Part Six: Revelation Within
It surprised Airborne that the old Ministry building had managed to stay intact for all these years considering it had taken a direct hit from a balefire bomb. Among the cobwebs and years of accumulated debris were the flash burns of the ponies that had been caught inside when the city of Coltpolis died. On the walls eerie burns marked the outlines of what the ponies of Coltpolis had spent their final hours doing, here a pony sitting at a desk while another refilled an old Sparkle-Cola vending machine that had long rusted away. The guard pony ahead lead them through an all too familiar door that Airborne had seen across Equestria, it wasn’t surprising that a Stable had been built under the Ministry building. Trotting across the threshold revealed that most of the Pre-war fittings had been stripped for whatever tech they possessed. Above them a ghastly green glow gleamed out of the dust covered windows of the Overmare’s office, looking around Airborne noticed the faded outline that designated the Stable as number 19.
Trotting into the Overmare’s office, behind the desk sat a pony shrouded in shadow. A rustic voice spoke, “So, you are the legendary Skysplinter I have heard so much about. When I heard that somepony had survived the detonation of a balefire bomb I expected them to be so much more but now I can see you are just a foal barely out of his training barding.” Airborne replies, “You certainly know me but I have no idea who you are?” The pony leans forward out of the darkness and rest his hooves into the green light bathing the room, the pony has a light yellow coat, his mane and tail are caramel colored, and on his flanks is a large red apple. Across his face is a large puckered scar that cuts diagonally across his muzzle, the pony’s green eyes gaze at Airborne intently saying, “My name is Deathhoof, loyal disciple to Red Eye.”
Airborne stares at the pony and something in his memory clicks, he had seen this ponies face before in an old Ironshod factory, his face beaming out of an old photograph from before the War. The red apple cutie mark brought the ponies name to mind, his eyes widening he says, “Braeburn?” the pony leans back saying, “This body did belong to a pony from long ago who did bear that name but no longer does he reside inside of it.” Airborne says, “What happened to him?” Deathhoof replies, “After that bitch Littlepip’s corrupting influence destroyed Red Eye’s beautiful vision for Equestria. I was wounded during the fighting, my body was dying. I could feel the coldness of death creeping into my heart; I was brought here by a few survivors of Red Eye’s army. My old body was beyond healing; inside of this Stable I found a new one. We found my new body inside of life support pod, his brain had been removed to operate the Stable’s day to day activities. It was perfect; since he no longer needed his body my brain was removed from my old one and placed into this body. I could carry out my mission to rebuild Red Eye’s vision of Equestria by wearing the face of a pony who was related to one of the Ministry Mares. It was as if the Goddesses themselves had divined this discovery for me.” Trotting over to a large tank that is casting a green glow over the room Deathhoof wipes away the dust revealing a disembodied brain floating inside.
Starshine replies, “What do you want with us?” Deathhoof looks at her saying, “That’s simple I want you to die but before you do I am going to extract whatever information you have on Fluttershy and her followers if you resist I have become most adapt at torturing ponies and breaking through even the strongest wills.” Soarin replies, “Yeah right, I doubt somepony piss ant like you could even scratch me.” Deathhoof grins saying, “I have heard that Airborne found the Wonderbolts, I had hoped that we would capture all of you. I will take my time and enjoy extracting every bit of information from you. After all its not every day that you get to torture one of Equestria’s foremost hero’s from the Pre-War era isn’t that right Soarin of the Wonderbolts?” Soarin replies, “How do you know my name?” Deathhoof replies, “I know many things about you Soarin and your comrades. I have my spies in many places throughout Equestria including New Cloudsdale, so don’t think for one second that I can’t break you because you will find out that I am quite capable of breaking even the mind of somepony as esteemed as you Soarin.”
Deathhoof’s eyes dart over to Sunrise and he says, “I had heard we killed one of you before you were brought here, a Pegasi by the name of Baleout. Am I correct Sunrise?” Sunrise tries to lunge at Deathhoof and is restrained by two of his guards, she says, “Don’t you dare speak his name you vile thing.” Deathhoof trots over to her and says, “Pity that he didn’t survive. The young and overly confident are the most easiest to break, I would have enjoyed watching you squirm as I broke him into what he really was a jabbering gutless idiot.” Sunrise spits into Deathhoof’s face and he says, “But you will have to do instead.” The guards drag Airborne and his friends out of the Overmare’s office leaving Deathhoof staring at the tank that holds the brain of Braeburn. Airborne is placed into a makeshift cell inside of what was once the Pipbuck repair technician’s office; the guards drag off Starshine down the hall after a few moments her screams echo through the Stable. Airborne cries out, “Starshine!” Her screams continue to until they fade away, after a few minutes the guards drag Starshines limp body into the cell.
