Patrolling the Wasteland makes you wish for a Nuclear Winter
War…...War never changes no matter what shape for form it takes, no matter what is being fought over, and no matter who's fighting the war. For war always brings out the beast in us all, one that hungers for the blood of the innocent and one that makes good ponies who achieved the impossible for the greater good commit vile acts in the name of “survival”. Many centuries ago this war torn land empty of life and desolate was once a thriving nation known as Equestria. In that time ponies of all types prospered under the watchful gaze of Celestia and Luna who both ruled the nation with a kind and gentle demeanor and raised the sun and moon each day and night. Life would be a careless bliss as earth ponies worked and farmed, unicorns focused on discoveries and government management, and the pegasi would manage the weather and interacted with the unicorns and earth ponies well before they became the isolationists they are now.
Though this peaceful way of life would not last, as Equestria made many discoveries that changed ponies’ lives for the better these discoveries required a fuel source otherwise known as coal. The nation of Equestria would look towards it neighbor for a solution to this problem in the form of the zebra nation having an abundance of coal and naturally trade offers would be made between the two nations as Equestria offered its supply of gems for the zebras’ supply of coal. Naturally one would expect that since these two great nations supported one another this way, they would have strong relations with one another and at the beginning it was. As time went on these relations would deteriorate as both nations would request more from the trades, after an incident with zebra pirates holding ponies captive in zebra territory with the rescue costing the lives of some of the Wonderbolts who participated in the event the nation of Equestria would demand for trade sanctions attempting to get more out of the trades at this point and would deteriorate their relations further.
With already poor relations happening between the ponies and zebras it would only be a matter of time before certain war happened. The event that would be the final nail on the coffin for peace between these two nations was the massacre at Littlehorn Valley where a group of zebras were killed by the defenses of Luna’s school due to a miscommunication and the school would be flooded with Pink Cloud killing many of the students there. Princess Celestia would abdicate from the throne and allow Luna to take power as ruler of Equestria but this act would only cause the zebras to be more adamant with war.
From that point everything began to spiral out of control as the ministry mares who were once the example of what ponies should strive to be became nothing more but ticking timebombs leading to their own self destruction as morals crumbled making way for terrible mistakes. Out of this war would be many of the abominations and hazards we encounter such as the mutated alicorns, the Enclave, raiders, and even the Steel Rangers. Though none of these dangers would compare to the invention of the megaspells a dangerous weapon capable of wiping out life on a wide scale. As the war went on both sides would grow desperate for an end and with the ponies’ victory at hoof the zebras would turn to destructive weapon for the answer to their plight.
Believing that the ponies were under the evil influence of the stars and that they would not be spared and instead massacred the zebras would launch the first strike against the ponies as key targets of these strikes consisted of important cites such as Canterlot and Cloudsdale. After that strike the pegasi would immediately raise the clouds amongst the sky and the surface below would suffer many centuries in the dark as it marks the end of two nations and the start of an age with no sign of hope. Many ponies who survived the nuclear slaughter would find themselves in a land where it is kill or be killed and murder was simply a way of getting by in this cruel world. Though eventually the wasteland would be blessed with a hero The Bringer of Light. She was a mare who left her stable and brought a change the wasteland hasn't seen in such a long time. She did the impossible from slaying the Goddess to bringing about the downfall of Red Eye and to even splitting the clouds apart and allowing the rays of sunlight to shine down upon this barren land void of life. Though she wasn't the only hero that walked the wastes as news and rumors to the other side of Equestria talks about a mare by the name of Security who is said to bring law and order to the innocent and deliver righteous justice to the evildoers. There are many heroes out there and in such little time we cannot name them all though they all deserve to be remembered for the actions they have all done in this wasteland.
“So little fillies and colts, are there any questions you might have about our lesson today?” said an old pony who turned from the black board to face his class. This old pony wore a lab coat and had a coat of faded orange. His mane and tail were a faded yellow and throughout his body scars and burns could be seen. His eyes would be red though one of his eyes had a scar with an eyepatch covering his right eye. Finally his cutie mark was that of a light bulb as he scanned the class for raised hooves and would choose one that was in the front row of the class.
“Is it true that the Bringer of Light once killed a death dog?” the colt said excitedly as he was on the edge of his seat
“Yes, the Light Bringer did kill a death dog but I don't think that has anything to do with what the lesson was----” the older pony said before being interrupted before another colt spoke up
“Oh, teacher was it true that the Light Bringer defeated the Goddess singlehoofedly?” said the colt and immediately the entire class would erupt into a loud mess of questions about the Light Bringer and other heroes performing impossible feats from fighting the supernatural to setting off megaspells as their daily routine.
