Fallout Equestria: Desperados

Fallout Equestria: Desperados

Those who are Left.

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-Harp Melody-

Special

Strength: 3

Perception: 7

Endurance: 4

Charisma: 9

Intelligence: 8

Agility: 7

Luck: 4

Skills

-Barter- 65

-Science- 80

-Speech- 80

-Unarmed - 10

-Guns - 25

Trait: Good Natured - Harp focused on less combative skills growing up. Instead, she focused more on social and constructive skills.

Trait: Small Frame - Due to her small size, she have +1 Agility but your limbs are more easily crippled (25% extra limb damage).

Unique Trait: Blood of Platinum - As a direct descendant of Princess Platinum, Harp has a natural aura of authority and power which is both magical and social. When performing magical feats, Harp gains a 2x power boost and has unique dialogue options open to her.

Learned Perk: Princess Training - Charisma.

Learned Perk: Educated - You gain two more skill points every time you advance in level.

Learned Skill: Take Charge - Sometimes just giving orders is all a pony needs to do to get things done. When Harp Melody gives out commands in combat to her friends/companions, they gain a 5% boost to damage, accuracy, and critical chance.

Perk: Presence- Harp commands the attention of those around her. The average pony will have a somewhat positive opinion of her before even knowing her.

Perk: Empathy- Harp has grown to understand the ponies in the wasteland and knows how she must talk to them to get a favorable or negative response from them.

Perk: Guardian Dulhan- As though death itself had come to drag the wicked to the river stix, it appeared like a nightmare. In battle, a strange headless pony in black armor will come to Harps aid. The entity is dual-wielding two revolvers that are engulfed in blue fire. The presence of this pony gives Harp an unnatural aura when around death. This greatly increases her ability to eliminate. As mysteriously as the pony appears, it vanishes, leaving behind the smell of brimstone and installing terror in those who have seen it.

-Gear-

-Phorminx's Enforcer: A simple compact revolver that is easily concealed. It was once used by Harp’s father, Phorminx. It was gifted to her for safekeeping. This revolver has a +10% to critical chance and critical damage.

-Lelantos: A prototype bolt launcher using a revolver system. This air rifle is devastating at medium range. It uses easily recovered steel bolts. It is powered by mirage pony magic. No other race can effectively use this gun unless they're willing to strap spark batteries to it.

-Companion-

Order: Harp’s recon drone. It’s VI system has evolved into an early-stage AI. which is equiped with two Lelantos rifles. The droned can also be installed with up to three talismans. Order lets Harp fight without having her put herself into danger.

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The Followers took Star to patch her up. They were more surprised to see that she was alive than at seeing all the blood that covered her. Same for Slowtrot when he showed up with a hole in his shoulder, but at least he’s still alive enough to slowly trot to a medical tent.

"I had warned Ashy many times that this would happen, Harp," Jali said to me as she sucked on a cigarette. Some of the smoke leaked through holes in her neck and cheek. "But she just kept on pushing, and now it's all over."

I had run out of any patience that I might have had after the attack on the Desperados. I could tell that Jali knew it. Before Slowtrot had shown up, I told her what had happened. The old ghoul began chain-smoking right there. The stress of one horrible event happening right after the next, along with getting kicked out of town, must have caught up with her.

Jali finished off another cigarette and said, "Maybe, and it's just me, but I think she wanted someone to kill her. To end her suffering."

"And take as many ponies with her as possible. She sure got what she wanted," I said with a huff.

I sipped on a Sparkle-Cola as I looked over at the horizon. The sun was finally peeking over. It bathed the land in pinks, reds and orange as the blue sky slowly returned. All the fighting and anger had kept me going up until now, but exhaustion had finally caught up. The caffeinated drink was the only thing keeping me going.

Jali lit another cigarette. She placed it in her mouth and puffed. "At least it's over, for what good that's worth. I can at least tell Velvet what happened, though even her power in the NCR has its limits. With her husband, Calamity, running for president, I have no doubt they will be forced to have an opinion on what happened here. They will likely have to denounce you three as outlaws, otherwise they’d risk becoming marginalized right before an election."

