Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale

Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale, Chapter Sixty Five

_______________________________________________________

Things had gotten understandably awkward between Cold and I, and though everypony were reluctantly sure the father of my unborn was Spine Breaker, or any of the other raiders, there was still a small chance that Cold could be the father. Or Horus, or Shrimp, or Duke Pharynx the Fifth… possibly even the big dick guard, or may Celestia help me if it was Low Pressure.

It just left me wanting to slap Sparkling for not telling me about any of this as a possibility. Not that anypony expected me to get a fertility lust curse tattooed forced onto me. Still, now I have even more stress than before, as I don't even know if I'll even be giving birth to a pony!

At least I wasn't involved in some of the things the other Red Light mares had told me about. Where at less reputable whore houses, the ponies working there would do shows with animals, or even ghouls. It was something out of a nightmare to even think about.

Well at least Mint showed up in time to take over as my chaperone, with Cold needing to take a break from me. I also needed a pony to vent to, and Mint was there just for that. So after spilling all my worries and that I'm glad I was not some animal fucker, I began to feel better, a lot better.

I think it was that I now accepted what would come, and all the dread and disgust I felt just didn’t matter anymore. I'll still have some problems, even nightmares, but it was a problem I could deal with until the foals were born.

One other thing nagged at the back of my head, and that's only if I was not actually crazy, was what Persephone had told me. If she was going to have Will-o-Wisp and Rime Frost be reborn through me, then the contraceptives may have never mattered. Then the possible fathers is utterly unknown. Such thoughts hurt my head, and I wish I could drink some booze to soothe my pain, but since I decided to have the foals, booze is now banned outright.

In the end, whoever the father truly was no longer mattered right now, and that I start accepting the responsibility now that I've chosen to have them. Life was already difficult in the wasteland, the last thing anypony needed was for me to doom my foals to become raiders.

Taking a deep breath and doing my best to shove my worries to the back of my mind, I straightened out my clothes one more time before I was to enter the war room. Lucky was weirdly right about how the duster looked rather nice over my dancers dress, giving me a feeling of class protected by a shell of, "do not fuck with me." It also fitted rather well, though it was likely because my Ma and I were the same size, which made sense.

What was also nice was how the duster accommodated all my guns, having holes for letting the holster straps through. By the time I had everything on, I looked like a proper wastelander, though it annoyed me that I also looked a bit like my Pa.

Thank Celestia I couldn't grow a beard.

"Why are you so fidgety, Lottery? It's just the war room." Plasma asked, she herself was in a classy suit, one that so happened to have a short skirt that teased her panties, which were framed by fishnet stockings. If I didn't know better, I had thought she was planning to take that outfit to the Showroom. I was still sure she was planning to fuck somepony in it, but so long as it was not everypony, I could let it slide.

"Well this is for the big push, so I'm a bit nervous." I told her before asking, "So why that suit, it's nice, but I kinda miss the jumpsuit."

She rolled her eyes. "Asks miss flashy dresses here. But ya, I've just decided to stay… well me. Well I hope it's me. The jumpsuit was just to hide you know. All those eyes on me, and what they might think of me. I mean it turned me on to think everypony was looking at me and shaming me… well, I hated that I liked it, and though I was fucked in the heaf. but now I'm I'm not bothered by it anymore."

"I hope you're really not this much of a slut after we get the curse lifted." I told her.

She sighed. "Me too. I miss being able to think clearly without having to drink a potion. But I can't deny that I have been having fun since you got me away from those raiders."

"As long as It's your choice. But I wish I got you out sooner, and didn't leave you with them." I said, remembering having seen her tied up by the Brian Nails.

"Oh stop that." She said in a stern voice as she gave me a slight jabb. "You would have ended up as a sex slave as well, and if that had happened, then who would have saved us. Anyways, I should have known better than to have run my mouth off at the raiders… no, I should have never gone near them in the first place. But with all my intelligence, I still stupidly trotted up to them and demanded for them to let me pass. I'm lucky they didn't kill me, and If I had complied with their demands… Well, in hindsight, a day or two of being a fucktoy is not as bad as being a cumdump for over a month."

"Speaking of which, how's things going with the Pressure siblings?" I asked.

