Fallout Equestria: The Asylum
"The lunatics are running the nuthouse!"
It all started on a simple night. Me and my friends were part of a caravan. There was our medic Nurse Whiteblood, a pure white earth pony mare who volunteered to join us as opposed to staying cooped up at the New Ministry of Peace headquarters in Railton. Our aerial protection came from the griffin merc Marcos (his parents wanted him to go into their line of work as mercenaries I know they were uncreative) and his sniper rifle 'Compul' named such because of its mental uplink to his cybernetics (long story he doesn't like to go into it). Our brahmin Bonnie and Clyde who had the distinction of having both its brains remaining unfried pulled our cart. Then there was me the red maned yellow coated unicorn Campfire. I know an unusual name for a trader but most of my merchandise isn't physical.
I was a trader of terror. You want to know how? Simple I told ghost stories and tonight should have been a big night for us, tonight was Nightmare Night. But we ended up hitting a snag. The closest settlement was another day away so we were screwed.
"DAMN IT!!!" I whined at the top of my lungs, "Nightmare Night, one of the few night's ponies actually care about my stories."
"Calm down," Whiteblood said in her soothing voice, "Remember what I told you about your blood pressure?"
"Yes but come on I think I deserve to be agitated."
"He has a point you know," Clyde said, "we coulda' made like bandits tonight."
"Shut up Clyde," Bonnie chimed in, "the nurse knows best."
"Well then let's just set up camp for the night," Marcos suggested, "we'll break for town tomorrow maybe someone will still have Nightmare Night fever and listen to his stories for some caps."
"I agree," Whiteblood said, "better safe than sorry."
"Fine," I said having been broken down, "we'll camp but Marcos take out your flame talisman and start a fire. There's no way I'll go the through Nightmare Night without telling a story."
*****
A few hours later our camp was set up and we were around the fire.
"Tell me," I began, "we all know how the wastes started right?"
"The megaspells," Marcos responded, "everypony knows that."
"Yes but does everyone know how the megaspells started?"
"I do," Whiteblood leapt in, "they were a Ministry of Peace project based on layering spells to amplify their effect," she said this with a smile knowing how clever she was.
"Wait," Bonnie chimed in, "why would the Ministry of Peace make the spells that eventually ended the world? Didn't Fluttershy want to end the war?"
"Well yes but the original spells were meant to heal. The first instance healed an entire battlefield. I've even heard rumors that there was one soldier who was cut in half who was revived by it."
"And that's what she expected the Zebras to do," I said, "she gave them megaspells not to end the world but the war. Think about it Twilight was working on spells to protect entire city's Fluttershy was hoping the Zebras would use them to make invincible armies with their alchemy. If neither side could die then the war would be over. Although there is the fact about the original megaspell."
"What's that?" Whiteblood asked.
"Nothing is a success on the first try. So Fluttershy needed to test the spells. She did so at an asylum because if she could cure Equestria's most twisted mind's she could easily cure any injured body."
So the experiment's began some test's were positive some not so much. I've heard tell that some patient’s became ghouls. Though the worst fate of all befell a pony known now only by his number. Patient six-six-four-four-two.
*****
He was in the asylum for killing his wife and daughter. When asked why he was quoted as saying 'so they wouldn't be taken as payment by my protectors' he was a well known practicer of necromancy the court believed this had taken a toll on his psyche so rather than death he was sent to the asylum.
There his psyche only became worse. He continually told the guards about demons only for those guards to turn up missing. Every cellmate he had also disappeared. Eventually they deemed him too dangerous to have around others and put him in solitary.
*****
One day Fluttershy came looking for a mind to mend. His psyche made him seem like an Ideal candidate.
"Um excuse me Mr. Guard," she sweetly asked the guard on duty.
"Yes Ms. Fluttershy?" he replied with a grin.
"I wish for this patient to be released into my care. If you don't mind."
