Fallout Equestria - A Dreamer's Wake

Well that was lovely! Didn't took long before I started seeing the gorgeous wildlife! My Pip-Buck labeled them as 'Bloastsprites' though. Must be what those annoying little buggers became after the megaspells. Wasn't hard to kill though and didn't needed to waste any bullets. Decided to just smack them away and get going. Hopefully, I won't be bothered by more of those annoying buggers and that there won't be any more gorgeous wildlife  to bother me!

However, after walking down the road for, I assumed an hour, my Pip-Buck picked up some more targets once again down the path... Three green and two red. Discounting that Sprite Bot, this would be my first time seeing actual friendlies, or at least maybe possible friendlies that I would love to talk to. I don't really count the Enclave that I've awoken to as friendlies. They reminded me of some other asswipes.

I decided to pick up my speed a little, moving up toward the five bots on my Pip-Buck and I found two ponies pulling a cart with three inside. The three inside being those friendlies so I am assuming that the two ponies pulling the cart are bad ponies for all I know. I mean, it's possible, yes? I gently moved to the left side of the road, hiding a little and staying quiet. Taking a closer look at the two ponies up front. They are armed and have weapons out for sure. One's an earth with a brownish coat, though mind you extremely dirty as well with the hair to match. He was holding some sort of detonator in his mouth while he had a hunting rifle to his side. The other was an unicorn mare and she actually had a Sawed Off Shotgun floating to her side, slipping it around for fun of it. I am glad that working for the army in my previous life helped me recognize weapons simply. It would be embarrassing to be out here and be like 'What kind of weapons are these?'.

Then I took a look at three in the cart... There was an unicorn mare with a pink coat and blonde hair, earth pony stallion with a blue coat and dark brown hair, and a little unicorn filly also with a pink coat but dark yellow hair... I'm assuming that they are a family. I also noted that each one had a collar on, with a beeping red light. Rule #8, beeping red light tend to mean that they are some sort of bomb. I now know what the detonator is for. They didn't seem to be chained up though but I don't think they need to be if they can all die at the push of a button. I really feel sorry for the three of them to be stuck in such a situation. Are they gonna be forced to do things like I? By Luna's coat, I can't allow that fate to happen to them!

I decided to try a direct approach and maybe try to get a better idea of what is going on first though. So I sneaked ahead quickly and stepped out onto the road in front of them, stopping the cart as the two ponies in front seem to ready their weapons at me, but then I spoke up, which surprised them. "Awwww... C'mon! You gonna shoot little old me for being curious?" Were my words, as I grinned a little. "I mean, I just saw two ponies pulling three collared ones and thought to myself... 'Hmm. What the hay are they doing?' Then again, I can easily take a few guesses." I finished saying, smiling at the pair, keeping my eyes on either one in case they choose to attack rather than talk. I would prefer to avoid combat right now.

Luckily for me, the mare did spoke up. "Well hay. If ya'll bein' so serious about what we are doing... We're takin' this lovely little ol' family of ours back to campa so thay may work or be sold... Now ya'll kno', ya'll should bettar get out of our way or else we'll shoota ya flank back to what radiation hella ya'll came from." What kind of fucking accent is that?

I chuckled a bit though at the last part of her lovely sentence... "Oh... Well I'm soooo sorry madam but I never came from a 'radiation hella', as you've put it. So you can't really shoot me back there. That and I don't really like the sound of what you are going to do... I mean, why is this family even YOURS? You have no right to claim a pony's life..." Well, talking time was just about over because she kinda rammed into me, shoving the shotgun in my face.

"Oh really naw? Ya'll think ya can stopa our tracks, hay?" She yelled as she glared at me, though I was just smiling it out.

"Well... I think I have a better chance of winning than you." I said gently, then attempted to activate my little stealth field that was built it but a message came up on my Pip-Buck and nothing happened... Can't really take a look at it right now with a shotgun so close to me... Shit, plan B.

She noticed the message on my Pip-Buck, taking a look down and thanks Luna for that distraction! I quickly pulled the trigger, spraying bullets from my rifle at point-blank range into her stomach. She dropped her gun and backed away, then gently went down onto her back, groaning in the pain. The stallion we quick though and I took a shot to the shoulder from his rifle and I wasted no time to quickly jump out of the way, taking cover and petting my shoulder, where I took the shot. It stings a little and kinda did made a hole in my armor. It wasn't really made to be in direct combat after all. Damn it.

I guess luck was still on my side cause it seems that the stallion ignored me for a moment, rushing to check his companion's health real quick. He started pulling out a small bottle, I quickly recognized it as a health potion actually and I'm not gonna let that happen! I pulled out my 9mm pistol from my side, with my mouth mind you. Don't want to be a sore headache in the middle of a fight! I quickly shot his flank, causing him to jump and drop the potion onto the ground, aiming his gun back at me and begun shooting back. I ducked when he did though, not wanting to take any more lovely bullets. "Come out from your hiding spot you little scunt!" Scunt? That's a new word.

