Fallout: Equestria - In Need of a Doctorby ShadewingChaptersPrologue: Prison BreakChapter 1: Crash LandingChapter 2: Welcome to the WastelandPrologue: Prison BreakWar. War never changes. The end of the world happened just as many predicted it would, too many ponies and not enough space or resources to go around. The details are trivial and pointless; the reasons as always purely equine ones. Equestria was nearly wiped clean of life, a great cleansing, a megaspell spark struck by equine hooves quickly raged out of control. Spears of balefire struck down from the skies, swallowing the continents in flames and fell beneath the boiling oceans. Equinity was almost extinguished, their spirits becoming part of the background radiation that blanked Equestria. A quiet darkness fell across the globe, lasting many years. In the centuries since that great war, the ponies that managed to survive the megaspells and balefire bombs slowly returned to the surface, leaving behind their bunkers and Stables that housed them for generations as a world passed them by. When they opened their inhabitants set across the ruins of the old world to once again find purpose and meaning in their lives. Life in the wasteland however is hard and cruel; not everyone is fit for the new world and its dangers. Many break, becoming raiders that terrorize the growing seeds of civilization. Those that don't break though, they become stronger forming societies, forming tribes, establishing villages and working to try and return some form of law and order to the chaos that surrounds them. In the decades since those first stables opened, what had been the coastal region of Equestria was brought under the flag of UNET; The United Tribes of Equestria. Dedicated to old world values and the rule of law, they have made great efforts in united the scattered tribes who would have failed without their support. The key to their success is all thanks to one discovery: The Cerberus Detention Facility. So named for its design; a main building, with three wings extending from it all in the same direction. It is one of the truly rare building in the wasteland, relatively untouched and completely intact. An engineering masterpiece, the Prison was a collaboration of various Ministries and some of the top companies in Equestria, such as Robronco and Stable-Tec, built to house war criminals, terrorists, and other major criminals that would threaten Equestrian peace. While many groups have tried to keep a hold of it over the years since the war, UNET has held it the longest thanks to their unity and collaboration. Now a veritable fortress, it now stands as a symbol of their ideals of how together ponies can accomplish anything and that the wasteland can be tamed. One of the main hubs of the growing nation, it provides a place to put criminals of the wasteland without always having to kill them and group of police officers and securitrons that can be quickly dispatched to handle the security in various villages... so long as they can afford it. But the best laid plans of mice and ponies often go astray, and soon this paragon of justice will be used for much darker means. In the shadows of night, a barely seen figure watches the prison from up on a hill. "They think they bring stability to these wretched lands, they're just another cause of the disease." A tinny voice proclaims to no one in particular. "Gentlecolts, BEHOLD as Tonight, I stick the first blow for true freedom! And with it the seeds will be planted so that Equinity can return to its former glory!" the voice continues monologing, a steel hoof comes down on small box with a singular button on top. Activating multiple large boxes on the east wall of the east wing of the prison. A loud thrum is heard and soon the wall firelessly explodes in a shower of rock and within minutes several dozen former prisoners return to the wasteland. Freedom. The one word that ran through the head of the pony known only as Prisoner 2; Not because she is the second Prisoner, but because she resides in Cell #2, at least she did until the wall came down. Like all prisoners she wears a blue jumpsuit, not too different from those found in the Stables, except that the usual yellow stripes and highlights were orange, hers was emblazoned with a large number 2 on the back. All prisoners were also equip with a pip-buck on their left foreleg, allowing the prison to keep track of their position at all times to prevent escapees from getting far. But that didn't matter to her now, as she wasted no time in making her way back into the wasteland. It had been years since she was arrested, she couldn't remember the crime... or even her bucking name... She had been 'Prisoner 2' for the the greater part of a decade, her identity striped from her. UNET's idea of reformation removing the offender's past so that they could start anew when their sentence was up. Normally Prisoner 2 is fairly inconsequential, being quiet and well behaved, there hadn't been much point in raising a fuss, as no one ever escaped from Cerberus; but all that changed in a brief instant, she didn't know why but she wasn't going to stand around and question it either. The wasteland was both strange and familiar to her, having vague memories of it from before her incarceration. The dangers out there didn't matter to her, She had to find out who she was, and why she was there... Was she even guilty of whatever crime they charged her of? She wasn't sure if she could answer these questions, or even where to begin... All she really knew was that she was free now, and she was never going back... The klaxon of alarms sound throughout the prison as a third of the all collapses releasing about two dozen prisoners back into the wastelands. The guards and securitrons scramble to try and get things under control. A tall and imposing muscular stallion with a brick wall cutie-mark, watches the chaos disapprovingly. "What in tartarus is happening down here and what were with all those explosions?" He yells to the guards as she makes his way down the stairs, each step he takes rattling the metal staircase violently. "N-not explosions per se, Warden Barricade. Someone set up several Resonate Frequency Detonators along the wall, causing them to shatter like glass. Its damaged several of the computers and has allowed many prisoners to escape." explains a thin lanky guard with a pair of glasses that look like they are barely holding together. His cutie-mark is a pair of binoculars. "RFDs? Impossible. NO ONE could have access to that many to do damage like this." The warden replies. "There is always the Steel Rangers, they're always harboring pre-war technology, and we know they've had their eyes on this Prison for a while." The guard responds Warden Barricade ponders this for a moment, but shakes his head. "No. This is too cowardly for them. We'd have had a straight on attack, and I doubt they would have done such damage and risk the technology we have." He states firmly, then after a moment he considers what is important. "Whatever did this... It doesn't matter right now. Send out the Securitrons to track down and bring the prisoners back, dead or alive, it doesn't matter. we can't have them running free and undermine our efforts to drag this wasteland kicking and screaming back into an enlightened age." The guardpony shakes his head. "It won't be that simple sir. The attack damaged several of our computer networks, including our ability to keep track of the Prisoners' PipBucks. It could be days, or weeks before its fully operational again. If we send the Securitrons out, they'll be flying blind. Not only would we have to send out mass quantities of them, and the more that are out there unsupervised and without proper tracking there are a chance ponies could get hurt in this ponyhunt." "And if we do nothing but wait, who knows what that scum will do. Send them out, nothing is to stop them from recapturing those inmates. If anyone gets in the way, then they are impeding officers of the law and are to be treated as criminals as well. Always remember, WE are the law and what keeps UNET and civilization together. So tell me, Constable Vigilance, are you wanting to be the one responsible for the end of civilization as we know it, again?" "N-No sir." Vigilance replies with a heavy gulp. "Good, I'll be in my