Fallout Equestria: Angels Feather

“Swifter than an angel, crueler than a demon, and relentless as a ghoul.”

Pegas was a little different from the last time I was here.  In a short two weeks, it went from being a happy, free place to a place that was quiet and hushed outside.  You could still hear the livelihood of the casinos, but the streets were all but dead.

As I reached a small clinic on the end of the strip, I found out why.  Banners hung over most of the buildings on this side of the Strip, each adorning NCR colors.  The New Canterlot Republic has finally reached this little expanse of desert.

I brought Gear into the small medical tent, which had a few soldiers laying back on the cots.  They didn’t look all that injured, but I wasn’t about to judge.  “Oh, dear, what happened to the little one?”  A nurse asked as she rushed over.  She led me to a bed in the back, and I placed Gear on it softly.

“Slaver attack...  She kinda had a building dropped on her.”  I replied.

“Oh, dear!”  The nurse rushed off, grabbing a few things.  The tent was very simple.  A few cots, two of which had machines next to it.  Presumably for ponies in a bad condition?  I shook my head as the nurse came back with a couple rolls of bandages.  “This may take a few minutes.  I’ll have to check her injuries and treat them.  You can wait outside, if you want.”

“No.  I’m not leaving her side.”

“Miss Blackfeather.”  A voice came from behind me.  I turned to see Silver Tongue standing with an air of confidence.  “Come with me.  We’ve got a lot to discuss about your contract.”

I sighed, placing a claw on Gears head Gently.  “I’ll be back, Gear.  I promise.”  I followed Silver Tongue out.  Out of the NCR outpost.  Past Chimera, past The Trots, past The Lux.  He took me into a casino called the Lucky 38.  Through a crowd of gambling ponies.  Past the hotel rooms, all the way to the top floor.  A nice view of the entire strip, and a good portion of the wasteland was visible from up here.

I looked for a few moments, and grinned as I turned back.  “This is the reason I love wings.  Sights are so much better form high up.”   Silver Tongue didn’t return my happy expression.  Instead, he walked over to a desk and sat down.

“What’s this I hear about you Terrorizing my associates?”  He asked bluntly.

“What’s this I hear about you working with bandits?” I retaliated.  Silver Tongue just smiled.

“I reformed bandits.  They work honest work for me.  I keep their families fed and safe here in my establishment.  In such a harsh wasteland, what more could be asked for?”  I looked at him for a few moments, but sighed.  He was right.  I didn’t like how he was going about it, but it is an honest job...

“Next order of business.  Penumbra just passed through and was yelling something about you letting our daughter go?  I mean, she was angry, so I’d like your side of the story.”

“Not much to tell.  We were escorting some merchants, and decided to get them to their destination before doubling back on a small slaving ring set up in a market.  A slave says they thought they saw Gilded Rose there.”  I said.  SIlver Tongue looked like he was thinking for a few moments.

“Well...  Not much we can do about that now.”  He said.  I could tell he was upset about it, but keeping his calm demeanor.  “What’s your next step?”

“Gear was injured fighting the slavers at the market earlier.  I’m going to stay here with her until she’s better.”  I replied, then looked out over the wasteland.  “Then, try to figure out where they would have sent your daughter.”

He nodded, sighing slightly.  “You can stay here, if you wish.”  He said, also looking out over the wastes.  “Hopefully Penumbra can find information about Rose soon.”  He turned toward me with a slight smile.  “Now, go.  Check on your friend.  And be careful of the NCR.  They’re not to be trusted.”

I nodded slowly, unsure of why they shouldn’t be trusted, but kept my mouth shut.  I made my way out of the casino, heading toward the end of the strip once again.  I rounded the corner to the NCR base just in time to see Penumbra leaving with another pony.  This other Pony had a light red coat and orange mane.  What struck me as weird was the metallic legs she had.

“Oh, Gwyn.  I see you made it alright.”  Penumbra said, looking back at the other.  “This is Flash Fire.  She’s an old acquaintance of the NCR.”

“Oh, yeah... Acquaintance...”  She muttered angrily.  “Penumbra dragged me here to help intimidate the NCR and get them off Silvers back.”

Penumbra shrugged, and looked back at me.  “I also noticed you found Gears family?”  She asked.

“What are you talking about?  I’ve been talking to Silver Tongue since I got here.”

“Two ponies just left the hospital with her, heading to the NCR farms just outside of town.”  Penumbra said, a realization hitting her.  “You didn’t know?”

I took to the air, flying toward the nearby farmland.  Rows and Rows of irrigation equipment watered slowly growing crops.  I guess that’s one thing the NCR is doing right...

I landed as I spotted Gear, sure enough, limping alongside two other ponies.  She looked so happy...  She looked over to me, smiling from ear to ear.  “GWYN!  Glad you could make it!  These are my parents.  Apparently, they’ve taken up residence with the farmers here.”  Gear said, excitedly.

