Fallout Equestria: The Experiment

Chapter One

“They aren't ponies.”

“Eh, Lute, com’mon its yer day.” A masculine voice came out of the blue. Why was I being woken up, and what day? The voice repeated and this time with a nudge against my side “Lute, seriously, stop pretending and get up.” I groaned and just opened my eyes partially looking unamused. A dark blue stallion with a gray mane stood looking down upon me. I knew this stallion and I knew him well, he was that one stallion who just always gets on everyone’s nerves, Note-pad was his name.

“Dammit Note! Why did you wake me!” I moaned becoming restless in the bed I lay curled up in. Note was one of those ponies who just sent messages across Fillydephia. If he’s here annoying me then it can only mean one thing. I had a message, it’s that simple.

“Sorry Lute, though Red Eye wishes to speak to you. His exact words that I was to say are ‘It’s your big day’.” Note said the last bit in a low voice, probably to make sure it was only I who could hear it. Big day, I knew immediately right then and there. Today was the day the Mill had been restored and ready for operational uses.

I slowly got out of bed just when Note-pad was heading out the door. I took a good look around the barracks, seemed like most of the Slave Masters had already departed, most likely having breakfast or already at their posts, I didn’t know the time. The barracks was musty and filled with trash; nobody ever cleaned it up unless someone brought in the occasional slave to have fun with, if you know what I mean.

I went over to my footlocker that normally held nothing in it beside my 32. Cal. Revolver which was back in the days of The Pitt, a few packs of cigarettes, and a lighter. Clothing I wore all the time, I made my own in fact. Its leather based with a few scraps of metal here and there for protection. I slide the packs of cigarettes between my belt and holstered my 32.. I began to head out, but before I’d meet Red Eye I would have a small breakfast.

The Siren went off, I knew that sound. Meant all slaves report to your duties and start working on whatever shit you had to do. Lucky for me I don’t have to that anymore. I can just sit back and relax having a meal even when work hours started.

“Your late” a greenish unicorn mare with spiky hair spoke to me “shouldn’t you be with Red Eye by now?” word gets around fast here, in a barracks mostly everypony knows your privacy.

I acted cool and magically levitated out one cigarette from a pack, and lit it. I replied to her “like you care.” I gave a smirk puffing smoke in the air.

“Careful what’cha say around me shorty, just because you’re a lieutenant doesn’t change the fact that I once knew who you were before.” Many of the Slave Master did “You're still that little slave I saw fight in The Pitt.” She is right about one thing, I’m small. I’m about half the size of a normal adult stallion, hell I just reached stallion hood two years back.

I had a quick breakfast; some pre-war Sugarspell cereal was easy to chow down.

Now I was on my way to visit Red Eye, I knew were he’d be, at the newly restored Mill that I’d have. On my way I watched Slaves working back and forth, being whipped by slave masters, slaves attempting to… I’ll skip the details. It always reminded me just how that was me one time, being a slave, and now freed from all these atrocities. Though the atrocities never ended quite, old slave masters still remember who I once was and would always bring that subject to me. Then again I didn’t mind, I was practically invincible since becoming a lieutenant, they have to watch their own tongues, unless there a higher rank than me.

“Put yer backs into it! It’s only hot scrap!” shouted a voice with a crack of a whip not to far distant. Then another spoke “Aww your hungry… to bad! Now get to work!” and another “I thought I told you no resting!” Goddesses aren’t I lucky.

The trip to the Herbalist Mill took only minutes and a crimson coated stallion with a groomed black mane was waiting patiently, his right eye had a dark red glow for it was a robotic, his left eye was a pale blue, a cape was laid across his body which said on the back only ‘101’, and a funny kind of device strapped onto his left hoof. This stallion I knew by heart, everyone in Fillydephia knew this stallion by heart. Its Red Eye of course, they don’t call him Red Eye for nothing.

“Your twenty minutes late, Add-” I quickly interrupted him which could be the most stupid thing to do.

“Please-!” I cleared my throat “Forgive my outburst but, I changed my name to Lute if you recall Master Red Eye.” That was the most stupid thing I had done right there, though Red Eye seemed to take no offense and rephrased his words.

