A Road of Harmony: A Journey's Start
The Road to Harmony
War….. War never changes. Men do, through the road they walk. Name Ulysses. Walked many roads. Searching for a symbol that I could believe in, live by. I have lived by many symbols only for them to fall along with the rest of the old world. The symbols of my travels all have rivals. These rivals slowly erode away the people of that symbol. Slowly, like the invisible fires that still haunt my world today. I had to turn to history for the symbol I was looking for, for so long. That symbol has stayed with me ever since. It is the symbol of the America that died to atomic fire launched from a country corrupted with greed. They clashed just as bear and bull have done for decades.
The Divide, A place that was cursed more than normal by atomic fire. Walked the road alone for many years, finding more and more of the old world on the many journeys I make through the scorched roads of the Divide. A building appeared that was not there on my previous travels. The storms of the Divide can create a thick fog that obscures vision. Perhaps I missed it somehow through my many journeys. As I enter I feel a rush of cold air. Air that is not accustomed to the Mojave Wasteland, Or… Even the Divide for that matter. Might of been Pre-War A/C that still worked even though atomic fire scorched the land. I am met face to face as soon as I enter the Pre-War structure with a grand metal door. Not a metal door that one would see through the vaults that protected 100,000 people back before the war. No, it was pure metal, with a handle, And what seemed to be a engraving of a Pre-War equine in the middle of the metal door. It opens with ease and step into the darkness of the room in front of me.
Ponyville, 1:00 P.M. CET (Central Equestrian Time) A purple mare sat at a desk writing out the weekly report of friendship to Princess Celestia. The letter text wrote;
Dear Princess Celestia;
I have learned on these past few days to never judge a pony due to looks, or you just may ruin the life reputation of an entire pony’s lifeline. A few days ago, a strange pony came into ponyville bearing the name of “The Lone Wanderer” Stating that he was from a world not of ours. A land broken by something he called “Atomic Fire” and that he came from a place called a “Vault” Number One-Hundred and One to be precise, He then told me about his travel. I was very interested, until he got to the part where he mentioned…. a lot of times….. K-K-killing his own species with a metallic object called a “Gun” He had some of these guns with him. I was also able to get my hands onto a couple of these “Guns” He called them; 10 mm Pistol, Hunting Rifle: Plasma Rifle (one of the guns that do not send out metal when fired) Laser Rifle (yet another one) and a Assault Rifle. We judged him for what he did too soon though. A few of my friends who thought of him as dangerous attacked him. One of them (Rainbow Dash) Was shot by the defending pony. The fighting then stopped. He helped her. I thanked him. Sadly we were not able to transfer him back to his world and now he lives here and ponyville and has become rather accustomed to Rainbow. I think it is wrong that Rainbow is starting to have feelings for him but it is not in my business on who she mates with. That pony almost died because of us. And all because we judged. It has taught me different. Your Faithful Student and Princess of Friendship. Twilight Sparkle.
“SPIKE!” Twilight yelled out. Her dragon assistant started up the stairs to the waiting pony to deliver the letter to Princess Celestia. Spike approached her.
“Yeah Twilight?” The green a purple dragon stood humbly in front of the purple unicorn
“Please send this letter to Princess Celestia.” Twilight asked her assistant sounding rather tired at the moment.
“Gee, you sound tired right now, and it’s not even near dinner time yet.” Spike teasingly stated. Twilight, feeling rather annoyed yet somewhat amused at this statement sighed.
“Yeah, you try getting over the fact that another pony from another world arrived in ours.” Twilight exhaustively said. “I myself can’t even find an explanation into what happened, only that he came here through a pure metal door with a pony engraved in it leading to darkness.” Twilight’s former tone of voice turned from tired to worried very quickly. “What if there are more doors like that, what if more of… whatever they used to be come through, The Lone Wanderer stated that many dangers come from his world, Raiders, Rad-Scorpions, Super Mutants.” Twilight was practically almost having a panic attack “It’s CHAOS!” Twilight sighed.
“Twilight, you should go take a walk to calm yourself down a bit, The books and paper are fearing from the sweat that you are generating, at this rate the entire library will be flooded.” Spike was about to run behind a desk after he thought about what he just said. Instead Twilight just sighed.
“You are right Spike….” “I have been trying to hard and exhausting myself to find answers that is probably not found in Equestrian literature.” Twilight headed down the stairs and to the door. She opened it, and stepped outside. “My head is killing me, I should head to Zecora’s hut before I take any sort of walk around Noise Infested Ponyville.” She started towards the Everfree Forest. A place that could rival the dangers of the wasteland. Twilight sighed. “Wow, not 3 days after The Lone Wanderer’s arrival and I have already started mocking it with our dangers.” She reached the entrance of the Everfree Forest and entered into the dark and damp forest.