I understood politics very well. Even though my family stood above all others, my mothern still had to placate the mayors and other ponies with power. She would tell my siblings and I that if the royal family ever lost favor, there would be a convenient peasant revolt waiting to put a new dictator in charge. In that respect even in the wasteland, that had not changed except now I was an easily disposed of an outsider.

"It's a good thing that we are leaving as soon as possible. I got my own political fuckary back home to deal with. It’s time I get my hooves as far away from this one as possible." I then sighed. "I'm going to miss you. A lot."

She looked at me with a sly grin. "Ya, it's been… a thing. That's for sure. Let's hope we get to see each other again under better circumstances."

A small smile formed on my muzzle "Ya… I can only hope."

"Hope is sometimes all we have. Maybe it’s the only thing that has been keeping Equestria alive all this time. I know that I've lost everything but hope for the longest time. So don't stop hoping. Maybe that day will come.," Jali told me as before she finished off her cigarette. She lett it drop stomped it out. After that, she trotted off to one of the tents.

Looking at the camp, several of the petrified Desperados who could be saved had been brought over to be treated. The Followers themselves were absolutely stunned to see how we used that magic to save those lives, but I was unwilling to give up the talisman to them in case I ever needed it again. Still, it took a little weight off my shoulders to see those ponies finally recovering.

But to save the rest, it meant trotting to the lair of a monster who had their hooves in the creation of the wasteland itself. A pony who harmed my ancestors and is still hurting ponies today. Yet that was still far away and not yet a concern. No. Not yet.

"Oh HARP!" Soft hooves wrapped around me in a warm embrace as Cloudy Sunrise buried her face into my side. "I thought I'd never see you again."

I nuzzled my marefriend. I had not seen her for so long was painful, but now that pain faded in this very moment. "Cloudy, I've missed you."

She let go of me and gave me a stern look. "You know how worried everypony was?! For all three of you?! Then the news about the NCRCF came through and we were shocked. Those two jackasses said you led a prison riot!"

"Wait! Stone and Rock are still alive? Talk about dumb luck," I said in genuine surprise. "Oh, better keep them out of the brothel. One of them gave a zebra friend of mine an STD."

Cloudy frowned for a moment then laughed. It sounded like she was under a lot of stress, only for it to be lifted. "Ya, we know. We know." Again she hugged me. "Please tell me you're staying. I know you can't, but just tell me everything will go back to normal."

I hugged her back, but couldn't bring the words to say it. It was one lie I just could not say. Not to her. I wanted her to have hope. Desperately so, but not false hope.

"S… sorry... but I can't. Things will only get worse if I stay. Not just because of ponies that will come for me, but also ponies that will hurt you to hurt me. So I have to leave," I told her.

She squeezed me tighter. "And if I demand you stay, will you?"

"Then others will drag her away, for better or worse," spoke Waterspout. The sharply dressed hippogriff trotted over. He carryed a plane-looking saddlebag that stuck out like a sour hoof on him. "But I can't help but be reminded of my youth. So many goodbyes with many lovely hen's."

Cloudy finally let me go and snarled at her boss. "Not the time!"

He placed a talon on her shoulder. Concern was on his own face. "Sorry. Just trying to say that I understand. It's not like you will never see each other again. The Equestria wastelands is a big place, but not as big as you think. I’ve bumped into many creatures I thought I'd never see again. Some I wish I didn't."

With a long sigh, Cloudy relaxed. She rubbed her eyes as though wiping away her tears. "I guess I knew this was going to happen someday. I just wish it was not such a mess of a parting."

Waterspout glanced back at town. "A mess is an understatement."

He then lifted up the saddlebag with a wing and placed it next to me. "Never did get to pay you for the good work you did for us. Also, owe Star as well. It has not been easy without her keeping order."

Looking inside, there were clothes, a bag of caps, and several bottles of booze. There was even a picture frame with a photograph of the staff. Star stood alongside the other workers.

"I may be a shrewd business hippogriff, but Star is still family. A frightening and dangerous pony, but still family," he explained before pointing out, "Both your dresses are there. I also added six bottles of our top shelf in-house herbal vodka. It should last you a while if you drink responsibly."

