Fallout Equestria: Chumming Waters

Chapter 2 - Changing Winds

"Be proud, you all have done good work in keeping this fleet together. It's been a long five years, but were are all still alive, and our ships are still afloat. In the years to come, there will be more storms, more enemy's, and more traitors, But stay strong, for we will make it through this."

"Now I have heard rumors on the wind about my methods being far to harsh, and fears about a loss of all freedom. But like with the message from the Enclave, it's all lies. Let me tell you the truth, my methods are what is necessary to keep this fleet going, and any freedoms you think you have lost... you must ask yourself, were you even free to begin with. To be free you must be strong, strong enough to survives on your own, strong enough to throw off any chain. So I as you, are you stronger then you were five years ago, and this loss of freedome you feel, is it simply you coming to the realization that you were never truly free before. Freedom starts with strength, and you are all becoming strong."

-Roseland's Speech to the survivors fleet. Year five of the new area.

The cold air caressed my body, and I could feel a sharp pain from were I was pierced through. It was strange, I knew I fell and hit the water. Yet it was like I was still moving through the air, but not falling. One other thing was that I was on something, on some pony. Opening my eyes slowly.

OH FUCK! I WAS FLYING! "Celestia above what's goin' on" I was moving through the air, but I had no wings to do so, and In my panic I wrapped my hooves around the pony under me... the pony that was not there.

Be still young one, we do not wish you harm.

A voice came from inside my own head. None of this made any sense, was my faith being tested? "Saint Roseland saw coming of ponies fall" I held on tighter. "Her might saving us from the end of all"

Little one pleas calm down. A form shimmered beneath me, and the for of a large blue pony appeared in the moonlight. Two massive wings gently flapped in the air. The mane was unreal, like it was not made of hair, but of magic, with a mix of light and dark blue wavered like water. Poking out of the main was... was... was a horn! "Young one, you must be careful or you might open up your wounds." Her voice sounded like, like nothing I had heard before. It was beautiful, like Victoria, but not like Victoria at all.

"Goddess..." I burred my face into her mane. "Goddess Luna, you have returned!" This was to good to be true, but here she was, and I was riding on her back.

"Young filly, what is your name?"

"Star Charter, Goddess, your loyal servant."

The winds shifted, and I could feel her turning to a new direction. "I'm sorry little Star Charter, we are not Luna, we are... was Prism Paint. The princesses have long ago died... just like... I'm sorry."

"But thar be no alicorns other then t' goddesses... and what princesses, my goddess?"

Luna shook her head. "The princesses are Celestia and Luna. You know their name, then you must know their story?"

I didn't like this, but this was Luna, she must be testing me about how well I payed attention in the sermons. "Aye, Celestia and Luna created t' land o' equestia for t' faithful, and drove out all t' heathens. Celestia controlled t' sun, and Luna controlled t' moon. After Equestia fell, you and Celestia wait for us from t' heavens after. T' reward out faith and devotion with your love and light."

"That's not right, some of it, but it's also wrong."

I loosened my grip. How could I be wrong, what I said is the truth. "But I lessen to all the sermons, I can sing you the hymns by heart Luna!" The goddess of the night was here, and telling me I was wrong.

"We are not Luna, we are but a wretch who is lost, lost without mother." She suddenly dipped, and I held onto her tighter. I could see Blackwater ahead, all a glow in lights, and looking so small from here. "Little one, we shale return you to your home. We as sorry for confusing you." everything shimmered, and now we were both invisible.

Up here I could see were the chapel was, where I had been kicked into the water, and the apple orchard. The city looked dirty, something hard to see when on it, but the entire ship looked rusted, and sick. My home, was it always so ugly? Looking up at the night sky, the moon and an uncountable amount of stares shined brightly. "If your not Luna, who be you? Where did you come from?"

"Our name, call us Prism Paint. We came from Equestia, far beyond these waters, in the warmth of unity." The city grew larger as we flew in. "We are also curious. This place, has it existed for since the times of the bombs?"

How could she not know... unless she speaks true, and is not Luna. "Aye, we built Blackwater for everyponly t' live on, it be protected by t' fleet, and in turn we serve t' fleet."

Serve the fleet, how so? Her voice was back in my head.

"When we come o' age, we be taken aboard a ship in t' fleet. If we be weak t' fleet make us strong. If we be cowardly t' fleet makes us brave. And if our faith wavers, t' fleet returns us to t' true path."

And of those who do not become strong, brave and true?

"They are sent to t' heavens above before their hearts can become sinful."

