Fallout Equestria: Desperados V3 (Bonds of Platinum)

Fallout: Equestria

Desperado’s V3: Bonds of Platinum

Ch 3, Merchant Road, Part 1.

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Having rejoined with the other mares, feeling annoyed, and needing a distraction, I was more than ready to spend some caps. It was good fortune that we had both plenty of caps to spare, and Arras had lent us some as well.

I was worried that the locals might be a problem at first, but I quickly realized that most of them paid us no mind. Likely because of the Desperados on patrol, providing some assembly of order here. Though it was clear that the order only extended to basic laws, and everything else was left to anarchy.

The city itself was like a shanty town built on top of an ugly version of Canterlot, with off white walls that had scrap poking out of it, that supported very shoddily built homes on top. There was even a third story here and there, likely built on hopes and dreams, rather than anything sold. And all topped with demon grass thatched roofs.

Just imagining how painful it must be to have that kind of roof fall on you made me cringe.

I passed by a construction site, where the building had clearly collapsed in on itself, revealing that the frame was in fact made of scrap, and the bricks looked to be made from mud and some kind of plant, probably demon grass. The smell from the building was rancid, worse than everything else here.

Right, the smell, the further we ventured into the outer city, the worse the smell was. A mix of piss, shit, spoiled milk, and a lot of rot all mixed together into an inescapable stench. Fortunately it never got so pungent that it was unbearable, but it was making me feel a bit ill all the same.

"What is even that smell?" I asked as I used my pipbucks levitation spell to cover my muzzle with a rag. "It's like the buildings are built with whatever that smell is coming from."

Your about right, Harp'y." Transmission said with a smile. "We Desperados shared what we know about construction with the ponies here… though they clearly cut corners here and there."

"I'm afraid to ask, but what did you teach the ponies here about construction?" I further asked.

Transmission shrugged. "You know, the basics. Making lye, and bricks and walls from mud, straw and shit."

I needed to make sure she wasn't screwing with me. "The and shit, that's figurative, not literal shit, right?"

"Brahmin shit actually helps keep the bricks together. Smells rancid, even after drying, but it works.' Transmission clarified. "Though from what I've heard, lately they've been making walls from woven demon grass, and covering it in the stuff. It works, but doesnt give the building that extra stability it needs when building something on top of it."

Looking at the collapsed building, I did see that it had some walls that were thin and had shattered.

"Hay, Harp." Star spoke up. "Didn't the Union bandits build their homes in a similar manner?"

"You mean with adobe." I answered. "Ya, but they weren't using scrap as a frame, and it didn't smell as rancid."

"Radiation does that." Live cut in. "Also I think their mixture was probably better than whatever the ponies here are using. That and they are building their own homes for their own clan. The ponies here on the other hoof, ain't."

That made some sense. Unlike the bandit clan, or PC's farm, the ponies that were building here likely didn't live in those same buildings. So they didn't care as much for quality, only that they get payed.

"Say, Arras did tell me that the Desperados do have their own Adobe homes, but why not here?" I had to ask.

This time Suspension answered. "So we don't get soft. The big buildings are for keeping the big guns, or for bad winters, but rarely for living."

"Some herds do, even maintain buildings for other herds to stay when winter kicks in. But traditionally, we like to stay mobile and make it hard for our enemies to target us like with what the Sharif and Blue Skies did." Transmission added.

"Right, it makes sense if you have a lot of enemies." I breathed in again, and almost gagged. "Okay, I get all that. But why does it smell so rancid out here?" My ear twitched as I heard the sound of water hitting a hard surface, and my eyes drifted to an alleyway. There I saw a mare just squatting, unloading her bladder. Then, further answering my question, not far from the mare, a floor above, another pony tossed out the contents of a bucket into the alley, clearly pony waste. "Never mind, I think I know why."

With a sigh, Live said, "that's also why we choose to be nomadic, no trotting around in our own filth if we move before it even gets close to being bad."

New Appaloosa wasn't all that great, but it did have some sewage management, and after seeing this, it really made me miss that town. Most of all, I was starting to miss home, and having a working sewagesystem.

