Fallout Equestria: Desperados

Fallout Equestria: Desperados

The Desperado’s, Part 3

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"One of the things both Harp and I truly enjoyed about the Desperados was their reverence to their history. They didn’t attempt to hide the blemishes or puff up their greatest moments. Though history is written by the winner, and they would have every right to write what they thought their history should be, they still embraced both the good and the bad of their history. They sought to learn from it and become stronger.

Learning all this made me a bit surprised at why they had such a flawed way of living. Though because of their harsh history, it was not hard to understand. Victims of their own success, time and time again their way has proven right, and because of it, they saw no reason to change. The more time I spend in the Equestria Wasteland, the more I have come to see their ways of doing this as acceptable.

But an era does not stay stagnant for long, and as other ponies begin to light the fires of their civilization, the already dim light of the Desperados will dim even more. History has never treated nomadic people well, and though their way is acceptable, a change will be needed for them to not be left behind. This too is what Harp believed, though she also believed she had no right to meddle in their affairs." ~ Azure Dice

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It felt good to be back in the Smuggler again, the wind blowing past my mane as the scenery rolled by. We were on our way back to the stable with several of the Desperados trailing behind us. With Slowtrot driving and the sisters, Live and Dead Axle, riding with us. Star stayed behind to oversee the initiation ritual, along with keeping an eye on the nightstalkers, and to practice singing a song we agreed on.

The Desperados wanted to have their celebration at sunset when everything was cooler and everypony was done working. I felt that, until then, I could oversee some of the ex-prisoner’s departure and take a look at the Ministry of Awesome lab.

“So about the initiation ritual.” Live Axle finally had gotten to the topic after being sidetracked on the topic about her family. I was told a little bit about it. Something about a test of endurance and strength, but Arras was vague on the details. “Most of us call it the gauntlet. You have to pull a heavy load while enduring a beating and insults. Oh, and drink some nasty chem mix that makes you feel like shit.”

It was a simple description but made me glad I got to skip it. “That sounds… unpleasant.”

“Trust me, I would never want to do it again. If you fail, you can always try again, but you're not considered a Desperado until you do, so most that fail will have to live outside of camp or join a settlement. Not everypony can be as strong as us, but we have a rule to never look down at those who try to become strong.” Live Axle explained.

“There are a few settlements along route 50 made up of those born from Desperados, but never became one.” Dead Axle spoke up from the gunner nest. “They look after our vaults and produce a lot of the shit we use to stay strong. Booze too.”

I looked up at the grinning mare as she was molesting the Smuggler’s energy turret. “Then if any of the ponies that come with it fail, would they get to live in those settlements?”

“Fucking unlikely. They are uptight about only having Desperado-born ponies in their communities. But I wouldn't worry about where they will go. There's a shit ton of places they can settle down along route 50,” she explained.

It didn’t matter to me where the other prisoners ultimately ended up, but knowing that at least I could uphold my promise to them was comforting.

I watched as Live Axle got up and leaned over Slowtrot’s shoulder, watching him drive. I wouldn't have minded it, but her butt was now near my face.

“Give her a slap!” Dead Axle told me.

“How about no!” I told the mischievous mare.

Unfortunately, Slowtrot had to drive around some, causing Live’s hip to knock into my face.

*Slap*

Live gave out a feminine scream, causing Slowtrot to swerve the Smuggler a bit and Dead to burst out laughing.

The drive didn’t take much longer. The Smuggler and the other Desperados vehicles were far faster than Daisy Chain. Slowing down, we saw the entrance that led to the Stable along with a pony poking their head out.

Waving as I got out, the mare retreated for a moment before she then climbed her way out of the hole. “Wow! So you did get them. I was half expecting to never see you again.”

“Well we're back. I hope nopony has done anything stupid already?” I asked the mare.

“Other than the norm, no. Everypony is either working or relaxing,” she informed me.

“Good, then let's get to work sorting the rest of you out,” I told her as I trotted to the hole in the ground.

