Fallout Equestria: Desperados V2 (of Blood and Dirt)

Desperado’s V2, Chapter 12

All in the Past, (Part 1)

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Black smoke bellowed from Tato Town as we drove away. Pyrope was right to start with the town shed, as when it started to burn, it quickly exploded into a nasty fire the spread to the rest of town. The cruel joke didn't like that, but without infested ponies to protect it, the evil bramble was just shit out of luck.

Still, the plants did manage to knock me around a little, but it wasn't anything I couldn't recover from.

And so, along with the bodies, Tato Town was practically wiped off the map by righteous fire. There wasn't much we could do about the underground lab, other than put a danger sign in front of both entrances. From there, all we could hope for was that nopony trotted through here long enough for the jackalopes to eat any remaining cruel joke. Though Slowtrot was sure that once those rabbits ate everything here, they'd likely find their way to PC's farm. Not that it was our problem to deal with.

All that was left was to pick up Fort and Cavall, then head onto Amethyst Sands to finish all this braminshit.

"So, you're still going to hoof off your son to the Harvester family?" I then asked Rook.

The two of us were in the gunner's nest, making the space rather cramped.

The larger mare sighed. "I… don't know anymore." Pulling out a flask, she drank the last few drops of whatever booze she had in it. "I want him to have a better life… but I don't want to push him away."

Thinking back on my own life, both my memories of Prism Paint and of Setting Sun, things were becoming more clear to me. Prism confused me for so long, yet I clinged to her so desperately for the smallest amount of affection, though I pretend to not want it. Same for Victoria, who had accepted me into her family, yet I left Victoria for Prism. Maybe all I wanted was a mother, and attached myself to anypony that could fill that role.

"I think… What he needs the most is his mother. I know that's what I needed." A small smile then crept o to my face as I remembered Hardballer, and how that old griffin went out of his way to help set me straight. He said it was only for his grandchild, yet he always made time for me when I needed somepony to knock some sense into me. "Probably a father too."

"Well that's not happening." Rook said, likely referring to Fort's rapist father.

"No shit. I ain't talking about any stallion, just one who can help him become a good pony." I told Rook. "You see, though my fillies daddy went and flew the coop, his own father stuck around, and I can't even count how much he helped me. Even now I know my Bridget is in good hooves… well claws. Her aunt and uncle are good griffins. So much so that I'm jealous of them."

Still looking at the smoke cloud coming from the town, Rook solemnly nodded. "Ya, I think I get what you're saying. But I'm already too old, too drained, and too filled with regrets. Also, look at that, this ain't the first town I helped depopulate and burn down. Not the first place I've seen fall to raiderdom, or the first time I had to mercy kill so many. Likely not going to be the last until somepony puts me out of my misery. Fort needs somepony better."

"And do you know anypony better?" I asked her.

Rook shrugged. "Some, maybe. Lots of old comrades who got pushed into the NCR after Redeye fell. Probably why nopony came after me when I killed the elders, they knew me, and knew my clan. But no clue if they would take him in."

"What about Keep?" I further asked.

But that question caused Rook to scrunch her nose and click her tongue. "As independent as Keep thinks she is, she's still her grandmother's loyal dog. If I hoof Fort over to Keep, she'll just take him right back to the clan."

I watched as Rook slumped over the railing, lettin her head hang. "I wish this wasteland would just die already, and end our suffering. Die and let a new Equestria be born."

I didn't understand what that last part was about, but the rest I guess I could understand. It be like leaving my Bridget in the care of the New Appaloosa towns folk, no guarantee they'll treat her right. Brass Cains is a good mare, but a heavy alcoholic. And Rusty Cleaver, such a loving mare, but as dumb as a sack of dicks. If I didn't have the Gunrunners to rely on, I'm sure Bridget would be here with me, indanger, and I'd hate myself for it.

Knowing that Bridget was with family, who loved and cared for her, it lessened the guilt I felt for having to leave her behind.

Still, I should have done better, I should have left with mom and Bridget sooner, I should have stayed out of trouble.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

Words only used when there's only regrets left to feel.

But all that was out of my hooves, and most of it was done without my choice involved. Ashy Oakes chose to become the very thing she hated, throwing her justice in the mud for the sake of hate. Victoria had always been vicious, cunning, and manipulative. It just took me telling her "no" to fully realize the monster I idolized.

