Fallout Equestria: Refuge
By AgentGei
Chapter 1: New Purpose
"Let's just get this job done."

Indigo. A splash of color that offered a peaceful respite from the excessive browns and greens that had come to dominate my three years in the Wasteland. The serene sight of the indigo beach was a balm to my soul, the soft and steady rhythm of the waves caressing the rusted metal of the Zebra Cargo 341. The possibly once-vibrant paint had long since faded away, leaving behind an unsightly layer of rust, but even that did little to detract from the remarkable engineering of the vessel built to endure the ravages of time and the elements. In fact, the moonlight highlighted every intricate detail, like a spotlight on a stage, illuminating the scattered shipping containers and hinting at the secrets they held.

Then my thoughts drifted to the talisman needed for the last part in upgrading Crumpet’s power armor, a hella tedious but essential part for the project. Back when I first laid my hooves on the encrypted pre-war records from the Steel Rangers’ database, reading through the shipment manifestos back before the war that leads to that zebra cargo, a sense of accomplishment washed over me, knowing that we were one step closer to completing the task at hoof.

The upgraded power armor was supposed to be my second-anniversary gift for Crumpets, but the project had been delayed due to my damn underestimation of the time it would take to complete. Frustrated, I pushed the thought aside and focused on the task at hoof with our final scouting tonight.

The surfacers had claimed the rusted ship as their home, despite its uselessness after the conflict that ended ages ago. The raiders patrolling the top decks were a fierce-looking bunch, like a pack of hungry wolves, but their armor and weapons were terribly hoofmade and could be easily ruined by any pony who is capable enough to fight them. I studied their movements, and they seemed relatively well-trained, but not enough to outmatch a seasoned warrior.

Suddenly, the sound of the waves was interrupted by the crackling of my radio. “Come in, Dusk, come in, over,” Crumpet’s voice came through, sounding softer than usual.

I lowered my binoculars and pressed the button on my radio, whispering, “Anypony close by you, Crumpets? Over.” I spoke in a hushed tone, trying to keep my presence hidden.

“No, no. I just… I’m worried, and I miss you, that’s all. Over.” Then I heard Crumpets chuckled with warmth, but I couldn’t afford to be distracted.

“Damn it,” I muttered without pressing the button. I then sighed, feeling annoyed at the interruption, “Give me a few moments to scout around, okay? Over.”

“Okay, okay… but you don’t have to rush. Over.” Crumpet’s voice was soothing, and I could sense her concern for me.

I clicked my tongue in irritation and rolled my eyes, returning to my binoculars to resume my observations. Huh, I had never seen the moonlight illuminated the intricate designs on the ship’s exterior from my previous scoutings before. In my mind, the pony raiders seemed to be oblivious that they reside in the structure that could shift the balance of the war back then as it belonged to the damn zebras, but who would blame the braindead sadistic fucks? They needed a place to stay and continue working on whatever the hell their fucked up business is.

At the end of the day, or rather night, I knew that we still need to be extremely cautious pressing on them as I’ve observed there is most likely more raiders we’ll encounter under the deck. We’ll do this in one go and I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes that’ll compromise us.

I set down my binoculars and scanned the horizon. I couldn’t fly directly back to our position without giving away our location. So I took a low-altitude route close to the ocean, despite the heat that made my barding stick to my fur. It was better to play it safe. I quietly soared back to our original spot, perched atop a high cliff face that was at least a mile from the cargo. Supposedly, there was a pre-war lighthouse by the cliff face, but it must have crumbled during the war.

I touched down on the lush green carpet of grass and wildflowers where the lighthouse used to be and saw Crumpets lying in the tall grass, holding up her high-powered scope unpractically attached to her grenade launcher, which she had affectionately named "Troublemaker".

Crumpets lowered the scope and glanced at my way as I lay down beside her. "Any changes from these bollocks since we left?" she inquired.

I shrugged and let out a sigh, keeping my eyes on the distant ship. “Same rotational shifts with the same ponies, and the rest are sleeping below deck since it's late at night."

Crumpets frowned and bit her lip. “But we can’t be sure if their main base of operations is under the deck,” she pointed out with a worried expression.

“I know,” I acknowledged, feeling a knot in my stomach. “We may have to resort to a frontal assault to find out.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”

My frown deepened. “On second thought, it’s just as risky for us as it is for them.”

“Hey, don’t forget we can handle ourselves, love,” Crumpets boasted with a grin, but her eyes betrayed her concern. “Just be careful, okay?”

She leaned in and kissed me softly, then handed me her service rifle with a wink. I attached it to my battle saddle and slid my trusty Pew-Pew into the holster. She detached the scope from her launcher with a click and tossed it into her saddlebag. I watched as she pulled out a stealth buck from her saddlebag, an ingenious part of her plan to take out our enemies undetected.

