Fallout Equestria: Last Days

Lights!

Again, the brilliance of Las Pegasus filled me with a rush of pure excitement. By using Sweetie Belle’s method of ‘counting cards’ I had managed to win all my money back. I had gotten a little cocky. Going on to win several more rounds of blackjack, doubling my earnings. I would’ve kept on playing, but Miss Belle pulled me away. She had mentioned something about ponies in suits giving us suspicious glares, and that was a sign for us to stop.

Now, we sat inside a large nightclub. Music blared from massive speakers that dotted the walls and floor panels. In addition to that, there were enough flashing lights and neon lamps to give a blind pony a seizure. It was THAT bad. I hadn’t been to keen on coming to this place, but Miss Belle had insisted. She had told me it would be fun. Since she had been right about the blackjack tables, I trusted that she would also be right about the club. To put it lightly, I was wrong.

There was a reason I had never been to a club in my life before tonight. It wasn’t because of the music I hated, the alcoholic drinks I despised, or the obnoxious lights I loathed. No, I hated the ponies. Though the institution as a whole was something I disliked, it was the ponies that were part of it that sent me over the edge. With a blatant disregard for decency and dignity, the ponies who went to nightclubs were the most obnoxious individuals I had ever met. They’d spend half the night killing precious brain cells with booze or drugs. Then they’d screw each other for the other half. It didn’t even matter where! I had once passed a club in Manehattan on my way home from work one night and saw two ponies doing it in the street! The Street! They had no shame, no decorum, and no respect for those around them.

“Having a good time?” asked Sweetie Belle

“Of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be?” I fibbed. Miss Belle let out a dejected sigh.

“There you go, lying to me again. How stupid do you honestly think I am?”

Celestia Efing darn it!

“How can you tell? Your not reading my mind with magic are you?” she giggled, hiding her grin with her hoof.

“You have a give away, something in the way you move that lets me know you’re not being truthful. Oh, and before you ask, I’m not going to tell you what it is. If I do, then you’ll stop doing it.” I was annoyed at the fact that Miss Belle had found a way to see through me, but at the same time I felt rather glad. Just seeing her as she was, giddy as a school filly, made my stomach do a summersault. It had been a long time since I had seen her this happy. Come to think of it, I’d never seen her this happy. Must’ve been that New Pegasus charm everypony talked about.

“Are you sure you wont tell me what my give away is?” I asked in my politest voice. She thought for a moment before answering.

“I’ll tell you….”

Thank Celestia

“…If you tell me how to make you happy.”

You gotta be kidding me!

I didn’t want to hinder Sweetie Belle’s good time. I wanted nothing more than to leave the club, but if I did she would follow. For some reason she was dead set on making me enjoy myself. Perhaps she thought of this as a way of thanking me for being a good employee? Must’ve been something like that. Regardless, my idea of a ‘good time’ would probably bore her to death. I was the type of guy who liked reading, writing, listening to old music, stuff like tha-…..

…

…music…

I had just figured out a way for everypony to get what they wanted.

“Well,” I started. “it’s not that I’m not having a good time. I mean look at this place, its like candy to my eye.” I suppressed a gag. “you got ponies to talk to, booze to drink, space to dance….” I trailed off a bit at the end. Sweetie Belle was giving me a look like she didn’t completely believe me. “The only problem is the music.” I finished quickly.

“The music?” she echoed.

“Yeah, It…. It sounds decent. I just think it lacks…uh.... Energy! Yeah, that’s the word, energy!” Sweetie Belle glanced over the crowd of ponies who occupied the dance floor. Again, she turned to me and fixed me with a gaze that screamed ‘really?’

“Seems like every other pony in here thinks it’s ‘energizing.’ Just look at them out there, they’re practically going wild.” I had to admit, the ponies did look like they were thrilled. They swayed violently, and threw themselves around to the rhythm of the music. To put it poetically, the music was ‘flowing’ through them. If, of course, the music was flowing with the fury of a raging typhoon.

“Yeah….well…what do they know? They wouldn’t know good music if it bit them in the arse.” I didn’t have to worry about  giving myself away that time, I was being completely honest. “I’m sure somepony like you could introduce them to some real musical talent.”

