Fallout Equestria: Reclaim, Retread

Chapter 3

The beat of a drum filled the air. Joined in dance with the constantly changing tunes from the other instruments that flowed, almost like a wave up and down.

“The Zebra army, the black baron. Are preparing littlehorn for us again. But from El Alimane to the Emerald Sea, Equestria’s army is the strongest”

I looked down on the group of gangsters below me. I really hoped this plan of Doc Soothing’s design was going to work. More than quite a risk. Given how they all had guns and I didn’t. The beat of military marching drums in the background reminding me something that I’ve never thought i’d forget.

“So let our magic, grip with power, the bayonet in its glow. And we all must charge, fearlessly,  into the last moral battle!”

Below me the gangsters were either playing poker drunk, or getting close to drunk while playing, old military marches playing on a radio that was definitely worse for ware. Only one pony was sleeping. The pony that charged after the massive armoured Peanuts when the firefight erupted: Cashews. It’s almost surprising to nopony that the two are obviously related. I didn’t like what I was going to need to do. Neither did Band-aid, or Doc Soothing. But we couldn’t just stay here forever.

“March Equestrian army, March March! Our princess calls us to battle. For from El Alimane to the Emerald Sea, Equestria’s army is the strongest!”

Slowly I walked further across the exposed beams that were to hold up the second floor of the station we were all in. Sadly somepony else had interrupted the day the stuff was due. At least It now gave me a vantage point for when my part of the plan was to start. I slowly bought the two aluminium cans i’d been given out of my saddlebags and prepared to throw them. I had a clear line of sight to where the tunnel began already, but I needed more space to throw it.

“We are forming a world of fire, their villages and cities we’ll raze to the ground! For from El Alimane to the Emerald Sea, Equestria’s army is the strongest!”

I continued to walk down the Beam I was on, ready to throw if somepony noticed the noise of me walking. Thankfully the proud and loud music was masking that. And everypony was too busy looking down to notice the glow of my horn. The cans also felt off. Like the saddlebags they seemed too heavy for their size. I looked back at my escape route. An air duct lay open not far from the beam I was on.

“So let our magic, grip with power, the bayonet in its glow. And we all must charge, fearlessly, into the last moral battle!”

Almost there. A few more feet and I’ll be in the perfect throwing position.

“So let the magic, grip with power, the bayonet in its glow. And we all must charge, fearlessly, into the last moral battle!” The radio sung again as the music began to die down.

Silence. Save for the faint snoring of cashews, and everypony else, save for peanuts, playing poker. Finally, I reached the perfect spot. Looking around I made sure that nopony was looking up. Thankfully not. I turned to face the tunnel and closed my eyes. On the count of three. One. I lifted the cans up with my telekinesis. Two. I prepared myself for the possibility of being shot at. Three. A little grunt and I threw the two cans as far as I could in the direction of the tunnel.

A few seconds, again silence. Did I actually throw them? All I could do was to hold my breath.

Two cans clanging against subway rails in the tunnel turned out to be the greatest sound i’d ever heard as they struck home.

“The fuck was that?” Asked Malt as everypony, except the still sleeping Cashews, stood up and drew their weapons.

“I dunno boss” Peanuts replied standing up and starting the motors in his miniguns.

I had a short moment before they’d knock off the noise to a rat or something. Next out of my saddlebag was a cinderblock. Even heavier than the two cans. Definitely. The grey block was almost hard to keep infront of me.

“Alright, who’s fucking with us? Doc?” Malt yelled down the hall. “Peanuts. Chains (Who had woken up a few hours before) go see what’s down there” Peanuts and Chains both nodded and went to see what caused the disturbance.

I got the cinderblock ready. It was taking much of my concentration just to keep it floating in front of me. And from dropping to the ground and giving me away. I looked down on Cashews as he turned. The shouting waking him from his short slumber. I had to. But how could I to somepony I didn’t even know?

I stood there as the block grew seemingly heavier and heavier. Looking down on the poor pony. And his… cutie mark of an assault rifle magazine. I couldn’t do it. Even if he was with these horrid ponies. I had no quarrel with him, or any of these ponies. Only the fact they’d kill me on sight if I was found out made me agree to this stupid plan to begin with.

