BaronEngel
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The Root of the Problem
🕑 Added 2024-08-02 22:27:13 +0000 UTCNote. To the best of my knowledge this is not based on any existing Fallout Equestria storyline, nor does it follow any particular plot in Fallout 4. This is just the narrative that popped into my head as I worked on this piece.
Sweetie Belle sent a sphere glowing yellowish light down the partially collapsed hallway of the abandoned Stable. The sphere showed a reoccurring theme that she and Amber had observed since entering the ruins. Signs of flooding from the intrusion of rainwater. A lack of power or functional terminals anywhere in the ruins, and an extensive lichen, fungus, and crisscrossing plant roots on the walls, ceiling, and floor.
However much to their surprise the Stable hadn't been picked clean by looters. Amber felt this was due to its remote location, and that the Stable's entrance had been partially buried by a landslide in the last 50 or so years. The lush local vegetation had camouflaged the rest.
Sweetie thought looters had found it but had been discouraged by the moldy, mildew state of everything they'd encountered so far in this forgotten Stable. Also they'd encountered multiple hallways that blocked by what looked liked cave ins or impenetrable masses of dense, thick roots.
Amber's flashlight made slow, constant sweeps as he checked the area immediately around them. Noticing something on a wall he spoke softly.
"Sweetie hold up for a second." Slinging his submachine gun over his shoulder he approached it. There was lettering of some type that was barely visible beneath the accumulated dirt, lichen, and general muck. Donning a pair of heavy work gloves he started wiping the grime away. After few seconds he was able to read it.
STABLE 420
"Well now we know which Stable this was." The pony hybrid muttered. He looked over at Sweetie. "Ever heard of Stable 420?"
The white unicorn came alongside and stared at discovery. "No Amber I haven't. But that's not surprising. Almost none of the Stables ever had direct communication between them, and StableTech was rather cagey about how many Stables they constructing at the time."
Unable to glean more information they pressed on. As they did the crisscrossing roots grew more frequent, and on several occasions Sweetie swore she felt one twitch or squirm when she stepped on them. Amber thought that this was caused by the thick layer of spongy, organic detritus that blanketed the floor.
As they progressed deeper and deeper into the Stable they started to notice a certain plant-based emphasis to facilities here. Seed vaults, indoor greenhouses, hydroponic gardens and laboratories devoted to botany in far greater numbers than were required to sustain the Stable's population. Which as they progressed deeper both ponies started to realize something was missing from this vault. Something they'd encountered in every abandoned vault they'd explored.
Neither of them had seen any dead bodies or skeletal remains. Not even the usual carcasses of wild denizens that normally took up residence in forgotten Stables.
It was in the rotting remains of laboratory desk that they found their first piece documentation related to the Stable. A soaked, mold covered lab log. Most of it was completely illegible but at the very back of it was one barely readable entry.
It was suppose to a beautiful union. A marriage that would make Equestria flourish again one day! Ponies and plants working together to once again bring life and vibrancy to the land. But now it's become a nightmare. Where did we go wrong?
Not sure what to make of this they pocketed the journal and pressed. A short time later Sweetie noticed that there was a slowly increasing source of light ahead. Also she was positive that a couple of times she felt roots squirm under her hooves as they advanced.
Eventually the hallway Sweetie and Amber were in terminated a large circular atrium area. The source of the light came the fact that a large part of the ceiling in the Stable and the bedrock above it had been torn away to permitted dim light from the outside world to filter down. A dense canopy of the trees at the surface obscured most sunlight from reached this room, but compared pitch black hallways the two ponies had been in it was welcome sight.
What occupied the center of the atrium was less welcoming.
Perched upon a mound of earth and organic material was a massive bulb shaped plant. It appeared to have long tongue leaves/petals that were tightly drawn up. Emerging from the giant plant was mass of roots that snaked out in all directions. The circular room had an oddly heavy and unevenly bumpy texture to it. Only the sound of dripping water broke the silence. After second Sweetie spoke.
"Okay. Giant plants that aren't trees are creepy."
Both ponies stayed together but far away from the ominous vegetation as they looked around the room. Sweetie was peering around the room when something caught her attention. Moving her glow globe over closer to circular wall of the atrium she finally recognized what the texture of the wall was.
It was pony skulls. Hundreds of skulls all facing inward toward the plant. Held tight to the wall by dense network of vines, tendrils, and roots. Only with great effort did she resist screaming.
"Amber! I know what happened to the ponies of the Stable!" She hissed.
The stallion turned to see what the mare was looking at when he stepped firmly on one of the roots when he did several things happened at once.
First he felt the root violently twitch under his hoof. Second a long, moaning sigh came from the giant plant. Third the same plant began open its petals revealing squat, stump-like center.
"Okay! Giant plant that move are even creepier!" Sweetie exclaimed as she drew her machine pistol.
The two ponies were beginning to back out of the room when suddenly the center of the plant opened revealing a great vertical maw lined with thorn-like teeth. From this maw erupted mass of long tendrils that whipped out and wrapped around the ponies. Sweetie was physically yanked into the air and Amber found himself dragged toward the plant.
"Aaaaahhhh!!!" Sweetie screamed. "I've seen some of those creepy pre-war EC comics and I know what happens next!" So she began firing burst into the plant.
Trying to keep from being throttled by the plant Amber began firing one-handed into the plant at point blank range.
With her one free hand Sweetie pulled a hand grenade from her belt, and then using her levitation she yanked the pin from it. Then she pitched it into the plant's waiting maw. For several seconds nothing further happened. Then there was a muffled THUMP and the plant suddenly bulged out like water balloon. This was followed by a geyser of green and red ichor that erupted from the mouth drenching Sweetie and spraying all over Amber. Then like some deactivated air dancers the tendrils went limp and Sweetie flopped to the ground. For several seconds the mare just looked down at herself before speaking.
"I. I. I will never be able to eat guacamole in the Stable cafeteria again!"
This was a patron reward for Skyline. The firearms in the picture are the Russian Stechkin APS Link, Link and the French MAT-49 Link.
Of course Sweetie was referring to those horrible Equestria Comic books from the prewar period.
Comments
WarFox
Reminds me of the plant creature from Flash Gordon.
Chris Teet
Frag out!
Caerdwyn
Nonconsentacles.