"Annoying." She said with a huff. "It's too soon to tell, but Doctor Helga did a scan, and there might be the early signs of wings forming. That was enough for High Pressure to cling all over me, which was fun at first, since she's a bit Bi like me. Unfortunately we're both subs, so until I can go back to the Red Light Showroom, we haven't done much other than talking. As for Low Pressure, he's indifferent about any of it, but High has been making sure he is around. It's a bit awkward, but Low and I actually get along well enough that we don't bother each other."

It was an odd problem to have, but not a bad one. "Well at least you have some pony to adopt your foal after it's born."

Plasma then glared at me. "Fuck you, I'm keeping my child. Unlike you I never even thought about getting rid of the darling. Even if the poor baby was conceived by rape, its mine." An honest and innocent smile formed on her face as she rubbed her stomach. "I've always wanted to be a mother. Like having lots of kids and everything. But as part of the rangers, everything was regulated, even down to when I could have a foal, of which my Star Paladin made sure I was at the bottom of the list."

I cocked an eyebrow. "You want more?"

She nodded. "Oh ya. Well if it's possible I mean. I just need to hook a good stallion… or two. And start a family."

"So you mean Spell?" I probed.

Plasma shook her head. "He's just not my type. That and he already has his daughters to worry about. I've asked Sparkling if she knows a stallion, awkward I know, but if anypony knows she dose. And theirs are the Applejack Rangers working here. If I wasn't already pregnant, oh I would make sure one of those hunks breed me good. But right now the only relationship I have seems to be with the Pressure siblings, as weird as it is."

I face hoofed. "You get weirder and weirder the more I get to know you." I then thought about it for a moment, and an idea popped up in my head. "Say, maybe I can introduce you to some of the maintenance ponies, they're not much in the looks department, but one of them might be what you're looking for… after the curse is lifted I mean."

She gave me a devilish grin. "I'll keep you to that. Now let's go, we've kept them waiting for too long."

We then entered the war room, where the key ponies were busy reading documents.

Grizzly was at the head of the table, with Hogan Highborn, Rainbows End and Rattlebones near her. But a few new ponies had taken seats now. Elder Honeycrisp, was in some ancient green military uniform adorn with several metals, which looked better on her then the blue robe. Similarly dressed, but in gray was Chain Lightning, who had been voted in as the Enclave representative. In a classy black leather Jacket was Duke Pharynx the Fifth, which I needed to sip on my canteen from just seeing him. Last was Lucky Shot, who seemed to annoy everypony by how she layed back on her chair, back hooves on the table.

Spell and Molo were here, but sitting on the other side of the table I was going to be at.

Giving me a nod as I took my place near the table, Grizzly then cleared her thought to start the meeting.

"Alright every… creature. You have had time to read the reports and the plan. Any questions?" Grizzly addressed the different leaders.

Chain Lightning put her documents down. "First off, I want to thank you on behalf of the Enclave Remnants for letting us in on this council. I know you all still don't trust us, of which I perfectly understand why. As there is still a sizable group of us that have still not let go of the old mindset."

"Well, we still need your pony power to fly all the cloud ships we recover. So it would be stupid of us to not offer an olive branch. Anyways, the Enclave is not the only group to have made the wasteland worse, but at least you have the excuse of ignorance." Grizzly told her.

Chain Lightning nodded. "Still, again thanks." She then flipped a page in the document. "As for this operation, I have one thing to point out. Simply thinking we can fly in and drop off troops is hopeful at best, and utterly suicidal at worst."

"Explain." Said Elder Honeycrisp.

"Well I'm only going by memory, but this place called the breaking grounds, it was one of the few danger zones that the Enclave had listed for this region. Originally I figured that the Grand Pegasus Enclave was using old intel, but knowing those lying bastards, that intel might not be as old as we had thought. Such danger zones are only listed as such if there is possibility of anti-air alitilary, or significant griffin activity. You can imagine what I'm worried about."

"I think your worries are most founded miss Chain." Pharynx said as he pulled out a few photos for the others to see. On them was a strange rig with two rather large guns attached to them. "My agents were a bit confused by the turrets, and thought that they may be for countering Steel Rangers. But if they're anti-air, it would make more sense.

