Fallout Equestria: Forgotten Days

The world pitched sideways when Shimmer woke. The medical tent of The Grove was in high use as both slaves and Rangers tended to the sick and injured. She groaned and her belly grumbled and gurgled, desperate for the routinely release. She complied, throwing her head over the side of her bed and fumbling for the half-rusted bucket which rested there before she promptly heaved into it.

As she heaved again and again she felt the touch of a comforting hoof on her back. "Not quite the 'good morning' we were expecting, but welcome back, Shimmer." Shimmer weakly lifted her head as the soft falsetto voice of Mother filled her ears and she said, "Being beaten and then vomiting... is unpleasant to say the least." She winced as she lay back on the bed. "How are the others doing?"

The older mare smiled. "Many survived thanks to you and your friends. If you didn’t do what you did, I'm sure all the slav—well, the others—would have been certainly killed. Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. I did what any decent pony would do."

Mother shook her head. "Of course, but there aren't that many around anymore. Don't you remember the last time we talked?"

Shimmer smiled sheepishly and said, "Yes, I do. I'm sorry." She looked about. "Mother, I have an odd question to ask. Do you know what happened to the Crystal Heart?"

Mother blinked. "My, that is a odd question. The Crystal Heart... Well, some say that it shattered, and some say it was stolen. But the truth of the matter is that no one really knows. At least, no one alive knows, that is. Why do you ask?"
Shimmer sighed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"I've heard many things in my life, honey, believe me. It won't be as strange as you think," Mother replied with a giggle.
Shimmer averted her eyes and felt foolish as she replied with, "I think ... I could have sworn I heard Princess Luna tell me to look for it." Mother's reply was a series of rapid blinks and Shimmer groaned. "See, I told you. I knew you wouldn't believe me."

"It's not that I don't believe you, honey. It's just... well, Luna has been dead for two hundred years," Mother replied, a confused frown on her brow. "Luna was the guardian of dreams but in two hundred years, I haven't heard of anypony, anywhere, mentioning seeing Luna in their dreams again."

Shimmer shook her head. "It was Luna, it had to have been."

Mother smiled with a shrug, "I'm not saying you're right or wrong, honey, but just don't get your hopes too high that it really was her. That said, though, Goddesses know we could use their guidance again."

Shimmer nodded slowly and said, "You won't get any arguments from me." She sighed softly and looked around. "Is Zephyr or Glimmerlight around?"

Mother gave her a gentle pat on her leg. "I'll go fetch them for you."

As Mother stood and began to walk away Shimmer made her pause as she spoke. "I'm glad to see you made it through, Mother. The good ponies deserve to live." Mother smiled and nodded in reply and continued on her way. Shimmer relaxed against the pillow as she attempted to get comfortable. Her body ached from the fight with the changeling and she was doing her best to avoid irritating it more. Her eyes glanced about the medical tent. The number of injured was surprisingly low, but then she also assumed that this was not the trauma tent.

She sighed as time began to drag and it was clear that it was going to be a few minutes before her friends arrived. She lifted her hoof and tapped on the Pip-Buck controls, bringing up the radio like she had so many times in the past. Immediately she picked up on the all too familiar voice of Pon-3.

"...and some very special news! Littlepip and Celestia have left us a message!" The sound of paper shuffling filled the speaker as Pon-3 cleared his throat. "First is from Celestia and it reads, 'My Dear Little Ponies, I haven't forgotten you. I watch every day and the courage many of you show each day fills me with joy. Those ponies who cherish life and try to help make it better for all I thank you deeply. My thoughts and hopes go with all of you. Signed, Princess Celestia.' Well isn't that lovely! The next is from Littlepip."

Shimmer couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "I thought Celestia was dead? I'll need to get another history lesson from-" She paused, remembering the shot from the sniper, and shook her head rapidly. She refused to let her thoughts dwell on her loss of Rocket. Instead she focused on the radio.

