Fort Constantine, mid-2280
“God this place freaks me out.”
“Shut it, Initiate.”
Paladin Esposito was leading three Initiates on their first excursion. They had chosen the relatively safe pre-War military facility, far to the north of DC. Dom knew it was safe, having cleared it of robots and ghouls years ago. Also, she may have accidentally launched a nuclear ICBM at China. She wasn’t entirely sure about that.
A few wastelanders had settled nearby, leeching power from the base’s generators, and a few Deathclaws had been spotted, but apart from that the place was empty.
They were currently walking through the large warehouse dedicated to bomb storage. Each one was about half the size of a Vertibird, and over three dozen lined the walls. Dominica would never admit it, but the idea of walking through what felt like an atomic powder-keg was daunting. She knew that they couldn’t explode without a correct trigger, and that the fuel within had likely eroded from the centuries of neglect, but the sight of so many of the weapons responsible for the destruction of the world just sitting there...
“Damn shame we didn’t see something I missed the first time.” Dominica pushed open a wooden door with her plasma rifle and took point. Just as planned, they had made it through to the outside without anything leaping out and trying to kill them. In a way, the Paladin was disappointed. It had been weeks since she had a good fight. Raiders had fled to and filled the Metro system, and she wanted to be with the rest of the Pride pushing them back. Unfortunately, she had drawn the shortest straw. At least they had given her a Vertibird ride.
“That was a piece of cake!” one of the Initiates said loudly.
“Of course it was, I cleared this place out years ago,” Dom replied as she looked around the dusty, barren base. Something felt... wrong, but for the life of her she didn’t know what. “Did any of you see any Molerats or Radroaches?” she asked.
“No,” an Initiate said, shaking her armoured head. The other two answered similarly, deepening her unease. “Why?”
“This place has been empty for about three years,” the Paladin responded. “You’d think something would start living in there.”
“There were the locals outside the base,” someone said after a brief silence.
“They said they didn’t go into any of the buildings, though.”
As the Initiates argued with each other about why the place was completely abandoned, Dom tried to raise the Vertibird pilot on her radio. “Hey, Jonas, you there?” Silence. “Jonas? Damnit Jonas, this isn’t funny!”
“Er, ma’am, is something wrong?”
“Jonas isn’t responding,” she said angrily. “That fucker better be sleeping, or we are in some serious shit.”
Twilight always liked visiting Canterlot Castle. She just wished the circumstances were a bit more pleasant. After all, being escorted to the station by a full military guard wasn’t very fun. Not even Pinkie Pie found anything to laugh at.
They weren’t the only ponies leaving Ponyville, though. The attack had left so many of them shaken, and some of the townsfolk were packing their bags. The pegasi that were leaving were making plans with family in Cloudsdale and the other cloud-borne towns to stay, though none knew for how long. The land-bound residents had more mundane places in mind, Canterlot, Manehattan and Trottingham the three most popular destinations.
Those that were staying either had nowhere to go, business that couldn’t be abandoned on such short notice or roots that went too far back. Leaving town was a betrayal in their minds.
Applejack had been the hardest to convince. Given how her flesh and blood were responsible for Ponyville even existing, that was no surprise. What was more surprising was just how hard Rarity had protested. Twilight had long since lost count the number of times she had spoken about joining the nobility, but this crisis had revealed who she really was. Her family, her business, she just couldn’t find it in her to leave them behind. Everything she had talked about was just that, talk.
Twilight had done what she could to alleviate her friends’ concerns. The mention of Thomas and his two companions had gone some way to distracting them from the depressing situation they now found themselves in, but it wasn’t enough. The truly torturous thing was that Ponyville could be seen from the castle itself. To be so close, and yet so far...
“Oh, this is interesting,” Ironshod muttered as he pushed his goggles up.
“What do you mean?” Shining Armor asked.
“This design is at least a few centuries old. They might have taken it from a squad that got ambushed ages ago.” The earth pony walked between the racks of armour and opened a small cabinet. As he pulled out a dusty tome, the commander tried his best to avoid breathing in the acrid fumes that filled the workshop.
“Let’s see...” the metal-worker murmured as he flipped pages and compared what he was seeing. “Here we go, used between 700 and 750 CR. Three centuries old.”
