//------------------------------//
// Chapter Three: System 
// Story: My Little Apocalypse 
// by LoopyBunny53 
//------------------------------//

	I still had to see Nurse Redheart every few days. I would often get mocked by the other few Ranch ponies. They still threw rotten food at me the rancid slim sticking to my charcoal coat. Now a days I would confine myself to my crappy room. The now bone and grease colored walls are becoming very familiar with me. The wet rotting smell permanent in my nose.

Today however I have decided to leave my room to take a walk around the stables, maybe for the last time. Getting out of bed I stretched my legs and wings. The skin on my wings stretched in a unnatural way and some old feathers fell to the ground gracefully. Stepping over to the sensor I held the TrackerJack up. The green light scanned the equipment and...no hiss or pop.

"What the?" I asked out loud. Resting my hoof with the TrackerJack back down on the solid ground I slowly back up. "What the hay is going on?!" I yelled once more, expecting some answer for some unknown reason. Looking around the bare room I began to pace. 'It is probably those tech stallions messing with me.

I continued to pace thinking of all the things I have noticed about my room. Stopping I trotted to the sensor. From what I can recall there should be a camera somewhere near the door. The camera needs to be located in a place where it can watch ponies going in and out of the rooms. I looked strait at the door, opening my mouth I cleared my throat.

"Whoever had locked me in my room it ain't funny not one bucking bit!" I yelled out. I reared back balancing on my  two hooves giving off a loud deep whinny. Turning around I crunched my two rear legs into my barrel, sucking in I released my legs. Hearing a loud metal clang I turned satisfied to see a small dent in the door. I glared at the door hatred shining in my eyes. Giving off a snort I violently shook my head to the side. I grinned turning back around I curled back up to buck once more. Before I could I heard a voice over the speakers that are in all rooms.

"Spades, do not buck that door!" It was Glitter, the Head Rancher.

I snorted at her.

"The tech stallions were not the ones to lock your door rendering it useless to the TrackerJack. I was."

My eyes widened, my lungs didn't want to work. I stood there poised to buck the door by my legs wouldn't work to my command.

"Spades, I only did it for the good of the Ranch." The Head Rancher spoke once more.

My eyes narrowed curling my legs into my barrel tighter. The speakers made a high pitched squeal sound. "Spades, stop!"

I lowered my head rage began to boil in my gut. I was almost shaking with it. My voice cracked as I spoke, "what gives you the right!" I yelled spit dribbled from my lower lip.

"I beg your pardon?"

"What gives you the right to lock me in this room like some sort of war prisoner!"

"The other ponies were addressing their concern to me."

"Bull." I spat.

"It is true."

"Bull!" I yelled the fury wanting to explode from my body. My face was contorted sweat beads raining down my face. "Why not just exile me to the Boondocks?!" I asked instantly regretting my action.

The Boondocks were the now officially uninhabited Equestrian land. After the Ranches were sealed off and the MV Bombs detonated no pony ever stepped a hoof above again. The Head Ranchers of all the Ranches kept in touch via the MTM Magic Telekenisis Machine. The MTM hooks up to a ponies brain by cables running to the terminal where they used a video chat like system. The Boondocks are a mystery to all ponies there for teachers rarely  inform fillies and colts about the "outside."

The Head Rancher spoke her voice altered because of the speakers, "You do not mean that."

I scowled once again, "Yes.." I curled, "I.." My hooves launched out, "Do!" My hooves made contact with the door making another dent, this one larger than the last. I whipped around sweat flying off my face and snout. My wings out stretched pointing to the sky at their full span. My body was uncontrollably shaking with unbridled rage.

The door gave a hiss and a pop it slowly opened with two guards slowly strides in. I snorted holding firm I moved my head closer to my throat and lowered my body, "Send me to the Boondocks, exile me!" I sighed still holding strong, "I will probably be better out there anyway then in here."

I stared at the door as a pale blue pony with a grey mane walk din. Her raspberry eyes stone cold showing pure determination. The Head Rancher. "No you will not." She spoke walking into my cruddy room. Sighing she stopped around a foot away, "to be honest Spades the Ranch ponies weren't the only reason I locked you in here. I was afraid that you would resort to fleeing to the Boondocks."

I stared at her, a blank look plastered over my face. In a monotone voice I said, "You're a really bad liar."

Her jaw slowly opened and her eyes as wide as a saucer.

One of the guards took an offensive step towards me. "How dare you call the Head Rancher a liar you heathen!" He lifted a spear that I hadn't noticed they had before. Smacking it down it hit me square on the top of my head. Grunting I fell a bit my vision swaying, I cussed under my breath.

