//------------------------------// // Homeward // Story: Fallout: Equestria - Project HIVE // by Cascadejackal //------------------------------// PROJECT HIVE Homeward Ironside paused mid-step and looked up at the cloud-filled sky, his expression growing dark. Something wasn't right, a cold shudder crawling up his spine, warning him of... something. The changelings picked up on his sudden change of mood and, through silent agreement, the changeling nearest to him slowed to a stop as well. "Is something wrong, sir?" Chatter asked, the rest of the herd coming to a slow, uneasy rest around them, eager to be on their way. Equestria, and the poison within, was only a few days behind them, a dark shadow looming over them all. Ironside shook his head, the momentary feeling passing as quickly as it had come. "No, it's... it's nothing." He straightened up and looked around at the gathered herd. "Let's keep moving. I know you all want to get home as much as I do, and we won't get there by standing around like this." He put aside the odd sensation quickly, ignoring Chatter's glances back at him as they resumed their march. It was nothing, he told himself. Just a stray breeze giving him a chill. Around them, the desert sands were still and lifeless, as they had been all day. Lorikeet felt his muscles burn, his wings beacons of agony as he flew towards daylight, and the soft breeze that greeted his face when he emerged was a welcome relief from the still air of the tunnels and canyons below. The young flutterpony almost collapsed onto the safety of the outcropping, panting, his coat crusted with sweat. He stopped himself, though, mindful of his passenger, being sure to set her down safely before laying down himself. Damsel slept on peacefully, not even stirring, blissfully unaware of the world around her. Lorikeet fumbled for his canteen, taking a slow, hesitant sip as he looked around. It had taken almost three days to get this far; two in flight from Flutter Valley, one of partial rest and far more walking in the dark tunnels beneath the Roc's Wall, but now... now, with some pride, he felt as though the hardest part was over. He closed his eyes as another breeze washed over the plateau, a tiny remnant of the storm that had raged mere days ago. Even the thick clouds ringing the mountain range had all but dispersed, only patchy, thin streaks of white and gray in the wide, blue expanse, the few clouds that remained tinted silver by the light of the sun above, casting her light down on the world below. With another sip of his water, careful to pace himself, Lorikeet opened his eyes again, marvelling at the change from the storm-battered landscape to the oddly peaceful place it had become. The countless plateaus and outcroppings were all oddly formed, rising towards the towering wall as though it had erupted from the living rock below, breaching the earth like one of the great beasts of far-off seas, the ones told of in foal's tales. He was surprised to see that much of the rock seemed almost melted, as if it had once-upon-a-time run like water, a detail lost on him during his first passing of the place. Less surprising was how bleak it all seemed, nothing but greys as far as the eye could see, though he wondered at the source of those oddly-gleaming streaks in the rock. Putting it from his mind, he turned to his dreaming partner and nosed her foreleg, checking the chitin covering it. It seemed to be holding, and there was no blood to be seen, a great relief to his worried mind. He eyed the sky again, the blue expanse and the shining sun, momentarily thinking over his options before coming to a decision. The sun was hot, and moving during the day would sap his energy. He would follow Damsel's plan, the one that had seem them there safely, and move at night. For now, though, he gathered the sleeping changeling up and moved to the edge of the plateau, preparing to dive into the canyons beside it. A cool place to sleep the day away would be welcome. Always, the final command of his Queen rang through his mind. Heal the poison, and return. An entire week had passed since the Equestrian team had begun their trek back, and spirits were high. They'd long passed into lands where their Pipbucks declared the radiation levels completely safe once more, and they were making good time retracing their former path. Gathered in one of the now-familiar sietches, one they'd last been in less than a month before, they laughed and joked, kept warm through the night by a campfire they'd scrounged enough fuel for. Even Ironside had shaken off the odd feeling that something was wrong, the warmth of the fire chasing away the nameless shadows on his mind. Outside, two figures stretched their legs, tasked with the night's first watch. The pegasus of the pair, Grace, nudged her changeling companion. "So, Chatter, any idea what's up with the Chief? He keeps getting this funny look." Chatter shook his head, a look of slight confusion crossing his face. "No... I think he's worried, but I don't understand why." Shrugging, Grace flapped her wings. "He'll be 'right. He's the Chief, after all." She got a distant look in her eyes. "Might just be that buffalo... he saw it up close and all..." She shuddered at the thought, then jumped slightly at the touch of a hoof on her withers. "You may be right," Chatter said with a smile that, somehow, managed to be reassuring and kind despite his fangs, "but it seems our Captain is not the only one who may need someone to speak to." "I... I don't want to talk about it... not right now..." Grace shook her head, then smiled at the changeling. "But... maybe later, yeah?" Chatter nodded and slowly removed his hoof from the pegasus. "Yes. Whenever you wish." It was at least a week, maybe a few days more. Lorikeet couldn't tell anymore. He was exhausted, so worn out he could barely think straight. Waking was difficult, his dreams