Well. Better make him happy! I did jump out of my hiding spot but quickly activated the S.A.T.S. on my Pip-Buck, targeting his head with three bullets and then letting them rip... The first one did hit, the second one miss, and the last knocked him down. However, he didn't went down with getting a bullet into my right foreleg, fuck. However, with him down, I decided to hurry up to the side of the mare and shoot her once in the head to make sure she's dead. He was trying to heal her after all! Then I looked over to the wagon where the three ponies all stared and watch with curiosity. I took a single look at their collar then at the mare below me, checking her bags. I found some food on her, which I decided to leave. I'm not hungry for some odd reason. However, I did found a key around her neck. I also scooped up the potion that the stallion dropped and drunk it down for my own wounds. I know they slightly help but I'll need the healing to keep myself walking. Ignoring the other stuff for now, I ran up to the wagon and gestured the family to climb out.

Once they were out, I used the key to unlock the collars from their necks and added them to my own inventory. I might have some use for them later, after all. The stallion smiled a bit at what I did then took a quick look at me. "So you are not... Going to hurt us...? Or um... Eat... us?" He was obvious nervous and scared, they were all. I'm not surprise he had a hard time asking that question and not surprise he even asked it in the first place.

However, I couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Nah. I may look like a monster but I'm not one inside. You are free to go back to your life or start a new one. May I recommend starting a new one in a safer place? Hay, is there a safer place? You know, away from these asswipes." I notice a sign of relief from the family as they all gently nod a little.

"Yes... There's New Appleloosa not far. My husband and I tend to make trips there for trading. Maybe it'll be time to actually live in there with these slavers getting more active and all." The mare spoke up as I smiled a little. Great! A civilization! A target! My Pip-Buck went off with another message again, and again; I ignored it.

"Well. Thanks for letting me know about that then. You and your family should head there as quickly as possible... Maybe also let a good word in for me? I don't want to be shot at when I get there myself. I would definitely need a town to return to after all. Don't want to be stuck in this wasteland all my life." I softly laughed to myself at the last part, and the father joined in actually.

"Yes... I think we can do that. Thanks you stranger for the help." The father said softly before they went off, though before looting the food from the slavers. I didn't mind that since I don't seem to be hungry. Again, why is that? No idea. Argh, I slapped myself for asking that question to myself. No need to ask questions to oneself that one cannot answer!

After I was done with thinking for now; I decided to pick up the Sawed Off Shotgun and the small amount of shots for it. Only 7? An odd number? That's a bugger. I also decided to take the hunting rifle and it's ammo, but I won't use it myself. Not really good with a hunting rifle anyways. I'm better at pistols and weapons that are better off at close range, like shotguns. Especially shotguns! I don't know why but I do love the powerful blast of a shotgun, even though I was never allowed to have my own shotgun before. Just saw them being used. The slavers also didn't have anything else useful, though a lot of bottlecaps. Why bottlecaps? Is a thing now to collect them? I hesitated a bit about taking them or not. I mean, there gotta be a reason for them, right? I decided to say fuck it and take them. Maybe I'll find an use for them.

Once the looting was taken care of, I decided to check those messages on my Pip-Buck, and damn my luck. First one was about the failure of my stealth field. Apparently, there was no battery source and I have none for it. I guess using stealth is officially out of the question! The second one was about the location of New Appleloosa. I kinda forgot about my map and taking a look at it, my previous data was mostly erased. Some locations are still there, like Appleloosa, though new labeled as Old Appleloosa, and Ponyville. I'm assuming this is because of the locations being changed or destroyed. However, how the hell did my Pip-Buck even know the location of New Appleloosa when I was only given an idea that it was close, and on the road I'm following. I mean, I'm a little good with computers but damn it I never really figured out much about how these things work. Fuck Stable-Tec with the backside of Luna's flank!

Then I gotten an incoming signal. Damn it Enclave, already? Really? Damn my Luna's fucked life! I decided to tune in though, didn't want to get the Enclave up my flank so soon. However, it wasn't Enclave that I've heard. It was a soft mare's voice, very nice and lovely actually. Though she sound very worried. "Oh thanks Celestia that you picked up! Please, Sir, you are not far from my location! I've been captured by raiders, along with my other mare friends, and I fear we don't have much time! Please, if you are able... Help us, or get help for us! Oh no, I can't talk anymore! I think one of them is catching on." Then it ended rudely.

Okay then! So I'm assuming another group of ponies to add to my 'not like' list? If there are mares in trouble, and why only mares I have no idea, then I better go ahead and save them. I think I might be able to handle it if I go with the sneak approach this time, instead of the direct. I quickly switched back to my map and noticed that a 'Raider's Outpost' has been added, not far actually. To the West of me, off the road. Well, time to say hello to some bloody raiders and see what the fuss is about them!

And the fuss is reasonable. It didn't took me long to get to the outpost, with only a few Bloatsprites in my way. The Outpast was badly built with the a lot of metal sheets, wood, and other stuff. There was three buildings though. One was a tower and it looks like there was a pony up there, with some crazy homemade armor it seems. She also seemed to have a hunting rifle, I'm assuming for sniping. Hunting rifles aren't the best snipers but they are reasonable. What creeps me out the most was the hanging hooves and heads all around the tower's ceiling, and the blood covering the walls of the place as a whole. Gazing over to the other buildings, I took mental notes that one was being guarded by two more ponies, again wearing some sort of homemade armor. One was holding a shovel, it looks like, though the tip sharpened. The other was holding a pool stick, which I found it was rather stupid to use as a weapon.

