Fallout Equestria: Frozen Clock

It’s the next morning. It was time for our trek across the old bridge. I stood by the back gate with my friends. A waypoint filled my vision to get to the next computer to upgrade ourselves. Before we left though the ponies of the town set down a giant bag of food and other things. Hops came up to me kissing me.

“Is there anything we can do for you while we trek along the old bridge?” I glance over at Bowser who asked that question. The ponies look at each other unsure how to answer that. One of the older stallions known as an elder we didn’t see the first time we came here.

“Since you have given us peace again with the hounds. Make sure to use your eyes to mark weak support beams on the bridge. But we have another request. This entire bridge used to be a town. The town used to be a city along that bridge. Fifty or so years ago something came in and attacked the ponies killing and forcing a lot of us to move back here.”

I glance towards the door. The waypoint to the next computer is like a few miles from this town. So this used to be an entire town I figured that after coming here. I took a deep breath and the door opened up. We get to see the old run-down buildings. Some of them look to be ripped apart and some are still standing.

“Let's go. I am getting sick of not gorging something.” June snorted trotting out of the gate. Drift stayed beside me while Bowser went ahead. The door closed behind us and I sighed, not happy that I won’t see Hops again for a long time.

It’s an hour later and we spent most of the walk marking spots that need some fixing and ransacking homes for guns and ammo. What we mostly found was a lot of trash and some stim packs.

We stopped for a bit sitting in the middle of an old picnic ground. Old dried and bleached bones all over. I am starting to wonder whatever was here is finally gone now. I glance at the waypoint again hoping we will get there soon.

“So have you talked to the computer today?” I look over to Drift and shake my head.

“No, she hasn’t bothered me yet. Maybe she will at the next update.” I shrugged my shoulders unsure really. It’s not that I am not happy that the computer is not invading my life every single time I try to do something.

“Maybe the computer in our bodies is shut down. I haven’t felt the orb in my chest gather my emotions like it normally does.” Bowser sighed, shaking his head.

“Well, at least you three can turn it off. I don’t since they replaced my eyes. With it. So I never can turn it off unless it’s a feature that will be added later.” Bowser sighed it was harder for him than the rest of us. Of course, my legs felt so stiff as of late and that is from the metal in them.

I stopped right on my hooves when we got to the town hall in the middle of the bridge. The rest of us stopped when we saw old robots all broken and burn marks like this battle just took place: Not too far from us a consent beep kept sounding. On the ground, we noticed a body. Junes armor formed over her as the rest of us got ready for a fight.

When we got closer to the town hall to the body a voice spoke over a PA system.

“Are you friend or foe?” The rest of us looked at each other. “Again fleshlings are you friend or foe?”

The others looked at me and I took a deep breath moving forward so whoever is watching us can get a better look at me. When I finally got close enough I saw the cam staring right at me. It unattached itself from the pole it was latched onto and skittered to me on spider legs.

“A zebra… A pure zebra with no radiation and robotic legs?” The robotic creature skittered around and looked at us. The robotic being then quickly connected to other parts and created itself a bird body flying into the air to look at the rest of us.

“Um, what are you?”

“What am I?” The creature just looks at me then I noticed the waypoint that is in my vision is pointing to this robotic creature. The cam looks right into my eyes and the computer finally comes to life.

“Oh, finally you come back to us.” The pony in the computer stares at me and looks at the cam creature.

“It seems we have a new friend.” Suddenly without warning the cam bot jammed right into my head and I screamed in pain as the others ran to me to help get the bot off my head. I felt the wires jam right into the robotics in my brain.

My entire world went black.

<0000000>

Mindscape

I woke up in a computer mindscape and I woke to see two computer Ais talking to each other. The pony from my mind and the strange cam that has a body, not the body of a pony but a two-legged creature with a camera for its head.

“Okay...I am going to say this. Ask me, ask me!! Before doing that again.”

“We got a problem, Rose.” I glance at the computer that normally sits inside my vision when she wishes to.

“We have a lot of problems. But now what is the problem?”

“This creature is the reason the town got attacked fifty years ago. It’s also the reason why there was another attack on the town again. They’re looking for this creature. This creature is being fought over. She calls herself a Frozen clock.”

“And why does she call herself that?”

“I don’t know….I don’t even remember how I ended up in the town I am in.”

“So… we now have to protect her?” The computer nods.

“I will be able to talk to you more than in your vision. It will make it easier for me to understand what is going on. It also seems she has small upgrades for you four.”

A deep sigh filling my lungs. “What is the upgrade now? Making others hornier around us? Making us more like robots. Removing our free will like what happened to us 200 years ago?”

The frozen clock looks away from me. I could tell I hurt the creature’s feelings. I thought, wait it has feelings? I shook my head. I need to be kinder to this creature. It’s all we know about what is going on.

“Listen I am sorry. We have been thrown into this new world. Many wish to kill me because I am a zebra. But what is this upgrade?”

“Can you give me a name first? I don’t wish to be known as the frozen clock.” I had to think of a name for this creature now. She could build herself from robotic parts and make a body for herself. I wonder if there is more that she could do.

