Fallout: Equestria - Determination

"Error... Cryostasis systems damaged. Forced shut down initiated."

I woke... mostly frozen in some wicked stasis chamber. The ineffectual grey of the stable met my eyes. And through the thin frost layering the door, I saw the mist. Pink mist seeped into my nostrils as I hacked my lungs away. My pod was already partially open. For the most part, I realized my coat changed color. Snow white. And my body... felt exceptionally spry. All the tar that used to clog my lungs, that was gone.

As far as I could tell, the stable itself was packed with cryostasis pods. That was the bulk of it's contents. I trotted aimlessly between the abandoned corridors and rooms, but all I found were goo piles. The goo itself was usually fluid and runny, never viscous in the least. The only other resident, besides me, was the mist and ruined furniture. All signs of intelligent life were absent.

Braving the last stretch of the stable, I found the elevator platform.

I attempted to start it up, but found the engine was down. Not only that, but the door controls didn't even operate without a compatible computing device. Every terminal I came across was ruined. Before I could give up hope, I shoved aside my fears of imprisonment.

There was still power going to the cryopods. It only took average intelligence to find the engine room. I didn't recognize the energy source, or the device left on a fossilized zebra corpse, but I looted anyway. From what I could tell, the wrist-mounted computer was named a Pipbuck 4000. Not only did it come with medical diagnostics, an aiming system, but it also featured an archive of weapons blueprints. Most noticeable was the blueprints for a freezing shish... shishke...

That blade was a katana. And I refused to call it by that ridiculous name. I turned my head to see the corpse, though. The zebra before me was leathery and long-since deceased. I didn't know why, or how, but they left me the pipbuck and fusion cores. I realized that they were a lone corpse. And, if it weren't for them, I'd be dead for sure. Whoever they were, I saluted them.

The sight of my lone savior, even amidst all the peril, filled me with determination.

I slotted the fusion cores into the stable elevator controls and linked my pipboy. I glanced over my shoulder as I heard whispers in the air. It started as a cluster of unintelligible nonsense, but gradually sharpened to one, lonely rasp.

"Never lose hope. Remember these words."

I took the elevator up, mindful of the ancient words. And as I beheld the surface, I found a wasteland of slag and pink mist. Most of it stretched across miles upon miles of levelled rubble. Some, however, lingered about dangerous shapes in the distance. I could tell they weren't equine beyond general anatomy. Most of the movements were jerky and violent, or uncannily sluggish and drowsy. Before I knew it, I'd found the map feature in the pipbuck. I didn't know why, but there was an active mission in the map guidance system.

The objectives were: find Ministry of Arcane Sciences Offices.

It was the least I could do for the previous owner. Examining the path toward the nearest M.A.S Office Building, I found it near a region called Neighagra Falls. I made my way toward it one step at a time. My only company was the mist, cool and comfortable against my coat. But, even further, along the lonesome road of wrecked chariots and crumbling skeletons... I found a floating machine creature.

The shape of it reminded me of some eyeball. Most of the alloy was rusted and worn, presumably by the mist, but maybe... not. I took notice of the gigantic laser barrel under it's speaker and the prodigious measure of armor. At first, I tried to say something to him. Then, I realized... I couldn't move my lips. Or, rather, my lips were melded together in some, strange gelatinous form. I could speak, but articulating my lips only wobbled the muscle jelly.

I had to use my mouth like a speaker. It tickled my mouth.

"Hey there. I don't suppose you can talk...?"

"... What the hell?" It gasped, zooming in with elongated optics.

Oh. I... didn't expect the floating eyeball to talk back. I barely even understood it with the rushing winds. I heard something clicking and crackling from my pipbuck. Till he pointed it out, I had no idea what it meant.

"Never- nevermind, you need to get out of here. I thought there might be scavengers dumb enough to come to Canterlot- but you look lost. Here, go to a place- No, just come with me. Follow me and I'll take you away from the radiation."

I followed. It took several minutes of sprinting, a la her advice, but we made it. The extra minute or so of trotting was a safety measure against any pink cloud, she added, leading me to a nameless cave. He stayed blocking the entrance, eyeing me up.

