Fallout Equestria: The Wake of Discord

It had been several days since Lilly had made it back to Memorial City, and DJ Talon Scratch had taken it upon himself to help the filly get back to her regular self. She had run all day and night dragging Twisted Visions sword behind her in her mouth and it took him and a few of the town nurses a good amount of time to calm her well enough to get any information out of her. Between sets, he sat at his desk thinking about what she had said, and it made him feel uneasy. On one hand, he barely knew Twisted Visions. Sure, what he did know about her made her seem like a competent pony, on the other claw that all could have been luck and she really was just a deluded pony.

Then again, if what Lilly had said was true, then Prince Johns and the surrounding areas were in a significant amount of danger. She had been babbling on about Cultists, and eveil ponies. When they asked if she was talking about raiders, she said worse. He could push the fact that he was shaken. Thinking about what Lilly begged him over and over to say over the radio. The wake has swept me away, send a feather to my aid. It sounded like a nursery rhyme, but what was the worst that would come of him saying it a handful of times? The last song of the intermission finished, and his next set began.

“Hello hello hello, People of the Prince Johns!” He said, putting the smile on his face, putting on his act. “It’s your DJ, Talon Scratch! Not much news in the wasteland today, but I would like to remind everyone to stay well away from the Airport once again. The raiders there are a different breed, and we have confirmed eyewitness reports of them being there. Honestly, the wasteland is becoming a more and more dangerous place everyday, but we can have strength in numbers! Memorial City has opened its gates to ponies in need of a safe place to stay. All you need to do to enter is bring something to help strengthen our walls,” He said, looking over his list of required PSA’s. “Finally, a message to anyone that is listening. The wake has swept us away, send a feather to our aid,” He added, finally letting out a sigh. “Things are looking grim, but we can weather this storm if we work together. Anyway, let's brighten things up with this wonderful hit. The Night Pat Murphy Died!” He said, hitting the play button on his system and sitting back down in his chair.

He rubbed his face and let out a long groan. Part of him hoped the cryptic message he had been announcing was heard by someone who understood its meaning. Maybe there were more ponies like Twisted Visions. They could use some ponies who knew how to fight. He was pulled out of his thoughts by a commotion outside, and decided he needed to go and break it up. Fighting wasn’t going to help anyone at a time like this.

“This is not the time for fight-” Talon scratch said as he exited his DJ booth, only to be stopped dead in his tracks. Standing in the front courtyard were three absolutely colossus griffons. All of them wore armour, but the largest of the three’s armour was covered in golden regalia. He fell back on his haunches trying to take in the scene.

One of the ‘smaller’ griffons held an earth pony stallion clear off the ground by his neck with a single talon, while several other guards leveled rifles at the other two, who seemed unbothered. Given how thick their armour was, he doubted any of these weapons even worried them.

“I tire of your blatant disrespect,” The griffon holding the stallion growled, the bass of his voice enough to rumble in Talon’s chest. “The Battle Priestess asked you a question, now tell us where the Priestess of this settlement is!” He ordered, kicking Talon out of his stupor. These griffons were looking for Twisted!

“Woah!” Talon quickly shouted, rushing over as fast as his little legs could carry him. “Guys! I think we got off on the wrong foot, why don’t you put him down and we can talk!” He said, waving one of his claws up at the three griffons. He barely came up to their knees, they were enormous.

The other lesser Griffon looked down at Talon, looking at their leader. “Priestess Bedlam, this child with the voice of an adult speaks to you,” She said, and Bedlam looked down at Talon.

“So he does,” Bedlam said, looking at the more aggressive male. “Put him down, Leyin. The Priestess of this settlement will suffer our wrath for failing to teach her flock properly,” She said, and Leyin dropped the pony who quickly scrambled away. “Speak little one,” Bedlam ordered. “Your settlement declared an emergency, we do not take kindly to our time being wasted.”

Talon struggled to do what he was told. Between the hurt of their words towards his stature and how absolutely terrifying this woman was, his brain was having a difficult time forming coherent thoughts. “Twisted Visions…” He started, but he didn’t get to finish before he too was hauled off the ground, eye to eye with the monstrous Griffon.

