Fallout: Equestria - The Storm

Chapter 30: The King

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Five years had passed since I was properly crowned. Hippogriffia was in the middle of winter, a time that was once a brutal season of famine. Now, however, we had plenty of food in reserve. The air was still cold, though the company I had in my palace chambers helped me stay warm.

A one-eyed hippogriff stallion yawned awake, and pushed my Pearl aside so he could nuzzle my neck. Gritt often visited me, and always had to be transformed to endure the rads.

Hopefully, that would only be the case for a few more years. With Spike’s permission, I had Novabeam on a research assignment trying to reverse-engineer Gardens of Equestria, so we could finally purge radiation from our territory.

Gritt was pleased to be larger than usual, but he was still a runt by our standards. I, of course, didn’t mind his size, nuzzling him back.

“You should get ready to go home. I’m sure Jade misses you.” I offered, rubbing his wing.

“Not without saying bye to little Lava.” He yawned again. “And drinking something with caffeine.”

*****

My daughter, Lavandula, was in the dining hall with her golden beak buried in a book Gritt had bought for her. We both gave her a nuzzle as we sat down with her, briefly turning her soft pink coat red to match her long mane.

“Dads, stop!” She squeaked as her white eyes tried to focus on her story.

I gave it some thought as our staff brought us some breakfast and coffee. “I haven’t properly visited Equestria in a while. It’d be nice to see everyone, take a vacation from the cold.” I smiled at Lava. “And it’s been a while since you’ve seen Jade and Gavin.”

She smiled at the idea, nodding enthusiastically. I always liked visiting my griffon son in Novac.

You could all meet up at Hollow Shades. Get the whole family together.

Not a bad idea.

I rubbed the metal seam under my mane, where my implant had been expanded to house Knight’s surviving circuitry. I relayed her suggestion to my buckfriend and daughter, and they agreed.

*****

After getting fed, cleaned, and dressed, I magically grew a unicorn horn and focused. Learning proper teleportation was well worth the effort, and I’d gotten very good at it. In a flash, we were in Novac.

Ginger almost had a heart attack from the Teleporting Bitch flashbacks I just gave her, and I sincerely apologized. After punching my shoulder, she gave me a hug and a peck on my cheek. We were then interrupted by squealing as Lavandula and Gavin threw themselves into a hug. The two fledglings wrestled as I invited Ginger to the get-together. We both smiled as our kids fell over each other, laughing.

Gavin got up and brushed the sand out of his white coat, then shook his red and orange wings and head that matched his eyes. “We’re gonna visit everybody? Cool!”

*****

After changing Gritt back into a griffon, our next stop was Junction Town. Crim and Sabre happened to be there on business, discussing the annexation of Galloping Gorge.

Once Tempest Shadow had been removed from stone and unghoulified, she joined Zarrow and helped whip the raiders into becoming civilized. The powerful pair didn’t tolerate opposition to their efforts, and their followers agreed to become part of the NCR out of a mix of fear and respect. I had to wonder which of them would end up as the region's senator. Zarrow had the enthusiasm, but Tempest had the wisdom. Then again, the latter might want to join the NCR's military as an officer. She more than had the necessary experience.

The older griffons couldn’t accept my invitation to Hollow Shades, but suggested that Regina could probably attend. Gwen and Jade, obviously, agreed to come along. After packing some food, we were off.

*****

I gave the Well of Shade a momentary glance as we passed. It had long since been filled with cement. Lilith was surprised but pleased to host us in her underground mansion. All of Gritt and my bat-pony foals were happy to see us and their siblings. I felt bad that Knight had to help me keep track of each of their names.

There’s fourteen of them, and you don’t get to see them very often. Don’t beat yourself up for needing help.

I appreciate it.

“Did you know you go slightly cross-eyed when you talk to her?” Gritt smirked at me. “Crazy old King, with voices in his head.”

“Thirty-six isn’t old.” I countered.

I can’t help but notice you aren’t denying the ‘crazy’ part.

Well, I do hear a voice in my head.

“See! Cross-eyed!” The griffon pointed, and a few foals laughed. “You know, Barb might want in on this. Maybe pop over to the Hub and ask?”

I smiled. “I’ll try to find Purser, too. She might be at Horseshoe if I’m lucky.”

She is, unless she uninstalled the Gull’s tracker again. She hates it when you pop in out of nowhere.

*****

With the dragon and seadog there, it was a proper reunion. I rubbed a bruise on my head I got from startling the latter.

Catching up with Purser, she apparently had some news from her recent trip to Vanhoover. Legate Zaire just had a son, a hybrid named Icarus. General Wind Striker, Cozy Glow's successor, was the father. They had named their colt after a close friend of Striker, a griffon killed in the Reinier Massacre. I was glad for it, happy so many in that region were putting the past behind them. Even Falchion Whiteclaw, who was finally back at the Gourmand. Pierre kept me updated on her therapy. Despite that dish, which has long since been taken off the menu, I actually still enjoyed eating there from time to time.

