Fallout Equestria: Man out of time

I awoke with a violent cough and was drenched in a hot sweat. One of my usual nightmares about Catasylm Bombs vaporizing one of the twelve kingdoms back home came back to haunt me last night. I rolled out of bed and hit the floor with a loud thud. I crawled to my feet and braced myself against a wall. My head pounded as I forced the memories away to a deep, dark place in my mind. Trying to focus on the now to put up a wall that separated me from the past. I struggled down the stairs and into the bathroom towards the back of M.O.V. The same heating and water talismans connected to the forge for quenching and heating were also connected to the bathroom. To do the same thing, give hot showers and a working toilet and sink.

I turned on the shower and gave it a moment to heat up, throwing off my underwear and jumping in. The hot water's embrace soothed my mind and body to a state of clarity. I actually could think now. I had managed to take and clean a bunch of different colored tiles from our travels and makeshift a half-decent shower from them, along with a not stained-to-shit tub. I sat and enjoyed the water for a few moments before cleaning myself. I tried to make a plan for the day to focus on. Hopefully, that way, I don't have and mid-day nightmares like back on the train with Rainbow Dash. First, I should see Romulus and get a report from him about what has transpired since I left to scout old Appaloosa a few weeks ago. Then perhaps I should also ask what we made caps-wise from our last stop at new Appaloosa. Then check what our next stops are and plan for those as well. After that, I plan as I go.

After drying myself, I finished up and wrapped the lower half of my body in a towel. I looked at the cracked wall mirror as something caught my eye through the watery buildup from the steam clouded the mirror. I rubbed a hand over my face as I realized I needed to shave. I had fast-growing hair compared to other people. I shaved literally a month ago, and now I got a homeless person's stubble growing back in. I hated facial hair, more so on my face than on others. I quickly shaved and then walked out. I turned on the light in the main room as three dim lamps lit the room in a soft glow.

The bathroom door sat next to a fireplace along the wall on my right, and a lamp on the other side sat in the corner atop a small table. In the center of the room, a long wooden coffee table surrounded by two couches. The table was pre-war but unaffected by the fallout, along with the couches. A recliner was at the short end of the coffee table opposite the fireplace. There was a short wooden lever on its side. I noticed the armor I stripped off myself last night was folded and stacked nicely on the recliner. Thanks, Romulus. On the walls were several pictures of landscapes from my home and Equestria. Some had Canterlot in the background or ponyville. Others had some of the other kingdoms from the table of twelve back home. On the shelf above the fireplace were a few smaller photos I took myself of a few beaches and lakes in Equestria and one particular picture of the dragon's crest. The tallest mountain in Valen, which held the temple of High Varengrad atop its peak. Home of the riders, Merlins sacred law-keepers of Valen.

On the opposite side of the room were two more lamps jutting from the walls. On the right side was a kitchen. A set of ornate cabinets lined the back wall with a stove along the same wall. A small island held the sink and a small overhanging table into the living room. Under that overhang were two chairs. I don't know why there were two. I never had anyone in here other than Romulus. I just had two. I used the kitchen a lot since most canned food sucked ass after 200 years. A small mountain of dishes arose from the sink. I really need to do those. A door across from the kitchen led to what looked like to any average person was a simple storage closet. But in truth, it was my personal armory. It was larger than you'd expect, Mainly it was where my ruined suit of power armor was. I've tried to fix it since the accident, but it's really just too mangled beyond repair. I need to make a new frame, and that was going to be a Long time before that happened.

I picked up my armor, the cold metallic fiber making me shiver as it touched my bare skin, thankfully I had a set of under-clothes to let it not touch my more sensitive parts. I got into a change of those clothes before putting on my armor. The bedroom was small, and the large king-sized bed took up half the room. It didn't bother me since I wasn't up here often. I Put on the armor but hooked my helmet onto my belt. I wasn't going to need it for the usual Caravan shores of the day. I also went to restock from my armory. Low on ammo in both guns, but I just left my rifle in there and grabbed hand cannon rounds, which I tried to use sparingly since I need element steel to make those ones. Personally, I was not too fond of rifles, and I don't know why. They just don't feel right in my hands. I liked BIG guns, though. Like a particular project that needed to be finished once I found the right parts.

