(Author's Note: This was an attempt at a new storyline that I will likely continue. While I liked many of the concepts involved, I do not like how the character and plot turned out. I've gone back to the drawing board, but you may see a large portion of this text show up in my latter work.
Also, the mmmmm is a placeholder for names I had not yet come up with.)
Character Introduction – Hex
Unicorn Mare Stableborn
Strength 5(-3) 2
Perception 6(+1) 7
Endurance 10(-2) 8
Charisma 6 6
Intelligence 7 7
Agility 5 5
Luck 1 1
(Magic) 5 5
Coat: Deep Purple
Mane: Star Blue
Eyes: Sky Blue
Likes: Getting away with It, Cute Bucks, Strategy games.
Dislikes: Her Luck, Her current (lack of) Magical Ability
The seven of us stood in an uneven group between the two massive doors. The briefing claimed the transfer took only a few minutes before switching to the outside air, but as we eyed each other cautiously, time seemed to stretch on and on. The briefing had been positive of course. We were sure to get along great, the outside was sure to safe now, all we had to do was set up a camp, explore to prove it was safe and come back. “If you confirm an all clear, We'll send out a professional party to see your work! When they give the all clear, I'll open the Stable and you will our heroes!” The Overmare had sounded entirely convinced of their soon to come success, giving smiles and hoof-shakes. Such a glorious day for Stable 56!
The ceremony was identical to the one presented last year of course. Stable 56 sent out ponies Every year to explore the waste. And the studiously ignored fact was that never, not once, had the Overmare sent out a 'professional team.' Most ponies assumed those sent outside just died, but a few of the more cynical ones believed the Overmare was ignoring reports. Cynicism with a bit of backwards optimism thrown in. I hoped they were right. Find out in a few minutes...
I looked around at the ponies I would be stuck with for the rest of my potentially short life.
To my right was Recall. The small, light blue earth buck had a mane which started the color of his coat but turned black at the ends. He still had a bit of cake on his muzzle from the Happy Exploring feast. The whole Stable knew him for his fantastic memory. Also know for his Inflated ego and tendency to brag. He did great back in school, jumping two classes. Ended up finishing the entire curriculum before even getting his cutie mark, an old-style camera. I hadn't heard much about him since he graduated, but he must have done something to piss of the Overmare. She wasn't one to throw out the kind of talent on a whim. As I watched him, his flat blue eyes met mine. He was scoping out the room too, no doubt writing us all off as useless. If I could get in as his friend early... nah. I'd never be able to stand his attitude.
Next to him stood Breeze and North Gust, Breeze digging her head into her Father's side. North Gust was a strong Earth Stallion from Maintenance His cutie mark, a cross wrench above a heart, perfectly fit his role as a loving and hardworking father. His coat was a dark brown and his mane a slightly lighter shade. His dark eyes looked only at his daughter; he seemed to be whispering to her, no doubt trying to reassure her in the new setting.
Breeze, in stark contrast to her father, had a pure white coat and mane. Her eyes were the only part of her with color, being a light brown which matched her father's mane. The poor unicorn was shivering against her father, trying to burrow her head farther into his side. It must have hurt him, her digging her horn in like that, but North Gust showed no sign.
I could guess why they were here. Breeze was born to Polaris and North Star a few years back and while people wondered at her unusual coloring, so unlike her parents, they had kept to themselves. The doctors initially though she was albino, but her eyes changed from red within the first few weeks and everything seemed to be going great. I don't listen to the Lucky 500 too often, so I didn't hear most of the baby stories (and other crap) that might have kept me informed of the foals early years.
It was a few years after Breeze's birth that I heard her name again. Apparently she hadn't spoken yet, at an age when her peers wouldn't stop talking. Doctor Twoheart eventually said she was just shy, give her a few years, etc. Long story short, she never started talking, or really interacting. No doubt the Overmare had chosen to throw her out when Five Paragraph had proclaimed her unteachable. North Gust wouldn't leave his child for the world; ten to one odds he had volunteered to accompany her.
Over in the far corner was Jail Break. The Earth Stallion's coat was an obnoxious neon orange, and his mane pure black. His eyes were a deep black as well, the coloration making it difficult to tell where he was looking. The Stallion had been punished so many time by the Overmare, is was a surprise he hadn't been thrown out years ago. One rumor said he'd blackmailed the Overmare, and another claimed he was her, um, special someone. Whatever the truth, he was with us now and I was none too happy about it. Hopefully North Gust could keep the convict in line.
Now looking to my left, I spotted Black Eye. She was a growing earth pony, still without her cutie mark. It was unusual for the Overmare to send out ponies so young, but Black Eye's mother had died in an acid leak down in Maintenance years back. Her father, who had stayed unnamed on her Stable Birth Report, never showed up to claim her, so maybe he was dead to. Left without a family to care for her, she was an obvious choice. The Pale yellow pony had purple-to-blue splotches that earned her her name. She was rather coltish for her age, although she'd have to be to keep the other ponies off her. She seemed focused on Jail Break, eyes wide, perhaps contemplating what he could do to her spine.
Last was Plume, another freak birth. Plume was the, and I mean THE, Stable pegasus. She hid her deep red wings beneath a modified Stable 56 Security barding, the only clothes of our entire group, and eyed us with the gaze of a trained security pony. Of course the Overmare wouldn't let us take anything out of the Stable, as 200 years of ponies leaving would have stripped the Stable of everything Plume must have fought hard to get that barding. She'd completed the Security training not a month ago and immediately volunteered for the next exploration party. She was, unsurprisingly, keeping a yellow eye on Jail Break, but I really doubted she could take him unarmed as she was. Hooves crossed we never found out.
