Fallout Equestria: Brotherhood

CHAPTER 6: IRONHOOF CITY

The sun was fully set, and darkness had consumed the land. Neo was lying down in Lucy’s cart, resting.

The wind raced by as the cart moved silently through the night. Adam was resting his head against the edge, looking at the world below. To him this experience was heart lifting and new, even though he could feel the cart beneath him, it still felt magical.

Allie was resting calmly behind Adam, gently breathing. The beating of Lucy’s wings sounded powerful and mighty, like the sound of pistons moving in perfect sync with other machinery making a symphony of power.

In the distance was a faint light on the horizon, but it wasn’t like other lights that Adam had seen before. This light was large, and growing. Soon, smaller lights of other shades sprouted up as they drew ever closer to the large illuminated mass. Lucy had started to slow down and descend slowly back to the world below.

“We’re almost at Ironhoof,” Lucy shouted back to the tired passengers.

Her shout woke up Neo. “Huh?” He muttered trying to wake up, he was still half asleep a bit.

Adam turned to his brother, “brother, we’re almost there!” He exclaimed standing up trying to get a better look at the city.

Neo moved over and nudged Allie, urging her to wake up.

“We’re almost there, its time to wake up.” Neo said softly to her.

She opened her eyes and sat up, stretching high into the air. “We’re there already?” She asked scratching her head.

She looked over to her right only to see a massive city of lights before her. Then with a thud the cart touched down on the broken prewar road that moved towards the city. Lucy paused for a moment giving the passengers a chance to get a better look at the city from a distance.

Large metal skyscrapers towered high into the sky lights blasting off into the dark cloud covered sky. Everypony watched in awe as they were taken by the magnificent sight.

“It’s amazing!” Adam yelled with excitement.

Lucy leaned her head back to talk, “yeah it sure is something. That is of course, till we get inside the city.” She said grimly. She turned her head back with a grim facial expression.

“Get out of the cart, flights over.” She said folding her wings.

Everypony hopped out of the cart but Allie, who helped levitate their bags out of the cart. Once she was done unloading the bags, Neo and Adam helped each other put their own bags back on their backs. Allie followed them out of the cart onto the hard, rocky road.

The road had been cleared of wagons, from where they were to the city, not one wagon was to be found. Everypony was out of the cart with all of their things on their backs, Lucy turned her head to see if everypony was without their things.

“Okay let’s get moving, its not safe outside the city.” She told them still retaining the grim facial expression.

The three looked at each other puzzled as to why Lucy was acting strangely defensive. Neo just shrugged, “it’s her business. She doesn’t need to tell us about it.”

“Okay, if you say so.” Adam said turning back to the city.

Lucy started trotting towards the city without another word, the others followed closely behind, anxiously awaiting to see the fabled Ironhoof City.

After trotting a mile to Ironhoof City, they finally arrived at a large ramp made of metal from different rusted slabs, it lead straight up the great metal walls that span from side to side.

Lucy stopped at the beginning of the ramp, and turned her head sharply to the other travelers. “Listen, don’t wonder off, what ever you do stay close to me. This isn’t as nice as it looks, ponies die here. I want you three to keep to your selves if you value anything. Got that?” She said with a sternly and worried look in her eyes.

Neo and Adam had learned that by now she didn’t like rules broken, especially hers. They both stroked their mouths symbolizing that they had zipped their lips. Allie just kept to herself quietly.

“Good, we’re clear on this?” She asked menacingly.

Neo and Adam looked at each other and nodded up and down consistently. Allie just nodded once at her.

“All right then, let’s get going, we’ve wasted enough time here.” She said turning around, dragging her wooden cart with her.

Their hooves made a pinging noise as they climbed up the old metal ramp, Neo’s hooves made the most noise due to his mechanical foreleg. Farther, and farther they climbed up till they reached the top of the wall, a smaller wall of roughly configured metal lay dead ahead of them, bordering the top of the wall.

There was a small steel gate with two green plated soldiers sleeping in a window next to the gate. Lucy walked up and knocked on the wall, waking the sleeping soldiers, their gas masks covering up their surprised expressions as they jumped up to attention.

“What!? What?” They both cried as they scrabbled to order.

“Yeah... Uh do you always sleep on the job you lazy asses.” Lucy said rolling her eyes at the lazy stallions.

The first guard sat at the window his voice muffled by the mask he wore that connected to his helmet.

“What is it wastelander?” Barked the soldier.

“I live here ass wipe, now let me and these three in now.” She demanded in low bored tone.

Not paying attention to her remark the soldier leaned forward, “Do you have your entrance pass?” He asked.

