Fallout: Equestria - Equilibrium

Clouds.

Fluffy, pure-white, peaceful clouds. They hung almost lazily in the sea of a crystal-blue sky. My kind built many cities among the clouds, many cities like Cloudsdale, Cloudessa… Cloud-Nine. My race, the pegasus race, control these clouds above the land to provide water to supply earth pony farms; so, in turn, that they can feed the population of Equestria. We control the weather; make it rain, make it sunny, make it snow. It's my job as part of the pegasus weather team to notice any slight hints of change in the sky and the land below. That's just some of the many jobs pegasi do.

My marefriend, Nimbus Shock, just laughs at me because if the wind feels slightly odd I can sense any hidden danger, it's hard to explain... My cutie mark makes it more strange. Just a simple wave from the blue sea below a snow-white cloud, makes my mind swim towards a memory of my old school teacher saying that every cutie mark is special in its own way. Mine's kind of like a... feeling radar. That's why it's very strange but apparently very special.

"Hey… Scarlett, I'm bored." Nimbus whined. I rolled my eyes with a smirk at the little white pegasus laid on her back as she took in the warm celestial rays of the sun. She always says she's bored but mainly that's to just get my full attention.

Below in the small town of Ponyville, I heard the usual sounds of life, ranging from raving shopkeepers to the sounds of chirping birds, colts chased fillies through the paved streets, past colorful buildings, and well-maintained parks. Their laughter carrying a hope of friendship built to last, the Equestrian way. A hope that will never die.

~Pompf~

"Huh?" Nimbus tilted her dark shades down to get a look at the mare blocking her vision, I just sat there smiling down at my marefriend as our respective stares stirred up a nice warming sense of passion between us. Oh my Nimbus Shock, my beautiful little angel. She's the perfect mare. No other mare could dare compare with her, those cute looks were just so desirable. Sometimes, I can't help it; getting lost in her big electric blue eyes were just so easy, while running a hoof through her sweet matching caeruleum mane would bring out the cutest side to Nimbus.

Without hesitation, softly drawing her into a kiss getting close to her while ignoring the slight nervousness I could feel. Pulling away from Nimbus a minute later, we stare deeply into each other's eyes, our minds still longing. "I love you, Scarlett…" For a moment I sensed the ground shake sort of seeing everything move slightly, sounds of a distant rumbling but it didn't sound like thunder, from the trees below birds made worrying cries before flying away in flocks-

"Uhhh- Scarlett, what's that?" Nimbus asked worryingly, pointing out into the sky in the general direction towards Cloudsdale… Quickly looking I immediately shielded my eyes, cringing. A blindingly bright green light. Just wiped out the city, our hometown. Those damn Zebras had finally gone mad!

Suddenly roaring sounds of the sirens started as more flashes appeared further away. Wait… That one was in Manehattan! And that one was in Fillydelphia! Sweet Celestia! Below in Ponyville everypony started panicking, sounds of screaming, stomping hooves, and shouting filled the air, occasionally being drowned out by sounds of the distant explosions. "Scarlett? what is-"

"It's the war, Nimbus! Those Zebras had finally done it!" I exclaimed to her. Taking a jump to hover a few meters above the cloud. All around us the horizon was being replaced by blinding green flashes. Nimbus to my back couldn't believe her eyes neither could I. We looked around and saw the world burn. Seeing how the clouds above started to quickly change, they became thicker; more closed up, the world below turned to grey. I watched Canterlot our capital become surrounded by a pinkish magical shield, the Princesses creation.

The sound of silence followed…

The flashes then just stopped? I couldn't hear any more explosions, only the fast beating in my heart; the chaos below… it just didn't stop. Ponies started to turn on each other it's like harmony had finally fallen.

"We- we need to get to the Stable… Now!" Nimbus exclaimed I could see the shock and horror in her face- Wait? The Stable? The Stable here is just Stable Two… it's probably already shut.

"Stable Two is most likely shut Nimbus, where would we go? We're going to die out here!" My mind became clouded like the sky with fear as I felt myself being lost to madness. This is all just a bad dream!

Nimbus got a hold of my head and looked me in the eyes with a sad but warming smile. Her blue eyes, they could make me forget any problem I face, but I couldn't forget the fires that scorched the skies and lands of our paradise. I won't forget any of this.

"Please Scarlett stop! There’s another Stable just up the hill there, please. Just follow me, you'll see that I'm right." My little pegasus reassured me of that with a kiss before departing with a little sniffle. I trust her with my life, our lives depended on her being right. Then I followed Nimbus flying directly behind her, Ponyville slipping away below us, but the madness was catching up.

