Fallout Equestria: Tales from Stable 83

When I opened my eyes the world was bright with light, blindingly so. As my eyes adjusted to the light I saw I was in a blank white room. The room had no clear exit, no visible furniture or light fixtures, I was the only occupant of the room. A feeling of dread gnawed at the back of my mind. None of this was right, I was asleep in a dark cellar in the company of good friends and not in this abyss of white nothingness. I blinked a few times and took a deep breath to help clear my mind. This brought the world into focus and made something new appear in this room.

Standing squarely in the middle of the room was a reflective surface adorned with an intricately detailed cast iron frame with inlaid gemstones. Dazzling diamonds in each corner, deep blue sapphires mixed with sparkling emeralds and blazing rubies sprinkled throughout the frame. The mirror before me was lovingly made, a true masterpiece from somepony who had no doubt dedicated their life to their craft. I took a minute to study the intricate details of the mirror before gazing into the reflective surface.

Unsurprisingly the visage staring back at me was my own, but one stripped of the armor and armaments I had begun carrying with me. My musculature had shrunken due to the malnutrition and several small patches of my coat were missing where bullets had ripped through me. Where my coat remained was still a healthy champagne tan, though in places it was still caked in dirt and blood. My eyes were still as piercingly crimson as they had always been. My mane and tail were messes of tangled hairs, but their gentle and serene blue highlighted with strips of gold hadn’t changed.

This visage of myself wasn’t the one I remembered seeing the last time I looked into a mirror. Nor did it paint me in a particularly attractive manner. Nevertheless, even after everything I had been through I still recognized the reflection as myself. I didn’t take much longer to sit and stare at myself, it felt vain to stare for too long.

The room was still just as empty as I had left it, but further details were coming into focus the longer I focused. The walls were now lined with cushioned large white pads, and light fixtures had appeared in the ceiling. I had never been in a place like this, but the horror stories I had heard told me I was sitting in the walls of an insane asylum. All I was missing was a straight jacket to complete the experience.

The air began to vibrate and a pounding voice in my head compelled me to look back at the mirror. With no other options I did as it commanded and stared once again into my own reflection. This time it was different, so subtly at first that I almost didn’t notice the changes.

Deep crimson fluid began to seep from the reflection’s coat covering every inch of it. I stared in horror as my visage twisted and cracked into something demonic. The voice in my head pounded louder as the reflection broke free of the bonds of the mirror.

It lunged at me and I retreated. No escape in sight. We began circling each other. I had to escape this thing. I tried to sprint left, but it moved to block me. I kept trying. And it kept getting in my way. No matter the move it was there. I slowed my pace to think.

It took the opening and lunged again. I couldn’t dodge it. It threw me backwards to the ground and pinned me. Razor sharp teeth jutted from its mouth and it intended to make a meal of me. The jaw opened and it slammed the teeth into my neck.

I shot bolt upright, pistol drawn and ready for action. The world around me was dark. I was somewhere else. Once again I focused and calmed my mind. A blanket had been tossed over my head during my sleep. It wasn’t the only thing making it dark, the cellar door was closed. I slid the blanket off my head and holstered my pistol.

Orchid was still asleep at my side, though she had no blanket covering her. Smoky was fast asleep a few feet from me. His ears twitched at my heavy breathing, but he remained asleep. The soft pitter patter of rain resounded off the cellar door, a small trickle leaking in through a shrapnel hole.

I laid down once again letting out a sigh of relief. “It was just a bad dream.” Sleep wasn’t appealing anymore, but cuddling with Orchid sounded nice. I levitated the blanket on my back over both of us.

Orchid stirred after a few minutes, letting out a quiet yawn as she did so. “Mornin. Crimson you awake?” Her right wing stretched out and began to lightly shake me.

“Yeah been awake for about ten minutes, had another nightmare. I was trying to keep my mind off of it.” I was still tired, but what sleep I had gotten would have to do.

Orchid pulled me closer with her wing and planted a kiss on my left cheek. “Then let’s just sit and enjoy some time together before we have ta go out.”

“I’d like that.” Going out into the rain to scrap those machines was inevitable, but for now if we didn’t have to go we weren’t going to. I laid my head down next to Orchid’s and enjoyed the peaceful ambience.

The peaceful relaxation didn’t last long as Smoky awoke from his slumber. He stood letting his blanket slide off his back. “Rain, dammit. Wake up you two, we got work to do.” He went to shake us but stopped upon realizing we were already awake.

