Fallout Equestria: Sins Unforgiven

Chapter 4: Returning to Stable 6

“Um…Riot….um wake up.” Flutter Shy was nudging her friend with her hoof. But when Riot slept, he slept like a rock. She went to Lightning Dash, but he didn’t wake up either. Nopony was waking up and it was starting to make her frustrated. Flutter Shy took a deep breath. “Wake up!” She screamed, but it was more as if she was talking normal. “Oh….I hope Sweetie Rose is ok.” She said looking out the hole in the room.
“Flutter?” A sleepy voice came behind her and it made her squeal and hide her face in terror. “Flutter, it’s just me.” Jewel said coming beside her friend.

“Oh, Jewel.” Flutter Shy said coming out of her ball. “I tried to wake you….but….Sweet Rose hasn’t come back yet from using the restroom. I’m scared….”

“What?” Jewel looked over and noticed no one was on watch. “GUYS!” Jewel shouted, much louder than Flutter Shy managed earlier. The boys jerked awake and the ones that were supposed to be watching looked even more flustered.

“I…uh……..” Riot started.

“No time. Sweet Rose has not come back from using the Fillies Room.” Jewel told them.

“What?” Riot looked around before running outside the building they were in. The rest of the group followed.

“Riot! Wait!” Lightning Dash flew in front of him and stopped him. “Think for a moment of what is on your hoof.” He said pointing down to Riot’s Pipbuck. “We all have them and they apparently still work.” Riot looked down and noticed that his Pipbuck was glowing. Meadow Lark and Jewel looked at each other.

“Oh what he would do for the one he loves.” Jewel whispered to Meadow. He just nodded in agreement.
Riot Shield pressed a few buttons on his Pipbuck and it brought up the exact location of Sweet Rose’s Pipbuck. “Come on. She is near something called the Crystal Castle.” He said before taking off. Lightning followed. Jewel and Flutter Shy weren’t far behind while Meadow Lark brought up the rear.

**

“No you are lying.” Sweet Rose said to the two front ponies as she readied her horn again.

“Oh dear, you must have escaped that attack.” Another mare said walking up. She was unarmored like the mare that was talking to her.

“You have no proof.” Sweet Rose growled.

“Ya have a Pipbuck on ya. Ye from the Stable.” The first mare spoke again. “Look, we ain’t here t’ kill ya or nothin’. We received a message. A cry fer help.” The brown mare said. Sweet Rose noticed that she had wings like Flutter Shy and Lightning Dash. “When we got down’ere, only a few of them varmints were left.”

“We took them out.” The one that looked like the terrors that attacked her home came forward and spoke.

“Then why don’t I trust you.” Sweet Rose lowered herself more. The brown mare pushed a button on her own Pipbuck and a voice recording was on it. She recognized the voice instantly.

*

“If anypony is out there, this is Overmare Chrysanthemum. Stable 6 is under attack. We need help. Please hur-”

*

The voice message was cut off with the same popping sound that she heard that night. It must have been when her mother was shot fatally. Tears welled up in Sweet Rose’s eyes. “Ya see, we ain’t here t’ kill ya. We saved ya.” She said.

“Stay away from her!” a stallion’s voice called from a distance. Sweet Rose didn’t look up when Riot Shield and her friends ran up. “What do you want from her?” Riot took a protective stance in front of her and their friends.

“Riot, they saved the Stable. Leave them be.” Sweet Rose said.

“But…”

“I said leave them be.” Sweet Rose said more commandingly. Riot Shield backed off. Sweet Rose walked forward. “Thank you. Did you have time to assess damages and loss of life while you were down there? Any survivors?”

“Damage is repairable given time and resources, loss of life is in the hundreds if not thousands, and no survivors were seen, but not out of possibility.” An armored unicorn said coming to the front. His armor was the same color as the other two, red. “Given the death toll on the first two floors, I say that there was a 20% survival rate.”

“We didn’t go much farther than floor 8. We didn’t pick up any more Rangers on our scanners.” The earth ranger informed. The Pegasus ranger remained quiet mostly.

“Riot, we need to get back into the Stable. We need to see if there are any survivors and have them sit tight in the Stable until we can find a place for them to live.” Sweet Rose said to the head security pony.

“Yes ma’am.” Riot walked in front of the group.

“Let’s follow them fer now.” Sweet Rose heard the brown mare tell her group. They all went back under the Crystal Castle to the door of Stable 6. There were some dead Steel Rangers laying in their path to the Stable Door. “They dead. Dontcha worry.” The leader mare told the group of Stable dwellers.

“Flutter Shy, I want you and Jewel to stay behind. You both don’t need to see the aftermath.” Lightning Dash told the other two mares.

