> Welcome to the Wasteland, Sunshine
>  by Desk Snuggler
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




*Several Years later*
*Human Equestria*




After the whole fiasco the gang has been through. Today is the end of their high school adventures, that means the one and only bacon haired girl said goodbyes to the gang as she's going back to the pony Equestria to visit her old former mentor and that one lavender alicorn. So that she can 'begin again' her actual normal life there.

Staring at the Wondercolt statue, is Sunset Shimmer, her cyan eyes wandered between the statue and the school as she then straighten her outfit, adjusts her shoulders and gripping the bag tightly. She then closes her eyes and sighs "Okay, let's do this." she then walked through the statue to return back to Equestria.

Except, some random magical interference scrambled the portal as she walks through, giving her an unfortunate adventure ahead of her lifetime.

As soon as she goes through the portal, a speeding object flies overhead. Upon close inspection, it actually resembles a satellite used by those crazy scientists.




*Onto The Think Tank Buddies*




"NOW WHERE DID THE SECOND SATELLITE GO, DOCTOR O?" A thundering, volume knob-broked voice boomed.

"Based on my calculations, it's somewhere in another dimension, Dr. Klein." a sarcastic voice replied.

...

"Um... Dr.Klein, are you there?"

...

"BULLSH-"




*Mojave Wasteland*




*Whistling* "Because I'm the wanderer, dun-dun-dun, the wanderer" *Hum*

A lone equine figure clad in armor humming the tune with the radio in his little computer attached to his left fetlock as he scans the empty desert with the scope of his gauss rifle to search for those retribution screaming assholes so that he can blast their latin butts back to Caesar. After a few moments of nothing, he sighs in boredom. So, he holstered his YCS/186 to his back as he then walk towards his duffle bag.

The burning heat of the sun making his helmet hot. He then removed his helmet to reveal himself as a silver-furred stallion with a black and yellow trimmed mane. His hazy-green eyes squints to adjust the sudden brightness change. He have a shallow scar at his left cheek and two bullet scars onto of his forehead. He then wipes off his sweat with his bandaged right hoof and begin searching through his bag.

After a few moments of rummaging his large bag filled with ammo, weapons, a crapton of stimpaks, radaways and Pre-war Books. He found his prize; a fresh, cold Sunset Sarsaparilla being held by his hoof.

"Yes!" the armored stallion quietly cheers as he then ripped-off the cap with his left hoof and shoves the cap into his caps sack and then begin chugging down the whole bottle in one go. 

After he emptied the bottle and a belch afterwards, he carelessly throw it behind his back. Causing the bottle to fly into the distance, never to being seen again. He then wears his helmet back on and he packs up the place and then he disturbs the sleeping cyborg canine and a mutated Jackson Chameleon that was behind him when he was scanning the wastelands.

"Rex, Little Ripper come on, let's go!" he wakes them up from their slumber as the former wakes up and re-activates his cybernetics and yawns. After that, he looks at the pony and barks happily while the latter...

"Is it time now, Alpha?" a talking, groggy deathclaw asks his master, which the stallion nods. As the small deathclaw then slowly rises from his slumber... of boredom and he then sharpens his claws to make sure they're in a razor-sharp condition. With a confirming nod, he then stares intently at his alpha, waiting for further orders.

He motions them to follow and they complied as they begin traveling at a steady pace to their hideout. As they were walking, the stallion then strikes up the conversation with a deathclaw.

"Little Rip," the deathclaw then heard his name as he looks at his alpha "do you remember that time when you were eyeing my stealth boy yesterday? What happened to it?" the stallion questioned. The deathclaw shrugs.

"I ate it, Alpha." the deathclaw male bluntly answered. Thus ending the conversation entirely as the only sounds at the canyon are sand-crunching steps, metallic paws scratching the dirt and a heavy breathing of a deathclaw. The sun then starting to set as the group noticed it and started to pace faster.

"Come on guys, lets get back to our place to set up toooo" the stallion's voice died down as they noticed a group of incoming crimson clad jackasses heading straight for them "Fuck." he cursed under his breath.

As the legionary assassins getting closer. They suddenly stopped as the one at the front rushes towards the pony to... strap a party hat on top of his helmet much to the annoyance from the stallion. The lead assassin then returns to his group for them to send their TERRIFYING message from Caesar himself.

"Oh, it's your birthday! Happy birthday! It's your birthday! Happy birthday! Whose birthday is it? Ooo, it's your birthday! Happy birthday to you!" the assassins celebrating the annoyed pony's missed birthday. After their celebration, they immediately draw their weapons at the trio. The stallion and his companions noticed it at the last second and immediately take cover behind the rocks as a hail of lead passes by them.





*Pony's POV*





"Dammit Caesar, it's not my birthday!" I yelled at the sky in frustration as I whipped out my Gauss Rifle and I cranked the side of it to charge a slug while I whistled at Ripper. He looks at me for orders and I motioned him to cloak and wait for my command and he complies as he disappeared from view. I then peeked out from the rock only to retreat back in as the incoming fire ricochets off my cover and some grazed my helmet while some of the stray bullets just knock off the party hat on top of my helmet, riddled it with holes. And also still hearing those terrifying words the Assassins blurted out while happily still endlessly firing their guns.

"Happy Birthday!" says the one with a assault carbine. The fore-sight have a miniature party hat sit on top of it.

"Cake and Juice!" says the one with the LMG.

"It's your Birthday, Hoo!" says the one with a thermic lance at the distance...

"JUICE!" one of the assassin threw a grenade towards me. I noticed it and activated my V.A.T.S towards the explosive pineapple and with a 95% chance of hitting that, I immediately peeked out of my cover and started to fire my electromagnetic slug at it and it impacts the grenade. Causing the grenade to explode in front of them, forcing the assassins to take cover from the incoming shrapnel while coughing from the smoke while still happily celebrating my birthday.

While they're distracted, I holstered my rifle and began pulling out my neon guitar and I activate my stealth field while Rex does the same. The reason he cloaks is because I installed the nano-bots implant into Rex so that he can active camouflage like me during my free time a few days ago.

As we are cloaking, we spied them cautiously walking towards my former position with weapons at the ready. Then one of the assassin starts to leap on top of the rock to try to jump my last position.

"HAPPY Birth... day?" he says in confusion as he looks around to try to find me while his buddies do the same as he trying to find where I am, until he suddenly stops and stares at where I am right now. Unfortunately, he actually saw my distortion as he then slowly walk towards me with machete in hand. As he gets closer, I then raised my guitar above my head and began motioned it like those pre-war golf I read about.

*TWANG!*

I then swung my guitar at him so hard that he flew into the atmosphere. His buddies got distracted as they started to observe their flying friend until I whistled, gaining their attention as they then look towards my general direction. Causing Little Ripper to deactivate his cloaking behind them in time as he then starts shredding the surprised legionaries to colorful gibs. I then also decloaked, whipping out my Gauss Rifle and began to open fire at the remaining stragglers. And then the last legionary starts to book it, I aimed my rifle at him and fired my last magnetic slug round from the magazine towards him and then the round penetrates his cardboard armor and through his torso while making him fall flat to his front by his carried momentum. 

My Gauss Rifle's barrel started to faintly glowed red after firing multiple shots as I got the last one. With a pausing moment of silence, I powered down my heated gauss rifle and holstered it as I begin trotting towards the last fallen assassin. I began strapping my wrist mounted shotgun on my right fetlock half-way through while also avoiding to damage my damaged right hoof as I'm carefully applying the pressure plate on it.

As I reached where the assassin was. He drag his body towards his side so that he can look at me approaching. He stares at me was not hate, but with sadness, "Happy. Birthday... friend." he weakly croaked while also coughing out copious amount of blood. 

I abruptly stopped dead on my tracks as he said that word as I raised my eyebrow in confusion as I slowly leaned towards his face. When we were face to face, the wounded legionary then slowly raises his hand and clenched his fingers except his index finger while slowly moving towards my filtration mask. When he touched towards where my nose is supposed to be, he then weakly says "Boop." before his body went limp as his bloodied finger slowly dragged downwards from my mask, smearing it with his blood.

I stood there in shock and with wide eyes about what happened there. 'He... just wanted to be my friend. But his affiliation with Legion forces him to kill me' I thought to myself as I then looked at the lifeless body of the assassin with remorse.

A few minutes later, I dug the bodies into their makeshift graves while I also pay my respects. If I can do it without this floating 'F' hovering in front of my face. After the birthday incident a while ago. Me, Rex and Ripper then move on to continue our trek towards our hideout and hopefully without any obstacles in the way.

Until we stopped again as I saw a downed figure. I instantly pulled out my Foam Finger from it's holster as I cautiously trot towards it. When I took a good look at the lying figure. My eyes widen in surprise as I immediately holstered my 'pistol' as the 'person' I see was actually a pony.

An actual, fucking pony, and it's a unicorn based by the horn. And its a she if the cartoon-y eyelashes and the feminine features made an obvious sign that she's a mare. She has a tan-ish orange coat while her wavy mane and tail which looks like bacon with the fiery yellow and red. She also have a butt mark of a... sun? Huh, I thought my butt mark of a med-kit is odd, she has a mark of a certain celestial body.

After I finished inspecting the downed unicorn, I then saw blood leaking out from the back of her head, I decided to look around to find out who hits her and leave her there. Until I saw who caused it, it is the shattered remains of my Sunset Sarsaparilla bottle that I threw earlier. I sheepishly chuckled at my own careless stupidity as I then called my companions here.

When they're arrived, I let Little Ripper hold my bag and weapons, much to the unamused glare the deathclaw gave to me as I ignore him. I then carry the unconscious mare behind my back while also grabbing a bag which maybe belongs to her that I almost missed, after watching my perimeter for anything missing I then nod and started to heft the unicorn on my back as we walk towards our hideout and started to clean that wound up and maybe talk to her tomorrow if she wakes up. 

Seems like the Mojave is going to get their 'nuclear winter' here.




Somewhere, at the compound of the Mojave Outpost




Within the barracks of the NCR Outpost, multiple soldiers then simultaneously sit up from their bunks and made a thousand-yard stare at the wall with a blank look.

"Someone has prophesied our philosophy of Nuclear Winter. And it's coming." they said in monotoned unison before going back to sleep.

Oblivious towards the awkward and creep-ed out stares coming from the Bartender, a Caravan Drunk and the radio.

The Bartender then looks at the drunk with a confused expression "Hey Cass, may I join with you? I need to forget these shit happens since that weird brahmin talked to me that day."

The drunken redhead shrugs "Sure, but don't complain to me that we have done something tomorrow morning. If you swing that way of course."
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




*Sunset's POV*




As I managed to regained consciousness, what I felt first was my head is basically throbbing in pain right now 'Ungh, my head hurts. What just hit me?' I thought to myself as I recall my memories of what happened that time.




*After walking through the destabilized portal*




After a few seconds from being blinded by a flash of white as it beginning to fade, I then slowly opened my eyes and squint at the sudden brightness, after my eyes readjusts, I managed to only see light blue. 

'Huh, I thought the mirror room was supposed to be darker...' I snap my eyes wide open as I decided to look down. I wish I wouldn't do that, as I looked down, I saw a bunch of fluffy, white clouds. My face scrunched into fear and my eyes turned into pin-pricks as I made a small squeak.

And then gravity takes effect as I am screaming my way down. I continued screaming until I realized that I have my horn back, so I tried to focus myself to cast the teleportation spell while still in stomach-turning vertigo. I closed my eyes shut and then trying to imagine a ground. Then my horn started to spark as the magic suddenly takes full effect.

*POP*

After I manage to teleport myself safely to the ground. Instead of feeling soft grass or snow, I felt... rough sand. 'Wait a second' I opened my eyes to look around my surroundings. It's a desert-filled canyon and I somehow stood on top of the train tracks. 'This is not a place from the map of Equestria has where I last remembered. And this is not how Appleloosa looks like.' I thought to myself in confusion.

"Huh, odd. Where are the trains?" I muttered to myself in puzzlement until my eyes widen in realization  "My bag!" I shouted as I desperately searching my bag until I heard a small thud behind me. I slowly turned my head to look whats behind me. It's my bag. I then sigh in relief as I magically grab it "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" I chuckled to myself while having a dopey grin plastered onto my face. Completely oblivious towards the incoming object headed towards me.

*CRASH*

I then felt a blow behind my head accompanied by a sound of glass shattering as I then blacked out.





*Present*




'So, recalling what I remembered: Desert, train tracks with no trains. Not on Equestria...' my thought died down on the last few words as I suddenly remembered. I really am not in Equestria. I shoot my eyes wide open as I rise up. Only to cringe as a sudden painful headache makes me close my eyes as I grunt in discomfort while I placed my hoof on top of a... cloth.

I opened my eyes to see white-textured cloth blocked my vision while also wrapped around my head. My eyes slowly widen into panic as I start hyperventilating and begin to tear the cloth with my hoof out of desperation, only to be interrupted by a small cough as I froze in fear. Afraid of what's happening now.




*POV Change*
*A few minutes ago*




Well, this is surely an interesting discovery. It seems that I'm no longer the only sapient pony in the wasteland, after I wrapped a new batch of bandages around the entire mare's head after a certain incident. I began in a very rough quote, unquote "snooping around yer belongings" coming from my certain uncle. Just not invading the very, very private things. Just trying to know who she is, after carefully fishing around her bag, I grab hold of something thin and plastic, I then pulled it out and it looks like one of those old pre-war identification cards. So I begin reading it out loud.




Canterlot High Student Identification

Name: Sunset Shimmer
A-



"Nope." I then shove the id card back into the bag out of respect. 'Only know the name, only know the name' I mentally repeated to myself, until I heard movement from the bedsheet where I put 'Sunset Shimmer' on it. I looked at her as she's slowly started to stir, only to suddenly leaned forward and cringed in discomfort as she puts her hoof onto her bandage wraps and she suddenly froze. A few seconds later, I heard her starting to hyperventilate and before she starts panicking and also trying to tear my newly bought and wrapped bandages, I politely cough and she immediately froze.

