Fallout Equestria: Rebirth

Chapter 3: The Rose

The arid breeze picked up the mini dust clouds brought about by my hoofsteps and carried them through the air behind me in little swirling storms of sand. Blinking the dirt from my eyes I shook my head angrily. It was almost impossible to make head way while the wind was blowing against me.

The desert around me was hot, incredibly so despite the constant cloud cover that blocked out the sunlight but seemed to let through the heat. I started imagining that the earth itself was the source of the heat, a giant oven trying to cook me alive. I found myself begging for a rain storm. Pushing ahead, my eyes, already hot and red, spotted a group of ponies that were heading my way, little black specks advancing along the road.

Well wasn't this a busy little stretch of the hellish wasteland.

Checking my E.F.S I noted that they were of the yellow bar variety of pony, however this didn't mean they couldn't be thieving threatening assholes intent on ruining my day, so I kept my mouth close to my pistol as I neared them. I knew I wasn't good with the gun, the gecko's from earlier had proved that, but there were at least five of them, surely even I could hit one of them before I went down.

Some good it will do you, I chided myself.

I could see the same guarded look on their face that I knew was on mine, as our paths intercepted. I couldn't help but notice their eyes kept glancing around searching the rocks and hills behind me, trying to detect a possible ambush I guessed.

"Coming from Stable 40?" A mare, almost my age if only a couple of years my elder by the looks of her, asked me as her caravan of five shifted uneasily.

She was a strong looking pony, pretty in a sort of rugged way. Her could was a deep blue, almost the same shade as the pony I was hunting. Her mane however was very different from Rain's short cut steel gray hair, it was stark white and contrasted oddly with the black cowpony hat that rested on top of her head.

"No, a little ways off." I said remembering the warning from the strange flying robot. "You heading that way?"

"Yep, heard that the raiders who called that place home were killed." The mare said with a nod. "Heading that way to see if there's anything left to loot."

Looking at the group I noticed that all of their eyes had the same look. They were scared but hopeful. A small one, still a colt, looked up at me with large goggled eyes. I noticed with a slight smirk that the goggles were too big for him and he kept having to readjust them to keep them on his face.

"Yeah, we may even find enough to buy grandpa a new cane." He blurted out, his eyes holding more hope than fear. This little one hadn't had his spirit broken yet.

Wincing I nodded stiffly and started heading down the road again. My oh so helpful brain reminded me the trap that I had set with Charlie's help for Whix. With him knocked out the trap wouldn't spring, it reminded me, it was still waiting, and if this group of ponies got their first. I shivered.

Just keep walking, it isn't your problem Dawn, I told myself, they're graverobbers just like that snake.

Oh yeah? The little one to? I shot back making me sigh.

"Son of a-" I grumbled, turning to the caravan that had carefully resumed their traveling. "Wait!"

The group stopped, one even drew his gun, spooked. He'd obviously seen more than his fair share of lunatics. The older mare from earlier took point. From where I stood I could see the tactic. She would speak with whoever the potential hostile happened to be, assessing the situation closely while giving her group time to arm themselves.

"Yeah? Had something you needed to say?" She asked, I realized she was trying to give me a chance to give her group a reason to relax before they started shooting.

This caravan had been through some serious shit.

"Yeah," I said trying to think of a way to dissuade them from going to the stable but finding nothing but the truth would be sufficient. "You might not want to go there."

"Oh yeah?" She asked, and I could see the incredulous look in her eyes. "And why's that?"

"Well, I passed by there," I said deciding to cover up a few details, "there were already two ponies there looking to loot but they seemed to be having some major issues with the security."

I could sense the hope leak out of the group like a balloon that had a pinprick of a hole somewhere in it, too small to see. I looked to the little one whose gaze fell earthward.

"Well, we have a lot more than just two." The mare said trying to keep the group's spirits high. "We can handle a little security."

An image flashed across my mind of the colt laying dead, his body filled with a particularly large security robot's bullets, a security robot that I had set up. I grimaced and shook my head.

"I wouldn't if I were you." I said, I really wanted to help these ponies but if they weren't going to listen then they weren't my problem.

Okay deathpony.

"But you're not," The mare said shortly, then her voice lowered significantly, "Look, I appreciate the warning but we've had a hell of a time lately and I'm not letting my family lose any more hope than they already have."

What?! I wasn't a death---damn it, alright.

The group had continued forward as I argued with myself. By the time I looked up they had moved some fifteen feet down the heat cracked road. Galloping to catch up with them I watched as the group immediately turned towards me, hearing my hoofbeats, several of the adults pulled their guns.

"Wait, I...uh..." I stammered glancing down at the colt who looked up at me and smiled. "You said you had an elderly one to tend to?"

"That's right missus." The colt said with a determined nod before the lead mare could answer for him. "Grandpa's been sick for a while but I know that if we bring him a new cane he'll get right back up and come out with us when we leave Primrose!"

The looks from the other's made me doubt any chance that this was going to happen. The lead mare turned back to me and noticed the look on my face.

"Yeah, Ace here thought it be a good idea to get gramps a new walking stick." She said putting her hoof on his head. "Gramps been laying down awhile."

The way she said, 'laying down' told me that there wasn't a cane in all of this desert that could get Gramps up and at 'em. Looking down at the colt I felt a pang of sorrow latch onto my heart. That little colt was walking headlong into some major disappointment and didn't even know it.

"Well...." I paused steeling myself, if there was any doubt before, it died when I saw the hope in that colts eyes, "Maybe when you reach the Stable, if the security is still up, you should tell them that your friends of Dawn and that you need a little help. A number 221 should help."

"....uh huh and that's supposed to do what exactly." The mare said suspiciously.

"Don't know," I said looking at the colt, "Never been to Stable 40 myself remember?"

Turning away from the group I checked my pip-buck through the sand storm that had persisted through our conversation and began heading towards Primrose again.

"Lady!" A small voice said from behind, a second later.

Turning I saw the small pearl white colt rushing towards me something between his teeth. As he neared I noticed that he was no longer wearing the too large for his face goggles, and that one of his eyes was blackened and swollen. Stopping near my hooves I glanced up and noticed that every one of the caravan had their guns raised, barrels targeted in on my head and chest above the colt, ready to shoot. I made sure to move slowly as the colt smiled up at me.

