Fallout: Equestria - The Storm

Fallout: Equestria - The Storm

Chapter 9: Where Shadows Grow

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

The interior of Lilith’s mansion was even more intricately gothic than the surrounding cavernous city beneath the outskirts of Hollow Shades. It had been the site of my week-long gauntlet of endurance. I had to inject a stimulant into myself just to roll out of my impromptu bed. My sore body begged me to stay, but I needed to stretch and walk around before I permanently fused into the fainting couch I chose as my resting place. Gritt was found in the other room, on a nest of pillows, buried under a pair of mares who didn’t care that he wasn’t a bat-pony anymore. I found Knight in the library, laying by a fireplace reading a collection of dusty texts, and asked where Slash had been this whole time. She informed me that she made a solo excursion to Fillydelphia.

“She thought that was wise?” There was no guarantee the residents wouldn’t shoot her on site.

“Slash made it to Dodge all on her own from the Dragon Lands.” Gritt emerged behind me, pulling his jacket on. He looked tired, but not at all unhappy. “She can handle Filly. NCR and AJ’s Rangers might bog her down with endless questions, but she’ll manage.”

“How do you know if you never go there?” My question received an annoyed one-eyed glance.

“Caravans like to talk about shit like that, alright? It’s easy to keep up to date on stuff if you just listen and pay attention.” Gritt patted his jacket pockets and let out an irritated groan. The bat-ponies had taken his cigarettes when we arrived in their city, making him go outside any time he wanted to smoke. Air pollution was a big no-no for them.

“You really should try to buck the habit before you develop lung cancer,” Knight suggested, looking up from her book. “I could provide treatments to help reduce the urge.”

The merc laughed. “If I live long enough for smoking to kill me, I’d be a lucky griffon.” His expression became thoughtful. “It has been a couple days. Slash could have made it to Filly, checked the MAS, and come back by now.”

I scoffed. “You’re assuming she didn’t get distracted by every little problem she thought she could help with.”

“Fair,” Gritt shrugged. “I’ll give her another day before I start to worry.”

*****

Stepping out into town, I saw that all eyes were turned towards a quiet but fierce argument between Lilith and a stallion I hadn’t met. The male bat-pony was an inverse of the Regent, having a fiery orange coat and mane streaked with black, and matching eyes. Comparing his apparent age to hers, they were likely twins. Both snarled at one another and stomped their hooves into the stone brick road beneath them. The stallion’s face twisted into disgust as he saw Gritt and I.

“These are the outsiders you’ve allowed to… to… violate our purity!?” His voice was a whisper but felt like a scream. “With such a revolting bastardization of foreign magic!”

“Bael, you forget your place!” Lilith stomped forward, causing her twin to backpedal. “Purity will kill us all, you twisted fool! Despite our healers efforts, far too many foals have been stillborn from defects. You would have us continue down that path?”

“I’m close to solving it, I swear! I’m telling you, our magic can do more than command shadows! It can will life into being!” Bael lowered his head to the stone and focused. Tendrils of darkness flowed from his body into the cracks. The crowd gawked and gasped as a plant took shape, then color, then life. Bael nearly collapsed from the effort, but grinned broadly at the result. A beautiful flower of orange petals and a healthy green stem had impossibly taken root in the lifeless stone.

Lilith blinked in confusion, and Bael trotted around her, elaborating to the crowd. “This is our future! Umbrakinesis, a talent whose potential we have wasted, is the key! Shadows can breathe life and healing into our young! We will never suffer the ill effects of our isolation again!” He sneered at us once again. “And we will not have to resort to such vulgar and short sighted solutions.” The others murmured a mix of agreement and reservation.

The Regent narrowed her gaze at the miracle flower, then trotted up to me. Without a word, she grabbed my left arm in her teeth and yanked me down. I yelped and struggled, but she was surprisingly strong. Lilith held my PipBuck over the radiant plant and turned on its flashlight. A pained shriek escaped the false flower as it immediately wilted and died, crumbling into dust.

Bael stammered as angry eyes turned on him. “That… That can be solved.”

Lilith was having none of it. “Light is already painful to us. Your ‘solution’ would make it lethal!”

“We have shunned the light for centuries! Nothing would change!” Bael growled in frustration.

“And if those who would do us harm wielded light against us? We’d be wiped out!” The crowd's opinion swung fully in Lilith’s favor.

Bael turned and left in a huff, trotting deeper into the caves.

