Fallout Equestria
Times of Talons: Chapter 2
New Lands

Warmth, it surrounded me. My mind seeming to start up again but I was not awake. Was I in a coma? I could hear muffled voices but couldn’t see them, or for that matter, make out what they’re saying. A time for what seemed like hours passed by, but for all I knew it could have been minutes. Eventually I could see light, I was waking up. After the slightest bit of sight came back to me I saw a wooden wall next to me. I was on a bed, or what I think was a bed. To my right there was an old, stained sheet on a slider hanging from the ceiling. It was there to separate me from the other patients and the rest of the room. I could see the outline of three figures. One was a stallion, with some very puffy hair on his head, yet his tail was cut short. Next to him I could see the small frame of a mare. I’ve only seen ponies a few times and this one was smaller than all them. The other…a GRIFFON! A large griffon, a female based on the voice, was standing more in what I would think was the front door based on the light coming through. They’re talking, about me, and what to do with me. The stallion had an accent I’d never heard before. He lengthened and seemed to focus more on his vowels. Though when he talked he sounded confident. The mare talked softer, almost sounding afraid to speak up. The griffon, however, talked with power. She struck me like the heavy drinker. Believe me, we had lots of those back home. She also talked with a care free attitude.

“Yhall Shure he aint one of you?” the stallion asked, the first sentence I could actually here from them.

“No, and If he was, he doesn’t seem like the kind Gawd would hire into the trade.” She answered. My only thought being, “Who’s Gawd?”

“Well, I’ve never heard of a griffon roaming the wastes. I don’t recon he came from those damned castle ruins. Yhall should leave; I’ll talk to em and find out what we need.” The stallion stated, his assistant nodding in agreement.

“Buckellhorn, don’t let him spill what you don’t want him to. Keep that old mind locked. And after he comes too, get the mayor.” The griffon said, finally giving a name to the stallion. Buckellhorn, hmm, not the name I’d of given him. The griffon left the room, leaving us alone. It got strangely quiet. That was, until, the mare finally spoke up.

“I hate the talons.”

“You don’t gotta like them, there not here for your amusement.” He said, putting an end to her quick rant. Not a moment later the two looked over, seeing my silhouette in bed. I wondered if they could tell I was awake. They came towards me. I didn’t know what to do, but before I could do any of the options in my mind they moved the sheet to see me.

“Good mornin’. Hope yhall had a good night sleep.” Buckellhorn said. When he walked into view I could see he was a copper color unicorn and had a doctor’s coat over him. He had a puffy, black mane, spiked up to keep it out of his face. He looked at me, knowing I was confused.

“Interesting to see you up and awake so soon, you had some good injuries.” The little mare said. Her voice matched her sweet figure. I’ve seen griffon’s flirt with each other, it’s nothing to get that excited about. Most of our females didn’t have a figure worth flaunting. But mares had quite a figure. There features where nicely highlighted and I could see every curve in her body. She had a white coat with a blue mane and a grey stripe going through it. She had light purple eyes and was a unicorn. I also noticed a patch of cloth strapped onto her chest with a leather belt. That mark ponies have on their ass was a needle, my guess it was a stimpak. I didn’t know how to answer, or what to say. They hadn’t known where I came from, and that's fine by me.

“Now I know you’re confused, and I’m willin’ to answer your questions, as well as answer ours,” Buckellhorn said.

My first thought was “What happened?”, yet the first thing my mouth said before my mind could keep up was “What is this place?” He looked at me, then to the mare, then back to me.

“Welcome to Woodwork Trading Post” Buckellhorn said, “Yhall in the only pony settlement this far east on the Equestrian wasteland. Only other ponies yhall find out here are damn no good raiders that’ll kill yha soon as they see yha.”

“Yes, the raiders are the ones who did this to you, not the townsfolk. Don’t take your anger out on them. After all, these are the ponies who saved you.” The mare said. When she talked, my mind went partially blank. Her voice soothed me. And I must admit to myself, she was cute. I couldn’t deny myself that my nether regions where getting slightly warm.

“I know; I’d recognizes a raider from townsfolk any day. I was doing no more than searching through long abandoned homes when they attacked me. My guess, for the same reason I was. And no, I’m no raider.” I said, hoping that would clear any questions they would have of me.

“You wouldn’t happen to be from around here, would you?” She asked me.

“I can’t say.” I obviously wasn’t going to say where my home was, nothing good could come out of that. And if those raiders new of my town, how much faster would word spread in a trading post. At least raiders, the greedy bastards they were, would keep the secret only to keep the loot to themselves. I couldn’t say the same for a town I hadn’t known existed until a little while ago. Then again, I didn’t know how long it’d been since I passed out.

“Why can’t yha?” Buckellhorn asked.

“I don’t trust you; my home must stay a secret. It’s been since the day of its founding and I intend to keep it that way. Your town’s a trading post. How fast would word spread from here? A town, untouched for years, who wouldn’t want to take it for themselves?” I wanted to make it as clear as possible, hopping they wound understand. And to my surprise, the stallion nodded.

“I can respect a pony, or griffon for that matter, who would be so willin’ to keep the identity of their home safe. That’s a hard virtue to find now adays. Yhall have my respect…” I could tell that none of them knew my name. Granted, I don’t think they knew I was aware of his.

“Blacktuff” I said.

“Oh, Blacktuff, make since.” I could tell he pieced it together. “Anyway, yhall have my respect Blacktuff.”

“You’re an easy stallion to convince?” I said under my breath, not knowing how loud I’d been.

“It doesn’t take much to show a good pony from a bad one. I can hear that in yha voice. Yhall true to yha words and yha mean what you said. No raider, slaver, currier or mercenary could say that with yha tone of voice. Yhall sincere with what yha say. And for that, I respect yha.” He answered to my, now thinking back to it, rude yet slightly true comment.

“Can I ask who you trade with out here.” I asked more interested in finding out more around here without making it sound to obvious.

