Fallout Equestria: Fallen Fortress

Blackout rejoined the group after Medic and Ruby had been walking for fifteen minutes. At this point, Scout had stopped crying and had returned to the mindscape, but is was clear that he and Spy would not be talking to each other for a bit. Blackout was with Pyro, and he had her gear. His face was solemn and his battle saddle was greased. “I’m not a Dashite.” He said, gripping something at his neck. “I’m not a Dashite.” He said again, fear in his voice, and a firm resolve. “And if I have to prove it, I will.” Medic looked him up and down.

“Blackout.” Medic said. “Go home. Jou don’t vant a part in zis.” Blackout let go of whatever was around his neck. His wings drooped, but the battle saddle remained pointed at Medic.

“Tell me everything. The souls, the book, hell, tell me what you don’t know. But one way or the other, the Enclave will get the information. Even if we have to rip it from your dead or dying brain, or from your lifeless corpse.” Medic didn’t know how they could do that, but he didn’t think Blackout was lying. He was trembling, and Medic knew that a scared man was more apt to make a mistake then a man who was calm.

“Blackout, ve can talk about zis, but put ze saddle down.” Medic took a step towards Blackout. Both barrels pointed at him now.

“Tell me now. Or I’m assuming one of your souls goes in the trash.” Medic opened his mouth to reply but all that came out was a scream as his Team members started shouting all at once. Medic brought his hooves to his head and Blackout remained patiently waiting for the internal war to pass. Scout’s voice was the loudest,

“I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die! I’m too handsome to die!”

“Scout! Jou’re alveady dead!” Medic mentally shouted back since he couldn’t stop screaming in pain. They finally stopped, knowing Medic wouldn’t let them die. “I don’t know anyzhing about jour Ministries. I’m not even from zis world.” Ruby and Blackout stare at Medic confused then look to Pyro, “Yes, all mein teammates are from a different vorld too.” Blackout returns his gaze to Medic,

“Explain.” He demands and Medic sighed,

“I’m not sure how ve got here, I believe it had something to do vith ze falling of ze bombs in both our vorlds at ze same time and geographic locations. Not sure othzerwise. Vhere I’m from, I walk on two legs, don’t have magic except for the rare wizard, have hands vith five fingers on each, und my species is called a human.” Pyro realized Medic was giving one of his lectures and decided to walk away with her gear, knowing it was going to be long and boring for her, “Ponies are small horses zat can’t talk und are used as pets or beasts of burden. Unicorns and Pegasi are simply fables.”

“So… You only have Earth Ponies?” Ruby asks. Medic hands over a Rad-Away to her before continuing,

“Pretty much. But I do know zat ze Unicorn vas popular enough to sponsor headgear und clothing around it. Every Halloween someone would dress as a Unicorn for vatever reason. It vas mostly Scout I believe.” Internally, Scout shouted a ‘hey!’ that Medic ignores, “Ze big problem for me is that I don’t remember a lot of zings from before ze var I was in, und afterward… Most of it is just not zhere… Vat I do remember is not pleasant und I’ve told jou it all before.”

“No, you haven’t!” Blackout states, “You know you have multiple souls! You never told us how you survived the gunshot to the head!” Medic stares at Blackout for a while, contemplating whether or not to tell him. Eventually, Blackout cocks his guns, “Speak already!” Scout whimpers and Medic sighs,

“I traded a soul for ze chance to comeback from ze Devil. I have a contract over mein soul, which he had at ze time, und I cheated the contract by taking ze souls of mein teammates. Pyro’s soul vas ze von I traded for ze chance to come back zat time.” Ruby and Blackout look at the unicorn who was burning the corpse of a Bloatsprite cheerfully,

“Wait… Then how is she here?” Blackout asks,

“I’m honestly not sure. From vat she told me, it sounded as though the Devil vas scared of her, so he sent her back to make sure I fulfilled my contract. Ze only problem for him is zat I haven’t died since zat vound to ze head.” Medic turned to Blackout, “Zat is all I vill tell jou.”

