Fallout Equestria: Sins Unforgiven

Chapter 5: Learning to Fight

"Indications of Life:
In recent hours, there has been a spontaneous indications of life above our stable. Without the knowledge of my loyal Head Security Pony, Riot Shield, I have sent a guard pony outside the stable to confirm or deny the existence of life outside of our Stable. I normally wouldn't have done this without his knowledge, but....let’s say I have had some doubts in him recently. Not for his job, he does wonderful at it, but in his judgement. Just tonight, my daughter wanted to see the Security Wing. I had expected Riot Shield to not let my daughter insist on wanting to see that wing right now. She wasn't ready. But I can't complain all too much. After all, he is the only unicorn that my daughter has shown interest in. Anyways, the life above has been shown......"

*

Sweet Rose had to stop reading because the look on Riot's face was too much for her to ignore. Her own mother was starting to have doubts in Riot Shield in the last hours of her life. "Why mother?" Sweet Rose whispered. Riot looked like a lost pony.

"The Over..mare...." Riot couldn't believe what he had heard. Everything that came after he heard about how the former Overmare had doubts in his judgement fell on deaf ears. Riot was in shock about this revelation. He sat back on his haunches trying to grasp at anything to have it make any sense to him.

"Riot...if my mother really had any lapse in your judgement, why would she task you to protect me?" Sweet Rose tried to make sense for him.

"If I have anything to say, I say she is right. Not arming yourself properly is a lapse in judgement." The armored Pegasus came in with the rest of the group behind her.

"Now, now Seabee," Musica started. "We jus' met 'em. No need t' git harsh."

"No. They need to hear it. They are under prepared for that world and I am not going to sit by as they go chasin' some dream and think that the world is like this." Seabee spoke her mind. Meadow and Lightning walked in after the group at this point.

"Now you listen here." Sweet Rose moved from behind the desk. "Just because we invite you here into our stable doesn't give you the right to say my mother was right. If you knew my mother, she had nothing but praise for Riot Shield. She always turned to him even for the smallest thing because she could trust he would deal with it in a quiet manner and not get the whole Stable involved when they didn't need to be. So if you want to come in here and start spouting about things you don't even know about, then get the hell out, because we don't need that." When Sweet Rose was finished, she was looking at Seabee through her helmet, not even caring of how frightening the armored Pegasus looked. "Now, if you want to put actions to your words, teach us, and I mean teach us until you have nothing left to teach. And don't just go judging us because we were born in the stable. This is the only life we knew of and had no idea that there was a whole other world outside the stable door until just now. Teach us like we are equals. And if you can't, then I don't want you around."

Musica and the rest of her group could only stare at the unicorn mare that stood up to Seabee. It was then that they noticed that Seabee, who normally wasn't easily moved, had taken a few steps back. Riot looked over to Sweet Rose in surprise while Lightning and Meadow could only look at each other. Seabee smirked in her helmet. "Heh, you got guts filly. No pony has stood up like that to me." Seabee's stature took a more relaxed form. "Alright, if Musica agrees, I say we train you in guns." Seabee looked over to Musica.

"Already planned on it." Musica smiled.

**

"Attention, attention. This is your new Overmare. I, Sweet Rose, promise that I will find a way where we can be safe again. If you have not been informed yet, we have had a horrible tragedy that has struck our Stable. Just under two thirds of our fellow ponies have lost their lives in a massacre that has befallen our slice of peace and Paradise. Among those that we have lost is our former Overmare, my mother, Chrysanthemum. Many ponies have lost their lives in this tragedy. Many of you must have had family that were in floors One through floor Ten. Trust me when I say I am grieving alongside of you. But we need to be strong and survive while we can. I swear to you, as Overmare, I will find a place where we can call home again may it be here with more protection, or a new location all together. I urge you to stay in the lower levels of the Stable. But if need be, please venture up to the upper levels. They have been cleaned up from the tragedy that had befallen them.

"Here me now my fellow ponies. Riot Shield and I, along with Meadow Lark, Lightning Dash, Flutter Shy, and Jewel will be out beyond the door. To all you fillies and colts, do not consider my friends and I leaving the stable as a chance to follow our lead. The world is supposedly dangerous and you are encouraged to stay in. To help deter anyone following, Floor One will be closed off from use. The only ponies with access will be administration level clearance.

