Chapter 26: July 3
Dear Journal,
Success! It’s good to be right every now and then. Okay, all the time. Because I was right. For once it wasn’t about something depressing, either. We’ll build this colony yet!
I finished installing about 10 kilowatts worth of panels on the roof and the grounds all around the office, earlier than I ever could’ve thought possible. It’s kinda funny how hard work just sorta blurs together. Get started, and next thing I know I’m already finishing up. Take that, everybody. I might not have magic or wings but I can still get things done. Try and stop me, I dare you.
Joseph was still doing computer things, so I stepped out to wander around the city. Huan kept me company, though I had mace with me too in case we ran into something dangerous. We didn’t, though as I got further from the office, I noticed something I hadn’t.
Singing. It wasn’t very loud, the voice haunting in the early evening. Good thing I hadn’t turned the music on so loud while I was working. Haunting, old-world song about a fairy who can’t leave her wood. I’ve never heard the song before; folk was never really my thing. But as clear as it came, it clearly wasn’t electronic. It was a pony. In person. Leading me right to him with his voice.
My ears are very good, and it wasn’t hard at all to follow the voice back to its source: the hospital.
I wasn’t the only one drawn in by the sound: dozens of squirrels and birds had stopped to listen too, clearly watching the building with too-intelligent eyes. They barely seemed to notice me at all.
Whatever, that’s okay. I didn’t really want them too. I’m just glad Huan didn’t chase any of them; I know how much dogs like to chase squirrels. My old one sure did.
I had to walk all the way around the parking lot to find the speaker, though I couldn’t see them at first. There was a garden back here, in much better shape than any further south (much more rainfall I guess). It didn’t look like any garden I’d ever seen, though. Rather, it looked like the Garden of Eden come to Earth again.
A cobblestone path (probably pre-Event) was more or less the only way through. Huge sunflowers rose on the edges, with blankets of forget-me-nots and daisies and hundreds of others. A few oaks stood beside mature apple and pear trees, in a loose ring. The path led to a gazebo, and it was there I found the pony.
He was like me, lacking horn or wings, built sturdier-looking than either of the other two (species, breeds?). His body was purplish, mane bright. Granted, I couldn’t see too terribly much of his body; he was wearing a tailored coat, like any doctor from the hospital a few feet away might have worn, only trimmed and adjusted to fall over his back, his forelegs in the sleeves and the middle tied around his barrel.
He didn’t notice me at first, which was fine. I wanted to hear how the song ended. His jacket was dusted with dirt, and the pockets held gardening tools instead of medical ones. As I watched, he passed between the plants, trimming a rose-bush with the shears. His song was interrupted briefly as he ate one of the blossoms, biting it right off the plant.
Don’t they eat roses in Asia or something? I can’t remember now. Guess we eat them here too now. “We.”
“Excuse me,” I eventually said, as quietly as I could. “I don’t want to interrupt you.” I still did. Kindof an empty thing to say now that I think about it.
He jumped, ears and tail going alert. Funny how much easier it is to see pony emotions, even when you can’t get a clear view of the face. I think our scents change too, but I don’t actually know how to tell that apart yet. It’s all musky stallion to me, something the RV has enough of to saturate my clothes as it is. Well, clothes and saddle-bags. Everything. When are they bringing dry cleaning back? Pity it uses so many freaky chemicals. Maybe we can get an industrial washer for the colony. We’ve got the whole world full of essential oils.
Anyway, pony introduced himself as “Oliver Pittman”, at least when he’d calmed down enough to speak. Had he heard us playing loud music in town? Yeah, and he’d heard the generator running too. According to him, he hadn’t wanted to “let himself down” by going to investigate it but not finding anything. “If someone was really here, they would find me. If not you would go away. I knew it would work out.”
We swapped stories in the garden there. Oliver has been completely alone in the city for the last month, barring an exception I’ll go into later. He is (or was) a doctor doing his residency at the hospital here, though he’s originally from the other side of the country. He “didn’t see the point” of leaving the hospital when everything went bad, since they’re so well stocked for disasters. Stretched things as best he could, running the generator for just a few hours a day and going out for fuel every few days. His first priority had been keeping the medical freezer running, and he had given up everything else (including electric lights, running water, hot food) in order to do so.