With a nod from Crumpets, I spread my wings, and she hopped onto my back. I could feel her weight, but it was bearable. “Ready when you are,” I said with a reassuring smile, and I felt her nuzzling against my neck, her signature way of saying ‘let’s do this’.

I shot into the air at full speed, my wings beating with all their might until we reached the top of the cargo. As we flew, I heard a faint crackling sound behind me, and I felt the weight on my back disappear. Glancing down, I saw Crumpet’s invisible silhouette land on top of a container near the foremast.

I leaned over the ship’s flying bridge and pulled the trigger, spraying a storm of bullets that tore through the raiders near the bridge like a hot knife through butter. They fired at me from the deck. But they missed Crumpets at the edge of the ship. Good. I dodged their bullets with quick, swooping motions as I continued to take out the gun ponies with sloppy headshots. It wasn’t easy to aim while flying with the battle saddle, but I managed to hold my own.

Suddenly, an explosion erupted near the bridge, and I knew that Crumpets had taken aim with her launcher. It was a risky move, but of course her prefered weapon without her power armor is the shit that can explode.

Over the radio, Crumpets’ voice crackled, “I’ll move my position to the middle with those gray containers!” I figured she meant the cargo hold by the edge of the hull, but I didn’t have time to correct her as more bullets came flying my way.

I took aim at the raiders on the deck, being careful not to hit Crumpets who was somewhere in the thick of the battle. Switching to Pew-Pew, I let off two quick shots, disintegrating the raider closest to Crumpets. The third shot hit another raider square in the chest, I then saw a trail of smoke from Crumpet’s direction leading towards the doorway to the ship’s accommodation with grouped up ponies. The grenade from that smoke went off, painting the area with a gruesome red.

The battle raged on, with me focusing on taking out any stragglers while Crumpets handled the more explosive part of the mission. My rifles jammed at one point, but I managed to take out the remaining raiders with a few well-placed shots from Pew-Pew. The sound of gunfire and explosions filled the night, a violent orchestra that played without end. But eventually, the raiders fell, one by one, until there was nothing left but the sound of the wind and the sea.

I flew up to the ship’s bridge, where the fighting had ceased. The sight was gruesome, with limbs, gore and ashes scattered across the deck. I mentally shook my head and flew down to Crumpets, who was by the cargo hold with Troublemaker’s barrel still smoking. I took a swig of healing potion from my saddlebag to heal the small grazes on my limbs, and Crumpets handed me a Stable-Tec canteen. I didn’t realize how heavy I was breathing and the sweat weighing my barding down, along with my extremely chapped lips crusted up a bit.

"You kicked ass there, love." Crumpets rejoiced, her voice full of pride.

“Thanks, and you too,” I chuckled, then take a gulp of the refreshing liquid. “I’m just glad it’s over.”

She glanced at my inactive battle saddle. “The rifles broke again, didn’t they?”

"Stable-Tec weapons are fucking ass." I grumbled as I handed her back the canteen. She accepted it and checked her Pip-Buck.

“I see four more hostiles in the area, and a dozen friendlies,” she noted, squinting at the device.

As expected, there were more raiders still lurking on the ship, and that made me realize they didn’t participate from the chaos by the deck earlier. I pointed to the accommodation area behind me. “Then let’s scout inside so we can find the talisman without any trouble.”

Crumpets nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a good plan.”

We both hopped down from the cargo hold and walked towards the doorway. I turned on the tactical light of Pew-Pew, and Crumpets activated her Pip-Buck’s light, illuminating the area by her foreleg. The sight of the raiders’ corpses with black gunpowder burns across the walls was a grim reminder of their fate from the battle earlier. I glanced away from the sight and followed Crumpets into the darkened corridors of the ship.

As we moved deeper into the ship, I felt my heart racing, the silence was deafening, except for the occasional clank of our hooves on the cold metal floor. We came across a few empty cabins, and most of the rooms had been ransacked, with furniture overturned and items scattered across the floor.

Suddenly, Crumpets stopped in her tracks, her ears perked up. "You hear that?" she whispered.

I strained my ears and heard the faint sound of voices coming from a room up ahead. We crept closer, staying low and moving quietly. Peeking through the doorway, we saw a group of four raiders gathered around a table, shouting absurdities to each other.

Crumpets and I exchanged a glance, and I raised a hoof, signaling her to stay put. I took a deep breath and flew into the room, my wings flapping with all their might. The raiders were caught off guard, and I sprayed a storm of bullets with Pew-Pew, taking out three of them before they could react. The remaining raider scrambled for cover, but Crumpets dashed out from her cover to charge towards him, and with a swift buck of her hind legs, she cracked his skull against the wall, causing his body to go limp and blood splatters out.

