Fallout Equestria: Unwanted Prologue
Fallout Equestria:
UNWANTED
By
Khun1sp0ne
Revisions by
A close friend
PROLOGUE
Ponies… Ponies never change. Whether you are one to accept the species with open arms before or after the Great War, ponies are still xenophobic of species that are different or have been around for many years. First it was the griffons, then the yaks, and then the changelings, until it came to the years before the first megaspell explosion that the Zebras feared the return of Nightmare Moon. Some say that the escalation of the war was due to resources, others the tension of diplomacy. But still, the war had yet to begin.
Ponies were glued to the cinema newsreels and personal television programs as well as radio programs blasting barbaric actions about the Striped Menace quoting the phrase, “See the Striped Menace as they are.” Neighborhoods weren’t the same once tensions grew between the nations. Allegations claiming the support of Yaks helping were denied left and right once Yakyakistan claimed neutrality, as well as rumors of an Equestrian ship gone missing in international waters.
Then, after the unsuspecting populace enjoyed a few days of quietness and grateful weather, the first siren blared its harbinging sound of terror. Parachutes blanketed the sky as white and black striped zebras made their landing on the ground below. No one knows who started the shooting, but it was a fact...the fighting started in a bloody massacre. One after the other, ponies had to literally fight on their own front lawns, while the children hid inside to not see the bloody mess of enemies and neighbors alike.The worst of all of these were the frequent air raids on coastal regions with ease of access to the oceans. Pegasi took flight in droves, the anti-airship cannons spewed their hot projectiles, and buildings spewing flames as explosive barrel bombs dropped like catapulted rocks. Many ponies on the ground died in the constant explosions, collapses, fires, and mayhem that ensued after the zebras dropped their deadly load effectively separating Foals from the coastal and capital cities to limit young casualties. But still there was still much work to do, there had to be a way to stop the Zebras in their tracks. Something to make them run at the site of the Equestrian forces for good, and never come back to harm anypony ever again. But such thoughts were merely speculation as some of the finest military strategists placed a Gambit on the Crystal Empire.
The war began when Zebra forces invaded the icy regions in airships, killing civilian and military targets. Ponies were drafted to serve, to die for a war based on fear. My great, great, great grandfather died for a battle that seemed to push back what would seem like the inevitable. He was a Steelhooves operator during the Great War in the 115th Storm platoon. Though my parents never tell me what really happened to dear old Grandpappy, they did tell me that he and his platoon were going up against an immense force. Dragons, Griffons, and along with the Zebras, they were being out manned and outgunned. They say that he stayed behind to free the others in the Zebras POW camp, Some say that he deserted his post disobeying orders to rescue one of his own. No matter how anypony in the family says it, it's still so very confusing. Peace was declared, and the many ministries of state were formed as well as the Stables. But how long would this 'ceasefire’ last? No one knew the answer to that, which in turn instilled more fear into the populace. Lives began, technology flourished, but still ponies would have the fear of a megaspell explosion--causing widespread damage or widespread holocaust--on their minds. Then when the megaspell explosions rocked Equestria, their fears became reality. But our story does not take place before the war. It starts behind the giant door of Stable 34. There, our journey will truly begin. Through these words you will learn about the struggles about a Stable Dweller from this mentioned 34, as well as his companions of whom his travels intertwine.
Here you will explore lands new and old, species of whom you know throughout the wasteland, and some that have surfaced over in recent years. But the only thing that remains in this wasteland, is the constant struggle. Trust, like any other important item is a resource that is very scarcer in the wasteland than food, less abundant than scrap, but sometimes when you come upon a rare opportunity it presents itself like a treasure that is the only thing of its kind. "What's the point in trust anyway?" you might ask yourself. The point is that when you meet somepony who wants to be a comrade, you want to be sure he or she does not kill you in your sleep or is a Raider in disguise. Or worse, have someone who will back-stab you on a deal that you managed for everyone involved to get a piece of pie.
