Chapter 2: Something’s Not Right

Speeches. If there was one thing that Rose hated more than writing them, it was giving them. Sweet Rose was sitting down at a table. It was tradition that the Overmare sat with the family of the deceased while the rest sat with their families. The joyous party was sure to happen after the formal ceremony. Of course the body was no longer there. They cremate it within a few hours after death, unless it was sudden. But this death was natural and thus the body was turned to ash.

The time for Sweet Rose to give the Overmare speech was not too far from this point. Her mother still presided over the ceremony as she usually did. They went through Shooting Star’s life and how he was a gym instructor and everything. Different ponies made their remarks, they sang some songs, and they remembered him how he was. But the ceremony couldn’t go slow enough. Before she knew it, her mother was calling her up to give the speech. Slowly, Sweet Rose made her way up to her mother.

“Do I have to do this?” Rose whispered to her mother away from mic.

“Yes.” Chrysanthemum said to her daughter. “It’s a good speech. Very honoring. I’ll be proud no matter how the rest take it.” She said putting a hoof on Rose’s shoulder. Sweet Rose took her place on the stage and glanced down at her Pipbuck once before taking a big breath. ‘Here we go.’ She thought and let her memory do the work.

*

“Shooting Star. That’s exactly who he was. I met Shooting Star when I was a young filly. Not much older than my little brother now. He was there in the Elder Wing, just retired from serving the Stable as a Gym Instructor for all the ponies around. Shooting Star had high spirits even after his legs started becoming weak, but that didn’t stop this star from shining.

“When Shooting Star and I met once a week, he would always tell me about his grandfoals and Great grandfoals and how he taught them the things he learned in life, just as he had taught his foals. He never once let me leave his dwelling without telling me one of those life lessons. And those life lessons are something that I still find myself hearing him say in my head today. Shooting Star isn’t gone. He is beginning to live. I know I am not the only one who has heard his lessons and those lessons will be passed on to our foals and they will pass them on to theirs. The whole stable in three or more generations will still know who Shooting Star was and is.

“One week, Shooting Star told me about his Grandfoal Lucky Star and showed me a picture. I then realized that this was the colt that I had seen being picked on for being the smallest colt in the class, even smaller than us fillies. I thought what he was going to say was just going to end with that, but what surprised me was a lesson that he weaved into it. ‘Just because you are the bigger one, doesn’t mean you can’t stand up for the smaller one.’ I didn’t get what he meant that day. But it wasn’t until a few days later in gym class where some of the older colts started picking on Lucky. Those words rang through my head that moment and I got what he meant. I don’t think I need to tell you how that ended, as I am sure we all remember the announcement about that the next day.

“Shooting Star didn’t mind it when I started to rant about my life at home, as just like all, my home life isn’t perfect. He never once judged me for it, nor had he ever judged any of my family. It’s just the kind of man that he was. A kindness that I am sure I have shown others.

“When my little brother was starting to be bullied, I asked him for advice, as I have done with a lot of the Elders. But his advice was so much different and made so much more sense. ‘Do nothing.’ Now I had to ask what he meant of course. He put it like this, ‘Say you were the one being bullied, wouldn’t you rather have someone there watching over you than for them to just jump in? Sometimes just being there stops the bullying.’ I got what he meant when I asked Ms. Finish if I could start helping out with the schooling of the young colts and fillies. What I didn’t know at the time was that my brother wasn’t the only one, and just my being around helped the bullying.

“What I am trying to say is that Mr. Star just didn’t leave us with nothing. I am sure he taught us something beyond the normal gym class. For me, he taught me how to be accepting, the silent guard, the one who isn’t afraid to help one in need. Shooting Star physically may be gone, and there is a void that he left in his family. But he is still here in all our hearts and our actions. Shooting Star will live on in this Stable, maybe even more generations than what I originally said. But there is one thing that I will always remember about him, he always asked about my mother, the very first thing he always said. He cared about my mother and always asked how she was handling the loss of the love of her life, my birth father. I always told him, ‘She doesn’t have to handle it. She just does. We are getting by each day, and I think Mr. Shower is helping too.’

“I want to end my speech with a line from Mr. Star that I heard often from him:

“Live like you want to be remembered, not how you think you should live.”

*

Sweet Rose released a breath that she didn’t know she was holding most of the time. The room was silent. ‘Was it that bad? I knew it….I’m not cut out for………’ She stopped in mid-sentence when one pony started stomping in applause, then followed by another, and another, and another. Her speech…it was a success. She moved towards the stairs off the platform and her mother was there.

“I knew you were ready.” Chrysanthemum whispered to her daughter. “We can talk more about this later.” Chryssi smiled and walked back to her place to finish the rest of the Ceremony.

***

The party had just begun when Jewel and Meadow Lark came over.

