Fallout Equestria: Old Equestria Blues

Chapter Two: Dust in the Wind

I gasped in frustration as the rays of sunlight washed over my face, thankfully the irritation didn’t last nearly as long as I scanned the fuzzy scene before me. I was standing at the entrance of the ghoulicorn’s small clinic at the top of a dusty hill that appeared to be overlooking a small isolated community. I counted about eight or nine buildings, the largest two close to the highway I was looking for. Besides that though, there was nothing of particular note.

Slowly I made my way down the road, stopping at the bottom as I suddenly heard the soft sound of static coming from the PipBuck. I lifted my foreleg and looked over the device again. The screen had come to live and was apparently running through a backlog of data as it emitted a constant stream of soft static. I frowned as I began to fiddle will all the various knobs and switches, trying anything to get that annoying static to stop. I had never been one for playing with computers.

I was just about to give up when suddenly the screen cleared itself of data and the static came to a stop. There was new information was on the screen now, this time not unintelligible data.

Stable-Tec PipBuck 3000 User’s Guide
Warning: This device has been modified beyond its original parameters, rendering any previous warranty null and void. Stable-Tec will no longer insure of this device’s functionality. To insure the user’s safety, please dispose of this device.

I smirked at the irony of the top part of the screen’s message. Those modifications were probably what had saved my life in the first place. Shaking my head I continued reading. It didn’t take very long, and it was rather nice. It was basically the instructions on how to use the PipBuck to its fullest. Apparently it could measure my personal health and vital signs with its own brand of magic. It could also help me administer any healing potions or medicines I had with me when I needed them.

I must’ve been standing at the bottom of that hill for quite awhile as I learned as much as I could from the PipBuck. It had already taken a scan of my body, as well as my saddle bag and was showing me how I could sort and organize my inventory without even opening it up. It could even play music! Now I really loved this thing. All I would need to do is find a radio signal for it to pick up. I reached the final part of the user’s guide and raised an eyebrow at the list of all the additional features this thing came with. It could measure magical radiation with the rainbow to the side of the screen, it had a smart compass called Eyes-Forward Sparkle or E.F.S. that would keep track of my location and my destination as well tell me if anyone was friend or foe, and the most surprising function at all, The Stable-Tec Arcane Spell. shortened to S.T.A.T.S. A function that could aid you in a physical conflict with a boost of scientific magic. “A little something extra just incase diplomacy fails,” it read at the end of the description.

I guess the upside about having this thing permanently affixed to my foreleg was that it was extremely helpful in nearly everything I could do. Mostly though I was just happy it could play music. Soon after finishing the guide, I switched to the map to get a better look at where I was. Of course this thing had already scanned the entire surrounding area, labling the small community as Oatfields. The two buildings by the highway were a general store and a saloon named Desperation. Not seeing anything else of note I switched to the E.F.S. and found that it already had my destination marked for me. Maybe this thing wasn’t so nice after all. After all It was kinda creepy how it knew where I already wanted to go.

Not willing to waste anymore time on trying to figure the PipBuck out, I set off toward the highway, using the marker the E.F.S. used as a guide. As I made my way through the community I found there wasn’t really anyone here at all. This place was practically a ghost town. I saw one or two earth ponies stepping out of the general store and then immediately into the saloon, but that was it. There was no one else really. Like everypony had just gotten up and left and those that remained were just living out the rest of their days.

All around me was barren desert, as I traveled further west along the highway. It was kind of familiar for me. As though I had done this kind of thing before I had been shot. A cool breeze blew by and the sun shone a little bright, preventing me from being chilled. It was a long walk, quite a distance from Oatfields. But then again, she had said I had been found ten miles out. Sure enough I could even see the cliff face from here, but judging from the lack of any nearby mountains, it looked more like a bluff.

I stopped after about an hour of walking to take a drink of water. It was cutely labeled Aqua Cura and was was just as refreshing. There had still been no other signs of life though. Rather, It looked as though I was the only one along this long stretch of road. No spritebots, no bloatsprites, or any of the other creatures I remembered that could be wandering about the desert. I checked my E.F.S. once more, discovering that I had just a little over five miles left to go, but as far as it could tell there were still no radio signals for it to pick up.

