Fallout Equestria
Wasteland
Chapter 1: The beginning
War. Oh how war caused so much pain, sadness, anger, hate, etc. What most ponies tend to forget is this little tid bit, war pushes innovation. The vaults, pipbucks, and more. You could argue that if war hadn’t come to Equestria then we’d have a flourishing land still for no megaspells would have been created. I beg to differ….
“BANG!”
The loud reverberation of a heavy rifle being fired behind me snapped me out of my reverie. Looking over my shoulder I watched soldiers on a gun range opening fire upon striped targets. Most were young little ponies. Some adults too. Looking back in front of me I watched and listened to the whirring, hammering, and rivet guns going off around and in front of me.
My name is Pyro….Actually that’s wrong, my real name is Atomic Flash. I’m a unicorn mare. I was born with a snow white coat, my mane and tail though are the colors of fire. My main reaches down to my shoulders with two braids on my left cheek. Another on my right. I have a topaz, and two ambers dangling from those braids. My tail has four braids but unlike my main is kept short. Standing out from my colors were my eyes. They were a violet color giving my horn the same color aura.
Right now I was wearing my Vault suite, with the big 212 on the back and a pair of small saddle bags on my waist. My horn glowed as I lifted and moved this IED in front of me. I had a choice now as I examined the bomb. With the timer ticking down from thirty seconds, twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty-seven, I snipped the red wire.
Then proceeded to duck as the room echoed with a false explosion, that made the adults dive for cover, and a earth pony to fall off the top of a tank, all followed by a deep groan, and shout from all present.
“PYRO!”
Yeah, I was a kind of a social pariah at times. Usually when I mess with anything….Explosive. My ma considered my little “gift” cute and encourage it. I think that was to drive dad nuts trying to stop my antics after I nearly blew up the Vault’s School. What? It was a chemistry class…and a accidental mix of fertilizer, sawdust, and nitroglycerin.
Yeah I know bad idea, still have that scar on my chest to. But that’s also how I got my cutie mark as well. A flower created from a explosion. Yeah explosions are great.
Life in Vault Two Twelve is strictly military. Staying at a constant readiness level, constant training, testosterone fueled competitions, but thankfully it’s not completely militaristic. Yes we do twelve hour days, but when off duty we’re allowed to pursue other tasks, or activities. But the rule of law for us of Two Twelve is this, toe the line, work together, reproduce and defend the last of the Equestrian Military and Equestria herself.
“Flare, you really need to stop tormenting everyone. You know EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) equipment should be used in the bunker. “ My Da, Rough Diamond scolded me.
He stood a head or two taller than me. A grey coat, but a white horn with a diamond spot around it’s base using the horn as a center piece. His mane was a pure snow white. But he had a military short cropped main and tail. On his flanks sat his cutie mark of a uncut diamond.
“Sorry dad, I was bored, and the bunker was in use. LT. Jolt was using it for training.” I explained.
My dad sighed,, before smirking and chuckling. Suddenly I’d find myself in his hooking fore hoof getting noogied. Acking I struggled before a flare of my horn and a pop I was three feet to his right hoofing my mane.
“Daaaad do you realize how long it took for me to fix up my hair?” I asked indignantly.
He just chuckled, “ten minutes.”
Snorting I rolled my eyes and lifted my head up pompously. It only served to make his laugh all the harder. Hooking my shoulders with a fore hoof, as he grinned down at me.
“Come on your mother is finishing up with dinner. And Aria should be graduating Aviator Combat.” He stated while leading me back home.
Yes I have a younger sister, Aria Streak. A pegasus. According to my parents which are both Unicorns, my grandad was a pegasus. In case you were wondering. Unlike me she a model soldier, and daughter. Despite that she was my partner in crime, and still is.
Leaving the hanger behind we traveled through the dour grey walls of Two Twelve. I looked around and gave a mental sigh. If it wasn’t for Aria, and my parents I’d have been driven mad by how dull the Vault was. As we walked we moved to the right to allow the MP (Military Police) ponies past. I had almost forgotten about my Pipbuck and took this moment to check the time. It was almost seventeen-hundred. Five-o clock for the civilians.
The big plus to us being a military vault we have a R&D (Research and Development) team living here as well. Thus we were constantly finding ways to upgrade our own equipment. My pipbuck is a result of 200 years of constant upgrading. It was slim, tough, and best of all had a hidden blade on it. Sadly we don’t have many resources. So it’s still a bulky bit of equipment no matter how much effort they put into trying to streamline it. As per all military issue pipbucks it was jet black with color controlled screens to aid in stealth actions at night.
Doing a quick flip through of my pip buck menus out of reflex looking for a specific Audio File. Upon finding said file I pulled out my custom addition to the pip buck on it’s left side under the screens, was a set of ear buds. Putting them on I played the Vault’s resident band’s latest work bobbing my head along to it. My Da rolled his eyes at me snickering. Unlike me he and Ma favored the more classical music in equestira’s history to the new stuff produced by the few civilian ponies in the Vault.
It wouldn’t be long before we arrived back in my family’s assigned quarters. Upon opening the door, I looked up only to have panic appear on my face. “I did it sis!!” then suddenly the world was spinning as a grey streak tackled me and slammed me into the railing.
“owowowow, “geez sis I’m happy for you But tackling me? Seriously?” I asked my younger sibling of three months a hoof rubbing the back of my head.
Aria giggled and beamed proudly her wings extended, her turquoise mane and tail standing out against her grey coat. With her ears having small tufts on the tips. Her mane fohawked up, short and spiked, with a short tail like mine. Unlike me her eyes matched her mane. On her flank her cutie mark of a streaking feather in the wind.
“I gradua-a-a-ated!” She stated in a sing song tone while beaming.
I couldn’t help but grin and hug her. “I knew you would Aria.” Breaking out of the hug I stood up following my prancing sister. With my Da grinning away like a jackal. Which earned him a kick to the shin from me. A muttered curse and a vow of revenge later we were inside our home.
“Welcome back loves dinner is on the table.” My Ma, Snow Blossom called from the kitchen bringing out some sparkling water from the fridge. “Okay Mom.” me and Aria called out to her.
Snow my mother unlike me and my sister was completely snow white from Mane to coat. The only thing that made her stand out was a black line down her back and flower like socks on her leg fur. And a vibrant icy blue eye color.
Still grinning I walked to the table passing the medal I got upon graduating the Equestrian Rangers School. Dad paused at it and my sister’s medal which sat next to mine. I only noticed when I looked over my shoulder at him for I heard his hoof beats pause.
He Wore a look only a proud father could wear. “My little girls, all grown up.” he stated proudly. “Hey we’re not dead yet.” I teased which prompted me to duck a hurled sparkling water bottle from my Mother.
“Don’t talk like that.” My mother stated grumpily. “it was just a joke Ma.” With a humph my mother gave me the stink eye after finishing that sentence. I knew better than to argue with her.
Snickering my dad ruffled my mane prompted a swat from my hoof to his head. Which only made his grin widen. “No touchy my Dew.” I growled in a mock threat.
We soon were sitting around the table enjoying a good meal. It was good times. Heck, not just good time, great times. My father was a high ranked official with the Vault’s hierarchy. He coordinated logistics of the vault, member he’s on the Vault’s council. Which at times forced him into all nighters. The council is the ruling body of the Vault. It used to be overseen by a Overmare, but after fifty years of one person dividing up the tasks and resources proved to much for the Overmare. So just before her death she set up a new ruling body headed by her descendant. This provided the next Overmare with a much needed clarity, and also made it easier for her to divide up all the tasks of the Overmare to high ranked officers and prominent civilians. Giving her the deciding vote on everything, but also people aid her in keeping the vault running. So 150 years later my Da sits on this council.
While my mother was a school teacher…the very one I blew to Luna’s moon as a filly. She happens to be the head of education in the vault. For all we knew here in Two Twelve this vault was the last of Equestria and her armed forces. No one ever left the vault as far as me and my sister knew. Then again that kind of information was considered extremely classified. Not that I’d wanna know.
As for me, well I am a Ranger.That’s group of elite scouts that will be sent out the moment we get the all clear from Vault tech. Which had yet to come. Like many others I believed that no one would ever send that message. I only Joined the rangers because they were the only group to offer demolitions training, magic and Combat training not just one or the other.
With a loud belch I flopped onto my back in the middle of the living room only to yelp at a pillow smacking me in the face. “Ew! Seriously did you need to burp like that?” Aria would be glaring at me from the couch as I snickered. “or course.”
Rolling her eyes Aria just sighed and would just flip through a old book. Me I just laid on my back counting the rivets in the ceiling. Celestia, I was bored. I hated days off. I only get a few every month or so. I still hated them. “Gaaaaah! So bored!” exited my muzzle making Aria groan.
“Bored huh? Then clean up the kitchen then Love.” Ma ordered, making me regret opening my big mouth.
Getting on my hooves I went into the kitchen and began using my hooves to start the hot water while my horn moved the pot pans, and plates out of the sink. As I put soap in the filling sink I heard my mother and father talking from his study. They had left the sink window open.
“Yeah we got another Council meeting tomorrow love.” I heard Rough Say to Snow. “I know dear I got the memo after school. What’s it about?”
I could hear rough shrugging, “No idea. Might have something to do about the water talismans. They’ve been breaking down lately. Or malfunctioning.”
That was news to me. Water talismans was how the Vault recycled our water, filtering out our waste, and other contaminants. If all of the talismans failed or broke we’d be dead within a month for lack of fresh clean water. I tried to focus on the dishes but seeing the water pushed the conversation to the for front of my mind. So I washed and listened.
“How could they be failing? We’ve maintained them well haven’t we?” Snow asked worriedly. Understandably so due to the severity of the situation.
Rough would sigh and shake his head, “We have, but it could also be the cause of tampering. But we won’t know until the meeting.” The mere mention of tampering made Snow stared at Rough bewildered. “Why?”
“I do not know love. There has been rising descent from some of the civilian populace about wanting out. Same with a small group within the military wanting a change in leadership.” Rough stated with unstated frustration.
Now that wasn’t good. I had heard rumors through the scuttlebutt (gossip or rumor mill) about upheaval from the civvies who wanted out. But now hearing that there was a movement for new leadership added to my growing worry. Military coos had a tendency to get very messy according to Equestrian history.
