//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 - Changing For The Worst // Story: When Ponies Come To Badlands. // by Lucy_Marigold //------------------------------// Celestia tossed and turned in her sleep, the only sound was that of a distant owl somewhere outside. Her dreams were filled with horrors she hadn't seen in months. She rolled over onto her stomach. “No.. “ She gripped her pillow tighter. “No.. I’ll never be..” She tossed over again. I’ll always haunt you, Celestia. “GAH!” Celestia woke up with a start. The sound of hooves could be heard as the hall light turned on. The footsteps became louder and stopped outside her door. The door opened and standing there was Fluttershy. Her blue nightgown flowed off her body and on her shoulder was Archimedes. The dove titled it’s head before fluttering over to the crying Princess. “Oh, Pyro. Y-You want a hug?” Celestia nodded, tears running down her cheeks and her hooves still clutching her pillow. Fluttershy came in and turn the lights on before shutting the door. She sat on the bed before embracing the larger mare into a hug. Celestia stopped her crying and hugged the pegasus mare tighter. No one said a word because words weren’t needed. Celestia fell asleep in Fluttershy’s arms due to the crying tiring her out. Fluttershy lay Celestia on her back before tucking her in. She smiled as she turned off the light and left the room. Celestia awoke to the smell of burnt pancakes. She jumped out of her bed and quickly put her suit on but leaving half of it hanging down. Carrying her gasmask with her magic, she left her room. “Luna, have you been making pancakes again?” Celestia said before she stepped before the mess hall. Dropping her gas mask, she gasped in shock. Luna was running around the room trying to put out the fire that had started in her mane while Pinkie ran around trying to help put it out. Twilight came up next to Celestia carry a cup of coffee in her ‘1# Sniper’ mug. When she set her eyes upon the event she spat out her coffee before she turned on her heels and left. Luna stopped as Pinkie threw a bucket over her head which got rid of the fire but still leaving her hair charred. “I thought I was the one who started fires.” “Pff. I stink at cooking unlike you.” Luna said as she waves her hoof. Celestial didn't say anything and just walked towards the kitchen. she took out a large sum of ingredients from the cupboard and put them all into a bowl. Celestia then grabbed a pan and placed it on the stove before she pours the mixture in. The sound of cooking could be heard throughout the base. Twilight carried the large pine tree through the base, needles falling as she went. Rainbow Dash opened her bedroom door as Twilight walked past with the tree. “Hey. Let me help.” “Nah mate. I’m fine.” Twilight said letting the tree be carried by her magic. “Right ok. Whatever dude. Don’t blame me if ya drop it on someone’s hooves!” Rainbow Dash said before she went back to her room. What’s with her? What’s with me? Twilight got to the mess hall and could smell freshly made pancakes. She placed the tree down in the corner near where the pool table normal sat. Rarity came into the room before she looked up from her blueprints and dropping them in shock. She gasped before rushing off. “What’s her problem?” Applejack said as she looked up from her bottle of alcohol. “Stop drinking zhat. It will ruin your liver.” Applejack looked over at Fluttershy who sat in the corner reading a medical tome. “When did you get an accent?” Twilight asked as she brushed off pine needles from her vest. Fluttershy just shrugged. Luna and Pinkie sat on the other side of the room playing cards. “When did we change?” Luna bluntly said as she picked up a card. Silence filled the large room. Derpy wandered in before she started staring at the toaster. She rushed forward as everyone watched. Grabbing the device, she started yelling at it. “YOU ROBOTS SHALL NEVER WIN! GIVE ME MY BREAD BACK!” Rainbow Dash entered the room as well. “Why is Solly yellin’ at the toaster?” She said as she adjusted her hat. The others just shrugged. Celestia carried a large tray of pancakes onto the table while everyone got up and sat down at said table. “Where’s laborer?” Luna said as she piled food onto her own plate. Derpy sat down yet was still glaring at the toaster. “Who knows what that mare is doing,” Derpy commented as she too piled on the food. After breakfast, Luna got up and headed towards her room. Pulling out a tattered book, she sat down on her bed. Grabbing a quill in her magic, she opened the book before starting to write. Dear Diary, We have been here for four days and have grown accustomed to this new routine. Our first battle was on Tuesday. Near the end, I was in the enemy intel room with the RED Engineer under a disguise as the RED Scout. He figured out whom I was and attacked me causing my lip to bleed. Then Celestia and the enemy Pyro entered the room. Celestia tore off her mask causing the RED to be dazed by the fact that Celestia broke a rule (In which I am unhappy about.) which we then took advantage of. Celestia tackled the RED Pyro causing both of them to lose their axes. I then swiped at the Engineer with my knife causing a few cuts to the chest. He grabbed my knife out of my grip before stabbing me in the side with it, which punctured my side causing severe damage. I pulled out my revolver as the knife dug deeper. Before he could react I shot him in the chest. He collapsed with a thud. I lent against the wall as I started to bleed out. I was losing blood so I was unsure of what happened next but I swear I saw Celestia’s mane turn to a fiery rage in which she consumed the human below her in a fire. Celestia got up and stared at the burning body that was the RED Pyro. Applejack rushed into the room and saw the scene. Celestia then ran off to get Fluttershy. Applejack came and talked to me. I told her to grab the intel and run. It took a while to convince her. I then died and went to Respawn after the mare left. That was my first encounter with the RED Engineer. I believe I'm going to encounter him again. Signed Luna. Luna closed the book. She had just filled two or three pages with her writing. She placed it back in its draw with the ink and quill before she got up. She hummed a tune as she did her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror. Luna gasped in shock. She swore she saw Nightmare Moon staring back at her in the mirror. Luna grabbed a few spare bed sheets and tossed them over the mirror. Shaking in fear Luna locked herself in her room for the rest of the day.