Chapter 113: Belly of the Beast
Twilight had been oddly nervous when meeting Celestia again. But her long-time mentor and friend had been the one who was speechless at first, Celestia's eyes watering as the older mare looked down at her pupil. She had gotten the younger alicorn’s note, after all. After Twilight’s longer explanation, all of the young Princess’s worries fragmented with a few words and a subsequent hug from her mentor.
“I’m so, so proud of you, Twilight.”
When asked if she could still fix things, Celestia’s response had been a bit more measured.
“Two hundred years of choices can’t be undone in an instant,” the former ruler had said. “But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. All you can do is try.”
After another hug, Twilight had returned to the castle. There had been a few important matters to take care of.
I’ve made mistakes. But at least I’m trying to do better.
In front of the mare was a series of documents along those lines. She didn’t expect thanks, let alone forgiveness. This was simply one check box in the very long list of mistakes that had been made.
The first document was a letter to Director Shield. Twilight knew it wouldn’t fix things, not even close. But maybe it’d be enough to give her a chance to start.
“Director Shield,
In the past few weeks, I’ve come to realize I’ve failed in many ways. I’m ashamed to say my relationship with you as a fellow ruler and friend is one of those.
I wanted to say I’m sorry. I also want to say thank you.
Thank you for reminding me that I’ve failed ponies, including you, because now I can try to be better. You were right to criticize me in the way you did, and I don’t deny any of your words. Quite frankly, as I’ve grown to understand my shortcomings, you have been kind and reserved in your criticisms- all of it.
Before we spoke, I did view your Nation’s goals as childish. I did think Equestria was ‘better’ in many ways, beyond it being my kingdom. I now realize that such a view is, in many ways, reversed. I would have been a better pony and ruler if I had followed some of the ideals you and your nation hold so dear.
I’m still ashamed that I couldn’t answer your question about saving someone in need. Yet at some point in my life, I would have. And that’s a failure I’m still coming to terms with, and want to change.
But presently, I’m not the ruler Equestria deserves, nor the creature you deserve as a friend. I’d like to change that, as best I can. I was wrong about you. About your nation, about so many things.
I’m just a pony. And that’s something you reminded me of, something I should never have forgotten as the Princess of Friendship.
So, thank you.
I’d like to apologize face to face if you’d meet with me over lunch in the coming weeks or months at your earliest convenience. If not, I understand, but hope to revisit the request at a later date.
I’ve attached a note to Mally. I don’t expect her forgiveness, or yours for that matter. She was right about me, after all. All I can do is try to be better, even if I have a long way to go.
-Twilight Sparkle.”
The next document was a note. It was briefer.
“Ms. Flarefeather,
I am so, so sorry.
You were right about me. Every word. I only hope that I can change to eventually prove you wrong and earn your forgiveness. As I’ve understood the depth of my failures, I’ve also come to realize that may take a long, long time. I understand that I might never succeed in that effort.
Enclosed are the adoption forms that should have been approved long ago. They’ve been verified and accepted as legal documents in all of the major kingdoms including Equestria.
For however little my words are likely worth, I hope you and Arcane can be happy. If there’s any way I can help make that happen, let me know, and I will.
That includes if you never want to hear from me again. My actions, or the lack thereof, caused you and Arcane untold amounts of pain. I don’t expect your forgiveness for that, nor would I ask for it.
All I can do is try to fix what never should have been broken.
-Twilight Sparkle
-
“Adoption Form 106-6: General Statement and Degree with Royal Authorization. Certifications from Equestrian, Gryphon, Kirin, Hippogriff, and other applicable territories are detailed in Appendix 1
As entered into Record:
Adoptive Parent: Mally Flarefeather
Adoptee: Arcane Flare”
-
The letters were sent, and Twilight then teleported to the main throne room. There was another project she wanted to complete.
After summoning the required materials, Twilight weaved the molten threads of glass and metal easily, humming to herself as the creation cooled. Rarity had certainly taught her the finer points of crafting something beautiful.
Twilight still remembered the thousands of examples that she had first created when beginning to learn under Rarity’s guidance.
Of course, those creations were, in the alabaster unicorn’s own words, “affronts to my soul as an artistic creator of beauty, and to everything good on this earth. Burn them.”
They hadn’t been that bad. Well, most of them.
…
Ok, maybe some of them.
The throne room had been redesigned over the past few hours, and now was time to give it the final touches. A simple and elegant glass sculpture of the Tree of Harmony was now present behind the throne. The comfortable and now-simpler throne had been lowered quite a few steps, and the empty space in the area behind also occupied a few additional stained-glass windows of the world. The tree sculpture in front of it had branches that appeared to reach up and touch each of the nations. At least, that’s what it looked like if you stood in the center of the room.
She had asked the guards to remain outside, the mare just enjoying letting her thoughts wander.
“The trunk needs to be a bit thicker.”
Twilight nearly let out a yelp, a shimmering mare appearing at her side.
“I…”
Words failed her. She hadn’t talked to the Tree of Harmony in decades at least. Twilight had just assumed the entity had been around, one way or another. As far as she understood it, Harmony had joined the other benevolent forces that tried to nudge Equestria and its inhabitants in good, positive directions.
“I apologize that I haven’t been around more,” Harmony admitted, the mare’s form shifting to a soft, sparkling teal. “But my role is that of gentle guidance, when necessary. And for the most part, just within Equestria.”
“I could have used some,” Twilight said softly, a lump forming in her throat. “I…haven’t been the best friend. And definitely not the best Element, or Princess.”
