6594346
I was comparing the price to what I remembered Blackjack paid for other shots guns.

DO NOT HAVE SCOTCH DIE.
good heavens.
not that we can have a say in the matter, since it is pre-written......ugh.

I smiled sadly and patted his shoulder one more time, then stepped out. As I started to close the door, I heard him take a deep breath. Maybe it was rude of me and wrong of me, but I didn’t shut the door all the way and didn’t leave. “I’m sorry. I know I don’t have any right to talk to you like this. I know… I know that you knew. I’m your father… Goddesses know I don’t deserve to be. I didn’t deserve your mother’s kindness; I was petty enough to resent it, actually. I never wanted to think of my time in 99 as having any consequence or meaning. That it was all horrible. That it was all better left behind and destroyed.”

He sighed quietly. “But that’s not true. There were good things. Things I never appreciated. Things worthwhile and… and good. There was good in 99. Your mother… was good. And so were you. Blackjack. Probably lots of mares. It was always easier just to pretend like you were all Overmares. But it was a lie… and it hurts to keep lying to myself that it was otherwise.

“Then you joined us and… and you were such a good girl. Braver than I was when I came outside. You followed us all over the place… even into places no filly was meant to go. And when BJ told you who I was… I couldn’t face it. Not because you were a lousy daughter, but because I didn’t deserve to be your father. I’m a coward, Scotch Tape. And you deserved better than a worthless pony like me.”

I sniffed as I poked my head in and saw him standing beside the bed, stroking her mane. Then he began to sing in soft, low tones.

Together forever...

With each other…

That is the way… I think it should be…

One.. with another…

A friend… just like a daughter…

That is the way… I think it should be…

I looked behind me as a sleepy and confused Glory approached, rubbing her tired eyes. I lifted a hoof to my lips, and she looked past me as her eyes widened.

And if along the way, we find ourselves apart

Know that it’s not so… you’re here in my heart…

And if as time passes, you find yourself alone and scared…

Remember my feelings and memories of home…

A place called home…

Any home...

His voice quavered and failed. I swallowed hard then stepped in. I couldn’t sing… not really… but I could try for him.

Together… forever…

With each other…

That is the way… I hope it will be…

One… with another…

A friend… just like a brother…

That is the way… I think it should be…

He looked at me, tears shimmering and threatening to spill as his eyes met mine. Somehow, our words aligned as we felt the same things and put them together. Behind me I heard Lacunae approaching with Psychoshy and an adolescent Rampage. If that yellow featherbrain so much as snickered, I’d buck her into next week.

And if along the way we come across some troubles

I know I’ll be able to face them with you beside me

And if as time passes, you find life painful and hard

Remember my friendship and know that I’m here with you.

Right beside you…

Always with you…

We looked down at her still form and sang the phrase over and over again, Glory and Lacunae joining in; even Rampage. Together Forever… With Each Other… as our voices grew softer and softer. And then silence save for the slow beeping of the monitor.

Then I saw a tear creeping down Scotch’s cheek. P-21 stared as tears of his own flowed freely. Slowly he reached out with a hoof and wiped it away. The little filly sniffed and whispered softly, “Daddy…”

With a sob he leaned over her and held her carefully in his hooves as he began to shake. The green filly pressed her face to his neck, crying beneath the bandages as she hugged him back. I sniffed, feeling tears spilling down my cheeks and feeling like a pony… a whole and intact pony for the first time in a very long time. And since there wasn’t any more room to hug Scotch, I hugged Glory and the very perplexed looking Boo instead.

I looked at Psychoshy, expecting disdain and disgust. Instead, there were tears in her eyes too, and I was shocked to see Rampage embrace her fellow Reaper.

Together forever... with each other…

And they said that there weren't anymore sad filled with happy moments like this once past Chapter 34, to which I say... S-shut up I'm not crying!

Soldier: You were good son, real good... Maybe even the best father I've ever seen... Salutes to P-21

Oh god, that last bit was just magical. I'm crying tears of joy when Scotch said 'daddy'.

Man, you know how to make this story effect me on a emotional level. The music, song and the atmosphere was just perfect. Thank you for giving us this beautiful story and chapter.

