//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Ashes 
// Story: Fallout Equestria: Dark Origins 
// by DeadEndtheDullahan 
//------------------------------//


                                                                                   "Ashes, ashes, and we all fall down."

War, war never changes.

        Ages ago, war ran rampant throughout the world. Nations fought nations. Neighbors assaulted neighbors. Brothers killed brothers. War was waged for a number of reasons: honor, glory, territory, resources, greed, love, hatred, for one's very survival, or even war for the sake of war. Tools of death were used to conquer and defend in the name of peace. Magical creations were conceived in the purest of intentions but were used for the most malicious of ideals. Then when life of the whole world was nearly extinguished. One pony sacrificed everything to seal away the very spirit of war itself and brought about an era of peace. However, time can erode all things and war is a patient creature. After a thousand years of peace, the seal weakened and war returned. New, more powerful weapons were made. War machines were used. Spells of mass destruction were created. Bringing the world to its knees once again.

       Thus the cycle continues: Nations fought nations. Neighbors assaulted neighbors. Brothers killed brothers. For war, war never changes.

---
        I woke up with a jolt. My eyes opened groggily as I took deep quick breaths. "Wake up process complete." A monotone mare's voice announced, muffled by a glass and metal container that I seem to be in. "Opening stasis pod." With a hiss, the window of my pod opened upward.

        I groaned as I heaved myself out of the pod from a laying down position. I fell over the side and landed roughly on my side, onto a chilly cold floor. I rolled to my knees and looked around in confusion. "Where am I?" I was in a large room, filled with rows of stasis pods. I tried to remember the night before, but all I could remember that was resent was my brawl in the orchard and dim flashes of my dream.

        I hung onto one memory of the dream. "We extract all his memories" Dr. Cortex had said, but that's ludicrous. I can still remember things like my father's study, my bedroom, and ... and .... I tried to recall something else but my mind was blank. Then to further confirm my memory loss, my stomach growled and I tried to remember the last thing I ate, but I can't recall eating anything at all, ever.

        Silently, I started to panic. Think Sola, um, what's father's name? Nothing. Do I have any friends? Nodda. My special talent? Zilch. What is... uh, What is... um. I was on the verge of breaking into tears, when the sound of a door hissing open snapped me out of it.

        I wrenched myself out of the fetal position (That I unconsciously went into) and stood up. I looked over a row of pods and saw the door that had opened, but there is nopony to be seen. "Hello?" I called out, "Anypony there?" A door does not simply open itself after all. Wobbly, I made my way to the door, looking at the other pods as I passed them.

        Each Cylindrical capsule has a glass window, that is fogged up with a silhouette of a pony inside, and name plates of the occupants. I walked along, looking at each name. Then I stopped at one familiar name that I heard from my dream, Dr. Cortex. I looked at the window and it seemed foggier than the others, making it hard to see inside. I looked to the pod's side and saw a control panel with a red button that says 'open'. Using my magic, I pressed the button. "Opening stasis pod." The monotone mare announced. The pod hissed open to reveal that it was empty.

        I stared at the empty capsule. My dream was just a dream, right? But if it was a dream, that would mean I would have my memories, but I don't have my memories, so it wasn't just a dream and... and. The sound of glass shattering interrupted my hyperventilation. I looked towards the door and saw a purple tail with white swirly ends moving down the hallway out of sight. "Hello?" I called out, moving in a quick trot to the door. "I need some help. Could you tell me where I ... am?"

        The hallway was empty. I took one step out the door and felt a crunch under my hoof. I looked down and saw a broken glass bottle, soaked in its own contents. It was sticky and vaguely smelt of carrots (which is weird, I may not remember eating one, but somehow I know the smell and taste of a carrot). My stomach growled to the scent and my mouth felt dry and sticky. I stared at the brown-carrot liquid, calculating. Pro: I get something in my stomach. Con: Some of the 'something' will be glass and whatever else is on the floor.

        I sighed and looked away from the floor. Maybe I'll be lucky and find some food down this hall. I rubbed my stomach trying to comfort it, but my hoof found fabric between it and my hide. I inspected the obstruction and saw that I was wearing one of those blue barding with yellow trimming. This one had holes for my wings and a yellow zero on my back. I stretched my wings experimentally, the barding wouldn't get in the way of any flight movements.

        It didn't take long for my stomach to get angry at me, sending an empty feeling throughout my abdomen. "Alright, I'm going, sheesh." I answered the growls and trotted down the corridor in search of food.
=====***=====

"Hmm..." I stared at the signs at a T-intersection in confusion. The right path was to the Orchard/Hydroponics, Residential, and Maintenance. Which makes sense, since I turned left at Maintenance, past Residential, to the Orchard. However, what's getting me confused is that if I had turned right at Maintenance I would have gone to Security, Atrium, Overmare's Office, and Stable Door, which are the same locations if I turn left here. So this facility is either one big loop or some crazy funhouse. Well anyway, the Orchard is where the food is, so I'll go th....  I looked at the right path and it was barricaded to the ceiling ten feet down the path. My face was blank. I about-faced, "To the Atrium!" I exclaimed, marching down the left path.

        As I walked down the curving corridor, I noticed a few things. This place is extremely filthy, trash littered the ground, and I could hear chittering echoing in the air ducts (don't ask me how I know that they're air ducts, they just look like they should be). Then I arrived at the Atrium. It had a high ceiling and four floors, which the fourth was just a room with a round window overlooking the Atrium. The only way into that room was through the only room on the third floor.

        While scanning the area, I found a map on the wall and immediately went to it. It was a map of the whole facility, Stable-0. Overall, this place was designed to look like one big cog, like one of the ones on father's hourglass. Looking over the map, I found a "You are here" star in the Atrium. Right next to the only corridor that leads to the Stable door in the center of the cog on the second floor of the Atrium. I turned and looked at a door that is twice as wide as the other doors, with a sign that read "Stable Door."

