Author's Note

This is a resurrection of my old war series. About 2-3 years old to be exact. Some things have changed in how I'm going to write this. There's no more "Anypony", "Everypony", etc. Also, about what I said in my first author's note. This entire thing is heavily influenced by Fallout: Equestria.

Hope you enjoy
-NJ

Into Junk Town

On the road to Junk Town I tried up to spark up a conversation. “So, what exactly is Junk Town?” I asked.

Bit glanced at me, looked at the lights the shine ahead, and explained, “Junk Town’s just a small trading town. Nothing too special. Just a few shacks and exchange depots.”

“Silly question, but is there any free water there? I’m really thirsty and I- “

She gave me a small grin “I got ya covered.”

She rummaged around in the wagon and pulled out a rather small bottle of water. The bottle didn’t look sanitary nor did the water inside. The bottle was made of beaten plastic with dirt practically engrained into the crevasses of it. The water inside looked vile and contaminated. ‘Well,’ I thought, ‘that looks literally like dirt in a bottle. Ew.’ She raised the bottle to me and I contemplated if I should drink it. ‘Buck it, I’m too thirsty.’ I grabbed it and I chugged it. I was instantly filled with regret and the horrid taste of dirt.

My body shivered with disgust. “I think I’m going to throw up…”

“It’s not that bad once ya get used to it.” Reassured Bit.

I then proceeded to vomit on the side of the road. I haven’t thrown up since I was a filly and I fear that this will be a common thing.

“Ha, you’ll get used to it.” She giggled.

‘I regret leaving the Bunker so much.’ This is going to be a long day.

We approached the entrance of Junk Town. Junk Town looks like what I expected: Junk. The town was honestly trashy. The roads were littered with metal debris and the wooden and metal shacks were in awful shape. But the town seemed to be alive with ponies doing their daily business. Most were moving various goods from wagon, to trading station, and to storage. Others were just passing through and going along their daily lives. But the town had some sort of charm to it. It seemed friendly. We kept walking through and I got a closer look at this small trade town. The trade posts were manned by small vendors who have various items for sale: food, weapons, clothing, general goods. Scattered about the area are a few guards. Well, if you can even call them guards. They all just look like regular ponies with guns. No special equipment and no armor, just a gun by each of their sides.

Bit went up to one of the stallion vendors who greeted her with a friendly smile. “Ah, Bit. Good to see you again”, the vendor then looked at me, “Who do you got here?”

“Just someone I picked up along the way here.” Bit said and then looked at me, “Care to introduce yourself Melody?”

“It’s Medley” I corrected, “I’m from the Bunker, and-”

“Wait, what?” The stallion looked at me with disbelief, “So, you’re telling me that you’re from that fancy concrete fortress over yonder?”

“I guess you can call it a fortress, but yes, it’s my home. Well, was my home…”

“What made you leave that concrete paradise anyways?”

“I wanted to see the world. I was getting tired of doing the same cycle every day. Wake up, work, talk, sleep, repeat. I was a janitor for 8 years for Celestia’s sake. Cleaning up after everyone was such a chore, I knew I wasn’t ever going to get promoted since the General is such a stingy jerk. All he does is sit in his office all day overseeing us while drinking coffee. But, even though I got sick of the place. I had some really good friends there. Friends from my childhood. Friends I’ll never forget…”

“Ya know, I was just asking for a simple answer. Not your life story.”

“Oh, sorry.”

The stallion reassured me with a smile, “It’s fine, little filly. The name’s Van. Welcome to the outside world.”

Bit butted into the conversation, “Anyways, I have a shipment from the Berg. Mostly just scrap metal and a few rations.”

“500 bits?” Van offered.

“Deal.”

Van reaches under his counter and pulls out a bag of bits. He sets it in front of Bit and she starts counting them one by one at a surprisingly fast rate. When finished she pockets it and gives a nod to the stallion pulling the cart. He pulls up to the counter and starts unloading the goods. The first items being unloaded looked like just heaps of metal. The others were just bags of unclean foods: tomatoes, gourds, etc. I have the feeling that all food from out here will look like garbage.

“Pleasure doing business with ya” said Van.

“Anytime.” Replied Bit and then looked at me, “Well, let’s head back to my place. Ya look like you need some rest.” She then looks at my wounded shoulder and foreleg, “And I’ll patch ya up.”

We arrived at her 2-story shack. The metallic outside looked unkempt and rusted, which was made up of various sheets of metal nailed, riveted, and bolted to a wooden base. It had 2 front windows on either side of the door, which I don’t think I can even call windows due to lack of glass. The windows were mostly made of rusted steel bars. The door looked decent, compared to the rest of the house. It was wooden and a bit chipped. In the front there were a few clay pots with flowers clearly struggling to stay alive and there was a plain doormat which didn’t look too shabby.

We entered the house and it looked pretty nice and homely. In the front room there was a rugged couch with a couple quilts draped over it. A radio on top of a coffee table in front of the couch which was in good shape. All the knobs were still intact, and it was emitting a soft jazzy tune from its speakers. I believe I recognize the tune ‘Snowdrop’ by The Caps. I hum along while further inspecting the house. The front room also had a tall standing lamp lighting up the room with an amber glow. The windows were covered by sheets of plaid cloth.

