Fallout Equestria: Desperados V2 (of Blood and Dirt)

Desperado’s V2, Chapter 21

Rising Star (Part 3)

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The good news, we were alive. The bad news, the mine was now irradiated thanks to the zebra death-bot. Slowtrot, Harp, and my pipbuck all clicked slowly, warning of the slow death we were going to have if we didn't get out soon.

Passing everypony some rad-x, Slowtrot then made sure to give Harp some extra radaway. The poor mirage pony was far more susceptible to radiation sickness than the rest of us, and needed the stuff desperately. On the other hoof, Pyrope was not just fine, the damn waste pony looked both healthier, and now sported glowing eyes that helped him see in the dark.

I suspect that the Union Clan will actually find the radiation in their mine as good news.

As for all the loot, it fortunately floats, and was easily salvaged, not so much for the carts. But Azure helped reclaimed the flat carts with some help, so we were able to stack most of the loot on them as we plotted our next move.

Speaking of which, we needed to get out, and the only way back was through where we came from. Which happened to be where the radiation was strongest. No way we were going to risk it, and no way Harp could survive it even if we tried.

"You know a way out, bandit?" Percussion Cap asked Pyrope as she dried one of her guns off with a rag.

Pyrope rolled his glowing eyes back at her. "Mam, ain't no way anypony knows any part of these old mines. Ya we did our best to explore, but this shit is behind the barrier."

"What about them fancy pipbucks, they got maps and shit?" Rook asked.

A huff came from Keep, "Ma, thats general maps, no fucking way they have a pre war map of an ancient mine in them do-hickis."

I tapped at the map screen of my pipbuck and sighed. "She's right." Harp, Slowtrot and I said in unison.

I then turned to our crab pony friend, the lurker being the only other source of light inside the tunnel besides our pipbuck's. "Can you do that echo thing?"

Azure shook his head. "Only underwater. My antennae aren't as good up here. Anyway, tight tunnels like this are notoriously known for blocking sound."

Everpony sighed. We couldn't just stand around, but wandering lost underground was just as bad of an idea.

Thinking, I then remembered my Oracle's Eye. It was a hunch, but it wasn't like we had any other bright ideas. Pulling it out and looking through it with one eye, my vision blurred from the magnifying glass. But I saw something, I saw hoofprints.

I saw every pony's hoofprints glowing on the ground… and others too, all moving in one direction. "Jackpot!"

"Star… did you find something?" Harp asked, looking for me blindly.

"Ya, hoof prints, over here." I told them as I trotted off.

As the others followed me, Harp raised an eyebrow as she looked around, seeing nothing. "What hoofprint, Star?"

Right, they weren't visibly there.

"At this point we should just go. Were dead if we- umfh!" Slowtrot tripped as he trotted and talked, his hoof caught in something. "What's this?" He lifted up a deflated balloon, The light too dim to see what was written on it.

With a strike of a match, more natural light filled the tunnel as Rook and PC used it to light a cigarette each. The balloon was pink, with three letters on it "M.o.M."

Harp gasped in excitement. "Balloons, pink balloons. That was in the notes left behind by the Blue Sky's mare. The Ministry of Moral must have used this tunnel!"

"Then we can follow it out!" I added.

Nopony argued, and searched for the old balloons. Bit by bit we were following a path out, and finding the radiation becoming less oppressive the further down we made it. Though still ever present.

*Click*

A slight pink glow illuminated several figures, all having taken cover behind their carts and hastily constructed barricades of weapons and ammo containers. "You's ain't one of us, get back down their or get fucked!" One of the Blue Skies mercenaries demanded, his eyes having the distinctive glow of radiation.

A groan came from Pyrope, who trotted out slowly. "No can do, I'm sure you can feel it, the radiation, and unlike us, my friends here will be killed by it if they go back."

"And we care why?" One of the mercenaries asked.

"Simple. Without them, you're going nowhere. I mean you'll survive, probably ghoulify nicely like our ancestors. Though I can't guarantee you won't go feral without food, and trust me, eating other ponies is just the fastest way to go feral."

A merc snarled. "Ya, were damn aware what you bandits have fucking done to our kin. Why do you think we're fine with wiping ya bastards out! No better than the raider that drove us out of our homes."

"Ya bastards killed my Pa!" Another mercenary growled.

"Impregnated my sis and never took responsibility!" Another complained.

Pyrope backed away, having made the situation far worse.

