Fallout Equestria: Desperados V3 (Bonds of Platinum)

Fallout: Equestria

Desperado’s V3: Bonds of Platinum

Prologue

__________________________________________________________________

Everything was set for the ritual perfectly. Even though much of the book had been damaged by time, the tech developed by the Ministry of Arcane Science had proven useful at recreating the lost parts. Though I loathe to give Twilight any credit, she was Celestia's apprentice for a reason, where my tutelage was merely by tradition.

So the magic circle was finished, and the required enchantment was in place over it, along with the appropriate stand-ins for the relics. Even now I could feel the magic pulse, as though anticipating what we were about to do.

And at the center was an ancient statue, it still looked as though made from pristine marble, without a blemish. If we didn't know better, we'd have thought it was just a new art piece made to imitate a mare from ancient Pony's times. But no, this statue, this mare dates back from before Celestia herself, from before the founding of Equestria.

“Majesty, everything is ready. But are you sure this is a good idea? Nopony is turned to stone for no reason, much less be left chained in a cage and tossed to the bottom of the Celestia Ocean.” My good friend asked again for the umpteenth time. I understood Blackcharry's worry, as her family had an all too close relationship with forbidden magic. Her brother is one of the few librarians allowed in the forbidden section of Celestia's library.

“I know, I know, but that's what your assaultrons are here for,” I told her in false confidence.

She looked over at the robots, five with vibroblades and five with plasma blasters. “If this was another kind of thing, then ya, this protection would be overkill. But there's no telling with ancient magic. You remember our attempt at time magic, where it simply refused to work how it should have, even at one point just not doing anything at all.”

Blackcharry let out a long sigh as she trotted over, only to then trip over her own hooves. Trotting over and helping her up, I pulled back her bushy mane to see that she wasn't wearing her glasses. “Again! You keep complaining how dangerous this is, but then trot about without your glasses when you're blind as a bat.”

It was frustrating, but she had been like this since we were foals, always worrying about others, yet neglecting herself. If she put even the slightest bit of effort into her appearance, Blackcharry would be the most beautiful mare in Equestria, which I had to admit, made me a little jealous. Unfortunately, Blackcharry was a terminal introvert and hated being the center of attention, having chosen to be more my shadow than taking over her family's duties, leaving it to her younger brother. And she, unfortunately, fit the part perfectly. With how dark she was, as both mane, tail, and coat were different shades of dark purple, though she did have natural highlights of an adorable bright pink poking out here and there. When we were next to each other, it did appear as though she was my shadow then an actual pony. For the longest time I hated it, but now, it has become a comfort to me.

“Blackcharry, it's going to be fine. We're in one of the safest places in Equestria, and we are both very magical mares from the two most magical families in Equestria. There is nothing to worry about.” I reassured her.

My friend rolled her eyes at me. Just because your ancestor is Princess Platinum and mine is Clover the Clever, doesn't mean we can deal with any magic. It just means we have had the best schooling in magic.” She corrected me.

I let out an annoyed huff. “Celestia herself instructed us in magic, that has to mean something.”

“It means we should know better. Have you ever contacted Celestia about this!” She argued.

Getting annoyed, I argued back. “As I told you, she hasn't been talking to anypony anymore, not even me! And what about you, I'm sure the Blackroots would love to get in on this!”

“You know just as well as I, my family would hoard any knowledge gained from this. And getting anything out from them would be like pulling out hooves.” She argued back.

We both let out an irritated huff, letting the silence fill the room.

“I know it's stupid,” I admitted. “We don't even know who this pony is, for all we know she's just some poor victim who knows nothing. But-”

“We must find out.” Blackcherry finished my sentence as she held onto my hooves. “I understand, but I'm just worried. Everypony is going crazy, this war, we've already seen how it ends, and in as many ways possible. Yet Nopony would listen, worse, the Ministry tried to get Luna to lock you away.” Blackcharry pulled me into a hug, holding me tight. “Just promise me, after this, if it doesn't give you what you seek, please give up. We might not be able to save Equestria, but maybe we can help it survive.”