        If there is an exit, then that would be it. I should probably get out of here before somepony notices me. I stopped at the thought, and looked around again. though it is strange that I haven't seen anypony anywhere. I shook my head and went to the door's control panel. "Meh. I'm sure it's fine. They're probably just sleeping off a night of celebration." I said aloud, confident in my assumption. It would explain the trash everywhere and empty common area.

        I pressed the button eagerly, nothing. I pressed it again, nothing. Scowling, I continuously pressed it till I got tired, still nothing. I huffed, "Well that's just great. Only one exit out of this place and the door's stuck." I kicked the panel with a forehoof, and then noticed some sort of keyhole. "Or perhaps locked." I don't remember ever seeing a keyhole like this one before (of course I don't remember hardly anything anyway), but a keyhole means that there's a key that fits it.

        I was just about to think of my next move, when I smelled something cooking. I sniffed the air, trying to determine the origin of the scent. It smelt like something savory and nutty. I followed my nose to a railing that overlooks the bottom floor. I looked over and saw a table with a plate of food on it. Without hesitation, I jumped the railing and glided to the ground. Once there I galloped to the table and ogled at the food. It was the size of a loaf of bread, steaming hot, and smells great. There was also a note next to the plate, written very sloppily.
"Paleez Njoy
Mor en citchan"
At the bottom, it was signed with a foalish drawing of a smiling earth pony with spiral eyes and a weird hat, and with the initials "SB."

         I stared a second longer at the illiterate note, dumb founded. Till my stomach reminded me of the food in front of me, so I chowed down. The texture made me think of oatmeal, and it tasted like a mix of almonds and something I can't quite place my hoof on. The food was gone in ten seconds flat. I scarfed it down so fast that it burnt my throat. I licked what remained on the plate and looked at the note again. I deciphered the script, "More in Kitchen." Don't mind if I do.

        I trotted to the kitchen, around a knocked over table. I pushed open the swinging doors and was immediately assaulted by the delicious aroma. Inside I saw two large metal boxes in front of me with hinge doors and the words "Sol-King Refrigerators" on the front. Beside that was a counter covered with stacked dusty dishes. Then next to that was a pan with food in it on top of a stove (Sol-King Stovetop Ovens). Forgetting the rest of the room, I bum-rushed the food and got it all in my mouth in one bite.

        After chewing a couple times, I turned around and froze. Behind me there was an island counter (chew), on that counter was a cutting board (chew), and on that was the front half of a rather large cockroach (chew). I don't mean the size of a gold bit large, I mean the size of my head large (gulp). I stared blankly at the half of roach as I contemplated what I just ate exactly. The flavor of almonds and what I am now calling 'gamey roach', was still in my mouth. It wasn't a bad flavor. In fact, I really like the taste, it was quaint and earthy.

        I shrugged and turned to the door. Overall, eating something that tasted good overshadowed the fact that it was a cockroach. As I was about to pass the refrigerators, something clinked inside one of them. I stopped and looked at the offending metal box. Slowly I hooked a hoof on the handle and opened it up. I heard chittering and then, "Ahh!!" I screamed as a roach latch onto my face. Backing up, I shook my head vigorously. It clung like no other. It squeaked as its mandibles lunged at my eye, only to pierce my cheek under it. I cried out in pain as I reared up and fell backwards through the swinging doors.  The roach flung from my face as I hit my head on the knocked over table.

        Groaning, I sat up and looked for where that roach had gone. I looked right, clear, looked left and, "Son-of-a Muffin!!" I was face to boney face with an earth pony skeleton with a metal baton clenched in its teeth. Heart racing, I fell back and scooted backwards a good two meters. It was wearing security barding, rather torn and beaten up security barding.

"Squee!"

        I looked towards the table I ate food on and there was the roach on its back, struggling to get upright. I need to kill it before it attacks again. I looked at the skeleton's weapon, put my aura around it and tugged, it was stuck. The roach squeaked and got upright by using its wings. I tugged at the baton again, no good. The roach skittered in a tiny circle to get its bearings, until it saw me and fluttered its wings menacingly. I fumbled to get to my hooves as the roach charged me. With one final heave, the baton pulled free and I hit the roach midair as it lunged at me. It squeaked in pain as I hit it again, then not at all when I hit it a third time.

        I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. "It's done." I sighed with the baton floating next to me. In my peripherals, I saw something hanging off my weapon. I looked and flinched away in surprise. The skull of the skeleton was still holding on to the baton. I wiggled the baton in an attempt to loosen it, but it just felt like I was waving the most weirdest flag ever. Using magic, I unhinged the jaw and placed the skull next to the rest of the body. "Sorry friend." I said to the skeleton.

        Good thing there's no such thing as curses, or I would be getting one for desecrating a corpse. Or is there? The sound of chittering broke my train of thought. I looked and found another roach staring at me from atop a counter that connected to the kitchen. I confidently went into a battle stance. It's only one. Two more skittered onto the counter. With this baton, I can handle three. Then I heard massive amounts of chittering. Wide eyed, I looked left, right, and up.

"Well...crap."

=====***=====

        "Cursed! I'm cursed!" My heart raced as I galloped down the corridor to Security. "I desecrated a pony's remains and got cursed!" I yelled hysterically. Back at the dining area, I managed to kill a few before I lost my baton when I lost focus on it from them biting me, a lot. Now, I'm running for help with half a swarm on my tail.

        I jumped and flapped my right wing to help me make a sharp left turn to the Security wing. However, after a half gallop, I ran into the door at the end of a short hallway (literally). I rubbed my pained nose and looked back. Chittering echoed through the corridor and was getting louder. I opened the door, rushed inside, and closed it right up. I exhaled heavily, safe. I turned away from the door and my heart jumped with a jolt. I was in a wider hallway covered in scorch marks, holes, pink ash, and skeletons. There were also desks on their sides, which looks like they were used as cover from projectiles.

