“I take it you must be Shadow Star the Courier Mare, I’ve been dying to meet you.”
If anypony ever asked me what it was like to find yourself in a situation between saving another, or saving yourself, what would you do? I wouldn’t know what to say, not until I met the Enclave that is. Those damned pegasi who thought they could control whatever they wanted above and below the clouds. I found myself in a situation like that now. One where I’d either have to risk death to save others, or run away and let the ones who live in Frosty Summit die at the hooves of this small army and one mysterious unicorn. What’s up with her anyway? It’s bad enough I had a fucked-up thing living inside me, a pony who hid his face that saved me and didn’t tell me who he was, and the Sins. Now I have to deal with a unicorn who hid herself from everypony and to top it off, knew some strong magic.
Wingnut stood at my side, his revolver ready. Silver was on the other side of me pulling out a pistol. Then she pulled out a box of ammo and passed it to me, “Here, take these. I’m sure you’re still out, I had some .50 Cal. that would work for Dream Walker.”
I smiled and loaded my gun as I watched Solstice walk slowly toward me placing her helmet on her head, “You should tell your friends to put those toys away. They won’t help you.”
“I swear you Enclave pricks just love to talk, that’s all you do before you fight, you talk and you talk with all your empty fucking threats,” I said, taunting her.
“You have a point,” she said, and a second later her twin energy rifles on her battle saddle fired crimson death toward me.
I dodge to one side and slipped into S.A.T.S. aiming three shots at her torso. I fired, and to my amazement she dodged two of them. The last one just grazed her armor as she took to the air and fired down at me again. Okay note to self, she’s fast, even in power armor.
I drew on my magic and fired a blast of energy at her, but she dodged that too then fired down at me. I wasn’t as lucky this time, one of her beams hit me, throwing me back. Pain racked my side, but luckily the armor Silver made for me kept me from being turned into a pile of ash. I looked at my armor and noticed it was singed, but the beam didn’t damage it. Silver sure knew how to make a good set of armor.
Solstice laughed hovering in the air looking down at me, “Damn, that armor of yours must be made of serious stuff. Most ponies would’ve bit the dust from a hit like that.”
“Shadow, we can’t just concentrate on one pony, her friends are attacking the townsfolk,” Aura said pulling her spear out looking ready to jump into the air.
“Don’t go after her Aura, this is my fight. You need to go help get the others away from here, same goes for the rest of you. This fight isn’t just about us, it involves all the ponies and Alicorns who call this place home,” I shouted, reloading Dream Walker and slipping into S.A.T.S. again. I aimed one shot toward her head, but again she was able to dodge it, “Oh come on, nopony is that quick.”
“Nice try, but you’ll have to do better than that if you wanna take down somepony like me. I’m not like those soldiers you fought back at F&F Tools, I’m elite.”
“Elite my ass. Take off that power armor and we’ll see how elite you really are,” I scoffed as she flew down at me, her energy rifles blazing.
I cast my teleportation spell, my horn however decided it didn’t want to do that particular spell. My horn popped and sizzled, so I jumped to the side doing my best to dodge her shots. She laughed and banked to the side as I fired another round at her, this one glowing like the others did when Dream Walkers special ability took effect, but the bitch dodged that one too.
“It’s like I said before, you’ve gotta do better than that…” she started to taunt, then Stardust came flying out of seemingly nowhere and kicked her in the side, sending her slamming into the ground.
He landed next to me looking at Solstice, “You call yourself an elite soldier? Let’s see how you do against a REAL elite solider. I trained every day in my stable my whole life.”
“Stardust, I can take care of this,” I said watching Solstice as she got back to her hooves.
He looked at me with a look in his eye that I hadn’t seen before, “Shadow, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, let me handle her. Remember I was trained to fight ponies like her.”
Solstice spat a little blood on the ground, “Oh look, if it isn’t the runway. I’ll deal with you later right after I’m done with the Courier Mare. Step aside you sheltered wannabe.”
“You’re nothing but a child compared to me. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll tell them to fall back,” he said, then looked back at me, “You have another pony to take care of Shadow, that hooded bitch is powerful from what I can tell. You’re the only other unicorn here who might stand a chance to take her down.”
I looked toward the entrance to the Summit and saw her standing there watching as the rest of the enclave ponies flew in to attack the ponies around Frosty Summit. In the glare of the energy rifles going off, the sound of battle, and magic flying from the Alicorns, she was looking only at me, “Okay Stardust, do your best not to get hurt.”
He laughed, “Come on Shadow, this is me we’re talking about.” And with that he flew toward Solstice.
“Who are you and why do you want my Pip-Buck?” I yelled at the hooded mare as I ran toward her, Dream Walker at the ready.
“It’s worthless telling a dirt pony like yourself what I’m after. Your feeble little mind wouldn’t understand,” she said as a magical blast shot out from her horn toward me.
In a panic, I cast my teleportation spell, luckily this time it worked. I reappeared behind her and fired. She tried to use another spell, but I was too quick, I fired off three shots at her almost point blank. Each one hit, two in her torso, another hitting a leg. She screamed then vanished in a flash of blue light.
I took a step back looking around for where she could’ve gone. I couldn’t use my E.F.S. because of all the red bars flying around me at the moment. I turned my head slowly then I heard something behind me, using the same technique I saw the Enclave mare use back at F&F Tools, I ducked down and rolled to the side, coming back up to face the hooded mare right as a stream of magic flew over me.
“I’ll admit, you’re resourceful for a stable pony,” I could see the holes in her barding and cloak from my shots, but she must’ve taken a healing potion or something stronger, because she didn’t even look hurt.
“You pick up a thing or two when you’re traveling The Wasteland,” I went to fire Dream Walker again, I pulled the trigger, (Click) I looked down at my weapon and saw the magazine was laying on the ground with the round that I had chambered, “What the fuck did you do?”
She chuckled a little as she started to step slowly toward me, “I’ve also learned a thing or two while traveling The Wasteland child. First thing I learned was how to quickly disarm a weapon. The Enclave perfected the art of close quarters combat.”
I went to reload Dream Walker, but her horn glowed from under her hood and it was wrenched out of my Magical grip and tossed away. Whoever this mare was, she was strong. She just overtook my telekinesis like it was nothing, “How did you do that?”
“It’s easy with someone as weak as you are. I’ve had years to hone my magical skills and learn many spells. From what I can see, you only know basic telekinesis and how to teleport…slightly. Whoever taught you magic should be ashamed, you shouldn’t even call yourself a unicorn. You’re a disgrace to your race.”
I smiled and shot a blast of energy at her, “I have one more trick up my sleeve.”
For a second I thought it would work, then she teleported again at the last second. She reappeared a moment later on the other side of me, it was right then that the toll for using that spell hit me and my legs started to shake as the energy left my body. She laughed again, “I’ll give you a little credit; I wasn’t expecting that. It’s been many years since I’ve seen a unicorn who can take a basic expulsion spell and modify it so it becomes a powerful blast of energy. Too bad it takes so much energy out of you, or that would’ve been a good spell to use.”
Breathing a little heavy I asked, “Who are you? Why do you keep hiding you’re face from me?”
She cocked her head to one side, “Hiding my face from you? I don’t even know you apart from the fact that you came from the Stable where that Pip-Buck was hidden. No, I keep my face hidden because it makes it a lot easier to keep my true identity hidden from everypony. If nopony knows my face then I can go wherever I want in The Wasteland without anypony knowing who I really am.”
“So, I take it you’re one of the higher ups in the Enclave?” I said doing my best to keep my body from shaking. I shouldn’t have tried a spell like that.
She started to laugh, “A higher up? I guess you could say that. I’m the top unicorn researcher that they have, nopony alive knows as much about the Arcane Sciences as I do.”
I smiled and started to chuckle a little as well, “So, if you were to die then I take it The Enclave would be pissed.”
“You could say that, but from where I’m standing I don’t see that happening. You can barely stand. If you had a few years to hone your magic and control, then maybe you’d have to chance to take me on, but I have decades more experience than you do.”
“You’re forgetting one thing.”
“Oh, and what’s that?” she mocked.
“I’ve made a few friends while I’ve been out here, and I can always count on them to help me out when I’m in a bind,” I said pointing at the pony who was right behind her with a magical energy rifle pointed at the back of the hooded mare’s head.
Laser Light grinned at me saying, “Aw, you went and spoiled the surprise.”
The hooded mare didn’t move, she only laughed again, “What makes you think I’m scared of one pony and a rifle?”
The hooded mare’s horn started to glow from under her hood, Laser Light pressed the barrel of her rifle harder against the back of the mare’s head, “Don’t even think about trying to use a spell. I know for a fact that I can blast your head off before you can cast anything that would save you.”
“You’ll pay for this!” The hooded mare said, but her horn went dark and she didn’t move.
“Good job Laser, keep her there while I help Stardust,” I said, using my magic I picked up Dream Walker and my clip and reloaded it, looking toward the sky where my friend was fighting hoof to hoof with Solstice. I have to admit, watching Stardust fight another pegasus was strange, but I could see how dangerous he could be as an enemy. Solstice was doing everything she could to keep him off of her, but with every kick and hit she tried to land on him he blocked and struck hard. Even with her power armor I could tell she was no match for him.
She banked to one side flipping around in midair then fired her twin energy rifles at him. Stardust back flipped in the air dodging the attack with ease, then he twisted, pulled his rifle off his back and fired. This time she wasn’t able to move quick enough and the round bit into her shoulder. She screamed and fell toward the ground. She flapped her wings hard and was able to keep herself from landing too hard. She looked up at Stardust with hatred written on her face.
“Where the fuck did you learn to fight like that?”
Stardust stayed in the air, his rifle trained on her, “Stable 97, you should know that since you were sent here to kill me.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, I was sent down here from Stratus to kill a runaway who stole precious property that belonged to the council.”
Stardust started to laugh, “Is that what they told you? Damn kid, I feel bad for you for falling for something that idiotic. I AM the property they sent you to kill, I never took anything when I left. I was the thing that they lost. I’m the future solider of The Enclave, a perfect fighter. When I ran away they wanted me taken down so Neighvarro wouldn’t find out what Stratus and Nimbus are up to. The sad thing is they sent a child to kill me, one that has no idea what she’s gotten herself into.”
“Fuck you, I was the top of my class at the academy and the youngest pony ever to reach an officer rank. I’m more than qualified to take you down.”
He smiled down at her returning his rifle to his back, “You aren’t even qualified to take down Shadow Star, let alone me. Go back home and take your army of bitches with you before you end up as a casualty.”
