Fallout Equestria: Syndicate

“...If the Empire is filled with hope and love those things are reflected across all of Equestria. If hatred and fear take hold..."

“No!” said a purple blanked flanked filly sitting on a white Medical bed.  “I don't wanna!”

“If you don't take your medicine your cough won't go away.”  I said with as much patience I could muster, I'd been trying to get her to take it for ten minutes.  “You don't want to get anypony else sick do you?”  She clamped her muzzle shut and shook her head.  I thought for a moment, rubbing my chin with a hoof and pop! Light bulb.  I thought. I levitated the spoon to her mouth.  “Last chance, Polo.” she shook her head, leaving me no choice.  I spun my tail around and tickled her stomach furiously.

“No! Hahaha! No..! Not fair, Silver Heart! Not fair!” she cried while rolling on the bed.  I stuck the spoon in her mouth and pinched her nose and muzzle shut with my magic.  She swallowed hard and scowled indignantly at me.  “That wasn't fair.” she whined.

“Neither would you giving the rest of your class a cold.” I told her sternly.  “ Now trot along. Back to class.”  I pointed my tail towards the door and she hopped of the bed muttering to herself.  Why can't they just drink the damn medicine? I rolled my eyes, trying to adjust my pink and yellow uniform.  Whoever thought this uniform looked good must have either been high or just fucking stupid.  Not only was it ugly, it was uncomfortable.  It was itchy and too tight in the tail.  Well, what can a pony do?  It's a two hundred year old hoof me down.  Should I really expect better?

I trotted over to my desk in the corner of Medical and sat down.  All that was left was paperwork. Before I could start a loud thud came from the X-Ray room behind me.  Celestia dammit.  They're at it again!  I sat up and went to the door and raised a hoof to knock...then something small and round his me in the back of the head.  I rubbed my head and looked around but nopony was there.  I floated the pencil off the floor and scowled. Seriously Dad?  I crouched as low as I could and tiphoofed towards the supply room door.  Peaking my head around the corner I saw the brown buck in a lab coat that was my father.

My father was different than most of the hundred or so other ponies in Stable 41, despite looking young for his age he was young at heart.  Even though he's more than twice my age he can still take the time out of his day to throw pencils at me while I tried to work.

“What?”  He asked with an easy smile, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses.  When I continued to scowl he said, “To tell you the truth Silver I was aiming for the door button. Magenta and Vicks won't stop leaving stains on those sheets; the Overmare we'll have their hides.”  I snorted and floated the pencil in front of me.

“Betcha a bit I hit it on the first try.”  I challenged, cocking an eyebrow.  He smirked, grabbed the pencil with his own magic and trotted to the door.  He spun it three times and launched it like a javelin at the door button.  The door to X-Ray then opened with a loud hiss and two mares; an earth pony and a unicorn shrieked as they hastened to cover themselves.

“LUNA DAMMIT, DOCTOR HEART!”  The unicorn yelled, slamming the door shut with the press of a button.

“Hey! I wanted to do it.”  I pouted, my ears drooping while he laughed.  When he stopped laughing he threw a sarcastic look at me and said,

“I hate to break it to you Silver but you're a terrible shot.” I opened my mouth to argue but he cut me off.  “Can you honestly tell me one time that you have ever hit something you were aiming at?”  Okay, that's not fair.  There was that time I....no, that's not right.  Well there was the time in the atrium when...shit.  He was right.  He smiled brightly as I flushed silently.  “Thought so.  It's a good thing that you can still hit a vein or you wouldn't be able to poke fun at Magenta and Vicks with your old Dad!”  He puffed out his chest and strolled out the door.  “I'll handle tonight's paperwork but don't forget to clean the X-Ray room.” he pointed a hoof at the door. “You know they're useless.” Not when you want to get off.  I thought as he turned on the spot and dropped a brown paper bag on the floor in front of me.  I opened it up and saw several small red and white candies inside.

Yes, yes, yes!  Peppermints!  I opened my mouth to thank him but he was gone.  I popped a couple in my mouth and tucked the bag into my left pocket.  Dad didn't make them very often because of the shortage, but it was always a treat to find a small bag of candy on my dresser. Why can't the Overmare fix the food synthesizers make these instead of paste?  I thought glumly as I made my way down the sterile white hall towards my unit.  Magenta and Vicks could handle the cleanup...maybe...probably.  Eh, I tried not to think about it.  The Overmare never inspects medical anyway so it didn't really matter but Dad always went on about being 'professional'.  Not that anypony really cared.  All we do is put band-aids on scraped knees and force feed medicine to foals.  Not to say nothing interesting happens; one time a buck named Cobalt got a shard of shrapnel in his side when a terminal exploded in the reactor room, but other than that, almost nothing exciting happens.

