Fallout Equestria: Desperados V3 (Bonds of Platinum)

Fallout: Equestria

Desperado’s V3: Bonds of Platinum

Ch 19, A Moment to Relax.

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Somehow, though I wasn't complaining about it, some of us ended up back at the Coven of Clovers to view the sunset. Magnificent was adamant I come, and bring my friends along too. So Star and Fizzy were with me, and Lair tagged along. Hollow hopped at the word tea party, but backed out as soon as she noticed that Mag was a well preserved ghoul. Even Purity tried to pry herself in, but Mag wizly shut that down.

“A shame Arras couldn't come.” I said as I held the steaming teacup.

“True, but he has a family to tend to afterall.” Mag said before taking a sip.

“The same can be said for you lady Magnificence.” Weeping Willow told her Elder as she dropped off a few biscuits. “I'll be heading home now, so please don't summon me unless it's an emergency.”

“Aww, you can't stay?” Fizzy asked.

Willow shook her head. “I got foals Fizzy, and they take priority over a tea party.”

With that Willow trotted off.

I caught Lair staring at Willow as she left. “She’s married, yaknow.”

Lair shrugged. “I can still take in beauty with my eyes. Anyways, I only mess with married mares if invited. No way in Tartarus will I make the same mistake as my ancestor had.”

I cocked an eyebrow at that. “Let me guess, somepony got their dick cut off?”

This time she laughed. “Something like that.”

“She's talking about the origins of the bicorns, or so they believe.” Mag spoke up.

“So you know our lore, a rare thing in this era.” Lair said in amused surprise. “But yes, we believe that it happened during the ancient age of gods, all because two pony heros had decided to get married. One wanted the most beautiful mare in the land, who was loved by Venus herself, and whom was still a foal at the time, so big ick. And the other wanted a goddess, and that goddess was the dread queen herself. Long story short, they marched right into Tartarus and into the Dread King himself, who was none happy about their visit. Now their forever guests at his dining table, and their tribe, so to avoid his wrath, pledged themselves to the Dread King's eternal service. The Dread King would then turn them into the bicorns, in which we still worship him today.”

“Then what about the Thorn? I doubt they like you not worshiping the goddesses?” Star asked.

“Oh, worshiping the goddesses is fine for us. I mean after Celestia figuratively and literally dropped the sun on us around five hundred years ago, we learned that though our gods may be indifferent to our actions, the sun goddess isn't. So when Thorn’s cult showed up, it wasn't hard mixing the faiths and blending in to avoid war. Thorn herself actually helped with the transition, convincing the secret priesthood to play along, Thorn did have Bicorn blood and all.”

“Right, you mentioned something like that. That her real name was Thorn Redrum.” I said.

Lair nodded. “A fairly prominent family at the time, real bigshots on the Barbary Islands. Her mother was actually listed as a high priestess of the Dread King before her death. If my memory serves me right, she died in childbirth, which was a bad omen for us. Well, I guess dear old Thorn wanted to follow her mother's hoofsteps and now Redrums are a holy family. Big old lies, but lying is what the Redrums are good at, only second to murder, as their family name implies.”

“You said Venus in your story too?” Fizzy nervously asked.

That got a sigh from Lair. “Ya, and that's a bitch and a half story in itself. Sadly I can't tell ya much about it, or risk getting the Dread Queens attention. There's a lot of rules when it comes to occultic lore, of which is names and historical events. So let's just say that Venus, despite being a goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, is also the cause of more war and death around the world than any creature had ever seen. Well, that is until the great war.”

Fizzy deflated a bit after hearing that. The poor mare was as kind as a pony can be, so I had no doubt it wasn't fun knowing she had such a connection to such a being.

“Wait, how can some god of love and beauty cause so much death?” Star then asked.

Lair grinned from that. “Dear Star, I remember you mentioned you had a daughter you love so much. If she was ever taken, how much blood would you spill to get her back.”

Star didn't even think about her answer, just saying, “the blood would flow until she was in my hooves again.”

“And so the old legends say as much. If not more.” Lair then sipped her tea, like any lady should.

“Yes yes, I think I have some understanding of that. Never met her myself, but supposedly Celestia would warn Cadenza about that.” Mag said whimsically. “Being able to warp a pony's emotions so easily can have dire consequences. It's why such things like charm magic used to be very restricted, if not outright banned. Though it never stopped ignorant ponies from attempting it.”

