The Citadel, mid-2280
When Dominica woke up, it felt like she’d just been stomped on by a behemoth. Her entire body was unresponsive and breathing was a struggle. As if to compound things her throat felt like she had swallowed radscorpion venom and her eyes wouldn’t open.
“Holy crap, she’s awake! Get the Sentinel!” In response, someone rushed out, the swish of robes audible along with hurried footsteps.
The Paladin tried to get up. She really did, but her body just refused to respond.
“Dom.” She could hear Sarah’s voice. “We thought we’d lost you.”
“Water,” she managed to croak. Her vision was obstructed by a water bottle being pushed against her mouth. As it was slowly poured into her mouth, the pain began to fade. “Thanks,” she said, noticing her voice was still very rough.
“What happened? Everyone in Paradise Falls just mentioned a bunch of explosions, and a few mentioned mushroom clouds.”
“You remember... how we took down that Enclave base? The orbital missile satellite?” She paused for a moment. “Talon Company... managed to find one. Used it. On me.” She smirked. “I really am invincible, aren’t I?”
“Yeah,” Sarah said uneasily. “Talon Company? I thought - ”
“So did I. Should’ve known they’d still be around.” Dom coughed suddenly, causing the Sentinel to spill the water on her. “Oh god that hurt,” the Paladin groaned, trying to raise her arm. “How long have I been out?”
“Only a few days. How do you feel?”
Dom was a little confused by the question. Wasn’t it kind of obvious? “Like shit. My throat is really dry.”
As Sarah poured some more water into her mouth, she asked another question. “Anything else? You don’t feel any... different?”
“Not really,” Dom replied, her confusion mounting. She doubled over into another coughing fit, this time bringing her right hand over her mouth. “Oh goddammit that... that...” The Paladin’s mouth just hang open in shock as she took in her hand. “No...”
“Dom I’m... I’m sorry,” Sentinel Lyons said softly as the newly-ghoulified woman stared at what she had become in shock.
“Get me a mirror.” When there was no response, she repeated herself. “Get me a fucking mirror.”
Sarah could only watch as an Initiate retrieved an old hand mirror and uneasily passed it to the ghoul. There was a terrible moment of silence as she stared at her face. Then, she began to weep.
As the four entered the room again, Dom was forced into a situation that tested her willpower and instincts. Every fibre of her body was screaming at her to punch the thing with its arms wrapped around her before driving a knife through its skull.
“I’m so sorry!” the thing wailed. “I didn’t mean to hurt you! I wasn’t thinking and I said the first thing that I thought of but I never thought you’d take it so badly and now you hate me!”
Everyone else in the room looked at this in shock. Shining Armor was especially worried, knowing full well the Paladin’s deadly capabilities. Yet, he did nothing to stop what was happening. He was fully prepared to intervene, if the need arose. but he hoped that wouldn’t happen.
“You have five seconds to let go of me,” the ghoul growled. Pinkie Pie looked up at the scowling face and quickly detached herself.
“Does... does that mean you forgive me?” the pink party pony asked, rubbing at her running nose and tear-streaked face.
“It’s a start,” Dom replied. “But if any of you insult me, my family or my friends, then I am leaving,” she warned. “Clear?”
The ponies murmured their uneasy agreement, now curious as to why she would react so badly to the last two. “Those terms seem agreeable,” Luna commented, now next to her sister.
“A little harsh, don’tcha think?” Applejack asked.
Dom pointedly ignored that and pushed on. “Alright then, I’m sure you have questions. Let’s get it over with.”
The ponies were taken aback by how brusque and irritable she was.
“Just what are you?” Rainbow Dash asked loudly, hovering closer to the ghoul.
“A ghoul. As for ‘who’ I am, Paladin Dominica Esposito of the East Coast Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel. I am also known as the Lone Wanderer.”
“How did ya get a title like that?” Applejack asked.
“Well it certainly wasn’t because I surrounded myself with people all the time.” The farmer shot a glare at the ghoul after her cruel remark. The ghoul sighed. “Not that I wouldn’t have minded that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I may be the Lone Wanderer, but it was never because I wanted it,” she explained solemnly. “Fawkes. Jericho. RL-3. Reilly’s Rangers. Even Dogmeat. God, I miss that little son of a bitch.” At the last name she smiled sadly as she recalled her canine companion.
“Could you watch the language?” Rarity asked, covering Sweetie’s ears with her hooves. “There are children present. And what is that hideous armour you’re wearing?”
The ghoul’s expression hardened. “Watch your mouth. What did I say about insulting my friends?” This quickly shut the unicorn up.
“You’re not very friendly,” Pinkie Pie muttered.