Once the door hissed closed behind me I stripped off my dress and hopped in the shower.  Best thing about the Stable. I thought giving my nethers some special attention before getting out and drying off.  I ran a brush through my silver mane a tail for a few times, then tried and failed to get rid of the curl by my horn. I could brush Wonder glue into my hair and it would still be like that.  I ran a shorter brush through my coat, paying special attention to my cutie-mark; a heart with a white cross.  I had to look good for tonight. And Celestia knows I do!  Just as I finished grooming myself there was a loud knock at the door.

“Silver Heart,” my dad called. “Cedric is here for you.” There he is!  I'd been waiting for this night for weeks.  It was the Stable's annual Sealing Celebration.  Cedric and I planned to spend it (and that night) together.  I giggled at the thought of it.

“I'll be ready in ten minutes!”  I told him; I was basically ready now but it's good to make them wait a little.

“Alright!  I tell you my boy she's just like her mother.” I heard him say through the door.  He said that a lot.  I pressed my ear to the door and listened.

“Thanks again Doctor Heart,” Cedric said quietly. After a few moments pause he asked,  “Did you see the Dodge ball match last night?”  Ugh. Bucks.  Every buck in 41 was obsessed with Dodge ball.  Personally I didn't see the appeal of bucking a rubber ball like a cannon ball at each other until you're the only pony left standing.  Usually with a missing tooth or two.  Cedric seemed even more obsessed with it than Dad; huh, maybe it's because he's an earth pony?

While they were talking about Murder Ball I went back to the mirror and checked my mane and coat one more time. We didn't have any make-up in the Stable except what we use to cover surgical scars in Medical, otherwise I'd try putting some on.  Stupid pre-war ponies.  Why couldn't Stable-Tec fill the storage room with a few crates of blush?

Well I couldn't make myself look any better so left the bathroom to find my dad and Cedric in deep conversation on last night's match.

The stallion's looked up at me and Cedric smiled.  His brown mane had been combed neatly and his coat looked like it'd been scrubbed raw.  His mother must have helped. What can you do when you're the Overmare's colt?

“Hi Silver.” He said, blushing slightly.  I smiled and blushed more brightly. Dad looked between the two of us and snapped his tail on both our flanks.

“Alright you two. Get going, we'll be late if you just stand here and change colors. Go on, get!” he said with a laugh.

Cedric and I left my family's unit and trotted towards the Stable atrium. The atrium was the largest part of the Stable. Being four floors high and large enough to hold the Dodge ball court, the cafeteria, and the food synthesizers that provide us with sustenance it was no wonder that the entire population of the Stable could fit inside at once.

The walls were decorated with faded banners of Celestia and Luna, along with streamers that might have been colorful a hundred years ago but were only gray now. There were several long tables set up on the court with plates of rainbow paste and cups of water. Looking around the atrium I could see almost everypony. Astible, a friend who worked in the Pip-Buck maintenance. Baton, the head Security mare. Promise, head of Agriculture. (Even though agriculture is just running the food synthesizers) And everypony else in the Stable. Music was playing over the speakers (A classic by Sweetie Belle that we've all heard hundreds of times) and over a dozen ponies were dancing near the tables.

“Wanna dance, Silver?” Cedric asked, touching my flank with a hoof.  I blushed furiously and nodded.

It was a great night; dancing, rainbow paste and a second dodge ball match just for the occasion.  Cedric was extra happy when he got a souvenir ball to the face from 41's greatest athlete, Pain Train.  It wasn't her real name but she got really pissy if you called her 'Paprika'.  Cedric smiled at me stupidly holding the ball in one hoof and a broken tooth in the other.  Dad can reattach it later. After the match ended and everypony was getting ready to go to their units for the night the Overmare stood up on one of the Tables with Baton at her side.

“Everypony, your attention please!” she shouted above the crowd. It took a few minutes for everypony to stop talking. Most ponies just ignored the Overmare. But when Baton was talking everyone was listening.

“Thank you, Baton. First, I'd like thank thank everypony in Agriculture for another wonderful Sealing celebration!” Everypony in the crowd stomped in applause, myself included.

“Secondly, I know that the past few years have been difficult. The shortages have been causing distress to all of us and I am happy to tell you all that we have found a solution! Baton, if you please.” She gestured to the older beige mare and stepped aside.

“Thank you Overmare.” Baton's voice was unusually deep for a mare and she was stockier than most stallions. I'd always wondered why she didn't play Dodge ball, she could have taken on Pain Train. “As the Overmare explained we have been facing shortages for some time. And far more often than we care to admit. Two months ago we devised a plan to end the shortages and keep our Stable running smoothly and efficiently for the rest of our lives and that of our foals.” She waved to the back of the crowd and a unicorn projected pictures on the wall behind Baton and the Overmare. They were pictures of wrecked buildings, skeletons and a few smoldering craters.