office. I'm going to have to explain this to the Princess and her court and I need to be ready. So don't bother me unless it is absolutely important." As dawn breaks over the Coastal Wasteland, the sight of dozens of Securitrons can be seen filtering out of the prison and spreading out to every part of the wasteland in the search for escaped inmates. Programed to not only bring them back dead or alive, but to handle any others they deem as criminals in the process. No one expecting that this event has begun the countdown to the end of all life in the wasteland... Chapter 1: Crash LandingIn another time and place, long before the war that would ravage Equestria sits a strange blue box; Currently located just south of Horseshoe Bay in place known as Caballuston, a fairly large port town known mostly for its grand museum known as The Keep. The Keep was the main draw for all species of Equestria thanks to the history and rare artifacts it managed to house, this was only part of why this box had chosen this location to be in. Looking barely big enough to fit two ponies comfortably, it was a police public call box; or at least that is what the sign on the outside said. But looks could always be deceiving. Many ponies would never even know it was there, and the few that did would find it locked if they tried to get in. But there were currently two ponies it would let in, the pair currently heading for it. "I really don't see why you need a museum, Doctor." A cool gray mare asks, her mane and tail almost as pure white as freshly fallen snow, except for the streaks of sky blue on either side, while on her flank was whole note cutie mark with six different streaks of color radiating from it. Though what really stands out is her eyes, not just a single color like most ponies; they were all colors, Rainbow colored irises that allowed her to see things other ponies couldn't whither she liked it or not... and most times it was 'or not'. The Doctor tells her that it is a magnificent ability, but her visions usually just terrified her. "You are a time traveler, you can go to any point in time and space you wish." "The Keep isn't JUST a museum, Harmony. It is the largest one in all of Equestria." states a warm gray Earth pony, wearing a blue bow tie and white collar around his neck, while a red fez rested atop his mussy black mane that helped earned him his nickname as the Raggedy Stallion. An hourglass cutie-mark adorned his flank. "And museums happen to be very important in my line of work. While I can see all of time as its spreads out before me, I am not omnipresent; I don't know all of history everywhere, and my life isn't always lived in chronological order. Museums allow me to know what has happened, or even might happen considering that maybe tomorrow I'll find myself in the castle of the two sisters on the eve of Nightmare Moon's ascension. I'll have an idea of why and how it should happen, to make sure history remains on track." explains going off on a brief tangent before stopping himself, and looking over to his companion. "Besides, you are the one that wanted to visit family." He replies with a smile. "Yes... w-well its not often that I get to see my sisters. Things always seem to be chaotic when the three of us are around each other... And I think I have more then enough of that just dealing with you and your adventures." Symphony replies The Doctor grins to her as he reaches the box. "Oh you know you love it." He says as he opens the door and the pair of them step enter with the doors closing behind them. For many the inside of the box was a mind-blowing experience the first time they step hoof in. Being dimensionally transcendental, the box was simply put 'bigger on the inside'. The city and its canals gave way to what looked like the interior hall of grand Canterlot manor. The room itself appeared to be two-stories with a pair of curving staircases leading to the upper levels. The room had all one would expect from such a local; lavish chairs and tables, bookcases over flowing with tomes from all ages of time, and even several paintings lining the walls. Multiple hallways branched off and lead to other areas. This was the TARDIS, the home of the Doctor and home away from home for all those that traveled with him. What really stood out from the decor of the room, was the centerpiece. a golden, hexagonal control console that is covered in all manner of strange dials, buttons, and levers on it that seem completely random; a large glass cylinder juts up from the middle and goes straight up to the ceiling. Inside the cylinder where several crystals, that were currently at rest. The Doctor walks over to the console, and looks it over before turning to his companion. "Alright Sym," He says, using his nickname for her "where do you want to go?" "Oh... I don't know Doctor... A-anywhere would be fine with me." She responds a bit meekly, even though she had taken several trips already, she still hadn't fully wrapped her mind around all of this. She had been just a simple unicorn a few days ago, and now she was being taken to space ships, conversing with aliens... and dealing with history first hoof. The Doctor chuckles and grins amusedly at his companion. "Really now Symphony. I know you're still new to this whole 'travel in space and time' thing; but surely you could show some excitement for the unknown?" He asks her as he leans against the console. "Um... Yay?" Symphony asks with a bashful smile. The Doctor laughs and shakes his head in mild disbelief. "Alright, maybe i need to show you something truly spectacular to get your juices pumping. You've seen the past, and some run down old spaceship, so How about I show you what Equestria will be like two hundred years from now?" He asks and without waiting for a response he begins a mad dash around the console spinning dials, pushing buttons, pulling levers and making a grand show of it as he works the controls with ease. The console begins to light up, the central cylinder begins to glow as the crystals inside slowly start to move in rhythmic timing. cussing as an odd, almost screeching like sound echos through the room as it lurches every so slightly. Anyone that would happen to be watching from the outside would simply see the blue box fade from existence in time with the sound. *VWOORP* *VWOORP* *VWOORP* On a monitor blue swirling clouds could be seen, lightning occasionally striking, but all is normal for the time vortex, the clouds slowly change from blue to orange signifying progression in time. "See Symphony? Everything is perfectly fi..." Before the Doctor can finish his sentence the room shakes violently as if hit by a large explosion. In the background a deep gonging bell can be heard sounding an alarm. The image on the monitor changes, as the clouds become black and wild bolts of energy shoot out from them. "D-doctor... wh-what is that sound? wh-what's happening?" Symphony asks as she cowers under a table. "That, I'm afraid is the cloister bell." The raggedy stallion responds as he gets to his hooves. "It only sounds in times when the TARDIS is in serious trouble. There seems to be some kind of time storm or something. I've never seen anything quite like this. I'm going to try and ge..." Once more The Doctor is interrupted by another explosion that cases the TARDIS to start tumbling out of control, as sparks fly from the console. "Oh... not again!" The doctor growls with mild annoyance, as once more he finds himself trapped in an uncontrollable TARDIS, and as it tumbles recklessly through the time stream to who knows when. "Y-You mean this has happened before?" Symphony asks from now behind the table as it has fallen over yet is still trying to use it as some sort of shelter. The Doctor nods to his companion, shielding his eyes as another explosion rocks sparks from the console. "Yeah, first time I met you, remember how I crashed into your backyard when you were a filly? Happened shortly after I regenerated, The TARDIS got caught in an explosion as it was dematerializing and threw everything for a loop. I couldn't gain control... and well... you know the rest." He chuckles as he struggles to get back to the console. "I thought you said this was all safe!" "Come on, Sexy; hold together." The Doctor states, not even having heard his companion as he tries to correct course. The