Fallout Equestria: Eclipseby PyromaniacChaptersPrologueDawn of a New DayA Song for SpriteTitanium PrologueTwo mares stood in the moonlight, their coats shimmering in the silver light. Both were afraid, both were proud, both were ready. "I hope you can forgive me, Eclipse." Said one, she appeared to be old, yet not quite. She wore a brown cloak, hiding her figure, although she was tall. A long, spiral horn came from her forehead, and an observant pony could notice that her cloak crudely hid a pair of strong wings, once beautiful feathers now ragged. "I can, although I wish you told me, first." Said Eclipse. She had a horn, like the other, but lacked wings. She was a young mare, early twenties in the latest, her white coat relatively clean, light lavender mane smooth and flat, hanging down her neck like a curtain. Her aqua eyes seemed uncaring, her expression bored, as if she was talking to a mule unstead of an alicorn. "I am sorry," The alicorn said, she seemed apologetic and wanted to reach out to Eclipse, although the white mare resisted other's emotions to get to her. "But you... you mightn't have come tonight if I told you." "It would have spared you getting shot at." "Touché, but you'll take that risk, too, someday." "Yeaah, right," Eclipse smirked. "So, why are we here again." The mare slammed her hoof into her forehead. "Because, you are destined to be the next Princess of Peace, though I really wonder why." "So do I. There is no more peace on Equestria. It's a hell-hole that can't be saved." The alicorn's eyes were filled with rage. "There is hope!" She screeched at Eclipse. " Why else do we exist?!" "False hope, make foals think their 'princesses' are back, so they get themselves in trouble and die?" "Eclipse, stop. Just stop. You are already making me question making you the Princess of Peace. Just shut up." The mare dropped all sympathy and regality. "Fine, then," Eclipse said, her look softening, but agitation lingered in her eyes. "Don't drag it out. Just do it." "You know I'll die, right?" "I do, do you?" The two engaged in a staring contest. The alicorn faltered first. "Fine, FINE!" A tear leaked out of her eye, sliding down her cheek. Eclipse looked like she couldn't give any less of a damn. The alicorn's horn lit up, and she touched her horn to Eclipse's. The elder's cloak fell off, and her wings seemes to be falling apart, reconstructing themselves on the white mare's shoulders. They stared into each other's eyes, one was afraid, one was annoyed. When the last feather arranged itself on Eclipse's new wings, a dark shadow appeared on the moon. "An eclipse... be good, little one. Make Equestria a better place..." The former alicorn murmured as her knees sunk into the ground. She laid down in a patch of silver flowers, staring at Eclipse. "Sleep, now," The other said, half in her rude fashion, half in a motherly way. "I will," The mare said. She took her last breath, and closed her eyes. All she is now is a unicorn, and nopony shall know her or her efforts, all they would see would be another unfortunate soul, laid to rest on a bed of flowers. Eclipse levitated a flower into her mane, but otherwise did not acknowledge the dead body. She spread her new wings and took flight. She didn't want this. She didn't want life. She wanted death... death. Yes, wouldn't that be nice? Hell is heaven compared to Equestria, now. Well, this was her life, however long it would be. It'd end, she'd name a new Princess, and she'd be dead. Her quest was on, name a new Princess. And that was all she thought of. Not of the gunmare behind her. She heard a gun go off, and had a split second to realize what was going to happen. "Shit," Dawn of a New DayWe are not dead when our souls leave our bodies, but instead when we are forgotten. *** A small yellow filly awoke, bathed in blood, unsure if it belonged to her or others. Her hooves were held down by chains, and an especially heavy one around her neck. She stood up, her fur dripping with the red liquid. It disgusted her, yet she... she... loved it. She loved it! That weird, sticky feeling, the wetness of the fluid dripping down her leg. She laughed like a madmare, her eye twitching. Her laughter gradually died, and when it did she looked around, and her heart stopped. She was surrounded by dead ponies. Suddenly, her stomach hurt. She convulsed like she was going to throw up, but couldn't. She finally resorted to screaming. The concrete walls shook with her shouts of pure, unbridled fear. She pulled against her chains, unable to escape this horror. Her fear only grew when one by her hoof rolled over, staring at her with empty eye sockets. It reached a hoof out to her, causing her to scream louder. Then all all crawled towards her... the worst thing is, she knew them all. Tears leaking down the foal's cheeks as she howled in horror. "No, no... NO! HEELP! HELP ME!" She screamed, desperate for anything. Her best friend grabbed her hoof and clung to her. The dead pegasus was slaughtered, missing eyes and large chunks of flesh. Her mouth opened, and spewed more blood on the living soul. "HEEEEELP!" She cried again, the tears falling faster. It was no use, they were on her. She bowed to face her demise. Then another came. A shimmering white alicorn. Her mere presence drove the massacred bodies away. The blood dried, and a slight snippet of calm entered the foal. "C-celestia?" The filly gaped. The mare shook her head. "Be brave, Sprite, worse is coming." Sprite couldn't answer, as the mare put her horn to the chains, and the formerly chained pony woke up. "A dream," Sprite murmured. "All a dream." She rubbed her head, her body void of blood or chains. She kept murmuring about a dream. No, a nightmare. Who was that mare? How did she know her name? "Don't be silly, Sprite, it was a dream. Alicorns don't exist anymore..." The yellow foal curled her hooves into herself, laying her head down. She was