//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Fallout Equestria: To be an Immortal // by Lunafan1k //------------------------------// Chapter 2 Ethstar casually strolled up to the barricade, not giving a care that everypony had a gun trained on him. “Who is the leader of this lovely encampment?” Ethstar’s smile lessoned a bit, smelling the stench of blood and various bodily fluids hanging in the air. “That would be me.” A unicorn mare, the same one that tortured the village elder, trotted out to meet the newcomer. “My name is Blood Bath, and this is my humble army of slavers.” She motioned for several earth ponies to join her. “We will be more than happy to accommodate our new guest. Make sure he’s nice and comfy boys!” She ordered as she turned to leave. The stallions bound Ethstar in barbed wire and chains, then dragged him into the cage with Acura Night and Ember Storm. “Wasn’t the warm welcome I was expecting.” Ethstar said with a hint of sourness. Ethstar noticed Ember staring at him, slack jawed. Ethstar ignored him and began to survey the camp, noticing several decayed bodies and the corpse of the late elder staked to the wall. “Anypony mind filling me in on whats happening?” Ethstar said with a hint of anger at the atrocities he found himself within. “This is a slaver camp.” Acura said tearfully. “They just attacked a caravan and murdered their elder to make a point, that we are now their property. Ember here was among the few survivors.” ‘Slavers? This is going to be less of an adventure and more like wading through a river of blood and tears’ Ethstar thought. ‘Not the escapade I had in mind. Well thats what happens when you don’t read the fate lines.’ “W-who and what are you?” Ember managed to ask. “How did you come from my dreams?” Ethstar focused on the young stallion, noting the omega symbol on his flank. ‘Hmmm… perhaps I was meant to find him? This can be no mere coincidence. I sense immense power within this young one. Perhaps he is fit to be a god as well? This remains to be seen’ Ethstar pondered before stating flatly, “Thats not important right now. First we need to escape to safety.” “But how will we do that? Magic wont work, the cages are enchanted. If they see us conspiring they will do worse to us than the elder!” Said a visibly shaken Acura. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll provide the distraction and unlock the cages. When you see an opening head towards the east. You will come across a canyon. Set up your defenses and wait for me to return. Got it?” They all nodded in agreement. “Wait, how do you know all this?” Ember asked, knowing the answer. “I saw it when I came through the clouds.” Acura let out a small gasp. ‘How could this creature do such a thing, let alone survive unscathed?’ She thought. Ethstar motioned for them to be silent, then approached the bars. “Hey! Doesn’t your esteemed guest get a bite to eat, let alone a decent place to sleep?” The Slavers spared him a brief glance then began to flock to the cage. “Well, well. What have we here.” “Mighty talkative today.” “Teach them a lesson!” “Shut it! Go get Blood Bath, see what she wants to do with it.” “That’s hardly necessary, I’m here already.” Blood Bath said, trotting up to the cage. “I’m terribly sorry, but did you actually think you could just stroll in here and move about as you wished?” “What gives you the right to do this?” Demanded Ethstar. “Rights? Here, in the Wastelands?” Blood Bath cackled maniacally before continuing, “I don’t know what rock you crawled out from under but here there are rules. My rules. And my rules say you are a slave, and will be put to work for the remainder of your life, sold and traded, beaten and abused.” She smiled. “Not if I can help it.” Ethstar said dangerously. “A slave threatening the master?” Blood Bath sneered, “I’ll have none of that. Bring him out here!” Several slaver ponies opened the door to the cage and began beating the ponies, while Ethstar was bound in more chains and barbed wire and dragged before Blood Bath. “Think you've got guts?!” Blood Bath yelled, rearing up and slamming her hooves onto Ethstar’s head, the spiked hooves chipping his skull and tearing off his right ear. “Think your strong?!” She reared again, smashing into Ethstar’s back, rending huge gashes down his spine. “Don’t fucking try me!” She spun around, and gave a mighty buck into Ethstar’s ribcage, breaking several ribs and collapsing a lung. Ethstar lay on the ground, coughing up blood, slightly concussed. He felt himself get rolled onto his back, looking into the crazed eyes of Blood Bath. “You don’t want to do this.” Ethstar said, spitting out teeth and wheezing with each breath. “Cut out his tongue!” Blood Bath ordered, using her magic to pry his jaw open and pull his tongue out. Another earth pony approached with a knife held in his mouth and began cut Ethstar’s tongue in half. The blade was dull from overuse and had to be forced through the muscle, Ethstar screamed and withered in pain, trying to pull away but his head was held fast by Blood Bath. As the tip of the tongue separated from