Fallout Equestria: Growing Darkness

Chapter 5: A Helping Hoof

Platinum Hoof Bank main hub

Electricity consumed Star Shimmer, vaulting her through the empty space. Soon enough sight, sound, and consciousness all faded.

After what felt like eternity, Star Shimmer came back to reality. Feeling returned to her hooves, slowly creeping up to the rest of her body. then her legs. Soon Star Shimmer could think and see again. Her eyes fluttered open, peering on at the world around her. For a second it appeared to be an old hallway with rubble, items stuck to the ceiling. As Star Shimmer began to ponder why the hallway was like this, a force pulled her away from the ground below her.

Star Shimmer slammed into what turned out to be the ground. “A-ow.” Bruised, Star Shimmer slowly stood up. Shaking her head as she did so.

The hallway ahead was old and weathered. Cracks spidering out along the walls, and several doors stood on either side. Star Shimmer’s eyes widened, “Wait… Shit!” She ran over to one of the doors and flung it open.

A burst of wind blasted against her face as the door opened wide to the darkened cityscape. Explosions and lightning lit up the sky in the distance, splashing the clouds with flashes of fiery red and shocking white. The rapid pops of gunfire echoed through the city, giving it a deathly rhythm.

Star Shimmer backed away from the door, heart racing. “No...This can’t be happening.” Bumping into the wall behind her, Star Shimmer jumped away. She stared at the wall, horrified at the deterioration that covered it’s surface. She spun her vision from one side to the other. “C-come on Star, get a hold of yourself.” With big, slow breaths. Star Shimmer felt her heart begin to calm.

“I’m telling’ya, somethin’s here.” A weasley stallion’s voice echoed down the hallway.

Star Shimmer’s head focused on the voice’s direction.

“Bullshit, you always hear things.” Answered another voice, this one a mare’s.

Star Shimmer looked around, desperately trying to form her thoughts into a plan. ‘Uh, Rubble. Eh, room? Outside. Sta-Outside!’ Her eyes landed on the still open door to the outside. Running over, Star Shimmer looked around more closely. Most of the building had collapsed on this side, opening up over a hundred floors to the wasteland. Clouds covered the skyline, nearly a hundred yards away was freedom. ‘Here goes nothing.’ With a flap of her wings, she lifted off into the air. Wind rushed around her as she raced upwards, dodging the other levels as she did. Rain splashed against her face in waves and thunder boomed.

“GYAA!” An immense pain ripped through Star Shimmer’s right wing. Instinctively pulling it in, Star Shimmer began to fall. One of the skyscraper’s floors met her with a Smack! Air rushed from her lungs, leaving her gasping like a fish. Blood speckled the ground near her wing, a quick glance told her that there was a fresh bullet hole through it.

Regaining her breath, Star Shimmer shakily stood up. “Fuck!” She looked out towards the city, the old ruins swayed in the storm winds and lightning hitting a nearby building. There was too much of it, too many places for somepony to shoot and hide. She turned her attention towards the building she stood on. Part of the wall before her had fallen inward, leaving an opening. Hesitantly, she shuffled forward.

Inside, the room was caved in, only giving a few feet of space. A door stood shut on the right. Light flickered underneath the door, an unpleasant stench seeped from it.

Star Shimmer looked to her injured wing, which she held tightly to her side. ‘Please be old food. Only old, rotting food.’ Star Shimmer thought as she crept towards the door. Slowly she pushed it open.

The stench of sickeningly sweet rot and burning flesh hit her tenfold. On the other side was a large room made by knocking down the walls of the four adjacent rooms. A firepit with a small, brightly burning fire sat in the middle, a meat rotisserie setup above it. Around the pit were masses of cloth similar in shape of beds. Past them were dark, twisted cages, a few of which held small mounds. Lining the wall were half a dozen bodies, most appeared pony though it was difficult to say in their current condition.

Star Shimmer’s heart jumped up into her throat. She backpedaled out of the room. Her stomach twisted in repulsion, and she tumbled onto her haunches, retching on the ground. ‘By the Goddesses, I’m in hell.’

