Chapter 1 | Before the Fire.
Joseph falls back onto his pillow in sorrow. “Why? Why did Equestria even w--” Suddenly Joseph was cut off from his own words by a knocking at his front door that seemed light and quick. Joseph groans and jumps out of bed and he trots out of his room and down the stairs. He then reaches the door and uses his magic to pick up his silver keys and uses them to unlock his door and he opens it.
“Yes?” He asked as he saw the pony standing at his door.
“Good day to you sir! Today is your lucky day! You and many other lucky ponies have been picked to have early access to the 'Equestrian Vaults'.” The pony replied before smiling.
“E-Equestrian Vaults?” Joseph stuttered.
“Mmhm. The 'equestrian vaults' are various sets of fallout shelters that are connected to one other. The vaults were built when the war of Equestria started. I am willing to let you have early access to one. So that you won't be affected by any nukes or bombs.” He replied.
“Is there such nukes or bombs coming here?” Joseph replied with a hint of concern and worry.
“The possibilities are high. Since Manehatten has already been nuked.” The pony replied with a saddened look.
“Manehatten is a few thousand miles from here, am I right?” Joseph asked.
“Indeed. But the nuke they used was a small one. But it was able to destroy half of Manehatten.” The pony replied with his own hint of worry.
“Fascinating and terrifying, aye?” Joseph asked.
The pony nodded and said, ”Now... since you have early access to this vault. May I ask you to pack your belongings and come with me?”
“A-alright,” Joseph replied before heading back inside to gather whatever he had left. He took a saddle bag from his closet and he started to pack up many items he needed or wanted. “Well… seems my fears are finally coming true.” Joseph thought. “Me, accessing a vault for the first time and not knowing what lies ahead.” He said to himself before finishing packing. He then puts the saddlebags on and heads outside.
“Good.” The pony replied before smiling. “Let get on our way to the vault I shall lighten you on what you will be doing in the vault. You can also ask some questions.” The pony then began to walk away from Joseph’s home and Joseph follows.
“What do you suppose I'm going be doing in the said vault?” Joseph asked.
“You will be given multiple job opportunities in the vault. From cooking to engineering to cleaning.” He replied with a cheerful smile.
“Wait wait, what? Are you saying I'm the Janitor of the place?” Joseph replied so suddenly.
“Not exactly. You get to pick your job. Depending on your skills and knowledge of the job of course.” He replied.
“Hmmm... interesting,” Joseph replied.
“You will also be given a pipbuck when you're in the vault.
“Pipbuck? Have I heard of those before somewhere?” Joseph asked while recalling the TV commercial.
“On TV? Maybe. They're little devices that wrap around your hoof. It can tell you many things about you. Such as your physical health. It's a really advanced tech. It usually costs 2,000 bits for just one. Or I should say 2,000 caps.” The pony replied.
“Caps? When did the currency change?” Joseph asked while giving the pony an odd gaze.
“Caps is the currency in the vaults. You will be paid caps per week. The princesses plan on to replacing bits with caps in the future too.” He replied.
“But why? What's the use of switching currency when we have one that makes sense and is easy for us to understand?” Joseph asked.
“Don't ask me. Ask the princesses. They're the ones pulling the strings.” He replied.
“If I or you ever see them again that is,” Joseph replied with a dry tone.
“I wonder if they'll ever show their faces again. To be honest... I feel sorry for them.” He replied.
“How so?” Joseph asked.
“With the war and all. Putting their subjects into danger. Putting us into danger.” He replied with a sad look.
“Risking everything for the sake of resources and beliefs. It's sad isn't it?” Joseph replied.
“Indeed…” He replied with a short moment of silence. “We're almost there... Any more questions?”
“Just one, how long am I gonna be in there for?” Joseph asked while thinking about the vault.
“For as long as you want. If that makes you safer.” He replied with a smile.
“Thanks,” Joseph replied
They soon make it to a large hill. Mounted into the hill was a large metal entrance that had three numbers on it. One number was rusted out. But the other two numbers were visible. "#82” They both go over to a panel and the pony presses and few buttons. Joseph could remember him putting in, ‘373484’. After a minute or two of silence, the large metal door began to shift and move.