Despite the appalling sewage management, there was beauty to be found, as the ponies here were quite dedicated to decorating what they could. It was surprising to see the plentiful amount of dull to vibrant green and yellow cloth wrapping around nearly everything, with scraps of other colors popping out here and there. Same for a lot of ponies, who were wrapped in greens and yellows, unlike the sun bleached grays and browns I had become accustomed to out in the wasteland.

It was all still so very crude, unlike the Desperados camp with their intricate tapestries, but it was clear that the ponies here were doing their best to make something more than just a place to survive.

Then there were the merchants, with some still the dusty looking ponies I've seen before, but there were also ponies and other creatures dressed in rainbows of colors, and decorated with shiny trinkets. There was a dear that used his antlers to advertise his jewelry. A griffin covered in gold chains, selling refurbished guns. A very tall unicorn with a strange accent and headgear, selling old rugs. There were several zebras selling various goods from all over the world, I think. And to my shock, and clearly others as well, was what had to be a Kirin behind a bear stall.

I could only guess he was a Kirin due to the sign above him saying “Kirin Beer.”

"Amazing, I never thought I'd ever see so many creatures before. Last time I even saw close to this many, they were all pirates… and trying to capture me." I said in amazement.

"Oh ya. Before the clouds cleared up and the gardens were used, most outsiders avoided Equestria. Now creatures come from all over to stake their claim." Transmission said as she then pointed at the Kirin. "And what is even that thing, it looks like some weird mutant dear."

Right, most of the Desperados were rather ignorant, still strong and reliable, but ignorant. I was sure it made Arras quite depressed to know this.

"Mutant or not, this beer tastes pretty good." Star said as she held a mug with her pipbucks magic, and a foamy mustache on her muzzle. "Though it does look like piss."

"Oh, I want to try!" Suspension said in excitement.

"Me too!" Transmission joined in.

Live and I decided to not take part in trying the Kirn beer. I didn't want to impair my own mind with whatever might be in that beer, and Live was actually thinking about her own pregnancy.

Fully in the market now, we got to browsing the stalls and seeing what was for sale, and for anything we might need. Where before it was random merchandise from traveling merchants, here there were actual shops selling quality goods.

"Come here lovely mares, hens and jenny's, come and see the finest textiles from Arabia, all for cheap!" Called out another fairly tall and thin stallion, with the same kind of accent and headwrap. His shop, an actual shop inside a building, was adorned with rolls of cloth all about, and in a rainbow of colors. And though he said cheap, it was clear that most of the cloth sold here were far from cheap. Then again, with the lack of colors I've seen in the wasteland, stuff like this must cost a leg or two.

"Say, Harp, wasn't Cherry looking for some good quality cloth?" Star asked as she pointed at a roll of deep red cloth.

Getting closer, it was clear that Star's idea of quality wasn't what I thought of as quality. "I'm not sure she'd be interested in this. I mean its cores, the thread count is clearly low, and the dye isn't evenly applied, which eather means shoddy work or poor dye was used."

Star tilted her head, clearly not understanding.

"A mare who knows her textiles!" The store's merchant said as he trotted over, the pony was almost twice my height, but held a rather friendly, but fake smile as he bowed slightly. "My name is Omar, son of Omar… it’s a family name passed down from father to sons. May I inquire where you came to such knowledge, as such knowledge is woefully rare in these lands, as I have discovered."

Shit, of course such knowledge would be mostly lost out here. "Of course, my name is Harp Melody." I said with a curtsy. "Where I was born, we had a vault filled with artifacts, among them were several Textiles and clothing. Items once used by the nobility here in Equestria. I also happen to be friends with Elder Big Papa, of the Desperados, who used to be a royal tailor long ago."

Omar's eyes lit up. "Oh I see, and that must be where the Desperados get their magnificent tapestries. It confused me greatly how such brutus had such beautiful works of art. But if a founder of theirs was a royal tailor, then it makes all the difference." He then ran his hoof across his own textile. "Unfortunately, textiles of royal, or even noble quality are exceptionally hard to obtain, the sultan himself makes sure quality wool is kept for his own personal use. This here is made from the mountain sheep tribes, not the softest wool, but it will keep you warm, and will not burst out into flames like linens."

That… made some sense.

"Then I apologize for my criticism, I haven't been away from home long, and sometimes I forget how much has been lost." I said to the tall pony. "I'm to guess you're not from Equestria then, Saddle Arabia I think you said earlier. So how are things outside Equestria?"