“After all I’ve been through, it’s amazing I can carry a goddamn conversation for five minutes,” Dom replied harshly. “Nearly everyone I’ve met has tried to kill me or manipulate me. Hell, nearly got killed by those damn Commie freaks once. God that was weird,” she muttered to herself.
“Commie?” Shining asked, trying to understand what she meant. Meanwhile, the Element Bearers were all trying and failing to hide their shock and horror at how easily she was discussing this.
“Cool!” Scootaloo said loudly.
“What of your home?” Celestia asked, hoping to steer the rather gloomy conversation to somewhere brighter. “Surely things are much better there.”
“The place I grew up or the place I live now?” Dom asked in response.
“Didn’t you say you grew up in a Vault?” Veronica asked.
“Yeah. About eighteen years.”
“What’s a ‘Vault’?” Twilight asked, still not fully recovered from the rather disturbing things the Paladin had said.
“Giant underground bomb shelters, designed to house thousands and protect them from nuclear holocaust,” Thomas said, speaking up for the first time. “Not even a hello?” he asked cockily.
“That’s what the advertisements said,” Dom added darkly. “Only a few actually did what they said they would. For the most part, they were giant laboratories. Some of them were pretty benign.”
“Vault 21 in Vegas had all problems solved through gambling,” Thomas added. “Still can’t believe the place lasted two centuries.”
“And the one I grew up in, 101, had a dictator. Not as bad as it sounds. But some of the others...” Dom chuckled. “Let’s just say it was probably a good thing the bombs wiped out civilisation.”
“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked timidly, her voice so small even the mares right next to her had trouble hearing her.
“Subliminal suggestion, cloning labs, mind-altering drugs pumped through the vents...”
“There’s one near Boulder City where the residents were convinced that they had to sacrifice someone every year to keep the place running,” Thomas added. “And everyone in Vault 19 went completely nuts.”
“So that’s what happened?” Veronica asked curiously. “I remember a few Paladins talking about that place a few years back. Also something about Fire Geckos.”
“What kind of government could do that to their citizens!?” Luna yelled, horrified and furious.
“The kind that shipped protesters to a science facility to be human test subjects,” Thomas spat. “One run by monsters.”
“I wasn’t kidding when I said the end of the world was the best thing that happened to America,” Dom added. “Gave the world a fresh start. Rise up from the ashes, and all that. Wasn’t that simple, though.”
“H-how so?” Twilight asked nervously, her own morbid curiosity compelling her to ask.
“Washington got hit bad. No clean water, most of the city turned to rubble, and the surrounding areas are still filled with wild animals. The White House took a direct hit from a nuke, too. Nothing but a smoking hole in the ground.”
“The what?” Thomas asked. The ghould turned and let out a groan when she caught the matching blank looks the Courier and Scribe were giving her.
“Do you know nothing about American history? It’s where the President of the United States lived.”
“How significant is this?” Luna asked.
“Basically, he had your position. The final say in any major political decision.” She looked around with a grim smile. “The White House blown up like that, it’d be the same as if this palace was destroyed.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“We have orders, Frost.”
“Yeah, I know, but they seem so...”
“I’m not happy with this either, okay?”
“Come on you two,” a third unicorn said. Even in the gloom his golden armour shone slightly, his flanks showing a pair of crossed trumpets with cobalt banners attached to them. Poking from his helmet was a slate-gray horn. “Firebolt, Frost Lance, you know our orders.”
“This seems wrong,” Frost muttered, the ice-blue unicorn looking around the moonlit dirt plain.
“We just take out the hostiles,” Firebolt muttered. “Only the hostiles, not the civvies, only the hostiles, not the civvies,” he repeated, the mantra keeping him calm.
“Shut up, corporal,” the other Knight replied, pulling rank in an attempt to maintain order.
“Yes, sir.” Despite his superior’s order, he kept muttering to himself.
“Clarion Call, are you really sure about this?” Frost Lance asked nervously.
“Honestly? I can’t help but think this’ll only make things worse.” The unicorn sighed. “But orders are orders. We don’t have a choice.”
“They pulled us out of Fillydelphia for this? A torch-and-burn op?”
“Hey, makes sense they brought you along, then,” Frost said with forced cheerfulness. “Dunno what I’m doing here.”
“Alright you two. The sooner we get this over with the sooner we can leave.” Clarion Call led the three into the caverns. “Let’s show them what happens when they mess with Equestria.”
Author’s Notes:
This one was a pain.
Who else had this massive “Holy shit” moment when they came across 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Fallout 3?
And another Knight! Wanna guess his talent?
POOTISPOOTISPOOTISPOOTISPOOTISPOOTISPOOTISPOOTISPOOTISPOOTISPOOTIS
Also, my newest fic could use come loving. Don't be shy!
I did!
I was expecting a raged and torn but still intact building, like the Capitol or the Pentagon, and then I found nothing, nothing but a hole.