The other building seem to have ponies coming in and out from so I'm assuming that one is their barracks. By process of elimination, the guarded building must be the jail and where the mares are being held hostage. I was correct when I saw a pony moving from the barracks to the other building, then moving back to the barracks while forcibly pulling a young mare with a chain, a giant grin on his face. Okay. That was enough watching, time for action!

I slowly moved to the side of the outpost, trying to get as close as I can to the tower as possible. Lucky me, night has already begun falling and it was starting to get pretty dark. Being a bat pony, we have natural night eyes and can see just fine in the dark. Unlucky for the unicorns and earth ponies of this outpost, I say! I manage to get up to the tower safely without problem, staying out of sight from their so called sniper. The others seem to be too busy, not paying much attention to the tower.

I gently climbed up the ladder, being quiet. I didn't want to use my wings cause that attract attention for sure, so this should be better. Once I was up and was directly behind the sniper now, I took my pistol out and gulp a little. I don't have any silence weapon but at least taking out the sniper first would give me a much better chance at taking out the rest, plus having control of the tower will give me a huge advantage over them since the only way up here for them is the ladder. I activated S.A.T.S. and targeted the sniper's head, shooting a single bullet straight into her head, causing her body and gun to fall off the side of the tower. I looked down, noticing that a few ponies was watching their precious sniper going down and quickly they stood at attention, looking out to the wasteland to see if there was anypony out there. However, one pony, the one with the shovel, looked up right at me, growling and took off toward the tower. Quickly after, the others looked at his direction then up at me, figuring it out. The one with an assault gun let out fire up at me, though failing to hit since assault weapons aren't good from the distance.

Ignoring them, I ran back to the ladder, smiling down at the shovel pony making his way up as I pointed my gun down. He suddenly stopped and let go but too late before I was able to shoot him down, leaving blood on the wall and ground below. The other two came rushing to the building now, the pool wielded one keeping his distance as the assault wielded one let out her fire again. I took cover in the sniper nest though, hearing hooves moving again. My guess was that she was letting out fire to keep me in cover while the other make his way up the ladder. Bad idea, in my opinion, but hey. I let them do it.

Once the pool wielded one finally got up here, I let out my battle rifle's bullets, shooting him right off the top of the tower. He won't survive the fall for sure so no worries there. I took another look down and notice there was two more raiders now, one with a pistol and the other with a combat shotgun it looks like. The shotgun one specifically seems to be wearing heavier armor, I'm assuming she's the leader. The pistol one already started letting out his bullets, along with Mrs. Assault. Lovely. I think they won't fall for the same trick as the others did.

I can't really take much chances right now, I have no way of healing myself and highly doubt these filthy savages, or raiders I should probably say, will even have proper medical equipment. I mean seriously, look at all the body parts they use as decoration and all the blood! They are fucking insane for liking this stuff and now thinking about it is making me a little sick in the stomach... Actually, suck it. I don't want to be up here anymore now I am thinking about it.

Quickly, I jumped right off the edge, spreading out my wings and flying quickly down, and away, toward some trees... However, I did took a few shots and the pain was getting to me quickly. Damn this fucking wasteland! The pistol and assault ponies rushed toward my location, still shooting as I growled, standing up and readying my battle rifle. Lucky for me, I have S.A.T.S. as an advantage and let lose a good amount of bullets with it at the assault pony, basically cutting her down. Her armor did reflected a good bit but the bullets made enough dents that others got through. Though that means I won't have S.A.T.S. for some time and have to aim with my own eyes to take care of the pistol happy one, who got another bullet in me.

I jumped to the side, getting behind a tree again to keep from gaining more bullet holes... I was already bleeding enough and I don't think I'll survive long with a few more holes. I also notice that I used up the last of my ammo for the rifle and have to switch to pistol or sawed off shotgun. I decided shotgun would be great and once I hoofsteps were close enough, I turned around and let lose the two bullets directly into Pistol's head, basically shooting it right off!

Okay then, now just got the Combat Shotgun... My thought ended when a heavy force jumped right onto me, my Pip-Buck flashing with red lights. I looked up at her, an unicorn, with the lovely shotgun right against my head. "You fucking pissed me off you little bat! Fucking took out my whole group!" Small group, okay. Good for me. Then I felt the gun being push hard against me, and her weight, probably her armor's weight though, crushing down on me. "I'm gonna enjoy slowly crushing you down until you beg for mercy you fucking bat!" I growled a little and didn't even bother to say anything. Instead, I tried telekinesis again, groaning the headache that comes from it. Focusing on my sawed off shotgun but she took notice, smacking my head hard with her gun, stopping my focus. "Oh no, I don't fucking think so! I'm not letting a fucking bat go magical on my flank that easily!" Argh... Fuck. I can't try again for sure now, the headache even worse after being whacked in the head.

I gulped a little and closed my eyes, feeling the pain of her crushing down onto me, groaning deeply from it. I guess it didn't took long for the wasteland to take me, eh? Or so I thought. I heard two loud shots and instantly, the weight was off of me and I felt a rush of liquid which landed onto me. Opening my eyes curiously, I notice the mare that was one me is now by my side, missing a head, and there's a lot of blood over me, her's blood. I almost puked then and there but a voice caught my attention. Mare's voice.

"And take that you murdering raping cunt!" She yelled out, holding my own shotgun in her magic. The mare was an unicorn with a light yellow coat, hair in the color of midnight blue with cyan stripes in it, and her eyes were also cyan blue. The glow of her horn was also a cyan blue color, matching her eyes it seems. Her cutie mark was a health symbol with two feathers on each side, mirroring one another.

