Junkyard Dog (Patreon)

Note. To the best of my knowledge this is not based on any existing Fallout Equestria storyline, nor does it follow any particular plot in Fallout 4. This is just the narrative that popped into my head as I worked on this piece.

    Amber lowered the binoculars and then toggled the mic on his radio. "Coco. Sweetie and I are going begin entering the yard. Keep us informed of anything you spy moving around. Over."

    "Understood Amber. I'm in position. I'll alert you to anything unusual. Over." The mare had taken up position with her anti-tank rifle Link in the attic of an abandoned house across the highway. Lugging that piece of kit by hoove all the way out here had been a royal pain in the ass, but the mare had insisted it would be essential.

    It was late in the morning and the stark blue sky was devoid of clouds. Although the wind did stir up random clouds of dry dust that swirled and raced across the parched landscape. The unusually clear skies left Amber feeling strangely naked and exposed under the bare sky. Except for the whistle of the wind through the carcasses of long dead cars, and the occasional cawing of the crows the land was eerily quiet. This seemed to make the crunch of his and Sweetie's booted hooves sound unnaturally loud. 

     Amber had been tasked with effectively a scavenger hunt for new raw materials for Stable 69's fabrication facilities. This had brought him, Sweetie Belle, Coco Pommel, and 4 other mares to the remnants of pre-war junkyard about 30 miles south of Ponyville. A sweep of the perimeter had found it clear of hostile life-form. In fact the countryside was clear of almost all life except for the crows. Even more encouraging the radiation levels were acceptable. 

    The pony hybrid toggled his radio mic again. "Daisy, Buttercup. Sweetie and I are going enter through the northern gate first. Hold your position for now at the southern gate. Strawberry Chiffon, Rain Cloud you do the same for western entrance. Keep watch and let us know if you spy anything moving. Over."

    Over the next couple of seconds Amber received confirmation from all members of the party. Satisfied he nodded his head at Sweetie Belle and the mare returned the nod. Silently they both slowly moved into the yard; Amber covered the right side of the yard with his rifle while Sweetie swept the left with her submachine gun. 

    They'd advanced about 50yds into the yard when Amber's headphones chirped then Coco's voice came through. 

     "Amber! Movement at your 10 o clock! 20yds and closing fast! It's staying low but it's moving right for you 2! Over!"

    The stallion was just starting to warn Sweetie when suddenly the sound of a large creature could be heard approaching followed by a deep guttural growl. Suddenly from behind a wooded fence there suddenly loomed the form of a giant, heavily mutated diamond dog. It howled and rushed forward smashing through the fence like it wasn't even there. As it did it raised part of a truck axle over its head like a great club. 

    Time seemed to slow down for Amber and his senses suddenly leaped into amazing clarity. He heard rattling, tearing sound of Sweetie's sub machine gun and observed blood spurts and puffs of dust rise from the diamond dog's fur as mare's 9x19mm rounds started hammering home. As the front sight of his rifle settled on the chest of his enemy he noticed that both of its eyes were clouded over with cataracts. He realized in that instant the dog was probably blind and found them by smell and hearing alone. His finger pressed the trigger and he started pounding 5.56x45mm AP rounds into the canine. More blood erupted from the diamond dog. 

   However no matter how telling the Amber's and Sweetie's shots were the diamond dog was just too close. Riding on a wave of adrenaline and primal rage the great hound howled and brought the axle crashing down, forcing the 2 ponies to dive to either side. A great cloud of dust kicked up from the impact. Both ponies rolled away and then frantically began to take aim again as the massive canine wrenched the axle back up in the air for another blow. Suddenly on this clear, cloudless day the air was filled with the sound of thunder. 

    "Kraboom!" And the diamond dog's left arm tore from it's body in a great geyser blood as one of Coco's 14.5x114mm tungsten AP rounds struck home. A fraction of a second later there was another "Kraboom!" and hound' right arm went sailing off with the axle still gripped in the paw. The canine staggered back a couple of steps before it's head detonated from a final round from Coco's anti-tank rifle.  The rest of it remained standing for a second. Then it slowly toppled backwards with a thud and a vast cloud of dust. 

    Slowly Amber got to his hooves and looked over at Sweetie who was doing the same. His headphones were full of radio chatter, but over it all he heard Coco's once again calm voice clearly. "Target is down. Immediate area appears to be clear. Proceed with the search if you wish Amber. Over."

    Amber brushed some dirt and gravel from his stable suit and looked back at the house about 300yds away where the mare had set up shop. He raised a hand and waved at the invisible mare. Only dust wafting from the opening where a vent duct had once been gave away the mare's position. In the stallion's mind he thought.

   Next time don't doubt Coco's equipment choices. If she says we need to bring the the anti-tank rifle. Just do it! 

A patron reward for Skyline. Amber is his OC.