"I can confirm." Elder Honeycrisp said. "We have several of these in storage, their 20mm auto cannons made for anti-air. They were originally made in Prance for airships, but after the development of cloudships, they were then repurposed as mobile ground to air artillery. Early in the wasteland, it was not uncommon for both the griffin mercenaries of the time and our own Pegasus brothers and sisters to use the cannons in dog fighting."

Hogan Highborn let out a chuckle. "Right, I think I've seen a few old photos of those cannons. There's actually a few Talons out there who still use them."

"Meaning that those guns need to be destroyed before we even think of flying in close." Chain Lightning told the council, getting a nod from all of them.

Grizzly turned her attention to Duke Pharynx. "Could your changings do it?"

He shook his head and passed out several photos. "If it was anypony else, then it would be foal's play. But Wiretap knows about us, and has already prepared his troops for sniffing us out in the most literal sense. As you saw in those photos, they were not taken up close. This is because the Breaking Grounds has an extensive canid presence. The bastard had managed to smuggle Fillydelphia fighting hounds, or just as likely had been breeding them in secret. All the same I've already lost several of my subjects to them."

Some of the photos made their way to me, and I saw a bunch of nearly pony sized shaggy dogs. Some of them were mangy with little fur, and all of them were scarred from both what looked like fighting and beatings. It sent a cold shiver down my spine from the thought of fighting them.

"You have here that a frontal assault in power armor is ill advised, is that due to this multi bailfire egg launcher you highlighted, care to explain?" Elder Honeycrisp asked.

Grizzly looked over to me, and motions for me to join in. Doing so, I stepped up and explained. "It was found inside the proto stable when I was working for Tripwire, supposedly made by the M.o.A. and I got to use it first hoof on the Corps Dancer's Raiders. It shoots six bailfire eggs in a wide pattern from over a hundred yards. The destructive potential is… significant. It was also used to breach the walls of the settlement of Elysium by the Murder Ballers, effectively crippling a well defended settlement."

Elder Honeycrisp let out a sigh. "Why am I not surprised that our own side took a zebra weapon meant to kill Steel Rangers, and thought, let's make this even more deadly. That aside, Miss Lottery, do you remember how much ammunition was found with this weapon?"

I shook my head. "Sorry, I never stopped to count. But there were several cases of, four I think."

"That's a problem." Honeycrisp said. "An Equestria Bailfire egg case can hold twelve, and if it's only been used twice, that means it has four more shots. Enough to crippled any effective ranger assault squad. We would need to keep my knights spread out to mitigate the losses."

"Same for the Talons." Hogan Highborn added. "We already took a not insignificant loss in our last assault, even though we had only been just probing their defense. Truthfully, it had been a good idea to not attempt at taking the Breaking Grounds from what I saw in that fight. It's too well fortified, and too well defended to be simply taken. The more I learn, the more it becomes clear that Tripwire has been preparing this place for years, and not for the months we had originally suspected."

"It would line up why I knew so little about it up until recently." Rainbows End spoke up. "Likely Tripwire and Grinder have been carefully setting up this place, making sure whatever sent there would not raise any alarms. This would mean that there is likely enough supplies for them to hold up for months if besieged. Enough time for their mezmetron project to be completed and used."

"Say Rattlebones, remember when the bandit from further out went and damaged the statue of friendship during their heist." Lucky Shot said as she finally took her back hooves off the table and sat correctly.

"You mean with that crazy glider? I don't see how that will help." Rattlebones said as he stroked his chin. "Unless you're talking about that fireworks trick they used with it."

Luck nodded. "E'yep. The Friendship City guard already knew they were coming, since they love to announce to everypony when they're going to do some brahmin shit. A big old fucking display, and even a chase, all to hide that they already snuck several bandits into the city."

"Yes, that might work… might." Rattlebones said, but didn't sound so sure. "But any pony that sneaks in is only going to have a limited amount of time to do anything."

"Care to explain?" Grizzly asked.

"Right, most of y'all are too young to know about that." Lucky said before explaining. "So I'll keep it short. What had happened was that a bandit flew a glider into Friendship City's statue and set off a payload of fireworks inside, then ran for it. As one group of guards attempted to put out the fire and another chased the bandit out of the city, a small group of bandits had already snuck in and quickly disabled the city's defenses while they were distracted. Before the guards could even respond and retake the wall, from their hiding spots the main bulk of the bandits had gotten into the city and held the normal ponies their hostage. By the end of the day the bandits robbed the city blind, and got away without killing even one pony."

