Wasted Days: A Fallout Equestria Tale

by Wildstar

Rating: mature
Tags: Crossover, Dark, Alternate Universe, Adventure
Length: 11458

A memory lost, a world destroyed, and nothing is as it seems, a lone unicorn struggles to find his place in the Equestrian Wasteland.

Based upon Fallout: Equestria written by Kkat comes a new tale from the Equestrian Wasteland. Following the story of a Unicorn who has lost his memory. Struggling to not only survive the Wasteland, but discover who he is and was while making some friends and some enemies along the way.

(Situations from Fallout: Equestria may or may not be referenced in this story! In no way am I claiming copyright to the ideas written by Kkat! Situations are also referencing roleplay stories created in Second Life on the Wasted Days Roleplay SIM and characters have been referenced or changed based on the input from those who have created them!)

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-08-07 21:12:48 UTC

Chapter One: Amnesia

Wasted Days

A Fallout: Equestria Tale

Written By: Jeff Lincoln

Based upon Fallout: Equestria written by Kkat and Wasted Days Roleplaying SIM on Second Life

Chapter One: Amnesia

I can’t remember what alerted me first, simply waking up in a ditch, or the fact I couldn't  remember anything before waking up in a ditch. The area around me simply felt…off. Like I didn’t belong there or something. I couldn’t put my hoof on it. What I could put my hoof on was the fact that my head hurt like hell.

Getting past that initial shock took much longer than I had thought it was. I didn’t know where I was. How I got there. Hell, I couldn’t even remember WHO I was. Just that I was naked, in pain, and really confused.

Taking in my surroundings I couldn’t see much in the direction I was facing when I woke up. Just endless mountain ranges and dry desert. But turning my head around, I saw a rather tall makeshift wall behind me and a single guard-post near the only opening nearby. The guard-post was currently unmanned, but that could change at any moment and I REALLY didn’t want to press my luck.

Pushing off of the ground I wobbled a bit, dizziness setting in. It was momentary but boy did it make the world spin. At the time I didn’t even feel the pain on my head that was caused by something in the recent past. But I fought through the dizziness and shook my head multiple times. The dizziness passed and I took my first step, so far so good.

I took another. And another. And another. So my legs worked fine. It was then I had my first coughing fit. I felt like I had just woken up the entire world with how loud and intense it was. Goddesses did I feel sick.

“Celestia help me…how did I even get here?” I quietly asked aloud as I looked up at the guard-post. Still empty, good.

Figuring I didn’t have much time before it became occupied I moved inside the fenced area. And inside the fence was, at what I thought at the time, a very run down town. The first building I laid eyes upon was what I would later find out a Gun Store. In dark lettering above the building it read Shot Trotters. There were ponies inside, armed to the teeth with guns. A concept once again, I would learn later on. For now, they just simply looked intimidating.

So, best to avoid that place for now. I wandered further into town, catch the eye of another pony. He too was armed, but much less than the ones in Shot Trotters. I was tempted to simply freeze in place until the Pony moved on. But that would just draw even more attention to myself and I pressed on.

The pony paid me no mind and kept walking. I let out the longest held breath I could have as I continued.

“That was too close.” I said quietly. Moving forward I took more of my surroundings in. The building directly to my left looked moderately fine. Multiple levels connected by stairs. And on each level a door every five or so meters. I guess the rooms must have been rather numerous to need so many doors. I couldn’t tell if anypony was in the rooms, but that wasn’t really my business was it?

I could see more buildings further down the road, but my curiosity didn’t peak that high at the time to begin exploring the whole town. I needed to find out exactly where the hell I was. Then it struck me, I needed to find someplace that ponies would go to converse.

As if fate handed the answer to me, almost immediately to my right was a Tavern. I couldn’t remember what the word meant, but it looked promising. I moved towards the large building and peered inside. Surely enough, there were ponies inside. Many of them too armed with guns. A few of them even looked identical, right down to their cutie marks.

I approached the door and was getting ready to enter when I paused. What do I say? HOW do you even say that you can’t remember who you are or where you are? Surely that must seem a bit odd and looney doesn’t it? I’ll be laughed at for sure and told to leave.

I sighed and hung my head, I didn’t exactly have anything to lose. I pushed my hoof against the door and it swung open with a creak. Immediately I regretted my decision, I instantly felt the eyes of everypony in the room staring in my direction. Oh Goddesses, why’d even think of coming in here? Now I just look like a fool.

I let the door close behind me and I moved off to the side. I looked at the floor mostly, but eventually I brought my head up. And for the first time, I saw my reflection. My coat was bright orange and my mane and tail a duller color of orange. On my flank was a mark, a Thunder cloud with lightning coming off of it. And on my forehead stood a horn.

My purple eyes staring back at me, lost in the reflection I hadn’t even noticed the mare approach me from behind. Her voice broke me from my soul-gazing.

“Hello, but can I help you?” she asked of me. Turning to face her I was stunned. She was the only one to approach me and I couldn’t even manage a sentence in that moment.

She cocked her head to the side and asked, “Do you need some help?”

The only response I could think of was, “I…don’t know…where am I?” Might as well get that out of the way sooner rather than later.

What surprised me was that before the mare before me could even reply, a rather bubbly orange mare spoke up from the table almost five feet away. “You’re in The Two Bears Tavern silly! Don’t you know how to read?” she asked rather rapidly, some words even sounding as if they were simply strung together rather than spoken individually.

I felt a bit stupid at the remark. Not so much for the fact that yeah, I could’ve phrased the question a bit better. But that I also sounded like a filly learning how to walk for the first time and had fallen on its face.

The Mare in front of me gave me a look of confusion, though it could have been a look that also read as if she had approached the stupidest pony in Equestria. I felt even more stupid at that point and my ears dropped to a lower angle as I lowered my head. I hadn’t even noticed the mare working her Pipbuck, trying to see if I was hurt or something.

“I meant this town…” I replied quietly without even looking up at the orange pony.

The Mare in front of me this time spoke first, “You’re in Little Cliffside…are you alright?” Alright? I was the furthest thing from ‘alright.’ I wanted to say, ‘I just woke up in a ditch and can’t remember a damn thing, do I look ‘alright’ to you?’ But I couldn’t. Something inside me told me to just keep it simple and don’t be an absolute jerk about it.

“No…not really…unless not remembering anything about who you are or where you are is considered to be ‘alright.” I replied looking up, once again feeling to be about the size of a pea. The small group nearest to me rolled their eyes.