Airborne waits in until the guards leave then he trots over to Starshine. Her hooves are covered in shallow wounds that ooze blood; Airborne gently picks her up and places her on the cot in the corner of the cell. Tearing the bed sheet into strips he wraps them around Starshine’s hooves. She weakly opens one eye and says, “Thank you Airborne” he replies, “For all the times you have patched me up I think it is time I returned the favor.” Starshine closes her eyes and falls asleep.
A few hours later the guards drag off Sunrise and Soarin looks at Starshine who is still asleep saying, “She’s in rough shape, what the hell did they do to her?” Airborne looks at him saying, “I don’t know but we need to find a way to get out of here before we find out” Sunrise screams of terror echo through the cell block. Soarin pins back his ears saying, “This is messed up, why would they torture her just to make her scream if she could tell them something?” Airborne shrugs saying, “There are somepony’s who just like to cause others pain because that is how they get their kicks.”
Soarin snorts as Sunrise screams again turning to Airborne he asks, “Any ideas on how to get us out of this death trap?” Airborne nods saying, “Yeah, remember when Deathhoof said that Braeburn’s brain is in charge of the Stables systems. If we can get into contact with him we can have him activate the defense systems within the Stable and take out as many of these Red Remnant bastards as we can and make our escape.” Soarin raise an eyebrow saying, “How do we get into contact with a two-hundred year brain that runs this place and what makes you think he is still cognizant to help us?” Airborne replies, “They must still need him to run a few systems like the lighting and environmental controls otherwise this place wouldn’t be livable.” The guards drag Sunrise and as they open the door to the cell Soarin rushes at them and bucks both of the guards hard in the face with his hind hooves. The guards collapse to the floor unconscious, Sunrise staggers to her feet and winces. She trots over to one of the guards and kicks him hard in the groin. Sunrise grabs a key ring off of one of the guard’s belts and unlocks Airborne’s cells. He says, “Thanks Sunrise, I hope you aren’t hurt too bad” she replies, “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Soarin grabs one of the guard’s weapons from a holster on his belt saying; “Sunrise is there any way you can use you Pipbuck to connect with the Stable’s computer systems?” she nods saying, “Yeah, it would be a synch.” She taps her forehoof on the Pipbuck’s keypad and is able to connect with the Stable’s computer. Over the Pipbuck a weak country voice much like Deathhoof says, “What do y’all want this time? Can’t a guy get break?” Airborne replies, “Braeburn is that you?” the voice says, “Who wants to know? I don’t recognize your voice?”
Airborne replies, “My name is Airborne. I am not one of the Red Remnant ponies who have taken up residence inside of your Stable. I was captured with Soarin of the Wonderbolts along with my two friends Sunrise and Starshine. We were wondering if you could activate the Stable’s internal defenses to target the Red Remnant ponies so we could escape.”
Braeburn doesn’t reply for a few then he says, “I will activate them but first you must do something for me” Airborne asks, “What do you want us to do?” Braeburn replies, “All I need you to do is agree to do as I say when you get to the Overmare’s office.” Airborne sighs and replies, “Alright I will do what you want once we get to the Overmare’s office.” Just as Airborne agrees to Braeburn’s statement the turret in the hallway outside of the Pipbuck repair stall begins to fire at the Red Remnant guards.