“Come on out. I got two miniguns to shove up your ass” Yelled peanuts as he and chains descended back into the tunnel. I turned my head briefly to make sure nopony was behind me. Good, nopony. I turned my head back and found the eyes of the young Cashews looking at me. We both looked at each other.

I couldn’t. I had to. But I couldn’t. He’d raise the alarm. But why? Not like this, nopony deserves this. I’d just need to drop my focus from the cinder block or just stop using my magic in general. But looking at those eyes kept me from letting go. I couldn’t wrench my focus from either the cinderblock or Cashews. New music began to play.

“Reclaim” The word shuddered in my mind. An unknown yet familiar voice whispered into my mind. Making the few hairs I had left stand on edge, and caused my whole body to lock up. The brief moment of terror caused by that single word made the decision of the cinderblock for me.

I didn’t and couldn’t close my eyes from Cashew’s eyes. Even as the cinderblock fell. He knew what was about to happen. I did too.

There wasn’t even the satisfaction of a splatting sound. If there was it was drowned out by the new music. That brief second between me letting go and the cinderblock landing lasted for minutes. Then red as Cashews’ head popped like a rotten melon.

“I saw a peaceful old valley With a carpet of corn for a floor And I heard a voice within me whisper This is worth fighting for” A young stallion sang from the radio as the cinderblock hit. I stared down at the corpse before falling back. What had I just done?

“Cashews” Yelled somepony, dunno who. “Get up. Something's going on” they continued.

“Get up you sod.” Somepony else yelled. I think it was Chains.

“I’ll go kick him awake” Malt grumbled as somepony turned off the radio. I still stood there. Looking down at the corpse for a moment before remembering that if I stayed then I was certainly dead. Crouching down I turned and moved to the air duct.

“Get up Cashews som-” Malt began saying as he turned the corner. “Oh fuck” he said, his somewhat powerful voice was suddenly robbed of any of its power. In fact it almost sounded fearful. “Get Peanuts. Get Peanuts, he needs to see this”

“What? Did Cashews wet the bed? Oh boo hoo.” Chains replied sarcastically.

“This is fucking serious Chains” Malt snapped back. “Peanuts get here now. Cashews, your brother… something's happened” he then yelled. The heavy thudding of a pony weighed down by heavy armour surprised me as Peanuts charged up, out of the subway tunnel, faster than I thought possible.

I continued moving slowly towards where the air duct hung from the ceiling. Its supports near to the beam I was on had either broken or not been bolted onto the roof. It lay at a shallow angle up towards the roof. Only just large enough for me to squeeze into.

The heavy thudding of Peanuts came to a stop next to Malt. “B...broth?” Peanuts loudly said. I risked a look down below. Everypony was quietly moving to where Malt and Peanuts stood quietly. Chains rolling her eyes as she reached the top of the tunnel.

“What’s going on?” Blitz casually asked getting a few looks from the others, save Peanuts. It was the first time she spoke since she’d come back. Nopony replied. When she turned to see she also fell silent, leaving only Chains yet to see the fate of Cashews.

“B...Brother” Peanuts said. “No… no this can’t be, brother, please brother. Please don’t let this be true” Peanuts continued sniffling. “Please boss, tell me this isn’t real.” He asked. “This can’t happen. I promised him”

“I’m sorry Peanuts” Malt replied. “He’s gone” Malt said in a surprisingly sympathetic tone. “Must have been a bad wall or something”

“No” Peanuts said back, sniffling more. “This can’t have happened… Please, boss, I promised him once this job was finished that we’d go home” he began to wail. “I promised him we’d be able to afford to see mom before she died”  Hearing Peanuts say that sent another chill down my spine. “Please boss.” He said again as he began to sob.

“I’m really sorry. I know it’s been rough ever since you got kicked out of the tin ponies. But it was going to happen at some point. The Raiders may live forever, but you won’t, nor will I, or the doc and his marefreind” Malt said trying to comfort the sobbing Peanuts.

“No… he can’t have just died like that” Peanuts replied

“Oh boo hoo” Chains said as she finally reached Peanuts. “Guess what shit for brains. He’s fucking dead, get over it. Your stupid kid brother wasn’t doing anything but taking up food anyways.”

“Chains, shut the fuck up” Blitz said.