Rook then laughed. "Smooth, real smooth." She then pointed her rifle at them, a cold look in her eyes. "Ya know we ain't going back, so why don't we make a deal. We all get out alive, and-" she jiggled her bullet filled saddlebags, "with something to make this brahminshit of a place less of a waste of time."

Percussion Cap then levitated six guns. "Also, I'm sure we can kill you faster than you can kill us. Trust me, this ain't my first standoff."

A huff then came from behind us as the sound of hoofsteps became apparent. We were fucking surrounded.

"I think that's a fine deal." Spoke the mercenary I had gotten into a fight with early. "The boss failed all on her own, and we're not obligated to clean up her mess. That's not what we're being paid for. So until the boss renewals her contract, we are rather free at the moment."

We parted as we let the seven mercenaries join their comrades, they also carrying heavy looking saddlebags in which a few guns stuck out of. One of them ran their hooves along a crate the others were hiding behind, then smiled back at us. "Let us take all this shit, and we don't fight you and use your corpses to try and get past the barrier."

"Deal!" Harp weekly spoke up. "I'll open the barrier, and you take all of that shit and get the fuck out of here."

"You sure, won't Amethyst Sands want those guns?" I asked.

"It's fine." Pyrope said as he pulled up his revolver. "Us bandits like to make our own guns and bullets, we'll be fine if a few crates of old guns vanish. Not going to miss what we never knew we had." He then looked at the mercenaries. "But that’s so long as y'all don't cause us any trouble. If ya think what our clan did to ya before was bad and shit, there's a good reason why we were the only bandits in your area. And why the raiders moved in so quickly when y'all snubbed us."

Several of the mercenaries raised their guns, but one of them lifted their hoof and said. "Fair enough… bandit. Anyways, with the bosses plan here all shit now, I doubt she will return anytime soon. She may be a vindictive and bitter bitch, but she knows not to waste caps where it's not needed." He then eyed Lean Year and grinned. "You can keep the brat too. Let him run home and suckle on his mother tit."

"You talk as though Quicktrot survived?" I said questioningly.

The mercenary shrugged. "She's much like the Goddesses of the glow in many ways. Of which, death is not a permanent state for a thing like her. Many cunning and cruel tricks are at her hooves, and in time she will return, of which she will need ponies to do her dirty work."

"Sadly, I have to agree." Slowtrot said. "There's still so much we don't know about what she can do, and what she knows. Not to mention that she has a fragment of a nightmares soul as part of her."

"Then we'll just be better prepared when she does show up again." Harp said. "But that’s not going to happen if we stay here, so let's get going."

Giving us some space, both Harp and PC trotted forward, with both Rook and I next to them for protection. Both ponies stuck their hooves through the barrier, opening a hole each big enough for a pony to fit through. The two holes connected and formed a bigger hole, in which the mercenaries quickly marched through along with their carts.

Once the mercenaries were out, we all exited as well, finding this side to be mostly radiation free. Waiting a bit to both let the mercenaries get further away from us, and have Slowtrot check our health. We finally were able to catch our breath and relax a little.

"You sure it's a good idea, I mean, those guns will eventually be used against us?" I asked Harp.

She nodded. "I know, but… if I saw you die again, I don't think I could take it. Anyways, all they need is one grenade to take us all out. Trust me, I know enough about tunnel fighting to know you don't want to be in a tunnel fight."

Harp looked considerably tired and worn-out, likely the stress of what happened to me and the radiation throwing her through loops. So I gave my good friend Another hug, sharing my warmth. "Alright, let's just focus on survival."

After sharing some radaway, along with what little water we had, we again followed the trail of deflated pink balloons, with the air becoming less damp and stale the further we went. Turning a corner, we found light, in which we had to squint our eyes as we ran to it.

It was dry and hot, so fucking hot, but we were out, and I only now understood how cold I had been now that I was standing in the sun.

As my eyes adjusted, I saw the line of mercenaries in the distance, fortunately heading away from Amethyst Sands.

"Alright, let's head back to town, I could really use a stiff drink." I said, finding that everypony was looking at me. "What?" I asked as I pushed my main out of my face… then saw my split hoof. "Right… that."

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The trot back to Amethyst Sands felt far longer than it was, since it involved me explaining something I barely even understood. And when I tried, I found holes in my memory… no, I remembered it all clearly, but I just couldn't say certain words. Names of gods, Aspects of the afterlife, and other impossible things I just couldn't say.

"So… let me get this straight." Harp said slowly. "Your father was half Kelpie, and mother half Bicorn." I nodded. "And when you were drowning, your Kelpie genes activated?" Again I nodded. "Now you're probably all Kelpie, and can do Kelpie magic."