        "This place looks like a war zone. What happened here?" I stepped around the skeletons carefully not to disturb their remains. Some of them were security, but most were wearing regular Stable suits. I even found shreds of burnt barding poking out of pink ash. A tear budded in my eye at this horror. This isn't a monster attack. This is pony killing pony! Why would they kill each other? I thought they were supposed to be friends, or comrades at the least (because of the uniformity).

        I looked away, needing to look at anything but dead ponies right now. There were seven doors in this hallway (excluding the one I came through) and each one had a name above it. From the beginning of the hallway to the end, there was the Training room, Barracks, Restroom, Storage closet, Armory, Monitor room, and Chief's Office. I ignored the Barracks and Training room, for I already had passed them and did not feel like backtracking as of yet.

         So instead I opened the door to the storage closet. It was a cramped little room with stuff on shelves. I didn't  bother looking at the stuff, it was uninteresting. I then turned to the restroom across the hall and opened it up. It was almost as small as the closet, even though there was another skeleton in there. This skeleton was muzzle first in some sort of water trough, obviously a victim of a drowning. On the opposite wall was a mirror above a... You know what, I don't know what that is, but it has a spigot. Interested, I turned one of the levers next to it and water came out. "What? Indoor plumbing?" I marveled.

        I then realized that my mouth was dryer than a desert. I stared a second at the water spewing from the spigot. It was the oasis to my desert of a mouth. By turning my head awkwardly, I managed to sate my thirst. After drinking my fill, I lifted my head to see, a mare on fire! No wait, that's just me in the mirror, and my mane is long and a mess. Somehow I  managed to get my ever flowing mane all frizzy with split ends. Weird, it looks dimmer than I remember. It almost looks like normal hair.

        I ran a hoof through my mane, only for it to snag on a knot with a painful tug on my scalp. I winced and sighed, "Wish I could just cut it off." At that moment, through the mirror, I saw a grip sticking out of the skeleton's security barding. I turn around and looked at it. The sheath it was in was attached to the barding's sleeve, and it was in the shape of a small blade. I hesitated, biting my lip. "Is it considered grave robbing if I take a knife from a dead pony that is not in a grave?" Asking no one (to be honest, I just need to hear somepony's voice).

        I considered it for a bit, and decided that it should be fine as long as I don't desecrate the remains. I gingerly unsnapped the sheathed knife from the skeleton's barding, all the while chanting "Please no curse. Please no curse. Please no curse." After removing it, I did a quick glance around and sighed in relief. Unsheathing the knife, I examined it as I floated it in my aura. It was a simple straight edge blade, made of a fine steel, and was in relatively good condition. "This'll do." I said, turning to the mirror.

        A crumpled piece of paper caught my eye. I picked it up and read it, "B.S. If you clog that toilet one more time, I will drown you in your own shit. S.R." That's neat, even the outhouse is indoor, and also, ew. I glanced back at the drowned skeleton and cringed. That is no way for a pony to die.

        Which made me think as I turn back to the mirror to cut my hair. Why are all these ponies skeletons? How long was I in that pod for? Why am I the only pony who woke up? And If my memories are gone (which they are most definitely gone, save for a few), how is it that I know names of things and creatures, like roaches, almonds, and knives. If I don't remember seeing or learning anything about them? Heck! How can I even read in that case?

        I sighed as I cut down the last clump of long hair. I looked over my work and then stare in my own eyes for the better part of a minute. I don't know what I was looking for, but I looked into those golden-yellow eyes anyway. Sad, depressing eyes. I took a deep breath and smacked my hoof against my head semi-hard like. "Cheer up Sola. Stop thinking about questions you can't answer, and focus on getting out of here." I put on a confident face and nodded to myself. Securing the knife in its sheath and attaching it to my right sleeve, I exited the restroom and continued down the hallway. "But how will I accomplish that? When the way outside is locked, and the only ponies who would know where the key is are dead."

        I stopped and looked at the Chief's office door. The leader of Security would probably have a key. So I went directly to the chief's office, which was flanked by two black domes (Though they were both smashed and one had a metal tool sticking out of it) on the wall. I opened the door to reveal (surprise!) more skeletons. Six skeletons occupied a mid-sized room with bookshelves on the left and right walls, a door on the other end of the room, and a desk in the center with a strange box on it. Out of the six skeletons, only one was a security pony. "A five on one battle. Doesn't seem like a fair fight." I looked at the bodies. They all, except for the guard, had broken bones, missing teeth, an even one's skull was half missing. "For the five." I added.

        I carefully maneuvered around them to the desk and searched the drawers I had found junk and a slip of paper that says "I88-Ironpony" in the top drawer, and organized paper, a full bottle of something called "Sparkle-Cola," and a "magazine" named "Guns and Bullets" (Firearms and you: Learn how to protect your family today!) in the bottom drawer. However, no key of any kind. I set aside the drink and magazine (I really need to get a bag to carry stuff) and turned my attention to the strange box.

        It seemed to be made of metal, except for the glass front, and an odd part jutting out the front with letter marked buttons covering its surface. Being fascinated by the buttons, I pressed one at random. The device hummed to life and the glass dimly glowed green. The word "password" appeared in the glass accompanied by a box an blinking line. "Hmm." I hummed, scratching my chin, "Password. Word of pass. Word for passage." I looked at the lettered buttons, "Aha! It wants a certain word for passage inside. But which one?"

        I scratched my chin and started spelling. P-L-E-A-S-E, enter. Incorrect. I looked around the desk for a clue and saw the name plate and tried that. Morningstar, enter. Incorrect. I guess having your own name as your password would be too obvious. "Now what?" I huffed. I looked at the password box on the machine and noticed some new words under it. "Hint: Favorite Gun."