“This place west called the Radioactive Falls Trade Center. Any town within the east side of Equestria goes there to buy. Most come with more than they can carry. He said.
“They take from us and give us little in return. Others who get screwed over and can’t even pay to get back home get stuck working here. They do nothing but take and dump their trash on us,” said the little mare with a particular sour tone in her voice.

“They give us the business to stay around. The ponies sent to us keep us populated and the goods they do give us keep us paid enough to keep our medicine, food and ammo storage up to co.” Buckellhorn stated to the mares harsh words. “Yhall may not agree with everythin’, but in my opinion they do everything they can with the best intentions.” I could tell he wasn’t keen on ponies talking down to those he trusted. The way his words were spoken where sincere.

“Now if yhall excuse me, I’m needed elsewhere.” He stated, seeming out of the blue.

“Needed where?” I asked.

“I ought to tell the mayor yhall awake. He was interested in yha when you arrived. In fact, it was him who kept yha alive. Without his ok, the Talons would’d gun’d you down, leavin’ yha like Swiss cheese.” After saying that, he turned to the mare and finally put a name to the one who was making me feel all warm. “Blood Heart, I need yha ta stay here and watch over the fort. And please, answer any more questions Blacktuff may have.” He stated before walking out the door. Wow “Blood Heart,” I knew ponies had some ridiculous sounding names but really. With that, Blood Heart turned and looked at me. She could tell I had several more questions in need of answers, but before I could, she started.

“Before you continue, no, you cannot expect an answer to every question you may have. I’m not weak, I’ll keep secrets from outsiders if I must. Buckellhorn may “Respect” you, but I don’t trust a random griffon who passes out by my home. If it was up to me, I wouldn’t even be talking to you. But by the mayors orders I’m going to do what you say. And before the thought even enters your mind, no, I’m not going to do anything like that with you. You should know the last pony who tried something with one of our nurses was brought out on the street and beaten by the talons.”

Her tone had shifted very quickly after Buckellhorn had left. When he was in the room I could see she tried to keep a level head. When he left and she was alone with me, she wouldn’t hold back her anger, or whatever she thought it was at me. Never understood folk like that.

“I wasn’t…” she cut me off

“I could tell by the looks you gave me. Trust me, I’m no stranger to a horny male waking up to a young mare taking care of him. I’m not a fool.” She could see right through me. I could only imagine all the single stallions would be hitting on her. She would have been so used to stallions looking at her like that. I wanted to ask her so much, but most she’d either reject, laugh, question me, or give me a one sided answer.

“Could I ask about this town?” I asked, wondering how she’d take the question. In my mind she could take it fifty different ways with fifty different answers.

“As much as I don’t want to, I’m expected to. This town, as you were told, had established a trade wrought with the RF Trade Center. Well back before the war, there was a train track that lead from the Crystal Empire to a train station here. We built the town around the station. This town has a bar, orchard, school, apartments, mayor’s office, armory, and quite obviously a doctor’s office. We have more but those are the most important. We grow crops as well. They and the wood fetches the highest. They give us small amounts of caps, ammo, and medicine. As you herd before, they also send the unwanted or broke to us. In my opinion, they feed off us and dump their waist all over us. Most the ponies in this place worship them. They don’t even take the time to defend an area where a great deal of their resources come from. We’re getting picked off by raiders, flushed out by rad storms and hunted by Yau Bears.” It wouldn’t take a genius to tell she was VERY unhappy with the state of things. I hadn’t expected her to dislike this town that much.

“You don’t like this town?” I asked, even more nervous than my last question.

“I love this this town, but I cannot stand being here. This place is filled with great ponies and had great potential, if only the RF Trade Center wasn't chaining us up. The ponies here are being lead into false hope and it will be the death of us if something doesn’t change. Our town never needed extra security. We had our guards who’re armed enough to keep the Yau Bears at bay. The guards and amount present was normally enough to keep those foul, mutated bug bears at bay. With the sudden increase of raider attacks we’ve had to move our guards to the other side. Raiders couldn’t come from the north, not without being eaten by the Yau Bears. With that, though, our north guard was left bare. We’re being hammered by both sides and the RF Trade Center doesn’t give two shits. Within our first month of this year we lost six good guards. Back about a year ago we lost over half our guards when our largest raider attack occurred. At the same time a family group of Yau Bears attacked. That was when our mayor decided to hire the Talon Mercenaries. From then we’ve been expected to feed them in return for their services. Now we’re feeding extra, greedy, mouths. They even demanded we build a bar for the guards to drink. That’s why we have a tavern.

I could tell she meant every word of it, and wasn’t prepared to take any word back. I was actually happy she told me. I don’t know why but I wanted to help these ponies. I know how it can be to have your town attacked by an enemy you feel powerless against. I wanted to help them, yet I didn’t know how. Maybe I could kill off the raiders at their source. Doing that would cause them to keep the Yau Bears at bay again and maybe even remove these Talon mercenaries out of the picture. After all, I wasn’t going to be able to hunt a species all the way to extinction. I’m also not going to chase the RF Trade Center out of this town. If things could cool down around here, maybe she wouldn’t direct that anger to the RF Trade Center. At least removing the raiders, things would calm down and then fall back on the right path. I’m not one for nice deeds, but this was a place I could sympathize with. I’m glad she gave me somewhere to, at least, start my search.

I wondered, what she would do if given the chance to fix one thing. I wanted to ask, but again, didn’t know how she’d take it. She’s the kind who struck me where if it was a bad day, she’d kill you if you looked at her wrong. Finally I found the words I wanted. “If you were able to fix one problem here, which would you fix? If you don’t want to, you don’t have to answer.” The look in her eyes told me she really thought over what I just asked. I could also tell she contemplated even answering me, but then she spoke up.