“You want me to sing for them?” she asked. Almost like it was the stupidest thing she had ever heard. Luckily, I could tell she was starting to give in. Her facial features were softening as was her tone. She was actually believing every word I said! I felt a pang of guilt for being so manipulative. I quickly shut that feeling up. If Miss Belle wanted me to have a good time, I felt this was the only way I could have one.

“Sure. I’m certain the crowd would love a live performance, and what band wouldn’t want to perform with the infamous Sweetie Belle? Not to mention, it would help me enjoy myself a bit.”

“Eh, what the heck.” sighed Sweetie Belle. “If that’s what it takes, then I’ll do it.” Success! She would be able to stay at the club, I would get to listen to a song specially performed for me, and the crowd was treated to a surprise show. Things looked like they were going to turn out alright for everypony.

I exited my seat at the back of the establishment and waded my way through the crowd of raving ponies to the edge of the stage. Miss Belle had already stepped onto the scaffold, and was talking to the leader of the performing band. He nodded in response to whatever she had said, and told his fellow musicians to stop playing. The raving ponies quit dancing as soon as the music cut. There were a few discontent mumbles, but they were all silenced as the band started up again. This time their tune was much softer and more tame. Then Sweetie Belle took center stage, holding a microphone close to her lips in her telekinetic grasp. The guitarist, violinist, and several trumpeters began with a soothing melody that sent chills down my spine. I knew this song from a long time ago, and I was eager to hear it. The crowd turned silent as the night as Sweetie Belle began to sing.

“Nobody can tell you..

There’s only one song worth singing..

They may try and sell you..

‘Cause it hangs them up to see someone like you!”

I was in Heaven! Without a doubt, I had died and gone to Heaven. The lyrics were suave as silk, yet stronger than a hurricane.

“But you’ve gotta make your own kind of music!

Sing your own special song!

Make your own kind of music!

Even if nobody else sings along!”

My hoof tapped to the pace of the music. Keeping perfect tempo with the rest of the instruments. I almost felt like I was part of the song, doing my part to move it along.

“Your gonna be knowing…

The loneliest kind of lonely..

It may be rough going…

Just to do your thing’s the hardest things you do!”

My body began to sway back and fourth. The tune had completely taken me over, and now it bent me to its will.

“But you’ve gotta make your own kind of music!

Sing your own special song!

Make your own kind of music!

Even if nobody else sings along!”

“So if you cannot take my hand…

And if you must be going..

I will understand!!!”’

“But you’ve gotta make your own kind of music!

Sing your own special song!

Make your own kind of music!

Even if nobody else sings along!”

Everypony in the club sang the last four lines of the song in perfect unison, and I was proud to say that I sang with them.

“But you’ve gotta make your own kind of music!

Sing your own special song!

Make your own kind of music!

Even if nobody else sings along!

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause as the lovely melody came to an end. Hooves furiously clapped together  as Miss Belle took a bow. I Whistled to her and waved to show my appreciation for her performance.

“Encore! Encore!” the crowd shouted with glee. Apparently, they hadn’t liked the performance. They had loved it, and they wanted more. For once, I agreed with them. I definitely wanted to hear another song.

“Thank you very much everypony!” Cooed Sweetie Belle in her sweetest voice. “Unfortunately! I wont be performing another song for you fine folk.” several audible groans and boos were heard amongst the audience. I had to admit, I was disappointed too. “Instead, a personal acquaintance of mine will be singing for you. Ladies and gentle colts put you hooves together for my good  friend, Ivory!”

“Yea-. Wait, what? WHAT?” I looked at her, praying that this was some kind of joke. From the devious look in her eyes, I could tell it wasn’t. what on earth was she trying to do to me? Did she want me to relax, or have a heart attack? Was this supposed to be a reward, or punishment? I just didn’t get it.

“C’mon Ivory. Show these ponies what ‘real’ musical talent is.” Before I could protest I felt myself being lifted off the ground. My dignity melted away as I noticed that it was Miss Belle who was levitating me onto the stage. As soon as I was set down I made a move to exit the spotlight, only to find my path blocked by a bright blue magical force field. “I’m not letting you off this stage until you perform something for us.” jeered Sweetie Belle. “I suggest you start singing soon. Your viewers are growing restless.”

