Fallout Equestria: The Crystal Heart

"I would fight to make that bright and innocent past our future once again."

Littlepip

    I woke up, sleepy eyed, and still somewhat tired. I yawned and stretched as I got comfortable in my bed again, beside Homage. She was sound asleep. I pecked her head and whispered, “I love you.” She is so beautiful when she is sleeping, especially with the moon’s light peeking through the blinds, like it is now.

I looked at my arm, my Pipbuck a part of it. It said that I am still healthy. No sickness in this little pony. I directed my attention to the alarm clock. 3:56 AM. I needed more sleep, but I was thirsty. I got up to get some water, irradiated or not. I moved the sheets off of me, careful not to wake my Homage up, and climbed out of my bed. I peered outside, it was still dark, but I was not in Tenpony Tower. I was in Velvet Remedy and Calamity’s home in Ponyville. The town was cleaned up some time ago, but I still imagined my first few nights in the open world. The library’s tree leaves had returned, the town was fixed up, and everything looked like what it did two hundred years ago, where as when I first set hoof outside, everything was messed up; covered with graffiti, flooded with raiders, pony’s bodies hanging everywhere. I saw a few lights on in the other houses. The ponies who lived here were kind, and a small amount used to be Stable 2 ponies. To believe that adventure was fifteen years ago… nothing but memories.

I refocused myself. What was I up for? Oh yea, water. Or anything to quench my thirst. I walked out of the room and into the kitchen. Where is the refrigerator in here? Oh, duh, right in front of me, wake up Littlepip, said the little pony inside of me. I opened the refrigerator and found a bottle of Sparkle Cola smiling at me. I held it in my hooves and opened it with my mouth, then floated the bottlecap over to the countertop and took a big swig of the Cola. I needed this, I thought.

No, I don’t need sugar before I go to bed. I couldn’t fall back asleep. Even 200 year old sugar made me wide awake. I tried to find a way to occupy the given time, but found none, other than listen to the radio and skip through the channels. I started off with DJ PON-3’s channel, or Homages channel, and I listened to her audio recorded voice that she left on while she stayed in Velvet and Calamity’s house.

“Good morning, Wasteland! Or, what’s left of it now, at least. This is DJ PON-3, your all powerful host! Muahaha. Anyway, what’s the latest, oh great and powerful DJ PON-3? Ill tell you this. Some time ago, a trading caravan decided to head up to Northern Equestria to trade. You would think they would freeze to death up there, but they recently came back to our pretty little Equestria, and said that Equestria was almost as gorgeous as the city up North.”

“Now whoah there, there’s a city up there? Yup, there sure is! Looks like some Empire called the Crystal Empire is up and running. They say that the trading caravan that journeyed over there was happily accepted into the city to trade, and the caravan is now swimming in precious and rare items. They also met a lot of good folk up there too! They say that they have never seen so many friendly ponies in one spot! However, the caravan is being a bitch and is not telling us where the so called city is, they won’t even tell us what the city looks like, so I wouldn’t go and try to find it just yet, unless you want to wander around freezing your ass up there. That’s it for the news for now, now here is your much wanted music!”

I heard this before from Homage in person, so I flipped through the channels. No, Red Eye’s channel is down, No more radio signals from Cloudsdale, nothing good. I was tuning back into DJ PON-3’s channel when I heard someone say “Hello?”. I stopped for a minute. Did that come from the radio? I flipped back slowly. A unknown station became known to me, though I don’t know whose it is, where they are, or anything other than their voice. A stallion’s voice, a little on the deep side, but not near as deep as Steelhooves.

Steelhooves… a good friend.

“Is anypony there? Hello?”

There is somepony there! I wanted to talk to them, badly. The little pony inside of me said that this was really important. I searched for a microphone that could fit a radio franticly. I kept the radio tuned to his channel on my Pipbuck as I searched. I looked through Homage’s stuff, and found a microphone (and some unmentionables), and I raced back to the radio in the kitchen. I found where the jack of the microphone when into, and pluged it in, and half yelled, “Yes, yes! Hello!”