“A week ago I sent my best Security officer on a scouting mission to the surface.” For the first time I could remember somepony interrupted her, not just somepony either; everypony gasped and began whispering in frantic tones. Once the crowd calmed down she continued.

“I know that this comes as a shock to you, but the officer I sent was well prepared and properly armed.”

“Who was it?” Someone yelled. I could see the vein throbbing on the side of Baton's head.

“Officer Barrel.” she said just loud enough to hear and instantly everypony was muttering. I looked at Cedric but he just shrugged. I couldn't put a face to the name but I think he was Baton's brother. Or maybe her cousin?

“Please everypony!” Everyone stopped talking at once. “Despite what some of you may think Barrel performed admirably on his mission to the surface.” She pointed to the magic projections behind her. “These are some of Barrel's memories from his expedition.” the memories flashed from the smoldering craters to large piles of scrap metal, then to Barrel dressed in heavy duty security barding and a shotgun strapped to his side shaking hooves with ponies that were dressed exactly like the pictures of farmers that I'd seen in books. The final memory was of Barrel bowing to a tall white pony with a long slender horn and majestic wings.... My eyes widened and I wrapped my forelegs around Cedric's neck.

“Celestia!” I said, and I wasn't even embarrassed. Everypony in the atrium yelled with me. Ponies were hugging one another, the fillies and colts were bouncing on their hooves. Even Baton was smiling brightly and made no attempt to get everypony quiet again. Ohmygoshohmygoshomygoshohmygoshohmygosh!!! I thought as Baton started to reel the crowd in again.

“I know how excited you all are, but please be silent!” I'd never even heard Baton yell before but it was enough to make the atrium silent. “Thank you. As I was saying. Barrel's mission went exceedingly well and I don't wasn't you screaming when I say this!” She waved a hoof towards the crowd, her gaze lingering on some of the foals for a moment before continuing. “Princess Celestia is alive and well. And she will be visiting the Stable the day after tomorrow.” The atrium exploded in a roar of excited cheers. I have to admit; I couldn't hold it in either. I turned to Cedric and kissed him right there. A few of the ponies around us noticed and let out of whoop before Baton could get the crowd to be quiet.

“For fuck's sake just listen! Star, play the message!” she yelled to the unicorn projecting the memories and it changed to Celestia sitting on a brilliant golden throne, her sparkling rainbow colored mane waving brilliantly behind her as she spoke with her kind, motherly voice.

“Hello my little ponies. You can not begin to imagine my elation at hearing that your Stable has survived. It has been two hundred years since the war ended, and though the Megaspells fell my sister and I have managed to heal the damage to the land.” Even in a projection she showed grace and beauty that made my heart melt. Every word was like music to my ears. Dammit, I want her hair!

“Your trusted guard Barrel has informed me of your Stable's troubles and I am happy to say that I can help. The Royal Guard will be escorting a large amount of the supplies you need and some extras that I'm sure you will enjoy. I will be coming to greet you all personally in a few days time. A day or two after Barrel returns.” Her face grew sad for a moment and it nearly made my heart break. “I would like to apologize for not coming to meet you all earlier. But I have some Royal business I must attend to before I can make the journey and I thank you all for your patience.” She was silent for a moment before smiling brightly and continuing. Her smile alone seemed to fill the room with sunlight.

“I love you my little ponies, and I will be there soon. Please be patient, and I'll see if Luna will be able to make the trip as well” There were more cheers this time but they weren't as excited this time. “The Zebra's were defeated and the land has healed. Though not all the damage is gone, the poisons they attacked us with are, and I know everypony will play their part in making Equestria great again. Goodbye my little ponies, I will see you all soon.” The memory ended and everypony began talking about the Princess. Baton didn't even try to get them to be quiet. She just went off to the side to talk with the Overmare, Promise, Barrel and my dad.

I felt so happy inside that I bit Cedric lightly on the ear and whispered,

“Let's go back to your room” He smiled brightly, his face turning bright red as we made our way through the crowd and towards the Overmare's family unit. I hope the walls in here are sound proof. I thought as I followed Cedric into his unit and from there to his room. I wrapped my forelegs around his neck and kissed him hard. He slipped and we fell backwards onto the bed. Princess Celestia, and I'm getting laid? I smiled mentally and rolled onto my belly. “Come here, Cedric” I raised my tail and gestured with a hoof. “Let's have some fun.

                                  …................

I awoke the next morning feeling sore, sticky, and content. Crawling out of bed, I left the blanket covering Cedric, then went to the bathroom for a quick shower.  After I was clean I left a note for Cedric and left his unit, doing my best to not wake the Overmare as I passed her room. He'd understand, if Dad woke up and saw I wasn't there he probably wouldn't be too happy.

The moment I left the unit I was greeted by several ponies scrubbing the walls enthusiastically. Even the Overmare was scrubbing the wall, and when she saw me she galloped to me and grabbed me by the shoulders.

