Fallout Equestria : Beyond the Nexus

Fallout Equestria: Beyond the Nexus

By TornadoFIM

Chapter Two: A Place Far From Home

“This place died centuries ago...in my time it never was peaceful.”

Unknown.

I was no longer within the Nexus anymore, nor was I in the world I had been hoping to go to. But unfortunately, this was the land that was beyond the walls of the Nexus. Long grey plains stretched far and wide, as this world that was once spoken to be a peaceful and bright world, was nothing but a barren Wasteland full of disharmony. Pulse and the data log I had read had helped me were both right, this world was not the world it was destined to be, nor was it a friendly land. Skeletons laid within the soil that they had been buried in, eye sockets empty and blackened out from all the dust that had drifted within them. The thick black clouds above barely allowing the sunlight above the clouds to get through, some small holes allowed the bright light from above seep through from rays of light. Hills and large rocks stuck from the ground, preventing some of the view ahead being seen. A cracked and crooked road beside me led down into the plains that carried on for miles. The pad I had arrived from had been completely fried, the pad sat against a large boulder coated in the remains of what seemed to be ponies. The trees that were standing tall within the wilderness that seemed to be endless were all black and dead. The trees were rotting and it seemed like they were already dead. The stumps were a charcoal black as if a blast had completely fried the bodies of the trees that probably once contained leaves.

Tall ruined buildings that stood within the distance were daunting down on those who would pass them; some of the buildings even were higher than the thick clouds that shrouded the world around me. The sound of thunder was heard within the distance as flashes of lightning seen within the thick, horrible clouds in the distance. Some of the gaps within the clouds allowed the sunlight to shine on through mainly that were within the parts closer towards me, which lit up the horrible grey land. The warm air was hard to breathe in as the breeze from the air nipped and glided across my body with ease, it felt irradiated with a toxic substance...even I could feel it. The taste upon my mechanical tongue was rotten, it tasted bitter and vile.

Seeing the clouds that did linger above slowly swirl, I stared into the them seeing the flashes of lightning and thunder as echoing claps of thunder were heard in the distance. A storm was brewing overhead. But being within an uncharted world filled my core with fear...I had never seen anything like it despite being from a world that was in a similar condition. The horrible fumes within the air really shared a similarity to the Nexus. I was beginning to think I was still in the Nexus, but just within a small area that wasn’t underneath the barrier that surrounded it.

Wandering onto the hard and cold road, completely clueless of my surroundings, I continued down the long road with each of my hoofsteps tapping against the aging and dying asphalt that was below me. Feeling bits stone clatter against my hoof, I kept my vision focused on the road ahead, as the breeze from the world around me nipped at my neck. However the soft breeze that did nip against my artificial neck was warm...it wasn’t as cold or fresh as I had imagined. Continuing down the long and desolated road that I was on, I reached the top of a hill which gave me a view of the Wasteland; large stretching plains dominated most of the land. I saw a small village that was ruin nearby. Houses that were torn apart from some sort of blast, as the streets they were surrounded in seemed to be empty. I saw this as an opportunity, maybe there was somepony in the town’s ruins that could help me.

Steadily making my way down the steep hill, seeing tumbleweed slowly roll its way down the hill gently along with the breeze that pushed it, I had developed an uncomfortable feeling within my core. I felt slightly on edge with the world around me, as if anything could happen to me. I could get ambushed or even blown up. However, the road ahead was quiet. There was just the sound of the wind blowing within the warm, irradiated air as the clouds opened up slightly allowing the light to beam onto the small town ahead.

Beginning to pick up speed, I began to trot with a spring in my legs as I reached the bottom of the hill and then soon found a sign by the small town in ruin. The sign read the town’s name; most of it however was covered by ash and dust that had been blown onto it. Walking up to the large, wooden sign, I wiped one of my hooves over it to see the white, rusting text that had been displayed onto it.

Smileville.

How it was a strange name for a town that was now desolate ruins, I turned my attention to the seemingly empty streets where houses at both ends created a road that stretched down the middle before reaching a large building that faced towards me. The dome that sat on top of it was made of stone as large chunks had been torn out of it, the flames from within the holes were swaying within the wind and were beginning to die. Filthy ponies in rags for clothing sat by the entrances of their homes, some were looking towards me and even some were smoking. The houses themselves were missing the top portion of them, as the framework behind the wood that coated it was bent and splintered. Smoke leaked out from the top of the homes, and the wooden frames that stuck out from the top were coated in a black color. Sick foals played in the streets with each other; obviously this town had been hit hard by something.