_______________________________________________________

It hadn't been that long, but the list of names of who wanted to do what had shifted around. Predictable, the Zebras still wanted to go off on their own to find their tribe out in the wasteland. It would have been nice to have kept Bitter Tea and her knowledge of making enchantments, but the last thing I needed was a zebra curse on me.

That said, if they stayed with us, the likelihood of Star getting high and fucking the two zebras again was higher than zero. Seeing the videos of her still left me with mixed feelings about the matter, and I had a strong feeling that Cherry Knot wanted to make another one of my friends. The last thing we needed was Star becoming a porn star or getting pregnant. We already had enough pregnant mares to deal with as it was.

Among those who wanted to go back to the NCR was Chainlock. The strong-looking stallion was now before me wearing a chef's hat and apron.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked him cautiously. “There is no guarantee that the NCR will treat you any nicer.”

“I know,” Chainlock agreed with a sigh. “But I talked with the others and were willing to take that risk. We also want to see Spritz’s corps be paraded around by her hated enemy. Anyways, most of us have family in the NCR or along their borders. Personally, I want to see my mama again without having to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life.”

Including Chainlock, there were six of them that wanted to turn themselves over to the NCR. All of them were in the NCRCF for petty crimes or minor gangger activity. None of them had a hint of a hardened criminal or dangerous wastelander about them. They were just ponies driven to crime to survive.

“Well if you want to take anything with you, I won't stop you, but I don’t think the NCR will let you keep any of it. Other than that, there’s a Desperado waiting for you and the others at the entrance. Do whatever you need to do before you go, and… I wish you luck.”

Chainlock had a gentle smile on his face as he said. “Thanks. I made some more gumbo downstairs for anypony who wants some. I even wrote down the recipe for it. It was good seeing so many ponies enjoy eating my food. Maybe, if things between you and the NCR calm down, and I’m let out as a free pony, you and the others can come find me. I’ll cook you some more food, not just gumbo.”

“That would be lovely. If things go well on my end, maybe I can bring you some food from my homeland.”

As he left, Cherry and Bitter trotted in along with the twins and Slowtrot. All four mares were dressed up in intentionally torn-up old-world clothes and socks. It gave them all a wiled but fashionable look to them. It made me annoyed that I was stuck here, sorting out ponies, while they got to play dress up. Oh, how I miss shoe shopping.

Among them, Live Axle looked considerably embarrassed.

“Did you take them to your brothel, Cherry?” I flatly asked.

The pregnant whore laughed like nothing was wrong with that. “Well they looked like such sweet mares, so I asked if they were interested.”

Dead Axle chuckled. “Never saw a mare bend like that before. Right, sis?”

Live Axle hit her sister on the shoulder. “Fuck you. All I wanted was a dress. Why did you have to drag me to that?!”

I sighed as I looked over the paper that listed Cherry and all of her mares. “To the matter at hoof, why did you make a new list, and why is it called; Harp’s Wild Mares?”

“Oh you know why. We get to follow you and meet new and interesting ponies. Also being protected by the Desperados isn’t a bad deal,” she explained.

Frustrated, I told her. “I’m not going to run a traveling whore house, and that's final. Also, aren't you and almost half of these mares pregnant?”

Live’s eyes lit up. “Really? How far along?”

“She’s about one month in,” Slowtrot answered for her.

Cherry gave me a coy smile. “Oh come on, Madam Harp. I mean, ya, half my girls got themselves knocked up. It’s the danger of this kind of business. Anyways, this is what we do. It’s all we’ve ever known. I mean, most of us were born in brothels and whore houses. Out there in the wasteland, we’re just going to end up scattered and taken advantage of by some pimp. Seen that happen many times.”

Hopping on my desk, the mare again showed off some leg as though she thought I would be interested in her. “Our boss, the Madam, was what kept us together. She even kept track of our cycles to keep us from, well you know.” She rubbed her stomach for a second before continuing. “So we need a new smart mare to lead us. One that knows how to lead and can talk another pony into a sniveling wreck.”

