//------------------------------// // Snow // Story: Disharmony // by RandomNoob57 //------------------------------// Episode 3 – Snow “Noir, wake up.” The princess purred. “Come on, you guys still have a way to go,” the whisper continued, as if coming from underwater. Noir finally opened her eyes halfway, yawning. A morning breeze was playing with her mane and the sun was bathing her, healing her tired body. Standing next to her was Noobsie, looking down at the royal pony with a smirk. “Noobsie? What are you doing here?” The princess asked. From behind the blue pony, Tess trotted in; the batpony looked at Noir and said, smiling: “We’re here to help.” Noobsie hooved Noir a canteen of water. The princess opened her eyes fully and silently stood up before drinking. “Thanks, but, you could’ve been attacked by Wolmetahls on the way here...” She said. “Nah,” Noob replied, “we live in a cloud, remember? We just flew over here, the Wolmetahls wouldn’t have suspected a thing!” Noir gave Noob an insipid smile, then looked around; everypony else was still asleep, aside from Storm and one of the wounded escort members. They were both sitting at a table, chatting discretely - the princess sat down beside Storm. “Hey Noir,” the pegasus said. The soldier kept quiet. “Heya, you guys okay?” The princess asked. The soldier mumbled a “yes” and Storm nodded. Five minutes of blank staring followed, then the railgunner said, sighing: “I never would’ve thought I would lose so many friends at once. It all happened so fast... I have no idea what I was thinking, believing those damn Wolmetahls would leave us alone.” Noir looked down, and after a moment of silence said: “I’m sorry.” The soldier looked at her and kept himself from tearing up. “You’re... You’re sorry?! Like that’s going to change anything!” “Hey,” Storm said to him, “cut her some slack. After all, if it wasn’t for her,  none of us would be left breathing.” The soldier waved his hoof. “Whatever. I guess I shouldn’t have enrolled.” “Doesn’t matter anymore,” Storm said. “You enlisted, so you will continue until the end of your assignment.” “What would you care?” The conscript said, raising his tone. “You’re a pegasus, you can easily handle those things, just like that ninja guy did with the second one that attacked us; I guess Noir didn’t see that one, did she?” “The second Wolmetahl was going for her only, it never fired a shot in your direction. Besides, pegasi don’t have it any easier than you do, despite what you would think.” “Still, she would’ve been dead and then the thing would’ve come for us.” “But it didn’t. Stop making scenarios; what happened, happened, you can’t change any of it.” The soldier remained sullen. “We have to reach the Capital as soon as possible, Noir thinks a certain scientist there could help with the Wolmetahl situation,” Storm added, “so let’s make sure at least one of us gets there in one piece.” The rest of the party woke up slowly, and they all prepared to leave again, not saying much. Aendel thanked the ranch owners for their hospitality. In the meantime, Noir went over to Tess, who was lying on a hay bed, pensive: “Hey, can I talk with you for a moment?” The batpony looked up and nodded, smiling. Noir laid next to her and said after a short moment of silence: “Didn’t see you around Coltstone much.” “Uhm, well, we tend to move a lot,” Tess replied. “Must be fun, always seeing new places.” “I suppose, yeah, even though we can’t leave Zir’lan now... With the war and all...” “Well, Zir’lan is still a beautiful place, even with Wolmetahls in the scenery!” Tess shrugged with a slight grin. “I find batponies fascinating,” Noir said, looking down at Tesla’s fangs, a bit jealous. The batpony chuckled, before suddenly looking with shock at the princess and saying: “Uhm, Noir, your... Eye...” Noir frowned. “What?” She asked. “Your eye... It’s glowing red.” “Oh... I’ll be right back - excuse me.” The princess covered her eye and left in a hurry. She went outside and looked in the well of the ranch. Her dot was glowing strongly, and for no reason at that. Noir shook her head with a huff. What this was, what was happening, Noir was starting to feel as if it was all a price for the power she’s come to possess, a power she'd never asked for. “Hey, I’d like you to have this,” Tess said from behind. Noir turned around and hitched at the sight of the eye-patch that was being given to her, before finally taking it and fastening it on her left eye. “Thanks...” Noir said, not too delighted with hiding her new nature. “It’s as much as I can do, hopefully it won’t raise any suspicion.” “Well it’ll definitely raise a lot less than without,” the princess said and displayed an unconvincing smile. “Everypony, time to roll out!” Aendel’s voice was heard booming over the