“Yeah, yeah one sec.” She said pulling out a small metal card from a pocket on her duster.

She gave it to the soldier, he took the card and levitated it to his eyes, It was just a Iron card with a roughly drawn horseshoe with a bunch of random lettering on it.

He gave it back to Lucy, “Yeah, your clear, enjoy your stay in Ironhoof ma’am.” He said nodding at her as he signed for the other pony to open the gate.

“Yeah, whatever kiss ass.” She said moving through the steel gate that rattled open.

Neo, Adam, and Allie all followed Lucy into the city, but instead of a large city they say a large rusty elevator that lead up a large steel skyscraper. It was significantly darker behind the building than it was a mile away, but it was much more scary below the small bridge that moved into the building from the gate. In the small gorge below them was a charred barren mess, carts, and skeletons littered the entire city floor.

Adam looked down the bridge for a moment to see what was down in the dark gorge of ruin and war.

“Whoa.” He muttered under his breath looking at the city floor.

“Kid!” Lucy snapped at Adam.

Adam turned quickly looking back at the group who were in the rusty elevator.

“Come on Adam, were about to go.” Neo called to him waving his hoof.

“Okay coming!” Adam replied, looking briefly at the gorge for one last moment. After a moment he turned back to the elevator and dashed towards the rest of the group.

“Missy? If you would please?” Lucy taunted Allie nodding her head to the large red button on the back wall of the elevator.

Allie gave her a mean look as she moved her way to the button to press it.

With a click of the button, a large metal sheet moved in front of the elevator entrance shutting tightly. A large creak followed, before they shot up, going level after level of empty flooring. White beams of light flashed by as they traveled floor after floor. The three travelers watched in amazement as they soared higher into the sky.

Within a few minutes the elevator reached a dramatic stop at the last level. With a small ding, the door in front of them slid open exposing a massive city built on top of the old prewar buildings. Small cloth tents and rusty metal shacks covered the top of the building.

The four stepped out of the elevator, completely taken at the magnificent site. Hundreds of ponies of all shapes, sizes and colors filled the town on the building. Larger buildings towered further and higher than the one they were currently on, each building was bearing large colorful magically light signs advertising hotels and businesses. Each building looked like they were brand new except for the bottom layer which was dark and invisible to see from on top of the building.

Neo, Adam, and Allie all followed behind Lucy as she pulled the cart through the crowd.

“Welcome to the trade district.” Lucy shouted to the group as they continued through the district.

Traders were yelling out into the crowd of ponies trying to sell what ever they had. There were shack's for rent, slaver tents where one could by slaves for any use, and booths that sold anything from junk, to weapons and ammo.

“My place is just up that building there.” Lucy called to the group as she pointed to large round building towering a little higher than the building they were currently on.

Adam and Neo looked around as they saw large bridges connecting to building, to building. Small housing areas and other facilities sat on large metal pads that extended from the building nearest to them.

As they approached the bridge that branched off from the trade district building they saw small spritebots float around playing some kind of message on its speakers. The voice on the floating robot was sleek and proud.

“My fellow ponies, Did you know there was a time when ponies like your selves could walk freely about our land and not have to worry about raiders, or super mutants. I do. And if you join the Ironhoof legion then we can live in times like those again, but it is only through the strength of our stallions and mares that we can succeed. Join us in the fight for a better future, join us for tomorrow! I am Emperor Vladimir and I approve this message.” Chanted the sprite bot as it drifted past a few ponies on that were on their way to the trade district.

Neo trotted up to Lucy to speak to her. “Lucy?” He asked.

"Who's the Ironhoof legion?"

"I'll tell you later."

Neo jumped to the side avoiding a small group of mares. "One more question. Where does the city get all of its power?"

“What?” She replied.

“How does this city get all of its power?” He asked trying to maneuver his way through the crowd.

“Beats me,” she shrugged.

“Oh, well how far ‘till we reach your home then?” He asked dodging an Earth pony.

“Its up ahead.” She said motioning her head forward.

Neo looked ahead of the bridge to see a sign that said in large, pink, magically lit lettering, "Central living district".

They left the long bridge that span from the first district to the next, and approached a small metal shack. It didn’t look any different from the others, but it was apparently her home.

Lucy pulled over to the shack, and pulled her cart over to the side of the building.

“A little help please?” She asked pointing to the straps binding her to the cart.

Neo and Adam moved over to the cart to help Lucy with the straps. It only took a few minutes to unhook her from the wooden cart she had pulled from Maneton to Ironhoof. *Click* Went the strap as they unlatched her from the cart.