“Where… Is she…” Beldam snarled.

“Captured!” Talon shrieked, shaking. “Captured near the airport! Her squire! Brought her sword back and told us to say that message over the radio, I swear to Celestia I don’t know anything else!” He pleaded.

Bedlam dropped him, but he couldn’t tell what her expression was under the predatory helmet she wore. She just looked angry. “This is not the flock of Priestess Visions. She is better than this, so giving them the message must have been an act of desperation. The situation is worse than I anticipated, she has not called for help once in the ten years she has been on mission,” She said, looking to the other female. “Take flight, scan the surroundings and return at the moon's peak. Both of you,” She ordered, and the two griffons splayed out their wings and launched themselves into the air, the force of their wings being enough to topple over a few unsuspecting ponies.

“As for you little one,” Bedlam continued, looking down at Talon Scratch. “Bring me to the Acolyte. I wish to know whom Twisted deemed worthy of such a title without consulting the Elders.”

“Uh,” Talon said, quickly getting up. “She’s actually a squi-”

“You shall not correct me again, puny thing,” Bedlam barked, her eyes boring a hole through Talon. “I know precisely what I said, and I know what failed words you use. Do not pretend to know our faith as a non-believer or I shall send you into the wake without second thought. Now, lead,” She ordered and Talon decided it was best to not argue with the giant griffon who could eat him without chewing.

Lilly laid in bed, while Tempo sat next to her telling her about all the cool things he had found in Prince Johns. His enthusiasm kept her from falling into a depressive spiral, but it wasn’t enough to make her excited about anything.

“And then I found this hook and some old jigging line!” Tempo explained, pulling a very large hook from his bag and some thick plastic string. “One of the older ponies in Memorial told me this is what the fishing ponies before the spells fell used to fish with! They could catch sharks with it!” He smiled, looking at Lilly. His enthusiasm dropped a little when he saw she wasn’t smiling, but she was paying attention so he forced himself to go on. “I just use it to grab things in buildings I can’t reach. It’s probably my favorite find ever,” He said, wrapping it up and putting it back into his bag.

Lilly was about to tell Tempo he could go if he wanted too, when Talon Scratch walked into the room, looking at the two. He look like he had seen a ghost, so Lilly stood up. “Are you alright Mr Scratch?” She asked, still frowning.

“Yeah kid,” Talon said, rubbing the back of his neck. “So, uh, your message worked. There are some gri-” He started, but Lilly had already shot past him, running as fast as her little legs could carry her, leaving Tempo and Talon alone in the room. Talon was about to say something, but Tempo shot past him just as fast, leaving him alone in the room. “You know,” He muttered, turning around and walking out, “There are people who actually give a shit about listening to me finish talking!”

Lilly continued to run down the hallway, turning a corner and running headlong into a metal post, flattening her out across the ground. She groaned, rubbing her face as she got up, looking at what she ran into and her eyes lit up with excitement. It was a Follower Griffon!

The griffon looked down at her and scowled. “So you must be the Acolyte of Twisted Vi-”

“You’re here!” Lilly screamed in excitement, start to run and hop around the Griffon, repeating herself over and over again. The griffon tried moving so as to look at the little thing, awkwardly trying not to step on Lilly as she would not stop moving.

Bedlam grew frustrated, lifting a claw up and slamming it down onto Lilly Grove, pinning her to the floor. “Carry yourself with dignity Acolyte, or I shall take your punishment in my own talons,” She barked, but Lilly’s happiness did not even scratch as she looked up at Bedlam with awe. “Speak. Each moment you spent uselessly prancing is another moment Priestess Visions is at the mercy of Heretics,” She said, snapping Lilly out of her happiness.

Then the Filly turned into a metaphorical tsuname of information, weaving a story so disjointed Bedlam was struggling to make heads or tails of it. .50 cal, Highway, Cultists, that was enough for Bedlam to make a decision. She grabbed the filly and placed her onto her back, beginning to walk towards the gates. “Hold on as if your life depends on it, as it will,” Bedlam ordered, spreading her wings once she could see the sky and pushing herself off the ground.

