Now, I want to clarify for any who might be confused: that’s lower-case chrysalis, a changeling cocoon, not upper-case Chrysalis, the changeling queen. I figure it’s probably clear from context, but I wouldn’t want anyone to think I came from her.

Hah!

So I opened my eyes again, shakily raising my head, and turned to look at the empty husk of Queen Ephema.

Oh. Yikes

External radiation at 168% of safety threshold.

Wellp now. Do these messages have date stamps?

I ignored the message that opened automatically to look for the time-and-date display. I stared at it in confusion until I realized that there was some sort of error. The time-and-date display was showing nonsense. For some reason, the terminal thought it was a couple centuries in the future.

Ohey. Date stamps!

EnvExternalRad1.68
EnvExternalAirTox0.63
EnvExternalWatTox3.32
EnvExternalAirTempTRUE
EnvExternalAirLiveTRUE

WakeUpCall FALSE

Looks like their strings file loading failed, there. That looks about the same as my error messages when the system can't find the translations of coded message strings in the program's language files. Though my fallback system at least puts a space between the code string and the value

On that note, it's peculiar how that last on does have that space, though. It's a bit of an inconsistency. Might wanna fix that

The number kept going.

Horror started to dig at my gut as the number climbed higher and higher, refusing to stop. Years rolled by before my eyes.

Ah yes. Time to get that truth laid out in front of you in cold, hard numbers.

You have 73,741 unread daily reports.

Welp. That's a bunch. Better get reading!

Error: could not read external device.
File system corrupted.

C.L.T. was some small-bit company that had managed to have dealings with five of the six ministries of the Equestrian government, thanks to its research in cryonics and suspended animation. It wasn’t a big player, not even close, but those connections drew enough interest to be one of the companies we kept tabs on.

Hmm. So these guys went for changeling stasis cocoons instead, somehow. This actually makes it likely that the Queen was simply working with them. It would explain how she was there, anyway. Probably because Stable-Tec wasn't too concerned about making a changelings Stable

Not that I really needed fine details to get the idea that “minor atmospheric contamination” was probably a bad thing.

Let's hope it's local enough that you can get away from it

Still, a pistol might come in handy. They weren’t useful for infiltration and impersonation--in fact, weapons could be a major liability!--but they could be useful in case of emergencies.

And, when going into literally completely unknown territory... might be safer to have it.

So, lacking a more obvious solution, I stabbed my horn through the membrane, just as I had done to free myself.

It was not, in retrospect, one of my brighter decisions.

Please welcome on the stage... the new Death Metal band... SHOWER OF FILTH!

Part of its curved, white outer shell had been broken away when it had been disassembled, leaving a large chunk of plastic with a jagged edge. I grabbed it in my mouth and got to work.

Achievement unlocked: TOOL USE!

It left some tiny hope that they had survived, as I had.

Sure. Until you remember the "two hundred years" detail.

Retrieving my commandeered medical box, I set off to find my way out of the facility.

So, I'm wondering... You never actually describe how she takes the box along. It'd be far more reasonable for her to use some of the cables from these egg pods to hang it over her back or neck than to levitate it in her magic the whole time.

Rooms branched off from the hall, pricking at my curiosity, but I didn’t have the time or energy to indulge more than a quick glance.

I'd say you're missing primo looting opportunity, but then again, chances of finding more love there to feed on are probably pretty slim.

One held a dozen of those egg-shaped pods I had seen before, though only half of them were assembled and hooked up.

If "hooked up" means "closed and possibly occupied", you might want to check them for survivors, because they might just have powered down together with yours then

A short flight landed me on the upper landing, a warmth spreading through my chest as my wing muscles began to join all the others crying out at my abuse.

Woo! Obstacle conquered! Wings ftw!

The room would have been a treasure trove if it had been intact. One crate had held at least twenty medical boxes, now warped and ruined from the flames. Another held the remains of a couple dozen rifles.

Oh, wow. What a gigantic shame.

I opened the lid, and was greeted with the sight of dozens of military-style rations. I quickly opened my medical box, loading it until I could barely close the lid over them. Then I tore open another ration, scarfing down the contents. My stomach, still aching from the earlier exertion, felt slightly more comfortable.

Ah, so normal food does help, then? Alas, being MRE's, I very much doubt they were made with love

There were even a spattering of bullet holes in one of the walls, and another bore a scorched crater left by some sort of magical energy weapon.

Yikes. That means there was violence inside the complex...

It was an emergency recall, and not just any. It was the most extreme category; drop everything immediately, abandon all resources, and flee the country as fast as you possibly can. It was the kind of message we dreaded getting, the sort of warning one would get moments before the Ministry of Morale burst in.

Only, it wasn't the Ministry of Morale. It was the equivalent of a Stable Call.

Then another flash, but in front of me, far away enough that it had to be beyond the border of Equestria. Far off to the south, in the badlands. There were no pony settlements there. No zebras. Only changelings.

...what?

But... who would... why would either side even bother?