His grin immediately faded and in a gruff tone he said, "I'm sorry Ms. Fluttershy he's too dangerous to let out especially to someone as high in the Equestrian government as yourself. All his former cell mates have gone missing while he’s been here, not to mention the guards that had the nerve to actually talk to him. Heck they’re giving me double pay just to stand here."
"But this asylum is part of the Ministry of Peace and as Ministry Mare I must insist he be released into my custody."
“I’m sorry Ms. Fluttershy but I can’t do that in good heart. If something were to happen to you where would Equestria be?”
“I could move some papers around, get you a raise maybe even an early promotion.”
“I’m sorry Ms. Fluttershy but it’s still no.”
“Understand I can’t give you the details but I need him to ensure Equestria’s safety. He could be an important part in ending this war.”
"Very well Ms. Fluttershy,” he said taking out a key with a sigh, “but I warn you six-six-four-four-two isn't one to be taken lightly."
*****
I had to stop mid story having been interrupted by Marcos.
“When is this story going to get scary?” he asked, “it’s sounding more like a history lesson.”
“Just wait for it,” I replied, “and please don’t interrupt,” I went back to telling my story.
*****
A few days later Fluttershy ready to begin. Six-six-four-four-two was strapped down to a medical table in a pure white room with only Fluttershy and ten unicorns in Ministry of Peace robes in the room with him.
"Alright Mr. De..."
"Just call me six-six-four-four-two," he quickly replied shifting his eyes around the room, “they could be anywhere and they will come if they know I’m here.”
"Well then Mr. six-six-four-four-two are you ready for your treatment?"
"My life is entrusted to you. Please do what must be done be it toxic injection or a bullet to the brain," he said with a slight giggle, “Please just get it over with before they come”.
"No, no, no, no, no you misunderstand I'm going to cure you of your dissolutions of demons."
"Aw how I wish they were only in my mind but who do you think attacked the guards? What about my cellmates? Lean closer,” Fluttershy listened and six-six-four-four-two whispered the next part, “No my friend they're very real and have entrusted themselves as my protectors. It started with my family and won't end until I'm gone."
"We'll see about that. Unicorns ready the layering process," she said putting on a pair of goggles. Just then another unicorn appeared in the room only his black horn seen from beneath his robe.
“Uhm excuse me this is a restricted area,” Fluttershy said looking at him.
“I was sent here from the research division they thought you would need another unicorn,” he said in a deep voice.
“I wish they would inform me of changes to plans. But fine join the others.”
“NO!” six-six-four-four-two yelled, “HE IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED HE IS FROM THE PITS OF TARTARUS! HE! IS! ONE! OF! THEEEMMM!!!
“Just ignore him,” Fluttershy told the new unicorn, “we’ll have him all better soon.”
The eleven unicorns in the room readied themselves their horns glowing. Preparing for the spell that could change the world. They shot the beams of light into the center of the room right above six-six-four-four-two it forming into an orb of magical energy. It exploded in a flash of light. Then there was a puff of red smoke. When it cleared patient six-six-four-four-two was missing and the additional unicorn was able to slip out unnoticed thanks to the commotion of six-six-four-four-two missing.
"Oh ponyfeathers," Fluttershy silently swore to herself, "track his ID collar. We need to find him right now!"
“I’m on it Ms. Fluttershy,” said one of the ten unicorns from the room removing the hood of her Ministry of Peace robe revealing her bright green coat. Then proceeding at a full gallop towards a terminal at the edge of the room.
“Hurry the megaspell isn't done, it could have made him more mentally unstable. He could be out there killing an entire village right now and if he is it’s our duty to stop him.”
“Ms. Fluttershy I think I found him.”
“Good where is he?”
"I'd tell you but you won't like it," the bright green unicorn said looking at the monitor.
"Tell me right now!" Fluttershy said with anger in her voice not seen since that night at the Gala so long ago.
"He's back at the asylum."
*****
Fluttershy flew as fast as she could to the asylum. Outside she activated the intercom.
“Excuse me,” she started, “this is Fluttershy I need to get in right now.”
