Fallout: the Return

“Friendship multiplies the good of life, and divides the evil.”– Baltasar Gracian

Chapter 2: Visit

I was on the ground, staring up in horror at the black haired brute named Orion. I tried to stop him from grabbing my hair and pulling me to my feet, but I felt the sharp, nerve ripping sting of the shock collar I wore.

I could only cry as Orion pulled me up by my hair, wrapping his thick arm around my head and neck, before practically dragging me towards the mattress in the other section of the tent…

<~-~>

I awoke with a scream, my heart pounding as I began thrashing my legs fruitlessly. I was pinned down and unable to move much more than my head.“Fluttershy, stop!” Jason yelled, pulling me out of my nightmare as a Legion slave.“I’m sorry; I promise I’ll be a good girl,” I cried in a low, confused tone. My brain hadn’t quite caught up with what was happening.Jason’s tone was nothing but firm as he said, “Fluttershy, I’m here, look at me.”I felt my heart beat a few times slower, and I opened my panic-closed eyes. Jason’s bedside lamp was on and I could see him holding down my forelegs with his. I had already busted his lip before he could stop my wild thrashing.He let go and I broke down. With my forelegs free, I hugged him tightly, crying into his shoulder. It had been months since my last breakdown, I never had enough time to dream since Leo was born.“Shhh, it’s okay Fluttershy. Orion is gone,” he whispered quietly, patting my back with a hoof as he embraced me. He may sleep like a rock through Leo crying, but if I so much as sniffled in my sleep, he was there.“I know… but-,” I couldn’t finish because of my sobbing.“Fluttershy, you’re safe now. We have a beautiful son, and the Legion was defeated by the NCR back at Hoover Dam. They probably tore down the Fort by now and burned it.”My husband and the thought of that place in ruins put me at ease, especially if the NCR torched Orion’s tent. The things he did to Applejack and me were… unpleasant, and I’ll leave it at that.Feeling slightly calmer, I released my tight grasp from my husband, and lied back down.As he rolled over to turn off the lamp, I gasped, “Leave it on,” then I hid halfway behind my mane as Jason looked at me. I added meekly, “Please.”Jason nodded and pulled the white sheet and fluffy green quilt back over us.And even with the nightmare and horrid memories plaguing me, my exhausted mind and body quickly drove me into sleep.

<~-~>

My sleep was interrupted once again by Leo crying. A quick trip to his room revealed that I needed to give him a diaper change, as well as feed him.One tuck in and lullaby later, I was sitting at my kitchen at 4:30 in the morning with the light turned on. Even if the nightmare wasn’t fresh on my mind, I was scared of the dark in my own house.Grinding my left hoof against my temple, I chomped down on a spoonful of cereal puffs. My sleepy mind has already forgotten the name of the brand, but I do know that I’ve had them so long that they went stale. But I didn’t care; it was something sugary to eat at 4:30 in the morning.I gasped and dropped the spoon in the glass bowl when I heard a scratching sound, but let out a sigh of relief when Angel Bunny hopped into the light.“Can’t sleep either?” I asked. I had tried going back to sleep, but since I had just enough rest for my brain to coherently work, I was remembering things I didn’t want to.Angel shook his head before swiftly hopping away. I felt a pang of sadness knowing that we had grown apart, but ever since the Mojave Wasteland, Jason, and Leo, I have changed. I no longer let Angel push me around like I was his servant.Then after he assaulted me with a cookbook in front of Jason, he was warned by him if he ever did it again that Mr. Bear would have a new chew toy.I never had a problem with Angel again.After finishing either my extremely late night snack, or very early breakfast, I looked at the clock: 4:41 it read.I guessed it was time to figure out what to do today. I wondered if my sleep addled brain will forget this list within an hour.Oh well. And with that, I thought of things to occupy my time.Rarity usually opens at eight – haven’t had a spa day with her in forever - and Sugarcube corner opens at nine. I can take Leo to see Pound and Pumpkin for a little while after Rarity takes his measurements. Then I can come home and feed my animals.The measurement at Rarity’s would be for a winter jacket. I can’t have Leo getting a cold when the pegasi decide to drop snow on our heads. And he would also look soooo cute in a jacket made by Rarity.I just wonder if Leo is still scared of her scars… or her voice, and the fact she sounds pissed all the time.Did I really just think that?I probably did since I’m trying to figure out if I thought it or not, meaning I would have to have a reason to think of it in the first place.My face hit the table as I did the stupid thing of thinking with my brain when I was clearly suffering from lack of sleep. As my head hit the table, my sleep deprivation made the sound of my forehead hitting the wooden table echo in my skull like a gunshot, and the scraping of silverware on the glass bowl sounded like a symphony of broken… whatever instruments that makes a sound like a spoon sliding on glass. Seriously why in the heck am I staying up again?Leo crying again gave me the answer. I swear, he has a near Pinkie Pie level of coincidental timing.