I walked outside the same side door I had entered and jumped on the ladder beside it. We were driving pretty fast, but We had a small platform to stand on to get from door to ladder if needed. I heard the door shut as I climbed slowly to the top of the M.O.V. Once I hit the cusp and pulled myself along the ladder's final rails. I saw two specters with bolt action rifles and designs similar to Spyglass with the single eye, but instead of obsidian glass, it was a regular blue eye. They sat looking over the Caravan as we drove. Using the single mobile high spot as a vantage point, pacing back and forth along the long sides of the railing. At the short end overlooking the front side as we drove onward was Romulus with metallic fingers to the side of his head as he called orders and check-ins on several vehicles and guards. This man did all the micromanaging I hated, and I couldn't thank him enough.

I stepped next to him and crossed my arms, planting them on the railing as I overlooked the Caravan myself. I saw several open bed trucks beyond the Mules with working ponies at Workbenches and crafting goods to sell at the next stop. Or small families just waiting for us to go into walking mode, talking as we sped on. Romulus noticed me as he still gave orders. I could tell since he quickened his order giving and kept eyeballing me. I knew he wanted to speak, but I knew these orders kept the Caravan in formation, so I waited patiently.

Out of the many small pony-carrying vehicles I saw below, one stuck out to me. A very familiar pegasus ghoul on the back of a custom wide van with a retractable roof. With tons of goods and such stocked on shelves mounted on the interior walls of the van. The top was open, showing the two beds near the driver and passenger seats. Where two painted specters in Ditsy's colors sat. The sides of the van had the same painted colors but also had the words. "Disty Doo deliveries." I saw Silver Bell Sleeping in one of the two beds while Disty was taking inventory, Looking very happy in her task. I smiled.

"I'm glad you enjoy it, sir. That's some of my finest handiwork." Romulus said, copying my stance as he leaned on the railing. "It's nice having one of the nicest traders in this accursed place with us."

I nodded, "It sure is. Some people need that kindness." I thought for a moment before asking. "you made sure to get her that list? She will need access to our full span of resources to do her job properly."

"Of course, sir. I never forget a task." He almost sounded offended.

"all right, just making sure. How much profit did we make at Appaloosa?" I asked.

Romulus pondered for a moment as he looked through his records as he blankly stared ahead. His eyes lit up as several lines of code scrolled down over the lenses. "Im surprised you still ask, sir. Despite everything, we are still the Richest in the wasteland. We make Tempony tower look like a trailer park in terms of money."

"That's not what I asked Romulus," I said, solidifying my tone. "how much did we make?"

The scrolling text of code dissipated from his eyes as his pupils returned. "27,486 caps, taking in all income that we got."

"Good, go ahead and prep for a bonfire tonight. And cut that money into a fair amount for each pony in the Caravan. Im feeling rather generous, and we must celebrate a rather important new arrival." I said, pushing off the railing and standing up straight.

"Of course, sir! A splendid Idea!" Romulus's eyes sparkled in mimicked joy. "I will begin planning immediately!"

I smiled before continuing, "Make it a good one, Romulus. In other business..." I paused, turning around to see the large round table with a map of Equestria on it. Lit up underneath with a blue light. I tapped the table with my hand as a detailed hologram showed mountains, roads, small towns, other trader routes, And the main path of the Caravan. Names of significant landmarks such as Canterlot and Ponyville were also shown. Smaller symbols the size of coins were dotted across the wasteland. I ignored most of the map and focused on our path. "What's our next stop?"

