made of granite.’ I thought to myself with the red dots were moving back and forth so much that I lost which was which but, I had a choice: move or die. I looked at the woman again. I brought her to her knees and made her look me in the eyes. She was terrified at what is going on. “I’m going to get the fallen rifle by the stair well. Can you cover me?” I asked. She didn’t respond. “Can. You. Cover. Me?!” I asked again slipping the pistol into her hand. She looked down at it like it was evil but, she held a strong grip. “This is the best change at surviving.” I said looking again in her eyes. “Can you do it?” I said almost yelling. She nodded once and I smiled. “Good. Now, I’m going to dash in 3...2...1. NOW!” I yelled dashing across the open space. I heard three shots come from the desk then, a burst of gunfire. Not at me but…her. I slid behind the corner of the wall next to the wall. I grabbed it and pressed my back against the wall. I looked behind the desk and she was on the floor in a pool of her own blood. She was staring at me. I couldn’t stop looking at her. She was smiling with calm eyes. I looked at my HUD and she was still alive. I looked back at her and she coughed up blood. Then, she mouthed the words: Live for me. Then, a single gun shot from a masked man similar to the one I killed with her pistol.
He didn’t notice me until I aimed the assault rifle at his chest. I took a deep breath then, for some reason time slowed to a crawl. A small sign said: Welcome to VATS or Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System. In this mode time is slowed and you can que shots on a person(s) or animal(s). How many times you can que a shot is how many AP or Action Points you have available. So, the next time you want to operate VATS just concentrate on a target and take a deep breath. Now, go out there and kick some ass! The sign disappeared as fast as it appeared. I looked around and saw three men in the same uniform as the first man I killed. I looked at the man that killed the Woman whose name I didn’t know. I qued two shots on him and one at the man that was about to fire on me. All of them about 65% I took them anyways just to see if I got lucky. I let VATS go and I fired without control. Two of the three men went down. I was about to fire again but, all I heard was a click. ‘Fuck!’ I thought as the attackers began to fire on me. I pressed myself against the wall; the bullets hitting the corner of the wall taking chips out of it smothering my view. I closed my eyes and turned my back away from the hail of bullets. When it stopped so did all of the firing did.
Then the same voice that ordered the killings started to boom again. “Come out now! We know that you are out of ammo! There is nowhere to run!” The moment he said that six heavily armored guards came running down the stairs with 10mm sub-machineguns, assault rifles, and one guard had a rifle that looked like an AK but, was long, had a small magazine and riflescope. The guard with the odd rifle stayed at the top of the stair case with some cover.
A guard came to me and aimed his rifle at me; which made me raise my hands but, then he looked at the dead three attackers and he nodded. “I’m kinda of out of ammo. Can you spare a mag or two?” I ask keeping an eye on my HUD kept track of the last eight attackers as they moved around. The guard didn’t say anything but handed me three mags. I reloaded the rifle and chambered a round; I placed the last two magazines in the inside pockets of my duster. I peered around the corner and smiled. I stuck out my hand with my middle finger up. “You know what I say to that you, Jackass?! I SAY GO SIT ON IT AND SPIN!” I yelled taking my rifle around the corner and firing catching two of the attackers in the fire. Two dots faded from the HUD. I retreated behind the corner just before more rounds hit the granite corner. I looked back at the guards. “There’s six left. You think we can take them?” I asked.
The guard nearly chuckled. “You took down five of them on your own by pure luck and then there is us the train professionals. I think we take them. Now, move aside kid. Play time‘s over.” He said pushing me to the side like a little kid. The guard jumped out taking a chest full of bullets but, managed to bring one of the bastards with him. ‘That makes five of them left and four of us left…’ another guard on the opposite stair well got a face full of buckshot from a combat shotgun. ‘Make that five to three.’ I peered around the corner again just to get a bullet graze my cheek. I recoiled and put my hand to the scratch. I took a deep breath and jumped sideways towards the desk and getting full view at what I’m facing two 10mm subguns one assault rifle, a revolver and a missile launcher. Bullets passed me making holes in my duster and some grazing my legs. I looked down at the kind woman that pretty much saved my life. Her eyes were still open. I placed the butt of my rifle on the ground on my right side; I placed my hand over her eyes and softly closed them. My ears were starting to thump more and more as the gunfight continued. I was about jump up and fire again but, I heard a bouncing noise then, a splash. I looked down to see blood covered grenade. I scrambled to my feet and jumped out into the open just as the grenade exploded sending bits and pieces of the woman and all of those whose bodies were near it.
