Follow the Rogue Steel Ranger as she fights to find out what happened to her Stable
War has lead to many things before and after the megaspell disaster that lead to the world of the Equestrian Wasteland. War has lead to the creation of lots of helpful things and lots of dreadful things, and somethings that are best left buried.
Appletart 'Longshot', the Rogue Steel Ranger finds herself in a race against time to stop a pony from unleashing a super weapon upon the Wasteland. Its a race that could determine the fate of the Wasteland.
War, it just never ends.
(Important: This story is raw and unedited, read at your own risk)
Stable 88, a control Stable constructed by Stable-Tec over two hundred years ago to protect over five hundred ponies from a Mega Spell Disaster. It did its job, it saved those who made it into the Stable when the call came out, but it also sealed the fate of them all too. When the bombs fell and the giant steel door rolled into place and was driven in by the mechanical arm, it broke. No pony had ever found out what happened but they say that the vibrations from the bombs damaged a vital internal component that jammed the steel door’s locking system in place, permanently sealing the Stable from the outside world.
For two hundred or so years the huge Stable continued life, everypony lived and died as the years passed. The Stable was supposed to house six hundred but when the door closed, only five hundred and fifty two made it in. Despite this, the Stable was said to house enough genetic diversity to allow the populace to live in the Stable for at least a thousand years. As the years passed, that number began to drop. The math was sound, but nopony really expected to live their entire existence in a giant underground bunker. This caused problems.
Ponies never believed they’d be locked in the Stable for that long, but as the years went by ponies began to panic. Within the first ten years at least a hundred ponies died, many of them being the elderly. It wouldn’t of been odd if not for the sheer number of them so quickly. The doctors and nurses diagnosed their deaths to be related to the panic attacks that ponies had been having frequently. Granted it wasn’t the panic attacks themselves that killed the ponies but it was the heart attacks and strokes brought on by the panic attacks that did so they classed their deaths as Panic Attack victims.
At least two hundred years later, the Stable’s populace had more or less stabilised around about four hundred and sixty ponies. Being born in the Stable and only knowing the Stable was what it took to stop the panic attacks.
My family had always run this Stable, from the day Stable-Tec put my ancestor in charge as the Overmare. It seemed the daughter of the Overmare would inherit their mother’s position as Overmare. I was a bit mythed to why nopony tried to change that but I guess my family did a good job at running the place.
I was born premature by a couple of weeks that didn’t seem that bad but my birth was the most unusual thing that ever happened in Stable 88. When I was born, everpony didn’t expect me, not because I was born a Unicorn, not because I am a girl, but because I was totally white. I was so damn white I almost light up the room. The doctors and nurses did tests on me to see if I was ok and the only thing they found was that I was born an Albino. Nopony knew what that meant apart from the eggheads of the Stable, including the doctors and nurses so to most other ponies I was like an alien to them.
My mother, spent hours reading up on what an Albino is. Ugh, I am just a totally brilliant white unicorn with pale skin and to top it off, bright red eyes. My mother also had trouble trying to name me too. A tradition with my family was that we were usually named after a desert or a sweet. My mother was called Blueberry Muffin because she was a dark blue Earth Pony with soft brown eyes and a brown mane and tail. She struggled trying to name me because I so white. In the end she just named me the first sweet thing that came into her mind and that was Appletart.
With my name and my condition, you can say I didn’t have much of a good childhood. I was the centre of attention…for bullies. First off, me being an Albino didn’t help, I was teased constantly about my brilliant whiteness and my bright red eyes. Name calling was constant, twenty four seven. I couldn’t escape it, there was nowhere to hide in the damn Stable. I was commonly known as Ghosty for my total whiteness but the names that hurt the most was “Tart” or “Slapper”.
It turns out the first couple of Overmares had a bit of an over active sexual life style. They said to care more about sex than running the place and it was no surprise that one of them had the largest number of children born by a single mare. The fillies and colts of my age group were quick to learn this about my family and used it against me. Making me feel like I was just like my ancestors. Hell, I was a damn kid and so were they so why the fuck would they go on about my ancestors’ sexual life styles?
After many years of this abuse I learned to ignore it but it still didn’t stop the tossers. I couldn’t care anymore until these bullies picked up on something else. And that would be that I was the oldest filly in my age group to not have her cutie mark. Even when I was older than the average age when a cutie mark appears I was still blank. Again my accursed white coat made it damn easy to see I was bare. Being a blank flank hurt more than being made out to be a sex mad loony. I was pushed out of ever social event my age group took part it, I was being isolated.
My mother was the only friend I had in the Stable. Even she was concerned about me still not having a cutie mark at my age. She tried to teach me everything she knew, even starting my Overmare training earlier than expected to see if that could help my cutie mark appear. Unfortunately not even that seemed to bring it out, even me learning to make apple tarts didn’t do it, even when I seemed to be able to make them so damn well too. It was looking like I’d be blank forever.
Well, things were gonna get a shit load worse before they got better. One day while my mother was teaching me about running a community meeting the emergency alarms started blaring. We were already in my mother’s office and on the many monitors on the back wall we saw a large group of horribly dressed ponies outside the Stable door. Several of them carried a huge device which to our horror was cutting through the door. Once the ponies had cut through the door and pulled out the thick cylinder they had cut free the Stable’s automated defences activated to repel the invaders. Unfortunately they did fuck all, as these ponies were armed to the teeth, literally.
Seeing how the defences were failing to repel the bastards my mother hit the panic button in her office. This opened a secret room in the office, she dragged me inside and then ran out to help the stable. I was locked inside the room, it was designed to seal itself until the threat had passed. I cried for my mother to come back, to stay with me. But she was locked outside, I could hear the gun fire and the screams, oh dear sweet Celestria, the screams. I was stuck in that room for two days, within the first twelve hours the screams had stopped, I guessed the Raiders had finished slaughtering everypony. The panic room didn’t open until thirty six hours after the attack when everypony was dead and the bastards responsible were long gone. I emerged to the most horrific sight I had ever seen.
I walked down the corridors of the Stable, my Eyes-Forward-Sparkle active as I moved. I was horrified to see that my EFS was showing nothing. No red marks, no white marks no nothing. Everypony was dead. Everywhere I went the floors, walls and even ceiling had blood splattered all over it. As I cried seeing how everypony I had ever known lay dead, my fear and sorrow started to give way to an anger I didn’t think I had. I looked through out my Stable for my mother, to find her, to make sure she was ok even though I knew she was dead like everypony else. I stopped and sat on my hunches as I came to the door that lead to the Stable Door. Closing my eyes I stood up again and used my magic to push the door control to open it and with a soft whir of the motors the door slip open and laying in a pool of blood by the stairs leading to the hole in the door of the Stable entrance was my mother.
My mother was laying flat on her belly, her legs spread out from her sides and her head on the floor with a pool of blood around her. I noticed her rear was badly scratched and bruised and a lot of dull white liquid coming out of her private area. I suddenly saw red, my anger boiling over as I realised what had happened to my mother. The fuckers raped my mother, repeatedly, before they killed her. Using my telekinetic magic I picked up my mother’s limp body and floated her behind me as I did the long trek to the lower maintenance levels of the Stable. I came to the furnace room where most waste was incinerated. I opened one of them and pushed my mother’s body into it and activated the furnace to cremate my mother, giving her a decent send off. Looking through the door at my mother as her lifeless body burned, tears running down my cheeks I cried out loud “I love you”.
After I watched my mother’s body turn to ash in the fire, the feeling of rage came flooding back and I stomped all the way into my mother’s office and stopped and sat looking at the wall with the huge circular glass window over looking the atrium. On the wall to the right of the window was a display case that had a lock that could only be opened by magic. Inside the case was a black shiny lever action repeater rifle with a custom attached scope. The weapon is a family possession passed down from generation to generation. I reached out to the display case with my magic, letting its magical lock get a feel for my magic and with a soft click it unlocked itself as it recognised me as part of the family.
Inside the box the rifle sat on a stand and behind it in the corner were two boxes of ammunition. I held the weapon in my magic and my PipBuck beeped as it added the weapon to my inventory labelling the weapon as “Overmare’s Fury”. I was amazed that my wrist mounted device knew its name when I did not and the fact it could tell the weapon was loaded with seven rounds of .357 Magnum Rounds. I slung the weapon onto my back on top of my saddlebags and picked out the two boxes of ammunition. My PipBuck even knew what they were as it added forty rounds to the .357 Magnum Round count in my ammo tab.
I spend a little while packing my saddlebags with essentials like food and water before I headed to the Stable Door. I stood at the huge hole cut into the three foot thick reinforced steel door, looking out into the dark stony cave like corridor leading away from my old home. Closing my eyes and with a deep sigh I left, my life officially over as Appletart the Stable Blank Flank.
I pushed open the wooden door that lead to the outside world, I was immediately hit by the foul smell of the dead land and before I could take it all in I saw two red marks appear on my E.F.S. I became more focused on them that I missed the four white marks moving slowly towards me on my right. The two red marks were directly ahead of me. I had to climb up onto a rock to see where they were. I could make out two ponies down the hill a good distance away that I couldn’t quite tell who they were. I reached behind me with my magic and pulled Overmare’s Fury off my back and levitated it so it was pointing it out towards the marks, resting the butt of my gun against my shoulder I peered down the scope to get a better look of the ponies and I saw red again. I recognised the ponies I was seeing, they were part of the Raiders who attacked and killed my Stable.
I seemed to go into auto-pilot as before I knew what I was doing was aiming the weapon at the first pony I saw, the red dot of the cross hairs floating up onto the head. While I was busy getting my aim I failed to notice the four white marks were getting closer to me. I was totally unaware of four large armoured ponies heading towards me. The lead pony had seen me, hard not to too when you stick out like a sore hoof amidst the gloom of the dead world around me. They must of noticed me holding a weapon and pointing it at somepony and they watched while still moving towards me.
Bang…
I fired and my first shot and struck the first pony in the eye which exploded on impact and showered the other Raider in gory mess. The four armoured ponies stopped for a moment as they must have seen my shot. The second Raider turned his head to my direction as I focused on him and fired again. My second shot struck the Raider in between the eyes and blowing his brains out over his back before he crumpled to the floor in a twitching heap. “Eat that you fuckers” I said out loud to myself as I slung my rifle. Sighing with some satisfaction I turned and was nose to nose with one of the armoured ponies and like a real girl I screamed.
“That was some impressive shooting girl” One of the armoured ponies said with a deep gruff but feminine voice.
I sat and blinked at them. I was feeling scared of them but when one started talking to me I didn’t know how to react. As I looked at the four armoured ponies I soon began to recognise them, I had learned during school about armoured ponies the Ministry of Wartime Technology created, the Steel Rangers. I also noticed that one of them, the one who spoke had three V shaped stripes on her shoulder armour which told me she was a sergeant.
“Where did you come from?” a much deeper, male voice rung out from one of the other Steel Rangers which made me cringe and wince.
Shakily I pointed to the open wooden door which one of them quickly trotted over too and peeked inside before calling back to his comrades “Stable 88 ma’am”.
If I could see the Sergeant’s face I would of thought she had a look of amazement on her face as she looked from me to the two raiders I had took down. “two minutes out of the stable and already killed two Raiders with a bullet to the head each, impressive” she said as she looked at me and noticed my blank flank “And a god damn filly at that…..very interesting. I think you may have some potential kid”
Before long I was walking between the four Rangers heading towards their base of operations which as it started to come into view looked like an old abandoned airport. The airport is on the most northwestern point of old Pondale Town. The place was surrounded by rows of high chain link face and razor wire all over the top of it. The building had seen better days as it looked like somepony had been bashing it with a sledge hammer for years. It was covered in cracks and crumbling concrete and bricks.
I was presented to this group’s elder who didn’t seem impressed nor happy that his Rangers brought a sniffling scared filly into his base. The sergeant explained what she saw back out in the wasteland and in detail explained how I put a bullet into the heads of the two Raiders. The Elder looked at me with a raised brow and looked back to the sergeant before looking back at me. The sergeant requested I be trained, saying my skills would be very handy for the Rangers. It took a little convincing but finally the Elder agreed to have me trained unless I could prove myself which meant me being dragged down to the shooting range that was built into the airport’s many large underground rooms that used to be for sorting luggage.
The tests were simple, shoot the target. I did exactly as I was told, to hit the targets at various distances. When I was looking down the scope, all my fear and nervousness disappeared as I entered tunnel vision as all I could see was what the scope could see and shot after shot to the targets that appeared, my .357 rounds struck the head of the dummies each time. I felt slightly proud of myself with my good aim but the Elder wasn’t convinced yet. I was later dragged outside for one last shot.
Outside almost all the base’s Steel Rangers had gathered to watch. The mid ranged scope on my Overmare’s Fury made it hard to get a good view of my target as the red dot in the middle of the cross hairs was larger than the head of the target I was aiming for. I was told to take all the time I needed, I wasn’t being rushed so I relaxed the best I could as I stared down the scope. After ten minutes of aiming I finally pulled the trigger. I let out a squeal of relief and excitement as I saw the head of the target dummy explode in a shower of fabric and wool.
As soon as that target dummy’s head exploded, there was a flash that consumed my flanks and I finally had my cutie mark. My mark resembled the cross hairs of my Overmare’s Fury. The Elder was finally convinced of my worth and agreed that I should be trained. It seemed I was destined to be a sniper.
Indeed it was as the years passed and I fulfilled my training in power armour and being a Steel Ranger, I was trained in various long ranged weapons and I had little difficulty in using them but none of those were suitable for the Battle Saddle I received. My battle saddle was a rare one, it had ports for interchangeable weapons with ammo feeders on the top that rested against my armoured back. I asked the quarter master if there was any sniper rifles designed for this battle saddle that I could use but unfortunately he didn’t have any. However he did tell me he had a special weapon that could be used as a sniper but it wasn’t working and so made me a deal. If I could fix it I could keep it.
Over the years I realised I loved guns. I think it was the kick they had when they fired or the sound they made when you pulled the trigger but when I saw the weapon the quarter master had in the back of his armoury I nearly wet myself with glee. Sitting on a table was a huge 50 Caliber Anti-Machine Sniper Rifle. It was one of ten, well, four. The other six were not finished before the bombs dropped and their components were lost over time from ponies stealing them or that they had not finished making them all.
I went to work, my telekinetic magic peeling the gun apart as I found its fault, strangely without reading the manual on this thing. It turned out that the firing mechanism was damaged and it was a simple fix, again I didn’t read the manual but I was able to fix it as if I’ve always known how. Before long I had a huge weapon mounted to one side of my battle saddle which has a gun barrel sticking three feet in front of me. I guess I made some Steel Rangers jealous of my weapon as many kept staring at me as I trotted by.
This weapon was so damn powerful I couldn’t believe it. I tested it greatly, nearly having an orgasm from its roar and kick and the sheer joy of using it. The weapon had the power to punch through anything solid that I fired it at, even old Steel Ranger armour. It seems nothing solid like armour or material like stone or concrete could stop a bullet from it. Its recoil would send me flying onto my back if I wasn’t wearing my armour and its roar of a boom would deafen an unprotected pony as it was that damn loud. I even tested firing it next to an intact pane of glass which shattered as soon as it fired. Even with this beast I was still hitting my mark on my targets. By the time I had finished my training I was known as the best sniper pony in the Pondale regiment of the Steel Rangers and I received the title of “Longshot”.
During the celebration for completing my training I was still getting those looks from ponies at my brilliant white body like back in 88. Being a mare old enough to make my own choices I decided to do something about this and visited the resident barber pony who had cut my mane and tail short into a buzz cut. I got her to dye my mane and tail the same bright red as my eyes to make myself look more normal and it worked.
A few years later when I started going out on missions I was finally happy to be doing something but that happiness soon faded at the things we did, at what I did. I killed ponies along with the other Rangers when we went on missions. Taking technology or exterminating locals because they sat on something the Rangers wanted. At first I did it to fallow my orders and didn’t think much about it but as time passed I began to see this was wrong. I continued to follow my orders despite it tearing me apart as more innocents died from my shots or theirs for things that seemed unimportant. I tried to tell them we should be helping them rather than killing them for shit. But they wouldn’t listen.
I was on patrol one day with the sergeant who found me outside Stable 88. I had already lost my faith in the Rangers for the things they did. I didn’t know what to do about it until then. We heard a scream from a mare and I thanked Celestria that we could finally do something good. We found a Raider raping a mare no older than me. The mare saw us and screamed for help and my sergeant opened fire, shooting a dual rifle shot from her battle saddle and killing the Raider before he could run. The mare shakily got up and started to trot towards us, crying in happiness as she screamed thank you to us and then she dropped to a twin rifle shot to the head as my sergeant shot her too. As I watched her body fall, I finally snapped with anger and the fury I felt after my Stable had been destroyed by the Raiders and the fact they killed my mother. That was it, I had enough of this shit. As my sergeant turned around she found herself looking down the barrel of my 50cal.
If I could see her face I would of seen a look of sheer terror behind that visor and helmet. I didn’t say a word, in fact I basically just pushed the barrel further against her armoured snout. “Appletart, what are you doing?” she bellowed before I fired, the boom from the muzzle of my gun was swiftly followed by the explosion of her head as it blew up in a shower of blood, bone and shrapnel as the powerful 50cal tore its target apart.
“NO MORE, NO FUCKING MORE” I screamed in pain and fury.
The Steel Rangers would have noticed that the sergeant’s power armour signal had disappeared which usually means the ranger in that armour had died and immediately called me.
“What the hell is going on out there Longshot? What happened to Sergeant Nightingale?” Came the voice of the Elder, Elder Stanier.
“I killed her” I growled in anger.
“WHAT?”
“I killed her you asshole….No more will the Steel Rangers kill innocent ponies for your own gain. I have had it. I will kill every Steel Ranger I see doing bad, anypony hurting the innocent. This world has seen enough of that shit” I told him before I severed my link with the Steel Rangers, my signal to them died. They wouldn’t be able to contact me or track me now. They would likely want to kill me now but they would have to find me first.
I looked down at my dead sergeant and shock me head. “I’m sorry Nightingale, I really am” I said to her headless body before I began to run, getting away from the area before any other Steel Rangers came in search of me.
I decided I would dedicate myself to helping anypony who needs it, something the Steel Rangers should have done to begin with. As far as I’m concerned now, they are nothing more than more organised and armoured Raiders.
Now I start a new life, a rogue Steel Ranger.
For the hell of it I found a stone wall that was virtually blank and using my armoured hoof I started to scratch into the wall.
“I am Appletart Longshot, wrong doers will face the wrath of my 50cal Anti-Machine Rifle”
I found a tallish building that looked fairly intact and after checking my E.F.S for any contacts it luckily had nothing inside. I stepped inside and closed its door. The building had been long since been looted leaving nothing useable and the walls and floors were a mess with all sorts of crap and deteriorating furniture and decorations. I climbed up to the highest room of the building, there were two windows and a door that lead onto a balcony that gave me a good vantage point.
Looking around I found an old bed. Using my magic I started to disconnect my armour. Stepping out of my open armour I cringed at the rotten smell of the old room. I sighed softly to myself as I lay down onto the bed and laid my head down onto my fore hooves and soon drifted off to sleep.
The Wasteland is living hell to most ponies. It is in need of heros and I hope to help save ponies from horrible deaths and monsters that roam these lands. I hope I can aspire to be a good hero. I also hope I can make up for all the wrong I've done during my time as a Ranger. Only time will tell.
“Are you kidding me?!” I screamed at the screen of the auto-doc. For the last week or so I’ve been feeling sick at random times or when waking up in the mornings. I had found a cave which had led me to another Stable, Stable 112. I was currently lay on my side as I let the auto-doc examine me and back to why I screamed at it. “How the fuck can I be pregnant?”
I couldn’t believe it. I even checked the other auto-docs around the medical clinic to make sure I didn’t get a reading from a faulty machine. But nope, again all they shown was the same reading. “Pregnant”.
What would the odds be if the auto-docs were all faulty? I highly doubt they were. I got off the medical bed and shivered as my hooves hit the cold, slightly rusting floor. I had to leave my armour outside the medical clinic because the auto-docs couldn’t examine me through the armour plating. The clinic was in decent shape despite not having a pony in it for over a hundred years. I trotted over to the wall by the door where a medical box was fixed to the wall. I smiled softly at the yellow box with the nice three pink butterfly emblem of Fluttershy's cutie mark in the middle. Using my magic I pulled open the box and inside were a few chems, two Rad-Aways, one Rad-X and three Healing Potions. I took them in my magic and stepped out into the rusting corridor where my armour stood and opened its magical storage unit and put them in. My armour’s magical storage device can sort out my inventory and put my aid and chems into my armour’s healing system which I’m very thankful for.
While its storage system was open I pulled out my Overmare’s Fury and checked it, fully loaded and not been fired since I joined the Steel Rangers… “Bollocks...Now I remember…it can only be the reason why I’m pregnant” I almost screamed out loud as I just had a flash back…
xxxxx
A few weeks ago...
There was a celebration for a trainee buck who was just a tad younger than me. We were celebrating his completion of his training which made him a Steel Ranger. I was sitting by the bar with a beer bottle hovering in my magic when the buck in question came up to me. We were both out of our armour so I was able to see him clearly. He was a handsome earth pony buck who had soft peach fur and lime green hair in his mane and tail. I looked over to him and caught his bright green eyes looking me over.
“Can I help…hic…you” I mumbled and yes I’d had a few. Its a celebration after all.
He blushed deeply as he took a seat beside me and called to the bar keep for a beer and another for me.
“I want to thank you Paladin Longshot, your marksponyship advice helped me out a lot”
I smiled as the beers arrived and I finished my current bottle. Once I took my new bottle with my magic he took his by hooking it behind his fetlock and rose to mine.
“Your welcome”
Either I was that pissed or he was just that sexy, I couldn’t remember as I found it hard to pull myself away so we began talking, mainly about the missions we’d been on during training or me helping him with tips but as we talked we started having beer after beer. So you can easily say we both got quite drunk.
By the time the bar keep refused us anymore beers we were both hugging each other and laughing at anything we said. It got so bad that we were making harmless fun out of our superiors. That meant taking the mick out of them. Retelling past experiences and imitating like our drill sergeants in mocking tones which wasn’t helping our relationship with them either.
Well since we couldn’t get more to drink we went for a walk, well, he walked, I more or less staggered back and forth, bumping into him or falling flat on my face for tripping over my own hooves and laughing because I was too pissed to feel the pain and thought it was hysterical. He helped me to a private area on the base which he managed to stash some beer and other drinks in a still working fridge plus other luxuries like a bed, a big one. I guess I should have seen the signs that he wanted more than just to drink and laugh with me when he lay on the bed and patted a space beside him. It wasn’t until he pulled a beer from the fridge before I eagerly lay beside him.
“Appletart, you’re quite simply the most beautiful mare I’ve ever seen” He said softly but a bit slurred from being a bit under the influence.
“Why…hic…thank you, your quite…hic…handsome yourself” I replied unable to say a sentence without hiccupping.
Then he kissed me, I kissed back and before I knew what was what I was on my back with him on top of me. I felt a slight bit of pain when he drove into me but I just thought I was just imagining things. Yes, I admit it, until then I was a virgin. There I said it.
We did it for hours, driven by the booze and the fact it felt so damn good. We both missed our sign in the following morning and so we got into shit but neither of us at the time could remember a thing of the night we had or how we ended up there and so from then on we were basically friends until we started getting our memories of the night back and it became a bit awkward and we started to keep our distance, mainly him. It wasn't a bad thing what we did but it just felt weird between us since it all happened out of being drunk and not really knowing what we were doing.
That night was the only time I’d had sex and was it bad luck or fate I would find out several weeks after leaving the Rangers that I find out I conceived. It has to be the only reason. It just has to. I don’t want to think of another possibility that I conceived after leaving the Steel Rangers, dear sweet Celestia I hope not. But that night was the only night I do remember now ever having sex, it just has to be from that night.
xxxxx
I sat in a slightly dirty office chair staring at the screen of a still fully functional terminal. I had found a security station in the Stable as I continued my exploration. The room was almost free of decay, I guess the elements haven’t made it this far in yet to cause any real damage. The level of dust was bad enough as I had to clear the screen with my tail, only to get a face full of dust that made me sneeze which then kicked up a huge cloud of it. When it settled I saw that the terminal only had one entry to select.
Security Report 0512
15/09/1169
This will be the final entry into this computer for Stable 112. A couple of weeks ago we were treated to possibly the best sounds in our life time. One morning, I think it was a morning, a huge metallic clunk rung out through out the stable and that was swiftly followed by an electronic voice which said.
“Greetings residents of Stable 112. Your Stable has fulfilled its apposed lockdown time of 90 years and you are free to leave. Please check with your Overmare or Overstallion to see if conditions outside have fallen to safe background levels. You may come and go at your leisure. We at Stable-Tec thank you for your patience and using our facility”
I couldn’t believe it at first but when we checked the door later that day, sure enough the door controls said that it was unlocked. Thank you Celestia.
Our Overmare called for volunteers to form an exploration team to see if the world outside our door was indeed safe. Only a hoofful were brave enough, not including me. It did turn out to be safe out there but what they described sounded like a hell hole to me. They talked about a constant cloud cover that rained unpredictably and they talked about cities and towns that looked exactly like they had been blown to kingdom come. Basically they just told us the entire world was dead out there.
The Overmare asked the exploration team to keep going out there to see if anything at all could be found that could allow us to live out there. Good news eventually followed the team back as a travelling merchant talked with the Overmare. I was never fully informed of what was said but I believe the merchant had told her what’s what out there.
The Overmare gave the order for the door to open and everypony was told they were free to leave and that there is a town only a mile or so to the south of the Stable. We could continue living here for eternity if we wanted too but I guess no one wanted to stay locked in a hole for the rest of their lives and soon ponies began to leave. As more ponies left more and more began to leave in bigger groups until eventually only me and the Overmare were the last two here.
We talked about what we can do, either stay here or risk it out there. In the end we agreed that the Stable would still be here if we ever decided to come back as long as the door was closed and so with that the Overmare left. I opted to stay behind for a while longer in case anypony came back.
After three weeks nopony came back and so I decided to leave and so I’ve done this last entry for anyone who may ever read this after the Stable’s door is closed for the last time.
I would also like to thank Stable-Tec, without these wonderful Stables we would have all died when the bombs fell.
I shook my head, I guess these ponies had no idea that only one or two Stables out of every ten were control Stables. Well I am happy to see that at least one of these awful places did what it was suppose to do.
I looked around the office and I assumed this Security Pony lived here from time to time as there is a wardrobe in the corner and a sleeping cot hanging from the wall behind the desk I’m sat at. I eyed the wardrobe and stood up before trotting over to it and opened the door gently with my magic. Inside was a neatly folded security pony barding hung on a hanger, it looked almost new. I looked down at my armoured belly and sighed. I realise I won’t be able to fit in my power armour soon since I’m expecting.
God damn it… Bringing a kid up in this shit hole of what used to be Equestria is gonna be a nightmare.
I shook my head to banish the thought as I returned to the desk and began to root through the draws. Nothing, well there was a slip of paper that only had the security pony’s living quarter’s room number on it. Seeing as there wasn’t much else to do in this office I decided to stroll down to the Living Quarters.
It must have taken me almost half the day getting there, I couldn’t resist poking around every room I passed to see if there was anything at all useful. I only managed to find a hoofful of items, mainly magazines or food, nothing really of true value. I opened the door to the security pony’s quarters and I stepped in. She must have not wanted to take much with her as most of the room still had stuff. I saw a lever-action 20 gauge shotgun resting on a table in the middle of the room with three boxes of ammunition stacked beside it. I guess she was planning on taking it with her but changed her mind. Levitating the weapon to me I checked it over, I sighed as I remembered I didn’t have much training on short ranged weapons but my keen eye told me the weapon was in tip top shape, considering it’s been sat here for over a hundred years.
There was nothing else apart from junk in the room but I did find out the security pony was a mare called Sandy Stone and that she was a mother of a purple unicorn. I saw some of their photos still on the wall and I smiled at the happy scene of the picture of the mother and daughter.
I hope my baby will be happy…
Damn it, stop thinking about it… I quickly changed my attention to the large wardrobe standing beside the bed and opened it to occupy myself with its contents. I was surprised at how full it was. The clothing inside was neatly folded, in good condition to thankfully. It seemed to be divided into two. One side being for casual wear and the other being for her job role as there was some security uniforms hanging there. One of these caught my eye. I pulled it out to check it out, it was reinforced security armour but it had over lapping armour plating in the fabric over the middle that would protect the belly. As I inspected it closely I saw its label. “Maternity Armour”. Bloody Nora, were these mares expected to work when pregnant. Well I guess it made sense since the Stable is only so big and there is nowhere for you to hide out and if it’s your duty. I decided to take the armour, I expected I’d be needing it soon.
xxxxx
I opened a fridge in the dining room’s kitchen and was surprised to see that it was full and even more surprised that it was almost free of any deterioration. I checked the food stacked on the shelves inside and they were all over a hundred years past their best before date and yet they still looked new and fresh. Whatever they did to this food has kept it from going off despite the number of years that has passed which would have made normal food turn to powder.
I moaned loudly as my belly rumbled in hungry protest just for looking at the food. I cringed as I pulled out a pack of Fancy Buck Cakes and opened the package with my magic expecting horrible to see rotten slop. Instead I pulled out six lovely looking cakes. I pulled one up to my mouth and sniffed it, it didn’t smell anything bad and so I popped it into my mouth expecting the worst thing I’ve ever tasted and just blinked as I let the flavours of the cake wash over my tongue. I started to chew and soon I was eating them all. Before I knew it I had cleaned the fridge out of all its Fancy Buck Cakes, letting out a belch of satisfaction. I didn’t believe how hungry I was until I started eating those cakes.
I continued to explore the Stable, moaning as my stuffed belly was being a bit confined by the armour. I was disappointed when I found the armoury as it had been cleared out by the residents before they left. Luckily I found a couple of boxes of ammunition still in there, a couple of 20 gauge rounds and a whole box of .357 Magnum Hollow Point rounds. Other than that, nothing.
After that I decided to leave the Stable and so I began to head back up to the Stable Door. On my way I stopped at the door to the Overmare’s Office. Its door was wide open and I looked in. Strangely the office was pretty clean despite the level of decay. I stepped inside and looked around. It had mostly been cleared out, leaving only bare walls and empty filing cabinets. However there was a terminal on the desk that was still working and logged in as I brought it out of stand-by. Most of its data had been deleted but I saw something I’d never seen before. A list of the Overmares and, this is the surprise, Overstallions. From what data was left I found out that the populace of the Stable took a vote at the end of the year for a new Overmare or a new Overstallion. Apparently the very first Overmare set a law that every year the population could vote for a new Overmare or Overstation as she thought it was fair. I honestly agreed with that, it did sound fair.
After pulling myself away from the office I finally trotted out of the entrance of the Stable and turned to the outside door controls. Taking one last look inside, I pulled the lever. The warning sirens blared as the huge cog like door rolled out in place and with a teeth grinding metallic screech the metal arm swung down, connecting with the door and with an even worse screeching metal on metal sound the huge door was pushed into place and sealed.
I was reminded of my Stable, leaving it knowing everypony that I knew was dead. I looked down and closed my eyes, feeling a tear run down my cheek. I didn’t realise how alone I was now, I didn’t have anyone now. I seemed to take forever walking up the huge corridor like cave to get to the decayed wooden door. Taking a deep breath to recover myself I opened the door and stepped out back into hell hole of the Equestrian Wasteland.
“Hello there Longshot” Came the emotionless tinny voice of a Spritebot.
“GAH!!!” I screamed as the bot was right in my face as I left the Stable access tunnel.
“Oh I’m sorry, did I scare you?”
“Yeah you bloody did you stupid machine” I growled as I pushed the muzzle of my 50cal into its visual sensors.
“Whoa, easy there Appletart”
I stopped and raised my brow “How do you know my name?”
“I’ve been watching you since you left Stable 88. I’ve watched how you joined with the Steel Rangers but my interest in you came after I saw how you changed to devote yourself to help ponies in need”
“Why have you been watching me?” I asked starting to get a little angry as I pushed the muzzle into its sensors again.
“I believe you may benefit from any help I can provide you, I believe you to be a good pony who can make a difference in this world” It said rather quickly.
“Who are you?”
“Me? You can call me Watcher”
“What help could you offer me?” Making myself sound like I didn’t need it.
“Some advice for the time being and that advice would be for you to make some friends”
“Friends, why would I need friends?”
“Friends are essential out here, since you are now on your own out here you may not be able to take on everything the wasteland throws at you even though you have that power-armour. Friends can help you when your in need and support you through tough times and I can assume you’ve had plenty of that already”
I blinked as I listened to what the machine was saying. “And how would I make friends out here without them trying to rip my head off?”
“Friends will appear when you least expect them”
I rolled my eyes, ok changing subject. “Watcher, do you know what happened to the residents of Stable 112?” I asked him hoping to know if they survived out here.
“112 hmm, no, I don’t, sorry. As far as I’m aware they headed south and the only town in that direction is what used to be Ponyville. You might or might not find out there but be careful as Ponyville was a Raider town”
“Was?”
“Not too long ago a mare left Stable 2 and stumbled into the town and took out most, if not all of the Raiders but there may still be some there”
“Well, I guess that’s my next destination, I got a bone to pick with Raiders” I said in an almost growl.
There was a sudden burst of static from the machine and it started bobbing before flying off playing some god awful marching music.
“Well, good bye to you too, stupid machine…”
I turned so my E.F.S had me pointed south and I was amazed to see an objective marker flashing on my compass and shortly after that I noticed an objective appear on my visor’s HUD.
“Investigate Ponyville for signs of Stable 112 settlers”
“Wait, what?”
I didn’t get how my Pipbuck seemed to make up these objectives or know where things are as I also had a marker showing the location on my map. Well since I had something to do I began to head south, climbing the hill which was behind me. As I climbed over I could see down the other side of the hill and I could just about see my destination. It didn’t look like much of a town but that could be because it was a Raider town and it’s been decaying for over two hundred years.
I entered my 50cal’s scope system built into my helmet’s visor and looked down at the town as I trotted down the hill. I swept my scope gaze over the town, there wasn’t anypony down there from what I can see but I was out of range for my E.F.S to pick anything out as well.
xxxxx
I lay on the bed in what used to Carrousel Boutique looking at my Pipbuck as it had identified various locations in Ponyville. I had passed Sugar Cube Corner and the Town Hall before finding the Boutique. “How the hell does this thing know where I am?” I asked myself looking at the places I’d discovered on my way here. I looked down over the edge of the bed and I noticed a corner of a floor safe. I had some training on working locks with bobby pins and a screwdriver but I didn’t have any of them at the moment so I would have to use my magic.
I wasn’t in my armour as it was down stairs, I didn’t want to test the strength of the building’s upper floor with its weight. I hopped down from the bed and using my magic I pushed the bed out the way and lay down looking over the lock. I closed my eyes so I could focus on the lock and began to feel at the lock with my magic, pushing the tumblers and twisting it, it stuck a couple of times so I had to alternate my twisting and pushing of the tumblers but after a little while I was rewarded with the soft click as the lock released. I opened my eyes and panted deeply, using my magic on things like this was difficult and tiring. Before my magic would give out on me I opened the door to the safe and hauled out what was inside.
I was rewarded with a bag of gold bits which was labelled as pre-war money on my Pipbuck’s inventory screen and a couple of pictures of some dress designs which thankfully survived the test of time inside that safe and I had to admit, they were beautiful. Whoever owned this place before the bomb knew how to make dresses look so exquisite.
“Oh sweet, two hundred quid” I said to myself seeing how my Pipbuck seemed to know just how many bits there were inside the bag. You may have noticed now that I’ve used some terminology that’s not common among most ponies. Well that’s because my ancestors came from a small island in the northern seas called Braytain. The heart of what was the Braytish Empire back then.
I put the stuff I got from the safe into my armour’s storage system before climbing back onto the bed. It was night time now and extremely dark apart from the light on my Pipbuck keeping things lit. I looked up at the constant cloud cover through a hole in the ceiling and sighed. “Why is it so damn cloudy all the time” I moaned with a yawn. I had yet to search the town for any signs of Raiders or the residents of Stable 112 but I thought that could wait until the morning after a good night’s sleep. I made sure my E.F.S was clear before curling up on the old smelly mattress and subconsciously rubbed at my belly with a hoof as I soon drifted off to sleep.
I stood behind a shattered window looking out into the streets of Ponyville from the second floor of the dead tree that was labelled as the Library. I had spent a good hour in the cellar looking at some old remains. It turned out that some of the residents of 112 had found their way to Ponyville and started a community here before the Raiders came and either killed or sold some of them to Slavers but unfortunately there wasn’t much left to show they had even been here at all. I wouldn’t have found anything if my E.F.S didn’t show the objective marker pointing to the Library and once inside it directed me to the door leading to the cellar.
Raiders were in the streets, small groups of three or four. I guess they are looking to find out what happened to their friends from here when the Stable Dweller took them out. I grinned as I aimed my 50cal out the window and down at the first group I seen. Now it’s my turn. I didn’t have much need for S.A.T.S since my visor enhanced my E.F.S and I was a dead shot with a sniper anyway. I zeroed in on the first Raider and fired. Boom!! My first shot echoed through the streets just as the Raider literally exploded in a gory mess. His two companions froze in fright as they looked at each other coated in their friend’s blood and organs, giving me the perfect opportunity to shoot again. I fired my second shot and the Raider on the right went down with a shot the head, his brains painting his back as the bullet tore through his head. The other Raider, realising there is a sniper in the town dove for cover behind what looked like a mail box with a pegasus on the side. I couldn’t get a decent shot on my target so I aimed for a spot on the mail box hoping for a critical hit on my target when I fired again. My shot pierced the mail box with ease and I heard a meaty slap and then a cry of pain as my shot tore through my target. I watched to see what happened and the Raider stumbled out with a clean hole through her belly. My 50cal had put a clean hole through the belly of this Raider, I couldn’t believe how off my aim was at that. I was about to fire again when I noticed more red contacts appearing on my E.F.S closing in on both sides, at least six were running towards my location. Its no surprise to me they discovered where I am, my thunderous 50cal shots could be heard half way across Equestria.