I gulped a little, taking a quick look at my Pip-Buck to check my health... As I expected, I have three legs crippled. I'm not gonna be able to walk for sure right now. Then I looked over her, as she curious looked back at me, smiling a little for a moment but then stopped once she notice my state. "Oh my... She really... Wow. And those bullet holes. Wow. C'mon, I'll get you inside and get to work!" She said, rushing over to me as I laugh a little, feeling her pulling me now. I decided to flap my wings a bit to help myself up and help her.

"Um... Thanks but do I really want to go inside their place?" I asked curiously, still trying to laugh the pain away, but doesn't stop the groaning.

"You are correct but at least they have a bed in there and I can do better there. Plus my store my medical supplies in there, which they stole from me. They couldn't get it opened though. I guess raiders don't know how to pick a lock?" She chuckled a little to herself and continued getting me inside.

"Ah... From your cutie mark though, I'm assuming you are a doctor. Yes?" I decided to ask, ignoring the smell of a raider's home as she gets me inside and onto the bed. She did nod at my question but quickly went off real quick. I wonder why for a moment but it wasn't long until she came back, smiling.

"Sorry about leaving... I know you are in pain but there was other mares that I thought should be rescued as soon as possible. I'm assuming somepony from New Appleloosa sent you?" She asked curiously, looking at me.

I blinked a few times and shook my head. "Actually, I got a message on my Pip-Buck from somepony who was being held hostage here. I was nearby and thought I should answered. Now, if you don't mind me asking... How did you got out?" I said, groaning a little again.

She ignored me for a moment though, taking a look at my body and starting to remove my suit. I let her do so, I knew that she is going to take a look at my wounds and get to work. I've never been to a doctor before; mostly because, in the past, I never got into direct combat with anypony, or zebra. I was a scout, a sneaky one, and kept quiet and hidden. I was caught a few times though but only to be rescued by the other pony soldiers that I was working with, or for. I never actually engaged much in combat itself, though I've killed before in my own little sneak attacks, or assassinations you may call it.

However, she did finally took a look at my face and answered. "They were trying to get me to open my medical box for them. The leader had her gun to my head the whole entire time and I was refusing actually. I knew that opening it would help them too much and if I am going to die stopping them, so be it. However, gunshots from the outside saved me. Yours, I'm assuming. So she, and the other pony, went out to join the fun. She told me to stay put and if I moved, then my death will be slow and tormenting." She started, pulling up her medical box now that the raiders had on top of a few boxes, and a safe, in the corner. Must be their 'storage room'. "However, I took a look out and notice that you were winning, until she got onto you... I couldn't let her kill you cause I knew I'll be next so... I did first thing that came to my mind..." She said softly, looking down a bit at the ground with her ears folded downward.

"Hey...You did the right thing, saving probably not just me and yourself but the others." I softly said, still groaning in pain. I dared not to look down at my body. I don't want to know how badly I'm bleeding.

"I know... It's just... My first time killing somepony. I was always just a healer, working along the side with other doctors from New Appleloosa. Me, and some others though, decided to leave the town. We were thinking about starting a new town, a new place, you know? Get more civilization around Equestria... However, none of us were really fighters and we were warned about that..." She said softly, going through her supplies, taking out a stimpak and applying it to one of my legs, keeping it in for a moment as I feel that leg getting better, then taking it out. "So the raiders, as a group, made short work of the stallions in the group, and any mare who dared fight back... The rest of us just... Accepted out fate in fear. We knew what raiders will do but it's just... We were afraid of dying and that maybe, there's a chance of being rescue. I guess we were correct on that chance." She finished explaining, throwing away the used stimpak and pulling out another, applying it to another leg of mine.

"Well... The idea wasn't a bad one. Having more towns across this wasteland would be a great thing. However, without proper protection though?" I softly said, sighing a little as she applied a third stimpak to my last broken leg. "How many of those do you have?" I asked, curious about the supplies.

"I know now... It was a bad idea not to have proper protection." She sigh softly, looking at me now. "To answer your question, every medical box should have at least five stimpaks, five doses of radaway, two healing potions, two doses of Med-X, and some proper medical tools. Anything else is extra. However, as you might've already found out, most medical boxes in the wasteland has only a few items, instead of a full set. Probably because they were used before the megaspells or looted already. The latter doesn't make much sense to me though. Why take a few and not all?" She explained to me. I actually didn't knew about this so this was all new to me and glad it was.

She took out a dose of Med-X next, applying it to my side. "Okay, this is going to hurt so giving you Med-X for this part. I'm going to have to pull the bullets out of you now. After that, a healing potion should be able to help the wounds heal faster and I can apply a bandage around your body." She explained, smiling a little to me as she took a pincher like tool. I didn't want to watch this and closed my eyes softly, feeling the pincher digging inside the wounds, pulling out things from inside of me... Bullets, I'm assuming. There wasn't much pain though, thanked to the Med-X. Then something finally seem to hit her. "Wait! You mention earlier that somepony messaged you and that she was a hostage here?" She asked as she works. I did mention that earlier but I guess my health was on her mind for her to really think about what I've said.