I stared wide eyed at the massive crowd of ponies that stood in front of the stage. There looks were a mix of annoyance and anticipation. To them it didn’t matter who sang, they just wanted a show. I was afraid of what they would do to me if I didn’t meet their expectations. They were filled with mind numbing alcohol and rage inducing drugs. My imagination ran wild with all the horrible things an angry mob of drunk equines could do to a lanky fellow like myself.

“Better get this done and over with…” I mumbled to nopony in particular. “What am I singing, exactly?”

“It’s a song you probably know, probably.” Chimed Miss Belle. “Just relax, you’ll do fine…. Should I call an ambulance just in case you mess up?” Relax, she wants me to relax? wasn’t that how I got into this predicament in the first place? Because she wanted me to relax?!

No…..no that wasn’t why. She had wanted us to have fun together and I’d been a complete spoil sport. I guess this is what I got for being such a Debbie-Downer. When the music started it felt like a hundred pounds had just been lifted off my shoulders. I was familiar with the catchy guitar chords, tambourine beat, and piano keys. My familiarity with the song would surely help me cope with this little slice of Tartarus.

“Once Upon a time you dressed so fine.

Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?”

That’s two lines down, Celestia knows how many are left.

“people’d call, say ‘beware doll your bound to fall,’

You thought they were all kiddin’ you.

The looks I received from the audience told me I was doing good so far.

“You used to laugh about

Everybody that was hangin’ out

Now you don’t talk so loud

Now you don’t seem so proud

About having to be scrounging for your next meal!”

Suddenly, a strange feeling started down in my gut. It was warm and tingly, but not at all unpleasant. I wasn’t sure what it was at first, but as it spread throughout the rest of my body I started to get an idea of what it was.

“How does it feel?

How does it feel?

To be without a home?

Like a complete unknown?

Like a rolling Stone!?

The feeling was excitement! For the first time in a long time I was getting excited! All my worries vanished as i stood on that stage, singing my heart out. The song eventually ended, but the liveliness that had been released from within me remained. The applause from the audience only served to feed into the feeling. The sentiment was then amplified twice as much when I received a rib-crushing hug from Sweetie Belle.

“That was great!” she cheered as she squeezed me tighter. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Really? I didn’t think my singing was THAT good…” I managed to wheeze from Miss Belle’s death grip. Her reply came in the form of a gentle whisper.

“It’s not that! Its just you, your really having fun!”

She spoke the truth. I really was having a great time. And, even if it was just for a brief moment, I smiled.

"By the way, your give away is your glasses. They fog up when you lie."

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I was rudely awoken by a splash of cold water to my face. My eyes shot open as reality came flooding back to me. It took me a moment to realize that I had been dreaming about the time I had spent in Las Pegasus. I wished that I was back on the strip. I had enjoyed myself so much when I visited there, despite the fact that it was hot, noisy, and full of thugs. Those things were bearable compared to my current situation. I would much rather deal with the blistering sun of the Neighvada Desert then be held hostage by a band of assassins.

I tried to get up and move, only to find my fore hooves tied behind my back. My attempt to lift myself off the ground with my wings was met with a similar result, as I found that they had also been bound together. I lifted my head from the dirt to get a better view of my surroundings, maybe I could find something to cut myself free.

I was still in the Everfree forest, I could tell by the dense amount of trees and lack of sunlight. Besides me being in a clearing, my specific location was unknown. There were three small tents set up around the edge of the defoliated area with a slightly larger tent set up in the center of them. I assumed the smaller canvases were for the regular soldiers while the bigger one was for the leader. Several heavily armed goons were positioned around the perimeter, two were watching me, and there were probably a few more skulking about. Their leader was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Sweetie Belle or Pipsqueak.

There wasn’t much clutter laying around the camp, so me options of escape were limited. The only sharp objects I could see were the knives strapped to the hips of my captors. There was no way I could get my hooves on one of those. My thought process was interrupted by the sound of a muffled scream coming from the central tent. It sounded like a stallion, perhaps it was Pipsqueak. If it was, then I prayed for his safety. Who knew what they were doing to him in there.

