Fallout: Equestria, Darkness Falls

Panic!

The giant radscorpion clicked its claws, excited at the veritable buffet set out before it. Everything happened all at once. The children scattered, the beast charged, and air filled with the mixed sounds of terror and gunfire.

I turned and ran as fast as my own hooves could carry me.

My heart thudded painfully in my chest. The image of the beast on my tail kept me going at full steam. Only when I did not hear it at my heels did I dare stop.

“Holy Celestia!” I panted. The way behind me was clear and I allowed myself a moment to relax.

Snap.

“AUGH!” I jumped. My coat stood on end and I brought my pistol up immediately--

-- right into the frightened muzzle of an auburn filly with a dirty brown mane.

She whimpered and I immediately moved my gun away.

She stared up at me with watery blue eyes, tail between her legs and ears folded. My heart leapt and all I wanted to do was hold her and tell her that it was all going to be okay. The threat of my gun removed, however, she looked behind me. She only grew more upset at the distant cries and gunfire.

And in that instant I knew. Those were her friends back there. With terrible realization it dawned on me that they could be her only friends.

I thought about Dawn and what she would do if it were her in my position. What Harmonics would do if it was her own charge. What I would do if I had reached the point to be a guardian. Except at the same time my mind’s eye would not let me unsee its gruesome premonition of the creature’s pincers tearing me in half. That fear was strong enough to stay my hooves and make me tremble.

“P-please…”

I looked back to the filly, her eyes glued to me as she whimpered.

“Please help…” she begged, her voice strained from terror.

A crossroad landed unceremoniously before me. If I did not help, I could go on with my mission with or without Ghost; find Whiskey and bring him to justice. It was the whole reason why I left my Stable, why I left Dawn and Harmonics and everypony I cared about. Why I thrust myself into Tartarus and why I got this far.

But…

Here before me was a filly -- not a demon -- who required my help. I could not expect her to go and face that beast. I could not simply hand her my gun and run away, could I?

“...and the Princesses shall grant each mare new hope…” My own sermon that I made mere days ago haunted me now.

Another distant scream and a scared whimper at my hooves pushed me over the edge.

I groaned aloud. “Celestia help me…”

I removed my saddlebags as carefully and as quickly as I could. I showed the little filly the foal inside my saddlebags, and very slowly levitated her out. Thankfully she was asleep despite the commotion.

“Watch over her,” I asked tenderly in an effort to dispel not just her fear but my own as well. I forced a small smile. “Keep her safe.”

Surprised by my request, she nodded and cradled the foal to her body.

I did not, however, take my saddlebags in their entirety. Instead I grabbed every pack of ammunition I had, and the remaining medical potion. Even now I ran through my head, thinking about just what I thought I was going to do. I had to be fast. I had to be agile. That meant I could not be hindered by burdened bags or my robes. The sting of the cold air hit my coat and froze me down to my bones. I ignored it even as my breath fogged in front of me.

Steady yourself, Silver.

I sighed and galloped forward, the two younglings left behind. Cries and gunfire stirred me on, pushed me faster and harder. I wasted so much time already, I could not afford to lose any more.

The clearing came back all too soon, in all fairness I could never be ready for this.

The lumbering beast had been trying to pin down the little ones. They cowered in front of a large rock, their escape blocked by terrifying pincers that dwarfed them all. The armed pony was there. His guns had to be empty, they stayed silent and the giant radscorpion moved in slowly and with impunity. He stood no chance and the beast knew it as he savored his catch.

I was about to witness a massacre.

Without thinking, I took careful aim.

“Goddesses above, let my aim be true,” came the perverse prayer.

My target was his raised tail. I called upon the little bit of training that Ghost had given me, plus the miniscule practice that I had in Goldpeak. My teeth grit as my heart threatened to pound out of my chest.

“HEY!” I depressed the trigger three times. And with each one, a bolt of lethal energy carved its way through the air.

I struck true; two of my three shots hit the bulbous venom sac and stinger. I had my doubts that I could do any damage, and that doubt was vindicated. The sac did not explode, melt or rupture; its hide was far too tough for my meager weapon.

I smiled though, as that was not the point.

The creature chittered in displeasure. If size was anything to go on, this radscorpion probably had to prove itself against rivals and therefore it needed to eliminate any challenge to its authoritarian rule. It turned and faced me, the foals and stallion forgotten.

“RUN!” I bellowed out to the others when they just stood there.

Cold and deceptively lifeless eyes fixated on me. The radscorpion, now faced with a threat that could fight back, raised its terrifying pincers and tail high.

Okay, you got his attention…

It screeched and barreled forward. I squeaked.

Now what!?!

I faced an incarnation of literal death as it closed on me with every passing second. I backed up as fast as I could, emptying the cartridge to no avail. It was on me, eclipsing the cloudy sky. I shrieked and dove forward, under the thing, as an earth-shattering tremor followed. Its failed attempt at smashing me had the air whip me out from under it, and I rolled across the ground to come to a painful stop.

Fear and adrenaline kept me from reloading as I got to my hooves. Which way did this blasted cartidge go!?

By then the monster had turned around and found me. It chittered angrily at my continued survival and raced for me once more just as I got my pistol reloaded. A shadow bore over me. Its tail came down like a demon’s spear, ready to slaughter me outright or pump me full of poison.

I screamed and scrambled back, the massive stinger missing me by a mere hair, the deadly spear impaling the ground. The radscorpion then swiped at me with a monstrous pincer and I ducked, the sheer force of the swing had the air viciously pulling at my coat and whipping my mane wildly about. The second pincer swung lower, into the earth, and pelted me with upended dirt and snow. There was no doubt that if he landed any one of his attacks, I would be dead.

I was quickly running out of ammunition. Every shot just barely singed the tough hide; it just ignored my efforts like I was the insect, as absurd as that sounded. All I seemed to do was irritate it.

Run! You have to RUN!

I blinked, the creature turned to the side at terrific speed. I turned left and its tail slammed into my side, which sent me flying off.