“Holy shit,” I muttered, looking at the raider's lifeless body.

Crumpets wiped her back legs on a filthy cushion and we scanned the room for anything useful, but there was nothing of value, except for a ring of keys that Crumpets found on the raider's belt. "Just in case."

I nodded in agreement, and we left the room, making our way through the dark and narrow corridors of the ship. Down by the final staircase, we approached a closed door and heard muffled voices coming from inside. Crumpets looked at me then points to the door with a nod, knowing that we had found the friendlies that she talked about. I took a step forward, but Crumpets placed a hoof on my shoulder, stopping me.

“I got this,” she whispered, and I stepped back to give her space.

She attempted to push open the door, but it wouldn't budge. That's when she pulled out a ring of keys that she had taken from the raider we had just dealt with. She tried each of the keys until the last and largest one fit into the keyhole. Of course. As she turned the key and pushed open the door, she whispered "bloody hell."

My stomach churned at the sight that greeted us, colts and fillies with metal collars that emit red lights locked up in cramped cages, between large, unopened shipping containers. The smell was putrid, and I couldn't bear to think about what was inside those cages.

Crumpets sprang into action, quickly unlocking each cage with the ring of keys. As she worked, I noticed a small device attached to her Pip-Buck, which she used to unlatch the collars of the foals. The sound of the locks being undone and the collars falling away filled the room, and soon the foals emerged, shaking with fear and confusion. I sat down to their level, offering them a gentle smile and telling them that everything was going to be okay.

We worked quickly to free the foals, but once they were out of their cages, we realized we had no plan. Typical. Looking over at Crumpets, we both knew what needed to be done. We led the foals towards the exit, doing our best to keep them calm and reassure them that they were safe now.

It hit me like a punch in the gut when I saw the “friendlies” on Crumpet’s E.F.S. were the foals we had just rescued from the raiders. I had never seen anything like that before, and the Paladin said it was sadly common for these bastards to kidnap ponies and sell them for caps. Foals were especially valuable, she said. We didn’t talk about how they got so many of them, and I was glad we didn’t.

I took the little ponies to the shore, and I had no idea what to do next. I let Crumpets handle it. She talked to the oldest unicorn colt, told him to go northwest to the Chapel where they would be safe, and gave him the pistol she took from one of the raiders. I watched them react with different emotions: fear, relief, gratitude. Crumpets then sent a message to Stable 99 from her Pip-Buck, asking for some Rangers to come and escort the foals to the Chapel.

As the foals left, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Maybe we had done something good for once, or maybe it was just Crumpets doing her job as an Applejack Ranger.

With that taken care of, I helped Crumpets fly back to the ship's deck. We began scouring the vessel for the talisman, but to no avail. All the containers were either locked or empty, except for one that stood out. It was pink and had a combination lock that looked impossible to crack (impossible for me as I have zero idea how to pick a lock). I asked Crumpets for help, but she had a different approach. She kicked the lock with her hind legs, and it broke open with a loud snap.

I was impressed by her strength, but I also felt bad for her when I saw blood on her hoof. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean for you to hurt yourself.”

“It’s fine,” she grunted, shrugging it off. “I’ve had worse.”

We opened the container and saw that it was full of boxes of weapons and ammo. They all had labels in a language we couldn’t read or understand. We looked through them, but there was no sign of the talisman.

The weapons were unlike anything I’d ever seen. They had zebra patterns and gray camo, and they looked sleek and deadly. Crumpets whistled in awe. “We should take these back to the Stable,” she said. “They’ll come in handy.”

I picked up a heavy 5mm bullet and realized that these were the illegal weapons that zebras used to smuggle into the pre-war Wasteland, according to the manifestos. “These are dangerous,” I ponder. “No wonder they were banned back then.”

“It’s a zebra cargo,” Crumpets said, chuckling. “What did you expect?”

I opened the ammo box and found 40mm rounds inside. A quote from a book I had read back in Thunderhead popped into my head. “When living beings unite with prejudice…” I whispered. “They can be stronger than their enemies.”

I thought about Enclave and their advanced technology. How they had waged war, and how we had to… I felt a wave of nausea and anxiety wash over me. Suddenly, I felt hooves wrap around me from behind and a warm breath on my neck.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Crumpets asked, nuzzling my neck.

I pursed my lips, unsure. Eventually I whimpered a bit, “I… I’m thinking about the bullshit again.”

Crumpets hummed and asked, “What about it, love?”

“Just how it’s a fucking cycle, from the war centuries ago and now…” I trailed off, feeling overwhelmed.

