Fallout Equestria: Out of Time

by Silverwolfdemon

Chapters

Ch.1 What a wonderful world
Ch.2 Night kids
Ch.4 getting an old friend and a mysterous meeting
Ch.0 The Last Day
Ch.3 Boom like That

Ch.1 What a wonderful world

ch.1 Waking (Rewrite 2)

Fallout Equestria: Subject 00

Ch.01 Waking

“Time to get up and greet the day”

Ministry of Peace Research Facility: Black Out

Location: Black Out Valley Cave-Systems.

Last known system activation: UNKNOWN

Estimated time offline: 200 years, 3 months.

-ERROR- -ERROR-

Ventilation System Status: -OFFLINE-

Rerouting Power… -ERROR-

System Primary Objective: The Survival of Subject 00

Objective is impossible to achieve if Ventilation System is offline.

Life Support Pod’s systems functionality: -MINIMAL-

Solution: Release Subject, activate ventilation system, restore lights, release facility from lockdown, deactivate security system.

-STATUS-

Vents: -ACTIVE-

Lights: -ACTIVE-

Blast Doors: -MALFUNCTION-

Protect-A-Ponies: -ACTIVE-

-ERROR- : Damage detected in Friend_Foe Identification Systems.

-Attempting Shutdown Code Broadcast-

-ERROR- : Only 34% responded

Facility Hostility Level: -DEADLY-

Turret Array target: All Active Protect-A-Ponies

All hostiles eliminated…

Facility Hostility Level: -SAFE-

Preparing to Release Subject 00…

Malfunction- : Process will take longer than originally estimated. System set to standby.

The life pod opened with a hiss of released air as Jade took her first breath in a very long time. She felt as dizzy as she had when she used to spin around in circles for fun as a filly. She took a look around the room as the lights flickered; it didn’t seem like any of the ones in the hospital. From the roof leaked water which formed into a puddle around the drain in the middle of the room. Strange machines lined the walls of purposes she couldn’t discern. There were also monitors showing other rooms, some were recognizable, but most were dead. One corner contained a desk that Jade recognised as the one from Dr Neural’s office; on it were a picture frame, a letter, and a package.

Jade wasn’t sure if she should disturb the Doctor’s things, but her curiosity got the best of her. She walked over to the desk to see what it held, but balked at what she saw. The picture frame held a picture of her friends Tea Leaf and Cherry Pie standing outside the army recruitment center, ‘Get well soon Jade’ was penciled on the top with her friends’ signatures on the bottom. Jade opened the letter, it told her that the fiery-red earth pony Cherry Pie and the likewise green earth pony Tea Leaf were stationed at a base out near The Hoof

Jade felt a spike of fear run through her spine at the thought. The Hoof was one of the most dangerous posts available. She hoped her friends were alright. They had all planned on joining together, if not for the doctors discovering the existence of her illness just a month before she was old enough. She was deeply disappointed that she couldn’t join with her friends, but Cherry threw her a party to make her feel better. It was almost better than an MoM party, but Jade wasn’t really the party type at the time.

Cherry was like a fiery-red Pinkie Pie, with her mane and tail looking like curly flames. Tea on the other hoof had green fur with a snow-white mane and tail. He was stoic whenever he had yet to have a cup of tea in the mornings. He had a crush on Cherry and it always showed in his face and in the picture, it was how he was blushing as he stood next to Cherry with her grinning widely like a mad mare. Jade wondered if he had confessed his feelings to Cherry in the years of her absence.

For the last 4 years, she missed them dearly. The doctors claimed that as soon as they identified the illness she had, she may be able to join up with her friends in the army and fight alongside them. It seemed less and less likely as the days went by. She desperately wished to protect them. While she might have been bullied as a filly, she had taught herself defensive tactics and how to read her opponent. With a sigh, she wondered if her friends were alive.

She looked over at the package. Addressed from her parents, Jade was surprised. She hadn’t heard from them during her entire stay at the hospital. She got the odd note or two every so often from Cherry and Tea, but nothing from her parents. It was old and the packaging was damaged and there was no send date, nor return address, only her name.

Dismissing the thoughts with a shake of her head, she began to open the box. Simple packaging held the item inside; fastened with only a single string in a bow on top. She pulled one end of the string and the bow came undone. Inside this box was, strangely enough, another box. This one bore a royal insignia not of the princesses Celestia and Luna. There was an old and faded note resting on top of this second box.

-To Miss Jade

This Pip-Buck is for you to use in the next round of tests.

Please read the enclosed instructions and listen to the doctors’ instructions as well.

Signed, Twilight Sparkle

Upon reading the note, Jade blinked, “Why would a ministry mare want to give me a Pip-Buck? The doctors said that I didn’t need one. Why would she think I did?”

She opened the box to see a Pip-Buck. Looking it over twice, like all the puzzles she had been given to solve at the hospital, she saw nothing out of the ordinary. It was a standard-model Pip-Buck. She knew it goes on a foreleg, as the doctors always had them. Since it didn’t seem like which foreleg it was on mattered, Jade affixed it to her left foreleg and let it begin the startup process. It registered her as Subject 00, strange she thought, and as an earth pony. The map informed that the doors to all other rooms were locked.

That’s definitely NOT GOOD.

She looked over towards the door and saw that it was a Stable-Tec blast door. Looking over the map on the HUD of her new Pip-Buck, she spotted a vent marked on it. It then showed a map of the facility, which was larger than she thought it was. It also showed her a route to the manual override panel for the doors at Security Station B. There were red dots marked in the direction of the entrance of the facility.

Briefly, she wondered how she had obtained this route, but didn’t question her luck as she walked over to the vent. Even if she knocked the desk onto its side, she would need wings to reach the vent high up on the wall. She then noticed a stack of boxes in another corner and walked over to them. Box after box, she kicked them into a fairly stable staircase. She climbed up them and started unscrewing screws when a blast shook the facility.

Jade lost consciousness as her head hit the floor and several boxes toppled onto her. Over an hour passed before she awoke to gunshots and the Red-Alert alarm sounding. Looking back to the vent, she grudgingly decided that it was still her best bet for escape. She restacked the boxes and got the cover to the vent off in time for the blast door to be blasted in. In walked three green alicorns.

“Are we sure this is the correct facility?” They echoed between themselves without as much as moving their mouths. Jade could only think that it was some form of telepathy.

“Yes” They echoed back, “And it seems our little prize is hiding.”

Jade didn’t waste any time before hastily continuing her crawl through the vent, every now and then hearing hoof-falls and other blast doors being ripped open as they hunted for her. She really wished that she knew why they were searching for her; she didn’t even have coffee yet! She reached the security station, turned around, and bucked the cover off. Screws flew off and clattered onto the floor out of sight.

She turned back around and took a furtive glance out of the vent and saw nothing but emptiness. She was, for once, glad that she had learned bucking from a member of the Apple family. Sure her relationship with Applecore was short and hardly enough to even mention, but he knew how to buck, in more ways than trees. Jade shook her head furiously, thinking to herself. “No! It’s not the time to think about right now, it can only get me killed. “

She looked around the empty room and realised that she didn’t know what to do next. She couldn’t understand how to work the controls and certainly didn’t know how to hack anything. She just stood there with a blank look on her face inside Security Station B for a while, and then walked over to the weapons rack. Among the numerous semi-automatic rifles were some combat shotguns.

“Well, this would help if I knew how to shoot!” and then the Blast door to the security station blew open and startled Jade into silence. One of the three alicorns from before was looking right at her. Jade just stood there feeling her cold sweat dripping off her face as she glanced around the room for another way out. Nope. Nothing: all sealed. She closed her eyes to mentally prepare herself for whatever harm was about to befall her.

To her eternal surprise, nothing happened. Her eyes popped open wide and watched as the green alicorn walked away. “Okay, that officially tops my weird list” Jade muttered. Looking around, she decided to follow the alicorn out the destroyed blast door. Not that she liked the decision.

She reached the outside and the sight of one green alicorns caught her attention. Jade really didn’t want to fight it, considering how powerful it and its friends must have to be to blast a blast door off its frame multiple times. Luckily she didn’t have to; it showed up blue on her HUD. Note to self: Red bad, Blue…I’m not sure yet.

“Subject 00…?” The alicorn inquired of her. Jade just looked at her with a confused look upon her face. The alicorn sighed exasperatedly. “Oh, right. Jade, we are the Goddess and We came here looking for a very powerful unicorn rumored to be sealed away here, not some insignificant earth pony. No matter what rumors We may have heard, you are not compatible with Unity and We don’t care. Now if We were you, We would find a dirty hole and hide because unless you miraculously grow a horn, the next time We see you, you will be killed. The only reason We have not done so yet is because it would be a waste of Our time. Now, go run and hide in your hole, little worm.”

All Jade could do was sit there in confusion but the goddess continued to speak. “We would suggest leaving, We think this unicorn may be found in the records of this facility and We do not need you here.” The alicorn turned and walked back into the facility with the other two that emerged from hiding behind boulders in the area. She just blinked a few times and tried to figure out what just happened as they returned inside the facility.

Jade continued to ponder recent events for what she guessed as three hours. Drawing a blank, she finally started to consider her surroundings instead. She felt as if the world had ended overnight after dreams of sunshine and rainbows, she awoke to a nightmare.

Despite having not seen the sky for four years, she knew for a fact that it was not covered completely by dark and dusty clouds. The grass had been healthy and green before, but not anymore. Now they were dead, dying, or yellow. In the distance, she beheld the ruins of Brooks Bend. While many cities during the war were destroyed and rebuilt as The Hoof had been, this city was not quite a fortress, but had just as many secret projects.

That city was where Jade had lived, but never had she left the suburbs until her illness was discovered. Only had she seen the city proper a few times, but she knew something bad had occurred, even at this distance. The towers, while not as large as some other towers, were either tilting or collapsed. The three rivers that either pass through the city or run by it, the Jazel, Revo, amd Dizmy, were all clogged with rubble. Jade reminisced about the times when she and her friends used to play near the Dizmy, which was the closest to home.

She looked around and spotted 3 military bases in the surrounding area of Brooks Bend. The level of disrepair was staggering. She knew the Brooks military officers prided themselves on the superior upkeep of their bases. Something had to be wrong of any of them were in such a state of disrepair as they were in. Brooks Bend might not have been quite as important a target for the zebras as The Hoof was, not being an Industrial Giant or the capital of Equestria. The Ministries of Arcane Science, Morals, Peace, and War-Time Technology used Brooks Bend a hub for ‘safe’ research.

Jade felt as if her world had been turned upside down; maybe it had.

It was about then that a Sprite-bot bobbed up to her; strangely enough, it wasn’t playing music like all the other ones that she’d heard in the past around the city. It stopped in front of her and a voice came from the bot.

“Hello there, well aren’t you an interesting looking pony.”

“Okay now, a Sprite-Bot is talking to me. Great... It’s not like my day couldn’t get any more fucked up!” Jade exclaimed, exasperated.

“Hey, you know what this bot is?” inquired the voice.

“Well duh, any foal over 4 would. I remember when the MoM introduced them.” Jade stared at the bot with confused anger.

“When the Ministry of Morals introduced them?” the voice restated, reciting the full name of the Ministry.

“Yes, that’s what I just said. Now, who or what are you?” Jade frowned in curiosity, pointing at the Sprite-Bot with a hoof.

“I’m Watcher.” the voice replied.

“Okay, Watcher….um, what are you, I know you’re not that bot, so, who are you really?”

“I don’t think I should reveal myself to you right now, miss…”

“Oh, um, I’m Jade.” Jade blushed and kicked at the ground with a hoof.

“So Jade, mind telling me just how you survive for 200 years not to mention the whopping 8 Balefire Bombs that hit this city?” The Watcher bobbed behind her, pointedly looking at the Facility she was just in, “Though those doors would explain how you survived the Bombs.”

“T…two HUNDRED y-years…?” Jade looked at the city. What had happened to the city was caused by the zebras. The zebras destroyed Equestria?! “You…you’re telling me I’ve been asleep for two whole centuries?” Jade’s mind began to race as it tried to come to terms with the fact that her parents, her friends, everyone she ever knew were….

“Wow…hey, calm down. Panicking right here and now is a very bad idea. Look I shouldn’t have brought that up,” Watcher floated in front of her, “Jade, you’re going to need to STAY CALM. Right now is not the best time to panic or mourn. You’ll need armor, weapons, and all the ammunition you can get your hooves on.” the Watcher said, voice filled with concern … at least, what Jade hoped was concern. “Looks like you got yourself a Pip-buck. That should really help you out.”

“W…why...?” Jade asked.

“Brooks Bend, while not as deadly as The Hoof, it’s still in the top ten. It’s got one of the biggest groups of Alicorns I’ve seen in a while hanging out here. They seem to be looking for something; just like the ones near Canterlot. You’ve got Shock Troop Steel Rangers, although they are just as mortal as any other Steel Ranger, these are trained for fighting against overwhelming odds. Also, gangs and raiders inhabit most of the city.” Watcher turned to the city, “You don’t want to be unarmed in the Wasteland anyhow.”

“Okay…um, then what?” Jade said, panic subsided a bit, though the information on what lurked in her hometown troubled her.

“You’ll need to make some friends. You won’t last long without them.” Watcher turned to look at her again.

“Um, about the weapons, I don’t know how to fire a gun.” Jade wasn’t sure if that was a bad thing.

“You’re going to have to learn. You should head west. There’s a book there you’ll probably end up needing. Be careful Jade. I hope to speak with you again.” And with a burst of Static, the Sprite-Bot started to bob away playing ‘Parade of the Parasprites’ as it bobbed northward.

Jade looked west and saw a tower that look to be from a sky port. Jade decided that if Watcher was telling her the truth, then outside the facility was the last place she wanted to be. But there were something she had to retrieve from it first.

She turned and trotted back to the room she had woken up in. She finally noticed the mummified body of Dr. Neural. “I should give you a proper burial.” She knew it was stupid and a waste of time, but she was sure he was the one who had saved her from dying when the bombs fell. She looked at the saddle bags he was wearing and didn’t like the idea of taking them from him, but he really couldn’t use them anymore.

Jade took the Dr.’s saddle bags and put them on then walked over to the desk and took the picture of her late friends and placed it in her new bags. She was surprised when it was listed in her inventory as ‘Memory Fragment’. She searched inside the desk but didn’t find anything else beside 2 more letters from Cherry Pie which was also listed as memory fragments.

