//------------------------------//
// Strike 37- Blindsided Part 1 of 3 
// Story: When lightning strikes... 
// by FrostTheWolf 
//------------------------------//


When Lightning Strikes- Blindsided Part 1




Time’s Shack (The following morning)

        By the time morning came, the sun was brightly shining into the dim windows as he slowly woke up. The Adept was trying his best to get up, but it took him a few minutes to finally feel awake. He became wide awake though because of the note that he found by his jacket.

        In the Basement. Need you ASAP. -Silver.

        That’s when he shot up and proceeded to get dressed before looking around. Time wasn’t here at the shack and he could still here Pinkie snoring, but he couldn’t tell where the basement was. Until he opened one of the doors in the shack and proceeded to fall down a flight of stairs that lead into Silver’s workshop.

        “Oww. Ow. Oww! Oh god, that hurts.” Lance shook his head, brushing the dust off of his clothes before looking around. Seeing Silver looking at him with a grin on her face. “What’s so funny, Silver?”

        “You falling down my stairs. I’ve only seen one person do that.” Silver giggled, “Entropy, Time’s adopted daughter.”

        “Well, I’ve only been awake for nearly fifteen minutes,” The Adept deadpanned, taking her note out of her jacket. “I got your note, what’s up?”

        “Well first,” Silver gestured to the workshop, which was in horrible shape but had a pattern. The stuff that was available would have made Humdrum drool. There was a cage in the far corner that had blood covering it, and… the corpse of a pony… “What do you think?”

        “Of what? The contraption, your workshop, or the dead pony? Because I’m not a fan of trophy kills.”

        “Trophy kills? Oh, no, he’s the food for Time’s pet. She has… Weird tastes… And I mean everything.”

        “Who is she?” Lance asked, looking around a little bit. “Is she some kind of Displaced?”

        “Famine, and she’s… An experiment Time had when he was alone and… Messed up. She’s an alternate Pinkie he changed into an Amnesia: Justine monster.”

        “Dear god… That’s disgusting.” The Adept tried to hold back the smell as he looked at the Unicorn. “Why the hell would he do that?”

        “He was lost. After his banishment, he started hearing voices of his dead mother. This lead to him starting these experiments. He was lost in insanity, nopony with him… He took her and two others, changed them, and kept them here. The other two are also alive, but they’re in another place with Famine.” Silver stated.

        “Why do I have a feeling that you’re going to relate this to something else? Where is Time even?” Lance asked. “Pinkie is still asleep in her room.”

        “Time went back out to hunt a few Void Breach. Weak Void Dwellers with Psi Splitter.” Silver said, “Time’s been out there ever since you two… y’know…”

        “...... Y’know what? Was it a few months ago… or more recent?” The Azure Striker asked. He soon sighed, waiting for a response from Silver.

        “Years actually. Two hundred to be precise.”

        Lance was surprised at first, but then soon realized something. “...Killjoy. Is it with the War of Shadows or something different?”

        “What do you mean?”

        “You mean Time didn’t tell you?” The Adept asked. He soon recalled everything that happened with Lee, Folteren, and the first time he met Time. With that, he also explained the War of Shadows and how he was planning on using that to try and draw out Killjoy so he can finish him off. This was after the last time they tried, Folteren’s Scootaloo got hurt and Lee’s Twilight got scared by Folteren in a burst of rage.

        “I know that, but what about Killjoy being with the War?”

        “The original purpose of him gathering everyone was to draw him out. Now, he’s drawn more Displaced into the fight and all this to kill him. If it’s been two hundred years since we last saw him, what happened? Is the war over? Is Killjoy dead? I’m only asking because it’s been a few months in my world along with Max.”

        “No, Time is just time traveling. She’s been preparing it ever since she hit two million years old. And all that trouble for Killjoy? Hah! It isn’t for that weasel, it’s for his entire family. Time couldn’t care less for Kill.”

        “I know. If Kill was… well killed, excuse the pun, then it weakens Roach…… What else do you need me for? I’m going out there to find Time. She and I need a serious chat.” The Adept retorted, looking back around towards the other end of the room.

        “Okay, let me get Humdrum’s stuff.” Silver said as she pulled a metal rod. “This is an Xiophoricatic, but everypony calls it the multi-tool. It’s designed to act as any and all tools. Might help him out.”

        “I agree. This after he got chewed out by Radiance for having a new suit not have any capes.” Lance told her as he placed the tool in his jacket.

        “Those are overrated. I like something useful. I always wore a helmet that doubled as a computer with it’s own A.I.”

        That… caught Lance’s attention. After his conversation with Church, the Adept was now a little more content with remembering people such as Aurora. “What was the A.I.’s name?”

        “Sandy. I lost all copies of her when we got here though, and I doubt the team still uses her. She was useful, but I heard of new programming available when I was banished, so they most likely replaced her.”

        “Well Damn…” The Adept cursed. “At HQ, the A.I. there is Iris. But I have ran into Sandy a couple of times. There’s the team's old hideout in the park and then… Paradise Tower.”

        “Really? How’s the museum?” Silver asked.

        “It became a memorial for Stopwatch, but for the past year, it was abandoned and haunted by Reaper. Also, Sandy there was reconfigured there to be a tour guide. Whoever did that is a cruel son of a b*tch.”

        “Well… That’s all the Sandy’s I installed… Only other place would be Old HQ, but that place was bombed…”

        The Adept was going to the stairs, but the mentioning of the Old HQ caused him to stop and turn around. “Wait… Old HQ? I wasn’t aware about that.”

        “Yeah, before our banishment, the Power Ponies lived in a place called White Asylum. It was our base for almost Time’s entire leadership role until Roach blew it up with Cupcake, killing two of our members.”