"You all may be wondering why I would leave you all to your own defenses if I am now the new Overmare. Trust me, this position will not be left empty. When I have decided who will temporarily take my place as Vice Overmare, I will return to announce it. For now, live your lives as normal until we can reveal who has perished. Thank you."

**

Sweet Rose sighed as she turned off the mic. That announcement just wore her out. "So, we agree that you will teach us right here in this land called The Crystal Empire. Am I correct?"

"Darn righ'. An' Ah promise ya tha' ya'll know how t' defend yerself by th' end of it." Musica said. She had started walking out of the office. Her group followed, and then Sweet Rose and her small group. "If Ah wasn' sure tha' this could help ya, Ah wouldn' have stuck 'round."

"I call dibs on teaching Pansy Pony here." Seabee pointed to Sweet Rose.

"It's Sweet Rose." Sweet Rose said through clenched teeth.

"Oh yeah? Well you're a Pansy Pony to me." Seabee looked directly in Sweet Rose's eyes through her helmet. "Think you got what it takes to keep up with my teachings?"

"You are on." Sweet Rose smirked.

"Um....Rosie?" Riot was walking behind her with his ears back. He still didn't feel confident about himself at the moment.

"What Riot?" Rose didn't take her eyes off Seabee.

"I...I think I should stay here, take care of the Stable." The doubt in his voice was still present. Sweet Rose sighed and peeled her eyes away from Seabee.

"Riot, I need you by my side. So what if my mother really doubted you. I don't. I trust my life in your hooves and I always have and always will until the day we no longer walk our paths. So whatever negative thoughts you have, don't listen to them. You are my best friend and someone I care about. I can't leave you behind." Sweet Rose placed a hoof on his cheek and that was received with a smile. "Now, what can I trust you to do?" Sweet Rose grinned.

"To protect and serve the Overmare." Riot stood at attention, back to his normal self.

"Good. Now I think we are ready." Sweet Rose looked over to Lightning Dash and Meadow Lark. "Right?"

"Right." The two stallions said in unison.

***

“Do you think that they are ok?” Flutter Shy asked.

“Oh trust me. Musica won’t let anything happen to your friends.” The female that was beside them answered.

“We never got your names darlings.” Jewel realized.

“I’m Fashpoint.” Flashpoint stood up and puffed out his chest. The mare comically pushed his chest back in.

“Down boy.” The mare smiled. “The name’s Racquetta, but you can just call me Racquet.” Racquet smiled and held a hoof to the shy pony.

“Um…hi. I’m….I’m Flutter Shy.” The shy mare spoke softly.

“What was that Little Missy?” Flashpoint leaned his head in close.

“Eeep!” Flutter Shy ran behind Jewel.

“Oh forgive her. I’m Jewel and this shy pony is Flutter Shy.” Jewel held out a hoof. Flashpoint looked at it before shaking it fast, and hard. “THAT IS NOT HOW YOU GREET A LADY!” Jewel snatched her hoof away before connecting it to his cheek and sending him flying. Racquet could only laugh.

“Oh dear, who got my Jewels mad?” Meadow Lark asked running out first.

“The grimy guy shook my hoof all….manly. Not delicately!” Jewel shouted appalled. Meadow Lark looked wide eyed before laughing. Sweet Rose and Riot Shield, followed by the rest of Racquet and Flashpoint’s team, Sweet Rose laughed along with Meadow Lark. “It’s true! It’s horrible. Stop laughing!”

“Jewels. We believe you. It’s just….his face.” Sweet Rose laughed. Jewel spun around and looked at Flashpoint. Horror was all over his face.

“Flash, y’ alrigh'?” Musica asked walking up.

“She is scarry. Are we going to train them?” Flashpoint asked overhearing Seabee bragging she was training the Overmare to Racquet.

“Yes. They need to know how to defend themselves. The leader there has it in her mind to travel around to find either help or a place for her people to live. Since the boys agree, I am sure that the other two girls will tag along.” Steel Rain informed.

“Yeah. And I am training the Overmare.” Seabee bragged again. “Steel Rain already wants to train Riot Shield.” Seabee smiled under her helmet. “Who you gonna train?”

