Fallout: Equestria- The Lone Rifleman

Family.

Family is something most of us have. Some don’t. Some have a happy family others not so much. Even your friends can be your family and your rock. Family is something that most of us cherish. But, when that is taken away from you it’s heartbreaking and painful. You feel like you don’t know what to do. But, when they come back with the help of a stranger you will be grateful and feel as happy as you ever been then, the pain and hurt goes away. It only hurts…when you know that you won’t see them again.

I stepped into the bustling town and smiled with the heavy metal gate hitting the ground with a dull thump. The town looked like it was made out from an old train yard. The walls were really made of old rail cars wielded together. I began to walk into the town; every one of the ponies were staring at me as I made my way to what looks like a makeshift hospital. I stopped just outside of it and studied how it’s made. It looks like that it took three cars and wielded them together. They knocked out a couple of the inner walls of the cars to make a larger room. I opened the door and walked to see a mare sitting at a desk typing away.

“Welcome to the New Appleloos- Thorn!!” the yellow mare yelled looking up pretty much jumping over the desk and taking the injured filly from my arms with her magic. She was starting to cry on the filly waking her up.

Thorn looked sleepy eyed and started to look around. “Where am I?” She asked stopping at me and she smiled. “Hello, Parker. Thanks for getting me here.” She said with a sincere smile.

I smiled and adjusted my hat. “No problem, kid. I was glad to do it.”

The mare holding Thorn looked at her then, back at me. “Are the one who rescued her?” she asked on the verge of tears again. I nodded and got a immediate response. She tackled me but, I held my footing and she was hugging me with Thorn in the air still wrapped around in my duster. “Thank you so much. Her father is the doctor here and he will be happy to hear that you have rescued her.” She separated from me and she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Just thank you. If there is anyth-” she was interrupted by a masculine voice coming through one of the doors.

“Rose? What is with all of the commotion? You shoul-” A bright green buck with no horn came through the door and stopped in place staring at me in shock. “A…Are that human that has been all over the radio?” he said clearly shaken. I nodded then, in a flash I was knocked to the ground and he was starting to punch me in the chest making a few audible cracks. He was crying and screaming. “WHY DID YOU GET MY WIFE KILLED?!?! WHY!?!” he continued to scream and yell throwing punches at my chest and face. I did my best trying to block them but, with hoofs those hurt.

He kept doing that and accusing me of killing his wife. After about ten seconds I had enough and punched him square in the jaw knocking him off of me. Before he could get up I was on him. I kicked him in the stomach knocking the wind out of him and back sprawling on the ground.. My anger was already building up from the stress from the last day. “DO YOU THINK THAT I ENJOYED GETTING YOUR WIFE KILLED?!?! UH?!” I screamed getting the attention of several ponies outside. “DO YOU THINK THAT I WANT THIS?!?! THOSE FUCKING RAIDERS AMBUSHED US RIGHT OUTSIDE THE FUCKING DOOR, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!!” I yelled kicking him in the chest again making a crack. “I KILLED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE BASTARDS BECAUSE THEY KILLED HER!!!! I COULDN’T STOP IT!!! SHE WAS THE ONE THAT OPENED THE DOOR!!! IF I OPENED IT AND I WOULD BE DEAD THEN, YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTER WOULD BE STILL IN PONYVILLE; MOST LIKELY GETTING FUCKING RAPED!!! BE GLAD THAT I GOT YOUR DAUGHTER BACK IN ONE PIECE, YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!” The buck looked up at me with a fear filled and bloody face then, he looked at Rose unwrapping Thorn from my duster. I took a deep breath and knelt to his eye level as he got up. “If I could… I would have taken the shot and still got them here alive but, I couldn’t. I will never forgive myself for what happened.” I said sticking out my right hand and smiling. “Now, why don’t we start off with a clean slate. My name is Parker Williams.”

He just stared at me with fear for a moment then, got a shit eating grin and took my hand. “Name’s Red Cross. Thank you for getting my Thorn back here.” He then took a deep breath. “I’m also sorry about sucker punching you.” he said looking over me as I was standing up. He looked at my pip-boy and he eyes went wide. He turned to Rose and yelled “Rose, get me ten doses of RadAway right now!!”