He let out a chuckle. "Oh, I can't say for the rest of the world, but my homeland has its own problems. We did manage to avoid getting megaspelled, but the generations of civil war that followed destroyed us all the same. We've recovered since then, but for a simple Saddle Arabian like myself to find my fortune, unfortunately I must leave my home to find new markets."

"That's… a good problem to have, if you're the daring type." I then looked around, eyeing his products. "Though it must be difficult to get more of this, with how far away you must be from home?"

"So very true." He said with a more genuine smile. "Occasionally my brother, Omar, yes we have the same name, delivers textiles to me from Friendship City. But I have been attempting to locally sourced new thread to turn into textiles. The shaggies are a good source of wool, but their pony shepards aren't the most cooperative of ponies with outsiders. My wife has been doing what she can with what we can get, but lately shes been just helping the dress shop mare patch up clothing. Also, finding good dye is even worse here than back home, unless you love low quality greens and yellows.”

"Shaggies?" I asked.

This time Live stepped in. "Their two headed sheep, like the brahmin and radstags, among others" She explained, and I just tilted my head, causing her to sigh. "Radstags are two headed deer. A lot of the creatures that used to live here became two headed retards, or so the elder says. Something to do with eating demon grass, some think."

"Yes, and I was surprised shaggies could even live here, with the demon grass and all. Strage how their main food source is also what commonly kills them." Omar said with a sigh. "It's a damn shame how much wool is wasted by just untangling the sheep from that damn grass.”

"And the dye! What's wrong with it?" I further asked.

The Saddle Arabian scoffed in annoyance. "It's the demon grass again. As it's the only thing that grows in abundance around here, it's the only source of plant dye, but it doesn't give a good quality color for dye. Worse, even boiling it for the colors makes one sick. Oh how it makes me miss my homeland so much."

That sounded quite the shame. Looking at my own vest, the embroidered flaming skull popped out from the black, making me realize that something like this couldn't have been all that cheap to make. "Say, Live Axle, where do the Desperados get the materials for their vests and tapestries?"

Live thought about it for a moment. "Well the vests are brahmin leather, but the tapestries, I think they are shaggy wool, same for the tents. We have a few tribute towns northeast of here that process the wool as tribute. As for the dye, I think there is another tribute town in the west that makes it, but you'll have to ask Elder Big Papa about it."

"I'll do that since I have a sneaking suspicion that the Desperados here don't have the head for trading." I commented.

That got a nod from Live. "Mostly the Elders conduct trade, and let us younger ponies crack skulls where they need cracking."

A skeptical, yet genuine smile formed on Omar's muzzle. “That does make sense if the Desperados can obtain so much quality cloth. I'll need to talk with my brother about it next time he is over. Maybe he can help you, Desperados with trading. It would be good business for all of us. Though, then again, I have my doubts.”

His eyes drifted to the other end of the store, where Transmission and Suspension were less than gently holding a roll of Textile. To my displeasure, Suspension then tripped, resulting in her tearing the cloth.

"No, no, I perfectly understand." I said as I pulled out my tin of caps and sighed. "I'll buy that roll, and if the elder sees wisdom in trade, I'll make sure the Desperados that come around are less… rambunctious."

Leaving the textiles shop, and giving Suspension a talking too, we got back to browsing the market. Much of the stores here were selling local products, that being materials made from demon grass, brahmin, radstag, and even shaggies. One shop was even selling two headed rabbits as pets or food.

I grew rather concerned with the amount of two headed animals around her. "Are they even safe to eat? I mean, if everything else became two headed and all?"

"It's fine." Live Axle informed me. "I think it's only if you eat the demon grass directly. Though Elder Big Papa said that what caused the two headed births has gone away long ago, so we needn't worry about it. But the damage it caused is clearly permanent."

Looking at the two headed mutant rabbit, I couldn't help but feel disgust. Compared to the jackalopes, these rabbits looked diseased and half dead, hardly pet material. One even threw up right in front of me, causing me to back up. "Please don't tell me you ever had one of those as a pet?"

Live shook her head. "Hard to have a pet when you're on the move all the time. But there are some tributaries that raised them, I think they're the same ones that raise shaggies. Used to be more of em, but weirdly most of the rad-bit farm towns starved off, even though they had plenty of rad-bit's to eat."