The silence continued to stretch, with only the soft murmurings of North Gust and the background noise of the rusty circulation fans providing a sense of time passing. Bored, I sat down with a thump, drawing looks from all but Breeze. North Gust snorted and when back to his child. Recall rolled his eyes, lay down, and apparently began to nap. Some ponies...
Jail Break seemed about to say something when the fan sounds changed. The air began to leave the room, the wind proceeding upwards toward the vents. My ears popped once, then again. I took a deep breath as instructed, hearing repeats around me. The air continued out, the Stable reclaiming every last bit it could before repressuring the air lock from outside. It was getting painful. My eyes hurt so I closed them. Breeze was making whimpering noises, muffled by the low air pressure, obviously not holding her breath. It would be terrible if she died before even getting outside!
As I began to consider the likelihood of the Overmare simply killing us all, the fans reversed with a loud clanking. IN the walls, various somethings snapped and sealed, protecting the Stable. Then the air began to return. Well, this was it. Time to live or die. As my ears began popping again, I blew out my now stale air and took in a breath of the other world.
It smelled... rusty. Not just rusty. There were hints of something else, flavors that I hadn't experienced before. It was noticeably empty of the overpowering odor of Stable air, built up from years of sweating, active ponies and mostly efficient air reconditioners. This new air smelled almost, well, nonexistent. You could almost forget you were breathing, with air of this quality.
OK, bad thought. I took another breath, working my jaw to facilitate my ear's struggle against air pressure. Looks like I was gonna make it, anyway. My heart was going a mile a minute, but otherwise I felt fine. I cautiously opened my eyes.
Breeze was gasping on the floor, bleeding out of her tear ducts and nose. It looked pretty grizzly, the blood staining her mane. North Gust was doing everything her could, which sadly wasn't much with the tools he had. He stood over her, stroking her coat and wiping her face intermittently. His coat barely showed the spot where he wiped his hooves, the blood and coat blending together. Plume walked over to see if she could help and Black Eye, now left alone next to Jail Break, scooted backwards toward me.
“So, what do you think we'll find out there?” She asked skittishly. Trying to buddy up already?
When I didn't answer immediately she continued on, “I head some of the Maintenance mares chatting. They said that the bombs probably destroyed everything and there isn't anything but stars out side. That is why the ponies who leave never come back, cause they fall out into the stars and just keep falling and falling. Of course, Five Paragraph said that was rubbish because the bombs couldn't blow up THAT much and if that was the case why wasn't the whole Stable falling too?”
She was speeding up as she talked, both excited and frightened.
“Instead, he said the reason nopony comes back is because they made a big city and they don't want to come back. I asked him why they didn't come tell us to come out too then, but he said it was because they were all bad ponies, so they kept it a secret. I don't want to be a bad pony, so I promised to tell him if that was true. Do you think it's true?” I nearly started to answer before she continued. “Of course, when I told the Maintenance mares, they told me I was stupid and...”
This needed to stop before she ran out of air in the room to speak with. I interrupted, “No, I don't think there is a big city out there.” Black Eye was stumbling over her words, trying to finish another sentence before listening (I hoped). “I think there are a bunch of burned out cities, dead ponies, and little else. Now, IF you don't mind, I'm going to plan with Plume. A good filly would keep quiet while the adults talk.” With that I walked off, leaving the crushed gal mumbling, “I'm not a filly.”
I reached Plume who was awkwardly attempting to help North Gust. I tapped her shoulder and began when she turned away.
“So, do we have a plan for the big one over there?” I nodded toward Jail Break. “I don't know how much of a chance we've got, but I doubt it will improve with him around.”
Plume looked down slightly at me and wrinkled her forehead. “I don't like him much either, but I don't plan to leave anyone behind. Until we get supplies and some sort of base camp, I'd rather keep around the muscle. After that, we can talk about it as a group. With luck he'll leave on his own, though I'm not counting on it. Freedom will be nice, but having prey might be tempting too...”
“Heh, ya don't need a worry bout me none.” How a giant, bright Orange pony can sneak with far beyond me, but he pulled it off. “I'ma be off the second dis door's open, an I'd 'preciate ya all letin me go.”
Plume considered, eying the two foals, me and Recall. None of us had the 'muscle' she was looking for, that was for sure. She wasn't all that buff herself. She responded, “I don't entirely like it, but I'm not going to stop you.”
What further she was going to say was swallowed up by the screeching of gear. The outer door slide out of its place, red lights flashing. North Gust moved Breeze out of the way of the door and a metal arm descended from the ceiling to connect to the thick circular plate. The arm passed directly over Recall, still snoozing. With a ringing Bang, the arm and door connected and the door was rolled to the side, allowing us our first view of the outside world...
It wasn't all that impressive, truthfully. A rocky tunnel proceeded, yellow light reflecting off rocks to illuminate our rusted room. Slowly a few small bulbs flickered to life along the walls, hung at head level. Some flying creature could be heard exiting the cave, no doubt alarmed by the noise. Amazingly boring.
Then, as the echos of the door began to fade, I heard something else. I periodic squeak, squeak, coming from the exit of the cave. It was slowly approaching, getting slightly louder. Plume looked around for a second before stepping up to the exit and placing a careful hoof onto the earth outside. I didn't want her to have to stand alone, so I took a few steps forward to stand in her shadow. Yep, I sure am helpful! Finally the squeaking noise drew close enough that I could tell it was coming from... the floor?