Joseph piers inside the vault as the doors opened and gulped. The metal floors, walls, and ceiling were pretty alien in his mind as he never saw such advancements before. Soon the metal door had slid to the side. Allowing the two stallions to go inside.
As they entered they both spotted two other stallions wearing odd uniforms. Joseph turns to look at the stallions.
“Welcome to the vault!” A light blue pegasus stallion replied with a large smile.
“And, you are, sir?” Joseph asked in curiosity.
“Blueberry is the name. But you can call me Blue for short.” Blue replied.
“And I'm the doctor. Dr Hooves.” Hooves replied. Joseph noted their clothing to be a light blue jumpsuit with yellow lines on their shoulders to their sleeve.
“Nice to meet you, Blueberry and Doc,” Joseph replied finally after looking over their attire. The doctor seemed to notice Joseph’s stares and grunts.
“Heh. Sorry about our clothing. The Overmare directed all dwellers to wear these jumpsuits. Like them?” Hooves asked.
“No it’s alright, actually they look rather pleasing to me if I don’t say so myself,” Joseph said. Hooves smile and then passes him a similar jumpsuit.
Joseph then puts on the jumpsuit and looks himself over. “Well, what do y'all think?” He said and turned to his side just to face everyone.
“Not too shabby,” Blue replied. “Fits you perfectly.”
“Heh, I might get used to wearing this.” He replied with a chuckle while looking himself over again.
“Well... looks like you guys are getting along. I better be off. Blue and Hooves will help you with everything else.” The pony replied.
“Its Dr, Hooves. Not just Hooves.” Hooves replied.
“Whatever doc.” The pony replied before trotting out of the vault.
“Seems he doesn't show much respect to you, Aye doc?” Joseph asked after he left.
“No, he doesn't. But I don’t care either way.” Hooves replied.
“Anyways…” Joseph asked to move on.
Blueberry nodded and said, “Let's take you to the reception. To get you officially signed in.”
"Reception?" Joseph questioned.
Blue nodded and said, “The Reception is a place where you will go to, to get everything sorted out for you. Let's go.” He then motions Joseph to follow.
Joseph follows Blue to a hall that an empty of life. On the way to the Reception, Joseph sees a unicorn mare wearing the same vault Jumpsuit. She was banging on a door that had the words ‘Female toilet’ on it while yelling, "Open up!! I need to pee!!!"
Joseph tilts his head while staring at the mare. “Huh?” He asked.
She notices Joseph staring at her and blurted out, "What?!"
“N-nothing just was wondering what was all the racket, that's all.” He replied as Blue and Hooves watched to see what would happen.
"Well, the racket is that I need to pee!! This vault needs more bathrooms!!" She yelled as she pounded on the door more.
Blueberry sighs, "Yeeeeaah. That's the thing about this vault. It's comfy and all but it has barely any toilets." He replied.
"I can agree with you there." Dr, Hooves replied with a short glance at Blue.
Joseph sighed and shakes his head in disappointment. “Why vault builders, why?” He asked to himself.
"Well, you better tell the overmare about it!! Since your in the second command!" The mare yelled at Dr, Hooves.
Joseph Turns to Dr, Hooves, “Y-your second in command?” He asked.
"You could say so. Although the overmare treats me like a Dweller." He replied as the toilet door suddenly opened and out trotted another unicorn mare. When she stepped out she began to walk away from them.
"Why does she treat you like a Dweller?" Joseph asked.
"I don't know really. Maybe because she wants to be the only one in command." The Doctor said as the desperate mare went into the bathroom.
“Maybe you're right, but we'll have to see if this is true...or not,” Joseph replied.
"Never!! The Overmare is very powerful. We might as well keep our distance and stay out of her business." Blueberry replied. Joseph then looks at Blueberry sternly.
Blueberry sighed and said, "Never mind... let's get to the reception."
“Alright,” Joseph replied.
Blueberry continues leading Joseph to a door that had a sign on the top of it saying, 'Reception'. Blue opens the door and said, "Go on in. There will be somepony inside to help you. Good luck." He replied with a yawn. He then goes off down the hall with Hooves. Joseph then steps inside.
