\\**//BOOP\\**//
Sweet Celestia, she was right. The hospital is all gone. Collapsed just as Screwy predicted in her second log. No Pony would live here, if they did they are long dead.
(Grrrar) **gruff sigh** Why ponies visit collapsed hospital then?
(Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** We figured Shoe’s–Brittle’s sister might be here.
**Twig snap**
Did you hear that?
(Grrrar) Grrrar have good hearing and hear nothing.
Wait, I think I see Somepony in the woods.
(Grrrar and Dr. Stable Rate) Brittle, wait! **voices fade out**
**30 seconds of constant galloping**
\\**//HARD CUT\\**//
(DJ Pon3) sounds like she galloped for quite a bit folks. Normally I'd not edit these recordings, but you and I both know we want to skip the boring parts and get to the interesting bits. I swear on my element and my virtue that I will not skip over anything important. Let me take a bit to fast forward.
**elevator music**
(DJ Pon3) Ok, found the next part.
\\**//HARD CUT\\**//
Hello! Screwy? It is me, your sister, Shoeshine! **stumble** WAA! Oof. **pipbuck noise**
(DJ Pon3) **very staticky and hard to make out** He says: “Trust not the woods that is still aglow” Yeah, not the most helpful. If anypony can make heads or tails of that statement–**fades to static**
**rhythmic geiger counter noise picks up and stays in the background**
Hello?! This fog is so thick. I can’t see...my...hoof...in front of my...face–
**murmurings of a crowd in an auditorium suddenly is heard**
(Screwloose) Shoey! I’m so glad you were able to make it! I know the MoI keeps you quite busy.
M–make it to what?
(Screwloose) My graduation, silly filly.
Graduation? From architecture school?
(Screwloose) Yeah, are you feeling ok. You know all those late nights can’t be healthy for you.
(Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Brittle, thank Celestia I caught up to you. What happened back there?
(Screwloose) **clears throat**
(Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Screwloose? **no longer raspy** Screwy, my love! I’m so glad we found you. Thank Celestia your alright! Wait, your not a ghoul?
(Screwloose) **uncomfortable** Ha–hi Stable. Ghoul?
(Vial) Now, what is he doing here?
(Screwloose) Vial, be nice.
(Vial) I’m sorry, Screwy dear, but this pony doesn’t deserve to call you “my love”. Not after he abandoned you at the institution generously called a Hospital. I’ll ask again, what is he doing here?
**very unsure sounding** I invited him. Sorry.
(Screwloose) it is fine, I’m happy he is here. It is a much his doing as any ponie’s that I applied to attend this school. Had he not encouraged me to get help, I'd not be here.
No, wait. Something is off. **rhythmic geiger counter sounds for a second louder for a second** Stable, wh–where is Grrrar?
(Screwloose) Gertrude Rig Rawr Gar? She is on stage. She is the dean of the Architecture School. Speaking of which, I should really get back. We are starting soon.
(Grrrar) **over the PA system** Ponies, Griffons, Diamond Dogs, Zebras, and their families. It is great to see unity in wake of war. After such trying times it nice to see everyone–hoof and claw–side-by-side in pursuit of higher learning. Now without further delay, the graduating architecture class of 2020.
**pomp and circumstance begins to play**
Stable, this isn’t right. The war didn’t end peacefully. **rhythmic Geiger counter noise increases in volume**
(Dr. Stable Rate) It ended in total megaspell annihilation. We **raspy** we were in Whitetail Woods.
This isn’t real, but it feels real. My pipbuck is even picking sounds up like they are real.
**music ends**
(Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** How do we break this illusion? Where is the real Grrrar?
I have an idea, but neither of us will like it.
**Grrrar begins announcing names in the background, but the rhythmic ginger counter sound is drowning her out, only Brittle and Stable can be heard clearly**
(Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Do what you have to to get us out of here.
(Grrrar) **Cutting through the ginger counter noise, over the PA system** And Screwloose!
(Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Her name came up really quickly. Time is jumping around–like a dream.
**sniffle** I know. **sounds of a rifle chamber being closed**
(Screwloose) **near and far at the same time** Shoeshine, it is me. The real me. Trust your eyes and ears. You don’t want to do this.
That's the thing, ever since knowing you were still alive there was always a chance you were feral. I’ve rationalized killing you as a mercy.
(Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** But you said we were giving her the benefit of the doubt like she did for you.
I know, Stable, I want to believe she is fine. I want so badly to believe, but this is the Equestrian Wasteland. Good things are few and far between.
**sniffle** It isn't like I haven't done it before–Kill a ghoul as a mercy kill. I had to do it to protect Recurrence–So many went feral after the fall of Canterlot. It is what leaders do–protect their citizens. Overmare Fleur De Lis, Upper Crust, Swifty Star, **sniffle** Creamsicle and so many more. I've honestly lost count.
(Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Dear sweet Luna. The kind of burden that must have been on you.
(Screwloose) **near and far at the same time** You’d really do it? Kill your own sister?
Yes.
**BANG**
\\**//BOOP\\**//