        “Who are those two?” He asked, eager to get out the door and try to catch Time and his friend while they were still out there.

        “Paper List A.K.A. Hotshot, and Kite, no alias.” Silver said a bit sad.

        “Sorry I asked about them… I just needed some information. I plan to stop there after talking to Time. Ever heard the saying One man's trash is the next man’s treasure?”

        “Yes, that was my moto.”

        “Well… I’m going to be digging through Rubble shortly afterwards.” The Adept replied as he walked up the stairs, out the door and out of the shack. Looking at the ground, he could barely see a series of footprints that were in the ground along with another set of prints he could not recognize. “Now then… Let’s see where you two went off to.”



Elsewhere…

        “Aim for the head!” Screamed Time as she was chased by a white bipedal with a chainsaw, “Psi! Shoot it’s head now!”

        “I’m trying!”

        “Well try harder!” Spinner yelped when the white humanoid picked her up by the belt and held her with one hand. “Now! Before it breaks my back!”

        Psi took a deep breath, aimed for the things head and shot. The bullet going right through the humanoid’s skull. Time fell on top of it as it crumpled.

        “This amuses me not…” Time looked towards Psi, “Don’t scare me like that again, I don’t want Silver nursing me again.”

        “Sorry about that, but you know I was never the best in high stress situations.”

        As Time deeply sighed, she turned around, noticing something… or someone for that matter, running towards them. He stood out a little because of his Azure jacket and-. “Lance! What are you doing!? It’s...” She looked at the dark sky, “Six AM!”

        “Your point?” He asked, finally arriving by her as he caught his breath. “Besides, I needed to talk to you.”

        “Bout what? I’m hunting Breach and having-.” Time was cut off.

        “About the War of Shadows. I just had a talk with Silver and from what she told me, you’re not telling me the full story.”

        “Of course, I’m a Displacer, it’s what I do.” Time smirked.

        “What about the fact that you’re using this to get at Killjoy, even though you really don’t give two sh*ts about him.”

        “Kill’s working with Warzone, and they’re trying to revive their oldest sister.” Time Spinner stated. However, Lance didn’t care about that. He couldn’t care less right now. Unaware of Psi’s presence nearby.

        “If you do not mind me asking, who are you?” Psi asked.

        “Sorry about that. I’m Lance Walker. I’m sorry that I came off abrupt. I’m just a little… Irritated at Time right now.” He apologized, holding out a hand for Psi to shake.

        Psi shook Lance’s hand. “It is alright, You’re a Displaced right?”

        “Yes I am,” He replied. “Displaced as Gunvolt. Reason for my electricity abilities and some other things.” He looked back at Psi and wondered something. “What are you displaced as?”

        “Oh, Psi’s not Displaced, he’s… A Void Dweller.”

        “Oh so he’s like you… and Loki?” Lance asked, trying to make sure they understood him when he asked his question.

        “Oh, yes… Psi is a Displacer. I’ve been helping him master his abilities ever since I created him.” Time smirked and slung her arm around the sphere, “Guess you could say I’m his mom!”

        Psi moved out of Time’s reach. “While I am grateful of you for teaching me how to use my powers and creating me, I would prefer you don’t do that again.”

        “I see what you mean, Psi.” The Adept replied. Although, thinking of Time as his creator just made him think of her as a Mad scientist. Especially with the thought of Famine still fresh on his mind.

        “Yes after a while that just gets annoying.” Psi replied back. “So you’re Displaced as Gunvolt? I remember seeing that while picking my first Displaced, good character.”

        “Thanks. I appreciate the compliment.” He replied back, looking at Time briefly before looking back at Psi. 

        “I’m going to ignore that comment, Psi, but if you call me annoying again I’ll lock you in a parallel universe as a mare and send Jubilee after you.” Time glared at the sphere, “Now get out of here before I turn you into yarn.”

        Psi Splitter disappeared, leaving only two in the wasteland.

        Spinner turned to Lance, “What else do you want to know? I’m a little frustrated right now that I have to explain myself to you, dad.” Time rolled her eye.

        “I was just trying to find out about some things before Pinkie and I head back to our world.” the Adept told the Displacer. “Which includes a little bit of… clarification. I would like to know what exactly your plan is with the Voidborn. You said that you were going to deal with Killjoy, but Silver told me that you couldn’t care less about him and that this is a plan to draw out the rest of the family. And why do I feel like I’m being used as a pawn in your chess game?!”

        Time laughed, “The less you know, the better! Killjoy is a piece of work, even killing one of my experiments. That got him on my death list. Pissing me off isn’t something anyone does… If telling you gets that pretty little head away from me, I’ll tell you.” Time clicked her fingers and an image of Killjoy, Roach, a bulky looking man, a red skinned woman, and a pure black woman that looked like Spinner, “These are the Voidborns. Tough guys name is Warzone, high on my list while Killjoy was low. He’s smart, strong, and really makes me want to tear his head off. The red skinned woman is Flaze, but she’s not on the list, she’s about the only one worth a damn. And the last is Izra, the woman who sent Roach after me and played with me for twenty years. She’s my main target, and the war will help me get to her. That good? Or is this not the answer you were looking for?”

        Time stomped over to Lance, her eye turning red and black, “She’s tormented me, killed my experiments, and broke me!”

        Lance just looked at her now, startled, but firm. “The more reason why you can’t do this alone. If she broke you once, she will do it again.” He put a hand on her shoulder for a moment, looking at her. “Trust me… I want to help bring you back. But you can’t go on a one man crusade to do so. You need to let other people help you. Let other people in… I’m going to go back to Maretropolis with Pinkie. Just… think about what I said.” With that, the Azure Striker began to walk back to the shack that the Displacer called home. Returning to see Pinkie Pie and Lumen waiting by the door.