"My dad always told me to repay kindness in kind," He said, slightly out of breath, "and your eyes look awful red."

Holding up the goggles in his hooves he pushed them at me.

"Here take 'em missus."

Looking down at the gift I glanced up at his family and found myself smiling. They'd kill me dead if I so much as laid one hoof on this colt's head. Graverobbers they may be but they were still good ponies.

So what's the difference between these ponies and Whix? I asked myself.

Whix pissed me off and threatened my life for no good reason, I thought back.

That shut the little voice in my head up.

Good, I had to win sometimes. I tried not to think about the fact that I had lost to myself in the first place. The arguing thoughts made my head hurt.

Slowly taking the goggles from the child I placed them on my head and pulled them down around my eyes.

"How do I look?" I asked the colt glancing down to see the smile grow even wider almost breaking his young face in half.

"Like a desert princess!" He said with a laugh before running back to his family.

I noticed that as soon as he had turned the group put their guns away in a hurry. They were still trying to save the colt's innocence. My heart broke for him all over again.

"The world is cruel D." The elder had told me, "This isn't the Equestria of the past, here ponies die and fight and shed their blood over a scrap of food. The wasteland is just a giant graveyard for innocence."

A shiver ran down my spine, like my mane had been dunked in ice water, as I watched the group go, my new goggles shielding my eyes from the sand. After a few minutes of thinking and watching them shrink in the distance, I looked down and noticed a small light blinking on my Pip-Buck. I had picked up a radio station.

Shrugging I hit the button labeled 'LasPegasus Radio' and flinched as my Pip-Buck let out a blast of static before a voice came through. It was soft and sweet, a voice that could break your heart if you weren't careful.

"Could we begin to mend,

The pain that tore us apart,

The cheating and the lies,

That broke all our wounded hearts"

The song was sweet and sad and slow, I found myself unable to move until it was over. The guitar that accompanied the singer slid it's tone up at the end as if asking a question, then the song was through. The question was timeless and any filly or colt would know it, but it eluded me, as did the answer. Blinking as if waking from a dream at the end of the song, I looked up and saw the road stretching on to Primrose.

I'd better get moving.

No more distractions.

After a few moments of nothing but silence and wind, another voice came from my Pip-Buck.

"Hello chiiiiildren!" The deep voice of a stallion boomed, "This your DJ, DJ Arthright and that was Velvet Remedies newest song from the NCR Wasteland, 'Mending Hearts'! How's everyone doing?" He asked rhetorically. "Looks like we have some, dun-dun-dun!!!! Bit of news! While the relationship between the New Canterlot Republic's budding army and the mysterious ruler of the LasPegasus Strip has always been strained, it seems as though a new chapter is beginning. After months of long and incredibly boring politics, none of which would entertain any of you wonderful ponies, the NCR's commander has finally sealed the deal with the enigmatic owner of the strip and has set up shop near the south gate. As you all know, the NCR's LasPegasus branch was, up until this point, ran out of Fort McCarot but now it seems they have a more heavily fortified position behind the Strip's walls. Meanwhile Caesar's Legion continues to grow across the Cloudsdale River. Is it just me, or does somepony smell a battle brewing? Well, that's just this DJ's opinion so take it for what it's worth. Also, I got a wonderful bit of news for all of you faithful listener's out there, we here in the LasPegasus wasteland have recieved correspondence from the one true DJ Pon3 from the NCR wasteland so listen up. DJ Pon3 says that we could be expecting a cloudbreak here any day. That's right! The Capital's very own Lightbringer has decided that it's time to open up a little more sky. Well this DJ says, get to it Lightbringer, maybe it'll let some of this heat escape. Anyway's, I've done enough jabbering for now, here's a LasPegasus Slim's original, "You Don't Need What I Don't Got."

Staring at my pip-buck for a long time I tried to process the news quickly but all of the names just swam in my head. The only one that stuck was the 'Lightbringer', Rain had used that name. With a sigh I shook my head and picked up the pace, couldn't get distracted.

Looking ahead I could see the road begin to slope downward, cutting it's way through crags of rocks on either side that jutted up into something that was between a large hill and a mountain in size. A long black metal snake sat coiled in the town below dwarfing most of the buildings at it's base. Looking up at the sign hanging half broken over the road I walked, I grinned, 'Primrose Fun Farm' it read through a splatter of bullet holes.

I found myself rushing down the hill. The quicker I reached Primrose, the quicker I could find out where Rain and Berry had headed. Midway down the hill I noticed a red blip had appeared on my EFS to my right and almost stopped but I wanted some answers damn it!

I was tired of getting distracted and slowing down. First with the snake merchant, then with the caravan, then with the colt from the caravan, one thing right after another.

I growled to myself and tossed my mane back speeding up as I ran downhill.

I felt the road level out beneath my hooves and turned to look behind me just in time to see a Gecko lose interest and return to the crags some ways off the broken road.

HA! I wasn't going to deal with that headache.

Reaching the town, the first thing I noticed was that it was strangely quiet, the second thing I noticed was the giant billboard hanging on the side of a large, mostly intact building. The billboard showed the top half of a pink pony's head, her white and red mane looking like a candy cane, her enormous blue eyes playing peekaboo at the bottom of the sign. Large orange words at the top of the billboard read, "Welcome to PinkyPie's Fun Farm!" at the bottom in smaller letters read, "Fun For The Whole Family!" and below that, once again in the same large letters up top, "Everything the Grand Galloping Gala should've been, Every day! Forever!". For some reason the sign unnerved me and I quickly turned back to look at the road which forked in two some feet in front of me.

The left hand road went down under a bridge, and back up into the desert on the other side of the town, effectively cutting it in half. On either side of the right road side sat a bundle of blown out brick houses. I didn't see but one pony and as soon as he noticed me his eyes grew large and he immediately disappeared into a nearby dwelling and slammed the door shut.

Shaking my head at the odd behavior I took the right path and stepped into town, keeping my mouth near my pistol just in case. A whistle blew through the eaves of the house and I felt a little tingle in the back of my throat.

With the buildings shielding me from most of the sand I pushed the goggles up onto my forehead just under my horn and looked around. I could see several ponies inside the nearby buildings but they refused to maintain eye contact and merely shot worried glances out from half cracked windows. The entire town felt tense, every brick seemed to vibrate with terrified energy and the windows glared down at me with the same look the ponies inside had. This town was in a major amount of trouble.