“And how do I do that if we're all dead?” I asked. “No way I'm taking that offer to join Stable 1, it just feels… off to me.”

She looked away, clearly guilty of something. “Well, I may have been making some private deals with the CEO Appalboom over a private Stable in exchange for tech,” she told me.

I didn't have a good feeling about that either. “If you're telling me to join a Molly Manticor Stable, I'd rather die.”

It was a mystery to me why the Blackroots started the restaurant chain and then filled it with the creepiest robots ever. Well, I did know it was to test the AI programming, but did they have to make it extra creepy too?

Blackcharry rolled her eyes. “No way I'd do that. My father on the other hoof, I wouldn't be surprised if he had one built under his mega mall. No, I commissioned one on the Marewaii Islands, underneath the new Tenpony Tower that just finished being built. I know you don't like the Ministry of Arcane Science, but having a hub of theirs above you will only insure your safety.” She then let me go, giving me some room. “Just think about it, okay.”

I nodded. “If this turns out to be nothing useful, I'll consider it.”

Returning our attention to the ritual, the time was almost now. The sound of heavy Hoofsteps came from the ancient stairs, making me wince a little. I could never stop worrying about damaging my family's tomb, but it was the only place we could perform this ritual without the Ministry's interference.

Coming down the flight of stairs was a squad of power-armored ponies, their armor ill-suited for their position. The armor of the Steel Rangers was better suited for earth ponies, whereas the Platinum Guard was an all-unicorn regiment. So all of them had old traditional helmets on, just normal steel plates, and no advanced tech.

“Princess Majesty, we've Isolated the hill like you commanded. There should be no risk to civilian lives.” The Knight Captain informed me, the only pony among them not in power armor, choosing traditional plate over new tech. But as stoic as he was, concern was still clearly on his face.

“You have something to say, Knight-Captain?” I asked, fully knowing that he too had his doubts.

He made sure to sit up straight before telling me, minding his manner as the old traditions demanded. He was an old stallion after all, as old as my grandfather. “We're just concerned. If it is potentially this dangerous, then you and the Lady Blackroot should be elsewhere, and a court mage should be performing this task.”

He meant well, but the Knight Captain was Wolfley out of date with how much Equestria had changed. Maybe if he had not been forced to retire as general early in the war, things might have been different and remained more civil. But that was all in the past now.

“There are no court mages anymore, they are all part of the Ministries now. Anyways, there aren't ponies talented enough to do this safely other than us. It will be fine, but I just want to be careful” I told the Knight Captain.

“Just stand by and help us if we need it,” Blackcharry told him.

The Knight Captain still didn't look so sure but still smiled a way a grandfather only could. “It's a bit shocking how much you two have grown. It feels like yesterday you both were just little fillies playing under Celestia's legs. Now you're casting advanced magic with such a serious look on your face. It makes me wish I could do so much more.”

“No, you've done more than enough. No way you could have known this war was coming, or how much the aristocracy wanted it.” I told the knight captain. “If things go well, then maybe we can turn things around.”

He sighed and trotted to his position. “I pray so, too many lives have been lost as it is.

Blackcharry and I got into our position, both magic circles which had magical instruments in each. Blackcharry had a lute made from ancient and beautiful wood, it having been enchanted by Starswirl the Bearded himself. For me was my golden Harp, it having been passed down from mother to daughter Since before Equestria was founded.

"Ready?" I called out, and everypony nodded. "Then let's start!"

Both Blackcharry and I strummed our instruments and magic pulsed in the air, swirling through the magic circles as we played an ancient tune, the magic following the lines along the ground, and into the petrified pony. The ancient stone cracked, forming patterns on the mare that resembled blue swirls as the rest of her glowed brightly. Marble flaking away like dried clay, the mare beneath the stone was finally revealed to us. She resembled a birch tree in fall, with an off-white coat and gray hooves, along with a long and wild gold and brown mane and tail. On her body were swirls of blue paint much like the blue cracks, from which even I could feel magic radiate.