The old pony would sigh as he waited for the tiny little fillies and colts to calm down and once they did he would look at them all and say “So do any of you have any questions that actually have some relevance to today's lesson?”
A filly sooner raised her hoof and she would ask “Teacher what is that?” as she pointed with her hoof at a large display next to his desk which held in it a torn and weathered trench coat and next to that would be a helmet which most of the metal pieces rusted and the glass in the eye holes were shattered and cracked.
“Oh those? You shouldn't concern yourselves with those ancient artifacts.” the old pony said but he would be interrupted as one of his students asked “Wait that's a ranger’s armor! Teacher were you a part of the legendary NCR Ranger Division?!”
The old pony would shake his head no but another student would ask “Oh Teacher is it true what they say about the elite rangers? Did they really fight off a wave of Alicorns with only a revolver and 5 rounds?”
“Look those are just tales meant to be merely fables to be laughed at and no I was not a member of the Desert Rangers as they call themselves today. This armor was simply a memento from an old friend that passed away.” The old pony said as he looks over at the display case before looking back at his students.
“Oh oh oh, teacher did your ranger friend ever fight a death dog or an alicorn?” said another student as The old pony sighed from having to deal with another torrent of questions.
Though one question would catch his attention as a filly in the back asked “How did you and your ranger friend meet Mr. Teacher?”
The old pony looked up and smiled as an old nostalgic but sad look was on his face as he said “Now that is a good question, but to answer that question we would need to go back class 25 years ago.”
5 Year since the Light Bringer’s Journey Ended
“ATTENTION!” yelled a voice as an orange coated unicorn wakes from his nap to see his commanding officer standing over him with an angry look.
“O-Oh sir! Sorry didn't see you there look, it's not what it looks like!” The orange stallion said before he was interrupted by his commanding officer clearing his throat.
“Look here recruit you and your fellows may think that just because you were posted near the border of Equestria far from where the main dangers are located doesn't mean that it is a good excuse to be sleeping around. Now get to your post recruit before I place you on latrine duty on the double.”
The orange unicorn would salute and nod as he ran to his post located on the south wall of the base as he sighed knowing his day could get worse if he was caught again. Though while deep in his thought he would not notice himself walking into the path of another pony as the two collided into one another. The orange stallion would look up rubbing his head to see sky blue eyes meet his red as the pony he had stumbled into was a stallion pegasus who's colors looked like he bathed in blue dye.
The blue stallion would be the first to react as he looks down at the orange stallion and says “Hey watch where you're going pal or else you might cause trouble to the wrong ponies around here. Say, aren't you one of those new recruits who were stationed here today?”
The orange stallion nodded replying with “Oh yes I am sir and I am deeply sorry about bumping into I just have so much on my mind that I'm barely able to focus and the commanding officer here has been tough.”
The blue stallion merely chuckled at his reply as he said in a light hearted tone “Oh that knucklehead? Don't worry about that, that's just his own personal welcome to Base Tartarus the farthest outpost the NCR has got. So what's your name rookie? I at least assume you want to be called by your actual name instead of rookie for your time here?”
The orange unicorn nodded as he stammered with his name and says “Well m-my name is Bright S-Spark.” a bit nervous around meeting with a new pony who seemed really friendly.
“Oh so that's your name eh? Well that's not the name I would have chosen for you but if that's your name then that's that. So since you so kindly told me your name I assume it's only fair that introduce myself. Hello there Bright my names Cobalt Sights.”
“Nice to meet you Cobalt and thanks for the nice welcome I really needed it. Especially from how much Tartarus the officers are going to put me through for sleeping on duty.”
“No problem Bright and remember if you ever need a helping hoof just holler I'll probably answer back. Now if you excuse me I have a post to guard and a whole lot of barren wasteland to watch over.” Cobalt said with a grin as he flew off to his post leaving Bright on his side of the wall as he sighed as it would be hours before his shift would be over.