Rose had sat Thorn on a bed in the back of the office. She turned to Cross and nodded. “Yes, sir.” She said running off to the opposite side of the office to a door.

I was about to ask Cross what’s wrong but, something came through the front door. I turned to see the old buck from the gate. He looked pissed. He between me and Cross. “What the hell is going on here?!” his voice was edgy like his was getting ready for a fight.

I turned to him and smiled. “Nothing at all, sir. Just a little misunderrrrrrrrrrsssaaaaann-” I couldn’t finish speaking before I fell to the ground passed out.

********

I opened my eyes and looked back and forth on the ceiling. “What in the hell happened?” I said to myself drowsy sitting up. My head was pounding. “Ow.” I looked back and forth in the room full of cots nobody was seen. I looked at my HUD and only saw three non-hostiles. I twisted my body and placed my feet on the wooden floor. I looked down to see my cloths all except for my boxers that I had on were neatly folded with my hat sitting on top of the pile. I sighed and began to get dressed. When I put on my burnt jeans and dirty shirt I placed my holey duster over it all: I raised an eyebrow when I did. It felt a little off and heavier but, I just shrugged it off. To top it off I placed my hat right on my head. I looked around for my rifles and saw them leaning against the wall. I put the M77 across my back and from what the pip-boy says it my carbine that I took from the dead raider is a service carbine in 5.56 and adjustable plastic stock. I slung it over my shoulder and walked out the door. It was the main office with Rose, Cross and Thorn. Rose was at her desk. Cross was playing with Thorn who was now walking on all four legs. Happy as can be. I smiled and cleared my throat getting attention.

“Parker!” Thorn exclaimed running to me and hugging my leg. I smiled and patted her on the head.

“How you doing, Thorn?” I asked picking her up and hugging her.

“I should be asking the same question, Parker.” Cross said getting up and walking to me. When he got to me he had a shallow smile. He looked up at me. “You had over 850 Rads in you according to your pip-buck.” he said pointing at my pip-boy. “Plus, several broken and cracked ribs. I also took out a bullet lodged in your back. What trouble you got in to get 850 rads and a bullet?” I was about to say that I got blown up with a radioactive bomb but, he put up his hoof before I could speak. “I don’t want to know.” He sighed in irritation. “You’re lucky that you came here when you did otherwise you would be dead right about now. For the future take these.” Cross shoved a couple of liquid packets of RadAway. Cross cleared his throat. “Alright, now to pay for the supp-” He stopped speaking by getting a cold glare from Rose and Thorn. “Fine.” He sighed and looked up at me. “The supplies that I used to flush out the rads and take out the bullet are on the house for saving my Daughter. Those three packs of RadAway are too. Anymore and you are going to have to pay for them.” He said a little coldly.

I chuckled. “Thanks cus I don’t have any money or whatever you use for currency.”

Thorn looked up from my arms as I carried to her to the bed that she was playing on with a big smile. “We use bottle caps as currency if you’re wondering.”

I looked at her dumbfounded. “Really?… Really? Eh, not the weirdest thing I’ve heard. I am in the post- apocalyptic world of talking Technicolor ponies.” I shrugged. I sat Thorn down on the bed and covered her with a blanket. “You be good now, I don’t want to save you twice.” I said chuckling. She giggled and hugged me.

“Be Safe.” She said hugging me around the neck constricting the airflow to my lungs.

“Need…Air.” I choked out. Tapping out.

“Sorry.” She said letting me out of her death grip.

I rubbed her on the head. “It’s alright, kid.” I chuckled. “I will be sure to take it safe. I’m a tough S.O.B.” I smiled. “I’ll be back.” I got up and nodded towards Cross. He nodded back and went into the room with the beds mumbling something. I got up using the carbine as a crutch to get up. I slung the rifle over my shoulder again and walked by Rose. “Hey, Rose where is the general store?” I asked adjusting my duster under the weight of my rifles.

She looked up from her terminal and cleared her throat. “The store is called Absolutely Everything. It is just a couple of cars to the right you can’t miss it.” She said getting back on the terminal. I nodded thanks and was about to exit the door to the town. “Also, one more thing.” she said.

