Fallout Equestria: New Pegas

Huge "reveal" chapter. Big M/T is "Big Magic/Technology", Horse's private site for high-end research. It is in fact the original "Big MT", taken over by House after the events of FO: New Vegas.

* House was unable to access his main robot army, or upgrade the existing ones, because the Courier rejected his offer and threw the Platinum Chip into the Grand Canyon, where it was caught up by the Colorado River and eventually deposited somewhere in the bed-silt of Lake Mead. The Courier never went to Big MT (not being a movie buff), and later wiped out both NCR and Legion by nuking both nations. The final blow for humanity in the West was when Tunnelers migrated into the New Vegas area, which still knew nothing about them and was unprepared as a result. Without NCR or Legion presence, the still-squabbling local factions were wiped out one by one, despite reinforcements from House's police 'bots to those willing to accept assistance. Nonetheless, House's robots fought the Tunnelers back to the warrens under Hopeville, finally reclaiming the Mojave a decade later.

* House then dispatched robot expeditions to comb the American continents for enough survivors to begin a centralized breeding and re-population program, but the small, scattered groups he found refused his offers. They were also generally too well-armed and -fortified for hostile takeovers, making the overall effort futile. During these explorations, House robots discovered the D.C. Wasteland and the Lone Wanderer's earlier decision to "purify" it with the FEV toxin. Humanity's remnants had been reduced to non-sustainable population levels.

* House spent most of the remaining millennium scavenging ruins, establishing a fully self-sufficient industrial base before his reactors ran out of fuel. One expedition was sent to Norway, successfully recovering the DNA catalog and reseeding stocks contained in the "Doomsday Vault". This was mostly just for the challenge, and House's love of collecting things, since at this point he possessed nothing that would let him make use of the materials.

* Meanwhile, the growth of mutant plant life proceeded without interruption at Vault 22, X-22 Botanical Garden, Zion Canyon and Oasis, slowly spreading across the depopulated Wastelands. Spore Carriers, a fungal infection of the human body which technically kills the host, eventually were forced to adapt for lack thereof. The result was a plant/human hybrid with no intellect.

* Eventually, Dr. Mobius died of poor self-maintenance. The Think Tank's recursion loop subsequently failed due to lack of constant reinforcement. When they broke out to investigate the Wasteland in 2910, the destruction of several Securitrons alerted House to their existence (House's robots had always treated the crater as "empty" due to interference from the radar fence). He quickly massed a large force, drove the Think Tank back to Big MT, and laid siege. The Think Tank was able to repurpose the radar fence to keep robots out, but House reverse-engineered a captured Sonic Emitter to suppress its field. Because he had never been reactivated, Blind Diode Jefferson never defeated this "sonic invasion" of Big MT. The Think Tank surrendered, offering to serve House rather than risk obliteration. He accepted, but ensured obedience by directly reprogramming them via their use of RobCo termlink code.

* After capturing Big MT, clearing its remaining hazards, and assessing its technology, House realized the cloning and splicing facilities could be repurposed to re-seed and re-populate the planet, using the until-now-useless contents of the Norwegian "Doomsday Vault". But because the DNA codex for primates (along with several other related species) failed to survive the trip, and because pure-strain humanity had already dwindled to less than 1,000 members worldwide, cloning attempts repeatedly failed to produce viable breeding stock. Cross-splicing between various forms of mutated humans only resulted in further-devolved strains.

* The Great Cross-Pollination Project (~5000 years)
The "master seeds" were cloned to create a working set, which was then cloned as often as required for genetic tinkering and splicing at Big MT. The objective: discover a way to recreate humanity, or failing that, create a new species capable of harboring human intellect. House, busy with his numerous other projects and not in the least bit knowledgeable about biology, entrusted the Think Tank with the GCPP. As a direct result, numerous "failed" experiments escaped over the centuries, in the same way the cazadores and nightstalkers had. Many of these have intellect in the low-human range. Various mutant "goblin" (semi-human) and "chimera" (multi-animal) species breed and develop in the wilds, interacting with and feeding off of the existing flora and fauna (also largely mutated). Low-intellect plant species arise from interbreeding with Spore Carriers.

