//------------------------------//
// Flashback 1: The Stable 
// Story: Fallout Equestria: Fleeting Faces 
// by GurbangulyBerdimuhamedow 
//------------------------------//

Brightside closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to push the memories of Stable 8 to the back of his mind. But they refused to be ignored, rising up like ghosts to haunt him.

He was back there, in the stable, surrounded by the ponies he had known all his life. They were his family, his friends, his world. And then...then everything had changed.

It had started with the screams, the sound of metal tearing, of alarms blaring. Brightside had been in his quarters, trying to get some sleep, when the chaos began. He had stumbled out into the hallway, disoriented and terrified, only to find himself face to face with a group of raiders.

The raiders had been armed to the teeth, their weapons glinting in the flickering emergency lights. They had laughed and taunted the ponies, promising to take everything they had and leave them to die.

Brightside had tried to fight back, to protect his friends and family. But he had been no match for the raiders, who were bigger, stronger, and better armed. He had watched in horror as they destroyed everything he had ever known, everything he had ever loved. 

He ran through the halls of Stable 8, his heart pounding in his chest. He had to find his mother, and make sure she was okay. He knew she was on the other side of the stable, in the medical bay, helping the injured ponies. As he turned the corner, he saw them. The raiders. A group of them had cornered his mother, their weapons aimed at her. Brightside froze, his mind racing with fear and anger.

"Leave her alone!" he shouted, charging towards them. But before he could get close, one of the raiders turned and fired, hitting him in the leg. Brightside cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground. He watched in horror as the raiders turned back to his mother, their laughter echoing through the hallway. Night Shift tried to fight back, but there were too many of them, and she was only one pony.

Brightside gritted his teeth, trying to pull himself up. He had to do something, anything, to save his mother. But his leg was injured, and he could barely move.

"Mom!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with fear. "Mom, run!"

But it was too late. The raiders had caught up to her, and they were dragging her away, laughing and taunting her. Brightside watched in horror as they disappeared around the corner, taking his mother with them.

And then...then he had blacked out. When he woke up, the stable was in shambles, his friends and family either dead or gone. He had been one of the lucky ones, one of the few who had managed to escape with his life.

Now, as he walked through the wasteland, he couldn't help but wonder what had become of the other survivors. Were they out there, somewhere, struggling to survive like he was? Or had they given up, succumbing to the despair and hopelessness that seemed to permeate the wasteland?

Brightside shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the memories. He had to focus on the present, on finding his mom and a way to survive, make a life for himself in this new, hostile world. But he knew that he would never forget the tragedy of Stable 8, the day his world had been torn apart.