Fallout: Equestria - An Equal Experimentby JubJubblyChaptersPrologue - The Mountain MareChapter 0 - The RepublicChapter 1 - Safety in SamenessChapter 2 - The Rumor MillPrologue - The Mountain Mare It's never easy to do the right thing, Ms. Glimmer. Stable-Tec is here to help. "Miss Belle, I'm an old mare," the old mare begins. "In all my years there's been nothing I can't handle in this village. A silly megaspell is nothing to be afraid of!" Despite her tone she hesitates as she stands at the window, overlooking the once quaint village she called home which has expanded to house hundreds. Starlight was proud of that little town, and as she aged the pride only grew stronger as more ponies came into her loving hooves to join her community. She hasn't a clue how things have progressed in the outside world's political sphere, and frankly she wouldn't have it any other way. That was until a strange mare came to town with a teal dress and dirty suitcase in tow. The mare seemed confident in her stride, returning the townspeople's greetings with questions about their day and a genuine smile. Such a pony was rarely seen in Our Town, and Starlight didn't like it one bit. Luckily it didn't take long for the two to meet, as the stranger requested a meeting with her that evening. She didn't expect it to be such a hard sell. Sweetie Belle, as head of Stable-Tec's public relations, has never failed a sale yet. Confidence and kindness bleeds off of her and infects the folks around her, leaving them with a small spring in their step. She heard of this town through word of mouth when passing through Fetlock; A strange place where nopony ever left, save for one small caravan every month which promptly returns a week later. A town of ponies with the same cutie mark, the same smile, and the same hair. She couldn't resist. "Oh I assure you Miss Glimmer," Sweetie Belle retorts, setting down her suitcase, "megaspells are indeed something to be afraid of! In the wrong hooves a megaspell has the potential to level cities, poison the water, all sorts of horrible things that frankly I would rather not discuss in further detail." She's made this sell before, it's obvious from her tone and how quickly she bounces from topic to topic. "I'm here to offer a solution for you and your lovely village here. A way to avoid the megaspells." Despite feigning disinterest, Starlight cocks a brow as she glances over her shoulder. Even if the concept of a megaspell hitting her village is laughable, a deep anxiety rests in her stomach she can't quite shake. The elder pauses momentarily before turning to fully face her guest. "You have my attention, Miss Belle." Sweetie's tail twitches in excitement, though the rest of her body remains calm and professional. "I represent a company named Stable-Tec, Miss Glimmer, and we would like to construct a private stable for you and your townsfolk. Now I know what you're thinking; A stable? What good would a stable do against a megaspell! Well, Stable-Tec's state-of-the-art stables are designed with a complex system of interlocking gears to ensure a tight seal once the stable is closed in the event of catastrophe, along with large living spaces, recreational areas, and an expansive garden to keep your town fed for generations! We also supply every resident with their own PipBuck, a portable computer designed to monitor their well-being and interface with systems in the stable." "Mhm... Let's assume that a megaspell event does happen. What, we allow just anypony to access our stable?" Starlight glares down the outsider for an instant before putting on her charismatic front once again, holding her head high. "You may have noticed but we run a tight operation here! If we allow somepony from outside our village they'll cause nothing but trouble. After all..." Starlight pauses, turning to a large poster on the wall above her bed, featuring her gaze and smile along with a large caption, which she reads aloud: "No one is superior; No one lives in fear!" Seeing the poster Sweetie Belle's eyes widen, unnerved further but still determined to make this deal. She clears her throat before opening her suitcase, taking out a manilla folder full of blueprints. "Oh no Miss Glimmer, not just anypony can enter the stable. Only those in your village will have access to it! That's the best part, plenty of other cities have their own stables all across Equestria! This stable will be designed just for you and your community's needs... So long as you agree to be their overmare." "Overmare?" "You see, somepony needs to oversee daily stable operations and report back to Stable-Tec, not to mention maintain order and handle the door controls. Since you already lead the town I think you'd be the perfect fit! You can continue to run your town just as you have on the surface, just with an extra level of security. Just sign here and we can start construction right away!" Starlight hesitates for a moment, rubbing her chin. "Under one condition." "Oh, and what's that Miss Glimmer?" "Your crew can only work after curfew and