But of course, the bubbly orange pony giggled and replied with, “Hey! At least you’re alive! Not many ponies can say the same!” While, yeah she was totally right, she was totally wrong. Can living without your memories really be considered as ‘being alive’ when you can’t remember your life from before five minutes ago?

My only response to her was, “Yeah…I guess.” Even I could tell how uncertain I was. And surely the rest of the ponies in the immediate area could. The two green twins shook their heads in tandem and the other orange pony just remained focused on her conversation with them. I gathered from the small bits of conversation that she was sisters with the other orange pony and had just met the two green ponies.

“Would you like to join Skye and me?” the Mare in front of me asked, “You can sit and talk about what happened if you’d like.” She offered with a hint of kindness in her voice, even if it was also covered in confusion.

I nodded slowly, “Yeah…okay…but I can’t really remember anything…so it’d probably be pretty boring.”

Her response was something I didn’t expect, laughter. “I don’t mind! In fact I could use a little more boredom in my life!” I honestly had no idea how to respond to that. What could be so adventuresome that someone actually WANTED boredom to come freely to them? I moved slowly following the mare to the table. Where a single blue pony sat, waiting for the mare to return.

“I’m Flip by the way, this is Skye. What’s your name?” she asked of me. I assumed she just forgot that I said I couldn’t remember anything and replied quietly.

“I can’t remember.” I looked at my flank moments later, taking in the mark. “Though I think it had Thunder in it.” I said skeptically. The thought made sense, I had an image of a Thundercloud on my flank, so maybe Thunder was my name? Was the best guess I could come up with then and I was kind of glad I had something to go off of, rather than fumbling around without some clue.

Flip quickly filled Skye in, “He can’t remember anything. I think it might be some kind of amnesia.” She took her seat a moment later as I finally made it to the table. I felt suddenly small again.

Skye looked me up and down, nodding each time, “Well until you can remember your name, Thunder it is. Makes sense considering your Cutie Mark.” Well at least I managed to get that part right. I sighed openly as I took a seat.

“Flip, we should probably head out soon.” I guess I had caught them both at the end of their day or morning. I couldn’t even tell what time it was, I felt so useless.

Flip nodded as she replied to Skye. I couldn’t really remember the details as to why they needed to leave. Flip then turned back to me and suggested something I took immediately to heart.

“Can you remember ANYTHING? Anything at all?” she then noted my horn, “Can you even do magic? I mean you’re a unicorn pony. And all unicorn’s can do magic, even if it’s just telekinesis.”

I honestly hadn’t thought of it at all. Could I do magic? Could I lift objects even without knowing how to? I stated as much.

“Well it’s kind of like this!” Flip said, her arms waving around and making a terrible mock noise of magic happening. I couldn’t help but let out a little bit of a chuckle. It was silly to think you could sum up magic like that.

Even Skye I think managed to crack a smile as Flip lowered her arms. “Okay…that sounded a bit better in my head.” She admitted letting out a small giggle herself before looking at me. I looked at the empty plate in front of Skye, where previously hash browns had sat.

“Well let’s see if I can…” I said quietly as I focused. I felt a small pop as my horn began to glow. I felt my confidence boost as I watched the small plate begin to slowly shake. I tried to concentrate more, and the shaking intensified. But suddenly, almost out of nowhere, my head began to hurt.

I immediately stopped what I was trying to do and placed a hoof on my temple. “Okay, so probably not a good idea.” I said rubbing my temple. My head felt like it was going to explode.

Flip spoke up a moment later, “You should probably go to the clinic. They could probably help you out a little bit.” I lowered my hoof and simply nodded. She was completely right.

Most of the following conversation was lost to me. I was too busy thinking of what happened. But I couldn’t remember ANYTHING. And boy was it frustrating. Hell, I couldn’t even remember my name. It’s amazing how one tracked the mind can be when faced in a crisis such as that.

I don’t remember much talking, but I do remember spending the better part of the evening with the bubbly orange pony who introduced herself as Orange. We were scavenging for clothes. Which I desperately needed if I wanted to stave off the cold of night. I can remember separating after finding myself something basic. It wasn’t stylish but it did its job. Literally all I could think of from that point on until I passed out in what used to be a playground was my predicament. And how the whole world around me felt like hell. The next thing on my list of things to do was to get checked out at the clinic first thing tomorrow.

Maybe I was secretly hoping in the back of my mind that when I did wake up, this nightmare would be over. That all my memories would be back and I wasn’t like this. That everything was sunshine and rainbows.

Boy was I COMPLETELY wrong…

Chapter Two: The Clinic

Chapter Two: The Clinic

As far as accommodations go, I guess the Wasteland could offer worse. Sure, a playground filled with garbage wasn't exactly the healthiest place to sleep, but neither was simply finding a hole in the ground outside the town. If the radiation didn't kill you, a Raider or Slaver probably would. So, again I really couldn't say that I had much to complain about. It rained a little bit, but only briefly, and even that was more than welcomed.

As far as my day? I spent more than my preferred amount of time searching Little Cliffside for a Clinic. I felt a bit stupid when I realized that the  clinic was right next to the playground. I had literally wandered the entire town to come back where I had started. Multiple times I smashed my hoof into my face in frustration.  How stupid could I have been to miss THAT?

It wasn't for another few minutes that I had honestly stopped to think about my situation and how I could even consider explaining it to a Doctor or Nurse in a clinic. "Hi my name might be Thunder, but it might not be too, and I can't remember anything since before waking up in a ditch outside the town yesterday! Can you please fix me?" Yeah, even I could tell that I sounded like an invalid. I didn't even know if anyone had taken me seriously in the Tavern the night before! Flip MIGHT have, as she seemed a bit concerned about me. As for Orange and Skye, I couldn't tell.

Skye to me, felt skeptical but also more focused on more important things. As for Orange, well I couldn't tell where her feelings were laid. Sure, she helped me a LOT with finding these clothes. But she also was so bubbly and happy despite the world clearly being depressing. Though that might have just been the gravity of my own situation still being very much on my mind.

I was rather happy though when I managed to find myself some food. Tinned item's surprisingly still without radiation, or at least I hoped they didn't have radiation, were remarkably good.  Though, having no memory of good or bad experiences with food may have had a bit of influence on that. Still, they fed me and kept me strong.  And that alone made them all the better. But now, I needed to get my head looked at. Maybe, just maybe, the clinic ponies could bring my memories back!

Staring at the doors to the clinic I thought I had wasted hours when in fact it had only been minutes. But even so, my thoughts were interrupted by none other than Orange. Once again, fate it seems have brought us together even if it was probably coincidence.

