Fallout Equestria: A New Hope (On Hiatus)

Chapter Three

It had been two days since we arrived at the Stable. Lead removed the bullet while I was out, and went through the whole thing to see if there were any stray pegasi while I recovered. I looked over to Sweetie who was laying next to me. "How are you?" I asked. "Good. Knowing you are ok." She replied. I smiled and held her close. "Thank you." I said kissing the top of her head. The little unicorn filly giggled. "Your welcome." She nestled into my neck. I lie there closing my eyes. My saddlebags were on the bed she was on two days prior. My horn lit up, and I levitated an apple over to myself, and took a bite out of it. The crunch of the apple caused Sweeties ear to twitch. She looked up. "Are you hungry?" She asked. I nodded and chewed the apple in my mouth swallowing a moment later. "Yeah. Are you?" I asked. She nodded in reply. "Why don't you go find the cafeteria, and wait there." I said. She hopped off the bed and trotted toward the door looking back. "I love you." She said before headed out into the Stables halls. My ear twitched. "Did I hear that correctly?" I asked myself. My smile grew wider and a tear formed in my eye. "I love you too." I said softly. The tear running down my cheek. Lead came into the room. "Hey. You doing better?" He asked walking over to a desk. He set his helmet on said desk, and sat in the chair. "Yeah. Haven't tried walking yet." I chuckled. "You need as least weight on that leg as possible to recover. I'd say about two weeks until you can walk again." He smiled. I smiled back. "Good." I said.

Lead stood up, and smiled. "I'm glad your alright." He smiled walking over to the bed. I smiled back. "Me too. And I'm glad at least somepony out in this shithole cares about me." Lead and I laughed. But it was cut short by a high pitched scream. "Sweetie!" Lead and I said in unison. He ran off while I stayed there. Keeping all weight off this leg like her said. As Lead rushed toward the source of the scream, he saw Sweetie run the other way. A service bot floated a foot or two above the ground. Lead laughed. "Sweetie, it's OK. It won't hurt you!" He laughed. Sweetie stopped, and Lead looked back to the robot stopped. "How may I help you?" It asked in a metallic voice. "Would you help us find our way around the Stable?" He asked. "Yes, sir." The bot said. Lead smiled. "Follow me." The bot said turning the other way, and floating off. Lead followed it as it floated down the halls. Sweetie ran into the room, and hopped onto the bed nuzzling into my chest. "What happened?" I asked frantically. "A- a big scary robot!" She cried. I knew what she meant. A service bot. "That 'big scary robot' is a service bot. It will not hurt you." I laughed. "I- it won't?" She asked. "No silly." I smiled. "What does it do?" She asked. "It can help you find your way around the Stable, but ponies really don't get lost often but it does happen on occasion." I explained. "And where's Lead?" I asked. "I don't know." She replied hopping off the bed. I looked down, and saw the bandage was on my front right leg. I then got out of bed, and kept my bandaged leg in the air.

"Let's see if we can find the bot." I said limping into the hall. I looked left, then right. "Service bot!" I called. The bot turned around, and floated towards us. Sweetie still hid behind me. I smiled. "How may I help you?" It asked. "The cafeteria please." I replied. "Follow me." It said. I followed it as it floated down the hall. Sweetie followed next to me. I looked to her and smiled. She smiled back. We followed the bot until we reached the mess-hall. I saw Lead take a cap, and put it in the Sparkle-Cola machine. I smiled as I limped into the mess-hall. "Lead!" I called. He turned, and smiled. "Hey, Sketch." He smiled. "You'v been putting any weight on that leg?" He asked. "No." I replied as I drew nearer to him. He smiled. "Good." He said as he opened the bottle, took the cap, and put it on top of the machine. I took it in my magic, and used it to get myself one. I used the bottle opener on the side of the machine. "I want one!" Sweetie whined. I turned to her holding the mouth to her lips.

She took a sip, and smacked her lips examining the taste. "I love it!" She cried. I smiled. "I'll get you one then." I smiled. My horn lit up. Along with the bottle cap. "I wanna do it!" She said. The soft green glow around my horn and the cap faded. Sweetie focused on the cap. Her horn began to flicker a purple color along with the cap. Lead and I looked to her smiling widely. "You can do it!" Lead cheered her on. Sweetie smiled and the cap began to float! I clapped my hooves together. "You'r doing it! Great job!" I said as the cap floated to the slot of the machine. I smiled waiting for her to put it in the slot, and claim her reward. But the cap hit its face, and covered the slot. "Here. Let me help." Lead said. "No!" Sweetie cried. The cap turned, and moved forward slowly sliding itself into the slot. Lead and I had a smile which was growing wider and wider by the second. "You'r so close!" Lead cheered her on. The cap slid into the slot, and the soft purple glow around her horn faded, and the cap fell into the machine. A moment later, a Sparkle-Cola bottle dropped out of the machine. Lead and I clapped our hooves applauding her for her efforts. "Great job!" I said. "You are a fast learner." Lead complimented. Her horn lit up again, and the bottle began to glow the same color. The bottle moved out of the machine, and over to Lead. She wanted him to open it for her. He took the bottle in his magic's grasp, and opened the bottle. Taking the cap, and setting it on the table next to her. He then gave the bottle back to her. She then set the bottle on the floor, and picked it up in her hooves and began drinking. We applauded her again. "Great job!" Lead said with a smile. Sweetie smiled too. "Im so proud!" I cheered. "Yay!" She smiled. Once she was finished with her soda, she burped and giggled. Lead and I chuckled. "Come on. Let's get you to a room." Lead said levitating her onto his back. She giggled and I smiled. "Service bot!" I called. A service bot came floating in through the entry way of the mess-hall. "What may I help you with?" It asked. "Living quarters please." I said. "I would be happy to help." It replied. We all followed the robot as it floated out of the mess-hall, and into the halls of the Stable. We walked slowly behind the robot because of my limp. "I'm looking for somepony." I said. Lead looked to me. "Who?" He asked. "Pallet. My Stables artist. She said she loved me the night before, but disappeared the next morning." I said frowning. We soon arrived at the living quarters. "Thank you." Lead said to the service bot. "You are welcome." It said.