They wait until the turrets and the screams of panic die down before exiting the makeshift cell block, Airborne carries Starshine’s still unconscious body on his back as Soarin takes point. Sunrise notices the door to the storeroom is unlocked, opening it they find the weapons that had been confiscated from them when they were captured. Placing Starshine on the floor, Airborne straps on his battle-saddle and slings All-Equestrian around his neck placing extra magazines into the ammo pouches on his utility barding then pulls on the holsters for Gust and Thunder checking to make that the duel pistols are loaded before sliding them into their respective holsters. Airborne places Starshine’s pistol onto her unconscious body and checks the armor on the barding for any signs of damage. As he checks over her armor she stirs and opens her eyes saying, “Airborne, what are you doing?” he nuzzles her happily saying, “Glad to see you in the land of the living.” She stands up slowly her hind legs wobbling a bit; she pulls out Duty Before Honor from its holster and loads a fresh clip into it saying, “I am ready to go when you are. Bring those bastards on.” Airborne watches as Sunrise and Soarin pull on their battle-saddles and check their ammo. Soarin says, “Feels good to have my weapons back especially in place filled with nasty horseapples like these ponies.” Leaving the storage room they come under fire but the Red Remnant guards are quickly cut down by the automatic turret fire.
With the hallway cleared Airborne, Starshine, Sunrise, and Soarin make quickly gallop through the Stable towards the Overmare’s office. The turrets firing on the Red Remnant pony’s making their progress through the Stable incredibly easy only a few times did they have to engage the Red Remnant ponies. Arriving in the central atrium Airborne looks up and sees Deathhoof standing on a catwalk saying, “Well now isn’t this a surprise. I never would have thought you would have made it this far. I guess I should have killed you the moment you were brought before me had I known that traitorous brain would have aided you in your escape.” Airborne calls up to him, “Why don’t you come down here and face me yourself or are you a coward?” Deathhoof face twitches slightly and he replies, “Why bother wasting my time with you Airborne when I can have my men kill you all with just the slightest raising of my hoof.” Airborne notices the many barrels trained onto him and his friends he says, “So I guess you are a coward after all.” Just as they are about to fire the turrets in the central atrium open fire, cutting down many of Deathhoof’s followers. Deathhoof yells, “Let’s get out of here!” Airborne watches as he and a small group of his followers galloping behind him. As the gunfire stops and the smoke clears Airborne sees the turrets deadly effects onto the Red Remnant ponies. Many of them have been cut in half by the automatic gunfire. Their blood was collecting into a large pool below the catwalk
Trotting upstairs and into the Overmare’s office, Airborne approaches the tank holding the disembodied brain of Braeburn. Sunrise repairs the tank’s voice command speakers and Braeburn says, “Airborne, is that you?” Airborne nods saying, “Yes Braeburn, I am here.” Braeburn sighs saying, “It’s time you honored our agreement.” Airborne replies, “What would you have me do?” Braeburn’s disembodied brain gives off a feeling that makes Airborne uneasy, he thinks, “It must have been lonely floating here without ever knowing what became of his friends and family.” Braeburn’s accented voice crackles over the speakers saying, “I want you to kill the life support function for this tank and allow me to finally die like I should have done so long ago.” Airborne is taken aback by this and replies, “Couldn’t we transfer your brain back into your body if we caught Deathhoof or at least put it into another body?” Braeburn replies, “Even if you caught Deathhoof and were able to transfer my mind back into my original body I would still kill myself regardless. I don’t want to live in a body that has killed so many innocent pony’s wearing my face and I have been down here for so long I don’t want to see what has become of the world outside after all this time. All of my friends and family are long dead, what would be the point in living if they weren’t there anymore.”
Soarin trots up besides Airborne looking at Braeburn’s disembodied brain and says, “What caused you to end up here in the first place?” Braeburn replies, “When they were building the Stable’s most of them had Overmare’s to run them including Stable 19. But this Stable’s systems weren’t functioning as they should have so what was needed was a living pony to control them. While no pony volunteered at first to take on this responsibility it became clear that this would be a way to survive the impending apocalypse. I was chosen because my cousin Applejack was one of the Ministry Mares and my service with Ironshod proved that I could run things effectively. I spent my last night as a pony thinking about the stupid feud that I had had with Applejack, it remains something I will always regret. The next day I arrived here in Coltpolis and was allowed to enjoy one last meal before heading into surgery. The last thing I remembered was a bright white light beaming down onto my face then I saw nothing but darkness as my eyes closed. The next thing I knew was feeling weightless, I tried to move my hooves but I couldn’t even the sound of my own heartbeat had faded away. I feared that I was dead until somepony spoke to me telling me that the surgery had been a success. I had become a part of Stable 19 itself; I remained this way until the day when everything ended. I tried to open the doors and I could feel the radiation seeping from the ponies that surged inside of the Stable. I was closing the door as the Stable was consumed in fire from the bombs outside. I could feel as each pony died inside of the walls of the Stable I was left in charge of. A few managed to survive for a few days, stumbling blindly through the corridors. The radiation had damaged a number of the systems within the Stable probably tainting all of the food and medical supplies. Afterwards there was nothing but silence that lasted forever until the door to the Stable was opened by the pony you call Deathhoof who took my old body for his own. I am tired of feeling all of the pain I was unable to stop, so please Airborne let me die so that I can see my cousin Applejack again and tell her for how sorry I am.”