“How can...” Shining shook his head. “That’s not important. How did they get it?”
“That was when the last major military conflict we were involved in was. Against Dogs, too.”
“Of course,” he muttered. “The Gem Colony Massacre.”
“Aye,” the grey pony replied. “An entire town wiped out, and close to five hundred dead soldiers on both sides. Makes sense the Dogs would have taken any weapons they could get their paws on.”
Shining Armor let out an aggravated sigh. “Great. Heavily-armed Dogs are one thing, but well-armed Dogs?”
“Don’t worry,” Ironshod said with a wave of his hoof. “The design’s old, and armour’s improved a lot since the Massacre.”
“It punched through two inches of solid steel,” Shining said with a flat look. “Two inches of solid steel that regularly goes against supersonic lead projectiles. The wearer says that this is the first time something made of metal has gone through so cleanly.”
The way Ironshod’s face fell would have been comical had it not been for how grave the situation was. “Two inches!? You better be pulling my leg, commander.” He stared at the knife. “There’s no way, even with the ridiculous strength those Dogs have, that that should even be possible! Even the standard issue one you have isn’t capable of that!”
“Is it possible it’s enchanted?”
“Certainly a possibility,” the blacksmith mused. “Definitely doesn’t look like it, though,” he added, glancing at the Knight’s golden armour.
There was a short silence. “How’s the new armour?”
“That mare is more irritating than my mother-in-law,” Ironshod said loudly. “Always talking herself up, going on and on and on...”
“I’ve talked to her about that,” Shining said with a sigh. “Where is she now?”
“Smith’s showing her how it all goes on. Poor fool,” the earth pony said with a shake of his head. “The sooner you get her out of here, the better.”
“She may be a hoofful, Ironshod, but she’s the best when it comes to illusions. Pretty good at everything else, too, honestly.” Rhythmic metal clanking was heard coming from a different part of the forge.
A unicorn entered the workshop, fully clad in golden Knight armour. Her powder-blue tail swished about as she looked around, her azure horn poking out of her helmet. On the armour’s flank was her Cutie Mark, a wand and pixie dust.
“Private, what have we said about your attitude problems?” Shining Armor asked with a glare.
“The Great and - “ She cut herself off when the glare intensified. “I apologise, sir,” she said timidly. She walked out the armoury, followed by the commander.
“We have some important guests, you’re coming with me to greet them,” Ironshod heard him say as they left.
He rolled his eyes as he shut the door. “Not even a thank you,” he muttered as he replaced the book. He glared at the dagger intently before looking up to the sound of metal hitting stone. “Dammit, Smith, be more careful!”
“Sorry,” the griffon said sheepishly as he poked his head out.
Ironshod raised an eyebrow at the young griffon. “Why are you smiling?” he asked.
“Nothing, nothing,” he said quickly before disappearing from view.
“Thanks for fixing my arm.”
“Hey, it was nice to see something so damn advanced. Seriously, where did you even get that?”
“North of DC, there’s a place called the Commonwealth,” Dominica explained. “I think it’s what’s left of Massachusetts. Anyway, they kept making things. They have robots that look and act like people.”
“So they sold you the tech?” Thomas asked as he dismantled his anti-materiel rifle.
“No, a few guys from there came to DC looking for a rogue android. I killed them, and the Brotherhood ended up taking the bodies. One of them was an android, so they pulled him apart,” the ghoul explained. “They mangled the parts, though, which is why it’s all in this,” she said, tapping her left arm.
“Wow,” Veronica said unhappily. “And to think I had to be born around xenophobes.”
The three wastelanders were sitting in the castle courtyard, not far from the griffons’ tents. They had brushed aside the griffons’ attempts to get them to join in their small revelry, not truly seeing the point. It had been a minor victory, not worthy of celebration in their minds. As all three had seen actual, bloody war, this was nothing more than progress.
They sat and watched the sun set in the west. “You weren’t kidding,” the ghoul said softly. “It is different.”
“Yeah,” Veronica agreed quietly. “It’s so beautiful.”
“I am glad you feel that way.” The three turned their heads to see Princess Luna standing behind them, wearing a small smile. Thomas backed away slightly when he saw who it was. The alicorn didn’t seem to react. “Not many ponies truly appreciate just how much effort my sister puts into her work.”
