FALLOUT EQUESTRIA: SURVIVOR
Chapter 1: Stable 11
“Oh Celestia…why do we have to do this. It’s unethical, it’s cruel, and it’s against everything that makes ponies who they are. But here I am, holding the life of one pony in my hoof. How can anypony do this and not feel like they’re the epitome of evil?”
I looked down at the piece of paper that sat on my desk. The whole area was filled with many different projects I had been working on the past few months. Some old pip-bucks I had been trying to get working again, a lamp I was rewiring to run on direct horn magic, and a few other bits and bobs I won’t bother going into detail about.
I was sitting on a small chair in front of the desk. I had been sitting there for a good half an hour now, looking at the paper and thinking about what it meant.
It’s not really something everyone LIKES to do, but it’s something everyone HAS to do. Personal opinion didn’t matter down here. The only thing that mattered was the good of everypony.
And sometimes…sometimes that means you have to be the bad guy.
But I guess I should do some explaining first, just so that you get caught up to speed with what’s going on.
My name is Flatfoot, I’m an earth pony stallion living in Stable 11. Even though my cutie mark (a sheriff’s badge) probably means I work as a guard, I’m anything but that. Instead, I’m a maintenance pony. I keep the Stable running and make sure that if anythings broken, it gets fixed.
The reason I’m a maintenance pony and not a guard...because The Over Stallion said so. Maintenance is one of the most important jobs available, and I was chosen because they were running low at the time. Guess it just as they say: for the good of the stable.
What are stables you might ask…well that’s a more depressing topic.
You see stables are basically underground bunkers that are meant to house ponies in the event of a catastrophic attack. They were made back during times of war between the pony nation of Equestria and the zebra nation of Zebrica.
Many ponies and zebra died during the war, and both nations were constantly at each other’s necks. I’ve been told that ponies back then couldn’t even go outside without worrying about being wiped out by the Zebras.
This went on for a few years, until the day the Mega Spells dropped. These were the most powerful weapons ever made by anything with four hooves. And when they went off, there was no hiding from them.
So many Mega Spells were dropped on that day that the pony nation was almost completely wiped out. Those in Stables were spared the horrors, while those that survived outside were left to contend with a cruel and dangerous Wasteland.
I guess you think I should count myself lucky my ancestors had signed up to live in a Stable right. That since I’m living the perfect life I should be as happy as a party animal.
Well guess what, life down here doesn’t leave a lot of room for smiles…at least not at this time of the year.
You see life down in Stable 11 is a little different than life in other Stables. While the other ones get lives of happiness and friendship, we get a life of worry and death.
It all began around…120 years ago, on the day the Stable door closed for good. My great, great grandparents were told to go to the atrium with the rest of the Stable’s inhabitants. That’s when the main computer came online…and gave them a chilling message.
It said that if the residents didn’t sacrifice one pony per year, everyone in the Stable would die.
And that was it, just sacrifice one pony per year. No reason why, just what would happen if we didn’t. Great way to welcome hundreds of ponies to their new home!
But as you can guess ponies didn’t want to sacrifice anyone. Not only did we know little about WHY we had to do it, but it just wasn’t right. How can anyone be cruel enough to actually select a pony to die.
However, when the lives of hundreds of ponies are on the line, things tend to go in the way of the masses.
The Over Stallion was the first one to be sacrificed. Not because ponies wanted him to, but because he volunteered to do it. The reason why: No One Knows! He just said that he was going to be sacrificed and that was that.
Of course after that, it was almost total anarchy in the stable. Thankfully a pony named...Braeburn...or something like that, took command of the stable.
Ponies quickly adjusted to their new lives, and sacrifices continued for years afterwards. At first the decision was made using a random voting system. But this didn’t go on for long; ponies didn’t like the idea that it was a matter of chance between life and death. Tensions became fierce, and so a new plan was made.
Starting the year after, a voting system was put into place so that the stable as a whole could decide who was to be sacrificed. Ponies found this to be a better option, and that’s how it's been every since then.
Now, like every year, I looked down at the sheet of paper on the desk. The name of every pony in the stable was listed on it, each with a small box on the left side.
“Okay Flatfoot, you can do this. You’ve done it every year so far, so you can do it this year. Just check a name and put it in the ballot box” I said to myself, trying to make the feeling in my stomach go down.
“Let me think…I could vote for Lock Pick; he’s always breaking into other ponies things. Then there’s Stitch; never really did forgive him for putting that tack on my seat in school. But…maybe I should vote of Beaker.”
“I’m surprised you even have to think about putting that bastard's name down.”
