Chapter 1: Welcome To Lunar Bay
FALLOUT EQUESTRIA: LUNAR BAY
Chapter 1: Welcome to Lunar Bay
War...War never changes.
The nation of Equestria had long been known as a nation of peace, joy, and friendship. The ponies that lived there welcomed all those that came to their home, and showed them the magic that friendship can bring.
But soon, the magic of friendship was overshadowed by the spoils of war. The nations of Equestria and Zebrica soon found themselves pitted against each other in all out war. Lives were lost as the battles raged in land both far and near.
And with this war, the lives and culture of the ponies soon changed as well. The friendship towards all creatures was replaced by fear and resentment for those that didn’t support the nation. The generosity became even more of a rarity as ponies found themselves fighting for the basic needs they once cherished.
Alternate forms of water and food production were soon being tested, and that included creatures that ponies once loved and looked after. Their nutrients soon supplied thousands of troops with the energy needed to fight for their nation.
And one place that rose out of that change was a small town north of Equestria, that still stands long after the war's end.
A town known as Lunar Bay.
***
My alarm clock rang loudly as the hands reached their 7:45 set time.
My eyelids, stuck together with eye crust, slowly pulled apart as my body slowly start to wake up. I began to water my dried mouth as I reached over to shut off the old clock. After a few tries, my hoof finally met its mark and the annoying ringing finally stopped.
Sighing, I rolled onto my back and looked up at the crumbling ceiling above me. Holes plastered the wooden boards, giving me a clear view of the dark grey clouds above. Drops of water fell onto my face, but I was used to it by now.
The dark gray clouds always hung over the bay, leaving a gray streak over all the buildings and ponies who lived here. It’d been that way ever since I was born, and would be like that until the day I died.
I turned my head and looked back at the clock. “7:49...means it’s almost time,” I said as I looked back up at the ceiling. I waited a minute as my clock inched closer to 7:50. “Three...Two...One,” I said.
At that moment, my bedroom door burst open, sending specks of dust floating down from the rafters. I inclined my head and looked across my room towards the door. Standing in the door frame was a light blue earth pony mare with a green mane and fishing net cutie mark. She smiled at me, showing off her slightly off colored teeth.
“What a surprise; my silly older brother is still laying in bed,” she said. “Don’t you even know what time it is Fish Hook?”
I groaned as I rolled onto my side, giving my sister a grumpy frown. “Yes White Perch; I have a clock you know. I don’t need you barging in every morning to wake me up.”
I closed my eyes, hoping she’d say something stupid then leave to get ready. Instead, I heard the sound of running hooves before Perch landed right on top of me. The air in the lungs burst from my mouth as Perch playfully wrapped me in her legs.
“But it’s fun to wake you up every morning; it gives me a sense of purpose in this place,” she said smiling. “Besides, I’m just doing what younger siblings are supposed to do; annoy their older ones.”
“But you're only a year younger than me; and since I’m twenty, you should have the same maturity as me,” I said as I tried wiggling out of her grasp. But even though she was younger than me, she held strong.
“Says who,” she replied, “there are ponies dad's age that still act like foals. So I think I have the right to act like a younger sibling for as long as I want.”
I sighed; trying to get through to Perch was like trying to teach english to a ghoul. “Then can you at least get off me so I can get ready. I don’t have any intentions of get washed up with you clinging onto me.”
Perch giggled as she slowly removed herself from me. “If that was your intention, I’d have said you were a great big pervert.” Before I could say anything else, she jumped off my head and skipped out the door.
As much as I loved Perch, she was a great big pain in my neck. She’d definitely matured over time, but the foalish side of her had never really gone away. If it wasn’t for the pictured taken right after her birth, I’d have sworn my parents adopted her.
Still a little sore from the sudden death grip, I crawled out of bed and slowly got to my hooves. Once I was all straightened out, I walked across the creaking floorboards to the small bathroom across the hall. The sink was cracked in two, and the toilet was filled with the dirtiest water I’d ever seen. The only thing that didn’t look disgusting was the shower. The tile was definitely old, but thankfully the pipes were still in working order.
I stepped into the basin and turned the dirty handle. Slightly off-color water poured out the tap and onto my dirty black mane. Grime that my dark blue pelt had accumulated from the day before ran off me and down the drain. I gave myself a quick scrub, making sure no dirty was left on me before stepping out onto the dirty floor mat.