What I should do is push forward and one day return to my Bridget, and have a new story to tell her.

I looked at Rook, who somehow had another flask out and was drinking from it. Life had not been kind to her, and it made her look far older then she was. Worse, I doubted she had more than a few years left to live, even if she did clean up her health.

"Then just stick with Fort." I finally said to Rook. "Make sure he can survive on his own, and then, I don't know, do mother and son stuff."

A single bitter laugh came from her. "Easier said than done."

"Everything is easier said than done." I huffed.

Rook looked at me for a long moment, and then slumped back down. "I'll… think about it."

The smuggler then bumped, and a crackle came through my pipbuck radio. "Almost at the trailer! Ummm us there meant to be smoke?" Slowtrot then asked.

Both Rook and I looked ahead, seeing a small pillar of smoke rising from the trailer. Pulling out my spyglass, the trailer came into focus.

"Hey, what do you see? Is Fort alright?" Rook asked desperately.

To my relief I saw him, sitting in the trailer and waving at us. On his head was the Jackalope, and next to him was Cavall. The smoke was coming from something near the trailer, and the closer we got, the more I could tell it was a body.

"It's alright, Fort is fine." I told everypony.

Having picked up the pace, Slowtrot got to the trailer in no time at all, of which Rook jumped out immediately to check on her son.

I on the other hoof looked at the body. From what was still intact, I could clearly see the spiked armor of a raider. But worse, though burnt up, I could see the creepy thorny vines of the cruel joke, having spread out from the dead raider.

"Caught me off guard." Fort then said as he looked at the smoldering corps. "But Cavall saved me, biting the raider and paralyzing him, letting me easily blast the fucker. But then those vines came out of his mouth, and tried to get me." He reached up and petted the jackalope. "Thumper here kept the vines in place as I grabbed the fire bomb and set the raider on fire."

Harp poked the smoldering corps with her rifle, looking unsure. "I hope this raider is just a fluke, but I have a feeling there are at least a few more out there. Possibly some left Tato Town long before we even arrived."

I trotted over to Cavall and gave him much deserved scratches. "Well I doubt we'll find them all, but at least the main infestation is gone."

Harp nodded. "We can at least warn the folks of Amethyst Sands about the cruel joke, and to burn any raider bodies they find."

Everpony then nodded in agreement.

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With everypony safe, and our trailer back, we managed to make it back to Amethyst Sand just as the sun began to get low. The town itself in the shadow of the mountain it sat under, making the place darker and quite gloomy.

"Is it just me or is it odd that this shadow is more comforting?" Rook asked. But after getting a shrug from all of us, she then sighed. "Probably just me. After living under the clouds all my life, the sun is… still odd to me."

"I get that a little." Pyrope said. "Sometimes I miss the glow. Home was a dead place, but it had its strange beauty in how the radiation would sparkle."

"As deadly as it is, there's nothing like the jungles of the Marewaii Islands." Harp added. "A paradise to behold."

I too added to the reminiscing. "It's been eleven, maybe twelve years, but the waters still call to me. Nothing but vast blue green, hauntingly terrifying, yet I want to return one day."

"Personally, I don't miss the old world all that much." Slowtrot said, getting a raised eyebrow from me. "Oh don't get me wrong, it was all good times if you weren't fighting in the war, until it was not. Everypony knew the end was coming, though almost all of us were in denial, and slowly we were all going crazy because of it." He then chuckled a little. "As bad as things are out here in the wasteland, that tension no longer exists, and we don't wait for the end to come."

"Don't forget that you'll have a wife soon." I reminded the stallion.

"That too, though I could do without the shotgun at my back." He added.

As we all had a good laugh, the smuggler rolled into Amethyst Sands. Overshadowed by the mountain, the town was lit up with many small lights powered by spark batteries. Though even without the lights, I could still see the townsfolk, or at least, their eyes.

Looking back at us were a shit ton of green glowing eyes, almost ghost like in appearance. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought this was a ghoul town. In which, technically it was, if what the waste ponies said about themselves were true.

"Hay, can your kind see in the dark?" I asked Pyrope.

Looking back at me with faintly glowing green eyes, he shrugged. "A little. Truthfully, we didn't even know about that until we had to deal with smooth coats. That and how much your kind can eat, all while being such picky eaters."