"Yes. She kinda got through to me via the radio system in my Pip-Buck." Unlike most Pip-Bucks though, mine was a two-way. I can talk back to the pony on the other side, if the radio wave is a two way. One way radio waves, like actual radio stations that plays music, I can't talk back to obviously. My Pip-Buck is able to do this simply so I can radio back in to my commanders of the information I gathered while still out on the field.

"That's... Not possible. None of us had access to anything that could've done that." She said softly, finally done pulling bullets. "Well... You took eleven bullets. five being from the assault rifle, it looks like. I'm not an expert on weapons so I'm just assuming here... Though I also notice two bullets were in you from an earlier time. From the looks of it, you used a healing potion after taking those." She said softly, then added quickly. "Though, looks like your armor was able to stop the force enough to keep the bullets from hitting any major organs hard enough to be fatal... However, the blood lost seems to be pretty bad and I better hurry up getting this bandage on you." After explaining, she pulled out the only bandage in the box and put it around me. Then grabbing a potion for me. "Here, drink this. You should be good now." She said, smiling. "Though a little rest might be smart to have but that'll have to wait until we can get back to New Appleloosa. I told the others to make their way back." I drunk down the potion she offered, though did thought back to the earlier time with the slavers. I did used a potion without thinking about the bullets still being in me, oops.

I smiled a little and nodded a bit then thought back to the mare who told me about this. "If it wasn't a mare who was a hostage, then there was a mare out there who knew and wanted to help you. However, I don't fully understand why she didn't do anything herself but instead calling me in." I said softly, mostly to myself.

"Well... Maybe she isn't a fighter like me?" The mare beside said, grinning a little at me as I nod a little. That's always possible. Still, it raises a lot of questions. I should probably ask them next time she contacts me, if she does that is. "Oh... We never introduced ourselves! We were too distracted with your injuries and the whys..." She laughed a little after saying that. "Here, let me introduce myself first. I'm Blueberry Flower, though I prefer being called Berry for short. Apparently the color of my hair made my parents think of blueberries." She said softly. Not a bad name I say and I have to admit, she is a pretty flower. "And, as you can tell, I'm a nurse or was until I quit and went with the group. You know about that now." she explained as she gently moved a bit to the side, letting me get up and onto my now fixed legs. I can tell they still hurt a little, the effects of the Med-X already starting to wear off, but they aren't crippled anymore.

"Very fitting name and I'll happily stick with Berry. Actually, I prefer a short name as well so just call me Storm." I said softly but quickly added, "BUT since you have your full name. Mine is Storm Lightning Bolt." I grinned a little as she nodded a little. I decided to go ahead and get my suit back on, even though it has some holes in it.

"You know, there's a tailor in New Appleloosa who might be able to fix that for you. Not cheaply though." She said, noticing the holes as well. "Also, I've been wondering. What are you? You don't look like any type of pony I'm use to seeing and you don't look like any pegasi I've heard about." I was curious about that statement but wasn't going to bother it.

"Well. I use to be a bat pony but due to radiation, I'm now this. It's a long story." I softly explained, gaining a curious look on her face actually.

"Radiation? Have you took any Radaway? I didn't test your body for radiation because I wasn't thinking about it. Maybe I should!" She said, starting to go back to her kit now but I put a hoof on her to stop her.

"No. I'm kinda like a thing you ponies called a ghoul? Apparently, whatever the radiation did to me, I survived the fatal effects and became this. Though, according to other ponies..." I really didn't knew if Watcher even is a pony but I don't want to get into a discussion about him. "I did seem to have a rotting body until the Enclave found my unconscious, and healed it." I explained then I gotten a worried look on her face, as she looks up to me.

"Enclave healed your ghoulification..." She said softly, not as a question but more as a surprised statement. "I... Wow! They really need to get their flanks down here as a whole and helps the rest then! I mean, with that kind of technology..." She was about to trailed off, I knew it, but I stopped her.

"Honestly, I don't think the Enclave have any interest at all in helping ponies in the wasteland. At least from what I've witnessed in my short time with them. They kinda was healing me just to use me as a scout, so to say. Good thing is, they let me down here to do my own things. Bad thing, only to gain experience and when it's time. They'll contact me via my Pip-Buck. If I don't reply, they have intentions to hunt me down." I said with a smile, chuckling a bit.

She looked at me, backing away a little. "Um... So you are working for the Enclave in a way?" She asked as I shook my head. "Oh... So more like being a slave to a whole another type of bomb collar?" I blinked a little, thinking back to the collars in my bag and nodded. "Oh... I'll help you."

"Wait... What?" I asked in surprise, looking at her curiously as she smiled.

"Well. You risked your life to save us and yes, I may have saved you as well, which makes it even. However, being a hostage, or a slave, to anypony is a terrible feeling." She explained softly, looking around the room, ignoring the facts there are hanging heads on the ceiling. "I kinda know that feeling now, even though it was temporally. I think you shouldn't have that feeling either Storm so I'll help with what I can to get you out. So I say, let them come! Maybe by the time they do, we'll have more ponies to help." I smiled a little... Was I making a friend now or is she just being that nice now?

"Thanks. Though I was thinking of doing some work for them at first, or at least until I get an idea of what their weakness is. I mean, can't just right out think I can win against them from the beginning. I saw their troopers. They are wearing power armor and all!" I explained a little, gulping a bit at the idea of going up against them. She must've recognized the armor because I saw a worried look.

