"My friends are gone, and it's all my fault."
Home. I desperately yearned for it. My comfort zone. My safe place. Cozy, calm, warm. This wasteland was not a home for anypony. Not even temporarily. It was cold, dangerous, dark and terrifying. That morning I was having a nice breakfast, but at that moment I was lying with half my helmet submerged in muddy water. I was broken, fallen at death's door. My only friends had met their fate, leaving me to fend for myself. I had hesitated. All because I just wanted to go home...
Pain shot through every limb, every nerve in my body as I gasped to life. I couldn't see anything but darkness and a blinking red light on my visor. My suit had somehow been running off the reserve power. It was enough to start up the stats. According to the data, I was critical. My eyes wouldn't focus, so I couldn't read the warnings. I was in so much pain, I thought I was going to pass out again. The suit had to come off!
"Activate... Em-emergency latch... Code red..." I struggled with each word.
I was met with a soft beep and the hiss of broken mechanics. The suit finally became loose enough to where I could shove it off. I winced as I did, though. It was heavy. Every one of my muscles hurt. Finally managing to push it off, I tried to stand. My legs and sides were bleeding, my wing was in agonizing pain, my head swam, and I was alone with no protection from this harsh environment. Rain poured from the dark sky as I got to my shaky hooves. With every heartbeat, it felt like a hammer pounding against my head. I could smell the stale air. Scents of blood, soot, and death were all around me. Vomiting would make the pain in my ribs more unbearable, so I did the best I could at holding it down.
I must have been dea- knocked out for quite a while. Nopony was around that I could see. Trust me, I did keep my eyes and ears open for those... monsters. What am I going to do? I shook my head and started limping away from the battlefield. I stopped and turned to glance back at the still forms of my friends. They were almost unseen by the mist, but I knew in my heart it was them. Tears returned to my eyes as I straightened my gaze to face the opposite direction. I wanted to get as far away from this as possible. Each step made me want to lie down and never get up, but I trudged on. For Wick and Chaser. They didn't want me to die.
But how am I supposed to avoid that? I... I'm so useless...
I had no weapons, no armor, no food or water. It became apparent that I was done for. Stopping for a moment, I looked up at the cloud curtain. Raptor 27 must have returned to S.P.P. Assholes! Sighing, I continued with my head down. They couldn't have known. Communication with them was cut thanks to that giant spark grenade. They probably had to assume the worst.
I stopped to check my surrounding. I had no idea where to go. I took a step right, then changed my mind to go left. Pausing, I set my hoof down to scan the vista. All around me were infinite horizons of dead Equestria. Nothing but a soulless outlook. Dirt, mud and hate. Right then, I didn't care where I was going. It wouldn't make a difference. That feeling in my chest started creeping up. I wanted to rub it, but I would be immobilized if I did.
After limping for half an hour, I came across a small, broken down house. It was made of centuries-old wood. The rotted exterior looked to be on its last stand. The roof would surely cave in over the next couple of years. I noticed the walkway leading to the door. Well, what was left of the door.
This will just have to do. Maybe some sleep will help.
Sleep probably would only help if I was in a hospital getting treatment.
I barely got over the threshold before I collapsed onto the floor. Water dripped from the ceiling onto my nose. Reluctantly, I moved slightly to get out from under the leak. The rug beneath me was tattered and rotted. Better than dirt. It's not like there was any furniture. It was almost the size of the bottom floor of my house, except there were no rooms. Just four walls, a broken window, and the rug. I assumed the pile of wood in the corner used to be a bookshelf.
My breathing became rugged. A distant gunshot echoed through my ears. Surprisingly, I didn't even jump. Being so injured and exhausted, I didn't even think I could cry anymore. My brain just kept replaying those last few hours. That gunshot was just a reminder, sending me into a deep entrapment of self-loathing and guilt.
Chilly wind blew through my mane. I shivered. I wished this place at least had a blanket. I tried to pick up a corner of the rug to throw over me, if only to keep the wind off. Unfortunately, it fell apart in my hoof. I curled up as tight as my broken ribs would let me, covering my hind legs with my tail. Every time I shivered, it made my body ache.
This is it. I'm not built for survival. Mama and Daddy... I'll see you soon... Violet, I wonder if you suffered the same way I am.
