The Journal of Commander Rust Metal

by Crystonian

First published

Twilight recieves a old journal from Celestia. Being urged to read it by her old mentor, she read it.

Twilight one day receives an old book from Celestia, along with a note. Dear Twilight, This journal is one of the last reflects from Haven. Please read it and possibly you can understand something me and Luna couldn't. The journal belonged to the late Commander Rust Metal of Haven. ~Celestia
Twilight, heeding her old old teacher's request. Starts to read it.



Due to the lovely comments, I'm rewriting this. Thanks to those who helped.

The Journal

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A old leather book sits on a wooden table in a small but quaint library. It's cover old and wrinkly but aged very well. It glows slightly with a purplish light. The pages on the outside are visibly yellowed and aged, and its bound by a black belt. Still holding the book closed.

Next to the book is a letter, open and reading:

Dear Twilight,

I have sent you one of the ancient relics of the ancient place known as Haven. Long ago, me and my sister, Luna, encountered them. Being young at the time, and intimidated by their advancements, and wide range of creatures in their group. We attacked.

I still regret this decision to this day. As I was saying, we attacked. Causing a war between us. It was short, but horrible. Worse than the one I had with Luna before her banishment. Their warriors were strong and powerful. But clothed in strange armor and garments. They used spells never before seen by us, and to this day I haven't seen anything like them. They were small, but experienced.

On the final day, Luna and I met with the late owner of this book. He was a formidable foe and bested both me and Luna together. I believe we would have lost that day if t wasn't for something else. A call was heard from far in their backside, this cause the Commander to stall. Then he and his force teleported away. Then, in the distance we saw a large light, very similar to the Elements themselves. Once the light dissipated, their fortress stood still. No sound.
I decided, along with Luna, to investigate the fortress. What we found was shocking. Inside, there was nothing other than the belongings of the residents of Haven. Gone. Among the fortress was this book. I hope you can read it and understand what happened on that day, from their view. As you see, this book is magical and according to Luna, its a memory journal. Please. Take it and read it. I hope you can understand what happened to these great ponies.

Sincerely,
Princess Celestia

Suddenly, a purple aura surround the old book. The book slowly gets unlatched and opens to the first page. The writing is thin and cursive like. Words and letters seem to blend together.

"Alright Spike, lets see who this 'Commander Rust Metal' truly is." Twilight said, sitting down.

"Ok Twilight." Spike said, plopping down right next to her.

===================================================================================

Its been. What, three or four days since we all came to the word of MLP. Or Equess. I believe that's the name. Most likely butchered it.
Like I was saying, it has been about three or four days since all, about 8,000 people, came to this world. It was chaos the first day. It ended up being the military factions to clean things up and set up a system. The 123rd and others like it. I was inducted too. Mostly due to my own actions during the first two days. Commander. Heh. Lets see how long that lasts.
We've started setting up temporal settlements and tent cities. Magic is amazing. Most of us actually know how to use it. Strangely, those who are duplicates of others or actual ponies became one of their oc's. It became easy.
Anyway, I hear someone yelling for me. So anyway. My call sign will be Crystonian. Heh.
Anyway. Crystonian out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One month. Its been one month since we fell from Pony.town and its off shoots to here. Wherever we are on Equis.
Those who were part of the FoE server were more....medically proficient than others. Also in the technological portion. I am too, also part of that group. Magically proficient too. We have a few leaders. I'm one of them. Devs were part of it too.
How I became a leader. I have no fucking clue.
The town looks less like a Hoover town and more like a medieval village. Mixed with sci-fi shit.
Anyway. I got to go help with some of the others. Crystonian out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Its been. What, a month, or two since the last entry. Gods is setting up a community is challenging. We're strangly integrating with our characters. Me, its a mix of Commanders Rust Metal and Unknown Knight. Then my magical characters and my druids.
I've grown more proficient with weapons, medicine, and tech.
The doctors and nurses are really integrating with their knowledge and are starting to enjoy themselves. The Androids, Robots, and other techno beings are also easing to themselves.
The military probably was the best thing to happen. We have stabilization.
On a sadder note. We have had suicides and attempts. Some people aren't handling the situation very well. Some don't like how they ended up or were they are in social level. We have young kids here too. Not knowing what to do and having the knowledge on how to murder someone.
Some people are having major personality changes. Others are not. We still have many problems. I hope we can deal with them soon. Maybe then we can work together. Heh. Like its always said. Friendship is magic, and magic can do the impossible.
Anyway. This is just a quick update. I.......Crystonian out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight looked up from the old journal confused. She had read the first couple of passages and was very confused. It was similar to what ponies wrote in the modern time. But the words were strange. FoE? Pony.town. Things like that.