"Makes sense to me." Slowtrot said. "I mean, pony genetics is rather weird like that."

"Tell me about it." Percussion Cap huffed. "My grandmother was two parts unicorn, two parts pegasus, and two parts earth pony."

We looked at the older farmer with a raised eyebrow each.

She took a drag from her cigarette and slowly let the smoke out. "It's a long story, and I don't know how much of it was brahmanshit, but she clearly wasn't no normal mare. Heck, they had to make a magic bullet with her name on it just to kill her."

"Right, your Stormriders granddaughter if I'm correct." Rook spoke up before taking a swig of whiskey. Where she keeps pulling them out from was a damn mystery to everypony.

"Seriously?" Keep said in mild shock, "ain't she the hero of the long winter, ya know, when all the dead decided to get back up and get violent or something?"

PC shrugged. "That's the story, and her being covered in blue flames and such I can confirm is true."

Azure trotted up to PC, one of his journals in one face claw, and a pen in the other. "So, is that ability inherited, and the two parts of three different types of ponies, were they anybody important."

PC cringed as she got a good look at Azure's two sets of mandibles which normally were hidden under the face claws. "Maybe another time. When I don't feel like throwing up my lunch."

A laugh came from Rook, "oh, miss bounty hunter can't stand a bug face."

"Unlike your clan, I don't go kissing rad-scorpions." PC sneered.

A sigh then came from Harp. "Alright, yaknow, I think just believing that pony genetics is a confusing mess is the best option. Not that I have much in the way to complain." She admitted as she wiggled her diminutive wings. "Anyways, I'm just glad you're alive, and this whole mess is over."

"Agreed" I said as I gave my friend a little bump. "As soon as we can, lets get the fuck out of here."

"Here, here." Slowtrot said with a huff.

"Wait… Where did you end up this time, Slowtrot?" I had to ask.

He visibly shivered. "Back at the worst job I ever took. The Molly Manticore Mega Mall."

I cocked an eyebrow at that. "The what now?"

"A fucking mega mall!" PC shouted. "Oh I hope somepony has bombed a place like that to rubble?" Eye then fell on her, "Sorry, only heard rumors and such, but every Molly Manticore on the west cost is a fucking death trap. Like, I know a pony who knows a pony that has personally tracked every one of them down and used a megaspell bomb on them. But never heard of a mega mall."

"Thank Celestia for that if it has been bombed." Slowtrot said. "But ya, I blame my mom for signing me up for it. It's in central Equestria, because of land rights or something like that. But I got a security job there, and left after a week. Few jobs I ever quit right out. Probably for the best, as they were already replacing ponies with robots long before the rest of Equestria started to."

"What was wrong with the place?" Harp asked.

Slowtrot shrugged. "Not sure, it just gave me bad vibes the longer I was there. Like somepony was always watching me. There was also nonstop construction, like they were trying to dig to the center of the world. Then there were the missing foals, and I even had a bad run in with one of the robot mascots. It's where I got the EMP grenades from, all employees are given one just in case a mascot goes rogue. Oh, and the owners, the Blackroot's, they were a really creepy family."

Harp then scrunched up her nose like she smelt something bad. "Blackroot, I think I know that name. If I remember correctly, there was a Blackroot who led the Offensive Magic Research Lab, before the Ministry of Arcane Science took over. They even lead the advancement of robotics, I think."

"That's interesting, but I would rather not talk about all that anymore. It's bad luck, ya'know." Slowtrot said as he shook his head.

I laughed. "What, you're afraid we're going to stumble on that place if we keep talking about it."

He shot me a dirty look, but then sighed. "I don't know, maybe. You know how weird magic is, and I rather not try fate."

Though as paranoid as it sounded, there was some truth in what he said, so I decided to drop it.

Idle chatter filled our group as we made it back to Amethyst Sands, where a pissed off and worried Mayor Almandine rushed over and slapped her son. "Ya blithering idgit, not waiting for a possy and just running in there, I'd have half a mind to shoot ya myself!" She then eyed PC with disdain. "And you, all this time you!" She then pointed at Harp, "and you both could get past the fucking barrier!"

"Mam, frankly it wasn't my business, and I didn't care." PC answered.

"Also, this was the situation we wanted to avoid." Harp added.

Almandine kicked at the ground for a moment, then took a long and slow deep breath. "Fine, it's fine. But one of y'all better help us close that barrier or so help me, only the god of the glow can save ya."

PC rolled her eyes at that. "If y'all want to start a fight, y'all better pray to that radiation god of yours, because I ain't full of mercy."