"Right, you told me about that." Harp said, and when I cocked an eyebrow at her, she explained. "Waste ponies don't have to eat as much as regular ponies to get by, and they can eat almost anything."

Pyrope then laughed. "Tricked my sister into eating radioactive sludge once, and it made her super hyper for a few days. Ma beat my flank raw for that one."

"That's because that slugs was for the whole community, ya igit!" Mayor Almandine shouted as she trotted up to the smuggler, her glowing eyes making her all the more intimidating. "I take it you went and dealt with the raiders then?"

Harp hopped out of the Smuggler and bowed at Almandine. "Yes, though more out of necessity and obligation. The raider problem was… far worse than imagined."

The mayor gave Harp an inquisitive look. "Well, let's take a seat in the bar, I at least owe all of you free drinks."

Harp then gave Pyrope and I a knowing look, which we nodded in confirmation. She then addressed the mayor again. "That would be best, Mayor Almandine, as we might have some bad news for you. Something we discovered about the mine, and I think you may be able to fill in what we don't know."

The diplomatic look on Almandine's face faded, and one of concern formed. "Pyrope." She said to her son coldly. "How bad?"

"Not sure, but a really bad and dangerous pony is involved if what these Desperado’s say is true." Pyrope said with a shrug.

"Right, then tell me what you know over some drinks, and maybe… maybe I'll share what I know."

So at the bar and over some watered down whiskey, Harp, Slowtrot and I shared what we knew about the situation and about Blue Skies. Though I had little to say due to my lack of experience with Blue Skies, so I mainly got to explain the cruel joke. All while Almandine listens carefully, taking great interest in Warm Fronts journal, and mentioning having found something in the old mines.

It helped that Harp saved the logs from the terminal.

Once we were done, Almandine took a long swig of her drink, and then pressed her hooves to the temple of her head. "Pink balloons, that must be the fucking Ministry of Moral."

"I agree, but what do they have in relation to the mines?" Harp asked.

Almandine avoided eye contact for a long moment, tapping her hoof on the table as she thought. "Since you're Desperados, that at least means you're not Steel Ranger or Enclave, right?"

"No, but the Desperados do have several ex-Enclave in their ranks." I answered.

Harp then cleared her throat, getting me to quiet down. "I'm guessing you're wondering if any of us have ties to the old Equestria government. And if we have any loyalties to it. I can guarantee you this, whatever your ancestors have done is none of our business. Were only concerned with preventing Quicktrot Fragment from gaining more power. Other than that, we are more interested in just getting on our way out of this valley."

Almandine nodded several times, more to herself then at Harp. "Right, makes sense, makes sense…" Taking another swig of her whiskey, and a deep breath, the Mayor then began to talk. "Well if this Quicktrot is after something under this mountain, then it's one of two things. Maybe both now that I think about it."

Plunging a hoof into a pocket of her jacket, Almandine then dropped several sparkling pebbles onto the table. "Well, the town is called Amethyst Sands for a reason. It used to be a major mine for high grade Amethyst, good for making spell matrixes and industrial strength talismans."

"And let me guess, you supplied the gems for the military?" Slowtrot asked.

But Almandine shook her head. "No, sadly the mine dried up before the development of magical energy weapons. There's a reason why most energy weapons shoot pink or green magic. By the time MEW's came into development, the two common high grade gemstones available for talismans were rose quartzite and emeralds."

"I'm guessing the mine was not as dried up as everypony thought then?" Harp then said.

"Exactly." Almandine said with mild excitement. "Our ancestors, the last remaining Equestria branch of Surmount Mining Unlimited, had discovered an amethyst vein while expanding the mine for resale. And quality gemstones too, enough to make my ancestors rich.!"

I had a feeling their was one big "but" coming, and on the look of Harp's face, she thought so too.

Almandine continued. "So my ancestors call the main branch to tell them about it."

"Wait, you said the last remaining Equestria branch. Wouldn't Equestria have been where the main branch was?" Harp asked.

Taking a deep breath, Almandine let out a long sigh. "Ya, that was the thing. SMU was founded in Equestria, and fueled this nation's industrial revolution with its coal and iron mining. It's why almost all the Stables are built in our old mines, because we dug most of them. And things would have stayed like that, but then the Ministry's were formed."