blue box continue to rock and shake with each explosion; the book cases and tables starting to fall over and scatter about. Symphony blinks. "Excuse me?" "Oh not you... Not that you aren't a very lovely mare, of course." The Doctor says with a nervous chuckle. "I mean her, the TARDIS. She's alive you know, she's not just machine, she is has an actually consciousness, and even what you ponies might refer to as a soul. And I know she can understand me, so you better listen up when I tell you to stop falling apart on me!" He yells as an explosion hits and the other side of the console sparks making him to run over to the other side to figure out what is going on. "Is there anything I can do to help?" "Um.. yes... yes there is. You can... um... uh.. ah! Try and stop my furniture from trying to rearrange itself. I worked very hard getting it how I liked it and I'd rather not have the pool wind up in the library... again... or have my books go flying out into the time vortex." "Pool...? Library...? ...Again...?" Harmony asks in utter confusion before shaking her head. "Just how big is this ship of yours? And how the hay am I supposed to stop that?" "Long story... well not really long... quite short actually, just REALLY not the time to tell it." The Doctor says as he pulls out what looks like a silvery metal wand with a green crystal on the tip; his trademark sonic screwdriver and aims it at the controls. "As for the rest... well... Let's just say you never ask a lady how big she is... They don't tend to like it... you should know that... you're a mare." Symphony narrows her eyes and shakes her head, realizing that he's just trying to give her pointless busy work while he does whatever it is he does. There were times where he really got on her nerves. "Ah ha! I think I got it... yes... yes... NO! no! What do you mean you just jettisoned the store room?" He asks and facehoofs. "I needed that!" He huffs and shakes his head, continuing on trying to put things right again. "...Ah.. come on... come on... Yes!" The doctor exclaims being completely oblivious to his companion's annoyance. "Now, this might still be a rough landing.. But I've got her stabilized and course corrected... but I don't think we are out of the woods yet. She took some heavy damage and I'm going need to find some parts to repair her... since we've no longer have any of our own..." "Doesn't it need more specific parts, Doctor?" "Oh yes, certainly... But they're kinda hard to come by nowadays, and besides it wouldn't be the first time I've had to jury rig her." He laughs. "You should have seen some of the work my past self did to her, looked like a kitchen aide supply shop blew up in here." "S-so... um... where will we land?" "Oh, we should be about two hundred years into the future, just as I said. Give or take a few years..." The Doctor replies and almost as if on cue the room shudders, as it just suddenly hit the ground very hard. "Going to have to work on that materializer, girl..." He comments to himself before walking over to the double doors and opens them. "Symphony, Welcome... to the world... of tomorrow!" He exclaims with joy and opens the doors to reveal... certainly not the shining example of progress either of them would have expected, but rather the burned down ruins of city. "Doctor... I don't think we are in Equestria anymore..." Symphony says, barely managing to find the words... The Doctor blinks and turns around to see what she means and his jaw nearly hits the floor. "Blimey... we didn't land THAT hard did we?" "Um... I think I've had enough of the future... Can we go home now?" Symphony asks as she backs slowly away from the doors. "Unfortunately, not. First, I've got to find some spare parts... which might be much harder to do now... and second... Aren't you just the least bit curious how things got like this? I certainly am. Come along, Sym. Geronimo!" The Doctor exclaims as he heads out into the Wasteland, with his very reluctant companion in tow. "I am starting to regret ever meeting you, Doctor..." Symphony says under her breath, hoping to find the parts and get home soon. Chapter 2: Welcome to the WastelandTime passed, but the location remained the same. What was once a fairly large port town now lies in ruins. The wars and the centuries since have taken a great toll on Caballuston. Its canal systems now poisoned with radiation, many of its buildings mere shells of their formers selves and completely uninhabitable, the only building that managed to survive mostly intact was its museum. Civilization had slowly found its way back here, and turned what was once a grand museum into a indoor city, able to fend off much of what now roamed the wastelands. It was here that an unfamiliar sound rang across the city, not the sound or Raiders or feral ghouls, or even the mutated local fauna such as the Crabnasties. A sound not heard in over two hundred years. The odd otherworldly screeching of the last known time machine of the planet Gallopfrey, as a bright blue box struggles to fade into existence. It stands out almost like a blemish on the wasteland, thanks to how the bright color contrasted with the faded tones of the old world ruins. Its doors open and pair of gray ponies, looking utterly lost and confused in the world around them, walk out. "Doctor... I don't think we are in Equestria anymore..." Symphony says, barely managing to find the words... The Doctor, blinks and looks around. "Blimey... we didn't land THAT hard did we?" "Um... I think I've had enough of he future... Can we go home now?" She asks as she backs slowly away from the doors. "Unfortunately not, Sym. First, I've got to find some spare parts... which might be much harder to do now... and second... Aren't you just the least bit curious how things got like this? I certainly am. Come along, Sym. Geronimo!" The Doctor exclaims as he heads out into the Wasteland, with his very reluctant companion in tow. "I am starting to regret ever meeting you, Doctor..." Symphony says under her breath as she follow at a short trot behind him as the doors to the TARDIS closes behind her. The Wasteland however was not always a friendly place as the pair were soon to find out. That much din was always going to attract some kind of attention, usually the unwanted kind and today was no exception. Gun shots ring out as a trio of ponies dressed in leather appear on the horizon. "Symphony, get down!" The Doctor reacts quickly as he darts behind some falling debris from a nearby building. "Wh-What did we do? W-wh-why are they shooting at us?" Symphony inquires as she cowers behind a nearby rock not far from the Doctor who had had a bit of a head start on her. "I'm not sure they need a reason from the looks of them!" The Doctor replies and once more pulls out his trusty tool, the sonic screwdriver. He points it at one of the ponies firing on them, the device living up to its name as it makes a high pitched squeal and suddenly the raider's gun has jammed. Before The Doctor can repeat it, a bullet grazes his shoulder and he ducks behind the debris again. "Shooting unarmed civilians isn't very nice you know!" He yells out at them as he holds his shoulder. It was just a flesh wound but it was certainly going to slow him down. The pony that had his gun disabled tosses it away and pulls out a knife from his holster on his foreleg, taking it in his mouth and rushing at the pair, as his partners start to close the gap, firing constantly with their automatic weapons. The pair was completely unprepared for a gun fight, having very little to fight back with and no place to run to. Sure theyt had the TARDIS, but until it was fixed, it was little more then a box, and who knows how long these ponies could wait or if their would be more of them... "Wh-what are we going to do Doctor?" Symphony asks as she peaks out from her behind her rock, the now knife wielding pony is heading right for her. He was quicker then she was expecting as she finds herself pinned to the ground. The pony had a sadistic gleam in his eye as she pressed the knife against her cheek, just barely cutting the skin. "Its been so long, since I had a mare... I am certainly going to take my time with you. Make sure you feel... everything I am going to do to you..." "The buck you will!" Symphony replies and does the only thing she can think of, pulling