Fallout Equestria: The Sickness Within

Chapter 9: Future Chapter (Future)

*****

“Heyy there, young buck, how’s the next shipment coming along? Wagons about loaded up yet?”

Happy's ears perked up at the sound of Red's voice, the deep bass stirring him from his thoughts.

The gray buck brought a hoof to his brow, wiping away the sweat dripping down into his eyes. Looking up from the piles of crates stacked up around him, he could make out the image of the red stallion standing a few hooves away.

With a sidelong glance, Happy nodded, looking back toward the carriage in front of him.

“...Mm...”

The earth pony smiled behind his golden beard. Trotting a few steps forward, he lifted a hoof to Happy’s shoulder. Happy followed it as it settled against him, briefly meeting the stallion’s gaze before turning away.

The older stallion didn’t seem deterred.

“Good to hear son, keep up the good work! Just don’t go disappearing like you did last week after all’s said in done, ya hear? From the looks of things, there’s a good chance they’ll need some extra hooves on deck tomorrow. A strong buck like you keeps things moving.”

Happy scratched his neck, eyes shifting between the cart in front of him and the earth pony.

“...Mm….”

“Ha-ha! That’s the spirit!”

The buck watched as Red trotted off, humming to himself, the eyes of the other wagon loaders focused on the task at hoof as the stallion passed them by. The scale of Creek Bend’s operations had nearly doubled in the past year—the three wagons full of product before them a testament to the rise in business. They weren’t quite New Appleoosa, but in their own little patch of the wastes, they were doing well enough to get by.

Happy’s eyes drifted back to the settlement behind him. The eleven-odd homesteads stared back at him in the misty afternoon light, the red train car that used to serve as the caravan's old warehouse almost hidden behind the new developments that had popped up in the last few months.

The buck shifted uncomfortably, the loose fabric of his tan jumpsuit shifting with him. A few flecks of mud had fallen across the sleeves, the earth beneath him still wet from the last few days of rain.

He scratched at his neck.

He still wasn’t used to being around this many ponies. It had taken him long enough to settle in with the new faces he’d seen when he’d first arrived. With all the new faces around these days, it was almost like he’d gone back to that time—trying to put names to ponies and learning how to socialize all over again.

Happy turned to his side, using his snout to shift one of the crates in front of him onto and edge. Crouching down next to it, he shifted the container onto his shoulders and back, balancing it there as he carried it over to the nearest wagon.

The looks in the newcomers’ faces was the worst part. Nopony was outright cruel or anything. Creek Bend management was pretty particular about the attitudes of the hooves it hired on.

The buck continued forward, glancing back at the similar uniforms worn by the ponies loading the next wagon over.

But whenever a new settler met him for the first time. Saw his appearance. Heard the way he talked...

His brow furrowed as he slid the crate off his back, pushing it into place with his hooves.

That faint discomfort in their eyes... It almost hurt more than words would have.

Happy sighed.

Glancing down at the puddle next to him, he could see his reflection staring back, its mouth drawn into a faint frown beneath jaundiced eyes.

There were still a few patches where the fur hadn’t grown back on his neck and muzzle. Probably never would. His blue mane, though less ratty than it had been, was still clumpy and uneven.

He’d cleaned up a bit. Compared to before. Most of the infections had run their course in due time. No more open wounds. Only a mild case of bloodshot eyes.

At a distance—mid-distance, maybe—he might even be mistaken for your average waster, albeit one who had lived through a rough patch or two.

Happy ran a hoof across his closed muzzle.

His teeth were still a strong indicator that something was a bit off, though. That and the old ticks that sometimes pushed their way through. It usually didn’t take long for other to start keeping their distance.

A distant ringing drew his attention back to the center of the settlement, the din of the bell at the top of the watchtower echoing across the small valley. He could see a group of ponies begin to assemble at its base as the drawl of an older, mustached gray stallion called down to them from above.

“Caravan from Bronco City! Caravanfrom Bronco City! Offloaders on deck!Cattle crew on brahmin inspection! Caravan from Bronco City!”