"You should breaaathe slowly and calm down, Sunset." I calmly and profesionally adviced to her as she flinched about me saying her name.

"W-where am I?" she timidly asks as her body started to relax.

"In a cave, on my bedsheet, wrapping your bruised head." Hey that rhymes... maybe.

"H-how did you know my name?"

"Erm, your id card?" my face turned sheepish as she tensed and face towards my general direction thanks to her equine ears. 'I believe she is glaring at me' I thought and attempt to defuse the situation, "Just the name, nothing else." I quickly explained, and it works as she then slowly relaxes but still maybe glaring at me.

"O-ok then? Then if you know my name, can I get yours?" she requests. Who denied her, she's a bit cute before I wrapped her bruised head thanks to my clumsiness. 

"Chris. Chris Turner." I said my name.

"Ok then, Chris. Then can you please tell me why my head is wrapped up?"

"Erm." I looked away for a moment and thinking of something, then I opened my mouth.





*Yesterday- A few minutes later after finding Sunset*




After arriving to our little hideout, Little Ripper then unceremoniously threw my stuff at the nearby cave wall, much to my dismay as I glare at him and he just innocently shrugs. I sigh in exasperation because of what we've been through for today:

First, we found a Dead Wind Cavern, fought a bunch of deathclaws and killing the Legendary Deathclaw. Much to my accomplishment, I managed to make a overcoat out of its skin, so it's a win-win. Although it's heavy as fuck. So it's a draw... of wasting my ammo and stimpaks. And my now ruined ripper. Somehow I felt light-headed after leaving the cave, I don't know why.

Second, a boring radio report about Legion slavers fucking around the Wasteland and me saving the day. I really wanted to be LEFT ALONE, MR. NEW VEGAS!

Third, incoming reports from Officer Scully that there is a Settlement at North are now under attack and needs our help. And it's no brainer that those bloody Super Mutant Behemoths almost wreck my stuff. And this 'Peterson Jarvey' guy annoys me that even more settlements required my help.

Guess how many settlements that needs my help?

Thirty-three... and they're at Montana. That's like a fourteen days trip to get there. Even if I reached there, they're fucked up sideways anyway.

And finally, Fourth, I found a wounded and unconscious unicorn mare who is now under my care. A first living pony I ever found during my 30 years of living in a wild Wasteland as the only living sapient equine on Earth. Well, not anymore.

After recalling the events for today, I then slowly put the mare down on the soft dirt before getting something from my bag. After a few moments of rummaging it, I found what I needed; Two bedrolls, some fresh bandages, a bottle of pure alcohol (For medical purposes), a tweezer, a troll and finally an unread pre-war book that I snatch at Mr.House's personal library.

After I fished out my required equipment, I then started to unroll the beds and then pick up the mare afterwards. After I set her down, I then carefully placed her head onto of my lap as I started to heal her bleeding head, totally forgetting something strapped onto my right fetlock.

As I finished my work, I then gently lay her down on the bed and I grabbed the blankets and placed them on her. Suddenly, she grabs hold of it and then she snuggled into it as she smiles in content. Making me smile warmly at the cute sight as I then walk towards my bed and plop onto it as I began reading the book within my furry grasp earlier.

As I opened the book, I began to dramatically read the title. For my own amusement.

"Fifty sh-"

I instantly slammed the doorstopper shut as I realized that the book I'm holding onto is a weird Pre-War erotica novel. Something about grey ties and a big red apple.

"What the fu-" I wordlessly said with my expression in pure confusion and shock. While also adding in the horror that this 200 years old man have a fetish about apples slowly inserting into the tie loop and coming out of it, over and over. That's... fucked up. And kinky too.

"Something's wrong, Alpha?" a sudden, deep voice behind me startles me as I yelped and dropped the book.

The noise of it's fall startled the Bacon mare as she began to sit up and screams. Causing me to also scream as I then 'accidentally' punched her in the face while also delivering an explosive payload to come along with it. Instantly knocking her out, while also adding more new bruises on her face.

By my mounted shotgun... luckily it's blank.

After realizing what I've done, my eyes wander around the cave to see a smug looking deathclaw with his toothy smile. And a cyborg canine tilts his head to the side in confusion.

I then heard a beep as I wander my eyes to the upper left of my peripheral vision to see a message popped up.



Bacon Mare is unconscious!




Only a few words coming out of my mouth as I then look at the unconscious Mare and then to my two companions.

"Uh, whoops."

Then suddenly, a small troll claps its hands together, accompanied with it's creepy happy expression.

Only for me to instantly blew it up with my 12.7mm Pistol, accompanied with a fuming expression on my face as I'm still glaring at the little troll's smokey remains with vengeance.




*Present*




"An accident." I nonchalantly answered while shrugging.

"Oh." Sunset's shoulder slumped downwards as she's still looking at me "So, how long can I remove it? It's itchy." to prove her point, she began scratching her bandaged head with her hoof.

As she said that, I immediately check the time on my pip-boy. A few seconds later, I then look at her with a cheerful smile on my face "Well Sunset, you can remove them now if you wanted to."

After I said that she can remove the bandages now, her horn then glows as my newly bought bandages are now glowing and being instantly shredded into tiny pieces. I then look at the torn pieces of cloth with a disappointing frown.

'You failed me, "Non-tearable Cloth".' I mentally said at the pieces with disappointment. I then look at the tan unicorn and my eyes slowly widen in awe.

She looks like... the same as she was before. The bruises on her face are gone, even the scars are now non-existent. She has cyan eyes which looks, a bit pretty on her to be honest. Suddenly, my stupor got derailed as I heard a loud, feminine gasp. I then saw Sunset greedily gasping for air as she felt like she's in an ocean for too long. While me, I just looked at her with amusement on my face as I then support my head with my gloved hoof.




*Third-Person POV*




Sunset just greedily breathe in the air towards her lungs as she struggles to breathe from the bandages that was wrapped around her head a while ago. After she felt relaxed, she then looks at her human savior with a grateful smile.

Only for the smile to falter as the only being she sees is a silver-coated stallion with a black and yellow mane and tail. His hazy-green eyes looked at her with curiosity and amusement. What finds her odd in her perspective, is that the stallion is wearing a olive and black uniform with a cap that looks like have a giant 'E' with stars surrounding it patched onto the cap.

She looks at him oddly "So, you're Chris?" the stallion slowly nods, Sunset then puts a hoof below her chin as she then ponders in thought "Huh, I thought only humans have names like that." the stallion then raised his eyebrow. Sunset noticed it as she raised her hooves in defense "No offense." Chris shrugs.

"None taken, so. Sunset." he replied as he then shuffle closer towards the edge of his bed "How did you get here anyways?"

Sunset nervously rubs her head "Um, I believe I accidentally traveled here by a magical mirror." she then winced as her headache are coming back as she then scrunched her face in concentration "I traveled here to..." her eyes widen in realization "TO SEE MY FORMER TEACHER, PRINCESS CELESTIA!" she shouted as Chris jump back from the mare's sudden yelling. He then quickly recovers as he then looks at the frantic bacon mare with confusion.

"Oh my gosh, now I remembered! I was supposed to be in pony Equestria but-" she got cut off as Chris waves his hooves infront of him.

"Wait, wait, wait. Pony Equestria?" Chris asked as Sunset nods, "Huh." he slumped his shoulders as he is deep in thought until he looks back at the Unicorn "Please continue." he then motions for her to go on as he then crosses his forelegs against his chest with a blank look on his face.

Sunset looks at him in surprise that he felt unfazed until she realized something what he said as she then continues "*ahem* As I was saying, I traveled through the magical statue from where I am. To Equestria where I can see Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle while also maybe re-gaining my old citizenship there and start my life there." she roughly explained "But-"

"But suddenly you're end up here and not there, is that it?" he concludes, the Unicorn slowly nods.

"I-I think so." Sunset then looks at Chris with a hopeful look on her face "Do you know anything about dimensional transportation?" after Sunset said that, Chris looks up in thought while he caresses his furry chin with his left hoof.

"Hm."





*1 Month ago*
*Outskirts of Searchlight Airport- Under Henderson Enclave Control*




Chris was looking at the suspicious looking hole ahead of him which is actually near the fences of the Enclave controlled Searchlight Airport.

He is wearing his MK.II Stealth Suit with it's helmet strapped onto his left waist. His weapon on his back is a heavily degraded This Machine, while his left hip contains a Jury-rigged Pipe Pistol (Courtesy from a random Raider which is a gift for shooting the said raider in the face. Not his body, nor his leg, just his face).

He was sitting on his rump as he was still staring at the hole with his right hoof scratching his head with a puzzled look on his face.

"Who the heck put this thing here?" he muttered to himself, he then heard footsteps as he looks to his right to see 2 Enclave Troopers heading towards him, he then ignores them as he then continued to stare at the big hole.

As they get closer, the one at the left pass through Chris' peripheral vision and he then unfortunately falls through the hole while the stallion goes wide eyed at this trooper's stupidity.

"AAAAAH!" the scream dies down as the soldier fell deeper and deeper until only silence greets the stallion.

The second Enclave Trooper somehow looks unfazed by this event as she stares at the hole which her teammate fell through with a expressionless look behind her helmet. She then looks at the shocked and confused stallion with a still blank look.

"General Jamison will lead us to glory." she said as she then continued her original patrol. Albeit without a partner.

Chris then shakes his head and he then shrugs "Well, another adventure. Another loot." he then jumps into the rabbit hole "Away!" he yelled above the hole as he then fades away mid-air.




*Present*




Chris shrugs as he then gave the Unicorn with a shake of his head "I got nothing." he said with a frown. Sunset then looks down with a saddened look "But, maybe your friends will try to get you home, hopefully." he said with a hopeful smile on his face as Sunset raised her head and she then smiled at him in return.

They both stared at eachother's eyes for too long that Sunset began to noticed as she then looks away with a faint blush on her face while Chris does the same, albeit without a blush of his own.

"So" Chris is the first to say as Sunset looks back at him "Wanna trade history with eachother while you're stuck here?" he asked as Sunset hums in thought and she then nods in agreement. Without hesitation, Chris then bolted towards his bag as he rummaging inside it to find his pencil and an empty book. He then returns to his spot with his book and pencil in hooves as he then looks at her with a questioning look.

"So, what to start?"

Sunset thought about it "Hm, how about this world's civilization? Mostly this place." she asked.

Chris raised one of his eyebrow "Okay? The answer for most factions is this; It's extremely shite." Sunset just slightly flinched from his sudden cuss word "You have Raiders, Birthday Legionaries, Crazy Hobos, Mugger Grannies, New Cunty Republicans, Wannabe Slavers and lastly: Aliens!" he finished with a crazed expression on his face, complete with a rapid eye twitch. Then, his expression turned cheerful "Except for some; like the Followers of The Apocalypse, The Kings, Westside and lastly, New World Hope."

She looks at him in shock at the amount of bad things he listed "Wow, I didn't believe it would be this bad." her expression turned into small, hopeful smile by the mention of the not-so terrible factions "Well, atleast there is SOME good things here."

Chris nods his head "It is, sister. So, my turn. You said something about Princess Celestia, correct?" she nods "Can you tell me about her history, please?" he then opens his book and hovered the tip of his pencil onto the blank page with anticipation.

"Well sure. But, my history about Princess Celestia is a bit rusty since I was at the human world for a long time, but here I go. About one thousand years ago of Equestria's time."

"Mhm, she's a granny." Chris muttered quietly without Sunset hearing him as he is busy writing while Sunset is busy roughly remembering her former teacher's history.

"Her name is Princess Celestia. She officially raises the Sun. And she also has her sister Princess Luna, who raises the moon."

"So her and her sister's names in my book are now Officially Sunbutt and Moonbutt. And they're both grannies."

"She then gained many praises from her subjects than her sister Luna."

"So Princess Sunbutt get many pats in the back, while her sister only gets a multiple middle fingers. What a bunch of dicks her subjects are, not giving her sister praises too."

"Luna then has heard that her sister is getting more praises by their subjects than her, so much so that Princess Luna fell into anger and jealousy."

"So, she decides to hide in the attic and secretly planned out to how to be loved."

"That is, until a few days later, she became Nightmare Moon. Then she announced to her subjects that she will make sure that she will make Night lasts forever."

"She then doomed her species by her own stupidity of not knowing the future consequences of photosynthesis without the presence of the sun."

"The two sisters then fought eachother, until Princess Celestia have to force herself to banish her sister to the moon for a millennia with the power of the Elements of Harmony."

"Wow, that sucks. Getting beaten by magical gems."

"One thousand years later, the Mare of the Moon has returned. And with the new bearers of Harmony, they managed to erased Nightmare Moon and returned the lost Princess Luna."

"So, she has returned, monologues, and then get beaten by the gems again, and also puked out Moonbutt. Awesome."

"And um-" Sunset concentrates hard but gives up as she then shrugs "I believe that's it for their history. So, what about this world's story? Since this is different where I was from." she asked while Chris closed his book, snapped his pencil in half and throw it away and placed the book back inside his backpack.

Chris then looks at her after he put his book back inside the bag "Okay?" he then sits back down on his bed and claps his hooves together and furiously rubs them afterwards "So, want a short story or a long story?" he glanced at her.

"Long story, please?"

He nods "Okay then." Chris breathes in REALLY hard before making a lengthy exhalation, he then makes a lengthy exhale as he looks at Sunset for a very lengthy story time "So around 200 years ago-"





*Equestria- Crystal Empire*
*Mirror Room*




Within the Palace of the Crystal Empire, are a few ponies waiting patiently for a certain mare to come out of the portal. The mirror room was decorated with balloons, confectionaries and a huge banner displaying 'Welcome back to Equestria, Sunset!' onto it. After a few minutes of silence, the lavender alicorn sighs.

"Ugh, where is she? She's gone for like" the lavender alicorn then conjures a watch before dissipating it afterwards "1.23 hours!" she yelled with a pouting face.

The lavender mare then felt a wing touched her back as she then looks at her former mentor who have a reassuring look on her face "Now, now dear Twilight Sparkle, Sunset might be felt nervous to come back here. At least, give her time." she said with motherly smile.

