Fallout Equestria: Cloudfall

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5

Chapter 1

Chapter one

Empty Grave let out a groan as he moved his dirt brown hoof and opened his green eyes to see the same ceiling. It’d been years since he got his soul patch and he’d been the Soulweaver assistant for the rest of it. There were times when his father would take him to the island to learn to survive if he ever left the Holy Ground for something he couldn’t find on it. Grave turned his head and saw the pile of paper scattered across his desk and his robe hanging on a chair.

His robe was gifted to him by the Soulweaver. It was a muddled brown from all the various patches that had been stitched into it. A conservative take as there were few coloured robes to use for replacement parts.

“Great, the whole night and found nothing helpful,” Grave muttered. He rolled out of bed. He looked at the parchment papers scattered across the desk before grabbing his robes and putting them on. Moving the curtain away from the door, Grave saw most followers carrying on with their day. Grave took one of the sheets of paper on his desk before leaving the room. He walked toward the cafeteria while reading the paper.

‘The Blackthorn is a known parasite that takes the appearance of a bramble when you first notice it. It has tentacles for arms with small hooks to latch on its prey for relocation or implanting a newborn within the prey’s body.’

“Heya Grave, still trying to figure out how to deal with that thing.” Grave snapped from his reading and looked at Flaming Coal. “So what do you want or are you going to stand there and continue reading that piece of paper?” Coal moved his hoof across the selection of foods.

“Right, just get me a slice of mango cake, Coal,” Grave pointed toward it. Coal nodded at him and plated a slice of mango cake.

“I should inform you that the zonie that you and Lethal work with got food for your mother,” said Coal.

“Thanks for the heads up Coal.” The zonie had been helpful to Grave and Leath since he managed to get his glyph. Grave grabbed the plate and headed to an unoccupied table to eat alone. Grave put the food down before going back to reading the paper while eating the mango cake.

‘The Blackthorn will stay on the host body, stealing nutrients for a few weeks before separating itself from the host to find others of its kind to continue the cycle. If it doesn't find a suitable area to continue the cycle. They would burrow into the host body, consuming them from the inside to the point of killing the host.’

No matter how many times Grave read the paper, he always found himself frustrated at what little information it had on it. Grave put it down and let out a heavy sigh, his hoof rubbing his temple to stop his impending frustration migraine. Over the year he felt like there had been hardly any progress to the situation.

“Man the Soulweaver Assistant looks stressed out.”

“Who wouldn’t be, Bone Marrow had not left the medical ward for a long time.”

“Ya, to think the Soulweaver is having trouble helping her.”

“‘From the pre-war times’ my plot.”

Grave let out an angry groan after he overheard the Followers’ conversation behind him, then he felt somepony hug him then sit beside him.

“Hey Grave, woke up from the wrong side of the bed again?” Grave’s eye saw the ocean blue hoof of Siren Song and looked up to see her fading smile when she pulled the paper to her own magenta eyes. “She’s not getting any better is she?”

“It’s just getting worse. Now Lethal doesn't want me to spend most of my time taking care of my mother, fearing that the Blackthorn would latch onto me and implant it’s infertile eggs in me.” Grave grabbed the paper and crumpled it before tossing it. “Worst is that Dad believes he could find the ‘magical cure’ on the island and he still hasn’t come back.”

Siren rubbed Grave’s back, “I’m sure he will come back.”

“...And what if he doesn’t come back?”

“~Well, there is someone that’s been there for you,~” Siren’s jolly tone and smile put Grave a bit on edge.

Grave looked at her knowing what she was going to do. “Siren, no.”

But she kept going. “~From the day that you were born, she was always by your side, no matter where you went.~”

“Siren, stop.”

“~All you have to do is ask and she is ready to help you out.~” Siren then got on the table and began to sing louder “~Just ask the Goddess!~”

The ponies in the cafeteria started to join, “~Just ask the Goddess!~”

“~Just ask the Goddess and she will help you out! No matter how down you are, she is always there for you. Just simply ask for her help!~” Siren pointed to Grave who just looked at her as the ponies started to cheer.

Grave took a deep breath giving her a sad smile. “Ok first, thanks for stepping on my food.” Siren looked to her hoof in shock and used her magic to remove the mush food stuck on it. “I know you are trying to cheer me up, but right now things are not great and I don’t think Necramaceus can help me out.” Grave got up from the bench, “Thank you for trying, Siren.”

He left the cafeteria hearing Sien call from behind him. “At least give it a try.”

_________________________________________________________________________

Grave entered the restricted medical ward. There was a chemistry table that was being used by Dirty Brew whose black and white body and mane Grave knew.

“Morning Dirty Brew.” Grave passed a medical cupboard and grabbed a beaker filled with a dark blue liquid labelled: Painkiller.

“Ah Grave, I took the liberty to bring food to your mother,” said Dirty Brew.

“I have been told by the chef, did you also give her the mixture of health and painkillers?”

“Not yet, she was asking if you or your father was around.”

“I see.” Grave grabbed another beaker of red liquid labelled: Health potion. He brought both to the table and carefully poured half of the painkiller into an empty vial. Neither of them said a word as Dirty put a newly created potion into the cupboard.

“How is she doing?” Grave watched the zonie going back to the table.

“Worse than yesterday, we only have one blood bag that is not contaminated or stolen.”

“She’s never going to get better, is she?” Grave asked no one in particular as he poured half of the health potion into the vial and mixed the two. He trotted into a mostly empty hospital ward, save for the one bed his mother was lying on. She was unconscious, hideous black veins came out of her white body making her look like a stitched up corpse. Her red mane mostly gone and her front hooves had medical socks on them.

Grave put the veil onto a table near a saucer and water cup. He opened a small box, the last blood bag inside of it. Grabbing it, he remembered the time his mom would bake a batch of cookies whenever he felt down or how kind she was to everyone on the Holy Land. Grave replaced the bag and let out a sigh, knowing those days were over.

Bone Marrow began to stir and slowly opened her crimson eyes, the white long since turned from a storm of life to a cloudy mixture. “Who’s there, is it you Grave?”

“Yes, it’s me, Mom,” he finished putting up the new bag and grabbed the vial, bringing it close to her mouth. She felt it touching her lips causing her to open her mouth as Grave helped her drink down the medicine.

She swallowed it and let out a disgusted grunt. “Even if my taste buds are going away, I still don’t like that potion’s taste.”

“Well, you could tell Dirty Brew to mix some mango into it.”

“You know how zonies and zebras are with their potions. Change one small thing and they go on a rant about how you ruined it and turned it into a poison.”

Grave put away the vail and grabbed a stool to sit close to the bed. “At least he is not rhyming with every sentence. Otherwise, it would be getting cursed in riddles. ”

“But that is the best thing about zebras, even if you get them to try and rhyme silver or angel with another word. That look on Zella’s face was priceless when she tried to rhyme orange with a made-up word.” Grave’s mother started to laugh before continuing. “S-She looked like a f-f-foal who got caught s-stealing from the kitchen.”

She coughed into her hoof and grabbed the cup of water with her hoof. Grave grabbed her hoof and felt the tendrils attempting to grab onto him but were stopped by the sock. Grave began to feel a magical presence inside his mother that he ended up calling an ‘hourglass’; It’s covered in the same black tendril as his mother and it’s slowly fading away.

“Grave, has Hidden Treasure came back?” Grave startled backward till his hoof hit the table. He looked back at his mother like she had spoken of a ghost.

“No.”

She let out a sad groan before turning her head away. “He’s always chasing myths and legends. Even if they aren’t true, he will never stop trying. I wish that ghoul didn’t tell him that story.”

