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“Each pony has their own unique timeline that tells a story of their life, some are just more interesting than others,”

The next memory started with mom walking toward an old run-down cottage, I was still on her back as she slowly made her way toward it. She was only a few feet away when the door flew open and an older mare was standing there with her horn glowing, “What do you want Spell!?”

“I told you I didn’t want you to come back here after what you pulled!” she yelled, then she tried to cast a spell, but Mom blasted it aside.

Mom pushed past her mother, “I don’t have time for you right now, I’ll be in and out, after this you won’t see me again.”

My grandmother got back to her hooves, “Wait a minute, who’s that on your back?”

Mom just kept walking past the sitting room, “Your Granddaughter, her name is Star.”

“No pony sweetie, just keep your head down and be quiet,” Mom said walking into a smaller bedroom, I could hear my grandmother following.

“Spell what are you doing here?” she asked as Mom used her magic to move the little bed.

Under the bed there was a large floor safe, she looked away from it and at my Grandmother, “Give me the key.”

“Give it to me or I’ll blow it open, I’d rather not make too much noise,” Mom threatened.

“Why should I give you anything? What’ve you done for me huh? You left after your father died, never came to visit, never told me when you married that Pegasus. I didn’t even know you had a foal until Ori’s trial. You’ve been nothing but a selfish brat for most of your life and now you expect me to just let you take the last of our family’s treasures?” My grandmother said.

There was a fleck of shadow behind her and two purple eyes. Mom saw them and smiled, “If you won’t give me the key, then how about my brother?”

She spat, “Ori’s no better than you Spell, he went too far with his magic and now he’s lost to darkness.”

My uncles voice came out of the shadows behind my grandmother, “I wouldn’t say I’m lost to darkness mother. I’d say that I’ve become it’s master, now give Spell the key before I make you.”

My grandmother twisted around to find herself looking up at my uncle as his body formed, “Ori, I told you I didn’t want you to come by here anymore. I can’t risk ponies seeing me with a monster like you.”

Oricalcos chuckled evilly, “First of all mother, I gave up my name when I took on this power and when I made a deal with The Enclave, I’m Pride now. Second, no pony cares if you’re seen with me or anypony else, your nothing but an old hag nowadays that lives in a run-down shack. Now give us the key!”

While her mother’s back was turned, mom’s horn started to glow, “This is taking too long,” she cast a spell and my grandmother’s eyes closed as she passed out, “I didn’t come here to deal with her.”

Oricalcos looked over at Mom, “I didn’t realize I’d made her that angry after I took on this form.”

Mom walked over to her mother and started looking through the pockets of her dirty jacket, “I thought I told you I didn’t need your help Pride.”

He shrugged, “You did, and I would’ve stayed away, but then I caught sight of three Pegasi heading this way. Figured I’d follow them to see what they were up to. When I saw them going for this dump I had a feeling I’d find you inside, so I took care of them.”

Mom pulled a small key out of her mother’s jacket, “So you killed three soldiers to keep them from finding me? You do know that three dead bodies will just tell them which way I went right?”

Oricalcos laughed, “I didn’t kill them, I just made sure they started looking for you someplace else.”

Mom put the key into the safe and unlocked it, when she opened it I saw it only had a couple things inside. The biggest thing was the same Plasma rifle I now had with a few less improvements, there was also a box of memory orbs, a notebook and a zebra stealth cloak.

“At least the rifle’s still here,” Mom said after picking everything else up and putting it into her saddle bags apart from the plasma rifle and the notebook. Then she looked back at Oricalcos, “Thanks for the help with the Pegasi, but how did they know I left?”

“I’m not sure, all I know is that somepony said they saw you sneaking out and heading toward the wall.”

“Oh well, I’ll be out of here soon and once I’m past the wall, they won’t be a problem,” Mom said as she closed the safe then went back to her mother and put the key back into her mother’s pocket.

Oricalcos watched her as Mom used another spell on her mother. It felt like a memory spell, “What’re you doing?”

“Making sure she forgets I was ever here. If The Enclave comes looking I don’t want them to know where I went. It should buy me time,” Mom said as she finished, then she looked at the notebook.

“Dwarf Star’s journal,” Mom said then she stuffed it into her saddle bags.

“I saw it once when she opened the safe, everything in here belonged to our great, great, grandfather. Mom keeps it around like a prize or something. I figured I can get better use out of his stuff than Mom.”

“I’m sure you can,” Oricalcos said as Mom put the bed back where it was, “So, where are you going? You never told me.”

“No, I need you to keep up the act of being a loyal servant to The Enclave.”

“I know, but I need you here more, at least for now. In a couple of weeks though I’ll need you to do something for me,” Mom said as she stepped over her mother and started trotting for the door.

“I need you to go to The Badlands and look for something. My contact thinks part of what I need to help Star is down there. Look for a big spire of some kind out there, it might be hidden or disguised. If you find anything let me know as soon as you can,” Mom said as she headed out the door.

I felt Mom smile a little, but she kept on walking as a broken voice responded, “Love you too kiddo, stay safe.”

The memory shifted again, now mom was hiding behind a broken-down farmhouse next to the tall wall of black that rolled up the nearly invisible barrier that surrounded The Crystal Empire. She was holding me close as she watched the skies. It didn’t take long for her to spot someone flying just over the wall of black and through the barrier.

“Is that a griffon?” she said then she looked down at me, “Okay sweetie, Mommy’s just going to help you sleep a little, this next part of our trip is going to be tough.”

I looked up at her, my red eyes sparkling from under the hood of my small cloak, “Okay.”

Mom cast a spell and I watched as my eyes drooped and I fell against her. She set me down making sure the cloak was keeping me hidden, then she stepped out from hiding as the griffon landed. It was Tonto, a younger Tonto, but still him. Tonto looked around for a moment, a rifle at the ready in one talon, then he looked at Mom, “Are you Grimoire Spell?”

“Tonto Graybeak, I’m with the Red Talons, I was contracted by a mare called The Director,” he said keeping his rifle ready to use just in case.

Tonto lowered his rifle, “Sorry I’m late, had to dodge a few Enclave patrols. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, my daughter is just on the other side of the house,” Mom said walking back to where I was sleeping. She lifted me with her magic, “How are we going to do this?”

“She is, but she’s okay right now. I just put her to sleep so the trip will be easier,” Mom said.

“Okay, then I’ll have you both get on my back, we might run into trouble as we fly, do you have a weapon Ms. Spell?” Tonto asked as he lowered himself down.

Mom pulled her plasma rifle off her back, “I sure do,” she lifted me up with her magic and set me on Tonto’s back, then she got up too.

“Make sure to hold on tight, I’m not as young as I used to be, but I’m still a fast flyer,” Tonto said as he opened his wings and took off.

Mom held on tight, keeping me held down as Tonto blasted into the air. He flew high up then a few seconds later we were though the barrier and flying away from The Crystal Empire. Once we were out mom looked down at our home, it was a view I’d never seen and because of what I saw now, I understood why nopony knew The Crystal Empire was still around. Whatever the Zebra’s did here, it was nothing like what happened to the rest of Equestria. From the fields around the area, black smoke seemed to roll along the land below. It was moving from all sides, heading toward the Crystal Empire, when it ran into the barrier it moved up it slowly until it reached the point where the dome curved then it rolled back on itself. A pillar of bright white light shot out from the middle of the city right were the castle was, powering the barrier itself. The light also shot past it and into the night sky like a beacon. You’d think that light would make it easier to know the Empire was still there, but I knew from stories Mom told me when I was little, that the light could only be seen from The Twin Cities. The Enclave made sure to keep all ponies away from the area. First to make sure that nopony ever found the city, second to keep ponies from dying a horrific death. The stories say that if you stepped one hoof inside the black smoke, you’d be dead before you took another.

Mom let out a small sigh as the city slowly faded behind us, “I’ve been away from the city before, but now I feel like it’s the last time I’ll ever see it.”

Tonto turned southwest then said, “I’m sorry to say this, but this might be the last time. I’m sure that The Enclave wouldn’t want you back after tonight.”

Mom turned away from the city, “You’re right, but I’m still going to miss it.”

“He had to stay behind, he can help me more within the city than outside of it.”

“Me too,” she looked down at Tonto, “I’ve heard of The Red Talons before, I thought you had some kind of rule about helping Enclave.”

“Rule Five, The Red Talons will never take a contract for The Grand Pegasus Enclave or anypony associated with them. Remember the fall of Griffonstone,” he said, “Yes, but as far as I see it I’m not taking a contract from you Ms. Spell, I’m helping a friend of mine.”

He looked back at her, “I don’t know, do you think of yourself as still being Enclave?”

“There you go, now relax Ms. Spell we have a long flight to get you out of Enclave Territory.”

The memory faded and another started with Mom running through a field with me on her back crying. She looked back at the three pegasi who were giving chase, “Fuck, I can’t believe they tracked us this far.”

One of the pegasi yelled down at us, “If you keep running Grim, we’ll be forced to open fire!”

Another pegasus said, “Just take her down, make sure you don’t kill the kid.”

There was a few rocks poking out of the ground just ahead, “Star, hold on tight and close your eyes,” then she teleported right as one of the pegasi opened fire.

We reappeared on the other side of the rock and Mom set me down looking me over quickly, “Star are you feeling okay?”

I could see through Mom’s eyes that I was breathing heavily, “I think so.”

“Just try to control your breathing and keep your eyes closed,” Mom said pulling the Plasma Rifle off her back.

I did as Mom looked around the rocks at the three pegasi who were now grounded, their battle saddles ready to fire. A mare who was in the front said, “Grim, you can’t keep running, come out and surrender and this will go a lot easier for you.”