"Maybe ponies weren't meant to eat only meat." I commented.

"Probably." Live said in agreement. "But they are good eating."

As we moved on, it was becoming clear that the most common product, aside from demon grass materials, was meat and leather. Unsurprisingly there were quite a few griffins managing those kinds of stores, some of them being full on restaurants with griffin patrons. I suspected that most were Talons, with the ones on the job being the more armed and aware. Dried and salted meats were probably the most common food here, and I could swear that the griffins were using it like money over caps.

Stopping at a rope and sack store as Star gawked at a sausage dealer's produce, I took a closer look at the rather sturdy, but rough rope. "So, is this really all made from demon grass?" I asked the rather bored-looking merchant."

"No, it's synthetic fibers from the mythical Stable zero zero." The merchant said sarcastically. "Yes, everything here is demon grass, it's all we got to work with."

"Must be tough, with the thorns and, you know." I said sympathetically.

The pony shrugged. "I wouldn't know, I just sell it." She then lifted up a rather well cared for hoof. "See this, it wouldn't look so nice if I worked the demon grass."

"Seriously, why's that?" I asked.

She sighed. "You can't get rid of demon grass by just cutting it, the shit grows back too fast. Ya got to pull it up, roots and all. Can't use your mouth to grab it, thanks to the thorns, and it is too tough for most unicorns to use magic, so a pony got to use their hooves. The process cuts up the hooves mighty badly, and most of the ponies who do it for a living can't trot around much account of their hooves getting worked raw."

I cringed at hearing that. I was about to ask why, but already knew the answer, it was working their hooves to the skin, or starving to death. And probably good protective gear was expensive, or didn't last long.

"I guess the same problem goes for processing the grass?" I further asked.

The merchant nodded. "De-thorning, drying, and beating the grass into usable fibers takes time. And speaking of time, are you going to keep wasting mine?"

Leaving the merchant be, I moved on, looking for anything else that might be interesting. I did find a store that sold wasteland produce, such as carrots, tatos, and razorgrain, along with what I was sure was Percussion Cap's corn. The bigger golden corn sat next to some rather dull and thin corn I guessed was wasteland corn.

There were a few more unique shops nestled in all the meats and demon grass. A pottery shop that was less than impressive to me, but seemed to be doing excellent business wize. One shop sold bones and other animal products, why, I don't know, but there seemed to be a demand for it here. There were also at least two weapons dealers, four chem shops, a scrap store, a repair shop, and mercifully a used clothing store.

Actually being able to go clothing shopping was like a healing potion for my soul, even if most of the clothing was over two hundred year old raggs. Unfortunately if there were any gems in this shop, they had long ago been sold.

"Look, this jacket and skirt can definitely be salvaged!" Live said as she showed me her findings. It was a rather cute, if patchworked outfit. "Maybe Cherry can stitch them up."

"We do have that roll of cloth I had to buy." I suggested as I eyed Suspension sternly. The slightly older mare took notice, and the outfit she was being a bit rough with was carefully put back. "Anyways, if it is colder up north like you say, Then it's not a bad idea to have the girls sew us some padded clothing or something."

"You mean cloth armor?" Live then asked, getting a head tilt from me. "Ya know, two thick layers with shaggy wool stuffed in between, then it's all stitched together. Not the best at stopping bullets, but a club or knife has trouble getting through. It also makes good warm weather clothes during the winter."

I shook my head. "No not quite, but that's something to keep in mind." I then reached out and felt the patchwork jacket, feeling how thin and worn down it was. "I mean just making it more comfortable for the cold. Most of the clothing here is a bit too… thin."

"Oh, I know what you mean." An older, and slightly pudgy pegasus mare in a rather elegant, though patchworked, dress said as she trotted over. "When I first found myself down here I thought I'd finally find new materials to work with. Unfortunately the wasteland was just as bad, if not worse when it came to clothing as the Enclave was." She then gave a polight curtsy. "My name is Frilly Ribbon, a seamstress and owner of this store, and it does my heart good to know of other ponies who share my own interests in quality threaded. Those Saddle Arabian's at the other end of the market are good ponies, but they care more about just the cloth, and little about the clothing they will be made into."