Somewhere within a dark, damp forest. A pony bearing a mask, torn trench coat, an odd looking staff, and a cutie mark in the shape of a two headed bear and a bull fighting along with a odd red white and blue symbol hanging above them had awoken next to a brightly lit hut in one of the thick trees. The figure almost unable to walk due to him being turned into some sort of Pre-War equine, started towards the hut, unsure on what happened.
I knocked on the door to the strange hut. I was expecting some sort of human tribal to open to door. Instead however, I was met with a Pre-War equine that was of dressed in tribal piercings and paints. The tribal spoke. “ Oh, a new face I see I must ask, who may you be?”
I spoke to the equine. “Names Ulysses, a name taken from the history, common sense would have me think that I am not in my world anymore, The Divide is nowhere in sight.” I winced in pain as I felt something in my back raise.
“You seem to be of some confusion, please, come on in and join me with some tribal concoction.”
I was about to enter the equine's hut but. Just then, a yell could be heard....
I screamed as I was bitten by a timber wolf. Just before I was eaten alive by the wolf, A pony bashed the creature with some sort of staff, sending it flying towards a nearby tree. I laid there in pain as the place I was bitten dripped out blood. The pony came to my side after knocking the creature out. “please…. H-h-help me….” were the only words I managed to speak before he went to work causing me to scream. He took the dirt of the everfree and shoved it into my wound.
“Stops the bleeding.” The figure said. “Are those creatures poisonous?”
I shook my head. He took out some sort of blade and some string from his coat and patched up most of the wound. He then took a liquid from his coat and washed the dirt out of the wound and patched the rest of the wound. It was then I fell into unconsciousness.
I awoke by a campfire. The figure that saved me sat on his haunches next to me. Slightly pressing on the wound he stitched up. After what felt like hours I attempted to sit up. Pain overcame me and I fell back down onto my side. The figure helped me up. I spoke, “Who are you?” He looked at me and spoke
“Names Ulysses, a name taken from history, a man who rose two nations under one flag.”
I was filled with questions so I thought this would be a good a time as any to have them answered.
“Where are you from?” “I have never seen you in all the time I have been in ponyville.”
He spoke. “The Divide, a place scorched by atomic fire, and still is burning to this day by the invisible fire that still resides, I do not expect you to know any of what I am speaking of, but just know that I will not kill you like I killed the creature that attacked you.”
Twilight’s heart sank. “You KILLED IT?!”
“Yes, otherwise it would of returned to attack more innocent people.”
Twilight sighed. “You did not need to kill it…”
He spoke with sadness in his voice. “I attempted to knock the beast unconscious, but the beast would not cease its attacks, just like the attacks of the bear and bull of the Mojave.”
Bear and Bull? Mojave? The Divide? These were just many of the questions that stiffened Twilight’s mind. Then, it struck her like lightning. “You would not happen to be from a wasteland that was once a proud land that was struck with “atomic fire” which is now filled with Rad-scorpions, raiders, and super mutants would you?”
She was met with the surprised look of Ulysses.....
“What do you know of my world?”
After hours of explaining everything she could remember about what “The Lone Wanderer” told her, I spoke. “Our worlds must be connected in some way, just as the Hoover Dam connects The Bear to The Bull, West to East.” “I came through an old Pre-War door with an equine posted on it, looked much of your current stature.”
She seemed tired. “I am not one with being this way, A friend told me to fix my attitude as he wanted to see me live longer, but would you like to lay on my..” I did not have the words in which to call My new limbs.
She spoke. “Hooves”
“Yes, hooves.” Ulysses could not help but feel awkward for not knowing his own limbs
She slightly giggled at that statement. “It would be nice after having a chunk of flesh bitten out of me to sleep comfortable tonight."
I could not help but smile from under my mask. “Oh!” “I almost forgot to tell you my name, I am Twilight Sparkle, Faithful student to Princess Celestia, and Princess of Friendship.” She said this with so much pride even though it was through dry sounds. “But you can just call me Twilight if you wish.”
“I will keep that in mind, but for now we must rest, we will start on the move at daybreak.” She spoke “Good night Ulysses.”
“We will have Pegasi searching above the everfree for any signs of Twilight.” “Earth ponies along with unicorns will be covering the ground” “The lone wanderer, though a pegasus will be covering ground with the rest. He has more fighting experience than anyone else in ponyville. An ecstatic rainbow maned pony was commanding every pony in ponyville to search Twilight’s last known location. They did not have to search far as two ponies stepped out of the everfree forest just as the other ponies were sent to search. 3 hours passed and pony upon pony was surrounding the everfree forest entrance. The rainbow haired pegasus went forward and hugged twilight causing her to yell out in pain. “What is wrong Twi?” “Did I squeeze too hard on you?”