“I can’t do that, I’m not going back until I can cure my daughter,” Mom said, still keeping behind the rocks for cover.

The mare sighed, “Grim, you’re lucky we haven’t shot you already. We’re showing you a little mercy because of your husband. You’ve already committed treason by running into The Wasteland like this and taking Enclave secrets with you, you’ve also kidnapped Nightshade’s daughter. So please, surrender so we don’t have to put a bullet through your head, don’t let your daughter see that.”

“She’s sick, The Enclave can’t help her, only I can. I don’t care what you think I’ve done, I’m doing this to keep her alive! Now leave me be before I’m forced to do something I’ll regret,” Mom said.

Mom looked back at me then sighed, she used her magic to put her Plasma rifle down behind the rocks and stepped out. All three pegasi tensed but mom just said, “Promise me that you’ll keep Star safe.”

The mare walked closer pulling out what looked like hoof cuffs, “We aren’t here to hurt your daughter Grim. We were given orders by The Council to take you in. You’re doing the right thing by surrendering, I’ll be sure to tell The Council that you cooperated.”

When the mare was only a few feet away Mom asked, “How long have we known each other Sky?”

Mom had tears in her eyes as she continued, “And in all those years have you ever known me to do anything against The Enclave?”

She shook her head, “No, but ponies change and I understand that you think that there’s something out here that can help Star, but you know The Wasteland is just that. Star’s more likely to die out here than back at home.”

“I do, but it’s not out here. Now let me put these on so we can get you home,” she said holding up the hoof cuffs.

“You’re kind Sky, always have been, for that I’ll let you live,” Mom said.

“Huh?” Sky said, but she didn’t get a chance to say anything else. Mom used her magic to pull her plasma rifle out from behind the rocks, as she did she pulled Sky into a head lock and pointed the rifle at the other two pegasi.

“Fly away and forget you saw me, or I’ll drop all of you!” Mom said, her voice filled with anger.

The stallion who spoke up before just chuckled, “Can’t do that Grimoire, we have orders and personally I have no problem killing you. One less unicorn scum in our city to deal with. Now let Captain Sky go.”

Mom just smiled a little, “No way,” she opened fire, the first blast of plasma slammed into the stallion who’d been talking, blowing his head right off. The recoil from the rifle was a lot stronger than it was now and it almost flew out of Mom’s magical grip. The second stallion started to charge up his energy rifles on his battle saddle, but Mom opened fire on him before he got a chance to fire. Three shots slammed into his chest throwing him back. His body rolled across the dirt then came to a stop. He didn’t get back up.

“You just killed two Enclave officers, you’ll be put to death for that!” Sky said in horror.

Mom moved her muzzle closer to Sky’s ear, “I didn’t do anything, for all the Enclave knows, they were killed by Steel Rangers or some other monster out here.”

“Grim, friend or no, you still murdered two soldiers. I can’t hide that from…”

Mom interrupted her, “Don’t worry, you’ll forget all about this,” her horn started to glow again as she started to cast a memory spell, “You were attacked by Steel Rangers while you were looking for me. You found no signs of Grimoire and were heading back. Both members of your wing fell and you just barely got away. Now tell me what happened.”

Her eyes had gone glassy as she repeated, “We were searching for Grimoire Spell west of The Twin Cities, found no sign that she’d gone that way. We believe she’s heading east, maybe south. We were on our way back when we ran into Steel Rangers who were scouting close to our territory. They fired and we tried to defend ourselves. My wing didn’t make it and I just managed to get away.”

“Good, now sleep,” Mom said casting another spell to knock her out. When Mom was done she set the mare down. When she was finished she noticed the pegasus who’d been blown back was trying to crawl away. She picked up her plasma rifle again and slowly walked toward him, “You’re tougher than you look.”

He looked back at her, his face bloody from the roll and blood coating his chest, “I…I wont’ tell…I won’t.”

She got as close as she could then pointed her rifle right at his head, “I know you won’t,” she blasted his head off, blood spraying and covering her face and mane. She took a step back and wiped at her eyes, “Dammit.”

Mom looked back at me, I was looking out from the rocks. She started to cry as she said, “They were going to kill us sweetie. I’m sorry my Little Star, but they had to die…they had to…”

Mom ran over to me and hugged me as she cried harder, I’m not sure if she could tell in the state of mind she was in, but I could feel my little body stay limp in her hooves. As the memory faded I remembered that day better now. Mom cried for a half hour after she killed the two stallions. I was in shock, because I’d never seen anypony die. The entire time she cried, I just sat there in her hooves my eyes glued on the two dead stallions and the mare who was sleeping not far off.

The next memory started with Mom sitting across a table from a mare who looked around the same age as Mom. She reminded me a lot of Cookie Byte, she had the same electric blue mane, the same blue eyes, but her coat was yellow not white. Mom was smiling at her, “A deals a deal Dust Devil.”

The mare looked like a clean raider, but she spoke like a mare from a stable, “I still say you cheated. Nopony wins that many games of caravan without cheating.”

Mom just leaned back in her chair, “You know I didn’t, I kept my horn from glowing the entire time, I used my hooves to pick up the cards and all. Now don’t be a sore loser, or do ponies in Trotston not hold up to their bets?”

The mare cursed then slammed her left foreleg onto the table. On it I saw The Silver Mark II, my Mark II. No wonder she looked like Cookie Byte, this had to be her mother. Dust Devil glared at Mom, “I always keep my word unicorn. You wanted to know how to remove one huh, fine I’ll tell you.”

“I don’t think so Dust Devil, the bet was you’d SHOW me how to remove it,” Mom said.

Mom shrugged, “I’m a mare that likes to know things, I’ve never seen a Pip-Buck like that before and you did tell me that they’re special, so I want to see what the big deal is. Come on, it’s not like I’m going to take the damn thing, it’s not like I’d get far.”

“Fine, but if you even try to take it I’ll cut your head off and put it on a pike,” Dust Devil said.

“Are you sure you’re a stable mare? You act more like a raider, you know that right?”

“Kiss my ass Grim and watch, I’m not showing you twice,” she said pulling out a Pip-Buck master key from a pocket in her coat, “It’s simple, the Mark II’s can only be removed by the one who wears it, also you need a master Pip-Buck Key, and you have to enter the pass code for it.”

“Sounds like a lot of work to get a Pip-Buck off,” Mom said, but she watched the mare as she used the key on the Pip-Buck.

Once she was done she did something on her Mark II then said into it, “Heart Music,” then the latch to the Pip-Buck appeared. Dust Devil, unlatched it and removed the Mark II, “There you see?”

Mom reached out and ran a hoof over the silver finish as Dust Devil set it down on the table, “Is it true that the Mark II can hide information inside of it?”

She nodded, “Rusty says so, I never read much into the manual myself. He had to because of his old job in Stable 9. Once we settled Trotston, he put me in charge of security here, but he gave this to me on the day we left Stable 9. It used to belong to our Overmare.”

“What happened to your old stable anyway, none of the ponies here ever seem to want to talk about it,” Mom asked as she kept running her hooves over the Mark II.

“Most around here don’t like to think about those days, I was young when it happened. It was all because of one Filly and a mad doctor,” Dust Devil said after she yawned.

“There was a few of them yes, but they ain’t nothing like the ones you see out here. They were smarter and faster, but they weren’t the reason we had to run,” she said as she took a drink of some amber liquid, “A filly was hurt badly a few hours before. Doctor Cell used some kind of fucked up magic or potion he’d created to turn the filly into some kind of monster. She had wings like a bat, long fangs like a bloodwing, and she had scales over her chest and belly, bone claws on her hooves and eyes like a dragon. He sicked his monster on the stable after killing our Overmare. Honestly we got lucky.”

“Not that, no, our Overmare was a unicorn like you. She had a strange ability to know what was going to happen. Well, not exactly what would happen, but she could guess when something bad was coming. So, she gave her Pip-Buck to Rusty and told him to keep it safe. Because of that, Rusty was ready when the attack happened and he was able to get most of us out. He had me put on the Mark II when we left and use it to seal the stable so that Dr. Cell and his monster couldn’t ever escape,” Dust Devil said.

“Sounds sad if you ask me, a poor filly was forced to become a monster then made to attack her own stable ponies.”

“Even worse was she was the Overmare’s Daughter, her name was Wind Thrasher.”

“How did she get wings? I’ve never heard of anypony being able to give wings to another before.”

“She was a Pegasus,” Dust Devil said, “First one born to our stable, she was a shy thing, always playing with the Vampire Fruit Bats in the lower levels. I find it sad that Dr. Cell changed her into such a blood thirsty thing, when she used to be such a sweetie and kindly soul.”

“I agree, at least Rusty was able to save all the Mark II’s when he got out,” my mother clarified.

Dust Devil chuckled, “Saved them all, no. Dr. Cell still has his for all I know. It doesn’t matter though, honestly, the Mark II isn’t that great. I’m not sure why Stable Tec wanted us to keep them safe.”

Mom smiled, “Because one of them was used to lock down a project. They were trying to keep them hidden from ponies like me.”

Mom pulled the Mark II close to herself and latched it onto her own foreleg before Dust Devil could do anything, “Sorry Dust Devil, but the only reason I came to Trotston was to get this. You see this Mark II is the one I need to save my daughter. It’s a good thing you’re such a moron that you made a bet with me to take it off.”

Mom got to her hooves, “Sorry can’t do that, but thanks again for showing me how it works,” she used her magic to grab the Master Key then with a chuckle she started backing toward the door, “Remember this the next time you decide to make stupid bets.”

“I’ll kill you GRIM!” Dust Devil said, “I warned you, I’d cut off your head and put it on a stake.”