"Heya Thunder! Heading in to get your head looked at?" She asked of me and I could've sworn I saw a bounce or two in her steps. I noted that her appearance hadn't changed since yesterday. Still wearing the armor and weapons she had before. But still, I took her presence as a helpful pony better than I expected. In the Wasteland you're taught quickly, either through word of mouth or by experience that trusting anypony immediately could probably get you killed or worse. But she hadn't done wrong by me yet so I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

I looked at her and then the clinic, "Yeah I'm gonna see if they can do anything about my head. Maybe I'll get lucky and they can fix my memory."

She nodded as she moved towards the door, I then noted that there were other figures inside. Probably the medical staff who ran the clinic. But oddly enough, there was Flip, working hard on a terminal with a screwdriver firmly placed between her teeth. What she could be doing I haven't the faintest but she still looked hard at work. I hadn't even noticed the lone figure who had wandered up behind me until he said something.

"In or out amicus, but don't block the doorway." His tone was gruff and hoarse. And he desperately looked as if he needed water and food. Something told me I needed to get the hell out of his way.

"Go on in, I'm sorry I blocked the door." Perhaps that was the total wrong thing to say and do. As I motioned towards the door his face scrunched up into a look of disbelief and suspicion. He motioned me forwards as he took a tentative step backward, away from me and the door. I shook my head, once again, idiot. If the Wasteland had also taught ponies anything, it was to never lower your guard or turn your back on strangers. Even the most innocent and polite pony could turn out to be a Raider or psycho waiting to pounce.

I sighed as I walked into the clinic, apparently catching the eye of the Zebra who was setting up a chess board in front of Flip. All the while talking about how it was good for making smart skills more developed. I had the thought to maybe walk over and watch. But the room was rapidly filling up. Ponies of all shapes and colors filled the room, but I had noted a single common color amongst us. And that was red. If it wasn't blood, it was somewhere on articles of clothing or on the walls themselves. So much red and none of it natural, I almost heaved on the spot.

"So who's next or hurt?" A taller Orderly boomer across the room, having escorted another pony out moments before. And as if on cue, Orange spoke up.

"I'm okay! But Thunder here has lost his memory! Maybe you can help him?" She asked almost too cheerily as she spoke. I felt once again, the size of a pea. I could already tell I hated being singled out in a room full of ponies that needed real help.

The tall buck moved over toward me and I almost felt like he was doing it on purpose to intimidate me. But surely an orderly wouldn't do that to anypony in need right?

He the spoke to me directly, "So your heads all messed up huh? Well follow me and we'll get you looked at before I wake up one of the doctors. We've been kind of busy patching ponies up after that crazy Pegasi, raid a few days back."

Pegasi raid? Maybe that was some kind of clue! Maybe whoever did this to me was part of that raid? I excitedly thought, but that came crashing down. Nopony here knew me, so that means anypony could have done this to me. My mood once again, plummeted into darkness.

The buck in front of me waved his hoof in front of me, "Hey! Still here?" He asked almost sarcastically.

"Oh yeah, sorry. I can't remember anything from before yesterday so you can imagine how I feel right now." I said hoping to spurn some kind of response, maybe some other clue, maybe even someone knew me.

Instead, I got a comforting hoof on my shoulder from Flip, "Don't worry Thunder, I'm sure everything will end up being okay." Feeling the reassurance, even if it was from somepony I barely knew, felt good. In the grand scheme of things, I perhaps lucked out and woke up in a friendly town. Others I imagine didn't have it so lucky.

The orderly turned on his hooves and started to walk away, "Follow me, we'll set you up in the back room here."

"Do you want some company? Make sure they don't stick you with bad needles and drain your blood or something?" Orange asked excitedly, "Though I'm sure they'd sooner drug you but that's only if they're bad! And if they're bad I get to shoot them! But they seem nice so I won't!" I chuckled lightly at her once again excitable demeanor.

"Well if you're together then I don't see why you can't." The buck replied to her, which in response got a series of giggles.

"Oooooooooh nooooooo we're not together! I'm just helping make sure he doesn't die!" Orange replied as she moved forward. "No evil drugs right?"

I smiled and nodded, "Yeah if anything I'd put it more along the lines of friends looking out for each other. But yes, I could use the company." I said waving a hoof indicating she should follow. After a few short bounces she was right behind us as we approached the examination room. As expected the room was rather small, littered in interesting posters detailing pony anatomy. It would take me days to learn what they meant, but they felt oddly comforting seeing them hanging up.

"Hop up and please take a seat on the bed." The buck said waving a hoof towards the bed. I listened and obeyed, best not be difficult and get this over with. Already I could tell I'd prefer to not stay here any longer than I needed to. Sure, the place was supposed to be a place of healing and comfort but it just made me feel uncomfortable. The buck brought over a small tray of medical items.

He didn't make any other movements towards the tray. Instead he looked at me and asked, "So what exactly is wrong with you?" He asked bluntly. Bedside manner definitely needs some improvement.

"Well I can't remember anything prior to yesterday, I've had this nasty cough and I just feel nauseous as hell." I replied as fast as I could. He nodded multiple times as he listened. He raised his hoof up as if he was going to hit me in the head. However he gently placed it on my head near my horn. Although it was gentle I still jumped back in pain. Whatever he did, it hurt like hell.

He grunted and shook his head, "It looks like someone clunked you good. Could explain your memory loss." He looked at my head again and nodded, "Just wait here and I'll fetch the Doc." Who was I to argue with anypony?

Orange had taken a place by the curtain, watching carefully as she said she would. She had giggled multiple times at the orderly. "Well if he got hit hard enough he would've been killed! But he's a good pony so that'd be bad! But if he wasn't a good pony I'd have to shoot him, but I didn't so he's good!"

I guess she was right, but was she completely right? Was I always a good pony? Perhaps I was a raider who got what was coming to him? Or a slaver who was ambushed by another pony? So many questions flooded my mind. Of course Orange seemed to be a good judge of character...so I had a sneaking suspicion that I was totally wrong. I quietly sat there letting my mind wander for so long I didn't even notice the Doctor had entered the room.

"So what the hell is wrong with you?" She asked tiredly. Clearly this pony was just woken up to tend to me. And was that cake on her face? I could clearly see pink frosting on her muzzle. She had to have just eaten snack-cakes. And I noticed something else, she was a unicorn pony like myself. Though her coat was a bit more grey than my own bright orange, she must have been at least ten years older than myself.