With a hard smack that I felt more than I heard, the rock stopped my momentum and I crumpled to the ground. I don’t know if I shrieked or not, the world was blurred and there was no sound except for the bells in my ears. Every inch of me screamed and burned with pain, especially my left side, along with a coppery taste in my muzzle. Every breath came with a very sharp pain in my rib. I must have broken something, of that there was no doubt.

I tried to stand even as every nerve and muscle fought against me. One thought raced through my head and I sluggishly glanced around for my pistol. Why? I don’t know. It was useless against…

My eyes snapped fully open as the clarity of thought came back with cold vengeance.

Oh no…

The radscorpion was on me before I could do anything. A shadow of death that would eclipse all life. I was close enough to see those terrible eyes in their deadly glory, and see the twitching mandibles that would soon feast greedily upon me.

Goddesses above!!

But soon any means of escape was wiped from the table, as a massive pincer squeezed painfully into my sides. I did scream and I could hear it now, as the pressure sent my ribcage ablaze, aggravating whatever injuries I already had. Struggling was useless, no matter how hard I flailed and squirmed, it was not letting me go. Trying to open its grip proved just as futile; the strength of the radscorpion far outstripped my own.

The thing lifted me high. I still struggled despite my inevitable death.

And that was it. Unbridled panic took over. Everything rode on me getting free, but no coherent thought bubbled from the surface of my terror. Adrenaline only barely kept my pain at bay as hot tears rushed down my cheeks. Time slowed, pressure grew…

BANG!

The claw shuddered, but did not falter. The giant radscorpion shrieked and it turned about, trying to find the one that now challenged it.

BANG!

This time I saw it, my impending doom postponed for long enough. Chitin cracked, right where the beast’s claw joined to its arm and purple ichor now dripped from the wound. It hissed, aggravated further by the threat it could not immediately find.

BANG!

I was sent plummeting into the ground, still held by the severed claw. Pain jarred my chest and my vision blurred. Ahead of me, the radscorpion shrieked at the loss of its limb, blood pouring from its wound to steam on the cold, snowy ground.

“Now!”

My ears quirked at hearing the other stallion’s voice. He rounded the top of a nearby hill and opened fire on the panicked radscorpion. At the same time, three more ponies jumped from the bush that concealed them. They whooped and hollered, taunting the creature away from me.

It worked. It rushed away.

“No…” I tried to yell out, only for my injury to chastise me harshly. “G-get away… you h-have to get away!”

The fight had moved a few yards away now, and from nowhere, Ghost appears in my blurring vision. He looked me over and frowned… I think.

“How bad?” he asked.

“B-bad…” I wheezed in kind, then winced as my own breathing continued to torture me and a fresh wave of copper assaulted my tongue.

Ghost nodded, then came up the sight of my energy pistol and some cartridges. “We can’t help you until that thing is dead. I overcharged these packs, they should penetrate. Use SATS on your pipbuck, wait for a good shot.”

“Wh-what is-”

He lightly cut me off, his usual scoffing tone was all business. “It’s an aim-assist program. Train your EFS compass on the radscorpion, pay attention to the hit percentage, and get in as many shots as you can.” He trained his rifle and fired, distracting the radscorpion that was about to corner one of the young ones. Ghost gave me the pistol and a solitary nod before running off to join the fight.

I nodded even though Ghost had already left.

Despite my blurring vision I raised the pistol and kept the radscorpion in my sights. Their pattern of distraction became clear. The young ones would whoop, holler and run around, using their agility and unpredictability to keep the beast guessing. Ghost and our armed friend would try to land shots. The former had more luck, he managed to rupture the poison sac on its tail, but beyond that even his larger rifle could not make much more than a dent. It was more likely that we would all run out of ammunition than to kill the thing. If that happened, we were all dead.

Come on, come on…

I still had not figured out what this SATS thing was or how to trigger it. Ghost had just gambled on me and my ignorance was about to get them all killed! They should have just bucking ran and left me!

I grit my teeth, angry that I could not do more.

No! I had to figure this out! Lives depended on me!

I stared at my gun and my pipbuck, then groaned as even moving my foreleg became an intense and painful chore.

“Come on… s-sats…” I said to myself while keeping the EFS compass on my target. I had to trust Ghost’s instructions or-

Whoa!

There was a mechanical ‘whir’ that seemed disembodied from the environment around me. Time literally froze. No, wait, it was just moving very slowly. I could see everypony; the slow process of Ghost chambering another round, the spent brass gracefully twirling in the air. The muzzle flash lingered impossibly long from the other armed stallion as he fired into the beast’s side; if I squinted I could even see the bullet travelling through the air. Even the gentle snowfall - minute enough that it was so far unnoticed - glided ever so slowly into view. I stared, transfixed and quite literally unable to move.

The radscorpion was highlighted now. Each individual leg, its torso, its one remaining claw, injured tail… all of it now had segmented highlights. Along with those highlights were numbers that gradually changed as the beast moved in slow-mo. All it took was willing the spell’s focus to move.

The beast slowly turned and now I could see its horrid face.

“... hit percentage…”

I grimaced. The face of the radscorpion showed only a forty percent chance. Its legs were higher, but I already knew that it would not die from leg wounds. I had to chance it. I had to.

I imagined pulling the trigger and did so as many times as I could. I got four positive-sounding beeps before hearing a negative one.

Four shots.

I tensed my magic and pulled the trigger for real.

Immediately the SATS program ended. All the highlights disappeared and time sped back up. Only this time, four brighter beams of purple and red energy raced one after the other.

PZZAT!! PZZAT!!

My heart sunk, the first two missed! The beast was reacting now, turning towards me again!

PZZAT!! PZZAT!!

I do not know if the beast’s changed angle gave me a better shot or not, whether the program locked in the percentages when I pulled the trigger, but it did not matter. These two hit home right in its cold, beady eye sockets.

The radscorpion’s eyes sizzled, popped and spouted far more ichor than its claw had. It squealed in pain and it erratically scampered about, its remaining claw swiping at its ruined face even as chaotic, magical flames burned away. With one final insectoid howl, it collapsed, shaking the earth and filling the air with a definitive silence.