Mom’s grin widened as she started to draw on her magic, “If you try, I’ll make sure to leave your head on your front door step. See ya later,” Mom said before teleporting away, the last thing I saw in the memory was Byte’s mother lunging for Mom as she vanished in a flash of blue light.

A new memory started with mom sitting in a cave with me sleeping by a small fire. She was fiddling with the Mark II, from the corner of her eye I could see a dead griffon by the cave mouth, just out of sight of my sleeping form. As she fiddled with the Mark II, shadows pulled away from the cave and a moment later Uncle Ori was standing in front of her, “Still having problems with Red Talons?”

Mom looked up at him then shrugged, “That bitch from Trotston keeps sending them after me. You’d think they’d stop taking the contracts after I killed five Griffons.”

Oricalcos looked back at the dead griffon, “I hope Star didn’t see you kill him.”

“She’s been sleeping, she had a bad day. It took me twice as long to push the darkness back today. Also start calling her Morning Star.”

“Too bad,” Mom said as she kept working on the Pip-Buck, “I decided it fits her and I’m not changing it.”

“I was checking up on you for starters, also I wanted to warn you that Steel Rangers have been spotted near here.”

“I need their help if I’m going to find this Project. I can’t do it on my own and you can’t stay around me all the time to help. They have a lot of Tech and knowledge. A new Elder for the Los Alicorn branch is meeting with me today so he can help me in my search,” Mom said.

Mom just shrugged, “He can try to take it, but The Director wants it too and she’s the one I trust. She’s the one who told me to work with them.”

“I don’t trust any pony anymore apart from you Pride, but I’ll use them for as long as I have too. Now, did you see anything else apart from the Rangers?” Mom asked.

“Works for me, I did say that if she came after me I’d put her head on the porch to her home,” Mom said going back to the Mark II.

“Sounds like fun, I’ll head that way and help her understand how stupid she’s been,” Oricalcos said, shadows starting to flow off his body.

Oricalcos melted into the shadows saying, “I’ll see you in a few days sis, stay safe.”

Another memory started with mom standing on a hill near a place I don’t ever remember seeing. I understood why a minute later when mom took my sleeping form off her back and gently set me down next to her. Either I slept a lot when I was younger or mom put a sleeping charm on me whenever she needed to meet with ponies. I wouldn’t put it past her to do the latter.

Mom turned as two ponies in power armor walked up to her, one I knew as soon as I saw the armor. Elder Wolfsbane stood a few feet away the ranger next to him keeping a gun trained on mom. Mom rolled her eyes, “Crackerjack do you always have to do that when we meet? I figured by now you’d have a little more trust in me.”

“It’s hard a trust a pony who doesn’t tell us about her past,” Crackerjack said.

Wolfsbane just sighed, “Crackerjack lower your weapons, Grim is correct, she’s shown us that we can trust her.”

Wolfsbane ignored him and stepped out of his power armor. He looked a lot younger then when I first met him, he also didn’t have the scar over his face. He was quite handsome, if he wasn’t a back stabbing, murdering, asshole who should be thrown into the deepest darkest part of the ocean while trapped in his power armor!

“Not much sadly. I was able to get into the old base and past both of the locks, but the control room was destroyed a long time ago. I found a few files that I was able to copy onto my Pip-Buck, but there’s nothing in them about Falling Shadows, only about a couple of projects that were scrapped,” Mom said.

Wolfsbane looked irritated, “I thought you said the information would be down there. You told me, everything about the Project was in that location.”

“He wouldn’t do that, also he doesn’t know about Falling Shadows, all he thinks that location is, is a power source for something,” Mom said.

“You know I find it interesting that every time one of us brings up this stallion, you always defend him Grim, why is that?” Wolfsbane asked.

“Because it doesn’t matter for the mission, he’s not a problem for us. I don’t want him getting mixed up in this.”

“He’s part of The Enclave, none of them are good ponies Grim,” Crackerjack said laughing.

Mom’s horn started to glow as she said, “You don’t’ know anything about ponies from The Enclave Crackerjack. Not all of them are bad ponies, a lot of them are better than most Steel Ranger’s I’ve met, including you!”

“Calm down Grim,” Wolfsbane said, “Either way, is there anything we can use from down there?”

“There was only one thing I could see being useful, but it might be almost impossible to make the project work.”

“It’s a project called Solar Flare, it was a weapon started by a mare called Professor Augustine. It’s a megaspell that’s part of a satellite, it uses something called a Range Finder to work. From the notes that Minuette kept on the project, it was completed. The power it should have could take out a town, but it takes twenty-four hours to recharge,” Mom said.

Wolfsbane seemed interested in that bit of information, “With that kind of fire power, I could use it to keep a lot of the factions in line. Do you know where this Ranger Finder is?”

Mom shook her head, “No, but even if I did, the Program in Halo One would have to be activated first. That’s where the program is located and where the signal is sent up to the satellite.”

“There’s always a catch, still if we could find the Range Finder, getting the program started shouldn’t be too bad. I’ll see what I can find on my end of things,” Wolfsbane said, “Anything else you need before I head out?”

“I need more resources near New Pegasus if I’m going to ever find more information out about Falling Shadows. I also need a safer place to keep Morning Star safe while I work,” Mom said.

“I had a feeling this would happen,” Wolfsbane said, “Luckily I’ve already been working on a plan for this. As you know Crackerjack here works within the Hidden Sands branch of the Steel Rangers as my eyes and ears. I’m going to have him help you get in there so they let you join them.”

“How is that going to work? They don’t just let any random Wastelander join up,” Mom asked.

“Luckily for you, the Elder of that branch is an old fool who is far to kind for an Elder. With Crackerjack’s help, you’ll be able to get in, but you’ll need to play the part of a helpless mare, but still show how smart you really are.”

Mom sighed, “If it will help me find this project sooner rather than later, then fine.”

“Good, Crackerjack will send you a message in a few days. Make sure you’re ready along with your filly,” Wolfsbane said walking back to his power armor and getting into it, “Also Grim, if you find anything out about this Solar Flare Project, I want you to tell me right away.”

“Good mare,” he said with a laugh, “Let’s go Crackerjack, I need to get back before I’m seen.”

The two turned and left without another word to mom. She waited for a long moment then picked me up with her magic while also teleporting to a place that I knew better. In the distance I could see the Lucky Horseshoe poking out from the horizon, far in the distance. She took in a deep breath, “I hope you can take a couple more of these sweetie,” then she teleported again.

She appeared near an old cave, Halo One visible now in the distance. Then she teleported one more time and now the power station was not far off. She quickly pulled me off her back and started to check my vitals. Once she was satisfied that her quick teleportation hadn’t made me sick, she walked over to an area close to the fence to the Power Station where a few rocks were poking out from the ground. She checked to make sure that no pony was watching then she used a spell to crack open one of the rocks and hollow it out.

“Let’s hope this works,” she said as she reached into her Saddle Bags and pulled out Solar Flare’s Range Finder. How the hell did she find that? Also, if she had it then why didn’t she tell Wolfsbane about it or give it to him?

She placed the Range Finder into the hollowed-out rock, then used another spell to replace the split part of the rock back over the hollowed-out part. Then she cast another spell to move sand over most of the rock, to further help hide the rock. Once she was finished she sighed then sat down next to the pile of rocks lifting her Pip-Buck and opening the broadcaster.

It took a minute but then The Director said, “I’m here Grim, what’s going on?”

Mom smiled, “Wolfsbane did just as you said, I’ll be joining the Hidden Sands Rangers soon, but I did have to tell him about Solar Flare.”

“No, I’ve hidden it for now. I’m going to see if I can get The Hidden Sands to take over Halo One so I can see about shutting it down for good.”

“I’m glad to hear that Grim, what else did you find while you were in the base?”

Mom’s smile grew as she used her magic to pull my sleeping form closer, “The information was there just like you said. I know what I have to do next…”

The memory faded then was replaced by one of mom yelling, “Stay down Star and keep close to me!”

Mom was attacking a manticore as it charged up the small hill she was on. The Plasma didn’t seem to do much against it, apart from make it angrier. She started to activate a spell when a huge pony in power armor slammed into the monster from the side throwing it back down the hill.

“Couldn’t be helped, I had to make sure the others were able to follow my trail. You okay?” he said, sounding a lot nicer then when I knew the Steel Ranger turned Raider Boss.

“Why did you have to make it a manticore? A Ghoul hoard would have been easier.” Mom asked as she shot a blast of magic down at the monster. It ducked the attack and tried to charge them again, but Crackerjack bucked it back down the hill.

“I had to make sure Vervain and the Paladin didn’t think this was a trap.”

“And a manticore seemed like a good idea to make this not look like a trap?” Mom asked.

“Only a fool would set a trap using a manticore,” he said through his helmet.

“Well then you’re a fucking fool Crackerjack. You do realize that my daughter is here right?”

“She’ll be fine, just keep that thing from getting up here, the team shouldn’t be too far away.”

“Seeing how you have that Pip-Buck and a beautiful plasma rifle and your fighting with me, yeah I’m sure,” he said as she opened fire on the manticore.

The thing just kept dodging, making slow ground toward us. Then a loud boom filled the air and one of the manticore’s paws was blasted off. The monster screamed then turned toward two other Steel Rangers who were at the bottom of the hill. The shorter one’s guns pointed up at the beast and Vervain’s voice echoed out of the helmet, “Oh shut up you ugly fuck,” then she blew it’s head off with the large gun.

The body twitched then slumped forward and slowly slid down the hill. I could feel my small body shivering in fright against mom’s left hindleg. The two Steel Rangers walked up to mom and Crackerjack, Vervain saying, “Crackerjack, what happened here? Do you know how long we’ve been looking for you?”

“Thank you ever so much for the help ma’am,” Mom said, sounding pathetic even to my ears.

