Fallout Equestria New Horizons: Demon Mares

Ante up, no cut that fool
They want to act stupid gun-butt that fool

The week passed with a peace that was eerily uncommon for the Hoof, the usual bloodshed calming down to an almost frighting level. But beneath the surface in the miles-wide maze of tunnels under the Hoof things were heating up.

Staring over the body of a mangle grass green mare lying tore to shears, blood mixing with the murky water. the party of five ponies dressed in combat armor shined lights emitted from their helmets at the gruesome scene before them, all had looks of unease shared between them.

An older looking buck with worn facial features and aged armor trotted up to the body, examining the corpse the elder stallion gave a worried huff. “Looks like somepony got the drop on her, no signs of battle, and it was a quick death.” He looked to a pale stallion wearing goggles who seemed no plus about the finding. “Call it in Card Shark, the Security Mares probably Rampage is down here.”

He nodded, bringing up his left forehoof to his face he ditto with a device attached to his hoof with a screen and buttons on it, the screen flash to life with a radiant green hue. But before the stallion could say anything a figure fell from the raptors of the ceiling landing with two hooves on the pale pony’s neck, making a cracking sound as he slashed into the water.

Quickly turning to see the figure, the party saw the form of the demon cyber mare. Before any of them could turn to shoot her she moved with blinding speed, using her talons she drew a sword from a holder on her hip and decapitated three ponies in quick seclusion. Behind her, a tan unicorn mare tried to get a shot off with her battle saddle, but the cyber mare simply just thrust the sword behind her and stab the mare in the throat. Quickly grabbing the mare’s lump body with her hooves, she used it as a shield from the elder buck’s twin machine gunfire.

Throwing the body at the buck, knocking him back, thrust the sword with such force it implants him and the dead mare’s body. Waiting for a second as he stopped moving, she drew the sword out and flung the blood off it.

Blackjack looked around to see if any more were coming, her cybernetic eyes glowed a red hue as she watched. “Charity I’m approaching the target location. Harbinger scout parties have been small but they expect us.”

“Have any been able to report your location there?”

“No, I’ve killed all of them before any could report back to their headquarters. In fact, they know so little they thought I was Rampage.”

“Good, continue with the mission objective. And make it snappy, the Reapers are already in position.”

“Understood, over and out.” With the glow of eyes die out, looking around Blackjack continue her track down the rusted metal pipe filled tunnel, making sure her steps created no splashes as she went.

The next few run-ins end much the same, only one that got more complicated was when a mare came swinging with a flame thrower, that took a while and using collapsing a pipe on her to do it. But finally, Blackjack reached her final destination, walking quietly toward a light at the end of the tunnel. She came out into a large room with a metal staircase that led from the murky water to a similar metal balcony. On top of it stood two ponies with the same assault rifle battle saddle were talking it up, one a was a rugged-looking mare with spiked was smoking and blowing puffs toward a light blue smaller mare much her to annoyance.

“So you were a raider before you joined the Harbingers?”

“Yep, was born into a tribe that lived in an old movie theater. We called ourselves the Ghost Killers after a villain in an old martial arts flick.”

“What’s with you raiders and names like that anyway?”

“Huh? It’s scared rivals tribes and enemies into fearing you, or to create the sense that these ponies could be dangerous.”

“Yeah but some of those really stupid, like I heard one was called the Smile Squad. Like whose gonna be scared of that? I think your enemy would just fall over laughing from hearing that.”

“Some are stupid obviously, but in defense of dumb raider names, I raise this. If you heard the name Smiled Squad what would you think?”

“That they must be dumb if that's their name?”

“Yes, but it could also mean that their crazy, take pleasure in killing, or are so morally bankrupt that robbing and killing brings a smile to their face. All of a sudden that name takes on a more disturbing meaning. They could also be using that name to lure in ponies who don’t think they're a threat, a way to kill easy prey. Sometimes it’s the unthreatening sounding things that are most dangerous.

“I never thought of it that way, I guess rai-” The word died on the blue mare’s tongue as her head exploded outward, spattering the raider mare in the face causing her to fall back. Before she could react two more bullets found their way into her throat without a sound.