too afraid to sleep, but was exhausted. She mushed herself into a ball, hiding her face in her body when she felt a gentle hoof on her back. She flinched, still afraid. "It's me, little one," A gentle voice cooed. Sprite looked back up, seeing a soft pink mare with a green-and-white mane. "Mama, I had the dream again." The filly murmured. The mare held her child in close embrace, stroking her mane, the same color as her own. "When's it gonna stop?" "It's gonna stop soon, baby." "Mama, I want it to stop now. I hate that dream." She seemed to turn into a foal only a couple years old when she was in her mother's hooves. "Blossom is always in it." The mare held her child's head in her hoof, kissing her forehead. "It's all gonna be okay, it's only a dream." "It doesn't feel like a dream." "It never does, Sprite, but know it is." "Mama, it was different this time. There was... was an alicorn." Sprite couldn't display the correct expression on her face. "She drove them all away, and she freed me. And... and she told me that something worse is gonna happen." The filly buried her face in her mother's chest, crying. "I don't want it to get worse!" "Sprite, honey, nothing is going to happen." "But the alicorn..." The pink mare put a hoof on her lips. "Mommy will always be there for you. Also, you said an alicorn told you that, right?" "Y-yes," "You have a guardian angel. She'll protect you when I can't." "I guess, but I'd rather have you." "I do, too, but someday I have to go away." "Why, mama? Why do you have to go?" "Because one day you'll be a big mare, and you won't need me." "I'll always want you, though." Sprite murmured, snuggling deeper into her mother's embrace. Her mother looked at her lovingly. She stroked her mane more as she sang in a soft voice. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed. Drift, drift off to sleep, Leave the exciting day behi~ind you. "I love you, mama." "I love you, Sprite." *** Sprite awoke to being vigorously shaken. "Sprite! Sprite, wake up!" Her mother said, her green eyes frightened. "Mama, what's going on?" "Bad ponies. You need to go." Sprite looked horrified. "Without you?" "Go to the cave, I'll be with you soon." The mare said, putting something on the foal's hoof. "What's this, mama?" "A PipBuck, it can help you. Now go!" She pushed the foal out a broken window. "Run!" All Sprite heard was gunshots as she ran. She was on a heart attack level of panic as she skidded into the cave. She huddled down as she waited for her mother. She sang soft songs, told herself stories, looked at the clouds, anything she could to pass the time. But as the hours droned on, she knew her mother wasn't coming, nor would she see her ever again. Sprite couldn't even cry, tears couldn't relieve this pain. She knew what happened. She knew she was truly alone. A Song for SpriteOh, how my poor child cries. Calm her stormy heart with a song straight from heaven. *** Sprite awoke in a hard, stone floor. Her sides hurt from laying on some stray gravel. She nearly called for her mother, but remembered the events of last night. She rubbed her eye with a black-tipped hoof. "She was right... that alicorn was right. Why was she right?!" She howled in pain. "Why are you right?!" Her chest hurt, weighted down with the heaviness of her heart. All she wanted was her mother... just a piece of her. Then she remembered the PipBuck on her hoof. She pulled the hoof it resided on close and looked at it, flipping through it. It was pretty much empty, except for something, something that intrigued Sprite. There was a note loaded onto it. Dearest daughter Sprite, if I have given this to you, know you are ready to go on your own. I don't want to give it to you, but every mother must let her children go sometime. This was once my PipBuck, and it is now yours. It was tradition in the Stable I grew up in to give one to a foal when they gain their cutie mark. Fret not, dearest, as I am sure you shall your cutie mark by the time you receive this. No matter where you go, know that I love you, my dearest one. My little Sprite. Forever yours, Mother. Sprite really did cry. This... this was meant for when she was older, when she had a cutie mark. Now her mother would never see what it would be. She bit her lower lip in an effort not to cry. She took a deep breath, she knew she'd die if she stayed here moping. She stood up shakily, she took nervous steps towards the cave's exit. "Be brave, little Sprite. You are stronger than you think." Her mother's calm voice echoing in her ear. She stood tall and galloped outside. The sun burned her eyes, which had been accustomed to the dark. She squeezed them shut and kept running. Not home, no, they may still be there. The ones who killed her mother. Rage spread through her like wildfire. It took everything she had not to run back and avenge her mother. No, she'd wait. She'd know who they were, she'd know... She skidded to a stop, suddenly realizing the seriousness of her situation. She was a lone foal with literally nothing on her but her mother's PipBuck. No bottlecaps, no water, no food, no means of defending herself. She cursed under her breath and she consulted her PipBuck once more. Her mom must have had maps on here somewhere... *** Eclipse looked around, thoroughly confused. She looked at her hoof as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. When she averted her gaze, looking around again, she realized she was in the middle of a desert, a brown cloak beside her as if she had kicked it off. She stood up, desperately trying to remember something, anything. Let's see... breathing, check. Basic grammar, "Check," So is walking. What was she forgetting? Herself... something about herself. She looked at her sides. She had wings, and by touching her head, she learned she also had a horn. She looked farther down to her flank. There was a lunar eclipse... a picture of a lunar eclipse on her