I was about to get up but, was kicked in the gut by a steel-toed combat boot. I clenched my stomach and looked up to see an assault rifle barrel right in my face. “Move and you die.” A voice bellowed from the man holding the assault rifle to my face. I was about to say something then, the sound of a combat shotgun shredded the man’s head making it a red mist. The man’s body collapsed onto of me pinning me to the floor. I looked up at the stair well to see where the shot came from. There were more and more guards coming down the stairs. Then, there was a silence as the attackers had four of themselves against about thirty guards and more are still pouring in. They all pointed their weapons at each other making an uneasy standoff.
“Drop your weapons and get on the floor! NOW!” the chief guard yelled out holding his combat shotgun’s stock against his cheek.
A loud laugh boomed. “Bullshit! Fire away!” the same deep voice from earlier boomed again then, the sound of a missile launcher firing. Then, a large explosion hit the top of the stair case again. The explosion sent about nine different guards flying in bits and pieces. That explosion rocked the lobby and made the entire lobby get enveloped in gunfire again. Men screaming and moaning as the attackers systematically took out each guard. I looked at the missile launcher as he reloaded. I then, heard a large splat right next to me. I turned as much as the body on top of me would let me. I looked to see half of an upper torso land right next to me the face of the guard was staring at me with hallow eyes. I finally lost my lunch and sent the bile onto the body on top of me. My stomach burned and I slumped on the floor; the man’s blood and my bile soaking into my duster. I felt tired but, I had to get this body off of me. With the strength that I barely had I managed to get the body off but, I got a bullet to my left side sending me sprawling on the ground. The red crimson of blood began to spread onto the floor. A message came from my HUD
“Shit.” I murmured to myself wondering how I made it so far into this shit hole. I looked to the guards next to me just in time to see one of them get a head full of lead. His head exploded into bloody gore. Some of it splattered on me. My stomach tried to vomit again but, I had nothing in there. The other guard was looking down at his downed friend in horror.
That horror turned to anger as he roared a battle cry grabbing his friend’s 10mm subgun and dual wielding two of them. Two of the red dots went down but, so did he. His weapons scattered across the floor when he fell dead. Then, an explosion rocked the left stair case killing another four guards and maiming the last guard. ‘I have to get rid of that missile launcher.’ I thought to myself see the last green dot vanish on the left stair case. I looked to the right staircase to see the last two guards pressing their backs against the wall getting ready to attack again. I was about to say something but, they jumped out to fire only to get another missile. The resulting explosion knocked me back in the open just in time as another one hit the desk exploding it into thousands of little pieces. Some of the pieces made holes into my leather duster, hat and scratching me up pretty good. I had my assault rifle and the weird sniper rifle on my back. I got up and pinned my back against the wall. ‘I have to time this just right.’ I thought as I heard something being hinged open. I jumped out and brought the rifle to my cheek and opened VATS. My shots had a 20% chance of hitting my target but, what did I have to lose. I qued as many shots as possible and let VATS go. I fired three three-round bursts into the weapon. The first burst went wide hitting around his feet, the second hit the launcher’s legs and the third burst hit his weapon but, one stray round hit the missile as it was being loaded into the launcher itself. This caused a large explosion ripping apart the missile launcher and the launcher. Bits and pieces of the launcher were spread across the entire lobby.
That only left one more bad guy and me. I saw one red dot left on the HUD but, he wasn’t firing at all like he was waiting for me. “Well, I’m not one for disappointment.” I said to myself getting on my feet and walking out with my assault rifle in my hands ready for action. But, the red dot wasn’t in the lobby but, he was standing still. I raised an eyebrow and walked to the door. I opened it with one hand to see a large man without a mask; with a shallow beard and a deep scar running down the side of his face that looks like he was from the frontlines.
He was looking west to my left at the skyline; he then looked at me with a revolver in his right hand. He smiled when he saw me with the blood all over my duster. “You look like a true cowboy you know that?” His deep voice echoed through the weirdly empty streets. “Having a good couple of rifles are always good to have.” He said cocking his revolver making me aim my assault rifle at him. I looked at my action points and saw that I was still recharging but, I saw a couple of numbers below that. 15/35. I just shrugged it off for the moment and I would figure it out later.