She didn’t question her new leg accessory but noticed something strange in the programming. Jade walked out of the room carrying Neural on her back as she headed towards Security Station B. If she needed armor and guns, then she was lucky that the alicorn had blasted the door open behind her. As she entered she spotted more red dots on the edge of her E.F.S. She guessed that returning to the facility for a weapon was a good idea.

She equipped one of the sets of security barding and grabbed a pistol from the weapons locker and all the ammunition in there as well (about 2 boxes). She tested the firing mechanism with her mouth and was glad the safety was on. She turned it off and turned towards the red dots. She didn’t like the idea of killing ponies but she would if they gave her no choice.

She looked around the corner of the hall just before the entrance. There were three ponies that were wearing disturbing bones attached to their barding. Their barding was in disrepair and looked as if they hadn’t even been made of proper protective material. Their weapon weren’t much better. What really bothered the earth pony was the fact that one was gnawing on the leg of another pony.

Jade looked at the pistol she had just taken. She was really apprehensive about the idea of killing ponies, but these ponies weren’t and it looked like they eat them too. That sent a shiver of fear down Jade’s spine. She REALLY didn’t like the thought of what they would do to her if they got her. But she’d try and see if they would let her pass. She wasn’t good with weapons, even if they didn’t look competent enough for combat themselves.

Jade walked around the corner and immediately regretted leaving her cover as all three looked at her with crazed smiles and started preparing their weapons and licking their lips.

Okay so fight it is then. Jade tried getting her weapon, but wasn’t able to get a proper grip on it. Just as she did she felt something hit her in the side, hard. Luckily, the security barding was still in good condition but she wouldn’t trust it to last too long with this type of abuse, taken regularly. She aimed her pistol the best she could and pulled the trigger with her tongue.

The shot missed the mare she had been targeting by a mile but hit the stallion behind her square in the face. The stallion yelped in pain before collapsing and dying. Jade and the raiders blinked at each other, but that didn’t last long. Jade fired several more shots that hit the mare and the other stallion a few times, but not fatally. Soon the pistol ting-ed as the clip ran empty and Jade ducked back behind the corner as she tried to figure out how to reload the damn gun.

She got it reloaded by the time one of the ponies had turned the corner and shot his gun pointblank at her. She would have died if he could hit the broad side of a barn. Nevertheless, she screamed and dropped her firearm as the bullet tore into her shoulder. The stallion was about to fire as a high powered round tore him in two with a loud report and a spray of blood and gore that hit her and soaked into her mane.

“I fucking hate raiders. Wonder who they were shooting at?” Jade thought of hiding, but before she could a lightning blue pegasus swooped around the corner. “Well hello there miss.” The Stallion said with a polite grin. “I guess I saved you, didn’t I?”

Jade didn’t know how to respond.

“You okay?” He facehoofed. “Right, sorry, the name’s Shock, I’m a caravan guard, though I guess I’m not that good. A band of raiders attacked the caravan I was supposed to protect. I was hunting the survivors down when they came across this place.” He explained, looking around at the facility. “Mighty fancy research base you have here.” He noticed her wound and winced, “Looks like you got hit badly though.”

“Um so you’re not with those ponies?” Jade asked, still afraid of getting eaten.

“Me, a Raider? Hell no!” Shock looked insulted. He squinted at Jade, looking her up and down. “You just climb out of a stable or something?”

Jade wondered what that meant but decided to ask later. “Um, no. I actually woke up in here.”

“Really?” Shock backed up, surprised. “Where? This place doesn’t look like a stable.”

Jade didn’t know if it would help, but this stallion seemed friendly and Watcher had said that she should make friends. “Um, follow me.”

“Miss, don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you.” Shock said as they walked back into the Facility. “But we might want to take care of that wound before you bleed out.”

21% to next level.

Ch.2 Night kids

ch.2 Wasteland survival (Rewrite 2)

Fallout Equestria: Subject 00

Ch.2 Wasteland Survival

“Survival is everything.”

Jade led Shock to the room she awoke in and now the Pegasus was staring at the machine in the room. It looked like a padded box with padding big enough to accommodate a pony. Jade guessed that must have been what she had been sleeping in for the past 200 or so years. Besides the desk, it was the only other thing of significance in here.

“Wow a working Gen 5 Stasis Pod! I never would have guessed they made anything other than 3s, I thought 4s and 5s were only theoretical.” Shock said, inspecting the pod.

“Well this would explain how you stayed alive and sane all this time. The first 3 generations weren’t that great, in that they were not able to keep the occupants unconscious indefinitely, you’re lucky to have been in one of these.”

“Um... what?” Jade was honestly not expecting the stallion to know that.

“Oh, sorry, my talent is related to pretty much any sort of per war tech you can think of. I can hack, modify, and repair just about anything.” The Stallion said.

Jade glanced at his flank and saw what looked to be a cloud with a lightning bolt. “In case you’re wondering Miss, um…that’s not my Cutie mark. I’m what’s called a Dashite. It’s complicated, so let’s leave it at that for now.”

“Okay, Shock seems to have a troubled past.” Thought Jade. She could deal with not knowing what a Dashite was for now.

“So Shock, um….”

“What were you doing in a Ministry of Peace top level research base?” Shock seemed to be ignoring her now.

”This place was built like a fortress, but you were the only one given a pod. And what blew those doors open? Wonder if I can get into the records...” He walked to one of the terminals in another room. He worked for a bit but had the password cracked soon enough.

“Damn. The mainframe’s practically gone, looks like it was wiped.”

“Really?” Jade asked.

Shock seemed to come back to his senses as he looked back at her. “Um…yes, it was standard for most Top Level Black Marked Facilities to be wiped in situations such as these. Most TLBMF’s didn’t get a chance to, though. Hoofington is the best example of this, as most of its records are still accessible with a bit of simple hacking.”

He looked back to the computer. “Here in The Brooks though, it’s almost the same story. This isn’t the first Facility I’ve seen that had its system wiped, but there are not many.”

“So you’ve been to The Hoof?” Jade asked wondering, be it impossible, if he knew what became of her friends.

“Yes, I’d place that death trap is about as dangerous as Splendid Valley, those White Woods, and the Everfree. The Brooks is just under Hoofington, danger-level wise.” He smiled.

“Ah, found some data that wasn’t wiped.” His face scrunched up. “Do you any about a Subject 00?”

Jade looked at him nervously, but pulled up her medical stats on her Pip-Buck and showed them to him. He looked confused at first, like he was going to say something about not needing her Pip-Buck to find out, until he actually took a look at it. He looked at the terminal, then her Pip-Buck, then the terminal and back a few times*. Then he shook his head.

“So?” Jade asked afraid she may have lost whatever chance she had of him becoming her friend.

“Wow, you have some bad luck miss,” He looked back at the screen, “Seems as though this whole place was built to study something involving you.”

“The Doctors said I was sick and they were trying to identify it.” She turned her head away, realizing she might still be sick.

“Wait a minute Miss, you’re not sick. From what I can gather, you’re the opposite of sick. In fact you’re the healthiest mare I’ve seen since coming to the Wasteland, besides the bullet wound, of course.” He said it like it was nothing, but to Jade it was like a ton of bricks hit her in the face.

She wasn’t sick. She… Wasn’t… Sick.

“Then why…why was I here for so long?” Jade asked; anger building as she turned her gaze to the terminal.

“Sorry Miss, but that’s about the only thing I can’t find.” Shock told her. “There is a video, though.” He keyed in some commands and then the sound of sirens echoed from the terminal.

Sirens blazed as The Black Out Research Facility was evacuated by everypony but two. Doctor Neural sat by a console as he tried to restore power back to the computer.

“Shit, where are the backups?” He looked to the only other living resident of the false hospital. Subject 00 was still in stasis as by order of both the Ministry Mares and the O.I.A. She was oblivious to the world as she breathed, dreaming endlessly. “Damn me if I’m leaving you here to die when the power gives out.”

A Blast shook the building as a Balefire Bomb went off in the distance. Black Out was built like a fortress, but still needed power from outside sources. It had generators but not enough to sustain the whole facility. Jade’s pod could last a thousand years if that were the only thing the generators powered, but not if they had to power the building as well. He didn’t know how much time he had left to override the protocols but from the slamming of the blast doors behind him and the activation of protect-a-ponies, he knew it wasn’t long until the system locked him out.

He was relieved when the screen light up and was rewarded with access to the system. He quickly started transferring power form the rest of Black Out to Jade’s pod. “I might die doing this and I might be recorded in history as a mad pony, but you are a key to fixing this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. Those stars of yours showed me. You need to help the ponies who need it whenever you wake up. You might not know it, I don’t even think I understand it, but you are going to be an important mare, Jade. You just need to live through this apocalypse. Try and learn from our mistakes. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

The lights and ventilation systems of Black Out slowly shut down. The facility built solely to study one mare became a tomb for both its head doctor and its only subject. “I’m sorry we lied to you, Jade, but you would have never come here otherwise.” Doctor Neural gasped and struggled for breath as the air in the rest of the facility quickly became toxic, leaving only Subject 00 alive.

As the video showed the Dr.’s last moments, Jade felt some of her anger subside.

“Is that all there is?”

“Besides this place being built solely to study you? Nothing. As for what they were studying? I can’t seem to find that.” Shock said, hooking a wire to her Pip-Buck.

“Hey! What are…?”

“Downloading what’s left of the mainframe’s files into your Pip-Buck. You do want it, don’t you?” Shock said as he keyed the commands to copy the files.

“This place is either going to be overrun with raiders, gangers, or those blasted ST Steel Rangers.” Jade blinked, just now thinking of just how valuable this place was.

“Right, so should we find some things to sell. I’m broke….I think.” Jade said, looking around.

“Well, pretty much anything you can find here would be worth something to someone so just empty a desk.” Shock said as he logged out of the terminal.

“Oh, and just so you know, Bits are no longer the standard currency. In the Wasteland, Bottle Caps are. So if you find any, grab them.”

Jade stood blinking at Shock for a moment. “Um…not that I’m not thankful, but why bottle caps? And why are you being so nice to me?”

The Stallion blinked, “I don’t rightly know. You just seemed to need help. You just woke up and barely know a thing about how the world works now, so….”

“I’m a damsel in distress then.” Jade gave him a flat look.

“No, you’re a newcomer to the Wastes and I know how that feels. You’re really lucky to bump into me; most would just let you struggle or die.” Shock began looting the room, taking bottle caps and an assortment of junk.

“We shouldn’t spend too much longer here. I don’t know how many ponies were drawn by the blast doors being blown open.”

Jade nodded and started her own search. She found a couple of bottles of Sparkle Cola and Sunrise Sarsaparilla and put them into her bags. She was about to look in another desk when she heard something behind her. She turned to see the biggest roach she had ever seen in her life. Needless to say, she screamed.

“What is it?” Shock rushed over in a panic.

“You’re hiding from a radroach?” He asked flatly, squashing the bug.

“Those about the weakest things in the Wasteland, you’ll find them everywhere.”

“But…that was a huge bug!” Jade exclaimed, still panicking.

“Note to self, Ponies from before the bombs are ridiculously afraid of bugs.” Shock shook his head.

“Come on, that scream of yours definitely made this place a hot zone.” Shock started towards the exit as Jade tip-hoofed around the smashed bug.

Jade followed the Pegasus and was glad not to see any red dots by the time they got outside. “So which way?”

“Aren’t you the expert?” Jade asked.

“No. In fact, you know Brooks better than I do. I’ve only been through with my caravan.” Shock said, scanning the horizon.

Jade looked west and thought back to what Watcher had said.

“West. I think there’s something over there that might help us out.” Jade started walking in that direction. She heard Shock fall into step behind her and smiled warmly. She was happy that he stayed.

“Hey Shock, would you consider us friends?”

At first the Pegasus said nothing, which of course got Jade to worrying if she had somehow offended him with her perceived stupidity. “Hold on there Miss, now I’ve only known you for a few hours. The answer is gonna be a no for now, but I’m not really the kind of pony to let somepony so new to the Wasteland wander it by themselves. They might die five minutes in, doing something stupid like asking a raider for directions.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Jade apologised as they reached a road. It ran west and since that was the direction they needed to go, they started down it at a trot.

“This is the old Bucking Way. When I was a filly, it wasn’t paved yet. It was just a big dirt road.”

“Dirt road…wow, you are old.” Shock teased.

“I was 10 at the time, if you must know.” Jade said, looking back towards the center of the city.

“The Hot Shot Sky Port should be along the way. That may be where we need to go.”

“Dead Shot Port? Oh HELL NO, that’s the biggest Raider Den in brooks! Going there is like committing suicide.” Shock shrieked as he jumped in front of Jade, blocking her path and forcing her to stop walking.

“Are raiders smart enough to use the back alleys in the Port’s sub basements and bunkers where ammunition and explosives are stored for the MoW?” Jade said casually, remembering how she overheard a couple of MoW officers talking about the secret stores.

If Jade was glad of one thing about her time in that damned facility, it would be that a lot of people there had big mouths; she was a good listener. Shock just stared at her, mouth agape. “No, so let’s get moving.” as Jade passed the Pegasus, she shut his mouth with a hoof, wearing a big smile on her face.

"”I'm going to regret this.” Shock frowned, Jade falling in behind him. “You’re going to get killed without someone to cover you.”

“Ya know, no-pony asked you to come.” Jade shot back playfully.

“Yeah, but... this is just plain wrong. I just don't need another death on my conscience that I could have prevented. And why in Tartarus would you go, anyways?”

“There is something there I need and I'm going to get it, wherever you like it or not; I‘m not keeping you here with me.”

That was the last straw that broke THIS pony’s back. “FINE! WHATEVER!” He yelled with blatant disregard for his own safety. “GO SCREW YOURSELF! Go and get yourself raped! Or maimed! Or killed! Or whatever-the-buck else! I. DON'T. BUCKING! CARE!”

With that said, Shock flew away leaving a thoroughly dumbfounded Jade behind. The mare stood there for a minute before shaking her head and with a running start, head-walling the nearest intact wall. Pain was... satisfying.

“Great. Just… great.” She muttered and slumped to the ground. “Out of this whole wasteland, you just run into probably the only helpful pony, made him pissed off, and you let him fly away without giving him so much as an apology. Oh Goddesses, why?” Jade sighed. “I guess it can't be helped. Whatever I planned to do I should do alone. It will be easier that way... I hope."