“I know,” Harmony said, gently reaching out a hoof to rest on Twilight’s shoulder. “But you were doing your best.”
“It certainly wasn’t good enough,” Twilight retorted, shaking her head and still unable to meet Harmony’s gaze. “I almost forgot everything I learned! I looked down on creatures who were at least trying to do the right thing. Just because I didn’t agree with some of it, I wrote off all of the good! I didn’t even try to consider other points of view! That’s-that’s not who I am. That’s not who I want to be.”
Her wings then slumped, Twilight sniffling.
“But that’s who I became,” she whispered. “The lows became darker and lonelier, and the good days were just…days. I didn’t realize how much I needed my friends to balance me and pull me out of my own head. I should have put myself out there and been more proactive. My friends certainly wouldn’t have wanted me to just waste away on a throne. But I didn’t. I’m not the pony who stayed worthy of these,” Twilight punctuated her final words with a flare of her wings. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes.”
Harmony stayed quiet, Twilight’s side shivering.
“Can I still fix all of this?” the Princess finally asked, and her ears perked up as she saw a genuine smile blossom across Harmony’s face.
“That’s why I’m here,” the ethereal mare said. “You want to fix things and do better. You want to learn from this and rise above it all. To help ponies and reach out to those who need friends. That’s the Element of Magic I remember.”
Twilight managed a sad laugh, wiping away a few tears.
“T-thank you. Is-was I the reason you haven’t been around?”
An immediate shake of Harmony’s head put Twilight at ease.
“No. I have just been observing and nudging things where needed. But I couldn’t push you to come to this realization. Before I help anycreature, including you, it has to come from yourself first. That makes the biggest difference. And I knew you’d get there eventually. You’re a smart mare.”
“I hate lessons like that,” Twilight replied, shaking her head. “I really could have used some nudges.”
“They’re not the most pleasant of lessons, no,” Harmony admitted. “But you had to get there yourself. That’s how a lot of entities like myself can help the most. We can be there for when you realize that you need to be better, and offer encouragement.”
“Like now?”
Harmony smiled, waving a hoof at the Tree sculpture.
“Like now.”
Twilight widened the trunk, the other mare nodding in approval.
“You’re still a pony, Twilight,” Harmony finally said. “And ponies make mistakes. I certainly have made a few.” The mare’s countenance then saddened. “For example. I had no idea about Sassi’s tribulations and the heinous activities of the Company. If I had known, I’d have intervened, at least to let the world know of the suffering in that place. I was wrong to be as removed as I was. Only when Sassi cried out, begging for help at the start of this, was I able to realize the depth of my failure.”
Harmony looked away, the mare’s expression cracking into that of utter grief before being composed. “I can’t explain more than that. But many of us were wrong. There are rules with our power and understanding, but evil thrives when we bind ourselves to them. I was wrong to do so. And you’re not the only one who seeks forgiveness and desires to be better.”
She then smiled, looking up at the Princess.
“But all we can do is try and be better. The fact your mistakes pain you shows far more character about yourself than I think you realize.”
The Princess managed a smile at that.
“Well, I’ll keep trying. That’s all I can do at this point.”
“And you need to make some more friends.”
The Alicorn couldn’t help but burst out laughing, Harmony’s inflections almost identical to when Celestia had asked her to do a similar task.
“Yes, and make some more friends.”
“Can I start that with you? Again? I don’t think I’ve been a good friend at all, not for a while.”
Twilight held out a hoof, and Harmony smiled, bumping it.
“Well, nice to meet you, Twilight.”
“Nice to meet you too, Harmony.”
The two mares stifled a series of giggles, the ethereal pony then looking around happily.
“It’s good to have you back, Twilight. I have to go, but I’ll be back within a week.”
“Maybe we could have lunch?”
The entity blinked, clearly surprised.
“I…don’t eat, but yes. I’d like that.”
As Harmony waved goodbye before vanishing, leaving Twilight standing in the middle of the room.
Her horn ignited, and the small likenesses of her friends started to form on one of the stained-glass windows.
I think you guys need to be here.
For me.
Twilight’s eyes immediately welled up in tears as a bright light ignited in the room. In the depths of the glass tree, a magical glow abruptly began to pulse softly. A magical ember that refused to die.
“I think the room could use a touch of magic,” Harmony’s voice echoed around, her outline visible near the tree before vanishing.
Twilight sniffled, nodding in agreement.
“I think you’re right.”
A familiar tingle sparked across the mare’s flank, and Twilight felt a few tears fall.
My cutie-mark. It’s brighter.
Had it dulled over the two centuries? Slowly enough so that I never realized?
She took a deep breath at that thought.
And one of the things I need to fix is me.
It all begins with a single step. That’s how I met my friends, after all. Just a normal, introverted unicorn taking a step into Ponyville.
Fluttershy hummed as she dusted the kitchen countertop. For the horrible life Arcane had been subjected to, he had been a picture-perfect guest. He hadn’t said much, but Fluttershy could see he had wanted to. The pony had only told them some of his interests, and a general picture of how he grew up.
But neither she nor Discord had pushed him.
Her husband had been remarkably reserved the past week. Time passed differently in Chaosville, so the mare wasn’t sure how it related to Equestria’s. It was sometimes the same, give or take. If Fluttershy had to guess, time was likely being stretched a bit to give Arcane some more recovery time in the day or two that had likely passed in Equestria.
But Discord’s mood had made much more sense considering he had told her who Arcane was before he had arrived. Her husband had been on edge, wanting to tell the pony the truth. But there hadn’t been a good time. Arcane had, one night, woken up screaming.