A metal box balanced on a single wheel rolled around the corner. The squeaking stopped as it came to a halt before us. For a second there was silence; we all starred at the unmoving box, not sure whether it was a threat. Then, with an extravagant wave of its arms, the robot, for that is what it was, began to proclaim in a tinny voice.
“Hello Stable Dwellers! Welcome to the Wasteland! I am mmmmm, known by my locally designated name of mmmmm. I am here to present each of you with a standard Pipbuck upgrade, provided free of charge by my creators, the mmmmm corporation! If you would please turn you Pipbucks to channel CT and press accept, you will receive your gift!”
Perhaps it was shock. Perhaps it was the sheer absurdity. Perhaps it was Plume reaching toward her Pipbuck. Regardless, we all followed suit, twiddling with our Pipbucks and receiving the promised download. North Gust took a few seconds of poking at his daughters smaller Pipbuck 2000 before he got everything correct and nodded to the bot.
I looked back to my Pipbuck. Code (I assume) began scrolling past the screen for moments before everything closed down to a single prompt >Restart to complete installation. Y or N. I hit Y and my Pipbuck shutdown completely. I counted, One... Two... Three... There it was. The start-up screen showed what I can only assume is the mmmmm company logo, before swapping over to a sleek, redesigned interface.
“Very good! I have received confirmation of all seven downloads!” I guess Recall was listening. “Now I will lead you to the New-U station! Please keep up!”
With that the robot backed up, did a 180 turn, and zoomed off out of the cave with that repetitive squeak.
Given a second of respite from the onslaught of new information, we looked at each other “Well, that was unexpected” I started.
“Nothing was expected.” Recall turned his head back to face us and got up off the ground. He didn't open his eyes however... strange. “It would be stupid to assume we can have any idea what has been going on outside Stable 56 for the last 200 years. Just because nothing changed in the 1000 years of Celestia's reign doesn't mean nothing has now that the Princesses are dead.”
“True” said Plume, obviously warming to her role as unofficial leader. “The important thing isn't what we can't know, however. What is important is that we remain careful of everything, including this little robot, until we have a good handle on what IS going on. Agreed?”
I have no idea why she was even asking us, but everypony nodded their head demurely. Well, Recall's nod was less demure and more all-knowing, and Jail Break's nod might have been a nervous twitch, but Plume took it as a consensus continued.
“Ok, in the tunnel I'd like Jail Break and myself to lead the group. North Gust will be in back. I can trust you to keep anypony from straying, yes?” North Gust nodded an affirmative. “Good. Everyone ready?”
Not like we have to pack or anything... We started along the tunnel.
The Stable 56 cave switched back and forth before opening out into....
“Celestia! that is BIG!” At first Plume's body blocked my view out, but when she feel to her haunches looking up, I got a good look.
The ceiling of the Wasteland was hundreds of feet in the air. The fact that it still hung there 200 years after the Princess' death... well they must have been as powerful as the stories say to pull off magic like that. The ceiling stretched out, farther and farther, an unbelievable distance. There wasn't a single support either... Just this bumpy mass going on and on. It seemed to be made of steam or something similar, through there was no source in site. Maybe the Princesses kept it hot so that is rose to cover the real ceiling. Still, the sky had to be held up somehow and I doubted the 'clouds' (I study sometimes) were doing it. The mass must be enormous! That had to be the strongest kinetic spell in the history of Equestria.
Slowly my gaze was drawn downward from the shifting mass to the borders. Some sort of jagged rocks formed the horizon, rocks of un-imaginable size. Between two, nearly straight ahead of us, shone a yellowish light. The sun? No way to tell but to watch and see if it moved I guess...
And down below. I moved forward, passing Plume who was still looking at the cloud things, and reached the end of the rocky platform that the cave opened out onto. I looked down...
You know, I've done some stupid things in my life. Most ponies in the Stable thing that all the little incidents are due to my not paying attention, but very few are. Most of the time I'm very... ok, pretty careful. I usually notice before I do something totally moronic. Like look down a 500 foot cliff for instance. You know, it's just that little moment of self reflection which makes all the difference.
Vertigo overtook me instantly. I lost my balance and, as my luck is, continued forward over the edge. I watched with horror as I started my final plummet, only to be distracted from certain death from a terrible pain at the base of my tail. Recall, being the kind of buck to notice everything, had a good hold of my tail in his mouth. After a bit of struggle my balance was corrected and I feel backward onto him.
“Why, thank you for that Recall. I'm glad my certain death was avoided. Are you okay?” I got off of him, careful not to plant a hoof on anything important.
“My teeth hurt, but I will be fine. It IS good is was paying attention, as it seems our stronger members were preoccupied.”
Indeed, looking around, they were only now reacting to the incident with divided attention. Plume, facing us but looking elsewhere, said “you'll be fine, ok. We should get going.”
“Perhaps after everyone is willing to look where they are walking,” suggested Recall sarcastically. I took the time to continue my study of the land below, this time from a few steps back.
The Wasteland seemed to be a dirty, dry sort of place. Directly Below us were hills. I saw a few farms that seemed unsuccessful scattered about. The were connected by small, deserted paths which came together and lead out to a larger path made of a black material. The distance made it hard to tell, but that path looked a bit wider; maybe a road? It connected to a collection of house and then moved out to the middle of the valley.