silence. ** “Noir, I’m sure it’ll be okay.” “Alright, if you say it’s okay then it’s okay.” “We need to hurry, they will notice us soon. Just step in the cryochamber, fasten those belts and close your eyes… Everything will be fine.” “Don’t wait too long around here!” “I won’t. I promise.” Warning: Authentication error, compatibility may fluctuate. Are you sure you wish to continue? This action may have severe consequences, including memory-loss, death, abnormal connections. You have chosen to continue. Infusion initialization commencing. White-fur woke up with a scream. A guard rushed in the room with a sword. “I’m fine, everything's fine, go back to your station,” the white pony shouted, trying to hide her tears and fatigue. The guard surveyed the bedroom carefully, squinting his eyes before exiting with slow, prudent steps. White-fur sighed, taking her head in her hooves. It wasn’t the first time she had a strange, unexplained dream like that. What was all that about?! Why did she feel like she knew Noir before actually knowing her? Memory-loss. That was the word that really unsettled the pony. Was she going insane? Maybe this whole thing was stupid, she thought. The Revolution needed a strong leader but she felt weaker and weaker. A knock on the door startled her. “Come in,” she said. Razorwing entered, his sensei-beard looking like it had a mind of its own. He closed the door behind him, his tail-blades accidentally clacking against the frame. “What is it, Demoon?” White-fur asked. “We have news. Noir and her escort are on their way here, they were attacked but QB got there in time.” “That’s cool…” Razorwing frowned and tilted his head on the side. “Uh, are you alright, your majesty?” “Yes, I’m fine. Bring her here when she arrives.” The stallion looked a bit worried, then said: “Also… There’s one more thing. We might want to start the game up, ponies are starting to sniff around and we might lose the element of surprise.” “Oh don’t worry, we will, once Noir gets here… We will.” Demoon circled around and left, saluting the guards. White-fur sighed. No, she wasn’t going to let some stupid dream keep her from following her plans and leading the Revolution to glory… After all, they had already won. ** The princess of Zir’lan, her friends and what was left of her escort arrived at the huge chrome gates of the Capital at noon. They were closed due to the lockdown, a couple laser cannons and a few lines of soldiers making sure nothing entered or exited. It was a mess, the entire area; Noir was shocked at the sight of the fields in front of the gate and walls - they were full with ponies, fillies and colts alike, some in tents, some lying down on the grass around campfires, some yelling at the soldiers and throwing stuff, but all waiting for one thing: The gates opening, allowing them to return home. Further away from the camping zone, a simple wall was separating them from the main battlefield, Zir’lan’s army - or whatever was left of it - defending the central area of the nation. Hundreds of ponies, trapped between the sharp teeth of the Wolmetahls and the corruption of Sector 0, with no way out. Storm took Noir under his wing to hide her from view and told the escort to remain alert. Aendel kept silent, clenching his jaws in disgust; it wasn’t the first time he saw this, but every time he did, he lost a bit of trust in the new royalty. At the gates, the party was stopped by an aggravated sectorial: “Halt. The Capital is under lockdown.” Aendel stepped forward and presented a few papers, saying: “Royal business, I’m his majesty’s emissary.” The sectorial looked at the papers for a few moments; “The regent’s emissary, you say? Okay then. Who’s that?” He said, grinning and pointing his hoof at Noir. “She’s with me.” “Does she have papers?” “Are you going to let us in or not?” “If you tell me who she is, then I might consider doing that.” Noir pushed in front of Storm’s wing and stepped into view, saying: “I am the princess of Zir’lan and you will open this gate. That’s an order.” The sectorial burst into laughter and yelled towards the masses of ponies that were waiting: “Hey, all of you filthy beggars, Noir Disharmony is here for you!” They turned their heads and glared. They started shouting. Noir quickly realised her mistake and softened up. Aendel grabbed the sectorial by the collar and said: “If you don’t open those gates, I will make your life a living hell.” “Oh you sure do scare me, Aendel Scroll!” The guard said, grinning. “You know what your beloved sectorial friends say about you? That you’re one big traitor!” “Oh yeah? Well guess what, I stopped caring the moment the Blitz happened.” The escort surrounded Noir, waving their weapons in the air and yelling at the ponies to stay away. Storm kept the princess