I walked forward, holding a talon out toward the two.  “Gwyn Blackfeather.  I’m glad you three got reunited.”

The male took my talon, giving it a firm shake.  “My name is Nightshade, and this is my wife, Frostbite.”  He said with a smile.  “Thank you for bringing our daughter back to us.  We were so worried something would happen to her... Please, Join us for dinner?  It’s the least we could do.”

I nodded, accepting their invitation and following them to their home.

Gear filled her parents in on everything that happened to her since she was taken, starting with the sexual acts the slavers put her through, to being saved, captured at the prison, all the way up to her getting buried under rubble, leading to her current injuries.  Her parents kept looking toward me with worried looks, and I couldn’t bring myself to return their gaze.  “So... Miss Blackfeather.  You are a mercenary?”  Nightshade asked.

“Uh, yeah...  I was hired to find a clients daughter, who had been taken by slavers nearby.  Stumbled across your daughter and a few others while trying to find her.”  I explained, taking another bite of... whatever it was on my plate.  Something with the texture of wet mud.

“So, if something happens, we can hire you to help us, right?”  I nodded, raising an eyebrow.  “Good.  I’m glad there’s someone trustworthy enough to help those in need in the wasteland.”  Nightshade smiled, finishing what was on his plate.

“I’ve been thinking.”  Gear piped up, sighing.  “Thinking about what I’ve been through lately.  I wanna keep travelling with Gwyn.  I can do plenty of good for the wasteland if I do.”  Gear said with a nod.

“I don’t think so, young lady.”  Frostbite said, placing a hoof on Gears back.  “You just got back.  We’ve missed you and don’t want you running off and getting hurt.”

“She’s right,”  Nightshade said, “You should stay with us, until you’re a little older...  The wasteland is no place for a kid.”

“Gwyn, tell them you’ll keep me safe!  Take me with you!  I’ve had so much fun over the past few days.”  Gear pleaded.

“Look, Kid...  They’re probably right.  It’s dangerous out there.  You had a building dropped on you and it’s just going to get worse.  You should stay here, at least until your injuries are healed.  Spend some time with your parents while you still can.”  I said.  Gear looked at me in disbelief.  “Don’t give me that look... I’m not going to force your parents to let you come with me.  I’d be no better than a slaver if I did.  I’ll be in town for a couple more days, feel free to visit if you’d like, but I can’t let you come with me when I leave.”

Gear continued looking at me with sad eyes and rushed over, wrapping me in a hug.  “I’ll miss you, Gwyn...  When I’m better I will find you.  I swear.”  Gear muttered.

I wrapped an arm around her, hugging her gently.  “It’s been fun, kid.”  I stood, shaking Nightshades hoof once again, and nodding a goodbye to Frostbite.

I walked back into The lobby of the Lucky 38, looking out over the casino floor that had led to my near death not long ago.  I sighed, continuing through the building and to an active elevator.  I made my way up to the suite that Silver had allowed me to take.

As I exited the elevator, I heard talking from the other room.  “She should be here soon.”  The first voice sounded like Penumbras.

“Alright, and you want me to take care of her once she gets here?”  The other voice asked, an unrecognized voice.

“It’s what you do best, right?”  Penumbra asked.

“Careful, though.  You’ll have your hooves full.  A griffon may be more than you can handle on your own.” A third voice, Flashfire?

“I’m pretty sure I can take care of her as easily as I would anypony else.”

I pulled my shotgun as I entered the room, holding it between me and the trio.  Penumbra and Flashfire looked at me with confused looks.  The third pony cowered behind the two.  “Put that away before you hurt yourself.”  Flashfire said, exiting the room.

“Gwyn, this is Lilac.  I decided even though I was less than happy with the Rose situation, it wasn’t your fault.  So, to make it up to you, Lilac is going to help work out some of your tension.  She gives the best massages in Pegas.”

“J-just take off the armor, get on the table, and we can get started.”  Lilac said sheepishly.

I glared toward Penumbra.  “Just do it you big chicken.”  She said with a grin.  I looked toward her for a few more moments before taking off the armor and setting it aside.

As I layed down on the table, I looked back at Penumbra.  She grinned back at me.  “This is stupid...  I don’t get massages.  They’re a waste of time.”  Lilac placed a hoof on my back between my wings, and pressed down.  It sounded like a gunshot going off in the apartment, but it felt so much better.  “Maybe... I do have some time for this...”  I said with a content sigh as Lilac continued.

Footnote: Level Up

New Perk: Shotgun Surgeon -- You’ve used a shotgun your entire career.  Ponies with armor scoff at your choice, until you rip their armor apart and damage them anyway.