Chapters The Bear, The Bull, And The Pony
“Ladies and Gentleman, welcome into another beautiful day in the wasteland.” the radio crackles.
“This is Radio New Vegas, and I'm your host, Mr. New Vegas. And in case you're wondering if you've come to the right place, you have.” his voice trailing off before introducing the next song on the radio.
“God I love that guy.” Six said as he was hunched over a workbench tinkering with a small device in his hands. The rest of the bench littered with hundreds of small parts and pieces.
“Always has the best music.” Six then stood up and stretched his back, “Alrighty, everything looks about ready. let’s get to it.” He then grabs the small device and leaves his room in The Sink.
Heading into the elevator and pressing the T.T button Six leans back against the wall, feeling the elevator slowly descend. Reaching into his pocket he pulls out the little piece of machinery that has taken him all of last week to make. It resembled a computer chip but was a tad bigger and had many more parts attached to it.
“God I hope this works.” he said, placing the chip back in his pocket.
Six and the scientist of the Big M.T. had been experimenting with the Transportalponder to see if they could extend its range even further and allow for more safe teleportation. And for the past few months they had made rather lackluster results. The first few tests were horrendous failures, with each subject after teleporting coming out a gory mess. And every subsequent test after only ending with a slightly less gory mess .
This is what Six was hoping to fix with the chip he made. It ‘should’ allow the teleporter to more easily make the calculations to send something further and not turn it inside out. Six was still skeptical, but had his hope that it would work. Hearing the elevator ding he pushes himself off the wall and walks out.
“Howdy Dr.Klein, you ready?” Six says as he passes by the brain bot.
“AH LABOTIMITE YOU HAVE RETURNED. AND YES, READY AS EVER TO MAKE ANOTHER LOBOTOMITES INSIDE’S OUTSIDE’S.” Klein shouted at Six.
'Guess he still hasn't fixed his volume knobs. Jesus he’s loud.' Six thought to himself. Continuing to walk, he called out over his shoulder, “Good, we're gonna need that enthusiasm today,”
“THAT WAS SARCASM LOBOTOMITE.” Klein shouted as he floated his way to Six’s side.
“Uh-huh” Six replied, he knew better than to get into this kind of argument with Klein. It would only mean wasted time, breath, and a raging headache.
The two continued until they made it to Dr. Klein's work station. On it was a partially deconstructed Transportalponder, its pieces scattered across the table. Removing the chip from his pocket Six sat down and started attaching it to the rest of the teleporter. Him and Klein talking about what they expect to happen after Six is finished adding the chip. Soon the pieces on the table disappear, all being put back in their place. And 15 minutes later the transportalponder is all back together and ready to test. Getting up both Six and Klein make their way outside.
“Did you already prepare the subject?” Six askes Kelin
“OF COURSE. THE LOBOTOMITE IS READY AND WAITING.” “Klein shouts back.
“Good...good.” Six sighs, “Let’s just get this over with. I’m getting really tired of all the failures with this project.”
“AS AM I LOBOTOMITE. BUT IS IT REALLY SCIENCE IF IT WERE EASY?” Klein says with a small amount of amusement coming from his voice box.
Six shakes his head and chuckles. “No..no I guess it wouldn't be would it. C'mon let's go, gotta see if that thing really did fix it.”
The doors to the Think Tank open and out steps Six followed by Klein. They continue walking (and floating) to a cage that holds one of the many lobotomites in the Big M.T.. Six takes out the Transportalponder and begins to mess with the settings making sure they are all correct.
“Is the camera functional?” Six asks.
“INDEED” Klein pushes one of his ‘eye’ monitors out in front of Six. The image changed from Klein’s eye to a camera feed recording a room all the way in Diamond City.
Six nods his head and goes back to messing with the Transponder thinking to himself. 'This would have been so SO much easier if I had just taken some of the institute's tech before obliterating them. How did they figure this shit out so easily?' Done with setting the Transportalponder, Six points it at the caged lobotomite. 'It’s too late to complain now. They're gone. I just have to work with what I got.'
“Ok. Dr. Klein ready for test number 128” asks Six.
“AFFIRMATIVE” shouts Klein.
“Please work.” Six whispers under his breath
Pulling the trigger the Transportalponder shakes before firing a beam of science (Six nor the brain bots know what it is, they just know it works) at the lobotomite. In a flash of light it disappears leaving an empty cage behind. Six and Klein wait in anticipation, their eyes glued to the screen waiting for the lobotomite to reappear.
“C’mon work damnit!” Six whispers, moving closer to the screen.
The seconds tick by agonizingly slowly as the two continue to watch. 30 seconds pass and right before Six is about to call it a failure a bright light flashed in front of the camera. Then after a moment the camera refocuses to reveal the lobotomite lying unharmed in the middle of the room. Six’s eyes go wide as he grabs the screen in his hands pulling it closer. Waiting and watching for any sign that the lobotomite might be alive.
A minute later it’s hand twitches, then it’s arm, it’s leg, then it’s whole body spasms. It quickly sits up, rolls onto its hands and knees throws up. Then shakily gets onto its feet and looks around the room.
“It worked…IT FUCKING WORKED!” Six cheered. He had done it, finally the piece of shit worked.
“WE HAVE DONE IT LOBOTOMITE!” Klein cheered as well. His robot body bobbing up and down.
“YEA WE FUCKING DID. FINALLY.” Six was so happy, he now had a quick way to get back to the commonwealth. Before it would have been more than a month's long trip just to get to Boston, maybe shorter if Six got lucky with a ride on a pelican by the brotherhood. But now he could make it in less than a minute.
'It’s been awhile since I’ve been home. I wonder how they are all doin. Ada, Piper, Nick, Dogmeat..' Six thinks about his friends and companions he left behind when he traveled west. Never having the chance to go back home ever since he came here to the Mojave. That didn’t matter anymore, now he could go back and forth as many times as he wanted.
'The last thing I need to do is to try it for myself.' Six steps back and changes the setting on the Transportalponder to target him instead. “I’ll see you on the other side, Klein.” Pulling the trigger everything goes white.
