Equestria Wasteland

Chapters

1 It Begins
2 Nightmare Awakens
3 A Journey to Begin
4 Into the Streets

1 It Begins

A long time ago, Equestria was not the harsh and barren land we know today. It was ruled by two Alicorns, and they established equality between their ponies, and sought for peace with all other creatures upon the land; with different amount of success. The land was peaceful, and their subjects happy; protected by two immortal and powerful Alicorns-- The older sister, named Celestia, raised the sun in the morning and ruled at day, and her younger sister raised the moon each evening and ruled at night. However, this peace would not last. The younger sister grew jealous of her elder; as their ponies played in the day time, living and enjoying the day, but they slept her beautiful night away. After many long years, she decided she had enough. Blinded by her anger and jealousy, the younger sister sought to make the night time eternal.

Using the Elements of Harmony, Celestia was reluctantly able to banish her younger sister, and take up the responsibility of moving both the moon and the sun. The civil strife would not go unnoticed by the enemies of Equestria, and saw an opportune moment to invade. Celestia and her armies fought back, but without her sister and the Elements of Harmony, lost with her sister's banishment, Equestria was unable to repel their enemies. As the war and the plight of the ponies became more dire, Celestia turned to her assistant, a Unicorn wizard named Star Swirl. Together they developed a spell they hoped would end the war once and for all.

The spell did do that, but at a great cost; Equestria was filled with high levels of Magical Radiation, killing the invaders and a number of her own ponies. Those that survived the initial blast were either disfigured for life or left to fend for themselves in remote locations. Ponies were saved from extinction, but were forced to survive in a scarred and toxic land.

It has been a thousand years since Celestia used the spell to end the devastating war, and the land has healed somewhat, but not entirely. Magical Radiation still litters the land, Creatures have been irreversibly mutated, and safety is a rarity.

Dangers are everywhere; but for the ponies in the Southern Wasteland, they have a unique threat. Somewhere, hidden far from the view of everyone, a faction resides. Hushed stories, spoken in fear, tell of changelings coming in the night to foalnap ponies, replacing them and feeding off of love. No pony knows who does this or what their ends are. But ponies are afraid, scared by a monster under the bed.

Deep in a lost library, one pony, a lavender unicorn mare, finds an intact book. The brown binding and gold engravings caught her attention. Overwhelmed by curiosity, the mare opened the book and read. She spent the next five nights consumed by the book's contents, excited by the wealth of knowledge it contained. On the fifth night, one passage made her stop in her tracks, a prophesy that sent a chill down her spine. On the longest day of the thousandth year, the terrible mare will return, and the stars will aid in her escape. With her, she will bring about nighttime eternal!

2 Nightmare Awakens

One thousand years is a long, long time to wait for revenge. One thousand years that were meant to be a reflective experience, meant to settle down the jealous that had entered her heart and show her the folly of what she was intending to do. None of that happened. She didn't go through some heartfelt journey throughout her banishment. No, that didn't happen until she grew bored of devising ways she would get back at the one who had banished her, who had abandoned her when she needed it. She eventually did go through a soul searching, but that had ended when she found out there was a way to escape, a way to get back to Equestria and to reclaim her throne that was taken from her.

Four entities had come to her; had told her that her time to return was soon. All it took was time, and she had plenty of that. They came to her occasionally, these four entities, and told her what she needed to do; how she needed to prepare herself. They never showed themselves to her, only speaking to her mind, softly, comfortingly. They told her they were stars, and that they had a particular interest in her. She wasn't sure how much she could trust these four, but what choice did she have? The only thing that kept her going was the thought of being able to return, and to take revenge upon the sister that sent her to the cold confines of the moon.