That was a little strange, I could’ve sworn I remembered a radio signal that broadcasted throughout the entire desert. I hadn’t given it much thought when I had first started walking to this cliff or bluff. Now though, the more I thought about it, the more strange it became. A felt a brief flash of dull pain in my skull and felt compelled to turn my head and look upon the horizon. Now that I had traveled further out away from Oatfields I could see a large city built into the ruins of a large tower that disappeared into the clouds. A Familiar place. I zoomed out of the current map of the area and broadened its scale. There was a whole bunch of information missing, but it had managed to identify that area of civilization I was looking at as New Reino and New Pegasus. Some part of me deep down inside wanted to go there, almost as if it was calling out to me, but I didn’t know why. I had finished with my break though so I reluctantly turned away from the view and continued on my way to the marker indicated on my E.F.S.

The sun was already beginning to set once I arrived at the bluff. I was a bit tired and sore from the constant walk, but just like when I had started this had been relatively peaceful. I looked around for any signs of where I had previously been, finding nothing but dirt and loose dust that blew away as the wind picked up. I knickered and kicked at the ground in frustration. This had been a stupid idea. What did I honestly expect to find? Some sort of obvious clue that would’ve led me where I needed to go to find my brother, of course. Almost as if this was one of those fantasy stories in comic books little colts and fillies read. It wasn’t though. This was real life. I sat on the ground with a hard thud and looked around slowly, my eyes falling back on the horizon and to New Reino. I was about to just give up and head back to Oatfields when my ears managed to pick up on the sound of some sort of faint music playing not too far away. It sounded like string music, enchanting and calming at the same time. I stood up and looked around, trying to locate the source, it appeared to becoming from the top of the bluff, where the grave marker was.

I could still just barely hear the music, growing frustrated when I caught the sight of something reflecting a bit of light from the setting sun. There was no way I’d be able to find the music unless I went around and climbed up the extremely craggy hill, but I felt spurred on, a small hope renewed, even if it wasn’t what I was looking for. I kicked off running along the face hoping to find some sort of path that led up. When I couldn’t I jumped up onto the rocky surface, grunting as I forced my way up the steep incline, determined to find the music, I almost panicked when I thought I couldn’t hear it any more, but the familiar hum of strings told me I was going in the right direction.

Finally I reached the top, with nothing more than a few scrapes and bruises, panting with exhaustion as I caught sight of a floating metal orb in front of the cross. My eyes however opened wide as I caught sight of something laying on the ground at the foot of the grave beneath the floating machine.

A delicately carved acoustic guitar, with a blue finish, with a name embossed in silver at the base. I recognized it immediately. It was my guitar, or more accurately it was my father’s guitar which had been passed down onto me. The PipBuck suddenly let out another soft hiss of static drawing my attention towards it. It had labeled this area, Blue Rhapsody’s Grave, almost as though the thing was mocking me.

Ignoring the PipBuck now, I turned my attention back to the floating mechanical orb in front of me. It was extremely beat up and covered in dust, parts of it were well rusted and it had quite a few bent pieces. Sure enough it was the source of music. I could hear it clearly now, a cello played with perfect care and precision. Almost as if the player loved the instrument truly. it was haunting now, as though it was stirring something within my soul. Was this who had brought the ghoulicorn to me? I frowned at the idea I still hadn’t asked her name before I had left, Once I was back there, I would make sure to ask. However, there was this thing right in front me I had to deal with.

“Excuse me...” I began, uncertain how to talk to a machine that just floated around and played music. “Did you see what happened here?”

The only response was music.

“I was the pony that had been shot here awhile back. The doctor who patched me up said a sprite bot had led her here. Was that you?”

Again, only music. I hate machines. I didn’t think I was going to get anywhere else with this so I stepped closer to it.There was a metal plate welded to its side that looked like it once had a bunch of letters, now only a few remained. I shifted my attention from the spritebot and looked at the guitar on the ground, “Well, if you don’t mind then, I’m gonna take what belongs to me back,” I said and called upon my innate unicorn talent. My horn glowing as a small levitation field enveloped the guitar and floated it to me. Despite being a bit dusty, it looked perfectly fine. Carefully I used my magic to strum a chord, shivering a little in excitement as the familiar tone came out.