Walking through the streets of the almost dead town of Smileville, I kept glancing at the ponies around me as I passed them; some even looked back with grim looks on their faces. There were no guards, no protection for a vile world like this...clearly something did happen to this world, maybe some were just too quiet to speak of it. The road however wasn’t made of the same asphalt; it was made of the dying soil that was a charcoal grey color. The large building that stood at the end had a large staircase leading up to the entrance of the building. The stairs themselves however were broken, crooked and unusable. I began to take note of this place, as I stopped in the middle of the streets. Analyzing the world around me, I glanced at all of the buildings, trying to get some idea of what happened here.

Looking to a pony who kept their eyes on me, I shot a glance at her before slowly turning away and avoiding eye contact with her. The pony was so dirty. She was covered in ash and dirt; even some bits of blood were seen within her midnight blue coat. Her brown eyes matched the state of her, and her mane was a horrible mess. Large flakes of dirt hung from her hairs, as the long mane that was probably once elegant was now a horrible mess. It was also a dying blonde color. I cringed slightly, but I continued onwards, trying to ignore it. I felt pity, how she hadn’t washed in day’s maybe even weeks.

Continuing down the long road that stretched through the streets of Smileville, the broken and desolated houses daunted over me as parts of rubble from the exterior that covered the frames of the homes was lying on the floor in pieces and covered in dust. The sun now shining brightly down on the village, it lit up the dome on the building at the end of the road like a light, but it didn’t stay long…the thick black and ghastly clouds above soon shielded the world and prevented any of the sunlight from seeping through, yet again bringing darkness over it all. It was a depressing and dark world I was in, again, not like I expected any of this. I’m beginning to regret leaving the Nexus.

Coming to a stop by the large staircase that led up to the large and civil building ahead of me, I noticed something in the corner of my eye. Turning my head to face it, I saw a sky blue mare with a dark, minty green mane and dark purple streaks through her mane. She was a Unicorn, her horn sticking out through her mane like a sore hoof. Her tail was practically the same as her mane, minty green with purple streaks. Of course, seeing this mare arriving into the village, she was also from outside of the village – not necessarily from outside of this world. Her coat was covered in some light dust, nothing heavy at all. Old battle scars across her chest that had turned into scabs now also stuck out visibly. However, noticing a fairly large saddle bag on her back, she walked into the village as the broken and shaken ponies of the village looked to her and began to limp to her weakly. She stopped in the middle of the street as the crowds of the weak soon gathered around her, impatiently waiting for something that she had delivered. I kept my eyes on the stranger who had just wandered into the town, hoping that they wouldn’t hurt her.

My curiosity soon forced me to walk over and join the ponies who were crowding around the mare with the saddle back on her. Hearing the sick and dirty ponies mumbling to themselves as the mare pulled out healing potions and bandages before giving them to the ponies that were crowding around her. She was a trader, or at least that’s what she seemed to be. Hiding among the ponies trying to reach for her, she kept levitating the items that she had within her saddle bag to the ponies that surrounded her. I didn’t need any of it, therefore I kept my distance, yet blending within the ponies.

“Is there any food?”

A lone voice from the crowd called, as a large buck that seemed to be starving soon walked through the crowd. The skin upon his body was dying, allowing the curves and gaps of his skeleton be seen through the now thin skin he wore. His coat was a dark midnight blue that was degrading from color, as his body which was skinny but tall stood in a slender fashion. His cracked lips were begging to be fed by water or some sort of drinkable substance as his face soon twisted into a frown. She looked through her saddle bag, her ears soon flattening before she shook her head.

“I’m sorry...I only have healing potions and other medical supplies,” she closed up her bag, obviously it being the last of her delivery. The sky blue mare soon began to head back the way she came. “I’ll be back tomorrow, hopefully with some food.”  The whines and moans of the crowd that soon spread apart to allow her to leave was heard, as mumbles of different insults involving her was heard among the crowd. She however just ignored it and carried on.

My blending wasn’t working now; she stopped instantly, soon cocking her head to me. There really was no point hiding now. She slowly walked her way towards me, blinking before frowning. How I didn’t look dirty or in need of supplies, she really looked sorry and pitiful of not giving me anything. I however didn’t need it due to me being an Android and also, neither did I really care. She stopped beside me, blinking as she looked into her saddle bag for anything she could give me.

“I’m quite alright thanks.” I spoke, nodding my head slowly. She stopped, before closing it up again. She knew she had nothing to give, but she at least wanted to look like she was trying. She couldn’t fool an artificial life-form like myself that easily could she?

“But I didn’t give you anything...nor have I seen you around here before,” she began, before frowning. She knew I didn’t really mind not receiving anything from her, but it didn’t really amuse her. “Where are you from?” She asked in a calm tone.

“I…” I began. Telling her would just make her laugh, she wouldn’t believe me if I told her. I didn’t know anything of this world, nor did I have enough knowledge to make up a place in my mind. Again, she wouldn’t believe it. “Let’s just say I’m not from around here.”