The Bear, The Bull, And The Pony
It was all going to plan, but of course as many things in the wasteland have before and will forever after something fucked up and completely derailed everything. Suddenly Six’s vision was replaced by bright flashing colors, and the feeling of being thrown around at high speeds.
“WHAT THE FUUUCK!!?” Six screamed as his body hurled through the failed teleportaion.
Being tossed around and eye fucked with bright colors for what felt like hours, Six is spit out and thrown to the ground. His ears ring, eyes straining against the new light, and his head pounding. Taking a moment to readjust, Six stays lying with his back on the ground and his eyes screwed shut.
A couple minutes later he slowly sits up and opens his eyes. The light is blinding and Six has to force his eyes to open. His hands brush against the ground and he feels something familiar, sand. Was he in a desert? The Mojave?
His eyes now adjusted and able to see the ground beneath him, Six concludes that he is not in the Mojave, the ground is too different. Instead he assumes that he was just thrown to some random dead and destroyed part of Earth.
Beside him lies the Transportalponder letting out a beep as it slowly dies. Grabbing it and prying it open he tries to tinker with the insides to see if he can fix it and use it to get back to Big M.T. but finds it completely unresponsive. The little radar going haywire trying to lock onto anything. A few more minutes of testing and failure to get anything later, Six stows away the piece of shit transporter and utters a single word,
“Fuck.”
Standing up and dusting himself off Six takes a look around him. Observing the careful details such as the sunscorched rocks, the dead shrubbery, and the vast swaths of barren dusty land, six came to the ever insightful conclusion, he was in the middle of bum fuck nowhere surrounded by absolutley fucking nothing.
Nodding to himself Six opens his pipboy to use his map and try to pinpoint exactly where on earth he was. But to his surprise the map wasn’t working, the only thing he could see was the static on the screen and his own reflection.
“Well…ain't that a thing. I’ve never seen that happen before.”
Thinking back to everything he’s gone through, Six couldn't remember a single time his pipboy’s map wasn't able to show anything. Even that time at the Sierra Madre when Father Elijha hacked his pipboy and the poison fog blotted out the sky did his map still work.
“Gonna have to do this the old fashioned way aren't I” Six said with a sigh. Unhooking his backpack and setting it down, Six roots through it until finding something he thought he would never have to use, an old pre-war gold compass.
It was a random lucky find that Six looted (grave robbed) from an old bunker back in the commonwealth. He was saving it to scrap later intent on just ripping it open and repurposing it. Who knew that today was the day that that old compass would be useful for something other than parts.
Bringing it out and rehooking his pack, Six tries to decide what direction he should start walking in. He spends a little while trying to find any signs that might indicate that one of the directions would be more worthwhile to travel down, but finds nothing of note. Finally deciding to just walk north and hope for the best. If anything it just means there's more walking in his future. Like he hasn't done a ton of that already.
“I should really invest in a vehicle of sorts. Maybe a motorcycle, tons of those left out in the Mojave. Most in pretty good condition too.” Six says to himself thinking out loud. “Beats walking everywhere, that's for damn sure.”
And so Six walked. The sounds of the wind, rocks cracking and falling in the distance, and the dust beneath his boots echoing through the dead barren land. Hours passed and the sun was slowly setting on the Horizon.
Six debated on if he should look for a shelter for the night as he was still in unknown territory and it would really suck to run into some deathclaws that might be out hunting.
But Six figured that he couldn’t be that far out from some kind of civilization so he continued on his way. It’s not like can’t just fight his way out of any situation he might find himself in. As long as it’s not like an army of deathclaws or synths that attack him, he should be fine.
Pressing on into the night, Six took a moment to really admire the night sky. He was so used to the bright lights of the commonwealth or the strip and the constant fight for survival that he forgot just how beautiful the sky looks at night. There are so many stars up there. It made him wonder what would have been if humanity didn’t kill the planet in that pointless war.
Maybe he shouldn't have killed House and taken the strip with Yes-Man. He did say he could have had humanity up there in just a couple hundred years. But Six quickly threw those thoughts away, what’s done is already done. House is dead, humanity is fractured, and the world is irreversibly wounded.
At least the hope still remains, he saw it once in the Divide, even though they are also gone, and Six remembers nothing about them. But people like Ulysses still do, so that hope still lives.
The moon was right above him, if Six had to guess he had been walking north for about 15 hours now. In the distance he could see a large mountain range that stretched on for miles in both the east and west directions. Six guessed that they either encircled whatever kind of desert he was in or created a huge wall that made a natural border to whatever was on the other side. Continuing the walk toward the mountains, Six started creating a plan on how he would have to scale them in order to reach the other side if his theory about them creating a crater wall around these badlands was true.
It was only when he got closer to them that he saw something in the northwest that immediately caught his attention. It was a path, a purposely made and traveled down path! This was his first sign of some sort of civilization out here. Changing his course Six jogged his way down to it.
When he reached it he noticed old tracks left behind in the ground. Divits in the earth that looked to be made by a wagon. And horse hooves? Horses? Six thought they went extinct after the war. The last time he saw one was back before the war when he was still in the military on a tour. Beautiful creatures they were.
But these tracks mean that at least some of them survived, somehow. Either that or these are remnants of the institute's work, although Six highly doubted that. They were too cagey on their work to ever let it come down here to the wastes. So that means some did survive, and that also means Six might get the chance to meet one of these animals again. With newfound excitement Six set down the path, continuing his long walk yet again.
The Bear, The Bull, And The Pony
More hours pass and the moon is now setting down in the west and the sun is peeking over in the east. Six is still walking down the path wondering just how long this road is. Looking around for a high hill Six steps off to find a better vantage point to see where the path might lead to. Finding one, Six carefully climbs his way up and pulls out a pair of binoculars at the top. That’s when he finds something interesting in the distance.
Around seven klicks out north-ish Six sees a break in the mountain range, and the path leads right through it.
It’s a way out!