She rubbed my back, trying to comfort me. “Shh, it’s okay. You don’t have to think about it right now. Just focus on the present. On us.”

I closed my eyes and leaned into her embrace. “I just want to be with you,” I said, touching her face.

She leaned into my touch and tilted her head towards me. Our breaths mingled together, and I felt a warmth spread through me. "Later," she teased, "after we find that damn magical egg."

I felt a surge of embarrassment and quickly pulled away from her. I saw her putting the grenade rounds back into the box. I realized that we had wasted too much time already, and that we had to find a faster way to search the containers for the talisman. An idea struck me, “Hey, what if we check the servers?” I suggested. “Maybe they have some records of where the talismans are.”

She raised an eyebrow, “Don’t we already have some data on them in our Pip-Bucks?”

I shook my head, “No, that’s just general information about this ship. We need something more specific, like a map or a code or something,” I said, pointing to the upper deck.

She grinned and nudged me playfully. "Since when did you become such a smartass?"

I scratched my mane, feeling a bit sheepish. "Well, it's just common sense when it comes to shipments. I used to work as a security in the Skyport, so I know a thing or two about shipments," I explained.

She nodded, impressed. “Well, then, lead the way, Miss Smartass.”

I smiled and carried her on my back as we made our way to the higher decks, hoping to find the bridge. When we got there, we saw a steel door that was slightly ajar. We pushed it open and entered a room that looked like a typical raider den - filthy, messy, and chaotic. The floor was covered with junk and debris from the previous fight, and on the desk, there was an old terminal with its paint job slightly corroded.

“Do you think this is where the raider boss lived?” I asked, making my way towards the desk while hovering over the mess on the floor.

Crumpets followed behind, shuffling along and avoiding the clutter, "Maybe. Who else would want to sleep in such a high bloody place, anyway?"

I reached the desk and wiped off some of the dust on the terminal’s screen with my sleeve before turning it on. I muttered, “Let’s see what we can find here.”

The terminal flickered to life, and I started browsing through the files, looking for any clues that might help us locate the talisman. It took some time, but I finally found a shipping manifest that seemed relevant. I was surprised that the terminal was still working, considering how old it was.

“Hey, Crumpets, check this out,” I called out to her.

She came over to me and looked at the screen, “What is it?”

“It’s a list of rare artifacts that were shipped here. It says they’re stored in the cargo hold,” I said, showing her the screen.

Crumpets hummed, "Huh. But where exactly are they?”

I scrolled down and found a map of the ship, “Here. The cargo hold is on the lower deck, at the back of the ship.”

“Okay, let’s go then,” she said, heading for the door.

We made our way down the ship, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. I was eager to finish this quest and find the talisman, but I also had a nagging feeling that something was wrong. It seemed too easy, somehow. Was it paranoia? Caution? I didn’t know.

We reached the cargo hold, and saw that the door was locked with a rusty padlock. Crumpets tried to use the keys, but none of them fit. I turned to her, “Looks like we need to find another way in.”

She agreed, “I’ll go look for something to break it open. You stay here and keep watch.”

She left me alone, and I looked at the door. There was a faded sign above it, but I could only make out the word “Storage”. The rest was too blurry. I wondered what was inside, and if the talisman was really there. I heard hoofsteps behind me, and saw Crumpets coming back with a grin on her face and a pair of bolt cutters in her mouth.

“Found these in a tool room nearby,” she stated, dropping the bolt cutters at my feet.

"Good find," I said, giving her a thankful nod.

We worked together to cut the lock, with me pushing down the handle and Crumpets holding the cutter. There was a loud click, and the door swung open. A blast of cold air hit us, and we shivered. The cargo hold was huge, with rows and rows of crates and containers filling the space.

"Holy shit," I said, feeling overwhelmed by the sight. Crumpets hummed in agreement.

I turned on the flashlight on my Pew-Pew, and it shines on the crates and containers in front of us. Crumpets turned on the light on her Pip-Buck, and the two lights lit up the room.

We stepped into the cargo hold, and felt the cold air seep through our barding. The place was enormous, with long rows of crates and containers stretching as far as we could see. The metal floor was covered with ice, and we heard the drip of water echoing through the hold, creating a creepy atmosphere.

I could see my breath in the air as we walked down the aisles, passing crates with codes and symbols that we couldn’t understand.

I looked at Crumpets, who had wrapped her bomber coat tighter around her and was looking around with a determined expression. "Where do we even start?” I asked, my voice barely audible over the sound of the ship.

Crumpets walked forward, her eyes fixed on the nearest row of crates. "We start by checking every single one of these crates, of course," she said, sounding confident.