At least it was sunny and pleasantly warm, though the dark clouds that filled half the sky, dominating the horizon, threatened to change that. The more distant lands were darkened by their shadows, looking dull and oppressive. The clouds seemed particularly unruly and chaotic, as if the pegasi arranging them couldn’t be bothered to care, and had simply tossed them wherever.

Hmm. So, unless this is an inaccuracy, that places it after Littlepip royally screws over the Enclave?

A couple minutes later I emerged, feeling a little better about myself.

And a little more irradiated, no doubt...

I pulled out a cable from the wreckage of a skywagon, running it through the brackets on the back of my medical box and tying it into a loop.

Achievement unlocked: BACKPACK!

They were armed, too. The ponies, that is, not the cattle

How thoughtful of you to specify

My point is, my hive didn’t view ponies as being just prey, much less enemies. If anything, they’re more like… valued livestock. I know, that probably sounds horrible, but it’s the best comparison I can think of.

I dunno. That's not all that horrible; do remember that ponies kept sapient cows.

So finding a small group of them here offered me not only food, but the chance of some small degree of comfort.

She's gonna get shot. So calling it.

Now, I know re-using disguises is generally a bad idea, but all things considered, I really doubted I would run into anyone who might recognize me.

Well, unless you bump into some sane bicentennial ghoul, or if you happened to meet Spike two centuries ago, you're probably safe

I braced myself, mentally going over several quick “facts” for an improvised backstory.

Yeeah... that'll go well. You don't even have the basic world facts to build a backstory on, lass

“...But seriously, rainbows!” the smiling mare said, looking up again to the darkening sky. “I’ve never even seen a rainbow before.”

Sunshine... and rainbows. And very suspicious towards anything coming from the sky. I think we have a time frame!

It was at that moment I began to worry that I had made a terrible mistake.

Well, at least you didn't change into a pegasus

Remarks and corrections:
> Why else would she still be laying here
> but I couldn’t just leave them, laying there, abandoned.
"lying", on both.
> I would have gladly laid down and slept
"lain down". (Have a lovely little guide!)
> I drug the husk over to join the others
I'm fairly sure the past tense of "to drag" is "dragged"
> I had been flying
Missing a period at the end.
> After a couple minute’s rest
Should be "After a couple [minutes'] rest"

6607965

Though my fallback system at least puts a space between the code string and the value
On that note, it's peculiar how that last on does have that space, though. It's a bit of an inconsistency. Might wanna fix that

That was actually intentional, as kind of a joke to anyone familiar with coding. "CoolBugz" just quickly hacked together some code, so it would output the (very basic) name and values... he just forgot to add a space in there when formatting the output string. I'd originally intended for them to be different, where he remembered to add the space in the main line when he'd forgotten for the others, but I suppose it'll probably work better without that. Changed.

So, I'm wondering... You never actually describe how she takes the box along.

Ah. I hadn't thought it important to mention, but since she mentiones avoiding the use of magic when possible, she's carrying around it in her mouth. I slipped in a casual mention of that, now.

Ah, so normal food does help, then? Alas, being MRE's, I very much doubt they were made with love

Tastes like indifference and boredom. But yes, normal food helps. Or more, they need regular food as well (That gets a minor mention in-story, though not until the beginning of chapter 3).

Sure. Until you remember the "two hundred years" detail.

Shhhh. They could be alive. Maybe in some other facility. Just... not here. For reasons. But they could still be alive!

But... who would... why would either side even bother?

Reasons.

How thoughtful of you to specify

What, you've never heard of cows with guns?

(Oh god why do I remember these things? )

lain

Damnit English! Every time I think I've finally got things figured out, I end up tripping over something else. And participles can just go themselves!

I'm fairly sure the past tense of "to drag" is "dragged"

Aaand then there's this stuff. Yeah, you're right. Dragged is the correct way. Drug is an uncommon variant used in some areas, and I hear it a fair bit, but I'd rather use the more common version.

(Hah! I even replied to the right chapter this time! Haha! )

6608122

(Hah! I even replied to the right chapter this time! Haha! )

Good for you!

What, you've never heard of cows with guns?

Ohgods, what did I just watch

Love... Love never changes...

Another changeling fic from you, aww yeah!

Our written Ephema and the Cutelings.

Cya
Raziel-chan

Just your friendly neighborhood changeling!

Likely inspired by the opening to Fallout 4. Or the biggest coincidence ever but that's unlikely.

Good story so far, I think I'm gonna like this. Mostly because I haven't found a Fallout Equestria fic I didn't like yet.

It was at that moment I began to worry that I had made a terrible mistake.

Could be worse, you could have gone up to them as a Pegasus. I get the feeling that would have been a very bad idea.

6607965 One of the few long quote comments I actually like! As for Stabletech, they probably tried to make a vault for mentally enslaving changelings, then having it fail because they forgot the diet.

7212373
I always comment like that.
(Apparently some people even started following my example on it, citing it as "hailing from Nyerguds' School of Commenting" )

Heh, mentally enslaved changelings... I actually wrote a one-shot about something rather similar to that

So glad some else has decided to do a FOE changeling edition. I read one a whileback wasn't great and author decided to cancel it a little after starting so the best of luck to this one.

I stared at it in confusion until I realized that there was some sort of error.