“No! Tell me about the soul spells!” Blackout shouted, “If you have multiple souls-”

“Did jou not hear me!? Zhere is no spell! Before coming here I had no magic vithout ze spellbook a vizard used! Und all of zose vere spells zat mostly included transfiguration, und spells zat involved bombs!” Medic yelled back, “Unicorns aren’t real vhere I’m from! Ze closest zing to magic ve had come at ze click of a button. Technology.”

“But we had technology too.” Ruby replied, “The Pip-Buck on your foreleg is a great example. You're kind must have embraced the Earth Pony way.”

“Earth Pony vay?” Medic asks Ruby,

“The strive for progress. The advancement of Science and Technology!”

“... I guess ve did…”

“So, it’s not a spell… It’s some sort of advanced science!” Blackout concluded and Medic sighed again,

“Fine! It is, but zat is all jou’ll get!” Medic telekinetically gripped the device that was around Blackout’s neck, “Now enough questions about my research!” Blackout immediately started struggling,

“W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING SONG!?” Blackout shouts,

“Zis is obviously some sort of recording device! Do jou take me for a fool!?” Medic replies clearly angered,

“NO IT’S NOT! LET GO!”

“If it’s not a recording device zen tell me vat it is!”

“IT HAS A PICTURE OF MY FAMILY INSIDE!” Medic pauses and shifts the telekinetic grip to open the object. Inside, there is indeed a picture of Blackout surrounded by other ponies who Medic assumes are his family. Medic released the object, which he now assumes is a locket and looks at Blackout with anger,

“Zen jou must have ze device. Do jou veally zink ze Enclave wouldn’t suspect jou of turning jour back on zem? Zey probably implanted a transmitter or somezing to get ze information zey need. Besides, from vat I can gather, it sounds like zey alveady suspect jou to be a traitor if zats vat a Dashite is.” Blackout went wide-eyed before shaking his head and looking over at Ruby. Then his face gained a stern look and returning his gaze to Medic,

“I will follow you until you give me the information I need!” Blackout replied,

“Zen vat? Jou’ll have to leave me und Bloody Ruby. Jou can’t protect her and remain loyal to jour Enclave. Zey von’t take her vill zey?” Blackout cringed and Ruby looked up at him,

“You want to protect me, but can’t?” She asked trying to wrap her young mind around what was being said between the adults. She shied away from the argument, unbeknownst to the two. Pyro walked away with her, giving her the lighter, “Huh? You’re giving it to me?” Ruby asks confused and Pyro nods carefully showing her how to hold the lighter correctly then flick it on. Ruby allows the glimmer of the flame to reflect in her eye, then she looks up to Pyro. She ‘hmphs’ and walks back to the argueing two.

Pyro stands and pushes the two adults apart from each other. She then starts talking but as usual, only Medic understands, “Pyro, if jou vant Blackout to understand jou’ll have to remove jour mask at least part vay.” Pyro grumbles, but compiles and lifts her mask just enough to free her white muzzle,

“I said you are both acting like foals, even more than me! This is not how anyone should solve a problem! For goodness sakes Medic, you are usually not the one to lash out first! I get it, you’re under a lot of stress and have different personalities influencing you, but you need to keep your individuality and not go Soldier on all your problems.” Medic was surprised Pyro could talk that much.“And Mr. Blackout, you are egging a mad man (Hey!) on, If you don’t want to end up with living plants for wings, I suggest you stop!” The idea for plant wings had crossed Medic’s mind, but it was more for himself than Blackout. Blackout cringed,

“He can do that?” He asks,

“He’s done weirder,” Pyro replies, pointing to her face as she lifts her mask off. “I’m not supposed to be alive right now, or ever.” She throws the mask down onto the floor. “I’m done seeing things through rose-colored glasses. We’re leaving. Whether you want to come or want to stay, I don’t care, but if you hurt any of us…” She ignites the igniter on her flamethrower. “You’ll have me to contend with.” Blackout stands silent. As the party gathered themselves together, Blackout begins to walk with them. Ruby takes the lead, putting quite some distance between her and the rest, but staying insight. Pyro walks beside Blackout, looking forward but obviously ticked. Blackout tries not to look at her scarred face, but can’t help but glance at how such a pretty thing had fallen so far.