Jade walked down numerous back alleys on her way to Dead Shot Port. Jade had only to glimpse the front of the building before nearly throwing up. She was surprised that she had lasted so long without doing so, especially since killing that pony after witnessing a raider eating that other pony’s leg. Jade hoped her stomach would hold out until she reached the weapons stash.

She was happy to see her guess was right. There weren’t any Raiders in the back alleys. They seemed focused on skulking on the road and runway. She guessed that none of them had thought of patrolling this route yet. She weaved through the fallen rubble, avoiding the pock marked walks and bent rebar as best she could. It was hard because it got continuously narrower.

She occasionally glanced at the posters, even though unreadable, the raiders had covered them with profanity akin to what is seen in school-yard bullying. She wondered if these raiders really spoke like that or if another group had written the slurs previously. She really didn’t care, but it was a distraction from thinking about how she was about to charge into the home of those cannibals. Jade noticed there were less bones here than on the main roadways. She surmised it was because it was quicker to evacuate via the main roads than some dingy alley. It really didn’t bother her though. There was nothing she could do, she just need to push the thoughts of people she once knew being behind a welded door to the back of her mind. It really wasn’t helping.

She tripped on a piece of stone fallen from a nearby building and smashed her nose in the cement. She looked up and was immediately thankful for what felt like a broken nose. The space between where she stood and the Port was wide open. There were bodies here and there, but there was no cover. She would have been a sitting duck if she hadn’t have tripped.

Jade nursed her sore nose and wounded shoulder as she looked back at the open gap between the buildings and saw little cover. She then looked up towards the roofs and noticed a portion of the radio tower had collapsed and was now wedged between the Port and the building across from it. It was rusty and bent out of its original shape in many places, but was her best shot across.

She walked into the building that housed the tower on the roof and was thankful to find only bones. No signs of activity. She made her way to the upper floors, climbing the stairs as while she pulled out the .357 Revolver she had taken from the research base. She had little ammo, but it was the only gun she could shoot without having felt like she broke her neck each shot. Jade hoped she wouldn’t need a stronger weapon.

The inside of the building wasn’t like the outside, stained by years of disrepair and weather. Water and some sort of slime (she really didn’t want to about where that came from) covered the stairs in places. It wasn’t long till she got to the roof and slowly, carefully started walking across the collapsed tower, keeping an eye out for raiders on the ground. She was thankful to see only a few below her. Come to think of it, walking across this thing was probably a bad idea.

Jade made it across and looked around at the roof she took so much trouble to get to. It was littered with bodies that deliberately put on display with their internals strewn about like streamers and the occasional eye on needle, which was a much creepier display. The contents of Jade’s stomach finally decided that it was done partying and the mare threw up her previous meal, 200 year after she had originally eaten it.

Jade didn’t have time to think as eight raiders, two with very heavy looking rifles that looked like they could one-shot her if they had good aim, came up onto the roof. She hesitated for a second before trying to get her gun back out. She was a bit too slow as she felt a round impact her side. She looked back to see a hole in her stomach and then her world faded to black.

Jade awoke to find herself armorless. She looked over her side to see Shock bending over her middle while reaching towards her… She bucked him in the jaw. "You perv!” She yelled squirming about, trying to move, but screamed as she felt her stomach bleed.

“I'm trying to heal you!” Shock yelled holding her down.

“All of you stallions are same!” Jade yelled trying to buck him again.

“I'm not!”

“Yeah, HOW?!”

“I’m just not, ok. Can we drop it and I heal you?”

“No we can’t just DROP IT!”

“…fine…i..g…”

“WHAT? Speak UP!”

“I'M GAY!” Shock shrieked in her face, clearly annoyed.

“...oh..." Jade said, ceasing her struggling.

“Be fucking happy I came back at all. Luckily that bullet missed your heart. Fuck, it’s still a bad wound.” Shock said before picking up a set of tweezers in his mouth and proceeding to dig into the wound.

“Ow! The fuck are you…?”

Shock didn’t answer, but yanked something out of the wound. “Be happy your armor slowed the bullet, otherwise I would have had to deal with internal bleeding and other crap, I’m not a doctor you know.” Shock got out some bandages and started dressing the wound. “We’re stuck on the roof because I kicked one of those snipers onto the tower you used as a bridge and it fell. I’m surprised we don’t have the whole Port on our flanks. Though Ditzy seems to be keeping their attention completely on her.”

“Who…” Jade said, wincing as she stood. Shock just pointed to a sky carriage being flown by a pegasus mare with wings made up of almost nothing but bone. “How is she…?”

“She’s a ghoul.” Shock explained as she turned to the door to the roof. “Come on, we only have one way out of here and it’s through about a thousand Raiders whom all want to make us into decorations.”

“I’m a fucking idiot.”

“Yes, yes you are.” Shock rolled his eyes.

“You don’t have to rub it in.”

“Let’s just get moving.”

Jade looked around and notice the bodies of the snipers lying dead not too far from her armor. She guessed Shock must have arrived just after she passed out from the shock of the hit and killed them. She walked over to her armor noticing the hole in the left side of plating just before where her hind leg met her body. She gave a sigh of relief for not losing the limb to the bullet.

She re-equipped her armor and nodded at Shock before she followed him down the stairs to the next floor. The stairs opened up to a hall that was even worse than the roof. There were bodies hanging from the roof and entrails dangling from light fixtures. She didn’t know if she had anything left to throw up, but her stomach was doing it’s best to get her to toss her lunch again. She looked back at Shock who evidently just came back from looting while she was busy admiring the decorations and had found more ammo, particularly for her pistol. She then noticed something about the stallion; he wore a pair of cracked flight goggles around his neck. She decided to ask about that once they finished off the raiders, if they survived.

Jade started reloading her pistol as pair of red bars came from the direction of the stairs. Jade wished that the damn EFS was more accurate. She motioned for Shock to lead them as she got her gun ready. She heard the burst from his battle-saddle and the bars winked out. Unfortunately, that also shook the proverbial hornets’ nest. Jade caught up with the stallion as he was pinned down by fire behind a desk that had somehow gotten into the stair well. Jade took cover with him and started firing back. Her first shots missed but she started to understand how to aim.

She ducked back down to reload as Shock started his own volley of fire. He ducked back to reload as Jade popped back up to lay down more suppressive fire. As they repeated this, Jade noticed that some of the red bars were moving. She didn’t like that one bit.

Jade looked to Shock as he grabbed an apple grenade and graciously returned it to the raiders that lost it moments before. The resulting blast cleared the stairs, pulping the raiders blocking them. Jade didn’t like the idea of walking through dripping chunks of remains, but it was their only route down. And they really couldn’t risk flying down.

Jade reloaded as they passed the pulped mass and entered the second floor. The raiders here had dug in while the ones on the stairs had them pinned down in the stairwell. Jade took cover behind a desk that had a torso splayed out on the top of it before she noticed the numerous butchered bodies and gagged. Shock tossed more apple bombs that he obtained from the raiders previously pinning them. The grenades took out a good number of raiders and scattered the leftovers. Jade started firing then and while not a very good shot, she was getting better and actually starting to cause some damage.

She felt pain like a red hot iron spreading from her right hind leg to the middle of her back as a raider with an SMG fired at her, penetrating her security barding. Shock shot down that raider and tossed Jade a healing potion. Jade had never really needed to use one before and therefore was amazed at how much better she felt after drinking it. She wasn’t at 100%, but she could walk. She looked at Shock, looking a little less bad for wear as he had taken a potion himself, as he tossed another grenade down the next flight of stairs. The sound of pulping flesh told her raiders had already been back on their way up.

“Why didn’t you give me…?” Jade asked as they ducked in behind a door on the landing of that flight of stairs.

“I found them on a raider.” Shock replied, taking a peek around the door at the next flight of stairs.

Jade took the other side of the stairwell door as Shock sent a couple rounds of suppressing fire to clear the stairs. Jade then rushed downward to the first floor with Shock tailing right behind as a huge pony with what looked to be an RPG on their battle-saddle moved into the doorway, blocking them.

Jade skidded to a stop as she and Shock turned around and ran back up the staircase. They just got out through the door they had ducked behind only moments ago as the rocket hit the roof of the room they had just re-entered.

The explosion sent them flying and left a hole in the floor between the second and third floors. Jade was the first to get back up and just in time to see the rocket pony training his weapon on her. The rocket left the barrel and Jade squeezed her eyes shut as tight as she could, thinking: “No, it can’t end like this!” Her head started pounding and then she heard the explosion and felt the pressure and heat, but didn’t die. Her eyes popped open in surprise and in her daze, didn’t notice as the last traces of a magical shield fizzled out of existence a few inches in front of her. Rocket-Pony blinked in disbelief at her survival, which was all the time Shock needed to turn the pony’s skull to a bloody mass.

Shock took the RPG, loaded the only rocket the raider had on his corpse and launched it down the stairwell to the first floor. The blast left only four red bars. Jade and Shock took the stairs a bit more carefully as they descended them. The last four raiders were trying to get a massive machine gun turret to work. They weren’t even loading it right! Jade scoffed as she targeted the two loading the ammo belt and got a lucky shot as her aim was only off a little, killing both. Shock took care of the last of them. Jade scanned for anymore coming in from outside the building and sighed in relief as it seemed to be over.

“I can’t believe we just did that.” Shock said, looking around at the bodies. “Wow. I mean, I’ve heard what this place was like and even the alicorns and Steel Rangers avoided it as much as possible.”

“Well, I don’t think the raiders were expecting an attack from their own roof.” Jade said as she felt her legs starting to shake. “I think I need to lie down when we find a safe place.” Jade looked outside as the Pegasus mare had landed. “But first I think I have to thank that mare.”

It took a good while before Jade stopped freaking out long enough to listen to Shock once she really got a good look at state of Ditzy Doo. It took her even longer to stop hyperventilating. The ghoul looked like a living corpse and Jade was having a hard time coming to terms with it. Though for only waking up two days ago, she thought she was doing pretty well for how quickly things were being thrown at her. Ditzy didn’t seem that bad though, the mare had to communicate by using a chalkboard, but she was nice.

Ditzy had looked from Jade to Shock and then wrote on her chalkboard, “Let me fix your armor, no charge.”

Jade and Shock looked at each other and then over the other’s armor. Jade’s was littered with bullet holes from her from right hind leg to the middle of her back and otherwise dented in many places from other, less powerful impacts. Shock’s had numerous bullet holes and dents as well. They looked back to Ditzy with the same thought on their minds.

Jade was one who spoke first, “Oh Miss Doo, I couldn’t ask that of you.”

Ditzy shook her head and wrote: “Not asking, I’m offering to help you. You two seem like nice ponies, you can really do some good here, and I’d like to help.” Jade had no idea how the ghoul had written that much on such a small chalkboard, but didn’t argue. As she shed her armor, Shock did the same and Ditzy handed her a book.

As Ditzy worked on their armor, Jade looked at the book the mare gave her. It was titled: The Wasteland Survival Guide. Jade blinked, her home hadn’t gotten that bad had it? To be called a wasteland and necessitate an entire book to detail just how to survive?

She opened the book and noticed it had references for not only Brooks Bend, but areas all over in the Wasteland. Jade looked to a marked page which was titled: Hazards of the Brooks,

Anti-Air defense systems. For any pegasus visiting the city, keep in mind that Brooks Bend sports an experimental AA cannon system with enough firepower to take out a Thunderhead with only a few shots. I know we’re all surprised that the Enclave hasn’t tried to take out these guns. But there’s a simple reason: they can’t. That’s right, these guns are so scary that even the enclave won’t mess with them. These guns have such a large defensive robot and turret array that reaching one was deemed too costly to attempt. That’s why you’ll almost never see a Dashite in the city. So if you think flying through the city would faster, I’d reconsider walking.
Specialized robots and Protect-a-ponies, Brooks holds some of the most job-specific bots I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of bots. Don’t even think that one of those clankers are small, it means they are easy to take down. I’ve seen some that have magical shielding. When you find a super sentinel with one of those, well let’s just say it was nice knowing you. There also something I like to call smart bots, these are the rare bots to achieve true sentience. These buggers can think like you or me, only a whole lot of times faster. These are absolutely deadly in any fight, avoid these at all costs. It may be hard to discern these from the non-sentient bots, so consider them smart anyways as a precaution.
Big Bertha. This little fishy was once known as a legend of the Brooks Rivers living the Revo. Well she’s not a legend and she’s not little. She’s turned into a monster in the time since the megaspells fell. Just be careful when crossing Revo, and hope Big Bertha has already eaten.

4.Dead Shot Port, the raider den. This is a place to avoid, the anti-material-rifle snipers, missile-launcher-wielding ponies, and machine gun turret, and a plethora of less-armed but no less dangerous raiders swarm the place. More caravans meet their ends here than most other places in the Wasteland, not including hoofington of course.

the tainted Dizmy. In recent years, the Dizmy has become a conduit of Taint. Nopony knows how or where it all came from, but it is a place to avoid… unless you want mutations or tumors.
Last Touch Port. Steel Rangers and alicorns both avoid it, so even though we know nothing more about it, avoid it.
Lastly: the alicorns. While not a real threat on their own here, since they don’t seem to want anything to do with anything or anypony more than usual, they will fight back if you try to attack them. Don’t think that it would be easy in the first place. These alicorns seem more heavily equipped, even if you are out for them, they can still turn you into a mound of pink ash. They will leave you alone if you leave them alone; I advise you to leave them alone.

Jade skimmed the rest of the book; most of it seemed to focus on stuff like hacking and making mines. That seemed like it would be useful for her to know.

She smiled, thanking Ditzy and asked how much the book would cost. The ghoul wrote to her that it too, was free.

“Ditzy, has Brooks Bend really gotten this bad?” Jade asked, turning away from the book.

The mare looked at her with a sad expression and nodded. “I would suggest leaving, It’s not The Hoof, but still quite dangerous.” Ditzy wrote on her board.

Jade looked toward her hometown and felt something deep inside her urging her to do something there. “No.”

“No?” Shock said, surprised. “What do you mean no?”

“I have something to do here, Shock. I don’t what or how I know, but I just do.” Jade said, looking the stallion in the eyes. “I can’t turn my back on it, but you don’t have to stay.”

Shock stared at her for a long time, and then said, “Well, shoot Miss, I just can’t leave a lady all alone without an escort, now can I?” Jade smiled, relieved that he was willing to say with her.

“Now if we’re going to be cleaning up The Brooks, then we’ll need a place to start.”

“My old home might work.” Jade said, looking to Ditzy who had just completed the repairs on her armor. The walled eyed ghoul had not just patched the bullet holes, but reinforced the whole thing.

