Fallout Equestria Raiders

Fallout Equestria Raiders

Chapter Three -The start of Fire

“Raiders... Slavers... What is the difference? Noting, note even the type of ammo I kill them with.”

        Orchid Chaos. If you looked up the word friendly, you would find her image. She was a very nice mare. In more ways than one, I should add. Her mane was a shade of purple. Her eyes were a mix of blue and green. She was also a unicorn. And now that I was standing this close, I could tell that she took great care of herself. Her cutie mark was a dark purple heart, splattered in what I would like to think was paint. It was gray paint, so I expected it was pait. She was also a head smaller than me, and looked quite young.

“Well it’s nice to meet you Orchid, now excuse me. I have to talk with Winter. Hopefully we can get you out of there.” She nodded, and looked over to the doorway. I followed her gaze to see Winter Wipe. She looked very annoyed, and extremely worried.

        She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. “I have the caps,” She blinked. “Well... I have most of them. I'm a hundred short. Care to do some bartering?”

        “Sorry Stallion, not negotiable.” She walked passed me, and sat down at the desk.

        “Really now?” I could not help but sound sarcastic.

        She looked up at me. Her eyes showed anger. I didn’t care, a mad pony was mad. Not crazy. Crazy is the one you should look out for. “Don’t make me kick you out of this town.” I could not help but laugh at that. She sighed and pulled out a cigarette. I stopped laughing. It had been a long time since I had seen a cigarette, or even smoked one myself. Trust me, its from the lack of having them that is, not because I wanted to stop. She then pulled out a lighter. Holding it with one hoof she flicked it with the other. It sparked, but no flame came. She flicked it again. Still no flame. “Son of a...” She sighed.

        “Let me.” She looked up at me, cigarette still in her mouth. I concentrated with my horn, and a small flame bellowed out. Igniting her cigarette.... What? Didn’t I tell you my cutie mark was a lighter? No, well shit... Must have slipped my mind. You know, since I was trying not to get killed.

        Giving me a strange look she shook her head. “Unless you got the right amount of caps, you still not getting her out of there. The rope arrives tonight, so you may as well leave...”

        “I'm not leaving this building without her.” For a moment, and just a moment, she looked worried. Come on you fucken mare, just roll with me!

        “Crimson, I will say this once. Don't make me shoot you.” I laughed, and that only made her mad.

        “Child, I been in  this wasteland for around forty years. You and your gun don’t scare me!”

        “You’re that OLD?” Orchid asked surprised. “You don't look it!” So apparently I had a nice flank. Sweet. Back to yelling.

        “So calm down, or I’ll shove my rifle up yo’ ass and pull the trigger.” You know what, being a Raider does come with some good qualities. Like Intimidation. And being stoneface when it came to pain.

        “I’ve killed Raiders, Slavers, Ghouls, and a hole plenty of wasteland monsters. Don’t think you can intimidate me!” She barked back. Ok, time to take my Intimidation to the next level.

        “Really now?” I gave her a wicked smile. “From what I have seen, you sit on you ass all day, trying to protect this town, and you’re even failing at that!”

“How the hell am I failing!?” She nearly screamed.

        “You Letting Slavers Enslave The Town!” Leaping forward, I tackled Winter Wipe. Then I pressed my hor against her throat. “And unless you want to die right now, you’ll let her out of that cage, or Celestia help me, I’ll burn you inside out!” Ok, I know, aggressive much. But hey, thats how you have to get through to Raiders. I just... need to find a way to talk to ‘non-Raiders’.

        She remained silent. I think she was in shock at both the attack, and the simple fact that I knew what she was up to. I pushed forward, pressing my horn deeper into her throat, but not hard enough to drawing blood. Just hard enough to let her know I was not joking.

        “...Fine.”

        “Fine, what?!”

        “I’ll let her go, then y'all can get the hell out...”

        “Good,” I pushed myself off of her. As I did, I upholstered her gun and added it to my bag. She gave me a look. “What? Not going to let you turn around and shoot me. Now open the door.”

        She looked helpless. She was helpless. And she was opening the cage. Again, the way she was forced to open the cage by using her mouth, made me laugh. Yet, this time I laugh inside. Similar to how I would stone face pain, I was going to stone face my emotions.

        Click.

        The cage popped open, and out walked Orchid. She had been silent this entire time. I suspected that she was in shock at my actions, considering how she commented on my age.

Winter Wip then closed the cage and turned to me. “Now leave. Before you get one of us killed.” I didn’t want to leave, I wanted to know what was going on.

“One more thing,” She sighed. “What's the hell is going on?”

“Not your problem.”

“His gun says otherwise...” Orchid simply commented. I could not help but smile.

“You know you’re going to kill us all?”

“In your words, not my problem.”

She swallowed hard. “Three months back I was told given a choice. Other I and my kids get raped and killed or killed then raped, or I help them and we all live.”

“More info. Who and why?” I demanded bluntly. If I was going to kicked out of town, I would like to know why.

