“Whatever happened to the city we knew?”

Well this is just fantastic, I’m at the most famous beach in Equestria, alone. No friends, no other beach patrons, and roboponies that tell me I’m trespassing. I wonder if this is what it was like for normal high school ponies during or even before the war. Sneaking out to the secluded beach to meet friends in the middle of the night and hang around for no other reason than being at the beach and that’s somehow cool. Then there’s the added fact that I awoke somewhere else without my friends again, I’m getting really sick of that. Where are they anyway? I didn’t see any remains of a skycarriage, just dead war-machines.

Behind me was the Luna Ocean, sloshing waves up onto the blackened sand of what I’m guessing is Faust Beach. In front of me sat the huge, silent, desolate city known as Los Alicorn. To my left was that long peculiar dock with what looked like a carnival on it, and to my right in the distance there looked to be an abandoned Skyport. The Skyport seems like a place where the Steel Rangers would be held up so I probably shouldn’t go there just yet given my current condition. Although my pain was subsiding, it’s still incredibly stupid to go there alone, even if I am still pretty formidable.

I sighed to myself in angst, “What the hell am I supposed to do now?” I looked at the dock, “I guess I should start there, maybe there’s something I could use or eat there. Why am I talking to myself? Right, because I’m alone and that’s what I do when I’m kinda freaking out. Ugh, if I keep doing it, whoever finds me will think I’m crazy and probably try to kill me. Why am I still doing it!?” That’s it, sealing my mouth with wonder glue if I find some. Talking to myself in a place like this isn’t the smartest thing considering the dangers.

I checked around the area where I’d woken up to see if there was anything that might’ve been dropped that could prove useful and saw nothing, so I started walking to the dock. Each step sounded like I was walking on broken glass as my hooves sank into the black sand. The scattered skeletons everywhere really brought up the creep factor too, like walking in some really screwed up Nightmare Night attraction. I wish I knew what happened on the day when these war-machines came onto the shore while ponies were trying to enjoy their day in the sun, then I stepped on a skeleton and looked at it’s shattered skull that wasn’t caused by me stepping on it. On second thought, maybe it’s better left in the past.

As I walked, I didn’t see anymore robots telling me I was trespassing, not live ones anyway. Along the beach area there were a few dead ones in front of the various vacant homes and shops. As I got closer to them I decided to take a closer look at the body. Behind it’s plastic coverings I saw what looked like organs, not real ones, but mechanical. The face reminded me of Lonely Hearts if he weren’t so beaten up from all his travels. On the shoulder, engraved into the plastic read ‘Property of The Ministry’. So these are the synths everyone is so afraid of. Why though? They don’t look like they’d be able to replace anyone, unless their coverings are some sort of shapeshifting material that can change what they look like, but that seems doubtful. At least they seem easy enough to kill.

I continued toward the giant dock and looked around at the shops as I passed them by. This place must’ve been bustling back before the war with some of the weird stuff they had for sale at these places. One shop had goofy masks in it, another had the typical ‘I Love Los Alicorn’ t-shirts, and one even had strange looking vases with a convenient little watering stem toward the bottom. Unfortunately, with that last one, all the plants in the shop had died and became part of the land once more, so I couldn’t see why they’d be kept in such colorful vases. On the way by yet another shop I snagged some sunglasses for Stardust, I figured he’d like how the blue lenses of the aviators went with his mane.

I’d finally gotten to the beginning of the dock and looked up at the bannered sign above it that read ‘Welcome to Del Pietro Pier’. Great, now I feel stupid for calling it a dock. What else is new? As I walked up the creaky stairs of the pier, I got a little paranoid that my hooves would break through, or possibly my whole body. Falling through a floor would reinforce Stardust’s quips about me being heavy, and if he found out about it, I’d never live it down. At the top of the steps was a parking lot with some carriages; time had taken its toll on them. The old, dry, cracked wood was pealing apart and some had already collapsed. Next to the parking lot there were more shops that held some memorabilia of the pier and boarded up restaurants. Walking through the parking lot I also noticed quite a bit of burnt trash scattered around among the dropped remains of tourist belongings. There was a sign next to the welcoming banner overhead the entrance to the carnival area with a picture of Pinkie Pie. On it read, ‘I may be watching you forever, but at least I’m watching you have fun-a-fun fuuun!’ at the bottom in fine print it added, ‘This message is brought to by The Equestrian Ministry of Morale and The City of Los Alicorn Chamber of Commerce’. This was one of few times I’ve actually seen Ministry propaganda, but this particular sign was in considerably good condition. For once, the feeling of being watched didn’t seem as awful as before when I’ve been told by Pinkie Pie that she was watching me forever.

Crossing the threshold into the park, I had my magic ready to pull out Dream Walker. Through the dead silence I could only hear the waves crashing upon the support beams of the boardwalk and a faint static coming from a nearby stand around the corner past the Ferris Wheel. I pulled out Dream Walker and had it at the ready as I walked under the rusty tracks of the roller coaster overhead, the cars stopped as if suddenly seized. Remains of the dead were still held inside the carriages as they hung over the side; the same fate befell the Ferris Wheel as well, with some of the individual cabins fallen off and broken. In front of the Ferris Wheel was a busted-up information stand one of the cabins had fallen upon. Maps were scattered everywhere, many of which were burned, except for a few. I picked one up and opened it, examining the vastness of the city.

It’s been said that Los Alicorn is one of the largest cities in Equestria, now I was seeing why, this place was huge. From where I was on the beach all the way to the rest of the city, thousands of square kilometers were covered with buildings and neighborhoods. If I was going to find my friends, it was going to be a long and treacherous task in itself. Not only would I have to worry about synths sent out to patrol the city by The Ministry, but I’d also most likely have to deal with Steel Rangers doing the same and/or fighting said synths. Not to mention the fact that The Ministry might have more than just these sorry excuses for androids to worry about. There could also be some stragglers out there too like raiders and possibly wildlife waiting to attack from the shadows. Sure, the city was forcefully evacuated quite a while ago, but it isn’t safe to say that The Steel Rangers got everyone out. If I could be out in the open like this and not be running into any of them, there’s no telling what or who else could be out there waiting for their moment to strike.

I noticed highlighted attractions on the map that caught my eye. The first being the closest to me was The University and the conservatory, then The Playpony Mansion which sounded like a stop I might have to make out of pure curiosity, an art museum, The Far-Eastern Theatre, The Griffon Observatory, The Applewood Sign and a few others not really worth mentioning besides maybe the dam and reservoir. There was also a river going through the city, The Los Alicorn river. From the look of it, it’s not much of a river, it’s more of a canal now. The rest of the city was pretty basic, closer to The Applewood Sign were some neighborhoods in the hills which I could only guess was where celebrities and whatnot lived because of the nearby country clubs. More south was Downtown Los Alicorn with tons of businesses and municipal buildings such as police stations, fire departments, hospitals, and city hall. To the east were more neighborhoods, and more south from Downtown was a place marked as ‘South Central Los Alicorn. From there on the city consisted of more neighborhoods and then an industrial district. Just west of the industrial district was the Los Alicorn Skyport and just south of it The Port of Los Alicorn.

If I don’t want to run into any Steel Rangers, I should avoid larger areas such as the Skyport and The Port of Los Alicorn. I doubt the others would be in either of those places anyway. The only question now is where to go next from here, to the northeast, or to the southeast. I guess I could also head straight east into downtown toward The Equestria Bank building to get more of a birds-eye view of the city. However, it might be a hassle to get to the top considering the elevators are most likely out of order. For now I should check out the rest of the pier and make sure none of the others are hiding out here.

I began walking again and noticed the sound of the static getting closer as I approached the corner. I took cover against the wall and shimmied along it with Dream Walker at the ready in my magical grip. I peered around the corner and saw that one of the outlet shacks had lights on. Continuing around the corner, still against the wall, I came closer to the outlet. Taking a deep breath, I pushed away from the wall and pointed my gun at the source of the static. To my surprise, I didn’t get the reaction I was expecting.

“Hello, welcome to Down N’ Out Burger! How may I prepare your hayburger today?” a protect-a-pony robot said from behind the counter.

“That is quite alright. Please take a few moments to move aside and make your selection while other patrons are helped. I suggest the Mythical Beast Style Hayfries with a double hayburger as it is our most popular combination, and do not forget the addition of an ice cold Sparkle-Cola,” the robot said, then turned as if it was awaiting new customers whilst waiting for me to choose what I wanted.

To be honest, the Mythical Beast Style hayfries sounded weird, but very interesting at the same time, and it’s not like I’d be eating any other food for the time being.

“Hey robot, I’ll take just the Mythical Beast Style hayfries for now, with a large Sparkle-Cola,” I said.

“Coming right up,” the robot responded. It turned around and scooped some moldy hayfries onto a tray. From how much time has passed, there shouldn’t be anything here unless this restaurant was functional before The Steel Rangers ousted the city inhabitants. The robot picked up the tray and put it on the counter in front of me and opened up its arm to reveal a nozzle, then proceeded to squirt a thick black liquid I could only assume was the Mythical Beast sauce all over the pile of fries.

“You’re welcome, have a wonderful rest of your night and thank you for choosing Down N’ Out Burger today,” the robot replied.

“Unfortunately, we are currently out of stock of that particular product, as well as the rest of our soft drinks. Down N’ Out Burger sincerely apologizes for this inconvenience and hopes you will not hold this indiscretion against us in the future. Thank you again and have a wonderful day,” the robot responded.

Great, not only are these fries absolutely disgusting and inedible, I don’t even get a Sparkle-Cola at the very least. This day sucks ass and I just wanna find my friends and go home. Los Alicorn can go fuck itself; I’ve only seen one percent of the city and I already knew it was a lost cause from the beginning. On the other hoof, I could just be hangry. I picked up the tray of moldy fries and sludge and tossed it in an overflowing wastebasket as I went around the next corner. There was a faint glow coming from a nearby vending machine, so I approached; maybe I’ll get that soda after all. I stepped in front of the machine and tried to open one of the doors that held a refrigerated bottle of cola, but it was locked.

I sighed and said to myself, “Don’t tell me I actually gotta put money in this stupid thing.”

I dug around in the pockets of my duster and found some pre-war bits, then put them into the machine. I pressed the corresponding buttons for my selection and tried to open the door once more, but it was still locked.

“Dammit!” I yelled and then proceeded to hit the glass with Dream Walker. The glass shattered and I grasped the bottle in my magic, pulling out the beverage from the machine. “Take that you thieving piece of shit! This is MY cola now! Bitch!” then I realized how much noise I’d just made and quickly covered my mouth with both hooves. I took a look around and it didn’t seem like anypony heard me. I guess even in a city only populated by synths and Steel Rangers, not everywhere is completely covered by each group enough to hear every single sound or see every single thing.

I continued walking down the rest of the pier toward the end to see if there was anypony there, so far there hadn’t been anypony but that synth and the robot at Down N’ Out Burger. I didn’t even think about checking my E.F.S., I’m such a moron sometimes, “Not even a random stranger or enemy down there at the end of this stupid pier?” then I heard something coming from the end, it sounded like a radio.

I stopped and looked at the radio broadcast list on my Pip-Buck and saw four broadcasts.

“This is your Elder. Are there any signs of the invading force yet? I need to know if it was The Courier or some idiotic NLR scum trying to take back their city,” Wolfsbane’s voice said through the speaker. So I didn’t attract any attention, I inserted my earpiece and kept an eye on my E.F.S. while I listened.

Then more voices came through, “No sign of them in Sector Twelve sir. Sector Eight is clear also. So are Sectors Two, Three, and Four. Sectors Five, Seven, and Nine are also clear Elder Wolfsbane. Elder, Sector Six is still searching to no avail, and Sectors Ten and Eleven are pretty much clear but also still searching.”

For a moment there was an eerie silence in the channel, then I almost had to rip out my earpiece when Wolfsbane finally responded, “HOW THE HELL HAVEN’T YOU FOUND THEM YET!? Twelve sectors and NOTHING!? At this rate The Ministry could’ve found them first!”

