Fallout Equestria: Fly Away
Chapter 5: Feelings
By Freeflyingwolf
”Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”-Confucius
Bright cerulean eyes fluttered open, squinting at the bright light streaming in. It was somehow a whole heck of a lot brighter than what he was used to. Then again, he lived in a cave with one consistent lighting source. And the Everfree Forest wasn’t known for its brightness.
“You’re awake, how ‘bout that.”
Before looking to the voice, Sunshy looked over his shoulder, knowing he would find Celly. A whimper escaped him. She had a muzzle covering most of her face, her body was chained down, and her tail had a large…cork? Something was at the end, to prevent her from stinging anyone. Looking down, Sunshy noticed his hooves were shackled. Startled, he tried to stand, but a wave of dizziness sent him back to his knees.
“Whoa, easy there, easy. You’ve been out cold for a while now. How ‘bout your name. Can you tell me your name?”
The yellow buck turned his head to stare at the source of the voice. Through the veil of his red mane, of course; he could see a figure lying down with its hooves tucked in. Unsurprisingly, it was a zebra. Very surprisingly, there was a row of metal bars between him and the zebra. He was in jail. Yay~
“I’m Zen. What’s your name?” The zebra tried again, smiling sweetly. Sunshy looked away, muttering his name softly. “I’m sorry, what was that?”
Even softer, Sunshy said his name and lowered his head. Zen smiled awkwardly at him. “Didn’t quite catch that.”
Instead of answering, the yellow stallion whined and hid his head under his hooves. Celly sighed, shook her head, and rolled her eyes as she looked away. She was embarrassed for him. Zen sighed heavily as well.
“Hey, Zen, what’s going on? The new pony talking yet?” A high-pitched voice almost squeaked out.
“Not really, Ruby. I got a couple squeaks.” Zen answered, looking over his shoulder.
Curious, Sunshy peeked through his mane. Then he gasped and shot up onto his hooves. “A baby dragon!”
Said baby dragon was about as tall as an adult pony standing. She had pink scales and purple spikes, as well as purple ear fins and purple scales going down her belly. Smiling, the dragon named Ruby walked over to the bars and said, “Hey, I’m Ruby. What’s your name?”
“I’m Sunshy Rays. Do you know Drakon?”
“Know him? He’s my grandfather!”
Sunshy squealed and danced in place. “Drakon is my adoptive daddy; he raised me and Celly, my sister.” He motioned his head to Celly; she jerked her head in greeting.
“That’s so cool!” Ruby smiled and giggled.
“What the hell, Rubes? All I got were squeaks and you got a whole story!” Zen huffed in indignation.
“Oh, uhm…I’m sorry. But can you blame me? I woke up in jail, after all…” Sunshy laid back down, his ears flat and looking shamefaced.
“Right…sorry about that, but I was ordered to. Really, I hate doing this.”
“Hey, where are my things? My metal boxes, Celly’s bags, my Pipbuck?”
“Oh…about that…”
Zen stood up, revealing his right leg. Where Sunshy’s Pipbuck was attached, showing a zebra Pip stallion on the screen, smiling his knowing smile.
“You stole my Pipbuck! I use that for the radio and stuff!” Sunshy accused him, actually shouting.
“I did not steal it!” Zen shouted back. “I was just…”
“Rooting through his stuff, said “oh what’s this” click!” Ruby said, making a funny voice to imitate Zen.
“Shu…shut up.” Zen scowled as a bit of a blush tinted his monochrome face.
“Busted.” Ruby giggled.
“Well, now that we’ve got your name, are you hostile or not?” Zen asked as he walked closer to the jail cell, trying to deflect his guilty nature.
“No…I told the guards and they said their E.F.S. said the same, but they still had me knocked out…how did they do that? I didn’t see anything.” Sunshy looked up at Zen with pure innocence. Brown eyes went wide at such big, beautiful, blue eyes. They couldn’t even hide behind that red curtain completely. Wow…
“That was Zen’s handiwork, alright!” Ruby giggled before running away and coming back with a cloak. She spun it around her body and vanished. “He’s really good at hitting people’s weak spots!”
“Fallen Caesar Style?” Sunshy asked innocently. The zebra was in a stupor, just staring almost agape at the pegasus. At the question, he shook his head and muttered unintelligibly. A high-pitched giggle from nowhere made him realize how silly he was. He coughed into his hoof and then scraped at the concrete ground.