Twilight almost in tears spoke “No, you just squeezed on the patched up wound that was just yesterday bitten by a timber wolf that’s all....”
The rainbow haired pegasus ran to her side. “What!” “I am so sorry Twi I did not know.” She closely examined the place of the bite. “Man Zecora is handy with her needlework.”
Twilight shook her head and spoke. “It was not Zecora who saved my life, It was my friend here, Ulysses.”
The rainbow pegasus looked up at Ulysses, a look of thank on her face. She walked up to Ulysses and smiled. “Thank you for saving her.”
He spoke. “I have seen too much death in my life to want to see more.” His voice deepened “The beast had the ignorance of The Bear and the stubbornness of The Bull.” “I killed it easily.” This statement was met with many gasps within the crowd of ponies before me.
The rainbow one spoke up. “You…. You killed it?” “As I stated earlier it was too stubborn to fall unconscious and would not fall into sleep by the head of Old Glory.”
“Whatever, no time to complain about it.” We have to get you guys to the library, Twilight looks dehydrated and I doubt you are any better.” And with that they set off to the library.
An hour later they arrived at the library. They were followed by 6 other ponies. A white equine that the people of the old world turned to legend and called a unicorn. Had an accent that sounded of the people from the Ultra-Lux casino on The Strip. Ulysses had been there three times but only to deliver packages to legion spies within the city. Named Rarity. A pink pony who from her behavior sounded like she was on the Great Khan created drug jet. Named Pinkie Pie A Orange pony That sounded like most of the people from the Mojave, dressed like it to. Named Applejack. An Enthusiastic Rainbow maned pony, yet another Pre-War legend. A Pegasus named Rainbow Dash. A yellow pink maned pony. Too shy to talk. She reminds me of the legion. To scared and fearful of the NCR to take Hoover dam. And finally another pony who explained to me along the way to be from the same world as me. I already knew this. He explained something about being from the Capital Wasteland. No doubt being the capital to the symbol that I carried with me through my journeys. Perhaps I must take a journey to this wasteland someday, if I can get back that is. I would believe that if there is a way into this world, that there is a way to return to my home in the Divide.
The rainbow maned pegasus with a smile on her face introduced herself to me before we arrived at our destination.
“I guess I should introduce myself.” With a confident smile. “You have probably already heard my name while we walked through the town of ponyville.” “My name is Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria, and soon to be wonderbolt!” The pride was practically seeping from the cyan pegasus. As with many things that have been said and acted towards me in this world, it all reminds me of the Legion. too stubborn to die, too cruel to give mercy. And the NCR, too ignorant and blind to the dam. The NCR have been guarding that dam so much that the bull have already been able to seep within the body of the bear and destroy towns and break vital supply lines. We reached the library and went inside, most of the gang of ponies besides the obvious friends to Twilight stayed. I sat on a nearby chair that was adjacent to a shelf of unburnt books. It is rare to find something like this. An unopen vault would have this sort of thing. No matter. I am probably about to be interrogated. Tactics of both bear and bull. Wear each other down by taking key members. Generals. Frumentariis.
Rainbow Dash spoke. “Alright, you have a lot of explaining to do.”
Just then Applejack cut in. “Now don’t be interrogating him just yet sugarcube.” “He probably wants to know our names before we start jumpin to questions.”
“There is no need for you to tell me your names, I already know.”
Rainbow Dash jumped up face to face with me. “ARE YOU SOME SORT OF SPY?” “I SWEAR TO CELESTIA THAT IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING ME I AM GOING TO POUND YOU!!!”
I glared at her. “I have just gotten to this world, listened to people talking to you along the way, could not help but hear your names.” “I knew your name Rainbow Dash before you even boldly introduced yourself to me.”
“Whatever, I want to know all about you, we all do.”
“My name is Ulysses, A name taken from a history long gone, A man who united to nations under one flag.”
“Alright, where do you come from?” She asked
“I am from The Great Divide, a place scorched by the hate and anger of atomic fire more than normal.” “A place where invisible fires still haunt the place.” “I am not of your world, I am from a wasteland, the Mojave Wasteland.”
Rainbow Dash quickly ran up to me. “WAIT, you are from the same world that our friend over there is from?!?!”
“I would suppose so, what is so special on meeting someone from the same place that you have already been taught about?”
“Because from what The Lone Wanderer over there explained, That Place Is AWESOME!!!!”
“I do not come from a place of that stature, if you are pleased with the sounds of death, anger, and rape, then you would easily fall for the bull, if your cruel the bear.”
Rainbow Dash spoke “Bear, Bull?” “What do you mean, are there a ton of animals fighting everyday?”
