Fallout: Equestria Girls - Devil's Due

Morning Star walked forward out of the Vault, she was still underground, it was hard to believe that it had been seven years since she had last come through this tunnel. She pushed the door to the outside open and covered her eyes as she saw the sun for the first time in seven years.

She looked around, honestly she wasn't quite sure what to do now, she was back out in the outskirts of Las Pegasus sure, but it was different than she remembered. Maybe she should take it slowly, at least until she made contact with someone that wasn't going to just outright kill her.

She had always kind of assumed she'd die in the Vault, so the fact that she was out here again was strange to her. But now she was a woman on a mission, she needed to find her daughter and make sure the scum that had taken her paid for their crimes.

That's when she heard the sound of gunfire coming from one street over. She drew her pistol and moved towards it, if she was going to live on the surface then she'd need to make friends and allies.

She just hoped that she wouldn't be shot on sight.

She moved around the corner and found herself looking at a firefight between a group of people dressed in leather outfits that were firing at another group that were behind cover. She frowned a little and drew her pistol, while the people dressed in the leather didn't look like the people that attacked her Vault, they had a feeling about them that didn't exactly make her trust them.

She raised her pistol and pointed it at the nearest person, their attention wasn't on her so she had the advantage. She caught the eye of one of the people behind cover as they fired at the attackers.

Morning Star fired at the closest enemy, catching them off guard as a bullet entered the head of the person. The attackers didn't last much longer as the bullets flew from both sides, leaving them lying on the ground.

"Is everyone okay?" One of them said as she got to her feet and they looked at Morning Star, some of them looked nervous but the woman didn't seem to mind. "Thanks for your help miss..."

"Karma, that's Morning Star, you know, the lady in league with the Mafia back in the day," one of the woman's companions said. "Can we trust her?"

"Hey, she saved our asses from the Serpents back there, she could be the Devil herself for all I care," one of the others said.

"Calm down both of you," Karma said as she gave Morning Star a smile. "That doesn't matter anymore after the Day of Burning. As far as I'm concerned she's just a good Samaritan that helped us out."

"I'm glad to help," Morning Star said, though she had to admit that he wasn't entirely wrong, she had a lot of underworld contacts before the bombs fell, and that made some people uncomfortable. "Listen, I come from Vault 16, we were attacked by a group calling themselves the Sons of Tartarus, can you help me out?"

The three wastelanders exchanged glances and talked amongst themselves for a moment before looking at the white haired woman.

"Honestly we don't know a lot about the Sons other than that they're a Raider group that moved into this territory about a year ago," Karma said. "If you want to know more about them, you might want to check with the settlers at Last Chance, its our next stop so we can escort you there if you want."

"Thanks," Morning Star said and they started walking again.

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"So why's it called Last Chance?" Morning Star asked after awhile. "That's kind of a dismal name for a town isn't it?"

"Its the last settlement in the Pegasus Coalition before the Wildlands," Karma answered. "So its basically your last chance to pick up supplies before crossing the roughest part of the wasteland around here."

"What's the Pegasus Coalition?" Morning Star asked curiously, she had heard the term before the attack but had no idea what it really meant.

"After the day of burning, survivors started to band together into settlements," one of the others said. "Eventually trade started between some of the settlements like Last Chance, Gallant, and Nightingale. Then when the raiders started to become a problem, they joined in mutual defense pacts. The Pegasus Coalition is really just a loose alliance of settlements, but its the closest thing we have to a proper government."

Morning Star had to admit that she was impressed, most people in Vault 16 believed that everyone outside was dead or had descended into chaos. Instead they had managed to start to rebuild, even if they were having to deal with groups like the Sons of Tartarus, they were surviving.

"Though, I don't know why the Sons of Tartarus would attack your Vault," Karma said.

"They're Raiders, they don't need a reason," one of the others said. "They probably just found an old Vault-Tec access code and decided to see what they could get out of it."

"Yeah, but why take the children?" I asked, this got a shrug from them.

"Who knows, indoctrination maybe?" Karma suggested. "They're not slavers by trade so, its kind of hard to tell."

"Well at least they're not going to be sold into slavery, but I still have to wonder what their game is," Morning Star said. "I just have to hope that my daughter is okay..."

Karma nodded as they kept walking in silence. Morning Star checked her Pip-Boy and went through the map and data. She checked the radio option and was surprised to find a radio station labeled Coalition Radio.

"There's still radio?" She asked as she looked over at Karma.

"Yeah, Shock Jocky took over an old radio station to the East a couple of years ago, and he's been spreading the news and music since then," Karma said. "Its a pretty good way to get in the know about what's going on around the Wasteland."