Gardening had always been one of his hobbies, and he’d taken over the grounds to have something to occupy his time (when not scavenging fuel or batteries). My question was (as you can probably guess) why his hospital had kept the garden so overgrown. He answered that they hadn’t, but that it’d just been a few flowers and a few seedling fruit trees when he started.
I’m not sure exactly how to put it, “the plants are all listening,” something like that. According to Dr. Pittman, a little attention was all it took to make them grow like they were some freak GE experiments gone wrong. He told me how he’d eventually got so sick of dried cereal that he had tried some of the plants in the garden, and found he could eat almost all of them.
I’m not sure if difficult is quite the right word for this pony. Generous? I don’t know. He wouldn’t let me go any further without trying several different parts of the different flowers and shrubs… picked and washed into a salad of sorts. Damn you, Doctor. I’ve resigned myself to eating my produce from cans.
I’ve never had a salad that good in my life. People aren’t supposed to eat most of those ingredients, I don’t think. Some of those leaves were right on the twigs they’d come from. It was basically just garden clippings rinsed and drizzled with a little sugar-water.
Plenty of the supermarket veggies had tasted that good. But it’s been almost a month since I’ve eaten them fresh. Too long. We really should’ve started a garden sooner.
I told Oliver about our little colony, and it seemed like nothing I could say would make him willing to even consider leaving the hospital behind. You know what did it?
Yeah, it’s when I talked about Moriah. An injured pony, one who might not recover correctly without the ministrations of a real doctor. I may’ve exaggerated her condition a tad (not that much!), but whatever. We need him. He can’t spend his life alone tending to an empty hospital in an empty city! How can the loneliness not be driving him insane?
Oliver had conditions. He wants us to bring the drugs with us, the ones he’s been carefully preserving all this time. To do that, we will have to find and convert a freezer truck. He can drive the RV, while I drive the truck, and we can caravan back to “civilization.” Not that I wouldn’t want to do that anyway. Will we need any of those drugs before they go bad? Not sure, but it does seem a shame to let all his hard work over the last month go to waste.
Oliver wants another few days to get everything in order. We’ll take at least that long retrofitting a truck to drive and loading all the drugs into it. Besides, Joseph hasn’t finished yet. He said it would probably take days to call every phone on the network, and somebody would have to be there in case anyone answers. He plans on also sending a “system” message to every phone, a status text up to 128 characters long. Plenty of useful messages we could send, even without the ability to send anything longer.
Only one thing Oliver said disturbed me more than his talk of the impossibly-fast garden. It was connected to the reason he hadn’t come to investigate us. He’s been hearing engines overhead sometimes, and said he’s seen “military planes” flying high above. Can he be telling the truth? I’m not sure why he would lie about something like that. It isn’t as though we haven’t seen our own private confirmation that airplanes can be flown (badly) by ponies. Some of them had “sounded like helicopters.” Could ponies ever hope to operate such complicated aircraft?
I haven’t seen any in the time I’ve been here, though it’s possible we failed to hear the sound of them passing overhead since we had music playing so loudly at night. A mistake we intend to correct.
It seems weird that every pony we’ve found so far has useful skills. Yeah, even Joseph. Why haven’t we run into more fry cooks, retail salesman, and pencil pushers? One farmer (cook), one mechanic (handyman), one programmer (hacker), and now a doctor (gardener). Hey, if anybody’s up there listening, can we get a civil engineer and a chemist next? Maybe someone who knows how to work those 3D printers. Wait, Joseph could probably do that if I asked. Um… a mechanical engineer? Material scientist? Bureaucrats need not apply.
Is this just an accident, though? Just a coincidence? Or does it suggest some sort of guiding intelligence? Maybe if we knew more about the criteria for staying behind, we could guess at the motivations of whatever force did this.
