• Published 8th Jul 2016
  • 1,142 Views, 15 Comments

Fallout Equestria: Legends of Transylvania - MeetSouder



Midnight Wind and Scarlet Rose find themselves in a new world when the inhabitants of Stable 17, forced them to leave. Now in their native land of Thestra "batponies", they begin their journey uncovering the secrets that make up Transylvania

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Chapter Three: New Beginnings

Chapter Three: New Beginnings

I snapped my eyes open, arching my back and exhaling sharply as if somepony had punched me right in the stomach. I rolled over and fell upon my back, eliciting an excruciating pain up my side. I did all I could not to vomit from the displeasure and sat for a few moments clenching my teeth, waiting for the grinding sensation to die down.

“A-are you okay?” I heard a female voice ask beside me.

With a flutter of my eyes I dared to peek them open, the pain having dulled down to a swollen throb. Struggling to see through teary eyes, I saw that I was laying on a ledge of some kind, a broken wooden door sat far above me on a cliff face. Whatever the case, that must’ve been the reason I was knocked unconscious.

Further above, the rocks ascended into a spire, higher than anything I had ever seen before. I felt so small in comparison to such a massive display, no Stable hallway or even the apple orchard was so impressive. But what really got me however, was what rose beyond the spire.

A crystal clear night blanketed the sky above, I had learned about the weather and sky during my time in the stable, but I never imagined it would look so vast. I felt oddly comforted looking at it, as though that sky was exactly where I belonged, flying freely through the endless air. The stars twinkled gently, outcast by the nearly-full moon that lazily drifted above. As splendid as it all looked, something felt off about it all, as though the moon shown only a fraction of the brilliance it possibly could. An air of dreadful unease encompassed the scene around me, though bright and unscathed, all I could feel was the presence of death.

I recoiled as something poked my side once more, shooting up new bolts of pain. “Gah! Stop that!” I hollard, swatting the hoof away and craning my neck to look at my assailant.

Scarlet was sitting just off to my right, our saddlebags were piled up behind her, hers open and a first aid kit sprawled across the smooth stone that we sat upon. She looked like a mess, her mane disheveled with her bow just clinging on. She was holding a half used roll of bandages, and for a moment I thought I saw concern in her eyes before she took on a scowl.

“Well you were staring with a bloody look on your face! I thought you were knocked out again!” Scarlet huffed, throwing the roll of bandages at me.

“Well I’m not!” I flinched as the bandages bounced harmlessly off of my head. “Thanks for poking me exactly where it hurts!”

Scarlet stood up, “Well that’s plenty thanks for keeping you from bleeding out all over the place.” With an irritated flick of her tail, she trotted over to the fallen bandages and began packing up her things.

“Bleeding out…” I trailed off, finally looking down at myself.

My coat was caked in dried blood, horrified, I tried desperately to find the source of damage. The blood looked old, and with no visible wounds, I guessed Scarlet had done the job well. I gingerly rolled back over to my stomach, being careful to roll on my good side. Rising to all fours, I tried to stretch my wings, only to have my right one rise up and my left one succumb to more excruciating pain. I tightened my jaw, holding back tears, and looked at my left wing.

The appendage was stained with blood, but aside from the bandage holding it to my side, it actually looked okay. It seriously didn’t feel okay however, and I was certain that something was broken in the complicated skeleton. I let out a whimper as I realized I couldn’t fly, if ever at all again.

“It was ten bloody times worse than it looks now,” Scarlet called out from her packing, “You gotta hole in your left wing, probably from whatever broke it. Thing is,” she paused to sling her saddlebag over her back. “I don’t have anything better than bandages, so until we can figure out what to do about it, try not to move it.”

“I can’t fly…” I mumbled, horrified.

“No, you can’t mate.”

“It’s broken.”

“Yes, we can see that.”

“My wing, it’s broken look.” I said, trying desperately to come to terms with that fact that the only thing that made me a pegasus was now broken.

Scarlet rolled her eyes and began trotting away, I widened my own and cantered after her, “Hey wait up! Where are you going? Whoa shit!” Suddenly I skidded to a stop.