"I really hate to suggest this but maybe you can bait them to fight against the Steel Rangers then... If you think you can't take them on. The Steel Rangers should be able to do so." She said softly, as I looked at her curiously. I think she caught on to my expression as she did add more. "Steel Rangers are a group of ponies who wears and uses some high powered technology as well. Power armor, energy weapons, and all. However, they are just hoarders. They don't care about us. They'll even kill us if we have technology that they want!" Okay. Does this wasteland have at least one good faction of ponies?

"Okay... So a possible plan would be baiting the Enclave ponies after me to some of these Steel Rangers? That I might be able to do actually." I said softly, raising a hoof to my chin as I think on it. She did smile at me, seeming to be proud of herself for suggesting it.

"Oh um... Storm. We should get going. It's late, dark, and yeah... Might be the best time to get back to New Appleloosa when things can't really see us, even though we won't be able to see much at all ourselves." She said softly, looking to the door. Honestly, I agreed with her. This smell is starting to get to me.

"Okay but I can see in the dark so no worries. Let's get going!" I happily announced, going off with her. However, before leaving, I looted that combat shotgun and the shotgun shells to go with it. As well as picking up my own sawed off from the ground. I didn't want to spend anymore time here looting other stuff, so we just went off.

We both kept quiet though on the way to the town, just because we don't want to attract attention. Gladly, we manage to reach the location without much resistance from the wasteland and there was a pony on top of the front gate into the town, looking down at us with a light. He looked worried at first when seeing me but noticing that I'm with Berry changed his decision as he called out to the others. "Open the gate! It's Blueberry! She's finally back, like the others have said, and it seems that the strange bat creature mentioned by that one family is with her..." The gates opened up, letting us as the guard pony came down to greet us. "Before we let you continue though, I'm gonna have to let you know that you'll have to see the mayor first thing tomorrow morning. He is very curious about you..." He explained, looking at me. "As for now..." He stopped, like he was thinking. "Actually, I don't know where you can sleep." He finally said after a moment.

However, Berry took it from there. "Do I still have my spot? If so, he can just sleep with me then..." Awkward feeling... I ignored it though and just watch the two.

He nodded a little though. "Yes. Mayor knew that you, and the rest of the group, will be back... Or at least some, as it seems." He explained, letting us through now. Berry guided me to where most of the ponies, the ones without any specific homes, slept at and shown me to her own bed. We decided to sleep back to back, which I suggested actually.

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I opened my eyes, being in some sort of tend with the sounds of ponies moving outside, standing in an army uniform of some sort myself and being stared down by a rather tall stallion... "Listen here, maggot! We don't know much about your species, only from what Princess Luna decided to say, but we do know that, since you broke your home's laws and abandoned it, that we are allowed to enlist you here into the Equestrian Army to help us in our war against the Zebra Scum, do you hear me?" He let out, staring down at me as I nodded. "I can't hear you, maggot!" I gulped a little...

"Sir, yes Sir!" I said, standing up straight now, not liking being yelled at like this...

"Good, maggot. Really good... Now, we have decided to use your natural skills to the best of their ability. With that being said, you are gonna be our..." There was that name, that name I don't wish to remember... "Which means, you will be scouting at night, keeping yourself hidden in the dark, and completing the orders we give you! Do you hear me LOUD AND CLEAR?" He yelled out, looking down at me as I nod again.

"Sir, yes Sir! I hear you loud and clear!" I said out loud, gulping a little and shaking nervously.

"And don't you dare shake, don't you dare be afraid maggot! There is no room for fear, for hesitation in this life! So you better leave all of that behind and do as told! If you don't drop the act during boot camp, there will be a price to pay and believe me, you will NOT want it maggot!" He yelled out, making me shake more but I quickly caught myself, standing tall and holding myself. "Good! Now march! We're going to your first training session..." He commanded as I started marching in the direction he wanted me to go... However, things starting to blur and I caught myself closing my eyes...

I reopened them again and it was night time. I had my suit on this time and I was hearing commands to me from the radio, that name once again. "... are you ready to deploy the targeting talisman?" I gulped a little, looking around my surroundings. I was in some sort of village, just outside of Equestria. It was a little zebra settlement, built sometime during the war and hidden away from ponykind. Used to help the zebras attacking have a place to retreat to, and heal. The village was, however, a civilian spots mostly with doctors and nurses, it seems. Not many zebra soldiers around and only a few snipers keeping watch. There were also a handful of teens and children, being taught as well. From my guesses, they are being grown up into either soldiers, doctors, or nurses.

"Sir, there is civilians here though... Are you certain?" I softly asked back across the radio, gulping a little. The reply was quick.

"Zebra civilians, mind you. Remember what they are and remember that they are our enemy! So do as you are told or else we'll have to use force!" The voice claimed as I gulped a little. "And trust me, I don't think you won't want your own mother suddenly vanish from her home, right?"

I stopped after hearing that. "And if Luna..." I was about to say.

"She won't find out... There's plenty of stuff she doesn't know about already. We do what we must to win this war and if we have to get dirty, then we will. So you better deploy or we will do something we both will regret." The voice replied, stopping me in mid-sentence... I didn't knew if he was true back then and I knew I had to do it... I activated my stealth field, slipping through the village and placing the targeting talisman in the well, arming it as well. Then I slipped out of the village without being noticed...

