Fallout: Equestria - The Storm

Fallout: Equestria - The Storm

Chapter 26: Change of Plans

***** ***** *****

Crimson spent the next day spending a solid chunk of his caps getting armor made. It ended up being a custom set of heavy combat armor, similar to what NCR officers wear, but without the colors or insignia. He also bought plated full wing armor, sacrificing his flight speed for added protection. The merc was too used to using his wings as shields to stop now. I was impressed he could still get off the ground, hauling that much weight without cybernetic enhancements.

“Enhancements?” He smirked. “They actually made me weaker and slower. The only upgrade was the repair talismans.”

“So, you’re happy being flesh and blood?” I’m pretty sure I can’t change him back.

Crim stretched and flexed his limbs, testing the armor’s flexibility. “Can’t complain. The lack of constant agony is a nice perk.” He smiled and winked at a pair of alicorns watching, who blushed and trotted away. “Certainly not the only perk. Sabre will be pleased.”

“Wait, you and Sabre?” I didn’t expect the aristocrat to be into larger, older bucks. “Then why did he kick you out of Filly?”

“He was avoiding a scandal. Reporters were getting nosey, so he sent me and my crew away to save face.” Crim shrugged. “Sabre was very confident he’d win in Manehattan, and intends to have me as his personal bodyguard there.”

I raised my brow. “You’re in a relationship with the griff who owns your contract? Is that… part of the contract?”

Crimson laughed. “No, he’s just sexy. Can’t blame you for asking, though. That’s not an uncommon occurrence.”

Shaking my head, I got everyone else ready to go to Tenpony. The morning was otherwise uneventful. After the rest of us stocked up on supplies, we went back to our ship and set sail.

*****

Purser convinced me to get the Gull’s rockets fueled. The river that led to the ocean had a diverging path that led straight to Manehattan. A dam made it nonviable for regular ships, but a flying ship could bypass the obstacle without trouble. A few hundred caps was worth saving days of travel time. Despite being the only non-flier on the crew, the seadog was the only organic creature not getting motion sickness as the three hundred year old ship lurched into the air.

After successfully landing in the water instead of into a national monument, Purser checked the fuel, finding we barely used any of it. I wasn’t super comfortable having mostly-full bombs strapped to my ship, but they’d be useful if we encountered anything else blocking our path. Though I think the rest of the trip will be smooth sail-

Slash knocked me to the ground just before a pair of massive claws took my head off. “Bloodwings!” She took to the skies and ignited the swarm of black leather above us.

Dozens of mutant bats surrounded the Gilded Gull. There must be a cave nearby, and the rockets woke them. Crimson flew up to cover Gritt, who was the most vulnerable in the crow’s nest. Knight joined Slash in the sky. Purser and I fought back-to-back, blasting or cutting down any creature that reached us.

My heart sank when I saw Gritt get snatched, but Crimson roared as he grabbed the bloodwing and ripped it in half. The smaller griffon bolted under his father’s wings as he wrapped them around the crow’s nest, turning it into a pillbox.

Our dragon did the most by far to thin their numbers and drive them away. Fire was a huge weakness for them. As it was for the Gull. The sails caught fire as flaming corpses fell into them, followed by the wooden deck. The inferno could not be allowed to reach the fuel-laden rockets. Purser yelped at me to help her as she dove into the river and started splashing water up at the ship with her finned tail.

At first, I turned into a seadog, then got a better idea. I changed into a bunny to exit my armor and PipBuck as quickly as possible, knowing my next change would break them had I kept them on. It was exhausting to transform into such a large creature, but it was worth it to see everyone’s stunned faces as I became a sea serpent nearly the size of our ship. Not lingering on the moment, I got to work thoroughly dousing the flames.

*****

With the six of us, it didn’t take long to patch up the sails and get moving again. I did take the opportunity to tell Purser we’d go to Baltimare after Manehattan. There were a few things I wanted to do there, and having a service for Washout was the most important. The seadog hugged and thanked me.