“Why did you attack us!?” I yelled having my rifle aimed at his head. He didn’t say a word and just sighed. “WHY!?” I yelled almost on the verge of tears. “Why did you kill all of those innocent people!? TELL ME!? NOW OR I WILL BLOW YOUR FUCKING HEAD OFF!” I yelled shaking my rifle.
The man sighed again and aimed his revolver to my head. I was about to fire until with his left hand he punched me in the chest with a sickening crack; knocking the wind out of me making me drop to my knees and sending pain into my chest. I looked up to his revolver barrel. “You really want to know?” he asked with a blank face void of emotion like a psychopath. I nodded. “Because I wanted to save them from the horrors of what’s going to happen.” he deadpanned.
I was confused by this and asked. “What horrors?” my hand tensing around the grip of the assault rifle.
He sighed and looked back at the sky with some streaks coming down. “You are about to find out, young man.” He said decocking his revolver and placing it back in his holster. “If you survive this… you and me aren’t finished here.” He sighed. “I hope that you don’t change with what’s going to happen.” said just as a mushroom cloud appeared about a couple miles away. I raised my arm to my eyes to protect them from the light then, the shockwave came knocking me away about a hundred yards scraping me in every which way but, my hat managed to stay on somehow. I landed on my back pain raging through my body where several bones are defiantly broken. I sat up though the pain just in time to see the debris cloud coming towards me. I sighed. “Well…Shit.” I said just before the debris cloud hit me.
A part of a poem that my uncle made in his time in the army came to my head when it hit me.
Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust.
This is my time alone.
In this time I wish I wasn’t.
Battles wage in my time alone.
Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust.
The guns blaring act as a horn.
The blood staining the snow.
I wish that God would show.
Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust.
The planes roar and men die.
The fires of hell we can not fight.
The world is now burning.
Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust.
The pain is here and will not go away.
I wish that my friends were here.
So, when the bombs fall I would not die alone.
Ashes… to Ashes: Dust… to Dust.
I thought I was going to die but, I just didn’t. The life flashing before your eyes was total bullshit. I opened my eyes to a cloud covered sky. I tried to get up but pain shot up my body from all over. I looked at my pip-boy HUD and it was flashing red. My HP meter was slowly going down. ‘Shit’ I thought. I began to read the messages that my pip-boy was flooding me with.
Using the rifle as a crutch; I began to move around. I looked back and forth until my sight reached an almost destroyed barn. I smiled and began to limp towards the barn. Once I got inside the forest my Geiger counter began to click again. “Damn it.” I said limping faster to get out of the radioactive orchard. I dashed out of the forest then, a marker appeared on my HUD. You have discovered Sweet Apple Acres. I raised an eyebrow and looked at the barn. The top part is gone and the used to be nice looking house looks like it is half way to collapsing. I shrugged and continued to limp down towards the barn. Once I got to the destroyed doors I saw that there wasn‘t anything worth looking through and decided that I should go down the path . It took me a bit to get to the bridge and when I got their it seems like a fight was here but, that was a long time ago. I got on the bridge and the smell of death assaulted me; nearly making me vomit what little I had in my stomach. I shook my head and continued down the bridge. When I got in I realized I was in some sort of village or town that has been decimated by what looks like a bomb of some kind, more and likely a nuke or something. I looked at the houses and huts of the small town. There was nothing here but, curd paintings and when I rounded a corner I saw hanging bodies making me stop in place and stare at them. It wasn’t human but, I felt really bad for the poor thing. All I know that it has hooves and is…I tilted my head to get a better look and raised an eyebrow. Purple? But, it was just a torso with two legs hanging on hooks and chains. I shook my head and continued to limp forward towards a long dead oak tree. As I got closer the sweat on my neck began to form again. I had the feeling that someone or something was watching me and it was making me nervous. I checked my HUD and there was about six hostiles moving all around me ignored them for the moment trying to reach the door. I reached a door that lead into the tree and another appeared sign on the upper left of my vision‘You have discovered Ponyville public library!’ I raised an eyebrow ‘Ok, that’s good to know.’ My HUD was starting to pick up a couple of non-hostiles when I opened the door. I raised up the large rifle and flicked off the safety. I used the lower iron sights for the closes quarters of the library.