“And what a pleasant day to work through” I said as I pulled the blanket off and stood. “Pouring rain is going to make it quite a cold day.” At least eight hours of today will be spent with no shelter, hypothermia might be a concern. “Not like we have much other choice. For my plan to work we’ll need all the time we can get.”

“So we better get a move on then. Once you and Orchid are ready, meet me outside. I’m going to make sure nopony else has found this place yet.” Smoky turned and trotted up the stairs. A much heftier torrent of rain came in through the now open hatch. The cellar wouldn’t flood, but the less rain water in here the better.

I didn’t have to wait long for Orchid to don her armor and saddlebags. What little time she took was enough for me to drink the last few sips of tea from the first of eight bottles. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be I spose.” She stood beside me for a brief moment before heading up the stairs. “Shouldn’t keep him waitin.”

I followed closely behind her dreading stepping out of the mostly comfortable cellar. The air outside was cool, but lucky there was no wind to really make life miserable. Cold rain pelted me as I closed the cellar door behind me. Worst of all there was no end in sight for this rain, storm clouds stretched across the sky as far as the eye could see.

Smoky stared into the distance towards our first objective. He stood waiting for me to take the lead. This wasn’t his plan after all, it was mine.

To not disappoint I took charge and trotted forward casting a glance backwards to make sure they were following. “Let’s not stand around too long. I’m already getting cold and would prefer to keep moving.” Faster we get there the faster we can get back into some proper shelter.

“I’ll keep a lookout. Ya never know if there’s any smart raiders out today.” With the rain coming down it was impossible to hear the flap of wings as Orchid took off. Almost as hard to see her circling above with the darkened clouds as the backdrop.

I lost Orchid in the clouds as she banked left to circle counterclockwise. “Has she always been that good at sneaking around? It’s quite scary how easily she can just appear next to me without a sound.”

Smoky chuckled lightly from behind me. “Lotsa practice. One of us has to be sneaky, and I ain’t exactly built for whisper work.” He surely was not built to skulk around. “She never lost at hide an seek when we used to play as foals.” A melancholy sigh exited his lips.

Smoky was at quite the disadvantage to win a game like that, but his eyes were good enough to level the playing field. “That must have been a hard game to play. Everything out here seems so damn desolate. Where would you even hide?”

“Under carts and behind hills. Anywhere I could find that wasn’t too far away from the caravan and wasn’t too obvious a spot. Orchid was always in a cart somewhere, usually curled up in a pile of blankets or hides. I’d swear she was in one cart and look, just to get a ball or something else to the back of my head. Those were the days.”

“Ahh the simpler days, back before everything was complicated.” Still a more complicated childhood than life before. “That would explain why she can essentially disappear when she wants to.” A silence grew between us, only the pounding rain and the soft squelch of hooves on wet sand remained.

Smoky was quiet for a few minutes time before he spoke again. “Yeah, lot more to keep track of now. Can’t just hope for everything to fall into place, or a life where we don’t have to work for everything.” A sentiment that seemed true, life out here was hard and dangerous.

“Well maybe not…” Settling down somewhere would be good for these two. “If we can get into my stable you wouldn’t have to worry about life out here. As long as the power stays we’d have enough clean water and food to wait this nightmare out.”

Smoky hemmed and hawed at the idea before stepping up next to me. “While I think it’s a good idea, Orchid wouldn’t want that. She’s far too free spirited to enjoy staying in a place like that for the rest of her life. I trust your judgment on how long supplies would last, but you don’t know Orchid like I do.”

But I do know her in ways you don’t. “It’s an option, maybe you take it and maybe you don’t. That all comes down to if we can retake my home or not.” A tenuous prospect with all the living, potentially fire breathing, things standing between us and that goal.

“We’ll see. If your idea can come through with enough grenades we might stand a chance. We might also have another ace up our sleeve.” He gave me some side eye before saying “I might have convinced some friends from that caravan to help us out. Should we have the supplies needed to take back your home, they’ll help. For the price of a fair few hides and meat. If not, they're gonna escort us back to the caravan.”

“That’s wonderful news. A few extra sets of hooves would make things easier.” If his intel on my town was good, we’d need all the help we could get. “That’d also explain the time limit, can’t be away from their jobs for too long.”

“Yep, so ya better not keep ‘em waiting.” Smoky began to slowly gallop ahead of me.

