//-------------------------------------------------------// Fallout Equestria : The Lone Soldier -by TheWriter101- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// The Awakening [ Edited Version ] //-------------------------------------------------------// Author's Note Hi, TheWriter101 here. I just want to point out that there have been a few changes in the chapters that i've written my Editor/Best friend Lucid Sparks just sent me the edited version of the chapters that I posted. For example the main characters name 'Sunny Smiles' was changed to 'Storm Cloud' also some new dialogue has been added. I just don't wanna be burden to him cause he got problems in his family, chores and etc. he is not even done with his prologue. Oh, and watch out for Fallout Equestria : Genesis by Lucid Sparks. Well am gonna end there and hopefully Chapter 3 will be out soon enough. this is TheWriter101 signing off. The Awakening [ Edited Version ] `===*STASIS POD FAILING*=== ===*Initiating Emergency Revival*=== I groaned as I felt my eyes powering up. ===*USING EMERGENCY POWER*=== My HUD popped up on my eyes as I woke up from my stasis pod. I searched around inside the pod for the switch but it was not here, I spotted the switch on the left side of the pod, but the problem is that the switch is on the outside "Why I didn't have the switch installed on the inside?" I told myself, I laid out my options: 1.) Kick the pod door until it breaks 2.) Wait here until I die I chose option one, *CRASH* I dusted off the shattered glass on me and hopped out of the pod I stretched my wings but they won't budge I tried again but still won't budge I looked over and saw that my wings are corroded on the joints "Did I really sleep that long?" I wondered but shook my head and reminded myself to find the power switch. The room was dark but I somehow managed to navigate through the dark sometimes tripping over crates, bumping on desks and even slipping on papers. Finally I reached the end of the room where the circuit breaker is placed, I opened the circuit breaker and found that the wires are fried I sighed "All that effort gone to waste." Then I spotted something familiar on one of the desks. "Bingo!" I shouted as I ran towards it sometimes hitting the crates and some desks. I picked up the flashlight with my mouth and placed it on my left hoof I turned it on using my muzzle and the flashlight turned on. I tucked the flashlight under my left wing I looked around I saw a pile of crates and also some papers....no wait these are paperworks I trotted towards them I held the flashlight high so I can read them. File # 101 ===KIA=== Name: Thunderlane Species: Pegasus Sex: Male ___________________ File # 102 ===MIA=== Name: Bulk Biceps Species: Pegasus Sex: Male I realized that these are the paperwork of those who are killed or missing during the war. "Why do I even have these?" I wondered. Then it hit me. I forgot I was asked to shred the paperwork but I assumed that I forgot about these and just left it here, after I read the papers I went back to my pod, the shattered glass are still there and the generator of the pod is still humming from its emergency power then i got an idea. I will try to reroute the power of the pod's power to the rooms generator, I grabbed a toolbox from under the desk and also some jumper cables. Am not good at electronics but I do know how to reroute power, as I was connecting the jumper cables to the rooms generator I felt something moving behind me I turned and dropped my flashlight the flashlight illuminated the face of a mole rat....I think it's mutated cause mole rats are not that regularly huge. It bared it's teeth my markspony HUD popped on my eyes it measured it's threat level and it also identified where it's weak points. ===THREAT DETECTED=== Threat Level: High Weak Points: Head,Legs It lunged at me with incredible speed but I was faster I turned around and apple buck the mole rat on the head the mole rat was thrown at the piles of crates and papers it emerged from the pile head bleeding from the gash on its head it ran and I was after it. "Come back here!" I yelled. The mole rat kept running and squeezed it self between the desk and crates, I moved the desks and crates and found a huge hole I also noticed a trail of blood my guess is that it ran in the hole. I covered up the hole with desks and some crates. "That will keep him from sneaking up on ponies." I told myself I picked up my flashlight and went back to work. As I wrap the jumper cables with electric tape so I can't be electrocuted. "I hope this works." I told myself. I flipped on the circuit breaker and the generator begin to hum slightly. "Come on come on!" The generator's fans begins to spin moderately I smiled. Then the generator died. "NO!!" I yelled, in frustration I apple-bucked the generator then all of a sudden the generator started to hum while the fans started to spin. "Yes!!" I shouted in triumph. I trotted over to the switch and opened the lights I can now easily identify the room, the room was rectangular the desks, crates and papers were piled at the back while the front are the pod and the elevator to the armory and the security room right now am in the basement. I headed to the elevator to the armory so that I can arm myself and also I can fix my wings, I slid open the metal gate and close it I pressed the button for the armory then the elevator begin to ascend, I reached the armory the rooms generator is not working but the emergency power has not yet been switched on I hopped out of the elevator trotted towards the back to where the generator is and switched on the emergency power, the armory lights went on immediately, the armory was big near the elevator are work benches while at