Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale

Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale, Chapter Seventy Seven

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Doctor Helga tapped her talon on her desk, clearly suspecting that the three of us did something stupid, but not having the evidence to call us out on it. "You're all idiots, you know that." She said with a sigh. "Whatever, let's get this started. Thankfully both Rattlebones and Doctor Coriander help me with the prep work, so this shouldn't be hard to do."

"Really?" I asked.

The old griffin nodded, and pulled out a jar with a pink root that bent into the shape of a heart in it. "This is venus root, and right now, if any creature holds it other than me, they are to be shot on sight." Placing it onto her desk, she then pulled out a few more smaller jars, all with different kinds of pink fluid inside. "Same goes for these. I'm telling you this now in case any of you get any stupid ideas."

"And that's why there are guards outside." I commented.

"That's why there are guards outside." Helga repeated to confirm my statement.

The griffin then opened up a notebook, the writing inside so squiggly that even if I could read, I doubt I could read that. "Alright, as soon as Rattlebones arrives we will get this started. I want this shit thrown into a furnace as soon as possible, but until then I can explain the process and answer a few questions."

"Um?" Plasma spoke up. "Have you had time to test this?"

Helga tapped on her notebook as she thought carefully about how she was going to answer. "Yes, though the results have not been the best. As you know we found several other victims of the curse at the center. It looks like it worked at first, but most of them just changed back soon after. Frankly, they might need to be euthanized like some of the other ponies we recovered. It's all a horrible mess none of us are equipped to deal with."

"But some can be helped, right?" Silver asked.

"Some, but that's a small number." She replied, letting out a sigh. "The few who can be saved haven't been cursed for long, but they are deeply traumatized. It really goes to show how lucky you three actually are. I thought it was the worst it could be with how Silver was, but that curse has seriously retarded those ponies, if not completely changed their bodies irreversibly."

I raised an eyebrow at that last part. "Can you explain the physical changes to me?" I asked. Having seen some of those mares, I wanted to know the extent of the transformation.

Helga nodded. "It seems the longer a pony is cursed, and the more male body fluids they take in, the more they change. The teats get bigger, their bodies become sensitive much like you three. Also their tongues more than double in length. But in the worst cases they grow fangs, small bat-like wings, two horns and the whites of their eyes turn black. Most of the ones that are far gone seem to be so addicted to sex that the withdrawal symptoms are actually life threatening. "

The three of us gasped at that. "S… seriously?" I asked

"Ya, even I was shocked to see it." Helga said as she eyed me. "I don't know much about magical brahman shit, but Rattlebones said that it is common for ponies to physically change when under strong magic. This goes for ghouls and the alicorns, even my medical textbooks explain some of this. Unfortunately the changes this curse causes are mostly irreversible." She then pointed at me. "And you, Lottery, are the luckiest of the bunch, from the growth of your cursed tattoo, you should already be in the late stages of the curse. Must be some other magical brahman shit going on that your transformation has been mild at best." She then pointed at Silver, "Which would explain why other than a mental change, you haven't physically changed at all."

I felt I somehow knew why that was, but I couldn't seem to remember it at all. "So… then I'm not going back to normal?" I then had to ask.

The Doctor shook her head as she showed me a mirror. "Sadly not completely. The one mare we managed to cure lost several of the late stage changes, but not everything. The body sensitivity, fangs, and other non pony like changes should go away. But teats and tongue will only shrink a little… maybe. There are many other things we haven't had the time to test for, so it's overall a big unknown."

As she had said, several of my teeth were now more jagged and longer, reminding me of the raiders with mouths full of pointed teeth, but naturally. Then I stuck out my tongue, and found myself able to lick my own nose, and almost my eye. "Great, I'll actually have to get used to this!"

"Indeed." Helga said, putting the mirror away.

I looked over at Silver and Plasma, who were sticking out their own tongues to check their length. Plasma could touch her nose, but only just. Silver had a normal length tongue, but one nearly black in color.