“Get down to Medical! Your dad needs help cleaning.” I tried to ask if she was at all upset that I'd spent the night but she caught me off. “Yes, yes, you and my son played pelvic peafetlock, big deal. The Goddess is coming! GO!” she snapped me in the flanks with her tail and darted into her unit, yelling for Cedric. I headed towards Medical at a trot but started to gallop as the ponies all around me were doing their best to scrub every nook and cranny of the Stable.  The importance of what was going to happen hit me like the Stable's door had been dropped on me. The Goddess of the sun is coming to my Stable and I've spent an entire night having sex when I should have been cleaning my room! Shit, shit, shit! I was almost panicking by the time I arrived at Medical and everypony else was too. Magenta and Vicks were boiling the sheets from the X-Ray.

“Dammit they just won't come out!” Magenta yelled, then Vicks slapped her upside the head and said,

“Just replace them with the emergency supplies from storage. We're getting new supplies in less than a day. The Overmare won't care.” She saw me and shouted, “Go get your dad, Silver Heart. He wouldn't leave his unit when we went to get him so you get his ass down here!” He wouldn't leave the room? I thought. It sounded like Magenta and Vicks broke into the rubbing alcohol again but any excuse to get away from them while they bicker was fine with me.

When I got back to my unit I was shocked to find the door locked. Especially since the doors didn't have locks on them.

“Dad!” I shouted, knocking on the door. “Open up, we've got a lot of work to do..” the door hissed open and I was forcibly pulled inside. The door closing abruptly behind me.

“Silver we've got a lot of work to do!” He said, a worried look in his eye. He was wearing saddlebags that were filled to bursting with books, some quills and papers and two first aid boxes from medical. My saddlebags were close to the door and they were similarly burdened. He pointed to the bags. “Put these on while I head to Security and grab a few shotguns then we'll be off.

“What!?” I shouted. “What do you mean 'leaving', what about Celestia?” He sighed and sat down hard on the floor. He looked into my eyes and said,

“What you heard and saw last night was bullshit. I've seen what it's like outside the Stable Silver Heart and what was in Barrel's head could not have been the wasteland.” he said bitterly. What he said was odd but the only thing on my mind was that I had to wash my uniform and fix a few tears.

“Come on dad. You're just nervous, let's get you cleaned up and we'll head down to Medical and help Magenta and Vicks with the sheets.” He scowled darkly, stood up and smacked me upside the head. “Ow, damn! What was that for?” I asked, rubbing the side of my head.

“That's almost exactly what the Overmare said. Silver I've never told you but in my younger years. When I was lot braver and a lot dumber I left the Stable like Barrel did,” Hubbazawha? “and trust me when I say this; there are no farms, there is no Royal Guard, and there is no Celestia! It's a blasted, irradiated shit hole that spans the length of the world. And whoever put that crap in Barrel's head has some bad intentions”

“When did you leave the Stable?” I asked, feeling a little hurt that he hadn't mentioned this before. He facehoofed.

“That's not the point Silver. The point is I have and there's no way it's changed that much in twenty years! I won't...”

“How do you know?” I asked. He paused. “You said the last time you left the Stable was twenty years ago?” He nodded. “Then how do you know? I learned in class that Celestia and Luna had their own Stable in Canterlot. Maybe they left their Stable after the last time you left and they've healed a lot of the destruction up there since.” I said with my most convincing smile. He seemed to ponder what I said for a moment before responding.

“Well... I suppose that might be true.” he looked from his bags to me and back again. “But what if it's not?” I didn't have an answer so instead I gave him a hug.

“I don't know Daddy. I really don't know. But it was in Barrel's memories. I don't think somepony can just put fake memories in someone's brain.” he nodded and nuzzled my cheek.

“I suppose you're right. I...I just don't wasn't anything to happen. Like I said, it's bad up there.” He said plainly, looking like he was staring at something far away even though the room was so small. After a minute or so of silence I asked,

“Why did you leave the Stable?” He smiled and shook his head.

“I was young, brave, and more than just a little stupid. I hated living down here. It feels like a prison and everypony feels the same.” he looked me in the eye. “You do too.” it wasn't a question and he was right. You were born here, you lived your whole life here, and you die here. Not exactly the most fulfilling life.

“But in all seriousness I left the same reason that Barrel was sent out.” he explained. “The Stable was facing a shortage of all the things we need now. It's happened a few times. I wasn't the first to be sent out for raw materials. The first two didn't come back but I did. I came back with a bunch of junk to throw into the synthesizers, enough to keep us supplied for a few years, but everything runs out eventually.”

“What was it like?” I asked, hoping for a better explanation than 'it sucked'.