must cover their flanks. The second the stable is done I want you and your team out of my village, unless you decide to stay with us of course." "We can manage that." Sweetie Belle hardly finishes her thought before Starlight lifts the pen with her magic and signs on the dotted line, finalizing the deal. "Excellent! Miss Glimmer, let me be the first to say..." "Thank you for entrusting Stable-Tec with your safety! We won't let you down!" Chapter 0 - The Republic Banded by Equality by our cutie mark! The Balefire Bombs wrecked havoc across Equestria. Nopony expected them, leaving hardly any time for residents to escape to their assigned stable before they were locked shut by their respective overmares. Evacuating the small equal community was, by comparison, simple. Everypony entered in an orderly single-file line once the flash of necrotic energy came over the horizon from the detonation at Tenpony Tower, no filly or foal left behind once Starlight shut the doors. Stable 11 was successfully sealed, and the experiment could continue. By the second month underground, racial tensions brewed heavily amongst the population. Unicorns were blamed for creating the megaspells which stuck them here, pegasi blamed for closing off the clouds, and Earth ponies blamed for inventing such devastating weaponry which enabled the war. Starlight, seeing the discord forming in the group, established a new law: Any instances of flight and magic were outlawed, bar the unmarking ceremony performed by the overmare. "We cannot have true equality," she explained, "without making sacrifices." From there, the community thrived. The rules around flight and magic gradually softened to permit basic flight and levitating objects after an Earth Pony stallion mentioned to Starlight that they still retained the gift of growing food, and others shouldn't be put at such a disadvantage. After thirty years of living peacefully underground, the overmare calls over the speakers that it's time to return to the village. Many are skeptical, petrified of the post-war world outside the stable, while others are overjoyed to see the outside world for the first time. Everypony in the vault- several hundred if not nearing a thousand- gather near the immense door as the mechanisms whir and creak to life, slowly revealing the blinding daylight of the necromantic wasteland. A pegasus mare- Lockpick- is the first to step onto the soil and behold what had become of their quaint mountain town. After a few moments, the ponies waiting with baited breath, she turns with an immense smile and whinnies into the air. "It's still here! Everything is still here!" The first thing the newly-returning settlers do upon setting hoof on the soil is to return to their family homes and scavenge. Heirlooms, photographs, anything that can remind them of the original stable dwellers who had passed over those thirty years. The second thing, as issued by their former overmare, is to erect defenses. "Though the war between the Zebralands and Equestria may be over," she says with a powerful confidence, "the land is lawless. Those who do not understand our ways of peace will take advantage of it, destroy our homes and our way of life! We cannot leave ourselves open to such abuse. Our walls shall welcome and comfort those who understand and wish to join our utopia and repel those who wish to do us harm. The Republic of Our Town must stand as a beacon to the lost and afraid!" And so, construction begins. Materials are dug out of the nearby mountains surrounding the village, allowing for a quartz wall at least a hundred feet high with brass railings to discourage any climbers. At the corners of the settlement stand two watch towers build from the old homes, one stallion manning each station to keep an eye out for any airborne assaults. The village boasts no outward defenses save for these structures, the immense steel door relocated from the stable to keep out unwanted visitors. As supplies run low, a group of three ponies- two unicorns and an Earth pony- are given a mission to find any remaining settlements willing to trade their crops for metal and stone. A trade route is established between the Republic and the settlers of Fetlock, assuring a steady stream of supplies and the occasional newcomer to the village, the first being a stallion by the name of Cinnamon Roll. Despite the defenses, rumors of life behind the walls of the Republic brew a general fear and unease in the population, many looking to the sky for any signs of an Enclave invasion or similar attacks. Propaganda increases tenfold to assure that, should they remain within the walls of the Republic, they will be safe. "Our utopia has survived a devastating war, one which brewed from deep-seeded envy and hatred for their different views. Out there, you are different. Here, we are all the same, we are all one. The Republic has all you will ever need, there is safety in sameness!" Chapter 1 - Safety in Sameness I live for the smiles on your faces, friends. Seeing you happy gives my life meaning! I live to serve