Ahead of me, the ledge that we sat upon came to a sheer drop. Far below, a forested landscape draped in fog continued on for miles, stopping at the base of a mountain range that seemed to surround the edge of the forest in all directions. The trees were all brownish-green and covered in thin needles, reminding me of the crazy dream I had while unconscious. I looked back over to Scarlet, only to see her tail round a boulder as she worked her way around the mountain face.

“No wait! Don’t just freakin’ leave me here!” I hollard, galloping after her. I scooped up my saddlebag and slung it over my back, wincing as it grazed my injured wing. Catching up behind her, I slowed to a trot and caught my breath, “What, so you just get up and leave?”

“If I wanted to leave you, I’d have just glided down the mountain.” Scarlet shuffled her wings. If wings could be sarcastic, hers were.

“Right.” I replied lamely, falling into step just beside her.

An uncomfortable silence fell upon us as we cautiously trotted our way down the mountain face. The cliffs were jagged drops, leaving the only way down being a narrow path cut into the stone, probably used by the first generation of Stable inhabitants. The descent was rather easy, the smooth path practically spiraled to the base.

When we got to the bottom, the path continued into the forest, loose cobblestone clopped underhoof as we made our way into the dense trees. Around us, the ancient trees sat sparsely packed, allowing moonlight to illuminate the ground. Dense wisps of fog coiled along the forest floor, trickling around our hooves as we followed the path. We really didn’t have anywhere else to go, but it was bound to lead us someplace right?

I coughed, grabbing Scarlet’s attention, “So, you know, I had a dream about you.” I said, trying to break the ice as we trotted along.

Scarlet gave me a cross look, not saying anything.

“No! Nonono, not like that!” I flushed with heat rising in the tips of my ears “I mean, it was about a wolf, and some magic, and then I was a wolf, but not before the magic, and then he spoke to me, about you…” I desperately blurted.

Scarlet stopped and reached up on the tips of her hooves, resting a hoof up against my forehead. She looked at me quizzically, and never being so close to her before, I couldn’t help but notice her fangs were adorably small for a thestral, barely sticking past her top lip. As opposed to my own, which extended further.

“Don’t tell me you hit your head so hard, you went looney on me.” She sighed, ignoring my dental comparison.

I swatted her hoof away and glared at her “I’m not crazy! I’m serious, my spirit was taken away from my body and I was transformed into a wolf in a wolf world!” I explained desperately.

“Luna above, of all ponies to be stuck with out here, he’s insane.” Scarlet cried out to the sky, trotting along the path once more.

I hopped out in front of her, stopping her with a hoof. “No, really, hear me out?” I asked, my tone serious and pleading.

“And why should I?” Scarlet spat, lowering my hoof off of her, “ In fact, why should I do anything for you? All you’ve ever done for me so far, is get me kicked out of my home and nearly killed! Hell, bandaging your bloody wing and listening to you ramble daft is more than what I think you deserve of me!”

“Hey that Stable was my home too! Why do you blame me for all of this? It was your crazy sister who instigated it!” I shot back, my temper flaring. “We’re both out here like it or not, and all I’ve ever done was try and at least be friendly with you!”

Scarlet stamped her hoof in frustration, groaning she began trotting again, myself close behind.

“At least you could thank more for keeping you alive for however many hours you were out, you dense inconsiderate buck!” She cried out in front of herself.

“Hours?” I paused, Had it really been hours? “You seriously looked over me for that long?” I dropped my anger immediately, humbled by her action.

“Yes, Midnight, hours.” She stopped and turned around, poking my chest. “And to make things worse, I’ve never even touched a bloody bandage before in my life, I was panicking watching you bleed like that.”

“Really…?” I asked, flushing at the thought of her concern for me.

Scarlet’s own features fell still as well, “O-only because you’re the only other pony out here!” Her tone died down, “It’s not like I’d make it far alone anyway.” She looked away, breaking eye contact.

“Well, thank you then.” I said genuinely, “If it wasn’t for you, I’d not be here now. I’m sorry I hadn't said it sooner”

“Right, you’re welcome mate.” She nodded, straightening her bow with a sigh, regaining her composure, “Shall we carry on then?” Finally matching my eyes once more.

“Only if you let me tell you my story.” I smirked, eliciting yet another roll from Scarlet's eyes.

“Fine, yo-” Scarlet’s retort was cut off as something snapped deep within in the forest before us. “What was that?” her ears perked up, squinting into the dense fog.