Thankfully we'll be on our way as soon as we find out where Rain has gone right?

Dawn? Right?!

"What is wrong with these ponies." I muttered walking further into town, purposefully ignoring myself.

The road turned left and, looking ahead, I saw the bridge the left fork had snaked under before leading out towards the desert. The bridge itself however just lead to the giant metal snake. I noticed that my assessment hadn't been too far from off, it really did look like a snake, the rusted metal tracks looking like the rib-cage of some giant serpent. A large building standing some ways away from the metal carcass, blocked my view of the lower half of it but from where I stood I could make out another smaller building behind it at the snake's base.

"Hello?!" I called after a long moment of silence. "Ummm....I could really use some directions!"

It sounded lame even to my own ears but technically that was what I was doing and even so, I couldn't think of any other reason to bother these ponies that obviously didn't want to be bothered.

"SHhhhhh are ya nuts! Come here! Quick!" An aged voice called from a nearby building.

The building was an old post office, the sign above the door depicting a smiling mailpony holding a letter. The front windows of the office had been boarded up with mismatched boards pulled from Goddesses knew where. Glancing back I noticed that this wasn't the only building that had done this, almost every building I had passed had this shuttered up look.

Turning back to the door of the post office, I saw a flash of a pony's face for just a moment, before the darkness swallowed it. Pushing the door open with a hoof I yelped as two maroon hooves grabbed me and pulled me inside. Instinct took over and I pushed back hard, pushing the assailant into the wall behind the door, pressing my hoof to her throat.

Looking at the, now thoroughly shocked mare, I noticed that she could have easily been my grandmother and quickly jumped away muttering an apology.

"Goddesses! Try and do a favor for a pony and she damn near takes my head off." The maroon mare with a dark green mane streaked with white huffed, rubbing her neck. "Better thank your lucky stars I stopped ya before ya went and done a foolish thing like crossin' that there bridge."

"Sorry ma'am," I apologized again, I was one jumpy pony wasn't I?

"Yeah, yeah," The mare said stepping away from the wall and walking further into the building. "Come on in and sit a spell so's long as ya don't get violent on me again."

Burning with embarrassment I took her offer and followed her into the humble lodgings. An old torn couch and coffee table sat in the middle of the living room, on one side sat a small kitchen and straight ahead two doors stood beside a rather large cabinet which leaned at angle due to a missing leg. Glancing through the busted glass windows on the front of it I saw a suit hanging with a cowponies hat sitting atop it. It reminded me of the leader of the caravan's hat.

"And don't get ta being too loud if ya please. We got some ponies trying ta sleep." She said quietly, a dark look passing over her face, "Damn occupation."

"Occupation?" I wondered trying to keep my voice down as the elder mare went over to the kitchen and pulled a bottle of slightly grey water from a pantry.

"Sure as the sky's grey." She said with a nod tossing the bottle across the room at me before grabbing her own.

"Thank you," I said looking at the water with thinly veiled disgust before opening it and drinking. Sitting on the couch I smacked my lips at the strange taste of the water, it was slightly grainy.

My Pip-Buck softly clicked for a moment, a sound that I hadn't heard it make yet. Looking at the computer in confusion I barely noticed that the granny had stepped up to look over my shoulder.

"Haven't seen one of them thar Pip-Bucks in a long time." She said looking at the computer with one eye as she drank. "Don't worry, you'd have ta drink quite a bit of this here water afore ya grew another head."

"Huh?" I grunted looking up at her in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, them thar pip-bucks have a built in Geiger counter don't they?" She explained tapping a gauge at the top right of the computer.

Examining the gauge I noticed that it had a needle slowly bouncing back and forth in a green zone. Holding it up to my ear I noticed that it was making the clicking sound. Putting down the dirt water I nodded when the clicking ceased.

"So it tell's me things are radioactive?" I asked dumbly.

"Rightchoo are." The mare said with a nod. "Good thing too, the wastes are fulla radioactive goo. How long ya had that thing fer anyway?"

"Two days I think." I said, knowing for a fact that I had it longer but since I couldn't remember, and didn't want to try to explain, I erred on the side of simplicity.

"Uh huh," The mare grunted, "Well hope the pony ya took it offa was at least dead by someone else's hoof before ya went and stole it."

The mare walked to the otherside of the dusty couch and sat down, a hole in the back of it near my head pushed out stuffing filled air into my face, making me sneeze. Shaking my head to realign my mane I looked up at the ceiling a long moment, trying to formulate a question in my mind.

"You're wondering why all of these ponies act like they're being hunted aintcha?" The mare guessed.

I nodded, surprised that it had been that obvious.

"Well, they kinda are." The mare said, "You see, Primrose was one of the best little trading posts south of the Strip, we had enough caps ta eat and trade with the caravan's that passed through here from all over. Well, folks started seeing what Primrose had and started wanting that for themselves, only they weren't the type fer askin'."

"What happened?" I asked after the mare paused, her aged eyes seeing something I couldn't.

She blinked and continued.

"A group of escaped convicts, originally from the NCR, showed up in town one day and took a large number of Primrose as hostages. They called themselves the Blasting Crew and said that if we could make enough caps that they'd let our families go but..."

"No one wants to trade with a town when that town's being held hostage by some thugs." I guessed, nodding.

She nodded gravely and spat into a spittoon by her hooves.

"The only caravan still running through here is my kin." The elder said tiredly, "They think that they're going to be able to come up with enough caps to save us all."

"And you don't think they can?" I asked, something in her voice unsure.

"Well, it ain't that I don't believe in 'em. It's just," she paused a moment trying to find the right words, "I don't believe that the Blasting Crew's going to let anyone go."

We sat in silence for a long moment, the building creaking in the wind.

"My grandson tried to fight one of them convicts but he's justa colt." She said with a sigh. "They beat him something awful."

My mind thought back to the colt I'd met earlier, surrounded by his family that loved him.

"Was he a white earth pony?" I asked, "Black eye?"

"That'd be him, Ace." She replied looking up at me slightly shocked. "You seen 'im."

I tapped the goggles on my head and was surprised when a flash of anger jump across the old one's face.

"He gave me these as a gift for helping them get into Stable 40." I explained quickly before the grandma had anymore wrong ideas.

She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled shaking her head.

"That lil'un is the best thing to happen to these wastes." She said, love clear in her voice. "It'll break his heart when he gets back."