        I looked at the Guns and Bullets magazine and moved it in front of me. Maybe she had written some notes or circled a picture or something. I opened it and started flipping through the pages. Occasionally I would stop and marvel at all the neat new weapons on display, like the Anti-Machine Rifle. How can somepony carry that thing, let alone fire it? It's massive! Flipping some more, I stopped on the "How to shoot shotguns" section. It featured the I42-Ironpony Combat Shotgun (The answer to all of life's problems). The name was similar to what was written on a slip of paper in the desk. I dug out that piece of paper and entered it in. Correct. "Yes! Now, let's see what's inside." I enthused.

        I half expected something to open up, but a bunch more words replaced the password. Apparently, this machine was used to log entries like a journal. I navigated the logs using the arrow keys (thank you instructional prompts) and started reading the first entry. After reading a couple lines, I decided that it was too boring and skipped to the next one. Then to the next one, and then the next ten.

        I ruffled my mane in frustration. "What kind of mare would write this kind of boring crap in a personal journal!? Where's the drama, the love interests? I mean seriously, how much detail does one need to have for an uneventful  day?" I huffed as I selected the last entry. "If you give me one more uninteresting entry, I will throw you across the room." I threatened the box.

        It must have worked, because within the first line was a familiar name. "Damn that Cortex. He stole my keys and left the stable, locking all the doors on his way out! And what's worse is that all the residents believe we locked the doors in an attempt to trap everypony inside forever, and it's causing a riot! Actually, it's a borderline war. On one side is Security with superior firepower, and Maintenance on the other with more numbers. Which it sure doesn't help that everypony's been at each other's throats ever since we captured that damned Alicorn. I swear, half of my ponies want to kill me just as much as the Maintenance ponies.

        "I don't know if you Stable-Tec bastards are getting these logs, or I've been typing on this terminal every week for nothing. But I do know that if this shit-storm gets anymore worse, I'm getting the hell out of here through that secret exit in the Overmare's office. Good thing the Overmare likes to talk when she drinks. She even told me her password, guest (It's so dumb that I would've never guessed it). So as a final note; screw you guys and screw this Stable. Morningstar, out."

        I stared at the terminal a little longer, "Well, isn't she just a ray of sunshine." I looked at the security skeleton. "Or was. At least I now have an exit plan. Just need to figure a way past the roaches."

        Fiddling around with the name plate, I absent mindedly knocked it over. There was a small key stuck to the bottom and it had a tag that said "Armory spare." A smile played across my face as I chuckled.

=====***=====

        I floated my 10mm pistol up and aimed at a lone roach on a wall. "Okay. Line up the sights, take a deep breath..." I inhaled, and "Yahhh!" I screamed as I emptied the mag at the roach. The roach was unaffected, for every bullet missed and hit the wall around it (I imagined a perfect outline of the roach on the wall.). It jumped down and charged me.

        I did the first thing that came to mind and threw my gun at the roach, hitting it square in the head-torso area. It squeed as it's wings sprawled out and body limp, dead. I trotted on over and picked up my gun. I changed out mags and holstered it. "I got to stop throwing my weapons. Who knows if there were more roaches around." As if on queue, another roach skittered into view from around the corner. I immediately crushed it by throwing my baton at it. I levitated the baton back to me. "However, it sure is effective." I said as I checked for more roaches around the corner towards the Atrium.

        After confirming that the coast was clear, I harvested the meat from my kills and put them in my newly acquired saddlebags. Just one of the very few things that I found in the armory. Along with the pistol and baton, I had found fifty rounds of 10mm bullets (which is now about forty left) and a set of security barding that was too small for me, but I took it anyway (maybe I can find a tailor or an armorer to help me).

        They must have really felt threatened if they had to arm everypony with nearly every weapon in the armory. Even though I could have taken the weapons from the corpses, but I believe warriors should be buried with their weapons. Even if it's more like a mass grave, and they're not at all buried. Just so, it wouldn't feel right to take those weapons.

        I cautiously made my way back to the atrium, quietly smashing roaches on the way. Half of the swarm was scattered about from the walls to the floor. Before any of them could notice me, I ducked into the closest room in the atrium. I closed the door behind me and glanced around for any danger. Clear. The room had a desk with a terminal (locked), a yellow box with three pink butterflies on it (with a vial and a pouch inside, each labeled Healing Potion and Rad-Away respectively), and four cots with matching curtains. Despite everything being dusty, this area seemed relatively clean. Illustrations were plastered on the walls, indicating that I was in a clinic ("Even the smallest cut can kill. Treat injuries A.S.A.P." Was on a picture of an injured hoof with fungus growing off of it).

        My gaze continued down the room and stopped at the other end of the room. A Deja-Vu feeling washed over me as I looked at the observation window with a door next to it. I walked up and placed a hoof on the glass looking inside. I saw a clean white room with a table in the center. The same table where I had laid unconscious. I went inside and there was more to this room than just a table. I saw a cabinet, an Alchemy Station (I'm not going to bother asking how I know that), and a countertop with various medical tools strewn across it. There was also a small square table on wheels in the corner with a device on it.

        This gray device was no bigger than my hoof, rectangular, and had six buttons on it. I immediately picked it up to get a closer look. It had the words "Holo-tape Recorder" on the front and the Stable-Tec symbol on the back. I pressed the first button, a triangle with a line under it, and the device popped open to reveal a smaller, thinner, rectangular, orange object.

        "This must be the Holo-tape to the recorder, but what exactly does it record?" I pushed the Holo-tape back in and pressed the green triangle button. It clicked and a voice came out.

        "This is Chief Medical Examiner Tender Care, and boy do I have the most interesting patient ever!" The mare in the recording gave a barely contained giggle before reigning it in with a professional gentle cough. "Sorry. This is the most exciting thing that has happened since the Stable's door closed twenty-five years ago. But I digress. Let's just focus on the examination for now."

        I started searching through the cabinet as I listened. There were some healing bandages and plenty of vials of liquids with weird names (I left those alone since I don't know what they're for).

