Fallout: Equestria - Old Grudges

Sitting in my room, I stared at the piece of paper that sat blank before me. Shifting uneasily on my hooves, I reached out for my pen with my horn, only to hesitate before picking it up. With a sigh, I pulled my magic back and thought. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with me today! Normally, I couldn’t write my stories fast enough. Today I just felt… empty. Maybe my fears were finally right, and that Stable thirteen had finally drained all the creativity out of me. The dull walls here had always felt like they drained the life out of me, but today I guess they stole something else entirely...

With a click that caught my attention, my eyes shifted over to the pen. It wiggled on the desk, moving on it’s own. I reached out with my magic, only to find that I could no longer grasp it. As if under it’s own levitation, it snapped up into the air. Like a snake, it wound it’s way around me. Frozen in fear, I did my best not to move a muscle.

With a hiss, it reared up before zipping past me toward the paper on my desk. With broad, vicious strikes, the pen attacked the paper. I watched in muted horror, as it aggressively spelled out three words that sent a chill down my spine.

Welcome home Sawer.

With a gasp, I tore myself out from under the sheets of my bed, and ended up on the floor. In a cold sweat that matted my fur, and with labored breaths, I finally realized that had all just been another nightmare.

“Sawyer, are you alright?” Bluejay groaned, rolling over in her own bed to groggily get a look at me. “Another nightmare?”

“Yeah.” I sighed. My forelegs ached from that much exertion before they had a chance to stretch. I winced as a kink in my neck made itself known as well. Just another perfect start to a day of hiding away in this cabin while we’re flying a thousand feet over the wasteland.

“That’s four nights in a row…” She said before a long yawn paused her. “Isn’t there anything you can do to stop having them?”

“If there was, I’d have done it.” I groaned. Okay, might as well get up for the day then. Looking over to my gear, I reached out with my magic. For a moment, I was worried that it too would resist and start moving on its own, but instead my magic grasped onto it the same as every other time. With a grumble that came from under me, my stomach reminded me that two times a day was not enough times to scramble down to the mess hall for something to eat before being locked away in here again. Expecially not when half the time I couldn’t keep it down.

Momentarily, everything around us shook. Not violently, mind you, but enough that even Bluejay sat up.

With a crackle, the ship’s artificial pony, Pai, came over the speakers.

“Good morning, passengers. I’m happy to announce our arrival over the designated coordinates, and we are preparing the ship for transition into it’s landing mode!” The overly cheerful voice of the filly ground at my still tired brain like chalk on a blackboard, but what she said at the end there snapped me awake.

Landing. Really, I was ready to get off this wild ride again. Sure, while flying was the better choice over being lunch for a mutated plant, it was really the lesser of the two evils. And that’s all flying is to me. Pure evil.

“It looks like we’ll be touching down at six-o-eight a.m. local time, and it’s a balmy sixty four degrees. Perfect for what looks to be yet another cloudy covered day in the wasteland! Raider bullet storms seem unlikely today, but you may still wish to pack your armored umbrellas, as things can change fast out there, folks!” As Pai kept talking, I did my best to quickly get myself geared. The second we landed, I was going to get the hell out of this death trap and back on the ground! Hopefully this time it wouldn’t be straight into the hooves of some psychotic plant cult as well. “So please be sure to make sure all carry on baggage is stowed, and that your seat backs and tray tables are returned to their full, upright positions.”

“Sawyer, what are you…?” Bluejay started the say as I both plopped my saddlebags on and flung the cabin door open. Before she could finish, my hooves carried me out the door like I didn’t have a single choice in the matter. Not that I wanted to stay, I was just surprised that for somepony who woke up only a minute ago, I was rearing and ready to go! And oh how I went!

Nearly flinging myself against the other door in the long central stairway of the airship, the odd high pitched whine of the rotary engines outside filled the air. My stomach churned now less from hunger, and more from the feeling of the entire airship descending through the air. With quick, loud hoofsteps, I descended to the small cargo bay in the bottom of the ship. The heavy clunk of the hydraulic landing gears vibrated the metal around me from through the walls, and I quickly reached out for the cargo bay door handle with my magic.