Twilight Sparkle then returns her own smile at her former mentor "Maybe you're right, Pr- I mean, Celestia." she then gaze towards the mirror "We maybe have to wait for a while."

*A few hours later*

"She hasn't pass through yet. Where could she be?"

The group then started to become very worried about Sunset not arriving, as Twilight started to pace back and forth in front of the portal, muttering to herself. While her friends look at the lavender alicorn in worry.

"Uh, Twalaight." the orange mare with a stetson said as Twilight stops dead in her tracks as she then looks at the cowpony. "Shouldn't we, ya know. Use that fency book of yers to contact Sunset?"

Twilight's eyes widen in realization "Oh my Celestia, You're right, Applejack! I know I forgot something." she then bolted right pass them with a speed which makes a certain present rainbow maned pegasus look at her blur in jealousy.

She then returns with a book she was holding in her magical grasp. Twilight then summons her quill as she then began writing a message onto the book.

"Dear Sunset, if you're reading this. Please respond, I hope you're okay." she writes outloud. After she wrote it, she then closed her book and teleports her quill to somewhere else as she the looks at her friends and her former mentor "Let's wait for her reply." they nodded in agreement, except for the rainbow pegasus as she then looks bored and passes out from boredom.




*Back to the two*




"-and that is why NCR are okay but still, a bunch of silver-tongue dicks." Chris finished his story telling towards the Unicorn.

As Sunset listened intently to all his story telling with wide eyes, she then saw her bag glowed at the corner of her vision. Gaining her attention and also the stallion's.

"Uh, why is your bag glowing?" he asked with a puzzled look.

"Because." Sunset's horn glows as the book covered in her magic emerged from her bag and showed it to him "This book, it is a two way message book for me and Twilight..." she explained but her voice died down at the last word. She immediately flipped open the book's page to see Twilight's message.

"Dear Sunset, if you're reading this. Please respond, I hope you're okay." she read aloud. She then looks at Chris "Can I borrow the pencil, please?" he nods as he hoofs her the pencil and she magically grabbed it from his grip while mouthing 'thanks' and began writing back towards her alicorn friend.

"Yes, Twilight. I'm okay, I'm with Chris at The... Mojave Wasteland." she hesitantly writes the name at the end. After she wrote her message, she closed the book and she then place it back into her backpack. She then looks back at Chris. Who was lost in thought.

"Should we, you know. Go outside?" she asked with a nervous look.

"Hm?" he then looks at her before his eyes slowly widen "Oh yeah, let's go. But." he looks at her with a questioned look "Do you know how to use a gun?" he asked.

Sunset then remembers her human friend that she tries to remember who taught her about handling a gun properly "Uh, yeah. I know how to hold a gun." she said until then she realized what his meaning was as she looks at him with a scared expression "Do I. Do I have to?"

He nonchalantly shrugs "The Wasteland is a dangerous place, so handling a gun is very common. But you look like you're very hesitant about it." to confirm his statement. Sunset nods hesitantly, he sighs "Don't worry, you don't have to kill anything or anyone who will hurt you. Just disable them and run, like I supposed to do when I was a Courier." he said with a small smile. But only flinch on the inside as his gloved right hoof starts to burn by his recent memories of the 'incident'.

"You're a Courier?"

"Yep, one of those messengers who sent out weird packages."

Sunset slowly nods as she finishes her bowl of soup who Chris cooked a while ago during his story telling. She then placed her empty bowl onto her lap and stare at it "I thought you're a cook, and a doctor. Like most of those Housestallions." she immediately regretted to say that as Chris looks at her with a confused expression.

"What?" Sunset froze by his tone "What do you mean 'Housestallion'?" he said with a small tone of anger.

She looks at him as she nervously fidgets her hooves "Um, yeah... about that." she took a glance at his face before looking down again "Do. Do you know what are the rates from mares to stallion in Equestria?" she asks with a saddened look.

He calms down about what she meant "There's something wrong about it. Is it?" he said.

Sunset sighs in sadness "Yes, there is something wrong about it." she said as she looks at him with a downed look "Ever since the pony tribes worked together. There's something happening around that time." she slumped her shoulders further "There is a war."

"What war?"

"A war against the Caribou." she said the name with an obvious hint of anger "Most of the stallions gave away their lives to fight against those monsters." her horn then sparks as well as her eyes narrowed "And even though we've won. They suddenly casted a curse upon us of which every single stallion. Even a colt, have their chromosomes messed up. From a ratio of a filly to a colt which is from 1 to 1. Now 5 to 1." she then closed her eyes and sighs while her horn dissipates any gathered up magic "We. We've tried to reverse the effects. Not even the princesses can do it. Tartarus, even Starswirl can't reverse the effects." she looks at him with sadness evident onto her face "So we tried and tried again, but no results. And that's where we decided that herding is a solution."

While Sunset explains. Chris looks at her with sympathy, his anger diminishes due to Sunset's explanation. He closed his eyes and sigh "So. That's the reason why. Is it?" Sunset looks at him and shallowly nods "Look, sorry about my small outburst. But, more explanations about that will come later because we should prepare ourselves."

"Why?" she asked.

He raised his pip-boy and shows it to her his map which displays multiple red blips closing in to their position "Because we got company in less than 30 minutes." he said with a no-nonsense look.





Somewhere in a snow covered region


*Unknown POV*





Scanning around the freezing wastes with my binoculars, I found something in the distance. Upon close inspection, I was met with an interesting sight. Multiple armor-clad soldiers marching through the streets, carrying weapons made from unknown technology. What scares me, is that there's a lot of bloatflies in varying sizes hovering beside them, as if they have some sort of relationship with eachother.

Taking the risks of gathering more intelligence, I get closer towards the army. Within a suitable distance, I then rejoined myself with the snow. Getting out my binoculars again, I've managed to see that the soldiers are wearing those Enclave power armors. And based by their movement of the general direction, I believe they're heading towards the west coast.

Without any time to think, I then called my CO through my walkie-talkie. Not without camouflaging myself with the snow to avoid detection.

"This is Zulu 6-4 to Theta Command, over." I said as I placed my walkie-talkie next to my ear to hear any response. Only to receive static.

"I repeat, this is Zulu 6-4 to Theta Command, over." I repeat. And I get another static.

"Officer Jackson, this is Scout Master Killian! Respond, over!?" I yelled through the walkie-talkie. And again, static.

Groaning in frustration, I clipped back my walkie-talkie back to my waist as I then looked back at the army. And they're gone.

"Oh god, I hope those poor bastards put up a fight." I muttered to myself in concern as I began trekking through the snow back to HQ.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




Equestria- Crystal Empire




The ponies are now waiting anxiously for the receiving message from Sunset Shimmer as they're staring at the book with worry and concern, after a few minutes, Twilight's book glows. Without hesitation and an upside smack at the sleeping Rainbow pegasus, Twilight opened it and began reading her friend's response.

"'Yes, Twilight. I'm okay, I'm with Chris at The Mojave Wasteland'?" Twilight read out loud and her face furrowed into a questioning look. She looks at her friends "Mojave Wasteland? What's that?" she asks.

As Twilight mentions The Mojave, Celestia's anxious face cracked into a worried look. Memories of her witnessing the humanity's destruction comes full force into her vision.

"By Faust." Celestia mutters as tears form at the corner of her eye. Twilight and her friends heard her as they looked at her.

"Celestia, what's wrong?" Twilight asks, concerning about her teacher.

"Twilight, do you know that this portal not only leads to the human version of Equestria, right?" Celestia replied with a whisper, Twilight respond with a slow shake of her head "The Mojave Wasteland is a place in another human world."

"Wait, there's another world?" Twilight said with a sparkle in her eyes, thinking about another human world with high amount of curiosity in her "You mean, Sunset's in another world!?" she pressed her hooves onto her cheeks with a smile, oblivious towards Celestia's concerning look "Oh my gosh! That means that the multiverse theories are true!"

"Twilight." Celestia tries to interrupt Twilight in a stern tone.

"What does humans look like in another world, my goodness, do they have different technology there!?" Twilight began to ramble.

"Twilight."

"I mean, if they do have. That means more tests! And that means-"

"Twilight!" Celestia uses her RCV, blowing away balloons and confectioneries off the table and causes nearby ponies to flatten their ears against their heads, Twilight included to clear away the sudden buzz.

Celestia then clear her throat as she regained her usual composure "Apologies, my little ponies. I didn't mean to yell." she apologized to the group "Now, Twilight." she gained Twilight's attention, as the lavender alicorn looked at her "The other human world." she closed her eyes as she exhale through her nostrils, trying not to break down from the memories "Is not as pleasant is it should be unlike the human world of us." she then slightly hesitates at her next choices of words.

"This world's humanity destroyed each other with powerful weapons containing enough energy to destroy cities. Leaving only, hence the name, wastelands." she explained, causing the group to gasp in shock and horror from the humanity's sudden self-destruction. Some start to shed tears.

"Who does that, Princess?" the yellow pegasus whimpered as she then started to imagining the innocents caught in the blast "Why-*sniff*-why do they destroy each other like that?"

Celestia looks at the yellow pegasus with remorse "I don't know, Fluttershy. I-I don't know why." she said the last sentence in a whisper. Celestia looks at Twilight's book before looking at it's owner who was streaming tears "Twilight." the lavender alicorn looks back at Celestia "Can you give me the book, please?" she requests and Twilight silently complied as she magically held out the book and Celestia slowly grabbed it with her magic.

Celestia floats the book in front of her and opened it, summoning her quill, she began to write her message "Sunset, please, if you're the only one reading this. Please, please be careful with someone you're following." she then teleports her quill and quietly placed the book down on the table. She then leaves the room, leaving the others to themselves.

She then slowly trot towards the nearby window and gaze into the stars above with a saddened look, she closed her eyes "Please be okay, Sunset Shimmer. Please be okay, you're the only one I cared for as a daughter I suppose to protect." she quietly pleads as she starts to whimper and then she quietly sobs. Wishing for her adopted daughter's safety.





Back To The Think Tank Buddies




"Um, Dr.Klein?"

"WHAT IS IT, DR.O?"

"The third satellite just got launched without our permission."

...

...

"WHAT THE FU-"




Mojave Wasteland
Chris' POV




Me and Sunset began to prepare of what's coming at the entrance of the cave. Awhile ago, I managed to find an appropriate clothing for her. Well because you know, human cultures. Have to wear clothes all the time. Unfortunately, she beat me to the dust because she has her own clothes inside her bag which actually fits her quite well. She wears a black leather jacket which looks similar to the Great Khans, except it's not torn, nor have those useless spikey bits, only small studs. She also have a purple T-shirt which have her 'Cutie Mark' as Sunset said which represent our "Specialty" or whatever, stitched to it. And she also wears a skirt, only to change into jeans afterwards because well... you know what I mean.

And now Sunset was waiting for me to lay down my weapons, mostly pistols. For her to use. With weapons on my back, I slowly trot towards Sunset as she then looks at me with slight concern. I only shrug.

"Alright Sunset," my voice was strained by the weight of the bag, only to return back to normal as I then dropped my weapons onto the floor accompanied with a grunt "now, choose your pick."

Strewn across the floor in a single file; are multiple 12.7mm Pistols, 10mm N99s, 9mm pistols, a heavily modified That Gun(which I quickly grabbed it), .44 Magnums,  .357s and .45 Pistols. Sunset looks at the selection of pistols with a thoughtful look on her face until she found something interesting. As her horn then glows a cyan hue as she magically grabbed a sneaky little .22 pistol under it's 12.7mm brother "Hmm, how about this one?" she asked.

I look at the pistol and then back to her "You sure?" she nods "That, is a Tranquilizer Pistol. With enough dosage to paralyze everyone with a single shot. And that is a correct choice, if you wanted to." I explained.

She then examined the pistol. And true to her reasoning of her proper firearms training, she magically pulls out the slide of the pistol, ejects the mag and then check the 'bullets'. Well, the bullets are actually tiny tranq darts for use of the pistol. After having enough ogling the pistol. She then shoves the mag back into the pistol, push the slide forward, chambering a new round. And then she make sure the safety's on and then points the barrel downwards. In a quick succession no-less. And boy do I look impressed.

Sunset then holstered her chosen pistol into her jacket and then she looked at me "So, what time do we have left?" she asked.

I then check my Pip-Boy and then look at her "We have 22 minutes." I replied as I then quickly grabbed my secondary bag intended for rifles and then placed them down. I picked up my YCS/186 and then began maintaining it. I began to unscrew the barrel as I then replaced it with a much, cleaner one. After finished checking for any sign of damage. I fished out a fresh magazine containing pre-inserted metal slugs from the bag and inserts it at the side of the gun and then replacing the microfusion cell afterwards. After that, I then cranked it up to charge it into full power.

"Okay Sunset," I say as she looked at me "Be ready." I then powered up my Gauss Rifle while Sunset grabbed her pistol from her jacket as she flick the safety off. I then took a glance at my Pip-boy.

'5 minutes' I thought as I then pre-aimed my rifle towards the entrance as the blips are getting closer. Until they suddenly dissapear.

"Huh?" I muttered in confusion as Sunset looks at me with the same expression as we then lowered our weapons "I thought they will..." I trailed off as I realised that. To confirm my suspicion, a decloaking sound was heard behind us, and I knew who it is. Sunset swiftly aimed her pistol at the source and paused as she looks at what she was seeing.

Rex is playing with me.

My face scrunched in annoyance as I then glare at the sneaky cybernetic hound "Dammit Rex, I told you not to-" I got cut off as Rex lunged at me, pinned me to the ground and began licking my face. Knocking off my Enclave Officer cap and my Gauss Rifle in the process.

"Ok Rex, I get it. You win." I said a word per every lick Rex gave to me. I then playfully shoved him back as I then pull out a dried cloth underneath my uniform and began wiping dog saliva off my face. After cleaning out the canine slobber off from my face, I then looked at Rex who has his tongue hanged outside and panting with a excited look on his face. Only for his face to be covered in saliva-coated cloth as he yelped in surprise and tried to shake it out of his head.