Morning Star had to admit she was curious, actually the name Shock Jocky sounded kind of familiar to her. Now that she thought about it, there was a DJ that she had once hired for the Ninth Circle by that name.

She puts in the earbud from her Pip-Boy and put it in to listen, she was soon greeted by the familiar sound of music that she hadn't heard in seven years. After a few minutes the music ended and a male voice came on.

"This is Shock Jocky, electrifying the airwaves of the Pegasus Coalition," the smooth voice of the DJ said. "Looks like its time to put on my news cap again, because I've got some new reports in from around the Wasteland. It seems that the infamous gang the Sons of Tartarus has been spotted in the outskirts of Las Pegasus entering the underground. Their exact motives are unknown at this time, but when the Sons are involved we all know that's not going to be good news."

Morning Star paused a little at that, she guessed that it would be too much to ask for any information. Maybe if she could find the person who had spotted them entering the tunnels, or talk to Shock Jocky and maybe she'd be able to learn more.

"In other news, Sheriff Jewel of Nightingale has reported an increase in Raider activity around the settlement. The Raiders seem to vanish into the Wildlands before they can be tracked down however, so the Sheriff has offered a substantial cap reward to anyone who can deal with the Raiders.

Now back to the music..."

"Anything interesting?" Karma asked.

"Might have something to look into at some point at least," Morning star said and shrugged as she put her earbud away again. "It looks like someone saw the Sons of Tartarus, that might be a lead at least."

"Well, we're almost to Last Chance anyway," Karma said with a nod.

Morning Star looked on the horizon and spotted what looked like a Settlement that was fast approaching.

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Last Chance was built out of an old neighborhood on the outskirts of Las Pegasus. It was in relatively decent shape, even though many of the buildings were in a state of disrepair, with people that were walking around.

Morning Star got a few looks of course, but most people just ignored her.

"Well, that's about it for us, we're heading to the market, it was nice meeting you Morning Star," Karma said and shook hands with the former club owner. "I hope we cross paths again."

"Me too Karma," Morning Star said with a smile. "Any suggestions on where I should go?"

"You might try the Paradise Inn, its just over there," Karma suggested. "The bartender there can usually point you in the right direction."

"Thank you," Morning Star said with a nod as she headed over to the inn, which was built out of a large building in the town.

Inside the inn there were several people working or relaxing at the bar. She took a seat and looked around, it was weird to her, it was different from the world she was familiar with, but somehow it was still similar.

"Can I help you miss?" A male voice asked and she turned to see an older looking man with grey skin and a shock of white hair that was dressed in a faded brown shirt and pants standing behind the bar.

"Nuka Cider, and some information," Morning Star said as she looked him over as he put the requested drink on the bar. "I'm looking for the Sons of Tartarus."

"Quite the request," the bartender said as Morning Star set out the caps from a stock that she had been given as a thank you by Karma. "Do you have some sort of personal reason to go after the Sons?"

"They kidnapped my daughter," Morning Star said with spite in her voice. "And the other children in my Vault."

"I see, well, that's quite the reason," the bartender said with a sigh. "Well, I can't tell you where they are now, but I can tell you what I know about them. They came from further west, apparently they've been plaguing settlements and tribes across the Wasteland since not long after the Day of Burning. When they first arrived in Las Pegasus, the settlement at Beckett refused to pay them protection money, they were all massacred. Since then, even the more dangerous raider gangs have been paying them protection."

A chill ran down Morning Star's spine, all they had done was refuse to pay and these Sons of Tartarus had wiped them out? That was insane, what possible purpose would they have to do such a thing?

"Though, I have to wonder why they kidnapped children," the bartender continued as Morning Star took a drink. "Though, there might be someone who can help you out."

"Oh, who's that?" Morning Star asked.

"He goes by the name of Lucky Strike, he's what we call a Marshall,"the bartender said. "They travel through the Coalition, traveling from settlement to settlement helping wherever they can. Apparently he's one of the few that survived a run in with the Sons of Tartarus in the Wildlands, he might be able to help you out."

"Sure, where can I find him?" Morning Star asked, the bartender just kind of shrugged a little at that.

"He's heading into town now, so he should be here tonight," the bartender said. "Hey, our usual entertainment is sick tonight, do you know anyone who might be able to help out?"

"Oh, I'm sure I can think of something," Morning Star said with a smile. "Do you happen to have a piano?"

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"Never forget my dear child,
The city's lights hide its scars.
The nights are always wild,
As we reach up to the stars."