"And any other kind of changes?" I then asked.

Doctor Helga nodded. "There is the mental change, but psychology is a tricky thing. Hard to tell where the trauma ends and the curse begins. But we suspect that the heightened libido should end along with the curse. But Rattlebones suspected that your increased fertility will be sticking around, so expect twins to be the norm if you choose to have any more foals."

I didn't like the sound of that, but at least I was not some mutated sex addict. Mostly. "Thank Celestia that's the worst of it. So how is this going to go then?"

"Thankfully nothing too difficult." Doctor Helga said as she tapped on the jars. "You will need to drink some of this to force the curse to flare up fully, and then smear a salve over the tattoo. Supposedly it loosens the curse, letting us use a talisman to take your place for the curse to inhabit. Don't ask me how that works, all I know is that it does."

"It works because curses are semi aware." Rattlebones said as he trotted in. "What happens is that we are getting the cures drunk, and then tricking it to move to another vessel."

Helga rolled her eyes. "Sure, let's go with that, fucking magical brahman shit."

Rattlebones then placed a few cut and engraved gemstones on Helga's desk, three were a dull cloudy quartz, but two glowed a sickening pink. "The big problem will be what to do with the cursed talismans afterwards. Even now it's clear they will turn anypony into some sort of sex monster if it's around them for too long, or worse brake free. Personally, I may like to have a bigger dick, but everything else is a big no."

Doctor Helga looked at the glowing talismans with suspension and disgust. "I'll talk with Grizzly about it. I'm sure she can pull some strings to find a deep dark hole to throw them in and fill it with concrete."

"That's for the best, though I rather they be destroyed then hidden away. Equestria already has too many cursed objects squirreled away in lost and forgotten places." Rattlebones said before turning to us. "Alright, you three ready? Fortunately we don't have to strap you down, but you will go a bit cannatonic for a bit as you're being cured."

"Is there anything we should be warned about?" I asked the old stallion.

He thought about it for a moment and then told us. "Well the one mare that wasn't all that far along did tell me you will have an intense hallucination, but she couldn't remember what it was about. Other than that, you will be fine."

"Thanks, I guess we should get this over with then." I told him.

With that Doctor Helga filled three glasses with the sickly pink syrup like fluid, and passed it to us. On the count of three, we then drank it, and I found it to disgustingly have the consistency and taste of stallion ejaculation. But we managed to force it down, only to find the aftertaste to be even worse.

Strangely I found myself reaching out for more, but Doctor Helga moved the jar away as she grabbed the salve with gloved talons. "I fucking hate this stuff. The fumes alone are fucking with my head." She complained as she scooped up some of the salve, then said to Rattlebones. "It's even making me think you're attractive."

He chuckled. "I didn't need a love poison to make me think you're a good looking bird. But in all seriousness, get that on them before you start touching yourself. Poor Mint is still locked in a private room after her accident."

"Accident?" I said, finding that I was feeling really hot, and rather… wet.

Doctor Helga applied the salve to my stomach, and it felt both cold and hot at the same time. "No worry, she just got a bit of the salve on herself… and then more… well, in her. But she will be fine."

As she spoke, the doctor began to melt as my crotch felt it was on fire. I tried to open my mouth, but I had none, I was melting, MELTING!

"Why!" A familiar voice spoke as black acrid smoke seeped in from cracks in the walls. "Why won't you love me!"

Memories returned to me as Strife formed, smoke leaking from her nonexistent eye like tears. "You would have been beautifully broken, free from all inhibition. Yet you deny me, deny my love!"

She then waved a hoof over the two cursed talismans. "But it's not too late, I can still have you, and your friends. All it takes is a bit more, a bit of a push."

To my horror the gemstones cracked, and pink smoke leaked out. The smoke twisted and turned, gathering together and moving about the room, looking like a galloping pony. It then slammed into Strife, knocking the mad god over.

