Fallout: Equestria - Pushing Daisies

Chapter 2: Familiar Faces

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Alright, worst case scenario, the Stable Dweller left someone alive who’d recognize my face and wonder why I was suddenly not dead. If the carnage here and on the railway were any indicator, that was unlikely. Still, I felt it was best to flag down a patrolling alicorn and have them escort me to the other slavers.

A nasty excuse for a unicorn mare glared at me as I came into view. “What the… a survivor? Where the hell were you?”

I tapped my damaged breastplate. “I just woke up. Shotgun blast must have knocked me out.” A nod from my tall blue companion was all the confirmation the mare needed. As much as I didn’t like alicorns, I couldn’t say they weren’t team players.

“Shit, that’s lucky.” The slaver gestured me over. “Got a name?”

“Daisy.” I’d best be as vague as possible. My people gave up lying about our names a long time ago. It made it too hard to keep our stories straight if we crossed paths or traded places.

She looked around, then let out a grunt. “Well, Daisy, we best pack up and move. You just had a nice long nap, so you’re on the first shift pulling wagons.”

Damn it. “We don’t have slaves for that?”

My comment received an icy stare. “We would if you did your fucking job.”

It wasn’t my job. It was the other Daisy’s job.

No point trying to make that argument unless I was going for an insanity plea. Resigned, I found a wagon and hitched up. Sure enough, the caravan was headed in Fillydelphia’s direction, and that was a long trot.

*****

Not even raiders were dumb enough to give us trouble. The number of guns on our side were enough of a deterrent, let alone the winged, horned, magical mutant creatures accompanying us. Alicorns, admittedly, weren’t inherently bad. I didn’t hate them, I hated who they were extensions of. They’re just as much slaves as we Daisies are, just with far less personality.

Speaking of lacking personality, and being dumb enough to attack us, our caravan stumbled onto a horde of zombie ponies. I took no chances, barricading myself in a wagon and taking pot shots while those with big guns did the heavy lifting. I’ve been mauled to death by ghouls before. It is not something I intend to go through again.

Another type of creature I felt pity for. Slaves to their decayed minds. I briefly imagined the Goddess taking control of me and not letting go until my mind snapped… She’s done it to Daisies before, and they stayed that way even after respawning. We had a Stable near the river we kept those Daisies locked up in. Stable 108.

If Red Eye knew about it, I wouldn’t put it past him to try and domesticate them into laborers. Good thing there was no chance in hell the Goddess would ever allow him anywhere near Maripony. Not to mention, she’d never let him learn about her network of pony clone spies. The alicorns were obvious, you couldn’t miss them. But us? We could fade into the background.

The hard part was making sure there weren’t too many of us in the same area, which was increasingly difficult as the years went by and our ranks steadily increased. Considering my master’s interest in Red Eye, there was a non-zero chance that more than one of us were in Fillydelphia. Thank Celestia we weren’t griffons. With how organized Talon was, there’s no way we could pull that on them.

On cue, a squad of black-armored and heavily armed fliers met us as Equestria’s last bastion of industry came into view. They were not taking any chances, and I didn’t blame them. Steel Rangers were getting bold lately, Hellhounds have been more aggressive than usual, and a recent influx of raider slaves had turned Filly itself into a powder keg.

*****

The first time I entered these gates was a pretty damn terrifying experience. I was inside a wagon cage that time, not pulling one. Since the ones we had were empty, our reception was missing a particular black-feathered griffoness who loved to scare the shit out of newcomers. Even though I only saw it twice, when I first got here and right before I died in the Pit, Stern’s sadistic grin was something seared into my mind forever. What I wouldn’t give to see someone knock her down a peg… Maybe some alicorns could drag her to Maripony, put her in front of the Goddess in person, and see how big and tough she is then.

Wishful thinking… As if anypony would ever do anything about this place. This was the status quo, and I was going to be part of it until my master deemed otherwise.

After taking a deep, pollution-filled breath, I trotted to the mare in charge and asked where I was supposed to go.

“Oh, you?” She rubbed her chin. “Hazel could always use more guard ponies around flamer fuel production.”

Fucking amazing, giving slaves volatile fluids. What could possibly go wrong? “Sure.” After getting directions, I headed that way. Talons I passed seemed more high-strung than last time I was here, and while I wasn’t allowed too close to their bases, I could tell they were running a lot of coordinated drills. To varying degrees of success. I got a glimpse of a Talon almost blowing himself up with a flubbed grenade toss. Hey, he seemed familiar… Vomit-bird!