"What are you...?"

I ruffled the back of my mane... unsure of what he meant.

"Well... I'm a deer. Is that what you were asking? I'm a male deer, too. Just look for antlers. Only bucks have them."

"No, I mean... I mean what are you? How did you survive that pink cloud? How did you not feel sick from all the radiation?"

I took a double-take at the wasteland. Wait. It wasn't anything like I remembered. It was a real, uninhabited wasteland. The truth dawned on me as I kept my eyes on the dirt below. Everyone I knew before, all the strangers, all the pleasant flirts and hurtful exes... they were all dust. I felt nothing in my chest. So when I glanced up to answer, I murmured my response.

"I... don't know. And I don't care. All I know is it feels hot as hell out here. And I have no mouth. So. Let's just get in that cave already."

She respected my silence. I found the cave interior comfy. Damp, yet pleasant. I opened my eyes after a quick nap, stretching my body out. Around me were the remains of a collapsed, hidden city. Most of the buildings were constructed from scrap metal and rotted wood, adding creaks and whistles to the windy ambiance. I did a few jumping jacks to wake myself up, shaking my head and practicing hindleg strikes against some tires.

The eyebot hovered over, keeping her distance behind me.

"So... I read your chemical structure. You're not a ghoul, but you're not an abomination. You said you were a deer. Since you came out from one of those vaults, I'm guessing you were preserved. Cryostasis, right?"

I bucked the top tire, flinging it several feet away.

"Yeah. That's right. I was in one of those pods. I don't know how it kept me alive when it was damaged, though. How does anything, even something like sub-zero chemical preservatives do that..."

"Well... Whatever the reason, your body temperature is showing a large amount of atrophy. And I noticed the warmer you got, the more tired you grew. I know how that is. I might be cold blooded. But something in your... core- the heat expenditure is haywire. All that overheat will degrade you, so, I have a proposition."

I stopped my bucking and left my hindleg halfway suspended. When the machine said the rest, I dried myself off with random scraps of clothing. The clothes smelled musty. But why would I care about that. All I needed was soap, which, strangely, was in large supply lying around.

"Your body was preserved in the cryostasis chamber from a mix of pink cloud exposure and preservatives in the liquid nitrogen compound. That means you need at least one of them to stay alive, or, at least strong enough to function. So stay here for a few days and enjoy the cool air. I'll make some of the enclave researchers build you a preservation suit."

So... I needed a suit to survive. Not only was I some form of freak, but an abomination of equine anatomy. I was just glad the eyebot had good intentions. She stayed silent while I sat on my haunches and stared off into the distance.

"... Why are you helping me so much?" I inquired, barely above a whisper.

"Well... It's just good to help. You made it through the Canterlot Ruins. Why not help you start a new life the right way?" She answered, as if I were crazy.

"You're right. Altruism is the right choice. But there's more to it than that. I know there is." I stated, lowering my head and watching my reflection in the cave water.

Pale, almost albino fur. No mouth. Bright, sky-blue eyes. And my eyes were glowing, just like the megaspells two hundred years ago. I knew because my pipbuck said so. A lot could change in two hundred years. I just never thought I'd be the one to see it. The old world left me jaded, tired and lonely. It completely changed me as an equine being. I had no idea why but I literally couldn't feel any basic emotion anymore.

"Well... I really am doing this for you. But, I do need help breaking someone out of captivity. Somepony special to my mission. And, if you wouldn't mind, I could use someone with your resilience. I'll supply you with a weapon and everything, too."

I closed my eyes and remembered the zebra that saved me. Then, swimming in an ocean of doubt, I saw the image clearly. The image of her risking her life filled me with determination.

"Finally..." I murmured, stretching by legs out.

"Something I can do. You point and I shoot." I finished, standing with newfound purpose.

"Excellent. And, before you go and start training again, I better tell you my name first. I'm Little Pip. And I'm not going to be here forever, but I'll keep you safe till you can handle yourself. Here, let me show you how to administer health potions..."