Vervain looked over at mom asking, “Who are you and why are you out here alone?”

“My daughter and I are new to this area, we got lost and this kind Ranger helped us when that thing attacked,” Mom said.

Vervain ignored them both saying to Mom, “You’re just lucky he showed up when he did, now if I were you I’d head toward a settlement, The Wasteland isn’t a place for a mare like you to be alone.”

“Knight Vervain, the manticore wasn’t the only reason I helped her,” Crackerjack said, “Look on her foreleg.”

The other two Steel Ranger look down at mom’s Pip-Buck, Vervain asked, “What kind of Pip-Buck is that? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I…I found it on a dead mare outside of Trotston a few weeks back. I put it on, since I heard that they can help you in a fight, but now I can’t get it off,” Mom said, sounding even more pathetic.

The Stallion with Vervain pushed past her asking, “Did you say you got that near Trotston?”

Mom nodded, “Yeah a few weeks back. I figured the dead mare didn’t need it anymore. It says it’s a Pip-Buck 3000 Mark II, I was able to figure out a few things with it, I don’t think it’s a normal Pip-Buck.”

The Stallion cursed, “So Trotston does have those prototypes we read about, Elder Apple Jam was right.”

Mom bowed her head a little, “Grimoire Spell, but you can call me Grim if you want. This is my daughter Morning Star.”

Vervain reached up and took off her helmet, once she did she smiled a little, “Sometimes I have to be scary to keep the monsters away, but really I’m nice. I’m sorry that we scared you.”

Vervain looked back at Mom, “Grim huh, where are you trying to get to Grim?”

“Hmmmm, you know what, that Pip-Buck seems interesting, but you said you can’t get it off right?” Vervain asked.

The Stallion nudged Vervain, “Come on Knight Vervain, we don’t have time to talk. Kill the mare, take the Pip-Buck and leave the kid to fend for herself.”

Before mom could react to the coldness in the buck’s voice she rounded on him, “No, we don’t go around killing ponies because we’re in a hurry,” then she looked at Mom, “Sorry about him, anyway, since you can’t get it off and you seem to need a place to stay, how would you like to come back to Hidden Sands with us? We can provide you and your daughter a safe place to live and maybe get you some work.”

Vervain smiled wide, “All I want is a chance to look over that Mark II. Do that for me and I’ll talk to our Elder about letting you stay.”

Another memory started, mom was sitting in an office I recognized, it was the one that used to belong to Elder Appleslice, but right now, it was the old kind buck who I knew when I was young, Elder Apple Jam. He was giving mom a kind smile as he said, “Vervain, says you’re quite the fighter.”

Mom just shrugged, “I’ve learned to take care of myself, but I wouldn’t say I’m much of a fighter sir.”

“It’s okay, I know it’s not easy for ponies who didn’t grow up around Steel Rangers. So, tell me Miss Spell, what brings you all the way out to the Marejave?”

“I’m looking for something to help cure my daughter, she was hurt when she was very young and suffers every day with a bad heart.”

“I’ve done my research and I believe that an old pre-war project can be used to help her.”

“Ah I see, and have you found anything yet since you arrived?” Elder Apple Jam asked.

Mom shook her head, “No, not yet, but I’ve only been around here for a couple of weeks. Once my daughter and I are rested up, we’ll be heading toward Freedom.”

He sat back in his chair watching her as he said, “Interesting idea, though I’d think that making a sick filly travel around New Pegasus with you does sound dangerous.”

“She’ll be fine, I can’t just leave her in some random place while I search, I’m the only pony who knows the spell to keep her alive,” Mom said.

“If they have the right kind of gifts for magic then yes. The spell itself isn’t difficult. Why do you ask?” Mom asked.

“I ask because I believe that it would be a good idea for you to join us. We could help keep your daughter healthy while you travel around the area looking for this project of yours.”

Mom frowned, “And why would I join the Steel Rangers? Even if I did, what do you gain?”

“A smart mare for one, also I’d like to have my scribes study that Pip-Buck of yours. Small trade to make when it comes to the safety of your daughter don’t you think?”

Mom pulled her left foreleg closer to herself, “I can’t let you have this Pip-Buck, I need it to activate the project once I find it.”

“Yes, all the notes I found about the project say it was locked down with a silver Mark II. This is the only thing that can unlock it and save my daughter.”

He took a minute to think then chuckled to himself, “I must be getting old, fine how about this, once you’re done with this quest of yours then would you be willing to give us that Pip-Buck? You wouldn’t need it anymore right?”

Mom chuckled a little, “You have no idea, before my daughter got sick I used to work with a research department in…” she stopped before she could say where she was from.

Elder Apple Jam wasn’t a stupid pony though, he looked at her with more interest than before, “You know we got reports a month or so back about a Blue Unicorn escaping The Enclave up north. Funny thing was, she had a little filly with her that was very sick.”

“A report got back to us that Steel Rangers were being blamed for killing two Pegasi a little outside of Whinnieapolis. The strange thing is, Steel Rangers never venture that close to Enclave territory.”

Mom’s horn started glowing as she said, “I can’t have any pony knowing…”

Mom dropped her magic asking, “Why would you do that, Steel Rangers hate Enclave.”

“If you ran from them because you needed to save your daughter, risking death itself to do so, then I have no reason to fear you Miss Spell,” Elder Apple Jam said simply.

“So, you’ll just up and trust a mare from the Enclave? I could be a spy,” she said.

He shrugged, “I doubt that, not with a sick filly. I’ll make you a deal, work with us, become a scribe for the Steel Rangers and I’ll keep your secret about where you come from.”

“I don’t expect you too, I’ll let you keep working on finding this project, all I ask is that you let me know where you’re going when you head out. If I have a mission for you that way, then I’ll have you take care of it for us. After you’re done with your own work of course,” he said.

“Think about it this way, your daughter will be safe, fed, have a place to sleep every night. We’ll make sure she gets a good education, maybe teach her to defend herself, and there’ll be a scribe that knows that spell of yours to keep her healthy. It will free you up so you can find this Project a lot quicker.”

“I would, I couldn’t live with myself if I let a mother and her sick daughter just leave this place and later find out they died out in the wasteland when I could have done something to help her.”

Mom smiled a little, “Okay, as long as you keep your side of the deal. Also, I would like to have my Plasma Rifle back, it’s a family heirloom.”

He chuckled, “I think I can manage that. I’ll have Vervain show you around, she’s the daughter of a very good friend of mine and she loves foals. If I were you I’d make friends with her, she’s one of those friends that only comes along once in a life time.”

Mom’s smile fell a little, “I’ll try, but I think that kind of friend’s already come and gone for me.”

“Well maybe you’re lucky enough to have two of those kinds of friends,” he said with a wink.

A new memory started with mom sitting in a cave with her Pip-Buck up talking to somepony on the Mark II’s broadcaster, “So how are you liking your new job Stormy?”

“Oh, Grim you have no idea how busy their keeping me here, but I love it. Though I don’t know what I’m going to do when my leave time is up from the Crystal Empire. I’m not even sure The Director would even let me leave since I know where this place is now,” I heard Stormy’s voice say.

“She knows that you can be trusted, you’ve been there for two months now and from what I hear, you’ve been making huge strides in their projects,” Mom said leaning against the wall of the cave.

“Yes I have, I may be on to something with this whole gen three synth. They had most of the basics down, they just couldn’t seem to get the ponies they made to act like real everyday ponies.”

“That’s more your area than mine, I would have no idea how to do any of that,” Mom said with a chuckle.

“Your area has always been in magical research and new spell work. I’ve always been fascinated by robotics and the thought of androids. Though since the new generation doesn’t seem to have anything mechanical in them apart from the small chip in their heads, I’m not sure I can call them androids,” Stormy said, “I still can’t believe that you got me a position here. How did you even find them?”

“They found me, The Director somehow found out about Star and wanted to help. She also thinks I’m the only one who can find this Falling Shadows Project. Though I’m not sure how I will, so far all I’ve been able to learn is small things about this Pip-Buck. It has nothing on it about Falling Shadows though.”

“So why keep it then, Pip-Bucks are so old fashioned and tacky,” Stormy said sounding bored.

“It has it’s uses and I think this Mark II was used to lock Falling Shadows, but it could have just as easily been locked down with a lot of other Projects by EC1101.”

“Some program I found in some old notes of Strikers. It’s a program that moves around and can be used to unlock projects. I’ve heard it’s also referenced as The Key to Equestria,” Mom said with a sigh.

“It’s been lost since the war ended. Last place I think it ended up is in Hoofington, though I’m not sure where.”

“Hoofington huh, now there’s a place I’d hate to go.” Stormy said, “Anyway, enough talk about the doom and gloom of our tasks for The Ministry Grim, tell me how are you liking working with those Steel Ranger ponies?”

“It’s not so bad, I’ve made a good friend named Vervain, she’s been helping me on my quest to find Falling Shadows. Star keeps calling her Auntie Vervain, it’s cute. She’s really taking a liking to her,” Mom said with a smile.

“Six months with the Rangers and getting rest has helped, I haven’t had to use the spell on her as often. Though I think it might just be a matter of time before she gets worse again,” Mom said.

“The poor little thing, I do hope you find this project soon and I hope it can fix her.”

“I do too, though once she’s better I don’t know what I’ll do. I’m sure by now there’s no way I can ever go back home. I’m not even sure if I want to at this point, I feel so much more alive since I’ve come to The Wasteland,” Mom said.

“Well then, at least you still have me. I’ll stick by your side forever if I must,” Stormy said dramatically.

“Okay maybe not old, but still boring. But at least your cute,” Stormy teased.