Romulus moved to the other side of the table as he scanned the glowing purple path the show our route. "From the looks of it, sir. We should be stopping at the small settlement of White Tail Woods, then after that, we wrap around and hit another small settlement that we helped establish, Barkwin. Then we usually hit Junction R7 before dropping off the one package at saddle lake, but we can split the Caravan for that. Then we should..." A loud beep cut off Romulus as one of the small coin-size symbols lit up red with an exclamation mark. Catching both our attentions.

"What's wrong?" I asked with concern as Romulus tapped the glowing red symbol, Enhancing it.

"From the looks of things, sir. Something is trying to breach One of the N.R.R Time Capsules."

"WHAT?! I yelled. An N.R.R Time capsule breach is no laughing matter. Those things are supposed to stay buried secrets for a reason. "which one?"

"Experimental weapons development pod #94-3. Holds unfinished laser weapons technology, an un-tested enhanced combat unit, and several advanced combat specters." Romulus read as several floating holographic texts. Calm as can be. "I personally think it's nothing. The sensors on those things fire off at the first sign of change now. We've had a few false alarms while you were gone."

"WHAT?! Please tell me you at least checked those so-called 'false alarms.'" I asked, also pulling up the records of time capsule breaches.

"Well, about a few minutes after the alerts went off, they read back as normal. I wrote it off as a sensor misread since any shift in violent weather generally causes a bunch to go off."

"So you didn't check... gotcha." I facepalmed. Quickly regaining my composure. "Okay, so, three other breaches besides this one. Prep a squad to go with me to this one. And prep three smaller ones to investigate the other ones."

"Sir, I really do think it's nothing..." I held up a hand, silencing Romulus.

"I will decide that for myself, Romulus. Now do what I said. That's an order." I said with sternness as Romulus took a stance of understanding.

"Understood, sir. Shall I slow the Caravan to walking speed to prepare faster?"

"Yes, that would be helpful. Give the Ponies a chance to stretch their legs." I said, entranced by the logs for each of these breaches.

He gave a small salute as he held his hand to the side of his head, activating his radio. Walking back over to the railing. "Attention all units, slow to walking speed. Going to hike it out for a bit while we take care of some business."

I felt the M.O.V slow as the wind against my face ceased. I heard the low screeching of brakes from the Mules nearby, along with several other Vehicles, as they eased on their brakes. Romulus urged me to stretch my legs while he prepped my squad. I refused at first, but he insisted I check on Disty Doo at least. Which I reluctantly agreed to. A deeper part of me wanted to check on her, which I think Romulus somehow saw. I don't know. Romulus has a knack for doing things like that. Appealing to the inner part of myself. He also had a talent for pushing me out of my comfort zone.

As I walked alongside the slow-moving vehicles, I saw a young filly with an apple red coat accompanied by a yellow mane. Bouncing joyfully next to a specter holding a rifle, Standing guard as he walked at the same pace to the vehicles. The filly was peppering the poor bot with question after question about its inner workings and such. Unfortunately, the bot was in his guard program, so he didn't even acknowledge her presence. It only had its optics out for dangers and enemies. The filly was mid-question when she tripped on a rock and fell. For some reason, I instinctively ran over to the filly as she sat up, tears in her eyes. The specter kept walking on unphased.

I jogged over, kneeling down next to the filly. It was then I noticed her flanks were blank and that she was a little on the older side when it came to fillies. Yeesh, a late bloomer too. She was looking down at her left fore-hoof, where there was a minor scrape with a small trickle of blood oozing from it. I patted the filly on the back "Hey, you okay?"

Her head spun around to gaze at me with great excitement and shock. "OH, MY, GODDESS! Im talking to the Caravan guy! Oh no, what do I ask first? Oh geez, im blowing it!" She started breathing heavily, holding a hoof over her chest. She had a relatively firm grasp of speech if I had it admit it.

