Fallout Equestria: Blood and Steel

Might I trouble you for another slice of cake?

I remember a day when this city was a thriving metropolis. In fact I was born and raised here, the streets I once grew up on laid tattered in debris and rubble. I had originally left for Canterlot with an invitation to Celestia's school for gifted unicorns upon completing my schooling in the art of magical baking Equestria went to war against the zebras in the south. I had originally bought land and planned to setup a shop in Canterlot's shopping district but three days before my store was to open I received a draft notice. I had spent five years prior working to save up for a shop of my very own. I remember the draft letter fondly, it had a picture of Spitfire with the words: 'Equestria needs you'. I remember the frustration and confusion on my face. I remember thinking that I am going to die before the war is over. I remember walking out of my shop for the last time, its doors never to open, full of the hopes and dreams I once had. Upon reaching basic training I was handed an officers slot and was separated from the rest of the new arrivals. I then began my training to lead ponies into battle. I never thought that just because I graduated from Celestia's school would had given me an officers role. Upon graduation of basic training and my officers training I was sent to Shattered Hoof to reinforce the ponies fighting on the ground. The trenches reeked of blood, filth, disease and death. Day and night constant shelling and gun fire went off without a moments break. Until the fighting stopped I remember sitting down in the trench looking at my bullet riddled body, I started to cough up blood. My eyes began to close...

Then all of sudden a sound as if glass was shattered pierced the blood stained battlefield. My eyes open sharply, I remember being completely healed and I stood up and heard a deafening silence. I saw two of the ministry mares Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was leading us during the fight, then a bullet whizzed passed my head and Rainbow Dash grabbed Fluttershy and dove down into the trenches. The battle began again, for another three days. During the battle I was separated from Big Mac and his Marauders. I was detached to Macintosh's Marauders to get my first taste of combat. He was my first sergeant although, he really was the one in charge. Apparently they were called back to camp, I was abandoned... left for dead as they pulled out. By the time I made it back to camp Big Mac was dead. Killed by the zebra assassin meant for Princess Celestia. After his body was taken to Canterlot for a state funeral I was reassigned. I was pulled off the team and demoted for negligence. I was back at 1st Lieutenant rank. It was my fault, I wasn't there. I was then put in charge of the 52nd Offensive Battalion. In the first year trying to push into the city only to be stopped by zebra snipers and ambushes. Then I was called to Canterlot again.

“Ponies of the Ministry o’ Technology, Ah give t’ y’all the Steel Ranger!" the orange mare on the stage took a side step. A pony dressed in full metal plating completely covered in armor. I was enamored at what I saw. My EFS or my Eyes-Forward-Sparkle identified him as 'Steel Hooves'.

The next day I volunteered to join the Steel Rangers. I was picked, trained and given a set of armor. Then I was given another assignment. The 332nd Expeditionary Battalion, 3rd Company commander. I was being sent off to Stalliongrad again. They were rambunctious bunch. During my time there and they were the only battalion to contain zebras... and the most casualties.

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I put my journal down as the train pulled into the station. Even in the suit the sounds of gunfire could be heard clear as day. Tracer rounds could piercing the the skyline of the city. I pity any Pegasus pony who had to fly through that much flak. I stepped off the train and walked to the gates. Ever since the battle began, a massive fence was constructed to keep regular ponies out of the combat zone. Didn't stop them though, most ponies went around it anyways. I then spoke to the two ponies guarding a gate labeled A2. Both ponies were wearing the Equestria military police uniform. The letters MP were faded barely visible. I continued and headed straight to the base commander's tent. Upon entry I was shocked to see who it was. a light blue mare with a rainbow mane, she was wearing a black and purple jump suit that covered all but her wings and face. This was none other then the head of the Ministry of Awesome herself, Rainbow Dash.

"Ma'am, 1st Lt. Napoleon Cake reporting for duty!" I shouted nervously. She looked over at me. She strapped on her battlesaddle and walked over to me.

"Welcome back to Stalliongrad soldier. I thought you would had chickened out after what happened at Shattered Hoof," she smiled at me trying to lighten the mood. "Anyways the situation has changed since your departure. Dragons have been spotted flying around the city. The Shadowbolts have been doing their best to take them down but progress on the ground is slow and our losses are high. Despite these this we need to make some progress. Your orders are to capture city hall, it is the base of operation zebra command in the city," She gestured me over to a map. "Your company will have two other steel rangers attached with the rest comprised of zebra's. Capture city hall and kill or capture their commanders by any means necessary. If you suspect that any of your soldiers are zebra spies, execute them on the spot. Report to the armory to received your equipment, your company is in tent 5. Dismissed."

I walked out of the tent. I looked towards the city, I could hear the sounds of artillery shells firing from both sides. Day and night the artillery ponies just never sleep. I looked up to the two massive sky scrappers that pierced the city. They were the Friendship Towers. The now badly damaged sky scrappers had seen better days, a few times artillery shells would hit them now and again but that was rare.

