Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale

Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale, Chapter Twenty Eight

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Before we could get the raider extermination plan started, we all had a few things we needed to take care of first. I hoofed over our gear to Horus for a bit of an upgrade, and also took him up on engraving my guns, since he had offered.

It felt good to finally let myself rely on him, to actually reciprocate his feelings without feeling guilty.

As for Molo, she had one pony she wanted to join us, and fortunately he was in town. What had me worried was that this was an ex-raider like Molo. Worse, he was a Smelter, and the brother of their leader. Which, if my memory serves me right, he is also one of Molo’s lovers.

After some persistent knocking, the door flew open, revealing a rather big, muscular and scared up stallion. "If this is another cult, I'm not buying." He said with a scowl, but then looked down and saw Molo and I. Smiling, he stepped aside. "Molo you cunt, what in the fires are you doing here, come in, and we can make it a foursome." His eyes then looked at me. "Or more."

Molo trotted past him "Sounds fun, but not why we're here, Cauterize."

Trotting in myself, the place was rather clean for a raider, though with garbage all around, it was at least kept in the corners. At one end of the room I saw the likely cleaners, two mares sat in the bed, dressed up like the common whores from the back allies. They both looked exactly like each other and I wasn't quite sure, they both also looked several months pregnant with their barrels on the wide side.

Molo laughed as she trotted to the mares. "Dust and Smoke, you bitches are still fucking this looser!" She then jumped to them giving them a hug, of which they struggled and failed to free themselves from.

"Get off of us you dick stealing cut." The two said in pitch perfect union.

The three began the wrestle, but Molo had the upper hoof and soon had both in a headlock, then kissed both on the cheeks. "Oh come on, it's not my fault that Cauterize found my ass a blast. And are you both expecting! How exciting."

Standing next to said stallion, he then loudly grunted. "Enough fucking around Molotov, why the fuck are you here?"

Still holding the twins, Molo answered. "So, do you want to really piss off your sister? maybe kill her?"

A smile slowly formed on Cauterize's muzzle. "Always up for messing with Short Fuse, so if this is more than just shitting on her dress, I might forgive you for setting me on fire if you're going some."

"Oh fuck you, you set me on fire as well!" Molo shouted.

"But the sex was grate afterwards." The stallion said with a chuckle.

Molo then shrugged, letting go of the twins. "It was okay. You got a nice dick, but no technique."

Both twins chuckled as they got off the bed and trotted over to Cauterize. They then got muzzle to muzzle with him, both growling out. "You are not going to fuck that bitch again!"

Cauterize backed off, looking worried. "Okay, okay, no fucking the bitch. You two don't have to be cunts about it."

Watching the two pregnant mares trot out of the building, Molo then hopped out of the bed and joined us. "You really can pick them." She snidely told Cauterize.

The big stallions huffed. "Didn't think winning that free fuck in the arena would get them pregnant, or that they would hunt me down to take responsibility. Damn Stable-Dweller, the bitch ruined a good thing."

Molo trotted past Cauterize, and with a swift kick, nailed him in the balls.

The large stallion crumpled to the ground in pain as he squeaked out. "You fucking bitch!"

In response Molo chuckled at him. "Just teaching you a lesson. I know plenty of ponies who will just shoot you for saying that about the Stable-Dweller.."

Pushing himself up, Cauterize then back hoofed Molo, knocking her across the room. I then drew Rime Frost, aiming it at the ex-raider.

Cauterize then sneered out. "Ya I get it, I'll hold my tongue about the glorious hero known as the Lightbringer. Now tell your cute friend to put her gun down, I'm in no mood for killing a mare I rather fuck."

Molo practically springed back up, smiling. "Take a chill, Lottery, we're all friends here… well maybe not friends, but we're not going to kill each other."

"But he sent you flying!" I growled out, still keeping my gun trained on him.

She laughed. "And I got some good air time too. But what did you expect when I hit his family jewels? I fully expected him to give back what I dished out."

Taking a deep breath, I then lowered my gun. "Whatever. But I swear to Celestia, if this raider even tries to touch me, I'm castrating him with this axe."