After that, I intended to use Horseshoe Lighthouse as a staging point to decide how to help Slash. I wasn’t sure the original plan of crowning a new Dragon Lord and brokering an alliance with the Storm King to drive out the Enclave would work. Tempest had made it clear that he wouldn’t settle on anything less than total domination. There were other allies who could and would help us instead. The NCR, the Hot Rods, Spike, the Elements of Harmony… Maybe even the western Enclave, Zaire, and Zarrow.

*****

Thankfully, there were no further incidents on the trip to Tenpony. Thanks to the Buckson River, we were able to dock very close to the tower, at an actual port with security, merchants, everything. Which meant we could all go, no need to leave anyone on the Gull as lookout. Knight carried Purser so she didn’t have to climb to the building’s elevated entrance, then the android cloaked so she didn’t have to come in through the roof.

Sabre was on the trade floor chatting with merchants when we came in, and he excitedly excused himself to speak to us when he saw us.

Manhattan’s new Senator raised his claw when Crimson started to speak. “No need for a debrief, love. My father sent quite a series of letters. I knew well enough he’d never abandon his home, but you more than resolved the situation. And… you… Where’re your cybernetics?”

Crimson smiled. “Gone. Transformation magic, courtesy of the Wanderer. That a problem?”

Sabre looked his lover over with renewed interest, grinning. “Not in the slightest.” He turned towards me. “I warned you not to get mixed up in Seaddle’s politics, but you certainly steered them in a better direction. Hopefully the luxuries of Star Pin made up for any hardships.”

I crossed my arms. “I enjoyed everything but the Gourmand.” He winced. “Your sister’s a piece of work.”

“Yes, father said he put her in therapy…” Sabre tapped his claws. “You have to understand, Falchion was very close to our mother. After what happened to her… But now we know that pink metal sociopath was responsible. Words can’t express how grateful I am that you put Cozy Glow out of everyone’s misery.”

*****

I could think of a way for him to repay me. After Slash and I told him the situation in the Dragon Lands, we asked him for the NCR’s support. The young Whiteclaw promised to devote every soldier to the cause he could, and to urge President Grimfeathers and every other representative to do the same.

We had a similar conversation with Homage and Lifebloom, asking if the Elements could be ready just in case. I didn’t expect them to fly across the ocean and throw themselves into another war if they weren’t needed, but they might be. Gritt asked what Celestia One’s range was, but Life Bloom lamented it wasn’t far enough to help. I also asked Homage to get in touch with Spike again, to see if he was willing to fight. It was, after all, his people that the eastern Enclave were murdering. It was his son they recently killed.

*****

A stop at Tenpony wasn’t complete without a trip to the spa. Sabre paid for all of us, and we split into two groups. One consisted of Gritt, Slash, and Purser. The other was Crimson, Sabre, and me. I couldn’t help but get flustered around the undressed and very attractive griffons. While I had no intention whatsoever of sleeping with them, I still enjoyed the eye candy. Crim was very muscular and handsome for someone in his late forties or early fifties, and Sabre was exactly as slender and feminine as I imagined him to be. My face got redder each time they gave naughty glances to each other. After we were done, the politician eagerly brought the merc to his penthouse. I met up with the others in Gritt’s room.

*****

My friends, aside from Knight who was in the Athenaeum, were drinking and laughing when I entered. Purser was noticeably drunker than the other two, and was being very lovey dovey with Slash, who was quick to shut her down. I sat down close to Gritt and got intoxicated with them, stroking the griffon’s leg the whole time. Eventually, a game of rock-paper-claws decided which couple would get the bed that night. Gritt and I won. It could accommodate all of us, but I told Slash I wasn’t comfortable with our age gap.

“Huh?” She cocked her head. “Dude, my parents had over twenty years between them, and you’re worried about twelve?”

“They were also both over two hundred when they had you. It’s not the same. You’re basically still a kid compared to me.” I explained, and Gritt and Purser agreed.

Slash rolled her eyes and tugged the seadog closer to her, told her she had permission to cuddle, and that she shouldn’t expect this again. I picked up Gritt and carried him to the bedroom.

