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// Message 
// Story: Fallout Equestria: A Lonely Road 
// by SummerGem 
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I've heard ponies say you shouldn’t live in the past. That you should leave it behind. But what about those like me who've  
forgotten their past? Do you leave it behind then? Can you? I say you shouldn’t.

If I’m going to tell my story, I suppose introductions are in order. My name’s Bright Miner and I’m an earth pony prospector. Or to put it another way, a scavenger. It was this line of work that got me into this mess in the first place.

It had started while I was combing through the ruins of a small town. I had found a few cans of food, scrap metal, and ammunition. I decided to call it a day and checked the map on my Pipbuck to find my way back to New Applelossa. Strange, there's a new message. Curious, I examined it.

There's no audio on this. Just coordinates and the name 'Hurricane.' The coordinates are in- Colossal Gulch? Why there? It's extremely dangerous, and there's not much there, or so the stories go. Still it could be worth checking out.

I'm going to need some supplies if I want to go there. I have no healing potions and could use some additional food and ammo. New Applelossa is nearby so I guess I'll head there.

As the sun set, I saw the shipping containers that made up the walls of this town. It’s good to be home. I walked through the dingy streets and hovels toward the tavern. A few ponies greeted me, despite my attempts to blend in. I suppose my yellow mane and back coat make me stand out.

Looks like I'm here. I pushed open the door and made my way into the dim interior. Ponies sat around tables chatting and drinking. I spied a red unicorn behind the bar cleaning a mug.

He gave me a small nod. "Hey there Bright Miner.”

"Jerry, come on now, we've known each other for several years.” I take my regular seat at the bar. “Just call me Bright."

"Of course, Bright. What can I get you?"

"Apple Whiskey with a Sparkle Cola to wash it down. I also require some food, ammo for my battle saddle, as well a few health potions and Rad Away.” 

He gave me a questioning look. “That’s a lot more then what you typically get. What do you need them for if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Colossal Gulch.”

"COLOSSAL GULCH!" Every patron in the tavern stared at us. "Sorry, I thought you said Colossal Gulch. Why on earth would you go there? Everypony that's gone into there has never come out."

"Simple," I showed him the message on my Pipbuck. "I want to investigate this. Who knows what could be there.'

He gave a long sigh. “Bright we’ve been over this. You’ve chased leads like this before and always come up empty hooved. You need to stop obsessing over the past. Just let it go.”

“You know I can’t do that. There’s a part of my past that I can’t remember, and it’s going to keep haunting me till I find the answer.”

“I still think it's a bad idea. Plus, it could be a false signal. That wasn't in the best of shape when I gave it to you."

"I did a good job of fixing up the Pipbuck, so the signal's most likely authentic. If it's not, I lose nothing but some time."

“Very well. If you insist on doing this, I'll get you the supplies.” I sipped my drink while he was gone savoring the flavor. He returned after a brief wait with the supplies. As I put them into my saddlebags, I noticed that he had also given me barding and a syringe filled with what looked like a murky brown liquid.

I pointed to the barding and syringes. "What's this for?”

"That's armor for your protection and Hydra for additional healing. If you insist on doing this, they will help keep you alive."

"I appreciate the barding, but isn't using Hydra dangerous? I heard that it has some nasty side effects."

"Only if you use it after being exposed to radiation. Just use it as a last resort, and you'll be fine.

"Okay, how much do I owe you?

"Three hundred and fifty caps." I handed him the money and turned to leave. "One last thing Bright. Remember that curiosity-"

"-Killed the colt. I remember. Don't worry about me old man; I'll be fine." I exited the tavern and headed for my house. He's right to warn me. Sure, my curiosity has gotten me into more than one sticky situation, but I've always managed to get out of them thanks to my sharp senses and quick wit.

I entered my house and headed upstairs to the bedroom. I deposited my saddlebags and battle saddle next to the bed. Sleep sounds good. I can prepare for my trip in the morning.

After waking up, I donned my combat barding, battle saddle. Finally, a short sword went on my left foreleg for easy access. After a quick breakfast of canned beans, I headed toward the Gulch. The trip across the barren wasteland was mostly uneventful except for a few radroaches that I quickly stabbed to death. 

At the coordinates, I saw the entrance. It was mostly obstructed by a pre-war bus. Spray painted across it in big yellow letters were the words: "Dangerous. Keep out!" Smaller words were painted next to them in white. "You can go home Bright Miner." Below that was the name  Hurricane and- A DASHITE SYMBOL? Why is that there, and why is my name there? 

This message came from the same pony who sent me that signal. But how do they know my name? Why would they want me to come here? Well, there's only one way to find out. I took a deep breath and headed past the bus into the unknown. 

The first thing I noticed was how dim it had become.  It barely even noon, yet eternal twilight permeated through the area. The rocky ground gradually sloped downward toward what looked like an old military base. 

I turned on my Pipbuck’s light and walked toward it. The echo of my hooves striking the ground was the only sound that reached my ears.