“Oh really now lover mare? You’ve taken a shit on me ever since you and your lost love got together. I think this is almost due payback for all of your stupid ‘oh I want to be with you forever’ bullshit” Chains snapped back. “This is nature in action. The weak get weeded out and the strong survive. You two should be glad that you’re better than Snapper and Cashews.” She chuckled.

“You…” Peanuts said as he sniffed again, his voice raised. “You’ve got no sense of… of…. Of loss. You’ve lost nothing.” Peanuts continued. “Always complaining about my little bro getting more food… you bitch”

“Meybe yes, meybe no, the point is that you’re pathetic” Chains replied.

“Chains, shut the fuck up, you’re about to say something you’re going to regret” Malt said.

“No.. she already has” Peanuts evenly stated. “And I got something for you” he continued giving a little sniff. A moment later the miniguns on his battle saddle began to spin up. Giving their ominous whine.

“Oh come on you stupid little thick skulled prick” Chains snorted, clearly not intimidated by the miniguns. “I bet you’re going to feel better now your little shithead of a brother isn’t weighing you down. That’s how I felt when I killed my sister. Now i’m one of the meanest bitches in Alimane.”

“You mother fucking… hoof sucking, unicorn… daughter OF A WHORE” Peanuts yelled.

“Come on Peanuts, you don’t have it in you, pussy” chains laughed back. A moment later her laughter was cut off, replaced with a scream as the miniguns roared. Dozens if not hundreds of tracers bursting out from around the corner and ricocheting off the walls, gore splattering onto the same wall a second later

“BIIIITCH” yelled Peanuts.

Alright time to go. I didn’t look back as I pushed my way inside of the air duct. I didn’t want to see this. I squeezed and tried to climb further up. Dust was kicked up as I continued to crawl up the air duct. The minigun fire from Peanuts continuing to roar.

“FUCKING CELESTIA PEANUTS STOP FIRING” Yelled Malt over the roar of lead. A moment passed before the miniguns finally fell silent. Replaced with wild sobbing.

“I’m sorry” Peanuts wailed. “I’m so sorry brother” I grimaced as I managed to crawl to where the air duct leveled out. Loud crying filling the room behind me.

I continued forward for about six metres before reaching the point where this duct met a larger duct that ran to both sides of the building. It was large enough for somepony to stand up in, which was a relief. Being stuck in the smaller duct wasn’t something I’d be looking forward to.

I looked around trying to find the way to the duct grate that ran through the makeshift medical room that Doc Soothing and Band Aid were in. I looked both ways and started walking to my left when I noticed in the far corner somepony skeleton curled up. A scrap of paper in their hooves.

I carefully walked to the deceased, noting the packets of radiation medicines that littered the floor around the skeleton.  I took care not to make much noise as I moved up and took the paper. A letter of goodbye was written on it.

Dearest Sunray, I write to you not knowing your fate. I’m hiding in the vents of Victory Park Subways station. I don’t know how, but I wasn’t killed by the balefire. The radiation poisoning is getting to me I think. I’ve taken Rad-Away and Rad-X at regular intervals, but i’m still showing symptoms of severe rad poisoning. To put it short my love, I’m dying.  I guess this is my last chance to confess to you.

First - I confess that our foals aren’t yours. When we first got together I was able to go through your medical file, my MoS status gave me access, for security reasons ever since somepony set a bomb for the head of the LHCR Unit’s head. You must understand my dear, this research is...was important for the war effort. In your file was a doctors note saying that you had a low sperm count… So when we tried over and over again to have Foals I knew what was wrong. To put a long story short, I procured the services of a rent stallion for the sole purpose of having foals. In return for him helping us I promised to wipe his slate clean. And my plan worked… I’m so sorry my dear, I just wanted us to be a happy family, together forever. I only pray now that we’re going to be a happy family in the everafter.

Second - I was complicit with research and experimentation performed by the LHCR unit. Some of the rumours are sadly true. Like the 20th of november incident, and the hearthswarming eve massacre. And although I was part of the research and planning I did not intend or support any of those incidents. If anything they almost made me resign, if it wasn’t for our children I would have left after the first test. But they promised our children much, much more. I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. There are no Celestia fucking damned schools or collages for them to go to… If you’re all still alive.