The middle of the valley was split by a crevice in the ground running perpendicular to our mountain. I saw a bridge across it; there might have been more to the edges. Built next to the crevice, fairly centered in the valley, as a small city. I didn't pay it much attention. Normally I would claim to know a small city from a large one, but I had a great example of the later in view.
On the far side of the crevice, a bit to our right as we faced out, was a city or massive proportions. It was more than 100 times the size of the other, made of blocks and blocks. It was too far for me to make out the condition of the buildings and roads. I could see a few taller buildings near the center of the city. Also obvious was a large well, offset from the center to the far side. It was too far to be sure, but I don't think any building remained in that portion of the city. Bombs indeed.
A few minutes passed with nopony looking interested in leaving, but then the robot returned. Its squeaks were not as a apparent outside of the Stable Cave, bouncing outward into the massive space of the valley. He came around the corner and said, “Come on! Over Here!” He waved his arms comically and turned down a path to the right. Weary from the sight of the valley, our group slowly rose and followed the bot down. His encouraging shouts of, “Over here!” were all the conversation we heard. At one point in the twenty minute walk I thought Black Eye was going to attempt a conversation, but one look and she returned to walking head down. In single file we proceeded to whatever lay below.
You might be surprised how hard it is to walk down hill. No, you aren't fitting gravity. But you are fighting your own acceleration. Truthfully, unless you are willing to run you are going to be taking a constant pounding on your knees. I wasn't about to run and, with any of my luck, go flying off an edge. Instead I kept on down the sloped surface, an ache growing in my four knees with every step.
Eventually Black Eye got bored of the silence and decided to enjoy herself. This enjoyment took the form of a weird little tip-hoof step. I looked back at the unusual sound. Her legs were nearly blurring as she took huge number of tiny steps, swaying back and forth in some indeterminable pattern. At first she stumbled often, but she did less and less as I watched. Of course, then I stumbled and was forced to keep my head straight. Within a few minutes the pony had caught up to me using her little tip-step. She saw me looking a smiled before zooming off ahead.
“Wait a second there, Black Eye.” I cautiously sped up to catch her and ended up sliding as I tried to slow down. She gave me that smile again as I wave my tail in a vain attempt a balance. I picked myself up as she continued by.
“So, whats with the dance you've got going there? You're going to tire yourself out if you keep that up.”
“Maybe, its much safer and faster than those giant steps you're taking. When I miss a step, I'm already getting ready for the next one anyway so I don't lose much balance. And I can speed up without risking my balance further.”
“huh” I tried shortening my steps. Sure enough I got more stable, but I could tell that ten minutes of doing that would leave me unable to walk. I lengthened up a bit more as I responded. “Interesting theory. Where did you learn to that?”
“I taught myself in the Stable, of course. Too many ponies take walking for granted. I'm gonna master it!” With a little nod of her head she scooted off ahead to catch up to Plume.
The other ponies slowly began conversations. We weren't all that near to the bottom yet when we turned a corner to see a green-grey mare sitting on a wooden chair knitting. The process looked like quite an ordeal, involving three legs and her teeth, but I don't get a chance to watch as she put the half-finished piece down in shock. Mmmmm wave to her and introduced us.
“Stable Dwellers! This is Mama Patches! She is will lead you to Welcome City! I must so do very important things, but you can see me later!” Turning to Mama Patches, he said “Make sure to take them to the New-U station!” With that, he turned an left us with the surprised mare.
Mama Patches got to her feet. “Well hello there! We weren't expecting you for another few days, so I apologize for the lack of a welcoming party.” She picked her sewing up and opened a stone-looking door. Her voice continued on as she moved around her, well I assume it was, house.
“Normally we have the openings well timed out and we have a welcoming party for new Wastelanders. Some food and friendship, and a place to stay for a few nights while you get accustomed. I make a delicious Rad-rat pie for it. Well, have to hurry to set something up anyway. The yearly party is one of the few bright points around here. Damned Calender should've let us know! Might be drunk again...”
She returned out the door, now wearing a sweater and saddle bags. The sweater looked ugly; leather pads had been attached to the front and sides, totally at odds with the gray and black diamonds. Strapped to one side was a pink and white pistol. Black Eye ogled the weapon as Mama Patches turned to follow the long gone robot. I was interested myself as to why she needed that kind of protection. More evidence that we weren't in our Stable anymore.
We continued down the mountain as she talked. “Now, I wasn't Stableborn myself, so I don't know exactly what you'll need to know about the Wasteland. The most obvious thing is to be careful. If you don't know what something is, leave it alone; the less attention you draw the better. If you want to stay safe, you'll find a nice town to settle down in, and when you travel between places you'll stay with a caravan. We're safe up here of course, but the valley roads aren't all that safe.”
“But Miss Patches. We aren't going to stay out Here! Now that we know it's safe, we have to go back to tell the Stable so that they can all come out!”
Mama Patches gave Black Eye a look of pity. “Honey, I know how nice that'd be, but it's not going ta happen. I've been living on this path for twenty years and every other some Stablepony goes back up to spread the good news to her friends. Every time, them come back down a few hours later, disappointed. Them Stable ponies don't want to hear it, I guess. Now, you don't need to worry about them any more, okay? The Wasteland ain't such a bad place, long as your careful 'bout your step.”
“And its Mama Patches, honey. I ain't no spring filly to my going around called Miss.”