The foals and fledglings avenged my sore head by ‘dog piling’ Purser, burying her in fluff and feathers. She played along, begging for mercy with a grin. Barb entertained the others by testing how many she could pick up at once, collapsing after an impressive ten.

Barb smiled up at me. “You caught me at a good time. I was about to fly home, visit mom.” She grinned. “Now I can get wasted here, and you teleport me in the morning.”

I pouted. “Hold on, what if I want to drink?” She just shook her head.

You knew you’d have to be the designated teleporter. And, really, do you want to get drunk and potentially double the number of names I have to keep track of for you?

Not funny.

It's a little funny.

“Hi, Knight!” Purser and Barb spoke in unison, grinning at my expression.

Hi! It’s good to see you! Tease Rosegold as much as you like!

“Knight says hi. She’s happy to see you.” I’m not saying the rest. "Say, Captain Purser, any updates on those Kelpie pirates you've been having issues with?"

The seadog smirked. "Oh, Captain Whirlpool and I... worked things out." I knew that look, and definitely would not pry further with children around.

*****

Lilith and I mostly watched the others enjoy themselves. Unlike me, she simply didn’t want to drink. Barb flirted with stallions, Purser flirted with mares, and Gritt flirted with both. As per Knight’s advice, I flirted with a book.

The dragon did most of the entertaining, finding a pair of small drums and performing what she claimed to be poetry. It was something her uncle had taught her, and she had been teaching it to the Hot Rods. Gritt backed her up by playing a little bit of guitar. He'd been learning recently, and was picking it up well. Turns out, all that perfect hand-eye coordination is good for more than just shooting.

As the party died down, Lavandula tugged at my wing. “Hm? Yes, sweetheart?”

“Can I borrow some stories? For momma to read to me?” Lava gave me the sweetest smile she could.

I smiled back. “Of course. You want to stay with her tonight?” She nodded.

All things considered, I had made Spinella’s sentence very lenient. Stripped of rank and put under house arrest. Once Lavandula was old enough to ask questions, I stopped making her mother wear an ankle monitor. No need to make things difficult for her growing up.

Glancing over at Gritt... Maybe Spinella deserved worse, but Lava didn't deserve to lose her mom.

*****

Lavandula, Ginger, and Gavin were dropped off late that night. I took Gritt, Gwen, Regina, Jade, and Purser home in the morning. Finally, I brought Barb to the Dragon Lands.

Dragon Lord Smolder happily greeted us, and Barb hugged her mother’s snout. I enjoyed the chance to catch up, one ruler to another.

Ember had stepped down shortly after everything happened those years ago, and has been living with Spike in his cave. He and most of the Elements had been helping her deal with everything. Helping her heal.

Under Smolder’s rule, the dragons were recovering. Hatchlings were flown about, in the arms of their parents. Many were hippogriffs who agreed to transform. Quite a few of the volunteers had decided to stay as dragons permanently, enjoying the simple lifestyle.

Barb confided in me that she and Peepers were going to get serious and try for kids, and asked if I could facilitate that. I told her it would be no trouble.

"Thank you," she smiled. "Whenever it happens, we plan to name the first hatchling Jet."

I smiled back. "That's a good name."

*****

I didn’t teleport straight back to my palace. Instead, I sent myself just outside of Klugetown. Flying overhead, I checked on the progress made to the town’s infrastructure. No more barely-stable shacks. The people here had properly built homes now, and trade routes made sure they didn’t go hungry.

Satisfied, I found a south-bound wind and let it carry me towards Aris. It was a long flight, but I enjoyed the view.

It is a good view. Especially when we’re not flying towards a fight.

Feeling nostalgic?

Of when I died? Not particularly. But the calm before, I enjoyed that.

Me too. Also, you didn’t really die.

Oh, don’t you dare say I was turned off then on again. I died just as much as you did.

I’ll let the philosophers figure that out.

*****

The snowy peaks of Mt Aris welcomed us home, lit by the sunset. Warm lights dotted the sloping land leading up to the fort-turned-palace. Our culture was reshaping itself now that we no longer went hungry, art and music flourishing throughout the many villages.

After all that has happened, I think Equestria and beyond is finally leaving the wasteland behind.

We should still stay vigilant. We can’t take any of this for granted.

True, but we can’t waste the present worrying about the future.

Or the past.

*****

I decided to turn on the radio on my wrist, pleased to hear Ginatra’s smooth voice fill the air around me.

“...I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet

A pawn and a king

I've been up and down and over and out

And I know one thing

Each time I find myself

Flat on my face

I pick myself up and get

Back in the race

That's life…”

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Author's Note

Memoriam is an additional epilouge for anyone interested.