haunted by the calls to rest that echoed softly from Damsel's sleeping mind, and the long nights of non-stop flight left him aching no matter how he slept. He moved by rote memory, focused on doing the needed things. Touch a love crystal to Damsel's horn, watch it dim as she fed through bodily reflex. Prepare and eat his own meal. Water himself and Damsel. Check her cast. Prepare for the night's flight. Try to ignore the crushing silence of the world around him without another presence in the hivemind. Always, the final command of his Queen rang through his mind, driving him onwards. Heal the poison and return. Grace swooped down, surprise and confusion plain on her face as she delivered her report. "It... it looks like a wall, Chief. They built a wall." Ironside frowned, then called for some binoculars to confirm the report with his own eyes. "That's a wall, alright. I guess Maintenance went through with it after all." He passed the binoculars back to their owner, then turned to address the squad with a smile on his face. "It's been a long couple of months, but if we hurry we'll be home by nightfall." He paused. "Unless you all want to make camp here for the night?" He asked, barely holding back a smirk at the chorus of calls to keep moving. "Then I guess when we should get a move on, then. Chatter!" The changeling snapped to attention instantly. "As soon as we're in range, let the Regent know we're back." "Sir." Chatter nodded, his ears perking up and tilting towards the distant town, eager to regain contact with the Hive. "Right, let's go! Forward, march!" With Ironside's call, the herd set off, marching gladly towards their home. As they approached, fliers took to the air above the town, a welcoming flight to guide the travelers into the repaired town. The returning ponies and changelings looked around, happily surprised by how many buildings had been restored in their absence and how many of their fellows had moved back to the surface. Most surprising, though, was the wall, stretching almost half-way around the town, a windbreak made of stone and resin, still shiny and green where sand hadn't yet been mixed with the final covering. Far less surprising, but far more welcome, was the group of loved ones and family waiting at the Hive's entrance to greet them. The changelings there would later complain of feeling bloated and stuffed, much to the amusement of their pony compatriots. Heal the poison and return. It was the only thing keeping Lorikeet going. Heal the poison and return. It was the only thing he could think of, a mantra he repeated to himself over and over again, sometimes speaking it to break the pressing, crushing silence that haunted the edges of his mind. Heal the poison and return. Everything else was muscle memory. Every movement was done automatically, the days and miles passing by without truly registering. Heal the poison and return. Wake up. Feed Damsel. Feed himself. Get ready to fly. Heal the poison and return. No. He missed something. That was it, check the cast. Heal the poison and return. It was wrong. The chitin shouldn't have looked like that. Heal the poison and return. He had to hurry. Heal the poison and return. In the depths of the Hive, Regent and Overmare studied the reports brought back by the Equestrian team. The Overmare sighed and turned away from her terminal, looking to her counterpart. "We need to know more... we need to know if there's anyone left..." The Regent shook her head, her eyes focused on her own terminal. "I concur, but not right now. We can't risk our people, not if these findings are accurate. If Ironside is right about that buffalo..." She trailed off, lost in thought. Disheartened, the Overmare stood and left her desk, moving to look out the window and into the atrium. Her gaze found the crowd below, a welcome home party that had sprung into existence mere minutes after the last scout had been cleared by Medical. "Could we send a team to the Crystal Empire? They may not have been attacked, and they're even further from Equestria than we are. There's no way the radiation would have reached them." Another head shake from the Regent. "It would take months to get there, at the very least. Any team we send would have to move around the irradiated areas, and we just don't know the extent of the damage." Sighing, she stood and moved to stand beside her friend, the pair watching the party below, where an exhuberant pegasus had practically cleared the airspace with what might charitably be called dancing... or she'd had itching powder put in her barding. Neither leader was quite sure which. "I know," the Overmare said softly. "Do you think Damsel found your Queen?" The Regent hesitated, just for a moment. "No," she admitted. "If our Queen had awoken, we would know." "Oh..." For a few moments, the Overmare was silent. "We just have to wait until they get back, then." She glanced at her companion. "What do you say we put off any decision until their report?" A simple nod was the Regent's answer, and the pair returned to watching the party below, keeping their minds from wandering to dark places and thoughts. There was still hope. Heal the poison and return. "I think I see something..." Ignore the pain. Don't fly. Don't try. Just walk. "Yeah... I don't think it's a Rock Hound... looks like... a pony?" One hoof in front of the other. Close now. So close. "Wait, is that..." Keep moving. "It... it's Lorikeet! And... is that Chief Damsel?!" There's voices now. Almost there. No more silence... no more silence... "Someone grab him! We need Medical, now!" "Stay still, son. It's alright... someone get a stretcher!" "Careful, careful! Oh, by the Queen, her leg!" "Lory?! Lory, is that you?!" "Double time, get the Chief to the Hive, now!" "C'mon, Lory! Speak to me!" "Heal the poison and return." "What? Lory! LORY! SOMEONE HELP! H-HE'S NOT MOVING!" "WE NEED ANOTHER STRETCHER, NOW!"