“Thanks Ditzy Doo. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you.”

“Just stay alive,” Ditzy wrote before hooking up to her cart and flying low to the north.

“Well, I’d take that advice.” Shock grinned as Jade hit him.

Level Up:

New Perk: Horse Sense: You are a swift learner. You gain an additional +10% whenever experience points are earned.

Quest Perk: Fail Safe: When fearing for your life in certain situations, a weak shield will appear for a short amount of time. It has enough strength to block small explosions, like a rocket, and some small-arms fire. It cannot withstand larger explosions or heavier-arms fire. Even sustained small-arms fire will break your shield. Don’t think you’re invincible, ‘cause it’ll only get ya hurt; besides, you didn’t even see it appear in the first place. (Will appear only when you are under 25% health.)

Ch.4 getting an old friend and a mysterous meeting

Ch.4 Moving on (Rewriten)

Fallout Equestria: Subject 00

Ch.4 Moving on

“There always more fish in the sea”

Jade sat shaking as she tried to hold the contents of her stomach as to what she had done sunk in. She had killed ponies, it hadn’t sunk in after the raiders but she knew she was killing ponies then. She looked over to Shock who was slowly working through what they had been able to find in the school. That was mostly healing potions and 200 year old food packed with so much persevered Jade thought her insides would last decades a after she died. He was currently seeing what they could sell and what they should keep.

Jade had taken some Healing potions that had almost brought her back to 100% but at least her wounds were healed. Shock had mentioned something about the potions seeming weaker than they should be and thought that too. She had asked him what that could mean he just said he didn’t like what is suggested and didn’t talk more about it.

“Hey, Shock?” The stallion looked from his self imposed task. “I’m…going for a walk. I…just need to be by myself, I’m turning off my radio too.” Shock looked at her worriedly. He had a right to, Jade wasn’t really sure what she was going to do at the moment. She felt empty, like some part of her had died and she didn’t know how to deal with it.

Jade wandered off to the south court yard, Jade didn’t want to be in the main building for any amount of time if she could help it. She looked up to the sky and noticed it had been raining the whole time they were inside the building. There was water dripping here and there every so often off white chipping paint and stone gray walls to make a small rhythmic cadence. The yellow and brown earth was damp from the water as she walked along the cement walk way nothing more than rocks from the years of damage. Jade saw bullet holes and skeletons scattered around next to gear and ruined guns. She sat down in the middle of the court yard.

Jade worked what had happened in her head. She had killed practically everyone she had known from her life before this hell. She saw their faces, even those bullies, as she thought about them. Apple Core was the worst of them. He and her friends had been the only ones not to be afraid of her because of her markings, the only ones she could trust and she had killed one of them. Sure he had been a feral, but he was…

Shock had tried to console her, but she but a gun in his face. She hadn’t thought about it at the time. She was still in shock when he had and just stood there watching her.

Jade felt tears staring to roll down her cheeks.

Then there was her brand new horn. Had Black Out done this, made her into something other than a normal earth pony or was she already this. There were too many unknowns and she hated it. She liked it better when she wasn’t trying to figure out what Black Out was really trying to do and she only had to worry about tests so she could get ‘better’.

Jade just wanted her old life, before the war had ever been evolved with her. When she was just an Earth Pony, being bullied for looking different, who had friends and stallion she loved. She knew it was impossible to go back. But still she wished she could do it.

“You look like you’ve been through hell.”

Jade jumped as the telekinetically grabbed her .357 revolver and pointed at the wall a foot away from the Spritebot.

“Nice reflexes, bad aim.” Watcher said as the bot bobbed forward and looked her over. “Seems you got an addition, how’d you manage that?”

“I don’t know Watcher. I…” Jade felt herself fall back to her gloom. “Watcher, do you mind if I talk to you? You seem to know about the time before the bombs. I really need someone with some common ground right now.”

The bot was quite for bit. “Sure Jade,” Jade told Watcher everything that had happened since their meeting. It well over an hour by the time she finished. Watcher didn’t say anything at first and Jade started wonder if he was still when he finally spoke. “Hell, Jade in 4 days you’ve been though that? Black Jack Been through a buch but I think you beat her by a hair in terms of disturbing events, Little Pip might have you beat though. Killing your classmates just to live…I don’t think I could do that to my…wow.”

Jade wondered who he was talking about but figured it wasn’t her business. “Watcher do you have any advice? I don’t know what to do. I just feel…like some part of me is dead. I’ve never had to kill before…Tartarus, I never held a gun before and.” Jade curled up a little. “And then there’s my new accessory.”

“I don’t know Jade. I’ve never seen a pony like you. I’ve met a few who were strange before the bombs and even now some surprise me, but never one like you.” Watcher said. Jade had hoped for a different answer but she accepted that. “I can tell you this; you need to practice with you magic. If first reaction is to levitate your guns and your aim is like that you’re going to lose in a fight.”

Jade nodded knowing this. Since she had gotten her horn all of her instincts had changed she felt she still had the power she had before, she was still an earth pony. Just now she was a unicorn too. She was a mix of both. She knew she had to practice or she would only be setting herself in danger as well as Shock.

“Watcher, one more thing, what types of pistols are these.” Jade brought out the pistols she had used to kill Apple Core. She wanted to throw them away but she couldn’t. She felt some sort of connection to them.

“Volcanic Pistols, wow those are rare, and I mean rare, rare. At a conventional price these would be 800 bits just for one. I don’t know how much in caps.” Watcher said. “These look to be modified. The barrels of the guns seemed to have been greatly modified to have less the problems others of these models had. The loading is the same, the leaver action reload seems to work with the bullets.” Watcher started to mummer a little.

“Watcher?”

“Jade you have some very unique pistol on your hooves. I suggest you use them. They’re going to be very use full to you.” Watcher said before static came from the bot and it started to bob off playing music.

Jade huffed. She wanted to talk more, but Watcher had already left. She guessed she would have to talk to Shock next, and apologize about almost shooting him.

Jade looked down to the weapons she found among the bodies when she needed to kill Apple Core. They both had a name. One was green and was engraved with the name Life, other Red engraved with Reaper. Jade found it funny that one was named Life and the Reaper. It seemed Life was a contradiction onto itself as it was made to take life. Reaper seemed to fit to its purpose. Jade looked down their sights, Life had leaves and Reaper, Scythes. These guns were twins but were so different from each other.

The mare walked back to the front of the school and noticed the Stallion was already packing up and had set up a lunch for the two of them. It was made out some of the fresh food they had gotten form Spell Shot and the provisions found in abundance in the wasteland. Jade smiled walked up wondering if they should still have their guard up.

“You’re back. Was beginning to thick you went and killed yourself.” Shock said in mocking anger. But she could tell he had been worried. Jade knew that this worry was out of friendship and not any sort of attraction towards her because the stallion had confessed to being into other stallions. He wasn’t the type to go after mares. She didn’t mind though.

“Yeah, I was on the verge of doing it.” Jade said not really happy to admit it, but she knew Shock had to know. “Look, I’m sorry…about point a gun in your, um, face.” Jade looked away from the Pegasus wanting to focus on something else.

“Jade, it’s alright.” Shock said which completely threw Jade off guard. “I’ve done something similar.” Shock was looking at the ground as the, now, unicorn looked back at him.

“Shock?” Jade knew she shouldn’t ask but that just seemed totally out of character for the polite stallion.

“It was about, goddesses, 6 years ago. I was a part of the Enclave, in the intelligence deviation. My pattern and I were on a scouting mission in Hoovington. Some new officer wanted info on the city. Damn place is a death to be avoided if you ask me.” Shock said anger seeping into his voice. “The Enclave told us, told every citizen that the surface was dangerous, and poisonous, and that only monsters lived down here, and blah, blah, blah.

“I don’t know why, but when I say what the ponies in Hoovington were going through I…wanted to stay and help, as did my partner. So, we left the Enclave and stayed on the surface. Did what we could to help for months on end. But…”

“Something happened?” Jade asked, knowing were this was going.

Shock nodded and continued. “Shinning Rain, my partner, and lover, he had learned that his family was in danger because of what he was doing. My family had died when I was young so had no connection to the Enclave other than Shinning. He left promising he would come back. We knew we had broken some big laws by staying below the clouds but we didn’t understand how big.”

Jade didn’t like what she was hearing. She could tell this as also painful for Shock to remember. “Shock, I don’t have to know…”

“Jade, let me finish.” Shock said looking up. He had tears in his eyes now. “Shinning left. His father had been high up in the ranks and was able to pull some strings to allow his son back into the Enclave, but only if he….” Shock seized up for a bit, “Only if he killed the traitor that had convinced him to stay below.”

Jade felt like something like a red hot bar had just replaced all the mixed emotions she had. “What?” Jade didn’t even try to hold back her anger.

“Jade, Shinning had chosen to Enclave over me. I…I was happy when I saw him return after I had taken out a Raider Den, but…” Shock broke down.

“But then he started shooting at you. You killed him in self defense.” Jade said shaking with both rage and sorrow for what her friend had been through. “Shock, you’re not blaming yourself for Shinning’s father’s manipulations are you?” Jade asked hopping he wasn’t. Thankfully the stallion shook his head.

“But it still hurts knowing you’re the one who pulled the trigger, took their life. A group of officers from the Enclave came next.” Shock’s anger was returning. “Instead of killing my they branded me, burned my cutie mark, leaving the symbol of the Dashite’s.” Shock said as he gestured to the mark on his flank.

“Okay, I think if I ever see Enclave, I’m going to just…”

“Jade, not the entire Enclave is like that, just the military.” Shock said as he walked over to the food. “We should eat.”

Jade didn’t argue as her stomach grumbled. “Okay.” Jade munched on the snakes as she looked at her new guns. She was using her telekinesis to move them and her food. Shock looked a little amazed at her.

“I still can’t believe you didn’t know you could just grow a horn.” Shock said shaking his head.

“Well I didn’t. I barely understand how moving all this. I grew up as an earth pony not a unicorn, so, me growing a horn and gaining the ability to use magic is a bit nerve racking. But if it can help I’ll use it.” Jade said as before she took another bit of her food.

Shock just shook his head. “I think you may be better fighting as an earth pony.”

“That may be true, but I should learn how to use my magic too.” Jade countered.

The two fell silent for while as they eat. Jade was the one to start talking again.

“Shock…you knew who that last ghoul was?”

“I could only guess it was someone important you.” Shock answered.

“He…was my coltfriend before I was sent to Black Out.” Jade said feeling her anguish returning. “Or what was left of him. He was already dead; I just put the final nail in his coffin.”

“Do you want to bury him?” Shock asked looking up a Jade.

The mare just stared at the building. She did want to bury him, she wanted give them all a proper ceremony. But that would take too long. “Do you think we should, and just leave the rest to decay in that building?”

“No I don’t, but if he really meant that much to you, you should at least get to bury him.” Shock said looking to the building himself.

Jade nodded and slowly rose; putting her weapons away and walked back to the Brooks Bend High School. She didn’t want to see his body but burying him was better than leaving it in there. She picked her way to the second floor and then the cafeteria. The floors and walls were now littered with damage and bodies, so different to the cleanliness that had greeted her the first time through the school. She found his body where it had laid when she had shot it down.

Cores face was gone, blasted away by 38 special rounds. She didn’t look too long at it as she picked up the body like an earth pony. She may have magic but she was weak in it, barely able hold anything heavier than her weapons and few small objects.

Jade walked back to the door and notice a small white orb in the corner of the room. It didn’t seem to be much but it was out of place here. She had missed when she had stumbled into the cafeteria the first time. She walked up to it and picked it up putting it in her bag. She noticed in her inventory it registered as a Memory Orb.

She walked out of the room and down the halls back to the front of the School. Jade saw that Shock was already starting on a grave. She set Core’s body on the ground and walked over to Shock to help. The shovels had come from a tool shed on the south side of the school. Jade guessed the pegasus had picked the lock.

Jade and Shock were finished in an hour or two after they started. Jade placed Apple Core’s body in the grave and looked for something to use as a grave marker. She saw stone that was about as big as a small dog and motioned for Shock to help her move it. It was hard but they got it to the head of the grave. Shock used some sort of magic chisel to inscribe Apple Core’s name, and that he had been a loved by a good mare. Jade blushed at little at that. Jade looked back down at Core. She couldn’t think of anything else to add besides he had been a beloved member of Apple Family.

Jade and Shock slowly placed dirt over the body as Jade slowly remembered a tune she had learned some time before her parents had found her. She couldn’t remember the words, but she knew the tone, so she began to hum slowly as she and Shock finished. It was a sad tune but with some hope in it, like saying good bye to a friend. She guessed it fit here the most than anything.

Jade slowly looked at the grave and then Shock still humming the last tones of the final verse as she felt a weight lift from her. Jade was happy she had been able to do this and happy Shock had convinced her to do it. Shock for his part smiled, not happily like he did usually, but sympathetically.

“Thank you, Shock, for talking me into doing this. I guess I really needed to do this more than I thought.” Jade said smiling.

“No problem.” Shock said before Jade hugged him. The Stallion was surprised to say the least, but it was just a friendly hug. When Jade let him go Shock was smiling his normal happy smile.

“I guess we should get on the road.” Jade said walking to their gear. Jade got her saddle bag on noticing the change in weight. “Goddesses, Shock you couldn’t have made it any heavier?”

“I could have you know, so don’t complaint.” The stallion said sternly.

Jade huffed but didn’t complain.

The two walked back down the road towards Jade home. She still couldn’t remember the name of the road they were on but it didn’t really matter. They weren’t going to need to know it to survive, that much she knew.

A few hours had passed when Jade and Shock came up to what looked like a mega mart, it seemed to have been turned into a trading post know for some groups calling themselves the Scavengers. Most of the structure was intact with some of the walls having small holes. The two walked up and we met by four guards. One had a once over on them, lingering on Jade’s hindquarter in a way that made her want to buck him were it REALLY hurt.

“20 Caps each to enter South Post.” The guard said with a smug smile.

Jade and Shock looked at each other. They didn’t have that kind of money since Spell Shot’s yesterday. Jade didn’t want to leave; she waited some of the weight taken off her back. She really wanted to be out of the rain and to top it off she wanted to shoot the guard in front of her who kept looking at her ass.

“Don’t think of pulling those weapons out. No matter how fast you think you are; our sharp shooter faster. Now you could pay in other ways though.” The guard said the others getting into it now to. It was also about then that the dick had his head blow off by a high caliber bullet.

