//------------------------------// // The Power Crystal // Story: My Little Strife: The Sigil Is Magic // by Ichtudirweh //------------------------------// "Pinkie! Oh thank gosh your alright! We were so worried that we would never see you again!" Dash's eyes widen once the two of you materialize inside headquarters. The two ponies run to each other with open hooves. They both wrap their arms around each other, and hugged like they haven't seen each other in years. The reunion was uplifting for everyone who witnessed it. After they were done, Dash dismisses Pinkie to get some extra rest. She then turns over to you, with another special assignment to carry out. "Greetings! Great job on your mission by the way. The prisoners are now free thanks to you. Here's some bits. Go visit Fluttershy and Applejack for training and a stamina implant. Afterwards, get some rest. I have higher goals for you." "I most certainly will. So, what's the next assignment?" You ask Dash with your hand/hoof under your chin. A stamina implant huh? "We've received intel that a single power crystal runs the grid for the Order's shields. If you demolish that crystal, you will punch huge holes inside the Order's defenses. Blackbird will lead you to Rarity, whom she has a way inside the facilities. Good luck bold hero. Whatever you do, don't get killed in the line of duty. Your proving to be more valuable to the Front....and especially to me." She boasts with high confidence. A) Read this if you developed a pre-existing relationship with Dash. B) Continue on with your assignment. Visit Fluttershy and Applejack for new training and upgrades. A) While she peeks around to make sure no one was looking, you receive yet another moment of affection before carrying out your mission. You kiss Rainbow Dash for a brief minute. After she withdraws her lips, she whispers a few plans in your ear. "Hey, once we crush the Order together, let's start thinking about each other...." She was interrupted by a rebel assistant by tapping her on the shoulder. She removes her forehooves from around you, and receives an electronic clipboard. She overlooks the clipboard, and starts to chat with the human. As you walk out of the headquarters, you receive a wink from her. You travel down the staircase to the medical room, where Fluttershy awaits you with a stamina implant. B) "Alright, wish me the best of luck." You tell Dash with a sigh of relief. She acknowledges your request, and salutes you with her right front hoof to move out. You walk out of headquarters, where you almost make a head on collision with Pinkie Pie. She was eagerly waiting for your dismissal. It almost gave you a heart attack. "Hey there silly! Just wanted to thank you for saving my pink flank! We should chill together once our assignments are finished! Teehee! Well, guess I'll be on my way! Oh yeah! I almost forgot one more thing....." A) Read this if you developed a pre-existing relationship with Pinkie. B) Expect something totally out of the blue from her. A) Pinkie leaps onto you with force with her forehooves, and agressivly kisses you with pure joy. It throws you off balance while you land on your back. You support the back of Pinkie's head and return the affection to her. She giggles from your startled but pleased expression. "Once these party pooper troopers disappear, I wanna throw a private party just between me and you! What do you think?" Before you can return an answer to her, a rebel walks over to the scene. "Uh, hey. I heard alot of commotion coming from here. Did you two fall or something? You need help?" The rebel asks while scratching his head. "Aw no, we're fine! I was just helping him off the floor! Here ya go! Next time be a little bit more careful silly!" Pinkie springs upwards, and offers her hoof to you. You grab it and pull yourself from the floor. The rebel shrugs from the entire commotion, and walks back to stand on guard at his post. Pinkie Pie bounces away into another room. Geeze, what a random girl. You travel down the staircase from the walkway, into Fluttershy's medical room. B) Pinkie pounces playfully on you, and holds you up against a wall. This causes you to swing your arms into the air in shock. She burrows her muzzle into your chest and hugs you tightly. A rebel looks overheard the commotion, and starts to laugh to himself from your embarrassed expression. Pinkie smiles back to the rebel, and she moves her pink silhouette away from you. She giggles to herself and bounces into another room inside the base. You scratch your head while trying to comprehend what happened, and later dismiss the event by shrugging to yourself. It's just her playful and upbeat nature. You travel down the staircase from the walkway, into Fluttershy's medical room. . "Oh goodness! You made it back!" Fluttershy's wings sprout outwards, and her eyes widen with delight. She rushes over to you with a incomming hug. You hug her in return. "I was so worried that you wouldn't make it out of that nasty prison alive. Thank you for saving my best friend Pinkie Pie!" She squees cheerfully. Angel taps his foot impatiently while glaring at her. Her excited persona transcends into her usual shy humbleness. "Oh wait, I shouldn't say that out loud in case Angel gets offended. Um, It's great to see you again. I've been working on a little side project since you were gone. Rainbow Dash might have informed you about a stamina implant? I also have something else to tell you....." A) Read this if you developed a pre-existing relationship with Fluttershy. B) Find