Fluttershy had held him tight until he fell back asleep, the mare having no idea what haunted his nightmares. Discord seemed to, though. He had seemed especially disturbed that night; the realization that he was utterly powerless.
The discussion where Fluttershy learned that Arcane felt like he had deserved the torture was a horrific, twisted moment. Discord hadn’t met Fluttershy’s gaze when he had explained what Arcane had said in the Canterlot throne room.
Perhaps it was the only way the stallion had been able to cope, to rationalize what was being done to him. If he deserved it, then there was a reason for his suffering outside of horrific luck. Therefore, he wasn’t a good creature. He should have suffered. That gave a reason.
Fluttershy wasn’t about to accept that. She’d do everything in her power to get Arcane to realize that he was worth more than that. Apparently, the mare had gotten a bit heated, Discord having waved a white flag when Fluttershy had snarled in frustration.
It had been rather embarrassing. But she couldn’t help it! To see a pony so broken down…
But today was a bit different. Arcane somehow seemed a bit more at ease. As he usually did in the mornings, Arcane sat at the edge of the path of the cottage, staring out at the chaos swirling around.
His fox family was a constant joy. They accompanied Fluttershy about her cabin, and they constantly voiced their concern for their unicorn friend. They didn’t tell her much, only that he was hurt. The father of the group said the truth would make Fluttershy feel bad, and Arcane would tell her when he was ready. They had explained that they had watched over him for years, and he was a part of their family. He had asked for help, and they had taken him in.
They also said daily that she and Discord were helping, so, Fluttershy trusted them.
Fluttershy let out a soft gasp, a bit of magic surrounding Arcane in the distance. It was the first she had seen him even light up his horn since arriving.
It was a simple glow, but the unicorn was staring at a piece of metal. A breastplate?
That gave Fluttershy an idea, the mare nodding to Discord as he strode out to meet the pony.
Therapy could come in all shapes and sizes.
Arcane looked at the piece of metal, shaping it this way and that. It was the oddest feeling to have control. The chaos simply flowed, every thought in the pony’s mind being manifest in an instant.
It felt right. And that was a sensation that had been missing most of Arcane’s life. There wasn’t a mental pressure that would build until a debilitating migraine; simply a free-flowing river of power that he that the option to tap into.
For the first time in Arcane’s life, he had the choice of whether to use Chaos magic. Somehow, this place had granted him that.
“Embarking on some metallurgy?” Discord asked, the Draconequus floating next to the unicorn.
“You could say that.”
The God of Chaos grinned, settling down next to Arcane.
“If you’re up to it, I could show you how to access your own chaos dimension.” He then held up a claw. “Only if it would help. I don’t want to rush you. You’ve only been here a week. But it could give you a place to safely explore with your magic. I’d be watching to make sure everything stays safe, of course.”
Arcane thought for a few moments.
“I have my own dimension?” he muttered, then shrugging. “I suppose that makes sense. And yes, I think that’d be best. I don’t want to disrupt your home with my magic.”
His words made the Draconequus chortle.
“Oh, my little pony, you couldn’t disrupt anything here. Don’t worry about that.” His tone then softened, Discord nodding to Arcane slightly. “But I appreciate the sentiment. As to accessing your chaos dimension, it’s very easy. I’ll guide you to it. All you need to do is think about going there.”
“That’s it?”
Discord rolled his eyes comically, and literally. The orbs spun in their sockets before stabilizing.
“Well, it’s a bit more complicated on a magical level. But for you, it’s best to keep things simple. You’re not used to accessing Chaos naturally. So, I can link it to more ‘normal’ thought processes for you.”
“Huh. Ok. So, I just think?”
With a snap, a portal opened in front of Arcane, making him jump.
“And there you go. A blank slate next to mine. I’ll make a simple platform for us to start,” Discord said.
Arcane stared through the portal, the area beyond looking similar to Discord’s dimension, but lacking any coherent shapes.
There was an odd pressure, and the stallion shook his head.
“Interesting. You felt that?”
“It felt weird.”
Discord let out a hum, hopping through the portal and waving Arcane onto a large, stone platform.
“That was the magic informing you that I was making changes in your realm. I’m surprised you’re that sensitive.”
Arcane sat down on the stone platform, his mind oddly blank.
There was just nothing.
“This feels strange,” he muttered. “I can just think about nothing. I can just…be. I don’t feel like a wreck. I can think clearly, in a weird way.” He turned to look at Discord, the chaotic god looking around at the ethereal scene. “Why do I feel like this?”
“Because you’re home, Arcane,” Discord said, a genuine smile on his face. “This is your Chaosville, or whatever you want to call it. This is where a part of you feels at peace, where the Chaos magic can simply exist on a level outside of your own mortal perception. If you choose to live in the normal realm, it’s easy enough to link so you can pop back every now and again to make sure there are no flare-ups.”
“Let’s not think about that yet,” Arcane muttered, Discord waving a set of claws.
“Consider it dropped.”
Arcane looked at the odd magic flowing around, taking a few deep breaths.
I want to be among the stars. That’s chaotic, right?
With a dizzying spin, the stone platform warped and flexed. With a flash, thousands of stars coated the area around them, Discord letting out an impressed whistle.
“Changing of the scenery. Not bad, not bad at all. Not as chaotic as I’d prefer, but still decent. Seems like you’re getting the hang of it.”
“I just thought it,” Arcane admitted, Discord nodding.
“Well, that’s how it works. You think it, and it appears. Well, that’s how it is for me. I assume your way of using Chaos will be different.”
