Fallout Equestria: Halls of Knowledge

Cinder walked the streets of Manehattan only semi heading for the nearest settlement though taking a long way as she wanted time to think about what had happened. She had not only gone to Crystal Haven university and lived but met the Ghost and learned she wasn't a ghost at all, at least not how it was thought. The things they talked about and she saw there were not even close to what she expected when she realized she was there.

She wasn't sure if she should tell anypony or if anypony would believe her if she did. Then she thought about if people did believe her they might head for the University to try and scavenge and force I.R.I.S to have to defend herself as tech like her would be sought after and she didn't want that for the A.I. So it was decided she'd keep this a secret and use the University as a safe place to sleep since fear keeps everypony away and any other threats I.R.I.S clearly can handle given the place was devoid of wildlife.

It wasn't long after this decision was made that she rounded a corner and a set of walls made of iron bars topped with spikes and bits of wood and metal stuffed between them to make it hard to see through them came into view and she smiled as she walked along the fence till she saw some barricades made up of random furniture with a couple of armed ponies behind them keeping watch.

She waved. “Hey Razor, Slug how's things here?”

The two stallions looked over and waved back. “Haven’t seen you in a while, it’s been quiet here, head on in.” Razor said, getting close anyone who saw the two stallions could mistake them for brothers and in a way they were though not by birth, more the been together as long as either of them really recalled and worked well together.

She gave a nod as she walked past the two guards and walked through a gate that matched the prewar fence, above the gate had a sign that read “welcome to Parkside Haven '' that somepony had put up years ago though most everypony just called it Parkside.

Inside was a small community of houses made up of random debris broken down to be used for materials or tents scattered around the prewar park, it was a decent place and thanks to the fence rather safe. She smiled as she watched a group of foals run by playing tag or some other game as the adults went about their tasks from repairing things, selling things or tending the farms that took up a good chunk of the available ground. The trees may be dead but the soil worked well for the wasteland crops.

Cinder sometimes wondered if this was what it was like before the bombs as it seemed like the stories she heard from others though she couldn't be sure. Either way she had scrap to sell as she headed for the market she could reach with her eyes closed at this point as she often stopped at Parkside.

The stall she wanted was made up of a pre war metal desk with some wooden walls set up to enclose it with a sign above that simply read “Scrap” and an older blue unicorn stallion sitting behind it tinkering with an old radio and muttering obscenities.

Cinder tapped her hoof on the desktop. “Hey there Bolt, got some scrap for you.” She said smiling as the stallion looked up from the radio.

“Hmph, so did you find any damn scrap worth my fucking time?” Bolt said with a frown.

Cinder did not react at all to the way the scrapper spoke, she was used to it and knew it wasn't directed at her and more just how the stallion was when working on things and interrupted. “Come now you know I always got things you like.” She said as she lifted her saddle bags from her back, opening them, pulling out some pieces she got from a terminal that wasn't in too bad a shape as well as a coffeepot and a few tools she found.

Bolt began looking through the items inspecting them closely with a skilled eye. “50 caps for the lot.”

“75.” Cinder countered.

Bolt snorted. “What do you think you got here? Gold? 50 caps.”

“No, I just know some of the things you've been wanting.” She smiled. “So 75 caps.”

Bolt grumbled clearly regretting having talked to her as much as he has been as Cinder just smiled at him. “66 caps.

“Deal.” She said and set the items down releasing her magic as Bolt dug into a drawer to pull out a lockbox, opening it and floating over the caps to Cinder.

“Pleasure doing business with you Bolt, see you next time.” She said, closing her bag before returning them to her back and heading off down the path.

Her first stop was at stall that sold guns and ammo, didn't have a large selection as the settlement was very big but it had what she needed to replace the ammo she used up fighting the the raiders, luckily she spent most of that time running and less shooting so only cost a couple caps.

With some scrap sold and her ammo replenished she headed for the place she liked to go when in Parkside, the bar known as Parks n Rec. It was a decently lively place with a few people in it taking a break between work as it was really the only place to go besides home when not working.

Cinder entered Parks n’ Rec to hear lively music being played and not from the radio which caused her to blink as that wasn't something you heard everyday in the Wastes.