the back of the room are lockers of rifles and shotguns even some pistols, one of the lockers had my name on it. Storm Cloud I trotted towards the locker it was locked I looked around for a key then I saw near the work benches are a rack of keys, thank Celestia the keys are labeled. Safe box key I guess this is my locker key. Kitchen key Maybe I'll stop by the kitchen cause am soooooo hungry *Grumble* Even my stomach agrees Munition key I guess this is the key for those rifles and shotguns. I took the me key and trotted towards the me locker and opened it, inside of it contains a camouflage shirt, a Kevlar vest, sunglasses some hoof leather gloves and a black leather cowboy hat and also some spare metal wings for me, I also noticed some blueprints of a robot and my metal wings. I grabbed the camouflage shirt as I was getting it a picture was taped behind the shirt it was me and and Dusky Sparks with the 108th infantry I smiled as I looked at the picture it was years since I last saw them but then I remembered that some of them died, I also noticed a file below the picture. File # 007 Name: Storm Cloud Species: Pegasus Sex: Male Description: Coat color: Gray Mane color: (Dual tone): violet and black Cutie Mark: Cross-hair of a Scope I grabbed the file and the blueprints between my wings and grabbed the spare wings with my mouth and headed to one of the work benches and placed them all on the work bench. "I got a lot to work on" as I laid out the blueprints on the work bench. 10 HOURS LATER I welded my last wing on me and it gave a satisfying feeling. I tested them out I moved them 360°, 180° even 90° I even discovered that I can extend my wings Infront of me as a blast shield and even bend them in a odd angle. As I place the blueprints back in my locker I grabbed the clothes in my locker also the picture of me and Dusky. I stood in-front of the mirror wearing my markspony attire, I placed the picture of me and Dusky in my shirt pocket I did a defensive post I bend down and flared my wings wide open for a little intimidation I chuckled "Your one scary pony Storm". I took the kitchen key and trotted towards the kitchen the door was between the weapon lockers I unlocked the door it clicked I open the door and found the room really spotless of course mind the corrosion on the stove and the refrigerator but the white tiled floor was super shiny, I opened the fridge and found whiskey and some clean bottles of water I took it and placed them all on the counter top. I opened the drawers and cabinets and found a bunch of MRE and also some canned beans I sighed. "I should do some groceries after I get out of this bunker" I reminded myself. I packed all of the food in my saddle bags I considered also some medical supplies but I think it's all in the medical closet at the security room. I was about done in the armory all I need now are some weapons, I took the Military key and opened all of the lockers. I picked a DMR , a Reservist rifle with a Prench bayonet attached to it , even a silenced 9mm pistol , and some grenades and flash-bangs also some smoke grenades I also picked up a battle saddle for my DMR I'll dismantle the Reservist rifle cause I will only use it for closed combat cause I'll be usually sniping from afar. I headed to the work benches and dismantle the rifle and I will also customize my DMR for longer , faster and smooth kills and I will also maybe add a silencer for some stealth. 5 HOURS LATER I tightened the strap of my battle saddle the customized DMR at my right side and the dismantled Reservist rifle in the left while my silenced 9mm pistol is holstered on my kevlar vest I also strapped on my saddle bags on my flank, the foods are located at my left flank. I trotted towards the elevator I turn around to have a last look of the armory I sighed then opened the metal gate then pressed the button for the security room, I reached the security room same as the other rooms the emergency power is offline. I tried to rewire the generator and get it online I gave the generator a nice yank- nothing - I yanked again - nothing - I yanked it once more the generator began to hum. I switched on the lights the room was filled with CCTV monitors the left side was filled with it while the right side are cabinets and some desks with busted terminals..... Well there is one that's working it was located at the far end corner of the room it glowed apple green, I trotted towards it then I turned it on. ––––––––––––– -Manor security system [ 75% ] power level [ yellow ] -Security room generator [ online ] -Armory generator [ using emergency power ] -Basement generator [ online ] ––––––––––––– I rerouted the basement generator to offline and also the emergency powers of the armory to the manor security system. –––––––––––– Manor security system [ 90% ] power level [ green ] -Security room generator [ online ] -Armory generator [ offline ] -Basement generator [ offline ] –––––––––––– I leaned back away from the terminal but as I leaned away I noticed that a terminal is blinking apple green on and off I trotted towards it the terminal's screen is a little dusty i glanced around the table for a cloth to wipe the dust of the screen behind the terminal I found a surprisingly clean cloth I took the cloth and wiped the screen, as I wiped the dust of I can now see clearly what's on the terminal. –––––––––––––––– [ 1 message ] Sept _—/=_///_-== ––––––––––––––––– I couldn't tell what date or year this message was sent but I do know this was sent on September. ––––––––––––––––– Are you receiving this? All comms have just recently been lost with Canterlot and the MWT. … Hopefully you’re still alive. ~ Sparks ––––––––––––––––– My eyes widened this message was from my old friend from