Intro
War.... Has changed.
Ask any locals and they would agree that war has indeed, changed. I know, because I was among them.
This world used to be a peaceful place. Families were happy and enjoying life. Friends visited each other, people flocked to stores, malls and convention centers to enjoy the hobbies and freedom that they have. They posted millions of things in MyStable.
Sadly, the price for a peaceful life is a steady influx of resources. Said resources dwindled, such as money and oil, and nations thought about one thing to get that. Proxy wars.
It's no longer about nations, ideologies, or ethnicities. Instead, it became a booming business, a business that is needed by countries starved from economic starvation. Nations began supplying weapons and equipment to groups such as freedom fighters, rebels, armies, or worse, terrorists. All in exchange for valuable resources such as cash, information, and most importantly, Oil.
War--and it's consumption of life--has become a well-oiled machine.
War... Has changed.
No longer did the soldiers involved in war died in the name of peace or freedom, but rather, for the profits of the wealthy elites, oil barons and politicians. Proxy wars dominated the battlefield.
The Republic of Equestria is no stranger to these shameful practices and business. At first, the thriving nation was once a nation who advocated for peace and Anti-War sentiments That all changed during the Global Crisis of Oil shortages. The once peaceful nation began selling weapons, negotiating arms deals, sending soldiers in the front lines at distant countries, all in the name of gathering the drying up Non-Renewable resources.
It all boiled down to a breaking point when the Nations for Peace, a once global powerhouse formed to keep countries in check and to ensure peace, was disbanded after the Eastern Bloc launched five low yield nukes in the Northern Front which caused the Republic of Equestria and its foreign allies to declare all out war against them.
Proxy wars fell out and it soon became a war for the last bastion of oil resources in the world. One by one, countries fell or surrendered, and in one final act of desperation, launched nuclear missiles to wipe each other out from the face of the Earth.
It led to global ruin. It led to Nuclear Fallout. Peace became a thing in the past, a reminder of what was, and that is why I believe that War...
War has changed
In the not so distant future lies a once great nation known as the Republic of Equestria. Once a thriving powerhouse known for its peaceful values and Anti-War sentiments. After the Oil Crisis, the nation was reduced to ruins as a result of an all out low yield nuclear war that lasted an hour. The nuclear war may have been short, but its effects are long lasting.
Before the war, bunker shelters were made available to the public in the case of said war. For the low price of $100,000 or service to the country, they guaranteed slots to anyone who qualified one of their requirements.
One of those people was Sunset Shimmer, a former student of Canterlot High and former employee of a big time diner.
Five years after the war, Sunset and a handful of survivors left the bunker after its resources ran out in the hopes of rebuilding the once beautiful city of Ponyville. Little did they know that the surface is teeming with hostiles. Raiders, mercenaries, war bandits, you name it. They ruled the wastelands under their thumb of fear.
The leader of the group tried to negotiate peace with a group of raiders after they stumbled upon the ruins of Ponyville, of which the raiders were occupying. The leader was shot in the knee and was left crippled. Armed with weapons from the bunker, Sunset and the others fought back in self defense, and in turn drove out the raiders from Ponyville. Though at the cost of their friends dying at the hands of experienced wasteland raiders, a Pyrrhic victory for both sides.
Ever since that day, the ruined town was renamed to Bunker Town, a reminder of where they came from before the war.
Sunset Shimmer lived there. Alone.
No friends, no family. Only acquaintances from her old bunker.
Before the war ruined everything, she lost contact with her friends. Yet she remembered their names.
Applejack. Rarity. Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash. The human Twilight Sparkle.
Princess Twilight Sparkle.
She shed a tear at the thought that her friends never made it, and with her magical journal lost in the confusion of the war, have no way to contact Princess Twilight.
She doesn't know if the book survived the war.
Though Sunset did tried to find her way back to Canterlot and find the magical book and portal, and return to Equestria. She gave up on the idea at the thought that Canterlot may have been struck with a nuclear missiles, destroying the town effectively, and in turn, the portal and her journal.
"Meaning I'm stuck here forever, in this wasteland."
Sunset sighed, and broke away from the thoughts as she tries not to break down in tears. Sitting by a campfire, she grabbed the wooden spoon and focused on mixing the soup and its contents.
The village, for months, have lived in peace for the majority of its repopulation, save for some raider and zombie attacks. Kids ran about, playing with their fellow friends or parents, while the rest worked together to find resources and keep the village safe.
After some time, Sunset took the pot and began serving the hungry populace. Unable to go out and scavenge for supplies, she was instead assigned as both Guard and local cook. Her responsibilities are straining, but she accepted nonetheless.
She is happy to work in keeping the village safe and helping feed her fellow bunker friends.
Returning to her post after feeding the hungry, she checked her MP5SD for any dirt or missing components. Never hurts to be prepared, I guess.
"Lost in thought?" A voice asked.
"To be honest, I am, Captain Celestia." Sunset replied.
Celestia sat next to Sunset and offered her a bottle of water, to which she accepted.
Giving her a smile, Sunset drank the contents of the bottle, saving some for her former Principal.
"You don't have to call me Captain, Sunset. You can always call me by my name." She said.
Sunset sighed, "I know, but it's hard to call you by name only, even in my time as your student. But sure, I'll try, Celestia..."
Celestia smiled and patted Sunset's back, before taking out her Revolver and cloth.
"How are the kids and villagers? Did you fed them yet?"
Sunset nodded. "I made sure that the younglings ate their vegetables, telling them that someday they'll be like me if they are their veggies." Sunset chuckled, "It's honestly cute to see their reactions."
Celestia smiled as she cleaned her Revolver's chamber. "That's good to hear, Sunset. We don't want to waste food now, and to convince the kids to eat their portion of vegetables is something I fail to do." Celestia chuckled.
"I never did take you for a motherly type, Celestia."
"I used to be a mother, Sunset. Well, a foster parent of course. I'll never forget those good times."
Sunset frowned at the mention of good times, remembering her fond memories of the good times she and her friends did. Shedding a tear, she looks down on the ground and said, "I miss them. I miss my friends, my family. I'm alone..."
Hearing this, Celestia pulled in Sunset for an embrace. "Wherever they are, I'm sure they're looking for Sunset. Have hope, you will see them again."
They stayed that way until she let go of Sunset from her embrace. "Go get some rest, Sunset. I'll take over your shift for now. It looks like you could use the rest."
She nodded and hugged Celestia, before returning to her small repaired home. Lighting up the fireplace, she pulled out her flask and took a swig. "Damn, this stuff is strong."
She took one more swig, before taking out the photo of her and the others. It is a group picture of Sunset and the girls during their trip at the Canterlot beach.
Unable to hold it in anymore, Sunset broke down in tears and sobbed as she lied down on her bed. "Oh dear Celestia, how I wish you were here with me...
"Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash. Rarity. Fluttershy. Applejack. Twilight..."
"Princess Twilight..." The last name made Sunset cry out in despair, crying herself to sleep.