"Whoa! Take a breath and chill out! Let's make sure that gets disinfected first before anything." I paused, heaving her onto my left shoulder. She was surprised at the sudden elevation change. Once some of her weight eased on my shoulder, it screamed in protest. Shooting pain through my head. Right, I fucked up that arm. I switched her to my right shoulder, allowing her to steady herself as I looked for the nearest medical jeep. She was enjoying every second of this with squeals of delight. I spotted my target not too far away and began hiking over, weaving between other vehicles that were in my path.

"So, what's your name, young one?" I asked, looking over at the filly balanced on my shoulder.

"Oh, it's uh," she was so nervous talking to me that it was comical. I couldn't help but smirk as I returned my vision to front and center.Which somehow loosened her tongue. "It's Sweet Tart. Sorry, Im not exactly a pro with social skills when it comes to anything that isn't a machine." Ponies and their wonk ass names, I never understood it.

"Well, Sweet Tart, Im going to call you Sweetie for short cause Im not saying that whole thing every time." I could hear her squeal with glee. Sheesh, this girl is such a fan girl. I haven't had one of those since that one time I performed at Shining Armor's wedding!

"You said you work with machines, right? That's surprising considering your age." I was curious as to how someone so young could already be tech-savvy. Well, considering she asked that specter if it needed oil.

"Oh yeah! My mentor works for you guys over at one of the workshops as an inventor. He always says what he's doing out loud, so I learned a few things." Now, she was way more open on the topic of what I guessed was her passion.

"Really? Who?"

"Old Gearmane has the oily gear as a cutie mark, greenish-blue coat with the light blue mane and glasses. He isn't that old be he's been here a while."

I thought for a second before it clicked. "Oh yeah! I know him! I had no idea he had an apprentice. The last time I saw him, he was working on those gun drones, right? How's that going?"

"It's... going. He can't find a way to get the thing off the ground when it's holding ammo. It flies just fine without bullets but as soon as he puts five rounds in it. It won't even get off the ground. Do you not keep track of the ponies in your Caravan?"

"No, I do keep track. It's just my memory just isn't the greatest. That is why we have a database of everyone here. As for the drone, if he's still trying to put a big rifle on the thing. Of course, it's not gonna fly. Those rounds are too heavy on top of the kick from them. Your gonna end up wasting more rounds than you hit."

"THAT'S WHAT I SAID! But you know how stubborn he is! I keep telling him to use one of the infinite 9mm pistols. We never use that ammo and end up selling it anyway. But he just says, 'Nah, I can make it work.' It's so frustrating!" She was slightly pounding on my armor with her hooves in frustration.

"I'll go talk to him soon. The last thing I need that old coot doing is wasting all our good ammo trying to build something that won't work."

"Thank the goddess." By this point, we were upon the medical jeep I spotted. I heaved the young filly off my should and sat her on the rear bed. To my dismay, this one had a medical specter instead of a medical pony, as I hoped for. But Sweetie was excited to see the mechanical unit. So I shrugged it off.

"Hey, doc!" I called to the specter as it turned and acknowledged our presence. Jumping to action, it scanned the filly with a moving beam that went up and down her body.

"Okay, I gotta go, young one. I have a busy day, so try not to trip and fall again." I chuckled, ruffling her hair. She jumped and hugged me before letting me leave, which I returned out of kindness. I watched the jeep drive away slowly. I suddenly heard my stomach growl ravenously.

"Okay fucker, let's get some food first, then we go talk to Disty." I slapped my gut. I swear it responded with a slight growl before I began hiking toward the rear of the Caravan where the Canteen was. I quickly skimmed the large open steel platform pulled by a Large truck as Ponies sat at tables and benches. Talking about life and such, they munched on food that was better than most food from the can. As it grew closer, I stepped onto a small underhanging platform with a staircase. Climbing the stairs onto the Canteen. As I made my way to the bar, I was met with several hellos from ponies and a few hugs from some fillys.