Cauterize then smiled at me. "Oh… aren't you that dom fuck bitch from the Showroom? Ya, I remember, payed good caps to tie your bitch ass up and fuck ya. Up for more, I've got the caps for it."

"Not in that business anymore, so you can go sodomize your self." I told him.

He licked his lips at me before looking over at Molo. "How'd you get this bitch to join ya?"

"Oh you know, by not being a massive dick." Molo said with a shrug. "Anyways, I got a really big job for you, where your talents are appreciated. And on top of it, the Smelters and Bailfire Fiends are involved. We even had a run in with your bitch of a sister a few days ago."

The ex-raider clicked his tongue. "Sounds bad if those two clans are working together. The kind of problem that requires an excessive amount of violence to solve. Fine, I'm in, anyways I could use the caps. So when do we start?"

Molo smiled. "We're heading out as soon as the boss pony gives us a go, likely early tomorrow, now you got your shit?"

Cauterize looked less than certain as he looked back at the bed.

A groan then came from Molo. "You fucked and gambled it all away didn't you!"

"Fucking no way I would do that. Dust and Smoke gambled all my shit away." He explained.

Molo face hoofed. "You know I may love the whole toppling of the slave trade and shit. But some ponies should not have been set free."

Okay, I was getting seriously lost. "Can somepony explain to me what you're getting at?"

"Sorry Lottery, I'll explain." Molo softly said to me. "Dust and Smoke are ex-raiders as well, daughters of the Scorn Hearts raider boss. Those raiders were the most money grubby con artist cheats in the wasteland. Fortunately for everypony, they got clapped hard, and the survivors were thrown into slavery. Dust and Smoke got made into slave gladiators in Fillydelphia. Some rich asshole of a merchant later bought them as bodyguards."

Cauterize then laughed. "Would let ponies pay for the chance at fucking them, if they could win a fight against them. Until I showed up, they hadn't lost even one fight" He then polished his cracked hoof. "By the time I moved on, the score was five to two in my favor."

Molo then spoke up, jabbing Cauterize in the side. "And let me guess, after Redeye kicked the bucket, they killed their master and came for you."

He sighed. "Actually, ya. Along with his mercenaries. Got a pardon from the big Talon bitch for it too. She even wanted them to join her NCR crap. But it seems that pregnant mares got to sit out that fight. When they found me, I tried to drop them, but…"

"They probably threatened you up the ass. Not like the Smelters are protected anymore." Molo chuckled out. "Well I say you deserve them."

I then looked at the two… ex-raiders. "I don't really want to spend my caps on getting him gear."

"Ehhh, fuck it, I can just grab shit along the way." Cauterize huffed out and trotted out of the place.

I then realized something important. "Wait, he doesn't even know what we're going to do!"

Molo shrugged. "Don't matter to him, so long as he can fuck over Short Fuse, he's happy."

"It can't be that simple?" I asked.

"Just don't look a gift donkey in the mouth." Molo told me as she also left.

Following her out, we saw Dust and Smoke staring down Cauterize.

"What do you mean you don't know what you're going to be doing!" Dust snapped.

"And you did negotiate any pay!" Smoke fumed.

They then turned to Molo and me.

"What happens if he dies?" Smoke asked sternly.

"What do we get in case that happens?" Dust added.

Then together they asked. "Where will we stay while he's gone!"

I was very quickly starting to not like these mares. But I did have a solution. "We can all discuss all this later, for now you two can stay at our penthouse sweet."

The twins paused for a moment, then smiled as they said in unison. "A penthouse you say."

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Letting Molo take the three raiders to our penthouse, and explain the situation. I could only pray to Celestia that those twins don't try to strip the walls for the copper when nopony was looking.

I on the other hoof wanted to check on the progress of our gear. It hadn't been that long since I gave it over to Horus, but it didn't hurt to pay the griffin a visit.

The streets of Ursa's Rest was its usual bussy motion. Some ponies were just arriving, and others now leaving, and lots of trade going on between them. Most common were ponies selling bullets at high cost, with how the NCR had bought most of them.

Pegasus had become more common, with many unable to join the many small Enclave remnants, they left to fend for themselves out in the wasteland. So it was not uncommon to see Pegasus scavengers or caravan guards now. But unfortunately it was more common to see a chem addicted pegasus whoring themselves out for scraps. Their world did come crashing down after all.

