Fallout Equestria: Weak Wings

Chapter 3: A needed cure.

”There’s no time for us… There’s no place for us. What is this thing that builds our dreams yet slips away from us.”

Bittersweet fell to the ground.

"BITTERSWEET"

Breakthrough saw the Rad-Scorpion and pummelled it multiple times. Its sting was in Bittersweets chest. Slowly leaching its poison into Bittersweets bloodstream. The pony whom had just a minute ago saved Breakthroughs life was now dying .   Breakthrough knew that, Bittersweet wouldn't make the night if he didn’t find some form of an Antidote. But leaving Bittersweet in this Now abandoned camp of sadism. But then it would be the only place she would have relative safety should the wildlife try to attack Breakthrough. It took Breakthrough some time before he made his decision to carry Bittersweet through the San palomino dessert.

Unknowing of what would await him Breakthrough Bat in mouth and Bittersweet on back. Breakthroughs freedom was met with a face full of sand, It stung Yet Breakthrough pushed forward. He had just found somepony to care about, And he wasn’t about to let Bittersweet go. It was still night and it would for a few hours but when day comes, He needed something to make himself more like he was at night. like. Like. Like…. DASH.

For the first hour it was relatively smooth sailing, If there was any water around. The sand swept against his fur, his mane already knotted and scruffy now infested with sand. Yet Breakthrough pushed onwards, From Rumour and tale he knew there was a witch doctor somewhere near one of the sandstone mountains  that dotted this region of the desert, Safe Harbours in a sea of death. It didn’t matter however if breakthrough didn’t find this Witch Doctor soon then Bittersweet would die.

Another hour passed and Breakthrough was beginning to worry. Bittersweet was getting worse. Then he saw it, A small shack on a Sandstone Mountain, Decaying but still standing defiant of ages. It would be a long climb to the top however. The path to the Shack was decaying, littered with the corpse of many dead Rad-Scorpions, All in different states of decay. That smell Uuugh. Yet this place was familiar. He may have came here before.

The corrugated iron sheet that was the door swung inwards and an elderly looking Unicorn covered in dried Rad-Scorpion blood dried mud and many burns along her flank walked out.

"Greetings Breakthrough. It has been Two years since I last caught wind of you. And last time Gunslinger was leading you and your noble gang. What has happened them, Do they holiday? Or did they die that day?"

Breakthrough simply grunted. Simple rhymes were not due at this time.

"I see a young Pegasus on your back. How did she arrive from a stable to my shack?. Why did you bring her here. But then her condition looks dear. Come into my shack and close the door behind your back."

The old Unicorn walked back inside exposing a large piece of metal coming out of the unicorns head. Breakthrough Bittersweet on back followed Gently bucking the door shut as he entered.  The shack itself was covered in shelves full of pots with many ingredients for many a brew. In the centre a long aged and rusting cauldron, Inside a Brew frothing in anticipation of use. The only areas not covered in shelves was a single long aged Bed, A single table with half eaten food and a set of Combat Armour standing on a mannequin.

"What is the ailment for this young one, I suspect It is a bad one. Ah I see the sting that has made this Pegasus incapable of wing. I know a cure for the poison for sure, Yet I require a single ingredient to turn my stew into an Antidote Brew." The Unicorn looked at Breakthrough loosing the Rhyming in her voice to a more serious one. "There ingredient you require is also one I desire, It shall be challenge for you, You must find the Nectar of a Tikket bug"

Not amused Breakthrough replied

"Why not get it yourself Witch Doctor? And why must you speak in rhymes?"

"I am not a Witch Doctor young one that is not what it is called where I am from, You ask why I cannot collect? My bones are frail and I fret, I would die on the trek. And so I require you to go along, Three miles south lies a river without a mouth, Move down the river and find a town where not a ghost disturbs the calm, Go to the store and find a long forgotten cave once more, inside the cave you must explore but don’t go through the metal doors. Inside you will soon find, Your prize waiting in all its glory. Now you must go while I keep your companion from going.”

Breakthrough simply nodded.

"And if I don’t return?" asked Breakthrough

"Then the Pegasus will expire, Now go so I may turn my stew into the curing brew"

Breakthrough opened the door and asked

"Do you have any Dash?."