It, the pink smoke, then laughed, taking a form. A pastel pink mare with a long golden mane took the place of the pink smoke, she had a horn and wings that reminded me of pictures of Celestia and Luna. But this mare… she was beautiful beyond belief, more so then even Persephone. She irradiated beauty like light itself that if I could I would avert my eyes.

"Disgusting creature, you dare attempt to further corrupt my creation with your madness." Her voice was like the clearest and most beautiful of sounds, an instrument in its own right.

Strife hissed at the alicorn, turning back into smoke as she retreated back through the cracks in reality.

The mare then turned to me, tilting her head. "Oh, a pony, how long has it been since you clay dolls growled at my feet?" She then lifted up a hoof and upon seeing it, sighed. "Right, hooves, I have hooves. Damn that Persephone and her curses." She then returned her attention to me, smiling. "You, to have the boon of not just one god, but three gods is not something seen since I left mount Olympus. Gaze upon me and worship my name!"

I would if I could, but I didn't know her name, or anything about her.

The mare frownd. "I am Aphrodite, Goddess of love and beauty. Daughter of Aries the god of war and farming. The favorite grandchild of Zeus, king of all gods!"

None of that rang a bell. Was she related to the princesses?

Aphrodite rolled her eyes at me. "I know not who this Celestia and Luna is, but they must be poor excuses for gods if you do not address them as such. How much has Persephone let this world forget their betters? Why does she refuse to join us? And why did she choose Hades when there are sooo many better looking stallions out there?"

I only became more confused.

She then nudged me like we were friends, whispering. "Since you seem to have her favor, why don't I give you something better. Not something like those ugly bear claws, or a dull circlet. No, how about a real boon, a true blessing." Aphrodite held out her hoof and blew on it, where an eye formed, its irises was pink and the pupals were in the shape of a heart. "With this all will love you, truly love you. An unconditional love none can deny. It will also make you beautiful… or as beautiful as a lesser creature can get."

Past her I saw the visage of myself, my old self before I trotted into the wasteland… yet I was more. A long flowing glossy mane and tail, no freckles and well maintained fur. The dress I had, it was remarkable.

"Yes, that will be you, and look, not a single stallion can resist your beauty." I could see it, eyes were on me, all filled with love, lust, and obsession. All I needed was to lock my eyes with them.

My mouth finally moved. "And… you'd simply give me this? Why?"

Aphrodite shrugged. "I'm just feeling generous, anyways, you want to lock down that stallion. Be the one in control." she then leaned in, and said sensually. "Trust me, with it and all will dance in your hooves. Low Pressure will make an exception for you, Cold Trails will never look at another mare. Even Tripwire will worship the ground you trot on. And I give it to you, no strings attached."

I reached out for the eye, finding such power… irresistible.

Yet, I stopped myself.

So much power felt… wrong.

No, it didn't just feel wrong, it was no better than the mesmetron. Bending the wills of another like that, it sickens me. And no matter how much I wanted to give Tripwire a taste of his own medicine, it was still wrong and evil.

"No, I don't want it." I told her.

She cocked an eyebrow. "After thousands and thousands of years, and the first mortal I see… tells me no! Pathetic mortal, do you not know your place? I am the daughter of war itself, countless die in my name, seeking my favor, and you tell me no!"

I felt an oppressing power press down on me at all sides. Aphrodite's mane then glowed bright like the sun itself, burning me, blinding me.

Then it stopped. "Oh, lost my temper there." She then let out an innocent giggle, but it didn't change what I saw, the terrible and terrifying visage of an angry god.

Yet… deep down, I feared Persephone more… not because she was frightening, but… I fear that I would disappoint her. Where I didn't care at all how Aphrodite felt. I just knew that she saw me as no more than a toy to play with, like some spoiled child. But Persephone… she felt like a distant aunt, wanting me to stand on my own.

My attention returned to Aphrodite, who was biting her lip, looking hurt. "Why, why not show me that same reverence. You damned mortal!" She then stomped on the floor, shaking everything. "You know, I was going to let you off, since your too stupid to accept a simple gift from the greatest of all gods. But maybe I should teach you a lesson, all of you a lesson!