These four knew entirely of her intentions. However, they did not try to dissuade her from this path, but encouraged it almost. And so, she prepared, passing time until she could make it out of her prison. All the while the world below her changed. She did not take notice of the changes; they were of little consequence to her plans. When she returned, she would take the throne, and she would make the ponies-- and all the other species on the planet-- bow to her.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect for her. When she felt she could prepare no more, when she felt the edges of her mind begin to fray from the tedium, the voices returned. They told her that the time had come for her to return to Equestria. They warned her, however, that the world was not as she remembered it, that a great change had taken place and there was much chaos in the world. Typical, she thought. The four entities had told her proof that her sister was unfit to rule, just as she had thought one thousand years ago. But what did it matter what changes had occurred in her absence? She would still return to take her throne, no matter how different the world was. Even as they warned her that things were far different, she disregarded it. If they weren't going to tell her what had changed, she didn't need to concern herself with it. Her time was at hoof, and she would liberate the throne from her sister who was so obviously had failed to lead her country.

Ponyville was a peaceful town before Celestia’s Spell. And after the Spell it held on longer than any town had the right to, despite its proximity to the spot in which Celestia had chosen to cast her world ending spell, Canterlot. But even Ponyville succumbed to the wasteland that had been created. Frequent raiding from lawless ponies and gryphons and despair had been poisonous to the inhabitants. Those that weren’t killed, left their home to its fate. And soon, Ponyville too became but a crumbling memory. Nopony wanted to reclaim the old thatched roof village. For decades, Ponyville was only inhabited by ghosts from before The Spell, known by locals as a place only fools traveled to, that no one with any sense would try to scavenge from.

In the gutted remains of the local police station, six ponies who were not locals, had made their home. They had chosen the police station for its thick walls, and also because it was one of the few remaining buildings that was still standing. To the six, it was the perfect place to carry out the orders they were given.

The leader of the group, a white stallion with a two tone blue mane and clad in a heavy set of hardened steel powered frame, was sitting in the former chief's office. The office was the more intact part of the building, the windows weren’t shattered, no holes filled the walls, and the paint on them wasn’t peeling too badly. Even the filing cabinets were mostly standing. On the desk in front of him he had a large stack of papers that he was going through. His small team had mapped out a portion of the town, and had a detailed report of each building and street in a three block radius. He was lost in thought when he heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" the stallion asked, not looking up from the paper stack.

"Scribe Sparkle," came the answer from the other side of the door. "Sir, I have something you need to look at."

At the name, the stallion flicked his horn and opened the door, revealing a lavender unicorn wearing a thick red sweater with a heavy black vest sporting several pockets over it. "Sit down and show me what you have."

Scribe Sparkle trot forward and pulled the decaying, but still sturdy chair up to the desk and sat down. "Paladin Armor, I came across something while I was digging through the remains of a library five days ago."

"And why are you bringing this to me now, instead of five days ago?" Paladin Armor questioned.

Sparkle pulled a brown bound book and set it down on the desk. "I wanted to make sure it was worth sharing before I said anything," The paladin motioned for his scribe to continue and Sparkle opened the book she brought. "Read this please."

Paladin Armor pulled the book towards him with his magic and read what Scribe Sparkle had marked. "An old legend? That's what you wanted me to see?"

"The terrible mare it talks about is Celestia's sister. The one she banished a thousand years ago," Sparkle informed. "And if that legend is true, then she will return. If she returns, and if she brings about eternal night like it says she will, then Equestria will have another cataclysm. But this time it won't recover."

The armored stallion put the book down and regarded Scribe Sparkle carefully. "And do you know where this Terrible Mare will return?"

The studious mare pulled out a torn map fragment from one of her many pockets, "Right here." She levitated it to Paladin Armor, showing him.

"Isn't that in the Everfree Forest?" he asked, incredulously.

"On the far side."

Paladin Armor sighed, rubbing his forehead with a hoof. "The most dangerous place this side of Canterlot, and you want us to go tromping through it."

"Yes," was Scribe Sparkle's response.

The Paladin looked up to his Scribe. "Alright fine. When is Celestia's fated sister destined to return?"

Scribe Sparkle sat up straighter. "Tomorrow."

Paladin Armor's face met the desk. "Why do I listen to you?"

"Besides me being your sister? Because I've yet to be wrong. I wouldn't have come to you with this if my research wasn't sound," Scribe Sparkle retorted.

He lifted his head up and rubbed his nose, "Ready the others. Ask for a volunteer to stay and hold the Station while we're away. And pray that you're right on this one."

Scribe Sparkle beamed as she rose from her chair. "Oh I know I am. But let's get there as fast as we can."