"Fat luck that's going to happen," Star said as she trotted out of a nearby tent. My friend was covered in bloody bandages and was chewing on some sort of jerky. She looked like she had not been shot ten times.

Cloudy jumped, tackling Star into a hug. The smaller mare barely made Star budge. "Why must you keep getting yourself in trouble?!" she sobbed.

Star patted Cloudy on the head. "Because trouble finds me, but I'm sorry that I worried you."

"You better damn well be!" an angry Rusty Cleaver shouted as she scurried to Star followed by a shocked-looking Brass Chain. Both their Foals groggily trotted behind only to find energy when they saw Star. Once that happened, they zipped past their parents.

The fluttering of wings drew my attention as Longslide and Gyrojet landed nearby. Carrying in their talons wre both their children and a heavy-looking saddlebag.

With a big smile, Star beamed as she said, "So, you're bringing everypony just for me."

Longslide sighed as he put his son down. "Even if that wasn't true, I still need you to deliver some supplies for us. Have some of the griffins pushing the trailer over right now."

Both the young griffon hybrids rushed over to Star, giving her a hug. They clearly understood that she was leaving as they held her tight.

Under her smile, I could tell that Star was hurting inside. Up until recently, this was her home, and all of them were ... No, they are her family. If it was possible, I would tell her to stay. To be with the ponies who love her. It was unfair that she had to leave. unfair that the wasteland took one of the most important ponies in her life from her.

Star embraced the foals in a big hug for a long moment before letting them back down. Pepperbox clung to her tighter than the others, and Star had to gently peel her off. "I know,” Star acknowledged sympathetically. “I'm going to miss how adorable you are, but please be strong. Bridget is going to need you and your brother. Family must be strong for each other and I know that Gunrunners are stronger than any griffons in this wasteland."

She turned to Copper Wire and Light Step. "Both of you too as well. Good friends are worth more than all the caps in the world. like a mountain of them. Treat Bridget right and I know she will treasure you."

"Star, what are you on about?" Longslide asked.

She got up, a crack in her smile now betrayed the sorrow she must be feeling. "Longslide… I want you to look after Bridget for me. I can't take her with me. Not where I'm going."

Longslide squinted at Star, concern just barely visible on his face. "And where is that?"

She took a deep breath as she stepped forward where the foals couldn't quite see her face. Her expression turned to a cold determination. "A friend wants me to go home, so I'm going home to see them. It's not a place for good foals like Bridget."

Longslide didn't respond for several seconds, then slowly nodded. "Dad always told me it's best to throw out your own garbage no matter how old it is. So, when you're done with that, you better come back here. You’re her only mother, and I've long lost faith that my stupid brother will ever return."

A true and happy smile formed on Star's face along with a tear in her eye. "Thank you… thank you so much."

"We're family, Star. It's what we do," Longslide told her.

A clunk near me drew my attention to Gyrojet who dropped their saddlebag next to the one Waterspout had left. Inside one bag was an ammo box. In the other was what looked like some tools and mechanical parts.

"Longslide will never admit it, Harp, but he was worried sick about you. So much so that he worked on the ammo press just to distract himself," Gyrojet informed me as she pulled out one of the tools. "We got a lot of spares, so these old tools are no loss to us, along with the extra parts for the Smuggler’s workbench. Think of it as part of your payment for the job. We also packed most of Star's things, what little she had. It’s mostly jewelry and a few magazines."

She reached out and patted me on my head, ruffling up my mane a little. "You did a lot for us. It's amazing that the time has been so short. Take care of my husband's baby, but don't be afraid of giving it a few more scratches."

A bump on my flank was followed by Cloudy resting her head on my shoulder. The mare made a little motion for us to move a bit away from the crowd before trotting off herself.

"I'll keep that in mind Gyrojet, and I hope your foul, or chick… your baby comes out healthy and happy," I told the griffin as I followed Cloudy.

Looking back, I saw Star giving Brass Chain a big hug as a few of the others laughed.

Once we were far enough away that things felt quiet, Cloudy stopped. She looked nervous and downtrodden. I tried to say something to cheer her up but she interupted me with a kiss.