I proceeded to the armory. I arrived to a concrete bunker with the word 'armory' painted on the door in white paint,
"Napoleon Cake, you will receive an anti-machine rifle and a gatling cannon. You should be able to take out any armored tank or dragon," The Quartermaster got up and began to attach the weapons to my battlesaddle. After a few minutes of power tool sounds the Quartermaster finished up. "Good luck."

I walked out of the armory. My heart finally caught up to me. I was back in hell. I took a deep breath. It was cool and refreshing, technically it was because of my air talisman. I found my way to tent 5 and entered.

"Company! Attention!" one of the steel rangers called out. I walked up to the pony at the front. She saluted me. "Sir, we are awaiting your orders."

I replied "At ease. Now then lets start with your names."

"Mah name's 1st Sgt Apple Fritter," she said in a very western accent, she removed her helmet to reveal a beautiful young earth pony with a light yellow coat and green mane. "It's a pleasure to meet ya sir, I'm the squads heavy gunner."

"Wait are you by chance related to Applejack? The head of the MWT?" I asked.

"Sure as sugar, Applejack's mah cousin, I haven't seen her since Big Mackie died. He's the whole reason ah left to join y'all. To be honest when I spent a few years with them on the farm and I really looked up to him, he did his job, neva complained or nothin'. And when Equestria went to war, he was one of the first who left to join. Fearless in life as he now is in death, bless your soul Big Mac," tears began to breakout across the her face,

The mare in the Steel Ranger armor behind Apple Fritter turned to face us, she was a Unicorn as her helmet had armor for her horn protruding out of the top. A soft pink glow of magic gripped the helmet removing it to reveal a hot pink Unicorn mare with a half blue and half light blue mane. She had a purple eyes and a purple bow in her mane.

"My name is SPC Royal Ribbons, but everyone calls me Rori for short, I am the squads suppressor. I am from Canterlot's noble families and was drafted into this war against my will. I really just want this to be over so I can go home," Rori said with a sweet but sophisticated tone. "And behind me are the four remaining zebra's in our company."

I looked behind them to see the four zebras, they worn dark green uniforms and had their weapons slung over their backs. They completely lacked white stripes in away. "Where is their stripes?"

One of the zebra's stood up, "They mad us bleach our coats to show our loyalty to the princesses, my name is Milk Tart. Ironic now since she was completely white now. I was born and raised in Filydelphia, Equestria is my home not Zebrika.

"My name is Star Charm, I was born in Van Hoover and moved to Appleoosa and this is my brother Star Chaser," Star Charm gestures to her brother who's head is laying down, he waves his hoof and returns to sleep. "Sorry, it's been a long day," Star Charm chuckled nervously.

"My name is Silent Night, I'm a sharpshooter. I was born in Zebrika and moved to Equestria when I was a young filly. I grew up in the Smokey Mountains."

"Well good to know everypony, I have our first assignment. This comes straight from the Rainbow Dash, head of the Ministry of Awesome. We have three days to make it to city hall and capture or kill their command structure. Our company will be the only one assaulting this point as the rest of the battalion will be flanking around to draw them away. I'm not going to lie to you, this one will be tough but I believe we can do it, rely on each other. Dismissed." Everypony got up, and proceeded to leave, "Oh wait, I forgot. These zebra's think they can beat Equestria, well let them eat cake!" I yelled pridefully. The ponies and zebras laughed hard as they walked out. Well shit that didn't work. That's ok Napoleon you're ahead of your time.

I walked to the companies barracks on the stallion side, I noticed that there were three other empty beds with footlockers. I walked up to one of the footlockers and opened it. Inside was a few pictures and a hooffull of letters. These are the belonged of a dead pony, or in this case dead zebra. I went over to an empty bed and climbed out of my power armor. I put in my ear bloom and turned it to the Wartime Radio Station

"This is DJ Pon-3, coming at you live from Manehatten. To all you soldier ponies out there, thank you for keeping us safe another day. We will never forget your sacrifice. In other news Zebra sympathizers have been rooted out of Fillydelphia's factory district by the Ministry of Morale, hehehe, remember ponies, Pinkie Pie is always watching you. Other reports say that the siege in Stalliongrad has come to a halt. This next song goes out to the ponies holding the line in Stalliongrad, here is Sweetie Belle singing: The Sun Never Sets."

I closed my eyes as music began to play, tomorrow, I get to really live out the horrors of war, once again I'm heading into the depths of hell. Stalliongrad, was Tartarus in Equestria. Wait a second Tartarus is already in Equestria. "Celestia Fuck me!" I yelled. I didn't seem to wake up Star Chaser. I turned in my bed, the sounds of Sweetie Belle's voice echoed as it all began to fade.

Napoleon Cake's SPECIAL

Strength: 4
Perception: 3
Endurance: 5
Charisma: 2
Intelligence: 5
Agility: 3
Luck: 6