"His grandpa is already..." My voice trailed off already knowing the answer.

"That's all he talked about init?" The mare said glancing at one of the doors behind us, a sad smile on her face.

I nodded stoically and sighed. I understood this family's love for the little one, there was something about him, he was going to make a lot of lives a lot better one day.

"Alright damn it!" I snapped at the mare causing her to look up at me, old yet ready to defend herself. "What can I do to help?"

Damn it Dawn!

The look on the older mare's face was all I needed in payment.

A few hours later, as the light on the other side of the cloud cover was beginning to fade I stepped out of the mare's home, who I had learned was named Razzberry Dancer. The leather barding she had given me was for a stallion, it had been Grandpa Dancer's when he was younger, and was therefore slightly big on me but I figured it was better than nothing. The hat didn't look bad on my head either, but I left it in the cabinet. I imagined that Ace would want it.

We had decided that if I could free the hostages that we could take the fight to the convicts. This was if Razzberry was able to convince her neighbors to do an idiotic sort of thing like fighting unarmed. She had said that she had faith in her town and I had kept my mouth shut, choosing not to say that if her town really cared I wouldn't have to do what I was about to do.

The hostages were held in the casino which sat directly across from the bridge. The building on the other side of that, nearest the old broken roller coaster, was called Buffalo Bill's. That was where the main force of the convicts had made their home. Razzberry had told me that the bridge had been mined but taught me how to disarm them quickly so that I could not get blown to smithereens and also reuse them.

Now that I stood on this side of the bridge, looking at the explosive orange discs, I felt significantly less confident.

Oh well, if I'm not good enough, I won't have to worry with being mediocre for long. I thought stepping up to the first mine.

Immediately it began beeping and I began my work.

Beep! Beep! BeepBeep! BeepBeepBeep!!

With a click I disarmed the thing and let out a sigh of relief. Something about that felt familiar. I couldn't put my hoof on it, but I knew that I'd done it before.

Only, one, two, three, four, five, six, to go.

Taking my time between each one, I waited until my hooves stopped shaking before trying the next. Finally I had reset them all and had them sitting in my saddlebags safely. These would definietely come in handy.

Ahead I saw a large open parking lot with a small shed to the rear of the building. Between the shed and the casino I could see two yellow rusted dumpsters. Perfect hiding places if the need arose.

Checking both my EFS and line of sight for hostiles I saw two ponies patrolling the left side of the building and one to the right. I weighed my options.

On one hoof, if I went around the left side I could use the shacks for cover, however there were more ponies patrolling that area. On the other, if I went around the right side there was only one convict patrolling with no cover. Chewing my tongue a moment, I tossed different scenarios around in my head. Finally I decided to use the shacks for cover and try and get through without raising an alarm.

That was what a smart pony would do right? I thought trying to channel my inner smart pony.

Goodluck dumbass, you're going to die.

Slinking along the fence that partitioned off that half of town, I waited until the convicts were facing away and ran to the shacks. Catching my breath I squeezed in between the shack and the fence and slowly moved forward. Once I had reached the edge of the second shack I peeked out from around the corner, my nerves on fire. I could see another dumpster, it's lid open, sitting along the nearest wall.

Excellent!I was going to use my dumpster diving idea.

Really, you're excited about this?

"...Yeah, boss can be a dick but at least he got us these sweet digs." One convict was saying to the other as they walked.

"I guess, but does he have to hit so damn hard?" The other complained stepping out of view, fully in front of the shacks I was hiding behind.

Tracking them only by E.F.S only now, I waited until they were the farthest away that they could be and made a dash for the dumpster ahead. It was empty so I slipped inside and hunkered down, watching the red bars move back towards me.

"I dunno, but this town is worth it." The first one was saying, "They're going to be bringing in a fuck ton of caps."

"That's the plan anyway." The second said unconvinced.

From where I lay at the bottom of the yellow trash receptacle I waited for the two to walk up to the front of the building, then waited for them to head back my direction. Once they passed where I lay hidden, I slipped out of the dumpster and slid down the wall towards the front of the casino. Glancing back I saw that the convicts still had their backs to me, now in a deep discussion over the value of a town in ruin. Around the corner I saw the pony on patrol on the otherside of the building head my way a moment before turning and heading back the way he had come.

Looking back at the two ponies behind me I gritted my teeth in impatience at the lone convict.

Hurry hurry hurry!!!!! I screamed at him mentally.

Finally he disappeared around the corner and I was able to step around to the front of the building. Good thing I did too, the other two were on their way back. Stepping up to the door I cracked it open and peeked inside, from what little I could see, slot machines were everywhere. I held my breath and prayed for a miracle before stepping inside.

Immediately ducking behind a row of slot machines that sat in the lobby to the casino I checked my EFS for hostiles. Three stood at various points around the room, walking a worn pattern in the once red carpet that sat at my hooves. It had aged terribly and was now the cooler of dried blood. I shivered. I also saw 6 yellow blips across the room and decided to distract myself with the important things. Looking out from around the slot machines I could see a cage labeled 'Bank' in large black letters that had once lit up.

Okay, okay, let's see. I tried to come up with a plan.

I needed the three ponies on the inside of this place to not be.

Brilliant Dawn, simply brilliant.

I moved to the other side of the row of slot machines to stay hidden as a guard stepped into view. I wracked my brain hard for a long moment. Looking back towards the door I saw the red blip of the pony outside as he made his way around in front of the building. Suddenly I had an idea. It was a gruesome one but I couldn't think of any other way to get the guards out at the moment, so I grabbed a mine from my saddlebag and sighed.

Things were about to get really loud and really messy.

Arming the thing I rolled it outside to where the red blip was just now turning to continue his route back around the building. I heard it start beeping as his proximity triggered it. Slipping back around the other side of the slot machines, I closed my eyes tight waiting for the boom.

"What the--?" I heard the muffled voice from the pony outside as his day abruptly got a whole lot worse.

BOOM!!!

The shockwave blew the doors open with enough force that they bounced back shut...twice. In the brief moments the doors were open I could see a red smeer on the ground, where the patrolling pony had once been.

I frowned at the gore, I needed to get out of this wasteland and take a vacation.

You've only been out for what? Two days now?

"The FUCK!?" I heard one of the ponies nearest me yell, snapping my attention to him.