Inside the room was multiple unoccupied desks. All except one that had a familiar pony stationed at the desk. It was Rarity. Joseph was spooked to see her here, he trotted slowly towards her nervously. She seemed to be busy typing on a typewriter and looking at a terminal. Joseph went up to her desk but was a bit nervous to speak up. The only thing that broke the silence was the typewriter.
“H-hello?” He asked in a nervous tone.
Rarity looks up from her typewriter. "Hmm? Oh! Sorry. I didn't notice you there darling."
“Rarity it is, is it?” He asked.
She nodded. "Yeah, it's me."
“I-I don't understand. I thought you still worked at the Carousel Boutique.” He replied in worry.
"I did... but the princesses made me quit and they put me to work in this place." She replied with a sigh.
“Why? What happened?” Joseph asked with curiosity.
Rarity sighs and muttered, "Rather not say."
Joseph wondered why the princesses made her quit. He then asked, “Too personal?” After a long pause, she nodded slowly.
“I see. I'm honestly sorry to hear.” Joseph said with a slight sigh.
"It's okay darling. Anyway, why are you here?" She asked.
“I was apparently called to come here for some strange reason. I'm still not sure why I am here.” Joseph replied.
"I see. So you're Registering in?" She asked.
“I'm not sure. Dr Hooves wanted me to come here for something, but I'm not so sure what it is.” He replied/
"Well, I think he wants me to help you with your registration darling." Rarity replied. She then picks up a piece of paper and a pen. She then uses her magic to open the pen lid. "Let's start with your name?" She asked.
“Joseph Hearts,” Joseph replied.
"Date of birth?" She asked whilst writing on the paper.
“September 12th, (Insert Date here)” He replied nervously.
Rarity nodded and then kept writing until she was satisfied with the result. She then gives Joseph the sheet of paper she wrote on and on it was an information sheet full of different information to be put in. But it seemed his age, sex, eye colour and mane/tail colour. But she left "Choice of Job" empty.
"Is this alright?" She asked with a smile. Joseph sweated a little, then nodded his head.
She smiled. She then passes him a wrapped up scroll. It had lists and lists of jobs within the vault. There were so many that Joseph could only stare at the sheet in confusion.
"Hehe... Yeeeeah. That what I did when I first saw the jobs." Rarity replied.
“I-I see.” He replied with feeling like he was going to pass out.
"You can pick from any job that you are good at." She replied with a giggle.
Joseph looked at his flank, unfortunately, what he saw was nothing. Joseph never found his destiny when he was young, due to his interests were all over the place. He tried many things during his childhood, like acting, being an artist, or trying to be supportive to others. None of them was able to get his cutiemark. Joseph then turned and looked down at his hoofs.
"Having a hard time darling?" Rarity asked. Joseph then nodded.
"Well if I suggested a few jobs... could you give them a try?" She asked.
“I guess.” He replied with a sigh.
"My first suggestion would be the job I am currently doing. The office job. It's where you tend to all the new Dwellers and even tend to reports from them. My next suggestion would be an engineering job. It is where you mend to the machines like terminals, doors, elevators and generators. Oh, and even pipbucks. My last suggestion would be a cooking job. Though you probably understand what you do in the cooking job." She replied.
After hearing the suggestion Joseph sighed, breathed in calmly and said, “I think I'll be the engineering job.”
"I see." Rarity replied before writing down something on a terminal. "Good. We'll all done here. You will start your job tomorrow. For now, you can wonder the vault, even rest in your vault bedroom or chat with your roommate."
“Roommate?” He asked suddenly.
Rarity nodded. "Everypony gets one. Even me.” She replied before looking back at the terminal. “Your roommate is Blueberry. Your room is five floors down from here and the door number is '507'."
“Wait, wasn't he the one that was with me a few minutes ago?” Joseph asked. “Y’know? The blue tire pegasus?”
"Mmhm. That's him. He must be going to his room. Since he does night shifts and gets tired and grumpy in the day.." Rarity replied.
“Guessing it's hard doing the night shift, aye?” He asked.
She nodded. “Mmhm. He has to sleep sometimes in the day.” She replied.
“Does he get into crabby moods in the morning?” Joseph asked.