She lifted a hoof and wiped the frosting from her muzzle and then promptly licked the stuff off and swallowed. Her face contorted to something that represented pure pleasure. I blinked multiple times thinking is everypony in this town going to be like this? It just seemed completely random at some of the interactions I had, especially with Orange. I had nothing against Orange mind you, it's just her bouncy and random nature was...well just that, random. It didn't seem to fit in the world that we were living, but yet, there it was right in front of me!

The Doctor pony had looked me up and down and waited for me to reply, "I believe the list was that my memory has disappeared and that my head hurts like hell." I said raising a hoof up to where the orderly had touched a few minutes ago. The Doctor stepped forward and looked at the spot carefully.

"Whoever hit you, hit you in just the right spot...you're lucky you ain't dead." She said taking a single step back. She then looked down at the tray of medical devices. "Now I can give you a general anesthetic that'll simply put you to sleep for an hour or so. Or I can give a local one and dull the pain around the spot you were whacked. Though that one is a bit more expensive." Oh...damn. It just hit me. I have no way of paying for ANY of this.

The look on my face must have been like an open book, "You can't afford any of this can you?" she asked of me as I shook my head. "Well...if that's the case, this is going to feel very VERY weird." Weird? That's definitely one way I already could put it. She wasn't throwing me out of the clinic and was still going to treat me?

She lowered herself down onto her haunches and inhaled, "You're gonna feel both extremes of pleasure and agony. I'm sorry I can't do much about the pain. Believe me, a few colts have actually made rather embarrassing messes before, but I am going to ask that you do your absolute best to control yourself." she said giving me a look of sympathy. "Ready?"

I inhaled deeply and nodded, "Do it." She exhaled slowly and then inhaled even quicker as her horn glowed pink. For a few moments I felt absolutely nothing. And then whoa nelly did it slam into me like a ton of bricks. At first it simply felt good, REALLY good. Like I was wrapped up in a warm blanket and could snuggle with it.

The next instant I knew my face contorted into a mesh of pain and confusion. The pleasure was replaced by pure agony. I felt my legs go out from underneath me and I laid down on the bed and just squirmed. Oh Goddesses did I feel like absolute road kill. My head felt like a thousand knives were stabbing me over and over. I silently cursed the creature that did this to me in the first place. I whimpered under the onslaught of strange feelings from the unicorn healing the fracture in my head. I could have sworn I felt the bones actually sealing up.

Thankfully, the feelings didn't last longer than five minutes. I felt so weak. And the unicorn in front of me was just as weak. I panted looking at her and realized she was still using her magic. I gagged feeling a snack-cake being rammed into my muzzle.

Through full mouth she said, "Eat, after that you need it for your strength." I almost gagged, the snack-cake was too sugary for my taste but I complied. Eating the cake oddly was making me feel better. The Doctor smiled once again as she swallowed the snack-cake.

"Even after sitting in a wrapper for two hundred years they still taste amazing!" she said with a small giggle. I spat up a bit of the cake. Two hundred year old cake!? Are you out of your mind?! That stuff is WAY past its expiration date! I instantly felt the cold stare of the Doctor once again, "Eat it and keep it down. I swear, some ponies are way too picky. Better get used to old crap quick otherwise you're going to starve." She then pushed off of the floor and shook her head.

I slowly began pushing myself off of the bed and shakily lowered to the floor. "Thank you Doctor." I managed weakly as I got used to my surroundings once again. Though my head definitely felt much more clear than when I had first woken up. But even so, my memories hadn't returned. "Do you think they will come back?" I asked aloud even though I hadn't meant to.

"Nopony can say for sure. Maybe with time? Maybe never." she said quietly turning her back on me. "Be glad you're alive and go from there. Other ponies aren't so lucky." She was right, unfortunately, but she was still right. I felt my heart slam against the bottom of my hooves. I was faced with the reality that I was in fact starting over and might never go back to what I was.

I sighed and hung my head, "Thank you for your help, truly. And I am sorry I couldn't pay for what you did."

"Don't mention it. Just next time you come in here, have some bottle caps to pay with. Or snack-cakes to barter with." she said with a nod of her head. Bottle caps, I'll remember that for whenever I needed to pay for anything. Surely I could find some of those lying around somewhere. "Oh and try to find some work or something, they usually pay caps for work done. Just be careful you don't do anything that is illegal...then again that isn't really much. This is the Wasteland after all, it's not like we're in a Stable." she said I think mostly to herself and not directly at me. But even so, what she said had merit and I had to agree. I needed to find something to do here to get started once again.  I now had a plan of action! But first, I REALLY needed to get out of this clinic!

Chapter Three: Learning the Ropes

My trip to the clinic had left me a bit on the tired side, but I needed to do SOMETHING to show that I wasn't going to simply sponge off of the ponies here. I needed to find some sort of work. But what could a pony who was just literally waking up in the Wasteland for the first time be able to do?  I found myself wandering into Shot Trotters after getting a swift hoof to the rear from many of the ponies in the town. Inexperience was something nopony wanted.

What caught my eye first as I entered the building was all the guns hanging on the walls. Taking a brief glance at many of them I already understood how half of them worked. The other half looked as if they were simply in a state of disrepair. The second thing that caught my eyes was the guard in front of me clearly in a "Don't Fucking Touch The Guns" mood. The weaponry holstered in multiple slots and armor made from a mish mash of different items. But it none the less looked like armor that could stop bullets.

My staring was only interrupted when the shopkeeper broke the silence, "Are ya here to gaze or ya here to shop? Cause iffen aren't then ya best be gettin' out of mah store." I couldn't quite place the accent but it was certainly different from the other ponies I had met. Then again, I couldn't exactly call this pony a pony. My stomach churned as I took in his ghastly features. He looked...melted?

He frowned as he realized what I was doing, "Oh good God..." he muttered as he shook his head, "Yeah, I'mma ghoul! Ooooooooooh scawy! Now can ya please quit yer starin' it's damn rude." he said flicking his ear in annoyance.

I physically slapped myself in the face as I shook myself out of the stunned state I was. "Actually...I'm kind of searching for any kind of job really."

He replied with laughter, "Son, I dun know if ya are just plain ol' stupid or blind but does it look like I can just give ya a job. 'Specially when ya look greener than grass." My ears folded back in both embarrassment but also annoyance.

"I'm not looking for a handout, sir. And I want to learn." I said confidently taking several steps towards him. I could've sworn I heard the guard reaching for his weapon.

The guard stepped up behind me and drew a sidearm and aimed it at me with magic, "I'm going to have to ask you to leave." the guard said sternly. I frowned and looked at the shopkeeper who had turned around and had started walking towards the back. This was my last chance, I couldn't blow it now! Otherwise, I'd be screwed permanently!