“You know about Fallen Caesar Style?” Zen wondered, unable to hide his blush.
“I know all about zebras.” Sunshy answered in fluent Zebra, smiling brightly.
“Wow, that’s way cool, Sunshy! Only ponies that live here can speak fluently.” Ruby took off the cloak and draped it over Zen’s back.
“Thanks. I trained for years.” Sunshy blushed at the compliment.
“Okay, uhm…let’s get you…out of there.” Zen muttered before turning around.
The zebra walked away to the other end of the jail, shrugging the cloak off along the way. There was a table full of junk that he had to rummage around. Cocking his head, Sunshy noticed the glyph mark on the zebra’s flanks. It was a circle, nothing more. Huh. It made him feel…oddly relaxed.
Zen looked over his shoulder with the key in his mouth. Brown eyes locked with cerulean and the zebra smiled. Sunshy blinked in pure innocence. God, it was too much. He trotted over and unlocked the cell.
“Were you staring at my ass?” Zen asked with practiced clarity, still smirking.
“I was looking at your glyph mark. It’s a circle.” Sunshy pointed at it with a hoof. Zen’s made a strange high-pitched hiccupping noise. The pony was surprised, having never heard this before. Remembering past experiences, he guessed that he was being laughed at.
“Yes, the circle of Zen.” The zebra replied before using the key to unlock the pony’s shackles.
“Oh. My cutie mark is a Manticore with a roll of bandage. It’s because I’m good with both.” Sunshy replied, not at all ashamed to stand up and show it off. He missed Zen’s shock that turned into a glare and grumbling at how freakishly tall he was.
“Whoa, no way!” Ruby shouted as she ran into the cell to take a gander. “That’s so cool!”
“You’re just so easily impressed, aren’t you?” The yellow buck taunted playfully, rubbing Ruby’s head with a hoof.
“Is it okay if I unlock your pet?” Zen questioned, pointing at Celly.
“She’s my sister and yes.”
“If she kills me, it’s on your head.”
“She wouldn’t! She won’t.” Sunshy directed the last statement to Celly with stress.
Though Celly nodded, Zen still stared at her warily as he unlocked her muzzle and the many restraints. When she was freed, the zebra all but galloped backwards out of the cell. She stood up, stretched out her body and wings, and then padded silently to Zen. Ruby was staring at her in awe, having never seen a tame manticore before.
Her chest puffed out for a moment before she roared right in the zebra’s face. The wind from her breath knocked him down onto his butt and he scooted backwards, face scrunched up from the smell. Once she was out of breath, Celly stood up straight and turned; her tail smacked Zen across the face as she walked away.
Once back inside the cell, Celly bit down on Sunshy’s red mane, lifted him up, and placed him on her back. Ruby snapped out of her stupor of awe. She ran over to the door and held it open for the large creature. Before she went to the door, Celly went over to one corner of the room and picked up both her saddlebags and Sunshy’s saddle boxes. On the way out the door, Celly licked Ruby’s head, making her giggle, and then continued outside.
“Why does she yell at me and lick you?” Zen grumbled.
“Because you’re the one who knocked her and her brother out and I’m her adopted father’s granddaughter.” Ruby offered with a shrug before following the pony and manticore.
Sunshy squinted against the harsh and unforgiving light and heat of this drastically new terrain. There were no pegasi, so the clouds were not sealed up. The sun shone as brightly as it wanted to down on the land of the zebra. And boy was it hot!
The yellow pegasus jumped off his sister’s back and walked to her mouth. She placed his saddle boxes on his back and then placed her own bags on her back. With her head turned over her shoulder, she noticed Ruby standing not too far away, fidgeting nervously. Sunshy was preoccupied tightening the straps with his teeth, but once he finished, Celly grunted at him. Ears perked up, he listened to her before looking over to Ruby.
“You can understand her?” The baby dragon asked in amazement.
“I speak with animals on a different level. Besides, most animals speak in body language more than anything.” Sunshy explained as he walked over to her. With a bright smile, he leaned down to be eye-level with her and asked, “Would you like to ride on her back?”
“Would I!” Ruby exclaimed before laughing and running over to Celly’s side.