Discord took another look around, then landed next to Arcane.
“Can I tell you a secret?” he asked, the pony looking up at him in surprise.
“Huh?”
“You have to promise to never tell Twilight. She’d never let me live it down.”
Arcane huffed at that, Discord wincing.
“Ah, right. Sore subject.”
The pony managed a weak smile regardless.
“Well, I promise.”
Discord grinned, gesturing to the area around them.
“The secret is that there’s an order to chaos.”
“Oh?”
The God nodded, pointing at the pony.
“Indeed. Order is things that make logical sense. Chaos is the opposite. By that definition, there’s an order to it. So, if I may guess, your use of Chaos will be more ‘orderly’ in a way. You have a mortal perception of all of this. I doubt you’ll fade into nothingness by forcing yourself to be normal.”
Seeing the bemused look Arcane sent his way, Discord waved a paw.
“Long story. Ish. The point is, this place can be used to experiment in learning how to properly wield your chaos magic. Control it to whatever end you may want. For now, just a place to think.” The Draconequus’ voice softened. “Nothing more than that. This is just a place that I think will help you feel better. It always has for me.”
“Thank you, Discord,” Arcane said, taking a few deep breaths. Oddly, the air smelled nice. How that was possible, he didn’t know. “I do feel better here. So, this is a place for me to do anything?”
“Anything. Whatever feels right. Just don’t bring creatures here yet,” Discord added. “Just only focus on inanimate objects for now. When you add life to the mix, things get messy with chaos.”
“Sounds good.”
Arcane stood still for a time, then glanced at Discord.
“Thank you again,” he whispered. “I’ll just be here, I think. Maybe try a few things.”
“Ah. Would you like me to leave you be?”
“I mean no offense,” the unicorn said, ears drooping. “You and Fluttershy have been so kind.”
“None taken!” Discord said cheerfully. “We opened our home to you so you can feel better. And if being alone for a bit helps that, then that’s all you need to say!” The Chaotic god floated back towards the portal. “That said, until I teach you how to maintain the dimension, I’ll make sure nothing affects the realms outside of it. Like you accidentally bringing a living thing here or creating life of any sort. Just to be safe.”
“I appreciate it.”
Discord tossed a simple salute, vanishing through the portal and leaving Arcane alone. The portal surface became glossy as Arcane looked at it, giving the stallion some privacy.
“Anything?” he whispered.
He sent a bit of magic from his horn, a familiar island spinning into view as if seen from a seabird.
“I’ll visit soon. I want to know. Did you let me go, Mom?” he whispered. “But for now, I’ll try and get better.”
I’m not a good pony.
A good pony wouldn’t have gone through the torture, the nightmarish existence he had. There had to be a reason for it all.
Right?
That’s what Arcane had told himself, the only way to rationalize the pain. The only reason why everycreature had forgotten him.
Yet now more voices joined against that viewpoint.
A large blacksmith’s forge conjured itself from sparkling, golden dust in front of the unicorn. The bellows breathed with a life of their own, heated metal already inside the forge.
He didn’t know how to forge a breastplate. But here, he didn’t need to.
Mom. Toxic Shield, Astral, Sassi, and now two heroes. Fluttershy and Discord. They wouldn’t be friends with me if I was a bad creature.
Sure, Fluttershy helped reform villains in the past. But I know I’m not a villain. Then what am I?
Grabbing a hammer with his hoof, Arcane withdrew a large ball of metal, placed it on the anvil, and swung.
Maybe I’m not a bad pony.
The impact made sparks explode into a thousand colors, the small orbs of light spinning out to create new stars that swirled around him.
But I’m not a good pony either. Not in the way I want to be.
With another hammer strike, the metal twisted into a slight curve, the plate taking shape as chaos magic shaped the red-hot material. Silver threats pulled the heated alloy downwards, the animalistic force of chaos seeming to enjoy making thought into reality.
Not a good pony…but I want to be.
The unicorn’s fangs shone in a snarl as he swung the hammer again, star-like sparks exploding around his frame.
I will be!
“How long has he been there?” Fluttershy asked her husband, the two of them relaxing on a bench that floated around their cabin.
“A while. Nearly all day. He’s created a little home for himself. A simple creation or two, and then he goes back to the workshop. Well, that and looking at various locations in Equestria,” Discord replied, the two of them enjoying some cucumber sandwiches. “He has remarkable control if I do say so myself. His mortal view lends to a more orderly manifestation of chaos magic, but it’s still chaos nonetheless. It seems to have a definite affinity for him. Very different from how I use it.”
“I take it you didn’t tell him?”
Discord shook his head with a sigh.
“Oh, about the doozy? Not yet. He’s not ready,” the Draconequus replied. “That pony has enough on his mind. The fact he’s been smacking a piece of metal for hours on end shows that at the very least.”
“Maybe within the next week, we can suggest that therapy option? I can help him process things. The sooner we start it the better.”
Discord conjured up some fireflies, their rear ends being composed of small lanterns.
“Is this that new thing you were gushing about when you got certified last year or so? Ember? It sounded interesting. Rather chaotic even!”
Fluttershy giggled, leaning over to give her husband a long, loving kiss.
“E.M.D.R,” she said with a happy smile. “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.”
“I was close.”
“You were.”
“So, basically stare at the moving object, with occasional touch, and it makes the memories hurt less?”
Another giggle and Fluttershy nodded.
“More or less. It’s not totally understood why it works in terms of biology, but it’s proven to help in the vast majority of cases. If it can lessen Arcane’s pain, it’s worth a shot.”