"'I'm not very good with these but, 'Hi everypony!' I guess that's a good place to start. I've seen things that surprise me greatly. The Wasteland is changing, I hope for the best. I've seen more and more of ponies being friendly to each other, homes being built, and lives being repaired. Don't forget though, everypony has the capacity to love, to care, and to have friendships. We stumble, we fail, but we always can rise again. Remember that everypony. Yours, Littlepip.'"

Shimmer smiled at hearing those encouraging words. Somepony, somewhere, was keeping tabs on the world. The far end of the tent opened and Glimmerlight and Zephyr stepped through. She flicked the radio off and smiled, waving a hoof towards them. The pair wore smiles as they approached but looked completely exhausted.

Zephyr reached her first and she immediately wrapped her forelegs around his neck, at which he gave a small groan of surprise before then returning it. Glimmerlight placed a hoof on her shoulder and nodded firmly.

"How're you feeling, Shimmer?" she asked as she lowered her hoof.

Shimmer smiled. "Not too bad, all things considered." She sighed as she slowly released Zephyr and he sat back on his flank.

He sighed. "I'm sorry we didn't come sooner."

"We waited to see Rocket's signal but it never came." Glimmerlight continued and Shimmer's ears drooped.

"They… They kill—ended—Rocket shortly after we arrived," Shimmer replied softly as her eyes began to water. "It was all for n-nothing."

Zephyr raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. "Well, they certainly tried." The comment was met with a look of pure confusion from Shimmer. He, in turn, looked to Glimmerlight and said, "Wait, nopony told you that she survived?"
Shimmer bolted upright and instantly clutched her side as she did so. "She's alive?!"

Glimmerlight laughed as she pushed her back down slowly. "Take it easy, Shimmer. Yeah, Rocket's still alive. Stubborn old thing kept herself together with nothing but bandages and magic. If she wasn't so badly injured, she would have joined us in the attack." Shimmer opened her mouth to question and Glimmerlight cut her off by promptly placing a hoof over it. "She's fine. She's in one of the other tents resting. We evacuated everypony from the camp and took all the supplies here."
Zephyr himself chuckled. "Took us a damn week but we finally got everything out of there, and managed to even save some of the tents too." As he turned his head he raised an eyebrow. "Shimmer? Why're you crying?"

She hadn't even noticed it but as she lifted a hoof to her eyes she felt the telltale sign of tears on her foreleg. She smiled as she looked up. "Because my friends all lived and we saved so many and so much." Her body began to slowly convulse as she began to sob happily. With a loud groan of surprise from both she wrapped them both in a hug. The week of endless torture and servitude had come to a happy end as she held them tightly. Zephyr and Glimmerlight awkwardly gazed at each other behind Shimmer’s back as she continued to sob.

After what felt like an eternity she finally released them and she sighed contently. "Sorry, that was-"

"Just fine," Glimmerlight interrupted. "The state of the place when we began to search for survivors and those that refused to give up was ... appalling to say the least. How ponies could go so... evil and disgusting is beyond me. Rocket certainly has my sympathies."

"What happened to the survivors?"

Zephyr smiled. "Well after we got you out of the combat zone, I disabled the bomb collars on the slaves. Offered them a choice, freedom to go where they choose or to help us rebuild The Grove and the CPR."

"Surprisingly, many of them chose to help us." Glimmerlight had begun to smile but it quickly faded as Shimmer's expression grew dark. "What's wrong?"

"I just remembered something... something the slaver leader said," Shimmer said quietly. Glimmerlight raised an eyebrow as she looked at Zephyr for some kind of explanation.

"He was a changeling."

Shimmer nodded in confirmation. "And he said ... something about ... what was the word he used?"

Zephyr looked at Glimmerlight and finished Shimmer's thought. "He said 'shlanaighear', whatever that means. I probably butchered how it sounds." Glimmerlight's eyebrows shot up in confusion as he continued. "The changeling also said that they were everywhere. That they wouldn't be stopped easily."