Six silently cheers for the fact that he now won’t have to try and scale the mountains. Climbing back down Six gets back on the path and speeding up his walk pushes onto the last leg of his journey.
'Shouldn't take more than an hour to get there.' Six thought to himself.
Around an hour and a half later Six made it. The sun was now just above the horizon and the moon had gone away. Ready to finally get out of the badlands and back to whatever sort of civilization he found on the other side, Six kept on.
But unbeknownst to Six he was no longer alone is these deserted lands. As just before the crack in the mountains was a small group of eight bandit ponies.
They called themselves 'The Vipers' and they made a living ambushing unsuspecting ponies either by hiding in the rocks or luring them into a trap. They would then steal whatever valuables they could find along with any food or water they happened to have. After that they would send the unfortunate ponies on their way, either back the way they came or to brave the badlands.
Around half an hour ago one of their scouts spotted Six in the distance. Alerting the rest of the gang they quickly got into action. Assuming that it was just Six by himself they decided to go with the lure and ambush plan. One of the gang members dressed up as a normal traveler and waited by the side of the path while the others hid themselves amongst the environment.
Their plan was to use the disguised bandit to lure in Six with the excuse that their wagon tipped over behind a big rock face and they needed help getting it back up. Then when Six was in position the rest would jump out and demand him of his valuables and supplies.
They were confident in themselves as this plan almost always worked, and they haven’t had a failed ambush before. Most ponies gave in to their demands after realizing that they were outnumbered and that it was better to just turn around and leave.
But Six was no pony, he was a courier, and he has survived much much worse than a small gaggle of wannabe bandits.
They had no idea what was coming to them.
Meanwhile, Six was elated, he was gonna get out of this damn desert. After a whole day of walking he was out. He thought of what he was going to do to get the transportalponder to send him back. His best guess was to get to the highest place he could to hopefully get a signal from one of Big M.T.’s satellites.
It was also then that he realized that he would still have to scale a mountain to do that.
“God damnit.” he mumbled.
He was right next to the crack now, could even see through it and saw what looked like a grassy plain on the other side. He was going to just rush through but on his way he noticed what looked like a dressed up dog sitting on the side of the path.
'That’s weird. Who left their dog here?’ Six thought to himself.
'Oh it’s looking at me now. Hey there fell..WHAT THE FUCK!? It waved back!' Six was confused as all hell. What was this thing? He thought it was just an odd dog but it just waved back at him after he waved at it.
Slowly walking to whatever it is Six was able to get a better look at it.
'Ok. So, definitely not a dog. More like a..pony? But its eyes are way too big, and its body is all out of proportion.' Six squinted his eyes,
It now occurs to Six that he might not be on Earth anymore, or if he was this is the weirdest place to ever exist on that forsaken rock.
“Hey there stranger. How are you?” the disguised bandit called out to Six.
'HOLY SHIT IT TALKED!!' Six’s mind was in overdrive now with a million different question of just what the fuck this thing is.
He continued walking forward until he was around 10 feet away from the creature. Stopping and just staring at it. The pony is question, feeling slightly nervous at the honestly imposing figure that their newest victim sprouted. It was tall and covered head to hoof in some kind of armor? Clothing? They couldn't tell. Its face, or what the pony assumed to be its face, was like a featureless mask with large glowing red eyes . A black stetson on its head, and a bunch of what might be weapons strapped all over its body.
'No wait. Definitely weapons, that is for sure a knife right there, and what is that long thing with all the teeth on its belt? Celestia, it's huge!?' the pony was starting to panic slightly,
“You uh..alright there stranger?” Weasel asked Six.
“...” Six still stood there silently.
“Uhh..ok..um well I just happened to notice you passing by and thought that you might be able to help me out. You see my uhh..wagon got tipped over there by those rocks and I..um..ain’t strong enough to lift it up myself. Could you lend a hoof, stranger?” Weasel smiled, was proud of himself, he managed to say the entire thing perfectly,
“...”
“…”
“…sure” was all Six said.
Weasel flinched slightly as he heard Six speak. His voice was kinda scary, deep, gravely, and kinda scratchy. It reminded Weasel of some of the older outlaws he met. They definitely were a scary bunch. And those red eyes of the stranger piercing into him, never blinking or feeling less intense.
“Oh thank Celestia, Thank you stranger. Alright follow me, it's just this way.”
Six’s mind was in turmoil, he had so many questions. What is this thing? How can it speak? Why does it look so much like a pony? Is this what left all those tracks out on the path? Were horses still extinct!? That last one lingering longer than the others, leaving behind a feeling of disappointment and shattering dreams in its wake.
Stifling a sigh, he followed the pony thing to help it fix its wagon. Something he never thought he would do. But it was only after a few steps that he felt his pipboy activate. Looking down at it, it alerted him that there were seven other unknown beings hidden in the area in front of him.
Labeling each one as hostile, including the one right next to him.
'Ohhh…So that’s what this is. Man should have seen that earlier. I blame the insanity of all this. Ok, let’s play along for now. I can judge them after.'
Six immediately snuffed out any remaining questions and distractions. This was a fight now, this was survival, he had to be focused.
Looking to his right he studies the pony next to him, looking for any signs of weapons.
Shifting his focus to his surroundings Six looked for any spots that could be used for an ambush. A few moments later he saw a slight shift behind a pair of boulders to his left.
By the time he and the pony made it inside of an open clearing surrounded by rocks, Six was able to locate the other seven unknown individuals, all hidden around the scenery. One behind a pair of boulders, another up to his right behind some rocks, Two more behind him up above hidden in a small crevice, One in some bushes, Another one in some other bushes, and the final one right in front of him behind a mound of stones.
Six watched as the one guiding him started to slow down until he was tailing behind Six. Stopping in the middle of the only exit from this small clearing. Everywhere else being surrounded by a wall of rock.
'They did their homework at least.' Six had to admit that this was the perfect place for an ambush. Only one exit, high walls, plenty of hiding spaces, and the ability to get the high ground. It was good.
Behind him Weasel slipped his knife out. Holding it in his mouth and crouching down, taking a ‘ready to pounce’ stance.