"Please! Just give me a chance to prove myself. I'll do ANYTHING! Somepony has to start somewhere right?" I asked, no pleaded with the shopkeeper. He paused where he stood and sighed.

"Look son, I said I ain't givin' hand outs." he said firmly, "Don't ya have somewheres to be?"

I frowned, "I can't remember if I do or don't." I muttered quietly, barely audible for the shopkeeper to hear. But the guard must have heard me as I heard hooves move back two paces. Was the guard curious or shocked? I didn't eve know how to describe the movements.

The shopkeeper looked at me once again and then at the guard, "Bluegrass, would ya please get him gone? I have a shop to run." I looked at the guard and gave the best pleading set of eyes I could manage. Yeah, like that would work. I had to be putting on the most pathetic look on my face ever.

"Come on, don't make this more difficult on yourself." Bluegrass said to me stepping around me, making sure the shopkeeper couldn't me. What Bluegrass did next surprised me. In a whisper I was able to make out the words, "Meet me out back in five minutes, I want to talk to you alone."

What the sweet Celestia's bosom was going on? This total stranger, one who looked like they could kill me and have me for breakfast wanted to speak to me alone? Could it be a trap? What did this pony want? Did the pony just want to kill me for sport?

"Alright..." I replied slowly. Dammit Thunder! How stupid could you get? You only just met this pony! And now you're meeting in private out behind the gun store? This is how I die...

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo0000000000000000000oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I waited the five minutes and sure enough the guard pony who wanted to speak to me came around the corner. I gulped and took a tentative step backward. This is how I die...

"You know kid, you're seriously asking for somepony to kill you." Bluegrass said to me.

"I don't exactly know how to treat anypony...I don't remember." I said once again quietly damning the amnesia.

Bluegrass approached me and using magic removed the helmet that was covering many features. Features that now revealed that Bluegrass was in fact a mare. I could've sworn my jaw had hit the dirt. Her mane was a bright blue base with multiple thick lines of green running through it. Her eyes were the most sparkling of cyan. And her coat was a stunning white that could only be comparable to Celestia's herself.

"It's also pretty damn rude to stare at somepony like you are." she said squinting her eyes at me. Oh Goddesses how long had I been staring without a reply.

I quickly shook my head, "Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" I said panicking and backing up too quickly for my own good. "Oh shit!" Was all I could manage as I tripped over multiple rocks and landed hard on my hind quarters in a pile of green gooey water that had managed to avoid direct sunlight.

Bluegrass stopped dead in her tracks and simply blinked for what felt like a lifetime. I felt so foolish as to now have my orange coat now stained with this green nasty stuff. It just felt WRONG for it to be covering my hind quarters as it did. I felt so unsanitary.

Laughter...I blinked hearing laughter. Bluegrass was on her back literally kicking her legs as she laughed at me. "Oh Goddesses no! Please! It's too much!" she cried out as I had stupidly tried to shake the goop from my rear. I must have looked so stupid as I literally had begun wiping my rear with my hoof and flinging the stuff to the ground.

I was thoroughly pissed at this point. I literally had just made an ass out of myself and we hadn't even been properly introduced. "Oh yeah, ha ha, laugh at the amnesiac who has green shit all over his ass, so funny." I said with annoyance clearly covering my voice as I flung yet another hoofful of gunk to the ground. It wasn't until I realized what I had just said before I let out a small chuckle of my own. Yeah, that last line was a bit stupid now that I think about it.

Bluegrass's laughter had slowed to a small giggle as she pushed to her feet. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to laugh that hard! You just looked so silly and what you were doing...I just couldn't help it."

I frowned only for a moment but smiled a moment later, "Yeah...I bet I looked a bit stupid." I sighed and turned to face her, "I really am sorry, I didn't mean to stare. I was just taken by surprise."

"Oh? Surprise? How were you taken by surprise?" she asked curiously as she approached me, her horn lighting up as she picked up her helmet and laid it on one of the old dumpsters nearby.

"Well for one, all the mares I've met in this town are either bubbly or oddly addicted to snack-cakes." I said moving away from the goo puddle and towards the dumpster. Maybe I'd get lucky and find a stupid rag or something to clean my hindquarters off a bit better.

Bluegrass looked at me confused but then realized I was speaking of one of the clinic ponies, "Oh, yeah well with what they do pretty much on a daily basis, I can't blame them for enjoying a snack-cake. They do tend to lift your spirits up when things seem pretty bleak." She then unholstered her sidearm and rifle and placed those too on the dumpster next to her helmet.

I lifted the other hatch of the dumpster with my own magic and poked my head inside the dumpster. My voice echoed inside of it as I asked, "So what'd you want to talk about? Nopony here seems to be willing to do much to help me learn how to survive out here." I must've sounded grumpy but it didn't phase Bluegrass much.

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about." she replied as she took a few clips and magazines out of her ammo pouches.

THUUUUUD!

I had let the hatch go in my surprised and it came slamming down on my neck. I shouted in shock and then quickly lifted the hatch and pushed off the side of the dumpster. "Say what now?" I asked her as I shook my head, clearing away the pain that was making it's way through my neck.

Bluegrass giggled as she turned to face me, "Well yeah...I know how a new start can be like. I didn't learn much from other ponies myself and just made my own way around. So if I can help I'd like to."

Something didn't feel right, "What do you get out of it?" I asked skeptically of her.

"Honestly, I don't get much other than the satisfaction of knowing I helped somepony survive for a little bit longer." she said magically lifting the sidearm off the dumpster and floating it towards me. Not aiming at me but offering it towards me this time. "So my little pony, do you want to learn how to survive in the Equestrian Wasteland? Or do you want to keep begging for the chance to have a dull job like the keeper in there?" she asked nodding her head towards Shot Trotters.

The hell did I have to lose? I clearly wasn't going anywhere with the job search. And I wouldn't last long on my own. I wrapped my own magic around the sidearm. It was heavier than I expected but I managed to hold it just fine. I looked at the sidearm and then back at Bluegrass.

"Where do we begin?"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo0000000000000000000oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"So you can't remember anything prior to yesterday morning?" Bluegrass asked quietly as we marched into the Wasteland. We simply couldn't just start shooting guns inside the town. The Town Guard would've been all over us in a matter of seconds. And they weren't the type to ask questions first.

I nodded as I looked out at the Wasteland in front of me. Endless desert for as far as I could see. There were a few mountains in the distance. And several buildings littered the horizon. The tallest of all the mountains though I thought I swear I could see buildings jutting out of the side. But that simply could've been my imagination.