The sounds of hooves stepping over gravel echoed into the cave, mom sighed, “Sounds like Vervain is back, I’ll contact you in a week or so.”

“That’s Doctor Stormy now Grim, and good night, don’t worry I’ll be thinking of you as I take my shower,” she teased again then cut the connection.

Mom just chuckled and shook her head then looked toward the entrance of the cave where a pony in power armor was walking in. Vervain’s voice echoed out of the helmet, “Who where you talking too?”

“Just checking in with a contact of mine,” Mom said getting back to her hooves, “Did you find anything?”

“Yeah, that old shack definitely is more than it seems. It’s safe if you want to come check it out with me.”

“Sounds good, let’s go,” Mom said following Vervain as the memory faded away.

The new memory started with mom looking over old papers on a desk in the Steel Rangers Bunker, I was sleeping on the small bed next to hers, Vervain standing next to the desk, her power armor off. Mom looked up at her, “Are you sure this is correct?”

“As far as I know, I’m not sure how our contact got those, but he said they were in some old files in Stratus,” Vervain said, “I was lucky that the pegasus was willing to go up there and risk his life for them. Is it the information on Falling Shadows you were looking for?”

“What! That moron couldn’t even get me the right information?” Vervain said.

“It’s okay Vervain, it’s better than okay,” Mom said as she looked over a paper titled ‘Project Stargazer A.K.A. Aquila.’

“I was wrong the whole time, this is the project I need. I always knew that Project Falling Shadows had something to do with magic pulled down from the stars, but Stargazer is the real one I need. After looking through my notes, Falling Shadows is the project that followed a failed Project. I never found the name of the former one, but this has to be it.”

“If the power is still trapped in the lab then yes. I found notes on how to contain star magic in one of my old books, if I go there with Morning Star, I should be able to use this power to heal her!”

Vervain hugged mom tightly, “That’s amazing Grim, I hope it will all work out. If so, be sure to get a message to me.”

Mom pulled away confused, “What do you mean? I figured with all the help you’ve given me over the past year and a half, that you’d want to come with?”

“I do, but Elder Apple Jam is sending me on an undercover mission to that Stable Laser Light found,” Vervain said.

“Stable 28? The Stable down the road from your hometown? Why does he want you to go there?” Mom asked.

“We believe that they are making new kinds of weapons and armor. One of the contacts in Cartwheel was sold one from one of the traders. He needs me to go because I’m the only pony here who’s been a Scribe and a Knight, I can protect myself and still understand what’s going on in Stable 28.”

Vervain took a minute to think, “Do you know where this Project Stargazer is?”

“Then let’s see what happens in the next few weeks, I’m sure I won’t be in Stable 28 for more than a few weeks. Once you find the location let me know and I’ll make sure I can work it out to help,” Vervain said.

“Okay, I’ll do that,” Mom said with a smile, “Just make sure you stay safe okay?”

Another memory started, mom was talking with Vervain as they headed toward Cartwheel, “Are you sure this mare will have the information I need? I mean she’s just a Clothes merchant.”

“Yes, but Supple Cloak used to be an explorer and scavenger when she was younger. Before she had a daughter and settled down in Cartwheel, she used to adventure all over. If anypony has the map and info on the lab, she will.”

“If you say so, I guess Morning and I will be back in a little while,” Mom said as she headed into Cartwheel.

It was hard for me to watch as mom walked through the town I grew to love. In only a few years this place would be reduced to nothing but destroyed buildings and dead ponies. Mom did her best to smile and say hello to the ponies she passed by as we walked past them heading to where Silver Snip’s shop was. I was on her back resting a little as she worked her way through town. Finally, she walked in the door and set me down saying, “Will you be okay here for a few minutes Little Star?”

“I know, just relax and you’ll feel better soon,” Mom said patting my head

Mom turned away from me and walked over to the mare at the counter as a little red filly walked past heading toward where I was sitting. When mom reached the counter the mare who had to be Supple Cloak, Silver Snip’s mother, looked up asking in a board tone, “Can I help you?”

Supple Cloak got an irritated look to her face, “Does this look like a store the sells maps? Can you read the sign over the door? Or are you just another illiterate mare trying to get herself killed in The Wasteland?”

“I don’t have time to deal with ponies that can’t read. This is a shop for Armor, If you need that then I can help you, if not get the fuck out of my store,” Supple Cloak said.

Mom looked back at me and saw I was distracted talking to Silver Snip, then she turned back toward Supple Cloak and pulled her plasma rifle off her back, “Listen here, I know that you sell maps for places you’ve been when you were still a scavenger. I need one for that M.A.S.E.B.S. tower just outside of town. I need to know how to get up to it, where the entrance is, what to expect around the area and if you found any doors into a lab.”

She just rolled her eyes, “Please, I’m not scared of that or you. No pony would just out right kill another when their daughter was in the room.”

Mom grinned a little, “Want to risk your life on that? I’m with the Hidden Sands Steel Rangers. Vervain sent me to get this information, if you don’t do as I ask, then I’ll kill you then take it for myself. Not a lot of places in this dump to hide it.”

“Fine, whatever,” The mare said turning toward a wall safe, “Fucking Vervain going around telling strangers what I used to do.”

“Fuck if I can remember,” Supple Cloak said as she opened the safe and pulled out a few papers.

Supple Cloak turned and slammed the papers down on the desk, “I can’t remember every drunken night I opened my legs for a stallion let alone when I gave birth to a worthless child with no talent. Now that will be five thousand caps for the info then you can get out of my shop and tell Vervain to keep her muzzle shut about my maps.”

“First of all, it’s none of your business, second fuck you,” Supple Cloak said, “Now pay up or leave.”

I could feel mom doing her best not to draw on her magic as she took in a deep breath to calm herself, “Fine,” she tossed the caps on the counter grabbing the map.

My mother looked back at Supple Cloak and grinned, “I only paid you what I think you’re worth, you’re lucky you even got anything.”

Supple Cloak was about to attack mom, but mom stopped her with her magic suspending her in mid-air “No-No-No you said it yourself, ‘no pony would kill another pony with their daughter in the room,” I can feel mom’s magic make its way to Supple Cloak’s neck slightly choking her, “Just a word of advice.”

Mom tightened her hold around Supple Cloaks neck, her eyes a little bloodshot from lack of oxygen, “You’re a mother, act like it. I can see that your daughter is thin, she needs to eat more. Cartwheel is a prosperous town and I know that you have more than enough to feed her. Also, no child is useless, they have more potential than you’d ever know if you’d just treat them with a little bit of kindness. When I come back through town I better see her looking better. If not, I’ll cut off your head and feed what’s left of you to a hell hound. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?”

The mare’s bloodshot eyes were full of fear as she looked into mom’s grey eyes, then she nodded, “Fine, now let me go,” her voice still strained

Mom released her hold on Supple Cloak and picked up the maps and headed back toward Silver and me…

The next memory I knew all too well. I watched from Mom’s point of view as we entered Stargazer labs. It was different to see what happened from where she was and I understood why she was so scared when Aquila attacked me. One moment I was yelling at the ball of light then there was a flash of light followed by blackness blasting out of my body as Aquila purified it. From my mom’s perspective, my body floated in the air, my silver white coat turned black, my mane going silver. In an instant I went from being the sick little star that mom loved to a different pony all together.

When I passed out from the pain of having the darkness purged mom held me close to her checking to see if I was still alive. Vervain running over asking, “What happened Grim?”

“I’m not sure, but she’s breathing and I can feel hear heart beating strong.”

Mom set me down and tried to use her light spell, like before she was able to see though me, but my heart looked healthy, not a single scrap of darkness was left, “She’s….cured.”

Mom stopped her spell, but she didn’t smile or show signs of happiness, “Maybe.”

Mom started to use spells to look through my body, then she started to look though my memories and mind. At first there was nothing to see, then she saw it. A speck of light deep inside my mind, weak from having to hold back the darkness, but still there. Mom gasped and drew away, “She’s inside Star.”

Mom nodded, “It merged with her somehow, but it’s weak for curing Morning Star, but even now I can see that it’s forcing itself deeper into her,” Mom said using another spell to try and pull Aquila out. Aquila just pushed herself deeper into me.

As mom tried to pull harder Aquila said weakly, “Try to rip me out all you want Grim, but Morning Star and I have a deal. No matter what you do, I’m a part of her now.”

“Get out of my daughter!” Mom yelled trying again to rip the creature out of my mind.

“It won’t work, all the magic on Equus can’t remove me from her now that we are one. But don’t worry, you’ll have a few years to enjoy your time with her before I take over,” Aquila said vanishing inside the depths of my mind.

“I don’t know yet, but I intend to find out. Get back to the Stable, I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes, I need a clinic so I can look over Morning Star and make sure she’s okay, then I need time to research everything I can about this place and what they wanted here. Just get me into the Stable so I can do what I need to, I’ll make sure to also take care of your problem with the ponies there.”

Mom waited for her to go then she turned back toward my limp form, “I’ll find a way to get you out Aquila, but for now I have time, first I need to destroy what’s left of this place.”

Mom picked me up with her magic, then started drawing zebra glyphs and magical circles around the lab. Once she was done, she took everything she could from the lab so she could look at them later. With that finished she walked out of the room and activated a spell. Right as it started to go off and the magical circles started to glow, she shut the door behind us. As mom slowly walked up the steps, a muted boom echoed from the lab. Mom never even flinched or looked back.

A new memory started again, I was starting to wonder how many more there were and why they mattered so much, when I noticed that mom was running down the dark tunnel toward Stable 28’s door. When she reached it, she started pounding on the door yelling, “I need help please, my daughter was attacked out here and she needs a doctor!”