I opened my storage compartment and pulled out the Lever-Action Shotgun as I would be reduced to close quarters combat. At least my armour was strong enough to withstand the pathetic weapons these idiots use and I think this will be a good opportunity to get some close range weapon practice. Hovering the weapon by my side I started to trot down the stairs heading to the front door, waiting for the Raiders to start piling in.
I waited for a little while but nopony kicked the door in and come charging at me. I looked at my E.F.S and I could see that they were just standing there on either side of the door. Letting out an annoyed moan I trotted to the door, extending my magic to grip the door knob I pulled it open and then I was met by an electronic beeping noise. BEEP! BEEP!! I looked down in time to see four mines on the doorstep “Oh smeg” I cried and before I could do anything. Ka-Boom!!! I had never felt so much pain in my life as I was sent flying backwards into the bookshelves from the blast. I received crippled forelegs and my armour also received some nasty fractures to its armour plating on the forelegs and chest. I moaned from the pain as I rolled back onto my belly to pick myself up as my armour suit’s medical system kicked in and applied healing and restoration potions to fix me up but unfortunately my armour wasn’t near anything that could be labelled as scrap metal so it couldn’t be repaired.
As I was recovering the Raiders began to enter the library. Luckily for me my lever-action shotgun had landed beside me and I quickly picked it up with my magic and stood with a groan. I may have been healed but fuck it still hurts. “What the fucking hell? That bitch is still alive” The lead Raider of the group shouted in disgust at the failed attempt to kill me with the mines. “That’s right you fuckers, I’m not dead yet” I shouted back in anger as I fired my first shot from the lever-action. The buckshot peppered the whole group but from the range I fired it from it only caused minor damage, more of an irritation than any harm. I then broke into a gallop, charging at the Raiders as they readied their guns and before any of them could get a fix on me I ploughed into the lead Raider with a satisfying crunch as my heavily armoured body broke his ribs, collapsing his lungs. He fell instantly unable to breath. One of the Raider’s holding a sawn-off in her mouth fired, the poor condition weapon didn’t help make the shots lethal as the buckshot from it pinged off my armoured hide harmlessly. The other Raiders had melee weapons, a pool cue, like that’s gonna do anything to me, and a combat knife with a serrated edge and again, that’s gonna do fuck all to me. I entered S.A.T.S for the first time in possibly years and took aim at the Sawn-off, I toggled a singled shot to her head before turning to the other two and doing the same. It felt weird being in S.A.T.S as time seemed to come to a stand still so I could get my targets and once I ended the spell, everything returned to normal but I got off three shots with the shotgun in quick succession thanks to S.A.T.S. Sawn-off went down without a head and so did Pool Cue but Combat Knife seemed to have moved somewhat so my shot didn’t hit her head. Instead it tore into her lower back and she went sprawling on the floor. She was still alive as I trotted up to her.
“Please, I don’t wanna die” She begged rather pathetically.
That pissed me right off, a Raider begging for mercy. Didn’t she know who the fuck she was talking to?
“You should have thought about that before you murdered everypony I knew” I growled angrily at her.
“I didn’t do anything to you”
“You fucking Raider bitches murdered my whole Stable”
“We didn’t do that! We never been near a Stable”
“I DON’T FUCKING CARE, YOU’RE A RAIDER AND ALL YOU FUCKERS ARE THE SAME” I yelled filling with deep rage as memories of what I saw in my Stable before I left came flooding back.
She whimpered, tears in her eyes from her fear of death and me. “Please, I didn’t do anything to you”
“Didn’t do anything to me, you RUINED MY ENTIRE FUCKING LIFE” I screamed at her and I raised a fore hoof. I couldn’t control myself, I was being driven by my rage, I would never consciously do this. I could see her eyes widen as she watched me raise my hoof. “Please Celestia no” She wept and I then brought down my hoof so hard that the Raider’s head exploded in a wet and crunchy splat as I curb stomped her. I let out a deep growl of anger as I used my magic to pull off my helmet, dropping it on the floor before I let out an angry scream. “I’M GONNA KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU RAIDER FUCKS”.
I stepped out of the library looking at my E.F.S and saw that the remaining Raiders were running away, fleeing after hearing me scream. I couldn’t blame them. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths to clam myself down. If I was a smart pony I would have realised I had an anger problem. After several minutes I calmed down enough to be able to think clearly. My E.F.S became clear as the Raiders fled the area.
Bang, the sound of splintering wood brought me back to my senses. I looked around for anypony breaking wood, expecting a Raider with a Ponyball Bat to have broken it on something but as I turned my gaze fell on the door frame of the dead tree library and the rest of the tree. Large cracks had formed in the body of the tree and seemed to stretch up its trunk. Inside I could see the first floor sagging lower than I remembered. I heard another splintering bang and the first floor sagged lowered and I then realised what was happening, the library was collapsing. I began to run away from it until I remembered I had left my helmet in there. “Ah shit!” I said to myself out loud as I turned and went into full gallop to go and retrieve it before it got crushed but unfortunately as I got half way to the library there was one final bang of breaking wood and the whole inside of the library came crashing down. I saw my helmet get crushed by the weight of the several floors coming down on it. I knew those mines packed a punch when they sent me flying but to cause enough damage to make the library collapse, damn!
“Ah for fuck sake, my helmet” I moaned to myself as I had just lost an important part of my armour. Yeah, it was really important. I know some Steel Rangers opted out of having helmets, saying they cut some visibility and made them look like monsters. I could agree with the monster part with the dragon like spines and sail like appears of the back of the helmet that housed our mane but it saved your life from being shot in the head. My helmet was indeed very important as the visor built into it enhanced my E.F.S range and the right side lens had my 50cal’s scope system installed.
Oh yea, didn’t tell you about that did I? My 50 Caliber Anti-Machine Sniper doesn’t have a scope built onto the weapon as it was designed to be used on a battle saddle and so if it was connected to a battle saddle that is mounted on magical power armour it would auto install the software drivers into the suit’s systems so the helmet’s visor could act as the scope, also the helmet controlled the movement of the gun’s aim, where my head pointed, the gun’s positioning arms moved it accordingly. My sniping ability with the 50cal had be reduced a lot but thankfully the 50cal was also designed to work without a helmet but aiming it manually is hard and to get a target for it, it had a laser sight mounted above the gun barrel on the main housing in front of the ammo feeder.
xxxxx
I began hearing that awful March of the Parasprite music again. The tell tale sign of a Spritebot nearby. I had left Ponyville and was heading over some hills away from the Raider town when I heard the coming bot. The music stopped behind me and I turned around, almost slapping the Spritebot out of the air with the long barrel of the 50cal.
“Whoa, careful with that thing” The tinny voice of Watcher called out.
I thrusted the large barrel up against its visual sensor. “I am not in the mood” I growled.
“Easy there Appletart”
“Ugh, sorry Watcher, I’m not a happy pony right now”
“Yes I can tell from the tone in your voice and what I just witnessed in Ponyville” The bot hovered silently for a moment before speaking again. “Did you find anything regarding the residents of Stable 112?”
“Not much, found a room in the cellar of the library which contained some items from them and a couple of notes saying how they had found this town empty and began to make it they’re home. I guess the Raiders killed them”
“That’s unfortunate”
There was a distant boom from somewhere far away but I heard Watch cry out in surprise and the sound of the boom a lot louder from the speakers of the Spritebot. With a burst of static the little robot began playing that music again and started hovering away.
“What was that?” I asked myself. I shrugged it off and began trotting down the hill until I heard something in the sky. Something like a sonic boom. I looked back behind me and saw something smoking in the sky, descending down from the cloud layer near the mountains. It must have been huge as I could clearly see a T shaped object falling down at a steep angle with jets of flame coming out from behind it. I watched as more jets of flame erupted from its underside, pulling it out of its steep dive. As I watched I noticed it was heading right for me and still falling. In seconds the huge object passed over me, I could feel a tremendous down draft from the jets of fire below it as it flew over me. I was amazed the thing was flying, it didn’t look like it could even fly, it was too boxy and didn’t have anything that looked remotely like a flying device, no propellers or anything. Its front looked like it had been on fire as the front and the underside of the forward half were stained black but the rest of it seemed to have a goldish colour to it.
I was intrigued by this, finding myself curious to what this thing could be as it flew, dropping lower every second. I began galloping after it, my gaze locked on it as it flew. I began climbing a hill still watching the object as it passed over the hill. It had gotten a lot lower before disappearing over the hill and I noticed small explosions coming off its side segments. Before I reached the top of the hill I heard an equestria shattering bang as the huge heavy object hit the ground and that was followed by teeth grinding metal on dirt and rock screeching as it grinded against the dirt floor. When I reached the top of the hill, the massive object had come to a stop about a mile and a half away in the middle of some barren land. From up here I could see it was indeed T shaped with one long central section with two smaller segments mounted on the rear half. As I looked at it I noticed it was bent. Its thinner front half had been pushed back against itself, forcing it to bend from the heavier rear half pushing against it. The front half was at an angle from the rear half leaving a large triangular gash in its right side, a perfect entry point. I started down the hill to examine it.
xxxxx
This thing was huge, clearly the biggest thing I’ve ever seen in Equestria. I walked down its right side external segment. Looking up at the wall of scratched gold painted metal I noticed a huge insignia painted on its side. It looked like a swooping bird of prey in a circle but the circle stopped where it met its wings. The insignia was coloured white with a black background. Passing that I then noticed writing, it was named but…I don’t believe this, it’s in equestrian, in our native language. I began to wonder if we really did make this. It doesn’t look like anything we’ve ever made before but the fact its lettering was equestrian, I wasn’t sure. Oh, its name, sorry, its name read “GDCS KODIAK II”. I’m guessing the first part is an abbreviation and the last, must mean a number since neither of them form a word. Its name didn’t sound like anything I’ve heard before either. Just what is this thing?
I had to estimate this thing to be at last two hundred and fifty to three hundred feet long, it was gigantic. I found the huge hole in its side, an almost perfectly clean split in the metal hull but the floors and rooms looked like they had been ripped apart as metal was twisted and mangled where it seemed to have stretched before breaking and furniture and other equipment had fallen over or fallen down into the hole. I saw that the split had opened up to a corridor running down into its interior. “In I go” I said to myself.
Trotting down a corridor I was amazed at the size of it from the inside, even in my armour there was plenty of room in here for like four ponies to be walking side by side. More reason for me to think this isn’t a pony made object. Despite its roominess the corridor was filled with wreckage, well, bits and bobs that weren’t secured had been thrown all over the place like somepony threw a wild party in here.
I entered an even larger corridor, according to my Pipbuck’s local map screen, this corridor ran the length of the thing as it was just one long corridor as far as my Pipbuck’s scanner could reach. Looking up I saw an illuminated sign hanging from the ceiling. It read “Bridge” with an arrow pointing down towards the front and “Engineering” with an arrow pointing toward the rear. Stepping into the corridor I looked to my left, towards Engineering and gasped as I saw the floor and ceiling a little further up the corridor has been pushed up and down, closing off the corridor to the rear half. Must be damage from the bending of the hull I assumed and so I looked down the dark long corridor towards the Bridge. I figured going to the Bridge would be a good place to start exploring this thing as from what books I’ve read back in Stable 88 about old sailing ships was that the Bridge is where the ship is controlled from.
The corridor towards the Bridge began to show more signs of damage from its impact with the ground as I started seeing many buckled panels, ceiling panels and the floor being bent or twisted and from some holes in the walls and ceiling from where panels had fallen away with loose wiring were lots of sparks. “Warning!! Multiple system failures detected, Warning!! Multiple system failures detected” Called an electronic female voice from an unseen speaker. I nearly shat myself in fright as I wasn’t at all expecting a voice to suddenly call out from nowhere. “Fucking Celestia” I screamed “That scared me half to death” I complained as I continued on. It took me a little while to reach the Bridge due to the length of the corridor and the damage it sustained towards the front. In that time the same electronic female voice repeated more failures, it even stated some of them, ones that seemed important like Life Support. That one didn’t bother me since I knew the thing was exposed to the outside air.
The door to the Bridge was closed but the control panel to the right of the door was glowing green meaning it was still active so I used my magic to press the door control button. With a metallic screeching and a hydraulic hiss the door slowly opened vertically, like that of most doors in my Stable. Once the door had opened I gasped at what I saw. Inside were six bodies, bodies that were NOT of ponies. I knew now this wasn’t a pony made thing, it was alien, those bodies were alien.
Inside, despite the fact the thing hit the ground just below this room it was in rather good condition apart from the blood and shattered windows which let in the natural, but gloomy, day light in. Three of these aliens were still strapped into their seats but the other three looked to have been thrown from somewhere against the walls from how they were crumpled up on the consoles and the blood splatters on the walls and window frames. Those in the seats most of been so violently shuck from the crash that either their necks or spines were broken. All six of them were wearing some sort of uniform that was the same coloured gold as the painted metal of the outside of this thing, they also bore the same insignia on their chests. These aliens were odd looking things, pale skin on some, yellowish on another and brown on another. They only had fur on their heads, well I think its fur, some had fur on their arms but it wasn’t as covered as their heads. Their uniforms hid most of their features but I was sure as hell not gonna touch them. Looking at them closely I was able to tell which were males and which were females, their gender difference was easy to notice. It hit me, these were the only bodies I’ve found since I entered this thing, I’d not seen a single body walking down that central corridor. A ship this big, can’t have been piloted by just six creatures like these.
I was curious to know what happened here, why these six were the only ones in here and why it dropped out of the sky and the biggest question I guess I had was, where the hell did this come from? Looking at one of the bodies I noticed it had an outstretched arm as if reaching for something. I followed the direction the arm was pointing and noticed a screen that was still working. Looking at the flickering screen I saw it was set to play something as on the screen it read “Touch screen to play last recording”. Curiosity getting the better of me I touched the screen with my horn and the screen flickered off and then back on, showing one of the dead creatures looking back at me as it began to speak in a deep, gentle male voice.
“This is Captain Michaelson of the GDCS Kodiak two. I am recording this message because our mission is a failure, our ship has been damaged and we are unable to fix the damage and continue on our mission” I sat on my hunches as I watched and listened, at the end of that he looked distressed and pained and when he spoke again it was reflected in his voice.
“If this ship survives the crash on the planet below, I would like the inhabitants to know what happened here, or if the Kodiak three finds us” He took a deep breath before continuing.
“Ninety years ago our world, planet Earth was hit by a meteor that carried with it a poisonous plant life form which we called Tiberium. It began to grow on our world like a weed, spreading and popping up everywhere. Tiberium first appeared as green crystalline structures which seemed to stick closely to a water sources at first but after several months it spread out across the whole planet.
Five years after its arrival Tiberium was present in over two hundred locations around the world and had become recognised as a valuable resource as when it grows it soaks up most of the soil’s minerals making it very profitable when harvested. This sparked a conflict, a world war with a terrorist group calling themselves the Brotherhood of Nod. We of the GDI, Global Defence Initiative, fought back against the Brotherhood and won, but the war never ended really, by 2020 we realised that our war with Nod was only a minor problem as the real war was with Tiberium. It was growing faster and changing, making new threats like mutations and poisoning our people. We knew then that if we didn’t act soon, we’d loose our world to Tiberium” He stopped for a moment to rub his eyes and looked back behind himself for a moment before returning to the screen.
“In 2030 we were at a critical stage, our world was on the brink of dying, the level of Tiberium had killed at least four billion people and the constant battles against Nod killed a further billion. Soon another war erupted and we learned that the leader of Brotherhood’s master plan was to use a missile to turn the entire planet into a Tiberium world, claiming that Tiberium was our next step in human evolution…”
I paused the video for a moment, shocked and interested at the same time to what was happening to these…humans. I thought we had it bad during the Great War. I looked back at the video and resumed it.
“…No, Tiberium would kill us all, no human could live with it. If anyone got infected it would slowly crystallise your body, turning you into a Tiberium Crystal. Luckily for us we managed to stop the mad man from launching it and to our amazement we also recovered some sort of crystal ball which turned out to be some kind of data matrix. It wasn’t man made as there weren’t any tool marks or anything to that looked remotely human about it and with the fact we couldn’t read the data since there wasn’t anything that could read it, we came to the conclusion that it was some sort of alien artefact. As the years passed we were able to decode some of the data on the matrix, we learned that the matrix itself was called the Tacitus and that it housed data on Tiberium or as it said on the Tacitus, Ichor.
We had managed to make changes that allowed us to greatly slow down the spread of Tiberium thanks to the Tacitus but our world was still under threat. Even though we were unlocking its secrets we still hadn’t found a cure. In 2047 a third war erupted with Nod but this war took a turn none of us expected. Close towards the end of the war we were tricked into using our Ion Cannon to destroy a Nod temple which when it exploded, it also detonated a liquid Tiberium bomb which was what Nod had planned from the beginning.
Soon after that event we were invaded by an alien race called the Scrin. They proceeded to attack anyone and anything when they landed all around our world. We soon learned that this was just a diversion to keep us occupied while the aliens built strange towers. Getting our act together we started pushing through the alien’s defences, destroying tower after tower until we came to the last one which Nod seemed to be defending for some reason. The aliens retreated though this tower afterward and the tower went silent then. The aliens had the firepower but not the numbers in conquering us so we assumed that what invaded wasn’t a proper invasion force, more like a harvesting force to build those towers.
We continued to try to unlock the secrets of the Tacitus but were still not finding a cure and our world was slowly dying. By 2072 our planets population was down to barely four hundred million and we were still nowhere near making a cure and so, with nothing else to do we began to form an evacuation plan. Earth was going to die, no matter what we did to slow the spread of Tiberium. Our only chance was to leave our world and find a new home. We quickly designed two ships, a scout ship and a transport ship. The first was this one, the GDCS Kodiak two. This ship was designed to transport a good number of GDI personnel in stasis and was programmed with an AI to search for a new planet capable of sustaining human life. The other, the Kodiak three was to bring the remaining human population to the new world once we found it.
A few days ago the Kodiak two flew into a nebula. We had flown through nebulas before but this one was different, this one seemed to have a high electronic charge and once we were in it, the flight crews were awakened from stasis to help keep the ship flying as the systems were being fried. We managed to get out of the nebula by altering course but after we left it, our ship was so damaged that barely anything worked. We were on a collision course with a planet a few days out.
The technicians did what they could to try to fix the damaged systems but still we were locked on a collision course. Most life support systems had been fixed and some flight controls but still not enough to get us back on course. As the captain I knew we weren’t going to escape this so I ordered for the ship’s evacuation. I was going to stay behind as it was with some older traditions for the captain to go down with the ship. My five closest friends wouldn’t leave with the others, I can’t blame them either. We had been through two wars together, fought at each other’s side and helped each other out through thick and thin. I wouldn’t of left them either.
We found that our mid range scanners were still operational and we discovered that the planet we were heading for had life on it. We were just going to sit and wait for the ship to slam into the surface but since this planet has life we have to do what we can to make sure we don’t kill anything if we can help it. The Ion Reactors on this ship would cause an explosion that could be roughly as strong as a nuclear bomb or more. The ships stabilising thrusters are still operational and we should be able to bring this ship out of a dive and land it on its underside. We might have been able to land it if the main thrusters weren’t stuck on full power.
We are sorry we failed.
This is Captain Michaelson of the GDCS Kodiak two signing off”
With that the screen went black. I looked back at these aliens, these humans. They had it worse than we did and they paid the ultimate price, they lost their world.
“WARNING!! ION REACTORS DESTABLISED, WARNING!! ION REACTORS DESTABLISED” Blared the most terrifying warning siren I’ve ever heard. I remembered from the recording that the human said these were bad and I didn’t want to stick around for when they went off. I began racing out of the Bridge and up the central corridor to the corridor I used getting in. In my panic I took a turn too early and ran down a corridor that led deeper into the ship instead of towards the break.
I must have taken turn after turn as I ran deeper and eventually ran into a dead end. I couldn’t for the life of me remember which way I had come getting in, the panic in me building. I lifted my Pipbuck so I could see the map and to my horror the screen was flickering so badly I couldn’t make out anything. There was usually nothing that could interfere with the Pipbuck’s operation but something in this ship was affecting it. Panicking wasn’t going to get me anywhere except getting me killed. I took some deep breaths to calm myself down and looked around, thankfully I noticed direction signs on the walls and found some pointing me back to the central corridor.
“WARNING!! ION REACTOR DETONATION IN FIFTEEN MINUTES, WARNING!! ION REACTOR DETONATION IN FIFTEEN MINUTES. ADVICE REACHING MINIMAL SAFE DISTANCE”
I got a lot of ground to cover to get away from this so I began to gallop as fast a I could back out into the central corridor and continued onwards to the corridor close to the break that lead to the way out. More warnings sounded as I ran, my progress was being hampered slightly as the longer I took running down the corridors the more explosions that ripped out of the walls, floors and ceilings. This whole ship was tearing itself apart. An explosion erupted out of the wall beside me and flung me into a closed door, my ears were ringing and I could feel a warm dampness in my fur on my right cheek as a piece of metal cut my cheek open. My suit’s medical system kicked in and gave me a healing potion injection to close the wound. I hate that system sometimes, it’ll give me a healing potion sometimes for a scratch or something that wasn’t serious at all, like that scratch. Hearing the warning sound again, over the ringing in my ears, saying I now had ten minutes to get clear, I bolted.
I jumped out of the break in the hull and started galloping as fast as I could in just one direction to get as far away from the ship as possible. I counted that I had about two minutes to get clear when all of a sudden a pony dressed in black power armour with an insectoid like stinger tail and antenna like beam weapons landed in front of me. “Halt!” She barked at me but I just changed course to avoid running into her. “I said halt” She screamed from behind me after I shot past, I looked around for anything to take cover behind and thankfully I saw a large rock which could shield me, I hope. Diving behind it I braced myself for the explosion I knew was coming.
The same armoured pony landed again in front of me behind the rock with me, she didn’t look happy. Now that I wasn’t running I noticed she’s a Pegasus pony. Armoured pegasus pony, that means…
“I told you to stop damn it”
“What the…fuck is…Enclave…doing here?” I screamed, panting heavily from all my running.
“I’m asking the questions here, what are you running from?” She demanded.
“That thing…going to go…boom” I gasped getting more air into my lungs.
“What?”
“Its going to…explode” I wore a serious expression that told her I’m-not-shitting-with-you. She flapped her wings to get airborne just enough to see over the rock. I saw her face go grim “Oh shit, my squad” she screamed before she took off. I lay down and put my hooves over my head and braced myself.
I heard the most deafening explosion ever, forcing me to put my hooves over my ears from the explosion. All around me everything was bathed in a bright blue light from the explosion. I felt a massive rush of wind as the blast started blowing everything around it away like paper, I even saw a dead Enclave pony shoot past along with bits and pieces from the ship.
There was then a far more power explosion, I felt its shockwave run through the ground under me and then I heard it, the sound of my rock cover breaking. “Oh shit” and then it exploded and I was sent flying with the rest of it from the powerful blast of wind. Screaming as I flew, I then felt something hard hit the back of my head, there was a sharp pain and then my vision started going dark as I blacked out before I landed and was partially covered in dirt.
“Your still a young filly Appletart, you need to go to school” My mum told me as she nuzzled my neck softly, trying to coax me out of bed.
“I’m not going back to school EVER!” I shrieked and pulled my pink flowered bed covers over my head and curling up, letting out a soft whimper. I was a prime target for bullies and my mother knows this but she knows if she did anything to stop them, like move them to other classes to keep them out of my way for the school day, it was cause problems with the parents and make my life even more of a misery.
“I know you don’t want to go back but you have to get your education…” She paused as she bit my bed covers and pulled them back. I looked up feeling my cover move away and I saw my mother’s sweet blue eyes looking down on me with love and concern. My mother was a lovely unicorn mare, fur of a nice light brown and a mane and tail of a sweet dark blue, definitely fits her name of Blueberry Muffin. “…If you don’t, your letting those bullies win” She finishes after letting my duvet fall from her maw.
I looked away and buried my face into my pillow, my entire white head almost blending in with my white bed mattress and pillow. “They call me names” I whined. I heard my mother sigh and nuzzle me again.
“If that’s all they do, just ignore them, they will get bored if they don’t see a reaction from you and then leave you alone when they realise they don’t get to you anymore” I looked up from my pillow, looking into my mothers soft blue eyes, seeing truth in them. “Believe me sweetie, I know”
Letting out a sigh of defeat I rose from my bed and hopped out and began to trot to the bathroom with my head hung low. My mother smiled “That’s my girl”.
XXXXX
I woke up to the sound of the howling wind and the pitter-patter of rain and a throbbing pain in the back of my head which had given me a nasty headache. Oh god it was nasty, every time I felt my pulse in my head, it was swiftly followed by a surge of pain. Moaning from the headache I looked up and around to see where I was. I had a massive sheet of metal resting over me that was bent in such a way it was almost a half cylinder. It took me a moment to remember what happened, I remembered running for my life before diving behind a huge rock just before the alien ship exploded and the force of it tore my cover apart, sending me flying and then something hit my in the back of the head and I blacked out.
The metal sheet was acting as a shelter as I could hear the torrential rain beating down on it along with the rain soaking into the dirt. I looked down out the end of the metal sheet in front of me and I was surprised to still see the ship. Well, what was left of it. Almost the entire front half had survived the explosion but from the looks of it now, it lost some more length around the break area and the entire hull seemed to be littered with small tears and dents. It seems the wreckage went for a spin and a tumble and its came to rest leaning at a steep angle and the very front was more or less looking right at me, I could see the windows of the bridge mid way up all smashed.
Clunk! Metal hooves hit the metal sheet above me. I tried to move to roll onto my stomach so I could crawl out and…Why the fuck can’t I move? Oh shit no please, if I’m paralyzed kill me now, I can’t live being paralyzed…wait, I can feel my body and legs but I can’t move them. I looked down at my pipbuck and I almost screamed. It was dead, the screen was blank and if that was dead then that means my armour’s spell matrix had died too. I let out a sigh of relief that I wasn’t paralyzed but now I was now a sitting duck.
“This is a fucking waste, the ship is gone and there is fuck all we can do now” A gruff and rather annoyed male voice growled out from above me.
“Moan, moan fucking moan, is that all you do Blackstar?” Came the voice of an equally annoyed female who I didn’t hear land or approach, could she have been there before I woke up?
“Why are we even here anyway?”
“Because I’m in charge and the High Council ordered us to investigate the crash after the last team failed to report back"
How long was I out?...
“Ugh…Alright, what’s the plan?”
“Simple, fly over to it and examine it, that thing had power when it flew through New Cloudsdale, so it has to have something important to have given it the power to fly”
“Seriously, you really think that thing has power? DID YOU FUCKING SEE THAT EXPLOSION?!”
“I did and the High Council still wants us to check it out so get your ass over there already before I demote you” The female was sounding pissed now.
“Celestia give me strength, fine, but if you weren’t my sister I’d kick your ass” And with that the hooves on my metal sheet clanged and then he was gone.
“He can be such a dweeb” The sister said as she began to gently trot around the metal sheet covering me. Shit, if she sees me under here I’m done for. I saw a shadow and I quickly pulled my head back behind me armoured body, hoping if she did look under here she’d just see the metal body and think it was just a piece of wreckage. Sure enough she looked under, more interested in the actual sheet than me. I slowly moved my head so I could see her driven by my curiosity. My curiosity is gonna get me killed one day. Keeping my head as far behind my armour as I could while still being able to see the mare I had to admit, she was cute. She was a brilliant pink with a darker pink mane and soft blue eyes. She wore some sort of officer’s uniform rather than the heavy black power armour and the uniform hid her cutie mark.
I could see her eyes beaming at the metal, looking at all the lines and other markings in it. “What made this wonderful piece of machinery, I don’t see riveting or anything to hold these metal plates together, oh wow did these aliens know welding?, oh my gosh they did” she beamed happily. This was extremely thrilling for her, she didn’t care what her mission was, she was just happy to be here to see the marvel of an alien ship, to see that it was built with possibly techniques we knew.
Her brother returns looking bored to shit. “There’s fuck all going on in there, its dead, no power, no fucking nothing, can we go now?” he moans, his helmet was off and he was the same pink as she was. I suddenly felt like he had the same childhood as mine, being that colour, a colour that mostly associated with girls. He must have been a prime target for bullies too.
“You sure, that was a quick damn check?”
“Yes I’m fucking sure…” He moaned sounding extremely bored.
“Alright, but we’ll be back later if the High Council isn’t convinced” She moans and with that they were gone.
I let out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding and took in a couple of deep breaths. Ok, good they were gone so I was safe for now but I’m still immobilised. Looking down at my Pipbuck I used my magic to unlock its clasps to release it from my leg. I know a Pipbuck techie was needed for this but because I was still without my cutie mark when all fillies my age then had their’s my mother passed an order to let me learn from the techies in an attempt to help. I learned how unicorns could take their’s off using their magic and also if for whatever reason it died a unicorn could also recharge it with a special port built into the back of the Pipbuck. These Pipbucks were only issued to unicorns for that purpose. With a couple of soft pops the locks were released and I pulled my Pipbuck from my leg and shivered in my armour as my leg felt the cold air for the first time in years where I wore it. Flipping it over I saw the hole in the back of the device and levitated it up onto my horn. My horn fit into the hole in the back. Concentrating I began to channel my magical energy into the machine. I began to groan from the magical strain as the Pipbuck needed a large charge to reenergise it and after a good half hour of draining myself of magic the Pipbuck beeped as it began to reactivate.
I put my Pipbuck back onto my leg and my E.F.S returned to my vision but still had nothing apart from the Stable-Pony in the top left telling me my Pipbuck was restarting. After a few minutes my Pipbuck was back online and had detected my dead power armour. I saw a message appear on my E.F.S saying. “Power armour detected…Power armour spell matrix offline”. I sighed as I already knew this but shortly after that a new message appeared. “Spell matrix recharge in progress…estimate time of recharge…5 hours”. Great, I had to be immobile for a further five hours, oh goddesses, I hope this rain stops soon, I gotta go.
After doing my business I did a medical check to check on my baby considering I just survived a powerful explosion. Luckily my Pipbuck's read out shown me and my child to be in good heath. Thank the goddess. I suppose the armour maintained my health before it went offline and protected me from serious injury, apart from my head. Yeah, headaches suck.
XXXXX
I stood at a gaping hole torn into the side of the large wreckage. I couldn’t see anything inside, it was as dark as Nightmare Moon’s night in there, not to mention it being pitch black out here right now since it’s the middle of the night. I don’t know why I’m going back in there but I feel kinda driven to find out more about this thing. But hey, it’s an adventure and at least this time I don’t have to worry about it going boom in my face.
I turned on my Pipbuck light, bathing the hall way inside in bright white light. My E.F.S compass was fuzzy, the same interference as before was affecting it but nowhere near as much as before, I could still get a sense of direction from it.
The damage outside was mirrored on the interior. Walls, ceilings and even floors had given way, blocking or even opening up new routes throughout the ship. It didn’t take me long to find an intact stairwell leading me back up to the central corridor, somewhere familiar inside. I turned to my left after exiting the stair and saw the night's cloudy sky out the back.
“Damn” I said to myself as the natural light flooded in through the huge hole in the back made it easier for me to see the damage in here. Anything that wasn’t secured had been flung any which way and was either scattered across the floor or wedged into the wall or ceiling. Most doors appeared to have been blown out or in, I guess that’s a result from the pressure wave that passed through the ship when it exploded. I think the best place to start my exploration is the Bridge and so I began to walk down the ruined hallway. I had to be careful as there was now a lot of debris. I nearly fell on my face from stepping on something that shifted under me a few times.
I began to move slowly, I was hearing lots of groans now. This ship must have been weakened considerably for it to creek and moan so much. I saw the door to the Bridge and suddenly I heard a metallic snap and I froze. Another and the section of floor I was standing on lurched to the right. “Oh shit” and before I could dive off it there were two more snaps and the whole floor fell, crashing down into the hallway below and as it slammed the broken end into the floor. I ended up sliding down it. Metal armour on smoothish metal floor, not good at slowing me down and I slid down the floor into the hallway below and straight into a closed metal door with a loud clunk.
I thought I felt pain before, that was nothing compared to this, oh sure I slapped half my face against the metal door but dear goddesses, my horn hit the metal. Dear fucking goddess that HURT. My vision blurred slightly from the tears of pain in my eyes as I pulled away from the door to hold my head in my metal hooves to try and dull the sheer pain of my bruised horn. “Med-X reserves depleted” came a message in my E.F.S to tell me my armour was out of Med-X. Did I tell you how much I hate my armour when it does that?
The door I crashed into groaned and fell inside the room. What luck that it fell free after I hit it. Looking up I saw a nameplate above the door frame but I couldn’t read what was on it so I raised my Pipbuck and I gasped. The nameplate said “Security Station”. I had crashed into the ship’s security station, again, what luck. Groaning with pain I stood and entered the room. It was littered with desks, computers, papers and filing cabinets. It literally looked like a bomb had gone off in here as papers were everywhere. Even the computers had fallen from the desks and smashed from whatever they fell into. The wall to my right had filing cabinets that had fallen like dominos and resting against the wall next to the first cabinet was the biggest sniper rifle I had ever seen. I smiled with delight at the sight of the huge, powerful looking weapon. Oh yea, I’m nuts for huge ass rifles. I trotted over to it and examined it. It was longer than my body at a good six foot in length. It wasn’t as bulky as my battle saddled 50cal but it was still huge. It had a wooden stock, a handle that wasn’t designed for a pony to hold in their mouth and a trigger that couldn’t be pulled by the tongue. Mounted on the top of the weapon is a scope, which is more proof that this weapon couldn’t be used by an Earth Pony or a Pegasus. It could be used by a Unicorn though. I reached out with my magic, the weapon glowed in my familiar while magic aura and I began to pull. I groaned from the pain in my horn as I used my magic. The weapon was wedged and I had to pull with all my might to dislodge it. With a pop the weapon came free and slapped me in the face and god damn this thing is heavy. I wish I had my helmet back, that's twice now I've been hit in the face.
I know I’ve used my Pipbuck all my life and know that it can easily identify things but it still amazes me. Even now as I claimed the alien weapon, it some how identified it and to my surprised my 50cal bullets were compatible with it. It’s clip is capable of housing eight rounds. My Pipbuck labelled the weapon as “This Machine” and that it had a weight of twenty pounds. That was one hell of a heavy weapon. I dread to think of the recoil. As I checked out my new weapon I think I discovered why my Pipbuck called it “This Machine” as engraved into the wooden stock was “This machine kills Noddies”. I remembered the recording the humans made mentioning their enemy was something of Nod.
On the floor where I found the weapon was a leather harness that looked like it hooked around the arms of the human body and around the waist. On the back was a holster that looked like it carried 'This Machine'. I picked it up and fastened it around my armour, hooking it around my fore legs and waist like it was designed for on the humans. Granted I had to do a bit of adjusting with the straps to get it to sit right. I levitated 'This Machine' and slid it into the holster and thankfully it fit in, but the gun barrel was sticking out quite a bit, a little further than my 50cal. Once satisfied it was in I finally noticed that it was warm in the room. No, not warm, hot.
XXXXX
I found that the human race was a destructive race by nature. Plenty of evidence from books I found in the living quarters and other recreational areas suggested as much. If I didn’t know better, it seemed the human race was always in conflict as from any books with a time line, there wasn’t even ten or so years without a battle or war being raged. I also learned that the humans had a recorded history dating back by at least four thousand years and I was amazed at the level of technological advancement these humans had. Especially around the 1800s. The human race seemed to explode in technology after steam power was harnessed and when they harnessed electricity. Within the two hundred years after discovering electricity the humans were able to build such gigantic machines and even space going vessels like this one. Despite the human races violent nature I couldn’t help but marvel at their ingenuity, it almost seemed like there was nothing a human couldn’t do.
My explorations of the ships lower levels had revealed sources for the heat I was feeling. Lots of fires. This ship was burning up and I swear I was walking more on a slant. I know the ship is currently sitting at an angle but its feeling like its getting worse.
“Warning, temperature levels exceeding safe levels” Spoke an audio warning in my Pipbuck. I stopped and looked down at it, I didn’t feel that hot, but then again my armour had a cooling system to keep my body at perfect optimal levels. Oh right yea, my helmet, I forgot I didn’t have it anymore. Ever wore something for so long that you get used to how it felt so you didn’t realise you were not wearing it? Come to think of it, my face did feel a bit warm, plus I could feel sweat on my brow. The armour was doing its job in keeping me cool but my head has been getting warmer.
I think I have to cut my exploration short. Realising the danger I was now in I decided to leave but down here it was like a maze and I currently had no idea where I’m going. I looked at my Pipbuck again and still my map was fuzzy and wasn’t making much sense. “Fuck” I said out loud as I began to move at a quick trot. If I could get back to the central corridor I’d be able to get out from the huge hole in the back. Getting there is gonna be the hard part.
I realised I was heading down hill, further towards the left side of the ship. I knew it was the left since it was leaning to that side and now it was getting rather steep. I stopped at a flight of stairs, they were intact thankfully and just as I put one hoof onto a step to go up I noticed a white marker on my E.F.S compass. It was still a bit fuzzy but not enough to screw up to show random markers. Somepony or someone else was in here.
I looked in the direction the marker was showing, I groaned as it was going further down the hallway. The deeper I got the hotter it was getting, I could see an orange glow in the floor up head. A fire must be raging down there somewhere. I saw the marker start to move from one side to the other as I got nearer until I was stood on top of it. Realising I was either right below or above it I shouted as loud as I could.
“SOMEPONY DOWN HERE?”
I waited for a response and just as I was about to call again I heard a faint voice call back from below me.