“Bosses order not to let in ponies until after paying IN CAPS. No matter how good looking they are.” A mare said on top of the building. Jade couldn’t get a good look at her but she knew she was a unicorn.

“Damn it Daisy!” The other guards said backing away from the body. Then one of the guards looked at Jade forehead.

“Hey, Gear, did that DJ say Gem had this mark or marks?”

“Yes, why…Oh Fuck that’s her. Shit!” what was left of the guards’ glee vanished.

Jade blinked and looked to Shock who shrugged. Jade didn’t know if this was a good thing or bad thing, but if it kept this pricks from trying to jump her, and force them into her nether region than good. Shock was the one to speak.

“What does my friend being on the radio have to do with anything?” Shock asked.

“Boss, said she could go in free. Taking out Dead Shot Port really freed trade in our region. She gets to come and go with no charge as long as she doesn’t cause trouble.” Daisy said from the roof. “Looks like you screwed up boys. Better hope the boss won’t whip you for trying to rape her new best friend.”

The guards looked at each other then gulped.

“Hey, Gem, you can go in, but your friend still has to pay.” Daisy said pointing to Shock.

“Jade I think we have enough for me to get in.” Shock said already working on getting the caps from his bag. Jade did the same and they were left with about 15 caps.

“Okay you can go in.” Gear said looked to the dead guard. “Great, Jack, help take care of Locker.”

Jade and Shock walked past the guards and into South Post proper. The building was full of mounds of junk and scrap of all kinds for anything Jade could think to need in the wasteland off the top of her head. There were stalls with ponies yelling out there wears and advertizing their goods. Jade was used to this form the open air markets so it wasn’t much a shock to her to see this. She and Shock had marked things to keep and things to sell so they knew what they needed to do here.

Before they could get to it a mare with silver fur and white mane and tail walked up to them with a smile on her face. Her cutie mark was a bit and a bottle cap and she wore a pair of glasses. She wasn’t fit but she wasn’t out of shape either, just in middle telling jade this mare got around but still worked behind a desk most of the time.

“Hello, names Bit-Cap, Mom thought it funny to name after the old and new currency.” The Mare said in pleasant manner. “I run this post, and branch of the Scavengers.” The mare did a once over on Shock then Jade. “And you must be this Gem PON3 been babbling on about.”

Jade nodded and was about to speak up went Bit-Cap continued.

“You don’t seem to have gone too from your Stable, coat’s still clean, mane kept in reasonable order, no sign of malnutrition, and you seem to have gotten a few good night’s sleep in the waste.” Bit-Cap walked around Jade as she said this. “PON3 was right about your looks, better watch yourself, some Stallions are too stupid to know no means no.”

“I believe I’ve already learned at from your boys out front, though your sharp shooter ended their party before it could start.” Jade said looking at Bit-Cap with a cold stare.

“Locker was always an idiot, thought with his dick more than his brain. Tried raping Daisy before the mare almost took his head off, and I don’t mean the one that held whatever could be considered a brain on that buck.” Bit-Cap said as she shook her head. “Look I can give you this for the trouble.” Bit-Cap tossed a bag of caps.”That’s his pay for the week, 175 caps, and here the reward for taking that Raider Den, 250 caps which gives you about 425 caps.”

Jade blinked at the money but did ask about why knowing the mare was expecting Jade to spend it here. “Thank you Bit…”

“Call me Caps.”

“Thank you Caps.” Jade looked at Shock, “So Weapons, ammo, and food right.”

“And medical supplies, we’re running low.” Shock finished.

“Okay, then lets shop!” Jade said feeling a little bit giddy at the prospect of just doing something as mundane as shopping in a the market. Shock just stared at her before shaking his head and looking at a bewildered Caps.

“Just to inform you, she’s not a Stable pony. Found her in ministry facility in tank.” Shock said making Jade listen in. “I think the ministries where trying to make a goof to fool the zebras on the battle field.”

“Hey, I was born like any other pony and I was already and awake and out of the stasis pod by the time you found me.”Jade said in some anger.

Shock just laughed as half of the market looked at them. Jade could feel herself turning a bright red as she realized just how loud she had said that. Caps just looked between the two of them.

“Um, are you two dating?” Caps asked as she looked between the two of them.

“No...’Snicker’…We’re just friend. I’m not even into mares, Miss.” Shock said his mirth subsiding at the moment.

Jade just shook her head still red as rose. “Shock, I’m going to…” She sighed. “Never mind, let’s just get the stuff we need done, done.”

Shock nodded and went off towards one side of the stalls going to sell their extra weapons. Jade was carrying most of the junk items that had been in the school. While they were junk they were also mint condition junk. She smiled knowing some of the things her parents had taught her about trading were going to come in handy.

“Having merchants for parents does have its advantages.” She whispered to herself as she wondered if Caps had planed Jade knowing how to buy and sell items in this kind of market.

She walked up to the first shop keeper who looked like she was a rookie in the trade. Jade’s mother said she should test herself on someone who was also just starting out. Jade might not be new to trade but she figured new system and currency, new rules. She looked at the wears the mare had and was surprised she had come to an arms dealer.

“How may I help you dear?” The mare said in way that told Jade this mare had some experience in dealing customers.

“I’m looking to sell some Ammo.” Jade said selecting the 18 boxes high caliber rounds that she had in her saddle bags and placing them on the stand. “Found these in a school that had been sealed up for 200 years here, boxes are in good condition can be used for storage after emptied instead of tossing them.” Jade opened one of the boxes showing it was full to the brim. “And not one of these is missing a bullet. I’d say mint condition box and full ammo for one rounds up, hmm, 35 to 50 caps?”

The mare looked at Jade in amazement and Jade noticed that Caps’ jaw was agape as the silver mare stared at her. “Um, Miss, I don’t think I can buy all of these I’m just starting out and…”

“Well you can a pay couple and the rest we can trade for ammo me and friend do need. Does that sound fair?” Jade said changing from a serious expression to sympathetic knowing showing empathy helped with a sale.

“Sure, sounds great. Can I offer you to by a shot gun too, or an assault rifle? Heavier weapons could help you more than you….” The mare stared at Jade’s holstered volcanic pistols. “Were did you get those?”

“Same school I got the ammo and no there not for sale.” Jade said knowing how much the guns were worth.

“Right, um, so would like one of my guns to help you out in combat?” The sales mare said with a weak smile.

“Sure, but I’ll have to wait for my friend he’s better at buying guns than I am.” Jade said know she didn’t understand a good gun from a bad one.

Jade waited at the stand for about an hour till Shock came by. “What’s up?”

“Need to know if these guns are useable and not rip-offs as well as the ammo, I’m trading the high calibers for them.” Jade said as Shock looked at the sales mare questionable.

“She’s quite the negotiator.” The sales mare admitted. “Don’t think I could, or anyone for that matter, rip her off.”

Jade smiled at Shock who looked at her with suspicion. He looked at the guns and slowly discarded on after the other until there was only a high powered sniper rifle and an assault rifle. There wasn’t much to these guns besides the type, nothing special to them. Jade looked between the two of them not really knowing which one was the better choice.

“The Assault would be a better choice for unicorn that barley knows how to use her own power, girl.” A voice said behind them.

Jade turned annoyed to a unicorn with a familiar rifle. It was Daisy, the mare had her rifle on her back as she looked at Jade with playful smirk. Her fur would have been a beautiful white if it wasn’t stained with dirt and other such stains, and her tail and mane would have been a gorgeous yellow if was well kept. Her cutie mark was a daisy flower, something Jade found odd. But what made her stand out to Jade were her eyes. They were mesmerizing. Jade didn’t know why but Daisy maroon eyes just tugged something in her she didn’t think could be touch only a day after burying Apple Core.

“Take a picture Girl, it’ll last longer.” Daisy said her smirk growing, as she looked Jade up and down. Jade made note of that.

“How can you tell Jade can’t use her magic that well?” Shock said looking at the mare.

“She hasn’t used it once.” Daisy pointed out as she looked up the roof scratching her ear. “She doesn’t even want to use levitation.” Jade blushed and looked down. “She mustn’t have had a good teacher, and even bothered practicing.”

“Hey, don’t start putting her down. She only just learned lavation yesterday.” Shock said in her defense. Jade felt like she was back before the bombs fell, a bully picking on her and her friend coming to defend her.

Daisy blinked and tilted her head. “Wait, she was a dead horn, wow how had she survive this long. And I’m not putting her down, just giving some friendly advice to a mare who knows nothing about magic. I mean she isn’t even using it to hold that rifle in hooves and not to mention she looks like she can barely shoot. Better off telling her to use the gun that’s not going to kill her and get my ass chewed out for it or any merchants. Caps wants that girl to keep doing what she’s doing because it’s good for business, her died doesn’t help.”

Jade looked up to the mare that, was blushing, and looking uneasy at Shock. “Really, sounds to me you were trying to pick on my friend.”

“I’m not. I’d get fired by Caps it I picked on the costumers.” Daisy said trying to calm Shock down. “Look, buy the assault; trust me a sniper would burn out your horn at your level.” The mare got up and walked away. Jade couldn’t help but follow her hips as she did.

Jade blinked once she got control back. Was she really looking at this mare like that? She had always sort of been on the fence, liking both genders. But she had just killed Apple core, was she really eyeing someone so soon.

Apparently yes, the way she was goggling Daisy. It had been eight years since she had last seen Apple Core too so that might be it too.

“Jade, you alright?” Shock asked in concern.

“Hmm, oh, yeah, I’m fine, just fine.” Jade said rubbing the back of her head with a hoof.

Shock looked at her cocking his head to one side seeming to be trying to figure out what was going through Jade’s head. Then he smiled the biggest smile Jade had ever seen on his face. “You like that mare don’t you?”

“Um, maybe,” Jade said looking to the assault rifle, “um, I think I’ll take Daisy’s advice.” She said picking the gun up with magic and paying the appropriate amount.

“Wow, only a day after kill what was left of Coltfriend and you’re already looking at other ponies.” Shock said shaking his head. He was still wearing that smile though.

“Shut up. He was my ex anyway. We hadn’t seen each other, in my view of time, for 3 years. So I think I moved on awhile ago, just needed to bury the body.” Jade said knowing that anyone within earshot would think she murdered her ex. She was surprised a little to see noone found it out of the ordinary.

“My, you sound like a cold mare there, Jade.” Shock said jokingly.

Jade glared back at him, “Okay, can we just drop it? I think there’s place to rent for sleeping quarters here right?” Shock nodded his smile fading. “Then book us couple beds. I feel like any sort sleep, even on a hard bed, would be good.”

“Alright,” Shock said walking off.

Jade looked at the sales mare that seemed to have moved to talking to a new customer. Jade shook her head at what was happening. “Mind, you are really pissing me off.”

She stood up and continued on selling the junk she needed to sell and buying some supplies that were in good condition. Eventually she had nothing else to sell so she just sat near the medical office in South Post. She didn’t need any healing at the moment but she was getting an understanding of what drugs were in the waste. Nothing she would use unless there was no choice, but it was nice to know what to avoid.

She about to leave when felt someone step on her tail. She turned to see Daisy, the mare giving her a serious look. Jade hoped the mare wasn’t really trying to be her new bully, because Jade was really sick of ponies picking on her.

“So, Gem, or should I call Jade?” Jade didn’t answer, not really knowing what this mare was up to, “Why were you looking at my ass?”

Jade felt like a gear just shook itself loose in her head. “Um, I, um…”

Daisy shoved Jade to the ground and looked down at her. “What you think it’s funny tease a mare?”

Okay, Jade guess Daisy had been persecuted, and she was really into mares then. “No, I, um, think you look…um, cute….” Jade winced not wanting to be hit.

Daisy didn’t hit her or make a sound for while. When Jade opened her eyes she notice Daisy was gone. “Okay, did that really just happen?” Jade asked herself.

“Daisy,” Jade turned to see Caps walking down one of the aisle. “Sorry about that Jade. Daisy is a stable pony, and her stable wasn’t so keen on same sex relationships. Daisy’s also had a bad run in any relationship she’s been in.” the mare shook her head. “She hasn’t been able to find a mare that likes her since leaving her stable.”

“Really, well I guess that explains her behavior, a little.” Jade said getting up. “Why did she…?”

“Run? She’s probably afraid and a bit ashamed, she has a lot of physiological damage from her stable, that and she’s been raped by stallions repeatedly this she’s been in the wasteland.” Caps said shaking head in sympathy. “Wish there was more I could do for the girl other than be with her for a few night while she cries her heart out. I’m not into mares, but Daisy needs someone she can feel safe with when it too much for her. I don’t mind filling that role for now but…” Caps looked at Jade pleadingly.

“What, but I…we just…you’re really suggesting?” Jade said unable to form her thoughts before jumping to a new one.

“Sorry, it’s just I’m one of the only friends she has it this fucked up place we call a city. I really shouldn’t have…I mean it’s been hard on her for to even find a mare that was into other mares, or wasn’t taken by other mare. And I’m a scared she might…”

Jade under stood what Caps was afraid of to say the least. She had known ponies that couldn’t take life anymore and had decided to end it. “Fine, but I’m not dating her. I just buried my ex an hour ago.” Jade said as she turned to find the mare. “Um…where…?”

“She’d be on the roof by now. Good luck, I hope for her sake you’re able to reach what is left of that heart of hers.” Caps said motioning for Jade to follow.

Jade followed Caps to the roof. They soon came upon the remains of stairs which had been replaced by boxes and crates. Jade climbed them and walked through the door way. She noticed that there was a tarp in place of the missing door. She looked around and noticed Daisy sitting by herself on far side of the roof. Rain slowly fell making the wasteland seemed even more depressing.

“Caps talked you into coming up here?” She asked. Her tone was flat, no anger or sadness. Jade didn’t answer. “You don’t need to try and pretend you like me because she thinks I’m going to kill myself.”

“I’m not.” Jade responded. “I’m up here because I think you might, and because I almost did it a few hours ago.” Daisy looked back at her, shock visible on her face. “I’m also up here because I don’t want you to do that, because I would feel awful for not being able to know you better.”

The mare rolled her eyes. “Don’t pretend to like me. No mare wants to be more than a friend to me.”

“I’m not pretending.” Jade said raising her voice. “But I just buried what was left of my coltfriend not too long ago. Your friend Caps suggested we start dating. I’m kind of pissed at her for that. Look I barely know you, I find you attractive, but I’m going to need time to figure out if I’m really ready for an relationship.”