• One of House's parallel projects, however, was to further develop "brain bot" technology (robobrains, cyberdogs, think tanks) into a wholly machine-based variety. Eventually he figures out how to upload an entire intellect into a computer, copy it, and/or download it into a host body. In this way he sidesteps the otherwise-inevitable death of flesh, and so does the Think Tank.

• The last vestiges of recognizable humanity, both mutated and pureblood, slowly combine under the pressure of competition, but still have numbers too low to be self-sustaining. A very few enclaves, with treasures scavenged over the millennia, live a lifestyle similar to that of 20th-Century rural America. Most have reverted to medieval ways, or worse. Examples of the former are Megan and her siblings, Molly and Danny, whose parents are routinely away from their ranch-style property on scavenging runs. The latter include the original Prince Scorpan, a human mutant with latent Chimera genetics.

• Over time, the Think Tank gives up on trying to recreate humanity in any recognizable form. Existing cross-mutants (Tunnelers, Spore Carriers, etc) become the new focus. Dragons are a notable success in the intellect department, but prove too irascible and dangerous when large enough to fend for themselves. This line quickly runs out of steam, to be replaced by wholesale experimentation with both chimeras and pure-stock animals. Dragons flourish in the wilds, though direct competition with one another prevents them from rising to the apex of the food chain.

• The Super-Chimeras are produced, one by one, as the results of frustrated madness on the part of Think Tank members. Their unique brain chemistry allows development of psychic abilities, manifesting in subversion of physical laws to one degree or another: Grogar, Tirek, (various minor G1 villains) and Discord.

• "Magic", the mind's manipulation of energy and matter to subvert physical laws, develops first as an art and eventually as a field of scientific study. The ability to use magic, however, is reliant on the brain's physiology and thus a largely genetic gift whose power varies, even within a given species. You're either born with it or you aren't: attempting to rearrange your own brain to create the necessary changes invariably results in death.

• Several promising strains develop which incorporate a more controllable access to "magic", but most result in races that tend towards being lone-wolves and thus don't rapidly develop in social terms. Humans that develop magical abilities almost invariably become power-hungry witches, warlocks and wizards. Only one species appears able to merge magical use and teamwork: Equines.

* G1 (~1500 years)
- "Ponyland" is populated with the first viable Pony breeds, including hybrids of avian (Pegasus), insect (Flutter) and piscean (Sea). These spread and develop with surprising rapidity, establishing colonies in the ruins of old castles and the like. Desolate regions like Flutter Valley are reclaimed by development of terraforming magic, while the ruins themselves are quickly refurbished until they look new. Everything the Ponies do, they do with pride and vigor... except defend themselves. When Grogar invades with his Troggles (troglodytes), the Ponies submit immediately.

• Grogar rules Ponyland from his capital city of Tambelon, is banished, returns with the city (+500 years).
  The place looks like it's aged the entire time, though Grogar hasn't. He is powerful because he has vested more and more energy, over time, into his various bells. Ringing them temporarily disrupts the power they hold, and in the case of Tambelon itself, its Bell "evacuates" the entire city into another dimension where it is actually anchored.

*** G1-versus-G4 NOTE: in G4, the bell around Grogar's neck is stolen by Gusty and hidden away, with no indication of ever being broken... so the legend says. In G1, Grogar's neck-Bell melts away entirely into nothing when Tambelon's main Bell is rung. Gusty appears to have nothing to do with this. However, G4's neck-Bell looks like is has in fact been shattered, and then reforged, at some point. New Pegas treats both stories as true; the neck-Bell did in fact melt away, but later re-formed of its own accord in Dream Valley (where it had melted, while Tambelon was still in the same dimension). This brought Grogar back and, absent Megan's help at this point, the G1 ponies came under his thrall until Gusty's successful theft of the neck-Bell. This is also why the neck-Bell was never destroyed, but instead hidden away, with powerful spells set to prevent its recovery. Grogar is stuck in Tambelon's home dimension so long as it is NOT destroyed and given the chance to re-form again.