“In addition to him using that forge more?”
Fluttershy nodded with a smile.
“His first real creation is armor. A method of protection. But you don’t make that unless you’re expecting trouble.”
Discord’s eyes widened at that.
“You think he’s going to go back?”
The mare shook her head immediately.
“Not immediately. But Arcane is hurting. Some of the best ways to work through your own pain is to help someone else with theirs. I think Arcane knows this. He’s a helper, Discord. The times when you’ve left to tend to the distant parts of the dimension, he always asks if I need help making dinner or feeding the animals at the sanctuary for a break. I told him to just take it easy, but it’s clear he’s got a big heart.”
“You mentioned that he had offered. I didn’t know it was such a regular thing.”
She reached in and showed Discord a small metal object.
“He made this in the morning and left it on the cobblestones. I think it was a rough draft.”
Discord turned over the object in his claws, a toothy grin dawning on his face.
“Did he now?”
Levitating in the Draconequus claws, a miniaturized breastplate turned this way and that.
Emblazoned on the bright silver metal was a black star of Chaos, the center being a red heart; Arcane’s cutie mark. Streaks of black material ran through the breastplate, their depths shining with a rainbow of colors that mirrored Arcane’s eyes.
"We just need to make sure he’s ok. That he won’t do anything drastic,” Fluttershy said softly.
“I agree, but I don’t think he will.”
“Oh?”
Discord gestured to the still-active portal to Arcane’s dimension.
“That pony was tortured daily for more than five years. He had the chance to kill his tormentor. Instead, he turned them over to Equestria, a nation that completely failed him in every way. I don’t think he’ll lash out. Not in the way we are thinking. As you said, the first thing he’s creating is armor rather than a weapon.”
Fluttershy leaned against her husband with an affirming nod.
“I agree. He’s a good pony, even if he doesn’t realize it yet.”
“I’m very curious what this good pony will do. I think it’ll be quite chaotic,” Discord chuckled as they finished up their lunch.
The Thestrals carefully crept down the halls of the abandoned Silo. The area was silent aside from their hoof falls on the tile.
The final security checkpoint was easily navigated; a simple kiosk and metal door. Papers were strewn across the entire hall, hoofprints marring a few of the daily reports. Whoever had left ages ago, had done so in a hurry.
They had another eight minutes until the reactor blew, and they were currently on the edge of the minimum safe distance.
The hall abruptly turned, the two Thestrals now confronted with a room that, for all intents and purposes, appeared to have been copied and pasted from somewhere else in the facility. The metal shone in the dim light, and modern electronics hummed away from server racks. It also wasn’t on their maps, and the RASP armor seemed to be struggling to map even the small space.
“Well. And I thought I’d seen everything,” Astral muttered.
It was a simple room. A large control console rose from the center, and a massive, circular ring was embedded into the wall next to the server racks. The systems were clean, and brand-new in many cases. There were signs of some damage, but nothing that would indicate a fight. It was more like someone had wandered in and accidentally bumped various bits of equipment over.
The room was lit up by the ring, a strange, magical energy pulsing in its depths. It bore a few technological similarities to the devices encountered with Queen Joro, according to the RASP suit.
“Wild guess, a portal?” Astral asked, Sassi nodding.
“Not a bad guess. AI? Can you interface with the system?”
‘Attempting. Current scans indicate magical energy matches with known teleportation spells. Unknown destination. Stability unknown. Power levels are beyond sensor range.’
The text paused.
‘Interface successful. Project details unknown. The device is a transportation hub to unknown destinations. Multiple logs indicate past use may be for accessing additional Company sites. Current stability: Unknown.
Power grid is in flux.
Downloading and processing additional data.
Error message in primary system reads: Warning- Critical portal misalignment detected. Recommend permanent system shutdown. Failsafes inoperative.’
“Yeah, I vote we don’t step into the portal of death,” Astral said with a huff. “Even if it could lead out of here.”
“Agreed. AI? Shut it down.”
The room darkened, the portal flickering out of existence. It was only then that Astral gestured to their side.
An air vent was torn open, and Sassi felt her fur prickle at the thought. The desks underneath it were crumpled, a few gashes visible in the metal.
“You think that thing earlier…?”
She shook her head at Astral’s words.
“I don’t know. But if whatever it was got through, it probably got fried or was sent to another company site. We’ll worry about that later.”
“Sounds good.”
The two Thestrals continued onward. The hallway took a few more twists and turns but then opened into a massive, stadium-sized room. The ceiling was barely visible even with their lights.
Dominating the wall ahead of them, a titanic, circular door loomed over the two small creatures. Yellow emergency lights slowly flickered on, illuminating the area in a sickly glow. The round aperture was sealed shut; yellow caution tape draped over it multiple times. There was a thick layer of dust coating every surface; ancient hoofprints were still visible leading to the entrance.
Biohazard symbols covered the door and a massive lock was clamped around an emergency release lever. A prominent tag was stamped on the control panel, and a few places across the door.
‘Warning: Preventative toxin checkpoint active beyond this point to prevent unauthorized access. Do not enter without protective equipment.’
“Doesn’t inspire confidence, huh?” Astral muttered, Sassi nodding in agreement as she ripped the lock off.
“Nope. But this is the way to the surface. We’ll be navigating only a few levels. Just the top and middle floors. There should be a tunnel somewhere around there. We then follow that up and out.”
Astral swayed on his hooves, still woozy from his raging fight a few minutes ago.
“We don’t know what’s in there, do we?”