“If you ask me, I’d want the RF Trade Center out; but they have the potential to do some real good. In my opinion, I’d send the talons after the raiders and put a stop to them. If I could get rid of them, it allow us to stop the damn Yau Bear attacks. The rad storms are out of our control, yet if I could I’d blow them all the way to Fillydelphia. I’d make the RF Trade Center right the wrongs that they did to us, making them start by paying us with what we deserve.”

Her answer was more than enough. She had the same idea I had in correcting this town. I made up my mind on what I was going to do. I just wanted to see what the mayor wanted. And with that, I heard Buckellhorn’s voice as he walked towards the door. A moment later, he walked in.

“Hey, Blacktuff, the mayors ready for yha.”

With that, I stood up and began walking outside. After exiting, I saw the dirt roads the town was built on. Around me where several homes, shops and crops. Each house was made of recycled wood, steel and other metal scraps. There were several piles of tires and old wooden planks. The mayor, who was a large build unicorn stallion, walked up to me. He had a coal colored coat and a solid black hat. He had an armored leather coat on, though it only covered to the start of his hind legs. I don’t get the point of an armored cloak that keeps half you unprotected. His golden eyes looked at me with confidence.

“Howdy.” He said in a similar, yet heavier voice of Buckellhorn. “I’m mayor charcoal, but yhall can just call me mayor. When I heard the gunfire from that shootin’ with the raider’s yha did. I wondered, who would be out there fightin’ them? I came to the wall and saw yha collapse there. I wanted to know just who this raider hunter was. So, tell me, where yha from?”

He asked me the question I didn’t want to tell. Only this time the mayor wanted me to tell. If I said no would he get angry? If I lied would he know? I had so many outcomes to the many different options I had. “Yha don’t need to answer, I know how that could be.” He said before I could think of an answer. I guess many ponies out here don’t like talking about where they came from.

“I was told you wanted me?” I asked. I knew he wouldn’t have kept me alive unless he wanted something.

“Strait to the point huh, I like that. The raiders aren’t keen on you, yet they don’t know who you are. I want to use that. Sneak into their raid camps and find out where they come from. After that, come get me. I’ll send em packing faster than a fly is to a body. We could use yha to end our attacks. Now I know your probably thinkin’, "This guy just saved me and’s now tryin’ to kill me." I’m not. I want you to save us and seeing how one griffon took out four raider’s yha got what it takes. We’ve been thinning them out so there can’t be that many left.”

I sat there thinking. He wanted me to actually put an end to the attacks on his town. Blood Heart was somepony who would enjoy this. All she complained about was the issues with the town not doing what it needed to in order to fight its battles. He wanted me because the raiders didn’t know me. “I’ll look into it, but I’m not so ready to jump back into combat. Now, don’t think I didn’t notice my stuff wasn’t with me when I woke up. Where’s my stuff.”

“Your stuffs fine, we put it in our safe house for safe keeping. Here’s the key to your storage locker, it’s the one in the far right corner.” The mayor said, I bet they looked through it just to see what I had "After yha done with the raiders, come get me, I may have another job for yha." He said walking back. As he turned around I finally took notice of a large grey earth pony stallion standing next to him. The stallion had a brown hat with a gold star, he also had a brown, leather coat on with the same star on it. He had a large revolver to his side. The sheriff, no less. I needed to wrap my head around this. First off, I pass out and am fixed by a town. Then they tell me of some "big" and "important" trade center I've never heard of. And finaly the mayor wants me to hunt down this raider camp. I still needed to find my attacker, yet my agendas getting bigger. I could ask around town but most likely they'll all direct me to their raider group and not mine.

"Yha need anythin’ else?" Buckellhorn asked.

"I do have some more questions, if you wouldn't mind." I asked, wanting some answers.

"Was Blood not cooperative? I told her to be nice but she can be just so" I cut him off.

"No, she answered my questions. She did have some hesitation but did answer. I had some questions about a raider group, a different raider group. They attacked my home; they had a red skull painted on their armor. They also used weapons unlike any I've seen raiders use. They killed lots us, one being my best friend. I'm out mainly for revenge for him but for everyone else in the town who perished." As much as I didn't want to, I needed to tell him more from where I came from. He needed to know as much as I could tell. He sat and thought for some time, scratching his puffy mane before he finally spoke up.

"Well, that’s oddly specific. But I think I can help yha. We see raiders movin’ around all the time, pick off as many as we can. I saw this one raider with a red patch on her helmet. I couldn't tell what it was but I'd guess it’s your red skull. She woulda’ jumped strait into that here sea if another raider with the same red mark on the body plate hadn't stop her. The two walked back up North out of view. Yha might wanna ask around and see if anyone saw. Seein’ raiders aint somethin’ new so many might not have bat an eye."

Well I had something. Two raiders from the group coming to the seaside, wanting to go across the water, and heading up north; did the world just point me into the right direction, after all, he saw a red patch. The raiders attacking here have purple and blue markings. That would be my biggest lead. "Thanks Buckellhorn, for all your help. I'm gonna ask around town."

"Hey, don't mention it kid. Its nice havin’ a new friendly face to talk to. And if you wanna’ talk around town, I'd say start with Two Bits. You can find her in the trade both. If there's something to know in town, she's the one to talk to. Well, I best be goin’. You take care now Tuff."

As I waved back, I started towards the safe house. At least here I can say there's somepony I could trust, and maybe call a friend. As I walked towards the safe house there was an earth pony guard with metal armor and an assault carbine watching. I just said my name and he nodded stepping out of my way. After walking in there were three options. The way in front of me had a large metal door with an identical looking guard, this one with a submachine gun though. To my left was an open room and to the right was a unicorn mare behind glass. She had a light yellow coat with a light green mane. Her deep blue eyes looked at me. I said my name and that my stuff was put in a locker. She spoke up in a sweet voice that would make candy jealous. "Oh, yes the griffon, you’re in the back row all the way down marked 46." She smiled so bright that the sun would be proud.