the beginning of the war. I shook my head to clear the sudden daze. "I'll think about this later but for now let's get some medical supplies" I told myself. I turned off the terminal and trotted towards the cabinets and opened the medical cabinets for some medical supplies, I found 10 healing potions and also 10 Rad-aways, 5 bandages, a bottle of cleansing alcohol, 5 gauze bandages and a medical tape. I was sorting them on my right saddle bag located at my right flank, then all of a sudden the security system rang and it blinked red on and off I turned on the monitors, only a few locations popped up on screen these are : the cellar door the entrance to my personal bunker , my bedroom where my vault of money are , the front door , the backyard and even my trophy room. I saw ponies with spiky armor and guns while some have rusted knives. I also noted that they are covered in dried blood. I estimated 9 ponies looting stuff in my Manor, anger was building up inside me "They messed with the wrong Manor" I growled as I swiped my Munition keys off the desk. //-------------------------------------------------------// Raiders and Scavengers [ Edited Version ] //-------------------------------------------------------// Raiders and Scavengers [ Edited Version ] "Did anypony not teach them that it's rude to barge in to somepony's house and steal their precious belongings?" I asked myself while monitoring the armored ponies who are continuously ransacking my manor, I sat in silence thinking on what to do with them I laid out my options once more. 1.) Barge out there guns blazing That'll be stupid. They got number and armor advantage on me. 2.) Wait for them to leave I won't let them have my stuff. 3.) Take them out stealthy That would be good but unless they caught me am out of options. 4.) Use the Security system That'll do nicely. I opened the security monitor and searched for the right security codes. –––––––––––– Security drone [ unresponsive ] Location: Trophy room -Searching alternative… Shrapnel mines [ dormant ] Location: Living room carpet Security Turrets [ standby ] Location: Backyard and Front door Security Trap door [ ready ] Location: In front of the safe door. -Arm security measures- [Y] - [N] -Deployment- [ Go ] ; [ No Go ] "Let's get this party started " I grinned as I entered [Y] and selected [Go], in a instant the mines beeped and exploded, shredding a some of the raiders in the room and doorway. The turrets immediate popped out of their hiding spots and took aim at the remaining ponies judging on how they dropped their weapons they never expected this. The turrets fired in a arc motion. The ponies tried to find cover but there's nothing for cover they just took every bullet and drop dead, the ponies on the backyard and the front door are all dead. The ponies from inside the suffered the same faith as they heard the turrets fired from the outside a metal desk transformed into a twin-barrel turret. The ponies inside opened fired as the ones with melee weapons whacked the drone hard but the turret didn't even dent it just took aim there taking the bullets and blunt attacks, they stopped to reload even the ponies with melee weapons seems to be tired. The targeting sequence completed as gun spewed out its payload of bullets. The ponies dropped dead like a bunch of sacks with rocks some tried to escape but a trap door opened under them the trap door have spikes on the bottom as the ponies fell in they would get impaled, the ponies who are working on my safe in my bedroom seem to heared the commotion downstairs they left the safe and headed downstairs to investigate the sound, they were met by the smoking turret as it released another salvo which immediately ripped the ponies to bloody chunks. I watched everything unfold on the monitor screen I shut down the security system to reserve it's power I was about to head out of the bunker and into the cellar but my eyes caught a familiar gadget placed on one of the terminal desks. A pip-buck I grabbed the pip-buck and slipped it on my left hoof I activated it the pip-buck glowed apple green it's features are: inventory check , map , a radio , it also helps as a flashlight and even shows what part of your body is damaged so far am good and well and it also has S.A.T.S stable tech assisted targeting system, I opened the settings and changed the color of my pip-buck to white cause I hated the color apple green and also a white colored pip-buck looked cool I looked at my pip-buck's digital clock and also the date, 1:00pm , Oct 10, 1247 my eyes widened I was asleep for 200 years I sat on my hunches and considered what am gonna do I stood up and shook my head "I'll think about this when am in the elevator". I trotted towards the elevator opened the metal gate and pressed the button for the cellar, as the elevator ascend I considered my objectives: 1.) Try to locate all the ministry hubs and ask some supplies to repair the manor. 2.) Travel the western and southern side of Equestria to find some settlements or cities that are still alive. 