Fallout: Equestria - Lost Souls

“However,” Sane added hesitantly. “The Enclave are not forgivin. Despite their intentions they still destroyed my home and killed everypony I know.” Sane would forgive Milky, but he had made up his mind about the Enclave.

Without a word she unlatched the armor she wore and dropped it to the floor. “Like I said, I am not with them anymore.” She gave a weak smile and was happy to see it returned.

“If we are going to be traveling out there... We are going to need supplies.” Sane knew where to get these supplies, he knew where they kept the wasteland gear but he did not want to walk those bloody halls again however, what choice did he have? “Come on... This way.” Sane said absently as he turned back toward the halls.

Milky followed close beside Sane. She was worried about him, though he seemed okay he'd just gone through hell. She noticed he was trying his best not to look to the ground at the bodies.

Sane was glad that most of the ponies that had been fighting were wearing their visors and he could not see their eyes. It was bad enough he was walking through their blood, tracking bloody hoofprints through the halls of the Stable. During his training to become a Stable guard he had been shown many gruesome images consisting of the aftermath from the war, the intention being to get their guards accustomed to blood and gore so they would not freeze up when faced with it. However nothing could have prepared Sane for this.

“So, Milky... What is it like out their in the Wasteland?” Sane figured he'd better find out a little bit about what he was getting himself into, and he needed the distraction.

“Well, its not pretty. However it is not as dead as you may think. It can be dangerous to, I don't know much though... I was sheltered by the Enclave most of the time.” Milky was glad Sane was talking instead of freaking out.

“What about the weather?”

“The air? Its not as fresh as you might think, but I will say it is ten times better than the stale recycled air of the Stable. There are a few areas around the Waste you want to avoid due to toxicity levels and radiation. It gets pretty cold around here though, especially at night.” Milky sighed.

“Are there a lot of others out there?”

“More than you'd think. Though that is not necessarily a good thing. Theirs a lot of fighting going on out there. Its all one big power struggle with countless groups all fighting for something different, some good some bad. There are a few out there who just want to be left alone but that is not always possible.” Milky explained. “It's almost like the war never ended.” She sighed unhappily.

“If there are so many ponies left, then why isn't there any kind of law?”

“That's part of the problem. Everypony is trying to establish their own national law. Celestia and the-”

“Celestia is alive?” Sane exclaimed.

“Yes Sane, but as of now that is not a good thing. Rumor has it she survived and protected most of Canterlot with her magic but her sister went missing and as I am sure you know, the rest of Equestria was destroyed. She lost her mind after that, blaming all the ponies greed and stupidity for the destruction of Equestria. So she has established a monarchy in the territory she controls. A portion of the Royal army survived and her ranks have been replenished. She controls a good radius around Canterlot and a hoof full of P.A.C's surrounding the area. I can't tell you much else, the Royal Army is hostile with the Enclave. Some ponies have sought refugee under her rule and under the Royal Army's protection but they live in fear of their Princess. I've heard that even the suspicion of treason is punishable by death within her borders. You'd be lucky to be banished to the Wasteland for breaking a law under her rein.” Milky shook her head. “Its sad really. I still remember hearing how great she was as a young filly.”

“So getting help from her is out of the question.” Sane replied half halfheartedly.

“Then there's E.L.M, or the Equine Liberating Militia. I don't know to much about them though. They control most of the North sector of Equestria. They were originally the WonderBolts branch of the Royal army who broke off from the kingdom after Celestia established her monarchy. They are not strictly pegasi any more either. They have enlisted Unicorn and Earth ponies to strengthen their numbers and control a few bases around the Wasteland. Most of their resources are spent protecting P.A.C's from raiders and trying to contain the Royal Army. While their law is not quite as strict as Celestias, they have a bad habit of forcing their law upon Ponies who ask their protection. However this is all just theory. I got all of my information from Enclave archives. While I was with them they gave me access to most of the records they had collected from the Wasteland.”

“Elm doesn't sound so bad.” Sane decided.

“The last major faction I am aware of are the Legion. I know the least about them. The Enclave have not collected too much information on them, explaining that they are more like a disease and engaging in combat with them would do nothing but waste resources. The Legion have no known agenda, but nopony has ever gotten close enough to figure this out for themselves. They control the south from what I hear, the worst part of Equestria, but have been reported to be roaming in camps around the rest of Equestria. They also do not have any allies considering they kill any pony that does not hail allegiance to their ruler. Whenever they invade an area they leave some of their victims alive and crucified, leaving them to die by the elements and starvation. Elm spends a great deal of time in conflict with them.” Milky sounded disgusted when she spoke of the Legion. “Anyway, were a little far north to have to worry about them ourselves.” She added reassuringly.