“Ay, it's also a problem out on the Barbary Islands. Where you got witches and sirens aplenty. Always tempting ponies with dangerous magics and ideas. And the ponies who are permanently affected by such magic are all too pleny.” Lairs voice was lower than normal as she told us about the dangers, attempting to make herself sound spooky. “My Uncle and I nearly got eaten by a coven of Witches once. Got us all thinking we'd enter safe harbor, and began picking off our crew one by one, with none of us even questioning why things were so… clean.”

“A safe haven spell.” Fizzy said nervously, getting a nod from Lair. “It casts an illusion in a pony's mind, along with giving them a feeling of safety. You must brew the spell, and turn it into a fog so that it can affect as many ponies as possible. I think its original purpose was to keep ponies calm in times of strife, making it a benevolent spell meant to prevent panic.”

“And like most magic, was perverted for evil.” Lair pointed out. “But thankfully, my uncle is well versed with mind altering magic, and had a system with his crew. So once that system was broken, he took action, and broke the spell. From there he showed those Witches his 10 gage shotgun, and they had a blast.”

“A very peculiar stallion to have such a talent. Though I can't imagine he's all that sane to be so effective against mind magic.” Mag pointed out.

“You'd be correct Lady Elder. Though as sane as Uncle is, his time fighting the evils that the Barbary Islands attracts had done its toll on him. Twice now he's had much of his memories erased, and a past self of him has become his schizophrenic voice in his head. I also think that voice married some sentient zebra cursed that got stuck onto him.”

Mag face hoofed.

“That's got to be… all made up.. or most of it?” I asked nervously.

“I know that the sentient curse is a real thing. My friend out west had one, but got rid of it when it killed a friend of his.” Star told us. “Anyways, Quicktrot Fragment might me something like that.”

Everypony else raised an eyebrow at that, so I decided to explain. “She's a spectral entity that can possess ponies through a pipbuck, and take control over technology such as robots.”

“She's also batshit insane and vindictive. Probably because she was made with a part of Thorns soul.” Star blurted out.

This time Lair, face hoofed. “pleas tell me your just fucking with me.”

Star and I locked eyes and I shook my head.

With an annoyed huff, Star kept her mouth shut, and let me explain. Last thing we needed was any unnecessary information about Thorn or Phobetor getting out, not with the religious nutjobs around. “Best ask Slowtrot about the details, the whole event happened during his timeline. But essentially, there was a prototype pipbuck that Thorn used to get around memory checking magic. It also happened to shave off pieces of a pony soul when used. The damn thing somehow ended up with Slowtrot, who was sent to the Stable-Teh R&D Stable to get it removed. There's two other ponies who then used the pipbuck, and their soul fragments merged to its own entity.”

I tapped my pipbuck. “Order happens to have that pipbucks coad and magic, but not its soul.”

“I am special.” Order said with a hint of pride.

“Harp, you're missing the important factor.” Star said to me. I glared at her for a moment and then relented. “The fourth soul is that of a nightmare, which is probably why it's able to possess other ponies.”

A long sigh came from Mag. “Now that you said it, I think I know who you're talking about.” that got a surprised look of shock from Star and I. “Before the second Desperados Ranger war, we were having a problem with the Gladoligists. A group of fanatics who revered some con artists from the wartime.”

“Oh, that sounds familiar.” Lair snarked.

“Well, fortunately it never grew past being just a cult, but in that year they became very dangerous. Their leader began having visions from Gladmane himself, leading his flock to lost cashes of food, guns, and tech. That resulted in mass conversions to their faith and even recruiting several raider bands.” Mag explained, taking a moment to sip her tea before continuing. “We all got lucky, and the cult was put down before any major damage happened, and the only eye witness to it that could be found was some old alcoholic mecanary. The mare told the NCR that the cult leader, and some other ponies were being controlled by some ghost in their pipbucks. That or she was just drunk throughout it all.”

“That sounds like Quicktrot's M.O. Last we dealt with her, she was attempting to dig up zebra warbots, along with a large cache of guns.” I told her.

“That's definitely something I'll need to talk with uncle about.” Lair said with a sigh. “How about we not keep talking about such things, it starting to give me a headache. How about this Sisters of the Sun cult. Please tell me their not crazy or anything.”