I took the not so subtle hint and broke into a gallop myself. There isn’t time to waste if I want to retake my home and save my friends. Plus getting out of this rain faster sounded like a damn fine plan to me.

A few hours passed as we galloped along before the rain began to slow. I hoped it would stop, but alas I was not that lucky. A slight drizzle was much more tolerable than the driving rain we had been dealing with, but the damage was already done. The ground was muddy and difficult to traverse without slipping and I was chilled to the bone.

Orchid circled down towards us. She looked mostly unbothered by the rain even though she was completely soaked. I heard her shout something, but couldn’t catch it over the rain. The shot that tore into her wing and sent her on a fast track for the ground, I did hear.

Smoky caught her and readied himself. Gun drawn he turned to face the attacker.

I drew my rifle and got low to the ground. I didn’t see anypony nearby. Nor did I hear follow up shots. The sky was clear, or so I thought. A grenade flew past my left cheek and exploded behind me, tossing me forward to the ground.

“Eyes up they’re in tha clouds!” Orchid pulled me to my hooves. She eyed me over and readied her pistol.

We both rolled out of the way as another grenade came soaring toward us. This time I caught where it was fired from. I let loose a burst of rounds, unsure if any would find their mark. Shots ripped the air from my right.

Smoky and Orchid engaged in close quarters combat with a half dozen jet black creatures. They were holding their attackers off, but wouldn’t last forever.

I stepped up to help but was interrupted by another of the pony-like creatures. It hissed and jittered its transparent cyan wings at me. This one had the grenade rifle and a battle saddle upon its back. After a second it’s visage flickered to my own.

I needed no further encouragement to fire. I unloaded the rest of my magazine into the creature. It took every bullet, but the creature fell. And the poor reflection of me with it. I charged forward to help Smoky, drawing the first gun I felt in my saddlebags.

The next creature in my way turned to fight, bearing sharp fangs. It intended to bite down into my neck, but wouldn’t get the chance.

BOOM, the report rattled my ears and nearly sent the gun flying. Very little remained of the thing’s head. All that I could see was a shower of blood and viscera.

I skidded to a stop staring down two of both Smoky and Orchid. The four looked at me and I froze. They were exact copies of each other, no way to tell who was who.

“Ta hell with this!” One of the Orchid’s said before firing at the other her. This was the real one of the two, as the one she shot hissed in pain.

All I could do was sit and watch the short exchange of gunfire. By the time all was said and done I had watched both sides take a dozen hits. The two left standing were bleeding heavily from their wounds. The two that lay dead exploded in a flash of bright light before returning to their regular disgusting forms.

I hobbled over to my friends as the pain from several shrapnel wounds burned through my left hind leg. “You two alright?”

Orchid held out a potion to me with her left wing. “Lil worse fer wear, but we’ll live. Drink this, ya got shot ta shit.”

I did as instructed and held the injured leg in the air while I waited for the pain to leave. “You’re telling me. Those explosions hurt. Honestly surprised I’m not dead.” I tentatively set my leg down before continuing “I was more worried about you two.”

“Appreciate it Crimson, but we’re tougher than you think” Smoky said looking around the impromptu battlefield. “Gather what you can carry, might come in handy. We’ll need it, for sure.” He looked mostly unfazed by the carnage around him, but not unsurprised or without pain. He was shot up worse than Orchid, almost two dozen entry wounds scored his chest. Yet he remained standing and his face betrayed only minor pain.

I nodded and trotted back to the first creature I had killed. Quickly I lifted the saddle onto my back and nestled both my rifle and the grenade rifle into the apparatus’ on the sides. What little was in the creature's saddlebags found home in my own before I stopped to examine the creature.

Numerous holes marked the fore and hind legs of this creature. All of which appeared to be made of a hardened material, not unlike chitin of scorpions or other invertebrates. The pupils were dark like the chitin, the wings bore the only color of the creature. What few teeth I could see were razor sharp fangs protruding from the maw in a grimace. It also had a horn in addition to its transparent cyan wings. No armor upon its back left everything in view.

It was vaguely like a pony, likely with a similar physiology, but enough differences precluded it from being a pony like me. This creature was a separate being, something close that would never be the same. I had never heard of such a creature existing and the faces of my friends told me they hadn’t either.

Whatever this thing was mattered less than what it had provided me. A new weapon and another useful tool to help reclaim my home. Plus the knowledge of how powerful that revolver the Sheriff had given was. Lessons and utilities I wouldn’t soon forget about. The extra weight did send jolts of pain down my spine, but nothing the tea couldn’t help to mitigate.