Until this moment, I didn't know I needed this. This embrace, this kiss. I didn’t want it to end. Yet it had to. We both nuzzled each other for a moment longer, taking it all in. The touch, the smell, the taste. I had missed it all.

"Harp… I just…" she was nervous as she spoke, so I held her hooves.

"Just say it. I'm here for you," I told her.

Cloudy took a deep breath and said it. "I… I want to break up… sorry."

"What?" My brain stopped as everything went blank with only the echoing of her words could be heard.

"It's just after everything that happened, I've come to realize that I’m not ready for such a serious relationship. It was fun. Really fun, but maybe too fun. I got to thinking after you were taken away about what I liked about you, and maybe what I liked was that sophisticated air you had. You were a cute pony who doesn't do crazy things. What I'm trying to -"

Cloudy stopped as I began to laugh, finding it ridiculous. "So you want a… princess, but not one that hunts raiders and such."

She nodded slowly. "When you left to deal with the raiders… it reminded me of my father and how he likely died out there all alone and wanting to come back home."

I knew what she was doing, but at the same time, I could tell that she was not lying. She needed a pony that could stay near her. To give her the peace of mind that one day she would not be left all alone with no knowledge of what happened to her loved one. She was also letting me go, freeing me from any responsibility to her.

From here on, there was nothing tying me to this town other than bittersweet memories.

"I… understand," I told her.

Cloudy backed away, clearly trying not to cry before trotting back to the others.

I don't know why, but it did hurt hearing her say that. I knew the relationship was over and it was never that serious to begin with, but it still hurt in my heart for her to break up with me. I still didn't know if it was love or lust, but I did know that I cared for her. Leaving her also left an emptiness in my heart.

So I sat there, looking at the sunrise as slight breeze caressing my fur.

A shuffling behind me was followed by Slowtrot asking. "You alright?"

The stallion was now wearing the white long coat he found in his last time jump. The Desperados vest was under it and the Followers armband was attached. It made him look like some high-class mad scientist.

I shook my head. "No, but I will be. It's just the first time I've ever been dumped. That's all."

He sat down next to me. A dopey expression was on his face. "Ya, that never gets easy. But look on the bright side; now you don't have an excuse to turn down all those ponies."

I cocked an eyebrow at him. "Are you serious?"

Slowtrot chuckled which caused him to wince in pain. "No… well, maybe a little. I still agree with you not wanting to bed convicts, but we're going to be wanted ponies now, aren't we? So it doesn't matter all that much anymore."

Looking back at the sunset, I chucked a little as well. "No. No, it doesn't. Still, I have standards, so no fucking way am I going to act like Star."

"Oh?" Star spoke up from behind us as she trotted over and sat down on my other side. "Says the little mare who wanted to hear all about how I got dominated by two Zebras. Even watched the video. But ya, it's not a good idea to act like me. I'm not that smart."

She turned to Slowtrot. The happy look on her face diminished. "I heard about Dead Axle."

"There's still a chance she can be saved," he reported with a sigh.

"Like a quest from all those ancient tales," Star commented.

I nodded. "Feels like it. Maybe we'll save a princess along the way."

They both looked at me and then laughed.

After a long moment, we got up, knowing it was time for us to go. Most of the ponies that had come to say goodby had already begun to leave. Likely they knew if they stay for too long they too will be tied to what we did by association.

As we trotted to the Smuggler, several of the Desperados were standing around as the Gunrunners were attaching a trailer to the back of the vehicle. Not far was the other trailer the Desperados had been holding for the Gunrunners, finally completing the deal the two had made.

Talking with Longslide was Elder Big Papa. When the ghoul Arras saw us, he smiled and waved us over.

"So I hope this war is over?" I asked the elder ghoul.

"As Desperados yourselves, I can say you have honorably delivered the revenge we craved and without innocent blood spilled by our hooves," Arras calmly said with a smile. "Though the cycle of hate will likely keep spinning, it's good to know that, for now, our hooves are clean."

Longslide huffed as he got off the Smuggler. "Though I wish I could have seen Ashy be dragged through an NCR court. But truthfully, I'm just glad that I, and the rest of the Gunrunners, can move on. And maybe, with Ashy now gone, things can calm down."