you all and this great Republic! The sun glitters through a crack in the clouds as the Republic rouses from its slumber. The fake grass covering the mountain town's natural silty soil glistens with morning dew as a voice croons over the loud speakers situated throughout the city. "Good morning everypony! This is Speakerphone with your morning announcements! The caravan successfully returned from a supply mission to Fetlock last night, bringing with them two new faces to Our Republic and some new crops for the garden. Everypony, let's give a big welcome to Morning Haste and Brass Tax!" All at once throughout the village, over a thousand ponies shout a warm welcome in unison. The delighted radio host can't help a soft laugh as he adjusts his microphone. "That's what we like to hear! Their cutie unmarking ceremonies will be held at noon today inside the Cutie Mark Vault, just in time for lunch! Should you require assistance in locating the vault, one of our friendly Yesmares will be more than happy to assist you up the mountain. That's all for now! Remember, there is safety in sameness. This has been Speakerphone with Your Republic's morning announcements!" Inside the town confectionary, a young mare ties on her apron with a joyful grin. Peppermint Twist, an Earth pony named after her off-white coat and red mane, has run the confectionary for the past ten years with great pride. Her father passed control of the business down to her when he was found to be infected with Haltervirus. To protect the city, anypony who contracted Hatervirus is sent to an isolated cavern in the mountains never to be seen again. Though Peppermint misses him dearly, she doesn't let the memories bring her down. After all, it's against the rules! Opening the shop doors she takes a deep breath of the semi-fresh mountain air, putting a small brick down to hold the door open before rushing to her counter, gathering a few glass jars of sweets, and placing them into a nearby cart for that morning's deliveries. Attempting to attach herself to the cart proves quite difficult, so she waves down a unicorn resident to help her tie the rope. With the ban loosened they can all help each other, and these unicorns can be so darn helpful! With a content smile and a kind word of thanks she starts off, pulling the cart full of candy jars behind her as she makes the rounds. What a glorious morning! Everypony is smiling, fillies are playing in the streets, and the Yesmares have already started their daily rounds. The machines were unnerving at first, blank metal mares with glowing orange eyes, exposed synthetic brains and large guns attached to their sides, but the large smiles they shared with the rest of the village made them a welcome part of life in the Republic. The wall and watchtowers can only do so much, she recalls from a previous speech, with these new Marebots around the city was now safe inside and out! Peppermint Twist continues forward, waving to the guards before stopping outside the school, where a purple-coated mare stood awaiting her students. "Good morning Wysteria!" Peppermint says with a grin, straightening her posture. As the leader of the Republic- and self-appointed head teacher of the School of Equality- Wysteria's mane is cut in a short pseudo-bob held back with an orange headband, her tail slightly waving down to just above the hoof. She wears a white grown which covers her flank and an ever-present smile, though not as wide as the ponies around her. "What's today's lesson?" Wysteria peeks over her subordinate's shoulder, looking at the heard of approaching fillies and colts walking in an orderly line. Aah, perfection. They're all so well behaved! "We're on pre-Equestrian history at the moment. Most of the books were lost in the attack on Canterlot, but using what I've found in the terminals I've been able to piece together the story of Equestria's founding!" "Ooo! Can I have a preview, please Wysteria?" "Ah ah ah!~" she says, lightly pushing the overexcited candymare back down the steps to the schoolhouse. "If I gave you a special lesson it would hardly be fair now would it?" Peppermint relents, ears flattening as she sheepishly paws at the road below her. "There's no need to be upset Peppermint, it's an honest mistake!.. A mistake you've made ten times this month but a mistake nonetheless! Try not to let it happen again, okay?" No matter how hard she tries to curb her curiosity, no matter how many times she catches herself staring at the distant mountains or the door to the outside world, she can't stop thinking about it. She's only known life inside the walls, and despite enjoying her life in the Republic, there were questions that nopony could answer. What's it like out there? Where do the caravans go? There have to be ponies out there, so how do they survive with such different opinions and talents? Are they not ashamed that they caused the Balefire Bombs? It's these questions that are forbidden in the village, some more than others.. Deep down, she wishes they weren't... But it's what's best for the