I even double checked with the Fallout wikia just to be sure. I must say, I felt really empty that moment.
media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbizujDJMh1qf52n4.gif
I'm guessing they're on a scorched earth mission against a Diamond Dog settlement in retaliation for the Ponyville attack. Given how this got started, that's a bit ironic. On the other hand, they are already at war, and I'm not convinced anyhting short of an unholy ass kicking will get the Dogs to back down.
A massive "Holy shit" moment? Hm, no, can't say I had one...
... though I'd chalk that up to me not being a nephew of Uncle Sam
Yeah, too bad the President wasn't there when it was blown up.
1706728
I'm Australian, so it didn't have as much effect on me as it would have were I American. But to see the location of one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world just gone... I'd say that's pretty fucking monumental.
1706729
You could argue it was more of a psychological thing.
New chapter, yaaaaay
Great chapter as usual sir
1706730
Meh, it's just a building. Buildings get build up and torn down throughout the years. Sure they might hold memories and such, but when the works such as the Enclave are involved, I'm glad there nothing left of it.
>checks email
>Bear, Scribe and Paladin has updated!
denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw4448-twlight-relevant-to-my-interests.jpg
1706730 it might be because im british, or because my brothers mate got injured in a friendly fire accident in iraq from american aircraft, but honestly wasnt that bothered about it.
I was confused at first but then disappointed. I was looking forward to rifling through the president’s underwear draw. Not to mention the place is covered in radiation so it’s near impossible to explore.
I met the president in Fallout 3. Grumpy fellow, kept screeching at me and doing radioactive energy blasts. He glowed in the dark too. Strange.
Dude, when I saw the white house in Fallout I had a mini heart attack.
And then I managed to find a way into the crater itself, and suffer from massive amounts of radiation poisoning
THE COMPENDIUM APPROVES OF THIS CHAPTER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT DEVELOPMENT.
I hope the ponies are taking notes on what not to do or their world will end up like the three amigos here. This escalation of violence has me worried about spilling over into the rest of the world, beyond Equestria's borders, perpetuating itself long after the humans run out of [irreplaceable] ammo. I wonder if they've even considered that? Not like they can go down to the local gun shop for a refill.
Pony version of Bitter Springs incoming
Meanwhile, Fawkes had like 15,000 hit points. Did God himself strike the fucker down?
I was pretty shocked myself. Also, how the hell is Fawkes dead? Dude has so many fucking hit points. One time I decided to see if I could kill him so I took every weapon I had and started attacking him. Took me over a hour to kill him, and that's with mini nukes and the MIRV.
1706730
Honestly the battle-damage on the Washington Monument affected me more than the Whitehouse Crater did
1706730 Eh, like 1706748 said, it's just a building. The destruction of the wasteland's outskirts awed me a lot more than just the capital being taken down. Besides, it's not like it hasn't happened before...
I can't get to it! I keep getting close but I keep getting turned around in the ruins! I need help.
1706687
"Nope.avi" (stretches neck out).
I noted that in New Vegas more than a couple of highway stretches and landmarks were replicated too. As much as Fallout 3 was a leap compared to the previous Fallout games, I think I've got to side with Obsidian doing a better job than Bethesda. But then again, Obsidian had plenty of time to take community input about Fallout 3 and rework it into New Vegas. Hard to say really. Cheers to another update from you.
Lastly: do you regret choosing Tony1685 over POOTISPENCER?
What are they gona do burn down the changeling hive?
1706730 interesting fact canadians way back in history set fire to the whitehouse to prevent them form invading Canada. Also i thin you can go into the white house but like u said its a crator and masive amounts of radiation.
Moar!
1707362
Or a Diamond Dogs village
Don't forget: the British burned Washington to the ground in 1814 (had to look it up, thought it was 1813) and New York was occupied by British forces during the American Revolutionary War. As an American who lived pretty close to Washington for years, I can say that ... I didn't feel a thing. Took me FOREVER to figure out how to get into the crater anyway and I was more concerned at the time with the Super Mutants assaulting the Brotherhood forces behind me. Even looking back at it, the state of the Capital had more effect. Had they kept the building but made it a Raiders nest of some type, I think it would have had more impact for me. A sign of the 'tainting' of America, as i' twere. Now, it's just gone.
EDIT: 1707400
Actually, it was fresh troops from Europe after Napoleon's defeat that did that. The Canadians were still tied up in the north defending against American incursions mostly. Though action and counter-action was common on both sides so I guess 'tied up' is the wrong word. Busy.
EDIT 2: 1707161
There's a manhole cover in the ... looking at the White House, the far right near the buildings that leads into the crater itself. I can't remember how to get to that portion of DC specifically though.
I was a bit down about them nuking the White House, but than I found another Fat Man and some mini nukes and all was right in the world.