I jerked back and looked around for the sound of the voice. I didn’t have to look hard, because standing by the door to my room was a dark blue unicorn mare with a short brown mane. Her heart (with a scalpel running through it) cutie mark was just visible in the dim light of the hallway. She was smiling at me so smugly it was like she’d caught me jerking off.
“What are you doing here Zest? Don’t you have some ponies internal organs to tie in a knot” I asked, turning back to the paper on my desk.
Zest laughed and walked right behind me, putting her hooves up on my shoulders.
“Why do you think I came here big boy? I wanted to know if I can turn your large intestine into a balloon animal” she said in a seductive voice.
I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat and tried not to show fear in my face. Even after knowing Zest for a good fifteen years, she still found new ways to make me nervous.
“You’re just kidding…right” I asked, maybe with a little too much hope in my voice.
Zest started gently rubbing my shoulders and whispered in my ear “Maybe, but like I’ve said before: I’m always looking for volunteers. If you’d like to donate your large intestine…”
“I’m going to cut you off right there Zest. No way will I lower myself to be your personal play device” I said, shaking her hooves off my shoulders.
Zest came to my right side and gave me a typical puppy dog face. “You don’t have to be so mean Flat. I’m just trying to live out what my cutie mark says is my special talent.”
I snorted and continued to go down the list of names on the paper. Trying to get Zest to leave on her own is usually the only way to get her to leave at all.
“Your special talent is performing operations on ponies in the medical bay. NOT harassing ponies in their room while they’re trying to make a really important decision” I said sternly.
Zest snorted, but in a more comical way. “How hard is it to check the name of a pony you don’t like? I voted for Beaker in less than five seconds. Everyone who knows him knows that he’s the one that’s going to be sacrificed. You’d be crazy not to vote for him.”
“As much as I would love to put his name down, I have to think about what’ll happen if I do vote for him. Remember, he’s the head of the Stable’s research labs. If he goes, it’s going to be tough finding a replacement.”
Zest walked over and plopped down on my bed, keeping her eyes on the rusty ceiling. Her expression had become more concerned and serious: a rare occurrence for her.
“I’ll admit; a part of me agrees with you. Those who can work in that area are becoming scarcer. So the ones we have there now are more valuable than any of us. …But it doesn’t mean I’m going to change my vote. And I know you’ll still vote for him” said Zest, lifting her head to look at me.
I wanted to say that she was wrong, that I was going to make the decision that was the best for the whole stable. I was going to be the older stallion here and make the right choice.
But that’s never how these things work. Every year, the asshole of the year is chosen to be sacrificed, because everypony wants him dead. And as much as I didn’t like to admit it, I had done the same thing. Every time I had to vote, I voted for the one I hated the most. Now…I was going to do the same thing.
I took a pencil off my desk, and almost too slowly, I lowered it down and check a box on the paper. The name next to the box was: Beaker.
Zest walked over and looked at my decision. The smug smile on her face grew and I waited for the gloating to start.
“Well Flat, looks like you did the right thing after all. Just think about it: years from now, our grandfoals will remember how their grandparents rid them of having a very annoying pony be able to reproduce” she said, grabbing my shoulder and sliding her hoof across air in a dramatic fashion.
Her words had an effect on me, but not in the way they should have.
“What do you mean OUR grandfoals” I asked with a cocked eyebrow.
She turned to face me, still with that seductive look on her face.
“Well who knows? One day you and I could be drunk, walk into a room together, and make some…MAGIC…happen.”
“Makes me glad that I’m an EARTH pony. I prefer to stay away from anything magic. So sorry to burst your bubble Zest, but you’ll have to wait a little longer to be a mom” I said, taking the piece of paper in my mouth.
“Not if I really wanted to be. Ratchet’s said a few times that he wouldn’t mind having a little fun with me. So you’re not my only option” she said.
“Then why don’t you go and talk to him in your seductive voice. He’ll probably enjoy all the attention you’d give him” I asked, walking to the door and pressing the OPEN button.
I walked out into the hall with Zest following me. She never really gets it when somepony wants to get rid of her. It really showed when she was a kid and always got out of detention, AND ALL BY NOT SHUTTING UP!
“I would, but he’s working at the moment. Probably fixing something in the reactor room or the water filtration plant. He’s a real he-stallion you know” said Zest.
And that’s another thing Zest loved to do: trying to get me jealous. A lot of ponies say it’s because she likes me, and part of me thinks that’s true…or at least hopes that’s true. I’ve never really been a sticker for the mares, so having one that liked me and was pretty isn’t something most ponies would pass up.