BANG!

I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of a gun going off. The loud noise was followed by a horrified scream, Sweetie Belle probably.

“Bring me the other captive!” shouted the familiar voice of the zebra. “Perhaps his pain will be more suasive.” Oh sweet Celestia, what was going on? Two ponies dressed in zebra military uniforms emerged from the tent and approached me. Without a word, they violently pulled my up and dragged me towards the large tent. I tried to break free of their grasp, but they were too strong. Upon entering the tent I was violently thrown to the floor. Before I could make a move to get up a strong hoof stepped onto my back, pinning me to the ground. Another hoof planted itself on the side of my face, smashing half my head into the dirt.

I observed the area the best I could with my one usable eye. The tent was illuminated by a large brazier that sat beneath the center of the canvas roof. Inside of it were several hot irons, I shuddered when I realized that they were probably going to be used on me. To the right of the steel fire place sat Sweetie Belle. Like me, her forelegs were bound behind her back. Her eyes were sore from the stinging tears that continued to run down her face. I was relieved to not see any physical abuse inflicted upon her, but that led me to ask myself what she was so broken up about. A glance to my left answered my question. The beaten corpse of Pipsqueak lay a meter away from me. Blood and gore oozed from dozens of grizzly cuts that covered his body. What was left of his head was a grizzly mess of skull fragments and grey matter. I realized that the gunshot I had heard a moment ago had probably caused this. I felt like I was going to vomit as my eyes stayed focused on the brutal mess that used to be a pony.

“listen well, Miss Belle.” spat the enraged zebra. “I am going to kill both you and your friend. If you tell me what I wish to know, you’ll both meet a painless end. If you  continue to be so persistent…” she slowly raised her hoof and then violently brought it down on my head. “Then I’ll murder your assistant!”

My vision swam as the force of the zebra’s hoof struck my face again. This time I heard a loud “CRUNCH” and felt two of my molars pop out of their places. My mouth instantly filled with blood and I struggled to not choke on it.

“Now tell me where the other Vault-Tec mares are!” she screamed. “don’t test my patience, it doesn’t go that far!” Sweetie Belle stared at me, mortified. Her gaze turned to the zebra, the expression she wore changed from horror to rage.

“Bite me!” she screeched. “I’d rather die than betray my friends. There’s nothing you can do to make me talk!” I was proud of Miss Belle for not giving in. Even with both of our lives on the line she remained loyal to her allies. That didn’t change the fact that I didn’t want to die. I was horrified to think that my life was about to end here, inside this dirty little tent pitched in the middle of nowhere. Luna above, don’t let this be the end. It couldn’t end here, it couldn’t! We were so close to getting to safety! The Zebra glared down at me, a homicidal fire burned in her eyes.

“So that’s how it will be. Listen to my words, Pegasus. The pain you feel is because of her, not me!” with that, she delivered another sharp blow to my face. I felt another tooth loosen, and the skin around my mouth tear open and bleed. My senses went wild. I could smell and taste every drop of blood I lost. I heard Sweetie Belle scream in protest for them to stop, to just kill us already and be done with it. My eyes shot from one thing in the room to the next, still looking for a something to use to escape. Worst of all, I felt pain from every blow inflicted upon my body.

I don’t know how long the torment lasted. Time held know meaning to me, I just kept my mind focused on keeping myself together. I stayed strong for Sweetie Belle’s sake. If I let them break me, Miss Belle may follow. I took advantage of what little respite it got. Every so often they would stop torturing me to question Sweetie Belle about the whereabouts of her fellow Stable-Tec founders. It would only last a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity to me. The relief from the pain was wonderful, and I fought hard to get back whatever strength I could.

“Do you know how long I’ve been hunting you, Sweetie Belle?” asked the Zebra. “I was dispatched decades ago to rid the world of you, and ever minute away from home has been hell! I want nothing more than to return to my home, but I can’t do that while you and your friends continue to roam. Tell me where they hide so I can leave Equestria and no longer bide.” Miss Belle said nothing, she just glared at the striped mare through tear soaked eyes. A moment of tense silence passed until one of the guards whispered something to the zebra.