town. Too many questions make you an outcast. Upon hearing the excited yells of the schoolfillies Peppermint whips around with a huge smile and a twinkle in her eye. "There's my favorite students!" she says, prancing in place for a moment as they race to meet her. She pulls out a small burlap bag from her vest pocket and sets it down, the children opening it and each taking one piece of candy as is their routine. "I've got taffy for you guys today, just made it this morning! Papa Cinnamon's favorite!" A large bell rings out from the schoolhouse, echoing through the mountain pass and gathering the attention of the entire town. "Oh!" exclaims Wysteria with a soft chuckle, "time to get to work! Better hurry up on those deliveries Peppermint!.." The leader's voice softens to one of underlying anger as she continues. "We don't want you to be late again, do we?" "No ma'am!" exclaims the confectioner as she turns around, bolting down the street with all her might. She only pauses to set a jar of candy next to the front doors of some homes, knocking to get their attention before rushing off again. Her rounds take about ten minutes at top speed- potentially a record- before arriving at her last stop: the mill. Chapter 2 - The Rumor Mill Anypony can be a confectioner, it's you mill ponies that really keep the Republic in shape. The old mill was among the last buildings made before the balefire bombs hit Manehatten. Originally used to store grain and other foods for the winter, Wysteria repurposed the building into a small factory and manufacturing plant for cans of meat. Rich in protein, fats and Vitamin B3 it helped sustain the population and became their primary export within a month. The heretics outside of the Republic couldn't get enough of it! The operation expanded underground to fit more facilities to allow for in-house processing of the meat, keeping its quaint appearance on the surface. Peppermint Twist arrives well after work had started for the day, shame bleeding through her eyes as she approaches the front door, guarded on each side by two Marebots. The robots don't seem to notice her as she slowly creeps forward, resting a hoof on the door and beginning to gently open it... Only to feel orange eyes locked on her as the security notice her intrusion. Peppermint winces before turning to greet the droid to her right. "Good morning, Marebot!" "Good morning, Peppermint Twist! You are: fifteen. Minutes late for work today! This infraction has been reported to Wysteria. What is the reason for this infraction?" "Well ah, first..." The earth pony's resolve begins to crumble at the cold, fake joy of the Marebot before her. "I don't work in the factory. I'm the town confectioner, remember? And second I, was in a meeting with Wysteria! It went long and, that's why I'm late. It won't happen again." "Ha ha, it better not! Have a safe day at the mill, Peppermint Twist!" The Marebot's stilted voice bleeds with synthetic joy as it opens the door, turning her head to look blankly ahead once the confectioner's tail ducks fully inside the building. Despite the chilled air of the mill, it's somehow warmer than standing outside with glass eyes staring her down. Taking a deep breath Peppermint continues forward with her cart of goods. On her way to the break room to drop off the treats for the hard-working mares and stallions, she absentmindedly marvels at the gears and pulleys making the packaging facility run. A line of ponies of all creeds stand behind the belt as a can of unrecognizable red meat comes from a small hole in the wall. The first stallion sets a large metal lid on top of the can. The mare next to him- a unicorn- slams a hammer on the lid, sealing the can. Next to her, a pegasus stallion applies the label: CANNED MEAT. At the very end a female zebra- one of few in the village- sets the can next to several others on a palette. Distracted by the seamless operation Peppermint Twist knocks into one of the floor workers carrying a full palette of meat, causing him to drop it and fall forward on his jaw. Peppermint gasps and wildly apologizes, replacing the cans on the palette as a few slipped from between the plastic wrapping. "I'm so sorry Whistles, are you okay?! I didn't even see you!" The stallion, a blue-coated unicorn named Winter Whistles, gets to his hooves and fixes his mane with a hum. "It's alright Pep, these things happen. I should've been more careful when carrying product!.. Late on your rounds again huh?" Peppermint's cheeks flush in embarrassment as she nods. "Yeah... Lost track of time, real shocker there." "Aah, well I shouldn't hold you up any longer. Don't want Wysteria getting upset with us again!" With that Winter continues his work, carrying the pallet of meat to its designated shipping area as Peppermint Twist rushes onward. The break room isn't far, just around a corner in a small hallway, so it doesn't take long to replace the empty jars of sweets with full ones. Sugar plums, red licorice and a container of mixed nuts for the health-conscious among them. She waves to a few Marebots as she heads the way she came, back into town and her humble shop.
