Fallout: Equestria - Loyalty Lost

Chapter 2: The Fear

“The horror...”

I land on the bridge to Friendship City, knowing they hate fliers close to the Statue. I make the long trek across the Pre-War bridge and its makeshift wooden platforms spanning holes in the road. “Halt!” orders a deep-throated unicorn guard when I reach the far side, aiming his carbine at me with telekinesis. “State your business, pegasus!”

“Trade,” I answer gruffly, my voice barely used, as I turn to show them my rainbow-meteor cutie mark.

“Shadowdust,” the other guard mutters, a mare unicorn, as she takes in the sight of me. The blood had dried since that raider trap, but it still held its bright red hue. “The Raider’s Horror. He has permission to do business here, Starshine.” The stallion glances at the mare before lowering the gun.

“Yes, Starsparkle,” he replies as I enter into the City. “But who is that? A pegasus? Caked in blood?” he whispers to what I guess is his older sister. I ignore them, instead focusing on getting myself food.

I step into a popular diner and order a brahmin-bacon sandwich. I know, I’m a pony and a vegetarian biologically, but you can’t survive the Wasteland on Pre-War canned vegetables and the horrible Wasteland vegetables. To survive and not starve, you got to compromise your diet. Which is hard when you were used to having all the cloud seeding of the cloud cover. Fucking Enclave.

A radio on the kitchen counter plays an ancient familiar song. I listen as I eat my sandwich, wondering what the original meanings were.

“I want to calm the storm, but the war is in your eyes.

How can I shield you from the horror and the lies?

When all that once held meaning is shattered, ruined, bleeding

And the whispers in the darkness tell me we won’t survive?”

“All things will end in time, this coming storm won’t linger

Why should we live as if there’s nothing more?

So hold me ‘neath the thunderclouds, my heart held in your hooves,

Our love will keep the monsters from our door.”

“For I know tomorrow will be a better day,

Yes, I believe tomorrow can be a better day...”

When the song ends, a deep voice breaks through my thoughts. “Heeey everypony! DJ Pon3 here with the news! Remember my warning about raiders acting like traders a week back? Well, looks like the Raider’s Horror strikes again! He not only killed those the bait but also their leader who was the one who acted like a trader! Good thing, too; a caravan is meant to head to Friendship City on that very road! Kudos to you, Fear of the Wastes! Despite your cruel method for killing.

Anyway, time for some tips from ol’ DJ Pon3...” I tune myself out as I leave a tip at the kitchen counter and head up to the local gunshop. There, I borrow the supplies to clean and sharpen my claws and grease my mechanical joints. A tedious task only needed about once a month.

I get water and refill my canteens before finally leaving Friendship City, ready to tear through the Equestrian Wasteland some more. On my way out, a little colt asks his mother “What is that thing?”, pointing a hoof at me. “Shh! Don’t draw its attention!” she hisses. “That thing is a monster!” She ushers her foal away, glancing at me with fear that turns to utter terror when I happen to glance at her at the same moment.

Fear of the Wastes.

Footnote: Level up.
New Perk: Fear of the Wastes -- Everypony fears you by reputation alone. +100% Intimidation

http://tinyurl.com/LoyaltyLostCh2