Though it's not the best option, there were several pegasus that had joined the Red Light like how Low had. So at least they were safe there, then in a back alley.

The sound of gunshots told me that the shooting range was busy as well, and like so was the gun shop. Picking up my pace, I entered the gun shop, only to see a flock of griffins inside. At first I thought, Talons, but even though they were all armed to the beak, they all had mechanic jumpsuits on and not Talon armor.

"Watch where you're trotting!" A young and very pink griffon barked at me, he looked no older than Wiretap, if not younger. He also had a… cutie mark? Ya, his back half was clearly that of a pony.

Another young griffin slapped the first on the head, looking to be only a few years older than him. Bundled on his back was an even younger griffin with earmuffs on her head. Both also had pony back half. They must be half pony siblings or something.

"Sorry for my brother's attitude, he is having a hard time adjusting. And he's a brat!" The older sibling said.

The middle sibling snarled. "I'm not, it's just all these ponies don't know how hard this will be without Red-"

The older sibling grabbed his brother by the beak. "Unless your next words are about how you miss our mother, I don't want to hear it!"

Then the youngest began to cry as she held her claws were I guessed her ears were, causing the oldest to quickly attend to her. "It's okay Javelina, I'm here." He then looked at me, and I could see deep sorrow and tiredness in his eyes. Like he was ready to fall apart at any moment. "Sorry miss, but can you come back later, my uncle is tending to family matters at the moment."

I nodded and stepped out. It was only a guess, but those young griffin-ponies were likely Horus's niece and nephews. Trotting to the shooting range, it too was filled with griffins, young and old, but almost none looking like a Talon.

Seeing the Talon, Hans, I trotted over to him to find out what's going on. "Hey, what's with all the new griffins, they're like whole families here?"

Hans nodded. "Ya, they're all from Fillydelphia. Gwadina finally took over the weapons factory a week ago, and chose to clear the Gun Runners out until things have settled down."

"So these Gun Runners, they're like Talons, right?" I asked.

The griff shook his head. "Hardly. Their weaponsmiths, guns mostly. Most of the guns coming out of Fillydelphia were made by them, so you can imagine that not many want them around."

"Wait, so they made guns for Redeye! But why are they here…" I then remember the young griffin ponies. "Does that mean Horus-"

"No, Horus did not make guns for slavers." Hans said as he cut me off. "Actually, he was the biggest supplier of guns for anti-slaver groups, including the Celestia Angels. He's only here because Grizzly really insisted on paying him in advance to stay here. It's all so that she can shed the image of a slaver as much as possible, not that I blame her."

"And there here now." I said as I looked over at the gunsmith griffins. "Are they staying?"

Hans shrugged. "Would be good for Grizzly if they did, but I don't know. All I've managed to get out of them is that they're waiting for Gwadina to decide if they get to keep the factory or not. I hope they do, as they already lost much in the fighting. The Enclave hit the factory hard, and were indiscriminate with who they killed. I know they're not entirely innocent with what went on there, but what the Enclave did to them was too much."

I could only imagine. Even though they were helping Redeye, being driven from their home must be hard for them. "Do you know any of them?"

Hans shook his head. "No, but I know Horus, and that's enough for me."

Not long after, a pony came over to me, hooves flailing for my attention. "Miss Lottery, good that you're here, mister Horus has a question about your gear. Come with me."

I gave Hans a nod and then followed the pony back behind the gun shop.

Trotting through the back door, I found myself in a workshop. There I saw Horus with an older and rather distressed looking griffin rooster. The other griffin was rail thin, covered in burns and scars, and both his back legs were in support braces. He then got up, looking at me with half dead eyes before snarling and leaving.

Once he was gone, Horus got up and trotted over to me. "Sorry about my cousin, he's had it rough since his wife died, lost her when the Enclave first attacked. Hardballer has always been the stoic type, but I'm worried he might work himself to death if he keeps this up."

I reached out to Horus, and held his claw. "Is he the father to those three?"

"So you've met them." Horus sounded pained as he confirmed my question. "Ya, it's a real shame they have to go through all this."