I wanted to say something, but right then a scream erupted from back toward the Lodge. I looked toward it and saw a young pegasus running away from three Enclave soldiers, one of which was Winter Frost. She had Lavender Coat with a long black mane with one red streak in it. Winter Frost flew down at her his rifles charging up to fire.
“Somepony help me!” The mare shouted.
Stardust twisted around in mid-air pulling his rifle off his back again, he sighted down the scope and fired three shots. The first shot took down one of the pegasi with a bullet through the back of his head, the next ripped through the others neck, and his third shot sank into Winter Frosts wing. He screamed and fell to the ground. Stardust flew over to the trembling mare to make sure she was okay.
As I watched what happened somepony slammed into me, throwing me to the ground, I felt metal hooves slam down on the back of my helmet as we went down. I kicked back and threw them off me and turned to see Solstice. She’d removed her helmet but she was still wearing the black power armor. I picked myself up and drew Dream Walker, “What, you couldn’t take down Stardust so you thought you’d try fighting me?”
“Fuck you, I have my orders and I plan on seeing them through. When I’m done with you I’ll take down the Dashite!” she exclaimed, her magical energy rifles starting to hum.
“Do you even see what you’re doing here? There are ponies who live here that haven’t done anything wrong and you’re just killing them.”
“Dirt ponies need to learn their place, and most of the ponies here are Dashites, they’re nothing but a disgrace to Pegasus kind. Traitors, all of them,” she fired her magical energy rifles.
I dodged to one side and fired back at her, she in turn dodged my shot firing back at me in quick succession. One of her shots hit me as I was trying to avoid another, the shot heated up my barding. I was lucky Silver put so much time into this new armor of mine or else that shot could’ve done major damage. Still I hit the ground and rolled.
I rolled back to my hooves and jumped back avoiding another of her wild shots. I lifted Dream Walker, it clicked on an empty chamber, “Fuck!” I yelled as I checked for a fresh clip, only one and it would take more than what I had left to take her down. Sadly, Silver didn’t have much when she gave me the extra rounds and it wasn’t like there was any traders in Frosty Summit. I really need to start stocking up on weapons that didn’t have such rare ammo.
Solstice started to laugh, “Time to give up, you’re nearly out of ammo and out of options.”
“Maybe you’re right, it’d be the smart thing to do…” I responded smiling back at her, “…but I’ve never been good at doing the smart thing.”
I might not have much ammo left, but I did still have my machete. I pulled it from my saddle bags and jumped toward the pink maned bitch. One thing I’d noticed about her, is that she reacted without thinking when somepony charged her. She did just that, she started to fire…but not as wildly as I’d hoped she would. I tried to dodge her first shot, only to end up jumping right in front of her next. The magical energy blasted into me and threw me back again, burning through my new barding and into my coat.
“Did you think you could just rush me with a big knife? You’re right, you’re really not good with the whole smart thing,” the rifles on her battle saddle started charging up again.
I held a hoof to my burning chest and looked up at her through the goggles in my helmet, “Maybe, but another thing you should know about me is that I hate giving up.”
I jumped toward her entering S.A.T.S. in the split-second surprise I got I was able to close the small gap between us, and target two hits with the spell. They were a little wild, my first scraped off her armor, but my second slashed across her exposed neck, but it was shallow. As the targeting spell ended she fell back with a quick yelp of pain. Blood splattered on the ground, but she was still standing.
“You bitch, you’ll pay for that!” she yelled holding a hoof to her bleeding neck, “Good thing this was shallow.”
I saw her heading to fire again, then something came rolling across the ground. I looked down just in time to see a shiny metal apple with a light blue band on it. It flashed and emitted an electrical pulse, it didn’t seem to do much to me apart from frizzling my mane, I couldn’t say the same for Solstice. When the flash of light went away she was just standing there, her energy rifles were dead and so was her power armor.
She growled at me, “What the fuck did you just do?”
“She didn’t do anything,” Wingnut said running over to me, he looked like he’d been in a fight himself, but he didn’t look hurt, “That was a spark grenade, great thing to keep around when you’re fighting ponies in power armor. Right now, your power armor’s spell matrix is down, you can’t move anything.”
“Good work Wingnut, how are the others doing?”
“Violet is kinda goin’ on a rampage right now. She’s beaten back most of the ground force that tried to get in, Aura and that Dashite pony have been showing the other pegasi why you don’t mess with them, and Stardust is over there fighting with that other power armored pegasus,” he said pointing a hoof to where I could see Stardust in a hoof to hoof fight with Winter Frost. It looked like Winter Frost was able to fix his wing somehow, because he didn’t look hurt at all.
I looked back toward Solstice, “You’ve been beaten apart for maybe one or two, so I think it’s time you start telling me what you really want with us.”
She just started to laugh, “You think we’re beaten? You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Maybe it’s just me, but you look like the one who can’t move right now, you’re finished,” Wingnut said, “Even that unicorn mare you brought with you is being held at gunpoint by Laser Light.”
I looked over to where the hooded mare still stood quietly watching us, at least I think she was, it was hard to tell when you couldn’t even see her eyes, “Wingnut, do you have any ammo for Dream Walker or a gun I can use?”
“I don’t have any .50 Cal. ammunition, all I have is my revolver and a crappy energy pistol that one of the Enclave ponies dropped.”
“It’ll have to do,” I said taking the pistol…how did you even fire this thing it didn’t even look like a normal gun…it’s made of plastic…oh wait there it is. I pointed it at Solstice, “Okay, how about we try this again, tell me why you’re here.”
“This fight isn’t over yet,” she turned her head and yelled, “How long are you going to just stand there?”
The hooded mare chuckled a little, “I was just waiting to see what you’d do, but if you really want me to do something I guess I could.”
Laser Light pressed her rifle against her head again, “You aren’t doing anything.”
“No pony was talking to you Lieutenant Colonel…,” The Hooded mare said, whispering something at the end, but I wasn’t able to catch the last word.
Laser Light pulled back a little a look of shock on her face, “How’d you…”
The Hooded Mare took advantage of the momentary distraction, ducked down, and bucked Laser Light before she could get a shot off. Her horn glowed from under her hood as she twisted around and fired a blast of energy at Laser. Laser screamed as it hit, she rolled along the ground, her laser rifle sliding away. Laser didn’t get back up once her body came to a stop, she just laid there unresponsive.
The Hooded Mare’s horn glowed again and she teleported next to me her hoof coming around to strike me. I jumped back and lifted the pistol and tried to fire, the gun fired a crimson beam at the mare who was only a couple feet in front of me, only she put up a shield deflecting the shot. I could see her horn glowing again, something started to glow under me. I looked down just in time to see another magic circle. A second later a blast of magic and earth exploded under me throwing me up into the air.
I screamed as I hit the ground feeling something crack in my chest. Wingnut came running pulling out a healing potion, “Shadow, here take this,” he said pressing the bottle to my lips.
I drank it down quick, as the magic did its job I jumped back to my hooves and pushed him back as another blast of magic exploded under me, this time throwing me back into the wall that protected Frosty Summit. How the hell did she keep doing that? I’ve never seen a unicorn who could do anything like what I was seeing.
I looked up, my vision tinted red from the blood flowing down from a cut on my forehead. Wingnut was trying to run over to me again, another healing potion in his muzzle. The mare however wasn’t having it, she teleported in front of me with an odd-looking weapon in her magical grasp. It kind of looked like a magical energy rifle, but it had a long narrow barrel and wires running along its base connecting to odd projections on the sides.
She pointed the rifle down at me and sighed, “It’s too bad you didn’t just give me the Pip-Buck, you could’ve lived, for a little while at least.”
“Just get it over with, I’m sick of listening to you.”
“Have it your way then,” she said pulling back on the trigger.
Before she could get a shot off, Wingnut jumped in the way holding his hooves up. He looked up at the hooded mare, “You’ll have to kill me too if you want to get to Shadow.”
“Wingnut what the fuck are you doing!?” I yelled.
“I’m not letting her kill you Shadow, if she’s really cold hearted enough to kill me then oh well. I won’t stand back and just watch you die,” He said, still blocking the mare’s shot.
It was then that I noticed the rifle shaking in her magic, “Move out of my way child.”
“No, fuck you,” he replied.
“MOVE NOW!” she screamed as her hold on the rifle grew weaker, starting to shake more.
I reached out with my own magic and took hold of her own weapon ripping it away from her, flipping it around and firing. A blast of green…stuff…flew out of the end of the rifle and blasted into her. She flew back as the green goo stuff stuck to her sizzling a little.
I got to my shaking hooves then took the healing potion Wingnut dropped a few feet away and drank it down quickly. I looked back at the mare who was just getting back to her hooves, “You should’ve taken the shot when you had the chance, now you’re dead.”
I didn’t give her a chance to say anything, I didn’t want to hear anything else from her. I aimed the rifle and fired…then something landed in front of her letting the shot hit it instead. However, the green goo just slid off its hide like it was nothing more than swamp water.
Greed smiled at me, his body covered again in the shiny black armor like when I first met him, “Sorry Shadow, but I can’t let you kill her.”
“Greed? Are you following me or something?”
“Not today, I’m keeping an eye on The Boss.”
“Wait, I thought Pride was your leader?”
“He is, he leads the Seven Sins of Equinity. She’s HIS boss, which makes her OUR boss.”
The Hooded Mare got up, “Greed, your timing is as perfect as ever. Where are the others?”
“They’ll be here in a minute, well a couple of them at least,” he replied.
I lifted the rifle again, “Greed, I can’t let her live, she’s nothing but trouble.”
“And I can’t let you kill her, Pride would kill me if I let anything happen to her.”
“Kill her Greed, I’m tired of dealing with her.” The Hooded Mare yelled.
He looked at me then back at her and sighed, “I really don’t want to do that. Couldn’t we just take her captive? I don’t like fighting ponies of the female variety. You dig?”
“No, she has a tenacity to get herself out of situations like that. If she’s dead then there’s no more problems for us, now do as you’re told.”
He sighed again, “Yes ma’am,” then he looked my way, “Sorry beautiful, but my hooves are tied.”
He rushed me, but I was expecting it, I jumped aside as he flew by then entered S.A.T.S. and targeted three shots at the hooded mare. I was about to activate the spell when something punched into my side making my shots go wild, only one looked like it would hit, but something pulled away from the shadows and pushed the mare out of the line of fire.