Then there was her turning her back on the Enclave to help the surface.

She wanted to find her friends, she wanted to save those that were still alive. I guess it is all perspective.

I looked right into the eyes of Twilight Sparkle.

Arguing with your possible ancestor.

She pressed her face into my chest and whimpered softly, “Pinkie…”

i.imgur.com/C8kyUxY.gif

He shifted to look up at me.

I imagine it is like looking at a Terminator pony that has half its flesh pulled away.

She froze as she stared into the drawer. “Where’s the Med-X? There were three doses here ready!”

Gawddamn it, I bet I know.

I found him lying in a bathtub nearby, Dusty’s hat pulled over his face. The three empty syringes were on the lip of the sink beside him.

Yep! Fucking, asshole, Jesus.

Maaaan oh maaan... you... got me... I feel sad... ;n; can't cry though... cause I'm a heartless bastardo //sobs tearlessly//
Good show... good show... that ending is just... why do I do this? Amazing job... and well done... well done...
Damn it.

*skulks away*

6597434
6598228
No, I think he's right. She could easily sob there, and it doesn't make sense for Sanguine's wife to talk about him dumping her and leaving with his family, especially when reviving and reuniting with her and their children was his whole goal. Also I don't think Sunflower was even released from the pod until 39.

To answer the Flux/I.M.P. question, I believe that Flux is the primary product, and I.M.P. is a derivative/processed substance specifically for the alicorn-transformation project. In the Wasteland, both would be considered taint.

6598228

Then I stared in shock as Psychoshy landed beside him, tears streaking her cheeks.

“You said it was going to be you and me, Sanguine. That it’d be us in our life with Red Eye,” the orange mare sobbed. “Were you going to kill me once you had Chimera? Or were you just going to dump me and run off with your family?”

Here is more context. Sunflower isn't even around yet and Psychoshy is already crying.

6599107
If I remember right, Taint is supposed to be impure I.M.P. in Fallout: Equestria though it is expanded to Flux in Project Horizons. But from what Twilight was talking about when reading over the ingredients for I.M.P. it just seemed to imply different types of Flux went into it, which were all the same. I feel later versions of I.M.P. had the star metal added to it, but not before Twilight visited Hippocratic Research.

Really, how how did Dealer know anything?

Extra 'how'

and while she may have been dreamed about being Rainbow Dash

Delete 'been' before dreamed ?

Goddesses, how I missed a happy moment like that.

6598012 Why you do this to yourself? Because you love to torture yourself in the feels! And I do to!

Fluttershy: Oh... my... That was... excuse me I need some tissues...

I got you some tissues Fluttershy, here, Give tissues Let the tears go Flutters, let the tears go Sobs on me shoulder as I pat her head in comfort

6601756 I do it because I'm a sucker for this stuff ;n; I feel like crap reading it, because there's nothing I can do to help these characters out... all I can do is watch

6601938 Wait, Engi can you say it for me?

Engineer: Alrighty then, what the!? Son of a bitch!

Yeah, exactly like that... Ugh, I hate watching others dying especially if I'm powerless to stop such a death! That's worse than any other kind of threat I have to go through! AAAAAAAHHHHHHH I hate being powerless to stop such deaths or sad scenes that may end with someone dying in front of me!

6601950 You know a story's good when it makes you care about the characters this much ;n;

6602009 Suddenly remembers witnessing my first death with Applejack in a CMC-centric fic Don't remind me... I still remember that scene fresh in my head even though that has passed a long time ago

6602019 Deaths of my favorite characters... despite them still being alive canonically, still haunts me Dx

6602223 Deaths of your favorite characters...

Suddenly remembers another death scene with Big Macintosh watching Cheerilee die from the effects of cancer and can't do a single thing to save her from the disease

Ack! Not that one! That one absolutely tore my heart out especially since that fic called Simple Fate, Tough Acceptance, Blessed Conclusion was an inspiration to the author's deceased mother! Ngah, why did I think that one up and put a link for it!?

6602261
You're a terrible person!
*cleeks it for read later*
gawd

6602362 I'm not terrible! I'm a lonely person that wants to inflict painful and powerful feels upon myself as punishment!