Happy’s ears twitched as the message met his ears.

Bronco City. That was Serenity’s route. They weren’t supposed to be back for a couple of days yet.

His stomach shifted at the thought.

Had something gone wrong? Why were they back so soon?

Hurrying to load the last few crates onto the wagon before him, he lifted the tailgate back into place, brushing his hooves off on his jumpsuit before turning back toward the town center. He could just make out the caravan cresting the hillside—two wagons followed by a small herd of brahmin bringing up the rear. The familiar sight of a red-streaked griffon in gray fatigues hovered overhead, a few familiar looking ponies pulling the carts along as two or three others in worn barding trotted beside them.

Squinting, Happy picked up his pace, looking for any signs of yellow or red.

Was she there? Was she safe?

He shifted from a trot to a light gallop, a few sets of eyes turning in his direction as he increased his gait. His ears dipped a bit at the sudden attention as he lowered his head, trying to keep a low profile.

Nearing the path as the caravan made its way to the base of the hill, he still didn’t see any signs of Serenity.

He could feel the growing pit in his stomach drop another inch.

Had something happened? Was she not with the group?

“—should be fine. I mean, it’s not ideal, but if Ruby Dusk is willing to pony up the extra caps to cover it, why not?”

Happy’s gaze shifted to the space between the two wagons. As the caravan shifted closer, he could make out the profile of a yellow unicorn, dressed in the same red shirt, leather barding, and trader’s cap she usually wore while on the road. A pink, female earth pony in a similar outfit nodded at her side, the two of them chatting idly as the train of travelers made their way in.

Happy sighed in relief.

Good. She was there. She was safe.

Taking a step back, Happy could feel his self-consciousness catch up with him, a few of the other settlers still staring in his direction. Slinking back, he turned back toward the loading docks, lowering his gaze in the hope that the yellow unicorn hadn’t caught sight of him as well.

“Happy!”

Happy tensed, Serenity’s voice ringing out between them, drawing a few more gazes in their direction.

Looking back over his shoulder, he could see Serenity wave in his direction, the mare at her side tilting her head as the yellow mare flagged him down.

“Happy!—ah, I’ll catch up with you later Jewel—hey, Happy!”

Happy tensed again as Serenity started forward, smiling brightly as her eyes met his own. He could see a couple of the other ponies in the caravan turn their attention toward the ongoing exchange, whispering to one another as their eyes shifted between the vibrant yellow mare and the dull gray buck she was calling out to.

Happy lifted a hoof to the back of his neck, attempting to hide his unease behind an awkward smile as Serenity trotted up to him.

“Hello...Ser—mmph!”

A mouthful of braided mane cut Happy off mid-sentence as Serenity knocked him onto his haunches with a hug. Struggling to hold back a cough, he inhaled through his nose, the mare’s scent washing over him amid the embrace. She smelled like daytime on the open road—a bit dusty, a bit sweaty, but soothing in a way that reminded him of a gentle breeze.

Lifting his free hoof, he slowly returned the gesture, bringing a hoof to her back as she pressed the side of her head against his. Another moment passed before she pulled back, leaving one of her hooves resting on his shoulder.

The smile on her face hadn’t dimmed, her eyes sparkling beneath the loops of red mane dangling beside them.

“Happy! There you are! I didn’t get a chance to see you before I left last time! How are you holding up? Val mentioned that Warehouse has you working full shifts at the docks now?”

Happy nodded slowly, his eyes still drifting back and forth, unable to fully hold Serenity’s gaze.

“Things are…going well. Warehouse...is—mmmgh.”

The buck winced, biting down on his tongue as a faint laugh threatened to burble out between his lips.

He held his breath for a moment, throat convulsing as he swallowed it back.

“Warehouse..is...a good...boss.”

Serenity chuckled, her smile shifting to a simple grin.

“Just don’t go telling him that to his face, alright? It’ll go straight to his head.”