She then noticed it was dark.

"Come on Spike, lets go to bed. We can continue in the morning." She said, gently picking up the now sleeping dragon.

She closed the book, latching it and the trotted up stairs. Dragon in tow.

===============================================================================

Some where in the wilderness. There was a ancient structure rise from the plant life around. Plant life grew here and there. Then suddenly, a flash of light appeared and a pony with rust red fur, a rust brown mane, and a army green officer's uniform, plus hat and a sword appears. Laying on the ground unconscious.

Early Days: Haven

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The old journal laid out on the wooden table. Open. The pages slowly start to seem visible, old inked texted scrawled across the books pages. Telling the story. The early days of Haven. The city of outcasts.

Grabbing the book once more, Twilight sits down and starts to read off of where she left off.

"The walls have been proposed and...." Twilight started to read.
===================================================================================

The walls have been proposed and approved by the council. We are going to start of them next week. All we now have to do is put out notices. This will make the townsfolk feel more safe at night. We were lucky the manticores only attacked the Androids. They were still pissed off but with the abundance of natural resources and knowledge of how to use them, we can easily fix them. And also prepare.
I, truthfully, hate how others look up to me. I was only a high schooler when we came. An artist, writer. Now. I’m a leader. Someone others look up to. I hate it. The responsibility...but it’s needed. They need people to look up to for support. And I’m one of the non-strange ones.
On another note, we started the farms a month ago. With some of the farmers here, well, cowboys and girls, we have been working really well. Everyone understands we need to work to survive. A benefit of merging with our own creations.
I….I might just keep this as a log now. Or something. I go by Rust now. It's simpler now. Commander Rust Metal. My, is that a mouthful. But it’s better than Council Member of Haven Rust Metal.
My call sign will stay the same though. Like a password of sorts. As always. Crystonian out.

=================================================================================

"Huh. Hey Spike, it seems that Rust Metal wasn't his original name. Curious." Twilight stated, then said confused. "What's 'Crystonian?"

She tapped her hoof on her chin.

"Maybe we'll figure it out later as we read Twilight." Spike said encouragingly as he walked towards her with breakfast.

"Thank you Spike." Twilight said as Spike set the food down. "Possibly he will tell us later on. Now lets continue."

=================================================================================

I can’t believe it. I was so busy. Work. Work, and more work. The walls. Defenses. The council! But I never noticed that the Birds and the Monsters were gone. About 75% of them. Gods. I’m in a rush. I’m have to send out a search party for them. They may be different, but they are still like us.
I’m going to send out a small search party. Maybe the REBELs. They could do it. Yeah, they can do it.
As always, Crystonian out.

=================================================================================

"Monsters?! Why do, or did they have monster's living among them. Are they crazy?!" Twilight asked to no one frantically.

She quickly shook her head.

"Never mind that. But there is something interesting in here. There was more than one military force. I wonder what these 'REBELs' did. Possibly rescue ponies?" She looks back down at the old book an continues on.