Sassi’s hesitation didn’t inspire confidence, and neither did the shake of her head.
“No. But that’s been the case before,” she admitted. “But I’ve got you, and you’ve got me. That’s enough.”
Her words drew out a weak smile, Astral nodding as he placed his hoof on hers, the two of them yanking the pony-sized lever down.
With only a slight squeak of hydraulics, the massive door was slowly pulled back into the Silo. It locked into a recessed area in the ceiling above the walkway, looming above the Thestrals as they walked across the rough metal floor.
A few lights flickered on, but the usual illumination in the ceiling was off. Crude construction lights mixed with emergency bulbs provided a dim atmosphere in the partially-deconstructed hall. The raw stone was mixed with torn-down tile as they walked, doors having been taken off hinges. Dust rather than fungal spores floated through the air, only disturbed by the Thestrals walking through it. Old piles of tools were scattered here and there, some areas appearing to have been in the middle of a project when abandoned.
“Looks like they were decommissioning it and stripping it for resources. I guess it wasn’t worth it halfway through,” Sassi said softly. “Hold on.
‘T-minus two minutes until reactor detonation.’
She walked back and yanked a matching lever from the entrance console, and the massive door swung back down with a soft grinding of metal.
It sealed behind them; the door at least as thick as two carriages lengthwise. Large locks moved with a soft grinding of metal as they engaged.
“Well, at least that’ll keep us safe for a bit,” Astral muttered. He took a few steps as Sassi trotted back next to him, abruptly letting out a yelp as his legs buckled. His marefriend caught him, the stallion leaning against her side.
“Thanks, Sas,” he said, unable to mask his embarrassment. “Guess the drugs wearing off is going to be fun.”
“Don’t worry about it. You walk, I’ll shoot.”
“Deal.”
The tunnel rumbled as the reactor behind them detonated. The only other sign was a few of the lights flickering, Astral letting out a happy hum.
“I’d rate that reactor explosion a solid three stars out of five. Only minor shaking, and no homicidal AI. Overall, a pleasant experience due to my current company. Minus one star for dealing with scummy employees, and minus one star because this place is awful.”
Sassi barely held in her giggles as Astral spoke in a fair imitation of a tourist, the two of them making their way down the hall.
Their mirth ended as abruptly as the walkway. There was a newer room installed; solid stone encasing the metal security door and everything around it. It was as if the room had been placed inside the rock to allow only one way in, and one way out.
“Huh. Another security feature I guess?” Sassi muttered. “Scans look clean. Something is odd about the air though, so let’s check our filters.”
The suit tests came back in the green, and the positive-pressure test ensured that there were no leaks. Despite the buckled armor on Sassi’s side, the airtight measures were intact.
With a nod to Astral, Sassi slid the heavy latch on the door open.
“Huh.”
She walked inside, looking around. The walkway they were on sloped down to the left. A strange, meandering arrangement of head-high barricades was barely visible on the floor below them, at the entrance to the ramp. It was like some sort of strange, miniature straw maze of metal.
The oddest part, however, was that a thick, bluish-green fog covered everything up to the tops of the barricades. The walls were completely smooth; the only path forward was through the small maze and fog. It would only take five, maybe ten minutes to navigate.
The mare let out a huff, eying a large, worn placard hanging ahead of them.
‘Warning. Security measures are active. All staff must have at least level-4 rated suits to pass through the gas checkpoint. Reminder: All organic matter will be destroyed if in contact with the security vapor barrier.’
“Oh, great, flesh-eating gas,” the mare muttered, eying a pile of bones near the entrance. What creature it belonged to; she wasn’t sure. But the number indicated a lot of individuals had a bad day.
“S-sassi?” Astral whispered.
Red lights immediately began to flash in Sassi’s HUD, his vitals screaming to dangerous levels. She turned around, barely able to catch him as the stallion’s limbs gave out.
His eyes were wide in horror, looking through the mare as if she wasn’t there. The stallion appeared unable to focus on anything outside of the gas ahead. Terror saturated their mental link, blotting out everything else.
“I can still hear the siren,” he whispered. “I can still hear it…”
“Astral, talk to me,” Sassi said, closing the door behind her and locking it. The stallion was almost hyperventilating, visibly shaking as he continued to stare at the closed door. “AI? Status?!”
‘Elevated heart rate and additional indicators suggest Primary User is suffering an extreme anxiety attack. Unable to dispense additional medications due to update saturation from previous use.’
For a split second, Astral’s eyes cleared. The fear in his gaze was all-encompassing. Abruptly, and as clear as day, his voice echoed in her mind.
‘Sassi…please. Help me.’
With a double confirmation that the air was safe, Sassi yanked off her helmet, and then Astral’s. She leaned forwards to hug him. At first, it was like holding a statue. Ever so slowly, however, the stallion relaxed. Eventually, he averted his eyes, Astral bowing his head slightly as he tried to control his breathing.
“Breathe, Astral. Ok? I’m right here,” she whispered. “You’re ok.”
“I’m really not, Sas.”
His voice was a whimper, the prior confidence in Astral’s frame having completely evaporated. An invisible weight pressed down onto the Thestral’s shoulders, and Sassi could feel him trembling against her fur.
“How can I help?”
As if mocking them, something shook the hallway. The AI displayed a warning from the holographic projector, and it made Sassi’s heart drop even further.
‘Warning. Impacts detected on primary Silo door. Electrical signature matches ‘Number Two’ designated entity. Multiple, additional contacts are also present. Status of door integrity: 99.2% Correction: 97.7%. Anticipated breach: Unknown.’
