Fallout Equestria: Crescent Ghoul

I woke up the same as I always did: to the sound of my alarm and alone. It wasn’t something that I minded. It was simply a fact of life. I shrugged out of bed and slipped on the black sweater that was sitting on the floor by the bed as well as my glasses. Then I walked my way from the bedroom to the kitchen and started breakfast, reaching my magic into one of the cabinets and pulling out a box of Sugar Apple Bombs. Placing the box on the counter, I moved focus to the fridge to get the milk, and put together a bowl of sweetened cereal in cold milk. After eating that, I went to the bathroom and showered, stopping afterward to put my mane up as per usual and brush my teeth. Once done with that, I trotted to the door, got my bag off the hook, and headed outside.

The spires and buildings of Canterlot looked the same as they always had. When I was younger, the spires and castle would bring out a feeling of awe and wonder, but after living here for decades, the sparkle of them have all but worn off. Now, they were just plain. As I made my way to the library, I overheard talk from some of the ponies I passed. Glimpses of their lives. None of which I really cared about. Talk of Stable 1. Yeah, like I’d ever be able to afford a ticket. Besides, I’d rather die than be stuck in a prison for the rest of my life with a bunch of snobs. Some mare talking about her son attending Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns next semester. None of my concern. More than once I overheard worried talk about the war. While I disagreed with the war, there was literally nothing I could do to stop it. I had no ties to royalty or the elite. The one tie to the Ministry Mares I had, I wish I didn’t. Sure, I thought we were friends, but then she didn’t show up to my party. And to top it off, she left Canterlot without as much as a goodbye. It was thanks to her that I learned how pointless friendship really is. I didn’t need anyone, and no one needed me, and I was fine with that. It was on that thought that I arrived at the Canterlot Library of Magic. I climbed the steps and entered the building, glancing momentarily at the young blue unicorn mare that had taken over after the old librarian had retired. I proceeded to grab several books off the shelf and find a cozy place to read.

About a fifth of the way through my first book for the day, the librarian walked up to me. I grumbled under my breath and looked up at her. She just looked at me for a moment before speaking.

“I noticed you come in here every day. I wanted to properly introduce myself since we’ve never really talked. I’m Bloo,” the young mare said. I looked back down at my book. Of course she’d choose after I started my studying to start bothering me. I begrudgingly gave her a nod of acknowledgement. “If you ever need anything, just let me know, okay?” she added. I didn’t even look at her. The old librarian was courteous enough to leave me to my studying. Why couldn’t this new girl do the same? She stood there for a bit, then spoke a third time. “I’ll be at the desk up front.” I grumbled and finally spoke.

“That’s great, now could you leave me alone? I’m trying to study,” I snapped. The mare winced a bit, but I didn’t care. It’s what she gets for interrupting the pursuit of knowledge. She eventually nodded and trotted back to the front desk. I returned to Hayhoof’s Intonements. I was just getting to some really interesting information when there was a series of loud explosions somewhere nearby. Startled, I jumped up and rushed outside to see what had happened just in time to see a large bubble shield encircle the castle. In the sky, I spotted many objects that looked suspiciously like missiles. And then a pink cloudy substance started to fill the inside of the shield. I quickly ran inside and put up a shield of my own as the librarian ran from the building. It was the only thing I could think to do in a situation I’d never thought would actually come to pass. Moments later there was a loud explosion just outside, the roof collapsed on top of me and everything went black.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Canterlot stood silent in the darkness, many buildings ruined by the missiles that had bombarded it. Pink Cloud flowed through the streets, carried by the wind. Pony bodies shuffled quietly around the streets as well, though most seemed completely unaware of their surroundings. However, near the Canterlot Library of Magic, a yellow and red unicorn mare seemed to move with a purpose. She did not acknowledge the Pink Cloud, nor the ruins of the buildings she passed unless there was rubble in her path. In fact, she almost trotted as if everything were normal...