Cherry licked her lip as she eyes me with desire. “You are exactly that smart mare we need. Yes, we're just a bunch of whores, but you're a smart mare who's better at getting information out of a pony than a slut. There's also the benefit of you getting a cut out of any business we do or helping you with more delicate matters.”

She then cut her playful act and hopped off my desk. “ Also, I know you're going to want some new dresses, and who else do you know that can make them for you?”

“I’m not against the idea,” Dead Axle spoke up in Cherry’s defense. “Those mares got some skills. With making clothes, I mean. They’d fit in with the other mothers among the Desperados. Also, I’d like to learn a thing or two from them. Show off my hoof work to somepony.” She wiggled her eyebrows at Slowtrot who avoided eye contact with the mare.

I just placed my face into my hooves, trying not to lose my cool at this stupidity. “Alright, but you're under my direct command. No whoring once you leave the Stable unless I give you permission. Otherwise I’m dumping you and your mares off at the first settlement we pass by. Understand?”

Cherry trotted over and gave me a hug. The older mare pressed my head to her chest, giving me a nose full of some strong perfume she must have made down here. “Oh, you're not going to regret this. I’m going to finish your dress right away. Those two adorable sisters told me you're putting on a performance tonight, so I must see it.”

Thinking about it, I was sure I was going to regret this decision. However, having a pony who can make me new dresses was possibly worth the risk. Now that I’m thinking about it, I realize that I also need to ask, “Can you also make shoes and proper underwear?”

A wide smile formed on her face. “Already ahead of you.” She then leaned in and whispered. “Just come by later and you can try out some lacy panties I’ve recently finished. They're your size.”

The mare then let me go and trotted to the door. “Oh, if anypony wants to try on some nightwear I recently fixed, follow me.”

I watched as Live Axle uncontrollably shifted away from her sister and followed after Cherry.

“Should I be worried that Live is going to get in over her head?” I asked Dead Axle.

Dead Axle shook her head. “Don’t worry about it, she may not be the smartest pony, but she’s not that dumb. But I would suggest that Slowtrot here keep an eye on her. Don’t you agree?”

“Personally, I rather not watch more mares play dress-up,” he responded.

Dead slapped him on the flank. “Just go, unless you want to join me in that other room. I got a scratch that needs itching.”

Slowtrot stopped to seriously think about it for a moment but then sighed. “You know what? After what happened with Star, it might be better to keep an eye on your sister. Cherry is annoyingly persistent when trying to convert other mares to her herd. We can meet up later.”

As soon as Slowtrot had left, Dead Axle sighed. “Maybe I should have suggested a quickie.”

Dead Axle then looked at me as she asked, “So, what happened with Star?”

“She got high and made a video with two of my clan mates,” Bitter said in an annoyed tone. The fashionably dressed Zebra then turned my way, holding up a pipbuck 2000. The screen turned on to show images of a lab. “Harp, there's something there you need to see with your own eyes.”

Looking at the green-colored photograph, the old pipbuck was barely able to get any good details of what I was looking at. “I guess I should go down there myself.”

_______________________________________________________

With Order lighting the way, we found that the tunnels were safe for the most part, mainly because of ponies hunting in them frequently. The need for meat in Chianlock’s gumbo had lit a fire under some ponies. The fresher, the better. The Zebras were also offering to make a snakebite weapon for anypony that helped get them materials for it, so that also fueled the drive to hunt. There were also plenty of ponies harvesting the crystallized sulfur, so the hoof traffic scared much of the snakes further into the tunnels.

Unfortunately, this meant that the three of us were relaxed enough for Bitter to show Dead the video of Star. The echoing sound of my friend moaning was a bit disturbing.

Arriving at the Surmount Mining Unlimited tourist trap, the place was a mess, but at least the lights were still on. The animatronics that Star described was in pieces all over the place. Fortunately they were not making any noise. Here we met up with the other zebras who had a collection of odd materials.