REEEEEE A sharp howl echoed throughout the woods. Scarlet flapped her wings and jumped over me, effectively putting me between her and the source of the noise.

“What the bloody hell was that?!” She screamed into my ear.

Wincing, I scouted the forest desperately, equally terrified. “I have no bucking clue, why ask me?!”

“Well maybe you saw where it came from!” She hollard, slapping my back.

“Is this really the time to be arguing?!” I scoffed.

To our left, I spotted a silhouette as it began pushing its way through the mist. Trees shook as it barreled its way directly toward us.

“Holy shit, run!” I cried as I galloped down the path.

Scarlet took off and flew above me, that lucky mare still had working wings.

“What the hell is it?!” I asked, not daring to look back.

“It’s a zompony!”

“A what?!”

“A zompony!” Scarlet repeated desperately.

“What the fuck is a zompony?!” I hollard, leaping over a fallen log on the path.

Just behind me, the rotten log made a crashing noise, followed by another ear splitting REEEE.

Whatever it was, it was gaining on me. I gulped back my fear and stole a look behind me. A massive pony was galloping a dozen hooves behind me, it didn’t have wings, so it must’ve been equestrian. But the thing was, it was barely held together. Whatever was left of its coat, hung loosely as dull patches of hair, its skin was torn and rotting, muscles and organs showing through its exposed skeleton. I held back my stomach in horror and disgust, watching as its yellow beady eyes locked onto me.

“It’s a half dead pony! From the books!” Scarlet tried to explain, looking down at me from between her legs.

“You know what? I don’t care! Just look ahead and tell me if there’s any way I can lose this thing off my tail!” I looked forward once more, desperately pumping more into my tired legs.

Scarlet peered far ahead of us, “Uhh, uhh, look!” She pointed a hoof, “The path comes to an end, there’s a clearing up ahead!”

I didn’t acknowledge her, saving any strength to just focus on galloping. Pegasi were not meant to run, that was one thing I knew, and felt, for sure. Soon, I spotted what Scarlet was talking about, the cobblestone path came to a stop and intersected a much wider road. The new road was made of solid stone, white painted lines separating it into two halves along the length. On the well moonlit road, I could have sworn I spotted the figures of ponies trotting along, a large wooden cart being pulled by one.

“Oh my Luna, Midnight, I think those are ponies! I didn’t think there were any left out here!” Scarlet gleefully cried out above, I let out a grunt in acknowledgement, exhaustion taking over.

Let’s see if these guys are willing to help me out then. I told myself, pushing the last of my strength into my legs and galloping straight out onto the road.

See, the problem with galloping was, all my weight was going forward. Meaning I was going forward. I galloped right onto the road, directly in front of a very confused mare, across, and back into the forest on the other side, yelling the whole time. Scarlet had already flared her wings and was hovering above the road, crying out my name as I ran further, the damned zompony still behind me.

I dared to slow my pace enough to circle back around a tree and onto the road again, this time coming up behind the travelers. There were four of them, all an assortment of colors, something I had previously thought that I only looked like. I knew that ponies came in all shapes and sizes, hell I was half pegasus, but I had never seen a Unicorn or Earth Pony in person. All but one were earth ponies, the last being a unicorn. Unfortunately for me though, they were all cowering behind the wooden cart.

My ears perked up as I heard a crack snap above my head, just as I approached the group. The zompony behind me unexpectedly slumped over and tumbled to a halt, its head taken clean off with a burst of chunks and pink mist. It was followed by a soft boom that echoed into the forest around me as I too skidded to a stop, desperately gasping for air.

Scarlet fluttered over to me, coming to a landing, “Holy goddesses, that was some bloody shot!”

“Some… Bloody… wha…?” I asked, staring at the ground, my breath still long behind me.

“The pony who saved you!” She pointed off into the foggy darkness ahead on the road. “They shot the zompony, and from that far no less.” Scarlet spoke, seemingly proud.

“That was a gun? What the hell?” I asked in utter confusion, having finally filled my lungs with enough air.

“Damn right it was,” an older stallion’s voice spoke in front of me. “You don’t see ghouls like that around these parts often.”