I was getting slightly annoyed. “No, the bear, mostly referred to as the NCR or New California Republic, a nation built on Pre-War politics and military tactics that used to belong to my symbols holder.”
Rainbow Dash was now interested. “And the bull?”
“The bull or who is also referred to as Caesar's Legion, a tribe build on the conquest of 87 tribes, all turned into slaves, women raped and killed, men turned into legionaries to fight for the glory of Caesar.” “I used to be one, a murderous man, Caesar killed my tribe, like most I was forced to join.” This issued a large gasp from 6 of the 7 ponies.
“Yo-you-you were forced to kill your own species, I-I-I get so sad when hearing that!” Fluttershy spoke solemnly.
The Lone Wanderer after many minutes of quietness spoke. “Alright, you have joined a legion who has killed many people in cold blood and have raped women, honestly, I could give less of a fuck, I mean, I have probably killed more people and creatures of the capital wasteland than anyone in your entire legion.”
When an old symbol I was devoted to in the past gets bad remarks from people I walk away. But The Lone Wanderer, he pushed it way too far. Perhaps my legion routes got the better of me, but I did exactly what I did not want to do. I shot him. The stomach. It bled blood of the ignorant bear. The ponies around me instantly ran to his aid. Needless to say I wanted to finish the job, I aimed my 12.7mm Submachine gun at The Lone Wanderer, and the rest of the ponies, Tempted to pull the trigger, but, I could not end another persons life. No, the legion may have taught me to kill all who disrespects the legion. But they are stubborn to let go of grudges, I have grown past that route. I walked over to the bleeding pony and bent down to see his face. He is still alive, I grab my knife and dig out the bullet. It did not go that deep. Fixing the wound was easy. Keeping him alive was the hard part. I had Twilight constantly shock him with electricity. He lived through the procedure. We sat there silent for what seemed to be hours. Twilight finally spoke
“Why did you do that Ulysses, he almost died because of you!” She was yelling at this point.
“My bridges with the bull have not yet been separated, I do not wish to see the legion taken in vein. The bull still stays in my heart. Our accomplishments are still dear to the legion but as not with me.
Twilight seemed to understand. “Just, never do that again, he is very special to somepony in this room. Rainbow Dash blushed slightly at this statement.
"Feelings that I will never understand, love, a Pre-War distraction, though it love is the least painful way to bring a child into the world." "My world is filled with hate and anger, it extends over the NCR and The Legion, it is no place for an offspring to be birthed into the world, though they are forced through rape and abuse."
Twilight staring up at Ulysses intently started to speak. "So it is true, all of your world is corrupted, no matter where your journeys take you in that world, nations will be corrupted." Twilight's expression from earlier had changed from angry to saddened with me.
"My journeys have taken me far, changed me, made me respect symbols for what they are," I started to think of the places my journeys have taken me over the years. "I have been to places, they are the same, a research center with scientists that want to make the world their playground, a legend surrounded by a poisonous fog that could be controlled, a man planned to destroy the NCR with it, and the rest of the Mojave, A area of fighting tribals, trained by The Legion to fight with the other, and my home, my devotion to my symbol's birthplace, The Divide, all filled with pain and suffering, death."
Twilight had started to understand, and so did all of the ponies in the room. Finally one pony broke silence. "Um, you can stay here in my cottage, if you have nowhere else to stay that is..." Fluttershy had offered me a place in her cottage, a first, has anyone asked me to stay anywhere.
"I perhaps should have a place to sleep for the night, a cottage out of town would give me the proper amount of rest I need."
Fluttershy spoke, "It would be nice to learn more about you, I know about all the creatures around here and I always love to learn about more critters that I have never seen before, if that's okay with you...." Her shy attitude forced a smile from under my mask.
"I need answers first, I suppose reading the literature of this land would be a good start." Fluttershy frowned with this comment. "But I suppose I will need to journey to you equines if I am going to get accustomed to you culture, literature, knowing of the nation, all help towards tactics if anything does go wrong with the nation, Bull taught me this.
Twilight instantly smiled, "Ohmygosh I found someone who is interested in reading just as much as me!"
"From within the Divide and the Mojave, not much reading is to be done, fighting, surviving are the only skills needed in the world, yet most everyone can address their literacy skills in one way or another." I picked up a book, "Mating habits in Earth, Pegasus, and Unicorn ponies." I instantly put the book down, learning mating habits of something that I am not, well, used to be not, should not be first on the list of books to read.
I picked up another. "History of Equestria." I spoke, "History, a good place to start, need to learn the symbols, find another I can be proud of, at least know the land."
Atop the highest tower in Canterlot, a pony of the sun felt a disturbance within Equestria. "Something is not right, something has entered from another world, I really hope that it is not another of what I think it is."
End of Chapter.