When everything went back to normal I saw the shadows around us pulling itself together and Pride was standing where the mare had been a moment ago. He looked as angry as Wrath did when I first hit him with a rock. It was then that I noticed it was getting hard to breath. I looked down at my left side and noticed blood slowly flowing from a gunshot wound. Fuck, Wrath must be here somewhere too. She has three Sins with her, what the fuck am I gonna do now?
Pride walked slowly toward me, his horn glowed as he pulled my helmet off. He tossed it up in the air, a shadow flew up from his horn and sliced the helmet in two. I watched as the gift from Silver landed on the ground, cut smoothly down the center. I wanted to say something, but the only thing that I got out was a bloody cough.
His horn glowed again and he used his magic to pull my Duster and barding off throwing it aside, then he pulled Dream Walker away unloaded it and tossed it aside alone with the other two weapons I had, leaving me exposed and unarmored, “You have been the biggest pain in my ass.”
Wingnut tried to run over to me, but without even looking at the colt, his horn flashed and Wingnut was pinned to the ground. The Hooded Mare walked over next to Pride, “Don’t toy with her brother, we need to kill her before her friends try and save her again.”
Pride looked over at the hooded mare who just called him brother, “Sis, she killed Gluttony, I want her to suffer for killing one of my Sins.”
“We don’t have time for this.”
“Why’s that? Do you think anypony here can do anything to me? Do you really think anypony here could even kill me? If so, let them try. I’m not letting her get away with a quick death,” Pride replied.
She sighed, “Pride I gave you an order, I expect you to follow it without question, or do you want The Council to hear about this?”
“But sis…”
“No but’s. I gave you an order, don’t push your luck with me. Remember, you owe me everything after what you did.”
He shut his muzzle then sighed as shadows started to flow around his horn, “Fine have it your way.”
I looked up at the face of death, then the loud commanding voice of none other than Doorstop yelled, “Hey Pride, say cheese and smile like a jackass!” I saw something fly over me and a second later something exploded into a blinding light. I wish I could have screamed “MY EYES!” but I wasn’t able to say much due to the blood slowly seeping into my lung.
As the Flash grenade went off a horrible in-equine scream filled the air. A moment later as the light faded away I felt Doorstop pressing a restoration potion to my lips. I drank it down eagerly and felt my breathing start to get a lot better. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than drowning in my own blood. I rubbed my eyes and squinted at where Pride had been, but he wasn’t there, only the hooded mare who was rubbing her eyes under her hood.
Doorstop took hold of Wingnut and me taking to the air, “We have to get you out of here before that little mutant recovers.”
“What the fuck did you just do? Where did Pride go?”
Doorstop was looking around as he flew me back toward the resort, “Pride has one big weakness, sudden bursts of light makes his body melt away. It doesn’t keep him down for long, but it’ll buy us some time.”
Wingnut was rubbing his head a little, “You could’ve warned us y’know.”
“Wasn’t enough time maggot. Where did Greed go and how did you get shot?”
“I think Wrath is around here somewhere, but how did you know anything about The Sins or their weaknesses?” I asked as he landed next to the entrance to the resort looking back at where the Hooded Mare was shaking her head looking around for us.
“Because I’m not like The Cadet. I know about most of the things that are going on around Stratus. I’ve met The Sins a few times before and I’ve learned a thing or two. Now where did The Cadet get to anyhow? I should wup his ass for not staying with his subordinates.”
Wingnut spoke up, “He was fighting that other power armored pegasus when I last saw him.”
I looked around and saw my friend high in the air still trying to take down Winter Frost, “He’s up there,” I said pointing a hoof toward him.
Right then Aura landed next to me, she had a few burned spots on her hide, but didn’t look too bad, “Shadow there you are, what happened?”
“The Sins are here, at least Pride, Wrath, and Greed are. Laser Light is down, I’m not sure if she’s even alive, and that mare is gonna kill us if we don’t do something about her right now.”
“The rest of their forces fled, they can’t take all of us,” Aura said readying her spear.
There was a flash of blue in the distance, the Hooded Mare was in front of us, a spell ready on her horn. The attacks she took had done something to her, and I could now see her dark grey eyes looking at me with hatred. The rest of her face was still hidden, but I could see the eyes and the promise of death they held. She cast her spell, seven magical circles forming around her horn as she did.
I closed my eyes not wanting to watch as the spell came to incinerate us all. I’d lost and I’d rather not watch as my friends die around me before I went. I prayed to the goddesses for my final moment, then realized nothing happened. I opened my eyes again to find Violet blocking the way, her shield up and protecting us from the blast of blue energy that was flowing around us. When the spell ended the Hooded Mare swayed for a moment, then she looked up at the Alicorn.
I noticed that Violet didn’t look like her normal self, her eyes were glowing a bloody red and her mane was flowing behind her, just like the mane of the Goddesses in the old stories of when they still lived among us. The Amulet around her neck was glowing just as brightly seeming to fill her with power.
“I forgot about you, abomination,” The hooded mare said breathing heavily.
“You killed two of my children, brought an onslaught of ponies here to kill the ponies who call this place home, attacked a mare who has been trying to make The Wasteland a better place, and you destroyed our home. For that I sentence you to DEATH.” Violet said in a booming voice.
To my amazement, the hooded mare just laughed, “Yeah and I’d do it again, nothing stands in my way.”
“BE GONE!” Violet exclaimed firing a red magical blast of energy at the mare.
She was able to cast a quick shield spell right before the Alicorn’s spell hit. The spell however didn’t stand a chance against Violet’s fury, the red light enveloped the mare crushing the shield in the blink of an eye and threw her across the clearing and into the far wall.
“Holy shit!” Was all I could say as the spell ended and smoke filled the air from where I guessed the charred body of the mare must surely be.
Violet shook her head and sighed, her features going back to normal as she said, “She’s not dead, but she’s badly hurt I’m sure.”
“Wait a sec, are you telling me that even after THAT, she isn’t dead?” Aura said looking back toward the smoky wall.
“No and I’m afraid we aren’t out of the woods yet either.”
“What do you mean?” I asked as I too looked back to where I could see a pony shape getting back to her hooves…it looked like that blast destroyed her cloak and barding, but she was still outlined in dark smoke so I couldn’t tell what she looked like. Then there was a flash of blue light and she was gone.
“How was she able to survive that attack?” I asked.
“She’s very powerful. She uses a mix of zebra magic and unicorn magic. That attack of mine would’ve killed most ponies, but her shield was able to take the deadlier part of my spell, leaving only her body to deal with more destructive part. She took a lot of damage, but it didn’t kill her.”
A second after I saw Winter Frost slam into the ground, Stardust on top of him, “And stay down muthafuckaaaa...”
“Stardust are you okay?” I asked walking over to him and looking down at a knocked-out Winter Frost.
“Of course I am, what do you take me for? A little bitch like him? No way kemosabe. This guy was only hard to take down because of his power armor, but I still showed him why you don’t mess with me,” he said spitting on the other Pegasus. “I win! That’s right biach! Woo!”
The mare from before that Stardust flew off to save from Winter Frost flew over to him and hugged him tight, “You saved my life thank you so much.”
He blushed bright red, “Oh…no problem. Always happy to help a mare in need.”
“I feel like we’re forgetting something,” I said looking around at the destruction around us. I could see Solstice still standing where I’d left her, trapped in her power armor. Winter Frost was unconscious…where were The Sins?
A rifle cracked from somewhere in the darkness and a bullet pierced into my foreleg just above my Pip-Buck. I screamed and fell as another crack filled the air, Stardust pulled himself away from the mare who was still hugging him, “Fuck, I know the sound of that rifle anywhere. Wrath’s here somewhere.”
Aura grabbed me and pulled me behind Violet, she took a moment to look over my leg as the Alicorn brought up her shield spell to protect us from Wrath’s shots, “You’re lucky he didn’t hit higher. This could’ve been a kill shot.”
I winced in pain then responded, “I’ve seen what Wrath can do. If he wanted to take me out he could’ve. Right now, he’s toying with us, I’m sure he’s waiting for Pride to show back up or Greed.”
Aura pulled out a healing potion and dribbled a little on my wound to help concentrate the healing I guess, then had me drink the rest, “We need something to take down that sniper, we’re wide open out here.”
“No matter how much he tries, his ammo can’t get through my shield,” Violet said as she kept her shield up showing how much it could take, “I can have one of my Alicorns find him and take him out if he’s staying in the same position, he won’t be able to hide for long.”
Stardust spoke up, “Wrath’s not a normal sniper, he won’t just sit in one location. When I’m sniping, I’m normally in the air moving from place to place to make sure to keep my location hard to predict.”
“There aren’t many places he can hide around here, my Alicorns can take care of him,” Violet said.
As we sat there trying to think of what to do next Wraths voice echoed around us, he must’ve been using a spell to project his voice, “Alicorn, do you really think that shield of yours can protect you from my shots forever?”
“Your puny bullets can’t get through my shield,” Violet said projecting her own voice.
I could hear Wrath laugh, “You think so do you?”
Another shot rang out and an instant later Violet’s shield popped and a look of shock came to her face, as a bullet punctured through her chest. She fell as blood started to flow from her wound. I ran over and tried pulling out a healing potion but Aura put a talon on me, “That won’t do much for her, she needs radiation.”
“Where are we gonna find that for her? She’s not gonna be easy to move,” I yelled looking down at the bleeding Alicorn.
Violet groaned, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine in a little bit. My body can take more than this, also Dr. Cottage will be able to help.”
Wrath’s voice echoed again, “You’re lucky, it’s not often I miss my mark, I was aiming for your heart.”
“How did he get through the shield?” I asked still looking around trying to figure out where Wrath was hiding. He must be just outside the range of my E.F.S. because I wasn’t seeing anything hostile.
“Knowing Wrath, he was probably using some kind ammo that bypasses magical shields,” Stardust said pulling his own rifle off his back and checking his mag, “Fuck I’m out,”
“We really need to stock up, we were lucky that Silver had a little extra for us, but we still don’t have enough to take them on,” I said looking around for anything we could use to help us. Then I noticed the rifle that the hooded mare used was still laying where I’d dropped it when the flash grenade went off, it was sitting next to my barding, “Stardust, can you make some kind of distraction to keep Wrath off me?”
“Shadow, what are you planning?” Aura asked.
“That rifle over there, if I can get my hooves on it and my barding, at least we won’t be defenseless,” I said looking around still hoping that something would show up on my E.F.S. it was one thing to have a sniper around that you couldn’t see. It was even worse when you know two more deadly ponies were out there too. Well at least Pride was, where the hell did Greed go? He tried to attack me, but since then he just completely disappeared.