I raised my eyebrow at Bitter who stopped in front of me and placed a very old-looking cigarette in her mouth. She lit it with flint and steel. “Just so you know, we ain't your bitches. This is just out of thanks for getting us free and killing that bitch of a tin can. We plan to keep anything good we find down here.”

“Fair enough. I’m only down here for information, so take what you can carry,” I told her as I trotted around her to where Star said the lab was.

“Oh, it’s you two!” Dead said out loud as she trotted over to the zebra stallions Star had a short relationship with. “Say, would you consider joining the Desperados? I know we would make an exception for you two.”

“Not the time for flirting,” I told Dead as Order nudged her to follow us.

“Think about it, studs,” she offered as she followed me.

“Why are you ponies so thirsty?” Bitter asked.

I loudly groaned. “Please don’t lump me in with them. Anyways, didn’t you fuck a prison guard for some smokes?”

Bitter gave a long pull of her cigarette and trotted past me. “The thing I want you to see is over here.”

Following her, my hooves crunched as we trotted over the discarded shells of nightstalker eggs that littered the floor. We came to a desk that was in front of a dusty glass window. There was one streak on the window from where a hoof had pushed the dust aside. On the desk were several egg-shaped rocks sitting on a display. To the side was a terminal. It had long since lost power.

Looking through the streak on the window, I saw racks and racks of the egg-shaped rocks… I then bent down and picked up one of the nightstalker egg fragments and compared it to one of the egg-shaped rocks. They matched. They were nightstalker eggs. “But why are they stone?” I asked out loud.

“We wondered that too. Maybe they just petrified over time, or they were petrified intentionally. It was known that your princesses used petrification on certain criminals they could not cage,” Bitter pointed out.

Looking back through the glass, I couldn't see them all, but there had to be hundreds of them. “That would make sense. If the Ministry of Awesome was planning on making a stable population and then use them to guard sensitive places. They would need a lot of them for that. Petrifying them would likely make it easier to transport and prevent any of the eggs from hatching while in transit.”

I looked at the dead terminal. An idea formed in my head. “Maybe this has the answers.”

Drawing magic to myself, it was cold and stagnant. It was actually worse when my pipbuck clicked with the warning of radiation. It wasn’t much, but my stomach churned a little from taking it in. Sending the magic out and to the terminal, it slowly came to life. The screen flickered for a moment.

Text filled the screen. A list of notes appeared. Quickly scrolling through them, I found that my assumptions were right. Indeed the Ministry of Awesome was planning on shipping the Ghost Nightstalkers out to several black sights and VIP’s along with instructions on how to train the pups. As stone, they would be able to pass through any check unnoticed, and if investigated, they’d pass them off as pet rocks… a weird cover story?

It looked like they originally planned on petrifying them as pups and passing them off as small statues for wealthy ponies, but they soon realized that keeping them as eggs proved to be more space-efficient.

Near the bottom, I found how they were supposed to de-petrify the eggs. By using a simple talisman they developed down here, the petrification should be removed. This, too, was meant to be passed off as jewelry for wealthy ponies. All one would need to do is place the talisman on the egg and it should hatch a nightstalker.

“Did you find any talismans? They should look like jewelry. It says they're the key to hatching the eggs,” I told Bitter.

The Zebra mare pulled out a brilliant sapphire blue necklace. The chain had tarnished with time, but the gem was no less beautiful. I could feel a faint magical power from it. It housed a simple spell that ever so subtly reached out. Bitter placed the talisman on one of the eggs on display and waited.

After a moment, the egg cracked. Emerging from it was a very small and pure white ghost nightstalker. It looked up at Bitter and gave a hissing yip.

“Well, that one is yours now,” I told her.

She sighed and picked up the pup. “You said they can be trained?”

Nodding, I told her, “From what the documents left behind said, it would be easy as long as it starts at a young age.

