Chapter 1

“It’s this way! Keep firing!”

The laser rifles and bullets kept whizzing by us as we charged down the corridor towards the reactor. Preston was right behind me as the men fended off the synths trying to blast us, along with those damn Coursers, and any Institute scientists who stayed behind despite me initiating the evacuation protocol.

“Preston! On your right!” I pointed. Preston spun around and aimed his laser musket and fired at a synth guard about to shoot him.

“General! Go and get to the reactor! We’ll hold them off here!” Preston told me as he fired and blasted a hole through a synth’s head. The Minutemen all formed a firing line using any cover they could find to block off any incoming synths from getting through them.

“We’re in this together, Garvey!” I aimed my rifle and simultaneously shot six synth heads off and reloaded. I saw another synth aim at a Minuteman and raised my arm to block the laser shot. My Power Armor withstood it with no problem.

I was in front and kept firing my rifle. I took most of the shots fired at me since my Power Armor was made to endure almost anything, thanks to Sturges’s help. We finally managed to make it to the reactor and our target was in sight.

“We finally made it! Let’s get this detonator set and-!”

ZAP!

A stray laser shot hit one of my men in the leg, causing him to scream in pain and fall down. I looked to where the shot came from and saw X6 standing on the catwalk. Behind those sunglasses he always wore, I could tell he was pissed for a guy who didn't show much emotion.

“X6…” I said, frowning behind my helmet.

“They put their trust in you…I put my trust in you, sir,” X6 said, even though his voice sounded emotionless, I could still hear the hurt and betrayal in his voice. X6 then aimed his Institute rifle at me. “Lay down your weapons. Or I will be forced to terminate you and your friends,” X6 ordered me. “I won’t hesitate to kill you.”

Preston aimed his rifle but I held up my hand. “X6, please, you and I have been through a lot together. I don’t want to kill you, but…I will if you get in my way. It’s as I told Shaun…the Commonwealth deserves to choose its own fate! As do you! As does anyone!”

“Choose? The Institute has given the Commonwealth plenty of chances. You have seen what happens when we give synths choices. They will kill, rape, enslave, and even eat each other. The Institute was the best choice for the Commonwealth. For humanity. If you can’t see that…then I’m afraid you leave me no choice.” X-6 then opened fire at me and cloaked himself with a Stealth Boy.

I raised my arm and blocked his shots. “Get to cover! Now!”

Preston and the others hid behind whatever they could as I ran under the catwalk. X6 took more shots at me and I managed to evade them. Thanks to my heightened senses, over the course of traversing through the wasteland, I could make out where X6 was. I heard him running around me and jumped off the catwalk. I pulled out my assaultron blade and sprinted towards a support beam. I crashed into it, forcing X6 to jump out of the way which revealed himself. He took more shots at me as I charged, the blasts reflecting off my armor, and managed to pin him to the wall as I plunged my sword through his chest. There was a pause as X6 coughed and his glasses fell off as he stared up at me.

“I’m sorry, X6…” I said sadly.

“No…you’re…not…” X6 took his last breath before he slouched down on my assaultron blade. I slowly pulled it out of his chest and set him down against the wall. I sighed softly and closed his eyes as I stood up. Walking over to the controls of the reactor I pressed the button to open the doors, then went down into it. Thanks to my suit, the radiation didn’t harm me very much. I planted Sturges’s bomb on the reactor and activated it.

“Okay, bomb set!” I said. I walked back out of the reactor and pulled out the detonator. Only for it to be blasted out of my hand. “No!” I shouted as I turned back to see X6 still barely alive with an Institute rifle in hand. Preston then blasted his head off with his laser musket.

“No…” Preston looked down at the destroyed detonator. “No! No! No! What the hell do we do now?!”

I cursed under my breath but then heard the sounds of metallic footsteps headed our way. Most likely the remaining synth reinforcements.

“Boss! What the hell’s taking so long?!” I heard Sturges over the intercom.

I looked down at the destroyed detonator and back at the reactor. I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.

“Preston, take the rest of the Minutemen and get out of here. I’ll detonate the bomb myself.” I told him. Preston and the other Minutemen all gasped after hearing this.

“What? General, are you crazy? No, I ain’t leaving you, sir! We’ll figure out a way out of this!”

“Preston!” I snapped as the other Minutemen flinched at my outburst. I slowly reached up and took off my Power Armor helmet to look him in the eyes. “What code do the Minutemen live by?”

“T-To…To protect the people at a minute’s notice,” Preston said.

“The Commonwealth needs the Minutemen, Garvey. You all have the best chance at rebuilding,” I said as I then saluted him. Preston nearly chokes up after seeing this, but he and the others all saluted as well.

“Sir…Nate…It has been the greatest honor to fight by your side, and to have you as both a leader…and a damn good friend,” Preston said with great sorrow and sadness in his eyes.

“I know, and it’s been an equal pleasure to have known and fought with you too.” I placed my mechanical hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad I ran into you that day in Concord.” I frowned a little and sighed again. “Do me a favor…tell Piper that she’ll have to cancel that one-on-one interview about how we beat the Institute. And make sure you tell the others how good I went out.”

“You’ve done so much for us, for all of the people of the Commonwealth. We will never forget you, Nate,” Preston said as he started ordering the reluctant other Minutemen out of the reactor room. I watched as they left and looked up.