*****

In private, Lilith confirmed to us that Bael is her twin brother, and a bothersome thorn. He had challenged her every time she even slightly went against tradition. It was no wonder Knight’s plan to help breed healthier foals enraged him. Worse still, he and those who support him control much of the caverns dedicated to growing their crops. Lilith feared that he would withhold food until we departed. After explaining we’d likely leave soon regardless, she shook her head. Bael was apparently very zealous, and would demand that any foals resulting from our ‘contamination’ be banished.

“Are you in need of an assassin?” I asked plainly.

Lilith’s eyes went wide. “No! He’s demented, but he is my brother!”

“He’s dooming your people,” I argued. “He and his most loyal followers should be put do-”

“I WILL NOT CONDONE MY BROTHER’S MURDER.” Her Royal Voice made me flinch and wince.

“Perhaps there is merit to his methods,” Knight interjected, catching Lilith’s attention. “I’ve been reading your tomes on shadow magic. There is a way his idea could work, but he is going about it wrong. He is trying to use brute force to create a false life. Children born from this would be incomplete, hollow, more shade than flesh.”

Knight stood and outstretched a hoof to Lilith’s side, caressing it. “Instead, we could take advantage of umbra’s unique symbiosis with your people’s physiology, and give your genes a gentle randomized nudge. Your and Bael’s child would, genetically speaking, barely be related to you, and be perfectly healthy.”

Lilith stepped back and stammered. “I never told anyone… How do you know…”

Knight looked around and saw all of our surprised stares. “Oh.” She turned bashfully towards Lilith. “Sorry for… revealing that.”

Gritt let out a long, low whistle as the awkward silence grew.

Shaking her head, Lilith regained her composure. “The odds that Bael would allow you to help are slim. He regards you as an abomination.”

“I can’t perform the spell myself. Umbrakinesis is beyond my capabilities. Your twin seems the most practiced at using it in this manner.” Knight took a resolute stance. “I will make him hear me out, at least.”

“He will have his soldiers attack you,” Lilith warned.

“No offense, but your people lack the power or weaponry to threaten me.” Knight trotted towards the door. Gritt and I followed.

*****

Thunk! Thunk! Swish!

Two spears barely missed me, grazing my armor. Crossed together, they pinned me to the cavern wall. An armored bat-pony teleported in a puff of smoke in front of me, wielding a sword in his teeth, and swinging it towards my neck. His eyes went wide mid-swing as I shifted into a bat-pony and teleported myself, directly behind him. The Pearl, now three shards strong, let me not only transform more easily, but more readily use the basic unique abilities of the species I mimicked. I’d have to become a unicorn when I get some free time and I see what spells I have.

“No, don’t kill him!” Knight shouted as I wrapped my hooves around my opponent’s neck, ready to snap it. She lowered the foe she had just incapacitated and quickly dashed to mine, putting her claw to his head and magically rendering him unconscious. “This task must be done as bloodlessly as possible. We don’t want to kill anypony if we can help it.”

“Tell that to them!” Gritt shouted as he blasted a spear out of the air with his rifle before it reached him. When a guard warped beside him to attack with a blade, the griffon ducked under her and fired a rubber .38 special round from his sidearm into the mare’s tender area. With a high pitched yelp, the dagger dropped from her muzzle as she collapsed. Gritt lifted her helmet and struck her temple with the walnut grip of his revolver, knocking her out.

Three guards lunged at Knight from all directions, trying to plunge spears between her armored plates. She stood on one hoof, catching their weapons with her others, then dicing the spears with her claw blades. The surprised mares and stallion were then enveloped in telekinesis and slammed into the cave ceiling. Knight was deliberately careful not to impale them on the hanging stalactites. After ensuring they weren’t permanently injured, she continued on deeper into Bael’s territory.

*****

The path quickly opened into a large cavern housing an estate, a large gothic home similar to Lilith’s was surrounded by subterranean crops. A new group of guards charged at us, but shrieked and fled as Knight engulfed the chamber in a blinding magical light. Some of the crops instantly died just as the flower had.

“What is the meaning of this!?” Bael rushed out of his home, flanked by particularly well-armored mares. “HOW DARE YOU TRESPASS HERE, VILE MACHINE!”

“I come on behalf of your sister, seeking to mend the rift between you before it expands into a civil war. I can help your cause, refine your magic so you can save your people your way.” Knight’s commanding pleas made him waver only slightly.