“No food or water,” Smoky grimaced looking at the meager supplies he had gathered. “But a boon none-the-less. Keep your eyes peeled for more, not impossible more lay in wait.” His revolver swayed from side to side, assumedly following his eyes as he scanned the horizon.

I reached over and clicked the magazine release for my rifle. If there was a chance for more I’d need the rifle ready. I clicked rounds into place until the magazine was full and slapped it back into the magazine well. I then opened the grenade rifle to see a fresh 25mm grenade in the chamber. It clicked closed as I started forward. “Let’s keep moving.”

Neither of my companions complained aboutt the idea. The quietness of the air between us was unnerving, usually they’d at least acknowledge me. Probably just in pain after getting shot to shit and trying to focus on something else. That made sense in my mind at least.

I pushed forward through my own pain, taking a sip of the tea as we went. After a few hundred yards I pulled the heavy revolver out and rolled the cylinder out the left side. Of the five chambers, four chambers held live cartridges and the last held the empty brass of the spent bullet. I quickly slipped the empty brass into my saddlebags and a fresh cartridge into place.

I’d need a new holster for this revolver, having such a powerful weapon at the ready could never be bad. And when we got the time, slotting my rifle into the battle saddle would be a good thing to do. All thoughts for later.

We’d be to the train station soon enough and that was where my focus needed to be. I could barely make it out on the horizon, but was glad we were close as the rain started to pick back up. The ground was slick but bore no new tracks and the large mound of dirt had been stomped back down flat.

Everything looked clear, but even still I drew my smaller pistol and got ready to use it. I crept up the steps and to the left of the main door. “You ready?” I asked, motioning to Smoky who had taken up position across from me.

He gave me a quick nod and reared up on his front hooves. The door shot inward with me right behind it. Scanning side to side, checking corners, and looking around yielded an empty building.

I lowered my pistol, satisfied that we were safe here. “Looks clear. Ow, the fuck!” I yelped in pain as something sharp pierced my hide on the underside of my tail. I spun around to see more of those creatures attacking Smoky. My pistol clattered to the ground as I found myself unable to move forward. I followed shortly behind it.

Unable to help as Smoky fell to multiple darts striking his neck. The last thing I saw was Orchid erupting in a bright light, another of the creatures in disguise.

I forced my eyes open some time later. Everything around me was dark and the familiar feeling of a wooden floor was beneath me. I was still unable to move. My body ached, particularly around my ass… oh no.

We’d been captured, and by a rapey bunch of… creatures. Ok Crimson, keep calm. You’ll find your way out of this, just have to get your limbs to cooperate. I struggled trying to force my limbs to move for a few minutes before sound filled my ears.

A conversation between two of the creatures. “So which one are you going to have fun with? I hear the bigger one is tighter.” Confirming my suspicions, bastards.

“Neither, I’m waiting to get my hooves on the mare that got away. I’ve got some payback to dish out. She’ll be fully awake for all of what she’s got coming.” Mare that got away? Orchid got away from these disgusting things! Now where is she?

“If you say so. Now go check the perimeter, make sure no one is sneaking around. We want to keep these all to ourselves for a while longer.” Two sets of hoofsteps became one as a flurry of wing beats filled the air. The remaining set was quickly approaching me.

I doubled my efforts to try and regain control over my body. My muscles were beginning to relax and I got my tail to move. All attempts stopped as I heard the door creak open.

“Oh look, tail already in the air ready for me. Good, because I’m definitely ready for another round.” The creature stepped closer, its breathing getting louder and louder as it approached.

I felt something warm and slimy brush against my tail and prepared myself for the worst. I was surprised as both myself and my would be assailant were tossed sideways against the wall with great force.

A familiar set of wing beats filled the air before a familiar squelching noise took its place. The noise repeated more than a dozen times as Orchid plunged a machete into the creature. A wild look filled her eyes as she turned to look at me.

I managed to nod my head at her. “Thanks for the save. Life was about to become very unpleasant.” An understatement of the highest order.

Orchid nodded and tossed the machete over at me. “I know. Now follow me, they got Smoky in the main room. Yer gear too, ya just got that fer now. Keep low an follow my lead.” She started towards the next room drawing her pistol and a short single barreled gun I had never seen before. The second was little more than a pipe and a trigger grip.