Bluegrass shook her head, her mane flowing freely in the wind. I couldn't help but stare at her motions, they were oddly captivating. "I'm sorry Thunder. I can't imagine what it must be like."

"To be perfectly honest, it's more irritating than it is debilitating. I can still perform tasks. I'm not crippled, I'm just..." I couldn't really find a word accurate to my situation. How do you even sum up the idea that you lost your memory and are literally starting from scratch.

Bluegrass looked over at me and gave me a small smile, "It's okay. Let's not talk about it more." she said then looking forward and stopping. "Alright! Here we are!"

I snapped my head up and looked ahead of me. There was a small shack surrounded by a fence and inside the fence was a single large crate. Whatever this place used to be, it was literally surrounded by glass bottles. I blinked in confusion. Why the hell did Bluegrass bring me here?

"Okay so before you get your hopes up too high, no there aren't any caps lying around here. They were picked clean a LONG time ago." she said kicking a couple of the bottles with her forehoof. "So are you ready to learn how to shoot? And I don't mean fire and hope for the best, but actually hitting a target?"

I watched as she began magically moving bottles on top of the large crate. Seven bottles sat neatly in a row, perfect targets for me to practice on. I lifted the sidearm out of my clothes. I looked at it. I looked at her. Then back at it.

"Sure...but explain to me how this thing works again?"

I definitely just heard a groan and a hoof making contact with face.

I sighed, "I just want to make sure I got it all okay?"

"Then just show me what I taught you and I'll correct you if you're wrong okay?" she suggested waving a hoof in my direction.

I looked at the sidearm, simple enough. "So first I eject the magazine." I used my magic to manipulate the sidearm and hit the clip release. And sure enough the magazine I had loaded earlier came sliding out. I caught the half full magazine with my magic and held it stationary.

Bluegrass nodded as I continued, "Then I pull the slide back, making sure that the chamber is clear of ammo." I pulled the slide with my magic and out popped a small bullet. Once again I caught the bullet with my magic but this time instead of letting it hover I slid it into the magazine.

"Next I replace the old magazine with the new one." Despite having only three to work with I slid the old one back into place. "Then I release the slide and that puts a new round in the chamber." I hit the release and a resounding CLICK filled the air as it snapped forward. "And if I want to use it, I need to disengage...what'd you call it?" I asked forgetting the name of what I needed to manipulate.

Bluegrass smiled, "You almost had it one hundred percent. And it's called the 'safety' it's there to make sure the weapon won't go off when you aren't using it. Goddesses forbid it goes off and puts a hole through your flank." I looked around at the weapon before realizing where the safety was.

I had already left it locked and looked at Bluegrass who nodded, "You can take the safety off now. But remember! Do NOT point that thing at anypony unless you plan to use it. It's NOT a toy. If you're not going to use it, keep it tucked away."

"Got it." I said nodding multiple times at her as I looked at the bottles. "Soooooooo...should I try shooting the bottles then?" I asked not sure what was next.

"Oh! Yes please try to hit at least three of them on your own." she said waving a hoof at the bottles. "But don't get spooked, it's going to be loud, but that's normal. Don't be afraid of the gun you're holding, be afraid of the one you aren't."

What kind of logic was that? Should I fear all guns then except for the ones I own? That's gotta be some silly joke right? I nearly jumped out of my coat when  I pulled the trigger with my magic. I had totally missed the target. But that didn't bother me as much as the ringing in my ears. This was definitely going to take some getting used to.

"You were a little high with that shot. Try aiming a little lower." Bluegrass suggested as she watched my shots. "Also try letting out a breath when you fire, it'll make your shot a bit more accurate." she added as she lowered herself onto her haunches.

I looked at the bottles and took several breaths before slowly squeezing the trigger again, making sure to exhale as I did. CRASH! The bullet struck home and a glass bottle shattered into several pieces of varied size and shape. I blinked and looked at the sidearm.

"Did I just do that?" I asked dumbfounded in my second shot hitting the target.

"Don't let it go to your head Thunder, try hitting another." she said not really impressed with my shot. Thanks for the vote of confidence Bluegrass, totally helping!

I took aim and fired once again. THUD. The bullet firmly lodged itself into the wall of the shack. I squinted at the shack, bottles, sidearm and then at the bottles again. I WILL destroy you bottles if it's the last thing I do! I squeezed the trigger again. CRASH! Another bottle exploded. CRASH! Another! CRASH! And yet another!

I pulled the trigger once again and the weapon gave a rejecting CLICK. Out of ammo. I groaned as I looked at the sidearm. Following Bluegrass's instructions I reloaded the weapon, making sure to dump the empty magazine into one of my pouches. I took aim once again. CRASH CRASH CRASH! I made short work of the remaining bottles.

I turned to look at Bluegrass who simply sat there with her jaw on the ground. "Well I'll be...nice work Thunder. I haven't seen anypony learn to shoot so fast. Not to mention accurately, at least without the assistance of a Pip-Buck." she said pushing off the ground and trotting over towards me. "Put it away for now. We should probably start on-"

BOOM BOOM BOOM! I jumped out of my coat I swear! From simply out of nowhere loud gun blasts filled the air. Peppering the wall in front of Bluegrass. I turned on my hooves and went wide eyed. Several more ponies, covered in a wide variety of colors marched towards us.

"Drop the guns and nopony gets hurt!" the tallest of the ponies said angrily. A shotgun floating next to him as he walked towards us. The four flanking ponies carried guns too. Though only one other carried the gun with magic, the others had theirs stuffed into their mouths. I grunted as I took a step backwards, only to be met with another blast from the shotgun.

"I fucking said don't move damn it! Don't you damn ponies listen?!" he said getting even more mad. His companions grinning toothily...for some the lack there of. I wasn't sure what to do.

But Bluegrass? She knew exactly what to do. "Thunder get down!" she shouted at the top of her lungs! Her assault rifle coming free of it's holster.

The approaching ponies just smirked. "This one has some spunk! Let's try not to kill such a pretty thing! I want to have some fun later!" He said grinning even wider as he looked Bluegrass over. Bluegrass didn't even wait for an invitation, she pulled the trigger with her magic. Sending a torrent of bullets speeding towards the group. And in kind they fired right back! Reacting in the only way I figured possible I dove muzzle first behind the crate I was previously shooting bottles off of. I covered my ears as the sounds of guns filled the air!

This is how I die!

Footnote: Quest Completed! Learning the Ropes!

Level Up! Level 2!

New Trait! Trigger Discipline: While using Guns and Energy Weapons, you fire 20% more slowly, but are 20% more accurate!

Chapter Four: Bullseye!

