Fallout Equestria: Desperados V3 (Bonds of Platinum)

Fallout: Equestria

Desperado’s V3: Bonds of Platinum

Ch 21, Faith, Part 2.

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Returning to the outer-city was as depressing as it always was, but with an added layer of poverty as we were entering the residential area then the Market Road. A group of Warband Desperados were there to escort Hollow, and guide us to where the Blessed Spears had infested the city.

This part of the city was a labyrinth of poorly constructed brick buildings that only stayed up because they all lent on each other, though some just barely. Ponies living in tightly packed homes that were smaller than even my closet back home, and most only having rags to protect themselves from the cold. The stench was even worse here, as the unmistakable smell of death lingered in the air, both of old corpses and fresh. And though the lye paint was here too, graffiti was everywhere, some resembling that of raiders, though with less mad ramblings.

“How does this city even support all these ponies?” I asked one of the Warband ponies.

One shrugged. “None of my fucking business.”

Another huffed, a mare with an eyepatch. “Most do manual labor, like gathering demon grass and processing it. Or work a stint in a quarry and shit like that.”

“Some are just freeloaders and thieves.” Another said. “It's almost every day we got to beat a squatter, and half ta time their all chemed out.”

Star let out an annoyed sigh. “Sounds like raiders waiting to happen.”

“Oh ya,” the mare said, “but they got no place to go, so they kill each other more than the normal ponies. Though we're sure some have become cannibals, which is a bitch of a problem.”

“As is the dredges, no wonder Purity Spiral settled here.” Hollow said mockingly.

“It would also help cover for any new Corps Brigade members who can't control their hunger.” Star bitterly said.

I couldn't deny that possibility. This place wasn't just good for converting ponies to her religion, but also finding new ponies to turn into Corps Brigaders.

As we trotted, we came to an area where the pathway widened, and there was lots more activity. Much like a theater entrance, there was red cloth draped over the street to make an archway, with several lamps hanging off it.

“Here we are, the red light district. Well, the biggest one in the city.” one of the Warband ponies told us, then pointed to the far end. “If you need to leave, a city gate is just at the other end.”

So this place was accessible from the outside, which was probably rather convenient and strategic. “Fizzy, did this place exist when you were here?”

My friend tilted her head for a moment. “I think so, but it wasn't this… tight, or far into the city before. The owner, I think his name was Scum, tried to recruit me a lot, but I had no interest in a whore house. I guess the city just grew around this strip?”

“Makes sense.” Star said. “The Ruffled Feathers is much the same. It was actually built outside of New Appaloosa, but the town just kept growing until the tavern was on the outskirts.”

“It's very much the same back home, with lots of bars and other establishments having city's grow around them. Well unless they get burnt down and the owners killed.” Lair told us.

“Oh, like with our old instructor and her whole family. It was the talk of the town, all about who she pissed off to get her whole lineage wiped out.” Hollow said before poking one of the Warband. “Now take us to the church, just standing here is making me feel dirty.”

I glanced at Lair, and saw a pinch of pain and hate in her face before she returned to normal. “You okay, Lair.”

She smiled back at me. “As fine as I ever could be. Now let's go before a pickpocket marks us.”

Following, this part of the city was like an epicenter of vice, with prostitution, gambling, drunkenness and chem abuse all out in the open. Though it wasn't as crowded as I thought such a place would be, it was still during the day. Actually, there were quite a few ponies more busy with cleaning than attracting consumers, which also made sense considering the time.

Then I saw our destination, it being hard to miss with the flags covering it, each sporting the same cutie-mark of a red teardrop surrounded by a ring of green thorns. There was a line of ponies entering the building with several ponies in dark robes guiding them. One pony stood at another entrance, dressed in a nearly black green robe, watching us with a wide smile and a chrome and brass shotgun.

Hollow smiled at what was clearly a priest. “Greetings father, I'm Hollow Darkheart,of the Darkheart family. I'm sure you know of us, and we wish to see your work on saving these pitiful souls. As well as to show our respect to the Goddesses and their prophet, the saint. I'm here with my sister, Lair Darkheart, and members of the Desperados Redcaps.”