“WHOA HOLY SHIT NOT SO LOUD!” Said the stallion.

“Sorry, are you trying to hide?”

“No! I had headphones on!” R.I.P headphone users.

“Sorry. What is it?”

“What is what?”

“Why are you searching for someone?”

“Oh. Oh yes, right! I am in need of assistance.”

“What type of help do you need.”

“I… erm, we… are trapped inside Outpost 22. We and the civilians are the only survivors from-”

“Wait, Outpost? What’s an Outpost?”

“Uh, the bases where soldiers are stationed to protect the ponies of both the Outpost and the Empire, duh.”

“Empire?”

“What are you, a filly in magic kindergarten? This isn’t-” I was wondering why he was so frustrated.

“Just tell me, ok?”

“Oh my God. Ok, fine. The Crystal Empire is-”

“Oh, that Empire.” Well, now I have a general idea of where this pony is. Northern Equestria.

“Ah, see? Not a hard concept. Anyway, as I was saying, we are trapped in our Outpost, Outpost 22. The Mutants are-”

“Uh, mutants?”

“Oh God. Here we go. Mutants are mutated crystal ponies that-”

“There are crystal ponies?”

“OH MY GOD!”

“I’m sorry, sir! I am not in Northern Equestria!”

There was a pause. “Oh. I feel rude and stupid. So sorry, ma’am. Crystal ponies are native to the Crystal Empire. Mutants are crystal ponies, but mutated to be stronger and able to resist more damage by King Sombra. Oh, and before you interrupt, King Sombra is the Empire’s oldest enemy and current, biggest threat. He threatens our kingdom every day, trying to break out magical barricade and our stone walls. He wants to rule our kingdom and enslave us like he had 1,215 years ago.”

This Sombra guy was like Red Eye in a way. “Why don’t you just kill him?”

“Do you know how hard it is to kill the most powerful unicorn of all time? Even Princess Celestia and Luna couldn’t defeat him, which is why they could only banish him into the ice of the Frozen North and magically seal him in.”

Wait, the most powerful unicorn to ever live? Even the Goddesses couldn’t defeat him? What?

I allowed him to continue, “But then he escaped some 200 or so years ago, and he has new powers that he has practiced while he was banished.”

“Wait, how can the most powerful unicorn not break into your city?”

“Now there is a reasonable question. The Crystal Heart protects us. The Crystal Heart is a very precious item that, when activated, can protect the Empire and all who live inside of it. It keeps pure evil out, and only the best of ponies in.”

I was beyond intrigued. An item that can protect an entire empire from even the most evil of souls. I wonder if they are balefire bomb resistant.

“But these are troubling time for the Empire.” Of course, the twist. “The forces of Sombra grow in strength and numbers every day. Not only that, but there is a new zebra presence here as well. They call themselves Zecora’s Legion.”

Zecora. Wasn’t she on the pony’s side?

“They started attacking us too, though they are not allied with Sombra, and often fight with us if Sombra’s forces are present at the moment. Also, there is also a force called the Brotherhood of Steel.”

I know these guys. All too well. I thought back to Stable 2 when it was attacked. No, don’t think about that. Don’t…

“And some new force called the Grand Pegasus Enclave.”

“That’s total BULLSHIT!” I slammed my hoof on the table, shaking the table. “I destroyed the cloud layer of Cloudsdale long ago! The Enclave went down with it!”

“Ya did what now?”

“Very long story. Not for right now, I presume?”

“Yes. Maybe we can talk later. But the Enclave has a large presence in the Empire. Though, he have more friendlier outside forces as well. The New Canterlot Republic are big helpers. The Outcasts are also nice. We also get a little of Talon Company here and there.”

I know all of these groups. They are truly good souls.

“By the way, I can’t get anyone else on the radio but you. So unless you can help us, or know someone who can, then please send help.”

“I can try to find a way.” What am I getting myself into?