And third- I was the reason behind your brothers dishonourable discharge and ‘accident’ that lead to his death. I’m sorry. But i’ve held too many secrets of national importance. If any of them were leaked or taken it’d be a disaster of unprecedented proportions, on level only with the leak of our Megaspell matrices. And your brother knew everything about what was going on in our department of the MoS, he threatened to take his findings to Twilight Sparkle, and she would have had us all thrown in prison. Or worse, referred to Princess Luna for punishment.

I’m sorry my dear. There are so many things I want to confess to you, but my time is running out. Please, against all odds. Please live, for our children.

Your everloving wife

Balloon.

I looked at the skeleton and then back at the note that was in her hooves. It felt wrong to take the note from her. But maybe her husband did survive. And I’d be able to give him closure.

And besides. Something about this ’LHCR unit’ seemed off. I shook my head and continued moving further down the air duct until I reached the grate that looked down on the improvised surgery table. One very, very dead Chains was laid ontop. I’d expected point blank miniguns to do damage, but not this much. Limbs were held onto the torso by thin skin that wasn’t torn asunder.

“I’m sorry Malt but she’s never coming back. And no amounts of Cybernetics, medicine or magic will do it.” Doc Soothing said sadly.

“Fuck. Are you sure? I’ve seen a few ponies in the old tapes in my stable do some pretty freaky magic, surely you must have something to bring her back. Even if she was a Jackass.” Malt asked.

“To put it bluntly Malt” Band Aid said “Even if we somehow do bring her back she’d die again in a few minutes tops. This sort of damage is too much. We’d have to replace every organ that aren’t her ovaries.” She continued.

“Fuck” Malt muttered in reply “We don’t have enough hooves to see both Cashews and Chains off at the same time. I guess i’ll take Peanuts down with Cashews now and get it over with. I’ll decide on what to do with Chains later. Thanks anyways you two. At this rate you won’t have anypony to heal”

Malt walked out slamming the door behind himself

“You think he’s serious about not having enough ponies at this rate?” Doc Soothing asked Band Aid. “I mean this is still just an outpost. The Raiders can’t be taking these casualties everywhere else”

“I dunno Soothing. With the Tinponies moving to contest the highway and the Winter Rangers are finally doing something to curb the Raiders. And obviously everypony is avoiding the Cathedral. No point wasting lives trying to push those psychotic bastards out. And shouldn’t that ghoul, be back soon?”  She asked

“My name is Snow Berry you know” I said through the grate giving Doc Soothing a quiet scare. “Mind getting me out of here?” I asked as Doc Soothing floated a pair of screwdrivers up to the grate and loosened the screws

“You do have a knack for timing though” Doc Soothing said as he took the grate down with the screws.“And even though I’d hate to say it, given how killing isn’t my thing, but you’ve taken out two birds with one stone. Chains was pretty vigilant and Cashews kept Peanuts here. And with Malt taking Peanuts to see off his Younger brother we’ve got an opportunity to get out before anypony else dies.”

“I’m not comfortable with this” I said, Band Aid nodding her head.

“And I’m not?” Doc Soothing asked. “Look, I know you’ve told me you just woke up and before you. So you got a lot to learn, but it’s survival of the fittest out there. I hate it but we have to sacrifice life sometimes to save life”  he said looking down.

“Alright.” I said after a short silence. “What are we going to do next?”

“You, Snow Berry, are going to hide in there. And i’ll deal with Fritz when he gets in here. Then we’re getting out of her-” Doc Soothing said as the door opened. I was trapped and there wasn’t time to try and hide. My horn for a moment glowed but nothing happened before the glowing cut out. Doc Soothing quickly looked to me and gave a shocked expression. And in walked Fritz, his excitement clearly visible for all to see.

“Doc, it’s almost a miracle, that gullible old sod is actually going with Peanuts to see Cashews off.” Fritz said triumphantly, ignoring the fact I staring at him from the air duct. “I dunno about what Blitz is going to, but all I need to do is keep the gate locked after they leave and let the monster in the tunnels take care of them.”  He said with a chuckle.

Doc Soothing and Band Aid looked at each other. Both  of them with expressions of confusion, shock or bafflement on their faces. “It’s… good to know Fritz” Band Aid started. “But what are you going to be doing after this?” She asked cautiously.

“Why my dear. I’m going to take you two and sell you.” Fritz said giving a cheesy grin. “It isn’t going to work when there is one of me and two of you.” He continued giving a little chuckle. “But trust me, i’m kind, you’ll go off to the Rangers or something like that.” Fritz looked into Band Aid’s green eyes.