I quickly shoved away the urge to wave. Interacting with someone who had even the slightest chance of recognizing me as a dead former slave was a huge no-no. Picking up my pace, I found my post.

*****

“Daisy?” the caramel-coated earth stallion gawked at me. “Thought you transferred to the steel mill. Oh well, good to have you. Need as much security here as I can get.”

What is with these close calls lately? The Goddess is getting sloppy. “Yeah, uh, Hazel, they sent me back. Realized their mistake.”

Hazel chuckled. “Well, no lollygagging then. Best get to standing around looking mean.”

Oh, I was too cute to do that convincingly, but I'll do my best.

In truth, it took all I had to not look depressed. I was in these ponies hooves a few years ago, it was impossible not to empathize with these poor slaves. Nevertheless, I had to keep a close eye on them. A lot were raiders who’d know how to use the fuel against us if they got a chance. Burning to death was a very bad time, believe me.

Was there any cause of death I haven’t experienced? I should write a book. ‘Dumb Ways to Die in the Wasteland.’ Maybe sell it alongside Ditzy’s survival guide. It'd probably do well if I marketed it as a comedy.

A couple slaves made me nervous a few times, looking like they were about to get in a fight, but the approach of two more guards urged them to behave. The rest of my shift went smoothly, but I worried what would happen in the future if those slaves weren’t separated.

*****

Today thankfully was over, and I was finally allowed to get some rest. I followed Hazel to the nearest slaver barracks, which was the second floor of an apartment building. To my shock, I heard other guards mention showers. I was halfway out of my armor by the time I reached them, desperate for that sliver of civilization. Finally nude, I practically threw myself past the first open curtain. The shower I chose was not empty. I found myself muzzle to muzzle with a mirror.

“Shit!” The other Daisy’s eyes went wide before she reached behind me and snapped the curtain shut.

I stammered dumbly, struck by the odds. I knew there were others here, but this was a big city! Another me just happened to be in this shower!?

“Fuck…” she continued, quietening her voice. “That makes at least seven of us now. Five as slavers, two as slaves.

“What the fuck is the Goddess thinking?” My voice was a whisper as well. “The hell is going on? Is she trying to sneak an army of us in here?”

“How would I know!? She said she just wants more eyes and ears here!” Panic was betraying her volume control. I put a hoof over her muzzle.

“Look… Are the rooms here private or shared?” I needed to focus on our immediate problem.

She pondered. “It’s two to a room, but I somehow got my own. 13-B.”

That was lucky. “Alright, well, let’s clean up and head there one at a time. Then we’ll leave one at a time in the morning.”

“Can’t imagine we’ll be able to keep that up very long…” Other Daisy groaned. “I’ll use a different barracks tomorrow night. What’s your post?”

“Flamer fuel. You the one who transferred to the steel mill?”

“Yeah.” My counterpart smiled. “Say hi to Hazel for me.”

I nodded. Knowing where each other would be would help us avoid each other.

*****

Other Daisy entered 13-B just as I was getting cozy. She proceeded to ignore the empty bunk and join me in mine. We Daisies had a peculiar relationship with each other. We were the same person, but not. Our experiences shaped each of us into different people. Despite that, there were still things we all shared. For instance, loneliness. We shared a brief kiss, tightened our hooves around each other, and dozed off. We’d all gotten over the weirdness of such intimacy over a century ago. After all, no one could truly get us, except… us.

It honestly made me really depressed at times. Despite my best efforts, I’d outlive any normal pony I tried to have a relationship with. I’d lost a lot of lovers over the years, and it never got easier. The only long-term friendships any of us had managed were with ghouls, but it was especially heartbreaking when they eventually turned feral. Immortality is a curse, plain and simple. Anypony who seeks it just doesn’t understand that.

*****

The following weeks were tense. Raider slaves kept finding ways to cause trouble, the Talons grew more and more on-edge, and I kept having close calls with my doppelgangers. The only noteworthy bit of news from outside the city was that the operation at Shattered Hoof got taken over by an independent Talon faction, after the Stable Dweller apparently killed a fucking dragon. At this rate, she’ll go to war with the entire wasteland and somehow come out on top.

Today was not going to be a good day. I wanted to retch when Hazel said the Pit was being put on early, and I was very unhappy that he was dragging me to go watch. I. Did not. Enjoy seeing ponies die. I couldn’t stomach being around ponies who did.

Also, it would be really awkward if one of me was a combatant. There were at least two of us here as slaves, after all, so it wasn’t impossible. As I sat in the spectator stands, I quickly studied the cells on each end of the arena to confirm that thankfully wasn’t the case. However, the presence of a certain little gray unicorn made me choke. Sweet Celestia, she’s here to kill us all. I have to get out of this city.