"Not from my knowledge. But if he does. Just leave him be. I bet you'd be the same in his hooves." She replied.
“Yeah, true,” Joseph replied.
Rarity then types on the terminal and said, "Okay... you're in the system. You can keep that personal information sheet. But I'll need that job list back."
Joseph gives the job list back to Rarity and asked, “So, where do I go from here?”
"Go down the hall to the right. It should take you to an elevator. Then go down five levels and then find room 507." She replied.
“A-alright. Thank You.” He replied before handing his hood out for a hoof shake.
She shook his hoof. "Nice to see you." She replied.
“Same to you Rarity.” He replied before exiting the room. He then looks down the corridors of the vault. There were some ponies out and about. Joseph didn't recognise anypony.
"I might have to get used to this place, but there's something here that seems rather...fishy. I better find out soon..." He replied to himself. Joseph, then he began to wander the corridors. Soon he reaches an elevator and he steps into it, then the door closes behind him.
He looks at the number of buttons for the floors and was surprised to see that there were more than 60 different buttons. But one button was lit up. 'G'. He presses the "-5" button and the elevator begins to descend.
Soon the elevator reaches floor -5 and a robotic voice said, "You have arrived at your floor." The doors then opened.
“Ok… how advanced did we get again?” Joseph thought as he walked towards his room.
He then reaches his room and opens the door. Inside his room was a bunk bed, two desks, two chairs, a terminal in the corner of the room and two boxes. One of the boxes was full of personal belongings and the other was empty. Joseph then notices Blue sleeping in the top bunk.
Joseph went up quietly to the bunk and saw Blue sound asleep, he then set his stuff down slowly on the bottom bunk and sat quietly. The room was all but quiet all for the light snoring of Blue and the passing ponies from outside their room. Joseph sighs and lays on his bunk, he closes his eyes and goes into his deep thoughts. Many questions roamed into his mind.
“Why me? Why did they choose me? What do they want with me?” He thought to himself. So many questions left unanswered about this place, maybe I should investigate when I find the time to do so.
Joseph sighs again, then falls asleep, however outside his room, a pony watches the sleeping Joseph, then they disappear down the corridor and out of sight…
Author's Note
The OC Joseph belongs to https://www.deviantart.com/alduthecat and other OCs used in the chapter were either made up OCs or my OCs.
“It’s been a few months since I moved into the vault. It’s been a pretty interesting experience being here. I’ve got used to my job being an engineer... although I still have my wonders about the vault at some points in my day. Blue has helped me fit in rather nicely, though he sometimes has an attitude of a crabby stallion that hasn’t had his morning hay.” Joseph chuckled as he wrote in his journal. “Still I won’t complain. Anyways I’ll write more soon, till then, let’s see what this vault has in store for me next.”
Joseph closed his journal and got his jumpsuit on, ready to start his day. Joseph then looks over at his bunk bed and spots Blue still asleep on his bunk.
Joseph chuckles and heads out, but takes a look at Blue one more time before he headed off to the lift. As expected, Blue gave no response and kept snoring. As soon as Joseph left the room, he made his way to the lift and went inside, however, he started to sense that something was a bit off.
“Is it just me, or is my mind playing tricks on me again?” he said to himself as he presses a button, “Must have been.” the lift doors close, however, the lift continues to descend.
“Um, I remembered pressing Level 1 Elevator, not the lower levels.” He said as he whacked the panel with his hoof.
Soon the elevator began to descend further into the lower levels of the vault. Where all the supplies are contained. Soon the elevator opened without its robotic voice. Joseph was a bit scared as he never went down to the lower levels of the vault by himself.
“Alright, who’s the trickster that has put me down here?” He shouted, but nopony replied, however, Joseph could hear in the distant somepony talking from far away.
“Hello?!” He shouted again. “Who’s down here?”
Joseph went to a crosswalk section, however, the voice suddenly disappears, only the sounds of the wind, air, and absence of the lower levels remained which freaked Joe out a little. He gulped and proceeded down the corridors, alone. As he trotted down the halls of the lower levels he soon reached an empty room. Inside it was a few terminals and lots of documents.