I gripped the machete in my teeth, unsure if we were going to do things quietly or not. Whatever we did had to be done fast, no telling what kind of trouble Smoky was in.

We reached the door and Orchid motioned for me to move forward. The room was dark, lit only by the moonlight seeping in through the windows. Through the crack I could see an immobilized Smoky and three more creatures. The three creatures were watching out windows occasionally casting a glance at their captive.

Smoky was positioned in a similar manner as I had been, tail moved aside and ass in the air. There were several fresh lacerations along his exposed left side that had been recently bleeding. Most of his coat was covered in a fluid of some sort, blood… or worse. He was still breathing, though it was shallow and rarely.

Orchid motioned to the closest guard and mouthed ‘get ‘em’, before slinking into the dark room herself. She crept slowly towards one of the farther guards keeping low to the ground.

I tried my best to copy her movements, edging closer to the creature with every step. My progress was slow, much slower than I wanted. Each step terrified me. Not knowing if I’d alert him. Unsure if I could close in for the kill.

I became certain very quickly as I dove forward. The machete found its mark piercing the skull. A quick twist of my body pried it free. The creature dropped, not silently enough. On reflex I levitated the machete and threw it.

Orchid lunged forward and fired the single barrel gun. A shotgun. Very little but viscera remained of that one’s skull. The machete flew through and struck the other in the chest. Orchid swiftly finished it off with two shots. She rushed to her brother to help him.

I took the opportunity to look for my gear. All of it sat piled at the main counter. I bolted over and grabbed my weapons, knowing there was still more to come. There was just enough time to shoulder my rifle and draw my revolver.

The front door of the station burst open and three more creatures charged in. Two more came in through windows.

I spun and pulled the triggers. The rifle clicked. The revolver fired, hitting a foreleg. I quickly chambered a rifle round and started to fire before being tackled.

The bastard on top of me was bleeding profusely from a half dozen hits. He hissed and gnashed his teeth at my neck, missing just barely. The attacks slowed after a second as blood loss took its toll.

More gunshots rang out as Orchid fought to protect Smoky. Three of the creatures were swarming her. A few needles pierced her hide and she began to slow.

I tossed the corpse off to the side and unloaded the rifle into the ones attacking Orchid. My shots were accurate enough to draw attention. Unfortunately my revolver had fallen from my grasp so I was defenseless.

I began backpedaling as the creatures charged me. Not fast enough. They were on top of me sticking me with needles before I got my gun. I reached out as a last ditch effort and got the gun. BOOM, the first fell pinning my hindlegs. BOOM, the second was now missing its lower jaw. BOOM, third shot took my last attacker down.

My gun crashed to the ground as my muscle locked up. I didn’t fall unconscious like last time. All I could do was watch as the remaining two creatures stood up. One headed for me, the other looked over Orchid.

The intention was clear, even with no words spoken. We were to live and feel whatever they wanted to do with us.

My eyes were fixed on Orchid. I could tell she was fighting whatever drug we had been injected with, but she was already frozen in place. I was forced to watch as the creature tore her armor off and positioned itself.

My eyes darted back to the figure now looming over me. My fate would be much the same. Unable to do anything to stop it. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see what happened next. And just as suddenly opened them. A loud CRASH followed by a gunshot brought me back.

The creature that was looking over me slumped to the ground. Dead from a gunshot to the back of the head. Orchid was alone where she lay, her eyes frantically trying to look behind her.

Five feet behind her was an enraged Smoky, currently pulverizing the creature that had been attacking Orchid. He had already collapsed the thing’s rib cage and was currently breaking every last bone the creature had. Each strike of his hooves caused cracking noises, mashing bits of the creature into gore. The last thing he did was stand over the corpse, rear onto his front hooves, and slam the rear ones into the skull. Nothing but a blood stain remained.

“Bastards. You don’t... touch my sister… like that.” Smoky’s breathing was heavy, exhausted, but he stood tall. “You two still with me?” He asked trotting to Orchid’s side. “You’re still here, good. It's gonna take some time for that poison to wear off, but at least you’re safe.”

It seemed that was the last of these creatures. That many gunshots would have already drawn in any remaining reinforcements.

Smoky sat down between us and began applying bandages to his many wounds. “Just try an rest for now. I’ll keep watch until you two are able to move again.”

I didn’t want to, but I had no choice. My eyes closed and the world was once again calm. I could take solace in Orchid having been saved from that awful fate.