The priest bowed to Hollow. “It's good to see the Privateers deem us worthy of your attention. It's rare for those not of the Blessed Spears to show such charity.”

Laughing in the most polite, yet valid mocary Hollow could manage, she then curtsied to the priest. “Well, the Blessed Spears were the Prophets most trusted warriors, even before her revelation. A shame though, that your ancestors couldn't protect the Prophet in the end. So we tend to keep a respectful distance from you so as not to offend. Dirty hooves and all, as you know.”

Both didn't seem to like each other, as both were smiling, but just not with their eyes as well.

Opening the door for us, I could tell the priest had several nasty scars poking out from his robe, and a tattoo of Thorns cutie-mark on the back of his neck. He also eyed me with the cold stare of a killer, sizing me up with a malicious feeling.

Inside, things were a lot more colorful and warm, along with the smell of something I couldn't put my hoof on. It was a strange complex mix of sweet, zest, and herbal that made me feel more refreshed.

Both Lair and Hollow smelled the air and let out a relaxed sigh. “What's that smell?” I asked them.

“Eucalyptus incense.” Lair told us. “It is from a tree that grows far to the south, on a mysterious and dangerous continent island. The incense is prized for its calming effects, as well as for repelling insects. I can only guess that Purity Spiral grows her own tree to be willing to use the stuff in a place like this.”

“We had a few trees of our own, but they turned out to be very flammable, and nearly burnt down our estate when some idiot tried to kill ants with a magnifying glass.” Hollow said with a half chuckle.

Lair rolled her eyes at her sister. “I remember that you're the one who just wanted to set them on fire with fathers rum.” she then turned her attention back to me. “If you're interested, I can see if mother will trade some of her incense for us to use. We sadly ran out long ago.”

“No pony told us the flies were this bad here.” Hollow complained.

A door then opened and two mares entered, both in the dark green, almost black robes that the priest had. “Oh, you must be the ponies Bishop Purity had told us about. Praise the prophet we were here to greet you.” They said in union as they bowed.

I was immediately put on guard, as the magic coming off them was that of the evil eye, the same as Stars. So I whispered to my friends, “avoid looking them in the eyes.”

Star nodded, but Fizzy just tilted her head.

“Praise the prophet indeed.” Hollow said, curtsying at them in a way to denote her higher status. “It's a shame there are so few devout followers here, it makes this city stink of sin.”

One of the priestesses laughed as the other eyed us suspiciously. “It certainly does, now would you like to sit in on our service, we are currently inducting new members into our family.”

“Most certainly.” Hollow replied.

The priestess that was eyeing us then motions to a set of stairs. “Please follow us up, we have a balcony you can watch from.”

Taking the offer, we trotted up, down a hallway, and into a larger two story room. Below us were two rows of cloth covered benches in which many ponies sat, all watching a pegasus at a podium reading from a book. The stallion was draped in fine robes much like the priests and priestesses, but with a long pail scarf hanging from his neck. He was also absurdly handsome, almost unreal in how clean he was, and both looking masculine and feminine all at the same time.

Star looked less than pleased by the sight of what was clearly the head priest. “Right, of course he'd be here.”

“Who?” Fizzy asked. “You mean that pretty stallion?”

Star nodded. “That's Utopian Vision, Purity Spiral's son.”

“I've only been told about him, but I didn’t think it was that accurate.” Lair said as she licked her lips. “Not exactly my type, but close indeed.”

Hollow lightly jabbed her sister. “It's inappropriate to lust after a pony of the cloth, dear sister. And rather low of you to even think about letting the spawn of that mare touch you.”

Lair lifted a hoof up to defend herself. “Sorry sister mine, it was uncouth of me to even think of such things.”

“It certainly is, and more so considering your position. I m3an, you already have Bishop Pitch to consider, despite his… oddness.” Hollow said, pestering her sister.