*****

As I drifted asleep much later that night, with the griffon snuggled against me, I checked on Knight. Entering her mindscape remotely wasn’t something I’ve done much, and was a trippy experience, but I wanted to see her.

She was laying by the stream, idly grazing the water with a hoof. The alicorn smiled when I laid down against her, and we put a wing over each other.

“What’s the occasion?” She blushed and asked as I kissed her cheek.

I shrugged. “Everyone has someone tonight but you. I didn’t want you to be lonely, so I thought I’d spend the rest of the night here.”

Knight nuzzled me. “You’re more than welcome.”

As my body rested in Gritt’s embrace, my soul rested in Knight’s, the calm of the water and meadow soothing us.

*****

Crimson saw us off as we left. He’d stay at Tenpony for as long as Sabre did. We soon had the Gull sailing towards the sea.

Sailing past Friendship City, it looked like it had recovered from the attack weeks ago. Purser kept her head low in shame until the island town was out of sight, and I tried to cheer her up by keeping her company.

We watched the ocean for a while. “When all of this is over, I thought maybe you’d like to stay in Baltimare. Maybe help the Hot Rods turn Horseshoe Lighthouse into a trading post. I have no intention of taking the Gull home, so I’d end up leaving it in your paws. You’d be the Captain.”

Purser blinked in amazement. “Really? This ship was built by your people. It belongs in Hippogriffia.”

A snort and chuckle escaped me. “It’s a bit outclassed these days. If anything, I’d take the rockets off and put it in a museum. Besides, I could never sail it without you, and the radiation in our waters would kill you. You know the Gilded Gull better than anyone. It belongs to you.”

She gave me a tight hug, and I returned it.

*****

The happy feeling didn’t last. A storm was seen looming over Baltimare as we neared the next day. It did not look like naturally occurring weather. It looked more artificial than what the SPP produced. I recognized my people’s sloppy weather control skills. Like pegasi and griffons, we could manipulate clouds. We just weren’t as good at it. There was only one reason they’d form a thunderstorm. There’s a Storm Cruiser hidden in those black clouds.

I flew up to the crow’s nest and dialed my PipBuck’s radio to each military channel I knew until a signal came through.

“-peat. This is Lieutenant Spinella of the Storm Cruiser Vetera, attempting contact with Commodore Rosegold. This is a notice of mission postponement. Report for debrief immediately. Message will repeat. This is Lieu-”

The Vetera was here. Spinella brought my ship here. This… could be perfect. I wasn’t sure how to get an army across the ocean to deal with the Enclave, but now I have a way, and reinforcements to boot. But, mission postponement? What happened? What could be so urgent?

We docked at Horseshoe as quickly as possible and made our way to the Hub.

*****

“Hey there, Commodore,” Peepers snarked at me as he opened the gates. They must have discovered the signal as well. Who knows how long the Vetera’s been here. “Mind explaining what the hell is going on? And… Where’s Washout?”

The question froze me. “She…”

Peepers read my pained expression and took a step back. “What happened in Vanhoover? What did DJ Pon3 leave out?”

“The one who designed and commanded the Assault-Mares, Cozy Glow…” I took a deep breath. “Washout sacrificed herself to deal the killing blow.” It was a lie, but it’s how she deserved to be remembered. No one corrected me. Purser reached into a pack containing the pegasus’ hellfire armor, and gave Peepers the helmet.

His armor hid his face, but his broken voice revealed his grief. “I… I need to tell the others.”

*****

Washout’s funeral was a somber affair. The entirety of the Hub’s residents attended, but no one spoke a word, aside from a few who knew her best. A procession of every single Hot Rod, Slash included, marched down from one end of town to the other, all fully adorned in the armor their leader personally turned into works of art. Peepers, Snowmelt, and Muffler led at the front, the former carrying her black and green flamed helmet to their cemetery.

Tears poured silently down Purser’s face as the helm was lowered into a grave, beside two others belonging to Zendaya and Zip. Washout was with her family again. I put an arm and wing around Purser and held her close.

