Fallout Equestria: The Metal Ring.

I was right...Topaz is the reason we are going to have issues. I quickly cock my weapon flying into the air firing at the raiders that got the jump on us. We were able to get the cart out of the way. Root Beer and Moonglow used the weapons they had been trained to fire back.

I lost track of Topaz after a while. I thought she flew off to leave us here to die. Then I heard a string from a crossbow. A bolt came quickly for the head of a mare. It went right into her head and through the other side. The large bug fired another one. She is using us as a distraction?!

“She...is using weapons of the stars!!”

I turn my head to look at Root Beer and then look at the crossbow. Topaz flew right at the raiders using the crossbow as a melee weapon. The raiders didn’t even seem to know how to act with that. With one of Topaz’s other hands, she grabs her sword and slices it into the others. The blood coating the blade and the crossbow itself.

“Retreat!!”

One of the raiders screams and the ones who are alive run. Topaz didn’t even chase them; all she did was pick up her bolts from the dead. She washes off the tip of the bolts coming back to us soon after the battle is over.

“You three are too soft to survive too long here. Good thing you met me I guess.”

I quickly put my gun away to my side. I bite my lip to ignore my anger. Of course, I never could keep my feelings to myself.

“You could have fucking got us killed Topaz!! You know full well we aren’t even from this land. But do you even care?! No, you don’t give us the time of day to train us. You don’t give us anything. How can we trust you at all?”

Topaz just looks at me without saying a word at first.

“I could just leave you here to die if you would like.”

I just stare at the bug. She is not kidding if anyone talks back to her. Then Topaz grabs the collar of my barding with her robotic bug hand. The blast shield goes up. I stare into her bug eyes while she stares at me.

“If you wish to survive you listen to everything I say. If you get angry that I use you as a distraction. Then you have no right to be in this land.”

She pushes me away into the others.

“Go back to your home and stay as weak as it made you.”

I just stare at the creature. What happened to her to make her like this? I swear I have never met someone so willing to get others killed.

“Who the fuck are you what happened to you?! Why don’t you even trust us? You act like we are a bother and a burden to you. We are helping you here but you treat us like trash.”

Topaz closes her black shield.

“Life happened now, get over yourself, hitch yourself back up. Then we will talk when we get to our destination, understand?”

I try to argue with her. But Moonglow and Root Beer stop me and they hitch me and themselves back on the cart. I was known for losing my temper.

“Topaz, I am sorry for our friend here. She doesn’t understand this world. Of course, Griffins are taught how the world used to be. Then we have our scouts explain what is going on. It may not get us fully ready for what is to come.”

Topaz nods as we get going again.

“I am the same way I came from an island. Then I was tossed into a land that needed a hero. I would go into more detail. But if I said any more, others that I love might get hurt. Just because others learn I am still around. I am sorry if I am hard to get along with. If you learned what happened to me you would understand.”

I wish she would explain. But from the sounds of it if she did. Those that she had to leave and care for would get hurt. I am hoping someday she will get her life back. But I highly doubt she ever will. From the stories this world is cruel. You would think from the great story of sunshine and rainbows. That the world would now be at peace.

“I only fear that you’re a minion of the stars.”

Topaz turns to Root Beer staring at her, it’s hard to tell what the bug is thinking.

“Well, In a way I am a minion of the stars. Thanks to someone else pushing this on me. I am now one at least for now trying to get enough blood for the stars. I don’t go too nuts, I go for those that harm innocents. I would never go for folks that never hurt anyone.”

I took a deep breath as the three of us followed Topaz. While we do this she gathers whatever she can from the various bodies. She also told us it’s best to try to break into old buildings. You can find some amazing stuff there. I doubt it’s wise to try it. Since I am sure many things could get us sick. I already feel hot from being here. I am sure it could be because I am very upset with Topaz. I don’t trust her. I glance at the others leading in while we walk to wherever we are going. I speak just loud enough to speak.

“I don’t trust her. She refuses to explain herself. I also feel that she will get us killed.”