Returning my attention to the church, though still made of scrap and poorly made bricks, it was actually rather impressive looking. Using sheets of what had to be white canvas to cover nearly everything, much of the ugliness of the building was hidden away. Candles and mirrors were everywhere, bathing the room in an orange flickering glow as dots of light danced all over. Behind the podium was a massive flag of Thorn’s cutie-mark, in which Utopian Vision stood underneath.

As I returned my attention back to Utopian Vision, his and my eyes met, and I was overcome with a sense of… wrongness. I couldn't look away as his eyes seem to entrap me, and force a calm onto me.

Hooves grabbed onto me and forced me back, breaking eye contact with him, and freeing me.

“You alright Harp.” Star asked as one of her eyes was now bloodshot.

Fizzy then hugged me, a sickly sweet glow coming from under her glasses. “That was scary, his eyes were… like, something wrong.”

Both my friends then let me go, and I looked over at the Darkheart sister's, who had covered their eyes with their hoofs. The two priestesses seemed to be entranced. “What was that?”

Lair gritted her teeth. “Eye magic, but it's strange. Like a mix of that evil eye with Fizzy’s charm.” she then passed me a pair of spare sunglasses, “use this, it has some protection from eye magic.”

As the world became dimmer with the shades on, I looked down again to see that several ponies had joined Utopian, with older ponies having brought instruments, and a small group of foals in robes.

“Now please join me in the song of prayer!” Utopian Vision then spoke up, a wide smile on his face. The foals began to hum as the other ponies struck up a resonating somber tune. Magic filled the room, almost enveloping me, and I could feel a distant presence watching.

Healed, the pain of independence

beautiful, our wise and trusted friend

We, united in one vision

Rise to sing of sorrow's end

He, the bringer of the vision

Bids you answer to his call

Praise the great and powerful

Utopian Heed the ruler of us all

For we're all

One And the work's begun

For Venus

And we all run

To our golden son

For Venus

For Venus

The ponies down below were entranced, singing in unison to Utopian's words, praising him. I could both feel and see magic seeping from the crowd, it sparking in the air, feeding the candles, drifting to someplace unknown, and with a bit of it flowing into Utopian himself, making his own magic stronger.

Here today we sing our story

With Utopian we have found our home

Love once was for all

But love now is his alone

Free we are now from each other

Brothers, sisters, daughters, sons

Where once we dreamt of independence

Now we stand and dream alone

For we're all

One And the work's begun

For Venus

And we all run

To our golden son

For Venus

For Venus

“Blasphemy!” Hollow muttered as Utopian began repeating the song.

Lair put a hoof on her sister's shoulder, and shook her head. “Just play along dear sister, this isn't the place to show your cards. We can report it to Bishop Pitch later.” she then looked at me, a scowl on her muzzle. “We need to get out of here, right now.”

We turned to the door we came from, only to find the two priestesses blocking it, their eyes wide open and bloodshot, giving off the same magic as Utopian. Then they spoke in unison. “Please, stay. You haven't gotten to meet the high priest yet, and he's almost done.”

“Gwaaa!” Star let out, blood now seeping from her mouth from biting her own tongue. “Fuck, it's like with Victoria!” A pair of sunglasses was taken from Hollow's pocket by her sister, and placed on Star. “Oh… that's better.”

We then turned to Fizzy, who blinked at us, and smiled. “I'm alright, I don't think, like, the magic affects me much.”

The door then opened, and the priest from before stepped through, similar sunglasses on and his shotgun at the ready, along with the two priestesses, who drew their own pistols. “Now, come with us, high priest Utopian wishes to meet with you.” The priest said as he motioned with his shotgun for us to move.

Before Hollow could complain, Lair spoke up. “Most certainly, it will be our honor to meet with the fair high priest.”

As we moved, I could feel the watchful eyes of ponies on me, from other priests and priestesses to even the entranced ponies below.

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The room we were forced into was lovely, decorated with well polished wood and velvet, all ruined by a painting of Utopian Vision and Purity Spiral looking down at us.

“Again with the paintings.” Star muttered.

The two priestesses stood guard in the room, the blood from their eyes now staining their cheeks. The magic from them had returned to normal, no longer given off the same sickly sweet feeling that Utopian had.