Oliver doesn’t think so. When we talked today, he seemed to think that, whatever did this is so vastly beyond us that we’ll never stand a chance of comprehending it. It’s like a surgery. Sometimes you can save a patient, sometimes you can’t. All we can do is make the best with what we have. Knowing what caused it won’t change the fact it happened.
He’s right about that, I guess. I don’t know if I can give up on knowing so easy, though. Haven’t given up on reversing this.
Mom, Jennifer… I didn’t forget you. I’m coming. Soon, I hope. I love you.
—A
Here's Oliver. He looks way more like a stallion than Joseph does. I guess he lifts or something.
Stats
Page generated in 0.025 seconds
Total duration
743 users online
783,229 hits today, 2,561,572 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
No comment yet? What is this heresy?
Oh well...
A + Oliver forever! (Run away)
Nah, he's more bulky because he's an Earth Pony. They're always larger. Shining Armour is something of an anomaly as far as Unicorn stallion sizes go.
This is a darn good find. However, what I find interesting is the hints here that he is the first of the survivors who has demonstrated the characteristics of one of the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony - Generosity in his case. I'm not making any predictions at this stage; I'm just saying it.
The colony grows once more. I wonder if they'll find a pony who can get water for them. A pegasus learning that clouds can be manipulated, perhaps?
And I can't recall, but what kind of phones is Joe trying to connect to again? Satellite phones? Landlines?
I really like Oliver - can't wait to get to know him better in future chapters! <3
6102538
To be fair, it's easy to be generous during a time of abundance.
Don't get me wrong, it was a nice gesture, but on the same token it's not as that overflowing garden of his even got dented and he himself even admitted to the hospital still having loads of stuff.
I'm more curious if that... well, special talent idea is going to hold water. If so, that's kinda dark.
I mean, who doesn't want to find the thing they excel at?
But that's one of those dark little secrets you're not supposed to talk about, that many of us never will. Not many rose-gardens in Sahara, for instance, or ski-sloops on Cuba. There's so many things you could become good at, that it's quite possible to never even encounter the one thing you would be the next great person in.
If so, if whatever caused this judged 99.99% of humanity wanting for not having reached their potential, that's Greek god level dickishness right there.
Day still hasn't gotten his "rear tat" I see, hopefully it happens in the next week or so. He might have some choice words about that.
Goddamit, Starscribe, you're messing up my shipping charts!
And so A sees a demonstration of some the unique capabilities of his tribe... not that he knows that that's what he's looking at. The ivy-caduceus isn't going to suggest this is a universal property either.
I can't really get behind Oliver's fatalism. Loud music and running generators? How could it not be people? Still, he had the option of sitting pretty, what with his flourishing food supply.
Still, a doctor/gardener! Very useful. Suspiciously so. I'm with A on this one; the survivor selection is beginning to look too good to be true. The biggest load is Joe, and that's only because he's so heavily specialized. Something may or may not be up...
This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite fics just for the fact that I don't have to wait too long between updates ;)
So now we have an actually nice guy joining to A.
Joe was lazy in his eyes and Sky was just too mysterious and out there, while Miss Crash hasn't been talked about much, I see this guy as definitely being a strong influence, and yeah, A has a point, these ponies all have useful skills of some sort, plus a small secondary one that helps in other situations.
Also, I looked at the title of the fic and realized it is a bit of a misinformation, A is NOT the last pony on Earth!
If anything he's the first.
6102544
Cell phones via Bluetooth beamed down from satellites. That's what I understood at least.
Because you didn't refer to a color earlier, I'm guessing you're missing a color here?
You maintain my interest, sir.
Another earth pony! Definitely an improvement over another flighty pegasus or stuck up unicorn. It's always good to find a horsebeast that will bring along some real horsepower.
Oooooo, and not only is he a doctor, he's also fully hooked into the earth pony earth & plant sense. This guy is a golden find.
Hahaha!
Yep, Oliver confirmed for best pony.
Though I wonder how much my opinions would change with a more reliable narrator.