But this will not be the Equestria you know dear viewer, it will take place in ghastly locations on the map and even beyond where many have ventured or wished to venture. Some might say to settle down in a settlement somewhere and make tiny foals, or just simply have some fun with a mare friend, but that empty space...is just begging to be explored and make you so amazed in wonderful chaos and glory.
Or, you can just sit there and rot like the Same old Ghoul ponies from before the war. It's your choice my friend, but I would pick the exploring part since you need to get out more often. I mean, who would want to sit in one place and just look at carravans going past when there's all that loot and land waiting to be used and charted?
Think of the research, mayhem, schemes, plotting, the caps, yet you think it's not for you? Maybe, maybe not. But still you have a choice to make: stand still, or explore what is out there.
...
Location: Unknown. The rain would pummel down on the mossy rocks continuously as if it was past due 200 some years to replenish the soil making it muddy and soft. The only sounds that could be heard were the oncoming gallop of hooves making a splash in a nearby puddle
"*Huff* *huff* Are you sure they'll be able to leave?" One of the figures spoke, her voice femininly young yet in an elderly level.
"They must." The other voice replied in a masculine tone as the sound of a pistol clicked from the hammer being pulled back. "If we hurry we might lose them and get back to get them."
But as both figures continued to trot towards more Rocky outcroppings, shots rang out in all directions, careening past them as well as ricocheting off the rock faces.
"I want the Pretty Mares wings!" Said one of the assailants as more shots and shouts rallied. "Shut up and cut off that ones horn! It sells for a large amount'a caps!" Said another as the gap between the two groups grew uncomfortably closer and the lead and laser beams grew hotter.
"Celestia! Not them again!" The feminine figure spoke out in fear as the masculine figure shot off a few rounds towards their attackers
"Head for the Everfree...wing it! Come on, Don't let them catch you!" He said as he fired one shot hitting one of the persures in the head committing him to a ruthless demise. But as he let off more shots, his partner seemed to have dropped to the ground after a bullet swiped her head
"Wings! WIIIIIINGS!" The masculine pony shouted as he skidded and ran back to protect her. 'Out....damnit!' he thought to himself as he fumbled through an ammo bag jerking at the pistols ammo wheel. With their persuers now in front of them, it seems like it was hopless for a full fight. "Come on wings...wake up! Wake up! WAKE UP!"
Author's Note
Warning
The following story contains scenes of violence, Sex, and Gore
If you are not of legal age to see this fan-fic, please turn back to one of the
More appropriate fan-fics suitable for your age.
If you are of legal age and do wish to proceed with this fan-fic, be warned:
Some of the content you will read will be more in depth to what the wasteland of Equestria is really experienced through the eyes of the main characters as well as the NPCs in the story setting. All rights to characters Mentioned and or involved in the story itself belongs to their respected owners and legal guardians. Any canon ponies that are mentioned or displayed in the story that is related to the MLP FIM tv series is completely coincidental. Cover art for this fanfiction was created by the creator himself and belongs to his property on Deviantart and so forth. Most of the characters in this fan-fic belongs to him and to others along with most of the new items/aid/ NPCs and story DLC items. The Fallout Equestria franchise was based on Hasbro’s and DHX’s television series “My Little Pony: Friendship is magic” For which Fallout Equestria was the brainchild of Kkat.
Fallout Equestria Unwanted -Chapter 1-
Fallout Equestria:
UNWANTED
By
Khun1sp0ne
CHAPTER 1
The Life of 34
Beep. Beep. Beep. The alarm clock blared continuously as the dark room soon echoed with the annoying sound. It was a sound that would make one want to throw the infernal noise maker against the nearby bulkhead, but if you wanted to, then good luck, because with these specific stable clocks, they were bolted down and encased with metal cages, making them impervious to any abuse. “Rise and shine, Stable Dwellers. Time to start the day,” it cooed as the beeping still persisted in its mission to wake the stable dweller from his slumber.
The dweller groaned slowly opening his eyes.“...Ugghn… good morning, clock…” He brushed his mane with one hoof and then turned to face the imprisoned clock.