out what Fluttershy has been working on since your departure. A) "What is it Flutters?" You ask her for her own concern. "Well...I've been thinking about you lately. I'm.....just so worried that I might never see you again. Oh I can't bare it! Please! Just stay with me. I dont want to be so alone down here. Work with me inside the rebel base, where I know your safe from harm. Rainbow Dash will understand. I toss and turn every night in bed, thinking that something horrible might happen to you. I'm treating the wounds of so many patients; They tell me their frightening stories about the Order....and....and....I think I'm in love with you...." She starts to tear up and whimper. You hush Fluttershy, while brushing her mane to reveal her mountain meadow eyes. You draw her trembling figure closer to yours, to move in forward for a soothing kiss. Your lips make contact with hers. She calms for a brief moment, and wraps her hooves around your frame. Her trembling ceases, while she looks up to your eyes with calm affection. Fluttershy emits a sigh of relief, and she rests her head on your chest in confort. "I love you, Fluttershy. I will make sure absolutely nothing will happen to me while I'm gone. Once the Order is defeated sweetheart, we can start to think about our future together. We have duties to perform and tasks to achieve in the meantime. The world needs our help right now. I promise I'll return to you immediately...." You confort her by rubbing your hand/hoof over her shoulder. She smiles pleasantly, and slowly returns to a normal stature. "Thank you for relieving my worries. Well, I'm working on something that will give us an edge over these monsters. It's a cybernetic Implant that will bolster your stamina. Increasing the pain threshold you can withstand, Sweetie. Um....I would like to tell you more, if that's alright with you...." She bows her head in shy submission. "Sure, go right ahead sweetheart." "I've ironed out all the bugs, and tested the implants on a few volunteer animals just to be safe. You know it will be safe if it works on my critters friends! Angel can now lift up to 50 pounds with his stamina implant! Why don't you show him Angel?" Angel puffs up his chest, and sprints over to an empty oxygen canister. While hyperventilating to himself, he lifts the object over his head with a confident squeak. Fluttershy claps her front hooves in delightful satisfaction. "Dash wants you to be the first human/stallion to receive it, so it would lead the way towards all troops augmented in this fashion....Don't worry, I've programmed the machine to be extra gentle, and you wont feel a thing...." She squees due to her work. "I trust you with my life, Fluttershy. I'll take the implant." You tell her. "Yay...Well, if you could just follow me this way Sweetie." She moves the front counter inside the medical room, and leads you over to a operation table with peculiar dried bloodstains. You gulp to yourself over the sight. Fluttershy trots to a computer terminal and types various input commands into the machine. Afterwards, She trots over to you and asks if she can remove your belongings. After handing your equipment over to her, she places your belongings underneath the table and leaves the room afterwards. The assertive nurse wheels in a gas canister full of anesthesia over to the operation table, and holds a pillow with her mouth while doing so. She rests the pillow at the head of the operation table, and implores you to lay on the table as comfortably as you can. "I promise nothing will go wrong...It will be over in a flash." She tells you with soothing confidence. She releases the value of the canister, and holds a respiration mask over your face/snout. You drift off into darkness, and moments later you regain consciousness on a hospital bed. You wake up with a surgical lining across your chest, due to where the robot made the incision and placed the sutures. An overwhelming feeling of healthiness is suddenly present. It was hard to describe in words, but the feeling was virile and stimulating. You also noticed that you muscles were more defined and bulkier from before. Fluttershy smiles pleasantly as you awakened, with positive results from the surgery. "Your my first successful patient! Let's see, no signs of tissue rejection, vital signs are good, heart levels are normal....Excellent! Please report to Applejack once you feel ready to move again. She wants to show you a few tricks at the range. Well, good luck with your mission. Please return to me safely Sweetie...." She whispers with uncertainty. You kiss her, and recollect all of your belongings from the floor. You leave the medical room, and stumble into the small arms room where Applejack eagerly awaits you. B) "Hmmm?" You incline your right eyebrow up in curiosity. "Well....Um.....Never mind. Since you were gone, I have been working on a little side project on my own. I also see that you have bloodstains on your tunic. Are you injured anywhere?" She questions while examining your figure. The blood from Rover, Spot, and Fido made quite a mess. "I'm fine, thanks. So, tell me more about this side project." "Well, I'm working on something that will give us an edge over these monsters. It's a cybernetic Implant that will bolster your stamina. Increasing the pain threshold you can withstand. Um....I would like to tell you more, if that's alright with you...." She bows her head in shy submission.. "Sure, go ahead." You tell her in return. "I've ironed out all the bugs, and tested the implants on a few volunteer