6102488 Troll author confirmed
@story
This was all an experiment!
6103479
Ah, well, as I said, that is what I understood from what I read. It probably went over my head.
6102564 I beg to differ, it's Abrahamic-god level dickishness!
6102660 Asclepius, not Caduceus!
6103555
Although I will admit a certain similarity to Old Testament shenanigans and the idea crossing my own mind, let's not go there for the sake of peace in the
housecomments, OK?6103657
I stand corrected. Thanks for clearing up the misconception.
Crazy, so it's starting to look as if somehow only people with useful practical skills survived?
Man, I'd be like, the first to disappear.
A needs to try out some of that good ole earth pony magic.
plant some apples! eyup!
6103207 Lucky seconds the motion!
6103661 Sure, my fellow Lord of Darkness, sure.
After all, why would we spoil such a LOVELY. LOVELY. LOVELY DAYscreenrelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/nicholas-hoult-in-mad-max-fury-road-movie-3.jpg ?
40.media.tumblr.com/048d829d2154ec3dfe287aea2de934a3/tumblr_nq2l8gB9kn1rsmidfo1_r1_1280.png
1) YAAAAAAAAY new character. 2) When I saw that his name is Oliver, the first person I thought of was Tommy Oliver (he's an MLP analyst on Youtube). Why couldn't this new guy have been a blue unicorn with a black mane, a matching goatee, and a sarcastic attitude????? That would have been an awesome reference.
Also, there's one huge thing that just flat out doesn't make sense in this story. Alex can draw better with his mouth then I can with my hands. He even menages to add in fine details like shading and what not.
Take this drawing of Sky for example.
40.media.tumblr.com/47da31dc10ab7063814bfaad81e97ef6/tumblr_npidi5WE8n1rsmidfo1_1280.png
A couple chapters ago, when he apparently tried writing with a pencil, it was written in "big ugly letters that take up half the page". The problem here is that it's objectively easier to write words then it is to draw anything that looks halfway decent. Why does Alex have so much trouble writing if he can draw so well (even if he is doing it with his mouth)?????? It just doesn't add up.
6104339
36.media.tumblr.com/44b658a7f25593975cdf106b62491d33/tumblr_nq431wbde11rsmidfo1_r2_500.png
6104419
I don't get it.
6104524
41.media.tumblr.com/0f67b0a8526f85f0e81280b913ab2c34/tumblr_nq44q0YK751rsmidfo1_500.png
Eh, this was cute.
6104551
I still don't get it. Can you please type out an actual comment next time rather then just posting a vague, seemingly meaningless image??????????
oooooooooh!!!!!!! I get it now
!!!!!!!!!!!! His name is Oliver. As in "olive"er. Considering that he's a gardener, that's pretty clever.
I found this story and began reading it today. Here I am, at the latest update.
*sob*
On a more serious note, I feel like this should be the plot of a total conversion mod of Fallout: Equestria (when it comed out)
6104846
...
His name could be Olive Garden!
Oooh, sounds like somepony has a crush on the new guy!
6102369
Hah, yeah. The little community around the story has been a ton of fun. I think I wouldn't do quite as much mystery for the main characters if I did another story like this. At least let people know who the story is about. The other stuff could probably be mysterious without as much trouble.
6102383
Hah, one thing nobody's going to miss. Though lots of people work for that company. I'm sure at least one of them is a pony now...
6102538
Yeah, though I don't think A has many examples of earth pony stallions to work with, or stallions in general. One, maybe two before Oliver (depending on whether A is a stallion or not). Not a huge sample to base comparisons on.
6102544
Joseph is trying to get access to the Iridium Satellite network.
6102564
That would be almost lovecraftian right there. Though the fact Lonely Day has stayed behind gives the rest of us hope. If at least one person stayed behind who didn't have a special talent, maybe some other normal people did too.
6102629
That sounds like the sort of thing Day could write a whole entry about, when it happens. I know it's happened in most of the side-stories, but... A is slower to mature than any of those ponies. One day at a time.