I blinked, my vision blurred and my stomach woozy. I looked at the only thing that stayed in focus; the pistol still held in my magic. I had no idea this thing was capable of such carnage and it surprised me greatly. Enough so that my magic gave out and sent the weapon clacking off of my claw prison and onto the ground.

Two shapes, one of them familiar, came into my darkening vision now. They were talking, but I could not hear. The blue one - had to be Ghost - gestured at me and was being very loud. He had to be being rude again. I mumbled for him not to be so rude…

And my heavy eyes forced themselves closed…

“And it was with the Elements of Harmony that the Goddesses banished the evil demon, Discord, to Tartarus for all eternity,” Starry Night explained as the projector showed us image after image. From the scholarly robes she wore, Starry withdrew a long pointer to show details and direct our attention. On the board was the simplistic representation of the Goddesses Celestia and Luna, surrounded by six colorful orbs of light, which then blasted a demon that truly sent shivers down my spine.

The eight of us sat at our desks, some taking notes while others just boredly listened. It always irked me whenever the others would not pay attention; it was disrespectful.

“Can you shush, please?” I irritatedly whispered to my friend.

Harmonics sat to my left and was humming yet again. She rolled her eyes at me and whispered in kind, “Lighten up, Silver.”

My cheeks reddened. “I’ll ‘lighten up’ when you--”

“Silver!”

I eeped and shrunk in my seat.

“Silver, today’s lesson is almost finished.” Starry Night deadpanned. “Please remain quiet until we are done, and then you may go play.”

I wanted to talk back, explain that I was trying to get Harmonics to be quiet. “Y-yes ma’am…”

Starry Night smiled in kind and gave a nod. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes. The Goddesses, after Discord’s defeat, used the Elements of Harmony to create Equestria, where they ruled in harmony over Their unicorn subjects for thousands of years.” The slideshow picture depicted the Princesses as they controlled the Elements, which formed the land beneath them. Mountains, valleys, forests, oceans. Everything that we had ever known.

“Yes, Rose Bolt?”

“Um, if the Princesses created Equestria, then why are we in this Stable?” my dark-pink classmate asked.

“Ah, excellent question!” Starry beamed, then coughed to clear her throat.

This signalled a lengthy monologue and I shot a glare at Harmonics, whom was mock-yawning.

“The world around us, our Stable, is our home and promised land. The Goddesses give birth to every mare, and when their time here ends, they ascend to the next plane. It is there that everypony lives in harmony with the Goddesses in Equestria,” Starry Night explained with a patient and loving smile. “That is, of course, as long as you obey the tenants and keep your soul pure of the blight.

“So remember to say your prayers and stay out of trouble,” Starry Night concluded. She glanced at the clock and hummed. “Alright my little ponies, put away your history scrolls and bring out your math textbooks. Today we will be--”

A soft knock on the classroom door drew everypony’s attention.

In the Stable’s metal door stood two of the four security mares for Stable 46. “We apologize for the interruption,” the knocker said.

“Of course, of course. What can we do for you?” Starry replied.

“We need to borrow Silver Starlight for a few moments.”

‘What? Me? Why? What did I do?’ my thoughts raced with my heart not far behind. I nervously glanced back and forth between the security mares and my teacher. It did not help that the other fillies were already whispering.

Starry Night hummed softly, then gave a soft nod.

I gulped and left my things at my desk, then got up to join them. I glanced at Harmonics and she was just as confused as I was. Even with my pounding heart I heard my classmates muttering theories and rumors.

The two mares backed away from the door as I approached, letting me through. And as we traveled they flanked my left and right as we went down the whitewashed walls of Stable 46’s halls. Each my steps felt heavy, each turn left me anxious as I tried to work out where we were going. At the same time questions competed for attention in my ever-panicked mind.

‘What was going on?’

‘What was this and what did it have to do with me?’

‘Where were we going?’

I looked to each side at my escorts. I wished they would talk to me, tell me something. But if they were under orders not to, then there was nothing in this world that would get them to divulge. And that only made it worse!

Eventually we reached the last room I was expecting and at the same time dreading.

The doors to the Sanctum, where the High Priestess watched over us all.

I slowly backed up, the urge to run away grew with my fear. A hoof on my back stopped me and I looked up at the security mare. She encouraged me onward while the other knocked.

There was a slight beep as the door unlocked, triggered by the occupant inside.

I did not go willingly, the guard had to scoot me inside. With mounting fear I turned to leave, and that is when the door slid closed with a finality that made my heart stop. No going back.

I gulped and slowly turned back around.

The High Priestess of our Stable stood by the circular window that overlooked the Atrium, dressed the elegant black robes of her office. Realizing that I still sat on the floor, I scrambled back to my hooves.

Eternal Dawn slowly turned, an ever present and bright smile on her face. I stood straighter.

It seemed my actions amused her. “Dear Silver.” She chuckled, then gently put a hoof on my shoulder. I looked up at her. “You may relax if you allow yourself to.”

I blinked, surprised by her words. Though I had never personally spoken with the High Priestess before - I was always enraptured in my studies - I never imagined that she was like this; kind, and softly spoken. We were always told by our teachers to behave, be punctual, concise, and to respectful. Was this real? Some kind of test, maybe? Had I, inconceivably, fallen asleep in class and now I was dreaming?

Even more surprising, Eternal Dawn sat even as I continued to stand. She beckoned me to do the same and I obeyed without question.

“How has your day been, dear Silver?” she asked. “Would you like some juice?”

This surprised me a little less and I nodded, as it was that time that my muzzle felt its driest. “Yes, please.” Moments later I had a purple refreshment canister - grape juice.

We sat in silence for a few moments, Dawn smiling at me as I greedily slurped down my juice. “Done already?” She chuckled softly when I sucked down every drop out of sheer anxiety.

I made a sound that was somewhere between a cough and an awkward chuckle.

“Silver,” Dawn said and I perked my ears to listen. “You do not yet have a Guardian, do you?”

My ears folded. “No, I don’t…”

Though I could not fathom why!

Dawn smiled just a little bit more and that helped eb the depression.

“Do you know why?” she echoed my earlier thought.

My face reddened. “No,” I answered a little more tersely than I meant. I winced. “S-sorry,” I said softly.