“Sir, we’re searching as best we can. Sector Six hasn’t finished searching yet, they could be there. It is our largest sector, they could be hiding anywhere,” one of the voices said through the radio.

I heard a sound as if Wolfsbane had ponded his hoof upon something in the background, “I don’t care if it’s the largest district! Search harder or I will do it myself and you won’t like it! Any invaders in this city must be exterminated at all costs!”

“Yes sir!” the voices said in unison through the radio, then the broadcast went silent.

I switched to the classical radio station and it was all crappy elevator music with no lyrics, just music. There was a strange crackle in the background as if the signal wasn’t that strong or something. I switched to Los Alicorn Rock Radio expecting to hear at least something, but there was only silence.

I switched to the last one, Outsiders Radio, and finally heard something normal. It was the end of a song, I couldn’t put my hoof on the artist though. I began to walk back toward the road that leads onto the pier as I listened, then a mare’s voice echoed into my earbud, “That was End of the World by Last Fates and this is your host DJ 33 1/3 LP coming to you live from the outskirts of Los Alicorn. It’s been quite a few months since the complete occupation of the city by The Steel Rangers and no pony has been able to enter the city limits since. Although, it seems somepony has sent those metal-headed morons on a wild goose chase all over the city. As you all know, a skycarriage flew over a few hours ago and was immediately intercepted by Steel Ranger border patrol. Chatter on the wavelengths said that after crusin’ over Faust Beach, it suddenly disappeared without a trace. Those steel-clad douche-nozzles have been searching every so-called sector of the city ever since. Word from an inside source says that they’re looking for The Courier of New Pegasus, but last I heard, she’s dead. So, it’s probably just a few lucky bastards evading the Rangers as best they can, or unlucky, depends on how ya look at it. Personally, I’d say unlucky considering what the Steel Rangers will do once they finally do catch them.” She took a breath then continued, “So, if anyone who’s brave enough to go into that dump of a city happens to see ponies who aren’t part of The Steel Rangers, then I’d say give them a helping hoof. This might be a wasteland filled with death at every turn, but we’re all still ponies, and we should help each other when we can. Unless you’re a stupid ass bucket-head like The Steel Rangers. If so, then you should pull your gun out and put a bullet into your brain. In other news, we’ve been seeing strange activity from a group of fiends or raiders, not sure what the difference is, building up some new compound on the southeast side of the city just past the Steel Rangers boarder. So, if you happen to live near there, stay away. Raiders or fiends, it doesn’t matter, they’ll turn you into jelly and most likely spread you on their morning toast. Also, for those who live on the northeast side of the city near Dragon Bridge, Mrs. Maple Tree is having a BOGO sale on her goods all day today and tomorrow. The sweet old mare wanted me to let you all know to come on in and spend some caps. If you stop by today, you’ll have a chance to meet me while I’m in town visiting the lovely mare and her family. Last but not least I have one more bit of news for you all, so pay attention.”

I stopped when I got to the road, looked around to make sure no pony was coming then sat and listened to what this mare had to say, “For those of you who live in Dashite Cove, I know you’re listening, keep an eye out for Enclave activity. I’ve picked up reports from Mr. New Pegasus all the way out here about something going on in Stratus. From what he sent me; it looks like a Coup d’état has happened with the rulers of the city. Last reports show that just a few hours ago the former leader, a Pegasus named Nightshade, was last seen fleeing the city being chased by their air support. A few more Pegasi have been said to have either fled or died during the attack. From what we know, the pegasus who took over the city and its sister city of Nimbus, is putting a bounty out on all Dashites. So, if you have families, hide them. If you don’t have one then make sure to hide yourselves, or at least keep an eye on the skies. I have a few friends there that I’d hate to see die because of some power-hungry pegasus. If you need help, contact The Red from Stratus. You all know you can trust him and his family to help you. That’s all I have for now, stay safe my friends, stay smart, and remember to never let the Ministry, The Rangers, or The Enclave win. This is DJ 33 1/3 LP, thanks for listening. I’ll leave you again with another song I just got in from Applewood Undead.”

With those last words, she was gone, leaving me with a pounding heart. My mind was ready to break at the news she just sent. My father, he’s been taken out of office by another. He was last seen fleeing the Enclave. Is he alive? I flipped through my broadcaster and opened the secret channels like Mom showed me and looked for the one he used to contact me before. It wasn’t showing up, this can’t be right, was he just too far away or did something happen? I can’t have my father die, not after I finally found him again. Not when I was so close to getting myself free from Aquila and being able to start a more normal life.

Why does bullshit like this all have to go down at one time? First, I’m stuck here alone, I have to deal with Steel Rangers and synths, I don’t know where my friends are, and now this crap with my father. When does it all end? When will all the fighting stop in this world? Will we ever know peace again like back in the time of Princess Celestia’s rule? The war ended, but the conflict grew. Everypony in the land fought tooth and hoof not for their country anymore, but for survival; creating a new war that’s been raging for two-hundred years. It seems that war itself doesn’t change; enemies do. Before the land was baked with fire and magical radiation, it was ponies against zebras. Now, it’s just everypony against everypony until the last one is left standing.

It sounded like the vocalist in the song felt the same way as I heard the lyric, “What ever happened to the city we knew?”

War has overtaken this former paradise, pony against machine in this case. Unless you consider it still pony against pony. Somepony has to build the synths right? The Ministry seems like this big bad evil thing that everyone is terrified of, but all I’ve seen are some klunky robots with cheap plastic guns. Something’s gotta give in this conflict between The Ministry and The Steel Rangers. You’d think The Steel Rangers would’ve easily wiped out The Ministry synths if they’re all like the one I saw on the beach. They must have something else up their sleeves other than cheap Sweetie-Bot rip-offs.

From what I could see at the beginning of the pier, there were some Steel Rangers heading down a staircase onto the beach. “I suppose those jackasses are looking for me,” I said quietly to myself.

I kept an eye on my E.F.S. and made sure that all of them went down there before I continued walking up the pier. As the last one reached the bottom of the staircase, I saw a sudden flash, like a miniature bolt of lightning.

“COURSER!” one of them yelled as he started to shoot in the general direction of the flash. I didn’t hear the lasers from his rifle connect with anything, I only saw bolts of energy fly in every direction from all of their weapons. Some of their weapons stopped firing as sounds of a different energy weapon filled the air along with pulsations that sounded like spark grenades going off.

Instead of interfering with the fight, I decided to run to the beginning of the pier as fast as my hooves could carry me and disappeared into the giant metropolis.

I was starting to get tired as I dragged my hooves down the abandoned boulevard lined with long dead palm trees. I was in what looked like an outdoor shopping mall of sorts. Although the tastes were rather expensive because most of the stores were dealers of luxury designer brands of whatever the hell they used to sell. A few looked like clothing stores, others were carriage dealers, and jewelry shops. One stuck out in particular, The Carrot Store. The outside of the store stuck out quite a bit from the architecture of the rest. Instead of the sandy-colored formal Equestrian style, it was sleek and modern, and VERY orange. On the window there was a worn poster of an orange mare with a curly orange mane with some words that read ‘The next generation in communications technology that’ll sweep the other big brands off their hooves’.

Okay, I had to see this for myself, so I walked inside through a shattered glass door. Inside was just as modern styled as the outside, except the shades of orange were different and mixed. There were tables and chairs all over the place with strange looking devices on each one with stickers that faintly read ‘Try Me!’ on them. I walked over to one that looked like a normal terminal had been flattened by a steam roller and started to look it over, when a hologram projected itself onto the table saying, “Hello there valued customer!” making me damn near jump out of my skin.

The hologram was of the mare on the poster, but she was of a much smaller scale. After a quick second of me speaking it, said, “I see you’re gazing into the future of terminal technology with one of our new revolutionary home computers. This particular model is equipped with a drive that operates on a solid state, so you won’t have to wait for anything to load like with anything made by Stable-Tec or Robronco. Our new state of the art iCarrot laptop is designed to be portable and comfortable to use during everyday life in your home. From musical media to work, it does it all.”

After it was done, it just stared at me like it was waiting for a response. So, in angst, I replied, “That’s pretty cool. How’d you make it?”

After a split second it began to ramble again, “You see, with the carrot family assisting in feeding the troops during the war effort, the Equestrian Government paid us lots of money that we invested not only in our technology, but into the families of the engineers and scientists that helped create it. Carrot wants to make the world a better, easier, place to live in by providing everypony with fast, easy to use, technology that will change the world forever. Please consider taking a look at our new communication device also. Set to release this Hearth’s Warming season, it’s a great way to keep in touch with family and friends without having to dust off your stationary and write a letter to them. Soon, letters and stationary will be a thing of the past. If you need assistance with a pre-order or have any questions about any of our other products, just say ‘I need help’ or ‘I have a question’ and I will be right there to assist you.”

With a small flash, the mare disappeared, leaving me both curious and confused. There’s also the fact that all this crap is still here in the store instead of the hooflocker of a Steel Ranger. Maybe they haven’t been in here to raid it yet, or it could be that this stuff isn’t quite what it’s cracked up to be. Although I’ll go with the former, the idea of what these terminals and whatnot were supposed to be able to do sounded pretty cool compared to the other shit we’re stuck with.

I walked out of the Carrot Store and continued through the city. It was sort of eerie how I wasn’t running into anything dangerous, including either The Steel Rangers or The Ministry synths. Every once in a while, I’d hear gunfire in the distance, but it was never nearby. Lucky me, I guess. I thought there’d be at least some raiders that managed to get into the city, or some mutated creatures to slay, but nothing but silence attacked me in the desolate metropolis.

I came to what looked like a former high-end neighborhood. There were broken, battered, and worn mansions everywhere. Los Alicorn struck me as a place where no one liked having neighbors, because every single house was surrounded with some sort of wall or fence with a gate and intercom. Some of them where just really high hedges with fences behind them. Maybe this is where celebrities lived, the walls and such would make sense then, keeps the riff raff out. I wish I could’ve seen some of these places back before the war, I bet they were really beautiful before being ravaged by war and time.

Walking through the neighborhood, one of the signs on a mansion gate caught my eye ‘Playpony Mansion’. “Hmm, so this is the Playpony Mansion on the map, that sounds like it could be fun,” I said to myself as I approached the gate. I cocked my head at the intercom on the wall and pressed the call button out of curiosity to see if somepony would answer. However, like I expected, no one answered. “Great, how am I supposed to get into this stupid place?” I said as I kicked the gate with a hoof. To my surprise, the gate creaked open. “Oh…I guess it wasn’t locked.”

I proceeded through the gate and walked along the path through what used to be a garden as it started to rain a little. Probably a good thing I found some shelter at the right time. Luckily the front doors to the mansion were also unlocked, leading into a beautiful entryway. It was so spacious and elegantly crafted. The walls and the ceiling both had carved wood panels and there was a pair of staircases straddling a doorway under them. When I saw that it was the Playpony Mansion, I immediately thought it was going to be some sort of perverted sex den, but I guess who ever lived here before the war was probably just the very rich owner of the magazine company.

The rest of the house was just as elegant as the entryway, even the broom closets were fancy. I half expected to find dead bodies and trash in them with all the cleaning stuff you usually find. The living room was huge and had a fireplace that I could easily stuff like three Stardusts in comfortably without any complaints from them, four might be pushing it though.

I looked around the living room again then noticed a portrait over the large fireplace. It was a very old stallion with a handsome face for a pony his age wearing a captain’s hat, a red robe, and was smoking a pipe. On the bottom of the portrait the name Hugh G. Ponyus was inscribed on a plaque. What a stupid name. Well maybe that’s what rich ponies were like back then, big house, big stuff, stupid names. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been rich, or lived before the war. Sighing, I checked my broadcaster, but only found two signals both having to do with the Steel Rangers. I checked one, but it was nothing but dead static, the second one however did have somepony talking.

“What I said before team three, the cameras picked up a small pony in a duster two hours ago near the Carrot store, again an hour ago heading toward district five, why haven’t you spotted her yet?” A mare said. It seems I’d caught her in mid-conversation.

