Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale

Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale, Chapter Thirty Nine

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I watched from our hiding spot, waiting for the right opportunity. The Geckos were seemingly singing, their loud calls having made it hard to enjoy the peaceful mountain, but today it ends. As they crawled along the ground, they inched closer and closer to the right spot.

Finally they were right where I wanted them. Standing up, the dry leaves covering me fluttered off, making wrinkling and cracking noises. "You Geckos! Y'all want dinner!"

The three beasts roared in surprise, getting up on their hind legs, and prediably charged at me.

A loud snap was followed by a cry of pain as one gecko was lifted into the air, held by a leg caught in a smaller beartrap and rope. Another snap and a second gecko was flung into the air, screaming in pain. The third single mindedly kept charging, not once looking back to see its fate. With its dagger-like teeth bear, ready to bite into my flesh, its hind legs dug into the ground to ready itself for a leep.

*Snap*

The third gecko was hoisted into the air, screaming and snarling at me.

Rattlebones then stood up from his hiding spot, laughing with amusement. "Brutal, but effective. I'd feel sorry for them if they didn't keep us up all night. Now what to do with them?"

"Meat! I want meat!" Wiretap demand as she popped out of her hiding spot.

"I could do something with the leather." Plasma said as she peeked out from a pile of leaves.

With our dinner decided, Rattlebones pulled out his knife and one by one slit the gecko's throats, letting their blood nourish the ground.

The days had gone by fairly quickly up here, as we either kept ourselves busy with maintaining the camp and hunting, or relaxed by hiking or simply resting… Rattlebones called it meditation, but I only managed to fall asleep. With clean air and good food, a sense of peace had come to me, like a soft blanket keeping me warm.

It didn't end my troubles, but in a way, I felt more able to keep trotting now. That I can keep myself up without another pony holding me up. My hatred for the raiders and Tripwire still burned, so much so I could explode, but now the fire was like this fire pit. Strong, hot, but controlled.

The wood log cracked, and an ember danced around the gecko meat before drifting off, seeking freedom, but finding only a long stretch of rocks, where it faded and died.

As Rattlebones said, fire is useful, just like magic, and emotions. We can live without them, but the world becomes dull. But if they are not kept in check, it can destroy everything around us. One little ember can burn down a forest.

I was, I guess, like an ember. Not important, and short lived. But the amount of damage I could do if I were to fall in the right spot, at the right time, could hurt a lot of ponies. Or that's what I surmised Rattlebones was telling me.

Turning the meat, it was already done, and the old stallion had the stew set for its addition. Plasma was already finished hanging up the gecko skins, with several other skins left to the side. Wiretap on the other hoof was lifting rocks with her magic, training as she put it. The rest of us were earth ponies, so we were utterly useless with helping her, though Rattlebones did know some bits of advice about magic.

When the food was ready, we all gathered around the fire to have our little feast.

"Did you know, before the wasteland, eating meat was extremely uncommon for us ponies." Plasma Cutter said as she looked at the stew.

Rattle Bones chuckled. "I think I did hear something about that from my grandfather."

"It's why most of the ancient foods that are still around have no meat, and the ones that do are either for griffins or for pets." Plasma then ate some of her dinner, letting out a cute little moan of joy before continuing. "And actually, from what other scribes have surmised, were not really meant to eat meat. But because of how poor the nutrition is in the wasteland, meat helps make up for that lack of nutrition. There was even a rumor that most ponies out in the wasteland have been changed because of it, becoming more omnivores naturally."

Wiretap took interest in this topic as she then asked "how so, what makes them think that?"

"Our teeth actually." Plasma then opens her mouth, showing two rows of perfectly white teeth, with most being flat, but both above and below were a small fang that broke the line. "In the old textbooks ponies only had flat and straight teeth, likely for grinding food. But now we seem to have more… jagged teeth, and a fang. Nothing extreme, but enough to be noticeable. And it does make eating meat easier."

"So… were all mutants?" Wiretap then asked with concern in her voice.