near him. Some ponies had approached and were spouting all sorts of insanities: “Maybe if they let you, a mass-murderer, in the city, they’ll let us in too, eh?” “There’s the girl! Nice covering your eye there, is it still glowing?!” “Oh look, it’s the commissar from Coltstone! Country pegasus found himself quite a bride! I hope you both die!” “Everypony I cared about died because of you, and here you are, having the guts to show your face!” The escort and Storm were yelling back, answering with lots of swearing. Noir was shivering. Suddenly, a loud hiss silenced the crowd; the gates opened, slowly, and the sectorials started yelling at each other trying to understand who ordered for them to be opened. The next moment, everypony screamed, as a Wolmetahl passed through. The intimidating metal beast however did not attack or harm any of the ponies, it simply scanned the crowd with its laser array, the beams sweeping over the ponies below. From behind it, a small group of ponies dressed in red and gold uniforms, with Razorwing Demoon in front, made their entrance. The tail-bladed stallion shouted: “Everypony, do not panic, the Wolmetahl will not hurt you. I want every one of you to step away from the princess, now.” Noir, her party, and everypony else were stupefied. Razorwing approached the princess’ group, but the sectorial from before walked up to him and yelled: “Hey, who the hay are you and what’s the meaning of this?!” Demoon stopped, pulled out a small gun and shoved it in the sectorial’s face, saying with a calm and collected voice: “Disappear, now.” The other raised his hooves and backed up slowly; he shouted at the gate guards to arrest the stranger, but the Wolmetahl growled fiercely at them all and they froze. Razorwing pushed aside Aendel, who let out a short “hey!”, and fixated Storm with his eyes, saying: “It’s fine, young pegasus, I will not harm her.” Storm hesitated, but ultimately stepped aside, prepared to strike if the stranger would touch Noir. Razorwing finally was standing in front of the princess, and said: “Blessed be the Rift, you arrived safely. I was one step away from sending an entire army to bring you here. Please, follow me, young lady.” “Follow you where?” She said, confused and hostile. “To greatness, of course. Also, for you to take care of any business you have in the city.” “What about them?” The princess asked, pointing at Storm and Aendel. “They will be waiting for you when you return. Now quickly, her majesty is waiting for you,” Razorwing replied, then, looking at the Wolmetahl, shouted: “Don’t let anyone else in!” The beast nodded. Aendel jumped in: “Wait a minute! Who are you again? Are you one of the regent’s ponies? How is it that the beast listens to you?!” Razorwing turned towards him and said: “No, I am not one of the regent’s ponies. I am one of Noir’s ponies.” Both Noir and Aendel froze, and Noir felt an ice-cold look from the emissary piercing her. The princess turned towards him and said with a faded voice: “I swear, I don’t know what he’s talking about.” Aendel huffed angrily and said to Razorwing: “You don’t have any authority to take her away.” “Neither do you to stop me,” the stallion replied. “Oh but I do, and you’re under arrest for threatening a sectorial guard.” Razorwing chuckled, then came very close to Aendel and said: “Very soon, all of you sectorials and your puny attempt at a leadership will come to realize the new world order, and you will taste either the tasteless victory or the bitter-sweet defeat, depending on what side you choose.” Aendel remained silent and frustrated. “Come with me princess, we have work to do,” Demoon then said to Noir. Thus, Razorwing and Noir entered the Capital, followed by the Wolmetahl, and the gates closed behind them… But not before Trackhead could sneak in as well. ** “Winter wrap-up, winter wrap-up, let’s do the holiday cheer…” Ralph Ferron was singing an equestrian song, going back and forth from one side of his room to the other and laughing randomly. His mane was frizzy, his expression erratic. “Winter wrap-up, winter wrap-up, ‘cause spring is here... Shut up.” Although he was the only one talking, Ralph then started arguing, aggravated by him telling himself to shut up: “You shut up! You’re the one that’s always talking, always thinking, compiling extensive strategies to take down the Company or buy an ice-cream, you ugly bastard!” And he answered as well: “Well aren’t you the sweetest? Also I don’t like ice-cream.” “How was I supposed to know that?!” “Well, you can see my thoughts.” “Oh, right. You know what, Cronum? I had enough of your thoughts, so just stop thinking. I don’t have room for my own!” “Ralph, there’s enough room for both of us. Your head is empty anyways.” “No it’s not, thanks to you.” “You