If losing my memory wasn't bad enough, I now had ponies shooting at me! The initial shock of "What the hell!?" had quickly been replaced with, "Take cover!" But the sad part was there wasn't much to take cover behind! I had the crate which offered barely enough room to crouch behind or the shack which was falling apart. Between the two the shack probably was the safest bet.

Calling out to Bluegrass I began galloping towards the shack, "Get behind the shack!" But of course, Bluegrass having been experienced was already there.

"No shit! Hurry up!" She screamed back at me as she fired back at the Raider Ponies. The shots scattered them in multiple directions but that didn't stop them. In kind they returned fire, peppering the shack with more bullets than I'd like to count. Bits of wood and dust filled the air around Bluegrass as she tucked her head back behind the safety of the shack. I managed to get behind the shack in time to watch the spot where I was standing explode with a volley of gunfire, sand kicking up violently into the air.

I painted floating the semi-automatic pistol in my magic. "Just who the hell are those guys?!" I asked over the roar of a shotgun blast.

"Raiders! They want to kill us for our stuff and maybe us for food! You never can tell with psychopaths like them!" She replied reloading her assault rifle. The wall next to her head exploded with tiny bullet holes as the old wood was once again shot. She gritted her teeth and grunted.

"Look I can't take them on my own! You have to help!" She said looking right at me.

"What?! You're joking right?! I haven't killed another pony ever!" At least, as far as I can remember I hadn't killed anypony before.

Bluegrass sighed as she shook her head, "If you can't kill 'em just cripple them! I'll take care of the rest!" She said offering an alternative to me killing anypony. I poked my head over the broken wall, only to be greeted by a mouthful of wood chips and dust as the lead raider blasted at the shack again.

"And just how the hell do you suggest we do that?! They've got us heavily outnumbered here!" I said reloading the semi-automatic quickly. It surprised me just how fast I reloaded, I only just learned fifteen minutes ago. (Intelligence!) Then again, it wasn't too difficult to learn anyway, just a simple matter of remembering the steps.

Bluegrass had poked her head out again and opened fire on a flanking raider. Killing him but not before blowing off his horn right off of his head. I shuddered to think of what that must have felt like. He was writhing in agony as blood poured from the gaping hole that was once his horn. His screams made my stomach churn, it was unsettling to see this. But I was caught in the middle of it all!

"There's no where to run ponies! Just drop the guns and surrender! We promise to be nice and gentle!" One of the raiders called out in what was one of the most terrible seductive voices in the history of cat calls.

Bluegrass smirked, "And how about I just take this and do this!" She called back having levitated the dead unicorns horn up behind the cat calling earth pony. And with a swift jab with her magic, the horn found its way inside the right haunch of the earth pony. He dropped to the ground and tucked his haunch close to his forehooves and tried cradling the injury. I took advantage of the stunned mare next to him and fired my pistol at her. The first shot buried itself into the sand in front of her. (Trigger Discipline!)The second hit home and lodged itself in her right fore leg. I swear I could hear her bones shattering as the impact left a small hole in the front but exploded outwards from the back.

Bluegrass whistled as she ducked once again, "Nice shot Thunder! She ain't going nowhere fast!" I couldn't help but let a small smile form on my face. Sure it sucked I just crippled somepony for life, but at the same time I was proud that I learned something!

The revelation was cut short as I felt the heat of a bullet slice its way across my cheek. The raider leader had taken advantage of my own smugness and shot me. It wasn't fatal by a long shot but it definitely woke me up. Bluegrass dove out of cover for an instant and point blank sent several bullets into the nearest unicorn pony (besides me of course) completely annihilating his face. Blood poured out and sprayed all over her beautiful mane and face. Part of me was sad it had now turned a ghastly shade of purple. The other was pissed that this was even happening in the first place.

"It's even now! Go home while you can!" I shouted at the remaining Raiders.

The look on his face was one of pure anger. "Go to hell pony! You killed all my-" he didn't have a chance to finish as I fired the pistol at him. (Trigger Discipline!) the shot rang true and hit target! The raiders jaw which had been flapping and found itself lying on the ground ten feet away from him. The hell kind of bullets did this pistol use to cause that much damage in one shot?! As his body crumpled I felt like I was going to vomit. I definitely just killed that pony...

Before I could completely start feeling terrible Bluegrass screamed as one of the Raiders had managed to sneak up behind us. He pointed his weapon at me as he used the bulk of his body to pin Bluegrass. "Drop the gun or the bitch gets it!" He said holding his own weapon against the side of her head. She looked extremely pissed, but definitely afraid the raider would make good on his promise.

Between the two of us I was sure that he was the only raider left. I took aim with my magic as Bluegrass called to me, "Don't do it! He'll kill us both if you do!"

I found myself conflicted. I could drop the gun and take my chances or I could try to shoot him. But I ran the risk of hitting Bluegrass should I miss. He pressed his own weapon harder against her temple, causing the skin beneath her coat to slice and bleed. I kept the weapon raised and it only seemed to piss him off more.

"Are you stupid or something jackass?! I said-" WHUMP! For a split second his eyes went crossed and he stood there wobbly. Then collapsed to the ground in an ungraceful pile. Where his head was floated a rock surrounded by blue magic, Bluegrass' magic. She groaned as she pushed the raider off of her body and rose to her hooves.

"Good call not lowering your weapon Thunder. You probably-" she paused as she heard a dead branch snap under a step from behind her. I hadn't even noticed the raider group leader had taken a position to try and take us both down.

I couldn't tell you who moved first, but in a single flash both the raider and Bluegrass had attempted to dive for cover. But what I didn't expect was that I fired my weapon just as fast. The bullet struck the raider leader in his right foreleg, dropping him to the ground. He cried out in pain as he fell and Bluegrass simply scowled at him.

"You bastards! You killed us! How?!" The raider cried putting pressure on his shoulder, "And for only two hundred caps! Fucker said it'd be easy to kill the Orange one!"

My heart stopped. Someone paid these guys to kill me? If it wasn't for my coat anypony would've noticed that I had gone pale. Who wanted me dead? Who could hate me that much?! Even Bluegrass had noticed that bit of information. She trotted over and instantly slammed a hoof down against the gunshot wound.

"Who wants Thunder dead? Why?" She shouted pressing down hard. The raider cried in agony as she pressed harder and harder.

"I don't know you crazy bitch!" He replied, "Please stop! It hurts like hell!"

She instead pressed harder, "Who hired you?! Answer me!"