But to be honest the only reason she does try to get me jealous is so that she can get under my skin. At first I fell for her little act, but as the years went by I became more aware of what she was trying to do.
But I couldn’t ignore her forever, and part of me wanted someone to talk to during this depressing time. Most residents became emotionally unstable when election week came along. From tears to cries of rage, we’ve had it all come through the medical bay.
“Changing the subject; do you know anyone else who’s voting for Beaker? Or even more informing; anyone who is voting for either of us?” I asked with a hint of nervousness in my voice.
Zest smiled, not smugly, but continued to look ahead. “Well I know Zap and Zip are voting for me, and that Tin Can is voting for you.”
“Figures: you accidentally dump soup on him ONE time and you get labeled for life. He votes for me every year, and he’s one of the few that do,” I said while I rolled my eyes.
“Yeah, but just be glad that more people hate him than you. As long as you aren’t the most hated pony in the stable, you’ll never have to worry about being picked,” she said with another smug smile.
We walked through another door and into the atrium. A few ponies were mingling around on chairs scattered around the area. Four fillies ran by in a game of tag while some of the elderly watched.
The sight filled me with hope and sadness at the same time. The Stable had one restriction when it came to voting: Don’t vote for anypony over 80 or younger than 10. The elderly were given the right to live out the rest of their life if they had survived long enough.
Hopefully sixty years from now, I’ll be sitting in a chair watching foals have fun with other young ponies. My wife will be beside me, and I’d reminiscent about years gone by.
Young foals were also given leeway in the election. Ponies though that foals should have some time to grow and have friends, before being able to vote. There innocence was one of the reasons these elections were bearable.
But that’s when the sadness kicked into full gear. Seeing those foals reminded me that eventually, the restriction would end for them and they could be sacrificed. Their childhood would be the only happy years that they would get to experience…and that just wasn’t fair.
I shook the thought out of my head. I couldn’t change what was necessary, so worrying about it wasn’t going to help me. I began walking towards the door on the other side of the atrium.
However, just when I had walked a few feet, I saw somepony…somepony I REALLY didn’t want to see right now.
A Maintenance pony with a dark cream pelt and a dark amber mane and wrench cutie mark was scrubbing away at some of the rust on the wall. He turned away from his work and wiped his forehead with his hoof. He gave a quick look around the atrium, and when he spotted us, trotted over to where we were standing.
“Zest, how’s it hanging? I heard from Lock Pick that you operated on old Cranks yesterday. Tell me, is the old coot still bucking or is he sipping cocktails with Celestia?” he asked with a smile.
“Don’t worry Skycap; I was able to keep him down here on Earth. However, you should have seen the inside of his middle section! I swear that certain parts of a pony are not supposed to be green,” said Zest.
I rolled my eyes at the thought of Zest not seeing anything weirder than that. She handled all the major operations in the stable. And trust me; we’ve had our fair share of weird illnesses in this metal paradise.
Skycap turned his attention away from Zest and looked over at me. His smile grew even bigger, which didn’t make me feel any more comfortable.
“Hey Flatfoot, good seeing you again. I haven’t seen you come out of that room of yours since Friday. Maintenance has been wondering if you dropped dead or just passed out. Don’t hate me, but I went for dropped dead,” he said, still smiling.
“Wow, some friend you are Cap. If I were in that position, I would go and maybe check on my friend to see if he was all right. That’s the right thing to do anyway,” I said with a frown.
Cap was ready to say something, but then looked down to where I had tucked the ballot sheet into my stable jumpsuit. Before I could even react, he had whipped it out and was looking it over.
“Hey, give that back!” I yelled. I tried to get my paper back, but Cap put his hoof out far and used the other to hold me back. His grin became even bigger when he found the box that had been checked.
“Ha, no surprise there Flat. Beaker is the lead in this year’s election, and there is no way he can get enough ponies to vote for someone else now. He’s going to be sacrificed whether he likes it or not,” said Cap as I snatched the paper back and tucked it deep inside my jumpsuit.
“Whatever Caps, I wasn’t doing it because everyone was doing it. I don’t like Beaker just as much as everyone else does. He votes for me every year just because I made him look foolish ONE time.”
“One time is all it takes Flat,” said Zest.
“Alright, enough of this. I am going to cast my vote and then head back to my room for some good me time. You can follow if you want Zest, but it really doesn’t make a difference to me,” I said sternly.
I turned away from the two and headed towards the large door and the other end of the atrium. A large sign with an arrow pointing to it said “TO BALLOT BOX! DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!”
As the door opened, I heard two pairs of hooves coming up behind me. I turned around and saw Zest walking towards me with Cap following closely behind.