A smug smile was formed on my face "Now, we're even." I then looked at Sunset who have a slight smirk on her face. My face forms into a frown as I glare at her "Don't say. A word." I said with a deepened tone and she playfully shrugs.

Only to freeze as she heard a deep breath behind her. Her mane and fur was slightly tugged by every breath of the hidden Deathclaw, she looks back to see two menacing-red eyes staring into her soul. Her face morphed into fear as she then screams and fell onto her back as she stares at him. While he... just look at her oddly. He then looks at me.

"Did I do something wrong, Alpha?" Little Ripper asked, which caused Sunset to stop screaming and looks at him in confusion.

"Alpha?" she repeats as she looked at me then back at Ripper "He's your Alpha?" she asks as she point at me and Ripper nods.

"Yes, he is my Alpha. Since we were young. He found me in a cave, shackled and trapped in a metal cage. Wounds seeping out of my flesh, until he came. He healed me, gave me back my strength of what I once was. In return, we are now brothers in blood, a chain of bonds which is unbreakable beyond belief. And we are always there for each other." he explained as he looks at me with and gave me a grateful nod and I slowly returned the gesture.

Sunset then looks at me "Is it true?" I truthfully nod "So, what's his name?" she asks as she wearily glanced at him. Felt intimidated by his size and claws. She then get back up onto her hooves again.

I look at Sunset and then Ripper and back to her "Sunset Shimmer, meet Little Ripper. Little Ripper, meet Sunset Shimmer." I introduced both of them accompanied with my hoof pointed towards each one of them.

Little Ripper then get onto his fours as he was face-to-face with Sunset, who the latter rears back her head in slight fear "Greetings, Beta." he properly greets in his usual deep tone.

"Hello to you too, Little Ripper." she return the greeting and then pauses as she looks at him oddly "Wait, Beta?"

Little Ripper nods "Yes, Beta, a name I only give towards Alpha's mutual partner." he bluntly explains. It took for a few seconds for Sunset to realize what it means and her face was red like a Pre-war tomato and looks away. While I buried my face into my hooves as I groaned in embarrassment.

I then look at Ripper between the gaps of my hooves, showing a narrowed, green eye "Seriously, Ripper? Me and Sunset just met for Christ sake!" I yelled at him and he just stands there, unfazed "And also, where have you and Rex been to?"

Little Ripper then looks at the entrance and then back to me "We have contacted someone, he will be there shortly. And surely, you can see my message before we left." he replied.

"Oh, you mean this chicken-scratch on the wall?" I retort as I pointed at Ripper's gibberish message on the wall.



APHE, E AN RX FND BTHE



Little Ripper looks at his message before looking back at me, and before he opened his mouth. I was being pushed down to the ground by a heavy weight barreled onto me.

"BIG BROTHER!" an unmistakeable, young voice greets my ears and gave me a hug on my neck, very tightly.

I then look whose on top of me, only to see my little brother Jake. He's a 10 years old Asian with a fair skin tone. His jet-black hair was shortened but messy and he has Hazel eyes. He wears a dirty white T-shirt, possibly from following Rex to the cave, he has long, brown pants, a pair of brown boots and his own pair of eyeglasses and a satchel. His weapon of choice is a 12.7mm pistol and a small switchblade.

"Hehe, h-hey Jake." I wheeze as Jake started to crush my windpipe "Can you please let go? You're choking me."

He then lets go of me and sheepishly chuckled "Hehe, sorry Chris. You worried me, that's all." he then looked at Sunset and his eyes widen in awe "Wow, she's pretty." she slightly blushed by his comment, and he looks at me with a sly smile "Is she your new girlfriend?" he innocently asks and she's gone back to full red.

I gave him a 'really?' look "Seriously, Jake? We just met." I said "And besides, she's new around here." I then placed both my hooves at the floor as I began to get up. Dusting myself and grabbing my hat and placed it back onto my head, after a few adjustments, I glanced at Jake "So, did Ripper sent you?" I asked as I check myself for anything missing out and found my gauss rifle as I then picked it up, power it down and placed it behind my back.

Jake nods "Yep, he said something about you got a new companion. Like, for the 13th time." he rolled his eyes "I mean, what's next? Triplets?" he said as he shrugs. He paused as he realized something "Oh, now I remember. There's someone wanted to find you."

"Okay? Who is it?" I asked as I took a glance at Sunset, who was petting Rex on his brain dome. And Rex rapidly stomps the ground with a happy expression then back to Jake.

"Oh, ya know. A courier." I paused as I look at him with a raised eyebrow "A ghoul courier wanted to give you a message, exactly." Jake reaches down inside his satchel and brings out an envelope and gave it to me "Here."

I grabbed the envelope and mouthed my brother 'thanks' before opening it and read it out loud.



Courier 6, stop. 

This is the New California Republic secretary; Malissa Johnson, stop. 

If you read this message, stop. 

The Embassy of the NCR have disclose your evidence against Mr.Brookshire, stop. 

You are now cleared of all criminal activity against us as we began to strip him from our rank and punish him for corruption, stop. 

Please, forgive our misunderstanding coming from Mr.Brookshire, stop. 

Thank you, stop.



I raised my eyebrow in surprise, even Jake has the same look. While Sunset looks confused.

Jake whistles as he then placed his hands onto his waist "Whew, I can't believe it. NCR has finally realised that you're one of their idolized figure now, am I right, big bro?" he say as he nudged me with his elbow.

I closed my eyes and sigh "I really don't want to be known, Jake. There is a reason why." I looked back at him "And-" my voice got cut off as I stare at Jake's face. My face went blank as memories began to play in my mind.

"Please, help us." a young, innocent voice said in my mind.

"Courier, please. Stand up and fight!"

"Courier!"

"Courier!"

"Courier!"

"CHRIS!" 

I was being violently shaken from my trance, as I then looked down to see a concerned-looking Jake looked at me with teary eyes.

"Shit, Chris you fucking scared me." Jake cried as he hugs me and I slowly hugged him back as he began quietly crying, not noticing my gloved right hoof began leaking blood.

We broke out of our embrace, as we looked at each other "Chris, is everything okay? You've been quite hesitant about it." he asks "I mean, I've tried to contact you days ago!"

Sunset looks at me with a raised eyebrow "You didn't contact your little brother days ago?" she asks with a questioned look "Why didn't you talk to him?"

"I agree with the two." Ripper interjects "There's something wrong about it, isn't it, Alpha?"

I looked away, staring at the wall before looking back at them "I-I... Forget about it. It's something that I was thinking about it, okay? I'm fine." I lied. Jake, Sunset and Little Ripper doesn't buy it and tried to open their mouths but closed as they decided to not pushing the question further.

I get up from my bedroll and pack it up, glancing at Sunset for a while "Come on, let's go. We're burning daylight." I said as I shouldered my backpack on my back and heading towards the wooden door of the cave. Sunset packs hers while Little Ripper picks up the weapon bags and holds them onto his shoulders. Rex just being like a loyal dog, while Jake. He's... he's staring at the burning fire for a while before extinguishing it and silently stands beside me. Accompanied with the rest behind him.

I looked at Sunset "You're ready to see the sight of the Mojave?" I asked and she nods, I then grabbed the handle of the door "Well, let's go." I pushed the door outwards as the shining light blinds us for a while. As we are showing Sunset Shimmer the Wild Mojave. And while I began to remember my painful memory of that 'incident'.





*Unknown Location- Snow region*
*Unknown faction base*
*Status- under attack*




Explosions, gunfire and energy blasts filled the atmosphere. Screams, roars and chitters accompanying it. Onto the snow fields are multiple husks of power armors, weapons and corpses of the giant bloatflies. Within the trenches, are multiple T-51bs wielding soldiers fighting against the X-01s across the field of No Man's Land.





Soldier's POV





'Shit, shit, shit. I didn't think they've found us this soon!' I thought as I passing through my teammates as they're shouting each other as they're firing at those bloody bastards. Running along the trenches to command, I keep seeing my men blasted apart by explosive pellets, impaled by the organic flechettes and some bled to death by massive wounds.

Reaching to checkpoint 2, I fell on my back, with my men behind me. As we were dropped to the ground by a MASSIVE bloatfly which we haven't had intel for. I froze in fear as the giant bug looks down at us with it's giant compound eyes, then it started it's ear-piercing screech. Making me deaf for a few seconds as I saw it bringing it's thorax down upon us. It then fires it's flechettes onto my men, I heard screams as I looked at them.

One of my men tries to remove the spike embedded into his chest, until he dies from internal bleeding. While the rest impaled to the ground, missing their limbs and some have their heads missing. With a growing rage, I pulled out my pulse pistol and aimed at that giant fucker. I then fired multiple compressed pulse at it as it began screech in pain, it's wings started to beat rapidly as it began to fly away. Heh, cowardly fuck. Placing my pistol back into my holster and getting back into my feet, I continued my journey through the trenches and straight to command.

Barging through the entrance of the command center, earning a surprised gasp and a few men pointing their weapons at me. Realizing who I am, they lowered their weapons and the commanding officer moves his head at the door, gesturing me to go inside. Without any time screwing around, I opened the door. And see multiple officers running around the command, barking orders. I only have one place to go, and that's the center. Surrounding the middle table, is Captain Marlowe, Comm Officer Henry and Sergeant Joseph.

"Damn, I didn't know the Tantrum can find us." the Captain said as he shakes his head.

Sergeant leans down onto the table "Hell, what should we do then? Running? Hahaha" he laughs before his face turned angry "No, I'm done hiding, captain. Give me something to shoot, sir." he requests.

Captain Marlowe took a side glance at Sergeant before he shakes his head "No, Sergeant. We need to evacuate our wounded and other non-combatants." he said until he see me standing there "You need something, soldier?"

I quickly gave a salute to the captain "Yes, sir. I've got the holodisk from the former Lead Scientist Frederick." I placed the holodisk on the table. Causing the other two to look at me with raised eyebrows "It's a formula of the Tantrum virus, sir." I explained, causing the entire working personel at the bunker to stop what they're doing and stare at me.

The captain's eyes widen in surprise "A Tantrum Virus?" he sound surprised, he looks at the holodisk and back to me "Soldier." I straighten up by his tone "What is your name?" he asked.

"Lance Corporal Rico, sir." I replied.

"Lance Corporal Rico, I wanted you" captain pointed the holodisk "to send the disk at the facility in the Mojave, understood?" he command.

"Understood, sir." I accepted as I grabbed the disk, only for a hand to grab my wrist. I looked at the culprit to see Sergeant Joseph looked at me with a stern gaze.

"Make sure you keep it safe, Corporal. The humanity counts on that disk. And we will make sure to give you time to escape" he said as he let go of my hand.

I hesitantly nods "Yes, sir. I'll make sure to make my way to the Mojave." I said as I'm at the door, I look back at them "And... give them hell, sir." I then closed the door. And began making my way to the Rockwell facility at the Mojave.
> Flashback 1: The Frosthill Massacre
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




*Chris' POV*
*3 Weeks Before Sunset's Arrival*




I felt betrayed by the faction I slowly started to trust. My opinions on NCR have steeply darkened to the point I just usually see them as a disposable faction, all thanks to their cowardly snake; Mr. Brookshire. That asshole just used US as pawns, like he thinks that the 'NCR' has the most impact on the Mojave. Well, think again.

Theres a reason why you don't fuck with a courier. You bring them down. They rise back up, stronger than ever before. And with a determined state of vengeance they have. They'll wreak destruction onto those who opposed them and they ALWAYS. GET. WHAT. THEY. WANTED. And it's always the one who tried to bury them gets a heated rebar to their eye sockets.

And this is why, I get what I wanted to:

Revenge. And painted the last road for the Legendary Man in Black himself.

But even I done it, I felt... empty. Somehow.




*Unknown Location- Possibly Randall's camp- Deep Creek Mountains*




"*Grunt* Fucking. Heavy. Bitch *grunt* Fucking moving this pile of shit or what? Why-*Wheeze*- why we don't just shoot the fucker?"

"Brookshire said to take this one with Randall, it's a part of the deal. Fuck up, and we won't get paid."

"Why the fuck are we hauling them into town, when will we'll be getting paid?"

"Relax, Brooks will said that we'll get paid. Once the business in town was settled now, here's the brahmin. Let's load 'em up."

*Groan*

"Careful, one of them's coming around. Keep that hood on. Here, *The sound of a baton unfolds* this should take care of 'em."

*THWACK*




*A town of Frosthill*




My head felt like it's been hit like a ton of bricks. I then felt the concussion starts to subside. As I slowly opened my eyes, I was met with a sight that I cannot comprehend; the entire townsfolk of Frosthill was being tied up infront of the Saloon, children included. Across the townsfolk, are the traitorous Bounty Hunters, armed with Hunting Shotguns. To my left I see. I see Randall tied up. And to my right, I see Ford. And my anger rising, he leans forward and looks at me with a smug look on his face.

"What is the meaning of this!? You have no rights to detain us!" one of the inhabitants yelled.

"COWARDS! EVERY ONE OF YOU!"

Then, a familiar figure enters my vision on my right as he emerged behind Ford. When he comes to face me, my eyes slowly widened. The Man in Black looks like Virgil and-

'Wait a second. He's Marko all along.' I thought in disbelief.

My shock was being left out as Marko began to talk to me.

"Oh how the mighty have fallen." he said "You honestly can't be surprised that it's me, can you? Virgil is my favourite alias, given the literary roots." he narrowed his eyes for a second before returning back to it's state as he slightly smirked "Your expression right now... forgive the cliche, but it truly is priceless. If Brookshire had only known what this was worth to me..." my eyes narrowed at the mention of Brookshire. That cunt, Marko noticed it and confirms my suspicions against Brookshire "That's right, Brookshire wasn't inclined to consider the fate of the townspeople, much less you... when weighed against a supply of silver."

'So he sold Me, Randall and the fine folks of Frosthill; for a worthless pile of metal!?' I angrily thought about Brookshire's shady schemes.