Dawn nodded in kind. “You, my dear Silver…” My ears quirked up at her address and I look up to Dawn. “You have been destined for something special.”

‘Something special?’ I inwardly repeated. What did she mean?

Dawn paused for terribly long moments, her small, kindly smile kept me in suspense.

“You are meant to be the next High Priestess.” I gasped when that actually sunk in. “I am to be your Guardian.”

The bright interior of my home was gone, and I was greeted to relative darkness that was only kept at bay by a glowing lantern to my side. Blankets buried me from the neck down. Grogginess or not, my surroundings were as clear as mud.

Half of my ‘room’ seemed to be a thick tarp that jerked and whipped to the howl of the outside wind, while the other was as still as stone. In fact, it looked like some kind of rock or something and the suspected tarp was attached firmly to it. After a careful and furtive glance, I spotted my things neatly tucked into a corner.

“What…?” I whispered, followed by a dry-throat induced cough. And that turned into pained wince as my chest flared. A quick check revealed that I had been bandaged, albeit badly, and there was clearly some blood. My guess was that the radscoprion’s pincers gave me some cuts.

There were multiple sources of light, as the shadow of a pony’s head grew on the lit tarp. Worried that I was in the clutches of raiders, I re-settled and made like I was still passed out, my eye barely cracked open.

Moments later and the head of a semi-familiar pony poked through. It took me a moment to place him as the armed stallion with the foals. At seeing his face, the memory of the fight came back to me.

“You awake?” he softly called.

Reasonably sure that he was not a raider, I gave a soft nod and an affirmative whisper in kind.

He came in a bit more fully and I got a glimpse of the large campfire just outside, where I recognized many of the little ones. I strained my memory to recall how many I had first seen.

“They’re all fine, thanks to you.” He read my mind.

One pressing question answered, I gave a nod. “That’s good…” My mouth felt like it had sandpaper in it. Based on how he acted so far -- and the undeniable fact that I was still breathing - I think it is safe to assume that he’s not a raider. “May I please have some water?”

In moments he unscrewed some kind of metal cylinder and held it to my muzzle. He kept it there as I sucked down every last drop.

“Why did you help?” he asked suddenly.

“What do you mean?” I asked in kind, my eyebrow quirked. That was a very silly question to ask. Children were in danger and I had to act, despite how terrified I was. Even as that thought passed, the irony of caring for others outside of my charges, my Stable, took me by surprise.

“Ponies like you never help us.” There was some conviction in his voice as she stared flatly as me.

I snorted. “Then maybe I’m not like those ‘ponies like me’.” Heat rushed to my face as I locked eyes with him. “Perhaps I should have just gone on my way and left you to become that beast’s next meal, hmm?”

He glanced away, a clear sign that he knew I was right, before muttering, “Sorry.”

Though I was still heated, I smiled in kind. “Apology accepted.” I paused for a moment. “But, what did you mean nopony never helps you? Matter of fact, why are all of you wandering around out here to begin with?”

“We were trying to avoid the slaver routes,” he said with a sigh. My guess was that his plan did not work as well as he had hoped. “Slavers tend to avoid the Outlands because of the giant insects.”

That seemed smart of them. The slavers, I mean.

He continued, “We wander because we’re not welcome in any of the settlements.”

I blinked, the thought absolutely abhorrent to me. Who, in Celestia’s name, turns away homeless children and why?

“We’re a strain on resources with little to return. Foals can’t do the work that adults can. And we make any settlement a prime target for slavers. Kids are prized assets for them, they fetch a high price.”

I frowned. “That is horrible…”

He nodded in kind.

“Your friend-”

“He is hardly one that I would consider a friend,” I interrupted.

He tilted his head, but did not question it. “Okay, your not-friend said you’re from a Stable.”

There was a certain tone in his voice. “What does that mean?”

“It means you don’t understand us,” he replied. “Thanks for helping us with the radscorpion, but in the morning we’re leaving.”

“I think I’ve seen enough to-”

“No, you haven’t, so don’t make the assumption that you know what we’ve been through,” he snapped, then left before I could get any word in.

Already I was cross with the stallion’s arrogance, but… something else nagged at me as fatigue started to set in.

I’ll worry about it in the morning, I thought. Though, as I closed my eyes all I could think about was being covered in dead soot.

The morning came with an interesting start. My tent had been made by the propped-up thorax of the giant dead creature that had tried to murder me the day before. My reaction was priceless, as I tried to scurry away from the thing when I first came out. Of course, that also meant that I irritated my wounds immensely and it soon became a matter of concern, rather than laughter. Breakfast consisted of a can of vegetables for me (asparagus and green beans in some kind of ‘cream sauce’). The others took to cooking the claw meat of the radscoprion, and I had to sit far away because of the putrid stench.

“I still cannot comprehend how you can eat that.” I had my hoof over my nose, the stench lingered even after the meal, despite the fact that we were outside.

“That’s survival, Stable-dweller,” Ghost said nonchalantly as he wrapped and packed some of the leftovers. “Things eat other things, and the sooner you get used to that, the happier we’ll all be.” Afterwards he levitated another of the cigarettes to his muzzle and lit it.

I rolled my eyes at him. “If one can stomach the carnivation of a corpse, then I suppose so.”

“Are you feeling better?” came the youthful voice of the little filly I had met earlier. Her name was Strawberry.

I smiled softly. “Yes. Thank you for watching over the little one for me.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sentinel - as he chose to call himself - watching me. I understood; after thinking his attitude over, trust was a thing hard won with him. Still, it irked me to know that anypony was suspicious of me.

Strawberry smiled brightly and nodded. “She was really cranky, but I helped!”

“And how did you help?” I asked more out of encouragement than anything.

“She needed to potty and then I burped her!”

I blinked. “Burped her?” I asked, now curious. And then came a small slew of questions: how did she help her potty and several others.

“Yeah,” she replied. “After foals eat they need their back patted so they can burp! Because they can’t do it yet. And her diaper was on wrong!” She giggled softly.

‘I didn’t know that,’ I thought, impressed by her knowledge.