“Never thought it would end like this, huh? Huh Nora?” I asked out loud, a single tear running down my cheek as I headed to the reactor before latching my Power Armor helmet back on.

The synths marched in and began to take fire at me. I grunted as I fired my assault rifle at them. I made my way up the catwalk, taking fire and firing back. As I fought my way back to the reactor, I thought about all that I had been through since the day I crawled out of Vault 111. The friends I made, the struggles I endured, the battles I fought. All to save my son…only to find out he turned into my greatest enemy. As I was being pelted by laser shots and pushed my way back to the reactor, I quickly reached up and pressed a button on my helmet to play a curtain holo tape.

Feedback sound.

“Oops. Ha ha ha. No, no. Little fingers away. There we go. Just say it. Right there. Right there. Go ahead. *baby giggles* Ha ha! Yay! Hi honey! Listen…I don’t think Shaun and I need to tell you how great of a father you are…but we’re going to anyway. You are kind, and loving, *Shaun laughs*…and funny! Ha ha. That’s right. And patient. So patient. Patience of a saint, as my mother used to say. Look, with Shaun, and us all being at home together…It’s been an amazing year. But even so, I know our best days are yet to come. There will be changes, sure. Things we’ll need to adjust to. You’ll rejoin the civilian workforce, I’ll shake the dust off my law degree…But everything we do, no matter how hard…we do it for our family. Now say goodbye, Shaun…Bye bye? Say bye bye? *baby giggles* Bye honey! We love you!”

I grunted and threw a grenade at the synths and it exploded. I finally made it to the reactor and readied to push the button.

“…I love you too, Nora.”

Click!

Meanwhile
Fort Independence
3rd POV

Preston and the Minutemen teleported back to Fort Independence and Sturges followed behind.

“Preston!” Preston slowly turned to see Piper and the others ran up to him. “What happened?! Did you beat them?”

KA-BOOM!!!

A massive explosion rocked the whole wasteland, the force shook the earth and startled all the settlers in the Castle. A mushroom cloud hung over the wasteland and Preston looked up at it with great sadness.

“Holy shit!” MacCready yelped.

“The fuck was that?!” Hancock said.

“I say, that nearly ruptured my whole system!” Codsworth said.

Piper looked around as if looking for someone. “Wait…where’s Blue?” Dogmeet was sniffing around and began whining out loud.

Preston looked down as he tipped his hat to try and hide his face. Cait walked up to him.

“Oi! Where the fuck is Nate? Why the fuck ain’t he here?!” Cait demanded to know as she cared to Nate deeply.

“Garvey…don’t tell me…” Nick said softly as he had a feeling of what happened, but he hoped he was wrong.

“The General…made the ultimate sacrifice for the Commonwealth,” Preston said as he looked up at them. The others gasped as they heard this and looked back at the explosion.

“No…Sir…”Codsworth cried as he now lost his whole family.

“No! That’s…that’s bullshite! No way Nate would just…” Cait tried to say as Hancock punched a wall in anger.

“No…no no, please no…” Piper dropped to her knees and started to cry. “Why…why do all the good ones…damn it…!”

Nick took off his hat as the rest of the settlers gathered.

“Strong kill Institute! Institute kill brother!” Strong said angrily.

“Why would the monsieur do something so drastic?” Curie asked, tears leaking from her eyes.

“Garvey, did he say anything before…he died?” Nick asked.

“He said…he went down like a man. A hero, protecting the people of the Commonwealth and giving all of us the chance to choose our own fate.” Preston then walked over to Piper and knelt down to her. “He also said…he had to cancel that one-to-one interview with you…”

Piper cried and cried as she wrapped her arms around Preston and cried into his chest. As Nate’s companions mourned the death of their dear friend, a Brotherhood of Steel vertibird came flying in and landed just outside the Castle walls. Elder Maxson, of all people, marched through the gates.

“Where is he?! First he pulls that insubordinate stunt, now he goes awol and confronts the Institute on his own?! I’ll have his holo tags!” Maxson barked.

“You better watch your fuckin’ tongue, Maxson! Or else I’m gonna shove my gun so far up your arse, it will come out your mouth!” Cait threatened Maxson as the rest of Nate’s friends and the Minutemen all armed their weapons and aimed at Maxson.

“Stand down, now!” Ronnie Shaw and Preston both shouted as they stepped forward.

“The General…is no longer with us, Maxson…he died saving the Commonwealth and saving humanity,” Preston explained.

Maxson was shocked to hear the news and immediately changed his tone of voice and mood.

“I…I apologise…” Maxson said. “I’ve now lost two great Paladins. This war brings a heavy toll.” Maxson collected himself before clearing his throat. “Thank you for the news. I…I shall take my leave.” Maxson turned to walk away before looking back at Preston one last time. “He was a good man, wasn’t he?”

“He was the best of us. The Commonwealth will forever owe him a great debt. But now…it is up to us, all of us, to make sure his sacrifice wasn’t in vain,” Preston told Maxson, holding out his hand to the leader of the Brotherhood.

Maxson turned back around to face Preston and nodded and shook his hand.

“In honor of Paladin Nate, I shall have the Brotherhood support the Minutemen in any way I can.”

Preston nodded as news of Nate’s sacrifice spread throughout the Commonwealth. His actions, his sacrifice, and his legacy would be forever known for future generations. No one will soon forget the tale of the Sole Survivor of Vault 111.