After Scribe Sparkle left the office, Paladin Armor looked down at the book that was left and pulled it close. "I pray that this is only a fairy tale."

Author's Note

I know the first two chapters are short. After finding the picture by vavacung, I knew I just had to do something with it. I promise the next one will be longer.

3 A Journey to Begin

Paladin Armor paced back and forth, thinking about what his sister had told him. If Scribe Sparkle was wrong, and there were times she was, then he would take the full brunt of the blame from his superiors for abandoning his post. Even if Scribe Spark was right, he could still face the same allegations.

Duty dictated that he ignore his sister, to follow through with his orders. He and his team were here for a specific purpose, and that purpose needed to be completed. On the other hoof, Scribe Sparkle was rarely wrong, and if she was right, what little of Equestria that was still around was in danger. He knew what he had to do, but that didn't make it any easier.

The alabaster unicorn prayed to whomever was listening that the Elders wouldn't be overly harsh to him for disobeying a direct order, and reluctantly left the silence of the office. With the door open, what he thought was a low grumble of discussion was revealed to be quite a loud argument. Immediately he was impressed with how soundproof the office was despite being over 200 years old, but that soon gave way to annoyance.

"Knight Sable, report!" Paladin Armor barked, putting the argument to a swift end.

The knight in question, a dark grey, almost black coated Pegasus stallion snapped to attention. Adorning his body was a skin tight body suit designed to regulate temperature as well as provide some level of protection against magical energy weapons and pockets of radiation left over by Celestia's Spell.

"Sir, what is this about abandoning our post?" the Pegasus asked, and everypony else turned to look at their leader.

"We're not abandoning our post," he explained. "One volunteer will stay behind and hold this position while the rest of us will go on an expedition into the nearby forest."

The four ponies looked amongst each other, unsure of how to react to their superior.

Finally one spoke up, a vivid yellow unicorn mare with a short-cropped pale lavender mane, "We're looking for the ruins, aren't we sir? Scribe Sparkle wasn't lying to us?"

"No Scribe Lavender, Scribe Sparkle wasn't lying. There are ruins in the Everfree Forest. Ruins that once housed Celestia and her forgotten sister. An old tale spoke of the one Celestia banished returning, and that she would take her revenge upon Equestria. Scribe Sparkle's research points to this former princess returning tomorrow," Paladin Armor explained.

"But sir, how do we know if this is even true?" Knight Sable asked.

"A fair question Knight. But ask yourself this," the Paladin countered, "should we risk it? Should we risk no doing what we can to prevent a wicked mare of darkness returning to Equestria, a broken and defeated land with little in the way of protection from somepony who defied Celestia herself? It harms little if we go for a patrol into that area, and this nightmare proves to be a fictitious entity. But if we do not go, we risk much."

Knight Sable shuffled, the rest of the equines gathered around remaining silent, either watching their leader, or the dark colored Knight. "Paladin Armor, I request to stay behind."

Armor nodded. "Very well Knight. I authorized you to use any equipment you see fit. It is up to you to make sure that this post remains held. The rest of you, get ready. We leave in twenty minutes." Leaving Knight Sable, Scribe Sparkle, and the rest of his crew, he returned back to the office.

Once the door behind him shut, Paladin Armor let out a heavy sigh, knowing Knight Sable would give him trouble in the future. After all, he trained the Knight to follow the rules. He would be disappointed if Knight Sable didn't attempt to report him for his dereliction of duty, even if it was for the greater good. However, he would also be disappointed if his Knight did, not realizing the rules the Brotherhood had didn't account for everything and shouldn't be followed blindly; but weighed and thought out depending on the situation. In a sense, no matter what happened Paladin Armor would be disappointed to some degree in any action Knight Sable took.

Paladin Armor briefly marveled at his own capacity to be so diametrically opposed at an action his former apprentice before he returned to the desk and looked over the map fragment left behind by his sister, trying to find where it would be in relation to the town they were in. A difficult task given the map had little that wasn't covered in faded green that vaguely resembled tree tops due to age. Where Scribe Sparkle had found the fragment was a mystery, but most everything was to him. She was smart and rarely wrong, but she suffered from a difficulty to simplify what she was saying, which often lead Paladin Armor to ask the other Scribes for an explanation he would understand.