Lilly clung to Bedlam’s armour with all her might, terror filling her as they got higher and higher off the ground. Unicorns weren’t meant to fly, and she didn’t realize how much she hated heights until she was very high in the sky. Bedlam let out a screech, and less than a minute later, two more griffons appeared, taking up position on either side of Bedlam.

One signalled to Bedlam, pointing of into the distance, and the three banked in that direction. Lilly didn’t understand what was happening, her vision was almost entirely taken up by the massive armoured figure she rode on, but they were only flying for a few minutes when the Griffon on the left screeched out in pain and started tumbling to the ground below. Lilly didn’t understand the meaning of absolute terror until the moment Bedlam rolled and dived, the second splitting off. With the angle of their dive, she could see the third tumbling through the air, its wings flailing out to trying and correct. Lilly saw its wings finally flair out with some control, but it hit the ground moments later and was still, filling Lilly’s heart with dread.

Then the filly was pressed into the back of Bedlam as she pulled up, and landed heavily on the ground. “Arinell! Get Leyin into the trees!” Bedlam ordered, rushing to the fallen griffon’s side, covering him with her body, dirt exploding to the right of them. “We are just at the edge of their reach! Hurry!” She added, another shot landing a few feet on front of them, dirt flying up into the air. It was the same weapon Lilly and Twisted had been shot at by. Arinell worked her way under Leyin’s still form, heaving him onto her back before running towards the trees. Bedlam backpedalled with them, before sprinting herself into the forest. Once they were in the cover of the trees, Lilly gasped in the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. That was possibly the most intense string of events she had ever experinced.

“How is Leyin,” Bedlam asked, keeping her eyes towards the airport.

“Alive but badly hurt,” Arinell responded, working to pull the thick armour plates off of Leyin so she could get at him. “I can help ease his pain, but he will be grounded for many weeks. The weapon he was hit with punched through his armour and embedded itself in his lower shoulder, and his wings are broken,” She explained.

Bedlam cursed, looking around. While they were in a similar position as before, Lilly felt much safer this time. Twisted Visions was amazing, and she loved her adoptive mother, but she did not have the same… Sense of strength these griffons had. Lilly carefully climbed off Bedlam, trotting to look at Leyin. Without his armour making him look so scary, he looked… Young. His feathers were bright and clean, and his face was soft and angular despite his large size.

“Dig him a pit,” Bedlam ordered, turning to look at Arinell. “We cannot take him on our assault, bury him,” She said dryly.

Lilly heard that and bounced up, scowling at Bedlam. “Hey! She said he’s still alive!” She said, her voice tea kettling in her anger. “You can’t just bury him like he’s dead! He needs medical help, not a grave!” She snapped with anger.

Bedlam slowly turned to look down at Lilly and her courage faltered. Every instinct her brain had in regards to such predatory creatures screamed for her to run, but she doubled down on that, stepping forward. “You can’t bury him! I won’t let you!” She squeaked.

Arinell opened her mouth to speak, but Bedlam silenced her with a glare. Then Bedlam turned back to Lilly. “What would you do to stop me, little pony foal?” She asked, narrowing her eyes.

Lilly thought about that for a second. If Lilly wasn’t being fueled by terror induced defiance, she might have actually backed down realizing there was literally nothing she could actually do to stop the griffon. “I’ll hit you!” Lilly said instead, falling back on autopilot. “And I’lll keep hitting you until I knock some sense in you, like Twisted’s mom did her!” She shouted.

Bedlam stared at Lilly for a long moment, then started to laugh. Lilly felt her jaw drop at this reaction, and even Arinell was confused. Bedlam finished, shaking her head. “I was never her mother,” She said, looking down at Lilly. “And we are not burying Leyin alive to die. We are doing it to make him harder to find while we assult the Airport,” She added, looking at Arinell. “I can see why Twisted liked this Filly. She has a similar idiotic courage about her. Dig the pit, I will scout the airfield,” Bedlam said, leaving Lilly with her jaw practically on the floor, and Arinell to continue looking after Leyin.