“Ahright Stran..” he started his voice slightly muffled from the knife, before Six cut him off.
“Cut the shit. I know about the others already. And that shiv you’ve got.” Six said, his voice monotone but with a hint of anger behind it. His back still turned to Weasel.
“..what?” was all Weasel could say.
“One of you is over there behind the boulders.” Six said, pointing to them. A small squeak coming from behind them.
“Another is up there behind the rocks.” He said ponting again, a pony head popping out with a surprised expression on her face.
“You two are behind me up there.” Six didn’t point this time, but he did hear a voice whisper,
“The two in the bushes there and there.” Six nodding to each one, with both bushes rusting as two more ponies popped out.
“And you're down right there behind the pile of stones.” Six fixed his gaze at the rocks. Then another pony thing stood up and walked out from behind them, with a confused and angry expression on his face.
“How did you do that!?” it said angrily but undercut with some slight fear. This was the first time anypony was able to perfectly point out where each of them were hiding. And it did it all somehow before even reaching the ambush spot.
“I do have to admit y'all this is a pretty good spot for an ambush. Very well done.” Six said ignoring the things question.
The pony from the rocks squinted his eyes at the tall red eyed stranger.
“Everypony. Out. Now.” it shouted.
Then all seven other ponies quickly sprung out of their hiding spots and took position. Six of them quickly surrounded Six on all sides with their weapons drawn. While one of them stayed perched up above on the rocks a bow and arrow drawn, ready to fire.
“What do you mean ‘how many’? And anyway that doesn't matter, we’ll be the ones asking the questions.” The pony said, “We are the Vipers, the best gang of bandits this side of the badlands. And I'm their leader Cole Greed. So..”,
Six couldn't help it this time and let out a large sigh. He turned his neck to look at the if he had to admit pretty adorable pony things. They looked so cute trying so hard to look intimidating.
They reminded him of a pack of dogs encircling their prey. But instead of the usual gnarly and rabid look of the wasteland mutts, Six was surrounded by adorable multicolored ponies.
'Wait, does that one have a horn on its head?' He thought to himself, looking closer he confirmed that yes, that was in fact a horn. 'Is that a fucking Unicorn?'
“HEY! Are you deaf or something? I asked you a question. Easy way? Or the hard way? Choose.” Cole shouted at Six.
Six, still ignoring the loud pony in front of him, turned his head to the pony up in the rocks holding the bow. Staring at him for a moment before saying,
“One. Last. Chance. Creature” Cole spat at Six, “Easy. Or. Hard?” fixing a glare onto Six.
Six finally turned his attention to the pony named Cole Greed. 'What kind of name is that?' he questioned.
“What's the easy way?” Six said.
“Easy way is you give up any valuables, bits, or supplies you got on you. And we don’t hurt you. Then you go on your merry way.” Cole replied with a smug smile.
“Mhmm…Ok and what is the hard way?” Six asked.
“Hard way is we beat you down so hard you won’t remember last week. Then we take everything and leave you with nothing.” Cole said, laughing a little at the end. A small band of chuckles coming from the rest of the gang.
“Mhmm..” was all Six replied with, Then reaching behind him he grabbed onto the oh so familiar handle of Old Glory. It was the flag pole staff that Ulysees used against Six in their small fight before he was able to be convinced to give the new factions of the Mojave a chance. Then given to Six as a parting gift from Ulysses when he left the divide to go back to the Mojave.
Its handle is made from maple, smoothed and varnished to give it a glossy pristine look. And on the end was a golden eagle statue with its wings proudly lifted into the air. Standing a little over six feet tall just above Six’s own height, it made for an excellent weapon. Six understood why Ulysees had used it throughout his life, it was solid and in the right hands hit like a truck.
Pulling out Old Glory to its full length Six gripped it in his hand, readying himself to swing at the first pony daring enough to get close to him.
“You know..” Six started, taking a step forward,
“Quoting a dear friend of mine ‘I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously it is a chore like any other’ and right now I think it’s time to pass my judgment.” he took another step,
“I don’t know what god you ponies might believe in. I hope it’s a kind one. I know mine is.” another step,
“And I know he’ll forgive you for your sins. I won’t. That’s not my job. That’s his.” another.
“My job is to arrange the meeting.”
Six was now only a few feet away from Cole who still kept his glare but was now visibly frightened.
Ponies don’t normally fight back, and even when they do it’s never felt quite like this. Maybe it was its voice or its tall figure. But something about it was menacing, terrifying. Everything in Cole's mind tells him to flee, but he can’t. There’s no way out.
Six raises Old Glory in his hand about to strike and that’s when he hears it. The sound of a bow string snapping and an arrow being released. Activating V.A.T.S. Time slows to a crawl, Six turns his head to where the pony with the bow was and see’s the arrow flying slowly through the air. Grabbing Chance's Knife from its holster on his shoulder he locks onto the pony's head. Twisting the knife to grab its tip Six pulls his arm back and throws it.
Deactivating V.A.T.S. time resumes and both the knife and arrow soar through the air past each other. The arrow strikes the top of Six’s helmet, the head bending and curling in on itself as it makes contact, and the arrow body bending before shattering from the force. Leaving a small dent where it had hit.
The knife that Six threw also hit true. Spinning through the air straight at the pony’s face. Embedding itself with a ‘Shulk’ sound into the pony’s forehead just above the left eye. The pony immediately crumpled as the bow dropped to the floor. It’s body falling over the rocks and then to the ground below. Landing with a ‘Crunch’ in a tangled mess of dead limbs.
“I told you to make it count.” Six bowed his head to the dead pony, “Rest well, and may god have mercy on your soul.” he said quietly. Then lifting his head to the rest of the ponies he saw a mix of horrified, disgusted, frightened, and heartbroken faces.
“Wha…wh..WHAT DID YOU DO!!” the pony with the wings shouted out. Dropping her weapon and rushing over to the side of the dead pony. Grabbing its shoulders and turning it over, she placed her head on its barrel. Listening for a moment before her face turned even more horrified and grief-stricken.
