Fallout Equestria: Otherlands

Fallout Equestria: Otherlands

Chapter 5

To New Appleoosa

You know, even if this place is supposed to be like a Fallout type world and destroyed and stuff, its got a hidden beauty to it. Like the old saying 'beauty is in the eyes of the beholder', this place has a very interesting atmostphere to it. It reminds me alot of old watercolor paintings of Wourld War 1 landscapes. The baren scorched earthy, dead trees, and crater shells, yet it had beauty to a disatorous land.

We've been walking for I guess a little over two hours now. Gone from Ponyville and headed off into the unknown. Little has been said between us and it's more or less peaceful. I've noticed a few small animals roam around, but nothing dangerous. Just some small odd looking yet large bugs hovering around. I didn't get through the whole chapter on fauna here so I have no clue what they are." Hey not to inutrpt your thoughts and all but what are those things floating over?" Double Barrel looks over to where I was pointing too.

" Those are bloatsprites. Mutations of magical taint and radiation. They're mostly harmless unless you stray too close."

" Taint?"

" Uhh its hard to explain. Basiclly its bad shit. Don't mess or get near it. There's really no cure for it, apart from apputation of the infected area which my lead to death either way."

" Oh well I'll keep a look out for it. What does it look like?" Double Barrel just glares at me, I'm guessing that I'll be getting that look more often." Did you even look at the damn book you killed for?"

" Yes a few chapters and I skimmed through the rest for anythinhg important. I don't recal coming across anything in there about 'Taint'." The Raider lets out a sigh.

" Ok I'll give you a very summed up version. Taint is the color of the rainbow. There done."

" Wow very short indeed." I give her a snarky expression. Her response is pretty much the same.

" You are a real piece of work, ya know." With that we are silent again. Dirt, dirt, and more dirt, how covenitent? The mountains that loom over head, though getting pragressivly larger still hold beauty." Man I bet it would be amazing to be able to climb those mountains." I mutter while gazing up. Small streaks of sunshine escape through the amlost seemingly impenaterable cloudy blanket. That is a good question too, whats with the thick cloud cover?

" Hey why is the clouds so thick in the sky? The haven't moved at all since I've been here." Okay I sound stupid but it's an honest question none the less. Double Barrel facepalms, facehoofs? Either way she's problay not happy.

" It is going to be a terrible fucking journey if you keep asking question. It's the Enclave's doing. They closed up the sky during the Last Day. Now if you'll shut up, lets keep walking." The Enclave, The Enclave, The fucking Enclave....they exist here. Either that is all too real, or maybe this is all in my head. I'm just delusional, in the loony bin somewhere in the Carribeain. This is a mistake waiting to happen, I just feel it. So lets see here, fallout themme of distruction check, fallout like chems check, major factions check, little hope of survival nah. I'd rather go out like that then die of old age or some shit like that. But I'm smart enough to survive, for a little while at least. Give it my all or go down trying. Double Barrel lets out a studdered cough." Ok I have to ask. How did you get here? was it like death or somesort of portal?"

" Thats actually a good question. I really don't know. I was given orders to take a small group into a cave, then things went to shit fast, then I woke up in a cave not far from Sweet Apple Acers." Double Barrel lets out a whistle.

" A cave huh? So what are you, like somesort of cave explorer or something?"

" Well, yes and no....mostly yes, yeah just call it that. I get paid to take tour groups into caves. Pays pretty good most of the time. Then there's CrossTech trying to do cave exploring so they hired me. And that's the last cave I went in. The good old rabbit hole."

" Damn. Well...welcome to whats left of the world. Good luck finding anything good here Alien." I gaze down at her.

" I have a name too ya know."

" Hey I gotta call you something insulting sometime." That fucking smirk on her face. I smirk back, two can play at that game.

" Hmm alright Shotgun Stuffer." She actually laughs at that.

" Heh, thats actually pretty good. Was not expecting that. Alright considering that we've broke the ice already, might as well teach each other about the world we are going to share for a while. By the way I took those 15 caps from you in your sleep, just so ya know."