“Also, if you can-” The pony on the other end cut himself off. There was a pause. “Oh God please, no.”

“What, what is it?” I asked, suddenly worried.

“It’s the mutants. Th-they broke into the Outpost! B-but how did they get into the Overmare’s office?”

Overmare? Wait...

“Wait, oh God, they used the secret exit as their entrance. Oh, no. No! NO NO NO!”

“What, what is it?” I was yelling again.

“I left all of the civilians there, thinking it was safe! Oh God, please no! NO!”

I heard yelling on the other end. Not screams of terror, but ponies yelling orders.

“One-Shot, make sure the halls are cleared! I’ll cover Biohazard! Whirlwind, how’s the radio coming? We need you!” some stallion yelled.

“It’s going ok, but I could only get ponies from Equestria!” the pony who was on the radio replied. I guessed he was named Whirlwind.

“Damit! They won’t be here in time!” the other stallion said.

“Sir, they are in the hallway!” a mare yelled.

“Don’t just stand there! Open fire!” I heard a round from a sniper rifle go off, followed by burst shots from a automatic rifle.

“Listen, ma’am, I have to go. Please come if you can, we can last, but not for too long. Just follow the railroad North West to Vanhoover, then the same railroad North East to the Empire. The Outpost should be visible from the railroad on a day with no clouds or storms. We can last a good two or three weeks. The Mutants are small in numbers, but I worry that they are making camp outside the Outpost. Please hurry. Oh, and what is your name? Your name and your name alone will be my only way to recognize you, this radio makes your voice a bit staticy so I might not recognize you by voice.”

“My name is Littlepip.”

“Littlepip, Littlepip, Littlepip. Ok, I have it memorized now. Good day to you, Littlepip.” I lost signal to the radio signal.

I sat there for a moment. I am not ready to make such a trip on such short notice. I sat up after dwelling on the subject for a while, and I found Homage, Calamity, and Velvet watching me. I looked outside, then at the nearest clock. It was almost 5 AM.

“So, where are we goin’?” Calamity asked.

“Didn’t you listen to the instructions Whirlwind said?” Velvet said.

“No, mah ears ain’t what they used tuh be.” Calamity picked at his left ear with his hoof. I realized Calamity was getting a few grey streaks in his mane. I looked towards Velvet and I notice a tiny bit of silver stand out of her mane as well.

“Now, I know this is going on really quick, and on real short notice, but only I can go on this journey.”

Homage and Velvet looked a little shocked, but Calamity said, “Just try tuh make me.”

“Calamity, lets face it, you're not all what you used to be. We are getting older.”

“What does that have tuh do with anythin’?” Calamity spat.

“I don’t want my friends getting hurt because of this little endeavor.”

“Even if Ah was crippled by bullets ya couldn’t stop me from commin’.”

“Littlepip, dear, let me come, please. I don’t know how long you're going to be gone. Can I at least go to the city? I want to see the sights.” Homage said.

“But the journey there is going to be long, and cold.” I protested.

“Eeya-nope. The train system just got back up, so we can just take that to Vanhoover.” Calamity pointed out.

“You know my luck with trains.” I said with a smile. We all laughed at that. I hate trains, and I am sure trains hate me.

“It will be fine, Littlepip.” Velvet said. “And if you won’t let me go and shoot these mutants, then I will just go to the city with Homage.”

I pondered a little while. I couldn’t of made it without my friends when I first left the Stable, and I might get lonely. Though, I could endanger my friends, who are getting older. Though, Calamity should still be a good shot, he still shoots. But… ugh, Littlepip, make a decision!

“You are all coming with me, whether you like it or not!” I said happily. Homage squeed along with Velvet, and they immediately started talking about the city while Pyrelight seemed to smile. Calamity smiled and put on his black desperado, which I gave back to him.

“Well, time for everyone’s worst part of the trip. Looking all over the house for the items we need and trying to get them all to fit into our saddlebags.” I smiled. We are going to the Crystal Empire.