It then floated down the halls. I opened the door, and limped inside. It was the same as Stable two. A locker, a bed, and a desk by the door with a first aid kit above the desk. A limped to the bed, and sat on the bed. "This isn't home." I said softly as a tear formed in my eye. I then lie my head on the pillow and wept softly into it. I then felt a hoof on my shoulder. I looked up from the now tear stained pillow to see Lead standing there. "I know it isn't your Stable, but it is a Stable nonetheless." Lead said. I sniffled. "I shouldn't have left..." I said. "You left for a good cause. To find somepony special. Who thinks you're special." He said. "I- I guess." I said. Lead hugged me tightly and I hugged back. "It's ok. You'll find her. I know you will." He smiled as he broke the hug. I took my Pipbuck off, and levitated it in my magic. "Why are you taking your thing off?" He asked. "Pipbuck." I corrected, and opened the locker. "I take it off when ever I go to sleep. And whenever the padding starts to chafe." I added putting it on the topmost shelf of the locker, and placing my saddlebags underneath and closing the locker. "Well, if you need any help with stuff, I am a but of a tinkerer. I can't help you with your Pipbuck because I have never saw one. But other things like building a makeshift scope, silencer for a gun, or anything else, you know who to call." He smiled. I limped to him once more and gave him a big tight hug. "Thank you, Lead." I said as I broke the hug.

I limped back to the bed. "I'll be right next door. So if you need anything, just knock." He said exiting my room, and disappearing around the corner. I smiled as I got back in bed. All the positive talk from Lead filled me with determination. The determination that I will one day find Pallet, and bring her back. Back home to where she belongs. Stable two. I closed my eyes, and fell asleep. Or at least tried to. My eyes opened back up. I stared at the grey ceiling for a good ten minutes before getting up, and sighing. As I walked nextdoor to Lead's room, and knocked, "Come in." I heard from within the room. I opened the door, and entered the room. "I can't sleep." I announced. "Oh?" He questioned as he walked to the bed, and lie in it. I got in bed next to him, and he used his hooves to pull me close. I closed my eyes, and let out a content sigh. "I don't care if you are a stallion. It just feels good to know somepony cares about me. And that pony doesn't mind sharing a bed with others." I said as I closed my eyes again. My eyes then shot open as I felt a pair of wings wrap around me. "You're a pegasus too?!" I exclaimed. "Yeah." He replied. "How?" I asked. "When I was 9, I found out I was an experiment. When I was just 16, I joined the NCR. Or, New Canterlot Republic. Then, just two years later, at 18, I joined the NCR Rangers. And finally, at 25, I was discharged after testifying in court." He explained. "Wow." Was the only word that left my mouth. "Do you know the name for the mix?" He asked. "I think it is an Alicorn. I used to read about them. It said they were royalty. And that there were two sisters. I think their names were Celestia and Luna." I replied. "I am not royalty." He said. "Well, you're an-" I was cut off by Lead. "Artificial Alicorn." He said. "So thats what the experiment was?" I asked. "Yes. I used to be a normal unicorn just like you. That is after they took me away from my family. I was then their lab pony. Experiment after experiment was conducted on me." He growled. "How long?" I asked. "10 years." He replied. "I'm sorry." I said. "For what?" He asked. "Bringing this us. Bringing back all those bad memories." I said sadly. "Hey. It's ok." He said holding me close and running a hoof through my mane. I closed my eyes as he stroked. "At least you don't think I'm a freak." He said. My ears perked. "I would never." I said. "Thank you. Even if I were a goul?" He asked. "What's a goul?" I asked. "A zombie pony. A goul is a disgusting creature. And that's not even the worst part." He said. "What's the worst?" I asked. "A goul can be created from heavily irradiated areas if a pony stays in that area for too long. And when that happens, the 'goulification process' begins. When that starts, there is no going back. When a goul is created, the pony keeps his or her ability to speak, along with some complex functions like the ability to reason, and morals for a while. Sometimes forever, sometimes, a few months. The process of pony to goul slowly eats at their souls until there is nothing left." He explained. "Thats terrible." I commented. He closed his eyes. "It is."

"Is there anyway to turn them back?" I asked. "No." He said closing his eyes. "And it's getting late. Get some sleep." He said. I closed my eyes, and did what I wanted. Drift off to sleep.