As her stomach emptied of its meager contents, her injured wing flared up in pain. Star Shimmer wiped the bit of bile sticking to her mouth and looked to the door with dread. The memory of the ponies back on the Eagle, clad in practically garbage, but psychotic and bloodthirsty. If she tried to fly, she was dead. If she went through the door, she could be captured by the monsters that created such a den. She might become the next wall ornament, or a meal for the evil beasts of this hellhole. Shuffling up to the door, she searched around again. This time she spotted a door at the far end, a small line of light came from below it.

Star Shimmer swallowed her sickness. Ever so slowly, she began to walk through the room. Making her way around the cages, Star Shimmer’s eyes wandered towards the mounds inside. The first cage was empty. Dark stains covered the the sides and bottom.

Passing by, Star Shimmer grimaced at the second cage. Inside laid the corpse of what she could only guess was a dog. The skin of the beast had been peeled back, leaving the muscle and tendons exposed. The muzzle had been smashed in, and the eyes skewered by metal spikes. Chunks of the dog had been cut away, and Star Shimmer thought again about the fire pit. Her eyes continued to focus on the dog as she moved forward. Eventually she felt something squished underneath her hoof. Staring down, Star Shimmer saw her hoof covered in a dark muck. As she lifted her hoof, some of it stuck to her. Bile began to rise up to the back of her throat. Star Shimmer looked away, continuing forward.

The last cage held the body of an earth pony stallion. Its dark green coat covered in lacerations, blood slowly flowing onto the floor. Chunks of its black mane were torn from the head. A knife protruding out of the flank. The chest slowly expanded, Star Shimmer froze. The chest contracted, then expanded again. Leaning in for a closer look, Star Shimmer saw that the stallion was breathing.

Star Shimmer glanced at the door, her hoof lifting into the air. The sounds of distant rain and gunfire still echoed in the distance. She looked back at the stallion, staring, wide eyed, at the wounds he had. Then she looked over to the dog corpse, then at the bodies lining the wall. With a shaking hoof, Star Shimmer tapped one of the bars of the cage. “H-hey.”

Dark brown eyes blinked open. The stallion glared up at Star Shimmer, making her take a step back. The stallion looked her up and down, his eyes widened. His eyes scanned the room.

Star Shimmer stepped forward. “Hey, do you know how to open this cage?”

The Stallion gazed over at the door. “Check the beds near the firepit. There should be a key there.” His voice was raspy and dry.

Star Shimmer nodded, turning towards the firepit. Dodging any disgusting waste left on the ground, she made her way over to the beds. A small hint of alcohol wafted as Star Shimmer shuffled through the rags. Vomit threatened to return, yet Star Shimmer continued. Through sweaty sheets and blood stained mattresses, she pulled out a rusty old key.

Star Shimmer gripped it with her teeth and trotted over to the cage. “I goth ith.”

“Okay, t-that’s good-ooh.” The stallion grimaced at the sight of Star Shimmer.

Star Shimmer’s eyebrow shot up. “Whah?”

“N-nothing, just unlock it.”

With a quick thrust and tilt, the cage door popped open. The stallion slumped out. “Oh, that was a bad idea.”

Star Shimmer moved in next to the stallion and hoisted him to his hooves with her good wing. “Okay, you’re out. I need your help.”

The Stallion sighed. “And what would that be?”

Star Shimmer and the stallion began for the door. “Could you help me get out of here?”

“Sure, why don’t you hop on my back and I’ll trot you right out onto the street.”

“I’m sorry, who’s flank did I just save?” Making it to the door, Star Shimmer pushed it open. The other side was a hallway decorated similarly to the room with bodies lining the walls, and garbage thrown all over the place. At one end was a massive wall of rubble, the other had a small barricade with a mounted gun. Several other doors stood evenly apart on each end of the hallway.

“Go through that door.” The stallion pointed to the door across from them.