flank... No, something was still missing. What was it? She shook her head, a small headache coming on. Eclipse shook herself out like a dog and started trotting in no general direction. She'd be bound to meet up with somepony soon, correct? On normal circumstances, she would die, but what would be the point of writing this she died? No, our Eclipse doesn't die here, her journey has only just begun. Her mouth opened, and a calming song came out. She sang it, making up her own lyrics, unaware if it was really a song, or had lyrics of it's own. Somepony heard her song, though. She turned around slowly as she felt somepony behind her. "My name is Sprite. Are YOU my guardian angel?" Titanium Titanium Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. *** Eclipse stared at this tiny pony beside her. "Who the hell are you?" She asked poking the foal with her hoof. "And why would I be a guardian angel?" "I'm Sprite, and you told me worse would come." Sprite choked on the last few words. "Yeah, unless it was in a freaky dream where you were chained and a bunch of dead ponies where about to kill you, I have no idea what the buck you're talking about." "That's precisely what was happening." The yellow filly said, her lime-green eyes shining. Eclipse looked at her. "No, because that is impossible." "You're impossible. Alicorns don't exist." "There, I do not exist. Go run along and tell your mommy to get you tested for insanity." As the mare started trotting away, she heard small sobs. She turned, seeing Sprite crying into the dust. "What now?" "My mom is dead, that's what you were warning me about." "Awww, shit," Eclipse mumbled, she couldn't help but feel responsible. "Hey kid!" Sprite looked up. "Want to...uh... join me? Seeing as I'm your guardian angel or whatever the buck you said." The alicorn was assaulted by a large hug. Glimmering eyes stared into hers. "Thank you so much!" Sprite snuggled into Eclipse, who was debating whether or not to hug her back. She finally hugged the filly back awkwardly. "We have to go now." Eclipse said, looking straight foreward. "What's your name?" Sprite asked curiously. Eclipse thought about this. She looked at her own flank and made a conclusion. "Eclipse," She answered simply. "That's a nice name, better than Sprite." "Uh-huh..." "By the way-" *** Silver tears slid down a yellow face, making dark lines from eye to jaw. Sprite awoke with a start, hypeventilating. She looked about, hoping it was all a bad dream, that her mom wasn't dead, that... that maybe she would awake and find her mother staring down at her with loving eyes, tell Sprite her coat was the exact shade her father's was, that she had his black hooves. That she was the most beautiful filly in the wasteland, that one day she'd be a princess and bring Equestria back to it's former glory. Sprite sniffed, it wasn't going to happen. Her mother was dead, killed by raiders, and she'd never be a princess. Only alicorns could be, she was a normal earth pony. Scratch that, she was a pitifully undergrown earth pony. If Eclipse hadn't found her, she'd be dead. The filly smiled, yes, she had Eclipse. Mama said Eclipse was her guardian angel, and she found Eclipse, so she'd be okay. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opened them again, they were locked on the glowing white shape in front of her. She crawled over to Eclipse, and curled under her outstretched wing. A shaky hoof stroked the alicorn's lavender mane. It was silky soft and shimmered in the moonlight. Sprite fiddled with it for a bit before retreating into Eclipse's side. She curled into a ball and slept. She didn't notice the mare sneak a glance at her and grin. Nightmares came not for the two was they dreamed in peace. *** Sprite coughed on the dust was she walked ahead of Eclipse, checking her PipBuck's map. "We're nearing a town called... Sweetsprings..." She reported to the alicorn, who was looking apathetic as usual. "Cool, how far?" She asked uninterestedly. Eclipse's aqua eyes spoke of anything but gentleness, her movements stiff and rigid. She kept her wings tightly to her side, and one might assume her to be a unicorn. And yet she was perfect in Sprite's eyes, much to the elder's confusion. "Um... right over this ridge over here-" Sprite screamed as a couple of coyotes dashed towards her, their teeth bared and snarling. The filly turned tail and ran for her life, her heart pounding out of her chest. Eclipse galloped beside her, equally afraid despite her size advantage. "Crapohcrapohcrap!" The white mare gasped as her hooves struck the ground, pushing Sprite foreward. The two nearly collided when they heard a couple of gunshots rung off, followed by the coyotes' dying whimpers. "If that was scary to you, you're gonna have one hell of a time in the rest of the wasteland." Eclipse turned, seeing a tan unicorn mare with a ginger-red mane tied back. "Thank you so much!" Sprite jumped up, hugging the unicorn's leg. The unicorn patted her back. "You're welcome," She pulled away and held out her hoof. "I'm Sunny." "I'm Sprite!" The filly chirped back, shaking her hoof. Sunny turned to Eclipse, who regained her look of indifference. "Eclipse. Are we near Sweetsprings?" "You bet you are!" Sunny said, examining the alicorn before here. "Why do you want to know?" "We need to get ourselves prepped for the wasteland, as you just demonstrated." "What in the hell? I can understand Sprite, but how long have you been alive, then?" The tan unicorn exclaimed, aghast. Eclipse's face went blank. "You don't know your own age?" Blink. "What are you, an overgrown foal?" Sunny jumped as Eclipse ruffled her feathers. "You're an alicorn?!" She shouted, her brown eyes filled with shock and wonder. "I'm hallucinating." "Yeah yeah, I guess everypony is then. Just, please take us to Sweetsprings." The white mare said, her face hidden behind a mask of apathy, nudging Sprite along as Sunny