        “Ready to go home?” He asked them. Lumen nodded, but Pinkie was still looking at Time in the distance as Lance walked inside. “Pinkie?”

        “Hunh?” The Mare asked, snapping out of her trance and looking back at Lance. “Oh yeah, sorry. I was just… thinking.”

        “It’s alright. There’s nothing against thinking.” He told her. “We’ll see Time again soon, okay?” The pink mare nodded, turning around and soon following Lance through the same mirror that he used in order to create the doorway in the first place. The way home. 

        However, as Lance stepped through, he thought he heard somepony scream. Somepony that was in trouble. He was worried a little because somehow, he heard the voice before.



Later…

        Throughout the brief time that the Azure Striker had returned back to his world, he didn’t feel completely focused. Something had been bothering him ever since he got back to HQ. Lance had been thinking over and over about the voice he was hearing and tried to remember who’s it was. Twilight herself thought that he was hearing this because he had been working too much lately and that the Adept needed a day off. So, she told him that he could use the chance to get a rest and maybe take a nap while he was at it. Lance, for one thing, actually decided to take her advice. With everything involving Time and also the amount of things going on back in Maretropolis, he thought that a small snooze would help him. 

        But as he laid down and closed his eyes, the Adept began to hear those cries for help again. But this time, he could hear them clearly. He was seeing Rainbow Dash, his daughter, running, before it abruptly ended with darkness setting in and a loud scream. The motion caused Lance to wake up, shocked by what he saw as he was startled awake. As he looked at the door though, he could see Ash outside. And she seemed to be a bit… concerned for him.

        “Lance, where were you!?”

        “Hunh? S-sorry… I was… tired after taking care of some things. Twilight told me to take a nap, but all it did was cause me to see a nightmare.” The Adept told her, rubbing his eyes a little as he got out from under in and was now sitting on top of it. “What’s up?”

        Ash sighed, “I was told by Radiance you’d help me with something… Guess I’ll ask someone else.”

        “What do you need my help with?” Lance asked, curious as to what his assistance was needed for.

        “Well, Radiance and I were tracking a lead as to the whereabouts of the Power Clones, but Radiance needed to work on something.”

        “Hmm… Is Sparkler still with Blaster? I might have an idea on how to find them.”

        “Sparkler’s been here ever since you called her in… She hasn’t stopped working… That’s beginning to worry me too, now.” Ash said.

        “Well, Sparkler might have a reason to take a break.” Lance replied. “With Blaster being a Cyborg, she must have a map and transmitters that her partners keep on them so she can find them if they’re split up or lost. If she turns the map on, you might find their locations.”

        “Thanks Lance. I’ll check it out… And I mean Sparkler’s been just sitting next to Blaster, non-stop working. She hasn’t taken a break, and she hasn’t said a word.” Ash said, before shaking her head, “Anyway, I’ll get to work. Maybe when Spark is done she can help you… Oh, and Lance?”

        “Yes?” Lance asked.

        “Why is Pinkie acting weird? I mean, weirder than usual.”

        That… caught his attention. Was this some sort of effect from meeting Time? “I’ll… get back to you on that. I need to find out what she is doing before making any assumptions.” With that, the Adept began to get up, but before he left, Ash told him something else. She told him what exactly was going on with their team mate.

        “She’s been… Skipping and humming to her stomach… Once, Humdrum said he heard her… Purring out Stopwatch’s name. What the hay is wrong with her?”

        “Let’s just say…… She was able to meet someone important she hasn’t seen in a long time.” The Adept retorted. “Leave her to me.”

        “Of course.” Ash said bowing slightly. With that, Lance walked over to where Pinkie’s room was. Right off the bat, he could tell exactly what she was talking about.

        The pink mare hummed to herself, laying flat out on her bed, trying to hug herself. She wasn’t even aware of Lance being nearby until Lance knocked on the door and caused the mare to spring upward from her position like when a dog hears a doorbell. “Pinkie? You alright?”

        “Oh, hi Lancie!” The Mare greeted. “I’m just… excited.”

        “Excited?” The Adept asked. “What is there to be excited for?”

        “Oooh!! Lot’s of things, Lancie!! Especially when we help get Surgey back home!” Pinkie cheered. Lance then sighed a little, looking back at her a little as he closed the door.

        “Pinkie… I know you’re excited for Time coming home, but it might be a while before hand. Can you not be distracted by it?” Lance asked.

        “I just saw him- er, her for the first time in a year! I thought he was dead! What would you do if Max was is Surgey’s shoes and you were in mine!?” Pinkie said, not losing a single bit of joy in her voice.

        “You… got me there.” Lance replied. “I’m proud for both you and Time, but I just want to keep the fact that you met Time between us for a couple of days. Many things are happening right now, so we should wait until things are calmer before we tell the girls that you might be having a foal.”

        She giggled nervously, “Yeah… Sure… Oh, wait! I haven’t had a preggers test!”

        Lance sighed a little, looking back at Pinkie. “You mean a pregnancy test?”

        “Well duh!” Pinkie booped the Adepts nose, “What else would I mean!?” The Mare soon whooshed out of the room, almost blowing Lance into the nearby as she gallopped down the hall. It only took a few seconds for Pinkie to be joyfully screaming in delight over the results that she had gotten. It got to the point where Lance couldn’t tell a thing she was saying as the mare bounced up and tackled him to the floor.

        “P-pinkie! Care to tell me what exactly is going on?” All she did was drop a small test to the side as she nuzzled her face into his chest.

        “I’m going to be a mommy.”

        Lance’s eyes widened. Looking at the mare, he soon was able to get up and properly hug her tightly. “Congratulations, Pinkie!! This is amazing news!!”

        “Not even going to ask…” Grumbled a mare they didn’t see before. It was Sparkler.