Is that what happened to you?

I shook my head. "No, t' captains just a cunt. She's out t' get Victoria... Ah, I got t' get back to her, Victoria's waitin' for me."

Be still young one, we will soon be there. We picked up speed, and the city came closer. It was strange, I've never seen it like this before, it must be like how a pegasus sees the city. The orchard looked quiet, and peaceful. From the tower I could see another body hanging from the flag pole. Over the cargo box town, I could hear the sound of music and ponies at play. We passed Hull town, with ponies quietly asleep, huddling next to the ships hull so not to risk rolling over into the water. Were sould I land?

"Chapel, we sould land thar." I tryed to point it out, but I couldn't even see my own hoof. "It's t' buildin' with t' pointy top, and t' clearin' in front"

Prism Paint made another pass over Cargo Town, landing in front of the chapel. hopping off, I became visible again, and nearly fell over from the sharp pain in my chest. Little one, I was only able to bandage you up, if you are not careful, you could open up your wounds. Looking myself over, my white and blue striped shirt was ripped at the bottom, and my belly was wrapped in bloody bandages. You had a sword stuck in you, we don't have the training for healing, but we did our best.

My favorite and only shirt was ruined. Checking the rest of my cloths, my vest and goggle were still on me, but my red bandana was gone. So I'd need to get a new shirt, and bandana. That sucked. "You said that t' cutlets was stuck in me. Do you still have it?"

The sword floated out of thin air. We did not know what to do with it, so we held onto it.

"Give me It!" I reached out my hooves. "It's mine, it was in me!"

The sword floated to me, It still had some of my dried blood still on it. A little one such as you sould be careful with that. You could poke an eye out with it.

I cocked an eyebrow, was she serous. "An eye. I can kill a pony with this." I could hear her take a step back. "If I give it t' Victoria, she will be so happy that she will take me in as her sister." Then no pony will ever mess with me... Other then the captain, but I'll be with Victoria the most awesome mare in Blackwater. Placing the cutlass on my back, between my vest and shirt. I smiled at Prism Paint, well I smiled at were I thought she was.

The sound of a door opening came form the chapel. "It's passed curfew, if thar be any pony thar, I'll show you t' wrath o' t' goddesses me self." It was one of the sisters armed with a club in her gray magic.

Slowly I walked up to the sister. "Umm, I uhh, I need t' see Victoria, do you know were she is?" She was going to thump me, they always do, but she might tell me where to find Victoria after, so it will be worth it.

"If your lookin' for a whore, you be in t' wrong place filly." She walked up to me, club raised high. I braced myself for what was coming. "Little foals sould know better then t' be passed curfew." The club came down and... and nothing hit me.

The club was warped in a vibrant blue magic, and the sisters face had the shear look of shock on her face. Prism Paint had reveled herself, wings stretched out wide. "YOU DARE STRIKE A FOAL FOR SIMPLY BEING OUT LATE! WE SHOULD CRUSH YOU NOW FOR THIS. ANSWER HER QUESTION AND WE MAY SPARE YOUR LIFE!" my ears were ringing, damn Prism Paint was loud.

The sister had not only fell back on her flank, but I could smell piss coming from her. "she's, she's at t' medics place. I swear I do!"

I felt magic lift me up and I became invisible. Let's go Star Charter, before we do something we regret. I could feel her back when her magic let me go. I clutched on her tightly, and we lifted off.

"Why did you do that?"

She was going to attack you. We simply did not want to see you come to harm. once more we were above the city.

"And you saved me before as well, when I fell into t' water. Why?"

For a moment there was silence, with only the wind rushing passed my ear to fill the void. We do not understand ourselves. We saw you fall, and we pulled you out of the water. The two of us came to a stop on one of the cargo homes on the other side of the city. Why would this place hurt so many young ones, should it not protect them, protect you?

"If were protected, then we grow weak. That's how thin's are." I slid off of Prism Paint. "If were not strong, then we only endanger t' fleet." It was strange standing around all invisible

"You realy do think that's how you sould live, don't you?"

The air shifted a little, and I could hear shouting from the other side of the ship. "Is thar any other way t' live?"

I became visible, and the sound of wings beating the air. I only know of unity, the warmth of mothers embrace, and the closeness of my sisters. But before that, before Unity I was... weak, terribly weak.

"And Unity made you strong?"

Yeas, strong and happy.

"Just like serving the fleet!"

No. Yes. Maybe. It is, it's not the same, not at all.

"So unity didn't make you strong?"