I nodded, knowing that she was right that I want to mentally slap myself. The talisman had to be here somewhere, and we couldn't afford to miss a single container. We split up and began searching, moving slowly down the rows and scanning each crate for any sign of the artifacts. Using the bolt cutters, the locks got easily broken off due to its fragility from the intense rust. From zebra armor, firehooves, and even trinklets that I had no idea what's the use of it. I distantly ask Crumpets about it as she's a bit knowledgable about zebra stuff, she simply answered from across the room, "Zebras are superstitious, don't mind those bloody things, Dusk."

More shit to learn.

Hours passed, and we went through dozens of crates, the silence broken only by the occasional sound of something shifting inside a container or the distant creak of metal as the ocean waves crashing by the ship. Those metal crashes of course are loud as hell to the point it subtly reminded me of the past event... no, focus. Forget about it.

And... despite our best efforts, we still hadn’t found any sign of the aviation talisman.

Frustration and exhaustion had begun to take their toll on us when I heard a faint sound coming from one of the containers. My heart began to race with anticipation as I hurried over and started to pry open the crate. As I peeled back the layers of packing foam, I finally saw the object we had been looking for - the damn white egg-shaped talisman covered in intricate symbols of wings and spirals, the aviation talisman we had been searching for.

A wave of elation washed over me, and I couldn’t help but let out a triumphant whoop. Crumpets ran over, a wide grin on her face as she grabbed the talisman from my hooves. “You did it!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.

As we celebrated our success, a sudden noise from the back of the cargo hold made us freeze. The mane on the back of my neck stood up, and I instinctively reached for my laser pistol. Crumpets and I exchanged a worried look, both of us on edge.

The noise grew louder, and we could hear something thrashing around behind one of the rows of crates. With a sense of dread, we moved closer to investigate. The noise grew louder, and we could hear something scraping and tearing at the metal walls of the container, like a beast trying to escape its cage. Suddenly, the wall burst open, and the silhouette of a strange creature with a hard shell around its body emerged, snarling and snapping its huge unhinged jaws.

I barely had time to react before it lunged at me, its sharp teeth inches from my face. Pew-Pew dropped from my mouth as I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its deadly bite. My heart pounded like a drum in my chest, and I could feel its hot breath on my face. “Shoot it!” I yelled in panic at Crumpets, who was holding my dropped Pew-Pew. She fired at the creature, but it barely flinched.

I kicked its scaly belly off me and the creature lunged at us again. We scrambled backwards, trying to get away from its snapping jaws. With a sudden burst of inspiration, I remembered the bolt cutter that Crumpets had found earlier.

Knowing that the earth pony herself had way more incredible strength in using melee than me, I flew my way to the last container where I dropped the cutter. I could hear the creature’s snarling drawing closer behind me. I reached the tool, “Crumpets!” I shouted as I hovered up with the cutters, “Catch!”

I flew back towards Crumpets and threw the cutter at her. She caught it with her mouth, holding it out in front of her like a makeshift weapon. The creature lunged at her, but she swung the cutter with all her might, hitting it squarely on the head. The blow stunned the creature, giving us a momentary reprieve. Crumpets didn’t waste any time and hit it again and again, until blood started to spill out.

We backed away, keeping a wary eye on the creature as it staggered around, disoriented. After a few moments, it collapsed onto the ground, its body convulsing. We watched in horror as it thrashed around, its body twisting and contorting in a grotesque dance of agony. Crumpets gave it one final swing, smashing its head with a loud crunch.

The creature lay still, its body still twitching occasionally as its life force ebbed away. Crumpets and I looked at each other, both of us breathing heavily from the exertion.

"What the fuck was that?" Crumpets asked incredulously.

I shook my head. “I don’t know, but we need to get out of here before more of them show up."

We quickly gathered up the talisman and other items we had found for the power armor and the supplies for the Stable, and headed towards the exit. As we stepped outside, we were greeted by the warm glow of the sun, and the sound of birdsong and sea filled the air.

We looked at each other and let out a small laugh, knowing that we had survived and completed this crazy mission. “Holy shit…” Crumpets muttered under her breath beside me, and I couldn’t help but smile.

The flight back to the Stable was smooth, but I still felt a rush of relief from our successful raid on the Zebra Cargo. Crumpets had used her Pip-Buck to let the Rangers at Stable 99 know that they could loot the place for weapons and supplies. This mission was different from the ones we usually did for caps, as it felt more meaningful and rewarding. I wondered if it was because I was with Crumpets, or if it was the last part for the power armor we had retrieved makes this grueling project complete. Either way, I liked to think it was the former.

