We’re about to walk out of the building before I hold up a hoof, “Okay. You know what? Why dont we change strategy?”
Sure Shot looks back at me, “Change it to what?”
I look around us, “It’s clear moving around isn’t working. I know this was supposed to be a simple scavenge mission, but it’s become more. Maybe we should find a place to settle down.”
Hail looks back at me, surprise through his visor, “You’re suggesting we make a new town?”
I nod, and holds up my hooves, “We can hold out against these two enemies easier. We can make money from the town, not just scavenging. Hell, we could still scavenge but have that as a home base. We could make a new town, to rise out of the dust, a shining diamond of civilization within the wastes. Hunt down raiders, make a home, teach people, and defend ourselves! There are so many upsides!”
Hunter nods, “That’s a good idea and all, don’t get me wrong. But, where exactly would we find the time to build a town?”
I stop for a second, “We don’t have to build one. I know a place.”
Rattle smiles, and stands up, “I trust you, Sentinel, friend.”
Hunter shrugs, “We make a good team, no reason to leave the team.”
Hail takes a second longer, “I see that conviction in your eyes, good. I have no reason to distrust you, you have been able to kill me many times and not taken it. I will join you.”
Fuse smiles, “You saved my life, I would gladly follow you.”
Beam nods, “Autocracy, Oligarchy, Monarchy at first, then Democracy. Keep your morals with you, and I will gladly follow.”
Sure Shot smiles, and starts to almost bounce in place, “Well, if all my friends a going, I’m going to go as well! Oh, it’s so exciting!”
All of us look at Shield, his silence near deafening. He looks at all of us with his silence. Then, he holds up his shotgun, and pumps a shell in, “We need to get there, fast.”
I smile happily whenever he says this, “Okay, it’s a long walk. We need to keep good pace, and jog.”
Hail begrudgingly grumbles, “Why couldn’t there be some Deus ex Machina?”
The ground starts to shake beneath us, as something big approaches. We can’t see what it is, seeing as we’re inside, but it causes a lot of noise. We get to see it when it crashes into the building, right next to us. The boat on wheels rolls through the wall, and stands there in all it’s glory. Certain clones look over the side, before the Captain looks out at us, “Did I hear someone say Deus ex Machina?”
They throw a ladder over the side, and I climb up. I reach over the side, and pull myself in, looking forward to see Captain there, “Captain Sparrow, picking us up again?”
He smiles, “You did us all a big favor, one more ride isn’t much.”
I smile, and see the rest climb up as well. Hail sees all the clones first, “What in the absolute fuck drugs am I on?”
I grin down at him, “Meet Captain Jack Sparrow and the Sparrow clones. We will arrive at our destination shortly.”
Shield climbs in last, and Jack runs up to the wheel, “Let’s get this baby rolling!”
I see Jacks rush to prepare the boat, and we take off at near sonic speed. Crashing through the rest of the building, and through any other in the way. Within seconds I see familiar buildings pass by, particularly one that still has a wood plank resting on the top.
Jack shouts out, “Stop all engine, full mast!”
The mast rolls out, and acts as a brake to stop us in our tracks. Right within a minute of our destination. I look over at him, and nod in respect, “Thank you, Captain Sparrow.”
He nods back, “Now get on out. I can tell this place has some sentimental value to it, and I don’t want you to bawl your eyes out on my deck. So, get on out and cry down there with your friends supporting you, kid.”
I nod, “Of course, Jack.”
He comes right up close to me, and whispers, “Hold onto that sadness, that sentiment of a message. It’s more powerful than that evil, and without that you will fall to the evil. I don’t want to see that, kid. Stay strong, Sentinel. Don’t let the evil take over you like it did Number One. Hold onto that strength, Sentinel.”
I nod, and smile, “I’ll be sure to, Jack.”
He pats my shoulder, “Good.”
I then walk over to my friends, and start the climb down, “It’s only a minute from here.”
They all get down, and Fuse looks around, “This looks like the Vanhoover ruins.”
I nod, “It is. Come on.”
They follow behind me as I lead them down the path. Jack pulls away in his ship as we crest a hill. We stop on top of that hill, Sure Shot sees the town, “This is obviously newly built, what happend to the ponies?”
I grimace, “This was my home. The others... they went raider.”
She looks at the town, “Where are the bodies than? I assume you killed them, right?”
I look at the ash piles, “I tried to burn down the town with Molotovs, make sure it wouldn’t be remembered as a raider den. I wasn’t thinking right, should’ve known fire doesn’t burn concrete. I mean, it probably just got into the alcohol cabinet made of wood, and made the entire thing seem huge.”
Hunter puts his hoof on my shoulder, “Are you fine living here again?”
I sadly smile, “The town was called New Hope. Even it’s carcass shall prove it’s name. We see New Hope, and we change it.”
Rattle looks down at it from my side, “And what shall we name it, friend?”
I think of all that happened after I left here, “New Life. From Hope springs Life, and this New Hope shall spring New Life. We shall change the Wasteland, peace by peace, from this location.”
Hail nods down at it, “New Life, I like that. Perfect place for me, considering this is my new life.”
Shield looks at it, and smiles, “Looks defendable, very defendable. All we need are more ponies.”
Hunter smiles, “It will feel good to foster New Life.”
Fuse laughs, “New Life, eh? Have anything to do with me?”
Beam nods, “New Life, good name. Just as we will bring new life to the wastes, and old ideas.”
Rattle laughs heartily, “Oh, a home! It’s been so long since I’ve had one!”
Sure Shot looks over at me, and smiles, “It’s a beautiful town, Sentinel. We will make it beautiful again.”
I look around at all of them, “Well, let’s figure out the logistics before the Legion or Enclave show up.”
And so, we all take one collective step forward. Armored hooves, weaponised hooves, precise hooves, gentle hooves, strong hooves, punished hooves, quick hooves, and hooves callous from shotguns. One step forward, one more step towards New Life.
———
”In other news is something very differnt. I’m sure you know of Sentinel, that raider killing, slave freeing, able to defeat an entire Enclave squad, pony. Although I am starting to question that, no mortal pony could stand up to Gilda. He and a group of friends are currently on the run from Enclave and Legion ponies after two of them, big surprise. But, instead of running, they decided to spit in the face of their enemies, and decided to do something else. You all remember the news of New Hope falling last week, I’m sure. Well, the Sentinel went back to his home, and formed something new!”
“That’s right ponies, New Hope is back with Sentinel at its helm! Except, they changed it to be New Life. So, ponies of the Wasteland, I recommend something simple. You wanna live in a good society protected by good ponies with a promising future and spit in the face of raiders, Enclave, and Legion as well? Go visit Vanhoover, and find New Life there. Help Sentinel and his friends, and join New Life. Go, and you might just find, forgive the pun, New Life.”
“Now, in other news...”
———
Footnote: Level Up.
New Perk Added: Born Again — You died, and came out. But you never truely were living, only surviving. Now, with friends at your side, and a smile on your face, you have found what it means to live. Life is breathed back into you, a new pony. And you don’t plan to bow or die again. Everypony your friends with, including yourself, get +10 DT and +50 HP permanently.