" Wha-, how'd you?" I check the poket I put them in, yeah they're gone. Double Barrel smiles her yellowed smile holding up a bag full of I presume MY caps. Fuck it you know what, I don't even care about them. I sigh and pull out a bottle of water I still had, and take a long gulp. Double Barrel looks up at me while I drink and her eyes widen.

" Is that fresh water?"

" Yeah, why?" Then she uses her, I don't know what it is I think magic or something, to snatch the bottle out of my grasp, and she downs almost 3/4ths the enitre bottle, that bitch." Hey, I was drinking that!" I shout at her, this is going to be a long trip.

" Holy shit that was good. Like the water came straight out of the heavens!" She examines the bottle closely." CrossTech Natural Preserves. Bottled for your pleasure." I let out a sigh. On the lable is a large electronic yellow cross, not assoiated with the Christain cross, just an easy to draw cross for easy printing, that's how they explained it to me at least.

" Fucking money grabbing lablers. They'll slap a lable on anything and call it their own. But they make good tablets, sooo."

" So ya done talking already? You just started talking to yourself. Please don't do that, it's kinda creepy." I take the bottle back and put it back in my bag." Whatever, lets just keep going."

" Damn. Sounds like you've got bad blood between them."

" Well look at it like that, they sent us down into that cave for some reason, but deny telling us what we're looking for. I think they sent us to die down there." The Raider chuckles.

" Death missed a spot then, cuz you're here instead of the afterlife. Either way sounds odd but eh, you'll survive here, if your lucky of course heheh."

" Oh laugh it up over there." The next half hour or so is completely silent, save for the occasional gunshot. I scratch my pip, ya know what, I'm just gonna call it as it's called here, pip-buck arm. I need to figure out how to work it, well better than just flipping menus. Prehaps this 'Stable-Tech' company leaves booklets on how to operate them.

" So what can you tell me of Stable-Tech?" Double Barrel taps a hoof to her chin in thought, how she is able to walk still with three legs is beyond me.

" A Pre-War company that...well from what I found out, built terminals, Pip-bucks like the one you have, and Stables."

" Stables?" So far they sound likew a horse version of Vault-Tech.

" Huge massive underground shelters for pony kind if the world ened, and it did, many were built all over Equestria and its alling countries. From what I've heard, there's a Stable not far from Ponyville, actually it's in Sweet Apple Acers, Stable umm Stable 02 if I'm correct."

" Hmm. My pip-buck didn't pick it up when I was there, must not have been close enough to it for it be reveiled. Oh well."

" Yeah. Rumor has it that it's still operational yet a mare escaped from there, off to find her friend or something. The buck on the radio has dubed her the 'Stable Dewller', said she was headed to Manehattan."

" I'm assuming Manehattan is or was a city?"

" Yeah. Now nothing more than a destroyed husk of buildings, full of Raiders, Slavers, and very little saftey. The only safe places would be Tenpony Tower or Friendship City. Not that I would want to go there though." Is it just my way of thinking but I'm sensing sudtle forshadowing here.

" So what about your world? I'm assuming it's nicer than here."

" Yeah its got its good and bad places, depending on where you live at. I lived in the outskirts of Denver, Colorado. Beautiful place, moutain side view with vallies below. Great place to hunt, fish, hike, rock climb, pretty much whever you could imagine."

" Sounds really lovely. Sounds so much better than here. I take it that this world of yours is peaceful?"

" Oh hell no. War is a huge part of Earth's history. For thousands of years humans have always fought each other, for either land, food, or just sheer dominance. Many weapons have been deployed over the years, from simple rock and bone tools, to metal swords and armor, to weapons that are capital of destroying life as we know it." Damn I sound like somneone on the fucking History Channel after that. Double Barrel seems to need a rebot after that.

" Fuck that's alot of information to take in at once. But either way it sounds way better than here. Anywhere is better than here. Oh by the way we should stop for a moment." She stops dead in her tracks.

" What? Why?" I stop walking.