Tearing into the room, I again almost slammed into the large wooden crates that had been stacked in here. As I did, the small holographic filly popped up onto the pedestal at the terminal and gave out a soft giggle. As I stabilized myself on my hooves, I looked over to her pleadingly.

“Open the cargo bay doors, Pai.” I asked.

“I’m sorry, Sawyer. I’m afraid I can’t do that.” She spoke with a sincerity that nearly made my heart stop.

“What!?” I snapped. Goddesses, if I have to wait any longer to get off this death trap…

With a heavy rocking that sent groans and creaks through the metal around us, I found myself thrown to the floor. My mind was still trying to play catch up when the high whine from the engines started to drone down in pitch. Getting back to my hooves, I was fairly certain that we were now on the ground.

“Why would I open the doors when we hadn’t yet landed, silly?” Pai chimed in her cheery voice again. With another hydraulic hum, the cargo bay doors creaked and started to move. “That concludes this portion of our flight. We here at Sunshine Airlines hope that you have enjoyed your flight, and we hope that you consider choosing us again for your next cross country trip!”

As the door opened, I was forced to squint as the rising sun poured over the lowering ramp. A cool breeze pushed its way inside and over my skin, sending a small shiver down my spine. In front of me, I almost had my blood run cold. Rows and rows of bright yellow corn sat before me, and for a moment I worried that the plant ponies would be waiting here as well. Thankfully, the large field sat in clear air, and besides a few still living trees and a rickety cabin, there was nothing in sight. Trotting forward as the ramp lowered completely, I missed my step over the gap that the open door left in the floor.

I yelped as my hoof caught for a moment in the gap and I lost my hoofing. The world again was thrown out from under me as I tumbled head over hocks down the short ramp, and quickly found myself flopped down on my back into the dirt. Right off the bat, the wetness of the dirt caught my attention, and with a groan, I rolled myself over on it. The dirt was moist, soft, and had an odd smell to it. Unfortunately, that was as far as I got in my realizations before I felt the cold steel barrel of a gun being pressed up against the side of my head.

“Don’t move if you value your head.” The very agitated voice of a mare whispered close into my ear. Instinctively, I turned to look at the mare in question, but found another Gun pressed against the other side of my head. “No, no. You are just going to sit there perfectly still until we can get this all sorted out. Got it?” I nodded. “Good.” As the mare sat holding me hostage, all I dared do was look up at the interior of the cargo bay and hope that somepony could get me out this mess.

Of course, it’s just my fucking luck to be in yet another mess. Survive a five day, four night, all expenses paid trip on hell airlines only to get myself captured by another lunatic pony the second we landed again. Seriously, couldn’t I happen to go all of maybe ten steps away before something went wrong?

It’s decided then. Next time we land, I’m not going anywhere without at least Vanilla at my side. This shit never happened to me back home in Starwalk City. Wait… that’s exactly right! This shit didn’t happen back there! It wasn’t until this job that I’ve constantly been fearing for my life and being captured every fucking second. Seriously, it’s not my luck because I can blame all of this on…

“Bluejay?” The mare behind me asked as Bluejay trotted to the edge of the cargo bay. The guns pressed against me pulled back slightly, and I managed to catch a glimpse of both of them from the corners of my eyes. A red magical aura held an odd revolver/pistol looking gun on my right, and a larger ornate silver one to my left.

“Yeah! It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?” With a nervous wave, Bluejay looked down to me with her best ‘I’m sorry you’re at gunpoint’ look before straightening up again. “Sorry to drop in like this, PC, but I have an enormous favor to ask you.”

This was not at all what I’d expected we’d come across the Wasteland for.

“Riddle, honey?” A black coated stallion sat nervously just inside one of the two bedrooms of the small cabin we were brought into. “Daddy needs yah ta come down off the ceiling.”

Something there didn’t sit well in my brain, and made this morning’s forming headache just that much worse. Something between a giggle and high pitched screaming made me cringe before a young pegasus foal scampered from the other room. Oddly, she was on the ceiling, hopping the doorframe and galloping across the old wooden roof with quickly beating wings holding her in place. The stallion seemed to panic and follow her, trotting around the house a few times after her before the foal went back into the room again. From there, he followed her in and closed the door.

