I found myself in a similar place to the one I saw when I saved the Dark Ones, But this time I saw clearly what would happen to the metro. A creature we thought only a myth will drive every man woman and child into the unforgiving wasteland.
“STOP HIM! STOP HIM! IT CANNOT BE ALLOWED!” The Dark ones cried loudly as I watched thousands die. “ARTYOM! RAINBOW! SPEED! LOYALTY!” Their cry was different tonight, In my vision I saw a pony with wings and a multicolored mane. Could be the next step? “STOP THEM! RETRIEVE THE POWERS! DOGS! MUST BE STOPPED!” Now I saw dog like Bipeds digging under the ground with what looked like jeweled necklaces “MUST BE STOPPED! ARTYOM! RAINBOW! SPEED! LOYALTY!” With that I awoke to a sun filled room, my head ached but I payed it little mind. Slowly I got out of my bed and put on my clothing, I left my armor off. When I went downstairs I found a basket full what were known before the war as apples, grabbing one I took a bite and smiled.
“This just keeps getting better, I may never leave.” I said aloud, walking outside I felt the sun’s warm embrace wash over me again. It turns out that in the metro you have a lot of spare time so to pass it I learned music, Guitar, Violin and Piano whenever I found a working instrument I would play till it fell apart. So sitting outside just relaxing for a moment prmpted me to take out my new Violin. I began to play Katyusha and began to sing the words by heart.
Apple and pear trees were blooming.
O'er the river the fog merrily rolled.
On the steep banks walked Katyusha,
On the high bank she slowly strode.
As she walked, she sang a sweet song
Of her silver eagle of the steppe,
Of the one she loved so dearly,
And the one whose letters she had kept
O you song! Little song of a young girl,
Fly over the river and in the sunlight go.
And fly to my hero far from me,
At this point a group of substantial size gathered around me, just watching me play my violin. The song was meant to be played on guitar but I had to use what I had at my disposal.
From his Katyusha bring him a sweet hello.
Let him remember this plain young girl,
And her sweet song like a dove,
As he stands guarding his proud nation,
So Katyusha will guard their love.
Blooming pears and apples all around her
With the morning mists beneath her feet
Walked Katyusha slowly by the river
On the rocky riverbank so steep.
She was walking, she was softly singing
Of her silver eagle of the steppe
Of the one for whom her heart was beating
Of the one whose letters she had kept
Oh you tender song sung by a maiden
Spread your wings and fly towards the sun.
Find the soldier in the distant trenches
Bring him from Katyusha greetings fond.
May he then remember his beloved
May he hear her sweet song like a dove
To his last breath may he guard his homeland
Like Katyusha guards their tender love.
When I had finished the crowd just cheered, I guess music from different worlds still had quite the effect on people. I could tell today was going to be a good day, I even saw a rainbow in the the sky that seemed to get closer, no it actually was getting closer. When It got closer I saw it was infact the pony I had seen in my second vision. She gracefully landed in front of me with a look of fear on her face.
“HELP! MY ELEMENT HAS BEEN STOLEN!” She shouted at me, my heart stopped
“STOP THEM! IT CANNOT BE ALLOWED!” The Dark ones cried out, I motioned to the pony to follow me inside. I put my Violin down and grabbed my AK-47, Quickly I slipped my armor on and looked at her
“Who took it and where are they?” I asked, she was crying. I had no choice so I slapped her which calmed her down but made her hit me twice as hard. “LETS TRY AGAIN! WHO TOOK IT AND WHERE ARE THEY!”
“The Diamond Dogs! They took it! They’re in the Everfree Forest I can take you!” She said frantically, I nodded and followed the pegasus to a field of holes in the ground. My good day had gone from great to total shit storm in about ten seconds flat (No pun intended, okay maybe a little) I stared down the a hole and grumbled as I flipped my mask down and turned on my flashlight.
“Okay If I’m not back in three hours go get lyra!” I said as I began my descent into the deep pit. The rainbow one had explained who she was on the way and I remembered to make a not to call her by her name. “Rainbow Dash!” I shouted she looked at me “I’ll get it back.” With that I slid down the hole into a tunnel, the metro put this one to shame but it still looked like I could get lost down here. I left several shell casings behind me as I walked, I switched my NV goggles on and that revealed that the tunnel was soon coming to an end. After an hour and a half of walking I saw a massive room, from within I heard noises that sounded remarkably like Lurkers. I pulled the bolt on my Rifle back and readied myself. When I saw several dozen large dog like creature I knew I had found the right place, I quickly over charged my Flashlight and flicked my NV off. When I was ready I turned on the Light.
“GAH! WHAT IS THIS BLINDING LIGHT!” a voice shrieked, I secured my Flashlight to the wall before stepping forward.
“Give me the Element and I won’t hurt you. I said, I wasn’t going to let these ‘Diamond Dogs’ keep me from saving my people. They laughed at me until I fired a shot into the ceiling. “TELL ME!” I said lunging at them, the fury I had was unbearable. Soon I found myself clutching one by the neck with my rifle pointed at his face, his comrades stood back.
“I do not know! I swear.” It screached
“LIES! IT LIES!” I heard in my head
“You know how this works?” I said taking the barrel of the rifel away from him to fire a shot. He shrieked with fear.
“OKAY IT IS WITH THE OTHERS! I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEY ARE!” It said, I knew it was telling the truth so I let it go. After another hour of following my tracks I climbed out of the hole covered in dirt and mud. Standing there was Celestia and Luna, their faces were grim.
“I take it you already know they have they others?” I said with a sigh, they nodded. “Well how do we find them? Some magic Spell?” The Princesses shook their heads sadly, I felt my blood begin to boil. I wasn’t about to let my people die.
“FAILED! NOT YOUR FAULT! FORGIVEN!” The Dark Ones screamed in defeat, this was the first message I had ever communicated back to them.
“Over my dead body” I shouted over the link, soon an image of a mountain appeared in my mind. I was staring right as this mountain.
“Artyom?! HELLOOOOO?” Lyra said, I blinked and pointed to the mountain.
“There! The dark ones have told me they are there!” I looked at the princesses who just frowned.
“I’m so sorry Artyom.” Celestia said, The rage I felt was now replaced by guilt and sadness. I had failed my people. Tears welled up in my eyes and I looked to Luna, she just walked over to me and put her hoof on my shoulder. A feeling of determination washed over me and I simply began walking towards the mountain. “Where are you going?”
“To finish this, Lyra you up for a little trip?” Lyra nodded, soon a musical note came out of the bushes. Octavia stepped out with a guitar and a bag, she had been eavesdropping the whole time. “No! Its too dangerous” I said in protest but she just continued. “Damn it” I said just conceding to her will to follow me. And so we were off, the clouds grew dark as we moved and soon we were all bathed in rain....