He pointed to the back of the Smuggler. "We made sure that the workbench was finished. You should be able to safely press your own ammo as well as clean and modify any guns you get your hooves on. Treat my baby well and she will take good care of you."

"Thanks again, Longslide," I told him as I looked on our ride out of here. "I hope you're business will flourish."

A cocky grin formed on his face. "No need to hope. Other than the NCR wanting me to make them their own Smuggler, we also have an order for making more service rifles. Even without the town, we will get by."

I turned to Arras. The ghoul was looking over at some of his now recovered clan mates. "So what's next?"

He sighed, turning his gaze over at me. "We bury our dead and hunt down the supply cases you pulled out of Blue Skies while the others pack up. Then we finish scavenging that town and stable before heading north. Shouldn't take more than a day. I doubt anypony will give us problems."

"Then that's it. It's time to go," I said. The words I spoke felt both heavy and hollow.

"That time always comes," Arras said as he started trotting to the other Desperados. "Trust me when I say this, Harp, an ending is never just the end, but simply the time for a new story to start."

"That I can agree," Azure said from the Smuggler's passenger seat.

I had started getting used to him appearing like that, so I was only startled a little.

The lurker clicked his face claws in a way that sounded a bit happy. "Though I would love to see how this town will change, we do have places to be. I have a feeling that there will be far more interesting stories to experience out there anyway."

He scooted over to give me room to board the Smuggler. Getting on, I placed my bolt launcher in its vehicle holster and made myself comfortable. It was strange to be in the Smuggler again after such a short time. It was like I was now where I was supposed to be, and in being here, things were going to be alright.

Slowtrot turned on the engine. Star Charter climbed into the gunner nest. But before we could go, the cry of a young filly stopped us.

"Mommy, don't leave me!" Bridget cried out as she galloped, hoped, and flew into her mother’s arms. "Don't go!"

Star held onto her daughter tightly. "I'm so sorry baby, but I can't stay."

"Then take me with you!" Bridget sobbed.

Star sobbed as well. "I can't. It's too dangerous."

"But I'll be good. I won't do anything bad again," the filly pleaded.

"You never ever have been a bad filly, so don't say that," Star said through her tears.

This only made Bridget cry more. "But why are you leaving? I don't want you to go. I don't want to be alone."

Star gritted her teeth. "I'm sorry baby…"

Longslide flew over, ready to take his niece.

Stroking her daughter's head, Star told her. "Mommy's going on another adventure. I’m going to punish some really bad ponies. So be good for me. Be good for your aunt and uncle. I will return, and I'll tell you all about it. I'll even bring you some souvenirs."

"I don't want souvenirs. I want you, Mommy!" Bridget again pleaded.

"I know, and I want to be with you too, more than anything in the world," Star said through tears as she pulled Bridget off her. "But the bad ponies that hurt mom… hurt grandma, they will hurt you too If I don't go and punish them. I promise I'll return to you. Even if I have to turn this wasteland red, we will be a family again."

"MOMMY!" Bridget screamed as Longslide took her. The filly struggled with all her might as he flew back.

I watched as Star buried her head into the Aeternus, still sobbing.

I reached out to her, "Star… it will-"

"Shut up!" She quietly growled. "Go. Let’s… just go."

Sitting back down, I let my friend quietly sob as the Smuggler slowly lurched forward and drove away. The cries of Bridget faded the further away we got, eventually drowned out by the Smuggler's engine.

Ahead of us, for now, was the sunrise, and behind us was the past. A town built from the scavenged ruins of the old world. It sought a new future in this cursed wasteland the ponies of old made. It was filled with good ponies and bad ponies. It had those who struggled to get by and those who made others struggle. It had ponies I loved and those I hated.

It is a place we could never return since we left it with bloody hoof prints.

New Appleloosa, for the Lightbringer, was her first stop in the wasteland where her existence as a hero started.

For others, it's a place in a story, of which they may one day visit.

For those who live there, it is simply home.

And for us… it was the place we had to leave to truly begin this long adventure. A gateway to the wasteland and a promise of a new life left unfulfilled.

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Fallout Equestria: Desperados.

End.