"I'm sure what your political leanings are, but if you consider yourself a patriot of the NCR, that must be really, really sting." he slowly shakes his head in false pity "In this moment of unforseen, inconceivable reversal you must be thinking, 'How did this happen?' It boils down to one simple characteristics: resolve. When you killed Sergio, I... resolved to make you suffer to your last breath."

'So he's actually pretty protective of his brother, how quaint.' I inwardly chuckled darkly at the memories of Sergio's corpse rot at the streets of Valle De Hierro.

"Maybe you're thinking of ways to break from your binds, disarm me, kill the guards, save the day... not this time." he shook his head "Whatever happens next, you're going to be utterly powerless to stop me. Doesn't that just burn you up?" he taunted, and he's correct. I am really burned up, to unoriginally shoot him in the head "If you didn't have that gag, I can only imagine what you might be saying." I inwardly thought about to tell him to 'fuck off' but I'll hold it "Well, I'm a cautious fellow, so I want to be safe. I can't risk any interruptions during my theatrics. Nothing is worse than a distruptive audience." he pulls out his revolver and points the barrel towards me.

Suddenly, Ford grabs my forelegs and held my Fore-hooves above me with a wicked smile on his face.

"Got hold of him, Marko!" Ford shouted.

Marko silently nods in approval as he then aim and shoots two .357 hollow-points towards both of my hooves in a rapid succession. And they both hit their marks. I audibly grunt in pain as the unbearable shattered lead lodged themselves into my hooves. Ford then releases his grip on me and then he returned to his post while I audibly hissed in pain.

"Ah, right through the hooves. That does look painful. You won't be opening any jars again, much less handling a weapon. Even with the pain, I wonder if you're consumed by rage... or dread. Neither benefits you, but dread suggests an honesty that I have to admire." he then narrowed his eyes "Were you expecting a fair fight? A climactic showdown in the street? Sergio tried it that way, didn't he? My brother had heart, I'll give him that." I internally scoffed at the mention of his brother again "I've never had a mind for fair fights, though I've won my share." he then leaned forward "I prefer domination... and most importantly, survival. That's all that matters." he then straightens his posture.

My eyes still narrowed in anger as I let them subtly drift towards the townsfolk of Frosthill. One of the children looked at me and my eyes soften as the boy stared towards me with teary eyes. He almost resemble my brother... he then silently mouthed 'please, help us.' my gaze then returned as I then look back at Marko.

"You wanted to speak, don't you? No doubt you have pithy retort or some eloquent overture that would convince me to throw down my arms." he quietly scoffed "Not tonight. This time you'll be silent, like a dog following its owner. Or, in your terms, like a dumb horse obeying its owner. When this is over, you'll acknowledge me as your master." he continues to taunt as my glare at him intensified.

"You're going to beg for death. You'll pray to God for it to end, but he won't listen. Only when you pray to me will you gain release." he then smugly smirks "But that can wait. Right now I'm an official agent of the New California Republic, warden of their new outpost in Frosthill. In my administration, law and order will be upheld without exception. Why not get off to a strong start here and now?"

Due to the townspeople overheard everything he said, when he mentions about a 'strong start'. They began to beg him to spare them. While some who knows me, tried to tell me to get up and fight.

"Please, please don't do this!"

*Sobbing*

"Courier, please. Save us!"

I only close my eyes and wish this shouldn't happen to them.

He then have his back turn to me as he faces towards the pleading townsfolk "*Ahem* By the investment in me by the New California Republic, I hereby authorize these agents of the justice system to collect on lawful bounties." he then gestures the bounty hunters to open fire.

And they eagerly complied, as a hail of buckshots began to fly. Hitting the townsfolk and... the children with nothing but multiple metal pellets embedded into their skulls. Luckily, their death was quick. Me and Randall, the remaining prisoners of Marko, watched the massacre with wide eyes as we helplessly witness the townsfolks' demise. I really wanted to close my eyes again, but I can't. Without any survivors remaining, they stopped firing and then they admire their masterpiece.

Multiple bodies piled onto the streets. Crimson blood coat the whitest snow and the brown wood of the saloon with it. Most of the bodies was mutilated to the point of being un-recognisable. What gained my attention though, is that boy. He, he survives. But had multiple pellet wounds onto his legs and stomach as he began crying in pain. One of the bounty hunters noticed as she began walking towards the boy.

She then crouch down and face him with a wide grin on her face "Aw, does the little boy have a boo, boo?" she makes a fake sad expression and coos as she then points the barrel of her shotgun toward the boy's head "Here, your good auntie have a medicine for you."

*BOOM*

"Hahaha, the look of his face. He just goes, Plop!" she laughs as the rest of the bounty hunters joined in the chorus of laughter.

Marko then faces back to me "So it was done... all according to the law." he said as he then walk towards Randall. He then looks down at Steven with a frown "Randall, Randall, Randall. You came so far only to taste the bitterness of defeat again. Deep down, you knew it would end this way. Ford, your aqcuire eager to betray Mister Randall. Why don't you do the honors?"

Ford then complies as he then marches towards Randall with an angered expression and a shotgun in hand. As he reaches towards his destination. He readied his firing posture. Pumps the shotgun to make sure its loaded. Aim the barrel towards Randall's head. After a few seconds of him holding his breath, he closed his eyes. And he then pulls the trigger.

*BOOM*

Randall's head caved in by the blast. What was left of him was his decapitated body as his head was being obliterated by the force of the blast, leaving only a twitching spine at what was basically the stump of his neck. My eyes widen in shock, accompanied with tears that my friend, Randall. Was... gone. I then heard a weapon being dropped as I saw Ford wiping his tears in his own emotional breakdown.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" he cried.

Marko then walk towards me and stops "Now... what are we going to do with you?" he questioned me as I glared at him "I could put a round in your head, make it quick, clean. Then again, that's been tried. I don't fear failure so much as being... unoriginal. No I've got something better in mind. You ever heard stories of drunks being buried alive?" my heart stops at what he meant as I slightly squinted my eyes by the memories, he continues "Since you're not in a position to speak, I'll take your indigant squinting as a 'yes', so I'll continue. When a man is buried alive in say, a coffin, he might have thirty minutes or so to live. Trust me, I know. I've seen it firsthand."

Flashes of Benny shot me in the head and left me buried in Goodsprings Cemetery emerged. My body slightly trembles by the memory of being buried alive. I've been there once Marko. You're not the only one. But that's only that I'm unconscious. And this, this is when I am conscious now.

he crosses his arms against his chest as he explains "It's one heck of an interrogation technique, acting like you're burying them. I leave them down there for a bit, then pull them up. They always come up gasping, a few even lose their minds in that short span. I guess it's the darkness... and the noise." he then leans down and propped his hands against his knees for support "Imagine... your breathing is strained, dust fills your mouth and eyes, and you hear the weight of earth shifting above you. It's inexorable death." he returns his posture "That's why I saved you for last... I want you to feel that terror as you dwell on what transpired here tonight, how you were beaten." I silently snarled at him and he ignores it.

"No matter how hard you are, the terror will take you eventually. In that moment, when you're wishing for it all to end, just remember..." He then unclasp the baton on his waist and gripped it tightly "I was the one man who beat you, and that's what people will remember, what they'll say for years to come." he then extends the baton "It isn't just your body that I'm burying tonight. It's your legend."

*THWACK*

And then he swung the baton at the left side of my head with enough force which causes me to black out.




*A while later*




"'Ey, boss, you sure you don't want me to shoot 'em first?"

"No, I want the Courier to suffer to the last. You hear that, friend? Of course you can, even with that hood on. Is the coffin comfy? Just so you know, I'm putting you in an unmarked grave in the middle of nowhere.

From a legal standpoint, you will have simply... vanished. You're going to be just another anonymous stiff. You afraid now? Just let it wash over you, don't fight it. You're so close to the end. I wonder how you're might have molded the Mojave if you'd lived. I'm sure people will speculate to no end.

They'll forget you though... they always do. At this moment of acute reflection, I wonder if you appreciate the futility of your efforts. Your mentor is dead. Really dead. I'll face no legal or governmental consequences - quite the contrary. I'll become a respected citizen... leading this town while the worms gnaw on your rotting corpse. You remember that when the air thins out. If you could do it all over again, would you even come here?"

*THUNK, THUNK, THUNK*

"So much to ponder in the darkness. Rest easy. Close it up, boys!"




*Third POV*
*A few minutes Later*




As soon as Marko left the place and headed back towards Frosthill, leaving the two bounty hunters alone with the coffin. Behind the shrub in the forest, a lone figure accompanied with a dog, stares at the two men who started to dug the dirt back into the hole. With quick thinking, the figure then threw a flashbang at the unobservant traitors.

*BANG*

The 2 hunters then dropped their shovels as they're screaming in surprise from the effects of the flashbang. The figure then unclipped his Baton and extends it as he then rushes out from his hiding spot. And he hit them in the back of their head as the hunters then fell down to the floor, unconscious.

As he stared down at the 2 former acquaitances, he then collapsed the baton and clipped it onto his waist. He then unwraps his bandana to reveal himself as Thorne, an African American who was a bounty hunter like them, emphasis on 'was'. He then look at the woods to whistle out someone. A dog then emerges from the bushes and was standing loyally beside Thorne as the man then quickly grabbed the shovel and digging out the dirt with haste. With the dirt removed, he see a coffin covered in dirt. Without any time to think, he quickly bring it out from the hole and thinking about how to opened it.

He then noticed a hammer on the bed of the wagon, without hesitation, he grabbed it and use the hoof to unwedge the nails. After he removes the nails, he then opened the coffin.

He then see an unconscious stallion who was covered in dust, dirt and blood. His left cheek have a visible wound that still stream down blood, his forehooves was filled shrapnel caused by the hollowpoint. He noticed that the stallion was still breathing but shallow, then he used his remaining strength to grab the stallion out of the coffin. With a passenger on his back. He then began walking towards an abandoned shack near the town of Frosthill. Carrying an unconscious pony in tow.




*Chris' POV*
*Hours later*





As I begin to gain consciousness, I then saw mutliple memories flashing towards me. Then they showed a vivid images of me in the coffin, causing me to lunged forward and began to scream. Only for me to cough up dust. After having a coughing fit and managed to get the dust out of my lungs. I opened my eyes to see where I am.

I'm believe in a familiar shack of- Fuck. Trapped in that coffin must've really hit hard on me as I can't remember properly. I then placed both my hooves on the bed as I slowly started to sit up. Grunting in pain all the way as my wounds are still recent, with enough strength I can muster. I managed to stand up onto all four of my hooves, albeit a bit wonky as my forelegs visibly trembles from the pain by that .357 hollow-points.

After I managed to regain my balance, I then looked around the place properly and I saw 2 sleeping figures. One is a sleeping dog on the carpet which I know is Cooper. And the other, is Thorne who was sleeping on his chair near the fireplace. Or, I thought so.

Thorn leans back against the chair and acknowledged me "And the dead shall rise and walk the earth. I wasn't sure if you'd make it, but here you are, on your f- um, I mean hooves no less." he said with a hint of relief.

I tried to balance myself on three hooves as I placed my recently bandaged hoof onto my head "H- how did I end up here?" I asked as I then carefully placed my hoof back down. Slightly cringe from the pain.

"Tracked Marko and his boys after... what happened in town. Saw they aimed to bury you alive, so I've watched and waited. Marko cleared out and left a pair of men behind, so I slipped in and took them down with a flash-bang and a few smacks with my baton. Then I went digging as fast as possible, found you unconscious but breathing. Lucky for you that doc has some blood on his stores." he explained.

Thorne then continues "I managed to get you up here in the dark, got that blood in you, then patched up that bloody cheek and then your hooves, not without removing those lead first of course." he slightly smirks "You're damn lucky, you know that?"

I then sit back onto the bed and check my bandaged hooves. Thanks to the wounds Marko gave to me, my forelegs visibly shaken as I'm trying to keep it steady. With a critical eye, I then saw that my wounds looks properly treated.

I then look at Thorne with a confused look "The treatment you mentioned requires some skill. Where did you learn to practice medicine?" I asked as I rest my shaken fore-hooves onto my lap.

"The Followers of the Apocalypse. I was a physician for a time, enjoyed helping people. That was all I wanted to do as a young man." he replied with a saddened look "But when you see good people get hurt and nothing is done, nothing changes... it can move you to action. I thought I could make things right." he then looks at both his hands and clenched them and relaxes as he look back at me "That's why I hunted men down for so long. It was never about money. Every one I gunned down was a tiny piece of justice for what I'd lost." his tone darkened as he goes on "You do it for enough time and you stop seeing them as men. They're everything you hate... everything you fear... personified."

His tone then returned back to normal "Maybe I can go back to the Followers, start practicing again somewhere, start over. I'm done killing, though. That I can promise you." he said with a solemn tone.

My eyes narrowed as I gave him a questioning look "Why aren't you running with the other 'bounty hunters', then?" I asked with a slight snarl at the word 'bounty hunters', those assholes doesn't have the rights to earn those titles.

Thorne frowned "I'm done hunting anyone or anything. What they did... it was simple butchery." he then covers his face with his palms and shakes his head "God help me, I'll never forget it." he place them down onto his lap and looks back at me "To hell with the bounty hunters." he sneered.

I nod my head twice before looking at him "So, why did you help me, then?" I asked as I slowly rub my hooves and exhale steam in-between them as the snowstorm starts to set in by the temperature drop.

Behind his sunglasses, Thorne's eyes wander down as he slightly bit his cheek. Then he explains the plans "I knew something was going down when Brookshire pulled us aside before the op," he then grit his teeth "told everyone there would be bounties on the townspeople. Including children." Unbeknownst to him, my right hoof starts to clench tightly as my wound re-opened, painting the white bandage red in growing rage "He told us to keep our mouth shut and follow Marko's lead when the time came. Most everyone nodded and smiled, didn't even question him." tiny lead then pokes out from the bloodied bandage as he continues "I had no loyalty to Randall, but it bothered me regardless. Brookshire told us to round everyone up in town, that he would handle you."

