Diamond In The Rough: Chapter 1

>This?...

>This was going to be messy.

>The crunch of boots against the decaying concrete crept through the air. The occasional stumble is heard as well, indicating that at least one of them was stumbling about for some reason.

>A limp, maybe? That would be nice.

>Your hand clenched the grip of your pistol as you peaked out from the dilapidated wall you used for cover.

>One trader, a baseball bat in her hands.

>The other was her hired muscle, you assumed. He held a revolver in his hand and walked with a slight limp in his step.

>You can make out a small patch of blood on his knee. Did he get shot earlier on? Attacked by dogs? It was hard to tell.

>Not that it really mattered.

>You check your gun one last time before taking a deep breathe. Five rounds. Make 'em count.

>The sound of the two marks gets closer, and you breathe in once more.

>Rising up, you turn sharply and raise your pistol at the hired guard.

>He opens his mouth, but what was supposed to be an expletive turns into a cry of pain as you fire off a round into his wounded knee, dropping him to the ground.

>The trader though, she's a quick one. She's already up to you, flailing that wooden bat about with wild abandon.

>You aim for her, but her bat cracks against your hand, knocking your gun to the concrete and sending a shock up your arm.

>She swings again, but the left jab to her nose stuns her and causes her to stagger back.

 

>A glint of metal out of the corner of your eye causes you to grab her by the shoulders and swing her to the left.

>Her eyes go wide when the shots fired from her guard slam into her back, causing her to gasp and shudder in pain.

>Giving her a boot to the gut, you spin around and dive for your own pistol, leaping on it and rolling clumsily behind the wall you started at.

>This had gone tits up before you even started.

>Scrambling past the wall, you round the corner and attempt to make your way behind the guard.

>If you caught him from behind, maybe you could-

>Your thoughts evaporate as a strong, forceful sensation rams into your stomach.

>Seems the guard ran out of ammo and went to use the bat.

>Terrific.

>You double over as the merc raises the sports equipment, bringing it down upon you with all his might.

>Tucking to the left, you barely manage to veer out of the way of his swing, the bat slamming into the sidewalk.

>He swings again, but you flail backwards and raise your pistol, squeezing the trigger as fast as you can.

>With each shot fired the guard shudders, dropping his bat as he doubles over onto the ground. His breathing is ragged as blood begins to pool from his abdomen onto the concrete.

>You continue to squeeze the trigger, but all that comes out of the gun is a frantic "click."

>A minute passes before you realize you're alive, and your legs finally let you move again, rising up and walking over to the merc.

>Dead.

>So, plan "A" worked out. Nice.

 

>Crouching over him, you begin rifling through his pockets, looking for anything of use.

>Med-X

>Ten bottle caps.

>And a half eaten candy bar.

>Well... shit.

>You pick up his revolver and set it in your pack. You didn't have any rounds for it, but you could probably get a few caps for it back in Megaton. Tell Moira it was some kind of special pistol, cursed or something. That would get her attention.

>You walk over to the trader, bullet wounds littering her back.

>Look on the bright side. That COULD have been you.

>A small grey bag lays at her side. Ripping it open, you take inventory of your haul.

>...

>Mines.

>Just.. just a shit ton of frag mines.

>Like maybe seven mines.

>...

>Well. This was a complete fucking bust.

>You drop the bag in frustration, groaning out due to the fact you did all this for nothing.

>And then the beeping starts.

>Oh.

>Well.

>Shit.

>Slowly, oh so very, very slowly, you begin to back away from the bag.

>No sudden movements.

>Just... walk away slow...

>Just-

>"Anon? Oh, dear, PLEASE tell me you were able to dispatch those ruffians without getting-"

>The white, horned pony trots up from behind you at a brisk pace, nudging into you.

>Then the beeping gets INTENSE.

>"Anonymous, what is that bee-"

"Don't. Move. A Muscle."

>"...why am I not moving?"

"Mines.

>"What?"

"Mines. Mines in the bag."

>"..."

"Just whatever you do, don't ru-"

>Rarity begins to runs away as fast as her hooves can carry her.

>That little purple maned bitch...

 

Ten Minutes Later

 

>"Anonymous, really, I don't see what the problem is. You look just fine."

"Yes, Rarity, I AM fine. After I dove behind a car to get away from the frag mines when they went the FUCK off."

>"And here you are, all in one piece! Crisis averted!"

>You're grinding your teeth. You're sure that's not good for them, but you don't care at the moment.

"Rare, the car exploded TOO. I had to get away from that as well."

>"Again, crisis averted! And look! My mane is still curled to its natural, luxurious proportions despite the heat wave. Isn't that delightful?"

>Her eyes widen in horror when you clamp a hand on her head as you ruffle up her mane.

>"You... oh you did NOT just do that."

"It happened. But hey-"

>You give a mocking smirk.

"-You're alive and well. Crisis averted!"

>That horn of hers lights up and you can feel yourself being lifted off the ground.

"Oi."

>"Apologize."

"You can't be serious."

>"I am of COURSE serious. Now be a gentleman and apologize for the travesty that is now my mane."

"I apologize for nothing."

>With that, she spins you about like a ragdoll.

"Rarity stop wait no jesus oh god dammit."

>"Apologi~ze"

"Hurk"

>"Anonymous, dear, I still don't hear you saying you're sorry."

"FuckOkayI'mSorryStopTheSpinning"

>Your body lurches to a stop and Rarity drops you to the ground on your ass, tittering at you.

>"There. Crisis averted."

>She gives a smirk as she raises her tail, prancing off ahead.

>Just another day in paradise.

 

"To Be Continued."