“YOU..YOU KILLED HIM!!” She screamed at Six. The ponies around him took a few steps back, all except for Cole who instead of looking frightened or sad he looked angry, very angry.
“You…BUCKING BASTARD” he shouted out as he jumped at Six. Intent on using his machete to hack him apart. He no longer cared about just robbing this monster, he wanted revenge, revenge for killing Razor, revenge for killing one of his own. So he lunged at Six ready to slash his chest open.
‘SNAP!!’ was all the other ponies heard as they saw their fearless leader be launched into the rock wall that surrounded them. ‘Crack!’ the sound coming from Cole as he hit the wall. A trail of blood smearing across it as his body slid down to the floor. Still where he was when he killed Razor, Six stood, Old Glory outstretched in front of him frozen in midair where he had connected the tip with Cole’s ribs.
“Make no mistake, little ponies. You will not leave here alive.” Six said, turning around to face the rest of the gang. Then walking towards them raising Old Glory again.
From his left he heard the she pegasus scream out and launch herself at him. Activating V.A.T.S again time slowed, Six locked on to her chest, then to the body of another pony, and another. Taking a breath, Six deactivates V.A.T.S and allows his body to move on its own.
Time resumes again and like a flash Six strikes, Old Glory sinking itself into the chest of the pegasus. Then just as fast Six rips it out and rushes to his next target, taking a couple steps he swings again and another sickening ‘Crunch!’ is heard as the pony’s body tumbles across the ground. Behind him he hears the flopping and rolling sounds of the pegasus’s body also hitting the floor. Finally, he turns to the last pony and like before with a couple steps, a swing, and a ‘Snap!’ , another pony is sent to God.
Six breaths out and faces the last three ponies. The one who took him here, the unicorn, and another pony. Switching hands with Old Glory, placing it in his left now. Six rest his right on the handle of Reckoning the modified and special Ripper he got from a vendor.
“To quote my friend again ‘I am the right hand of the lord, and the instrument of his vengeance’.” Six draws out Reckoning and switches it on. The sound of its engine and chain clattering and clinking fills the air.
“Now.." Six lifts the blade up, pointing it at the ponies. "Repent.” he says as he pulls the throttle, the chain roaring to life ready to shred anything it touches. Then lunges at the nearest pony.
Reckoning finding a home in the side of the unfortunate unknown pony. They scream in pain as Reckoning rips through them, their legs flailing but failing to find any ground. Then a quick upward motion Reckoning cuts through the rest of the pony leaving behind two twitching halves.
This is when Six feels something strange. It feels like a massive amount of heat, almost as if there was an open flame right next to him. Looking up he sees something that leaves him almost speechless.
"Is that a fucking fireball?" he says, in total shock.
Above the Unicorn's horn was an actual fucking fireball about the size of the ponies head (or about the size of a basketball). Six stared in awe at the very obvious use of some kind of magic. Then with a swing of its head the fireball launched from atop its horn and headed right for Six.
A Six who was still reeling from seeing the use of actual magic. Not any of that sleight of hand crap but honest to God magic. Like the ones in all those fantasy books.
The fireball flew closer and closer. And it was only when it was a few inches away from Six that he snapped out of his daze and activated V.A.T.S.. The slowed time gave him a moment to plan for what to do now.
It was too close for him to just dodge and the Unicorn who threw it was too far away for V.A.T.S. to lock on to.
Deciding to go with the only option left, Six lifted up his arms in front of his face and braced for impact. V.A.T.S. deactivated and the fireball crashed into Six, a wave of flames and imense heat spreading over his body.
Then in an instant both the flames and the heat dissipated and disappeared. Leaving behind a slightly smoking and soot covered Six.
The force of the fireball Six likened to getting gut punched by a raider. Definitely had some force behind it but with the combination of Six’s own endurance and the strength of his gear it was nothing.
“Impressive, pony” Six complimented the Unicorn.
“Very, Very cool. I’ve never seen magic like that before.” He lowered his still smoking arms and began walking to the Unicorn.
“But I'm afraid I can’t have you do that again.” he said before sprinting at the Unicorn and embedding Reckoning into its skull. It had tried to cast another fireball but it was too late. And now had a chainsaw sticking out of its head instead of a horn.
Ripping it out and leaving the pony to collapse onto the ground, Six turns to the last pony, the one who brought him here in the first place. He saw a look of absolute horror and fear on its face. It was shaking as it tried to back away, its knees buckling causing it to trip and fall. Then in a frantic effort to get away it started crawling towards the exit.
'Why..why is this happening!?' Weasel shouted in his mind.
Six looked at the crying and crawling pony with a disappointed expression. Sighing again he walked over to the pony and placed a boot on its back. The pony struggled and cried out from underneath him. Six could only shake his head. Flipping Reckoning around Six held it above the pony’s head.
“Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. Judges 10:14” he recites, remembering that paticular line from the bible Joshua gave him.
“Goodbye little pony. I hope to see you again someday.” Six then stabbed down and with a cry the pony beneath him went limp.
“Good, that’s all taken care of now.” Six cleaned off Reckoning, picking out the pieces of flesh and bone from the chain and getting as much blood off as he could before putting it back on his belt.
Then walking over to the first pony he killed, Razor, he yanks out Chance's Knife from his head. He’s about to holster it and start leaving but remembers something. These are bandits, that means there might have been a bounty on their heads, or at least on their leader Cole’s.
So walking to Cole’s body over by the wall Six positions Chance's knife to his throat and starts cutting. A few moments later fully decapitating the once gang leader. Six then places it on a nearby bush to let it drain while he loots the rest of the bodies.
Not even bothering with taking their shitty dull weapons, Six moves on to their valuables. Finding in each a small bag of golden coins.
“Must be the local currency or somethin.” he thought to himself, collecting a total of 273 of these coins from all eight bodies.
Continuing to search, Six fails to find anything else worth taking, other than some more water, and what he guesses are dried out fruits .