“Not HER!” Flashpoint ran over to Meadow Lark and raised Meadow’s hoof. "I'll teach him!" Flashpoint nearly jumped when Meadow Lark snatched his arm away and glared at him. Flashpoint gave a nervous smile to him which made Meadow Lark laugh.

"Hey, I don't mind." Meadow smiled as Flashpoint started laughing too. The two bro hoofed and smiled.

"Now, Ah know ya'll have th' ones ye wanna teach. But Ah think it best if we train th' ones that're like us. Meanin' Unicorns train unicorns. Fer a while at least. 'Til they git th' basics." Musica told everyone.

"I agree." Steel Rain walked up to Seabee. "Training ones of our own type is crucial. We know what works best for our kind. It's easier for me to teach an earth pony than teaching a unicorn." Seabee pouted that she wasn't going to teach Sweet Rose right away and Steel Rain placed a hoof on her armored shoulder.

"Down here isn't the ideal location. There is a location not to far from here that is wide open." Springtrap was making his way towards the stairs.

"Then lets get started!" Lightning Dash flew towards the opening and then out.

**

"Not quick enough!" Racquet yelled at Sweet Rose. Sweet Rose was training on using her magic to reload a gun. Sweet Rose hadn't really done something that fast before and it was taking her some time to get used to it. "You need to be faster."

"Can we take a break, I'm getting mentally exhausted." Sweet Rose was starting to notice herself panting heavier than she was earlier.

"Sorry, but the Wasteland doesn't give breaks." Racquet grabbed the gun that Sweet Rose had set down and floated it up in front of Sweet Rose's face. "Again."

*

"You need to increase your power by 75%. Focus your mind on the easy motion of the trigger pulling and the gun will fire." Springtrap had Riot Shield with him trying to help the Head Security Pony tap into his protective side.

"So I just need to think that this thing is part of myself?" Riot asked. The gun levitated in his telekinetic grasp aimed at a cement wall that was about 50 feet away.

"Yep. Of course since I joined the Applejack rangers, I haven't had to really use these techniques. But I still feel the same with my weapons now as I did then, without my armor. Pretending that the gun is another part of your body lets you focus on what you would do if you had to help that limb move with your magic." Springtrap fiddles with his helmet and it dropped off when he lowered his head. His horn glowed with a blue aurora that matched his eye color. He floated a spare gun in front of him to demonstrate how the gun can become like second nature with enough practice.

*

"Am I holding this right?" Meadow Lark looked over to Flashpoint. Meadow was holding a gun in his mouth, his tongue on the trigger.

"I'd say you are. Now pull the trigger toward you." Flashpoint pointed back towards the target that he had set up with some of the rubble.

"How?" Meadow Lark tried lightly moving his tongue around the trigger and it didn't move. He started to get worried.

"Pretend you are pulling something with your tongue. Make sure it's a hard pull." Flashpoint demonstrated with a gun of his own. Meadow looked horrified when the gun went off.

"Does it hurt?" Meadow walked over to Flashpoint.

"It will at first, but these guns are built to be used in the mouth like that. So a tip, don't bite so hard on it. Just bite down hard enough to hold it firm." Flashpoint smiled and set the gun down. He smiled to Meadow Lark. "Your turn."

*

"But I don't wanna put that nasty thing in my mouth!" Jewel shouted. Steel Rain had taken off his helmet to help Jewel learn how hold it, but she was being stubborn, as usual. Steel Rain could only sigh.

"Ms. Jewel, if you want to survive, then you must." Steel Rain tried to insist.

"Couldn't there be something else that I can use? That thing is disgusting." Jewel pushed the gun that was in front of her away. Steel Rain could only facehoof.

"Ms. Jewel. I honestly can tell you that if you don't at least learn, I advise that you stay behind." Steel Rain put his foot down.

"Well that isn't going to happen." Jewel said tossing a piece of hair out of her face.

"Then pick up that gun and learn." Steel Rain pointed with his hoof.

"But...but...but" Jewel pouted. But Steel Rain didn't waiver in his stance. Jewel scoffed and picked up the gun.