“You’re forgiven, and your twenty minutes late, Lute, would you care to explain?”

Red Eye kept a plain expression as I tried to formulate my words carefully. “Well Master Red Eye, You sent Note-pad to me and he came very late, I barely had breakfast.” I flat out lied, another thing to not do but, I really don’t want to look bad in front of Red Eye, nobody does.

Red Eye nodded and pushed the main door open “After you.” I thanked him with all sincerity I had and right when I took a hoof in I saw just how improved the Mill had become. Just by seeing this Mill from scraps and rubble to now steel tables, ingredients in large bins, intercoms looking partially new, and schismatics placed on walls for when a slave needed to know what to exactly do. This was turning out really nice, even if slaves restored the portion of it. I slide out a cigarette and lit it, I needed something to calm myself from excitement.

Red Eye gave me a full on tour of what section was to be which, most sections were to be of healing powders and other things that’ll help a pony, two sections were to be of drugs that are quite easy to become addicted to.

“I’m impressed Master Red Eye,” I let out a puff of smoke from my cigarette, before continuing “I don’t see any smoke for once above the Mills ceiling.” Most Mills had smoke at the ceiling because of all the pollution and working conditions.

Red Eye gave a smile “I’m glad, now I bet you want to see your office?” I wanted to nod vigorously but I needed to keep my cool and act mature, instead I gave simple nod as a reply.

My office was ground level which is unusual; most Slave Masters have their office on the second floor or in a small building right next to their Mill. It wasn’t all that bad, it turned out quite roomy. My jaw dropped open, just a little not a lot. My office held a rectangular desk with compartments, a terminal, filing cabinets, an intercom connected to the wall, and a chair steel. This day was getting better.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Red Eye was walking up to the desk “but I added an ashtray and a few packs of your favorites, I believe there ‘Manebarro’.”

My ears perked at the name, Manebarro, they are my number one favorite type of cigarettes, and they just had some kind of sweet favor to them. Red Eye was always generous to his slave masters, most of the time. I trotted up next to him opening the lower compartment and there they were, the ashtray and five packs of Manebarro, I can’t believe I’m going to say this but, I wanted to hug that stallion, no matter how evil he can be at times, he is the most generous pony I ever known.

“I… thank you, thank you.” I couldn’t help but repeat ‘thank you’ a few times.

“It’s nothing… I know you enjoy cigarettes, that is after all how you were sent to The Pitt, am I right?” My cheeks started to warm up, yes that is exactly how I got into The Pitt in the first place, because of stealing them off my masters if you recall.

In our time at my office Red Eye demonstrated how I am to use the terminal and to use it correctly, I’d seen these plenty of times but I had never gotten the chance to ever use one. Red Eye gave pure instruction of what each key is to do. I can send messages to other Masters in their Mills throughout Fillydephia, type up my own personal reports, also I could shut down the intercoms from the terminal as well if I didn’t wish to be disturbed. I gave it a try and started typing up a few words, I was sloppy but Red Eye said I’d get the hang of it if I practiced. Yet, practice was going to be short and Red Eye had other plans.

Stern the Griffon which is also Red Eyes second in command had entered and handed Red Eye a clipboard. Red Eye looked it over and thanked Stern, just when Stern headed right out the door.

“Now, Lute, this here is for you,” Red Eye placed the clipboard right on the desk for me “this here contains what overseers and workers you shall be receiving.”

I knew exactly what Red Eye meant, this is who I would be responsible for. The overseers as Red Eye calls them are just really other slave masters watching the slaves work while they just held there whips making sure they all did their part, and workers are just the slaves.

I looked over the names, I was to receive five overseers which is relatively small but then again this Mill had just opened up, and receiving of workers was twenty-five. I tilted my head in a confusion of the names that I saw for the workers, the first five sounded like common pony names but the last twenty seemed very off. I was curious and had to ask Red Eye such a question.

“Master Red Eye, I’ve never heard such names, where are they from?”

 Red Eye calmly cleared his throat. “They aren’t Ad- Lute, they are Zebra’s.”