The Unicorn pointed to a pot, Inside was thirteen Dash inhalers, Breakthrough took one for when he left the shack and three more for the trip, And with that the unicorn left the shack. The door closing behind him.

"Breakthrough, Dammit you stupid little pony you swore to get off Dash" Said Breakthrough as he stared at the Dash in his hoof. "But if it means Bittersweet would live…. FUCK " Breakthrough levitated the inhaler to his mouth and took a deep breath in. The red gas inside worked its way down his throat and into his lungs the gas then was absorbed into his blood as his heart began to accelerate. His field of view increased by about 20 degrees and he could not perceive a few colours. Yet breakthrough felt faster.

"Here we go breakthrough"

Breakthrough started running towards the river to the south. From what he could see it was clean. Worse than the dirty irradiated waters. So many lost their lives thinking they found fresh water Near Los Pegasus. Breakthrough continued to run. Over dunes and through the small valleys between. The winds kicked up yet Breakthrough was unphased. In the distance he heard automatic weapon fire, not worth stopping for.

It took half an hour before Breakthrough made it to the river. Bones littered the shore of the clean see through water. Breakthrough simply muttered to himself.

"Luna rest your souls"

Looking down the river breakthrough was the town the Witch Doctor spoke of. Blanketed with darkness of Luna's night. Breakthrough's thinking was interrupted by the sound of a gunshot and a bullet hitting the nearby waters of the river. Turning around breakthrough heard the battle cry of those not worth anything

"LETS PULL THIS ONES GUTS OUT AND SEE IF HE BLEEDS. HAHA"

A gang of raiders. Fucking drug addicts. Not worth anything.

"YOU'RE IN FOR IT SCAB" said one

"THIS ONE WILL BLEED HAHA THIS ONE WILL BLEED" Another cried

Breakthroughs horn glowed telekinetically holding His beloved baseball bat. And started Galloping  towards the raiders, Only four of them. His fast tot became a gallop as breakthrough under a hail of bullets. As he came closer and closer to the raiders they started to fire more rapidly, Out of fear? , Out of anger?. Breakthrough knew not but now wasn't the time.

Then breakthrough jumped. Landed on the First Raider All his force centred on the raiders neck. CRACK. The raiders neck was broken from the sheer force. Another raider ran towards Breakthrough with a rusted switch blade knife. Lunging towards Breakthrough head first. The raider then was introduced to Breakthroughs bat. Pingk. The raiders neck didn’t snap like the previous one but that raider wont survive when the other two were done.

The other two were reloading their pistols. And so Breakthrough charged at them. Gaining more speed than his first strike because he was now running downhill. He leapt up, Spun in mid air, and struck a female raider, Her head with her spiked white hair was smashed off her body. The skin ripped and flesh tore and finally the neck snapped in three places. This combination resulted in the head flying a good 25 feet. The now decapitated raider's body slumped onto her knees and fell sideways blood gushing out of the neck as the legs spasemed.

Disheartened the other raider ran into the distance not wanting to share the same fate. Breakthrough didn’t give chase though, He knew every minute wasted would mean another minute that Bittersweet would be without an kind of antidote.  Totting towards the wounded raider Breakthrough took his goggles. Picked up the raider by its mane and threw him into the river.

"I think you need to find your bullet scum"

A crewel death but then… Raider's aren’t ponies, They're scum. Then the raider came back up

"NO NO NO I WAS JUST PLAYING WITH YOU…."

Breakthrough continued to trot away.

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD"

Breakthrough trotted away at a quicker pace.

Eventually the curses of the raider died away. When Breakthrough reached the edge of the town he sought. Breakthrough liked the goggles that he confiscated from that raider he threw into the river. It kept the dust out of his eyes. A good move. As the winds picked up he saw the outlines of several land mines scattered around the closest buildings. A trap. So that’s what the witch doctor meant by  a town where not a ghost disturbs the calm. Too keep intruders out? What the traps were for was the least of Breakthroughs concerns. This would take a while. Carefully he lowered himself darted occasionally. He almost got to the edge when he felt some of the weight on his hind left leg. Swif . Something that moment wisped by his caught leg. Not enough time to look. Finally making his way through of the maze of ropes breakthrough looked back at what had happened when he got caught on that rope. A spring mounted spear. No blood on it, Who knows what toxins would be covering it?.