I turned back to her with a confused look. “What?”

“Don’t freak out when you see the owner. She…She’s different. What you do, don’t do two things. One, don’t call her a Zombie and Two what ever you do. Don’t. Comment. On. Her. Eyes. She will freak and she has a lot of ties to a lot of ponies around the wasteland. So, just be nice. See you around. Hopefully in one piece and not flooded with enough radiation to kill a Manticore.”

I chuckled and faced the door. “I’ll keep that in mind.” I said walking out into the blazing heat. The moment that I walked out was the moment that I was getting stared at. I just shrugged it off and went to the right. I followed the directions that Rose told me that lead me to a trio of cars like the hospital wielded together and one of the walls knocked out to make a door like an old fashion saloon.

The sign that was hanging said:

Absolutely Everything.

Yes, I do deliveries!

No hooves, nasty stingers? No Service.

Ask me about special deliveries! I won’t answer but, I will get right on it!

Wasteland Survival Guide! Available Now! Free first copy for every family!

I looked up at the sign and nodded at it. “huh, I should probably ask about that wasteland survival guide.” I pushed open the door and walked in to see the most disgusting but, coolest thing I ever seen. It was a small Pegasus mare but, most of her blond mane was gone. Bits and pieces of her skin were missing and looked like they were continuing to flake off. She was behind a wooden counter with some bottle caps on it. Behind the counter was a whole assortment of items, food, water, weapons, ammo, armor/barbing, and other random shit. Some other shit on selves in rows remind me of the Super Duper Mart. I knocked on the wooden frame of the door. “Umm, hello?” I asked.

She turned around and she was wide eye when she saw me but, as I was looking at her I couldn’t decide which eye to concentrate on. I just looked at the one looking at me. She quickly wrote something on a black board and held it out with her mouth for me to see. She waved for me to come closer excitedly. I just shrugged and moved along the wooden floor. I looked around to see only that the whatever it is; is the only thing that is in the store. When I came to the counter she smiled and put her blackboard in my view. She had written on it with chalk it said: Hello! I’m glad you are up and healthy. How do you like your improved duster?

I looked up at her with a confused look. “Let me guess raiders cut out your tongue?” She sadly nodded. Feeling guilty I quickly changed the subject. “What did you do to my duster?”

She quickly and systematically wrote on it again. She held it out again and it said: For saving Thorn I’ve armored your duster with scraps of combat armor that I had laying around. It should protect you from light shots like from pistols, and light caliber rifles. I’ve also put ammo pouches on the inside of your duster for your carbine and sniper rifle. Anything else you are going to have to pay for. Also to pay for the pouches I took your sawed off shotgun. Sorry, but generosity can only go so far. I smiled.

I looked up at the mare. “It’s alright. Is there anything else?” I said raising an eyebrow.

She nodded and erased the board again. She wrote again with her mouth and she showed me the board. It said: yes, I have spare caps that I owe you. About two hundred and fifty. She then, after I was finished reading she placed three bags on the counter. Two were medium sized bags and one was tiny.

I looked at her from the bags. “Let me guess the big ones are a hundred and the tiny one is fifty?” I asked. She nodded. “Alright.” I said taking one big bag and the little one then, stuffing them in a small pocket in my duster next to the leather ammo pouches two of which were holding my assault rifle mags. The mare looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “How much is the ammo around here?” I asked leaning on the table. She smiled and pulled up another black board but, this time with info on prices. I looked for a how much the 5.56 and .308 is. My eyes were clued to how much the .308 was. Six caps per ball round. I looked at her. “Can you lower the price on .308? Six caps a rounds seems a little much.” I said taking off my hat and plowing my hand through my hair.

he mare thought for a moment before erasing the six and made a four. Then, she wrote something on her board. ‘This is because for saving Thorn and making those raiders pay. Four caps a round of .308 and three caps for 5.56.’

I looked at her and nodded. “Thanks.” I took a deep breath. I checked my pip-boy to see that I had 64 rounds of 5.56 and two rounds of .308. I looked back at her. “Sorry to be rude but, what is your name?” I asked.