An Enclave flying force soars overhead, far above. They dive down, towards a building up ahead. Ruby shifts her path away from the building. She stops. “What now?” She asks. Medic just passes her.

“Ve don’t know. I… suppose ve try to find an old work friend of mine.”

“The wizard man?” Pyro asks. Medic nods.

“I don’t see any other option.”

Unbeknownst to the party, a synth follows their path.

The party made camp that night in a run-down residential household. There were a few containers of instant noodles and the water from the sink had very little radiation in it, so Medic went ahead and cooked some noodles over a fire Pyro had set up in the still intact brick fireplace. Ruby explored what was reachable, the only bedroom she was able to find happened to be a foal’s room. She grabbed the long-gone child’s saddlebags and emptied of now useless school supplies. Blackout watched her explore the old toy chest for the little plastic pony toys, “Hey! This pony is dressed up like you!” Ruby cheered pulling out a cyan pegasus clad in the Enclave armor. Blackout tensed recognizing the blue color and rainbow mane. Seeing this Ruby quickly shoved it into her new saddlebags, “Sorry Blackout.” Blackout shook his head,

“You did nothing wrong… It’s just… She represents everything I stand against… Being down here… helping grounders… Am I a Dashite by helping you guys?” Ruby pulls the action figure out again and examines it,

“So this is Rainbow Dash? Didn’t she create the Enclave?” Ruby asks and Blackout shakes his head,

“Not that I know of, and yes that is Rainbow Dash. She created the Shadowbolts in honor of the Wonderbolts. But when the sky was sealed up she rejected everyone in the new government, the Enclave, and headed down below the cloud cover to… to help those down below. Those who followed her example are branded with her cutie mark and marked a Dashite.” Ruby gasped,

“B-Branded? As in, over their cutie mark?” Blackout nods, “No wonder you’re so scared!” Medic walked into the room,

“Yes, in fear is no way to live. Sounds far too much like what my government did to make sure jou stayed loyal. Only ze price vas getting sent to ze front vhere jou’d most likely die. Less, of course, jou vanted to go to prove jour loyalty. Or maybe jou’d end up in ze gas chambers. Either vay, jou’re dead.” Ruby cringed and Blackout went wide eyed, “If I vere jou, I’d take ze branding. Least jou’d be in a sense free.”

“NO!” Blackout jumped to his hooves, “Becoming a Dashite is the worst thing you can become! Imagine what it does for your family!”

“Zen how far vill zey go to get jou to ‘prove jour loyalty?” Medic asks, “Ven vill jou stop eating out of zheir hooves? Zey vill kill jou before zey say jour proven simply because jou’ve been down here!” Blackout took a step back in shock,

“I-I’m a loyal officer in the Enclave! They would never betray me!” Blackout said, agasp.

“Zhen jou fail to see ze corruption in such governments. I vould know.” Blackout stared out the window.

“It all comes down to the freedom of choice, doesn’t it? Of all the things they can’t take away from you… they can’t take away your freedom to choose.” Medic nodded.

“I refused to become a part of my crazy fascist regime. I chose my path. Demented though some of my choices have been, still I chose life. Now jou must choose. You can return to jour lifestyle, living in fear amongst jour own people, or jou can stay with us, maybe even fix a thing or two.” Blackout didn’t respond.

It began to pour down rain in the middle of the night. Pyro rubbed her eyes, unused to seeing the world in all of its greys. Everything seemed new to her, even her lighter which she’d had since she got it. The house creaked, a noise she could never have heard in the mask. Instead of jumping at the noises, though, she reveled in them. She loved all this new, she closed her eyes and took in everything.

That was when the door creaked open and a Synth Spy came in. It silently stole across the room and went into the bedroom where Blackout and Ruby were. It dropped a Datacard and grabbed Ruby. Ruby opened her mouth to scream, only to smell chloroform and pass out. The Synth creeped out of the window and disappeared into the night. A small camera detached itself off the Datacard and crawled onto the roof, attaching itself into a small crevice where it wouldn’t be seen. It waited, watching. Soon enough, the chaos would ensue.

Level up

New Perk: Politician: Your voice commands attention. When you speak, others will listen, and might even be swayed. 10% Charisma bonus when talking to unstable characters.