“trouble is brewing then…and we still need that all clear signal….or maybe we should just start going outside the vault.” Snow said looking to Rough who nodded in agreement. “I couldn’t agree more Snow, but that’s the issue. The Overmare will not approve of us leaving until that all clear order”
I had to admit, that both of them were right. If the vault was going to break down critically like this, and with two growing factions within a Vault comprised of a entire brigade of military personnel, civilian workers, and their families. The military personnel alone numbered close to twelve thousand ponies. While the civilian contractors, workers, teachers, etc, numbered at least four thousand. Finally the families of all these ponies numbering about one thousand. This brings us to a total of seventeen thousand ponies. That number grows every month. Sooner or later we were going to need to leave.
“I know, but Rough you know we’re already beyond max capacity. If we’re to survive another year we need to start enforcing population laws.” That made Rough blanch and nod solemnly.
“ouch.” I thought silently. Pretty much anyone like our family are not allowed to breed unless one child dies or another dies. Even then they have to win a lottery for the right to breed again. This was how the vault was to survive until the all clear. We had such a high population due to a plague that hit us seventy years back. I wasn’t born then, but during those seventy years more of our ponies died instead of breeding. But when the cure was made the population control laws were lifted to replenish our numbers. Until our current population.
Rough tapped a hoof on his oak table. “I know, but it’s hard to get the Overmare to listen to anything regarding the outside. I’ve been trying to get her to send out the Rangers. With no luck.” hearing dad say that surprised me.
I could practically sense Snow looking towards the kitchen as I finished the dishes. “I know Rough…I’m scared the moment she sends them out we’ll loose our little Atom.”
Dad would chuckle, “Atomic is more than a match for anything outside these walls. Damn girl would probably blow up half of Equestria to kill her target.” Even I had to suppress a giggle.
I then heard a thunk from Snow wapping Rough with her hoof, with a exasperated sigh. “you are terrible.” Dad was still laughing despite the hit.
With that I drained the sink and their conversation steered away the subjects they were discussing earlier. Seems like I found my next activity. Thus I went to Aria who was putting back the book she had finished reading. “Hey Aria.” I said prancing to her.
“What Pyro?” Aria asked eyeing me suspiciously. Rolling my eyes at the use of my nickname I continued, “Got a day off tomorrow? I do. And the perfect activity.” I whispered to her.
Aria’s eye brow raised but her look never changed, “you’re gonna spy on the council meeting again aren’t you?” Frowning at Aria’s correct guess I just nodded my left ear flicking.
“Are you nuts?! do you remember what happened last time?” Aria growled at me making sure Rough and Snow couldn’t hear us. “yeah I do….but this is different!”
“Uh huh sure it is….much like how you thought mixing the school bomb was a good idea?” She asked me.
Ouch….low blow.
“No, it’s not like then. I’ve got a perfect hiding spot set up. You’ll see.” I told her while Aria sighed rubbing her fore head.
She stared into my violet eyes her’s narrowed, “Okay, I’m coming. But if we get caught, I’ll flay you alive got it?”
“sir yes sir” I replied and thus ducked a swinging hoof snickering. “Atom you’re gonna be the death of me.” I heard behind me and just grinned back at Aria.
Happily I went to bed, after bidding my parents good night I flopped onto the bottom bunk. I heard Aria land in her bed after a flap of her wings. With a smile I slept easily, my dreams peaceful, and safe…
** ** **
The next morning I woke up the smell of cooking eggs, oh yum, it’s rare we get them. Same with pork, and what not. Yeah yeah herbivores and all that. But we don’t just have ponies here. Griffins and hippogriffs live in the vault too. Both of which are carnivores. So after two hundred years eats easy to learn how to tolerate some forms of meat. Aria prefers fish, while I love bacon. And usually what came with eggs is usually bacon and hash browns.
Five seconds flat is all it took me to get out of bed. My head hit the lump of Aria which spooked her causing her jump and fall off her bed with a thud. While I tripped over the lip of my bunk tying my self up in my fore hooves. All my parents heard was a dual “thunk” into the metal floor.
“Damn it to Celestia Atom!” I heard Aria shout at me. But I was already out the door and hovering behind my mother taking a deep breath of breakfast….Well I tried. With a clang I was driven off with a yelp head ringing lightly from the cold frying that had been used to drive me off.
“ow ow ow!” I grumbled while I heard suppressed snickers coming from Rough as he read today’s issue of The Bunker Times our vault’s local newspaper. Throwing a pillow at Rough I got myself a cup of coffee from the living room’s coffee maker. When not inspired to get up by bacon my second love is coffee.
Once I had a cup I drank it black, “hmmmm something is missing.” I muttered. Then I spotted the creamer and sugar cubes. Using my horn I poured in some creamer and a big scoop of sugar cubes. Stirring them in until I had it perfectly done I sipped the coffee again, “aah, perfect.”
Pleased with my cup of joe I sat down drinking from it again, “You just had to ruin a good cup of coffee.” Rough teased me making me snicker. “Blame mom she’s the one who introduced me to sugar and creamer.” I then felt Snow’s eyes on me I turned and grinned to my mother who Harrumphed and pretended to be offended, as she returned to the kitchen.
Aria walked out a few minutes later growling at me while I just enjoyed my coffee. I wasn’t blind though, I was already making a mental note to check my possessions she was left alone with for trap pranks.
“So girl’s what are you planning for today?” Rough asked us as I stretched and yawned, “I dunno spending some bits on a graduation gift for Aria.” I stated before sipping my coffee.
“Well if Atom is treating me to a special day I’ll go along.” Aria said playfully as I gave her a raised eye brow.
Rough just snickered and flipped a page with his horn,, “Atom, no explosives today…Got a letter from the Overmare. To many complaints about you nearly blowing the others up.” Ugh…they always go running to the Overmare after I “nearly” blow them up.
“oh come on. I was using a training tool yesterday. Geesh, people are sensitive.” I grumbled acking as a got a swat with a newspaper by Mom. “Do I need to list every ‘explosive’ incident?” Snow asked me. Ears folded and my eyes half lidded I sighed.
“Fiiiiiiine no explosives…..But doesn’t mean I can’t play with gun powder.” I said ducking another swat from that evil newspaper. “okay, okay no gunpowder either geesh.”
Aria snickered as she drank a glass of orange juice. It was hard not to enjoy my torment from my parents. They know I mean well, I’m just accident prone at times. But taking this cue from my mother swatting at me breakfast was done and slunk into the dining room to eat my breakfast.
“BAAAAARRRP. Ah that felt good.” I stated with a grin before I felt a crisp “smack” to the back of my head jolting my head forward. “You cover your damn mouth when you do that Atomic.” Aria scolded at me, while I made a playful mocking gesture as she spoke. With a growl she swung at me which I promptly ducked. But Aria swatted a poor mare’s chilled coffee and not only splashed it on her face but managed to shove the cup around the Mare’s mouth. Bulls Eye!
Snickering a trotted off while Aria chased after me cursing up a storm in my general direction. After a while we settled down and drank a cup of water.
“when’s the meeting.” Aria asked. “About a hour from now sis. Gotta wait for them to go inside.” I replied tossing my cup into the recycling bin, but Aria managed to make a swish with her cup earning her a glare from me.
As we waited, while playing a few games of chess, up until I saw the council members gathering and soon ushered inside by the Overmare. “go time.”
Aria perked up from the board having been pondering her next move for the last three minutes…Or was it five? Either way we had to scoot.
Once the door was shut behind the last council pony entering the Overmare’s council chambers. Slinking to a rather large air duct Aria looked around before kicking in the grate. I had already loosened it up years earlier. Slipping in before any MPs came around the corner the grate back into place with me and aria slinking through the ducts. We moved to the central duct over the council; table it’s self to get a good look at all the councilors.
A wood on wood ‘thwack thwack’ from a gavel in the hoof of the Overmare, “let this council meeting come to order.” She called to the others prompting the Idle gossip to cease.
The Overmare was a brandy colored earth pony with a golden blonde mane and tail. She had a gavel and a pen cutie mark, in the form of a X.
“If I may speak first my Overmare? I have a issue that needs this council’s attention ASAP.” The head Engineer, Iron Wrench spoke breaking the brief silence.
The Overmare Looked to him and nodded slowly and elegantly. “Go Ahead.”
“thank you My Overmare.” Wrench stated as he stood up making sure all eyes were on him. “I’m afraid the rumors of a water talisman failure is true. The magic Object didn’t run dry though….it was broken.” As he finished those words everyone’s eyes went wide.
“who’d sabotage one of the most important machines we use to survive on?” That question popped into my head, and I could see the same one appeared inside Aria’s as well. But the one who voiced it was none other than, Black Beak. The griffin community leader, and their Council Representative.
“I don’t know Black. But a water talisman doesn’t just shatter on it’s own.” Wrench stated.
But before he could continue up stood a scarlet pegasus mare, with a silver mane. Her body seemed to softly Shimmered and shifted like a gem. Blood Gem was the Military leader, which put her in charge of all combatants. Including Aria and me.
Gem waited for the Overmare to gesture to her with a hoof. “the chair recognizes General Gem.”
“Thank you my Overmare. As you are all well aware of the two rumored factions in our vault, it’s possible a revolt will happen soon.” Gem stated being honest.
Soon Dad stood up nodding to Gem who sat down to allow him to speak. “speak Rough Diamond.” the Overmare stated.
Bowing his head slightly Rough would look at the other councilors, “my Overmare, my fellow councilors. I believe it’s High time we left the Vault. As you know I’m in charge of all logistics and supplies through out the vault. Which brings up Iron Wrench’s point and Gem’s into mine as well.” Rough didn’t stand still he strode around the group.
“We don’t have many water talismans, nor do we have many repair talismans. They’ve been systematically destroyed one by one, We will run out. Unless we put an end to this sabotage. We have one of three choices.” Rough Diamond paused to look at his fellow councilors, and then at the Overmare making sure he was being understood and heard.
Seeing that they were following his words he continued, “ We let the people choose. That could lead to open rebellion if the two factions don’t get their way. The second choice, banish those belonging to those factions. In the long run we might be able to survive several more years, before the exiles return to kill us all. Or the best option. We open the vault and send out the rangers to explore the outside world and check to see if it’s safe for us. Then we rebuild.”
I had to admit, when dad explained things like that it made perfect sense to me. Looking to Aria she nodded in approval of his proposal. So I focused on the Overmare, before the Councilors of both the Research, and Magic divisions of the Vault stood up.
“I move to second the motion.” The unicorn of the Magic Division, with the R&D Councilor nodding in agreement.
I heard all of them say aye in agreement of Rough’s proposal, All Except the Overmare. Who sighed and stood up.