“Thank you so much for taking care of her,” I said one more time and was rewarded with a bright smile.

“Oh, it was fun!” She smiled up at me, then galloped away when another filly called her name.

I found my bags, packed for me by Strawberry I noticed, and had to rearrange them for the little one so that she could ride in my bags. I smiled as she seemed happy and playful, her little forehooves waving at me. I tucked her in before donning the robes of my station, then my bags…

… and quickly found out how bad of an idea that was! “Ow!” I brought the bags off right as hot pokers squeezed my chest and my legs threatened to buckle. The little white unicorn stared blankly at me as she tried to figure out why I wasn’t toting her.

“No!” came a shout off to my right. I looked over to see a very annoyed green unicorn filly stomping towards me. “Idiot, your ribs are bruised! You can’t carry stuff!”

The little foal gave a soft whimper as she stared at the new filly.

I grunted as the sting slowly ebbed away. “I didn’t have broken ribs?” I asked in kind.

The green filly gave an annoyed sigh. “Yes, you did.” When I still showed confusion, she rolled her eyes like I was the dumbest mare she had ever met. “I gave you a weak healing potion, because all you had were fractures, the blood you tasted came from a loosened tooth. Nothing actually broke or you’d be in much more trouble, not that you’d listen anyways.” My face reddened. “But that’s all the potion did. You’re still bruised and will be tender for the next few days. So, take it light, stupid.”

This had to be the rudest filly I had ever seen. No filly would dare talk back in that way to their own Guardian in Stable 46. Once I had gotten a little too tempered with Eternal Dawn and I received a spanking for it, and right now I had the strongest urge to do the same with this filly despite the fact that she was right. Genesis was never so cross with her patients.

I gently rubbed my left side as I sat back. “Are you always so ‘straightforward’?” I asked tersely.

She harrumphed indignantly. “When I have to tend to every whiney filly and colt and they keep refusing to do what I tell them? Yes, I do!” she barked back.

I heard a soft chuckle to my side. Though Ghost kept his eyes on what he was doing, he somehow found amusement in the situation. I glared daggers into his back as a result.

“If you’re all packed we can move out, Stable-dweller,” Ghost said, then took a last puff from his cigarette.

The green filly stared at him. “You’re taking her saddle-bags,” she stated firmly. Ghost merely cocked an eyebrow at her. It was my turn to smirk. “She can’t carry anything right now, so just do it!”

Ghost stared flatly at her, but gave no actual protest. I suspect he did not like having to carry my things, but not enough to say anything. Or, maybe, he was secretly intimated by those stern filly eyes? Either way, he hefted my bags which still carried the little foal onto his back.

“Ready?” he asked again.

I looked around for a moment. I spotted Strawberry playing with some friends until Sentinel gently urged them on to get their tasks done. The green filly with the bad attitude left to check on another of the colts; it seemed he had injured his knee and she started to treat it. The others were collecting their things and packing. Another was gathering snow and putting it in… a pot? Curious. But everywhere I looked I saw their lives with folded ears.

A sick fantasy came to my mind. I remembered the filly that had gotten lost in Stable 46, the same incident that prompted the locks to be removed from supply doors. I imagined that she had been lost for much longer than she actually was, and that she had to survive in a broom closet. Starving, scared of every hour that must have felt like an eternity, and crying herself to sleep every night...

Even if I did not have the big picture, I could vividly imagine what they went through every single day.

I recoiled as a blue hoof waved in front of my face, and that startled me from my steadily breaking heart.

“Equus to Stable-dweller,” Ghost asked as he lowered his hoof. “It’s time for us to go.”

I had no idea what ‘Equus’ was, but I had a feeling it would have been another stupid question if his tone was any indication. Hopefully I could get the context or ask a nicer pony later.

I hummed, then gave a soft nod. “I… guess so.”

Ghost nodded in kind, then his rifle levitated up, ready to go.

I glanced one more time to the group before we descended the hill we were on. The last sight I saw was Sentinel as he watched over them, and my heart clenched. What would have happened if we had not shown up? What if something happened to Sentinel? They did not have Guardians to take care of them, and it was only a matter of time until…

“Stable-dweller.” Ghost’s call jarred me from my thoughts. When I looked, he was standing several yards away and looking back at me. Realizing that I had zoned out and fallen behind, I trotted to catch up.

We did not continue quite yet, though.

“Ghost?”

He sighed, then perked his ears up. “What is it now?” Ghost reluctantly asked as he took a cigarette from his pocket. I quirked an eyebrow at the need for one right now.

I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts, then looked at the row of buildings that bordered the suburbs of Stalliongrad and the Outlands. A short distance away, I saw a multi-story building that was separate from the suburbs, but not too far into the Outlands. Despite the distance, I could make out at least three floors based on the building’s height, and if it was anything like the school, it may have had subterranean levels as well. And after a thought, I checked the windows to make sure that the inside wasn’t a blown-out crater.

“How often do slavers travel through these parts?” I looked back to Ghost as I asked.

He coughed to clear his throat. “Well, slavers conflict with raiders usually, so not often. But with Deathrain gone, that will change.” My coat stood on end. “Thing is, slavers tend to stick with their routes and they like to shakedown the smaller settlements. They wouldn’t bother to patrol the Outlands, since most ponies have the common sense to stay away from here.”

I nodded in kind and stared at the distant building. It seemed in better shape than several of the other buildings in the outskirts. I could make out a solid-looking outer wall, as well.

“We’re not leaving, yet,” I said matter-of-fact, my decision made as I turned back around.

“We’re not?” he asked, surprised that I did not want to go. That was followed by another groan as he turned around to follow me. Ghost caught up easily due to my injured state.

“I’m almost too scared to ask what you’re thinking…” Ghost said dryly.

“Goo!” cam the little foal’s response, and I chuckled.

“Seems she agrees with me,” Ghost chided sarcastically and with an amused smirk. I could not help a smile of my own.

“Well,” I replied in kind as I tried to secure my thoughts. Though, what I really was thinking about was what to say to get him on board with my plan. “I was thinking that we cannot keep carrying the foal with us.”