Happy could feel his cheeks go red as she tussled his mane with a hoof, his eyes flickering back between hers and the ground beneath him.

“I...won’t…”

She chuckled again, sliding her hoof down to pat him on the shoulder.

“Alright. Good to hear.”

Taking a step back, she nodded toward the caravan as it continued to file past.

“Well, I do still have to see about getting a few things squared away from our trip. Val’s going to want a run-down of how things went with Ruby. But it shouldn’t take too long if everything goes well.”

She glanced back over her shoulder.

“You didn’t already have plans for tonight, did you?”

Happy could feel his stomach shift. He’d been afraid she might ask that.

Meeting her eyes with a bit of effort, he slowly shook his head side to side.

“I...don’t.”

The mare flashed him another smile.

“Keep your schedule open then, alright? I’ll stop by the bunkhouse once we finish up. Sound good?”

“Sounds...good.”

“Good.”

She winked, giving him a playful nudge.

“It’s a date, then.”

"Ah—mm."

Happy could feel his cheeks flush again as Serenity turned back, offering him one last wave before trotting over to catch up with the pink mare. He could hear their conversation resume as they met up, the gazes of the other settlers and caravaners slowly drifting back to their own goings on.

“Sorry for the wait, Jewel. Like I was saying though, with Western Traders out of the picture, we shouldn’t have to—”

Happy watched as the wagon train rounded the corner, Serenity’s voice disappearing into the general hum of the settlement. He dimly lifted a hoof in her direction as it faded, a faint emptiness filling his chest where the embarrassment and self-consciousness had been a moment earlier. The words he hadn't been able to say echoed through his mind.

I’m...I’m glad you made it...back.

Shaking his head, Happy glanced down at his jumpsuit. The underside was spattered with mud from his earlier gallop, the sideways “V” of the Creek Bend symbol difficult to make out beneath it.

Scratching at the muddy patch with a hoof, he lifted himself off his haunches, turning back in the direction of the settlement behind him.

It was only a little past noon, but in his rush to check on the caravan, he’d already finished his quota for the day. Knowing how check-in usually went, Serenity probably wouldn’t be coming for him until sometime later in the evening.

Happy glanced toward his hooves, then back at his soiled clothes.

It was probably best that he saw about getting cleaned up before then. After that...

His eyes drifted back toward the settlement. He could see ponies moving about within, living their lives as usual. Talking. Working. Waving to other ponies they knew as they passed by. Though they weren’t more than few dozen hooves away, their voices seemed distant, somehow.

Happy shook his head.

After that...well…he’d figure something out.

***

By late afternoon, the shadows cast by the homes in Creek Bend had begun to lengthen, the already gray equestrian skies growing dimmer.

Happy spared a glance in their direction before looking back down at his hooves, a warm bowl of soup clenched in his teeth as he took a seat at one of the picnic tables near the employee kitchen stall. The boxy frame of the newly constructed depot stared back at him across the way, a few other small groups of ponies in tan jumpsuits sitting together at the tables nearby.

Setting his bowl on the table before him, Happy ran a hoof along the collar of his own jumpsuit.

He’d managed to fold it in a weird way again. It didn’t want to lay flat, no matter how much he fiddled with it.

Happy sighed.

Giving up for the time being, he settled into his seat, staring down the sprigs of green and red floating around in the yellow broth before him. The smell of thyme wafted up from its surface, drawing a frown across his muzzle.

Steeling himself, he leaned forward, eyes squeezing shut as he sipped off a mouthful of the liquid.

Oats. He’d gotten used to a lot of things since coming to Creek Bend, but the food they ate here was still difficult to keep down, no matter how hard he tried.

“You couldn’t make zat look any less appetizing, could you, pony?”

Happy glanced up, a faint ruffling of feathers meeting his ears as Victor landed on the other side of the table, a grin etched into the griffon's beak as he lifted his goggles back onto his forehead. Shifting to slide off the rifle that had been slung over his shoulder, he sat down on the opposite bench, leaning the firearm against the table’s edge.