6102643
Hah. Originally there were going to be seven characters in the party when the story ended. I've since reconsidered, I'm not sure all of them will be up to stuff. I'm sure they'll all exist, and maybe be in the epilogue, but I feel like the more I introduce the less development each one gets.
6102765
One of the reasons I decided on this schedule. When something becomes daily like this is, you can make it a part of the schedule. I always wish my favorite authors updated this much, so... figured I could try it. 2k words a day is a fun exercise, too. Harder to do than it sounds.
6102793
That's true, the cover lies. I've thought about changing the title, but... I think I still like it. It's fun, even if it's not entirely accurate.
6102845
Bluetooth connection to one of these, which communicate with the satelite: https://www.iridium.com/products/Iridium-GO.aspx?productCategoryID=29
6103015
I think it's just that Lonely Day didn't feel the need to describe a color when there was going to be a drawing later anyway.
6103207
Hah, if only those were available. Lonely Day is doing the best job of narrating they can.
6103479
>.> Well, the story's winding down. Probably seven total weeks of entries. I'm sure we'll know all the main mysteries by then. There's nothing I hate more than a mystery story that doesn't resolve. Doesn't mean everything has to be neat, but if the story ended without such basic details as Lonely Day's gender being known...
6103744
Well at least now Lonely Day has someone to say that planting crops and stuff is something that's even possible. I'm sure this will be a huge boost to A's self esteem if A learns that they also have the magic.
6104339
I think it's mostly that A has been practicing drawing a lot, but not writing. A typed everything before, so was never very good at writing to begin with. Becoming a pony can't help, particularly when A only ever draws.
6104933
I've never actually read fallout equestria. I've played the fallout games though, if that makes a difference. Maybe one day. Seemed a little too depressing for my taste. I see a brighter world than that, even after awful things happen. On the bright side, at least you won't have to wait very long for another update! Not the whole story, but... that will come. One day at a time. Until, in three weeks or so, the story's over.
6105225
HAH
HAH!
HAH!
That's such a good name I hope Cloudy Skies thinks of it.
6105617
Well there aren't many stallions to chose from. Not to mention one of A's own species. Probably helps.
6105686
Probably not the best place to land a plane though. There are plenty of parts at high tide that have barely any sand at all. I only just learned that you could hike around the big rock at the end for more beach. Gonna have to do that more often.
Aha, so it is a thing that's being acknowledged. Wow, being am earth pony must be so awesome when you use it!
I'm a gardener but I'm not that naturally gifted at it, obviously. Earth pony magic is amazing.
6105844
O yes... that would be a dream come true.
How long do you plan on making this story?
6106112
A while.
i.imgur.com/ffVqZoJ.png
6105815
...I thought Lonely Day was a wiz at mechanical stuff?
6106201
Hardware, not software like Joseph. Darn installer techs never appreciate the elegant and crucial job of dealing with software. "Oh, you're so lazy always just sitting in a chair all day. Don't you want to get up and help me run there wires or move this heavy equipment?" I'll have you idiots know that it's our "laziness" that ensures the things you build function, and don't overheat or meltdown!
This comment brought to you by the center of sarcastic and friendly rivalry.
that cutie mark is fantastic! You must have done your research, using a modified rod of Asclepius. So his talent is both medicine and plants?
That's kinda cool, and does a great job with the double meaning. Also ties in with earthpony magic. 
He's probably going to compete with Sky for farmer.
A cutie mark resembling a caduceus, huh? Like the staff of hermes, and the ancient sign of medicine. Interesting, and quite unique.
Surprising that A managed to say that out loud without adding some sort of sardonic aside.
Instant thought from that final line.
memecollection.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/do-you-even-lift-puppy.jpg
It's all coming together...
It's definitely gotta be sinister.
I only have one word to say. Bollocks.
(The second definition)
I don't know why, this is starting to sound like one of those complicated dwarf fortress community forts.
7353575
Yeah I'm getting some pretty strong rimworld vibes from this
A's cutie mark should be a lampshade. :V