“Well good morning to you too, Bone Marrow,” said a gravelly voice. Grave gazed toward the Soulweaver that came into the room: A ghoulish toxic green unicorn wearing the same robe as Grave covered in soul patches.

“Good morning to you, rot face,” said Marrow.

Grave got up from his seat and faced ‘Rot Face’. “What do you need me to do Lethal?”

“I need you to deal with everyone coming in for a check-up while I deal with your mother.” Lethal retorted with a glare.

“Why can’t he do it?” Marrow snarled back.

“He can’t do it because of the Blackthorn on your body!” Lethal exhumed an air of authority that could not be challenged.

Grave began to head to the check-up room while the two ponies argued with each other.

_________________________________________________________________________

“Next time make sure to look where you’re going.” Grave held the door open for an earth pony with a splint on his forehooves.

“Will do ‘eaver,” said the earth pony as he hobbled to wherever he was going.

Grave looked around the waiting area and saw that he was the last patient he had to deal with for the day. As he headed out of the room, he heard some heavy hooves slowly coming toward him. When Grave turned to see who it was, he was stunned: A stain-brown stallion who was heavily injured, with a pipbuck covered in dirt and had a stuffed saddle pack on his back.

“Dad!” Shouted Grave as he ran toward him. Hidden stopped as Grave rushed up and began to look over his body.

“Where is Lethal Injection?” asked Hidden.

“Last I saw him he was dealing with Mom.”

“Alright, I’ll go see him then,”

Before he moved toward the room, Grave grabbed his hoof and started dragging him toward the restricted medical ward. “No, right now we need to deal with your wounds.”

“I’m fine, it’s only a scratch.” Hidden tried to pull himself out of Grave grasp.

“Most of the ‘scratches’ are deep and few are infected while you’re walking with a broken leg. You need medical attention right now.” Grave pushed open the door and looked at Dirty Brew. “Dirty Brew get me some cloth, a healing potion, a bottle of vodka and a brace.”

“Don’t listen to him, go get Lethal for me,” shouted Hidden.

Dirty looked at both ponies before responding, “What am I to you guys: a servant?”

“Yes!” both shouted in unison. Dirty just shook his head and moved toward the cabinets while mumbling about racist ponies. Grave dragged his dad to a chair and pushed him onto it as Dirty brought over the medical supplies that Grave requested.

“I’m gonna get Lethal.” Dirty left the room as Grave moved to take Hidden’s leather armour off.

“Dammit Grave, I told you already I’m fine.” Hidden tried to push back Grave.

“If you were fine then this would not hurt.” Grave pressed hard on Hidden’s leg. Shouting came out as Hidden lost the false bravado.

“Th-that's just a bruise, let me give Lethal these blood bags so I can find that magical medicine.”

“She’ll die before you can find it!” Grave shouted, Hidden looked on in shock as Grave slid back to recollect himself. Grave twisted to the table, took the cloth, and doused it in vodka before turning to Hidden and started cleaning his wounds.

“How long?” Grave stopped for a bit before going back to what he was doing.

“From what I see from the hourglass I… she has one day left.” There was a long silence before Hidden started taking off his armour, allowing Grave to disinfect the wounds under it. When he was done he got pulled into a hug from Hidden, this surprised him but he then returned the hug tighter.

“You seem like you need this right now.”

Grave nodded, trying to not break down, “It’s really hard to keep it together when I have to see her every day like that.”

“If what you say is true. Then I should be there for her.” Hidden let go of Grave allowing him to grab the health potion and the brace for the broken leg. Grave gave him the potion, only to hear Hidden grown in disgust. “Why do all his potions taste horrible?”

“That’s a Dirty Brew potion for you; It tastes awful but it works.” Grave got the brace on Hidden broken leg, he saw the potion doing its work as the wounds closed up; some leaving scars.

As Grave tightened the brace, he heard the door open. “Alright Hidden what do you have for me?” Grave saw Lethal walking toward them as Brew went toward the potion station.

“I do but hold up; Hey Dirty Brew make your damn potions taste better!” Shouted Hidden. Brew stopped dead on his track and gave Hidden a murderous stare. Before he started his rant, magic wrapped around his muzzle keeping it shut.

“Of course, now did you actually have something for me?” Lethal looked un-amused to Hidden as he regained his composer from his laughter.

“He… ya, I found some more blood for you to check, but from what Grave has told me it’s better if I go see her.” Hidden carefully got up with Grave help and walked toward the room.

When they entered the room, Hidden stopped when he saw the condition that Merrow was in. “Come on Dad, she is going to be happy that you’re back,” Grave pulled Hidden a bit causing him to look back at him before nodding. They got closer to her, Grave heard his father whispering to himself of doubt and regret. Hidden pulled away from Grave and limped beside the bed to sit down.

Hidden put his hoof on her hoof and carefully rubbed it, Merrow turned to look at him. “Is that you Hidden?” Grave sat on the other side of the bed as he watched his parents have a moment together.

“Ya it’s me, my love,” said Hidden.

Merrow placed her other hoof onto Hidden as she looked at him. “I knew you would come back.” She wanted to get up, but Hidden kissed her on the forehead. As he did, the BlackThorn latched onto his face; only when he moved away they let go and wrap back around Merrow’s head.

“I’ll always come back for you, Merrow.”

Grave felt something was wrong, he reached to touch his mother's side, he was shocked to what he saw; her ‘hourglass’ was gone. He started to panic and looked around the room hoping to find the answer only for a hoof touched to the side of his face seemed to calm him down.

“Calm down my little tombstone, everything will be alright.” Grave looks down to see Merrow with a sad smile on her face. He felt something wet rolling down his cheek.

“There is something I kept a secret to both of you.” Merrow slowly turned her head to a surprised Hidden. “I had a child, a daughter at that and she was my joy; only for a pony to take her away from me. All I want is to see her again one... last... time.” Sounds of rain filled the room as a pony sobbed quietly.

_________________________________________________________________________

The priest perched on the pedestal as the wrapped bodies were placed on a stack of logs getting set ablaze. Ponies came to offer comfort to those who lost someone close to them, but few wanted to argue to Grave for being disrespectful to his own mother and the goddess; He did not acknowledge any of them for his attention had been focused on his robes. His mother’s soul patch had been sown on one of the patches.

“I see that you’re still here staring at her cutie mark.” Grave looked to his side and saw his father sitting beside him staring at the smouldering ashes of the pyre fire. “Are you still beating yourself up for letting her die?”

“No, there was nothing anyone could do.” Grave heard Hidden let out a grunt as he put his hoof on her soul patch: A cauldron with a bone inside of it. “I’m just thinking about the child that she told us about; Who is she and why did she lose her?”

Grave felt his dad put his hoof around him before speaking. “You should not be worried about that. It could have been years ago and who knows if she is really alive?” Grave turned to Hidden with disapproval before he continued. “Look, she was really proud of you Grave. Even if you’re not her son, or that you became a doctor.”

“Or that you took me out of the Holy Ground to learn survival skills on the mainland.” Hidden let out a nervous laugh before Grave joined him. “She was happy to be with both of us.”

Hidden let out a sigh of the agreement as he stared at the ashes before the sound of the ocean filled the air, soon Hidden spoke up. “Well, I better start heading out then.” Grave looked to his dad as he made his leave.

“You’re still trying to find it, aren't you?” Asked Grave as he put his robe back on.

“How can I not; a medicine that can cure every virus and disease known to pony-kind lost somewhere on the mainland.”

“I know, Lethal told me about the Butterfly Kisses.” Grave trotted to catch up to his father. “He even told me what happened after they used it once.”

Hidden turned to Grave with determination “I don’t care what happened when they used it, I’m going to find it and bring it back here.” Grave tried to think of a rebuttal, only for a hoof to be put in his face. “I know you don’t agree with this, but someone gotta do it. So give me like... 6 months to find it and I’ll be back with the Butterfly Kisses.”