“I will follow if I want.” Jewel said.

“I’ll stay behind…I…I….” Flutter Shy was starting to cry again when the unarmored stallion of the other group came and put a hoof on Flutter Shy shoulder.

“Now, now. You just quiet on down there little missy. Why don’t Rack and I stay back with her?” The stallion suggested to the lead mare of their group.

“Jewel, stay with Flutter, ok. Just so she has a familiar face.” Sweet Rose suggested to Jewel.

“Oh fine.” Jewel scoffed.

**

Sweet Rose gasped at the death that she saw. She treaded carefully as she looked around and saw ponies that were just alive days ago. She remembered the announcements of the ponies that were having anniversaries and birthdays, births and Cutiebrations. Sweet Rose walked the halls and made her way to her parents’ dwelling. Riot walked next to her. “Rose, where did you find those Saddle bags?”

“In the castle. I was thinking they suit you more than they suit me.” She levitated them in her magic as he levitated hers. They swapped bags and she floated the few things out of his into hers. “I also found some clothes that we could use at some point. I’ll leave them here though, until we find a new base of operations.” Sweet Rose looked around and found her way to her dwelling. The door slid open. “Good to know that there is power.” She said as she noticed her room was fairly untouched. She opened her closet and threw the dresses into it. She looked around and saw a picture of her father, Princey. She placed that picture in her saddle bags and then floated a picture of her mother, step-father, and half-brother into her saddle bags. “Riot, can you take me to where they are.” She tried to hide the pain in seeing her dead family.

“Come this way.” He said. He led her back down the hallway towards her mother’s dwelling. “Are you sure you want to see them like this?” He asked.

“Yes.” Sweet Rose steeled herself to expect what they might look like. Riot opened the door and led her in. Sweet Rose walked through the door and just stood there. Her brother was just about to have his Cutiebration and there he was, lying there. She slowly walked over and nudged her brother in a sign of apology that she couldn’t protect him from this. “Riot, take Meadow and one of those…things…and go below floor 8. Check every floor for life.” She told Riot.

“Rose, I’d rather stay with you.” Riot tried to insist.

“And do you think our fellow dwellers would believe Meadow or Lightning that those red things aren’t a threat?” Sweet Rose walked over to him. “Riot, if I didn’t think that our ponies would believe every word that came out of our Head Security Pony, I wouldn’t send you.” She placed a hoof on his cheek. “Please Riot. I’m not going to move from here and plus the other group is around.”

“Ok.” A smiled came to Riot’s face the first time since the party. “Wait for me?”

“Of course.” Sweet Rose smiled and then watched as Riot left the dwelling. As soon as she couldn’t hear his hoof beats, she broke down.

**

Riot Shield and Meadow Lark, along with an armored unicorn, who said that his name was Springtrap when the two introduced themselves to him, went down to floor 9. No life was detected, but there wasn’t any bodies there either. “Let’s get to floor 17.” Riot told the team. They nodded as they filed back into the elevator and went down to the second to lowest, livable floor.

“I’m picking up life on the floors we are passing.” Springtrap informed.

“What floor was it that you started seeing life?” Meadow asked.

“Floor 11.” Springtrap told them. Riot hit a few buttons on the elevator controls and reversed the car to go back up.

“Springtrap, it might be best if you let me and Meadow lead out.” Riot turned to the red Ranger. “They might freak if they saw another thing like you.

“I’m an Applejack Ranger. I am for the innocent ponies that have been wronged by the Steel Rangers.” Springtrap said.

“Applejack Ranger?” Riot asked.

“I can explain later. Life detected.” Springtrap canvased the floor with his scanner. “All huddled in one central location. Scanner says cafeteria. No active signs of Steel Ranger activity.” Riot left the car first as the doors opened.

“Meadow, go down to the next floor with spring trap and scan to see if this is the same. If so, go take count.” Riot continued forward as he heard an audible ‘Got it’ from Meadow Lark. He made his way cautiously to the Cafeteria in the center of the floors wings. The lower floors were differently set up than the first 4 floors where the auditorium was the center of those floors. The doors slid open to the cafeteria and the ponies in there sighed in relief when they saw Riot Shield, their head security pony.

**

Meadow Lark and Springtrap made it to floor 12 and walked to the cafeteria. As Riot Shield had suspected, Springtrap made the ponies uproar in fear.

“Hey everypony! It’s cool. He’s a good guy. Riot Shield approved him. So did Sweet Rose!” He shouted and they continued to panic. Meadow clicked a button and sent Riot Shield a message saying that he needed him down there stat.