Prologue - The Mountain Mare It's never easy to do the right thing, Ms. Glimmer. Stable-Tec is here to help. "Miss Belle, I'm an old mare," the old mare begins. "In all my years there's been nothing I can't handle in this village. A silly megaspell is nothing to be afraid of!" Despite her tone she hesitates as she stands at the window, overlooking the once quaint village she called home which has expanded to house hundreds. Starlight was proud of that little town, and as she aged the pride only grew stronger as more ponies came into her loving hooves to join her community. She hasn't a clue how things have progressed in the outside world's political sphere, and frankly she wouldn't have it any other way. That was until a strange mare came to town with a teal dress and dirty suitcase in tow. The mare seemed confident in her stride, returning the townspeople's greetings with questions about their day and a genuine smile. Such a pony was rarely seen in Our Town, and Starlight didn't like it one bit. Luckily it didn't take long for the two to meet, as the stranger requested a meeting with her that evening. She didn't expect it to be such a hard sell. Sweetie Belle, as head of Stable-Tec's public relations, has never failed a sale yet. Confidence and kindness bleeds off of her and infects the folks around her, leaving them with a small spring in their step. She heard of this town through word of mouth when passing through Fetlock; A strange place where nopony ever left, save for one small caravan every month which promptly returns a week later. A town of ponies with the same cutie mark, the same smile, and the same hair. She couldn't resist. "Oh I assure you Miss Glimmer," Sweetie Belle retorts, setting down her suitcase, "megaspells are indeed something to be afraid of! In the wrong hooves a megaspell has the potential to level cities, poison the water, all sorts of horrible things that frankly I would rather not discuss in further detail." She's made this sell before, it's obvious from her tone and how quickly she bounces from topic to topic. "I'm here to offer a solution for you and your lovely village here. A way to avoid the megaspells." Despite feigning disinterest, Starlight cocks a brow as she glances over her shoulder. Even if the concept of a megaspell hitting her village is laughable, a deep anxiety rests in her stomach she can't quite shake. The elder pauses momentarily before turning to fully face her guest. "You have my attention, Miss Belle." Sweetie's tail twitches in excitement, though the rest of her body remains calm and professional. "I represent a company named Stable-Tec, Miss Glimmer, and we would like to construct a private stable for you and your townsfolk. Now I know what you're thinking; A stable? What good would a stable do against a megaspell! Well, Stable-Tec's state-of-the-art stables are designed with a complex system of interlocking gears to ensure a tight seal once the stable is closed in the event of catastrophe, along with large living spaces, recreational areas, and an expansive garden to keep your town fed for generations! We also supply every resident with their own PipBuck, a portable computer designed to monitor their well-being and interface with systems in the stable." "Mhm... Let's assume that a megaspell event does happen. What, we allow just anypony to access our stable?" Starlight glares down the outsider for an instant before putting on her charismatic front once again, holding her head high. "You may have noticed but we run a tight operation here! If we allow somepony from outside our village they'll cause nothing but trouble. After all..." Starlight pauses, turning to a large poster on the wall above her bed, featuring her gaze and smile along with a large caption, which she reads aloud: "No one is superior; No one lives in fear!" Seeing the poster Sweetie Belle's eyes widen, unnerved further but still determined to make this deal. She clears her throat before opening her suitcase, taking out a manilla folder full of blueprints. "Oh no Miss Glimmer, not just anypony can enter the stable. Only those in your village will have access to it! That's the best part, plenty of other cities have their own stables all across Equestria! This stable will be designed just for you and your community's needs... So long as you agree to be their overmare." "Overmare?" "You see, somepony needs to oversee daily stable operations and report back to Stable-Tec, not to mention maintain order and handle the door controls. Since you already lead the town I think you'd be the perfect fit! You can continue to run your town just as you have on the surface, just with an extra level of security. Just sign here and we can start construction right away!" Starlight hesitates for a moment, rubbing her chin. "Under one condition." "Oh, and what's that Miss Glimmer?" "Your crew can only work after curfew and must cover their flanks. The second the stable is done I want you and your team out of my village, unless you decide to stay with us of course." "We can manage that." Sweetie Belle hardly finishes her thought before Starlight lifts the pen with her magic and signs on the dotted line, finalizing the deal. "Excellent! Miss Glimmer, let me be the first to say..." "Thank you for entrusting Stable-Tec with your safety! We won't let you down!"