Almost immediately the music cut out and I turned my attention back to the bot, wondering just what was going on. Nothing. The music had just stopped suddenly for some reason. I turned my attention back to the guitar, smiling and strumming the strings a few more times. This felt right. My ears twitched and I heard a horrible clicking hissing noise behind me that carried a faint wetness. I turned around just in time to see a huge radscorpion Lifting up its tail, ready to strike at me with his nasty looking stinger.

I wish I could say I had done the right thing, that I jumped out of the way like some sort of badass. I mean I’m sure I had seen plenty of these things before. This time though, I did the dumbest thing anypony who is face to face with a mutated creature would do. I froze in place.

Within seconds I would be dead, so much for second chances right? I guess the PipBuck had been right, this was my grave...Or it would’ve been had it not been for the spirtebot floating above me. Before I could be stabbed to death, it came to life, a small magical glow coming to life as it fire an obnoxious green burst of energy at the creature, causing it to suddenly dissolved into a congealed mess of glowing goo.

I continued to stand there dumbfounded at just what had occurred in front of me but now the spritebot had turned to face me.

“Well, I can see how they nearly managed to kill you last time, you’re not very perceptive are you?” a kind of deep voiced asked from within the bot, almost sounding smug at my lack of awareness.

“It’s nice to know you can actually talk. I thought you might’ve just been a stupid piece of junk.” I replied, not wanting to focus on myself given what had just occurred.

“Well, as a matter of fact, this thing is a piece of junk, I, however, am not. You should be thanking me though, since I just saved your life for a second time,”

My cheeks felt hot at that, I wanted to yell at whoever this was. “Well I would’ve thanked you if you hadn’t been such an ass about it,” That was when it clicked in my mind, “Besides, if you had been around here when you saw me get attacked the first time, why didn’t you help me then? You certainly have the firepower for it.” This time I grinned, whoever this was, he wouldn’t be able continue on his high horse now.

“Okay, I see you fail at basic math too. Sure I could’ve taken one or two of them down, but the rest would have overwhelmed me, and then you would’ve been dead for sure. I just did the smart thing and waited to see if they had actually killed you. Though if you are this ungrateful, they probably should’ve.” he responded cold and matter of factly.

I went silent. Verbally defeated by somepony who hid behind a stupid machine. I didn’t know what to say to that, and it kind of hurt. A minute must have passed before he spoke up again.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I did try my best with what I have to save you and I’m glad you are alive. You can call me Watcher,” he said.

I took a deep breath and nodded, more than willing to just forget the small fight I had had with my savior twice over. “My name is Blue Rhapsody, I’m sorry too, I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful, but these last few hours have been kinda painful. I don’t quite remember who I am.”

“A bullet in your skull and you’ve come out with only a few holes in your memory? That’s pretty lucky. Though I do hope that you get back what you lost, I kinda know the feeling myself.”

I smirked a bit and nodded. “I know you were busy making sure I was saved, but I don’t suppose you can tell me about anything that happened here or where my brother went could you?” I asked, deciding that changing the subject and focusing on my task at hand would be best.

Watcher, the spritebot, gave out a short pop of static and seemed to wobble in the air for a moment before he spoke up, was the machine really in that bad of a condition?

“Well I didn’t see too much actually. I did my best to stay out of sight while the leader seemed to talk to you. After he took what he wanted and shot you though, he said something about heading to Neighvac before he headed home to start looking for the others and that’s about it. If you are going to follow him though, I recommend you use caution, there has been a lot of strange trouble up north and the NCR has been busy trying to keep the peace there, so it’d be wise to follow through to Neighvac, since it’s further away from the trouble areas.”

I smiled, now I had a sense of direction. My PipBuck gave another pop of static, drawing my attention towards it. Like las time,It had automatically updated itself, my E.F.S. now placing a marker somewhere else on my map, in the complete opposite direction of my “grave”. Hopefully it updated because it had been hearing the conversation so far, and not because it was somehow reading my thoughts.