Letting out a sigh of relief, I curtseyed back. "Oh yes. I can't say I know much about sewing, or making dresses, but it has been quite depressing with how few quality clothing is out here in the wasteland. I know that's how it is, but for the last few weeks I've had only a few outfits to wear." I did a little shake of my leg to show my hostess dress. "This dress was the only clean thing I have, sadly enough."

Frilly Ribbon took a closer look at it and nodded. "Oh, I see what you mean. It's a nice, if provocative dress, but not for everyday use. I can even see some of the threads starting to fray. A true shame. Unfortunately, as you probably can tell, I mostly just sell refurbished clothing, though if you ever need something fixed, I do repair work as well. Now if you want something of real quality, the Hilltop Boutique up in the inner-city has a collection of well maintained old world dresses and suits. The owner, Hartwin, he's quite the skilled tailor, which is surprising for a griffin, and less hoity compared to the other residents of the inner-city. He even makes lightly and heavily padded cloaks for winter, though he doesn't need any clothing to make a mare feel warm at night."

Frilly then nudged and winked at me, making me realize that she might not just be pudgy, but possibly… expecting.

"Thanks, I'll have to check it out." I then eyed my companions. "Though, will it be safe up there? Still new here, but from what I'm told, the Desperados aren't in control up there."

The pegasus gave me a knowing nod and smile. "The Steel Rangers are a rather troublesome bunch, but so long as you stay on the market road, you should be fine. Though you might want a change of clothes first, the Desperados aren't on the best terms with the inner-city. If you have the caps for it, the Hilltop Boutique will sell you some clothes no questions asked. Like I said, Hartwin isn't hoity, a real gentile griff. Oh, and if you do that, they'll probably think you're related to Crystal, which might help keep the Steel Rangers off your flank."

I raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, but who?"

"Thought as much." Frilly said. "She's a mirage pony. I just didn't want to assume you're related to her, it happens to me all the time when other Pegasus stop by that's not with the Rangers or Desperados."

"A… mirage pony! But how, where did she come from, where is she?" I asked, half panicked. If this pony was an equalist, it could be disastrous. Or maybe she's with Orthurus, which would solve so many problems for me.

Frilly motioned her wings in a defensive manner, "settle down now, I love my gossip, but you can't mob me with questions."

I took a deep breath to regain control over myself, "well can you tell me what you know?" I asked as I passed her a few caps.

She smiled as she took the caps, then got to talking. "Frankly, I know more about Mirage ponies because of Crystal then I will ever want to, that mare is a right chatterbox and prankster you see. But I'm surprised you don't know where you all came from. I mean, Cantercross is practically a Mirage pony colony from what I've been told. That said, she was visiting from Destruction Bay to meet up with a steel ranger prosthesis, something she and her wife, Dr. Tibia, have interests in. Unfortunately, there seems to be trouble brewing in the west, and Crystal and her family have been stranded here, of which I'm sure the Steel Ranger are not keen to help with. If you want to pay her a visit, she is are staying with Elder Lamington's chapter, you will find them less hostile to outsiders, if a bit eccentric."

"Thanks for the info." I said, my eyes drifting over the store and I presented her a few more caps. "Before we go, do you have any clothes you keep in the back? You know, away from unwashed hooves."

"I do happen to have some well preserved relaxed wear that I haven't put out on sale yet." Frilly told me as she took the caps.

Leaving the store with Order carrying a carefully packed bag of dresses, and one roll of cloth I sent him away to drop it all off with Cherry. It felt like a risk sending him off, but it wasn't like I was alone.

"So, one last stop then?" Live asked.

"The boutique, yes, I want to see what's in there, and maybe visit this Crystal if possible." It was a toss up which I wanted to see more. Frilly's good clothing was okay at best, a real shame really, as she was skilled, but the quality of cloth she had at hoof was rather poor. But learning how mirage got here did eat at my brain, as I was worried that I might not like the answer.

"Let's do both." Star said with a smile. "I do want to see what another mirage pony looks like. But first." Star then whistled over at Suspension and Transmission. "Hay, we still got some boring shit to do, let's meet up later."

The two other Desperados mares both shrugged and trotted off.

"Wow… that was easy." Live said.

Star chuckled. "Learned it from your sister."

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