If only it would ever be possible to do something useful with terminals. One would expect that with Overseer rights, it could at least be possible to do math, store text, and query systems data. Getting the flashing word Error is so not enough. But that's why it's called just terminal...

Welcome back, user CoolBugz .

Right at the start, you make something funny!

I had a mission.

A mare on a mission...or at least I think it's a mare.
I mostly think of changelings as dudes unless they are a queen.

Speaking of, if it is a she, then can't she rebuild her race via gestation?

I stared at the pistol for a couple seconds, unable to help thinking that the M.o.P. would have been quite upset to find such a thing stored within one of their medical kits.

Hey! You never know when you may need aN emergency euthanasia!

I got a bit better look at the small arsenal they carried. The other armored stallion had a similar rifle slung on his back, while the couple had holstered pistols. The unicorn mare had a very long and narrow rifle, cradled in her forelegs as she lay back. She was still smiling.

The amount of weapons on display was a little concerning. If they carried weapons, that must mean there was something dangerous out there. My first thought was zebras, but it seemed a little silly to think that the war would still be going on after so much time. Maybe it was dangerous wildlife? Sure, I’d seen hardly any signs of life, and most of that was just desert brush, but that didn’t mean nothing lived out here. There always seemed to be some horrible monster wandering into Equestria and causing drama.

I can't help but mentally picture that smile as mild disturbing and raider-ish. Just as well, I find it humorous how the changeling keeps imaging wildlife or energy races to be a cause for them to carry guns.

There is a saying "we don't distrust each other because they are armed.
they are armed because we distrust each other."

A nice little juxtaposition between "they" and "us" with a little distrust peppered in the middle.

I'm gonna laugh when she tries walking up to them all causal like and receive a common Wasteland greeting.

His voice came out harsh and menacing, his eyes narrowing at me. “Don’t you fucking move .”

Ueah, m8. You're pretty much fucked.

Welcome to the Wasteland!
where radiation levels are ever rising, and every pony has a personality as colorful as their vocabilary!

I have played fallout 3, but have not read the Fallout Equestria fic that this apparently shares continuity with. Do I have enough information to get by? Will most of my setting questions be answered in this fic or do I need to read the original?

This is actually a good spinoff with a more or less original concept, good job.

Welp, I do not know why I haven't given this story a try just yet, I am pretty sure that I have seen it featured on the front page at some point, and I promoted you myself to helper because of your many thoughtful comments in the FoE group, so there are clearly a good head on your shoulder. I do not know why, but for some reason have I always been more likely to pick up newly started stories, or those about the 100K mark instead of completed ones, I guess that I feel that with the many stories out there that my comments are more useful and worthwile when they can help a story along instead of being coming when it is over... Ahem, none the less, lets get this comment properly going!

So just a few segments in and one of the most facinating aspects of FoE that a lot of side stories copy from the original, the beloved first person protagonist telling their story, is peaking its head inside. From how our main character have to specify if a word is meant to be upper case or lower case is the story clearly being told to us in person instead of being written down, and even if it is weird, am I looking forward to in which way that the main character is able to/why they choose to, tell their story to us. Only time and half a million words will tell!

Its annoy me to no end when fan-fic writers make better atmosphere in their fics than Bethesda makes in their games, I would have loved to see something like the daily reports tick up on a screen, that "ohhh shit" feeling slowly growing in my stomach as the hundreds turned to thousands turning to tens of thousands, but alas no such atmosphere was found in Fallout 4 which was a shame.

Nitpicks:
"I lay there in the room as I focused on the quiet," I hate lay/laid, and it could just be me, but it seems wrong to my eyes.
"I’m not sure how long I simply lay there in that shallow puddle of fluids." Okay, I am totally sure that lay is wrong here.

Spotted another error when reading my dead tree version:
> I didn’t want to look. I wanted to lay there
Should be "I wanted to [lie] there"

10715210
Ffffff I thought I'd finally gotten all of those

I still don't know why that one mistake plagues me so often.

Gotta love how close the events in the Fallout: Equestria side stories seems to mesh together in places without it truly feeling too out-of-place.

Where Blackjack had tuned into her radio a few days after leaving Stable 99 and hearing about the events of Littlepip, Calamity, and Velvet Remedy destroying the slaver town of Old Appleoosa in Chapters 7 and 8 during Project Horizon's chapter 7. Or here in Chapter 1; where we can assume that the S.P.P. Tower that had just crashed into the C.L.T. building and awoke Whisper was probably the very same tower that Homage had destroyed using her Star Blaster sometime after Ditzy Doo performed the Sonic Rainboom over New Appleoosa in Chapter 40.

This Sub-Fandoms minute attention to detail is both very scary and amazing at the same time.

I trembled, giving a weak sob around the tightness in my throat. I might have even cried a little. Part of me wanted to just give up; to curl up beside her, close my eyes, and join her. My queen was dead. My hive, likely, as well. Why else would she still be lying here, uncared for? It was a disgrace, a defilement. Noling would have permitted this, had they been able to do anything about it.

Took me a couple of seconds to realize what "noling" meant, that wss smooth by the way