just called yourself an idiot.” “No, I just called you a parasite. Get out of my head!” Ralph stopped walking like a metronome and lied on his bed, burying his head in his hooves. He groaned and slammed the pillow, but to no avail. Cronum was still there. “Seriously? You have to try harder than that. Try killing yourself, that could work.” “How about no?” “We could wake up, there is a chance. We can then take separate templates.” “No, I’m not risking to not wake up.” “Heh, you have a choice. I never did.” “Oh stop complaining about that, you survived it all!” “Is that an excuse?” “It’s a fact.” “Well, I did, but you assholes did something worse than killing me afterwards.” “And what would that be?” “What do you think? Using the wrong template and infusing me in your stupid head!” “Yeah, that is indeed a tragedy. I wish I could kill you.” “The feeling is mutual.” ** “So, miss Disharmony, I believe you have business here in the lockdown zone?” Demoon asked with a cordial tone. Noir didn’t answer. She was stuck between shock and aggravated confusion. She looked at the Wolmetahl behind them, at Razorwing’s uniform, noticed the strange logo, noticed his tail made of blades. Demoon chuckled, looking at Noir’s face; “Oh Noir, there’s so many things her majesty needs to explain to you.” “Her majesty?” The princess asked lightly, regaining her voice. “Yes. Our queen. She’s been expecting you for quite a while now.” “But I thought a regent ruled now, who is she?” “You will meet her.” After a while, Razorwing looked at the princess again and frowned: “Oh but what a shame! Hold still.” Noir got startled as the stallion removed her eye-patch, exposing her green eye and her strongly-lit dot in the center of it. “Yes, why hide your power, Noir? It’s beautiful, that red dot of yours. It’s the only thing her majesty never had...” Razorwing said and lifted the princess’ chin up with his hoof. “Get your hooves off of me,” Noir said sharply. “Of course,” the stallion quickly backtracked. “So, what brings you to the Capital?” “That’s none of your business.” “Oh really? Well now, you wouldn’t happen to appreciate the help I offered getting you past those snobby sectorials?” Noir sighed. “I just need to visit somepony.” “I see.” They kept walking on the barren streets... … And the more they went deeper into the morbid, abandoned and ghost-like city, the more Noir felt nostalgia stinging her heart like a needle. The streets were familiar; they used to be the streets Noir ran around on as a filly. The houses and tall buildings, now ruins, once glorious demonstrations of power. Around them, there used to be soothed-up ponies, trade caravans, fiddlers and soldiers in shining armor… Now it was all dust, blood and motor oil. Here and there, a dead Wolmetahl, ripped apart by the functional ones for scrap parts, a pile of scorched rubble, a tattered flag sticking out of the ruins, waving in the wind. As they got closer to the center of the city, Noir started feeling outright sick. A tear escaped her eye as she realised where she was; The central square hadn’t changed in Noir's eyes. The podium, where Lux had held his speech; the old royal palace in the background; the spotlights pointed upwards; the huge banners hanging on cables across the square… Noir could remember everything in detail… Razorwing noticed Noir’s state of being and sighed, then said: “What a tragedy this was, indeed. I will never forget your parents and what they did for this nation, Noir. Keep in mind though, from their ashes… You shall rise and lead. They would’ve never wanted anything else for you.” Noir kept herself from crying and said with a faded voice: “You never met them, did you? They never wanted me to be a princess. They always said that greatness doesn’t come with titles, it comes with who you are as a pony and what you do, and that being a princess was just… Risks… Piled on…” She stopped, whimpering a few times before sighing and wiping her tears off. “I always hoped I could forget, but it always comes back to me. Maybe all those ponies outside the walls are right; it was my fault,” she continued. “Oh but please, princess, that is utter nonsense!” Razorwing argued. “You weren’t even there!” Noir shouted, cutting him off. “Yes, I wasn’t. However, lots of ponies I knew were, and I mourn their loss just as you mourn yours. I’m sorry, Noir.” The princess looked away. They left the square, and soon reached Noir’s destination. The scientist’s house didn’t stand out from the rest, it was just like the other ones; walls covered in ash, broken windows. Noir climbed the cracked steps and knocked at the barred door; nopony answered. She hesitated a bit, then stepped back and broke down the door with her magic. Razorwing, who was waiting for her in the street, shouted: “Rude!” Noir froze; the house was a mess. It had been ravaged, stuff was lying everywhere. No sign of the scientist. The princess checked every room and couldn’t find anything important; if there was anything regarding the scientist’s inventions or his findings on the Wolmetahls, it wasn’t there. She was about to leave, when, suddenly, she noticed the back door was open. “Psst, Noir!” The princess jumped, and turned around to see Trackhead hidden in the bathroom. “Trackhead?! How did you…” “Doesn’t matter. I’m here because I wanted to see him as well,” Trackhead replied. “He’s not here, is he?” “No, unfortunately not,” Noir replied. “Anyways, that tail-bladed guy doesn’t know I’m here, so keep it down. Did you check everywhere for anything he might’ve left behind?” “Yeah.” But then a thought crossed her mind. She hadn’t checked under the bed. However, upon ducking, she ascertained that there was nothing there. Standing up, she heard a slight crack in the wood. Frozen in place, she lifted her hoof and noticed that a few of the planks under the bed were slightly elevated. Grasping them with her magic, she removed the planks and took the file that was lying within the floor, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes. However, when she opened the file, her smile faded. All there was inside was a document and a note. The note read: “Ask Trackhead” Noir felt confused. She flipped the document around and saw written on the cover “T.H.E Company - Project Haermes Equis - Classified”. Noir felt a shiver down her spine, then another one, then another. The more she read, the more her heart beat faster. “Noir? Are you done yet? There’s obviously nopony home!” Razorwing’s voice came from outside. Trackhead threw a look through the window and turned to Noir: “Don’t trust the tail-blades guy, there’s something off about him… Also, were there always soldiers with you?” Noir didn’t answer. She had never heard those names before, but they somehow sounded familiar. There were lots of notes scribbled on the papers, but most of it was redacted; it said something about a project, an error in a program... Templates… Templates. Like the ones in her dreams, but what were they referring to? There was also a list of seven names, but they were all redacted, two of them having a note written next to them: “We’re the same and yet we’re not.” Noir couldn’t understand what any of that meant, and there was too little information not covered by black bars for her to piece together anything... Besides that she had a bad feeling about it all. The notes were apparently scribbled by a crazy pony: “Get out of my head, you damn evil psychopath!” “Need. To. Not. Think.” “He listens to everything, it’s like my mind is an antenna and he is a radio. GET OUT.” “We will never be the same.” “What have we done? Not we. YOU.” Noir stopped reading. She took the papers and hid them in her satchel. Trackhead gasped and whispered: “Noir! Noir, were there always soldiers with you?!” Noir frowned. “Uhm, no, why?” “Because there’s like an army outside at the moment.” The princess looked through the window and froze. Razorwing saw her and yelled: “Princess, exit the house through the front door and don’t make any stupid moves, we don’t want you to get hurt.” Trackhead said quickly: “Noir, listen, Noobsie and Tessy are in a cloud above the central square, if you can get there…” “No,” Noir replied. “I don’t want them to be in danger. You stay here, and don’t make a sound.” The princess exited the house. Around thirty soldiers in red and gold uniforms, standing on their hind-hooves in a U-formation, were pointing railguns at the princess. “What… Why…” Noir faltered. “We had to make sure you won’t give us any surprises,” Razorwing said. “Just follow me and you’ll be alright.” “Where are we going?” “Sector 0, miss Disharmony.” ** Storm and Aendel were sitting around a campfire, now being part of the aimless masses outside the city walls, not exchanging any words. A family gave them permission to sleep in their tent overnight, the only family that was remotely being nice to them, as the rest kept blabbering behind their backs. The night had taken over the fields once more, as the Rift became visible among the stars, its huge orange-reddish flame slowly dancing across the fabric of space. Aendel was angry and bitter. In his mind, he was right. Noir had planned it all from the start, and was there to collect the bounty. It made sense, after all; she was teleporting frequently to Sector 0, she had plans to take down the regent and assume control, take profit in the Blitz and everything that had happened afterwards… And the Wolmetahls. She had control over the Wolmetahls, even though she tried hiding it. That tail-bladed guy though, his mouth slipped. The emissary smiled. He