The ancient mare looked around, gently touching the magic circle around her with curiosity. "Felly rydw i wedi cael fy rhyddhau o'r diwedd, ond beth yw'r hud rhyfedd hwn yr ydych chi'n tybio i'm trapio ynddo?"

She sounded regal, confident, and a bit bemused. But I also didn't understand a single word of that.

Looking over at Blackcharry, she frowned and shook her head, "I don't recognize the language."

Great, I was hoping not to cast any more magic than we had since the risk of cross-magical contamination was incredibly high.

The ancient mare looked rather annoyed at us, and a brilliant golden over glow formed on her horn. With a flick of that horn, everything then went dark.

Stunned, it took me a moment to realize she had just dispelled all magic around us, no, not just dispelled, but somehow sent away all the magic. I even tried to cast a spell, only to get nothing.

Again, an overglow formed over the ancient mare horn, and roots burst out of the ground under her, forming a throne on which she could sit. She then sent her magic out, it falling over everypony but myself and Blackcharry, the two of us safely in our magic circles. "O faint sydd wedi newid, ac eto does dim byd mor wahanol â hynny. Mae ffyliaid yn meddwl y gallant oruchafu â mi mewn hud a lledrith, fi, un sy'n cario gwaed Dewines, Brenhines Coedwig Faye. Dy enw yw Draiocht Beithe, a mynnodd gael gwybod pwy ydych chi i feddwl y gallwch chi fy rheoli?"

As she spoke, all the ponies she had cast upon fell under her thrall, and in unison, translated her words. "Oh how much has changed, yet nothing at all is all that different. Fools think they can outmatch me in magic, I, one who carries the blood of a Sorceress, I the Queen of the Fay woods. Thy name is Draiocht Beithe La Fay, and I demanded to know who you are to think you can control me?"

I gritted my teeth, fully aware I had fucked up. This Draiocht Beithe La Fay was far stronger than I could imagine, and in one move, had us outmatched. "I am Princess Majesty, of the Equestria Royal family, a descendant of this nation's founder, Princess Platinum. I seek to learn your secrets in magic, and end a war that will end in tragedy."

Beithe materialized in front of me, no flash, or pop, she was simply on her throne, then in front of me. "Princess Platinum?" Everypony spoke for her. "I see, no wonder you have so much confidence. To think my little Platinum would found a nation of her own." She then chuckled loudly, and maliciously. "Then am I to presume that ponyland had fallen to the wendigos, as I had cursed it to be?"

Several pink beams shot at Beithe, but the ancient mare simply vanished and appeared behind her assailants. Two assaultrons moved swiftly and with grace, attempting to kill Beithe, but she simply levitated the two robots into the air and pulled off their weapons in one swift motion. "How curious, I have seen many golems in my time, but none with such artistry and cold intent." Both of the robot's heads began to glow, charging for a powerful beam attack, but with no effort at all, Beithe ripped off the heads and tossed them to Blackcherry's hooves.

My friend was holding their controller, tapping rapidly for the other assaultrons to attack.

Blackcherry gulped nervously as Beithe materialized in front of her. "Unfortunately they are vastly inferior to what I can make with magic alone. Though, if you join me, I may share with you how to improve those scraps of junk."

I could tell that my friend was considering it, but I also trusted her completely.

"Not going to happen," Blackcherry told Beithe as her assaultrons closed in on Beithe, only for things of stone to burst from the ground, and engage the robots.

Monsters made of magic and stone quickly ripped apart the most advanced robots I knew, overpowering them like childsplay. It was a display of pure ferocity that left us stunned and put a smile on the ancient mare's face.

