Chapters Fallout: Equestria - Cold Blooded Nightmare
Fallout: Equestria - Cold Blooded Nightmare
Written and edited by FireRain
I was staring blankly at the mirror on my wall, just looking at myself. My strawberry-colored hair was brushed smoothly and reflected the light emitting from the light that hung between me and my bed, the humming the only thing that filled the room. Usually, I'd be staring at the mirror half of the time I was in my room. I mean, its not like I had anywhere important to do or to go to.
I wasn't wearing my PipBuck either. It was sitting across from me on the table, turned off. I never really did like them. Their weight just makes your leg ache. Of course, the only way to take them off was to use a special type of key, but with the model I had (which was kinda old), it didn't require a key. I was free to snap it off my leg anytime I wanted, although it was against the rules of the Stable to do so.
I had no idea how long I was sitting there, just staring at my own reflection, but from my guess, I would say it was at least an hour or so.
I was just lost in my thoughts, usually about my friend, Lemon Stone who was the only friend I had, or could truly say I liked. We've known each other for the majority of the time we've lived here, and we would also meet up occasionally and just hang out. To say the least, I thought she was pretty. And no surprise, given her name, her cutie mark was a lemon, a single slice cut from the fruit. I actually found it to be kinda funny at times, not that I'd laugh at her, only with her.
I wouldn't really dream of making any other pony feel bad about themselves or inflict harm or anything like that. That just wasn't me. To others, I've always been the nice one, a goody-four-shoes in the eyes of my dad. I guess you could refer to me as being good as an angel, but my brother is the one with a bad (well, bad-ish) attitude, yet I still love him. He's family, and nothing can change that.
My thoughts were cut short when the door to my room hissed open, the door sliding into the floor and roof with a click. My brother stood there, a gentle smile on his face as he came into the room and sat beside me.
''Hey, Crimson.'' He said to me, looking into the mirror with me. ''You alright? You've been locked in here pretty much all afternoon.''
I didn't respond, my expression remaining blank and my eyes kept locked onto my reflection. I saw him frown at me. A moment later I felt his hoof wrap around my shoulder, and already I could feel his warmth beginning to heat me up. (I have been so lost in thought that I actually forgot how cold I was...)
''Huh..? What? Oh, hey, Star Streak.'' I stuttered out, now suddenly aware that my brother had entered my room.
''Jeez, Crimson.'' He chuckled a little, ''Are you really that distracted with your thoughts?''
I rolled my eyes, taking my gaze from my reflection and looking into his dark blue sapphires.
''Howcome you're back already? I thought you were hanging out with some of your friends?''
''I just came back to check on you. You've been staring into your mirror for quite a while, and I was worried about you.'' He raised a brow. ''What were you even doing all this time?''
I looked down, letting out a soft sigh through my nostrils.
''Just been thinking.''
''Thinking? About what?''
''Just...things.''
''What?'' He questioned, and by his tone I knew he was eager to find out what I was thinking.
''Star Streak? Do you ever get lonely? You know, down here?'' I looked back into his eyes. By my question, he seemed to be taken aback. He took a moment to think, hesitating, but eventually came out with an answer.
''N-n-no...I mean yes, I mean...'' He sighed, brushing an ear with a hoof nervously. ''I...I dunno. Why?''
''I just feel like I'm on my own down here, Star. I barely have anyone to talk to, and all I have to do around here is mope and stare at myself in the mirror.'' I felt myself shiver, not that it was cold, but because I felt sad inside.
Star Streak looked at me sympathetically. I can tell he could feel what I possibly felt like inside. Without saying anything, he gently placed a hoof to my chin and raised my head to meet his gaze. He just smiled at me.
''Crimson, I know it's hard down here, but we've just got to get by. It's been tougher than we liked since Mum died, but just remember, I'll always be here when you need me. Me and Dad. You're my sister, and I'm your brother. I'll always be here for you, Crimson. Remember that.''
I felt tears come to my eyes as he smiled sweetly at me. I wrapped my hooves around him, hugging him tightly as I nuzzled his neck. He returned the embrace, and when he let go, he wiped away some of my tears that I barely realized were there.
Fallout: Equestria - Cold Blooded Nightmare
Chapter One: Stable Forty-Five
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.
Fallout: Equestria - Cold Blooded Nightmare
I have been living in Stable Forty-Five for a few years now. I haven't really found my place in the Stable yet, but it is times like these that make you realize what an outcast you must seem; younger than most of the other ponies, smaller in size and got your cutie mark last. I've never really been the sociable type, but down here, things are different than what I imagined it to be like from the outside. Not that I would really know that.
Stables were cold, but not enough that I'm complaining. The walls were mostly made of concrete, and the rest made from metal. Life really isn't so bad down here, I guess. At least I had a family down here. Well, actually just my dad and my brother.
Even though we are siblings, our relationship isn't actually all that I hoped for. He may be nice to me, but sometimes he can be very different in terms of attitude.
As for my dad, he worked as a technician down in maintenance, fixing and maintaining PipBucks. What is a PipBuck? Well, its basically just a computer that is placed around your wrist like a bracelet, apart from it is more complex than that. It can detect radiation as well as hostiles, but that is called a E.F.S. (Eyes Forward Sparkle). I can't say that I cared for the things, but they did prove useful to me occasionally. Other than that, it comes with something called S.A.T.S.(Stable-Tec Arcane Targeting Spell). I'm not one for using a firearm, and from what I hear, although I wouldn't know it in truth, some citizens in the Stable do have weapons of their own, not that I'm eager to have one for myself, but what S.A.T.S. does is aid the weapon user in targeting his victim. (hopefully that won't be me or anyone else other than an appropriate target).
And my cutie mark? Well...I'm not a mare of many talents, and even tried doing some things to find what my special talent was, and as much as I didn't want it to be what I hated, but of course, for unlucky-old-me, it just had to be something I wasn't too keen on, or at least something I didn't want to call my special talent. My cutie mark was a burning pink rose. As weird as it sounds, my talent was making perfumes and herbal related things, but that only came in handy in terms of medicine. Although, I must say that being a unicorn does help out a bit. At least I don't have to get my hooves dirty...
My name is Crimson Skies, by the way.
Nice to meet you.