“Thats good.” Sane did not like the sound of the Legion. The thought actually scared him a bit.

“Are their others we should be worried about?”

“Like I said, there are tons of factions, but those are the only ones I got any information about. We do have to worry about the wildlife a little bit though. Most of the animals have been deformed by radiation and are quite hostile. Geckos, Bloat flies, snakes and others. But the worst are the Death Claws. Two to three times a ponies size and four times as mean. They have huge claws oversized teeth and hunt anything and everything that breaths. The Ferals are something else to worry about entirely.”

“Ferals?” Sane asked dumbfounded. “You mean the zombie ponies? I thought that was just a story the Wasteland team came up with to scare the rest of us.”

“They are not exactly zombies Sane. Though they might as well be. Stript of everything but motor functions and their survival instinct. They tend to stay in small groups out of the sunlight such as Subways, or abandoned buildings that have yet to cave in but seeing them in daylight is not unheard of.”

“Were here.” Sane stated as they arrived in front of the armory. Talking had not been the solution he thought it was as the sound of the Waste only increased his anxiety. The keypad back light was not lit but Sane was relieved that the door hissed to life when he entered the security code for it. “Its a good thing I became a member of Stable security.” He said absently. Thankfully the room was not covered in blood or had any dead bodies inside.  Quite a few of the weapons were missing but there was still more than enough weapons and gear for the two of them.

Sane trotted over to one of the M61 rifles and charged it, checking the chamber to make sure it was not loaded, force of habit from his training. “Did the Enclave teach you how to shoot?” He asked her.

“Sit.” Milky replied.

“Huh?” Sane put the rifle back and turned to see Milky standing not too far from him with one of the medical kits.

“Sit.” She repeated.

Besides the migraine he had Sane had almost forgotten he was hurt. “Okay.” He replied with a warm smile.

Milky took one of the cleansing pads in her hoof and went to work cleaning as much blood from the fur on his face as possible, though she was careful not to hurt him.

A since of familiarity washed over Sane at the Scene, remembering the care she had provided when he had gotten into that fight. This since was only reinforced when she said...

“This might sting a little.” Milky took an alcohol pad from the kit and dabbed at the wound on his head. They were leaving the Stable so she wanted to make sure to cleanse it as best she could lest he get an infection. Once she was satisfied with her work she took the bandages and wrapped them around his head, not because he was still bleeding but because she wanted to cover the vulnerable area of his head. Milky secured it with the medical tape and sat up on her haunches to examine her work, making sure she had not passed over anything.

“Thanks,” Sane told her.

Milky smiled. “Your welcome.”

“Lets get some gear and get out of here.”

Each of them got the standard kit for the wasteland to include a light vest, a 10mm pistol with laser sight and light attachment, M61 semi-auto rifle with Acog, laser-sight and for-grip, heavy duty saddlebags, two water canteens, two MRE's, a compass, K-bar, three piece sleeping bag, emergency medical supplies, three thirty round clips for the rifle, six fifteen round clips for the 10mm, and a flashlight with a small nuclear power source that could run virtually forever.

Sane dreaded the thought of walking the bloody halls of his home but he knew this would be the last time. Milky nuzzled his cheek for encouragement before taking lead on their way back to main gate.

Milky went back to work on the control panel as soon as they made it back. After a minute she looked back to him. “Go ahead and step through the gate.”

Zane complied with Milky behind him just as the door hissed as it began to slowly close. Zane stopped and turned to watch everything he had ever known for five years seal itself away from him. Even though he never got along with too many ponies it had been his home. He sighed when he heard the final heavy latch of the door's locking mechanism.

Milky on the other hoof, had no feelings for the place. However it made her sad to see Sane this way. “Come on Sane, we should get going.” Milky cooed. It was not good to dwell on these things.

Sane turned to face Milky but something behind her down the steel hall caught his attention. “Get Down!” He shouted before tackling her to the ground as the shot went off. Sane scrambled for his pistol and fired blind shots down the hall, enticing their assailant to turn tail and flee around the corner.

“No you don't.” Sane jumped up and gave chase. He heard Milky shout after him but he didn't stop. That pony had not been here on accident which made Sane believe they had answers, and Sane wanted answers. He turned the corner in time to see the blue tail of the pony disappear up the stairs and into the sunlight of the Waste. This however, did put Sane at a pause. He hadn't been outside in five years and never saw the Wasteland. However the sight of Milky dashing past him broke his trance and he followed. Unfortunately his eyes were not accustomed to the bright light of the sun and he was momentarily blinded while his eyes adjusted to the light. He heard more shooting and instinctively ducked.

"Milky!" He called out, afraid she had been hit.