“Oh no, their very friendly!” Fizzy blurted out happily. “They do a lot of charity, and tell stories about Celestia.”

“They originate from the Celestia museum just outside Applewood. It's an ancient tourist trap that housed a lot of the history about Celestia… among which a lot it is embellished.” Mag told us with a noticeable lack of interest.

“Outside of Applewood…” I said as I slowly realized something. “Slowtrot’s from there, maybe head know more on it. That aside, is that all they do? I mean, what do they exactly believe?”

“Mostly just story telling and charity work.” Mag said with a nod. “As for belief, they essentially believed that Celestia will one day return, and when she does, they will show her that ponies are worthy of her rule again. Oh, and because of that, they're rather obsessive about recruiting ponies to their faith. In fact, most ponies are only part of the Sisters of the Sun just to get the sisters to stop bothering them.”

Lair let out a chuckle. “Doesn't sound that different from the sun goddess cults back home. A bit weird, but generally good ponies. Well, good compared to everypony else on the islands.”

“That's good to know.” Mag then passed out the last of the biscuits to us. “That said, I wouldn't worry about them getting violent, but due avoid singing your name to anything.”

That sent a cold shiver down my spine as I ate the biscuit. So simply, we will be going to an annoying cult, then to a dangerously annoying cult, then to a less dangerous, but still a dangerously annoying cult.

Joy…

Our chatting then switched to less annoying subjects, such as food, clothing, and little bits about the city we liked. All as we watched the sun set. It was actually quite a beautiful sight to see. The demon grass was like an ocean as the light reflected upon it, very different from the sunset over New Appaloosa, and one I never got to properly see back home. Sad as it is, I could only imagine how beautiful the sunset over the Marewaii Islands could be.

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This time we arrived just in time for dinner back at camp. Well, most of the Desperados had already eaten, but Arras had made sure to have some food ready for us. Tonight it was something called a Desperados pie, more a bowl of thick stew covered in a sheet of razorgrain crust, but it was nice. Tender and juicy meat, hefty vegetables, all in a thick bone and beer gravy.

“Say Arras, is all this cooking always a Desperados thing, or is it from the old-world?” I asked, feeling curious about where this kind of cooking came from.

He chuckled. “A bit of both actually. It has been over two hundred years after all. But most of our dishes were originally based on our MRE's early in the war. Oh the food was so good back then, it even made our zebra captive cry in joy. We always kept a few extra MRE for the few times when we weren't fighting each other, and traded those MRE's for things the Zebras had that we didn't. The griffin mercs loved our MRE's too, but they always complained about how vegetarian our food was, and went hunting for game to add to their food. Biggest culture shock for us, seeing them eat meat, but then look at us now.”

Lair let out a chuckle. “Then meating my ancestor’s must have been a real trip. Unlike Equestria, meat has always been part of our diet.”

“True.” Hollow said as she hid her muzzle with a fan as she ate. “Though I absolutely love a good barbecued pork, I can't say I appreciated the smell of those pig farms back home.”

Arras let out a sigh. “Actually, it was a big rumor that your kind were cannibals. Many ponies were terrified over the thought of being captured by the pirates.”

“Fortunately, cannibalism is very rare among our kind, and a kill on sight if found, as it may spread the laughing plague. Even now the Zebras haven't forgiven us for spreading it to them.” Lair said with no hint at a lie or joke.

Both Star and I facehoofed. “You're telling me, that raider sickness came from you ponies?” when Lair cocked an eyebrow at me, I explained further. “From what I know, it's a sickness that sponges up the brain, and causes ponies to laugh uncontrollably, along with making them extremely aggressive and violent.”

“We met an old mercenary who's immune to raider sickness, and had seen the sickness destroy an entire town.” Star further explained.

“That… sounds like it.” Lair sounded considerably annoyed by this information, but not enough to get her to stop eating. “Well, I'm not going to pry into who that mercenary is, but being immune to folded prions isn't something that speaks well on their ancestors.”

“Well, back onto less… distressing topics.” Arras redirected the conversation. “A fair few of our dishes were actually developed by Griffin mercenaries that had joined up with us after the war. This was before the Talon company had formed, so the griffins were a lot more spread out and lost at the time. And thank Celestia for them, with how poor the crop harvest was getting each year, foods that once sustained us, now weren't enough. No matter how much we ate, we were going to starve. Drove a few ponies mad, but adding meat to the dishes fixed that problem almost overnight. Well, for those who can keep it down that is.”