Airborne nods to Sunrise who taps her hooves on the tank’s terminal as the life support systems begin to die Braeburn says, “Please kill Deathhoof, I can’t bear the thought of my body being used to harm others.” As the speakers begin to crackle and die Airborne ears perk as he hears Braeburn saying faintly, “Thank you Airborne.” Starshine looks at the tank saying, “I am glad we were able to do this much for him now let’s go make sure that his body isn’t used by Deathhoof ever again.” Airborne nods and trots out of the Overmare’s office with Starshine turning off the lights and quietly closing the door. Sunrise trots over to the Stable door and accesses the Stable’s exit code then she watches as the massive metal door rolls back exposing the basement of the Ministry building. All over are piles of skeletons some of them horribly blackened from the burns they had sustained in life. Exiting the Stable, Airborne looks at her saying, “Make sure nopony is able to open this place again. This will be Braeburn’s final resting place and I think it is the least we can do for him to make sure none of these scum utilize it again.” She nods deleting the code from the Stable’s computer systems and she watches as Soarin fires a load of buckshot through the Stable’s terminal saying, “Now nopony will be able to enter this place again.” Airborne watches as the door to Stable 19 rolls back into place sealing the remains of Braeburn within.
Trotting through the Ministry building Airborne notices that the once fully manned building is now empty. The silence of the place scares him turning to Starshine he says, “I wonder where they all went?” Deathhoof calls out, “Why waiting for you dear Airborne!” A number of gunshots ring out, Airborne ducks behind a metal desk and peers around it seeing a large barricade of desks and old filing cabinets with Deathhoof in the center of all of the action. Airborne aims at his head and fires but Deathhoof ducks saying, “You are going to have to try harder than that to kill me Airborne!” Airborne reloads a clip into All-Equestrian and fires taking down a few of the Red Remnant ponies at Deathhoof’s side. Airborne can feel as bullets thud into the metal desk with one of them penetrating very close to his head.
Airborne rolls out from behind the desk taking cover behind a cement column. The more bullets hit the column sending bits of cement scattering across the floor with a fine grey powder. Using All-Equestrian’s scoped sight he focuses onto Deathhoof, slowly squeezing the trigger he fires sending the bullet whizzing towards Deathhoof. One of the Red Remnant ponies dodges in front of Deathhoof taking the hit the pony’s lifeless body striking the floor. Airborne winces as a bullet clips his forehead, blood oozing down over his eyes clouding his vision with sticky gore. Leaning against the column he feels his way into his utility barding and pulls out a roll of bandages from one of the pouches. He wraps the bandage around his head sealing the wound and wipes the blood away from his eyes. Looking across from his position he sees Starshine and Soarin firing from behind an overturned desk with Sunrise reloading her battle-saddle. Airborne continues to fire sighting down onto targets feeling the kick of All-Equestrian slamming into his shoulder with each shot. The accuracy of the rifle was scary, killing with the weapon became too easy for Airborne all he had to do was sight down on a target and pull the trigger. Each time somepony would fall to the ground with a neat red hole in their body.