Root Beer sighs, shaking her head.

“Sprocket you don’t seem to get it. If it wasn’t for her we would already be dead. She is even willing to help us to find instructions. If we can’t trust anyone here then why did we take this job?”

Moonglow nods.

“I agree if we can’t trust anyone here. Just because you have a bad feeling about them. That means we have no right to even be here. Then go home as zeros rather than the heroes. Then we tell them the truth and no one will ever return to the mainland.”

I groan they’re right. If I am going to get so upset at Topaz. Then we have no right to be here. This world is so different from the world of our home. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it or agree with Topaz’s methods.

“Excuse me Topaz. Are you getting paid for this delivery?”

Topaz flaps her wings, turning around in the air still flying towards where we are going. I had no idea how she learned that or what kind of creature she is. But I have a feeling we are closer I am seeing more and more zebras as we go on by.

“No, I am more a citizen of this village. Because of all said and done. The zebras are the only ones that were willing to defend me when everything happened. So I felt maybe living with them would be a good idea. It has been now after this I can ask the elders about your books.”

I didn’t understand this at all. She acts like a mercenary but she also has a heart? I will never understand this. Before we could get any further a large gated wall blocked our path. Guarding the gate are heavily armored zebras.

“Let me do the talking. They don’t trust outsiders. It took me a long time to get into their good graces.”

I sigh and stand with the others watching little foals run around. The area is so heavily guarded that I doubt anyone would even attack this place. A little filly came up to me and stared at me. I don’t know why she is staring at me.

“Sawubona iponi”
I don’t have any idea what she is saying. Root Beer smiles unhitching herself leaning down to speak to the little one.

“Ngiyabingelela omncane unaye umama?”

The filly giggles pointing her hoof to one of the zebras talking to one of the guards.

“Ungumama wami.”

Root Beer smiles.

“Kumele aziqhenye kakhulu ngawe. Ukuze ube nesibindi sokukhuluma nabantu ongabazi.”

The filly giggles calling to her mother.

“Bavumele bangene. Babonakala benomusa futhi bethembekile.”

The large mare zebra turns to look at Topaz and they both come over and she leans down to the little zebra. She looks up to Root Beer, Moonglow, and me, and I try to give a kind enough smile since. I had no idea what she was saying. Topaz spoke to the female zebra.

“Bavela edolobheni lemikhumbi phakathi kwamanzi. Ngakho-ke abakaze baye kuleli zwe.”

The zebra nods.

“I see so you’re being very kind to my daughter and not from here? So you have never seen the cruelty of this world? If you haven’t gotten corrupted from the cruelty and hardship of this world. Then I am sure we can trust you. Topaz?

Topaz shrugs her shoulders.

“The pony gets upset easily at me. I am sure it’s because the world she is from is so pure. That it’s hard to understand. To survive you have to kill.”

The zebra nods.

“Ah, to see the world with such pure eyes. I am Qalisa. It's nice to meet you three. Topaz was telling me how you helped her with the deal.”

Topaz nods.

“Yes and we made a deal that we would try to find the manuals to start their homes back up. To come back to the mainland.”
Qalisa tilts her head looking fully at me. I have no idea why she is looking at me like this. She even looks at the others with a gaze like she is studying us.

“So what kind of boats have you all been living on for the last few years?’

I take a deep breath.

“Well, I have been living on an old pony cargo ship. Root Beer is from an old zebra troop transport. Moonglow is from a griffin fishing boat. There are like many ships connected. Just one question. Do you think you could give me and the others an immunity system boost?”

The zebras stare at each other. Topaz sighs, shaking her head.

“I doubt they have anything for you. Of course, they could try making brews for you. If your immune system is that bad. Then you better do what you can to stay away from the sick. Now it seems you will be welcomed. Let’s gets this inside and we will introduce you three to the elders.”

Qalisa yells out a strange call. We hear many locks slowly groan from being unlocked. The door opens up and deep inside is another part of the city. But deeper inside from what I could tell is another wall and gate that leads to the town.