“Good morning, Dweller,” it responded as if it was actually sentient and living, “Let us start off the day correctly. Please Identify yourself.” The stallion paused as he looked directly at the clock and then the rest of his dilapidated room filled with nothing but dressers and furniture. “Please identify yourself,” it said again as it waited for the Stallion to respond. “The beeping will still commence if you do not respond. Please identify yourself.”
At this rate the clock would continue beeping and repeating that phrase over and over until at long last, the stallion answered, “...Khunis Jirall. Unicorn, Stable 34. ID code3998.”
The clock beeped a single long different tone. “Approved. Good morning, Khunis Jirall. You are scheduled for janitorial duty at 09:00. Please report directly to the mess atrium for your morning meal.” And with one final beep, the alarm clock reverted to a silenced state, making the room quiet again.
Khunis hopped out of his bed and walked over to a dresser to get his Stable 34 jumpsuit out and on. He then sparked some magic to levitate his Pip-Buck nicknamed 'Lucky,’ after an incident which caused his Pip-Buck screen to crack but still function. Once he slipped it on and activated it, he let a slight yawn escape his mouth and continued on as instructed towards the mess atrium. “Stupid alarm clock. It does the same thing over and over, everyday. But I can’t complain. At least I’m not like those in Sub Sector,” Khunis said as he clip-clopped across a catwalk connecting the two sides of his habitat wing.
Stable 34 was one of Stable-Tecs most treasured Stables in Equestria but was the utmost well-held secret. Its inhabitants were as various as the land of Equestria itself, but with one slight function: to witness one's psyche through the fears Stable’s inhabitants contained within their own minds. “Still the same Moss green walls as usual.” He murmured as residents of Stable 34 passed him by, waving at him more and more often with weird expressions signalling that that they had experienced the same malicious morning routine. I guess that’s what you get if you’re stuck in a stable. And if you are a unicorn that got a cutiemark resembling a Saddle Arabian oil lamp. Most ponies would think: ‘Saddle Arabian?’ ‘Antiquities?’ ‘Oil Light?’ No one really knew what his talent was, so the only thing that he was assigned for was Stable Janitorial.
“Khunis, buddy!” said a stallion’s voice as a green and yellow blur came towards him at a divebomb speed. “You awake, Red? I know you haven’t had breakfast yet. You always get cranky before breakfast.”
Khunis rolled his eyes at his friend. “Good morning to you too, Green Beans. Please don’t tell me that breakfast ended already? I’m famished already as it is,” Khunis responded as his sleep deprivation and hunger pangs throttled throughout his body.
“Nah, you're barely on time. Everyone might be a little slow, but the line’s getting smaller,” Green Notes said as he happily hovered next to Khunis. Greens Notes was Stable 34’s arsenal Pegasi who helped arm both the security personnel and the securitrons that roamed around the stable continuously.
“Another day at Sanitation, Greens. Hopefully, my luck will change and I might be an artist. It would certainly help with this drab green… ’mold walls 24/7’ any day. Plus, I don’t want to be a janitor for my whole life.”
Greens could not help but smile and bat Khunis' shoulder as both of them got in line for their morning meals. "Ahhh, you'll get there. Trust me, I know I had to be a janitorial assistant in the armory before the Overmare changed my shift. You just have to climb the ladder of the Stable."
As the line progressed, Khunis looked around the atrium he and several other ponies were occupying at the same hour. Still the same old stuff: armed stable security guards watching from the catwalks above; the distinguished smell of stale food; and tables sectioned off for Earth ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns to promote 'individuality'. "You want happiness? I'm glad you're the only one who gave a darn to pull some strings to sit at a Pegasi table next to my unicorn section. Most times, no one ever wants to be friends with me."
“Now don’t ever talk about that,” Greens said, grabbing his tray of ‘breakfast’ while Khunis levitated his own as they both went to their respective tables. “Don’t let the First Overstallion hear you talk about that. He was furious about that incident. I swear he wanted me shot. But as you know, I’m still in one piece.”
Khunis then nodded as he quietly ate with his friend of the Stable.