Daisy glared at her. “Don’t seem like you really want me not to kill myself.”

“Daisy I barely fucking know you. But you have friends who would miss you and what about your family.”

“You’re recycling lines.” Daisy said bluntly.

“Fuck, do you think I’ve done this before. I got fucking bullied in school. I was born before the fucking bombs and woke to this hell hole. Fuck my life wasn’t as bad as yours but I’ve thought about killing myself. I don’t know you I’m only up here because I know how your friends would feel. I’ve had a friend kill themselves at a young age and it was terrible. That mostly fucking why I didn’t kill myself.”

“You Think I really care about them. I mean really Caps won’t even try to come up here talk me out of this. She sends some cunt I don’t know up here because she doesn’t want to talk to me. What a great fucking friend.” Daisy yelled dropping the gun and looking up at the sky. “Do you know what the hell I’ve been through? I don’t think you’ve been tortured by ponies you knew just because you liked mares?”

“I’ve been bullied and abused because of the way I look. I’m not saying what you been through wasn’t bad, I’m fucking shocked by it. But I don’t think killing your self will solve it. Would you really want to give those assholes the satisfaction to know that they controlled you after you fucking escaped.”

Daisy froze as looked at Jade. The mare didn’t say anything for while just stood there. Caps came up the stairs then and sat next to Daisy. The mare didn’t seem to notice her until she placed a hoof on Daisy’s shoulder.

“Daisy, you really don’t want to do this. Just think of your family, of your…” Caps said as daisy looked at her.

“You…you’re right.” Daisy said as she looked at the gun.

“So you’re not going to…” Jade asked.

“No…I’m sorry Caps, it just…hard.” Daisy said as she looked to the mare next to her. “I’m sorry I keep putting you through this.”

“Daisy’s I’m going to have to go back down. I still have to run this place.” Caps said getting up. “Jade thanks though you were a little.”

“Bit me.” Jade replied. “Next time get someone who actually knows her.”

“Sorry…” Caps said and walked down the stairs.

“You shouldn’t…” Daisy began.

“Look she asked me out of the blue to try and prevent you from killing yourself and become your new lover. I don’t know what the fuck was going through her mind, but I’m not the type to jump a pony because I think their attractive.” Jade said bitter about the situation the mare had put her in.

“Sorry, Caps means well and…”

“And she’s your best friend.” Jade added shaking her head. “I understand she doesn’t want to see you dead, but the position she put me in was unfair, still is.”

“Right, look if you don’t want to stay…”

"Nah-uh. Tonight, I'm staying here. You need to think, think twice, thrice or as many times as you want. Think about everything. And tomorrow I'll leave with Shock. There will be nopony to stop you, so, if you don't change your opinion, do it...and let them laugh, let them all laugh." Jade said sitting down next to Daisy.

“What you have…”

“He’s into stallions, were traveling together. That’s it.”

“Oh…”

“You know, I shouldn’t ask this, but what really made you stop yourself?”

Maybe to something like...this?

“... because you reminded me of something I'd almost forgot."

"Of what?"

"There is someone that will cry if I'm gone... Thanks, Jade, for reminding me. And thanks for staying."

"Sure..." Said Jade even if she was unsure of such answer. "You know... I hate rain."

A shadow of smile upon Daisy's face. Just a tiny glimpse, but it was a welcome improvement.

"Yeah, me too."

Lvl up.

New perk: Royal Canterlot Voice: + 5 (Speech, Barter) per rank. Mastery: 5 extra points in each of these skills.

Ch.0 The Last Day

Ch.0 Stasis (Rewrite 2)

Fallout Equestria: Subject 00

Chapter 0 Stasis

“What do you do when you don’t know where you came from?”

Ministry of Peace Research Facility: Black Out

Location: Undisclosed

Research: Subject 00

Nature of Research: To determine the origin of the subject’s unusual level of inert magical power.

Known Findings of Subject 00’s Origins: Subject 00’s power level nears that of both of our princesses. In all accounts, Subject 00 should be an alicorn, not an earth pony. The key seems to be the markings she bears, but it is unknown what exactly they mean. 25 years prior to the current date, she was adopted by Huckleberry and Sue Flay of Brooks Bend. Any earlier records of Subject 00’s whereabouts do not exist. This may prove her to be a security risk, even if she is not a zebra.

Name of Subject 00: Jade.

“Okay Miss Jade, please try to lift the crate.” The Doctor asked calmly.

“Doctor Neural, how am I supposed to do that without touching it? I’m not a unicorn.” Jade told the Doctor for the thousandth time. She didn’t know why they insisted on these tests. They told her that she was sick, but she didn’t feel sick. They didn’t test her for illnesses like doctors normally do, they just told her to try and lift boxes and crates, they also told her to try to attempt to fly. She was only a Goddesses damned earth pony, not a unicorn or a pegasus.

“Miss Jade, please try. This will help us to determine what is causing your… illness.”

“Fine, I’ll try, but I won’t promise anything will happen.” She looked at the crate and then thought of it in the air. Nothing happened, just like all the other times…

A sudden blast shook the outside of the hospital. Jade felt a sudden surge and then her world went dark. When she came around, the crate was smashed … as was the wall … and the two guards positioned behind the door … and all of the research labs beyond the door. Jade felt panic rise up from deep within her when she felt a sharp pinch in her leg; she looked over at Doctor Neural who was holding a needle in his magic, a look of total shock upon his face. Then Jade’s world faded away again.

Report 125:

Doctor Neural:

We have made a breakthrough. It seems the Subject is indeed an alicorn, but her powers are sealed somehow. Why that is and how they came to be sealed is still unknown. My own guess is that whoever did this to Subject 00, did it for her own good. Perhaps this was because she could not control her power by herself. A demonstration of this fact is evident by the strong telekinetic blast she summoned when her seal temporarily lifted. Not only did she lift the crate, but she obliterated it, pulverized a five-foot-thick wall, crushed two soldiers by collapsing their armor upon them, and punched through a Stable-Tec blast door, reminiscent of the now-common Stables that dot the landscape. Her capabilities exceed that which was speculated and the blast she produced even resembled a small megaspell in destructive power. If she could be taught to harness her power safely and effectively, she could be used as a devastating weapon against the zebras.

This discovery also brings to light new mysteries, The first being Jade’s cutie mark. The crescent moon causes my team to fear that Subject 00 may in fact be a remnant of Nightmare Moon. I think they are idiots. Nightmare Moon was simply our beloved Luna, twisted and mad, but the princess nonetheless. Furthermore, Subject 00 could not have once been a part of Luna, as the date of her adoption into the Flay family a full year before Luna’s return from her lunar banishment.

Subject 00’s cutie mark is more than just a crescent moon, however. It also consists of four stars and a blue diamond. The diamond lies within the empty body of the crescent with the stars surrounding the outside of the crescent moon. We have no idea what it denotes as her talent, she has no clue either. The field of stars I glimpsed around her before the blast was the most amazing thing I have ever had the privilege to witness next to feats performed by the princesses, themselves. Subject 00 even appeared as if she had wings and a horn just as the blast ceased.

All in all, I believe the ministry mares will find this development as amazing as I have. The mare in our midst might just be the key to ending this infernal war, if not more than one. The subject is currently in stasis as per orders of the ministry mares of Morals, Peace, Arcane Science, Image, as well as the O.I.A. She will remain until the ministry mares decide what should be done, considering this new development.

In my personal opinion; Jade is a powerful mare that just needs to learn control. She is an alicorn, no matter if the ministry mares claim otherwise. The cameras didn’t record what I saw; they only recorded Jade temporarily growing wings and a horn and destroying a good portion of the Black Out Research Facility. We should now focus on helping Jade bring her powers to the surface and teach her how to use them for combat. But this is only my personal opinion and may not even be considered an option.

This is Neural signing off.

Sirens blazed as The Black Out Research Facility was evacuated by everypony but two. Doctor Neural sat by a console as he tried to restore power back to the computer.

He was relieved when the screen light up and was rewarded with access to the system. He quickly started transferring power from the rest of Black Out to Jade’s pod. “I might die doing this and I might be recorded in history as a mad pony, but you are a key to fixing this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. Those stars of yours showed me. You need to help the ponies who need it whenever you wake up. You might not know it, I don’t even think I understand it, but you are going to be an important mare, Jade. You just need to live through this apocalypse. Try and learn from our mistakes. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

The lights and ventilation systems of Black Out slowly shut down. The facility built solely to study one mare became a tomb for both its head doctor and it’s only subject. “I’m sorry we lied to you, Jade, but you would have never come here otherwise.” Doctor Neural gasped and struggled for breath as the air in the rest of the facility quickly became toxic, leaving only Subject 00 alive.

5% to next level.

Base Perk: Hidden Power Tier 1. You have a vast reserve of power sealed within you, but it can only escape in large bursts and only when you are under extreme duress. 5 day recharge time required, but deals damage equivalent to a small megaspell. Be wary whom you use it around, you wouldn’t want to cook your friends.

Base Perk: Lost Alicorn: You are a Goddess Sealed in your own body. You have no idea of you true identity, nor your origin or special talent. Ponies will see you as a natural Leader, even if you don’t. +2 to charisma -15% to XP gain

Ch.3 Boom like That

Ch.3 Homecoming (Rewriten 2)

Fallout Equestria: Subject 00

Ch.3 Homecoming

“Won’t the dance be great?”

Jade and Shock were quiet as they walked along one of the now-nameless roads of Brooks Bend. Jade kept trying to remember what this old road used to be called to try to get her bearings. The map on her PipBuck had placed a marker for her old home and labeled it as a priority, which to her it kind of was. Although, precisely how it knew where her home was located was a mystery to her. She needed to see if her parents had made it safely to the Stable. Jade didn’t like it, but something was off and the epicenter seemed to be Black Out, the only Ministry facility named after the valley.

As they passed a Sky Carriage service station, a rifle cracked and a bullet whizzed over the heads of the two startled ponies. Quickly looking to the roof of the station, they spotted a grey unicorn with a red mane and blue eyes wielding a hunting rifle and wearing what appeared to be a Stetson. Just as they started to go for their weapons, the pony howled, “Y’all should keep a better eye out, partners. That radhog nearly got the drop on you!” This pony didn’t seem the type to use such a fancy rifle. It wasn’t like the ordinary hunting rifles that raiders usually employ. It looked like a mix between a powerful combat rifle and a revolver. Jade caught a look at the stock of the rifle and saw it was embossed with name ‘Cherry’s Love’. It was written in her friend’s hoof writing.

Jade took her time now, to make a closer inspection of the pony that had saved them from the radhog. He was an otherwise ordinary unicorn with his red mane styled in wild spikes, whose fur was grey as soot. Jade was a little surprised to find that one of his eyes was in fact grey, not blue as she had previously assumed; it didn’t seem natural.

“My eye’s normal, girl.” The unicorn said, upon catching her staring. “My eye’s been that way since I was born; one blue… and one grey.” He smiled back at them, “Name’s Spell Shot, and y’all are lucky to have found my shop.” He gestured with one hoof towards the station.

“This is a shop?” Shock asked, glaring at the station in confusion.

“Eyup, had The Old Stone, for about 5 years now. Best place to buy ammo, guns, explosives, barding, and food this side of the Dizmy.” Spell Shot proudly strutted back inside. “There are lots o’ ponies who think tryin’ ta borrow my goods without payin’ is a good idea, but I show them who they is messing with, sure ‘nough.”

Jade and Shock looked at each other. Well food sounded nice. Spoken eagerly in unison, “Say, what sorts of food do you have?”

Shot grinned back, “Fresh, if ya’ll believe it.”

Jade had never seen such a variety of merchandise in one store before. The walls were literally covered in shelves. Shot had led them to a small greenhouse connected to the back of the shop. While not much, it did have fresh food. And from what Shock implied, fresh and healthy food was a rare find. Considering the fact that for two straight days, Jade had eaten nothing but prewar preserved food they scavenged from houses and shops along the road. Jade was about ready to kneel and thank Celestia and Luna… hell, she was willing to lick the goddesses’ private-parts to give thanks for the mere sight of such glorious food.

“I take it you want some of this?” Shot smiled at her. “Hope y’all have caps to spare, my fresh produce isn’t cheap. I have ta charge 50 caps fer just 2 carrots.”

Jade felt like she had been kicked in the head at those words. “What?”

“Girl, I need caps and food to survive. My biggest money maker is them there veggies. I can’t just go handin’ them away for free. I’m willing to show them for free, but if ya want any ya’ll need to pay for ‘em. Another thing, I also gotta limit how many I sell. Gotta save some for meself, y’know.”

Jade looked glanced at the food, then to the shop keeper. He was right, this food would be worth a lot to anyone who got their hooves on it. “Shot, how’d you grow fresh food to begin with?” Shock asked.

“Spell I learned back at Tenpony. Not many thought it would actually work, but hell, all I needed was a good greenhouse and some seeds and here you have The Old Stone general store.” Shot cracked his neck. “I wasn’t popular with the ponies runnin’ the tower, so I left with the things I learned and started my shop out here.”

Jade and Shock walked back out to the front. Shock looked over the selection of battle saddles. “Hey Shot, how much for these?” Shock pointed to a pair of rifles that looked deadlier than the autos he sported attached to a battle-saddle in pristine condition.

“I’ll tell ya whut*, I’d trade ya those for your current setup and 54 more caps.” Shot walked behind the cash register. “And you miss?”

“Umm, I don’t really know, maybe some ammo. Although… may I ask were you got that gun?” Jade pointed to Cherry’s Love.

“This? Got it back when I was passing through Hoofington. Worst goddesses-derned place in the Wasteland, if ya ask me. Though, I heard there’s this gal named Security trying to clean it up. Came outta the blue and went to town on that place. Hope the best for her, that place can break ya faster th’n most.” Jade blinked. Security, Jade looked at her Barding, she was wearing security barding, but since she wasn’t in hoofington, she quickly came to the conclusion that he wasn’t talking about her. “The rifle doesn’t mean much ta’ me, but if ya want it; that’d be 250 caps.”

“I can’t afford that... We barely have enough to able to buy Shock’s saddle.” Jade gestured to Shock while he put on his new equipment.

“Oh… well I can’t give away good guns fer nothin’. Cherry’s not the type of gun I’d let a rookie have anyway, too much recoil.” Shot said, raking the caps into a drawer under the counter.