Unity gave us a new form, made us into a newer, stronger pony. But without mother, we don't know anymore.

"What happened t' your mother?"

A vile villein killed her. She was going to save the wasteland, and she was killed for it.

"Oh... That sucks. Well you you want t' know how t' live without a mother, I can show you. I'm strong, and a survivor!" I put my hoof over my heart as I spoke, to ya'know, show her I knew what I was talking about.

Like how you were thrown into the water... Sorry, but no. You must be on your way, you did say that this Victoria is waiting for you.

"Hay, that's a low blow. But you should come with me, I know Victoria would love t' see you."

We think that would not be a good idea. We are sorry, but if you go see her, you must do so without us.

I sighed, I'd try to get the not Luna to come with me, but Prism Paint was bigger then any pony I had ever seen. So I doubt that she would even fit inside the ship. Not without hitting her head on, well everything. "Aye."

Looking around, I was sure that I could get to the brewery from here. I'd just have to sneak passed a few ponies. "Thanks Prism Paint. I owe you, I owe you a lot."

I could hear the sound of wings flapping. Just stay safe Star Charter. I had a feeling she was gone, though with her being invisible, she could just be hovering around. It made me feel a little paranoid. Safe too, but still paranoid.

__________________________

The city at night was a little less active then it was in the day, with far less ponies out and about. Most of the activity was around the bar's and brothels. Without another ship from the fleet nearby, things were far less rowdy then I had seen it be before.

For me, this meant it was much easier to sneak passed all the adult ponies. I just had to jump from shadow to shadow on my way to the closest stairwell, and into the ship. It got a little dicey at one turn when I had to sneak under two drunk ponies. It was strange, the two stallions seem to be so drunk that they had only made it half way to the brothel, before giving up and just started fucking each other. They probably didn't have the coin for a whore too. If I didn't have a place to be, I would have stayed to watch the show. But I did allowing myself to have a parting thought of Black Spot, and if he would be interested in doing the same with another colt.

The medics was a little deeper inside the ship, passed manufacturing, but before storage. I never been there myself, it was a place for worker ponies, not foals. So I had to be extra careful to not be seen on my way there. Fortunately, it was the busy time for the workshop, so most ponies didn't even look up. The ponies that did look around now and then ether didn't see me, or didn't care.

Finally at medic, I quickly jumped in, and looked around. The place had a small of rot about it, as well as a bunch of other smells I didn't recognize. A dead stallion laid on the table, his white jacket covered in blood that dripped off the table and pooled on the floor. On a closer look, syringe of Med-X had been pushed deep into his eye-socket. At least his death was a numbing experience.

The sound of glass braking from the next room startled me, and drew my attention.

"Boss, just hold still, we can't fix you up if you keep thrashin' about" It was the voice of Carving Doll

"I know we're no doctor, but just stay calm darlin" Puppet Strings voice quivered.

If those two were here, then So must be Victoria. Hopping over the pool of blood I looked into the back room.

"If one more, one more pony tells me to calm down, there's going to be two ponies with Med-X applied strait to their brain!" Victoria was being held down by Carving Doll as Puppet Strings was applying a bandage to her neck. Victoria herself looked frightening, blood stained her coat, the whites of her eyes were now red, and blood came from her eyes like tears.

In the corner of the room was another dead pony, this one covered on many metal shards that punctured the mare all over.

I stepped in. "Victoria... I'm back."

The three froze, which only lasted for a short few seconds before Victoria thru the other two off of her, and leaped at me. Surprised, I stumbled back and fell, my head hitting the handle of the cutlass. "Now you look tasty hmm... Wait, do I know... Ah yes, little Stare Charter!" Looking into Victoria's eyes, the green on red was striking, and oddly, I could see a little green flame in her eye. Our stare was broken when a tear drop of blood fell from her eye, and into my own. "So your alive, that's good... how" She got off from on top of me, and pulled the cutlass from my back. "Interesting"

"I umm..." Wait, can I tell her about the not Luna, what would happen if I did.

"From the beginning!" Her voice was stern and cold.

"I delivered t' cloak like you told me to, but Blackpowder Blast was waitin' for it, and me and Scurvy Cure were taken to t' top of t' tower. Salty Biscuit and two others around my age were up thar as well. You see, Salty had turn traitor on us, but Blackpowder Blast had her executed like t' rest o' us. I didn't get shot because I had backed up to t' plank, so t' captain wanted t' throw me into t' water. She got real close, I mean so close I got to hit her with the knife I was given. But she ran me threw with her cutlass and I... I fell.."