Beyond the front room is a small kitchen with a stove, sink, and various pots and pans decorated along the wall. Some pots and pans were chipped and looked slightly battered. But, at least the kitchen was practically clean. The stovetop was a bit blackened with char around the burners, which the char was engrained into the stove itself. But it was clean nonetheless.

Next to the kitchen was a diagonal ladder leading to the upstairs.

“You’re home looks better than I expected. No offense.” I commented.

“None taken” She replied.

I sat down on the fairly comfortable couch and let out a relaxed sigh. ‘Finally, a decent place to relax’ I thought. I looked over at my wounds on shoulder and foreleg. They didn’t look too healthy. I could already see them scabbing over, but it looked slightly green with infection. I poked the wounds with my opposite hoof and I felt a strong dull pain, mostly on the deeper cuts. I looked over to Bit and I noticed how she looked in this setting. She’s a light brown earth pony with a cinnamon mane. Her complexion included freckles and a few small nicks on her face, which looked like they were created a long time ago. Her eyes were a deep shade of blue. Her eyes honestly were fascinating to look at. At this point I noticed that I was staring at her for a good while and she was looking right back at me.

“Ya enjoying yourself over there? You’ve been staring at me for a solid 3 minutes.” She joked.

“Oh! Sorry, I kinda spaced out.” I sheepishly replied.

“Admiring the view?” She smirked and the chuckled.

“N-No! I was just lost in thought, not staring at you.”

My face turned a vibrant shade of red. She just chuckled and grabbed a flask and a gauze.

“Now time to fix you up. Just stay still and don’t jerk around too much. I’ll try to patch you up.” She said.

“Oh okay.”

I lifted my wounded foreleg for her to operate on. ‘Wait. Did she just say that she’ll “try” to-‘ My thought was interrupted by an overwhelming burning sensation. I jerked my head over and saw that she was pouring a brown liquid into my wounds. I yanked my foreleg away in pain and I shouted, “What the hell are you doing!?”

“Just cleaning the wound.”

“With what?!”

“Scotch.”

“With scotch?”

“Yeah.”

“Aren’t you supposed to use rubbing alcohol?”

“This is alcohol.”

“Just get this over with.”

I winced as she continued to pour more scotch into my wounds and covered them with shoddy gauze.

“See, not so bad.” She reassured.
I just gave her a menacing glare and she just giggled at it. I lounged on the couch and rested my back hooves on the coffee table. I’m regretting leaving the bunker more and more as time goes on. I closed my eyes and thought of back home.

~~~~~~~~~~

It was just another Friday night at the in the Bunker. I was at the bar with my friends Sugar and Chimi. As usual, we were getting wasted. Well, I was. Sugar and Chimi only had 1 or 2 drinks of beer. While me on the other hand, I was on my 6th shot of whiskey and a beer. Most of the bar was looking at me in pure shock and/or annoyance. I didn’t know why they were staring at me. I was just dancing on top of the bar singing a jazz song by Ray and The Outcasts. Nothing’s wrong with a mare trying to have some fun at a bar. Some say “Hey, can you calm down” or “Can you not?” But, I just ignored them. To my extensive knowledge I acquire when I’m drunk, they’re just jealous. I reached a hoof out to my friends for them to come up and dance with me on the bar top. They just looked at me like I’m crazy. Whatever, I’m drunk, I’m crunk, and I’m ready to party.

“Hey Medley,” Said Whiskey with a chuckle, “Can you get down for a minute? I have some thirsty customers and I- “

I looked at him cockily and said, “How ‘bout n- “

I fell off the bar top. My friends just laughed at me and helped me up. I looked around and about half of the bar was laughing as well. Embarrassment overwhelmed me, so just sat on the barstool next to Sugar and looked down into one of my empty shot glasses.

“Smooth move.” Commented Chimi with a laugh.

“It’s not funny.” I said in a down tone.

“That’s true, It’s not funny. It’s hilarious”

“Ugh.”

“Maybe you should ease off of the drinking, it’ll help you socially and will definitely help your liver.” Sugar added.

“But, alcohol…” I said in a sad tone.

“I know, I know. Just ease off of it a little, please?” She asked.

“Ugh. Fine.”

“So, you’ll drink less from now on?”

“Nope! Only for tonight.” I said cheerfully.

“But, you’re already drunk.”

“Yup!”

“Med,” she giggled and rolled her eyes playfully “You’re so goofy.”

“I know” I said with a gleaming smile.
I looked at the clock on the wall to the best of my ability with my blurry eyesight. It’s almost midnight and I have to work tomorrow. Ugh. I said goodbye to my friends and I headed to my room. I instantly crashed on my bed and drifted into sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey, Melody,” I heard a voice call to me, “Don’t want to bother, but you’re kinda in my relaxing spot.”

I opened my eyes to see Bit looking at me. I realized that I just fell asleep on her couch and it’s pitch black outside. I must’ve been out for a while.

“So, ya going to get up, or are ya just going to stare at me?”

Inventory & equipment: Saddlebags, 9mm, 16 9mm rounds, nightstick, duct tape, wires, nails, screws, screwdriver, two cans of vegetables, and medical tape.

Health:

Injured: Stab wounds in shoulder and right foreleg. {Healing}