The question caused Plasma to stop for a few long seconds, clearly mulling the question over in her mind. "It's… the leading theory. If we could study a stable pony, or one not from the wasteland, then we could compare. But most scribes have concluded that with the radiation and taint everywhere, mutation has unfortunately become the normal. Though for most ponies it's just a minor change, like with our teeth, so it's nothing to be worried about."

Wiretap then breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, because mom would tell horror stories about mutants."

"Like the ghost hounds, and the Moth pony." Rattlebones said with a chuckle. "Still scared of them I see."

Wiretap puffed up her cheeks and pouted. "No I'm not! They're not real anyways."

The old stallion smiled. "Are you sure about that? I've seen some mighty strange things in my time."

"Same here." I added.

The filly's confidence faded as she then quietly ate her stew.

"But that's why you're learning to use a gun." Rattlebones added, "when the stranger things cone, you'll be ready.

I patted Rime Frost, the shotgun having joined us by the fire.

We then began talking about old myths and legends, about hero's and villains, enjoying this peaceful moment. As the sun set and night blanketed the land, both Plasma and Wiretap again turned in first, leaving me alone with the old shaman.

"It's beautiful, isn't it." Rattle Bones said as he looked over at the ledge, the moon high into the sky, and at its fullest.

I nodded.

"Old legends say that Luna was once banished on the moon, that she had become possessed by a demon, and Celestia had to stop her. Have you heard of the tale?" He asked me.

This time I shook my head.

"Not surprised." He said in a sad tone. "Supposably the ponies from the old world had forgotten to, had thought there had only ever been Celestia. It makes me worried that one day....our descendants will forget the Equestria of old and start to believe that there was only ever the wasteland."

Rattlebones then stretched his back and got up, picking up his staff. "But that's why old ponies like me exist. Now, I think it's time."

I cocked an eyebrow, "time for what?"

He smiled. "Your going to stop evil right, then you should take a warrior's trial. And it so happens that one can be found here. All you need to do is take in some sacred drink and challenge the black ghost."

Now I was even more confused. "I… what?"

He rolled his eyes. "Do drugs, fight bears." He said flatly.

"Ohhh… but why?" I then asked.

Rattleones pulled out a flask, and opened it. The stuff smelt of acrid and sickly alcohol. "One, to fill you with strength, and two, to earn a weapon in which to take into battle with you."

My nose scrunched up at the smell "And is that… safe?"

"Ehhh, mostly. So long as you don't have any other chems in your system, it will not cause you harm." He explained it to me.

I then narrowed my eyes at him. "And why do I need this weapon?"

Rattlebones then smiled, clearly sure of himself. "A weapon is a weapon, so no, you don't need it. But it will also be a symbol, a sign of strength, and something to gain the favor of old gods who still care for us ponies. At the very least it will be but another tool in your arsenal."

"And will I really fight a bear?" I had to ask.

He shrugged. "Maybe. This is a trial that predates Equestria itself, old magic you can say. Frankly, all I know is what a vision gave me, and that I myself have gone through it and felt its power. But there's no guarantee that what you face will be the same."

I looked at his staff, the bones on it were thick and covered in scratches. The skull on top looks a lot like that of a Yougui.

Thinking about it, I already had guns, and Mire Frost, with plenty of ammo, but that didn't save me from Spine Breaker, or the other raiders. Only slowed them down. More weapons was not a bad Idea, though I was concerned with what I might have to fight to get it.

"Alright." I said, giving in. "I'll take drugs and fight a bear."

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I was already regretting this decision as Rattlebones took me to a grove deep in the mountain. Between it being off any trail and in the middle of the night also meant that I would never find my way back without his help. It had me at edge with every step.

The grove was thankfully illuminated by the full moon, framed by trees that appeared to be absolutely ancient. I had never seen trees so thick before, not alive at least. It was a ring of them, and at the center was a massive stump, so massive that a house could be built on top of it. And stranger, it looked to be clean, and quite flat, except for something sticking out of the center.

Rattlebones trotted onto the stump, and I joined him, our hooves clopping loudly on the wood.