Star Shimmer trudged them over and pushed the door open. Inside was a small, dimly lit room filled with piles of random items. Guns, saddles, and cans, all thrown about half hazardly. “Um, there’s no exit here.”

“No, but I have a knife in my ass.” The stallion looked around. “There.” He pointed to one of the piles. The two shuffled towards it, and Star Shimmer placed him against the pile. Gritting his teeth, the stallion shakily stood up and began to look through the pile, throwing random junk around.

Star Shimmer looked from the stallion to the door, her hoof tapping and her heart beginning to pound faster. As the seconds passed, Star Shimmer’s attention began to wander to the other piles in the room. Her eyes landed on one of the piles, sticking out the top was the sledgehammer of a madmare. On one end were two small rockets. On the other were four pink power crystals fused to it. Small bits of magical energy arced across each crystal. Several sections of the sledge had been reinforced with metal rods and plates as well.

“You think you can use it?” The stallion asked.

Star Shimmer turned to her new companion. The stallion held a saddle bag in his hooves. “Yeah, sure. I could spin it over my head no problem.” She said with a snide smirk.

The stallion stuck his head into the saddlebags and pulled out a bulky syringe, the insignia of a hydra head stamped on the side. Tearing off the rubber cover, the stallion injected himself in the forehoof. The deep gashes and bruises across his body sealed up, leaving only bare skin and blood stained fur. The knife clattered to the ground next to him. The stallion stood up, stretching his body. “That’s better.”

“Hydra?” Star Shimmer asked. “Couldn’t find a health potion or salve?”

The stallion rolled his eyes. “Just grab what you can and let’s get out of here.” The stallion stood up, tossing the saddlebags over his shoulders. He rummaged through the pile again, pulling out a dual barreled shotgun. Gun in mouth, he moved to the door and placed his ear against it.

Turning back to the pile, Star Shimmer rummaged through it. Smashed alcohol bottles, ruined books, busted weapons, nearly everything aside from the massive sledge was just junk. She turned to another pile. Right off the bat, a small box sat atop of the pile, opening it up revealed a grenade and a couple of health potions. Star Shimmer smirked. She turned to the stallion.

The stallion held up a hoof to his lips, then gestured Star Shimmer towards him.

Star Shimmer smirk dropped, heart beginning to pound. Quietly, she dragged the box over to the stallion, who looked into it. A smile grew on his face as he traded the gun for the grenade. “Puth tha pothens in my bathgs.” He whispered.

Star Shimmer nodded. As she took the potions into her grasp, Star Shimmer began to hear murmurs from outside the door.

“-fine, let’s just get some grub. Alright?”

The stallion rolled the grenade in his mouth.

“Whatever, I know I heard somethin.”

There was the click of a door, and a second later it slammed shut.

Using his hooves, the stallion creaked the door open. The grenade held tightly in his mouth. Faint voices mumbled, at first it was quite, then it got louder.

“Where the fuck is he!?” A door swung open.

The stallion tossed the grenade. Then, slamming the door behind him, he tackled Star Shimmer.

The explosion ripped the door apart, sending chunks and shards against the two. Rolling off of Star Shimmer, the stallion stood up and held out a hoof to her.

Star Shimmer glared at the stallion. “What the hell was that?”

The stallion rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry, you think we could’ve outrun them? In the city filled with raiders?”

Star Shimmer looked down at the hoof, then back at the stallion. Slowly, she took the hoof and was hoisted up. “Well thanks-” She froze at the side beyond the door. The floor and nearby walls had been destroyed, leaving a sizable hole. Gore bits speckled around the edge, and the upper half of a pony lay a couple of feet away, it’s entrails and purple mane a clumped mass dragging behind.

Bile began to rise up Star Shimmer’s throat. She turned away. “Okay, can we go?”

“By all means, let’s leave.” The stallion turned and trotted over to the hole. One quick look and he jumped down.

“W-wait!” Star Shimmer ran to the hole. Down below, the hallway was strewn with rubble. A couple of filing cabinets had toppled over, providing a small landing spot. The stallion stood next to the cabinets, combat knife in mouth. Star Shimmer readied herself, then jumped. Without her the use of her wings she hit the cabinets hard, nearly stumbling off of them.

