Fallout Equestria: NightWings

As the saying goes: Friendship, friendship never changes. Can’t say that I agree on this. We Equestrians used to be friends with zebras and dragons and look where we are now. At each other’s throats, each faction trying to outclass the other in weapons, spells and others techno-magical marvels (usually deadly ones).

I say “We Equestrians”, but being a Batpony in the wonderful land of Equestria was no walk in the park. Even before that bloody war, we were treated like second class citizens. Sure, some would say we were integrated into the society. We could work, own a house. But jobs were scarce for us.

It’s true that our appearance can be unsettling: we have fangs, our wings have pointy bony tip. And bonus point, most of us has what you normal pony would call “the devil eyes”: cat-like eyes, with a pupil like a slit. Our colors tended to be on the darker side too, black, grey or navy blue being the most common, with shades of dark reddish brown and purple being a bit more rare.

We were the subjects of countless rumors concerning our fierce appearance, and our temper. Vampire, meat-eater, some even accused us of snatching foals to sacrifice them to Nightmare Moon (Thank Luna that these rumors stopped entirely when she returned).

So, yeah, with that in mind, we were forced to be at the edge of society. It was easier in small settlements, like Ponyville, or Appeloosa, as everypony would quickly recognize you for what you were and not for the rumors about your kind.

In the big cities, things were vastly different: Most jobs were closed to batponies. And when you can’t find a regular job and need to eat and pay rent, well, you don’t have many choices. Many resorted to stealing, though the most brutal of batponies were often employed by the various mafias around. Most of the mob bosses were griffins, and they immediately saw the potential of having a batpony hissing at somepony, all fangs out with glowing amber eyes. I was told many just coiled in terror at the sight.

After the return of our Royal Princess of the Night, things looked bright for some time. She gathered most of us, trying to get us jobs in her royal guard and court. Needless to say, places were not unlimited, and even with her generosity, trying to open local garrisons at some big cities, it was only a selected few that became her champions, her ambassadors of the Night.

Everypony could apply to pass the selections, be it earth pony, batpony, unicorn or pegasi.

The selections were hard; we were being pushed to our physical and psychological limits to test our abilities to their fullest. I prepared for this, to be as ready as anypony can be.

Imagine myself, an hopeful batpony in his 20s, wishing to become a guard. Black mane, dark reddish brown coat, with my wing membrane a bit lighter. Big reddish brown and seemingly normal eyes. Blank-flank. Yeah I know what you think, nopony that old can possibly be blank flank. Well, I was. I did everything I could think of, but nothing made the damn mark appear.

I thought that maybe, becoming a guard could help me earn my cutie mark, at last. It didn’t.

The selections took the best part of the day. I wasn’t great at the speed test, but endurance tests were more my things. Strength tests were too easy for me, and I did okay on the agility.

The final part of the selections was combat. I was pit against a slimmer batpony. Black as the darkest night, dark blue mane and wings, dark amber eyes. We had a selection of wooden weapons to choose from: daggers, swords, some horseshoe with claws and even a battle axe. He took a dagger, I chose the axe. And the combat began. Immediately, he went at me. I was built like an earth pony, and he was way more agile than me. I desperately deflected his blows, when suddenly he bolted and buck into the ground, launching dirt into my eyes.

The axe met the ground while I exclaimed, more surprised than hurt. And then, I felt a powerful buck into my genitals. The tears of pain in my eyes instantly cleared my vision, I saw red, and launched myself toward my opponent.

Next thing I know, I was held by telekinesis, several other ponies ready to restrain me, and my opponent on the ground, crying softly, with a broken nose, several deep bite marks bleeding on his front legs, and one hind leg at an odd angle.

He was taken out by medical unicorns. Still in a telekinesis bubble, I was transported in the ancient looking barracks to await the royal judgement of Her Lunar Highness. And then, I saw my reflection in the windows of the garrison: my eyes had a vertical slit, and were looking bright red. My fangs were visible, dried blood on my teeth.

If I hadn’t been in a telekinesis bubble, I would have flinched at my own image. The unicorns transported me in a room full of bunk beds, and left me there without a word.

Did I just blew my only chance at becoming part of the Night Guards?

I pushed these thoughts at the back of my head, and looked around for a mirror and something to clean myself, I was not gonna stay with blood on my teeths.

The room had a small bathroom, with a shower, a sink and a mirror. I looked closely in the mirror: I was back to my usual self, no more slit pupils or bright red eyes. I sighed and cleaned my fangs of the blood.

Footsteps echoed in the corridor outside the room. Judging by the noise, there was more than one pony coming.

I quickly went back to the room, and waited anxiously.

The door opened with a bang, and I saw the most scarred pony I had ever seen so far.

Khaki green, with a dark blond mane cut short, this stallion was no bigger than me, but it didn’t matter. His sheer presence made me feel like a foal, and his scars didn’t help: big one across his face, from left to right, a collection of what looked like claw marks on his neck and shoulders and more importantly, I could see a huge scar on this left side, near where wings would be on a Pegasus.