They had to move.
Astral didn’t give any indication he had seen the warning flashing in front of them, the stallion still struggling to breathe.
“Astral, I’m not leaving you, ok?” Sassi said, managing to get a very slight nod in reply. “But we have to go.”
The fear returned in force, and Sassi could only hug her stallion tighter. How much she just wanted to stay like this, to make things better for him.
It was an almost physical pain that darted into her chest as the Thestral snagged their helmets.
“How about you talk to me?” Sassi said, “it doesn’t have to be about anything specific. You could even close your eyes and the armor can move on its own. But we need to get through this room.”
“I don’t-ok,” was a muttered reply, the stallion managing to take his helmet and put it on. Sassi double-checked it, running the suit positive-pressure tests three times.
“If you can’t walk, you need to tell me, and the suit can take over.”
“I…I don’t know. I can do one hoof. Then another. Suit help for more?” his speech was broken, slurring a few words as Astral tried to steady his breathing even further.
“That’ll work. AI, confirm?”
‘Movement assistance subroutines active.’
“Do you want to close your eyes?”
To her surprise, Astral shook his head.
“I need to do this.”
“Whatever it is, no, you-”
“Yes, I do!”
Astral’s abrupt yell snapped him back to reality, the Thestral’s eyes immediately brimming with tears.
“I’m sorry, Sas. I didn’t mean to-I…” Raw shame now pulsed through their link, Astral’s ears flattening. “I never wanted to yell. I-”
“Astral, it’s ok. You might not be ok, but I still love you. Just follow me. You don’t need to tell me what this is about. Just focus on me. Anything,” Sassi said. His abrupt yelling had rattled the mare, but it had been easy to compartmentalize.
Considering the encounter not thirty minutes ago with the freaky creature, something had to give. And now this gas…
He managed to follow her, a soft sniffle echoing over the radio.
“I never want to yell at someone I love. Never,” Astral whispered. “I’m so sorry. I’m not myself. I can feel it. I’m back in that room.”
“The room where that very dead thing was?”
He nodded, stopping at the edge of the ramp as the gas licked at their hooves.
“The suits are sealed, Astral. We’re good,” Sassi said, stepping in and out repeatedly. “See? Do you want to close your eyes?”
With a shake of his head, the Thestral took a few steps forward. His hoof was trembling even with the armor’s assistance. Eventually, they both were immersed in the fog, Astral following right on Sassi’s tail as he took a scared breath.
“I’ve seen a fog like this before,” Astral whispered. “That room-I was hallucinating for so long. It’s a bad memory.”
“You don’t have to explain it now. It can wait.”
There was a sigh over the radio, Astral’s reply shaky.
“If it’s ok, I’m so tired of dealing with it alone. With everything.”
“I’m right here, Astral. If you want to deal with it, I’ll be right at your side. Always.”
Another soft sniffle made Sassi’s heart break. She wanted so much to stop, her training battling with the need to comfort the one she loved.
Yet at the same time, Astral seemed dead-set on pushing forward, on explaining things.
“It was when I was in training. There was an accident.”
He spoke in almost a monotone as they moved through the maze. Only stopping for a few moments to catch his breath, Astral elaborated on the entire, horrific experience. The gas. Hiding inside the room and watching innocent ponies melt away. The helplessness, all of it returning into that cursed room from before as he was hunted, haunted by the screams of those he couldn’t save.
And of her. The stallion had to take a few brief moments to pause. Hearing how Sassi, his friends, and his family had all been persistent visions of horror was a nightmare she couldn’t imagine.
And he pushed through hours of it.
Sassi listened quietly. She dared not interrupt. Sometimes his words were a rush, as if desperate to not be the only one who knew of the experience. Other times, his speech was slow and methodical, as if processing through the memory again.
When he finished, they were almost through the maze. His hooves trembled, and his breathing was still elevated. Yet the Thestral seemed to be a bit more himself.
“I’m sorry, Astral. I know there’s nothing I can say will make it better, but I’m sorry you went through that,” Sassi admitted.
“You’re wrong.”
She turned back, her heart starting to lift on seeing more life in Astral’s eyes.
“Everything you say makes it better. You’ve seen worse. You don’t judge or think I’m weak. Even if I am.”
Sassi felt something in her heart snap, a fire of anger igniting. How could he even think-
“Why in the world would I- You’re not weak!” Sassi exclaimed in a furious huff, the two of them walking up and out of the fog to the elevated catwalk. “You’ve survived horrors few others have experienced outside the Silos, and you’re still here. You’re still loving, fun, and courageous. You’re still you. I’ve seen creatures lose it after a single day of working in the Silos. But you? You’ve been through so much outside the Silos and now stuff in here? Don’t you dare say you’re weak! How-”
With a start, Sassi realized she nose to nose with her stallion, glaring at him defiantly as the mare cut off her words. Thankful tears brimmed in the other Thestral’s eyes, a ghost of a smile on his face.
“Thanks, Sas.”
Affection now hummed through their link, the fear fragmenting into the background.
“And I’ll fight anyone who says differently,” Sassi added with a determined grin. Grabbing his hoof, she pulled him along. The two of them pushed through the door, the mare looking at the array of consoles that greeted them. Crudely bolted to the other side of the wall, the controls appeared to be rather basic. Gas intensity, levels, fans, and so forth.
There was even a remote option to open the opposite door. That gave Sassi an idea.
“That monster wants to follow us so badly? Hope it enjoys some gas!”
The mare flipped a few switches, gas dumping into the sealed room. The levels skyrocketed, pouring out of the opposite door that now swung open.