Behind the counter were several shelves with bottles of booze held in place by my small metal cases bolted to the wall. The road gets bumpy, so keeping those things on the shelf was a priority. A string of color-changing neon lights hung along the ceiling, Illuminating the bar in a colorful glow. On the counter was a small grill with some corn and a few strips of rad-hog searing along it. The smell was quite enticing, making my stomach growl. Working the bar with their back to me, Was a Unicorn stallion with a dark brown coat, black mane, with a gruff mustache. His flank had two filled glasses of whisky clanking together.

"How's business Doubleshot?" I asked the Stallion as I sat at one of the bar stools. Crossing my arms on the counter.

The Stallion turned his head to see who had just spoken and smiled when he saw me. "Aw hell, if it isn't the trade master himself!" His voice was gruff and old. Something of an old sheriff in one of those old-timey western movies. I gave him a hoof bump as he greeted me. "It's been the usual today. Making money as we all do nowadays. I saw watcha did with those rescues yesterday. Nice work, kid."

"It's no big deal, really, just mean's more business for you, doesn't it?" I chuckled as I skimmed a menu he handed me. He gave his own hearty laugh in return.

"Heh, Yeah, I guess your right about that. Now, what can I get ya today son?"

"I'll take one of those corn cobs your grilling. Maybe you could wrap it in some of that Rad hog too."

"Yeah, I can do that for ya. Want me to pour you a glass of apple whisky? He asked as his horn lit up a dark bronze as one of the corn cobs levitated along with some of the meat.

"you know me too well. Yeah, go for it. No ice today, though" I slid a small pile of caps across the counter.

"you got it!" The caps flew off the counter into a small metal register drawer. A bottle of apple whisky lifted out of one of the metal cages and began pouring into a small glass.

I let my vision unfocus as I let my mind go adrift. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I saw an earth pony with an orange coat and yellow mane wearing a cowboy hat, down a shot of whisky. But quickly did a double take and saw none next to me. I slapped myself in the face a few times.

"Make it two, actually. Hey, do you mind if I ask an odd question?"

"Sure, lay it on me." he propped his forehoof on the counter, listening as he put the two glasses on the counter in front of me. I grabbed one, not drinking yet, just swirling the liquid in the glass.

"Do you think if one person, just one person with the willpower to try everything they had to give? Do you think they could've ended the war peacefully? Without the bombs dropping?"

"Wow, you weren't kidding about odd." He looked off in the distance. His eyes were deep in thought. "I wouldn't know. I don't know much bout the war so I couldn't give a good answer. But I will say what I always say If you truly want something and you give your all trying to get it. Then I'd say it's guaranteed to happen. If someone really was dedicated enough to stop a war without fighting. im sure they could do it."

"Hmm." I didn't say another word as I downed the first glass in one go.

After I finished stuffing myself with food and booze, I made my way finally, to Distys Doo's new van. She had already let Silver bell start painting the inside while she already did her work on the exterior. It was a lot bigger on the inside than I saw from the top of the M.O.V. Disty was putting goods onto the shelves with price tags on them. Things like canned food, first aid, water canteens, bullets, and a little bit of everything. There was even a chalked board attached to a swiveling arm with a list of other services like armor stitching and refurbishing with the option for special orders or deliveries.

Silver Bell was on a bed in the back near the drivers with a box of pre-war crayons drawing on some old paper. The Painted specters seemed to stay the same, just looking more approachable. I jumped and grabbed a handlebar that jutted out from the back left wall of the van and propped my feet on the rear bumper. Hanging off the back of the van as it drove forward.

"Hey Ditsy, adjusting okay, I see," I said, giving her a wave as she greeted me. she grabbed her mini chalkboard and sat near me on a small cushion.

"Yes, very! The ponies here are so social! I never expected them to have such friendly faces on the go!"

"Oh yeah! If anything their more social on the road. They don't have to sell things. So they just hang out and socialize, or if they want to work, they go to one of the workshops on one of the jeeps. Somehow amid all the hell in this wasteland. I somehow made this Caravan a mobile hub of positivity, and Im proud of it."