“Oh Silver, it was terrible. To be honest, I really don't want to talk about most of it. I'm just going to say that it was not a place that you'd ever want to go” Fucking typical Dad answer! I let go of him and he dropped his bags by the door. “If we're going to stay I'm going to put these back where they go. Go ahead back to Medical, I'll catch up in a bit” He looked around the room. “I'll have to clean the ceiling if she really is coming.”

Magenta, Vicks and I spent the morning and the entire afternoon scrubbing every inch of Medical. We washed all the sheets, sterilized every needle, bandage and surface in the three rooms that made up the department. We even cleaned all the supplies in the storage room and stacked the supplies alphabetically. We were so excited about the Goddess that we were singing while we worked. Just helped the work get done faster. And when the work was finished I was proud of it. Medical probably hadn't shined as brightly since the day it was built. Dad still hadn't showed up but from the way our unit looked he was probably make it shine just like we had with Medical.

I was looking forward to taking a break but the second we were done in Medical a pony from maintenance said the Overmare needed everypony to help with the maintenance halls and the Stable's main storage. So instead of a break we got to scrub every surface of the maintenance tunnels, the Pip-Buck stall and finally the cavernous storage room underneath the atrium.

It was two in the morning when the Overmare declared that the Stable was ready. Every room in the Stable had been cleaned, all the trash put into the synthesizers and she even ordered that the last crates of clothing be opened for the Goddess's arrival the next morning. It was a little weird to see everypony in brand new clothes, even weirder for me to see myself in a brand new yellow and pink nurse's uniform.

“Alright everypony, great work! Now return to your units for the night, get a few hours rest and make yourselves presentable in the morning. I want everypony ready by o six hundred!”

When I got back to my unit I found the living area was as clean as it had ever been. Usually there were a few piles of books and some crumpled up papers on the floor near an overfull trash can but now it was as clean as the foal delivery room. Well...when there wasn't a mare giving birth anyway. Like Dad said our bags were gone, his hanging on the wall and I assumed mine he returned to my room. I went to his door and pressed my ear against it. Sure enough I could hear him snoring quietly on the other side. I smiled and trotted quietly to my room. Never had a bed looked so inviting, well...except last night. I pulled off my uniform, folded it carefully and placed it on my nightstand. I dropped onto the neatly folded bed, splayed myself out and fell asleep.

That night I dreamed of Celestia's arrival. How she delighted in the celebration we had planned just for her. She told me I was the greatest medical pony ever and she gave me a job as a doctor in Canterlot castle. Dad and Cedric came too, even Astible, Magenta and Vicks came along. I could see the sun whenever I liked, and the stars and the moon too. But the best part was the food! Apples, bright red and juicy, celery, colorful flowers! No more synthetic food paste and no more being stuck underground.

I was standing in a lush green garden fill with statues of ponies, griffons and a few creatures I didn't recognize. I reached out my foreleg and a little bird landed on my hoof.

“Hello. What's your name?” I asked. The bird opened it's beak and BEEP BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP BEEP! I turned over and slammed my hoof down on the alarm clock. Fucking dream killer. I thought angrily as I rolled out of bed. But then I remembered she'd be here in just a few hours! My inner filly was bouncing off the walls of my skull while I groomed myself and donned my new uniform.

Dad was ready and waiting in the living room. He held something in his hooves.

“Come here Silver” he floated a small gold locket on a chain. It was shaped like a heart. “This was your mother's. I was going to give it to you when you got married but I figured you'd like to have it when you met Celestia.” He pulled it over my head and it came to rest around my neck.

“Thanks Daddy.” I told him with a tight hug. When I looked at his face he seemed almost sad. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing Silver. I just miss your mother, that's all. You look so much like her. I'm not going to be around forever” he said, catching me a little off guard. “so whenever you need me, just open that locket. Alright?” I nodded and he smiled warmly. “Now what are we waiting for? We've got a Goddess to greet.”

When we got to the atrium I was pleasantly surprised to see that maintenance had used what was left of the paint to restore the banners of Celestia, and Luna in case she could make it, back to their former glory. The tables were still set up but instead of rainbow paste somepony had used the yellow and orange flavors to make small suns on each plate. There even a dozen bottles of cider on the tables.

“Wow. I thought we ran out of cider fifteen years ago.” Dad said to Astible, who was setting up mugs.

“Oh, well we dug through a few crates we thought were empty and found them so the Overmare told us to put them out.” she blushed a little. “We want to make a good impression don't we? I love your uniform Silver.” I watched as her gaze lingered on my rump for a few moments. I smirked and whispered,

“If you wanted to have some fun with me and Cedric I'm sure we wouldn't mind.” She blushed furiously and her eyes widened. She struggled to speak for a moment and Dad trotted off to talk to Baton.

“I..I don't know what you're..” I interrupted her with a kiss on the cheek. Her hindlegs gave out under her and she almost hit the floor before I caught her with my magic.

“I wasn't that bad was I?” Cedric said from behind me. I looked over my shoulder pouted.

