Fallout Equestria: Shattered Armour
Prologue: Last orders
Okay we all know how it goes, I want to tell a story, you want to hear a story, and with all stories it’s best to start at the very beginning. Unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, the beginning of this story could be anything from three months to over two hundred years ago. In a way all stories these days start then, you know what I mean.
If I start at the very beginning and tell you everything that happened between then and now, it’s going to be mostly boring and still manage to spoil the surprise.
If I start three months ago, you’re going to have no idea what I’m talking about and ask stupid questions like “what’s he doing there?” “what scroll?” and “why is he worried about his mane?” ...
Errr... actually, you’re probably going to ask those anyway. It’s the same with any story: you start with questions, and as you progress you get more questions than answers and finally at the end you get almost all the answers you want and I promise that’s only because I don’t know the answer to some of them.
To be fair, I didn't know any of the right questions to begin with. That's how things got a little crazy, and then it turns out those questions and answers weren't actually all that important.
In the Wasteland the most important question is always “how do I not die?”.
...
Sorry rambling a bit there, I often do that. If I do it again just throw a horseshoe my way.
...
You don’t have any horse shoes? Nopony? Well lucky lucky me.
Let’s get started, then. It all begins just over two hundred years ago, in a place that you all know of, even if you never went there.
The most magnificent city in Equestria: Canterlot.
On the day the world ended.
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“Private Broken Thorn! How long are you going to stay napping on duty, you lazy son of a mule!”
My eyes snapped open violently while rest of my body remained perfectly still, yet tensed, then relaxed, as my brain caught up with the rest of the world.
Slowly, I sat upright like I had all the time in the world, which I did in a manner of speaking.
I eyeballed the blue maned unicorn stallion at the foot of my bed, taking in his mock expression of anger.
“Sir, today is my day off, sir. I am using it to catch up on my sleep to better serve Equestria in the future, sir!” I yelled back to him. I laid back down and shut my eyes. Ahhhh to just lie there and enjoy some peace and quiet with nothing, no danger, no duty or obligations to drive you forward, the very definition of bliss.
It was rudely interrupted by a tingle of magic that whipped the sheets of my bed. I glared at the unicorn at foot of my bed, who had a ridiculous grin on his face. “PRIVATE Bronze Arrow how I spend my free time is of no concern to you. Now get lost before I kick your plot off the mountain.”
“How can I not be concerned over my bestest buddy getting in trouble for missing his physical?” He followed with wink.
Buck, could it be? I know I didn’t have a physical scheduled, it could be... Arrow messing with me but I had to check.
I got up from the bed glaring at Arrow and his huge grin and went to the roster board at the far end of the bunk house. Right there, under today’s date was:
Private Broken Thorn
Physical check up
Examination Room B
That had not been there yesterday or three days ago when the schedule was posted. It had to be.
“Ah yes that thanks for reminding me Arrow, I’ll head there now.” I said as casually as I could.
“You do that.” He said and trotted out the door.
I went to the locker rooms and headed over to the mirror. My mood of excitement was spoiled by what I saw there, overnight my mane had gone from dark red to a paler almost blood-red shade. “Stupid cheap spell” I muttered, “If ever find that blue unicorn again...”
I continued to look at myself reflected in the mirror and recast the spell until my mane finally returned to its “normal” dark red colour. I looked the rest of myself over in the mirror to make sure I looked presentable. Perfect white coat, long flowing tail, short cut mane, awesome cutie mark, and long shining horn. Well it should have been a long horn. Instead of tapering to a sharp point it ended in a flat disk three inches from where it should. All in all fit for duty, with some additions.
I turned away from the mirror and towards the bank of lockers, three minutes work and I turned back to the mirror. A solid helmet covered my head and neck with a blue brush on the back. Overlapping plates of armour covered the rest of my body from chest to tail, with the Canterlot coat of arms where my cutie mark would be. Finally, four bracers covered my legs from hoof to just above the knee leaving only part of my upper leg and chin exposed. The armour was coloured a beautiful gold colour, but it wasn't heavy; it felt like my own skin.
What can I say? I looked great and loved it.
In case you didn't get it I was a member of the Canterlot Royal Guard, the oldest fighting force in Equestria, guardians of law and order for generations, and bodyguards to Princess Celestia herself! At least we used to be.
...
Later. Anyway I left the barracks and went to the medical wing...
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I knocked tentatively at the examination room door. “Come in.” A mare’s voice responded.
Inside there was the usual doctor’s equipment, sink, bed, desk and a couple of chairs.
There was also a very pretty pink earth pony mare in a nurse’s outfit, I put on my most professional face and tried not to stare.
“Private Broken Thorn reporting for physical assessment.”
“Yes, I know. The doctor will be here shortly.” She gave a faint smile then went out the door closing it behind her.
