Fallout: Equestria - No Mercy

The old Glyphmark used to be a more tribal society. It also used to be a settlement full of children and teenagers. It was only through necessary evolution that they survived. Adaptation was the secret to success. I learned that reading books from the local archives. Didn't know what to expect till I found those old records. Confusing to read at first since they were in crayon. But eventually, scribery evolved into pencil and pen. Then, newest, through digital means. I was fondest with the blinking, green letters and ones and zeroes.

Somewhere along the line, Glyphmark changed for the better.

It had to fix itself.

The same didn't go for most of the settlers. Two fillies. Two zebras. And one griffon. Five children, six parents, a married couple, one bachelor and my relatives. Seventeen people resided in New Glyphmark, but I knew none of them had direction. New Glyphmark was a messy dream. Ponies settled in to live in peace and have children. Some of them did a poor job.

Griffon's parents were a good example. Negligent. Let her be bullied. Reactive and not proactive. Simple things bad parents never cared to deal with. Simple-minded, traditional and callous. Those were the words that described them. Knew it from the first time I saw them.

I made a schedule of walking Griffon home everyday. To keep her safe and clear of bullies. I didn't let my guard down, even down familiar grounds. Most of the way over was rife with northern wind. The chilling breeze soothed my coat, unearthing memories of Him. The explicit joy of remembering my daddy made me smile. The clouds were looming. And the birds were dead. On days like those, fillies like me were lounging in heaven.

Griffon's beak kept jittering. So I gave her my sweater, warming her with candy cane stripes. I kept on trotting beside her till she leaned closer and snuck her foreleg between mine. The odd sensation puzzled me.

"What are you doing...?"

"O-oh I uh get really cold. I-I'm not used to the snow. I used to live in Las Pegasus. I never even knew what snow was. But mom and dad moved here so..."

I understood. Her life was in transit. Most people were. Even us, all alone in our own little world. I wasn't the drifting type. But I went where I was needed and left for home when my work was done. Griffon shielded her eyes from whistling wind. It blew her wool cap off and flung the article my way. Her forelegs sped up to catch it. But in her rush, she didn't realize she was shoving the hat away by directly reaching for it.

An object in motion had to be caught. It had to be intercepted by meeting the trajectory, not interrupting it.

I stuck more forehoof out, catching it with my left. It fell into my hoof, so I brought it back to Griffon with a 'here.'

"W-wow you... you beat up those bullies and you caught my hat. How do you do that?"

I answered keeping my head on the road, showing her to her home. The house was notbing special. Broken, boarded windows and nails strewn about the floor. Couldn't have been a very happy house. If it was alive, it'd probably starve them to death. Yard was messy, unkempt and littered with paper trash. Surmised it was all their attempts at making the property as ugly as possible, just so no one would approach them.

"Just pay attention and prepare for the worst. Awareness."

I stood by the mailbox confused about why she wouldn't leave. I realized her talons were twiddling together and made the connection. She wanted me to come inside. So, wether I liked the conditions or not, she didn't need to be alone. I kept my teddy bear and combat chems close.

Griffon creaked the door open, peaking in painfully. Her eyelids were scrunched tightly. She squinted about, scanning the room for hostiles I hoped. I never stayed over anyone else's house, outside of my family. The other kids were intolerant. Savage. I probably injured a few during forced playdates. Fun. Amusing when other children cried when they were the aggresors.

Saw an elderly male griffon laying on the couch. He had a beer in one claw and a vodka in the other. Played drunk darts with his wife, who liked to giggle and holler when he scored a point. They stayed speechless when Griffon knocked over a table lamp and gave away our position. They both snapped out of their drunken stupor and greeted us.

"Princess, you never said you had friends coming over..." Her father grumbled, plugging his vodka with a cork.

"Dearie... you need to understand, we would've tidied up and made dinner if we knew there'd be guests. Say, who's your friend?"

Griffon had to reestablish her bearings, darting her eyes around the living room. She slipped off her winter socks and set them in her pack. The expression she had facing her parents, I'd never understand. The sloped brows indicated heavy insecurity. Her hanging beak said she was speechless, and the wobbling knees spoke for themselves.

"Th-this is Hope. U-uh, Mr. Glass's daughter, remember?"