After walking down, Charcoal was wright and it wasn't a trick. Everything I had was there, even the drugs I had the misfortune of taking where there. After tightening the strap on my bags, setting back my knife and reattaching my pistol holster I headed for the door. Buckellhorn had said to talk to Two Bits, so I knew where to next. After looking about I could tell the trade post from the weapons, armor and supplies in the back. A pink earth pony mare with a bright yellow mane and purple eyes and a butt mark of two gold bits was sitting behind the counter chewing on a hay straw. When she saw me she waved me down. When I arrived she spoke with a raspy voice. "Hey, you're that griffon the talons dragged in from the dirt. I thought you were dead meat, but that doc said you were still kicken’. Well, now that you’re up, how bout some traden'?"

"First I have some questions for you." Her eyes shrunk and the smile went away as she wiggled the straw around her mouth. "My home was attacked by a raider camp, and no, it’s not the same group attacking you. These raiders bore a red skull on their armor and used rather high end weapons. Buckellhorn told me he saw two out by the sea's edge, know anything more."

She looked smirked and even smiled a little before saying in a lower voice. "Oh, I got the Intel on who you're lookin’ for but what you’re asking for is information and information has a price to pay. What's say, 100 caps and you get the Intel you need."

"I don't have the money, could I trade with you instead." I hoped she’d agree, and to my surprise, she nodded. I opened my bags and handed her the drugs I took. She looked at it and passed me 40 caps. I then pulled out the sawed off shotgun and the 10mm pistol the raiders who jumped me had. She took and handed back 70 more caps. After sifting through my bags she interrupted and pointed at the cigarette packs I also grabbed from the raiders. She said "Give me those and you'll get 20 caps and I'll through in all the ammo I got for your pistol there." I nodded and passed all seven packs. The caps where handed to me but she needed to reach under her desk for the ammo. She then asked me "What caliber?" I said 9mm and she just stared up at me. She just stated "That's a more common round, what’s say I give you half and call it even?"

After our little barter, I passed back 100 caps and asked what she knew. "Well, it’s no lie that Buckellhorn saw them raiders. Three other settlers saw em. Two where guards. I was asleep so didn't see em myself but the ones who did said they didn't have the usual raider look in their eye. The guards said they still looked sane and didn't shoot. One did jump in the sea and start swimming across. Her friend dragged her out, only to slap her. The two talked but no one herd them. They walked back up north too, only to stop about halfway to the castle and wait. After an hour the rest of their party arrived and they sailed on a raft back across the sea. My guess is they the ones who picked your home off." After hearing that I had no doubt who the two where. "Where'd they go, what’s across that sea?" I asked fiercely.

"Well, over there's Fillydelphia, but they don't have Red Eyes mark. There's also Manehatten and Baltimare, though I’m not so sure they came from there. Nothin’ good there either. If I was you, I'd go over sea and ask around Radioactive Falls Trade Center. Take the tracks to the other side and go through the west, can’t miss it. Town's there may have what you need."

With that, I knew what I was doing. Two Bits is telling me to go by the trade center to try and locate this raider group. First I needed to clear out these raiders here. "Thanks Two Bits, you've been a big help." I stated before starting to walk away.

"Eh, it’s what I do. Oh, and take this, it'll help." she said after throwing me a paper ball and going back to chewing on her straw. After picking up the ball and unfolding it I saw it was a map. This would be helpful after all. With this out of the way, tomorrow it’s time to take out the raider camp here.

After a bad night’s sleep, no thanks to the beer, old bed, cramped space and loud noises in the common house I walk out into the town. After heading to the dinner I saw they had wild boar on the menu, one of my favorites if done right. After a good time my plate came. Most ponies seem to eat veggies yet some helped themselves to meat. I never liked greens, always tasted off. After a good long while I headed to the mayor’s office. He stayed in the biggest building in the far end of town. Two guard ponies with the metal armor and hunting rifles stood guard. Both looked to me and moved out of the way. I'm sure the mayor told his guards to let me past. As I walked in, there were more guard ponies and talon members around tables with a Sparkle Cola machine and a jukebox. The bar to the left had a radio with a crazed looking green stallion attending it, behind the bar where the stairs to the mayor and sheriffs office's and next to the stairs was an armory. As I started climbing the stairs a hoof grabbed my shoulder and pulled me around. The sheriff with the same leather outfit and hat with stars stared me down. He talked in a low, dry voice. "What yha think yha doin?"

I answered with a nervous tone. "The mayor wanted me to take out those raiders bothering you, I was just going to speak with him about it."

He just stared me down without moving. He eventually said "I don't like you. Yha come in from the north, where those raiders and that fucking castle are all shot up and drugged out. The mayor may be trusting you, but I don't. Let me make this as crystal clear as possible. You make one mistake, take one step out of line, you do ANYTHING to raise suspicions and I will personally end you. You got me son?" With a hard swallow and a nod his brow grew larger. "I SAID, YOU GOT ME SON!" With that I answered with a loud "Yes!" He just looked at me a little longer, his eyes matching mine. He just nodded and steps away. From there I walk up the stairs, my tail between my legs. The mayor had a guard outside with a large weapon I've never seen. It looked like the barrel was burned. She just looked at me as I walked in. Charcoal just looked up at me from the papers on his desk. He had a large Yau Bear skull hanging behind him. He looked up at me with those golden eyes and said in his deep voice, "Take a seat." After sitting in one of the two chairs he put the papers down and looked me strait in the eyes before saying, "You're here about the raider job right?"

Looking at him, I nodded before saying, "What is it exactly you had in mind?" From the little smile he gave, it would either be dangerous or risky.

He leaned back before saying, "As I said before, the raiders don't know about you. You killed their raid party before any could tell the rest of them. That means the raiders left wouldn’t recognize you. These raiders seem a bit more civil than most. They most likely wouldn't shoot you up. Find their camp, gain entrance, get them on your good side, come back and we'll wipe them off the face of the earth. It's simple."

The first thing I wanted to ask was how sure he was but I asked, "Why haven't one of your own gone out to do this?"