"What is this place?" I asked as I looked around. From the shadows I could see an uncountable number of small eyes watching us.

"Unfortunately I do not know. For there are so many mysteries that have been forgotten, and many more lost." He then stopped at the center of the stump, where some kind of aulter had been cut out from the tree that once stood here. It was as though the tree had been cut down to make just this thing. "But I have been granted with some knowledge, now come here."

Trotting up, I saw that the altar had a bowl like an indent with a small hole at the center… like a sink?

Rattlebones then poured the strange alcohol onto the altar, and it flowed down the hole. "Oh ancients of ancients, one of ours seeks your favor. For there are wicked things about, and we are but weak mortals. Let her prove her worth and be blessed."

It was weird hearing him pray to whatever gods he believed in, and weirder that I followed him. Truthfully I was even more worried about my own sanity that I even came here.

As I thought to myself, I noticed that everything had become dead quiet. No birds, bugs, or even the rustling of trees. It was as though time had stopped, yet I could still move. Opening my mouth to ask another question, I paused as a bubbling sound came from the altar, and a liquid flowed up.

Even in the moonlight I could tell it was blood red, almost glowing.

"Drink in and see, Drink in and be challenged." A voice boomed out, seemingly from everywhere.

Rattlebones took a few steps back, and motioned for me to drink.

I had already come this far, and likely drank worse.

Trotting up, I lowered my muzzle into the bowl and drank the liquid. It… was surprisingly good, like the sweetest wine I ever have had. Before I could stop myself, I had consumed it all, not even stopping to take a breath.

Turning to Rattle Bones, there were three… no five of him. "Wow… this is… strong."

He didn't move, or say anything as I stood there, now feeling very confused.

"He can't hear you, little pony." The voice of a stallion spoke up as he, a dark red pony, trotted out with an impressively curly purple mane, tail, and bearded. Vines with some kind of berries attached to them entangled the stallion. "For only you have accepted my wine."

I struggled to not fall over as it took me a moment to focus on the pony. But the more I looked at him the more I saw; he had two horns on his head and his back legs looked like they belong to a dear, or a-

"Goat." The not pony finished my thought. "Yes, well that happens after a few thousand years of mostly only having goats and deer worship you. But I do boast having pony worshipers here and there, even if they have forgotten my name."

Within a blink of an eye, he was in front of my face, looking deep in my eyes. "Ahh, I see it, small as it is, you do have the spark, and a healthy one."

Stepping back, I was shocked to see that his head was floating without his body… where was his body?

I then felt a hoof on my shoulder as though comforting me. The body was behind me, well half of it, the goat half was dancing about.

"Hey now, don't be afraid, you did come to have fun!" The not pony said as his body danced back together. "I am Dionysus, god of wine and parties!"

Then from the shadows came the forms of ponies and other creatures, all dancing and partying to upbeat music, all while speaking in a language I didn't recognize. The smell of wine was overwhelming, and the music thumped in my chest. Among them was a pink pony with a frizzy pink mane, she was ever just out of view.

Dionysus then danced over to me, holding a rather large cup filled with the same sweet wine. "You can feel it, you can smell it. The party never ends as we celebrate a glorious full moon. Look, look! It's like a glorious jewel in my wine."

Lowering the cup, I could see the moon in the blood red wine, shining beautifully. I could almost see it around my hoof, and the wine was like a dress.

"Yes, you can see it!" Dionysus said, and pushed the cup closer to me. "All you need to do is drink, and it's all yours. Never will you need to worry, for worries are a thing of the past, and the past is to be forgotten. Drink and forever join my party, for it has been too long since another has joined, and we all do love to see a new member. Drink and never be sad again."

I stared at the wine, its strong scent dancing in my nose. Looking up at the shadowed ponies, they became more clear to me. All were beautiful in their togas, smiling as they enjoyed themselves with not a care or worry on their faces. It would be nice to be like them, happy. Could I forget it all, drink and find happiness.

No… I already tried that, and ended up becoming a miserable slut. There was no happiness in the bottle, just another stranger in my bead, and a hangover to greet me in the morning.