A knock at the door tore Armor from his thoughts. "Come in."

A lavender and yellow head poked around her way in. "Um, sir, we're ready. Well, Scribe Sparkle is busy going through some books and hasn't gotten any of her equipment."

"Lavender, were we given a topographical map of the area?" The Paladin asked, hopeful.

Only a slight pause to think, Scribe Lavender replied, "All we were given was a map up until the base of Mount Canterlot. This area hasn't been accessed by the Brotherhood in over a dozen years. I could look through our equipment to be sure if you want me to sir."

"That won't be necessary Scribe." Paladin Armor grabbed the map fragment with his magic and made way to the door. "I am surprised five minutes was all it took for the four of you to prepare your equipment."

"Your orders and Scribe Sparkle's explanation set it out clearly." Lavender said, falling in behind Paladin Armor. "Some food and weapons were assumed. I've gathered some medical supplies while Scribe Smiles assisted Knight Tack in preparing his Power Armor. Scribe Sparkle only picked up her field suit before she went to her books."

The Paladin stopped to look at his yellow unicorn scribe. "And why haven't you donned your Field gear?" he asked to Lavender, who was only wearing a thick, faded red shirt over her yellow coat.

Scribe Lavender paused at the abrupt halt, "I have it with the rest of my gear. I felt it was best not to burden myself with it before we left, given it is still approximately ten minutes before we depart for this Everfree Forest."

"Very well." Paladin Armor turned and opened the door to the largest room in the Police Station other than the front waiting room, where their previous discussion had taken place just over five minutes ago. The room held several lockers and the remains of a few benches. High on the far wall held a small window that was long broken out. On the floor were six bedrolls spaced evenly apart down either side, along the lockers. Here was where Paladin Armor and his team had claimed as their sleeping and equipment room, the lockers holding everything they had brought with them- save their power armor, stored in the neighboring room.

"Sir," said an electronically distorted and slightly amplified masculine voice, saluting with an armored hoof.

"Knight Tack," replied Armor, returning the salute to the fully armor clad equine.

The Paladin looked around the room and saw his sister hastily stuffing a book into her bag and draw it close with a tug of her magic. "Sorry sir, I lost track of time."

"You're bringing a lot of books with you Scribe," observed Armor.

"When doesn't she?" Knight Tack jested.

Scribe Sparkle shot the Knight a mean look. "You never know when you might need Super Natural Remedies," she countered.

"That's all well and good, so long as they don't slow you down. We have minimal time to get to this location in a primeval forest without adequate bearings as to where it is."

"Perhaps we can ask some locals?" offered a soft voiced green stallion, dressed similarly to Scribes Lavender and Sparkle.

"That's a good suggestion," began Paladin Armor.

"If we end up coming across any," finished Scribe Sparkle.

The stallion picked up his faded and worn bag with a hoof and slung it over his shoulder, "true, we have yet to come across any locals in a few days. However, statistically we should come across another individual in the next day or two who may or may not be friendly given our location. We are in a prime scavenging area after all."

"Scribe Smiles has a fair point, Paladin," replied Sparkle.

"Regardless, it won't benefit us much to delay searching for a statistical probability while we are strapped for time as we are. Did you grab spare cores Knight?"

Knight Tack nodded. "Two spares and a fresh one in the back," came his electronically amplified replied.

"Good. Scribes get on your field vests on and shoulder your gear, we're leaving. Knight Tack, pass me my rifle," Armor ordered, the recipient of the order gave a nod and reached into a locker, tossing his superior a magical energy rifle that boasted a longer barrel than most. Paladin Armor caught the rifle in his magic before levitating over the map fragment to his sister. "Keep this safe."

Scribe Sparkle stowed the map piece into one of her many vest pockets and picked up her bag, waiting for Scribes Smiles and Lavender to do the same while her brother stuffed a few extra crystalline cells into compartments in his power armor.

"Sir," came the voice of Knight Sable, sticking his head into the room. "May I have a word with you?"