“Alright Ms. Fluttershy I’ll buzz you in,” a mare’s voice said.
“Thank you.”
The door buzzed and she enters the main lobby of the asylum, but there was nopony there. It’s lobby music was the only sound, it’s empty chairs and old magazines (some featuring her from her brief modeling career) were the only sight.
“Hello,” Fluttershy said to nopony imperticuler, “anypony here?” but there was no response so she continued.
She walked through the security checkpoint’s yet still there was nopony. Slowly the lobby music faded and the walls began to turn a light pink.
“Odd,” she quietly thought out loud, “these are supposed to be white.”
Continuing it became a deeper pink until the pink stopped and the red began. It was a deeper and deeper red until it was pure crimson. Then she began seeing the bodies. Guards and patients laying everywhere all the fluid’s in their body’s drained.
"Oh no," she walked the red stained halls crying, "What have I done?" she wondered as she stepped towards the halls holding the cells.
Just then a unicorn mare from the layering room burst in, "MS. FLUTTERSHY ARE YOU UNHARMED!?" she yelled in confusion and concern trying to catch up with her boss.
"Yes," Fluttershy said quietly continuing to walk towards the end of the hall, “but only physically. This is mostly my fault we needed more tests with the megaspell done before trying it no a living subject yet alone another equine. That would take a toll on anypony.”
“Ms. Fluttershy it’s not your fault I mean it was the research division that said it was ready for living subjects. It’s their fault if anypony’s.”
“But I shouldn’t have listened to them. They didn’t even know how many unicorns we needed for the spell. They sent that extra one at the last moment.”
“Ms. Fluttershy that’s another thing,” the unicorn said with concern in her eyes.
“What?” Fluttershy replied.
“I called the research division about the extra unicorn. They said that never happened they said ten was all we needed and they have no clue where that extra unicorn came from.”
“Well then we need to start an investigation of that when we get back.”
‘Yes mam,” the unicorn said as they got to the end of the hall where the solitary cells were.
Slowly they looked up at the wall of the farthest cell the one that had housed six-six-four-four-two. It had pentagrams big, and small, carved by horn, and drawn in blood everywhere on the walls and the floor. In the center of the largest one on the back wall was patient six-six-four-four-two pinned to the wall by his own horn right through the chest.
Written in his blood above him, "They're finally sedated. The demons are gone."
"Ms. Fluttershy I'm so sorry," the unicorn spoke, "should we discontinue the megaspell program?"
"No," she said tears still in her eyes, "it's still our best hope to end this war. I just want this place closed down."
"Yes Ms. Fluttershy," the unicorn replied.
"And that's just what they did," I said finishing the story, "though they never demolished it and six-six-four-four-two's spirit haunts that asylum to this day. His 'protectors' still looking for fresh sustenance."
*****
"That never happened," Whiteblood spoke, "Fluttershy wouldn't have put her own life in danger that recklessly. Even if six-six-four-four-two did exist there's no way he met with Fluttershy."
"Believe what you will. But the fact remains that I told you a story so I would like like my caps now please," I said playfully holding out a hoof.
"Ha ha I'm going to bed," Whiteblood said curling up in her sleeping bag, "goodnight."
"Well I found it entertaining," Marcos said, "although I agree with Whiteblood I'm gunna hit the sack."
Just like that it was just me (Bonnie and Clyde having fallen asleep during the story).
*****
We all woke up a few hours later thanks to the ever returning rain.
"Aw thanks Celestia now we gotta find shelter," I said.
"Don't worry," Marcos said, "I see a fairly intact building not too far away we can hunker down there for the night."
We walked for a while and made it to the building. Though none of wanted to go in after seeing what it was.
*****
"No I am NOT going in an asylum," I said.
"Come on," Whiteblood cockily replied, "scared of your own story?"
"N-no. But think about it. This would make a great raider hideout. There’s probably a few in there looking for new victims."
"Well I don't see any red-marks on Compul so there are no hostile forces," Marcos said.