*

"Fly faster an' higher. Gain yer speed an' don' hesitate." Musica called out to Lightning. She followed his movements from the air. In the distance, she and Seabee had set up a giant aerial target for both Lightnjng Dash and Flutter Shy. So far, only Lightning had hit it, barely. "Ya need t' keep yer speed at uh high speed 'n order not t' gig hit.

"Got it." Lightning flew higher with the gun in his mouth. He started to do a dive bomb and shot at the target.

"Tha's it! Keep it up!" Musica praised Lightning. Lightning did about four more of those runs when the gun started to run out of ammo.

"Hey Musica! My gun is about out! How would I change ammo?" Lightning looked at the gun in his hooves. He couldn't tell how to change the ammo cartridge that Musica gave to him before they had started.

"Cum down 'ere an' Ah'll show ya." Musica motioned for him to follow here to the ground. Lightning looked over towards Flutter Shy's direction before flying towards the ground. There, Musica had taken a gun of hers off of the rig that she was wearing and lightning just noticed.

"What's that?" Lightning pointed to the rig.

"It called uh battle saddle. Keep up th' good work an' Ah migh' teach ya." Musica smiled. She then started to show Lightning how to change the cartridge. "Now, ya have t' press this butt'n with yer teeth. Th' clip shuld pop righ' out. 'less yer flyin', use yer wing t' switch it. Ah found it eas'r tha' way."

"Got it." Lightning looked over again. "I wonder how Flutter is holding up?"

*

"Will you stop shying away from me!" Seabee was getting frustrated at the mare. Every time she tried to encourage the yellow pegasus, she kept scooting away. Flutter Shy kept whimpering. Seabee scoffed. "Come on. You wanna be killed?" Flutter Shy looked on the verge of tears. "You are if you don't get it together!" That was the tipping point.

Seabee stood there mouth open as the shy pegasus ran away crying. Growling, Seabee took to the air and caught up to the crying mare. "Crying like that is only going to get you killed. Man up." But it only made the crying worse and Flutter ran faster. As she ran past the others, everyone watched her. Jewel wanted to run after her, anything to get her out of this, but Steel Rain stopped that motion with a look. The others had similar way. Seabee looked around for Flutter Shy.

Flutter had found a small flower that was a crystal flower, looked like it had been the first to spring up after the war. Flutter was stroking the petals gently examining it as it was calming her down. "There, there. You shouldn't be alone." Flutter was sniffing the flower and didn't notice Seabee looking down at her. And much to her anger, Seabee landed right on the flower.

"Get up and come back." Seabee demanded. She expected the shy mare to shy away again, but Seabee nearly jumped out of her armor.

"How dare you." Flutter Shy said softly at first. "HOW DARE YOU! That little flower had just sprung up after all this destruction and you had the nerve to crush it! You should be ashamed of yourself! I should just buck you until you cry uncle!" Flutter Shy was hovering and driving Seabee backwards. "Not only that, but you have the nerve to push something on me in a forceful way just as you forced yourself on that delicate flower!" The quite mare was getting louder. "AND IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO ORDER ME AROUND!" Flutter's friends were shaking their heads as Seabee's teammates were surprised. Flutter Shy grabbed a gun close by and started chasing Seabee around, firing it at her in anger.

As she drew near, Riot Shield and Sweet Rose grabbed Flutter Shy in the telekinetic grasp and pulled the gun away from her. "Flutter Shy calm down." Sweet Rose said as Riot brought Flutter Shy close enough to Sweet Rose to grasp on to. Flutter Shy shook her head and realized everyone was looking at her. She gave her squeak and buried her head into Sweet Rose, embarrassed.

Seabee walked up to Flutter Shy. "Hey come on. Use that anger to your advantage. You can learn to use a gun yet." Flutter Shy looked up into a smiling Seabee, who had taken off her helmet.

**

After the events with Flutter Shy, the two groups spent time learning all they could. Eventually, the sun set and it was getting dark. "Alrigh' everypony. 'nough fer th' day!" Musica called out.

"I'm starvin'!" Flashpoint called out.

"Riot." Sweet Rose ran over. "We should invite them to a meal in the stable."

"But Rose....what would the ponies say?" Riot was concerned about the Applejack Rangers.

