Fallout Equestria: Sparkle-World

Why can't I ever speak up for myself?

The mare woke up, for a second time today. She was in bed now, a rather comfortable bed. She couldn't help but snuggle against the pillow some, missing the feel of a proper pillow. Having only been a few days out of Stable 42 and already having been captured by raiders for... whatever. Suddenly there was a sizzling noise and she was more aware of her surroundings.

She was in a room, a back room that looks like furniture was moved and added. A fridge that looked somewhat fixed up sat in the corner across the room. The a pegasus came through the door, trotting by her as he approached the fridge and grabbed the handle with his mouth and pulled it open. His head leaned into the fridge and pulled out a water. Thank Celestia! Some water! The mare was still on edge, the pegasus being a stranger, all she knew, he could be another raider!

The stallion approached her and set the bottle next to the bed. "You should drink something." His voice was somewhat rough, but soft. Had a hint of kindness. "You'll feel better."

He soon left her before she could open her mouth to thank him. Of course... She steadied the water in her hoof and popped the top off, tilting it up and taking a drink. Her eyes continued to look out the door, just barely seeing the stallion's flank. His tail was short, but jet back, just looking like a dark stub against the pale purple of his coat.

He then walked away from whatever he was doing and back into the room. "Name's Dragon Blazer. Your savior for the day."

The mare watched him go back to the fridge and stick his head in. "Uh... I'm..." Her voice died off some, "Blossom Cherry."

The voice he listened to was sweet, soft, this wasn't a mare for the harsh realities of the Equestrian Wastelands. She took another drink of water and looked at him as his head came back out with a bottle of... something. Blossom Cherry then noticed something about the stallion as he was walking back: His eyes, one was a firey orange that looked like would glow in low light and the other was pale, with three deep gashes going across his coat.

"Uhm.. thank you.. by the way. For saving me." Blossom piped up.

Dragon Blazer poured the contents of the bottle onto the food he was preparing and set it down. "It's quite alright. Not often I get a slave before they're collared."

"Slave?" Blossom gulped.

Dragon whinnied and nodded. "Yup. They would've taken you to Sparkle-World. Where you'd have been stripped, raped, collared, and made to do as those slavers pleased."

Blossom's eyes grew wide. "Sparkle-World?"

"Only been here a couple years, but most pony who's any pony's heard of Sparkle-World." Dragon Blazer did something.

"Wh-what is it?" Blossom asked.

"The slavers' hub of choice, taken by force and slaves to fill jobs they don't want to do themselves." Dragon explained, sighing bit. "The stories before the war say that this place was once a center of happiness."

"Well..." Blossom Cherry shifted on the bed, sitting up against the wall, "...isn't there any kind of ponies that could help?"

"Like heroes?" Blossom nodded and the stallion chuckled. "Kid, I know you're out of the Stable, but the wasteland has no place for heroes."

Blossom hung her head a bit. "But you saved me."

"I'm a just a Stallion trying to do the right thing... no hero."

"Isn't that all it takes? A will to do the right thing?" Blossom pointed out.

"A will to do what's right by every one." Dragon Blazer's tone was stale. "That ain't this world. Kill or be killed."

Before anything else could be said, the stallion went back around the corner. His wing outstretched while he grab a couple of grubby plates with something on them. He re-entered the room, taking on of the plates between his teeth and setting it in Blossom's lap. It looked like vegetables, didn't look decent but she wasn't going to say anything to upset the stallion.

The two continued to eat in silence. The taste of the cooked veggies was surprisingly delicious. Was it that liquid he had in the bottle? The stallion had finished first, quite a bit fast also. Dragon Blazer just sat there, observing his guest. She was light pink in her coat, her mane a dark red, but her eyes were a beautiful shade of green. He started to smile and didn't even notice.

"Uhm... are you okay?" Blossom Cherry asked, looking at him strangely.

"Oh uh. Yeah." Dragon Blazer was snapped out of his daze by her silk-like voice. "Just been a while since I was with another pony, really."

Blossom soon finished her meal, leaning back against the wall. Before she knew it, the plate was gone from her lap and the stallion taken both of the dishes out of the room. The night became young and Blossom found herself listening to the radio. Wasn't any Stable-Tec Approved programming, not that she minded. Yet, in the background were faints sounds of hammering and welding.

She got curious and climbed out of bed. As unfamiliar as this place, it was cozy. Not too small like the Stable, neither too big like an atrium. Blossom continued on, into the small hall and around the desk jutting from the wall. She soon found herself in the doorway to a garage, staring at a rather familiar red suit of armor in the middle. Dragon Blazer with a set of welding goggles on and working on the armor.

"Is that..." Blossom started.