As the fire cracked, I took another bite of the harty pie, a piece of Rad-bit filling my mouth as I chewed. Back on the Marewaii Islands, we could grow our own food easily, though it still was expensive for most, so pork was the food of the peasants. Even then, mother made sure we ate a wide variety of food, including pork. It made me wonder, how would I have reacted if I was allowed to never eat meat, only to end up here in the wasteland.

“I think Thunder Crack mentioned that.” Star blurted out. “How she and several other pegasus got really sick from eating meat.”

Arras chuckled. “I remember that. But it wasn't the meat that made them sick, it was the water. The meat just gave them a stomach ache since they weren't used to it, the water made them… well, maybe not say it while we're eating.”

Dysentery was my guess.

Like before, we kept on talking as the fire crackled, and once drowsiness began to hit me, I excused myself as I returned to our tent.

Inside, I found Fizzy brushing Cherry Knot's mane and tail, chuckling to each other quietly. “I can't say I've ever had it that wild, but griffins were always quite the ride.” Cherry said with a sigh. “And it helped that they were genuinely clean, though the ones that visited us were… less so then the common Talon.”

“I bet. I like, only heard the horror stories about how it was for mares like you. As bad as it was, I was like, lucky to be there then out here, yaknow.” Fizzy said solemnly.

Cherry nodded, “That I can agree. Though last I heard, the Redlight Showroom isn't as extreme as it once was. Probably because the rougher clients are staying out of the NCR territory.”

Trotting over, they both glanced over and smiled at me. “Talking about hard times?”

“That's one way to put it.” Cherry said with a smirk. “But ya, when I heard that Fizzy was a Redlight Showroom mare, I had to hear more about it.”

“And… actually, I don't know how to continue this conversation.” I said, feeling rather embarrassed.

Again Cherry chuckles. “That's fine, and it's probably for the best if you don't. Prostitution is after all, not something to brag about. But ya, compared to me, Fizzy was lucky. Decent pay, security, the ability to tell clients no, and access to medicine such as contraceptives. At least when you get out of the business there, you're not riddled with STD’s and a foal or two. And that's if you're even still alive.”

I felt a pressure on my back, and turned to see Alpha nuzzling me. Given the big nightstalker a pat on the head, I let her sit next to me. “It makes me wonder, if things were ever like this before the war?”

Cherry shrugged. “All I know is that ponies, and other creatures desire sex. Always have and always will. Though I bet things weren't as fucked up as it is now.” She then smirked. “Speaking of sex, have you found anypony here you're interested in?”

Warmth filled my face as I blushed, making my embarrassment to the question easy to see. “I… no, not really. Well, there is this…” I glanced over at Fizzy, and immediately Didn't want to say that Bianca was my type.

“It's Bianca, isn't it?” Fizzy said, reading my mind.

With a sigh, I nodded. “She's really cute, and sweet. I… really like that. S… sorry”

Fizzy let out a laugh. “She is cute. I bet there are lots of ponies and griffins that want her attention.” She then smiled softly at me. “If it was you who she dated, I know you wouldn't hurt her.”

“Ya, but I don't think she’s into mares.” I pointed out.

“Then what about any stallions? You got to have seen one that you would fuck?” Cherry crudely asked.

I rolled my eye at that. “If I were… maybe Elder Lamington.”

Querly, Fizzy gasped. “Oh I know, he's like, super handsome!”

As weird and embarrassing this conversation was, it also felt… normal? Or at least it felt nice just to talk a lot about nothing, something I couldn't do back home. But here, we were all just Desperados, and just mares.

So with my mind at ease, and forgetting what we were going to do tomorrow, I turned in for the night and quickly fell asleep.

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I felt hot, icky, and my throat was dry and scratchy. I hated it, and hated how the maids just ignored me as I layed in bed. Stratus Dancer did come over once her shift was over, and she wasn't happy to see me like this. I wanted her to stay, but she had to leave and get a doctor. It was nice of her, but I don't want to be left alone.

A soft humming then broke the silence, the voice of a mare that was familiar, yet strange. I tried to look around for who it was, but my vision was blurry.