At last, I would see them again. Even if it meant leaving my grandparents behind, but they were safe above the clouds. I bet they were worried sick.
Oh, how I needed Med-X.
I lay there on the damp floor until daylight. At least, I think it was daylight. It was a little brighter than it was minutes earlier. Or had it been hours? Sleep never came. Every time I closed my eyes to doze off, my wing would throb. Not to mention, the lack of food and water was starting to take its toll on my ruined body.
"Have to... get up..." I grunted. I couldn't sleep, so I might as well travel some more.
My ligaments, muscles, and bones all worked as hard as they could manage to get my torso off the ground. Lamely, my wing hung at my side. I let out a small cry of pain as it swayed. Shambling to the door, I stopped and picked my head up to the sky. Still gray. Still drizzling rain. I couldn't even tell if it was rain or tears running down my dirt-stained face.
In no particular direction, I began to to limp some more. At least another hour of traveling brought me to a dead shrub. I'd lie down there. Traveling was hopeless. Looking for help was hopeless. There was nothing I could do, any longer. I had to sleep. I dragged myself closer to the bush.
It shuffled. The dead twigs moved about as something awakened inside it. I backed away.
"Wh-who's there?" I asked, breathlessly. I listened and heard the sound of small wing beats over the shuffling. "I have a gun!" I lied.
It popped out from the shrub. The ugliest thing I have ever seen. They looked similar to something I had seen in a textbook. Some kind of insect. Except... These were bloated and had lumps on them. Another followed after.
Mutated parasprites!
One floated towards me, making me scream the rest of my breath away. It hurt, terribly, but I ran/hobbled as fast as I could.
What else does this place have to offer? What else could possibly go wrong?!
I wasn't sure how far I'd gotten or where I was, but I was utterly drained. Eventually, I slowed to a trot. Then, a walk. Finally, my legs gave out and I ended up with my face in the mud. This time, though, I couldn't move. My brain tried to command my legs to move but they just wouldn't. While I lay there, staring into the blurry wasteland, I prayed to Luna. I begged her to take me home. My exhales became wheezes as I struggled to even live. There was nothing else for me to do. I survived as long as I could and got no where. I closed my eyes and waited for death, letting my conscious slip away from me. I let my friends down, again.
Just as I was about to let out my last breath, I heard the muffled hoof steps of a galloping pony. My brain kept screaming to run.
"Hello? Are you okay?" A stallion's voice. I bet it's raiders, again.
"Please..." I groaned. "Don't... hurt me..." I whispered.
I blacked out. Whether it was from fear, exhaustion or my injuries, I'll never know. I was halfway awakened by movement. I couldn't open my eyes, as I felt my body being lifted, carefully. I carelessly thought of what they were going to do to me. Yes, I was afraid. My mind was searching for a way out, but physically, I could do nothing but accept what was happening. I still wanted to scream for them to leave me alone. I wanted to fight! But nothing came from my throat. It hurt, so bad.
Drifting in and out of slumber, I kept seeing the shadows above me. The final time I awoke, I was no longer being carried. I wasn't hurting anymore, though.
Is this medicine? I thought, as the pain dulled. I wanted to cry tears of relief.
A sudden, sharp pain flared through my wing. I cried out, sleepily.
My wing! Ouch! What are they doing? Cutting them off? No, Luna, please no! Just let me sleep! Please!
"I need her to be asleep. Wings are extremely sensitive and she will feel this." A scratchy voice said. Raider.
"You mean, she's still awake? I already gave her the sedative you told me to inject." The stallion from before.
"She's slipping in and out of consciousness." The scratchy voice.
I opened my eyes to see who these psychos were. I couldn't see! My forehooves started thrashing and trying to fight.
"Hold her!" Scratchy commanded.
I felt a pair of hooves grab my legs and hold them down. I managed to get one free and punch whoever had a grip on me.
"Ouch! What the hell? We are trying to help you!" The stallion hissed.
I will not go down without a fight to the likes of you!
That familiar tightness in my chest began to form.
My hoof was, once again, pinned down. I felt a small prick. I just knew they were drugging me so they could torture me. There was no telling what kind of sick things they wanted to do! Suddenly, my fears dulled in the back of my mind as the taste of chemicals settled on my tongue. Now relaxed, I felt a tug on my mane as something was removed from my face.