"Then are you going to help them?" I asked.

He then nodded his head and let out a long sigh. "I want to say, I told you so, to them. But it's all hollow now. Until they know if they still have a home or not, I'll be letting them stay here. Which means I'll be too busy to do much for the time being. But good news is that with the extra claws, your gear will be done shortly."

Horus then pointed over to one of the workbenches, on it one of my rifle holsters. "But I need you to explain something to me."

The both of us trotted over to the workbench, and Horus then tapped on the star of the holster. "It's not a bad job, modifying this, but I can tell this was a holster for a pipe assault rifle… something only made in Fillydelphia."

I physically gulped. "Well, some ponies I know accidentally obtained a bunch of Redeye gear from a smuggler, and had asked me to modify it. I got to keep some as payment."

Horus face clawed. "At least you were smart enough to modify it like this. Do you have any information on who those smugglers were?"

"No, asking questions like that was not a polite thing to do. So all I know is that it proverbially, fell off a wagon." I explained.

"Thought as much." He then put the holster down. "I'll make a few more adjustments to your gear, make sure nopony with a keen eye can tell where these came from. Also increase their protective value, though they will be a bit heavier. After that, they will be sent to your room."

He then picked up my revolver, tracing already on it for engraving. "As for your gun, are you sure you want those names on them, with a poker chip embedded in the two?"

I nodded. "Ya. I want to keep it simple with those guns, but stupidly let my friends name them."

The revolver was getting a one cap chip embedded into the wood and the name "Whiskey Shot" after the cost of a .45 bullet. That was Molo's Idea, and I liked it. The rifle got a ten cap chip embedded into it as well along with the name "Last Dance." Lows idea, as to him the rifle was long like a pole.

"Well at least it's not named after a lover, Talons do that a bit too much. Then come back later to get it removed." Horus then put the rifle back.

I could imagine that being an issue, as after this month, the names of stallions I've slept with outside of work would not fit on the guns. Though I wouldn't mind Horus being one one of them.

I then fluttered my eyes at him. "Will you be coming over later, I'm not leaving until tomorrow?"

Horus then looked over at the door to the front of his shop. "Maybe. But with all this going on, if I get the free time, it will be the last. I'm going to Fillydelphia to talk with Gwadina on the behalf of the Gun Runners."

"What!" I gasped.

He then placed a talon on my shoulder. "They're still my family, and they need me. I have connections they don't, and a reputation they need. Unfortunately the Gunrunners are a dying clan, of which Redeye promises to help restore. With him dead, the rest of them may follow, and I can't let that happen."

I felt conflicted, but not unsympathetic. The more I learned about Redeye, the more I saw that a lot of good ponies and griffins had been drawn into his vision. As twisted as it was, it d8d give hope for a future. And if Spell Circuit was right, one of those hopeful ponies transfixed by the idea of a better tomorrow had been Redeye himself. It made me wonder, if I had met Redeye before he became a slaver lord, would I too have followed him into Tartarus.

Looking Horus in the eyes, I said to him. "I understand."

Leaning in, Horus kissed me, it lasted for several seconds before pulling back. "If only you didn't have your own responsibilities. I wouldn't have minded you coming with me."

I laughed a little. "You know, out of all those who paid to be with me, I would have minded taking you home with me."

I got a frown from him. "You made me pay that first time, and we didn't even fuck."

Reaching out with my hoof, I bopped him on his beak. "Then I owe you one, so you better come to collect."

Giving Horus a wink, I then turned around and trotted out, making sure to sway my hips.

Once outside, I closed the door and blushed profusely as my heart pounded. "Oh what was that, did I just confess!" I then touched my lips, "and this kiss… oh Celestia this kiss."

Feeling confused, I then rushed back to the penthouse, as I needed to touch up on my makeup.

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"And… done!" Sparkling Delight said as she finished my makeup. She had caught me trying to apply it myself and looked shocked. I had gotten overzealous with applying it, and to her, I looked like a clown. As she helped me, I told her about the situation with the Gun Runners, and Horus.

Looking at myself… I looked pretty. Sparkling had even gotten me one of her dresses, it a modest, yet beautiful number.