3.) Find Grid Spark If he's still alive. After that I don't really know what to do, the elevator stopped I opened the metal gate as I hopped out of the elevator I was standing in a corridor at the end of the corridor was a metal door, I headed to the metal door I noticed it has a hoof scanner. I placed my right hoof on the scanner it began to scan my hoof it stopped my name popped up on the side screen of the scanner. The door opened I went in the cellar room the left and right side of the room are filled with wine holders and barrels there's two rows of wine holders and barrels at the end of the cellar there's a stairwell that headed out of the cellar, I picked up some beer for the trip and placed them in my saddle bag I trotted up the stairwell at the top was the cellar door I pushed the doors open. The afternoon light shined through the windows. I was standing in the middle of the living room the cellar door beneath me the fireplace behind me and the couches in front of me it's color bleached from the years the chandelier still hanging on the ceiling my family pictures still are on top of the fireplace and also above the fireplace is the portrait of my grandfather in military uniform looking at me with serious eyes I saluted "I told you I'll make you proud someday" the portrait didn't reply, I passed by the dead bodies of the armored ponies that the security drone killed the smell was horrible but I have smelled worse on the battlefield I headed to my bedroom avoiding the dead bodies, I opened the door of my bedroom I trotted towards the safe I can already see the broken Bobby pins on the floor I grinned "Thank you stable tech" I trotted towards the bathroom and opened a drawer that contained a key where I always put it. The safe contained a wad of pre-war money and also some jewelry I hate to sell my mother's jewelry but I don't have any other choice I took the wad of money and jewelry and placed it in my saddle bag I opened my pip-buck the money and jewelry popped on screen at the misc section, I pushed opened the front door as I opened the door I saw bodies of the dead armored ponies scattered around my front yard I headed down the hill and headed towards the front gate I opened the front gate of the manor, as I locked the gate I glanced back at the manor the manor is located on top of the hill the third floor was destroyed due to the shockwave of what I guess was a mega spell bomb the windows are shattered the paint job is peeling off the the walls but it was still intact. ’Grid was right, things went bucking wrong’. My pip-buck's map named my location as the Manehattan suburbs my manor was located behind me I stood at the middle of street on my left were rows of destroyed houses and on my right were also a row of destroyed houses, I spotted Horseshoe tower on the horizon at my right "I guess that is the way to the city?" I told myself, I was about to head to the city then all of a sudden I heard gunshots and screaming on my left side I ran for cover behind one of the abandoned wagons that are scattered all around the street I perked my head up to get a better look where the screaming and gunshots are coming from. At the far end corner of the road was a caravan composing of 8 ponies but they are not the armored ones who ransacked my manor this ones are Scavengers telling by their wagon filled with scrap and junk, five ponies who are not in armor ran as they are looking for cover while three ponies in armor who are using their wagon as cover are firing back at the shooters, the shooters are located inside one of the destroyed houses they kept peeking out from their cover to shoot even though they have the advantage the three ponies behind the wagon are putting up a good fight. I removed my DMR from my battle saddle and placed it on top of the wagon so that it's pointing at the shooters I also spread open the bipod of my DMR for balance. I switched to one shot and used my markspony HUD for extra accuracy, I waited for one of the shooters to pop he's or her head up, one popped he's head up I took the shot. *BANG* The pony's head exploded into pieces the body fell out of the second floor window and hit the ground hard. The shooters saw me and pointed their guns at me and began shooting me, the scavengers packed their stuff on the wagon and began to run away "Your welcome!!" I shouted at them but I bet they didn't hear it, I hid behind cover as the shooters came out of the destroyed house "Well I don't know who you are but a friend of the Appleloosans are also our enemy" one of the shooters said. ‘Appleloosans?' I wondered I perked my head around the wagon and estimated four shooters one unicorn mare I think it's mare cause I can't tell by their spiked armor and the hairstyle they have and the rest are earth-ponies with battle saddles "Am no one's friend I just want to help" I told them still behind the wagon "Well you hear that boys he just wanted to help" the mare said in mock tone the earth-ponies laughed "Well help yourself with this " I heard a shotgun being reloaded, I franticly laid out my options. 1.) Pray for Celestia's guidance I would but am not ready to die. 2.) Fly away The second I leave this cover am dead. 3.) Use a flashbang That'll do. I opened my pip-buck and brought out my flashbang I pulled out the pin and threw it at them, "AAAHHH!!" The mare screamed and dropped her shotgun the earth-ponies were also affected by the flashbang I grabbed my DMR and switched it to auto and shoot the earth-ponies, as the mare got her bearings I already had my DMR pointed at her. "Are there more of you?" I asked she shook her head vigorously 'she's scared' I mentally laughed. "Well i guess I have to kill you now" I told her aiming my DMR at her eyes widened as she backed away "Wa-wait..." She stammered but I took the shot her head exploded as her body slumped on the road. I reloaded my DMR and reattached it on my battle saddle "Well that went well" I told myself I glanced at the direction that the scavengers took and glanced back at Horseshoe tower it took me a minute to decide "Let's visit the Appleloosans shall we" I told myself and began to fly to my destination. As I flew above ground am trying to find the caravan that left me helpless even though I saved them. Nothing. I sighed and continue to fly straight, abandoned buildings and cottages pass below me as I continue my flight to Appleloosa sometimes I pass by raiders who are of