"Meet me outside," he instructed the Scribes and Knight Tack, before he turned around and followed behind Sable, into the room that held their power armor when it wasn't in use; a simple room that would better be described as a former filing room.

"What is it Knight?" Armor asked.

"I just..." Knight Sable paused a moment, shifting uncomfortably in his power armor. "I just wanted to say be careful. You're trotting into an unknown area with no information on it."

"I know Sable. I've been a Paladin for a number of years and have lead many teams in many different missions. But thank you for your concern. Is that all you wanted to say?"

"N-no," he confessed. "I also wanted to inform you that I will be filing a report about this. I wanted you to know because I don't want to do this behind your back. You've taught me better."

Paladin Armor let out an audible sigh. "I expected as much. Well, thank you for being forward with me. I hope you will learn something from this." Without waiting for a response, the Paladin turned on his hind legs and trot off, leaving his former trainee standing there, unsure of what to feel as his teacher strode ever boldly onward, heedless of whatever consequences his actions may land him in.

Author's Note

Well, there it is. In all it's unanticipated glory. Next chapter won't take as long, unless the Universe decides to throw me a few more curve balls. Which it probably will now that I've mentioned it.

4 Into the Streets

The streets of Ponyville were still; only a howling wind tore through them. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, Paladin Armor wished there was something, some pony to see. It didn't have to be hostile, just some living soul besides he and his team. His heart ached to see these streets when they once held life; but they only offered decay. The emptiness of the cobbled roads were enough to cause him pain in his chest.

There wasn't anything he could do. He was born in the wrong time, the wrong place. Hardship, bloodshed, and death were all he knew. Leading ponies to fight for an ideal was what he was raised to do, and what he was good at was war. Was it for the better, the greater good? Paladin Armor hoped so, prayed it would lead to a better world. Even if it meant he was cursed to live in a waking nightmare his whole life.

These thoughts ran through his mind as he trudged through the dusty streets of Ponyville, his charges following obediently behind him in single file. It was hard for Armor, trotting through these streets of a once prosperous town; buildings falling apart only due to neglect. When he returned from this expedition, he'd push to have the Brotherhood come in and reestablish a community here; the town deserved that.

“Paladin?” Scribe Sparkle asked. “is something on your mind?”

The armor clad unicorn turned to her, his helmet concealing his soft expression and smile as he looked upon his sister. “Wishing for better days again,” was his response.

The lavender scribe chuckled, “You're kind of a dork sometimes, you know that?” Armor rolled his eyes under his helmet. “Should we stop and let you have some time to refocus? I don't want you daydreaming and leading us into an ambush.”

He scoffed at that. “We don't need to stop, and you need to stop worrying. Now fall back into line, I'll be fine.”

Scribe Sparkle rolled her eyes, knowing her brother could see her. Other than that, she obeyed orders and resumed her spot in line. She may have been Paladin Armor's sister, but she knew how much she could get away with before he'd have to start treating her like her commander.

Movement down the road drew Armor's attention. While he magically lifted his energy weapon by his side, his heart leaped. Maybe this town wasn’t utterly abandoned. Maybe there was still life here and not just phantoms of the past playing with his vision.

“Movement, fifty plus hooves* up,” the Paladin announced, aiming his rifle in the direction.

His team reacted, all drawing weapons and spreading out, just as he had trained them to do.

“Any Pony got eyes?” Scribe Lavender asked.

“Negative,” replied the Knight

“Advance,” ordered Armor.

The five marched forward, the three scribes moving from cover to cover, sometimes hiding behind the Paladin and Knight until a new bit of cover came close. The two ponies in power armor didn't bother seeking cover, their heavy metal suit would provide more than enough protection for them should a fight break out.

Fifty hooves felt a whole lot further for Paladin Armor with his weapon drawn and ready for a fight. He was neither nervous nor anxious as he stepped closer to the corner where he had seen the movement. Years of field experience had steeled his nerves. Somewhere inside him, the undisciplined side, he hoped that somepony was around that corner, a friendly equine.

However, his hopes were for not. The streets beyond that corner were more empty than the one they stood on. No abandoned wagons, no smashed it over turned barrels, no loose piles of rubble dotted the immediate area.