“Her name is Anima, and I don’t know why she want to enslave the town. I just know that she sent her negotiator Finis. And he used to be a maniacal Raider,” She was now very, very scared. “He also killed the father to my kids...”

Grate... now I feel sorry.

“Oh, I'm, um, sorry for your loss.” Orchid quickly added.

“How many do you think will be coming?” Instead of sounding angry, I changed my tone to let her know I was trying to help. I was. That was my plan all along... mostly. Look I’m doing my best.

“That same small caravan why-” She then looked mortified. “No, you said you were going to leave, please don't do what I think you are going to do!”

“Wait, what are you thinking?” Orchid asked me.

“Well you see,” I pulled out my new assault rifle, shoved a mag in, and pulled back the pin. “I didn’t kill those Raiders for nothing. That would have been a waste of my time, and no pony ever waste my time.”

“I got the impression that you were going to get me out, then we would leave together... Not this.” Orchid pointed out.

I looked over to her. It was true. I wanted to get her out to help, but If I attack the slavers she might die. Hell, the whole town might get killed. Then that would have been a waste of my time. Fuck...

I sat down hard. “Let me... Let me think.” I said irritated. Like I said many times over, I'm not a smart pony. Infact I have been thinking short term, and have not been thinking ahead. What to do, what to do...?

Ok so, I wanted to help Orchid. I did, but now she has a chance of getting killed. I wanted to help the town, but Winter was it where they are going to get enslaved. Winter also had a plan to get away, so that she and her kids are safe. If I fought the slavers, some of the town might get killed. Orchid might get killed. I might get killed. Come on, think Crimson, think!

“Can’t the town protect itself?” Orchid asked, breaking my train of thought.

“No. The town was drugged...” Winter answered. By Celestia’s flaming sun, I'm trying to think!

“A simple restoration potion will fix that, then the town won't need help. They could just scare off the slavers.”

Will you two stop? I'm trying to think of a plan!

“Ya, then they would come if force, and kill us off  to make an example.”

Wait...

“Then we could just leave. You know, one big caravan, heading to the safest town.”

They are making a plan.

“Do you really think we can just pick everything up, and just go? In less than a day? Without getting seen?”

New plan, let others make the plans!

“Yes. Yes. And yes. And if they come after us then Crimson can... handle them.”

Yep, for now on, let other ponies handle the thinking. I’ll just shoot things, kill things, and be a smart ass.

“We are all going to die...” Winter stated under her breath...

“Not if I can help it.” I gave a brave smile. Now that is how you  come up with a plan!

“Hey Mom, Sister and I are ready to go hunting. We just need you to get ready.” We all turned to see Whiteout. He was wearing the same barding from before, only he had two large saddle bags. Behind him was Blackout. She was wearing a lighter barding, but with a... battle saddle? Damn.

“There’s been a change of planes kids,” Winter walked next to me and patted my shoulders. “Out Raider killer has spotted a group of Slavers. They look like they are going to try to enslave the town,” She took on a grave expression.. “Sadly, it seems that the towns water got poisoned. Blackout, I need you to get a healing potion to everypony, and sound the alarm. Whiteout, I'mma need you to get all the ammo from the basement. If we fail, the town will perish. Now go!”

“On in.” Blackout stated, before she ran off. I suspected that she was going to go to her shop.

“Right!” Whiteout, on the other hoof, shot passed all of us, and disappeared around the corner.

“Look, if you two are going to help, then one of you go help Blackout. The other will help me start getting the guns ready.” Winter command.

“I know my way around lots of guns, I’ll help you. Orchid, you go help Blackout.” My head is starting to hurt, and when my head hurts I take a buffout. Look... I know I have told you that pain is pain, but headaches are a bitch and a half. I don't like bitches and halves... Wait... that just made my head hurt more. Aaahhhh...

*        *        *

        “HOW THE FUCK DID THE PLAN FAIL?!” I screamed, and a round hit the cover I was hiding behind.

        Orchid, who I suspected had never been in a firefight, quivered in fear behind me. She was kind of cute shaking on the ground. Sadly, I was not allowed to look at her flank, because I was being shot at.

        BANG!

        Correction, I just got shot. It might have been just a grazing shot, but it was nothing that I could not handle. Orchid, on the other hoof, flinched as another round bounced off of the ground. I popped my head out of cover and fired my gun. Most of my shots missed, but I was able to kill one of the dozen or so ponies attacking.

        The plan did go well for the most part, but the attackers attacked sooner than we were hoping for.. We were able to get out some of the ponies, maybe twenty or so. From what Winter told me there was around thirty ponies in town. I glanced over to the towns shop. There were five ponies hiding in there. Two dead in the road, and three dead near the town’s sheriff office. Orchid, Blackout, and I were in charge of getting this batch of the ponies out of the town. Sadly, that was not the case. Then a grenade landed next to me.