Grave glared at Hidden as he removed his hoof before letting out a sigh “Alright, but if you’re not back in those six months I’m going to go and find you.”

Hidden let out a chuckle before continuing leaving Grave behind. Grave stood there till he turned toward a statue of a four-winged alicorn, He sat in front of it and began to pray. “Oh Necramaceus goddess of death, please protect my father on his adventure for you know how much he pushes himself to the brink of death. If the worst comes... guide his soul into paradise with my mother. Omnes veniunt ad mortem.”

Grave got up and headed off back into the building to grab something to eat.

Chapter 2

Chapter two

Grave entered the restricted medical room with a saddlebag on his back belonging to the medical cabinets. Dirty glances at Grave as he crushes corals in a mortar and pestle. “So where are you off to this time?”

Grave grabs three vials of health potion from a cabinet and puts it into his saddle. “I’m off to find a pony that claims to be my dad.” Dirty let out a chuckle as Grave grabbed a vial labelled ‘painkiller,’ “I know he can handle himself, but the last time he came back he was heavily injured.”

“You don’t usually worry about your father, are you leaving to find something else?” Dirty turned to Grave, waiting for his answer.

Before Grave could defend himself, a familiar voice was heard as the door opened. “Grave~, I need your help with a song I…” Siren Song enters the room holding a few sheets of papers in her magic, as she looks at Grave as she notices the saddlebag on his back.

“I hope you have a good reason why you’re leaving?” Siren questions Grave.

“I’m planning on finding the daughter that my mother talked about before she died.” Grave turned to Siren, giving her a smile.

“Oh, well that is-”

“The most stupid thing to do.” Siren glares at Dirty as he gives her an unapologetic look. “He has no idea what she looks like and there is a possibility she is dead.”

“Just find a unicorn with bone white fur, and she can’t be dead if someone took her away from Bone Marrow.” Siren walks up to Grave and gives him a hug. “I’m sure she still wonders who her mother is and Grave is going to tell her all about it.”

“Well, she can’t look exactly like her or be a unicorn because of the whole family lineage and things that could have happened in the past, but I do intend to tell her about her mother,” Grave said as he broke out of Siren’s hug. “Also can’t you get somepony else to help you with the song.”

Siren looked at Grave unamused, “You know how most ponies tend to be when I want their opinion on these songs; ‘Oh Siren that was amazing, are you an angel sent by the goddess.’” Siren scoffed before continuing. “You’re the only one who will give me an honest opinion.”

“What about Dirty Brew?”

Siren looks at Dirty, who glances at her then crosses his forehooves with one sticking upward. “Come on Grave, we’re going to someplace private.”

Grave just nods as he closes his saddlebag and heads out the door with Siren.

___________________________________________________________________

Grave left the building humming a tune to himself with his saddlebag on his back. He heads to the docks where a few ponies wearing armour under their robes wait on the boat as a sailor unicorn is checking the engine.

An orange earth mare looks to his side and notices Grave walking toward the boat. “Well hello Grave, off to find more medical supplies or ingredients that Zonie needs?”

Grave walks onto the boat and drops the saddlebag on the floor. “No, I’m off to find a pony on the island.”

The yellow unicorn stallion nudges Grave side. “Well I hope you brought some flint and tinder if you do find the body.”

Grave glares at the pony as the sailor walks onto the boat. “The engine is working, just don’t hang on the edge of the boat; don’t need one of you idiots getting dragged by one of the Drowners.”

“Sure thing Starport.” a blue pegasus mare said in a mocking tone as she lies on the side of the boat with a spear beside her.

Starport looks at the mare before shaking his head and enters the helm of the ship. The engine roars and the rope tied to the dock is removed and placed onto the boat. Grave sits down with his back to the helm as he listens to the other ponies talk to one another. Grave closes his eyes and takes a deep breath as he begins to see everypony soul. He was hoping to get some rest but he notices a few souls rushing to the boat. Standing up he stares where the souls came from feeling his heart pounding. He waited till he saw a wing appear out of the water before going back into the ocean.

“Drowners!” The ponies get up and ready their weapon looking toward where Grave was staring at.

“You guys are overreacting,” everyone looks at the pegasus who is still laying on the side of the boat. “Like any Drowners are going to attack,”

A Drowner jumped out of the water and slammed its claw into the mare's chest. As she let out a blood-curdling scream, the Drowner bites down on her throat and dragged her over the boat causing it to rock.

“Goddess be damned, there go Freeway!” Stallion shouted before turning to another Drowner trying to grab him. Aiming his gun he fires a few rounds at the Drowner only one of the bullets grazes the side of it, Causing it to retreat back under the water as the pony reloads.

“Grave grab the spear,” says the mare as she stabs a Drowner trying to get on the boat. Grave rushed to the spear as one of the creatures jumped onto the boat followed by a shout behind him. When he turns around with a spear in hoof he notices a Drowner on top of the stallion as his hooves are holding the creature back.

As he readies the spear, Grave stabs the Drowner shoulder causing it growl in pain and gets ready to pounce at him. Grave attempts to stab the Drowner again, but it throws itself onto Grave, causing the spear to cut the side of it. The Drowner readies to jam its claw into Grave only for a shot to be heard, it drop-dead onto Grave.

Grave pushes the corpse off of him and sees both ponies on edge keeping an eye on the ocean. Picking himself up, Grave looked out to the stern to see if any Drowners were still coming toward them.

There was dead silence as they waited for another attack as the fog began to cover the whole boat. What felt like hours waiting for something to strike the boat till a voice was heard from inside of the boat.

“We’re at the dock, you lot can calm down now.” Everypony let out a sigh, Grave looked to the starport and saw the wooden pair in the thick fog. He notices the stallion has his hoof on the wound. Grave walks to the stallion as he grabs his medical bag. As Grave opens it, a green aurora surrounds the bandages and weaker health potion. “I got this doc, I know some medical stuff.”

Grave nodded to the stallion and tossed his saddle bag onto his back. Before he gets off the boat, somepony calls for him. As he turns, a spear is tossed at him. “Take that spear with you, you can’t be sure if you get attacked by those Headcases out of nowhere.”

Grave grabs the spear and heads into the forest of the island.
___________________________________________________________________

Being in the forest always makes Grave uneasy as the fog can become thicker to see the dangers making it harder to react to in time. Keeping an ear out for anything coming toward him, he came across a rundown camp site as the day was coming to an end. Putting his saddle bag down, Grave collects the scattered twigs and branches around the area and places them in a shallow pit. Grabbing a tinderbox out of his saddle bag, Grave struggles to ignite a flame on the twigs. After a few attempts, the fire catches on and begins to burn brightly. Grave grabbed a tin ration out of the saddle bag and ate it by the fire. Finishing his food, Grave pulls out a spade and digs a small hole where he buries a medical box and another tin ration in case he gets surprised by a group of scavengers robbing him of his belongings.

Carefully hiding the now burdened stuff, Grave begins to pray to his goddess

“Oh Necramaceus, goddess of death, please protect me in my sleep and keep the evils from forcing me to visit you sooner than you attended. Protect those who don’t believe in you for they will be visiting you when their time on this earth is up, Omnes veniunt ad mortem.”

Grave put out the fire and began to sleep in an old tent that still stands after years of use from other creatures.

_________________________________________________________________________

Grave sees a pegasus mare of blue fur and black mane standing in front of him with a worried look.

“Where am I?” asked the mare. Grave tried to reply only for something to start to wrap around him and start dragging him away from the mare. Grave looked back and saw a pony wrapped in Blackthorn as some of its tendrils latched on to him. Grave tries to break out of it only for more tendrils to latch on to him, halting his movement.