I looked up to see a pair of cages was hanging off of the ceiling by chains. I looked at my HUD and saw that is were the non-hostile marks were coming from. I traced the chain to a post upstairs. With my rifle in the lead I crept upstairs towards the post. From the stairs I got a view of what was in the cages. Two ponies. “Odd, but, there are some things that I don’t just want to question.” I said shrugging it off and untying the chain and slowly lowering the cage with both of the ponies in it. I kept doing it until I heard the cage hit the wooden floor. I grabbed my rifle and ran down the stair toward the door of the cage. When I got to the cage itself I saw that the two ponies. They both were filthy and covered in blood. I froze realizing where the blood was coming from. They were both mares. I quickly opened the cage by using the butt of the rifle to break the rusty lock. I opened the cage putting my rifle on the floor. The ponies just stared at me with scared and weak eyes. I felt bad for them. I reached out my hand and they hobbled back towards the back of the cage. They looked like mother and daughter; both of them were grey but, the filly had a white mane instead of the brown one that the mother had. I sighed and took off my hat revealing my brown hair. I gestured with my hand for them to come closer. “It’s alright. I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to save you two.” I said retreating my hand as they just shook their heads. I sighed and got on my knees. “Please, come with me. I will take you to the nearest town and see if they have a pony doctor.” I said putting my hand out again.
The Mother looked at her filly and then, back at me with tears in her eyes. “Please, get us out of here. But, my daughter…She can’t walk those bastards…” She couldn’t speak as she began to sob. I nearly jumped back when she spoke. I mean, it scared me but, I didn‘t lose my cool and reached my hand farther. “They rapped her until she couldn‘t walk. Please, get us to New Appleloosa. I will pay…” she was about to say more with tears in her eyes but, I waved her off.
“You don’t have to pay me. Besides what would I buy?” I asked joking well knowing the answer.
“Ammo, guns, medical supplies, and other shit.” She said wiping the tears from her eyes.
I sighed and chuckled. “You got a point there. Lets go.” I said lightly taking a hold on her child. The mother and the filly squeaked when I got a hold on her and took her out of the cage. I softly laid her on the ground and took off my duster revealing my grey Hard Rock casino shirt then, wrapped it around the filly. I cradled her in my arms after my rifle slung over my shoulder. The mother softly came out of the cage limping but, able to walk. She sighed and looked up at me.
“Thank you for rescuing us. Do you know where New Appleloosa is?” She asked with a little confusion.
I turned to her with her filly now softly falling asleep. “No Idea!” I said with a little more enthusiasm and noise then needed.
She faced hoofed and sighed. “Thirty second of being with you and you already giving me a headache.” She said looking up and seeing my new pip-boy and she smiled. “Good thing I know where it is.” She said flaring her horn forcing my arm down and she began to tap away at it. My HUD then said Location Marked. “Now…” She said opening the door. “lets-” She couldn’t finish her sentence before a bullet hit her in the chest turning her into a lifeless corpse. I was in shock as the six hostiles outside began to laugh.
“Look at her drop! That is fucking awesome!” I heard a voice outside yell out in laughter.
I calmly sat the filly on the ground and patted her on the head as she slept softly. “You sleep softly and I will take care of those bad ponies.” I said putting on my hat and handling my rifle. I softly walked outside to see six ponies in cobbled up barbing and in a semi half-circle. All of them celebrating their kill of an innocent pony.
They all looked at me with confusion. “What the fuck are you?” One of the raiders yelled out having a sledgehammer in his magic aura.
I shot him a cold glare making the pony flinch. “I’m your worse fucking nightmare.” I said bring up my rifle and taking one shot. The .308 round exploded out of the barrel then, made its way into the pony’s skull showering his friends in his brains and gore.
“Shoot him, Shoot him Shoot him!” one of them yelled firing a shotgun that completely missed. I brought my rifle to the other pony and shot once hitting him in the jaw taking off the lower half of his head. That the other start firing a couple of the rounds grazed me but, I ignored it. I fired twice both hitting their marks killing two more ponies. One of them tried to flee but, using VATS I shot him in the leg crippling him. I ran to a side of building just a raider behind a rock was shooting at me with a carbine in her mouth. ‘That’s nasty.’ I waited until she reloaded before jumping out. Using VATS again I aimed right for the head. I released the machine and then, my rifle kicked. The bullet flew through the air and hitting the raider right between the eyes. I looked at my HUD ammo count 2/00.