" That's why." She points a hoof over to a lower ridge to where a cage cart is parked, with four ponies are stationed. One on top of the cage and rest are on the ground, with one fixing one of the wheels, the other two seem to be passing the time with cards. Actually there may be tree more ponies in the cage." Who are they?"

" Slavers, nasty fucks. But I speak their language well. Let me do the talking and wait for my signal."

" Signal? What signal?" What the fuck is going on?

" You'll know. Just keep watch." With that she trots out in the open." Hey fuckers. You guys slavers?" The ponies all point guns in her direction but she doesn't give a fuck." Who the fuck is this bitch? She just walk up and try to start shit with us?" One pony yells, his voice kinda raspy like a smoker.

" Relax fucker, I'm just a wee raider looking for an easy...helper per say. Just somepony to fill the void till they die." The slavers look at each other in confusion, mostly. Double Barrel holds up the same bag she showed me, and of course the slavers look happier that money has been shown." Well why didn't ya just say ya had money. Come take a look at our fine selection." Okay fuck these dirty half witted dicks.

Double Barrel is led to the cage, where now I can see, three ponies in rags and chains. My 'friend' seems to show false interest as she looks over the 'stock'.

" I think I've made a decision. Allow me to go back behind that rock over there to grab the rest of my caps." the stallion hesitates but allows her to come back to where we, well I, am hiding." Well?" I whisper low.

" Four drugged out slavers. One mare on thr roof with a carbine rife, the other three are armed with minimal weapons, mainly pistols and shotguns. They've got three captives, two mares and a colt, poor bastards. I think we can take them. They'll be scared of you if you show your face to them. They seem to be suffering from heavy withdrawls so they'll think you're a ghost or monster or something. Just follow my lead and get on the top of the rock." Wow she really saw through to these guys. This will be...interesting to say the least.

She walks back around with her shotgun out and ready. I climb up the rock with my bow at the ready. I gave Double Barrel the shotgun I had so she could use it for parts." I do believe you guys are genuine salesponines, so I'll be taking everything you have, including the slaves." The ponies pull out their weapons.

" Oh you think you're sooo clever bitch! Well it's 4 against 1 so we'll be taking your things AND you." Double Barrel cracks a wicked smile and uses her hoof to whistle. There's my signal. I fire a warning arrow at the stallion's hoof. They all look up at me, even the captured slaves." I wouldn't do that if I were you. You'll be dead before you can even pull the trigger." I've already nocked another arrow.

" Wha-what the fuck is that thing!? Holy shit." The stallion is flabbergasted. The roof top mare tries to fire off a shot at me but I peg her in the foreleg." Not a smart move bitch."

She freaks out and I end her pain. Pretty easy to kill a talking animal if they have some reason to kill it in the first place. The other ponies kind of stand there, dumbfounded, yet still holding their own.

" You...you freak! I was gonna get in that tonight! Argh! I'm gonna-" Double Barrel kocks him in the face with the stock her shotgun." Enough talk now. You gonna comply willingly or will we be tearing the flesh from your eyes? Booker, you can come down now." With that I hope down off the rock. A good 8 foot drop, but I managed. the stallion has shut his face, while holding his now bleeding head." Ack! Fine, fuck. Lugnut give 'em our saddlebags and the keys to the cage."

The pony he asks, well he is actually a she, though she has a broader complextion to her." Bu-but?"

" No buts dammit! Just...give it over so we can at least walk away alive." With a huge groan she hands over the keys then drops her bags. The others do the same." Now, I want the three of you to get the fuck out of here AND NEVER COME BACK! If I hear so much as any slavers near my turf I'll hunt you down and rip you spines out, through your ass!" Despite those slavers seeming to be tough, they aren't, at all. The three of them run for the hills with their tails between their legs, oh wow one tripped head over heels, lovely. Double Barrel immediatly starts going through the four sets of bags." Wow. Lots of bark from you missy. Wasn't pegging you for the leading type."