Grabbing a nearby towel, I dried myself quickly; giving my fishing hook cutie mark a good rub. Once I’d dried my mane as best I could, I walked back into the hallway and down the stairs at the other end. The boards continued to creek, but thankfully none of them broke.
When I reached the bottom, I found myself in the medium sized room my mom referred to as a “kitchen”. To me at least, it was a small room with a barely functioning stove and fridge filled with long ago expired food. The hardwood floor was just as deteriorated as the rest of the house, and the table wasn’t much better.
Mom was standing by the stove, slowly baking whatever she passed off as breakfast today. She had her brown mane styled on the right side today, with a old rose mane clip stuck in the back. She wore a dirty white apron over her orange pelt, which no doubt had come from Trader Jane’s supply store on dock 3.
Perch was already sitting at the table; her nose deep in one of the old pre-war books Dad had scavenged from the local buildings. I took my seat across from her, still trying to rub any sleep out of my eyes.
“Morning honey,” said mom, “Did you have a good night's sleep?”
“I was,” I replied groggily, “until I was ambushed by a large blue beast.” I gave Perch one of my famous stink eyes, which she matched with her big eyed “innocent” face.
“Can’t blame a mare for making sure her brother’s up early enough to start work and not miss breakfast.”
I rolled my eyes at the statement. “I can think of three reasons why I can blame you. Would you like me to list them?”
Perch’s reply was cut short by the distinct sound of a spoon smacking both of us right on the hooves. I jerked my hoof back, the pain still being present thanks to the red mark left behind.
“No more fighting,” said mom, who had a large wooden spoon clutched in her mouth. “Or you’ll both go without breakfast.”
Perch chuckled, though it was slightly strained thanks to her now red hoof. “I know how to cook mom; I can make my own breakfast.”
Mom shot Perch a glare, “then let me rephrase that; you’ll both not be allowed to touch anything in this kitchen. Now make up.”
Groaning, me and Perch walked around the table until we were facing each other. Remaining neutral, we gave each other a quick hug before sitting back at the table. “Good,” said Mom, who went back to the pot.
I sighed as I leaned back in my chair, looking up and the rotten ceiling. Perch went back to her book, not skipping a beat on reading each line.
Mom stopped stirring the pot, then proceeded to grab four cracked bowls from the cabinet. She laid them in a line on the table, then grabbed the pot. She poured the dark red glop into each bowl before tossing the empty pot into the sink. “Dig in,” she said as she took a seat.
Perch marked her spot before turning to her bowl. Without hesitation, she slammed her face into the glop and started gulping it down. I wiped away the few specks that had flung onto my face. “Can’t you ever eat normally?”
Perch raised her head; giving me a good look at her food covered face. “Where’s the fun in that?” she asked before plunging her face back into the bowl.
I grabbed my spoon and looked over at mom. “Seriously; were you and dad on drugs when you made her, or was she dropped on her head when she was little?”
Mom slowly ate her glop as she gave me a shrug. “I don’t think so….and you shouldn’t knock your sister for being herself.”
I snorted, “when herself is something completely insane, I should have the right to knock it.” I dug my spoon into the bowl and began eating the red glop.
“Ugh,” I thought, “taste like rotten ghoul.”
It was only after a few spoonfuls that a thought popped into my mind. “Hey, where’s dad?” I asked.
Dad was usually the first one up every morning; he’d go down to the coastline and see if our nets had caught anything during the night. After that, he’d take the catch and bring it back to the house. Then came breakfast, and after that we’d all head to the Bait Shop.
“Your father’s going straight to the shop today. He says he has to replace last week's inventory before we open. Apparently they're starting to attract flies,” replied Mom.
Perch raised her head up before using her tongue to lick off any remaining patches of glop left over. How exactly she did that I don’t want to know.
“Well I’m done,” she said as she hopped down from her chair. “I’ll meet you two at the shop.” With that, she skipped away from the table and out the door.
“Hm,” said mom, “maybe she did hit her head when she was little.”
***
After finishing “breakfast”, me and mom headed towards the Bait Shop on dock 5. Even with the never ending cloud cover above us, I could easily tell it was morning. Ponies started emerging from their houses and beginning their treks to work. Younger foals instead ran to find other foals or to begin days of playing or getting in ponies way.