“Good work Rosie. That speech was phenomenal. I can’t wait to hear another one.” Jewel smiled to Rose.

“Yeah. It made me all…larky inside.” Meadow Lark said with a smile, pulling a play of his name, again.

“Thanks guys. Have you seen Riot? I couldn’t spot him from up there.” Rose asked.

“I think he just slipped out. Said something along the lines that he had to check something out. ‘Nothing to worry the Overmare about’ he said.” Meadow Lark informed.

“Ok.” Sweet Rose looked down. “If he comes back, let him know I asked about him.”

“Of course Rosie.” Jewel said. “Come Larky, you owe me a dance.” Jewel and Meadow Lark went off towards the dance floor. Sweet Rose sighed and watched as Flutter Shy was off to the edge watching everypony dance. Lightning Dash was in the crowd of ponies that was dancing to the Stable DJ. Riot was the only pony that she didn’t spot. She listened as her mother was making small talk to the Star family while she kept an eye out on the ponies. It wasn’t long before Sweet Rose caught sight of Riot. He was making his way to the head table. The smile on his face let her know it was for social reasons that he was coming up there.

“Sweet Rose, that speech was perfect. I was wondering, if it is ok with you Overmare, if I may take Sweet Rose out for a dance.” Riot Shield was doing like he always did, threw on the formal charm that was just him.

“Of course Riot Shield. I know my daughter will be in safe hooves with you.” Chryssi smiled. “Hey Sweetie, he is a keeper you know.” Chryssi whispered in Sweet Rose’s ear before she was whisked away by Riot Shield. Sweet Rose was blushing when they made it out onto the dance floor.

“There. Now you can be with our friends.” He smiled at her. He must have known she was getting bored just sitting there with the family of the deceased.

“Thank you.” She smiled back at him. “I was starting to get bored there.” She looked around as Jewel and Meadow were heading over towards them. “So where did you slip off to?” She asked.

“I just had to check on something. One of the guards noticed something abnormal on a monitor. It was just some radioactive interference. Nothing to be too worried about. Right now, let’s enjoy this party.” Riot waved over Lightning Dash. Lightning grabbed Flutter Shy’s hoof and they came to join in the circle of friends.

“Sweet Rose. You were awesome up there! Totally cool.” Lightning Dash said. Sweet Rose just gave him a smile. But what Riot had said about the monitor blipping like that was not normal.

“Riot, after this, I want you to take me to the security wing and show me the blip.” Sweet Rose asked him only loud enough for him to hear.

“I don’t know. Usually you would have to get the Overmare’s permission to go there.” Riot Shield replied. Being the Captain of the Security forces meant he had a lot on his plate. “Maybe I can bring you in without getting her permission, after all, as future Overmare, you do have a right to see what goes on there.”

“No. If I need to ask my mother, I will ask.” Sweet Rose said firmly. “But right now, let’s enjoy ourselves.”

***

“But mother! You are always telling me to prepare to become the Overmare. Shouldn’t this be included?” Sweet Rose argued with her mother after the party ended and the day was finishing out as normal in the Stable.

“Yes I did say that, but the Security Wing is no place that you should be concerned about. Not while you are in training. Riot Shield has everything under control there and doesn’t need any of us snooping around there.” Chrysanthemum told her daughter bluntly. At this rate, Sweet Rose would never get back there. Riot Shield did say that the blip was nothing to be afraid of. But Sweet Rose had a different feeling. She had to get back there…..somehow. ‘…he’s a keeper.’ Chrysanthemum’s words rang out in Sweet Rose’s head. ‘THAT’S IT!’ Sweet Rose smiled as her plan came to mind.

“Ok. You are right. But how am I supposed to let you know if Riot Shield is the perfect Unicorn to put on my list of possible Stallions if I am not allowed to see what makes up his world currently?” Sweet Rose knew she made a point when her mother stopped pacing, as she normally did when they were arguing. “What I am saying is, I only know the Riot Shield from school and as a friend. I don’t know the Security Pony that he is. Wouldn’t you grant me at least an hour with him in the wing?”

“One hour. That’s it. If you aren’t home within a half hour after your hour is up in the wing, I’ll come get you personally.” Chryssi said.

“Thanks mom.” Sweet Rose hugged her mom and ran off towards the wing. It was towards the Overmare office….well it opened from the back of her mom’s office. But there was another entrance that was on the outside of her mother’s office, that only a few ponies knew about. Riot Shield knew about it.

“Hey! Mom gave me the ok for an hour.” Sweet Rose said running up to him. “I have to be out when the hour is up.”

“Not a problem. Let’s go shall we?” Riot Shield opened the secret door and they went in to the Security Wing. Riot Shield went ahead with the tour like it was normal to do so. He eventually led her to the room where they saw the blip and it was in chaos, which wasn’t normal.

