//------------------------------// // Chapter One: Equestria // Story: Fallout Equestria: Winters' Grace // by Friend Pony //------------------------------// I saw Equestria die before my eyes; the once beautiful landscape of pure life now full of poison, blood, death, and despair. This war just won’t stop. The flat grass plains now full of endless poisoned holes, like a bullet on impact with its target. The angel lit forests now turned into burned, dead bodies just standing there about to topple. The homes of animals, no the animals themselves, that are dying or changing to some unworldly things of nature. Whether they are prone to be active against you or not, does not matter. I stand on this blissfully shining mountain of snow far north, just past the yak’s home. I have built my home here using the spells I learned and taught myself in Princess Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. I even, for a short time, was Princess Celestia’s special student and a friend to her dear sister Princess Luna. That was before I came here a year later after gaining my wings, I did not deserve. I stand here looking at my real home as it slowly kills itself, like a wimp that is scared to fight their bullies, but I don’t believe that this war was needed. Hearing the voices over and over in my head, as a punishment I gave myself, I listen to the screams of death that grow. The noise of the vile dead, that sounds on the battlefields. I cry every night just breaking down as this war happens. Then as the clock ticked the last minute away, I hear the explosive booms of radioactive bombs finishing off the lands beating heart leaving behind smoke and poison that slowly killed my teacher and my friend. Even my sister died in her own facility in Splendid Valley. The poison does not reach my ice made mansion because of the shield I put and the height of the mountain. Mount Hoof is my home now, the only place of peace left in the land. I am Winter Sparkle and this is my story for facing the world my generation created… Midnight Watch …The very lonely night was a quiet and dark night like it has always been for centuries. I have decided to sit on the roof of my home and looked down at Equestria’s soulless landscapes. I see all the ponies walking with care and others with carelessness. Some raider’s here and there, stopping some caravans or a group of ponies, and attack. Their craziness overwhelming to their mind and reaped of their sanity as they, not all but most, brutally kill others who are not them. They eat them or hang their heads or insides up as prizes. The slavers are different, but still brutally awful, take who they want and do what they want. They rape or brutally beat there slaves or starve them. This is the world I live in, or somewhat, because there is worse out there that I have yet to see. Tonight is the night I walked the road I have helped create; as I walk to my bedroom and looked at the back wall where a case, a very special case that holds a sword. I am not one to fight but if truly needed I will use it. I took the case off the wall and placed it onto my bed and opened it. The sword inside the case was made of pure gold, melted and refined several times, at the hilt of the sword was a circle. Inside that circle was another circle but within that one was a golden shine. Like a power source as bright as the sun. The sword can also glow brightly when walking into a dark place, like a flash light. Sol blade is the last remnant of the war centuries past. It was made for my teacher but she gave up the throne before they gave it to her. They also figured that she didn’t want to use weapons herself because she isn’t the type to use such things. I was able to take it off there hooves and hung it on my wall. As I placed the sword in its sheathe and placed it around my neck and on my side, I called a bird in by its name, The most magnificent bird in Equestria, and Celestia’s pet, Philomena as she flew into my room and landed on my bed looking at me with curious eyes. “Philomena, I’m heading on a long road and won’t be home for a long time. It is time for me to face something that I should have helped stop. Would you follow me?” I asked her with hopeful eyes, as she seemed to be thinking it over and for a short moment remembering what the past looked like. Everyone in a while she would look outside with me and see the world. She was so sad to see it this way for the first time that I think it killed me a bit more every time I look at her and it’s not her fault. She hooted as if saying, “I’ll come with you” and flew onto my back. I smiled at her and nuzzled her making her squawk as I silently laughed. Before I left, I went and packed my saddle bags with the important things, such as water and food and grabbed my nurse outfit I took from a hospital. It was a dream that I would become a nurse just like Fluttershy, but to me, I didn’t think it would happen. Once I was done I walked out my sacred home and took one last look at it then looked at the dying world and whispered, “Here I go,” before flying down towards the first place that came to mind…Ponyville. Ponyville Ruins, collapsed shells of buildings from centuries ago, now a ghost town of what was once was. Moss had grown, not just on the dark stained dirt, but everywhere that there was a dark crevice. The old light posts that used to stand proud now have fallen or hanging twisted by a thread. The wan glow of the morning light could not hide the lifeless dead scape of the town. Papers on the ground are blown by the morning breeze, like flying mini carpets, and crushed or sunken bones that held the souls and life of happy ponies sticking out the ground as if being reanimated to grab you and pull you under. Everything was dead except one lone alicorn and phoenix that stand in the center where the old celebrative building once stood and held within; a wedding and parties, as well as holidays. Winter looked around with dread and sadness as she took the first steps around the town she once knew; peering into even the darkest parts that the sunlight could not reach. Her horn glowing brightly as it lights her way, and the majestic phoenix sitting upon her back also watching with distant eyes. They could hear the whistle from the breeze as it hits off old instruments and objects that lay scattered ‘bout the town. As she walks closer to the home of her sister, she could see the tree, once flush green and brown, now leafless and a dead dried corpse. Bullet holes cover small increments of the walls and dried blood from hoof prints that were of years ago. The sight had brought the faint drops of tears in Winters’ eyes, but she stood there calmly and ever so exquisite that it seemed nothing could break her spirit. As she ventured inside the library, to the once great sister she had, she found books that had been burned and destroyed lay about in hills around the room, and a door, to a side room on the left, barely on its hinges. Looking towards the stairs, this lone alicorn and phoenix went to up the flight and into the room Twilight once slept in night after night. The bed in such disarray that it looked as if muck had simply been painted on it and the springs, like knives, stuck out all over, could have simply called it a porcupine. The small nightstand was covered in grey ash of what had been in and on top of it. Spike the dragons’ little bed was flattened and boiled over. There was also a slight aroma of lavender left that it must have come from the walls. Winter stood tall looking around this room, as if searching for something that used to be there; Philomena just looked in awe at the sight of disrepair. Winter seemed to remember vaguely one night that she saw her sister... It was the night of her very first sleep over, with Rarity and Applejack. Like always, Twilight had a book for everything especially sleep overs. Winter had watched from her home seeing how happy Twilight was; Twilight's lavender coat and purple mane, with a small pink streak in it. Her cutie mark of five stars surrounding one bigger star. Applejack with her orange coat and blond mane, she always wore her cowgirl hat. There are apples that lay upon her flank as her cutie mark. Last but not least was the elegant generosity; Rarity with her white coat and purple mane. Diamonds would be her mark, yet not just one but three diamonds. Winter watched as their sleep over continued, as their night grew worse. Applejack fighting with Rarity grew worse, and the rain that started hours ago become heavy. Winter watched that tree fall and break through the window of Twilight's bedroom. Remembering the past happy memories seemed to dwindle away from Winter as she saw a hallucination of all three lying dead. Twilight's body seemed to move slightly as her head moved to look at Winter. In a very unhappy voice she said, "You should have helped us." "We could have won with your help." said Applejack. "But you stayed safe in your home!" said Rarity. "You don't deserve to live! You’re no Princess! You are not my sister! You are NOTHING!" said Twilight. Winter teared up as she tried to say something but was stopped by all three of them saying nothing again. Twilight's elder sister looked down as tears fell heavy. Philomena flew and landed beside her looking very concerned and worried. When Winter looked up again the three friends were gone. Just the princess and the phoenix in the room; this strong willed princess break down crying with her head in her hooves, ears drooped as well as her wings. In such an emotion wreck she soon pasted out into the dream land which awaited her nightmares she had created for herself.