But as for me, I was doing what I always did on the way to the shop; Thinking. The one thing that I always thought about was Lunar Bay itself; both for it’s history and the sheer scale of it.
The multiple houses and shops the made up the town were built entirely on multiple piers and docks attached together. Bridges spanned the channels between them, which were filled with boats bobbing in the water.
The town itself had been around long before the war. Ponies had settled in the bay thanks to the large amount of marine life that migrated to the area every year. Researchers and tourist came so often that soon a small settlement had been built on the shoreline.
But once the war started, tourism died down and researchers were called in to help with the war effort. The town was abandoned for years before ponies found another use for it.
Equestria quickly found out that the food production during the war was leaving little for those that weren’t in the army. Because of this, some ponies began looking for alternate food choices. And while it’s not sure who was the first one, but somepony got the idea to try fish.
Once it became known fish was a viable food source, Lunar Bay soon had new clients. Ponies began fishing here so often that soon docks, piers, and buildings were erected to accommodate the booming business.
On the day of the Mega Spells, the town had been lucky enough to be far away from any of the target cities. After that, ponies began building defenses to protect the town; including walls, traps, and even appointing guards. Ever since then, we’ve lived pretty peacefully.
And that peace isn’t only for what’s on the outside. Inside the walls, ponies have adopted a new way of life in the radiated world. As in the olden days, it’s found that friendship between neighbors and others is what helps bring the community together.
That’s why there’s no fighting, stealing, or even name calling between ponies. We may get the occasion tension or rivalry, but in the end we’re all going for the same goal; a better society.
Even if that doesn't totally apply in our family; I’d never pick a fight with another pony. Besides; there’s no reason to start a fight. We have fair lives, fair morals, and even fair prices!
And it’s thoughts like that which help me get through each day.
***
Once we reached Dock 5, mom and I made our way towards the shop. It was tucked neatly at the end of the Dock; next to the family boat and trapping station. My grandpa had opened the shop when he was my age, and we’ve been running it since he’d retired.
The front of the shop was beat up from the wind and sea water, but the sign was still readable: BAY BAIT AND TACKLE SHOP. It wasn’t the name I would have chosen, but it’s what Grandpa had liked; and that’s all that matters.
Mom and me walked through the front door into the main area. Perch was already sitting behind the counter; her nose still stuffed into her book. “Bought time you got here,” she said without giving us a single look.
“You should be watching for customers,” said Mom as she headed for the back, “not reading.”
“We don’t open for another five minutes,” she replied, “I’ll start watching for customers then.”
I walked behind the counter and took a seat next to Perch. The job of manning the counter usually fell to us, since dad and mom helped customers and restocked inventory. It wasn’t exactly an interesting job, but it was really relaxing.
“So Hook,” said Perch, “I heard yesterday that Midnight might come in today to buy some new fishing line. Maybe you could take her into the back and show her our supply.” She put a wicked grin on her face, “though what you do after that is none of my concern.”
I rolled my eyes. Midnight was a unicorn mare that worked the outer coast fishing route with her uncle. We’d had a few interactions in the past, and nothing had really clicked when we interacted.
She wasn’t a bad pony by any means, but she just didn’t seem like the kind of mare that I’d be interested in. Nevertheless, Perch always joked about it whenever she came around.
I didn’t even have the chance to reply before the front door of the shop opened. But it wasn’t Midnight or one of our regulars; it was dad. His dark grey pelt and black mane had the fresh spray of seawater and fish juice. The brown fishing coat he always wore was stained and dirty, and patched up in a number of places. Finally, atop his head sat a dark blue fishing cap that had belonged to my Grandfather.
“Morning dad; how was the catch?” asked Perch.
Dad sighed as he headed straight for our personal fishing supplies near the back of the shop. “Terrible; the nets were completely empty. Not a single fish for opening.”
Of all the things that dad could have said, this was by far the worst. Fish were what put this town on the map, and is what still keeps us in business even to this day. For someone who catches fish for a living, coming up empty was one of the worst things to happen to you.
“What are we going to do?” I asked. Usually when something went wrong, Dad had a way to put it right. If there was ever a time for something like that to happen, right now would be the best.