her leg back and delivers a swift kick into the stallion's baby-makers. The stallion freezing up and going cross-eyed in pain, Symphony takes her chance and darts over to where the Doctor was hiding. She's not quick enough however as one of the other ponies shoots her, hitting her right in the flank. She cries out in pain as she falls the the crumbling pavement beneath her. Laying prone, unable to move Things seem to go from bad to worse, as suddenly a winged figure swoops down. A seemingly monstrous looking pony with leathery wings, dragon-esque eyes, and a mouth full of sharp teeth. "MONSTER!" Symphony shrieks at the sight and cowers her head under her forehooves as the navy blue pony-creature starts to battle with raider pones. "You stupid filly! I'm not a bucking monster!" The creature growls with contempt and flips out a combat shotgun from against her chest. She deals with the prone riader nearby first, knowing that if she doesn't he's going to sneak up on her later when she's recovered. She point the it right at him firing point blank as to not take any chances. The former raider's head explodes in a shower of gore, the mysterious stranger uses her wings as an umbrella to prevent the worst of it from getting on her. "Now you two idiots stay put while I pull your flanks out of the fire." She states briefly looking back towards the two before taking to the skies to deal with the other two raiders, having an advantage in the area of flight. "D-Doctor... I think we should get back to the TARDIS now, before that thing comes back..." Symphony whispers over to where the Doctor was sloppily tying a handkerchief against his foreleg to slow the bleeding. "It wouldn't do us... much good..." He huffs. "I told you, we need... to get parts to repair her first... or we're not going anywhere. This... isn't ideal for me either you know." The Doctor huffs and gets to his legs shakily as the sound of gunfire continues behind them. "But I would suggest... making haste before either side wins... I'm not sure I trust that bat pony more then those others." The battle is short, the bat-winged pony being more skilled, and better equip then the raiders. Keeping them off guard with her shotgun allows her to Swoop above them and drop a pair of grenades that explode as they hit the ground. The bodies fof the other two raiders pirouetting through the air in some sort of twisted ballet as they land hard on the ruins; if the the explosion didn't kill them the landing certainly did. "We prefer to be called Thestrals." The voice of the blue pony says as she glares down to the gray pair of ponies, her ears having heard their conversation even over the sound of battle. "Bat pony." She huffs and shakes her head. "Might as well call Unicorns 'horn ponies' or pegasi 'Bird Ponies'. Now come with me, if you want to live." "Why should we go anywhere with you? You just murdered those ponies!" Symphony asks as she glares to the thestral. "In case you haven't noticed, THEY WERE TRYING TO KILL YOU!" The thestral yells in disbelief. "Surely we could have reasoned with them after we unarmed them." The Doctor replies. "There is never a reason to just kill somepony." The thestral facehoofs. "By Luna... You two really are something aren't you? What, did you just crawl out of a Stable? Those were raiders. You don't negotiate with raiders, you CAN'T negotiate with raiders. You have nothing to offer them, they just want to kill, pillage, and get their jollies. And they can do that without have to compromise just for your ideals and morals. You either kill them, or they kill you regardless what those idiots up north think. Now lets get going before any more of them show up, that was just a scouting party, and if the battle didn't attract any comrades they had, it certainly got something else's attention I am sure and I'm low on ammo." "And why should we trust you?" Symphony asks "Look, I know you have no reason not to think I am a Slaver, or tribespony, or something else..." The thestral starts when her tufted ear begins to twitch, just as she predicted something else was coming, and she didn't have the ability to fight it right now "...but I really don't have time for this. You'll thank me later." She states and with a quick motion uses the but of her gun to knock out Symphony and then does the same to the Doctor with a swift kick. "Cynders, get your butt out here and help me get these two back to The Keep." She states as two of them hear before fully black out. While no longer housing the majority of its artifacts, and much of the history lost or looted over the centuries, the Keep remains a fortified location, and its construction was long ago, before even Nightmare Moon returned, overseen by Princess Celestia in the hopes that it would be a safe haven for scholars and the history housed within. While certainly not pristine, the grand museum remained mostly intact, and what hadn't has since been reinforced with materials from around the city. The Keep had been re-purposed from protecting History to protecting equinity from the harshness of the Coastal Wasteland; a veritable citadel for all those that became citizens. Inside The Keep, ponies lived and worked, a makeshift city being formed from the large museum. The grand halls and massive display rooms now housing shacks, while the smaller rooms have been converted to help serve as businesses such as restaurants, clinics, pubs, and general stores. Ponies of all types gathered here, along with several griffons and even a few zebra; but the most rare, was in fact an adolescent dragon that ran through the halls to the clinic. He was a little over a foot tall, with silvery scales, blues eyes, and a single fin that looked like a mohawk, and a pair of small wings on his back that didn't look like they were strong enough to support his weight yet. The dragon enters the clinic, a medium sized room now filled with all sorts of scavenged medical equipment, some of it even still works. Several gurneys lay about in loo of hospital beds, and the place is a mess, even at the best of times being a far cry from the sanitary conditions of pre-war clinics. Looking around he spots an teal and white unicorn stallion with a hacksaw cutie-mark standing over a pair of recent patients that he helped bring in several hours earlier. "Dr. Sawbones, Blue Rhapsody wants to know if those strangers are fixed up and conscious yet." "Not yet, Cynders." Sawbones' voice sounds older and gruffer then he looks, possibly from being a smoker. "The stallion's leg was barely a flesh wound, so I wrapped it up in some magical bandages, and with some rest... even from blunt force trauma, he'll be as good as new in a few a hours. The mare, was a bit trickier. The bullet went in deep. I got it out and patched her up, but she'll be limping for for a few days, even with the help of magical bandages and what healing potions I currently have on hoof, hopefully the next caravan that comes through has a good supply of the strong stuff. Regardless, I don't think they are Stable-dwellers, at least they're not wearing the Stable-Tec jumpsuits. They could have changed out of them, but from what little was told to me, I don't think so. There is certainly something strange about them, and I hope that blasted boss of yours knows what she is doing by bringing them here." "It's not like they could be spies, or infiltrators, they're too clean and in-experienced for that sort of stuff. Blue feels its better to have them here then let the slavers get them or let them be victims to the Flores or Crabnasties. Besides, if they cause trouble, STOMP can handle them." "Fine, whatever you say dragon." Sawbones replies dismissively as he goes over to his desk and turns on the radio. "Greetings my little colts and fillies, this is Twincast coming at ya from ENR with some troubling news. It seems there are reports of a massive prison break from the Cerberus Detention Facility. Our contacts over at UNET say that there was a massive explosion and wall has collapsed but they have it under control. But me? I'm not so sure. So here's my warning to all of you: Stay indoors and avoid any suspicious looking ponies... you know more suspicious then usual. That's all the news for now, and up next is Sapphire Shores' classic 'Serves her right'" "Oh gee... that's not good..." Cynders replies and rushes out to tell Blue that trouble is likely heading their way.