“We should be moving on,” ordered Paladin Armor, unease settling upon him, his hope fading away, he added a command. “Double pace.”

He couldn't tell if he was just spooked or if it was just a healthy amount of paranoia, but the street had him on edge and everyone in his party could feel it. They moved quickly along the cobbled road, Paladin Armor setting the pace at a swift canter. It didn't take long for them to reach the crumbling outskirts of the town.

“Sir,” Scribe Lavender began, her breathing heavier than the rest. “What's wrong?”

The Paladin's pace slowed to a stop and he looked around.

“Sir,” his Knight said, stepping forward. “I don't think we're alone.”

Paladin Armor took off his helmet and rubbed his forehead with a hoof. “Of course not, streets don't clear themselves.”

“No, I mean right now,” he replied. “I believe I saw a figure move in that building.

The building in question was a two floor, sloped thatched roof hovel similar to most in Ponyville. The thing that set this one aside from the rest was the intact nature of it. From where they stood not a blemish could be seen, and the roof was not caved in. The windows were boarded up with solid and thick planks, tightly pressed together. Surrounded by its decaying sisters, the home looked like a shining fortress; easily defendable with the closest building being a stone's throw away and half collapsed.

“I spy movement sir. In what appears to be a large garden or small park,” reported Scribe Lavender.

“Knight, go with Lavender, maybe our earlier spectre is following us. The rest, follow me.” Ordered Paladin Armor, once again levitating out his magical energy weapon.

The two Scribes pulled out their weapons and fell in behind their leader, alert and uneasy as the three of them approached the boarded up building. The door was on the far side, likewise boarded up with solid planks.

“Paladin!” called Scribe Smiles, “the door’s barred.”

Trotting over to the green Scribe, the large unicorn Paladin looked the door over. “Pretty solid planks sir,” reported Smiles. “There is no signs of rot.” The stallion leaned forward and gave the planks a sniff. “And, given by the smell, I’d say it was cut no more than a week ago.”

“What do you think the odds of somepony being inside?” Armor asked, eyeing the planks once more.

“Quite low I would say. Unless they have some other way of getting inside. If there is an alternate way of getting in, then this would be a good holdout point. IF there is no other way in, then I would say that this building is holding something somepony doesn’t want to get out.”

Paladin Armor looked to Scribe Smiles, then to Scribe Sparkle. “Well, only one way to find out.”

The armor clad unicorn turned around, aimed for the door, and gave it a powerful kick. The pneumatics in the legs that aided in movement gave his kick more strength; the door splintering and cracking. The two Scribes barely had time to ready their weapons before Armor reared back for another kick, bucking the door inwards.

“That was quite risky sir,” Scribe Sparkle complained when she was confident her superior was done kicking.

“A calculated risk,” replied Paladin Armor. “I don’t entirely do things based on curiosity. Well, most of the time. If something was kept here, it’d be in the basement. Not where there could be a dozen potential weak points for the thing to escape from.” He paused as he broke down the edges of the door. “And so, I really don’t think we have much to worry about.”

The Paladin made his way inside, followed by Scribe Smiles. Scribe Sparkle looked around hesitantly, then she too made her way in. Armor took a few steps inside, admiring the dusty but intact interior. He was looking over the chairs when he heard a soft “eep”, almost as if spoken by a foal, followed by something clattering to the ground. Immediately the three members of the Brotherhood of Steel had their weapons pointed in the direction of the sound. There stood a petrified yellow and pink maned pegasus, trembling at the sight of the three. At her hooves was a small caliber pistol.

“State your name,” ordered Paladin Armor.

It could have been the imposing, dark colored power armor, or the electronically distorted voice, or the weapons pointed at her. Whatever the cause, the unknown pegasus toppled to her side, unconscious.

Author's Note

I am really sorry for how long it has taken me to get this chapter out. A general lack of motivation over the months has left me staring at a blank page for an hour before I give up and try to do something else. However, it's beginning to change. I may not have cranked out a chapter in a night, it took far longer than that. But I was able to get it done. And it feels good! It was the first thing I was able to accomplish for a long time. So, here's to future chapters! And I hope you like them ^.^