“LIES! YOU MAY TAKE OUR QUEEN’S FORM, BUT YOU CANNOT DECEIVE US!”

Knight took a step forward undeterred. As did I. “My friend can help you save your child, before they suffer the genetic illnesses that have befallen so many of your kind.” Bael sneered at me at first, but his expression softened at the mention of his and Lilith’s future foal. “Are you going to allow your own pride to endanger them? Set aside how you feel about us and focus on saving your people’s future. Focus on saving your unborn infant.”

My companions gawked at me, surprised at my uncharacteristic taking charge. I was always good at manipulating others, but up until now I had done so quietly and subtly while in Equestria. I could tell that Bael required a direct approach to be swayed.

Bael pondered a while, then sighed and waved a hoof. His guards lowered their weapons and relaxed. “You are certain that Lilith will allow me to do this my way? Use the shadows to help our foal?”

Knight nodded. “Yes, and I know how you can do so safely.” She glanced at the disintegrated crops. “Without the adverse effects.”

Bael trotted to her and bowed his head, tears welling up in his eyes. “Teach me. Please.”

*****

Lilith was extremely nervous throughout the procedure, laying on a sofa with Knight and Bael hovering over her. With the android’s telepathic aid, the orange stallion shifted the darkness as she described, applying the magical gene therapy his foal needed to be born strong and healthy. Gritt had gone out to smoke, but I stuck around to ensure nothing went awry.

It was logical to help resolve this. I needed to maintain my reputation of leaving settlements in a better state than I found them in. If DJ Pon3’s radio broadcasts were any indication, word spread fast and any goodwill I could garner will only benefit me in the future, making my mission easier. Though I couldn’t fathom how even the seemingly omniscient DJ could learn of what transpired in an underground city of recluses. Still, better safe than sorry.

Knight, Lilith, and Bael discussed teaching this procedure to the other healers, the latter confident that he could educate them. Within a generation, their tribe could be as healthy and diverse as it was a thousand years ago. The metal alicorn brought Bael the books that led to her revelations just in case he needed to brush up. Afterwards, we joined Gritt outside, and were pleasantly surprised to find Slash with him.

*****

The dragon’s armor was noticeably scuffed, and she had a couple new scars that Knight quickly tended to, while demanding to know what happened.

“Ah, just had a bit of a wrestling match with the local Paladin to get her help searching Filly’s MAS.” Slash puffed her chest proudly, then winced at her bruised ribs.

“You got a Ranger to help you by picking a fight with them?” I asked incredulously.

She nodded. “It’s the warrior’s way. Honor and respect.”

Gritt chuckled. “Now I’m glad all you challenged me to was a pint of beer.”

The dragon mocked, “Please, there’d be no honor fighting you. You’re like a feathery toothpick.”

“Gee, thanks,” he muttered sarcastically as he ignited a smoke. “So, we headed out now? Got plenty of daylight to reach Tenpony, especially with the wind blowing northeast.” We agreed.

*****

Halfway there, Knight renewed her concern about encountering zebras. Gritt ensured her that Tenpony had no zebra residents, and promised to go in ahead of everyone and thoroughly check the trading floor for any striped travelers or merchants.

He sighed. “Honestly, there’s a good chance you won’t be allowed inside anyway. They’re really twitchy about weapons, and you’re, well…”

“An extremely dangerous weapon. I understand.” Her tone revealed her resignation. “I can find a secure shelter near the tower and wait for you to conclude your business.”

“Maybe someone there knows a way to make you safer,” Slash offered. It would make traveling with Knight less risky. If she saw a zebra, I could at best shapeshift them into a pony and hope that fooled her IFF. Though that would only work if there was only one zebra. I wondered how many shards I’d need to be able to transform multiple creatures at once. Thinking about it, I really could utilize the Pearl in combat more creatively. In hindsight, my fight with the alicorn outside Novac would have gone far differently if I had thought to turn her into an earth pony. Assuming the single shard I possessed at the time had the capacity.

The sudden whizzing of gunshots broke my train of thought, a thirty caliber bullet bouncing off the collar of my armor and cutting my cheek. Way too close! Our group scattered into buildings, Gritt fluidly drawing, loading, and firing his rifle at the sniper who hit me, blowing the black-armored griffon’s weapon apart, and badly wounding his arm.

“Talon!” Gritt shouted.