“Team leader,” a stallion replied, “We’re almost to the mansion district, but still no sign of the target. She might know we’re looking for her, don’t you have a better way for us to track her?”

“Negative, her Pip-Buck is special and can’t be tracked even with its broadcaster. We’ve been trying, but no luck. You’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way,” the mare said, sounding irritated.

“Team Leader, are you sure the four of us can deal with her? Reports from New Pegasus say she killed a lot of Rangers there just a day or so ago,” the Stallion said.

“Don’t let those reports scare you, she’s on her own. She had help during that fight just like she always does. By herself The Courier is helpless. She’s nothing more than a filly with a big ego. Now find her and make sure you bring her in alive,” the mare said.

“Yes, ma’am, we’ll do our best. Team three will switch to secondary coms until we find her,” he said.

“Copy that team three, send a signal if you find something and I’ll check with you then,” the mare said, “Team leader out.”

Secondary coms? I wonder if that’s the other signal I found. I switched to it and heard the stallion’s voice again, relaying orders to his team, “Team Leader says they want us to check every house and every hiding place The Courier can use around here, she was spotted not long ago.”

Another stallion replied, “Paladin Slosh, are you sure this is really her? I thought she died.”

“No, she’s alive, we’ve heard from our source in New Pegasus that she came back just the other day. She’s out here now and I’m sure she’s looking for help from The Ministry. If she gets to them, we’re fucked. The Director’s been wanting that Mark II for years. We need to get it before they do. Now, where are you and Knight Gypsy?” The first stallion Paladin Slosh said.

“Two houses down from The Playpony Mansion, about a block from you,” he said.

I almost jumped, then ran over to the windows looking out toward the gate. It was closed, odd because I don’t remember shutting it. Then Paladin Slosh replied, “Check the mansion, but remember to stay out of the Playpony one, the traps in that place still give me nightmares.”

“You sure Sir? Maybe she’s hiding in there, from what I heard she’s a pervert, she’d love that place,” the second stallion said with a laugh.

“I will put a bullet through you’re visor. I swear to Celestia,” I muttered to myself.

“If she even tried to get through the gate, she would’ve been shot by the guns on the roof. Look through the gate, but don’t open them, if you see a dead body then we’ll find a way to extract it. If not, then move on,” Paladin Slosh said.

The communication went out right when I saw two steel rangers walk up to the gate, their helmet lamps illuminating the pathway through the rusty iron gate. They looked around the yard then moved on. I let out a sigh of relief as they went across the street to another huge house and pushed the gate open to start searching for me inside. I pulled the curtains shut then took a few steps back. Strange that they think this place is booby trapped, I’ve had no issues getting in or walking around. So, I just shrugged and move back toward the main entry way, intending to head up stairs to have a look around.

I almost screamed when I heard hoofsteps walking down the main stairway. With my heart pounding I ducked down and slowly pulled Dream Walker out of my holster readying myself for an attack. I peeked around the corner and saw a short pony slowly walking down the steps. In the darkness of the entry I couldn’t make out his face, but he was wearing the same robe and Captain’s hat I saw in the portrait of Hugh G. Ponyus, only it looked too big for him. When he was on the last step, I came around the corner and pointed Dream Walker right at his head, yelling, “Don’t move or I’ll blow your fucking head off!”

The pony froze then turned his yellow eyes toward me and said, “Shadow! You found us, I was wondering how long you were gonna take.”

I turned on my Pip-Light to illuminate the face of Wingnut. He was smiling at me from under the hat. I lowered Dream Walker breathing hard, “Dammit kid, you almost gave me a heart attack. Why the fuck are you here?”

He just laughed, “Aura dropped us here when we picked up the signal of the Rangers coming for us. She said she was gonna drop you in another location and tell you where we were so we could meet up while the rest tried to lead them away.”

“Byte, she’s up in one of the rooms getting fussed over by some Ms. Nanny bots. This place is amazing! You should see all the stuff this old pony had lying around,” he said pulling out an old Playpony magazine from under his robe.

I snatched it from his muzzle, “Wingnut this kind of stuff isn’t for a colt,” I put it into my saddle bags for later. Hey, I may not like it, but the Rangers weren’t wrong. It’s not easy finding good smut like this in The Wasteland. Normally it’s Wingboner magazine, good pics, but a little too dirty and all Pegasi. I like to see a good unicorn or earth pony now and again.

“Yeah, and I took it away, whatcha gonna do about it?” I said with a grin, “Anyway, how’d you get in here? I just heard some Rangers talking about this place and they said it was booby trapped.”

He shrugged, “I just walked up to the gate while we were trying to hide from some Steel Rangers. Something on the gate popped out, flashed in my face, then the gate opened. Something from a speaker tried saying something but I couldn’t make it out. Weird huh?”

I nodded, “Yeah, well at least the Rangers won’t come looking in here, we should be safe until they go looking elsewhere for us, or me I guess.”

“We could stay here for months and have no problems, this place is stocked with food that’s been well preserved, they have a lot of fresh water in a panic room and a lot of ammo. Found a shit ton for Ol’ Festus. Byte also found a lot of good stuff to work on her Gravity Gun,” Wingnut said, leading me up the stairs to where I could now hear Byte yelling.

“Would you get off me you stupid bucket of bolts! Ouch! Don’t touch me! STOP!” she screamed from a door just down the hall at the top of the stairs.

He just shrugged, “She was fine when I left her a minute ago. Sounds like she might need help now.”

I pointed Dream Walker toward the door then kicked it in to find, two Ms. Nanny bots painted white with wigs plastered onto their round domes, one red and curly the other blonde and wavy, both poking and prodding at Byte who looked pissed as all hell. As the door burst open, the two bots turned toward us. The one with a red wig dropped it’s curling iron and started speaking as if I was the best thing in the world that had ever happened to it.

“Oh, my dear, it’s so wonderful to have another Kitten after so many years. I thought we were lucky when this one came in, but now we have TWO! Barbie look at how cute she is!” The red headed Nanny bot said.

The blond one’s three eyecam’s roved over me and when she spoke it was in a lazy bored voice, “Ginger darling, I think you need your cameras checked, this one looks like something the dog dragged in. She looks like she was chewed up and spit out by something ghastly. I bet she smells like it too.”

I took a second to smell myself, unfortunately for me she wasn’t completely wrong. It’s not my fault it’s hot outside. Snooty bitch.

The redheaded one, Ginger, gasped, “Barbie, like she’s totally beautiful, just needs to be cleaned up a bit, give her a little makeup and she’ll be perfect. Just look at those eyes, never seen anything like them before.”

The blonde bot, Barbie, moved closer to me, “I guess I see what you mean, we did a good job with the other one, even with her making such a fuss. Excuse me darling, what’s your name and clothing size, we need to get you fitted for your uniform.”

“Well of course darling, do you think I’m talking to the boss there?” she asked, looking toward Wingnut.

“Well of course he is, I mean like he has the hat on and everything and the gate let him in, so of course he’s the boss. Handsome little devil too,” Ginger said.

“Nah, they’re funny,” Wingnut said looking at them, “Ladies that’s enough for now, Shadow’s a friend and not here to be a Kitten.”

“What the fuck is a Kitten?” I asked, “And before you give me some shitheaded remark about me being stupid, I know it’s a young cat. What do they mean with me? Y’know a pony, not anything of the feline variety.”

He pointed a hoof at Byte as Ginger said, “Oh sorry sir, we’ll just wait in the corner until we’re needed again. Come along Barbie, before you make the master cross with us.”

“Fine, but I want my bonus, it’s two hundred years late,” Barbie said, floating away.

I then got a better look at Byte who was dressed in a skin-tight unitard that didn’t really hide anything, just made other parts more noticeable. Her mane had been pulled out of it’s ponytails and brushed out then curled a little to give it a wavy look. Now it flowed down her back and shoulders making her look a lot older. Her tail was braided tight and on top of her head she had large cat ears just in front of her normal ones with whiskers painted onto her muzzle. On her hooves they put shoes of some kind making them look like paws. Then around her neck was a white collar with a bell hanging from the center. Now I see what they mean by Kitten.

“If you laugh at me even a little, I’m going to use my gravity gun, as soon as I find it, and blow you out the window with it!” Byte said.

“I wasn’t going to laugh Byte, honestly, you look really good and a few years older too.” I said walking closer, “Now I kinda want them to do this to me.”

“Don’t say that!” Byte said, looking back at Ginger and Barbie, “They asked me if I wanted to be a Kitten, I said, ‘Sure, but what is it?’, then they did this to me! I look stupid, you don’t have to hide it, I know it’s true.”

I moved my head closer to hers glancing back at Wingnut, “The way Wingnut is staring, I’d say you look really good. He’s a pervert, but at least he’s a tasteful one.”

“Good, now can the two of you please tell me what happened?” I asked, “And Wingnut why are you wearing that stuff?”

He pulled his eyes away from Byte, looking over at me, “Oh, well I found this on some skeleton just down the hall, thought it looked cool, so I put it on. Not much to it really, but once I did all the robots around here started asking me if I needed anything. So, I’m keeping it on until we leave. I might even keep it forever, it’s freakin’ comfortable.”

“Yeah I tried it on too, but they still don’t listen to me, only Wingnut,” Byte said, coming closer.

“Now that we have time, I can tell you everything. Steel Rangers have scouts and heavy guns on most of the tall buildings around the city. We were just going over one of them when they opened fire,” Wingnut said, “We tried to escape but everywhere we went the gunfire kept up, then we saw The Palisade in the distance over near the Applewood sign flying toward us. So, Aura and your mom decided it’d be better if we got out. Then, they dropped us near this place like I said before and said they’d meet us later after she dropped you in a safe place. That’s all we know.”

“No,” Byte added, “Grim said if a day goes by and they haven’t shown up that we should head to the Equestrian Bank building and look for that Synth she told us about, he can get us to The Ministry where they’ll be waiting.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Wingnut added with a chuckle rubbing the back of his neck, “So anyway, we decided to wait here, but still we haven’t heard from them. Glad you found us though.”

“That was by luck. Well I guess we should wait here for a while and see what happens, but if the Steel Rangers decide to come in here, we need to be ready to run,” I said, looking around the small makeup room more.

I shrugged. “Guess we could look around, maybe stock up on ammo and food, maybe see what else we can find around this place. I heard the Rangers talking and it sounds like they haven’t been able to get in. We may find a few things of worth in here.”

“Good idea! I’ll go look in the basement,” Wingnut said, turning back toward the stairs, “Coming with Byte?”

“Nah, I don’t feel like going down into a stuffy old basement,” she said with a shiver, “I’ll stick with Shadow.”

“Okay fine, but if I find any cool stuff down there it’s mine,” he said, running down the stairs, his overly large robe fluttering behind him.

“He finds himself in a mansion for a smut king and he turns into a ten-year-old,” Byte said, shaking her head.

“Hell, if I didn’t find you two in here, I’d be just as crazy as him, and I’m two years older,” I said, turning to head down the hall.

“Yeah, but you’re a perve,” Byte replied, catching up with me, the kitten ears on her head bouncing a little.

“Why does everyone keep saying that today?” I asked more to myself than anypony else.

“Because it’s true, but it’s cool, we don’t mind it so much. Though I’d make sure not to do it around your mom. I mean that’s just creepy for a mother to be seeing,” she said as we pushed open a door to a large office.

Walking inside I notice there wasn’t much in there apart from a large desk, a huge window overlooking the large backyard, a few books on a shelf, the latest terminal from Stable-Tec, and a dead pony in the office chair. On the name Plaque it read Little E. Ponyus. I walked in with Byte right behind me, “I wonder who this pony was?”

“Same last name as the guy on the picture downstairs, maybe it’s his son.”

“Maybe,” I said moving closer and looking at the dead pony, he was mostly bones now, but the way his skin looked and what was left on his coat, he looked more like a dead ghoul. If he’d died when Equestria did, he’d be nothing but dust and bones, “I think he was a ghoul and died a while later.”

“Sure, I guess,” I said, lifting the body with my magic and moving him over to a corner. The bones and what was left of his skin nearly falling apart.