Both mares collapse onto the metal grading as Backjack appear to the side of them. “Huh? Those stealth mods were really helpful this time. I will have to tell Apple Bloom thanks when I get back.” Walking to a blast door connected to the rest of the balcony, she pressed a red button on a panel and the door slid open.

“Charity, this is Blackjack. Entering the Harbinger ‘Temple’ making my way to the generator room, are the others ready?” A hint of worry came out of the cyber mare, this plan needed to go perfectly. They had a small window to make things work and if they failed it could mean death or Dawn escaping, Blackjack couldn’t let that happen at any cost.

“Don’t worry Blackjack their all ready to go, just get your end done first.” With that, the cyber mare nodded and walked into a white hall.

Releasing her magical hold on her earpiece, Charity looked around the deck surrounding her, a set of consoles lined the room from one end to the other, large glass windows set above them giving the whole deck a view of the outside. A command chair sat perfectly in the middle with a panel, it’s flashing buttons with labels that went over Charity’s head. Apple Bloom had told her she would running most of the ship’s function so all Charity had to do was give orders, for that she thanked Celestia for the A.I. mare.

A raspy gruff voice sounded from behind the command chair. “Can’t believe you manage to buy this airship from the Society.” The form of a black elder stallion, who still looked in physical prime trotted up beside her. He wore armor that looked like a mashing of combat armor and sports gear from a prewar poster “Old King Awesome wouldn’t part with this beauty for mostly anything being the last of its type and all. But you somehow convince the old fart to cough it up.” He seemed empress yet kind of worried at that idea. A filly buying a giant airship that could be the last of its type from surviving descendants of high society ponies with deep saddlebags, well it unnerved him a bit.

She just snickered at that. “Well the Society has been a very good customer of my business when I made a proposal to them, they would get my employees to fulfill any high-end job that would cost a small fortune of mercs to do. After they saw how my mares performed they were begging for my services.” Charity grinned evilly at that.

The older buck reeled back. This child was a force to be reckoned with when Big Daddy first met her was confused that somehow this “Filly’ got Rampage and Blackjack to work under her, but all it took was a few minutes of talking to her for him to realize she was no laughing matter. The way she conducted business reminded Big Daddy of a friend he used to have, the cutthroat cleverness made him well if they were related.

“My Reapers are ready but are you sure this plan will work?” When he heard what their plan of attack was, it seemed too risky to make sense.

They would attack from the air and ground while Blackjack disables their power by knocking out their generator, shutting off their defenses around the tower. Then that ‘Alicorn’ would teleport Rampage and the Reaper’s top 30 into the building, they would then search the building for Dawn and capture or kill her. The plan sounded simple enough but it all rides on Blackjack, Big Daddy didn’t like it, putting all his eggs into one basket.

“Have faith Big Daddy.” Charity leaned back relaxing, watching as all her planning fell into place. “This is Blackjack your talking about here. Need I remind you of her achievements before she became a cyber pony?” Big Daddy shook his head, well aware of her abilities. She killed Deus the third top Reaper after all. “Good, she’s now more determined than before to see Dawn pull down, you don’t have to worry about her fucking up because she would rather die than fail.”

Blackjack crept through the greyish halls of the hub, attaching herself to pipes running that along the ceiling and activating her stealth spell, she silently moved throughout the halls, avoiding several groups of ponies dress in purple robes as she went. Finally reaching a set of double doors with a yellow glowing sign named ‘generator’ she scened the area for hostiles, once she was sure no pony was around she detached from the ceiling and snuck into the room as quickly as possible.

The generator was a 10-foot tall cellular that sat on its side with two pipes ejecting out of it, one went into vats of water that bubble and spiral below the metal grading the generator sat on, the other extended up toward the wall, breaking up into several pipes going all across the room. The room was hot and steam created a haze that made the room look bright yellowish. As Blackjack approached the generator she reached into saddle pouches around her waist and pulled out apple-shaped devices

“Charity, this is Blackjack, I’ve reached the main target. Defenses have been little but I expect they don’t know I’m here yet so they haven’t tightened up things more.”