The mention of my father lit their eyes. I knew they were casual acquaintances. They were formally sorry for me. Followed empty disciplines to respect the old security guard. He was much more than that. We were more than our jobs and roles. I sensed right away that they didn't think the same, offering me some orange juice instead of tea or soda.

Rest of the night was unpleasant. Very uncomfortable with Griffon's mother batting her eyelashes at me. Must've thought I was older. Deer physiology made me taller than most ponies. Matured quicker, too. Didn't understand the father's need to talk over everyone at the dinner table. Would argue over every little detail. Didn't listen to others and wouldn't commit to topics. Unpleasant. Times ten. Excused self from table to avoid mundane subjects and half-thawed frozen carrots.

Couldn't stand to stay in house. Had to sit on haunches outside the porch. Enjoyed tiny roof and thin collumns. Reminded me of miniature fort. All to myself. All to me and the peace of mind a fort brought home.

Oh boy. Noted house was just across the street. Would avoid entering and exiting front door indefinitely. Lit cigarette from pack I stole. Enjoyed nicotine and wash of calm over my skin. Wouldn't trade Griffon for the world though. I thought about how miserable I'd be if she wasn't there. Didn't care to remember day before yesterday.

Fought ursa minor. Didn't do anything but teach me what I already knew. I was capable. Carving up those hunters taught me to enjoy it. It taught me purpose. And so did handling her commonwealth bullies. Spotted the fresh moon hanging limply over the mountains. Enjoyed the sight of old light pouring down from the blue midnight. My eyes swam away from the sea of stars, landing on the kitchen window.

"Where's my beer?! Where's my fucking booze?'"

"Did you fucking take it again! Do you know how hard I work to fucking support you!"

"Oh shut it! I don't even drink that slop! I got some martinis from the bar!"

"You keep talking shit! That's why that brat doesn't listen to me! She gets it from you, you fucking retard!"

Slipped away from the porch after lighting some trash in the yard. Would attract attention anytime soon. I dodged the light from the kitchen window and found Griffon. Her eyelids were bloated and red. I stumbled onto her behind the backdoor, hiding between garbage piles. Extended my hoof and glanced down to admire her tears.

"Let's go to my house."

"But what- what if he hits me again?"

"I'll kill your parents if you don't come over."

"Okay- okay, but I-I still want my mom."

We took off without another word. Heard the front door slam closed and then, surpisingly, we had a new guest. Griffon's mother was tailing us. Didn't ask us to come back, though. No. She was glad to follow and keep an eye on her daughter. Unlocked front door, stepped inside and introduced them to the fridge. Avoided telling them about the ribs in the freezer portion. Was careful enough to keep daddy's head in the shack.

"Wow this is... really nice. How come you didn't invite First Rains instead?" Her mother said, keeping her boots on.

I tried not to glare at her when she tracked mud inside.

"Not used to company. Make yourself at home. Will make food." I answered absentmindedly.

Took fifteen minutes or so to make a decent dish. Used radscorpion eggs, purified water, half a blood pack, bite-sized chunks of cheddar cheese and long green beans. Made creamy omelette du fromage and stir-fried the green beans in some homemade vegetable oil. The look on their faces was priceless. Took a picture actually. When First Rains took the first bite, she seemed woozy. Asked if she was okay. Teared up, shut her eyes and nodded her head.

Realized, maybe, they were missing their happiness, too. Maybe they were cold inside just like me. I stayed silent watching them eat, enjoying my own snack. Nibbled on some grilled radrat. While First Rains' mother had her back to me, I took pictures of her rump.

She was wearing a black sequin dress with a short hem. Supposed it'd come in handy later. Especially during hormonal episodes. Started itching between legs for some reason. Mrs. Rains gave a low moan as she enjoyed my savory and textured slop. First Rains did the same, just, in a squeaking, shrill manner.

Grabbed some crayons and white paper. Drew pictures of me and daddy while they ate, puzzled by looks from both of them. Mrs. Rains covered her beak to hide her reddened smirk. Rains herself approached my end of the coffee table, fidgeting with her talons.

"H-hey, Hope...?"

"Yes."

"Can you... can we stay a bit longer? And like, maybe... c-could I stay over at your house more?"

I finished up my drawings, setting the crayons down entirely.

"Mhm." I responded, standing up to stretch canine.

They convinced me to host them all night, one mysterious stranger in a room of angels.