She moved away from the cart to stretch and shake off the dirt on her.

She turned to the shack entrance and unlocked the door with a key she had in another pocket on the front of her duster. She opened the door and waved her hoof around motioning them to come inside. One by one each of the travelers entered the dark metal shack.

Lucy was the last to enter the shack, closing the door behind them. It was pitch black inside her home, or it was till the group heard a small click, and then suddenly the whole room lit up. Three small lamps, and even some old hearths warming eve lights were hung about her home lighting up the dark room.

The inside of her home was small, there were two bunk beds on each side of the wall facing each other, with a large screen and keyboard in the back of the shack. Old prewar pictures and a large blue flag bearing Celestia’s sun was draped along the wall.

“Who’s flag is that?” Adam asked moving up to it curiously.

Lucy turned to him after setting her sniper down in the corner of the room.

“That's the Guardian flag. Each guardian is supposed to have one in their living quarters.” She said plainly as she put her bags in a metal footlocker that sat along the edge of a bunk.

She popped her neck for a moment looking rather tired, “All right off to bed with the lot of you.” She said shooing everypony to their bunks. She then started calling out everypony’s bunk for the night.

“Neo, you get top left bunk.”

“Adam, you get the one below him, I get the top right, and Allie below me.”

Adam pouted and kicked at the ground upset, “dang it, I wanted the top bunk.” He muttered.

Neo walked by him with a smile on his face, “hey it’s okay.” He said patting him on the back with his mechanical forehoof. “You take the top, I’ll get the bottom. How’s that sound?” He said looking at him with a smile on his face.

“Really brother?” Adam asked his eyes widened with happiness.

“Yeah sure, just don’t move around a whole lot.” Neo said with a small chuckle.

“Thanks!” Adam exclaimed dropping his stuff on the ground and climbing up to his bed.

Allie walked up next to Neo as he watched his brother climb to his bunk. “You really are a good brother aren't you,” she said looking at him.

Neo smiled a bit, a small tingling feeling tickling his spine. “Yeah, he’s the only family I got left. If I don’t look out for him, nopony will.”

They both looked at each other staring into each others eyes. A warm fuzzy feeling went through Neo as he gazed endlessly into her bright beautiful eyes. She felt the same looking into his white steely eyes. The moment was then interrupted when Lucy barked at the two.

“Are you going to bed or not?” She yapped at them.

They both shook their heads snapping out of the mood they were in. Allie giggled once a bit embarrassed by the whole moment as she turned to her bunk.

Neo’s head fell down with disappointment in himself, “You blew it Neo! Good work, you were that close! That close!” He thought to himself as he threw himself on the bunk.

Neo sighed trying to shake his thoughts from his mind. “Well, at lest its a real bed this time.” He thought to himself, pulling the green tattered covers over him.

It was very early the next morning when Lucy decided to get up. The sun was still set, or at least it seemed that way. The only light in the room was the faint glow of her large terminal screen which covered most of the back wall of the shack.

She got up quietly out of her bunk trying not to wake anypony. Everypony was still fast asleep dreaming. Lucy tiphooved to the terminal, and put on an old prewar air-force headset. After she had placed them tightly around her ears, she turned on the terminal. With a small click of the power button the whole screen light up in a greenish hue.

A small green box flashed up on screen stating, "Password". A small box beneath password flashed on. With her hooves she quietly started typing in the password to the terminal, then with a click of the enter button, a whole list of boxes began popping up like crazy. She used the arrow keys on the keypad to scroll through the boxes till she came to a box named "Contacts".

A list began to unfold of numerous random ponies. She moved the box scroller down the list of contacts till she came to a contact named, "Command".

She hit enter, and a small green telephone appeared on screen. She could her the sound of ringing in her headset as she waited for the message to be answered. *Pop!* Went a small noise as somepony answered her call.

“This is the Steelhoof Coalition HQ, if you are not part of our order please hang up now. If you are part of the order, or any order affiliated with the Coalition please speak to-”

The message was interrupted by Lucy. “Yeah, cut the shit. Its me Province Guardian Lucy Luck.”

“Please state your Coalition ID code.”

She rolled her eyes ready to face hoof at the marketer. She sighed as she listed her ID code. “Code, 1337-473-913.”

“One moment... Yes, that is a valid code, what can I help you with guardian Luck?”

“Finally, I need you to put Carter on the line.”

“One moment... Yes he is available at this time. Would you like me to patch you through?”

Lucy’s head was about to explode out of pure frustration. “Yes...” she said, massaging her head of the headache the marketer had given her.