I creased my eyebrow questionably “What’s a Zebra?”

Red Eye put it to me clean and simple, Zebra’s were the cause for the Equestrian Wasteland, and they were the ones who burned this land with balefire and megaspells.

“-in any case Lute, these are just like any other equine, only stripped with black and white, it’s the only color I’d ever seen them in. Though they weren’t always the great destroyers of this world, many actually made herbs and magic without a horn, and an interesting culture that they hold, though they cannot be trusted. You need to remember that Lute, don’t trust a Zebra’s tongue.”

************

My robotic leg made a long hiss with every step I took to the main gate. It was common for my robotic leg to do such, since it was powered by a magical gem inside. The gem was most likely running out of power, I’d have to rest for a time by just not moving it, and then it would soon recharge. Blasted thing, this is what made it sometimes hard to get to certain destinations in Fillydephia, wonder if Red Eye has the same problem with his robotic eye, probably not.

As I approached the main gate I went up to one of the walls overlooking the wasteland, the wagons were on their way. A Slaver Griffon had gone ahead and brought in the count of how many slaves were captured this day, it was a good heist. Three wagons chalk full of ponies and I guarantee one of them Zebras, my Zebras. My damn responsibility.

I took out a cigarette and lit it, watching as the wagons closed in. Two ponies were having a side conversation, I decided to listen in. “Did ya hear ‘bout that rumor, ‘bout those Zebras we be getting?” said the first.

“Yeh, I did. Never seen one to tell the truth, but I wonder how they are” spoke the second as he snickered “I wonder how they feel to the touch.”

The gates had crawled slowly open with every creak and scrape it made. I gave out a puff as Slavers and Slave Masters cheered talking about all the new slaves, meat, and toys they have now, as if they knew anything. Right now as I know the first time I was brought in, I’d feel the same away as I did, small, scared, and alone as they taunted me with their bullshit. Red Eye would soon be giving his speech to the new slaves and tell them of the three options. Somebody had to do those jobs, they were voluntary (as they say) after all and could gain your freedom.

Option one was a two year work of salvaging Stable equipment, dangerous job since Stables had traps in them half the time. Stables were once area’s for ponies who sought refuge before the apocalypse was brought upon them. I won’t get into detail for I don’t know much.

Option two was working in the radioactive megaspell craters salvaging deadly radioactive material. To gain your freedom you had to be in those craters for four months, nobody ever survived those. Some took the risk, some lasted for a month, but I’ve never seen anyone earn freedom there.

Option three is fighting six rounds in The Pitt to earn your freedom; it was voluntary but only few ever volunteered, mostly slaves were punished to be sent to The Pitt if they ever did anything bad. If you remember that is how I was sent to The Pitt. Only one slave before had ever made it out of The Pitt and he chose just pure freedom, I was the second, and I choose Red Eye’s army.

I listened to Red Eye’s speech as if I had nothing better to do besides take a smoke. I looked over the clipboard one more time, twenty-five slaves, should I introduce myself a little early?

Red Eye finished his speech and the Slave Masters opened the wagons hauling all the new slaves to the FunFarm. The FunFarm was once an amusement park during Pre-War times run by that creepy smiling pink pony. That Pink pony was practically everywhere in Fillydephia, no matter where you look or turn you’ll see at least one old pre-war poster, or balloon in the sky of her. It’s inevitable to escape, you just have to get used to that face looking at you. I sat down on the my back haunches watching the slaves being hauled, they surely didn’t need my help. Besides I need to let the gem in my left hind leg recharge.

A few minutes passed and I walked about the FunFarm, Slave Masters were still showing new slaves to their quarters, wonder which one the Zebra’s would be in?

“Oh look, the so called champion returns, hey boys, look whose come to visit!” I turned my gaze to the voice calling me. It was a dirty blue coated stallion with an unkept charcoal mane.

“Why hello slave, do I know you?” I said it in the most sarcastic voice I could. Soon a gang of slaves formed around me, they glared at me with tired eyes. “What’s the matter? Don’t remember your soulmate Sticky?” I didn’t want to remember Sticky one bit, he was one of the slaves that tormented me like a slave master would, though the times have changed, his thick head just didn’t seem to ever get the message.