“No need to vote. We open the vault. Alert the Rangers, they’re moving out General.”
Oh shit….I needed to go. Cause thanks to pipbucks they’ll hear the echo of those order’s being given to me. “time to go” I whispered to Aria who nodded.
I couldn’t hear what was being said as I shifted and tried to leave the duct with out being noticed….Well I would have if it wasn’t for the duct supports breaking from the growing rust gained from condensation.
With a loud crashing bang I fell from my hidy hole and belly flopped on the table. Suddenly I was glare for once I wasn’t a Stallion, but that didn’t meant my genitals didn’t hurt like hell. If that wasn’t the frosting on the cake I had my sibling groaning on my back after she landed right on top of me. Some flier she was.
Groaning I sat up to my haunches, while pushing my sister off me only to come face to face with my Da. I could tell his was absolutely beyoooooond pissed! A vein or two were bulging out from his neck. His right eye was twitching in fury. The final clue, was that I swore I saw the flames of hell in his eyes. I was so boned.
Behind me I felt Ma’s eyes stabbing into my back despite their inability to leave her eye sockets. “Oh good, sames some breath having to hunt you down Atomic.” General Ruby suddenly stated.
Just like that I was dragged out by the ear, by the general yelping like a foal who just got caught with a hoof in the cookie jar. Sadly Aria wasn’t so lucky. She was getting chewed out worse than all the other times before.
“You just have to cause trouble don’t you?” Gem asked eyes narrowing at me speaking around my ear tip which was stuck in her mouth.
“I can’t help it, life gets boring so I gotta do something else I’ll go insane.” I complained to her before jabbing my hoof just behind her jaw just hard enough to force her mouth to open nothing more. A quick jump back and I was cleaning my ear with telekinetic magic.
Gem rubbed her jaw looking dejected about the jab but proud. “Gather your gear, meet in the great hall. Make sure you alert Aria to do the same…Figured you’d grab her for this mission.” With that the General flew off no doubt to alert the other Rangers.
When she was gone I felt my body start to shake and pure joy erupting from my chest when it sank it I was finally going onto a mission. “WAHOOOO! FUCK YES!” I shouted before looking about.
“Sorry.” I quickly said hobbling, as I hid my blushing face with a hoof before I just took off running.
~~** ** **~~
Bursting into my room after running through half the vault to burn off my excitement. With a hoof I threw my big duffle over my back, the strap hooking around my chest. I then hoisted my pistol still in it’s holster out of the locker in my closet.
I pulled out my pistol from the holster. I grinned at the Ironshode Firearms .44 single shot rib barreled pistol, it was given to all Rangers. Custom made and fitted to each ranger. Mine had a leather wrapped grip custom fitted for my mouth. With a black Oak under barrel grip. I named this guy Peacemaker. Silly name I know but I love it.
Holstering it again I put it in my right saddle bag. The rest of my gear was at Ranger HQ inside the great hall. Walking out I ran into Aria who smiled, “grab your gear…we’re finally heading out.” I said giddily.
Aria beamed but she gestured with her head, “that bad huh?” I asked and she just grinned apologetically.
So I walked out of the room setting my duffle down and faced my parents. Snow and Rough were pissed still that I eavesdropped on a council meeting again. But seeing my gear packed neatly away in the duffle they calmed down and just beamed.
I hugged Snow first and Rough joined in as they teared up with me. “Make us proud Firecracker.” I couldn’t help but giggle at the use of Da’s nickname he gave me.
“Sir yes sir.” I said saluting him and both of them saluted back. They beamed proudly as I grabbed my things. I gave them one last kiss on the cheek and I was out the door. I waited outside for Aria who hugged them as well and when the goodbyes were said and done, Aria and I were walking towards The Great Hall, also known as Ranger’s Hall.
It was the only wooden building within the metal tomb that was the vault. Our vault being the largest that had been ever constructed according to our history books. It was built to hide a literal army. When the vaults were first created the military sought to get a few of their own made by vault tech. Ours was the first of five, but the only one still active as far as we can tell.
Walking to the big double doors I shoved the door as side with some effort, before marching towards the other gathered rangers. Seemed like about twenty-five rangers had been summoned, along with their partners. Rangers always went with a partner. Be it another ranger, or some one who isn’t a part of the Rangers. Much like my sister. But she has a honorary status being my partner.
“that’s a lot of rangers” Aria whispered in my ear as we cantered along. “yeah this is a big deal sis. Of course they’re gonna send a lot of us.”
As we approached a big earth pony strode up with a stern look on his mug. “Atomic Flare…” he stated as I gave him the same glower, “Tiny Shoes….” I grumbled at him before he threw out his fore hooves and hugged me. “COME ERE! Been too long!” She cheered as I felt my back popping and other limbs as I tried to breath…Celestia have mercy to the pony he hit. “can’t….breath.”
“oh sorry.” he said letting me go making me flop as I took a massive breath. “good to see you two big guy…” I wheezed back.
Aria was snickering away as I stood up, giving her a glare as I upturned my Duffle in my designated area marked with my cutie mark. With the aid of one of the vault’s many pipbuck technicians briefly removed my pipbuck so I could remove my Vault uniform. I put on the vault uniform ponexe (ponified spandex) allowing me to start putting together My ranger armor. First to come together was my helmet. The tech took a book out of the Ministry of Wartime Technology’ s Steel Ranger power armor. With one key difference, No air pipes were needed. And the area in front of the muzzle had a oval indentation for a breath filter and voice amplifier/scrambler. The visor area was also different from the Steal ranger armor. Instead of two eye ports it was just one long eye port to give near full range of vision. Once the straps and my additions to the helmet was complete I set it down. My additions to the helmet was a direct link to my pipbuck for S.A.T.S. And a night vision setting for the visor.
Putting on my hoof boots and leg guards I grinned feeling the soft leather of on my legs. The black and brown leather felt amazing on my body. The next thing that came was the main piece of my armor barding. With a heavy metal plate set to my chest, back, and under chest. I felt thick leather covering my other extremities. It was light armor, but could take a couple shots before failing. Then came my favorite Piece. The leather drench coat. It had a symbol of the Ranger’s cutie mark. So mine was plastered on the back with the Ranger’s coat of arms on my shoulders. The coat split in two tails to allow mine to sit free while wearing the coat. I put on my helmet strapping it in with my horn’s magic. My helmet having a dent to allow my horn in, but thanks to some of the techs and geeks it Amps my magic up if I ever need my horn amplified. With a hoof press to the “jaw” of my helmet the bottom came loose allowing me to bite and hold objects. But this also shuts off my helmet’s gas mask, and voice amp.
I turned to look at my sibling to see Aria wearing similar armor to mine. But with two key differences. She didn’t have a ranger coat, and her armor was heavier than mine. She also had a multi-weapon battle saddle. Which holds up to nine weapons. Two pistol or similar light arms weapons. Two mid-ranged weapon slots. Then comes the long heavy fire weapons. With the final slot being extreme range weaponry. She was a walking armory. But like me she had this linked to her pipbuck and with it linked to her visor she’d be able to swap from one weapon to the next in a pinch. But like mine it was brown and black camouflage.
Soon we all were dressed did our Sargent Major walked out with the First Sargent. Both nodded to us, as the new recruits quickly started passing out weapons for us. My sister got to assault rifles, two IronShode M1 Porand. (M1-garand modernized) it was a single fire ten round .30mm caliber bullets. Aria’s final weapons were two standard .9mm Marerreta pistols, and a Magical Energy Musket. With my help we soon had her weapons stored away in her armor’s holsters. All except the musket, that was the only externally set weapon but was still attached to her battle saddle. She also was given as much ammo as she could carry for those weapons. The last weapons she was given were two foot and a half long combat daggers sheathed on her fore hooves.
As for me, I had a special selection of weapons. My first weapon was a modified IronShode sniper rifle carbine. The barrel and receiver were for .308 rounds, with a sturdy stock, and configured for hoof fire or mouth firing. Sliding that onto my left back weapon holster, before throwing over my coat hiding the x2-8 zoom scope. My next weapon was my .9mm maretta going into the holster under peacemaker. Next came my two shot combat shot gun. Then my mat black Assault carbine. Given the .308, .44, 5.56, and .9mm ammo needed for my weapons I was ready to roll, as I hooked my foot and a half long combat daggers where they belonged. One one on my left shoulder handle pointed down. The other on a fore hoof. As I finished up the other Rangers were finishing their load outs as well with a fest of weapons being checked and mags being locked into place.
When we finally finished a section of the Ranger’s Hall, the wall bearing the Ranger’s coat of arms behind the Sargents. The crossed Rifles in front of the split sun and moon sunk into it’s self and parted with the wall revealing the Vault’s exit. The two NCOs before us beamed at their Rangers proud of their former trainees.
“RANGERS! FAAALL IN!” Our First Sargent roared out forcing us into a standard Platoon square formation. Due to our names Aria and I were in the first rank.
“ATEE-CHUN! (Attention)” The first Sarge shouted out for the second time snapping us into attention with a loud clopping thud. Nodding to our Sargent major who took over from there.
“FORWAAAARD, MAAARCH!” Was shouted out by the Sargent Major.
Prompting us to march forward in formation to the threshold our hooves thudding and clopping on the wooden floor. “RANGEEERS HALT!” the sarge shouted and in unison we all thudded to a stop. I felt the eyes of the vault upon me thanks to the cameras.
There walking out in front of us General Gem in full military uniform eyed us all. She beamed as she strode down the line. Before turning around and standing three feet in front of us on the formation’s center line.
“Rangers, this is a represented moment in our vault’s history…in the history of Equestria! We have spent enough time in this Vault. We must branch out, we must start rebuilding! Gem spoke with power and certainty her eyes scanning her elite pony soldiers. I felt my chest bursting with pride and eagerness! “this is where you come in! You’ve all been given a area to scout and explore, your goal is to see how habitable our home is. Where ever that might be. May Celestia, and Luna bless your journeys.” She said before raising her self to salute us.
In unison we saluted back yelling, “SIR YES SIR!” Thunderously. Finishing the salute Gem grinned before giving us our orders. “Lock and Load.” Gem stated. With the sounds of hammers being pulled, baddle saddles kicked. Once we were armed and back at attention we waited to be sent out.
“For Luna!, for Celestia! FOR EQUESTRIA, MOVE OUT!”