Prologue: Prison BreakWar. War never changes. The end of the world happened just as many predicted it would, too many ponies and not enough space or resources to go around. The details are trivial and pointless; the reasons as always purely equine ones. Equestria was nearly wiped clean of life, a great cleansing, a megaspell spark struck by equine hooves quickly raged out of control. Spears of balefire struck down from the skies, swallowing the continents in flames and fell beneath the boiling oceans. Equinity was almost extinguished, their spirits becoming part of the background radiation that blanked Equestria. A quiet darkness fell across the globe, lasting many years. In the centuries since that great war, the ponies that managed to survive the megaspells and balefire bombs slowly returned to the surface, leaving behind their bunkers and Stables that housed them for generations as a world passed them by. When they opened their inhabitants set across the ruins of the old world to once again find purpose and meaning in their lives. Life in the wasteland however is hard and cruel; not everyone is fit for the new world and its dangers. Many break, becoming raiders that terrorize the growing seeds of civilization. Those that don't break though, they become stronger forming societies, forming tribes, establishing villages and working to try and return some form of law and order to the chaos that surrounds them. In the decades since those first stables opened, what had been the coastal region of Equestria was brought under the flag of UNET; The United Tribes of Equestria. Dedicated to old world values and the rule of law, they have made great efforts in united the scattered tribes who would have failed without their support. The key to their success is all thanks to one discovery: The Cerberus Detention Facility. So named for its design; a main building, with three wings extending from it all in the same direction. It is one of the truly rare building in the wasteland, relatively untouched and completely intact. An engineering masterpiece, the Prison was a collaboration of various Ministries and some of the top companies in Equestria, such as Robronco and Stable-Tec, built to house war criminals, terrorists, and other major criminals that would threaten Equestrian peace. While many groups have tried to keep a hold of it over the years since the war, UNET has held it the longest thanks to their unity and collaboration. Now a veritable fortress, it now stands as a symbol of their ideals of how together ponies can accomplish anything and that the wasteland can be tamed. One of the main hubs of the growing nation, it provides a place to put criminals of the wasteland without always having to kill them and group of police officers and securitrons that can be quickly dispatched to handle the security in various villages... so long as they can afford it. But the best laid plans of mice and ponies often go astray, and soon this paragon of justice will be used for much darker means. In the shadows of night, a barely seen figure watches the prison from up on a hill. "They think they bring stability to these wretched lands, they're just another cause of the disease." A tinny voice proclaims to no one in particular. "Gentlecolts, BEHOLD as Tonight, I stick the first blow for true freedom! And with it the seeds will be planted so that Equinity can return to its former glory!" the voice continues monologing, a steel hoof comes down on small box with a singular button on top. Activating multiple large boxes on the east wall of the east wing of the prison. A loud thrum is heard and soon the wall firelessly explodes in a shower of rock and within minutes several dozen former prisoners return to the wasteland. Freedom. The one word that ran through the head of the pony known only as Prisoner 2; Not because she is the second Prisoner, but because she resides in Cell #2, at least she did until the wall came down. Like all prisoners she wears a blue jumpsuit, not too different from those found in the Stables, except that the usual yellow stripes and highlights were orange, hers was emblazoned with a large number 2 on the back. All prisoners were also equip with a pip-buck on their left foreleg, allowing the prison to keep track of their position at all times to prevent escapees from getting far. But that didn't matter to her now, as she wasted no time in making her way back into the wasteland. It had been years since she was arrested, she couldn't remember the crime... or even her bucking name... She had been 'Prisoner 2' for the the greater part of a decade, her identity striped from her. UNET's idea of reformation removing the offender's past so that they could start anew when their sentence was up. Normally Prisoner 2 is fairly inconsequential, being quiet and well behaved, there hadn't been much point in raising a fuss, as no one ever escaped from Cerberus; but all that changed in a brief instant, she didn't know why but she wasn't going to stand around and question it either. The wasteland was both strange and familiar to her, having vague memories of it from before her incarceration. The dangers out there didn't matter to her, She had to find out who she was, and why she was there... Was she even guilty of whatever crime they charged her of? She wasn't sure if she could answer these questions, or even where to begin... All she really knew was that she was free now, and she was never going back... The klaxon of alarms sound throughout the prison as a third of the all collapses releasing about two dozen prisoners back into the wastelands. The guards and securitrons scramble to try and get things under control. A tall and imposing muscular stallion with a brick wall cutie-mark, watches the chaos disapprovingly. "What in tartarus is happening down here and what were with all those explosions?" He yells to the guards as she makes his way down the stairs, each step he takes rattling the metal staircase violently. "N-not explosions per se, Warden Barricade. Someone set up several Resonate Frequency Detonators along the wall, causing them to shatter like glass. Its damaged several of the computers and has allowed many prisoners to escape." explains a thin lanky guard with a pair of glasses that look like they are barely holding together. His cutie-mark is a pair of binoculars. "RFDs? Impossible. NO ONE could have access to that many to do damage like this." The warden replies. "There is always the Steel Rangers, they're always harboring pre-war technology, and we know they've had their eyes on this Prison for a while." The guard responds Warden Barricade ponders this for a moment, but shakes his head. "No. This is too cowardly for them. We'd have had a straight on attack, and I doubt they would have done such damage and risk the technology we have." He states firmly, then after a moment he considers what is important. "Whatever did this... It doesn't matter right now. Send out the Securitrons to track down and bring the prisoners back, dead or alive, it doesn't matter. we can't have them running free and undermine our efforts to drag this wasteland kicking and screaming back into an enlightened age." The guardpony shakes his head. "It won't be that simple sir. The attack damaged several of our computer networks, including our ability to keep track of the Prisoners' PipBucks. It could be days, or weeks before its fully operational again. If we send the Securitrons out, they'll be flying blind. Not only would we have to send out mass quantities of them, and the more that are out there unsupervised and without proper tracking there are a chance ponies could get hurt in this ponyhunt." "And if we do nothing but wait, who knows what that scum will do. Send them out, nothing is to stop them from recapturing those inmates. If anyone gets in the way, then they are impeding officers of the law and are to be treated as criminals as well. Always remember, WE are the law and what keeps UNET and civilization together. So tell me, Constable Vigilance, are you wanting to be the one responsible for the end of civilization as we know it, again?" "N-No sir." Vigilance replies with a heavy gulp. "Good, I'll be in my office. I'm going to have to explain this to the Princess and her court and I need to be ready. So don't bother me unless it is absolutely important." As dawn breaks over the Coastal Wasteland, the sight of dozens of Securitrons can be seen filtering out of the prison and spreading out to every part of the wasteland in the search for escaped inmates. Programed to not only bring them back dead or alive, but to handle any others they deem as criminals in the process. No one expecting that this event has begun the countdown to the end of all life in the wasteland...