Looking back towards the rest of the town Breakthrough saw a scene of death a dozen or so bleach white and cracking from long passed sand. No armour, No weapons, just burned clothing. Breakthrough  felt uneasy by this sight, He knew that many ponies died in the wasteland, But these ponies seemed… Too easily dead. A nearby sign fell from its long rusted hinges over what looked like a bar. The name on the sign confirmed his suspicions.

=======THE RUSTY SADDLE SALOON=======

=======Best drinks in all of Equestria======

Breakthrough looked around. There was only a few buildings that stood out, Including the "Rusty Saddle General Store". So this was what this place was before the war. Could be better, Fixed windows for a start. A lick of paint. Replace some of the wood. Okay all the wood. He walked inside, Dusty. Rows of alcoholic drinks. Nothing here though. Not of his liking. He walked back out. Back on the sand.  The  roof of the Rusty Saddle veranda collapsed. Dust long undisturbed was thrown up by the collapsing . Well no searching in there.

Creeeeekk

Breakthrough opened the door of the General Store. Dust was thrown up yet he saw there was more dust in areas around what looked like  hoof prints. It lead up to a curled up skeleton. Then to a door behind the counter… Wait what was that on the counter. SNACK CAKES. Breakthrough didn't have Snack Cakes for four years. Just before he was captured. Taking the box in hoof Breakthrough opened the cardboard box. Then levitated a Snack Cake out. Then took a bite.

"Sweet Luna I've missed you" Breakthrough said with his mouth full of this sugary, Moist, And soft treat. Breakthrough after chewing it all looked into the box for another, Yet he found none inside. You cant have everything in the wastes.

Looking up again Breakthrough saw the door to the back room was Damaged, Somepony bucked it till the door gave. Pushing the remains of the door that were still on the hinges. Walking forward Breakthrough dropped down a good few metres revealing a cave witch was surprisingly lit. Looking back Breakthrough saw a ladder from where the floor of the general store ended. Breakthrough was flanked by two rust free yet corroded? Steel pillars. With mounted floodlights flickering from age and electrical cables that obviously saw better days. Their light giving off a Buzz as an mechanical song. The Pillars joined in by making a creak as it protested from the sandstone ceiling. Some sand fell in a small cloud. Looking around and only finding a corroded metal staircase going down. Breakthrough muttered to himself

"Breakthrough what are you walking yourself into?"

Not even an echo replied. Just the Buzz of the floodlights remained.

"This will be like a maze won't it Breakthrough?" Breakthrough muttered to himself again.

Breakthrough took some wool out of his saddle bags, Some crap he didn’t even remember putting in the saddle bag. Putting a rock on the loose end of the wool. And threading it through a hole in the saddlebag. Wont need to keep a hold on it. It would just run. Allowing Breakthrough to levitate his bat. And with that Breakthrough took another bite of the Snack Cake. And began to Trot into the cave.

Down the first flight of stairs Breakthrough saw a repetition of damage to the pillars and the metal walkways. Bleached white skeletons littered the stairs. Turning Breakthrough continued to see the same corroded scene.

Wait! What was that?. That shadow just moved. Running to where the shadow just was. Round the corner  an- Wait nothings there… It was just a dead end. With a Vent. That was it

Moving back to the stairs Breakthrough continued to walk down. Checking that the line of wool he had placed didn’t snag. Breakthrough took a sniff. Gas?. Opening his saddlebags Breakthrough retrieved some of an old sack and attempted to make a crude mask. It would work… For a time.

Down another flight of stairs. To his left was a corridor with about a dozen or so doors. All welded shut. Walking too them Breakthrough saw signs over them emitting a red light from each so one could clearly see the "CONTAMINATION BREACH" written on them. All of them.  At the end of the hallway stood a single terminal. Trotting up to it Breakthrough saw the slightly flickering light of the display read.

