White Hat stable. A fallout bunker complex in the Coltifornian desert and one of the few Investor Stables, which are exactly what they sound like, luxurious and equipped with equipment that regular stables lack, like decontamination chambers.
The life of an investor stable dweller was a mostly leisurly one of bread and circuses, packed with elegant parties and petty arguements. „Who ate the last quiche?“ was indeed by far the greatest terror to the rich descendants of the investors.
But this lifestyle was not to last, as the stables technicians discovered that the power of their water chip had been slowly failing as of lately, and they, in all their lavishness, had no spare. Due to this being a stable, and therefore incredibly tight-knit, word of he failing chip spread through the complex like the wildest wildfire. The denizens were nearing panic as their lazy way of life grew endangered. Thankfully, the Overseer had an ace up his sleeve…
Two ponies, Sugarlilly Purple a unicorn marriage counselor and Valor Grey, a pegasii security guard, Both given basic training and given the finest hazmat combat armor and weapons the stable could provide, they will be the stables salvation…hopefully.
Sugarlilly stood in a darkened room. He looked at the steel vault door with dark purple eyes in contemplation, a crowd eagerly awaiting their messiah's outside.Beside him was Valor.The unicorn was dressed in black hazmat armor, his helmet by his side and a duffel bag with a 5.56 mm handgun, spare ammo and other supplies tucked neatly inside. His body was slim and well-groomed, mare-like even, with a purple coat and a dark purple bobcut mane while the pegasus was of strong build, grey coat blonde buzzcut mane and golden irises, dressed in Experimental Advanced Combat Armor outfitted with a battle saddle, an assault rifle, whole lot of clips for the assault rifle, and a hold-out hand-cannon.
The pega-guards composure was noticeably more nervous, never having had this many ponies adore and count on him.
„I..dont know if I can do this Sugar…“ Said the winged pony with an tone of discomfort in his deep voice.
„What is wrong, Valor?“ Asked his companion in a soothing, posh voice.
„All these ponies…their counting on me…“ His breathing increased in weight and volume. „What if I fail them…what if I die…“
„It will all be alright Valor, we were trained and equipped for this…“
„Im frightened Sugar… those things on the photos…“
„Might not be harmful.“
„But one of them…looked like a pony but with rotting skin…its disgusting…“
„Dont worry Valor, if there are threats we can deal with them, if something confuses you I can explain.“
„Promise?“
„Promise.“
The intercom in the room sounded with the mature and authoritative words of the Overseer.
„It is time.“ With that the steel doors opened and the two were greeted with uprorious cheers from the rest of the stable population.
The Overseer had been kicking up a hayload of propaganda about how these two were the White Hat stables best and absolute best saviors.
The two slowly trotted out , helmets held up be it either by horn or by saddle, waving to their friends, family and acquiantances. Valor's mother did nothing but give him a salute which he returned and the crowd adored. And…it helped build his confidence somewhat as his insecure looks slowly changed into a heroic smile. Sugar's parents didnt seem too different from the crowd with their cheers other than the „WE LOVE YOU SUGAR!“ his mother yelled out.
The row of cheering continued well until they reached the vault exit area, where a few guards dressed in the same armor as Valor were already waiting to open the doors.
Finally the two stepped into the entrance area, the guard by the door immediatly closing the doors behind them and making deadly silence enter the room. Nothing except the hum of the consoles was heard.
„So…you ready?“ Asked the guard by the stable door panel.
„As wel ever be.“ Replied Sugarlilly, giving Valor a reassuring look.
With that the fully armored guardsman pressed a few buttons and the massive cog that was the stable door began to push itself out of the way, same for the other two stable cogs in front of it. Security precautions you see.
And so…donning their helmets, the two stepped into the openings and out into the opened decon chamber, they wont actually need it until they come back. IF they come back. The cave that followed after the chamber was very simple to navigate and with haste they reached the final stable door to the outside.
Yanking on the steel lever of the panel, Sugarlilly looked on as the door pulled back. When the door finally opened they were met with…sunlight. Bright, burning sunlight, a beautiful blue skyline and vast stretches of burning orange sand in front of them.
"Its…more beautiful than I imagined…“ Remarked the pegasus.
„Likewise, Valor.“
„So…where do we go exactly?“
That was indeed a good question and Sug tapped his be-helmeted chin in response. „We wander until we find civilization.“ He continued.„According to The Overseer there were several great cities in Coltifornia. Los Manegeles, San Foalcisco, these are bound to have what we need.“
„Yes but where are they exactly?“
„That…“ He lowered the hoof that stroked his chin. „…I dont know…“
„So were lost in the middle of nowhere!?“ Valor's tone grew a tad more irate.
“No no no…“ His friend replied, trying to think of a way out of their predicament when he suddenly saw his pip-buck…
„I know! We look around until we get a radio signal on our pipbucks, then we use its signal strength to follow it to ponies!“
Valor stared blankly at his compatrior until he fully processed the idea. "...Youre a genius Sug."
„I know Valor, I know.“
And so they began the long walk in search of radio signals. It lasted for several hours until, after having downed most of the contents of their canteens, they finally found something.
It was a small frontier town made of stone structures of varying size and they appeared to have an oasis aswell!
„Am I having a mirage, Valor?“
„Mirage?“
„Am I seeing things, Valor?“
„No, Im seeing a town too…“
Looking at each other then back to the stone town they rushed down the sandy dunes to meet it. As they sprinted down, kicking up a lot of sand in their wake they could see the the locales name-sign more up close, a large steel bar with the following carved in:
„WELCOME TO COLT TOWN!“
TO BE CONTINUED