Done with his repurposing of possessions Six goes back to Cole’s head which looks to be nicely drained out now. Wrapping it in some of the ponies clothing he stows it away in his pack. Thinking that there might be a sheriff's office or something of the sort in a town nearby that might reward him for taking care of this gang.
With one last look at the dead ponies Six is about to leave but stops himself. He shouldn't leave them like this, out in the open. So grabbing a shovel from his pack Six digs eight graves laying each member inside.
By the time he’s done the sun is now beginning to set. Hanging out in the western part of the sky. Now finally ready to leave he says a quick prayer and heads through the crack in the mountains. Ready to get out of the badlands and explore this new world he has found himself in.
The Bear, The Bull, And The Pony
Chapter 4: To new friends
Six felt something he hasn't felt in a long long time, clean fresh air. After making his way through the crack and reaching the grassy plain on the other side the cool air hit him like a punch to the face. It’s been over 210 years since he last felt true fresh air, ever since the bombs the air has always been dirty, warm, and irradiated.
Then Six did something he’s done only a couple times before, he took off his helmet outside. He almost never did this as that would be a very much unnecessary risk when traveling in the wastes. Never know when a bullet might just find its way into your skull when you're not paying attention. But right now, Six didn't care, he was willing to risk it even for a moment just to feel the cool air on his face.
Removing the Elite Riot Gear helmet, holding it at his side, Six took a deep breath. It was incredible, fresh, and cold. For the first time in a long while Six felt calm and safe, and had the urge to take something he’s not had in a while, a break. Looking to his left, he notices a large forest with tall trees. A perfect place to take a small rest.
Walking over Six admires the vast amount of lush and green vegetation that surrounds him. Even though there was some grass and trees back in the commonwealth they were never like this, never this healthy. Then reaching a tall thick tree right on the outskirts of the forest Six sits down and leans back against it. The grass is soft underneath him, creating a perfect cushion for the weary courier.
Unhooking his packs and placing it at his side, he reaches through it and pulls out three things. The first is a packet of smokes that he got from Rose, the next was a random zippo-lighter that he found, and the third was the King James Bible that Joshua gave him after the events in Zion.
Six doesn’t know when he started to actually read the scripture, let alone remember and quote some of its content. But ever since meeting Joshua and learning of his story, Six has found himself leaning more and more into the Christianity that he practiced. Six would have never called himself a religious man before, but now he could confidently say that he was a follower of sorts.
Definitely not on the same level of Joshua or Daniel but as someone who believes. It also helped that the Bible was an entertaining and insightful read whenever he was bored. Maybe not everything in it was, there were some parts that were incredibly weird or downright hilarious, but it did have some nice lessons and unique views on different things.
Placing the book in his lap, grabbing a cigarette, placing it in his mouth, lighting it, and taking a drag, Six relaxed. Shifting his eyes to the view in front of him, watching the grass dance as the wind blew. He confirmed what he was already thinking after meeting the pony things back in the badlands. He was not on Earth anymore. He was somewhere far far from home.
‘God, what am I gonna do?’ Six thought to himself.
‘I’m in a place I know nothing about, surrounded by countless unknown threats.’ he takes another drag, smoke blowing out from his mouth.
‘I guess the first thing I gotta do is find more information. Given where those gang ponies were holed up there should be a town or something not too far out from here.’ He takes one last drag, then crushes up the butt and lights it, letting it burn away into ash.
‘Let’s try finding that first.’ Six opens the book and starts reading, content to spend a couple more hours just resting here in the shade.
Three hours pass and Six is ready to go. His pack is rehooked with everything back inside, his weapons are cleaned and ready to use, his gear brushed of any dirt or dust, and his helmet once again sits atop his head. Walking back onto the path he continues his journey north.
Another three hours pass and Six is still walking. In his head he’s making a plan on what to do after he gets some information on this unknown land.
‘First I need a map, I can’t rely on just luck to guide me around. Next I need to find a place that I can use to fix that piece of shit so I can get home. After that I don’t know, maybe i’ll explore for a while, I mean this place has fucking magic and mythical creatures, that sounds like a God damn awsome time.’
Then something up ahead breaks him from his thoughts.
‘Is that a roof?’
Six walks up a nearby hill and lays down. Reaching behind him he grabs a pair of binoculars attached to his belt. Looking through them, Six finds a bunch of buildings in the distance.
‘There it is. Found it.’ He continues to survey the town.
‘Oh hey, more of those pony things. Man there are a lot of them. Are they the dominant species of this world or something? I’ve yet to see anything other than these neon colored equines.’
Putting his binoculars back Six stands back up and walks toward the town. Reaching the edge Six is able to see just how odd everything is. The buildings are small, only reaching a height of around eight feet tall. Even the larger two story ones reach a height of 10-13 feet tall. Six felt like an adult on a kids playset.
‘I guess this makes sense though. The ponies I met before only reached up to my thighs.’ Six thought back to the Viper gang he met back in the badlands. They were all the size of a large dog, even dogmeat or Rex would only come up to their knees.
Now walking in the middle of town Six watches the ponies around him. They're all giving him odd looks and steering clear of his path.
‘A real skittish bunch aren't they.’ Six laments as the ponies give him a wide berth.
‘Now where would a guy like me find out more about this world.’ He looks at buildings that surround him, his gaze settling on one with a sign that has a picture of a filled mug on it.
“Bingo” Six says aloud, walking into the bar. He has to crouch down a bit to get through the door, and inside his head brushes against the ceiling.
The entire bar freezes as he enters with all eyes on the tall, strange, red eyed creature. Six walks over to the counter, the sound of his boots knocking against the floor travels throughout the silent bar. Pulling out one of the stools he’s about to sit down until seeing the size of the seat, it’s tiny. It would be like trying to fit on a child size chair.
‘Fuck that. Alright guess we’re standing’ six pushes the stool back under the bar and leans against the counter, looking at the selection of drinks displayed on the shelf behind it.
The rest of the bar watched with weary and questioning eyes before slowly going back to what they were doing, their voices hushed and their ears on a swivel.