“Majestic.” The stallion said with a small grin.

Star Shimmer glared at him. Her good wing flapping a bit.

The stallion looked at Star Shimmer’s injured wing. “I guess you already tried to fly out?”

Star Shimmer extended her wing, frowning at the bullet hole. “Yep… didn’t even hear the gunshot.”

The stallion shook his head. “Damn Headers.” Reaching into the his packs, he pulled out one of the health potions. “Youw luthy.” He placed the potion at Star Shimmer’s hoofs. “Only drink half of it.”

Star Shimmer looked to the stallion, a small thankful smile creeped up her face. “Thanks.” Star Shimmer took the health potion. Popping off the top, she chugged a bit of it. The nagging pain disappeared, and the hole closed up, leaving a small patch of missing feathers.

The stallion nodded. “Stay grounded.” The stallion turned and began for the stairs. “Your ass is dirt next time you’re nailed in the sky.”

Star Shimmer looked at the stallion with unease. “Good to know.” she continued following the stallion. As they walked, Star Shimmer took in her surroundings again. The building they walked through, for the most part, had been untouched, even just one level down it was just an old, dilapidated hallway. The roar of distant warfare continued on. Star shimmer remembered the raiders in the Eagle, and imagined Thunder Dasher running into them. ‘Please be careful dad, mom’s waiting on you.’ Star Shimmer looked over to the stallion. He was young, maybe a year or two older than herself. Along with that, Without the knife sticking out of his flank, his cutie mark was now visible. A brown and silver bottlecap bordered by small rays of sunshine.

The two made it to the emergency stairs and began to descend. “Um.” Star Shimmer began. “So what’s your name?”

The stallion focused forward, scanning the staircase and every open door they passed. “Rusty Bottlecap.” He glanced over at Star Shimmer. “What about you?”

“I’m Star Shimmer.”

Rusty Bottlecap nodded. “Well, not the worst name I’ve ever heard.” Rusty’s ears flicked. “So the fighting outside, is that your rescue team?”

Star Shimmer sighed. “Sorta. You wouldn’t have happened to see the giant black and green air ship fall from the sky.”

Rusty smirked. “Yeah, I saw it. Kinda why I’m here.”

Star Shimmer raised her eyebrow.

Rusty looked back at Star Shimmer. “Enclave scrap makes good caps.”

“Oh.” Star Shimmer’s eyebrows furrowed. ‘Vulture’

Rusty smirked, turning back to the staircase.

A couple of minutes later they made it to the bottom. Rusty trotted over to the emergency exit. “So you’re Enclave, but no power armor.” He cracked the door open and looked around. “So we’ll have to do this the old fashioned way.” glanced over to Star Shimmer. “You think you can handle cramped spaces?”

Star Shimmer tilted her head. “I’m in this crumbling heap of a building, aren’t I?”

Rusty looked back out. “Follow my lead, stay right behind me. Got it?” Before Star Shimmer could answer him, Rusty burst out of the door.

Star Shimmer rocketed through the door, her wings giving her a decent boost. Within a second she was right next to the galloping Rusty. Outside, the ruins extended around them. Crumbling buildings stood everywhere, while debris and trash piles scattered along the ground. The sky had darkened even more, coupled with the striking setting sun the world appeared to be burning in the distance.

A gunshot cracked in the air, and a nearby can flew high above Star Shimmer. “Marehole!” Rusty called out. Star Shimmer looked to Rusty, then followed his eyes. Down the street ahead of them was a half covered sewer entrance. “Go! Get inside!”

Star Shimmer gave a mighty flap, blasting the dust around her into the air. A second shot bit the surface of her flank. Star Shimmer bit her lip and pumped her wings faster.

As she neared the marehole, a raider stepped out from behind the nearby building. Shod with spiked powerhooves, and his tail capped in a spiked ball and chain. The raider charged towards Star Shimmer, a maniacal smile on his face.