The Overmare of Stable 34 was one of the most lenient of any in the Stable’s history databanks, allowing ponies of the Stable to leave and come back whenever they wanted, as long as they did not betray the Stable in any way and did not reveal the Stable’s location to anypony. She listened to the story about Greens’s actions and would let it slide if it didn’t happen again.
Such was not the case with the First Overstallion of Stable 34 sadly, since he tended to be very secretive and paranoid. The only thing that the Stable inhabitants knew about this Overstallion is that the Overmare hired him sometime in the middle of her term, as well as rumors that the Overstallion is the Overmare’s husband. Khunis didn’t know much, since not much news got passed down to where he worked in sanitation.
“Still, it needs to be recognized that you risked everything to be with me… even if you’d pull double shifts,” Khunis mentioned as he prodded the food with a fork to see if it lived or garbled like a sentient science experiment in one of those horror Projecto-Movies. “Anything special going on today?”
Greens just shrugged and flapped his wings a little. “Eh, nothing big. Just a handful of jocks and hoity toities in front of the arsenal again. Honestly, what do they take me for? A foal?” He instinctively placed his muzzle down into his tray to politely chomp into his meal, and then he huffed. “*They cull themthelves the dunnel howns. Ah men weally? Mow like buwwies to meh.”
Greens took a swig of water from his glass, swallowed his food, and went for another helping on the tray. It was apparent that they were all horses, but it just seemed that sometimes you didn't have to eat like one; that is, rudely. But in this Stable, it was sometimes to be expected. Especially for the pegasi when they pecked at their food or rolled their feathers in it. Disgusting. And what else was somewhat disgusting was that some pegasi in Stable 34 forgot that they couldn’t vomit their meals to feed their young.
“Tunnel Horns? You mean, that a group of unicorns is becoming like the Harbinger Hosses? Ugh, please, when will all of this Stable Gang madness end? And please stop eating like a bird,” Khunis requested as he daintily lifted the junk covered fork with his magic and carefully munched on his meal.
“So~rry, I don't have your skills as a unicorn to just 'float’ my food into my mouth,” Greens scoffed, giving a sneer towards Khunis before going back to his breakfast. “I swear, if you were a pegasus, you’d learn to try eating with your hooves or just place your face into it.”
As the conversation grew longer and louder, most of the ponies would look up and see the two friends at either side of their respective tables. One pegasus mare stood up to confront the tan unicorn. “You have something to say, 'Long Tooth?’ Or are you getting your fancy underpants in a bunch?” she said as her wing unfolded and slapped away the tray. “ No go on… Say it! Say it in front of SteelWing! Right here, right now!”
Everypony in the Mess Atrium went silent when they heard SteelWing’s voice. The guards looked downward, anticipating a Mess Hall rumble, and unbuttoned their gun holsters in case they were needed. The only sound that could be heard was the humming of the vents and the whining of the hydraulic robo-kitchen appliances whipping up the cruel food for the entire Stable.
“What? Not so tough now? You unicorns are all the same. 'Oh, look at us, we have horns and magic to float everything and everyone we choose to,’” she mocked as she placed a hoof on her chest. “‘We are superior to the Pegasi and the Earth ponies. We can do whatever we want!’”
Her anger in that last word indicated she was at her limit, and she slammed a hoof onto the table with such force that it caused the cutlery to bounce and jingle on the metal surface. It was at that moment that the other ponies around the Mess Atrium started to gather around SteelWing and the security officers that had finally come down to break up the fight.
“Alright, break it up! Break it up! Let's not get too rowdy here. Y’all need to take a breath and just walk away.” One of the stallions called out to Steel, “That goes double for you, young filly. I don't want you getting into another fight, understand?”
“But this 'poker’ started the whole fight you are looking for, yell at him!” she responded, irritated as both Greens and Khunis looked towards the complicated pony violating their ears. “He blatantly thinks that Pegasi and Earth ponies are inferior to unicorns. And he said it in front of his 'friend.’”
Khunis looked shocked at the statement and placed a hoof on his chest, getting ready to rebel and call Steel a liar, but he was interrupted by Greens.
“Watch it, Steel,” Greens warned. “Next time, why not just stick your flank in a reactor?”