6602373 sodoI
//sobs//

Then I saw a tear creeping down Scotch’s cheek. P-21 stared as tears of his own flowed freely. Slowly he reached out with a hoof and wiped it away. The little filly sniffed and whispered softly, “Daddy…”

With a sob he leaned over her and held her carefully in his hooves as he began to shake.

Eeeeeyup...it was right here that I lost it.

i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/557/270/072.gif

Does the s story have an ending doesn't involve all the good ponies dieing? I'm not asking for spoilers, but I would like to know if this is one of those stories where the ending leaves something to be desired.

6621205 there will be death, multiple deaths. ;)

Goldenblood winced. “I hate that noise.” Funny, I wasn’t hearing anything at all.

Wait, why wouldn't the memory orb include it? They include all the sensory effects that the pony would remember. I would think that if he was able to hear it - even if he was imagining it - then the orb would transfer that part of the memory too.

6717622 you ass thats not funny

6784709 Unless the percieved noise is something beyond the five basic senses captured in a memory. Something more... ethereal.

That last scene, so beautiful...
orig15.deviantart.net/dabc/f/2012/087/7/5/daddy____by_mistermech-d4ua6bs.jpg

Ah rereading this so many memories. Shame everyone dies in the end

7050046
I hope you're not serious.
And if you are, spoilers bro.

There's for a reason.

Damn good writing. That is all.
T

When did "under 20k words" become synonymous with "short chapter"? <.< I appreciate it, at least!

I'm going to count that awkward scene with Rampage as an anomaly. P-21's addiction has been portrayed very well otherwise. I was fully prepared to believe that you were willing to kill Scotch off, so this chapter was quite effective. That final scene is great. :D Also, I'm liking this thread of "what woud have happened had Equestria won the war?"

WHY!?!? MUST YOU MAKE ME CRY

7115941 Naw, he can't be serious, at the very least Scotch survives, because she's in the sequel. And how exactly is Somber gonna kill off the immortal death machine? Send her floating off into outer space? Drop her in the planetary core?

The following comment section is ink blotted for your protection, and does not reflect Sun Sage's true feelings towards the story as a whole. It does reflect the few minutes he spent pacing in circles and considering throwing his phone while at work. Then again, he's due for an upgrade anyway... plus it's pretty funny looking at it hours later when the fury has more or less subsided. Enjoy with the knowledge that this (particularly the first section) should be read for laughs, and could be summed up with bopping Blackjack on the nose with something fairly light. ...A newspaper maybe, if it's a Sunday edition.

.......Blackjack, Blackjack, Blackjack.... let me see if I'm following the train of thought of the not smart pony for a moment here. You want the Ministry Mares punished. We'll set aside that Twilight's most egregious crime was invented as a retcon by your author and this version of Luna makes Stable-tec a Head scratcher (no sedition charges? well, at least it got lampshaded before I could point it out)... only Pinkie could explain that to you. Speaking of Pinkie... shit, you may have a point. BUT... this from you?! The pony who regretted killing Deus and Brass, the pony was seriously considered letting Sanguine go.... THE PONY WHO LET MURDERING RAPISTS FUCKING WALK.... (remember Tarboots? It's not just about you...) wants the Ministry Mares punished... I see.... Yes, that's perfectly.... NO, GODDAMMIT YOU DON'T GET TO THINK THAT SHIT YOU STUPID... HYPOCRITICAL... ....CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUyay... I mean... you wouldn't even go through with it anyway. Twilight could just give you the big eyes and talk about how tragic it was to lose Big Macintosh and you'd be all 'LET MY PONIES GO!' And don't say 'nuh-uh!' because it almost worked for FUCKING SANGUINE! Luna could get a pass, too, even THIS Luna. 'Thousand years on the moon, sucked, wanna win war now' See? Give it up. You're a problem solver, not a judge. Knowing you, even if you could lock them up you'd just be in the cell next to em. And that's all kinds of awkward.