But Blackcharry wasn't done and tossed me a gemstone as Beithe was distracted. “Go, I'll do what I can to hold her here!” She yelled.

Catching it, the engraved gemstone pulsed with magic, enough to cast one spell stored within it. The spell was teleportation, and I knew where to go.

Concentrating, my mind focused on Celestia's tea garden. If anypony can fix this, she could.

With a pop and a flash, I found myself… outside my family's tomb.

I looked over Clover Hill, several Platinum Guards looking back at me in concern.

“Princesses Majesty, is everything alright?” One of the guards asked as he rushed over.

Giving him a stern look, I yelled out my command. “To arms, prepare for battle!”

The Platinum Guard readied their battle rifles, yet had nowhere to point their rifles at.

Then the ground began to shake, and the doors to my ancestral tomb rattled violently, buckling under some extreme force. The thick stone doors then exploded open, one nearly hitting me as it rolled off down the hill. From the tomb a tree had burst forth, rising high up as it sprouted branches and leaves. On one branch was Beithe, holding my best friend in her magic as the other Platinum Guards were tangled up in the surrounding branches.

"Oh, you're not going anywhere, my dear Majesty. Not when there is so much for you to tell me." Beithe spoke with a dark glee in her eyes.

She then tossed Blackcharry, and I dashed to catch her, pulling out what little magic I had in me to keep her from slamming into the ground.

“Blackcharry! You okay?” I called out.

She let out a groan. “I guess the talisman didn't work?” She asked.

Materializing in front of me, Beithe grabbed me with her magic, holding me firmly in the air. The Platinum Guard attempted to engage, but a wave of magic from her sent them all to the ground, and another spell held them there.

I struggled, but so long as she prevented me from casting any magic, I was completely defenseless. "Before I tell you anything, what's your relationship with Princess Platinum, any why have you been turned to stone?" I asked, hoping that maybe I could glean some way to defeat her.

Beithe sighed as she looked down at me. "It's a tragedy relay, and a long story about a princess whose father was murdered by the bastard warlord he served, and a mother who was tricked into bearing his child. That princess then had to watch the bastard's son of that union become king of Ponyland, praised by all… loved by all... So I played the same trick on him as his father had done to my mother! “

She then teleported my harp to her, smiling at me. “I bore a son, and that son of mine.” She then strummed the harp, playing a beautiful and magical tone. “He then had a daughter who was given the name, Platinum."

My eyes went wide in realization as she laughed, I wanted to deny it, but the harp only played for my bloodline. There might be magical trickery involved, but that was the least of my concerns right now.

Then her laughter came to a sudden stop, and she sneered at me. "But that bastard refused to acknowledge his son, so if he would not give him the crown, then I would take it for my son."

A depressed sigh escaped Beithe's muzzle. "And I was so close. The round table shattered, and my brother was doomed to fall. But Starswirl had to just return at that moment with his companions." She then smiled, wide and half mad. "Who would think the talentless Platinum would be the winner in the end? Sad she didn't inherit my power, but it seemed she at least passed it to the next generations."

She then tapped her horn to mine, and I felt something deep within myself be drained, and I could do nothing to stop it. I began to feel weak, and everything started to become numb to me and the world turning gray.

"Enough!" With a command of authority and a blazing burst of light, Beithe was forced back, shielding her eyes from the light. "I know not who you are, but I will not let you harm my dear niece,"

Looking up, Princess Celestia stood between me and Beithe, the ancient unicorn looking upon the alicorn in shock. "No! Starswirl found one!"

Celestia narrowed her gaze at Beithe. "Yes he did.. and you must be…” her eyes narrowed in recognition. “Queen Beithe, the Fay Witch. Starswirl had warned me about you."