• Tirek makes his play for a "night that will last forever", falls to the Rainbow of Light, which itself is obtained from the Moochik (cunning and well-traveled, also smart --- for a Goblin type).

• ? ? ? (various other threats)

• Hydia and her daughters (Goblins with some Human ancestors) create and release the Smooze, which is defeated by Megan's Rainbow of Light and the Flutter Ponies. They later seek revenge against the Flutter Ponies, but are defeated again despite allying with a race of intelligent bees.

• G1 comes to an end with an apocalyptic Smooze Flood, reinforced with floom from the beginning. This time, the Rainbow of Light is shattered trying to stop it: each color becomes its own stone sphere, containing one of the Elements of Harmony, these being widely scattered by the flood and lost. The entirety of Ponyland, its neighboring environs, and all their inhabitants are annihilated beneath the sludge, which ingests all biological material and excretes gems before expiring for lack of anything else to consume. Over the thousands of years following, these gems and the dead Smooze remnants are buried by new layers of fresh silt, creating a unique strata from which most gems in Equestria are subsequently mined. This is also why Equestria is so rich in gems compared to Zebrica; Zebras must obtain gems from naturally-occurring mines.

*G2 (~500 years)
- An attempt to restart the Pony Project, this time with a pre-built industrial base and core "suburbia" town for initial support. To cut down on the "random magical element", only Earth Ponies are introduced, this time in a new breed with a larger braincase and subsequently higher intellect, almost at human norms. However, this "new generation" ends up having low overall testosterone levels, fielding no military and entirely content with their existing standards of living. In the face of several successive major threats, they are incapable of putting up a serious defense and are wiped out.

*G3 / "3.5" (~250 years)
- This generation went entirely the other direction, sacrificing intellect in favor of raw magical powers and provision of a tech base similar to that of G1 so the ponies "wouldn't get too comfortable". The lower intellect and easy use of magic, however, resulted in its being used for every frivolous fantasy. A total lack of independent development followed, drowned in a sea of unending endorphin highs. A hurried on-the-fly alteration resulted in giant craniums with underdeveloped brains, leading to a hard decision: the entire moronic generation was terminated by airdropping bottles of sleeping pills labeled "Candy" during a major celebration (the fifth that week).

*G4 (~2000 years)
- Finally, balance was achieved in Project Pony: a central body design capable of self-defense, manageable levels of magic across three core breeds of Unicorn, Pegasus and Earth, and a human-grade level of intellect. Instead of creating a base city, the initial stock was released into G3's ruins to make of it what they would. Support was provided only in terms of satellite-based suppression of insurmountable threats. This results in the "Three Tribes" era. The Think Tank is immensely pleased by the ability of the ponies to recognize the Windigo threat and unite to defeat it, even if only at the last minute. The subsequent formation of Equestria, its formation of a defensive military force, and the innate capabilities of its denizens are deemed sufficient to declare Project Pony a success. With the ponies out of their proverbial cradle, the defensive satellites are put to other uses. They must now sink or swim on their own.

• Discord, last and greatest of the Chimeras, is primarily a dragon/horse hybrid (thus "draconequus"). Only the super-science of Big MT gives him pause, something he doesn't like to think about much less admit. Out of pure boredom, and with not a little spite towards his creators, he seized power in newly-founded Equestria, treating its denizens as his personal playthings. He stops short of killing them, however, effectively holding Big MT's prized project hostage. They tolerate him on this basis, out of hope the ponies will eventually develop a spontaneous means of resisting.