I was frozen, I didn’t know what to do. Should I try to explain what happened? I barely knew myself what happened. Should I try to apologize?

Before I could say a word, the pony opened his mouth and said: “Come!”

He didn’t speak loudly nor harshly, not that he needed too. He spoke with authority, and his expression showed he was not asking.

He turned and went back outside the room, showing me his right side at the same time: a scar identical to his left side flanks was there and I saw his cutie mark, a silver helmet.

No time to ponder, he was walking fast and I had to keep up. Outside the room, the same unicorns that escorted me before were waiting and walked behind me as I followed the unknown stallion.

Oddly, we didn’t take the same route as before, and went the other way, going further inside the barracks instead of going back outside in the testing area.

We walked for what felt like ages, but in truth, it must have been only a couple minutes.

I counted a lot of doors in the hallway we walked through, at least a dozen, all closed.

Finally, we reached the end of the corridor, a huge double wooden door, reinforced with metal plating.

The scarred stallion pushed it open with ease, and went inside the room beyond. As I passed the doors, I saw how thick and heavy they looked. I couldn’t help but marvel for a second at the strength of the scarred stallion, who opened them like they weighted nothing.

The room looked like a mess of sort, large tables were pushed to the walls, and it looked like it could accommodate a few hundred ponies at the same time.

As I entered the room itself, I suddenly felt cold.

Most of the area was filled with the applicants I saw earlier in the day, there was also a dozen Royal guards, their white coats and golden armor impossible to mistake. But, that was not what froze me.

At the end of the room, a dais was set up. Huge and ornate, with delicate golden carvings of sun and moons, two gilded thrones rested upon it.

And in those sat the eternal rulers of Equestria: Princess Celestia, and the newly returned Princess Luna. I noticed how Princess Luna seemed smaller than her royal sister and lacked a flowing mane, surely a sign of how recently she returned.

The scarred stallion kept walking towards the dais, and I had to hasten my pace to catch up. When he came close to the dais, he stopped abruptly, forcing me to stop behind him.

He bowed and spoke: “Your Highnesses”

I bowed a second later, and I could hear the unicorns behind me doing the same.

As my eyes now looked upon the cobblestone making up the floor, I heard a soft voice, unmistakable as everyone knew the voice of Celestia.

“Thank you, lieutenant. Now that every applicant is here, we may begin the final selection. My dear sister, if you please…”

A booming voice echoed, hurting my ears. I couldn’t help but let a yelp came out.

“I, LUNA, PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT, AM DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE REFONDATION OF MY ROYAL GUARDS. AS THEE CAN SEE, THESE BARRACKS ARE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD AND HOUSED THY ILLUSTRIOUS PREDECESSORS. MAY THEIR TALE BRING PRIDE AND ….”

Celestia voice intervened: “Luna, we talked about this. The Royal Canterlot voice is not in vogue in today’s age and you wouldn’t want to deafen those poor ponies.”

I could almost hear a faint smile intertwined with the words.

A new voice came through, softer: “I beg your pardon. As I was saying, every one of you was selected through various means. You are here because you want to join the new Night Guards. No matter your upbringing”

The speech continued on for long minutes, speaking of duty, of pride but also of fellowship and brotherhood. I could hear footsteps going back and forth on the dais.

Princess Luna pressed on, explaining how the night guards were the protector of the night and defenders of what may lurk in the shadows.

Her voice suddenly broke, I heard her clearing her throat before she continued:

“Long ago, when I became blinded by my darkest thoughts and emotions, when I went against my sister, the Night Guard stood before me, tried to reason me when my madness became apparent. Their defiance and their courage bought time for my sister, time she used to gather her own courage and do what needed to be done. Their actions prevented eternal night upon the land.”

“To each and everyone of you, I want to remind you of this: You are first the defenders of Equestria and its people, and our personal guard second. If my dark side ever surfaces again, I want you to think and do what needs to be done for Equestria’s sake first.”

“Every pony in this room has proven he is capable enough to become a guard. The selections cleared most of the ones not fit for roles in the Night Guard, the training will filter the rest. For everyone who may fail during training, you will be tested for positions in the Night Court, there is no shame in failing.”

She paused for a moment.

“Now, everypony, please leave the mess and follow the Guards who will assign each of you to a unit.”

Still bowing, I was confused. Did I pass? Did I fail? Should I continue to bow?

My neck was starting to ache in this uncomfortable position. The sounds of ponies going out of the room deafened all others sounds.

When everything became quiet again, I risked a glance around: no one was left in the mess, except me, the medical unicorns behind me and the lieutenant.

I started to lift my head a little.

“Now that this matter is resolved, let’s us tend to this one.”

I heard papers shifting

“Galzra, is it? You can stop bowing now”.

Neck aching from the effort of bowing so long, I straightened up to see the Princesses stepping out of the dais and coming toward the scarred stallion.

“I fear, dear sister, that this one may be too much trouble. I know his affliction, seen ponies lose themselves in it. In time of peace, those poor souls can snap at any time and lose their senses. It is too dangerous to integrate him in your newly reformed guards. What if a civilian punch him?”