Right as she finished her her command off we were. Thunderous hooves stormed forward the first door opening as we surged forward. Our coat tails bellowing behind us as we ran around the general and up the Vault’s entrance shaft we went the door shutting behind us the moment the last one passed through. As we ran forward all of us heard a loud thud outside like a major metal sheet had just moved, while our vault’s door was unsealed. The gear like door pulling towards us before it rolled to our right and out the door we went….
Footnote: Journey Start
level up
New perk: Move Out: 15% more accuracy in S.A.T.S while moving
Strength: 5
Perception: 5
Endurance: 5
Charisma: 2
Intelligence: 5
Agility: 5
Luck: 1
(out of 28 points)
Author's Note
Hello fellow wastelanders! I'm a decent fan of the fallout games and the fanfic written by Kkat and the FoE: Project Horizons writer somber. It's because of these two I decided to create this story.
So if any writers or fellow fans of the series read this, please send feedback, and I aim to improve with each and every chapter.
So please read enjoy, and stay vigilante, and safe.
~The Pony Sith Lord
Chapter 2: First Contact
with me and Aria ahead of the pack, we exited the Vault’s massive door only to see darkness. Almost pitch black darkness. “It must be night here on the surface.” I thought while I flared my horn to push a button on the side of my helmet and with the sound of a brief charge and a illuminating green haze on my visor signaling that my night vision activated. We started speeding up with the night vision activated, only for me to feel a crunch under my hooves which made me look down.
I almost fell and upchucked my breakfast. I was running on top of the remains of hundreds pony remains. The megaspells spared no one…no one at all. Getting a flashing light in my hud I got an alert on my pipbuck, so looking at the light opened the files I had just been given. I was chosen to head south out of the mountains. I was also given a first contact procedure to follow, my code name everything. The second alert was a map update for my pipbuck. Seems like for the next day or so at our current pace Aria and me would be with the other rangers till we left this dead end ravine.
With a quick glance over my left shoulder I looked back to see the other rangers were slowing to a canter. So I followed their lead. No need to rush, and kill myself with overexertion. The next thing I checked was if the air was breathable. Seeing it was I popped my helmet’s jaw once more and kept walking a faint green glow showing on my muzzle.
“So far not what I expected…” I heard Aria stated, “yeah same here…but don’t worry about it sis. Those bones are probably the worst the surface most likely has to offer.” I assured her with a grin.
We kept cantering for several more miles before I slowed to a walk with Aria. We were making good time towards the mouth of the ravine. We were nearing a area I marked for the group camp we were gonna need to take. If it was night up here we needed to acclimate our sleep cycles accordingly. So I pinged it for the others and got quick nods. The pegasai to the skies to scout the spot and secure it for us ground pounders. My sister being among them.
So a few hours later us ponies bound to run along by hoof arrived at the base camp. Walking into the camp I tossed back my barding’s hood and removed my helmet shaking my mane out as I did so.
“Atom over here.” I heard Aria and smiled as she saved a spot for me on the easterly side of the camp. Tossing off my ruck sack I pulled out my cot and sleeping bag and tossing them into our tent set up by Aria.
I Unloaded my weapons, all but my knives and pistols. But I did pull out my Maretta, to eject the mag, and catch the chambered round as I cocked the pistol forcing it to eject the bullet. Using my horn’s telekinetic grip to do so. Loading the round into the mag I tapped the back of the mag to line up the rounds before sliding the mag back in. Holstering the pistol again I went to the central fire after hanging up my coat.
“Where you going sis?” Aria asked me, “Aria I’m gonna party a little with the rest of the gang. Join us.”
Aria just rolled her eyes, “nah I’m fine over here.”
“Suite your self.” I warned her before trotting along happily. It could be years or I might never see these guys again, so I had to do it. Also I kinda made a promise to do so with these crazy bastards.
As I approached I heard boisterous laughter, and knew that some one had brought whiskey. So I approached silently and would tackle a Golden bronze earth pony and pinned him under me, “hey buckos where’s my whiskey!” I shouted grinning.
I got cheers, half drunk greetings, and the the stallion under me trying to throw me off him. Jumping off which forced him to swing a hoof at me instead, which allowed me to catch the hoof and fall back wards twisting myself in the air using my horn’s magic and threw the Stallion making him spin like a horizontal top and land in a heap in the muddy, snow slushed ground.
With more cheers I took a offered bottle of whiskey, and tossed it back. The stallion I threw to the ground stood up grinning and would high hoof me. Yeah we rangers were one big military family. The night would progress with the more food savvy ponies fixing all of us a big dinner. Which would end in ponies getting food smacking them in the face from the more drunk of the group.
Once the crazy shenanigans died down I relaxed and watched my comrades happy for this last moment, but then again…I was drunk off my ass. I was enjoying another swig of whiskey when the bottle exploded due to a shotgun going off. “damn it Griff stand still I almost got it!” came the southern gruff tones of Sarge. “Damn it Sarge I’m not here for target practice!” “Ah shut it Griff!” Still drunk and thankful I wasn’t filled with glass I peered down the broken bottle, confused to why it didn’t have any more liquor.
Shrugging I hurled it behind me unaware it just smacked a dancing pegasus part of a barber shop quartet KOing the lad. I bid the others goodnight as I staggered back to my tent. I didn’t bother with a sleeping bag not caring if the tent had a bottom or not as I passed out.
~~** ** **~~
“Get up you useless drunk!” I heard Aria shout before I felt nothing but cold. Shooting to my hooves as I was soaked from my head to my hooves with near freezing water I glared at Aria before groaning and rubbing my head. “Damn it sis…five more minutes.” I groaned hung over.
Sighing Aria just waggled my travel cup of coffee in my face, thanking her I took the cup in myhorn's magic and drank it down. Yeah good coffee was pure black coffee. Then used some of my provisions to make a non-alcoholic bloody marry. Once that was downed I sighed, in which time I had dried off thanks to the fire Aria made for me. After waking up a bit I noticed that most of the tents were down as the Rangers started splitting off from the base camp and would be heading out. Every last one that was currently here like me was packing up to leave.
“time to go Aria lemme help pack up.” I said after finishing my coffee eating a apple. While I put back out cots and sleeping bags. Letting Aria deal with the tent. Once the tent was packed away in Aria’s battle saddle I checked my rifles’ ammo making sure each one had a round chambered. I clicked the safeties off and slide them into their holsters along my back. Putting on my trench coat again and helmet my magic flicked up my barding’s hood. Looking to Aria who nodded and we galloped off. Sarge saw us as he and Griff packed up and both would fire a round in farewell to us. Followed by a string of curses from Griff, who was most likely nearly shot…again.
~~** ** **~~
Several hours later we slowed down from a gallop to a fast paced canter. We were nearing the mouth of this ravine. “So Atom what’s this about First Contact? This is the first I’m hearing about it.” Aria asked me prompting me to hit the ‘jaw’ release on my helmet. I had no need for the voice scrambler and amp yet.
“Well first contact means meeting any surface dwelling ponies. We have no idea if they’d accept ponies like us here.” I started to explain drinking some bottled water. “But during these first contact proceedings We use our code names. Atom for me a Avia for you. The brass have to know if we’re going to have peaceful relations with any neighbors we might get, or if we’ve gotta wage war upon them before we can settle.”
Aria nodded as I gave the briefest of run downs about first contact. Being the ranger I was familiar with the proticals associated with it. So I continued explaining, "Stage one, was gather any and all information about our surroundings, and cultures. Stage two, establish a presence in the habitual region. Stage three, determine friend or foe. Very straight forward in normal circumstances. But in this situation as we know nothing about the surface, Vault-tec was supposed to give us monthly updates on the surface. But the automated system seems to have broken down, or been destroyed." She nodded again as I finished up.
Either way we were flying blind. But maybe this was a blessing in disguise, for my secondary orders separate from my normal Ranger duties including looking for any valuable military equipment, machines of war, talismans, or anything. Even if I had to steal them. I did not like those orders, but orders were orders.
“Atom we’re here.” Aria called out suddenly which broke me out of my train of thought, and with a flick of a ear I filed away my orders and map to gaze out as we left the ever widening ravine.
Only to find ourselves on a massive cliff over looking a sickly looking terrain. “By Celestia...” I was nearly speechless.
“H-how could Equestria look this sickly? It’s been 200 years.” Aria stated to loudly and I had to wonder the same thing. Tapping another selector with a hoof on my helmet it would lower the tint in my visor making my eyes visible now.
It was at this point I looked up. I saw nothing but black cloud cover. “The sky Aria….The sky…It’s black…The sun is almost blotted out.”
When I mentioned the sky Aria gasped and hovered her mouth with a hoof. I felt the same way. I had hoped the land would be lush, green, revived after two centuries of recovery. I was so wrong. I turned my gaze back to the ground below us I saw the edges of the Crystal Empire, well at least the edges of it’s once magnificent gleaming cities. The fact that they were mostly intact like this gave me some hope. Looking to Aria I hugged her.
“We gotta move on…come on we gotta head right along that path.” I said pointing out the mountain path we had to follow. I lead the way tinting my visor again.
It wasn’t gonna be a easy trek. The ground was muddy, and slick due to the melting snow. If that wasn’t enough I had to be careful where I stepped, for if either me or Aria weren't paying attention we could step on a unsupported section of the path and fall to our death. Well mainly me. Hours of walking later I felt the sun setting behind us and I muttered a curse.
“Atom I know what you’re thinking, but we can’t camp tonight. Not until we find some form of shelter.” Aria called to me. I waved a hoof showing her I had heard.
I still didn’t like the idea of walking around at night.
A few hours of walking later we were over looking one of the empire's crystal cities. I didn't know which one it was nor was I looking to find out. I opened the visor of my helmet, while my horn’s telekinetic grip pulled out my binoculars. Putting it to my eyes I peered down at the city trying to see if there was any activity from our perch. We still had sun light at this point, for it was early in the evening. The long days and short nights hadn't started yet. So it couldn’t hurt. As i looked I spotted the shadow of what looked like a pony, it was gone before I could zero in on what was casting the shadow. So I got the bright idea to pull out my sniper. Laying down on the edge of our path I used my hooves to hold the rifle steady, as I got a closer look thanks to the variable zoom on my scope. Mouth on the trigger I lined up a shot. Thankfully there wasn’t much wind, and the shot was only about 230 yards away. Firing I blew apart a empty bottle, I didn’t even need S.A.T.S. But thanks to the angle of my shot it bounce off the road and shattered the glass of a bank window.