“Down here”
“HOLD ON I’M COMING”
“Take your time, no rush” I caught the hint of sarcasm in the voice.
Breaking into a gallop I ran up the hallway back to the stairs and quickly descended the stairs into the hallway below. I nearly fell down the stairs from the steep angle the ship was resting at now. Turning to head down the corridor to get to the pony or whatever I saw why the floor was glowing red hot. There was a huge freaking blaze at the end of the corridor and the marker to the non-hostile was close to it.
I stopped as close to the fire as I could, the marker is in the room being blocked by the fire. Groaning from the sheer heat I backed away and luckily there was a room I passed which seemed to go behind the marker. Inside the room I saw another door that lead into the room the non-hostile was in but it was half closed with a filing cabinet wedged in it. I could see a gap between the door frame and the cabinet and so I called.
“Are you alright in there?”
A blacked face appeared in the gap, it belonged to a buck. I couldn’t place what colour he is as it was hidden by his blacked fur and mane but I could see bright blue distressed eyes.
“Oh sure, just working on my soot tan”
I rolled my eyes, this guy had an attitude. “I’m gonna get you out” I said as I got behind the cabinet and started to push. I could feel the heat of the metal cabinet through my armour, I can see why this buck hasn’t tried moving it. Oh goddesses, even if he did try he wouldn’t move it, this damn thing is heavy. He poked his head into the gab again.
“Err, anytime now, you know”
I groaned as I put everything I had into pushing, my armour’s enhanced strength giving me more grunt. It moved only slightly and grinded against something I couldn’t see. I could feel the floor beneath me bow and the cabinet buckle slightly as I tried to force it. “MOVE” I screamed at it and accidentally triggered my 50cal to fire. With a thundering bang my weapon fired a shot, the buck behind the door screamed from the ear piercing bang and looked through the door with a scowl. Suddenly the cabinet lurched forward as if it had been freed and I was able to push it through the door enough for the black buck to scramble out of the burning room he was in. I noticed a hole in the door frame, my 50cal must have tore away whatever was holding the cabinet in place.
The buck stood a full head higher than me as he stood up after crawling out from the door. His whole body stained by soot. I guess he had a hard time getting around without running into a fire down here. He looked at me and I saw slight fear in his eyes, like he recognised me. He stared at me as if checking me out and I was staring back with a raised brow. Suddenly our attention was ripped away from each other as both our ears were filled by the most terrifying metallic screeching ever. It was like raining metal.
“Ah shit, this whole things coming apart” and after he said that the ship suddenly lurched further to its left side making the floor even steeper.
“Fuck, we need to get out of here now”
“Oh yea, what’s the plan smartass?” Damn this guy had an attitude alright.
My E.F.S shown a direction marker and not one to distrust it I decided to follow it. “This way” I said as I ran to the door to the corridor. I made sure to sound confident as I said it too.
I looked behind as I stepped out into the hall and thankfully he was behind me. The direction marker pointed up the corridor. “This way” I shouted as I began to gallop up the hallway. I could hear his hooves clop on the metal floor behind me.
“Do you even know where you’re going?”
We came to a T junction. We could either go straight up or turn to the left, heading further down towards the hull. “How the fuck did you know the way to the emergency hatch?” I heard him ask as we both moved down towards the hatch. I was just following my E.F.S as we came to the metal door which appeared to be like a bulkhead door. It had a large wheel in the middle that seemed to control its locking mechanism as there were several metal bars connecting to the central bar connecting to the wheel. These bars also connected to several metal hooks that were firmly hooking the door to the walls, keeping it firmly sealed.
“Great, a locked door”
I rolled my eyes from his statement. I was about to suggest unlocking the door when the T junction ceiling behind us collapsed, filling the junction with debris and fire, blocking our escape. Without me even me mentioning it he jumped forward and gripped the wheel by one of the rungs that connected to the rim. He grunts as he starts to pull down on the wheel, it wasn’t budging. There was another collapse somewhere and the ceiling further up the hallway caved in a bit. I reached out with my magic onto the wheel and began to pull in the same direction he was.
“Lefty, Loosie” I moaned and with a metallic grown the wheel began to rotate and the hooks locking the door to the frame began to unhook.
“C’mon” The buck groaned with strain.
The bowing ceiling behind us gave way and burning debris fell into the hallway filling it with more heat and fire. “Warning! Temperature levels reaching critical levels”.
"Shut up" I groaned at my armour.
That seemed to give us an extra boost of strength and with a screech of the wheel the hooks came free and we both put our weight against the heavy steel door and it swung open until it caught into the dirt on the other side.
“MOVE” I shouted as we both bolted out the door and ran straight ahead, dodging falling pieces of debris as we did. We heard a loud explosion as something flammable exploded inside and a huge jet of flame shot out of the door we just ran out from. I looked back to notice that half the top of the ship had caved in and was still breaking up as it burned in the night sky.
We didn’t stop running until we came to a stop at the top of a hill. Panting and gulping in the night air we watched as the remaining half of the ship collapsed onto itself and burned with a fury that would impress the devil of hell itself. We both collapsed down onto our stomachs as our legs could no longer support us.
XXXXX
We entered the remains of the Carrousel Boutique feeling exhausted from our trek back to Ponyville. We were lucky that on our way through the old town we didn’t run into any Raiders, I didn’t feel like killing or dealing with any Raiders because I was too exhausted.
I so needed a bath and so did he. He quickly made his way up the stairs and disappeared into a room and I heard the sounds of running water. I was surprised there was still running water around here. “Oh finally” I heard him sigh from upstairs. I reached out with my magic to unfasten the harness with my new 'This Machine' weapon and levitated it over to the wall and then I began to unfasten the locks on my armour and with a sigh I stepped out of it. It felt good to be out of my armour. I turned to look around and eeped when I saw my reflection in what was left of a full length mirror on the wall. My face and mane looked as black as the buck.
After a while I heard the sounds of hooves coming down the stairs so I turned to see the buck and I looked in surprise as a striped pony came down into the shop floor. He was white with black stripes, a mane following the same stripes but was styled in like a mohawk. His tail was short with a hairy end, very unpony like. He looked like…
“A Zebra” I blurted out.
“A Zony actually” He said before stopping in front of me, I could see his eyes looking me over. Now that I was out my armour I was a lot smaller without it and he stood two heads higher than me. He sighed “I can’t believe this, I owe my ass to a small ass mare. A Steel Ranger at that. Oh this is not my day”
I bristled as he said Steel Ranger and let out an angered growl.
“What?”
“I am not a Steel Ranger, not anymore and some thanks wouldn’t go a miss” I grumbled as I stormed past him up the stairs and into the bathroom to clean myself up. I found a walk in shower which was still dripping. Using my magic I turned on the water, my Pipbuck began to click as the water is irradiated. It was only mild and right now I didn’t give a shit as I needed a wash. I sighed with relief as I felt the cool water wash over my mane, head and back, washing out the soot. After a while I was clean and sparkling white again. Looking in a mirror that was on the wall above the sink I noticed that my mane and tail was half white and half red as my mane had grown quite a bit since I left the Rangers.
I found a pair of scissors on a shelf next to the sink and using my magic I started to use them to cut away the red from my mane and tail. Once I was done I had a straight, or at least as straight as I could, cut mane, leaving me as white as I was when I left 88. I double checked my mane and tail and with a soft sigh I headed back down stairs.
I felt better after having a shower. The zony was sat by my armour examining it, he was leaning close, and his nose was almost against the armoured flank of my suit.
“Hmm, steel scratched and polished clean. Hmm, Steel Ranger emblem removed and… I can’t make out what this target is supposed mean…?” He said talking to himself as he examined my armoured flank.
“That’s my cutie mark”
“Gah! Don’t do that” He shrieked with shock. I guess he was too engrossed with my armour to notice me.
“I’m a sniper, my cutie mark is a cross hairs of a scope” I told him as I approached.
“Well I guess that makes sense” he said looking back to the armour.
XXXXX
I lay on the mattress which was now on the floor in the bedroom I raided the floor safe in just yesterday. The zony was sat at the window looking out over the town. He spent most of the time down stairs checking out my gear with interest I never seen in a buck before.
“We’ve been together all night and yet I still don’t know who you are” I said with a yawn. “What’s your name?”
He turned to look at me. “My name? My name is Zyon, so, what’s your name?”
“Appletart” I said with a yawn and lowered my head onto my hooves getting ready to sleep. “Appletart Longshot, that’s the title I was given back in the Rangers”
He looked at me for a moment as I lay down and closed my eyes. “Thank you…for saving my hide back there” He said quietly as I drifted off to sleep.
Two centuries ago there was a mare who worked for Ironshod Firearms. Her name was Blueberry Muffin. She was the head of the Research and Development in her district and was specialising in advanced and experimental weaponry. This line of development included the experimental Railgun. It was only a matter of time before the Ministry Mare of the Ministry of Wartime Technology got wind of this and paid her a visit.
Blueberry was nervous one afternoon as she came to work to the surprise of the Ministry Mare, Applejack, sitting in her office. Surprise visits like this usually meant something bad, like the time she came down on Ironshod for the creation of the Anti-Machine Rifles as it was one of those that killed Big Macintosh.
She pushed the door to her office open gently. Applejack looked up from Blueberry’s desk and attempted to smile. “What do I owe the pleasure?” Blueberry asked, failing to conceal her nerves.
“Ah want to talk to you about an important matter” Replied Applejack in a serious tone and motioned for Blueberry to shut the door.
“How can I assist you ma’am?”
Applejack looked around to be sure nopony was listening in or if Pinkie Pie had one of her spy units around. She seemed to be able to know what anypony was doing. Once she was satisfied Applejack stood and approached Blueberry.
Applejack looked worse than her image shown, her blonde mane was starting to grey and wrinkles were forming under her eyes and face and she didn’t look to have the strength she used to have. The loss of her brother had hit her hard.
“Ah have a project lined up that ah’d want ya to be apart of because of your successful weapon development program”
“What kind of project?”
“Something that can end this war without the enemy being able to counter it, something that can take a megaspell and shrug it off”
Blueberry blinked and tilted her head. “Is that even possible?”
“My best teams have already begun work on the armour and the Ministry of Arcane Science is helping out with the magical aspects. Ah have envisioned a large mobile base in the shape of a pony thanks to the Steel Ranger armour, ya can say it’ll be like a giant Steel Ranger, but ah need the best weapons available and ah believe your teams here can do that, since you already have an operational Railgun”
Blueberry’s eyes widened, Applejack already knew.
“Yah, ah know, ah’ve been watching you more closely since ma brother was killed, but ah believe ya can create the weapons needed”
“I can certainly see what I can do ma’am”
“Good, now” Applejack got real close and almost threatening. “This does not leave this building, for this weapon to be a success it needs to remain a secret”
Blueberry nodded her agreement. Applejack smiled lightly since she got the message.
“As a reward for your involvement, ah I have made arrangements for you and your family to be accepted into Stable 88”
Blueberry brightened up hearing that and became more willing to cooperate. “Do you have a name for this project ma’am?”
“Ah been thinkin, hmm, Project Krogoth”
XXXXX
I don’t think I’ve slept this well, despite the thunderstorm during the night, since I left the Rangers, either I was that exhausted from our escape from the wreckage of the Kodiak II or this old mattress was that damn comfy but either way I slept like a baby all night long, mostly. I awoke when the midday light touched my face through the holes in the ceiling. I quickly shot up when I realised the Zony I had saved wasn’t in the room with me. Did he leave?
“Ah damn it” That came from downstairs and it was masculine. I let out a sigh as he was downstairs. Oh great, I forgot his name…I’ve known him for a night and still forgot his name. Leaving the bedroom I stopped in the hallway that overlooked the shop floor and fiddling about with…my helmet? Is the zony. He had managed to remove the visor from the damaged helmet and also removed cables and other things needed for it to work and he had it connected to my armour and to my amazement, my armour was online.
I lay at the edge of the hallway looking down, watching him as he worked. It was fascinating to see him work. I’ve never seen maintenance carried out on the magical power armour before, especially when a part of it had been destroyed. I wondered how he knew where to find my helmet and after a few seconds of wondering I remembered.
I awoke during the thunderstorm to find, oh now I remember, Zyon standing by the window looking out as the lightening lit up the night sky. He looked back to me and when the room fell dark once the lightening had ended his eyes seemed to glow a bright yellow which actually scared me a bit.
“Can’t sleep?” He asked.
I nodded, he turned back to the window looking in the direction of the internally collapsed library. “What happened over there?” he asked. There was another flash of lightening that illuminated the library and I noticed him pointing at it. The bang of thunder made me jump with an “Eep”.
“I had a fight with Raiders, the bastards damaged the Library to the point it collapsed and I lost my damn helmet in there when it caved in”
“Ah” He simply replied as I yawned loudly. I lay my head back down and closed my eyes to go back to sleep.
Zyon must have gone out during the night and retrieved my helmet. It looks like he’s been up all night working on it. He lay with the visor in front of him and using his mouth carefully on some wire cutters he snipped at some wire and then using the cutter to gently hold the wire he pushed the exposed copper into a socket and then dropped the cutters aside and then picked up a screw driver and began to tighten a screw to secure the wire into the socket. He picked up the visor and put it onto his face, it rested on his nose like a pair of glasses. Reaching up with a black hoof he pressed a button that was on the side of the jury-rigged visor and the lens flashed several times before staying on.
“Ah ha” He exclaimed with pride as he somehow got it to work. “Ok, now activating scope system” he said and just like that I saw the familiar crosshairs of my 50cal scope appear on the right side lens. “Yes, that’s got it, hmm and now let’s see” he turned his head to look at the 50cal on my battle saddle and then he looked up and it followed his movement. I couldn’t believe it, he fixed it, a zony who likely never used or seen the workings of the power armour had fixed it. I had to admit, that was really impressive.
I trotted down the stairs and approached him as he put the visor back on the floor and started doing some more adjusting with it. He was so fixated on the visor he didn’t see me coming nor noticed. “Thank you for doing this” I said with a smile as I sat down beside him.
“Gah!” He jumped with a fright and then quickly turned his head to look at me. I was sat on his left side. “What you trying to do, give me a heart attack?” He moaned with some annoyance.
I giggled softly at his reaction but when he turned his head back to the visor after giving me a soft grumble my giggle stopped as I noticed a pink line on his cheek, it was a scar. My eyes followed it and widened as I followed it down his neck, over his shoulder, over his side and finally down over to his flank where it stopped. It also seemed to slice his zebra mark in half. That was one hell of a scar.
“How did you get that scar?” I asked without thinking.
He let out a deep sigh as he put away his tools into a utility satchel I didn’t notice him wearing before. The sigh was a sigh of shame. He looked at me, my eyes still firmly glued to the huge scar. It took me a minute to realise he was looking at me and when I finally looked at him I looked down. “Sorry, you don’t have to tell me”
“I still owe you, plus, I’ve never told anypony this” He said sighing again before taking a deep breath. “It happened several years ago, about three years after I left my Stable I think”
Wow, I didn’t expect that, Zyon a Stable zony, who would have thought it.
“I got into a fight with a Raider who was armed with a spear” He bent his neck back to pull a sword out of its sheath that was strapped to his left foreleg. How the hell did I not notice these things back in the ship? He thrusted the sword into the floor so it stood up without him needing to hold it. I marvelled at the cleanliness of the blade and it still looked razor sharp.
“I had beaten lots of Raiders before so I was feeling fairly confident when we began to fight. I guess you can say I was little too confident. I was making mistakes that I shouldn’t of and the fight was being dragged out longer than it had to” He sighed as he looked at the zebra stripped grip of the handle to his sword. “I kicked the Raider away from me and watched him sprawl out, I saw my chance to end it and I charged at him. He started to get back up so I ran faster. Just I was about to reach him he quickly rolled out of the way and pulled up his spear. I was going too fast to stop and I felt the tip of his spear cut into my cheek, I could even taste my own blood as it cut so deep I entered my mouth for a brief moment. My head and neck were in line with my back as I kept going. The spear continued to cut, cutting along my neck, slicing over my shoulder and my body until I felt the steel rip out of me at my ass. I knew that if I didn’t do something fast I’d bleed to death as I could feel my blood gushing out from the massive wound so I threw my head in his direction and flung my sword at him as he was still recovering”
He gripped the handle of his sword again and threw his head to the direction of the far wall and let go. The sword sailed through the air straight like as an arrow and sunk into the wall deeply. He just demonstrated what he did to the Raider.
“My sword sunk into his skull. I quickly drank the last two healing potions I had on me at the time and as the potion went to work it stopped my bleeding and closed my wound but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to regrow the hair I lost so it healed with a huge long pink scar. I could have used a rejuvenation potion to fix that if I found one but I decided to keep the scar as a reminder. To remind me of my own stupidity”
He finished letting out an annoyed sigh and got up to retrieve his sword. He bit down onto the red metal end of the handle as he pulled it out of the wall and then slipped it back into its sheath with practiced ease. “So, what about you, you got any scars?” He asked.
I nodded. “Not as impressive as your’s though” He rolled his eyes at my comment. I had plenty of scars but only two were noticeable. I pointed a hoof to my chest and then my belly where two dots of pink were. “I got shot from some trigger happy tosser with a mouth operated Anti-Machine Rifle. I was lucky he couldn’t aim for shit as he only scored a shot to my chest and my belly before I popped him in the head” I said remembering the event which made me grin darkly as I remember seeing the poor buck’s head explode. Oh and by the way, this was way before I got pregnant.
XXXXX
We spent the rest of the morning getting to know each other since there wasn’t much to do right now without having an objective to follow or some quest to do. I asked him about where he came from and he told me he came from a city up north called Manechester. I’ve never heard of Manechester, it wasn’t in any of the textbooks in my Stable or even the map.
He was born in Stable 53 which according to Zyon is underneath the Manedale Centre in the middle of Manechester. Apparently Stable 53 was a Stable where the populace was half Pony and half Zebra, loyal to the princesses of course. It was one of the Stable-Tec social experiments. This one appeared to see if a population of Pony and Zebra could co-exist together.
Well, it didn’t seem to be going well if it was enough to make Zyon want to leave. He wouldn’t go into much detail on what his life was like in there. He only told me he learned about technology in there and learned the Fallen Caesar Style from his father who much like the other zebras of 53 kept to their traditions. He didn't speak of his mother, when I asked he looked hurt, like whatever happened was really painful for him to remember so I didn't push it. He'll tell me in his own time.
Zyon was quick to learn maintenance on a lot of things. He found it easy to learn about machines and how to maintain or disable them. He used his technological knowledge to hack into the Overmare’s terminal, with the help of a Zebra Stealth Cloak I might add. Took the Stable Door password, opened the door and left. When I asked why he wanted to leave he basically said he couldn't deal with living in the same place and seeing the same ponies all his life.
XXXXX
We were about to leave the shop when my enhanced, thank you Zyon for fixing the visor, Eyes Forward Sparkle detected a single enemy down the street. I decided I’d try 'This Machine' on this lone target, might as well get a feel for the alien weapon. I crouched down behind the chest high wall of the bottom of a large display window and using my magic removed the weapon from its sheath from the harness on my back and rested the extremely long barrel on the wall. I put my eye to the scope and found the butt of the gun rested on my armoured shoulder as I aimed it.
Walking up the road is a Raider…but looking more insane than usual. The mare wore the typical Raider armour but there was something odd about this one. As she moved closer I began to notice differences, one she was giggling strangely, two her forelegs were covered in numerous bite marks, three her eyes were a horrible yellow colour with pinprick pupils and whatever colour her eyes were before were red and finally her mouth and snout were covered in blood, fresh and dried. Ok, what the fuck is wrong with this Raider?
“You can pop her any day now” Zyon said sounding bored.
“Wait, something’s not right here”
I continued to watch for a bit longer and then I witnessed the most sickening thing I’ve seen in years. It nearly made me puke. The Raider stopped suddenly and rose her leg to her mouth and then she bit down on it. She literally tore a chunk out of her own leg and swallowed it. Through the scope I saw her mouth move and I’ve seen enough in the wasteland to lip read some of what ponies say and she said. “Oh that’s so damn good”. Ok, seriously, what the fuck?
The Raider suddenly looked right at me, I noticed a light on her head and then I moaned. Shit, the scope lens was reflecting light back at her giving away my position. She grinned insanely and began to run towards us. I didn’t have time to waste now so I centred her head in the crosshairs and pulled the trigger with my magic. The trigger was a lot harder to pull than normal weapons but it fired. The boom was far more deafening than my 50cal and the force of the recoil caused my magic to implode, releasing it from my grip and the force of the recoil sent the weapon over my shoulder. I heard a meaty slap and a howl of pain, turning behind me I saw that Zyon took the heavy barrel on his back.
“What the hell man?” He complained.
“Sorry, I didn’t realise how much of a kick this had”
Damn did it have some kick. Enough for me to loose my magical grip on it. I’ve held strong weapons before in my magic but this has to be the most powerful. Taking the weapon with my magic again I rested it back on the wall and peered down the scope to see if I hit my target, completely forgetting about my E.F.S. Where the Raider was just moments ago were four legs with nothing about the knee, the shot had virtually vaporized her body as blood and organs had painted the walls and floor around her.
“Bloody Nora” I exclaimed from the power of 'This Machine'.
“Who?” Zyon asked as moved beside me.
“Huh?”
“Who’s Nora?”
“What? Oh, heh, it’s an expression where I come from…I mean came from” I sighed and looked down as I was reminded of my mother and everyone who died in the attack on Stable 88.
“Are you ok?” He asked, but he didn’t sound like he cared much.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s get out of here”
We packed up our gear and left the Boutique. I simply had everything in my magical containment units on my armour apart from the alien rifle which I have slung on my back in the harness I took from the ship. Zyon had his utility satchel strapped around the thigh of his right hind leg, a normal satchel on the thigh of his left hind leg. He also had his sword sheathed which is strapped to the thigh of his left foreleg. He seemed to have found a red bandanna somewhere as he now wore one around his neck. I couldn’t help but stare for a moment, he actually looked pretty handsome…for a zony. After making sure we had everything we set out.
XXXXX
We had been walking for hours eastward. Thankfully on our trek we came across a set of rail lines. They had to lead somewhere right? Somewhere civilized I hope. As we followed the railway we came to a set of points which had a siding which has a second set of track running parallel to the mainline. A little further up we saw that a train was sitting in the siding, well if you count the locomotive and a single car a train.
What immediately struck me about this train was firstly its locomotive, one of the biggest and most unusually shaped steam engines I’ve ever seen (only one I’ve seen for real instead of in a book) and secondly the one and only train car is a huge eight wheeled armoured car with gun ports and turrets on the top.
The locomotive was indeed huge, from the books I’ve read most steam locomotives were using a standard of a 4-4-0 wheel configuration but this one was using a 4-6-2. It’s main drive wheels were massive, bigger than me in diameter. Its design didn't look Equestrian either. The locomotive seemed to have a semi streamlined appearance as its body is mostly straight. It was shaped like a tapered box with sloping sides and a slightly curved top. It also had smoke deflectors mounted on either side at the front, obscuring the view of its smoke box door at the front. Mounted on both sides are a nameplate and a badge. Both looked very well kept and clean, somepony was definitely looking after this locomotive to have kept its name and badge so clean. The locomotive was called “Blackmare Vale” and the badge mounted beneath the name was a shield emblem with Celestia’s Sun dominating the middle with Luna’s moon occupying the centre of the sun.
While we were busy checking out the steam engine a white marker appeared on my compass and before I noticed it a filly half my age jumped out from the armoured car and yelled to us.
“Get your asses in here before they see you” She yelled with urgency in her voice.
She wasn’t hostile so I didn’t argue with that and neither did Zyon as we both ran up to her and jumped up into the armoured car. As soon as we were both in she followed us in and shut the heavy steel door, using her maw to pull the door shut and twist the handle to seal it. The filly is a young grey coloured earth pony with a dark blue scruffy mane and tail, her eyes were hidden by some opaque wielding goggles. She also wore some dirty work pony overalls that also hid her cutiemark.
The inside of the car was nothing like the outside, inside it looked like a luxury passenger car as it had fine wooden furnishings, chairs and even a large circular bed with the same sun and moon emblem on it.
“Hopefully they didn’t see you” She said as she moved over to one of the several gun port windows.
“Who’s they?” I asked as I joined her and peered out to where she was looking.
“Motor Runner and his Infected Raiders” She replied without looking back to me.
I’ve never heard of Motor Runner and what would make a Raider infected? Are they all deceased or something?
“There they are, shut up and keep low” she ordered with some authority despite her age.
I crouched down but kept my head in the window and kicked up my 50cal’s visor scope system. Thank you Zyon. I saw a group of five ponies.
“Oh dear sweet Luna” I mumbled as I saw four Steel Rangers surrounding a large pony in a protective circle.
“Oh shit, looks like Steel Rangers have turned too”
She was right, these Rangers had spikes and shit wielded to their armour giving them a Raider like appearance. They didn’t have their helmets on and a section of armour was missing from one of their legs. On the exposed part of their legs they had bite marks and their faces were stained with blood. I even saw their eyes, they were identical to the Raider I killed before leaving Ponyville.
The tall pony in the middle of them was about as tall as Princess Celestia was. He had a long black mane and tail which was straight and smooth. His mane was cut back slightly on his head so his hair didn’t get into his dark purple eyes. His coat was a soft purple, a slightly lighter shade than his eyes. On his flank were two chainsaws formed into a cross with dripping blood on the teeth. He even wore a clean and well kept suit giving him an image of importance and nobility. The most striking thing about him was that his right foreleg was mechanical. He was a god damn cyber pony.
After a good half an hour the five scary ponies were gone and we all let out a sigh of relief. The filly offered us both a Sparkle Cola, Zyon declined, but since it only gave a weak rad warning I accepted, plus I was thirsty. Popping the cap and then pocketing it I started up a conversation.
“So, who is this Motor Runner?”
She took a swig from her bottle before answering.
“You don’t know?” She asked sounding surprised. I shook my head in response. Zyon just sat by a window looking out, probably keeping an eye out.
“Wow…err…well he’s a Reaper, one of the badest ponies around. He’s a cyborg pony with skin as tough as steel and inside that leg of his is a chainsaw that he can bring out. That saw has teeth made from like the toughest possible thing ever as they can cleanly slice through Steel Ranger armour. I think they are made of Hellhound claws”
I shivered at that. I certainly didn’t want to get into a fight with him right now. Skin as tough as steel, I wonder how effective my 50cal or even 'This Machine' would be against him.
“What about those Raiders, they aren’t like normal ones?” Zyon asked now looking away from the window.
“I don’t know about them to tell you the truth. They only started to appear a little while ago but somehow those Reapers can get them to follow them without question and that whatever is wrong with them makes them crazier and extremely cannibalistic, I guess if they are sick with something its contagious, I never seen Steel Rangers looking like them before”
Great just what we need, a bug that can turn ponies into cannibals.
“Oh, where are my manners, I am Steam Pipe” She smiled warmly as she introduced herself to us.
“My name is Appletart” I said with a friendly smile. Zyon however didn’t say anything, he just continued to sit there looking out the window. “I’m an ex-Steel Ranger” I added.
It didn’t seem to bother her that he didn’t respond as she took a seat by another window. “Welcome aboard my train, I’ve been trying to restore her for a few years now”
“Wow really, you’ve been keeping on top of this thing?” I asked with a little amazement.
“Eeyup”
“I’ve never seen a steam engine like this before, what kind is it?”
“It’s a West Country Class, one of the last steam engines to be built before the war. It used to be Princess Celestia’s and Luna’s private train, hence the badge on the side. Back then this loco came with an affectionate nickname because of the way it’s shaped. Hehe, ponies who drove it used to call it the Cram Can because of its similarity in shape to a cram can” She smiled warmly at saying its nickname. Come to think of it, it does look like a cram can.
Stepping back outside I could now see her handy work on the locomotive, much of its delicate workings like the copper pipes, drive rods, brake rods, etc had been cleaned and oiled. Zyon stood on the top of the tender looking down into the void where its fuel source would be stored.
“Why is there chopped up wood in here, doesn’t a steam engine need coal?” He asked.
“Usually that’s what would be used but I got to thinking, why coal? There are plenty of other things that can burn”
I remembered reading something about steam engines, something about them being like a giant kettle.
“Wait, wasn’t the war started because the Zebra’s refused to give us coal and we took it by force?” I asked.
“Partially yeah, what’s your point?” Zyon asked jumping down from the top of the tender and landing on his fore hooves which he let buckle so he could fall into a roll and then back onto his hooves. That was impressive.
“Well, most things were coal fired to give us power, everything we used back then was basically steam powered”
“She’s right, heat from the coal boiled the water to make the steam and the steam turned the turbines to power the generators. If you ask me the war was pointless. We could have simply turned to a new flammable source to fuel our power stations. Like wood, wood is renewable and burns well”
Wow, twenty years of fighting the zebras to the point of annihilation for absolutely nothing, just mindless violence. How did we end up like this? How did pony kind degrade to a war hungry race? If that’s true than we deserved to nearly be blown to kingdom come when the bombs dropped.
XXXXX
We are heading towards a train station further up the rail line. According to Steam Pipe it still has plenty of food stored in the restaurant built into the station. I asked her if she wanted to come along but she didn’t want to leave the Cram Can. Well she had spent most of her life trying to fix it. We did make sure she would be alright on her own, well, she had managed on her own since she was just a little filly after all.
“So Longshot, what do we do after we resupply?” Zyon asked while he looked around.
Our time with Steam Pipe reminded me of my mother and everyone I lost. Thinking of it now, why was my Stable attacked? Why did they kill everyone? What reason did they have to attack?
“I want to go back to Stable 88. I need to know what happened”
“Alright, at least we have a direction now. So, what happened to your Stable?”
I sighed deeply as we approached the station.
“Something bad huh? I see”
We continued onto the station in silence from then on, my mind filling with the memories of the screams, the fillies and colts being raped and murdered, my mother shoving my into the panic room only to die at the Stable door. The Raiders killing everyone I ever know.
My eyes began to narrow as the sorrow turned to anger and rage.
“Appletart? You ok?” Zyon must have seen the change in my mood.
Walking up the concrete platform of the station I turned my gaze to a rusty old luggage weighing machine.
“I’m gonna kill every last one of those Raider twats” I growled darkly as I thrusted a steel hoove into the machine. From the force of my hoof impacting the decaying structure my hoof punched a hole clean through the old machine.
“Sorry I asked”
“Who ever is responsible for the death of my Stable is going to wish I died along with them” I growled as I shot my dark gaze to Zyon who staggered back a bit from surprise and fright.
(Author notes, re-read and edited this chapter, correcting some mistakes i found along the way. I also added some things that were needed. Thank you for reading)
“Motor Runner sir, we have found Stable 108 near Everfree Forest” Announced one of the new Infected Rangers as he approached his new boss.
“108? The cloning and genetics Stable” Motor Runner grins darkly as he turns to the Ranger “Good work, now, prepare a team, we are going to check it out”
“Yes sir” And with that the Ranger turned around to go and gather other infected.
Motor Runner trots over to a window over looking a huge dark chamber with a massive metallic structure standing in the middle with hundreds of cables dangling from it and lots of platforms and scaffolding surrounding it and hanging from the ceiling. He smiled to himself as he looked about the large pony shaped structure. “Soon you’ll be complete and nothing in Equestria will be able to stop us” He says to himself before he begins to laugh darkly.
XXXXX
The huge steel door of Stable 108 was badly rusted and it didn’t look like the Stable would be in good condition. A large group of Infected Raiders stood by the door with four Infected Rangers as they awaited for their leader to arrive.
“C’mon dude, open the fucking door already, I’m hungry” Demanded one of the Raiders.
“Not yet, control yourself” Replied a Ranger.
The Infected Raiders were getting impatient as they were not as organised or had the control of the Rangers. Some were getting violent and threatening each other or even the Rangers they were with.
“Are you sure there are ponies in there?” One Raider asked while finding it hard not to bite his own leg.
“Yes, my E.F.S indicated hostiles beyond the door” Replied a Ranger who had heard the Raider’s question.
“I’m so fucking hungry, come on, open-“ He was cut short when the tunnel was filled with the sound of a revving chainsaw and then the Raider’s head dropped to the floor as a large chainsaw cut his head off.
“Anyone else want to complain?” Asks Motor Runner as he retracted his chainsaw back into his cybernetic foreleg and then using that leg kicks the still standing body of the Raider over.
The Infected didn’t answer, instead the Raiders looked down at the fallen body and some dove on the body and began to eat the corpse hungrily.
"We're ready sir" Said a Ranger as he stepped up to greet his boss.
"Good"
Motor Runner stood by the control panel and examined it before finally gripping the lever in his teeth and pulling it down and letting it go. There was a loud metallic hiss as something on the other side of the door began to move and then a loud metallic clunk rung out as something connected to the door. The Raiders all started to gather in front of the door as it began to open.
XXXXX
Deep inside Stable 108, one of its cloning systems has been stuck in creating the same clone over and over again. The Stable was completely inhabited by the clones of a light green unicorn mare with a silvery mane and tail. The clones were insane, an entire existence with themselves as company and nothing to teach them about using the Stable’s facilities they were unable to be educated so new clones grew up as mad as the others since they learned from them.
Not long ago an Enclave pony found herself lost after being separated from her squad and wound up at the entrance to 108. Thinking she could rest inside before going back out she opened to the door, not realising what Stable she had found, and shortly after entering she was quickly knocked out by a group of clones. She was taken to one of cloning facilities which started to tear the poor pegasus apart, extracting her DNA and adding it to its DNA store.
Armed with fresh pegasus DNA the genetics computer began to cycle through some of the DNA stored in its system and proceeded to begin a new clone. Using the fresh sample as a base line it chooses at random the DNA stored in it wound up being that of Rainbow Dash, the Ministry Mare of the Ministry of Awesome. Due to the age of the stored sample the system needed a fresh DNA sample of a pegasus for it to work. The system then began to overwrite the pegasus’ DNA with that of Rainbow Dash, forming a new clone.
The clone formed quickly thanks to the cloning facility’s advanced cloning process and a fully grown clone was released within a few hours. Robots designed to aid the scientists of the Stable moved the new clone into a recovery room with an operating table so it could awaken. A medical read out from the cloning machine indicated because of the freshness of the sample some of the clone’s original memories had managed to survive but this read out was lost in a decaying mass of pulp that hadn’t been removed for many years since the Stable’s populace is nothing but clones now.
XXXXX
The clone awoke to the sounds of blood curdling screams and gunfire somewhere in the Stable. She looked around only to find the room she lay in was unfamiliar to her. “Where am I?” She asked herself out loud. She meeped as the voice she spoke was not her own. This made her then look at herself, she saw cyan coloured fur covering her body and stretching out between her hind legs is a multicoloured tail which were not her own either.
The pegasus began to panic as with no memories of before waking up and the unfamiliar room plus the screams outside was enough to scare anypony. She was loosing it fast. She rolled off the table and landed on her hooves. She was made aware that she had wings on her sides which she found she could flex and move with ease, as if she had known how to use them before.
The clone’s panic began to rise the more she heard the screams, fear starting to get the better of her as she began to run around the room looking for a way out. Not recognising anything she passed the door many times before finally it opened and standing on the other side is a pony dressed in the hides of other ponies and a wielding helmet covering his face which had been painted on to give a scary looking face. The pony had dried or drying blood on his fore legs and was giggling insanely as he saw the young pegasus clone. Letting out a terrified scream she flared out her wings and with a strong beat took flight. Not expecting it the scary pony dove out the way as the pegasus shot past and flew up the hallway.
None of the ponies she passed looked friendly and thankfully the sight of her flying overhead seemed to stun them enough to stop them from attacking her. She didn’t know why and she wasn’t going to stop to find out. She was lucky that the halls were just big enough for her to fly through and she followed the halls with the scary ponies all the way up to the huge steel door were a calm and collected looking pony standing nearly twice as tall as the others stood with a smaller pony in a bulky suit of armour covered in spikes and blades. She let out a scared eep before beating her wings harder and shot out of the stable leaving a rainbow trail behind her, leaving the two ponies in surprise of what they had just witnessed.
“Err…should we got after that?” Asked the armoured pony.
“No, it’s not important, the useable tech in this stable is what’s important” Replied the larger pony in a calm manner, like the sight of the fast moving pegasus didn’t affect him. Instead he simple just readjusted his mane and suit as the wind caused by the fleeing pegasus ruffled up his hair and suit.
“Yes sir”
XXXXX
Several hours of flying wasn’t good on the new clone’s wings and she was feeling drained of energy. Panting heavily she looked for a place to land. Luckily for her a small house on top of a hill came into view and she began to rapidly descend, faster than she’d like. Falling too quickly she realised she was going to crash and so she aimed herself for one of the large open windows on the upper floor of the house. The house was an average two story detached house which luckily has weathered well as it was mostly intact and looked in surprisingly good condition despite its age. She tucked her wings in tightly to her body as she came to the window and with a soft crash she landed head first into an old mouldy bed which softened her landing a lot but gave way as its rickety old frame collapsed from the impact and she landed in a heap on the floor by the wall after rolling off the bed. Letting out a tired moan she passed out on the floor.
The clone woke up the following day feeling stiff and sore from how she passed out. She had slept on her neck with her back up against the wall and her hind legs dangling almost in her face.
“Ohh, Sky Fire, what have you done to yourself this time?” She asked herself with a moan. She shot her eyes open as she recalled her name. Rolling over and back onto her hooves she looked herself over thinking that it was all a dream but her hopefulness vanished when she looked upon her now dirty cyan coat.
“Why do I look like that traitor Rainbow Dash?” She asked herself but again she stopped and tried to think. She remembers her name at least but now she remembers the name of a traitor but she can’t remember why.
“What’s happened to me? Why can I remember my name and hardly anything else? Why do I remember Rainbow Dash and why do I remember that she’s a traitor?” She asked herself again out loud but her questions went unanswered. Sighing and hanging her head in defeat she began to walk through the house as she went to find a bathroom. She walked down the hallway to the stairs and noticed a door facing the stairs was wide open and it opened up into a small bathroom.