“Well now, what do we have here?” He said as he entered the room, he checked the terminals first, just to see if there was any info that he could find. The first terminal he read was a conversation between two vaults. It seemed to be a supply trade deal.
“Seems the trade consists of ammo and food supplies. Interesting.” He said as he continued searching the files. The next terminal he saw was another conversation between his vault and a community. It was another trade deal but… it was a trade deal for organic matter. Pony lungs, pony kidneys, pony stomach, pony ear and even pony eyes…
Joseph felt like throwing up after seeing this.
“What matter of decapitation is this?!” He shouted as he turned off the terminal, however as soon as he stepped away from the terminal he suddenly caught sight of a creepy message on the wall above it. The message was covered in blood. It read, “They’re going to fall. They’re going to go off… Good luck.”
Joseph gulps at the response and was starting to get even more terrified by the minute, he left the room as fast as he could. However as he exited the room, the lights began to go out.
“ALRIGHT, NO MORE FOOLING AROUND?! WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?! I DEMAND THAT YOU TELL ME THIS INSTANT?!” He shouted. Suddenly all the light go out and Joseph was left in the dark. A few seconds later he sees a light from down the hall… It seemed to be somepony with a flashlight and they’re coming closer and closer. Joseph started to panic and ran the other direction away from the light, however, the darkness wasn't helping as he hit a dead end, after dead end. The light caught up to him, but there was no way out, he was trapped without a weapon to defend himself with.
“Please...please don’t harm me. I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” He said to the light as his back went against the wall.
“Joseph? What in Celestia’s wasteland are you doing here?” Blue asked as he looks at Joseph with a worried look. Joseph’s heart was beating like crazy.
“I, I don’t know.” He shuddered as he nuzzled Blue. “I honestly have no idea what’s happening or why I was sent down here?”
“I see. Well c’mon. Lets go before somepony catches you here.” Blue replied before motioning Joseph to follow. Joseph proceeded to follow Blue into the darkness once more. Suddenly the lights cut back on, Blue and Joseph found themselves in a bloody corridor with Pony skeletons laying around.
“Dear Celestia!” He shouted in surprise. “What dark nightmare did we witness?!”
“I don’t know!!” Blue replied in shock.
Joseph and Blue stepped over the skeletons until something caught Joseph’s eye, he turned to one of the Skeletons and saw one of them wearing a small device on its hoof. He took it off and examined it.
“A pipbuck?” He asked, “What's it doing here?”
“No clue. But let's get out of here!” Blue replied.
“Alright”
Joseph put on the Pipbuck and the two ran as fast as they could back to the lift, however, the lights began to flicker as soon as they were near the lift.
“Faster Blue, FASTER!” Joseph shouted as they got near the lift.
Blue uses his magic to press the lift button as they ran towards it. The lift then opens and they both crash inside. Blue then presses the close door button.
“What kind of nightmare did we enter?” He asked Blue.
“I don’t know.” He replied as he turned the flashlight off. “What made you come down here in the first place?”
“I didn’t” Joseph replied in shock. “Somehow I pressed ‘Floor 1’ button and suddenly I descend to the lower levels without any thought or reason.”
“I see. An error in the panel in the lift. It’s your job to look into that you know?” Blue replied with a chuckle.
Joseph face hoofed. “Crap, I should have.” He said with a growl, then he took off the panel with his magic and noticed that the buttons were rewired. “Now who was the fool that rewired almost all of these buttons?”
“Don’t ask me. Ask the pony who made us walk into a death trap.” Blue replied with a grin. “Like a haunted train ride.”
Joseph looked at Blue with a suspicious look. “Was it you that did it?” He said in a stern voice.
“No. I fell for the trap the same as you.” He replied. “I woke to see you gone. So I went to the elevator to go to the cafeteria. But I went all the way down to here.”
“I see,” Joseph replied. “If somepony is playing a deadly practical joke on us, then by luna I’ll have him or her in hoof cuffs for sure” Joseph snarled at the thought.
Blue rolls his eyes. “Whatever. But could you rewire those wires to be correct? So that I can actually get to the cafeteria?” Blue asked.
Joseph nodded with a sigh, then he went straight to work. A few minutes later, Joseph finished rewiring all the buttons back into place.