Finally, we turned a corner and could see a small town below. The place seemed to be made entirely of rust and aluminum siding, with maybe 10 houses in all. It fit back against the cliff of the mountain, covered on all sides except one. The path we were on curves around to back, where a series of switchback led down to the back entrance.
Finally, after two hours of walking, we reached the small town. Sign over the back entrance was painted with “Welcome to Rubble, Stableborn!” The white paint was turning a dull orange on the edges, showing its age. Beneath the sign was a small welcoming party.
“The bot told us you were bringing some more along. I'm gonna kick Calender for this,” said a tall orange earth mare standing in the middle. She wore cracked glasses and had a open scroll Cutie Mark. Local Overmare, no doubt. She turned and smiled at our group.
“Welcome to Rubble! My name is Mayor Mare,” Ooh, originality. “I'm sure Mama Patches has given you a bit of information about Rubble and the Wasteland, but we can talk more about that tomorrow. For now, we are going to have a little party, courtesy of the mmmmm corporation.”
Ok, this mmmmm corporation was now officially annoying. What, did they pay off every pony in the Wastes to spout their name twice a minute?
Each of us was given what I could only guess was an escort. Mine was a cute blue unicorn buck with a mmmmm cutie mark.
“Hey there, what's your name handsome,” I asked. Mmmmm
The blue buck blushed a pleasant shade of purple. “mmmmm. I'm your guide for the next few days, and your guard in case of an emergency.”
“My own special protector! What an honor! What sort of things might I need protecting from out here?” The purple deepened.
“Well, bandits mostly. They set up a camp half a mile east of here a month back and we haven't cleared it out yet. I'm also suppose to protect everyone else from you, if you, you know, end up crazy or something.” He smiled apologetically.
“That happen often?” I was too interested to keep up the teasing.
“Often enough. Five years back, a stablepony buckshot old Calender in the leg when a Giant Radroach crawled in his tent. He killed the thing, and then shot the mare back for the trouble... Back then we gave new stable ponies guns when they got out. Don't anymore, which is why we assign guards to keep you safe. Even in Rubble, things can get nasty sometimes.”
“So, no guns for us?”
“Once Doctor Nettle passes you you'll get your mmmmm gun. Til then, we just hold onto them.”
“That mmmmm corporation, I keep hearing about them. What are they.”
mmmmm shook his head. Was that fear? Respect? I couldn't tell. “You can learn all about that later in class. We're here for the party.”
Class. Yep, the Wastelands was fulfilling all my requirements for suck. Danger from bullets, check. Danger from local wildlife, check. Danger of being forced to class by a cute gun wielding unicorn, check.
The 'Party' was held inside the rusty Town Hall, a two story affair containing a large table. Large is relative, I guess; The table wasn't even the length of one of Stable 56's cafeteria tables. Still, it sat the seven of us, along with ten Rubblites (yeah, really). Apparently large group had gone out a day previous to clear out the local dangers before the planed date of our release. We wanted Rubble safe for our guests,” said Mayor Mare.
The meal consisted of what was on hand, apparently. About half was various types of recycled goop. Apparently Rubble had some sort of organic processor; throw in plants and meat, receive nutritious goop. The attempts to flavor it all failed in my opinion, although I wasn't willing to try more after my first two tastes. The other dishes were a mix of food WELL past its expiration date and local cuisine. I ended up eating a bowl of Sugar Apple Bombs dry. The glass water picture was no longer clear, but the water was mostly clear. It didn't taste Bad at least, although the fact that it had a taste was slightly disturbing.
After we had eaten our fill (I assume the others found something decent) the Mayor Mare stood up for a toast. Wow, I wanted what she was drinking; the tall mare was having trouble staying on her hooves. “To our honored guests! *hic* May you enjoy the rests of your respective lives in the Wasteland!” “Here Here!” The Mayor drank while leaning on a light gray pony, than sat down hard.
The gray pony turned to us and said, “Would the escorts please lead the newcomers to their beds. We will continue tomorrow.” He nudged the Mayor Mare and supported her out.
Mmmmm poked me. He didn't look all that sober himself. Where had they gotten the alcohol? I'd wanted to try it since I'd heard of the moonshine project back in Stable 56, but no one wanted to invite the worlds unluckiest pony to a secret gathering. Maybe they'd server more for breakfast?
“Come on, I'll take you to your bed.” I ended up taking the blue buck in the direction his pointed, eventually coming to a small, one-room, metal shack containing a bed and some shelves.
“If you need to relieve yourself, just go out back. Otherwise stay in here 'til the morning call. You leave and I get in trouble, so don't. He bounced off the doorframe on his way out.
“Oh escort.” he looked back. I gave his my best Bedroom Eyes and said sweetly, “Wouldn't you like to keep me company to make sure I don't go anywhere?”
He turned that shade of purple again, but mumbled “I don't think that would be appropriate, Miss.” He shuffled off as I quietly shouted, “Call me Hex.” He waved a hoof in acknowledgment, lost his balance and fell over. So very cute, that one. I'd have to work on him more.
Sleeping on the rocks my mattress must have been stuffed with wasn't easy. Eventually I reached an uneasy equilibrium of waking up every twenty minutes to shift around. I should have followed mmmmm to his house. Surely the locals slept on better mattresses than this!
Eventually I heard some pony walking around outside and decided that talking would be better than this futile endeavor.
The air outside was cold, making me painfully aware that I still lacked clothes. I guess the Princesses couldn't keep the entire Wasteland warm 200 years after death. I added clothes to my Pipbucks to-do list.