course raiding somepony's house I didn't try to stop them my only objective is to reach Appleloosa and maybe find the caravan and talk to them. It's getting dark and still am not yet near the town. I descended down to the ground and found a small cave five feet away I headed towards it, the inside of the cave seems warm enough to settle in for the night I gathered some sticks scattered around the cave and strike my wings together to start a fire, I lay down on my stomach near the fire feeling it's heat I opened my pip-buck and brought out a MRE and a bottle of water my pip-buck indicated that my MRE and bottle of water had radiation but it's not enough to harm me I started to eat my MRE and drink my water. My eyes powered on the fire went out overnight light shined through the cave's opening I stepped out of the cave and stretched my wings and yawned. " Well time to get going" as I ascended up to the sky and headed to Appleloosa, I can already see Appleloosa it's town filled with wooden houses and a saloon and also a barn at the middle I even spotted some......cages? And some sort of sniper tower I landed a few feet away from the cages I could hear some townfolk laughing and yelling in one of the wooden houses, as I approached the cages wondering what animal are being locked up in it as I got near I immediately recognize that inside the cages are not animals instead ponies I took a closer look at the locked up ponies and I also realized that their unconscious I even saw that their wearing...... collars?. *Bang* A rifle shot hit me on my left wing and also under my left wing good thing am wearing a kevlar vest of I didn't have it on my left torso would be bleeding but instead the shot bruised my left torso, ponies inside the wooden houses began to pour out with battle saddles at the ready I only did the proper thing. Run. It's hard to run when your left side is bruised but so far I still managed shots from the sniper shot the ground a few inches away from me I thanked Celestia that the pony's aim is terrible, I hid behind one of the houses trying to catch my breath I heard one of the ponies giving orders to find me. I spotted train tracks located at the front part of town it stretched out between the mountains on the horizon if I follow the train tracks maybe it could lead me to another town, I drank my healing potion to get rid of the pain on my left torso the pain fade away after i drank the healing potion I am still hiding behind one of the wooden houses trying to come up a plan on how to get to the train tracks I laid out my options once more. 1.) Make a flight for it Even though the sniper has a bad aim I'll still get shot by one of the ponies with battle saddles. 2.) Hide until they stop looking for me Where would I hide? 3.) Kill them all No just no. I don't have any choice left. I chose option one. I steadied my breathing trying to concentrate I readied my wings for lift off I waited for the sniper to look at a another direction and....... Now! I took off ignoring the shouts and gunshots from behind me I used some basic maneuvers that I learned from the army I did barrel rolls and some serpentine maneuvers to avoid the bullets. I was now a mile away from the town I glanced back and saw nothing not even a keeping-ponies-in a-cage-with-collars type of town, I landed near the train tracks I sat on my hunches panting the mountains where the tracks go through are still far away I sighed "Time to know where this tracks lead to" instead of flying I walked. My legs ached from the walking I was about to pass out from exhaustion then in the distance I spotted a abandoned train station I smiled and trotted towards it. I stepped on the platform of the abandoned train station on the platform are some empty barrels and boxes on the far right of the platform the office seems to be the boarded up I tried to open the door but it won't budge "Well I seem to be staying out here then" I concluded, I looked at my pip-buck's digital clock 10:45am I sighed and removed my cowboy hat and sunglasses and placed them down next to me I opened my pip-buck and brought out a bottle of water and took a drink I stared at the horizon the morning light illuminated the vast desert of the wasteland I glanced at the direction of Appleloosa "Good thing there's nopony after me" I told myself and took another drink of my water. 12:30pm my pip-buck told me I was cleaning my DMR with a clean rag I found lying around the station I was thinking on what will I do when I reached the next town shall I stay there for awhile? Or should I just pass by? Ugh too many questions are begging to be answered. I reattached my DMR on my battle saddle "Time to get going" I trotted out of the platform and began to fly towards the mountains where the tracks go through. As I flew below me are the train tracks which zigzagged on the sides of the mountains I tried to maneuver through the mountains the best I can but the fog makes it a little difficult, sometimes I clipped my wings on the side of the mountains but somehow I still managed to navigate through the fog. I tried to follow the tracks but it kept disappearing in the fog. So I lowered myself near the ground so that I can still follow the tracks, I can already see another town just up ahead I landed cause my wings are tired from all the maneuvering I just did so I decided to walk. As I walked on my right I saw a farm the farm had a silo that all farms have and also a barn and even a small cottage the lights are on, I smiled and trotted towards the cottage. As I approached the cottage I can already hear ponies inside. "What are we gonna do?! Our children, our home, that's all we have!" By the pitch of the voice I could tell that it's a mare. "I know! But