Beithe had a look of displeasure on her muzzle, as though she had eaten something rotten. "Then, I'm sure you know-"

Violently, Celestia grabbed Beithe with her magic and slammed her into the ground. “I no longer have the patience for such games!” With a flash, we were back inside the tomb, and both Blackcharry and I were in our magic circles. Celestia herself holding Beithe in the center. "Seal her back, and do it now!" She demanded

My friend and I both picked up our magical instruments and strummed the strings, playing the ancient tune. The magic came rushing back, as though like displaced water, flowing through me and into the magical circles.

Beithe cackled loudly. “Oh descendant of mine, the magic that once held me has long since degraded, and only by my chains was I kept imprisoned. In time I will return, and I will reclaim my right as queen of all ponydom. I have all the time in existence, but I will have my crown, my throne, and the gods will-”

Her body became rigid as stone overtook her. It wasn't the beautiful marble we had found her as, but a dull gray stone. Even now I could feel the magic pulse from her, threatening to break free at any moment.

Standing next to Beithe was the regal form of Celestia. She had stern, wise, yet very tired eyes. None of the ornamentation that commonly decorated her could be seen, and her feathers required pruning. Looking at her, and seeing that she had not been taking proper care of herself, I felt ashamed. Both of how I messed up and that she had to save me when she was in this shape. "Th… this is all my f-"

Celestia embraced me into a tight hug, it was almost burring with how warm she was as I was buried in her chest fluff. "You idiot, why didn't you come and ask me for help?"

Tears began to well up in me, "I… I thought I could fix… everything. I just needed more knowledge. But I didn't want to worry you."

"I wish ponies would stop worrying about me and start worrying about each other. Please don't ever try this again, Majesty. I've lost… too much already, and I can't bear to lose more. Not to this war, and not to some ancient evil best left forgotten."

"But we're going to lose everything if we don't do something," I told Celestia, feeling powerless.

She just held me tighter. "It's no longer our role to play anymore. I and the royals aren't the ones leading Equestria. It's up to my sister and the Ministries to lead them. Even if we know it will end in disaster, all we can do is get out of their way, and help them back up after the fall."

I hated it, I hated it so much. Over a thousand years of tradition and peace, all thrown out in the name of victory. No, it will be a pyrrhic victory at best. If only I was old enough to have stood by Celestia's side at the time and helped her avoid this war, then she wouldn't have had to suffer.

Sighing, I looked over at the still glaring Beithe, a smirk on her muzzle, all frozen in fragile stone. "What are we going to do with her? Because of me… her breaking free is only a matter of time." A crack then formed on Beithe as though threatening to explode at any moment. “Look, even now she's chipping away at her prison.”

Celestia let me go as she sighed heavily. “It's unfortunately true. Such a mare cannot be kept sealed under normal magic. Starswirl told me she was a mare who had the favor of ancient and dangerous powers, such powers that cannot even be named, or risk bringing them into our world.” Trotting around Beithe, her horn glowed, casting spells on the evil mare. “This can hold her for a bit longer, but until the war is over, we cannot do much more than maintain this seal. And having royals return here regularly to do that is going to attract unnecessary attention.”

“Princess Celestia,” Blackcherry spoke up. “If I may suggest, could a more mechanical solution work.”

“Yes, if we have robots do most of the maintenance, then it won't require frequent visits from us,” I added.

Celestia closed her eyes for a long moment to think.

“That could work. No, that is a brilliant solution, and one only my apprentices would think up.” She then looked up at the mess of plant matter Beithe left behind. “And this would make a good cover for adding that tech. It has been hundreds of years since I had the security wards updated. And with the war going on, when we do falter, the exiles might return to reclaim what is theirs, and must never have.”

I cocked my head. “What now?”

“Something before even my time,” Celestia said with a smile as she trotted over. “Princess Platinum took many artifacts with her from the old lands. Much of which can be found deeper in this tomb. They were things given to her grandfather by Starswirl to be protected, all so that tragedies may not occur again. The same duty you will inherit in due time.”

“Platinum's grandfather… you mean Pendragon, right… wait, does that mean-” I began to ask, but Celestia shook her head.