The two older mares stare each other down for a long moment before Almandine gave up. "Whatever, you made your point. Threats aren't Going to get me far. Let's work out a deal, alright."

"Fair enough. Anyways, ain't nopony who can do blacksmithing back at the farm right now. So let's be good neighbors and all that shit." PC said in agreement.

Almandine then looked at Harp, her hard expression softening a little. "Little miss, you should go take a rest, you're starting to look like one of us."

Harp chuckled. "Almost became like one of you."

"Right, about that Ma." Pyrope cut in. "The mines past the barrier are kind of flooded with radiation now."

The mayor cocked an eyebrow at that, then smiled. "I see, so the god of the glow has deemed to bless us. This is good news, very good news."

Leaving us, PC, Pyrope and the mayor trotted off to the main building. I then looked at Rook, who was fanning herself off with her hat. "Say, thanks for coming to help. If you and the others didn't show up before that big robot attacked, I doubt we would have made it."

"That's for sure. Shit like that can kill a town…" Rook then sighed. "It's going to be nice to leave a town and not because it was dead."

"So you're leaving?" I asked.

Rook nodded. "Well ya heard the mayor, they're about to get very religious very soon." She then looked over at her daughter, who was trotting off over to her husband. "And maybe it's time I at least try to be a mother to them. For all it's worth. What about you?"

"Same plan as always." I told her. "I hunt down the bitch that killed my mom, and if I get lucky, find my birth mother and knock her teeth out." I started to rub my leg nervously as I remembered some of the things my father told me. "Shit, if we go all the way to the Luna sea, there's a chance things are going to get awkwardly nasty."

"But go you must." Rook said to me. "Is that right?"

"Ya, it is… but until then, let's have a drink." I said with a smile.

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(Star lets herself loosen up)

After a few drinks I was feeling a lot better, though it was probably a bad idea since I was given med-x for my back. So before I knew it, I was in my dancers outfit gyrating my hips on an impromptu pole. Rowdy locals cheering me on as a few less than happy mares gave me the stink eye, but I didn't care.

I even caught Fort and Coinshot sneaking in to see the show.

It was rather fun, though that might have been just the chems talking, but at this moment I was feeling good again. I even got Harp up to show her moves, the smaller mare showing off her more classical dance skills, including being able to stretch a rear leg over her damn head, fucking balarena.

A few others join me, though more as to tease them. A drunk Live Axle got a good laugh, but at least she didn't fall off stage like when her sister had. Amazingly, Keep was rather skilled, something she said she picked up from a few odd jobs. Fortunately Rook didn’t join, but the old mare did say she did a few jobs like that when she was younger.

Funny enough, PC actually admitted that her own husband could probably beat me in pole dancing. Something about a job he had before meeting her, which I guess was as a male escort.

The locals weren't going to just simply watch, with a few rowdy stallions needing to be taught to not touch the dancer unless invited. A rather pissed off mare also thought it was a good idea to get in my face. She found herself part of the show as I gave her a quick and forceful lesson in pole dancing, then a longer then even I planned makeout session. I might have been just me, but she seemed far more into it then she admitted.

But eventually, as all good things, the little party came to an end. Mainly because Almandine showed up with a shotgun, but also because my buzz wass wearing off.

"I fold," Pyrope said as he put his cards down.

"Same" I said, having a shit hoof anyways.

Rook shrugged. "Might as well fold too."

Slowtrot pulled the pot of caps into his already sizable pile of money. I had forgotten he had dumb luck with cards, and I was literally paying for it. To calm my own disappointment at myself, I gently stroked Cavall's head as the snake dog layed next to me.

"His win again?" Harp asked as she trotted over.

"As always." I answered with a chuckle. "You done with the negotiations?"

Harp rolled her eyes, "ya, finally." Her cheeks were flush, since she had been drinking while talking with the mayor, which she ended up doing while in her dancer's outfit. It was funny to see my friend slip into her hottest roll when talking to the old mare. I was sure Almandine was striate, but even Harps natural charisma seemed to get the old nag a bit flustered. "Still annoyed about her getting all pissy over the guns, but it was in their mine. They'll have things sorted out in the morning, so we should get some rest."

Right, not long after the celebration started did Almandine start getting greedy. Bitch wanted to keep everything we recovered. Was also about to kill her own son when she learned that we let the mercenaries get away with even more loot. "Fair enough, it's too late and I'm too… ehhh, to back on the road."

"About that, I'm taking a private room tonight, need my beauty sleep and such. Please don't come in, okay." She said, almost pleadingly.