        “Ah, fuck...” I thought myself on top of Orchid. She immediately tried to kick me off, but then the grenade went off. It turns out my armor was great at blocking shrapnel. My hide on the other hoof was not. To my surprise, Orchid looked fine.

        “Next grenade to be tossed at me gets sent right back!” I growled.

        Another grenade landed next to me. Oh look, the wasteland hates me. Well better not make a liar out of myself. The grenade then launched back at the pony who tossed it.

        “Ah, fuck...” My words exactly you bitch!

        KABOOM!

        I then jumped off of Orchid, and took aim at the closest pony. Three round made him hit the ground. Three more rounds hit killed the next, then three more killed the one after that. Compared to my old slaver pals, there’s fuckers were nothing! Honestly, how the fuck did a band of Raiders get this good at killing? How, I asked?

        Then the gunshots stopped, I popped my head out to see if we won. Nope. There were still around ten slaves left, and one of them had a... cone? What the hell? Honestly what the hell? Was it a rocket or something?

        “GIVE UP, AND WE MIGHT LET YOU LIVE!” I felt Orchid stand up. “YOU MAY HAVE KILLED SOME OF OUR PONIES, BUT THAT NOTHING COMPARED TO ARMY ANIMA IS CREATING!” I felt a shift in my bags and Orchid grabbed something. I looked over at her to see a revolver floating in her purple magic. “GIVE UP, AND YOUR SALVATION IN THIS WORLD WILL BE OVER!” I watched Orchid aim the gun forward. “FOR WITHIN YOUR DEATH AS A SLAVE, YOU WILL HELP HER BE REBORN! YOU WILL HELP HER BECOME A GOD! YOU WILL-”

        BANG!

        Orchid pulled the trigger, and the round hit the stallion right between the eyes. It was only at that moment I realized that he was the pony from earlier. I also started to get second  thoughts about Orchid, and this being her first firefight. I was also thinking that that was a damn good shot.

The only down side to that second shot was it started up the battle again. And I was still out of cover. Another grazing shot passed my check. I ducked down. I really hated it when I was not able to just spray down my target, or beat them to death with my hooves.

“He talked too much...” I heard Orchid whisperer. She then aimed down the sights of the revolver. Another shot hit another slaver. I watched a tear fall down her cheek. She pulled the trigger again, and the round hit a grenade. Said grenade was in the teeth of an earth pony. Said earth pony was now over there, and over there, and over there. She pulled the trigger again, and for the first time, she missed. She blinked, and more tears started to flow.

One thing DJ pony always said about Stable ponies. There know what life is like in their stable, but out here in the wasteland they fall apart. And it depends on their stable on how they be reacting to death. And at the moment, from just the look she wore, she was going to fall apart.

I looked down the sights of my rifle, and fired at the last slaver. She started to run, but six round entered her ass. It was not the worst way to die, but it was up there. Right around Radiation sickness, and falling to death.

I stood up, and looked around. It looked safe, and for the most part it was safe. Then I looked over at Orchid. She was crying. It was probably more at taking a life, then the battle itself. I didn’t know what to do.

“Be Pleasant.” The statuette told me once before. “Help the town.” And I did. The only ponies that died were the two. But now, the statuette remained silent. Was it testing me? It didn’t matter. I leaned forward and wrapped Orchid in a hug. I didn’t know if it was going to help, but I had to try.

She threw her arms around me, and continued to silently cry.

*        *        *

        I must be honest. The plan sucked. I wanted to defend it, because it was one that involved saving lives, but it failed. Most of the towns ponies were just too slow in the morning. Winter was stuck in a “Must save the town” mode. And Blackout kicked a stallion in the balls for cracking a joke about “him waking up and seeing her.” It made me sick. It was disorganized as fuck, there was no motivation. Not even their lives being in danger changed that. And everything went to s

hit when both Blackout and Whiteout learned what their mother tried to do.

        “How you doing?” I asked Orchid.

        She didn’t reply. She just nodded. The only thing she said after the fight was sorry. I told her it was ok, but that made it worse.

        “I still can’t believe it...” I glanced forward to see Whiteout. The rest of the town, Orchid, Blackout, and I were able to catch up to the rest of the town. Since then, everypony was in utter silence. The knews about what transpired had gotten around, and nopony was talking about it.

        I glanced back at the smocking town. The two ponies that died were the desk clerk that hit on me, and the oldest stallion in town. We did not have time to dig a grave, so Blackout suggested a crimination. Like how I burned down the Raiders nest, I would burn down the town of Yan Hoover. I wanted to tell her that it that the lighting that burned down the town, not me. Yet I did light Winters cigarette, and when the first floor of a building is drenched in oil...

        You would think that leaving a town or building, after setting it on fire, would be a bad thing. And well... from the looks of it, it is. Yet now, as I look onto the burning remnants of Yan Hoover, I could not help thinking about two important things.

        One- I'm hoping I don't start burning down every place I visit. If so then I might be a pyromaniac.

        And Two- Who the hell is Anima?

END OF CHAPTER