Stardust grinned, “I owe that fucker for the last time we met. I’ll be able to distract him.”
“Just don’t get shot,” I said readying myself for a rush toward the weapon and my barding.
“Don’t worry Shadow, he may be a good sniper, but he can’t hit me if I don’t give him the opening,” He said taking off and yelling, “Hey Wrath, time to come out and play. I dare you to try and hit me, though I doubt you could even hit the broad side of a barn with that shitty toy you call a rifle.”
“Oh yeah? I’ll show you pegasus,” Wrath’s enchanted voice echoed out, another shot filled the air as Stardust zoomed around.
He laughed, “I thought you were trying to kill me. What’s wrong, do you need a few pointers from a real sniper.”
More shots rang out as Wrath tried to shoot him. Doorstop chuckled as he watched Stardust zig-zag through the air, “Hehe, nice to see him put that smart mouth of his to good use for once.”
I couldn’t help a small laugh of my own, he did have a point. I guess Stardust’s annoying attitude had to come in handy for something. I looked at Aura and said, “Grab Laser and get her to the doctor right away, I’m going to get that rifle.”
“Shadow I can’t protect you if I’m helping everypony else all the time,” she protested.
I smiled, “I know, but I can’t have you or Stardust protecting me all the time. I can handle myself, Laser needs you right now. The faster you get her to Dr. Cottage or 21, the faster you can get back out here and help me, also Violet needs him too.”
“Do not worry child, I will be fine. Have your griffon friend save Laser, she’s important,” Violet said slowly getting to her hooves. It looked like the bleeding in her chest had already stopped.
“Okay good, Wingnut you get inside with Doorstop,” I said, Wingnut opened his muzzle to argue but I cut him off, “Don’t start, you just went through something dangerous and I need to know you’ll be safe.”
He took a moment then finally said, “Fine.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on the little runt, just go take care of those assholes,” Doorstop said, nudging Wingnut along toward the door to the Lodge.
“Okay Aura let’s get this over with.”
Aura cursed under her breath then flapped her wings, “Fine, but be careful, this won’t take me long,” she flew off toward where Laser was still lying.
I took my chance as well and bolted for the rifle and my barding. It wasn’t far and I reached it quickly, I grabbed my barding and slipped it on. Sadly the helmet was destroyed, but the face mask and goggles were still okay, so I left helmet on the ground and tucked the others two away. Using my magic, I lifted the rifle and checked the ammo it used. It was some kind of weird looking thing that connected to the bottom of it. I didn’t even know how many shots it had left, but it was better than nothing. What I really needed was to find where Dream Walker landed. If I found that and the mag for it, I’d be in a lot better shape. Looking around I saw the glint of the blue pistol only a few feet away from where my mag and extra round had fallen. I also noticed the energy pistol that Wingnut had given me and took it as well.
“Nice,” I said as I started to make my way toward it. I picked it up with my magic and reloaded it. Now with three weapons I should be able to do something about Wrath. That was if I could find him…was it me or was it getting darker than before.
A shadow blew out from under me and tossed me to the side knocking both weapons out of my magic. I looked up and saw the face of…of course…Pride. He was smiling down at me as shadows flowed off him like water, “Finally, nopony around to get in the way Courier,” the shadows around him thickened and formed into two blades, “I really wish I could kill you slowly, it would be a nice payment for killing Gluttony.”
“That’s what he gets for being such an idiot,” I said trying to reach for the rifle.
His horn flashed, a moment later I was being pinned against the ground as one of his shadows came down to press against my forehead, “Don’t waste your time trying to shoot me, it would be a waste of ammo anyway.”
I smiled back up at him, my horn still glowing, “Maybe, but I wasn’t going for the rifle,” Dream Walker pressed against his head and fired. The round glowed as it entered his skull and in a flash of black light, Pride’s head exploded throwing his body back and making his shadows vanish.
I got to my hooves and backed away from the body. I took a moment to holster Dream Walker, then I took hold of the rifle and started to make my way back to the lodge where I could see Aura flying back from. She landed next to me then looked over at the body of the Leader of the Sins, “Okay, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, why does interesting things happen to you when I fly off?”
“Who cares, let’s find Wrath and take care of him too so we can get this over with.”
“What about Greed?”
“I’m not worried about him, for some reason he has a crush on me and it doesn’t seem like he really wants to hurt me.”
Aura sighed, “Maybe, but we should still be careful, he’s still a Sin.”
“And where do you think you’re going Courier Mare? We aren’t finished yet,” the voice of Pride said from behind me.
Aura and I froze. I looked back to where Pride’s body was starting to get back up, I noticed then that there wasn’t any blood from his head getting blasted off. Shadows seemed to be pouring out of his neck and they were forming into a pony head. A moment later Pride was looking at us with his smug smile planted on his reformed face.
“What the fuck are you?” I asked pointing the rifle at him again.
He popped his neck then replied, “There’s a reason the rest of the Sins do what I tell them to, and why I never worry about anypony pointing a gun at me. You see Courier Mare, nopony can kill me. My body isn’t normal, if you put a hole in me it’ll just vanish, if you take off my head, it will just reform. Now how about you be a good filly and die.”
I fired the rifle at him, but just like he said, his body just poofed into shadows and reformed an instant later. He just started to walk toward me slowly as more shadows formed around him making themselves into blades. Aura took hold of her spear and slashed at him, but she had no better luck than I did. She dodged one of the shadows that slashed back at her then she flew back to my side.
“Shadow, I think this is a good time to make a tactical retreat.”
“I agree,” I said turning to run from whatever Pride was.
“You aren’t going anywhere. I told you already, you’re going to pay for killing Gluttony,” he ran at me, his shadow magic slashing toward me.
I didn’t know what I could do, I hated to admit it, but now would be a great time for Morning Star to tag in. Oh yeah, she was being blocked by the talisman. Before I could think of anything else, Aura took hold of me and took off. One of Pride’s blades shot up and turned into a club. It slammed into her throwing us both to the ground.
I winced in pain as we hit, Aura was grunting in pain as well. I looked back at Pride as he slowly walked toward us, the shadows around him growing as a grin pulled at his lips, “Goodbye Courier Mare.”
The shadows around him shot out toward Aura and me, sharp edges forming along them. I watched as the dark magic came, before Pride could land his killing blow, a pony landed in front of me. Something flashed almost as bright as the flash grenade had. The shadows that were closest vanished, the rest arching around us as if the light served as a kind of shield.
When the light around us faded away, I saw the pony I’d met back at F&F Tools. He was still wearing his black desperado hat and the brown trenchcoat, his features still wrapped in bandages. He looked back at me and unlike before I could see his emerald green eyes peering out from under the desperado hat, “Are you okay Shadow Star?”
“Does it look like I’m okay?” I asked.
Pride looked at the new comer like he should know who he was but couldn’t place him, “Who are you?”
The Mysterious Pony shook his head and said in his altered voice, “No pony at all, just a wandering stallion who saw a young mare in distress.”
“Yeah, sure you are,” Pride said reforming his shadows.
The Mysterious Pony put a hoof to his muzzle as if he was thinking, “Hmmm and here I thought you were Pride the Arrogant, leader of the Seven Sins of Equinity? That IS why you have the mark of the Lion on your flanks isn’t it?”
Pride smiled again then bowed, “Always nice to meet a fan,” he said, though I couldn’t tell what The Mysterious Pony was talking about, I couldn’t even see Prides cutie mark…now that I think about it, that part of him has always been cast in some kind of shadow.
“I’m no fan, trust me on that. If I had it my way I’d see all of you dead. The Sins are a disgrace compared to the originals that went by a different name.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Pride growled.
“I know more than you know Oricalcos,”
Pride froze, his eyes going wide, “What did you just call me?”
“I’m sure you heard me just fine.”
“That’s not my name anymore, I gave it up when I became Pride! No pony should know that name…NO PONY!” Pride yelled shadows erupting from his body.
The Mysterious Pony held up a gem that emitted the same light as before, blocking the shadows from reaching us, “That trick of yours won’t work, this ward protects me from dark magic like yours,” he pulled out his revolver and fired. It worked as well as my own gun had, “Hmmm so it’s true, guns don’t work on you, good to know. Even more interesting is that THIS gun doesn’t work on you.”
Pride tried to attack again, and once again his shadows couldn’t get past The Mysterious Pony, “Who the fuck are you and how do you know so much about me?”
“I told you, I’m no pony.”
Pride smiled again, “Well then No Pony, if I can’t use my magic on you, let’s see how you do against him. GREED, KILL HIM!”
A second later Greed landed next to pride, his body covered in his armor, “You called Pride?”
“That pony who’s covering his face, kill him, now.”
“Sure thing Pride, I want that kick-ass hat,” Greed said smiling and looking back toward The Mysterious Pony.
“Shadow, I can hold them off for a little while, get your friends and get out of here,” he said, his eyes not leaving Greed’s.
“No way, I’m not leaving. I’m sick of dealing with them, I’m going to help you take them down,” I rebutted.
I felt a talon take hold of my shoulder, looking back I saw Aura, “He’s right Shadow, we can’t take them, not like this. He’s giving us a chance to get away, we need to take it.”
“But…I can’t just run away.”
“Sometimes you have to Shadow, this isn’t a fight we can win right now. I hate running away too, but we have to,” Aura said.
“Fine,” I responded, finally giving in. I looked back at The Mysterious Pony, “You better survive this. I still wanna know who you are and why you’re helping me.”
The bandages around his muzzle rose as he smiled, “Count on it Shadow.”
I turned and ran off following Aura as she led me back toward the Lodge, as I did I heard Greed say, “Now that she’s out of the way, how about you show me what you can really do.”
“Trust me Greed, you’ll find out very soon,” The Mysterious Pony responded, followed by the bark of his long-barreled revolver.
I was surprised that Pride didn’t follow us as we reached the door that lead into the Lodge. I looked back as we reached it searching for Stardust. It only took a moment for me to notice him still flying around dodging the shots coming from Wrath, “Stardust, stop playing with Wrath and take him out.”
“I would Shadow but I’m still low on ammo, I could really use a little help.”
“Aura do you think you could figure out where Wrath is and take him down?” I asked.
“With how quickly he’s firing off shots I think I can. Problem is I don’t know if I can get close to him before he’ll turn his gunfire on me.”
An idea hit me and I grinned, “I have a plan, let me go with you. I can help distract him, he can’t take us all on at once. With Greed and Pride distracted we might be able to take care of him without much trouble.”