“Good, we’re beginning our attack now, below that thing sky-high then search for Dawn.” The cyber mare nodded, a feeling of want getting to her. She was so close to her goal, so close to her mare.

Outside the shadow of the airship loomed over the Hoof as it approached the towering form of Stable Tec HQ, it’s frighting form causing ponies on the ground to look up in awe and surprise. Inside Big Daddy walked through a classy looking hallway, the floor was velvet carpet with hexagon patterns along dimly lit lights created a nightly mood. the elder stallion approached two ponies dressed in strange armor standing in front of a set of wooden double doors, nodding respectful to the buck one turned and opened the doors revealing a large theater room. Dozens of ponies, griffins, and buffalo sats in the front row of seats facing a stage, as the elder bucked trotted down the walkway many nodded or bowed their heads to him.

Getting onto the stage, he trotted past a grey unicorn mare in the same armor most of the people in the audience wore and onto a poem. The grey mare’s horn lit up and Big Daddy’s voice boomed throughout the theater. “Reapers! Attention!” At that all of the crowd stood up, faces held high saluting the old buck. “Our greatest challenger since the Steel Rangers war is the enemy who sits below us! Today we face an enemy for the very soul of the Hoof, probably Equestria as a whole! They’ve come to the Hoof giving out premises of a better tomorrow under the guise of a False Prophet, but in reality, they want to take the city and conquer us all! They want the technology of the city of Hoofington so that they can build an empire under the name of a fake goddess, and destroying anybody that goes against them, well fuck that! I say that the Reapers show these robe-wearing Holy Flame spouting pansies why the Reapers are the deadliest army in the Wasteland!”

No pony cheered instead they gave a loud stomp and shouted. “Death before honor!” Before saluting the buck.

“Now let's go give ‘em hell!”

On the left side of the gondola of the airship hangar doors opened, the Reapers stood in attention looking determine at the landscape below them. Big Daddy trotted in front of them then turned to the wasteland. “Reapers! Let’s stomp ‘em” With that, the grey buck grab a bottle from a strap around his armor with his teeth and smashed it across the floor. Stepping on the colorful liquid then splashes it all over himself, he grinds his teeth as bat-like wings sprouted out of his torso.

Most non-griffins followed suit making the actual flyers cringe at the display, soon all the Reapers were sprouting wings. Big Daddy just smiled then gallop toward the outside, jumping like a missile into the air than taking flight toward the tower. The Reapers followed him, looking like a Hellstrom of bats descending from the airship. Down on the ground ponies standing on the walls and taking positions behind set up defenses in the complex started firing up at the army of hundreds of gangers coming at them. The gun towers that surrounded walls of the complex turned upward, bellowing cannon fire into the air, only to be answered back by heavy fire from auto-cannon saddles and anti-material rifles.

Inside the tower alerts blared, red lights blinking throughout the halls. Blackjack laughed in gleed at the commotion. “Looks like the party’s about to start, better get this done.” She placed the last of four apple-shaped devices on the generator. Pressing buttons on one of them, she stopped as the sound of large steps began to approach from behind her. Turning quickly around she was greeted with the lumbering form of a giant pony whose entire body was a cybernetic mess of wires and metal plates. His size could give Lacunae a run for her money standing four times the height of any pony, two mounted miniguns set to his sides ready to fire. His eyes glowed red that created a beam in the haze of the room’s mist, pointing with hatred at the cyber mare.

“Deus?” Blackjack said in somewhat disbelief at the monster in front of her. “You know I heard somepony bought the spare parts of your body after I blew you in two.” She said mockingly. “So Dawn restored you huh? Guess you're still mad about what happened huh Doof?” That name got a murderous stare from the metallic monster.

It’s robotic mouth open and muttered one phase at the top of its voice. “CUNT!”