She kept banging on the door then moved over to the switch that opened the large door and started pushing the small button that activated an intercom, “Please somepony help me, she’s hurt.” She pulled back a little whispering to herself, “Come on Vervain…don’t leave me out here.”

Finally, a mare’s voice echoed out of the intercom, “Who is this and how did you find this stable?” It sounded like the Overmare, not the one I grew up with, but her mother.

“I found it by chance, I was lost on the road, got chased by ghouls into Green Mist Valley, my daughter started having problems breathing then passed out. I ran for the closest cave to hide from the Ghouls and saw the Stable door. I’m begging you, she’s all I have.” Mom pleaded, I was kind of amazed how good of an actor she was. If I didn’t know she planned this with Vervain, I’d have thought it was real.

Then I heard Vervain like she was standing next to the Overmare, “Overmare, if she has a filly we can’t just turn her away.”

“We don’t normally let in strange mares,” The Overmare said through the intercom.

“I know Overmare, but you did let me in and I’ve proved helpful. Maybe she can be as well,” Vervain responded.

Mom banged her hoof on the intercom, “If she doesn’t get help she’ll die, I’ll do anything, please!”

“I’m sorry, but our Stable can’t risk it, you’ll have to leave. If you head back to the road there’s a town not…Vervain what are you doing!” The Overmare yelled.

A moment later the stable door started to pull out of its slot and opened. As soon as it started to open mom brought the Mark II up and started going through the screens. She went to one I hadn’t noticed on it before, she did it so fast I barely noticed what she was doing. The next thing I knew she pulled the master key out of her saddle bags then said to her Pip-Buck, “Shine Bright!” the Mark II unlocked and a moment later she was stowing it in her saddle bags right as the door finished opening.

Mom ran for the open door and was only stopped by three security ponies, behind them was The old Overmare and Vervain up by the control switch. The Overmare who I remembered as being kind if a bit lazy like her daughter, looked pissed, “Vervain, how dare you open the door!”

Vervain looked over at the Overmare, “Yell at me later, but I’m not going to let a mare and her filly die out there.”

“This is my Stable Vervain not yours!” then she looked at my mom, “You’ll have to leave.”

Mom’s horn glowed and a moment later the rifles and battle saddles on the security ponies were ripped away and being held over mom’s head, “I’m not going to do anything, but I’m not letting you send me into the wasteland again until a doctor looks at my DAUGHTER!”

The Overmare looked down at mom then at me passed out on her back, her eyes going soft, “How bad is she?”

“I’m a researcher and magical specialist not a doctor I have no idea. But she’s been out for hours now. Please I’m begging you,” Mom pleaded.

The security ponies all looked up at The Overmare and Vervain, one asking, “What’s our orders Overmare?”

I saw Vervain nod her head at mom almost like she was trying to tell mom to do something. Mom must have understood because while the security ponies were looking away from mom, she cast a spell, right at the Overmare. Her eyes glazed over for a moment, while they did, another Security Pony asked, “You okay Madam Overmare?”

She shook her head then looked at Vervain, “Didn’t you tell me that when you went out last you ran into a Unicorn that helped you escape an attack?

Vervain nodded, “That’s right, she was the only reason I survived even if my escort didn’t. I didn’t catch her name though.”

Mom looked up at Vervain, “Wait you’re that mare who I helped the other day aren’t you? The one who was attacked by that manticore, near Cartwheel?”

The Overmare looked back at mom, her eyes were still a little unfocused as she said, “Let her in and get her to the clinic, keep an eye on her, but make sure her daughter gets the help she needs. I’ll be along shortly after I talk to Vervain so I can talk to this mare more.”

One of the Security Ponies asked, “You’re going to just let a…Unicorn into our STABLE!?”

“We can’t let a filly die because we’re too scared to let in a unicorn. Now do as you’re told!”

They all nodded and mom gave them back their weapons. A mare nodded her head toward the Atrium just beyond them, “Follow me ma’am, we’ll see that you’re taken care of, just don’t let me catch that horn glowing. Do that and we’ll keep our weapons off you.”

“Thank you so much,” Mom said as she walked up the steps as Vervain closed the Stable door. When she joined the Security Ponies mom took one last look at Vervain who nodded with a slight smile.

Before they could get past the door however, The Overmare asked mom, “What’s your daughter’s name?”

When mom looked at The Overmare I could see that she was looking at my sleeping form on mom’s back, “Mor…I mean Shadow…Shadow Star…”

There were definitely a lot of memories to go through, but I couldn’t understand what my mom wanted me to see. The next memory showed mom in the Clinic with Doc, he was standing in one corner cowering as red magic flew through the room, destroying interments and his tools. In the middle of the room I was standing there my eyes glowing red as magic exploded from my horn and a voice not my own laughing, “So much Power inside this one!”

I…or I guess Aquila looked over at mom, “Grim, what do you think you can do to stop me!? Your daughter let me in you fool, Stupid child thought she could make a deal with me. I would have lived up to it, but she just can’t seem to pull herself out of her dark memories, or the pain she felt for so long.”

“Let my daughter go!” mom yelled pushing closer, “You’re still weak, I can tell, I have enough magic to overpower you!”

Aquila laughed louder, “You can’t do anything to me Grim, her body is now mine! That’s the deal she made with me, she made the deal to keep me from killing you, funny how the tables turn isn’t it?”

Mom pushed a little closer again as the doctor started to cry, “What is that thing!?”

Aquila cocked my head to one side as if she was considering answering the question, then she smiled again, “She’d let me into her mind and body so I could heal her, in return I promised to let you live and I’d give her five to ten years to enjoy her time with you before I took over.”

Mom narrowed her eyes, “You made a deal and you should keep it Aquila, let my daughter have her time.”

Mom started walking around Aquila, “How about I make you a deal Aquila, take my body, leave this Stable and do what you want with me, but let my Daughter live.”

The magic coming out of me stopped as Aquila looked at mom with a little amusement. Then she stepped closer to mom until my face was an inch away, “Sorry, but your body couldn’t handle my power. You’ve damaged it too much with using that magic of yours.”

Aquila chuckled, “I felt it when I was going to take you over at that lab. I thought a mare like you would have noticed it Grim. Mixing your unicorn magic and Zebra Magic is a bad combination. It’s slowly destroying your body, little by little.”

Mom looked down at her body then sighed, “It doesn’t matter, I know I can still handle you being inside of me. Please, let my daughter go.”

“If I took your body Grim, you’d be destroyed and so would I. My life is tied to the host, so if you really want to get rid of me, you’ll have to kill your daughter, because that’s the only way I’m leaving,” Aquila said laughing again as she backed away.

Aquila cocked my head again, “I have a body now, I don’t need another. Your daughter is the perfect fit.”

“I mean a body of your own, my friend Stormy works with The Ministry, they are working on making a new kind of Synthetic Pony, one that is almost indistinguishable from a real pony.”

“That’s not possible. And I never want to deal with any Ministry again,” Aquila said.

“It’s not the Ministry’s from the war, it’s just a name they gave themselves. They have been creating pony like robots for decades if not longer, now they are close to making almost a real pony. If I can get you a body of your own, would you leave my daughter?” Mom asked.

Aquila shook my head, “If you even could do that, I’m sure that it wouldn’t happen for a few years. By the time you were able to get this body for me, it would be too late. Soon I will be bonded with your daughter so deeply that only deep magic could pull us apart. Even if you could do magic like that, you’d most likely kill us both along with yourself. So, no Grim, I won’t leave her.”

Mom’s horn started to glow at the same time Doc started yelling for help. First mom turned toward him and used a knock out spell on him, then she twisted back on Aquila, “I’ll make sure you can’t take my daughter over for a LONG TIME,” Magic circles appeared all over the room, surrounding Aquila.

“Grim, you can’t do anything to…” Aquila started to say then her voice was cut off as the magic circles started to glow brightly.

Mom’s horn glowed brighter as she said in a deep voice filled with power, “I’ll trap you deep inside my daughter’s head and keep you there until I can find a way to remove you from her.”

My eyes went wide as Aquila tried to say something, but she couldn’t. There was a flash of blinding light, then Aquila was gone, leaving me to fall to the ground. Mom collapsed when the spell was finished, she looked over at my sleeping form saying, “Even if it kills me, I will make sure you live, My Little Star,” then the memory ended.

The next one found Mom laying in a bed Vervain sitting next to her saying, “Grim, are you feeling any better?”

“I didn’t know it would be that bad, but at least it worked. Everypony has forgotten that you ever came from the outside. I may have to do a little work to make sure the spell holds, but at least we’re safe,” Mom said.

“Grim, most of your mane’s turned grey and you look like you aged a couple years at least!”

“I’ll be fine, I just need rest. What’s happening with The Overmare and our situation?”

“Thanks to your spell she thinks I’ve always been the Administrator of Stable 28, they are calling me Auntie now and she was willing to talk with me about you staying. She thinks it would be a good idea if you stay here and help with R&D,” Vervain said.

Mom sighed, “I can live with that, make sure you let Elder Apple Jam know we are on track. In R&D I can find out what this Stable is really doing and it will give Shadow time to heal.”

“I guess you’re right,” Vervain said thoughtfully, “So what are you going to do now, she’s still not awake.”

“I know, I’ve been keeping her asleep while I block her memories,” Mom said.

“While I was caging Aquila, she started hiding herself in Shadows memories, so I have to block them. Also, Shadow keeps having nightmares even in her enchanted sleep. I’m not blocking them forever, just long enough for her to heal and grow up some. One day she’ll be able to handle the memories, but for now I need her to have as normal of a life as she can,” Mom said.

“She’s not going to know who she is or where she’s from Grim. She may not even be the same filly if all her memories are gone.”

“I know, but I’m being careful, she’ll be okay I’m sure of it,” Mom said.