animals just to be safe. You know it will be safe if it works on my critters friends! Angel can now lift up to 50 pounds with his stamina implant! Why don't you show him Angel?" Angel puffs up his chest, and sprints over to an empty oxygen canister. While hyperventilating to himself, he lifts the object over his head with a confident squeak. Fluttershy claps her front hooves in delightful satisfaction. "Dash wants you to be the first human/stallion to receive it, so it would lead the way towards all troops augmented in this fashion....Don't worry, I've programmed the machine to be extra gentle, and you wont feel a thing...." She squees due to her work. "I'm not overly thrilled to participate as a guinea pig, but I trust you with all your capability, Fluttershy. Give me the implant." You emit with uncertainty. "Yay...Well, if you could just follow me this way Sweetie." She moves the front counter inside the medical room, and leads you over to a operation table with peculiar dried bloodstains. You gulp to yourself over the sight. Fluttershy trots to a computer terminal and types various input commands into the machine. Afterwards, She trots over to you and asks if she can remove your belongings. After handing your equipment over to her, she places your belongings underneath the table and leaves the room afterwards. The assertive nurse wheels in a gas canister full of anesthesia over to the operation table, and holds a pillow with her mouth while doing so. She rests the pillow at the head of the operation table, and implores you to lay on the table as comfortably as you can. "I promise nothing will go wrong...It will be over in a flash." She tells you with soothing confidence. She releases the value of the canister, and holds a respiration mask over your face/snout. You drift off into darkness, and moments later you regain consciousness on a hospital bed. You wake up with a surgical lining across your chest, due to where the robot made the incision and placed the sutures. An overwhelming feeling of healthiness is suddenly present. It was hard to describe in words, but the feeling was virile and stimulating. You also noticed that you muscles were more defined and bulkier from before. Fluttershy smiles pleasantly as you awakened, with positive results from the surgery. "Your my first successful patient! Let's see, no signs of tissue rejection, vital signs are good, heart levels are normal....Excellent! Please report to Applejack once you feel ready to move again. She wants to show you a few tricks at the range. Well, good luck with your mission. Please return to the base safely...." She sighs with uncertainty. You hug her, and recollect all of your belongings from the floor. You leave the medical room, and stumble into the small arms room where Applejack eagerly awaits you. Applejack was in the middle of a presentation, to present the operation for custom assault rifles built for ponies. She displays how to work the bolt of the rifle, how to squeeze the trigger, and how to engage threats at a long distance. She looks up from the counter, and spots you entering the small arms room. A) Read this if you developed a pre-existing relationship with Applejack. B) See what the southern mare had in stock for you. Learn some trainin' Partner. A) "Well lookit' we have here! It's great to see you again Sugarcube!" Applejack shouts in front of everypony inside the room. It startled the fresh recruits from their focus on her assault rifle. She gallops over the counter with enthusiasm, and almost knocks you over with a deep kiss. You return the affection while gripping her tightly to your frame. Her eyes start to water afterwards. She looks up with a sensation of worry for your own being. "Ah don' know what's gotten into Dash lately, sending you out to do t'ese dangerous missions and all. It just ain't right partner. Ah'm just worried about what could happen to ya out there when yer gone. Only ones I got left are mah big brother....little sis'....and you....Ah got nothin' left after that. 'Cuse me Sugarcube, don't mind me..." Applejack starts to sniffle to herself, and silently sobs into your shoulder. You remove her hat and stroke her golden mane in comfort. You peer down to her, and gently brush some tears away from her emerald eyes. "Applejack, your a strong southern mare. A single girl operating Sweet Apple Acres with the help of a few close relatives. You were doing this way before the Order's influence started to escalate across Equestria. Listen, after this cult is eradicated, we'll rebuild the farm and the entire plantation. We can start thinking about the future of Sweet Apple Acres once our lives are accustomed to normal. First, we need to focus our efforts in defeating this vile organization together. How does that sound sweetheart?" Applejack slowly peers up from your shoulder, making direct contact with your eyes once more. "That sounds mighty fine partner.....Let's get revenge on t'ese evil sons of bitches together. Yer a great leader to me and ah excellent role model for the Apple family. Ah always knew somethin' was special 'bout you, the first time we've exchanged glances." Applejack blushes up to you. "I've felt the same thing when I've first met you. Now, Rainbow Dash sent me down here for you to demonstrate a few tricks on small arms." You tell her, while exchanging a smile. "She sure did partner. You already know ah'm not technical savy. Ah'm a 'hooves on' teacher, so grab a few spare mags and follow me to the range. Once your done with me, you'll be pickin' off