Grave awoke feeling cold sweat across his body. As Grave gets up he hears rustling and voices outside of the tent.

“damn this pony was over prepared for everything.” Said one of the voices, “You got food, water, a spear.”

“I find it strange that there are no healing supplies.” Said another voice. Grave peeked out of the tent and saw two ponies rustinging through his saddle bag. Seeing their armour he knows they are Headcases

“Must have forgotten them or they fell off of him, ain't that right Toffee.”

As he was distracted staring at the ponies scavenging his saddlebag. Something grabbed him and pulled him out of the tent then tossed him into a tree.

“Well we should thank this cultus for leaving us such a gift for us,” Said another pony. As Grave looks up he sees a rugged dark brown earth pony holding him pinned to the tree. Both ponies thanked Grave in a mocking tone before going back ransacking his stuff.

“I suggest you don’t fight back, unless you want to end up like your partner.” The pony points toward a dagger stabbed in the ground by the firepit.

Grave looked at the pony confused. “Why would you kill him?”

“If I didn’t then he would call out for help and more ponies would show up,” the pony lifts his hoof off of Grave and walks toward the other two ponies “Me and the boys are just going to take your stuff and let you live knowing your friend died for nothing.”

Grave watches as the three Headcases take his saddle bag and leave the spear behind. Grave walks to where he buried the medical supplies and ration to eat. Grave put on the medical saddlepack and began to walk away from the campsite.
_________________________________________________________________________

Grave trots on top off a small hill to see a ruined port town with a wall covering half of the town. Heading toward the walled town, Grave notices a pony on the town wall. Grave tried to call out the pony only to not get a reply back, he picked up a rock and threw it at the pony. The rock hit the pony causing him to curse before looking toward Grave with a light on him.

“Who are you and what do you want?!” shouted the guard pony.

“I'm Empty Grave and I wish to enter your small town to resupply."

The guard looks around Grave to see if there’s anyone else but him. “All right but don’t try anything too stuped or you’ll get kicked out.”

Grave began to walk toward the opening gate as he saw the ponies going about their day. He sees ponies eyeing him and whispering to each other as he walks on by looking for a medical building. He spotted a sign with a painted cross on a building. While walking toward the building, Grave hears harsh whispers coming from the ponies around him.

“Why did the guards let him in?”
“How long till we start noticing ponies going missing?”
“It may just be one of them, but how long till more start showing up?”
“Is he even part of that group, his robes look more different then theirs.”

Upon entering the building Grave hears a bell jingle as cursing can be heard from deeper in the building.

“This better not be someone with a scraped knee or sore muscles…” A dark blue unicorn walks out of the back of the store and sees Grave looking around the place. “First time seeing somepony like you, what brings you to my clinic?”

“I just want to sell you these health potions,” Grave put the medical box on the counter and reveal the three health potions. The doctor grabs one of the potions to inspect it.

“These look to be homemade potions, did you happen to make them?” Grave shook his head. “Well I need to make sure they're not poison, follow me.” Grave follows the doctor to the back of the building where he sees a pony in bandages drench in blood with a few wounds exposed.

“This fello got unlucky and got attacked by a coral bear on his way back; I manage to stabilise him but he might die to any infections he will get.” The doctor opened one of the vails and brought it close to the pony. “So is this work I’ll take the rest of your 'potions’' he began pouring the potion down the pony mouth, slowly the wounds began to close.

“Well you look at that, it works.” The doctor grabbed a pouch and gave it to Grave. Grave looked inside and saw a bunch of fish skulls.

“So is there a bar I can go to and grab some food?” asked Grave.

“Yeah, there's one across the dock, you’ll see the odd sign above the door.”

Grave thanked the doctor and asked around town for any spotting of his father.

Chapter 3

Grave looked at the sign that reads ‘Drunken Crayfish’, the bar the Doctor told him about. As Grave enters the place he sees the commotions for the patrons enjoying each other's company. Grave head to the bar where a light blue pegasus with a white fluffy mane is cleaning a mug. The mare looked up to see Grave heading toward her.

“Well you’re new, what brings you to my neck of the woods.” The mare put down the mug and grabbed another one to clean.

Grave pulls out a drawing of a chest hidden behind a bush to show to the mare. “Have you seen a stallion named Hidden Treasure; this is his cutie mark?”

The mare looks at the drawing before shaking her head. Grave let out a sigh before putting away the drawings. “Hey I may not see him, but I’m sure someone here may have.”

The mare clear her trough, “Listen up everyone!” The whole bar went silent before she continued, “This stallion is looking for a pony named Hidden Treasure; have anyone seen him come up and tell this pony where you last saw him.”

It didn’t take long before someone shouted ‘fuck those cultist’ follow a roaring sound of laughter and cheer as everyone go back to what they where doing. “Look like no one has seen him; so what can I get you?”

“What do you have to offer for food?” Ask Grave as he pull out the bag of fish skulls

“Well we got some pre-war food and whatever the locals bring for the chef to cook,” The mare grabbed something under the bar with her wing and pulled out a strange cake. “This mirelurk cake might be something you’ll like; It would be 15 fish skulls if you want it.”

“Sure, I’ll try it out,” Grave puts the skulls on the counter and takes the mirelurk cake. Grave goes to an empty table and he carefully avoids bumping into the other patrons. Before Grave could sit down to enjoy his meal, he felt someone tapping on his side.

“Hey buddy, I got to ask you something?” Grave turns to see a brown griffon with a white head talking to him with two other gryphons sitting with him who are light brown and grey. “Would you sleep with a griffon, zebra, pony, ghouls, or alicorn?”

Grave was confused by the question before replying. “Um… pony; what is this for?”

“Clearance here just wants to know what the most preferred creature that most would go for.” the grey griffon drink from the mug before putting back down. “So far most creatures have picked griffons, but Geral here think most pick that to not seem racist to us.”

“Can you blame me; there are not a lot of griffon or zebras around here then in Equestria Wastelands.”
“That’s because most of them are likely dead on this Celestia forsaken land.”

Grave heads back to his table as Clearance waves him away as the other two bicker. Grave began to eat the mirelurk cake that tasted bland to him. Grave hears some of the harsh whisper that seems to be about him as he sees some glaring toward his direction. As he looks back at the bar, he sees a light grey mare with dark red mane in armour with a faded writing ‘security’ of the chest walking toward him.

“So you're the cultist who is asking about a missing pony?” Grave nods as the mare seems to look him over. “No saddlebag or armour yet you look more competent than most creatures I saw coming here.”

Grave looked at her in confusion, “Thank you?”

“There is a report of fighting at the lumber camp that is not far from here and I want you to come with me.”

“Why are you choosing me over anyone else?”

“Look if you want everyone not to see you as a problem, you got to help around and I want to give you a bit of a head start.”

“Alright, lead the way.” Grave finishes the last of his meal before following the strange mare.

“Can I get your name as we head to the place?” Ask Grave.

“Steel Rose, a guard of Port Frolic.”

“Empty Grave, travelling Doctor.”

Rose looks around before whispering to Grave. “You don’t have to hide your group with me Soulweaver.”

“How did you know?” Grave was shocked at Rose's comment.

“I dealt with your group a couple of years ago, so I know a thing or two with those cultists.” Both of the ponies prosed to head out of town and toward the lumber camp.
_________________________________________________________________________

Grave is observing his surroundings as he walks with Steel Rose to the Lumber camp. Rose looks at Grave seeing him all tensed up. “You got to relax, there are not a lot of creatures that travel through here.”

Grave tries to relax only to hear a rustling of a bush causing him to ready his spear and look toward the direction of the sound only for a rabbit to come out. “I remember some of the Soulweavers claiming to be able to see where anyone is; can’t you do that?”