**

Receiving his message, Riot shield couldn’t leave the current floor. “Listen Fillies and Gentlecolts, I know this may sound weird, but in the top floors are some Rangers that are good ponies. They came here, out of their way, and saved you all from further destruction. I advise you, with approval of the Overmare, to stay on this floor and live your everyday lives. If there are any of my Security Ponies down here, I need you front and center by the elevators.” He said and made his way to the door. “Wait there for my return.”

Riot Shield left the room and galloped back to the elevator and went down a floor and galloped to the Cafeteria. There he saw the room in chaos. “EVERYPONY CALM DOWN!” He boomed and the ponies listened. “Meadow, you and Springtrap keep going. And Springtrap, do hang back this time. Meadow, make note on your Pipbuck of numbers. 180 on floor 11.” Riot Shield then turned to the ponies in the cafeteria. “As you saw, we have some Rangers here still, but those rangers are not like the ones that attacked us. These are good Rangers.” Riot Shield started. “I advise you, with approval of the Overmare, to stay on this floor and live your everyday lives. Any Security Ponies needs to go to the Elevators and wait for my return there.”

Riot Shield left back to the Elevator and continued on down the floors with Meadow Lark and Springtrap ahead taking count.

**

After a while, Lightning Dash came out of the stable. “Jewel, I can stay here if you want to go get some things from your dwelling.” He landed next to Flutter Shy. “Just be warned that it’s not pretty.” Lightning Dash warned.

“Whatever, darling.” Jewel said walking into the Stable and ran back out in moments. “Never mind. I don’t need the things that bad.” She said as she plopped herself on the ground next to Flutter Shy.

“Is there anything you need me to get?” Lightning Dash asked the both of them.

“Um…I would like my saddle bags.” Flutter Shy said quietly.

“Mine too please.” Jewel said as Lightning Dash flew back into the stable.

**

Sweet Rose sniffed as she dried her tears. She looked around the common room to see if there was anything that she wanted to take. She saw a necklace that her mother had that held her and her little brother in the locket part. She floated it over and placed it on her neck. She turned around to leave and saw one of those red Rangers. She yelp in surprise. “Haven’t you heard of letting somepony know you are behind them?” She chastised as she walked towards the Ranger.

“You were crying. I didn’t think you wanted to be interrupted.” It was a female voice. “You will have to be tougher than that to survive out there in the Wasteland. At this point, you won’t last a night down there. Just be lucky that not many Raiders or Slavers want to come north.” Sweet Rose scoffed and walked passed her. That is when she noticed that this Ranger was a Pegasus.

“Nice to meet you too.” Sweet Rose said as she pushed her way past the Ranger.

“Seabee.” The Ranger said. “My name is Seabee. But normally you should have been the one to introduce yourself first.” Seabee shot at Sweet Rose.

“Sweet Rose. Current Overmare of Stable 6.” Sweet Rose shot back. “You know, instead of just chastising us, you should teach us how. After all, we have only ever known the Stable. Now it is gone.”

“Sweet….I mean Overmare.” A stallion’s voice came from behind Sweet Rose at this point.

“Riot, please, just call me Sweet Rose like you normally would.” Sweet Rose said turning around.

“Uh….ok. I am here to report that there are only 2205 ponies left in the stables. Floor 15 had the most ponies at 1000. I have led some of them to the other floors to even it out to the floor max of 200, but we are still overflowing. I was hoping we could clean up the top floors so we can spread them out some.” He asked as there was a group of Security Ponies behind him that were at awe at all the death they saw.

“Approved. My family is buried though. I….I just can’t……” Sweet Rose felt the tears again and turned away from Riot Shield. “How many of each group is left?”

“There are only 2 Elders left. They were out of the Elder Wing that night to spend the time with their families. There are 1004 mares and 1201 stallions. 300 of the mares are fillies and 280 of stallions are colts. The totals include the Elders but does not include me, you, or the rest of our friends.” Riot Shield said.

“Only a little over a third of our population is left.” Sweet Rose was able to compose herself enough. “Riot, take me to the Overmare office.” She said. “Then get the Security Ponies, Lightning, Meadow, and the other group to help take the dead…down…..” Sweet Rose was about to lose it again, but she gained her composure. “Leave my family where they lie for now.”

“Yes ma’am.” Riot stood to attention. Riot turned to the group of Security Ponies. “You heard the Overmare. Take them down to Floor 19. Blue Shield, Smitty, you here?” Riot called out after locating their Pipbucks.

“Right here sir!” Blue Shield said while supporting a wounded Smitty. “Blue Shield and Smitten Break reporting for duty.”

“Oh good.” Sweet Rose breathed out. Smitty was one of her favorite guards, aside from the Head Security Pony himself, Riot Shield.

