Ryan POV
Everything appears to be in order. The generators aren't experiencing any issues, the food is growing without any issues, the heaters and coolers are fine, cameras are still working. I'm not going to list everything, I don't really have the energy anymore. I basically just make sure everything is working now, not like there's much else to do.
"You can't keep going on like this." The A.I., Emily said as I was about to dig into the part of the storage room that I changed for alcholol storage.
"What would you have me do then?" I asked in response.
"Anything but trying to drink away your problems." She answered.
"So nothing then? The usual? Do me a favor and don't bother me unless it's important." I told her.
"Do you really think she would-" I interrupted her by emitting enough electricity in my hand to block her out for a few seconds.
"They're not here anymore so what difference does it make! For the most intelligent A.I. ever programmed and what may as well be the pinnacle of human technology, you really don't understand your creators, do you?" I emphasized 'they' as I asked her, stopping the use of my ability.
"I do, actually. I also know they wouldn't want you to keep hurting yourself over them."
"Have you found them yet?" I quickly drank about a quarter of the bottle after asking.
"Ryan, I keep searching, but I can't find any creature matching what they became." I left the storage room and started making my way towards the cryo pods.
"Even after God knows how many years?"
"Maybe you could try to get assistance from the races above? Like I've suggested many times now?" She suggested.
"Just because your drones have recorded the absence of a language barrier, doesn't mean anything. You've searched everywhere and the closest living thing you've found in basic shape is a dragon." Evolution or mutation is bullshit.
"There's still a whole world to sear-"
"A world that likely will react negatively toward the last human for one reason or another." I interrupted.
"You can't just stay down here and wait for them to come back! Regardless of who's in control!"
"And I can't just go out there where nothing but trouble awaits me. Ponies, griffons, diamond dogs, minotaurs, dragons, do you really think they got a warm reception from any of them? Appearances aside, one's definition of 'fun' is usually only such for her, the other is too self-conscious to even come out anymore, and-"
"So you won't go out to find the women you love... Why? Because you're scared?" She asked as I finally reached the cryo chamber.
"I'm scared of not finding her. I'm scared that they might not even be alive. I'm scared that everything will go to waste and not matter at all!" I admitted like I've done countless times now as I finished the bottle before opening the pod.
"They mean the world to you, and rather than search for them, you're going to keep trying to drink away your depression, knowing you can't get drunk nearly as easily as before, praying they'll just come back into your life?" How I wish I didn't have a heart right now, maybe then I wouldn't hurt so much.
"Heartbreak is the only thing the outside world has in store for me. That, and persecution, we both know human nature has survived even in the present day, decent enough example being that zebra in the forest." I laid back into the pod and waited for it to close to do it's job.
"There's no convincing you, is there?"
"Not unless I'm forced to, or if Misty and her passengers are found alive." The pod closed and the temperature started to drop.
"*sigh* I'll wake you if something comes up." She relented for now.
"Could you please give me the usual dreams?" I requested. I don't exactly have the right considering how I treat her, but it's not like I'll remember much anyway.
"Their human form or... Whatever they are now?"
"Either or." The pod closed and I was quickly put back to sleep.
Twilight POV
"Alright, this is what you were talking about, Rarity?" I asked her as we and the rest of the girls arrived at the location she passed by in the mines when she was foalnapped by the Diamond Dogs.
"It is. The Dogs said they tried to mine it, but they couldn't even scratch it, not that they would be able to." She answered, her eyes glancing between me and the metal wall in front of us. I'd like to know why or how they thought a wall could be mined in the first place?
"What do you think is on the other side?" Fluttershy asked?
"I don't know, but there's bound to be an entrance of sorts somewhere. The question is where? These tunnels could stretch for miles and there's only six of us. That's a lot of ground to cover." I answered.
"That's not to mention what else might be down here." Applejack added.
"I'm sure we can handle any trouble that comes our way!" Rainbow Dash said, confidently.
"We shouldn't go picking fights regardless!" Rarity tried to talk some sense into her.
"You think they'll like my cupcakes?" Pinkie Pie asked. I'm not sure if she's trying to change the subject or if she's not paying attention.
"Still, we don't know what's behind it, and this isn't a metal that Equestria uses much, if at all. Diamond Dogs can scratch steel and even orichalchum, but this still looks pristene, minus the dirt and such." I examined it more closely. "There has to be an entrance somewhere, but this should be held off for the moment."
"What??!!" Rainbow Dash said, disappointed.
"Whatever this is, it could be a big archeological discovery, and-" I tried to explain.
"Yeah yeah, but we're right outside of this thing! Who knows what could be inside!" She interrupted.
"We'll look for an entrance, but that's the furthest we'll go before alerting the princess about this!" I relented a little.
"Ugh, fine!" She groaned.
We kept searching, following along the wall for a while. Just how far does this go? Are we even on the same level as the entrance? I feel-yeah, we're going in circles. I'm calling off the search.
"That's enough for today." I said, catching everypony's attention.
"You sure, Twi?" Applejack asked.
"I'm sure, we've been going in circles since we started looking for an entrance. It might be above us or below us, and it's got to be half way through the evening right now. We'll alert the princess and continue tomorrow." I explained.
"C'moooonnn!" Rainbow complained.
"Well, if you think it's best." Rarity said, she and the rest following me back to the surface. Once we made it back to Ponyville and went our separate ways, I called for Spike, but got no response. I called again and got a response that time, he was just reading his comics and wasn't paying attention.
"Spike, I need you to send a letter." I handed him the paper.
"Sure thing, what do you want me to write?" He asked in response.
Dear Princess Celestia-