Chapter 1: Crash LandingIn another time and place, long before the war that would ravage Equestria sits a strange blue box; Currently located just south of Horseshoe Bay in place known as Caballuston, a fairly large port town known mostly for its grand museum known as The Keep. The Keep was the main draw for all species of Equestria thanks to the history and rare artifacts it managed to house, this was only part of why this box had chosen this location to be in. Looking barely big enough to fit two ponies comfortably, it was a police public call box; or at least that is what the sign on the outside said. But looks could always be deceiving. Many ponies would never even know it was there, and the few that did would find it locked if they tried to get in. But there were currently two ponies it would let in, the pair currently heading for it. "I really don't see why you need a museum, Doctor." A cool gray mare asks, her mane and tail almost as pure white as freshly fallen snow, except for the streaks of sky blue on either side, while on her flank was whole note cutie mark with six different streaks of color radiating from it. Though what really stands out is her eyes, not just a single color like most ponies; they were all colors, Rainbow colored irises that allowed her to see things other ponies couldn't whither she liked it or not... and most times it was 'or not'. The Doctor tells her that it is a magnificent ability, but her visions usually just terrified her. "You are a time traveler, you can go to any point in time and space you wish." "The Keep isn't JUST a museum, Harmony. It is the largest one in all of Equestria." states a warm gray Earth pony, wearing a blue bow tie and white collar around his neck, while a red fez rested atop his mussy black mane that helped earned him his nickname as the Raggedy Stallion. An hourglass cutie-mark adorned his flank. "And museums happen to be very important in my line of work. While I can see all of time as its spreads out before me, I am not omnipresent; I don't know all of history everywhere, and my life isn't always lived in chronological order. Museums allow me to know what has happened, or even might happen considering that maybe tomorrow I'll find myself in the castle of the two sisters on the eve of Nightmare Moon's ascension. I'll have an idea of why and how it should happen, to make sure history remains on track." explains going off on a brief tangent before stopping himself, and looking over to his companion. "Besides, you are the one that wanted to visit family." He replies with a smile. "Yes... w-well its not often that I get to see my sisters. Things always seem to be chaotic when the three of us are around each other... And I think I have more then enough of that just dealing with you and your adventures." Symphony replies The Doctor grins to her as he reaches the box. "Oh you know you love it." He says as he opens the door and the pair of them step enter with the doors closing behind them. For many the inside of the box was a mind-blowing experience the first time they step hoof in. Being dimensionally transcendental, the box was simply put 'bigger on the inside'. The city and its canals gave way to what looked like the interior hall of grand Canterlot manor. The room itself appeared to be two-stories with a pair of curving staircases leading to the upper levels. The room had all one would expect from such a local; lavish chairs and tables, bookcases over flowing with tomes from all ages of time, and even several paintings lining the walls. Multiple hallways branched off and lead to other areas. This was the TARDIS, the home of the Doctor and home away from home for all those that traveled with him. What really stood out from the decor of the room, was the centerpiece. a golden, hexagonal control console that is covered in all manner of strange dials, buttons, and levers on it that seem completely random; a large glass cylinder juts up from the middle and goes straight up to the ceiling. Inside the cylinder where several crystals, that were currently at rest. The Doctor walks over to the console, and looks it over before turning to his companion. "Alright Sym," He says, using his nickname for her "where do you want to go?" "Oh... I don't know Doctor... A-anywhere would be fine with me." She responds a bit meekly, even though she had taken several trips already, she still hadn't fully wrapped her mind around all of this. She had been just a simple unicorn a few days ago, and now she was being taken to space ships, conversing with aliens... and dealing with history first hoof. The Doctor chuckles and grins amusedly at his companion. "Really now Symphony. I know you're still new to this whole 'travel in space and time' thing; but surely you could show some excitement for the unknown?" He asks her as he leans against the console. "Um... Yay?" Symphony asks with a bashful smile. The Doctor laughs and shakes his head in mild disbelief. "Alright, maybe i need to show you something truly spectacular to get your juices pumping. You've seen the past, and some run down old spaceship, so How about I show you what Equestria will be like two hundred years from now?" He asks and without waiting for a response he begins a mad dash around the console spinning dials, pushing buttons, pulling levers and making a grand show of it as he works the controls with ease. The console begins to light up, the central cylinder begins to glow as the crystals inside slowly start to move in rhythmic timing. cussing as an odd, almost screeching like sound echos through the room as it lurches every so slightly. Anyone that would happen to be watching from the outside would simply see the blue box fade from existence in time with the sound. *VWOORP* *VWOORP* *VWOORP* On a monitor blue swirling clouds could be seen, lightning occasionally striking, but all is normal for the time vortex, the clouds slowly change from blue to orange signifying progression in time. "See Symphony? Everything is perfectly fi..." Before the Doctor can finish his sentence the room shakes violently as if hit by a large explosion. In the background a deep gonging bell can be heard sounding an alarm. The image on the monitor changes, as the clouds become black and wild bolts of energy shoot out from them. "D-doctor... wh-what is that sound? wh-what's happening?" Symphony asks as she cowers under a table. "That, I'm afraid is the cloister bell." The raggedy stallion responds as he gets to his hooves. "It only sounds in times when the TARDIS is in serious trouble. There seems to be some kind of time storm or something. I've never seen anything quite like this. I'm going to try and ge..." Once more The Doctor is interrupted by another explosion that cases the TARDIS to start tumbling out of control, as sparks fly from the console. "Oh... not again!" The doctor growls with mild annoyance, as once more he finds himself trapped in an uncontrollable TARDIS, and as it tumbles recklessly through the time stream to who knows when. "Y-You mean this has happened before?" Symphony asks from now behind the table as it has fallen over yet is still trying to use it as some sort of shelter. The Doctor nods to his companion, shielding his eyes as another explosion rocks sparks from the console. "Yeah, first time I met you, remember how I crashed into your backyard when you were a filly? Happened shortly after I regenerated, The TARDIS got caught in an explosion as it was dematerializing and threw everything for a loop. I couldn't gain control... and well... you know the rest." He chuckles as he struggles to get back to the console. "I thought you said this was all safe!" "Come on, Sexy; hold together." The Doctor states, not even having heard his companion as he tries to correct course. The blue box continue to rock and shake with each explosion; the book