When we got to the Stable, I was sore from all the action. Crumpets told me to drop off the stuff for the project and to get some rest in our room. As I walked into our quarters, I smelled the familiar scent of us and smiled. I put my saddlebag under the shelf and took off my battle saddle and Pew-Pew, setting them on the vanity table. I then peeled off my armored barding, placing it on the chair for later. After stretching my wings, I glanced at the empty power armor stand next to the shelf. I was curious about how Crumpet’s power armor was coming along, and I couldn’t resist checking it out.

I sighed and left our room, heading to the mechanics station by the far end of the Stable (if I remember, that used to be one of the spacious... breeding rooms? What the fuck.). As I entered, I was hit by the smell of metal and grease. I knew I had come at the right time when I saw Crumpets talking to a young brown mare with a short blue mane, who wore a dirty beanie hat covered in grease. I knew her as the Ranger’s volunteer mechanic, even though we weren’t really friends.

As I got closer, I heard Crumpets say, “…I’m not trying to rush you, I’m just wondering how long this will take.”

“Look, I told you, I don’t know! This is new to me—” The mechanic stopped when she saw me. “Oh, hey, Dusk.”

Crumpets looked surprised, as if she thought I would be sleeping. “So…” I gazed at the black-and-red power armor that was being worked on. I felt curious, and wanted to know what they were talking about. “What’s up?”

“I was just asking Wrench how long it would take to hook up the talisman to the armor,” Crumpets explained casually.

The Ranger mechanic, Wrench, rolling her eyes and pointing a floating tool at Crumpets, "Your marefriend is being impatient as hell, like a pain in the ass.” She exclaimed.

I remembered the conversation I had overheard earlier and sat down, crossing my front legs over my chest. “What’s wrong with asking that?”

"It's just..." Wrench let out the most exaggerated sigh I had ever heard, "... questions like that stress me out!”

Crumpets snorted, and I laughed along with her because the situation was so absurd. “Hey! What’s so funny?” the unicorn asked, looking annoyed.

“I just love how you get all worked up over nothing,” Crumpets said, still laughing.

I joined in. “Actually, we were wondering if we could help you with some of the final touches on the armor.”

Wrench hesitated. “Weren’t you guys just at the northeast ocean? You must be exhausted…”

“Come on, Wrench,” Crumpets nudged the younger mare’s shoulder. “Don’t you want to hang out with your favorite…” She looked at me, waiting for me to finish her sentence.

“…homos?” I blurted out, feeling my face heat up. But it made Wrench crack up, and that was a win in making the easily-annoyed Ranger mechanic laugh.

“Okay, okay!” Wrench levitated the tools towards us. “Just…don’t start making out while I’m working, alright?”

As I took the tools from Wrench, I saw Crumpets grin. “No promises.”

Wrench shook her head. “You guys are impossible."

I laugh as Wrench goes back to her work, shaking her head in disbelief. I join Crumpets at the armor and take a good look. The black and red power armor is awesome, and the talisman, a magical thingy that can give extra protection, is still not hooked up.

“So, what do we do?” I ask Crumpets, ready to get going.

“Well,” Crumpets says, “We can start by helping with the wiring.”

I nod, checking out the wiring on the armor. “Got it.”

As we get to work, I feel a buzz of excitement that I haven’t felt in a while. It’s been ages since I’ve worked on something like this, and it’s a nice change from our usual trips out in the wasteland.

Crumpets and I work together like a dream, our hooves moving in sync as we connect wires and hook them up to the talisman. We double-check each connection, making sure they’re tight and working. Wrench sometimes comes over to see how we’re doing and give us some tips, but mostly, we’re on our own.

Time flies by, and before we know it, the talisman is hooked up, and the armor is good to go. We step back, admiring what we’ve done.

“Wow. Nice job,” Wrench says, sounding a bit surprised. “I didn’t think you two had it in you.”

Crumpets smiles proudly, and I feel a rush of achievement, knowing that I had put my heart and soul into the armor in my spare time.

As we clean up and pack up the tools, Wrench comes over to us, looking serious. I feel a bit nervous, wondering what she’s going to say.

“Hey, guys,” Wrench starts, her eyes meeting ours. “I know we don’t always get along, but I wanted to say thanks for your help today. It means a lot.”

Her words catch me off guard, and I feel a warmth in my chest. Wrench had always been a hard case, but her gratitude made me feel like we had finally gotten through to her.

We got back to our room, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It had been a long and hard day, but we had nailed our mission. Crumpets and I were always a kickass team, but today we had proven just how successful we could be together. As she starts to take off her barding and clothes, I turn to my weapons and armor, finding comfort in the familiar task of maintenance.