“Right then, let’s see if this little beauty works,” He said. Blue then comes over to the panel and presses the first-floor button. The lift then began to ascend to the first floor.
“Well it seems we’re ascending alright,” Joseph said as he looked up at the ceiling, then back at Blue.
“Indeed. I don’t know why you don’t have your cutiemark yet. You're a genius.” Blue replied.
Joseph looked back at his flank, however, there was still nothing there. At least, nothing yet.
“I guess only time will tell.” He said.
Soon the lift reached the top floor of the vault, Blue and Joseph trot out the shaft.
“That is the last time I’m ever taking that floor,” Blue replied.
“I agree.” Joseph replied, “But what I wanna know is, who did it, and why?”
“Me too. But let’s keep this to ourselves. We don’t want anypony to find out.” Blue replied. “But anyway. What did you find down there? You looked pretty white when I saw you.”
Joseph stuttered at the thought and tried to remember what he saw down there, however the thoughts only lead him to become even more scared than before. He closed his eyes and tried not to think about it too much.
“I see… Sorry.” He replied after noticing Joseph’s emotion.
“They’re something dark happening here, something, unnatural, it’s as if, somepony is trying to lead us to somewhere, but...where exactly do we go from here?” Joseph muttered to himself.
“We definitely don’t go to the overmare. Since she would not like to find out that there are skeletons of ponies in her basement.” Blue replied with a chuckle.
“But would she even believe us?” Joseph asked with worry. “I mean, it felt like we were in some sort of horror movie where the scenes started to flash before our eyes. A few seconds later, the scene returns to normal. Would it happen if we went back down there again and everything is back to the way it was?”
“I don’t know. But I’m not up for the challenge.” Blue replied. “But should we tell the Doc?”
“If he wants to hear it, then...I guess, but would he believe our story?” Joseph asked.
“I don’t know. But it’s worth a shot.” Blue replied.
“If you say so,” Joseph replied.
Blue nodded. “Good. I know where the Doc is about these hours. C’mon. Let's go check up on him.” He replied with another chuckle.
“Alright Blue, lead the way,” Joseph replied.
Blue nods again and starts to trot down the hall towards the pharmacy. Joseph follows Blue from behind. Soon Blue reach the pharmacy where many ill dwellers were waiting for a checkup. Blue then leads Joseph to an office in the pharmacy that had a door with a sign saying, ‘Dr, Hooves’.
“Well, this seems to be our stop,” Joseph said as he stared at the door more.
“Mmhm. ‘Round about this time he’s on his lunch break so let's just--” Blue replied before opening the door. “--Enter.”
Blue then walks into the room soon followed by Joseph.
“Hello?” Joseph asked as he entered the room.
“Oh? Hello there.” Hooves replied while munching on an apple. “What are you two doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at work? Or are you ill? You don’t look ill.”
Joseph tried to find the words he wanted to say, but the memories of what happened kept haunting him which resulted in him plopping his bum on the floor in fear.
Blue steps forward and said, “Yeah. About that. The elevator A-1 was tampered with and it made Joseph go to the lower levels. I don’t know what he saw down there but when I went into the tampered elevator he was white as a ghost.”
Joseph then replied. “I pretty much felt like I was stepping into the depths of Tartarus. The level was silent, but then...I heard...voices.” He paused, then continued. “I tried to locate where the voices came from, but...they vanished without a trace.”
“I see. Then what happened?” Hooves asked while getting intrigued.
“I came across a room that was filled with filing cabinets and a few terminals. I investigated two of them, but when I took my eyes off of them, my attention was drawn to…” He paused again and was starting to sweat at the thought of what he saw. Images of the message flashed in Joseph’s eyes, he closed his eyes and he shed a tear, but then uttered what he saw in a low voice tone. “They’re going to fall. They’re going to go off… Good luck.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Hooves asked.
“I dunno,” Blue asked. “But that must’ve not been the reason he was as white a ghost, right?”
Joseph remained silent as he wasn’t sure himself either, then he looked at the pipbuck on his hoof which caught Hooves attention.
“Wait… Isn’t that a Pipbuck?” Hooves asked.
Joseph looked up at Hooves.