SYSTEM LOCKED. CONTAMINATION BREACH IN TEST CHAMBERS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 CAUSE UNKNOWN, DOORS LOCKED AND WELDED AS PER CONTAMINATION PROTOCOL 4534-3-445D. RESULT OF LOCKDOWN OF LABS: UNKNOWN.  LAST SUCSESSFUL COMMUNICATION WITH MINISTRY OF ARCANE  SCIENCES  200 YEARS 3 MONTHS 2 WEEKS 5 DAYS 2 HOURS. MOAS PERSONNEL PRESENT… 0. UNIDENTIFIED TRESSPASSERS: 2 DEPLOYING SECURITY DRONES… NOT RESPONDING. REQUESTING ENGENEERS… NO COMMUNICATION WITH CANTERLOT HUB… CONTACT WITH LHPARC… NO CONTACT. LOCATING NEARBY FACILITIES. CONTACT WITH STABLE 34… NO REPLY…… WARNING METHANE LEVELS IN FACILITY AT 56%. DO NOT PRODUCE ANY SPARKS OR A NAKED FLAME. WARNING GENERATORS FAILING. ESTEMATED TIME TILL FAILIURE 6 WEEKS 2 HOURS 31 MINUTES. WARNING UNKNOWN TEST SUBJECTS DETECTED WARNING UNKNOWN SPECIES IN FACILITY. NUMBERS: 300.

Well this was… an information dump and a half. Leaving the terminal Breakthrough trotted back to the stairway.

Another shadow made Breakthrough jump. He could also hear faint chittering

"What the fuck is wrong with you Breakthrough. They're nothing"

Breakthrough wandered down to the last level

Turning a corner Breakthrough found a still living pony and a collection of eggs. The pony looked at Breakthrough.

"Y..Y..Y...You, You there little colt. What do you want?" Said the strange Pony. Breakthrough putting his bat away, levitated a jar out of his saddle bags . Taking the plastic lid off.

"Look old stallion I just need some of the stuff in those eg-" The strange pony interrupted Breakthrough.

"YOU WONT GET MY NECTAR" Yelled the pony "YOU WONT GET IT" Yelled the old stallion shaking furiously.

The ground rumbled slightly.

"What was that?" Said Breakthrough slightly loosing his breath.  "What just happened?"

"Ohhh those are the guardians of my precious nectar…. Them critters  bite alright. KEEP AWAY FROM MY NECTAR" The ground beneath Breakthrough rumbled a bit. "YOU WONT GET IT" The rumbling was getting more intense . The hard rocks cracking. Breakthrough jumped forward. "YOU WONT GET IT"

The ground where Breakthrough was just standing   gave way to what looked like a giant spider with giant bone legs. Hoping to have caught Breakthrough. It took the giant Spider a few seconds to regain its balance. By then Breakthrough was already in action. Jumping on the old stallion. And smashing into the eggs, A slightly sticky yellow fluid gushed from the egg clutches. A large amount of the 'Nectar' entered the jar.

Capping the jar thanks to his telekinesis Breakthrough jumped back upon his hooves and ran past the Stallion staring at the spider.  Picking up  speed Breakthrough commenced one of him many to come feats of acrobatics. Jumping over the spider. The jar wrapped in telekinesis remained untouched. Landing on his hooves Breakthrough continued running. Following the trail of wool he left behind himself when he descended. Breakthrough managed to run up two flights of stairs when he heard a blood curtailing scream. That of the old man. Looking behind himself Breakthrough saw the creature that had just dismembered the old stallion. His limbs on its legs. It turned to Breakthrough producing a ticking sound.

Breakthrough not looking back ran towards the store. Breakthrough heard the Tapping of the creatures legs get louder . But as he passed corners it would delay. The creature was big, Makes sense it would need to manuver its way around to face Breakthrough. This kept it away from Breakthrough but unless he lost it the escape would be a futile effort. The air  was getting more breathable yet it still stan...GAS!. Breakthrough you're a genius…. Uhh what's your plan again?