There was another loud pop as the line switched to another call. *Ring...Ring...Ring* There was the sound of some giggling in the background as a stallion picked up the phone, “Hello?” He said breathing deeply as if he was physically exhausted.

Lucy finally facehoofed, “Carter?” She questioned. “Are you having sex?” She mumbled angrily.

He could be heard in the background trying to make the small giggling the background stop. “No.” He replied.

Lucy sighed, “I have news to report.” She said grimly.

“Hmm? Like what.”

“Here let me show you.” She then turned a tiny camera on with a small green light. “Do you see me?”

“Here one moment.” He said moving the phone around.

“There, I’m at a terminal, and yes I see you.” He sounded unhappy.

“Oh boo-hoo, did I ruin the big boys fun?” She mocked him.

“Ha,” he laughed sarcastically. “Now what is it you want me to see?”

“Look.” She said as she pushed the camera sideways towards the bunks were Neo and Adam were sleeping.

“So? They’re just sleeping kids?”

“Listen, their not just kids... They’re...” She paused for a moment. “Her kids.”

“Who’s kids?” Lucy facehoofed again.

“One word, Stable.” She growled angrily.

“Oh shit,” he said shocked at the statement. “What the hell are they doing out here!” He shouted at her.

“Shhh,” she said gesturing him to be quiet.

“Right,” he said toning his voice down.

“So then, why are they out here? She said they were in the Stable.”

Lucy turned to their bunks looking at them. “They went looking for her.”

“Damn it! This could ruin the whole operation if she finds out!”

“I know, but hold on to your balls for a sec.” She looked around the room for a moment checking if anypony was listening. “I have a plan.”

It was finally morning when everypony woke up, the yellowish brown light pierced the small holes in the shack walls. Lucy was up stretching in her bunk still tired from the day before. Adam and Neo were still sleeping when they were woken instantly by Lucy, who decided it was a good idea to push them off their bunks to wake them up.

She moved over to Neo’s bunk, put her hooves on his back and gave him a mighty push. *BAM* Went Neo as he fell face first on the solid ground, he was awake now.

He shot up to look at who pushed him off his bunk and ruined whatever dream he was having at the time. He looked around only to see Lucy on the other side grinning tiredly.

His face turned red with rage as he started shouting at her. “What the hell was that! Why did you push me off my bunk!”

Neo’s shouts woke the others up from their slumber as they arose to see what was the matter. “Brother? What is it.” Adam said rubbing his eyes.

Neo looked at him from the other side of the bed and yelled, “This crazy lady tried pushed me out of my bed!”

Adam looked down to Lucy, but all she said was, “I did push him, and he snores.”

Adam looked puzzled like whatever had just happened was completely random.

Adam climbed down from the top bunk to see what had happened, “Brother, are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine... She just better not do something like that again.” He snickered, rubbing his sore face.

Allie got out of her bunk to inspect Neo, but before she could find out what happened Lucy started shouting from the back of the room.

“Okay listen up everypony!” She shouted, “I want all of you fed and dressed so we can get our first day of work started!”

Adam helped Neo up from the floor and turned his head to Lucy, “But we burned our only set of clothes in Maneton.” Adam stated.

“Don’t worry I’ll take care of that for you, but I want Neo to help me for a bit before we all head out to do some real work.” She said with a small grin on her face.

“What! I haven’t had anything to eat, or anything! And now your making me work right when I get up!” He shouted frustratingly.

“Cry all you want you little kid you’re not gonna get a meal till you help me with a small chore first.” She told him resting her forehoof on the terminal chair.

Neo eyes lit up with anger as he bursted, “Who are you calling a little kid! I’ll have you know I’m twenty years old! I’m a full grown adult! A full gown adult!”

Adam hugged his brother patting him on the back trying to cool him off. “Its okay brother, its okay. Just, calm down.”

Neo sighed as he cooled off from the comment she had made about his age. “Fine I’ll go help you with your chore, but don’t expect me to be happy until I eat something.” He sternly told Lucy as he moved to the door.

“That's a good boy.” She said with a cocky expression on her face as she and Neo went out the door.

The door behind them slammed shut. Allie and Adam were alone in the shack together. Allie moved over to Adam, “So we should start to make something to eat, Neo will probably be in a better mood if we do.” She said with a smile to Adam.

“Yeah that's probably a good idea.” Adam replied.

It suddenly hit Adam that most of their food they had brought from the Stable was still fresh. They still had purified water in their canteens, and some food like sugar apple bombs, and dried apple slices.

“Hey, we can have the food we brought from the Stable, I mean its probably gonna go to waste if we don’t eat it soon.” Adam pointed out.