“Her work?” Veronica asked as she rose an eyebrow. “What are you even talking about?”
“My sister moves the sun as part of her duties,” the princess calmly explained. “Before my return, she also moved the moon.”
The Scribe’s eye twitched. “There are so many things wrong with everything you just said,” she said.
The indigo alicorn was confused. “How so?”
“The... the sun doesn’t orbit a planet! It can’t! The mass, and gravity, and and and...” She trailed off, muttering incoherently.
“Veronica,” Thomas said loudly, getting her attention. “We are in a magical land filled with talking ponies. They can do whatever the fuck they want.” That managed to calm her down, though she now sat with her arms crossed and wore a frown. She muttered something about “shitting all over physics”, which the others ignored.
They sat there for some time, just watching the sky. Thomas tried, and failed, to quash the sense of impending doom being around the princess was giving him.
Author’s Notes:
Yes you can launch an ICBM from Fort Constantine. No I don’t know where it went. China is the obvious answer, though. The code is 00000000. No, really.
Nothing anywhere says there aren’t other places like Cloudsdale.
It's short, and I'm not entirely happy with it. Still, I'd rather get something out instead of have you guys wait three weeks for me to get my shit together.
You know, if this armour makes Trixie more powerful than Twilight I will not be amused.
Anyways, great chapter as always, even though it was a little short.
1527243 Hey, short is fine. Especially when you allude to a shitstorm brewing between Luna and Thomas. Anticipation is a good thing, and I've been waiting for at least an allusion to the tension that must be brewing between them.
not going to first. not going to first at all, no sir-ee
Love it! I seriously do!
Do keep writing, man!
Best Regards,
FireGnat.
"magical land filled with talking ponies. They can do whatever the fuck they want"
And that, my friends, is an accurate summary of Hasbro's attitude with all things My Little Pony. "Physics?! We don't need no stinkin' physics!"
Anyways, it's interesting to see the three intrepid warriors falling into a weird mix of going culture shock from everything then trying to bounce out of it with the standard "Because magic" rout hehe!
I liked the nice steady pace of the story, not too dark, not too gloomy, nor too fast or too slow with the sense of the calm before the storm type of foreshadowing. I was kinda hoping Gilda or whatever that one gryphon's name is would show up and get her stuffings handed to her by one of the team members. Meh oh well, whatever. Thanks for another good upload. Back to my mmo's.
Trixie as a knight, I can dig it
Oh and Luna vs Thomas is going to be fun....
1527243
Not gonna say it... Nope... I'm just gonna read the chapter and enjoy Luna freaking out Thomas... Oh, to hell with it!
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!
“Veronica,” “We are in a magical land filled with talking ponies. They can do whatever the fuck they want.”
"She muttered something about “shitting all over physics”"
Oh, she's going to have so much fun meeting Pinkie . Can't wait for the "impending doom" with Thomas and Luna
PS: I was wondering where exactly was it that you could launch a nuke in Fallout 3. Thanks for reminding me
Trixie's a knight. That is awesome.
I actually liked this chapter.
Oh Thomas
assets.diylol.com/hfs/b93/097/f86/resized/chuck-norris-meme-generator-bro-you-re-fucked-797b82.jpg
so fucked
Sorry for the second comment but
I think it should be, sense of impending doom that being
Not a big thing but it irked me
I watched and read the last story with a passion, and now a MONTH later I realize you've already started a sequel.
Oh sweet this story updated! But now we got the great and powerful knight trixie eh.......oh this shall be good hehehe~ regardless lovely chapter and oh how I can't wait for Luna to have a 'chat' with Thomas....>w>..
Oh god. I found that ICBM and found myself panicking over how many people I had potentially killed. Did the same with the alien ray gun on the mother ship. Still wonder if there should have been a serious loss of karma for those.
Anyway, nice chapter and can’t wait for more.
Magical ponies moving the moon.
24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lak645iCFm1qe2mq3o1_250.gif
And Trixie in powered armour?
fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/127/7/a/trixie__great_and_powerful_by_averagedraw-d4yqitg.png
1527265
You are forgetting about The Great and Powerful Trixie!
She must meet special guests (ofc humans and Elements of Harmony).
So we have a double shitstorm.
Now we need that ICBM to land in good ol' Equestria.