them Acolytes from beyond yonder." She grabs her own custom assault rifle from behind the counter, and passes over to you a few preloaded magazines. She instructs Applebloom to continue on with the presentation. You place the magazines inside your backpack, and follow the orange mare to the firing range. She presses on an electronic switch from the wall behind you. Two sound barriers close in from each side. She shows you how to control your breathing to a further extent, how to run and fire on the move, and shows you how to use bullet drop to your advantage when shooting at longer ranges. While correcting your sight alignment when firing prone, she feels your masculine figure while correcting your grip on the assault rifle. Applejack blushes unintentionally from the encounter. After the instruction and long training seminar, she wraps her forehooves around your masculine frame and kisses you for a brief moment. "Ah wish you the best of luck Sugarcube. Please, Ah ask you only one thing. Return to the Apple family and me in one piece? Ah love you partner, and ah couldn't bare it if somethin' were to happen to you out there." She hugs you before you leave the arms training room. "I will Applejack, and I love you in return. Your my incentive for stayling alive. I promise I'll return to you without hesitation after this nightmare is all over...." You walk out of the room, where Applejack trots to Applebloom to resume her presentation to the Stallions. You hustle out of the secluded rebel base, and venture into Ponyville's streets once again. You jog over to the front gates of the Power Station inside of town, while grasping the same pass that you recieved from Mayor Mare. The same red uniformed Acolyte guard from a guard post exchanges a cold stare, just as you swipe the electronic keycard in the slot of the thick barred door. B) "Why howdy Partner! It' great to see you alive and swell." Applejack shouts in front of everypony inside the room. It startled the fresh recruits from their focus on her assault rifle. She swings herself over the counter, and trots over to you with a hug. You return the favor and hug her back. She draws herself away from your arms, with a question about your arrival. "So what brings ya'll in here today?" She asks in a strong southern accent. "Rainbow Dash sent me down here for you to demonstrate a few tricks on small arms." You tell her, while exchanging a smile. "She sure did partner. You already know ah'm not technical savy. Ah'm a 'hooves on' teacher, so grab a few spare mags and follow me to the range. Once your done with me, you'll be pickin' off them Acolytes from beyond yonder." She grabs her own custom assault rifle from behind the counter, and passes over to you a few preloaded magazines. She instructs Applebloom to continue on with the presentation. You place the magazines inside your backpack, and follow the orange mare to the firing range. She presses on an electronic switch from the wall behind you. Two sound barriers close in from each side. She shows you how to control your breathing to a further extent, how to run and fire on the move, and shows you how to use bullet drop to your advantage when shooting at longer ranges. After bringing some Acolyte cut out targets back down from the range, her eyes widen from the results and comments on your improvement. "Dang Partner, Ah wouldn't want to be on the recievin' end on that thing. Well, I sincerely wish ya the best of luck Sugarcube. Why don't ya'll stop in some time, when ah get the chance to learn a few more licks with the Order's weaponry? Ah surely enjoy the company." She asks you just before you leave to carry out your mission. "I certaintly will. Your an outstanding teacher Applejack, and I'll swing by again after this mission." You tell her just before you leave the arms training room. "Aw shucks. Teachin' ain't my profession Sugarcube, but thanks anyhow. Stay safe out there partner." She hugs you before going back to her presentation You hustle out of the secluded rebel base, and venture into Ponyville's streets once again. You jog over to the front gates of the Power Station inside of town, while grasping the same pass that you recieved from Mayor Mare. The same red uniformed Acolyte guard from a guard post exchanges a cold stare, just as you swipe the electronic keycard in the slot of the thick barred door. The barred metallic door slams behind you as you entered the facilities. An incoming transmission from Blackmare abruptly halts your progress. "Remember, kill with stealth. You won't set off any alarms by doing so." Point taken. Now it was time to locate and gain intel from Rarity. You wondered how she was coping with the destruction, after the Order decimated most of Canterlot and made it virtually impossible to shop anywhere. You jog down the long hallway to meet the same elevated platform that descended downward. After you step off from the platfrom, you venture foward into the same hallway with two parallel signs at opposite ends. To the left of the hallway, a sign labeled 'reactor core' with a electronic lock made it clear that you required a keycard to enter. To the right of the hallway, read the same 'warehouse' sign. Rarity must be located in that sector somewhere. However, in the back of your mind, you were reminded that she hated doing laborious work in excuse for her feminism. So you best bet was to search the lower floors of the warehouse again. Acolytes guard were fortified in key positions around you, as you look around for some kind of entry point to get