The raider screamed and it almost once again made me throw up on the spot. "Some Pegasi I met in the wasteland! I didn't get a name! Please stop!" He begged of her as he answered her question. Bluegrass finally lifted her hoof and he let out a sigh of relief. However it was momentary as she spun on her heel, rifle raised in the air and aimed at him. His eyes went wide as he began to protest but was quickly silenced by a single shot from the rifle, his head exploding into many bloody pieces.

I felt his blood on my face as I stood pretty much in shock. I've been shot at and witnessed murder! And all I can think about is that someone wanted me dead. Of course once again, I couldn't even get a moment of self thought before realizing Bluegrass had turned to face me. Her weapon floating in front of my face.

"You've got ten seconds to explain just what the fuck happened." She said taking steps towards me. I backpedaled with each step she took.

I shook my head, "I honestly don't remember! I swear to the Goddesses!" I replied quickly, my flank pressed up against the wall of the shack.

"I just had a squad of Raiders start shooting at me! And you're claiming you can't remember!" she said clearly getting more and more angry. Oh fuck was she going to kill me?! "Who the hell are you?"

I was pressed against the wall, wishing it would disappear so I could keep moving back away from her, "I can't remember! I'm telling you the truth!" I was up on my hind legs trying to put as much distance as I could from her. She looked as if she could melt beams with the fire she was creating in her eyes. She hadn't blinked once, literally staring into my soul as she kept me pinned.

"Very well." she said lowering the weapon from my face. And I couldn't help but slump to the ground and sigh with relief. "I believe that you truly don't know why they wanted you dead. However, I believe that you did at one point know."

"I can't exactly control when my memory comes back...if it ever comes back." I said hanging my head, "If I could tell you I would. Believe me, this is unsettling. Especially seeing as you just saved my life from these guys." I said waving a hoof in an arc, indicating the now dead Raiders. She stepped away from me and walked over to the Raider Leader she had just killed and used her magic to open his pouches.

"Who ever wants you dead clearly paid them a lot of money." she said lifting up a small bag of caps. She tossed it up and down in her magic catching it each time. "Here. I think you deserve at least half of this." she said dividing the caps between us. She then floated up a simple sheet of paper that was folded rather neatly.

I looked at the caps as she looked at the paper. Hard to believe that these simple things were the currency now. They weren't exactly gems or gold, items you'd normally expect to have some value. Then again, this was the Wasteland, use what you can you know? I blinked rapidly as I suddenly found a paper being stuffed in front of me.

"Whoever you pissed off, REALLY wants you dead." Bluegrass said as she released the paper. The paper was tattered despite being folded nicely and the top was clearly torn down from a nail or whatever had been holding it up. My ears drooped as I read the words stamped on the paper.

"WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE! ORANGE UNICORN COLT BEARING A THUNDERCLOUD CUTIE MARK AND GOING BY THE NAME OF THUNDER CLASH! CRIMES INCLUDE THEFT AND INCITING A RIOT! TO BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH EXTREME CAUTION! REWARD FOR ALIVE 5000 CAPS DEAD 2000 CAPS! PAYMENT TO BE MADE IN THE MANEHATTAN OUTSKIRTS!"

Manehattan? I'm all the way in the middle of the San Palomino desert! Who seriously wants me dead on the opposite side of Equestria?! And for this much money?! Who was I!?

"Thunder? You okay?" Bluegrass asked me softly as the paper hit the ground. I guess in my upset I had dropped to the ground and sulked behind my forehooves and quietly whimpered.

I looked up at her and her sympathetic look gave me a small reason to smile, "Not really...but I'll be okay." I said pushing to my hooves. "Someone wants me dead and I don't know why...I think..." I paused and looked at the desert. "I think I need to go to Manehattan and find out exactly who wants me dead...and why."

Bluegrass blinked at me multiple times, "But Manehattan is on the other side of Equestria! How are you going to get there? You aren't exactly a pegasus! It will take you weeks on foot to get there!" she said listing off almost everything that was reason enough to stay in Little Cliffside. But if Manehattan had any chance of my past being remembered...

"I have to go. Somepony might know me and who I was. I have to take the chance I can remember." I said confidently, "I'll go alone if I have to. But I have to go." I said stamping a hoof into the ground.

Bluegrass chuckled as she shook her head, "You're insane and probably will get killed. But you can't go it alone. There's more than just raiders to deal with." she looked at the dead raiders and nodded, "You're going to need my help."

I blinked in shock as I looked back at her, "You don't have to go with me. You have a life here in Little Cliffside, I don't have anything to lose if I go or if I stay." I certainly didn't want Bluegrass to risk her life, especially for me. I would probably get her killed within a week!

"Good luck getting anypony else to go with you. You're greener than radioactive grass." she said placing a hoof on my shoulder, "And I'm getting bored with Little Cliffside anyway. You can only guard a gunshop for so long before you start counting the dots on the ceiling tiles." she said with a giggle lowering her hoof a moment later. "So, it'll be up to me to keep your sorry butt from being killed in two seconds." her giggled melted into a smirk as I put my hooves over my head and groaned.

"This is how I die..." I said pushing to my hooves and then nodding, "Let's use our newly earned Caps to get ready then shall we?" And with that, my new partner and I marched back towards Little Cliffside, our goal clear and our destination chosen. All that remained was starting the journey.

Prologue

War. War never changes. In a time of friendship and magic, even the most noble of ponies could find themselves slipping into an unseen darkness. Even though compassion and understanding were being taught across the lands, intolerance and greed found its way into the hearts of many a pony. And the world could only watch as one day turned and another dawned, bringing more darkness with it. For a thousand years a single princess stood guard over the ponies beneath her, bringing joy and happiness. But when a massacre triggered the deadliest war in Pony history, the darkness spread even faster.

What seemed to be the only light were the underground facilities being created, known as Stables. Inside a stable hundreds would survive in the event a megaspell would detonate and ruin the surface. In time the inevitable occurred and ponies young and old were forced into the Stables, waiting for the devastation to subside and to begin anew. For two hundred years ponykind found itself slipping even further into darkness. Where attacks on ponies would come from wild creatures and even ponies driven mad themselves.

And it seemed that the world was doomed to repeat its same mistakes forever. But across the land of Equestria a single pony and her companions fought to bring a new light to the devastated land. Taking one step forward at a time and doing all they can to bring friendship to others. But this is not her story, for in other parts, the darkness continued to flourish. And it's in a tiny little town in a desert that an unseen tale unfolds. For if you can't remember the past, can you move forward? For a single orange pony, that question would become more than a reality. But even so, War, War never changes...

WASTED DAYS: A FALLOUT EQUESTRIA TALE