She grinned at me, “Hey I like that plan, let’s go Boss,” she knelt down and I pulled myself onto her back holding on around her neck, “Make sure you hold on tight, this’ll be quick.”
“Don’t worry about me Aura just make sure you don’t get shot,” I said as she took off.
She flew past Stardust and toward where the gunfire was coming from, she kept weaving through the air, making herself a harder target to hit, “Shadow, let me know when you see him on your E.F.S.”
I was already doing that, it only took a second for the red bar to show up, just a little to the left. I pointed my hoof in that direction, “He’s that way.”
She banked hard to the left and darted right for him. She took us over the wall of Frosty Summit and toward one of the cliffs that overlooked the small town. A few seconds later I saw him, the red unicorn was sighting down his rifle, sending off steady shots toward Stardust.
I readied the Rifle that The Hooded Mare had dropped as Aura dove right for him. When she got close to the ground with her spear ready I jumped off her back and toward Wrath. He must’ve noticed something at the last second, because he twisted his rifle around with a grin on his face, “Nice try.”
He started to fire as we dove toward him, aiming for Aura first. She banked to his left and I landed on his right, I activated S.A.T.S. and fired. The green goo slammed into his side and burned right through his reinforced combat armor. He howled in pain and twisted around bucking me in the face. I flew back and into Stardust who caught me before I could go over the edge. In quick succession he set me down and dove for Wrath just as he was turning to take on Aura who was bringing her Spear around to strike.
Wrath ducked under the slash then brought his rifle up toward her head. She brought the bottom of her spear around and batted it aside as it went off. She saw an opening and kicked him in the side where I’d shot him. He howled in pain again and before he could do anything else, Stardust tackled him from behind, slamming him into the side of the cliff. Wrath’s rifle went flying as Stardust pinned him to the wall.
He tried to kick Stardust off, but Stardust hit Wrath’s wounded side, “One more wrong move out of you Wrath and you’ll be the next casualty of the Sins. I’ll stain the side of the cliff with your blood.”
Wrath stopped moving and glared up into Stardust’s eyes, “You’d better kill me then, because Pride won’t let you get away with taking me hostage.”
“Pride’s running out of options now Wrath,” Stardust said.
Wrath smiled as his horn started to glow, “Pride never runs out of options, and neither do I.”
Aura picked up Wraths rifle and used the butt of the gun to bash him in the side of the head before he could cast the spell. Wrath crumpled the blow knocking him out, his horn going dark. Aura smiled as Stardust dropped him, “He was getting annoying anyway. Looks like we have our very own Sin now.”
Stardust laughed a little, “Just what I always wanted, and it’s not even my birthday.”
“We should tie him up and get him back to the Lodge, we also need to see what happened with Pride and Greed and The Mysterious Pony,” I said looking back out where I could still see fighting between two ponies going on.
“Good idea, I’ll take care of Wrath. Aura and you should go help him. What we really need to do is figure out how to get Pride out of here. I don’t think we can kill him,” Stardust said going back over to the unconscious Wrath.
“Okay, we’ll see you back at the lodge. You should also try and get Winter Frost and Solstice too, they might know something that we can use to take care of the Sins,” I said
“Works for me, don’t go getting yourself killed.”
Aura laughed, “Don’t worry we’ll be fine,” she took off with me on her back
We flew toward the fight between Greed and The Mysterious Pony I couldn’t help but notice how evenly they were matched. If it wasn’t for Greed’s armor, I think he wouldn’t be able to stop the other pegasus. With each attack Greed tried to land on the bandaged stallion, he was able to either duck or dodge the strike or use his revolver to block each hit. Whoever this pony was he was specially trained to fight ponies like them.
“Aura, do you know any way we can get through Greed’s armor?”
“No, I’ve never faced an enemy like him. Even if I did we’d still have to deal with Pride. He’s our bigger concern at the moment,” she replied.
She had a point, even if we took both down, Pride would still be able to take us all on. He may not be able to hurt The Mysterious Pony, but he couldn’t protect us forever from Prides attacks. From what I’d seen, his only weakness seemed to be intense bursts of light. If only I knew a spell like that, but maybe I did have something that could work. As we drew closer I checked my inventory, but sadly I didn’t have what I needed.
“Fuck I really need a pony who has a flash grenade, or a really Powerful Light spell.”
At that moment I heard the voice of Violet in my head, “A light spell I can do, but why do you need it?”
“Wait Violet? Where are you?”
The Alicorn materialized next to Aura and me as we drew closer to the fight, “I decided to go help you when you went after Wrath. I thought keeping myself hidden would help, but when you took him down I decided to follow you. Why do you need a light Spell?”
“Doorstop said Pride was weak against light, and I thought you were hurt?”
She smiled, “I was, but a quick dose of radiation and I was as good as new. So we can get rid of Pride with a large blast of light? Okay then, I will fly down and take care of him, you take care of the armored one.”
“We can do that, just be careful. We don’t know what else that bastard has up his sleeve,” Aura said.
“I will,” her horn glowed bright red as she blasted toward Pride.
He watched as she landed in front of him, a board expression on his face, “And what do you think you are going to do, monster?”
“This,” Violet said and a bright light erupted from her horn.
“What the fuck!” Pride screamed. I was able to shield my eyes this time and I saw what happened. As the spell cast, Prides body literally vaporized into blackness.
A moment later he was gone just like before. I knew it wouldn’t keep him down for long, but with two ponies that could stop him now, we may just stand a chance. Aura landed a moment later next to The Mysterious Pony as he blocked another attack from Greed. I jumped off her back and pointed my rifle at the armored pegasus.
“Greed stop!”
To my surprise, he looked over at me and stopped his attack, “Shadow? I thought you ran off.”
“Pride’s gone again and we have Wrath, you’re the only pony left. You can’t take us all, you should give up while you can.”
“Really, you think I can’t take you or your friends? Shadow, if I didn’t fancy you, I’d have killed you already. The only pony that can hurt me kid, is Pride, but seeing how he’s well…been shown who’s boss in this fight, I don’t have any reason to fight anymore.”
“I don’t understand you Greed, you don’t seem to care one bit about taking me out. Why do you keep helping them?”
He chuckled, “I’m in this for me kid. The only thing I care about more than money, fame, and power, is my own life. Even now I should keep fighting you, but I don’t see any gain in it for me. Pride’s been turned to shadow twice now, he’ll take a while to pull himself back together and with how much magic he’s been using he won’t be in any shape to keep going.”
“Why don’t you help us? Maybe we can protect you from Pride and the rest of The Enclave.” Violet said walking toward us.
“Sorry doll, but nopony can protect me from him. I’m shocked that Shadow and the rest of you are still alive. Luckily for you though, we were only supposed to protect the Boss during this fight. She ran off and got away, by now I’m sure she’s back at our base licking her wounds. So I’ll let you be for now, but sadly after this I’m sure she won’t let me do this again.”
He flapped his wings taking to the air, he hovered there for a moment then looked back at me, “Shadow, watch who you make friends with, remember that you never know who might turn on you.”
“What does that mean?” I asked as he started to fly away.
“Sorry kid. That’s all I can tell ya. Take my advice and get as far away from here as you can, next time we meet, I’ll have to kill you. I’d really hate to have to mess up that cute face of yours,” With that he was gone.
“Are you really gonna let him go?” The Mysterious Pony asked.
I nodded, “I owed him that much, he helped me back at The Bramble. Now we are truly even, also do you really think you could kill him?”
He shook his head, “Greed’s power has always been a mystery to me, there has to be a way around his armor, but I’m not sure what it is.”
“I’m surprised you know as much as you do. Who are you anyway?” I asked
“I keep telling you and every pony else, I’m no Pony.”
“A name would be nice or do you want me to start calling you No Pony?”
He sighed, “I wish I could tell you who I was, but if I did it could ruin everything. Just know that I’m a friend and I only want what’s best for you Shadow Star.”
“That’s not good enough Stranger. Do you know how hard it is going around not knowing anything? It’s bad enough I don’t remember anything before I entered my Stable, now I have all this mystery going on around me, my Pip-Buck, my mother, that hooded mare, why The Enclave wants me dead, and you. I need a break,” I said throwing my hooves into the air.
“Yeah spill it, who are you really? Why do you keep coming in to save Shadow like you do? I’ve heard stories about you before, but you always just pop in, kill the ponies who are hurting others, then you’re gone. From what I heard about the first time you met Shadow, you stuck around longer and helped in the fight. Now today you did the same thing. Why does she matter so much to you?” Aura asked, moving over to stand next to me.
He looked taken aback for a moment, “Well, let’s just say I used to know her mother. I know how important she was to Grim and that Pip-Buck too. I owe my life to her and this is my small way of paying her back. I wish I could tell you more, but unfortunately I can’t. I have to get going now, if I’m gone much longer ponies will start to wonder where I am.”
“Can you at least give me a name?” I asked as he started to fly into the air.
“If you need something to call me then call me Stranger like you just did, it doesn’t matter to me. Now go check on the rest of your friends and the ponies you were able to capture. One of them might have the information you’ll need to understand more,” he said, a gem on the inner lining of his coat flashed. An instant later he was gone.
I sighed and turned to head back toward the lodge, “We should go check on the other’s Aura.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right, though that Stranger guy bugs me. I’m sure we can trust him, but he knows too much for a random Pegasus.”
“What do you mean?”
“He knows some of the Sins weaknesses and he also seems to know when they are about to attack you. If you ask me, he’s part of The Enclave, but not like the ones we’ve met before. I’m sure he keeps who he is secret because if they found out he was the one going around killing fellow Enclave, they’d brand him in a second or worse kill him,” she said following beside me as we made our way toward the power armor that still had Solstice trapped inside it.
“Hmmmm, Enclave would make sense. I guess they can’t all be bad, but we should keep an eye on him when we see him again,” I said walking over to Solstice who was glaring right back at me, “So what should we do with you?”
She spat in my face…really…what’s the point of that? She laughed, “I don’t care what you do. I should be ashamed that a colt was able to stop me.”
I smiled bringing a hoof up to wipe her spit from my forehead, “Don’t feel bad, Wingnut’s a smart kid. How about this, if you tell me the real reason you came here I might let you go.”
She tried to spit on me again, but Aura brought her spear up to her neck, “Try that one more time and I’ll make sure you never see home again.”
Solstice looked ready to ignore Aura, but then she looked away, “Whatever, it’s not like I’ll be able to leave anyway. I’ve been down here too long, I’m contaminated.”
I looked at her a little confused, “What do you mean you’re contaminated?”