had enough evidence to arrest Noir and end this entire charade. He knew from the start though, but was weak and had let some random ponies make him doubt himself. He threw a look to Storm, who was blank-staring at the crackling flames of the fire. Storm, on the other hoof, was worried about the princess, and was ready to take down all the guards and enter the city just to make sure she was okay. He could fly; unfortunately though, the lockdown had established flying-nullifiers as well. Suddenly, distant thumps broke the silence. The family’s filly asked her mother: “Mommy, why are there fireworks so far away? I want to see them…” “Oh, sweetie, those aren’t fireworks…” The mother replied. They were artillery guns, and soon the fields in the distance started rumbling with thunder and lightning, as the 5th army of Zir’lan was defending the outer border of the region with their lives. It didn’t take long, an hour at most. Both Aendel and Storm listened with pain in their souls, as less and less cannons fired, the flames of the resistance dying out as quickly as they ignited... “We lost the border” was then the phrase everypony pronounced, as some of them started crying, others simply stared at the ground, and others took another shot of alcohol. The radios spoke: “The western border has been overrun. What’s left of the 5th army will arrive at the Capital in the morning. I repeat; the western front has fallen. Sectorials, if you’re hearing this… Prepare for the worst. This is commander Arnold signing off, I’m going to blow up the charges, hopefully I’ll get some of them as they pass… May the Rift bless you all… It was an honor serving Zir’lan. Hail Disharmony!” The transmission ended with a loud sound, and the sky above the fields lit up. “Everypony, shield your ears!” Aendel yelled. The mother took her filly in her arms and covered her ears, and after about fifteen seconds, the shockwave reached them, a terrifying boom shaking the ground and a gust of wind sweeping the entire area. “Is everypony alright?” Storm asked around. Aendel felt boiling anger. He turned to Storm and exploded: “Do you see it, now?! I was right all along!” Storm frowned. “Wha-” He stuttered. “What do you mean what?! About Noir! It was her all along! This is all part of her grand scheme!” “But that doesn’t make any sense, Aendel!” “Doesn’t it? How else can you explain that?!” Aendel yelled and pointed at the clouds of smoke on the fields. “She has control over the Wolmetahls, she always had it. Is it a coincidence that she arrives here, where her center of operations is, and hours afterwards the frontline falls?!” “Aendel, you’re being paranoid,” Storm said. “Didn’t you hear what the tail-blades guy said? He said her majesty is waiting for Noir, so that means Noir isn’t in charge!” “Fairy tales! It’s all a cover-up! He said he works for Noir, stop trying to throw water in my face!” Aendel roared. “I’m just trying to make you see things objectively, for the Rift’s sake!” “No, you’re the one that’s biased because you love her!” “What?! No I don’t!” “Shut up. You think I’m blind?!” Storm clenched his jaws. “What does that even have to do with anything?” He asked, sighing. “It has to do with the simple fact that Noir is against what’s best for this nation and you’re in the way of fixing that,” Aendel said through his teeth. “Oh, and what are you going to do? Arrest me? You were the one who said the regent is corrupt and that we are alone with this one.” “Don’t push me, Storm.” “Right, because you have lots of authority left.” A few moments of silence passed, then Aendel said: “I don’t, but the regent does.” “Don’t,” Storm said. “Don’t do this, Aendel. He might be corrupt, you might just walk right into a trap and feed him information he’ll then use against us all.” “You know what, Storm? The only time I fell in a trap was when I listened to you,” the emissary threw him and left the camp, heading for the group of stallions in red and gold that came with Razorwing, smoking near the gates. He approached the group of around five ponies and addressed himself to what seemed to be the highest-ranking one of them: “Good evening, my name is Aendel Scroll, I am in the regent’s service as his majesty’s emissary and I bring valuable information that needs to be acknowledged by the regent urgently. I know it’s late and I’m aware of the chaos that might outbreak, but it is mandatory that you open those gates.” The stallion looked at him, raising an eyebrow, and said yawning: “Even if I wanted to, I don’t have clearance to open the gates.” “Then who does? Who do I need to speak to?” “The secretary of the army.” “Please, good sir, that would take too much time!” “I’m sorry, but I ain’t fixing what sectorials screw up. Not my problem they closed the gates in the