        Tender Care cleared her voice, "The patient in question, is a twilight-blue stallion with a fiery colored mane that seems to glow to the proximity of raw magic. For example. If I would levitate something his mane would seem like it's on fire, but when I activate the S.A.T.S spell on my Pip-Buck it's just normal hair. If this is a mutation from the Megaspells or a natural occurrence, remains to be seen."

        I wonder what a 'S.A.T.S.' spell is? I guess it's just one more thing that Pip-bucks do. Makes me want to have one for myself. A ready-to-use spell with no effort on the user would be valuable, especially to somepony whom only remembers how to do levitation, a horrible light spell, and whatever spell that evil voice had me do.

        "Oh yeah, I almost forgot his race. He's... An Alicorn!" Tender Care gave an excited squeal that forced me to flinch away from the recorder. "I wonder if this makes him a prince? Oh! I can nurse him back to health, he would be thankful and slowly fall in love with me. Then we would get married and have six kids and I would rule along side him in a kingdom of our very own!" She continued to giggle to herself.

        Wow. I don't know if I should feel flattered that she would spend her entire life with me, or upset that she wanted to use me for her own gain. Besides, I'm nowhere close to being a prince. As far as I can remember (from what memories I still have) father was a scholar, not royalty.

        I thought of the last words that I remember saying to him, "I hate you!" I stared sadly at a recipe journal I found at the alchemy station. It was mostly empty but for simple instructions for improvised healing bandages, salves, and healing powder. Father would write in a journal like this one... I miss him.

        An elegant voice interrupted Tender Care's daydreaming with a graceful throat clearing. "Miss Overmare! I didn't see you there! I was just finishing up my examination... Um... How long have you been standing there?" She said with worry in her voice.

        "Long enough. How is our guest?"

        "Yes! The patient! He has a slight concussion, a minor cut on his neck, some minor bruising on his ribs, and strained ligaments in his wings and right foreleg." I checked myself and stretch each part as she listed them off. If I remember correctly, half of those were self-inflicted and the rest was from their security. I half expected my injuries would still be there. It felt like it happened just yesterday.

        "Oh dear. That sounds painful. Will he be all right?" The Overmare said in a worried tone.

        "Pfft! This is nothing. A wee bit-o-healing potion and he'll be right as rain. Now those security ponies in the other room are a different story. Four of them I can heal just fine, but that stallion he bucked into a tree, has two cracked ribs and a broken leg. I'll have to reset his leg before any magical healing can happen." A ping of guilt went out for the ponies I had hurt (except for that one stallion, he deserved it).

        The Overmare gave an exaggerated sigh, "Buckshot has always been a loose cannon. Not to mention the constant complaints about him and some toilet from Silver Ratchet." (Wait, what?) "Well anyway. Why don't you go ahead and take our guest's measurements for a stable suit. The memory expert will be here soon."

        "Yes ma'am!" Tender Care chippered followed by friction that was audible over the recording.

        "Um... Tender. Aren't you supposed to use a tape measure?"

        "Oh no, trust me. This method works juuust fiiine." The recorder clicked to an end.

         "I'm curious about what kind of method she used. This stable suit fits amazingly well." I absently thought aloud while hoofing through the medical tools (none of which seemed useful enough to take).

         I motioned my hoof to the recorder for another button, but a metallic squeak attracted my attention. Storing the recorder in my bag, I looked for the source of the squeak. A small air duct grate on the far wall pushed open on a hinge by a roach with the help of five others. They pushed their way in with the grate closing behind them. They didn't yet see me in the room except for one particularly large one staring me down (or maybe up). I stared back into that roaches bug eyes as I edged closer to the door. This one looks a bit different. Not only is it larger, but it is also glowing green slightly.

        When I'm no more than a hop, skip, and a jump away from safety, all the roaches stared at me as they noticed my presence with their antennae twitching like mad. I froze and glared back wondering why they haven't attacked yet. It's almost like they're waiting for something. Then the glowing one flared its wings and gave a commanding squee. The five squeed and launched themselves at me.

        I reared up and smacked the first two out of mid-air. Then while dashing for the door, I used my telekinesis to shove the third roach into the fourth. I jumped through the threshold closing the door behind me. "Phew! That was a close Ya-ow!" A sharp pain erupted from my rump. The fifth roach had managed to land on me before I escaped. I smacked it to the ground and smashed it beneath a hoof. Muttering my irritation about another bite, I move to the observation window. The four smaller roaches were skittering all around the room while the glowing one just stared at me. I smirked back at it, "Ha! let's see you try and get me now!" I stuck out my tongue waving it about to taunt it further.

        The glowing roach responded by crashing into the window, leaving a spider webbed crack from the impact. I jumped away giving a surprised un-stallion-like squeak. "And on that note, it's time to go." I turned and trotted back to the clinic's entrance.

=====***=====

        With my baton ready I opened the door and peeked into the atrium. No roaches were near enough to be considered a threat, which gave me a chance to plot my route to the Overmare's office.

        If I go around the railing I would have to kill or evade three or more roaches on the way to the third-floor room that leads to the Overmare's office, where a light-purple mare is waving at me from the office window. Or, I can jump the railing and fly... Wait a sec... A mare?

        I looked back up at the Overmare's window and there was nothing there. "Did I imagine her?" I narrowed my eyes at the third-floor platform and licked my lips. "Only one way to find out!" I galloped, leaped, and kicked off of the railing for more height. I closed my eyes and relished the feeling of the rush of air brushing against my face and through my feathers of my outstretched wings. Opening my eyes, I flapped the rest of the short distance and landed safely on the platform. I then immediately opened, entered, and closed the door before any roaches can react.

        Sighing in relief, I sat down and stretched out my right shoulder and wing in a circular motion. There were minor aches in my muscles from under use. "I really need to fly more. Or maybe some exercises or something. All that time in the stasis pod has really weakened my wing muscles."

