//------------------------------// // The Fillies are the Prettiest // Story: Fallout Equestria: Road Home // by EchoUnicorn //------------------------------//     The trip down the mountain took much longer than I anticipated. Due to a train’s limited movement, the tracks had to twist around cliffs and through tunnels just to reach the ground. Light had begun to fade. I guess the sun was setting. It was hard to tell through all of the clouds. It would be surprising if the sun and moon moved at all with the Princesses either dead or in the Canterlot Stable.     Standing before the edge of the forest, I could see colorful carts littered throughout the dead trees. Iron rails cut through the thick woods creating a fine line of clearing. Following the rails, I listened to the woods for anything that might have survived the megaspells. A soft clicking from my pipbuck signaled my arrival at the point where the sky highway crossed above the tracks. Somehow the carts stayed vaguely in the same line despite the explosion from Cloudsdale. A couple lay on the rails or in the nearby trees. There were ponies too. Pulled from their carts by the blast or left hanging from the harnesses. I saw a couple standing as well. Their movements sluggish like Treble's. Just more lost souls. I continued on, reminded by another coughing fit that this place was not safe to linger. I kept my ears open and my eyes on the shambling ponies. Treble recognised me, these ‘things’ may not be as kind. Trotting around a cart, ignoring the hooves jutting from underneath, I spotted a bright, yellow box cart. The side bore large pink butterflies. A M.o.P. delivery cart! I cantered up to it. Unfortunately it did not land gracefully. It had smacked hard against the tree leaving the poor buck impaled in its branches. The rear door was smashed and dented in. Climbing up the side I looked for the small vent these carts normally had. I found it and went to pry it off, then I stopped. A soft sound could be heard through the vent. Crying? It continued. I pulled myself closer and tried to peer in but the slits were too small to see properly. “Hello?” I spoke into the vent. A small squeak followed by silence answered me. “It's okay. I know somepony is in there.” Still nothing. Jumping down I plucked a metal rod and a rock from the debris. Sitting on top of the cart I wedged the rod under the vent and lay it over the rock. I may not have a screwdriver but I know these carts are cheaply made. Pressing with all of my weight the vent popped free and flipped over the side of the cart, clattering to the ground. I peered inside but saw nothing. The light had gradually faded until I could only see my hooves in front of me. Eyeing my pipbuck I remember another one of its useful functions. Turning my leg I searched for a switch that would toggle the lamp these were advertised to have. With no luck I began trying every button and switch. Holding one button I nearly blinded myself with the light. I thrust it away from me to allow my eyes to adjust then angled it down into the cart. There, somepony sat curled under a blanket. I would have missed them if it had not been for their brightly colored tail sticking out. They were shaking. The cart was small but easily held hundreds of bits worth of medical crates. I stepped down, testing my hooves on the tossed cargo. Easing myself down next to the small, shivering bundle, I sat to the side among the empty radaway packets. “Hey.” I reached out a hoof toward them. They jumped as I pressed my hoof on the blanket and pulled it from their head. A filly sat before me. No older than ten. Her dark fur patchy and her bright mane stringy and thin. I moved to touch her. She jumped back, holding her hooves up. “Please! No!” She curled into a tight ball. “D-don't hurt me like Daddy. We always loved zebras. I promise!” I reeled back. Biting my hoof I cast a glance up at the hole I had opened. The poor filly already knew. “No. No. I am no zebra. See?” I held my leg up to shine the light toward me. She covered her head with the blanket. “Did not think I looked that bad.” “Were you attacked by the zebras too?” “What?” I watched her remove the blanket and wrap her legs around it in a hug. “Like Daddy? She looked up toward the hole. “Yeah… I guess. We hurt the zebras, too.” I shook my head. “None of that should have happened.” She wiped her eyes, hugging the blanket tighter. I moved closer and lay down to her level. “Hey, it will be alright. What is your name?” “My- my name is Morning Dew.” I nodded. “I am Spring Leaf. What is a lovely little filly like you doing in the back of a medical cart anyway?” “You won’t tell anypony will you?” I chuckled. “Alright.” “Daddy sneaks me in the cart when he has to go to Cloudsdale. He takes me to see Grandma and Grandpa, but mom doesn't like heights so she stays home.” Tears started to drip down her face. “Guess we can’t do that anymore.” “Hey-” I stopped short, coughing into my hooves. There was a coppery taste in my mouth. Morning Dew jumped up and rushed over to one of the overturned crates. She pulled out