She blinked, tilting her head slightly. “Well...where are you from?” She asked again. Ugh! I couldn’t just say I was from the Nexus. She wouldn’t know what it was and she wouldn’t believe me anyways, she’d want proof; she wasn’t that dumb I’m sure.

“I told you...not from around here,” I sternly replied. Could she maybe talk about something else? I had to change the subject quickly. “So what’s your name miss?” I asked with a friendly tone to my voice, trying to not seem like that stern stallion who she just met.

“Crystal…” Crystal responded instantly, “All I do is travel ‘n’ trade. Well, mainly it’s helping settlements which are a little less fortunate than others, like this one.” She looked down at the ground slightly, frowning to herself, “I don’t really get anything in return, but it is one step to bringing light to the Wasteland I guess.” She sighed with a frown, before lifting her own head up to look at me, “what’s your name then?”

“I’m...” Oh shit. I had to think fast, I couldn’t just say I was Android-1323 could I? That would just be strange and again, it wouldn’t make a good first impression would it? I looked to my flank, knowing I would have a mark. I saw a dark blue tornado that had a yellow bolt down the middle of it. Quickly looking back to Crystal, I smiled. “Tornado Dash...call me Tornado, Miss Crystal.”

“Tornado huh? It’s nice to meet you,” she nodded along with it. “I like that.”

The town seemed quiet. Ponies standing within the doorways of their homes that had been completely blasted apart from some sort of blast. Some of the homeless ponies enjoyed the goods they had received from Crystal, they seemed to enjoy them more than the ones who had places to live. I did feel pity for this town, yes, but I also wanted to leave it as soon as possible. With or without a goodbye, the ponies here didn’t exactly seem too friendly, mainly due to the hard lives that they have. At least I wasn’t sat within a large room, waiting for my core to soon burn and die out. Unfortunately, the town wasn’t as quiet as hoped. Hearing a cry from one of the civilians within the small village, I quickly turned my head to the sound.

“Thieves!”

The sound of gunfire echoed through the sky as the sight of the pony who cried on the alert was instantly shot down. I saw the blood from the impact spray onto the ground before staring in shock and then looking towards Crystal. But before my head could turn all the way, I felt a magical harness grip me before I felt myself get dragged along. Glancing in the direction of the sound of gunfire, I saw a band of ponies charging into Smileville loaded with small guns. They were covered in blistering, wooden armor that stuck to them like a magnet, with bandoliers strapped over them carrying some empty and even some loaded shells of ammo.

Hearing the dying screams of the innocent, I glanced to Crystal who quickly dragged me into an alleyway away from the danger. However, instead of letting me go, she kept me within the magical harness that wrapped around me like a strong belt of force. It was as if she knew that my intention was to help them fight off the Thieves instead of leaving them to die. I tried to shake myself around inside the glowing sky blue aura, but it didn’t work.

The alleyway was claustrophobic, dark and even wet. Darkness surrounded us like a plague, the brick tiling along the walls of the surrounding houses was covered in a moss that was covered in the sewage that came from the sewers below us. Looking out into the light, seeing ponies running before being shot down by the invaders made me cringe and even shocked at what the ponies who live within the Wasteland do. I had never seen anything like this before, even though I had my fair share of violence back in the Nexus.

“Stay here...let them pass, we’ll be lucky if they don’t find us!” Crystal hissed over me, keeping me inside of the barrier she had created around me. Seeing one of the intruders stop by the alleyway, as he levitated his large rifle beside him, emptying the clip and placing in a new one, I noticed him glance around as if he was scanning for anypony else to rob. These ponies didn’t just rob others, they also killed them.

Seeing the large buck that stood by the alleyway entrance look away from us, before levitating his rifle and firing an echoing shot bounced off the walls of the damp and dark alleyway. He was covered in the blood of those he had slaughtered to get the goods he needed. I wanted to help the others, but I couldn’t...even though the ponies of this town were unlikeable and unappealing, I still wanted to help them. Crystal’s strong grip on me however prevented me from doing so.

“L-let me go, they need help!” I struggled with a hiss, but her aura tightened on me. She looked at me sternly, also now using her hooves to hold me close to her. I couldn’t kick, nor could I even move within her strong magical grip...I was worthless inside of this barrier, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t free myself to assist the others.

She just remained silent, holding me within the tight barrier. I couldn’t move. The echoing gunfire and screams of agony was heard from within the streets of Smileville. Well, I had barely spent an hour in this new environment and I had already seen what this world was. The violent act of these invaders really shocked me; I was forced to watch all of it happen. All of the ponies being gunned down by the Thieves who had invaded the village.