I only had two shots left and I had to make them count. I to walk towards the last raider whistling an ominous tone. He was trying to crawl away from me with a wide but, I slammed my boot on his back making a sharp crack; the raider screamed in pain. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going, you little shit?!” I asked with a great sadistic tone. I flipped him over with my boot and pressed it down on his chest. I noticed his sawed off shotgun laying open hinged open. I looked back to the raider that I had pinned under my boot. “Now, you are going to tell me where the fuck am I or I’m going to leave you here for the vultures.” I said pressing harder on his chest making a couple audible cracks.
The raider looked like he could barely breath and was crying out in pain. “You son of bitch.” He breathed out just before he looked in me in the eye. “You fucktard are in the Equestrian Wasteland. Welcome to hell you little shit.”
I chuckled and brought up my boot then, slammed hard on his chest breaking more ribs possibly puncturing his lungs. “Thanks, Now…” I paused looking at the forest the left of us seeing a couple of hostile creatures. I looked back down at him with an evil grin. “I’m going to feed you to the wolfs.” I said grabbing the collar of his barbing..
As I began to drag him to edge of the forest he began to cry out. “NO NO You said that you would let me live!”
I looked at him as I dragged him to the edge of the forest. “I said that I wouldn’t leave you for the Vultures.”
“NOOOOOOO ” He screamed and kicked until I got to the edge of the forest where I could hear the growling and rotten breath of the wolves. “Please… just kill me.” he coughed out blood coming out of the corners of his mouth. “Just kill me.”
I looked down at him his face was bloody and bruised along with his entire chest. I glared at him. “You should have thought of that before you fuck with me and hurt an innocent Mare and her filly.” was all I said before I threw the entire raider with strength I didn’t know I had into the forest. “Have at him!” He screamed for his life as he was flying through the air. I turned around just and began to walk away then, I heard the sounds of ripping and tearing flesh. I began to walk back to the tree but, I stopped when I saw the raider with the carbine slumped over the boulder. I bent down and grabbed it then, started to inspect it. Even with the teeth marks on the grip it didn’t feel that bad. I took out the magazine and realized that the bullets were 5.56. I smiled taking out an assault rifle mag and slapped it in the rifle. A perfect fit. I slung my M77 across my back and took the rifle with me as I made it back to the oak tree. I looked down at the sleeping filly and sighed. I turned my head back to the dead mother. Her eyes were still open and filled with tears.
“I’m sorry and I wish I could have prevented this. I promise to bring your filly to New Appleloosa on my life.” I said just on the verge of tears; I closed her eyes and softly preyed to God to let her pass. I went to the filly that was still wrapped in my duster; she was sound asleep. I picked her up and went out the door; setting my marker for New Appleloosa. I had my carbine across my chest carrying the little filly down the road following the marker. The amount of red hostile marks indicated the scavengers that are starting to feast on the bodies of the raiders. “I hope they get sick.”
********
“This has been one fucked up birthday.” I said to myself adjusting my grip on the filly. I walked and walked and walked through into a desolate desert. My shirt was being soaked in my sweat making me stink. The filly was still sleeping as I walked through the blazing heat. Vultures were starting hover about me as I followed the neglected sand covered road. With nothing to do but, just walk I looked at my pip-boy and went to the radio section.
There was two stations that I could get. I pressed one of them. “nd sisters lets rejoice in the power of Unity an…” The voice sounded charismatic and mesmerizing. I just shook my head and shut it off.
“Nope.”
I flipped to the other one then, a voice that sounded like he was really hyped came out. “This is DJ-PON3 and as always I’m broadcasting from tenpony tower in Manehattan. Giving you the truth no matter how much it hurts. Here is today’s news. Everypony knows the raider hangout in Ponyville right? Apparently, there was a bone-afied Human there! Yes, you heard me right ponies; a Human has arrived in the Equestrian Wasteland! This human has single handily taken out the entire gang of Raiders in Ponyville. But, be warned he is well armed and skilled. From our reports that are just now coming in is that he killed five raiders with five shots from a semi-auto .308 rifle from the shells on the ground. He interrogated the last one and threw the raider to the wolves; literally. What he wanted to find out we don’t know. But, there is no need to shoot him on sight; he has a good side too. He is said to be carrying a injured filly that he as rescued from those shit head raiders and on his way to new Appleloosa. Sadly, when the ponies that giving me the reports right now say that the mother of the filly was kill just inside of the door of the library. But, there is something to remember folks; when a human appears something big is going to happen. Usually, a really big boom and asses getting kicked but, that is from past experiences from history. He is said to be wearing a black leather hat and has wrapped the filly in his duster. We don’t know his name but, all we know that his a lone rifleman…yeah, I like that. His name is the Lone Rifleman. Rifleman, if you are listening to this come on by and lets talk. I’m sure that my listeners well be glad to hear from the man himself. Now, here is a song from a famous mare from before the war that we all know and love. Here is Sweetie Bell!!” After he said that a sweet voice that could have been made of honey filled my ears.