        “Wait… how did you get in here? The door was closed.”

        “Door was ajar. I heard to and opened it the rest of the way.” Sparkler grumbled again, sounding dry. Lance noticed her eyes had dark circles under them, “I also was searching floor you…”

        “I’m sorry about that. Something came up… You should go get some rest, Sparkler. You earned it. Thanks for your help earlier.” He told the mare.

        “Best keep blather under heavy shidashin… Sidation. She’s… Not taking well to my powers, I had to fight hard inside her head, and her cybernetics were programed for anti-telepathic linshs. Links… It set off a failsafe and when she wakes she’ll tr-”

        “Sparkler, you should really get some sleep. I’m sorry I brought you here so early, but you deserve a much needed nap. Hell, sleep in my room if you want. You earned it.” The Adept told her. He could understand bits and pieces of what she was saying, but those bits and pieces were enough for him to proceed. “We’ll keep Blaster under sedation and I’ll let Twilight know about the failsafes.”

        Sparkler shook herself awake a bit, “Call mish… Miss… Mom and tehh her I’m dane… Done…” With that, the Mare passed out, but not before Lance caught her and proceeded to place her back on the bed in his room. Before he left though, he looked back at Pinkie one last time. 

        “Let’s keep the foal thing under wraps until we don’t have villains trying to attack us.” Lance suggested. In response, Pinkie nodded before the Adept left and placed Sparkler on the bed in his room. As he finished putting the sheets over her, he soon called Derpy Hooves, letting her know about Sparkler being done, but that she needed a nap before she could come home. All of that was acknowledged by her as she thanked the Adept for his help before hanging up the call. But it wasn’t enough time for the Azure Striker to catch his breath though with the thoughts that have been coursing through his head.

        Besides, there was a few things that he had to be reminded before going anywhere. Specifically, with Detective Whooves. He left a file for Lance while he was gone on someone that had shown up out of nowhere, killing all of the prisoners inside of the Solace Asylum. He even executed the prisoners publically, taking control of all the major television networks to reveal himself and his vendetta. Plus, not only that, but based on the details they could gather, it seemed like this vigilante was not working along.

        He called himself “Death Gun” and his group was named “Laughing Coffin”. From what Lance remembered from back home, both of those were related to Sword Art Online. Which means that this vigilante… was a Displaced.

        He sighed deeply, groaning a little as he set the file aside. Only to find a bigger manila folder. This time, relating to Derpy (One Punch Mare) and all the shenanigans she’s been a part of. “Seriously? I can’t keep my eye off of that mare for two seconds before something crazy happens.”

        Putting aside the folder that contained all the Derpy related incidents, he then looked over his current equipment. Aside from what he normally carried, he decided to keep Blood Cleaver’s knife on him. He had a feeling that he was going to need it later on as he walked out of his room, heading towards the command center. When he didn’t find him there, he decided to head towards the mess hall. The second most likely place where they might be.

        “Hey Humdrum, you there? I needed to give you something before I check up with Derpy Hooves in New Yoke-.” The second he stepped in the door, he found something… else. The entire League of Vigilante Justice was there, along with Gremmy and the others. “What the Fu-!?”

        “Surprise Motherbucker! We’re here for the free taco meeting!” The one named Sonata shouted at him, throwing a taco at Lance’s face.

        “.....That’s not why we’re here Sonata.” Gremmy deadpanned.

        “Shh quiet genie. You’re master is talking.” She replied. Because of the unexpected arrival of the league, the Adept grew a bit tense as he closed the door behind him.

        “Look, I already cleared Kaoru’s name and Twilight is informing the other heroes to not target her anymore. Is there something here that I’m missing or is this some sort of messed up revenge plan. Because Touka already told me what Sonata is capable of with Tacos.”

        “No but that is on my list of things to do to with, but that’s not it.” Chrysalis said as she untied a pony that was next to her. “I’m wondering why they’re still coming after her even though you did send the message to the other heroes. Unless you only send the message to the heroes in Maretropolis?”

        “I bet he only sent them to that M.I.S.T. team and CMC team.” The mare added on, smirking as she rubbed her wrist.

        “For your information, this was sent out to ALL teams… My only guess is that Kaoru is being hunted by a third party… You familiar with Lauren Order?” He asked. “She’s set up a Suicide Squad to do tasks that others see as… well, suicide. This includes heists and killing high valued targets. Otherwise then that, I’m not sure what the problem is because there are only four hero teams. Including this one, MIST, CmC and Mane Hero 6.”

        “.....Raindrops?” Chrysalis said as she looked at the pegasus.

        “Who is Raindrops?” Lance asked. “I’ve never heard of somepony named that before.”

        “Me b*tch.” The mare said. “Bleeding Nightmare, at your service.”

        The name immediately caught Lance’s attention. But for a different reason. “Wait… you’re that traitor Aurora told me about.” The Adept pointed out. It was only then that his band began to glow a little. “Why is a psychopath here? I already had to deal with Purple Mare. I don’t need somepony else trying to wreck the place.”

        “I was gonna have her join my league if she’s willing to join us in hunting down any criminals.” Chrysalis said as she smiled at Lance. “Having somepony like her hunting and killing criminals would be very useful. Plus she pretty much hates you guys as much as I do so it’s a win win in my book.”

        “... Okay, back up. Care to explain why you two hate us? I’m kind of lost here.” He asked. “Besides, I can only help if I actually know the reason why.”

        “Oh? Twilight didn’t tell you?” Chrysalis said as she looked at Raindrops. “Should I tell him or should you?”