“How much trouble are we in?” I asked Lair.

“Lots, maybe only a little. It depends on what they want.” Lair answered.

Hollow kicked the floor, “their the ones in trouble, treating us like this!”

Letting out a sigh, Lair continued. “I can only guess their acting so brazenly because there wouldn't be any inquisitors around here, and by the time anypony can investigate, they'd be long gone. As for what they will do with us, other than you, the rest of us are residents to mind control, so I doubt they're going to try and turn us.”

“Great, I'm the weak link.” I huffed out.

The door then opened, and lightly stepping around us, Utopian Vision trotted behind a desk, his eyes giving off a strange glow for a moment. He then sat there for a long moment, saying nothing. First holding his hoof in prayer, then picking up a brush and adjusting his mane.

Star let out a groan of frustration. “Stop it with the damn pruning, ya peacock. What do you want from us?”

Utopian didn't even pay Star any attention for another long moment as he finished starting out his mane. “I… would like you to join me.” His voice was soft, very unlike when he was at the podium, or singing. “You saw the power, felt it... It can be yours as well. Accepted Aphro-”

“Dare not say her name ya fool!” Lair cut him off loudly. “Where is it that you learned such names, and why embrace a thing that has long left this world.”

His mouth and eyes opened wide with excitement. “But the goddesses of love and beauty didn't leave us, she'd never! She was betrayed, and forced to leave by the vile gods of the underworld. To be separated from her children, and have them be subjected to entropy and death, how cruel is that. Under the true goddess we lived forever, unaging, undying, forever young and beautiful.”

“You betray the prophet!” Hollow accused.

“The Redrums betrayed us first, denied my ancestor’s from setting a hoof on Equestria until now. All for their false faith!” Utopian said as he spread his hooves and wings out wide, as though presenting us a grand truth.

Lair placed her hoof on her sister again, calming her. “And again, where did you learn this… faith?”

Slowly, Utopian put his hooves back together in prayer. “We've always known. Mother taught me, and grandmother taught her. I've even visited our homeland, the homeland of all ponies, where we were of the noblest family in the land, cloaked in pride.”

I didn't like the sound of that at all. Then, he pointed a hoof at me. “And you, your ancestors ruined everything, then denied us access t9 Equestria and the two alicorns!” His hoof lowered and calm returned to him. “But all is well now, soon our blood will mix, and what was taken from us will be returned. Together we will reunite all pony-kind under the warm embrace of the true goddess.”

This was mad, but puzzle pieces were fitting together. “Are you a descendant of… Lancelot?” I asked, remembering the sword in my ancestor’s tomb, Purity mentioning the ponies name, and his mentioning having a connection to my ancestor’s.

Utopian smiled. “Yes, Knight Lancelot, pride of the Prance and champion of courtly love. Mother would tell me stories of him as a foal. Of his great deeds, and heroic spirit, flying through the sky with his banner held high. But his ideals of love were rejected, and for this, ponyland was forever cursed!”

He spoke passionately about his ancestor, an accent reminiscent of Prance slipping out, though it had a somewhat more guttural feeling, much like Star's own Blackwater accident. Listening to his story, it would explain what Star told me, about Purity Spiral's seemingly hatred of Princess Platinum, and how my ancestor barred his own from Equestria.

This was a fucking blood feud going back over a thousand years.

Might as well feed it then.

“Sounds to me your ancestor was a failure.” I commented, which shut Utopian up as he shot me a dirty look. “And courtly love, I remember reading about that in ancient Prance culture, which was something my mother warned me to never emulate. Cheating, taking on multiple partners, and the stealing of partners that belong to others, all for the sake of love.” I let out a mocking laugh. “Things like that are why Prance never rose outside of Equestria's shadow, and could never hold onto a good leader for any length of time. Sounds to me your ancestor's ideals are the doom of nations.”

Utopian's eyes lit up as he spoke, his voice itself resonating with magic. “Love is what powers magic in this world, it is what powered the crystal heart in the Crystal Empire, as well as the elements of harmony. Love is power, and you will be damned if I let you deny that!”