“Oh… sorry I haven’t heard of ya slave, now git! All of you!” with my demanding voice they didn’t budge. I sighed “Ya really want to do this now? Hell I could send ya’ll to The Pitt, why I could see Ste-” I was rudely interrupted by one of the ponies that encircled me.

“We don’t give two shits about your threats; we know who you really are.” I rolled my eyes, and noticed my cigarette was just now a bud, I spat and let it hit the ground. Then I spoke “Either you all get out of my face, or there will be hell, right here, right now.”

The aura on my horn started to light up, my holstered 32. was out and ready, and it was loaded. Finally Sticky spat and said, “Alright, we’ll do what the little runt wants, let him have his little victory.”

Sticky and the rest slowly departed away heading to wherever in the FunFarm. I theorized why Sticky gave up, a Griffon sniper was perched on one of the amusement buildings watching over the slaves. I continued to press deeper into the FunFarm. This trip had better be worth it.

I looked over the clipboard trying to pronounce some of the names. Zebras really do seem to stick out when they have such names foreign to our own. As I approached the mess hall, which was really just a old outdoor food court. I saw what I’ve been looking for, stripped bastards all sitting at the same table. How obvious since there fish out of water and seen none of their kind around here. Time to introduce myself, perhaps, play the slave, see if it helps at any.

I approached the table faking a limp acting as if I was put to hard labor. This to me felt like it was going to be easy, how wrong I’d be.“Min’ if I have a seat if the rest of ya” I gave a weak grin hoping the keep the act up.

One turned to look at me; his deep blue eyes were filled with sadness. “Leave us be.” He said in a very deep exotic voice.

“Why’s that?” I answered in response “I’m just’ looking for some company, I see yer new here.”

“Don’t listen to him Swakkeling, ponies know better.” Another said at the table, not even bothering to face me or Swakkeling as his name is.

“What, know better? Hell I’d think you’d be needing help,” I slide out a cigarette with my magic and lit it, taking in the good aroma in my mouth, then exhaling there way. “am I right?”

One Zebra pounded its hooves on the table and turning to face me, furry was in its eyes. “We wish to be let alone!” it had a female voice so this was mare. “You of ponies should know when to quit.” She started to get up from the table. This wasn’t going as planned. If she started to approach me, I’d know what to do.

“Ah, come now,” I let a puff of smoke drift out of my mouth slowly “I’m just trying to be a little friendly, its your first day here in Fillydephia, were all one big family here.”

The mare moved into a fighting stance, this was turning interesting. “Last chance!” she growled.

I just rolled my eyes “Wish it didn’t have to come to this,” I magically pulled out my 32., aiming it right at her chest “ya couldn’t have just... let me get to know ya.” She didn’t budge her stance, acting brave, and all that. “So, this is all twenty of ya aint it?”

“Nineteen...” Swakkeling replied

“Swakkeling!” the mare twisted her head glaring at him. I just became very curious, I am to have twenty, don’t tell me one died already.

“What do you mean ninteen? I am to be having twenty” I  bit into my cigarette, least they know who's in charge of them now.

“You!? Your not our Master you stiff, no one shall!” The mare was probably boiling with anger just by her expression I saw. Swakkeling spoke out “Mother...” and then some other Zebra did “Swakkeling is right Woede, calm yourself.” Woede spoke in some tongue which I didn’t understand but seemed to have calmed herself.

Though, my question was never answered and I repeated it again. “Where is the missing one, if you're just only nineteen at this table?”

There was complete stillness till Swakkeling spoke up. “She was taken by yours, while still in chains, one said she’d be returned...” he drifted his head a ways before speaking again “...mostly.”

I let out another puff “And... did they say anything more, which way they might have gone?” I would need all the information I’d need to retrieve this Zebra back, I had a good notion of where she might be. The words ‘returned... mostly’ gave it away.

Swakkeling shook his head. It would still be easy, I had a good feeling I’d know where. “I’ll retrieve the slave back to you, though she may be... traumatized.”