"I just know that she was lying!"

The Head Rancher gave a deep groan, "Spades you looked depressed in here as your skin by your wings healed. I was afraid that you were going to attempt to escape the Ranch_"

I began to laugh, "don't you think that I already tried that! I know that you guys have a control base just above this door that leads to what I assume to be the Boondocks." My mouth still was open attempting to make words, then again she was right.

"I will not allow it!"

I stood there my ears lay back on my head lowering my body I bunched my legs and readied my wings. My head still aching from where the one guard struck me.

"Don't even think about it." One of the guards warned me.

I shut my eyes sighing I jumped over the two guards using my wings to aid me glide more over the Head Rancher.

"Spades, stop!" Glitter called after me.

"Halt," the guards yelled.

My legs began to burn as I pushed myself to my limit racing faster than I have before. Left, right, another right, two more lefts, and one large room. Ponies gasped and cussed as me as I ran by them. Turning my head I caught the eyes of a one Nurse Redheart. Stopping she just stood there, staring at me like I was a ghost. Her eyes began to water as she smiled. She made soft crying sounds as she galloped towards me. Grabbing me around the neck she hugged me so tight I was afraid she would cut off my windpipe. As she hugged me her tears began to soak into my coat. "I was so worried!" She cried her voice choking up.

Hearing the hooves of the Head Rancher and the two Ranch Guards. Looking up my eyes fell on the three previously said ponies. The Head Rancher slowed her eyes wide as she saw Redheart embracing me.

The Head Rancher cleared her throat startling Redheart her head instinctively jolted up. She gasped, "Head Rancher!" Here eyes were red and puffy from weeping into my pelt, now salty with some tears. Redhearts stance changed, "You lied to me!" She began to cry again. "You told me that Spades died of a rotten apple still cursed with MV toxins that was a residue! You said that he gave his life to Death!"

My eyes widen, "W-what?!" I turned my head to the Head Rancher.

"Well he will die anyway if he is planning to do that stupid plan. You can tell her that." Glitter said.

I flicked my tail, my ears drooping down.

Redheart looked at me bewildered, "tell me what?"

I sighed wanting to avoid her eyes at all costs. "I'm trying to leave the Ranch."

"What?!" Redheart's eyes darted around. "The Boondocks?"

I begrudgingly nodded too ashamed to even look in her direction.

She stomped her hoof causing my head to jolt up. "Then I am going with you!"

The Head Rancher stepped in, "Out of the question! Both of you!"

Nurse Redheart's eyes narrowed, "Too late." She turned her head to me her eyes concentrated on me. My head began to ache once again but this time I heard a distant voice, "Spades do you hear me? Good, I am only gonna say this once. Use your magic to cast an electric spell at the maintenance panel above that door."

I softly nodded to her standing there I started to focus all my magic to my horn. A soft green glow encased my horn.

"Spades don't!" The Head Rancher pleaded.

Turning on my back two hooves I pointed my horn directly at the panel. A bright green current shooting out of the tip of my horn. As the electric current shot the large black power box the lights shut off. 'Power crash.'  I thought. Using my horn once again I used the last of my magic to cast a dull illumination spell. Turning I found Nurse Redheart galloping towards a steel door that used to be locked shut.

"Spades I can see you!" Yelled the Head Rancher.

Gulping I shut down my spell bolting toward where I last saw Redheart. Not even making it half way Nurse Redheart yelled to me, "Spades Common!"

Something bright blinded me, screaming I shut both eyes trying my best to cancel the accursed light. 'The back up generator.' Screaming out I cussed, "Damn my luck!" My eyes still burned as I ran blindly opening one eye I knew I still had to trek forward. 

"Spades, the door! To the Boondocks!" It was Nurse Redheart. My heart dropped to my hooves.

Picking up speed I bolted to the door not slowing for no pony. I heard the Head Rancher's voice calling to the Guard in the maintenance panel, "Get that door shut now!"

"On it!"

I was a foot away from the door when Nurse Redheart disappeared into the darkness. Racing after her we were met with at least thirty stairs. I groaned. "Teleport!" I yelled.

She nodded. Using her horn she teleported to the top of the staircase. I stumbled as I remembered my magic was depleted, anymore spells I would be dead weight to Nurse Redheart unable to aid her in the Boondocks. Grunting I raced up the stairs not wanting to stress my wings even more. My legs burned the lactic acid beginning to build. My eyes had a tear in them, 'Nurse Redheart is risking it all, form me? Reaching the top of the staircase I didn't want to believe my eyes. I almost lost my lunch.