"Sounded like an explosion." I heard another one call from across the room.

"No shit it did!" A third said, "Let's check it out, I swear if these townies grew some balls, I'll show them what it's like when you mess with a Blaster."

The sound of hoofbeats echoed through the room as the three Blaster's rushed outside to see what was going on. I knew that I didn't have enough time and so, I jumped up from where I had hid and rushed across the casino towards the bank. I didn't notice the stairs that lead down to the casino floor, effectively separating the casino into upper and lower levels, and promptly fell on my face. It was only two steps but it still hurt like hell.

Son of bitch!

Jumping up I shook off the fall, sniffed the blood back up into my nose, and made it to the area labeled bank. On the other side of the bars I saw the most pitiful looking ponies I had seen yet. They were thin, way too thin, I could tell that they had been starved. One jumped at the bars seeing me.

"Are you here to rescue us?!" The yellow stallion asked, his voice a little high in his throat.

"That's me!" I said with a nod, "Now, how the fuck do I get you out?"

The other five ponies clambered to their feet and looked at me worriedly.

"There's a door that way," The stallion said pointing behind a counter to my left, "but it's locked."

FUCK!

Looking at the door behind the counter I walked around, and tried the knob anyway.

"I said it was locked!" The stallion chided.

"Hey, who's the pony needing saving?" I snapped at him, bucking the door to no avail.

"Fine fine!" He hissed, "But you better hide, they're coming back."

Across the casino I saw the door slam open as one of the Blaster's came back inside. How the hell did the yellow one know? Hunkering down behind the counter, I listened intently.

"Fucking Lime Round!" I heard him sniff, "I swear if I find the motherfucking pony responsible I'll shove a stick of dynamite up their ass and make them wish they had never come to this shitty fucking town."

Peeking out from behind the counter I saw him walk over to the bank.

"Guess what meatbags!" He said, "One of you are coming with me."

The way he'd growled it made me wince.

Just then my brain connected the dots, he was going to go get one of them, which meant that he had to open the door that was barely a hoofstep away from me. Looking around frantically I saw, that unfortunately, there was nowhere to hide. The pistol suddenly weighed on me. Maybe I didn't have to shoot him, maybe I could knock him out like I did with Whix.

What's the problem Dawn? You just blew a pony to smithereens outside.

It was different though, I had never killed a pony before directly. The mine had been out of my hooves and the door's were shut when it went off. I didn't have to do anything but wait.

"That's right motherfuckers, you're town just killed one of ours so we're repaying in kind." He snickered venomously, "However, unlike you cowards that kill without showing yourself, we're going to execute one of you useless fuckwits so the whole town will know not to fuck with us."

I heard his hoofsteps as he walked around the counter. I could only imagine his surprise when he saw me pop out of nowhere and press a pistol to the underside of his throat. Everything stopped in that moment. Could I really just blow this pony away?

Damn it Dawn! Yes! Yes you can! Pull the fucking trigger!

I could punch him in the throat, drop him easily. I don't have to do this.

He see's you, he's already moving for his gun, its too late. Pull! That! Trigger!

I watched as his brain splattered the backs of several slot machines a moment before his legs gave way and he crumpled to the floor. Dropping the pistol I shook. With a gag I looked away from the grey matter that was now slowly dripping it's way down to the floor.

I tried to shake the image out of my head but it was still there when I closed my eyes.

You got a job to do, I told myself.

Looking down at the dead stallion I tried to avert my eyes from his head and found a keyring on his black and blue barding in the process. I snatched it up and turned back to the door.

Unlocking it I poked my head in and forced a smile at the ponies cowering inside.

"See, no problem." I said still feeling queasy. "Careful when you step out though, there seems to be a bit of a mess."

Great joke Dawn. Really, spectacular.

"Yeah, wonder where that came from?" The yellow stallion asked dryly before turning to the others. "Come on guys, let's beat it."

"Are you kidding me Rimshot?!" A brown mare asked from where she sat, curled up in the corner. "You heard them, they already want to kill us. You want to make it worse? We don't even have weapons."

"Yeah," another spoke up, "We ain't leaving if we don't even have a way to defend ourselves."

The one named Rimshot looked back at me pleadingly. With a sigh I wiped my hoof down my face and grimaced.

"If I bring you scaredy ponies something to shoot with will you get the hell out of here?" I asked feeling more like a babysitter than a savior all of a sudden.

The half hearted nods from the prisoner's made me sigh again, this wasn't going to be anywhere in the realm of the word easy. I handed Rimshot Whix's pistol. I didn't want to touch that thing ever again. Hoping for a small miracle, I asked:

"Do you know how to shoot?"

It felt kind of strange asking him like that, hell I barely could myself.

"I reckon I could learn real quick." He said tossing the pistol in the air to catch it in his teeth.

Something told me that he had practiced this before.

"Here's hoping." I muttered, then, pointing at the door, "If any pony comes through that door, shoot them."

His gazed wavered a moment but I decided to ignore it. Turning to the Blaster I had killed I looked down at his side and grabbed his the pistol that would have killed me.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that.

Looting him for bullets I tossed what I had found towards Rimshot and nodded.

"There, just need four more weapons." I said before turning to walk across the casino.

As I reached the door, I pulled up short hearing voices from the other side.

"What the hell is taking Buckshot so long?" I heard a pony say,

"Someone better go check on the poor bastard." Another said, "He was pretty upset about Lime Rounds, no telling what he's doing to the hostages now. Hey, Black Powder! Get your ass in there and get Buckshot, and try and make sure that he leaves at least a few of the prisoner's alive."

I felt slightly better about my decision.

Just then the door cracked open and I could see the head of a unicorn male peer inside from where I stood beside the door.

"HEY BUCKSHOT!" He yelled, "Where are y-"

The question died with a squeek on his lips, as he turned his head just enough to see me, and my 9mm pistol pointing point blank at his temple. I weighed my options, I could shoot him and add another pony to my kill count, all the while alerting the other's outside the door, or I could be smart. I wasn't surprised that my brain sided with smart over easy this time.

"Shteph inside now and I won't blow your brainsh all over these pretty slot machhhineshh okay?" I said from around the pistol, my words coming out slurred and way less threatening than I had wanted. In the stallion's eyes, his pupils constricted with fear, I could see that they had done their job regardless.