into the warehouse. Thankfully they didn't recognized who committed the murder (that's only if you chosen that route with Mayor Mare). You pass into the foreman's office. He was too busy focusing on an electronic clipboard for stock inventory. You sneak around the Acolyte foreman, and press an electronic switch on the wall. It raises a series of bars for access to the warehouse below. A stack of crates laid nearby a assembly line of busy workers. You grab a crate, and pretend you were picking an order for shipping. As you scurry around on the lower floor, you spot a white mare filing her hooves in the shadows. While she blows the filing dust from her hooves, she looks up slow to spot you. She signals for you to meet her behind an enclosure of shipping containers. A) Read this if you have developed a relationship with Rarity. B) Gather intel from the elegant mare. See what kind of splendid news she'd offer to you. A) "Darling! It's an absolute delight to see you again! I was in upmost distress, ever since the Order hauled you away for that dreadful mining camp. I'm simply relieved to hear the news on behalf of your well being. I knew my knight in shining armor would return for his elegant lady....." Rarity was interrupted by an Acolyte overseer, who was on patrol with a stun rod. She forces you to take cover right besides her. The overseerer scans the area from the commotion, but fails to locate you or Rarity. The Acolyte returns to his guard post to stand motionless. As you peer from the shadows to make sure the coast was clear, Rarity uses her magic and levitates you closer to her. She wraps her front hooves around your shoulders, and makes contact with your lips, to give you long lost affection ever since your departure. You return her affection by wrapping your hands/hooves around her silk white frame. Rarity begins to speak, with she cuddles her head onto your chest, while she looks up to you with unconditional affection. "Darling, let us make it an upmost priority to go on a romantic dinner after the Order is cleansed. I know a fabulous restaurant in Canterlot, where all of my high class ponies friends savor the food. I will choose my most beautiful dress for the occasion." She speaks to you in a dreamy demenor. Was she aware that most of Canterlot lied in ruins? You went along with it, for her own fantasies and her own sakes. "First, we have assignments that we must conduct. I have a way to get you into the power station. However, it's on the risky side." She whispers in concern. "Rarity, I'd be willing to risk anything for such a unique mare such as yourself. Tell me, where do I begin?" You ask her. She soaks up your classy flirtation, while briefing you with further instruction. "Oh, how charming Darling. Anyways, I managed to retrieve an I.D. from some hapless stallion who stumbled into the reactor's coolant pit. The sight was rather unpleasant, but a lady's has to do what she's has to do. Besides, I don't mind getting dirty, only in a time of desperation." Rarity grins to you. "So what happens when I finally get in?" You ask her. "Just inform them that your the replacement worker for the unfortunate stallion. They won't question your status, since the Order has a habit to ignore minor details. It's simple, but a marvelous plan that simply has to work. Oh, you might want to check out the storage room just above us." Rarity informs you. "Alright sweetheart. I'll be on my way then. Oh and by the way, before I leave....." 1) Read this dialog if you've assassinated Rover. 2) Read this, If you spot something on the floor nearby Rover's post. 1) "Rover was in the black market for selling children to the Order. It's certainly a cruel act, but I made sure that came to a end. However, he tried to bribe me with something that might be of your interest. Here, I think you should have this. You deserve it out of anypony that is ever so special to me." You pull out the satchel of gems, that Rover offered before you ceased his existence. Rarity's sapphire eyes glimmered with delight. Her breathe was taken away by your offering. She whinny's in a silent expression to not alert any of the guards. While expressing another moment of deep affection towards you, she removes herself with a love stricken expression in her eyes. "Darl...Darling! You shouldn't have! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This generous offering has deepen my love for you to the greatest of upmost degree. I shall arrange personal events with you, after our romantic dinner together. Please darling, return to me safely and out of harms way. It would be a atrocity if our future together is ruined." Rarity trembles with overwhelming joy, while she examines the gems. "I will sweetheart. Your my one and only damsel in distress. This knight in shining armor will return to you safely. I have to go now, sweetheart. Our inseparable love will impel me to crush the Order once and for all." You return to her with a grin. She kisses you for a final time before your departure. You take the badge from her, and continue out of the warehouse. 2) "I think I see something on the ground." You point with your finger/hoove over to a small satchel, hidden in plain sight from the workers. You trot over to the small bag and open it, and quickly reclose the bag after realizing what it was. She gazes in curiosity, before you offer the bag to her with a little touching speech. "Look what I found for you, sweetheart. Our luck together is beyond normal comprehension. I never contained this amount of good fortune with anypony else. Here, I think you should have this. You deserve it out of anypony that is ever so special to me." You offer the bag to her. She opens the bag to look inside, and nearly faints to the ground. She looks up to you with an ear to ear grin. You were surprised that she missed the bag. After all, her destiny was to find gems. "Darl...Darling! You shouldn't have! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This generous offering has deepen my love for you to the greatest of upmost degree. I shall arrange personal events with you, after our romantic dinner together. Please darling, return to me safely and out of harms way. It would be a atrocity if our future together is ruined." Rarity trembles with overwhelming joy, while she examines the gems. "I will sweetheart. Your my one and only damsel in distress. This knight in shining armor will return to you safely. I have to go now, sweetheart. Our inseparable love will impel me to crush the Order once and for all." You return to her with a grin. She kisses you for a final time before your departure. You take the badge from her, and continue out of the warehouse. B) "Darling! I was in upmost distress, ever since the Order hauled you away for that dreadful mining camp. I'm simply relieved to hear the news on behalf of your well being. You see, I was expecting....." Rarity was suddenly interrupted by an Acolyte overseer who was on patrol. She forces you to take cover right besides her. The overseerer scans the area from the commotion, but fails to locate you or Rarity. The Acolyte returns to his guard post to stand motionless. As you peer from the shadows to make sure the coast was clear, Rarity taps your shoulder with her fore hoof. Rarity proceeds to speaks to you quietly. She informs you with further information on breaching the power control station. "Darling, I've scanned the entire building layout for reconnaissance purposes. I have a way to get you into the power station, but it's on the risky side." She whispers in concern. "It seems like I don't have much of a choice in this situation. Where do I begin?" You ask her. She briefs you with further instruction. "Right. I managed to retrieve an I.D. from some hapless stallion who stumbled into the reactor's coolant pit. The sight was rather unpleasant, but a lady's has to do what she's has to do. Besides, I don't mind getting dirty, only in a time of desperation." Rarity grins to you. "So what happens when I finally get in?" You ask her. "Just inform them that your the replacement worker for the unfortunate stallion. They won't question your status, since the Order has a habit to ignore minor details. It's simple, but a marvelous plan that simply has to work. Oh, you might want to check out the storage room just above us." Rarity informs you. "Thanks Rarity. Maybe we can go to the spa with your friends after this mess?" You suggested to her. "That sounds marvelous darling. It will certaintly relieve some stress." She agrees. You hug her before you depart. She hands over the badge before you step out of the shadows. You retrace your pathway inside the warehouse, before making it to the left hallway. You travel up to the opposite end of the hallway, where the keycard port emits a red light. Another red uniformed Acolyte calls you over to a guard post. It halted your progress. "Stop. Show me your ID badge." You show him the badge without hesitation. The Acolyte reacts to the ID badge with little surprise. "Oh. Ok. Sure, go ahead. Have a nice day." The Acolyte bellows with somewhat emotion. You return back to the the keycard activated door. You swipe your badge through the terminal, and the terminal light emits a green color. The front entryway to the Reactor Core opens gradually, as you witness a room that was heavily saturated by Order influence. Incoming streams from the rivers of Ponyville turn massive generators. You figured the generators powered the Order's main source of electrical supply. You vaguely remember what Rarity said before your departure. There was a storage room from within the facilities. You look to the right of the doorway, and locate another guard post from the other side. You duck underneath the viewport, and proceed to open the door slightly. The Acolyte inside the post paid no attention towards your arrival. You spot a new piece of weaponry besides the Acolyte, who was too busy scanning the generators with a computer terminal. You grab the new weaponry without detection, and managed to close the door behind you. You scan over your newly acquired hardware. It was a mini rocket launcher, designed by the Order. It was fed from an internal rotating belt connected on a link of pocket sized micro missiles. The whole rocket laucher could be broken down into three sub components, for easy storage and field stripping. You decide to break down the rocket launcher and coceal it for later use, just in case things got ugly around the Power Station. Back towards your left of a walkway, was the location of a pull lever. You've decided to pull it, not knowing what it would do. It raised a staircase to a second floor corridor. The entrance of the corridor contained a Order biological scanner. So much for stealth. You dart through the scanner, as all of the alarms inside the sector were set off. Ceiling turrets from around the facilities direct their guns and begin to fire. You jog to a nearby staircase, while doing your best to dodge the bullets behind you. You take cover from the peak of the staircase, while withdrawing your crossbow with electronic