        “I wanna, you two keep babbling I haven’t talked much…” Raindrops grumbled. “Second year of Stopwatch’s command, him and Zapp were sent to Wonderland for a few months. Chrysalis killed a civ when she got her powers and was sent to the Zero Zone while Clayton was starting up. Twi couldn’t get Chrysalis out because only Mr. Winter could, and he decided that Stopwatch needed to make the choice, but after a few months of convincing, she was able to free Chrysalis but on the condition that she be removed from the team, and so Twi agreed.”

        “I don’t trust Clayton. That decision and everything about it is uncalled for. You should’ve had a chance to redeem yourself.” Lance told them, only to be interrupted before he could speak again.

        “Shut up, I’m not done! And I said Mr. Winter, not Clayton.” Raindrops snapped.

        “Is it wrong that I find you very attractive right now Raindrops?” Chrysalis asked.

        “Yes.” Raindrops grumbled. “Anyway, I found Chrysalis’ actions were justified. Killing villains did more good than harm, so I continued her work in the Power Ponies but Stopwatch thought I was going overboard. I mean, so what if I tortured a filly to get her father to talk!?”

        The Adept growled to himself. “You make a point on Chrysalis, but you are different. What you do is worse…”

        “I’m not gonna lie, but I would do the same that Raindrops did if the criminal did have a family and had important information about something.” Chrysalis said.

        The Adept said nothing to this, but just listened. If he would keep his trap shut right now, it would do more good than harm.”

        “Not done!” Raindrops yelled. “I saw the problem with the Power Ponies and left to find Chrysalis, but turns out that when you break out criminals, they tend to kill those you care about… Like my mother… Because somepony freed the Zero Zone… Chrysalis…” Raindrops glared at the Changeling. “And you know what? That’s when I really saw the light… Nopony, or being, is innocent… The only cure is total annihilation… I want you all dead…”

        “... Really now… And who taught you that?” Lance asked. “Because that would sound like something Roach would say.”

        “That is true… wait, you’re not working for him are you?”

        “I worked for him for awhile, but I learned that on my own. You’re all a parasite, I’m just the exterminator…” Raindrops said, beginning to walk towards the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to tell my boss why I was kidnapped.”

        “So I guess you’re going to kill me then huh?” Chrysalis said as a smile grew on her face. “Am I correct?”

        “Eventually. You and Twi’ll be my last victims… But I want to stretch my legs so if I get caught I’ll have had at least a month free.” Raindrops said, like she was speaking normally.

        “Alright then.” Chrysalis reached into her coat pocket and handed her a communicator and a SD card. “When you’re finished training or being free for a month. Meet at this location near the league's HQ. I’ll be waiting for when you want to kill.”

        “Chrysalis, what are you doing?” Trixie asked her, confusion setting in on her face.

        “What? Raindrops was pretty much right, we all are not innocent. Not to mention what I did all those years ago and what happen to her mother was pretty much my fault. It’s the least I can do after what I did to her, and I have no problem dying by her hooves. Just one request if you’re willing to hear me out Raindrops?”

        “Shoot.” The yellow mare stated, sounding bored.

        “When you kill me, could you bury me under under that peach tree that we would usually hanged out under when we were in the Power Ponies?”

        “I-I’ll see if I’m in the mood…” Raindrops said, sounding a bit unsure.

        “Thanks, and I know this too late…..but….I’m sorry.” The Changeling told her.

        “You’re right, it is too late…” she said coldly before taking her leave.

        The Adept that was just there just watched the two of them carry on. Neither of them addressed him during the conversation, so he decided to wait until they addressed him while they were talking. However, it was during this time that he noticed movement outside the window at a nearby building. Thinking that it was unimportant, he looked back at them, continuing to wait on the conversation. “Okay, so now that the history lesson is out of the way, both of you are two former heroes with some very screwed up pasts. But what does that have to do with what you want right now?”

        “Chrysalis was talking about her past when Masked Matterhorn came in all pissed off. Mask said that Chrysalis was the reason Raindrops went bad.” Ash commented from her corner. The Adept was quite surprised to notice her there, but didn’t say anything about it.

        “…… Okay, judging from what I can tell, all of this is pointing towards the Zero Zone.” The Adept said, “More specifically, the one in charge of it. I don’t trust Clayton because I believe he is oblivious to what is happening in his own prison and cuts corners when trying to get things done. There’s already been a breakout involving inmates of the Zero Zone and Roach told me that Clayton is not to be trusted. Is there anything I’m missing?” After he spoke, Raindrops was clearly away from the area. Leaving him, Ash and the rest of the league in the mess hall.

        “Well, I might have to give leadership to Trixie in about a month or so.”

        That caught the Adept’s attention real quickly. “You’re giving up leadership? I’m both surprised and confused at the same time. Why is that?”

        “Long story short, let’s just say it involves me, Raindrops, and stuff from the past.”

        “Let me guess, rather not talk about it?”

        “Boy if I told you what I’ve done in the past, it’ll pretty much fill up an entire novel or two.” Chrysalis said as she cracks her neck. “All I know it that my past is coming back to kill me, and let’s just say I’m more then welcome to accept death with open hooves-.”

        It was then though that the Adept saw something flicker outside. A red light that instantly set off alarms in his head. It was a laser sight. And it was pointed at Chrysalis head. “GET DOWN!” Without warning, the Adept dived towards the changeling, tackling her away from the window as multiple gunshots went off, barely missing her as they ricocheted around the complex. One of the shots hit the clip that the Adept would use to keep his jacket together as it split open.

        Looking down at the changeling, he tried making sure that she wasn’t hurt. “Are you alright?” The Changeling just looked at him as he wanted to make sure she was okay.

        “You know if you wanted to have your way with me, you can at least buy a changeling dinner first~.”

        After hearing that, Lance noticed his jacket was unzipped and zipped it up three quarters of the way before looking back at her. “You know, I wouldn’t mind buying you dinner after somepony tried to assassinate you.”