Victoria was looking at the sword, reflecting the light off of it. "So then, how are you here?"

"I umm... I don't know... some pony must have saved me."

She dropped the sword in front of me. "That's a lie. If the captain threw you into the water, no pony would go in to save you." Victoria smiled. "But you are hear, and your no rat are you?"

"No, never!"

"And you have that cunt's sword, not something she would let any pony touch." She eyed me. "Not unless they were the ones being touched by it, with the sharp end." Victoria turned back to the other two. Puppet Strings and Carving Doll looked nervous, still holding medical supply's. "Let's go, we got a new sister to bring into the gang. Sp let's get moving, and don't forget take want you can. I have a feeling we will need it."

The two relaxed, letting out a long sigh. Before making their way out, they grabbed what they could, shoving the medical contents into their bags. I steeped out of their way, both of them eying with a strange look.

Me and Victoria were next to leave the room, she placing the cutlass back onto my back. "Victoria?"

She glanced at me. "Speak."

"What happened, why did you need t' see t' doctor?"

"Ahh, that." she took a deep breath. "It was that damn sniper the captain got hunting for her. Grazed my neck with a shot, a real close call. The doctor tried to finished the job, nearly cut my throat open, but he was too slow."

It was a bit unreal to me, that some pony could harm Victoria. But she was strong, the strongest, so I didn't worry. Following her, we went deeper into the city's inside.

__________________________

Two hundred years is a very long time,

Ho, yes, ho!

Two hundred years is a very long time,

Two hundred years ago.

They used to think that we could control the sun,

Ho, yes, ho!

I don't believe it, no, not I.

Two hundred years ago.

They thought he moon was a prison for mares,

Ho, yes, ho!

You can believe it if you please.

Two hundred years ago.

They thought the stars were a sign of dread,

Ho, yes, ho!

By some foolish zebras every clear night,

Two hundred years ago.

They hung a mare for baking cupcakes,

Ho, yes, ho!

Her special ingredients no pony ate.

Two hundred years ago.

Two hundred years is a very long time,

Ho, yes, ho!

Two hundred years is a very long time,

Two hundred years ago.

__________________________

The deeper parts of the city were a labyrinth of damp rusted metal, pipes that snaked there way all over, and large magical powered machines that keeped the city afloat. Once I was told about this place, and how the machines were made to produce purified water, but it turned out that the proses also made a byproduct that has helped keep the city from sinking for two hundred years.

The deeper we when the colder it got. Frost years old coated the side of the walls, and I could see my every breath. Victoria had taken me to a room in the deepest part of the ship, saying only few words along our way. The room was lit by only one light, and other then anything made of metal, everything was rotten.

"Puppet Strings, you have the formula?" Victoria was upbeat, that made me feel comfortable.

Pulling out a box with her magic, it having three butterfly's on it, Puppet strings walked up to us with a smile. "Right were you left it Darling." The box opened up, and it was filled with small syringes. The were all a rainbow of glowing green, and striped away that comfortable feeling I had.

"What are those for?" My voice quivered.

"Don't worry Star Charter, it's just for your initiation." Victoria rotated her hoof. "You have to be strong to be part of my crew, Just like how you have to be strong to be part of the fleet. This here is just to test how strong you are, all you have to do is survive to pass. easy no."

"I.. I don't think I'm re..!" Carving Doll fell onto me from above, hooking her hooves around me.

Victoria stoked my mane. "Did I ever say how adorable you look, I love your main, eyes too. I always had a fondness for the color green, emerald to be exact. So it's best to just sit tight, and let us do our work. Hate to mess up one of your pretty little eyes." Her eyes locked with my own, and I felt numb. Locking her hooves around my head, I was completely immobile.

Puppet Strings slowly walked up, a syringe in her magic. The needle slowly hovering to my face, to my left eye. It just hung there, I wanted to get it away, but somehow I could not find the strength to struggle. I wanted to ask them to stop, but I could not find the strength to speak up. I couldn't even blink.

The syringe went right into my eye, and everything melted away.

__________________________

Footnote:

New Item: Blackwater Cutlass. - A finely crafted sword made from scrap metal and malice, It's black finished made for intimidation. When the sword is visible on you, you get +1 to charisma.

Quest Perk: Evil Eye. - Some joke about how a stare can have powers, you don't. Your left eye is now an evil eye, you now get unique dialogue options, and the ability to cast terrify, but when not covered up, you get a -1 to charisma and -5 to barter and speech.

Author's Note

the song is based off of an old sailor song. "A Hundred Years Ago"