He looked at me smug before saying. "If it wasn’t obvious, they've been to the town and they’ve seen the griffons here before. You're one they don't know. I want to use this. And for sending in my own bucks, it’s mainly the same reason. I haven't been able to find their camp, at least without that guard dyeing or goin’ missing. You have this advantage. If I was to find there camp, I'd have to wait for them to be unoccupied for the surprise attack needed, you starten’ to see where this goes?”

I nodded in agreement before adding, "Any clues on where I should start.”

He sat back up before saying, "You should start east of here, by the mountains. Whenever they retreat, they go off that way. I’d bet yha find em there." Now I knew what I was doing. I’ve been out about a day, yet I’m already playing the “good guy”. I wouldn’t call myself a hero; I’m not doing it to be kind. For me, I’m doing it because I know how it can be losing your own to an enemy your helpless about.

I hadn’t a plan, but I just thought I’d make it up on the fly. Leaving the town, bags and fresh supplies in claw, I headed east. The wastes weren’t much, nothing but long dead trees and old crumbled roads. Off in the distance, in the fog, the old town I found on my first night still stood. It wouldn’t be worth going back to search for anything. The distant wind howled through the mountain valleys, from across the sea, each gust stirring up the trees, caring the creek of wood through the region. Any small gust brought even the tiniest sounds to bear. It was the quietest it’s ever been in my life. In the fort, it was usually noisy, and Woodworks wasn’t much different. I must admit, I rather liked it.

Closing the door behind me, I stumbled behind a tipped table. The door’s lock was decent, but it wouldn’t hold up for long. The rumble of fast but heavy hooves sounded as they stampeded towards the door, each time ending in a crash both loosening the door and shaking the walls.

“Fuck, why in Celesties name was it still loaded?” I said to myself. Truth told, it may have been my fault, but still, who keeps a loaded gun in a case? I mean, I could always blame it on the dam thing being over two hundred years old and simply malfunctioning. The shot echoed through the hunting cabin and through the entire mountain pass. Apparently, ponies from before the war left loaded rifles in their lockers; the sound caught the attention of two nearby radhogs. I’ve only ever dealt with dead radhogs, so this was rather terrifying. The door shot off its hinges with the boar collapsing, with his sow running in behind him. I quickly took aim with the very rifle that got me into this predicament. A single shot placed in her neck downed the sow, the boar had gotten back up, and before I could open the bolt of the rifle, he was charging me. Quickly drawing my pistol, I took flight, just dodging him. He crashed through the table and hit the wall. Turning he was met with a hail of bullets from my pistol. I think it’s the lucky shot to his left eye that downed him. Landing in the room, I took note of what was around me. My only thought, fuck you Koren, killing animals is easy you cocky bastard.

I figured I could use it for later, so I quickly skinned and cut the best meat off the two. Had I been in a safe place, I could’ve gotten much more. Placing the wrapped meat in my bags, I fully searched the cabin, only for me to walk away with a few more shots to the hunting rifle and some bullets to a gun I haven’t seen yet. The only other thing worth noting where some old coins, they looked the ones on Two Bits ass. No bottle caps though, such a strange choice for currency. Clearing back to the pass I retraced my steps to the path I was originally taking. What, ok so I might have been curious, but I couldn’t resist.

“Is he one of em?”

“No, he doesn’t have that mercenary look to em.”

“What’s a pidgin like you doing over here?”

With my luck, I bounce into one of these raiders camps. It wasn’t much to impress, a simple trailer turned barracks with a small barrel fire and some minor sandbag and wood barriers. The only reason I could tell it was one of theirs was from the blue and purple markings. At that point, I still hadn’t a plan, but thinking back, maybe yelling, “Hello, I’m no threat, I only wish to talk to you” wasn’t the best idea. For some unknown reason Charcoal was right and they didn’t gun me down, they did still charge me with their guns aimed to me and continued asking questions.

Three of them, one mare and two stallions, each with crude armor and weapons, all looking down on me. They each smelled of death and fecal matter and looked like they rolled around in dust and dirt. The mare had a dark purple coat with her main spiked up into a Mohawk. The larger of the two stallions was a dirt brown with a completely messed main; the other was a light blue with more of their cut short mains and tails. Their armor was little more than leather straps and mettle bits strapped together with nails and rebar jutting through in an attempt to look more intimidating. Their weapons looked to fall apart if a single round fired. The only one with a decent conditioned weapon was the large stallion, who levitated a sledgehammer next to him. The mare had another hunting rifle and the smaller buck had a dinky looking pistol.

“Speak dam you!” shouted the large buck. His voice was surprisingly clear, unlike the raiders from last night.

“I’m from” think Blacktuff, think, “a-across the river, I mean sea. I came here seeking the gang I keep hearing about, the one bothering the Woodwork ponies.” I said. I didn’t convince myself. I don’t work the best under pressure, and having a .308 rifle aimed between your eyes doesn’t help. These raiders have to be a fool to believe me-

“You’re from overseas, why so interested in finding us?” the mare answered. Her voice too sounded surprisingly normal. Sure, she had a slight grind to her words, but she still didn’t sound much like the raiders who jumped me before. The smaller buck, however, I couldn’t say this to.

“We should gut him, hang him with the others.” He had a more crazed sound to him. He seemed like he’d snap if something happened just right.

“Well, I have a way into Woodworks; I know their looking for someone to take you down. Way I figure it; I could help your leader get the edge on them.” I still didn’t really convince myself. Thankfully, for me, they seemed to bite.

“Take him to the boss.” The large buck said. With this, the two backed off. The mare was to lead me to their base, the other two stayed behind. A short walk through the cliffs leads me to a small encampment. Four tents set up in a ring around a large fire. The horror struck me, bodies, fresh and old hung from the old power cables strung over the camp. Some strung to the wooden polls, hopefully dead when it happened. The entrance, laid out with spikes tipped in pony heads, gave way to the hell beyond. Wooden beams strung over the entry with skeletons dangling off. The tents painted and marked by the raiders. The metal rods holding them up tipped with bones and skulls. Separate polls hung cloth covers providing shade had further bodies hung to them. The massive burning pile let off the horrendous stench of death and decay. It was a living nightmare. I’d been outside about a day and have already experienced a living nightmare.