<~-~>

With a smile on my face, Leo and I made our way towards Carousel Boutique. It was probably around four minutes before Carousel Boutique opened, so I made a quick pass by Raul’s Hardware and Repair. I didn’t stop, opting to wave at the ghoul from a place called Mexico.Raul was wearing his faded and grease stained blue jumpsuit that proudly showed off the name Miguel. It had taken Raul quite some time to get used to walking on four hooves and learn magic, but with Twilight and Rarity’s help, he was able to lift a whole carriage, as well as disassemble it with ease. He also had to get used to ponies yelling zombie and running away screaming when they caught sight of him.Thankfully, everypony was quick to accept him after an explanation on what he was, and the fact he was over two-hundred years old explained why he quote ‘looks like a walking corpse.’As I pushed the stroller back towards Carousel Boutique, I blushed and waved to the other mares eyeing Leo. It had taken me a while to get used to the stares of strangers and the random pony baby-talking to Leo, but it wasn’t that bad anymore.Trotting briskly down the cobblestone road with Leo’s stroller, I looked towards Rarity’s boutique. The red sign in the window told me it was open, so I parked the stroller beside the door, and carried Leo inside.Upon the bell above the door chiming, Rarity turned away from a ponyquin dressed in a half-finished ensemble and waved a hoof at me. I waved back with the hoof on the leg holding Leo, keeping him tucked close to me as he held onto my shoulder.Rarity’s coiffed mane was topped by a red beret she constructed from her near photographic memory for fashion. It was nearly the same as the one she wore during her brief time in First Recon. I could also clearly see the muscle deep scars over nearly half of her face. They were a constant reminder to her of what happened to us.Sadly, she never was able to do her singsong greeting after she accidentally ended up in a horrid place called the Divide; which was the place she got the scars.From what she told me, after being turned into a human, a sandstorm had ripped flesh off her face, arms, and legs. She didn’t even try and hide the scars, and surprisingly her business hasn’t taken a drop in customers. Figures, since the townsponies accept Raul.Rarity smiled as she trotted over to me. “So, how are you and Leo doing today?” She asked in a scratchy voice as she smiled at Leo. Leo just looked at her cautiously, which was a big improvement than attempting to run away from her like last time.“Oh, I’m doing fine. Leo keeps me up all night while Jason sleeps like a rock.”Rarity let out a hoarse, dry chuckle, “I’m glad you’ve taken to being back in Equestria, as well as motherhood so well.”I blushed and shifted Leo to readjust the strain on my foreleg, he happily cooed from the bounce and looked around the boutique.Rarity put a foreleg around me and pulled Leo and me closer as she asked, “So, what brings you two to Carousel Boutique? I doubt you would visit a ghoul like me without needing something.”“Well um, I kinda need you to make Leo a winter jacket.”Rarity let go of me and rolled her eyes, “Say no more,” then she added a bit nervously, “I need things to do to keep my sanity if my pills decide to stop working.”It was a sad but true fact. Rarity was on several different medications. Without them, she battled with bouts of extremely violent thoughts and brief periods of depression. Even though she was a teensy-tiny unstable, I still trusted her to not hurt Leo.But if she did… don’t think about it, Fluttershy.We both walked towards a small stage in the boutique. I placed Leo on the stage and tried to keep him still as Rarity levitated measuring tape with her magic, which, after the Mojave, has taken on a slight, changeling green hue.As Rarity was taking Leo’s measurements he was smiling and giggling at me. I couldn’t help but notice that Rarity smiled as well, but had a sad look in her eyes.“Are you alright?” I asked. Stupid question, Fluttershy.Rarity shook her head, “Yes,” she said with only a slight hesitation as she set down the measuring tape to swap it out for cloth, “What color?” she asked as she levitated different colored samples of fabric.I tapped my chin, wondering which I should choose. “That one,” I said as I pointed my hoof at a strip of bright blue cloth.“Excellent choice darling,” she rasped out.I nodded in thanks and picked Leo up. “So how are you doing?”She chuckled, “I’m a half crazy, ghoul dressmaker with a little sister who keeps asking questions I rather not answer. Quite peachy in fact.”I winced, “What is she asking about this time?” We could talk freely since Sweetie was currently at school.“What’s in the locked box under my bed. I’m not sure she’s ready to see the red eyed helmet or the bloodstained duster yet; and I’m never going to let her see the guns or the knife I killed Legionaries with,” I could see her shiver, “I still see them sometimes… the Legion men I killed. Pinkie, Rainbow, Twilight… we all have nightmares. Do you still have trouble sleeping?”After what Orion did to Applejack and me. “Yes,” I muttered as I lowered my head and hid behind my mane, “But it’s been awhile since I woke up screaming.” I lied as I shuddered in fear. The memories of Orion using Applejack and I like we were worthless pieces of meat swam back. I gently set Leo down as I went a little lightheaded and nearly lost balance.I pushed the horrid memories to the little place in the back of my head where I shove all the bad stuff as Rarity gave me a hug. “Fluttershy, you don’t have to worry. Jason told me he had killed that dreadful Praetorian. And trust me, I fought the Praetorian Guard myself. They are tough to beat, but Jason did it to protect you two.”‘Funny thing is, it technically made me and Applejack his slaves, then Lanius gave that downright absurd decree, then Applejack and I got pregnant from him’. And even while I thought that, I found the guts to smile and joke, “You can’t say he won’t kill for me.”Rarity’s lips cracked into a large grin as she laughed a hoarse laugh, “Fluttershy cracking a dark joke? What unexpected phenomenon will come next?”“Maybe Rarity Belle will gain her singsong voice back?” I saw her wince. I knew I screwed up, oh please don’t be mad, “Sorry,” I apologized as I hid behind my mane again.She pulled away from our hug and bumped me with a hoof, “It’s nothing really. I’ve grown used to sounding like I swallowed flaming glass.”She then looked at a clock on the wall, “I’m sorry to kick you out, but I have work to do. The jacket should be ready by tomorrow.”I understood that she needed to work without a foal bothering her; so I picked up Leo, said a goodbye, then left out the door to get the stroller.