The musty old cabin was old, probably built before the war. However, it was remarkably well built, showing very little wear over the years. The addition of a few rugs around the place, some furniture that looked like it was pulled out of an old hotel, and some old colored wax pictures hanging on the old refrigerator gave this place a homely look to it. However, the assortment of firepower hanging about said otherwise. A few pistols sat with ammunition and an ammunition press in the corner. In an umbrella basket by the door, sat an old, scoped lever action rifle. Lastly, above the fireplace, a modified magical energy rifle hung on a plaque like a trophy.

Overall, I couldn’t understand why we were here. I mean, I knew we were here to recruit another member, but for the past four days, Vanilla had refused to give any information on what exactly it was that we were going after overall. In fact, she’d been completely silent since we’d taken off from the stupid plant town. She’d joined me on one of the couches in the corner, but other than her always present smile, she simply observed everything.

“So, Bluejay.” The still annoyed voice of the other mare called out as a few jars full of sweet smelling cider were levitated down in front of us, probably from the multiple apple trees planted around this place. Along with that, a few ears of corn followed that no doubt came from the fertile corn field we’d landed at the edge of. “I assume you didn’t park that monstrosity at the edge of my corn field just to visit for the afternoon.”

Unlike why we were even here, the mare who’d been kind enough not to shoot me wasn’t as much of an enigma as I’d thought she’d be. A Green coat covered in plenty of scars, a long red mane pulled into a bun all read to me that she was the kind of mare who got things done. No-nonsense, possibly an ex-mercenary, ex-bounty hunter, or ex-slaver. That is, given the fact that she had no rear legs, used a pair of wheels strapped to her stumps to get around, and had two young foals, I’m pretty sure she’s not in that line of work anymore.

“That is correct.” Vanilla spoke up from my right.

“I didn’t ask you.” The mare sneered at her before turning back to Bluejay. Squinting, she stared at Vanilla, seeming to size her up. “When I want you to speak up, then I’ll fucking ask you to.”

“Some things never change, do they, PC?” Bluejay laughed from the other couch. Grabbing two of the glass jars of cider, she passed one to Skeleton Key and pulled the other up to her lips. She took a large gulp before going wide eyed for a moment. With a sharp yank she used her magic to pull the other jar from Skeleton’s grasp. Giving a few hacking coughs, she held out her own drink in front of her. “Shit, that’s strong.”

Grabbing one of the cider jars, I pulled it closer. Free alcohol, you say? Don’t mind if I do! Pulling it to my muzzle, the rich taste of fermented apple felt like a punch in the nose, as well as heaven to my head. Seriously, if Cold Draft had hard cider this good in his bar, he’d sell a cask an hour!

“Yeah, we don’t have a well out here, so all our packaged water goes to the girls.” The annoyed mare huffed.

“Anyway, as to why we’re…” Bluejay’s words died out as I slurped up the last of the cider out of my jar. Shit, did I really down it all without knowing? Looking over, I saw her warped, disappointed gaze piercing through the bottom of the empty jar. I know I didn’t tell her about what happened in that other town, but seriously, I deserved this for what I went through! “We’re here because plainly, we have a job to do, and that job requires you.”

“Nope.” The mare retorted simply. With a flash of her own magic, she snatched up all the jars and corn from us. “I don’t do dangerous jobs anymore, not with my family to support.”

“Now yah just wait a minute!” The muffled voice of the stallion from before came through the walls. With a sharp yank and quick steps, he opened the door to the bedroom, slipped out, and shut it behind him in one fast motion. Giving out a sigh of relief, he straightened himself out and walked over. “Hun, yah need a vacation. Yah’ve been workin’ yahself ta the bone, and yah need ta do somethin’ ta let some stress out! The farm, the girls, and I? We’ll still be here for yah when yah get back.”

“Shut it, Caltrop.” She snapped back. “We talked about this. I’m done going out and being shot up by every asshole in the wasteland.”