1527838 You sir, have an excellent point.
Imagine to sum up the impending shitstorms:
i.chzbgr.com/completestore/12/10/26/FrTFPnX8tkCF_D8A_xO2bg2.jpg
fun fact, during the cold war all the american nuclear weapons were fitted with electronic locks that would prevent them from detonating with out the proper code. In case of a quick launch crisis all of these devicese were pretty much rendered useless by the decision to make all the nukes used the code "00000000".
Cold war nuclear security, gotta love it.
1527243 MOAR
i admit it would be funny if luna says im pregnant to thomas. thomas asks `how?` and she explains that alicors are like the asari from mass effect. the scariest thing is a womans scorn especially if she is a god
1527758
Don't worry, according to Fallout wiki, the ICBM's navigation system data corrupted and it was never actually launched. So don't worry about killing thousands of Chinese wastelanders who are just trying to rebuild.
1528742
That’s good to know but it still leaves me wondering who I hit with the death ray. According to the wiki It’s a national park in Canada (Algonquin Provincial Park I think but being English I’m not that familiar with North American geography) and the blast may have reached what’s left of Detroit and Cleveland.
images.wikia.com/fallout/images/8/82/Death_ray_blast_area.jpg
Yes.
Trust your gut Thomas! Luna gonna lay some hurt on you
Nice chapter, always enjoy more background.
Looking forward to more.
1527638 I know the feeling...had the EXACT reaction.
K fuck you it would be easier to move the planet than th sun
1531540
Firstly, there is no need for such foul language.
Secondly, where does it say that their sun is the same size as our sun?
1531737Neuclear fusion. There has to be enough mass for the gravity to ignite the star. Until you have fusion the planet is going to be lighter than a star
Actually, in the Sonic Rainboom episode, Dash says something along the lines of "Welcome to Cloudsdale, the coolest city in the clouds. Well the only city in the clouds, but still."
I think anyways... I might be wrong
That nuclear security... Why is it so terrible?
1531540 Haven't you seen, y'know, the actual show, in which it is stated that moving the sun and moon around the planet is what the Alicorn sisters do? Raising the sun and moon is very literal in Equestria, has been since the very first episode.
1531815Physics. your arguments are invalid.
Also the sisters lied. Moving the earth makes sence considering the power differences between the sisters.
1531858 It's a children's TV show that is most certainly not based on realism. Your invalidation is invalid.
Look, there are enough theories on that (of all things in the universe) to sink a ship. And since there hasn't been much official word about it except all of what I mentioned plus more along those lines, I'm going to just say that you can't be sure about them lying.
1531894 look at jupeter. It's made of gas. It's huge. Look at the sun. It is immensely huge. If jupeter and the sun are both made of gas wouldn't that mean the object has to be unbelievably big to become a star? Your invalidation of my invalidation is invalid.
1531935
I'll repeat what Thomas said.
"A magical land filled with talking ponies"
For starters, where does it say, anywhere, that their sun is a giant ball of burning gas like ours is? For all we know, it's a giant orb of magic.
Secondly, if you want to continue arguing, take it elsewhere.
Also, it's Jupiter. With a capital 'J'.
1531944But! But! Science!!
1531935 I'm just going to finish with 'there are far too many things to consider for you to be so sure' and let the nice author be free of this argument, K? Good.
1531954
Too late, I got involved. And won, by the looks of it.
1531956>>1531954None of the emoticons match my feel right now
1531956 That you did. Not that I mind, really. Enjoy your victory.
1531791
Yeah, city. Nothing to say there aren't towns up there.
1528742 actually, in mothership zeta, at the part were you can blast a bit of the Earth, if you look to the right, you'll see a giant glowing radiation yellow circle. That circle is the general location of China. So in short; what wastelanders?!
1532372
...该死的美国佬...
im so going back to Constantine just to launch that nuke
I didn't even know you could do that even after the 1200 some hours of 4 play throughs of that awesome game
Dis gone be fun
Trixie in power armor... trixie is in the royal guard...say goodbye to your loved ones cause the world is gona end.
1531759 hey. hey. this is a planet of magical talking ponies. i dont think the laws of physics or other laws of logical reality apply very well in this story. so if you really have a problem with it, take it up with lauren faust not the author of this story.