Once upon a time there were two regal sisters who ruled their kingdom side by side. During the day, the elder sister rose the sun high into the vast sky to give light and warmth to her subjects. During the night, her younger sister would raise the moon and night stars so that their subjects could sleep in the peace of her soft moonlight. These two sisters were known to their subjects as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, princess of the sun and princess of the night. Over time, Princess Luna started to envy all the attention and recognition that her sister Celestia received for her beautiful days. As time went on, her jealousy grew and grew till one fateful day, the day of the summer sun solstice, her jealousy and anger took control of her and manifested itself and transformed Luna into Nightmare Moon. Celestia begged her sister to lower the moon and to calm down, but her younger sister refused and casted the land into eternal night. With a heavy heart, Celestia banished Luna to the moon for a thousand years in hopes her sister could calm down. A thousand years, Luna spent in solitude with her anger and jealousy, tormented by the attention her sister received, but also heart broken that her sister "betrayed"her. Centuries past, and every year during the summer sun festival was a constant reminder to Celestia about that fateful day when she lost her sister, but upon the thousandth day of the thousandth year, Luna was set free with the aid of the stars, and Nightmare Moon returned to cast the land into eternal night as she did before a thousand years ago. But, upon this night, there was hope, there was willpower, there was friendship.
"On the thousandth day of the thousandth year, the mare in the moon will escape her prison with the aid of the stars. Spike! Today is that day! Today is the thousandth celebration of the summer sun festival!" It was thanks to this unicorn named Twilight Sparkle and her five friends, that the two sisters were reunited on this day that a thousand years ago, the two sisters were separated. Since this day, the equestrian nations flourished. For years there were leaps in equestrian technology, and with these advances came a price, a hunger if you will. In order to power the many equine factories, coal must be discovered, extracted, and then shipped to the hordes of power plants. The equestrians sat on vast amounts of gems and other precious metals, but they did not however have any coal deposits, but, across the sea laid another land full of coal, only, these vast deposits of coal were controlled by the many zebra kingdoms. For decades, there was peace between the equestrians and the zebras, but peace only lasted when each side kept their greed in check. Soon peace led to threats, then the threats led to trade embargoes, then the trade embargoes led to the massacre of innocent children at Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. Torn by the loss of so many young innocent lives, Princess Celestia stepped down from the throne and gave full rein to her younger sister Luna. Finally in power, Luna could reign as she always wanted to, which she did, then war broke out. Each side fought to make the other cave into their demands, but no side budged. As greed lead to hate, so did it lead to new weapons of war, from armored soldiers, to machines of destruction, to the ultimate weapons, megaspell and balefire bombs. Shortly after these weapons of mass destruction were developed, the world ended. Cloudsdale was the first to get wiped of the map, then roam, soon many major equestrian cities fell to the same fate, as well as a few zebrican cites. Many retreated to underground vaults called "stables", others to secret bunkers unknown to anyone accept to those who knew. The pegasi retreated to above the clouds and covered the land in darkness as they closed the skies to prevent further destruction, those who didn't make it to shelter were left at the mercy of who ever they held as deity. Then, all was silent for 200 years as the world mourned the millions of lives lost on that fateful day the bombs fell.
Ok enough of the history lesson. We all know what happened 200 years ago, greedy ponies and zebras couldn't share each others cookies so they threw the deadliest hissy fit that killed the world as we knew it. But what's going on NOW? So, here's a tale about some ponies, possibly zebras, who live in this harsh world known us as FALLOUT EQUESTRIA.
Chapter 1: Simple Beginnings
This is the tale of one pony who is part of an old war military group that survived "judgment day". I’d tell you who it is, but where’s the fun in that?
War... War never changes. It just evolves into a new beast.
"Is this thing even on Silver Tail?"
"Yeah, see the little red light?"
"Where...oh there it is."
"Come on already Gold Nugget, hurry up and do your holodiary! I wanna go get some more shooting practice in at the range before lights out!"
"Ok ok ok....sheesh! Can't a filly record herself on her birthday? Not every day you finally turn old enough to become an initiate you know..." a soft sigh is heard before the blue holographic face of a young mare looked up to face the recording device, she gazed into it for a few moments before finally speaking, "Today, I turned old enough to become an initiate ranger for my chapter, today... I join the ranks of my brother and sister Steel Rangers. I'm so excited!" the filly in the hologram trotted happily in place before regaining her composure, "Hopefully I can live up to not just my parent's standards, but hopefully the Elder's as well..." "You done yet Gold Nublet? I want to beat your hide again at target practice!" The blue holographic filly perked her ears and turned around with a low growl, "Oh it...is...ON Waffle Poundcake!" the blue filly turned back with a large smile, "Well I got to run!" with that the recording ended.