“Thank you,” she said, dusting off the chair and jumping into it, “Now let’s see if this place has cameras.”

“What’re you looking for anyway?” I asked, walking over to the window to look at the large backyard. My eyes went wide as I took in the large pool, the party deck, a maze…a fucking hedge maze. There was a lot more to see but I was already annoyed at how much crap this one pony had for his house.

Byte started typing on the terminal as she said, “Jealous are we? No matter, we have time to kill, might as well see what this dude’s life was like. You never know what you’ll find on these things,” she paused, “Dammit, it’s got some nasty anti-hacking software. Well luckily for me, I’ve got better software.” She then hooked up her own Mark II and started it’s hacking software.

“You’re really good at that,” I said, watching her work. She got the password in two tries.

“Been hacking into terminals since I was six, Rusty used to bring me to the labs when I was little, and I’d get bored. One of the scientists started showing me how terminals work and more. I was a natural, and in a few months, I was able to hack into most of the terminals in the labs. Rusty used to challenge me once he found out, saying it was a good skill to have. He’d update the security on the terminals at the labs and at our house until I could break through. Got my Cutie Mark doing that funny enough,” she said as she started searching though the files.

“I’ve been wondering about that. I was curious about the whole cookie with a chunk missing and wires coming out,” I said.

She laughed a little at that. “Fits my name I guess, but it really just means my special talent is computers.”

“I am, but that’s not my special talent. By the way, what’s yours?” she asked.

“Yeah, got it when I snuck into the Overmare’s office, had to teleport out when she almost caught me. No idea what it means or what my talent is. My uncle says it means I’m a powerful magic user, but he’s also a little crazy so I’m not sure,” I explained.

“Hmmm, interesting. I mean I’ve seen you cast some powerful spells, he could be right,” she said, going back to looking through the files.

“Maybe, but I don’t think that’s all there is to it, I mean I can understand the Star and how our family always has one and all that, but what do the keys mean?” I asked.

“Could just mean you’re good at unlocking stuff. They’re skeleton keys,” she said.

I took a moment to think about that, “I guess, but still it just doesn’t feel right. Close, but not right.”

Byte just kept on typing away, “Whatever, anyway, all I’m finding on this thing is mostly stuff about the business, some personal correspondents, a few financial files, and properties this guy owned, or his dad.”

“Well, I wasn’t too hopeful that we’d find much, at least you tried,” I said, turning to head back out of the office.

“It just doesn’t make sense though, all of this stuff is important to a point, but not enough for the level of security that was on here. There has to be…” she said before pausing, “Ah hah, there we go, found a hidden file.”

“Just some security feeds I think, maybe he was hiding something from his dad. I can play them if you want. There’s a larger monitor over there,” Byte said, pointing a hoof at the far wall, “Could be something naughty.”

“Yeah let’s see what it is, might be interesting,” I said, walking closer to the larger screen as she worked.

“Okay they’re all labeled by date. I’ll start with the oldest one and work our way down the list,” Byte said.

A moment later the screen came to life, followed by an overhead view of the office. Sitting at the desk was a handsome stallion who looked a lot like the older pony from the portrait in the living room only with a sandy colored mane and what looked like silver eyes. Unlike the older pony he wasn’t wearing a robe or a captain’s hat, but a sleek three-piece suit. He looked like he was in his late thirty’s maybe early forties. He was just working away on the terminal with stacks of paper in front of him, looking bored.

A moment after the video started though, a young mare in one of those kitten outfits came into the room, “Excuse me sir, but you have a visitor. She said she doesn’t have an appointment but needs to see you right away.”

“Who is it? I’m behind enough as it is and my father would kill me if he thought I was messing around with some random mare,” the stallion said.

“She said her name is Babs, she’s with The Ministry of Awesome,” the mare said.

His entire expression changed from irritated to joy, “Oh of course, let her in right away please, thank you Fog.”

“Always a pleasure sir,” she said before leaving. Not thirty seconds later, Babs walked in. Babs Seed, the only earth pony mare in The Children of the Night. As soon as she came in, I knew that this had to have taken place after the battle of Las Pegasus. Her face was riddled with small scars, the most noticeable thing was that her right foreleg was missing, replaced by some high-tech prosthetic. Her mane was now cut into a Mohawk and she looked pissed.

“Babs, it’s wonderful to see you again, I see you were able to get a new leg. I heard how bad it was and I thought you might not make it, you had me worried sick darling,” the stallion started to say before she reached the desk. Before he could continue, she lifted her left foreleg and slapped him as hard as she could.

He went flying out of his chair from the blow, a look of shock on his face as Babs moved to stand over him. “I told you before Little, not to call me Dahlin’, or honey, or love err any of that pathetic mushy shit. We had one night together and ya think ya own me. Well guess what asshat, ya don’t. I’m not here because I wanna be, and you should know that ya fuckin’ mook.”

He was shaking a little, but managed to get back to his hooves, “My apologies Babs, but you know how I feel about you. I take it you got my letter.”

“Yeah, all ten of em’ over the past two weeks, I told you before to leave me alone. That’s the only reason I’m here to give ya this,” she said, tossing an envelope by his hooves.

“What’s this?” he asked, lifting the envelope in his muzzle and setting it on the desk to open it.

“A restrainin’ ordah, you’ve been harassin’ me even after ya said you’d leave me the fuck alone. It’s been signed and sealed by a judge and as of tomorrow it goes into effect. You ain’t allowed within a mile of me, ya can’t talk to me, ya can’t even have a friend come bother me for ya. See I made sure of that last part because you’re a dickhead and would try somethin’ dickheaded like that. Don’t even think about payin’ someone off to bothuh me neither,” she said in a pissed off voice.

He didn’t even bother trying to finish opening the letter, “Babs, I know I told you I’d leave you alone and I meant it, but that was before I heard the news. I’ll fight this in court if I have to. You won’t keep me from my child.”

Her eyes blazed with anger at that. “How do you even know that I’m pregnant? You already got someone spyin’ on me ya fuckin’ stalker? Cause I swear tuh Luna that I’ll feed ya your fuckin’ teeth aftuh cuttin’ off ya bawls and shovin’ em’ up your ass.”

From the look Babs was giving him and the way she looked physically, I actually believed she could do what she was threatening. If I ever go to Manehattan, I should remember not to piss off any locals. Wait, who am I kidding? I piss off at least on pony no matter where I go.

His cowering demeanor changed as a cocky smile came to his face. “I have friends in high places too you know. A friend at the Ministry of Peace told me the news.”

“Timing fits, and from what I remember from our drunken night at the Lucky Horseshoe, you admitted that you haven’t been with another stallion before me in a long time. The battle of Las Pegasus happened the very next day and after that you’ve been in the hospital, then two different Ministry labs, getting that leg of yours. So, I know it’s mine and I want to know my child,” he said, his voice sounding angrier each second.

“Yeah well too bad, cause I don’t want any foal of mine bein’ raised around all this fuckin’ smut like you were!” she exclaimed.

“What kind of life will you give them huh? You don’t have the kind of money I do. You’re always off fighting with your so-called team. You’re too busy to take care of a foal, and what child would want to grow up in Las Pegasus. I want to give my foal the life they deserve,” Little E. Ponyus said, “A life where they won’t have to want for anything and will have at least some sort of parental figure around to teach them right.”

She moved closer again then punched him in the face knocking him down again. “Listen to me and listen good Little, my foal will NOT EVUH know you. They won’t evuh see you. As far as they’ll know, one of my team is their father, or some random stranger I fucked when I was drunk, cause that’s at least close to the truth. I have a lot of money too, I’ve been savin’ for years to open my own business in Los Alicorn, and I’ll give em’ a good life. You’ll stay away if ya know what’s good for ya, and if you don’t, I’ll make sure you do by breakin’ every bone in ya body. Make it so ya have to pay one of your kitten sluts to wipe your ass for ya.”

He started to laugh. “How do you plan on making me do anything Babs? I’m not afraid of a few broken bones.”

She pulled a beautiful gun from the holster under her jacket and pointed it right at his head. I gasped as I saw the weapon, it was Dream Walker. There was no doubt about it. “Listen to me Little E. Ponyus, if you try to make my life hell, I’ll return the favor in ten...no one-hundred fold.”

She then holstered Dream Walker and walked out of the room slamming the office door behind her. The video stopped there. I looked at Byte and said, “Damn, he was kind of a dick huh?”

She shrugged. “I dunno, I’d say they both were kinda dickish. That Babs was having his foal and just threatened him to make sure he never met it. Kinda cruel if you ask me, though I can see why she wouldn’t want him to meet her foal too, because of the lifestyle he lived. Lavish and sleazy.”

“I knew Babs Seed had a foal, but I had no idea who the father was. Never heard anything about her getting married or having a special somepony,” I said, looking back at the screen.

“She was the heavy infantry pony in The Children of the Night. She was a good friend of Night Stalker’s, a pony who he picked to join his team from the very beginning. She was hurt during the battle of Las Pegasus, but until now I didn’t know how badly,” I said as the video started.

Again, it was in this office, I’m guessing all of them were. From the time stamp this took place a year or so after Babs visited, and to my utter shock, Lonely Hearts was standing in the office talking to Little E. Ponyus. No way, that synth can’t be that old…can he?

Lonely Hearts was looking about the office as he said, “Nice digs you got here kiddo, makes me think that I’ve been in the wrong business for the past twenty years.”

Little looked irritated as he spoke. “Lonely Hearts, I didn’t hire you to tell me about how nice my office looks or comment on what you like about the place. I paid you to find information out on where that bitch is keeping my son.”

“Oh, don’t get your panties in a wad, I got as much as I could. You have no idea how much security is around your ex-lover’s kid,” Lonely Hearts said, tossing an envelope onto the desk, “From what I can tell, she’s living in the apartment over her new dance studio. She’s fully retired from whatever she was doing for The Ministry of Awesome. She used the money she earned to build and start her dance school. Nice place too and good music, you’d like the place. It was hard not to be noticed too. Had to enroll in some classes so I wouldn’t stand out. Course at my age, I’d stand out in a place like that anyway, but more as a creepy middle-aged guy rather than a private eye investigating the instructor and her kid.”

Little started going through the folder like his life depended on it. “Yeah I know about the stupid dancehall she built. Stupid place based off the Queen of Rock or whatever. What a stupid name, The Queen’s School of interpretive dance, give me a break. I don’t care, what about my son!?”

“I’m getting to it,” Lonely Hearts said, “The kid’s doing good, he’s walked and followed his mother around everywhere. Has playdates with another foal once a week. Kid’s name is Appleseed, his little friend is a pegasus named Nightblade, cute colt too.”

“Wait she named my son APPLESEED!?” Little yelled, throwing the folder across the room, “Appleseed, like he’s some back-water, inbred, bumpkin!?”

“Well Mr. Ponyus, Babs Seed is from the Apple Family, the biggest and richest family in Equestria. One of her cousins runs The Ministry of Wartime Technology her other cousin owns and runs Stable-Tec. She’s proud of her family name,” Lonely Hearts said, yawning a little, “Ya mind if I smoke in here kid?”

“Yes, I mind if you smoke in my office!” he yelled, before taking a deep breath then continuing, “Fine, whatever, did you find anything I can use against her to get custody of MY son?”

“Can’t say that I have. She keeps all her weapons locked up where he can’t get to them. If she has to leave for business of any kind, Appleseed stays with one of her friends. A cute unicorn couple she used to work with I believe or with her other friend Lightning Dust. She’s even had a griffon watch him sometimes. But that’s it, he’s healthy, happy, and free from harm. Not much else I can tell ya,” Lonely Hearts said, pulling a cigarette out and lighting it even after he was told he couldn’t smoke in the office.

“So, you’re telling me that you found nothing. Great, so I guess you really aren’t worth the money I paid you. I know that she was working on something big with that Pegasus boss of hers, Night Stalker. I thought if anypony could find what I needed, it would be YOU!” Little yelled.