"That. Fucking. Spineless. Coward." I muttered under my breath as my right silver-furred hoof was now covered in liquid crimson of blood, causing it to drip onto the bed.

Thorne's arms started to tremble "I didn't know what he had in store. I mean, I thought they'd capture everybody and haul them back for a trial. That's what they're supposed to do." he said with slight surprise by the NCR's not-so forte about handling criminals "I also didn't know that Brookshire would trade you and Randall out. I thought he would just tell you to 'fuck off', in typical NCR fashion." his hands started to shake uncontrollably "See, they had me posted up at the church, waiting with a rifle in case you tried anything. In clear view of everything, that's for sure." my eyes narrowed at him and he raise his shaken hands in defense.

"I didn't know they'd kill them all right there, let Marko kill Randall..." he looked at his hands as they continue to shake "I should have done something, but I just... I just froze." he looked at me with a genuinely scared expression "Marko was in the crosshairs, but I couldn't... I couldn't do it. I was... I was scared. Goddamn shameful fucking coward, that's what I am." he admits.

My right hoof stops shaking as I looked at him with sympathy "You- you're clearly suffering from post traumatic stress. It will take time to move past this." I said as I use my stimpak from the dirt-covered pockets of my tattered duster. Injecting the drug into my system, my left hoof began to heal slowly as the synthetic tissue began to mend with the others while my right hoof never, ever heals.

Thorne chuckles "'Physician heal thyself", huh? Yeah, you might be right. I..." he closed his eyes and sighs "I don't wanna talk about it, ok? You saw what happened. No use dwelling now."

I look down, contemplating myself in thought, until I realized something as I look back at Thorne "Where's Marko?" I asked.

"He left town to bury Randall's body. He must've thought pretty highly of him, because the rest were buried in a mass grave." he replied "When I last want into town to nab supplies I saw most of the hunters were living it up in the saloon." he leans forward and gave me a blank look "And Ford was with them." the fires in my eyes bursts into a wildfire from the mentioning of Ford.

Before I can talk, Thorne interrupted me with a question that makes me wonder "Look, I want to leave this place and never look back. I'm making straight for the Mojave, so you're welcome to join me." he suggests.

After he said that, I began to think about it.

'Should I go back to the Mojave, heal myself back to full strength? But that leaves Marko, Ford and most of those dishonorable bastards occupy Frosthill, spreading NCR's lies about the massacre.' I thought about my first option, until I visibly snarled by the mention of them.

'Or, kill them all. Leave the obvious message that the courier should've never be messed with. But, that leaves the town abandoned, taken by the soon-to-be arrived 80's. But fuck it, the reason why NCR wants it is because of those stupid metal.'

With a decision I made for me and myself alone, I looked at Thorne with a vengeful look "I'm not going anywhere until I reckon with Marko." I said with determined tone.

Thorne leans back against his chair, eyebrow raised in surprise "Burning your boats on the shore, huh? Look, if this is how you want to play it, I'll respect your decision." he shrugs "I can't help you, but I'll wait here." he said as the corner of his mouth raised as he scoff "You'll surprise them, they'll probably panic. But don't expect Marko to go easily, though." he took a glance at my wounded hooves before looking back at me "You're walking wounded, won't be healed for weeks at least. Marko won't take any chances this time. He'll kill you."

Thorne began to stand up from his chair and walk towards the corner of his shack which have a single backpack, he then crouches down and opened it. He then looks at the contents inside his bag, probably checking the remaining supplies before returning back to Mojave. He closes the bag again and returned back to his chair.

He looks at me with a blank look "Come with me and you can recover, gather resources, then come back later when you'll be on even footing, at least have a chance." he said as his hand reaches out to me "What do you say? Want to live to fight another day?"

I look down at the wooden floor, pondering my decision again. Then, I know that this is for Frosthill. And Randall. I look back at Thorne "I-I owe it to Randall to at least try." I said.

Thorne's outstretched hand returns back onto his leg "Debts to dead men will just get you killed for nothing. There's nothing left here for you but regret. You can still help people in the Mojave." he raised his right hand above his knee "I won't stop you, but I won't leave you either. I'll just wait here for a day or two. If you don't come back, I'll just assume the worst and move on." he said "Oh, and here." he reaches behind the chair and brought out my duffle bag "I saved it for you." he then placed it in front of me.

I nodded as I get prepared by bringing my duffle bag and placed it behind the screen, cleaning myself up and removing my old clothing. Wearing a new snow outfit, a woodland boonie and a bandana. I then fished inside the bag and brought out a couple of C-4s, a single time bomb, That Gun, a Combat Knife and... and I hesitantly brought out the last piece and looked at it.

It's Randall's Old-war Remington; Sweet Revenge.

My eyes closed as I then sigh in remorse "This is for you, Randall. And for everyone at Frosthill." I muttered in my breath to not let Thorne hear it. I then exit the screen with my duffle bag in tow. I dropped my duffle bag in front of Thorne who raised his eyebrows "Keep it for me." I looked at the door with narrowed eyes "Because I'm going back out." I said as I reached the door. Closing my eyes and making deep breaths, I then opened it and go outside into the cold storm of Deep Creek Mountains. Settling this once and for all.
> A Different Perspective- The Children of the Clouds
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------





Sierra Madre- Salida Del Sol North





Worn down and frozen in time by the Red Cloud, the residential district of the Villa was now barren with life. The only sound throughout this district is a giant bell of the Campanas Del Sol church with it's low, solemn tone. But soon, one by one, a single metallic breathing accompanying with moans and roars echoing the streets. As the sound of rapid footsteps was heard down the clouded street. Emerging from the cloud filled street, are two figures wearing fully covering outfits with obscuring gasmasks as they're running away from a pair of glowing, green eyes, then another pair appeared and another and another in the red mist.

"Run!" one of the figure muffly yelled to his companion while trying to prevent his backpack full of supplies from falling off of his shoulders by tightly gripping the straps.

"I'm trying!" the other figure yelled back in a female voice. A knife spear suddenly fly right by her shoulder and she immediately ducks on instinct "Shit!" she cursed as more knife spears started flying and missed them, on purpose.

The man and his companion are desperately trying to run away from their attackers who begin to emerge from the clouds. A figure in an old hazmat suit shambling towards them with a long stick with two knives strapped to the end in it's grip. And its not alone, more figures emerged from the cloud. As they're slowly creeping towards them and started throwing their spears right at them, mostly their legs.

Then one of them brings out a gas canister with a C4 block strapped to it from it's back and throws it right at them.

The man then heard a bleep and taking a risk by looking behind them and saw a Ghost Person threw a gas bomb right between them. Eyes widen in horror, he then looks at his oblivious companion "GAS BOMB!" he shouted and at the last second, he shoves her out of the way and received the blast from the bomb at his left side. Launching him towards the nearby wall and slammed against it as he then cries out in pain. 

His female companion fell to her side with a grunt. She then slowly gets back onto her feet while holding her head in a daze, she then shakes her head and immediately snaps attention to her downed companion "Patrick!" she exclaimed while running to his side. She then sits by his side and wrapped her arm around his waist and getting him back on his feet as she started to bring him back to their hideout.

Suddenly Patrick immediately stops and cause her to lose her grip on him as she then shortly stumbles and stops as she look at him "Patrick?" she said confused.

Patrick brought his palm out to her "Go." he emotionlessly said and she just stands there stunned.

"But. What about you?"

"I'm finished, Olivia. Just... leave me."

Olivia then starts streaming tears and shakes her head in disbelief "No, no, no Patrick. We can- *Hic* -we can still make it." she then tries to get closer to him. Only to get a bullet to the road near her legs as she then took a few steps back from him. She looks at her lover in sadness as her body starts trembling from the heavy weight of emotions coming down on her as she tries not to fall down to her knees. She then hesitantly reaches out to him "I love you." she then quietly bid her soon-to-be captured lover goodbye before running away with the remaining supplies.

Patrick stood there watching Olivia running away with the supplies as his police revolver which is pointing at the road where he shot before. After she disappears he then let go of it as it drops to the floor with a clank and his right arm then went limp as he then looks down and take a few, deep breaths and a hiccup before looking at the Ghost People. As soon as he turns around to look at them he then suddenly got his body wrapped around by something.

Looking at his captor he noticed that he's been grabbed by a claw which disturbingly looks like a human rib-cage stretched outwards as well as there is a long mass of flesh sticking behind it acting as a tail. He then heard a moan of pain as he looks up and he is now face to face with a mutilated man's head gazing into Patricks eyes with 'its' milky white eye as it gurgles out contaminated blood out of its mouth.

Patrick's expression morphed into horror as he looks at the part of the abomination before being reeled into the clouds. Not long after he then went unconscious from blood loss.





Returning back to the living nightmare of Sierra Madre. Patrick's eyes slowly flutter open before snapping them wide as his blurred vision instantly clears up and shows him that he's now surrounded by the inhabitants of this place and he then realized he can't move as he's being tied down to the floor. Don't know what to do Patrick decides to keep quiet and let this situation takes place.

"Ah, does our new member awaken from his slumber?" an old voice speaks up. Causing Patrick to look around for the source "Don't move to fast. Lest you need to re-open your wounds again."

"Wh-where are you?" Patrick asked with a hint of panic in his tone.

Waiting for an answer. He then heard a creaking sound of a wheel moving as it's getting closer. Then a group of Ghosts on his right started to move away. Letting someone through to him. He then saw figures moving through and when he gets a better look at him his eyes widen.

Sitting on a centuries old wheelchair with a pole sticking on top of it and a vial of the Red Cloud strapped to the side as a plastic tube transfer the contents into an arm obscured by a long, blue sleeves. Is an old Caucasian man in his 70s with a white, long hair and beard while his brown eyes eyeing Patrick with interests. As for his clothing he's wearing a long, blue robes which covered his entire body below his neck. And he has a sash of what looks to be a faded Brotherhood Of Steel insignia.

And then there's a Nightkin with a large gash on his chest as well as his skin burnt off by frequent exposure to the cloud. He is behind the old man's wheelchair being the Father's personal helper as well as his brawns. He then gaze down at Patrick with his grey eyes filled with obedience.

The old man gave Patrick a warm smile "Welcome, child. I apologized for this un-civilized actions from my children." he said with a disappointed tone as the Ghost people around him hung their heads low in shame. Then he looks at the Nightkin "Dog, will you please help this child get back onto his feet?"

Dog nods "Yes, Master." he then untied Patrick off from his bindings and cautiously and easily grabbed the man by his sides and then he lift him up and place Patrick back down on his feet.

The old man then stands up from his wheelchair and placed his hand on Patrick's shoulder "Again child. I really am sorry for this inconvenience but I can make up to you. Now, come along with me." he then ushered Patrick to follow and he complies as they're passing by of what looks to be an old power station "So child." Patrick heard the old man speaking to him as he turns his head at the kind, old man "What is your name?" he asked with a wrinkled smile.

"P-patrick. Patrick Carmine." Patrick hesitantly replied.

The old man nods "Well now, Patrick. My name is Father Elijah. And I'm their prophet."

The man then raised his eyebrow "A prophet?"

Elijah nods "Yes, I'm their prophet to The Children of the Clouds. We pray to the Ghost goddess Vera as she's gifted us with The Red Cloud. And now we use this gift to spread her love to our visitors of this lovely place." he explained with a smile. Which caused Patrick to halt in his tracks and looks at Elijah as if he's crazy.

"Gift? A Gift!? That- that 'gift' you said just killed my friends, you crazy old fuck!" Patrick yelled in anger.

The old man frowned as he then narrowed his eyes at this 'non-believer' "Watch your tongue, Patrick Carmine. Our goddess' gift has ascended our new followers to the new age of immortality." he warned Patrick as he's raising his tone.

"Imo- Immortality!? Those fucking clouds killed us of what makes us human! This goddess is just nothing but a fucking hologram!"

Elijah snarled as the Ghost people started to surrounding them as they glare at the 'non-believer' with hatred as they then let out much deeper breaths. In an instant Father Elijah grabs Patrick's neck and held him off the ground as the man quickly tries to pry off Elijah's unusually strong grip away from his neck.

"You dare to yell at our goddess, Heretic!?" Elijah yell with pure hatred as he then brings out a Cosmic Knife from his robe "With you and your false gods tainting our lands with your presence! And you have the gall to insult Mother Vera and her gifts!?"

"Fuck you and your fucking cult!" Patrick then spits at Elijahs face "You're worshipping a fucking hologram!"

Elijah then looks around to see his children letting out breaths of hatred to the man in his grip "My children!" he shouted with a voice loud enough to echo through the street "We have come here to this day that this man has insulted our goddess and resisting our gifts for ascension!" he then brings Patrick down to his knees as he then raised his Cosmic Knife to a reverse stabbing position "SO I. Father Elijah. Will get rid. OF THIS FILTH!"

He then brought the knife down to Patrick's eye. 

To let go
Begin, begin again tonight
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------





Mojave Wasteland
Chris' POV





As soon as we exit the caverns, we immediately shut our eyes closed from the sudden bright glare of the sun. When it has already dimmed down we  slowly open our eyes again and I looked back at my companions, mostly my brother and Little Ripper, "Jake, Little Rip." I speak up gaining their attention, "You guys go ahead, we'll catch up." Jake and Little Ripper look at each-other before looking back at me and shrugged.

"Sure, big bro."

"Affirmative, Alpha." they both agreed as they walk pass by me, Sunset and Rex.

Sunset raised her eyebrow as she's watching my brother and the deathclaw walking away, "Where are they going?" she asks as she's slowly trot to my side.

I looked at Sunset, "Goodsprings." I simply replied.

"So, why aren't we following them?"

"Because I want to show you the Mojave, remember?"

Sunset squints her eyes as she's trying to remember until they go wide and she facehoofed due to a minor case of amnesia get to her, "Oh right." Sunset muttered in realization as she placed her hoof down before looking back at me, "Lead the way, then." she motioned her hoof at me in a 'go on' gesture.

