//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 
// Story: Fallout Equestria: Paradox Flames 
// by Seraph-Colak 
//------------------------------//

	I ran through the halls, sirens going off all around me. Of course they knew I was coming, why wouldn't they? They were the oracle's henchmen after all and she could see the future. 
Shouts behind me brought my attention back to the matter at hand and I spun around, hooves sliding until I had made a 180 degree turn. My horn glowed as I began to cast my spell and as soon as someone rounded the corner they were blasted with arcane flames. The guard fell over screaming and on fire as I turned and ran once more. 
Approaching an intersection I stopped an peered around the corner. There was no one there but my e.f.s. told me they were coming from the right. I took the left path. They were corralling me, I could tell easily. I was getting farther and farther away from the stable door and every turn that could get me closer either had guards protecting it or guards approaching it.
Approaching another intersection I ran across, firing my recharger rifle blindly at the guards my e.f.s. told me were bound to be there. I could have stopped and used s.a.t.s. to kill one but I was not planning on murdering my way out, if I did that they'd be out for blood rather than just corralling me. Undoubtedly the oracle knew this too.
I turned a corner and was faced with two sentry turrets guarding a research lab. I activated s.a.t.s. and fired my recharger into one then began casting at the other, my aimed shots burning through the turret with ease. 
While casting however the remaining turret spun round and began firing wildly at me. I had tampered with their targeting protocols a few months back during the last revolts when the rebel forces had taken this area and nopony had yet to get them aiming properly again. Though the shots were wild one bullet found me, digging into my shoulder. I roared in pain and anger and loosed arcane lightning into the turret destroying it for good.
In the time it took for me to take down the turrets the guards had managed to catch up. I took cover in the lab and locked the door behind me using a terminal. Looking around the room I realized this is where the oracle wanted me. There was nothing in the room, all of my research materials were gone, tables and lockers included, and the only exit to the room was the door I had locked behind me. 
Through the door I heard the guards shouting to blow the door open and I ran as far from the door as I could. Cowering against the back wall the door opened gently, much to my surprise, and the oracle's power armored personal guards entered the room and fanned out, all of their battle saddles trained on me. 
Then she walked through the door. The oracle didn't really appear special in any way but she carried herself with an almost regal confidence. Her light blue mane was short but extravagantly styled and stood out brightly against her dark brown coat. Any clothing she wore she always made sure that it showed her cutie mark, a crystal ball, as if her entourage weren't enough to remind everypony who she was.
"Ah Burning Myth, how clever you thought you were. Did you really think I wouldn't see through your little plan? I mean seriously, you were hardly subtle in hoarding supplies in this lab. What did you really think you would accomplish?"
I chuckled. The oracle asking a question was never actually a request for an answer, she already knew the answer. That of course didn't stop her from waiting for one.
"I see pointless questioning is a trait you picked up from your father, even when I fought for him against the last rebellion he always took too much time gloating."
She smirked at my response, "well when somepony has so much power why wouldn't you? I'll never be as power mad as the second oracle but that wont stop me from enjoying myself a little."
"So why the big show? The guards at the door were obvious but the elaborate trap? Leading me back into my lab? Why not just kill me outright?"
"Oh Myth, we need to make an example of you of course! We'll whittle you down until you're a shell of your former self and set you back into the stable to mindlessly go about your work, completely devoid of any will of your own. Nopony will think about escaping again for a good long while."
A shudder went down my spine. That was horrid! A fate worse than death. Of course I could possibly make it through with my mind intact and only give the impression that they had broken me.
"And if I choose to fight? Murder my way out or otherwise cause my own death?"
She laughed at my comment, "oh please Myth, we both know far too well that you would never be so rash as that! Even as we speak you're thinking that you could fake being broken so you can attempt this whole circus act again. If you hadn't had it in you to kill yourself off two years ago why would you think you had it in you now?"
My blood went cold. She had hit me where it truly hurt, calling on the memory of the darkest part of my truly depressing life. It also ignited a spark within me. This would not be my end, I would not let them take me. The memory brought pain, yes, but it also was what drove me to escape.
"Are you ready to surrender," she asked in a mocking tone.
My horn began to glow and I felt an odd pulse that seemed to reverberate through the stable and my horn was enveloped in an overglow. The oracle's guards closed in around her to shield her from a possible magic assault.
"Give up Burning Myth, there's no escape for you!"
'Oh but there is,' a voice echoed through my mind, accompanying another pulse that no one else seemed to notice. Another overglow enveloped my horn and the air around me began to churn.
"That's where you're wrong Crystal! I've still got a trick up my sleeve, one I've never used before! One you couldn't possibly have predicted!"
Her eyes narrowed when I used her name. She hated when anyone used her real name instead of referring to her as the oracle. 
"I've accounted for everything Myth, there's nothing you could be capable of that would escape our notice!"
'Oh how wrong she is,' the voice chuckled as another pulse echoed through me and caused another overglow on my horn. Whatever it was it seemed to be overcharging my spell, taking it to levels I couldn't have taken it by myself.
'Help goes two ways. For now, RUN,' the voice chuckled at the end, the pulsating power increasing in frequency driving my horn to produce a glow that threatened to blind and the wind blew wildly around.
"You couldn't be more wrong Crystal Ball! I know something you couldn't possibly know! I CAN TELEPORT!!"
And with a final flash I was gone.
LEVEL UP!
New Perk: Additional Vocation - You have access to a wider variety of spells than most. Pick a new Basic-quality spell set to unlock. You gain (Versatility / 2, rounded up) spells in that spell set of your choice and may gain more later.  This perk may be repurchased any number of times, applying to a new spell type each time.
Quest Perk: Agent of Discord - you've been marked as an agent of Discord, when in the presence of Discord your abilities have a chance to perform beyond all expectations. You are also capable of sensing discord's magic.