“If it breaches that main door, that’ll slow it down for a bit,” Sassi added, Astral still staying quiet. The hallway beyond was empty, so she took a moment to check on him.
The affection in their link had dulled to a more pensive, almost melancholy sensation.
“It’s a good idea,” Astral finally said, seeming to gather himself together briefly. “Hey, Sas?”
“Hmm?”
He looked up at her, turmoil shining behind the Thestral’s eyes. She lay a hoof on his shoulder in comfort, but Astral then looked away.
“The whole being weak thing?” he said softly. “My parents were the first ones to give me that idea.”
The stallion took a step back as Sassi’s head snapped up, an enraged fire burning behind her eyes. Her jaw trembled, the mare biting back a surge of words. She took a few deep breaths before shaking her head.
“That…” she began, stopping to take another breath. The protective rage had caught Sassi off guard.
How dare they say that?!
A nudge against her helmet snapped Sassi out of it.
“Thanks, Sas,” Astral whispered. “It’s nice having someone be angry for me. I couldn’t be. I was too shocked, at least at first.”
“But why?”
He shrugged, the two of them walking down the clear hallway slowly. Even with the gas countermeasures, they had to move.
“I came to them asking for help. Nightmares, not being able to get the images out of my head. I was wondering how they dealt with it,” he explained. “They said it was part of guard life. If you were strong, you didn’t need help. You’d get through it on your own.”
His ears flattened to his skull at that.
“I couldn’t get past it,” the stallion whispered. “When I brought it up again, I can’t remember what they said exactly. Something about not being the weak link in our family’s guard tradition. I left before I said anything I regretted.”
Astral paused, shaking his head before walking again.
“I guess I never realized how much that hurt, until now. The Case happened a few months after that. So, I never really dealt with it. Now that I can think about it, the realization that my parents wouldn’t support me like that, it h-hurt. It still does.”
The pained hitch in Astral’s voice made Sassi stretch an armored wing over him, covering the stallion as they walked.
“I’m sorry, Astral. You shouldn’t have had to be alone for that.”
Sniffling over the radio, Astral blinked the tears away from his eyes.
“I couldn’t tell anyone else. I loved Gabbro too much to hurt him. I couldn’t burden him with the nightmares, what I saw. He’s just a normal hippogriff. Nobody else could understand, not even close.” He leaned over, resting his helmet against Sassi’s. “Not until now. So, thank you.”
“Always.”
Sassi’s reply made him laugh, Astral nudging her head as they approached an intact security door.
“Communications? What’s the likelihood we find something of use in here?” Astral asked, Sassi sighing.
“Not high. But hey, let’s give it a shot.”
They pushed the door open. A wall of servers greeted them on the right, humming away softly. On the left, various desks, radios, and other communication equipment were crudely arrayed. The crystal screens were long shattered, but various speakers and microphones appeared to be intact. There still was power at least.
With a sigh, Sassi turned on the receivers, plugging in various microphones.
“May as well,” she sighed. “I mean, we’re here.”
Astral did the same, flicking the power switch before leaning against a wall.
“We have to try. Whoa…room spinning.”
“Take a few. Catch your breath. If you need to take five to doze, do it.”
“Probably a good idea. Feel weird,” the stallion muttered.
He sat down, resting against the wall as Sassi flicked on another switch. With a screech of static, a robotic voice abruptly filled the room.
“This is Hazard Command in Canterlot. This automated broadcast is directed to the Stairway Company incident site in the Badlands on a tight-beam transmission. If anyone is receiving this, please respond. This message will now repeat.”
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I take it number 2 isn't going to be organic at all. Otherwise, we'd probably have Sassi and Astral wondering who and what number 2 was for the rest of their life outside.
It'd be pretty funny though.
Or maybe the gas is not enough for the amount of organics number 2 has.
The fog area. This reminded me of a comment I made a real long time ago regarding it. Is it like GTFO where if the user stays inside the gas, they will take damage until at a cut off point?
Ps. I am really curious where that malfunctioning teleporter leads. I don't believe it is in the facility any longer. Probably some packed soil, which is a horrific death scene if anyone found it.
11594528
I mean, stranger, organic things have been found...
I'm both surprised and not that Two escaped the reactor detonation. Some things just can't stay down, apparently.
Also, *holy hell*, that half the chapter with Discord, Fluttershy, Arcane and Twilight was AWESOME and I kinda squeed through most of it~
... as for the other half? Still wanna hug Astral something fierce, but it's fascinating to see him work through the grief finally. This was, as noted, better paced with that. The accident while Astral was in training has me *exceptionally concerned* though... who, or what, was running such things to have that kind of horror happen?
11594891
It's...something else for sure.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Those are definitely fun characters to write, and now start to flesh out.
And yeah, poor Astral. This is referencing what he went through when running from the freaky-creature in the "Backrooms-lite" floor of the Silo. Basically just a bunch of nasty chemicals that mixed. Maybe unintentional. Or, as the Silo has shown, maybe not.
11594896
I suspected the backrooms flashbacks, yeah. I was just thrown off by the phrasing, though I'm unsure how to better delineate that split in mentality.
Thanks for the clarification!
11594901
Most welcome; it's mainly a callback. Perhaps I could have phrased it more clearly.
11595143
That was what I drew inspiration from.
Bingo!
Wait...
The reactor meltdown at the beginning of "A Cure For A Toxin"
Was ASTRAL one of the victims that survived?!?
11601092
Different scenario. That was just a basic bomb- this is a full-blown reactor being overloaded.