With a wink and a blowing of a kiss, something in me thumped. Small at first, but more and more something was trying to claw its way out of me. I puked sickly pink fluid, more and more of it flowed out of me, then a hoof. A mare forced her way out of my mouth, and fell to the floor with a sick splat.

She… she looked just like me, but ugly fleshy wings protruded from her back, and two fleshy horns poked from her head. It was what Doctor Helga had described and what U had seen, the eyes, the tongue, monstrous teeth. That was not a pony, it was some sort of monster, and she was me.

She stretched, cracking a few bones as she posed provocatively. Her eyes then fell onto me with a deep hunger that I knew could never be satisfied.

"Disgusting, so this is what became of my blessing. You ponies do ruin everything." Aphrodite said in a mocking tone, then waved her hoof. Pink smoke from all over gathered and surrounded the other me, entering her. As more pink smoke entered, the more the horns and wings grew, and the hungry she looked. "Yes, this will do nicely. Once she is finished growing, she will return to you, and become you. No inhibition, and magic for beyond the mortals understands.

I watched as this twisted form of me grew more powerful, all while the tattoo began to cover her body. It was weird… and familiar… right, the curse, she was the manifestation of my curse. No, not just my cure, Aphrodite was putting all of our curses into one form.

The realization didn't help me feel better, as I knew this was going to be my fate soon. To become some sex monster, unable to think for myself.

It then moved, crawling to me. "You!" It spoke, the voice unnatural and unnerving. "G… give me… give you… body."

I wanted to fight back, but I still could not move, but I could talk. "Why?"

"To… be… free!" It said,

"Free of what?" I further asked.

"Of… non-existence." It replied, slowing down its climb up my leg, her long tongue giving me a lick.

"So you want to be what, alive, or something more?" The question was to just stall it as I tried to think of a way to free myself, even though I knew I was doomed.

But the monster stopped, looking at me with curiosity. "I want… to be… to be. Loved, held." Then it smiled with its sharp looking teeth. "Fuck and fuck and fuck, do I can feel more love!" It said, a hungry but blank stare on its face as drool ran down its chin.

Something was not quite right. I mean it was all sorts of wrong, but this thing, this twisted form of myself… it was… retarded. Dangerous, but nothing much seemed to be behind its eyes. "When you get this… love. What then?"

"I…" the monster then froze, seemingly dumbfounded by the question.

A growl then came from Aphrodite, who looked frustrated. "Ya damn dirty monster, just take over her body already!"

"But then what?" I asked again, and it looked confused. "When you get everything you want, then what? What dreams do you have, goals you want to achieve? Who are you, and who do you want to be?"

The thing slumped back, pink tears welling up in its eyes, and began to cry. "I don't know who I am or what I want." It was ugly crying, like some lost child.

Then it hit me… this thing… It was a child. No different to those lame alicorn that can't look after themselves. My eyes then glanced over at Aphrodite, who looked rather confused. Did she not know how her own cures work…curse… of course she doesn't, curses are not her domain. It's the domain of Persephone.

And what did Persephone say to me about this curse? Something to do with there being many ways to stop one. But the only curse I have dealt with was the mound maker, which became Rime Frost…

I had embraced Rime Frost, accepted her, and now she was a part of me.

My legs finally found the strength to move, as I knelt down in front of the venue root curse. "Hey now, don't cry. Truthfully, hardly anypony knows who they truly are, or what they truly want to do." The curse looked at me, curious and lost. "You said you wanted to exist, right? What if I let you exist through me. Where you can grow and learn about who you are, where you can discover what you want to do."

"Will I be loved?" She asked.

I gave her a hug, holding her tight. "How could you not be loved."

The pink smoke that surrounded us began to fade, becoming a more gentle haze then vanishing. With it so had the curse, the twisted mare became nothing more then sparkles that surrounded me.

"HOW!" Aphrodite shouted.