I felt wrong, and unable to control myself as my hooves slowly reached for my glasses.

“I'll show you what true love is, and through it, you will belong to me.” Utopian spoke, and I couldn't resist.

“Love can be, like, a poison.” Fizzy then spoke, breaking what hold Utopian had on me. “And too much love, misplaced love, and unwanted love is like, totes toxic!” She had removed her thick glasses, showing her heart shaped pupils as her eyes glowed with power. “You must know this?”

Utopian's eyes glowed back, but were a more dulled green compared to Fizzy’s iridescent pink. He opened his mouth several times, looking like a gasping fish before finding the words. “This magic… it's so… pure! Like the true goddess herself! I must have you!”

Tilting her head up, and looking down on Utopian in disgust, Fizzy spoke, her own voice filled with magic. “Know this, I am the vessel for which Aphrodite herself will reside, and she will not tolerate your tainted magic to mingle with mine!” Something was wrong, and the magic didn't feel like Fizzy, but something so much more… dangerous. “We denounce you, and your perversion of our pure ideals, our pure love. Take your tainted soul to the inevitable, where it belongs!”

As though like the power to a light being cut, all magic then stopped, and became irrily still. Star, Lair, and Hollow all stumbled, and Utopian fell over. I looked over at Fizzy, my friend still radiating some magic. She looked at me, then to the door. “We… should, like, get the fuck out of here.”

I nodded and we helped Star get on her hooves. Lair was already stabilizing herself as she helped her sister. “Wh… what just happened?” Lair asked as she winched.

“We entered this room and… it's all blank?” Hollow said in confusion.

Stable on her own hooved, Star glared at the defenseless Utopian, and I knew what was on her mind.

“Star, no! Not here at least.” I told her, as she let out an annoyed huff and made her way to the door.

The two priestesses were on the ground as well, but not fully unconscious as they clenched their heads and were slowly stirring. Below us, the congregation of ponies were all slumped over, but pony by pony, were waking up as well. So we rushed to get out before we were trapped again.

Finding the stairs, we rushed down to the back door, only to slide to a stop as a double barrel shotgun was pushed into Star's face.

“The Bishop knew this would happen.” Said the Priest from before, looking unaffected by whatever had happened. “Young lord Utopian is still too green with his newly obtained powers. A shame, but not unexpected. Now what to do with ya miserable lot?”

“You will let us pass, heretic!” Hollow demand.

He laughed. “Heretic, ay! I’m of the Blessed Spears, Thorn Roseland's first and most loyal of soldiers. Decedent of Thorns Raiders, who helped her rise to power as we raped and murdered throuth the oceans of the great war! Be it Zebra or pony!” The priest smiled, showing teeth that had been filed down to points. “We are not Heretic's, but the holders of her true vision, and through us her work will be done.”

Lair clicked her tongue, disgust on her face. “Including burning down our temples and libraries, just after we recover from the great war. You Buccaneer only know of following your order and bringing misery to the seven seas.”

The priest maliciously laughed at us. “So you read those records too, oh how they were a fun read. Forcing you Privateers to bow your heads as we strung up the bodies of your so precious secret priests. Our lady Roseland was able to do what none of you could ever, and unified the Barbary Islands under her flag. Oh how I wish I was there to witness it!”

His smile then dropped, as he raised his gun out of our way. “At least I'll get to see the second burning of your secret temples. Now go, go and piss your eyes out to mommy.”

“I'll have you-” Hollow began to say, but was pushed by her sister.

“Dear sister, we must leave!” Lair implored Hollow as she continued to push her sister to the door.

Letting us pass, the priest stared at me, and whispered. “And you, dear princess, Pope Redrum is most excited to see you one day, don't disappoint and go dying on us.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine as we left the church.

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In silence we left the Red Light District, having rejoined our Warband escort, and making sure none of them had ever stepped a hoof into that church. Fortunately none had, though two of them had recently been to Umberfoal and spoke fondly of the bishop there. But at this point, I'd take a convert of whatever the Sanctified Cannons are over the nightmare that were the Blessed Spears.