"You sure I'm not overreacting?" I asked Sparkling.

She smiled as she started brushing my mane. "Lottery dear, you're having just the right amount of reacting. And Horus is a good griff. Even if it's just temporary, you two deserve a bit of love. Just enjoy tonight for what it is. It's not like things will be all that nice starting tomorrow."

I nodded. "I don't even know if I'll survive."

"Well don't give up on us out there, no matter what happened." Sparkling told me. "You got that, whatever happens, just focus on coming back."

"I will, I promise." I told her, feeling like the conversation got a bit dark. "So… Do you have a pony you love? You know, a pony that if you could, you would start a family with?"

Sparkling let out a sigh. "Truthfully, there's a few. Excellent lovers, and such. But if I could pick one, there's this adventure who passes through here now and then, a true gentle colt of a hippogriff. Unfortunately he has yet to settle down, so there's little chance I'll ever catch him."

"Sounds romantic." I said as I got up and looked at the half changing. "You know, I agree with Grizzly on your true form. You should show it off more."

"Thanks, but it's still a no." She politely declined.

We then trotted out to join the others for dinner. Grizzly had set up a private room for everypony to eat, it felt like half a last meal, and half a celebration for victory. But it was brahmin stakes and fresh vegetables, so there was no way I was going to miss that.

At the private table, almost everypony was dressed up. Cauterize just had a bowtie on, where the twins had stolen a dress of mine each. Low pressure was dapper as ever, and Molo was casually dressed, but still looked good. Grizzly and Wiretap both had a modest, yet loud dress each.

There were also Grizzly's sponsors at the table, along with a younger griffon hen in some strong and rough looking Talon armor. The female griffon was showing off one of her two revolvers to Hogan Highborn, where I could clearly see that it used 5.56 rifle ammunition?!

It was easy to find my seat, it was between Wiretap and Horus, the griffin was in a relatively clean tuxedo.

Taking my seat, I had to ask Horus about his situation. "Are you sure it's okay for you to be here?"

"They will be fine, anyways I can help them more here in case they don't get the factory back from the NCR." He said pointing to Rainbow's End. "She's unlikely to turn her nose up at a large crew of highly skilled gunsmiths."

Then he pointed to the younger griffon. "But more importantly, that's Regina Grimfeathers, Gwadina's daughter. It would be foolish of me to not speak to her on the Gunrunners behalf. And likely I'll be going with her when she returns to Fillydelphia. "

I almost gasped, having heard of her exploits in gathering troops for the NCR. She had also fended off over a hundred raiders trying to take out a loan settlement, or so was told. If there was any creature who could take out the growing raider hoard, it was Regina Grimfeathers.

I then felt a nudge on my other side, and saw a wide eyed Wiretap, looking right at Regina's guns. "You think she'd let me hold one?"

I chuckled. "I'm wondering the same thing."

After a short while, appetizers and drinks were brought out. Some bread crumbs covered fried cheese sticks, and mute fruit wine. Once every creature was settled in, and had a bit to eat and drink, Grizzly addressed everypony.

"Alright Evercreature, I thank you for showing up. Thanks to a few brave ponies, we have gained strategic information on a growing situation." Grizzly then looked at me and tipped her glass. "As of current, there is a known threat of a raider horde forming within this region. But there is also the unknown threat of a slaver reemergence, who may have mind control arcano tech at their hooves, and an army at their disposal. But armed with this knowledge, we are already making our movies to mitigate these threats, along with shoring up our defenses."

She then tipped her glass at Regina. "I'm also glad to have the honorable Regina Grimfeathers here on such short notice. I know the fight to secure Fillydelphia from the remains of both Redeye and Enclave forces has been anything but easy. In truth, the fall of both has caused chaos all over the wasteland, of which this region is only one of many places calling for aid. So again, you have our gratitude."

Regina then got up as Grizzly sat down and addressed us. "Yes, well you do control the main trade route from Friendship City to Fillydelphia, we be retarded to ignore such a threat to it." Her words were filled with a dismissive irritation, and If she was not a Talon I would have been caught off guard by its crashness. "But as you said, my mother is putting out fires all over the wasteland. All while making sure that Fillydelphia's factories aren't being used against us. And right now we're stretched thin at best, so don't expect us to send an army anytime soon." She then took a deep breath, her tone changing to a stern, yet friendly manor. "But if the situation is as bad as you say, I can at least talk with my mother about sending anything we can spare to help."