“You wouldn’t understand dirt pony. The surface is polluted, the pegasus race doesn’t spend much time down here because we don’t want to take any of the filth and rot back up to our home. I’ve been down here too long, sooner or later they’ll put me down as K.I.A. It’d be better for you to kill me.”
“Yeah, we aren’t doing that. If you really don’t think you can go home then I guess you’re stuck here with us. You should make yourself useful and tell us everything you know.”
Violet walked over right then and said, “You can put her in our prison, maybe after she cools off you’ll be able to get more out of her.”
“You have a prison here?” Aura asked.
The alicorn smiled, “We needed somewhere to keep ponies who commit a crime. At the moment we have a few cells free.”
“Good idea, do you mind helping us get her down there?” I asked.
“No problem at all,” using her telekinesis she lifted Solstice up and started walking toward the lodge, “I’ll also make sure to get the other Pegasus as well.”
As she was lifted in the air and carried away Solstice started to scream at Violet, “Put me down you disgusting freak of nature! You have no idea who you’re messing with!”
Aura and I both started to laugh, watching her get so angry over something as stupid as that was just too much. When our laughter finally died down I asked, “So how is Laser Light?”
“She woke up when I got her to the Doctor, she’s a little banged up but she’ll be fine. The same can’t be said for a few of the residents that live here. The medical team will be busy for a few days.”
I lowered my head, “I wish we could’ve done more,” looking around I could see small lumps scattered around the courtyard from ponies who hadn’t been fast enough to escape the Enclave’s assault, “How many innocent ponies died today because of me?”
Aura rested a talon on my shoulder, “Don’t go blaming yourself Shadow. There’s no telling what would’ve happened even if you did turn yourself over to them. You did what you had to and you fought hard to help protect this place even when the odds were against you. Try not to look on the bad side of things so much, you need to look at the good things. Because of you more ponies will live to see another day.”
I smiled at her, “You’re right, but it’s still hard. We have to do something to stop them, if this keeps up they’re going to keep coming after us. Sooner or later more ponies are going to die, and I don’t think I can keep letting ponies die around me.”
“I know, maybe when we’re done here we can start looking into a way to take care of the Sins, or get The Enclave off your back.”
“Maybe, but we still need to get to Crimson Canyon before we do anything else, I still have a mission to complete for the Queen.”
“Dammit, I was hoping you forgot about that,” Aura said.
“No way Aura, you aren’t getting out of this that easily,” I teased.
“Yeah I know, but you’ll owe me for making me go back there.”
“Technically you don’t have a choice, but if it makes you feel better maybe one day you’ll get to see my home,” I said, though I really hope I never have to go back to Stable 28. As much as I missed Auntie and my friends, I didn’t want to see what the Overmare would try to do if I ever returned.
She rolled her eyes, “Yeah like that’s ever gonna happen. You told me you’d never go back to your Stable.”
“Pfft, yeah with my luck I’m sure something will force me back there.”
“Maybe, but still I’m not that interested in seeing where you came from. You were a different pony in your Stable, I don’t need to see where you grew up,” Aura said walking past me and back toward the Lodge.
I smiled and followed, “I hope Wingnut’s okay.”
“Knowing that little shit, he’s probably annoying the crap out of the Dashite.”
We entered the Lodge to find the two purple Alicorns guarding the door. They both looked down at us silently, then after a moment they moved aside to let us by. I barely made it inside when I was tackled by Wingnut, “You’re okay! Did you win?”
I pushed him off, “I’m fine and we were able to chase them off, though from the looks of it quite a few ponies died.”
Wingnut’s smile left his face, “Yeah, we saw the last of the ponies that were brought in, they didn’t look too good. Doorstop went with Stardust when he brought that red unicorn in to throw him into one of the holding cells I guess they have here.”
“Good, I’m glad he was able to get Wrath back here safely. I’m hoping we can find a few things out from him, maybe from the other too.”
Aura spoke up, “If you think everything is gonna be okay in here Shadow, do you mind if I go see if I can help the Doctors. I’m sure they could use it.”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’m gonna go check on Silver then see if our guests have anything to say. Just come find me when you’re finished.”
“Can do boss, I’ll see you soon,” she said walking over to the double doors that lead to the small clinic.
“So kiddo, feel like joining me while I go check on how things are going?”
“Yeah, I’d rather go watch you and Silver make googly eyes at each other than hang around here.”
“Oh shut up,” I walked past him already regretting what I said.
We reached the staircase that lead to the room Silver and I had been sharing. “Are you sure Silver’s even up here? I didn’t see her come in,” Wingnut said as we approached the door.
“I didn’t see her outside or in the entryway, this is the only place I could see her going to.”
When I got to the door I heard somepony talking inside, “This place is a mess.”
Odd, that didn’t sound like Silver, I pushed the door open and saw the mare from before that Stardust saved. She was standing in my room with Silver who was picking through one of her bags on the bed…the mostly destroyed bed, “What the fuck happened in here?”
Silver looked up at me and smiled, “Hi Shadow, good to see you’re okay. Sorry the room is a little messed up, one of The Enclave ponies got in here and destroyed the place.”
I was taken aback for a moment, “Only our room?”
“I think so.”
“Why would they come in here when they knew I was outside, and why is she in here?” I asked pointing a hoof at the other mare.
“Oh this is Lavender Sky, she’s new around here I guess,” Silver said.
“Okay, why is she in our room?”
The young pegasus blushed a little, “I was scared when that nice pegasus flew off. I’m not a fighter, Silver Snip here was nice enough to get me to safety. She’s been talking with me a little to help calm me down. I was just made a Dashite a few days ago and only found this place the night before. I thought it would be safe here, but I guess I was wrong.”
“Where did you come from?” I asked still a little suspicious of why she was in the room…alone…with my mare friend.
“Oh, well I’m originally from Nimbus, I was studying to become a teacher in Stratus,”
“How did you become a Dashite if you were studying to become a teacher?”
“Shadow Stop pestering the poor girl,” Silver said giving me another smile.
I sighed then looked around the destroyed room, “Fine, I was just wondering why you two were alone in here is all.”
Silver laughed, “We were only talking, don’t worry so much. What’s going on out there? I take it you were able to get away from Pride and the others.”
“Yeah, it’s a long story, we’ll talk later. Now that I know you’re okay I’m going to head down and talk to Wrath. We were able to capture him and I wanna see if he has any useful information about The Sins.”
“And if he doesn’t then I’m sure Shadow will let Aura or Stardust mess him up good,” Wingnut added.
For a moment the two mares in front of me looked a little shocked, finally Silver said, “You…managed to capture a Sin?”
“Yeah, it took Stardust, Aura, and me to do it, but we managed in the end.”
“Do you know where Stardust went to…I think that was what you called him before?” Lavender asked.
“Uh…yeah, he’s down near the cells or he might be heading back to the foyer. Why?”
“I wanted to thank him again for saving me,” she said trotting past me then looking back at Silver she added, “Thanks again for talking with me.
“No problem, if you need to chat again just come find me,” Silver said as the mare flew off.
“So what was that all about?”
“Lavender already told you Shadow, besides, shouldn’t we be going down and checking on our new guests?” she said pushing past me and down the hall.
Wingnut and I both watched her walking away, “You okay Silver?”
She looked back at me, “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“Nothing, you just seem…different is all.”
She laughed a little, “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s been a long day and a lot going on, I’m just a little stressed.”
“Why don’t you lie down then? I can take care of talking to the Pegasi, I’ll have Stardust with me so everything will be fine,” I said as we came to the stairway.
“Are you sure about that?” she asked pointing down at the main hall where Stardust was talking with Lavender. He was blushing and laughing as she talked with him, “It looks to me like he’s a little preoccupied.”
“You do have a point,” I said looking down at the two of them, he really seemed to be enjoying his chat, “I guess I’ll just let him be, he’s been doing a lot to help me the past couple weeks and he could really use a nice mare to hang around that isn’t me.”
Silver smiled and nodded, “You have to remember, not everything’s about you Shadow. Let’s let Stardust get to know Lavender a little more. Who knows? They could hit it off, she’s a very nice mare from what I saw when she was talking with me. She’s also quite taken with him, the whole time she was asking me things about him, as if I’ve known him my whole life or something.”
“I agree with Silver Snip, let’s let Stardust have a break. It’s not like the prisoners can do anything to us now, also I think Violet is still down there with them,” Wingnut said.
“Okay let’s go have a chat with them then,” I said walking down the stairs and down the same hall that Nexus’s room was in. As I turned I almost ran straight into the Ghoul, “Oh, sorry Nexus I didn’t see you.”
He smiled at me, “Oh Shadow I was wondering where you’d gone off to after the fight. I was wondering if you could answer something for me.”
“Sure, I guess, but I was just on my way down to see if I could get any information out of the three ponies we were able to capture.”
“This won’t take long. I wanted to ask you something about that Pony you called Auntie,” he said.
“What about her?”
“Do you know how she was able to set up the kind of protection that she did on that Pip-Buck, it’s been bugging me ever since her program destroyed my terminals. That level of expertise takes years of training and I’ve only ever seen it from senior scribes in the Steel Rangers or Stable-Tec ponies. Where did she learn to do something like that?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I mean she was the coordinator for our Stable, everything that was going on she knew about and reported back to the Overmare. She had her hooves in everything going on there, maybe she learned it from one of the Ponies in the Research and Development department.”
He put a hoof to his chin thinking for a moment then finally he said, “That’s the part I don’t understand, her role in your Stable doesn’t make sense. Stable 28 wasn’t ever designed to need a position like that, the Overmare herself can keep an eye on everything going on in the stable right from her office. She wouldn’t need a pony like Auntie at all. Also, the Stable wasn’t ever meant to research things like that, unless the plans got changed. I wasn’t involved with the setup for Stable 28 so I could be wrong, but something about it doesn’t feel right.”
“You didn’t know my Overmare, she was lazy, same for her mother and so on. I could see them setting up a position like that just to make their own jobs easier. I can’t say for sure though, what are you trying to get at Nexus?”
“I’m not sure, I just have a feeling that something is off in your Stable, if I didn’t have to fix things here I’d head that way and check it out myself,” he said still looking like he was deep in thought.
I chuckled a little, “They’d kill you on sight, they don’t even know what a ghoul is.”
“Yeah they do, remember you told me they used to send ponies into The Wasteland until a few years ago,” Wingnut said.
“Oh yeah, I keep forgetting about that, but still I don’t think the Overmare would just up and let a random pony into her Stable. They always kept the location secret even when they went into The Wasteland.”