The manticore smiled and lied down, leaning heavily to the right. Still laughing, the dragon baby clambered up onto the beast’s back. Once on, Celly stood back up, which almost threw Ruby off. She grasped the manticore’s fur to prevent such a thing.
“Well, what do we have here?”
This new voice brought with it another male zebra. This one wore a suit on his front half, it was rather pristine and seemed so out-of-place with all Sunshy knew. The zebra bowed with a hoof crossing over his chest the other to the pegasus. His rather greasy smile would not leave his face.
“Name’s Mayor on account of I am. You are?”
“The pegasus your guards ordered to knock out even after confirming my sister and I weren’t hostile.” Sunshy replied in a flat tone. Mayor was unabashed and continued smiling.
“Yes, well, we don’t get many of your kind ‘round these parts. Can’t blame them for being careful for the safety of their kin, now can ya?” He asked with a glint in his eye.
“I guess it doesn’t matter now. Do you have any injured?” Sunshy decided against telling him Zen was the one to let him out. He did not want the nice zebra to get in trouble.
“Why, yes, we do. Raiders ‘round these parts. Tenacious little bastards, ya know.” Mayor chuckled at what must have been an inside joke.
“Good. I hope you don’t mind if I set up a medical tent and treat them.” Sunshy’s tone, though flat, said he was going to go ahead and help even if Mayor said no.
“Go right ahead.” Mayor swept his hoof towards the community.
Giving him a nod, the pegasus walked forward with the manticore following. As they walked, the zebra and scant ponies gave them wary looks. They tried not to feel bothered by the tense atmosphere. It was easy enough with Ruby laughing and whooping it up, playing cowponies on Celly’s back. Somehow, seeing the baby dragon accept the monster made the inhabitants of the community relax somewhat.
Upon finding an open spot between a heavily leaning crumbled building and a circular tent, Celly and Sunshy stopped walking. The pegasus pulled out a long white sheet from one of the manticore’s bags. Ruby jumped off and helped pull out poles that could be screwed together. Having opposable thumbs helped quite a bit in screwing them together.
Working with deft and practiced movements, the pegasus held the sheet aloft in the air while Celly placed the poles in their proper spots with Ruby’s help. Within a few minutes, a large white tent was pitched and the flag of Fluttershy’s cutie mark was hoisted; it fluttered in the soft breeze. The trio stood in front of the tent, admiring their work.
“Excuse me.” A shy higher-pitched voice called out.
Smiling, Sunshy turned around and saw a small female zebra. “Can I help you?” He asked helpfully.
“Is…you doctor?” She asked timidly, her ears flattened.
“I sure am! I’m able to help in all manner of injuries, sever or minor.” Sunshy boasted with pride; he did not want to point out her broken speech.
“Really?” Her ears perked, as did her attitude. “Can you perform surgery?”
“What kind do you need?” Sunshy asked, still smiling.
“Oh, it’s not for me. My friend has been asking for a doctor our town doesn’t have. Tummy pains.” She replied, a hopeful smile spreading.
“Just bring him over and I’ll do what I can. Oh, and if you know of anyone else in need of help, point them in my direction.”
“Okay! I will, thank you!”
The zebra filly galloped away, shouting in her native tongue about the doctor in town. Before he knew it, Sunshy was swarmed with zebras and ponies, all begging him for treatment. It took some pleads and a roar to calm them down, but once they were, the doctor asked for them to gather as many mattresses as they could.
The sun was sliding down into the west before Sunshy finished treating his last patient. Over half of those who came to him for help were just worriers with nothing ailing them. The other half consisted of seasoned warriors who had come back from attacking their troublesome Raider camp to the north. The worst turned out to be the zebra with the pains. A physical and some prodding in his aching area suggested something truly was not right. Surgery proved that he had a malignant tumor growing in his intestines; it was small and easily removed.
Once the healing was done with, the doctor pony gave the centuries-old advice to his patients. Bedrest. Some grumbled and others tried to refuse and leave. A large lion paw stepping in front of the tent flap exit squashed that idea down.
Brown eyes widened a little in awe upon walking into the medical tent. Dozens of mattresses lied upon the ground; each held a zebra or pony. Way in the back was the manticore, standing as proudly and stiff as any lioness statue. A wooden board hung around her neck. On it was written, “Be nice to the pegasus or I’ll eat you.”