Time Passes…

In an underground cave, the darkness was soundless and nothing but stone and cracked rock could be found. Cracks along the wall spread across the floor, the walls, and ceiling. The only sound heard was the distinct water droplets dripping from above. It was hitting something that didn’t sound like stone, but rather metallic. A small tremor shook the cave a little and a rock fell from the ceiling and hit the metal object with a loud clang. There was an echo that sounded throughout the cave, but then something else happened from within the metallic object.

A voice could be heard, but it sounded more…robotic. And a small flashing red light appeared as the voice spoke.

“Powering on.

Radiation levels: Depleted.

Fusion core energy: Immeasurable levels.

Power Armor plating: Error found. Unable to eject.

Pilot status: Unresponsive, incapacitated.

Pilot internal organs: Functional, yet unresponsive.

Pilot brain activity: detected.

Activating Power Armor healing pumps and built-in defibrillator. Stand clear.”

A loud pulse echoed throughout the cave, forcing some movement from the metal object. After a few minutes, another pulse echoed and something took a deep, exasperated breath. Something inside the metal object sprung to life. It was a large metallic suit of armor, much larger than normal standards. Its hands slowly opened and closed as it breathed slowly to keep calm. When it tried to move its arms and legs, it felt as though it was stuck into the stone of the cave. It couldn’t see, due to the darkness, but it could definitely feel as though it was trapped. However, despite having just woken up from its slumber, the being within the armor wanted to be free.

It clenched its fists and began pulling its arms and legs as hard as it could. The stone began to crack and give way from the armor’s unexpected strength and couldn’t keep the armor in place for long. With one last pull, the armor managed to rip itself out of the bedrock. Its joints felt a little stiff, but still moveable. The armor pressed down against the bedrock with its hands and forced the rest of its body out of its stone restraints. Once the metal being was free, it slowly stood up in its legs, allowing whatever lingering pieces of stone to fall off.

1st POV

What could only be described as a dream felt so real. I could still feel the burning sensation of the explosion against my armor, the nuclear material trying to burn its way through the metal plating and burn me to a crisp. I welcomed my end, the long journey of mine finally drawing to a close. Yet…something was wrong. I couldn’t see properly, but my eyes could still make out the HUD from my Power Armor’s helmet. The plating condition of my armor was still read yellow, the fusion cell’s energy level reading was damaged, but still allowed movement.

I stood in the darkness for what felt like hours. For a moment, I thought I was in hell and the reality didn’t hit me yet. I wouldn’t be surprised since I had killed so many people, I’ve lost count. I then remembered the built-in terminal of my helmet and attempted something that would confirm my current disposition.

“…Last recorded entry of active duty,” I said quietly and slowly.

“Recording Playing.”

My helmet began showing me recordings on what happened. From me and the Minutemen storming the Institute, to my battle with X6, to me saying goodbye to Preston. I saw myself walking towards the reactor, my geiger counter going nuts over the levels of radiation it let off, and suddenly seeing nothing but a flash of lights. The recording kept going but everything was just…blank. It was like that for a few moments until it showed darkness. Showing that I was buried under rock and debris.

“…Estimated time since active duty.”

“Estimating…

Approximately: over three million years since last active duty of Power Armor.”

My heart nearly stopped again after reading the words on my HUD.

“No…no, that can’t be! Run it again!”

“Running diagnostic…

Processing: Three million, five hundred and sixty thousand, eight hundred years since last active duty of Power Armor.”

I was at a loss for words, let alone oxygen. I wanted to scream, punch the wall, do something, but I was a statue. It wasn’t the fact that everyone I’ve ever known was now long gone. It wasn’t even the part where I miraculously survived a point blank nuclear blast when I should’ve been burnt to a crisp. All of it…all of it couldn’t compare to the fact that this is the second time I was put to sleep. I was taken from the world I once knew right before the war began, put in an ice box for over two hundred years, and woke up in a ripped apart world that was a shadow of the once I once knew. Now…it’s happened again, this time over three million years have passed.

The outside of this cave I was in was the only conundrum left. Since so much time has passed, how much has the world changed? I checked my geiger counter, but it read that there were no levels of radiation in the cave. I could feel the shock slowly ebbing away and it would only be a matter of time before I break down. I still couldn’t come to terms with my current situation. Part of me wanted to escape the cave, but I was admittedly terrified of what I would see. Would the world be completely destroyed? Devoid of life? I was the sole survivor of my vault, and there’s a chance I’d be the sole survivor of the whole world. I then remembered the promise I made with Preston. How he’d take my place and help rebuild and remake the Commonwealth to what it once was.

Despite my protests to not go out and stay put, I knew it was for the best to bite the bullet and keep moving. I turned on my helmet’s headlamp. It managed to flicker on and I finally saw my surroundings. Rock and rubble, no matter where I looked. Last I recall, I should still be in the reactor room from the Institute. But I could see no traces of machinery or man-made scaffolding. My only hypothesis was that everything had eroded away and decomposed over the course of three million years. But as the thought occurred to me, I looked down at my Power Armor limbs. There were rust spots here and there, dents and deep scratches along the metal, but it surprisingly seemed to be in better condition without any signs of eroding or decay. I took a minute to think about how it would be possible.