“That’s Bedlam..?” Lilly finally asked, turning to look at Arinell.

“She likes you,” Arinell said back, getting Leyin out of his armour and beginning to dig. “I have never once seen a pony stand so unflinchingly towards Bedlam when they have caught her ire, let alone a filly,” She said, taking off her helmet. She also looked quite young. “You will be a capable follower Acolyte. You are young and brash, but discipline will come with age,” She said, going back to her work.

Lilly frowned. “I’m a squire…” She muttered indignitly, walking over to Arinell’s helmet and looking it over. The metal was at least a quarter inch thick and curved. Lilly didn’t know much about armour, but it had to be heavy. “How do you guys fly with all that armour on?” She finally asked, looking at Arinell.

“Lots of training,” Arinell answered. “If you have questions, allow me to finish what I am doing and I will answer them all,” She said, not turning away from her work.

“Mind if I sing a song?” Lilly asked with a smile.

“Whatever helps you fend off bordom,” Arinell replied.

“This is the song that never ends…”

When Bedlam returned, she was surprised to see that Leyin was covered, and Arinell and Lilly were sitting next to a heat lamp talking. Arinell had taken off her armour and was showing it too Lilly, which irritated Bedlam. They were on the skirts of the enemy zone of control, and Arinell did not look ready for combat. So she cleared her throat.

Arinell bolted upright, turning to look at Bedlam. “Priestess, I-”

“Was getting complacent,” Bedlam said, not wanting to hear the excuse. “You finished digging the pit and hiding Leyin’s armour already?” She asked, checking how effective it was.

“The Acolyte has a way of… Motivating one to complete tasks,” Arinell said, putting her armour back on.

“You know,” Lilly said, walking up to Bedlam. “You’re really quiet for one so fat,” She said with a frown.

Arinell snorted but covered her face fast enough to stiffle the sound while Bedlam stared in shock at how brash the filly had become. “Excuse me?” She finally asked. “I am not fat.”

“What are you talking about?” Lilly asked, getting up on her hind legs and spreading out her arms. “You’re huge! You’re almost as big as a tract-” The filly was sent rolling across the ground as Bedlam swatted her away.

“Priestess Visions has failed to teach you basic respect it seems,” Bedlam growled, shooting a glare at Arinell who was trying to stiffle her own laughter. “Mayhaps I need to fill in for her,” She added, narrowing her eyes. “Maybe Arinell would care to join you, as you two appear to have become close in the hour I have been gone,” She said.

Arinell sighed. “Priestess, she is a simple child,” She said, helping the dazed Lilly up with a claw. “And has only been with Priestess Visions for a few days. From the stories you have told me of Twisted Visions, Lilly Grove is a darling in comparison,” She said.

“And what makes you think that?” Bedlam asked. “I taught Twisted Visions discipline perfectly,” She argued.

“I remember you saying she spat in your face multiple times,” Arinell smiled.

Bedlam’s scowl deepend. “You walk a thin line Arinell. Slip and I will have you fly the mountain range when we return to the Sanctuary.”

“Yes Warrior Priestess,” Arinell said, hefting her armour back onto her body. Lilly finally came out of her daze, rubbing her head.

“You used to do that to Twisted?” Lilly asked, getting onto her hooves. “She must have a hard head if she managed dealing with that all the time,” She sighed. “So, when are we gonna go kick the raider butts and free mom?” Lilly asked, looking up at Bedlam.

Bedlam looked at Lilly for a long moment, before looking back out to the Airfield. “We, will be assaulting the airfield close to dawn. You, will be staying here and looking after Leyin until we come to retrieve you,” She said. “The battlefield is no place for a filly, even if she is the unofficial acolyte of a Priestess. I do not wish to babysit you,” She growled.