Squinting from the blinding lights, my eyes finally managed to flutter open. Shapes formed in front of me, still blurring pretty badly. I noticed a mask over my muzzle. My pale hoof came into view as I tried to bat it away, but I guess whatever they gave me was stronger than my hoof-eye coordination. No matter how much I tried to move, I was just too weak. I turned my gaze to the right and saw the shape of a pony. I strained my eyes enough to make out the blurry, tan, unicorn stallion. I swallowed. I was so dead.
Again, I tried to punch him. This time, he dodged my slow-moving appendage.
"How is she not knocked out?" He asked.
Scratchy spoke, again. "It seems as though she's grown an immunity to low doses of tranquilizers. We can just up the dosage a little more. Lucky you found her when you did. Her wounds look like they are at least twenty-four hours old."
No! I need to get out of here!
"Chaazur... Wiiccck..." I murmured, sloppily, as they stuck me, again.
"Is that your family?" Scratchy asked me.
I didn't answer. Sleep hit me like a sky carriage hit a crow. The drugs were taking effect. They were probably going to have their way with me. I had come to accept that I was probably going to be a victim of sexual assault or... cannibalism. Too bad the Enclave wasn't coming back. They had already lost one crew, and couldn't risk another.
At least I'll die without physical pain.
Several hours had passed since I had been lying in the muddy terrain. I knew this because it was dark when I finally opened my eyes, again. Nopony was around, anymore. Whatever I was lying on was soft. Despite the old smell, it was comfortable. An aged wool blanket lay over me. I could only move centimeters at a time. The soreness in all my body parts kept me from moving too much. Besides, I was so comfortable.
"So warm." I mumbled.
Sleep almost pulled me back in, until I realized something: I was alive. My eyes popped open and I sat up. The sudden jolt made me wince in more pain. It was mostly in my wing. Moving the blanket, I inspected myself. The injured wing was bandaged and set with a splint so it wouldn't move. I also had bandages on my flank, ribs, and one of my front hooves. I stroked my breastbone. It was sore, too.
Careful not to bump my wing, I slowly got to my hooves on the wood floor. This was a bedroom. The walls were aged, but not crumbling. Paintings hung everywhere. Beautiful paintings. A dresser sat in the corner. The bed even had an old frame under it. The window was cracked a little and stained, but they were otherwise intact. Whoever lived here put every ounce of care into this place.
Somepony had rescued me from those savages! Thank Celestia!
The door was slightly ajar, so I hobbled out into the hall. Dusty shelves hung on the walls, lined with prewar books and knickknacks. If someone touched one of the knickknacks it would probably fall apart. Black and white photos hung on the walls, left to watch over the home for eternity. I stopped at a photo hanging in the middle of the opposite wall. Princess Luna stood beside an elderly stallion. He was an earth pony. No crazed expression like those raiders. All the ponies in the photos looked happy. Genuinely happy. I even noticed a couple of pegasi in one photo. I ran a hoof softly across the cracked frame. Dust clung to my hoof, leaving a clear streak on the glass. Maybe things could return to this one day.
Seconds went by as I brought my hoof back and decided to explore further. I had to be careful, though. I didn't know who lived here or even why I was here in the first place. Still, that homey feeling seemed to settle throughout the house. A set of stairs descended into a living area. I stepped, lightly, to the bottom step, peeking around the railing. Nopony. Lanterns hung from the rafters. One of them lit up a good bit up of the living room. What caught my attention, was the fire crackling in the chipped fireplace. Somepony had been here recently. My ears folded back as I kept on alert.
A stained couch sat facing the fireplace. It was far enough where it wouldn't catch on fire, though. More paintings hung on the walls. Different sizes. They looked out of place, like they were painted within the last few years. A small closet was situated under the stairs. A cupboard was next to that. An easel sat in the middle of the living room. On it, an unfinished painting. Getting closer, I recognized a small cottage. The rest of the scene had yet to be finished. In front of the yellowed canvas was a cracked jar of paintbrushes. The wear and tear told me they were used pretty frequently.