Harp nodded. "Yes, I think I know what likely happened. My own ancestor wrote about the Ministry's formation under Luna. She liked the six Ministry mares, but felt that it may have been better if it was one Ministry, not six. As they worked best together as the elements of harmony then separated. Mainly that they would have regulated their own eccentricities as a team. Also they could have helped Luna with the stress of her sister's withdrawal from society. But separated, they could do none of that."

Almandine looked at Harp with a curious staire, then shrugged. "Your ancestors must have been really connected to have that kind of opinion. But with the Ministry Six aside, the ministries themselves had become a big problem for a lot of the old companies. With how they wanted almost all corporations to highered ministry loyalists onto their boards and as CEO's. It… drove SMU out of Equestria. So when they called the main branch, it became… complicated. I'm guessing you know of the company Four Stars, right."

Neither Slowtrot, nore Harp seem to know of the company, so I answered. "It's a transit company in Manehattan. The Lightbringer had gone to its main office and found several zebra relics, including the enchanted zebra rifle she used." I pulled up my Nightstalker's Regard. "Likely simulator to this envenomed automatic pistol, but with fire."

I got a nod from Almandine. "Yes, I read the book of the lightbringer too, and it's heavily suggested that Four Stars was working with the Zebra Empire… and so was SMU."

I rolled my eyes, as Slowtrot gasped, and Harp kept a straight face.

Almandine then continued. "The main branch saw the discovery of the Amethyst vein as a major opportunity, and told my ancestors to stay quiet and sell the tunnel rights to Four Stars. Have it be part of a new underrail system connecting east and west Equestria together. She wasn't sure, but it was something to do with the metro systems built over on the Marewaii Islands. Of which the main branch was a bit worried about, and they wanted to get in on that game. Or at least that was the excuse. So they started working with Four Stars, both making the new tunnel, and using it as a stash for things they didn't want the ministries to know they were moving around."

"Things that are still inside the mine I guess?" Harp asked.

Nervously chuckling to herself, Almandine nodded in confirmation. "Ya, though we're not sure exactly what's in there, as my ancestors wanted as much deniability as possible. It's why when the Ministry of Moral raided the mine, the Four Stars ponies ended up dead, and my ancestors were just taken into custody for questioning… then the bombs dropped."

"So were the descendants of traitors!" Pyrope said coldly, "and in that mine is the proof of it!"

Almandine gave her son a cold stair. "Were traitors to nopony, boy, and sealed under this mountain is our fortune, by right of blood!"

"Tainted blood." Pyrope said back.

"May I remind you, Equestria turned its back on us first. And what did those fools make of the nation our ancestors literally built for then. All blown to ruins, and covered in poisoned ashes!" Almandine shot back at her son.

"Excuse me," Harp spoke up, "but what do you mean by, seald?"

Returning her attention to Harp, Almandine then explained. "In the most literal sense, just that. Part of the mountain is magically sealed off by some pink bubble, surrounding the way to the vein and whatever Four Stars had left inside. We tried to dig around it, but… it was no use. There's a way past it, I know for sure, but it hasn't been found yet. So all we can do is hold onto this land until a way through is found."

"A zone of denile bubble." Harp said knowingly. "Makes sense if it was the ministries that sealed it. It's a minor type of megaspell that locks an area off to all but those with the correct genetic code."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Genetics, why not a bloody key?"

"Keys can be stolen or copied." Harp answered. "No, you would have to be of the decent of a whitelisted pony to get in."

A concerned look crossed Almandine's face. "Wait, you know how that damned bubble works!"

Harp nodded. "I've studied magic extensively, though I can't cast magic myself. But as I said, the zone of denile bubble is designed to only let a select few through, and knowledge of how it works was kept as state secret."

"And how do you know about it, if it was such a secret?" Almandine asked.

"My family were once quite high up in canterlot nobility before the bombs dropped. And they made sure all of us were properly educated, even if one of us was a bastard." Harp admitted with a bit of shame.

Almandine then sighed. "Great, so the key is a pony, but how do we even know where to look for them?"

"Well starting from the top, the ponies on the white list would be the princess, the Ministry Mares and their next in line, high ranking military officials, then any member of the Equestria royal family. And any pony who has their blood would be able to pass." Harp explained.

This did not fill Almandine with hope. "Well thats fucking great, where am I going to fined anypony like that? Well, other than that Velvet Remedy bitch, but that's like inviting the NCR up my ass." After taking another deep breath and long sigh, Almandine looked at Harp with softer eyes. "Still, if what you say is true, then at least we know what we're looking for. I can finally tell my husband to stop digging up ruins and come home."