With Hollow a bit further ahead, and with her protection detail, I felt it was time I get a few answers to what just happened. “Lair, how much do you remember?” I quietly asked.

“Enough.” She told me. “I can't explain much, but I guess you're as deep into secrets as I am, I'll answer what I can… Princess Harp.”

Shit! Now that card was open to her, things might be more difficult. So letting out a sigh, I had only three questions to ask. “Firstly, what was that power Utopian had, second, what happened to Fizzy, and three-”

“Why did that priest let us go?” She finished my question. “For your first question, I'm not sure. It feels like it was a combination of the evil eye with a siren's voice, all while invoking charm. But it all felt tainted, like the magic was forced together to make a more powerful, yet unstable magic. Likely, Utopian was used in an experiment, possibly he's the finished result.”

We then looked back at Fizzy, who was in a bit of a daze, and being looked after by Star so that she didn't wander off. “It's only a guess.” Lair said nervously. “But if what Fizzy said is true, then we just had a close encounter with a god.”

“Venus you mean?” I asked.

Lair nodded. “If Fizzy is a vessel, then her own magic is attuned to that of the goddesses of love and beauty. Any why she rejected Utopian, I can only guess it's because the goddesses fickle, and was disgusted by whatever twisted magic was in Utopian. We can only count ourselves lucky, and Venus could only bring a miniscule fraction of her power out.”

A long sigh then came from Lair. “As for why we were able to leave, even after learning everything… that's simple.”

“A pony up top is pulling on the strings.” I said, getting another nod from Lair.

“Ponies like the Corps Brigade and Purity Spiral wouldn't be able to operate like this without higher support. Likely it's the Redrum family, because it's always the Redrums causing trouble for everypony.” Lair levitated her fortune telling deck of cards out, drawing a few before re-shuffling the deck. “Bad cards… always bad cards these days.” She then glanced at me, a serious look on her face. “It's best to assume that Purity Spiral has entrenched herself deeply into the city, and cannot be simply removed.”

“Not until Purity Spiral gets what she wants.” I said.

Lair cocked an eyebrow at me, then realization washed over her. “The tomb of Princess Platinum, you mean.”

“It's the only thing here that will have what she'd want, I'm sure of it.” I then looked back at the city, and a grim truth became so very clear to me. “She must have known I was coming this way, and is now holding this city hostage.”

“Are you sure? I doubt she'd know that much.” Lair argued.

Star then stepped in. “Unless Quicktrot told her. That wraith was practically waiting for us at Amethyst Sands. Slowtrot did say that Quicktrot and Victoria had met, so it isn't far-fetched that they've talked.”

That was true. As much as I hate to admit it, we've been dancing in Quicktrot Fragment's hoof from the day I woke up in New Appaloosa. It was only by the skins of our teeth we managed to survive and prevent her from getting what she wanted. So It isn't hard to believe that Quicktrot wouldn't tell Purity Spiral or Victoria on where we were heading, since she already knew the Equalists were out west after all. If Purity Spiral already had a hoof hold here, it wouldn't be hard for her to start brainwashing the ponies in the city.

“Lair, how fucked are we?” I asked, feeling dejected.

Taking a deep breath and looking up at the blue sky, she didn't say anything for a long moment. “There's an old legend, one about a jar that held all the evils in the world, along with the curse of mortality. Its guardian, who felt nothing for pony kind or any creature for that matter, and saw herself as a god, would spitefully open it. As everything spilt out, ponies rushed to close it, but were too late to stop what had been put into motion. Yet they had saved one thing, a tiny little flame, so weak that a breeze could snuff it out. That little flame would save the world, and give all living things the power to fight evil, so long as they protected it. That flame was called, hope.” Lair then smiled. “As long as you don't lose hope, you'll always have a way to fight evil.”

“And where will we find this… hope?” A nervous Fizzy asked.

“Since we're dealing with archaic bullshit here, my uncle might have a few solutions. Also, it never hurts to ask a Bishop about how to get rid of another Bishop.” Lair told us as we left the Red Light District.

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