As I worked, my mind drifted to the ponies I had lost and the mistakes I had made. The guilt weighed heavily on my heart, but I knew that I couldn't change the past. Do I even deserve this lifestyle I've been thriving now? Suddenly, I was pulled from my thoughts by the sensation of Crumpets' embrace from behind.

"Hey," she whispers softly, "you okay?"

I paused for a moment, taking in the warmth of her touch and the concern in her voice. "Yeah, just thinking," I replied, meeting her eyes in the mirror.

Crumpets gave me a small smile, her eyes full of understanding. "I'm here if you want to talk," she gently brush a strand of my mane away from my face.

Without a word, I turned to face her and wrapped my forelegs around her, pulling her close. The feeling of her body against mine was comforting, and I knew that she understood me in a way that few others could. We held each other for what felt like an eternity, the weight of the day melting away in her embrace.

"I just miss them," I professed, my voice barely audible above the sound of my own heartbeat.

"I know," she murmured, nuzzling my neck. "But you can't keep blaming yourself for things that were out of your control, love."

I felt the tension in my body begin to ease. "I just wish things could have been different," I stuttered a bit.

"I know," she repeated, pulling back slightly to meet my eyes. "All we can do is make the most of the time we have now."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude for her understanding. Crumpets had a way of making everything seem so simple, even when it wasn't.

As the minutes ticked by, we stayed wrapped in each other's embrace, our lips meeting in a tender kiss. I feel a sense of contentment wash over me. The kiss deepens as I wrap my forelegs around her neck, pulling her closer to me. Crumpets' hooves run down my back, sending shivers through my body. I can feel her love and affection for me in every touch, every movement, and it fills me with warmth.

Breaking the kiss, she pulls back slightly to look at me. "I love you," she uttered, her eyes shining with sincerity.

I sigh, stroking her short mane away from her eyes to gaze into her hazel eyes, "I love you too."

We stay like that for a while longer, lost in each other's gaze. It's as if we can communicate without words, understanding each other on a level that goes beyond language.

Finally, Crumpets speaks up. "Do you want to lay down for a while?" she gestures to the bed and I nod to the suggestion. We climb into bed together, snuggling up under the covers. Crumpets wraps her hooves around me, pulling me close to her chest. I can feel her breath on the back of my neck as she nuzzles into my mane.

As we lay there in each other’s embrace, I felt my body relax completely. It had been so long since I had felt this kind of comfort, this kind of safety. I turned my head to look at her, admiring the gentle curve of her neck and the way her neatly cropped mane fell over her face. I felt a surge of emotion, amazed by the depth of my feelings for her.

“I never want to lose you,” I whispered, so softly that only she could hear me.

Crumpets' hooves tighten around me, pulling me even closer. "You won't," she says firmly, her voice filled with conviction. "I'm not going anywhere."

I believe her. In this moment, I know with certainty that she will always be by my side, no matter what. It's a feeling of security that I've never experienced in a while, and it fills me with a sense of peace.

I turn to face her, our muzzles almost touching. "I don't think I could make it without you."

Crumpets' hazel eyes softened with tenderness as she looks at me. "You don't have to," she says softly. "I'm here for you, always."

Without another word, our lips meet again in a passionate kiss. This time it's different, deeper, more intense. Her warm breath mingled with mine, setting my heart racing. I can feel the heat building between us, the lightning that crackles in the air. I feel a desire stirring within me. My body responds to hers, and I feel a warmth spreading through me like a soft daylight. Crumpets seems to sense it too, and she presses herself closer to me, her hooves running down my back.

Our tongues started to dance together. I pulled her closer to explore each other's bodies, our hooves running over each other's curves and contours. The softness of her coat brushing against mine, sending a shiver down my spine. Her hooves explored my wings, the delicate feathers sensitive to her touch with twitches that I couldn’t hold back.

Between us at this moment, there's no holding back. There's no such thing…

We break the kiss for a moment, our breathing heavy with our eyes locked together. I can see the hunger in her gaze, the longing that matches my own. I nuzzled her neck, inhaling her scent. Her soft moans encouraged me as I trailed kisses down her throat, feeling her pulse quicken under my lips. My wings flared slightly, instinctively reacting to the rising desire within me.

Crumpets' hooves roamed over my back, tracing the contours of my muscles, before moving lower. She found the sensitive spots along my sides, eliciting a gasp from me. I responded by trailing my kisses lower, over her chest, feeling the rapid beat of her heart.

I could feel her body tense and relax under my touch, her breath hitching when my lips found the sensitive area just above her forelegs. She sighed deeply as I moved lower, kissing along her stomach, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my lips.

My wings quivered as I kissed along her flank, feeling her shiver beneath me. I could sense her growing need, her body responding to my every touch. Crumpets' hooves found my mane, gently tugging, urging me on.