        “Oh right, I almost forgot about that. Gremmy, if you would please?” She asked, hearing a sigh from the person she was talking too.

        “Should I kill them or send them flying across the city?” The Quincy asked her

        “Sending them flying would be best really. I’m not in the mood to kill at the moment.” With that though, the Changeling finally noticed the outstretched hand that the Adept was offering him so she could be back on her hooves again. “Thanks… I guess… why are you helping me?”

        The Adept sighed for a minute before looking back. “Because I believe you. I believe your story and I believe what was done to you is wrong. You are a nice person Chrysalis and I want to do what I can to help you… Now, you were saying about dinner? You might need to relieve some stress after somepony tried to kill you.”

        “That’s why I have Sonata here with me.” Chrysalis said as she points at the taco loving pony, who was being thrown by Gremmy as she was heading towards the sniper.

        “LEEEEROYYYYYYYYY JENKINSSSSSSSSS!” yelled Sonata as she threw taco bombs at the sniper

        “Also no offence, but you’re not my type. Not because of your personality or because you’re a human, but I’m into mares.”

        “I’m fine with that. Trust me, my fiance’s actually like to swing both ways.” He told her. “Still though, maybe we should leave Sonata and Gremmy to deal with the sniper. What kind of food do you like?”

        “As long as it’s not sour or bitter, then I’m fine with whatever.”

        “Hey, I’m getting dinner for you, so I’m letting you pick.” The Adept offered. “Plus, I’m not needed anywhere else right now so this doesn’t really need to be rushed.”

        “If you haven’t notice I have no idea where to eat at the moment. I mostly just order takeout for the league… speaking of takeout. Aria!”

        “What?!” She shouted across the hall.

        “Order some chinese food for the league! Make sure it’s the usual this time!”

        “You know… that gives me an idea… Chinese?” The Adept asked her. “I heard there's a good restaurant downtown.”

        “Hm… alright I guess I’ll go to this restaurant downtown.”

        “Okay, Follow me.” The Adept told her as he offered her a coat to wear before the two of them began to walk through the streets of Maretropolis.



Later that Night

        As the night progressed, Lance began to learn more from Chrysalis in regards to her origins, what happened to her in the Zero Zone and what the changeling had been doing ever since being released. The Adept himself could not believe the torment that she was forced to go through and in a way, felt sorry for her. But, with that said, he was also keeping an eye out on clues for what exactly put her in that situation. Inside the Zero Zone, she was beaten, tortured and abused. Something that would be seen as unacceptable in most prisons. But according to her, everypony there just turned a blind eye. Again, this was unacceptable in many different ways and primarily, against the law.

        “And that’s pretty much my entire story of how I used to be a power pony, and Zero Zone in a nutshell.” She finished, clearing her throat a bit. “Any questions?”

        “Damn, that’s Horrible.” The Adept replied, thinking of the first question that came to his mind as he looked back at the changeling. “How were you able to handle all the torment you were forced through?”

        “The moment I got out of Zero Zone, I pretty much took it out on the Power Ponies. When ever I would see them on one of my missions, I would attack them to the point where they’re sent to the hospital. That or have Sonata go to their HQ and mess up the place by pressing a lot of random buttons. Last time she was there she pretty much caused a computer virus to be unleashed into the Power Pony supercomputer.”

        “That must’ve been with Sandy before she was replaced.” The Adept thought to himself briefly before speaking again in a low tone to himself. Throughout the whole night though, the talk with Chrysalis strangely reminded him of another Displaced that needed help and guidance. That being the Blood Countess, Shalltear Bloodfallen. “Still, I feel bad for what happened to you and I couldn’t even imagine myself bearing through all of that hell like you did.”

        “Don’t be, you’re not the one that left me to rot in that place without knowing what was going on in there.” Chrysalis said as bit her lower lip.

        “Well, mark my words on this,” The Adept said, turning towards her. “I’m going to make Clayton feel sorry that he turned a blind eye on everypony that was tormented, hurt and abused in there. Your story gives me a reason to fight for what’s right. And the first thing to do is to fix up the Zero Zone. What happened to you should not happen to any other pony ever again.”

        “... You know, out of all the power ponies that I hate… you I don’t hate out of all of them.” Chrysalis said as she open the door to the league’s HQ. “You have that spark in your eyes that says you’re telling the truth and you’ll actually do something about it.”

        “I will. Cross my heart and hope to die.” He told her. “I’m not a pony, but I am open minded. I trust you because I know that you weren’t lying to me.” Before she said anything, Lance had a small bit of lightning in his hands flicker as he spoke again. “My senses allow me to read heartbeats. If one’s heartbeat is beating too fast, then they’re hiding something. However, yours was the same throughout the night… Trust me, Chrysalis. Clayton will have hell to pay for this.”

        “I’ll take your word for it, Lance. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to prepare myself for a fight coming up in one month.”

        “What kind of fight?” He asked. “Is it for leadership over the League?”

        “Oh no I’ll have Trixie take over. It’s more of something from the past that I caused in my blind rage.”

        “I see…” Lance told her, not wanting to push it in asking more details. “Do you need anymore help? I know that you’re back at your hideout, but I wanted to make sure you were in capable hooves first… Unless you want me to stay that is…”

        “It’s fine really, you don’t have to worry about me Lance. I do have my friends to help me remember?”

        “I know, but you sent two of them after your sniper, one to get takeout for the others and technically, I don’t think you called for everypony to return to base.” The Adept pointed out, seeing that the hideout was mostly empty. He figures that Kaoru and Touka were either asleep or doing something else, but didn’t want to leave them out either. “That’s why I wanted to make sure you were alright first. Everypony I know, like you, is a friend and family member to me-.”

        KNOCK KNOCK!