I'm starting to get a "Fallout Equestria" vibe from this.
Is this the reason that the diamond dogs were forced to leave there homes initially?
Will the CMCs, get the idea of "Stables" from the lone wanderer?
Did Twilight's idea for the pipbuck actually come from the original design?
Am I REALLY getting my hopes up?
Tune in again next week for more TALES OF INTEREST!!!
1706730am I the only person in America who thinks that the Kremlin is more recognizable?
I'm i the only one who didn't notice the white house?
(might be because i'm English)
1706754 Twi looks pregnent in this picture
She should have punched Pinkie in the face.
1707873 lol, didn't notice that. Also, duckface.
1707850 You aren't the only one...
1707651 ... why the fuck I didn't think of these sooner...
1706730This in Fallout 3? If so, I need to replay that game. If not, I still need to replay it.
Personaly I was more bummed out over not being able to explore a wrecked White House. The Capital building was nice but way too small for what it actualy does. All in all, I thought the entire landscape of Fallout 3 could have been much bigger. Also, not enough DLC's.
1707441 Setting a marker should lead you through the necessary routes (sewer, subway, etc). It works for me.
1707023
If you're just too careless, the Enclave can kill him in Adams Air Force Base. Though I'm still not entirely sure how that happened.
Hold on, I'm confused.
Back in Chapter 2, the flashback bit seems to imply Dom was ghoulified from activating the purifier thing and the room filling with radiation (with a choice of partners that prevent the "send the 'invulnerable to radiation' super mutant instead" option), but here you have it so she's ghoulified from a nuclear missile strike launched by Talon Company.
I spent 3 hours looking for a way past the White House fences. Finally found the sewer entrance, and I'm rewarded with a mini nuke.
I looked past the fence, and all I thought was this:
I wonder why they would just fence off this crater here, it doesn't seem so significant--
Wait a minute... Pennsylvania Ave?
No way.
Torch and burn ops, eh? What can possibly go wrong? Also, I get the feeling that the ponies (and perhaps even the Courier) are going to be hearing a lot more about the Wasteland than they would like to know from Dom. It's not that she talks too much, it's just that compared to some of the things going on in the Capital, the rest of the Wasteland can be pretty tame.
Yeah, I had that "Holy shit" moment. I'm pretty sure the wasteland must have hardened me pretty good though, because not three seconds later, I was depressed that I wouldn't be able to scavenge anything.
I honestly did not even realize that it was the crater of the White House. Now I need to revisit that part.
What got me more was definitely the Washington Monument. And the Pentagon-turned-Citadel.
I could of sworn i had seen it in the distance while fighting in these trenches with super mutants in them. I got to the steps leading up to it, but I was ambushed by an Enclave officer and his freaking pet deathclaw. Also, I hadn't noticed that the Citadel was actually the Pentagon.
I never got to see the white house crater.
I'm not sure, but I think it would have had some sort of impact on me.
And the Courier and Veronica need schooling! I dont care if it's not their fault, how DARE they not know basic American history.
Looking forward to more.
Y'know, I didn't really care about the White House being blown into a small crater. Hell, I didn't even know I passed through Pennsylvania Avenue until much later during some random run through there and went "Huh. Interesting.", and moved on.
I must be one horrible American.
I was looking forward to exploring a post-apocalyptic White House so I was actually pretty pissed to find out that it was just a radioactive hole. Also, thinking about it, it would have been a cool easter egg if one of the Glowing Ones there was the President.
Hmmm. Well I was disappointed at not being able to loot the White House, standing (or sitting) at the Resolute Desk, etcetera, maybe finding some kind of hidden material that could have led to a conspiracy quest or something. Hell, even an achievement like "The Big House" +10 points or something would have been awesome. But nooo, just a hole with some nuke ammo.
Hmmmm, Knight named "Clarion Call" with a crossed trumpet and banner Cutie Mark? My money is on sound based powers. Perhaps based on the villain "Shriek" from Batman Beyond. For those that don't know, Shriek uses an advanced technology sound suit that generates vibrations in the air with sound powerful enough to snap metal and crumble concrete. It also gives him advanced hearing, kind of like the terminator in the movie "The Terminator", towards the end when his flesh was burned off and was hunting Sarah and Reese through a factory (they turned on machinery to screw up the T-888's hearing sensors (doesn't work on Shriek though). Or perhaps he can turn his voice up really loud like the Royal Canterlot Voice.
A little short, but good chapter. And dangit Dom, WHY YOU NO WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE AROUND CHILDREN!?!?!
1712363 Also this would have been acceptable
1710672 Lol What!?!? How could you not notice?
I personally had no such moment because I already knew it was destroyed when I found it, since I looked it up on the wiki out of a desire to explore the place, and had to actually go out of my way to find it.