“I know a great name for you. Maria.” The robotic creature looks right at me the cam focusing right on me like it’s looking right into my soul.

“I like that name...and yes the upgrade. This upgrade is not needed unless you all want it. You could skip this upgrade and feature. It’s more a feature I don’t know about it. All I know it was created just in case everything backfires. So it’s not needed.”

I shook my head again my head started to hurt so much having her dug so deep into my skull to get to my brain.

“Oh, it seems I am harming her Deco.”

I lift my head to stare at the robotic creature. The name Deco went through my ears. I groan, closing my eyes tightly, tears falling from my eyes. I try to grunt asking.

“Who..is Deco?” I stare at the computer mare who smiles. I finally know her name and I scream as I wake up.

<00000>

I finally wake up and the blood drains down from my head. After the cam bot or we named her Maria. I look up to finally see the creature again and to her gathering parts of robots. She quickly places them in my bags and turns to me still in the small bird form. It took me a while to get back on my hooves since the pain was too much still. Bowser helps me up and I quickly stare at the bot.

“So you know I don’t trust you or the computer that was forcibly placed in our heads,” Deco spoke through a part of Maria since they’re connected now.

“I don’t blame you. Now we need to trust each other. We need to follow the path that Maria is leading. It sounds like she is heading to the same place we are going to. Across the river and we need to be watching. Some bots are after her.”

I glance at the former town. The town is very well kept and parts of the bridge have been reinforced. I wonder if it was done by those that took over this area for a bit. I look over to drift nodding to her.

“Tell them the place is clear. We will wait for you to return.” Drift lifted off and while we waited I sat down and got our food ready. We stayed silent and didn’t know what to think about Maria. I could tell Bowser didn’t trust the little bot. June did what she did best and jabbed her horns in everything she could think of. She was bored and she just wanted to gore something.

It took an hour for me to get the will to fully cook our dinner. Too much to think about and it was getting to the point I wasn’t too sure about. Finally drift made it back. It took her longer to get back than I thought but she shrugged her shoulders smiling at me.

“Sorry I needed a drink so I got some water and talked with Hops. She is very into you Rose. They asked me to tell you that they want us to wait for them to get here then we go. Do you mind doing that Rose?”

I just sighed shrugging my shoulders. I could tell Drift and the others are very worried about me. I could see the worry in their eyes. It’s not easy for me to deal with things sometimes. I normally have to kick something to get used to it.

Right beside me, Maria sat by me. Looking down at the little cam robot that recently built itself that bird body. The creature or she or it just studied me with its one eye. Like she was trying to learn everything about me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I look down at Maria. The stress in my eyes showed heavily my body is very tense up and it doesn’t help that I got these cybernetics in my legs. I snorted in anger standing on my hooves and leaving the food behind. I was going to eat but I don’t feel like eating.

I head into one of the broken-down houses. I want to be alone, my ears perk up while I hear a set of hooves following me. I turn to see June walking inside the same house and closing the broken-down door.

“You know you zebras are like ponies. Always so highly stressed over nothing.” I stare at the Buffalo. June may not be fully grown like one of her kind would be. But she is just staring at me with very judging eyes.

“I am not a pony. I don’t act like a pony. I don’t stress about every little thing. I don’t judge a whole race because of a silly war.” I grew more upset the tone in my voice didn’t help matters. June just stood there staring at me judging me with her eyes.

“No, you’re not a pony. But neither am I Rose. But you have the same issues that every pony does. You allow stress to get to you.” I snorted in anger, stomping my hard front hooves on the wooden board splintering them.

“Of course my stress is getting to me. This is not my time. I had a fucking family!!” My voice carried to the others outside. “We have these cybernetics in our bodies. They removed your damn horns June. They took me from my family.” I said the same words again.

“There are words I live by Rose. You don’t allow the world to control you. You don’t allow the world to break you. You allow those around you to break and you become the simple creature of life. We don’t live in a simple world we never did. A world of friendship that was a lie. The ponies used that friendship and they started a war. The ponies are much to blame as the zebras are. Unlike my species.”

Unlike her species? Those words hit me hard but then I remembered something.

“What about that time your species tried to push a group of ponies out of your land and they fought you with pies?” June smirked. I could tell she had a counter to this right away.
“That is very simple. It was our land and we had every right to do what we did. Was it the right way to do it though? I would say yes. But it would have been better if we did it with more peace in our hearts than hatred. If your kind and the ponies listened to that logic. The world wouldn’t be like it is now. Ponies and zebras can be the racist assholes in this new world and they could get ahead. It’s the sad truth and you know this.”

I shook my head knowing she was speaking the truth. I ain’t happy it’s going to be hard to be peaceful with this new world. I sat down on my haunches and glanced at June. June sat beside me and all I could think of is she is going to insult me or something. Instead, she leaned on me and nuzzles my side.

“You can’t always be the strong one Rose. You need to allow others to be strong as well. I know I may not show it. But I am scared too. I show my fear by wanting to gore things. It’s the only way one of my kind can cope with issues like this.”

A soft chuckle came from my throat. I found that so funny that the only way a buffalo can handle the world is by being a bitch and goring things. At least she is good in a fight. They are all good in a fight. I have nothing to fear now, I just don’t trust this new one we met.