“This is a simple retrieval job, nothing more.” Bluejay chimed up again. “Two weeks for travel, but it’ll be a quick job no longer than a few days.”

“If it’s a quick job, then why do you need me?” The mare retorted. Honestly, I don’t think Bluejay could have answered that. That is, other than ‘well, Eighth Note said we would’, and a mare like this wouldn’t take that for an answer.

“I’m sure it’s just a precaution.” Bluejay shifted herself off the couch, getting to her hooves. “Vanilla here has been instructed to negotiate whatever it will take to get you to join up with us on this.”

“Now you listen here!” The mare raised her voice. I knew where this was going. I’d had too many arguments with Eighth to not recognize a shit storm forming. With a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes and leaned back into the comfy old sofa under me. I did my best to tune out the world, trying to focus on something to distract me.

As I laid back, my locket slid down around my neck on it’s chain. Using my magic, I grabbed it and held onto it tight. This was all I had left of my family, the last remnant of my mother Green Leaf, and the only thing I have ever had of my father’s. Honestly, I don’t think of them too often anymore. A lost part of a life that should have been. I guess… maybe that’s what this angry mare has. Maybe that’s what she’s trying to hold on to?

Living with Eighth hasn’t been an easy life, not compared to what I had. But, I wouldn’t trade it for a life out here. Starwalk City was a hive of corruption and villainy, but Eighth held it together with his influence. Hell, he kept most of Los Pegasus and the Applewood ruins together. Nopony could touch him, not without getting a stern reminder of just how far his influence reached.

Then again, this is why he needed us for this job, right? Somepony got to him in a way he never thought possible, and we were his retaliation. That thought scared me, because it meant Eighth was treading on new ground, even for him. It also meant that whoever pulled this off, even with all the secrecy that Eighth normally kept, actually stood a good chance of striking a blow that stuck. A blow like that? It could undermine the entire foundation of Los Pegasus.

That’s about when this whole situation just ‘clicked’ in my mind.

With that thought, I started to laugh. It wasn’t a subtle chuckle, nore a roaring laughter. It started as just a giggle, growing into a laugh that silenced the two arguing mares. I couldn’t help myself with how stupid this all sounded.

“Something you’re finding funny, Sawyer?” Bluejay glared at me, giving a huff that blew a blue and white striped bang from her eyes.

“Just, one second.” I got out between laughs. Wiping my teary eyes with my hooves, I looked between the mares with a smile. “You two don’t really have any idea how serious all of this is, do you?”

“Care to enlighten us then?” The green unicorn snorted.

“Bluejay, you know how much power Eighth note has over the whole city, right?” Still giggling, I looked around the room. Everypony’s eyes were locked on me, and for some reason, that only made me laugh more. “If somepony stole from him, they’re what? Either really stupid, but lucky.” Just saying that, I could see the moment she knew where I was going with it. “Or…”

“They’re gearing up for something much bigger.” She muttered, cupping her chin with a hoof. “But, who would even want to destabilize Starwalk city, let alone be strong enough?” Looking over to Vanilla. “Does Eighth Note know who stole from him?”

Vanilla nodded. “A message from those who killed Swift was found on her body when I recovered her.” With a flicker of her own magic, she levitated a folded sheet of paper out from under her robes. It was half stained with what I presumed was Swift’s blood, but as she unfolded it and set it down on the coffee table in between the couches, all of us leaned in to look at it. On the paper, was a symbol I hadn’t seen before. A black sun, partly hidden behind red bars that looked like wings. Under it was the simple message We will return scrawled out in black ink.

“I’ve seen this symbol before.” Bluejay sighed, drawing my gaze up to her. The sight of the note seemed to unnerve her, which only served to unnerve me in return. “I don’t know a thing about them, but this symbol is plastered all over raided towns and caravans.” Shaking her head. “Most ponies think they are raiders, but they’re too coordinated for that. There’s hardly anything missed in looting, entire towns picked clean of resources.” Looking over to the other mare, she gave her a pleading look. “And there are never any survivors.”