trotted towards the town they spoke of. "Can you teach me how to do that? Shoot all those coyotes without even blinking?" The youngest of the three asked the gunmare, green eyes shining with innocence. "Maybe, we just need to see if you can handle a gun yet." Sunny answered, smirking playfully. "Yippee! Hey, hey Eclipse. I'm gonna shoot a gun!" Sprite smiled, hopping circles around the two older mares. "Forgive me if I withhold my enthusiasm." Eclipse said, readjusting her wings to blend back into her body. Sprite looked at her curiously as if she could not understand if her companion was being sarcastic or not. The little filly shrugged and examined her PipBuck. "Woah, woah, is that what I think it is?" Sunny gasped, staring at the contraption on the foal's hoof. "Um, I don't know." Sprite squeaked, holding the leg her PipBuck rested on. "If it's a PipBuck, my mom gave it to me." "Damn, you have a pretty good advantage with that thing on." "Really? What does it do, my mom didn't... she didn't have time to explain." Pity for the filly crossed Sunny's eyes. "Well, I don't have one obviously, nor have I toyed with one, but I hear they're really good. Damn near indestructible and can help you with so many things." The unicorn thought for a moment. "Doc Mitchell knows about them, he grew up in a stable. You should go speak to him later. You're probably pretty hungry and thirsty from all that running, so let's stop at the saloon. We can all get a quick drink, and y'all can say hey to Trudy. She's like the town mom, and would love to meet you. Especially little Sprite." Sprite blushed a bit, lowering her head. She perked up when she saw some buildings. "Is that it?" She yipped, bouncing around, stirring up dust which settled on her black-tipped hooves. "You bet it is. That first building's the saloon, go run ahead. We'll meet you inside." Sunny smiled, tilting her head towards the saloon. It was wooden, with big letters and broken lights announcing it's name. Sprite's face nearly split due to her large smile. She galloped ahead, excitement taking over her small body. Sunny look at Eclipse seriously. "So, are you raising her?" "I guess so, she insists I'm her guardian angel." Eclipse replied. "What are your plans, then?" "What?" "You know, will you be travelling or settle down somewhere?" "What's the difference?" Sunny looked like she was about to slap the mare. "She's a foal, and you seem a bit daft, no offense, so are you going to raise her around monsters? I mean, her mother died." "She never told you her mom died." The alicorn snapped. "Some things don't require words." Sunny said solemnly. Eclipse was about to retort, but just stared with seething hatred. "If you want, she can stay here. Trudy can raise her. She's a sweet filly and shouldn't see what the wasteland has just yet." "Why not let her choose?" Eclipse suggested, a feeling inside of her. She couldn't describe it, it was so new and foreign. "Okay then," Sunny replied serenely, her tail swishing. "Hey slowpokes! Hurry up!" Sprite called out from the porch connected to the saloon. "Let us go, then." Eclipse said, and galloped forewards towards the foal. *** "OH B-" Eclipse cried out, taking cover under a rock as glass flew everywhere. Sprite laughed, picking up a knife from a pile of glass shards. She backed up, knife in her mouth, and eyed some sarsaparilla bottles. She reared back, flinging the knife at the bottles. Sunny whooped as the blade shattered it's target. "Still upset about the gun?" The unicorn laughed. "EeNOPE! Knives are much more fun!" Sprite giggled, her cheeks flushed. She pouted when she noticed she had broken all the bottles. Sunny noticed, and ruffled her mane. "Why don't we grab a drink and then shoot those bottles?" She suggested. Sprite perked up. "Ooh, ooh, yes, yes!" She bounced over to her knife and picked it up. As Sunny turned to go inside, she looked back at Eclipse, who was making a run for it. "Let's go!" Sprite said, grabbing Sunny's hoof and dragging her towards the back door of the saloon. "Hold your horses, I'm coming!" Sunny laughed as she trotted in. Eclipse galloped faster and faster, her hooves striking the ground. She and Sprite had been in Sweetsprings for a week, in which Eclipse had been re-learning how to care for herself while Sprite's emotional wounds healed. No, these were wounds that could never be healed. Never fully, never completely. They seemed to close, only to open with a searing pain at the worst moment, making you succumb to all the feelings you once knew. "And so young..." Eclipse breathed. "She'll live her whole life with them." The white mare felt a pang of guilt puncture her seemingly emotionless shell. She could never fight the feeling she was responsible for the death of the mare Sprite called mom. But she wasn't! Was she? No, no, she only warned Sprite. But how? How could she know? The movement of running made Eclipse feel so relaxed, so free. She kept galloping on, closing her aqua eyes and breathing in the air. She had a plan set, she would get a bunch of caps, get herself all set and ready to go. Go where? The Marejave wasteland. She knew she had something to do,but she didn't know what. Maybe she'd bring Sprite... no. Sunny was right, it was too dangerous for her, plus she still would need time for the scars to fade, at least a bit. The rhythm of her hooves beating the dust below her felt so right, so good, as if they stomped her worries away. Eclipse took a sharp turn around a fallen house, all the memories of life and the ghost of the happiness it once knew haunting her slightly. The alicorn unfolded her wings, and jumped over a pile of rubble. She still couldn't fly, instead focusing on magic with Sunny, but she could still glide. The wind in her mane, ruffling her feathers. She licked her lips, pushing off of another pile, therefore gliding farther. She fell out of the air when a voice, unfamiliar yet belonging to somepony very close, called her name.