This place was about as well taken care of as any house in Thunderhead, despite its age. No moldy smell lingered in the air. No dead bodies or blood stains. I came to the conclusion that a pegasus must have lived here. Why they would be in the wasteland was beyond me, but I couldn't see a unicorn or earth pony taking me in.
"-should help with the pain." Scratchy?
I backed up, slowly.
"Thank you, Fleece. Maybe she will come around soon."
It was them. The unicorn and whoever else had taken me. I started trembling. This was no pegasus home. It was raider territory! My chest started hurting as I hyperventilated. I searched frantically for a way out. The windows were boarded up, save for the one above the front door. I backed further into the corner of the living room, trapping myself. I tucked my tail and prepared for the worst.
The door opened, and in walked the unicorn stallion. His tan coat wasn't as dirty as the other raiders. His mane was disheveled, but otherwise kept up. He paused in confusion when he looked up and saw me cowering against the wall. I clenched my teeth and threw my ears back.
"Hey, are you alright?" He asked, floating a syringe from is bag. He stepped towards me.
"Get back!" I screamed. "Y-You savage! Leave me alone!" I tried not to let him see my tears.
"I'm not going to hurt you." He assured.
"Liar! You k-killed my friends! I know what you want to do to me! I-I will... I will..." I sobbed.
His eyes narrowed. "So that's what happened to you?" He looked away. "Oh, goddesses. Those bastards."
I lowered my body to the floor. "G-get away from me with that poison."
"This is-"
I didn't let him finish. In a desperate attempt to escape, I pounced on him. Sinking my teeth into his ear, he bucked and swore, trying to throw me off.
"Ow! Stop, you crazy mare!"
I wrapped my hooves around his neck. "No! You ah gonnah kihh me teh seconh Ih lehh go!" I muffled through the mouthful of horse hair. Just when I let go to get a better grip, his magic enveloped me and floated me in front of him. I swung my hooves and punched the air in front of his muzzle, my eyes watering.
"Put me down, raider! Help! Somepony!" I screamed. He changed his expression from anger to sympathy.
"Listen, I'm not a raider. I'm trying to help you." He pressed.
"Then what's in the syringe? A drug to knock me unconscious so you can have your way with me? Disgusting!" I countered.
"Don't flatter yourself. This is Med-X. I'm sure you've heard of it."
I quit thrashing and glared, dumbfounded.
He sighed. "If I put you down, will you let me explain everything?"
I looked to him suspiciously, but nodded slowly.
"Thank you. Now here. Please, refrain from attacking me, again." He set me on the couch and set the syringe next to me. "If you need it, use it. Since you don't trust me, I'll let you hold onto it. You're welcome to leave anytime, but you must know it's dangerous out there on your own with no supplies. The next town is about a half a day's walk. You won't be flying for a while." He gestured to my wing.
"Y-you're a savage, though. A raider!" I swallowed.
He turned to his canvas and started painting. "Is that so? If I was a raider, why are you still alive and well? Why are you bandaged and not in a cage?"
I shrunk into the couch. "B-but you don't know me. Why help me? This is the wasteland, is it not?"
"That is true. I don't know you and this is the wasteland. It's probably hard to believe, but not everyone here is a raider. I found you close to death, so I helped you. I thought everyone with any morality would do the same. Especially if they find someone passed out near a bloatsprite nest. You are obviously not from here, are you?"
"Bloat...sprite?" I shuddered.
He nodded. "They're quite adorable compared to the rest of the wildlife."
Silence.
"I-I want to go home." I hiccuped.
The buck stood up and opened the cupboard, floating a blanket to me. I jumped as he covered me with it. He paused then cleared his throat. "You live up there, don't you?" He pointed towards the clouds.
I gave a small nod. "So... what happened to me? How did you find me?"
He rubbed his neck. "I heard an explosion yesterday. I thought it best to wait until today to check it out and see what was going on. On my way, I saw you unconscious in the mud. I thought you were dead at first, then I heard you breathing. You didn't reply when I asked if you were okay, so I picked you up and carried you to my friend, Fleece who runs a clinic in town. She told me you had a concussion, two broken ribs, minor internal bleeding, and your wing is shattered. She helped nurse you back to health and told me I could bring you here to keep an eye on you. You're going to be alright, though. Like I said, you're welcome to go stay in her clinic. I just figured this was more comfortable than a hospital room. Looks like I'll have to sleep with one eye open, though, if you stay here." He smirked.