several packets and shoved them into my hooves. “When we crashed Daddy told me to drink these if I feel sick.” “T-Thank you.” I downed the orange liquid, nearly vomiting it back up. I wish there was a way we could have fixed that taste. Turning toward my pip-buck I glanced at the rad meter. It sat in the red. The radaway should have started to remove the radiation immediately. I guess it is worse than I thought. Sucking down two more packets, I turned my attention back to Morning Dew. The filly sat wrapped in the blanket again. “You said your mother did not go with you. Where is she?” “Mom should be at home. In Vanhoover.” “I am heading that way. I could take you there.” I smiled at her. She started to cry. “Th-thank you. I don't want to be here anymore.” Morning Dew hugged my chest wiping her face on my sweater. “It's always dark an-and I can hear things outside. I-I really wanna to go home.” I did my best to comfort her but I knew what ‘things’ she was talking about. Those zombie ponies outside did not care for me, however they gave me an unsettling feeling. “Alright, help me gather as much of these medical supplies as possible then we can go.” ---------- WIth our bags full I had Morning Dew climb on my back. She was worried that I would not be able to climb with her and my heavy saddle bags. I reassured her that, even though I may be short for a stallion my age, I am still an earth pony. I eased my way back up the crates to the vent I had opened. “Alright, climb up. Be careful it is awful dark out so stay near the hole.” “Okay.” Her hooves left my back and I could hear the soft clip of them on the metal above. “I’m out Mr. Spring Leaf.” “Alright, here I come.” After pulling myself up I took a look around with my pip-buck. Those zombie ponies were watching us. Their glowing eyes surrounded us like predators. “What are those things?” “They are lost ponies who have forgotten who they were. Just ghost.” Morning Dew grabbed my leg. “They look like monsters.” “They should be fine. Now, let us get going. It is still a long way to Vanhoover.” With her on my back I eased us down onto the snow. As soon as my hooves touched the ground I heard a sudden snap. I jerked the light behind us to see one of the zombies rush toward us.`Morning Dew screamed and I lash out with my back hoof, knocking it away. I was not nearly strong enough to keep it off of us so I bolted, following the tracks the best I could. I could feel that something was off with those things. Why did they not attack when I passed earlier? Did it have something to do with the lack of light? “I-I thought that they wouldn’t do anything!” “They did nothing earlier. It will be alright, just hold on!” I ran, jumped, slipped, anything to keep away from the zombies. There was nothing I could do but follow the tracks. No towns were situated along this rail line, so my only hope was to loose them before the tunnel. My chest burned as I ran. It felt as if my lungs refused to take in the oxygen. Between whatever that pink cloud had done and these zombies, I was beginning to have my doubts on making it to Vanhoover. Morning Dew shrieked as one of the zombies dived for us and missed. I jumped out of the way just in time for another to come barreling from the sky. Guess they remembered they have wings. Up ahead a pale orange light cut through the darkness. The tunnel entrance sat before us, just a few more yards. I was gasping for air at this point but I had to keep going. If we made it I could lock us in a maintenance room and… My thoughts faltered. Hooves no longer found purchase on the ground and I tripped over myself, sending Morning Dew skidding through the mud and snow. I tried to move myself, to just stand. My legs were just too weak. Between my labored breathing and coughing I could hear zombies screech nearby. Then I felt her tiny hooves nudging me, she begged me to get up. There was no way I could without time to rest. I held Morning Dew's shoulders, tears pouring down her face, I pushed her as hard as I could toward the tunnel. The filly screamed and a zombie jumped me. It knocked me over. I lashed out with my hooves to keep its snapping maw away from my face. Just as my strength began to fail me a blinding yellow light blasted the creature off. It now lay unmoving a few yards away. Managing to stand I started toward the tunnel before another blast knocked away a zombie diving from above. Morning Dew pushed me toward the tunnel. Standing there, silhouetted by the the pale light, was a unicorn. Their yellow magic shining brighter than the weak lights. Beams streaked through the darkness at unseen zombies. We neared them and they turned, readying their spell. The unicorn lifted their head to confirm the target then stopped, canceling the spell. “Morning Dew?” He stared at her in disbelief. “Uncle Goodie!” Leaving my side she ran to him. They held each other. In the dark I could see tears reflect the pale light. Not wanting to interrupt the tearful reunion, I turned away and emptied my stomach of every ounce of radaway I had ingested earlier. Then, promptly collapsed.