“Why not try to take over the Raiders? Malt is still the leader, even when he is visiting places like this outpost” Doc Soothing asked, head cocked back. “They’re still rich and control all the Chem production.”

“Because the fucking Tinponies and the Winter Rangers are going to tear this little gang to pieces. A whole twenty year history is crashing down on the Raiders and they’ve got no way out.” Fritz angrily replied through clenched teeth. “It’s one giant shit sandwich and getting out is the only way of me to avoid chow time. And I don’t know about you, but i’d prefer not to lose my balls, or be the fuckpony for some pre war armour worshipers.”

“If you were going to do this, why would you tell us beforehand?” Doc soothing asked. “Why not just do the deed, say bwuhahahaha and then tell us what you’ve done?”

Fritz looked at Doc Soothing for a few seconds. Growling a little at the Doc’s question. “I dunno, maybe I just like stroking my own ego.” Fritz began in a sarcastically playful tone. “Or maybe it’s the fact i’m celebrating that the first time i’m not being dragged through the dirt when everypony that isn’t oh dear leader Malt Beer is seeing where the wind is blowing. I’m fucking sick of the uncertainty that jackass radiates.” Malt started pacing between the bins of gore and the surgery table.

“When I first killed somepony I felt that rush, that sickness, that feeling of guilt, back when Malt was forming the Raiders. And it felt so damn good. And now I have to watch him him grow old and dumb. He’s made too many slip ups, and for such a damn long time till I busted myself to this part of our frozen hellhole I was the one who cleaned up after his failures.” Fritz said slamming a hoof onto one of the bins. “Now when I kill I get nothing. That sick feeling, that rush, all of it. It’s gone! Forever. Even recoil from my gun is starting to feel weak. I’ve had enough of the damned killing.” Fritz continued, slamming his hoof again.

“I can’t really give you any sympathy Fritz, even though I can understand your particular problem.” Band Aid began. Receiving a glare from Fritz. “But neither me, nor Soothing can help you with that. If we could i’m sure we’d be more than willing. But we aren’t psychologists.” She continued softly, in an almost motherly tone.

“Yeah. I guess… That could be nice. Find out how fucked up I actually am. Find why I can’t sleep.” Fritz said turning on his hooves. “But you know what?” He sneered back. “I don’t give a fuck about that. With the caps i’ve got stored away I can go to Los pegasus and die from a heart attack after going all night long with eighteen hookers.” He shouted, eyes bulging, his green mane standing on ends, covering Band Aid’s face in spit.

Behind Fritz the door of the improvised medical room opened slightly. “Calm down Fritz” Doc Soothing said assertively, causing Fritz to turn his head to the Doc.

“You! Of all ponies. I...I'm perfectly calm. It’s the rest of you who are fucking crazy!” Fritz yelled causing Doc Soothing to flinch. “You’re all a bunch of scheming cowards. I...I bet you’re the reason why this place has been fucking up more. First with you blaming Big Boom’s OD on him when you gave him advice on what to take, then you probably tipped Snapper off to my first attempt to kill him” Fritz screamed.

“I did what I had to” Band aid started. Regaining Fritz’s attention. “I know you saw him as a threat and” Band aid was cut off as Fritz punched her square in the jaw, causing the poor mare to slide backwards across the floor to the wall.

“You bastard!” Yelled Doc Soothing yelled as he tried throwing a punch at Fritz. Being knocked back in the same way Band Aid was, only instead of hitting the wall, the Doc was stopped as the chain to his collar snapped rigid. The gap in the door growing slowly.

“Oh i’m a Bastard?” Fritz asked. “By that logic you’re all fucking murderers!” He continued kicking Doc Soothing in the gut. The Doc giving a yelp of pain as another hoof landed on his chest.  “I know you’re always scheming something” Fritz yelled kicking yet again.

Watching Doc Soothing being kicked in the gut repeatedly made something in me die a little as my horn glowed again before fizzling out with an audible pop. And in that moment making all eyes turn to me.