bolts from your backpack. You swiftly return fire to the ceiling turrets, with two aimed bolts from your crossbow. The ceiling turrets short circuit, and implodes into a mess of exposed wiring and electronic debris. You scurry into the room located on the second floor. The interior of the room was constructed with enormous black computer chips. A lone Acolyte from the opposite end of a walkway, attempts to point his assault rifle at you. You dispose of the threat with a shot to the head. You spot an emergency override pull lever inside the room. You pull it downwards, and as a result it reveals an access point that descended into a lower level. You swing your body over a guard rail, down into the level below you. A group of sentinels rise from the electronic pits below. They open their chassis to open fire. You dodge the lasers and make your way onto a descending platform. The elevator leads you back into the floor level, only now into a different sector of the Reactor Core. You walk into a pump station for the generators. You venture down into the lower levels, only to be greeted by a squad of Acolytes and brown mechanical spiders. You pace yourself sideways and open fire on the move. You successfully take down two Acolytes and the brown electronic spiders. A grey Pegasus with a blonde mane was stationed in front of a control terminal. She intentionally tried to trouble shoot a large hydralic pump. She didn't bother to pay attention to the commotion from the gunfire. Her Strabismus eyes were too focused on troubleshooting the terminal. You tap her on the back. One eye gazed down to a electronic clipboard, while the other focuses on you. "I just don't know what went wrong with this pump! Who are you? Only clearance level two personel are allowed in this area." She questions, while frightened from her screw up. "I'm just the replacement worker for the stallion." You tell her with little ease. "Uh, it's about time that you showed up. Go talk with King Sombra inside the core. Oh yeah, and take this keycard. Don't want you getting shot on your first day, huh?" She asks with her forehooves crossed and a nervous grin. "So, where's the power crystal?" You ask the helpful mare. "They don't tell me much here. I'm only alive because I'm a hard worker, but they might haul my flank away this time. I heard rumors that Sombra guards the main power crystals of this entire operation. You better get moving to the lower elevators before they catch us both, Mister." Derpy Hooves speaks while trembling. Derpy hands over a clearance access keycard for the lower levels. She proceeds back to her work with a blow torch. You locate the elevator that descends into the lower levels, where none of the alarms thankfully were set off. You hear a faint explosion from the top level, more then likely caused by Derpy herself. A man in a grey tunic approaches you in frustration. He expected your arrival for the replacement worker for quite some time. You approach the man not knowing what to expect from him. "The Almighty Programmer is so paranoid of infiltration, that he's locked up the computer core. How am I supposted to get my work done? The only way in is the suicide run...." The man shout aloud in disbelief. "Suicide run? What does that mean?" You ask the man. "It's a sure fire way to get killed, but that's not important right now. Go down the lift if your so inclined...." The man walks away in disgust. As you step onto the lift, you recieve a little piece of commentary from Blackmare. "Phew! I'm glad I'm in hiding...If you know what I mean." You step off from the lift, and make your way down a long circuit board hallway. You activated another override switch. As you pull the switch, the floor lowers into the ground from behind you. You unintentionally activated a defense mechanism inside the facilities. A hydralic system of descending pillars collide behind the pathway from where you ventured. The pit just beneathe of you contained circuits of extremely high voltage. You have to be careful now. One wrong move and you might get crushed by the pillars, or fried to death by the arcing circuits below. A) Balance yourself as best as you can, and hustle through the hydralic press. B) Take your time and place your steps on the walkway. A) You time yourself carefully, just before you step back onto the walkway. The hydralic poles slam down in syncronization onto the yellow striped path. It violently vibrated the entire pathway. You sprinted with all of your energy onto the pathway. It's a good thing that you rushed through this one. If you hesitated on the balance beam for long enough, you would have lost your balance and experienced a horrible death. Just as the hydralic pillars raised into the ceiling, you gain momentum and dart right through the obstacles. You catch your breathe on the other side and step onto the lift once more. You return into the same room with the disgruntled man. B) You step onto the balance beam, while taking your time and counting each step in intervals. The hydralic pillars slam into the walkway in front of you. You look down towards your foot placement. It wasn't such a great idea to take your time for this instance. The second hydralic section slams with sheer force in front of you. It causes the yellow painted walkway to rattle in a violent fashion. You loose you balance, and tumble down into the arcing pits below. Your body makes contact with the open circuits. A million volts of electricity travel through every inch of your body. You could feel your body lock into