Once I was up on a hill, I turn around and watched as the Equestrian Forces now sent a bombardment of missiles unto the village, turning it into ruins and dust... The voice, once again came up... "Good job..." That name again. "Now, return back to camp. We have another mission for you." I sigh a little, tears softly going down my cheek as I looked at the ruins one last time before I felt something touch me...

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I opened my eyes, back in the real world for sure now, as I felt Berry gently poking me, smiling a little. "Hey sleepyhead... It's kinda past noon now. Think maybe you should get up? Mayor waiting to meet you." She said, smiling at me as I nod a little, gently pulling myself onto my legs, stretching out my body, wings and all. Berry seems to be very happy to see me stretching out. "You know, if you fix up your hair and find a way to make that horn look nicer... You would be a rather handsome stallion to look at." She commented, smiling. Is she flirting? I have no idea.

I just shrugged it off and started walking. "Thanks but let's go meet that mayor now... Then maybe I should explore the town. You mention a tailor?" She nodded softly at the words as we head out. She took me to where the mayor is at and once inside his office, I took a seat. Berry was told to stay outside though.

"So... Before we start anything... I am Mayor Blueblood..." The stallion looked to be very old honestly. I don't think he'll last another 10 or 20 years... "And mind if I ask, what are you specifically? You kinda look like a Thestral, but that horn... And your name. Many townsponies are very curious about the name of the pony who saved quite a bit of our own." I was curious at first. I never really heard the word 'Thestral' before...

"Well, excuse me sir but I've never really heard of the word Thestral before. I'm a bat pony though but as for my horn... Long story. Blame radiation." I explained softly. "Oh and call me Storm." I finished, smiling softly.

He blinked a bit, surprised it seems. "Well then. I guess some bat ponies don't go by that name. Let me say this first, you aren't the first bat pony that came through our town here and she told me specifically that she preferred that we call her specie by that name." Interesting thought. I guess it is better than 'bat ponies'. "Also, I would like to add that the townsponies, mostly the ones who've rescued you, requested you should be rewarded simply because it seems that you are new to this wasteland. Is that true?" I didn't really want to go into details about this.

"Yes, some what. It's a long story, like I said, and I rather not go into the details. They are true though, I am rather new to the wasteland and still learning things. Last night was my first run-in with both slavers and raiders, mind you. I never knew that existed before hoof." I explained softly, nodding a little.

"Well then... You have a lot to learn and I highly recommend tuning into DJ PON-3's radio, you'll learn a lot from him. It looks like that is a Pip-Buck connected in your armor so I think you can do that." He is correct and maybe I should do so. "Well... Let me be the one that tells you about our currency." I nodded a little. "Firstly, we don't use any pre-war bits anymore. However, they can be sold still." Strange but I let him continued. "And secondly, our currency is bottlecaps. You may have notice that the slavers or even the raiders collected those, yes?" I blinked softly. Well then, glad I made that choice and nodded to his question. "Thought so. The ponies you saved asked if I can reward you in bottlecaps so that you may spend it on supplies here and continue your work. However..." I stopped him by raising a hoof.

"Actually, I heard you have a tailor. Think you can have her repair my armor?" He gave me a curious look, thinking about it then nodded. I smiled at that and after a short chat, he gave me a piece of paper to take to the tailor. Once I was out, Berry guided me to the tailor and I've shown it to her. The tailor pony wasn't very happy honestly but she accepted it, mentioning that one of the ponies I've saved was a dear friend of hers anyways. So I gave her my armor and then Berry shown me around. There were a handful of houses, as well as a medical place, where she use to work at, and a few bars. The last place she took me to was the general store. Absolutely Everything.

"Before we go in." Berry begun. "I should let you know that the owner of the store is our resident ghoul. Since you seem not to know anything about them, let me say this. Not every ghoul is bad. Some of them have been able to keep their minds sane and live like any other pony does in this wasteland. Yes, she might look like some sort of 'zombie' but she isn't one. The feral ghouls though, the wild ones that lost their minds, are like 'zombies' and you should kill them on sight." I blinked a little. Okay, feral ghouls. Another thing to kill on sight. Lovely.

I nodded to her words. "Thanks... Hopefully I won't freak out." I knew I would at first. I gently pushed open the door, walking into the store and then looked at the grey pegasus, or at least once was, and immediately something triggered in my head. "By Luna's fucking amazing moon! Is that you Ditzy?" the moment I said the pegasus's name, she jumped up, looking at me with her crossed-eyes. She is definitely different from the last time we've met. I don't think she remembers though, she is cocking her head. "It's been... A long time but um... It's me, Storm. I was friends with Thunderlane. I took a trip to Ponyville once with him, was one of the few times I went into public actually, and you were one of the very few ponies who wasn't afraid of my looks... Hay, you greeted with a hoofshake and all!" She started smiling widely now after that, I think she's remembering.

She picked up a board of some sort though and started writing, I was raising a brow at first but read what was on it. "That was a long time... I always thought that you shouldn't have been treated like that." I smiled a little, nodding a little.

Berry gently bumped my side though, looking at me. "You... Knew Ditzy before the war?" I shook my head a little though.

"Knew? No. Just met her once. She made my day though with her smile back then though. But um... What's with the board and writing?" I asked, looking back at Ditzy, as the pegasus begun to erase the words on the board. However, Berry beat her to the punch.