        The knock on the door caught the Adept by surprise. Either Sonata was back very quickly or it was Gremmy. But that was personally his first guess. Turning around, he soon asked Chrysalis a question. “Were you expecting company?”

        “Not unless it’s the pony from the chinese takeout place.”

        “You want me to go check? Just to make sure?” He offered, seeing that Chrysalis looked partially tired.

        “You can if you want, but if it’s those tax collector then you can shock them if you want.” Lance chuckled at the sound of that, walking over to the door and slowly opening it.

        “Who is it?” He asked, looking outside partially.

        “I’m here to see the leader of the League of Vigilante Justice. We know each other.” A muffled female voice echoed. Lance thought for a minute as he sensed the pony speaking. Heartbeat was normal, she was speaking the truth. However, he needed to be careful

        “What’s your name?” The Adept then asked, cautiously.

        “Monochrome Sunset. She’ll love to see me again.”

        Again, pulse was normal. Yet, something seemed… off about this mare. “Okay, hang on for just a minute.” Lance told her, walking back to Chrysalis as he slowly closed the door. Careful enough not to do anything suspicious. “Chrysalis, somepony by the name of Monochrome Sunset is here to see you? She says you two know each other?”

        “M-Monochrome S-Sunset?” Chrysalis said as she began to shiver with fear. “Oh dear Celestia.”

        “What’s wrong?” He asked. “You’re freaking out like I just talked about the Grim Reaper. Who is she?”

        “You know how I told you about the group I join before I made the league? Well let’s just say Monochrome is one of them that I… left… behind in Zero Zone when I was still young and blinded by rage to focus on other things.”

        “What do you think she’s here for now?” Lance asked, tempted to draw one of his new forerunner weapons that Church gave him before meeting Time again recently.

        “If you were left to rot in Zero Zone after you helped a certain pony or changeling escape, what would you do when you’re finally out?” It took a few moments, but soon, Lance realized the reason why.

        “ … Revenge.” Quickly drawing one of his guns, the Adept went to the door and prepared for a possible breach. “Get to cover. Something tells me that she won’t take so kindly for you refusing to see her. And with your friends gone, it’s only you and me. Try calling for backup, I’ll hold her at the door.”

        “Right.” Chrysalis said as she ran off into her office to call for backup.

        “Buck this…” Mumbled a male voice before the door was knocked off its hinges. “Chrysalis! We’re home!” A very pissed off stallion said. He wore a long coat and an odd hat, but what almost got Lance laughing was his Grumpy Cat Cutie Mark.

        “ … Okay, I’ve heard of Grumpy Cat, but this is something completely different.” He said, before pulling out a boltshot handgun as it glowed with energy. “You got five seconds to state your business. Starting now…”

        “We wanted to see Chrysalis and tell her how we appreciate her leaving us to join this half assed vigilante group.” A mare wearing a white mask with a crudely drawn on smile. Pulse this time was higher than it was originally. They’re hiding something.

        “Bullsh*t,” Lance spat. “I can tell that you’re lying.” From there, electricity began to surge around the room. “Four seconds…”

        The grumpy cat stallion rolled his eyes. “Ask her, ape. Are you that stupid that you think she’s perfect?”

        “Sourpuss, quiet.” said the masked mare. The name though, triggered something. Lance was told by Chrysalis that one of the ponies that used to be in the same group she was in during her time in the Zero Zone was under that name.

        “Heh… I would say that you are the ones who slipped up now…” The Adept grinned as he looked at them. “She told me about you and how she left you. You're the vigilante group that she was a part of before she made the league. Now… enough of your games. Your time is almost up.”

        The mare named Monochrome growled as she stared the Adept down. “Sour, go.”

        “What!? And leave the traitorous b*tch!? I’ve waited for this moment ever sin-” Before he could finish, the mare let out another deep growl at him.

        “Now… I’ll take care of the Gunvolt and bring Atomic Changeling back to base… You’ll get your fun...” With that, the stallion left. However, something else hit the Adept as he inhaled what appeared to be blue smoke as he fell to one knee. Right now, he was stuck in a daze. Struggling to understand what’s going on around him. He could hear talking, two to three ponies fighting one another. But he couldn’t tell what was happening. His body was fighting the gas he inhaled, but it was messing with his senses. He was beginning to wake now though and during this time, he saw Chrysalis blast the hoof off her attackers with her powers. He could now fully stand back up as they stumbled towards him. As she turned around, the mare was shocked to find that the Adept that was previously on the floor right in front of her. Electricity surging at the highest velocity and weapons drawn.

        “Did you forget about me!?” He shouted, shocking one attacker with a few bolts of lightning.

        “Well you got up quickly then I expected. I was just enjoying myself before you woke up.”

        “Save it,” Lance snarled, firing a set of Vasuki bolts that ricocheted off of the walls and hit the attackers coming for Chrysalis. Before they could react, lightning surged through those bolts that hit two others that were known as Sleeper and Solar, causing them to drop to the ground unconscious. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Be thankful that I only knocked your companions out. All of you have got a lot to answer for.”

        The mare just grinned, simply saying one word. “Knife.”

        The Adept recognized the tactic. He had seen it before. The mare must’ve either carried a concealed knife or can turn her body into a weapon. Hence the name Monochrome, which was a type of metal.

        To his surprise, a knife was stabbed into his back from another pony. Chrysalis recognized her instantly as Alice. But to the Adept, this was too… simple. “Okay, I have to admit… That was clever…” The Adept grinned, coughing up some blood. “However… you also made another grave mistake.” He knew that when it came to metal objects, they were conductors of electricity. He was going to have lightning surge through the Knife, until he heard a shout from Chrysalis.

        “Don’t let her absorb any kind of electricity!”