I raised my head up, coming face-to-neck with a large Earth Pony stallion. He stood over me, smiling through crooked teeth. He had to be middle aged, his orange coat and brown mane were fringed with grey.

“Who are you ponies?” I asked, taking a look past him. The others had climbed out of hiding and were once more ready to trot along.

“Allow me to introduce myself, my name’s Pumpkin Spice, I run this fine caravan up and down the Transylvanian trade route, right up to VanHoover herself!” Pumpkin explained, his accent definitely Equestrian.

A canteen seemingly levitated itself before my muzzle, masked in a green glow. I recoiled and stared criminally at the magic bottle.

“It’s alright silly, it won't bite, it’s just water.” A new voice, this time a middle aged mare giggled from behind me.

I turned around to find that same green mare I had nearly tackled earlier, atop her head sat a horn, glowing a matching green to the bottle. I nodded in appreciation and snatched the canteen out of the air, gulping down its contents. My pipbuck let out a few chirps as I drank, suspiciously sounding like a geiger counter

“You know, you’re lucky you two came across us out here, not so many ponies are as kind or friendly as us.” Pumpkin explained.

“Yeah, no kidding, if not for your help, Luna knows where I’d be now.” I smiled, hoofing over the canteen back to the Unicorn mare with a “Thanks”.

“Oh-ho-ho that was not any of our doing!” The stallion chuckled, his laughter booming, “Me and my wife, we run our caravan unarmed, it usually causes nothing but trouble. ‘Specially on one of these safe routes you know?”

Scarlet had been quietly sitting beside me this whole time, she watched us speak, but never really said anything herself. I guessed she didn’t like talking to strangers all that much. She shared an equally confused look as my own however.

“You know…?” The stallion repeated, raising an eyebrow.

We shook our heads in unison.

“Right. Well why don’t you two come with us, it looks like you two have been through tartarus and back. Town’s just up ahead anyway.” Pumpkin shrugged, beckoning us toward the covered wooden cart.

Scarlet and I nodded thankfully, and trotted over to the two ponies near the front of the caravan. Both were Earth Pony stallions, one rigged up to pull the cart, the other carrying a large saddlebag of supplies. I trotted up to one of them and smiled, only to be met with a silence and terrified eyes.

What’s his problem? I shrugged, I guess a zompony had only just tried to kill us afterall.

“Why don’t you two come on and take a seat inside the cart, I’m sure you’re tired from the running an’ all!” The unicorn mare smiled, calling to us from afar.

“Oh, um, no thank you, I’d rather fly above.” Scarlet laughed uneasily and took off, shooting me a worried glance.

“Well, I’ll gladly take that offer!” I smiled and began to trot over to her.

“Midnight, just trot for now okay?” Scarlet whispered, hovering just over my head.

“But I’m exhausted! You weren’t the one galloping this whole time!”

“Look, just believe me on this one okay? Please?” She pleaded, she looked genuinely concerned, I couldn’t help but nod.

“Actually, ma’am, I think I’ll just trot along outside for now.” I called out to the Unicorn, “After all, the town's just up ahead right?”

“Mmm, suit yourself pegasus.” She eyed me and began trotting forward.

With an “Alright, let’s move!” from Pumpkin, the caravan began moving once more.

We trotted along the road for a few moments, the fog having lightened up enough for me to spot some dim lights glowing up ahead. It surprised me that these many ponies had survived the war, from what we were taught, there was nothing but a giant molten crater left of Equestria. I took a moment to eye Scarlet, who lazily glided above. She looked tense, like there was something she wanted to tell me. I figured if it was important enough, she’d have said it by now.

As we approached the town, I spotted two ponies flying toward us in the fog, they had just landed and began cantering at a steady pace, coming to a stop just before Pumpkin spice. From what I could tell, both of the ponies were Thestrals, but they were wearing some kind of matching black barding with a multicolored dark uniform underneath their vests. They both had what appeared to be rifles, drawn and ready to use. They began conversing with Pumpkin just out of earshot.

Scarlet landed beside me and was as tense as ever, she poked my shoulder, drawing my attention. “This isn’t good, those ponies are armed.” She whispered, eyeing the dark treeline around us. “I could see them from up there, they came from the town. I don’t trust these ‘traders’ either.”