“I can only do it while I’m relaxed, so I can’t rely on it all the time.” Grave puts away his spear as they continue their way to the Lumber camp.

“Well you better work on that if you’re planning to search for that pony elsewhere.”

As the fog begins to clear they see a red building with a bunch of logs stacked close to it.

“So this is the Lumber camp we are checking out?” asked Grave.

“Yeah and there is one of the recent outsiders over there.” Rose points at a pony corpse that is in clothing that Grave never saw before. As they get closer, they see another corpse in the same clothing missing a limb.

Grave sees Rose grab a strange weapon off the dead bodies, “What are you collecting there Rose?”

“They called them Energy weapons,” Rose points the weapon at a log and pulls the trigger. Grave watches a red beam shoot out and hit a log leaving a burnt spot on it. “They require these batteries to use them; I’m going to see how much Coin Shot will buy for them.”

Grave walks toward the corpse of the clothed pony in a pool of blood he notices a large gashes across in their chest. “They may have encountered a coral bear.” Grave checked the body and found a necklace with two metal strips connected to it.

“Not likely, this fella over there bragged about his armour being impenetrable to a lot of stuff; they unfortunately likely encountered the Fog Demon.” Grave feels a shiver run down his spine when hearing that creature name as he looks to where Rose is pointing at: a corpse in strange armour missing a head that is just beside it.

“Help me round up the corpses and put them in a pile, I want to make a head count if there is anyone from their group who ran away.” Grave nods and he grabs the body and drags it to an open area. They found two more corpses of Headcases with burn marks all over their armour and bodies.

As Grave put the last body nearby, Rose spoke up. “Looks like two of them managed to run away.”

“Should I check if they are still around here?”

Rose lifts her hoof before muttering something to herself. “You know what, go ahead.”

Grave nods and closes his eyes and begins to relax. He sees Rose’s soul close by and notices another soul near the building underground. “There is one here but he seems to be buried underground.”

“No he’s not, this place has a cellar with… interesting decor; if you go there make sure you don’t take anything.”

“Alight? I’ll go get him then.” Grave began to head toward where he saw the soul. It didn’t take long for him to find the cellar door. Grave checks if the pony moved or not and notices a smaller soul in front of him. As Grave enters the cellar, he notices what appears to be a shrine to a white unicorn mare with purple mane and a three diamond cutie mark. The centre of it is a small statue of said mare.

As Grave reaches to touch the statue he hears a small buzzing noise behind him. “D-d-don’t move, I know how to use this and I d-d-don’t want to hurt you.” Grave turns around and sees a blue unicorn with black mane hiding behind a toppled table, pointing an energy weapon at him.

“I’m here to get you, just put down the weapon.” Grave watches the stallion step away from his hiding place revealing his red robes and a pipbuck on his wrist while keeping the weapon on him.

“Who are you and did anyone from my platoon survive?”

“Empty Grave Sou- travelling doctor, only one survived but they're not around.” The stallion lowered his weapon as his ears dropped.

“Oh… Save File, Scribe of the Steel Ranger; Is it safe to leave this place?”

“It is safe, it’s only me and Steel Rose.” Save File just nod and head out of the cellar. Before Grave follows Save File out he takes the small statue of the white mare and notices a writing at the base of it saying ‘Be Unwavering.’ As they head back, they see Rose sitting by the body messing with an energy weapon, there is a sack beside her with one of the long energy weapons sticking out of it.

Rose turns around and sees both pony heading toward her. “Well isn't the pony who asks a lot of questions, good to see you still alive.”

“Thanks, before we go I need to collect my comrades’ dog tags.” Save File head to the corpse picking up the dog tag off the body.

“So what are we going to do to the bodies?” ask Grave.

“We are going to leave them there, no point in burying them when the wildlife is just going to dig them up and eat them,” said Rose.

“We could to use some of the logs and set the corpse of fire after-”

“No.” Rose interrupts Grave. “I don't want File to smell his friends burning corpses.”

Rose turns to see File coming back to them, “Need to grab anything else?”

“Yeah, do you have any energy cells you may have collected; they look like this.” File pulled out his energy weapon and took out the energy cells and showed it to Rose. “I need them for my laser pistol.”

Rose nods and opens the sack and pulls out the energy cells and hands them to File. “If that's everything I would like to head back before the fog starts to cover the place.”

File nods and they begin to head back to the town, Grave begins to observe the surroundings before a chough catches his attention. “Hey, um… back at the cellar you almost said something before telling me you’re a travelling doctor; What are you really?

Before Grave can answer him, Rose speaks up. “He’s part of a group called Follower of Death and I suggest you keep any question you’re going to ask him about his group away from the town.”

Grave sees File awestruck from hearing his group name. “Really! Who are they? Who do they worship? Why can’t I ask about it in Port Frolic?” File just starts asking Grave a bunch of questions before Grave boops File causing him to stop.

“Look, I’ll answer your question, just keep them one at a time,” File nods his head as he brings his pipbuck close to him. “The Follower of Death worships a Goddess of Death named Necramaceus, so we are just a religious group.”

“Is there any prerequisite for joining this group?”
“yeah you have to read and follow the scripture, then you need to show your devotion to Necramaceus and then the priest will give you her blessing and you’re part of the Follower of Death; hold on for a sec.”

Grave turns to Rose as he pulls out the drawing. “Hey Rose, can you check amongst the guards if any of them see a pony with this soul- cutie mark.

Rose grabbed the drawing and put it into her pocket, “Alright, just need the name and a description of the pony.”

“Its Hidden Treasure, he has a brown coat and wears tattered rodes and leather armour.”

“So he's here and you’re looking for him,” said File.

Grave looked at File who took out a strange paper from his robe. “Yeah, he hasn't come back for 6 months; are you looking for him too?”

Grave was shocked when File brings the strange paper in front of him where he sees a black and white photo of Hidden Treasure holding a foal and a colt beside him, both pony are in strange clothing. “Sort of, my family had not seen him for years since I was a colt.”

“Well he took care of me with a mare named Bone Marrow, if that gives you some closure of his whereabouts.” Grave pats File back as the photo is grabbed by Rose magic.

“I’m going to need this if anyone actually saw this pony,” Rose looked at the photo “Has he always been bald?”

“It’s a medical condition, he was born with no mane or tail,” said File

Grave just nods as Rose puts away the photo. “Alright, I’ll give you an update if anyone has seen him.”

“So anything else you want to know about the Follower of Death?” ask Grave. Grave looked at File and noticed him lost in thought. Grave goes back observing his surroundings as they head back to town.

Chapter 4

“Come on, put your back to it,” Grave pushes the heavy crate onto a platform with the help of another earth pony. As they move away from the platform, it rises and two ponies pull the crate onto the boat. As the platform lowers, another two ponies push a crate onto it.

“I don’t get why you’re helping them,” File asked as Grave walked to the next crate and started pushing it to the platform.

“And I told you in the morning that having a place where I can relax and restock before heading to the next location is important to have.”

“But most of the creatures here don’t like the group you are in.” Grave steps aside and sit next to File who is sitting on a box.

“Look, I can’t keep going back to the Holy Grounds to restock; I have to wait for the boat to come and waste resources that others might need.”

“Just need those caps and we’re good to go!”
“Got them right here Rouge!” Grave watches a unicorn toss a sack toward the sailor Rouge as he catches it with his mouth.

“Can you show me where this Holy Grounds is?” File brings his pipbuck to Grave with the map open. Grave looks at it a bit before pushing the pipbuck away.

“I’ll bring you to the Holy Grounds when-”

“YOU! CULTIST!” Grave jumps as he turns to an angry bulky orange unicorn with red spike mane holding one of Dirty Brew health potions in his magic. “You’re the one that gave the doctor these expired potions!?”