PrologueTwo mares stood in the moonlight, their coats shimmering in the silver light. Both were afraid, both were proud, both were ready. "I hope you can forgive me, Eclipse." Said one, she appeared to be old, yet not quite. She wore a brown cloak, hiding her figure, although she was tall. A long, spiral horn came from her forehead, and an observant pony could notice that her cloak crudely hid a pair of strong wings, once beautiful feathers now ragged. "I can, although I wish you told me, first." Said Eclipse. She had a horn, like the other, but lacked wings. She was a young mare, early twenties in the latest, her white coat relatively clean, light lavender mane smooth and flat, hanging down her neck like a curtain. Her aqua eyes seemed uncaring, her expression bored, as if she was talking to a mule unstead of an alicorn. "I am sorry," The alicorn said, she seemed apologetic and wanted to reach out to Eclipse, although the white mare resisted other's emotions to get to her. "But you... you mightn't have come tonight if I told you." "It would have spared you getting shot at." "Touché, but you'll take that risk, too, someday." "Yeaah, right," Eclipse smirked. "So, why are we here again." The mare slammed her hoof into her forehead. "Because, you are destined to be the next Princess of Peace, though I really wonder why." "So do I. There is no more peace on Equestria. It's a hell-hole that can't be saved." The alicorn's eyes were filled with rage. "There is hope!" She screeched at Eclipse. " Why else do we exist?!" "False hope, make foals think their 'princesses' are back, so they get themselves in trouble and die?" "Eclipse, stop. Just stop. You are already making me question making you the Princess of Peace. Just shut up." The mare dropped all sympathy and regality. "Fine, then," Eclipse said, her look softening, but agitation lingered in her eyes. "Don't drag it out. Just do it." "You know I'll die, right?" "I do, do you?" The two engaged in a staring contest. The alicorn faltered first. "Fine, FINE!" A tear leaked out of her eye, sliding down her cheek. Eclipse looked like she couldn't give any less of a damn. The alicorn's horn lit up, and she touched her horn to Eclipse's. The elder's cloak fell off, and her wings seemes to be falling apart, reconstructing themselves on the white mare's shoulders. They stared into each other's eyes, one was afraid, one was annoyed. When the last feather arranged itself on Eclipse's new wings, a dark shadow appeared on the moon. "An eclipse... be good, little one. Make Equestria a better place..." The former alicorn murmured as her knees sunk into the ground. She laid down in a patch of silver flowers, staring at Eclipse. "Sleep, now," The other said, half in her rude fashion, half in a motherly way. "I will," The mare said. She took her last breath, and closed her eyes. All she is now is a unicorn, and nopony shall know her or her efforts, all they would see would be another unfortunate soul, laid to rest on a bed of flowers. Eclipse levitated a flower into her mane, but otherwise did not acknowledge the dead body. She spread her new wings and took flight. She didn't want this. She didn't want life. She wanted death... death. Yes, wouldn't that be nice? Hell is heaven compared to Equestria, now. Well, this was her life, however long it would be. It'd end, she'd name a new Princess, and she'd be dead. Her quest was on, name a new Princess. And that was all she thought of. Not of the gunmare behind her. She heard a gun go off, and had a split second to realize what was going to happen. "Shit,"
Dawn of a New DayWe are not dead when our souls leave our bodies, but instead when we are forgotten. *** A small yellow filly awoke, bathed in blood, unsure if it belonged to her or others. Her hooves were held down by chains, and an especially heavy one around her neck. She stood up, her fur dripping with the red liquid. It disgusted her, yet she... she... loved it. She loved it! That weird, sticky feeling, the wetness of the fluid dripping down her leg. She laughed like a madmare, her eye twitching. Her laughter gradually died, and when it did she looked around, and her heart stopped. She was surrounded by dead ponies. Suddenly, her stomach hurt. She convulsed like she was going to throw up, but couldn't. She finally resorted to screaming. The concrete walls shook with her shouts of pure, unbridled fear. She pulled against her chains, unable to escape this horror. Her fear only grew when one by her hoof rolled over, staring at her with empty eye sockets. It reached a hoof out to her, causing her to scream louder. Then all all crawled towards her... the worst thing is, she knew them all. Tears leaking down the foal's cheeks as she howled in horror. "No, no... NO! HEELP! HELP ME!" She screamed, desperate for anything. Her best friend grabbed her hoof and clung to her. The dead pegasus was slaughtered, missing eyes and large chunks of flesh. Her mouth opened, and spewed more blood on the living soul. "HEEEEELP!" She cried again, the tears falling faster. It was no use, they were on her. She bowed to face her demise. Then another came. A shimmering white alicorn. Her mere presence drove the massacred bodies away. The blood dried, and a slight snippet of calm entered the foal. "C-celestia?" The filly gaped. The mare shook her head. "Be brave, Sprite, worse is coming." Sprite couldn't answer, as the mare put her horn to the chains, and the formerly chained pony woke up. "A dream," Sprite murmured. "All a dream." She rubbed her head, her body void of blood or chains. She kept murmuring about a dream. No, a nightmare. Who was that mare? How did she know her name? "Don't be silly, Sprite, it was a dream. Alicorns don't exist anymore..." The yellow foal curled her hooves into herself, laying her head down. She was too afraid to sleep, but was exhausted. She mushed