I nodded as I begin trotting up the hill with Sunset following me, to avoid the awkward moment of silence I twisted the knob on my pip-boy and the Radio New Vegas channel was heard as it began playing Johnny Guitar and I immediately frown. Sunsets ears perked up as she quickly catches up to me until she's beside me as she is now glancing at my pip-boy.

"Chris." Sunset speaks up causing me to look at her and replied with a 'hm?', "I have never get to say this but... what is that on your foreleg?" she asked with slight hint of curiosity.

A faint smile appeared on my face, "This." I slightly jerked my fore-leg which have my pip-boy strapped to it, "Is the Pip-Boy 3000. A state of the art wrist-held computer which does... things." I said as we stopped at the top of the hill and I put my flank on the ground and shows her the Pip-Boy as it displays my status, "It does what you need like; monitoring your health,"  I pressed the 'Items' tab,  "checking your inventory, and"  I then pressed the 'Data' tab, "check the notes you have read, some holotapes to listen to and lastly see a full view of the place you're traveling around in." I said as the Pip-boys map quickly loads up and shows her the map of the Mojave.

Sunset stares at the Pip-Boy in awe as she then looks into my eyes with hers, "Where can I get one?" she asks innocently.

I chuckled at her childish display, "In due time, Sunset." I said as I patted her on the head, "In due time." I removed my hoof away from her as she's now giving me a playful glare. She flashed me a mischevious smirk as she clonked me at the back of my head with her magic, a feign stunned expression was formed on my face.

"No touching." she said as I quickly shake my head and gave her a playful glare until I let my eyes wander to the side and noticed something as I glanced back at Sunset who then gives me a confused look. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I replied as I placed my hoof to her cheek which cause her to blush a little as her eyes lock onto mine.

"Uh, Chris. What are you doing?" she asked and I replied by moving her head to the side while my head followed hers to see The Strip in its gambling glory, "Whoa..." she muttered in awe.

"Welcome to New Vegas, Sunset Shimmer." I said, still staring at The Strip. Until I looked back at her and saw that she's still staring at it with awe-struck face, rolling my eyes and with a smirk I moved my hoof inches away to her ear and make an audible snap.

And it works as Sunset snaps out of her trance and quickly blinks her eyes as she looked back at me, "Huh? What is it?" she asked confused.

"Let's go Sunset. That place is our destination soon. Right now, we'll stay at my house in GoodSprings" I said as I motioned my head before trotting down the hill with Sunset trailing behind me. Until we slowed down to a stop as I quickly noticed someone's missing as I closed my eyes and sighed, "Alright Rex, enough playtime. Let's go." I said to the hiding cyber canine as the sound of a de-activating stealth field was heard and a bark afterwards before the cyber canine jumps out of his hiding spot and is now in front of me as he is now sitting on his haunches while looking at me with a happy look on his face.

I smiled as I then pet Rex on his head and he lets out a breath of excitement with a wag of his tail. I stopped petting him as I looked behind me and saw Sunset smiled at our little bonding before standing by my side.

The golden unicorn looked at me. "Is the dog yours?" she asked.

I nodded my head, "Yep. Got him for being friends with The Kings and also replaced his decayed brain." I replied as I glanced at Rex and he whimpers at the memory that day. I quickly comfort him, "It's okay boy, it's just one time." I assured him and he quickly returned to his happy self as I then looked back to see Sunset giving Rex a pitiful look. I looked up to the sun before looking back down at my Pip-Boy and saw that it's already afternoon. "Wow. Time flies fast." I muttered as I looked back at the two and I motioned my foreleg, "Come on. I believe Jake and Ripper are probably waiting for us right now." I said as I quickened my pace with Sunset and Rex following me.

A few minutes later, we saw Jake sitting on one of the bag with Ripper lying down on the ground across from him as they're busy having a conversation with each-other. They quickly perked up by my hoofsteps as they looked at my general direction and saw me with Sunset and Rex as my little brother waves at me with a small smile. He jumps off the bag and walked towards us.

"What took you guys so long?" Jake asked as he's now standing infront of me with his hands placed on his hips.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Sightseeing." I replied.

Jake raised his eyebrow and gave me a suspicious look, "'Sightseeing', huh?" he said as he looked above my shoulders before looking back at me and shakes his head. "I'm not gonna question it." he then walks back to Little Ripper who is now grabbing the bags while Jake grabbed his satchel and both of them are now waiting for us. When I trot by them, they start following me as we're now heading towards Goodsprings.





THIRD POV





While they're following Chris who was lost in thought. Jake quickly noticed that his brother's neon, acoustic guitar which is poking out of the bag on his back has what appears to be blood on it.

"Chris, did you whack someone with your guitar again?" Jake asked with an annoyed tone which caused Sunset's face to instantly turn into shock while also making Chris stopped mid-trot as he looked back at Jake with an innocent look.

"Uh, no?" Chris innocently replied.

Jake crossed his arms while narrowing his eyes. "Chris..." 

Chris pauses for a moment before he hangs his head low and sighed, "Okay, you got me. I just sent one of the Birthday assassin to space. That's all." he admits as he nonchalantly waves his hoof.

Jake immediately facepalmed and shakes his head as he sighs, "Dangit Chris." he muttered as he removes his hand away from his face and he looks back at his brother. "You know that the day after tomorrow will be your guitar lesson with the Lonesome Drifter, right?" he asks.

Chris froze as his expression turned blank as his eyes widened, "Oh... shit." he muttered in realization.

"Oh shit indeed. So start fixing that guitar right now or else Drifter will lose his shit again like last time."

Chris' hoof found its place at the ground as he let out a long sigh, "Fiiiiine... but after we took a nice rest at our house and then I can fix 'er up again." he starts trotting again with the others following suit.

Behind him, Sunset quickly change her pace until she's beside him as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Is it true?" she asked.

Chris looked at her and mimicked her expression. "True... what?"

"That your guitar can send people to space."

The stallion rubs the back of his neck. "Well... about that. I really don't know how it works. That one day, I carefully dismantled it after I sent my first victim to space and the only thing I found were only the parts for the guitar, no unusual things inside. Which is just... odd."

Sunset moved her eyes away for a moment as she's thinking of something before looking back at him. "Um, one question Chris."

"Shoot."

"Who's the first one did you launch?"

Chris glanced away as his mouth slowly turned into a cheeky smile. "Uuuh."





Earth's outer atmosphere





Orbiting the devastated Earth is a single, large Zetan mothership. Within the said mothership, are the Earth's historical figures who are now bored out of their minds. While they're busy maintaining the ship, they heard a loud thud. Looking at the large window of the ship they slowly raise their eyebrows in confusion. Flattened against the windshield, is a Caucasian man wearing a grime business suit, a fedora and a pair of eyeglasses with a .22 SMG strapped behind his back. And he's also alive... somehow.

Looking at the occupants inside the ship, he gave them a wide smile. "Nyehaeh! There's the high roller!"





Back to the Group





"Just a random arsehole. That's all." Chris said with a nonchalant shrug.

Sunset tilt her head down while raising her eyebrow. "You sure?"

He smirks. "Yep."

The golden unicorn's expression remains the same and then she shrugged her shoulders, "If you say so." she said as she looks ahead.

Jake quickly catches up to them as he's now leaning against his brothers shoulder as the boy have a tired look on his face, "Chris, can I ride on your back again?" he asked with a yawn. Causing Sunset's expression gone blank as her face slowly flushed red while Chris looks at his sleepy brother with an arched eyebrow as they stopped again.

"Tired already?" Chris asks and Jake slowly nods which the stallion shrugs, "Alright then, climb on." as he said that, Little Ripper overhead their conversation lets out an annoyed snort as he approaches them and grabs Chris' duffel bag and hoist it up with the others on his shoulders.

"After this, give me double the amount of Steak you have, Alpha." the deathclaw grumbles as his expression turned into frustration of being a pack Brahmin... again.

The stallion looks at his blood brother and crosses his heart, "I'll take your word for it, Little Rip." he promised as the deathclaw lets out a huff and gave his alpha a 'You'll better be' look which the stallion rolls his eyes at this before turning his head to his human brother as he lowers himself down to the ground. "Up and over, Jake."

The boy placed his hands on his brother's back before hoisting himself up. With both his legs clung to the stallions barrel, Jake wrapped his arms around Chris' neck and he rests his head against the back of the stallion's, "Even after all those dirt, grime and all the mess on your coat. It's still soooo soft." Jake lets out a relaxed sigh as he rubbed his face against his brothers coat.

Chris gave a heartwarming smile to his little brother as the boy starts to doze off and not long after he let out a soft snore, Chris turns his head at Sunset who is giving him a small smile. "You really take good care of him for a long time, isn't it?" she asked.

The stallion's expression fell as he slowly looks away, "Yeah..." he replied with a small hint of sadness.

The golden unicorn's expression turned into concern as she noticed his sudden mood change. She took two steps to him, "Is there something wrong?" and she noticed a single tear in his eye as he's still looking away as she then place her hoof on his shoulder. "Chris?" 

He then looks into her eyes as his mouth opens and closes. Trying to put a word out as he then closed his eyes and sighs. Feeling relaxed, he opened his eyes again. "I don't wanna talk about it, Sunny. I'll tell you when it's time, ok?"

Removing her hoof away from his shoulder, she nods, "Alright then." she then paused as she looked at him confused with her head cocked to the side. "Wait, Sunny?"

"It's my best friend's name. I just mistook you from her." he explained as he nervously glanced away.

The unicorn mare slowly raised her eyebrow before furrowing them, "'her'?" she asked with a slight hint of jealousy. 

The stallion slowly bobbed his head side to side. "Well, we were a couple for a few months. Buut, it didn't happen."

"How so?"

"Let just say that, we don't have a 'thing' with each-other. And Sunny noticed it too, so we both decided to be just friends. And that's it" Unknown to him, Sunset sighed in relief. Chris took a peek at his Pip-boy before looking back at her, "Anyways, let's get going." he then continues on with Sunset at his side and his brother sleeping on his back while Rex and Ripper trailing behind.

While they're continue walking to Goodsprings. Sunset starts to feel an odd feeling inside of her 'Why did I let out a relieved sigh when he said he broke up with her?' she mentally questioned herself 'Maybe it's my pony self getting the stallion's scent after being in a human world for a long time and it's started to making me feel funny doing so.' she subtly slumps her shoulders '*Sigh* Get a hold of yourself, Sunset. You've met him yesterday but now's not the time to-'

"Sunset?"

Chris' voice snaps Sunset back to the reality as she quickly blinks and looks at Chris who is looking at her with a raised eyebrow, "What is it?" she asked.

Chris bit his cheek while glancing away before looking back at her. "Earlier at the cave. I've never get to say this but... what is the story of your world?"

Sunset lightly smiled. "Well, since you told me the story of the Great War." she trailed off with a frown but quickly shakes her head. "Anyway, let me tell you the story of the unification of the pony tribes."





Equestria 
Crystal Empire- Hallways





Princess Celestia is still sitting nearby the window, watching the crystal ponies doing their daily activities with a saddened expression on her face. Her cheeks stained with dried tears as she lets out a small sniffle every few seconds. She then closed her eyes, remembering the days she and little Sunset play with eachother, teaching the small unicorn of her ways and lastly... Their seperation from Sunset's hunger for power as her heart still aches from it. She opened her eyes again as she starts to wipe her face. Until she paused as she has realized something. Quickly clearing her face of any tears, she trots back to the mirror room with haste.

Opening the doors, she was met with her fellow ponies who are already getting themselves together as they're almost clearing up the room. They stopped at what they're doing as they heard the doors opened and turned their attention to it and saw their Sun Princess entered the room as she's trotting towards Twilight's book. Celestia's horn glows a golden hue and the book is now covered in the same aura as her horn as she brings it closer to her. Opening the book and summoning a quill she removed the last message she wrote and instead writes a new one. After writing a new message, she closed the book and placed it back down on the table as she then turns her attention to her ponies and before she opened her mouth to speak. A sudden explosion was heard, surprising them.

"What was that!?" exclaimed the rainbow pegasus.

Not having the time to explain. Everypony quickly galloped out of the room and make their way to the entrance and towards the source. Arriving at the main hall, they're met with an armored white stallion with blue two toned mane and tail, and beside him is an armored pretty pink alicorn mare. The stallion and the mare noticed them and with a force of habit from the stallion, salutes at Celestia.

"There's no time for formalities, Shining. Now, report." she asked with an authorative tone.

Shining nods as he brought his hoof back down to the floor. "Yes Princess. Earlier, I've sent one of my scouts and arrived minutes ago and... well from what I have heard from his report. it's" he then rubs the bridge of his muzzle and sighed, "it's worst..." he said with a low tone.

Celestia raised her eyebrow. "How so?"

The PPPP steps in. "Auntie... it's them."

Celestia's expression turned into shock. She didn't think it was this time that they have... came back. And a scowl has been formed on her face as her horn lit up. Seconds later, her golden armor appeared from existence and it's now covering the Sun princess from head to barrel with protection and then a halberd was found itself strapped at Celestia's side. Fully armored, Celestia marches through the front door and opens it up. And she saw them, gathering outside of the Empire's shield. Are the Caribou, they're prodding the empire's magical shield with green bolts launched from their mages. Only for the shield to deflect it with a ripple but not for long.

"Celestia?" the Sun Princess heard her former student's voice as she looks back and saw the lavender alicorn's fearful expression. "What should we do?" she asked.

Celestia looks away "If I fall, Twilight. I place my position to you." a shock expression has been formed on Twilight's face. And before the lavender alicorn opens her mouth, Celestia brought up her hoof, "I know this is a burden but please listen, I know you can do this without me." she looks outside with a frown and sent a faint magical signal to a certain moon princess, " Because I've been sitting idly for way too long now of doing nothing. Now it's the time that nopony will ever fall under my watch again." not giving Twilight any chance to speak, Celestia exit the palace. Leaving the stunned Princess of Friendship to let Celestia's words sink into her mind.

Trotting through the road towards the edge of the Empire's bubble, Celestia watched as the crystal ponies galloping passed her, heading towards the palace for shelter from the invaders. Seeing their faces filled with fear enraged the Sun Princess to no end that her hooves start stomping on the road, causing cracks on the pavement.