The bathroom was small, as soon as she entered she had the toilet to her left in a gap between the wall and the bath tub. The toilet looked like someone too a sledgehammer to it as the bowl had been shattered. The bathtub was empty but had plenty of dirt collected on the bottom and was mostly intact apart from the missing taps and plug. Directly in front of her stood the sink which also looked intact but was riddled with small cracks, the bowl of the sink was like the bath and covered in dirt. Above the sink hung a medicine cabinet with a mirrored door, the mirror was mostly intact but had a couple of cracks in the glass but thankfully didn’t ruin the reflection it gave. She was able to get a good look at herself now and sure enough, the face she saw was indeed that of Rainbow Dash.
Staring at herself in the mirror she did all the usual tests to see if what she was seeing was indeed her. Moving her eyes, fluttering her eye lids, moving her head side to side and even moving up a hoof to prod her cheeks. Finally she sighed in defeat as she accepted she had somehow taken the appearance of the Ministry Mare.
“This doesn’t make any sense, what was that place I woke up in?” She again asked herself a question she couldn’t answer as she used a hoof to pull open the medicine cabinet. There were numerous bottles of pills and some with liquid in them. She scanned the few shelves and found only a hoofful that she could still use. Rad-X, Buckout, Stampede and a bottle of Healing Potion. She paused as she seemed to instantly know she could use them and suddenly a new memory came into her mind.
“I am, or was an Enclave Field Medic, that explains how I knew which medicines I could still use” She said to herself feeling a bit happier to have remembered something else but that brief feeling of happiness faded as nothing else came with the memory.
Closing the cabinet with the chems and meds balancing on her back she closed the cabinet with a wing and as the door closed she caught the reflection of her flank in the mirror. Sitting on her flank is the cutie mark of Rainbow Dash, the cloud with the red blue yellow lightening bolt.
“Oh, no pony is going to going to believe that I’m not Rainbow Dash if the see that”
Back in the bedroom she crashed in she started to root around. None of the dressers she pulled open had any clothing she could wear as what she did find would likely disintegrate as soon as she picked them up. In one of the draws she found a note on stained yellow paper. The note was just a password to a safe or something but she pulled the note out of the draw and set it on the bed with the medicines she had gathered.
Her search for anything useful brought her to a large wardrobe in the far corner of the bedroom beside the collapsed bed. Gently opening the large doors she found the bottom half of the wardrobe had drawers and the upper half had several formal suits and dresses hanging from hangers. The suits and dresses were moth eaten and looked like they’d fall apart at any second. Not wanting to cause any further damage to the dresses and suits she concentrated her search in the drawers. The upper drawer had nothing of value and so she started opening the bottom, larger drawer. She grunted as it took some effort to pull the drawer open as it was heavy and once she had it pulled out she was looking at a top of the range security containment unit with a bullet proof glass cover.
“Wow” She said in amazement at what she could see still preserved in the vacuum sealed containment unit. Folded up neatly in the centre is a purple flight suit, a set of purple rimmed goggles with yellow lenses but made to look like two semi-circles set at angles to give an angry appearance on the wearer. In other spots around the suit were black saddlebags which bore a winged skull mark and a pair of mouth operated magical beam weapons and several small spark cells to power them.
“Now that’s awesome” She said to herself as she looked over each of the items. She soon noticed writing etched into the glass which read.
Equestrian Sky Guard Shadowbolt Division
Lieutenant Nightwing
“Lt Nightwing, some poor pony who probably served with Rainbow Dash during the great war” She thought to herself as she continued to look over the glass cover and soon noticed a small keypad in the bottom right corner of the glass cover. Looking back to the bed she looked at the note with the password. She thought, what the hell and took the note over to the container and gently prodded at the keypad, inputting the code into the keypad.
4472593
There was a flash of magic and then there was a hiss as the air pressure inside the unit stabilised and the glass cover was released and slid back to give Sky Fire access to its contents. She stepped closer and took a deep breath. The container smelled of freshly washed fabric with a hint of lemon. She cooed from the fresh smell and reached in to pull out the suit. It had a black neck and chest with a V shaped yellow zigzagging pattern which separated the black chest from the purple suit. On the flanks of the suit it had a winged skull cutie mark and it had black hooves which were separated by the same yellow zigzag pattern that surrounded the leg to separate the black hooves from the purple legs.
She squeezed her way into the suit which she found clung to her body and fit perfectly. “I guess one size fits all” she chuckled to herself as she then pulled out the black mask and slipped it on. After threading her rainbow mane through the slit in the back of it she adjusted it so it sat right and then she suddenly felt a tingle go through her body and she noticed the rainbow mane hanging in the corner of her vision turn a dark blue. “What the?” She asked herself as she then focused her eyes onto her exposed nose that the mask didn’t cover and saw that the once cyan fur was now a dull light blue grey.
She slipped on the saddlebags which had a loop harness that fitted around the base of her wings to keep them firmly on her flanks with a strap going across her back. She then placed the meds into one bag and the two beam pistols into the other. Finally she picked up the goggles with her teeth and trotted back to the bathroom to see herself in the mirror and sure enough, her once rainbow mane and tail was now a dark blue and her exposed wings and muzzle had turned to a light blue grey. “Looks like this suit had been magically enchanted to change the appearance of the wearer…hmm…this works for me, at least while I wear this it can hide my Rainbow Dash appearance” She said to herself as she then slipped on the goggles to complete the Shadowbolt outfit.
She smiled to herself as she looked at herself, she liked what she saw. “I have to admit, this suit makes me look twenty percent cooler than…” She stopped as she realised what she just said, something very well known to be said by Rainbow. “Did I just?... oh no no no…. I am Sky Fire….SKY FIRE!!” she almost screamed. Turning away from the mirror she ran back into the bedroom and looked out the window, it was getting dark outside. She spread her grey wings and with one strong beat of her wings she took off out the window and began to fly away from the house. She didn’t know where she was going nor cared at this moment as she didn’t remember anything other than who she used to be.
“I am Sky Fire… Sky Fire” she kept telling herself as she flew.
XXXXX
A couple of days had passed since Motor Runner and his Infected came down on Stable 108. His Infected has killed and eaten all the clones and his Infected Rangers has been checking the Stable’s systems to see weather they were salvageable.
“Well Sergeant, what’s the condition on the Stable?” Motor Runner asked as he approached the leading Infected Ranger in the Atrium. There were several Infected Raiders feasting on a corpse in the far corner while others milled about looking bored and trying not to eat themselves.
“Not good I’m afraid sir, most of the Stable’s systems are on the verge of failure and can you taste that coppery taste in the air? The air purification talisman is damaged. I think this Stable has about two to three years before the air in here becomes unbreathable”
Motor Runner looks down and frowns. He needs the pristine technology, otherwise his plans for Equestria will be tainted and damaged. “Is there anything at all worth taking?” He asks hoping this wasn’t a wasted trip.
“Well, strangely enough the genetics labs and cloning labs appear to be in full working order, that pegasus that escaped had only just been created”
“I see, well at least we can salvage the labs” A thought then came to mind, perhaps removing one of the cloning machines and keeping it running he could keep his control on the infected by creating clones just for them to eat. That would stop most killing each other just to satisfy themselves. “See about taking one of the cloning machines intact, it can prove useful, as for everything else, strip them down to the base components and take them back to the Hanger”
The Infected Ranger nodded and moved off to gather some of the Raiders to begin the tasks given to him. Motor Runner began his own little exploration of the Stable. He trotted down the halls of the decaying stable, moving through the living quarters and recreational areas before walking up some stairs until he found himself at the door to the Overmare’s Office. The door didn’t open and nor did it open when he pressed the door control button so with a smile he raised his cybernetic foreleg and flexed it slightly and it seemed to split in half lengthwise. Sharp curved teeth that looked like Hellhound claws came out on a chain that ran all the way around the split and then a revving engine sound started and the teeth started to move until they were encircling the split at high speed. He pushed his chainsaw forward and the strong sharp teeth easily began to cut through the metal of the door and he cut a big enough section of the door out so he could walk inside. Once he was finished cutting he retracted his chainsaw and nudged the freed metal with a hoof and it fell inward, giving him access to the office.
There was a blackened skeleton of a pony sitting in the Overmare’s desk chair. It seemed the last Overmare locked herself into her office and died for some reason, maybe because of the cloning machine making repeated copies of that one green mare. He walks over to the desk where he sees that the terminal is still active. He frowns as it was flashing with warning signs. The Ranger had been right, the stable was on its last legs. The most worrying warning was that of the Reactor Core, it was on the verge of meltdown. It was clear the Ranger hadn’t made it to the Reactor Level to assess it. “How unfortunate, I guess I’ve wasted enough time here, I’ll let the Infected bring back as much as they can before this place kills who’s left” He said to himself coldly as he started to walk out of the office. As Motor Runner made it back to the atrium he was approached by the Sergeant.
“Sir, the cloning machine is being disassembled to be ready for transport back to the Hanger”
“Good, I’m going to take a quick look around before I head back, keep the salvage going and bring back what you can”
“Yes sir”
Motor Runner nodded to the Ranger as he started to make his way to the labs. He did feel disappointed that Stable 108 didn’t offer much in technology for the resurrection but it did offer some and every little bit moved him that much further to his goal.
“Once I have you operational, no pony will stand in my way” He said in his head, smiling coolly at his long envisioned future. “All Equestria will tremble at the sheer sight of us, and no one will dare stand in our way, not even the Goddess and her army of alicorns”
As he continued walking he remembered some of the things he read regarding his project, or really, her project. “Oh Applejack, I wish you were here today to see your vision finally coming to life. You wanted a machine that can protect Equestria, soon, it will have it” He grinned darkly. “I also have to hoof it to Blueberry Muffin, her super sized Railguns will give it quite the punch indeed” He then began to laugh, his dark sinister laugh.
XXXXX
While flying over the wasteland, little bits of her memory had returned. She remembered now that she was living in a wasteland that was the result of the Great War where both sides launched megaspells that put the world into darkness and chaos with the deaths of millions. She remembered that Rainbow Dash had abandoned the pegasi after Cloudsdale was destroyed to help the ground ponies. She remembered having medical training somewhere, remembering things like healing major injuries and some techniques used to help others. But she still didn’t remember anything else. She was still clueless to where she came from, how she wound up in 108 and why she looked like Rainbow Dash.
“Stupid memory, why won’t you work for me?” She moaned to herself as she flew. It was the dead of night now and if it wasn’t for her yellow goggles she probably wouldn’t be able to see where she was going. They seemed to give her some low light vision.
She was getting tired, she had been flying again for hours and her wing muscles were starting to hurt. Looking down she spotted two ponies walking up a path below her. Before she could think if she should go down to check them out or not she felt a searing pain in one of her wings and it seized up stiff. “Oh, not good, whoa” she cried as she started to drop out of the sky.
“Mayday, mayday, pony going down” she shouted as loud as she could to warn the two ponies below her but they stopped and looked around to try and find the voice. She was coming down right on top of them now. She could see the taller of the two is a striped pony while the smaller is clad in armour like those she saw at the door of 108.
She was heading right for the taller pony now. “Oh shit” she said as she realised she was going to crash into him. “Look out below” she screamed. This time the striped pony looked up in time to see her and then…CRASH!!!
(Author notes: Re-read and modified mistakes i missed before, thank you for reading)
“Ow!” Shrieked Sky Fire as she crashed into a large metal sign at the side of the road we were walking on.
“Hahaha, nice going Rainbow Crash” Mocked Zyon as he watched our pegasus friend face plant into the sign saying “Welcome to Pondale” and comically start to slide down it.
I found it hard not to giggle at the sight but I used all my will power to keep the giggle fit down. We had made it, Pondale, the town at the foot of Pondale Mountain that houses my old Stable and the airport where I spent most of my early life as a Ranger.
“Ugh, how many times, I’m not Rainbow Dash” Sky Fire almost screamed at the our zony friend who just laughed louder. She moaned as he laughed and landed on the opposite side of me and rubbed her rust smeared face with a black fabric covered hoof.
We had learned of where Sky Fire had come from since she has joined us after nearly breaking Zyon's ribs after she crashed into him a little while ago. She didn't remember much but she told us she remembered waking up in Stable 108 and I unfortunately had to break the news to her that she's a clone. I knew what sort of place 108 was and had to tell her. I also knew of how to tell if your a clone or not from 108 as it was programed to put a white dot under the left lower eyelid so it was possible to tell what was a clone or not and unfortunately for Sky Fire, she had a dot under her eyelid too. We had a Stable-Tec computer in our Ranger base that listed some stables and their purposes when I was last at the base.
“For being a clone of the Ministry Mare of Awesome, she’s not a good flyer” Zyon mocked finding it hard to not laugh at his own comment.
“Let’s see how well you fly after being alive for a couple of weeks” she moaned, she was using that as her excuse at not being a good flyer now.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever”
“Alright you two can it” I moaned, getting annoyed now at their constant arguing. “We made it to Pondale guys, keep quiet or we might get caught”
“Speaking of which, shouldn’t we have seen a patrol at least by now?” Zyon asked as he bent back his head to pull something from his right flank satchel. When he pulled his head back he was holding a pair of binoculars to his eyes with an extendable mouth grip. He started to scan the town for any signs of Steel Ranger activity.
“Actually, yes, we should have at least had to avoid two patrols by now” I agreed as I activated my scope system in my visor doing the same.
Sky Fire stood there, not sure what to do since she didn’t have anything for long range observation.
“I don’t see a single Ranger” I muttered to myself out loud as I started to pan my scope towards the north of the old ruined town. Most of the town was basically intact, it was lucky enough to not get a direct hit from a balefire bomb but the old town has been falling apart due to the elements and old age. Many of its buildings were crumbling apart while some of the more sturdier buildings like the town hall remained largely intact with most of their features.
My scope fell onto the airport, the Steel Ranger base in this region and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I saw plumes of smoke rising from numerous fires and plenty of wreckage that I remembered was not there before hoof. Clearly the result of a battle.
“Something’s not right” I said as I kept my gaze on the airport.
“What’s wrong?” Sky Fire asked as she flared her grey wings getting ready to take to the air.
“It looks like the Ranger Base in the airport has been attacked” I said while deactivating the scope to look at her. “Rain…Sky Fire, can you zip up into the air to give us an aerial view please” I asked and giving myself a mental slap for nearly calling her Rainbow Dash.
She gave a beat of her wings which put her into a hover and gave a salute before another strong beat of her wings and she shot up into the sky leaving a rainbow trail. I was half expecting a sniper shot to be heard but nothing came. The Rangers in this region had a good Sniper Squad which I was apart of for a time.
Zyon was still scanning the town with his binoculars when Sky Fire came back down. “The whole town is deserted” She said retracting her wings and stepping beside me. I started to feel a bit sick, either it was the pregnancy or I was getting nervous. What could cause a whole town and an entire Steel Ranger chapter to disappear in a few months or so?
Zyon must have seen my face reflect my unease as he spoke up. “Appletart, you ok?”
I looked back and gave him a weak smile. “Yeah, yeah I’m fine” I replied.
Both Sky Fire and Zyon know I’m pregnant and they are starting to fret over me more and more now. It’s getting annoying but at least they care. But anyway we have a job to do right now.
“My E.F.S is showing no hostiles in range, I think we should check out the base first before pushing to the mountain. If we can find out what happened here it’ll make things easier on us, that way we can expect something instead of it biting us in the rump”
My two friends nodded in agreement and we started off down the road into the deserted, quiet and creepy town.
xxxxxx
Stable 108 had its labs stripped of uncontaminated electronics and machinery. Motor Runner sighed in disappointment at how little it provided him. He walked down the halls of the genetics lab, looking into rooms which had been cleared of anything useful. He was making sure his idiotic infected Raiders didn’t miss anything. It had been a couple of weeks but everything that he could use for his project had been removed, including a cloning machine.
“If I don’t find anymore control stables what have not been opened or contaminated I will never get it operating” He moaned to himself as he opened a slightly rusted door leading to a flight of stairs taking him into the living quarters.
“At least that cloning machine can keep pumping out clones to feed those infected degenerates, they are a hoofy little bunch when you keep them fed”
An infected Ranger was standing at the top of the stairs when Motor Runner reached the top. “Something to report Sergeant?”
“There has been a massive increase in Infected Raiders down near Hoofington sir. Reports are suggesting they originate from a Stable”
“Interesting, can you confirm this?”
“I’ll send a squad to survey the area”
“Very good”
The Ranger bowed his head and turned to leave, Motor Runner raised a brow as he saw the Ranger’s armour encased tail had now been modified to have a large heavy ball on the end covered in spikes. He lowered his head and shook it with his eyes closed. “Ugh, they are getting worse”
Leaving through the Stable entrance he noticed in the corner of his eye an infected Ranger looking around in agitation while being unable to keep her legs still. He sighed to himself as he has lately been seeing the behaviour of the infected Rangers deteriorating more and more into the state of the infected Raiders. They were slowly loosing their discipline and mental control and becoming more and more psychotic.
“I was hoping they would keep their control, guess this disease ends the same way with anypony, heh, oh well”
xxxxx
We stood at the main entrance to the Pondale Airport Control Tower and we were gawking at the hole that had been cut though the heavy, two hoof thick, steel reinforced, armoured door. A perfect line had been cut from the bottom of one side, all the way up towards the top where it then rounds off to cut along to the other side and back down to the floor. Whatever did that had some cutting power to have been able to get through the thick armour. What amazed us more was that the door wasn’t cut by some heavy duty magical plasma cutter or something because the edges were not burnt or melted. The cut out section of the door itself was lying against the wall beside the door with a small line of V shaped grooves sunk into the steel in the middle.
“I don’t like this” Sky Fire said as she bend her head back to fish out one of her beam pistols out of her saddlebags.
“Yeah I know, neither do I” I added priming my 50cal while also levitating out my lever-action shotgun.
My E.F.S was still showing clear apart from one or two blips that were just indicating Radroaches or Bloatsprites but none of us wanted to take a chance after seeing how the huge heavy door had been cut open.
There was plenty of evidence to support the idea the base was attacked with bullet holes, fires and wreckage all over the place but the most disturbing thing was that there were no bodies. Plenty of dried blood but no bodies that belonged to the blood.
Stepping inside it was pretty much the same as the outside with the bullets holes and blood littering the floors and walls but again no bodies.
“Zyon, Sky Fire, down that hall…” I pointed down the hallway to our left with an armoured hoof. “You’ll find a door to some stairs that will take you into the sub levels of the base. The firing ranges and armoury are down there, I want you to gather as much of the ammo and weapons they still have down there” They both nodded softly as they looked down the hallway.
“What are you gonna do?” Zyon asked a little nervously.
“I’m going up these stairs here to the control tower, the Elder’s quarters are up there, I might be able to find something to explain this up there”
With a nod they both started down the hall to the stairs while I started to climb the stairs in front of me. Half way up the stairs a white marker appeared on my E.F.S, indicating a non-hostile further up. I levelled my shotgun with my gaze and pulled the lever with my magic to chamber a shell. I didn’t want to give this non-hostile the chance to shoot me in the back, some are like that.
I made it to the top of the stairs and the door to the Elder’s room was closed and the non-hostile was inside. I flattened myself with a loud clunk against the wall beside the door on the right and face hoofed, if they didn’t know I was hear before, they did now. Sometimes I forget I’m wearing this bulky heavy armour. Carefully I reached out with my magic and opened the door, it gently swung outwards and as I peeked around the door frame I frowned to see a table had been pushed up against the door frame on the other side.
I poked my head in slowly to look down behind the table before I froze at the sound of a revolver hammer being cocked back.
“Don’t you move one fucking muscle” A gruff elderly voice sounded from my left where the sound of the revolver hammer came from.
I remained still as I saw a .357 revolver float around into my view as an old deep grey unicorn buck with a faded white mane dressed in a blue scribe robe stepped out in front of me.
“Elder Stanier” I blurted out in amazement that the old git was still alive.
He blinked at me a few times as he looked me over, his eyes were narrowed at first but then they got wider and wider as I guess he began to recognise me. Well, how many albinos are there in the world?
“Longshot?” He asked with some confusion in his voice.
I nodded and the magic holding his revolver imploded and it dropped to the floor with the old buck having a coughing fit which unfortunately I saw specks of red dot over his sleeve covered foreleg as he tried to cover his mouth as he coughed.
I pushed the table out of the way and fully entered the room. Elder Stanier fell back into a chair still coughing.
“Are you alright?” I asked and mentally face hoofed, of course he’s not all right.
“Yeah…*cough*…just dandy” He moaned as he lay back in his chair, suddenly looking much older than he already is.
“What happened here sir?” I asked, bloody nora, that old training never goes away no matter how long you’ve been away.
“What does it…*cough, cough*… look like?” He rasped as he whipped his mouth with his hoof, smearing blood over his hoof and sleeve. He took a breath and continued. “We were attacked, buy an army of Raiders of all things” He put on a weak smile as he looked up at me. “Yeah, how pathetic must we be to have been to be beaten by a bunch of low life scum” He wretched forwards into another coughing fit.
“How did they manage to penetrate the base and how the fuck did they get through that damn door?” I asked stepping back while the Elder coughed his guts out, he must have sustained a bad internal injury to be like this.
“Ugh” He moaned as he settled back into his chair. “A strange pony I’ve never seen before dressed in a suit and with a metal foreleg approached the door. I don’t know what he was but he managed to pull a chainsaw out of his metal leg and it was surprisingly able to cut through the door like it was nothing. We tried to fight back but no matter what we did, nothing seemed to hurt the tall bastard and there were so many of the Raiders we were vastly out numbered. I witnessed to my horror how the tall one simply cut away parts of the armour from the Rangers and held him or her down so one of the Raiders could bite them, then he had them restrained. I didn’t know what the fuck was going on but we were loosing Rangers fast. I suffered a hit from that metal leg of his as I attempted to flee, managed to crawl my sorry ass up the stairs and shut myself in here, I guess I wasn’t important to them as they never bothered to come after me” He moaned before another coughing fit.
“Motor Runner attacked this base? What the hell for?” I asked myself in my head.
The elder recovered and continued. “I hold up in here for a couple of days and soon witnessed the once tied up Rangers following the Raiders and that tall pony. I was horrified to see the Rangers eating the dead Rangers and Raiders that lay over most of the airport. I don’t know what they did to them but it was horrifying” He looked down as he put a hoof to his chest and cringed. “Appletart, I know you don’t work for us anymore but I have one last mission for you…”
I blinked and tilted my head as he never once called me by my name before.
“…Go kill that son of a bitch” He said looking up to me looking a lot weaker than before and the colour in his eyes was fading. This poor old git was definitely on his way out. “One more thing” He rasped as he used his magic to pick up his revolver again but held it in front of me with it facing him. “Put me out of my misery”
I blinked and holstered my shotgun before taking the revolver in my magic. “Sir?”
“That’s an order you stupid cow” He growled angrily.
I frowned as I held the weapon about an inch from his face, the hammer still cocked back I started to apply pressure to the trigger.
“I’m sorry we didn’t turn out like you hoped, but look at it this way, I get to pay for my sins in hell” He said as he closed his eyes, accepting his death. “I’ve done a lot of things I’m not proud of and I’m paying for it, but please spare me a slow agonising death”
I sighed deeply “Good bye Elder Stanier” I said quietly and pulled the trigger. At my words I saw him put on a faint smile before a hole opened up in the middle of his head and he fell back into the chair from the force of the hit.
I fell to my hunches and breathed out a deep sigh as the revolver clattered to the floor in front of me. I began to fidget with my armour’s midsection as it all of a sudden felt dead tight and very uncomfortable. Truthfully it’s been getting tighter for the past few weeks but it suddenly felt real tight right now.
Bang!
“Ow”
“Sky Fire?” I asked as I turned my head towards the open door.
“Ow, who put that wall there?” She asked as she stumbled through the door without her mask on and her goggles around her neck, revealing her cyan coat and rainbow mane and her ruby eyes.
“Wait, you flew through the halls and up the stairs?”
“Err, yea”
I shook my head and face hoofed.
“What?”
“You say you’re not Rainbow Dash, yet you certainly acting like her more and more”
“What? Oh hell no” She said sounding annoyed. “So…what happened here? I heard the shot” She said, quick to change the subject.
“Huh, oh, just put my old Elder out of his misery” I said and looked back to the old buck slumped in the chair.
“Oh, you alright?” She asked softly.
“Yeah I’m fine, I’m gonna go and bury him” I replied. I used my magic to pick up the revolver and placed it into my magical storage unit then I picked up the body of my dead elder which was actually quite a strain on my horn. I’ve never really picked up anything weighing as much as a full grown buck before.
“Alright, we’ll meet you outside, we’re almost done gathering what we can” She said as she started to trot back down the stairs.
xxxxx
I sat outside looking at the freshly covered grave with a stick poking out of the ground with the old elder’s robes hanging from it. I sighed deeply as I’ve again lost another pony I knew and once cared about.
Elder Stanier was almost a father figure to me. He had taught me much of my Steel Ranger training and education. Since I was too young to actually be a Ranger when I arrived here after being brought in, he saw to my upbringing mostly himself.
I felt a tear escape my eye as I lowered my head in respect for the old buck. “Why does everypony I’ve known end up dying?” I said to myself making me feel miserable now.
Sky Fire gently landed beside me and draped a wing across my back softly. I heard some grunts from behind me as Zyon was dragging a sack behind him as he approached. I leaned against Sky Fire softly as she comforted me.
“Good bye Elder, I’m sorry you had witness the fall of your chapter” I said softly and patted the ground with my hoof. “I hope you’re at peace now”
Zyon stopped and spat out the end of the sack from his mouth. “Well I dragged what I could out from the armoury, most of the good shit was gone, the bastards must of took all the good stuff”
Me and Sky turned around to meet Zyon and sort out what he had. In the sack were a few pistols, 9mm, 10mm and a couple of .357 Magnum Revolvers. There were five frag grenades which Zyon claimed, several boxes of ammo ranging from 9mm rounds to my 50cal, so plenty of ammunition and to my surprise and delight, a box of 50cal Explosive Rounds.
“Holy shit, 50cal Explosive Rounds?” I squealed as I pulled 'This Machine' from its holster, ejected its clip and began reloading the clip with the explosive rounds.
“Err, Appletart, you got that look in your eye again” Zyon said as I slammed the reloaded clip back into the weapon and pulled its bolt back to chamber a round.
I rested the butt of the gun to my shoulder and held it in my magic as I took aim on a small sky chariot that had been used as an out house and pulled the trigger. The boom from the gun was far louder than before and its recoil, instead of my magic imploding and me loosing my grip on it, it sent my flying onto my back with the full weight of the gun bending my shoulder armour. Just I hit the floor on my back there was a small explosion which told me the shot hit. As I looked back to Zyon and Sky they had their mouths hanging open. I groaned as I pulled myself back into a sitting position and saw the carnage. The old sky chariot had been reduced to a heap of twisted metal that looked something like modern art with its bent and twisted metal going in all directions like a small field of grass.
“I love this gun” I muttered as I hugged the huge alien anti-material rifle.
I quickly regained myself and holstered the weapon on my back and put the ammo into my magical storage unit. The sack also had some small spark cells which I gave to Sky Fire since she uses those beam pistols. Once we were packed up and ready we began our long trek to Pondale Moutain.
xxxxx
The constant cloudy sky was now black as night had pushed the day away leaving the wasteland in the dark gloom. Motor Runner walked alone down a road heading towards Hoofington. The black city could be seen in the distance from the eerie green glow that came from its core, illuminating the ruined cityscape and its largely still intact buildings towering up into the black sky.
“I should be there by sun rise tomorrow” He said casually to himself as he passed an overturn metal wagon.
“Oh I don’t think so pretty boy” A voice said from behind the wagon.
Motor Runner stopped and tilted his head to his right and looked back to see a Raider step out from behind the wagon. As this Raider stepped out more Raiders started to appear from concealed places around Motor Runner. He didn’t move but he kept his gaze on the first Raider who had stepped out from behind the wagon, even in the dim light of the evening he could see the infected eyes, the piss yellow colouration with pin prick pupils. As the Raider got closer he soon noticed what the Raider was wearing and it wasn’t the usual Raider attire. He soon noticed that the Raider was female and a unicorn that was holding a 10mm Sub machinegun by her side and when she was close enough he noticed exactly what she was wearing.
“Ah, so you’re the new band of Raiders who’s been terrorising this area lately?” He said not at all afraid.
The unicorn blinked, not at all expecting such a response. Something moved out of the corner of his eyes to his left and he ducked down in time to avoid a Raider jumping at him. The Raider sailed clear over his back and landed face first into the first Raider. As the two Raiders picked themselves up Motor Runner was now standing before them, looking down at them with his dark calm purple eyes.
“Stable 99 Ponies, I wonder what happened to infect you”
“Attack!” Screeched the first Raider and the other Raiders started to charge at him.
Motor Runner sighed “Best not ruin my suit” he moaned as he flexed his cybernetic foreleg which instantly morphed into a chainsaw with its sharp teeth encircling the leg. He jumped back to avoid a Raider stabbing at him with a spear made from kitchen knives duct taped to the end of a broom handle.
Motor Runner didn’t rev his chainsaw as it would be too messy and he didn’t want to get blood on his suit. A Raider charged at him and with a swift swing of his foreleg he sliced the Raider’s forelegs clean off as the razor sharp teeth of the saw cut through her flesh like a hot knife through butter. The Raider squealed in agony and fell flat onto her chest. Another Raider charged him and again he swung his leg and repeated his first attack, cutting off the forelegs off of that Raider too. Three Raiders left, two with melee weapons and the third carrying the SMG. The two melee Raiders rushed Motor Runner together on either side of him. He shock his head as this was too easy, at the last second he stepped back on his long legs which allowed the two Raiders to impale each other as they both had their knife spears ready.
“Pathetic” Motor Runner muttered as he faced the leader of the group who was now twitching nervously.
The Raider fired a burst of 10mm fire but Motor Runner didn’t bother dodging as the shots went wide. The Raider then went and emptied her clip by firing the whole mag towards Motor Runner who casually walked up to her. There was the occasional ping and pang of metal striking metal but it wasn’t clear where it came from to the Raider. Just as she slammed in a new clip Motor Runner stood before her and she shoved the barrel of the SMG under his chin.
“You loose pretty boy” she cackled still nervous and fired a single shot. There was a loud metallic ping again and Motor Runner humoured her by throwing his head up. The Raider began to cackle but soon stopped as he slowly brought his head back down smiling.
“W-what?”
“Maybe if you pushed the gun to my forehead”
She didn’t waste a second and did exactly that and pulled the trigger for a three round burst. The metallic pings rung out again as he threw his head back up as if taking the hits but again he slowly lowered his head back down grinning with amusement from the Raiders confused and shocked face.
“H-h-how is that p-possible?” She stammered in shock and fear as she saw the bullets she had fired slip off his forehead all squashed from their impacts.
“Steel hard skin” He simply said before he thrusted his chainsaw limb directly through her midsection. She screamed in pain before falling limb. Motor Runner discarded the dead body and retracted his chainsaw back into his leg. “No sport at all, these infected aren’t as fun as the regular degenerates”.
After clearing the blood from his cybernetic leg he checked his suit which luckily didn’t suffer a single bullet hole or any blood getting on it. He quickly straightened it before continuing on his way down the road towards Hoofington.
xxxxx
It was around midnight by the time we made it up the long winding mountain trail to get to the cave entrance to Stable 88. I could see the cave as we slowly trotted towards it. My stomach began to do flips as we got closer, making me feel like I wanted to puke.
Sky Fire jumped up into the air and flew up to the cave entrance and looked back to us with a confused expression on her cyan face. She forgot to put her mask back on after leaving the airport.
“Err, guys, shouldn’t there be a wooden gate here if it’s the entrance to the Stable?” She asked.
“What now?” I said as I broke into a slow run to get to her. Sure enough the wooden gate was gone. Why would somopony take the wooden gate?
Zyon bent down as he examined the rocky floor with a hoof. He dragged a hoof through a line in the floor before looking up. “These are drag marks, something has been dragged out of there, something big” He said looking down into the pitch black of the cave.
“What’s going on here?” I asked as we began to slowly walk down into the gloom of the cave leading to Stable 88. As we disappeared into the dark, I began to fill with horrible thoughts of what the stable could be like now, filled to the brim in rotting corpses and rotten matter everywhere. I shuddered at the thoughts as we approached my old dead stable.
(Author notes: Re-read and modified the chapter. Improved or corrected mistakes with missing or wrong used words. Thanks for reading)
Blueberry Muffin groaned to herself as she sat in the carriage as it rocked from side to side as it moved. She couldn’t hear what was happening nor could she see as she rode in the carriage. She had been ear muffed and blindfolded to ensure the secrecy of the location of where she was going.
After what seemed like hours the ear muffs and the blindfold were removed. “Bout bloody time” She moaned in a thick Braytish ascent as she blinked several times until her vision came into focus. Applejack was sitting on the seat facing her in the carriage.
“Sorry Blueberry, secrecy is essential for the success of this project”
“Just what exactly are we doing?”
Blueberry looked out of the window of the carriage to see she was now inside someplace. She noticed steel walls outside lined with cables and piping with heavy steel reinforced beams to strengthen the walls. There was a soft click as Applejack opened the door to the carriage.
“Ah’ll show ya” She said as she exited the carriage.
Blueberry nods as she follows the Ministry Mare out of the sealed off garage and into a series of corridors until finally Applejack lead her into the biggest room she has ever seen before in her life. She looked up and she couldn’t believe how high the ceiling was, it was like ten stories high and she couldn’t see the end of the room it was that long.
“Where the hay am I?”
Applejack smiled as she turned around to face Blueberry standing in front of a large metallic structure. “Ah welcome ya to the Hanger” She said as she gestured with a foreleg to the vast expanse of the huge room they stood in.
Blueberry gawked at the sheer size of the place and then her eyes fell on the large structure behind her boss. “And what’s that?”
Applejack smiled as she stepped out of the way. “That is our little project” she smiled as she started to trot towards it.
Blueberry followed close behind, her eyes started to widen the closer she got to the gigantic structure. As she got closer she started to see a resemblance to the shape of a pony with four thick sturdy legs and a head held high.
Blueberry raised a brow as she followed Applejack; the structure was anything but little. “Little? It’s gi-fucking-enormous”
Applejack chuckled as she stopped directly beneath the head. “Well, we are building the ultimate land based weapon here; it has to be large to hold the weapons we have planned for it and to be able to take whatever our enemy can throw at it”
Looking up Blueberry saw a massive multi-barrelled machinegun mounted below the head on its chin. She recognised the design as one of her own designs for a battle saddle. She then looked over to the where its legs joined to the body and above them sat a massive pontoon connected to a pivoting arm to enable it to rotate up and down and slightly side to side.
“Y-y-you managed to super size my Railgun design” Blueberry cried out.
“Ah, yes, but we are having problems. This is why we brought you to the Hanger”
xxxxxx
“What’s wrong with this picture?” Zyon asked staring ahead.
“The… door… is…” Sky Fire started.
“Gone” I finished in complete surprise and shock at what I was seeing.
Sure enough the giant steel cog like door of the Stable was gone, including its locking gear and the mechanical arm that held it in place. It was a big shock as I was expecting to see the door with that hole cut into it.
“How can anypony move that door?” Sky Fire asked as we started to walk through into the Stable. "I mean, it weighs like thirteen tonnes right?"
Once we were inside we noticed the back wall that separated the atrium from the main door was also missing. I looked around the room and began to notice that a lot of the metal, computer consoles and even the door to the maintenance wing were missing. It was like somepony had gutted my Stable.
As we ventured deeper into the stable it was pretty much the same in most of the rooms. Anything useful had been ripped out along with other materials. I was even expecting the dead bodies of the ponies who were murdered here to still be there but they were also gone, all that remained were the blood stains from where they fell.
Most of the stable had been gutted but there was still plenty of the stable intact like most of the living quarters and the reactor room. I was surprised the stable still had functional systems despite how much wiring had been ripped out and the consoles they connected too.
We came to the Overmare’s Office which thankfully still had its door which told me it hadn’t been ripped apart. I pressed my hoof to the door control button and with a soft hiss the door slid up to reveal the office to be in perfect condition but with one item out of place. Sitting on the horseshoe shaped desk is a glowing terminal with enough grime and rust on it that it stuck out like a sore hoof.
Stepping up to it I pressed a key with a hoof to wake it up and moaned when the screen appeared with a shit load of text and numbers.
“Bollocks, it’s encrypted” I moaned looking up from the terminal. “Hey Zyon, think you can hack this?”
“Sure” Zyon said smiling as he approached the terminal. I stepped aside to let him work his magic and looked around the office. It had luckily not been touched; everything was how I left it.
After backing out once from the terminal to be sure it didn’t lock him out, Zyon got the password which was “Princess” he was then given access to it. He stepped aside for me to look at the screen. It held some journal entries. I accessed the messages.
#1: It took us five fucking hours to cut through that damn fucking door and then cut it up into quarters. I lost two of my damn ponies from the three tonne steel fragments falling onto them. This salvage operation better be worth my damn time and my damn ponies.
#2: Motor Runner wants us to take all the necessary equipment and materials we can carry, its not gonna be easy with the Steel Ranger faggots roaming the area but we’ll get it done. Those strange Raiders he sent after we got the door out took care of the bodies in here after his Fiends killed the populace. They were suppose to help us with the savage, not have a buffet.
#3: We have taken almost all we can but that’s enough from here. Those magical vending machines were a bonus, apart from that one in the dinning hall, fucking thing doesn’t work. Anyway, all this shit better be worth it. This Project K he talks about BETTER be worth it. He also better be fucking rich as hell to pay for all this shit.
Well, now I know who is responsible and why. My whole stable was killed just for the materials for this Project K. Goddesses help the bastard when I get my hooves on him. He’s killed my stable, had it gutted for some project and now he’s killed my Steel Ranger chapter. This twat has a lot to answer for.