As I finished poking at my arm, I heard the hoofsteps stop. The pony had just come around the corner of the building next to mine and was silhouetted by the lights of the Town Hall beyond. He... it was mostly Pony shaped, but seemed to have horns coming out of his mane and back. The strange pony turned to look at me, lit up in the light from the Hall. He lifted a hoof to his mouth and whispered “shhhhh....” Then his hoof when back down to raise a shiny tube.
Now, I know I'm a stable pony. I know that there are plenty of things I have no idea about, plenty of dangers that I won't even notice until it was too late. But even I recognize the danger from a pointed gun barrel. I did the only thing I could the circumstance; I slammed the door to my shack with a clang and began screaming. Like I would follow the advice of a pony holding a hand gun. Even I'm not that stupid.
“FFUUUUCCCCCCKKKKK!!!!” I shouted as the door began to take hits. I threw myself to the back of the room, trying to curl up under the heavy mattress Still screaming. “GUNS! BANDITS! FIRE! AHHHHHHHHH!”
I dunno, at least one of those should have awakened the locals, right?
There was the sound of buzzing as bullet hit the door, swinging the unlatched sheet open. A few penetrated the curvy metal, bouncing around inside the room with deceptively quiet *tink*s. Then the door opened and the bullet swept back and forth. It was strange, but I couldn't hear the sound of gunfire. Surely I wasn't screaming that loudly.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. Ah, there it is. As if by chain reaction, more guns began upening up, a cacophony of sounds mixing into the sounds of a warzone. Small, fast gunfire mixed with the slower, loud percussion of rifles. Interspersed was the BANG of a shotgun going off.
Celestia's tits, this was going to hell damned fast. I mean, there is hearing about fighting a few bandits and then there is HEARING a fight with a few bandits. The sound was overwhelming, within minutes my ears could hear little but the waves of gunfire. Minutes!? It couldn't have been that long...
I realized my little room was no longer under fire. I risked a quick peek over the blankets to see out the door. The entire city was lit up by bright floodlights hanging above the buildings. The area directly ahead of me seemed clear enough, but I could see flashes reflected off the buildings. I peeked my head out and searched for a better spot to bunker down in.
Across the dirt street was one of the metal prefabs. Its metal garage-like door was open and the interior lit by a dying bulb. Not particularly better than where I was, unless I could get that door shut. If I could though, nothing short of an explosive would get through the thick barrier I had to give the Rubblites props, they knew how to fortify a town.
I was hesitant though. Suppose I couldn't get the door closed. Running across the street would put me in the open and I had No idea as to the danger that could pose. Of course, if the fight went bad this little shack would be less than worthless.
Still pondering, I noticed something which changed my mind. A gun was hanging on the back wall of the house, in between gardening implements and brooms. I couldn't tell what is was from this distance, but any type of armed was better than nothing. I poked my head out once more, gave a quick look around, and then bolted for the open doorway.
I got a few steps in before the first whizzing bullet passed through my mane. I couldn't even here the discharge over the other sounds of battle, and nopony was in sight. Sniper? I dodged a bit to the left and right. Just as I reached the door, another bullet whizzed by, accompanied by a burning pain in my back leg. I stumbled the last two steps into the safety of the house and feel to the floor behind a workbench.
Gun first, then leg. I looked up at the gun hanging on the wall. I moved to stand on three legs and reached out, knocking it with my nose but failing to grab it. I collapsed. Ok, leg first.
Let's see, bleeding, but not too badly. I needed to wrap it soon though. The bullet had cut a furrow in the back of my leg, but it wasn't deep enough to fully cut the muscle. I'd still be able to walk when it healed, thank Celestia. Ok, cloth. Clean cloth. So many drawers before me, one must contain Something.
There are times in my life where I've hated myself. Most of the time it's only a mild dislike, like when my luck decides I haven't screwed anything up in a while. Or when someone blames me for an accident on principal. But there are time when the dislike turns into full fledged self loathing, a good example being right about now.
“Fucking broken horn! Open the damned shelves. I, the one you are attached to, orders it!”
Yes, I realize that the normal method of unicorn/horn interaction does not involve unidirectional yelling matches. But you have to understand, my horn and I have a very special relationship. I don't try to focus to hard, and it doesn't give me three day migraines. It's a mutual non-aggression pact which is only occasionally broken when I REALLY need a gun and can't move to GET the damned thing myself.
“Come on, come ON. Just a little kinetics, PLEASE.” I focused my will as Noon Shine had taught me, pushing at it for a bit of glow, so sort of movement, Something. I could feel the headache building, but damn I would succeed this time. I scrunched my eyebrows and focused on magicy thoughts, but to no avail.
My concentration was broken by a THUD nearby. I looked over my shoulder to see a metal apple rolling along the floor. “What the Hay?”
The apple beeped twice, then jumped into the air and exploded into balls of flaming liquid which pored downward. I was surprised and had the apple not been on the other side of the room, I would no doubt have been melted as well. As it was, I ducked under the workbench as the fire spread to the few pieces of wood in the room. The shelving when up instantly and the table began to heat up as the liquid burned atop it.
With a crash, the things on the wall began to fall, flaming brooms and burning mops knocking against the table. Please, please... YES! The gun fell too and I grabbed the metal contraption to pull it toward me. My hooves burnt on the hot steel as a slid it toward the door and began to follow it out. Again, magic would nicely useful to pick up a hot gun, but at some point I was going to have to take the pain and deal with it.