"Right, I remember my father telling me about that story, and why we should never trust a bandit." Grizzly said with disdain in her voice. "But… I see the strategy you're suggesting. A three part plan that involves a pony causing a distraction that Grinder can't ignore. Then a small team uses that window of opportunity to sneak in and open the way for everypony else to come in and attack."

"If the anti-air can be destroyed along with the Bailfire egg launder, then we can drop in troops right on top of them without worry of heavy losses." Hogan said with a nod. "I imagine the bailfire egg launcher will be with Grinder, so an assassination is probably were we should start. Both cut off the head and tail of the radscorpion before taking out its claws."

"Agree." Duke Pharynx said. "The fool makes no effort to hide his location within the Breaking Grounds. Along with his… activities. So a strike team should have no problem getting to him either, so long as they get in undetected."

"You're forgetting the mezmetron problem." Rainbows End pointed out. "If they can just turn our troops against us, then we will still lose."

Plasma stepped forward to address the war council. "We have managed a breakthrough in developing a counter. But first I want to apologize to the Elder."

The young elder blushed before saying. "N… no need. What you do in your free time is your own business. Though next time lock the door."

I face hoofed, having a good idea what likely happened, and who was probably with her at the time.

Plasma continued, "fortunately the Applejack Rangers had several anti-magic devices in their possession, along with a detailed breakdown on how they work. Their mane purpose was as a cheaper weapon to be used by the zebras to counter Steel Rangers. The M.o.W.T. had been attempting to use the information to upgrade power armor's shielding for its spell matrix to resist it. Unfortunately the M.o.W.T. never completed the new shielding, but-"

"Enough of the history lesson Plasma, we get enough of that from Spell Circuit." Grizzly said in an annoyed tone.

"S.. sorry." Plasma stammered out. "Well we managed to make several anti-magic pulse bombs with what we had. With the few testing we managed to do on the mezmetron victims in our custody, we have confirmed that it is capable of breaking the mind control. But…" she then sighed. "We have also confirmed that Wiretap has backed up his mind control with significant brainwashing. And even if freed from his control, it doesn't mean that those slaves will not stop fighting us. Still, once used, any arcano tech device caught in the blast should be rendered inoperable, including any mezmetrons they might have."

"Unfortunately that includes power armor." Elder Honeycrisp added. "They can be restarted due to several fail safes built in, thank Applejack for that foresight. But there will be a window of time where my knights will not be able to provide heavy support."

Hogan Highborn smirked before saying, "no need to worry your flanks over that, my Talons are more than enough to keep up the fight without your support. Just let them know when your about to set those bombs off so we can lure any of those Enclave cunts into the blast zone."

"Same here." Chain Lightning spoke up. "But so that we can get any of our tech and armor away from the blast zone. Power armor may recover from an anti-magic pulse, but most of the cloud ships we have are older models that will be irreversibly damaged by it. Thought stopping Tripwire is important, we must also strive for preserving what tech we still have."

Elder Honeycrisp nodded, but both Lucky and Rattlebones just rolled their eyes.

"We'll sort out the details later, alright." Grizzly told them before an argument could start. "What's important is that we have a plan, and we have our weapons, all that's left is figuring out who does what."

Hearing that, I spoke up. "I'll be the distraction, and draw their attention."

"No." Grizzly said in a calm but cold voice.

"What do you mean no. You know I can do it, sneaking in, breaking shit, and get the fuck out." I argued.

"I've already decided you will join the main attack with the Rangers." Grizzly told me, only giving me a glance as she then said. "Going after that raider boss was one thing, it didn't endanger the mission for you to get your revenge."

My blood boiled as I gritted my teeth. "How is this about revenge?"

This time she turned her head to look me in the eyes. "How is this not about revenge! Lottery, you may have found some peace with what happened to you, but don't think that you're better than anypony here. You spent a month in self loathing, drinking yourself into a mess just to forget. You may buried your hatred and rage, but I know, I know that it's still there. Can you guarantee that you won't fly off the handle as soon as you see Grinder. That you will not absolutely fuck up the mission when revenge is in your grasped."