The next memory I was expecting to be more of the Stable, but mom thought I didn’t need to see what she was up to in the stable more than the beginning stuff. This memory was years later, because she was talking to Striker just outside a city that looked like it was made from a nightmare. In the distance, past green clouds and misty rain stood a city surrounded by walls, a huge tower in its center. Even in mom’s memory I felt like something was wrong with the place, almost like evil lived in that dead looking place.

“How did you find me Grim?” Striker said. He hadn’t been burnt yet, not like when I met him the other day, but the years since he left The Enclave took its toll. He looked twenty years older, his bright coat was now dull, his mane was cut short and his eyes had a hard look to them.

“It took some time and a lot of bribes and information gathering, but nopony can hide forever,” Mom said.

“I hope that my brother isn’t with you. I’d hate to kill two ponies today that I used to care about!” Striker said.

“I need to know if you know anything else about Falling Shadows. You’re the only pony I know who’s been able to dig up most of its secrets.”

He rolled his eyes, “You traveled all the way to Hoofington just to ask me that? Go home Grim, before I decide to shoot you.”

He got angry as well, “And why shouldn’t I? You betrayed me when you decided to jump into his bed after I was gone Grim.”

“Betrayed you! You broke my heart Striker, you are the one who left without telling me why,” Mom yelled.

“I had to! If I didn’t break it off with you, the Enclave would have taken you in when I left. I couldn’t just ask you to run away with me Grim, you had a good life going, I didn’t want to make it worse!”

“I didn’t want too, but it was the only way to keep you safe. I was going to come back when things settled down and explain everything to you, but when I did I saw you with HIM!” Striker said, his voice rising.

“I would have left everything behind for you Striker, back then I loved you. I didn’t just go out and get with Nightshade just to piss you off. He was there for me when you weren’t, he was kind to me, he helped me get over you. I fell in love with him because he was there!” Mom yelled tears rolling down her face.

“So, let me guess, my little brother needs help understanding what Falling Shadows is all about huh? What does he want with it, because he can’t use it, no pony can, not without the Key,” Striker said.

“Nightshade has no idea where I am! I haven’t been home in YEARS Striker!”

That seemed to take him by surprise, “Really? Then where is your daughter, I heard you had a foal some years back.”

Striker seemed to calm down some as he said, “I…didn’t know, I’m sorry Grim.”

“She died, because I didn’t know everything about another project that I’m sure you know about, Stargazer.”

Strikers eyes went big as he said, “How did you find anything about Stargazer?”

“I have my ways, but because of a monster called Aquila, Star died and it escaped. Now I’m trying to find Falling Shadows so I can use its power to destroy her!” Mom said, “Now tell me what you know.”

Striker looked sick as he said, “Grim, you have no idea what Falling Shadows is.”

He sighed, “It was first made to make Luna into Nightmare Moon again only with control of her power. That was what Stargazer was for, but the project failed and created Aquila.”

“I know that much,” Mom said, “Luna had the program shut down, but Night Stalker had Minuette keep the Lab accessible just in case they could use it later. They used the information they got from making Stargazer to start Falling Shadows.”

“Yes and no, Stargazer is the Key to Falling Shadows. Night Stalker wanted to make sure the project worked so he had his team along with Stable Tec expand on the idea, but made sure that Aquila’s power was the only thing that could make it work. It can do one of two things, either take her power and transfer it to a pony who can handle its power to make them powerful. Or it can pull the rest of the power from the stars that made Aquila and give it to the body she’s in,” Striker said.

“I also believe that it can be used to give that power from the stars to make a pony as powerful as she is.”

“It’s possible, but most likely the pony would die from it,” he said, “It doesn’t matter anyway, because no pony can use the project ever since it was locked down.”

“I know a lot Striker, I don’t care about your warnings, I need to know where the towers are and which one was locked down,” Mom said, “And don’t bull shit me, I’m not in the mood.”

“There are 4 towers, one in The Badlands I’m not sure where, one in Baltimare, one’s in the middle of The Crystal Empire, and the last I think is The Lucky Horseshoe in New Pegasus,” Striker said.

Mom smiled a little, “Good, thanks for the information Striker. I’ll let you get back to your sad life,” she turned to leave.

Striker chuckled, “You know even if you could find The Mark II to unlock Falling Shadows, it won’t work.”

“Night Stalker did something to the Project the day that he disappeared. I never found out what, but his last recorded act was him attacking The Crystal Empire and locking down the tower there so that even if somepony found the Mark II’s the Project still couldn’t be used. Have fun trying to use the power it has Grim, because no matter what you do, it won’t work,” he said flapping his wings to fly up a little, “Oh and thank you for telling me about Aquila getting free, it’s been awhile since I’ve had good information on something like her. If she’s in a host, then the best way to kill Aquila, the only other key to Falling Shadows, is by killing the host.”

Mom’s eyes went wide as she started to activate her magic, “Striker WAIT!”

“Say hello to Nightshade when you see him again and fuck you GRIM!” he said flying away before mom could do anything to stop him.

“NO…I can’t let you…Dammit Striker,” Mom said as she stomped the ground.

The memory faded and again another memory took its place to find mom sitting by her shack watching as none other than Stardust flew away, his old Pip-Buck in her magical grip, “What a nice young Stallion, shame I’m going to have to tell Stormy where he is.”

A shadow pulled away from the shack behind her and Oricalcos was standing next to her, “I don’t understand why you didn’t let me take him out.”

“Stormy said that he’s the key to making her project work. If she’s right with her help and The Ministry, we can finally free Stratus and Nimbus from Neighvarro,” Mom said.

She sighed, “I care about it, but it’s sick and needs to be fixed. Why do you think I came back and gave all the information I had on The NLR, The Steel Rangers and The Romans to them? I need them to trust me, that’s why they put me in charge of The Sins.”

“I guess, but I’d still like to kill him, Stardust can be a lot of trouble if he’s not put in his place,” Oricalcos said.

“I know, but he’ll come around and if he doesn’t we always have plan B. Anyway, did you get the information I asked for?” Mom asked.

He looked over at mom, “Yeah, it looks like things are moving into place. I took care of Stormy for you and got her out of the Crystal Empire like you asked. She was able to confirm before she left that the last tower’s entrance is where you figured it was.”

“Looks like it, but no pony can get in. Its location isn’t hard to find in the Library, but it’s got a genetic code lock. One that I think Night Stalker made to only work for him.”

He nodded, “Yep, it’s a good thing that his only two living decedents don’t know about it. But it makes it impossible for us to get in, not unless we force Nightshade or Striker to unlock it for us.”

Oricalcos sighed as well and leaned down to hug his sister, “If Star was still with us, she could have done it.”

Mom hugged him back, “I know, still we will find a way to make this work. You should go, make sure Envy is back in Cartwheel, I need him watching for that mare I told you about.”

“Are you really sure this mare will leave the Stable? Also, are you sure she has the Mark II?” he asked.

“Trust me Brother, I made sure everything is in place. Before I left that Stable I made sure that mare would find her way out. She’ll have the Pip-Buck on her as well, just make sure we take her in alive. I don’t want her harmed.”

As he teleported away mom sighed then looked down at her own Stable 28 Pip-Buck. She hooked it up to Stardust’s old one, and transferred all her data over to it, then she used her master key to remove her own then she put on Stardust’s. Once she was done she pulled out a recording and stuffed in it in the middle of the foreleg hole. When she was done she teleported right next to the tree not far from her shack. She then placed her Pip-Buck in the tree, on the same branch I found it in later.

“Let’s just hope that you are able to track this Pip-Buck down Shadow,” she sighed again and turned to head back to her shack, “It’s almost time for you to leave, I just need to make it a little longer. I miss you so much…My Little Star.”

The memory shifted again and I found my mother walking into Crossroads Trading Post. After trading a few apparently useless items for some caps, she was approached by a familiar face.

Mom bocked at the remark, “Excuse me? Wait, what the hell?” she said to the robot Serendipity.

“My apologies,” she said as she raised her voice, “I said that you are not very smart!”

“I’m not deaf you spring-loaded piece of scrap metal! Why are you saying I’m not smart?” Mom retorted.

“Actually, I’m not spring-loaded, I’m operated by a series of gears, sprockets, and circuit boards. Hence the reason you are not smart and are very poorly preceptive. I’d say it floats around two on the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. scale. However, that’s not the only reason you’re not smart.”

“The path you’re following will lead to only pain, misery, and quite possibly your eventual death. It’s been calculated down to the last tenth of a second, you will ultimately fail in your mission.”

Mom looked annoyed, “Don’t you have an owner to go piss off or something?”

Serendipity cocked her head, “No, I don’t have an owner. However, I usually have a group of ponies following me, but I’m between cults right now because the last group refused to listen when I told them not to follow me through a minefield. I can predict where the mines are, but I can’t predict where all of them are. Plus, there’s an extremely slight chance that I might be wrong. The only survivor was Intricate Touch, and that’s because he was pretty much next to me the whole time.”

Mom rubbed between her eyes with a hoof, “I’m being told that everything I’ve spent years doing is a waste by a robot with a cult following,” she sighed, “Is there anything I can do to prevent the…”

“No, most likely not. Even if I told you the way to fix everything, you wouldn’t remember anyway,” Serendipity interrupted.

“If I told you that, there’s an enormous probability that the very fabric of reality will be torn apart by the rupturing of the time-space continuum. Although, you will eventually forget me and the things I’ve told you,” Serendipity replied.

“HA! Doubt it. If you were a crusader mainframe, The Steel Rangers would’ve tracked you down and done stuff to you for experimentation purposes,” Mom said.

“Due to my predictability matrix, I can avoid contact with The Steel Rangers.”