I blew on my hooves for a second before putting the gun into my mouth. It was big to be trying to hold that way, but I would need all my remaining legs to move, so I had no choice. With difficultly, I raised my head and walked out into the firefight.
The corner was clear, but who knew where that sniper pony was. The light killed any chance I had of spotting him on the dark hills to the east, or anywhere outside the town for that matter. Instead of proceeding down the street, I turned around the corner of the house and walked as best I could into the garden it shared with four other houses.
The garden itself was empty, but I could see a pony hiding ahead in the few feet opening on the other side. Hiding and shooting, I amended as the area in front of him lit up. I couldn't really tell which side the stallion (definitely a stallion) was on; he wasn't one I recognized. The flashing light didn't give me a good idea of his clothing, but I did notice spikes sticking out of his barding. Heehee, so you thought I was safely dispatched to turn our back so nicely. We'll see about that.
I pointed my head precisely and fumbled with the trigger. It tasted nasty, like Oil and gunpowder, but that was hardly unexpected. Finally, to my surprise, I hit it correctly and a spray of bullet rushed toward my enemy.
Ok, ouch. This thing kicked like an applebuck to the mouth and my accuracy was instantly shot. Bullets ricocheted around the stallion who, stuck between surprise fire and a coverless area, choose to run out into the open. I barely got my eyes back down in time to see him hit twice in the side, the rounds penetrating his barding and throwing him to the ground. Was of a good stallion, that, no that I felt bad of getting the bastard killed. I moved up to his firing spot, peeking out in to what seemed to be the majority of the fight.
One one side, firing out of their houses were a couple of Rubblites. Plume had a rifle too and was putting her Security training to use. On the otherside were five raiders. They hugged behind buildings mostly, one was up in the water tower, using his long sniper to keep the locals pinned. All of them were out of my range, however; firing would give away my position and do little else. As I watched though saw Plume take aim an put a bullet through the snipers head. He fell backward as his gun tumbled over the edge.
I took a few steps back from the corner. Better to find a way around to the Rubblite line. That or maybe I could flank the pricks and give something back. I turned around and went back into the yard. Something was off. I looked around, saw nothing, but then heard the snap of a plant to my right. I turned in time to be facing the oncoming shovel. I went down hard and blacked out.
I woke up in the dark. Same night? Next day? Maybe we were just inside. I had no way to know. I moved around. My rear legs had been cuffed at the ankle, but my forelegs seemed fine. Okay, either somepony's got a nasty kink or I'm in enemy territory.
Resource check. My Pipbuck was still online and seemed unharmed. It registered that I was wearing cuffs and had no other inventory. Great help that. It also pointed out that my back leg was “at 50% health.” It did still throb, but somepony had rapped it. Friendly or enemy?
I felt around the small... cell. Yep, definitely enemy, unless Mayor Mare had run out of beds suddenly. Ok, time for some preemptive strategy. The cuff wouldn't be much use, but if I could get some pony on the ground maybe. I wish I had taken that personal defense class. Most of what I could come up with was from the few actions flics the Overmare showed. I mean, I suppose I could choke somepony with the chain, but how the hell was I supposed to get them in a position where that would be even remotely possible?
My deliberation was cut short but approaching hooves. Ok, tackle and choke it is. I prepared to jump as the door opened... And instantly reconsidered as the first thing through the door was a nasty looking gun barrel. Plan B it is; meek and worthless. Three ponies entered, two in barding and carrying rifles. The third was a blue-gray unicorn floating a suitcase next to himself.
“... and damned Maskers couldn't even take down twenty back-country ponies! With the silencers and that sniper, they should have been able to drop a minor Enclave outpost, let alone that backwash. And only one prisoner! I heard six ponies came out of the Stable and they could only find one! I swear, we have got to stop working with amateurs.”
“Indeed, sir” mumbled one of the guards. He eyed me meaningfully.
“Oh, don't worry about that one. We'll have her memory wiped after this is done. So, morning honey.” He looked me over, backed in the corner of the room as I was. “If you wouldn't might terribly, I'd like to ask you a few questions about Stable 56.” One of the guards set a chair down and motioned for me to sit.
“In here?” I asked, looking around. “Seems a bit cramped.”
“Yes, well, there isn't a better place right now. Unless you'd like to hold this outside with the raiders ogling you?” It was suddenly apparent I was the only pony not wearing clothes. “I thought not.” He nodded to the guards and they left the room. It was dark again, but then the unicorn lit his horn, a bluish glow illuminating the room. The unicorns face was kept in shadow, however; somehow he was angling the light to point only toward me. Skilled unicorn, check. He opened his mouth to speak, only his outline and the bobbling of his horn showing the movement.
“Now, I'm a nice unicorn most days, but I really need some straight answers today. Toward that end, I'm going to cast a spell on you. Don't worry, it won't hurt. And afterward you'll be released into the Waste, free as you like. Of course, I'll have to make sure you forget this conversation as well, but that won't hurt either, so don't worry at all.” He flashed me a charismatic smile. “Now, the spell will work better if you cooperate, of course. If you do not, I might be forced to use other techniques to keep you in line. Neither of us would like that.” He flipped his suitcase open a removed a notebook, pencils, and a beautifully bound book.
“A spellbook, really. Don't you find that a bit archaic?” I asked.
He shook his head sadly, “You aren't the first pony to say that, but you'd be surprised how much we can still learn from the old texts. Now then, Lets begin.”