Glimmerlight remained silent for a few moments as she paced in front of the bed. Shimmer simply watched in slight concern as the silence filled the room. Glimmerlight looked at Zephyr and motioned with her head for him to follow. "I've got a pony here who knows the changeling language. We should go talk to her." She turned her head to Shimmer and added with a smile, "While we speak to my friend, you should try and see Rocket, if you're feeling up to it."

Shimmer smiled. "Even if I have to crawl, I'll see her. Thank you both. I have more to tell you, but it can wait, for now." The three shared a nod before Zephyr and Glimmerlight headed for the exit. Shimmer sat up with a wince as her tender frame moved for the first time in what she assumed was several days. A medic nearby began to move towards her but, when she held up a hoof and shook her stiff head, the pony nodded and moved back to the patient they originally had been overseeing.

As her hooves hit the floor she felt a small amount of dizziness sweep over here. She shook her head twice and it immediately cleared the sensation away. She took a tentative step as her body slowly got used to itself once again. One hoof step after another, she moved towards the exit of the tent. She paused only to ask where Rocket was staying and got directions to another tent nearby. She thanked the pegasus that answered her and exited the tent. And the sight that greeted her was something she had never expected to see.

When she had last seen the Grove it was run down and in the process of being rebuilt by those that had been rescued. But, now, the place had completely changed. The houses that were still standing had been repaired and patched to the point that the weather would no longer threaten its occupants, and her own home now stood vibrant. It seemed somepony had found some paint and had changed its original yellow color to a bright violet. In fact, many of the buildings nearby bore similar shades of purple, the color of the Rangers. Surrounding the Grove were a series of towers which stood tall over the place, a sturdy hideaway for the ponies who stood on watch, rifles held under their shoulders.. Some makeshift barricades littered the roads, most of which had more Rangers standing by them, on guard.

The center of the Grove originally had sported a tall tree, but that was long since dead. It had been removed in favor of a two story building from which, at the top, a flagpole rose. From it, only very slightly tattered, and magnificent cyan flag blew; donned with thirty-seven white stars, grouped in nines, in the corners and with a single star at the bottom, it was familiar. In the center it bore the symbols of sun and moon, surrounded by the figures of Celestia and Luna.

The flag brought an unusual sense of pride in Shimmer. The world as it had once been had ended, but these ponies had banded together despite the odds to make the world they found themselves in a better place. Several other buildings had been constructed and she could only venture a guess as to what they held. But what truly astonished her was that the place was built in such a short amount of time. In the two weeks that she had been gone with Rocket, this had been built. Some buildings were, admittedly, still under construction, but the Grove had turned from a humble little cul-de-sac to a Base of Operations for the Rangers. It was something that the group had previously lacked, thanks in part to the constant attacks from other parties.

Despite wanting to explore she continued forward to another set of tents designated as the intensive care unit. When she stepped hoof inside she was greeted not by a Medic, but by Dr. Heartstrings.

"Well I'll be damned. Shimmer!" Heartstrings called as he wrapped his hooves around Shimmer's neck. "I wasn't sure I'd see you again. How are you?"

Shimmer managed a pained reply of, "I hurt."

Immediately Heartstrings chuckled and released her. "Sorry. I had heard something major went down to the East. Didn't know you were involved." He stepped to the side, "I imagine you're here to see Rocket?"

She nodded as she began to follow him, "How is she?"

Heartstrings shrugged, "Stubborn? She was pretty much all patched up when I got here. I was on a supply run for the clinic and offered to help with the injuries when the Pegasi began unloading casualties from the battle." He looked over at her as they walked, "There were a lot of injured. I'm glad you opened up that basement otherwise may of the injured here would most certainly be dead." He paused in front of one of the sections, "Here we are. I'll let you two have some privacy. I'm sure you've got some catching up to do. She's been asking about you at least once a day."

Shimmer raised an eyebrow, "Really?"