I started to make my departure when Woede shout “Traumatized!?”

I craned my head and spoke in a low tone “Sometimes the Slave Masters get lonely... I’m sure ya know what I mean.”

************

Back in the barracks, night was falling soon and my robotic leg was giving out long hisses to squeals. Not much time left before it goes out on me. I checked the main rooms where all Slave Masters half the time bunked, yet no sign of a Zebra. Only one other guess, is they took her to one of those private rooms, to not be disturbed... I hate those rooms. Their on the second floor, they contained dried blood all over the walls, lots of dried blood. More of a torture chamber.

When reaching the second floor two stallion masters in scrapped barding were laughing hard heading the opposite direction, was I to late? I opened a few rooms, they just held dry blood and the occasional corpse. The room at the end of the hallway to the left is where I’d find the Zebra. When opening the door, there she was, legs chained, and sobbing on the mattress. She was small. Might just be a young. I soon noticed blood was covering her lower waist. As I expected, that, would happen.

She took quick notice of me and started to panic “No! Please No! No more! No! No! NO!” She attempted run but the chains that bound her legs made her trip. She went back to more sobs. I felt bad for her, she was going to be in a traumatized state, forever scarred.

I slammed the door shut as she sobbed “Relax... I’m just here to bring you back to the FunFarm,” I spoke in a low tone, wanting to console her. This was her first day in Fillydephia and she just experienced one of the worst things. “your gonna be alright.”

As I approached she shouted once more “No! No! You want the same! Leave me alone!” She brought up her head looking at me with complete fear with tears streaming down her face.

I let out a long sigh “Cry all you must... but I won’t leave.” I could wait this out.

I leaned against the wall and burned two cigarettes, waiting as she ran out of tears. Now she just laid on the floor, sniffling. “Are we ready?” She gave me no response, I fumed. I should just command or threaten but... hell it just didn’t feel right.

I stared at the dried blood walls for a while, this blood must’ve been here before I was even born. Of course there was the new blood which mostly covered the mattress instead. I began to hear hoofsteps coming down from the hallway, I hoped it wasn’t what I believed, I right this time.

The door slammed wide open, this time one stallion, and he was wearing a familiar scrapped barding. He had a black coat, a cyan mane, and his eyes were a green neon “So are we ready for ro- what are you doing in here?”

I looked at the stallion raising my hoof to empathize. “I could ask the same?”

The stallion grumbled “You're not the boss of me, besides this cunt hasn’t given me enough to satisfy me.”

He walked into the room and I walked in front of him. “Mind, stepping aside?” he growled, he must be desperate.

I gave a wide grin “No, cause you're done, now, out with ya.”

“I said, step aside...” he lowered his head so both of our eyes would meet. Guess he was trying to see which one would falter first, I was in no mood to just give up.

“You're messing with one of my slaves you know, Master Red Eye personally gave me them for a reason,” Are foreheads touched “besides, don’t you have better things to do?”

A hoof connected into my chin, I was flung backwards into the wall. The stallion was looking for a fight now, might be life or death situation. No time in talk, it’s all out brawl from here.

“You think your so tough!?” he shouted as my back hit the wall stopping me from fully falling to the ground. I stayed focused with the task at hand. I magically attempted to pull out my 32. but it got stuck in my holster, damn. He spun around preparing to buck me with his hindlegs, I sprang out of the way getting to my feet fast enough.

He made an angered scream coming straight towards me, now it was my turn. Waiting after all really did help. My robotic leg was recharge just enough. As he came came closer I waited, waited, and with a spin, hindlegs legs out, and it connected into the stallions chest. I heard the distinct sound of cracks being made in his ribcage, I cringed with that tune in my ears.

The stallion was now on the ground wailing, nursing his chest. He wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon. With that kind of a blow he’d have to regain some air. I got the chance to unholster my 32. and now pointing it directly at him.

“You have thirty seconds to leave this room!” I breathed heavily.

“You think... youre so... tough!” He gasped.

“twenty seconds!” I said plain and simple to him.