“ENOUGH!” rang a powerful male voice from behind the group of ponies. It had such authority that everypony’s breathing slowed right then and there as they turned to see the Overstallion.
His coat was a chartreuse green with flecks of orange tipping some of his furred fluffs while his eyes, muzzle, and mane were gray in color, denoting his age. His expression was always cruel, degrading, and hauntingly calm almost all the time, making everyone fearfully guess what he might do next. As he walked towards the group, he limped on his back left hoof, bringing everyone's attention to his robotic hoof prosthetic, which made a whirr-click every time it raised and lowered.
“I will not tolerate having this Stable turned head over flank just because of some miscreants causing trouble. Especially if it's Pegasi and a Unicorn causing it.” He sneered as he looked over everypony as if they were soldiers in boot camp, ready to be turned into killing machines, before eyeing Khunis, Greens, Steel, and the security pony who spoke to them.
Greens gulped as his wings fell back into their rested position, making him feel vulnerable. “It wasn't his fault, sir, honest, it wasn't,” Greens pleaded as the Overstallion continued to close in on them. “He just... didn't know how to say it correctly, I was being envious.” Greens felt himself shake before the Overstallion spoke again.
“I don't care what you think, Greens. All that I care about here is that this Stable is under my jurisdiction. Whatever I hear or learn about is relayed to me. Everything including small squabbles like this.” He grunted as the sinister ‘whirr-click’ started to groan again with more steps. “Stable 34 was built and is still the pride of Stable-Tec’s genius. We don't want to falter like the world before us did.” His gaze worked its way around the ponies that were not involved in the conflict, making sure he had everypony’s attention. “What is the first rule of Stable 34? ...Anyone?”
The crowd started murmuring once the Overstallion mentioned 'The First Rule’, it made even the strongest of Earth Ponies quiver in their shoes if it had to be mentioned on the Overseers or Overseer Staff towards them. So far it had only been done once or twice, but as the fights progressed, 34’s Rules were brought up whenever somepony did something terribly naughty.
“The First Law of 34 is: 'Ensure the safety of your fellow pony. Earth, Pegasus, or Unicorn at all times.’” he finally let out as the crowd did not answer within his timetable “Now I hope you will all keep this in mind while you work double shift. As of now, your Breakfast hour has been rescinded until further notice.” He finally spoke lastly as his clicking prosthetic once again fading as he walked away from the Mess Atrium
The ponies bustled nervously about the Atrium, taking up their breakfast trays and going back to the area where their meals came from. It was sad to see all of this done just because of one argument, an argument caused by a unicorn who just accidentally made an ignorant critisism. Even as Khunis looked at most of the trays, empty, half-finished, cleared of what scraps were left on the surface and handed to the cooks to clean. It was all of his fault; he caused this to happen. It also meant that he’d get dirty looks from SteelWing more often.
“I...I’m sorry Greens. I messed up breakfast for everyone in the Stable.” Khunis looked downward as he finished his pile of food before going to the front of the Atrium. Greens just fell silent as he looked to Khunis placing both of their empty trays in the cleanup pile while levitating up a mop and pushing the cleaning trolley out of the now almost vacant Mess Atrium.
_________
Later that evening, the halls quietly settled down with a calming radio broadcast from the Stable’s intercom to help ease everypony’s attitude from the long, hard day’s work. It was still gloomy and mossy within the confined spaces, but at least it was still a first to try and make amends for what happened earlier. Khunis however did not feel satisfied with the music, it was the same thing over and over, having heard no new songs since he could remember. *Squish* *Schlorp* *Schlorp* went his mop as he dunked it in the pail full of the pungent Spabraxxo soap water before letting it splat on the floor. “So much for joining the rest. Now I'm down here cleaning things...as usual. Sometimes I wonder if the Stable G.O.A.T exam was rigged from the beginning.”