“Blast, are you trying to start a fight with the cultist?”
“No, Try this ‘Health’ potion.” The pony took the potion from Blast and took a sip of it, only to recoil from the taste of it.

“Luna sake this tasted awful, no sane pony would drink this.”

Grave let out a sigh as another pony joined the group. “They work as normal health potions, the awful taste is just the brewer not wanting to give it flavour.”

“I call horse apples!” Blast grab the potion and pull out a knife. He then uses the knife to slit his wrist before drinking the health potion. The wound begins to heal as Blast recoils from the taste.

Before Grave can say anything he gets grabbed and pulled closer to Blast. “Look here cultist, if you bring any more of those p-”

“Put the pony down Blast Point, unless you want to spend some time in the slammer.” Grave looks past Blast and sees Rose holding a bag and both drawing and picture in her magic.

Blast ponder before dropping him and walk away. “Alright I’ll let the cultist go.”

Grave dust himself off as Rose gives him his drawing and the bag. “So I got good news about your father.”

Before Grave can ask he feels something tossed onto his back. “For your hard work, cultist.” Grave grab the bag and start pouring the fish skulls into the other bag.

“So what is the good news?” ask File

“Your dad had visited Prot Frolic, but he went to Coin Shot’s store likely to restock on things.”

“So where is this store?” Ask Grave as he puts the bag into his robes pockets.

“It’s close to the gate, he’s likely going to try and withhold anything about your father till you pay him.”

Grave nods and hears the boat horn. He turned to see a few ponies and a gryphon boarding the boat. “Well I guess this is goodbye then; I’ll let dad know I meet you.”

Save File look at Grave confuse, “I’m not leaving.”

“Why are you not leaving?” ask Rose

“Cloudfall is only known for its ‘treasure’ and the danger from those that can back from it. I want to record everything else about this island.” exclaim File

Rose let out a groan as she facehoof “What about the ponies that are waiting for your squad to return?”

“They knew the danger we were putting ourselves into when we went looking for these ‘treasures.’”

Before Rose can argue back, Grave puts his hoof on her shoulder, “I don’t think you can convince him to head back, he seems determined to learn about the island.”

Rose nods and relaxes, “OK if you’re just planning to stay in Port-”

“I’m going to travel outside of Port Frolic.” Rose grabs File by the collar.

“Did you forget that your squad got killed by the Fog Demon!?” Rose angrily shakes File. “You don’t even know about the other danger this island has.”

“Rose! you’re not his mother; let me teach him how to survive,” said Grave.

Rose let out a sigh and let go of File “Just make sure he doesn't lose his mind.” Rose walks away as File dust himself off.

“Thank for not freaking out about my dissension,” said File

Grave just nods and begins to head to Coin Shot’s store, “First thing we need to do is to stock up on some essancles.”

It didn’t take them to get to the store as a pegasus took a bag from a yellow earth pony with a waving white mane and flew away. As they got closer they noticed a sign that said ‘1 cap = 2 fish skulls’.

“Well aren't you two an interesting duo, What can I get both of you?” Coin Shot ducks under the counter and pulls up a clip board with a stack of papers on it with the top written ‘Inventory+price’. Grave take it and look through it.

“We've been told that you had dealt with a stain brown stallion who is bald, had he told you where he was going?” Ask File.

Coin Shot gets lost in thought before shaking his head. “I have trouble remembering most of my customers.” Coin then taps the sign.

File let out a sigh before reaching for his cap pouch but stop by Grave. “Get me: two gas masks, a saddle bag, a tinderbox, two purified water canteen, two of those pre-war mac and cheese boxes and three granny apple pies. And I’ll toss 100 fish skulls if you know anything of a bald stain brown stallion you may have done business with Coin Shot.” Grave put the clip board onto the counter.

“Well someone know how things work here; I’ll be right back.” Coin Shot trot away and Grave takes out the sack of fish skulls and passes it to Save File.

“Tell me how many fish skulls I actually have?” ask Grave

File takes the sack and looks at his pipbuck. “You have about three hundred and fifteen fish skulls on you, would that be enough?”

“That might not be enough if he plans to increase the prices of his stuff.” Grave takes back his sack as Coin Shot returns with a saddle bag in his mouth.

“I put what you ask for into the bag, that will be three hundred fish skulls.” Grave just nods as he puts the fish skulls onto the counter and takes the saddle bag. Coin takes the skulls before turning back to the duo.”Now for the stallion; He asks for repair from my brother Erratic Shot, he's likely heading toward one of the Headcase camps.”

“Thanks for the information; come on, I know where to go.” Grave takes out the second gas make and hoof it over to Save File. Both head out into the forest.
_________________________________________________________________________

Grave checks his surroundings as they continue to travel to the Headcase camp. “So are you going to teach me survival skills?” Grave stops and turns to see File who has his laser pistol out.

“Right, I’m not use to teaching somecreature.” Grave gave an apologetic look to File as he brought up his pipbuck. “The first thing you need to know about surviving on this island is to always be aware of your surroundings. It’s easy for any creature to hide in the fog and catch you by surprise.”

“Oh, my pipbuck has a magic compuse that can detect friendly or hostels; right now there are three friendly at 2 o'clock.” Grave looked at File confused. “Oh sorry, to the north east.”

“Sure it can show you where creatures are at, but it does not tell you how far they are to you or if they are above or below you.” File just shakes his head as Grave continues to walk before bumping into someone. Before Grave could apologise he quickly backs away and a spear is pointed at him.

“Stay away from the high priest, you filthy maniac!” Shouted the robed guard. Another robe pony goes around the tall unicorn and points their spear at Grave.

“Stand down brother and sister, the Goddess brought us these lost souls to us.” The tall unicorn walks past the guards and bow to Grave and File. “I’m father Silver Tongue; the High Priest of the Follower of Death.”

File bow to Tongue before speaking up. “I’m Save File, scribe to the Steel Rangers.”

Grave examines Silver Tongue and notices a yellow patch on the back of his blue robe covering his grey body and his mane pink has a few grey strands in it. “Empty Grave, travelling doctor.”

File look at Grave confused as Grave moves his saddle bag to cover his mother cutie mark, “You’re not telling him you’re also a member of the Follower of Death?”

“Ah… I had a feeling you had found the Goddess, but you wear the robes of a heretic group.” Tongue looks down on Grave with disdain.

“What would that group be?” Ask File

“That group is known as Soul Weavers. They are tasked to bind ponies' souls to their body to help them live longer, but when those ponies pass away the Soul Weavers would bind the deceased souls to their robes like their some kind of trophies.” One of Tongue’s guards spat to the side as the other muttered profanity.

“What tool did they use for binding souls onto ponies and their robes?” Grave let out a groan as File taps away on his pipbuck.

Tongue grabs File’s pipbuck with his magic and pulls him closer to him. There was a sound of the pipbuck being changed before Tongue let go of File. “If you want to know more you can find our little town over here.”

“Let us head back home brother and sister.” Tongue and his guards begin to walk away from the two before Tongue stops and looks back at them. “And Grave, I suggest removing those robes if you’re planning to come. My ponies might not be as… hospitable as I was with you.”

Grave and File watch as they disappear into the fog. Grave fixes his saddle bag and continues to follow the path with File lagging behind. “So… Can you tell me more about the Soul Weavers?”

“Tongue was half right, our job is like being a doctor but we bind their souls to their body so they don’t get possessed by spirits.” Grave pulls out a canteen full of purified water from the saddle bag and takes a sip and passes it to File who does the same before putting it back. “What he got wrong is that when they pass away in our care we can sew their soul patch onto one of the patches of our robe to remember them; not a trophy with a piece of their soul bound to it.”