Heartstrings nodded, "Yep. According to the Medic that was tending to her before, that was how it was every day. I've only been in here for a day, I was kept rather busy in the surgical ward."

Shimmer nodded as she faced the door, "Thank you Doctor. I'll see you later."

Heartstrings smiled as he opened the door, "I'll be around. In you go."

As she stepped through the small entry she immediately saw Rocket lying on the gurney. Her breath caught in her throat as she moved closer. The bandages wrapped around her midsection nearly caused Shimmer to freeze in place. However, she pushed forward, approaching the bed and placing a hoof on the metal bar between them. As if on cue Rocket opened her eyes and looked towards Shimmer. The two shared more than a few moments of silence before Shimmer broke it.

"How're you feeling-" Words were rapidly interrupted as Rocket surged forward. Her forelegs wrapping around Shimmers neck as she pulled her in closely. Loud sobs filled the small room as she squeezed tighter as if attempting to never let Shimmer go again.

"ImsosorryInevermeanttoleaveyoutherealone!" Rocket blurted out in one unbroken word. Shimmer smiled against her as she felt tears dropping onto her shoulder. Slowly running a hoof through Rocket's mane she cooed softly, attempting to calm down the emotional mare.

"I'm okay, I'm here." Her voice dipped to near whisper levels.

Rocket pulled back and looked into her eyes, "You-you were in there for a week...did they...I mean..." She couldn't bring herself to say it but Shimmer knew exactly what she meant. There was a slow nod from her in response but her smile never faded.

"I'm okay. I promise. Mother helped, Zephyr and Glimmerlight saved me. And the camp was destroyed. Everypony that survived was set free." She leaned forward and gave a soft nuzzle against Rockets neck, "I'm just relieved to see you alive...when I heard the shot..." It was her turn to pause as she looked back up at Rocket.

Rocket sighed as she leaned back on the gurney, "Being shot by a sniper ... it's not fun. Especially when you spend a week using your magic to hold your insides in." Shimmer winced and didn't even attempt to hold it back. "But, I got here. I was a mess. Thank Celestia I was treated before I simply bled out."

Shimmer couldn't help but wear a pained but relieved face, "Glimmerlight's group seems to know what they're doing. Even if they're only just now getting back on their hooves." The two shared a nod and relaxed in their respective seats. She however couldn't remain still. The message from Luna still dragging itself forward. As a groan escaped her lips Rocket couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her.

"Something on your mind?"

Shimmer sat forward once again, running her forehooves across her eyes. "Yeah but it's far fetched so I doubt you'd believe it."

Rocket smirked, "Maybe. If not, it'll make for a good story."

Running a hoof through her mane she let the hair fall on her shoulder with a small huff, “What if I told you when I was out, I had a vision...of...Luna?” She cleared her throat avoiding Rocket’s gaze, “And she told me...to find the...Crystal-what? Stop looking at me like that!” She commented finally looking at Rocket who looked as if she was about to burst out laughing. Rocket made a noise akin to a cough as she attempted to put on her serious face. Utterly failing and instead laughing loudly. Shimmer sunk into her chair and crossed her forelegs with a huff.

“I’m sorry.” The unicorn replied as she attempted to clear her eyes of the tears that had started to spawn from the laughter. “But you do know-”

“She’s dead. Yeah. I gathered.” The annoyance on her voice was the furthest thing from cloaked as she glared at Rocket. Rocket continued to giggle and Shimmer pushed forward, placing her hooves on the bed. “I’m not making this up! I know it sounds crazy! But can you just listen?”

Rocket was a little surprised at the forwardness and she nearly immediately stopped giggling. “Okay. I’m sorry, go on.” The smirk on her face wasn’t inspiring confidence but Shimmer nodded nonetheless.