She smiled and wrote on the blackboard. ‘My name is Ditzy Doo.’

I smiled. “Alright, Ditzy. I would like 8 rounds of 5.56 for 24 caps. Also, 14 rounds of .308 for 56 caps for a total of 80 caps.” I said dumping out the bottle caps. I sorted them out and handed her the eighty caps. She counted them and scooped them up and placed them in a cash register. I took a moment to look on the shelves behind her and I smiled as I saw a couple items I like. “how much for the revolver and gun Belt?” I asked pointing at the set.

She erased what was on her board and wrote again. ‘Hundred and ten caps.’ She wrote. She knew what I wanted. She flew to the set and grabbed it with her mouth. As she was doing that I looked to my left to see a wanted poster for a pony named: Snapper nailed to a post holding up the ceiling. I raised an eyebrow scanning the poster. Wanted Dead or Alive for illegal Enslavement, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, and Assault on Security Guards of Tenpony Tower. Reward: 750 Caps. Last Known location: Old Appleloosa. I grabbed the poster when Ditzy came down with the ammo and supplies that I ordered. She looked at me with an raised eyebrow. She tapped me on the shoulder while in the air. She had her blackboard in her mouth. I looked down to read. ‘You still owe me a hundred and twenty caps or a hundred and forty-five caps for 24 shots of .357.’ I threw the hundred cap bag on the table with thirty-five caps from the fifty cap bag leaving me with 15 caps left.

“I’ll take the .357 ammo also.” I said shoving the caps towards Ditzy and taking the gun and belt along with the ammo for my rifles. “Thanks…” I said looking at the poster again. “Is this bounty still up for grabs?” I asked looking at her. She looked shock but, sighed. She nodded. I sighed. “I wouldn’t take this if I didn’t have to. Can you tell me where Old Appleloosa is?” I said showing her the poster.

She hesitated before she took my arm with her hoofs and dialed in the coordinates of the town into my pip-boy. My HUD said New location marked! She then began to softly write on her board like she was thinking that she is going to regret doing what she is going to do. She lifted it up so I can read it. ‘Be careful when you go there. It’s a Slaver community. If you are caught and captured you are going to be put into slavery. There is a train that we use to trade with them…’ I looked back at her with a raised eyebrow full of shock.

“Why are you trading with Slavers?” I asked with anger starting to build in my voice.

She sighed and wrote a little more. ‘We trade with them so they leave us alone but, back to the train. If you are sure you want to go I can convince the train operators to let you get on but, you owe me.’

I looked at her and smiled. “Alright, I’ll owe you one as long as the favor doesn’t involve anything too dangerous or sexual; I mean you’re cute and all but, I’m not into that kind of stuff as long as I have most of my sanity.” She giggled a little making me smile but, she nodded. “So, when does the train leave?” I asked.

She quickly erased her board and wrote again. ‘Tomorrow at noon….’ I was about to read more when she slid a big white book with a pony skull with bold black writing on top : Wasteland Survival Guide. I looked at Ditzy and she nodded towards the board. ‘I suggest you read up. Something tells me that even if you are some what good at combat doesn’t count for crap when you are in the desert dying of thirst and hunger.’ I nodded taking the book and gear and stuff it in my big pockets on the bottom of my duster for later. I placed my hat back on my head; I was about to leave when my stomach rumbled with hunger. Ditzy laughed. I felt my face burning with embarrassment. She erased her board and wrote on it again. ‘There is a restaurant in one of the wooden buildings in the center of town. Just go there and they should give you some food for a price. Just don’t cause any trouble.’

I smiled and placed my hat on my head. “I would never. Besides I’m going to need to prepare for the hunt.” I said slinging my carbine over my shoulder. “I hope to see you again.” waving good bye. Ditzy was a little hesitant but, waved goodbye.

I stepped outside to see the sun in the late afternoon sky. Curious I looked at the date that my pip-boy had. 10/24/2267. My eyes were glued to the year. 2267? I looked around the town studying the ponies and then, everything clicked. The armor, the bottle cap currency, raiders, the wasteland survival guide all of it clicked into place. “Some serious shit must of have happened. Probably something to do with a be series of big ass booms.” I said to myself start walking towards what looked like an outdoor bar and grill.