We flew to the edge of town within two minutes, suddenly laying our eyes on a metal circle-shaped object dug into the ground atop a hill, and a small crowd of ponies waited at a gate entrance heading up to the object. Is that the Stable?

"Oh! Thank you Luna…" Nimbus expressed with glee.

"But that's just a circle in the ground…" I expressed with a thought of sadness, this can't be the Stable.

"No, It's Stable One-Eleven. Most ponies don't know about this Stable, it’s been kept a secret." Nimbus responded, giving me a hug before we joined in the worried crowd.

A secret huh?

At the gate, a green earth pony dressed in olive green Military barding stood with a clipboard in his hoof. He had a pony either side of him, those two we're clad in some sort of armour… Ponies of steel? They looked quite authoritative. Those two must be here for crowd control. Just in case some ponies get any funny ideas.

"If it's a secret how come you and these ponies know it’s here?" Good question, I'm full of good questions. I'm turning into a mare who thinks she’s clever… that or today is driving me insane. I need a shrink.

"My brother told me about this Stable, he works for Stable-Tec. Well, did work for them…" Nimbus just whispered to me. Why so secretive?

The military pony at the front then signaled for her to move forward, but some yellow stallion dressed like a salesman blocked her approach.

"Hey! I am Stable-Tec, I'm going in, you can't stop me!" One of the big armoured ponies started to spin up what looked like a giant multi-barreled gun, aiming at the Salesman. He looked; backing up a little with fear. "Woah! Okay okay!" He turned around then ran off shouting, "I'm reporting this!"

Who can he tell? The world is on fire.

"We need to get in! We're on the list," Nimbus told the Guard pony, he just looked down to his clipboard quickly checking it over.

"Ayeup… You’re on the list uh... Nimbus Strike, but she isn't. Sorry." He said looking at me regretfully. Of course, I'm not on their damned list, aren't these Stables meant to save everypony? Just toss the list and let us in, before we all die!

"Then she can take my place."

What!?

"No! Nimbus I won't leave you!" I expressed protest to her, I can't leave her out here to die!

Nimbus turned around, looking me in the eyes once again, holding my head in her hooves as she spoke. "Please, Scarlett! You have too! Please! You need to be brave for me. A whole new life is waiting for you, you don't need your little Nimbus anymore."

Oh! Celestia! Is she really saying that! At that moment I began to break down into her hooves, I can't live without my Nimbus Shock! She's my everything! My sunrise, my sunset, my mare!

"Please! Take this and go! Please!..." Nimbus started to sob giving me her necklace and tying it around my neck, something to remember her by. My angel slipped me one last kiss whispering "I love you!"

I couldn't talk, I could only cry into her hooves. Her eyes locked with mine. I gave Nimbus my farewell, a kiss to her, my last wish, burning desire to meet again someday, sometime. "I-" I was then interrupted…

"I’m sorry but we don't have much time, you gotta move!" The earth pony guard pulled us apart, pulling me away from my Nimbus!

No!

"Nimbus! Please!" I shouted out in protest. No! No! No! It became hard to see her little face with all the tears in my eyes. She cried, but remained still, not pursuing me. The stallion's grip was so tight I couldn't break out from it. It just wasn't right!

"Ugh! No! Nimbus!!" I disappeared around a corner… Now she was gone from my sight. My tears just fell harder. This can't be the end of us! I will find her, no matter what. "W- what's gonna happen to all those ponies outside the gate!?"

"We're trying to do everything we can," The guard said truthfully. He stood me up on my hooves pointing a hoof towards the circle that now had a small group of ponies atop it. "Please stand on the platform in the center!"

I did as he ordered. Who was I to refuse? If I did, I could still hold her in my hooves… Just for a moment or two. It would be worth it. As I stood on the platform the sounds of sirens came ringing back, this time louder than before. It made me cringe. I just wanted this all to stop.

"Scarlett!!!" Nimbus? I turned to the direction of her voice far behind me. Did she push past the guards? How?

But it was too late… Immediately I cringed as I was cut off by an ear-shattering sound of the earth being pierced by a blindingly bright, staggering white light. By Celestia's grace…

"Down, send it down now!!" Somepony shouted. Shielding my eyes from the bright light, it burned into my after-vision. I almost couldn't see! Barely able hear what sounded like rolling thunder over the ringing in my ears. Just then the platform started moving downwards at a steady pace. Oh Celestia! Hurry up! Squinting my eyes open I discovered the sight of a giant mushroom shaped-cloud, a great big dust-colored wave of destruction rushing towards me, towards civilization. My eyes opened wide in fear, it hurt.