When I was creating this X-01 Power Armor, I had Struges help me draw up the blueprints. It would be the most scientifically combat enhanced set of Power Armor I could possibly invent. I must’ve scrounged through all the old science facilities and labradorites in the Commonwealth to find the right materials. I also took notes from Tinker Tom and Ingram. I intended for the armor to protect me from most, if not all, types of dangers and radiation exposure. My only conclusion, as ludicrous as it may sound, is that my Power Armor managed to withstand the full brunt of the reactor explosion. I was kept in some form of radioactive stasis and preserved all this time, surrounded by extreme radiation. Not to mention, the hurdles I had to endure to become as adept as possible to radiation exposure without the use of Power Armor.

I could go through the many lengthy explanations as to how I should be dead, or the luckiest/unluckiest bastard to be alive, but I had other priorities. One foot in front of the other, I walked across the cave to the other side of the wall. The cave itself wasn’t large, and there didn’t seem to be much oxygen in the room. I ran my mechanical hand along the stone wall. I knocked my hand against the stone, trying to find some kind of hollow point. I walked around the room, knocking my hand against the walls.

Clunk! Clunk!

After almost circling the whole cave, my knocking came to a halt. This curtain part of the wall sounded slightly different than the rest of the wall. It was solid, but also felt like there was something else in the other side. If only I had any more explosives with me, I could blow the wall away. Seeing no other option, I decided to do it the old fashioned way. I reeled my fist back and punched the wall as hard as I could.

The punch shook the cave and cracked the stone like glass. I reeled back my other fist and slammed it into the wall again. I kept punching the wall until it crumbled in front of me. Thanks to the built-in tesla bracers, it was easier to work my way through the stone. I tunnelled my way through the wall, not knowing where I was going. I didn’t know why I kept digging, maybe because I didn’t have much else of a choice. Maybe I should’ve stayed in the cave, pulled off my helmet, and slit my throat with the assaultron blade still equipped in my armor. Then again, was never the suicidal type…at least I thought I was until now.

After one last punch through the stone, I felt like I punched through to another opening. I pulled my fist back and kicked through to see I was in another cave. It was much larger than the one I woke up in, but there was an exit that would take me upwards. I made my trek up to the exit and saw light. My heart was beating quite fast, but I kept walking despite my growing anxiety. What would I see? Destruction? A world devoid of life? Mutants taken over? Questions surged through my mind, yet no answers came when I wanted. The light became brighter, so I turned off my headlamp. Once I reached the opening…I was met with an unexpected visual.

I seemed to be in some sort of mountain range. Nothing like what I remembered Commonwealth was. The Commonwealth didn’t even have any mountain ranges to begin with. Thinking about this in a geological view, there must’ve been a series of major earthquakes that terraformed and reshaped the landscape completely. All these mountains springing up was a result of that. Although, it didn’t help my nerves in the slightest. I only stepped out into the light for over a minute and I already felt nauseous. I fell to my hands and knees and clenched my fists.

“Gone…everything is gone…again…!” I growled.

Thoughts and images of my friends and family came flooding through my mind. The first time I saved Preston from those raiders, helping Cait in her path to cure her chem addiction, helping MacCready find a cure for his son, all those moments that made me hang on to my humanity, to keep me from breaking.

“Aaaaagh!” I punched the ground and made a small fist sized crater from the force of the impact.

I stayed on my mechanical hands and knees for who knows how long. I wish I could just stay here and die…but I knew better. I knew it wouldn’t help my current affairs. I sluggishly brought myself up to my feet. I decided to get some fresh air and went to eject myself from my armor.

RRRR-!

“Error.”

“Huh?”

RRRR-!

“Error: Unable to eject pilot.”

“What do you mean-get me out of here!”

I kept trying again and again but I still couldn’t get out of the Power Armor. I groaned and gritted my teeth. No point in dealing with this, for now. I...I just gotta keep moving. I sighed heavily and started taking my first steps in this new world I found myself in…again.

I made my way down the mountain pass until I was on level ground. I hypothesised that blast must’ve welded the armor plating to the exoskeleton. Not only that, but the eject mechanism on the back is more than likely severely damaged. Getting out of this armor will not be easy, if I can’t find the proper tools to do so. Once I reached the bottom, I got an idea on how else I can somewhat escape my mobile prison. I placed my hands under my helmet and pulled. Unlike the rest of my armor, the helmet was detachable and could he unequipped and reequipped whenever I pleased. By some stroke of good fortune, the helmet wasn’t as welded down to my armor.

The magnetic couplings released and I slowly took my helmet off my head. The sunlight piercing through the clouds above made me wince a bit, but I breathed in my first breath of fresh air. The smell of the air around me was surprisingly much cleaner than what I was used to smelling. It’s as if I couldn’t detect any rads in the air…which was comforting, given the circumstances. I looked down at my helmet and saw my reflection. I expected to see a charred face, similar to Hancock’s, with no hair, nose, or ears. Instead, I still had all my facial features and my hair. I smiled, if only a little, before shaking my head and placed my helmet back on my head.

I began my trek to…well, honestly, I didn’t really know where I was going. If there was any form of intelligent life left on this planet, it would be a miracle after over three million years. What I was most curious about is if there were still people around, would they have been able to rebuild humanity despite the major geological terraforming? I looked up and the sky was mostly cloudy and hiding the sun’s rays. I was like I was in some foreign world or a different dimension. After wandering for what seemed like hours, the sounds of cries of distress pulled my attention. I had to do a double take, even a triple take, to make sure I wasn’t delirious. The cries were louder and just over the horizon of the mountain trail. My pace picked up and my hopes of finding life came to fruition. Survivors…there’s still survivors living after all this time! Just as I made it over the horizon of the trail, I came to a screeching dead halt.