Breakthrough turned a corner seeing the exposed floodlight cable on one of the pillars. Breakthrough Turned a few corners immediately after climbing another flight. With a few seconds to spare Breakthrough took out the spark battery from  Chain town came out of the saddlebags and the 'nectar' Went into one of the saddlebags . Breakthrough then with his telekinesis striped the spark battery of its outer metal casing to find the battery itself filled with an unstable magic liquid inside. Weakening a small part of the battery wall. Levitating the two items breakthrough ran up another level of stairs. Turning one corner then the next. Another-- Crap.

The solid bone, Blood-stained legs greeted Breakthrough. The monsters eyes meeting Breakthroughs.  It sprang into action shoving one of its hind legs into the metal walkway. Another few inches it would have impaled Breakthroughs head ending his quest early. Jumping back Breakthrough Turned around Turning two corners. Waiting for a second. And when the spider came into his view Breakthrough then ran underneath it. And ran back onto the path back towards the store. The spider trying to turn around to peruse. Breakthrough running up the flight of stairs to where the store entrance was. The gas was thicker than when he first entered.

Finally reaching the first pillar of the cave. Breakthrough  broke one of the wires and made the fault in the battery into a hole. Then shoved the loose wire in the hole. It started to fizzle and pop. The sound of death came up the stairs. The spider came up the stairs. Breakthrough ran only a few seconds and the thing would explode. Jumping up into the store Breakthrough ran through only for an explosion to rip through the store. Fire chased Breakthrough for a millisecond. Then the Pressure wave caught up.

BOOOOOOMMM

Time: Unknown Location: Unknown.

"Wake up Breakthrough" Said the pony. "Wake up". Looking up Breakthrough saw a dark blue pony with a flowing mane of black yet it had dots of white. And a cutie mark of a crescent shaped moon on a black backdrop. What is happening?

"W...Who are you?" Breakthrough foolishly asked

"I Breakthrough am luna… Princess Luna. I am disappointed in you Breakthrough. You Swore your soul the night you were captured that you would never take dash again. You failed. Right now I'm wondering what I should do with you. Should you not accept my offer to redeem yourself… You listening?"

Half an hour after the Rusty saddle explosions.

Breakthrough woke up covered in sand. Where the general store once stood was now scattered ruins and a massive sinkhole. A mess of industrial equipment and twisted metal.

A pool of blood surrounded Breakthrough. Yet there was no wounds. Only a few scratches. Getting up Breakthrough searched his saddlebags looking for the 'nectar' he had just fought to acquire. He found it in the same spot as where he put it in the caves. Looking around again breakthrough saw all the ropes at the entrance were severed. Shrapnel most likely.  Well at least the traps have gone off.

Looking down Breakthrough muttered to himself "What have you just agreed to?"

Next to what was the saloon laid a steel door with the symbol  of the ministry of arcane sciences.

Now was the time to get out of here before something else happens.

The trek to where the raiders attacked breakthrough felt like it took forever. But eventually he found the site. The location of where Breakthrough last saw the raider who took a swim was nothing but a bloodied mess of torn apart flesh and a skeleton. Several streaks of Red blood trailed off into the river. Breakthrough just wondered to himself at the moment he saw it if that raider deserved such a slow painful death?. No It was a raider that thing wasn't worthy of death.

The trek took longer that Breakthrough anticipated. Yet Breakthrough took some calm in the sound of flowing water by the river. It gave him calm after the storm.

It was nearly daybreak when Breakthrough entered the Unicorn's hut.

"Witch Doctor I have the fucking nectar. Is Bittersweet okay?"

"Bittersweet is fine, You have come in time. Now give me the nectar so I can help her. " Replied the Unicorn

Levitating the nectar out of his saddlebag Breakthrough gave the jar of the honey looking liquid to the Unicorn. Whom then threw the contents and a few roots and herbs into the massive cauldron. It started to bubble changing colours. Then FWOOSH. A small flame of balefire green shot from the cauldron.

"My Stew is now an anti-dote Brew"

Bottling some of the liquid the unicorn then took a ladle full and poured it into Bittersweets mouth.

"She will wake at daybreak"

Note added: Level Up

New Perk added: Poison tolerance. That weird voodoo potion made you slightly more resistant to poisons. You get a + 15% poison resistance and the effects of poisons are  slightly reduced. This includes a tiny amount of taint. You can still die from Poison however