The pony behind the counter snapping out of his fear carefully makes his way over to Six. Stopping in front of him, he has to crane his neck just to see his face.
“what..What can I get for you today..uhm..sir? He asks, his voice stuttering and frightened.
“hmmm…Do y'all have any Whisky by chance? Or any kind of beer?” Six asks the pony, his eyes still looking over the wall of drinks.
“Umm..no…no sir I…I don’t think we do…what's Whisky? The pony nervously answers back.
Six sighs, “Yea I figured. Couldn't find shit on those shelves. Ok, look just get me whatever good, alright.”
The pony quickly nods and starts running around behind the bar. Grabbing bottle after bottle, shaking them all up, and pouring it out. The end concoction being a deep red drink that smelled like cherries and mint. He then shakily grabs the glass and places it down in front of Six who stares at it questionaly.
Grabbing it and holding it up to his face Six stares at the crimson liquid. Swishing it around a few times before lowering it. Then with his other hand he presses a button by the back of his chin. With a ‘clink ’ the mask part of Six’s helmet detaches. Grabbing it and holding it up just far enough to allow the glass to fit, Six tilts his head up and downs the drink in one go. Then quickly reaches his mask back to the rest of the helmet.
“Hm..you’re right. That was pretty good.” Six compliments the bartender pony. The drink tasted like a cherry soda and if Six guessed probably had the same alcohol percentage too.
“Oh um..thank you..uh..sir.” The still nervous pony replies.
“Jesus calm down kid, I ain’t lookin for any trouble here. Just a drink and some conversation.” Six says while grabbing his pack and searching through it.
“Hey grab me a glass will ya.” he waves his hand at a stack of clean glasses in the corner, “actually make that two.”
The pony hastily grabs two glasses and puts them in front of Six. He watches intently as the stranger roots through its saddlebag, wondering what it’s going to do with two empty glasses.
“Aha there it is!” Six pulls out a large orange glass bottle filled with a darker orange liquid, its label too worn to read.
“Now let’s have a real drink.” He says as he pries the cork off and pours two shots of the mysterious liquid. Grabbing one, Six slides the other in front of the bartender pony, who stares at the glass with wide eyes.
Looking at the glass, then back at Six, then back at the glass, then back at Six.
“Is..is this for me?” He asks.
“What do you think? Anyone else here I’m offering it to?” Six pushes the glass a little further toward the pony.
“No..there is nopony else. Um thanks” He reaches out a hoof and grabs the glass, holding it in front of himself and watching the liquid ripple. Then moving it in front of his muzzle and giving it a sniff, his face changing to light surprise.
“It smells like…vanilla and biscuits? And..,” he sniffs the liquid again, “Burnt wood? What…what is this?” He asks, curiosity and concern in his voice.
“How the fuck did you do that?” Six asks, his focus on the glass in the pony’s hoof.
“Do..Do what!?” The pony quickly replies, looking around themselves for any sign of something they might have done.
“Grab the glass. How the hell did you do that? You ain’t even got fingers. Or one of them horn things like that guy over there.” Six points to a dark purple pony wearing a cloak sitting at a table in the back.
“OH…that..um..I…I don’t really know. I just..uh..grab it..like this.” The pony places their glass back down and then picks it back up.
“Huh..the more I learn about this place the less it makes sense.” Six shakes his head. “Whatever, forget I asked. Cmon, let's have that drink.” he raises his glass.
“Are you..are you sure? Is this safe?” He looks at the shot again, “And I’m..i’m not really supposed to drink on the job”
Six sighs, “What’s your name kid?” he asks
“It’s..uh..Cider sir…Apple Cider” The pony stammers out.
“Look Cider, I can promise you that that drink is safe. And who cares about one tiny shot. Now lift up your glass and let’s drink.” Six reassures the pony.
Apple Cider is silent for a moment, thinking if he can really trust this stranger.
‘Well he hasn’t been rude or mean. Or anything really untrustworthy. And he is offering me something of his own. I think it’s ok.’
“Ok..Ok, thanks stranger” They lift their glass as well.
“There we go! Now, cheers to new friends” Six says.
“To..new friends.” The pony smiles.
The Bear, The Bull, And The Pony
Chapter 5: Where To Next?
‘Man, maybe I shouldn't have given him that shot.’ Six thought to himself. Watching Cider coughing on the floor behind the bar. ‘This is pretty fuckin funny though.’ he continues watching, ‘Jesus, you’d think he was trying to hack up a lung or somethin.’
“Hey, you good down there buddy?” Six asks.
Cider continues coughing but is able to at least nod his head.
“Just making sure. Can’t have ya dying on me now.” Six reaches behind the counter and picks up Cider by the back of his neck. Bringing him over the bar and onto one of the stools next to him.
Cider coughs a few more times hitting himself in the chest before taking a deep breath and looking at Six with watery eyes.
“What.. ‘cough’ ..oh Celestia..What was that stuff!?” Cider manages to ask Six.
“That my friend was Whisky. Aged for over 200 years with some slight radiation mixed in for a spicy kick.” Six says while pouring himself another.
He’s about to offer Cider another shot but is quickly declined with Cider looking fearfully at the dark orange liquid. Six just shrugs and continues drinking.
“So. Cider, If you couldn’t already tell I’m not exactly from around here and I need some information. If you’re able to answer some of my questions it would be greatly appreciated.” Six explains
“OH..Yes, of course. I'm happy to help you.” Cider says.
“Great, thanks kid. Firstly, where am I exactly?” Six asks
“Uhh..do you mean the name of the town? Because we call this place "Thinspring.”” Cinder shifts in his stool trying to get comfortable.
Six pauses before saying, “Well that's good to know too. But I meant the name of this entire place outside of just the town.”
“Oh, well that would be the Lands of Equestria Mr.” Cider says.
“Equestria? Who came up with this shit?” Six says, the last part being more for himself than a real question.
“That would be the..um..princesses Mr.” Cider says.
“Princesses too huh? One of those wouldn’t be that ‘Celestia’ I heard you say back there?” Six asks, a little intrigued as to why they would use her name in the same sense that someone would use God’s, or Jesus’s.