I blushed. "S-sorry. I-I'm not able to repay you for saving my life right now, but thank you."
"Don't worry about it. Just pay it forward."
Awkward silence.
"So... you live alone?" I asked, rubbing my chest, again.
"Afraid so. I found this place after my dad passed away a few years ago." He looked down. "Been here ever since."
"I-I'm sorry."
"Shit happens." He waved it off. "Nothing I could have done."
I gazed at the fire. I kind of felt a little sorry for him. I knew how lonely it could be with no roommates. I, at least, had my grandparents. It didn't seem like he had any family left.
"So..." I jumped at his voice. "Sorry. I mean, what about you? You have family back home?"
What's it to you?
"Just my grandparents. My parents disappeared when I was a filly." I dug into the couch with a hoof, still keeping my eye on him. "I'm actually not so sure, anymore. It's what I was always told, but I never saw their graves or any memorials."
He tilted his head. "Is it possible they're Dashites?"
I peered up at him, nervously. "Why would you ask that?"
"I know a Dashite. He runs the tavern I go to."
"A pegasus?" I perked up.
He nodded. "Yes, but not like you. He's been here for a while. Probably most of his life."
I drooped.
"It's not all bad. Here in the wasteland, I mean."
I glared.
"What I mean is, you were probably taught your whole life, the entire wasteland is a pit of lava that will kill you as soon as you set hoof here. That is far from the truth. There are good ponies out here. Just gotta be careful who you trust." He went on. "We have towns. We trade goods. We even have currency. It's bottle caps, but at least it's closer to civilization than animals."
I peeked behind him at his painting. He was definitely talented. "I-I'm guessing you have hobbies, as well."
"Oh, this?" He gestured to it. "It's nothing special. I have them all around the house. It's a good escape for me." He looked down, again.
A loud growl sent me hopping to my hooves. "What was that?!" I darted my eyes around the room.
My host facehoofed. "Pretty sure that was your stomach."
I turned the brightest shade of red. "I, erm... I haven't eaten since yesterday morning."
"Follow me." He motioned to the kitchen.
I hesitated, but followed. I expected to see chopped up body parts and gore everywhere, but no. The dining room had none of that. Instead, there were two chairs and a table. It was worn down and missing a leg, but the set was nice. The kitchen was separated from the dining area with a low counter that could use some TLC.
The kind stranger pulled a chair out for me to sit while he went into the kitchen. I watched him prepare a meal. I don't know why, but I figured there would be no food down here. Just goes to show how much I really didn't know. He gathered two bowls and turned on a rusted burner. He took out a saucepan with the handle missing and placed it on the burner, lighting the small flame with a spark of his horn. I watched him take out a knife and open a large can. I couldn't see the label, but I saw a picture of a tomato on the side. He poured a red liquid into the pan. I made sure he didn't poison it.
He yawned, waiting for it to heat up. His hoof ran through his midnight blue mane. Eventually, he took off his outer barding and set it on the low counter. He noticed me staring and smiled. I half-smiled back, trying not to be rude. He turned back to the soup and stirred. I saw his cutie mark: A paintbrush. Why was I surprised that it wasn't a severed head or an axe? It was just a paintbrush.
The silence was bugging me, so I decided to make small talk with the enemy. "I never caught your name."
"Oh, I'm Nico. What about you?"
I didn't tell him right away. I wanted to think of an alias, but figured there was no use. "S-Sienna."
"Like the color."
"What?"
"Nevermind." He poured the liquid into the bowls and brought one to me, setting it on the table.
I glanced at him then the bowl. My mouth watered as the scent of roasted tomatoes and spices filled my nostrils. My stare turned into a longing to indulge myself. I was so, so hungry. I heard Nico chuckle.
"It's not poisoned, I promise. If you want, I can taste it for you." He looked amused.
I thought about that for a moment. "N-no, it's okay." It didn't seem poisonous. Besides, why waste bandages on somepony if you're just going to kill them?
I picked the bowl up with my hooves and took a ladylike sip. Warm tomato soup flowed down my sore throat, immediately dulling the ache. Oh, Luna, it was fantastic! I looked at him.