what are we suppose to do? Just let them kill us?!" This time it's a stallion. I reached the door I hesitated to knock on the door but I really needed a place to stay for the night I knocked on the door two times the ponies inside became quiet, 2 minutes passed by as I stood in front of the door still waiting for the door to open. I began to talk. "I know your still in there" I bluffed hoping that their playing the quiet game that I would just go away. I heard them scrambling inside then again silence I heard the locks being unlocked the door swung open but instead a pony greeting me I was staring at the barrel of a hunting rifle. I don't have time to pick options instead I rammed the door hoping to knock the hunting rifle as I rammed the door the stallion behind the door was knocked off his hooves and hit the ground hard and knocked him out cold the hunting rifle skidded under the couch the mare stood in front of me wide open I identified that she is a unicorn while the stallion is also a unicorn. The unicorn mare stood in front of me eyes wide open her body shaking from shock I took a step forward slowly to avoid scaring her she started to speak. "Pl-please....do-don't hurt us...w-we still need mo-more time" she stuttered I stared at her confused . "What are you talking about?" I asked she started to calm down. "Wait you-your not with them?" She asked. "Who's 'them' ?" She sighed. "Well that's a relief" she frowned. "If your not with them then what are you doing here?" I straightened myself. "Well i was looking for a place to stay for the night just for the night if that's ok?” She looked at the knocked out unicorn stallion then back at me. "That's my husband's decision not mine" she stared at me waiting for an apology. "Oh... sorry about that he pointed a gun at me and my instincts kick in and rammed the door to avoid being shot" I protested. "And...uh what are you two talking about just before I knocked I heard there's somepony who's gonna kill you? I asked she looked down at the wooden floor and looked at me. "The-there's a group of raiders wh-who we owe a big amount of caps–" "Wait wait caps?" I asked in confusion. "Well yeah bottle caps" her expression confused. "What you borrowed some beer and nuka cola from them?" I asked "No, we use bottle caps as currency here at the wasteland" she told me. I just looked at her "Where have you been these two hundred years?" She asked "Sleeping" I muttered. "What?" She asked. "Nothing" I reminded myself to remember that they use bottle caps around here. "Let's get back on the topic on who is going to kill you" I told her. "Oh... right well we borrowed some caps to buy food and water for our kids–" "Where are your kids right now?" I asked. "Sleeping upstairs... anyway they always come to our farm and demand the caps we owned them but I always told them we need more time to get that much amount" she told me her eyes watering. "And how much did you own them?" I asked. "Eight–thousand caps" she told me. My jaw dropped. "Eight–thousand?!" I repeated. "Yeah" she told me. I could give her my family jewels ( not my nuts, ya dingus ) or should I kill the raiders instead making their lives easier? "When did they say they will be back?" I asked "Tonight" she told me fear in her voice. I heard groaning behind me I turned around and saw the unicorn stallion had woken up from being knocked out unconscious. "Wha–what happened?" He said as he glanced at my direction and frowned. "Who is he? And what is he doing here?" He demanded the unicorn mare trotted towards her husband and helped him stand on his hooves. "Honey this stallion wants to stay in for the night." the mare told her husband. ”And also help with your raiders problem." I added they both looked at me with a surprised expression. "Yo–you will?" The stallion asked and I grinned. "Yep" They both looked at each other and back at me. "Why?" The mare asked. "Cause it's my duty to protect and serve." I told them. "You a soldier?" Asked the stallion who trotted towards the couch to retrieve his hunting rifle under it "Where my manners– I extended my hoof for a shake– Cpl. Storm Cloud at your service." We were at the kitchen table they offered me some orange juice but I declined and instead I brought out my whiskey bottle and placed it on the table I looked at my pip-buck's digital clock 5:35pm they told me that the raiders will be here at 7:00 that they always do "Blue bolt" the stallion told me as he extended his hoof for a shake I shook his hoof "And this is my wife Apple green" the mare by his side smiled warmly at me I smiled back. "I welcome you to our rock farm" the stallion told me sadness in his voice I raised an eyebrow. "Like Ministry Mare Pinkie Pie's rock farm or just a another rock farm?" I asked the stallion smiled wearily. "Yep it's the rock farm of the head of the Ministry of Morale" he chuckled. "If my daughter were here she'll be talking nonstop about this farm" his smile went away and replaced it with a frown "Well not until tonight that is" he said. "That won't happen" I reassured him they both held hooves. "Well we thank you for your help but....how exactly?" He asked. "Well– I leaned forward –here's the plan." I sat on top of the silo my DMR removed from my battle saddle and now was on my side the bipod extended so that it won't fall, I looked at my pip-buck's digital clock 7:00pm I scanned around the rock farm hoping to see the raiders that Blue Bolt and Apple Green talked about. Suddenly I spotted the raiders their only three and also they are not wearing any armor but they wore punk clothes even their hair are also been punked they approached the house they knocked on the door vigorously. "Hey! Open up and give us our caps that you owe!!" The raider