Even I could hear the alarm all the way up from where we were. That was when I saw them. Decaying flesh and uglier than anything I could have ever dreamed of. These walking dead ponies stormed the bank in droves while I came out from behind the scope horn turning the bolt action to eject the spent round. Catching it telekinetically I put the shell in a saddle bag. It could be useful to have casings. I knew a thing or two about making normal bullets. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I some how made a mistake.
Either way my curiosity was sated some what, so we continued on. With the sun settling down for the evening I looked for Luna’s moon, but couldn’t see it. So I sighed. I was really hoping to get a view of Luna’s moon. Walking for another few hours would bring us lower along the mountain side before the path cut inward and deeper into the mountains.
“so where are we headed exactly Atomic?” Aria asked trying to keep her mind from wandering to much or to stay awake, I couldn’t tell. I was tired myself.
So I flicked my right ear to bring up my instructions and the map of the area. “South…towards Los Maregelous, San Neighgo, and the surrounding areas.” I read as I walked making sure where I was stepping thanks to my night vision hud.
“Wow that’s a long ways off.” Aria said when she looked at the map. We figured it was outdated, but outdated or not it was a very long ways off.
I nodded, “yeah the other teams probably will finish before we do. Not that I’m complaining, but just means we’re gonna have to rough it.”
“I was afraid of that.” Aria stated with a sigh. “would be easier if we found a working sky cart, or at least brought one.”
“yeah I wouldn’t complain about that.” I agreed with a snicker. It was good to be with family.
Well the moment was good up until I spotted smoke and a small light off in the distance a few minutes later. “Avia are you seeing that?" I asked pointing to the smoke and light in the distance. “Yes I do. We heading there?” She asked.
Looking to her my helmet closed up and visor tinted again, "yes we are." I replied, after hearing my voice being filtered and altered by my helmet she nodded, our First Contact proticals were now in effect.
Our pace sped up to that of a fast canter. But I got a gut feeling that something was off and so took a peek through my binoculars at the growing ball of fire. What I saw….I’d never forget.
When I looked through my binoculars the first thing I saw was the bonfire. Nothing surprising there it was rather cold up here so I understood the need to stay warm. I saw fellow ponies dancing or what looked like dancing around the fire. At first I thought it was some form of ritual dance. Nothing wrong with that.
Then I saw a pair of earth ponies dragging out a kicking and screaming unicorn stallion. When a third joined them this unicorn mare using her telekinetic magic to grip a sharpened pole, “no don’t do it!” I heard myself whispering only to watch the two earth pony stallions shoving him onto the sharp point then it jammed forward…
I couldn’t tear my eyes away as the stallion was impaled in his ass. I was to far away to physically hear his screams, but my mind imagined I was able to and heard a false scream as I watched the bulge of the stake pushing up further forcing him to barf up blood. I even imagined the sadistic laughter of the ponies doing this to him. I felt sick…bile rose up my throat as the pony slowly started going silent before the final shove had the stake exiting his mouth, forcing the bile in my throat to shoot up like a rocket…
I threw off my helmet and hurled up my lunch and dinner, eyes wider than dinner platters or that’s what it felt like. I felt another heave and another, and another, I kept puking until I couldn’t puke anymore. All that hit were dry heaves now. My body wouldn’t stop shaking as my ears rang. What had happened was so sick I couldn’t wrap my mind around why those three got their jollies off on doing that to a fellow pony...
“ATOM! “ hearing my name I looked dazed to Aria, but I wasn’t seeing her.
“GET OFF YOUR ASS AND MOVE IT SOLDIER!” Was screamed in my face by my Drill Instructor. And I shot to my hooves only to get shoved down face first into the mud. I was suddenly back at basic training…my mind trying to tell me something.
“DO YOU WANT TO GET SHOT PRIVATE?! STAY! DOWN!” he roared at me again. Listening I crawled forward under barbed wire, but with gun fire suddenly going off over my head again caused me to freak.
Fresh from my explosive incident at the school it was understandable that any loud bang frightened me. So here I was cowering and crying. “MOVE IT SOLDIER!” Was shouted at me and I shook my head. A hoof blow to my side changed that.
Not wanting any more pain I crawled forward more afraid of the DI’s hoof than being shot. Seriously…I swear he fractured a rib. Once at the end I looked back seeing the others panicking and freaking out like me I was shocked…even the most gunghoe were being beaten for their cowardice.
And so I turned to My DI who stared sternly at me, “what Private?” He asked gruffly.
“have you killed anypony?” I asked. It was naive, but in my fragile state I had to ask it.
Giving me a serious glare before looking at the others as they crawled getting utterly filthy like me. “No, I haven’t….But if faced with a situation came up where I needed to…I will. Because of one simple rule. I don’t want to die…It’s my job to make sure you do just that, for what ever reason you feel is justified. Do not hesitate, for your enemy won’t.”
Then a blow to my vulnerable head jolted me out of my shock, and flash backing mind. And there stood Aria with the same horrified look on her face, and I was suddenly so happy to see her. So glad she was here, if she hadn’t been…That pony being impaled would’ve left me there in shock up until they found us…
That realization of becoming a victim, and being unable to fight back pissed me off something fierce. No pony should ever have to go through what I saw…I was ready to serve up hot leaded justice.
“I’m fine…I’m good….let’s kill those fuckers” I said voice going to a angry growl as I put my helmet and hood back on. As I did so, I silently thanked my DI. He might have been an ass…But he was right. You can’t hesitate, the moment you do, you, and your comrades will die.
“Rodger rodger.” I heard and she flew ahead taking to the skies. Her beam rifle locked and loaded.
While I galloped. Thanks to my sister spotting targets for me I saw my Eyes Forward Sparkle, or E.F.S for short showing red targets. So I slowed down and began to sneak towards the camp. Seeing a rock pile from a avalanche or rock slide, I hid behind it. Peeking around the corner I spotted three perimeter guards, one was watching my direction the other two were playing a card game. I almost dry heaved again. For they were using teeth and ears as chips.
I started pulling out Peacemaker, but when I thought about it stealth right now was the better option and instead I went with my knife. Putting away peacemaker. So I started out with a new spell I learned a while back. Peeking around the corner my horn lit up with it’s violet aura and placed a sigil not far from their table.
“Hey rat brain!” I whispered but they heard a loud shout in my tone of voice coming from the sigil.
Their reaction was instantaneous. They stood up knocking the table over and out came their weapons. The one that had been facing me was now looking away. Gotta love the ‘Throw Voice’ spell.
“the hell was that?” Said the black and red pony. “no idea but we found our fun!” the bigger green pony said. After he spoke the three of them grinned manically giving me a cold shiver down my spine. So casting another sigil further away I did it again.
“Oi piss stains, you ain’t catchin shit!” I growled in a deeper voice attracting another two of these Psyco ponies.
When they left to investigate the voices, the group had left one guard all alone to guard the mountain pass. So I pelted him with a stone. Over his growling I heard the loud cocking of a shot gun. He was a unicorn stallion, so I had to be careful. As he walked to the rock pile I drew out my Combat knife or dagger if you will. Taking the hilt of my bladed weapon into my curled right hoof I waited. Thankfully my armor muted my outline in the darkness, and he wasn’t used to night fighting….but I was.
The moment he cleared the rocks I struck. Like a ghost, my training, and muscle memory of said training moved my body. Covering his mouth, with a hoof, I pulled him back behind the rocks with me, startling him and making him drop his weapon right as my knife stabbed into his neck, before I dragged it acrossed his throat slitting it. I had cut deep, to the point his wind pipe was slashed. He would be dead in a few minutes unable to call for help. Dropping the body I moved his shot gun with my horn’s magic, to my hiding spot.
I took this moment to look at his gear as I tried to ignore his gurgling breaths as he slowly drowned in his own blood while he bled out. His spiked leather armor used sharpened bit of re-bar in his shin guards and back hooves. While he had what looked like blood painting his body and stylized cuts to his body. His mane was oddly done with a four pronged spiked Mohawk. When I finished looking over his things I met his eyes and all he did was grin at me as those eyes glazed over from his lose of blood. But with what light was left I could tell his brain fantasied sick thoughts about me. That earned him a buck over the edge which sent him plummeting to Celestia knows where.
I was soaked with his blood. Staring down where I kicked him out of sight I shivered. But I wasn’t sick to my stomach. I wasn’t feeling any remorse. It felt wrong that I felt like this. I was glad he was dead. But as I searched for why I felt this way I remembered what he and his comrades were doing…and I didn’t feel so wrong. In fact I got even madder for feeling pity for these sick fucks!
I crawled out from behind the rocks towards the knocked over table and bucked out the lamp they knocked to the ground. I didn't need a shadow giving me away. I took a deep breath calming my mind as I watched the group of psycho ponies strut about hunting for me. But as they converged on my throw voice sigil I channeled another spell into it canceling out that spell. Forcing the sigil to turn into a glowing orb which brought the group of four dump psychos closer to it.
“you think it’s valuable?” one of them asked taking his crowbar and swatted it….
KABOOM!
My combustion spell erupted with spectacular fireball and shock wave. The building ruins they had wandered into was decimated and reduced to flying rubble, with pieces of pony meat flying everywhere creating fleshy fire balls….Yeah, I miiiiight have over did it just a tad.
Hell I was almost blown away by it. Kinda was my first time using it with out restrictions...So considering the results, I’d say that was a good test run. But thanks to that explosion sneaking around was not a option anymore. Aria had gotten that hint thanks to my knack for explosions. Cause before I knew it, I heard the pa-tooom of her magical energy musket blasting out a psycho pegasus’ chest as he moved to find me. He dropped still grinning manically, but his were eyes dead and lifeless.
Pulling out Peacemaker and my nine mil maretta, using my horn’s telekinetic grip. Cocking the nine millimeter pistol, I fell into S.AT.S. I Saw two targets within my line of fire. Taking aim with the maretta I aimed three shots at a charging earth pony wielding what looked like a spiked bat, with a axe blade on top of it. I noticed I could get a fourth shot off and bit onto Peacemaker’s grip, releasing the pistol from my horn’s magic, before I took aim at a unicorn mare, who was aiming a pipe-rifle at Aria. She wore what looked like thick armor, unsure if my weapons could penetrate it. So I aimed for her throat.
When I released S.AT.S things happened almost to fast for me to follow. This was my first actual fight using it. So it was exhilarating at how efficient and smooth SATS made combat.