I expected to see humans, survivors, and they needed help from some kind of danger. Raiders, possibly? Which shouldn’t be likely, ever since I destroyed the gangs back in Nuka World. Ever since I liberated the former amusement park, word spread to the Commonwealth of my actions and how Nuka World became a large trading post again, soon to be a trading settlement. But these…things I was bearing witness to. They weren’t humans at all.

Three of them looked like some form of bipedal horse people. Their legs were double jointed like a horse and their feet were replaced with hooves. They had arms and hands like humans, but their faces had small snouts instead of noses. Their ears were on their heads and a bit pointed, and their hair was long, same with the tails growing out of their hindquarters. They wore tattered clothing and were running from some form of flying insect-like creatures with similar horse-like features. Only difference with these insect-like creatures was that their arms and legs had holes in them and their wings looked like blood bug wings.

“What…in the ever loving fuck am I looking at?!” I said aloud. “Is this some kind of sick joke?! Just how much did the radiation affect this world?! Has everyone mutated this way?!”

They didn’t seem to notice me, but I could hear them speak normally.

“Keep going! Don't look back!” I heard one horse-person shout.

She had pink-ish skin…or fur-or whatever, with purple hair and a light blue streak through it, same with her tail. I also noticed that these…whatever he fuck they are, had different things with them. She, apart from her…assets, had a horn, another had wings but looked damaged, and another looked normal, as far as normal gets in this place.

“Go ahead and run! It makes the meat more juicy!” One of the black bug things said while the others laughed and mocked them.

That last part made me unintentionally angry almost immediately. It was something I had heard one too many times from too many of those fucking raiders. And now, after all this time, there’s still people like that?

“Fucking sickening…” I hissed venomously and picked up a rock. I reeled my arm back and aimed at one of the black bugs. I pinpointed the rock to hit his head. Once I was prepared, I threw the rock as hard as I could towards one of the bugs. The rock hurled through the air and hit the bug’s head in its temple.

KER-SPLAT!

The bug’s head exploded in a green gory mess as its brains flew everywhere and its body fell to the ground. My breaking point was on the edge as my anger was still apparent and I reached back and pulled out my assaultron blade and menacingly made my way to the now terrified group, who still hasn’t noticed me yet.

All I could think about were all the people that the raiders would kill, torture, rape, and even eat. Hearing their sick laughs, seeing no remorse in their eyes, it made me sick to my stomach. I let out a war cry and charged at them.

3rd POV

“FUCKING KILL!”

Nate charged at them with full force, the ground practically shaking under the weight of his steel boots. Like a giant stomping across the earth the bug-people stared up in fear at the hulking metal beast that was charging at them that came out of nowhere. What really made their blood freeze was its eyes, blood red and almost glowing. Before any of them could react, the metal monster reached out and grabbed a bug person by the head and lifted him up. Nate then plunged his blade inside the bug person’s stomach and began craving his way up. The bug person screamed in pain and horror but his cries were muffled by Nate’s metal hand. Nate then crushed the bug person’s head and drooped his now headless corpse on the ground.

“W-W-What the Tartarus is that?” Another bug person cried out.

Nate wasted no time as he charged forward at another bug person. This time they made a move by flapping their wings and flying up, but this didn’t stop Nate’s assault on them. He threw his assaultron blade at it and through its throat. It choked and gurgled on his own blood before falling down.

“Nooo! I’ll kill you!” Another changeling flew down towards Nate and fired an unknown from his horn, blasting Nate in his chest.

Nate stumbled back a bit but was still standing as if it was nothing. The bug person flew down and sunk his fangs into Nate’s head. At least, that was the idea. The bug person cried out as his fangs shattered upon biting Nate’s helmet. Nate clapped his hands together on the bug person’s head and crushed it, blood and brain matter splattered everywhere. The last bug person was frozen in shock and fear, he had just witnessed his friends be completely slaughtered by this…this…demonic monster! The bug person fell down as his whole body had practically refused to function anymore out of fear. Nate looked over at the last hug person and marched his way towards him.

“S-Stay back…! I-I-I said s-stay back!” The bug person cried as he tried crawling away but he couldn’t move

His body trembled and his mind went blank as death was drawing closer and closer and closer until it was standing right above him. Nate lifted up his boot and placed it on the bug person’s chest. Then Nate began to slowly bring his foot down. The bug person gasped and tried clawing at his steel boot. Whimpering as he then groaned out in pain as a loud snap was heard followed by more. His ribs breaking under the weight as the bug person began coughing up blood, tears in his eyes as he was pleading for his life.

“H-H-Have…m-mercy…!”

“…God has mercy. I. Don’t.”

These were the last words the bug person heard before his entire chest was caved in by Nate’s boot. Blood, guts, and crushed bones littered the ground.

Nate breathed out slowly and clenched his fists. He picked up his metal boot, bone and gore sticking to him. He walked over to the bug he threw his sword at and yanked it out of its throat. His sights then turned to the group of horse people who were trembling in fear at the sight of him. Nate was silent as he trudged over to them and stopped just before him, his colossal form looming over them like a shadow of death.

“You speak English?” Nate demanded. The people looked up in fear and they nodded slightly, mostly afraid but also slightly confused. “What are you?”