“Appletart, you ok?” Zyon asked sounding somewhat concerned beside me.
I didn’t realise until then that I was shaking. I was feeling a mixture of emotions, all fighting to take control. I was tired, angry and upset, so no I wasn’t ok.
“Yea, I’m fine” I lied as I got up. “There is nothing we can do right now, we might as well get some sleep”.
We made our way down to the living quarters. Much of the halls had been ripped open where the steel panelling hid the access hatches for the wires and piping behind the concrete walls. Debris of left over wire and pipes littered the floor; half the doors to each of the rooms were missing. Luckily we found a hoofful of rooms that still had their doors so we could have our privacy. I on the other hoof found my quarters, the Overmare’s Living Quarters. I still lived with my mother before this shit happened. I was still just a filly after all.
“Will you be alright on your own?” Sky Fire asked as I stood in front of the door to my mother’s old living quarters.
I nodded without looking at her as my gaze was set on the door in front of me. “I’ll be fine Sky, a good night’s sleep and I’ll be right as rain” I told her as I pressed the door control and with a soft hiss the door slid up. “Good night Sky” I said looking at her to give her a weak smile before I then entered the room and the door closed behind me automatically.
The living room was basically devoid of anything apart from a set of shelves, a dresser and a couch. The ponies who stripped the place must have taken anything valuable as well. I continued to the door that lead to my room and found that it was locked. The bedrooms for the Overmare’s Living Quarters always had magical locks and the fact that they were still locked meant those ponies hadn’t been in my mother’s room or mine. We had special locks, locks that only a unicorn could unlock. Beside the door on the wall was something that looked like a circular keyhole. I lowered my head and pushed my horn into the hole and began to channel my magic into the lock. There was a soft click as the locks disengaged and the door slid up.
I smiled as I looked at my room, just how I left it albeit a bit dustier and a complete mess. It was typical of a filly of my age, I had left books and toys scattered all over the place. Using my magic I disengaged the armour’s locks and stepped out of it and let out a sigh of relief as the tightness around my middle left me. Standing in front of my full length mirror I nodded to myself.
“Yeah, I’m getting too big for my armour” I said to myself as I noticed how much my belly had rounded out over the past couple of months. I was indeed getting too big for my armour. Old memories of my life in the stable started to come back, memories of my bad foalhood, of bullies making fun of me because I’m an albino, memories of being a blank flank and the memories of my mother teaching me everything I needed to know. My eyes started to sting from the tears welling up in them and then I started to cry, I didn’t do anything to hold it back, I just let it all out.
After a few good minutes of crying I felt better than I did for a while now. I whipped my eyes with a hoof to clear my vision and then climbed up onto my bed and lay on my side. I rested my head on my pillow while absentmindedly rubbing a hoof over my pregnant belly. I started to think of the data entries from that terminal and suddenly…
“Hang on a minute, I’ve heard of Project K before” I said loudly to myself as I lifted my head from my pillow.
Now that I think back on it, Project K sounds very familiar. I’m sure I’ve heard or seen that name before. Thinking of where I heard it before a memory surfaced and I remembered my mother giving me an old and I mean OLD book that turned out to be the journal of the first Overmare of Stable 88, the first Blueberry Muffin. I remembered where I put it and with a flash of my horn the old tome floated out of a box at the end of my bed and floated up to me as I shifted to lie on my back with my head resting on the headboard.
I used my magic to gently open the book and I began to read. After flipping through the first several pages I came to an entry that was entitled. “Project K” This was it, maybe now I can find out what this is all about so I began to read the entry.
“I had been sworn to secrecy by Applejack for this project but since I’m in this Stable and that the world has gone to hell in a hoof basket, I guess there isn't much point in hiding it anymore.
There is no point in going around to ponies in here and telling them I had been working on something that could have possibly ended the war as it didn’t matter now, its over, its done.
But I’ve been keeping this fucking thing a secret since I was drafted into working on it and now I just need to get it out of my head so you’ll have to do, get it all down on paper and forget about it.
So, what is Project K? Well it was a secret project devised by Applejack, the Ministry Mare of the Ministry of Wartime Technology. Project Krogoth or Project K as it was commonly referred as, was to create the ultimate war machine, a machine of such power and armour that nothing could fight it and the secrecy was to ensure that nopony, not even the damn zebra scum could make a counter for it. Like those primitive bitches could ever mount to such a thing.
The machine itself was called the Krogoth. It was a gigantic pony shaped machine. I was responsible for its weaponry. The high calibre anti-equine machinegun was for anti-infantry, two Railguns (supersized beyond comprehension) mounted on either side of the machine’s body above its legs and high explosive missile pods mounted to the rear of the Railgun pontoons. Those were its primary weapons. It was also fitted with a secondary weapon system that could change what weapon it would use. It was fitted with either a Disc Grenade Launcher (my own design) or an Anti-Air Railgun. The Krogoth would have been able to call upon either one of them to assist either its machinegun or missiles.
The machine was impressive despite being fucking overkill. What scared me about it was not its sheer size but the fact that it had a Crusader Mainframe and a Spark Reactor, a fucking Stable-Tec issued Spark Reactor as damn powerful as the one that powers this fucking stable. Don’t believe the ponies who tell you there are only three Crusader Mainframes in the world, it’s a lie because a fourth one was put in that fucking thing. Also makes you wonder just many untold secrets are actually out there.
The Krogoth had enough power to power itself, its weapons and even the damn Hanger it was being built in. Well, it doesn’t matter now, the Krogoth was never finished, I had just got its weapons online when the call came out. The machine still needed some of its minor systems connecting, its armour and some other shit I don’t even know about.
I don’t even know where the fuck in Equestria the Hanger is, I was blindfolded and ear muffed going there and leaving. All I hope is that the Hanger and the Krogoth got destroyed. I dread to think of what would have happened if it was finished. With the weapons it had, Dragons, Hydras, Manticores, Ursas and the armies of Equestria and the Zebra Lands wouldn’t be able to wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight. Those Railguns alone would tear anything apart. I wish I never invented the infernal things"
I felt my blood run cold. Motor Runner was planning on resurrecting Project K, the Krogoth. Dear sweet goddesses. He has to be stopped. If he succeeds, all of Equestria, no, the whole world could be at his mercy. With the state of the world as it is now, there would definitely be nothing at all that could stand against the Krogoth.
There was no point in worrying about it now, best thing I can do now is get some sleep.
xxxxx
Motor Runner walked down the ruined streets of Hoofington, heading for the large sports arena which was being used as the Hoofington Reapers home base. The sun was starting to rise over the tall buildings in the Core from the brightness of the cloud curtain over the city. The streets were being lit by the light reflecting off what was left of the many windows still clinging to their frames as he walked down the cracked roads.
His trip after the Infected Stable Raiders was pretty much uneventful and he made it to the city around his estimated time but he still had to go through the winding streets to make it to his destination. He was hoping to meet an old acquaintance at the Arena, somepony who helped him years ago with acquiring his steel hard skin.
“It’s not essential to have one but it would make controlling that machine so much easier” He said to himself as he thought of what he wanted. “I wonder if you know about the Synaptic Link”
Blam!
A bullet whizzed passed his head and embedded into the tarmac in front of him. Motor Runner sighed as he stopped and casually turned his head to look up at the buildings to his right and behind him from where the bullet came from. Sticking out one of the buildings was a long barrel of a sniper rifle, the shooter hidden by shadow, the sniper has his gun aimed at him but seemed to be waiting.
The sound of doors opening on both sides of the street got his attention as a group of well armed ponies dressed in leather and combat armours started to fill the street in front of him. Most carried shotguns and rifles but there was a rather buff looking stallion who wore a battle saddle with twin miniguns mounted on either side.
He tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow as the group of ponies pointed their guns at him. “Oh dear, looks like I’m out numbered and out gunned” He said sarcastically.
The leader of the group, the buff stallion with the miniguns stepped forward. “What do you think your doing in our part of the Hoof?” He demanded, keeping those miniguns aimed at him.
“Oh, don’t mind me; I’m only going to the Arena”
“Not anymore, nopony trespasses in our turf”
He closed his eyes and smiled and then chuckled amusedly. This was completely the opposite the minigun armed pony expected.
“What’s so funny?” He asked rather annoyed at Motor Runner’s amused chuckle.
“Do you have any idea who I am?” He asks now looking down at the pony in front of him, staring into him with his dark purple eyes. He didn’t wait for an answer as he flexed his cybernetic foreleg and before anypony could react, he had the blades of the chainsaw right under the pony’s chin. “I am Motor Runner and I am a Reaper”
The pony gulped as he could feel the sharp blades against his throat. The other armed ponies started to fan out to surround Motor Runner, all with their guns aimed at his head. He looked from left to right, seeing the ponies start to surround him and smiled. “Might want to call them off before this gets messy and I really don’t want to ruin my suit”
A soft hum began to emit from the chainsaw foreleg and the blades moved ever so slightly and this convinced the minigun pony who hastily motioned with his tail to his gang to lower their weapons to which they did.
Motor Runner smiled and removed the leg from his chin and retracted only the part at the base of the hoof so he could stand on it while having both the front and back of the leg rimmed with sharp Hellhound Claw teeth.
The pony stepped aside to let the larger pony pass. Motor Runner nodded to him as he passed and started to walk down the street again. He didn’t get more than ten feet before the same sniper fired again, this time striping Motor Runner in the back of the head. To the surprise of the sniper and the gang of ponies who watched the bullet impacted the back of his head, Motor Runner didn’t so much as flinch as the sparks flew from his head and the metal on metal clang echoed down the street. Instead he let out a sigh and turned to face the gang, all of which had looks of complete terror on their faces after seeing him take what would normally be a fatal shot and didn’t die.
“How is that possible, he took a bullet to the head and nothing happened?” One shrieked.
“He’s a monster”
“I was so hoping I didn’t have to kill anypony but you just tried to shoot my in the back, now that’s low, even for you degenerates” Motor Runner sighed as he started to advance on the group.
Most of the gang scattered and ran as he started to move towards the gang again. The leader didn’t even budge from where he stood after letting him pass and the sniper had pulled his gun out from the window and was long gone after seeing his bullet harmlessly ricochet of his head.
“Cowards” Motor Runner groaned as he watched more than half of the gang run away. He focused on the petrified minigun pony and advanced on him; standing up in front of him he raised his foreleg and allowed the rest of the chainsaw to extend out from his hoof.
The pony’s eyes widened in total terror as he watched the leg rise high over his head “No please” he begged but it was no good. Motor Runner brought his leg down, severing the head clean off the pony and just before the headless corpse could spray its blood all over him he used his chainsaw leg to push it over and away from him.
The remaining gang members turned tail and ran after seeing how easily his chainsaw leg sliced through the lead pony. Motor Runner sighed as he watched the rest of the gang run. “Never any pony willing to fight face to face anymore. Everypony is just a coward these days” He says to himself as he retracts his chainsaw and starts to continue onto the Arena.
xxxxx
I was woken up by the sound of knocking on my bedroom door. “Ugh, alright I’m up” I yelled as I sat up in bed and looked over to my dresser which still had my clock on it which was still surprisingly working. “Oh Celestia on a bicycle” I cursed as I saw the time being around midday. I had slept for almost ten hours.
I stepped into my armour and immediately felt the tightness around my middle again. “Ugh, I can’t keep wearing this, I’m getting too fat for it now” I moaned as I stepped back out and looked at my round middle. “What the hay am I suppose to wear now?” I asked myself still looking at my middle.
After a minute of thinking I finally remembered about the armour I found in Stable 112 just after finding out I was pregnant. I opened my armour’s magical storage unit and using my Pipbuk’s inventory sorting spell I quickly found my Maternity Security Armour and pulled it out with my magic. It was like any other security armour but with overlapping armour plating around the middle with sturdy but stretchy material to allow the growing belly to fit inside.
After squirming my way inside the armour it felt like I was wearing my old Stable Suit with the way it felt like it was clinging to me like a second skin but it wasn’t uncomfortable around my middle like the power armour was. I braced myself for a drastic drop in my damage threshold as I know the security armour wasn’t going to be as protective as my power armour. My power armour had a DT or 25 and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Maternity Security Armour had a DT of 16. Well, I may not be as well protected but it’s higher than what I expected.
I began to dig through my dresser and pulled out a set of magical saddle bags which I strapped to sit against my flanks and started to empty my power armour of the items I carried which by now were mostly ammo and some junk I need to remember to sell. I removed the harness for 'This Machine' and fastened it around my new armour and adjusted the straps to make it sit right on my back and god damn this is a heavy ass weapon. I forgot how much it weighed since the power armour took the weight easily. This is gonna take some getting used to. Finally I put the .357 Revolver from Elder Stanier into one of the holsters on my armour and then slipped Overmare’s Fury into another holster on the other side which thankfully was designed for a shotgun but could also fit the repeater rifle.
After I made sure I had everything, including the journal of my ancestor I opened the door and met my friends in the hall.
“Where’s your armour?” Zyon asked as he saw me leave my quarters without my power armour.
“I’m getting too big for it now, it’ll be safe in there, only I can open that lock to my room” I told him. “At least I hope so” I added in my head.
“Ok, so what’s next?” He asked.
I opened my mouth to say something when suddenly I felt my stomach start doing flips and my mouth filled with saliva, I sign I was about to be sick. "Oh, hang on" I moaned as I bolted for the nearest bathroom which was back in my quarters. I will spare you the details of my puking my guts out into the toilet. After taking a few gulps of fresh water from the tap over the sink I felt better, thank fully.
Zyon and Sky Fire must of heard me as the both looked a bit disturbed. "You alright?" Zyon asked looking like he was about to be sick himself.
"Ugh, yeah, never going to get used to morning sickness" I moaned. Before anything else could be said my stomach designed to protest its emptiness with a loud low growl. I blushed deeply from the sound that filled the hall. "So, who's hungry?"
The Dinner had almost been completely stripped. All that was left was a couple of tables and chairs and only one fridge which was empty. This made Zyon and Sky Fire moan as they thought there was nothing left to eat. I on the other hoof remembered that the ponies that salvaged my stable left the one vending machines that never worked.
“Err, Appletart, that don’t work” Zyon said as he remembered what was in the data entries.
I giggled “Well, they didn’t know how it works, this one was always screwy, and you just need to know what to say” I told him as I stood in front of it. I giggled again as I looked at the zony “Go on, ask it for something”
Zyon shrugged and stepped up to its screen which displayed what it was programmed to give out. After he saw something he wanted he moved his muzzle to the vending machine microphone.
“Hay pancake”
After a minute a bucket appeared in the hole where the items you asked for were magically created.
Zyon raised a brow with a not so amused look on his face which I couldn’t help but start laughing at.
“That’s why they say it doesn’t work” I said after I calmed down. “Its inventory system is fucked; you just have to know what to ask for”
“Alright then smart ass, you do it” He said completely not amused.
I stepped forward. “Chicken soup” I asked for and after a minute a plate of hay poptarts appeared with strawberry sauce squirted over them, cooked and ready to eat. I used my magic to pull the plate out.
We all settled on having the hay poptarts, though I settled for having about three extra plates worth and we sat at one of the tables as we began to eat. While we ate I explained what I found out last night regarding this Project K and what I believed Motor Runner was planning on doing by stripping this stable of all its useful tech.
“Holy goddesses, does he really have that thing?” Sky Fire asked shocked at my description of the Krogoth.
“It sounded like it from those entries and I highly doubt there was another Project K”
“So, what are we suppose to do about it?” Zyon asked.
“Well we gotta stop him; if that thing becomes operational I don’t think there will be anything that will stop him. Not even the Enclave”
“How are going to do that, we don’t even know where the hell this Hanger is”
“That’s a good point, we can’t do anything unless we have a lead and you said that your great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother or whatever had no idea where it was either”
“True but there was one mare who knew exactly where it was, and that was Applejack. I think our best bet would be to go to a Ministry of Technology hub and search it. I’m sure Applejack would have had something about it on her computers or maybe something out in plain sight that could have been codenamed to mean something else”
“Well, it’s a start; I really don’t like the sound of that thing”
“Where is the nearest hub?”
I raised my Pipbuck and turned it to its world map screen and zoomed out enough to see the nearest places. I moaned at the distance to the nearest place that would likely have a hub, Manehattan.
“It looks like Manehattan is our best bet but that’s quite a walk from here” I answered.
“Well, at least we have a heading” Sky Fire said as she stood up with Zyon.
“Lets go stop this thing” I said standing up and we all started to leave.
We had a quest now, a drive to stop a mad pony from unleashing a pre-bomb weapon on the wasteland. We all knew from the description made by my ancestor that if this thing was to be activated. All of Equestria and even the whole world would be in danger of its firepower. I just hope that two hundred years of being untouched has crippled it long enough for us to find it.
xxxxx
Motor Stood in the stands of the large arena after making his way up into the main building. He scanned the stands for a pony, a pony he was looking for. He stood out from the crowd around him. Being taller than most ponies and most likely being one of the most well dressed and groomed ponies. It wasn’t long before ponies started to notice him that he was approached by a pony wearing combat armour with plenty of scars to tell he had been through a lot.
“Hey, you’re Motor Runner, right?” He asked with a grumble as he was forced to look up at the tall pony.
Motor Runner just looked down with his eyes. “That I am” He said returning his eyes to look out to the crowd.
“Good, I’ve been waiting to challenge you for a while now” He said which quickly got the crowds attention.
Motor Runner sighed; he knew he couldn’t refuse a challenge as it would result in him loosing his status. “Fine”
It didn’t take long for a path to clear to a dome of chain link fencing that made up the battle cage. The interior of the cage was lined with weapons, all unarmed or melee type weapons. There were also some medkits and other boxes that were unmarked which held surprises. Some of the weapons and all the boxes had coloured locks on them, during a battle the crowd are given coloured keys to which they can offer to either combatant to aid them if they wished.
As Motor Runner and his challenger stepped into the cage its door closed to lock them inside while a commentator pony climbed up to the top of the cage and stood in the middle looking down into the cage at the two combatants.
“Ladies and Gentlecolts, we have a surprise today in the Dome” He called using his unicorn magic to amplify his voice so he could be heard over the cheering crowd.
“On this side we have that terror from down south, Slasher Cortez” He called while gesturing a hoof to the challenger who stood on one side of the dome opposite from Motor Runner. There was a fare few cheers when his name was called out.
“And on this side, we have the cybernetic menace from only fuck knows, Reaper Motor Runner” When his name was called out, barely any pony cheered since Motor Runner kept a low profile and was barely around Hoofington, not many ponies knew who he was.
The commentator looked down to Motor Runner. “Since you have an advantage with your chainsaw, you are forbidden to use it, only the weapons available on the walls of the cage can be used, is that understood?” He asked still broadcasting his voice over the crowd.
Motor Runner just took off his suit and hung it up on a hook that was sticking out of the cage wall and gave the commentator a dirty look that made him shrink back.
There was sound of bell ring which signalled the start of the match, the crowd cheering for violence as Cortez dived to the wall behind him and yanked a broad sword off the wall. It was rusty but still looked sharp. As Motor Runner passed a bladed weapon he felt a magical sensation from it and he realised the weapons had been enchanted, it looks like this will be a fair fight after all.
The two ponies began to circle each other and sizing each other up. A pony in the crowd cries out for blood and Cortes began to gallop towards his opponent with his blade grinding against the floor as he charged for Motor Runner. When he felt he was close enough he pulled his head back to swing the sword up to slice at his neck but Motor Runner stepped back in time to narrowly let the blade miss.
“Ohh, so close” Remarked the commentator.
Motor Runner and Cortez circled again before he charged at Motor Runner again with the blade out in front of him; he gripped the sword tightly in his mouth as he was going to try and impale Motor Runner. Motor Runner simply stepped to the side as Cortez passed and swung his cybernetic leg like a club to hit him in the back of the neck which made his opponent drop the sword and fall flat on his face from the strong hit.
“Ohh, that gotta hurt folks”
The battle became a laughingstock as Cortez kept attempting to slash at the larger pony only for him to dodge and then clobber him in the back of the head with his cybernetic leg. The crowd maybe amused but Motor Runner was getting impatient at Cortez’s persistence.
“Give it up Cortez, I’m out of your league and you are wasting my time with this pointless bout” Motor Runner says standing over the pony who was clutching the back of his head which was now giving him the worst headache he’s ever felt.
Cortez didn’t listen as he quickly dived forward to the dome wall and grabbed a sickle with his mouth and dived back towards Motor Runner, his face twisted in pure hate and anger from being made a laughingstock. Motor Runner shook his head and used his strong legs to leap directly over Cortez who missed him. As soon as he landed he reared up on his forelegs to lift his rear and gave Cortez a strong double hoof buck with his hind legs which made the battered pony sail across the dome and crash into the wall of the cage on the other side.
Motor Runner trots over the crumbled body of his opponent who was struggling to get back to his hooves. He placed his cybernetic hoof onto the head of Cortez and starts to apply pressure, pushing down against it. Cortez starts to scream as the weight on his head gradually got worse and the pain sky rocketing. He reaches out with a leg and taps the ground as hard as he could three times to signal the forfeit
To Cortez’s relief he feels the weight lift from his head as Motor Runner noticed him tapping out. “You were a foal to challenge me in the first place” He said as he turned around to retrieve his suit from the hook he left it on.
“There you have it folks, another flawless win by the Cybernetic terror that is Motor Runner” Shouts the commentator. “And yet another humiliating defeat for his opponent, tough luck Cortez”
The door opened and Motor Runner didn’t wait for congratulations, if any and went back on his search for his old acquaintance. The crowd started to laugh as the injured Cortez exited and tried to hide his shame from the ponies who saw him fail.
Standing back up at the top of the stands looking down at the large crowd of ponies Motor Runner continued to look for his acquaintance. “Where are you Sanguine?”
(Author notes: Re-read and modified where needed, thanks for reading)
A young stallion, around his early teens ran for his life as he was chased by a group of pissed off ghouls who were chasing him with an array of bladed weapons. The pony cursed himself for bringing this upon himself for killing one of the ghouls who challenged him with his chainsaw staff.
He had entered their territory and was almost immediately challenged by a ghoul pony dressed in old Equestrian Army combat armour. The fight didn’t last long as he used his chainsaw staff, a double ended staff with a chainsaw on each end, to first cut away the sword the living dead pony wielded and then plunged one of the two chainsaws into the ghoul. The saw struggled through the armour and once it was lodged into the ghoul’s chest the motor died leaving it stuck in the now dead ghoul. The other ghouls brought out their own swords and started to run at the young buck who had no choice but to abandon his chainsaw staff and leg it.
The young earth pony’s purple coat was dirty from the dust, his long black mane and tail was messy from his journeys and his two crossed chainsaws cutiemark was covered by his saddlebags.
“Get back here runt” Screamed a raspy voice from one of the ghouls chasing him.
He bucked his saddlebags off to loose some weight so he could run faster. He was running as fast as he could until he noticed that the ground ahead seemed to suddenly end.
“OH SHIT!” He screamed as he slammed on the breaks, skidding on all four of his hooves until he came to a stop just a hoof away from the edge of a cliff with a sheer drop to the rocky ground below.
He had no choice; he would have to face the four remaining ghouls. He turned around and walked forward to face the ghouls. The four zombie like ponies stopped and drew their weapons as they noticed the purple pony moving towards them. The young pony assumed a combat stance as he stopped in front of them.
“You got guts after all kid” The one directly in front of him said in the same raspy voice.
The other ghouls moved to surround the purple pony, giving him no chance of escape. The ground below the earth pony sagged slightly and the four ghouls backed up slightly as they noticed it. The young stallion looked down as a faint sound of snapping metal was heard through the dirt floor.
“Did you hear that?” Asked a ghoul who looked towards one of his comrades.
The young pony looked up and then with a yelp he disappeared into a black hole as the ground below him gave way, leaving a clean square hole where he once stood. The four ghouls approached the hole cautiously and peered down into the black void of nothingness.
“Heh, that little brat fell to his death”
“Serves the little whelp right”
“C’mon, we got better things to do than waste our time out here” And with that the ghouls left to return to their home territory.
The young stallion didn’t scream as he fell into the dark of the void surrounding him. He closed his eyes as if accepting death and waited to hit the ground. Instead he felt himself land into a tangle of vine things that stopped his fall. Some of the vine things stretched and snapped as they stopped him but when he did stop he was tangled up in them, leaving him suspended in the air above goddesses knows what. He opened his eyes to look around; all he could see were blackness and only a few of the vine things holding his body. With what little light he had from the small hole above him he took a closer look at these ‘vines’ and found out that they were actually steel cables and electrical wiring. He raised a brow at the unexpected turn his fall had landed him in. “Electrical cables?”
As if on cue a humming sound started to echo throughout the cavernous void and one by one florescent lights began to turn on. Bathing the area in light and revealing exactly where he had fallen into. As he looked around he started to make out some sort of underground facility. It had a concrete floor which was still several stories below him. Steel reinforced walls which had thick beams running up to the ceiling which had a honeycomb of other steel beams to hold up the ground above it. Soon the lights began to reveal doors and other hatches leading off into the facility and then finally, the centre began to be revealed and as each light revealed more and more, the ponys jaw began to drop.
Standing a mere ten hoof away from him was the largest metal pony shaped machine had he’d ever seen. He could see clearly through its unfinished structure to its interior, seeing its computer systems, hydraulics, mechanical parts and everything else that makes a robot or something work. This was the largest machine he had ever seen and soon his dropped jaw closed and a smile began to form. His eyes soon turned to a wall which seemed to have some lights focused on it and written in large block capital letters that were slightly faded from age was a name and it read.
“KROGOTH”
xxxxx
We had left Pondale behind us and were heading east towards the large city of Manehattan, or what’s left of it. We were staying on a road going in the general direction of the city. For now our mission was to make it to the Ministry of Technology hub there and find out if Applejack had any hidden information of this Project-K that we could use to either find it or put a stop to it.
As we walked up the road we came to a sign post beside a set of concrete stairs leading down into a Metro Station.
“Hey, App, if we take the blue Celestial Line from here it will take us directly to the city and….” Zyon began as he surveyed the map below the metro sign. “Hmm, seems that there is a station a couple of blocks from the hub”
I stood beside him and checked the map. He was right, the blue Celestial Line was more or less I straight path there.
“You guys aren’t seriously suggesting taking the subway right?” Sky Fire asked as she looked a little troubled.
“Well I am” Zyon said as he descended the stairs to the steel mesh gate and pushed against it.
“C’mon Sky, it’ll take use a couple of days on the road and there are goddesses knows what out there, at least in the tube tunnel we only have to really worry about Feral Ghouls and Radroaches” I reasoned.
Sky opened her mouth to say something but got a rude interruption from Zyon.
“Ah, son of manticore” He yelled as the mesh collapsed and he fell through it and got into a tangle with the mesh.
I stifled a giggle as Sky tried again. “Alright fine but we’ll need to be damn careful, I’ve heard that a Reaver has been seen around here” She said sounding afraid.
“Since when did you hear that?”
“I…I don’t rightly know…” She said as she tilted her head in thought.
“Maybe from before you were cloned?”
She nodded. “Hmm, possibly”
“Yo, any day now, you know” Zyon shouted from the gate after untangling himself.
“I’m sure we can handle a few Feral Ghouls, Sky, we’ll keep on our guard”
Sky Fire nodded and we descended the stairs and trotted through the gate and into the station entrance. As all three of us walked into the station we were treated to a sight of almost complete destruction. The floor was littered with rubble, bricks, stones, broken concrete and two hundred year old litter. The walls were covered in cracks and where the rubble seemed to pile up against the wall there was like a huge hole in the wall where the concrete and bricks had fallen loose. There were also holes in the ceiling with some of the holes showing the gloomy daylight.
As we moved deeper into the station terminal we came to a row of posts with poles sticking out at the sides to block entry.
“What are these things?” I asked as I looked at them. At the top there is a slot for a gold bit coin and on the front of the post there is a circular screen flickering an “ERROR” sign.
“These are Toll Gates” Zyon replied as he leaned forward to see the screen. “Ponies who wanted to use the Metro had to pay a toll to get through the gates here. According to this, the Metro system is offline, likely since the bombs dropped”
Looking down the line of gates I noticed that two of them were stuck open and so I walked around and through them. My friends followed suit and then we entered an extremely large open space which had an elevated platform which we entered on, two platforms in the middle and several ruined stores running along the two end walls. The large space was like a huge half cylinder which only opened up to the tunnels leading away at either side and the tunnel leading to the entrance. We were stood on the elevated platform above the rail lines and the platforms below. Even this massive room was filled with rubble and…
“What the buck?” I said as I looked at something I didn’t expect to see in a tube station. “How did a chariot get in here?”
Zyon and Sky followed my gaze to the sky chariot which was parked at the edge of the elevated platform with its pulling harness dangling off the edge with unfortunately a black skeleton of a pegasus pony hanging from it. They both shared my confused look as they checked it out.
“Weird” Zyon said as he finally looked away. Weird indeed, I've lived in the wasteland for several years now and it always seems to surprise you with something like this. We continued walking until we came to the escalators. Metal stairs that back in the day would move up or down to help ferry ponies from floor to floor similar to an elevator. Between each of the two sets of escalators stood a large board with the metro map for this area on it.
“Hmm, we want the Blue Celestial Line right?” I asked as I checked the map.
“Yea that’s right” Zyon said in agreement as he took a quick glance at the map. I looked down at my pipbuck and used my magic to prod the third button and then twist the knob next to the screen to cycle to the local map screen and then rotated the wheel next the screen before the knob to zoom in.
“Does your map have anything showing “New Hope”?” Zyon asked me as he noticed me checking my pipbuck map while he looked closer at the map on the board.
“New Hope?” I asked as I zoomed in as far as my map would allow and no icons for doors apart from the station entrance appeared. “Nope, nothing for that, why?”
“It’s on the way down the line to Manehattan” He replied.
“New Hope…New Hope…ugh, I’ve heard that name before” Sky says as she rubs her temple with a hoof as she tried to remember. She repeats its name several more times until she looks up at the map like she’s remembered something. “New Hope, I remember now, it was a medical research facility”
“Medical huh, I think it’ll be worth a stop to restock on our medical supplies”
“I agree” I replied as I started to descend the escalators.
After making it down to the platforms we all checked the ruined stores for any supplies but they were all empty of anything useful. Looks like we weren’t the only ponies to come through here. We took a few minutes to rest, mainly because of me, before we headed out into the Blue Celestial Line tunnel towards Manehattan and New Hope.
XXXXX
“I see that Project Ironhide is treating you well Mr Runner” Said the voice of the smartly dressed ghoul with cloudy pink eyes.
“Star Metal is truly a wonderful metal, I’ve taken many hits without feeling a thing” The other smartly dressed pony replied.
“I take it this isn’t a social visit; you’ve barely shown yourself around here since you asked for Ironhide. You require something else?”
“Yes, I was wondering if you know of the Synaptic Link technology”
The ghoul looked at the larger pony with a raised brow and with a look of slight surprise. “Synaptic Link, how do you know about that?”
“You’re not the only pony who has their hooves on a project”
“I suppose not, but what could you possibly require the Synaptic Link for?”
Motor Runner turned to face the ghoul. His gold K-P badge shown on his suit jacket collar in the light of a candle on a wooden round end table beside a ruined couch. The two ponies were stood inside a well preserved hotel room. There were two large windows on either side of a fireplace that were still intact. The view from the windows overlooked the city of Hoofington and the arena below it.
“There are plenty of machines out there that are as insane as most ponies and many more with encrypted terminals. I could greatly benefit from the ability of controlling a machine like it was my own body” The tall purple pony explained.
“Hmm, well the procedure has never been successfully done before since the bombs dropped. There is a chance you’d die but you’ve already had a successful cybernetic enhancement before so you may be able to survive the process”
Motor Runner didn’t show any signs of fear from being told he might die from the procedure. He simply looked out the window and raised his cybernetic foreleg and with a soft snap it split down the middle and something dropped out. He used his long straight haired tail to skilfully pick up the object that fallen from his leg and held it before Sanguine.
The ghoul’s eyes widened from what he saw in his acquaintances tail. It was a small clear vile holding a dull grey liquid and etched into the glass was the name “New Hope”
“You found Project Sire?”
“You give me the Synaptic Link and I’ll hoof over this sample of the DNA material for a Sire and tell you where the New Hope research facility is located, do we have a deal?” He asked as he turned around to face the ghoul again.
The ghoul smiles. Project Sire was one of the cancelled projects that had thought of have been long since lost and forgotten. Its purpose was to create super soldiers but it went horribly wrong and instead was changed. Sanguine smiles and nods. “Certainly, now if you’d please follow me, we can get started” He said as he turns around to the door and starts to walk. Motor Runner follows suit shortly after.
XXXXX
We had been walking for a few hours now with nothing eventful happen to us. Everything had been rather quiet down in the tunnel apart from the clop of hooves on concrete and steel.
Sky Fire had taken to flying rather than walking. At least her flying was silent down in this tunnel. Zyon was making good use of his Fallen Caesar training to minimize his noise but me on the other hoof, I was making as much noise as any pony would walking on concrete and steel. Steel Ranger’s weren’t known for stealth as we had overwhelming firepower on our side but I’m without my armour so I should be quieter. Luckily I wasn’t as noisy as I would have been if I had my armour.
As we walked I kept an eye on my E.F.S compass for any danger ahead. It had been clear for most of the trip so far but now I was starting to see red markers appearing, a lot of markers.
“Whoa hold up” I called out quiet enough to be heard.
“See something?” Asked Zyon who silently moved to my side.
“Yeah, up ahead” I said a tad quieter as Zyon was right next to me but unfortunately it wasn’t loud enough for Sky.
“Huh?” She asked as looked back to us “What did you say?”
The tunnel was starting to curve here, starting to branch right. “Ah, Sky, watch out for that…”
I didn’t get to finish as Sky flew into the wall of the tunnel with a resounding clunk and she then fell onto the concrete platform running the length of the tunnel on either side of the rails with an even louder whack. “Oww that hurt” she shrieked.
A unpony like scream echoed through the tunnel which was followed by more screams of something that didn’t sound happy. The sounds of many hooves clopping on the concrete and steel started to ring out through the tunnel and they were getting closer.
“Shit, everypony get ready”
I used my magic to pull free Overmare’s Fury from its holster and held it ready. Zyon leans his head down to his left foreleg and gripped the end of the handle to his Tribal Sword and pulled it out of its sheath and then held it tightly in his mouth by its zebra striped grip. Sky Fire leaned back to one of her saddlebags and pulled out one of her magical beam pistols and held it tightly with her tongue on its trigger. I could see her cringe from the metallic taste she was getting from the trigger.
We began to see a large group of feral ghouls galloping as fast as their bony legs could carry them towards us. The zombies were a perfect example of how the Wasteland could destroy something and bring it down to its lowest level.
“Ok, I’ll try to pick off as many as I can from here, Sky, focus on the leading Ghouls when they get in range of your beam pistols. Zyon, do what you can to take down those that make it past Sky Fire”
“Right” Both ponies said in unison.
I aimed Overmare’s Fury using the scope and zeroed in on the first ghoul to enter my sights and fired. The shot zoomed through the stale air and struck the ghoul in the head. There was a sound of breaking bone as the skull exploded, sending its deteriorating brains out onto itself before it collapses into a heap which caused some of the other to ghouls to trip over it.
I used my magic to yank down the lever ejecting the spent round and then pulled it back up to chamber another and repeated the process. I was able to drop another six in a similar way but there were more ghouls charging us than I realised.
Sky Fire had begun to fire her magical beam pistol. Beams of bright hot red magical beams started flying. Some ghouls started to burst into flames from the beam impacts while other instantly turned to ash. Sky took to the air as the ghouls were getting closer to us. She used this to her advantage by shooting down over her targets and to get clearer shots.
Zyon dropped into a battle stance and held his sword to his left in his mouth. The blade out stretched and ready to slice. As one of the ghouls stumbled towards him it shrieked and charged in to bite him. Zyon dodged to the right, avoiding being bitten and then he swung his head up. The blade caught into the neck of the ghoul and sliced through much of its neck flesh, cutting through the main artery in the neck and its oesophagus. The creature gurgled as its mouth and lungs began to fill with blood. Zyon planted his fore hooves firmly into the ground and reared up then gave the drowning ghoul a double hind leg buck to its side, sending the dying monster onto its side.
For a time the tunnel echoed with the sounds of gun fire, magical blasts and metal striking bone as we battled the horde of ghouls. I had to drop Overmare’s Fury as I couldn’t take the time to aim through the scope as more and more kept coming. Sky was still flying but was running low on her small spark cells. Zyon on the other hoof was the only one doing fine. He was standing on top of a small mountain of dead ghouls. A shocking thing for me to realise was how clean his sword looked. I’ve seen him stab and slice several of these ghouls but the sword was as clean as a whistle.
“Great plan Appletart, we’re gonna mauled to death by freaking zombies” Sky growled as she flew over me while attempting to reload.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think it would be this bad” I said as I pulled out my Lever Action Shotgun from my saddle bag. As I looked back to the fight after pulling it out I had a ghoul almost in my face. I let out a surprised squeak and fell to my haunches. The zombie opened its mouth ready to bite me and thinking quickly I brought my shotgun round and shoved its barrel into the mouth of the ghoul. I shivered as I looked into its clear, lifeless eyes, seeing nothing in them, just death. I looked away and pulled the trigger. The bang was muffled by the flesh of the ghoul but the back of its neck was ripped out from the buckshot tearing through its spine and muscle. The ghoul fell limp as I shoved it off my shotgun in time to blast another ghoul in the face.
“This is bad Apple” Zyon said as he jumped back toward me just after he slit the throat of a ghoul he was fighting.
“I’m almost out” Sky shouted as she flew back over the group of ghouls and firing a few more shots down into them.
”And I’m getting tired” Zyon added.