“Kira, I don’t think she’s going to speak. Maybe we should just finish them off.” The zebra, who I now knew was named Kira, considered what her henchman had just said before responding.

“Your right, we’re wasting our time with her while we should be out searching for the other two mares. You can take the Pegasus outside and do what you like with him, just make sure its away from the campsite. I already made enough of a mess with the other stallion. Leave the unicorn to me, there’s still something I want to try on her.” The guard pony  nodded to Kira and then turned his attention to me. I could see him grin crookedly as he moved to drag me outside. I didn’t even care what he did to me anymore, I was just hoped my torment would end soon.

Before I was pulled out of the tent I glanced to Sweetie Belle. She was looking back at me with an expression that said ‘I’m so sorry, this is my fault.’ I wish I could’ve done something to tell her that it was ok, and that she shouldn’t blame herself. Unfortunately, I was just fighting to hold on for a moment longer. Simply breathing had become an arduous task. I just looked back into her eyes as I was heaved out into the open.

I was pulled away from the camp by two of Kira’s thugs. The one to my left chuckled to himself as he thought of all the things he could do to me. The other pony to my right was silent, he simply stared at me through the eye holes cut into his red ski mask. When we were about a hundred meters away from the campsite my captors propped me up against a dying tree.

“Oh, I’m going to have some fun with you.” mocked the first stallion. His companion still said nothing. All he did was move his eyes back and forth between me and his partner. “Lets start by ‘clipping’ those wings of yours.” I saw the evil buck pull his knife from it’s sheath. A single ray of sunlight penetrated the thick foliage of the forest and reflected off the blade. I knew this was going to hurt worse than anything Kira had already done to me. I clenched my jaw in anticipation of the pain, and waited for it happen.

But it never did.

I waited a moment before opening my eyes, and what I saw sent a wave of relief washing over my body. The corpse of the evil guard pony lay facedown on the ground, a short knife sticking out of the back of his neck. Standing over him was his partner, who looked a lot more familiar with his ski mask off.

“Featherweight!” I sighed. “How did you get here?” he smiled sheepishly before responding.

“After you crashed the chariot I was going to fly back to Manehattan for help, but I was spotted by the sniper and she tried to shoot me. I flew around, doing my best to avoid her shots, until I pinpointed her location. I got up really close to her and managed to take her out. After I had tied her up I used the scope on her rifle to search for your crash site. I eventually found it, but you had already left. I spent the next few hours trying to catch up with you, however, I lost your trail in the forest. I had almost found you, but then I saw you being carried off by the zebra and her ponies. I’ve been trying to break you and the others out since then.” I stared at him, my jaw hung open in amazement.

“How on earth did you manage to do that?” I asked. My mind tried to come up with some logical reason as to how Featherweight could have pulled all of that off. He was just a journalist after all.

“I’m a lot tougher then I look.” he admitted. “I’ve covered wars, you know.” I would’ve smiled, if it didn’t hurt to do so. Thankfully Featherweight had a healing potion with him. I greedily drank the mystical brew, sighing with content as I felt it work its magic. The swelling around my face subsided and the burns on my body cooled. Once I had finished half of the vial most everything was healed. Some of the cuts I had received were still open and bleeding slightly, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had felt a second ago. Once I felt strong enough to stand, I handed the rest of the potion back to Featherweight.

“So what’s the plan? We need to get Sweetie Belle out of there, that zebra is planning on killing her!”

“It’s alright. I have a plan.” Reassured Featherweight. “It’s really simple. All I need is for you to cause a distraction while I sneak back into the camp and free Sweetie. I should be able to slip in and out easily since I have a uniform.” It wasn’t much of a plan, but it sounded like it would work. I would just have to cause enough of a commotion to draw everypony’s attention to me, and then find a way to escape and meet up with Miss Belle and Featherweight. It was very likely that I could die, but if it meant completing my mission I would do it.

“Ok, I’m down. Now tell me what you have in mind for a distraction.”