Then, a bright flash appeared near her. Glancing at her side, Celestia sees her sister adorned in her own set of armor with a scabbard strapped to her side containing her saber. Luna glanced at her and nods as Celestia returns the gesture while they're heading to the edge of the Crystal Empire's boundaries. They stopped behind the empire's shield as they saw the Caribou watching them with predatory gaze from the other side of the shield.

Then, The Caribou's front-lines at the middle start spreading out and to the Princesses' surprise. A familiar being emerged from the group who appears to be a large, overly muscled buck with huge antlers. When the buck looks at the princesses, he sneered at them. "Well, if it isn't the Sun bitch and the Moon bitch." he said with obvious hint of disdain.

"Dainn..." the princesses scowled.

Dainn grit his teeth as he stomped the ground. Causing an electrical discharge around him as well as having the ground cracks from his stomp. His eyes glowed bright green, "THAT"S KING DAINN FOR YOU, YOU SLUTS!" he shouts as he points his hoof at them. "When I'm done with you, I'll make both of you as my personal bitches while I let you watch as I free the stallions from your grip and take revenge on the mares who caused their pain." his antlers glow green as he points it at the barrier and strikes it with a powerful green blast, causing the entire barrier to shatter from the force.

Taking a few steps into the Empire's boundaries, Dainn smugly smiled. "Now, where were we 1000 years ago?"





Mojave Wasteland
GoodSprings- Night Time
Chris' house





Sunset instantly sits up from her sleep as she lets out a gasp. Breathing fast, she quickly dart her eyes around the room until realized that she's still in Chris' bedroom as she then lets out a relaxed sigh. Slowly rubbing her eyes of any developing crust while letting out a long yawn, she looks around and sees her clothes neatly folded at her side as she then turns her head at the bed and saw that Chris wasn't on it. She starts to wonder where he is only for her to notice that her mouth felt dry.

Slowly getting up from her bedroll, she quietly trot towards the door and slowly opened it. Peeking out, she turned her head left and right and saw no one. Slinking out of the room, the golden unicorn slowly make her way towards the kitchen.

Entering the kitchen, Sunset slowly makes a beeline towards the sink while magically grabbing a nearby glass as she then fill the said glass with water from the sink and drinks it. Feeling hydrated, she puts the empty glass down on the sink and before she was starting to head back to the room, she heard a soft clank. Slowly looking at the source she was met with a certain Courier wearing nothing except for his Pip-boy and the same gloves back from the cave as he is sitting on the chair behind the dining table, calmly cleaning his disassembled .223 pistol on the said table.

And that's when Sunsets brain went into overdrive. Jumping back in surprise and before she let out a surprised scream. She accidentally hit her head against the wall, cutting off her scream and instead lets out a pained hiss while earning an amused chuckle from the Courier as Sunset rubs the back of her head before glaring at him.

"Not funny..." Sunset says with a low tone as she's busy rubbing the back of her head.

Chris stops chuckling and he brought up his hoof but his smile never left his face, "Sorry about that, Sunset. Here, lemme get a seat for you." he apologized as he then get off from his chair and brings out the other chair and motioned her to sit and she silently accept his offer. Returning back to his seat, he continues working on his pistol, "So," he starts up the conversation, "bad sleep?" he asked while tinkering with the pistol's bore.

Propping her elbows on the table and resting her head onto her hooves, Sunset let out a tired sigh, "Yeah..." she replied.

The stallion slowly puts his weapon and tool down on the table, "Me too..." his eyes trailed down to the floor, not noticing the dried blood on his right hoof.

She raised her head and turns towards him, "How so?" she asked with her eyebrow raised. Until she noticed something red on the table, focusing her eyes on it they started trailing up to where it came from and then they widened in shock as she slowly points her hoof at his bloodied, gloved hoof. "Chris, you're bleeding."

Chris instantly raised his head up, wide eyed in realization, "Shit..." he cursed as he removed the gloves and sees his bandaged hoof already stained in dry blood. Removing the now dirty bandages he slightly cringed from the painful sting. With the bandage removed, Chris looks at the state of his hoof and saw tiny bits of lead that Thorne overlooked poking out of it.

He then quickly turns his head at Sunset who is staring at his hoof in shock, "Sunset." he said, snapping her out of her shock as she looks back at him, "First, upper shelf at the cupboard near the door, there's a small, metal box containing my medical equipment. Can you get it, please?" she slowly and rapidly nods her head as she quickly get off from her seat and rushed towards the nearby cupboard and opened it up.

Looking at the shelf he mentioned, the unicorn spots the metal box he described as she magically grabbed from the said shelf and quickly rushed back to the stallion who is staring at his hoof with a pained expression. She carefully placed the box down on the table and opened it up, revealing what looks to be usual medical equipment she saw at every hospital she has visited before. 

Chris picks up a disposable tray and a tweezer from the box as Sunset returns back to her seat and looks at him in concern. She then opens her mouth to speak until she realized that medical procedures requires patience and no sense of distraction so she decides to close her mouth and be quiet. while visibly cringing every time she watched him painfully removing the lead out of his wound and into the tray.

After a few minutes of painful lead removing, Chris examines his hoof to make sure there's no longer any lead still stuck inside of it. He then took a glance at Sunset and saw her still looking at him with a worried expression, "You know that you don't have to watch, right?" he said.

Sunset Shimmer's cyan eyes darted back and forth between the stallions face and his hoof as she hesitantly opens her mouth, "H-how did it happen?" she asks.

Chris looks at his hoof and back to Sunset, "It- it all happened 3 weeks ago. That time when-" flashes of the massacre and being buried alive again appeared which caused him to close his eyes and puts his intact hoof on his forehead and lets out a grunt of displeasure as a single tear start trailing down his cheeks, "When the Frosthill massacre occurred." Sunsets eyes widen in shock and she lets out a gasp as her hoof was found on her muzzle. His right hoof starts trembling as he opened his eyes and looks back at the unicorn, "Sunset. Everyone I've met at Frosthill are innocent, good-hearted people, even the kids. Have been butchered and mutilated infront of me like animals. And you know what do I do there?" he asks with a blank look as Sunset silently replies by shaking her head. "Nothing."

Chris brings his wounded hoof infront of his face. "Because all it takes, are a face full of gas and two bullets to both of my hooves to incapacitate me as I watched those ungrateful bastards enjoy doing the cowards way. With them finished relishing their unfair kills, one man comes up to me, mocking me, taunting me that he 'resolved' his way out through dominance. And then he... buried me alive. Before I lost consciousness, I heard him saying something that makes me question myself."

Sunset placed her hoof on his shoulder. "What makes you question yourself?"

He looks back at her. "Am I really an anonymous stiff, Sunset?"

Sunset took aback as she looks at him wide eyed. "What do you mean?"

Chris tries to explain, only for him to grunt in discomfort as his wound is still open. He quickly looks inside the box and grabs a needle attached with a thread from the box. He then placed his right hoof down on the table and turns it to expose his frog and before he starts suturing the wound. A familiar, cyan glow surround the needle as he looks back at Sunset confused until he realized what she was doing as he silently nods and let go of the needle.

Inching the needle closer to his frog, she paused as she looks back at Chris. "Uh, do you have something that can numb the pain?"

Chris nods as he then puts his hoof in the box and pulls out a Med-X. He pulls out the cap and shoved the hollowed needle into his hip and pressed the plunger down to inject the drug into his system. He quickly shakes his head from the effects as he looks back at Sunset and nods as she then starts suturing his wound while he puts away the used needle. He observes her treating his wound and a look of wonder appeared on his face. "Since when did you know how to treat these kind of wounds?"

Sunset glanced at him before focusing back at his hoof and a small smile appeared. "Spending a few days at Camp Everfree will teach you something useful."

He flashed a grin. "Lemme guess, someone stole their sweetroll and got into a fight?"

She chuckles and shrugs her shoulders, "Something like that." she carefully tighten the wound closed and cutting off the thread, Sunset leans back against the chair. "And there, now-"

"Take time for it to heal. Don't stress it to hard. And lastly, don't touch the door to the Atomic Wrangler." he interrupts her with a smile and she looks at him with an unamused look. He quickly look at the lower left of his peripheral vision and noticed another dot on his compass and his smile instantly fades away as he then looks at the doorway behind Sunset Shimmer. "Jake, I know you're listening. Please come here."

Slowly entering the kitchen with disbelieving look on his face, is his brother. He looks at the stallion trying not to shed a tear, "Is- is it true?" he asks with a low tone and Chris silently nods as the stallion closed his eyes and waits for his brother to give him an earful. Instead, he felt a weight pressing against him with arms wrapped around him.

Chris looks at Jake with a surprised look on his face. "You- you're not mad?"

Jake shook his head as he breaks away from the embrace and face him, "Alot. But, I am glad you're still alive. And that's what matters to me." he says as he then hugs back his brother. Chris sits there, stunned, until he decides to return the embrace. "You don't need to put yourself in danger to make me happy, Chris. You raised me for 10 years without mom and dad and that's enough for me." Jake whispered and Chris hugs him tighter, as for Sunset.

Seeing this makes her heart warm at the sight as she warmly smiled. She unknowingly shed a single tear remembering about her time with her former mentor/adoptive mother as a filly and then their- she quickly snaps out of it as she remembers that the past will stay in the past.

The brothers break off from the embrace as they're smiling at each-other with wet eyes. Chris ruffles his little brothers hair. "Alright, young man, it's already past your bedtime. Now go back to sleep."

Jake swats his hoof away and slowly shakes his head, "But I don't wanna... go... back... to..." the boy fell asleep as a familiar glow appear around his head before fading away. Chris grabs his brother in time before he fell to the floor as he looks at Sunset with a 'really?' look and she replied with a innocent look.

Placing his hooves down on the floor Chris picks up his snoring brother and hoist him up onto his back. Making sure his brother isn't going to slip off his back, he looks back at Sunset and motions his head at the door. "Lets get some shut eye and call it a night." he says and Sunset nods as they go back to beds for a good night rest.





The Next Day





A sudden intrusion of the sun irritates the sleeping unicorn causing her to frown as she grabs the pillow under her head and covers her face with it, letting out a tired groan. Moving the pillow away from her face she cracks open her eyes and glares at the sun, mentally cursing it as she then moves the sheets away from her and gets up on her hooves. She lets out a soft yawn as she opens the bedroom door, when she opens it she was met with a scent which caused her stomach to grumble.

Patting her belly Sunset trots towards the kitchen and when she peeks out the doorway she saw an interesting sight. It's not a hair net which covers the stallions mane nor a frilly pink apron strapped behind his back, it was him standing up with his hind hooves without any support like a human as he cooks what looks like to be an omelette. Looking at him like that causes Sunset to stare at him with a confused expression.

Sensing that the omelette's well cooked, Chris holds the pan with his left hoof and walk towards the kitchen table which have Jake opening up a 200 years old box and pours its content of bomb molded sugar cereal into the bowl of brahmin milk as he then grabs a nearby spoon and shoveled them into his mouth. Which causes the stallion to look at his brother with a raised eyebrow and the boy sheepishly smiled before eating his cereal in a slow manner while Chris shakes his head and placed the omelette with the others.

Sunset then hears a cough which caused her to jump back in surprise as she looks back and sees Little Ripper in his smaller size, which reach below Sunset's head. The Deathclaw tilts his head up to see her face before nodding, "Beta." he softly greets as he walks pass her.

Chris glances at the doorway and smiled, "Morning Sunset, morning Little Rip." he waves at them as he took his seat and materialized 12 boxes of Fancy Lad Snack Cakes in a column as he then opened them up one by one on his plate. While Jake also waves and greets the same word as his brother before continuing munching on his cereal.

"Alpha, Delta." Ripper greets back and he stops dead as he saw piles of bighorner steak on his plate. Pausing for a moment, he patiently waits for his Alpha to make him grow and Chris noticed this as he then rolls his eyes and brings out the device and press the trigger. Which causes Little Ripper to be taller than a average man as the Deathclaw gleefully snatches the plate away and puts it down on the floor before he ferociously gobbles down his food.

Sunset looks unnerved by Ripper's carnivorous habits as she then trots to an open seat and sits down on it, "Morning guys." she greets as her horn glows and one of the omelettes have an aura appeared around it as she brings it to her empty plate. Levitating a fork and knife she cuts a small piece of the omelette and eats it which causes her expression to go blank. A few seconds later of looking like a statue, she suddenly empties her plate in a second.

Chris, still holding the seventh cake, gives Sunset a teasing smile, "I take it you like it then?" he asks, which Sunset blushes with an embarrassed smile as she nods.

"Yup. What kind of an omelette is this?" she asks as she grabs 2 more omelettes.

The stallion shoves down his 11th cake before swallowing it, "Deatchlaw omelette." he casually replied as he scarf down the last cake while Sunset looks surprised as she leans from her seat and looks at the deathclaw with a nervous look. Little Ripper realized that he's being watched as he looks back and saw the unicorn as she nervously stares at him and he shrugs.

"They're not mine, I'm not a chicken."

Sunset dart her eyes between him and the omelettes before returning back to her seat and slowly eats her food and she's gotta admit they're pretty good.





Meanwhile, at the Think Tank





Dr. O's screen slowly moves forward to the terminal screen as he tries to find the culprit who launched the most expensive, most advanced and very bulky satellite which costs 400,000 dollars to make. He then froze as he saw who is the culprit, bringing a microphone he hovers towards Dr. Klein.

"Um, Dr.Klein?"

Kleins eye screens slowly turn towards Dr. O, "YES, DR.O?" he replied as Dr. O's arm claw hands him the microphone which confuses the head researcher as he slowly grabs it. "AND WHY DID YOU GIVE ME THIS MICROPHONE?" he asks.

Dr. O nervously moves his eye screens "Well, I've found out who launched the satellite."

"AND?"

"It's... Dr.Mobius."

Dr.Klein's arm claw that is holding the microphone starts shaking as he then brings it to his mouth screen.

"MOBIUS! MOBIUS!" his voice of anger was heard throughout the crater of Big MT.