“What’s going on?” Sweet Rose asked Riot quietly.

“I’ve never seen this many blips before!” A security pony called out.

“This is too many to be normal radiation spikes.” Another responded.

“EVERYPONY CALM DOWN!” Riot Shield called out. The security ponies stopped running around and looked over to Riot Shield. “Now explain to me what is happening.”

“The monitors are showing blips every 3 seconds. This isn’t normal radiation spikes, Mr. Shield. They are too frequent and too high to be radiation.” The second security pony answered.

“Could it be that it is picking up life?” Sweet Rose spoke out. It was then that everypony noticed the Overmare’s daughter in their presence. They all stood at attention after noticing.

“Sweet Rose ma’am. Forgive the chaos you had to witness. We never took that into consideration.” A third security pony responded.

“Sweet Rose, what would you have us do?” the first security pony asked.

“Um…that really isn’t my call. My mother is the one to contact.” Sweet Rose said. “Yes, contact my mother and have her come make the call. I am only an Overmare-in-training and I do not have the authority to make these decisions.”

“Good choice.” Riot Shield whispered in her ear. “Sweet Rose and I will personally go call the Overmare. Record everything until further notice.”

“Already done sir. Been recording since the first one.” The second security pony said.

“I knew I chose you all for a reason. Keep up the good work.” Riot Shield said and led Sweet Rose back down towards the Overmare office.

“You have a good group of Security Ponies.” Sweet Rose said after they were a little ways away from the monitor room.

“Yeah. Chose them myself. They keep me informed regularly while I do get chances to hang out with my friends.” Riot Shield smiled. “Besides, getting to see the whole Stable is a plus. I enjoy getting around to see everypony.”

“Then I bet you hardly rest.” Sweet Rose observed.

“On the contrary….Here we are, we should make our way to the Overmare dwelling.” Riot Shield led out of the Overmare office. It was closer to the Overmare dwelling than the other entrance.

***

“Sweet Rose stay here.” Chrysanthemum told her daughter strictly.

“But mother, I have already seen the…disturbance.” Sweet Rose said under her breath so her step-father and little brother couldn’t hear.

“No. You will only be in the way.” Chryssi said holding her hoof out to prevent Sweet Rose from following.

“But…Riot?” Sweet Rose looked to her friend.

“Sorry Rosie. I’m with your mother on this one.” Riot Shield shook his head. That only made Sweet Rose glare at him.

“Listen, if I need to hear your side, I will ask when I get back.” Chryssi said. “Dusty, I’ll be back soon.” And with that, her mother was out the door. Sweet Rose growled in frustration.

“I’m going for a walk.” Sweet Rose ran out the door, ignoring the call of Dust Shower.

**

Rose walked around the Stable’s North Wing, the wing that contained the Stable door. She sometimes came here to talk to the guards that were posted there ever so often. This night was one of those nights they were there. One recognized her when she came. “Eey, it’s a Rosie Posie.” The guard said. The other one must have been new to door duty. “The Overmare’s daughter, ya dimwit. Whatcha doin’ ova here? Get inta one of ya fights with the moms?”

“Yeah. She’s telling me to be more assertive with me being in training and when I do, she pushes me back.” Rose said sitting down at the small table.

“Ms. Rose, I just think your mother is trying to protect you from worrying over something that you don’t need to worry about yet.” The other guard said.

“You can call me Rose or Sweetie.” Sweet Rose told the new guard. “But I don’t think that is it.” She said just before the Overmare came over the Pipbuck of the new guard.

“Blue Badge, send out a transmission that says ‘To the Life above, life is still present here.’ Make it unencrypted.”

“Yes Ma’am.” The new guard, named Blue Badge, went over to a screen and typed out the message. “Well here we go.” Blue Badge sent the message.

“Ya moms thinks that its life out there?” The familiar security pony asked.

“I guess Smitty. Who knows?” Sweet Rose said.

“Whatever the case. It is just a matter of time before we hear some response. Care to join us in some casual conversation?” Blue Badge asked.

“No, I should get back to my dwelling. See ya, Smitty. Bye, Blue Badge.” Sweet Rose walked back out to the Stable, not without hearing the faint sound of something exploding.

It was small, but she heard it.

Riot Shield: A young stallion that isn't afraid of protecting those who he is close with. Current Age: 27. Crush: Sweet Rose (head over hooves for her). Stable Position: Administration. Stable Job: Head Security Pony. Hobby: When he has time off, reading, being with his friends, challenging Lightning Dash to competitions, and being near Sweet Rose. What he looks like: Riot Shield

Author's Note

Thank you all for reading the first two chapters of my story. I have written other stories but this is my first Fallout Equestria based one. Please keep supporting my work.