“I’m asking because I wanted to know what you know about Auntie. Who was she before your mother and you entered the Stable?” he asked.
I took a moment to think, “I know that she used to be married, but her husband passed away from a sickness that went through the Stable a couple years before we got there. He was the head of security at the time and she still did the same thing she does today. She wanted to have a foal, but she couldn’t. I never got the details on why though. She was the one who opened the door for mom when we arrived and she became friends with her right away. That’s all I really know.”
“Why do you call her Auntie?” He asked, still fishing for something.
“It’s what everypony calls her. She told me that’s her name and always has been, and she’s also kind of like everypony’s aunt in a way. When something needs to be fixed or if they have a problem, everypony goes to her for help. She thinks of everypony in Stable 28 as family.”
“Hmmm, I may have to send Laser Light there to check things out. I find it all a little too weird. If I did that would you be willing to go with her and help her?” he asked.
“Help Laser break into my Stable? No fucking way. I don’t want to ever go back there if I don’t have to.”
“I figured you’d say that, oh well. I’ll have to think of something else. Can you do me a favor though?”
“Maybe, depends on what it is.”
“If you for some reason ever change your mind, let me know. I want to get to the bottom of this.”
“Fine, but don’t hold your breath…wait do Ghouls even breath?”
He gave me a flat look, “No, we don’t have to at least, and thank you,” he walked past me and toward the clinic, “Oh and Shadow, you might not want to go back there, but if you ever want to find out what’s left on that Pip-Buck, you’ll need Auntie to unlock them. I hate to admit it, but I can’t do it.”
I watched him go, “Fuck, now I’m going to be thinking about that for the next few days.”
“What do you mean?” Wingnut asked me.
“I want to know what’s left on this stupid Pip-Buck, now he’s telling me that to get them I’ll have to find Auntie. I don’t want to go back to my Stable, but at the same time I might have to,”
“It can’t really be that bad, now can it?” Silver asked, “I mean you are a lot stronger than when you left. I’m sure your Overmare can’t be as scary as the things you’ve run into out here.”
“Yeah but still, it’s hard to not fear her. I’ve lived most of my life scared of that bitch. It’s not something that just goes away by being away for a couple weeks.”
Wingnut smiled and poked my side, “It’s not like you have to head there now, you have plenty of time to think about it and make up your mind. Remember we have things to finish for the Queen, and I’m sure by the time we finish that, we’ll have to check and see what Lonely Hearts has found.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right kiddo.”
Silver hugged me, “You could also head to Trotston, that place is a wonder. Maybe Nexus can’t get into that thing, but maybe one of the ponies there can.”
“What do you mean, I thought Trotston was just a town that the survivors of Stable 9 set up.”
“It is, but it’s also probably the most technologically advanced city in The Wasteland. The ponies from Stable 9 used what they knew from living in a Stable and used it to build a massive town. Everything there is ran by Tech that they either brought with them, or found in abandoned Stables. They’re smart ponies and they may know how to break past whatever protection is on that thing,” Silver said pointing at my Pip-Buck.
“Good idea, maybe when we finish up with all of this, we’ll head that way. I mean this Pip-Buck did come from there, they probably know more than even Nexus does,” I said with a smile, “Let’s go finish this up, then we can talk to the others about this.”
“Good idea, c’mon,” Silver said walking past me and down the hall.
***
At first it took us a little bit to figure out where the Cells were, but after Silver talked with a couple of the ponies that lived at Frosty Summit, we found our way to the basement. Down there we found a large dark room with four rows of cells in them. Violet was sitting next to the one on the far right where Solstice was laying. Somehow the Alicorn had been able to get her out of her Power Armor and into the cell. Now she was sitting there talking with the grey and pink pegasus.
“I told you already freak, I’m not telling you anything else,” Solstice said, she was curled into a ball and not looking at Violet.
Violet sighed, “I understand that you’re full of anger right now Solstice, but what I don’t understand is why. From what I’ve been able to get from your mind, you don’t seem like a bad pony. Why would you give orders to kill everypony here, what did they ever do to you?”
“If you wanna know so bad then why don’t you just read my mind, that’s what you Alicorns are good at isn’t it?”
“It is more complicated than that. I can’t just up and read your thoughts. I need to have a physical connection with you and even then, it’s not like reading a book. Also, I think it’s rude to do something like that to another,” Violet said, I noticed that she wasn’t using her Alicorn mind speak, she was talking like a normal pony.
“Good to know, I still ain’t telling you shit.”
I walked over and put a hoof on the bars, “Solstice, are you always this bitchy or do you just hate everypony that isn’t from the clouds?”
“Fuck you Courier Bitch. I’m not talking to you either.”
I sighed, “My name’s Shadow Star. Can you at least call me that? I’m sick of everypony calling me Courier all the time.”
“Shadow Star, Courier Mare, who fucking cares? I still don’t want to talk to you or freak show either.”
“Tell you what, if you talk with me then I’ll let you leave.”
My friends all looked over at me like I was nuts, Violet even said, “You can’t do that, she’s a danger to the rest of my town.”
“She’s one pony who’s scared and alone. If we learn what we need to then who cares if she leaves? It’s not like she’s going to up and attack everypony here just because I let her out,” I said then turned to face Solstice again, “So how about it? If I let you go, will you tell me what I need to know?”
She finally looked over at me, “Why should I trust you?”
“Because I keep my word. Honestly I don’t have anything against you apart from the fact that you attacked this place with a hooded mare with way too much power and that asshole Winter Frost.”
“Fuck you Bitch!” Winter Frost yelled from the next cell down, “You keep your mouth shut Solstice.”
Solstice growled and yelled back, “Shut up, you don’t tell me what to do Sergeant!”
“Down here I do, you’ll be lucky if they even let you back up into the clouds Rookie.”
“Same goes for you,” I said walking over to Winter Frost’s Cell, “Now shut up, I’ll get to you next.”
He spat at me, “Like I’m scared of you…”
I pulled out Dream Walker and pointed it at him, “One more word and I’ll shoot. I still owe you for what you did back at F&F Tools. Trust me it’s taking all I have not to pull the trigger.”
For a moment he looked ready to say something, debating if I would really do it, then he just turned and laid down on the cot in his cell. When he was done I went back to Solstice who was actually smiling, “I have to say, you can be a little cold blooded when you need to be. I may not like you Shadow Star, but I can say I do Respect you, not many ponies would talk to Winter Frost that way.”
“Fuck him, he’s lucky I didn’t shoot him when Stardust knocked him out.”
She chuckled a little, “Okay fine, I’ll tell you what I know, but you have to promise to let me go when you do…and you have to kill Winter Frost too.”
“Why would you want her to kill your own comrade?” Wingnut asked
“I too find it hard to believe you’d want him killed even if he is an ass,” I said.
“The problem is once I’m done telling you what I know he’ll know what I did, and if he ever gets away he’ll be able to tell The Enclave what I did. I could end up as a Dashite myself just for that. I can’t let that happen, it would doom my family,” she responded.
“How about this?” Violet said, walking over to Winter Frosts Cell her horn glowing. Winter Frost jumped to his hooves and started to yell, but then Violet’s magic connected with him and he passed out, “There, now he won’t overhear us. I blocked the memory of the last few minutes so he won’t remember you saying that you’d help us.”
“Hmmm, I guess that could work too, but I still think he should die. He’s nothing but a monster,” Solstice said then shrugged, “Oh well, so what do you wanna know?”
“Wait, what about Wrath?” I asked looking at Violet.
“He’s still out from the fight, he won’t hear us,” Violet said.
“Okay, why did you attack this place? Was it all just to get me?”
Solstice laughed, “Do you really think The Enclave would put so much at stake just for you? Get real, The Sins are hunting you down that’s all we need when it comes to you. No, we were after Stardust the whole time and former Staff Sargent Doorstop. Stardust has been able to avoid The Sins for months now and the higher ups finally figured we needed a new tactic to get him.”
“So you attacked a town of innocent ponies just for him?”
She looked away for a moment, “Yeah, that was the orders given to us. I was told that everypony had to die apart from the target and if possible you too. Our main mission wasn’t to take you in, but if the opportunity presented itself we were to take it, or kill you.”
“Why would you listen to an order like that?”
“You don’t know what life is really like for an Enclave solider. If we do anything to defy the higher ups, they don’t take it out on you, they go after your family. I’m all my parents have and I had to think about them, if I refused then I’d be no better than the other Dashites or a few others that betrayed us over the years. It’s simple, you don’t try and take on the higher ups, you do as you’re told and forget the rest.”
“So, you’d kill everypony here just to keep your parents safe?”
“Yes I would, and more if I had to. It doesn’t mean I like it, but I have to do it,” she said looking sad now.
I sighed, “Why were three of The Sins with you, and who is that hooded unicorn?”
“Simple, we knew you’d be with Stardust. Pride heard what was going on and he told me that he’d be joining us along with his Sister, the pony you call the Hooded Mare. Pride may be a Sin, but he’s also the leader of their group. He has almost as much power as one of the High Council.”
“And who is that pony, Pride’s sister?”
Solstice shrugged, “I don’t know her myself, she’s always kept her face hidden, I’m not sure why. All I know about Pride and his family is that they’re Unicorns that grew up in the Crystal Empire. It’s a large city way up north just outside of Nimbus, we’ve controlled the city since the end of the war. Sixteen years ago when I was still a small filly, Pride became a Sin. I don’t know what he did, but I do know he requested to be one. From then on, he’s always lead them and he is the only pony who decides who becomes one of them. His sister showed up a couple years ago. Not many ponies know anything about her, they only call her Cloak.”
Violet perked up at that, “I had no idea the Crystal Empire was still around. I thought it was destroyed with the rest of Equestria.”
“Most ponies don’t know it’s still there, some kind of shield was set off when the bombs fell. Ever since then it’s held off all the poison and radiation that has tried to push its way into the city, over time it turned everything around it into a large black cloud of death. The only way to get to it is by flight or if you can Teleport a long way like the unicorns that live there do. That’s all I know though, I’ve never been there myself, but I’ve seen it from the could city Nimbus,” she said. Damn, once you got her talking she was like an open book.
“That’s all well and good, but who are they?”
“No idea, when a pony becomes a Sin, they destroy every part of their past life. They never talk about it and they act like nopony matters to them. Pride is just like that, the only time he breaks that rule is when Cloak shows up. She has something on him, I know because he’ll do whatever she tells him to. I think that’s why she was put in charge of The Seven Sins of Equinity. I can’t tell you more though,” she said.