The gunfight lasted for hours with no sign of letting up. Deathhoof watched as his followers fell left and right due to Airborne’s accurate gunfire. He could barely lift his head without Airborne trying to blow his brains out. Knowing that the situation was becoming increasingly dangerous he sent word that it was time to spring the trap. He had hoped that his men were going to be enough but things were not going as he had planned and Airborne had left him very little other option. He could already smell the putrefied flesh as a large dark horde emerged from the shadows. The feral ghouls however immediately started to attack his men tearing them to pieces, their cries of pain drowning out the furious and increasingly rapid gunfire. Deathhoof decided it was time to leave and quickly slipped out of the Ministry building to his second stronghold within the ruins of Coltpolis. Airborne watched as Deathhoof quickly galloped out of the building then turned his attention to the large horde of feral ghouls in front of him. Firing at the closest two he quickly downed them saying to his friends, “Let’s get moving!” They didn’t need to be told twice, with Soarin taking point they carve their way through the struggling mass of ponies both alive and dead. Starshine and Sunrise killed a few ghouls as they made their way towards the exit of the Ministry building. Starshine says, “For as long as I live I will never get use to their smell.” As they exited the building Soarin barricaded the entrance to the Ministry building by pushing a large metal bench in front of the doors. Sunrise says, “Do you really think that will hold them?” He shrugs saying, “I don’t know and I don’t care as long as it buys us a few minutes so we can regroup with Hawkbeak’s forces outside of the city.”
Soarin takes out a flare gun from his utility barding and fires it sending a red flare streaking high into the sky. Within a few moments Hawkbeak and Rainbow Dash land in front of them. Rainbow Dash says, “What the heck took you guys so long? Did you find the leader of the Red Remnant?” Airborne nods saying, “Yes, we found him. He is a pony named Deathhoof and he looks like Braeburn because he had his brain transplanted into Braeburn’s old body.” Rainbow Dash looks at the old Ministry building saying, “So, this is where Braeburn ended up. So if Deathhoof’s brain is inside of Braeburn’s body where is the brain that actually belongs inside of it?” Starshine replies, “We found Braeburn’s brain and it was hooked into the control systems of Stable 19. He asked us to deactivate the life support systems because he had enough of this world and wanted to join his cousin on the other side.” Hawkbeak says, “Well at least you were able to give him the rest he wanted not that many out here in the Wasteland’s die the way they would chose.” Soarin watches as Spitfire, Misty Fly, Fire Streak, and Fleetfoot land behind Rainbow Dash and Hawkbeak. Spitfire says, “I swear Soarin the amount of times you put yourself into dangerous situations is absolutely ridiculous. Do you know that?” Soarin grins and says, “That’s why I am glad you will always be there to pull my flank out of the fire boss.” While the Wonderbolt’s look after Airborne’s wounds Soarin updates Rainbow Dash on the situation saying, “We lost Deathhoof once he unleashed a horde of those zombies; it’s only a matter of time before they find a way to escape.” She says to Spitfire, “Were you able to ascertain any secondary hideouts for Deathhoof to escape to?” Spitfire nods saying, “Yes, there is a large office building a few blocks from here that showed signs that it had been heavily reinforced. I have no doubt that is where he is heading to make his final stand.”
Rainbow Dash and watches as Airborne trots up next to Spitfire saying, “We better move quickly I have no doubt that once Deathhoof is inside of that place we will have a hard time trying to dig him out of there. Also given Halfhoof revealed himself to be a traitor he might decide to rear his ugly head at any time.” Sunrise hears Airborne talking about Halfhoof and she says, “I want the pleasure of killing that rotten piece of horse flesh myself.” Rainbow Dash says, “Alright here is the plan, Hawkbeak will divide her troops one section will keep the Red Remnant ponies busy as we make our way towards the secondary target while the other remains here to guard against any ghoul attack. Once Hawkbeak’s troops have cleared a path for us we have to move fast or risk getting caught in a prolonged firefight and I would rather not risk having the Deathhoof escaping again. While we do this Sunrise can take what troops I brought with me to find the traitor Halfhoof and kill him. The rest of us will take down will take Deathhoof down.” Starshine says, “Sounds like a good plan to me so let’s get going already.”
Hawkbeak pads over to her troops telling them the plan saying, “Take no chances with these Red Remnant fools. They aim to kill you so make damn sure that you kill them first. I will take a group with me to clear a path for Rainbow Dash and the Skysplinter while the other group stays here and cleans out the vermin inside should they break free. I would rather not have any of those filth biting at my tail feathers so make sure you aim for the head.” A griffin by the name of Scarpaw says, “Commander Hawkbeak, is it wise for us to split up in the face of superior numbers?” Hawbeak replies “Don’t worry about that. I trust Rainbow Dash and the Skysplinter to make the right call besides the Red Remnant doesn’t know who they are dealing with. Remember you are Hawkbeak’s Talon’s! Now let’s go show these idiots just who they are messing with!” Hawkbeak soars into the air followed by half of her troops while the others on the ground cheer as they prepare their defenses to contain the horde of ghouls within the Ministry building. The Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash, Airborne and Starshine move quickly through the ruins of Coltpolis occasionally trading fire with Red Remnant soldiers who are silenced with the arrival of Hawkbeak’s troops overhead. Airborne watches as Hawkbeak swoops down onto one of the soldiers grabbing him with her talons then decapitating them with her sharp claws. He says, “I am glad she is on our side. I almost feel sorry for the Red Remnant, well almost anyway.”