Happy frowned, closing his eyes as he swallowed down another mouthful. Wiping his muzzle off with a foreleg, he shook his head, averting his gaze from the grinning griffon across from him.

“I don’t...know what...you mean.”

Victor chuckled, his wings folding in behind him as he cracked his talons.

“Zis one is just giving you a hard time, Happy. You don’t need to be zat much of a stick in zee mud about it. Vee already have Vera for zat, you know.”

Happy sighed, turning back to the feathered marksman. The griffon’s grin had softened, his eyes glancing down toward his pocketed fatigues as he flicked open one of the pouches.

“Perhaps somezing a little more filling eez in order, no?”

Happy watched as Victor pulled out a few strips of dried, greenish-brown meat from the pouch, biting into one with his beak as he offered the other two to Happy.

Happy’s eyes widened, his nostrils flaring at the jerky’s strong, gamey scent.

Victor nodded toward his outstretched claw.

“Fresh radgator. Straight from zee swamps.”

Raising an eyebrow, the griffon's chewing stopped for a moment, his face taking on an appraising expression as he smacked his beak.

After a couple moments, he shrugged.

“Vell, it vas fresh vhen I got it, I suppoze.”

Happy sunk back in his seat, his eyes shifting toward the two groups of ponies at the other tables. He could see a few pairs of eyes glancing in his and Victor’s directions, faint whispers of conversation traveling back and forth between them.

Ears drooping as he turned back toward the griffon, Happy shook his head.

“No...thank you. I’m...good.”

Victor raised an eyebrow, his gaze briefly drifting toward the other ponies before circling back.

“You realize zat starving yourself cauzes trouble for everyvun else, Happy? A pony who doesn’t eat eezn’t much good for loading vagons.”

Happy winced, his eyes shifting back to the strips in Victor’s claw. Averting his gaze from the other ponies, he reached forward, accepting the jerky with an outstretched hoof.

“Thank...you.”

Bringing his hoof back to his muzzle, his eyes flared as the meat’s gamey flavor hit his tongue, the saliva already beginning to pool as he quickly chewed and swallowed. He could feel a rush of heat begin to spread across his torso—a glimmer of adrenaline—his stomach shifting at the unexpected prospect of something more filling.

Happy closed his eyes, neck twitching as he fought of the surge of restlessness rising within him.

Victor chuckled from across the way.

“No problem, Happy. Most ponies don’t understand vhat it’s like to eat anyzing ozzer zan grass and flowers. Some of us just have finer tastes, mm?”

Victor turned toward the other tables, smiling as he waved a talon toward the onlookers. The gazes of the other ponies quickly returned to their own meals, the sounds of hushed conversation dissipating as well.

Glancing between the other tables and Victor, Happy scratched at his neck with a hoof.

“Thanks...Victor.”

The griffon turned back to meet his gaze, waving a claw dismissively.

“No need to zank me so much, Happy. You’d zink zat’s zee only zing you know how to say.”

He reached into his pocket again, procuring another clawful of dried rations for the two of them.

“So I see Serenity eez back in town.”

Happy stiffened for a moment, offering Victor a faint nod a moment later as he accepted the second helping.

“Mm...she made it...back.”

Victor nodded, chewing as he propped up his beak with a talon.

“Did you go to see her?”

“I...did.”

“Mmm…”

Victor raised an eyebrow, cocking his head to the side in a bird-like manner.

“And?”

Happy could feel a bit of warmth start to rise up in his cheeks.

“She said...she would...stop by...later.”

Victor grinned, shifting back in his seat as his tail whipped back and forth behind him.

“Zat is progress, at least. If zis one remembers right, ze last time she vas in town you spent all your time trying to hide from her, no?”

Happy averted his gaze, scratching at his neck again.

“That wasn’t...wasn’t…”

Happy squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head. The images flashing inside his mind were making it hard to think. He was having difficulties finding his words.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see her. It wasn’t.

He lifted his hooves to his temples, wincing again as he pushed inward. He felt sick.