I nodded, understanding how much she had been through. "Sleep away. But if you have a nightmare, my bed will always be open."

Her eyes looked away, almost guiltily. "I don't think I'll be having that problem tonight. Just, don't disturb me." Harp then trotted away, her tail brushing past Pyrope's chair before going to the back.

Getting up, Pyrope gave me a wink. "It was fun, but I got to go, I have things… to do. But it was fun, seeing you dance and all."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Ya ya, you just got lucky the med-x put me in a good mood."

As he left to the back, Rook gave me a knowing look, "You do know they're going to the same room, right?"

I knocked back my watered down whiskey, cocking my eye at the old veteran. "No fucking way, Harps as strait as my cutlass" I told her with a chuckle. "Trust me, if shed fuck a stallion, shed have done it by now."

Rook shrugged, "don't blame me when you become auntie Star in nine months." She then leaned in, whispering. "Speaking of which, after that show you put on, you got a few locals interested."

I let out an annoyed huff. "Hay, I may have loosen myself up, but by no means my legs are opening for business. Anyways, gruff old miners aren't my type."

Slowtrot cleared out his throat, looking rather embarrassed. "Sorry to run, but I should check on Live Axle."

Leaning back on my chair as my other companion left, Cavall then jumped onto my lap, where he got ear scratches.

"So, are you really okay?" Rook then asked me before sipping on her drink. "And not just okay, okay? Coming back from the dead isn't something ponies normally do."

I looked away for a moment, not wanting to truly have this conversation, but as my eyes looked over at her own, her cold and distant eyes made me compelled to talk.

"I'll be fine… I hope." I said as the memories of Quicktrot shooting and drowning me came flooding back. The look on Harp's face as she was helpless to stop it. It was guilt, she was looking at me knowing that her plan had fucked up and I was paying for it, and it was my own fuck up that put her in that position.

I was alive, but if it had been anypony else, only death. If those mercenaries didn't have morals of their own, I would have been raped in front of her. If I had been any more wound up in my own troubles I might have attacked Rook, and I know she would have killed me. At the very beginning I should have told Lean Year to fuck off, and let us be on our way.

"But I have a lot of thinking to do, and more making up to my friends for causing most of this." I said, then sighed. "Also, thank fuck for mercenaries with morals. I'll take a beating over rape any day."

Rook raised her glass to me. "I can attest to that. Some mercenary bands aren't even that kind to their own."

"Happened to you?" I asked.

But the old mercenary shook her head. "Fortunately no, but I have heard a few horror stories over my years. Mostly marauder bands, which are basically just raiders paid to harass certain settlements. The worst I had was getting paid extra to be a bedside companion, or sucking dick." She shot her glass back, finishing her drink and slamming it down. That distant look was still in her eyes, looking right through me. "Take it from me, if you're alive and can still fight, learn. Luck may be a skill all its own, but only a fool relies on it. Next time, be prepared to make your own luck, be ready to use the dirtiest of tricks, but… always remember why you're going so far."

I nodded, understanding what she was trying to tell me. I relied too much on my natural abilities, and only survived because I had a trick even I didn't know about. But next time I need to stack the deck in my favor. Know who I'm dealing with and be ready to kill at a moment's notice.

But more importantly, I need to keep my Bridget close to my heart. Harp and Slowtrot too. I'm not alone in this, and neither are our enemies.

"I've always asked my mom if I'm evil, and she'd always tell me that evil ponies don't ask that question." I then said.

"Because evil ponies know their evil." Rook then said. "And they don't care."

I shook my head in disagreement. "Some are like that, but not most. Most evil ponies think everypony else is evil, and so they're just doing what they see as normal. Or that's what mom tried to explain to me."

"And what used to be normal for you?" She asked.

"Death, murder, only sticking out your neck for yourself. But also following the strongest and doing as she says. Always thought Prism was just weird." I explained.

"And now?" She then asked.

I let out a long sigh. "Not too sure anymore, but I do think mom was the more normal pony then anypony else out here. About time I try to start thinking like Prism, and less believing I'm like Setting Sun. Though with a bit of bloodlust mixed in. Old habits and all."

For the first time since coming here, Rook cracked a smile, a true genuine smile. "Good to hear. The wasteland makes monsters of us all, but maybe that's because I just think that's how things just are. Though I might be too old to change… but might as well try."

"Hay, if you're alive and can still fight!" I said back to her.

There was quiet for a long moment, then laughter. I knew I was going to regret it, but I felt like another round of drinks.

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