“W-We’re…W-We’re…We’re ponies…” The unicorn woman answered as she stood in front of the other two ponies, they seemed younger by a few years, at best teenagers. The unicorn gulped and powered up her horn, however the light around her horn seemed dim.

“I-I-I won’t hesitate…” She said. Nate could tell that she was scared out of her mind, but he also saw that they all looked malnourished and weak, like they haven’t eaten in days.

“Ponies, huh?” Nate rolled his eyes behind his helmet. “Radiation has a sick sense of humour.”

“H-Huh?” The woman said.

“Nothing. Who or what were those things I killed?” Nate pointed at the mutilated corpses.

“Y-You don’t know what a changeling is?” The unicorn asked in confusion.

“A what?”

“A changeling. They’re…they’re monsters. They can transform into anypony and anything they want, they feed off love but…love wasn’t enough. They started…s-started…” Tears built up in the corner of her eyes as she began to cry, probably remembering the horrors she was forced to bare witness.

Nate was silent, unbeknownst to him, a thread within his psyche was hanging by a thread. One last question was all it would take for the inevitable psychological transformation.

“What happened to the world?” Nate said in a low tone.

“I-I’m sorry?” The unicorn leaned in a bit as she didn't quite hear the question.

“Tell me what happened to the world. Why were you running away from these things?” Nate said.

The woman hesitated but began to explain. “For five years, the lands have been under the tyrannical rule of three of the worst villains in history. They rule with cruelty and make anypony who resists pay dearly. It’s been like this ever since all the princesses were defeated one by one. We live under their totalitarian rule and everypony suffers endlessly. It’s like a never ending nightmare…”

“I…sacrificed everything,” Nate said to himself quietly. “And this is how I’m repaid…?!”

Snap!

The three ponies shivered and trembled in fear as they stepped back. Nate balled his fists and punched a small stray boulder, practically exploding upon impact as Nate started yelling at the top of his lungs.

“IS THIS YOUR SICK TWISTED SENSE OF HUMOR?! RIPPING ME APART FROM THEM WASN’T ENOUGH FUN FOR YOU?! YOU HAD TO DO IT AGAIN?! HUH?! EVERYTHING!! GONE!! YOU FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!!”

Nate punched multiple stray boulders over and over as images of his wife, his son, the Institute, Raiders, Super Mutants, all forms of Hell he went through flooded his mind.

Nate breathed heavily, his armor was practically steaming from the exertion he just portrayed. Just when the ponies thought it couldn’t get any scarier, Nate began to chuckle a little. His chuckling turned into a laugh as he stared up at the sky and laughed out loud maniacally. When the laughing finally died down, he turned to face the ponies again.

“Fine…I now somewhat regret killing Gage. He had the right idea all along!” He pointed at the pink-furred pony. “Where’s the nearest settlement?!”

The unicorn jolted back in fear and gulped before finally speaking

“J-Just a mile up north. I-It was my home town… Please, D-Don’t hurt them,” she said while protecting the other two behind her.

Nate grabbed her by the arm, not hard enough to break it or harm her, but enough to pull her away from the ponies and shove her in the direction she said.

“Lead the way,” Nate ordered as he shoved the other two ponies.

“You’re taking us back?! But we just escaped!”

“I just saved your pathetic ass,” Nate snorted and leaned in to glare at her, the red lights on his helmet glowing red. “And I’ll save the rest of them my own damn way. So cooperate, and I’ll keep treating you nicely.”

The ponies all stared at each other and shivered in fear. On one hand they had just escaped what could be described as hell, on the other hand this thing just slaughtered a team of Changelings with no remorse and with ease.

“F-Fine…j-just promise me you’ll save my friends,” The unicorn said. “I-I’m Starlight Glimmer…do you have a name or…?”

“Names are for friends.” Nate shoved the pony Starlight along. “And we aren’t friends.”

Starlight gulped as his voice sounded like it came from the pits of Hell itself, but he seemed to be the only one that could save them.

“F-Follow me. I know a place w-where we can get a better look without being seen,” she said as she tried to lead.

Nate followed the ponies along the path and they tried their best not to look behind them. Nate’s armor was still dripping green blood and his sword more so. Nate didn’t expect to become this enraged after hearing the state of the world, but then again, he couldn’t care less at the same time.

“Hey.” Starlight jumped and looked over her shoulder as they walked. “Who’re these three villains you mentioned?“

“Um…their names are Tirek, Sombra, and the one who controls the changelings, Queen Chrysalis,” Starlight explained.

“And you said they banded together and took over?” Nate questioned.

“Yes…it was something not even Princess Celestia and Luna, our former rulers, could’ve ever anticipated happening. Each of them were defeated more than once by the Elements of Harmony. Sombra and Tirek both were sealed in their own prisons, but Queen Chrysalis somehow managed to free the both of them and form an alliance.”

“I’m gonna pretend what you said makes sense, even though I have no fucking idea,” Nate deadpanned behind his helmet.

“A-Anyway, they systematically overwhelmed every princess one by one. Then they began spreading their tyranny throughout all of Equestria.”

“Fucking hell…even the Commonwealth’s name got changed?” Nate rolled his eyes.

“What is the Commonwealth?” Starlight asked hesitantly.

“None of your business, what else happened?” Nate said.