“Here, pass me your pipbuck. This terminal has instruction on training and what to feed it.”

Taking the pipbuck 2000, I plugged it into the terminal, and downloaded the files. Passing it back to her when it was done. Now the question, what do we do with the rest of the eggs, and if there are any more talismans?”

“We have a few more talismans. I’ll exchange most of them for extra supplies. We also want some of those eggs,” Bitter requested.

“Deal. Not like we need them all anyhow, so take what you need,” I invite her.

She threw me the necklace, “If only you were a zebra, then maybe we could be true friends.”

Pocketing the talisman necklace, I gave her tired smile. “So many ponies have told me that about if only I was a unicorn. Still, thanks for the thought.”

A chuckle came from Dead Axle as she eyes the newborn nightstalker puppy. “Oh, can I have one?!”

Bitter glared at the Desperado. “Why do you want one?”

Dead picked up one of the eggs, grinning like a mad mare. “Why else? Who wouldn't want their own pack of invisible snake dogs? This is just too awesome, and it might be the solution to the raider problems back on route 50.” She looked me in the eyes. “Please tell me you’re giving them to us. You have to be.”

I took the petrified egg from her and put it back on its display. “That’s part of the idea. I’m also thinking we could sell some to a wealthy merchant. It could earn everypony the caps needed to help supply us with the guns and ammo we all might need later.”

Placing her hooves on my own, Dead fluttered her eyes in a seductive manner at me. “If I was more into mares, I would show you a good time right here, right now.”

Taking my hoof back, I pushed her a little away from me. “Let's be thankful your stable door opens only one way, and that’s away from me.”

Returning my attention to Bitter, she was currently busy holding onto the newborn nightstalker pup. “So, Bitter, did you find anything else of importance?”

“Nothing useful for you,” she told me as she motioned her head to the other side of the lab. That part was in an even worse state of decay with broken glass and destroyed machinery. “Looks like the nightstalkers broke almost everything that could be broken by them. We did find a few things usable for alchemy and the talisman that likely went to the acano device that petrified those eggs. Everything else is just scrap.”

I had a feeling that she was not telling the entire truth, but I both didn’t want to get in a fight with her, nor did I care if they kept a few things and didn’t tell me. If I had to guess, they might have found that serum the ponies here developed to survive the radiation. If true, the only pony I could see being dangerous too, was themselves.

“Alright. I’ll take that talisman and see if it can be of any use to us,” I told her.

“Naw. We're keeping it,” Bitter said back.

I gave her a flat, stern look. “Not to sound ignorant, but do you even know how to use a pony talisman, or do you just plan to sell it?”

“It’s our own business, pony,” Bitter grumbled at me.

I sighed, feeling a bit frustrated at how she was being stubborn now. If my anatomy lessons were correct, Zebras were actually distantly related to donkeys, not ponies, so the same stubbornness could be in them as well. “Then what do you want for it? More supplies?”

Bitter smiled as she trotted close to me. “Well it’s true, we can't use pony talismans like you can or know how to work the acano tech like others, but you have something we can use. The blood of a princess.”

I… didn’t like that. “Alright. If you’re asking for one of your friends to knock me up, then no.”

Shock and confusion appeared on Bitter’s face as she stumbled back. “What?! No! I mean your literal blood, not your firstborn. Why would you think that?”

Facehoofing, I took a moment to collect myself. “Sorry. The last pony who wanted my royal blood only wanted me as a breeding mare for her son, so I have a reason to think that. Now, why do you want my literal blood?”

Bitter took a moment to collect herself. “You truly have a difficult life, Harp… As for the blood, it’s just to make another enchanting potion. Legends say that the Equestria royal family are the descendants of a king that once traveled to our homeland over a thousand years ago and slew a tyrannical dragon that plagued many powerful zebra tribes. With the wizard of swirling stars at his side, he welded the magical sword of sovereignty and made right any wrongs he came across. In the legend, he helped a shaman complete a powerful protective enchantment by using his own blood as the catalyst. That shaman then became the first caesar of the Rommony. The protective enchantment allowed their tribe to grow and prosper, safe from rivals and monsters.”