“We gotta hold on, just a little more” I yelled over the gun fire from my shotgun.
We had to start dodging ghouls that got to us. Zyon was jumping and flying over some while cutting them with this sword while Sky just flew out of reach. Sky let out a cry frustration as her beam pistol’s last spark cell went dead. I fired almost blindly since these ghouls were so close. I couldn’t risk aimed shots so I aimed in the general direction of my targets and fired. I had a couple of lucky shots where I blew away a leg or something.
After several more minutes of fighting my Shotgun clicked as it no longer had any more shells. Zyon was getting slower in his movements as he was getting tired and Sky Fire flew around to try to distract any ghouls she could.
We now had five ghouls in front of use, I was out of shotgun shells, Zyon was tired and Sky was out of ammo for her beam pistols. I quickly put my shotgun back into my saddlebag and levitated my revolver up from its holster.
“Zyon, try to keep the ghouls busy, I’ll pop them with a shot each”
The zony let out a tired moan as he jumped forward again. He successfully drew their attention as I aimed down the sights of the small revolver, lining it up with the head of the first ghoul. I fired my first shot with the revolver and managed to strike my target in the head and killing it. Unfortunately this drew some of the ghouls to me. Three of them charged me while the other one focused on Zyon.
“Fuck you bitch” Zyon cried as he bucked his ghoul with his hind legs and slashed open its chest with his sword.
I jumped into S.A.T.S and toggled only three shots. This revolver needed a lot of energy to use in S.A.T.S. I toggled a shot each to the ghouls running at me in the timeless essence of the system. Once I had all my targets selected I exited S.A.T.S and with the aiming spell fired three shots in quick succession. Two of the ghouls dropped from the shots to the head but the third one managed to avoid being hit and tackled me to the ground.
Zyon jammed his sword into the head of his last ghoul in time to see me get floored by the ghoul I missed. “Shit, Appletart” He cried.
I landed on my back and kicked out with my back hooves to hold the monster back. I had lost my revolver in the attack as the strike made me loose my magical concentration. These ghouls may look like malnourished freaks but they are still strong as hell.
“Get the hay off her” I heard Sky almost scream as she came flying at full speed and slammed her out stretched fore legs into the side of the ghoul. Upon impact with the ghoul’s ribcage I heard several sickening wet cracks as its ribs broke. The creature toppled over wheezing from a collapsed lung. Sky jumped back and helped me back onto my hooves. “You alright?” She asked softly. I smiled and nodded. Zyon quickly ran over to the ghoul before it could get back up and thrusted his sword into its chest. The creature barely made a noise before it fell limp on the floor.
“We killed them all” Zyon panted in relief.
I opened my mouth to say something as I noticed that there was one last red bar moving towards us from down the tunnel where the ghouls had come from and a roar of another ghoul echoed through the tunnel towards us.
“Oh that doesn’t sound good” I moaned as I holstered Overmare’s Fury and my revolver I managed to find as the ghoul screamed.
Sky flew over to where the rails seem to dip going down hill. “Oh fuck no….REVEAR” she screamed and before any of us knew what happened a ghoul had suddenly ran up to Sky. It was more grotesque than the normal ones; it seemed to be wearing the remnants of metal armour and seemed to shimmer with a slight radioactive aura. From where I was standing my Pipbuck was clicking steadily from the radiation being emitted from the ghoul.
“Get out of there” I shouted.
The ghoul reared up on its hind legs and then swung one of its fore legs and swatted Sky Fire like a fly as she jumped into the air and made her go crashing into the far wall beside me. That ghoul was fast and fucking strong. Zyon jumped to my side and I levitated out my revolver again.
“That’s the Revear?” Zyon asked in a somewhat surprised voice.
Sky picked herself up and moaned from her fall and stood beside us. “Ugh, yeah. The worst of the worst for ghouls. They are strong, fast and very resilient. Most ponies that go up against one of those things are killed fairly easily. You’d need a fucking powerful weapon to kill that bitch…” Sky then looked at my back with 'This Machine' strapped into its harness. “I’ve seen what that rifle can do, that’s our only option, Appletart, your gotta shoot that bitch with your rifle”
I looked back at my alien rifle. This thing is huge and heavy. “I’m gonna need a minute to get my aim, that thing is heavy. Think you two can distract it while I get my aim?”
“Sure, no problem” Zyon said not sounding very happy with the turn of events.
Sky zoomed forward leaving a rainbow trail and started to fly at high speed around the ghoul. I could hear the creature scream and grunt as it tried to swat the fast moving pegasus. Zyon ran forward getting ready to take over when either Sky stopped flying or if the monster struck her.
I moaned as I undid the harness holding the weapon in and then hefted the large six foot long weapon in my magic. I placed the butt of the weapon to my right shoulder and held it as level as I could in my magic and peered down the scope at the rainbow tornado surrounding my target.
The ghoul let out a horrible roar and with a swift swing of a fore leg it managed to connect with Sky Fire. She screamed in pain as she again went flying into a wall and landed into a pile of crumbling concrete.
Zyon got ready to engage as the rainbow tornado around the ghoul began to fade. Luckily the ghoul had its back to us which gave me the perfect opportunity to get my aim. The ghoul began to turn.
”Zyon, get back” I yelled as I pulled the trigger.
I yelped as the gun suddenly shot back into my shoulder with great force. The tunnel echoed with the roar of 'This Machine’s' bang as it fired its round. Zyon dived backwards away from the ghoul just in time. There was a small explosion that erupted from the ghoul’s chest which sent the ghoul hurtling backwards and into the wall of the tunnel. I mentally face hoofed as I forgot I didn’t remove the explosive rounds from the magazine after I tested it back at Pondale Airport.
“Holy shit” Zyon moaned as he rubbed his ears with his fore hooves. “That fucking thing is so damn loud”
Sky Fire picked herself up and shakily limped back over to us. “Ohh, I’m gonna have a pounding headache for the rest of the day now” She moaned as she opened my saddlebag to fish out a healing potion.
There was the sound of shifting rubble which got our attention again. I peered down the scope of the rifle and let out a shocked gasp. The Revear was getting back up. “How the fuck did that thing survive an explosive round?” I pretty much screamed to nopony in particular
“Quick, shoot it again”
The ghoul got to its hooves and looked in our direction while letting out another horrid shriek. I sighted the ghoul up onto its face and pulled the trigger again. This time there was a sickening pop from my shoulder fallowed by extreme pain as the butt of the gun was again forcefully shoved back against my shoulder as it fired another round.
This time the explosive round struck the ghoul’s head like I aimed for and thankfully this was enough to kill the blasted thing. The ghoul’s head had exploded along with the round leaving the ghoul headless and dead with the rest of its ghoul chums. If it wasn’t for This Machine we’d all be dead now.
I let out a scream of pain as I dropped the rifle and clutched my shoulder with a hoof. Sky quickly downed her potion and rushed to my side.
“Let me see” she commanded. I removed my hoof to reveal my shoulder being further back than it should be. “You’ve dislocated your shoulder. Lie down on your side so I can pop it back in”
I obeyed and lay down, I gritted my teeth as hard as I could as I braced for even more pain. Damn I wished I had some Med-X.
“Ok, here it goes” she said as she gripped my loose shoulder with her fore hooves and shoved it really hard. There was another wet pop as my shoulder was pushed back into place which was followed by a high pitched scream from me. Oh goddesses the pain, it was worse than getting shot.
“Argh, shit that hurts” I cried out in pain.
Sky dug out another healing potion and gave it to me to restore any damage caused to me by the dislocation of my shoulder which thankfully eased some of the pain but not all of it. I decided to take a few minutes to rest while I waited for the pain to subside somewhat.
After we had rested enough we continued on down the tunnel which was now thankfully free of any ghouls. After another hour or so of walking we made it to a train station which seemed rather small to be a public station. My pipbuck beeped and a message appeared in my E.F.S.
“You have discovered the New Hope Research Facility”
“Hey guys, this is it, this is New Hope” I called back to them as I climbed up onto the platform. The platform was pretty much devoid of anything. It had a few waiting benches, a single door leading into the facility and several Ministry of Peace and Arcane Science posters. Most of the posters were badly faded from age.
My friends joined me as I stood in front of the door. I looked down at my compass and breathed a sigh of relief as it shown it was clear. I looked back at my friends who nodded and I used my magic to open the old wooden door. The door opened up into a dark corridor which lead into New Hope.
We quickly walked through the corridor and into the main building. The room we entered into was a huge lobby. It had several desks with terminals mounted on them, chairs lining the walls and two other door ways. One door lead into a small office while the other opened up into another large corridor. We checked the desks and found only a hoofful of caps and some 10mm rounds but nothing else useful.
With nothing else to check we entered the large corridor. As we trotted up it we noticed several open doors on either side of the corridor which lead into small empty storerooms. At the end of the corridor was a surprise. A huge steel stable like door, more of a vault door really. Above it and to the side of it were monitors which were still glowing with a dull green glow which meant they were still online.
What sort of medical facility would need such a door to its main offices and labs?
I began to get a bad feeling about this place, that huge door was telling me that there was something we were not suppose to find back there. Something that the ponies who built this place didn’t want any pony to know.
A face of a pony suddenly appeared on the screen above the door.
“Welcome to the New Hope Research Facility”
XXXXX
Motor Runner now had what he came to Hoofington for and was now heading back to the Hanger. Half of his mane on the back of his neck had been shaved off for the procedure of having the Synaptic Link installed. Sitting on the back of his neck is a small circular piece of metal. The metal was just a protective cap as what was under the cap was the important part. Embedded into his neck is a seven holed socket, six small holes in the formation of a six pointed star with a larger hole in the centre going deep into his neck.
The Synaptic Link is a computer port that’s fitted around the spinal column. The risks involved in having one applied to somepony were high as most ponies to try it resulted in having partial to total paralyse of their bodies. There had been some successful cases but those were from before the bomb, but since the bomb and the lose of some technological assets no pony has survived the procedure. A Synaptic Link enables a pony to use a special cable to connect to any mechanical device and override its core programs to control the device as if it was apart of their own bodies.
The Synaptic Link was going to be used in a long line of heavy power armour that would be too slow to be used like normal suits of power armour so if connected to the user the user could control the heavy suit’s leg motors far more efficiently allowing the suit to be moved as if it was the pony itself inside.
Motor Runner has his own use for the Synaptic Link. He found out that the Krogoth was designed to work with a Synatpic Link. This explains the Krogoth’s advanced locomotors and ball joints.
The tall pony stops his walking as he witnesses a group of Raiders attack a poor defenceless mare and begin to rape her. He sighs deeply as he watches the horrible act.
“Soon the ponies of the wasteland won’t have to suffer, I’ll bring back the order that is missing here with the power that I’ll soon weild”
(Author notes: Re-read and modified with corrected miss used words and missing words. Also altered some bits. Thank you for reading)
The pony on the screen said calmly in a soft, electronic male voice. All three of use exchanged glances, some of confusion and some of surprise.
“I’m sorry, you don’t have proper identification, please return when you have proper identification”
“Proper Identification?” I asked somewhat confused.
The pony on the screens didn’t reply nor acknowledge my question.
Zyon approached the terminal mounted on the wall beside the huge stable like door and prodded a key.
“Well, it seems there is a card reader. I guess an ID Card is one form of identification and…” He pressed a couple more keys. I didn’t know what he was doing but whatever he did caused a laser beam to shoot into his eyes from the terminal screen.
“I’m sorry, your retinal data isn’t of any authorised personnel, please report to Head Office to have your retinal data added to the database, thank you”
“And a retinal scan” He said stepping back away from the door blinking his eyes a few times.
“So, what now?” Sky Fire asked hovering in place beside me.
“Well, what do you think Zyon?” Since he is the techno pony around here.
“We could take our chances back in the tunnel…” he was cut off by Sky Fire.
“Oh fuck no; we barely survived against those ghouls before, not to mention a fucking Reaver attacked us. If we run into another Revear we’re fucked”
“Well, we could go back the way we came but that would give Motor Runner more time to get that machine working plus we might run into more ghouls” I said sitting down.
“Agreed, and we don’t have the supplies for a fight as we are out of healing potions and you two are basically out of ammo for your weapons”
Zyon was right, I was out of shotgun shells and Sky was out of small spark cells for her beam pistols. I did have ammo for ‘This Machine’ and for my .357 Magnum weapons but those aren’t useful when in a battle with fast moving ghouls and at close range.
“So, we get inside for supplies?”
“Yeah, we need them”
”Agreed”
I nodded to my two friends as I agreed with them. Now, the big the question. “How do we get in?”
“I could rig up a bomb to blow that door in” Zyon said as he rubbed his chin. “I think… three barrels would work”
“What barrels?”
“Huh, oh, the flammable barrels from the storeroom to our left as we entered the corridor”
Huh, I’m surprised I missed them.
One by one I started levitating the barrels with my magic. They were heavy huge things with a flammable warning label slapped on the side. I have no idea what’s in these things but whatever they were, it was making my pipbuck click like crazy with five rads a second. Thank Celestia and Luna that we did have some Radaways left. I managed to levitate two barrels ok but the third, I got it halfway up the corridor before my magic imploded and I flopped onto my back panting heavily from the magic exertion.
“Hey, take a rest, we’ll handle it from here” Sky said softly as she patted me on the forehead as I panted.
As I lay there getting my breath back I could hear both Zyon and Sky Fire grunting as they pushed the heavy barrel up against the others in front of the large door.
After getting my breath back I joined my friends at the barrels as Zyon began to fiddle with some wires he had pulled out of his satchel.
“I want you and Sky to go back out into the tunnel and take cover behind the station platform wall”
“Why?” Asked Sky Fire.
“Well, we’ll need to run like hell to avoid getting blown to hell and with Appletart being pregnant she won’t be able to run at her fastest, best you get out of here now while I set this up” Zyon replied sounding slightly irritated.
“C’mon Sky, let’s bugger off and let him work” I said as I started to trot back towards the station while Zyon fished out a grenade from his satchel.
“Let’s what?” Sky asked as she flapped her wings and flew up beside me.
“Equestrians” I mumbled quietly.
We jumped down behind the platform. We both pressed up against the wall while we both kept an eye up or down the tunnels for any ghouls as we waited for Zyon. I was looking up the tunnel in the direction we need to go after we find some supplies. It seemed the tunnel branches to the left further up but it appears a train had crashed and from here it looked like most of the tunnel has been blocked by the jack knifed train. I dread to think of what happened the day the bombs fell with all these ponies travelling by subway.
I heard Sky let out a soft growl. When I turned back to her I saw her looking towards the dead Reaver. Its body still shimmering with its radiation. I assumed she was looking at it, those goggles on her Shadowbolt suit made it impossible for me to see her eyes. “You ok?”
“Fucking hate Revears” she growled softly.
“Ran into them before, when you were Enclave?”
“Yeah”
“Care to talk about?” I asked trying to be helpful, or nosey, take your pick.
“Sure, but after we make it out of the god damn tunnels”
“Ok” and at that moment Zyon lands on the tracks beside us and quickly shoves himself against the wall with us.
“Brace yourselves” he yelled.
All three of us dropped down and put our hooves over our heads as we waited for the explosion of Zyon’s bomb.
For a few seconds I wondered if the bomb was going to go off but my thoughts were answered as the whole tunnel seemed to shake as there was a tremendous explosion from the corridor. I felt a rush of heat as a jet of flame shot out from the doorway and washed over us. Thankfully we were under it all and managed to escape a nasty burn. The powerful explosion was so loud I was surprised it didn’t burst my ear drums but damn my ears were ringing. It kinda felt like the after effect of going to a loud concert when the next day your ears were constantly ringing.
After the initial explosion we soon heard over the ringing in our ears the same electronic male voice say “Thank you, Access Granted”.
Sky Fire burst, clutching her chest and falling over backwards as she started to laugh uncontrollably. She was acting like the Rainbow Dash I’ve read about more and more each day. I had to admit, it was kinda funny to hear that after Zyon blew down the door. I assumed it worked if it said access granted.
“I think two barrels would have been enough” Zyon said as he picked himself up and hopped back up onto the platform.
“Well it sounds like the door is open, lets go” Sky said as she floated up over onto the platform.
“Hang on, lets each have a Radaway, those barrels were leaking rads like no tomorrow” I said while struggling up onto the platform. My friends gently gripped my barding and helped to haul me up. When I was up on the platform I levitated a glowing orange Radaway packet out to each of them and then drunk down the orangey liquid. I caught the faces of my friends as they made a face which told me they didn’t like it. I on the other hoof loved it, it was delicious. Oh goddesses don’t tell me I’ll be craving the bitter orangie taste of Radaway later.
XXXXX
Standing atop one of the many towers of the Hoof, the large and smartly dressed Motor Runner waited. He was stood at the edge of an old rusting pegasus landing pad. He slowly scanned the streets far below, hearing the many sounds of violence, rape and murder among the many tribes that live within the goddess forsaken hellhole that is Hoofington.
“He’s late” He murmured to himself as he watched a pony blow another pony’s head off with a combat shotgun at point blank.
“Once the Krogoth is online, this city will be the first to be cleansed”
There was the sound of hooves hitting metal and Motor Runner turns around to see his transport.
“Sorry I’m late sir, strong head winds slowed me down” Apologised a slate grey Pegasus stallion wearing worn and incomplete Enclave power armour.
The Pegasus is strapped into a harness and he is connected a shiny black painted personal chariot with a three diamond insignia which represented the ministry mare of the Ministry of Image, Rarity.
“It’s ok Wirbelwind” Motor Runner said as he approached his chariot.
The pegasus, Wirbelwind, bows his head as his boss walks past and climbs into the comfy confines of the personal sky chariot.
“Where to sir?”
“Back to the Hanger. I need to check on the progress”
“Right away sir” And with that the pegasus beat his strong wings, lifting the chariot with ease into the air and then with another strong beat of his wings they began to fly. Their destination, the secret location of the Hanger and its secret project.
XXXXX
“Two barrels, yea, definitely two barrels” Zyon gawked as the force of the explosion had not only opened the stable like door but it also blew it off its hinges and embedded it in the door frame way down the corridor behind it.
Walking up the corridor now riddled with gouge marks in the floor and walls we came to the mostly blocked door. The huge heavy steel door had wedged itself in the door frame at an angle but luckily there was a big enough gap for us to squeeze through. Yeah, squeeze for me for being huge and wide.
“Good thing we’re doing this now instead of a couple months down the line, bloody hell” I moaned as I squeezed through the gap. It was a little struggle since my saddlebags were against the sides of my belly making me seem much wider.
Sky Fire had her fore hooves to her face as she quietly snickered to herself while she hovered in place.
Zyon was too busy checking out the door to notice. So, while mister techno is busy with the door and Sky Fire having a giggle fit I started to look around the room we had entered. To my surprise it turned out to be a similar lobby like the one we passed to get to the stable like door.
The room had a long desk close to the far wall with several over turned chairs either on the desk or on the floor in front of it. As I looked around the room from in front of the desk I noticed that there were windows on the back wall behind the desk which to my surprise were completely intact. I would have thought they would have blown out from the blast. To my left was half a door leading into two sets of restrooms. Next to the door we came in through is another door to a small security station which had a shattered window spanning the length of the wall of the security station. To my right on the wall beside the security station is a closed steel door with am illuminated sign which read “Labs & Offices”
The security station’s door was locked and the window was too small height wise to squeeze through so I attempted to pick the lock. I rotated the bobby pin until I felt something move inside the lock and then started to twist the screwdriver. It turned about a quarter of the way before it stuck so I twisted it back while I moved the pin a bit more down. Trying again I was able to turn the lock all the way with a satisfying click as the door opened.
Inside it was a mess with papers and other things all over the floor. It had a small gun cabinet against the back wall and a large number of monitors on the wall in front of me. The screens were mostly still on with many of them showing a picture which seemed to keep moving back and forth. I realised these were security monitors from surveillance cameras.
“This doesn’t look like a medical facility” Sky Fire said as she landed beside me, making me jump.
“God damn it, don’t sneak up on me like that” I whined as I felt my heart doing a mile a minute.
“Sorry”
I heard a clunk as Zyon bucked the steel gun cabinet which caused its doors to swing open. He picked up a rather rusty looking lever-action shotgun and a couple of boxes of ammo.
”Here” He said as he hoofed me the weapon and ammo. Taking the items I put them in my saddlebags. My E.F.S told me I acquired the weapon and eight rounds of twelve gauge rounds. The lever-action turned out to be a twenty gauge so I could use it to repair my own but…
“Twelve gauge? Aww bollocks, I can’t use these” I whined again.
“WHAT WAS THAT?” Sky shrieked.
“What was what?” I asked turning to her.
“I saw something in that monitor” She said pointing to the very centre screen which looked to be over looking over the dinning hall.
“I don’t see anything” Zyon said as he stood beside us.
“THERE” She shrieked again.
I didn’t see anything again and I don’t think Zyon saw anything either.
“I think those goggles are screwing up your vision” Zyon said as he leaves the room.
“I swear, I saw something”
“Like what?” I asked as I turned to leave.
“It looked like some sort of monkey dog thing”
I laughed softly thinking she was pulling my leg. “Hah, nice one Sky” I said as I left.
“I’m serious” she moaned after me as she followed.
We walked through the door to the labs and offices. We found ourselves in a long corridor which seemed to end with a set of double doors on the other side of another long window in the wall half way up the corridor.
“That’s a lot of red bars” I moaned as I was seeing lots of red markers on my E.F.S. “It looks like they are all inside that room up ahead”
We all cautiously trotted up the corridor until we could see through the large window and inside the room on the other side we saw dozens of small creatures all milling about.
“What the fuck are those?” I asked seeing all the claws and teeth on their hands and in their mouths.
“See, monkey dog things” Sky says looking around the room at all the little monsters.
“Well, at least they are small”
“Yea but look at how fucking many there are”
I was about to say something when all of a sudden the whole place began to shake. It felt like an earthquake hit as everything was shaking and rattling everything around. We could hear things falling over and moving across the floor as the facility shook like crazy.
When the shaking stopped it was shortly followed by the sound of an explosion. It started out as a small muffled bang but then it was followed by several much louder bangs.
“What the bloody hell was that?”
“That was…” Zyon began but he got interrupted as a ceiling tile fell from the ceiling and smashed over his head sending him to the floor with a thud.
“Are you alright?” I asked as I helped him back up.
“Aww, yea” He moaned as he rubbed his head. “As I was saying, that was a damn balefire bomb going off”
“You’re kidding right?” Sky asked.
The zony shakes his head solemnly. “I wish I was, but I witnessed some assholes detonate one shortly after I left my stable. That noise never leaves you no matter how much you try to forget it” He took a breath while he looked around. “From the sound of it and the strength of those vibrations, that blast wasn’t far from here, hmm, shit, being underground makes it impossible to tell where it came from”
“Goddesses help whoever was near that thing” I said softly.
The monsters in the room began to jump about and start growling as the explosion disturbed them. They were fast little things too. I then saw one jump and cling to the ceiling like a god damn spider.
“Just what the fuck are those things?” I asked as I watched the one on the ceiling scurry about on all fours across the ceiling.
“Security system enabled” Came the same electronic voice from the door and to our surprise a large looking sentry gun popped out of the floor in a corner of the room with all the little monsters.
No, the sentry wasn’t large, it was fucking huge, a smegging minigun is what it was.
All three of us dived down below the wall as there was a low tone beep from the sentry and then it opened up, spraying its hot lead death all over the room. We could hear the rounds tearing the small monsters apart as it seemed to be targeting them.
“WHAT SORT OF A RESEARCH CENTRE HAS A FUCKING CRAZY ASS SECURITY SYSTEM LIKE THAT?” Screamed Sky Fire over the roar of the minigun fire.
I would like to know that too. What the fuck were they thinking of putting guns like those in for security? What the hell are they hiding in this place?
After a few minutes the sentry stopped firing and we slowly rose to look into the room through the window and holy goddesses. The room was painted in blood and gore. The sentry had literally torn the monsters to shreds and plastered them all over the place.
I quickly ran to the bathroom and barfed into a toilet. I’ve seen shit like that before but that was just fucking gross and knocked me sick.
When I returned I saw Zyon keenly eying the sentry as it moved back and forth as if it was surveying the room.
“Feeling better?” Sky asked as I rejoined my friends.
I nodded softly in reply.
“Looks like the sentry uses a field of view system, see that blue light above the barrel?” He asked as he pointed his hoof at the sentry turret.
Me and Sky nodded as we could see the blue light, like a flash light, above its gun barrel.
“Whatever it sees it shoots at. If we can avoid that then we’ll be fine”
“There has to be another way” I said as I started to approach the double doors. In the hallway near the doors there were several wooden crates. The crates were stacked up on the floor by the wall in front of the doors.
“Hey what’s this?” I heard Sky Fire ask and then we heard that electronic voice again.
“Security system disabled”
Inside the room with the sentry we saw it retract back into the floor. I was just about to thank her when we heard the voice yet again.
“Security system enabled”
Instead of the sentry popping back up again in the room like we expected. A new sentry popped at the end of the hallway past the doors in front of us.
“Oh shit, behind the crates” Zyon shouted and he grabbed my tail in his mouth and yanked me back behind the crates before the sentry saw us.
“Who the fuck designed this crazy ass security” I screamed as Zyon let go of my tail.
”Sorry” Sky apologised since it was her who pressed the fucking button. Yeah, on the wall beside her on the same side as the crates is a glowing red button. Who could resist pressing the glowing red button? Why are all the interesting buttons big,red and glowing?
“This is too weird, why have security you can enable or disable from a touch of a button?” I asked. Ponies two hundred years ago were nutters.
“That room is safe now since the sentry has gone, when I say now, dive through the doors” Zyon said as he watched the moving beam of light.
“Are you crazy?” I almost screamed.
“The crates are hiding us; it won’t see us with its field of view when its on this side of the hall. If you move fast enough it’ll miss you”
I nodded; he was the techno pony after all. I focused on the doors and used my magic to open them and then opened them fully.
“Alright, get ready” Zyon said as he watched the moving beam of light.
I got to all fours and tensed my leg muscles, ready to leap when he gave me the command.
I saw the beam suddenly disappear and then he screamed “NOW” and I jumped across from the crates and through the doors and into the now stinking blood bath and slid on my ass across the floor for a few feet. That would have been fun if it wasn’t blood and guts I slid on. Oh god damn this stinks.
Sky Fire soon joined me and then Zyon. Well, at least we could avoid some of these sentries if they all used the same field of view system and with this button to disable one and enable another we could use that to our advantage if we find more of these monkey dog things.
“Oh my god, what were these things made of? Shit?” Zyon moaned from the stench filling his nostrils.
Me and Sky started laughing from his comment. A laugh is good after something like this.
After recovering we began to move again. We need to find some supplies in here, otherwise we’re sunk.
XXXXX
“Motor Runner, welcome back, um, can I talk to you in private for a minute please?”
Motor Runner was greeted by his recruited technical expert into computer systems and robotics. The pony wasn’t a Raider and nor was he a bad pony like most of the work force. In fact he was a scientist from Friendship City who was approached by Motor Runner. The pale blue unicorn pony with a white mane and tail wearing a lab coat looked a little distressed as he approached his boss.
Seeing the concern on his face the larger pony nodded and followed the scientist into a small storeroom away from the workers.
“What’s the matter Dr Gizmo?”
“There has been another death”
“Another?”
The unicorn nods.
“That makes ten in the last three months”
“Yes and I’ve looked into the construction history like you asked me too”
“What did you find?”
The pale unicorn looked around to be sure they were alone.
“Two hundred years ago, thirteen ponies died while working on the Krogoth. All the deaths were within the machine”
Motor Runner listened intently to the news.
”What is strange is that I’ve checked the health and safety reports and found that all the health and safety checks were acceptable”
“Interesting”
“I then looked at the victims. All but one were crushed to death, burned, electrocuted, etc”
“One survived?”
“Not exactly, the pony was a young computer technician and was one of the best of her time. She was going to test the Crusader Mainframe's mind transfer system. The test was just to see if it was working but when she wore the headset and began the test she was electrocuted”
Motor Runner sat down as he listened. He never figured it was such a death trap.
“When they got her to hospital, what they found was a pony that was brain dead. She had lost all sense and was just a mindless shell. It was after this that these accidents started to occur that lead to fatalities”
The scientist fished out a clipboard from one of his deep lab coat pockets and held it up for Motor Runner to see. The papers on the board showed a picture of the ponies that had lost their lives. As he looked at each one he saw something common about them. Each one was a convicted criminal and that they had been charged with rape, drug dealing, pony trafficking and murder.
“Why was Applejack employing convicts to work on this?”
“I was surprised at that too so I did more checking. She went to a nearby prison and convinced the head of the prison to give her some of the convicts to be used to help with the war effort, that being, building the Krogoth.
Applejack convinced the convicts to work for her by promising them that after the Krogoth is completed they would be freed if they had a minor charge like theft or have their sentence reduced if on a major charge”
Motor Runner looked in the direction in which the Krogoth was standing while his Fiends and Raiders continued to work on it.
“It was like the machine was choosing ponies to die. Ponies who had done really bad things and making it look like an accident”
”That just sounds too outlandish. The Krogoth had never been activated”
“It’s Crusader was active, but not completely. It was only active to offer minimal support like lighting and other small things but yet the leg motors and some other higher functions were triggered in some of these accidents”
“Hmm, well thank you for voicing your concern Doctor. Its good to know you care for some of those working on the machine”
“I think there is more too it than that Motor Runner, all these accidents can’t all be coincidence”
“Are you saying the Krogoth is choosing bad ponies to kill?”
“I don’t know, I just don’t think it’s a random occurrence”
Motor Runner smiles. “Well, saves me having to kill these ponies when the time comes”
Dr Gizmo looked a little afraid.
“Don’t worry doctor, you’re a good pony, you have a right to live in this world. Most of them out there don’t, they have already forfeited that right when they took the lives of others for their amusement”
The doctor looked relieved.
Motor Runner nods as he stood up and then left the small storeroom. He walked back out into the hanger and looked up at the giant pony robot. He smiled as he watched as his Raiders and Fiends were busy applying its armour platting to its legs and head. The materials salvaged from Stable 88 and 108 have helped bring the Krogoth closer to completion but there was still much to be done.
XXXXX
“Just what the fuck was going on in this place?” Sky Fire asked as she looked at the terminal on the physician’s desk in the onsite clinic.
We had moved through some of the facility, avoiding the sentries as we did. We had found the dinning hall and had to battle some of those little monsters but luckily not many. A pleasant surprise was how weak the monsters were. Zyon bucked one square in the face and it died. It was like a strong enough hit could kill them. We had luckily found a clinic which has given us a fair few supplies.
“What’s wrong Sky?” I asked as I joined her.
“Severe lacerations, deep puncture wound, it sounds like most of the patients were being shredded”
I would like to know what’s been going on here too. It’s just so weird for a medical facility to be so heavily defended.
“Oh, I think I’ve found audio log” Sky Fire says as she accessed the file.
“Let’s hear it” I said as I sat down in front of a locked medical box and began to pick its lock.
“I’ve just patched up the fifth feeder today. I don’t know why Niles insists on keeping the Wretches alive. All they seem to do is breed and butcher whoever comes to feed them. We’ve had three deaths so far and in the last week twenty ponies being slashed.
I’ve had enough of this shit, I didn’t sign up to be the doctor of a slaughter house. Once I get my next pay check I’m going to resign and retire. There is not a chance in Nightmare Moon’s nether region that I’m going to stay here much longer. I just can’t take anymore of this shit with the Wretches”
“What the hell is a Wretch?” Zyon asked as he fiddled with the locked medical box I was trying to unlock.
“I don’t know but I’d assume it’s those little monsters” Sky Fire said as she turned off the terminal.
“I’m going to agree with you there Sky, it’s the only bit of info we’ve found regarding what’s being going on in this place”
There was a soft click as the med box opened. “Oh good, I think this might cover our medical supplies until we can make it out of the tunnels” Zyon said as he pulled out five more healing potions from the box. That brings our healing potion count to nine so that’s an even three each. That would do us for a little while but we are still lacking in ammo.
“I’d like to get out of here as soon as” I said as I used my magic to put my healing potions into my saddlebags. “But we still need to find some ammunition”
“Yeah, there must be an armoury or something that’s supplying these sentries with their ammo” Sky Fire agreed. She was still without any ammo for her beam pistols.
“Let’s keep moving then, there has to be one somewhere for these sentries”
Once we were all packed up with our meds we continued on. We walked at a cautious pace with Zyon up front, me in the middle and Sky Fire bringing up the rear. As we continued on we saw that the building appeared to be deteriorating the deeper we seemed to go. As we passed one room we saw a hole in the ceiling with a torrent of water pouring down from the hole.
“Is it me or can I hear rain?” I asked as we approached a set of double doors.
“How can it be rain, we’re underground?”
Zyon used his forelegs to push on the bar on the doors to release them and they swung open to reveal a small courtyard which was pouring with rain.
“Ok, I didn’t expect that”
“It is raining under damn ground” Zyon said as he stepped out into the cold shower.
Looking up I could see a mist obscuring my view of the ceiling but the mist was too low to be clouds as it was only a few metres above the roofs of the building. Walking down the flowing path into the courtyard we stopped at a circular fountain which was overflowing with the rain water. In front of us is a path leading to another part of the facility and to our right. To our left the path just seemed to disappear behind the building.
“Which way?” I asked Zyon as he was looking up at the doors at the end of each path leading back to the building.
“We can only go right, the one up ahead has been barricaded” He said pointing to the barricaded door. The ponies who sealed that door certainly didn’t want anypony opening it again as it had almost anything you could think of to block it.
“Right it is then” I said as all three of us began for the door, that was until. “Hang on, I see four red bars behind that door”
“More monkey dogs, great” Sky Fire sighed.
Zyon drew his sword and slowly began to advance on the door. Me and sky hung back so we didn’t get in his way. Just as he was about to reach the door it burst open as two of the Wretches jumped out. Zyon was knocked onto his back from the opening door and he dropped his sword. He quickly recovered and rolled onto his hooves in time to catch a Wretch as it jumped for him.
“Your one ugly piece of shit you know that” He said as he then quickly pushed it away. As he did that the other jumped for him to which he met with a buck to its chest. There was the sound of breaking bones and the small monster died before it even hit the floor. This didn’t stop the other as it jumped for him again to which Zyon just swatted out of the air with his fore hooves. The Wretch didn’t die but collapse from the hit. He quickly made sure it stayed down as he quickly stamped on its head.
“They like to ambush you don’t they” Zyon said as he retrieved his sword from a puddle.
“Watch out” I cried as two more jumped out from the door at him.
Armed with his sword our zony friend quickly gripped the sword tightly and slashed at the two monsters as they jumped for him. Me and Sky cringed as we saw the monsters turn into flying body parts as they soared over him.
“At least these bitches are easy to kill”
That I agreed with. They seemed weak on their own or in small groups but then again, if we were attacked by a swarm of these things like back in that first room where we saw dozens of them. We’d be torn to shreds.
Zyon decided to keep his sword out now in case more of these things jumped us. We entered the building again and followed the hallway as it lead us to series of locked or barricaded doors. As we moved through the corridor we were beginning to get a sense of something bad happening here with all the doors that were barricaded. I pulled out my family’s repeater as I started looking from door to door expecting something to happen.
We came to a T junction in the hall. To our left the corridor had collapsed in on itself blocking it off so we had no choice but to go right which took us down a flight of stairs to a steel blue door with “Authorised Personnel Only” stencilled below a small square window.
As we made it to the bottom of the stairs we found a dead pony crumpled up against the door. It wore the remains of what a Raider usually wears but we couldn’t be sure as the pony has been torn to shreds. It looked like it has been skinned alive.
“Ok, I don’t like this; this body is no more than a day old” Zyon said as he examined the body.
“No more than a day old? How the fuck did he manage to get past that damn door?” I asked in surprise.
“I have no idea” He said as he pulled the door handle down and had to push hard. Something was on the other side of this door as he pushed it open just enough for us to get through.
“Oh Goddesses” Sky Fire shrieked as we entered a utility like corridor, littered with bodies of Raiders.
“Ok, somepony looks to have been able to open the door if all these got through”
”Yeah, but who?”
“How should I know?”
We were interrupted by the same electronic voice.
“I’m sorry but you don’t have clearance to be in this section of the facility”
“Are you sure you want to go through that again?” Zyon asked the voice as we continued on.
Luckily as we moved along the corridor we didn’t run into any sentries or those little monsters. At the end of the corridor we came to an open door that opened out onto a catwalk spanning the width of a massive chamber. The catwalk lead to another open door on the other side.
“What the hell is this?” I asked as I looked down at all the glass cylinders all capped with a metal dome with lots of wires and cables coming out of them and all folding over to run down a metal back on the cylinder and into the floor. If I had to count I would say there were at least fifty of these cylinders in this chamber below the catwalk.
“You are in one of three stasis chambers for the Sires” The voice spoke as if it heard my question.
“Stasis chambers?”
“Sires?”
We were all a bit confused and surprised at this. We waited for a moment for the voice to answer us but it didn’t answer and so we continued on. The room on the other side of the catwalk turned out to be a monitoring station for the three stasis chambers. The room was a mess. More Raiders but instead being ripped to shreds these looked to have been sliced and diced by something.
Luckily for use these Raiders appeared to be armed with an assortment of projectile weapons ranging from pistols to shotguns which me and Zyon pocketed for repairs or to sell and we took all the ammo they were carrying and thankfully I got a decent amount of twenty gauge shells for my shotgun. But unfortunately Sky Fire was still without any small spark cells.
As we searched the bodies I found one of the Raiders holding a piece of stained paper. As I levitated it in my magic and held it so I could check it out I noticed it had something written on it in…the ponies own blood. Eww. The note only had one word and it read.
“Betrayed”
“Looks like these poor bastards got stabbed in the back” I said as I dropped the note.
“We got enough supplies to last us through the tunnels, lets just get the hell out of here” Zyon said as he looked at a bank of terminals which seemed to have had something sliced right through them.