“Each villain got their portion of land on the continent.“ Starlight wrapped her arms around herself to try to calm her nerves. “They…displayed their victory by stringing up all five princesses in front of everypony. They were then split apart from each other and taken as prisoners. No pony has seen or heard from any of them or the other Elements of Harmony bearers ever since.”

God, what a load of shit she’s spouting. Nothing makes sense anymore… Nate thought.

“Hmph, so what you’re saying is they realised that playing the long game never worked out and they cut right to the chase? They’re not as stupid as I was about to assume they were.”

“A-Are you going to free us from them?” Stsrlight asked.

“I don’t remember agreeing to any favor of yours, girly,” Nate scoffed. “Right now, I’m still figuring out my next move as I go. First thing’s first.”

After about an hour of walking, the group arrived just beyond the town Starlight mentioned. It was surrounded by black, carapace-looking walls. More changelings were flying around everywhere and Nate could see them abusing the pony folk from where they stood.

“Here it is…” Starlight said sadly. “I really didn’t want to come back here.”

“I don’t really care.” Nate continued to walk forward. “Stay put and shut up.”

“You’re going down there-?!” Nate cut her off by pointing his still bloody sword at her neck.

“Stay put…and Shut. Up.”

Starlight gulped fearfully and nodded as the other two ponies hid behind her. Nate turned back around and made his way to the front gates of the town.

A group of changelings patrolling the wall heard metallic boots stomping about and turned towards the direction of the source, they then saw a giant hulking creature that seemed to be encased in steel. It had red eyes and a blood covered sword. A green blood covered sword. The Changelings hissed loudly and three flew down

“In the name of Queen Chrysalis, halt! Or else perish!”

The being kept walking forward, not speaking and only the sound of his heavy footsteps echoed.

“Halt! I said halt!” One Changeling wielding a spear then flew up and pierced the creature’s head. Well, that was the idea, until the metal creature swung his sword and sliced through the spear and the Changeling’s head in one clean bloody slash. The Changeling’s head flew through the air and rolled at the hooves of his comrade.

“What the-!”

SLASH!

Another downward slash from Nate’s sword and the other changeling guard was sliced down the middle. His slowly broke apart and blood spurted out like a fountain. The guards standing on the catwalks of the gates looked down in horror as Nate reeled his fist back.

“No doors will stop me…”

CRASH!!

Nate slammed his fist against the gates and they both flew off their hinges and onto the floor in pieces. The dust obscured the vision of the residents. What could only be seen were a pair of glowing red eyes and a hulking figure stepping through. The eyes left a red trail with each step and fear began to grip all the ponies and changelings.

“No guards can stand up to me!”

The dust settled and Nate stood in the middle of the road, his rage at an all time high.

“NO TYRANT CAN HIDE FROM ME!!”

Nate raised his sword in the air and swung it at two nearby changeling guards. He managed to cut them both in two as more blood spilled on his armor.

“I WILL TAKE THIS TOWN AS MY OWN! SO COME AT ME IF YOU FUCKING DARE!!”

“Kill him and take his head for Queen Chrysalis!” The Changelings then charged at him from all over.

Their spears, swords, and fangs all aimed to kill Nate. But their weapons barely did anything to Nate’s impenetrable Power Armor. Nate reached out and grabbed a changeling and used him as a meat shield to stop a sword from swinging at him. Nate then shoved his sword into another Changeling’s head and backhand another changeling, ripping off his jaw with his swing.

A group of changelings tried to gang up on Nate and charge at him with a combined assault. Nate held his ground and raised his arm in front of him. Nate sprinted forward and collided with the group head on, only he rammed through the wall like a freight train. The changelings were either trampled on, sent flying, or were stuck against Nate as he crashed into a building. The battered changelings he used to crash into the wall slid off his arm and were left a broken mess. When Nate walked back out the building, he was met with even more changelings bent on avenging their comrades. Nate let out a sinister laugh as he charged at the horde all on his own. Like a berserker with no sense of reason, Nate swung his sword wildly.

“Somepony kill this bucking monster!” A changeling cried out.

Nate’s assaultron blade tore through the Changelings, their armor barely stood a chance as his blade was able to cut through Coursers. Three changelings used their magic to tie up his arms and pulled back, but Nate let out a mighty roar as he reeled his arms forward and sent the Changelings flying towards him. Nate then spun around and sliced them with his blade, green blood and guts splattered all over Nate as he tore through the Changelings. He kicked a changeling in the chest and it literally tore the changeling apart as his torso was ripped apart from the rest of his limbs.

“COME ON!! COME ON!! FUCKING TRY AND KILL ME!!”

The massacre could be heard from where Starlight was left, outside of town. She tried covering her ears as to drown out the noise but could still hear the screams of dread and death. Nate’s slaughter felt like it lasted forever until it was down to three changelings remaining. Nate’s armor was drenched with green blood and changeling entrails. Behind him was nothing but shredded bodies and still twitching mutilated corpses. The remaining changelings were unable to sound out a sentence, let alone a single word, as fear gripped their hearts like a vice. The ponies who had remained inside the buildings cowered until fear and away from the windows, some unfortunately couldn’t tear their gaze from out the windows.

“Do you know why you three still live?” Nate asked, his robotic voice would haunt them for the rest of their days. “This leader of yours, I want to send her a message. Along with the other two tyrants who think they’re invulnerable.”