Allie never really tasted Stable made food before, but she didn’t want to be rude and eat the little food they had brought with them. She did think about it for a moment, and she was hungry, and those apple slices did sound nice. “Okay, lets get it all ready for when they get back.”

Adam nodded to Allie in agreement.

Together they both got out the days breakfast and waited for Neo and Lucy to get back.

Adam was sitting in the middle of the floor with the food all laid out for when they returned. Allie was sitting across from Adam staring at the food bored.

Adam looked up to Allie and said, “Why did you come with us?”

“Huh?” she looked to Adam surprised at the question.

“Why didn’t you just stay in Maneton with Kat and Newt?” He repeated.

She looked shy as she started to rub her right foreleg with the other. “I don’t know...”

“Its okay, you can tell me I’m great at keeping secrets.” He said with a friendly grin.

“The day I met you, when I saw Neo kill those raider that attacked as... When they attacked you. I saw something, and I felt something too.” She stopped for a moment, thinking about that day.

“When Neo first looked at me, no other stallion has looked at me like that before. I felt, at peace. And when you left with Lucy to take care of those raiders, and get the cart... I felt, empty. Empty inside, like a piece of my soul was gone.”

Adam looked at her with the small warm grin on his face.

“I’ve never been into stallions before. In fact me and Kat had something going on, but I felt complete with Neo there. I was to embarrassed to tell him how I felt if that's what I really feel, and even last night I felt something.”

“Brother really likes you.” Adam said resting his back against the side of the bunk.

“He does?” Allie muttered her eyes wide with joy.

Adam nodded back to her, “Yep, he is totally crazy for you.”

She blushed a bit at the remark. “How do you know? Has he told you?”

“Nope, but I’ve seen him in love a few times, and I can guarantee he likes you.” He said warmly fixing the leather goggles on his forehead.

She just smiled at Adam her eyes watering up. Then, the door flew open. Lucy and Neo came through the door, Neo looked miserable. “Celestia kill me,” he muttered looking to the ceiling.

“Wasn’t that fun Neo?” Lucy commented smartly.

“I just want to eat some food, that is all. And next time you drag me out of bed just to hull scrap of to some old merchant, I'll kill you.” Neo snickered at Lucy.

Lucy just grinned back." I would love to see you try."

They were both shocked when they saw Allie jump up from where she was sitting.

“Welcome back!” Allie said rushing up to Neo and giving him a large hug. Neo started to blush as she caressed him with her arms.

Neo used one of his hooves to hug her back. The moment was shortly lived when Lucy closed the door and saw the mess on the floor.

“What did you do to my floor!” She shouted.

Adam rubbed the back of his neck as he explained, “Its breakfast, heh.” He chuckled nervously.

Neo’s ears perked up at the sound of the word, at that instant he pounced at the meal on the ground.

“Food!” He yelled as he leaped to attack the nice meal Allie and Adam prepared.

The three watched in awe as he started to consume a bowl of dried apple slices. “Does he always eat like this?" Lucy commented.

Adam and Allie nodded in unison.

“We better start eating before there’s no food left to eat.” Allie said as she sat down to eat with Adam.

Together, the four ate their meal merrily, even Lucy was happy. They drank most of the purified water that Neo and Adam had brought from the Stable, and they had just about filled up on almost all the food they had kept in their bags too. Once they were done, Lucy gave Neo an old Guardian duster which did not bear the Province Guardian sun symbol. Adam was given an old dark brown leather vest with a bunch of pockets to keep things in, and Allie was given a purple bandanna to wear around her neck.

Neo managed to get his white doo-rag on his head with some help from Allies magic. Lucy got her coat on, and her Guardian fedora. Within a few minutes the four were ready to start their first day in Ironhoof City.

Lucy turned around sharply to a footlocker that was right next to her. "Can't leave without you." She said a she picked up her sniper from the locker.

Neo stood next to the door with the rest of the group. "What are we doing today anyway?"

Lucy trotted up to the shack entrance, her sniper hanging at her side. "You'll see."

Footnote: Level up

New Perk: Twitcha! Twitch! : You are limber, and can sense when enemies are close by or when a trap is located.

Footnote: Level up

Would you like to level up Adam?

Yes-

No

New Perk: Buck yeah!: Your buck/punch has increased damage by 20%, you also gain +2 in unarmed per level.

Proofread by:

Myself

Wayofthepen

Dracoliat

(I tell you this chapter was a pain to proofread, but here it is chapter 6! Please tell me of any mistakes me or my proofreaders missed. A big thanks to these guys for helping out!)