Following the mare around the fire pit we walked to the largest tent in the far back, where the “boss” lives, she stepped aside, forcefully opened the tent and motioned with her head for me to enter. Most the raiders in the camp looked surprised or curious about me. The ones in here seemed angry.

“Buckshot, he’s here.” Called a buck from next to me. Fallowing my eyes to the back of the tent, I saw him. Cages hung from the celling with old bodies in them. Smaller cages with fires in them provided lite to the tent. Skulls hung from them to finish off the look. The boss sat on a large, wooden seat. The chair, decorated with rebar bent to mimic skeletal wings outstretched from him, each tipped with a candle, stood strong and proud. Atop the chair a skull, one with barbed wire running through the eyes to clamp it to the seat. The pony sitting among the throne was a site to behold. While Charcoal represented the charismatic qualities a leader could possess, this buck was the exact opposite. He was a dark greyish color with a black main. He was a unicorn, no, his horn came from a unicorn’s skull he wore as a helmet, his armor having bones weaved into it. His eyes, a frightening shade of orange, stared straight back to me. The majority of his armor was made of fine mettle bits with the bones wrapped and worked into the armor.

“You are the one I’m to meet?” he called to me. His voice was deep yet powerful, each word echoing through my mind. I haven’t been one to feel afraid of others before, but after stepping into the open wastes, this all has changed. I stepped forward, stopping close enough to see him in all his strength.

“Yes, I have a way into Woodworks. They seem to trust me enough for me to find out anything you could need.” I answered, my hope was he bought into it too. He shifted positions, sitting strait up he rested his hooves into a thinking position.

“I’m interested.”

Taking a slight step back I repositioned myself and continued, “I could acquire information; I’ll prove to you they trust me. The ponies of Woodwork are looking for someone to infiltrate you and finaly kill you. I can get in there and find who this is, or learn their guard rotations, providing you attack windows.” The boss looked interested, then amused.

“Really, the town is searching for somepony to take me out and you happen to show up, giving me this information?” he asked. His tone wasn’t one in sarcasm, but one in curiosity. To me, he seemed genuinely interested in what I was doing there.

“Let me prove it. I’ll go to the town and gather information for you. Let me show you my intents.” I asked. He had seemed to ponder that. As I watched him, he finaly gave and looked me in the eyes, making me shift slightly.

“I’ll let you go, but do be warned, I want you back here with whatever you have. I will decide whether to enlist you, or wear you as a trophy pidgin. Now go.” He explained. In my head, I was rather relieved and released a breath I hadn’t known I held. Exiting the tent the mare who lead me here stopped me.

“The boss said to give this to you, it’ll grant you safe passage.” She said before leaving. Looking at it, she handed me an old world bit with a wire drilled through it. The bit was painted in the same colors as these raiders. Placing it around my neck, I began the walk home.

“Wait, wait, wait, and the basturds fell for it, all that crap, just how dumb are they?” Charcoal said. This wasn’t his first time laughing over these raiders rather questionable choices. “So, they’re hiding in the old hiking pass.”

“How would attacking it be?” I asked.

“Most likely suicide.” Golden Star, the sheriff who I’d finally learned the name of, answered. “Even an idiot would place snipers, or at the very least, rifleponies to watch the main climb.”

“Is there another way around?” I asked. Charcoal sat back, one hoof to his chin, thinking. He seemed to have an idea as he smiled and turned to me.

“You’re our ticket in. that scumbag wants to know what we’re planning. If he believed you so far, get him into a primer position to take him down. It’ll end this all and we won’t even need to attack.”

“Why, wouldn’t the others just attack you after he’s dead?” I asked. Golden Star stepped up
“Raiders build their gangs off power. Their hierarchy’s based simply around who’s strongest. Far too often removing the leader will cause the others to kill each other over dominance, they’ll take themselves out.”

Well, it could work. Sure, some would maybe form little groups but nothing like a unified gang. Questions still bugged me about this. I knew I could just bullshit something these townsponies where planning. Those idiots would believe it. There was just one thing, how the hell was I to get alone with Buckshot to kill him! Maybe I could catch him late that night or something. Whelp, like all my recent plans, I’d come up with it on the fly.

“Well, you in on this?” Charcoal spoke up, catching me off guard while in my thinking trance.

“I’ll get that basturd.”

The walk back to these raiders camp left me thinking, what was I going to do? I knew I couldn’t just kill them all, not only did I lack the ammo to do so, but also I still would think they’d take me down with their numbers. I only had about seven shots to my combat shotgun, about thirteen to the hunting rifle and maybe five full clips to the 9mm pistol and my combat knife. From what I saw, they had their own hunting rifles and combat shotguns. They did have, however, a rifle I hadn’t seen. It was shorter than the hunting rifle but with a far larger magazine and a receiver made out of metal with a stalk and for-grip made out of wood. I didn’t like the look of it, and didn’t want it used on me. Reaching the camp the sight still sent shivers down my spine.

“They’re planning a full scale attack tomorrow?” Buckshot replied.

“Yes, from what I saw the sheriff has a spy who’s found your camp. The towns readying its attack now, I’d be unwise to attack now and wait. Line the path up to the camp with as many raiders you can, it’ll be a kill zone.” Looking at that, Buckshot seemed surprised.

“Well, I must say, I’m impressed. I’ll give the order for those to begin arming themselves. Its growing late, stay the night and witness the slaughter of their pathetic attack.” He called aloud.