I settled down on one of the chairs and tried to keep my excitement and fear under control, if this was what I thought it was then it may just be the best day of my life. Then I knew it was, I could feel her coming down the hallway, it was like having a fire at my rear except no fire could ever be that hot.
Oh Luna forgive me that was so inappropriate!
Dismissing such embarrassing thoughts, I got up from the chair and faced the door dropping into kneeling bow as it opened.
“Hail Princess Celestia” I said then looked up. She was as magnificent as ever, towering over me with her magnificent multicoloured mane blowing in an ethereal breeze. She had a radiant smile on her face as if she was the one lucky to see me.
“It's just Celestia. Now, Broken Thorn, rise.” She said in a kindly voice. Yeah that’s right, the Princess knew my name.
...
What? No applause? What does it take to impress you ponies?
...
Okay one, say that again and I’ll explode your face. Two, if I was in a position to do that sort of thing do you think I would be here telling you this story? Now shut and listen, it’s about to get interesting.
“I have a mission for you, but it must be kept secret. I apologize for taking your day off from you but it is the only time you could leave the palace without arousing suspicion.” Her voice gradually grew more serious as she went on and drew out a scroll tied with a red ribbon and gold seal.
“I live to serve you and Equestria, your majesty. I didn’t have anything better to do today anyway.” I chuckled.
She returned my joke with a faint smile then continued. “I need you to deliver this to Twilight Sparkle. She should be at the Ministry of Arcane Science’s Maripony facility. You are to give it to her and no one else. Not an assistant. Not a guard. You give it to her personally. Once that is done you will guard her and obey her orders as if they were mine. Do you accept?” she thrust the scroll towards.
“It will be done your majesty!” This was what I joined the Royal guard for! Well, not this cloak and dagger crap, but to work with those ponies who could make a difference! I was going to be protecting a ministry mare! How awesome is that?
I took the scroll in magical grip, and Celestia gave me a brief nod, walking out the door and shutting it behind her. I spent a few moments catching my breath, I hadn't breathed since she entered the room. Then, I began making plans. Maripony, huh? That’s some distance away. I would have to take the train and...
Oh dear, this was supposed to be low key...
I would have to leave my armor behind...
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The train rattled along through the pristine countryside, endless fields of green interrupted by the occasional building or copse of trees. Oh beautiful Equestria, I fight for you, I thought. Then, I thought about ridiculously sappy that sounded and tried to think of nothing at all out of embarrassment.
The train was filled with the usual assortment of ponies. I ignored them unless I noticed then looking at me. After returning my armour to my locker, I had left the Palace without any trouble. However, once in the city, I was racked with paranoia. Was the Ministry of Morale following me? Could there be Zebra sympathizers lying in wait? I shifted slightly, feeling the weight of the combat knife and pistol concealed in my jacket. Not weapons I was comfortable with but I needed to keep my options open.
As I looked around, I started to feel the effects of missing the sleep I had tried to get.
I struggled to keep my eyelids open...
Who would have thought this would actually be boring...
I wished something interesting would happen...
...
'BOOOOMM!!!' Didn't even begin to describe it...
I had enough time to jump out of my seat as the world, or maybe just the train, was turned upside down and I blacked out.
...
...
...
Yeah give me a moment, see this is the problem with stories like this. At the time I didn't remember what happened next, for me what happened next happened quite a bit later. Or rather I started remembering stuff when I was actually me again.
I think you all know what I mean so I’ll just skip to the interesting part.
200 years later...
Notes:
Character: Broken Thorn
Race: Alicorn, you have wings of a Pegasus, magic of a unicorn and earth pony body but only gain a perk every second level.
Cutie Mark: Horseshoe surrounded by red magic aura.
Coat: White.
Mane: Red, apparently
Traits
Gifted: You have more innate abilities than most, so you have not spent as much time honing your skills. All seven stats have a +1 modifier. All skills are -10%. You receive 5 less skill points per level.
Magically inclined: You have been trained in the magical arts from the time you could walk and have already mastered several spells. Because you spent so much time learning magic you have not mastered any other skills. Instead of picking skill tags you choose three starting spells.
Tagged Skills
N/A
Spells:
Star Swirl the Bearded’s Magic Bullet (Rank 1): Fires a magic “bullet” of condensed energy. The strength of this bullet is proportional to the amount of magical power put into the spell.
The Great and Powerful Trixie’s Illusionary Shape: Creates an illusion around yourself that alters how you appear. Can be used to conceal your horn, wings and cutie mark.
Unity’s Alicorn Shield (Rank 1) - This Shield spell, sturdier than most, will resist most types of kinetic force up to a certain point. It won’t be able to fully resist attacks with damage exceeding 20% of your total health. This spell is also immovable in relation to you and won’t take any other forms than a sphere around your body.
SPECIAL
STR 7
PER 4
END 6
CHA 8
INT 5
AGI 6