“Thanks for the help Watcher. I appreciate it. But I’m gonna head back to Oatfields and thank my doctor once more. She told me to tell you she said Hi though. Should I tell her anything for you?” I asked, levitating my precious guitar to my saddleback and securing it carefully.

“That’s okay Blue. I don’t need to tell her anything. but I do want to ask you something, if you don’t mind,”

I checked my inventory to make sure everything was there and then drank some more Aqua Cura, nodding to the spritebot, wondering what he could want from me.

“Real quick, can you tell me what kind of pony you are?”

*=====*

I had contemplated Watcher’s question the entire time I walked back to Oatfields. At first I though he had been asking me if I was a unicorn or a pegasus or something else, but he had quickly clarified that he had meant was what kind of pony I was in regards to my personal morality. At first I was angry and I nearly yelled out him for such a question, offended by whatever implications that question carried. I managed to stop myself though as it really took root in my mind. I didn’t really know what kind of pony I had been before I woke up in the clinic. I couldn’t remember. So I told him as such.

All I really knew was that my brother had tried to kill me, and had taken something extremely important in the process. judging from everything I had just experienced today, I also knew that my guitar used to belong to my father, but I didn’t remember anything else about him, and I felt as though I knew something about New Reino. Nothing else.

By the time I arrived back into Oatfields the moon had risen pretty high and it was getting rather dark. I didn’t want to impose on the good doctor again, especially after I had nearly been killed so soon. So, I headed towards the Desperation Saloon.

Stepping inside, I already started to cough, the air inside was filled with a thick smoke from the large group of ponies who were smoking cigars off in their own booth. There were about four of them, all dressed in a similar fashion. Assorted styles of black leather vests, each one with a vicious looking snake emblazoned on it somewhere within sight. I tried to ignore them and instead trotted up to the counter were an elderly looking earth pony stood, cleaning out a glass with a dirty rag. She eyed me for a moment and then gave me a warm smile.

“Well hullo there cutie, what can I getcha?” she asked, setting the glass down on the counter carefully.

I smiled, blushing a little at the idea that I was apparently cute to somepony. “Oh! Well, uh...” I started, already sounding like a foal. “I’m kinda new in town, I don’t really see any taverns or hotels, so I was hoping I could find a room to stay the night.”

She laughed a little and then turned and grabbed a small bottle of a glowing amber liquid. Setting it down before she answered my question.

“Heh, well that’s cus we don’t get very many folk who want to stay in a dirt heap like Oatfields sweetie, but you are in luck cause I just so happen to have two empty rooms that I rent out on occasion. If you like, I kin give you the key to the room for a night for twenty caps.” she offered with a warm smile, opening the bottle and pouring the liquid in the relatively clean glass now.

I felt the blood drain from my face as I realized I didn’t have any money at all. Nervously I smiled to her “Well...uh ma’am...” I began only to be interrupted by her.

“No No No, I ain’t no ma’am. The name’s Miz Sunrise, Tequila Sunrise,” she corrected me and then pushed the glass toward me with a warm smile.

I nodded, still smiling nervously, “Oh...Well miss Sunrise, I don’t actually have any money...”

That damn near made that smile of her turn sour before she perked it right back up. “Oh, you one of them types huh? Well Nothin here is free, so if’n you want a place to stay for the night, I’m gonna need to see some caps or you are gonna have to work for your stay,” she said eyeing me over with that same smile, that was starting to look kinda creepy.

“Seein as you don’t have any caps, that means you are gonna work then an I kin thinka two things you’d be good at. Playin that guitar of yours since the radio don’t work no more or warming my bed, seeing as you look like you a good role in the hay...”

I felt myself instinctively wanting to be sick at the mere idea of warming her bed, no matter if she thought I was sweet or cute. “Oh, well, yeah, I can play the guitar, I’m really good at that!” I said, speaking so hurriedly once she finished her own sentence.

She looked me over and then sighed and shook her head, as if resigned herself to another lonely night. “Oh okay then, that’ll be fine. I didn’t know you were one of THOSE types,” the words were kinda sad and seemed just a bit spiteful. What did she mean, one of those types? Before I could ask though, she seemed to cheer right back up and resumed speaking.