• They do: the twin sisters Celestia and Luna, successful in their quest to collect and use the Elements of Harmony, simultaneously ascend to Alicornhood by their mutual intent to create Order from Chaos. Each Alicorn represents a concept as its living avatar, these being the Balance between Day and Night.

• After securing the Crystal Empire from the reign of Sombra, the sisters are approached by the leaders of Equestria's Three Tribes with a request that they accept a pact: acceptance of the twins as co-reigning Queens, in exchange for continuing protection. They accept, but only on grounds that they be considered Princesses instead - a "princess" is royalty with respect but no mandate beyond that granted by public acclamation. Luna and Celestia hope to avoid being corrupted by the trappings of power by making it something that at least technically can be refused them.

• Nightmare Moon Incident.

• Events of the G4 show.

* FO:E. (+230 years?) (close to a total of 10,000 since FO:NV)

* Bright's followers, Cthulhoid interference "beyond the stars"? "The stars will aid in her escape".

*** BUBBLE BUDDIES: The "Great Equestria Blow-Off" prizes won by Cherry and Tag-End are available here, at the Sparkle-Cola Fun Division HQ (which was the Ministry of Morale hub for the Greater San Palomino area, situated here mainly because it was legally outside Horse's domain). "Bubble Buddies" are late-war experimental hazmat suits with AI personalities, intended to act as protectors and guardians for colts and fillies. The Blow-Off was a cover for distributing the first "beta gold" suits. The suits are actually a set of four child-sized horseshoes, made from clear rubber with a visible titanium frame nestled inside. At the "toe" of each shoe is a half-exposed opal, the bottom of which is secured by the frame. No actual suit is apparent. The AI shares its program and processing among all four computers, magically linked by the opals.

Although child-sized, the clear rubber of the shoes will expand to snugly fit any authorized hoof they come into contact with, ensuring they can "grow with your child, keeping them safe well into adulthood". They provide a slight bounce to the step and are very comfortable even when doing nothing else. Beyond interlinking the shoes, the opals also function as RBC (Radiation, Biological, Chemical) detectors and will automagically trigger the Bubble Buddy's protective measures as needed. These are based on a new chemical rubber compound developed in conjunction with Coral Technologies Group, a Seaquestrian firm, which reacts to magical control signals emanating from the opals. This allows the rubber to inflate, with breathable air, into any number of potential configurations, most commonly a pony-shaped balloon-suit with the inside layer ending in a neck collar so the wearer can breathe the provided air. The trade name for this compound was still being debated at the corporate level when the bombs fell, but the most popular options at that time were variations on "Neverburst".

Seaquestrian bubble magic allows the rubber to temporarily flow in a manner similar to water during reconfigurations, allowing in turn an incredible level of creative flexibility on the part of either the AI or the owner (high-level hacking is necessary to pre-program new configurations, however). The opals also magically reinforce the compound as needed, making it shock-proof, puncture-proof, and blast-proof (an occupant might not survive a sufficiently powerful explosion, but the suit will). Furthermore, the rubber absorbs radiation, converting it to usable energy which is then stored in the shoe-frame batteries... the same kind of batteries normally used in magical weaponry. Chemical and biological toxins simply fail to adhere to the rubber at all. NOTE: this does NOT work for Taint; the rubber will simply corrode on contact.

The opals themselves are controlled by an Artificial Intelligence developed by the MoM using proprietary CoralTech software, specifically designed to be completely and deliberately incompatible with RoBronco software. Its initial configuration is "New Friend", and this is how they greet Cherry and Tag-End: being introduced in corporate-showroom style as fully-autonomous balloon ponies with childlike personalities. These will automatically customize themselves according to the apparent preferences of their owners. When the shoes are being worn by an authorized owner, they can also bring up a holographic customization menu. This includes sections for Personality, Maintenance, Emergency Uses and... a crammed-in category, using a narrow pink font that reads "ADULTS ONLY". Apparently no one caught the pervert programmer who was using one or both of the suits when no one else was around...