“I know... I know who you are...” he forced himself off the ground wincing with every attempt to stand tall. “...you're not one of us.”

I shrugged and replied “ten seconds.”

With that he made groans of pain when exiting the room, yet he had one more thing to say “You haven’t seen the last of me, ya hear...”

I slammed the door magically shut making a ‘tsk tsk’ with my mouth. I turned my head to the Zebra, she had her eyes wide staring at me, I just smirked “So... ready to go now?”

************

“Argh, hold on... we need to stop for a moment.” I said to the Zebra beside me.

My robotic leg was once again giving out. I’ve only rested the leg for a few minutes so it could only travel so far. If I’d rest for hours it would be recharge for a good mile or so. I sat down on my haunches pulling out a cigarette, while she herself sat next to me hanging her head low. The chains still bind her but I’m planning to remove them as soon as we make it to the FunFarm. I’ve come to know her name now, it was Vrede, I’ve tried to pronounce it correctly a few times but could never get it right.

I normally don’t try to strike conversation but I can’t stand listening to Red Eye’s speeches over and over on those speakers scattered throughout Fillydephia. Red Eye had those on repeat all the time, they would talk about how the slaves are for the new Equestria or he’d talk about his past and compare it to new Equestria. What I honestly think, Red Eye just wants world domination. Most of the Mills here are for weaponry, very few manufactured civilian products, such as mine.

“So...” I had a long pause, I didn’t know what to say.

Luckily she spoke up “I want to go home.” that I should’ve expected, every slave that had been taken away wants home, though they’ll never see it again. Soon enough all the slave lose their hope and just accept working till the end.

“What’da mean, this is home.” I answered, Vrede would have to understand that there is no such thing as escape. I could see her eyes welling up, more tears. “Don’t show tears, it can get ya killed. They’ll see ya weak and vulnerable.” Yet she sobbed, once more I felt bad, why am I feeling bad for her? I don’t normally feel bad for the other slaves who cry. I sighed “Look, Vrede...” I just didn’t know what to say “... nevermind” I looked up at the red sky and all the smoke that had fumigated Fillydephia. The Mills smoke had to go somewhere.

We waited about a minute or two before heading to the FunFarm. Vrede stopped her crying though had the most depressed look on her face. Once we reached the FunFarm I’d stop at the gate and remove her chains, allowing her to go on her own to find the others.

“Master... I don’t want to go back.” She said in a very low tone, this surprised me. Doesn’t she want to be back with her own in the FunFarm? The other Zebras were there, probably sleeping by now considering the time. It was getting darker every minute.

“Not go back...” I spat an old cigarette out from my mouth. “...Yes you do, the others are there.”

She shook her head, “I don’t, I want to go home.”

“Vrede this is home, accept it cause this is what your life will forever be.” She didn’t take the words in kindly. She screamed, and her scream pierced through my ears. “Vrede!” I slapped her across the cheek with a hoof, “Face it! Accept it! But don’t scream in another ponies ear just because he admits the truth!” By the Goddesses my ears were ringing. She went to the ground weeping again, no tears showed though, she must’ve ran out of tears to spill.

I had to carry her the rest of the way to the FunFarm, she just didn’t want to budge, that angered me. The FunFarm was in reach in just minutes so no pain on my back to say the least. I uncoupled the chains with a magical spell that all unicorns in Red Eye’s army have to learn if they wish to remove chains from slaves. Vrede implored me to not leave her at the FunFarm, I told her up straight that all slaves have to be here, whether they like it or not. There is an alternative but I’d have to do that, to prove that she was there for one reason only.

I lit one more cigarette heading in the direction to the barracks. Hopefully Vrede will be fine, Goddesses I’m now worrying about her, I shouldn’t be. I kept saying in my mind she’ll be fine for I’m pretty sure the other Zebras will help her out. They did come from the same settlement after all.

When entering the barracks the room was filled with sleeping slave masters all over, snoring, some cuddling with another, least there was none of that going on in the room. I spat out my last cigarette before turning in for the night. My dreams would be unsettling, worrying for one Zebra, Vrede.