“No, Excalibur isn't here. Not even I know where Starswirl had taken the sword. But enough of the ancient history, we have much work to do. Blackcharry dear, how soon can you procure those robots, the tech needed to recast the spell, oh and industry-grade talismans.”

Blackcharry thought about it for a moment. “If you're willing to file the request, Princess, then I can have it all here by tomorrow.”

Celestia smiled. “I'll do that. I'm already sure ponies noticed the tree sticking out of the tomb, along with my apprentice. The tabloids are going to milk this dry for months.” She then looked back at me, her eyes still showing how tired she must have been. “Majesty, sorry that I haven't been… around. Let's have some tea after all this, it's been too long after all.”

I had messed up, greatly so. Yet Celestia had a way of making it feel like everything will be alright. I knew it wasn't going to be alright, I had already seen what was to be. How the Ministries ruined everything, and how the Zebra let their fear rule them into committing a most horrendous act.

Maybe it was time to just accept it, and entrust the future to the next generations.

……….

Sorry Harp, I couldn't change the future. It's all up to you now to save our family.

__________________________________________________________________

2XX years later

-Harp Melody-

Special

Strength: 3

Perception: 7

Endurance: 4

Charisma: 9

Intelligence: 8

Agility: 7

Luck: 4

Skills

-Barter- 65

-Science- 80

-Speech- 80

-Unarmed - 10

-Guns - 25

Trait: Good Natured - Harp focused on less combative skills growing up. Instead, she focused more on social and constructive skills.

Trait: Small Frame - Due to her small size, she has +1 Agility but your limbs are more easily crippled (25% extra limb damage).

Unique Trait: Blood of Platinum - As a direct descendant of Princess Platinum, Harp has a natural aura of authority and power which is both magical and social. When performing magic

cal feats, Harp gains a 2x power boost and has unique dialogue options open to her.

Learned Perk: Princess Training - Charisma.

Learned Perk: Educated - You gain two more skill points every time you advance in level.

Learned Skill: Take Charge - Sometimes just giving orders is all a pony needs to do to get things done. When Harp Melody gives out commands in combat to her friends/companions, they gain a 5% boost to damage, accuracy, and critical chance.

Perk: Presence- Harp commands the attention of those around her. The average pony will have a somewhat positive opinion of her before even knowing her.

Perk: Empathy- Harp has grown to understand the ponies in the wasteland and knows how she must talk to them to get a favorable or negative response from them.

Perk: Guardian Dulhan- As though death itself had come to drag the wicked to the river stix, it appeared like a nightmare. In battle, a strange headless pony in black armor will come to Harps's aid. The entity is dual-wielding two revolvers that are engulfed in blue fire. The presence of this pony gives Harp an unnatural aura when around death. This greatly increases her ability to eliminate. As mysteriously as the pony appears, it vanishes, leaving behind the smell of brimstone and installing terror in those who have seen it.

-Gear-

-Phorminx's Enforcer: A simple compact revolver that is easily concealed. It was once used by Harp’s father, Phorminx. It was gifted to her for safekeeping. This revolver has a +10% to critical chance and critical damage.

-Lelantos rifle: A prototype bolt launcher using a revolver system. This air rifle is devastating at medium range. It uses easily recovered steel bolts. It is powered by Mirage pony magic. No other race can effectively use this gun unless they're willing to strap spark batteries to it.

-Companion-

Order: Harp’s recon drone. Its VI system has evolved into an early-stage AI. And is equipped with two Lelantos rifles. The drone can also be installed with up to three spell talismans. Order lets Harp fight without having her put herself in direct danger.

__________________________________________________________________

As the Smuggler crested over the hill, I stood up in my seat to get a better view.

"That's a lot of fucking grass," Star said from the gunner nest, she then let out a chuckle while looking through her spyglass. "It's like an ocean of that shit. I can't even see where it ends."