        At that, Lance turned around, cursing to himself as he blinked over to Chrysalis’ position in the room. He let the changeling pull out the knife as his body began to heal on his own. But he wanted to know something. “So, who was the one that had the bright idea to stab me?”

        The mare named Monochrome, also known as  focused on her downed teammate while the attacker made herself known… It was a filly covered in blood.

        “Still into fairy tales, Alice?” Chrysalis growled.

        “Fairy tales… No… I… I don’t find them fun… The Cheshire Cat want’s to know why you hurt Parasol.” The filly asked, her mane drifting to the side.

        “Because she attacked me first, that and the fact that you all are pretty much gonna kill me.”

        “You abandoned us! We- I thought of you like a sister!” Alice glared as horns grew onto her head, her coat went pale and her eyes went blood red.

        “What I did to you all was something that can never be undone. For that, I am sorry... But even if you all are planning to kill me I would have no problem with that.” Chrysalis raised a hoof at Alice as her eye had a dead expression on them. “If you can find it your heart to forgive me for what happened, then I’ll let you all go. But if you can’t and you keep coming after me.” The white aura that was surround Chrysalis started to take the shadowy form of the grim reaper. “Then I will kill you without showing you all any mercy.”

        “It isn’t just that you left us, but that even when you had this team you never once tried to get any of us out. Grape at least tried, while you had fun.” Monochrome snarled. “And it’s not like we even wanted to come back, our new leader wants you.”

        “I wasn’t having fun, honestly I wasn’t. I was trying to form the league to not only defend Maretropolis, but to get you all out of Zero Zone.” Chrysalis lowered her arm as the aura around her disappeared. “Throughout the past three to four years I’ve been training this league to be able to break into Zero Zone and bust you out. But the moment when I have the ability to come back to get you all, you all disappeared from that place.”

        “That’s going to make this harder…” Fallover said.

        “I could never forget you guys, you all were first group of ponies that accepted me for who I am.” Tears began to flow down Chrysalis’s face.

        Monochrome herself was quiet for a bit before she signaled Alice to retrieve Sleeper and Solar while she picked up Parasol and her unattached hoof. “We came here to get you. Our new leader wanted to talk to you about joining our group again.”

        “Why would you want somepony like me back?”

        “Our new guy doesn’t care about the family, he just wants results. Since the Master, Slendermane and Mercury left, the new mare wanted us to force you to join. That’s all I can say…” The mare said with an edge in her voice.

        “I’m sorry, but I can’t join.”

        “That’s why this is hard…” Monochrome said as she trotted out of the doorway. “There’s no room for failure… Kill us if you have to…”

        “Why not join me and the League of Vigilante Justice? We’ll be willing to accept you as our friends or a member of the family.” Chrysalis said as she ran over and reach for Chrome’s hoof. “Please, let me make it up to you for what happened to you three years ago.”

        “I… I can’t… I have no choice…” The mare told her.

        “Then tell me who’s making do this! Please, I don’t want to lose you all again!”

        Monochrome looked hesitant upon hearing her friends plea. “I’ll keep in touch. She’s too strong right now… Best I can say is it has to do with a new organization…”

        “Who’s in charge of this new organization?”

        “I can’t say too much… Find Ma- Perfect Pace, he knows more than me.” Fallover said before she galloped away.

        Alice dragged the knocked out ponies out of the base. Chrysalis said nothing as she watched her former family run away from the league HQ. Lance walked up next to her wondering if she was okay. Only for his question to be answered, as Chrysalis buried her face into his chest and begun to cry. The Adept held her close, trying to comfort her.

        “It’s going to be okay,” he told her as she continued to shed her tears while leaning against him. Holding her in his arms like if she was one of his children. “I’m here for you.”

             “Why?” Chrysalis asked. “Why would you care for somepony like me?”

        “Because leaving somepony in the state you're in goes against everything I believe in. I’m here to help you Chrysalis. You’re overwhelmed with hurt and you need help making sure that your broken heart can heal.” He told her. “I’ve felt this kind of loss as well… and I’ll be damned if I let you go through it alone.”

        “J-Just take me to my office please. I need some rest after all this.”

        “Sure,” He told her, picking her up in his arms as the changeling pointed out where her office was. Pushing the side of it with his body, the door opened as he walked in. “Where do you want me to set you down?”

        “At my desk. The chair can turn into a bed when I need it to be one.” He nodded, setting her down gently on the chair as requested. Like she said, the chair soon began to glow a little, turning into a bed for her to lie down on. Once the task was complete, he looked back at her with a concerned look in his eyes.

        “Anything else I can do?” He offered.

        “.....Could you stay with me for a while? Just until I fall asleep.”

        The Adept nodded after giving it some thought. “I’ll stay here with you. I’ll help keep you safe.” He promised.

        “Thanks, if only Twilight and her friends were more like you.” Chrysalis said as she laid her head on the arm rest. 

        “They don’t know you like I do.” He told her, getting her a pillow for her head. But it was when he touched her head that he realized something. “My god, you’re cold! Almost like you're freezing to death.”

        “Side effect of going all out. Had to change my molecular structure in order to stand a chance against those I fight.”

        The Adept cringed a little, shaking his head. “This isn’t normal. If I leave you like this, you’ll freeze to death in your sleep. What can I do to help you?” Around then, Chrysalis felt the Adept’s hand on her shoulder. Warm to the touch.

        “Mind if you cuddle with me until I get warm?”

        That… surprised the Adept. But, true to his word, he couldn’t just say no. “No, I don’t mind.”

        “Good, because I’m bucking cold at the moment.” The Adept nodded, lowering himself to her as he let her feel his warm embrace. To the Adept, this was helping the changeling mend her broken heart. To help her heal her broken soul. To help her stay warm and stay alive.




End Part 1