I raised an eyebrow at this and chuckled nearly waking up the filly. “The Lone Rifleman? Uh, that has a nice ring to it but, I like Parker better. And in the hell did this get on the radio so fast, I mean damn. That just like two and half hours ago.” I said to myself looking at the distance. I sighed as my marker was just blinking every so often. ‘This is a long ass walk.’ I thought to myself with a sigh.
“You know you really shouldn’t cuss around a little filly.” a voice replied out of nowhere scaring me nearly making me drop the filly. “Don’t drop me. I’m fragile.” the voice said again out of nowhere.
“Where in the hell is that coming from?” I said looking around the area only seeing the occasionally Vulture hovering over head.
“Down here.” The voice said again turning my attention to the still sleeping filly.
I rubbed my head with my free hand. “I must be going crazy.” I said to myself wondering that same statement.
“Nope, you are already crazy but, that’s not the point. I’m the filly you rescued.” the voice said again now in a squeaky girl voice.
I looked down at the sleeping filly. “But, you’re asleep how in the hell are you talking to me?”
I heard a mental sigh. “there is a thing telepathy, look it up but, this is how I speak to my friends when I’m sleeping or grounded. You know that you are really loud when you talk, right?”
I chuckled. “You’re not the first to say that but, why are you talking to me?” I asked making me look like I’m crazy talking to myself.
“I don’t know you just seem like you could use somepony to talk too. You know that you are full of radiation right? I mean what happened? Where you hit with a balefire bomb or something?”
“Ok, first what in the hell is a balefire bomb and two if it is anything like a Nuclear bomb then, yes. I don’t know how or why but, the resulting boom sent me to this hellhole. But, what is your name?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh, how rude my name is Thorn Rose. My Father is New Appleloosa and he should let you stay the night. Just be warned he has been know to have a little…temper. But… Oh, we’re here.” She said making me look up to see what looked like a ring of stacked railcars. I stopped about thirty yards confused at what I’m seeing. ‘That went by pretty fast.’
I was about to get closer when I heard a voice yell across to me. “State your business or b…” A pony what looked like combat armor stared at me with horror and fear. “your that human that DJ-PON3 told everypony about the ‘Lone Rifleman’?”
My face went flat and I looked at the buck. “Yeah, my name’s Parker nice to meet you too.” I sighed adjusting Thorn in my arms. “Can I come in? I mean damn it’s blazing hot, there’s bugs everywhere; in all different shapes and sizes to be precise. I also got a injured filly here and she needs medical attention!” I yelled across the space between me and the guard. He looked nervous as hell and looked like he was jumpy on the trigger which how much ammo I have wouldn’t be good for me or Thorn.
I walked a step forward “Stay back!!” He yelled with fear in his voice he jumped back edgy on the trigger bit near his mouth.
I was about to speak again before another voice came from behind the guard. It was an older buck that was a grey and black stallion with a small beard and sheriff’s hat. “What’s going on?!” He said to the young guard, nearly scaring the shit out of him.
“The Lone Rifleman is here.” the buck said clearly shaken by me doing nothing.
The older buck looked down at me and chuckled. “So you are the Human that has been kicking raider ass and saving fillies.” The buck said with a grin forming on his face. He turned to the younger guard. “Let him in, I think that he has a long day.” With a sigh the young guard whistled and then, in a yellow magic aura a large metal plate about 15x15foot was lifted revealing a bustling town full of ponies.
My HUD on the corner of my vision said: New location discovered! New Appleloosa. “So, this is New Appleloosa?” I said stepping in getting the attention of every pony. “What happened to the old one?” I said jokingly well knowing something bad has happened to it.
Chapter end.
Parker Williams AKA The Lone Rifleman: Level Up!
New Perk! Grunt: your battle in the Vault-Tec building and in Ponyville have taught you how to handle semi and fully automatic rifles. When handling semi-auto and fully automatic rifles in combat your Guns skill is raised by 10.