He silently swore as his magic spun the mop here and there ‘cleaning’ the floor never knowing where he might have already cleaned or had not cleaned yet. The red haired unicorn huffed as he waved around the mop as if it were a Lance or sword but with flailing wet strings of scrunched yarn “ ‘Yes, as leader of the Stable-Tec corporation, I want all G.O.A.T tests to be handled prematurely and give others a chance to experience what their life plan will be like in the Stable while others get the short end of the stick’...I mean come on! I don't even have a PHD for this Janitorial crap, as if I needed one!”
He continued to spin the mop in his magic until with one fell swoop he threw the mop unintentionally through the dimly lit corridor. It landed with a loud clang and a wobbling clonk as it finally came to rest in front of a corridor door labeled with a red “Hazard” with a terminal right beside it with it's screen glowing green noting its active power status. “Great, not only do I suck at making friends here in the Stable, I also cannot seem to get a grip on my mop. What's next? Hoof in a pail of water? Slipping on a screwdriver? Stabbing someone with my…*ugh*, let's leave it at that shall we?”
Once he had walked over towards the inanimate mop, he’d levitate it upwards to go back to the bucket finally eyeing the red label with a curious glance. “Huh, Hazard. Must be some sort of biowaste storage they keep down here. Seriously, who would ever live on the lower levels? This part of the Stable basically gives me the creeps.” He said, pondering the thought about looking into what the terminal had for the door or if it was supposed to either open from the other side or either the use of a special key-card inserted into the terminal reader. Though it still had his full attention as he slowly crept closer to it levitating the keyboard to where he could see the jumbled letters for which to type whatever he could only to find the screen with numerous words and symbols. “Blast! And here I thought it would be easy. Still wouldn't hurt to try.” He chuckled as he slowly moved the pulsing green reticle down to the first word he picked “umm, Let's try Steps. That's a good word to start from.” His hoof clicked the enter button selecting his choice but would hear the denying “Krr-Krr” sound signalling that the choice was invalid. “Relevance 0, dang it. Well I guess not even I can get in that room, I guess I’ll head back up the stairwell the~” He stopped abruptly as he saw a portion of the Southern corridor blacked out.
That's odd, the last time he saw the same corridor, it was dimly lit like the rest of the level but now it was...dark. His eyes slowly shrunk to attempt seeing beyond the darkness to try and see what lay in wait, nothing. “I swear this Stable has ghosts or something. Because I for one remember that corridor light on.” With a sigh he would levitate the mop while carrying the bucket in his mouth. “Doesn't matter, it's not my job anyways. Someone from electrical can fix that.”
“You sure? Because I think you need to try and do some work out of your area.” A mysterious voice perked up from behind him giving him such a fright that he slipped on some spilled Spabraxxo careening him into a wall
“WHOAAAAAAOH *Oof*! Ohhh, oww! How many times does this make Shadow?” He asked the pony behind him who had recently managed to sneak behind him without making a sound. All Shadow could do was smile and just glance at Khunis with his orange, pumpkin like eyes before levitating the mop off of Khunis’ head. Shadow’s coat was the color of a dark Grey and could be mistaken for something else in the dark or completely invisible in the right conditions. Even though he had an alternating blue/black striped mohawk mane and short tail, And for his cutiemark: a strange Ninja like shuriken that was twisted, accompanied by strange dots with an alternative Dark blue/ silver color scheme, his special talent of sneaking up on people was what gave him the name.
“So what brings you down here Khunis? Just another day at Janitorial?” Shadow asked as he offered a hoof to stand up. “You know ponies never come down here for some reason, why clean it?” Khunis looked his brother in the eyes and would then look at the now wet floor of the corridor “Just because an area does not have traffic doesn’t excuse it from being cleaned of the dust and grime that has been collecting for the past few decades. That and I was curious as to what was down here again.”
Shadow perked an eyebrow and would give a grim expression across his face detecting the hint of a lie “Right, and I was not told about your little fiasco in the mess hall this morning from the Overmare and the Overstallion. Khunis, what happened in there? Did you get off on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Come on K, this has been the tenth time you have done something like this. Why do you always keep doing it? Just so that you can pick a fight?” He gave a small disappointed look before calming down to walk next to him “Did you do anything that would put you in the lock-in?”