I was left a bit stunned. Never have I heard any story like that about my family. But the part about the wizard sounded familiar. “I… I’m sorry, but I think your family might have been mistaken. We didn’t have any kings or queens in my family up until after the war. But if all you need is some blood, then that shouldn't be a problem.”

Bitter sighed and chuckled. “Yes, even I question that, since you ponies only ever have princesses. It might have just been an honest mistake. Celestia’s thousand-year rulership is almost unheard of, so they might have thought she was his daughter.”

“That? Naw. The two Princesses were adopted into the royal family. The history is a bit vague, but I think the Master of Clover the Clever had found them and brought the Princesses to Equestria.

“Anyways, let's get back on track. Now if you do find anything else here, I doubt it’s anything safe. So just be careful. Okay?” I told her.

“We are not some dumb pony wastelanders. When it comes to dangerous magic, we know what we're doing,” she confidently said to me.

“Then I’ll trust you wholeheartedly. Just stop by medical before you leave. I’ll have Slowtrot drain some blood from me and store it.” Trotting over to the door that the eggs were stored behind, I again took magic into myself and used it to power the door, thus opening it. “Take what you think you’ll need and leave most of the talisman. When you're ready to go, just go to the Desperados with whatever you think you will need to survive. And again, thank you for all your help.”

Bitter cracked a small smile. “Don’t go telling anypony, but it has been… fun.”

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Things progressed quickly as the day went on. Farewells were had as some ponies loaded into different Desperado vehicles. One was heading to the NCR controlled Junktown, along with Spritz’s body as a trophy. A few others didn’t want to stick around, choosing to be dropped off at a nearby small settlement before trotting off into the wasteland. There were some who had changed their mind and wanted to join us, and the rest stayed at the Stable to do more work before leaving, wanting that extra week’s worth of supplies.

Slowtrot didn’t say much as we got into the Smuggler, but seeing that Live Axle was taking home an extra full bag, she clearly liked a lot of what she tried on. Even Dead Axle managed to find some more clothing while I was being suited up for the dress.

Relaxing in my seat as the wind blew through my mane, I had almost forgotten how good it felt to have clean underwear on, though now I was worried that Star would flip my skirt again. The lacy panties were smaller and more tight-fitting than I had expected. Still, I felt some of my dignity returning.

Rolling back into the Desperados camp, I hopped out to stretch my legs. The camp was as lively as we left it. The Desperados were either sitting around doing nothing, doing some sort of exercise, or working on a vehicle.

“Sup, Sluts!” A rather thin and well-kept mare with too much makeup on yelled at us as she trotted over.

Another mare next to her loudly whistles at us. She was much bigger and stronger looking than the previous mare. “Where did ya get those outfits, and can we get some?”

“Where the fuck do you think, Transmission?” Live Axle told the bigger mare as she jumped out. “Turns out the whores of that Stable know how to make a dress. Wish I didn’t see them do their other job when I first trotted in.”

I could feel for the mare. Cherry was an outright nympho with no sense of shame.

“Ohhh, I’d like to visit.” the smaller mare practically gushed.

A shiver ran down my spine as Dead Axle chuckled, holding a pipbuck 2000. “They got some videos if you like to share.”

When the fuck did she pick that up? “Order, delete all videos in Miss Dead’s pipbuck.”

“Sorry, Madam Harp. That pipbuck had been locked out of the system,” my AI servant told me. It had a dejected-looking cartoon twittermite bowing in my hud display.

“Ha! I knew removing that part would keep ya out!” Dead gloated.

Her gloating lasted only a second before Live Axle snatched it away. “I think I’ll hold onto this for the time being.”

“Oh come on, sis!” Dead complained.