Three shots rang out from my maretta, the shots flew true and drilled into the mare’s chest tearing out three hole’s in her chest. One bullet hit her heart and another hit her lung. But one went flying out the back putting a hole in her spine. She dropped like a bad habit. Peacekeeper’s shot was at a much longer range than the Maretta’s. But it flew right into that Unicorn’s neck hitting the jugular arteries and her wind pipe. But with such a high powered round I didn’t see what would happen next. A pegasus was behind the unicorn using her as cover to take a shot at me. He managed to get a shot off with a rifle. Thank Luna’s lucky stars my helmet was angled just enough to bounce the round. The impact nearly knocked me off my hooves as he took Peacemaker’s still traveling round. The .44 bullet had ripped into that pegasus’ ear, making him scream in pain and come out of hiding. Only for a red beam to burn a hole through an eye dropping him. On top of the bleeding out unicorn. Aria had my back still.
Seeing no immediate threats spotted on my E.F.S for now I holstered the nine millimeter. Using telekinesis to flick open Peacemaker ejecting the spent .44 round casing as I slammed another into the chamber flicking it closed. Walking forward eyes scanning for more targets only to spot another red marker way to close for comfort! My only warning to this one’s presence didn’t come from my E.F.S it came from the tack and ting of metal on stone. Looking down I saw a apple grenade and dove for cover. If I could, I’d have shat a brick in that moment before the explosive ripped through the area.
I was sent flying by the shock wave, and landed in a heap….hard. Thank Celestia I had armor. But I was sure I still had a few pieces of shrapnel in my flesh. Sure I love explosives, but being next to them when they go off is never fun. My ears rang from the blast. During my short flight my helmet came off leaving me to bang my head as shrapnel cut me twice just above my left eye. I tried getting up only to shout in pain as a pony landed right on top of me, pinning me on my back.
“Got you bitch!” The stallion shouted as he tried to stab me with his big ass Bowie knife! “Atom!” I hear Aria shout at him panic in her voice as she shot at the other psychos trying to shoot her while she strafed them. I for one would’ve loved to help. But I had caught this stallion’s knife blade between my hooves. With my eyes wide as they could go, and my heart racing from how close I came to being stabbed. The pony on top of me cackled and grinned gleefully. I stared into his eyes seeing my own fear and how truly mad he was. My brain knew what to do so did my body, but fear held me back until I felt a desire to live and survive. I growled as I shimmied right and redirected the knife into the ground just left of my head, earning me a mean slash to the left side of my cheek. I had to release the knife to do this, but he didn’t want to stop, laughing manically around the knife he reared back to stab me again.
When my left hoof shot forward and cracked him under the chin. His eyes briefly went blank from the force of the blow, as his head snapped back. I could hear and feel his decaying teeth cracking from the blow. Jumping on this created opening I stabbed my right hoof right into his throat making his mouth drop open as he gagged and coughed from the throat chop. I caught his knife in my jaws just as I bucked him off at full strength. He landed with a ‘oomph’ further taking out the wind in his sails. Quickly getting back on my hooves I picked up Peacemaker in my telekinetic grip before executing that knife wielding psychopath with one .44 round.
Once more I reloaded the pistol before holstering it. Spitting out the blade I hurled it using my horn catching a unicorn mare in the calf with it. Ten points! That was one hell of a bulls eye!
As she fell on her face my horn brought out my Assault rifle. While I got behind a fallen building support. “YOU CUNT! I’mma rip you apart!” I heard that Psycho shout before I came out from behind cover hooves holding the rifle.
I was using the broken pillar to support me. Before firing a three round burst that chewed into her body. One hitting her right into her collar and shoulder bones, while the other two hit a lung. She dropped trying to breath. Collapsed lungs were terrible injuries. Sliding the rifle to the right at the final two Psychopaths rushing me I selected single fire with my horn and fired four or five rounds into the the closer of the two as Aria shot the second one in the flank before landing at top speed, for a combat landing. She slid on the ground in a combat stance looking for foes.
The one she strafed was still alive, but only just. Walking up to him I heard him wheezing at me manically, “gehehheheh, Gore Bash is gonna kill you two…or rape you, then kill you. I hope he impales you on spikes!” I felt my stomach turn at how he could enjoy such disgusting behavior.
Pulling out the maretta pistol with my horn’s telekinetic grip, I aimed it at his head. “Any last words?’ I asked him my voice cold and filled with hate as I glared down at him.
“yeah..*cough* Fu..”-Bang!- He never got to finish that last thought as my pistol’s shot rang out silencing him as the nine millimeter bullet blew out his brain. I was so zoned on killing him I didn’t even notice the blood spatter spraying it’s self on my armor, and the right side of my face. He didn’t deserve such a quick end, but I was pissed due to these ponies torturing other ponies. Holstering the maretta I looked to Aria who was checking on the damage to her armor.
“geez these guys did some major work on my armor.” She growled. It made me laugh bringing up my spirits some. Funny thing though..I felt no remorse over killing these psychopaths. Probably due to how sick these monster’s were to their own kind.
“yeah they were packing some pretty decent heat.” I agreed still using the voice amp. “Let’s sweep the area, be sure to strip the bodies for anything we could use. Might as well take what these asses don’t need anymore.” I added moving to the unicorn mare I bulls eyed. Tearing out the knife with magic I wiped it clean on her before taking it’s wielder’s sheath for it. I put it next to my left shoulder knife. Bowie knives were effective tools as well as weapons so I was keeping it. I Also took the guy’s grenades. He had three on his self. Oh I was loving life right now. I had explosives. After raiding his gear I picked up my helmet and hung it on the back of my neck, inside of the hood where it belongs.
I didn’t bother with their armor but I did pick up any other useful weapons and ammunition. A couple of pipe rifles, and pipe sub-machine guns. According to the pipbuck they were pretty worthless, and were shit compared to my current weapon load out. I had to question how the pipbuck knew something’s worth…especially the currency used. What the hell were caps? I’d only found that out when I saw a sack of at least 5 bottle caps on a dead psycho pony, these were bottle caps? How the hell…yeah not gonna question it…I had work to do.
Either way a couple of secondaries couldn’t hurt. The only weapon I found of any worth was the first pony I killed. His shot gun was a work of art. I was taking it. It used the same twelve gauge buck shot, my sawed off shotgun used.
“hey Atom get over here found a stash of stuff!” Aria shouted at me happily. “Alright Avia be there in a sec.” I called back once more pulling out my maretta pistol, and shot the all the corpses still in one piece. I had to be sure they were dead, and I felt better when I did so.
Walking into this store room Aria found I had to stop and look at the stock pile. It had been ransacked before us judging by the busted door. But the room had a lot of left over ammo, but also a good store of food.
“Geez you’d think these guys were prepping for a war….” I couldn’t help blurting out as I picked up some 7.62mm rounds. More nine millimeter rounds, 5.56mm, and some energy crystals. Then I saw a energy rifle, “ah hell it’s busted….” I grumbled before spotting another one this one was broke too.
“hey sis you took some weapons repair classes right?” I asked her, “yes I did Atom why...oh I see…yeah not good with energy weapons. Gonna need a gun smith for those two.” If I said I wasn’t peeved…I’d be lying cause I was.
Sighing I tucked away the rifles just in case. I moved to find anything else of value as Aria got the food and other junk that could be useful outta the store room. Moving a crossed the street I went to the second story of a broken down building and into the still intact bathroom. There I found a medicine and first aid cabinet. I opened the first aid cabinet taking all the health potions bandages and everything else. “Surprised no one ransacked that yet.” I muttered as I opened the medicine cabinet.
When I closed the first aid station and storing the rest of my things into my saddle bags I looked into the mirror to my right. I saw the state I was in. My left eye was closed due to the two shrapnel cuts above it. While the knife wound under my cheek dripped blood along my jaw due to the cut. I knew both wounds were gonna scar. I also saw other minor wounds from the grenade’s shrapnel. Yeah…I needed to take care of these wounds.
Until I had time to tend to my wounds I went back to scavenging, as I opened the medicine cabinet. Inside I found nothing of use except some old pain killers in pill form, when I heard a hoof hit the floor and the creak of some one trying to be stealthy as they put their weight on said hoof. Spinning around I emptied the maretta’s clip as I fired in the direction of the source.
“WHOA WHOA WHOA! FRIENDLIES OVER HERE! DON’T SHOOT!” I heard my target shout as I stared down at him. Seems like I barely missed him with all of those shots. To be fair I was firing blind....else I probably wouldn't have missed.
He was a late teenage colt sized stallion, with a cream colored coat with a golden mane, and tail. His mane was tied in a single pony tail braid down his neck. The mane fur on his head was parted with one lock pointing up at the ceiling. His tail fur had no special treatment except for vague green high lights. Same with his mane especially along his bangs. He had light leg armor with a red hooded coat. From what I could tell it looked like the Ministry of Wartime Technology on his chest. He was armored, but not like the psychos outside. I didn’t see a visible weapon.
He looked ready to crap himself while I felt my right eye twitching, probably because I donked the shots that should have hit him. I was also not happy at my face and female voice being known. First contact practically was out the window on those areas.
“You really shouldn’t be sneaking up on anypony.” I growled ejecting my maretta’s mag catching it with my horn’s magical grip before slamming a new one in place after I slide the slider forward. I didn’t need a loaded weapon right now, well…an extra one that is.
“yeah I know, but you did take out those raiders so thanks for saving us the trouble of having to deal with them.” The colt stated.
That peeked my interest, “Us? You have a partner?” I asked my tone neutral.
With that a big armored figure strode into view with heavy thudding footsteps. Out came my assault rifle in a telekinetic grip while I drew out Peacemaker with my mouth. Hostile spo….but I saw his green EFS tag and I relaxed.
“Brother….is it okay to come out?” Asked the rather oddly high pitched voice from such a big suite of Steel Ranger power armor. Well…I guess I almost shot yet another friendly….barely two days into this place and I already hate the surface….is that a record? Pleeeease let it be a record.
“it’s okay Al they know we’re friendly.” the small pony said to the armored one, while I put away my weapons. “Okay is there a freaking circus here behind you or is that it? As you can see I’m very trigger happy right now…” I growled before sighing, closing my right eye as my left was already closed due to the blood still leaking into it.
“Oh sorry ma’am, I’m Amber Lance, and this is my brother Emerald Storm. Ed and Al for short.” The big guy answered. “yep..just two brothers out and about.” The tiny one stated, but the dismissive way he said it made my right eye lid twitch. He was lying.