She and I talked for a while. I answered questions about specific morale rules and how the Caravan works with its stops. Along with who to go to for what. Pretty much any gaps that Romulus didn't cover, I filled them. It was only when Romulus called me back to the M.O.V because something required my attention. He said it was something that was 'my ears only,' Which made me anxious. Because when something was usually my ears only, it was one of two things. One, It was about something Pre-fallout, or it was something rather personal. I would soon find out.

I reached the door to the Interior of the M.O.V where Romulus stood waiting. "Alright, Romulus, what's going on?" I was not looking for to this conversation.

"Let us go inside first, sir. It's a rather delicate topic." His robotic voice sounded worried. Not good. He opened the door and allowed me to go in first. "Please take a seat," he added, closing the door behind us as he turned on the light.

"Romulus, just get to the point already. You already got me not looking forward to this, so just get on with it!" I was frustrated, annoyed, and worried in a way. Did more capsule alerts go off? Did something happen to someone in the Caravan? As I sat on the couch, I was putting all the possibilities through my overthinking head.

"very well," He rubbed his metal hands together as he began. "I just recently finished reviewing the recordings and logs from your last, expedition." oh shit, "and I have more than a few concerns about your mental health." Crap, even though I wasn't expecting this conversation. I was not prepared for it in the slightest.

"Romulus, I'm fine. You know this."

"Not according to the scans from your medical unit," he retorted to my lie as the top of his arm opened and a small holographic screen popped up. Showing detailed readings of my brain activity over the last few weeks. It didn't look good at all with the multitude of alerts and bars in the red.

"Using this data and the brief recordings I've seen from the helmet. I've concluded that your PTSD, survivor's guilt, and overall sanity have reached such critical points of damage that it's evolved into something horrid."

"Romulus, If I were feeling at all shitty or wrong, I would have let you know by now."

"im well aware, sir." he sat down across from me. Letting the screen fade back into his arm as he stared at me. "That's why you are going to tell me. Right now. What's going on with you? As per my Programming, it is my duty to assist members of the royal family of Romulius in any way I can, You being the prince..."

"I am not the prince of anything." I hissed, gritting my teeth. I wasn't wrong either. My Former Title of prince went out the window the second the Cataclysm bombs dropped. And I hated it whenever Romulus brought it up, because all it did was piss me off for how useless I was back then.

"Even so, the royal blood of merlin courses through your veins, So it's in my programming and the soul He gave me to make sure you live as good of a life as possible."

"I don't have time for this." I was pissed off and stood up as I walked to the door. Then a metal hand pressed against my chest, stopping me. I looked to see Romulus staring me in the eyes. Before shoving me back to the couch.

"Im not letting you leave until you tell me." I stood up again and made for the door a second time. He tried to push me back to the couch before I grabbed his arm and restrained him. Pulling it behind his back and kicking him into a wall. Causing several pictures to fall due to the impact. Unfortunately, Romulus was still faster than me, especially when rage slowed my thinking. The speed at which he reared upon me and tackled me over the couch to the floor was incredible. He was trying to pin my arms as I thrashed violently, banging against his metal shell. Cursing and shouting at him.

"Sir, Please. I just want to see you Healthy again. Your overjoyed knowledge-seeking self that I knew In Valen. Not this hollow ghost trying to fix a broken world, destroying himself in the process."

*click*

The barrel of my hand cannon pressed against the underside of Romulus's head as I pulled back the hammer. His eyes went wide as he felt the barrel. He slowly got off of me, and I rose to my feet. Still pointing the gun at him.

"That Riley died when the Bombs destroyed everything I loved" I walked to the door, still pointing the gun at him as I opened it. Only then did I realize what I was doing. The regret that I felt as thoughts raced through my mind of me killing, basically, my brother. I dropped the gun at my feet and put both hands to my head. I looked back to Romulus, who stared blankly at me.

"Was it the Catacyllsm bombs or the Balefire bombs?" He asked. I walked out without answering. I made sure that the wall inside my mind stood strong, or else I may have to use that one bullet I was saving for myself.