“A HA” Yelled Fritz staring at me. “So we have a THIRD conspirator against my life! How wonderful.” Fritz yelled. “How long have you been under these two fucker’s control?” He asked jumping up to and trying to hang onto the air duct. I scarpered back as he tried to pull me back through. Even through his flailing I noticed the door open fully and somepony walking inside the room.

That brief moment of focus I lost was just enough for Fritz to catch my leg. Latching on he pulled me with surprising force back towards the access hole of the air duct. As he pulled I stretched out my legs in the hope of being able to counter his weight.

I instantly regretted that decision as my legs brought me back to the problem of seeing my body being this horridly melted and worn mass of flesh. The sight made me go suddenly lightheaded, my stomach turn in several directions at once, and my muscles lose any power they had as I tried to avoid being pulled into the medical room.

As my legs failed me I was flung into the room, landing just forward of the surgery table and losing what breath I already had. Fritz landing on top of me, one leg over my throat as he tried to choke me. Pain seared through my throat as Fritz tried to crush my windpipe. I flailed my legs, trying to get him off me. But he had me fully pinned. Even as I squirmed.

“I’ve” Fritz yelled as he punched my head “Had” He yelled again as he punched me in the other side of the head. “Enough” Another punch “Of” Another. Pain was screaming across my throat and head as he bashed me, darkness starting to fill my peripheral vision. “Everypony” Another punch. My head was slowly numbing. I guessed this was the end. Survived a Balefire bomb, only to get beaten to death. I’d almost prefer to have died in the army before I got out then going out like this.

I closed my eyes as Fritz reared up to smash my skull into paste and let my mind calm. And I waited for the end. Every second felt like an hour as I waited. Or was I already dead and didn’t know it? Some warm liquid dropped onto my face.

A thud next to me shook me.

Alright this was taking forever. I thought as I opened my eyes, to find Band AId and Doc Soothing looking down at me with a healing potion. Didn’t they know it was already my time?

I turned my head slightly, seeing Fritz lie on the ground spasming. A knife driven through the front of his throat. Huh… Curious. I tried reaching my hoof over to him, my leg buckling under the weight of gravity.

I looked up at another pony, a mare, dried tears on her face, look down on me sadly, yet also bitterly.

I could remember a face just like that. So long ago. The face mother had when we got the letter of my father’s sacrifice to the kingdom against the zebra hordes. It was on that day I got into a nasty scrap with somepony else over some mundane thing.

Behind her a poster of Princess celestia, faded, save for her eyes glowed purple for a second before turning back to normal. I was about to say something, probably some slurry of words when the healing potion was brought to my lips, and the faint berry flavour poured onto my tongue.

I closed my eyes, something warming my battered head. I opened my eyes again. I wasn’t in the medical bay anymore. And neither Doc Soothing, nor Band Aid were in their collars. In fact they were even armed! I moved my head as I tried to get up.

“Whoh there” Doc Soothing said as he slowly braced me. “Take it” he continued before his voice faded out for a second. “At a time, we don’t know the extent of your injuries yet”

“...have to go… back any minute” One of the two mares who were standing next to me said harshly. I closed my eyes again.

When I opened them I. We were at the front gate of the subway. The mare with dried tears on her face grimaced as she did something with the gate before pulling a rope.

The first thing I felt as the two gates opened was the cold blast of air from the outside. The second was the blinding bright light. And into the blinding white light I, supported by Doc Soothing, and Band Aid, walked. I closed my eyes to save myself from the pain of the light. My hooves walking onto something light and crunchy.

I tried opening my eyes. The image of the bustling El Alimane day before me. Pegasi flying above, and Earth ponies, along with Unicorns trotting down the snow covered streets in winter clothing… Strange. Wasn’t El Alimane in the desert?

I blinked again. The image replaced with a much, much more grim image.

The entire skyline was cloud covered, the skyscrapers we had spent so much on building, which dominated El Alimane, wherever you looked at it from were blasted black and twisted beyond all recognition. A streak of light, flying from one of the many mockeries that were once skyscrapers to another, exploded as quickly as it had appeared. The rattling of guns in the distance echoing off the Urban jungle.

“Well Snow Berry” Doc Soothing said grimly. “Welcome to El Alimane, the weather today is freeze your balls off cold with a change of brutal murder” He continued

But I knew what this place was.

Home…

Footnote Added: Level up

Quest Perk Added: Housekeeper. Increased chance of finding rare loot amongst junk.