“Well, funny you should bring that up. I didn’t say I didn’t find anything, just nothing about your son that you can use. But for the rest of the information I found, well let’s just say that another client of mine paid me to make sure that information never got out,” Lonely Hearts said, blowing smoke right into Little’s face, “Ya see I’m a freelancer P.I. and my other client has been working with me for a couple years now. Seniority and all that jazz.”

“It’s not a bribe when you’re paid ahead of time by a previous client kid. Ever heard of a confidentiality agreement? I believe you signed one upon hiring me, agreeing to my terms of service. It’s how this business works. Anyhow, I should be going, I gave you what you asked for within my limits. I’ll expect the rest of my payment by the weeks end, have a good day Mr. Ponyus,” Lonely Hearts said, with a tip of his hat and started to walk out of the office.

“Where are you GOING? Also, I believe I said you CAN’T SMOKE IN HERE!” Little screamed, but it was too late, Lonely Hearts was gone.

The video ended then another started showing the time was only an hour after Lonely Hearts visited. The office was a mess and Little E. Ponyus was standing in the middle of his office looking furious. “Take my son away from me huh, bribe my P.I. huh? We’ll see how you like it when I hire a griffon to go to your damned dance studio and slit your throat in your sleep, you fucking cunt!”

Before he could do or say anything else, the lights went out in his office, bathing the large room in darkness with only a faint glow coming from the moon through the windows. Reminds me of a scene from a horror film I saw with Auntie back in the stable. Little twisted around from what I could make out, looking scared. Lightning flashed from a storm outside, illuminating the room for a few seconds. I saw a dark figure standing next to his desk followed by the voice of Noire, saying, “Rich ponies such as yourself should not curse or act the way you do Little E. Ponyus.”

“Who’s that!?” Little said in a scared voice, flipping around but seeing no one.

“No one but a ghost, or I guess it would be better to call me a shadow,” Noire said, his voice echoing around the room.

“You’re a zebra!? I can tell from your accent, what do you want? Money? I have plenty of money,” Little said, backing up toward his desk.

“Well most of the time I am, other times I am nothing more than an assistant to a great pony,” Noire said, lighting flashed again, and I caught sight of him behind the desk now sitting in Little’s chair. He was wearing the black suit Amethyst Star made for him with Minuette.

“Tell me who you are before I call security,” Little said, flipping around, but not seeing him. He’d vanished again.

“I have gone by many names in my life, the one I was given on the day of my rebirth is not one I will share with you. You may however know me by another name, some call me The Ghost of the Night,” he said with a small chuckle.

“No…that’s just a story the soldiers tell to scare the citizens when they’re on leave,” Little said, still trying to figure out where Noire was.

“A story, a myth, a devil, pick whatever title you want, but I am real, and I am here to give you a warning, one that you must heed,” Noire said, reappearing a few inches away from Little, then vanishing again. How the hell was he doing that?

Noire appeared from the darkness right behind Little E. Ponyus. He swept Little’s hooves out from under him, flipped him around and slammed him onto the ground, pinning him there. The rich pony’s face smashed to the floor. “That is an easy one, you will stop looking into Night Stalker and The Children. You will forget about the mare you filled with your seed and the spawn of that union. The foal is not yours no matter what you want to tell yourself. If you do not stop what you have been doing, I will pay you another visit. When I do, I will make sure you never see another sunrise. Do I make myself clear?”

Little was crying on the floor, his body shaking as Noire held him down, but he managed to nod his head a little, saying, “Fine…I’ll do it, I’ll stop. I just wanted to at least see my son, get to know him and help him grow to be a good pony like me.”

Noire lowered his helmeted head, and said, “You are not a good pony Little E. Ponyus, you in fact are a very bad pony. My employer has found all of your secret sex dens, your clubs you hide from the government, and so much more. You are lucky that rumor about you running a sex slave trading operation has not panned out, or you would be dead already. You will stop all of your business that does not have anything to do with your father’s company. You have three months to do that or once again I will return, and you will die.”

Noire did, then slowly stepped back into the shadows. “Remember what I said Mr. Ponyus, if you do not do as you are told, I will return.”

For a long moment, Little didn’t get back to his hooves, he just lied there shaking in fear of the zebra. Even I felt a little fear, even though this happened over two hundred years ago; that buck was scary when he wanted to be. Finally, Little got back to his hooves, wiped his eyes, then said quietly, “I’ll have my own mercs find you and hunt you down you little shit. I’m not scared…”

His sentence was cut short as Noire appeared in front of him making the other pony back up screaming. However, he wasn’t fast enough to stop the small blade that slid out of Noire’s outfit and jammed into his left eye. Not enough to kill the pony, but enough to blind that one eye. Little screamed in pain as the small blade was pulled out, blood and fluid running down his face as he fell back.

Noire raised his voice just loud enough for the pony to hear over his screams, and said, “That was the one and only warning you will get. Be happy I only took your eye,” then as if by magic, he disappeared again, leaving the rich pony to scream and wail as the lights came back on and security burst into the room. No one ever saw the Zebra come or go. Just like a ghost, he was gone.

“Holy shit, that was messed up,” Byte said from the desk, “Was that a zebra?”

“Yeah, another one of Night Stalker’s Children. I don’t know much about him, only that he was a prisoner at first, the third son of the Caesar at the time. He later joined Night Stalker after his father disowned him and helped them with Falling Shadows, but that’s all I know about him. I guess he ended up being an assassin for Night Stalker,” I said, still looking up at the screen.

“That’s still messed up, but I guess that asshole kinda brought it on himself,” Byte said, starting to type again, “There’s only two more videos, both dated years after this took place.”

“Yeah, one is a few years after this one and the last video is from about twenty years ago,” she replied.

She started the next one which was dated about ten years after the megaspells. Before it played, Wingnut walked back into the room, saying, “Hey, what are you two doing?”

“Got bored, so we’re watching old security footage from Little E. Ponyus, the son of the guy who owned this place,” I said.

“Sure, I don’t see why not. It’s not like we can do anything right now,” I said as Byte hit play.

The office was a wreck, you could tell that the radiation was still thick in the air back then, only ten years had passed so I guess that made sense. A ghoul walked into the shot; it could only be Little. So, he did survive the megaspells, just not the effects. He went to go sit at his desk saying, “Damn crazed ponies not respecting my land. Good thing dad upgraded the security on this place before he died.”

His voice sounded like most ghouls, but I could still tell it was Little E. Ponyus. He coughed then started messing with his terminal when a knock came at his office door. He looked up, “Huh? You stupid robots, I’ve told you already that I don’t want you to bother me.”

The door opened and it wasn’t a robot that came into the office, it was a stallion followed closely by a colt. The stallion was well built and wore faded military fatigues with a captain’s emblem on the arms and the neck of the uniform. His coat was a dark lavender, his mane gone grey. The colt was a muddy brown with a vibrant dark red mane and light green eyes. When they walked in the stallion spoke in a rich voice that sounded a lot like what I’d expect of a southern pony.

“Howdy Mr. Ponyus, my apologies for botherin’ ya sir, I’m Apple Core and I’ve come seekin’ your help with somethin’,” he said, bowing his head a little.

“How the hell did you get into my house? Only a Ponyus can get past the gate without being blown to hell!” Little yelled, his raspy voice breaking a little as he stood.

The colt, who could only be around eleven or twelve spoke next, “Sorry sir, but it wasn’t hard for me to get past the gate. You see, I’m your son, names Appleseed. My mother told me about you a few months ago and said if I ever needed help, I could come to you. She told me you were a ghoul, but that you’d still be willing to help me.”

“That’s right sir, this here is my young second cousin twice removed or something like that. Knew his ma very well durin’ the war and even after. Young Appleseed here’s lost his mother and well, I right can’t take care of him on my own and was hopin’ you could offer us a little help and maybe a place to stay while the colt grows a little more,” Apple Core said politely.

Little looked at Appleseed for a long moment almost like he couldn’t believe that after all this time, he was finally meeting his son. Then his remaining eye went cold and the angry ghoul picked up a paper weight and threw it at Appleseed…missing his head by an inch as he screamed, “I have no son! That bitch who opened her legs for me made sure of THAT! Get out of my house before I have my robots kill the both of you!”

Apple Core had drawn a revolver from his side holster, but didn’t aim it at Little, just kept it in his muzzle as he spoke, “Mr. Ponyus this ain’t necessary, from what Babs told me, you wanted to know your son and after the war ended she regretted not lettin’ you meet him. We’ve traveled a long way for him to meet you.”

Appleseed looked more angry than scared of the ghoul as he said, “Yeah, and from what I know, this place is as much mine as it is yours…SIR.”

Little started to laugh. “Oh, I see. So that’s what’s going on. You want my bits! You want my house, let me guess your whore of a mother can’t stand living in that shithole Las Pegasus anymore so she wants you to take my place huh? I bet she’s not even dead, bet that bitch is hiding in the hallway isn’t she!?” he started yelling again, “Come and face me Babs Seed! Now you stupid cunt, don’t send this brat in to do your dirty work!”

“I will not let you stand there and insult my cousin’s memory sir, she’s dead, has been for a few weeks now. You shouldn’t be actin’ like this in front of your son,” Apple Core said angrily.

“I have NO SON, that colt might have my genes but he’s nothing more than a witless Apple, just like the rest of your stupid family. Now, I won’t say this again, get the fuck out of my house before I pump your gut full of lead!” he screamed throwing another item at them.

“I see you’re goin’ into full ghoul mode soon, maybe I should just put you out of your misery. Better than lettin’ ya go feral on us,” Apple Core said.

Appleseed put a hoof on his shoulder, “He’s not worth it, Mom was right, he’s nothing more than a sad old fool with anger problems. Let’s just go and we’ll find another place to hold up for a while.”

Apple Core let out a long sigh then holstered his weapon, saying, “Fine, you’re right, this ghoul ain’t worth the rottin’ skin he lives in.”

They turned to leave, but Little’s eye went a little soft as he said, “I have a question first.”

Appleseed glared at him, saying, “She was killed by an old friend of hers, the griffon who started that new Red Talons group in Las Pegasus. Would’ve killed me too, but I got away,” he turned to leave then stopped and looked back again, “And by the way…Father…I’m not stupid. Mom said I’m one of the brightest minds she’s ever met, maybe smarter than her cousin Apple Bloom. If anyone here is an idiot, it’s you.”

“And why can’t that stallion take care of you anymore? He said something about that before,” Little asked.

Apple Core spoke up, “I’m dyin’ slowly from radiation sickness. Not much that can be done anymore. Got maybe a month could be two before I kick the bucket. That’s why I was tryin’ to find him a good place to grow. But I can see that it ain’t here. Good day.”

Before they left the room, Little started laughing again. “Guess not all of us can turn into ghouls huh? Well good thing, soon another Apple will be gone. Oh, I hope you both die horrible deaths just like I hope Babs did!”

Before they left and fully closed the door, Appleseed looked back at his father, saying, “Trust me, I’ll survive, and one day, either myself or one of my descendants will be back and we’ll make you pay for that comment and for throwing me out. Enjoy your rotten afterlife.”

The video ended and the three of us looked in utter shock at what happened between them. Finally, Wingnut said, “Wow, that’s just insane.”

We all looked over at the dead ghoul rotting in the corner. He’d been stabbed in the chest from what we could tell. Either some pony else found a way to get in here and killed him a while back, or one of Appleseed’s children or grandchildren did. I looked back at the foals, “I’m not sure I wanna see the last video. That was nuts.”

“Well we can’t just leave the story half finished,” Byte said, pulling up the last video, “Let’s see what this one holds.”

I sighed. “Okay then, but I’m sure it’s just gonna be more angry, rich, ghoul perve, and his problems.”

The video came up, dated twenty years ago. Little E. Ponyus was walking around his office muttering to himself, twitching every now and then. From the looks of it, he was sinking deep into becoming a feral ghoul. As he walked around, the door to his office opened and a mare walked in. She was taller, with an aquamarine mane that was cut short, a light yellow coat, and dark blue eyes. She had a Cutie Mark of a Toolbox on her flank and wore light leather armor with a one-sided battle saddle. She couldn’t have been any older than me, maybe a year or so older, it was hard to tell. She walked into the office with utter confidence as Little E. Ponyus twisted around, his dead eye glaring at her.