Nate grabbed one of the changelings, spun them around, and grabbed his bug wings with his other hand. With one quick yank, Nate ripped the wings off the changeling’s back. The changeling screamed in agony as he flopped on the ground, reaching back as to try to feel his missing wings. Nate moved on to the next changeling and ripped her wings off as well. The pain was so great that she collapsed and passed out. Before Nate could tear off the remaining changeling’s wings, the changeling pointed his spear at his throat and stabbed himself all the way through. Nate watched as the last changeling choked on his own blood and fell down on the ground and soon stopped moving all together.

“Coward…” Nate said bitterly before returning his attention to the still conscious changeling. “Pick up your buddy and fuck off back where you crawled out of.” Nate leaned in and glared into the drone’s soul. “Tell her I’m coming for her…”

The changeling, seeing his opportunity, didn’t hesitate to pick up his friend and started running.

What the hay…WHAT THE BUCK IS THAT THING?! The changeling thought to himself as he ran away, his hooves stumbling as he tripped. He quickly stood up and kept running.

The formerly enslaved ponies all shuddered in fear as they looked on to their savoir and were terrified to their very core.

“I know you’re all still cowering inside the buildings!” Nate announced as he turned around. “If you don’t want to get on my bad side like the rest of these bugs, come out! I got something to say!”

The ponies all looked on to the mutilated and slaughtered bodies of the Changelings, it wasn’t hard to choose. They all immediately left their homes, it was more like prisons and work homes for the females. The ponies held their loved ones close as Nate eyed them.

Not a normal human in sight… Nate sighed in his head.

“So…” Nate crossed his mechanical arms. “You all saw what I did?” They nodded hesitantly. “Good. Remember it. It’s what happens to those who are stupid enough to cross me.”

“A-Are you gonna kill us?” A stallion asked.

“Depends if you try to kill me first. What you saw was me blowing off some steam. To be honest, it wasn’t enough. However, that’s not the point. As of now, this town is under new management. That being said, you all work for me now. You’re free to go back to doing whatever the hell you want before these bugs took over, I don’t give a shit. So long as you’re doing as you’re told, when you’re told, we’ll get along.” The ponies all looked at each other but knew they didn’t have much of a choice. In a twisted sense, it was much better than what the changelings had put them through. “First order of business, this place needs a good cleanup. So gather the bugs’ corpses and drag them outside of town. Second, someone go get that Starlight woman who’s waiting outside of town, I wanna talk with her.”

One pony, a stallion with a white coat and white hair, nodded and quickly ran out of the town. Starlight, who was waiting on top of a small cliff looking over her town, saw her old friend running.

“Hey! Over here!” Starlight shouted while she led the others down the cliff.

“Starlight!” He cried out in joy at seeing Starlight once more.

The two embraced each other and Starlight cried into her friend’s chest.

“I never thought I’d see you again, Diamond!” Starlight said.

“Me either! But Starlight, you gotta get outta here again! There’s a monster in town who slaughtered all the changelings!” Diamond said.

“I…I know…” Starlight said, surprising her friend. “I…sorta led him here.”

“Y-You what?! B-But…w-why? How did…where did it…” Diamond looked back at their home. “He…he slaughtered all of them and…to be honest, I’m scared of what he has planned for us.”

“No, as crazy as it might sound, I think he won’t hurt us. Well, at least not now or unless we attack him,” Starlight told him.

“Attack him?! Are you nuts?!”

“If! Diamond, I said if!”

“Does it really matter?! He’s crazy!”

“I won’t deny that, and as even crazier as it may sound, he might just be the salvation we’ve been hoping for,” Starlight said. “It’s not the kind of saviour we had in mind, but at this point I’m willing to take anything.”

Diamond wanted to protest, but deep down he knew she was right. It was literal torture and a nightmare each day since the three tyrants took over.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Starlight,” Diamond sighed as he led Starlight and the other two ponies back.

“Me too, Diamond, me too…”

Elsewhere

In the barren lands to the east, there stood a massive structure that looked like a craggy mountain with multiple holes everywhere. Within the mountain were the sounds of buzzing in every direction. Sitting on a stone throne, was a larger female changeling. She sat with her legs crossed and her eyes narrowed with unexpected anger.

“My queen?” A drone said to her. “Are you unwell? Why do you look so…displeased?”

“Dead…” Chrysalis grumbled. “All my drones are dead in one of my camps! Some creature made of metal had liberated one of MY camps and slaughtered my drones! I want you to send more troops there now and bring the creature to me alive!” The Queen shouted.

“As you wish can, my queen,” the drone bowed. “And what of the slaves?”

“Have the stallions hanged and their bodies displayed to show others the consequences of their act of rebellion. As for the mares…well, we have to keep morale up.” She chuckled coldly. The drone bowed and then left. The Queen then stood up and walked over behind her throne, smirking a bit. She looked up to see a cocoon of hers shining with an eerie green glow. Inside, one could see the silhouette of a pony, but it had both wings and a horn.

“Don’t get your hopes, princess, this little act of stubbornness from my slaves will be destroyed before it even begins to spark,” the Queen cackled wickedly.

Author's Note

His conquest begins in a gruesome manner…

Side Note:
Inspired by my recent play-through and revisit of one my favourite games: Fallout 4! Personally, in my game and as you’ve read, I chose the Minutemen ending. As for this story, I’ll post it and see how it does for a day or so. If you all like it, maybe I’ll continue it. If not, then I’ll shelve it for another day.

Hope you enjoyed!

~WurkyWilk has left the building…