<~-~>

A few minutes later, I stopped at Sugarcube Corner. Though I found it locked up with the ‘Closed’ sign in the window of the door. So, with nothing else to do, I sat on a nearby bench and took Leo out of his stroller so he could prance around.To my surprise though, shortly after I set him on the ground he simply hopped up onto the bench with me to give me a nuzzle and several happy coos.I looked right into his teal eyes and smiled. Running a hoof through his hair, I said in a low, motherly tone, “You are going to do great things, Leo.” I kissed him on the forehead and he giggled.Looking back to the door of Sugarcube Corner, the sign was flipped to ‘OPEN’. Looking back to Leo I said, “Ready to see Pound, Pumpkin, and Pinkie?”Leo’s joyful squeal was loud enough to hurt my ears.Entering with the stroller, Mrs. Cake greeted me, “Hello Mrs. Brody. How’s motherhood working out for you?” she asked with just a hint of a smirk. With kids of her own, she was an invaluable source of tips and pointers.“It’s going great, Mrs. Cake,” I said with a smile as I looked around the small waiting area of the bakery, “Where’s Pinkie?”She smiled, “She’s out making a delivery. She should be back soon”“Oh, okay,” I replied with a small a nod.I then pivoted my head to the sound of a yell. “It’s mine!” It was a colt’s voice.“Nuh-uh!” I heard another, a filly this time. Then there was the sound of clamoring hooves before Pound and Pumpkin tumbled through the kitchen door. A cookie shaped toy was the source of the commotion. Pound snatched the cookie toy from Pumpkin before running like crazy out the door.Something told me Leo and Tigris will be like that soon enough.Mrs. Cake laughed and blushed, “I’m going to have to settle this.” She turned her head back to the kitchen, “Carrot you are in so much trouble for letting them fight!”I heard the sound of air being sucked rapidly between teeth and a few mutters of profanity. Mr. Cake walked out of the kitchen, his face twisted into a nervous grin.“I’ll get them for you, honeybun.” Mr. Cake said, and before Mrs. Cake could reply, he bolted out after Pound and Pumpkin.Mrs. Cake shook her head, “Does your husband try as hard to weasel his way out of punishment?”I let out a giggle and a blush, “Noo,” I drawled out with extra emphasis and a roll of my eyes. Then Rainbow crashed through the window, glass shattering to the floor as she smashed head first into the counter.Leo laughed his wittle heart out, but I was staring in horror as Rainbow’s head leaked crimson.As I made a motion to rush over, Rainbow slowly got up with a grunt, stopping my advance in its tracks. She shook a few bloody glass shards out of her mane as she placed a hoof on her head, then looked at her hoof. The sight of blood must have made her realize it hurt. “Ow, dammit, that fu-”I covered Leo’s ears and stopped her, “Language, Rainbow!”She grimaced as she kept touching the spot on her head, “I just smashed my blimen skull into the wood at nearly rainboom speed, and you expect me not to cuss!?” I could tell her coltfreind’s accent had rubbed off on her. His name was Nolan, and he was one of the humans that came through Twilight’s return portal with us. He had turned into a chocolate brown Pegasus.As Mrs. Cake left to fetch a first aid kit, I asked with as much nonchalance as possible, “So, how are you?”“I’m bleeding from my friggin head,” Rainbow replied hotly, “I need band-aid or gauze.”Okay, Ms. grouchy.Mrs. Cake returned with a first aid kit and promptly went to work. But stubborn Rainbow Dash had to patch herself in the bathroom mirror. As she did that, Mrs. Cake cleaned up the broken glass.A minute later, Rainbow returned from the bathroom. Mr. Cake also showed up, entering from the front door with two foals covered in dirt.Mr. Cake left with Pound and Pumpkin upstairs, and Rainbow showed off the gauze that wrapped neatly around her head. Looking at the slightly bloody bandaging, I never expected  that Rainbow could pull off patching herself up so neatly, “How do you know how to bandage like that?”