Taking a deep breath in she continued, “She told me that I needed to find the Crystal Heart. That it was important. I don’t know why, but we-I need to do this. I really could use your help, yours, Zephyr’s, Glimmerlight’s too if she can be spared.” Her voice kept growing in determination, “Luna never contacts anyone directly unless they’re needing guidance or advice. Even ponies now must remember the stories of her entering dreams. She’s the guardian of dreams, the princess of the night. It MUST be important.”

Rocket looked at her somewhat confused, sitting up slowly, “You’re serious about this?”

Nodding in reply, “I wouldn’t joke about Princess Luna like that. She was...she was kind, misunderstood at times, but always wanted the best for everypony. And if she’s telling me to do this...I can’t ignore it.” She looked dead serious into Rocket’s eyes, “If it will help ponies, I want to do that. I MUST do it.”

Rocket lifted her forelegs, resting her forehooves on Shimmers. “You saved my life. I owe you. Where you go, I go, I promise. And if that means chasing this Crystal Heart, come Tartarus or high water, I’ll be there.”

Shimmer smiled nodding firmly, “Thank you Rocket.”

Rocket smiled, “What are friends for?”

“Fair point.” She replied with a giggle, “We’ll get going as soon as you’re fit enough to travel. And not a second before.”

Rocket smirked, “Doctor’s orders?”

“Doctor’s orders.” Her own smirked reflecting that of Rocket’s. “Get some rest Rocket. It truly is great seeing you still alive.”
Rocket smirked, “Hey, it’s me. I’m tough to kill.” With a simple hug, Shimmer then turned to the small doorway and headed out. As she moved towards the exit she saw that Heartstrings was waiting for her. The expression he wore however didn’t inspire her with confidence.

“Glimmerlight and Zephyr need to speak to you right away.”

She looked back at Rocket, “Looks like duty calls. I’ll be back to check on you later.”

Rocket smirked and waved a hoof dismissively, “I ain’t going anywhere. Go talk shop.” Shimmer nodded and gave her a quick hug before moving out of the small room. The door closed with a small click and she faced Heartstrings.
“She’ll make a full recovery?”

Heartstrings smirked and looked at the door, “If she ever learns to settle down? Sure. I swear that mare can’t sit still for more than five minutes at a time.” Shimmer chuckled as she nodded, her posture changing to show simple relief. However it was short lived as Heartstrings continued. “Look, are you absolutely sure that you want to go after the Crystal Heart?” She blinked in response as he commented, “I caught a bit of the conversation as I walked by before the runner came to me.”
“Oh.” Was all she’d reply with before moving down the small hall between the small temporary rooms. Heartstrings continued to follow just a few steps behind. She looked over her shoulder, “To answer your question then, I am serious. I was given instructions to follow.” Briefly lifting a hoof she’d open the door to the hall and step outside, “And I fully intend to follow them.”

Heartstrings took several quick steps and stopped in front of Shimmer. His eyes locked on hers, seriousness coating them as he began to speak. “Then let me be the first to suggest that you do NOT continue telling anypony that you got these instructions from Luna. She’s dead, gone, burned up two hundred years ago.”

“But that can’t-”

“Shimmer.” He interrupted, his expression darkening, “I’m telling you. If you keep going on about Luna and some kind of vision, ponies will NOT take you seriously. The world you knew, with the mythical Luna entering dreams, it doesn’t exist anymore. Believe what you want, but don’t force it on others.”

Shimmer frowned heavily at him, “But it had to have been her. Why else would I have had that vision?”

Heartstrings shrugged his shoulders, “As I said Shimmer, believe what you want, I’m not saying not to. I’m just saying to be careful AND not to try to get anyone to follow you by using Luna as a reason. Nopony will follow you. But ponies will follow you for a legitimate reason. Finding the Crystal Heart, that’s noble. It’s been missing for...well no one knows how long it’s been missing.” He moved out of her way and offered a hoof to indicate to keep going, “Just remember that the next time you try to pitch an idea to your friends to go on some adventure.” Shimmer continued to frown at him. He had a point but that didn’t mean she had to like it. Instead of replying she simply marched forward.