=================================================================================

We never found them. Gone in the night. Several of their friends grieved for a few days but then things went back to normal. As normal as living in another world as….things. The wall has been finished. A tall, dark, imposing thing from the outside. We do have banners though.
Me and a few others designed and made them. A beautiful thing. A ice blue circle in a diamond shaped crystal with rays of light coming from it. The background was green with a purple outline. Strange combination, I know, but we're a strange people. Also it was the only thing we could agree on since I practically came up with the name of our settlement. Haven. It's nice.
We’ve replaced the thatched roof with actual paneled roofs. The...Haven, is looking like an actual town. Or city. Whether you prefer.
The Air Patrols have spotted a few other settlements. The council talked. We decided not to connect with them. It would endanger many of our citizens here. Well, we believed so. We believe we are way before the current events of MLP. Many of us do. As I’ve said before.
It has been over a year since the strange event brought all of us here. I’m….very glad we have….settle in and gain a normality.
This has been my update. I….I’m finding it hard to find a decent thing to write in this. For the hopes of the future. To record my experience…..
Crystonian out

=================================================================================

"Huh. So they were a advance group of individuals. Oh! I wished I could have seen their technology. Their knowledge!" Twilight eyes started to dilate. She quickly shook her head. "No, no going crazy now. Their tech is probably gone now."

"They seemed strong Twilight." Spike spoke up. "I'm mean, they had a what seemed to be a strong military and a lot of natural resources."

"Yeah Spike." Twilight agreed. "They were able to set up a functional city for what they said over 8,000 creatures in a year. They definitely were interesting."

Twilight flips the page with her magic, "Now, lets see what happens next."

=================================================================================

They….they’ve attacked. The monster’s that left over a year ago have returned. They’re insane! Attacking like wild animals. We...we didn’t want to hurt them, well. Till three of my 82nd were killed.
Then we returned fire. Gods. The screams, and ashes. We’re not ready for this. Not at all.
War. War is terrifying.
Please. Please, something, anything. Stop this from happening…..
Crystonian out

=================================================================================

Twilight's eyes widened as she read the entry. She puts a hoof up her mouth and gasps. Terrified and sadden by what she had just read.

"He...they killed..." Twilight took a deep breath in. "They must have felt horrible after that. The monster's former friends and family must have felt devastated. Along with the soldiers."

"I feel sorry for Rust. He must have felt horrible too after the attack." Spike said, taking a seat next to Twilight. He proceeds to hug. She hugs him back and then stands up, still shaken after the last, brief passage that carried a large load of emotion.

"I think that's all for today. I believe a letter to Princess Celestia should be in order." Twilight said, closing the book closed and setting on to the table next to her reading chair.

"Ok Twilight. But are you ok?" Spike said, standing up. Worried for Twilight.

"I'm fine Spike. Just a little shaken-ed up over the last entry." Twilight said, looking back at Spike with a shaken-ed grin.

Spike, not convinced, replied, "Whatever you say Twilight. I'll get the parchment."

=================================================================================

Rust groans as he unsteadily gets to his hooves. His body, still clad in his armor from the last battle, shifted and clanked softly as he stood up.

He shakes his head, he plops back down onto the old cobblestone road and rubs his head.

"Ugh. Who knew that spell would leave me so fucked up." He looks up, then back down. Covering his eyes. "Bloody Celestia, always having your sun in ones eyes." He sighs and looks around at the ruins. Only the ancient walls, the keep, and the bunker remained as they nestled among the trees and foliage. Nature seemed to have reclaimed its land after the residents of Haven left all those years ago.

"The druids would love this. Hmm...No. No changing forms yet." Rust magically reaches into one of his military green saddlebags and draws out a survival compass.

He lets it spin for a moment and then looks down at it. He turns northward, and starts to trot out of the ruined city.

I hope that village we found up north is still there. And has a decent transportation system.

Fillydelphia

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Tall steel and glass buildings rose above a asphalt and grass floor of the city. Ponies walked along the many side walks and carriages were pulled along the roadways. Crowds of tourist swarmed historical and popular sites of the city.

A lone stallion strolled through the crowds. Past hoards of ponies, stopping once or twice to take pictures with tourist. Out of kindness of course. He turned down a street towards a modern capital looking building that was surrounded by a lush park.

Families sat around trees having picnics with the high rising buildings in the background. Frisbee’s were thrown between colts and fillies as they played in the bright sunny day. Pegasus flew over head, some were racing each other across the sky, laughing in joy.

The stallion in his strange clothes on the warm day tugged the collar of his grey-olive jacket with his magic. The collar glowed in a dark red glow as he did. He walked briskly across the concrete paths towards the large building.