“Okay well, I used to have a radio play some music, but the darn thing ain’t work right since last week, so if you can just play something to give this old place some live, I’d appreciate that. After about an hour or so, you can head on up to bed, deal?”

I smiled, the comment quickly forgotten as I nodded. “Sounds like a deal to me,”

“Good, then drink up and get to playing that fancy thing,” she said and pushed the glass of glowing amber liquid to me further to me. “Don’t worry about payin for the drink hun, since you’re on the clock, it’ll be on the house,”

I smiled, not that I was really thirsty, but more at her generosity, despite the fact I was piss poor and not interested in fooling around with her. So I wrapped a gentle telekinetic field around the glass and brought the strange drink to my lips.

It was warm, smooth, and kinda thick yet it managed to cause a fire like sensation to stir in my belly. I quickly set the glass down and coughed a bit, unused to the sensation of drinking such a strong spirit. Sunrise was watching me with a bemused look and shook her head, picking up another glass and cleaning it with her dirty cloth. A few moments later I managed to finish the glass and set down it on the counter for her. My entire body felt nice and comfortable and I was relaxed. So I headed to a nice isolated place near the counter, unslung my guitar from my saddle bag and held it close.

*=====*

I must’ve been just sitting there looking like quite the ass when I didn’t immediately start playing. Admittedly, I didn’t remember any song I used to play, and I had no idea if I could still play as good as I thought I used to, but once I strummed my hoof across those string, whether it had been the alcohol or the conversation with Watcher, I just began to play.

*=====*

I hardly even realized how intensely I had been playing until I finally finished. The saloon had become completely silent, nothing but a few trails of smoke hanging in the air. Miss Sunrise was looking at me with a smile, not like before though, but rather a much different one. Almost as though she was seeing me in a different light. I looked around and saw the group of ponies from before in their booth, drinking and avoiding looking each other in the eyes, and a few new customers had come in while I was playing to get some drinks and listen to the show. Sheepishly I bowed before everyone, and carefully put my guitar back over my back, then made way back to the counter. With a smile she gave me the key and a pair of directions to where I could sleep.

*=====*

Bang! The sound of a gun going off and a bullet leaving the barrel of a pistol. Slowly it traveled through the air till it came in contact with my skull. I gasped with pain and sat up right in the bed, groaning as I pressed a hoof against my skull where the scars were. It had only been a dream, or so I thought when the sound of a gun went off again and a scream of fear soon followed after it. I could hear someone yelling angrily nearby. In a hurried panic I went to my saddle bag, searching for the pistol my doctor had given me yesterday. After the radscorpion last night, I wasn’t about to be caught off guard again.

It was a small 9mm pistol that looked to be in extremely poor condition, but after checking the magazine, it was fully loaded thankfully. I heard another scream and the sound of glass breaking again, this time I could tell it was coming from the bar. Carefully I wrapped the pistol with my telekinetic field, my horn glowing a bit slightly, and I looked at my Eyes-Forward Sparkle. There were six hostiles, all glowing an angry red on my compass, and one non-hostile who I assume was miss Sunrise. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door to the bedroom and tried my best to quietly step out.

I reached the hallway that lead to the main area of the saloon and head a gruff male voice speaking up loudly, “You’ve been late with your payment for the last three times Miz Sunrise...You know this is the last time the boss was gonna let you get away with this, and you know he ain’t as generous as you seem to be, why do you have to lie about not having the money when apparently you can hire musicians huh?”

I couldn’t hear her reply to him, but apparently my performance last night had done more bad than good in the long run. It had brought down these thugs. Peeking around the corner as best as I could, I could tell none of them could see me from where I was. Most of them were wearing that same jacket snake symbol uniform. More members had shown up, probably this morning. Now they were extorting Sunrise. I did my best to see where each of them were on my E.F.S. there were still only six, but I could only just barely see four of them somewhere further in, and it was too dark inside for me to see if they had any weapons of their own.

“Well then Sunrise, since you refuse to pay up, I’m gotta have to take it outta your ass. You’re fine with that aren’t ye? I heard you been looking for a stallion anyway, since you seem to be throwing yourself at just about anyone. Hold her down boys!” he cried out, followed by her screaming.