“Celly! That’s the wrong sign!” Sunshy scolded his sister as he walked over to her from a patient.
The manticore huffed, slipped off the sign, flipped it over, and put it back on. It was the same message, written in Zebra. A couple of the patients chuckled while Sunshy sighed in annoyance, shook his head, and pulled out a Sparkle~Cola, taking a swig. He did not notice a patient snatching the cap he had carelessly tossed aside.
“You seem swamped.” Zen commented with a smile, walking over to the yellow and red pegasus.
“Not as bad as taking care of killing joke victims, but…” Sunshy swung his head around in anger and stomped his front hooves. “I hate these raiders! They make me so mad, I could…I could…I could just kick something!”
Rearing onto his front hooves, the pegasus bucked at an almost empty jug of water. It wobbled over, precariously close to falling, and then righted itself back up. The patients were polite enough to hide their laughter behind their hooves. An amused smile on his face, Zen stepped closer and asked, “Feeling better?”
“No!” Sunshy shouted, stomping his hooves.
“Try screaming, that usually helps.” A patient offered.
“No, I’d get laughed at.” The pegasus grumbled, shaking his head.
“I’ve got something to help.” Zen offered. He reached into one of his saddlebags and pulled out a bottle of whiskey.
A couple patients started shouting and calling out for the liquor, but were silenced with a roar from the manticore. Sunshy walked over to Zen holding the bottle of auburn bubbly warmth, strength, and stupidity. With a smile, Zen set down the bottle in front of the yellow stallion. The pegasus stared down at it stoically, evenly, appraising it silently. He raised a hoof, pressed it on the top, and pushed the bottle down. Looking at Zen dead in the eyes, he stated in Zebra, ”Alcohol is a gift from the stars."
A collective gasp was closely followed by hushed whispers and accusatory glances. Nervously, the zebra in front of the doctor looked around at the patients. Trying to help the pegasus save face, he said, “I don’t think you understand—“
”I understand perfectly the weight of my words. I studied the beliefs of zebras for most of my life. And this is what I believe. Drugs such as narcotics and alcohol are made by pony and zebra hooves and guided by the stars. I refuse this help.”
Everyone was stunned silent at the heavy weight of his words and tone. In a passive-aggressive motion, Sunshy bumped Zen out of his way as he walked to the exit. When he was outside, his yellow coat shone brilliantly with the sun, his wings shimmered, and his mane and tail billowed wonderfully in the golden light of the savannah. With a couple powerful beats, he lifted off the ground; a couple more and he was gone.
There was nothing like the freedom of flying. It was exhilarating, adventurous, dangerous, fun, so much more…The feeling of the wind billowing around his mane, coat, and feathers…It was freeing. The fear, the hopes, the anger, the good and bad, it was all gone. It all blew away with the wind. All of it fell away as the breeze passed over his body.
Closing his eyes, he dipped his right wing down towards the ground. The pegasus spun in the air, barrel rolling over and over until he felt dizzy. Then he righted himself and glided on the updrafts; there were plenty in the hot landscape. Dipping his left wing, he banked hard and made a heavy U-turn, his body completely vertical against the sky and ground.
Hours of sky dancing later, and the pegasus felt assured he had left his anger behind. He arrived back in the town of Borderlands without being shot at upon entering. At the entrance flat to his med tent sat one downhearted zebra. Seeing and hearing the pegasus touching down, his head lifted and his ears flattened.
“Hey.” Zen greeted in a brokenhearted tone.
“I’m sorry for blowing up at you.” Sunshy apologized as he slipped into his tent.
“It’s my fault for pushing that on you.” The zebra replied, following the pegasus. His voice hushed upon seeing the sleeping patients. “I just try to make everyone feel…at peace. Alcohol is a good shortcut.”
“Why?” Sunshy asked in an equally quiet whisper, going to a patient and checking their vitals by hoof.
“Uh, I mean it—“
“Not the alcohol. Why do you want to make others feel at peace?”
“Well…truthfully, the teachings of Zen are about self-teachings and enlightenment, but you need to meditate first. The best way to do that is to relax, feel loosened up. That’s basically all alcohol does. I just wanted to help.” Zen dug at the dirt ground with one hoof. Sunshy realized (Be Smart!) that it was his way of showing nervousness.