“Uh huh, pleasure to meet you big foot and short stop no get out…” I growled but the last thing I expected was my head snapping back from a metal lunch box smacking me in the head leaving a major bruise, and scrape.
The tiny pony was pissed at me, “don’t call me short…” ohhh I’m gonna love this.
“okay pipsqueak then…” I stated annoyed only to see his horn glowed green matching his eyes, “oh balls…” I thought and casted a quick spell of my own before…
A few seconds later I came flying out the other side of the two story building and bouncing a couple times upon hitting the ground, “uuuuugh damn it all…little tyke packs a punch…” I groaned.
But what he failed to see was the glowing orb I had used on these raiders? Yeah raiders…damn I got hit harder than I thought…
All I heard was, “Shiii!” then a explosion ripped through the building causing it to utterly fall apart due to the blast. No fire ball this time, just a boom.
“hah! Pay back pipsqueak!” I shouted before groaning as I felt something crackle, “gonna feel that in the morning…”
My guess was if that little punk was as good at spell craft as I thought he’d be fine. As would his Armored brother for…obvious reasons. But a good blast would knock them on their butts. I was also testing out how well I could throttle that spell….So far…Good results….Still over did it a tad.
“Atom you okay? I heard gunshots then saw that building explode!” Aria shouted as I came back into view. “yeah yeah, had a couple of guests….and one of them doesn’t like being call shor-whoa nelly!” I stated ducking a thrown piece of wood, but thanks to my sudden dodge Aria ate the board not me…..So I vacated the area and watched.
A few minutes later, both of our “guests” were holding their heads, Ed had quite a few lumps, unlike his armored brother. But having a wrench clanking away at your helm loudly would give anyone a headache.
Snickering I sat before the two cowering stallions I offered a hoof, “All right we got off on the wrong hoof clean slate?” I asked. To which Ed took it as I helped him up,, “yeah, clean slate.”
“Good cause who are these ass hats?” I asked him pointing to the corpses around us. I had heard what was said…but I wanted to double check that info.
Al perked up….if you call standing a little straighter perking up. “Those are Raiders. Ponies who go around killing, raping, stealing, doing anything they feel like to others. Most if not all are psychotic mass murderers by the age of five.”
Okay…raiders were kill on sight…good to know. Still didn’t sit well with me what these guys did for a living. Gave me chills thinking this was their chosen career.
“If you come by towns that have active bounties for any form of criminals, you’d make good caps by killing raiders like these…best to cut off ears or heads to claim that standing bounty.” Ed added to his brother’s earlier explanation. Even better info...logged away for later.
“okay raiders, shoot on sight got it.” Aria stated. “oh sorry names Avia pleasure.” She added.
Once more the pair gave Aria their names and I was tempted to call Ed short again. But I stayed silent. “okay you mentioned something about caps, is that the currency of equestria now?” I asked. Ooooh the looks I got..well look.
Ed was staring at me like I had been living under a rock for 200 years….he wouldn’t be wrong technically speaking.
“Caps are the only currency in the wasteland. Any bits you find are in such small supply it was easier to use Sparkle Cola bottle caps.” He explained as he rubbed his forehead.
“good to know.” I stated nodding along while I sat tapping a hoof to the ground when I felt a sudden sting to the left side of my face. Aria was cleaning off the blood with a one of our clean cloths. Then I felt a cleansing agent in both wounds making me flinch.
Once she bandaged my face up I locked my eyes on the two brothers. “Are raider attacks common in this area?” I asked looking at the roasted corpses in the flames then impaled ponies on stakes around the fire.
Looking behind me at the building Aria was in a few minutes ago I saw a mare impaled on a meat hook through the neck, and another impaled through the lower jaw. The last on was dangling by her groin with a spike stabbed through where her horn should have been.
“Yes raider attacks are fairly common, but not this deep into the mountains….” Al explained. “unless the raiders were chasing something or ordered this way.” Ed added.
Hearing that made me even more suspicious of them, “So you guys with the Ministry?”
Aria looked at me confused and so I looked to her hoof pointed to Ed before tapping my chest telling her to look on that part of him. She made a silent oh realizing why I asked.
Ed looked to his chest and chuckled, “no the Ministry of Wartime Technologies and arcaine sciences was disbanded years ago by it’s surviving members, thus forming the Steal Rangers based off of the military units employed two hundred years ago.”
“Me and brother are not fully fledged members yet, but we’re learning our vows. We were here scouting the region.” Al added making my eyes narrow.
“So the Steel Rangers….Do they exist to protect the innocent like they did two hundred years ago?”” I asked anger growing in my chest.
Ed gulped nervously, “we try to…but we protect pony kind by keeping dangerous technologies out of their hooves.” I nodded.
Closing my eyes I took a deep breath, “then where were the two of you when the raiders hit?”
Before I even finished that question Ed’s ears folded sweat beaded on his forehead and neck while his brother looked down at his hooves. Those reactions was all the proof I needed, until Ed answered.
“We were staying hidden…We were tired, and Al was running low on ammo. I didn’t have any weapons.” His voice was slow and steady but filled with pain and shame.
I stood back up and walked to them and got face to face with Ed. The right side of my face still covered in blood that was now hardening. He didn’t even look me in the eyes.
“So you both hid away, not even trying to lift a hoof to save these folks? You listened to their pleas for help, screams of pain, and their prayers and did nothing? You let them die to save your own hide?” I growled fiercely. Aria blanched at my tone. I mentally recoiled at how pissed I was at them.
Their silence spoke volumes, and gave me my answer. So I moved back towards Aria. I heard Ed exhale, and I spun blasting him with a magical energy beam fired from my horn. He shouted in pain as it the exploded on his chest sending him flying into a pile of rubble.
Al spun towards his brother, “Ed!” he shouted but as he spun towards me I hit him with a twofer. A combination of a magical energy blast with my combustion/explosion spell. He was blasted back and trying to stay on his feet. But as he recovered I had my maretta trained on the out cold Ed, with my horn’s telekinetic grip.
“stand down and drop all your ammo.” I growled.
“No.” Ed stated trying to stay strong.
All I did was pull the pistol’s slide back and telekinetically push the gun to Ed’s temple.
“okay okay! I’ll do it, don’t shoot Ed.” And just like that His armor spat out .25mm minigun rounds, launchable grenades, and finally his missiles. “put them in your saddle bags.” I ordered.
He did as he was told. And I removed the pistol from Ed’s head. Grabbing a rope offered to me by Aria I lassoed it around Ed’s neck and then Al’s. I knew it was pointless to tie up a power armored pony, but it was more to show who was in charge.
“You two are now my prisoners. I don’t care what laws I’m breaking, but I don’t trust cowards.” I growled to Al. Getting into his face I pointed a hoof to Aria, “you fail to follow my orders, Avia will have orders to put a round through your head…and she’s a better shot than me.”
He nodded and so I threw Ed upon his back. “Then you will lead us to the other side of these mountains. Towards Los Maregeles.” Nodding in agreement Al started walking in that direction.
Aria followed behind the armored Pony. I followed behind her trying to calm down.
“How could they just sit there and let it happen?” I thought to myself before I staggered.
My legs almost gave out on me as I stumbled into some bushes only to trip over a soft body face planting into hard stone. “DAMN IT!” I shouted.
That out burst got my party to stop as I stood up. Shaking my body I gestured I was fine. But in reality I was not fine. I had used up a lot of magic. One spell every fifteen to forty-five minutes would not have exhausted me as much as seven spells in a row like that. If I kept using spells rapid fire like that I could end up overloading my horn, or over exerting myself to the point where I collapse. Unicorns always have that risk when we do anything with our magic. Aria knew this and I could feel her eyes glaring at me for being careless.
But I wasn’t looking at her. I was looking at the dead unicorn I tripped over that was obviously shot to death during the raider attack. Kicking him over I saw a satchel, marked, “property of Sparkle Dawn.” biting on the flap I opened it and peered inside.
I found a few more healing potions, food, and a pair of books. I put the supplies in my saddle bags using my horn while I examined the books. The first one was ‘The Wasteland Survival Guide.’ With a smirk I stored it away before looking at the second book title read, ‘Concussion Magic.’ I practically grinned. I had a new spell to learn. Seeing nothing else for me I took the satchel it’s self and stored the books inside of it.
Catching up with the others we left the destroyed town, and the bodies to the scavengers.
Walking well into the night until we found a small cave. So Aria set up camp while I hog tied Ed at gun point. Thank Luna Aria found chains back in that store room. Once they were tied up so that any attempt to escape resulted in either a rope or Al’s chains would strangle Ed.
When the fire was flickering from what little wood we could bring from the town, I collapsed next to it. My magical exertion had caught up with me. I swore Ed could see how blurry eyed I was trying to tie them up.
Sitting next to me Aria leaned down and nosed me up into a sitting position. “You really shouldn’t have used so much magic.”
“I know Avia…but I had no choice.” I replied to her, taking a warm wet cloth. I began to rub out the caked on blood in my fur.
Aria looked to the two prisoners. “We shouldn’t have done what you did.” She scolded.
“I KNOW!” I snapped at her surprising her as I returned to cleaning.
“I lost control….They just sat there Avia…just sat there and let those Raiders slaughter ponies and did nothing!’ I growled angrily. “I should have put a bullet in both of them!”
“And what purpose would that have served Atom? We need allies, not enemies.” Aria said scoldingly. “I know Avia, I know!
Sighing I finished the grooming before wringing out the rag. “Okay if you want to make peace with them, go ahead.”
With that I took out a military ration pack and started eating ending the conversation. Aria nodded and walked towards the brothers.
“I’m sorry for my partner, but I understand her actions. Where we come from cowards are severely punished.” I heard Aria explain to the two of them.
“Oh that justifies blasting me the way she did then huh? And putting a gun to Ed’s head?!” Al asked angrily. Ed said nothing and glared at me. So I glared back but half heartedly as I sat slumped over.
“I know it’s no excuse, but Atom is from a military Family and was trained since she was a young Foal. Same with me. Cowards are either thrown out, shot, thrown in jail, or banished. We fought to avenge those dead ponies, and imagine our surprise finding two still living, only to find out that they could have stopped that massacre.” Aria stated to them.
Despite how angry they were at us, I could tell that they knew what they did was wrong. Al’s helmet opened showing the same coat as Ed’s, but with a amber mane. His face showed his pain.
“We wanted to, we really did…but you don’t understand. We took vows to never take a life…and Raiders fight to the death.” Al said and once more I was pissed.
“How naive are the two of you?” I growled at them. “I guess the Steel Rangers are full of no good cowards like the two of you huh?”