Qalisa follows along with her daughter and leads us through the large city. Many of the buildings look to be cleaned out and stores are in the many homes. Most of them are housed by guards and from what I could tell warriors. Topaz leans in to whisper to me.

“The warriors live out here.. Since they’re trying to keep the young ones from seeing the hardships of the world. It may not fully work but it keeps the young ones pure.”

I hear the door behind us lock back up. Then the one ahead of us opens up showing an entire town in the middle of a large old park. There is no other way in and the windows of each building next to it are blocked off. There is another gate leading out with watchtowers watching. We bring the cart in and are unhitched.

Topaz puts down all the cases. She opens up the cases. I finally get a good look at all the large cases of water and food inside the big cases. Even meds and she pulls out the water talisman and flies over to a zebra that looks like she works on the water system.

“Now we will let the guards give the others water and food. I will take you to the elders. I warn you they may not help you right away. You have to prove to them you can be helped. A deal for a deal.”

Qalisa nods.

“That is how we work.”

Qalisa’s daughter ran off to play with her friends under the watchful eye of a large female yak. From what I see the Yak is the protection of the children. I am amazed I don’t see many non-zebras. I see a few ponies. I see one diamond dog and a yak.

The yak turns her eyes to stare at me. She pulls all the little ones close to her. I have a feeling from the look in her eyes she doesn’t trust me. We walk into a large tent that is heavily protected by armored zebras. Looking at me I could see the eyes of one keeping a very close eye on me.

“Allow me to do the talking. Keep them from saying anything Topaz.”

Topaz nods to Qalisa. The large mare takes off her armor out of respect for the elders. She lowers herself and her weapons like in a bow.

“Greetings Elder Tea leaf. We have visitors from a faraway place. They wish us to help them find it.”

She turns her head to look at me.

“Oh um.”

I quickly bow as she does in respect.

“Ship manuals on how to turn engines back on. If you know anyone that has come across this that would be great.”

Tea leaf stares at me, Root Beer and Moonglow.

“So the rumors of a city in the middle of the sea is true then. I remember hearing stories about this from zebras that came from the mainland.”

The mare thinks she looks at the other elders.

“We will give you nothing till you prove yourself. We will give you a place of your own to stay. But you need to do deeds and missions for us before we give you anything.”

I wanted to argue but Topaz shook her head. I take a deep breath sighing. I nod in agreement.

“Good, we won’t have anything for you till tomorrow go to the empty house outside the main gate and make yourself at home. Topaz will lead you there.”

I sigh, MoonGlow and Root Beer stay very silent. I have a feeling they do just in case. They don’t wish to anger these zebras or the others that are here. Topaz leads us to the outside of the second gate we came in at. The house is connected to a large building. From what I see it’s all for us.

“I will meet you here tomorrow. You get some rest. You will be able to get water in here. You will have food brought to you. If you need to you will have to hunt for food yourself. Be lucky you got anything. I need to get back to my place I will be watching you three.”

When Topaz leaves we go inside and we don't have much with us. We had bedrooms to ourselves, one bathroom though, and a shower.

“I need to think away from you two. No offense to you and Root Beer Sprocket just. I can’t handle too much of you two for too long.”

Root Beer nods

“I need to do some meditation anyway. Goodnight Sprocket goodnight Moonglow.*

They both go into the rooms and lock the doors. I sigh softly heading into the bathroom to go to the bathroom and take a quick shower. The water may feel strange on my body. But at least I am getting clean.

I go into my room, it's just a bed. I lay on the dusty bed listening to the silence. I do now and then hear random gunshots and the gates opening and closing. I hear the drums of the zebras as they sing together. Closing my eyes I don’t know what to think but this is home for now.

Footnote: Level up

Perk added: Ekhya: You have found the village and faction of Ekya. You’re just a pest to them at the moment. But if you work to honor their request and help them with problems. They may help you with your problem down the line. They have a radio Dj that will do their best to praise you and do a lot to ruin your reputation if you anger anyone in the village.