The dark grey unicorn did as commanded and stepped forward, I shut the door for him.

Look who's a smart pony, I thought sarcastically.

"They'll come looking for me." He said, his voice tight.

"Uh huh." I nodded and pushed him forward towards the bank.

Rimshot came out to meet me half way.

"We're keeping this one?" He asked, pulling out his new pistol and putting it up to the unicorns head.

"Yep!" I said happy to spit the pistol out of my mouth, "Bargaining chip. Besides, why waste the bullet."

Might need it for another pony right?

The one named Black Powder laughed harshly.

"You picked the wrong pony to use then, bitch." He said with a laugh, "I'm the most useless Blaster there is."

I punched him hard over the back of the head before I realized I had even raised my hoof, and watched him drop in a heap. I really didn't like being called a bitch for some reason.

Looking up at Rimshot I couldn't help but giggle at the shocked look on his face.

"Strip him, take his weapons and I'll be back when I've got three more." I ordered, turning to walk back towards the door.

"Thanks." I heard Rimshot mutter and I honestly couldn't tell if it was sarcastic or sincere.

Reaching the front door again, I pressed my ear to it and listened.

"Boss says that if we don't get this shit handled that he's going to come down here and handle it." One was saying causing the other one to groan. "He's calling everyone back to The Buffalo."

"Well let's grab the two dumbasses and go."

Reaching into my saddle bags I grabbed a mine, armed it and threw it in front of the door before leaping behind the nearest rack of slot machines. I was slightly sick at how comfortable I was with setting down an explosive and hiding.

As long as it's out of your hooves, right Dawn?

The door swung open barely missing the mine.

"Come on Buckshot! Black Powder!" An earth pony called as he stepped into the dark lobby a cohort at his side. "If you two are fucking again I swear..."

Three quick beeps later and the door's blew off their hinges, having finally taken enough abuse. A splatter of meat stuck to the wall in front of me, reminding me of the stable I had woke up in.

How in the hell was this better for me again?

The slot machines bowed forward from the blast, pressing painfully into my back. I stood and looked to the front door. I really wish I hadn't. Two very splattered ponies lay dead, several pieces of them both on the inside and outside of the now blown open doors.

I turned away from them, doubting there were any guns left of value on these two anyway. Poking my head out of the door I looked around carefully. There were no more ponies to patrol around the casino now. A second later the sound of a shot made me jump back as the door jam beside me splintered and blew out showering me with splinters.

My heart racing, I breathed hard trying to steady myself. That could have been my brain.

I thought back to the stallion I had shot and grimaced at how it would have been perfect irony if the sniper pony hadn't missed. I shook my head and thought about the roller coaster sitting some twenty yards away, a perfect post for a pony with a long ranged rifle.

Okay, so you have some vague idea as to where he is, now what?

Well, when all else fails....

Waitaminute! No Dawn! Stop!

I bolted from the door immediately under fire from the unseen sniper pony. Sliding up to the front doors of Buffalo Bill's I looked up towards the roller coaster skeleton and sighed with relief as I found the front wall of the little hotel was just enough cover. Stepping around the side of the small building, I inched towards the corner and waited. I could hear a pony running down the tracks.

That's right dumbfuck, get close, I thought.

That dumbfuck nearly shot your fucking head off.

I rolled my eyes and pulled my 9mm, waiting. It couldn't be avoided, I was going to have to kill this one or die. Watching my EFS as the red mark moved back in forth in time with the sound of the footsteps on the other side of the building. I heard a light impact and a grunt and then the red blip was on it's way again. Readying my pistol, I waited, hoping that the pony would be stupid enough to press his stupid muzzle right into the barrel of my gun. I didn't trust myself with it enough at any other range.

He wasn't that stopped however, he knew that he had a long ranged weapon and wasn't going to be caught too close to an enemy.

I watched as the sniper pony stepped out from the side of the building several yards away, his rifle floating in a telekinetic sheath by his head. I felt my blood grow cold as a smile appeared in his eyes.

DUCK!

Diving to the dirt I felt a sting on my rump as his first bullet pierced my flank. Hitting S.A.T.S I felt time slow to a crawl and lined up my shots. One to his chest, one to his head, and...one to his nearest leg, why not? In that moment I slightly hoped to just hit his leg but other ponies were depending on me so I had to give it my all.

The three shot's rang out as time reasserted itself. The first hit home but I could tell that his armor had absorbed most of it. The second was a complete miss all together, I sent up a thanks in prayer. The third, however, did exactly what I had hoped for and took a hoof from underneath him. He hit the ground screaming. Good, now if I could get over to him!

Limping as quickly as I could, I reached the pony and stepped on his rifle breaking it free from his telekinetic grasp. I sheathed my pistol and raised up on my hind legs, my flank flaring with pain from the bullet hole, ready to come down with both hooves, hoping to knock this one out. I noticed something though, something rather concerning. He still had a smile on his face despite his condition, and his horn was still glowing. Looking around I noticed a small metal apple drop to the dirt at my side, his telekinetic grip holding a stem. Shit! Grenade!

"....sweetheart, you have to learn to protect yourself." A kind mare's voice suddenly came to mind. "And that doesn't always mean that you have to beat someone into a bloody pulp. They're family, you know."

"But mom," I had whinned, "how am I supposed to do that?"

The light blue shield that had suddenly engulfed me made me feel loved. It was as if her love strengthened it to an almost unbreakable degree, no one could hurt me here. It was nice.

I awoke sometime later, tasting blood in my mouth. The first thing I noticed was that I couldn't move my legs as they were tied together, definitely not a good sign. The second thing I noticed was the strip of cloth shoved in my mouth.

From where I lay, I could see that I was now in a kitchen of some kind, on a counter, my legs tied together with coarse rope that had already rubbed blisters into my legs. Blinking, I let out a groan as my entire body screamed. My legs and hooves had been pincushioned with shrapnel.

Son of a bitch, grenade's hurt.

No shit!

Just then the door to my right opened, and a hulking brute of a pony walked in flanked by two others. He was the color of sand and had at least twenty knives and three guns strapped to his leather barding. Over the barding he wore the same black and blue vest I had seen previously. It must be their uniform, I thought rolling my eyes.

"So, this is the little pissant that's been causing all of the problems?" He said stepping over to look me in the eye. "Took a grenade to the chin and ain't dead. Neat little trick bitch, but you sure don't look like much."