As the violence soon stopped, I looked to Crystal with a bitter expression. Why didn’t she let me save them?! Why?! I could have done something good for once. The intruders of the village were now just looting the bodies of those they had killed and even looted them for any weapons, ammo, supplies and even currency. Which the currency part caught my eye. Seeing bent, rusted and even broken bottle caps get levitated by the Unicorns into their satchels that hung low on their bodies around their blistered armor, they soon looked towards each other before leaving out of the now empty ghost town of Smileville and out into the Wastes to where they came. I felt myself soon get released from Crystal’s grip, before I saw her step out into the empty streets of Smileville. Following her with a low growl, I glanced around at the many dead, bloody bodies that had been slaughtered by the invaders who had barged their way through the streets. I even saw foals that had been shot dead by them with no mercy. It was the first time I had ever seen any pure pony die or even get injured, and I must say...it wasn’t a pretty sight.

What seemed like hours had passed, Crystal and I were preparing to leave the small village we had been stationed in, I knew now that this world wasn’t going to be friendly at all. Completely defenceless and also weapon-less, my hopes were running low on if I was going to survive out there or not. Despite being an Android, if I was to take a lot of damage I would soon short circuit and soon shut down. Or as they call it, die. I was willing to search one last house for something to take for the journey ahead, I was hoping for a weapon of some form, but knowing that these ponies were poor and most barely managed to survive the attack, I knew I wouldn’t be able to find anything.

Walking through the doorway of a small and completely destroyed house, the living room had no ceiling. In fact, there was no roof above the heads of those who lived in the home. Looking up, I saw the frame of the house bent and crooked, hearing creeks as if it was going to all fall apart and collapse onto me. Seeing the couch had been toppled over and covered in bullet holes, I also saw two corpses behind the couch filled with bullet holes, and both lying in blood. One was of a mother who had been killed with her eyes open, and the other of a filly who had been forced to watch her mother die. However, walking over to a dirty, splintered drawer, I used one of my hooves to slowly open it up. What I saw inside was a small pistol, a few magazines and also a small tape recording beside them both. Staring in confusion, I soon took the recording from the drawer, and held it into my hooves. Since Crystal was not within the same house as me, I placed the small holotape into a small slot within my right foreleg before listening to it play inside of my head. The voice was of a mare...the mother of the child who had been killed within this house.

“Whoever is listening to this tape, you will know that I am dead. But, what I left for those who have found this tape is a few supplies that will help you out in the Wastes and hopefully, you’ll be more prepared than I was.

I heard about the attack the Thieves were planning, and I knew that one mare with a gun wouldn’t be able to change anything for the sake of others. But, you might be able to put it to better use than me. There are no caps unfortunately - but the gun works perfectly and it should be enough for you to take along with you on the long road you may walk alone. The Wasteland is a cruel and unforgiving place, there is no such thing as mercy out there in the barren Wastes of Equestria. The world has been rotting for centuries and it still is rotting. We might never see the day when light is casted over the Wasteland and we might never see the day that Equestria is made whole again.

I hope you use what I have given you to good use. Good luck, and remember...there’s always light at the end of the tunnel, even if you don’t believe in hope.”

The recording soon ended with a click. Removing the tape. I lifted one of my wings up, seeing a small compartment open up from underneath. Placing the holotape within the storage area, I also grabbed the gun and ammo before placing them into the fairly large storage compartment. Watching it close, I soon wrapped my robotic wing back over it before hearing the hoofsteps of a pony behind me. Quickly glancing back, I saw Crystal standing in the doorway. Her saddle bag was empty and fairly small now. It didn’t have anything in it; all I saw upon her face was a frown as she stared at me.

“Are you ready to go? We’d best hurry up before the Scavengers come for whatever’s left.” She spoke sternly. I blinked. She said...we? Come on, I had no idea who she was, so how would it work? Either way...I guess having help wouldn’t hurt.

“Who said there was a we?” I tilted my head, hearing my voice echoing on the walls. The feeling of dust from the crumbling ceiling dropped onto me as I kept my eyes fixed onto Crystal.

“I know you’re not from the Wasteland, I know you need help out there and you certainly cannot survive alone on your first day,” Crystal still had the stern voice coming from her mouth. However, she was right...I couldn’t survive out here even if I tried; having some assist would help me greatly. I had no choice but to accept.

“Okay - you’re right…” I simply responded, lifting a hoof slightly. But with a sigh, I walked over to her before stopping by her hooves and looking up at her with a small smile. “Thanks...I just didn’t think you would understand.”

“I understand - just stick close and you’ll be okay,” she smiled softly, her voice turning into an elegant, friendly voice. “I promise.”

Footnote: Level up!

New perk: Rusty Parts - your agility has increased by 20%, but due to this, your limbs are now weaker by 10% making your limbs easier to cripple.

Current level: 3