Nightfall grew and thus the ready ponies expecting a battle slept, only the night watch awake. I was in a tent with five others; they all stank of dirt and death. I get it’s hard to keep clean out here, but the Woodworks ponies didn’t smell this bad. I had to wait an unbearable amount of time before each pony in the tent was asleep. Using my cat-like agility, I was able to sneak by, into the main yard, and to Buckshot’s tent. Looking inside I saw both guards asleep, I’d be too easy, stepping inside I pulled my knife out, ready to kill.

A massive thump rattled the back of my head, next thing I knew I was having two raiders holding me to the floor. Their hooves holding my shoulders and back down, in the proses kicking my knife away. Fear should have been overtaking my body, but I believe I was in shock.

“I want to look at him, lift his head.”

The voice of Buckshot shook me, I finaly grasped the situation and the fear set in. The thought of ending up like the ponies out in the burn pile, or worse, have my skeleton mounted on a pole as a trophy. Am I to become another faceless, nameless corpse in the distant wasteland? The guards atop me tilt my head back, bringing me face to face with the overboss.

“Thought I’d believe you, thought I trusted you? You’re not so bright, now are you?” His voice sending chills down my spine. He was looking directly into my eyes, sweat began running down my face. I felt from his stair alone I’d crack into a sobbing mess. “Bring him out, gather the others, we move for the town.” Before I could react a large sack covered my head, the only thing I could see was the thin lining of the bag.

The sudden blinding light caused me to shrink back as the sack was removed from my head. My legs and arms tied together, I found myself kneeling in front of the whole raider camp; dozens of guns pointed in my direction. I feel the barrel of a gun to the side of my head, as if the dozens of other barrels aimed to me wasn’t reason enough to cooperate. Buckshot walked out of his tent, both his personal guards to his sides, stepping towards me, glancing my direction before turning to face his forces. In response, each raider lowered their guns.

“He’s the griffon who’s planned to stop us, the one working with those townsponies. I intend to end all this, once and for all, starting with him, then the town. After, we move further into the Equestrian wasteland, becoming the gang bigger than that of the Jackals.”

The sound of a pistol’s slide smacking closed made me jump, the feeling of the barrel pressing my feathers against my head. A loud bang echoed through the camp, and out into the wasteland. Was this it, had I died? Almost two days since I left and the second time, I thought I’d died. Opening my eyes the bullet hole in the skill helmet of Buckshot caused him to collapse. Each raider turned to the direction of the shot, seeing the raider sniper had been taken out by one of Woodworks guards. Without warning, other guards ran through the main entrance with Talon Mercs flying overhead. The camp was in chaos. A Talon landed in front of me, the same Talon that was talking to Buckellhorn and Blood Heart. She was a darker tan than most I’d seen, but her bird half was a nice shade of dark red with a comb of longer feathers over her right eye.

“You could use a claw.” She said, cutting the rope from my arms. Throwing me the knife, she turns to cover me. Reaching back, I cut the rope around my legs, and reach to grab a dropped assault rifle. Jumping in I begin taking out raiders. I quickly realized something, this wasn’t murder, but justice. After all the ponies they slaughtered to use just as trophies, the fact their leader wore a unicorn’s skull and bones as armor, they needed to be put down. “Blacktuff, here!” the griffon female from before shouted to me. Looking she tossed two more clips for the assault rifle.

The pain was real, the feeling of meat ripping apart as mussel and skin torn off. I collapsed into the dirt, dropping the assault rifle and clips. Looking to my right shoulder, a bullet hole, turning to the direction it came, Buckshot stood before me; his pistol in mouth. Walking up to me, he simply pointed the gun to me. I could see it, the bullet caught in his head. His skull helmet slowed it enough it saved him. Several shots tore into him, causing him to stager. When he looked back to me, for the first time I saw shock in his eyes, true unmistakable fear. His moment of stager gave me the opportunity to reach and grab the nearest pistol. With it aimed at him, a bullet sent right into his left eye. When he fell, I knew it was for good, but gloating would have to wait, as darkness fall as my eyelids became unbearably heavy.

A similar feeling came upon me as I awoke in Woodworks hospital. On the floor next to me, my bags with my weapons in toe.

“How many times you gonna be back here boy?” Buckellhorn’s voice called out, with him entering the room with me. He pointed to the bandage across my right shoulder. “Yhall took one hell of a hit, but want enough to stop yha.” He explained.
“Basturd got what was coming, he deserved a worse death.” I said, sitting up on the bed.

“Won’t argue with yha, he was a rabid mutt and needed to be put down.” Sitting up I could see the look of understanding in his eyes. Readjusting myself on the bed, I continued.

“How’d you know I was in trouble?”

“Well the mayor wondered if you’d mess up on your ‘sneak mission’ so he sent a guard to watch yha. Guard came back sayin’ you’d been spotted, mayor bout sent the whole guard force after yha.” I figured something like that, just why he didn’t tell me was beyond me. Sure would’ve saved me a heart attack.

"Now, there some ponies awaiting your presence.” He said, in a surprisingly calm voice. Standing up, I reattach my saddlebags and fallow him out the front door; opening it, the town gathered, cheering. Looking around I saw families, parents with children, young and old, and Buckshot wanted to destroy this. If this is what little good brings, a community with a fighting chance, it’s a goal I could work towards, a life worth living. Charcoal stepped forwards, Golden Star to his right. Out of respect, the townsponies quieted.

“Yha did us good, we’re forever thankful to yha. If there’s ever anything yha need, just let us know.” He said, his tone echoing the towns feelings and Golden Star, him and all the townsponies with hats removed them and bowed their head to me. “Now then, let’s celebrate!” he called out, the ponies all throwing their hats to the air with a simultaneous “Yee Haw!”

I wasn’t much for a partier, partly because I never went to them, but this was fun. Townsponies and Talon Mercs gathered in a, so called “shin dig.” I, however, mainly stayed at the bar. A beer bottle hit the counter next to me, the one in question, the female griffon from before.

“That was something, the way you were able to kill Buckshot, that is. I don’t think even I could do something like that under that amount of pressure.” She explained.