"Leth mph gfph aph imph showfh." I tried to shoot back but the gag prevented it, so I just glared instead.

"What's that bitch?" He growled, I guess he was smart enough to realize that I had nothing good to say, reaching for the gag, "Say it again I dare you."

I really, really hated being called bitch.

Snapping at the brute with my teeth, I couldn't help but feel a streak of satisfaction when I latched onto his hoof and clamped down hard. I felt something crack.

"AGH!!" He roared, smashing his free hoof into my chest.

The pain from the fire that still made it's home in my heart, along with the after effects of the grenade, made me see stars for a moment, my vision growing dim around the edges.

"Cunt!" The big one said hitting me again.

My vision swam with the pain, tears flowing freely. It was embarrassing but this hurt almost as much as burning alive during the resurrection procedure had.

"Hang her up and bring her outside, we have a show to put on." The Blasting Crew's leader growled to his lackey's.

"Yes sir! Boulder sir!" The guards said, snapping to attention.

His name was Boulder? I thought, that would be hilarious if I didn't feel like dying right now.

The next thing I knew I was being hoisted up by a long metal pole, hanging by my hooves like a slab of meat. I closed my eyes and tried to think of a way out of this but I kept pulling blanks. The pain in my chest wasn't helping either.

Back outside I hung limply as the two guards carrying me brought me around to the back of the casino. A large platform had been constructed in the empty parking lot.

Damn, how long had I been out?

Looking up at the sky I realized that it was already dusk, the sky in the west was now a dull orange through the cloud curtain.

The guards walked me up to the platform and unceremoniously dropped me on a small round disc just big enough for a pony to fit. As they untied me from the pole and retied me to the disc, I realized that I was that pony. Great! Raising the disc upright they propped it up and left me hanging from the bindings on each of my hooves.

In front of the platform, I saw that quite the group had gathered. I could see the prisoner's nearest me, all tied up together. Like a chain gang, I thought. Rimshot looked up at me, shame clear on his face. Behind them sat some of the ponies I had seen from the other side of town, Granny Razzberry among them. I caught her eye and could see her crying. I tried to smile but I knew the pain made it look more like a grimace so I looked away. Behind the townsponies sat the Blasting Crew each sporting some very nasty looking weapons. Black Powder was back among them and looked so smug I could kill him with my bare hooves.

I noticed something right then, between the anger towards these convicts and the pain in my torn body. I noticed something that not only gave me hope for this town but also pissed me off. The townponies of Primrose outnumbered the convicts 3 to 1.

"What a waste." I muttered, coughing, tasting even more blood.

"You see townponies of Primrose! This is what happens when you try and double cross the Blasting Crew!" The booming voice of Boulder addressed the crowd without much introduction, as he stepped up onto the platform tossing a grenade in his hoof. "We tried to be fair! We tried to keep those of you we captured nice and cozy and even extended our deadline for the caps you owed us time and time again and this is how you repay us." He pointed the grenade at me, and a very specific fear ran threw my body remembering the threat Buckshot had made. "By sending some bullshit assassin to try and kill us despite our kindness."

"Kindness!" I laughed hoarsely, "You've killed this town."

The leader looked up at me still tossing the grenade up and down.

"Oh really bitch?!" He asked, "You think so?"

He turned to the crowd.

"You know what? Maybe she's right." He said after a long pause getting confused looks from every pony in the crowd including me. "Maybe we've caused a bit too much heartache for this kind little town that took us in."

The irony oozed from that sentence.

"Maybe we should show our hosts a little hospitality, like they have us." He continued, "Maybe we should give the wonderful ponies of Primrose a little fun."

Catching the grenade again, he suddenly pressed his hoof against my throat. For a moment I tried not to react, just out of spite, but it didn't last. I began gasping for air and when I did he shoved the grenade into my mouth so far I felt teeth break.

"Who want's to play a game?" I could see a look of giddiness go through the Blasting Crew.

The town of Primrose gasped. I only groaned.

"Oh you look displeased!" The leader feigned confusion, "whatever could it be."

They aren't sick and twisted ponies like you, I thought fighting back tears, Damn my teeth hurt.

Then he got an idea.

"AH! I got it!" He exclaimed, "What's a game without prizes!"

He paused a moment.

"How about this! The first one to shoot the grenade gets the top prize of getting to go free with a loved one!"

An uneasy shift went through the crowd.

"But don't worry, if you get a leg I'll spare your life." The leader went on, "Chest and you may go free. Head and we'll make you a group of our little family, it gets better than that though folks. If you hit the grenade, you win the grand prize. I'll let you and one loved one leave, free as a bird." His face darkened then, as he addressed the crowd. "However, if you don't play, or you miss, we feel it's only right that you repay us the caps you owe by meeting our slaver friends down the road."

I could see the warring going on behind the eyes of the town of Primrose.

"So who will it be?!" The leader asked, "Who's first!? Oh and remember, you really want to go first because if you don't and someone else hits the grandprize, well, there won't be much to shoot at will there?"

That seemed to have done it. These ponies could only be as good as the world around them allowed, and the world around them was being just a cruel as the ponies before them.

Two townponies stood and began walking to the guard holding the rifle that would kick off this twisted game. Shortly after they stood I saw Razzberry Dancer stand as well and walk over.

Well great, I thought with a sigh, no friends for Dawn....not now, not ever.

I should have just asked where Rain and Berry went and left.

"Sweetheart, could you let me go first." I heard Razzberry say sounding older, her voice thick from the previous crying, "I have a hard time standing fer too long and I'd really rather go afore my aim get's too weak."

A sick feeling grew in the pit of my stomach. I knew that she had no ties to me but, I had promised her that I would try and help her town. Didn't that count for anything? The stallion handed the rifle to her and my heart fell even farther as she turned to face me. Hefting the gun up she looked at me dead in the eye, a shiver ran through her body and she dropped the barrel to the dirt, leaning heavily on the gun.

"I'm sorry folks," she addressed the crowd, "I seem to be having a hard time holding this thing straight."

"Get on with it lady!" Boulder barked from the place he now stood, near the casino wall.

"You know, I remember a time when my husband, Mint, would hold up a rifle just like this to protect this town," She said her eyes misty, "You know, that's all he ever did, protect this town. Even up until the end."