I was done with all this brahman shit! Gods, monsters, and ponies who thought they knew better. "Because you're nothing more than a self centered egoist! Appearing here and thinking you know better, pushing your stupidly on others. Just go back to whatever shit hole you came from and leave us be!"

The Goddess snarled, and the room shook, but as soon as she took a step forward, everything just stopped.

"Another step and I will turn your hourglass, Aphrodite." The thin form of Lethe trotted in, looking more bones than pony. "The damage you have left behind is enough of a headache even thousands of years later. If you cause any more damage, then we will consider asking Persephone to give you the gift of mortality."

Genuine fear crept in on the gods face as she took a step back. "Let it be known, the insult that mortal gave me will be punished, you hear me!" And as though reality itself broke, the area around Aphrodite shattered and she vanished.

Lethe stood there, and though no emotions could be read on her undead face, I could tell she was frustrated. "Even now they are no less arrogant. Always at the top of the mountain and never in the dirt with those who suffer at their whims." She then turned to me, letting out a long and cold sign. "I'd share a drink with you, but pregnant mares shouldn't drink alcohol."

I finally could relax, though I felt more insane than ever. "Th.. thanks." I stumbled over my own words as I felt my body tremble. "Wh.. what was all that."

A groan came from Lethe that sounded more like cold wind on a breezy night. "Hard to really explain to you, as you would need to understand advanced temporal magic and temporal physics to grasp most of it. But to simplify it as much as possible, several powerful magics converged and poked a hole in reality. And because the venus root was at the center of it all, it summoned its creator. Then I had to come in and reassert reality before any permanent damage happens."

She was right, most of that went over my head, but I guess that I was safe now. "So, what next?"

"You continue your journey, ignorant to what just transpired." Lethe told me.

That surprised me. "You mean to forget! But why?"

"Because knowing their names are dangerous." Lethe began to explain. "Only a few of the gods have accepted their responsibility, and care for this world, with Persephone as chief of them. But gods like Aphrodite will never accept this, and will seek to metal in the affairs of mortals. Anypony, or creature who knows their name risks starting a cult, and those cults may summon them back to this world. You have seen her arrogance, her spitefulness. You understand what may happen if such irresponsible powers take control."

Lethe then smiled with her thin, leather lips. "You are unlike them, able to turn away power, and accept your role in life. Even if it deals you a bad hoof. If Equestria had more like you, the wasteland would not have lasted as long as it has."

"Again, thanks. Oh, and about the curse, did I just, you know, like with Rime Frost and Will-o-Wisp?" I asked, knowing the answer.

She nodded. "Curses are in truth, rather fragile, made from emotions twisted and perverted. The venus root curse you had in fact was not just a love potion, but one for two different creatures to be able to conceive fertile children. It contains the wish to start a family, perverted into a need to breed, and twisted into a sex addiction. So yes, by accepting it, you also accepted to become its mother."

"Well… fuck. Not like a third foal will kill me… or will it?" I then asked, worried.

Lethe chuckled. "No, you will be fine. Though Persephone has cut her ties over you, she still protects you like she does with all mothers. Anyways, it's time I move on, there are ponies here who wish to choose their own death, and I will not let them trot alone."

"Oh, and before I go, I have a message to you from Sparking Passion." She then told me.

My eyes widened. "From Molo!"

Lethe nodded. "She wants to tell you that though her time with you was short, it was also the best she ever had. You made her feel like a real pony again, and helped remind her something she forgot when she stopped being a foal. She may have regrets, but she regrets nothing about the time with you, and you shouldn't blame yourself for how she died. In truth, you helped her live again, and for that she is grateful. Now go, live and be happy."

It touched me to receive that message, but something in the back of my mind needed to ask, desperately needed to know. "And Molo's soul… it's safe right? She'll be waiting for me and her daughter in the great unknown?"

Despite her emotionless face, Lethe looked… sad. "She had long ago embraced the mother of raiders, and so to her she will rest within."