“I just, acted. I wasn’t thinking it was just instincts.” I responded, holding my head down.

“Grizza, that’s my name.” her response causing me to look up and at her. “I don’t believe you were ever told. I’m Grizza, Talon Company Mercenaries. We’re linked with a larger group led by Gawd somewhere out west, over the sea. Yha know you would make a pretty good Talon.”

“No, I’m not a mercenary, I couldn’t.” I responded. I had a job to do, and I needed to get back to it.

“I’ll still put in the good word, you ever need somethin done right, and you just call. She explained before sliding out her seat and back into the party after looking to me and tilting her hat. I simply had to admit, I may have been slightly turned on, and she was kinda cute after all.

“Tuff!” a familiar voice called to me. Looking I saw Charcoal and Golden Star waiving me down from a table. Walking to them, I saw an assortment of items, the standout, a large safe. “We finished cleaning out the items of note in their little camp. We figure these are the ones yha’d be most interested in.” looking about the table, I saw a few ammo boxes, meds and food items.

“What about the safe?” I responded, with Golden Star quick to respond.

“Found it under the overboss’s bed, whatever’s in it, it’s yours.” He tossed the key to me. Catching it, I opened the lock and the thick door swung open. Inside an assortment of different chems and ammo for both the shotgun and 9mm, the real prize was in a gun case. Opening it the most beautiful weapon I’d ever seen shined back to me, a pristine, perfectly preserved revolver. The gun had a mark of a robin mid-flight with golden inscriptions reading the name Tweety Bird, the under barrel read the caliber .357 magnum. A spark went off and I opened my saddlebags. The rounds I found back in the hunting cabin, alongside the .308 caliber, I hadn’t recognized. Taking them out the bottom of the rim read out .357 M, my guess, magnum. With great care I removed the revolver, almost ashamed someone like me and these raiders where who this beauty had fallen upon. Swinging the cylinder out I loaded eight rounds and snapped it shut.

“Well, that’s one heck of a gun. Somethin like that’ll keep yha safe.” Charcoal called with Golden Star giving a simple whistle at the sight of Tweety Bird.

“You ever seen a revolver like this?” I asked, quite curious about it.

“I believe Ironshod Firearms produced these for officers’ pre-war, calling them IF-38’s or somethin like that. This may’ve been a custom order by a police chief or somepony like that,” Charcoal, replied, “might be the only one, at least, like that.”
“Yhall want to be careful with it, .357 aint the most subtle of rounds and without anyway to suppress it yhall be heard for miles.” Golden Star replied. Looking down at the beautiful revolver in my hands, I flipped it around. The markings where only placed on the left side, even the caliber markings. Standing off the chair, I hold it out, looking down its iron sights.
“Why not test it out, don’t worry, I’ll have Two Bits set aside some ammo for yha.” Charcoal spoke up. Lifting Tweety Bird back up I aimed its sights at a distant tree stump, pulled the hammer back and set my claw on the trigger. The shot from this gun was powerful to say the least, causing my arms to fly back a bit. The sound echoed through the distant lands, bouncing back off the distant hills. The magnum cartridge would certainly do the job, and I began to wonder, would I be doing the law bringing this gun was meant for? Would I be the one to bring justice to the wasteland, and would this be the gun at my side? Gathering the supplies on the table, I turn to Charcoal.

“Where do I go now, I need to continue my search?” he looks to me, thoughts going through his mind. Turning in his chair, he points off to a distant train station and bridge.

“Yhall best be headin there, those tracks’ll lead yha strait to Radioactive Falls. If there’s anything you’ll need, they’ll be the ones to have it. I’d watch yourself, though. Far, far too many ponies there just itchin to rob yha.”

“Thank you.”

“Aw, kid, don’t mention it. Now best you get going, won’t find that murderer just sitting here.”

Reloading Tweety Bird and stepping off the chair, I walk past the party and out to the station. If I’d wanted, I could have a home here, a life of my own. No, I needed to do this; I HAD to. I’d never forgive myself, or forget it. I hadn’t really taken the time to comprehend that night again; I wouldn’t let myself fall into another pit of despair. If I did, I may not be able to snap out before doing something I’d regret. I needed to stay focused with the task at hand. As I approach the station I noticed something a bit odd, it’s mostly intact. The roof was still standing with the old ticket booth still there. The glass, boarded over and the wood dusty and chipped but other than that it didn’t seem like it belonged here. Why, why out of all things here THIS is what survived best? The wasteland hasn’t stopped surprising me. Looking at it I saw a pony waiting on one of the benches, the shape of a white coated mare; maybe a ghost? Great, was I going to be seeing ghosts out here too? Getting closer to the station, I made it out to be Blood Heart, great.

“I need to talk to you.” She called out to me. Spreading my wings and gliding up to the platform, I turn to face her. She carried a little saddlebag with a canteen around her side and a pistol holster to her left.

“Thought I’d be the last to hear this from you.”

“Buckellhorn’s put me up to it. Look, he thinks it be best if you had a medic looking after you and wanted me of all ponies to do so.” There were so many questions about what and why I froze, with a particular look to match. “Look, I don’t quite like you. Buckellhorn may be an open book and you may have won the mayors heart but I don’t trust you. You come from nowhere and now you’re every pony’s idol. I wanna see you for what you are, for my own eyes.”

“Could that change?”

“Opinions change.” She called back, a stern look to her face. She didn’t like this, but I wasn’t about to argue further about it. She was coming with me; I’d have to put up with it. I also wasn’t going to argue with having a medic with me.

“Now, where we going?” She asked.

“Radioactive Falls”

“WHAT!?”

Notice: Level Up

New Perk: Clever Pony
Instantly gain plus 10% overall experience anytime experience is earned.
New Quest Perk: King of the Bosses Level One: Killing a raider overboss grants an additional 5% damage to any raider of any type. Note: this perk only ranks up after killing another raider overboss.

Author's Note

So this is due for some time. I've finally got this out and hope you enjoy it.