Looking out at the crowd, I saw the townponies turn their eyes to the past remembering, and then look away ashamed. Everyone of them looked away, suddenly finding something infinitely more interesting in the ground or the clouds, or their own hooves.

"You know why?" Razzberry said, despite the growing rumble of uncertainty in the Blasting Crew. "He said that this town was full o' good ponies that had the right idea of it. He said that Primrose was the Desert Rose because of the ponies in it that knew how to band together and stand up fer each other."

"Listen grandma!" The leader barked, "If you ain't gonna shoot then you'd better quit with the story time and give it to someone who will."

"You know what, yer right sonny!" The old mare said, "I should give this gun to somepony who's gonna use it."

Turning to the town she held up the rifle.

"Well who want's it?" She asked her arms shaking with it's weight. "Who want's to save their own hide at the cost of their soul. Go ahead, take it."

But no one did. They were all too busy seeing memories in the ground and sky.

I felt a moment of pride for this town, and it wasn't just because it was my life in danger.

"This wasteland is filled with shit." An angry voice flooded my memory, "All of the ponies in it are shit and so are we."

You're wrong, I thought suddenly hopeful.

"Oh come on! I give you ponies a chance and you turn away!" The leader roared walking over to snatch the rifle up, "I gave you two chances, and will not give a third you hear?! The lot of you will be in some slaver's death pin by tomorrow."

When no pony moved to take the gun the leader raised the rifle up towards me.

"Fine then, I'll kick off the show myself." I heard him growl.

Well, I didn't really want to die, and that feeling of hope was now deader than I was about to be, but I was suddenly feeling slightly better about making this my final resting place. At least this town still had a soul. A scared, shaking, slightly cowardly soul, but a soul nonetheless and that was more than the Blaster's had.

More than you do, I thought to myself thinking back to the stallion I had shot.The sudden bad taste in my mouth made me grit my teeth over the grenade harder.

The shot rang out and I tensed waiting for the fire to engulf me. I suddenly thought of Charlie saying how quick it was I had returned to the stable. I opened my eyes after a moment and surprisingly found myself still in one piece.

Did he miss?

After all that, this loser fucking missed!

The crowd however started looking around for answers and found it standing at the bridge. A small caravan stood just on the edge of the bridge, all of them with their weapons drawn. It was the lead mare's barrel smoking from the recently fired bullet that gave me and the crowd our answer. Our eyes traveled from the barrel to the leader who stood, shock clear on his face, his rifle still raised, pointing at me. A deep red stain dripped down from his neck onto his barding. In the next moment, he dropped. The moment after that, the Blasting Crew had readied their weapons aiming at the caravan. No one seemed to want to fire first.

Razzberry Dancer looked to her family in relief and saw the Ace wave from where he sat on a large bundle on the lead mare's back.

"Hey grandma! We gotsa lotta cool stuff for grandpa but we gotta take care of these guys first okay?" He called, waving at his grandma happily, seemingly unaware of the situation he's was in.

No, he's aware, he just think's that his family is invincible.

"Really? There are 15 of us and only 5 of you." Black Powder called out, "You won't be but a few wasted shells in a couple of seconds."

"Actually dear." Grandma Razzberry said walking over to the caravan. "I think you'll find that there's a lot more of us than you."

The look on the old mare's face made the Blasting Crew turn around to see some very determined townponies. The tension in the air was palpable. I could almost see the gears in the Blasting Crew's head turn as they did the math. I wasn't a genius but I could see that they were going to come out on the losing end.

They saw it too.

One by one the Blaster's dropped their weapons and bowed their heads to the will of Primrose. Soon the weapons were being taken by the town who began escorting them into the casino. I let out a sigh of relief and allowed my body to relax where I hung. A moment or two later and I saw the caravan and Grandma Razzberry step up to cut me down.

The lead mare of the caravan helped me down to my feet and stayed by my side when I wobbled. I leaned against her as Razzberry Dancer thanked me and apologized for the worry.

"These folk just needed ta be reminded where their hearts were." She explained as Ace bounded up to me after kicking one of the Blasting Crew in their rump.

I couldn't help but smile after I had spit out the slightly bloody grenade from my mouth.

"Hey missus! You found our town!" He said hugging my hooves.

I thanked the Goddesses that the other mare was there or I would have fallen.

"Your metal friends were so nice." He continued bouncing playfully in front of me telling me about the adventure he just had. Apparently, Charlie had been more than hospitable once given my security number.

My mind was elsewhere, I had seen movement behind the little colt. From the platform, I watched as the leader of the Blasting Crew twitched, then, like some sort of nightmare pulled an overly large pistol from a holster at his side. I could see the hole in his neck expand with his ragged breath, his teeth biting hard at the handle. He was aiming at me but I could see, even from this distance that his aim was off. He was focusing on my chest and he either, didn't register or didn't care about the colt bouncing up and down in front of me.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the dying leader pulled the trigger. As if I had accidentally hit S.A.T.S I watched as fire erupted in a puff around the gun's barrel, the hot steel bullet breaching into open air. Looking down at the colt, I saw every hair on his head shift and bounce with his hopping. He had no idea. The mare beside me did and I could see out of the corner of my eye the realization dawn on her that she was about to lose this little colt.

I stepped weakly towards the little one.

Just let me move him, I begged, please I'll even take the bullet instead.

That's when the sun seemed to return to Primrose, only this time, it was coming from my horn. The flash of light that erupted from it blinded me. For a long moment the only sound was the compressed bullet bouncing off of my shield and dropping down to the wooden platform beneath me with a soft thud. The colt smiled up at me in awe and I felt myself smile back before the light from my shield and my vision broke, throwing me into the dark shroud of unconsiousness.

"There is no nobility in sacrificing yourself for your country, your religion, or another pony." My mother had said, "But to sacrifice yourself for love. That's always worth it."

Fame Gained: Primmrose-Friendly. (Turns out nearly having your head blown off for a town comes with some perks.)
Infamy Gained: Blasting Crew-Villain. (You might as well shoot first before you get shot with these guys.)
LVL UP: Stubbornite Soul- When your health is below 20% you gain an additional 10 points to your Damage Threshhold.
Quest Perk Gain: A Mother's Love (Rank 1)- Your shield can withstand 20% more damage than most, (40% while protecting others).
You can read Fallout Equestria by Kkat on Equestria Daily
http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/04/story-fallout-equestria.html