The large office building looms in the distance Airborne says, “What is that place?” Fire Streak replies, “It was the Chaser Tower, named after one of the Wonderbolts who died during the War. It was and still is the largest building in Coltpolis. It was built as a memorial to those who died when Mareston fell but now it makes me sick to think that somepony like Deathhoof has made his fortress out of a monument to one of our fallen comrades.” Misty Fly replies, “Then we will make him regret it.” As they make their way through the abandoned streets and over the piles of rubble Spitfire stops in front of one of the buildings that Airborne notices that it is an old restaurant saying, “I use to eat here when I was on leave. I had friends who moved here to get away from the fighting. I visited them often whenever I wasn’t on the battlefield, I can’t believe how much it has changed.”
Airborne listened to Spitfire’s words and they made his heart ache thinking to himself, “While I have gotten used to seeing the Wasteland as it exists now it must be hard for the Wonderbolts to adjust to this reality that the Equestria they knew is gone after all they have only been free from Stable 200 for a few days and are probably still adjusting to their new lives in this unfamiliar land.” Soarin trots over to Spitfire and says, “Come on, we have to keep moving.” Spitfire nods solemnly and trots towards Chaser Tower another reminder of the world that they once knew that is now long forgotten to the radioactive mists of the Equestrian Wasteland. Sunrise ducks behind the corner of a building as she fires as a few Red Remnant soldiers across the street from her. Both of them collapse to the ground dead as one of her best snipers takes them down. So far they hadn’t found any sign of the traitor Halfhoof but given the intensity of the fighting around her it was likely that he was hiding somewhere among the ruins. She smiles when she pictured herself standing over his corpse finally taking revenge for his responsibility for the death of her friend Baleout. She sees Halfhoof lurking behind an old wagon within twenty feet of her position. She levels her battle-saddle at him firing; he dodges her gunfire barely missing them. He gets out from behind the wagon and gallops away from her. She chases him through building after building firing wildly as he turns the corner.
She peeks around the corner and notices a few blocks up the street a wall explodes sending shards of glass and other debris pouring into the street. A number of ponies staggered out of the hole falling flat onto their faces with large pools of blood leaking out from their bodies. She gallops over to them to investigate and sees Halfhoof standing there with a magical energy weapon clutched in his hooves. He says, “Well now I guess you found me Sunrise. Too bad Baleout couldn’t be here to watch me kill you but I guess you can tell him yourself once you see him on the other side.” He points the weapon at Sunrise and fires a jet of purple flame at her. Sunrise ducks behind the corner of the building as the air explodes with intense heat burning the feathers on her wings. Rolling over she looks up to see Halfhoof standing over her saying, “Any last words Sunrise?” She says, “Yeah, go to Tartarus.” She fires point blank into his chest, piercing his armor and sending him sprawling onto his back.
She stands over him watching blood trickle out of the corner of his mouth, Halfhoof weakly drags himself over to his weapon but Sunrise kicks it out of his reach saying, “You don’t get to use to hurt anyone ever again.” She fires again this time into his legs, Halfhoof cries out in pain. Sunrise watches the liquid life slowly drain from his body. Slowly as the life leaves his eyes she spits into his face saying, “Goodbye Halfhoof and good riddance.” His body slumps as his mechanical leg twitches as the last of the neurons fire inside of his brain. For good measure Sunrise fires a few rounds into Halfhoof’s head making the twitching cease immediately she says, “Well Baleout, I hope you can finally rest in peace now.” Sunrise gallops away from Halfhoof’s body leaving it behind as she rejoins her troops to retake the city of Coltpolis back from those who have shamed the memorials of the past that the city has come to represent as the only monuments to those who died during the dark days of Equestria’s past.