‘Shit!’ Star Shimmer glanced down at the marehole, the cover to it had been removed and was leaning against a small pile of rubble. A small smile crept up her face. One final pump of the wings shot Star Shimmer to the marehole cover, and with the accuracy of a sniper’s bullet she reached out and hooked the cover with her hooves. Spinning her body, Star Shimmer lifted the cover using her momentum and hurled it at the raider. “HeYAAH!”

Shocked by the sight, the raider shrunk to the ground, covering their face. The cover flew straight and true, into the ground a couple of feet from Star Shimmer with a large Thunk!

The raider peeked over to the cover, then looked over to Star Shimmer.

Huffing, and forelegs screaming in painful protest. Star Shimmer looked at the marehole cover with despairing disappointment. “Oh, come on!”

A smile cracked along the raider’s face, and they began to stand up again. Star Shimmer, eyes wide, started to backstep away. ‘Oh, shit!’

A firm force clamped down on Star Shimmer’s tail. Startled, she jumped up into the air, but the force held strong. A second later, Star Shimmer found herself being ripped from the air.

BANG

The bullet whizzed past Star Shimmer as she plummeted into the ground. Her heart beat like a wardrum as the sky and clouds fell away. For a split second, Star Shimmer felt as if she had fallen out of reality, and into the never ending space of the unknown. She came back as she landed hard on the cold, wet ground. Next to her stood Rusty, her tail in his mouth. “Ow!” She ripped her tail from his mouth and held it in her hooves. “Grabby Asshole”

Rolling his eyes, Rusty Bottlecap pushed her up onto her hooves. “Come on, we need to keep moving.”

Star Shimmer looked around. Aside from the small spot of light the two found themselves in, the area was pitch black. From what little she could see, it appeared the two were on a small walkway, barely wide enough for two ponies to stand side by side. The walkway extended to the left and right into the darkness. Beside the walkway was a glimpse of murky sludge, an ever present, overwhelming stench wafting from it. Star Shimmer covered her nose with her hoof. “Uh-Where?”

Rusty look from one side to the other. “Th-this way.” He said, grabbing Star Shimmer’s hoof and dragging her into the darkness. Their hoofsteps echoing further into the abyss.

“W-wait, do you know where you’re going!?” Star Shimmer asked as she worked on keeping up with Rusty.

“Kinda. Just stick with me.” The two continued forward for a bit before rounding a corner. Rusty then pushed Star Shimmer against the wall.

Star Shimmer slapped his hooves away. “What the-”

“Shh!” There was a pause, then Rusty whispered. “Stay here.”

Anger swelled a bit in Star Shimmer’s gut, but she bit her tongue. She listened as Rusty slowly began to move away from her. Another pair of hoofsteps sounded in the distance. A few seconds later there was a voice nearby. “Come out lil’foals. Red Rocker isn’t gonna hurt’ya.”

Star Shimmer held her breath. Her heart thudded against her chest. The raider continued to move.

Clip-Clop

Clip-Clop

Clip-Clop

There was a sniffle, then a huff. “Eh, fuck it.” Hoofsteps echoed from the darkness, soon replaced with the sound of somepony climbing a ladder. “Say hi to the gators for me.”

The darkness went silent again. For a minute, all Star Shimmer did was sit in the darkness, her breath returning to normal. A gasp escaped Star Shimmer’s mouth as something rustled in the darkness.

small bluish-green glow filled the darkness. A couple of feet from her stood Rusty Bottlecap. A small glowing pouch in his mouth. He stood at the corner of the wall, staring down the path they had traveled from. Turning from it, he glanced over to Star Shimmer. His eyes were wide, and with the help of the ghastly illumination, he appeared almost terrified. “Alright, this way.” He motioned forward, trotting slowly.

Star Shimmer looked to him, then back to the darkness. It seemed to almost happily return to it’s space as the light left, erasing what had once been there. Star Shimmer followed, staying within the small bubble of reality revealed by the glowing light, the darkness waiting patiently to gobble them up just outside.