I stared at the oncoming storm of death, I just couldn’t take my eyes off it. Looking back towards my Nimbus as she ran towards me. Please! Make it! Her body and outline were shining a sickly green colour; lit by the explosion, as with everything else. "Scar!!-"

"No!!!" I screamed out…

Damn it! The last thing I saw was her limp body disappearing, behind the crest of a hill into the ravine below.

They shot her! Why!?

The steel hatch above our heads shut right as the wave of destruction rolled over the surface, sweeping all traces of the world I knew away with it. I just fell to my hooves, filled with anger and more sadness. I cried… Now she's gone… Forever. But at least we were safe now. This platform was going down fast, a few hundred hooves underground, the elevator walls were made of thick metal carrying a chill in the stagnant air as it moved downwards, not a bad chill, but… A warming chill… Like everything was going to be alright now.

The platform then came to a halt. I lifted my head up and wiped the tears from my eyes to see… A Stable entrance! Underground? Oh, If only my Nimbus was here to see it! Everywhere, the walls were steel. A new kind, recently installed, this Stable must be brand new. I was just surprised at how all this was made, secretly…

"No need to worry folks, we'll get everypony situated into your new home. Stable One-Eleven... A better future, underground." A tall blue earth pony mare said, welcoming us with a friendly smile. Her barding really stood out, a darkish blue - almost silk-like material with two narrow streaks of reflecting gold down the chest area. Guessing that must be like... a stable barding? A yellow mare stood next to her wearing some light grey security armour with a light blue helmet.

"I can't believe it... If we all left a minute later... We would all be dead..." A brown elderly unicorn beside me said.

"No, no. Don't get caught up thinking about that! You're safe here! Everypony just head up these stairs and through the door there." Though I did admire the blue one's reassurance, it's going to take a long while to forget any of this. Being safe was the last thing on my mind... I just wanted her back, she's the only way I feel safe. I mean, I do feel safe. It's just Nimbus would always look out for me, even if all we did was kick clouds to keep the skies clear. I just want her back... I need her soft voice to tell me that everything is going to be fine.

The others then began to slowly trot towards then up the small metal staircase. I don't blame them for being cautious, I felt it too, that coldness in the air... It just made me feel slightly nervous about this whole thing, the coldness was like a liquid that just made everything freeze, everything bad or good. Cold to the touch.
Well, I can't just sit here on the floor, a better future awaits. One without her. I slowly got to my hooves following the rest up…

I know I should stop thinking about her, but I just can't.

Holy shit- pardon my Prench. My eyes set upon the interior of this stable. It's definitely spacious, I can tell Stable-Tec like to showcase. Once inside however the walls just seemed dull and lifeless, they were painted a pale beige with a streak of yellow along the top. There were about nine ponies already here at this… Reception? It was starting to feel more claustrophobic in here by the minute, I expected like... vibrant colors, maybe a party. Then cake. Because what party doesn't have cake?

- STABLE-TEC IS HERE FOR YOU. ALL NEW RESIDENTS, PLEASE PROCEED IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. WELCOME HOME! -

Ok. That sounded kinda creepy.

'Welcome to Stable 111 - Welcome home!' I said in my head, that's what a big sign said above some yellow pony wearing a white lab coat. He stood near a set of panels that seemed to be the controls for the giant vault door behind me. As I followed some unicorn mare across a small catwalk to the front table, we came upon a younger earth pony mare that was passing out stable barding. Though something just didn't feel right in the air. The way the science looking ponies, and security ponies smiled just seems awkward too. It was almost too quiet down here. Besides our hoofsteps against the steel catwalk, one science stallion, muttering our genders saying we're "clean" as we went past this weird machine that was emanating a strange humming sound. Must be a detector of some kind, for radiation perhaps.

Oh, I know that I'm female. Thank you.

"Please, take this, your new stable barding. If you'd like to follow the doctor here, he'll show you where to go." The pink mare said to me with a big smile. It was still making this place strange no matter how friendly her smile seemed, her lime green eyes hinted at something slightly regretful.

"Um, thanks." I smiled back to her and took the barding she presented tucking it under my left wing. The doctor had a faint smile on his face though, he signed for me to follow behind so I did.

I followed him past a door that seems to extend up into the ceiling, my eyes scanned around the short, cylindrical-shaped corridor we're passing through, the floor had this kinda soft yellowish under-glow to it that invited some kind of comforting feeling to it. Another door to my left had a guard stallion watching over it. Something important huh? I did go over to a set of windows to my right, all I saw on the other side is quite a few of these open pod-looking things. Some other ponies, already wearing their stable barding, must have arrived down here earlier. They looked eager to step into one of them.