He sipped from his own bowl, then nodded towards mine. "You know, you don't really have to worry about manners. I won't tell the princesses if you don't." He winked.
With a nervous chuckle, I looked down at the food and took a breath. I didn't even care about what he thought, anyway. Grasping the soup with both hooves, I gulped down the rest of it. It definitely didn't take long for the calming effect of warm soup to fill my aching soul.
What I didn't expect was a stallion-like belch to escape my muzzle. I quickly covered my mouth and blushed. "Excuse me." I squeaked.
He stifled a laugh. "It didn't bother me. I'm more surprised you didn't eat the bowl, too."
I grinned a little. He was... nice. Not nice enough for me to get a good night's sleep, but nice. I frowned. I just wished my friends were there. They would know what to do. They had better judgement than I did. Celestia knows why they were dead and I wasn't. I'm sure they would appreciate what Nico has done for me, though. Maybe.
"Something wrong?" He asked, taking the bowls into the kitchen.
I shied away, avoiding the question.
He motioned back to the living room. I followed him back there, keeping my tail close to me. He decided to paint. Watching the strokes on the canvas, I started to see the trees near the cottage forming.
"I'm sorry about everything that's happened you. I wish there was something I could have done." He broke the silence.
I shook my head and sighed. "Like you said, shit happens in the wasteland. My friends... They died and I-I couldn't..." I wouldn't dare finish that sentence.
"It's not your fault. This is such an unforgiving place, at times."
To avoid another awkward silence, he spoke up, again. "So, I saw the airship from a distance. You came from that?"
I nodded.
"You were a medic or something?" He asked.
"First Lieutenant." I said, quickly.
He scoffed. "Really?"
I blushed. "Yes. I am First Lieutenant."
"So that's why that punch kind of hurt." He mumbled. "I assume you went through lot's of training?"
"Why do you sound so surprised?" I glared.
"Well, I found you half dead. You didn't learn survival tactics, being that high of a rank?"
I blushed again. "M-my friend, Bolt Chaser. He helped me skip some of those classes."
He smirked. "Buckfriend, you mean?"
I frowned. "Never! He was more like an older brother!" I waved him off. "I never had time for such nonsense like 'romance'."
"Seriously?" He glanced back. I saw that glance!
"Y-Yes. Why?" I rubbed my chest.
"Oh, psh. Y-you know. I just thought... Somepony like you would... You know what? Nevermind." He turned his face, but I saw the blush. I squinted my eyes at him.
There goes that awkward silence, again.
I quickly changed the subject to something that avoided my private life.
As time passed, we made small talk while he painted more. We mostly talked about our interests. He taught me a little about the wasteland and what I should expect. He even showed me a few more paintings. They were some of the most beautiful creations I had ever seen. Nico was more than I expected of a wastelander. I thought he would be a monster, but he's just like me. Maybe a little less anxious, but we had some common ground. His hospitality made me feel more comfortable than I expected. I hoped this wasn't too good to be true.
I yawned, rubbing my eyes.
"The bedroom's all yours. If you want to stay, of course." He rubbed his neck.
"I-I don't think I have a choice if I want to live. I don't want to intrude, though." I looked away.
"You aren't intruding. I sleep on the couch most nights, anyway. The mattress isn't firm enough for me." He insisted.
Being too tired to object, I quickly grabbed the Med-X syringe and stuffed it under my wing, hopping off the couch. Before walking up the stairs, I turned and caught him staring.
"G-good night." He said, nervously.
"Good night." I smiled, nervously. "Thank you, Nico."
"Eh." He playfully waved it off.
I glanced back, once again, before walking back upstairs and into the bedroom. I didn't like that stare. Locking the door, I tiptoed to the bed and fell into the mattress. I felt kind of bad, since he did save my life. Unfortunately, this is New Equestria, not Old Equestria. My eyes kept glancing back at the door to make sure he didn't come in. He never did try, though, so that was a plus. I was finally able to let go of the horrors of the day and get some much needed rest. As soon as I was able, I'd fly back home. Until then...
I'd watch my back.
:::ERROR:::
NO STATS TO DISPLAY!
Nico has joined your group!