“So, you want to dump her on them?” he asked, his tone suggested that he did not like that plan. I expected as much.

I interrupted, “In a manner of speaking, yes. Unless you would like another alerted pack of raiders do deal with?” When he did not object, I continued, “However, I do not want to leave them without some kind of protection.” I scanned around, looking for any other threats. If another radscorpion showed up, I would not be able to do anything about it this time. And that had me scared; not for myself, but for the foal.

Intrigued by my idea, Ghost made no further comment. I hurried along as fast as my body would allow, eager to not miss the departing group. I was in luck, they had not completely finished packing yet and I found Sentinel easily among the group.

“Need something?” he asked as I approached.

“Yes, actually.” I gave a soft smile. “I’m sure you have noticed that we have a little one with us as well.”

On my cue, Ghost turned to the side and showed the small white unicorn. And in a display of adorableness, she smiled brightly and jutted her forehooves out with little noises.

Sentinel blinked and gave the two of us a strange look, to which Ghost piped up with a firm, “No.” Along with a deadpanned stare. I was not sure what that meant, so I ignored it.

“You said before that settlements would not take you or the foals in, correct?” I asked. Sentinel nodded in kind. “Well, have you considered occupying one of the structures around here? Like, mayhaps, that one?” I pointed to the building I had been eyeballing.

Sentinel followed my hoof, then shook his head. “We did, actually.” My heart sunk. “If they don’t contain raiders or slavers, they usually have some other threat. We’ve lost others before to hidden traps and things.” And now it sunk more.

“Oh.” I rubbed my chin and tried to push the thoughts of dead fillies from my mind. “Well, what if we were to secure the building for you? Go inside, remove the threats, and then make it habitable? Would that work?”

Sentinel seemed surprised. “And why would you want to do that for us?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” I fired back in kind, sensing an argument that I was not about to accept. “You have shown me the kindness of bandaging my wounds, the Goddesses would strongly desire that I do the same for you,” came my honest answer. I remembered so many sermons that were preached by Eternal Dawn or myself about the necessity of returning gestures of kindness. If I ignored this now, I would be a hypocrite for everything that I stood for.

Ghost quirked an eyebrow at my suggestion, which I ignored.

Sentinel looked back towards the waiting group, now packed and ready to continue their travels. Even though I could tell that many of them were nervous, there was also that palpable sense of fatigue. The thought of feeling that way every single day, the uncertainty and fear, was something that I had only experienced recently but already did not have any fondness for. The one exception was that I already knew what comfort and security felt like, and based on what I had been told, they never had such luxury. I simply had to change that.

Sure, this would waylay my crusade to bring the contemptible Whiskey Tango to justice, but with my current knowledge of his whereabouts (which was zero), I saw little harm in a detour to help the needy.

Sentinel turned back, his thoughts visibly churning. He sighed, then looked back to the children again. “Why do you want to do this for us?” he asked again.

I pondered his question again as it seemed that my original reasoning was not enough. “Well, the little one needs a home. She has no one qualified to take care of her, and I… am looking for somepony that is dangerous.” I looked to the little white unicorn. “I cannot chase after him if I must look after her safety. The one that I’m hunting is a dangerous stallion that needs to be brought to justice.”

Sentinel listened, then nodded when I was finished. “Okay. If you can clear out somewhere, we’ll see about fixing it up. But we don’t have the supplies to take care of her.”

I nodded in kind and answered immediately, “If you can enlighten me on what you will need, I will try to bring you whatever I can.”

Sentinel stared at me like I could not be believed. Not like I was lying, but more like he has never seen or heard anypony make such offers before.

I smiled softly to assure him. “Then Ghost and I will be back soon.”

My unicorn companion rolled his eyes but gave no protest as we adjusted our things. I felt good; we were doing something worthy of our time to help others. And with the Goddesses assuredly watching over the endeavor, we could not possibly fail.

“Intruder detected!”

I screamed and ducked lower as another series of deathly pings peppered the meager, smashed the desk that I hid behind.

It was such a benign start. The outside of the building (M.A.R.S. Technologies) seemed so peaceful. The doors had been unlocked, something that Ghost did caution me against, but everything else seemed like a good sign. The structure was intact, the outer security walls unbreached; the gate was halfway torn down, but that was it.

All until we got inside.

Nothing could have prepared me for the slaughterhouse that I found in the main foyer. Dozens of corpses had been riddled with bullets. Many of them looked like raiders, but some others did not; most concerning was the pony-shaped lump of armor among them. The only reason I survived was because of Ghost and his quick marksmanship.

We came to find that the building was being patrolled by these horrible metallic creatures that, somehow, had the shape of equines. I was reminded of the scrolls and how they spoke of Nightmare Moon’s soulless soldiers, hunting in the Everafter for the souls of mares that had lost their way.

“Reveal yourselves intruders, and I will make your deaths quick and painless!” came the demonic robot voice.

Oh yeah, and they are very hostile! There’s that too!

I eeped as more deadly metal struck my cover.

Bang!! Bang!!

Ghost, in the hallway just next to me, fired twice more. The mechanic horror stumbled and whirred.

Ghost reloaded. “That makes two, plus the pair of turrets.” He looked to me and quirked an eyebrow. “You can open your eyes now.” A crash later and I dared look up, only to find that the soldier of the damned had lost its head; Its balance maintained only a short while after.

I shakily got back to my hooves.

“Pr-Princesses guide me, I sh-shall have no fear…” I muttered, trying to calm myself. The real manifestations of the Nightmare’s horrid demons had me terrified beyond measure.

Ghost rolled his eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you? They’re not ‘demon soldiers,’ they are just security robots. They are about as likely to steal your soul as a photo camera.”

I flushed and turned away, trying my best to compose myself. Everything I had ever learned told me that he was wrong. The only thing that kept me from turning tail was my promise to the young ones. They needed this place to be their home.

I nodded, if only to spare me of Ghost’s beratement for what he perceived as stupidity.

“Good. Now, we just need to find the mainframe that controls these things.” He looked around, then back to me. “There’s a staircase.”

I nodded again and re-checked my energy pistol for the fourth unnecessary time. I had not fired it once; When we came across both demons, I immediately shrieked and dove for cover instead of returning fire.