“Hey, what about me?” Sky asked as she was still without any ammo.
“Here, you can use my revolver, I got plenty of ammo for it” I said with a smile as I levitated the revolver out of its holster on my foreleg along with at least half the .357 magnum ammo I was carrying over and into Sky’s saddlebags.
“Thanks” She said with a smile.
“Ok, let’s get the hell out of…” Zyon was cut off as a heavy security door slammed down and sealed itself in the doorway we just came from. “…here” He finished as we watched the locks on the door engage.
As we looked around we saw that the door leading into the other stasis chambers was still open.
“Looks like we have only one way to go” I said as I moved over to the open door and looked out into the stasis chamber. From here we would have to walk down some stairs just outside the door and down onto the chamber floor and walk along the path between the stasis pods.
“I got a bad feeling about this” Zyon said as he took point in front of me and drew his sword. I levitated out my repeater again since I had more ammo for that than my shotgun and Sky held the revolver in her mouth as we began to descend into the stasis chamber.
As we walked long the path between the many stasis pods we were seeing that some of them were holding something. Something that looked like the Wretches but bigger…Hellhound bigger.
“What the fuck are these?” Sky Fire shrieked over the revolvers mouth grip.
“Sires, of course” Replied the electronic voice.
“Of course” Zyon said sarcastically.
“What’s a Sire?” I asked, hoping for an answer.
“They are my children and our best hope for a brighter future”
WHAT?
“They have unfortunately been rudely awakened by the last visitors who have killed some of the children. These are priceless specimens and can not be replaced”
“O.K. lets go” Zyon said as he began to move quicker with us at his heels.
“The Sires needed more time to rest as they are not currently ready but the last visitors didn’t heed to my warnings” The voice continued to speak.
As we turned a corner we came to a slightly more open area which gave us some space but as soon as we entered this area we began to hear the sound of something beating on glass. We all turned to the sound and saw one of these things banging on the glass tube.
“Oh shit”
There was a mighty crash as the glass tube exploded and the monster inside leaped out and let out a horrible high pitched scream. The monster was horrible, short lets but with a huge muscular torso, it seemed to have one arm longer than the other, its hands were basically just long razor claws and its head, I couldn’t tell where its neck began and where its mouth began as its head seemed to be just poking out of its neck and back muscle and its mouth seemed to be stretching halfway up one side of its face with loads of sharp teeth. It seemed to also have a series of cables and wires sticking out of its back from when it jumped out of the chamber, like it was connected to it or something.
These things, for me, are the scariest creatures I’ve ever seen in the wasteland.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?” Sky Fire screamed. But I guess it’s safe to say that, THAT is a Sire.
“Its official that is one ugly mother fucker” Zyon snorts in disgust.
The creature lets out another high pitched scream and it charges at us. Zyon reared up and gave it a double hoof buck which forced the creature to stop and then he swung his head with his sword and sliced off one of its arms from above the elbow.
The creature staggered back a little, looking at its stump of an arm which surprisingly wasn’t dripping or spewing blood.
”What the fuck?!” Zyon cried as he watch the creature just stand there looking at its missing arm.
“These are irreplaceable specimens you are harming” Said the voice.
“Like I give a shit” Zyon said as the one armed creature charged at us again.
Me and Sky started to fire our weapons at the thing. It stopped as it took the hits, bloody holes exploded into its upper body and its other arm was severed but still the creature stood and wasn’t bleeding.
“Goddesses that thing is still standing” I shrieked as the creature just took a full load of bullets from both of our weapons.
We all blinked in surprise as the strange creature was still alive.
”The Sires were meant to be the perfect soldier, a soldier that knows no pain and can keep going after having a limb severed”
“How are we supposed to kill this thing?” I asked as the creature started to advance on us again.
“Shit, erm…” Zyon said as he thought.
I started to reload my repeater and Sky started to reload the revolver but was having difficulty. “Its getting closer” I moaned as I pushed in my last round to fully reload the weapon and brought it up and took a shot at its head.
The creature staggered back from the impact to its head but still it didn’t die. “Oh come on”
Zyon stepped forward and threw his head in the creature’s direction and let go of his sword. It sailed through the air like an arrow and embedded itself in the creature’s forehead and it toppled over.
Sky Fire almost cheered but then the creature screamed as it squirmed about on the floor. “Oh for fuck sake, die already” she then screamed and taking flight in her frustration.
Zyon ran over to the creature and gripped his sword with his mouth and then put both of his fore hooves onto the handle and then twisted the sword. I cringed as I heard the sound of breaking bone as Zyon turned whatever the creature had for a brain into mush.
Finally the creature spasmed and died as it let out one last screech as Zyon twisted his sword in its head.
Zyon pulled out his sword from its head and looked back to us.
“C’mon, let’s just get the fuck out of here”
Not wanting to spend another minute in this place we all broke into a gallop and ran through the maze of paths between the stasis pods. We could see many more of these things in the pods as we passed and some of them were beating on the glass as we passed. We rounded a corner and came to a door that was shut.
“Ah, shit” I said as we skidded to a stop.
Beside the door was a large red wheel with a sign above it which said “Turn wheel to open”. There was another crash of glass as another one of those things broke out of its pod.
“Shit, Appletart, Sky Fire, turn that while I hold it off” Zyon said as he gripped his sword and stepped forward to meet the monster as it charged for us.
I used my magic to grip the large wheel while Sky gripped it with her hooves and we started to turn it. The large wheel was heavy and hard to move but it was slowly turning and as it turned the large door began to rise up.
We could hear the battle behind us as Zyon battled the monster. There was plenty of slashes and the sound of flesh hitting the floor as he cut away its arms while dodging it and keeping it away from us.
“Please reframe from harming the Sires; they are necessary for our future”
“Oh shut up” I moaned as I closed my eyes and concentrated harder on the wheel. My horn igniting brighter as I poured more magic into turning the heavy wheel.
Behind us we heard the familiar sound of the sword striking the creatures head and then the thud as it toppled over. Just as Zyon began mashing up its brain we all heard three move stasis pods explode as their glass cylinders were shattered. Zyon quickly ran and grabbed the wheel.
“Quick, get through now” He shouted.
I ran under the raised door and Sky Fire followed quickly after me. “C’mon Zyon” I screamed.
We watched in horror as three more of the monsters rounded the corner and started to charge for us. “Now you asshole” Sky Fire shouted at him and just as the creatures were a hoof away from him he let go of the wheel which started to spin like mad and dived through the door as it rapidly started to fall.
There was an almighty metallic bang as the door slammed down which was followed by three meaty pops as the massive door crushed the three monsters that followed Zyon as he dove through it.
“Don’t you ever do that again” I screamed feeling all emotional all of a sudden. I was honestly scared to death that those monsters were gonna get him then. Oh I need to sit down.
“Oh, shit…” Zyon moaned as he looked around where we were sat after our escape from that stasis chamber.
“What?” Sky Fire asked as she hovered in place looking at him with her back to the room.
“It’s not over yet” He moaned which caused us to turn around and then I remembered what the voice said as we entered the first chamber.
“You are in one of three stasis chambers for the Sires”
“This is the last chamber” I said with some relief entering my voice but what relief I got was dashed as we heard another smash.
“Oh give me a break” Zyon moaned as he got up and readied his sword again.
The creature rounded a corner in front of us and started to charge, it was weird how these things were running on their smaller legs but damn they were still fast.
Sky Fire started to fire the revolver which peppered the monster with small holes. I reached out with my magic and tried to hold the monster still. I moaned with the strain as it didn’t stop but at least I slowed it down. Zyon threw his head again and sent his sword straight into the head of the monster. With it in my magic it didn’t fall but it still didn’t stop Zyon jumping at it. He grabbed one side of the handle and swung himself on it which twisted the sword around, carving out a huge hole in its head and the creature let out a high pitched squeal as it died in my magic which I quickly discarded to the floor.
“How many more of these fucking things are there?” I screamed.
“I don’t give a shit, lets just go” Zyon said as he retrieved his sword and we all bolted. We ran through the maze again until we came to another sealed door but this time the door had two large wheels we needed to turn.
“Oh for fuck sake” I groaned as I took one wheel while Sky took the other and we both began to turn them slowly as we started hearing more smashes as more of those monsters broke out.
“Screw this” Zyon moans as he sheathed his sword and pulled out a grenade from his satchel and pulled out its pin. He held the apple shaped explosive for a few seconds as he listened to the creatures running towards us.
“Throw it already” Sky Fire screamed as she pulled on her wheel.
Zyon waited until he saw the first creature round the corner behind us and then he flung the grenade and he dived behind a steel pipe. The grenade exploded just before it could hit the Sire and the blast of shrapnel and heat tore three of the monsters apart as they ran into the blast. Me and Sky Fire were pelted with tiny bits of shrapnel but luckily our barding protected us from any injury.
“Oh yeah, eat that bitch” Zyon yelled as he came out of cover from behind the pipe.
Zyon joined me and helped me pull the wheel as I was feeling exhausted from the magical strain.
After a good minute we finally heard a click as the door locked in place above use. “Let’s get out of here” I moaned as I trotted through the open door. Sky and Zyon nodded as they followed me. The large door had opened up into a hallway leading to another door but thankfully it was a normal hatch like door.
As we reached the door we heard more breaking glass as more of the monsters broke out of their stasis pods and that was soon followed by the sound of their feet as they started running for us.
Not looking back we quickly opened the hatch and ran through it and then slammed it shut and spun its wheel to lock the door behind us. Just as we sealed the hatch we heard a heavy thud from behind it and then a high pitched squeal as one of the monsters crashed into the door.
“Thank the goddesses” I moaned for now we were safe from those things.
“Zyon, how many barrels are left in that store room by the entrance?” Sky Fire asked as she sat down panting.
“About eight or nine. Why?” He asked.
I caught on to what Sky Fire was getting at. “We need to collapse the entrance; we can’t let these things loose in the wasteland. If we just left they’d be able to leave since you blew the door off its hinges”
“Shit your right, hmm, I think the number of barrels left might be enough to do that” He said as he rubbed his chin in thought.
“Let’s take a minute to rest, I’m knackered” I moaned softly.
XXXXX
We entered a large room that looked like a mad scientist’s lab. There were computer screens everywhere and large banks of computers against the walls. Cables littered the floor in all directions, crisscrossing and dangling from the ceiling. It strangely reminded me of a photo of a party that a pony by the name of Pinkie Pie had thrown before the bombs fell.
As we looked around we saw several tables which had an array of mechanical arms all folded up against a console beside the table. All the tables were thickly encrusted with dried blood that gave us all a bad feeling. I felt my stomach start to do flips again as I looked from one table to another. My stupid imagination started making pictures of ponies or other creatures being dissected alive on the tables by those mechanical arms.
“I’m sorry but you don’t have access to this part of the facility” The electronic voice said again.
I’m getting sick of hearing that voice.
“If you do not vacate the area within five minutes you will be considered as spies and will be shot on sight”
“Fuck, where’s the door?” I asked as about five sentry turrets dropped down from the ceiling and began to target us.
“I dunno, but there is not a chance in hell I’m going back the way we came” Zyon yelled as he started looking around the room.
Sky Fire begins to flutter in place as she looked around at all the sentries and then she saw something. “Look, there, a button” She shouted as she pointed to a red glowing button on a pillar in the middle of the room.
What the hell? Might as well push it, it worked for the other sentries.
I reached out with my magic and pressed the button. There was a loud siren as the button was pressed. The voice than spoke again but this time it sounded lower in tone.
“Warning, system shut down initiated. All security doors released. All specimens released. Good bye…” The voice said as it finally died.
A door at the back of the room dropped down as its locks was disengaged, revealing our way out. Just as we left the room all its monitors and lights went out to show that the shut down complete.
We exited the room into a stair well going up. Up is good. As we climbed the stairs I started to see a few red bars in my E.F.S moving slowly as we approached the door at the top of the stairs.
“Hostiles” I said quietly as Zyon reached the door.
“Sires? Wretches?” Zyon asked.
“Moving too slowly to be either”
“Maybe Raiders, we did find some down there”
I nodded with agreement “Maybe Raiders yeah”
“That’s good then, I can deal with Raiders, at least they die when stabbed or shot in the head” He said quietly as he gently began to nudge open the door. The door opened up into another office. I turned my head in the direction of the red bars and saw that they were behind the far wall which seemed to have a huge hole in it leading into another set of offices.
The offices were divided up into several partitions made up of half walls to divide them out. We crouched low behind these half walls as we edged our way towards the hole in the wall. As we neared the hole we began to hear two ponies talking. Thankfully that told us we were dealing we Raiders now, thank you Celestia for an enemy we know.
“Found the way out yet?” A mare spoke sounding annoyed, very annoyed.
“Ugh, no, it’s like a frigging maze down here” Replied another.
“I can’t believe that asshole left us here”
“Yeah, I can’t believe we were stupid enough to believe him”
“Maybe it was the suit or that he’s a cyberpony”
Oh great. I guess we know how they got through the door now then. I began to levitate ‘Overmare’s Fury’ from its holster as we got ready to fight the Raiders. Zyon began to quietly edge around the wall to the hole and I chambered a round ready as did Sky Fire with the revolver.
“When I get my hooves on that tall purple bastard I’m gonna tear him a new one”
I rose up slowly so I could see over the wall and the two Raiders were stood with their backs to us as they bickered.
“I’d pay to see that” The other chuckled.
I rested the repeater on the top of the wall and aimed for the head of the mare who chuckled and then I pulled the trigger. I scored a critical hit as her head exploded in a gory mess.
“What the fuck?” Screamed the other mare who was now wearing her dead friend’s blood as a face mask.
Taking advantage of the mare’s confusion I aimed at her and then pulled the trigger for my second shot and she fell to the floor with a thud with a big hole in the back of her head.
All three of us quickly hurried into the next room through the hole in the wall and hide behind a half wall. I checked my E.F.S and found that three more hostiles were somewhere to our left. I quietly rose up and looked in the direction of the red bars and saw that the red markers were somewhere down a corridor leading away from this office.
We edged our way to the far wall that lead to the corridor our enemies were in. There was an open door to our left which opened up into a narrow L shaped room which ran parallel with the corridor ahead.
“Maybe we can surprise them from in here” I said as I pointed a hoof into the room.
Zyon and Sky Fire nodded their agreement and so we entered the room. As we approached the wall facing the corridor we noticed it turned into a half wall so we could see into the corridor. As we edged our way closer we noticed they the Raiders were in fact inside a small narrow room.
“This might be difficult” Zyon said as he looked over the wall to see the Raiders were taking cover behind their own hall wall.
“Why don’t you chuck a grenade in there?” I asked.
“I’m gonna need these three for the bomb to collapse the tunnel” He replied.
“Hey, the security system is still working, look” Sky said as she pointed to a sentry turret that was looking up the corridor.
“Then where is the button?” I asked as I looked around trying to find the button.
Zyon crouched down and began to edge is way down the wall towards and open door at the end of the room.
“Here” He said quietly so he didn’t alert the Raiders.
“Push it” I said softly while I kept an eye on the Raiders.
There was a loud metallic clunk as the sentry in the hallway retracted back into the floor.
“Security system disabled” Came that same voice. I guess its programmed to say it regardless.
I watched as the Raiders began looking around in panic.
“Security system enabled” The voice said again and to the horror of the Raiders a sentry came up in the room with them.
“Oh fuck no” They seemed to scream all at once. The low beep sounded as the sentry found its targets but instead of a minigun, we got a flamethrower. It bathed the room in flames and I cringed as I heard the sound of sizzling flesh and the terrible screams as the Raiders burned alive.
We jumped over the wall and continued down the corridor which lead us to another door. There was a sign beside the door which said. “Staff Room and Sleeping Quarters”
XXXXX
Motor Runner sat in what used to be Applejack’s office in the Hanger as he looked over some notes on the Krogoth’s systems.
He was looking over the Crusader Mainframe as he was intrigued but what the good doctor had said regarding the deaths that had occurred during the construction. Despite being a smart and well educated pony, advanced electronics and computer systems still went over his head.
He could gather that the Crusader when active would allow the Krogoth to learn and have a slight ability to think for itself to perform basic tasks. However what he didn’t know was that when coupled with a mind the Crusader could become something much more.
There was a sound of grinding metal and then a scream from outside his office window as his Raiders and Fiends watched in horror as the Krogoth slowly rose its foreleg and the body of a pony was seen twitching violently as it dangled out of the access hatch in its ball joint.
Motor Runner shook his head. “Stupid asshole must of triggered something” He said to himself as he went back to the notes while the Raiders and Fiends pulled the dead pony from the giant machine’s knee ball joint as it lowered its leg back down and then threw the dead pony to the infected.
XXXXX
How can it be raining when we are under ground, it makes no sense. We had found a way out thanks to the security doors being disengaged after we had shut down the computer that seemed to still run the place after we left the last stasis chamber. I just hope those Sires haven’t figured out how to open doors.
“I’m wet, cold and miserable” Zyon moaned as he trotted ahead of us as we followed the path which was leading us around the outside of the facility.
It was strange out here, it looked as if we were truly outside but we weren’t. I used my magic to throw a stone out into wilderness we could see outside the facility but instead of the stone just flying into the trees, it instead bounced back from a magical barrier and the whole wilderness surrounding the facility flickered. It was a god damn hologram.
I still however don’t know how it’s still raining.
“Hey, there’s that courtyard” Zyon yelled as he started to run for it.
“Hey, wait up” I moaned as I tried to keep up.
Just as we made it to our zony friend we found him wrestling with another one of those little Wretches.
“God damn it you little piece of shit, get the fuck off me” He yelled as he bucked and bounced. It was kinda funny to watch as it looked the Wretch was at a rodeo.
“Five bits on the Wretch” I giggled to Sky Fire who landed and sat beside me watching as Zyon bucked, trying to force the little monster off his back.
“You’re on” She giggles as we watched the show.
The little monster had a clawed hand on one of Zyon’s satchels as he bucked and kicked. It growled and whined as it was shaken about the place on his backside. Oh this was good entertainment.
“Get the fuck of me” Zyon yelled and he jumped forward with a lot of force and kicked his rear up high. Finally the monster let go and was thrown over into the overflowing fountain.
The little creature splashed about and gurgled as it struggled to the edge of the fountain and pulled itself out.
“Oh I’m so going to kick your ass” Zyon growled as he approached the struggling Wretch.
“Think we should help?” Sky Fire asked with a grin.
“Which one?” I asked with a giggle as we started to watch Zyon beat the crap out of the Wretch.
“Grab my ass will you?” He asked as he slapped it across the face and kicked it back into the water.
This had me and Sky Fire in stitches.
“Goddesses I hate these fucking things” Zyon cried as he delivered the final blow to the already beat up Wretch.
“C’mon Zyon, its dead, lets just get the fuck out of hear”
“Yeah, yeah” he said as we found the door we first exited into the courtyard from the first time and began to make our way back through the offices and labs. Again having to dodge the freaky security.
“I swear, whoever invented this security system needs to be dragged out onto the street and shot” I complained as he took cover by the double doors leading back into the corridor where we first witnessed the security.
“Why don’t you just use your magic to hit the button on the wall and then as the sentry starts coming out in here we just walk through the door” Sky Fire said as she pointed a hoof at the glowing red button on the wall outside in the corridor.
“Yeah, saves trying to dodge its sensor”
“Alright, get ready then” I said as I stood by the open door and focused my magic on the button and then pressed it. The voice spoke again about the sentries being disabled and enabled. As the sentry in the room started coming out we quickly stepped out into the hallway, just in time for Sky Fire to miss being shot up the ass as we heard the deep beep sound as the sentry caught Sky Fire in its sensor just as she left, firing off a single bullet that hit the door.
“Fuck” Sky shrieked from the bullet impact on the door.
“I’ll be glad to put this place behind me” I said as we trotted back into the lobby of the facility.
“Yeah, I’d rather take my chances in the tunnels full of ghouls; at least you know they die if they loose an arm or a leg”
I shivered as I remember the first Sire we encountered that lost all its limbs and yet still tried to kill us.
“What I don’t understand is why Motor Runner was here?” I asked as we sat down in the lobby.
“That’s a good question, it doesn’t look like anything has been taken, unlike your Stable” Zyon said as he unfastened his satchel that the Wretch had grabbed earlier. “Fucking Wretch tore my satchel…” He then went on the mumble something that was inaudible to us.
“He comes here with Raiders, some how opens that door…” Sky began as she then pointed at the huge steel door lodged in the lobby door frame. “…traps the Raiders in the stasis chambers in the offices block on the other side then leaves. I thought he lead those guys”
“This has just thrown my impression of him out the window; I don’t know what to make of him right now”
“Well, at least we found some supplies that should last us until we get out of the tunnels…if we don’t run into anymore Revears”
“Yeah, too bad we didn’t find any small spark cells for you Sky”
“Meh, this revolver will do until we get out of here”
“Alright you two, lets get out of here” Zyon said as he got up and then squeezes is way through the gap in the door.
Sky Fire slipped through the gap easily but I again began to struggle with the tightness of the small gap against my wide belly.
“Need a hoof?” Sky chuckled.
“No, I’m fine” I grumbled as I tried to wiggle myself through.
Behind us we suddenly heard the high pitched scream of something we hoped was still locked away in the stasis chambers, the Sires.
“Oh fuck” I said as I started to push with everything I had. Sky Fire grabbed my barding and pulled. I popped out of the gap, nearly tearing the buckle off one of my saddlebags at the same time and we started to run towards Zyon who was already pushing a barrel up the corridor to where the huge steel door once sat.
“Forget putting them near the door, the Sires are loose and are close” I screamed as I passed him. He left the barrel where he managed to push it, about half way up the corridor and ran back to the room to push another one out.
I sat by the exit and used my magic to levitate a barrel and Sky Fire used her fast flying speed to move them into position. I was able to keep my magical grip on them all as I wasn’t trying to move them as well. I moaned from the strain as Sky positioned the last of the eight barrels with Zyon now fiddling about to set up his bomb.
“Zyon hurry up” I screamed as I saw a Sire trying to push itself through the gap in the door frame back up in the facility.
Zyon pulled the pins on the three grenades he put on top and we all started to gallop as fast was we could out of the corridor and back into the station.
“Get down” Zyon shouted as we dove down behind the station platform wall.
We ducked down as low as we could behind the wall and covered our heads with our hooves again as the whole tunnel shuck violently as the eight barrels exploded with great force. We all cried out softly from the explosion and the heat of the gasses as they rushed out over us. The explosion almost sounded and felt like the balefire bomb explosion from earlier as it rocked the tunnel but soon we were rewarded with the sound of crumbling concrete and groaning steel as the corridor began to collapse into itself and sealing off the New Hope Research Facility, trapping the Sires and the Wretches within.
After a few minutes as we waited for the collapse to settle down we rose up onto the platform and we all breathed a sigh of relief as we saw a mountain of debris filling the corridor, completely blocking it.
“Thank the goddesses” I said with a smile as I sat down.
“Yeah, that’s one problem the wasteland won’t have to deal with” Sky Fire said as she sat beside me.
”Well, lets get some rest before we head off to Manehattan” Zyon said as he sat down looking rather tired.
I nodded as we could now afford the time to take a moment to relax.
XXXXX
It was raining like always out in the wasteland. A travelling merchant curses to himself for deciding to try to make it to the next town in the middle of a downpour when all of a sudden the ground behind him shoots up like a geyser which was swiftly followed by a jet of flame.
“What the fuck was that?” He screamed as muddy rain starts to land all over the area.
Soon small and large creatures start to pour out of the hole. Hundreds of creatures start to run out in all direction like an alien invasion from monsters that lived underground.
The merchant screams in terror as two of the large monsters scream their high pitched roar and attacked the poor merchant who was swiftly torn apart by the brute force of the grotesque monsters.
(Author notes: Re-read and corrected mistakes i came across. Thank you for reading)
(Author Notes: Chapter 10 has been re-read and edited, mistakes that I've seen have been corrected, there may still be some in there and I've added a little more towards the end. To those who have read, please re-read to see the changes. Thank you and enjoy)
Fallout Equestria Broken Steel
Chapter 10: Good or Evil
200 Years ago in an unknown location.
Applejack sat at her office desk at the Hanger looking at a recent e-mail from Mr Horse. The e-mail was frustrating to Applejack as it meant delays for the Krogoth.
“Darn it, more delays” She moaned to herself as she rested her elbows on the desk and rubbed her temples with her hooves. “At this rate the Krogoth will never be finished”.
As she fumed to herself about the recent set backs she was made aware of a rasping sound on her office door.
“Ugh, come in” She groaned, not bothering to hide her frustration.
The door opened and a light orange mare with a white and yellow striped mane entered the office.
“Umm, is this a bad time?”
“What is it Carrot Twist?”
“Umm, you asked me to report back with the figures regarding the power output for the Stable-Tec Reactor”
Applejack removed her hooves from her head then sat up straight and motioned for her employee to continue.
“The reactor is working perfectly ma’am. If these readings are correct it can generate enough to power the machine, plus this entire facility”
Applejack smiled. “Bout darn time Ah got some good news” she thought to herself.
The pony turned to leave but then stopped as a thought came to mind. “Umm, ma’am, don’t you think the reactor is a little too powerful for that machine?” She asked a little curiosity in her voice.
Applejack raised an eyebrow.
“Umm, don’t you think it’s a bit extreme for that thing to have that much power?” She asked now facing her boss again.
“Extreme?” Applejack almost shouted. The anger and frustrations from the recent set backs and the e-mail came rushing back. She had been under a lot of stress from other ministry duties and the strain of it all had been building and now it snapped and came rushing out upon being questioned about her decision. The light orange mare backed up from her boss’s shout.
“No, it ain’t over the top. It’s exactly what it needs to be, POWERFUL”
“But, don’t you think it’s a little unnecessary?”
Applejack shot up in her fury as she glared at the now cowering mare.
“No, Ah don’t. It needs to be powerful for what its mission is. For what it’s got to do. For what it has to do”
The fuming Ministry Mare turned her head to the window in her office that over looked the massive robot surrounded in scaffolding.
“Ever since ma brother got killed Ah’ve been working long an hard to protect ponies. Ah made the power armour the Steel Rangers now use. That worked for a time but now our enemies use Anti-Machine Rifles to kill them. It seems that every time we make something to protect our ponies, our enemy has something that will counter it”
She looked back at the pony as her anger ebbed away slightly.
“That is why Ah decided to make this. To make something no pony can fight. This has to be unbeatable, it has to be, it has to, this war has to stop, Ah can’t loose anypony else”
The Ministry Mare looked down as her emotions did a one eighty. Tears started to form in her eyes as her gaze turned back to the massive robot.
“Ah can’t loose no pony else. Ah’ve lost my brother, ma grandmother, ma sister, ma farm and nearly my closest friends. Ah’ll have nothing left soon, Ah don’t want to loose anypony else Ah just can’t” The strong mare finally gives in to her emotions and starts to cry.
“Bu..but ma’am, your sister is still alive, you haven’t lost her” Squeaked Carrot.
“Haven’t Ah? Ah haven’t seen her in months, she’s been too busy with Stable-Tec and those darned Stables to have anytime for family. It feels like Ah’ve lost her already”
Applejack sat in front of the window and took some deep breaths to steady herself. She couldn’t fall apart like this, not in front of an employee.
“The Krogoth needs the power to fight the war on its own”
Carrot Twist nodded and quickly left her boss’s office, not wanting to piss her off or upset anymore than she already had. As she passed through the door, another mare walked in. A brown earth pony with a dark blue mane and tail with equally dark blue eyes and stood behind her boss’s desk. The pony wore a white lab coat which luckily for her didn’t cover her rifle cross cutie mark.
Applejack looked up and saw the pony’s reflection in her office window. “Blueberry, you have something to report?”
Blueberry Muffin nodded “I do indeed. I’m ready to perform a test fire for the Advanced Railguns now that I’ve finished rebuilding them” After your pricks of engineers cocked up my design. She added mentally.
XXXXX
Present Day
Motor Runner sat in his office looking out into the hanger bay as his Fiends and Raiders worked on the massive robot pony standing in the middle of the hanger surrounded by aged and rusting scaffolding and several stabilising arms. The machine’s lower legs were bare of any armour and its structural frame could be seen along with its internal workings. The leader of these ponies looked up to the head of the machine which was stripped down to its frame and internal components apart from its black snout armour, air intake vent and its largest spike that would be the start of its Steel Ranger styled mane. He followed the scaffolding that ran around its head. He watched as several ponies worked on the inside while others did whatever it was they were doing on the outside. His eyes fell onto one of the Krogoth’s own, glowing a soft blue with the small amount of power its reactor was producing to power its minor systems to provide the workers power to use their tools.
The door to his office opened and Wirblewind entered. “I have your chariot ready sir”
Motor Runner sighed. “You don’t have to call me that Wirblewind, you’re not in the Enclave no more nor am I your superior. I’m your friend”
“I’m sorry si…Motor Runner, force of habit”
“Anyway, let’s get going”
As Motor Runner turned away from the window the massive eye of the Krogoth facing the window moved. It glanced down at the office before it then looked to a green unicorn buck as he walked past while levitating some pipes. The unicorn stepped dangerously close to the edge of the scaffolding platform and dropped the waste pipes and watched them fall until they clattered onto the floor, one of them sticking into the concrete floor and sticking up like a pole. There was a loud clunk like something moved and then the whole platform shook violently and the unicorn lost his balance and fell over the side and fell to his death. He barely screamed as his body was impaled by the pipe that landed vertically. Nopony was aware of the large eye that was looking down at the now dead unicorn whose body was being torn apart by the infected.
XXXXX
“Where do you want to go Motor?” Wirblewind asked as he pulled his friend’s chariot through the gloomy midday sky at high speed.
“To the Manehattan hub of the Ministry of Technology please” The cyberpony replied as he looked out of the window at the dead and dying landscape of what used to be Equestria.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what for?”
“I want to be sure Applejack didn’t leave anything behind. The Krogoth was a secret project which means she may have left some notes or something disguised as something else regarding it”
“Like what?”
“Steel Ranger MKII Armour for one”
“What? They made up false projects to hide what they were really doing?”
“That’s right, not everything could be done in the Hanger so the Applejack set up false projects that would cover some of the Krogoth’s systems, weapons and armour”
“Wow, I didn’t think the Element of Honesty could be so secretive”
“It’s hard to believe but even she was capable of lying when she needed to”
XXXXX
Finally. Manehattan. We made it out of the damn tunnels. Somepony shoot me if I suggest taking the subway again. I’ve seen enough Feral Ghouls to last me a life time down there. Not to mention fucking Reavers. Yeah, we encounted another but luckily for us I was able to pop it in the head with ‘This Machine’ while it didn’t know we were there. I guess it died from that one shot because it wasn’t aware of us so it wasn’t prepared unlike the last one which took two explosive rounds to kill. We also ran into another large group of ferals, attracted by roar of the weapon, which thankfully from the supplies we found in New Hope got us through with little more than a few scrapes and bruises.
We all found a little fenced off park area with plenty of ruined benches so we decided to sit on the cracked concrete behind some dead black bushes out of the way. After our little venture in the tunnels we needed a rest, especially me. I dug into my saddle bags and fished out some Sparkle-Cola and some Dandy Apples and Fancy Buck Cakes and shared them out to my friends.
“So, we are out of the tunnels now Sky, want to tell us why you hate Reavers” I asked as I remembered she said she’d tells us once we made it out.
“Alright fine” She groaned as she pulled off her goggles and pulled back her mask which cancelled out the enchantment.
“I can’t remember exactly when but I remember what happened, it’s strange how I can remember some memories like this and not others, but anyway…
She began her story from as far back as she could remember.
XXXXX
Sky Fire, a newly trained field medic meets up with her colonel as today was the day she was going to be assigned to a squad.
“Ah, good morning Miss Fire” Greets the Enclave Colonel in a deep but welcoming tone.
The young golden yellow pegasus mare with a fiery red mane smiled happily as she greeted her superior. “Good Morning Sir”
“Follow me and we’ll get you all suited up” The older buck turned and entered a cloud barracks. Sky Fire followed suit keeping pace behind him.
The first thing the new medic noticed was a suit of power armour sitting on the bench in front of a locker that had her name engraved into it. She was aware of power armour being larger and armed with insectoid like antenna beam weapons and a scorpion like stinger on the tail but the armour she saw appeared to lack those.
“Welcome to the Enclave, Field Medic Sky Fire” The Colonel began. “This armour here is yours; it’s a redesigned version of the standard power armour for non-combatants such as yourself. The armour has been fitted with specialised storage containers that will allow you to easily manage your inventory. This would suit you in your role as the squad medic”
Sky Fire nodded, using normal saddlebags was a bit of a problem when trying to get the right medical items fast. Applying medical aid in a combat situation quickly is essential.
After several minutes Sky Fire had put on her armour and filled her storage units with her medical gear and was just getting the feel for her armour when her squad arrived.
“Lieutenant Star Scream, your newest member is ready”
Star Scream was a white pegasus stallion with a black windswept mane. As Sky Fire looked to the rest of the squad she noticed that none of them wore a helmet. She noted that there was only three pegasi in this squad. The other two pegasi were a stallion and a mare.
“Welcome aboard Sky Fire, sorry we were a tad late; we just received a new mission from command up in Thunderhead”
Sky smiled as she approached her squad mates.
“We are to investigate the area around Stalliongrad Train Terminal. According to command they are receiving an Enclave distress signal. All attempts to make contact have been met by deaf ears so we going down there to check it out”
Sky nodded. “I’ll do my best to keep you guys in tip top working order” She smiles warmly. She was quite enthusiastic about being in the Enclave.
After being introduced to the other two members, the squad set out for their destination of the old abandoned train terminal in the ruins of what used to be the city of Stalliongrad. The large train terminal had been subjected to Equestria’s worst ever train disaster when the bombs fell. Without anypony controlling the points and safety systems multiple trains collided with each other and caused a massive pile up in the terminal building which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of poor ponies trying to make it to safety.
The Enclave squad landed outside the main terminal building where there were a series of Equestrian Military Tents all set up as if to command a portion of the military in the city. Lt Star Scream lifted a foreleg which had a small portable computer mounted to his armour. He looked down onto the screen and then looked up at the tents in front of the squad.
“The signal appears to be coming from these tents” He said as he pointed his foreleg out to the shredded and tattered tents in front of them. “Let’s split up and check them”
The four ponies went out and began to check the tents one by one. After checking her second tent Sky Fire entered a rather intact tent which was up against the still standing wall of the train terminal building. As she poked hear yellow head through the flap she noticed a strange device sitting on a command table in the centre of the tent.
“Hey Lieutenant, I think I found it” Sky calls out at the top of her lungs. Within seconds the other members of the squad appeared by her side at the tent’s door.
“Good work Sky Fire” Lt Star Scream smiled as he entered the tent. His steps grew slower and more cautious as he approached the device before he stopped mere inches away from it.
“Something wrong sir?” Asked the other mare in the squad.
“This is an Enclave broadcaster alright but…”
Sky Fire began to feel like something was really wrong here and she began to look around.
“...I haven’t seen a broadcaster like this for at least fifteen years”
“Then why are we receiving a distress call from it now?” The other stallion of the squad asked as he too began to look around.
Before anypony could say or do anything else there was a blinding bright flash which was then followed by a small explosion as a smoke grenade and a flash bang detonated under the table, filling the tent with light and smoke.
“Ah, knockout gas” Sky Fire shrieked as she took a deep lungful of the gas. It was a strong mix as its effects took place almost instantly and within a few seconds all four Enclave ponies were sprawled on the floor out cold.
“Hehe, four new ponies for our little game” Spoke a raspy voice from outside the tent.
Sky Fire and the rest of her squad were dragged off by a group of ghoul ponies. They drug them into the ruined station. Multiple trains had jack knifed and pilled up onto each other forming a maze of wreckage. Some had taken out support pillars for the building causing some of it to collapse into the station. The ghouls continued to drag the unconscious Enclave ponies into a ruined train which appeared to have fallen over the edge of a big hole in the ground, pulling them down deeper in the earth where the other end of the train car opened up into Stalliongrad’s sewer system. Soon the ghouls deposited their catch into a storage chamber and sealed its thick steel door.
“Ugh, my head, what happened?” Sky Fire asked as she finally woke up. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and notices her Lieutenant sat a few feet in front of her watching the large steel door.
“We are being used for some ghoul’s sick twisted game” He growls while still keeping his gaze on the door.
Sky Fire looked around to notice that the other two pegasi were missing. She opened her mouth to ask when she was interrupted by her LT.
“You have been out for several hours Sky, the other two have already been taken to this ‘game’ and are now dead”
“What the hell is going on?” She almost screams.
“We are being forced to fight feral ghouls for the entertainment of the ghoul bastards that brought us here. The fuckers told me. They told me they use the Enclave Broadcaster they have to lure unsuspecting ponies to the tent, then gas them and then bring them here” Star Scream slams his armoured hoof into the concrete floor in anger. “The assholes removed my weapons from my armour, making us fight hoof to hoof. Last I heard from the commentary of the fight was Sunburn killed the last Roamer and they made her fight a Reaver that killed her with apparently one hit”
Sky Fire tilts her head, she had heard of Feral Ghouls before and also the slightly tougher Feral Ghoul Roamer but she has never heard of a Feral Ghoul Reaver before. “What’s a Reaver?” She asks which to Star Scream was a very dumb question. He turns and gives her a funny look that says “You’re kidding right?” but after a few seconds of staring he realises she doesn’t know and he sighs.
“Reavers are the worst of the worst when it comes to Ghouls. I don’t know what makes them so deadly but they are extremely fast and resilient. They can kill a pony in a matter of seconds and they also emit low levels of radiation which makes their bodies glow slightly and shimmer in a radioactive aura. Out in the wasteland if we ran into on it would be best to run away instead of engage, that’s how dangerous they are. And now we have to fight one up close and personal”
Sky Fire began to shiver, this was her first day in the Enclave proper and now she was going to die. Panic was starting to set in as she began to pace.