He slowly trotted up the steps of the building and entered through the motion doors. Nodding at the doors as he entered the building, he passed through a small gate and into the library.

===================================================================================

"Excuse me Ma'am. Can you show me to the history and geography sections." Rust asked a librarian at a nearby desk.

The librarian looked up from her desk. She was an older mare with graying hair and half moon glasses. Her coat was a cream color.

"Right away sir. Please follow me." She said, getting up from her desk.

Rust nodded and followed close behind her as they wove through the rows of books towards the western side of the library. They slowly came to a stop.

"This is the history section." She said, then she point her hoof to her left. "Thata' way down two rows is the geography sections. Is there anything I can do for you sonny?" She looked up at Rust.

He shook his head. "No ma'am. That's all."

She nods. "You a military pony? Or just dressing up?"

Rust chuckles. "Military. I'm Commander Rust Metal ma'am."

"Rose Page honey." Said the old mare before she turned and trotted off back the way they came.

Rust heard her say something as she went. "What a nice and respectful lad. Wish my grandson was like that."

Rust chuckled to himself and looked at the bookshelf. He scanned it and then spotted a 'General History of Equestria' book. He grabbed it with his magic and sat down. Opening it to the table of contents. He skimmed the table of contents till he saw what he was looking for. Opening it to the page he wanted, he started reading.

Minutes turned to hours as he read through the book. Eventually he closed the book, fully reading it. He let out a small sigh and shelved the book. Getting up, he trotted off towards the geography section. He turned a corner and entered a small space that had a small table with the complete map of Equestria on it and bookshelves surrounding it.

Rust trotted up to the map and looked down at it. He started tracing lines and then got to his destination.

Nodding, he memorized it.

'Alright. Ponyville. Probably my best bet on finding descendants of Haveners. Or Haveners themselves.'

He turned and started walking towards the front. He waved to Rose as he trotted past and out the doors. It was late afternoon. He started walking down the steps and out of the park. He had stopped once to ask a nice couple where the train station was. They were happy to tell him. Now following their directions, he headed towards the train station.

It was around dusk when he got to the train station. It seemed to have been the last ride of the night. Rust quickly galloped towards the ticket booth.

"Wait! I need to get on the train." He said.

The pony at the booth gave him a slightly bored expression. "Alright. Where to?"

"Ponyville. How much?" Rust asked quickly.

"20 bits. 25 with food." The pony told him.

"Alright. I ain't got bits, but I got G. Will you take that?" Rust asked, holding up several gold coins.

The ticket seller's eyes widened a bit. "Yes. We'll take those."

Rust paid and quickly rushed towards the train with ticket in his magical grasp.

He quickly ran on board and took a seat. Breathing slightly heavily from the extensive running, he let out a breath of relief. He turned his head out the window to see the city of Fillydelphia shrink into the setting sun as the train headed off.

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

===================================================================================

Back at the train station, the ticket seller took the gold to his manager after closing up.

The young stallion knocked on his bosses door.

"Come in." A voice called.

The stallion enter the office, gold in hoof.

"Um sir, a strange patron bought a ticket today...but he didn't pay in bits."

"Then what did he pay in?"

"Well....um...."

"Spit it out son!"

"He paid in what he called G." He set the coins onto the desk.

The manger leaned over, taking a good look at the coins. He looked up at the ticket seller and back at the coins.

"Son, tell me exactly what happened." The manger said in a serious tone.

The ticket seller gulped, his boss never talked like this.

"Um...well you see. I was just getting ready to close for the night when I heard a stallion call to wait. I look up to see a red unicorn in this weird uniform. Like a dark green or something. He rushed over and bought a ticket to Ponyville. I told him the price and he said he didn't have bits, but 'G' as he called these. Then he held up the coins and I took them and gave his the ticket. And off he went. And here I am....sir" The ticket seller gulped one more time.

The manager nodded. "Alright. Off with you now. You didn't do anything wrong."

The ticket seller let out a sigh of relief. He turned and trotted out of the office, he close the door behind him.

Once the door was close, the manger spun in his chair and picked up a pen and started writing.