Morning Star finished playing on the piano that the bartender had brought in after a bit of convincing. She sighed, the song had been one that she had written in the Vault, and it reminded her of home. The bar patrons applauded as she got up and headed over towards the bar for another drink.

"You're pretty good," a male voice said from next to her and she looked over to see a gruff looking man with grey skin and short red hair dressed in a buttoned up shirt and faded pants with a cowboy hat and a pistol holstered. "So, Gin over there tells me that you're looking for me."

"Oh, you must be Lucky Strike then," Morning Star said and offered a hand to the man. "I'm Morning Star, I'm looking for someone who can tell me about the Sons of Tartarus, he said you survived a run in with them?"

"That's right, it was about a month ago when I chased some Slavers into the Wildlands after they had kidnapped a kid," Lucky Strike said as he took a drink. "Strangest thing really, when I caught up to the Slavers they were under attack by the Sons of Tartarus."

Morning Star blinked a little at that, the Sons of Tartarus had been attacking a group of Slavers? That seemed a bit strange from what she had learned about them so far, why would they want to take out Slavers?

"It was brutal, the Sons basically wiped them out to a man, but they pressed the slaves into service with their gang," Lucky Strike continued. "Even the kids, I managed to save the kid I was sent after but... it was bad. The Sons are brutal, but for some reason they don't seem to like Slavers very much. So what's your beef with them?"

"They kidnapped the children living in my Vault," Morning Star said with a sigh. "I've been trying to find any information on them, and well, that is some help. Do you have any ideas on where I should look?"

"You might try their competition," Lucky Strike suggested, Morning Star looked at him strangely. "There's a tribe called the Wildmen, they're nomads who call the Wildlands their home. They've had some run-ins with both the Coalition and the Sons, and they're considered a threat by both."

"Can you tell me where to find them?" Morning Star asked.

"I'll do you one better, I'll lead you to them," Lucky Strike said with a smile. "I wouldn't be much of a Marshall if I didn't otherwise, would I?"

Morning Star paused a little at that before nodding, while she didn't want to put anyone else at risk, he knew the area better than her anyway. She just had to hope that he'd be able to help her out.

"Alright Lucky, that would help a lot," she said with a nod. "We'll leave in the morning, I still owe Gin a few more songs."
Lucky nodded and Morning Star walked back over to the piano and started playing an old favorite once more.

"Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul to waste."

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Morning Star sighed as she sat down on her bed in the room at the inn that she had rented for the night. It had only been seven years since she first entered Vault 16, but the world around Las Pegasus and the rest of the UFE had changed radically.

The Pegasus Coalition seemed to be the best chance at a future for anyone, but with Raiders like the Sons of Tartarus attacking them, then there was a chance that they wouldn't survive much longer.

Maybe she should help the Coalition, if she was taking on the Raider gangs anyway, then maybe she should help them out. She sighed and turned the radio on her Pip-Boy on again and the sound of music filled her ears again before Shock Jocky's voice came on again.

"This is Shock Jocky, the Prince and Power of the Airwaves coming at you with your evening news," the voice said over the radio. "Caravans from the east have come with tales of what has been dubbed the Daring Duo and their exploits. It seems this pair of ladies have been laying the hurt on the Raiders out in the Canterlot Wastelands to the far east. My hats off to the both of you ladies, if you ever come out this way, don't forget to pay old Shock Jocky a visit.

"In Local news, a refugee train making their way through the Wildlands has reported that the tribes in the region have been growing more aggressive. The Wildmen have stepped up their campaign of conquest targeting the other tribes in the area. It is recommended that anyone entering the Wildlands should stay away from their territory unless its absolutely necessary.

"Now that's all the news for tonight, I'll see you tomorrow with more news. Now please enjoy some old favorites from your friend Shock Jocky."

Morning Star laid back on the bed and sighed, that was just great, she was going to have to go into a warzone the next day. Things were not looking good, at this point all she could really do was hope that she'd be able to figure something out, and make sure that the Sons of Tartarus would pay for what they did to her Vault.

Though, what would she do after that? She didn't have anything to go back to back in Vault 16, would she and Moonlight spend the rest of their lives out in the Wasteland then?

Maybe if they found somewhere to live, but for now she just had to focus on finding the children.

She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Level Up!

New Perk (Morning Star):

Silver Tongue: You've begun to cement your position and gain allies around the Wasteland, gaining some support from certain settlements. You gain an increased chance of persuading allies from friendly settlements, however unfriendly settlements and factions take a decreased persuasion check.