So with no other option Bright Spark stayed and did his duty as he was on the lookout for any activity that could pop up, but since he had the misfortune of being stationed at this base of all places all he would ever see would be tumbleweed tumbling around all over the place. Bright would yawn as hours pass and the sun slowly set upon the horizon as the moon began to rise above the sky as the orange unicorn turned and began to turn and walk back towards his quarters from what would be the first of many unexciting views of the wasteland. On his way back however as he walked through the halls of the base he would feel the ground shake as alarms go off as the base was sent into a panic and Bright would hear the sounds of an explosion happen outside on the courtyard and he would be one of the first to gather towards the point of where this all happened. He would reach the courtyard but as he got there with a few other troops he would find nopony else nearby and in the middle it seemed that explosives of some kind were detonated within the area from what the damage looks like as it looks like half the layer of concrete on the walls were blown off and there were holes in the ground that would fit the shape of many small marbles, but what was more worrisome was that this explosion has left behind some sort of residue or radiation that was typically be the result of a megaspell going off as he and the many troops began to investigate the area while others began quarantining the area.
There Bright would run into Cobalt who was organizing groups into search parties and investigations as he said “Now I want you all to secure the west east corridors and check for any leads we might have missed. Now I just need to make sure the other squads radio in in 30 minute intervals.”
“Um hey Cobalt do you know what's happening here I mean why is everypony in such a panic and why are some areas of the courtyard being quarantined? Did some sort of radiation get out or spill?” Bright asked as he scanned the area seeing if he could get a clue to what was going on.
“Oh Bright there you are, look there's no time to explain but I need somepony to help me search the west corridors.” Cobalt said before he assigned another team to search a part of the base.
“Alright I'll help you search the west corridors but at the very least tell me what's going on around here and what exactly we are looking for?” Bright asked as troops throughout the base were in panic.
“Look I'll tell you when we get there but first I think we should begin the search for the cause of this immediately, I feel like whoever is responsible for this is nearby and I'd hate to have to file paperwork for a report about this.” Cobalt whined as he began his trek with Bright towards the west sector of the base
As the two entered the west corridors they would find a hallway dimly lit due to the damages the explosion had as it hit a power line towards the building. As a result this part of the base would be on auxiliary power as the lights of the corridor flickered on and off and none of the rooms within the hallway were illuminated enough for the duo to see. Cobalt would be the one to take out a flashlight and use it to search the many rooms as each stored a supply of foods, ammo, and other necessities.
Cobalt and Bright would then begin to split up as they searched the room together for signs of any suspicious activity. Bright would walk into the other rooms as soon as the search in the previous room became fruitless but as soon as he entered the other rooms he would feel a chill run up his spine as he shined his light at the corners of the room only to see a silhouette of a shadow dart from place to place until suddenly it seemed to have vanished out of thin air. Bright would search the room frantically looking for the source of that silhouette as he slowly backs up, but as he backed up he would feel his flank bump into something that wasn't a wall or box and that would cause Bright Spark to commit the girliest scream a stallion would ever have to hear as he jumped forward and threw his flashlight at whatever he bumped into as it hit it's target with an audible thud followed by a loud “Oh by the grace of Celestia does that hurt!”
Bright would look up suddenly to see that the creature he hit was just Cobalt as he rubbed the top of his head which held quite the bruise. Bright would immediately spring up from his position to get close to Cobalt and apologize as he stammered saying “O-Oh I'm s-so sorry sir I didn't mean to attack-”
Bright would be interrupted by a hoof being placed on the top of his muzzle as Cobalt smiled shushed the stammering unicorn as he said “Jeez, don't worry kid I'm fine plus it takes more then then a little flashlight to hurt me besides it's my fault this happened I mean what was I thinking bring you here? I could hear your whimpering from the other room so no harm and no foul there I assume.”
Bright would attempt to reply back but every attempt he would try would end up with a hoof on his mouth. Cobalt would sigh as they spent the last few hours searching only to end up with no leads nor clues that could lead them to the source of this event as he sent Bright back to his quarters to rest up. On the way to his quarters Bright would see a base that was once bustling with life was now quiet as it seems that every pony seems to be on edge as guns were out of their holsters, weapons were being aimed from left to right, and a deep silence filled the halls.
Bright Spark sighed not comfortable with this at all as he felt half a mind to just request a transfer, but this was just his first day and he couldn't just quit. Bright would groan as he would have this argument in his head until he reached his quarters and there he would begin to take off uniform and go to sleep. He would frown as he looked out the window to see that the sun was rising over a hill, but the part that sent chills down his spine was when he saw a silhouette figure standing on the hill looking back as it's red eyes look back at him seemingly piercing his soul. Bright would freeze in place too scared to move afraid of what this creature was, but he eventually blinked and in that split second he would open his eyes to see an empty hill with the sun beginning to dawn on this world.