"And what of it! Shouldn't I have my revenge on all of them!" I growled back at her.

Grizzly let out a sigh. "And there we have it. For both the distraction and for the strike team were going to need ponies with cool heads. Otherwise things will quickly go tits up and many good ponies will die. If we fail to take the Breaking Ground, then Tripwire's counter attack will soon follow, and we will all fall. You understand!"

I took a deep breath, calming myself. Grizzly was right, all that really mattered is that we won, my own need for revenge was secondary. No, it was detrimental to this war.

"I… understand." I said.

"Good, now go cool your head off, I'll tell you the details later." Grizzly told me.

Nodding, I turned to leave, Plasma following closely behind.

_______________________________________________________

My mind was all over the place, from the anger of not getting to be there, the understanding that this was bigger than me, and some intrusive thoughts about Hogan Highborn. Having arrived at a balcony overlooking Ursa's Rest, I took a sip from my canteen to help clear my mind.

Plasma followed me and trotted over to the balcony, letting the wind blow through her mane.

Joining her in getting caressed by the strong and cool breeze, my new hat only stayed on due to the leather strap holding it in place. "I should be there when it starts, and so should you. I mean if we catch Bandsaw, you deserve some revenge on her. Actually, shouldn't you also want revenge on Low, and why did you never tell me about that?"

"Because Low didn't matter, and truth be told, he's a good fuck." She said with a grin.

"Please don't tell me it's been more than that one time?" I said with some concern.

"Well things happen when you're high in the Showroom, anyways, it's not like you can stand on the high ground about not fucking him." She said back at me mockingly.

"Fine fine, I guess were just lucky he's gay." I then looked at her suspiciously. "So what did you do with the Rangers?"

Plasma chuckled. "Long story short, Dancing Skies and I had some downtime as the scribes were crunching numbers, so we invited a few knights to join us. They needed their armor looked at anyways, and the two of us wanted to have some fun. I think Dancing might have found a stallion she likes. Though the Elder ruined the mood."

She then looked down at the town. As she took a sip from her canteen. "It's been fun, but I'm still scared, you know. That once I'm me again, I might not be able to deal with what I've become." She then showed me her fetlocks, they were still covered in self inflicted cuts. "Thanks to the curse I've stopped cutting myself, but that's only because my head is too full of sex to self hate."

I patted my friend on the back. "I'm sure you will be fine, and I'll be there for you."

"Same here!" Both Plasma and I jumped in shock as Molotov appeared out of nowhere. "Anyways, it's not like you two have truly wronged anypony." Joining us at the balcony, Molo let out a long sigh as she looked down below. "You two, you both have a strength I wished I had at your age. Then maybe I would have fucking done something instead of running away.

"Molo…" I said but she cut me off.

"No, don't start, I know I'm being fucking dramatic and shit!" Molo said with a huff before looking at me with a smile. "I just had a lot of thinking to do, a lot to get off my chest. So let this ex-raider beat herself up. Because we all know I deserve far worse. But you two, you both deserve far better than the hoof you were dealt. When the time comes, I'll be there with you to fuck the Bailfire Fiends up and get your cure, it's a promise. "

"Th.. thanks Molo." I said, now feeling more relieved that she seemed to be back to her normal self.

"It's what friends are there for. Anyways, I heard you're keeping the foals, and truthfully, I want to see how they turn out. Got a betting pool on who the daddy is going to be and everything." She said in a mischievous tone. "My caps are on the guard you fucked."

"Mines on Cold Trails." Plasma added.

"Really, I mean how are we even going to know?" I asked.

Molo shrugged. "We will guess after they are born."

That just annoyed me, to have my pregnancy be turned into a spectacle. But I am feeling a bit better now.

"Well at least we'll soon strike out at Grinder, and be one step closer to ending this mess. Then those foals… my foals will be born in an Equestria made better by our hooves."

"And if things go well, they won't have to suffer the same as us." Plasma said.

Nodding, I then remembered something Lucky Shot said to me when we first met. "Ya, maybe their generation won't be traumatized by raiders like my grandmother, mother, and I were."

Both Molo and Plasma rested their heads on either side of my shoulders.