I gently pushed the wine back to the god. "Sorry, but I have things more important than my happiness to deal with. Maybe once it's all over I'll take you up on this offer."

Dionysus paused for a moment. "What's so important that you would deny me? Me, a GOD!"

His voice caused the world to shake and the party to stop, making me feel small and insignificant.

"Because you are small." Dionysus began to grow, getting bigger and bigger. "And insignificant. What is so much more important, little pony? You, a thing of clay, molded into dolls to be the play thing of children! What is it that drives you to be more than what you were made to be?"

He was more than intimidating, he was terrifying to the point of making my legs weak in fear. But I swallowed those fears and told him, voice cracking. "My friend, and a pony that must be stopped. I must do something, anything. So I can't just give up now. Even if it kills me, even if I'm violated again and again. I must keep going."

"Foolish." Dionysus said, then smiled. "To the point of near madness."

He then popped, as though made of bubbles, showering me with wine.

He then reappeared, sitting on my back. "But I am also the god of madness, so I can respect that. But it does distress me that you will not be joining me, so many ponies have embraced the freedom of madness, but not its joy. Not why we let ourselves go mad, but just the madness in itself."

Dionysus clapped his hooves and the party continued and then hopped off me only too began to float to the altar. "I'll accept your determination, Lottery, and hold a place for you at my party, but I have no boon to give you that you can use. I am not like my brothers and father, may they rest peacefully, for conflict and war are not in my nature. But I can grant you something fun."

I felt disappointed, but curious. "And what is this… boon?"

A wide smile formed on the gods face. "I'll grant you the ability to drink to your heart's content, and never suffer addiction or hangovers. Even have it that good fortune finds you when wrapped in its sweet intoxication. That's two boons actually, but only because you're cute."

Dionysus then vanished again, only to appear in front of me, giving me a kiss on either side of my cheeks before vanishing in a storm of wine bubbles. And like a distant whisper, I heard him say. "And remember, life is not worth living if you can't laugh or smile. Find the joy in the little things, and you will find all you need to stay sane."

Everything spun around me, feeling like I just drank more alcohol than I ever have had before, my legs feeling like rubber before giving out on me.

"Lottery! You alright, Lottery?" Rattlebones shook me from what felt like a dream.

Actually, everything still felt hazy and dream-like. "I'm okay… just give me a moment, that trial was weird."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but the trial has only started." He told me, and I quickly got to my hooves.

Fog surrounded us and all things were quiet. The groan of a large beast drew my attention to the edge of the grove, where a yao guai stepped out from the thick forest. The bear looked old, with its body thin and its sparse fur gray. Many scares covered its body, and one eye was blind. The beast looked like it could die at any time, so sickly that I felt sorry for it.

"Feel not pity nor sorrow for the proud warrior, for it has lived a full life, and now seeks its rest." A ghoul in a clean black suit trotted out, a glass of red wine floating next to her. She then sipped the wine and smiled at me. "Ambrosia wine, one sip is enough to enthrall a mortal to the point of no return, a most pleasant way to die. Good to see you again, Lottery."

"Lethe!" I was surprised to see the mare here, but somehow I felt like I should have known it would be her.

She then looked at Rattlebones and yawned. "And a shaman, though one filled with life. I can see him holding onto that life to the bitter end, not a pony I have much interest in."

"You must be a spirit of death, will you be the one overseeing this trile?" Rattle Bones asked Lethe.

"Me, no. I am but trotting beside this noble beast as it searches for its death." She then patted the yao guai on the side gently. "One never truly suffers alone."

"I'll be overseeing this trile." A beautiful voice spoke out, and with it a pony made of lite trotted forth from behind the Yao guai. Life seemed to bloom around her as bugs producing lite flew all around her. As she trotted the grass grew, and as her hoof left the ground, it died. "You did good turning Dionysus down, his offer would be impossible for most ponies in this wasteland to deny. By showing your determination, you have earned the right to this trile, and to look upon my form."