cases and tables starting to fall over and scatter about. Symphony blinks. "Excuse me?" "Oh not you... Not that you aren't a very lovely mare, of course." The Doctor says with a nervous chuckle. "I mean her, the TARDIS. She's alive you know, she's not just machine, she is has an actually consciousness, and even what you ponies might refer to as a soul. And I know she can understand me, so you better listen up when I tell you to stop falling apart on me!" He yells as an explosion hits and the other side of the console sparks making him to run over to the other side to figure out what is going on. "Is there anything I can do to help?" "Um.. yes... yes there is. You can... um... uh.. ah! Try and stop my furniture from trying to rearrange itself. I worked very hard getting it how I liked it and I'd rather not have the pool wind up in the library... again... or have my books go flying out into the time vortex." "Pool...? Library...? ...Again...?" Harmony asks in utter confusion before shaking her head. "Just how big is this ship of yours? And how the hay am I supposed to stop that?" "Long story... well not really long... quite short actually, just REALLY not the time to tell it." The Doctor says as he pulls out what looks like a silvery metal wand with a green crystal on the tip; his trademark sonic screwdriver and aims it at the controls. "As for the rest... well... Let's just say you never ask a lady how big she is... They don't tend to like it... you should know that... you're a mare." Symphony narrows her eyes and shakes her head, realizing that he's just trying to give her pointless busy work while he does whatever it is he does. There were times where he really got on her nerves. "Ah ha! I think I got it... yes... yes... NO! no! What do you mean you just jettisoned the store room?" He asks and facehoofs. "I needed that!" He huffs and shakes his head, continuing on trying to put things right again. "...Ah.. come on... come on... Yes!" The doctor exclaims being completely oblivious to his companion's annoyance. "Now, this might still be a rough landing.. But I've got her stabilized and course corrected... but I don't think we are out of the woods yet. She took some heavy damage and I'm going need to find some parts to repair her... since we've no longer have any of our own..." "Doesn't it need more specific parts, Doctor?" "Oh yes, certainly... But they're kinda hard to come by nowadays, and besides it wouldn't be the first time I've had to jury rig her." He laughs. "You should have seen some of the work my past self did to her, looked like a kitchen aide supply shop blew up in here." "S-so... um... where will we land?" "Oh, we should be about two hundred years into the future, just as I said. Give or take a few years..." The Doctor replies and almost as if on cue the room shudders, as it just suddenly hit the ground very hard. "Going to have to work on that materializer, girl..." He comments to himself before walking over to the double doors and opens them. "Symphony, Welcome... to the world... of tomorrow!" He exclaims with joy and opens the doors to reveal... certainly not the shining example of progress either of them would have expected, but rather the burned down ruins of city. "Doctor... I don't think we are in Equestria anymore..." Symphony says, barely managing to find the words... The Doctor blinks and turns around to see what she means and his jaw nearly hits the floor. "Blimey... we didn't land THAT hard did we?" "Um... I think I've had enough of the future... Can we go home now?" Symphony asks as she backs slowly away from the doors. "Unfortunately, not. First, I've got to find some spare parts... which might be much harder to do now... and second... Aren't you just the least bit curious how things got like this? I certainly am. Come along, Sym. Geronimo!" The Doctor exclaims as he heads out into the Wasteland, with his very reluctant companion in tow. "I am starting to regret ever meeting you, Doctor..." Symphony says under her breath, hoping to find the parts and get home soon.
Chapter 2: Welcome to the WastelandTime passed, but the location remained the same. What was once a fairly large port town now lies in ruins. The wars and the centuries since have taken a great toll on Caballuston. Its canal systems now poisoned with radiation, many of its buildings mere shells of their formers selves and completely uninhabitable, the only building that managed to survive mostly intact was its museum. Civilization had slowly found its way back here, and turned what was once a grand museum into a indoor city, able to fend off much of what now roamed the wastelands. It was here that an unfamiliar sound rang across the city, not the sound or Raiders or feral ghouls, or even the mutated local fauna such as the Crabnasties. A sound not heard in over two hundred years. The odd otherworldly screeching of the last known time machine of the planet Gallopfrey, as a bright blue box struggles to fade into existence. It stands out almost like a blemish on the wasteland, thanks to how the bright color contrasted with the faded tones of the old world ruins. Its doors open and pair of gray ponies, looking utterly lost and confused in the world around them, walk out. "Doctor... I don't think we are in Equestria anymore..." Symphony says, barely managing to find the words... The Doctor, blinks and looks around. "Blimey... we didn't land THAT hard did we?" "Um... I think I've had enough of he future... Can we go home now?" She asks as she backs slowly away from the doors. "Unfortunately not, Sym. First, I've got to find some spare parts... which might be much harder to do now... and second... Aren't you just the least bit curious how things got like this? I certainly am. Come along, Sym. Geronimo!" The Doctor exclaims as he heads out into the Wasteland, with his very reluctant companion in tow. "I am starting to regret ever meeting you, Doctor..." Symphony says under her breath as she follow at a short trot behind him as the doors to the TARDIS closes behind her. The Wasteland however was not always a friendly place as the pair were soon to find out. That much din was always going to attract some kind of attention, usually the unwanted kind and today was no exception. Gun shots ring out as a trio of ponies dressed in leather appear on the horizon. "Symphony, get down!" The Doctor reacts quickly as he darts behind some falling debris from a nearby building. "Wh-What did we do? W-wh-why are they shooting at us?" Symphony inquires as she cowers behind a nearby rock not far from the Doctor who had had a bit of a head start on her. "I'm not sure they need a reason from the looks of them!" The Doctor replies and once more pulls out his trusty tool, the sonic screwdriver. He points it at one of the ponies firing on them, the device living up to its name as it makes a high pitched squeal and suddenly the raider's gun has jammed. Before The Doctor can repeat it, a bullet grazes his shoulder and he ducks behind the debris again. "Shooting unarmed civilians isn't very nice you know!" He yells out at them as he holds his shoulder. It was just a flesh wound but it was certainly going to slow him down. The pony that had his gun disabled tosses it away and pulls out a knife from his holster on his foreleg, taking it in his mouth and rushing at the pair, as his partners start to close the gap, firing constantly with their automatic weapons. The pair was completely unprepared for a gun fight, having very little to fight back with and no place to run to. Sure theyt had the TARDIS, but until it was fixed, it was little more then a box, and who knows how long these ponies could wait or if their would be more of them... "Wh-what are we going to do Doctor?" Symphony asks as she peaks out from her behind her rock, the now knife wielding pony is heading right for her. He was quicker then she was expecting as she finds herself pinned to the ground. The pony had a sadistic gleam in his eye as she pressed the knife against her cheek, just barely cutting the skin. "Its been so long, since I had a mare... I am certainly going to take my time with you. Make sure you feel... everything I am going to do to you..." "The buck you will!" Symphony replies and does the only thing she can think of, pulling her leg back and delivers a swift kick into the stallion's