" Eh, it comes and goes. To be honest, that felt, different ya know? I usually let them still have the slaves, but then now I just took the slaves over. I feel, I dunno, odd or something. Umm care to unlock the ponies in the cage?" I nod and walk over to the cage cart. I can see why they were stopped, the front left wheel was shattered. Looks like a piss poor repair job too. The ponies in the cage are huddled together, the two mares and a colt...which a colt, I'm assuming is a little boy horse, I dunno I'm not a horse expert.

One mare looks up at me, yeah they have all been through hell, she looks beaten and only god knows what else they've done to her. She shows fear, yet thankfullness as well." Shh, its fine, you're going to be fine. Let me get the door unlocked for you." I try to keep a calm and soft voice. I unlock the cage and stand off to the side. Soon the mare hobbles out and stands shakenly on the ground." Th-thank you." Her voice sounmds cut up and dry as bone, I can genuinely be saddened by this, strange.

" No problem. Do you know how to get back to where you live?"

" Ye-yeah. Not far from here thankfully..." She looks over to see the other mare climbing out of the cage, the colt is unconcious." What happened to him?"

" They...they broke his front leg when he tried to run. He passed out from the pain. It's only been a few hours though." Fuck, they deserved worse than running like little bitches. The colt makes some sort of moan, but doesn't move." Well...shit. How bad is the break in his leg?" The mare that hasn't spoke yet just shrugs. I look over at mare I was talking too before.

" I don't know. Could be a simple fracture or completely shattered." Hmm, wait, that bottle of morphine I still have. It's much better than that Med-X crap. I dig into my bag and pull out the little yellowy orange bottle of pills." Here take these. Give him half of one when he wakes up, one whole pill if it's sever. If he can't swallow it, crush it and mix the powder with something edable. It may taste like shit but it'll help." She reluctantly takes the bottle in her hoof, however she is able to hold it is beyond me.

" Morphine? What's that?"

" It's...it's an extremly powerfull painkiller. Can be addictive as hell though so watch how much you give him till he can see an actual doctor. And where are my manners, I'm Booker." I slightly hold out my hand and I don't expect her to shake my hand. She looks frightened still but she actually shakes it.

" It's uhh...nice to meet you, Booker. Uhh I'm Piper, well that's what I was told my name was at least. Look I want to thank you for freeing us, thank you both." Double Barrel trots up with a saddlebag." Here, I gave you a few supplies from the other packs. These should be used sparenly."

" Thank you both. It's truly nice to finally meet some good hearted ponies well...whatever his is, but still it's truly greatful. We'll take the colt to the doctor in New Appleoosa in the next few days after we return to our camp." I look down at Double Barrel, who just shakes her head, I really can't tell if it's yes or no.

" Actually we're heading to New Appleoosa, if you want you guys can tag along. Double Barrel? Is that alright?" She glares at me but lets out a sigh.

" Fine. You guys can come along. Thankfully I got something out of this trip so far but I don't want any complaining! It shouldn't be no more than three or four hours by now." Oh boy, she's getting pissy. This is gonna be interesting...

Well this is going just fine. This makeshift group of ours is already kinda fucked over. How? Double Barrel seems to hate these additions to our group already, if looks could kill they would already be dead and buried. The colt woke up and freaked out after seeing me, well I kind of expected. He tried to run but his leg seemed to break even more and he started to cry. The mare who seemed to be the motherly figure, doesn't talk, no tongue at all. Aparently taint fucked her tongue up and was removed. Either way the mare took to care for the crying child, who couldn't be any older than four or five.

Piper is...a chipper one. She seems interested in me, and other things about humans in general. Kinda funny how she seems to open up alot more than expected. She doesn't have much to go on though, as I think she has some mental issue with her memory. She needs to be constantly reminded about simple things. I will say that she is sweet though. I'm still wondering what those butt marks are on them. Double Barrel has a miniture shotgun on her ass, It looks the same as her actual twelve gage shotgun. Piper has somesort of box her ass. The other mare, I dunno, I didn't look. Thankfully Piper has run up front to talk to the mare and the colt. Now's the time to ask.

" Hey Double Barrel, can I ask you something real quick?" She looks upset.

" First off you fucking owe me BIG time. If I have to deal with that mare, though she's quite cute and all, again, I'll fucking kill you! Now what was it you wanted?" Well...shite.