She was correct, as far as my eyes could see, there was an unending field of green with a shimmer of red and yellow as the wind blew over it, creating waves in the grass.

"Wait, the Great Prairie looks just fine, I think? Then why is everypony so hard on food?' Slowtrot asked as he stood up from the driver's seat.

I looked over at our companion. "Maybe the grass is poisoned, like back on the Marewaii Islands," I suggest.

Rolling next to us on her loud motorcycle, Live Axle tapped on the Pipbuck 2000 we installed on the bike, and spoke to us over our Pipbuck radio. "Harp is right. That grass isn't the same grass from before the war. It's Demon Grass, fine to eat if you're a Brahmin or any other two-headed mutant, but if we eat it, prepare to shit yourself to death. Oh, and it has thorns, lots of nasty hooks like thorns, so don't go running through it. It ain't pretty I can tell ya."

Looking back at the Great Prairie, it was infested with poisonous, thorny grass, which looked almost a pony high. "Anything else grow there?" I asked Live Axle.

She shook her head. "Not much. Demon grass has dense roots and chokes everything else out. I heard farmers hate the shit, and even have killed brahmin ranchers who tried to plant it near them. Then salted the earth"

"So a mutant invasive grass." Azure pondered as the Lurker looked over the sight, sketchbook, and pen out. The crab pony's ridged tail stuck up like a sail, which had been funny the first few days of our journey, but now I was worried that it might accidentally get snapped off at some point. But he had reassured me that if he did lose part of his tail, it would grow back in time. "This might be one of the few places looking forward to a drought. Kill off the grass and burn the land. Though there is so much land here, that probably won't work in the long run."

I sat back down and checked my pipbuck's map. "Maybe, but that's none of our concern. Let's see, there should be a path to Platinum Hill a little over a hundred miles from here."

Several beeps came from my robot drone as Order spoke through my pipbuck. "A hundred and forty-five miles when accounting for staying on the edge of the Demon grass. Further accounting for reduced speed from uneven terrain, we should arrive at the road by nightfall."

A sigh came from Slowtrot as he sat back down. "That's at least good news, I rather not have to fight off a pack of night stalkers again."

"Can you not say shit like that!" Star growled at him. "I bet it's your weird luck we kept on driving into their dens. Each time you say some shit about how peaceful everything is, we then get into a fight or something." She then sat back down and cuddled Cavall, our friendly Ghost Nightstalker pup. "At least you're a good boy, yes you are!"

Cavall let out a happy bark as he accepted the head pats.

"I know the answer, but can't we just cut through the grass?" I asked Live Axle.

She shook her head. "Only if you have something like a tank, but even the tank ghouls don't drive through the grass. Ponies die every year getting stranded in that shit, trying to cut their way to some ruins, only to have the grass grow behind them, and them getting lost in it." She then kicked a tire on the Smuggler. "And I wouldn't risk getting the rubber ripped up too. If it was just a small patch, then ya, let's do it, but a days travel through the shit will rip the rubber down to the metal"

She had a point. Even if I could keep the Smuggler's engine supplied with magic, if a tire blew, we'd be shit out of luck. At the very least we didn't need gas masks to get through as well. Small blessings and such. However, it made me wonder how this could have happened, how the Demon grass came to be. Was it a random mutation, a zebra plot from during the war, or did we do it to ourselves?

A mystery I was curious about, but not enough to want to go out of our way to investigate. It was also probably best to let some things stay a mystery, nothing good ever came from digging up the buried past as my mother would say.

"Well, let's get going! Unless you all want to camp out on the mountain again." I told everypony

Both Slowtrot and Live Axle revved on their engines, eager to get off this Celestia-forsaken mountain range. From what my Pipbuck map showed me, it should be flat land from there, and a day's travel to Platinum Hill if we pick up the speed. From there we should reconnect with the rest of the Desperados.

Now to hope nothing crazy happens when we get there.

__________________________________________________________________