The welder ceased and he looked up at her. "Yes, it is the Sparkle-Fury."

Blossom Cherry nodded a bit. "But, what exactly is it."

"An old suit of Steel Ranger armor from before the war. Promotional only, but I've made a few upgrades."

She could get a good look at the armor. The red paint was faded, the white looked worse. It bore marks and scars, having seen it's fair share of battles. On one side was a heavy weapon of sorts, almost like a machine gun but more. She couldn't quite describe it though, her expertise wasn't weapons. Across the breastplate and flanks were the words "Sparkle-Cola."

"Magically powered armor with a package courtesy of yours truly." Dragon Blazer announced, almost sounding proud.

"What's that weapon?" Blossom asked, turning her head to the stallion.

"A.. uh.. magical energy gun...." Dragon answered, unsure. "I saw it fall from the cloud curtain. There's another weapon I'm after that would make the Sparkle-Fury a true legend."

The mare only looked to him a spark of something in his eyes.

The next day, Blossom Cherry woke up in the bed to a storm outside. She heard the rustling of the pegasus in the front room. Blossom walked out of the back room and tilted her head. Dragon Blazer had some sort of outfit on and a mask. A battle saddle was over the outfit with a single rifle. He was muttering to himself, checking off things mentally.

"Where are you going?" Blossom asked, finally speaking up.

"To go get more food. With two of us gonna be eating, I'll have to double efforts." Dragon explained from under his mask.

"It's storming though, won't the food get wet?" Blossom asked.

"No. That's a Rad storm out there. No water, but worse." Dragon Blazer trotted to the door. "There's assorted Sparkle-Cola in the fridge, food and water also. Help yourself."

Blossom nodded and he left. It had been a couple of hours, and the storm outside was still raging. How long will he be? The there was a sudden crash towards the front of the building and a door opening. She rushed out of the room yet again and was glad to see the pegasus, but he was coughing up a mess.

"Dragon?" Blossom Cherry piped up again.

"Bottom shelf. Counter. Should be a medical box. Grab it and slide it to me." Dragon Blazer ordered, tearing the mask off and tossing it into a corner.

Doing as she was told, Blossom Cherry found the yellow box and set it on the floor. Sliding it over to the pegasus where he firmly pressed down on the box with a hoof. He then flipped it open, taking an orange pouch into his mouth and downed it all. IT tasted bitter but then he started to take off his torn outfit.

"Well, there goes that." Dragon said before kicking it away, revealing the scars on his body.

"What happened out there?" Blossom took a step forward.

"Heh. Feral ghoul ponies." Dragon smirked. "Mindless animals with nothing on mind but blood at all costs."

"Oh my Celestia... will you be alright?"

"Yeah, ferals ain't nothin' like the abominations you'll find in Sparkle-World." Dragon Blazer looked to her. "Not all is lost."

Dragon Blazer dropped a bag at his hooves. The bag looked full, almost looking like it was about to burst at its seams. Dragon had chuckled a bit then leaned against the wall. Blossom was staring wide at the bag then looked to Dragon Blazer. He looked exhausted, like he hadn't slept yet.

"How long has it it been since you last slept?" Blossom inched forward some, looking at him.

"Hm... not since I arrived here. It's been hard to properly sleep around here." Dragon Blazer slumped over some, looking up at the mare. "I need a drink."

Noon. I hate noon The stallion thought to himself as he looked out towards the center of Sparkle-Town from the patio of Colatop Grille. His muzzle contorted into a scowl as he turned away from the sight and towards the bar that he used as his desk for the Overboss. A glorified receptionist for someone who's afraid to show they're goddess-damned face.

His ears perked up at the sound of the lift motor whirring to life. One of his scout ponies, hopefully with good news. Once the platform reached the top, he was there. The scout looked a bit worried. If there was anyone who was second to the Overboss in fierceness, it was this pony he was about to report to.

"Anything good?" The stallion asked the skittish raider.

"Uhm.. no.."

The pony's answer was met with a growl before a kick was suddenly delivered to their face. The stallion's kick was full of enough force that it sent the pony stepping backwards. The body fell from the platform and down to the ground, breaking the pony's legs.

"So. What's a Stable Dweller like you doing so far out here?" Dragon Blazer asked, taking a swig from his Sparkle-Cola.

"Well... I was sent on a mission from my Overmare to find anew source of food." Blossom Cherry explained, just holding her own bottle of Sparkle-Grape.

"Sounds like she's planning on moving out of that Stable." Dragon pointed out.

"Maybe, for a while, the soil for our crops have been plentiful. Now, we have fewer of a harvest the year after year." Blossom looked down.

"Hm... I may have an idea for a place, but we may need some help." Dragon mused, his gaze going to the door.