“It's okay, just rest, your medicine will be here soon.” Mother spoke, lacking that cold authority I was familiar with. She sounded older, tired, yet warm.

“M… mom?” I tried to speak up, but my dry throat made it hard to. “But… you can't… be here. I'm-”

“Oh hush now my little dove, let me be a mother.” Mom said playfully.

When was it the last time she called me that? Or spoken to me so softly?

Mother alway had to keep up a strong front, even as she grew weaker. Just getting old, she'd say, but I knew that can't be it. Yet I never had the bravery to ask for the truth.

Queen Gilded Gold then chuckled as she read some papers on my nightstand. “A peer review of Orthrus talisman's and their application for casting spells.” She paused for a moment, letting out a suppressed sigh. “In light of Phorminx's exertion of keeping one simplified spell per talismans, I believe that though reasonable, it's an issue of gemstone quality. By making or mining higher quality talismans, a more complex spell matrix can be used. And with a more complex spell matrix, can several simplified spells be interwoven.”

“Please don't, it's embarrassing.” I pleaded.

“Oh all right, Little Dove.” Mom said to me warmly as she put the papers back. “But it's not bad, real smart even. I unfortunately don't understand talismans all that much, I only learned classical magic afterall.”

I groaned as I looked away from my mother. Not that I could see clearly. Maybe this was how Rare Pearl saw the world without her glasses, which made me sympathetic for her. “It's out of date though. Phorminx wrote another paper on the limitations of artificial gemstones, and… everything I researched and wrote is just garbage.”

“Still, I'm impressed you're able to do this much.” Mom cooed as she patted my head. “Silk is… well herself, and though Rare is smart like you, but she's more politically minded than magically. Then Silver… she's so talented, yet just so angry.”

“What about brother?” I asked.

“He's… as I expected him to be, and way too much like myself.” There was a hint of sadness to her voice, of which I knew why.

Brother was ruthless, and very protective of our family. But he was also too willing to choose violence over compromise. Rare Pearl often had to mediate for him, and if Silver was ever with him, disaster would soon follow.

“What about me?” I asked.

“You, you remind me of your great Grandmother, Queen Mythril Melody.” Mom answered. “Mythril was quite the smart mare, and so very kind. But when it was necessary, she could be ruthless and cruel. It was because of her I was able to take over as the next queen, as she taught me everything I needed to know about being a monarch.”

“Even the bad things?” I further asked.

Mother nodded. “Especially the bad things. Kindness isn't hiding the dark truth and pretending everything is wonderful. For ponies like us, we must understand how cruel things can be, and become stronger by it.”

“I… I don't like it.” I pouted.

A chuckle came from my mother as she kissed my cheek. “I know, and I don't like it either. But for good ponies to do nothing, that is all the evil ponies need to win. And you're a very good pony, Harp, so please stop blaming yourself. What happened to the islands, what happened to us, it was an… eventuality.”

I turned to look at mother, my vision clear, but mother wasn't.

“And there's a difference between the horrors of unintended consequences and the horror of your intended consequences.” Gilded Gold said to me, her voice becoming faint like the wind. “But most of all, to do nothing, and be apathetic, is the worst thing you can do.”

Reaching out to grab my mother, my hooves passed through her like she was air. “Please don't go! I'm sorry, just don't go!”

Mother smiled as she faded. “That I can't do, but please take care, and trust in yourself what is right.”

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My eyes shot open as I sat up, but the tent was too dark to see.

“You okay?” Star said, her eyes shining in the darkness.

“I…” My memory of the dream was already fading, but I still remember enough of it. “It was just a dream, a good dream.”

“Didn't sound like one?” She snarked.

I sighed. “It was, but I just didn't want it to end.”

Trotting over and sitting next to me, Star gave me a hug. “I guess I can understand that. I've been dreaming about mom and Bridget lately… I miss them so much.” Taking a deep breath, Star let the air slowly leak from her nose. “You want me to sing you a lullaby?”

“I'm not a foal.” I protested. “But a bit of music wouldn't hurt.”

Star chuckled as she let go of me, and began to hum. Laying down I then remembered my mother doing the same for me when I was a foal. But it wasn't the same, mother was tone deaf after all. But still, the memory of it helped put me at ease.

Maybe I'll see my mother again, and she could sing to me.

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