Did we stumble into territory they were guarding? Pressing the back of my claw to my bleeding wound, I carefully looked around. The only structure of note was a fairly intact police station. On closer inspection, I could see more griffons in dark combat armor sporting a white logo of an avian claw. They rushed to defensive positions. One shouted for cover, a female with a medical armband rushed to the injured sniper. I considered taking the shot, but Gritt gestured to me not to.

“We’re just passing through to Tenpony, assholes!” our merc called out. “Maybe try telling us to go around before opening fire!”

A large, no, enormous dark red griffon buck emerged from the station, barely fitting through the door with his head and metal wings tucked in. He had plates of reinforced armor cybernetically infused into his body. A belt-fed heavy machine gun was slung to his side. “Hold your fire, dumbasses! It’s Trickshot! Do you all want to die!?” The other Talons immediately lowered or stowed their weapons. The cybergriff flew up to the injured sniper and smacked him hard. “Follow protocol next time, moron!”

Gritt stowed his rifle as the griffon who was easily quadruple his size and intimidatingly larger than me approached him. “Crim? What are you doing near Manehattan?”

Crim accepted a cigarette offered by Grit and lit it. “Eh. NCR took my old base between Filly and the Foal Mountains. They were at least polite about it, and gave us a job.” He glanced at the police station. “Want us for their dirty work.”

“Dirty work?” I asked. “NCR’s not as clean as they claim?” In the corner of my eye, Knight went to assist with my near-killer.

The cyber-griffon laughed. “New flags and armor won’t magically erase the last few decades. Most of the griffs in the NCR are ex-Talons who did a lot of shitty things. Especially the officers.” He gestured to the police station. “Got a bunch of raiders locked up, waiting for NCR correctional troops to take them to Arbu. They’d better hurry before the poor sods starve in custody. I’m not fucking wasting my caps feeding that trash.”

“You can’t just treat prisoners like that,” Slash interjected. Here we go with the ‘honor’ thing. “The NCR must have laws against that.”

Mechanical lungs whirred as Crim took a deep drag. “We’re not NCR, and that’s the point. And these raiders should count themselves lucky not to be bloody pulps or piles of ashes. They’re getting more of a chance than they deserve.” He chuckled cruelly. “Hell, half of them are so fucked up on chems they don’t even realize they’re locked up. Had to give the really crazy ones their own cells.”

“I assume you’ll only get paid for breathing prisoners?” I asked, and Crim nodded. “Our medic could help them last a little longer.”

“And I’ll donate some of my provisions, and some caps for you to buy more.” Slash’s naive generosity made me roll my eyes. These Talons might feed the prisoners instead of themselves, and they’ll definitely just pocket the caps. Crim obviously accepted both of our offers, seeing no downsides.

*****

Slash came back from the station not long after going in with Knight. She was furious at the state the raiders were being kept in. I reminded her what kinds of things raiders do to their victims, but she argued that didn’t make it right.

“Destroy an enemy, or treat them with dignity if they are captured. Anything else is… wrong.” She pondered, then gave me a hard stare. “Do your people treat mine this way?”

“They’re not starved or tortured, I assure you. The Storm King wants to assimilate your people, and atrocities are counter-productive to that end.” Once again, I was perfectly honest with her on this topic.

She spat into the dirt. “We will never be ruled.”

I turned to Gritt, wanting to change the subject. “How do you know Crim?”

The small griffon looked uncomfortable. “I know Crimson from after Fillydelphia. Bloodfeather Company was one of the post Red Eye Talon groups who didn’t join Gawd. Don’t really know why… Really a nice guy deep down, helped me get out of the city and get work.”

“A nice guy deep down, huh?” Crimson stepped up and put an arm around Gritt. A mix of emotions splashed across our companion’s face as his claw twitched slightly towards his pistol. “Ever get tired of being a solo act, my Company always has slots.” The larger griffon’s beak hovered very close to Gritt’s.

The smaller griffon pushed his head away and slipped out of his grip. “Don’t push your luck, Crim. It was nice to see you again, but… no. Fuck off. I don’t work for you anymore.” Crimson raised his claws innocently and backed off. Slash stared fiery daggers at him.

Knight came out to inform us that she wanted to stay with the prisoners until the NCR picked them up. We agreed to come back if it was okay for her to come to Tenpony. Gritt eagerly led us away from the station.

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

Footnote:
Welcome to Level 8!

Perk Added: Tunnel Runner! Your time underground has improved your maneuverability in ruins and caves! You gain +2 to Perception and Agility and move 10% faster when indoors.