“...I...wasn’t…”

Happy’s eyes cracked open as Victor let out another chuckle, his claw closing in on one of Happy’s hooves, pulling it back.

“Zis one knows, Happy. Don’t zink too much of it.”

The haze receding, Happy nodded, meeting the griffon’s gaze.

“Mm.”

Victor pulled his claw back, nodding back toward the depot. The back half of the caravan from Bronco City peeked out from the other side, the offloading crew pulling of crates and boxes to stack inside.

“She vants to see you, Happy. Zis one knows you have your reasons but...trust her, pony. She puts a lot of faith in you. You've come a long vays.”

Offering Happy another nod, he shifted back, slinging his rifle over his shoulder as his other claw slid his goggles back down over his eyes.

“I had better get back on vatch, zho. Vith Vera back, I don’t vant to get caught vith my feathers tucked avay, if you catch my drift.”

He chuckled, winking at Happy beneath his green-tinted lenses.

“Don’t hide from her zis time, alright?”

Without waiting for an answer, Victor’s wings spread out behind him, a few, powerful flaps lifting him from the ground and into the air. Happy watched the griffon loop back into the cloud cover above, disappearing from sight a few moments later.

“...Mm.”

Happy glanced back down at his bowl, the last few mouthfuls of soup—now cold—resting at the bottom.

He knew what the griffon was trying to say. He did. Serenity aside, the talon sharpshooter was one of the few ponies who went out of their way to talk to him in Creek Bend.

Valentine. Sometimes Gilly when she wasn’t off trying to earn her cutie mark with her friends. Warehouse, on some occasions, though their relationship didn’t usually extend much beyond their day-to-day interactions at the docks.

Trust her, pony, she puts a lot of faith in you.

A faint pang reaching his chest, Happy leaned forward, grabbing up his bowl in his teeth.

But Serenity didn’t know the truth. Nopony did besides him and Victor. Not Valentine. Not Gilly. Not Warehouse.

Happy deposited the bowl on the counter of the kitchen stall, the older stallion inside grunting from beneath his oversize chef’s hat. Happy turned back toward the settlement, the south wall of the bunkhouse peering out from behind the corner of one of the newer developments.

Since he’d started “coming to” here in Creek Bend, he’d begun to understand things about the wastes. Come to realizations that he never would have had amid the haze of violence and darkness that used to make up his life before.

The gray buck stumbled forward a step, his hoof catching a small rock half buried in a clump of earth at his side.

There were two types of pony in this world. Good ponies like Serenity and those here in Creek Bend. Ponies that worked hard. Helped each other. Survived together in the cruel world that was the wastes. Not always perfect, by any means, but decent enough to contribute.

His eyes stared dimly forward.

And then there were bad ponies. Bandits. Murderers. Raiders. Ponies whose existences only hurt those they came in contact with.

Happy scratched at his neck again, hoof digging beneath the collar of his jumpsuit.

Fortunately the rope burns had disappeared over the course of the last week. With the medication, his wounds didn’t heal as quickly as they used to, but he was still better off than your average buck. That said, the hairs of his coat still wouldn’t sit evenly where the fibers had dug into his skin. He hadn't thought Serenity would be back so soon.

Happy shook his head, glancing back up at the bunkhouse growing in his sights.

He didn’t want to let them down. Not the others. Not Victor. Not Serenity.

They were good ponies. Decent ponies. Ponies that—for some reason—watched out for him. Cared about him. Wanted him to be happy with a little “h.”

His hooves felt heavy beneath him.

But even if he wore a jumpsuit now. Even if he washed the blood and dirt from his mane and coat. Even if he now realized the gravity of what he’d done. He couldn’t change who he was.

A raider.

Happy stopped in his tracks, casting one last look toward the depot as he reached the bunkhouse. He could see a yellow and red silhouette trot out from behind the building, sharing a few words with another purple silhouette that had stepped out beside her.

And raiders...

He pushed open the door before him, stepping into the darkness.

...raiders deserved to die.

*****