“I don’t trust this new soul we met in June. Maria, I can’t trust her. I don’t know why just looking at that robot brings chills to my heart. I wish I could understand why I felt this way. I think I know why though. She forced herself in my head and then said she had an upgrade for us called the frozen clock or some other. I don’t remember the name of it.”

June nods, lifting her head to look at me. “Before we leave could you tell me about your life before this new world Rose? I wish to understand why one like you got taken like the rest of us. Oh, and It wasn’t just us five. There was almost an entire group of creatures. A changeling and many others.”

I look at the buffalo unsure how to answer that. I never saw others there myself. I never even saw my new friends. I just remember being put to sleep and then waking up in the tube. I wonder if the others saw something.

“I am worried June. We might walk into others. Others may have not had the same luck as we have. What if they aren’t friendly? What if they wish to kill us because we had a lucky break. Maybe they’re part of this war I learned about from this robot pony.”

June snickers.

“Well, then we escaped one war that ended the world. We are now in the middle of another set of wars.”

My ears perk up. Did she say another set of wars?

“What do you mean June about another set of wars?”

June took a deep breath shaking her head. Taping her metal horns with her hoof. It may not be constant since she is not in a fight. Just little bits of steam pour out of the steam stack like horns from her head.

“Thanks to the fillings in my teeth I can hear radio singles. I have been hearing stories of many heroes in many parts of Equestria. A toaster pony, Some strange Security mare, or whatever they called her. A pink ghost a wolf and a pear tree dancing. I think that was correct or I got some strange radio show.”

A laugh comes out of my mouth at the mention of the pear tree. Just the idea of a pear tree dancing is amazing to me. A commotion sounds outside and it got me worried. Junes armor quickly formed along her body. She charged out and it was our friends from the village we left a few hours ago.

I shook my head staying inside the old building. I did hear Hop’s voice outside but I couldn’t see her now. Since it was hard for me to get over this problem I was having. Taking a deep breath and lay down on the old dusty wooden floor to relax. Turning my head to see Maria looking at me still looking like a bird. She broke herself off from the robotic parts and quickly on her little wires hides in my mane.

“Maria, what is wrong?” The little robotic creature didn’t answer and just shook. Does this creature have emotions? I am wondering who created this little one. I help the little cam bot out from behind my mane.

“It’s okay they won’t harm you.” I finally saw a symbol on the little cam bot. I swear I have seen this symbol before but I don’t remember when or where I saw it. I felt sorry for this little creature. She has no idea who made her. She now even has Deco in her brain. It’s better than her being in my brain.

“From what she told me, Rose. She has been attacked by ponies before. Since they don’t trust robotic creatures in this area. I guess many have been attacked by robots wanting to kill flesh creatures.”

I shrugged my shoulders. I remember back in the day all the robots made to fight my kind. I remember from time to time that going into big cities having their guns aiming at me. Because of course ponies in bigger cities didn’t trust my kind. Of course, I couldn’t blame them for not trusting any of my kind. It's what happens because sometimes fear is a big issue and fear will always be a big issue. I still feel bad about all this fear is the only way some can control others. I shook my head sighing.

“Rose?”

I lift my head seeing Hops. I smile weakly and Maria hides in my bags. Hops nuzzled along my back. A deep sigh leaves my mouth standing on my hooves staring into the eyes of Hops. I could feel the love for her building. I still feel upset that Deco pushed it on the two of us. But now I am understanding that she is what I need to get through this land.

“I will be fine Hops. Just when we finally get on our way I will be more relaxed.” Hops nodded. I finally got a look at her without Deco in my brain blinding me to it all. I finally got a look at her cutiemark and her fur color. She is light green with a blue tail and blue main. Her cutiemark is a set of Hops in beer.

“What are you looking at Rose?”

Finally came to my senses.

“Without the computer pony in my brain. I can finally see you for how beautiful you are. I was so blinded by the robotics it made me blind to your eyes as well. I have a feeling these robotics are meant to fully control us. I have a feeling we never were meant to have free will.” I shook my head at the idea.

“Heh heh, maybe you do need some rest, Rose. Why not eat with us and then you can get some rest before heading on.” I nod following Hops to the campfire.

<000000>
Unknown.

Deep in Detrot in a broken-down factory. A hidden group of creatures in the shadows stays silent till a larger being walks in front of them it comes into the light and it’s a large female-formed assultponytron. One eye glowing brightly and on its chest is its name HeatFlash.

“I have learned that the other part of the puzzle has been found. Follow this group of fleshlings. Don’t force them into joining either side until we know how they will act to our war with broken ones.”

Another robot comes out of the darkness. From the looks of it. It’s a large flame thrower bot and flame fuel drips from its flamethrowers. It pulls out its cigar from its mouth blowing out fire and laughs.

“Allow me to meet them and give them a little burn.” He laughs coughing out oil from the cigar.
“Not yet. We need to get ready just in case the broken ones regain their leader. We have to stop them and this time we need to be kind to the flesh. Then we can break them for how weak they are.”

The flamer lifts his flamethrower.

“For the true ones!” They all scream.