“She’s my mom,” Lilly said defensively, stomping her foot defiantly. “I’m gonna have to deal with whatever is in there someday! I’ve been shot at, I’ve seen mom kill people! She even gave me a knife!” She added, scrunching up her face.

“Where is you knife?” Bedlam asked, looking Lilly over.

Lilly blushed. “I left it… in… my room…” She said, looking at the ground quietly. “But that’s only because you didn’t give me time to go back and get it!” She quickly added in, defiance back on her face.

“There is no excuse for a warrior to not have their weapon on them Acolyte,” Bedlam dryly remarked, laying down next to the heating lamp. “HAve you ever seen Twisted leave her room without her sword?” She asked.

“Yes!” Lilly quickly shot. “In my old village. Mom didn’t even wear her armor! Just weird suit!” She muttered.

“I would chalk that up to her being a far better magician than she is swordsmare,” Bedlam said, looking at Lilly. “No matter. You have not a single weapon, and I doubt your magic is strong enough to do any but the most simple magic. You stay here, end of discussion.”

“Let her come Priestess,” Arinell said, looking at Bedlam who shot the younger griffon a glare. “Were she a griffon you would happily accept her joining us.”

“Yes, but we have our claws and beaks,” Bedlam said. “She has neither of those, and I’m sure a kick from her would be a minor distraction.”

“I am just saying,” Arinell smiled. “She may surprise us both. Also, I am sure we will be the center of the heretics attention. A little filly will likely go completely unnoticed, giving us a set of eyes to find Priestess Visions,” She added coyly.

Bedlam growled, sensing the point. “Fine,” She relented. “But the moment the battle starts to turn awry for us, she is on her own,” Bedlam said. “I will not babysit. You wish to be treated as an adult Acolyte, you may accept the consequences. Now sleep. You will need your rest, as we all will,” She finished.

Lilly nodded her head, looking around for a place to sleep. “Bedlam,” She asked, walking up to the large griffon. “If Twisted Visions is my mom… Does that make you my grandma?” She asked.

Bedlam let out a long groan, looking down at Lilly. “I sense you have a point. Get to it,” She growled.

“Can I sleep with you?” Lilly asked, giving the best attempt she could at Puppydog eyes.

“No.”

“But!”

“I said no,” Bedlam said harshly. “I was not Priestess Visions’ mother, I am not your grandmother!”

Lilly frowned, letting out a sigh. Then she walked up and bugged Bedlam’s armoured leg. “It’s okay. I forgive you,” She said.

Bedlam shook her head. “Forgive me for what!? I have done nothing wrong!”

Lilly shrugged, “My aunt said I wasn’t her daughter, and it made me upset, but Mom told me that sometimes ponies are grouchy and say mean things they don’t mean. They try their best, but sometimes that just isn’t good enough,” She smiled at Bedlam.

Arinell has started laughing as Bedlam scowled at Lilly in a mix of offence and confusion. “Are you saying I am not good enough!?” She asked, falling into the trap Arinell could see Lilly was setting up.

“It’s not a bad thing,” Lilly said with a shrug. “Maybe you should ask someone else to be Twisted’s mom if you can’t do it,” She smiled. “Nothing wrong with admitting defeat.”

Bedlam was practically steaming in rage. “Fine! Lay with me if it will silence your ignorant muzzle!” She snapped. “But do not cry to me if I crush you!”

Lilly nodded and curled up against Bedlam, falling asleep quickly. Sometime later, Arinell shook her head with a big smile on her face.

“What are you grinning at,” Bedlam asked accusatorily.

“You,” Arinell said. “You know Mother, she played you like a fiddle. If only brother could see you cuddling with a filly,” She said, looking at Lilly. “She will be quite the Priestess if she continues like this, and an honour to have as a neice,” She added in as a playful jab.

“You will do best to silence your tongue child,” Bedlam growled. “You have long since lost your childish charms, and I will not hesitate to beat you back into line.”

“I know,” Arinell said, laying her head down. “Wake me up for my watch, enjoy the childish charm a little while longer.” She said, leaving Bedlam alone with her thoughts to guard the camp.