“Ye..Yes she is one of them. She’s the Princess of the day. While her sister Princess Luna is the Princess of the night. Together they move both the sun and moon…Then ther..” Cider is cut off by Six
“HOLD ON! They CONTROL the sun and moon? As in, they actually move them across the sky?”
“..um..Yes.” Cider says, confused as to how Six would be surprised by that. ‘Just where does he come from? Everypony knows that the princesses control the day and night.’
“Now THAT is something I gotta see.” Six pours himself another shot, “Goddamn that is fucking insane if it’s true.” he pauses a second, “Heh, like one of God’s angels.”
Cider still looks at Six with confusion but passes it off as him being from really really far away. Although he is starting to wonder who this ‘God’ he keeps hearing the stranger talk about is?
“Sorry about that, it just surprised me. Please carry on, you were saying something else after I cut you off right?” Six apologizes,
“Uh..Yes. Right. After Princess Celestia and Princess Luna there’s Princess Cadence the Princess of love. But she is less a Princess of Equestria and more the Princess of the Crystal Empire all the way up north.” Cider scratches his chin, “And our newest princess, Princess Twilight Sparkle the Princess of Friendship.” Cider finishes explaining.
‘Love and Friendship? How can there be a princess based on those? Aren’t those just concepts? This place is so fucking weird.’ Six thinks to himself. ‘But this is good. Now I know who runs this place. I’ll have to try and find them, and if they are as powerful as Cider says they might be able to help me get home.’ Six stows away that plan for later.
“Thanks Cider. But one last thing, you wouldn’t happen to know where I could get a map could you? One of the entire region? I've been traveling blind since I got here and it’s only due to luck that I managed to get out of those badlands and find this town.” Six asks, starting to repack his stuff. Also managing to sneak the two glasses he and Cider have been using into his pack as well.
“THE BADLANDS! What is Celestia’s name where you doing there!? Are you ok!?” Cider shouted at Six, catching the attention of the entire bar as everypony turned to look at the two. Everypony except the dark purple pony wearing the cloak in the back who’s ears just twitched.
“Yea..Jeez calm down Cider, I’m fine. And why are you so worried? There’s nothing out there except sand, rocks, dead bushes, and dust.”
“Nothing out there?! The badlands are home to tons of dangerous creatures. Not to mention that Viper gang near the entrance.” Cider says.
‘Really? Maybe I just got lucky again because I didn’t see shit out there.’ Six thinks to himself, thanking his luck for keeping him out of trouble.
“Well. That may be true. But as you can see I’m perfectly fine. And that gang of ponies, The Vipers, I took them out. So you don’t have to worry about them anymore. Which also reminds me, is there a sheriff's office or something like that around here? I want to see if they have a bounty on them.” Six asks, finishing repacking.
“T..Took care of them? Wh..What do you mean?” Cider nervously asks.
“What do you mean ‘what do you mean’? I took care of them, you know, killed them.” Six says casually, confused as to why Cider looks so nervous now.
The moment Six said ‘killed them’ the entire bar went silent again. Everypony frozen in their seats staring at Six. Even the dark purple pony looked up from where they were sitting and stared at Six from underneath their hood.
‘Fuck. Right. Skittish. Shit. Forgot about that. I should not have said that. Fuck.’ Six cursed himself for forgetting that these ponies weren’t like the people of the wastes. People who wouldn’t even bat an eye when you say you killed someone. ‘Alright gotta try and salvage this.’
“Hey. Cider. Look at me.” Six says, lowering his voice and getting down on a knee so that he was level with the pony. “You have no reason to be afraid, ok.” he puts a hand on Cider's shoulder, who flinches at the contact. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not going to kill you. I’m your friend and I would never hurt my friends.”
Cider is still shaking but Six can feel him relax slightly from under his hand.
“W..why?” Cider asks quietly.
“Why what?” Six asks back confused.
“Why d..did you k..kill them?” Cider asks, his voice regaining some of its confidence.
“Because they deserved it. They chose a life of sin. To steal what is not theirs and kill the innocent. That is why I killed them.” Six starts, “I didn't do it out of hate or some perverse enjoyment. I don’t enjoy killing. But it is something that must be done. Something that I must do.” Six smirks underneath his mask, “Anyway, we can’t expect God to do all the work.”
Six stands back up and ruffles Cider’s hair. “‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’ And neither will I, my friend.” With that Six pats Cider on the head and turns around to leave.
The rest of the bar hearing Six’s words relax a little as well, many going back to their drinks and games. All but the cloaked pony in the back who still stares at Six.
As Six is walking out of the bar about to reach the door he hears Cider call out to him.
“WAIT. Umm..we don't have a map here in town but the next town over Ponyville might. The train is broken right now though so you’ll have to wait until next week to ride it there.”
“That shouldn't be a problem, I’ll just follow the tracks.” Six says.
“A..Are you sure? It’s already a day's trip j..just by train. Walking would take two m..maybe three days at most.” Cider asks, surprised.
“Like I said, it shouldn't be a problem. I’ve walked longer distances than that, I’ll be fine.” Six shrugs.
“Uhh..ok..if..if you're sure. Oh, and there is a sheriff's office just down the road. You can talk to them about the umm..Vipers.” Cider says with a little disappointment in his voice. He had kinda hoped that his new friend would have stuck around for a little.
Six catching this, smiles at Cider. “Aww..is someone sad i’m going so soon. Don’t worry I’ll definitely be back here soon. I just really need to get my bearings first. After that maybe you can give me a tour.” Six suggests to Cider who perks up after hearing that he will be coming back.
“But thanks again Cider, you have been a huge help to me today. But I should get going, the sun is going down and I want to get out there before it’s gone. I’ll see you again my friend.” Six waves to Cider.
“Oh uh..Goodbye Sir. I hope to see you again.” Cider waves back, watching Six leave through the swinging doors. Then getting off the stool walked back over to behind the bar. ‘Wait..where are those glasses that I gave him?’