Khunis shook his head slowly as he took the mop and started to clean up the soapy water mess that should not have let alone for fear of somepony slipping, falling, and breaking their neck due to a spill until answering with a simple “...No.” as he continued to mop, His tone was lowered at a point where his response was in between gladness and a bit of sulking attitude from the scolding “ I had to open my mouth and just blurt it out. One thing led to another and I did not know what I was saying. I was just speaking my mind, and it wasn’t the right place to say it.” Khunis choked a little holding his muzzle as if he were about to throw up at any minute. “And now I ruined breakfast meals for everyone in the stable. I’m the reason the overstallion had to discontinue the morning mess hall hours. Me.” Khunis shouted nervously as he then twirled the small mop fabric tendrils before placing it in the empty bucket before walking to the stairs.
“Hey! Hey wait!” Shadow called as he trotted after Khunis and would simply block his path upwards giving a much more stern face than before “I’m not done with you yet bro. You can’t just leave me hanging down there just to say that everything is your fault.” he said as he moved closer to Khunis’ face staring him in the eyes for a prolonged amount of time before smiling “Wait a second. Is that a smile I see on your face?” Khunis stayed silent not wanting to give into his brothers shenanigans again “Don’t do that. I know what you are trying to do and I don’t feel like smiling.” But as Khunis resisted, Shadow replied in kind with an exhuberant amount of silly faces that would make any filly or foal keel over in laughter. “Please stop.” Khunis begged on and on until he finally broke and wore an uneasy, crooked smile.
It was then that both brothers were then smiling and laughing a little once the ice was broken again to tread the waters of sibling fellowship once more “Alright you sneaky colt, what mischief do you have planned for tonight?” Khunis asked quizically still carrying the mop and bucket in tow “Lunar Solstice Party, Tonight from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. It should be fun if nothing goes wrong again today, Plus there will be a bunch of other ponies there too you know. Maybe this is your chance to smooth things out with the dwellers a bit more, apologize and make some new friends. What do you say?” Shadow nudged as he then passed a folded flyer towards Khunis so that he could take the note for himself. With a small spark of hope rising inside of his tan fur, he gave nothing but a smile and a nod as both started down to the Gymnasium “That’s the spirit. And besides, who cares about what happened this morning? What about tonight? What could possibly go wrong?”
___________________________
“Well obviously you did ruin everyone’s privileges slightly, and the Overstallion is very upset with those involved but...why beat yourself over the head with it? It was a misunderstanding right? He should know about it.” Shadow inquired as he then followed behind his brother attempting at relief of some sort when his brother had muffin bits in his hair, mane drenched from one of the Apple Family relatives cider, and with a few fresh bruises on his body. Though he did have a point in what he said about it being a misunderstanding and that it soon would clear up, but he kept climbing the stairs until both reached the top to Maintenance Level 3 before answering “You don’t understand do you Shadow? You have a cutiemark that explains yourself: Sneaky, good with magic, quiet yet talkative, and precise. They let you off the hook since you run security shifts at night, and Don’t even get me started with that G.O.A.T test you took one year after me. They practically GAVE you the position. How else could they stop a born ninja like you?”
With that remark being said, Shadow Step could only open his mouth in shock at what his older brother had said to him “I thought I was the one who was doing the ‘soap boxing’ here.” Shadow quipped still walking with him as they then headed towards the only maintenance door labelled ‘KJ’ which opened with a hydraulic wooshing sound once Khunis pressed the button to open. The room in which was revealed was not impressive at all revealing only cleaning supplies and a small desk with a terminal minus the bucket, mop, and a box of Spabraxxo of course.
“Come on Khunis, you’ve got to stop worrying about what might happen and move on. This is just going to get you mixed up in some heap of trouble if you do continue this sort of thinking. Celestia on high, even the Stable Psychiatrists will think you madly insane.” Shadow sparked as he saw his brother neatly place the mop and bucket on a shelf still eyeing him as he went to the desk and terminal “Do you realize what they’ll do when they hear you speak like this? They’ll see you unfit for work and they’ll catch you. Or worse they’ll take you and put you in a straight jacket or have your brain scrambled in one of those ‘Equalizer Machines’ to make you calm down. And I don’t want to see you like that.”