"Oh, I don't think he's going to want to come back soon, Pa has taken a shine yo digging up those ruins he found." Pyrope said with a chuckle.

Almandine groaned and finished off her drink. "Sounds like that asshole. Well, y'all got your answer, and gave one to us in return. But I think it's time we turn in for the night. I got a lot to think about, along with gathering ponies to go burn those raider bodies we dumped, but that can wait till sunrise."

With a groan, Almandine pushed herself out of her chair and cracked her neck. "Oh, Pyrope, go and let the guards know about the raider situation, and bring them some drinks too."

"Right, right." Pyrope said as he too pushed himself out, then told us. "You probably should stay the night here, we have a few bedrooms in the back of the bar you can borrow."

"We'll take you up on that offer." Harp said, giving Pyrope a warm smile.

As soon as they were gone, and most ponies in here had returned to their own business, I gave Harp a questioning glare.

She rolled her eyes back at me and whispered. "Hay, I didn't want to come here in the first place! No way am I opening up Pandora's box for them when it can easily be left well enough alone."

Slowtrot then sighed. "I have to agree with her on this. I doubt Quicktrot can get in herself, so it's best if we just leave it be."

I don't know why, but the idea of just leaving buried treasure behind felt just… wrong. But I was outvoted, and they had a point. This was something that can just be left alone. "Fine, I understand. We get moving in the morning, and leave this mess for the locals to deal with. But what about Lean Year? "

"Fuck em." Harp said crudely "The stallion is a sleazeball. Anyways, the issue isn't the bounty, it's the ponies who'll come looking to take revenge for Ashy Oakes. If she was as well known and respected as everypony says she was, I have no doubt somepony will come for our heads, bounty or no bounty."

Now that she mentioned it, I had to agree. Despite how civilized the NCR portrays itself, most ponies still fall back on wasteland justice. The hidden graveyard in New Appaloosa was a testament to that.

"At least we're safe from any Talon mercenary being sent after us." I said with a sigh.

It was the one silver lining in all this, since Hardballer was a master gunsmith, he was well respected by the Talons. So Ashy's murder of him, and then covering it up would not be seen well among the griffins. It wasn't hard to imagine that if we were not forced to fight her, a Talon might have killed Ashy later on.

Both Harp and I looked at Slowtrot, who was looking rather down, and we knew why. "It not your fault." Harp tried to comfort the oaf.

Slowtrot just rubbed his leg nervously, just staring at his half finished drink. "It Doesn't change the fact that it was my gun that killed Hardballer, and I was the one to kill Ashy. Frankly, most of this is my fault, even Dead Axle's condition can be thrown at my hooves. And then Live Axle being forced to marry me, I can't help but wonder how much she despises me for it. Most of all this wouldn't have happened if I just took Quicktrotxs offer and left for Applewood. "

"Hay now, you're not the one who pulled a gun on the deputy, or turned the town against yourself by embarrassing the mayor." Harp explained.

I knew where this was going, and I really didn't want to see a depressing pity party spiral. "Both of you, just shut up already. New Appaloosa was just another wasteland town with wasteland problems. But it did its damndest to pretend it was above all that. Unlike those uppity uptowners, you two didn't pretend that everything was okay. I mean, without you Slowtrot, the cut chem problem would not have been exposed. But what did Ashy do when you warned her about it, she gave you a black eye. And you, Harp, Deputy False Cap had been extorting everypony for years, and Ashy just let him do it, since to her, we downtowners were nothing but criminals that deserved to be exploited."

I took a deep breath, calming my nerves. "Trust me on this, as bad as things got back there, you both still chose to help others. So why don't we get some rest, and finish what we came out here for."

After a short moment, Harp gave a nod. "Ya, and now that I think about it, there's a chance the ponies here may have some gemstones we could use. Even if it's on the smaller side, and uncut, they could still be used to replace the beam talismans we lost."

"I should make more of that cure and check on everypony's health. Who knows how many are infected" Slowtrot added.

Good, their heads were in a more positive place now. Seeing them get all mopy just made me feel uncomfortable. "I guess in the morning I'll go check on Rook and Fort while you two are doing those things. At the very least we can say our goodbyes."

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