“Soul patch?”

“Cutie Mark, the Followers call them soul patch.” Grave heard File tap away on his pipbuck.

“So that one cutie mark on your robe is who?” Ask File as Grave turns to look at his mother Cutie Mark.

“It’s my mother, she used to be a cook before a Black Thorns started to grow out of her body.” File said an apology as they continue to head to the Headcase camp.

_________________________________________________________________________

As the sun begins to set, Grave looks around their surroundings and heads to a spot with File lagging behind. “So we’re setting up camp here?”

“Yeah, it’s never a good idea to travel at night.” Grave begins to pick up some sticks, he notices a sudden green light beside him. As he turns to see File’s pipbuck shining brighter.

“Built-in flashlight.” File then lights up his horn as he lowers the brightness of his pipbuck. “I also know this light spell so we can keep going.”

Grave stares at File before pulling out a spade and starts digging a small hole for the campfire. He hears File sigh and walk away from Grave, likely to collect more sticks. “I’m going to assume there are more dangerous things at night.”

“It’s not just that, but even with your light sources it makes you a target for most Headcases and wildlife to go after you.” Grave puts away the spade and pulls out a tinderbox to ignite the pile.

“Who are the Headcases?” Grave sees File put down a pile of sticks beside him as Grave is having troubles with the tinderbox. “My squad presume they are just raiders with a different name; we encountered two of them and dealt with them swiftly before the fog got thicker and we started to hear feral growling behind us.”

“That growling was the Fog Demon and no, Headcases are creatures that have gone crazy and you can avoid conflict with them if you're good at tricking them.” Grave sees a light glow in the pile before it sets the pile on fire. Grave reaches into the saddlebag and pulls out a box of Potato Starch mac and cheese.

“Tricking them as in…?” Grave opens the box and pulls out a small packet and dumps its contents into the box, he then closes the box and gives it a good shake.

“Just play along with their delusion.” Grave looked at File who had pulled out one of the granny apple pies out of the saddle bag. The sound of the campfire crackling fills in the silence of the two ponies. Finishing the mac and cheese Grave tosses the box into the fire along with a few sticks.

“So can you tell me about your goddess?” Ask File

“Ok so Necramaceus was born into a family of alicorns with two pairs of wings. While growing up she was bullied by the other alicorns with her sister doing her best to protect her.”

“And what was her sister’s name?” File rudely interrupts Grave.

Grave was about to say something only to start to mumble out loud. “Well… It’s um… Sencer no uh… Justina. No, that’s not it.”

“Well if you don’t know then that’s fine, you can tell me later.”Grave just nod before continuing the story

“So Necramaceus gains her cutie mark by sending a soul of an old alicorn who passes away to Paradise, this causes every alicorn to be afraid of her, including her own family. Then the Lord of Chaos came and started turning alicorns into ponies where most got saved by the alicorn turned pegasus from falling to their death. Nacramaceus and the other alicorn who had yet turned into ponies fought the Lord of Chaos who began to kill the other alicorns. So-”

“Hold on,” Grave looks at File who seems confused at his story. “When you say Lord of Chaos, you mean Discord; the God of Chaos.”

“Of course, is there another Chaos god?” ask Grave

“No no no. It’s just weird that Discord would kill anything when he mostly enjoys messing with reality.”

“How would you know that File?” Grave glare at File.

“Well there’s records of Discord appearing in Equestria and messing with reality before getting turned into stone by the elements of harmony.” Grave watch File pulled out one of the canteen and drank from it before continuing. “He was placed in Canterlot garden for those to see him.”

Grave turns to toss more sticks into the fire. “So you’re saying there are Discord worshipers where you are from.”

“What!? NO… no… Just something that happened in pre-war Equestria, no one knows what happened to Discord during the war.” Grave looks back at File with concern.

“Can I continue the story?” File nod as Grave grabs the canteen and drinks from it. “Even out numbered, Discord was beating them like it was nothing. So as a last ditch effort Necramaceus took the souls of the fallen alicorns and absorbed them, giving her a boost of magic and blasting Discord back to his realm of chaos. Sadly Discord managed to gravely wound Necramaceus, and with her last breath she sent herself into the realm of the dead so she can continue sending souls to paradise.”

File taps away on his pipbuck before letting out a yawn. “I’m going to ask for more detail later, now I need some rest.”

Grave just nodded and began to pray to the goddess. Finishing his prayer, Grave looks at File to see him sleeping on his side. Grave reaches into his robes and pulls out the strange small statue of the white mare. Using a branch nearby, Grave put the small statue into the middle of the campfire. He then tosses the branch and the rest of the stick on top of it.

Grave begins to pray. “Oh Necramaceus, goddess of Death, as the flame burns away the binding holding the soul, guid this lost soul to your realm and sends it to Paradise where it will reunite with those it values as friends. Protect it from those who wish to bind it to their body to expand their life to live longer and to avoid you from their sin against your teaching. Omnes veniunt ad mortem.”

Grave watches the fire die down as he lay on the grass. His eyes grow heavy as he drifts into sleep listening to the crackling of the fire and the rustling of the tree.

Chapter 5

Grave awoke to the sound of rustling bushes and something clanging against a metal pan. Looking around his surroundings of the foggy area he sees two ponies walking past them with one carrying a bunch of saddlebags on their back. Grave calls to them as they stop and head toward them.

“What I get for you, cultist.” Said the green unicorn stallion with yellow mane. The wild blue mane and red earth pony mare with white spots all over her with horns stopped beside the stallion and bent down to eat the grass.

Grave reached into his saddlebag and pulled out the tinder box. “I was wondering if you have one of these I can replace for this one?”

The unicorn takes the tinder box and tests to see if it works to no perivale. “Well I’m going need a little extra if I were to give you another tinder box.” Grave nods and tosses his bag of fish skulls toward them. The unicorn grabs it and looks into the bag. Nodding he turned and began to look through the saddles on the mare.

“Grave, who is that?” Grave turns to see Save File has awoken and is sitting up in confusion.

“Just a travelling merchant with his cow.” File looked at the two ponies.

“That’s a pony, not a cow.” The mare let out a moo before going back to eating the grass. “Is she ok?”

“She is fine. I had the best doctor check up on her and he told me she is as healthy as she can be, so keep your rude comments to yourself.” The unicorn pulls out a tinder box and hands it to Grave. Grave try it out and see sparks flying out.

“Thank you kind sir,” said Grave. The merchant nodded and began to walk away from the two with his ‘cow’ in tow.

“That pony is not ok.” Grave sigh as he pulls out a granny apple pie from the saddle bag.

“Sure she has a few screws loose but she is perfectly healthy. The merchant said so,” said Grave, biting into the pie.

File has taken the last granny apple pie and the canteen of water. “How are you treating that as ‘normal’? he could be using her for his own sick pleasure.”

Grave just nods before taking another bit of the apple pie. “Man this is some good apple pie.”

“Don’t avoid the subject Grave.”

“Do you remember what I told you about Headcases last night?” File nods as he passes the canteen of water to Grave. “She believes she is a cow, so the merchant decided to use that to his advantage and make her carry his wares; likely had her gain some strength to carry the heavy stuff.”

File tries to say something only to mutter something under his breath as he notices something in the now dead campfire.

Grave grab the gas mask and start inspecting it to see if anything is wrong with it. Seeing that there was nothing wrong with it he popped out the filter and saw it was clean. As Grave put it away he looked up and saw the white pony statuette covered in ash floating in front of him in File magic.

“It didn’t burn in the fire.”

“You threw it into the campfire!” File shouted as he moved the statuette away from Grave. “Do you even know what you took?”