I quietly wondered which of the three senior Hot Rods would become the leader, or if they’d simply share the responsibility, but this was hardly the time to discuss that. As night grew, my group shuffled to the MoA hub-turned-hotel and got some rest.

*****

First thing the next morning, I borrowed a broadcaster and responded to Spinella’s hail, telling them to expect me within the hour. Soon after, the thunderstorm cleared enough to reveal the ultracite-armored dirigible.

The airship was two hundred meters long, held aloft by protected helium ballasts, with an underside bristling with lightning-powered heavy laser cannons. The engines that propelled it were powered the same way. Storm Cruisers were not battleships, they lacked the firepower Raptors possessed. What they were was nigh indestructible troop deployment and support craft. A meter of ultracite alloy protected almost every inch, rendering ballistic and energy weapons, missiles, and even dragon claws completely useless. They win fights through attrition.

*****

Spinella was waiting on the deck in her officer uniform, and met me with a salute as I landed.

I returned it. “Lieutenant, I am prepared to hear you explain yourself. My office?”

She nodded. “Of course, Commodore.”

I led the way. This was my ship, after all. Soon, I was sitting at my desk as Spinella poured drinks. I took a sip. “Why is my mission being postponed?”

She sipped hers. “The Dragon Lands have collapsed.” I froze. “The Enclave broke their lines, killed those who did not flee, and destroyed their nesting grounds. Now our fleet needs to contest the territory.”

I felt woozy. Not just at this shocking news, but…

Spinella sighed as the world spun around me. I didn’t even feel my head thump against the floor. My drink was poisoned.

My Lieutenant stood above me, and gave me false pity. “That’s only part of the reason. We know you’ve recovered the Pearl, and we know you planned to help the dragons.” She leaned down and tapped my PipBuck. It was bugged. I’ve been spied on this entire time. “Thank you for bringing it.” She reached under my armor and took the powerful jewel. “Oh, and finding the Dragon Staff was an unexpected boon. Our King will make good use of it.” The Gull was undefended. My… Her troops could just search it and take the staff. They probably already have.

“As for what to do with you…” Her beak quivered as bloody foam began to escape mine. My body was shutting down. “Well, we’re all aware what the penalty for treason is.” She stepped away and walked out of the office, unable to watch me die.

As the world faded to black, I could barely make out the sound of shattering glass and alarms.

*****

I woke up to a familiar ceiling, laying on a familiar gurney. I was in the Hub’s MoP building. This time, thankfully, I had no physical injuries. I just felt weak.

Knight trotted over to me and urged me not to sit up. “You’ve been out a few hours while the poison was purged. You’ll be too weak to move for a few more.”

A pained and defeated groan escaped me. The Vetera would be long gone by now. “The Pearl? The Staff?”

She lowered her metal ears. “I had to focus on saving you. You were minutes from death. If it weren’t for your cybernetic heart, you would have been dead before I got there. Both artifacts were taken. Slash had to be restrained from chasing that ship down on her own.”

“She has bigger problems,” I lamented.

Knight sighed. “We know. I read your memories and told the others.”

“We… We have to hope what’s left of the dragons can keep themselves safe.” I narrowed my eyes. “We’re getting those artifacts back. The Storm King can’t have them. I had my doubts before, but he’s made this personal.”

“More than you realize.” She met my stare. “I downloaded the contents of your office computer before I got you off the Vetera. Spinella’s orders were to kill you, but not for trumped up treason charges. The Storm King wanted to end the Hippogriffia royal bloodline, once its last heir did what only that family could do. Restore the Pearl.”

My response was little more than stammers. Last heir of the royal bloodline? What was she talking about?

“Before Skystar’s bones were burned, I took a DNA sample. You’re her descendant.” She stroked my mane. “It’s why you could use the Pearl so easily. Others could with time and training, I read as much in Cozy Glow’s research, but you had an innate connection to its magic.”

Knight smiled at me. “Rosegold, you’re a Prince.”

***** ***** *****

Footnote:
Welcome to Level 20! Max Level Reached!

Perk Added: Royal Blood! “That line was broken!” “It has been remade.” Persuading others to become followers now nearly always succeeds.