When I got to the center of the town ponies were giving me the weird stares. I grinned and went to the navy blue bartender on the outside grill. I sat on a stool and looked at the grill. There were some kabobs on it sizzling on a grill making my mouth water. “How can I help you, Sir?” The bartender said snapping me out of my trace.

I looked up with some drool coming off my chin. “Uh?” He pointed to his chin indicating something on my mine. I wiped it off with my sleeve of my duster. “Sorry.” I said looking back at the kabobs. “How much for the Kabobs?” I said starting to drool again without realizing.

The buck chuckled. “You must be hungry.” The buck said levitating a kabob into my hand. I was about to reach into my caps pocket but, he waved me off. “No charge this one’s on me. I like you. You make me laugh.” he said making me smile placing three caps on the counter. He looked at them with raised eyebrow and looked at me. “I said this one’s on the house.”

“I’m not paying for it. I’m giving you a tip. Take it. It would be rude.” I said before taking a bite of the meaty kabob mixed with a couple of veggies.

He smiled and nodded taking the tip. “Thanks. If you need anything food wise just look me up.” he said sticking his hoof across the counter. “Name’s Barb but, most ponies just call me Sauce.” When he said that something on the corner on my HUD said ‘New Appleloosa fame gained!’

I swallowed the bite of kabob and shook his hoof. “Name’s Parker but, it seems ponies are going to start calling me The Lone Rifleman.” I said making up both chuckling. I placed a couple more caps on the table. “How much is a canteen full of water?” I asked.

“Twenty caps for one liter of water.” He said nearly making me spit out my mouth full of kabob.

I swallowed my bit and looked at him. “That is a bit pricy.” I said thinking for a moment. An idea popped into my head. “You a betting pony?” I asked.

“I like a nice game or two. What do you have in mind?”

I chuckled. “How are you at flipping a coin?” I said slapping down a quarter that was in my pocket. He just looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “If you win…” I said holding up the coin showing him the different sides. “I will owe you a favor but,…if I win you give me a discount on this one thing of water. Deal?”

Sauce examined the coin. “Sure, I will take you on that offer. I call…Heads.” He said throwing me the coin. I caught it with my hand and flipped it the air and let it land on the dirt. I was shocked at the coin. It landed on heads. I picked up the coin in defeat. “Looks like you owe me a favor now. But, I will cut you some slack. I will give you two bottles of water for the rest of your caps.” He said making me smile.

“Thanks.” I said throwing the rest of my twelve caps on the table. He scooped them up and placed them in a pouch around his waist. With his magic two plastic bottles of water appeared from below the counter. Just before I swallowed the last of my kabob and threw away the stick; I looked up at Sauce. “why are you so nice to me? The rest of the ponies have been giving me stares as if I have a disease or something.” I said I grabbed the two bottles of water and tucking them inside my duster.

Sauce just shrugged and began to wipe down the counter. “I really don’t care really. In the wasteland you see a lot of weird things. You are not the weirdest thing I’ve seen.” I raised a eyebrow at this.

“What’s the weirdest thing you ever seen?”

He chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. But, I saw a manticore getting plowed by a buck.” My mouth was just hanging open from what he was saying. “Closer your mouth before a bloatfly flies in.” He laughed making me close my mouth. “But, trust me it was just as disgusting as it was weird.”

“Ok.” I said getting up from the stool and shook off the dust and food from my dirty duster. “Until I see you again.” I said gathering my carbine and walking off waving.

I didn’t realize that it was getting dark when I was talking to Sauce. I sighed and looked back at the hospital which its lights were still on. I shrugged and decided to go back. I opened the door and stepped in to see that Rose was still on the terminal tapping away. She didn’t notice me which gave me a nice little idea. I crouched down just so she didn’t see me. I began to sneak my way to the desk but, just at the last minute I heard a little squeak of joy. “Parker!” I heard Thorn squeaked out loudly blowing my cover. I looked up at Rose as she looked down with a smug face. Then, I felt something grip me in a death hug sending me to the floor.