Dad returned to the counter with a reel of rope, some fishing nets, and two fishing poles balanced on his back. “Fish Hook, you and I are going out on the boat today. If were to have fish to replace our ageing stock, we need to go out and get them as soon as possible.”
Perch groaned sadly, “why does Fish Hook get to do all the fun jobs.”
“Because I can count on him to focus on the task at hoof; and not get distracted by the scenery.”
I gave Perch a smile and patted her mane. “Well, you can’t argue with what dad says.”
Dad turned and headed towards the front door. “Come on Fish Hook; we don’t have much time to waste. Time is money,” he said before walking out the door.
I walked around the corner and headed for the door. Mom had just come from the back, and was balancing a crate of fishing lures on her head. “Where are you off to Fish Hook?” she asked.
“Dad and me are heading out on the boat. The nets didn’t catch us anything, so we need to go out,” I replied.
“Alright,” said mom, “me and Perch can handle things here. Just don’t be out there too long.”
I nodded before heading out the door and heading to the family fishing boat. Dad had bought it from Mr. Donner a few years ago; when the nets had become less useful and we needed a different way of catching fish. Dad was already on deck; making sure we had everything we needed for the trip.
“Need me to get anything from the shop?” I asked.
“No,” he replied, “I think I have everything we need for the while we’re out there.”
I hopped onto the ship just before dad unhooked us from the dock. As she ship began to float away, Dad took the controls and started up the engine. The familiar scent of oil and grease soon met my nose as dad pulled us away from the dock.
“Where are we fishing today?” I asked, which was hard to do over the sound of the motor.
“The eastern coastal route,” he replied, “the weather’s pushing the current down towards the bay, so the fish will follow it. We’ll attach our nets to the back of the boat and go against the current; that’ll give us the best chance of getting a bigger catch.”
Dad turned the ship towards the bay entrance before giving the engines more power. We sped away from the pier and out to open ocean. Other boats, who were also out for morning fishing, were either tied up to a post or anchored in place. Some had ponies on them, who gave us friendly waves as we passed.
Soon we reached the mouth of the bay, and dad turned us in the direction of the eastern routes. Not many ships were out this far in the morning, so I was left to watch the coastal scenery pass by. Old houses and fallen carts riddled the land along the ocean. Half sunken ships stuck out for the water, waiting for another ship to hit them.
Soon the sights of sunken ships and pre-war homes was replaced by the dark outline of bare trees and blackened grass. The island hadn’t been even close to a megaspell impact zone, but the radiation had found it’s way here none the less. It mostly kept to the inner parts of the island; which is why our town is situated on the coastline.
Some of the ponies in town had tried to find a way to make radiated area’s less, well, radioactive. They thought that we needed more places for ponies to build houses, and fresh plots for growing food. Of course, everyone else thought that life was already fine how it was. They didn’t mind living in houses built on piers in a large bay.
My family was one of those that agreed with the townspeople. I will admit that putting my hooves on Terra Firma instead of rotten wood would be a nice change. But still, that didn’t mean I wanted to live on it. I’ve spent my whole life in Lunar Bay, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It had all the things a pony needed, and was one of the friendliest places to boot.
Soon we reached the midway point of the eastern coastline. The only scenery around here were the high cliffs that ran along the shore. A few trees and old carts lay at the bottom, but otherwise it was completely devoid of life. That is, life above the water.
Dad left the engine to idle as me and him prepared the fishing nets. I threw the large net into the water while dad attached the four ropes to our winch. This was important, as the force of the fish and current would put tremendous strain on the machinery. So dad wasn’t taking any chances, and tied three knots at the attachment point.
“Are you sure the rope won’t break at another point?” I asked as I lowered the net further into the water.
Dad narrowed his eyes, keeping them locked on his knots. “This rope is of a higher quality than others. It can take the strain, and I’ll eat my coat if that’s not the case.”
“I wouldn’t make comments like that if I were you dad; they may come back to hook you in the flank.”
“Noted,” said dad, and he headed back for the controls. “Keep an eye on that rope as we’re going; we need to know if we’re getting anything.”
I nodded in reply, and dad started the engine up again. As the boat pulled forward, the net followed along behind us. I kept my eyes on the area in between it, looking for any fish that found itself entwined in our net.
