Fallout Equestria: Foreshadow

"So lemme' get this straight," Striker huffed as she helped Toro across a partially collapsed bridge. "You said that they killed your mentor?"

Toro shuddered and the memory, gagging at the residual memory of the horrific sight of Jumpstart's burned corpse. "Overmare Flare said in her note it was needed for the sake of the vault, they planned to kill me next. Something about me having some type of psy- psycho-"

"Sociopathic."

"Right, sociopathic tendencies. She might have killed me anyways if I'd been found out."

Striker ignored that strange bit as they walked past a dead mutated dog, "Found out? What do you- "

"There was a mare. Her name was Magnolia. She was the only pony in that hell that made things bearable, she was all I needed. My dear Overmare wanted me to have a male partner so I could 'contribute to the vault's future' as she said- "

Striker smirked as she cut Toro off.

"Shit, why didn't you just shoot your shot? Seems like you really liked her-"

"I couldn't, okay?" Toro suddenly shouted looking visibly shaken, she trembled slightly and Striker's smile faded, "Don't you get it? I couldn't put her at risk because I couldn't control my feelings! You know how hard it is to watch her smile at me and laugh and give me comfort and every time I want to close that distance I had to remember the fucking rules... I couldn't break the rules-"

"I didn't mean to pry," The taller female holstered her shotgun and gently patted her head. "I'm sure you'll tell me when you're ready, but I would rather you not break down right now."

Striker pressed Toro's head against her side.

"We're gonna have to cut straight through the city," The mare pointed towards a tower with buildings clustered nearby, a misty fog seemed to permanently hover over the buildings. "Not only are we gonna have to worry about raider assholes, but those freaks as well. I'll try to keep you safe, but if it comes down to it... I hope you know how to use that pistol. I gotta tell Night that the asshole broke the agreement, hopefully, he's in Goodneighbour. Let's get a move on, kid."

They didn't encounter much on the way towards the remains of the city, Toro struggled to keep up with the experienced mare. She stumbled over a pothole, Dammit! She hated walking, she hated not knowing where she was, she hated feeling vulnerable. She stumbled a second time and fell hard, tumbling down a small hill. She let out a weak whimper as she forced herself up on a knee before she collapsed. Striker stopped and turned, ready to give some words of encouragement when she heard Toro's heaving breaths.

She came back and picked up the smaller mare bridal style, "Good lord, Toro. I can't leave you for two seconds- "

Toro was hot to the touch, not enough to seem sickly but enough to cause concern. She went completely limp. She didn't think Striker frowned as she saw the sun slowly dipping below the horizon, she scanned her surroundings. To her right the ominous towers of the water plant, her eyes shot left and locked onto the light of a trashcan fire on a porch. She figured it'd have to do and she approached the front door and kicked it open. The building was dead silent, like a crypt. There was a lobby area, a front desk on her right and a couch and armchair waiting room on her left.

"Shit, I hope those two can track me here... Tin cans better..." Striker muttered as she swept the rest of the building with her shotgun in hand.

From what she could gather, it's a retirement home. Well, it was at one point. Many of the windows were shattered, debris everywhere and a hole in the ceiling. The occasional abandoned wheelchair here and there. Needless to say, Striker didn't feel comfortable but Toro was out cold on the faded red couch. She felt a warm smile creeping across her face, she removed her leather jacket and laid it over the mare as she took a seat in the armchair across from the couch in her dirty white shirt and jeans. She put her backpack on the floor and sat at attention resting her gun across her thighs.

Striker jolted awake, it nigh pitch black outside. Dim moonlight shone in through the hole in the ceiling. Although she saw nothing she felt on edge.

Striker rose to her hooves and cocked her shotgun, "Alright, come on out. Make it easy for Mama Bear."

"Mama Bear?"

"Is that what she calls herself now?"

Two figures with glowing eyes hopped down from a hole in the ceiling, Striker relaxed and lowered her gun.

"You two are late."

"You," The pony with glowing purple eyes stepped into the moonlight, black pearlescent purple fur glimmering under her cloak, "Were supposed to meet us in Goodneighbor. What gives?"

The pony with pink eyes stepped forwards in her hooded cloak and spoke in a playful voice, "Yeah, you're usually punctual- "

She stopped as she saw the sleeping figure curled up on the faded couch, Striker looked visibly uncomfortable as she watched Speed lick her lips.

"Oh hell no you don't."

"Don't be like that 'Mama Bear'. Don't act like you haven't thought about it, from the moment you laid eyes on her."

Striker looked away with a frown, she would have been right when they first met. But with what Striker knew now she wouldn't dare dream of it.

"You are just about the creepiest bot I've ever known Speed. At least Endie is somewhat normal."

"We're some of the only synths you're ever met, save for that detective guy."

Striker relaxed, "Well I might as well fill you in while you're here, the mare's in a bad place right now and the last thing I want is for you to accidentally push her over the edge."