“I tried to tell her you were great, but Astible wanted to know first hoof” Cedric and I burst out laughing as Astible blushed down to her hooves. Wow, I didn't even know that was possible but she did it. Her coat had turned almost entirely bright red instead of gray.

“All joking aside you two, aren't you just so excited!” She said brightly as I set her down. All embarrassment gone. We spent the next hour and a half talking about the Goddess. Astible was certain that she'd bring the sun itself into the Stable and brighten up our lives, while I believed that we'd be leaving the Stable and moving to the surface. Hooves crossed for Canterlot! I thought brightly, while the little pony in my head let out a squee!

“Everypony, places! She's here!” The Overmare said over the speaker system. From what Dad said, the Overmare, Baton and Barrel will greet her at the Stable's main door and lead her to the atrium for the celebration. We waited. And we waited. I looked at the clock on the wall every minute or so and I was felt my insides squirming with excitement. She's here, she's here, she here!! Oh my gosh! I looked at the clock. It's been ten minutes. What the hay is taking so long

“You think the Overmare is showing her all our units?” Cedric whispered. I felt my ears droop at the thought.

“The Overmare's probably just trying to keep Celestia to herself.” I muttered angrily. Then a loud crack echoed throughout the atrium from the direction of the door.

“That was a gunshot.” A mare said behind me. I turned to see the serious face of Ambrosia. She was a short earth pony mare with a pink coat and violet mane. She was wearing standard 41 security barding with her pistol strapped to her right foreleg. “Minty, Sunny, Bubbles, come with me.” she said to some other security mares as she pulled her pistol from it's holster and galloped down the hall. Dad came up to me and said,

“Silver, go to Medical and grab a first aid kit. There may have been an accident.” I did as I was told. Hoping that the nopony was hurt. Especially Celestia. Fuck! That would be a terrible first impression. I arrived in Medical and pulled a first aid box off the wall and strapped it to my side. Two more gunshots rang out with an accompanying scream. Oh, no! I left Medical and galloped back towards the atrium. I heard several more gunshots and another scream. Except I recognized the voice this time. Astible!!

  I stopped in the doorway to the atrium and it took all my strength not to scream. Where just moments ago there were ponies that I'd known my whole life there were now glowing piles of purple ashes, and a couple ponies who were bleeding profusely from  bullet wounds. Standing in the center of the atrium with a half dozen identical gray earth pony bucks was a tall, muscular earth pony stallion. He had what looked like surgical scars on his neck, the white lines clashing with his dark brown coat. His mane was light gray and cut so short he looked almost bald. There was a small antenna sticking out of the side of his head and he had large rifle strapped to each of his sides. I was so horrified that it took me nearly a minute to notice he was talking.

“I don't want to kill any more of you. Your security is dead and the guns in your armory will not function, so those of you thinking of fighting, don't.” He waved a hoof around the atrium. “nopony else needs to die. Just tell me where they are.” One of the unicorns in the crowd, I think his name was Lucky Bit, pointed at me and yelled,

“There's one of them!” the earth pony turned his gaze to me and I felt my self freeze. His pupils were glowing red and he smiled. He turned to the strange bucks with him and said,

“Grab her.” Three of them galloped right at me. Raising plain white boxes with mouth grips on them. I couldn't tell if they were supposed to be guns or lunch pails.

“Leave her alone!” Cedric yelled as he left Astible's side and slammed into one of the bucks before they could reach me. As he pushed one to the floor the other two pointed their odd weapons at him. I looked from the boxes to the glowing piles of ash all over the atrium, then to Cedric.

“Cedric run!” I screamed but it was too late. They glowed and with a sharp Pzzt, two beams of purple light erupted from the ends of their weapons and struck Cedric in the back. He turned to me in shock as his whole body glowed brightly.

“S-Silver Heart...” He said before collapsing into bright ash that piled around my hooves.

“C...Cedric?” I dropped to my stomach and tried to scoop it, him, in my hooves but he just slipped through them. Tears spilled down my face as the three bucks grabbed me and pulled me forcibly into the atrium. The bucks were even more odd up close. Their eyes were dead and emotionless and their faces were expressionless and even their mane and tails were the same dull gray their coats.

They forced me to the earth pony's side and forced me to look him in the eye. I could see his pupils get smaller and I thought I heard mechanical sounds coming from him.

“You two really do look alike. I can't believe the bitch was right. Either way, you're coming with me.” he turned to the bucks. “Find the old buck then kill the rest.” Two of them grabbed me and pulled me off my hooves. While the others started shooting their deadly weapons into the crowd. They screamed and ran towards the atrium's exits as the bucks sprayed bright purple death into their fleeing bodies. I saw Astible make it through the hall to maintenance as the stallion next to her was turned to ash. I kicked at the bucks holding me and scrambled to my hooves. The earth pony tried to turn his rifles on me so I tried something I'd only seen done in books. Apple bucking. My rear hooves smashed into his muzzle and knocked him back a few feet.