The morning dragged on as we headed further up the coast. Dad was right about the current; fish were soon being swept up in the net. At times I’d have to raise the net and deposit our catch into the container. “Think we have enough dad?” I asked as I loaded another catch into the container.
Dad left the boat on idle and came to check the container. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the fish we’d caught. “It’s not a bad catch, but I want to make another pass. We don’t know if we’ll get fish this easily anytime soon.”
I sighed, but still went to throw the net back into the water. The countless sights of cliffs eventually got old, as well as the sight of fish in the net. If Perch were here, she’d probably be diving into another of her books. But for me, I found myself staring at the open ocean.
At times, I had to remind myself that there were lands beyond the oceans of Equestria. There was the Zebra lands, and those that belonged to other species. But they were so far away; the only things we could see out in the water was fish, dead ponies, and especially boats.
I looked ahead of us, seeing the shoreline stretch out before curving in the distance. A morning fog hung over the area, making it hard to see anything ahead of us. The fog was something everyone in Lunar Bay worried about. Unlike before the war, fog nowadays was radioactive. If you were caught in it for too long, it could rot your brain and drive you crazy.
That’s why we usually stay in the areas where fog doesn’t often form; like the bay and areas around it. But go far enough inland, and you’ll come across places consumed by the fog; and all manner of creatures that thrive in it.
I was ready to head back to the net and continue my watch...but then I saw something. Further ahead, something was coming out of the fog. It looked like a big black mass, but I could tell it was something pony made. “Dad, look ahead! We got something coming out of the fog!”
Dad left the engine to idle as he headed towards the front of the boat. His face was scrunched into one of concern. “The fog can play tricks on you Fish Hook. Are you certain you saw something?”
“I swear dad; I saw a shadow in the fog, right over there.” I pointed to where I saw the shadow. But just as I was, the object emerged from the fog.
Dad sighed. “It’s another boat. Great, were not the only ones out here,” he said with a growl.
I was relieved; it wasn’t something that could destroy us or the boat. “Should we go see what they’ve caught. They’re more likely moving with the current, not against it.”
“Maybe,” said dad, “besides, I want to know who else had the idea to come out here.” He headed back to the controls and headed us towards the other boat. The motors went on high speed, making sea water splash my face as we went. But that didn’t matter; I was used to it.
As we got closer to the boat, Dad called out to me. “I think I know that boat! It belongs to Mr. Bucket from Dock 11.”
“What do you think he’s doing all the way out here!” I called back. “He usually fishes on the southern route.”
“Not sure, but I want to know why he came out of the fog.”
Soon Mr. Bucket’s boat was within throwing distance. But instead of Mr. Bucket moving onto deck to see us, it looked like the boat was empty. The rigging was still in place, but the motor was turned off.
Dad set ours on idle and got a rope from deck. “Bucket, you there?” he called. There wasn’t a reply, not even a grunt or moan. Dad attached one end of the rope to our boat, then hopped onto the railing. “Bucket, I’m coming aboard.”
Dad jumped from the railing, landing on the front deck of Bucket’s boat. He pulled our ship closer before tieing the two together. “Fish Hook, put the anchor down so we don’t float away.”
Nodding in reply, I headed to the controls and lowered the anchor. Dad headed along deck towards that boat’s controls. “Bucket, are you here?”
I climbed onto the boat as Dad looked into the bridge. But when he did….his face changed. The look of confusion was instead replaced by one of terror….true and utter terror.
“Holy Shit.”
“Dad, what’s wrong?” I asked.
Dad started to shake, slowly turning to look at me. “F….Fish Hook. I….I found Bucket.”
From the way he said it, I knew something was wrong. It wasn’t like he just found him sleeping or passed out, it sounded like something was very wrong.
Slowly, I walked towards the bridge. Every step I took felt like an hour, even if it was only a few seconds. My mind started to race at the thoughts of what I would see, and each one was as bad as the last.
Eventually, I reached dad and the bridge. I turned my head to look at Bucket.
It was a bloodbath. The ponies’ red juices were splattered all over the controls and woodwork. His grey pelt was stained red, and his wet man hung down around his head. Unfortunately, his head was the worst part of it.
The skull had been smashed open….and there was no brain inside of it.
