Fallout Equestria: Cloudfall

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.”

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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.