Awesome... now that that's out of my system, let's move on to what this chapter did really well... But first, and speaking of awesome, another thought occurred at work, this time while actually sorta working rather than reading (my night job's a joke, what can I say). How does Killing Joke work? I get it reading Glory's thoughts along the lines of 'my people have forsaken me for staying loyal to my beliefs... I'm kind of like Rainbow Dash...' but how'd it know Dash's mannerisms? Appearance, major accomplishments, and general personality are all a matter of public record. But the nuances? The 'ohmygosh' spam and other similar quirks.... how'd those play into it, unless she is becoming Dash (which I sorta doubt, seems a bit much from a story standpoint). I also want to say I liked that the Killing Joke was finally an instance where PH was maybe less dark than Fo:E. Blackjack asplodes to little real effect, Glory becomes 20% cooler, and Scotch gets the short straw. But hey, nopony got flensed or turned into a species they used to kill. Perhaps we can chalk it up to the Joke being less evil outside the Everfree.

Nice work bringing P-21's issue to the fore in dramatic fashion. I did not see that coming. It does save Blackjack from having to convince him he has a problem... with that happening, he sees it himself. Now... how to resolve... time will tell (well, it'll tell me anyway, most readers aren't here for the first time). And speaking of time telling... those of you in the comments being all snarky 'I know how it ends, so much death hur hur'... you are not clever, or helpful. There's a tragedy tag up there. If Somber's going Shakespearean, we can expect few of our dramatis personae to walk away from all this. It's up to each reader to decide whether the ride was worthwhile anyway. But that said, spoiling in the comments in such an offhanded manner... so crass.

Last and certainly not least... yes, that "Daddy..." line got me, too. I uh... didn't cry, per se... I just uh.... couldn't see my phone there for a minute. Just a passing cataract, assuredly. I'm not getting any younger, ya know. Also... major props to P-21 for acknowledging that there was more than the horrors of his slavery in 99. Yes, it was really bad, but it wasn't all bad. It feels like a real turning point that he can say that, especially to his daughter.

The daddy part hit me hard... Couldn't see anything in front of me for a bit.. ugh why must sobbing daddy bits always get to me?!.. Damnit..

Well, wasn't this another incredibly emotional chapter? At least it wasn't depressing, though I guess P-21 kinda makes most emotional scenes depressing as hell. Either way, woo! Nice to see that truth finally be passed from one to another. And that memory orb. Good golly that was interesting.

~SolidFire

im gonna be quite honest. that last part went like this when reading it. started reading it once then decided to do so with the youtube vid playing while i read. didnt really read aloud, saw the Daddy part after the Rampage hugging Psychoshy part. cried a little. read it again and actually even sang the song out loud, and sang the "Together Forever... With Each Other..." part over and over again and cried quite a lot more. then said the daddy part in a broken voice. i actually had to close my eyes and take a few minutes roughly. but then i decided i was gonna pace a bit. started thinking about how my uncle died in the hospital after getting a surgery to remove cancer that was in him. i think it was in his stomach... or maybe the lungs.. been awhile... and then i thought bout my brother and i dont know why but i confessed to him, he's dead btw and it was just me really talking to myself. but i confessed how i used to think i wouldnt give a fuck if he died, and i started crying and said i was sorry and stuff. that i missed him so much. said i really do quite a few times. maybe it was the chapter, but i honestly felt really good getting it off my chest. anyways, amazing chapter Somber

Stand and deliver they told us,
And we did as we were told.
For queen and country we marched on
Bellowing our homeland's song.
One by one, we fought as brothers
One by one, we ceased this song,
Now I stand among their bodies,
Asking god what wen wrong?

“No, LittlePip, Fluttershy, and Homage make it look easy,” I snorted. “And don’t get me started on the Stable Dweller. I mean, she can at least save her stable… in which she dwells, I assume.” From whence she plotted her eventual salvation of all the Wasteland. ...You know, I didn’t exactly know what the Stable Dweller did to help ponies. LittlePip faced down mind reading monsters and slaver armies.

Blackjack...when will you learn?

Okay… that couldn’t be healthy.

“You’re lucky. With that healing talisman inside you, you’ll regenerate all of this relatively quickly,” she said matter-of-factly as she freed my tail from its rubbery sack. I swished it a few times, letting it air out. Oh, I could really do with a good brushing.

Anyone else find something decidedly lewd about this particular sentence?