Following behind Ghost, I felt so useless. He had done everything so far and this was supposed to be my task. Despite loathing his attitude, a small part of me was glad that he came, even if I did not know why. Now that I thought about it, I would have to ask when our lives were not in mortal danger.

Ghost hugged the wall, his heavy revolver out as he checked the opposite hall, then the stairwell. He motioned to me that it was clear and we began to ascend.

The stairs were relatively clear, at least they were of enemies anyways. Ghost pried open the door, his revolver held at the ready. Things seemed clear and he motioned me forward with him.

“What is this place?” I asked quietly as we entered another large room with many, many desks separated into cubicles. Judging by the chairs, old terminals, and scattered office supplies, many ponies once worked here. But on what?

Ghost paused to consider. “A research conglomerate, probably developed weapons for the war. I don’t exactly know.” Ghost leaned against a wall, then checked a small alley created by the cubicle walls.

Still more information about this ‘war’. Despite my disdain for the subject my curiosity grew as I looked around. I peeked around a corner and found nothing of interest, my ears perked to listen for the steps of the damned.

I blinked. “Ghost,” I called quietly and waited until he came. “I see a terminal.”

I pointed towards the dim, sickly green glow. A functional terminal remained active, tucked into the corner of the room and not in a cubicle; instead it was partially hidden in an alcove in the wall.

Ghost signalled me to wait there as he crept forward to investigate. He poked it a few times, then motioned me up.

“It’s unlocked.” He glanced around as his ears turned. “Might be some answers for you here. Stay put while I look around.”

I nodded, more than okay with this.

Ghost then continued his search for the mainframe while I poked at the computer. Most of the terminal’s messages were nothing but gibberish, distorted and mauled beyond recognition by time. Though some seemed to have survived.

Entry One:

Mixie,

Cobalt dropped the ball again. Shipment has been delayed by another week thanks to the lost samples. Doesn’t he know how hard it is to get a hold of that stuff? Nevermind that it is one of the rarest elements on Equus, but the fact that it has to be smuggled -- not imported -- through multiple national borders is a logistical and legal nightmare! Please straighten up your delivery department or this will need to be taken up with upper management. If we’re going to finish this project, we cannot afford to keep missing deadlines.

You know the cost of failure.

Head of M.A.R.S. R&D Facility 12, Manehatten
Star Set

Entry Two:

Star Set,

Yes, thank you, I’m quite aware of what happens if we fail. We all saw that when we went through our ‘orientation’. I will personally tell Cobalt to get his act together or he will be reassigned. Plans are being made to acquire more samples to replace the lost batch and should be delivered to you A.S.A.P.

Maybe next time you shouldn’t spook everypony with your ‘researched’ voodoo legends. Don’t we get enough of that with the zebras’ weird rhyming? Seriously.

Logistics and Transportation, M.A.R.S. R&D Facility 15, Stalliongrad
Mixie

Entry Three:

Company-Wide Memo:

Hello valued M.A.R.S. employees!

Due to the rising concern of the war’s approach to Stalliongrad, and other potential threats to M.A.R.S. security, all employees will be required to carry a personal firearm while working on company grounds. Attached to this memo is a list of approved small arms that the company is willing to pay for. Please note that extra accessories (such as holsters, special ammunition, attachments, extra magazine/battery packs, etc) will not be covered and will have to be purchased at the employee’s expense.

In addition, further security will be implemented in the weeks to come. M.A.R.S. promotes a friendly and relaxed work environment, but asks that employees please wear their required security badges at ALL TIMES while on company premises and during work hours. New security ponitrons will soon be installed to ensure company security, and their programming will include a facial recognition protocol as well as a badge scanner. M.A.R.S. employee-issued insurance will become null and void in the event of injury or death if said employee was injured on the job due to not wearing their security badge.

Lastly, M.A.R.S. reminds its employees that the ‘starfall’ meetings have been moved from Monday to Friday. Please make sure that your personal events do not interfere with these mandatory gatherings.

As I finished the third entry, the terminal started to flicker and blink. Unsure what was happening, I backed up a step. The message disappeared and it was replaced by a symbol I had never seen.

“What the-”

Zap!

“Agh!” The screen shot out an angry spark and I flinched back, then two, then three, then dozens! A low and terrifying thrum filled the air and my coat stood on end. I looked around in a panic, trying to find somewhere to duck! None of the cubicles felt close enough.

The desk!

I dove underneath after throwing the chair aside and pressed myself as far from the end as I possibly could, even to the point where my ribs ached.

BOOOM!

Magical green, blue, red fire exploded around my flimsy shelter, the top cracked, and my scream competed with the thunderous roar. Things settled and I did not move, hiding under my forehooves with the energy pistol held to the opening, shaking fiercely in my magic.

WHY!? Why do things constantly EXPLODE around me!?

I very cautiously moved out from under the desk. As soon as I did its strength gave out, now reduced to a pile of splintered rubble. The apparently cursed terminal evaporated out of existence.

I sighed, hoof to my rapidly beating heart. First the store in Goldpeak, then the multiple radscorpion attacks, and now even computers are attacking me? This place is out to purposefully kill me! I was sure of it!

Ghost returned, undoubtedly summoned by the explosion. I glared daggers at him as looking at the terminal had been his bright idea. He showed no signs of caring, probably since I seemed fine.

Gee, thanks for asking! I wanted to scream at him.

“Come on, the upstairs is clear now.” I rolled my eyes but followed.

And indeed it was as we ascended the stairs. Ghost had done his work well; the bullet-ridden corpses of the metallic ponitrons littered the halls, shot with precision in their chests.

“Tried not to damage their circuitry too much,” he said, pointing out the lack of wanton destruction. “The orphans can use the parts. Salvage and sell them, put them to their own use, or maybe even get them working again.”

I stared bemusedly at him. “Get these things working again? Are you insane? You want to leave the defenseless foal and equally defenseless orphans with kill demonic soldiers?” My voice rose as I spoke.