“This?” He asked as he motioned his hoof to the Pipbuck.
“Yeah.” Hooves replied. “Where did you get that?”
Joseph stuttered again as he wasn’t sure if Hooves would believe him if he told him that he found it on a Skeleton Pony.
“He found it in the lower levels,” Blue replied.
“Ahh. I see. Okay.” Hooves replied.
“Yet, I’m not sure who it use to belong to,” Joseph said with a hint of fear in his voice.
“Every Pipbuck owner registers their name to the Pipbuck. Try to check it.” Hooves replied.
Joseph checked to see if there was any name on the device, a few seconds later he found it, however, he was surprised to see his own name on the device which gave a chill down his spine.
“What does it say?” Blue asked.
“It’s...mine?” Joseph questioned. “But it can’t be mine, I was never given one when I first arrived.”
“Weird… Maybe that Pipbuck is special. I don’t know.” Hooves replied with a chuckle.
“Maybe, but...who would dare leave it down there?” Joseph asked.
“I dunno,” Blue replied. “But who cares.”
Joseph looked at Blue with a feared and worried look on his face.
“Well… That was a… wonderful story. I’ll look into it.” Hooves replied. “Now, go back to work. I’ll speak to the overmare about this.”
“A-alright,” Joseph said with a stutter as he got himself back on his hooves.
Blue sighs and turns to leave, “Right. Let’s go.” He replied.
Joseph follows Blue from behind, he still couldn’t shake the thought out of his mind.
“Since. I’ve got no night shifts. Can I come with you?” Blue asked.
Joseph nodded.
“Okay. Lead the way.” Blue replied with a smile.
Joseph trotted to his duties with Blue following close behind. “I’ll find out who’s responsible for the hauntings down there if it’s the last thing I do.” Joseph thought to himself with a scowl on his face.
Suddenly as Joseph and Blue reached the Engineering section of the vault they felt a large shake in the ground. It seemed to be a large earthquake.
“Get down!!” Joseph yelled as he slid to the side of the wall and was in a laying down position, covering his head with his hooves.
“Holy buck!!! An earthquake?! How?” Blue yelled in shock as he ducked under a desk.
Joseph repeated the words that he saw on the wall of the lower levels to himself, “They’re going to fall. They’re going to go off… Good luck.”
Suddenly Joseph and Blue began to hear alarms and Blue got up in shock. “That’s no good…” He said.
Joseph looked up at Blue with fear and terror on his face.
“They’re here,” Joseph said in a ghostly voice.
“Not funny. We need to find the overmare and fas--” Blue said before getting cut off by another large earthquake.
Suddenly the lights cut off as the earthquake began to decrease.
“Blasted lights!” Joseph shouted as he lit up his horn with his magic and tried to find the emergency lights.
Blue start to panic. “We. Need. To. Find. The. Overmare.” He said.
“How in heaven’s name are we gonna get there without power?!” Joseph shouted again in frustration.
“Well, I don’t know?! Use our horns?” He yelled.
Joseph sighed a moment, then calmed himself down a bit. “I guess our horns will have to do, for now.” He replied.
Blue nodded and lead Joseph to the hall. Suddenly the scary messages began to appear on the walls.
“Is this vault haunted?!” Blue yelled as he read the messages.
“Better not?!” Joseph replied with a shout, suddenly the messages began to vanish and the lights began to shine.
Blue ran down the hall with Joseph on his tail. (Not literally) They then reach the vault door where a few dwellers and the doctor. They seemed to be panicking.
“What was that loud noise?” Spitfire asked.
“It’s most likely the nukes going off.” One Stallion jokes.
“Don’t speak like that!!” Spitfire replied.
“Sorry, Spitty.” The Stallion replied. Spitfire growled.
“What’s going on?” Blue asked before he looked at the dented vault door. “Oh gosh…”
Joseph looked at the door with a stern looked. “It has begun.” He said to Blue.
“What has begun?” Blue asked with a stern look.
“The beginning of the end,” Joseph said in a ghostly voice.
Author's Note
The OC Joseph belongs to https://www.deviantart.com/alduthecat and other OCs used in the chapter were either made up OCs or my OCs.