"Her tongue was cut out by slavers a while ago." She explained as I frowned a little. Okay then, another reason why to hate slavers. Ditzy did nod to this though, confirming it. Well, that's good to know.

I looked back over to Ditzy now, noticing that she is writing on the board once again. "So, how may I help you Storm?". I'm glad she isn't asking what I am. Really got annoyed to answer that. I decided though to trade in some of the gear I gotten from the slavers and raiders, at least what I picked up, for those bottlecaps. That and my battle rifle. Apparently the bullets for it are quite rare and expensive, so I'm gonna stick to the shotguns and pistols. They aren't as bad. I also decided to buy a combat knife that she had. Berry did mention that it might help me out more and she was correct. I can silently kill raiders and slavers much easier with a combat knife than with my guns! After the trading, I decided to have a 'discussion' with Ditzy. We both decided though not to talk about the past much but rather the present more. Apparently, Ditzy is writing a book right now. Wasteland Survival Guide. Sounds like a good idea honestly and she was talking about the chapter about mines at one point. Even mentioning a mine made from bottlecaps, though I think I accidentally convinced her not to include that part, even though I liked the idea myself. Oh well, no harm done, right?

After that, we headed back to the tailor and my armor was done. I gotten it back on me, connected my combat shotgun to my side, where my rifle was, and put my sawed off to my side, next to my pistol. Berry also took some bottlecaps and resupplied her medical box, which she now has on her side like a bag, which I questioned. "Um. Going somewhere?" I asked her.

She looked at me and chuckled a bit. "I'm going with you. I know you are going back out there and I'm going with you. Storm, like I said. I'm going to help you. You are going to need it... Please, aren't we friends now?" She said, fluttering her eyelashes as I blushed a little. Yeah, I guess we are friends.

"Well..." I begun to say, then thinking back to what Watcher said. He did mention that I needed friends to survive and he was correct. I would be dead without her right now actually. So having her with me, to heal me when I get injured and all, would be a great thing. Plus I'll protect her from threats and we both will have somepony we can call friend, at least. I do actually enjoy her company. "Fine. You may travel with me. It be nice to have a friend." I said softly, smiling a little.

She smiled right back, grinning a little. "Good. i just need to pack food and water then we should be good. By the way, don't you eat? I haven't seen you eat at all." She finally asked that question. Good question actually and I did shrugged.

"Honestly, I don't think I need to eat anymore. I mean, considering how long I've lasted unconscious without food, something must've happened to my inner body parts." Then a thought came to me. "Do ghouls need to eat?" She shook her head gently at that question. "Then that must be it. I guess, technically, I'm a ghoul or suppose to be." Then I whispered into her ears, just in case other ponies are listening. "Cause, you know, Enclave." She nodded a little after I explained. It makes some sense to me. The Enclave Colonel did mention that my skin was healed, never mentioned my inner body parts. I know for sure my heart is still working, as I can feel it, but my stomach? I hadn't heard it since before the megaspells. Doesn't explain me living though. What's keeping me alive? Ponies need food and water to survive, keep energy in their bodies. What is keeping energy in my body? Gotta be something similar to ghouls and I could ask her but I decided not to.

"Anyways. Let's get moving! See what else we can find and see if we can find those Steel Ranger folks you mentioned before. If we are going with that plan, we gonna need to find them first!" I proclaimed, smiling happily as she nodded her head in agreement. So, we left New Appleloosa happily as I tuned into the radio finally, like the mayor mentioned I should. It was playing some rather great music, music which I remembered from before the megaspells, then I heard a male voice begun to speaking.

"Hey hey hey ponies of the Equestrian Wasteland! It's me, your lovely host, DJ PON-3 with some good news! My reports came in about a mysterious new active face, a strange pony with leather wings like a bat and a strange black horn. At first, I thought. 'Oh my, this sounds bad!' but no SIR! It's good news because this strange pony has rescued a family from slavers, as well as a group of mares, whom originally left New Appleloosa to make their own town, from raiders! Sadly, he didn't saved the ponies who were already killed by the raiders but still! Less raiders and slavers is always a good thing, with still lives saved!

So to that pony, good job! i hope not everypony you meet freaks out upon seeing you! I know not everypony may like the looks of you but hey, it's not the outside that counts! It's what's inside, that counts!

Also, ponies, here's a lesson related to our new friend! I may not know for sure what our new friend is specifically, but he does partial fit the definition of Thestrals. Remember ponies, Thestrals are a very rare race of ponies and I've met one myself actually, a mare. They don't like to be called bat ponies, I can tell you that for sure, and they are just like any other pony! They aren't actual mutations! Hopefully, our friend here is just a rarer sub-race of Thestral or is just a Thestral that undergo a mutation, yet is still sane! If the latter, hopefully he'll get help!

That's all Wastelanders, so here some lovely Sweetie Belle for you!"

He finished as music plays. I turned off the radio though after that and begun thinking. Well, he made a good guess about me but do I really need help for what I am? Also, this mare that calls us Thestrals? Who is she? First, I've figured out she made an appearance at New Appleloosa but she also met this DJ PON-3? Maybe I'll bump into her someday? Damn it, I was hoping for answers, not questions. Oh well, gave me something to think about and talk about with Berry. I really don't know which way we should go so we decided just to pick a random direction, and just roll with it! So, into the bloody Wasteland!