the base, Blood Bath said gleefully, “Now your free to complain about our accommodations!” As the ponies began to drag him back to the cage, Ethstar managed to rear up and head butt one of the ponies and elbow another in the snout. His hidden strength made apparent as the ponies were flung across the encampment. “What the hell? We have a fighter! Take him out!” Barked Blood Bath to the slavers of the camp. All guns were immediately turned on and fired at Ethstar, bullets piercing his flesh, ripping his body to shreds. A high caliber rifle cleaved his head in half in a great splash of blood, his entrails falling to the ground in a splatter. He stood upright for another moment before collapsing, the body absent of life. “Enough!” Blood Bath ordered, “Save your ammo! Put it with the others and feed him to the slaves!” As the slavers began to move the body, Ember whispered to Acura, “Well so much for the escape plan. I’m half tempted to bite my tongue and end it now than be a slave for however long they decide to keep me alive.” Acura nodded in agreement. That won’t be necessary. Confused, Ember looked for the source of the voice, a voice that sounded just like the creature that was gunned down. Screams suddenly erupted from the slavers moving the body, causing Ember and Acura to rush to the bars of the cage to get a better look. “AAAHHHGGG!!!!” “What the fuck!?” “Its still alive!!” “What? Don’t be ridiculous! Nothing can survive that! It was dead!!” Blood Bath yelled, trying to bring the slavers to their senses. Looking to the source of the commotion she saw what made them panic. The corpse of the felled creature was standing again, well, as best as it could, standing on two legs and most of the flesh hanging from the skeleton in bloody ribbons. The mutilated body, missing most of its skull, the brain in a puddle of goop on the ground behind it, began to speak. I was patient with you. I was willing to let you live. I did not come here to interfere with the workings of this realm, but this has gone on long enough. The corpse began to dissolve into a black mist, the puddles of blood and various organs belonging to the body following suit. The mist floated several feet above the ground, two glowing yellow eyes with vertical pupils, much like that of a cat, if the cat had en eternal void of pain and death for pupils, appeared floating in the mist. The ground began to shake as the mist emanated a low, feral growl. Screams of terror erupted all around the camp as skeletons and corpses broke their bindings and began pursuing the slavers, tearing their victims limb from limb, drinking in the blood of the fallen. The remains of the Elder ripped itself from the wall, and began to hobble towards Blood Bath, seeking revenge. Not one to go down without a fight, Blood Bath gathered an assortment of weapons to kill the zombie. Blood Bath used every ounce of magic and every killing method she knew in order to fell the new threat, but the Elder just wouldn't stay down! She tried fire, lightning, guns, and even sword to hack off the remaining limbs of her assailant, only to have the limbs float freely and swing at her like clubs. The remains of the Elder lunged through the air, biting into the right shoulder of Blood Bath. Blood Bath screamed in pain and terror as the Elder ripped a large chunk of fur, skin, and muscle off her shoulder. Rearing up, she slammed her fore hooves into the Elder with her remaining strength, causing it so float back a few feet, before running as fast as her body would allow towards the remaining slavers. The remaining survivors backed into and huddled close to Blood Bath as her blood flowed freely down her useless leg, forming an ever growing puddle of blood where she stood. Together they formed a last stand against the immortal zombies, a useless effort. As the zombies closed in, Blood Bath could do nothing but hope for a quick death as she closed her eyes, bracing for the bite that would rend her flesh from her body. “….” She opened an eye, the zombies have halted their approach! They were safe! With a sigh of relief, Blood Bath turned around to notice the mist was now in the form of a giant doorway. Now you shall learn of true pain and death, for the rest of eternity. I herby banish your souls to the Nether Realm, never to return, never to know peace. “NOO!!!” Blood Bath screamed, as the door opened and tendrils of mist emerged from the center of the gate, solidifying into the heads of ravenous wolves as they began to consume her flesh, mind, and soul, lunging at the body with huge, gaping jaws. Finished with the small group of survivors, the wolf heads trailed throughout the camp, consuming the corpse and soul of every slaver. The wolf heads let out a terrifying, ground shaking howl before returning to their realm. The door closed, then returned to mist, and began to form the outline of the creature it was before it was slaughtered. Once the outline was set, the mist solidified again, this time shattering outward revealing an unscathed Ethstar. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He said, lowering his head in sorrow. With a wave of his hand, the zombies he commanded laid down, the ground separating before them forming a grave six feet deep, five feet long, and three feet wide. The zombies placed themselves at the bottom to be buried, their souls to rest in peace. Turning to the captives in the cages, he opened the first cage and undid Ember and Acura’s bindings, setting them free. They then set about making quick work with the rest of the captives and soon had everyone who had survived the raid standing in the center of the camp. Acura had gone around the camp and managed to scavenge an innumerable amount of weapons, which she floated into a nearby wagon to be sorted and fixed up later. Ember had walked among the cages and asked his fellow caravan members if they have seen Kaleen, much to his dismay nopony has seen hyde nor hair of her. Worry began to press over his mind, wanting to mentally break him once and for all. Ethstar was going to each survivor, healing mortal wounds as he came across them and rewriting their futures for a life absent of the horrors they witnessed today, then ensured the souls of the dead made it safely to his realm, passing their care over to Aliana. Much to her displeasure, she made every accommodation. “AAAHHH!!! Help me!!” A scream went through the camp. Turning to the sound the survivors burst into tears, more of their caravan family had survived! All the fillies and colts, as well as some of the younger mares were there, including Kaleen, trying to comfort her sobbing sister. The tears of happiness quickly turned to those of horror as they saw that they were held captive by not one, but three alicorns. “We heard of an uprising, but we just thought of it as a mouthy slave, congratulations on taking the trash out for us. Now, if you would all be good little slaves and return to your cages, I shouldn't have to start killing innocent fouls.” The alicorn on the left ripped Kaleen’s sister from her grasp, causing both to cry out in pain and sorrow. “Back in the cages, all of you! Lest you want to see how far we can twist her spine before her eyes pop out!” Ordered the alicorns in unison. In fear for their loved ones, the survivors of the caravan began to slowly file back into the cages, tears streaming down their muzzles. Acura, Ember, and Ethstar stood fast, glaring death at the alicorns for their threat. Acura readied an assault carbine, a combat shotgun, and a sniper rifle. Ember felt the same rage that sent his magic out of control well up again, but before he could lose himself to it, Ethstar placed a hand on his back and said, “Don’t fight it, realize what it wants and become the vehicle. The master controls the sword, the sword does not control the master.” At that Ember closed his eyes and focused, listening to his heart. ‘Why do I fight? What am I trying to do?’ An image of Kaleen, smiling and full of life, floated through his mind. He realized he was in love with Kaleen, and every fiber of his being was dedicated to her and her family’s protection and happiness. Turning his will to protect Kaleen instead of killing the alicorns, the well of power inside him expanded three fold, sending him to before unknown levels of power. “Oh? Not taking our advice? But we insist.” The alicorn then began to slowly twist the filly, screams of terror at her impending death filled the air. Jumping into action, Acura opened fire at the alicorn in front, even sending several grenades, missiles, and mines at the alicorn’s shield. The missiles and mines did next to nothing, but to Acura’s surprise, the bullets and grenades were magically enchanted, making quick work of the barrier with the combined assault and rending the alicorn incapacitated. “I will not have you hurt Kaleen or her family!” Ember yelled, using his newfound power to tear the filly from the alicorn’s grasp, returning her to her sister shaken but unharmed. He then summoned the inferno, much like the one before, but more powerful with his newfound control. Flames and lava emerged from the ground, encasing the alicorns shield, quickly shattering it as the first, the alicorn bursting into flames and melting in the lava flow. Ethstar stood before the third alicorn, a smug grin on his face as his own shield shrugged off the alicorns attacks with ease. The alicorn, noticing its two companions were killed, tuned away from Ethstar to shield itself with its captives, only to come face to face with Ethstar again. The alicorn gave a terrified yelp and spun to flee, facing Ethstar a third time. Looking around the alicorn was surrounded by multiple Ethstars, preventing any feeing. One Ethstar approached the alicorn’s barrier, raised a fist, and smashed it into the barrier, shattering it like cheap glass. The others rushed forward and held the alicorn down, forcing it to look the main Ethstar in the eyes. “I know what you are, and I know your master can see this. And I want your master to know, I am coming for you, just try to stop me.” Ethstar finished, his copies holding the alicorn down ripped into its hide, tearing it to bloody pieces of fur, feathers, and meat.