With a sigh, I left the four Desperado mares behind as I trotted over to see the Elder Big Papa. Slowtrot had other obligations and was going to do some medical scanning for the Desperados before the show.

As I trotted through the camp, I saw several of the escaped-con ponies laying about, battered and bruised. They all had smiles on their faces as they shared drinks with each other with several Desperados among them, acting like they were all old friends.

The elders’ tent was far cleaner than it was this morning, and Arras himself had on something that looked a lot more formal. It was still the same gangger outfit the Desperados normally wore, but just a lot more well-made and decorated. What was striking was the heavy use of reds and yellows along the thick seams as well as a rhinestone embroidered skull on the blue suit.

“Please don’t tell me that’s what you all wore back in Majesty's time?” I begged Arras.

The old goul looked at his outfit and chuckled. “Oh no. Pony from the Canterlot would be caught dead in this, no. This was actually made by my granddaughter. That mare had no sense of style, but had a big heart.”

“Sorry for bringing that up,” I said, feeling awkward.

“Don’t be. She passed away a little over a hundred years ago. I had already accepted outliving her long before she died. She was the one that pushed me to teach everypony how to weave and to use that skill to remember those who had passed. Because of that, even after so much time has passed, I’ve not forgotten her face or that of any of my family. Their portraits will even live on long after I finally pass,” Arras explained.

He got out of his seat and trotted around over to me. Now I could see that he had pants on. The trim lines were small red and yellow tassels. His granddaughter really didn’t have any taste in clothes. “So I’m presuming your job at the stable is done and you can finally relax, Harp?”

“For the most part, yes. I just had to confirm who was going where. We also found this.” I pulled out one of the petrified eggs. “I’m sure you have seen or heard about the Nightstalkers that came with us. Well, this is an egg of theirs.”

Arras got a closer look at it. “Yes, the strangely well-behaved white ones. Well, this is certainly a nightstalker egg, but made of stone.”

“Petrified, actually,” I correct. “We found hundreds of them along with the key to hatching them. I just want your approval for taking them with us,” I explained to him.

The old ghoul fell silent for a few seconds. “We have a lot of foals here, so just letting the beast you already have around them is stretching their parent’s trust. If they didn’t do what Star said, I would have ordered them to be slaughtered and cooked. You understand?”

“Perfectly. They are dangerous animals.” Pulling out the talisman, I passed it to Arras. “This is the key to hatching them. We have a few more that are being kept safely locked away. But, if you're uncomfortable with the live ones, we can send them back to the Stable.”

Arras looked at the talisman before putting it on around his neck. “That's fine. They can stay so long as they don’t cause any trouble. We got our own aggressive guard dogs ourselves. Good noses on them. These nightstalkers shouldn't be able to get near any of the tents without alerting them. That aside, what are you planning to do with these eggs? Sell them?”

“For the most part, yes,” I answered.

“Personally, I would make my own army of them. Have them clear out any raider nests.” He chuckled.

I chuckled too. Arras was surprisingly easy to talk to, and the more we talked, the more I shared. About my home stable 50, about the Marewaii Islands, and about my time in New Appaloosa. In return, he shared with me some more of the Desperados histories. Victories, losses, and how they had changed over the last two hundred years.

_______________________________________________________

Though beautiful in its own right, the dress Cherry made was still quite odd to wear. Half made from extruded cloth that was part rubber, and half from two old-world dresses sewn together seamlessly. Star had on a similar dress that Cherry had brought with her, making us match a little.

I looked out onto the crowd and saw many faces looking back at me. Mares and stallions, the young and old, all were looking at me expectantly.

“Oh Star, I’m getting cold hooves,” I said nervously.

She laughed. “This is giving you cold hooves? Not doing a striptease at the Ruffled Feathers?”

“That is that and this is...well… not as embarrassing.” My nerves calmed, and I took a deep breath.

Star gave me a friendly pat on the back. “There you go. After working as a dancer, this shit is nothing.”

Looking back at her, I gave Star a mischievous grin. “Is that why you’re fine with there being a video of you fucking two zebras?”

