Fallout: New Pegasus

The gas mask was really choking me. It was boiling inside. And the Sun wasn't really helping. I took a look around the Wasteland. I was shocked. It was much different from what I though it would look like. Dust storms were blowing across the land. Electricity lines were snapped and hanging from tall structures. One-story houses were completely destroyed. Windows cracked or missing, entire rooms buried underneath the collapsed roof. It was hard to believe that one bomb could do all this. I looked around. I spotted hoof prints in the dirt. It was a peculiar shape. It was the same shape as August. He must of escaped before the bandits surrounded the entrance. If the tales of the Wasteland were true, then I would need all the company I could get. I followed the hoof prints. It led to a slightly-less destroyed house. "August!" I yelled. "Are you there!?" No answer. I walked up to the house and yelled his name again. All I could hear was the harsh wind and the glass shards cracking beneath my hooves. But, soon, another noise was heard. It was shaking. Shaking wood to be exact. I turned around a saw a shaking wardrobe. I pulled out my pistol and opened the wardrobe door slowly. The next hing I knew, I was tackled down by a unknown force. I could feel the glass shards pricking at my back. Luckily, my armor was keeping it from piercing my skin. The being was swinging a rusty knife around wildly, trying to stab me in the heart.

I tried to free myself, but the being was surprisingly strong. I couldn't tell who it was over the dust, which was blocking most of my view through the goggles. Whoever it was, I'm sure he would stop if I just showed him, or her, who it was. I pulled my mask off and let my body be exposed to the radiated air. The being stopped trying to stab me. It WAS August. August was already standing up, realizing that he was about to stab his best friend. "Zelig!? You're alive!? Oh, Celestia, I'm so sorry!" He kept apologizing while I slowly got up. "August, it's alright... I'm just glad you're alive." I truly was. It was good to see a friendly face after that raid in Safe #28. I realized that Haley wasn't with him. But probably mentioning her to August would make him emotional. "How'd you get out of the Safe?" I asked August. "I was about to ask you the same thing." said August. "I just shot my way out." I said triumphantly. "I took the more sneaky way out." Of course he did.

As we talked about what happened, I noticed a town just down the road from where we were. I told August and he got the idea of going there to find some supplies. We traveled down the cracked cement road and arrived at the town in no time. Most buildings already collapsed, and the ones that weren't were nailed shut. I cursed out loud. But then, I heard some thing walking up behind us. I looked behind me and saw another pony. He was wearing tattered clothes and his body wasn't much cleaner. The pony spoke in a cracked, dry voice. "Those're Safe clothin', I reckon?" he said in a strong accent. August and I remained quiet. "Th' quiet types, ah see. Well, if yer gonna survive out in th' Wasteland, yer gonna need new clothin'. Them bandit fellas would love t' have yer flanks on a pike." That was certainly useful to know. "Do you know if there's any populated city around here?" I asked, trying to change the subject. The pony thought for a second. Then, he motioned as if he had an idea. "Well, there is Las Pegasus. It's held out by th' N.E.I.G.H.S. Ya'll better be careful and keep yer head down if yer gonna head over there. But if ya just follow th' rules and stay out o' their way, ya'll be just fine." I've heard about Las Pegasus before. But I've never heard much other than that it's one of the only cities to not be completely destroyed by the bomb. The ponies living there weren't as lucky, however. The blast, as well as the radiation from the aftermath, slowly killed the ponies living in the once-bustling city.

The city was our best chance at survival in the Wasteland. But we had no idea where to go. And with all the monsters, bandits, and other dangerous things out there, it only made our journey more difficult. I even heard that they cleaned up all the radiation in the city. Although that may just be an urban myth, it's still worth checking out. We thanked the pony, who was gone by the time me and August made up our minds, and headed for our new goal. Who knows, we may even find a few more companions on our journey. My Pip was starting to beep and glow. The same was happening to August's Pip-Pony. I looked at mine. On the screen, it said "New map radio source detected. Download data?" Then the two options yes and no appeared. I looked at August, then back at the Pip-Pony. I clicked yes, and the Pip shut off, then turned back on. Nothing seemed different. I switched to the map, and realized that the map was different. It wasn't of the Safe anymore. It was of the entire Wasteland. That made this a little easier. I marked Las Pegasus on the Pip and we began our long and perilous journey towards New Pegasus. Over the horizon, off in the distance, I spotted a tall tower. It was the Pegasus Needle. Seeing the tower gave me a little bit of hope. I couldn't explain it, and I still can't, but it did.

Day 0: Nighttime

Our first day camping out in the Wasteland. Not exactly a great first. The nights were unbearably long and hot. Monsters wouldn't shut up so it was impossible to sleep. August and I had to take turns on lookout while the other slept for probably 20 minutes. We didn't really have any weapons to do any damage. Hopefully, if we run into any other town, they’ll have some real weapons. My Pip showed that there was a little town not too far. About a 2 hour journey on hoof. But, we were in no condition to walk anymore. Following the Pegasus Needle was not the best idea out here. The dust storms never let up. And, of course, they’re always right on us. So most of the time, we end up going the wrong way. On the bright side of things, we haven’t run into any trouble. At least not yet.

Day 1: Morning

Finally, the Sun began to rise over the horizon. I was on lookout when the Sun rose. It was so bright; it was as if another bomb was detonated. My eyes took a good five minutes to adjust. I shook August furiously, trying to wake him. One thing you need to know about August, he was a damn heavy sleeper. He could have probably slept through the bandit raid if they got to the Safe any earlier then they did. I resorted to kicking his body, but he wouldn't budge. I shot into the air and he flew off the mat. “I’m up! I’m up!” he yelled, still partially asleep. “Morning, Sun shine!” I joked. He gave me a sour look and got up, brushing off the dust from his suit. “Come on.” I said. “We got a long day today.” “Like we needed it to be any longer…” he mumbled under his breath. He was never good at staying awake either.

As we headed down the cracked road, what the pony we met when first left the Safe said, about changing our suits, was bouncing around through my head. “Maybe the town up ahead will have some clothes for us to buy.” I thought. It was getting hot in the suit. I could tell the same thing was happening to August. He was becoming a waterfall of sweat.