Chapter 0 - The Republic Banded by Equality by our cutie mark! The Balefire Bombs wrecked havoc across Equestria. Nopony expected them, leaving hardly any time for residents to escape to their assigned stable before they were locked shut by their respective overmares. Evacuating the small equal community was, by comparison, simple. Everypony entered in an orderly single-file line once the flash of necrotic energy came over the horizon from the detonation at Tenpony Tower, no filly or foal left behind once Starlight shut the doors. Stable 11 was successfully sealed, and the experiment could continue. By the second month underground, racial tensions brewed heavily amongst the population. Unicorns were blamed for creating the megaspells which stuck them here, pegasi blamed for closing off the clouds, and Earth ponies blamed for inventing such devastating weaponry which enabled the war. Starlight, seeing the discord forming in the group, established a new law: Any instances of flight and magic were outlawed, bar the unmarking ceremony performed by the overmare. "We cannot have true equality," she explained, "without making sacrifices." From there, the community thrived. The rules around flight and magic gradually softened to permit basic flight and levitating objects after an Earth Pony stallion mentioned to Starlight that they still retained the gift of growing food, and others shouldn't be put at such a disadvantage. After thirty years of living peacefully underground, the overmare calls over the speakers that it's time to return to the village. Many are skeptical, petrified of the post-war world outside the stable, while others are overjoyed to see the outside world for the first time. Everypony in the vault- several hundred if not nearing a thousand- gather near the immense door as the mechanisms whir and creak to life, slowly revealing the blinding daylight of the necromantic wasteland. A pegasus mare- Lockpick- is the first to step onto the soil and behold what had become of their quaint mountain town. After a few moments, the ponies waiting with baited breath, she turns with an immense smile and whinnies into the air. "It's still here! Everything is still here!" The first thing the newly-returning settlers do upon setting hoof on the soil is to return to their family homes and scavenge. Heirlooms, photographs, anything that can remind them of the original stable dwellers who had passed over those thirty years. The second thing, as issued by their former overmare, is to erect defenses. "Though the war between the Zebralands and Equestria may be over," she says with a powerful confidence, "the land is lawless. Those who do not understand our ways of peace will take advantage of it, destroy our homes and our way of life! We cannot leave ourselves open to such abuse. Our walls shall welcome and comfort those who understand and wish to join our utopia and repel those who wish to do us harm. The Republic of Our Town must stand as a beacon to the lost and afraid!" And so, construction begins. Materials are dug out of the nearby mountains surrounding the village, allowing for a quartz wall at least a hundred feet high with brass railings to discourage any climbers. At the corners of the settlement stand two watch towers build from the old homes, one stallion manning each station to keep an eye out for any airborne assaults. The village boasts no outward defenses save for these structures, the immense steel door relocated from the stable to keep out unwanted visitors. As supplies run low, a group of three ponies- two unicorns and an Earth pony- are given a mission to find any remaining settlements willing to trade their crops for metal and stone. A trade route is established between the Republic and the settlers of Fetlock, assuring a steady stream of supplies and the occasional newcomer to the village, the first being a stallion by the name of Cinnamon Roll. Despite the defenses, rumors of life behind the walls of the Republic brew a general fear and unease in the population, many looking to the sky for any signs of an Enclave invasion or similar attacks. Propaganda increases tenfold to assure that, should they remain within the walls of the Republic, they will be safe. "Our utopia has survived a devastating war, one which brewed from deep-seeded envy and hatred for their different views. Out there, you are different. Here, we are all the same, we are all one. The Republic has all you will ever need, there is safety in sameness!"