The twin miniguns roared and Blackjack flipped to the side, running as the storm of bullets followed her, looking up she pointed her left forehoof at a pipe. Her hoof fired out like a grappling hook releasing a cable behind it, grabbing on to the pipe the cable retracted pulling Blackjack off the grading and away from the wave of death chasing her. When she caught up with the pipe she swung around it and planted her back hooves on top of the pipe. Deus aimed his fire upward toward her, destroying the room as he went, his bullets bouncing harmlessly off the generator as they moved up. Using the same tactic as before Blackjack fired her left forehoof at a pipe high above the entrance, quickly pulling herself away as soon as her hoof reconnected she dropped like a rock toward the metallic pony before. Landing on his back belly down she tore into his miniguns with talons on her forehooves. Lifting herself up she with the might of several ponies she pulled the guns up while she bit his neck causing the beast to scream and well.

She droved cybernetic teeth into his neck more and more as he struggled, laughing in glee at the metallic pony’s pain. With a huff she jerked back tearing a piece of his throat off, his screams echoing throughout the room as sparks, blood, and oil gash from the wound. Spiting out the metallic pieces in her mouth Blackjack laughed at her hoof work. “Not so one-sided now huh Deus?” she laughed as she wrapped her forehooves around his neck. “I ain’t the scare Stable pony I was three years ago, now I got your cybernetic upgrades. This time I ain’t winning by the skin of my teeth!” She took her left forehoof while holding him with the other, and drove a talon into the red glowing eye socket. Blinding Deus as he thrashes about, his guns tried to at the mare but they weren’t built to turn toward their user only stopping at certain angles.

Deus was galloping around hoping to get the mare off, but Blackjack struck her right hoof talons into the metal pony while using her left hoof to grab one of his miniguns. Pulling up with all her might the gun jerk slowly back, bullets still firing wildly out of it, wires tearing at the force. With a hard yank, the minigun tore from its port, the chain of bullets being torn off with it. As the metallic pony kicked and even galloped into the wall staggering the mare a bit, the cyber mare used her free hoof to reach into her bag pulling out a flat round device, a mine. Pressing a red button in its center she placed the mine on the other minigun than jumped off as quickly as possible. The thrashing the metal pony was doing caused the mine to actively release a spark of magical energy that filled the area around Deus, energy sparked off as the metallic pony stopped mid gallop then fell over.

Blackjack looked at the still form of the monster she once feared, once he had chased her throughout the Hoof with legions of gangers at his beck and call. He’d attacked her home killing mares she grew up with and drove her into the Wasteland. He was partly responsible for the way Blackjack’s life was now, she could violently finish him off but that was Rampage’s call not hers. His daughter should decide if she wants him around, no instead she would just leave him for now. She had bigger fish to fry.

Instead, she looked back at the generator of the room, the bombs she had set being mostly shot up. Luckily she knew how to improvise. Walking over to the machine she pointed her talons at it than stab them into the generator. With frighting vigor she tore the machine piece by piece, using even her teeth to rip it open. When she was done the machine was a pile of barely functioning parts that bellow steam.

All throughout the base lights went dead, the gun turrets outside stop firing leaving the defenders confused. The darkness of the halls gave way to a red glow as backlight turned on, the generator room became a haze of red instead of the sickly yellow.

“Now time to find Glory than Dawn.” Blackjack cracked her neck, getting ready for the big fight.

But before she could leave a voice spoke from loudspeakers in the hall. “Oh Blackjack I knew you would get inside somehow, and since the power is off that means Deus has failed. I must say you have gotten more talented since the last time we met.” The familiar calm motherly voice made Blackjack's blood boil, the only thing she wanted to do was stuff her sword down the mare’s throat. “Is this revenge really worth it Blackjack? I have kept my daughter safe as to my agreement with her for your life, and what have you done with it? Turned yourself into a cyber mare to defeat me, gave up your freedom to a Filly, and have become a glorified merc turning your title of Security into a business slogan. Now, you seek to destroy the greatest we seek and give control of the city to a Filly! Tell me is this worth it?”

The only phrase she utter was. “It’s worth it for him.” She checked her guns, loading them with armor-piercing ammo than walked with methodical anger down the hall.

“Well since you become so inclined towards destroying our holy cause I will throw you a bone. I’m in the presentation room waiting for your arrival. Well, come my little pony let’s end this blood feud.”