The light dimmed and I could see the most beautiful mare I have ever seen. She was an earth pony with a rich wavy brown mane and a vibrant green cote. Vines and leaves draped off her like a magnificent toga, decorated with flowers of all shapes and colors. On her head was a crown made of branches, of which butterflies restid on.

"I am Persephone, wife to Hades, queen of the Underworld, the goddess of vegetation and the harvest." The god then looked at the yao guai and touched it. As though time itself reversed, the bear then became younger, stronger, and exceedingly more impressive. "Grant this noble warrior a worthy death, and his power will become yours. Then you, one who has been granted life past your destined time, can move forth and stop what has been allowed to start by those who mettle."

She then glared at Lethe, who seemed to roll her milky white eyes back at her.

I found Mire Frost by my side and I picked her up ready to fight. "Get back Rattlebones."

The old stallion did as I said, quickly trotting off the large stump.

Persephone then looked back at me and smiled. "Do well to survive and find victory, for few are souls left truly untainted by the Strife. But do not think a victory is to win over that thing. To play by its rules is to play an unending game, but to quit is to give it a victory over you." She then tapped her hoof on the ground, causing the glowing bugs to swarm out, lighting up everything in a blur. "Now pony, defy fate as your ancestors had done long ago, prove why you still exist where we have become forgotten."

The yao guai stomped onto the massive stump and roared, the sheer volume of it shaking my bones.

It then charged at me, and I tossed one of my bear traps in front of me and dashed back. The yao guai stomped on it and the bear popped like a bubble. Around me roars came, and more, smaller yao guai's burst out from the blur of bugs. I tossed my other two bear traps out and fired Mire Frost, hitting one bear in the face, sending it to the ground, and causing it to explode with light. Two other bears got to me, both with a bear trap on a paw each. Jumping forward, both missed me as they slammed on the ground, hitting each other and exploding.

I then found myself under another bear, who roared at me and with a powerful swipe, knocked me across the stump. Using Mire Frost to stop me from flying off the stump, I quickly got up to see it charge at me. Taking aim, I fired a few more shots, but this bear didn't go down easy. Once the last shell was spent, I prepared for melee.

Dashing to the side, the bear belly flopped where I had been, and taking the opportunity, I charged myself, digging Mire Frost's axe head into its back. The yao guai roared in pain as it got up and thrashed. Using the axe as an anchor, I pulled my revolver out, and with my muzzle I aimed and fired. After the six shots the bear fell and like the others, exploded in light.

The big yao guai returned, and I quickly loaded Mire Frost, preparing for the next attack. But it began pacing around, and as it did, more large yao guai then formed behind it. I was surrounded, and I didn’t know if they all were real or not.

One bear charged, and I fired at it, the shot doing nothing as it simply passed through me. I was then knocked to the side as pain washes over me, the feeling of my blood spilling. Quickly getting up, I saw the yao guai return to the edge of the stump, disappearing among what had to be fake yao guai. Looking at myself, it had hit my flank, it claws getting through the armer and putting three gashes in my flesh.

Another yao guai charged, but this time I was not going to be fools and turned around for the surprise attack. But there was nothing.

The world spun as I was knocked into the air, and then slammed onto the ground. Muzzle to muzzle with the yao guai, it roared in my face and stomped on my chest. I could feel my bones crack under its power and blood filled my mouth.

Then it ran off again.

Painful I got back up, full knowing I had no way to know where it would attack next, or if I could stop it. This fight… It was hopeless. No pony could help me.

No pony… but something else could… maybe.

"Will-o-Wisp, help me!" I called out.

The small blue flame danced into view and bobbed before disappearing. Looking about, I saw it over one of the yao guai's, and I knew it was the real one.

Two of the fake yao guai's burst out, but I paid them no mind and took aim. I fired at the real bear as the fakes harmlessly passed through me, each shot finding its target. All the fakes then vanished as the real yao guai looked at me, blood dripping from many holes in its flesh.

It again roared at me, and charged. I had one shot left, and I needed to make it count. So when it beared down at me, I stood my ground, aming. Taking a deep breath, it was like time slowed down and nothing existed but me and this beast. Closer, ever so slowly, closer. My eyes locked with its one, and I could see my own reflection in it. I was vuntable, battered, bleeding, and not dead yet.