"My daughters still have their innocence, and if running through fire is what I must do to preserve it, I'll do it a hundred times." Molo said.

Plasma let out a sigh. "Ya, and though I haven't met my child yet, I know I'll do my best to shower them with love."

"But that's… so boring!" An ice cold voice cut through my skull as I found myself unable to move. "So much mush, so much love, and most disgusting is all that fucking hope!"

Time stopped as the shadows moved and the lights dimmed as the formless visage of Strife stood before me. The incomplete mad god scowled at me, hatred burning on her nonexistent eyes. But then she smiled, it was wide from ear to ear. "I still like you though. I still want you for myself, and I'm done with playing nice."

She then burst into chaotic strands of shadows and time returned to normal.

I clenched my teeth as my heart let out a heavy thump, but all I cared about in this moment, in this second, was getting my friends away from whatever was about to happen. So with as much strength as I could muster, I pushed on them as I kicked back off the balcony, sending the two flying further back in shock.

I must have gone insane, doing this because of a hallucination.

But the ringing in my ears and the burning pain that erupted across my body made it all so real.

Opening my eyes, fire and rubble was all around me.

"You fucking lucky bitch, I almost had you." Short Fuse said through gritted teeth.

"Were to take them alive you fucking pyromaniac cunt!" Bandsaw growled. "Now look at her, good thing I got some fucking healing potions."

Getting up, I spat up some blood before I looked at the raider boss of the Smelters, and the emissary of the Bailfire Fiends, both looking back at me with jagged yellow grins.

"NO YOU FUCKING DON'T!" Molo scream as she threw a fire bomb.

But the flaming bomb simply stopped in mid air, and then was harmlessly placed onto the ground. Majestic then appeared, her invisibility dropping and revealing even more control jewelry on her, along with a bomb collar, but worst of all was the blank stare she had.

Bandsaw stepped forward. "Good to see you all again, well, not to you Molotov, you can choke on a fucking dick. But Plasma, I've missed you. Shoving shit up cunts just isn't the same when it's not you. And Lottery, I am so disappointed in you. Killing your sisters like that, it just breaks my rotting heart. You also pissed off Madam Mother, making this all so much worse for you. so you'll be disciplined thoroughly."

"Oh fuck you." I said with a mouth full of blood.

"Is that a request, I'll hold you to it." Bandsaw said with malicious glee.

"Enough of your fucking flirting ya insane lesbian fuck cunt!" Short Fuse said with a flamer attached to her side, which was trained on me. "Fucking blue bitch, grab them and get us the fuck out before we get fucked up!"

"Not happening!" Molo said as she drew her SMG's

"You better not even make a move." Plasma added, as she pulled out a grenade.

Both were thankfully unharmed, but Majestic was here and we had no way to stop the mind control on her.

Coughing up blood, I managed to say to my friends. "Run… just… run."

"Oh how fucking precious, you don't want your faggot cunts getting hurt." Short Fuse said as she let out a short burst of fire over me. The hear singing my fur. "But if they even try to fucking run or fight, your getting cooked well done."

Bandsaw shrugged, "as long as you don't kill her, she's still mine."

*BANG!*

A loud hiss followed the gunshot, and Short Fuse was forced to quickly detach her flamer and kick it away, where it then exploded.

With a heavy thump, Hans landed, the griffin holding an oversized revolver in each claw. "I think you raiders have overstayed your welcome, now die!" He cocked both revolvers and pulled the triggers.

But nothing came from it. Just darkness.

"Fucking Talon! This is why we should have just grabbed the fucking bitches instead of talking you damned cunt!" Short Fuse raged.

"Fuck off you, ya incest obsessed bitch! It's your fault for attacking, you stupid cunt!" Bandsaw argued.

A deep chuckle shut them up as a cold shiver of dread ran down my spine. "You got one of them, and looky here, it's my lost cocksleve too." Grinder said as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, and his hatful face became clear to me.

The large stallion trotted up to me, cruel lust in his eyes. "This time you're not getting away, or getting a break. You got an army to satisfy after all." He then pulled out a device that filled me with terror. "But first, I need you to tell me everything those cunts are planning."

Grinder pointed the mezmetron at me, and everything then became fuzzy

_______________________________________________________