“When I was in the NCR, I may have done something to deserve a whiping with an actual whip. No one wanted to help me, even as I bled, so I had to clean and bandage my own wounds.”“W-What?” I stammered out. That was downright horrible. No, worse than that. It was cruel.Rainbow took on an annoyed and defensive tone, “Well, the guy kept insisting I was gay. So I repeatedly asked him to stop - nicely, I might add - and yet he still friggin kept goin’ and goin’. So, I broke his jaw and a few ribs. They flogged me five times in front of the entire platoon,” She then chuckled, “Still have the scars under my fur.”I heard a gasp of shock and looked at Mrs. Cake, who, was a pale color. “Pinkie was in that army?” She asked, on the verge of fainting.Rainbow simply replied, “As a cook, which is a lot less demanding than infantry.”Mrs. Cake regained some of her complexion and shook her head, “Oh, thank goodness.”Mr. Cake came back downstairs with two relatively clean four year olds.“Leo!” Pound and Pumpkin beamed. Leo sat and held up his hooves for one of them to pick him up. The end result was Leo riding on Pound Cakes back.As the foals played, I looked at Rainbow, “Want anything?”She nodded, “One half-loaf of cinnamon swirl raisin bread please.” I heard the scratch of a pencil on paper.I looked to Mrs. Cake behind the counter. She had a notepad and pencil to figure up the price.Seeing that she was ready to take my order, I said, “I’ll have a box of a dozen regular glazed donuts please.”“That’ll be one hundred and ten bits.”“What?!” I gasped. I didn’t even have fifty bits on me.Mrs. Cake looked flatly at Rainbow, “She broke a hundred bits worth of glass and window frame.”I saw Rainbow’s ears fold down as she chuckled defeatedly, “I’ll go get the money,” and with that, she flew out the broken window in a streak of rainbow.“Ow, ow, ow, ow!” I turned my head to see Leo pulling on Pumpkin’s long, orange hair. He was giggling like crazy, then began to chew on the orange locks.“No way Jose,” I protested using one of Raul’s sayings. I grabbed Leo under his forelegs and tried to pull him away from Pumpkin, but to no avail. “Now Leo,” I said softly, “please spit it out.”And of course, he didn’t understand me and kept chewing.“Gross! Mama, Leo won’t stop drooling,” Pumpkin complained.I looked at a chuckling Mrs. Cake, who seemed to find the whole situation funny. “How do I make him stop?” I pleaded.Mrs. Cake sighed and gave a playful roll of her eyes, “Just raise your voice a little and tell him no. Worked for my kids.”Was it really that simple?“Leo, no. Do not eat Pumpkin’s hair.” I said in a much louder tone. And to my surprise, it actually worked… sorta.He was now gumming on my hair while Gummy was biting his tail.Leo let go of my hair, stared at the alligator biting his tail - with a very confused expression - for nearly four seconds, let out a squeal, then began to bite Gummy.I let out a panicked gasp and separated the two. Seeing how Leo wanted to bite everything, I went to the diaper bag under the stroller and retrieved every mothers’ best friend. A pacifier.A few seconds after I gave him the pacifier, Pound and Pumpkin galloped over, then the noise grew to headache inducing levels as the three done their best to impersonate a tornado, knocking everything that wasn’t too heavy or bolted down, over.My heart was nearly bursting with joy as I watched my son play.Rainbow returned a few minutes later and paid Mrs. Cake for the damage she caused. She even paid for the donuts I ordered. I ate one, Rainbow ate one, and Pound and Pumpkin split one in half. That left me nine for later.At the sight of us eating, Leo decided to be hungry, and gulped down both bottles of milk I packed within the space of an hour.A belly full of milk, as well as playtime had him out like a light as I pushed the stroller towards the house.Jason got off work around six, helped with feeding my animals as well as chores, and finally gave Leo a bath.We all were in bed by nine; ending another wonderful day.