"Paladin Brass Casings", the Elder started off cooly, "6 years ago, on your 15th birthday, you were made an initiate and joined the ranks of your fellow brother and sister Steel Rangers. Do you remember that day as shown in the holorecording?" he asked in a low calm and authoritative tone. "Yes I do Elder Shivercast, like it was yesterday." he nodded slowly at my response. "I see, now then Paladin Brass, are you ready for a moment that you'll remember for the rest of your life?" he asked with the most serious tone I've ever heard him use. "This event will mark a new chapter in your life. Over the years I, rather we, have watched you advance in the ranks since the day you became an initiate. And with each rank received, a new adventure began. Are you ready for this new adventure Brass?" I straightened up and nodded, bracing for whatever the elder has coming to me. "Because of your service to our order, to the preservation of technology, and to the service to your fellow rangers, selflessly putting your life on the line to save their hides," he said while glancing to my friends standing at attention to me right, "I, Elder Shivercast, hereby promote you to the rank of Senior Paladin for your valiant efforts and bravery in the field of battle." I merely just stood there, silent and still as a stone as I began to process what he just said. I looked around at the gathered counsel and fellow rangers, expecting some pony to come out and be like, "Haha got you nublet!" but that wasn't through case. I merely bowed in respect and crossed my right arm across my chest, "Thank you for this honor Elder Shivercast. I promise that I'll do the best that I can and I will continue to serve our order as I have." He merely just stood behind his console and shook his head at my response. "No senior paladin. Not as you have been doing, but better. Continue to strive in the field of battle, continue to be an example for your fellow rangers for you are now in a position of leadership. Now, go enjoy the rest of this day, for tomorrow is the day when you are no longer a follower, rather you will have followers of your own." with those last words the elder left his podium and took his leave, leaving the auditorium full of his rangers standing silent till he completely left the room. Slowly everypony started to leave as well in a low murmur, "Hey! Congratulations Gold Nugget! It's about time you were made a Senior Paladin!" "Yeah way to go! You earned it if you ask me...hell how many times did you save Dusk Shadow's flank?" "HEY! That's only because my guns malfunctioned in the middle of the fight!" I just sighed and smirked at Dusk, "And whose job is it to maintain YOUR guns? Sure as hell not mine!" He blushed and turned a bright red as the embarrassment of being exposed for improper weapon maintenance because for a ranger, their armor and their weapons mean the difference of life and death. "You're still lucky as hell that I was near by before that tribal could take that ripper to your neck and slice open your armor. Same with that time when we had to deal with some ponies from the burner boys! Hell it's a good thing that flamers don't have good range..." I shuddered at the thought of ACTUALLY being in range of those flamers... sure our armor has cooling systems built in... but it can only protect against high heat like that from a flamer for a few minutes before you're cooked alive in your armor. I just sighed before a smile appeared back onto my face as I was swarmed by my fellow rangers who were congratulating me on my rank advancement.
The after party celebrations lasted into the night until lights out, everypony was happily full of sweets and sparkle cola as they started walking off to their bunks in the sleeping quarters. I, myself was on my way to my own bunk when I suddenly found myself face to face with the Elder. "E...elder shivercast!" I stuttered as I bowed hastily, "I thought you were in your quarters! It is lights out after all sir..." He smiled and shook his head slowly as he patted my shoulder, "No need for formalities right now Senior Paladin, but the gesture is noted and will not have been done in vain." he said as he returned the gesture. "Now then... would you please accompany me on a walk?" he asked as he turned down a walkway to his left and started walking. I merely nodded and walked alongside him on his right, "There is a reason why I have pulled you aside Ms. Nugget, and that reason shall be brought to light. Our supplies are limited, this every ranger knows, to a degree though. We are almost at critical levels of everything!" I looked at him, shocked and confused, shocked by our chapter's actual condition, but more shocked at the fact that he was telling ME all this, and confused as to why he was telling me all this. "Ms. Nugget..." he began before I spoke up quickly while blushing due to my disrespectful action, "P...please sir, just call me Brass. Kinda makes me feel like I'm about to be scolded for something... sir..." he just looked at me and chuckled with the kindest smile I've ever seen him with, "Ok then Brass, I know this is kind of a tall order just being promoted and all. But I'm asking you if you could take your unit along with Star Paladin Shrapnel to look for more supplies. However, I am not asking you to take them by force if you cannot reason with the tribels who possess said supplies." He sighed as he took a deep breath before continuing down the hall, “Remember Brass, we value life AND technology, though life is more important. So, your mission is to look for more supplies for us. Ammunition, guns, spare parts, scrap metal, anything that can help us, without harming tribals for our own gain.” he paused for a moment, taking a long, deep breath, "Also I want you to scout out possible locations for a new bunker. That way we'll have an outpost to retreat to incase we should ever lose this one for whatever reason." "Uh... seems simple enough. I have to ask one question though Elder Shivercast." I asked. I held my breath as I awaited his response, "Yes Senior Paladin? Feel free to speak freely my dear" I let out a sigh as I stopped holding my breath, "Thank you, anyways, not questioning your judgement or anything sir but, why me? I mean there's plenty of more capable rangers that probably be more suiting for something like this. Not that I'm complaining mind you, but I was just promoted... Do you really think that I'm ready for something of this nature?" "Would we be talking right now about this if I didn't think you were capable of handling this?" He smiled and chuckled before turning to face me and putting a hoof on my shoulder, "Brass, you're more than ready for this. Besides you won't be alone. You'll be in charge of this mission, Star Paladin Shrapnel will be there to assist you in case there are any unforeseen issues, you'll also have Paladins lucky, and Deadeye accompanying you in your journeys. Also, report your status as often as you can, any information about the tribals you encounter could be vital for possible interactions later on in the future."
He paused with a sigh, "Do you have any other questions Ms. Brass?" I just shook my head, I mean it sounded like a pretty clear cut mission right? "No sir. And I'm ready to go at your word as well." I bowed my head and crossed my foreleg across my chest, my heart was pounding from the adrenaline rush caused by the excitement of being hoof picked by the elder to carry out an important task. "Good," he said with a large grin, "you'll start your journey at first light. Also Senior Paladin Brass, consider this your trial by fire, so to speak." I stared into his eyes for a moment before snapping a salute, "There's one more thing Brass, try to make allies rather than more enemies. Who knows, they might come in handy in the future."