“Who the hell are you…this is my land, my house, get out!” he yelled, his voice more rasp than anything now.

When the mare spoke, her voice was just as beautiful as she was, “Hello, Little E. Ponyus, my name is Crescent Wrench and I’m here to fulfill a promise made to you a long time ago by my great-great grandfather.”

The Ghoul looked over at her, drool falling from his muzzle in a long stream, “Promise? What promise? I haven’t talked to anypony in over a century! How’d you get in here, are you with those Steel Ranger shits? I told them to stay out! Leave, leave, LEAVE!”

The battle saddle clicked as she moved something on it, chambering a round. She smiled as Little moved toward her slowly, one of his legs dragging from some injury he must’ve taken over the years. “I don’t think so, you see, this house belongs to the Ponyus family. That means me, I don’t really want the place, but I do want to make sure my distant grandfathers wish comes true.”

Little started to rage as he tried to charge her. “If you’re talking about that little brat of BABS’ then you can die like he SHOULD HAVE!”

She twisted around and bucked him away, sending his body flying over the desk to land in the chair behind it. “I was going to just shoot you in the head to put you down quickly, but I see that you’re gonna be a pain, so we’ll have to do this slow.” She moved behind the desk and the chair then twisted it around and started to tie the ghoul down. When she was done, she pulled a long knife out of a holster on her side and slowly moved it closer to his chest. “If you say sorry, I’ll make this less painful.”

“Get out, get out, get out, get OUT!” he screamed, his head whipping back and forth as foam formed at his lips.

“Oh well, it was worth a try,” she said, and she started pushing the knife into his chest. The ghoul screamed as every centimeter of the blade dug into him taking close to a minute. He pulled at his bindings screaming louder, begging for his robots to save him, for somepony to help him. Then when the knife was half way in, his body jerked and he stopped screaming, his head tilted forward and he said something so quiet I barley heard it. Most of it was just noise.

This time he spoke just a little louder, “I’m sorry son, I’m sorry Babs, I’m sorry father, I wasn’t…a good pony…I was just mad that you…didn’t love me Babs, that’s all I wanted…somepony…to…love me.”

“Little E. Ponyus? Are you still in there somewhere?” she asked, holding the knife in his chest.

He looked up at her, his eyes looking more alive than they did a moment ago. To my shock, he smiled a little, “Are you my son’s daughter?”

“No, I’m his distant Granddaughter, yours too,” she said, looking a little shocked.

“He was a handsome colt, looked like his mom a little. I remember when I first met him. I couldn’t tell him that I was happy to meet him. Had to tell him to go away, had to or else…the zebra would have, came back for me. Knew he would be safer…out there, than…in here. I did that to…protect him. He hates me you know,” Little said, his eye distant, “He hates me for what I am, I wish I could tell him I’m sorry, tell her too.”

“I…I’m not going to let you live just because you got a little of your sanity back,” she said.

“You shouldn’t…I should’ve died a long time ago,” he said, his gaze looking so sad as he continued, “Did my son live to be an old pony?”

I could see tears in Crescent’s eyes now as she shook her head, “No, he died when he was forty-three, ran into some taint, he didn’t last long.”

“I…should’ve protected him,” he said, then looked back into her eyes, “A parent’s duty to their child is to protect them, even if it cost them their own life. Remember that when you have a little one. Don’t let them hate you, make sure they know they’re loved. Make sure you never let anything bad happen to them. Even…if it…cost you your own life. Foals are a gift, one that should never be taken for granted,” before he could say anything else, he jerked his chest forward into her knife and the light in his eyes went out as his body slumped.

She pulled the knife out, looking at the dead ghoul ignoring the goo on her blade. “I can’t believe you did that, what was your life like if you really gave up so much to keep your son safe? To think I came here to get revenge for him, just like my own father tried years ago and his mother before him. Maybe you were a good pony deep down Little E. Ponyus, may the goddesses watch over you in the next life,” she then moved to his terminal and started looking through it right as the video went out.

Byte and I both looked at the screen in awe, I couldn’t believe what I just saw. So Little E. Ponyus did take Noire’s threat to heart and made sure his son never knew him. Kept him away, just in case the zebra ever came back. He regretted it in the end, knowing that he should’ve ignored the threat if only so his son could have been safe after Babs died.

“That was strange, I wonder who that mare is. What do you think Wingnut? Wingnut?” Byte said, looking over to the colt who was frozen looking up at the now blank screen.

I walked over to him and put a hoof on his shoulder, asking, “Hey kid, you okay?”

He had tears in his eyes I saw, at my touch he said quietly, “I’d almost forgotten what she looked like.”

The tears started to flow as he looked up at me nodding slowly. “I knew her very well. Crescent Wrench, one of the best fixers in all of The Wasteland. Wife of Long Dagger, strong headed, a little perverted at times, loved to laugh at any joke she made, and loved to make her husband blush. She also was my mother.”

Byte and I both looked at Wingnut for a long moment, the realization of his statement hitting us both like a sledgehammer. I felt my own tears falling as I realized that mare in the video would die in a few years-time, leaving her only son to fend for himself in The Wasteland. She’d die alongside her husband doing exactly what Little E. Ponyus said, protecting her foal. It was only a few moments later that I realized the other revelation from watching these videos, well two of them in fact. One was the reason Wingnut was able to get into the mansion without dying leaving it open for my entry later. He was the distant grandson of the Ponyus family. That explained a lot about his Pervy side. But that was nothing on top of the fact that he was also a descendent of one of the Children of the Night, just like me. His distant grandmother was Babs Seed, he wasn’t just a descendent of a Child of the Night, he was also an Apple. One of the biggest families in old Equestria. Owners of Stable-Tec, one led the MWT, and another ran one of the biggest weapons manufacturers in Equestria.

The family must’ve dropped the Apple name sometime in the past, but that didn’t change the fact that he was one of them. It also explained his brain too, why he was so smart. Applebloom was said to be the smartest and brightest inventor of her time. She built Stable-Tec from scratch, kept it mostly free of The Ministries, created the Stables giving ponies a chance to survive, she made the Pip-Buck, built robots, and even designed a school for Princess Luna from what I’ve heard. So much history around a wonderful, brilliant, and hurting colt. All of that ran though my head in a matter of a few seconds. Then I let it all fade away, none of it mattered right now. Who cares who Wingnut’s family was, who cares what they did in the past, who cares what they started. All that mattered right now was that my friend was in tears after seeing his mother for the first time in many years.

I leaned down and pulled him into a tight hug letting my own tears fall onto his head as he started breaking down. I rubbed a hoof over his mane saying quietly, “It’s okay kid, let it out.”

A moment later I felt Byte join us and to my shock she started crying too. No idea why, but I just pulled her in close and sat on the floor of the dusty, dirty office as the two foals finally let all the pain, all the suffering, all the sorrow out for the first time in years. We sat there as the lights outside dimmed further as night fell on Los Alicorn. The distant sounds of gunfire echoing across the dead city. Like ghosts in the night.

It took an hour or more for the two to calm down and pull away from me at last. When they did, they left my duster wet, but I didn’t mind at all. Auntie Vervain always told me that tears can heal a lot of things. It was holding them back that caused more pain. When they finally pulled away, I asked, “You two gonna be okay?”

Byte answered first, her voice soft, “I think so, sorry I broke down like that. I just saw Wingnut lose it over seeing his mom and it made me remember my own, and the way she died.”

“At least you didn’t have to hear it,” Wingnut said looking over at her, “But I’m still sorry that you had to lose your mom too. I’m sure you loved her as much as I did mine.”

“I don’t remember her much honestly,” Byte said sniffing again, “I was really young when she died, but now and then I remember things like, something cooking in the kitchen of our small house, the scent of her leather armor next to the door, her smile. Silly things like that”

“My mom could make anything out of random stuff she found in The Wasteland. She was a good cook, but not as good as my dad,” Wingnut said, then looked over at me, “What about you Shadow?”

“Yeah, but you lost her when you were young and just found her again. You know more than anypony else how we feel,” Wingnut said with a smile.

“Well,” I said, leaning back a little, “I remember when we still lived in The Crystal Empire, she used to come home from work and come find me right away, not to check on my health or anything like that, but just to sit and hold me. Even up to the day we left she’d do that. I remember asking her once why she would come home and tell me things about her day at work or whatever she was really up to and she’d just say, ‘Sweetie, you’re the only pony in all of the world that won’t judge me and just love me for who I am’. That was something I looked forward to, seeing her and just listening to her as she talked. It helped the pain go away a little and cleared my head. It was wonderful.”

“She had a lot to deal with and yet she still took time to be with you huh?” Wingnut asked.

“Yeah, she was a good mom for the most part. I saw my dad more than her before we left, but he was always worrying about me, she was too, but she didn’t show it as much,” I said, “What about you Wingnut? You don’t talk about them much, I’m sure you have a lot of happy memories.”

“More than I do bad, I think the only bad thing in our lives was when they died. My parents didn’t fight much, they just loved to travel and trade. My mom loved to make things and fix stuff, my dad used to be a merc before he met my mom and would get into scraps now and then with other ponies, but he was good in the end. We never needed food, we always had caps, and a place to sleep. It was a good life,” he said.

“Like I said I can’t remember much about her, but Rusty was always around even before she died. He’s my family now and we’ve had a lot of good and bad memories, but mostly good,” she said with a smile.

Wingnut’s eyes went wide and he looked back at me, “I just realized Shadow! My mom, she said in that video that she was descended from Appleseed! I remember her saying something about it now, you know what that means!?”

“I realized it before you started crying kiddo, I just didn’t want to bring it up yet. You’re the same as me, descended from The Children of the Night,” my eyes went wide again, “Night Stalker said something like this would happen one day, that zebra told him about it.”

The two foals looked at me like I was nuts, Byte saying, “Did you hit your head or something? What are you talking about?”

“In a memory orb I watched when I was on The Bitter Cob, Night Stalker told my distant grandfather Dwarf Star about something he was told by an old Zebra, a way to break the curse on our families! It had something to do with one of the descendants bringing the rest of the descendants of the Children together and taking down the betrayer. Not sure how, but I mean there has to be something to it right?” I said, realizing right after I spoke how stupid it all sounded.

Byte and Wingnut both looked at me like I’d lost it, Wingnut saying, “You saw your great grandfather talking about a curse and how to break it? I don’t know Shadow, it’s probably just a coincidence. I mean there has to be a few of us out there and how would you know you had all of them together?”

“I agree with Wingnut, and curses aren’t real. I’ve read plenty of books about them by famed unicorns who all say the same thing. There’s dark and light magic, but a curse, especially one that goes on for generations is just a bunch of crap made up by zebras to scare ponies. It’s as simple as that,” Byte added.

“I don’t know guys, I mean if you look at the history of the families, a lot of bad stuff happened to them, mine included,” I said, trying to defend my own thoughts.

“Yeah, because we live in a post-apocalyptic wasteland Shadow,” Wingnut said, “I just can’t see it, not unless I had proof.”

My ears drooped followed by a sigh. “Fine, but I still think I’m right. I know my uncle and mom will agree with me too.”

“You do whatever you want, but do you think we can get to sleep? We can’t hold up here forever and a good night’s rest will make going through the city tomorrow a lot easier,” Byte said, yawning in the middle of what she was saying.

“Okay, I’ll drop it for now, let’s go see if we can find a room that’s dust and bone free,” I said, heading toward the door.

“Oh, I know how we can find a room,” Wingnut said, then opened the door and yelled, “GINGER, BARBIE, GET IN HERE!”

Ginger bobbed up and down, saying excitedly, “Yes sir, what can I do for you today, do you need a makeover too or maybe a hot bath!?”

“Bitch the master doesn’t need a makeover, I mean like, look at him, he’s already adorable and it works for him. Reminds me of master Little when he was a colt, before he turned into a dick,” Barbie said.

A gasping sound came from Ginger before she smacked the other bot with her claw arm, saying, “I say, you shouldn’t talk about master Little like that. The poor dear went through so much and he was always kind to us.”