Just then, the music they hadn’t noticed playing in the store stopped and a stallion started to speak over the radio

“Hello children, this is DJ-PON3 here and that was Sweetie Belle, singing of her hopes for a brighter day. I know we all wish for the same every day. And now, my little ponies, it’s time for the news! Now you’ll all remember Brooks Bend’s infamous Dead Shot Port, the raider den that even Alicorns would avoid. Well, it seems somepony followed in our Stable Dweller’s hoofprints and wiped them clean off the map. They even saved our beloved author Ditzy Doo out of a tight spot. I got a letter from the ghoul telling me all about it. According to Ditzy, this mare climbed from the top of a hanger, over a broken radio tower and onto the roof of the terminal. From there, she wiped them out floor by floor; every single raider that called Dead Shot Port home: dead in a single day.”

Jade stared at the radio in disbelief. She looked to Shock for advice, who just smiled nervously at her. Jade didn’t know how to react to this. She was on the radio! This DJ was talking about her, under the guise of the famous DJ-PON3 no less! And she was even lying about how it happened. Shock had saved her flank on the roof and she wouldn’t have even survived if it hadn’t been for the stallion.

“And that’s not all, seems this mare’s not done with The Brooks yet. Word is: she’s hot too; according to Ditzy, she’s quite a gem. She’s no Security, but I suppose she’s all they have there in that rough patch of wasteland; shining like a diamond in the rough. Hmm, gem in the rough… Gem if you’re listening in, be careful. We wouldn’t want such a looker to kick it before I get to meet her in person, eh?

Jade felt as though her face was on fire. The DJ had just described her in that way… on the Radio. Jade chanced a look at Shock, who seemed to be doing all he could not to fall over laughing at her predicament. Jade glared at him, but her blush didn’t let up.

“Hmm, seems to me there are a lot of mares deciding to become heroes as of late. Hope them gals are smart enough not to get themselves shot dead.” Shot said.

Jade’s ear twitched at this, “What do you mean?” Jade didn’t like how that sounded.

“Most ponies that go hero in the wasteland don’t last very long. Either they fall from grace, becoming the evil they started out tried to end or die in battle… or gain a new breathin’ hole in their sleep. “Shot said with a look of worry shadowing his face. Now Jade was really apprehensive.

“Jade, I’m sure you won’t turn bad.” Shock mocked, grinning.

“Great, that just leaves getting my own self killed and/or you as well.” Jade said pointing a hoof at the pegasus.

“Wait a sec. You’re the gal that took out Dead Shot Port?” Shot said looking from one to the other.

“Well, yeah… but Shock helped.” Jade said still pointing at Shock.

“Wow, I just sold a battle saddle to the gal that took out Dead Shot Port. I sold somethin’ to a buddin’ hero.” Shot said with a big smile. “Look girl, I can’t give you a discount on the guns but what I can give you a discount on is the produce.”

Jade stared at the stallion with a smile splitting her face that Pinkie would be proud of. “Yes, I’d like that a lot.”

Jade and Shock walked out of the shop with fresh food and started down the road after thanking Spell Shot for his generosity. Jade’s mind kept going back to what the DJ had said. She had mentioned there were other mares doing good things in other places around the wasteland.

Why? It seemed to her as though the wasteland was simply the graveyard of her old life with a few things that refused to die.No. Jade didn’t know where that thought had come from, but she pounded it with sledgehammer and threw into a mental incinerator for good measure. She knew that ponies could make a new life in the wastes, even improve it and help each other. But why did she wake up now, why was the Stable Dweller doing what she was doing now, Why was Security, why now? Was it connected to that Golden Blood character? He had visited her once, even asked her if she was alright, but he seemed shifty. Jade trusted her judge of character, but Golden… she didn’t know what to think about that stallion.

“Jade, why is there a banner saying ‘Welcome Home?’” Shock asked indicating the school down the road.

“What?!” Jade said, trying to get a closer look at the banner. “Okay, now this is a 20 on a 1 to 10 scale of creeping me the fuck out.”

“Do you think we should check it out?” Shock said as he changed ammo packs. “If they knew you’re awake, we’d better go see if they’re friend or foe.”

“What if it’s an alicorn?” Jade said, remembering her earlier encounter with the Goddess.

“An alicorn? Jade, they don’t bother anyone in Brooks. Until you piss them off, that is. You… didn’t piss any of 'em off before I met you, did you?” Shock said as he looked back to the school and the strange banner.

“Um… I hate to admit, but the reason they didn’t bother with any other ponies was because they were looking for me apparently to, um… kill me, or like, make me one of them.” Jade said, finding herself in a very awkward situation.

“Why in sam-hill would they want you to be one of them? They only do that with unicorns.” Shock said uneasily. “So what, you’re a unicorn disguising herself as an earth pony?”

“I’m not a unicorn. I think the Goddess mentioned she thought I was too but… I was just as confused as you at the time.” Jade said, flinching back and raising her hooves in a defensive gesture.

“Jade, I’m not going to hurt you…” Shock said, taken aback and sounding more than a bit hurt at her reaction.

“I’m sorry; I was bullied a lot for how my appearance. Most ponies, if any, don’t have marks I do.” She said, averting her gaze from Shock.

“I’ve noticed. Makes you look exotic though.” He grinned widely. “And don’t think I’m hitting on you, okay?”

“Still, I think we should go check it out.” Shock said looking back to the school.

Jade shook her head slowly as she spoke. “Fine... Let’s go. If we get killed because we went in there, I’m going to make sure you die first so I can piss on your grave.”

“Perfectly clear, miss.” Shock grinned.

“Fuck you.” Jade shot back, walking towards the school, her annoyance with the joking stallion was quickly making her reach the limit of her tolerance. As they made their way toward the school Jade kept her eyes open for alicorns. She planned on fleeing the school and dragging Shock along if she needed to. The school was the old Brooks Bend High School, which she used to attend before she got sick, supposedly… It wasn’t all that much different than it was before she left. It had been rebuilt during the war to withstand most forms of attack. She wondered if the staff had gotten to safety when the megaspells dropped.

When they reached the front door they noticed evidence of a recent lockdown. “Okay…That’s weird; it seems that it was in lockdown until recently.” Jade commented as they walked into the entrance hall. The walls and windows were immaculate, no dust and no trash, certainly no bones either. Not that she minded seeing one clean place for a change, but this was too clean. The walls looked brand new, in fact.

“Well that’s creepy.” Shock pointed at a poster announcing a Homecoming Dance.

“Maybe we should go.” Jade turned to the door, only to find a heavy blast door had settled into place, somehow without either of them noticing. “Well Shock, it looks like I’ll be pissing on your grave soon.”

“Fuck. There should be a computer in the principal’s office I can use to disengage the door.” He said, walking further inside. She followed him as he led the way down the hallway.

“The office should be on the second floor.” Jade told Shock, just now remembering where it was.

“Okay Jade, should we be worrying about anything in here?” He asked.

“Oh, I don’t know I was locked away in a Ministry facility for only 8 years, How would I know what went on in here when the bombs fell?” Jade glowered, taking a glance into a classroom. Spotless, just like the rest of the building, there weren’t even any marks on the boards. Jade wondered how the school had stayed so pristine for so long, rounding the corner to the stairwell. ‘My locker was also on the second floor.’ Jade thought to herself as she started climbing.

“Well, at least this is the cleanest place I’ve ever seen.” Shock said as he looked up the stairwell apprehensively. “And last time we used the stairs, we were shot at with a rocket launcher.” Jade shivered at the memory, puzzled how she survived the second. Shock hadn’t seen what happened either, only shot the raider in retaliation. He must have chalked it up to luck.

“Shock, I believe the principles office is around the corner to the right.” She informed the stallion ahead of her as she caught sight of something and stopped walking.

“Aren’t you coming Jade?” The pegasus asked when he noticed the mare hanging back.

“I want to check something.” She said, what she had noticed being the arrows painted on the floor leading in the direction of her locker.

“Alright here, take this.” The stallion tossed her a two way radio. Jade looked at him questioningly. “I’ve had them since Dead Shot, but we haven’t needed to split up since so there was no need and I just forgot and didn’t mention them.” Jade smiled in response as she tucked the radio into a chest pocket on her barding. “I made sure to test them. If you see trouble, just call.” Shock then turned and walked around the corner.

Jade called out, “Thank you.” She turned the corner to the left and hadn’t gone more than three paces when she regretted splitting up so soon. Music began to play and whispers echoed through the hall. Jade couldn’t see anything unusual, but the sound alone was enough to set her fur on end.

Walking over to her locker, Jade spotted a note sticking out if the crack between the bottom of her locker and the top of the one below hers. “Shock, how are things on your end.” She radioed.

“Good, I got into the system.” He said, voice slightly muffled by static. “It looks like the system is locked into a predetermined defense state. Its main priority is protecting students. The building was clear of students so it must have released the lockdown on its own. When you entered the building, it found you in its database and returned to lockdown. Since you’re the only student present, if I remove you from the student registry it should release again.”

“Hold on for a sec.” Jade said while cautiously glancing up and down the length of the hallway. “What sort of defenses does it say the school has?”

“Let me look... Ah! There’s a couple of standard model Protect-a-Ponies and a few turrets at the front entrance.” He said over a burst of static.

“Okay, just how armed are the Protect-a-Ponies?” Jade sat down in front of her locker.

“Just standard riot control, they shouldn’t be too much trouble.”

“Alright, go for it.” Just as Jade spoke, the lights in the halls shut off. “Shock! What the hell? I thought you were only going to deactivate the security and take me off the registry.”

“I thought that’s what I did!” Shock said, panic evident over the static of the radio. “Shit! I’m locked out. Jade, I can’t access the school’s security from here. I’m going to….” He stopped. After what seemed like minutes, but was really less than 20 seconds, Jade nearly called out to Shock. Luckily before Jade had gotten to that level of panic, He spoke. Unluckily, he beat her to full-blown panic, evident as he said, “SHIT! I’m locked in, Jade. You’re gonna have to find another terminal and override the whole lockdown state.”

“What!” Jade exclaimed, looking around. “Shock I can’t even see! How in the shadow of Luna’s blue MOON am I supposed to do that?” Jade then felt around the lockers until she found the note, which she tucked into another pocket of her barding.

“Your Pip-Buck should have a light spell. Just turn it on.” Shock informed her while banging about, evidently trying to find another way out, much like how she had in the facility.

Jade blinked and after a bit of searching, found the option and turned it on. She was granted with a bright luminescence and blinked while her eyes, now used to the dark, re-adjusted to the light. She got out the note and looked at it, it was in Apple Core’s hoofwriting.

Jade,

If you’re reading this, then you’ve gotten out of the hospital. You need to find someplace safer than this school, the computers gone mad. Its friend-foe software must have gotten corrupted. I know I told you we’d get back together once you were better... but I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep that promise. Radiation is leaking into the school; the rest of the class and I were here for the reunion. We’re dying in here and the computer’s protect-a-ponies are actively trying to kill us. If you’re able to run, just leave, I’m as good as dead. I don’t want you to die here looking for me. You’re a smart mare; even if those bullies always told you otherwise. If anypony can find a way to get someplace safe, it’s you. I love you Jade.

Apple Core

Jade felt her heart break. She had thought it was possible Apple Core could have survived 200 years as a ghoul, but she had hope he had made it to a Stable and started some semblance of a life instead. Instead, he met his end in this death trap of a school.

“Jade, you should really get moving.” That broke her out of her thoughts. Shock must have taken notice of her silence.

“Right… I think the computer lab is on the third floor.” Jade stood and started walking down the hall. “Shock, somepony left a note; the main computer has been corrupted. It’s trying to kill us.”

“How do you know you can trust that information?” Shock asked over another burst of static.

“It was left by somepony I knew, in my locker.” Jade flattened her ears on her head.

Shock didn’t say anything at first, just held the button as static came out of Jade’s radio. He eventually spoke, “I’m sorry Jade, they must have meant a lot to you.” Jade didn’t question how he figured it out, but she was glad he understood.

“Thanks.”

Jade eventually found her way up to the next floor and climbed the stairs up. The school’s creepiness was even worse with only the light spell active. Only able to see a few feet in front of her, Jade didn’t want it turned off to be left stumbling around like a young foal. The quiet, yet incessant whispering didn’t help either.

The voices sounded like her old classmates, the worst among them being those of Flowerpot and Easel and their cruel insults. Jade felt her foalhood flooding back to her. Those two had made her life a living hell for years. The voices making Jade want to run for more than being creepy.

And then an undead pony lunged at her head.

Jade stumbled back, just missing the chomping teeth of the feral ghoul, fumbling for her revolver and shooting the ghoul with every bullet the gun held, even after the ghoul fell. Jade looked at the body and judging by the fact that it was an elderly pony, was one of the teachers. Jade didn’t recognize his cutiemark, but thought him well preserved for a ghoul. In fact, Jade wouldn’t believe it dead, if not for the holes in his chest.

“Jade, what’s going on?!” Shock questioned over the radio. “I heard gun shots. Are you alright?”

“Yes. Fuck, had to kill a feral ghoul.” Jade cursed, panting as the adrenaline made her body shake lightly. “I think most of the students and faculty must have been turned into them. The note said there was radiation leaking in from outside.”

“Fuck. That’s just great. Okay you’re going to want to conserve your ammo. How decayed do they look?”

“Um… yeah. Not much at all. If it wasn’t for the hole in his chest I could see him walking around like nothing was wrong.” Jade didn’t like where this was going.

“Okay, ouch. Jade, these suckers are gonna be fast, very fast. They’re not going to be that hard to kill, but they are still more deadly than others you would find outside.” Shock informed her.

“Should I turn off the radio?”

“No not yet, if it seems to be attracting them; yes. Until then, I would recommend you keep the line open to communication.” Jade reloaded her revolver, doing her best to ignore the whispers.

It was a while before Jade encountered any more feral ghouls. Shock was right, these things were fucking lightning. She had to shoot while backpedalling the entire time just to kill them without letting them get to her. After she had killed about half of them, the music returned in full force and the whispering stopped entirely, but this time, the music was not the happy kind. It held this eerie feeling that made you want to leave the room or hide under the bed. The kind of feeling that started low in your back and burned up your neck to the base of your skull. This was a feeling of utter dread; one of unknown fears and hidden malice. It was the kind of dark fear that paints your vision grey and sucks all the positive emotion out of a room. Needless to say, it wasn’t helping Jade fight.