herself into a ball, hiding her face in her body when she felt a gentle hoof on her back. She flinched, still afraid. "It's me, little one," A gentle voice cooed. Sprite looked back up, seeing a soft pink mare with a green-and-white mane. "Mama, I had the dream again." The filly murmured. The mare held her child in close embrace, stroking her mane, the same color as her own. "When's it gonna stop?" "It's gonna stop soon, baby." "Mama, I want it to stop now. I hate that dream." She seemed to turn into a foal only a couple years old when she was in her mother's hooves. "Blossom is always in it." The mare held her child's head in her hoof, kissing her forehead. "It's all gonna be okay, it's only a dream." "It doesn't feel like a dream." "It never does, Sprite, but know it is." "Mama, it was different this time. There was... was an alicorn." Sprite couldn't display the correct expression on her face. "She drove them all away, and she freed me. And... and she told me that something worse is gonna happen." The filly buried her face in her mother's chest, crying. "I don't want it to get worse!" "Sprite, honey, nothing is going to happen." "But the alicorn..." The pink mare put a hoof on her lips. "Mommy will always be there for you. Also, you said an alicorn told you that, right?" "Y-yes," "You have a guardian angel. She'll protect you when I can't." "I guess, but I'd rather have you." "I do, too, but someday I have to go away." "Why, mama? Why do you have to go?" "Because one day you'll be a big mare, and you won't need me." "I'll always want you, though." Sprite murmured, snuggling deeper into her mother's embrace. Her mother looked at her lovingly. She stroked her mane more as she sang in a soft voice. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed. Drift, drift off to sleep, Leave the exciting day behi~ind you. "I love you, mama." "I love you, Sprite." *** Sprite awoke to being vigorously shaken. "Sprite! Sprite, wake up!" Her mother said, her green eyes frightened. "Mama, what's going on?" "Bad ponies. You need to go." Sprite looked horrified. "Without you?" "Go to the cave, I'll be with you soon." The mare said, putting something on the foal's hoof. "What's this, mama?" "A PipBuck, it can help you. Now go!" She pushed the foal out a broken window. "Run!" All Sprite heard was gunshots as she ran. She was on a heart attack level of panic as she skidded into the cave. She huddled down as she waited for her mother. She sang soft songs, told herself stories, looked at the clouds, anything she could to pass the time. But as the hours droned on, she knew her mother wasn't coming, nor would she see her ever again. Sprite couldn't even cry, tears couldn't relieve this pain. She knew what happened. She knew she was truly alone.
A Song for SpriteOh, how my poor child cries. Calm her stormy heart with a song straight from heaven. *** Sprite awoke in a hard, stone floor. Her sides hurt from laying on some stray gravel. She nearly called for her mother, but remembered the events of last night. She rubbed her eye with a black-tipped hoof. "She was right... that alicorn was right. Why was she right?!" She howled in pain. "Why are you right?!" Her chest hurt, weighted down with the heaviness of her heart. All she wanted was her mother... just a piece of her. Then she remembered the PipBuck on her hoof. She pulled the hoof it resided on close and looked at it, flipping through it. It was pretty much empty, except for something, something that intrigued Sprite. There was a note loaded onto it. Dearest daughter Sprite, if I have given this to you, know you are ready to go on your own. I don't want to give it to you, but every mother must let her children go sometime. This was once my PipBuck, and it is now yours. It was tradition in the Stable I grew up in to give one to a foal when they gain their cutie mark. Fret not, dearest, as I am sure you shall your cutie mark by the time you receive this. No matter where you go, know that I love you, my dearest one. My little Sprite. Forever yours, Mother. Sprite really did cry. This... this was meant for when she was older, when she had a cutie mark. Now her mother would never see what it would be. She bit her lower lip in an effort not to cry. She took a deep breath, she knew she'd die if she stayed here moping. She stood up shakily, she took nervous steps towards the cave's exit. "Be brave, little Sprite. You are stronger than you think." Her mother's calm voice echoing in her ear. She stood tall and galloped outside. The sun burned her eyes, which had been accustomed to the dark. She squeezed them shut and kept running. Not home, no, they may still be there. The ones who killed her mother. Rage spread through her like wildfire. It took everything she had not to run back and avenge her mother. No, she'd wait. She'd know who they were, she'd know... She skidded to a stop, suddenly realizing the seriousness of her situation. She was a lone foal with literally nothing on her but her mother's PipBuck. No bottlecaps, no water, no food, no means of defending herself. She cursed under her breath and she consulted her PipBuck once more. Her mom must have had maps on here somewhere... *** Eclipse looked around, thoroughly confused. She looked at her hoof as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. When she averted her gaze, looking around again, she realized she was in the middle of a desert, a brown cloak beside her as if she had kicked it off. She stood up, desperately trying to remember something, anything. Let's see... breathing, check. Basic grammar, "Check," So is walking. What was she forgetting? Herself... something about herself. She looked at her sides. She had wings, and by touching her head, she learned she also had a horn. She looked farther down to her flank. There was a lunar eclipse... a picture of a lunar eclipse on her flank... No, something was still missing. What was it? She shook her head, a small headache coming on. Eclipse shook herself out like a dog and started trotting in no general direction. She'd be bound to meet up with somepony soon, correct? On normal circumstances, she would die, but what would be the point of writing this she died? No, our Eclipse doesn't die here, her journey has only just begun. Her mouth opened, and a calming song came out. She sang it, making up her own lyrics, unaware if it was really a song, or had lyrics of it's own. Somepony heard her song, though. She turned around slowly as she felt somepony behind her. "My name is Sprite. Are YOU my guardian angel?"