“I want you two to lead the process of, laying to rest the dead.” Riot watched as his two Door guards gave their best salutes before hobbling off to the elevator. “Shall we?” He looked to Sweet Rose. Sweet Rose walked beside Riot as they made their way away from the death around her parents’ dwelling. “Rosie...” Riot galloped in front of her. “Don’t ever, and I mean ever, run off like that. I…I wouldn’t know what I would do if something were to have happened.” Riot looked the most vulnerable than Sweet Rose has ever seen him.

“Oh Riot,” She placed a hoof on his cheek. “I just couldn’t sit back while our stable was being attacked. I had to do something.” Sweet Rose lowered her hoof. “But I’m glad you came for me.” Sweet Rose locked her head underneath his in a snuggle-like manner. She then took a step back and walked around. “I need to talk to my people. I know my mother always did the announcements in her office.” Sweet Rose began to walk towards her mother’s, no, her own office. As they arrived, Sweet Rose noticed the terminal on her desk was on.

“That’s strange.” Riot said inspecting the door leading to the Security Wing.

“Go Riot, see if they left that wing untouched.” Sweet Rose said. She watched as Riot left. Sweet Rose immediately felt like running and following Riot, not because she was scared, but because without his prescence, she felt empty. But, she had to put that aside. Her mother’s old terminal was on and it looked like somepony was trying to access it. They didn’t succeed because they couldn’t crack the encryption on this terminal. Made sense. Sweet Rose was quite handy at hacking her mother’s terminal when she wasn’t looking.

Hooking up her Pipbuck to the Terminal, Sweet Rose heard a female voice. “So ya this stable’s Overmare?” It was the brown Pegasus from before. Sweet Rose was able to analyze this mare now. She was built like Lightning Dash was and wore a cowpony hat. What intrigued Sweet Rose was the Pegasus’s cutie mark. Her Pipbuck gave a beep telling her that she finished hacking into the terminal.

“You’re a musician?” Sweet Rose asked.

“Yes ma’am. Musica is th’ name, ‘n’ singin’ is my game.” The mare, now identified as Musica, introduced. “An’ ye are?”

“Sweet Rose. Was Overmare in training, but in light of what has happened, current Overmare.” Sweet Rose introduced. “The unicorn that accompanied me was Riot Shield, Head Security Pony.” As Sweet Rose said his name, Riot Shield appeared.

“I can’t believe it, this wing is untouched and the 5 security officers only had speculations of what occurred out here. They hunkered down when the alarm went off.” Riot Shield said and then realized that the two mares were conversing.

“That’s Riot Shield?” Musica had asked.

“Yes Ma’am. My number one supporter and Head Security Pony.” Sweet Rose responded. Riot was thoroughly lost. “I was introducing ourselves. This is Musica.”

“Co-lead pony of our small group.” One of the red Rangers walked in. It was the earth pony Ranger. “I would be the other one.”

“And you are?” Riot Shield stood protectively in front of Sweet Rose.

“Steel Rain. Applejack Ranger.” The Red Ranger, now named Steel Rain, introduced himself. Sweet Rose placed a hoof on Riot’s shoulder.

“It is nice to meet you Steel Rain.” She walked around Riot and approached the two.

“Somethin’ has been botherin’ me. Any of ya know how t’ use one of ‘ese?” Musica asked. Sweet Rose and Riot looked to each other.

“No. We don’t have any of those things here in the stable. What are they?” Riot Shield asked Musica taking the strange object that the mare had in her mouth into his magic. He looked it over. “What is it?”

“A gun.” Steel Rain said without difference.

“What does it do?” Sweet Rose walked next to Riot Shield and looked it over with him. Sweet Rose started punching things into her Pipbuck to find out about the object.

“It helps ya protect yerself.” Musica chimed in. “Do ya know how t’ use it?”

“No.” Sweet Rose and Riot Shield said in unison.

“Then ya’ll gunna have t’ learn. An’ we startin’ now.” Musica said.

“Not right now. I gotta make an announcement.” Sweet Rose told them walking back around the desk. “And I have to find out why somepony was trying to hack into my mother’s terminal. It still had its encryption so I don’t think that they were able to get what is on this terminal.” Riot Shield made his way next to Sweet Rose.

“This is strange.” Riot Shield looked at the document that was up. “What could this mean?”

“I don’t know. But it’s not good.”

Meadow Lark: The party stallion that will do his best to make you laugh. Current Age: 25. In a Relationship with: Jewel. Stable Position: Dweller. Stable Job: Party planner. Hobby: going on walks with Jewel in the Farm Floor on Floor 18, hanging out with the guys of the group, planning parties. What he looks like: Meadow Lark