"Oh, you’re gonna love it here. This is one of our most advanced facilities, not that the others aren't great mind you." The doctor said looking back at me. He smiled so I guess he seemed proud of it. I bet he was paid to say that.

"How long do you think we'll be down here?" I asked him, slightly raising an eyebrow with concern at how long it took him to find an answer. But he did eventually reply, clearing his throat first.

"...We'll be going over all that in orientation, just a few medical items we need to get through first."

Okie, dokie, lokie…

As we continued walking down the corridor, we arrived at another one of those steel doors that opened automatically for us. On the other side, I saw a few more 'pods' lined up straight left to right as well as a couple more ponies, again with that eager look. This room wasn't small or big really, just those contraptions took up more space than the ponies in here did. "The stable suit is designed to be fashionable as well as comfortable."

"Prepared for the Future, right?" One stallion replied to a staff member both of whom wore the same iconic blue yellow outfit as the 'Overmare' before.

"Just step in here and put on your stable barding." The doctor said to me when we reached the end of the room. He presented to me with his hoof, a pod.

My eyes widened with slight concern as I looked the pod over, around the back some pipes went into this pod, pools of liquid were dripping from the pipes forming there on the ground. This pod felt strangely cold, not too cold though. Enough to give a strange feeling to it. Despite that, I did put on my new stable barding. It felt flexible, though kinda tight in certain places. I wondered if the doctor was serious about this. Did I really have to go into the freezing cold pod? Ugh fine, what do I have to lose? Forgetting my concerns I stepped into the cold, confined pod - sitting down on a little chair found within.

"The pod will decontaminate and de-pressurize you before we head deeper into the stable, just relax." The doctor said with his strange smile before moving on, out of my vision. The pod door then came down, soon I seemed to become encased in my newfound prison. A new home my thoughts assured me I'd never leave…

"Time for a whole new life..."

- RESIDENT SECURED -

My breathing became heavy all of a sudden as a wave of coldness chilled my body, my barding had no warming effect on the piercing cold. Damn, It was starting to get hard to think straight. I felt my consciousness slip away with each frozen laborious breath and soon everything started going dark…

- OCCUPANT VITALS: NORMAL -

- PROCEDURE COMPLETE -

- IN 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... -

- CRYOGENIC STASIS: SUSPENDED -
"Open it."

U- uhh... What? Strange ponies, cold, tired... So- so fucking cold. Hard to concentrate. Damn- how long was I out for? I couldn't really see those strange ponies. One was completely covered in some sorta white scientific-looking suit, a mare, going by the voice. The other looked different, so different, a tall crimson unicorn stallion wearing some plain blackish outfit and had improvised metal plate armour over his right fore-leg.

Wait- is he holding a gun?

I could barely see because of the ice on the pod window, but I did notice in the adjacent pod a mare held her baby. Less than a year old I would guess.

"...Is it over? A- are we safe?" The mare said with some coughs, slight worry apparent in her voice. The child started to cry out loudly.

"Almost. Everything's going to be fine..."

The hazmat mare, a pegasus, cooed to the baby. Reaching out to take it from the mother? Before I noticed, they were both pulling back and forth.

All I could do was watch... My eyes widened with pain.

"No, no, I've got him!" She struggled.

"Let the boy go. I'm only going to tell you once!" The stallion threatened, raising his gun to point at her with his magic. Surely he wasn't going to use that?

"Ugh! Ugh! I'm not giving you-"

BANG!!

"NO!" I screamed, only to be muffled by the pod, hitting a hoof off the window.

"Damn it, get the kid outta here." He said displeased, turning around to face my pod. Am I next? No witnesses!? Now I saw his face... It harbors no emotion, no regret that I could see. The stallion peered at me with his blue eyes for a moment, I bet he could see my growing anger. "At least we still have the backup..."

- CRYOGENIC STASIS: RE-INITIATED -

Uhh- Luna! I can't breathe! The air was escaping my lungs, banging a hoof on the cyro-door to get somepony’s attention. Can anypony hear this?
Just as I thought things were going really bad, the pod door opened outward then upward with a hiss. I fell out onto the ice-cold floor with a thud, gasping in more breath than I thought needed. It was dark a moment ago, now it's lighter. This time nopony is around.

- CRITICAL FAILURE IN CRYOGENIC ARRAY. ALL STABLE RESIDENTS MUST VACATE IMMEDIATELY! -

I picked myself up slowly to my hooves, almost stumbling a little. My heavy breathing a vain attempt to shake off the coldness. The mare that had her child forcefully taken from her at gunpoint, then was shot, know that I will find them... I will kill that damn Unicorn and find the child - making sure he's safe.

Ready to begin a new life with a goal set before me, I trotted forward, righteous fire burning in my eyes...