“Great, now what does this have to do with me again?” The other mare huffed. “From what you’re telling me, they could have hit the courier without knowing what they took.”

“The attack on Swift does not follow the same parameters of the other attacks. Only the package for Master Eighth Note was taken. Nothing else of value was stripped.” Vanilla spoke up, drawing a look of ire from the angry unicorn. “I believe what Sawyer was trying to say at the start, is the same that Miss Bluejay is trying to convey. If they could track down a well disguised delivery for Master Eighth, then what are the chances they won’t come after you now that we are here?”

The angry mare tensed up and pressed a foreleg just under the base of her horn. I’d seen that face before in the mirror. Frustration, anger, regret, it all flushed over her face as she looked just about ready to kill somepony.

“Hun?” The black stallion spoke up as he trotted over to her, only making her tense up even more. “I ain’t a fan of it either, but yah need ta go. They need yah.” Wrapping his hoof around her neck did seem to help relax her, but not by much.

“Fine, you want me?” She glared at Vanilla as she spoke. “Then I want Caltrop to come to.” With that, she smirked. “I’m not leaving without my husband, and since he has to stay at home with the girls…”

The black stallion gasped happily, cutting her off. “Das a great idea!” Cupping the angry mare’s cheeks with his hooves, he wore a smile that felt a little too bright in contrast to the way his wife looked. “My sisters can watch the girls! Dis’ll be great! Like the honeymoon we nevah got!”

“No, that’s not…” The mare growled and stomped her hoof on the floor. “Fine, one hundred... No! Two hundred thousand caps as payment.” Another smirk ran across her muzzle, and I let out a sigh. There’s no way Eighth Note could afford a purchase like that, the whole of starwalk city doesn’t even make a quarter of that in a year! “Why don’t you go back home and see if you can scrape up that kind of money out of your coffers.”

“I am authorized to agree to that payment. You, Mrs. Percussion Cap, are hereby hired to work on behalf of Master Eighth Note of Starwalk city. You are now forbidden to take up any contracts with known enemies of Master Eighth Note for the duration of this contract.” Vanilla spoke as starkly as ever, surprising me with both the answer itself and the quick decision on it. “Payment will be expressly delivered in increments over a set length of time upon the completion of the task, and will be delivered to the next of kin should you unfortunately be killed before we return the package to Master Eighth Note.” Holding her hoof out, Vanilla offered her kind smile to the mare. “Thank you for deciding to work with us Mrs. Cap. How soon can you and your husband be ready to leave, as we do have a fairly strict schedule to keep.”

Both the mare’s and my eyes twitched at that.

“You lier. You can’t possibly just throw that kind of money around?” The mare stammered. “No, something is all wrong about all this.” Shaking her head, she took a step back. “I won’t stand for it.”

“I record and calculate all of Master Eighth’s financial records, as well as all of those for Starwalk city.” Vanilla canted her head as she pulled herself up off the couch. “There is sufficient room in the fiscal budget to allow for the fulfilment of this contract given the average yearly rate of growth. Barring any new natural disasters or repeated megaspell apocalypses, I can assure you, you will be paid a sum of eight hundred and thirty three caps per month for the next twenty years.”

“You can’t be serious…” The annoyed mare looked over to Bluejay. “Who... ?”

“Just… trust her math, PC.” Bluejay sighed as she glanced over to Vanilla, looking more impressed than anything. “So then, when can you be ready for liftoff?” Oh goddesses, don’t remind me we’re going to be flying again. “We do have a job to do, partner.”

“Don’t call me that.” PC grumbled before looking over at her husband, who wore a nervous smile across his muzzle. “Go to the shelter out back and tell your sisters that the farm won’t be the only thing they get to take care of while we’re gone.”

“Yes, Love.” The stallion said as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Trust me hun, yah may not see it now, but yah need dis vacation.” With a bounce in his step, he nearly flew out through the back door and into the morning sunlight.