“Why do you want to help so badly?” Sunshy questioned as he checked over another patient.
“I could ask the same of you. Don’t you help people because of a picture on your flank?” Zen asked curiously, wandering to Sunshy’s other side; he was growled at lightly by Celly for getting too close. He backed away quickly.
“Not at all. I do not shy away from the sun just because it is my name. Nor do I help animals and people because that is what my cutie mark represents. You don’t see me shoving a roll of bandage in Celly’s mouth and making her smile and hold up her wings to imitate it, either.” Sunshy chuckled at himself as he walked over to another patient.
“Then why?” Zen questioned.
“Because cutie marks appear when you discover what you’re good at and what makes you happy. I’m a doctor because I love to help those in need. Not because of a picture on my flanks. What about you?” The yellow pony turned to the zebra, his head turned to the side.
Red hair fell over his face, covering one eye, and yet he did not bother moving it away. Without thinking, Zen reached out a hoof and brushed the red mane away from the big cerulean eyes. Startled, Sunshy jerked back and stared at Zen while holding a hoof up defensively. Obviously, he was not used to his personal bubble being popped in such a way.
“Sorry…” Zen apologized and dug his hoof against the ground. As he was looking down, he missed the light blush that turned Sunshy’s face orange. “I uh…I do what I do because it’s all I’m good at. I like meditating so I want to spread it to others…”
“You also seem to be good at melee attacks.” Sunshy pointed out, letting the awkward moment slide.
“Yeah…” Zen looked away, digging at the ground again.
“His name is actually Zuberi, it’s Zebra for strong.” Ruby piped up. Startled, Zen whipped his head to face her; she was lying against Celly.
“Really? I guess something must have happened for you to change it.” Sunshy continued with his rounds. “I won’t pry.”
“Thanks. And that was unnecessary.” He shot a glare at Ruby, who shrugged at him and snuggled against the warm and fuzzy body of the manticore.
“Can you get an extra mattress for me?” The pegasus politely requested of Zen.
“You’re not sleeping here, are you?” The zebra asked in shock.
“I have to, in case something goes wrong.” Sunshy replied bluntly.
“Yeah, be right back.”
The pegasus smiled at the zebra as he left; he missed the blushing. The awake patients, however, did not and jeered at him teasingly as he walked out. The zebra only stuck his tongue out at them before galloping into the oncoming night.
When he returned, dragging the best mattress he could find, Zen found Sunshy already fast asleep, lying against Celly. As he dragged the mattress inside the tent, the zebra stared at the glowing golden eyes following his every move. A shiver raked his body; Celly was pretty creepy when she wanted to be.
Zen set the mattress down beside the sleeping pegasus. Carefully, so as not to wake him, Celly lifted her paw until Sunshy fell over into a proper sleeping position upon the rather clean mattress. Then she gingerly picked up the equally sleeping baby dragon and set her beside Sunshy. In their sleep, the two snuggled closer, unconsciously seeking out warmth.
Celly purred at the adorable scene and lied down, her head resting beside her brother. Those eyes, though, stared up at the zebra. He had been entranced by the pure cute of pegasus and baby dragon, but those eyes made him shiver without even seeing them.
“What?” He whispered at her defensively.
She did not say anything; rather, she could not talk in a language he would understand. As such, she did not bother wasting her breath. Instead, she simply stared at him. Those glowing eyes were hypnotizing in a way very different from Sunshy’s cerulean eyes.
The pony’s eyes were warm pools of freely given love that captured hearts without knowing it; he was so innocent and caring that one could not help but stare. Those golden eyes, however, were cold, calculating, judging. Her gaze pierced straight into his soul, sizing both him and it up. Deciding if he was worthy of being near her dearest loving brother. They were endless pools that one could fall into. Hypnotizing in the worst way.
“I swear I won’t hurt him.” Zen consoled the manticore before turning and walking out of the tent, heading to his own home.
Purring, Celly laid her head upon her brother’s neck. He sighed happily and snuggled closer to her body warmth. Without even knowing it, Zen had gained her trust. She would not let him know that just yet. Or anytime soon; it was too fun to have a little punching bag.
Level up! You are now level 5!
Medicine at 100!
Perk added! Confirmed Buckchelor: +10% damage to those of the same sex and unique dialogue options with certain people.