Part One: A Forgotten Tale

Fractured Heart pulled the collar of his tattered coat closer around him trying to keep the biting wind from cuffing his ears. The fire before him burned but was barely adequate to keep anypony warm let alone those he was expecting to join him on his journey North. Ever since parting from Airborne in Equestria he had wanted to return to the Crystal Empire to its former Pre-War splendor. The Great War had devastated his homeland, in the old stories prior to the war, the Crystal Empire was a place of joy and love. Even when it snowed the love the Crystal Ponies had for their reigning monarchs Princess Cadence and her husband Shining Armor made even the snow that fell unable to touch them with its cold. But the war changed that, as best as Princess tried to keep the Empire neutral it was drawn into the protracted war with the Zebra Empire. After that everything fell to pieces. The Crystal Empire came under siege and the Crystal Ponies for the first time began to feel the biting cold of winter as it set upon them. When everything ended and the megaspells that destroyed Equestria came to the Crystal Empire the climate shifted to eternal winter. Now it was all anypony could due to find food by scrounging through the pre-War ruins for food or by hunting the few creatures that remained alive for sustenance.

The Crystal Ponies since the war had learned to survive in the brutal frozen wastes of their homeland. Adaptability was a trait that was needed in order to survive here but Fractured was tired of living the life of a scavenger. He wanted better for himself and his people. He had already learned of the final fates of the monarchs of the Crystal Empire and how much they had tried to protect their people. In gratitude for their efforts Fractured and his followers had build a modest but well made tomb made of crystals for them beneath the remains of the Crystal Palace. Now though Fractured's thoughts turned to the North. On the edge of the Empire sat the remains of an old pre-War cloudship. He was hoping the remains which have long since been avoided by the Crystal ponies would yield some pre-War technology or even food stores that could last his people for a while so they could have the strength to return their land back to life.

At a meeting of the various bands of Crystal ponies inside the remains of the reclaimed Crystal Palace Fractured made his bid. Standing before the gathered body he asked,"Who has the apples to join me on this expedition to the remains of that old pre-War airship that has sat too long out in the wastes? If we succeed we may find an unspoiled bounty just waiting to be plucked from the ice!" The whole room when silence and he felt the stares bore down onto him. He knew they were all thinking him insane for even bothering to make a mention of the wreck of the Fractus. The stories about this cloudship had become a subject of taboo for the Crystal ponies. Only ever was the story made mentioned to young Crystal ponies about the dangers of the frozen wastes. What was known had been passed down orally for generations. About a mad captain ignoring all reason to charge into the Empire, a gruesome fate for the crew, and of one survivor who wandered the wastes before succumbing to the frost and cold.

Fractured didn't know if any of this was true and to be honest he didn't really care. It was the fact that this hulking remnant of a bygone era had been left to rot and be buried rather than investigated for any benefit to his people. After a few minutes only a few hooves raised halfheartedly at his idea. Those that joined him were no surprise to be honest. They were members of his old raider gang and after years of keeping them alive out in the wastes. Now hearing the approaching crunches of hooves in the snow Fractured saw emerge from the veil the faces of those who would be joining him. Diamond Hoof, a large grey pony with one prosthetic steel eye who was good at only one thing and that was killing anything that moved. Aurora Flash, a mare who could take apart any pre-War tech and put it back together good as new. Long Night, a soft spoken mare who was sort of a jack of all trades when it came to anything Fractured needed. She could cook as well as kill when necessary.

Finishing off the group was Fractured's sister Arctic Blast. She had been away from his band scouting out old pre-War ruins in the eastern part of the Crystal Empire. Only having returned home just before the meeting got started. Fractured had never really cared much for his sister. Being older she always thought she knew what was best and was rather callous in her planning. Fractured tried to keep his pony's alive but if his sister had her way she would send them into dangerous ruins just for a single can of soup. This is why she wasn't made leader of their gang all those years ago. It doesn't pay to be careless and how she had survived this long was beyond Fractured's comprehension.

"Well what are we waiting for? Are we going to get going or what?" Arctic's chirped at her brother, "Or are you going to sit on your haunches till you freeze and I have to dig your butt out of a snowdrift again." Fractured rolled his eyes and tried to ignore her. It was her typical routine in trying to draw him into an argument just so she could make an impression to the others as if they needed one. Getting up out of the snow Fractured checks the barding on his battle-saddle and makes sure they aren't frozen. The cold as much as it could kill you presented another challenge and that lubricants inside the battle-saddle would freeze the components and as a result you might experience a jam in the middle of a firefight when you needed your battle-saddle the most. But from what Fractured could tell everything was in working order and functioned properly. Diamond Hoof looking at Arctic punched her shoulder, "Quit causing a fuss. I am sure Fractured was just waiting on us to arrive. Now that we are all here we can get started..." turning to Fractured, "Right?"

"Exactly, now we all know the stories about where we are going. If anybody has any final reservations about this trip leave now. I won't be hauling along any scared fillies where we are going." None of the assembled ponies before him said anything or moved. "Good now let's head out." Turning into the wind Fractured began his long trudge to the frozen remains of a mystery that had long haunted his people and in truth his own dreams. He wasn't sure what they were going to find there but whatever it was the risk was worth it in his mind. The Crystal Empire would return someday and the wreck of the Fractus would be the first step in this process or at least he hoped it would be. Following at a distance Diamond, Arctic, Aurora, and Long Night took up positions in to form a protective herd as they moved deeper into the Crystal Empire. Wary of anything that might emerge from the veil of snow blowing in their muzzles.

Author's Note

This is my first story after a long hiatus. Inspired by the true events of the long lost Franklin Expedition to the Arctic and Kkat's Fallout: Equestria series. I wanted to tell a story about tale of a pre-War vessel trapped in the Crystal Empire during the war. How it got there and what's its purpose was inspired me to pick up the virtual pen and write again. I hope you will enjoy this story and stick by Fractured Heart's side as he journey's to uncover the fate of the airship Fractus.

My Little Pony is copyrighted to Hasbro.

Fallout: Equestria is copyrighted to Kkat.

Any other characters are copyrighted to me.