“He like totally made us go look for mares for him even after he turned into a ghoul, he was a dick,” Barbie said, drifting closer to Wingnut, “Sorry sir, Ginger doesn’t understand how the real-world works, how can I help you.”

“We need a room to stay in for the night,” Wingnut said as Byte rolled around on the floor laughing at the insane robots.

“OH! I know the perfect place!” Ginger said before zooming away, not even waiting for us.

Luckily Barbie seemed to have a more intact mind…for a robot, she just sighed and said, “The Master Hugh G. Ponyus’s room is still clean and has a big bed that should like totally work for you and your friends. His son left it alone after his father died during the big blasts.”

She did, going slower than Ginger who we could hear making conversation with no pony down the halls. As we walked, I noticed how empty this house felt. Then I remembered the security systems. “Hey Wingnut, I know you were able to get in here with Byte, but why didn’t I get blasted when I came in?”

He looked like he was about to say something but Barbie beat him to it, “When Master Wingnut was let in at the gate he was registered as the new owner of the property since he is of the Ponyus bloodline and no other registered members of the family are alive in the mansion itself. When he was registered, he was asked if the security should stay on to protect him.”

Wingnut interrupted, “Yeah, though they didn’t tell me I was a Ponyus, but the gate asked me that question and I said sure, but if a short pony with a duster came in to let her.”

“Yes, the gate has a sophisticated security system made by Carrot Inc. It can see details of ponies coming and going. You showed up on the system and matched what Master Wingnut described and you were let in,” Barbie said, stopping next to a big set of double doors, “So, like we’re here, you may all stay in this room tonight and if you need something to eat, there might be food that’s still good in the pantry.”

Ginger was floating up and down next to the door. “And you have no idea what it’s been like stuck in this house with just Barbie, she’s such a bitch, she needs to be reprogrammed I swear.”

“I’ve been trying to figure that out for like a long time, her mind is going the poor girl,” Barbie said, then she smacked Ginger in the back of the orb like body, “Let’s go back to our room and get you shut down for a bit.”

Ginger stopped bobbing then her cameras turned toward Barbie. “Sounds like a great idea!” and with that she was gone again followed by Barbie.

“Those two are so weird,” I said before pushing the door to the large room open, my eyes going wide, “Oh yeah, this’ll do just fine.”

The room was huge with a king sized four poster bed, large windows to each side, silk sheets that I couldn’t believe were still there, a large dresser, and much more. The other two and I walked into the room closing the door behind us. All of us in awe of the bedroom.

“Okay, this dude knew how to live,” Byte said, running to jump onto the bed, her small body bouncing a few times as she giggled happily, her kitty ears flying off her head.

“Yeah, I agree. Well, should we eat, then get some rest?” Wingnut asked as he walked over to the bed.

“Sounds like a plan to me. I think I have some food in my saddle bags, and I can see if there’s any food around here,” I said, setting my bags down.

I just smiled and let them be foals, for all we knew this was the only time they’d be able to act this way ever again. So, I started my search. It didn’t take me long to find a few snack cakes, some beans in a can, some cram which I put away in my bags for Aura, and a few other things that we could use for food. We sat on the floor eating till we couldn’t anymore, talking about the past, and for once enjoying ourselves. An hour or so later we were all passed out on the large bed, Wingnut and Byte both sleeping on either side of me. I had my shotgun propped next to the bed and Dream Walker under the pillow just in case somepony got in. For the first time in a long time, I fell asleep without the help of a potion and barely had any nightmares.

The next day we packed up our stuff, roamed around the house more to see if we could find anything we could use or sell, said goodbye to the two odd robots and headed out the front door. I looked out at the city which stretched out in front of us and wondered how we’d ever make it to The Ministry. I knew two ways I could go, either we could try to get to the University that Mr. Tops told me about and use the device he gave me to get in, if he was right about the location. Otherwise, I could use mom’s way in, go to The Bank of Equestria Tower and get to the top of the building and find a Synth that looked like one of my uncles. They were the ones who were told to let me in, somehow.

The question was which uncle was I looking for and even more, why would The Ministry make a synth of either of my uncles. It was a lot to think about so I looked down at Wingnut and Byte, asking, “So, where should we go? From what I know we can either go to the University and try to get into The Ministry from there like Mr. Tops told me, or we go to The Bank of Equestria Tower and find the synth waiting there for us.”

“I think we need to go to whichever is closer,” Byte said, pulling a large map out of her saddle bags and setting it down on the ground, “Found this on some dead pony not far from here.”

I looked down at it as she ran her hoof over the map, when finally, Wingnut said, “Well there’s the University of Los Alicorn, it’s only a few blocks away from us.”

Byte spoke up next, “And the Tower is a bit farther and right in the middle of downtown. So, I think we should try Mr. Tops’ way in. It’s probably the smartest idea, plus we have no guarantee that synth will even be there.”

“You’ve got a point and with The Steel Rangers roaming around looking for the downed sky carriage, there’s a good chance we’ll have problems with them if we head into the city. Speaking of The Steel Rangers, where are they located anyway?” I asked.

“Not too sure really,” Wingnut said as he helped Byte roll up the map again, “If I were to guess I’d say they’re either north of us or west. If anything, I’d say they’re where The Palisade is hovering. So, near the Applewood Sign.”

“That would make sense,” I said, looking out and just seeing the airship in the distance hovering over the Applewood Sign, “I couldn’t see Wolfsbane leaving his ship too far out of sight.”

“Yeah, I think it’s the best idea, I just hope this thing Mr. Tops gave me will work,” I said, using the Mark II to take out what was labeled as ‘Teleporter Ministry Transport Chip’ on the screen, “He said I put this in my Pip-Buck then I have no idea what to do. But as long as you two are next to me it’ll bring you into The Ministry with me.”

“I hope that thing works, I’ve never heard of tech that can teleport before,” Wingnut said, though his eyes were big looking at the small chip held in my magical grasp.

“Guess there’s only one way to find out, and are you sure the others will be waiting for us there?” I asked.

“As long as they got away from the Steel Rangers then yeah,” Byte said, “Aura said she’d come look for us if it took longer than a day or two, but your mom said The Ministry wouldn’t let them leave as soon as they entered for a while so we’ll see I guess.”

“Great, I don’t know why she had to push me off that sky carriage,” I said with a sigh, “Well, both of you keep your weapons ready and let’s get going.”

They both grinned up at me and we were off, heading past the gates which shut on their own when we left the property. Something made a clicking sound when they did, giving me the impression that the security system was back up and running once again, protecting the old mansion from this dead city. With that we headed toward where the U.E.L.A. Should still be. As we walked the sound of gunfire still echoed in the distance, but apart from that, it was quiet. It took us about a half-hour to make our way out of the super wealthy neighborhood and start going toward the northern part of the city where the university was located. In the distance I could just make out the old beach where I’d first woken up yesterday. I saw that the whole beach looked just as dead as where I’d been. The sand was black, the rundown war machines sitting off the coast and on the beach itself, skeletons all over the place. It was a ghost beach now, a place where only the dead should wonder.

I looked away and sighed at the nasty sight of the place. It was a shame this city couldn’t be held together after the war. But, that’s just the way things go, especially when you have groups like The Steel Rangers and The Enclave keeping ponies from rebuilding. One day maybe this city could be rebuilt, once a pony or more takes care of the infestation of Steel Rangers. A pony like me. Though that was wishful thinking, I’ve done some amazing things I know, but I couldn’t stop all of them, not on my own. I was gonna need help and maybe, just maybe, if I played my cards right, I could find that help from groups like The Ministry, The N.L.R. and if I could fix The Enclave a little, maybe even them too. From what I could see, The Enclave itself wasn’t that bad, it was the leaders who were the problem. Ponies like my father were the ones who were trying to make things better and if they had the help they needed, maybe they could and in turn they can help me get rid of a monster that wore steel armor.

“Shadow, I think we’re almost there,” Byte said, pulling me from my thoughts.

I looked up and saw that we were standing in front of a large, rusty, iron archway that led to a mostly overgrown path that wound around a large yard with dead trees and stone benches and tables all around, standing in the background was a building made of stone with ‘University of Equestria: Los Alicorn Campus’ over the main doors. There were a few skeletons around and even more dead synths from what I could tell, even the helmet of an older set of power armor laying not far past the gate that led into the school. Down the way I could see more buildings, most of them either collapsed in on themselves or were in such disrepair, I knew it would be stupid to try and enter them. To my left I could see what looked like a hoofball court, a running track, and a dried-up pool. There was a sign that was mostly worn down, but I could still read a few of the words on it. dorms, science and biology labs, auditorium, student center, and the rest were so worn out I couldn’t read them.

“So, what do we do now?” Wingnut asked quietly as we looked at the once massive school.

“I’m not sure, Mr. Tops never told me what to do once I got here,” I said as he pulled out the chip again, “I don’t even know where this goes.”

“You’re hopeless,” Byte said, coming over and pulling my Mark II closer to her. She pushed on something near the bottom of it and a little slot opened up. She then took the chip from my magic and popped it into the slot. It then closed and my Pip-Buck started doing something, words flashing in my vision, “I have no idea why your mother let you have that Mark II, you’re hopeless with tech.”

I would’ve responded, but I was too distracted by the crap running through my vision to think straight. After a minute, it stopped, and a message popped up on my Mark II.

Connection to Courser T.R.D. Chip complete, signal found. Status: weak. Please move closer to signal for full connection to be made.

“Damn, what the hell does T.R.D. mean?” I asked, right as a 1.8% signal showed up in the left-hoof corner of my vision.

“Not sure, could mean something like Teleportation Relay Detection or something like that,” Wingnut said, “So is it working?”

“Said the signal is to weak and we need to get closer,” I said, slowly walking into the yard and seeing the number go up to 3.5%.

“Guess we’ll just have to wander around until we get the right signal,” Byte said, “Let’s get this over with, we have no idea how long it will be until The Steel Rangers find us.”

We kept going, and I kept my eye on the signal as we did. Once we reached the front doors, it was at only at 22.9%. So, we pushed slowly on the door and walked into the school, I made sure to keep Misery out while Byte pulled out her Gravity Gun and Wingnut took out Ol’ Festus. The entryway was mostly just dusty with a moldy smell to it. Not a single dead pony or synth in sight of the front desk or near the office doors. The place was grand though, with marble gargoyles looking down at us from the second-floor balcony, beautiful paintings on the walls and of course a shit-ton of Ministry posters lining any free space they could find. I saw some with Fluttershy on them, a bunny on her head with words like, ‘Help keep our soldiers safe, join the Ministry of Peace’ another with Twilight Sparkle her mane done up in a tight bun holding some chemicals with her magic saying, ‘Join the Ministry of Arcane Sciences today, help us find a way to fight back.’ Another with Rainbow Dash flying though the air in a ShadowBolts outfit saying ‘The leaders in the sky and protesters of the air, Join the Ministry of Awesome, because that’s what we are, awesome.’ I noticed more but stopped reading after seeing Rainbow Dash’s, knowing what kind of stuff her Ministry really did behind the scenes. Then something caught my eye or rather the lack of something did.

“I see five of the six ministries here, why isn’t there any for The Ministry of Image?” I asked.

Wingnut shrugged, “From what I heard there isn’t much for them. Rarity was the one who made all the posters for the other Ministries and was in charge of confiscation of dangerous reading material during the war. She had probably the smallest Ministry out of them all and trusted very few with the work she was doing. So, when she recruited, it was normally from the other five not from the public. Because of that, no spy ever made it into her ministry which is a good thing most think. Some of the books she banned and took would’ve had a lot of information that would’ve helped the zebras.”

“You know I heard she had something to do with making those statuette thing’s Shadow keeps finding,” Byte said.

“I’ve heard that too, but never seen any proof,” Wingnut said as we pushed past the desks and headed toward the hallways that would take us toward the back area of the first level.

“I guess, Image had a lot of things going on though,” I said as I saw the signal reach 69%. Nice. Wait, dammit, now it’s 71.6%, that joke was too fast.