There was no way I was going to let this happen. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the hallway and towards the bar counter, pointing the pistol up at the ceiling and firing enough to bring everyone’s attention to me.

It was a horrible scene before that was laid out before me, two of those...’snakes’ had her bent down with her face pressed roughly against the floor, forcing her backside to be presented to the stallion I assumed was the leader. He was ugly, plain and simple. His face was just covered in piercings and he had a crummy looking eye patch covering his left eye, he was staring at me with an angry snarl. Most of his teeth missing already, the rest looking jagged and horrible.

“Let her up,” I said plainly, trying not to lose my cool. Keeping the barrel of my gun trained on him. “If any of you touch her again, I swear on Luna’s fury I will put you down like the dogs you are.”

‘Eyepatch’ knickered and nodded to his minions, both of them getting up and pulling away, leaving sunrise to cower on the floor sobbing quietly to herself.

“That’s him boss...the one with the guitar...” I heard one of them say. I didn’t like how his frown shifted into a cruel smile at the mention of that, as though the game had changed back into his favor.

“Oh is it now huh? He certainly don’t look like much, that’s for sure,” at that, he stepped forward and delivered a hard kick right into Sunrise’s backside causing her to cry out in intense pain and then looked right at me with a wicked smile. “Heh, what was that you said bout touching her again? Put us down like dogs you said?” He moved past her and stepped closer to me, I kept my gun trained on him, feeling my forehead throb with pain in anger. Damn it I was frozen again!

“Still haven’t pulled that trigger colt. I bet you don’t have it in you do you?” he said with a smile. Then turned his head back to his men. “Nevermind about this bucklover boys, get that bitch ready for me, he ain’t gonna do a damn thing. I can see it in his eyes,”

My eyes snapped to the two ponies who pulled and tugged on Sunrise, both of them grunting and Laughing as they forced her back into position. I closed my eyes and lowered my pistol, struggling against this paralyzing sensation that had overcome me.

“eH Eh eH, He’S righT HuH?” I heard just barely in my ear, like a gust of wind against a series of chimes, like someone had tried to whisper a secret in my ear. At that my eyes flew right open and I pointed the barrel right at ‘Eyepatch’s’ left knee and pulled the trigger, the bullet exploding out of the chamber and exploding in his knee cap, causing him to collapse onto the ground in a pool of his own blood, howling in pain, suddenly every one of his goons backed away, seeing their boss incapacitated.

I brought the gun up and slowly waved it in their general direction. “I want every single one of you filthy snakes to go crawling back into the tunnel you dragged yourselves out of, or I will do the exact same to you!” I roared, feeling my blood pumping at the sudden rush of adrenaline. “And take your boss with you,”

They didn’t even nod, within moments they were out the door, the last one coming by to pick his boss up as best as he could and drag him away. After that I didn’t pay any attention to them, instead I rushed forward to Sunrise’s aid, giving her a quick once over to see how badly they may have hurt her. As far as I could tell, the most she had were a few bruises. She looked up at me, tears streaking in her eyes and her lips moved. She was trying to say something but I wasn’t hearing it, instead that same faint whisper took over.

“OoooO THaT was fUn...i WoNdeR though, whAt kInD of poNY doeS thiS makE you now?”

I looked up and around for any sign of who had said that, immediately thinking of Watcher, instead though I saw, just as he near the door to leave, Eyepatch threw himself off his lacky and charged at me with a switchblade screaming bloody murder. With perfect precision I lifted my pistol back up with my magic, locking onto him with S.T.A.T.S and fired at his head.

He didn’t even make it halfway to us before his face just suddenly erupted like a rotten pumpkin, blood and gore spraying all over the place. Needing no further provocation, the last of his minions ran out of town as though they had just seen hell.

I looked down at Sunrise who was looking at me with a mixture of gratitude and horror. I didn’t even want to know what she was seeing on my face right now. As far as I was concerned I had just taken my first life, sure it had been in self-defense, but I still had willingly crossed that line.

“I’m a no second chances kind of pony,” I muttered under my breath, closing my eyes and turning off S.T.A.T.S.

Level Up.
New Perk: Horse Sense -- You are a swift learner. You gain an additional +10% whenever experience points are earned.