She then eyed Hogan, and smiled. "I do know that mother would love to have you owe her a favor."

Frankly, Regina was hard to read as Talons go. Most were quite straightforward, or quite cocky, but she seemed to be a bit all over the place. It made me feel a bit on guard, as though she was trying to be irritatingly hard to read.

As Regina sat back down, Hogan let out a huff as the old griffon spoke. "I imagine she would. With her buying Talon contracts left and right, she is going to need some griffon to keep them all in line. The last time a Griffin commander tried to gather so many griffins under their wing was after equestria fell, and if any Talon knows their history, it ended poorly.”

As though made from pure confidence, Regina paced her cat-like back legs onto the table, leaned back, balancing her chair on two legs, and rolled her eyes. “Ya ya, you're not the first to bring up Gautrekr Talon over mom’s contract grabbing. She ain’t trying to found a new Griffon empire under her bannor. Not like any of us can get along long enough for it to actually do any more than pissing off everycreature else. No, the NCR is actually pushing the harmony stick. Also helps that Littlepip got the big stick to keep idiots in line.”

I leaned over to Horus, and asked. “What are they talking about?”

“Gautrekr Talon you mean?” he asked back and I nodded. “Yes, Well right after the bombs fell, most of the griffon mercenaries had a contingency plan involving a secure meeting places. Took over a year, but the majority of griffin mercs in Equestria had come together, and from there they planned out what to do next. Gautrekr Talon managed to take hold, announcing himself as the new emperor of griffondom, and that together, they would forge a new home in the ruins of Equestria. It lasted a good ten years before he died of radiation sickness, and his children took over, spitting the empire into four. They didn’t live long and their children took over, further splintering things. And well, not twenty years after the empire had been formed, it had become nothing more than just a band of mercenaries stretching across equestria.”

I cocked an eyebrow at that. “Seriously… were your ancestors part of that?”

Horus shook his head. “Naw, my ancestors were griffonstone smugglers. We had the good fortune of Gabbriella finding them, and reforming my ancestors into the Gun Runners. She was the most famous gun designers in Griffionstone, and most of the gun schematics we used were actually Gabbys original designs.”

That was actually fascinating. “I’d love to hear more about it… after things get better for your family.”

“I’d love to tell you about it.” he replied.

We turned our attention back to the dinner table, where the argument between the griffons had finally settled down. Regina herself no longer leaned back so brazenly. She finished her glass of wine and addressed Hogan one more time. “Like I said, the NCR isn’t going to do the stupid shit like all the other wasteland assholes try to do. Mom’s is pretty positive about keeping the governing body small and divided. It should keep it from becoming tyrannical and stupid. Harmony is good and all, but not when it’s used to take more power and start fights with your neighbors.”

Hogan again huffed, sounding even older than before. “Can't argue with that. From all my years as a Talon, the worst thing you can do is give one of us full control of the cap safe.”

“You're talking about the big brawl from twenty years ago.” Grizzly said with a chuckle. “If I remember correctly, you and Gwadina almost killed each other over who had to pay a gimbaling debt.”

The old griffin face clawed. “No, the gambling debt happened after. It was over what contracts we should take. And who to trust. If I wasn’t already old then, maybe things wouldn’t have fallen apart like that. But in the end, trying to hold together such a large mercenary company proved to be my folly. Had to kill it before we killed each other. But I guess Gwadina never truly gave up on it, and plans on not making the same mistakes I made.”

Hogan then grabbed a whole bottle of mute fruit wine, and guzzled it straight from the bottle. He physically shivered from it as he raised the bottle up high. “To dreaming big!”

We all raised our glasses again, and with it the atmosphere changed to something more positive. Soon after dinner arrived, and we got to eating.