Khunis did nothing but sigh as his hooves softly ticked on the keyboard in front of him noting his daily janitorial duty log having no response yet for Shadow. With one long pause, he stopped to sigh and finally gain enough courage to look at the stallion beside him “Shadow...maybe you’re right and maybe you’re wrong. I just can’t help but think everything that I do here is wrong, like I don’t belong even.” he said as he levitated a notebook and wrote what he had typed down before looking at his brother. “Everyday I walk around the Stable I see the same old faces with forced ‘smiles’ everytime I see them. My day is just as routine as is: I wake up, get my barding on, head for breakfast and start working on keeping the Stable clean. Then when I am done I put stuff away, type my duty log, and then find time to relax. I’m sorry if I’m yelling but right now, I am finding it hard to relax when I am being lectured by my baby brother.” He slammed a hoof on the desk making a loud aluminum banging sound that shook both stallions from where they were at and would give way to a dead silent ambience. Once Khunis collected himself he would go back to facing the terminal placing both hooves on each side of his horn.
Shadow softly went forwards towards the desk making note of what condition he was in and would slowly place a hoof next to his to try and give him some comfort “That’s true, ‘Hard Work is Happy Work’” he said as he repeated the phrase that had been somewhat repeated on several stable-tec posters on the walls “...But you should at least know when to just stop and breathe. Get out and walk around in the Terrarium for a few, clear your head. Just try not to break yourself from all of this stress.”
“I’m already broken.” He replied as he levitated the soggy, crumbled muffin out of his mane. “The dwellers hate me for what I did and I’m afraid I’ll do it again. You see these bruises? Once Steel saw me, she bucked me in the face and then slammed a metal muffin tray on my head.” He shook as he pointed while recollecting the experience from event to event “That’s when that security guard barged in and started a brawl with her. He was going to douse her with cider but he got me instead. And do you know what happened next? Dwellers started to laugh and thought this was all staged. Staged!” Both ponies looked at each other and would stand there in silence to only the noise of the terminal’s ram clicking and clacking “I’m sorry, Khunis. But what you need is a clear head. Do something or this is going t~” Shadow was about to say something until he was blasted with a shout from his brother “To what? To make me keel over and die? Make me do something I’ll regret?”
“I’m sorry, but if it’s any consolation to you, I am going to go see about getting my bruises taken cared of, get a shower and go to bed.” he said as he pushed the chair away from the desk and would quickly walk to the door “Oh and for what happened in the Gymnasium, you COULD have done something to stop it.” The door wooshed closed behind him and would remain shut once he started storming down the hall towards his part of the habitation wing. But before reaching his room, his walking turned into a slow walk before coming to a complete stop in the empty corridor. Tears, sad tears started to stream down his face as he kept thinking about what he had said to his brother and to what the dwellers called him with their voices and laughter ringing in his head over and over.
‘Loser!’ one voice echoed as he continued to hear them laugh and jeer even those coming from the past few years of his childhood started to echo thoroughly. ‘Unicorn get a job. Oh wait, you do have a JOB! hahahahaha!’ ‘You’re nothing!’ ‘Blasted waste of space’ ‘Junk Flank’ ‘Where are your parents redhead? You gonna cwy?’ ‘You are so smart, see I can spell like he can: “S-M-R-T”’....’Your parents are not coming back Yellow Eyes!’ 'What was your name again? Lamplight?’ And with one snot laced sniff, Khunis wiped his eyes and would quicken his walking pace towards his small room and would flop onto his bed before crying himself to sleep.
Author's Note
Sorry for the long wait, Had to get some artwork done for people, had RL issues, and debated whether or not to submit the story because I didn't know if it would get off the ground in the first chapter. So many high expectations from the previous comments had me worried and shaken when I wrote the first 2 chapters.
That and a little Writers block along the way...
And since Fallout 76 released...Who wouldn't submit a Fallout Equestria Fan-fic after that?