with the Mohawk demanded while the other two just stand behind him as I planned Apple Green opened the door in a dress she gave them a flirty look. "Hey boys, my husband is out getting the money but am soooooo lonely can you three handsome bucks accompany me while he's gone?" She said in a sultry tone the three raiders looked at each other and grinned "Sure we can, maybe a discount could be negotiable." the Mohawk raider said. Apple Green faked smile and opened the door to let them in the three raiders walked inside as the raiders went in Apple Green wave a hoof the plan is a go. The plan is too let the raiders sit in the kitchen and have them drink some whiskey and get Apple Green to take one raider with her to the back of the cottage so that Blue Bolt can kill the raider with a axe while I shoot the remaining raiders with my DMR. As the raiders kept drinking my bottle of whiskey and sometimes stealing a glance at Apple Green's flank, five minutes went by Apple Green talked to one of the raiders after they talked the raiders brohoofed each other and one followed Apple Green to the back of the cottage after they went into the back I attached a silencer on my DMR and switched to one shot I took a deep breath and opened my markspony HUD and aimed at one of the raiders who immediately passed out after three glasses 'Come on I can drink five glasses before passing out' I teased before pulling the trigger the bullet didn't break the window it just made a perfectly bullet–shaped hole. The other raider noticed that his buddy has been killed before he could call his other buddy who followed Apple Green at the back of the cottage I pulled again the trigger and aimed this time at his shoulder he cried in pain but before he could reach his gun Blue Bolt dashed in the cottage from the back door levitating his hunting rifle near him instead of shooting him he smacked him with the butt of his rifle the raider collapsed. I reattached my DMR on my battle saddle and swooped down from the silo and down to the cottage as I entered the cottage the kitchen table is riddled with blood the pieces of shattered glass from the holes I made the body of the passed out raider now dead his blood spread on the kitchen table his right hoof still holding his glass I asked Blue Bolt what happened to the raider that followed Apple Green "You don't wanna know" he winked at me. We stood in the barn the raider tied up in front of us still unconscious inside the barn rocks and pickaxes and also some wagons filled with….…You guessed it.Rocks. The raider started to woke his eyes his eyes gazed on us his eyes widened in horror he also realized that he's raider buddies are brutally murdered.....well not exactly brutally think like appropriate murder. Blue Bolt stood at my left hunting rifle pointed at our raider friend and at my right Apple Green removed her dress and now levitating the axe closely near at the raider I broke the silence. "Hey buddy rise and shine" I told the raider he glanced at my direction. "Hey bu–buddy look we ju–just came he–here for the ca–caps they owe us" he stuttered I step forward. "Who's 'we'?" I looked around searching for other raiders and glanced back at the tied raider. "I don't see others like you buddy seems like your the only one left" I glanced at Blue Bolt and Apple Green. " You guys see any raiders left?" I asked. "Nope" Apple Green stated. "Na-da" Blue Bolt said I glanced at our raider friend. "See told ya your the only one" The raider struggle in his bonds but they just won't come off . "Why are you here?! Your not even involved in our little 'deal'!!" The raider shouted at me. "It's true am not involve but if I were gonna stay in this lovely folk's rock farm for the night I might as well help." We left the raider inside the barn cursing and shouting we stood outside the barn thinking on what are we gonna do with the raider . "I say we kill him." Apple Green growled. "There's no point keeping him alive." Blue Bolt butted in, "Honey if we kill him the raiders in the raider village will notice that their friends are missing," My eyes widened. "Hold on." I made a timeout gesture with my hooves. "There's a raider village?!" I asked. "It's just Northeast from here." Blue Bolt told me I was about to say something but a yawn escaped my mouth. Apple Green chuckled. "Well we can talk about this tomorrow it seems our guest is feeling sleepy" I smiled sheepishly Blue Bolt nodded and yawned also me and Apple Green laughed and headed inside the cottage for a good night's sleep. I was awoken by the sweet smell of Blueberry pancakes I sat up on my bed and stretched out my wings I looked around the room the room was small but it has its own bathroom I removed my clothes and battle saddle and headed inside the bathroom. "Ahhhh" I said as I stretched my wings and back feeling refresh I put back on my clothes and battle saddle and headed out of the room as I headed towards the kitchen table I can already see Blue Bolt and Apple Green with their two kids eating Blueberry pancakes. "Morning everypony" I said with a grin Blue Bolt gave me a hoofbump and Apple Green gave me a hug the kids just looked at me with confusion. " Mommy who's the the funny looking cowboy?" The littlest fillie asked Apple Green. "Oh Gumdrops his not a cowboy" Apple Green chuckled and looked at me and asked. "Are you a cowboy?" I laughed, "Nope, just wearing this cause it looks good on me" Apple Green smiled and placed a plate of Blueberry pancakes on the table "Here have some.” I inhaled the sweet smell of Blueberry and sat down on the table and began eating it. I headed out to meet our friend the raider inside the barn I opened the big barn doors and found the raider Sleeping his back leaned on one of the