Rolling her eyes, Star trotted into position. “Well, that’s different. Also, I was high at the time. But returning to polite society is impossible for me now, so what does it matter? I avoided the brothel because Mom wanted me to get a decent job in town, and I didn’t want Bridget to ever find out I did such things. But that’s all ruined, so why not let loose do some things I’ve always wanted to try?”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Seriously, you wanted to try… all that?”

She gave a nervous smile, “Well not all… that. Just the idea of it. Anyways, holding back now is just going to drive me crazy. You too. Maybe you should think about finding a stallion to have some fun with. The last thing you want is your first time to be from a raider. We are going deeper into the wasteland after all. Just saying.”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. So let's not talk about the possibility of getting raped. It’s making me nervous again.” I told her with a sigh.

“Sorry. Just trying to be honest, that's all. Now let’s not keep the ponies here waiting any longer,” Star told me with a calm smile.

I turned my attention to the harp in my hooves and then up at the crowd. Picking up a megaphone, I addressed the crowd. “Hello Desperados and those who may become Desperados. First off, I thank you for accepting us, for giving us a chance. Things have been hard for everypony lately, and harder times are to come. Yet you all stand strong in the face of adversity, meeting it head-on. For better or for worse. This I can respect, for we all know the stings of liars and the lashes of schemers. Some ponies may not have the strength to stand on their own, but desire power above anything else. But to you, nothing earned is nothing worth gaining, for it is just an empty reward, desired by hollow ponies.

“Your leader, Arras Wever, or as you know him, Elder Big Papa, has shown me the strength of his resolve. To be honored by him is far more than I deserve. It’s something I have yet to earn. For that reason, I wish to earn it. Even if my own hooves prove too weak to run, I will still try and run as far as I can. So, in these coming days, I ask you, treat me like any pony who must earn their place so that I may truly earn it. Together may we help each other become stronger.”

I plucked a string on the harp, letting out a pleasant tone. “So I will sing a classic song of which Elder Big Papa should know from a time long passed, once sung by a pony important to him. This is, Oh it’s a lovely war!”

Strumming the harp, the notes were simple enough to do. It’s nothing like the more complex music I had to practice back home. It had a carefully depressing feeling to it, as did the song itself. Singing the lyrics was Star with me backing her up, her voice had the perfect condescendingly upbeat sound to it.

Up to your waist in water, up to your eyes in slush,

using the kind of language that makes the sergeant blush,

Who wouldn't join the army? That's what we all enquire.

Don't we pity the poor civilian sitting by the fire.

Oh, oh, oh it's a lovely war.

Who wouldn't be a soldier, eh? Oh it's a shame to take the pay.

As soon as reveille has gone we feel just as heavy as lead,

but we never get up till the sergeant brings our breakfast up to bed.

Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war.

what do we want with eggs and hay when we've got plum and apple jam?

Form fours. Right turn. How shall we spend the money we earn?

Oh, oh, oh it's a lovely war.

When does a soldier grumble? When does he make a fuss?

No one is more contented in all the world than us.

Oh it's a cushy life, boys, really we love it so:

Once a fellow was sent on leave and simply refused to go.

Come to the cookhouse door, boys, sniff the lovely stew.

Who is it says the colonel gets better grub than you?

Any complaints this morning? Do we complain? Not we.

What's the matter with lumps of onion floating around the tea?

_______________________________________________________

-Reputation-

-Desperados-

The three are now part of a family. They should wear their vests proudly, as who wouldn't want to be part of a wasteland biker gang? Any place under the Desperado's control will be considered a home for them, and merchants associated with them will give the three a discount.

-Faction Item Obtained-

Desperado Vest - It’s a simple black vest woven with care to be stronger and more durable than most cloth. Embroidered with great skill is the Desperado symbol, a flaming skull wearing a cow pony hat. While wearing this, the three will be recognized as members of the Desperados, and treated as such.