“Fucking whore! Is it fucking hereditary to cause me pain!?” He held his muzzle with his forelegs and I took the opportunity and bolted as fast as I could towards Medical. Before I even reached the door Dad came from the direction of Medical. He was floating a pump action shotgun by his side.

“Get to our unit Silver, go to my room and lock the door! Now!” He yelled, taking aim at the earth pony and firing off a few shells of buck shot. It took me only moments to reach our unit. The rush of adrenaline being the only thing stopping me from just curling up and crying. I rushed into Dad's room and hit the door button. Wait...how am I supposed to lock it? There's no fucking locks. Suddenly, I heard a gunshot that was far louder than any I had ever heard. With that shot came an explosion of pain in my left side. A small portion of the wall next to me exploded and a large bullet stuck in my side.

“Holy fucking....OW!!!” I screamed. The force of the shot knocking me off my hooves and into the opposite wall. I slammed into the wall but it took a little longer than I expected. I looked around and all of a sudden I was in a completely different room. I looked around, my head spinning and holding my side gingerly. The room was about the same size as my room but there was no bed. Just a line of screens covering one wall and a small chemistry set up next to a sink. There was a gun rack on the wall with a pump shotgun, and an empty space above it. The walls that weren't covered were rusty and stained; not at all like the rest of the Stable.

My vision was blurred but I could focus enough to make out what was happening on the screens. Each one was showing different images from around the Stable. The atrium covered in bodies and piles of ash. The Stable door where the bodies of the Overmare and Baton were lying. The reactor room where several of the gray bucks were pulling the reactor apart piece by piece. I paused on the middle screen where the tall earth pony was floating my father in front of him. I must have hit my head pretty hard. I thought as he dropped my father limply to the floor and pointed his rifles at his head.

“NOOOOO!!!” I screamed as he pulled the trigger. Again I heard the eardrum shattering roar of the rifles as Dad's head was blown to pieces. I stood up, ignoring the pain in my side and the blood pouring from the wound. I put my hooves against the screen and pressed my face to the glass. “Nononononononono....” I watched as the earth pony spasmed from arcs of lightening erupting from the side of his head. It looked painful. I hoped it was. When he straightened he floated Dad's body over to one of his bucks and left the atrium heading towards...my unit.

I looked from screen to screen until I found one that showed the living room and Dad's room. The door opened and the earth pony began tearing the place apart. He went through my room, the living room and finally Dad's room. Flipping over furniture and pulling things out of drawers. He flipped over Dad's bed, smashed his desk to pieces and fired twice into the wall. I heard them dent in the wall to the left of me. He looked at the wall suspiciously and slammed against it experimentally with his hooves. He smiled and bucked the wall repeatedly for about a minute before pausing. His eyes turning from red to blue with lines of numbers flashing across them too quick for me to read. When his eyes returned to normal he said something  and promptly left the room. Pausing for a moment and floating a picture of Dad and I off the wall before leaving.

I followed him on the screens as he went from room to room. Searching for me. Or I'm pretty sure it was me. As I watched his progress I tried to count all the identical bucks with him and I lost track at just over sixty. After going through every room in the Stable and the Overmare's office they left. The strange bucks seemed to just vanish into thin air every time I looked for one, while the earth pony left through the Stable's door with a group of six of them. One of them carrying my Dad's body. I slumped against the wall of screens and sobbed. Dad's dead...Cedric's dead...its all my fault! Why didn't I just listen? What the fuck is wrong with me, I got them all killed! Dad knew it. He fucking knew and I convinced him to stay...

I don't know how long I stayed there. Lying against the wall and crying my eyes out. Minutes? Maybe hours? I don't know. But at some point I ran out of tears. And something began to replace my sadness. Anger. Why? What was the fucking point? Why did they want me and Dad? We aren't worth what they did! I thought angrily, my gaze shifting to the alarmingly large puddle of blood coming from my side.  I removed a healing potion from the first aid kit and drank it. As the magic did it's work a bullet a third the size of my hoof popped out of my side and landed on the floor with a dull thud. I grabbed it with my magic and brought it to eye level. So that's what getting shot feels like. I thought bitterly,  dropping it into the first aid kit. My life is so much richer for knowing. By Celestia I can die happy now. I don't know why I kept it but it just felt right. I stood up and nearly crashed to the floor from the wave of dizziness that hit me.

After steadying myself I looked around the room for a way out. I spotted my saddlebags in the corner near the screens still full of supplies. Maybe I didn't convince him after all.

I put them on strapped my first aid kit to the side. I looked at the gun rack and floated the shotgun towards me. It was a pump action with the stock sawed off. If it will blow that earth pony's head off it'll do. I stuck the shotgun in my bags and looked for a way out. There was no door so I reared up and bucked the wall. Or I tied to. My hooves just passed clean through the wall. I soared through the wall and slammed headfirst into the broken desk.