first place.” “Wait, so, you’re not with the army, right? You’re not a so-called sectorial. You’re a mercenary or a private contractor, right? Who are you guys exactly? I can see your logo, it has to do with Wolmetahls right?” The stallion approached Aendel and said: “I suggest you stop asking questions and you forget anything you might’ve heard, for your own sake. Now, what kind of information are you bringing?” “It concerns the regent only.” “You know what? I’ll open the gates if you tell me one thing.” “I thought you didn’t have clearance, but okay.” “If victory is tasteless and defeat tastes bitter-sweet, what does a draw taste like?” Aendel smiled. He knew that one, it was an old saying his father used to tell. “Depends on the cook,” the emissary said. The stallion laughed and turned to another: “Open the gates.” Aendel was a bit uneasy. Why did they suddenly decide to help him? Was it enough he knew some random old saying? Either way, the huge gates opened, and soldiers quickly closed the way to prevent other ponies from entering, as they all rushed yelling towards the entrance to the city. Aendel looked back, discouraged, the blocks of chrome closing behind him. He was alone, in a dead city, at night. Walking on the silent streets, here and there feeling the movement of seemingly docile Wolmetahls behind his back, their eyes glowing in the dark, reminding him of how Noir’s dot glowed, the emissary really started to wonder why he couldn’t have waited until dawn. He made his way with difficulty to yet another obstacle… The gate to Sector 0. Upon arrival he was told to brush off and that the gates stayed closed at night and that he had to wait until the morning to pass through, and thus the regent’s emissary found shelter in one of the many abandoned houses and barely managed to fall asleep, the quiet thumps of the Wolmetahls and the flailing of their tentacles in the dark outside the windows giving him the shivers. As for Noir and Razorwing, the gate wasn’t an obstacle. Even at night, Sector 0 looked a whole lot better than other cities and a whole lot better than any other place in the kingdom. Even though it was small and cramped, it was heaven, being the only city untouched by Wolmetahls… Or the wild type of Wolmetahls, rather. The lights were brilliant, the buildings and view were amazing, but none of that catched Noir’s attention as much as the fact that the ponies there had a very different reaction to seeing her than the ones outside the Capital. It almost felt off, how they all bowed in front of the princess and clapped their hooves applauding. Razorwing whispered to her, as they walked down the main boulevard: “You see, Noir, these ponies may be from Sector 0, but they certainly are not sectorials. They are your ponies… Well, her highness’ ponies, but yours as well. They look up to you, unlike the other rats that dare question your power, and remember; you’re not wearing your eye-patch, Noir. They can see your dot, and they praise it. Our logo is not a Wolmetahl eye, princess. It’s yours.” “But I don’t understand…” She said. “How is this possible? Sector 0 was always the center of the riot against me…” “That’s what once was true, and what you were led to believe. More answers will come to you shortly; we’re almost there.” Noir wouldn't buy any of it. She could see the ponies further away, on the other side of barriers, yelling at her and showing the same hostility Noir was used to. Something was off, and the princess could feel something stirring in the air... However, she could also feel that they were close… Also feel what they were getting close to. Approaching the huge, new royal palace, passing by decorated Wolmetahls that bowed, somehow, for some reason, she knew who the white-furred pony that she was going to meet was, and she knew, the moment she stepped into the huge throne room, that her flashbacks and her dreams, they were all real... At least that was what she felt, as nothing was really certain. The moment the princess saw who was sitting on the crystal throne of Zir’lan, a scream escaped her lungs. It was the same pony that she had dreamed about, the same pony she saw the night of the Blitz, right before passing out, and the same pony she once knew… Her name was Snow. However, the white-furred pony did not have the same revelation concerning Noir. None of it, just a vague memory of something familiar, a spark of light in the dark void that was her erased memory. For a second she also knew... But only for a second, before the spark went up with a puff. Because Noir had only a part of her memories erased that day, the day she entered the Haermes Equis Project, but Snow had lost all of it. “Once you lose someone you love, you have two choices: Accepting the loss, or losing yourself too.”