"Great then let's," Clyde began.
"Get out of this rain," Bonnie finished.
So reluctantly we did.
*****
"I can't believe we're in an asylum," I said, "yet alone a Ministry of Peace one."
"Well let's see if there's useable loot," Whiteblood said, "I'm sure there's some food. Maybe even some Pre-war tech if we're lucky."
"Right we'll split up," Marcos said, "I'll go with Whiteblood. Bonnie go with Clyde."
"Do we have a choice!?" Bonnie and Clyde responded.
"Wait what about me?" I asked a slight shiver in my voice.
"You stay here as a lookout for raiders like you said this would be a good hideout they may just not be home," Marcos said.
"Or six-six-four-four-two’s ‘protectors’ may be looking for food," Whiteblood said laughing mockingly.
After that we went our separate ways.
*****
It was uneventful for a few hours until I heard some shots and Whiteblood came running towards me screaming as loud as I’d ever heard her scream.
"CAMPFIRE!!!!" she screamed tears in her eyes.
"There, there what is it?" I asked trying to comfort her.
"IT'S SIX-SIX-FOUR-FOUR-TWO HE'S REAL HE GOT MARCOS!!!" she yelled continuing to cry from sadness and fear.
"Calm down where is he? Marcos I mean not six-six-four-four-two."
"DEAD HE'S DEAD SIX-SIX-FOUR-FOUR-TWO KILLED HIM I JUST SAID THAT!!!"
"Just take me to him."
"O.K." she said still crying.
*****
We walked down a dark empty hall, white padded cells lining the wall until we came to one cell coated red in blood and black in oil.
"There he is," Whiteblood said no longer crying (only because she ran out of tears).
Marcos' mangled body lay in front of us. His wings were pulled out, ripping him in half from cybernetic eye to cybernetic leg.
"It was six-six-four-four-two he's real," Whiteblood said.
"Calm down," I said trying in vain to comfort her, "tell me what happened."
"We were walking down here trying to find the guards office when we heard a voice. It was crying for help. Marcos saw a yellow line on Compul and went towards it. He ended up in this cell. We saw four clawed shadow hands come out and grab him by his wings, his eye and leg and they tore him in fours. His blood and the oil from his cybernetics splattered all over the wall."
"Well then let's get out of here," I said this grabbing Compul in my telekinetic grasp, "whatever got Marcos may still be here. So let's get the fuck out."
"Works for me," Whiteheart said beginning to gallop away at top speed.
*****
We headed up towards where Bonnie and Clyde had ran (the kitchen area we assumed). To meet back up with our Brahmin and leave this nuthouse.
"Hey Whiteblood?" I addressed her with a question.
"Yah?" she responded in confusion.
"What happened when Marcos was attacked?"
"The compass on Compul was yellow like an ally why?"
"Compul is showing a yellow mark."
"SHOOT IT!!! SHOOT IT NOW!!!" Whiteblood yelled at the top of her lungs.
I acted on instinct and fired Compul at the mark. A loud bang sounded through the hall followed by the sickening crunch of a bullet hitting a skull.
The yellow mark faded out of existence and we slowly walked towards where the mark once was. The sounds of our hooves echoing across the tiled floors and the howling of the wind through the dead trees outside were the only sounds. We walked closer and closer but when we got there it wasn't demon hands. I had shot Bonnie through her head and it went clean through Clyde's skull. Our companions were dead leaving only me and Whiteblood in the asylum.
"We're getting out of here," I whispered to Whiteblood, "we're not suffering the same fate as our fallen companions."
"Agreed," she said, "let's go."
*****
We made our way towards the entrance and opened the door but beyond it wasn't the wasteland I knew it was a pure white room. Clean as though it was just built yesterday and operating as though the grid was still up. Filled with monitors showing black and white videos of the asylum.
"What is it?" Whiteblood asked with wonder in her eyes.
"I think it's the central hub of operations," I replied, "the room from which the entire asylum was ran, all the information was probably stored in here, and if so it’s where we can find a way out."