        As I sat there I glanced around the room. I was in a social sitting area complete with a couple sofas, a table, and some sitting cushions. On the far wall was a door and next to that a hallway to the stairs. Except for the pristine white cups on the table, there was nothing in this room. So I checked out the door first. It was a bedroom, perhaps the Overmare's room. Inside I saw that this room was tidy with a personal restroom (Which has a special spigot that showers water down like rain. I'll call it a shower.).

        If it wasn't for the personal effects, this room would seem like no-pony ever lived here. Even the fancy looking hairbrush was clean. However, other than the hairbrush there was nothing useful in the room. I then continued to the office pocketing the brush (What? It's inlaid with silver). The Overmare's office was up two flights of stairs, down a short corridor, and through a door. Inside was just as tidy as the bedroom downstairs. The Stable-Tec symbol adorned both the ceiling and floor in front of a semi-circle desk. On the left wall was the circular window, the right had bookshelves filled with knick-knacks and books, and on the far wall was a counter that held some items on display. One of which I recognized.

        Trotting around the desk, I approached the display. To confirm what it was, I read the name plate, "Pip-Buck: Alpha." Curiously, I raised a hoof to it and pressed a button. Nothing. Frowning, I pressed another and another and turned some nobs and dials. This thing was dead, maybe it can be revived. I lifted the Pip-Buck from it's pedestal to examine it and the leg brace of it fell open.

        "Aha! Maybe it only reacts to somepony wearing it." Thus I buckled it onto my left leg for some reaction. It was nice and snug, but still dead. I huffed at the undesired result and continued my examination. Twisting it with my leg I found a hole one inch in diameter, left side of the device, and in the bulkiest part. "I guess I'm missing a piece."

        I looked to the other displays hoping it was a separate piece of the collection, but all of them looked either worn, damaged, or outright junk. An antique steam gauge assembly, a box of engraved railroad spikes, the first prototype Stealth-Buck (damaged), and the first prototype Spark-energy core. I looked at the Spark-energy core using my magic to lift and turn it. It was a cylindrical cone shaped metal object. Clearly containing something inside it, but there was no way to see inside unless I cracked it open. However, I don't want to break it for it's also about an inch in diameter which makes it a perfect size.

        I brought the core to the Pip-Buck and plugged it into the hole. There was a click and a quiet hum as the device came to life. As I cleaned off the screen, there were green symbols, numbers, and words flashing across it. I only managed to catch a few words like "Boot-up complete" and "Subject detected... Initializing synchronization" as something clicked in the latch. A sudden piercing sting from the Pip-Buck's leg brace went into my leg. I screamed in pain hopping backwards on three legs, knocking over the Overmare's chair. I tried to tear off the device, but nothing would work. More letters ran across the screen and I read "E.F.S. Initializing..." A strange tingling from my leg to my eye forced me to blink. Something green started to appear in the bottom of my vision. I blinked and shook my head, but it was still there even when my eyes were closed.

        In a panic, I started hitting buttons randomly in hope to remove the obstruction. I saw the words "Synchronization Complete" and a text box appeared. However, thanks to my frantic button pushing, it disappeared.

        "Wait! No! Bring that back, it could help!" I yelled at the device pushing more buttons. The screen changed to a mission list. I then pushed a different button which put another thing in my peripherals of my sight (That's it! I'm just going to stop pushing buttons!). Reflexively, I looked towards the square-like arrow that moved and stopped above the Overmare's terminal. Curiously, I moved my head around. The arrow kept pointing at the terminal, even the compass-like thing (I think E.F.S. was what it was called) on the bottom of my vision had an arrow.

        I looked to the Pip-Buck and found that the first mission on the list was named "Wakeup call" and it wanted me to use the terminal to leave Stable-0. It took a second to realize how useful this will be.

        This task manager will remember and point me to my goals. Despite the annoying stuff in my vision, this will be very useful!

        Trying not to reflexively glance at the E.F.S., I moved to the terminal to work on it. But then I noticed something on the wall next to the door. Eyes wide and mouth agape, I shambled over to the display case as if in a trance. Inside, the long grip wrapped in leather, the pommel had a depiction of a hooded figure, the cross guard resembled skeletal wings, and its long blade glistened with a purplish-blue sheen.

        "Oh hello, you beautiful bastard." I  whispered to the bastard sword, gently caressing its case. Next to its scabbard was a nameplate "Angelus Mortis. The Angel of Death, huh? Don't worry my friend, I will free you." I tried opening the case, but it was locked. I tried smashing the glass, but it was reinforced. I tried everything I could think of even biting, but I was repelled every time. Sadness washed over me as I realized that I can't open it.

Ba-leep!

        A noise from my leg made me jump. I checked the Pip-Buck and noticed a new mission was added. "Fallen Angel: Return later to Stable-0 to retrieve Angelus Mortis when possible... Yes, that's right! I will be back to free you." I reassured the sword, putting a hoof on the glass. I cantered back to the terminal and entered in the password. once on, I skipped over the personal logs and looked at the other options. Stasis pods, Play Holo-tape, unlock safe, and open Overmare's Entrance. Intrigued, I selected 'unlock safe' and a corresponding click came from the bookshelf. I investigated and found a wall safe behind some books. inside were some papers, a small pouch of ten 'Pre-war Bits' (according to the Pip-Buck), a snub-nosed revolver (loaded), and a twilight-blue orb.

        I emptied the contents into my bag (except for the papers) one by one, but when I focused my magic onto the orb I was hit with a sudden wave of drowsiness. A flushing sensation pulled me into a blackout.

~ooO0Ooo~

        My body felt weird, to say the least. I was numb but I could tell that I was strapped to a cold table. My eyes opened groggily to see the white room of the clinic. However, the weirdest part was that my body wasn't moving to my will. It was like I was a puppet or was forced to watch someone's actions through their eyes. It's definitely not comfortable. Is this the doing of that orb I found? One moment I'm in the Overmare's office, the next I'm in somepony's head strapped to a table.