Of course she couldn’t…oh well time to move on and see what else she knew, “So then, if you were all set up to come take us down, they why did you’re team leave you like they did?”
“Because once the Sins showed up, it meant our time was done. They were given orders to flee once Pride started his own attack. We were meant to try and get Stardust and to act as a distraction.”
My blood turned to ice when she said this, “A distraction for what?”
She smiled again, “I’m not sure really, but if you ask me they wanted the Alicorns distracted so they could slip one of the Sins into Frosty Summit.”
“You mean so that Pride and Greed could get closer?”
“Remember your deal Shadow Star, if I tell you what I know you let me go.”
“Yes I remember now spill.”
“We didn’t come here with just Pride, Greed, and Wrath. The entire team was sent out to join the battle, if you only saw those three that means you missed the other three, for all you know they’re still here.”
I looked back at Violet, “Can you have you’re Alicorns start looking around the Lodge to make sure none of them are here?”
“I could, but I don’t even know what they look like.” Violet said.
“I know what Sloth looks like same for Wingnut, does that help?”
She looked over at the colt, “Maybe. Child could I take a quick look inside your mind?”
“That sounds weird, but if it’ll help sure,” he replied.
Violet touched her horn to Wingnuts head, a moment later she pulled away, “I got it, I’ll have my children start searching the area, in the meantime, let’s see what else she knows.”
“That’s all I know, now are you gonna let me go?”
“Yeah, I guess. Violet can you take care of her?”
“I don’t like it, but you did give your word. I can teleport her as far as the end of the trail back toward New Pegasus, as long as she doesn’t decide to turn back to attack us that is.”
“Trust me, I don’t want to be anywhere near this place. I want to get home and make sure my parents are doing okay. Now let me out of here.”
“Fine, but you’re not getting your power armor back,” Violet said, Solstice started to yell something, but the Alicorn’s horn flashed and Solstice was gone, “There. What do we need to do next?”
A deep laugh came from the cell farthest away from us and Wrath said, “Too late now, my friends will be here soon to get me out of here, then once I’m free I’m gonna kill all of you.”
I walked over to his cell, I noticed that he had a ring over his horn a lot like I did, only his seemed to be pony made. It must have been something to keep him from using his magic while he was locked up, “What do you mean Wrath?”
“Damn kid, I thought you figured it all out by now. You lose, I bet even now Stardust is either dead, or being hauled away by Sloth.”
I pointed Dream Walker at him, “Tell me what you know or I swear to Luna, I’ll blow your head clean off.”
Wraths glee turned to range in an instant, “Oh yeah? Go right ahead, you’d be doing me a favor.”
“What do you mean?” Wingnut asked walking closer to the bars.
“I’d rather die than have to go back myself, but I don’t have a choice in the matter. Yes I’m a Sin, Wrath the Furious. Fitting name I guess after everything that’s happened to me, but I don’t serve them because I want to. I do it because I have to. Pride made sure of that years ago, I’m stuck doing whatever he wants until the day I’m taken out by one of my enemies.”
I lowered Dream Walker, “I don’t understand?”
“I know you don’t and that’s the shitty part. I don’t feel like telling you my life story though, either kill me or don’t. No matter what, you won’t be able to save your friend,” Wrath said, the smile returning to his face, “Oh I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you can’t save one of your friends.”
“I have to go find Stardust and Lavender, they’re in danger.”
“I’m with you Shadow, let’s go,” Wingnut said, but Violet stopped us.
“What do you mean Lavender, we don’t have a pony here named Lavender?”
“She’s a young pegasus mare with a Lavender coat, she’s really cute and kinda shy. Stardust saved her from Winter Frost earlier today.”
“I don’t know of any new pegasi that looks like that,” she said, her eyes going wide, “Shadow, somepony just knocked one of my children out, I was sending her up to check on Stardust. You need to get up there right now, I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the prisoners.”
I ran past her ignoring Wraths insane laughter as we left, Silver and Wingnut followed not far behind. When we reached the main entryway Silver said, “Are you sure you can do anything to stop them? We don’t know anything about the other two Sins or what they can do.”
“I don’t know, but I have to try. Silver go get Aura. Wingnut find Laser and see if she’s well enough to help, we don’t have much time,” I said turning and running up the stairs.
They both agreed and took off Wingnut saying, “Be careful, don’t get yourself killed, we won’t be long.”
I blasted down the hall to Stardust’s room which was right next to mine. Slowing down I walked up to the door that was just cracked open and peaked in. Lavender was laying on top of Stardust kissing his neck as he talked to her softly. For the moment it didn’t look like anything was wrong. Knowing that help was on its way I decided to wait and see what would happen next. But I couldn’t hear anything they were saying, only soft whispers echoed my way. I looked around his room and saw a set of saddle bags thrown on the floor next to the bed. They weren’t Stardust’s so I guessed they belonged to her.
The top of the bag was open and I saw a set of black combat armor poking out. I wonder what that was all about, using my magic I pulled on the combat armor until it was just out of the bags. I dropped it when I saw a tribal marking on the flank of the armor of a Goat. Drawing Dream Walker I kicked the door open and pointed it at her. “Get the fuck off him.”
“Shadow, what the fuck! Don’t you know how to knock!?” Stardust yelled from the bed.
“Get away from her Stardust, she’s a Sin.”
“What are you talking about? She’s not a Sin she’s just a nice mare who happens to like me. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Look on the floor!” I yelled back as Lavender looked back at me, a large grin on her face.
Stardust looked down and saw the armor I’d pulled out of her saddle bags, she sighed, “Damn, I thought I’d get to have a little fun before I had to show you who I really was. Oh well I guess we’ll have to do this now.”
Stardust tried to kick her off him, but she flapped her wings and moved away landing on the far side of the room. I kept my gun trained on her as I asked, “Who are you?”
“Who, me? I’m Lust The Voluptuous, Fourth member of The Seven Sins of Equinity. I take it you must be Shadow Star the Courier Mare, I’ve been dying to meet you,” she said, she flapped her wings and dove for her saddle bags. I fired, but missed, she got them and landed on the other side of the room again. She pulled out some kind of strange looking short spear and smiled again.
“You’re out numbered, put that down before I have to kill you. You can’t take Stardust and me at the same time.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. You should put down your own weapon, because trust me, neither of you have what it takes to take me on,” she said giving us both an evil smile.
What should I do? I only had maybe five shots left with Dream Walker, I had no idea how to use my newly acquired rifle, and Stardust didn’t have his own weapon. Lust was in the perfect place right now, whatever kind of weapon she had it didn’t require ammo and with how quick she could move, I wasn’t sure we could win this.
“Shadow don’t let her get into your head. If she really is Lust then that’s how she works. She charms her prey into a false sense of security, at least that’s what I’ve heard from ponies that know more about The Sins,” Stardust said keeping his eyes on the lavender mare.
“I’m more worried about you than myself, it didn’t take her long to talk you into bed.”
“This really isn’t the time Shadow.”
“Yes, he’s right. How about you both come with me quietly. I don’t really feel like making a scene right now,” Lust said pointing the short spear at me.
“I don’t care what you think you can do Lust, that toothpick won’t work when I have a gun.”
“If you think so then try it, but remember I warned you,” she said, then she lunged and the spear she held extended, it’s razor sharp edge flying at me faster than she was.
I ducked down but not quick enough, the blade at the end of the extending rod sliced along my back leaving a deep cut. As I fell, Lust arched her hoof and slashed at me, unable to move out of the way, the blade left a deep cut in my chest. Stardust rushed toward her, but she drew the weapon back and attacked him next. With no room to move, the spear sank deep into his stomach, He looked shocked for a moment, then he took hold of the spear with both his hooves.
“Shoot her Shadow!” he yelled as she tried to pull her extending spear out of Stardust.
I rose and was about to enter S.A.T.S. when something grabbed me from behind. An instant later I was thrown back into the hall and through the door on the far side. I cursed as I tried to rise, my back screaming in protest from the fresh bruises. I looked up and saw Sloth, he was walking toward me slowly, that same board expression on his face.
“How troublesome, Lust stop playing with the runaway. We don’t have time right now,” he said stopping in the doorway watching me.
“Sloth baby, you know how much fun it is to toy with them.”
“Just get it over with. Like I said, we don’t have time to be playing games,” Sloth said then he looked back at me, “Now you just stay right there so I don’t have to deal with you too.”
I looked over at Lust, she pulled something out of her saddle bags as she held onto the spear that was still stuck in Stardust. He tried to get free, but she just twisted the spear making him curl in pain. When he did she jammed a needle into his neck. An instant later Stardust was out.
“Let him go!” I yelled finally getting back to my hooves and pointing my gun at Sloth.
“Don’t even try it, you don’t stand a chance,” he said.
I fired my weapon, Sloth shimmered and moved so quickly my eyes could barely keep up with him. The bullet missed and he rushed at me, he brought one of his hooves up and made a heavy strike to the wound on my chest, my body flew back and through the far window. I landed on the ground outside on the cold hard ground, something snapped and I screamed as I felt my left foreleg go limp.
I looked back up through the tears in my eyes and saw Sloth looking down at me, he had Stardust on his back still knocked out. He just shook his head and flew away, Lust not far behind, “No! Come back!”
I tried to stand but my leg wouldn’t hold my weight. I collapsed, my body screaming at me in protest. A moment later Aura came running up to me, “Shadow, what happened?”
I looked up at the griffon, “Aura you have to go after them, they took Stardust.”
“Slow down, what are you talking about? Who took Stardust?”
“That mare, the lavender one. That was Lust. She knocked Stardust out then Sloth showed up and he attacked me and threw me out that window. Then they just flew off with Stardust, we have to get him back, they’re going to kill him.”
Aura looked up in the sky, “They couldn’t have gotten far, but we have to get you to the clinic.”
“Aura no, please we have to go after him.”
“I’ll do what I can, but I have to help you first, you’re badly hurt,” Aura argued.
“I think she needs a nap,” Doctor Cottage said walking up from behind Aura, “Yep she’s going to hurt herself more if she keeps that up.”
“Leave me alone! I need to help Stardust, I don’t matter right now!” I kept yelling, but Doctor cottage moved forward and stuck a needle into my neck, “Ow, what the fuck did you do that for? I’m…gonna…kick…” the ground came rushing up at me as I fell forward and everything went black…but not before I heard the last thing Aura had to say.
“You rest up, don’t worry I’ll find him…”
[FOOTNOTE: 45% To Level… Please Stand By...]