“Yeah yeah.” Rolling her eyes, she looked back over to Bluejay. “I told you I was done with this shit, and after this job, I am never helping you again.” With a disappointed sigh, the mare turned around and headed to the other bedroom in the cabin. “This better be as quick and uneventful as you say it is. I am not letting my daughters grow up without me to teach them how to survive.”

The anger PC displayed actually made Skeleton Key shrink back a bit into the couch next to Bluejay. “Is… is it really going to be that dangerous? What if those ponies from the note come looking for us?” Looking down to the floor she gave off a small shrug. “Just, what if… we die because we get overwhelmed? Why else would we need so many ponies, why else pay so much for a simple job?”

“No, I… I’m sure...” Bluejay stammered, trying to avoid looking concerned. Unfortunately, she was looking for somepony else to distract Skeleton for her, and from the way she looked over to me with her sad eyes, I could tell she was going to pin that job on me. “Sawyer, help me out here?” Yes, because I’m a font of praises towards Eighth Note’s promises on ‘simple jobs’.

With a sigh, I opened my muzzle, only to be cut off by Vanilla.

“Master Eighth Note takes many unnecessary precautions, young one.” The tone Vanilla had switched too was an odd one. If I’d heard it at all before, it would have to have been in the first year or so under Eighth, because she’d never sounded that sort of kind to me. “I’m certain that this job will be a simple one, and is no cause for worry.” With a soft giggle and smile, she roused a mirrored reaction out of Skeleton key. “Isn’t that right, Sawyer?” Great, now Vanilla was asking me to lie to the filly.

“Yeah.” I nodded, looking up to Bluejay, who still looked more worried than ever. “Eighth Note knows what he’s doing.” I hopped. “I’m pretty sure we won’t even meet this ‘other group’.” Or I’m fairly sure things were going to go horribly wrong. “The point is,” I was internally screaming to my legs to just run me back home and let somepony else do this. “you have nothing to worry about.” Why couldn’t I have just not woken up this week?

Now, after all the lying was done, I could take satisfaction in the fact that at the very least Skeleton key had bought into it. Now, if only I could somehow find the youthful ignorance that she still had, maybe I could convince myself of the same.

“Miss Bluejay.” Vanilla spoke up, pulling my attention to her. “Once we are all on board the Dauntless again, I would like you, Mister Sawyer, and Mrs. Cap to join me in the mess hall for a briefing on our next destination.” Pointing to the door, she turned to me. “If you would like to go back as well, Mister Sawyer, I suggest getting something to eat before we get underway again. You will feel much less airsick if you eat while still on the ground.”

“Alright.” Bluejay nodded and turned around to Skeleton Key. “Come on, Key, let’s get something to eat as well.” Looking over to Vanilla, Bluejay eyed her over curiously as Skeleton climbed up onto her back. “Say, Vanilla, what’s the highest you would have gone had PC asked?”

“Oh, the exact financial information you wish to know is something I am not at liberty to discuss at this time.” And there we go, back to the plain and flat way that Vanilla spoke. “Needless to say however, Master Eighth Note will be less than pleased with the price I have negotiated.” Bringing back her smile, she shook her forehoof in the direction of the door. “Now, do not wait up for me. I shall assist in gathering any travel gear that Mrs. Cap requires me to carry and be aboard the ship shortly.”

“Sure. You have fun with that.” Bluejay rolled her eyes before dropping them on me. A smile crept across her lips when she did though. “Come on, Sawyer. We don’t want a repeat of dinner last night on our hooves, do we?” The realization that potato soup looks the same a half hour after you’ve eaten is as before was not something I’d wanted to remember about last night. My stomach just thinking about it nearly flipped over, and it pushed me to get up to my hooves.

“Yeah yeah. Though, I’ve been looking forward to today’s breakfast.” I grumbled, headed for the door. “At least today was supposed to be the special rad hog ham and rad hog bacon.” Because it was impossible to ruin bacon in any way… right?

right?

--Chapter End--

“Tension is rising, Gravity hurts.”

Quests Finished: Inheritance

Quests Started: Chasing Ghosts

Levels Earned: 3->4

Perks Earned: Bookworm -

You pay much closer attention to the smaller details when reading. You gain 50% more skill points when reading books.