The conversions remained more tame, with every creature choosing not to talk about the current troubles and focused on more day to day things. Although I did learn that the NCR had managed to push the Slavers back more, but, Fillydelphia is a big city, so it was still far from being conquered. There was also a caravan moving from the north being escorted by the Pear Valley tribes to aid the NCR, so this should get a bit easier for them.

Every creature was a bit concerned about why Cauterize and his mares were here, but he assured them that he was fully onboarded with raider crushing. Something to do with needing to be on top, or being the one on the bottom. I guess it meant that if he was not in charge of his own life, he would be screwed over by others when they came to take over. Sounded right by raiders, they didn’t seem to be the kind to look after those under them.

Also he seemed quite excited about becoming a father, and wanted to use his skills for something other than smashing skulls to provide for his foals. It was actually a bit respectable, wanting to change for the sake of his unborn fouls. Still, I didn’t trust him much, but at least I would give him a chance.

As the dinner came to a close, every creature began to move on. I Let myself linger a bit, waiting for Horus to finish his private talk with Regina. The two seemed to have a more polite, if secretive conversation, and I respectfully didn’t listen in. When they were done, I trotted to the older griffin, giving him a smile.

“So, any good news for the Gunrunners?” I asked him.

“Too soon to tell.” Horus said to me as he trotted to the balcony, and I moved to join him. “But it seems that Gwadina sees the Fillydelphia factories as too important to just be left cold. The problem is trust. I at least convinced Regina to go talk to my cousins. See if they're willing to make a deal. But I fear that getting that factory back will come with a bigger chain than even Redeye had on them.”

Outside the cool night air was refreshing, the humidity now almost nonexistent, and the moon bright as it hung above. It reminds me how much things have changed since the Lightbrigher cleared the sky's for us all.

I sighed, “I can imagine. With how so many ponies hate Redeye and all, I doubt most of them would rather see anything he used be burnt down.”

Horus nodded. “I agree. But without those factories, the Gunrunners might have never come back together the way they did. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but even I admit that Redeye probably saved my family from fading away. And now, if Gwadina wishes to make this NCR work, she's going to need those factories.”

He then stopped and caressed his claw through my mane. “You know, when you first passed through, I only saw just another foolish pony, running off to their death. Then you came back, each time more hurt than before. Even when you drowned your sorrows in booze, there was just that life to you that reminded me of a griffon I once loved. Then one day you just stumbled into my shop, ranting about guns and such.”

“Was that the day I woke up in your shop?” I asked.

Horus shook his head. “No, I took you home. But you came back the next day, and forced me to drink with you. That's when we ended up sleeping together.”

I smiled. “Right, that was after my first week here, and I was still so nervous and depressed about my work. Then you came to my work the next day, and I made you take me to the private room. I guess I thought that since we already slept together, it would feel less wrong.”

He let out a little chuckle. “Well it was at least fun, if a bit awkward.” his claw caressed behind my ear, causing me to shiver with pleasure. “But it was too bad I couldn't have you all to myself, or that I was too busy to have you when you were free.”

I grabbed his claw with my hoof, and lowered it to my mouth. “Well you can have me tonight, just for this moment.”

We both looked back, seeing that nopony was around, and then he kissed me.

Placing my hooves onto the balcony rails, I looked out over Ursa’s Rest as Horus hiked up my dress. Lights both tinkled above and below me, and the sound of music was just barely audible over the wind. I both hated and loved this place. Through all its pain it gave me, I couldn't blame Ursa’s Rest, only accept it for what it was.

My body shivered with pleasure as he played with my privates, making sure I was ready for him. Once I was good and wet, I let out a muffled moan as Horus entered me, his thorn like cock rubbing along my inside as I spread my legs to accept him. My body was lifted off the ground, and shoved forward, his thrust aggressive and strong, causing me to drool from the pleasure of it.

As he began to grunt, sounding more aggressive with each thrust, I knew what was coming next as he pushed all the way in. I was not a fan of the pain as my hips threaten to dislocate, but I accepted his knot all the same. As warmth filled me inside, his large arms wrapped around me, comforting me. It was the part I loved the most, his warm and gentle embrace.

Even if it was only for a fleeting moment, that it may never come again, I would treasure it. Putting my trip back home on hold was worth it, if this was the only good that came from it.
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