“Uh huh, sure. Did you program yourself to tell me that I’m making bad choices in life and that no matter what I do I can’t stop?” Mom asked.

“Actually, I’m not here to talk to you, I’m here to talk to the pony watching you. I’m not going to see her for another few months and by the time I do see her, it won’t be a good time to tell her what I need to.”

“I made sure I wasn’t followed, I seriously doubt there’s anyone watching me,” Mom retorted.

Serendipity smiled, “Like I said before, not smart. I’m referring to the pony watching the memory of our encounter. It’s imperative that you put this into your memory bank when you get back to your bunker in the shack.”

“I’d ask how you know about my shack, but you’d just make another quip about me being some sort of idiot. I’d also tell you about the impossibility of someone finding where I live, but there’d be a quip about that too,” Mom said angrily.

“She needs to know that in a short time, evil will prevail, and that she shouldn’t be around anyone that she cares about. The time will be short, but without the presence of evil afterward, she will survive. However, she won’t survive if she doesn’t heed the warnings of the pony who holds the virtue of avarice,” Serendipity said plainly.

“How do you know my daughter? Don’t tell me she’s one of your followers,” Mom asked.

“No, she isn’t. She actually has a similar reaction to yours when she meets me,” Serendipity interrupted.

“The evil you were talking about, that must be that arrogant creature Aquila. I thought I did my best to protect Shadow from the evil bitch, and who is this pony of avarice? By the way that’s not a virtue.”

“I can’t tell you who the pony is, but avarice can be a virtue in its own way. I also can’t say for sure that the evil is Aquila or not. Time is like waves in the ocean, it changes and fluctuates in unique patterns that change with every decision. Each pony has their own unique timeline that tells a story of their life, some are just more interesting than others,” Serendipity replied.

“No, it’s just too tragic,” Serendipity replied simply, “I dislike tragic stories that I can’t do anything about,”

“I know…trust me I know…is there anything else you need to tell my daughter?”

“Just that sometimes timber-wolves can be the wisest of creatures and that blue flowers aren’t very funny,” Serendipity said.

“I emit a type of radiation that could be causing that or it could be because I’m technically breaking one of the laws of time and space to send a message. Time is very delicate and in this case your head is where the memory is currently being stored which is the source of the law break. If it’s stressed too much it could cause a singularity or just make your head burst like a microwaved chicken egg,” Serendipity explained.

“I can’t tell you if you can go because you have free-will and can leave at any time.”

Mom just turned and started to walk away as the memory started to fade, and just before it ended I heard Serendipity say, “Beware of the pony in the leather jacket Grimoire.”

The memory faded and another started in its place. It was mom looking in the mirror in this bunker again. She looked so tired as she spoke, “Now I hope you can understand a little of why I did what I had to do Shadow. As you can see, I had to lie, cheat, steal, kill and much more to make sure you lived. My life has been hard with only small bits of light and happiness in it. Most parents would have taken the news that their child was going to die as hard, but they would have dealt with it by praying or crying over something they can’t fix. I couldn’t do that, all I ever wanted in life was to be happy and to be a mother. When I lost my first two foals, I thought I’d never get to be a mom. Then you came into our life and you were the light in my darkness.”

She took a deep breath holding back tears, “When you got sick, I didn’t let it stop me from trying to find a way to make sure you lived a long life. I did anything I could, to find a way to keep you alive and when I finally found a way to cure you, it was like the Goddesses were punishing me, because you went from being sick and almost dying to having a monster living inside you. I did what I could to keep her from taking over, but there’s only so much my magic can do. I wanted to find Falling Shadows because I know its power can remove Aquila from you. Now, if I’m dead then I’m sure that even that can’t be done. If you were to use Falling Shadows it would only make Aquila more powerful and Equus would suffer because of it. So, you’ll only be left with two choices. You’ll need to find my friend Dr. Stormy, she should be at the Ministry, she’s there most of the time. Go to The Equestrian Bank around Midnight and look for a pony that looks like your uncle. He’s a synth named C-054, he’s a friend and he can help you get in. The Director and Dr. Stormy will help you. They can get Falling Shadows activated and Stormy has the power to handle its magic. She will be able to remove Aquila and destroy her for good.”

Mom shifted then wiped her eyes, “Stormy is the only one who can help, but once Aquila is out of you, make sure you destroy Falling Shadows, because not long ago I found information about something else the Project can do. I can’t tell you on here just in case this place is ever found. Let me just say that if its other power is used it will make Aquila look like a light rain storm compared to a hurricane when it comes to its power. But, if something’s happened to Stormy or if you feel Aquila about to take over for good, then…as much as I hate to say it, you’ll have to end your own life.”

Mom started to cry again, “I hope it doesn’t come to that My Little Star, but if it’s the last choice then you have to, because she can’t get free. I’m sorry Shadow, this is all my fault, I tried so hard to keep you from living such a bad life, but I failed, like I always do. So, go out there, finish what I started and live… if you don’t, I’ll see you in the afterlife. I love you My Little Star, more than you’ll ever know.”

I wanted so bad to reach through this memory and hold my mom close and tell her that it was okay. I understood now why she tried so hard to keep me alive, why she gave up so much for this one goal. But I couldn’t, and as the last memory faded I realized another truth from the memory with my uncle. I’m not just descended from one Child of the Night, Minuette. No, If what mom said was true in that memory and others I’ve seen, my father’s line came from Night Stalker and Lightning Dust. I have the bloodlines of three Children of the Night in me. No wonder I’ve been so drawn to Night Stalker and his team, it wasn’t because of mom looking into them. I’ve been drawn to them since before I knew about Falling Shadows or Stargazer, because I am a descendant of the Monster who helped Create Falling Shadows, who helped make Aquila, who helped found The Enclave and cut Pegasi off from the Wasteland. No wonder Aquila chose to make a deal with me, I’m descended from a monster just like her. Right as I realized this another thing hit me from that last memory. Dread filled me as I realized that the only other pony apart from mom who could help me get Aquila out, was Dr. Stormy, the mare I killed in Mill City Tower. Mom’s best friend since they were foals, a mare that tried to tell me something about my father and family before I cut her throat in my anger. Mom was wrong, I only had one choice left to make about what to do with Aquila. I had to die…Soon.

The pod opened as I slowly opened my eyes, my body was sore from laying for so long in the pod, but I didn’t feel hungry or thirsty. I saw why a second later when the machine pulled a few needles and tubes from my foreleg and out of my muzzle. I gagged along with Wind Thrasher who was just waking up in the pod next to me. After a moment passed I asked her, “How long do you think we were in there?”

She rasped back, “No idea, I’m still trying to make sense of all of that. Your mom had a hard life Shadow, but she loved you so much.”

“I had no idea how hard it was, Mom never talked about her family apart from my Uncle,” I said slowly getting out of the pod, my joints popping, “Where is everyone?”

She got out of her own pod looking around as her ears started moving back and forth, “Sounds like they’re upstairs,” then she looked back at me, “Shadow the last memories, do you think it’s true? That your related to…”

“Night Stalker? From what mom said I’m guessing it’s true, she hasn’t been wrong yet about her side of the family. So, I’m sure she’s right about Dad’s.”

“No, dad never talked about his family either. When I was young he cared more about telling me stories about monsters and hero’s, not about where he came from. But let’s forget it for right now, let’s find out what’s been going on while we were out,” I said as I headed toward the stairs.

“Okay, but we should talk about this. Your mom said that you have to deal with Aquila soon,” Wind Thrasher said as she followed me.

“I know, but right now I want to see how long we were out…” I was cut off as Wingnut came running down the stairs.

He looked panicked as he said quickly, “Perfect, you two are finally out of that thing!”

“Three days…” he said still looking like he was in a hurry, “But we can talk about that later, you need to get up here quickly!”

“We have a guest,” Wingnut said running back up the stairs saying, “Hurry, before Aura kills him!”

Wind Thrasher and I looked at each other then back at Wingnut who was running back up, we followed the colt as quick as our bodies would allow. When we reached the top, I saw what had him worried. Stardust was pointing his rifle at the lift, Aura holding her spear and Byte looking a little scared, all because of one Stallion standing in the doorway a bloody grin on his face. He saw me and his grin only got bigger. At first, I couldn’t tell what was all over the Blue pegasus until I got closer and saw that Greed was covered in cuts and covered in blood. He had two bullet wounds in him, and one ear was cut in half, his eyes lacked their normal bright cheeriness I was used to seeing on him.

When I got closer to my friends Greed said weakly, “Hey there Shadow…mind telling your friends to calm down some. As much as I like a good fight, I reckon I’m not in any condition to properly defend myself.”

I looked at them saying, “Stardust, Aura lower your weapons, Greed’s on our side!” when they did, both looking confused I started to run toward him, “Greed what happened to you?”

He just chuckled then spat blood onto the polished floor, “There’s a good filly, and I ain’t Greed anymore. Cloak made sure of that, as for what happened…The Old Pride’s back…and he’s pissed. I think you all should run…”

“Greed what are you saying? My Uncle wouldn’t hurt me, now tell me what happened,” I said as I got close to him.

He just laughed again, “Didn’t you hear? I ain’t Greed no more, Greed’s dead!” then he fell forward, passing out in a growing pool of his own blood.

[FOOTNOTE: LEVEL UP!]

NEW PERK ADDED!

Tragic Magic: You like to put your body under a lot of stress, don’t you? Due to your prolonged exposure to the radiation pouring into your brain from the memory machine, you now gain the ability to make strangers relive their most traumatic memories. However magic always comes with a price, you’ll also lose a small part of your soul when casting this spell.

Fallout Equestria: Falling Shadows

by Drako Moon

Chapter 51 Part 2: Hold On To Memories