Chapter 1 - Safety in Sameness I live for the smiles on your faces, friends. Seeing you happy gives my life meaning! I live to serve you all and this great Republic! The sun glitters through a crack in the clouds as the Republic rouses from its slumber. The fake grass covering the mountain town's natural silty soil glistens with morning dew as a voice croons over the loud speakers situated throughout the city. "Good morning everypony! This is Speakerphone with your morning announcements! The caravan successfully returned from a supply mission to Fetlock last night, bringing with them two new faces to Our Republic and some new crops for the garden. Everypony, let's give a big welcome to Morning Haste and Brass Tax!" All at once throughout the village, over a thousand ponies shout a warm welcome in unison. The delighted radio host can't help a soft laugh as he adjusts his microphone. "That's what we like to hear! Their cutie unmarking ceremonies will be held at noon today inside the Cutie Mark Vault, just in time for lunch! Should you require assistance in locating the vault, one of our friendly Yesmares will be more than happy to assist you up the mountain. That's all for now! Remember, there is safety in sameness. This has been Speakerphone with Your Republic's morning announcements!" Inside the town confectionary, a young mare ties on her apron with a joyful grin. Peppermint Twist, an Earth pony named after her off-white coat and red mane, has run the confectionary for the past ten years with great pride. Her father passed control of the business down to her when he was found to be infected with Haltervirus. To protect the city, anypony who contracted Hatervirus is sent to an isolated cavern in the mountains never to be seen again. Though Peppermint misses him dearly, she doesn't let the memories bring her down. After all, it's against the rules! Opening the shop doors she takes a deep breath of the semi-fresh mountain air, putting a small brick down to hold the door open before rushing to her counter, gathering a few glass jars of sweets, and placing them into a nearby cart for that morning's deliveries. Attempting to attach herself to the cart proves quite difficult, so she waves down a unicorn resident to help her tie the rope. With the ban loosened they can all help each other, and these unicorns can be so darn helpful! With a content smile and a kind word of thanks she starts off, pulling the cart full of candy jars behind her as she makes the rounds. What a glorious morning! Everypony is smiling, fillies are playing in the streets, and the Yesmares have already started their daily rounds. The machines were unnerving at first, blank metal mares with glowing orange eyes, exposed synthetic brains and large guns attached to their sides, but the large smiles they shared with the rest of the village made them a welcome part of life in the Republic. The wall and watchtowers can only do so much, she recalls from a previous speech, with these new Marebots around the city was now safe inside and out! Peppermint Twist continues forward, waving to the guards before stopping outside the school, where a purple-coated mare stood awaiting her students. "Good morning Wysteria!" Peppermint says with a grin, straightening her posture. As the leader of the Republic- and self-appointed head teacher of the School of Equality- Wysteria's mane is cut in a short pseudo-bob held back with an orange headband, her tail slightly waving down to just above the hoof. She wears a white grown which covers her flank and an ever-present smile, though not as wide as the ponies around her. "What's today's lesson?" Wysteria peeks over her subordinate's shoulder, looking at the heard of approaching fillies and colts walking in an orderly line. Aah, perfection. They're all so well behaved! "We're on pre-Equestrian history at the moment. Most of the books were lost in the attack on Canterlot, but using what I've found in the terminals I've been able to piece together the story of Equestria's founding!" "Ooo! Can I have a preview, please Wysteria?" "Ah ah ah!~" she says, lightly pushing the overexcited candymare back down the steps to the schoolhouse. "If I gave you a special lesson it would hardly be fair now would it?" Peppermint relents, ears flattening as she sheepishly paws at the road below her. "There's no need to be upset Peppermint, it's an honest mistake!.. A mistake you've made ten times this month but a mistake nonetheless! Try not to let it happen again, okay?" No matter how hard she tries to curb her curiosity, no matter how many times she catches herself staring at the distant mountains or the door to the outside world, she can't stop thinking about it. She's only known life inside the walls, and despite enjoying her life in the Republic, there were questions that nopony could answer. What's it like out there? Where do the caravans go? There have to be ponies out there, so how do they survive with such different opinions and talents? Are they not ashamed that they caused the Balefire Bombs? It's these questions that are forbidden in the village, some more than others.. Deep down, she wishes they weren't... But it's what's best for the town. Too many questions make you an outcast. Upon hearing the excited yells of the