“Well it had a soul trap inside of it, so I took it.” Grave relaxes as he closes his eyes and sees the soul is still in the statuette. “It’s still in there.”

File look at Grave confused then look at the statuette before shaking his head. “This statuette is a model of Rarity and she made forty two of them during the great war, each one-” Grave tune out File as he grabs the Rarity statuette out of File magic before booping him on the snoot.

“I didn’t ask for a history lesson.” File look at Grave confused then chuckles and apologies. “Check your gas mask for any damage it may have as well as the filter; Don’t want pollen to enter your system.”

File wanted to ask Grave about the pollen but stopped himself. He then takes the gas mask on his side and starts inspecting it. Grave looks at the statuette and sees there is no sign of damage from the fire.

“What are you made of?” Grave whispers to himself before putting it back into his robes. Grave sees File putting the gas mask away and gives him a nod. Grave nods back and continues to head toward the Headcase camp.

“So what is so special about Rarity for her to make forty two statues of herself?” Ask Grave as he turns to see File with a huge smile on his face.

“Well most of the statue is a set of six with one of each of her and her friends who were the bearers of the elements of harmony where they were use to stop Nightmare Moon who was Luna-” Grave began to lose track of what Save File was saying as he continue to talk about something he claim happened thousand and two hundred years ago.

Grave then boops File causing him to stop. “I ask about Rarity and these statutes, not a whole history about Equestria.”

“Hehe I’m sorry, but there is never a chance I get to talk about the history of Equestria to someone that is interested. Most Steel Rangers don’t care and ponies from my stable already know most of it.” File rubs the back of his neck.

“Stable?” ask Grave as he checks his surroundings.

“Their underground shelter with a task associated with them. Mine stable was to preserve the history of Equestria before and during the great war. We opened the doors to gather more info of what happened to Equestria after the war, then the Steel Rangers found us and… absorbed us into their ranks.” Grave hears a bit of sadness in File’s voice when he finishes talking about his stable.

“So Rarity and her friends, what did they do during this ‘Great war’?” asked Grave.

File looks at Grave smiling and proceeds to tell him the things that Rarity and friends had done during the Great War.

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“So what we know from Steelhooves stories during the end time of Equestria, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were the only survivors of the six. Rainbow Dash joining the pegasus into the clouds cover and AJ being in Ponyville likely got into Stable 2 before the door closes.” Grave nods as he checks the surroundings as they travel to the Headcase. Grave looked ahead and noticed some of the fog has spots of red floating in it..

“Gasmask,” Grave quickly puts on his gas mask while hearing hoofstep moving away from him, “We are passing by a patch of Goddess Bloods, we don’t-”

Grave turned around and noticed Save File was not behind him. He quickly spotted him walking toward the patch of elegant flowers of red petals with two stamen sticking out of the middle of the being blown by the wind.

“Save File!” File stop and look at Grave

“What? I’m just going to give them a quick smell, maybe a taste as well.”
Grave smacks his gas mask with his hoof before replying back.

“Those flowers are called Goddess’ Bloods and it is going to make you hallucinate with its pollen so don’t smell it.”

Ignoring Grave warning, File turns back to the flowers and gives them a quick sniff, only for one of them to bust out a cloud of pollen into his face causing him to back away from it.

“Oh Celestia, What was that? You should've warned me about the puff they do.” File proceeds to type on his pipbuck while looking at the flower that its petals curl outward. File then looks to the sides as he begins to worry.

“Grave, do you hear that?” Ask File as he tries to look for something.

“I don’t hear anything File, let keep moving before your hallucination gets worse.” Grave starts walking before stopping as he hears File scream.

“Y-Y-You guys should be dead, I saw your corpses!” Shouted File. Grave turns to see Save File on the ground and is trying to back away from whatever is in front of him. Grave grabs his spear and proceeds to thrust it in front of File. File begins to calm down as Grave reaches out to give him a hoof.

“Let go before they come back to life.” File grab Grave hoof to get back on his hooves and they proceed to move away from the Goddess Bloods. Grave keeps checking behind him making sure File is still following him and not chasing his hallucination. File then stop and look past him causing Grave to worry.

“Dad?” said File,

Grave cursed under his breath as he looked back at the empty space where his ‘dad’ is. “Hey dad, we’re just heading to a Headcases camp. We’ll meet you at Port Frolic.”

“Hold on, I want to give him a piece of my mind,” File moves past Grave as he goes to where ‘dad’ is standing.

“Do you have any idea what happened to the Sable while you were gone?” File starts poking the air. “Do you even know how long you were gone for?... Twenty year dad, twenty year and High Tale had to teach me what it means to be a stallion. Yes my brother!”

Grave watches as File starts to get angrier at ‘dad’. “Mom speaks highly of you being this kind and stubborn pony! While she had struggled to keep order in the Stable, you were here with a new family! Grave here has been more helpful than you’ll ever be. Your other son!.”

Grave wanted to correct him, but File let out a shout and then started to run back before turning around and charging at ‘dad’ using his horn to stab him. File uses his magic to pull out ‘dad’ and slam him into the ground, then he proceeds to start wailing his hoof onto the ground.

Grave went up to File and pulled him off of ‘dad’.

“Come on, he’s going to die from the stab wound.” Grave feels File begin to relax before he nudges him off of him.

“He’s still laughing.” Grave look where ‘dad’ is lying before patting File back

“We need to head out before it gets dark.” File nods and they begin to head toward the Headcases camp.

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A few times Grave had to stop File from chasing his hallucination, they stopped short of the clearing where a few buildings were scattered around a pre-war building. Grave takes off the gas mask as he looks around and sees a few Headcase going about the business. Grave turns to File who looks around scared.

“Did you hear that Grave? somepony wants to eat our liver,” said File,

Grave clops his hoofs to get File attention, “listen, we are going to that pre-war building there and we are just going to talk to the boss of this place.” Grave point at the building that has two ponies by the entrance.

“When he tells us if our dad was here or not, we are going to the doctor and have him flush out the pollen out of your system and you should stop hallucinating.”

File look at the building before turning back to Grave, “Are you sure- Wait, what do you mean ‘I should stop hallucinating’?”

“Look, let's just head there and worry about that later.” Grave begins to head toward the building with File lagging behind.

Grave looks around and sees Headcase eyeing them as they walk toward the pre-war building. While File greets them as they walk by Grave looks to the side and sees a pony hide behind another pony who whispers something in his ear. When they got to the building one of the guards pointed their spear at them as the other let out a whistle.

“Well here is something you don’t see everyday, a cultist with an outside and a large trunk creature. Why do you want to enter this place.” said one of the guards.

“I want to ask your boss if he has seen a pony with this cutie mark.” Grave pulls out the drawing and hands it over to the guard. They both look at it before shaking their head.

“Sorry cultist but we didn’t let anyone with this cutie mark in.” Grave nod before putting away the drawing. “But we can let you in to help your friend there, he looks like he siff some Goddess pollen.”

Grave looks at File and sees him look back scared of something. “How long has that thing been following us?”

“Just recently, it’s their guard animal,” said Grave as he tried to get File attention. “They’ll let us in to get you checked out by the doctor.”

File nods and walks through the door quickly as Grave thanks the guards. File look around before turning back to Grave.”So where is the doctor?”

“We’ll see the doctor later, first we need to see the boss and ask him if he has seen our dad.” Grave walked past File.

“Didn’t the guard say that-” There was a loud clock followed by a thump as Grave stopped and turned to see a metal bat hit him square in the face causing him to drop on the floor. Grave looks up and barely sees two ponies standing in front of him.

“Damn, the cultist is still kicking.”

“Then hit him again you dimwit.” Grave watches the pony lift a metal bat and slam it into his head knocking him out.

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