Titanium Titanium Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. *** Eclipse stared at this tiny pony beside her. "Who the hell are you?" She asked poking the foal with her hoof. "And why would I be a guardian angel?" "I'm Sprite, and you told me worse would come." Sprite choked on the last few words. "Yeah, unless it was in a freaky dream where you were chained and a bunch of dead ponies where about to kill you, I have no idea what the buck you're talking about." "That's precisely what was happening." The yellow filly said, her lime-green eyes shining. Eclipse looked at her. "No, because that is impossible." "You're impossible. Alicorns don't exist." "There, I do not exist. Go run along and tell your mommy to get you tested for insanity." As the mare started trotting away, she heard small sobs. She turned, seeing Sprite crying into the dust. "What now?" "My mom is dead, that's what you were warning me about." "Awww, shit," Eclipse mumbled, she couldn't help but feel responsible. "Hey kid!" Sprite looked up. "Want to...uh... join me? Seeing as I'm your guardian angel or whatever the buck you said." The alicorn was assaulted by a large hug. Glimmering eyes stared into hers. "Thank you so much!" Sprite snuggled into Eclipse, who was debating whether or not to hug her back. She finally hugged the filly back awkwardly. "We have to go now." Eclipse said, looking straight foreward. "What's your name?" Sprite asked curiously. Eclipse thought about this. She looked at her own flank and made a conclusion. "Eclipse," She answered simply. "That's a nice name, better than Sprite." "Uh-huh..." "By the way-" *** Silver tears slid down a yellow face, making dark lines from eye to jaw. Sprite awoke with a start, hypeventilating. She looked about, hoping it was all a bad dream, that her mom wasn't dead, that... that maybe she would awake and find her mother staring down at her with loving eyes, tell Sprite her coat was the exact shade her father's was, that she had his black hooves. That she was the most beautiful filly in the wasteland, that one day she'd be a princess and bring Equestria back to it's former glory. Sprite sniffed, it wasn't going to happen. Her mother was dead, killed by raiders, and she'd never be a princess. Only alicorns could be, she was a normal earth pony. Scratch that, she was a pitifully undergrown earth pony. If Eclipse hadn't found her, she'd be dead. The filly smiled, yes, she had Eclipse. Mama said Eclipse was her guardian angel, and she found Eclipse, so she'd be okay. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opened them again, they were locked on the glowing white shape in front of her. She crawled over to Eclipse, and curled under her outstretched wing. A shaky hoof stroked the alicorn's lavender mane. It was silky soft and shimmered in the moonlight. Sprite fiddled with it for a bit before retreating into Eclipse's side. She curled into a ball and slept. She didn't notice the mare sneak a glance at her and grin. Nightmares came not for the two was they dreamed in peace. *** Sprite coughed on the dust was she walked ahead of Eclipse, checking her PipBuck's map. "We're nearing a town called... Sweetsprings..." She reported to the alicorn, who was looking apathetic as usual. "Cool, how far?" She asked uninterestedly. Eclipse's aqua eyes spoke of anything but gentleness, her movements stiff and rigid. She kept her wings tightly to her side, and one might assume her to be a unicorn. And yet she was perfect in Sprite's eyes, much to the elder's confusion. "Um... right over this ridge over here-" Sprite screamed as a couple of coyotes dashed towards her, their teeth bared and snarling. The filly turned tail and ran for her life, her heart pounding out of her chest. Eclipse galloped beside her, equally afraid despite her size advantage. "Crapohcrapohcrap!" The white mare gasped as her hooves struck the ground, pushing Sprite foreward. The two nearly collided when they heard a couple of gunshots rung off, followed by the coyotes' dying whimpers. "If that was scary to you, you're gonna have one hell of a time in the rest of the wasteland." Eclipse turned, seeing a tan unicorn mare with a ginger-red mane tied back. "Thank you so much!" Sprite jumped up, hugging the unicorn's leg. The unicorn patted her back. "You're welcome," She pulled away and held out her hoof. "I'm Sunny." "I'm Sprite!" The filly chirped back, shaking her hoof. Sunny turned to Eclipse, who regained her look of indifference. "Eclipse. Are we near Sweetsprings?" "You bet you are!" Sunny said, examining the alicorn before here. "Why do you want to know?" "We need to get ourselves prepped for the wasteland, as you just demonstrated." "What in the hell? I can understand Sprite, but how long have you been alive, then?" The tan unicorn exclaimed, aghast. Eclipse's face went blank. "You don't know your own age?" Blink. "What are you, an overgrown foal?" Sunny jumped as Eclipse ruffled her feathers. "You're an alicorn?!" She shouted, her brown eyes filled with shock and wonder. "I'm hallucinating." "Yeah yeah, I guess everypony is then. Just, please take us to Sweetsprings." The white mare said, her face hidden behind a mask of apathy, nudging Sprite along as Sunny trotted towards the town they spoke of. "Can you teach