Fallout: Equestria - The Ruined City

The fire crackles low. A soft glow forms from the dying embers in the fire pit. High above, the night sky is littered with multi-colored stars and grand constellations. A gentle breeze works through the Fall air, carrying a slightly sweet scent from the nearby apple orchards along the ridge.

Next to me, a beautiful batmare sleeps, her face peaceful and full of youth. When we had first met, her sleep was punctured by night terrors and nightmares, making her look haggard and ready to snap at any moment. But now, those nights are long behind us. Opposite of me, a unicorn Ghoul sits, his translucent eyes staring up at the stars. Some time ago, this very ghoul tried to betray me, offering me up to a group of psychopaths who wanted to do unspeakable atrocities to everyone and everything.

From our vantage point up here on the cliffs, we can look down and see the scarred landscape of Zhutrotsky's Valley. On the western end, countless pillboxes, artillery camps, machine guns positions and endless trench networks cover the landscape. On the eastern end rests a boneyard. Two-hundred years ago, this boneyard was once an entire Zebra Legion, over three-thousand strong. It was to be their final assault against the troops of Zhutrotsky's 3rd Army. Had the bombs not fallen, the Zebras might have been able to punch through the defensive lines and right into Stalliongrad.

Now, only their armor and skeletons mark where they had fallen, a testament to what could have been a swift victory for our foes.

The ghoul shifts, looking down from the stars to me, then to the landscape around us.

"Hard to believe how quickly life has taken hold here." He says. His ragged voice carries an old accent from the Trottingham area, a region lost to time and history. "How long has it been? Fifteen years?" he continues.

"Give or take a few years." I reply. "Seems like Apple Seed has been taking good care of this place." I say, gesturing to the nearby orchards.

"With a name like Apple Seed, I would hope so." says the ghoul with a chuckle. "Damn...fifteen long years..." he trails off. "Seems like it was only yesterday when we first met." he says, his gaze going past me as memories started playing in his mind.

"Reaver, remember what Doc Stretcher said about remembering things?" I warn. Reaver blinks and shakes his head a bit.

"Right, sorry..." he says sheepishly. At that moment, the batmare stirs and huffs.

"How long are you two going to chatter about the past?" she asks, propping herself up to glare at us. I lean over and place a kiss on her forehead.

"Sorry Ebony, didn't mean to wake you up." I say, giving a little smile. Ebony cranes her head up and our lips briefly meet. She pulls away, giving a small yawn.

"You better get some sleep, Timeless." she says, curling up closer to me. "We have a long hike tomorrow."

I look to Reaver, who gives a nod of agreement. "Go on, I'll keep watch." he says, standing up. As he does, his joints all give cracks and pops as he stretches out. The ghoul then moves over to a weapon case, opens it with a flare of his horn, and withdraws a drum barreled machine gun. Holding it in a grey field of magic, Reaver checks the drum magazine, then the firing chamber. Seeing all was clear, he loads the magazine back in and begins to walk off to walk the perimeter. I watch the ghoul disappear into the dark. Once I lost sight of him, I shift myself down to lay next to Ebony. Without hesitation, the batmare buries her face into my chest, giving a happy sigh.

Laying there, my mind starts to wander as I gaze at the stars. Memories of the past start to surface in my minds' eye. Familiar faces no longer with us. Voices that carried both anger and merriment. Perilous situations and near death experiences. The sights and sounds of a supposedly dead city.

"You know, all that would make for a great story." I mutter to myself.

"What would, dear?" asks Ebony.

"The adventure we all went through. Everything about it has the traits of a thrilling story. I bet everyone would love to read it." I say, a small smile coming to my lips. Ebony moves her head and looks up at me through half-lidded eyes.

"I'll help you out." she says with a small smile. "Someone has to make the story believable, after all." she jokes with a giggle. I huff a bit and grin, knowing she meant well. In truth, I do have a slight tendency to over-exaggerate things, throwing in random details to fluff up a story.

"Then it's settled. I know there's a pencil and some paper in one of the travel packs. I should probably get started on writing before I forget to." I say, starting to shift myself so that I can get up. Ebony however, moves herself on top of me to keep me in place. She gives a deadpanned expression as she stares at me.

"No. You are getting some sleep. You are going to lay there and be my pillow too." she says firmly. I huff again, but rest my head down and stare back at the stars.

"Fine. I guess it can wait until the morning." I mumble. Ebony nods her head and rests it on my chest again, giving a little purr before slipping off to sleep. Soon enough, sleep catches up with me too, floating me away into its comforting embrace.