Looking around she saw a mare sitting on a chair in the corner playing a violin in a fast paced tune, eyes closed as the crowd around her stopped their hooves in time with the rhythm. The mare was an earth pony with a dark red coat and darker red mane wearing simple travelers clothing and a cloak with a revolver in a holster sitting over the back of the chair.

It took a second for Cinder to realize she was tapping a hoof in time with the crowd and had to make herself stop and head for the bar where Froth stood behind the counter tapping a hoof in time as well as her head bobbed.

“Yo Froth, can I get a drink?” Cinder said tapping the bar top to get her attention. The unicorn mare looked over and blinked as if just noticing Cinder existed. “Oh, right yeah coming right up, cola or booze?” The tan mare asked using her magic to brush a strand of her yellow and brown mane from her face.

“Hmm….booze.” Cinder said after a second of thought.

Froth nodded and grabbed a bottle from the shelf behind her in magic without looking back as a glass came up from below the bar, easily pouring the drink with the skill one in her position would have developed over 1000s of drinks.

Cinder gestured her head towards the mare with the violin. “New employee?”

Froth shook her head. “No…traveler, arrived the other night asking for a palace to stay for a while offering entertainment in exchange for a floor space, first thought she meant one of those sort of mares before she showed me the instrument…..figured why not at worst I just toss her out on her flank, at best I get some customer enjoying live entertainment.” Froth said. “Needless to say she earned the spot and I tossed in some food as well as she's been bringing in everyone who's not working.”

“huh ... .interesting….”Cinder said and watched the mare sipping her drink as she sawed away on the strings of the violin. “Not a lot of people I've seen know what to do with those things outside of bash somepony over the head with it or use it for a fire.”

“”Yeah she's very talented, not a lot of people like that these days, not like before.” The barmare said as she cleaned the bartop with a rag.

Cinder didn't notice her hoof taping along as the music slowly came to an end and the mare took a deep breath before opening her eyes revealing they were just as red as her coat.

“Sorry lads, I'm gonna take a break and get a drink.” The mare said to the disappointed crowd. “But don't worry, as soon as I'm done I'll be back to entertain you all.” She gave them a smile that looked like it could light up a room, getting cheers as she put the violin in a case, belted on the gunbelt and walked towards the bar. “Hey Froth, alright if I get some water?”

A bottle was set before the mare. “I already told you Crimson that you've more than paid for food and drink with how much you keep the customers coming.” Froth said, chuckling.

“I know but it would be rude not to ask.” The red mare said before taking a large gulp of the water before sighing and looking at Cinder. “So you’re new, just got here?”

“Huh?” Cinder said not expecting to be spoken to. “Yeah, I’m a Scaver, just got into town on my rounds ... .names Cinder.”

“Crimson, traveling musician.” She said holding out a hoof for a shake.

Cinder slowly took it, not used to people shaking hooves but she did so awkwardly.

Crimson smiled. “So tell me, find anything weird out there while scavenging?” she asked, taking a drink.

“Uh….no? I mean nothing more weird than what's usually out there I guess.” Cinder said once more, surprised as that was an odd question.

“Ah, pity, sometimes you mares find some interesting stuff.” She said disappointed. “Still I'd imagine you'd have a good story or two due to the nature of your line of work.”

“Uh….maybe?” She said further confused why the mare was asking.

“Don’t get it twisted, I'd love to hear it but I am not pressuring you, just like to talk to new people, get to know them.” She said, chuckling.

“Right….I mean …I did escape a couple raiders the other day, managed to outrun them” She said, not entirely a lie as she did outrun them when they stopped at the gate of the university.

“Oh? That must have been scary, I know the times I've run into raiders have been.” Crimsons nodded.

“Uh ... .I guess…..” She was scared at the time but she wasn't sure why Crimson was acting like Raiders were not a common and accepted threat of traveling.

Crimson downed her bottle of water. “Anyways, I've taken up enough of your time and i got an audience that's getting antsy, pleasure meeting you Cinder, and hope so see you on the road again.” She said before heading for the same chair she sat in before undoing her gun belt.

Cinder watched her go. “Weird mare….” She said,

“Yeah a bit but then weird comes with the territory out here.” Froth chuckled. “And at least she's the harmless weird one.” She said as the music began again.

“Suppose so…anyways how much for a plate of food?”

“6 caps.”

Cinder passed the bits over as she sat, not noticing that once more her hoof was taping in time with everyone else to Crimson’s music.