The glow on his horn doubled as a layer of overglow formed. There was No way I was going to let this happen. I jumped forward. Guards gone, Tackle plan activate.
I got about halfway out of my seat before another layer of overglow appeared and I was lifted off the floor. Then a Fourth layer appeared. Dear Celestia and Luna, how the hell did he get that much power! Small beads of sweat were appearing on his brow, but he was holding all four layers stable.
“oh... okay.” Yep, definite strain. Not that it helped me in the least. With magic of my own there was no way to stop him. “I've stopped any magic you could try, so don't try” In his state, even a minor power might have broken one of his spells. Of course, he could just drop the light spell and you'd still be screwed, but his asking was fairly transparent. “Now, to start with, what defenses does your Stable have against invasion.”
A sort of wave passed over me as he asked. It was calming, like a nice massage, and I suddenly felt much more at ease with the stallion. I wondered idly why he would ask as I said, “one hundred security ponies armed with shocksticks and tonfas. The are some turrets in the interior of the vault door. Also, there is a small armory on the second floor with twenty of so guns. Nopony has been in there in years, but supposedly they all work. Do we need more than that?”
“Please don't ask questions, just answer. Now, how many ponies live inside.”
“Six hundred, but sometimes it goes higher. Anytime somepony has a baby we have to throw another pony out to keep it balanced. I got thrown out this time. They didn't like me much inside, I caused too much trouble. Do you like me?” I hoped so. I didn't like all the mean ponies.
“Stop, with the questions. Now, when exactly to they release the extra ponies.” His light spell started to go out, but the other spells emit enough to keep the room visible.
“Well, once every year. Its the same day every year, the Exploration Day. It's a very happy day, but everypony is sad too, because the explorers never come back. Are you feeling well mister, you don't look to good?”
“I'm fine, now stop asking q... questions!”
His voice didn't sound very nice. I don't think he liked me... “Why?”
“Because the true spell goes both ways it could... STOP ASKING QUESTIONS! The spell should be keeping you calm, damn it.”
Yep, definitely a mean pony. I hated mean ponies. “I don't want to stop and you can't make me.”
“Oh, don't bet on it.” I dropped to the ground suddenly. “I'll just have to punish you for being such a bad pony.”
My coat started to itch suddenly, but... something wasn't right. Why was the bad pony asking me about the Stable? Why did he keep yelling at me? What was he trying to punish me?
Slowly my confusion solidified. It didn't matter, he was being mean. It was his magic that was doing all this stuff to me. The itch, the truth thingy. No, it needed to “STOP!”
He jumped with surprise, but the itching kept building into a weak pain across my whole body. Well if he wouldn't stop... I pushed forward. His lift spell had been turned into a barrier which blocked my way, but I didn't give up. I pushed harder and slowly my hooves began to slide through. It was like pushing through jello, but as I just my hooves father in it started to soften. Soon I was walk-swimming toward him, the pain building.
He struggled to keep his face composed as I moved through his no-longer solid magic. The sweet face from his entrance was twisted into rage. He focused to bring forth another barrier behind his previous. I ran into it, now bathing in his magic, but it stopped me.
I had to end this somehow. If I didn't I'd be writhing on the ground. Already my legs shook. But what... I didn't have magic...
That small thought was all it took and twenty years of unused magic came to the fore. My horn, so long dormant, blazed into a black glow. Glow is the wrong word perhaps; the black was more like an ink, seeping out and swirling in the air. Where it touched the blue magic it began to mix with it. The swirling chaos moved down from my horn inside the wall, and when it reached my hooves the solid mass disappeared. Like an acid, my magic began to eat at the other. Where it touched me, the pain disappeared; where it touched the wall, it dissolved.
I would have spent more time being impressed if there hadn't been a stallion in need of a serious ass-kicking in front of me. The fucker had tried to mind control me! He'd dared to put me under bonds and threaten me. I'd show him some threat!
“Oh... oh shit.” He started at me wide eyed, the triple glow of his horn slowly fading with the presence of his magic. “guards. GAURDS!” He stumbled backward to grab the door, fumbled trying to open it, and then kicked it with all his strength. The buck bent the door, but achieved no more than to lock it in place.
A dark smile lit my face. “It about time my luck hit someone else. No, lets have a little talk, yes? I promise it won't hurt unless you struggle.” My anger and rage built and the black fog built with it. The last of the blue sparks were engulfed and darkness fell.
My wild pounding of the unfortunate buck was ended but the guards finally shooting down the door. It was much to late for their leader by that point. I'd smashed down onto his chest to flatten his ribcage. Pieces of his bone sat like splinters in my hooves and his blood covered my front and face. My cuffs had been of use after all, a lengthy process of pulling them across his neck have split ended when his spine snapped and his head lay broken to the side.
The guards, seeing their charge dead, opened fire. Point blank range, I should have been dead, but the black fog pored out the door and clouded their vision. With the lights of fire and metal streaming past, I ducked between them and passed behind. I kicked out the back legs of the one on the left, and as he fell grabbed the pistol from his saddle. The black fog clarified at my gaze and I saw the second turning to see my form rising from the smoke. This time there was no difficulty or hesitation; I put a bullet through his head, then fired twice more. The other buck, scrambling at my feet, received the rest of the clip. Finished, I tossed the wasted gun away and lifted their rifles in my magic instead.
I turned to look out at a milling crowd of bucks and mares, clad in spiked barding and hockey masks. One by one, they aimed there weapons elsewhere.
“The name's Nightmare. Welcome to the Wasteland.”