Fallout: Equestria - Cold Blooded Nightmare

Chapter One: Stable Forty-Five

''I hate living underground''

Cold.

The dim hallways of Stable Forty-Five were cold and near soundless, the only audible noise being the low humming noise coming from the lights. I never did like going through the corridors of the Stable. The cold nips at your skin once you've been in it long enough, and I already hated being out here.

I was going to see my only friend, Lemon Stone who works down in maintenance as an apprentice PipBuck technician. I don't really know how she got that placement, but I was somehow left with the assumption it was something she found herself to be good at, once she looked at her results from the C.A.T. (Cutie-mark Aptitude Test). Even if a pony hated something and their talents (or hobbies) proved them to either like or enjoy something they have done, the Overmare would still put you in a place that is suitable for your talents. For me, its making perfume and medicines in a chemist, and for my brother, a security guard. As for Lemon Stone, she was placed as an apprentice fixing PipBucks down in the maintenance wing.

When I reached the maintenance wing, I immediately saw Lemon Stone at work on a PipBuck, replacing the padding and rewiring various parts of it. Knocking gently on the wall next to me in an attempt to get her attention, she turned her head to me, smiling but looking tired.

Her yellow eyes were almost dry-looking and her light orange and yellow mane was unkempt, the spikes drooping at her neck level frazzled and messy.

''Oh, hey, Crimson.'' She said with a smile, yawning softly afterwards. ''What brings you here?''

''Hey, Lemon. You got a minute?''

''Sure. I need to take a break, anyway. Wanna go get some coffee or something?''

''Yeah. You look like you could use some. You look tired as hell.'' I chuckled with her.

***  ***  ***

''So what is it you wanted to talk about?'' Lemon Stone asked me as she took a seat opposite me in the atrium.

''Its about my PipBuck.''

''Your PipBuck?'' She raised a brow at me, ''Something wrong with it? Need new wires? New padding?''

''What? No,no,no.'' I waved a hoof. ''Its just...well, look at yours.'' I pointed a hoof to it.

''Hmm? What about it?''

''I have an older model. I was just wondering if it was possible to replace it with one of the latest ones. Mine's so old it might as well be made from cardboard...''

''Newer model? Do you have any idea how hard it would be to get something like that? Mine is a Series A. A's are more reliable, yes, but trying to aquire one will be hard work.''

I frowned for a moment, then had an idea.

''Um...so I take that as a 'no', then? Well, that being the case, do you think that maybe mine can be fixed up so its...I dunno...more reliable or advanced?''

''To be honest, Crimson, I really have no idea about that. I mean, I could try, but I can't promise much. Where is your PipBuck anyway? Didn't take it off again did you?'' She grinned weakly at me.

''Yeah, I have. It's back in my room. I'll bring it down to you sometime tonight. Thanks for this. I'll never forget it.''

''Heh, no problem, Crimson.''

***  ***  ***

I was back in my room, making some perfume to pass the time. Tonight, it was going to be just me. Star Streak was staying at work late for the night, running security checks and testing the Stable's security systems. According to Star Streak, some of the other officers have heard weird noises within the air vents, going on all night. They even called in some technicians from the maintenance wing, I assumed that's why Dad wasn't coming back until late.

Well, tonight was going to be a lot different than usual. This would actually be the first time I've been on my own, and I didn't like the feeling one bit. I may of been mostly on my own the whole time I've been down here, but the only time that I am lonely is when nopony is there with me. And it definitely looked like it was going to be a long night...

A few hours had passed and I was reading about different kinds of potions and remedies, seemingly growing tired from the time I had been awake for. As I read past a few chapters, I took in notes on some of the potions, wondering if I could use it to go into a perfume at some point, and before I turned the page, the room shook gently, ear-aching rumbles and screeches sounding, the lights flickering rapidly and then returning to normal, their low buzzing noise somewhat louder than usual.

I shook my head, wondering what's going on. I waited a few seconds, but it didn't happen again. Pushing it from my mind, I turned my attention back to my book, and once again, before I could even read a sentence, the lights started flicking rapidly, the dim light emitting from them going brighter, then back to dim, just before they exploded.

I screamed as the small shards of glass fell to the floor and then the whole room went black.