“Not that I know of, just had her hooves full with helping her friends and the country. She still found time to see them when she could though,” Wingnut said, “My mom used to love talking about the Ministry Mares, she idolized Applejack, said she was a strong and brave pony.”

“She had to be running the M.W.T.,” Byte said, “I mean hell, The Steel Rangers were started by her.”

“No, not the way you’re thinking at least. They were a different group back then, part of the army but also part of the M.W.T., kinda like the Children of the Night, only the public knew about them. She started the Steel Armor project to protect ponies from being killed like her brother Big Mac was. It was a turning point in the war too,” Byte said, right as we reached the back of the building looking at a door that led into large office with the word ‘Dean Woodstock’ on it. The signal was only at 75.2%.

The memory of Big Mac’s death in Night Stalkers memory orb hit me then. Big Mac had died trying to protect the princess. A Sniper shot from the cliffs, a zebra taking down a kind soul without even caring about the pony. I remembered Night Stalker flying up to those cliffs, but he never found the zebra in question, just a mare in a dark uniform taking out zebra after zebra with deadly skill. I wonder how a zebra was able to get a shot like that off with such a skilled sniper so close by. Strange.

“I guess I can understand why she’d do that, it had to be hard to lose her older brother,” I said, walking into the office a few feet then stopping as the signal dropped to 68.9%, “Huh? What the hell?” I turned and walked back out watching the signal go back up to 75.2%.

“The signal went down when I walked into the office,” I said, turning down the hall and heading another way, but the signal dropped again, 65.2% then to 55.9%. I walked back to them. “Something has to be wrong with this thing, the signal only goes up to 75.2%.”

Wingnut looked up at the ceiling. “Maybe we’re in the right spot but not on the right floor.”

“The question is, do we go up or down?” Byte said, “Is there a basement here?”

“No not really,” she said then started looking around, “I don’t see any stairs around here, let’s go back to the front and use those and head up, if the signal goes down again once we reach this point we’ll know we need to look for a basement.”

“Works for me,” I said, following her as she led us back down the hall toward the entrance. It didn’t take much time, this building was utterly abandoned. I expected to at least run into ghouls in here or something, but nothing was here. Oddly enough apart from The Steel Rangers and a coupe of synths, I haven’t seen any ghouls, raiders, fiends, bandits, or just troublesome ponies at all.

We reached the stairs in the front and took them to the second floor and started back toward the area we’d been in before. But when we got closer the single only reached 45.6%. We headed back again and Byte wanted to check one more level just to be sure but again the signal just kept going down it only reached 37.0% this time. I cursed as we turned again and started heading back.

“While were up here can we at least do some looting? Who knows when we’ll get the chance again and we need to start doing it more,” Wingnut said.

“You know, that’s a good point. I’m always so busy either running away from monsters or going crazy that I don’t really look around much when I’m in places,” I said, turning toward one of the office doors and opening it, “We should be quick though, we still need to find the others.”

“Says the pony who doesn’t carry a real gun,” I said, sticking my tongue out at her.

“It is to a real gun, and it’s better than that Dream Walker one you have!” she yelled as I walked into the room.

We spent the next twenty minutes or so going through the top two floors, mostly finding junk but we did find a little ammo, some caps weirdly enough in a safe that I had to unlock for Wingnut, TEN sparkle colas, a bag of pre-war bits, a love letter to some pony named Bon Bon from a Lyra, and a memory orb. I took that right away, hoping it would be a normal memory and not a Child of the Night memory for once. We finished in the Dean’s office, his safe was a little harder to crack, but my hacking and lockpicking skills were very good by now, and I had to do both to get in. The safe was a safe within a safe. The first one opened from his terminal the second needed a key. When I opened it however I only found two things. A note and a bag of…caps?

“Why would a pony from before the war hide caps in his office safe?” I asked, looking over at the skeleton missing a chunk of the top of its skull, a revolver laying next to his hoof on the desk, and a nasty stain on the wall. Must have blown his brains out when the megaspells went off.

“Maybe he was just crazy?” Byte said, looking inside the bag as I read the note.

I have spent the past five years hunting down these special bottle caps. I wanted to be the one who found them all and won the prize, sadly I’m short a few still and the war has turned. Los Alicorn will not last long with the invasion force the zebras have put together. So, I sadly leave my hunt to whoever survives this and wants to see what that factory in Las Pegasus is hiding. Good luck to you and may your hunt go better than my own.

I looked down and saw it was full of Blue Star Bottle Caps from Sunrise Sarsaparilla. I took the bag and almost screamed in delight, Aura was going to lose her mind at this. I placed them into my bag, saying, “I can’t wait to show Aura, she’s gonna love this.”

I looked down at my Mark II and my eyes went wide. “There’s forty-four! With Aura’s Six we have all fifty we need to see what’s in the factory!”

“Well, that’ll give us something else to look forward to when we see our friends again,” Byte said with a grin, “I just hope it’s not some crap like jackets and stuff with Sunrise Sarsaparilla logos on it.”

“Even if it is, at least it’ll be something no pony else has ever done,” I said with a smile going from ear to ear. Aura was gonna be so excited when I showed her this. Now I just had to survive The Ministry, Los Alicorn, maybe The Steel Rangers, and getting Aquila out of my body.

“Well this room’s done. Should we see if we can find the stairs that go down to the basement?” Wingnut asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, I think we’ve spent enough time here and honestly I want to get this over with. I think Aquila senses something’s going on, I can feel her waking up slowly in my mind,” I said. Which was true, for the past few hours it felt like she was starting to come closer to my mind, getting back into the place she normally sat. Since I woke up in Hoofington, I barely felt her, like she’d been hurt before I took over. It was kinda nice for a change, but now her strength was growing again, and I knew that soon she’d be back to her old self.

“How long do you think it’ll take before she’s back to her old strength?” Byte asked, her eyes showing a little fear.

“Maybe a few hours, a day at most. It’s hard to tell with her, she’s good at hiding herself from me when she wants to. I know she’s been waking for a while now, she did fire a new spell into my brain when we fought The Steel Rangers, but not much more than that,” I said as we headed out of the office, “For now let’s not worry about her, we’ll keep all talk about Aquila to ourselves, it’s the best way of hiding what’s going on. I still don’t know what the plan is.”

“And it’s staying that way, for all you know this whole waking up in Los Alicorn is a trick,” Byte said as she turned down the hall to check for stairs.

“Hmmm, that’s true, I really don’t know anything for once. I kinda like it, now that I think about it,” I said before Wingnut went to check the other hall before we left the area.

I waited for Byte to catch up then we both headed toward the colt who was standing next to a plain looking door with ‘Basement Storage’ on it. I turned the knob, but of course, it was locked. “Would it kill The Goddesses to give me one unlocked door!?”

“Haha, you’re so funny Cookie Byte,” I mocked as I pulled out my bobby pins and trusty screwdriver. The lock was pathetic, it took me less that three seconds to get the lock turned and to push open the door. “Well that was just sad.”

“Hey at least it’s less time spent on a good lock,” Byte said as she tried to go down first.

“No I don’t think so, I’m the adult here, I’ll go first,” I said, pushing her back with my magic and pulling out Misery again.

“Hey, I got a year on you, so I’m the oldest. So bite me Byte,” I said, but smiled right after.

Wingnut just laughed as we headed down the dark stairs. Byte and I turned on our Pip-Lights, letting the soft glow cut through the darkness. It wasn’t a long walk down the stairs and only another minute or so to find that we were in a large storage area. There were rows of science stuff, beakers and gems. and a few other odds and ends. There were also lots of old books, some hoofball equipment, a cot…why a cot? Anyway, a cot and not much else. But the Signal was now sitting at 92.5%.

“Looks like we’re almost there, let’s move further into this room,” I said, leading the foals down one of the rows. I was watching the signal go up and in at the end of the row I could see a larger open area. 98.7%, 99.1%, 99.9%. Almost there, then something flew down the hall at me screaming, a feral growl. It was a fucking Ghoul! I screamed and brought Misery up and the damn thing’s head met my sword with a squelching crunch, blackish blood spraying onto the blade and my face.

“What the fuck!” I yelled, pulling Misery out of the now dead ghoul, the blood dripping off the sword like nothing, my face on the other hoof, yeah fuck ghouls.

“Apart from now smelling like a dead body, I’m fine. Either of you have a rag?” I reipied.

“Probably locked himself inside then turned into a ghoul when the radiation was still high in Los Alicorn, stayed down here and went feral,” Byte said as I cleaned my face off…or tried to at least. I need a bath…I needed one like three days ago.

“Well now that we have our jump scare out of the way, let’s be on the look out for more, but I think we’re almost there,” I said stepping over the ghoul but looking down at his name tag on the jumpsuit he was wearing, “And as for you Mop Bucket, fuck you.”

Wingnut and Byte wisely decided not to make fun of the moment of me almost having a heart attack and we moved on. Luckily, he seemed to be the only one here. That was until I turned my Pip-Light to see another ghoul standing casually next to me.

What? Did he seriously just say ‘wait’ that casually? I stopped my attack and said, “Who the hell are you?”

He sniffed and scratched his mustachioed face with a hoof, “Scruffy, the custodian.”

“Wait a sec, you know this place is pretty much destroyed by the event of the war right?” Byte asked.

He cleared his throat and said, “Well, I reckon there’s nothin’ better to do. Been down here for quite a few years now, keepin’ the books and whatnot tidy. Mop Bucket started slackin’ off a couple years back, poor bastard didn’t even see your sword comin’.”

“It’s alright, he was gettin’ on Scruffy’s nerves anyway. Figure I’ll clean him up in a bit,” he said, still sounding casual like it’s any other work day at the University.

He lifted his hoof and looked at a broken watch, then cleared his throat, and said, “Scruffy’s on break.”

He smiled, “Scruffy’s gonna enjoy every last minute. Anyway, ya’ll come back again sometime, Scruffy’s good at poker.”

A moment later we reached the large open space and the signal reached 100%. So, I stopped right in the middle of the spot.

I looked at my Pip-Buck and saw an icon had come up saying ‘Enter Ministry?’ I grinned, “Both of you get next to me, this thing only goes out about a meter or two, I don’t want you two left behind,” once they did as I asked, I clicked ‘Yes’ On my Mark II. Something started to come out of my Pip-Buck, like small electrical sparks that moved out in a dome around us. Wingnut and Byte both looked at it with wide eyes in awe as the white energy started to swirl around us. Then I felt something happening. It was like small needles were being pushed into my skin. A lot like when a limb is just waking up after falling asleep. But only it hurt a lot more than that.

Before I could say anything however, the energy shot back toward us and the room we were in vanished in a flash of pain and bright white light. It only lasted about five seconds before all three of us were slammed into the ground on a dark grey metal floor. I winced then got back to my hooves looking around, trying to ignore the pain. My eyes went wide as I saw we were in a small domed area with huge electrical pillars around us and a single open space that led toward a desk with a terminal on it and a glass shaft going from floor to ceiling.

“I never want to do that again,” Byte said, getting up, her main standing up a little.

“I agree,” I said, then started heading toward the terminal. I remembered another thing I was told to do by Mr. Tops when I got here and I knew that once The Ministry found we were here, they wouldn’t give me another chance. So, knowing the two foals would catch up, I ran over to it. I was just about to start logging into the terminal when a feminine voice echoed around the room. It was light yet sounded older, but also rich and powerful like you’d expect from somepony who held a lot of power and knew it.

“Hello Shadow Star, Wingnut, and Cookie Byte. We’ve been waiting for you for a long time. I’m glad you’ve made it here safe, even if you did come through our emergency exit,” The mare said over some hidden speaker system.

“You’ll find out in due time Shadow Star, for now, Welcome to The Ministry and for now you may call me Director.”

[FOOTNOTE: LEVEL UP!]

NEW PERK ADDED!

Shadow Walker: You’ve proven quite the little sneak around the city avoiding enemies. The shadows being your friend throughout. While sneaking, you are 20% less likely to be detected while in the cover of shadows.

Fallout Equestria: Falling Shadows

by Drako Moon

Chapter 63: Ghost Beach