She shot down two more ghouls before the last overtook her and ducked down to bite her left foreleg. Luckily, the teeth didn’t penetrate her barding. Ditzy Doo’s improvements were good to have, but the bite still bruised her leg. The bite aggravated the wound in her shoulder though. Jade inclined her head and with a little difficulty, put two bullets into the ghoul’s skull, rather than herself, in quick succession. As she looked over the bodies, Jade was glad not to see Apple Core amongst them, She hoped, by the Goddesses, that she wouldn’t find him amongst the ranks of these ferals. If he was a ghoul, she would rather him sane.

She continued down the halls while trying to remember which room the computer lab was in. They had been a new addition when she started, the smaller terminals invented only recently by Stable-Tec. When she learned of the addition, she didn’t jump at the chance unlike some of her fellow students. She considered them a waste of time. Jade was rethinking her decision…

Jade really hated how little light the spell gave her and the trouble she was having fighting her old classmates in the dimness. She was limping now. The bruising on her leg and the wounds in her shoulder, hind leg, and stomach were acting up. Considering how the fast ghouls wanted to eat her, this was not a good thing.

She encountered more ghouls near the janitors’ closet and when she fired at them, missed as her shoulder seized up in pain. Jade screamed, “Fuck!” as one of them bit into that same shoulder. She kicked at the ghoul with a forehoof until its jaw cracked and ghoul slumped. Jade shot the ghoul before it could rise before turning back to the others as one lunged for her neck, mouth agape. She dodged the bite, but not the tackle and she fell to the ground.

“Jade, are you alright?” Shock asked, she had hit the button when she landed and he was concerned, only having heard the short burst of static.

“No,” Jade said, pressing the button to the ground as her gun accidentally fired twice in the grip of her teeth. One ghoul fell dead, splattering her liberally with gore out of its left eye. “Yuck.”

She felt the last ghoul clamp on to a plate in her chestpiece and Jade turned and fired at it. As soon as it went limp, Jade shook it away and stood, pressing the button her radio with a hoof this time. “Great… Now I’m covered in eye and brain matter.”

“Gross! Didn’t need to hear that...” Shock said, disgust oozing from his voice.

“Fuck you! How about you kill ponies you went to school with!” Jade rounded a corner to come up to see her path blocked by a large pool of glowing green goo. Her Pip-Buck started clicking and the rad-meter rose slowly. “Great, a dead end.” She spied a doorway with a sign above it denoting a stairway through a gym. “Shock, I’m gonna have to take a longer path to the lab.”

“What? Why?” Shock worried.

“That’s because the fastest way to get there is blocked by a large pool of radioactive goo.” Jade replied flatly as she passed through the gym and started down the stairs.

“Oh, ok. Be careful of radiation poisoning.” He said, worrying more now. The comment was masked with more static than before. The goo must be interfering with radio signals.

“Great.” She muttered. The situation seemed to be getting worse by the moment. At the bottom of the stairs she entered another hall leading to the locker rooms. A hoofball player in full uniform charged out of one of the rooms and tackled her to the ground. She heard something snap, but didn’t have time to feel it as she fired at the young stallion trying to eat her. Jade was in luck, her bullet passed through the exposed face piece of the helmet, but didn’t exit through the rear. It must be a really good helmet.

As she stood, Jade gasped as a spike of pain drove through her right rear leg and she fell to the ground again. “FUCKING SONOFA BITCH!”

“What happened!?” Shock asked, Jade had pressed the button on the radio again.

“A hoofball player tackled me to the floor; he broke my leg!” Jade yelled; standing and limping over to a wall so she could lean on it and remain standing.

“Jade you’re near the gym, right?” Shock asked

“Yeah, I’m at the locker rooms right now.” Jade said, limping towards them.

“There should be a first-aid box in the coach’s office.” Shock said as a bit of panic returned to his voice.

“Okay, check for healing potions. But what if they used them?”

“Hope you can fight on a broken leg then.”

“Fuck me.”

“But I’m not into Mares, Jade.”

“Shut the hell up.” She growled and limped into the filly’s locker room. She blinked rapidly as she saw two ghouls sitting in front of the coach’s office, two very familiar looking ghouls. One was grey with a deep blue, almost black, mane while the other had a plain yellow coat with a chestnut mane. Flowerpot and Easel; the same bullies that had made her school years a living hell, stood in-between her and the coach’s office.

The ghouls turned at the sound of Jade’s clattering hooves, stood and rushed her. Jade’s legs stopped responding and she stood there as the insults came bubbling up from the depths of her shocked psyche as clear as the day they were spoken.

“Freak,” Easel said, jabbing Jade in the ribs with a forehoof. “What’s with those markings, freak show? You’re just like the zebras, why don’t they lock you up already.”

“Yeeeaah.” Flowerpot taunted with a nod. “I mean really, how do we know if you’re not just some freaky zebra spy using a disguising charm?”

“Shut up!” Jade cried, desperately trying to spot her friends.

“What did you say, freak?” Easel said as she shoved Jade to the ground.

“Leave me alone.” Jade tried to get up to walk past the pair, but they knocked her down again.

“Why? Is it because you might go and cry about us to your mom? Oh wait, that’s right, you’re an orphan.” Flowerpot snickered.

“I’m adopted!” Jade yelled back.

“Same difference.” Easel said as she started laughing too.

“Shut up!” Jade said, trying to hold back tears.

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!” Jade yelled, blinded by rage, emotional pain, and desperation as she fired her revolver at the pair over and over again, emptying her gun. She spit the revolver onto the ground and began stomping on them. “Shut up…” Jade hung her head low as the tears flowed down her snout; she plopped down heavily and didn’t bother getting up. After a few minutes of sobbing, Jade shifted on the floor and she heard Shock yelling over the radio.

“Jade?! Jade! Whats wrong? Are you alright? Did something happen?!”

“N…nothing…j…just had some really bad memories surface.” Jade stuttered as she stood back up and limped into the coach’s office. “I’m going to get the first-aid kit.”

“Okay, are you sure things are alright?”

She had hard time finding the box; it was on a shelf hidden partially behind some sports equipment sticking out. She lifted it off of the hook, being careful with her injured legs, and opened it. Inside were some Med-X, a roll of healing bandages, a tin of Mint-als, and one healing potion. She grabbed the potion out of the box, cradling it in her forehooves as she bit the stopper off, spit it to the left, and raised it above her head with her lips sealed tight about the neck of the bottle, and chugged it. She felt relief almost instantly as the fracture in her leg mended and some of her other wounds healed a bit. She was still feeling a lot of pain from them though, so she took the Med-X and stabbed it into her left foreleg, depressing the end with her tongue. She felt a wave of relief as the drug numbed the pain coming from her wounds.

She stepped out of the coach’s office with her head held high, sporting a bat from the rack and her gun holstered. She was running out of ammo and doubted she’d find any ammo in a school. The lights were still out, so she was still having a hard time seeing. She hoped the bat wouldn’t break too easily. She walked out of the locker room and back up to the gym proper. There weren’t too many ghouls here, but there weren’t any before. She noticed the decorations for the reunion’s dance on the walls.

The first ghoul charged Jade and she cracked its skull with the bat and it went down like a sack of potatoes. She hit another, but wasn’t as lucky as she was with the first. Jade head-butted it before swinging at the ghoul, this time striking its knee-cap. The leg snapped with a soft crack, not unlike stepping on a twig; Jade brought the bat down in a wide arc over her shoulder to end on its head.

The next ghoul tackled her but Jade had learned her lesson and braced her legs. She took it still standing and swung the bat, but missed as this one dodged. It came back at her, gnashing its teeth as Jade brought the bat down hard on the ghoul’s spine. It snapped more audibly than the last one’s leg and Jade danced back from the now-crawling feral ghoul. Creepy as fuck, the way it dragged itself along with its forehooves, arcing its neck as close as it could toward her as it gnashed its teeth again.

She ran back up to the feral and stomped its head into the ground and began pounding it to mush. The next one charged her, as usual, as Jade was finishing the last one. It almost got to her neck before she shouldered it back and as it stumbled, swung the bat into its side. She heard ribs crack, but that wasn’t going to stop the ghoul. She swung the bat again and this time hit its front legs, causing it to fall to the ground, back legs still upright, exposing its neck and allowing Jade to bring the bat down swiftly on the neck.

She was panting as she saw yet another ghoul coming at her in a charge, this one she sidestepped, holding a foreleg and tripping it. It turned back toward Jade as she turned away from it. Planting her forehooves on the ground, she tensed her muscled, reared up, and bucked the ghoul before it could charge her again. Jade released a grunt as the ghoul flew the remaining few feet to the stands that were folded up against the wall. It was impaled on the steel and ripped apart as it traveled closer to the wall as the steel bars spread apart. It hung there a foot or so from the floor, what was left, that is.

As she turned back to look around the room, the last ghoul attacked. It bit down squarely on her left shoulder-pad and wrenched it completely off, quickly biting again on the joint this time. She screamed as the ghoul tore a chunk out of her. Ignoring the pain, Jade swung the bat still in the grip of her teeth, knocking it tumbling across the room. She walked over as it was standing up and brought the bat down on its skull hard enough to break the bat in two.

She sat down in the gym for a couple minutes, wrapping up her shoulder before walking out and into another hall. She was relieved not to see any ferals as she walked. She spied a security office at the end of the hallway, but found it locked.

“Shock…” said Jade, pressing the button on her radio as she sat down in front of the security door.

“Yes?”

“Found a security office, but it’s locked. Do you think there might be ammo in there, maybe a terminal?”

“Sounds plausible, do you have any bobby pins?”

“No.”

“Well, ya can’t get in without picking the lock.” Shock said; Jade could tell the stallion was shrugging.

“Great” Jade said as she walked away from the door. She found a flight of stairs leading up to the next level and followed them, killing another ghoul with her revolver without a glance, sending it tumbling back down to the floor below. Once she left the stairs, she encountered a pair of ghouls who, like all the others, charged her. Eager things, they were. She used her revolver a bit more carefully than with Flowerpot and Easel, not wanting to waste ammo. She dropped the ghouls with one bullet left in the chamber. “I think I’m getting the hang of this.”

Jade found the computer lab, finally, at the end of the hall, the skeleton of a security guard in the doorway. A quick search netted her a broken .357 revolver. She gingerly picked up the ammo and tip-hooved around it and walked into the computer lab. After she reloaded her .357 revolver, she sat down in front of one of the logged in computers.

“Shock, I’m at one of the terminals. How do I stop the lockdown?” Jade asked.

“First: you’ll need to get into the administrator’s files and from there you can access the controls.” Shock sounded tried over the radio.

“Shock, are you alright?”

“Yeah, just a little tried. The vents to the office have been closed off and I’ve been taking out Protect-a-Ponies swarming in through the largest vent.”

“What!? Why didn’t you tell me?” Jade said with worry gripping her voice.

“You already had the ghouls to worry about. Just get the lockdown lifted.” Shock said, firing rapidly through the static.

Jade got to work following his instructions. She had to prevent six lockout attempts and had to log off twice, but she now had access to the admin files. She listened to Shock’s breathing getting heavier over the radio as she worked. She didn’t want to lose her friend to this damn school.

Jade started lifting the lockdowns on each system one by one. She smiled stupidly wide when she turned the vents to the office back on. Shock cheers as the first gust of fresh air hit him were music to her ears. Jade then unlocked the entrances to the school; doors, windows and computer systems opened to the public and powered up, respectively. She then shut down the main computer’s AI and everything turned off. With that, there was power and lights, but no AI trying to kill anypony. No longer were they stuck in the dark with no airflow.

“Shock, it’s done.” Jade said as she stood up and walked to the door. As she opened it, she was greeted by six ghouls. Jade shot two dead in quick succession before she had to reload and took out the rest, backing up into the computer lab again. Walking down the halls, Jade noticed more of that goo on this floor than on the lower floors, which would explain why the ghouls were mostly up here, and not the first floor, considering there was more radiation here. With a quick check of her rad-meter, telling her she was well in the green still, Jade started down the stairs.

She reached the second floor before taking a wrong turn and ending up in the cafeteria, rather than the next stairwell, being as they weren’t situated in one large stairwell, but connecting only two floors at a time. The cafeteria must have contained the last of the ghouls on this floor, not sporting armor like the hoofball players from before and standing amongst the gnawed piles of bones and tatters of cloth from the ponies the ghouls had consumed. Jade started shooting as the first lunged at her, her picking her shots carefully while they charged her. She wasn’t hitting all the time, but was taking them to go down with less ammo now.

Eventually Jade ran out of ammo with one ghoul left and then it charged, leaving Jade standing there in a moment of indecision, her wounds had opened from the strain and there was blood running from her shoulder and abdomen. She stared at this last ghoul as it bit into her bandages. She knocked him away with the other hoof, but she didn’t kill him. He was… “No” Jade gasped, with her revolver still in her mouth. “You… I can’t…” Even if she had ammo, she couldn’t have fired.

It was Him. She backed up as he lunged for her again. She couldn’t kill Him, She didn’t know how she could even try. She loved Him. She hadn’t ever been able to say it when they were together, she hadn’t worked up the courage. This was so unfair, why couldn’t Shock have had to kill Him? Why did she now have to face down the one she had loved? Why did he have to become this THING?!

Something in Jade’s mind clicked. Only she could do this. Shock couldn’t. It must be her. He had been her special some-pony once… even if now he was trying to kill her. She had loved him; still did. She couldn’t let any other pony do what was her responsibility. He was already dead. This was a feral ghoul, not her beloved Apple Core.

Jade stopped backing away. The ghoul once known by all his friends as Apple Core saw this and came at her faster. Through Jade’s tears, a horn erupted from her forehead and began to glow as her magic wrapped around two pistols she spotted laying amongst the skeletons that were the long-dead meals of the now-dead ferals. Jade loaded these guns from ammo scattered also amongst the bones. She pulled back the hammers of her dual pistols and aimed roughly down their sights at the same time. Tears flowed down her cheeks as water down a river as she gazed at the face that had once belonged to the love of her short life.

“I love you, my sweet Apple Core”

Jade pulled the triggers of her dual revolvers with her magic and the face of the ghoul was no longer. Jade bucked a nearby table and sent it flying towards the door, which Shock had been standing beside. Shock leapt out of the way to avoid the now-airborne table. Jade didn’t care that she now had a horn, or that her friend was staring at her with a look of utter shock on his face, complete with jaw hanging down as wide as it could hang, she just wanted the aching of her heart to stop.

Level up.

Quest perk: MAGIC: You’ve unlocked your magical power; you can now levitate objects as a unicorn would. As a consequence, -50 to damage to your hidden power and the cooldown timer has increased 6 days.