As I finished my sentence I entered the room but then the door swung shut. All I heard was Whiteblood's blood curdling scream then silence. The only sound left was the soft buzzing of the monitors. I walked up to the monitors and saw a small crystalline orb. I immediately recognized it.
"This is a memory orb," I thought to myself, "well I'm going to die anyway I may as well go in the orb so I won't feel a thing."
oooOOOooo
I was in the body of a unicorn mare holding a notepad and pencil in my telekinetic grasp. I was in a pure white room across from a psychiatrist couch with a unicorn stallion not too different from myself. Though he was in a yellow jumpsuit with the number six-six-four-four-two sewed on it in pink and had some kind of metal cone on his horn (if my pre-war knowledge is right a magic dampier).
I began to speak, "So Mr. De-"
"Please call me six-six-four-four-two," the unicorn replied.
"Alright six-six-four-four-two please tell me have you been seeing these 'demons' lately?"
"First off they're protectors second off yes."
"When was the last time?"
"Do you remember a week ago when that guard went missing?"
"Yes why?"
"They eliminated him... He was after me. They told me so."
"Yes tell me when did you first see these two?"
"Many years ago. Back when the war began. I researched necromancy to protect me and my family. Though they could only help me. Now they tell me to end it all."
His horn began to glow a bright red and formed a shape similar to a baton.
"HOW IN LUNA’S NAME DID YOU DO THAT?!?!" I yelled in confusion fearing for my life,”THE DAMPER SHOULD PREVENT YOU FROM DOING ANYTHING MORE THAN SIMPLE TELEKINESIS!”
"That guard was a fool now it's all going to be over."
He brought the energy baton down onto his own head. The first blow cracked his horn with some blood coming out and the baton began shrinking.
“PLEASE STOP!” I shouted in desperation.
With the second strike the small crack grew and the blood squirted out.
“I’M WARNING YOU I’LL CALL SECURITY!!” I shouted in vain
With the final strike his horn snapped with a sickening crunch and the baton disappeared.
I ran to the door, “SECURITY WE HAVE A SITUATION!!!”
He picked his horn up and impaled himself with it.
"They're finally appeased," he said with a bloody tear in his eye.
"MEDICS!!! WE HAVE A SUICIDE!!! COME QUICK!!!" I yelled.
It was too late patent six-six-four-four-two was dead.
*****
How I would have wished for the memory to end there, but I had no such luck.
"Patient six-six-four-four-two is dead. We will do as the asylum’s bylaws dictate and cremate him. His jumpsuit will be given to a new patient."
It was a few minutes and I handed a orange earth pony in a chicken suit (your guess would be as good as mine) the jumpsuit, “Here you are Mr. CooCoo you’ll be wearing this as opposed to your uhm ‘street clothes’ during your stay.
“Whatever you say talkin’ eggplant,” he said taking off the suit.
"The new patient six-six-four-four-two is dead. Mr. CooCoo was found torn to bits yet the jumpsuit was unharmed. We have no clue what's happening but we're going to send the examination team the jumpsuit. We're going to find out what's going on... Even if the whole asylum dies."
oooOOOooo
I finally exited the memory and I was surprised to still be alive.
"So six-six-four-four-two was real. Though I think his jumpsuit is a myth," I said this quietly to myself.
I turned around and saw two thing's new to the room. A jumpsuit with the numbers six-six-four-four-two and an audio-tape with packing tape on it which in bold black letters read, "BURN THIS DAMN JUMPSUIT!!!"
Footnote: New Quest: Only a Legend?
Put on the Jumpsuit and prove it's only a legend.
--Or--
Burn that Jumpsuit before it claims another victim.
A/N
I'll explain what happened next year but for now have fun with theory's. Feel free to write what you think happened during any time that isn't explained but remember to give me credit for the original and to mention that it's non-canonical just what you think happened. But remember that this is all for fun. So see you next year and have a happy Nightmare Night.