“What the hay...?” How can I just go through the damn wall when he couldn't bash through it?  I got to my hooves and went through the rest of the unit. I grabbed a few things from my room; a picture of Cedric, a few medical books and the rest of my peppermints. I also tried to find a picture of Dad but that bastard stole the only one he didn't shoot. I floated the locket to my eye and pressed the button on top. It clicked open dropping a tightly folded piece of paper. I unfolded it and recognized my father's neat tooth writing.

Dear Silver Heart

If you're reading this then what I feared most has happened. I truly hope that you're reading this with me after having met Celestia and myself being proved wrong. But if something terrible has happened you need to follow my instructions to the letter. If you're reading this at all then I am gone. The locket will let you move through the wall in my room that leads to my lab. You'll be safe inside until the intruders have left, and nothing short of a canon will get through the wall. Inside are your saddlebags which I've taken the liberty of filling with food, water, and some medical supplies.

I'm sorry that I didn't tell you more about myself Silver Heart. I should have trusted you not to make the mistakes I had. I was so afraid you'd want to see the surface that I hid my past from you, and I'm sorry. Now you'll have to go to the surface, and I won't be able to protect you. I managed to send a message to an old friend on the surface. If nothing went wrong I'll have to send another but if something did happen you need to go to a place called Gem City. It's a town built in the ruins of the Crystal Colosseum in the north east. You never learned where the Stable was built in school so I'll tell you. Stable 41 was built on the southern border of the Crystal Empire, a large metropolis that fueled Equestria's thirst for gems before the war. It wasn't completely destroyed but there was enough damage to end civil order and you have radiation to deal with. Keep an eye on your Pip-Buck and if you see any places where there seems to be smoke leaking out of the ground or buildings just stay away. It's very potent magical radiation that your pip-Buck won't register so keep an eye out.

Don't be hostile to other ponies if you can help it but don't be too trusting either. There are more monsters on the surface than the history books say. And the worst ones look just like you and me. And I'm sorry to tell you Silver, if you want to survive you may have to kill. Not just creatures but ponies if you have too. I know that murder is wrong but you have to defend yourself. Nopony else will. If it's that earth pony and his buddies I won't have any problem Defending myself.

I really hope that I wrote this for nothing and we're having a good laugh. But if not remember what I said. Get to Gem City and talk to an old Buck named Crystal Fox, and don't laugh at his name! He is very easily offended. Just get there and live a safe life, please. Your mother would be very proud to see you grown up. I know I am.

I love you, Silver Heart.

-Dad.

For the second time that day I broke down and cried. But not as long as before. I folded up the paper, tucked it into my bags and looked at the locket. Each side revealed a picture, one of my Dad and Mom on the left side and Cedric on the other. Where did he even get that? I wondered, tucking the locket away. I'll find that bastard...I'll make him pay... I didn't know how but I would. Even if it killed me.

I went through the rest of the Stable; looking for survivors and anything that would help me on the surface. I didn't find anypony who wasn't a pile of ashes or had huge holes shot out of them but I did find a few cans of water and some tubes of rainbow paste in the cafeteria. The rest were stomped and smeared on the floor by the ponies who tried to get away, and even though it was probably still edible I wasn't that hungry. Yet. I saw Lucky bit lying on the floor, two holes the side of my hoof in his chest and side. Even though he ratted me out I couldn't really be mad at him. If they hadn't started killing everypony he would have saved the Stable.

The last place I checked was Medical. The storage room was untouched but besides a few bottles of rubbing alcohol, two syringes of Med-X and a couple of healing potions it was empty. Medical looked so normal. Like nothing had happened at all. The ministry of peace posters will still on the wall. A little fade but still readable. There was a mare in an identical dress to mine was saying;

You Don't Have To Be A Steel Ranger To Be A Hero. Join The Ministry of Peace Today!

If I'd been a Steel Ranger none of this would have never happened in the first place. Stupid posters. Maybe if there were more Steel Rangers Equestria would have stomped the zebras to paste and the apocalypse wouldn't have happened in the first place. I looked in the X-ray room and was saddened to see a very large pile of ash that I assumed was Magenta and Vicks. At least they were together. I thought bitterly.

“Goodbye” I told the room. I'd spent nearly a third of my life working in this room. Leaving it behind was like tearing  off my tail. Get it together, Silver! You have work to do. With one last look I left Medical and trotted down the hall to the Stable's door. I'd only been in this room twice before. Once on a school trip and the second when Dad introduced me to one of his friends in Security. The room was larger than most of the rooms in 41 but as large as the atrium. The massive gear shaped door was already open revealing a long rock tunnel with light at the end. I looked from the opening to the Stable and back again a few times before inhaling deeply.

"Here we go.”