“I beg to differ, Celestia. You saw what I saw on the combat test. He could have maimed the other batpony to death yet he didn’t.”

The sisters stopped just before the scarred stallion, looking straight at me. I felt uncomfortable under their gaze.

The voice of the scarred stallion cut through, like a blade slicing a cake yet tinged with respect.

“Pardon me, your Highnesses, if I may?”

Celestia and Luna shifted their gaze to him.

Celestia poke: “Certainly Lieutenant, it is exactly for that matter that we asked you to come here, to evaluate candidates. As a retired veteran of my own Guard, speak freely”

The stallion cleared his throat

“As your sister said, Princess Celestia, this one could have easily killed his opponents. He was stronger, bulkier. If he wanted, he could have chomped on the poor foul neck and cut the artery before any of us were close enough to react.”

He stopped for a second, and lifted a hoof

“But the important thing is, your Highness, he didn’t. Sure, he unleashed hell on the poor bastard, broke a few bones, scratched him with his wings, but in the end, nothing life threatening.”

“I saw his results, Galzra here cleared all the tests, though the speed test was a bit lacking. If I may, I managed other guards with the same affliction, they did just fine in the end. He just needs to stay in control when his temper flares up”

Celestia’s face shifted, showing concern.

The stallion spoke before she could.

“To ease your apprehensions, I will personally train him and his unit. If, at any time, I sense that he may not be a good fit for active duty, you can be sure I will not make him pass”

Princess Celestia sighed, then smiled faintly.

“I guess it’s decided then, dear sister.”

Princess Luna smiled widely.

“It seems so, indeed. Lieutenant, there are 4 others candidates without training instructor. I will assign them to your unit.”

The stallion bowed briefly “It would be my honor, your Highness”

The Royal Sisters turned to me, and Luna spoke.

“Congratulation, Galzra. Welcome to the Night Guard”

I bowed deeply, trying to speak but words refusing to cross my lips.

As I straightened up, the Princesses walked to the dais and out of the building, followed by a few guards that were hidden behind their thrones and the unicorns behind me.

The scarred stallion turned to me, his face stern.

“Son, before you go thank me or whatever, don’t think I did you any favor here. Im gonna make you work twice as hard to earn your place in the Guard. I will not accept anything but the utmost commitment, you understand?”

I gulped, but risked asking the question that burned my mind

“Sir, if I may? What was the “affliction” Princess Celestia spoke of?”

The scar on his face shifted as he spoke

“Son, you are berserk. I’ve seen enough of ponies like you during my days as guard to recognize it. When sufficiently hurt or angered, you go into a blind rage. Some, indeed, loses themselves in the rage, they destroy everything and everypony around them in but a moment. But most berserker can learn how to control their temper, and channel it to push through obstacles they wouldn’t clear otherwise. I’ll train you with this goal in mind.”

Suddenly, he grinned.

“Trust me, you’re gonna hate me long before the training is over”

He walked to the entrance of the mess, waving me to follow him.

The corridor was mostly empty by now. I could see ponies leaving the building.

Five ponies were waiting near the mess doors.

One of them was the biggest Earth pony I had ever seen, towering above everypony else. Black mane, dark blue coat, amber eyes. If not for the size and lack of wings he could have easily passed for a supersized batpony. His cutie mark was a full moon behind a shield.

Two others were chatting with each other, two mares by the sound of their voice, and batponies.

The first one was light grey, with an electric blue mane and turquoise eyes, her cutie mark looking like a spyglass. Her laugh echoed, sounding like delicate glass tinkles.

The second was bright green, her mane a fiery red, light blue eyes and a cloudy moon for a cutie mark.

The last two were a Pegasus and a unicorn. The unicorn was a bright purple, with a light bluish grey mane, his eyes a bright orange. His cutie mark looked like an exploding glass thingy.

As for the pegasus, he had a mint coat, light blonde mane and golden eyes. His cutie mark looked like shooting stars.

The scarred stallion cleared his throat loudly, cutting short the chatter between each of them.

“Listen up! My name is Lieutenant Bright Bolt and I will be your drill sergeant for the next year! I will not accept anything short of your absolute best. I will mold each and every pony on this unit into a competent guard, able to work as one with his teammates. You can call me “Sir”, “Sergeant”, “Lieutenant” and every combination including at least one of those terms. Do you understand, cadets?!”

“yessir, understood sir” we began. The lieutenant stopped us

“I SAID: DO YOU UNDERSTAND CADETS? I DON’T HEAR YOU”

As one, we all answered “SIR YES SIR”.

The sergeant grinned madly, a wild spark in his eyes, his face distorted by the scar and spoke:

“WELCOME, CADETS! WELCOME TO THE NIGHT GUARD!”

Ding! Level UP!
New perk: Berserk Rage!
When you suffer a critical hit or your health drops below 20%, you are overcome with rage.
You gain 20 damage resistance and deal 20% more damage while effect lasts but you may attack friends as well as foes.