Together they trotted out, Goldenblood giving the star blaster a wistful look as they left the hidden lab and emerged in the conference room. Quickly, Goldenblood headed in the direction of the shouting. A yellow stallion held his earbloom and nodded his head as the brown stallion traded glares with the receptionist. As they spotted the director, the two sat up. “Sir, there’s been an incident in Manehattan. Applejack is dead.” The receptionist gasped. Goldenblood looked at her, there was a flare from his horn, and she suddenly went glassy eyed and slumped out of sight behind the desk.

“What?” Horse gasped. “That is… oh… so not cool…” Goldenblood stared at him, and for a moment I was certain he was next.

“Stop standing there and get that confirmed,” 

I wonder what he did to that receptionist.
Somber, what did he do to her?

Also...did you get his little...reference?
About games. About playing his cards right?

Yeah, I can see him being a real good Dealer

Dang man. That song.
It just about stirred something in me. Maybe.
This is what mankind really needs. This right here.

What with everything that goes on outside our plebian lives?
Yeah. I can just see our own Fallout rushing towards us on a technological tide.
Maybe it will come as that Singularity thing they speculate will happen 10-20 years from now?

Just gotta say this now. Goldenblood is the single worst character introduced in this story. No identifiable motive for his actions, apparently the brain child for EVERY major decision for the ministries, able to play everypony, hooked up with Fluttershy... Gary-sue is detected and you should feel shame for making him.

Now on a more positive note for this story, damn good writing for the actual Fallout characters. P-21 really shined in this chapter, and finally connected with his daughter. Quite the disfunctional family they travel with, but its a good one. That Daddy bit was utter brilliant and you should feel proud of your Wasteland characters.

8246820
Ah, but look at the flipside. He was in the end, about to be executed, was held in contempt for some, and his life.... Also, the word is Gary Stu.

Then I saw a tear creeping down Scotch’s cheek. P-21 stared as tears of his own flowed freely. Slowly he reached out with a hoof and wiped it away. The little filly sniffed and whispered softly, “Daddy…”

Hnnnnnnnng!!

“Once the Tokomare is working, Equestria won’t need coal anymore.” 

a nice reference to the "Tokomac" experimental Fusion plant.

"titanium-magnesium alloy hammer."

That would make for a really shitty hammer, see hammers are made out of hard, dense materials for a reason, if you want a better hammer, go the opposite way of any sort of titanium or magnesium alloy, like a tungsten alloy hammer, a smaller head would deliver more impact due to the increased density, and hardness, and if you want to go all the way, an Osmium hammer would be the best due to being the densest element, it's strength, and hardness

8418445

I know nothing about hammers. :P

Then I saw a tear creeping down Scotch’s cheek. P-21 stared as tears of his own flowed freely. Slowly he reached out with a hoof and wiped it away. The little filly sniffed and whispered softly, “Daddy…”

I am dead. You've killed me. My last autosave was so far back. How could you. I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING!

“I could get you one. I’m thinking of running a whole line based on the Ministry Mares

If you made one of AJ, there is literally no place on the planet Steelhooves would not hunt you down.

Only I think that in at least one of those cases, what hit the ground wasn’t just some rock from the heavens but a device from an unknown world.

I wonder if a certain mothership is knocking about in Fallout Equestria...

He looked at me, tears shimmering and threatening to spill as his eyes met mine. Somehow, our words aligned as we felt the same things and put them together.

Two hundred years later, ponies still like to sing about about their given situations.

8263373
Golden blood is a better character when you see him when he's been fully developed. Right now he himself is a mystery still.

I really sad chapter, and informative. Loved the whole thing.

Wow. I love it. I love that heart-to-heart so much.

When the bombs drop and the land gives way
When the sun dies for one more day
When the world’s shades are nothing but gray
Still, we’ll sing our troubles away

“Hey, what’s the point of designing an entire city and not having fun secret passages and the like?” He grinned as he led Goldenblood through some metal hallways. “It’s come in handy a few times when the M.o.M.’s come to call.”

Hm...he's not wrong about the secret passages

😭😭😭
This was so sweet and heartwarming that I can't stop crying