" Umm. I was wondering about those marks on your...uhh...flank." I don't know horse anotomy that well. Double Barrel lets out a snort.

" I could ask the same of you. That...mark on your left shoulder. What we have...show what a pony is good at, rather it be rapin' and killin' or farmin', they define an important part of us. Now what about yours?" My mark? Oh....oooohh that...mark.

" Umm...it...its an old part of a past life of mine." Truly I don't talk much because I try to cover up that tattoo as much as possible. Lets just say it was....a darkened time for me. Double Barrel smirks.

" Consider me prying at you as part of your payback to me. Now what does your mark mean?"

" It...it doesn't signify anything about me other than a darkened light in my life. My dade just died during that time and I kinda...turned sour so to speak. Turned to a gang for comfort mostly."

" Heheheh I knew there was something off about ya! You don't look like gang material though. Too soft, too easy. If you tried to be a Raider, they'd kill ya and eat ya for breakfast. Trust I've seen it actually happen." She looks ashamed of that. Alright don't pry too much.

" Well it was a differenmt time. You get in good with them and you may become a member. I did become a member of Das Omega until I got arrested and ratted everyone else out."

" So you're a snitch then?" That fucking sly look on her face.

" No it was either take a plea deal and only stay in prison for a year then parrol if you're good or stay in there for ten plus years. I chose the plea and never looked back. I cleaned myself up and made a living out of going underground. There we're done." I cut the conversation off cold. I don't care for talking about it. I guess not everyone can be the perfect person anymore. We continue to walk in relative silence. Double Barrel shut up finally and so did Piper. We come across an old mostly destroyed shack." Hey lets stop for a second. Catch our breath." I suggest.

" Yeah my hooves are hurting." Piper chips in. The mute mare nods in agreement. The little colt is asleep again, which is good for him. I think they gave him that morphine. Double Barrel sighs and slips off her packs." Fine. We can rest for a few. Don't go wondering off though. I'm not waiting around." Good, hmm maybe there is something inside that shack I can use. I head over to the door and try to open it but it won't budge. Hmm. I look over and see a palm size rock on the ground. I grab it and with one good strike I take off the entire doorknob. It's still locked, fuck. Okay this is stupid but ehh fuck it. I take about ten steps back. Double Barrel just shakes her headv at me." It's locked dumby, ya gotta use a bobby pin to unlock it." Of course but I'm not one for graceful enterances. I charge straight at the door and ram it with my right shoulder. That hurts like hell but I bust through the door pretty easily.

" There, its open now." Double Barrel facehoofs. Piper giggles a bit. I get up off the ground and see that this is nothing more than a toolshed, lucky find you idiot. I look at the random rusted tools and junk laying about. The shed itself loks slapped together with metal scrap laying around. I look at the workbench table. Hmm some sort of axe is on the table. I pick it up and examine it. A curved shaft with a blade at the end that looks like it would be used for prying open containers. Hmm judging by the wear and tear on it that's probaly its main purpose. I see a worn leather holster system for it. Couldn't hurt to take it. I slap the holster on my left leg and hang the pry axe there, ah Tomb Raider flashbacks here I come.

I look on the table again to see something interesting. It looks like a piece of a bow, strange yet good for me. I pokect the bow part and walk back out.

" The hell did you find in there?" Double Barrel looks less than happy.

" I found what I do believe is a bow part and this pry axe. I figure we can use it to pry open locked doors and containers if we don't have any bobby pins."

" Hmm good thinking actually. But that bow part or whatever would be good top sell for quick caps. If they'll take it of course. Now we should get moving before it gets dark." How the hell can she tell if its dark or not when there's no damn sun?

Well we made it, mostly. This town, New Appleoosa is made mostly out of box cars and train parts. It's only about a half a mile away yet I can tell this is going to be interesting.

" Well this place looks like a train wreak waiting to happen, oh wait, it already did." I mutter to myself. Double Barrel hears me however.