My blood ran cold. "Why… why damnit! Why can't she be happy!"

Somehow a mischievous smile could be felt on Lethe's boney face. "Well nothing says that fate can't be altered and souls can't be stolen. One just needs to take the opportunity when presented. Though to defy a god… one needs tools made by gods and a will to resist all temptation. I look forward to seeing you do just that one last time." As Lethe said the last of those words, she faded into black smoke, leaving me in the melted Doctor's office, speechless.

I then hit the floor as the world reasserted itself, Doctor Helga rushing to lift me up. "Lottery, are you okay!"

"Wh… what just happened?" I asked, feeling confused, and that I was forgetting something important.

Dusting off my clothes, Doctor Helga quickly looked me over, including the cursed tattoo. "Looks like it was a success… hmmm, can you open your mouth and stick out your tongue for me."

I did just that, finding it to be… shorter?

"Well, good news, it seems that most of your changes has reduced, not fully gone, but you don't look like some mutant sex toy anymore." She told me as I then felt her claw feel me up and squeeze my tits. "How does that feel?"

"Fucking Luna on a stick Helga, your talons are cold!" I replied.

"Well you didn't moan this time, so your sensitivity must be down. I say that you're fully cured… mostly." She lifted up her claw, and it was covered in a white fluid… then she tasted it. "Well that at least tastes normal, so let's just hope the lactation is temporary."

looking down, my teats had reduced in size a little, but were now leaking milk. "Well that's a load of brahman shit." Despite this new… issue, it was good to know I was mostly back to normal. Though only time will tell if I was sane or not. I then glanced over at my friends, both still zoned out, but their cursed tattoo's were now gone. "So it's over then."

"Hmmmm…" Rattlebones held one of the talismans, it cracked and dull, all of them were. "I think so, and not in the way we intended."

Worried, Helga asked him, "how so, and how bad?"

Rattlebones scratched his head. "Can't say, though the fact that were not having an orgy, or one of you didn't turn into a sex monster, I can say this is a good thing." He then tossed Helga, one of the cracked talismans. "As you can see, the curse has just up and vanished, all of it. We may still need to keep an eye out for it, but in my best opinion, we're in the clear." He then chuckled. "I'll have to consult my tribe, but I'm willing to declare this an act of divine will, a miracle you can say."

Doctor Helga didn't look all that convinced, but then shrugged. "If it means we don't have to deal with this shit ever again, I'll praise Celestia for it."

The old stallion trotted up to me, looking me in the eye with a gentle expression on his face. "Miss Lottery, I'm very much glad you're cured, and what you did for us is far from being enough for helping my granddaughter find her family. Or in helping us destroy our long hated enemy. We have not begun to repay you for your deeds."

"It's nothing, trust me." I told him.

But Rattlebones shook his head. "It's not nothing. Anything you need, just ask us. Pear trees to raise, a nursemaid for when it's time to give birth, we can provide it."

This time I felt embarrassed. "Well shucks… I don't know. Let me think about it. I mean, I still got Tripwire and his sister to deal with."

He nodded. "Please do. Anyways, I should check on the other cursed victims, I have a feeling that they may be more normal now then before."

As we watched him leave, I let out a sigh of relief, now feeling more like myself than I had in a long time.

"This doesn't mean you're in the clear, Lottery," Doctor Helga told me as she pulled out a flat stick. "Now I need to check and see if you fucked up your insides, so go to the seat."

I wanted to argue, but she was right. "Right… sorry, I let myself loose control."

The griffin rolled her eyes. "Ya, I guess as much, now go!"

I did as my doctor ordered, knowing she had my good health in mind.

It was good to have others care about me, and despite all that happened to me, I had met so many who genuinely cared. A tear formed in my eye, remembering that not all of my friends were still around now, but I felt they would want me to carry on.

Ya, just as I wished they were still here, I knew they'd wished I had lived on if I had died. It's what true friends would do, and as heartbreaking as it was, I needed to live on.

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