"Listen, it is evident that they can remove that armor. We can see if they can remove the armor long enough to get a bite to eat." Sweet Rose looked over to the others. "Plus we owe them."

"Right." Riot looked over and smiled. "Hey Musica, can you come over here?" Riot motioned the lead pegasus over. Musica flew over and landed in front of the two.

"Musica, we were wondering if you and your group would like a nice hearty meal from our stable tonight. It's as a thank you for teaching us." Sweet Rose smiled.

"Ah don' know. It fine wit' me." She smiled.

"But there is one condition." Riot started.

"An' tha' is?" Musica's ears perked.

"The rangers have to remove their armor before going down to Floor 11. We are only concerned that, even though we have told our fellow dwellers that these ponies mean no harm, some might still be afraid." Riot Shield's voice was filled with concern.

"Ah'll talk t' Steel Rain, see wha' he says." Musica walked over to Steel Rain. The two looked like they were discussing for awhile.

"Aw man, we totally offended them." Sweet Rose threw back her ears and sat back on her flank. "Maybe we should go searching for food. I mean, we can't be dependent on the Stable forever." Sweet Rose was feeling down. She watched as Musica came back over with Steel Rain in tow.

"We will take off our armor for one night only." Steel Rain responded. "But you all need to learn how to scavenge and use what you find."

"Rodger." Riot Shield smiled.

*

Sweet Rose entered the cafeteria on Floor 11 first. Jewel's mom ran up to Jewel when she walked in after Sweet Rose. There were some other reunions that happened as well. Sweet Rose just sat there watching smiling for her friends. Riot's dad was there, Lightning's parents were both there, Flutter's aunt and cousin were there, Jewel's mom and sister, and Meadow's whole family. Musica walked in with her group following her. She noticed that the Overmare was sitting by herself. "Ya alrigh'?" Musica asked. Sweet Rose wiped a tear away.

"Yeah. It's nice that my friends still have family around." Sweet Rose sniffed and then led the group over to get some food. "It might not look like much, but it is filling in the end, and you are free to get more if you want." She told Musica's group. She studied the three that were in armor moments before. They looked different that she thought. But what surprised her was that the dwellers on this floor took them right in and started talking to them.

Sweet Rose found her a nice table in the back that was alone. She hoped that her friends stayed with their families. They were going on a long journey and won't see them in a long while. Fiddling with her Pipbuck, Sweet Rose pulled up the picture of her family. She missed them so much. She was paying more attention to the picture and jumped when the sound of trays joined her. It was her friends. "Guys, you shouldn't have to sit with me."

"But we want to darling." Jewel smiled but frowned when Sweet Rose shook her head.

"No, go sit with your families. Spend time with them. You won't see them for a long while. Plus, after what happened, you should cherish these moments." Sweet Rose shooed them away. They all left, all but Riot. "Go on Riot, you too. I'm fine, really." But Riot still sat there.

"No. My family isn't complete. Not yet. I insist you come sit with me and my father. I don't like it when you are alone." Riot kicked the floor a little.

"Ok." Sweet Rose smiled and followed Riot over to the table and joined him and his father. They all ate with peace and enjoyed themselves for the time being.

**

Musica and Sweet Rose walked with each other after dinner. The two groups thought it be best to spend that night in the stable. The next day, Riot and Springtrap was going to repair the hole that led down to the stable to hide it again from being detected before officially leaving. "My problem is determining somepony to take my place as Overmare while we are away. Someone who won't go all power hungry."

"Ya know, th' group an' Ah have been travelin' fer some time. Some times it's better t' just put it in th' han's of sumone ya trust and hope fer th' best." Musica stopped in front of the dwelling that her group was borrowing for the night. "Ah know ye got sumone li'e tha' in mind."

"Yeah. Thanks Musica. Good night." Sweet Rose smiled and ran off to her office. She had a certain pony to contact.

Flutter Shy: The shy pony that everypony loves. Current Age: 22. Off and On with: Lightning Dash. Stable Position: Dweller. Stable Job: Assistant Farm Pony. Hobby: Working the farm on Floor 18, being with Jewel and Sweet Rose, not doing anything physical. What she looks like: Flutter Shy