Al looked down in shame, “take that back! I am no coward!” Ed shouted at me insulted and pissed.
Aria looked at me pleadingly. But I ignored her and stood up shakily. Unsteadily I walked over to Ed. I could tell he was scared of me. Some part of me relished in his fear. I was too pissed to care. Once in hoof range I slapped his face as hard as I could. I fell over once I did before getting up and glaring at the shocked colt.
“only cowards vow to never kill.” I growled
Ed glared at me, “You have no idea what the wasteland is like! Good ponies who kill eventually become evil in the name of doing good! Or worse they die trying to do good!”
Just as he finished those words I ripped out my maretta and aimed it at Ed, “ATOM DON’T!” I heard Aria shout.
“DON’T HURT MY BORTHER!” Al shouted but none of them could stop me. Ed clenched his eyes shut and crunched up as I aimed at him.
-BANG!-
Smoke rolled off the barrel, as the shell casing tinged on the ground. Aria, and Al stared wide eyed at me. And Ed stared at the hole in the stone next to him from the nine mil. Ed exhaled staring bug eyed at the bullet hole. As Al closed his eyes and began muttered a prayer of thanks. I heard Aria drop to her haunches a hoof to her head.
I holstered the pistol and stared at Ed, “A vow to never kill won’t stop me from killing you. Only cowards take such vows.”
With that I walked away to lay down in the tent. As I did so I heard Aria speaking to them, “I’m sorry….But there is some truth to her words. But beliefs are beliefs.”
“Why is she so harsh?” Al asked and I folded my ears. I closed my eyes and shivered.
Aria sighed, “she’s harsh because when we were foals, we chose to join our home’s military branch.” She began and I could feel her looking at the tent, before starting to untie them.
“Like most recruits we had a hard time at first. But eventually we became soldiers. Atom, was our basic training unit’s top recruit. The best of us. She was the first of us to understand what it meant to be a soldier.” Aria said as shee worked.
“but why does she hate no killing vows? None of that explains that.” Ed stated.
Aria sighed and I could hear her armor shifting. I knew she was shaking her head by the sound. “I was getting to that. One mare in our platoon was very religious. A Celestianite. To be specific. Due to the tenants of her beliefs she couldn’t wield a gun. It frustrated Atom, but she understood. No guns, no killing. We didn’t know she was hiding behind beliefs that never said she couldn’t kill or wield a gun. So during a training simulation we were ambushed. During the chaos she ran. Our platoon was almost captured all but her. Atom kept shouting for our platoon mate to take out the guards, to help us escape. But she just hid. And we all were eventually shot.”
Ed and Al stayed silent. They were interested in the story. I hated remembering this part of my life.
“So when we wake up from those enchanted sleeper bullets, Atom intermediately chewed into that mare. I until today that was the only time I saw Atom that pissed. She was so pissed she blew up that mare’s bunk, and foot locker to punish her. The DI’s did nothing. She was doing her job as platoon leader. Atom did get punished for being overly aggressive, and the DIs left the mare alone. So that night the mare sneaks out with a smuggled gun and bullet. Atom saw, and followed. Both ended up on the roof. It didn’t take Atom long to realize what that mare was doing. So she tried talking the mare out of it. She failed. The mare kicked Atom down the stairs and blew out her own brains in front of Atom. She took the coward’s death breaking her vows to never kill. That mare…was Atom’s twin.” Aria finished just as the two brothers were freed.
“Wow…..” Ed said while Al seemed to be trying to grasp the concept. “By Luna that’s horrible.” Al managed to say.
“Mhm. Atom hated those types of vows since then. And then here you two are with those same vows, vows that drove her twin to suicide. So now you know why.” Aria finished as she moved to the tent and looked in on me. I faked to sleep so she wouldn’t worry. But she knew better.
“communicator is in my left saddle bag.” She said to me setting her bags on her side of the tent.
I nodded and let her leave. While I closed my eyes again and would truly try to rest. I only heard Aria say one last thing before passing out, “I got first watch.”
Snapping awake I looked around finding myself in a empty hall way, “wh-wha-what’s goin on?” I asked my self as I strode down the hall way.
Looking closer at the walls and the hall way I recognized this place, I was back home…back in Vault 212. “Hello?’ I called out and looked around only to gasp hearing a loud slamming sound only to hear it again and see the hall way growing dark as lights shut off.
Panicking I ran as fast as my hooves could carry me. I ran and ran until I saw a tail in front of me…looked like my own tail. So I chased after it. I followed this pony up a flight of stairs. “hey…stop we gotta stick together!” I shouted.
I kept chasing this elusive pony the lights turning off faster and faster. Dread started filling me up. I recognized this stair well, but darkness was closing in on me…I couldn’t stop. Reaching the top of the stairs I ran towards the door, barreling into it and breaking it open.
I skidded to a halt looking back and the door way was gone. I looked around feeling the air of the vault blowing through my mane. Turning I saw my self crying as I stared back at her.
My eyes widened and I charged trying to stop her. I watched as her eyes closed and her mouth open, “….no no no no no nonono not again!” I thought as I rushed forward my hoof steps feeling slow and sluggish and like I was running in place.
“Sorry Atomic…..bye.” She said and up came the pistol as she smiled at me sadly tears streaming down her face.
I watched the trigger pull, and the gun went off….
I screamed….
“CYNDER!” I shouted as I shot awake tears running down my face. Reality hit me again as I felt my mouth frown eyes water again as I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes. Swallowing those feelings I wiped my eyes as I looked around. Lighting up my horn I got out the boxy communications device.
The fire had died down and I saw that Aria was sleeping next to me. Guess it was my turn to stand watch. Carrying the device in my jaws I walked along careful not to make to much noise. I didn’t want to be followed. Near the cave mouth I set down my rifle telekinetically while setting down the Comm. Opening the box up, the vault-tech device turned on. Flipping a few switches as I telekinetically set the maretta on top of the machine.
When the spinning dish extended and pointed to the vault sending a signal used for long range communications during the war. I waited for some one to Pick up on the other end. I didn’t have to wait long when the screen flickered and fuzzed out a bit before the link solidified.
“Atomic Flare, first squad of alpha company in the two-twenty fifth Equestrian Ranger battalion. Reporting in.” I stated and saluted to who ever picked up the communication.
I smiled seeing my father Rough diamond’s face in front of mine as he got close to the screen on his side. “Good to see you again little Pyro.” He said making me chuckle.
“Good to see you too Pop.”I said before Rough looked away and moved out of the way.
For the Overmare and the general to stand before their side of the screen. Snapping off a salute to the general until I heard, “at ease” and saw the general salute back.
“Report Ranger Flare.” The over mare ordered and I nodded, “After breaking off from the group at base camp as per my orders and I’ve made it partially through the mountain pass towards the southern areas of equestria.”
They nodded along as I started my report but once I had my thoughts straight I started getting into greater detail, “Before reaching this pass me and my partner and sibling Aria spotted a seemingly abandoned town. I tested my rifle to be sure it was functioning right I shot a bottle which ended up flying into a window not far behind it. That’s when I first saw the creatures known to the surface dwelling ponies as Ghouls. Zombie like ponies reanimated from the radiation of the megaspells.”
That made both frown and I could have swore the overmare almost vomited at the idea of walking corpses. “But that was not all that I ran into. I reached what was a trade stop or trade hub in the mountains recently built up. But they were all murdered by other ponies. These ponies are known as Raiders. They kill because it’s fun, and take sadistic pleasure in it, and they seem to be cannibalistic.”
That caused the overmare to lose her dinner it seemed as she moved off screen but I could hear her vomiting chunks due to the mic picking it up. Ew….but understandable. “all teams should have shoot raiders on sight, for raiders will shoot first.” I added making the genral nod.
“I agree continue with your report ranger.” She said making me nod.
“I’ve also made contact with surface ponies. They are part of a organization known as the Steel Rangers. Apparently it’s a group of ponies that believes in keeping all pre war tech or any form of tech for it’s self and no one else. Inform the other squads to use their codenames and never show their pipbucks or reveal the location of the vault, or even discuss the vault in public. It’s known how fare the Steel Rangers reach is.” I continued explaining what I could about the steelhooves organization.
I raised a hoof to Alert the general to one more detail, "bits are useless as currency up here. The ponies of the surface use bottle caps as currency. And Equestria is known to them as merely the wasteland."
“Good to know thank you Atomic. We've gotten similar reports on the caps, and Ghouls. But the other teams haven't ran into raiders. They will be informed to shoot them upon spotting them.” The general said with a smile. “ But for now your report is concluded until next week. You have five minutes left you may speak with Rough.” the general added as she moved off the overmare still sick from what she heard.
With the general gone Rough smiled to me as he reappeared to my left, “Sounds nuts up there Kiddo.” he said and I sighed. “you have no idea.”
He chuckled, “just keep your wits about yah, You’re a tough mare, and tell Aria I said hi and I love her.” He stated making me smile and nod, “I will.” I told him.
“is there something else?” he asked me.
“yeah…I…I dreamed of….Cyn.” I stammered.
“Oh…Hun you know that wasn’t your fault…I know it wasn’t….” He said to me but I shook my head, “I know…that wasn’t it….I had nearly killed a pony today who had made the same vows as her dad….and I did it without any thought...or remorse….it scared me….and I guess it reminded me of Cyn.” I told him and he nodded.
“Listen Pyro, what happened with Cyn was not something you can control, right now you need to stop feeling guilty about it. Else it'll haunt you when don't want it to. Here is a standing order from your Pop. I lost one daughter already. I’m not losing three. You come back to me and your mother….no matter what it takes.” He stated in a stern tone.
Hearing him give me a order made me giggle but I saluted and nodded, “Sir yes sir. Love yah dad….We’ll come back. I promise.” I told him and with that he nodded putting a hoof to the screen.
“good night little pyro, see you in a week.” He said and I nodded, “see you in a week, hug mom for the two of us.” I replied and with that the machine turned off and pulled back into a box. Holstering the maretta and picking up the rifle with my horn’s magic I carried the box by the handle in my mouth as I returned to Aria and packed the box away.
Little did I know Ed was awake. I was too tired to notice those eyes of his staring into my back, as I lay down to sleep.
Footnote: Journey Start
level up
New perk: Boom Baby! 5% more damage with explosives and explosion spells.
new spell: Concussive Blast
Author's Note
another chapter after so long I do appologize. But I do hope those that have read it or will read it will enjoy.