baby-makers. The stallion freezing up and going cross-eyed in pain, Symphony takes her chance and darts over to where the Doctor was hiding. She's not quick enough however as one of the other ponies shoots her, hitting her right in the flank. She cries out in pain as she falls the the crumbling pavement beneath her. Laying prone, unable to move Things seem to go from bad to worse, as suddenly a winged figure swoops down. A seemingly monstrous looking pony with leathery wings, dragon-esque eyes, and a mouth full of sharp teeth. "MONSTER!" Symphony shrieks at the sight and cowers her head under her forehooves as the navy blue pony-creature starts to battle with raider pones. "You stupid filly! I'm not a bucking monster!" The creature growls with contempt and flips out a combat shotgun from against her chest. She deals with the prone riader nearby first, knowing that if she doesn't he's going to sneak up on her later when she's recovered. She point the it right at him firing point blank as to not take any chances. The former raider's head explodes in a shower of gore, the mysterious stranger uses her wings as an umbrella to prevent the worst of it from getting on her. "Now you two idiots stay put while I pull your flanks out of the fire." She states briefly looking back towards the two before taking to the skies to deal with the other two raiders, having an advantage in the area of flight. "D-Doctor... I think we should get back to the TARDIS now, before that thing comes back..." Symphony whispers over to where the Doctor was sloppily tying a handkerchief against his foreleg to slow the bleeding. "It wouldn't do us... much good..." He huffs. "I told you, we need... to get parts to repair her first... or we're not going anywhere. This... isn't ideal for me either you know." The Doctor huffs and gets to his legs shakily as the sound of gunfire continues behind them. "But I would suggest... making haste before either side wins... I'm not sure I trust that bat pony more then those others." The battle is short, the bat-winged pony being more skilled, and better equip then the raiders. Keeping them off guard with her shotgun allows her to Swoop above them and drop a pair of grenades that explode as they hit the ground. The bodies fof the other two raiders pirouetting through the air in some sort of twisted ballet as they land hard on the ruins; if the the explosion didn't kill them the landing certainly did. "We prefer to be called Thestrals." The voice of the blue pony says as she glares down to the gray pair of ponies, her ears having heard their conversation even over the sound of battle. "Bat pony." She huffs and shakes her head. "Might as well call Unicorns 'horn ponies' or pegasi 'Bird Ponies'. Now come with me, if you want to live." "Why should we go anywhere with you? You just murdered those ponies!" Symphony asks as she glares to the thestral. "In case you haven't noticed, THEY WERE TRYING TO KILL YOU!" The thestral yells in disbelief. "Surely we could have reasoned with them after we unarmed them." The Doctor replies. "There is never a reason to just kill somepony." The thestral facehoofs. "By Luna... You two really are something aren't you? What, did you just crawl out of a Stable? Those were raiders. You don't negotiate with raiders, you CAN'T negotiate with raiders. You have nothing to offer them, they just want to kill, pillage, and get their jollies. And they can do that without have to compromise just for your ideals and morals. You either kill them, or they kill you regardless what those idiots up north think. Now lets get going before any more of them show up, that was just a scouting party, and if the battle didn't attract any comrades they had, it certainly got something else's attention I am sure and I'm low on ammo." "And why should we trust you?" Symphony asks "Look, I know you have no reason not to think I am a Slaver, or tribespony, or something else..." The thestral starts when her tufted ear begins to twitch, just as she predicted something else was coming, and she didn't have the ability to fight it right now "...but I really don't have time for this. You'll thank me later." She states and with a quick motion uses the but of her gun to knock out Symphony and then does the same to the Doctor with a swift kick. "Cynders, get your butt out here and help me get these two back to The Keep." She states as two of them hear before fully black out. While no longer housing the majority of its artifacts, and much of the history lost or looted over the centuries, the Keep remains a fortified location, and its construction was long ago, before even Nightmare Moon returned, overseen by Princess Celestia in the hopes that it would be a safe haven for scholars and the history housed within. While certainly not pristine, the grand museum remained mostly intact, and what hadn't has since been reinforced with materials from around the city. The Keep had been re-purposed from protecting History to protecting equinity from the harshness of the Coastal Wasteland; a veritable citadel for all those that became citizens. Inside The Keep, ponies lived and worked, a makeshift city being formed from the large museum. The grand halls and massive display rooms now housing shacks, while the smaller rooms have been converted to help serve as businesses such as restaurants, clinics, pubs, and general stores. Ponies of all types gathered here, along with several griffons and even a few zebra; but the most rare, was in fact an adolescent dragon that ran through the halls to the clinic. He was a little over a foot tall, with silvery scales, blues eyes, and a single fin that looked like a mohawk, and a pair of small wings on his back that didn't look like they were strong enough to support his weight yet. The dragon enters the clinic, a medium sized room now filled with all sorts of scavenged medical equipment, some of it even still works. Several gurneys lay about in loo of hospital beds, and the place is a mess, even at the best of times being a far cry from the sanitary conditions of pre-war clinics. Looking around he spots an teal and white unicorn stallion with a hacksaw cutie-mark standing over a pair of recent patients that he helped bring in several hours earlier. "Dr. Sawbones, Blue Rhapsody wants to know if those strangers are fixed up and conscious yet." "Not yet, Cynders." Sawbones' voice sounds older and gruffer then he looks, possibly from being a smoker. "The stallion's leg was barely a flesh wound, so I wrapped it up in some magical bandages, and with some rest... even from blunt force trauma, he'll be as good as new in a few a hours. The mare, was a bit trickier. The bullet went in deep. I got it out and patched her up, but she'll be limping for for a few days, even with the help of magical bandages and what healing potions I currently have on hoof, hopefully the next caravan that comes through has a good supply of the strong stuff. Regardless, I don't think they are Stable-dwellers, at least they're not wearing the Stable-Tec jumpsuits. They could have changed out of them, but from what little was told to me, I don't think so. There is certainly something strange about them, and I hope that blasted boss of yours knows what she is doing by bringing them here." "It's not like they could be spies, or infiltrators, they're too clean and in-experienced for that sort of stuff. Blue feels its better to have them here then let the slavers get them or let them be victims to the Flores or Crabnasties. Besides, if they cause trouble, STOMP can handle them." "Fine, whatever you say dragon." Sawbones replies dismissively as he goes over to his desk and turns on the radio. "Greetings my little colts and fillies, this is Twincast coming at ya from ENR with some troubling news. It seems there are reports of a massive prison break from the Cerberus Detention Facility. Our contacts over at UNET say that there was a massive explosion and wall has collapsed but they have it under control. But me? I'm not so sure. So here's my warning to all of you: Stay indoors and avoid any suspicious looking ponies... you know more suspicious then usual. That's all the news for now, and up next is Sapphire Shores' classic 'Serves her right'" "Oh gee... that's not good..." Cynders replies and rushes out to tell Blue that trouble is likely heading their way.