“Aw come on, you’re just being paranoid, these guys are friendly enough. They even offered my water!” I chuckled, not without feeling a bit on edge myself.

“Is everything okay there honey?” the Unicorn called out from within the covered wooden cart, poking her head out to see.

Before us, Pumpkin began nervously shuffling, whatever they were talking about clearly was making him uncomfortable. Suddenly, the Thestral pony on the left began shouting, pointing his gun at Pumpkin. I nervously stole a glance to Scarlet who was equally as afraid as I was.

Pumpkin then pounced forward, only to be peppered by automatic gunfire by the Thestral on the left. His body slumped to the floor, and both of the Thestrals pushed forward towards us, guns drawn and crouching.

“Aw dammit!” The Unicorn cried out from the cart, and leapt out the back, brandishing a rifle of her own and letting loose a sentence of automatic fire.

Scarlet and I both yelped and dove down off the road, trying to keep ourselves out of everything. The Thestral on the left cried in pain and fell over, clutching his leg. The other one on the right began firing controlled bursts toward the Unicorn. Striking her in the side as she galloped toward us.

She rolled into the dirt, and grabbed onto Scarlet, who screamed and flailed against the Unicorn’s forelegs trying desperately to knock her off. I tried to dive forward and stop her, only to be knocked on the head by the butt of the Unicorn’s levitating rifle. Dizzy with pain, I fell back, watching as the Unicorn stood up and pressed the barrel of against Scarlet’s head.

“We had a deal!” The Unicorn screamed, facing the Thestral who sat crouched on the road, rifle aimed at her.

“We don’t deal with Slavers, you know that.” The Thestral spoke around his rifle bit, his accent Braytish. I could see a few wisps of white mane poke under his helmet, contrasting to his dark red-grey coat.

“But we agreed that you’d let us through if we didn’t bring slaves onto your land!” Miss-Unicorn-terrorist hollard, shoving the barrel of her gun harder against Scarlet’s head.

I felt utterly helpless, Scarlet and I weren’t exactly friends, but dammit it would suck to lose her!

“Aye, and so explain the slaves right here? And the ones by the cart?” The uniformed Thestral asked, not once breaking his aim off of the Unicorn.

“We found these two just here!” The green mare hollard, shaking Scarlet desperately. Scarlet tried biting onto the mare’s leg, but it either went unnoticed or did nothing substantial.

There it was again, that crack. The mare’s head suddenly exploded in half and she limply fell over with a meaty slap. A soft boom echoed once more throughout the forest, just after. The white maned Stallion rushed forward and kicked the body off of Scarlet, letting his rifle fall onto his chest by a sling. He helped Scarlet to her hooves, who has shaking and looked like she was about to vomit from all the brain matter splashed onto her coat.

“Are you two okay?” he asked, trotting over to me and offering a hoof, helping rise to all fours. I winced as my wing ground uncomfortably.

“What a display...” Scarlet muttered, staring wide eyed at the body of the Unicorn.

“Aye, we’ve been having problems with Slavers these past few weeks.” The stallion explained, trotting back over to the caravan with us behind. “Name’s Lieutenant Silver Dusk, SF of the Night Watch, you two?”

“Midnight WInd,”

“Scarlet Rose”

“Oh…”

“Oh…” Both Scarlet and I said in unison, looking at each other.
So that’s what her full name was.

“Um.. right.” Silver eyed us crossly, and trotted over to where his comrade was limping, helping the other two Stallion slaves. “How’d the likes of you two wind up in the company of Slavers?” He asked, nodding to his team mate.

“Well, it’s kind of a long story.” I sighed, scratching my mane.

“Mmm, perhaps save it for later, I need to bring you two to my commander ay-sap. Are you fit for a bit of a canter?” Silver asked, eyeing my wing.

“Eh, couldn’t hurt.”

“Brilliant, let’s go.” Silver took off in a brisk canter down the road, followed by me, his friend and the two stallions. Scarlet, of course, opted to fly overhead. Silver cast a glance over his shoulder, a wry smile upon his face “Oh, by the way, welcome to Renaissance.”

XXX

Author's Note:

From here on out, I have a feeling my chapters are going to grow in length. I just feel like there's going to be more content before cutting it off. I'll try to keep it reasonable though!
~MS