*BANG*

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"Hay… Lottery… you alright?" Plasma asked as she hugged me.

I slowly stirred, rubbing my eyes as I noticed light was on me. "I'm fine." I told her as I then noticed that I was on my back, on the ground, yet still sitting on the stone bench.

Getting help from Plasma, I found myself back at camp, still around the now dead fire. As I rubbed my very unhappy back, I saw that Rattlebones was across from me, asleep as he was hugging his staff.

"What happened? How did we get back?" I asked myself.

Plasma cocked an eyebrow at me. "You didn't go anywhere, you two just drank some weird stuff, giggled all night and then passed out. Trust me, I saw you."

"Oh… right." I remembered the flack of booze Rattle Bones shared with me, them… fighting a bear, dancing shadows… gods? Whatever that was, it really messed with my head. "Sorry about that."

Plasma just shrugged as trotted over to the woodpile and tossed in another log to the fire.

Stretching out my legs, I then noticed something was attached to my fetlocks. Thich hide with beautiful brown fur was strapped to all four of my legs, and it extended down to my hooves where it ended in large claws. It was the claws of a yao guai, but the fur was too thick and clean. Stranger, I had them on all four of my legs. "Plasma… where did I get these?" I raised one of the claws on my hoof.

She looked confused, and her response was even stranger. "How should I know, you never told me. I mean, you've always had them since we first met. Did that chem give you amnesia?"

"Don't worry, that happens, and no, it's not permanent." Rattlebones said and yawned.

"Seriously, we're recovering and you give her something like that." Plasma huffed, "I'm going to get some water, can you start cooking the meat?"

"Already on it." The old stallion said as he trotted to where we had our food stored. "Lottery, let's get breakfast ready, I think we should eat most of it before we head out of here."

Feeling confused I pulled out the metal skewers to cook the meat on. "Did I realy… you know… forget?"

Rattlebones smiled, "Possibly, that yao guai did knock you around something fierce."

I froze for a moment, remembering it all clearly. "So it did… but how, and how are we back-"

"Magic." He told me as he passed over some meat. "There are things beyond our understanding out in this world. Some old, some new. And in this case, a power that can rewrite this world in small ways, and bestows artifacts from times long forgotten."

Rattlebones then extended his staff and tapped my new gauntlets. "We have something like that in the tribe, call them berserker gauntlets, worn by warriors who know they're heading into fierce battles. Helps with running, climbing, and gives nasty cuts when hoof to hoof fighting. Also quite protective as armor gose."

It did look rather nice, and reminded me of the hoof guards that Stronghoof the barbarian wore. I could only imagine how jealous my brothers would be if they ever saw these, as that comic book was their favorite. Personally I rather have Stronghoof them be him myself.

I then moved my hoof, and saw the claws moved with it, as though an extension of myself. I then felt compelled to sniff it, finding the fur to faintly smell of sweet wine. With a sigh I put my hoof down, and asked one important question. "So, Rattlebones, what makes berserker gauntlets so special?"

He scratched his beard for a moment, then smiled. "Our belief is that the berserker gauntlets would give a pony the strength, ferocity, and bravery of a yao guai. Though that was all just symbolism to boost the wearers spirit and make them look more terrifying. But there's power in belief and symbolism, a power not to underestimate. But you, one the other hoof, might just have true berserker gauntlets. If I remember correctly, they were called the Grizzly Claws." Rattlebones then began to laugh. "Which would mean that the gods of old still have a sense of humor."

Then I realized that I now have another bear themed piece of clothes, and this one has a similar name to the boss. "Wait, why grizzly?"

Slowing down his laughter, he then told me. "The yao guai's, they use to be called grizzly bears, that's why."

I felt a crack on my stoic muzzle as laughter began to bubble up within me. It was dumb, so dumb that it was funny. My boss was called bear, in a building called a bear, in a town called a bear, and now I had weapons called a bear. It was just too unbearably stupid.

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