me how to do that? Shoot all those coyotes without even blinking?" The youngest of the three asked the gunmare, green eyes shining with innocence. "Maybe, we just need to see if you can handle a gun yet." Sunny answered, smirking playfully. "Yippee! Hey, hey Eclipse. I'm gonna shoot a gun!" Sprite smiled, hopping circles around the two older mares. "Forgive me if I withhold my enthusiasm." Eclipse said, readjusting her wings to blend back into her body. Sprite looked at her curiously as if she could not understand if her companion was being sarcastic or not. The little filly shrugged and examined her PipBuck. "Woah, woah, is that what I think it is?" Sunny gasped, staring at the contraption on the foal's hoof. "Um, I don't know." Sprite squeaked, holding the leg her PipBuck rested on. "If it's a PipBuck, my mom gave it to me." "Damn, you have a pretty good advantage with that thing on." "Really? What does it do, my mom didn't... she didn't have time to explain." Pity for the filly crossed Sunny's eyes. "Well, I don't have one obviously, nor have I toyed with one, but I hear they're really good. Damn near indestructible and can help you with so many things." The unicorn thought for a moment. "Doc Mitchell knows about them, he grew up in a stable. You should go speak to him later. You're probably pretty hungry and thirsty from all that running, so let's stop at the saloon. We can all get a quick drink, and y'all can say hey to Trudy. She's like the town mom, and would love to meet you. Especially little Sprite." Sprite blushed a bit, lowering her head. She perked up when she saw some buildings. "Is that it?" She yipped, bouncing around, stirring up dust which settled on her black-tipped hooves. "You bet it is. That first building's the saloon, go run ahead. We'll meet you inside." Sunny smiled, tilting her head towards the saloon. It was wooden, with big letters and broken lights announcing it's name. Sprite's face nearly split due to her large smile. She galloped ahead, excitement taking over her small body. Sunny look at Eclipse seriously. "So, are you raising her?" "I guess so, she insists I'm her guardian angel." Eclipse replied. "What are your plans, then?" "What?" "You know, will you be travelling or settle down somewhere?" "What's the difference?" Sunny looked like she was about to slap the mare. "She's a foal, and you seem a bit daft, no offense, so are you going to raise her around monsters? I mean, her mother died." "She never told you her mom died." The alicorn snapped. "Some things don't require words." Sunny said solemnly. Eclipse was about to retort, but just stared with seething hatred. "If you want, she can stay here. Trudy can raise her. She's a sweet filly and shouldn't see what the wasteland has just yet." "Why not let her choose?" Eclipse suggested, a feeling inside of her. She couldn't describe it, it was so new and foreign. "Okay then," Sunny replied serenely, her tail swishing. "Hey slowpokes! Hurry up!" Sprite called out from the porch connected to the saloon. "Let us go, then." Eclipse said, and galloped forewards towards the foal. *** "OH B-" Eclipse cried out, taking cover under a rock as glass flew everywhere. Sprite laughed, picking up a knife from a pile of glass shards. She backed up, knife in her mouth, and eyed some sarsaparilla bottles. She reared back, flinging the knife at the bottles. Sunny whooped as the blade shattered it's target. "Still upset about the gun?" The unicorn laughed. "EeNOPE! Knives are much more fun!" Sprite giggled, her cheeks flushed. She pouted when she noticed she had broken all the bottles. Sunny noticed, and ruffled her mane. "Why don't we grab a drink and then shoot those bottles?" She suggested. Sprite perked up. "Ooh, ooh, yes, yes!" She bounced over to her knife and picked it up. As Sunny turned to go inside, she looked back at Eclipse, who was making a run for it. "Let's go!" Sprite said, grabbing Sunny's hoof and dragging her towards the back door of the saloon. "Hold your horses, I'm coming!" Sunny laughed as she trotted in. Eclipse galloped faster and faster, her hooves striking the ground. She and Sprite had been in Sweetsprings for a week, in which Eclipse had been re-learning how to care for herself while Sprite's emotional wounds healed. No, these were wounds that could never be healed. Never fully, never completely. They seemed to close, only to open with a searing pain at the worst moment, making you succumb to all the feelings you once knew. "And so young..." Eclipse breathed. "She'll live her whole life with them." The white mare felt a pang of guilt puncture her seemingly emotionless shell. She could never fight the feeling she was responsible for the death of the mare Sprite called mom. But she wasn't! Was she? No, no, she only warned Sprite. But how? How could she know? The movement of running made Eclipse feel so relaxed, so free. She kept galloping on, closing her aqua eyes and breathing in the air. She had a plan set, she would get a bunch of caps, get herself all set and ready to go. Go where? The Marejave wasteland. She knew she had something to do,but she didn't know what. Maybe she'd bring Sprite... no. Sunny was right, it was too dangerous for her, plus she still would need time for the scars to fade, at least a bit. The rhythm of her hooves beating the dust below her felt so right, so good, as if they stomped her worries away. Eclipse took a sharp turn around a fallen house, all the memories of life and the ghost of the happiness it once knew haunting her slightly. The alicorn unfolded her wings, and jumped over a pile of rubble. She still couldn't fly, instead focusing on magic with Sunny, but she could still glide. The wind in her mane, ruffling her feathers. She licked her lips, pushing off of another pile, therefore gliding farther. She fell out of the air when a voice, unfamiliar yet belonging to somepony very close, called her name.