support beams of the barn he snored loudly. I grabbed a bucket of water and splashed it at the raider. "Wake up sleepy head" I said as the raider coughed out the water of his mouth he glared at me "What the hell?!" He shouted at me and I grabbed his punk collar and dragged him out of the barn as I dragged him out of the barn the raider kicked and cussed in his bonds as we passed the cottage Blue Bolt and Apple Green was standing outside the porch glaring at the raider I can also see Gumdrops and his big sister on the second floor window looking at us. I dumped the raider at the pile of rocks causing him to stumble and tripping over the rocks before making him lay flat on the ground groaning in pain behind me Blue Bolt and Apple Green trotted towards me "So you figured out on what are we gonna do with him?" I asked them they looked at each other and nodded "We decided to bring him to New Appleloosa for trial, we decided at first to kill him but instead we want justice for threatening our family" Blue Bolt said. "And we also want to give you this" Apple Green said as she threw me a small pouch. I caught it using my mouth and placed it on the ground as I bend down my glasses falls of my muzzle and into the ground I heard both of them and the raider gasp. "Uhhhh" my mouth came up with. "Yo–your ey–eyes are glo–glowing!?" Apple Green said her voice full of shock "I can explain!" I shouted trying to assess the situation. "What are you? A robot, an alien?” Asked Blue Bolt. "None of those! The reason I have cybernetic eyes cause I walked in a trap in the war and I was healed by the Ministry of Peace and gave me these–I gestured to my wings– and these–I gestured also to my eyes–ok?!" I said panting the reason I was feeling nervous cause the day when I got the cybernetics is also the day I was avoided by other ponies they both sighed with relief. "Sorry about that cause I never see cybernetics on a pony before" Apple Green apologized. "Me too" Blue Bolt also apologized. "No worries you guys it's understandable" I told them I glanced back at the raider I glared at him with my cybernetic eyes and grinned as I flared my wings at him his eyes widened. "Your coming with me to New Appleloosa for trial" I growled at him "We said we are going to take him not you" Blue Bolt told me "Don't worry I was headed there anyway" I told him as I picked up my glasses and the small pouch I shaked the pouch. "What's in the pouch?" I asked Apple Green she smiled "Bottle caps" I put the bottle caps in my saddle bags my pip-buck beeped I looked at it : 500 caps been added, my eyes widened and looked at Apple Green she smiled and leaned on her husband Blue Bolt put his hoof over her shoulder "We want you to have it, it's a reminder of our gratitude for helping us with our–he coughed on his hoof–financial difficulty" I smiled at them both. "Thank you" was all I had to say. I pulled the raider to his hooves and pushed him infront of me I attached a rope on his bonds so if he escapes I can pull him back to me, I tightened the rope using my teeth so that we can head to New Appleloosa I glanced back at the rock farm I saw Blue Bolt and Apple Green standing in the middle of the farm they waved at me I waved back and glanced at the train tracks I looked at my pip-buck's digital clock 8:00am I pushed the raider infront of me. "Come on move it we have a long walk ahead of us" the raider grumbled and started walking ahead of me I followed. "Can I have some water?" The raider asked. "Fine" I said as I brought out a bottle of water and gave it to the raider he opened it and started gulping the whole bottle as he was finished drinking he threw the bottle on the ground and continue walking I stared at him. "What?" I shook my head. "Your welcome" I grumbled and continue walking along the train tracks. "There it is!" I shouted and pointed at the town just 5 miles from our position "It's still far away and besides we still have to walk" the raider told me I shoved the raider "So keep walking then so that you can rest" I told the raider. "Your gonna let me go when we get there?" he asked. "No, your gonna rest behind bars" I said with a grin the raider groaned and continued walking me behind him. We reached the crest of the hill I looked at my pip-buck's digital clock 9:45am I could already see the roofs of the houses I shoved the raider to keep moving. "Will you stop shoving!?" The raider shouted at me. "Hey, if you want me to stop shoving you? Then keep moving!" I shouted back at him as I shoved him again he grumbled and kept moving. As we reached New Appleloosa i can already see the difference with Old Appleloosa. The town is filled with stores and saloons but the street seemed quiet but as we passed several saloons we can hear some joyous laughter of ponies drinking some ponies trotted about their everyday routine some looked at us and sometimes pointing maybe it's weird for them to see a raider in bonds being shoved by a pegasus, as we walked looking for the sheriff's office we were approached by five earth-ponies as the ponies stopped infront of us the one in the middle stepped forward judging by his attire and and the silver star on his chest his the sheriff of the town. He wore a brown vest and a brown trench coat behind his trench coat poked out a handle of a scoped.44 magnum while the rest of his buddies just wore cowboy hats and vest their weapons are also a scoped.44 magnum "Umm..you the sheriff around these parts?" I asked. "I sure do the name's Silver Star and you are?" I extended my left hoof cause the rope that was tied to the raider was attached on my right hoof "Name's Storm Cloud" He shook my hoof. "Well Mr. Smiles on behalf of the people of New Appleloosa I welcome you to our humble town".