        "Finally awake I see. Any good dreams?" A stallion announced his presence.

         My eyes warily looked for him while my legs strained against the restraints (or should it be my...ride?... No,... host?).

         "Or perhaps, a nightmare?" A green coated stallion with a black mane stepped into my host's vision.

        I can't help to feel like I've seen this stallion before. My host decided to glare at him (exactly what I wanted to do).

        "Oh come now Sola Eclipse. Is that any way to treat an old friend?" He pouted at... me? Am I in my own memory?

        My face put on a confused look.

        He seemed to stop and think for a bit, then he looked at his own hooves. "Ah right, you wouldn't recognize me in this body. However, we do know each other very well. After all..." His eyes turned red and the white turned green with smoke forming at the edges. "We did almost kill each other the last time we met." He said with the same deep voice that almost had me kill two ponies with some-sort-of heart attack spell.

        My eyes went wide and I felt my mouth move. "Sombra." I whispered trying to form a spell, but was rewarded with a shock from my horn.

        "Careful there, black crystals don't only neutralize magic you know." He tapped my horn. "It can also store said magic and convert it into usable energy."

        Hold on, I  recognize that face from my dream. He's Cortex! Why did the memory me call him Sombra?

        "Well, right now I go by as Dr. Cortex, the brain expert. However, tis true that I was also King Sombra, King of the Crystal Empire." Sombra (or is it Cortex?) struck a regal pose, then continued to look down on me. "That is until you trapped us both in that crystal prison of yours."

        My face had a stern feel to it and my eyes glared at him. The expression seemed to convey the words "Do your worst."

        He smiled in response, "Not to worry. I won't kill you. In fact, I should be thanking you." He tapped a hoof to his head. "If not for you, I wouldn't have met this buck and his wonderful mind spells." He then turned and started to pace around the table I'm on. "Now don't let this make you think you're off the hook. Punishment is still in order. Since you so kindly ended my era of war, forcing me to start from scratch. I will, in return, send you back to square one."

        My face was confused again, but I knew what he was talking about.

        He stopped pacing at my head. "But, I have an idea to make this more fun." Using magic, he forced my face to look at him. "Dear future Sola Eclipse, I have your memories. If you want them back, come find me up north in the Crystal Empire." He touched his horn to mine.

        Before the host me could ask any questions, everything washed away into nothingness.

~ooO0Ooo~

        I opened my eye and found myself flat on my face, drooling on the floor. I lifted myself up and wiped off the spit from my face. Sombra's words for me echoed in my head. "I have your memories. If you want them back, come find me..."

        I gritted my teeth pounding a hoof on the ground in anger. "He took my memories for a game of hide and seek!?" I raged, stomping to the terminal. "Oh, I'll find you! I'll find you and kick your flank to the moon!" I pounded the password in and selected the 'Open Overmare's Entrance' option. A spiral staircase started to lower with a hiss. It was painfully slow. I looked to the terminal hoping to make it go faster. However, there was no such option. so I chose to listen to the Holo-tape.

        "Hello! My name is Scootaloo. You probably know me (being famous and all) for my awesome performances at events like last year's GALLoPS, or maybe just as the founder of Red Racer. In any case, if you are listening to this, that means Omega-Level Threat Protocols have been enacted and you are the proud Overmare of a Stable-Tec life-preserving Stable. You have been chosen for your caring nature and attention to detail, which is exactly what is needed for the Stable you are responsible for and for all Stables across Equestria (and the few in the Crystal Empire). Stable-0, your Stable, is charged with two imperative missions.

    "First, you are to monitor the livable conditions of the atmosphere. Then when everything clears up, send out the 'all clear' signal to the Stables. Second, you must ensure the survival of your Stable, especially of the occupants in the two hundred stasis pods. Those people are the most talented and pure of heart of all the known races. If we are to make the world free of strife and war. They must survive at all costs. We even went as far as to keep Stable-0 a secret to all but for the ones invited. No record of its existence or paper trail to follow. Heck, I wouldn't even let them contact their families or... Ahem... In your safe, you will find documents detailing on how to achieve your objectives and on functions of your Stable. Take note of the Top Secret documents and do not share them with anypony (except for future Overmares of course). Vice-President of Stable-Tec, Scootaloo, signing off....

"... Damn this thing is depressing! I can't believe I got through that whole script. I improvised a little though, but I sounded good. Hey, how many more we gotta do?... About a hundred?...Shi..." Click.

=====***=====

        I extended a corded plug from my Pip-Buck and plugged it into a console for what I assume is the Stable's door. It was a huge, solid metal, gear shaped door that was elevated above a drainage ditch. An extendable bridge would go through the door when it opens. I glanced down at the Unicorn remains whose Pip-Buck was attached to the console before mine, and pitifully sighed. After listening to that recording my anger subsided and guilt started to seep in.

        "These ponies were living peacefully until I broke out of that crystal and released Sombra upon them. Now they're all dead. Bones and dust." I stared at the console where a cover over a red button flipped open. "All except for the people in the pods." Some confidence returned to me as I thought of those pure souls. "I know what I can do to repent for my sin. I will ensure their survival, but not suspended in those capsules, waiting to rot. However, I can not just wake them up to giant insects, skeleton, and various unknowns outside." I scratch my chin in thought

        Then all of a sudden, the Overmare's secret entrance closed on its own and secured shut. It looked like just a normal wall now. And that gave me an idea. "I'll secure someplace outside for them before they wake up. Someplace safe from whatever an 'Omega-Level threat' is."

Ba-leep!

        A new mission appeared on my Pip-Buck. "Home, Sweet Home: Find and secure a location(s) for the Stable-0 occupants to live." I nodded in agreement to the device. And with renewed gusto, I slammed the red button.