I moved back up on top of her, our bodies now pressed close together. Her eyes were dark with desire, her breaths coming in short gasps. She reached for me, pulling me into another deep kiss, our tongues intertwining again.

Her hoof trailed down my chest, brushing against my belly before moving lower, finding the sensitive area just beneath my wings. I moaned into her mouth, my wings twitching in response to her touch. I could feel the heat pooling in my lower body, my arousal growing with each passing moment.

Slowly, deliberately, she positions herself over me, her body pressing down against mine. I feel her warmth, her strength, and I’m completely lost in the moment while our kiss went softer this time. My hoof absently traced delicate patterns along her side.

She pulls away to lower her head to nuzzle my neck, trailing kisses down to my chest. She nipped gently at my skin, making me let out gasps of pleasure that made her respond with a soft humming. I can’t help but arch my back, my wings spreading slightly in response to the sensations she’s invoking. She’s in control, and I love it. Crumpets knows just how to tease, how to make my breath hitch and my heart race. Her hooves run along my sides, brushing against my feathers, and I let out a soft moan, my body trembling with anticipation.

She lifts her head, her eyes meeting mine with a look that’s both affectionate and fiery.

Her hooves continue their exploration, caressing my flanks and stroking the sensitive areas beneath my wings. I’m helpless beneath her, overwhelmed by the intensity of her touch. She knows exactly how to draw out my pleasure, taking her time, savoring every reaction.

I can feel the tension building between us, the ache of desire growing stronger. I know that I want her, need her more than anything. But we take it slow, savoring each moment, each touch, each caress. It's as if time has slowed down, and all that exists in the world is the two of us, lost in our passion. She pulls back slightly, her body sliding against mine in a rhythm that leaves me breathless. The friction, the heat, it’s almost too much to bear.

Crumpets’ hooves travel lower, her touch sending waves of ecstasy through me. I gasp and moan, my wings fluttering uncontrollably. She’s relentless, her movements are painfully precise, and I’m completely at her mercy. My world narrows to the sensation of her against me, her every touch driving me closer to the edge.

She leans down, her breath hot against my ear as she whispers, “Let go, Dusk.” Her words are a command, a promise, and I can’t hold back any longer. I feel a sense of completion, a deep sense of belonging. This is where I'm meant to be, with her, always. The sensations were intense, overwhelming, and I knew that I was on the verge of climax. The tension inside me snaps, and I cry out, my body arching beneath hers as pleasure crashes over me.

Crumpets stays with me through it all, her movements slowing, her touch gentle as she guides me through the waves of ecstasy. When it’s over, I’m left panting and spent, completely satisfied and utterly in love with the mare who just made me feel like the most cherished pony in the world.

She lies down beside me, pulling me into a tender embrace. We lie there, with our bodies intertwined. In that moment, I know there’s nowhere else I’d rather be, and no one else I’d rather be with.

I lay there, feeling the warmth of Crumpets’ body against mine, and the tingling sensation that lingered from our… lovemaking. She whispered in my ear, her breath tickling me. “How are you feeling?”

I felt my face heat up as I searched for the right words. “Feeling great,” I replied, hoping it didn’t sound too lame. She hummed, apparently satisfied with my honest answer.

I glanced at the clock, knowing I had to get up soon for my monthly visit. “What time is it now, Crumpets?” I asked.

She checked her Pip-Buck, which cast a faint light in the dark. “Almost midnight. Why?”

I sighed, thinking about what tomorrow would bring. “I’ll be visiting my family and then heading off to Thunderhead.”

"After the test run of my power armor?"

"Mhm."

She wrapped her legs around me tighter, and I could tell she was sad that I would be gone for at least a week. She sighed, “Be careful, yeah?”

I nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt for leaving her. "I will."

Her embrace softened, and she pulled back slightly to look me in the eyes. "And say hi to the twins for me, love."

I smiled at the mention of my little sisters, knowing they would be thrilled to hear from Crumpets. "I will," I repeated, feeling a sense of comfort knowing that Crumpets cared about my family as much as I did.

As I lay in bed, the events of the day and the intimacy with Crumpets weighed heavily on my mind. I couldn't help but let out a contented sigh as my senses drifted off, lulled by the warmth of the mare beside me, and the steady beating of my heart.

Author's Note

Important reminder that Dusk dont have these special footnotes as she doesnt own a Pip-Buck, but instead a salvaged interface (from her power armor) by her foreleg for navigation and inventory shit.

You can tell I've tried sticking in the spicy scene by the near end. I don't want it to be fully explicit just to not to add "sex" in one of the damn tags. I dont want to set expectations for spicy shit from time to time in this fic lmao.