The first thing I noticed upon entering was all the metal. Metal walls and a metal floor that seemed to suck out all the warmth. As I approached a room my E.F.S. lit up with three red bars. I slowed my pace to a crawl and loaded up the rifles on my battle saddle. The faint sound of gears whirling reached my ears. I glanced around the corner and spied a pair of sentry bots. 

I waited until the first one came in to range. I immediately went into S.A.T.S. and took it out with several well-placed shots. The air was filled with bright red lasers as the second bot opened fire. The shots either missed me or were absorbed by the strike plates in my barding. Before it could fire a second volley I opened fire and took it down.

Pathetic. These things were always easy to- Argh! Pain shot through my body as a laser struck my unprotected flank. I turned and saw two more bots advancing upon me. Too close for my rifle. Time for some close quarters combat. I clutched my short sword in my mouth and charged.

I jumped at the nearest one and stabbed downward through its head. I yanked and took its head off. Wasting no time, I turned toward the remaining one and dispatched it with a few stabs. I took advantage of the respite to examine the room.

Score! Looks like this was the armory. Explains why it was so well defended. I searched all the ammo containers and emptied them in my bags. This will fetch quite a few caps. I wonder what else is around here. If I’m cautious, I could walk out of here with an excellent haul. 

I continued exploring the base. Along the way I ran into a few lone sentry bots which I easily dispatched with S.A.T.S. Room after room was filled with more salvage then I can carry. I'll have to come back here later. I entered the next room and saw a terminal next to a storage tube.

I logged on the terminal and saw this text: Open storage tube and release sprite-bot? Yes/No.

Why not? This could prove useful. I selected yes.

Air hissed from the storage tube as it opened. The sprite-bot floated out of it and slowly turned to face me.

"Uh, hi?" Wait, why am I talking to it? It can't understand- Beep beep. Wait, was that directed at me? "Can you understand me?" Another beep. Okay, I guess it can. "Do you have a name?" Silence. "Well you need a name. How about I call you Beep?" It's response was several angry beeps. "Okay. Okay. You don't like that one. Since you’re a sprite-bot, how about I call you Sprite for short?" Beep.

I'm talking to a robot. This is getting too weird. "Okay Sprite, I'm moving on now. Uh, follow me please. As I left the room, I turned and noticed it following me a few feet off the ground. We headed toward what I guessed to be the exit. More sentry bots appeared. I can handle them no problem. Time to- ZAP! ZAP! I turned to Sprite to see him firing lasers at our enemies. What? No time to wonder about that now. I slipped into S.A.T.S and joined him in destroying them.

"You can fight?" Beep beep. "Well it looks like you'll be more useful than I thought. Shall we?" 

I have someone to watch my back again. Wait, again? I never had a companion before. I clutched my head in pain as old memories started to surface, but they quickly faded away. Could this place hold the key to my past? I hope it dose.

With Sprite by my side, the rest of the trip through the base was simple. I noticed the remains of what looked like ponies next to the exit. A closer inspection revealed they looked different. Their armor looked to of bunch of old street signs attached to barding. Any exposed part of them was missing skin, revealing the muscle beneath.

Goddess. What had happened to these ponies? I offered a silent prayer for them and exited the base. Immediately, I was struck by a sandstorm. On top of that my Pipbuck started clicking, indicating radiation. Joy. This is getting too risky even for me. I've acquired quite a bit of salvage and some answers. I can always come back later. I headed back toward the base.

"Greetings Bright."

I turned around. A male voice was coming from Sprite. "Sprite? I thought you couldn't talk.”

"That wasn't him. I'm speaking through him to you."

"Who are you and how do know my name?"

"Who am I?” A faint chuckle came from Sprite. “I'm a fellow prospector just like you. Name's Hurricane. To answer your second question; we used to work together."

"Was it you who sent the signal? And if it was you the why?"

"Yes. As to why, simple. I knew it would draw you here. You were always too curious for your own good. Welcome to the Colossal Gulch. Back during the war this place used to be known as the Ghastly Gorge. It maintained a bunch of military bases. Now it's the most inhospitable place in the wasteland. If the sandstorms or radiation don't get you then locals will."

"Gee, you make it sound so attractive, but there's other places I'd rather be. Goodbye." I turned to leave.

"Leaving so soon? I have something you desire."

That stooped me. "What could you possibly have that I would desire?"

"Answers. Isn't there a key part of your past that you've forgotten? An essential part that you yearn to rediscover? I can give that. You just need to make it to an old base at the end of this gulch.”

“Why not just give them to me now and spare us both the trouble?”

“It’s not that simple. You have to earn them, Bright. Whether or not you do is completely up to you." The speaker cut off.

How does he know all about me? I’ve worked with various ponies over the years, but I told none of them besides Jerry about my hidden past. He promised never to tell anypony about it. So how does this Hurricane know? There's only one possible way for me to find out, and it involves me crossing the most dangerous place in the wasteland. This is going to be so fun.



Level Up! Scrounger perk. All your prospecting has given a incredible knack for uncovering things that other ponies miss. You find more items in rooms and containers.