" Let me do the talking. After the Stable Dweller's come through here, they may not be too keen on letting anyone like me in. Let alone you. So just keep you're mouth shut." I let out an audible groan.

" Yes 'mother'."

" Fuck you then. Get shot then." She huffs and trots ahead of me. The traincar city gets closer and closer until we are stopped by gun fire." Stop right there!" All of us look up to one of the box cars next to the gate to see a stallion, I guess Earth Pony from what Piper told me. Her and the colt were earth ponies while the mute mare was a unicorn. This guy is pointing a rifle at us." Stay where you are! All of you! Expesially you, creature." Okay he's dewfiantly talking about me.

" Look, we're here to trade, not cause trouble. Just let us in for the night. Besides we have a small colt needing immediate medical attention." Double Barrel has this on/off switch for crazy. The guard ponders for a moment." Alright fine. The four of you can come in but that, that thing with stays outside the town gate." Fuck this guy.

" Ya know I hve name, though clearly you don't know it yet." Okay the guard kind looks terrified.

" Oh great now the ghoul hellhound speaks propper and fluent english!"

" You know what? Fuck you man!" I flip him the bird." If I don't go in, we all don't go in." Double Barrel glares daggers at me and mouths my name." Booker, shut the fuck up." Its a really low whisper from her but I'm already pissed.

" I walked all that way for this! To be stopped by some fucking gate guard!?" I shout up at him. He seems half way pissed and shocked.

" Look...whatever ya are, I ain't letting ya through. The other ponies can come in if they cause no fuse but you gotta stay out creature." Okay seriously fuck this guy, he's gonna have a really fucked up piece of my mind.

" What are you? The fucking gate guardian!? You shall not pass!? What are you? The fucking French Insulter!? You gonna catapult a cow at us?" I throw on a fake as hell French accent." Your mother's a whore and your father's a mule, I spit in your general direction!" I spit at the ground. The looks I recive are genuine 'what the fuck' looks." Ya know what!? Fuck this! I'm climbing my ass up there, and you're gonna be fucking sorry!" I start climbing the rough side of the box car.

" BOOKER!" Something wraps around my waist and pulls me back down to the dirt. Fuck this place. Double Barrel looks extremely fucking pissed annd the guard looks...broken. I seriously fucked his head up, good." Uhhhhh." He took up a monotoned voice. I lean over to Double Barrel." Now's your chance, I destroyed what brain cells he had left and left his mind open to you. Talk him into let us all in." I whisper to her.

" With that little fucked up stunt of yours, good fucking luck with that. But I'll try because I'm tired of waiting." She steps forward.

" Ok look that, uh stunt of his was not part of our argument. We are all tired and worn from travel. I know you don't trust him, or us, but we need supplies and medical help. The creature with us is lacking proper sleep, which is to blame for his reckless actions. Please for Goddesses sake, just let us in for the night." The guard is still in a state of mind fuckery but compsess himself enough to listen.

" Ugh, my head hurts. Okay fine you win. But if I hear any trouble about any of ya'll, I'll see to it myself, kicking you out of town." And speech check passed, good work Double Barrel. Who knew a Raider had a sliver tongue?

" Deal." Double Barrel puts on a grin and mouths at me.'I didn't think that would work.' The guard opens the rusted metal gate and we all grab whatever we layed down during the conversation, and walk in.

Not even a minute into this place and I already get the feeling I'm not welcome here. Numrose ponies are staring directly at me. Granted I'm no where as deadly as everyone here sees me as. I mean yeah I got a big knife and all but my bow is vuritly a pile of sticks and wrappings now. No use repairing it now. But these ponies are looking at me with ill intent, lovely.

" Mamma! Mamma! What is that thing?!" I hear a small child...er foal I mean, cry out. Piper and her two other companions already made a be line to the wherever the doc's office is here. Now it's just me and Shotgun Stuffer, I'll be dead come morning then. Ponies stop and look at us while we walk, Double Barrel leading the way.

Oh how I feel the love from this town.

Footnote(s)

Level Up!

Archery(40)

New Perk(s): Iron Grip- Climbable enviroments and objects are easier to climb.