“Both of you are coming with me?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
Zest and Cap began rummaging through their jumpsuits, and soon both pulled out pieces of paper with ponies’ names on them.
“We need to cast our votes to Flat. After all” said Cap, and he put his head up and spoke with a high authority voice, “It is the duty of every pony in Stable 11 to vote every year for the one who is to be sacrificed. It’s for the good of you, for the good of me, for the good of STABLE 11!”
Zest did a small clap while Cap bowed and smiled at us.
Those words are said every year when election time came around. The computer would pump that message through the PA systems from day one to the day of the sacrifice. Every pony in this stable knew it by heart. It was not just a message, it was a reminder that what we were doing was for the good of the Stable. Therefore, in a sense, it was for the good of Ponykind.
“Alright, no use standing around. Let’s go decide who’ll be killed this time” said Zest as she pushed past me and continued down the hall. Cap followed closely behind her. Letting out a deep sigh, I followed them to the Ballot box.
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The ballot box was located near the Science labs on the lower levels. A security guard was standing next to it so that no one could tinker with the votes. A riot helmet covered his head, and leather armor covered his back. He eyed us as we approached but did not say anything.
I spotted the Stable issued 10mm gun that was latched onto his belt. One shot from that in the right area, and I’d never have to worry about what went on in this Stable again.
I had a feeling he saw me look at it, because then he shifted his belt so that I could see it even clearer.
“I’ve never had to use this in my whole time as a guard. I personally wouldn’t have any problems using it for the first time. No funny business, any of you” he said sternly.
“Yes sir” I said, keeping my eyes locked on the box next to him.
I took out my slip of paper and dropped it in the box. Zest and Cap did the same after me.
“Alright you all voted, now beat it!” said the guard sternly.
“Geez, calm down snappy. You need some Pinkie Zip. I’ve had them, and they REALLY keep you energized all night” said Zest with a smug smile.
The guard just grunted and turned away from us. Zest was going to say more, but I pulled her away before the guard arrested her on disorderly conduct.
“Why’d you pull me away? I could have given him a piece of my mind” said Zest as we walked back towards the atrium.
“That’s exactly why I pulled you back. I didn’t want to wait next to you in the medical bay while they pulled a bullet from your flank. One of these days you’ll do something stupid and I won’t be there to help you” I said as we walked through the door to the atrium.
Zest was about to retort, but was interrupted by a ringing noise. Looking down, I saw my pipbuck was alight and the image of a scroll was on the screen. It was also the one making that beeping noise.
“Oh great, what is it this time” I asked as I pulled the pip-buck closer and opened the message.
It was short and didn’t have a lot of big words…just how I like it.
“Flatfoot, it’s Screwy. I got a message on my terminal that there’s a wire malfunction in the vents above The Over Stallion’s office. You’re the closet pony to the office, so I need you to take care of it. Go to the vent on the wall on the far left side of the door to the office. Open the grate, climb in, and locate the fuse box. Fix the wiring and report back to me when completed.”
“As a side note, The Over Stallion has been complaining about sounds coming from the ducts. He suspects that Radroaches have gotten in there. So be careful when you’re climbing around. Au revoir and good luck my friend.”
I groaned as I lowered the pip-buck away from my face. I didn’t want to go crawling through some ducts, especially ones that might have Radroaches crawling in them to. I’ve dealt with those things before, and they aren’t very friendly. Don’t believe me; I’ve got the scar to prove it.
“Sorry guys, I’ve got work to do. Screwy needs me to fix some wiring in the ducts over The Over Stallion’s office” I said to the two.
Cap and Zest both showed different expressions. Zest looked like she was holding in a laugh and trying not to scratch an itch. Cap had a mix between sorrow and relief.
“Well good luck with that Flat. Last time I had to go into the vents it was right above the waste disposal plant. …Yuck, I can still feel the burning in my nose” said Cap.
“But hey, look on the bright side Flat. Maybe you’ll catch The Over Stallion doing something REALLY embarrassing. Then, you’ll have some pull in this place” said Zest.
I rolled my eyes again. Anything that Zest thinks about is usually a bad idea. Plus, if it has any chance of making somepony she knows powerful, she’ll push them to do it…no matter what.
“RIGHT…well I’m going to head off and fix that wiring. I’ll talk to you both tomorrow before they announce the sacrifice. Try not to get arrested before then Zest” I said as I walked to the door to the upper levels.
Zest put her hooves under her chin and smiled sweetly.
“What, little old me?”
Cap laughed, but I just kept on walking. All I wanted was to fix what was broken and get back to my normal Stable life.
Little did I know…my normal Stable life had just ended.