Another surprising sight made me sad. The zebra slave, Xenith, was fighting today. Seeing her flooded my mind with the horrible treatment that led to her volunteering for the Pit. What the other slavers did to her… I couldn’t stop myself from throwing up when it happened, and I barely stopped myself now just thinking about it.

On second thought, Stable Dweller, please kill us all. My sisters and I can handle being collateral damage while you give the slavers what they deserve.

*****

When the fights started, I did my best to focus on anything else. Like, the sky. The constantly gray, cloud-covered sky, reddened by Fillydelphia's industrial waste. And… Is that a balefire phoenix?

“Finish it!” Stern’s familiar magnified words made me flinch, and I looked down in time to see Xenith snap the neck of a large stallion. Her next opponent was the Stable Dweller. I had no idea who to root for. A stupid, foalish prayer begged for both of them to somehow get out of this.

Instantly, the zebra had the unicorn on the ropes, getting in a couple of hard hits in. The Stable Dweller had to use telekinesis on herself to be light enough to dodge any finishing blows. Had she just been really resourceful and lucky this whole time?

Just when I thought Xenith had her, a band of magic wrapped around the zebra’s neck and tightened. I had to look away. Turns out, I also hated seeing zebras die.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

I hated this place so much.

“Finish it!”

Please, just get it over with…

“Finish it now!”

Blam!

The sharp eruption of Stern’s anti-machine rifle snapped my attention back to the arena, which… What the fuck? I couldn’t see anything! It was covered by floating sludge!

Stern kept firing, and was joined by other Talons and slaver guards. Which was supposed to include me, so I gripped my pistol and fired at anything but the faint green glow of a unicorn horn.

Against all odds, the unicorn escaped the caged arena and was galloping towards the FunFarm, all while telepathically holding Xenith. I didn’t want to chase after her, but I was afraid Stern would shoot me if I didn’t.

I wasn’t quick or nimble enough to keep up, which suited me just fine. By the time I reached the FunFarm, the fight had climbed its way onto the attached roller coaster. More Talons had joined the fray… Hey, it’s-

Blam!

Green magic had flipped the poor griffon’s own rifle on him and shot him in the throat, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Whelp... Alas, poor vomit-bird. I barely knew ye.

A griffoness went after him, while other Talons, including one with a rocket launcher, maintained the pursuit.

Being vertically challenged, there wasn’t much I could do except join a growing perimeter of guards around the FunFarm. Stable Dweller, if your plan was to escape, you went the wrong way.

My worry for her skyrocketed when I saw a massive creature fly in from the Crater. An alicorn supercharged with radiation dove into the FunFarm.

Before I could do anything, Stern landed beside me and shoved a claw in my face. “You!” She then pointed to two other slavers, and a few Talons. “You, you, and all of you. With me, now. We’ve got intruders at the SPP tower.”

*****

Being carried like a pet by someone I hated made my blood boil, but I guess it beat hoofing it. Stern practically tossed me at the control station’s entrance when we arrived.

“Get that fucking door open and get in there!” she barked at me while drawing her massive gun.

I took my frustration out on the door controls and rushed in as it slid open. Scanning the first room, pistol in my teeth, I saw nothing. “Clear!”

The Talons and other slavers followed me, doing their own sweep. We all cursed, knowing there was only one way forward. An elevator. Unlike most sensibly designed structures, this tower lacked stairs.

Stern’s orders were for the ponies to go first. Of course. We climbed in and pushed the only button. The doors closed, and the metal box carried us up to a certain trap.

I knew whatever was waiting for us was going to be bad. A Steel Ranger definitely met that criteria. I barely let out a whimper before a rocket soar past me and struck the back of the elevator, sending it into a freefall shortly after. The other two slavers died instantly, taking the brunt of the blast. I was launched forward into the room, and actually bounced off the Ranger, ending up crumpled in the corner.

I couldn’t move. My spine was broken. Further assessments of my condition would have to wait as a pair of stun grenades were tossed in from the empty shaft. There was no telling how the fight went down, but as the deafness and blindness subsided, I saw that all the Talons except Stern were dead. The Ranger had the Talon Captain pinned, a metal hoof pressed down on her back to cut off her breathing.

My own breathing had become extremely painful, and my pulse slowed to a crawl. I could only imagine how many pieces of shrapnel had ripped through my body as I noticed my blood pooling around me. I was fading faster and faster.

Just before Stern passed out, I used the last of my strength to stick my tongue out at her. Then I died.

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Author's Note

Cause of Death: Steelhooves