shock, as your heart goes into a state of fibrillation. You die instantly before you could even flinch. Another work hazard experienced in an unsafe work enviorment. OSHA must be aggravated right about now. You retrace the pathway all the way back to the main entrance of the reactor sector, now wielding a high level clearance card. You swipe your card on the opposite terminal from the entrance. You enter into a room with enviormental suits. The room was a decomtamination room from what you've observed. It contained shower heads, with drain basins on the floor and enviorment suits neatly arranged on shelves. You find your appropriate suit and gear up for the next clearance area just ahead. As you step into the next room, you witness a large container with a ambient humming sound. You press a switch to the right of a pathway, forcing you to go right of the monolithic structure into another control room. Gilded Acolytes were present inside this room. Hydraulic pumps filtered radiation waste from the pits below. You walk into an isolated control panel at the center. You step onto yet another lift, to be greeted by a deranged stallion on the second floor. "Work....Sleep....get tortured. What a life. Say, your the replacement worker for the careless pit diver?" The stallion twists his head in a bizarre fashion. He looked like a descendent from the Sparkle family, but you couldn't put your finger/hoove on it. What was even more odd was how he was unaffected by the radiation. He smiles in a deranged fashion. "Uh....yeah...Where's the crystal now?" You ask while backing off a bit. "YEAH! Well, Sorry. Go talk to King Sombra. Bring the walkway up using the switches, then use this I.D. for the elevator....Better get going then! Don't wanna piss off the king, do you?" He chuckles maniacally, while holding the I.D. out for you. "Thanks...." You approach the insane stallion, and grab the card from his hoof. You activate the pull switches on the wall, and retrace back to the room with the gigantic humming container. A pathway on both sides rise from the radiation pits. You step onto the right side while traveling to the side of the monolithic container. The vibrations from the container rattled your bones inside your body, and you felt an immense wave of energy emmited from inside the container. King Sombra from the second floor overlooks the control panel for the monolithic container. You receive a tranmission from Blackmare, as you ascend to the second floor on the lift. "Word from Rainbow Dash states to stand back when you open fire on the crystal. Or else you'll end up in pieces..." The king is disrupted by your arrival. Why king Sombra was present inside a power reactor core, was more than a guess to you. He studies your facial features, trying to identify who you were. His voices crackles to you in suspicion. "Peasant! You aren't cleared for this area! Let me take a look at you keycard. Quickly! The Order has put me here on duty until I am worthy enough to rule Ponyville. How dare they challenge Sombra's power! I'm in an awful mood right now, so make this fast!" That explains why he was so easily defeated in the crystal empire. You withdraw your keycard, and present it to King Sombra. He forcefully uses his magic to take it out of your hand/hoove and inspects the keycard. He tears the card into two, and erupts with anger. "Worthless peasant! This card is garbage! Guards! Kill this intruder. Dispose of this cockroach right now!" The King bellows to you. You withdrawl your punchdagger, as the King attemps to shape shift into his cloud form. You tackle the King and grasp his horn to prevent him using his magic. A gilded Acolyte from behind you, raises his rifle from the commotion and activates the alarms inside the sector. The King hisses and attempts to shake off your firm grip. The Acolyte discharges his rifle towards you and King Sombra. The FMJ rounds richochet off Sombra's reinforced metal armor, and strike the Acolyte at base of his helmet. The Acolyte collapses to the ground. Sombra's eye widen to the fact that he was responsible. With the punch dagger clutched in your other hand/hoove, you jab the dagger at King Sombra's neck repeatedly. He was mortal without the use of his magic. Sombra attempt to seal his entry wounds with his magic, but passes out from his lack of blood. You cast his body over the ledge, so that it falls into the radiation pits below. his body bubbles and disintegrates to a pool of black mass. You flip a switch from the guard post. The monolithic structure ascends into the ceiling above, to reveal your mission objective from the viewport. The almighty power crystal. The crystal contained it's own energy radius. Arcing streaks of electricity emitted from around it. You step back from a safe distance. You rapidly reassemble your mini rocket launcher, flip up the iron sights, and send a volley of rockets towards the crystal. The crystal erupts into shards of hot flying projectiles, forcing you to take cover back behind the computer terminal. The power station starts to shake violently, due to the malfunctioning generators and hydraulic pumps. "Quick! Let's get out of here! There's no time to mess around." Blackmare blares from your intercom unit. You sprint into the hardest pace in your entire life. You rush and retrace back to the power station's entrance. Acolytes storm in and attempt to aim at you, but were crushed by collapsing pipes and rock debris. You stumble back into the town square once again, to abandon the power station for the final time...