-Rrrrriiiiiiiinnnnnggg-
Bright Spark looked up to see that the school bells have wrung and he would begin to sit back as the many colts and fillies groan.
“Awww, come on teach you can't just end the story there I mean who was your ranger friend? What was that creature? What even was happening at that base?” said the many students as they wanted to hear more.
Bright grinned as he looked at them and said “Alright all of you if you all do your homework tonight maybe I'll tell you the rest.” but the students would groan from hearing this as they all begin to go back home. Bright snickered but would slowly become a sad smile as he looked over at the broken items and said “Huh, who would of guessed that I became a teacher right Shaded? Heh, I know it's pretty useless to say this now but I wished you'd live this long to see this and everypony misses you especially her. I mean I had to take you from your grave so that she could take proper care of herself, you know?”
Bright’s ears would lower as he heard the door open and heard the soft sounds of hooves and he would turn to find her. Bright would never forget her looks from her blood red eyes to her blood red coat as a blood red mare entered the room. She wore the usual garb that most recruits wear but Bright was not interested in that instead he merely sat and waited for her to speak.
After for what seemed like an hour she finally spoke her voice as soft and refined as silk as she said “Hello Spark, it's been years since I've seen somepony from the group. So I heard you became a teacher, who knew you actually would be good at at a job like that? Still that's not why I'm here, I'm here to collect my dead stallion and mourn in peace.”
“You know I can't let you do that. You barely took care of yourself and would spend days hugging what's left of him without eating or sleeping and I knew that he wouldn't want this to happen to you.” Bright said before he was slapped across the face by her hoof
She would glare angrily at him before screaming “You don't know what he would have wanted, you could never know what he wanted!” as she began to tear up a bit as she said quietly to herself “He was my soulmate, the only one who I would get and the only one he would get”
She would turn from Bright and to the broken and old articles of clothing. She would stare through the eye holes remembering how his vibrant eyes would look back into hers, she would rub her muzzle against the rusted face plates of the helmet remembering the soft feeling of rubbing up against him, she would look at the sides of the helmet as she remembered the eyes she would nibble on and the look of annoyance of his face face as he blushed, and she would turn to the coat smelling the scent he always had on him which was was the hot desert that that she smelt when she first traveled with him.
She would again turn to Bright with a sad look and asked “I heard the story you were telling to those children, may you please continue I want to hear it. Hearing that story always makes me feel that he's here now with us, please?”
Bright Spark nodded as he looked up at her and said “Alright, it's the least I could. So take a seat and we can begin Liiche.”
The blood red mare nodded and took a seat next to Bright as he began from where he last left off in the epic legend of the broken eyed ranger and his forgotten quest to face off against unknown enemy with a team of unlikely allies.
Story Begin: Starting Level 1 Gained
Err0r- Pony Character Not Found
P3rk- UKnoWn: Warning sYsTem is Nnnnnnnot W0rk1ng
3ff3ct÷ WaRninG pleas-----e cAll youR n3arest Stttttable Teeee3ch Repair Pppppony foooor Asssssistance If 3rror has p3rsist3d
Pony Character Found- Designation: Bright Spark
Level Up
Perk Gained- I Didn't Sign Up For This: Considering that your only choices were either be a wimp in the eyes of others or join up with the military you never imagined it would be like this though
Effect= Pony gains an increase of Intelligence and Agility by one point but due to your wet behind the ears attitude has a minus 10 points in guns and minus one point in Strength and Endurance
Pony Character Found- Designation: Liiche
Level Up
Perk Gained- His Hoofsteps Were Light, His Soul Was Heavy:
Your beloved once said you can't know tragedy unless you met it on an intimate level. You never knew that he meant you needed to lose somepony really close, HIM!
Effect= Whenever you wear the Shaded Trenchcoat with the “His Helmet” you gain one point in Endurance from thinking of the love that would never fade but distance away from these items will result in a loss of one Strength point as the crushing weight of his death weighs heavily in your mind
Pony Character Found- Designation: Cobalt Sights
Level Up
Perk Gained- What A Wonderful Pony:
You know what even if civilization has gone down the drain it doesn't excuse having poor manners and being a cynic
Effect: Due to your nice and overall polite demeanor, other ponies and such just don't feel the want to hurt you and gives them a lesser chance of scoring criticals by 10% and you gain a point in Charisma for saying please but due to the wasteland being an uncivilized place for you, you have a minus 10 points to speech when talking to raiders or uncivilized tribals