schoolfillies Peppermint whips around with a huge smile and a twinkle in her eye. "There's my favorite students!" she says, prancing in place for a moment as they race to meet her. She pulls out a small burlap bag from her vest pocket and sets it down, the children opening it and each taking one piece of candy as is their routine. "I've got taffy for you guys today, just made it this morning! Papa Cinnamon's favorite!" A large bell rings out from the schoolhouse, echoing through the mountain pass and gathering the attention of the entire town. "Oh!" exclaims Wysteria with a soft chuckle, "time to get to work! Better hurry up on those deliveries Peppermint!.." The leader's voice softens to one of underlying anger as she continues. "We don't want you to be late again, do we?" "No ma'am!" exclaims the confectioner as she turns around, bolting down the street with all her might. She only pauses to set a jar of candy next to the front doors of some homes, knocking to get their attention before rushing off again. Her rounds take about ten minutes at top speed- potentially a record- before arriving at her last stop: the mill.
Chapter 2 - The Rumor Mill Anypony can be a confectioner, it's you mill ponies that really keep the Republic in shape. The old mill was among the last buildings made before the balefire bombs hit Manehatten. Originally used to store grain and other foods for the winter, Wysteria repurposed the building into a small factory and manufacturing plant for cans of meat. Rich in protein, fats and Vitamin B3 it helped sustain the population and became their primary export within a month. The heretics outside of the Republic couldn't get enough of it! The operation expanded underground to fit more facilities to allow for in-house processing of the meat, keeping its quaint appearance on the surface. Peppermint Twist arrives well after work had started for the day, shame bleeding through her eyes as she approaches the front door, guarded on each side by two Marebots. The robots don't seem to notice her as she slowly creeps forward, resting a hoof on the door and beginning to gently open it... Only to feel orange eyes locked on her as the security notice her intrusion. Peppermint winces before turning to greet the droid to her right. "Good morning, Marebot!" "Good morning, Peppermint Twist! You are: fifteen. Minutes late for work today! This infraction has been reported to Wysteria. What is the reason for this infraction?" "Well ah, first..." The earth pony's resolve begins to crumble at the cold, fake joy of the Marebot before her. "I don't work in the factory. I'm the town confectioner, remember? And second I, was in a meeting with Wysteria! It went long and, that's why I'm late. It won't happen again." "Ha ha, it better not! Have a safe day at the mill, Peppermint Twist!" The Marebot's stilted voice bleeds with synthetic joy as it opens the door, turning her head to look blankly ahead once the confectioner's tail ducks fully inside the building. Despite the chilled air of the mill, it's somehow warmer than standing outside with glass eyes staring her down. Taking a deep breath Peppermint continues forward with her cart of goods. On her way to the break room to drop off the treats for the hard-working mares and stallions, she absentmindedly marvels at the gears and pulleys making the packaging facility run. A line of ponies of all creeds stand behind the belt as a can of unrecognizable red meat comes from a small hole in the wall. The first stallion sets a large metal lid on top of the can. The mare next to him- a unicorn- slams a hammer on the lid, sealing the can. Next to her, a pegasus stallion applies the label: CANNED MEAT. At the very end a female zebra- one of few in the village- sets the can next to several others on a palette. Distracted by the seamless operation Peppermint Twist knocks into one of the floor workers carrying a full palette of meat, causing him to drop it and fall forward on his jaw. Peppermint gasps and wildly apologizes, replacing the cans on the palette as a few slipped from between the plastic wrapping. "I'm so sorry Whistles, are you okay?! I didn't even see you!" The stallion, a blue-coated unicorn named Winter Whistles, gets to his hooves and fixes his mane with a hum. "It's alright Pep, these things happen. I should've been more careful when carrying product!.. Late on your rounds again huh?" Peppermint's cheeks flush in embarrassment as she nods. "Yeah... Lost track of time, real shocker there." "Aah, well I shouldn't hold you up any longer. Don't want Wysteria getting upset with us again!" With that Winter continues his work, carrying the pallet of meat to its designated shipping area as Peppermint Twist rushes onward. The break room isn't far, just around a corner in a small hallway, so it doesn't take long to replace the empty jars of sweets with full ones. Sugar plums, red licorice and a container of mixed nuts for the health-conscious among them. She waves to a few Marebots as she heads the way she came, back into town and her humble shop.