        I then fell to the ground putting hooves to ears when a loud alarm suddenly sounded. Slowly I removed them when I got used to it, but then put them right back when a mechanical arm pulled open the gear door with an earsplitting metallic screech. The door rolled out of the way and the bridge extended through the opening. After everything was done moving the alarm finally went silent. I sat up and rubbed my pained ears wondering one thing out loud. "Whose idea was to have a loud, annoying alarm go off every time you open the front door?"

        Leaving the question unanswered, I crossed the bridge through the Stable door expecting to see the great outdoors, but I was actually in a cavern deep underground. A smooth shaft was above a metal platform on the opposite side of the cavern from the door. My hooves clanged on the platform as I walk on it. Up the shaft was nothing but pitch blackness.

        "What now? Fly up and probably hit my head again?" I looked around and saw a lever. With a bit of excitement, I pulled the lever. The only thing more exciting than a button is a lever. The platform shook and started to rise upward through the shaft.

=====***=====

        Natural light blinded me slightly as the ceiling split open and the platform replaced it. Around me, there were large mounds of scrap metal piled everywhere. The large room I was in had a tall ceiling with fogged windows at the top. Long belted tables seemed like they were used to convey scrap through large machines to mold it into solid ingots. Two double doors were on opposite ends of the room one with an exit sign above it.

        A chill ran up my spine as I noticed that the atmosphere in this room was haunting in a way and unnaturally silent. Then an eerie moan echoed through the door not marked with an exit sign.

         I stared at the offending door uneasy. "Probably just the wind." I justified as I trotted to the exit. "Even so, the sooner I'm out of here the better." I mumbled. Putting a hoof on the door, I gave a sturdy shove. It didn't budge at all. Sighing exasperatedly, "Great." I glared at the other door. As my only option, I trotted to it. As soon as I opened the door, the eerie moaning turned into faint singing coming from the only door at the end of a hallway straight ahead.

        "...on the wall!... Five bottles of cider on the wall, five bottles of cider! Take one down, pass it around, four bottles of cider on the wall!... four bottles of cider..." The song continued as I followed the melody. The left and right hallways were both blocked by either a collapsed ceiling or a secured door. I slowly crept my way to the door as the singer got louder. "...two bottles of cider! Take one down, pass it around, one bottle..." I got to the door, 'General Manager Stone Mason' was engraved on a plaque attached to it.

        The stallion continued on singing, bellowing a theatrical ending. "...on the wall, one bottle of cider! Take it down, pass it around, zero bottles of cider on the waaaaall!" I slowly opened the door to peer inside. There was no one there. Going inside didn't reveal who was singing unless it was the skeleton in the corner that was half crushed by the collapsed ceiling.

        I looked around for an explanation. There were some metal cabinets, rotten bookshelves with ruined books, moldy chairs, and a glossy looking wooden desk with an extremely dusty cylinder glass container on it. "Okay, if there's no-pony here singing and no devices to project a singer's voice, then the only thing left is..." A shiver went up my spine at the thought. I shook head and snickered, "No, there's no way it could be a ghost. I mean, there's no such thing as, EEP!" All of a sudden, the noise of something falling on the ground right next to me made me jump into the air away from it.

        From my perch atop the metal cabinets, my heart was racing. I saw that it was a recorder that had fallen from the desk. I got down slowly and went to check it out. The recorder was broken, but the Holo-tape was intact. Putting it in my recorder, it started with a click.

        "They did it..." A stallion's gruff voice gasped in pain. "They killed us all... And here I thought the Crystal Empire would be safe from the war." He gasped again and coughed wetly.

        "Pfft, Ha!" A second stallion's voice gave out a barely contained guffaw. "Really? How naïve are you? Did you think the sister-in-law of one of the Ministry Mares would stay completely out of this?" The first stallion groaned, "Oh, what's the matter Mason? Can't face the music?"

        "Shud-up before I toss you in a vat-o'-molten steel." Mason strained to talk through the pain.

        "Yeah? You and what legs? I can't help to notice that you're a little pinned at the moment." Mason growled at the other stallion. "But don't you worry. I won't torture you with the 'You're getting what you deserve' and the 'I hate you' speeches. After all, I'm not completely heartless." He snickered a bit at his own comment. "Instead I'll give you some hope. There is somepony from the Stable coming to this room."

        "Well, that's good news. I might survive this after all. " Mason gasped in pain again, "When are they coming?"

        "Hmm... I'll tell you what. When I'm done singing this song, he'll be here." The nameless buck cleared his throat and inhaled. "Ten billion bottles of cider on the wall, ten billion bottles of cider! Take one down, pass it around, nine billion, nine hundred ninety-nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine bottles of cider on the wall!" Before he continued, he took a deep inhale. Mason groaned heavily before the recording clicked to a stop.

        I stared at my recorder perplexed. Mason was obviously the skeleton and the other pony was definitely the singing stallion from earlier. However that's impossible, no pony would be alive after all that time. Unless it really was a ghost.

        "You wouldn't believe how many times I had to start over."

        I jumped to the noise of the stallion's voice that was coming from the cylinder glass jar. Hesitantly I moved closer to it. Its shape was actually an oval cylinder with a metal base and lid. I wiped off the dust on the glass to reveal a perfectly preserved severed Unicorn head. It had a gray coat with a brown mane and blue dead eyes.

        Then with a smile, he looked me in the eyes and announced, "Hi! I'm Dead!"

=====***=====

Level Up!

Perks Gained:
Magazine (Guns & Bullets) Rank 1: Congrats! You now know more about modern weaponry than you used to. You gain 5% more damage when using firearms! (Now you just need to learn how to hit your target and you're golden.)

S.C.A.N.S (Stable-Tec Certified Assisted Navigational Spell) Rank 1: "Stable-Tec presents the newest in Navigational Arcane Technology. Track Your own personal missions with ease! Just select an objective and let us guide your way." The path of your closest quest target is displayed in S.A.T.S.