“Nice try but, Thorn is the best security guard against you now. so no sneak attacks. Now, get off that dirty floor.” I sighed and got up with Thorn still in her death hug. I lifted her weight in my arms so she didn’t fall but, she continued to hug me. “You got back pretty fast. Please don’t tell me you hurt already.” she said with that ‘really’ voice that my friends made. I froze for a moment thinking about my friends but, Rose snapped me out of it. “Hello?” She said waving her hoof in front of me.

“Sorry, what were you saying?” I asked with a sheepish smile.

Rose made a huff and sat back in her chair. “What do you need, Parker? Cross is asleep.” she asked.

“I just need a place to sleep tonight. I’m leaving tomorrow at noon…Plus, I need to catch up on some reading.” I said taking out the wasteland survival guide.

She blew the white mane from her face and she smiled. “I guess you got that from out local Ghoul Ditzy?”

I raised an eyebrow. “So that’s what she is. I was afraid to ask her.” I said sheepishly smiling and rubbing the back of my head.

Rose sighed and looked at Thorn who was starting to fall asleep in my arms again. “Yeah, you can stay the night for this one night. But, you have to put Thorn to the bed. Her bed is in the back in the closed off area of the cot room. Can’t miss it. Just don’t wake up Cross.” She said pointing to the room that I woke up in this afternoon. I nodded and began to make my way to the door. But, just before I could open the door, a force of I assume magic tugged on my arm with my pip-boy. I turned back to Rose and saw that she looked like she had something she want to be say.

I looked at her. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

That seemed to snap her out of her trance. She looked up at me. “I know that you are going to Old Appleloosa tomorrow at noon.” She said on the verge of crying. “If you could after you take care of what you are going to do. Can I ask you a favor?”

I solemnly smiled and walked to her with Thorn in my arms. “What do you want me to do?” I asked putting my free hand on the side of her face making her softly look at me.

“My sister was captured last week while scaving in the Dodge ruins and she is said to be a slave there waiting to be sold to the highest bidder.” She began to cry. “I…If you can please save my sister and get her back. She is the only real family that I have left besides Cross and Thorn! Her name…is Cream Pie. She looks like me only with a black mane… Why did I have to let her go out there?! ” She looked down moping her tears starting to hit the wooden floor like rain and continued to mumble.

I left her chin making her look up at me. “I will bring her back. Even if I have to take bullet after bullet I will get her back here safely. I promise.” I said getting up and looking at the time on my pip-boy. It was 8:53. I looked back at Rose as her tears began to dry a little. I patted her on the head making her look up at me and I smiled. “I will bring her back no worries. And you don’t have to pay me.” was all I said turning around and going into the cot room. Leaving her speechless.

I followed Rose’s instructions and placed Thorn in the cot next to Cross in the enclosed area. I looked around to see a couple of injured ponies covered in bandages and gauze. I sighed and closed the curtain of the enclosed area and sat in the same cot that I woke up in earlier. I took off my duster and rifles then, placed the duster on my cot; then leaned the rifles right next to the cot. I took off my boots and sat them up straight right next together. With some time to kill I began to take out all of the stuff in my duster. The holster and .357 single action revolver. I examined the .357 a little more. It had a nice blued frame and wooden grip. Even with the bite marks it fits in my hand pretty good. I swung out the cylinder and smiled at the six empty chambers. I took out the box of .357 ammo and filled the six chambers then, swung in the cylinder with a nice click. I placed the loaded handgun on the cot and began to fill the front moon clip holders. I filled three of them and shut them closed. With an extra magazine that I found the butt of the rifle, I filled ten rounds into the first M77 magazine and four in the last one. I stuffed the full mag into the rifle on a closed bolt and the half full one into one of the mag pouches that Ditzy made. I decided to take out the mags for the carbine seeing that I had three I smiled. Perfect. I loaded up the mags until they were full. 72 rounds of woopass. I stuffed them in the right ammo pouches in the inside of my duster. With all of that finished in just like five minutes.

I decided to lay back on the cot and crack open the Wasteland Survival guide.

“The Wasteland Survival Guide By Ditzy Doo…”

Chapter Complete.
Parker Williams: Level up!
No new perk.
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