Ghost scoffed and quirked an eyebrow at me. “One more time; they are not ‘demonic soldiers,’ they are ponitrons. Robots. That’s all. And they can be reprogrammed easily once we get upstairs to the main office. This isn’t the first robot-infested shithole I’ve been in.”

That hardly made me feel any better, but once again I supposed that I should defer to his more experienced judgment. Even if he was an ass.

Sufficiently sated for the time being, we made our way into an office with moldy old carpet. The center was dominated by a large circular desk that was once a work of art, carved with elegant scriptures of a design I was not familiar with. The rest of the office contained several bookshelves with old, destroyed books and many banged-up filing cabinets. I tried a few, but they were locked.

Above the desk, however, was the same symbol I had seen on the monitor before it exploded. An inlaid circle with more of the strange scripture. The center dominated by a unicorn’s visage from the side as they wore some kind of armored helmet with a straight and narrow raised maneline. The entire tapestry gave me a sense of unease, a sense of unholy ominousness.

Ghost was trying to pick his way into a safe. I wandered my way to the desk and sat in the chair. It felt almost like sitting back in my office in Stable 46. My ears folded, the sense of homesick drew me in like water down a drain.

“Hey.”

I eeped, not expecting the sudden call out. My hind-legs hit under the desk. “Ow! What is it?” I snapped. Something clacked under the table.

“Oh, terribly sorry for disturbing you.” Ghost chuckled, then hummed. “Need the terminal unlocked?”

I looked to the now seen terminal that sat on the desk. With the memory of what just happened downstairs still fresh in my mind, I declined. Ghost went back to work on the safe. Though, I peaked under the desk.

Fallen from some kind of damaged holding device, a long and boxy object lay on the floor. I levitated it up to find that it was a larger version of my laser pistol, colored in black with a gold trim along the barrel. It also had a single word etched into the side: ‘Conviction’ and etched just below that, ‘May the unworthy be bathed in its defracted light - Primus Centurion’

Ghost whistled at my discovery. “Looks like it’s your lucky day, stabledweller.”

I frowned. “I would not call finding a weapon to be ‘lucky’.”

“Why not?” Ghost smirked. “Aren’t you a pony of religious belief? You follow the ‘Goddesses’ after all...”

I bristled. “Do not compare me to the heathens that designed this thing!” I glared, heat gathered in my cheeks. “The truly chosen would never resort to such things!” Even as I said that my heart ached, knowing that for me it was not true anymore.

He chuckled. “You’ll feel differently the next time we fight a giant radscorpion.” Ghost held out his foreleg, asking for the gun. I hoofed it to him.

Ghost spent a few minutes examining it. “Hmm. Advanced receptor, purified focusing lense, overcharged capacitor. And see this crystal, here?” He pointed to the weapon’s boxy barrel and I see a tiny green crystal nestled just within. “That’s a rare gem, infused with talisman magic.”

I nodded, feigning interest. “And what does it do?”

“Don’t know,” he replied. “Could be a number of things. Incendiary, maybe, but the only way to know for sure would be to use it.” Ghost gave the rifle back. “Trust me, you’re gonna want that weapon, cus that banged-up pistol will only help so much. Beliefs or not.”

I watched him go back to his previous task. I did not want this weapon, knowing that it would just taint me further. The children of the goddesses do not use weapons, we do not hurt others.

And yet…

I sighed, knowing that Ghost was right. If I came across more of the ‘ponitrons’ or the radscorpions, I would definitely want something that was more effective than the dusty laser pistol I now had. Yet again I found that I would need to adapt my way of thinking, I needed to prevent another repeat of the elementary school; weapons wouldn’t help me in that regard, I would have to use my wit and - reluctantly - learn as much as I could from Ghost.

“Jackpot,” Ghost announced.

I discontinued my thoughts to see that he had the safe opened. Ghost’s lower half sticking out of the safe, he started sifting through the contents, occasionally muttering ‘junk’ or ‘trash’ just before tossing something aside. I frowned at how disrespectful he was of another’s personal possessions.

“Found some ammunition and some bits, and this.” Ghost held up a silvery orb. He tossed it to me and I scrambled to catch it, only barely managing to keep it from falling. “You know what that is, right?”

I sighed, but nodded. “It’s a sacred orb. Used to preserve memories.” And to preserve knowledge. The Grand Arcanum, restricted to most ponies of Stable 46, used the sacred orbs to store more complex spells and magical lessons and theorems. But Ghost did not need to know that.

But… what about the orbs out here, in this wasteland? They were not blessed by the Goddesses and there was no telling what was contained within. While they certainly looked like the sacred orbs, albeit dusty, they could have contained anything. For all I knew, the moment I tried to read it, the orb might sprout a mouth with teeth and try to eat my head. Insane, I know, but with what I had ran into thus far? Mayhaps not…

Still, I did not want to simply toss it away, so I stowed it in Ghost’s barding for now and I would ask for it back at a later date. I still could not bear my saddlebags due to my healing rib cage. Ghost said that he found a few cartridges of ammunition for Conviction, to which I gave mock-thanks.

“There,” Ghost said when he deactivated the large terminal next to the safe, the one that he determined would control the ponitron security robots and any automated turrets that we possibly missed, “that should do it.”

I nodded and gave a sigh of relief. So far, any chance to grab a safe breath was a welcome one. “That’s wonderful.” I smiled a little. I looked forward to giving the little foal and her new charges a proper home.

Their wasteland wandering was about to end, whereas I felt that mine was only just beginning.

Footnote: Level Up.

New Perk: Intense Training -- Endurance +1: Through harsh lessons and arduous tasks, your endurance has increased by one (1) point. Your maximum HP has increased.

Author's Notes:

Phew! Here it is, folks. I know this wasn't exactly on time with what I promised; school had a few surprises for me and I had jury duty to deal with, so that interfered. Had to catch up on homework after missing a day of school due to food poisoning (or a stomach bug, not sure exactly what it was, but it was bad... as in puking-my-guts-up bad).

Anywho~ I'm happy to upload this next chapter. I think I'm almost passed the awkward world-building stage and moving more towards the plot-drivers that have had me so psyched for this story!

Read and enjoy, and thank you all for sharing this adventure with me!