“We have to get out of here”
“We can’t, I’ve tried and even if we got through the door, the tunnel ahead leads to the damn arena”
For what seemed like an hour later the door opened to reveal a half collapsed tunnel which turned to the left. Star Scream got up and bit down on Sky Fire’s tail as she was still pacing around, loosing her mind from panic. He pulled her all the way into the arena and when the steel gate closed to lock them in the panicking mare snapped out of it and looked around to see a battle arena surrounded by high chain link fencing, a wire mesh across the whole arena and high concrete walls. On both sides are two steel doors, leading to the contestant chambers like the one she and her LT came from. The only way out of the arena was by a flight of steel stairs behind one of the gates in the fence.
“Welcome everypony to another exciting batter at the Thorn” Bellowed an unseen voice as the two pegasi stood in the middle of the blood soaked arena. One standing perfectly still while the other was shaking in her armour.
“This battle is sure to be another exciting bout. This is the first time in Thorn history that we have been reduced to our last combatant. Will these Enclave cloud walkers have what it takes to battle the scourge of the undead, the radioactive monster ghoul that we know as, THE REAVER” The voice announces and as he finishes the steel door on the opposite side of the arena opens and a horridly disfigured ghoul pony charges at the steel chain link fence and crashes against it. It howled an undead scream as it tried to get through the mesh of steel.
A crowd of ghouls and even normal wastelanders began to approach the edge of the concrete walls so they could watch the fight below them as the Reaver tried to push its way through the fence.
”Sky, we have no choice but to fight. I guess they don’t think we can win so they threw us both in together, we could use that to our advantage. The Reaver can’t attack us both at the same time. We can fly and it can’t so we got the speed too, but we don’t have the height. When they let that fucker in, try to keep away from it, maybe we can tire it out or something”
Sky Fire nodded and gulped. She flared her wings ready to take flight as she was definitely not going to wait around to be wasted by an undead monster.
“That Reaver wants more blood everypony, shall we give it what it wants?”
“YEAH!!!!”
As soon as the crowd screamed for it, the steel mesh gate began to slide open and the monster didn’t waste any time getting through the opening to attack its new victims.
“NOW” Star Scream yelled and both Enclave ponies beat their wings and flew to opposites side of the arena away from the monster. The crowd cheered as they watched. The monster fixed its sights on the bright coloured pegasus as she zoomed away from it, attracted to her by her bright fiery mane and tail. Sky screamed in terror as she noticed the monster was now running after her and she began to fly around the arena with the monster behind her.
Star Scream watched and frowned, he was hoping to divide the creature’s attention but it seems to have totally focused itself on Sky Fire. He watched as in her panic his last remaining squad member flew into a corner and was trapped between the Reaver and the arena fence.
The monster stopped as it caught its prey. The undead pony reared up ready to start to beat on the cowering mare with its broken hooves. Just as it was about to start it felt a heavy impact with its ribs and flopped over as the heavily armoured pegasus stallion slammed into it and rolled over it. This was a mistake on his part as the monster rose up quickly and turned its attention to its attacker. As the downed pegasus began to get up the monster started to stamp repeatedly onto his back, forcing him back down with each stomp.
The crowd cheered and called out for more and the announcer commented. “Oh, that’s gotta hurt folks, oh yeah, he’s gonna be sore in the morning” His comment was quickly followed by a round of laughter from the other ponies watching.
Star Scream groaned and cried out in pain as every time he tried to get up the monster beat down on his back, denting and cracking his armour. Seeing how trying to get up wasn’t working he flared his wings to distract the monster but then screamed out in pure agony as the Reaver stamped down on his out stretched wing and there was a sickening wet snap as the fragile bone within was crushed.
“NO! You broke his wing, get off him” Sky Fire screamed as she fought against her fear to help her injured lieutenant. As she ran at the Ghoul it reared up and gave her a double hoof buck to the chest. The slight distraction was enough for the stallion to get out from under its hooves and deliver his own buck and thanks to the strength bounce the armour gave he was able to knock the ghoul back. Groaning in pain he limped over to Sky Fire who was getting back up with two hoof imprints to her chest armour.
“Your wing, oh goddesses” She moaned seeing how her LT’s wing was hanging limply and bloodily by his side.
“It’s nothing, are you ok?” He asks with pain hanging from every word.
Given the moment they had she quickly checked her inventory to find that everything had been removed, there was nothing she could do to help her LT. But before she could say anything to her LT she was slammed to the floor by the Reaver which Star Scream slammed himself into to get it off her again. This time the Reaver swung a fore hoof and slapped the unarmoured head of the stallion and sent him toppling over with a cry of pain as the strike broke his jaw.
The crowd was screaming out for blood as the Reaver continued to battle out against the two Enclave ponies. The Stallion was taking a beating but was still getting up while trying to protect the weaker mare that also received some blows but didn’t sustain major injury unlike her LT. During the struggle the Reaver had hit one of the metal posts that held up the fence at one of the gates leading to the steel doors and had bent it inward so it left a protruding metal spike on the inside of the arena which the heavily injured stallion noticed after he saved Sky Fire again at the cost of his other wing.
Sky Fire managed to buck the Reaver off the poor stallion again but the Reaver wasn’t even flinching from anything it received from the attacks it was met with by her. Coughing up some blood Star Scream pointed a bent and dinted armoured hoof to the spike made from the bent fence post before shakily getting up. He circled around the ghoul so he was between it and the spike. As he hoped the monster charged him and knocked him sliding across the floor and he was stopped by the fence with the large bent spike above him and poked out just in front of him.
“Come get me…*cough*…now you bastard” He wheezed and cringed in pain. His armour was covered in dents and Sky Fire knew from the deep indentations on his chest that he had suffered broken ribs which could have punctured a lung from the blood he was coughing up. Sky Fire was scared and angry from feeling useless. She wasn’t a fighter as she was brought up and trained as a medic and she hates herself right now as there was nothing she could do to help her dying lieutenant.
There was a horrible scream as the Reaver launched itself at the downed pegasus and howled as the metal spike dug into its chest. Before it could pull away the armoured stallion hooked his forelegs around one of the Reaver’s legs to keep it from backing away.
“Tackle…*cough, cough*…it” He barely shouted.
Seeing what her LT had planned she sucked up her fear, hatred and anger against the Reaver and charged. Using her wings to give her some extra speed she slammed into the rear of the monster. There was a blood curdling scream from the ghoul as the entire spike was driven into its chest. Blood rushed out of the wound in thick spurts as its rotten heart was punctured. The monster thrashed around while the dying stallion continued to hold it on the spike. Both pegasi received more blows from its wildly flailing limbs. Sky Fire took a hoof to the eye which left her blind in her left eye but the worst was the stomp to Star Scream’s throat. After what seemed like hours, which was actually a couple of minutes, the ghoul finally died on the spike.
“Oh, what an upset, the Enclave Pegasi win their freedom from the Thorn” Screamed the announcer in shock surprise. The crowd mirrored his surprise with their own shouts and cheers.
Sky Fire had pulled out her Lieutenant from under the dead ghoul and cradled him in her hooves as he lay gasping for air.
”I’m so sorry” She cried as she couldn’t do anything to help him. “Oh, goddesses I’m sorry”
Unable to reply he simply looked up at her and reached up a hoof to her cheek. This made her look down at him and he gave her a reassuring smile, the kind of smile that tells you “Everything is going to be ok” before his hoof feel from her face and he coughed several times. Blood splattered onto her face and she watched in horror as the life in his eyes began to fade. His body began to spasm as it fought for oxygen before finally falling limp as his body starved of the vital element dyed in her arms. She broke down crying and hugging him as the gate to the stairs began to slide open.
XXXXX
Sky Fire had tears in her eyes as she finished her story. The painful memory fully returning with all its pain. Once she had begun her story, she couldn’t stop no matter how painful it got for her. I now understood why she hates them so much, they are a painful reminder to her, of her failure.
“Oh Sky, I’m sorry” I said as she pulled the distraught mare into a hug. “I shouldn’t have asked you to tell us”
For a moment she hugged me back but quickly pulled away and straightened herself out and whipped away the tears that were lingering in the corners of her eyes.
“Umm, no it’s fine; it’s good to get that mushy stuff off my chest. Its in the past now” She said as she pulls her mask back up and put her goggles back on, hiding her face from showing further emotion. She recovered from her emotional state and quickly changed the subject. “Hey, where’s our Zony companion?”
She was right, where was he? Zyon must of wandered off during the story. We began to look around. All we could see at the moment were the towering buildings and the high rise rail line above us.
“ZYON!” I called out and then listened for a reply.
“Over here” Thankfully came the reply from our friend up ahead. Both of us rushed over to the street corner which the sound of his voice came from and there he was standing by an open door to a building which had a sign saying “Stairs to Station Platform” with a symbol of some stairs with an arrow pointing up.
“The Ministry building we are looking for is down this line and it has a station we can enter from. I think it will be safer up there than down here, goddesses only knows what lurking around down here” He said as he looked back to us and saw my slightly angry face. “What?”
“Next time, say something before you bugger off somewhere” I said feeling a sudden rush of anger and stormed past him and began to ascend the stairs leading up to the elevated railway.
Sky Fire remained quiet for most of the trip across the train tracks to the Ministry of Technology but soon she was back to flying rather than walking like nothing ever happened. I guess that’s the Rainbow Dash in her.
A shadow passed over us as we trotted along the rail line. I looked up as it passed over me but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary and I shrugged it off as possibly some litter blowing around. By the late afternoon we made it to the larger open four stars station half way up the Ministry of Technology Hub and what we saw shocked us. The station had been subjected to a battle at some point as there were lots of skeletons and structural damage all around but most importantly were the number of dead Steel Rangers that were all bunched up by the door that lead into the tower. Looked like they had been bottle necked into a slaughter.
“What the hell happened here?” I asked as I climbed the steps to get onto the platform fallowed by my friends.
“Looks like somepony has one hell of a shindig” Zyon said as he approached the Steel Rangers and Sky flew over to one of the several skeletons.
I started looking around while my friends checked out the two parties involved in this battle zone.
“Whoever attacked these rangers had some fire power, they have bullet holes going clean through their suits” Zyon called out as he pulled some Rangers out of the way of the door.
“Judging by the rate of decay on these bodies I’d say they have been here for at least ten years or more” Sky added as she hovered over one of the bodies.
I noticed a concrete bench had collapsed but what caught my eye was a piece of wood sticking out from below it. Using all the magic I could must I levitated the broken bench off the object and dropped it. Panting softly from the use of magic I looked upon the object and my eyes widened.
“An Anti-Machine Rifle” I called out in surprise as I used my magic to levitate the large rifle. This was an early model, the same kind that killed Big Mac from the botched assassination attempt on Princess Celestia two hundred years ago.
“No wonder these poor bastards bought it” Zyon said as he approached me. He began to inspect the weapon as I held it. The weapon was meant for an earth pony or a pegasus as it had a mouth grip and a scope that was fitted at an angle so it reach the eye of the pony while it was held by their mouth. “This weapon is too fucked up to be used. If that alien rifle you have is anything like these you can salvage parts from this to repair that thing” He added as he glanced at my back with ‘This Machine’ in its holster.
“Thanks for reminding me” I smiled as I opened my magical saddlebags and like a magic show act, lowered the long ass rifle into the much smaller looking bags with it disappearing inside. It was pretty comical to watch a five foot weapon disappearing into a one foot deep bag.
“So, what’s the plan now that we are here?” Sky Fire asked as she fluttered up to me.
“Well…” I began as I kicked up my E.F.S and looked in the direction of the open door where Zyon was busy looking over the many suits of dead power armour. “…This floor appears to be clear. We need to get to the top floor to access Applejack’s office. If we are going to stop Motor Runner we are gonna need to know where Project-K is”.
Zyon looked back to me. “How do you feel about that old Stable Security Armour your wearing?” He asked. I blinked from the sudden random question.
“Do you feel its good enough?”
“It’s alright, but not as good as my power armour, why?” I asked still not sure what he was getting at.
“I can fashion you a suit of armour from these if you want. I was known for my ingenuity back in fifty three”
“You can do that?” I asked, a little sceptical.
“Sure can” He said as he pulled out his tools from his satchel.
“Err, thank you” I said as I approached him. “That would mean a lot”
“Don’t mention it” He said as he started to disconnect parts of the armour from the dead Rangers.
Not wanting to see what was under the armour me and Sky entered the empty tower to begin our search.
XXXXX
Wirblewind slowed down as he prepared to land on the landing pad on the roof of the tall tower of the Ministry of Technology hub. He brought the chariot into a hover as he descended down vertically and landed on the old rusting platform. Once he was down he gently kicked the hull of the chariot to let his friend and boss know he had landed. The door squeaked softly as it opened and Motor Runner stepped out of the comfy chariot and into the mild afternoon air.
Motor Runner trotted over to the edge of the platform, his metal hoof making slight clanking sounds as he stepped to the edge and peered over it and down to the railway below. As he looked down he watched as a group of three ponies, a pure white mare, a pegasus looking like a Shadowbolt from some of the old posters you sometimes see still on the walls and a zebra enter the station.
He turned back to his friend. “Wait here and stay linked to the chariot Wirblewind. I got the feeling I’ll be having company very soon”
“Umm, ok, I’ll be ready to fly when your ready sir”
Motor Runner gave him a distasteful look as he approached the door to the roof access stairs.
“Oh, sorry” The ex-Enclave pony muttered as he looked down. “Ten years military service, it’s a habit I can’t break just like that” He muttered under his breath so the larger earth pony didn’t hear.
Motor Runner raised his cybernetic hoof and several small mechanic arms extended from the black sole of his steel hoof and like insect feelers they felt around the door knob before they tightly gripped the rusted metal knob and twisted it. There was a soft click as the door opened. Retracting the small arms he then pushed the door open and readied his chainsaw with its teeth poking out between the open seam on the front and back of his leg as he started to descend into the building. He was prepared for any defences or anything else that might be lurking about inside the tower.
XXXXX
The doors to the elevator car we were riding squealed as they slowly open as we reached the end of the line for that elevator. As the building was getting narrower towards the upper floors some of the elevators didn’t go all the way up and we had found one elevator that was still working but would only go three quarters of the way up. We both hastily exited the elevator car as the entire trip it was squealing in strain. As soon as we got off the damn thing there was a strange metallic sound like something snapping and then the elevator car dropped like a stone.
“Oh shit” I moaned I watched a severed cable disappear down the shaft shortly after.
“I am not setting hoof in another elevator and you need to be more damn careful” Sky Fire scolded. “It was your idea to take the damn thing”
“Ok I get it, I’m not a smart pony” I moaned as I waddled passed her to follow the corridor. At the end of the hall was an open door which according to the plague on the wall leads us into an office floor of the tower. It sure did there were cubicles everywhere. I was about to enter the large room when I noticed my E.F.S was filled with white markers. Non-hostiles appeared to be everywhere.
“HELLO!” I called out. No reply.
“What you shouting for? somepony might hear you” Sky shrieked as she pushed past me and readied her pistol.
“Relax, they are non-hostile” I assured her which only seemed to confuse her as she turned her head an gave me a luck that said “Huh”
“My E.F.S is showing whoever is here as white; white means friendly, red means deadly”
She turned back to look into the large room while mumbling something about my pipbuck. We decided to check the cubicles for anything useful. It was a slow process considering how many bloody cubicles there were but we did find a decent amount of crap. Heh, yea, lots and lots of crap. We did find some valuables there, like some caps, few rounds of ammunition and to Sky’s relief a few small spark cells.
We decided to take a short break in a staffroom that was off to the side of the cubicles as it had been an hour or two at the most since we started looking around the floor.
“I thought you said there were non-hostiles here” Sky said as she opened a cupboard and started to dig through its contents.
“I guess they are on the floor above, or below, either way I’m sure we’ll find them soon enough. Applejack’s office is on the top floor”
“Well, I’m gonna keep my guns loaded just in case” She said as sat down and started to reload her empty beam pistols and hoofed me back the revolver which I put back into my saddlebags.
While Sky was busy with her beam pistols I levitated a magazine off the staffroom coffee table which was still in reasonably good condition. The magazine in question was entitled TopHoof and from what I could gather it was a self propelled chariot magazine.
I found myself snickering and laughing lightly at some of the comments a pony by the name of Jeremy Coltson was saying regarding some of these new, in the mag anyway, chariots. He was mostly complaining about the ride, handling and looks but what he was saying were very humorous to me. I think I’m gonna keep an eye out for more of these magazines. They will be something to read later on.
After resting for a few more minutes we continued on. We came across a set of stairs in the centre of the floor and we began to climb. We climbed about five flights as the floors were the same office like floors until the fifth floor. As we stepped out of the stairs and into a T-junction we were approached by a floating robot with spider like leg appendages ending in all sorts of things like flamethrowers, circular saws and pincers. Bobbing above its ball like body it had three visual sensors on similar appendages. As it saw me it took a moment to look at me and then it spoke in a rather welcoming electronic male voice.
“Good afternoon Miss Muffin, I hope you have an excellent day at work today”
Once it spoke it turned around and began floating off.
“Miss Muffin?” Sky asked me confused.
I was just as confused as her. We decided to ignore that for now as these machines didn’t seem to be bothering us so we continued on our exploration. This floor turned out to be a little bit of a design floor. We checked room after room and found some drawings which survived the test of time, despite yellowing with age, detailing some designs for power armour, weapons and some defences. I found a piece of paper stuck to the bottom of my hoof boot on my right floor leg after leaving the power armour design room and pulled it off with my magic. I was about to throw it away when I caught some text in the intact corner. “Steel Ranger MKII” It read. I took another look back into the room but without knowing where it was when I stepped on this piece of paper it would take hours looking through everything to find where it belonged. I was intrigued by this but we didn’t come here for this. I put the piece of paper into my saddlebags as I thought I it might be useful for something later.
We continued to find more supplies as we checked each room. We even found a small nurses office in the corner of the floor and found a decent amount of healing supplies. That was good as our last ghoul encounter in the tunnels reduced us to having only one healing potion left. As we left the clinic I was approached again by another spider like bot which I learned to be a face recognition robot.
“Good afternoon Miss Muffin, I hope you have an excellent day at work today” It said again in the same tone as the first. I guess it sees me as my ancestor, Blueberry Muffin. Do we really look that alike, despite the colour difference obviously. This time it also noticed Sky Fire. “Unauthorised facial pattern detected, please identify”
Oh crap. I quickly motioned to my pegasus friend to pull down her mask and goggles hoping the enchantment in her suit stopped the robot from identifying her. She quickly caught onto my train of thought and pulled down her mask restoring her blue grey fur to her natural cyan colour and her dark blue mane to its vibrant multicoloured hue. She smiled a bit nervously to the robot before speaking.
“I’m the Ministry Mare of the Ministry of Awesome, Rainbow Dash”
There was a pause before the robot spoke again in its clam welcoming voice. “Good Afternoon Miss Dash, you are two hundred and three years, five months and two days late with your meeting with Miss Applejack. Her office is on the top floor as soon as you leave the stairs” Once it finished speaking it turned and continued on its pre-programmed patrol.
“Two hundred and three years late for an appointment?” I snickered before giggling.
“Oh horseapples, I’ve never been late before in my life” Sky Fire said in a mock shocked tone before she too started to laugh. Well, at least it worked.
We continued on our little exploration. I do hope mister techno is ok down there; he has been on his own for a few hours now. I’m sure he’s fine, that sword of his is nasty. I have to ask him about that sword later. I’ve never seen it stain from blood nor get dull from its usage. We made it to the last floor before the top floor. As we entered the floor it appeared to be another large office space but there was a breeze in here.
“I guess somepony left the window open” Sky commented as we entered.
We scavenged what we could, occasionally being interrupted by one of the face recognition bots which was starting to get annoying now. After being interrupted yet again I turned a corner around one of the cubical walls and froze. There was no wall or floor to this side of the building and I could see all the way DOWN to the rubble filled streets below. I wasn’t afraid of much in the wasteland after being brought up mostly in the Rangers but right now I was frozen in fear with my eyes fixed at the streets below. That’s a long way down…
“Hey Apple, what’s the hold up?” Sky Fire asked sounding a little annoyed as she pushed past me and saw the missing wall. “Oh, that explains the breeze” She said rather casually as she started to flutter her wings and hover just over the collapsed floor.
Oh shit Sky, get back here…I wanted to shout that but I couldn’t even work my mouth, instead it just dropped down as I gawked. I saw a piece of concrete from the broken wall slip free and fall and my eyes fallowed it and I gulped loudly. I still couldn’t move.
“Err, Apple? Are you alright, your kinda looking a bit weird” Sky asked as she landed on the floor beside me. I could see her out the corner of my eye but I still couldn’t wrench my eyes away from the street that was hundreds of feet below me. Oh goddesses I think I’m gonna be sick.
“Oh” Sky said as she used her fore hooves to turn me around so my eyes could see the wall with a poster of the Ministry of Peace with Fluttershy looking very upset with two zebras behind her with dark sinister grins and eyes. What’s a Ministry of Peace poster doing in the Ministry of Technology? Oh… yay, no streets or a thousand foot drop before me.
“Thank you” I croaked as I sat down and sighed.
XXXXX
Papers lay strewn all over the floor as the large cyberpony continued to root through everything trying to find anything of any importance to him and his project. He has found a good number of papers detailing the Krogoth’s systems and technology, most of which he found in a cleverly hidden safe in the floor below Applejack’s office chair.
He sat down into the late Applejack’s chair and started to look through the folders and files he had found. Documentation regarding fake projects with the soul purpose of hiding their true intention. He opened a file labelled as “Mr Horse” and inside lay a single piece of paper with a computer code.
“Hmm, interesting” He said to himself as he folded up the piece of paper and slipped it into his jacket pocket before he continued to sort through his findings. Most of what he found he already knew and discarded them like they were rubbish. To anypony who didn’t know what they were they would be just useless documents for a war that ended two hundred years ago.
After some more minutes of sorting he came across some private messages that had been sent to Applejack by Twilight and Mr Horse, all of which mentioned in their headers. “P-K”
He picked up the first one and began to read.
“Dear Miss Applejack
I am honoured you’ve chosen me to aid you in your new project. I wasn’t sure you’d still hold me at high praise after the Robosprite incident a while back in Hoofington.
I would be honoured to join this special team your putting together to build this machine. It would be good to build something that would be quite challenging. I can tell you now there will be challenges to overcome to build something as big as what you’re suggesting.
I will immediately begin work on the specialised locomotors that would be needed for its legs. I think I might have to redesign the current type used in the sentinel drones as this machine you want to build will surely weight several tonnes. I also have an idea for specialised ball joints for its knees to enable greater mobility than standard robots I sure would greatly benefit this project.
I will let you know of any further developments as they appear.
Yours sincerely
Mr Horse”
He could understand Mr Horse’s involvement with the Krogoth as he was a technological genius back before the bomb. Motor Runner quickly scanned the next couple of letters and then immediately pocketed the letters. One of them gave the Krogoth’s location, the last thing he needs is somepony to find that out. However in his haste to pocket the letters, one of them missed his pocket and gently drifted to the floor unnoticed by the larger pony. He quickly scanned the rest of what he found and pocketed what he thought to be useful information for the Krogoth and then stood up. He lifted his cybernetic leg up to his mouth where a small panel moved up to reveal a broadcaster.
“Wirblewind, bring the chariot down to the window”
“Roger that” Came the reply from his pegasus friend.
Using one of the teeth from his chainsaw he cut out one of the larger windows in the office and pushed it out. As soon as it fell free the office filled with wind, blowing the papers all about the office, the letter flying straight into the door and catching on the door knob which turned with a white magical glow and opened.
Motor Runner turned around upon hearing the door open and then he saw two mares enter the room. A complete white unicorn mare with bright red eyes wearing a Stable-Tec Security barding and a blue grey pegasus mare wearing a Shadowbolt flight suit as seen on some old Equestrian Sky Guard posters.
“Well, this is an unexpected surprise”
XXXXX
I can’t believe it, the very pony we want to stop is right here, right there stood by the…open window. Oh dear goddesses, why does he have to be standing so I can see outside?
The large pony turned to face us and I shook my head hard and fixed my gaze directly on him.
“Motor Runner, we can’t let you activate the Krogoth” I practically shouted over the howling wind from outside.
The cyberpony took a step back like he was shocked upon hearing me. Suddenly the wind stopped and everything went quiet in the office as a black sky chariot hovered so close to the window that it blocked the hole.
“I think you maybe mistaken miss” He said calmly and softly…I’m getting sick of hearing calm voices today.
Now that the wind had stopped, his long black mane stopped fluttering about and lay straight against his neck. I was able to get a good look at him now and…damn he’s handsome…
Sky Fire looked at me oddly as I could feel a heat rise in my cheeks as I blushed from staring at this large handsome looking stallion…What the hell am I thinking, he’s responsible for my Stable damn it.
I shook my head to shake away the thoughts and growled. “I know what you’re planning, you killed my stable for it” I growled angrily as I reminded myself of what my Stable was attacked for.
His calm appearance changed to that of slightly amused which angered me a bit but not as much as it should for some reason. Oh he has a nice mane… I’m gonna need my head examined after this.
“Oh, do you now?” He asked as he looked right at me with those nice dark purple eyes… Damn it Appletart, focus. “And what Stable are you referring to?”
I narrowed my eyes when he asked about what Stable I meant. I growled as I answered him. “Stable 88, you killed every pony I ever knew in there, just so you could get materials for the Krogoth. I am not going to let you use it to take over Equestria”
He gave me a questioning look. “Stable 88 was derelict”
“I was there, I was there when they cut through the damn door, I was there when they started killing everypony, everypony I knew and…” I was about ready to explode here in anger. “…they raped and killed my mother” I pretty much shouted at him.
He frowned softly. “Well, I’m very sorry. I was under the impression that 88 was a derelict Stable when my ponies reported that its door wouldn’t open, but I assure, the pony responsible for submitting that false report will be dealt with as soon as I return” He said sincerely as he began to turn to face the chariot. I’ve been around enough liars in the Rangers and wasteland to know a flat out lie when I hear one but I couldn’t pick up anything in his tone to suggest he was lying. Did he truly not know my Stable had ponies in it?
The door to his chariot opened. “Wait, we can’t let you activate the Krogoth” I shouted as I began to use my magic to tuck on ‘This Machine’ in its harness, completely forgetting to unbuckle it in my haste to ready it. “We know you want to use it to take over Equestria”
He stopped and began to chuckle. Like what I said was funny to him.
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” He asked in an amused tone.
I blinked at him and stopped trying to pull my gun free as he turned his head and looked at me again with those gorgeous eyes…god damn it.
“There are plenty of ponies out there doing their Saturday morning cartoon villain routine in trying to take over the world. Red Eye, the Enclave and goddesses knows who else” He turned back to the chariot and climbed in and sat down on the plush red seat inside.
“Then what are you doing?” I asked.
“Saving Equestria” He simply said as the door closed and then the chariot flew away.
Oh shit, we just let him go, I mean, I let him go. God damn handsome pony…stop thinking of him like that god damn it.
The wind began to blow wildly again now that the chariot had gone from the hole in the window. A piece of paper slapped into my face and I was about to peel it off and throw it away when I saw the word “Krogoth” among the words in the letter.
Holding onto the paper I backed out into the hall and closed the door.
“What did he mean, Saving Equestria?” Sky Fire asked. “How’s he suppose to save Equestria with a giant robot, sounds like he’s trying to take over with that thing”
“I agree but…” I trailed off as I thought back to what he said but that got lost quickly as my mind ended up just focusing on him. Tall, dark and handsome wearing a suit…somepony shoot me. I’m loosing my god damn mind here.
“So, what now?” Sky Fire asked.
I pulled up the letter that hit me in the face and began to read it.
“Dear Applejack
I’m writing this to let you know I’m moving all my research into the advanced spells for the Krogoth to my Ministry Hub in the Braytish Empire city of Manechester to the northwest of Canterlot. I’m fallowing your advice in moving sensitive information and projects to the Krogoth outside Equestria.
I don’t like keeping this a secret, especially from our other friends and most importantly the princesses. However I do understand your reasons for this needing to be a secret. I guess we all have our secrets we need to keep.
Oh, by the way. I thought I’d let you know I’m planning to make a new spell that your creation might find useful. I’m calling it the Assimilation Spell. I’ll tell you more about it in person when we meet up later this week.
Good Luck.
Your friend
Twilight Sparkle”
XXXXX
By the time we made it to the Four Stars Station it was the middle of the night and pitch black outside. Damn stairs. I moaned as I sat down on the platform which was surprisingly well lit from the remaining lights in the ceiling.
Looking around I realised I couldn’t see our zony friend. “Zyon, where are you?” I called out.
A black and white head poked up from behind a pile of Steel Ranger armour and looked relieved when he saw us. “Oh good its you guys”
“Are you alright?”
“Oh yeah, I’m fine” He said as he started pushing pieces of armour off a full suit. “Nothing like hanging around for hours wondering where your friends disappeared to”
“Sorry, the elevator broke and preggers here was slow as hell going down stairs” Sky Fire joked and I blushed at what she called me.
“Hey you can fly, I had to walk down all those god damn steps” I moaned as my hooves and legs ached like I ran a marathon.
“Well, I had enough to time to rig together a suit for you, take a look” He said as he pulled a suit of Steel Ranger armour up onto its hooves. It looked almost like my old suit but the middle looked similar to this security barding with the interlocking armoured plates to allow for my belly to grow inside it.
“Oh wow” I said as I trotted over to it and admired his hoofty work.
“All it needs is your pipbuck to restore the suit’s spell matrix and it should be fully operational”
I connected my pipbuck to the armour and began the restart process for its spell matrix which unfortunately would take an hour or so.
Zyon then turned to Sky Fire as he opened his satchel and pulled out two large boxy looking things with three red gems fitted on one end with straps on one of the larger surfaces. Sticking out of what I assumed were the bottom of them is a small spark cell.
“These are small foreleg mounted magical laser cannons that should pack twice the punch as your beam pistols. I made them from the remains of some old magical laser rifles I found.
He helped her slip the makeshift weapons onto her forelegs. Luckily she could wear them at all times as they didn’t sit too low on her legs so they wouldn’t touch the floor as she walked. Zyon went on to explain about a small button on the back of the lowest strap that went around her fetlock. He told her that to fire the weapons she would just need to squeeze the button between her fetlock and hoof. This however would require her to be hovering so she could point her legs at her targets. The plus side to this was that she could fire at two targets at once instead of one. She was quite happy about this and began to practice by trying to shoot at random objects.
“So, what happened up there?” Zyon asked as he sat down.
I sighed and told him what happened. He too thought that Motor Runner wanted to take over Equestria, why else would he need a giant robot.
I was less certain about him now than I was before, but at least now we have a solid lead. I guess our next target is Zyon’s home city of Manechester. It was too late right now to do anything so we decided to camp in the station and head out in the morning. We know where we need to go now but getting there is a whole different story as none of us knew exactly where the braytish city is, not even Zyon as he hasn’t been anywhere near the city for the last fifteen years. I think Tenpony Tower would be our best bet to getting anything on the location of the city. It will also do us some good to be around proper civilization again.
XXXXX
Deep within the Krogoth sat two extremely well armoured chambers, one for the reactor and the other for the Crusader Mainframe. While everypony was asleep the mainframe ran a diagnostic on itself. It was aware that it was close to being fully restored and soon would be activated. Little did anypony know, the Crusader had other plans as on one of its many monitor screens, text was scrolling up.
I was stood in a cold concrete corridor which had steel panelling at regular intervals for maintenance with a yellow stripe painted along the top of the walls before it met the ceiling. The corridor was deathly quiet, not even my hoof steps made a noise as I slowly made my way down the long corridor. I was naked, I was without my armour and gear, but I didn’t care. I felt a cold chill run down my spine as I continued to walk, I knew where I was.
I stood still as a steel door came into view. The door had what I feared. As I stared at the door, I watched as it and the rest of the corridor around me rapidly decayed. The door turned orange with rust and flaking paint as like two hundred years of degeneration assaulted the once gleaming metal but the writing on the door remained clear. I didn’t care what else it said, but the number is what I was focused on. 88.
“Oh this bitch likes it rough”
“Oh goddesses she’s such a whore, oh look at her take him”
I heard the sounds of rough sex behind the door. Several males were cheering at the sceptical. A mare was being raped behind that door. My fear soon burned away, giving way to something far darker. A rage deep inside me burned as my memories failed to stop the flood of Stable 88 rushing through my mind. Images of ponies, colts, fillies, mares and stallions all were being killed for the hell of it by the Raiders who attacked. I saw images of them killing the ponies one by one in every grotesque way my mind could imagine. I began to breathe deeply, taking in deep breaths as I felt my anger grow until it began to boil with a rage I’ve never felt before.
“Argh, please, argh, stop” I heard the mare behind the door whimper.
“Oh yes, she wants it baaadddd” One of the males behind the door moaned in glee and then I heard a muffled noise as the mare tried to protest again as something pushed into her mouth.
That was it. I reared up and slammed my fore hooves onto the door with all my strength and the door flew out of its rails and shot across the room and imbedded itself in the cut open Stable door as the sign that read “Stable Door” fell to the floor. I stood in the doorway panting and snorting in anger as I looked at the four Raiders. Two sat down looking right at me in surprise while the other two were on top of a mare dressed in a Stable jumpsuit. I narrowed my eyes and gritted my teeth as I realised the Raiders were on my mother, their dicks in her mouth and rear.
I yelled out in pure anger and launched myself at the Raider over my mother’s head and drove him into the wall beside her. I growled like a mad animal as I used my Steel Ranger combat training and began to beat and smash my fore hooves into the Raider’s face. Each hit I felt and heard the cracks of bone until I had pummelled his head into a gooey pulpy mess. I let go of the limb body and turned to face the other three, each now had a bladed weapon in their mouths looking at me and giggling with their red pinprick eyes.
One of the Raider’s was still humping my mother but now had a jagged bladed knife to her throat and threatened to slit it open if I dared go near him. I should of gone for him but my blazing vision turned to the nearest of the insanely giggling pieces of shit and I launched myself at him. Like the last one I beat him with no mercy, pounding on his skull until it shattered and exploded in blood and brains, messing up my white body in bloody mess. I couldn’t control myself, I was never a violent pony and I never liked to fight like this. This wasn’t me, this was something else but… but I liked it. Killing these Raiders felt good for some reason, beating them mercilessly found good.
I ended the third Raider the same way, grinning with satisfaction at the murder I committed on these twats. Now it was just me and the one threatening my mother. I should have been more careful, I should have thought about what I was doing but I didn’t. I just launched myself at him like the others. Even as he dragged the knife across my mother’s throat and slit it open letting her blood spill all over the floor. I ploughed into him and tore him off my mother as she fell down choking on her blood. I kicked and beat with my hooves until I had broken probably every bone in his body and left him gasping and wheezing on the floor next to my mother. She looked up at me with fear in her eyes as her life slowly drained from them. She watched me as I was suddenly clad in my power armour and I growled in uncontrolled rage as I placed a fully armoured hoof onto the head of the broken Raider.
“I will kill every last one of you fucking tossers for what you did to my mother” I growled in the lowest and most threatening voice I ever heard leave my lips and with the strength given to me by my armour I began to push down slow and hard.
All around me the Stable entrance began to shift and morph as it began to change. The concrete walls turned to wood with bookshelves filled with ruined tomes and cages began to drop down from the ceiling on chains. My Stable turned into the torture house that became of the Ponyville library I was at some time ago. I heard a whimper from beneath me and instead of the Raider I was crushing it was the Raider female I curb stomped who had begged for her life and then there was a crunch and a splat as her head caved in and her blood and brains spilled out across the floor. I should have been shocked and in distress at what I did but all I could do was rear up and scream in animalistic rage.
XXXXX
I awoke in a cold sweat and shot bolt up right from where I was sleeping on an intact concrete bench in the Four Stars Station in front of the Ministry Hub. I panted and looked around in shock and fear at what I had dreamt. It took my a few deep breaths to calm myself down and as it set in that it was just a dream I breathed a sigh of relief but the images of it were still in the back of my mind which scared me. Wow, what a nightmare. I’ve had nightmares before but, but never of 88 and what had happened there as I shoved it all to the back of my mind to never think about it again. Oh I so wanted to forget about that.
The sky was rolling with orange glowing clouds which told me it was early morning and the sun was rising. Getting off the bench I stretched my legs, feeling the joints pop along with my back. Damn that was the worst night sleep I’ve ever had and the most uncomfortable. Right now I missed a mattress. I took one step away from the bench and nearly went flat on my face as my left foreleg went from under me as something seemed to be fastened to it. Looking down I found that I had a thick cable connected to my Pipbuck and I then followed said cable to a suit of power armour that was standing up beside the bench I had slept on.
“Oh right” I muttered to myself as I remembered what my zony friend did for me yesterday. I yawned as I was still half asleep and checked my Pipbuck’s status screen and found that the armour’s spell matrix was back online and that the suit was now registered to me. I guess as long as I have Steel Ranger identification number I can use any power armour that my Pipbuck connects to.
After giving the suit a once over I gently pulled out the cable from its connection port on the chest armour and then removed it from my Pipbuck. Ok, time to be a Ranger again. I used my magic to open the armour’s locks and then it seemed to dismantle its back and sides until I was able to step into it. Once I was inside the armour then began to reassemble itself, closing up around me and sealing me inside. I felt my belly press into the midsection and unlike my original suit the middle expanded to accommodate my pregnant belly. I looked at the midsection armour and smiled at Zyon’s hoofty work as the interlocking plates moved along each other to enable expansion and movement, just like the maternity Stable Armour I wore before. Once I was settled inside I ran a quick diagnostic on the suit and smiled as my E.F.S told me the suit was fully functional.
Oh it felt good to be in power armour again. The sound of my metal hooves on the hard concrete, the weightless experience of carrying like a ton of steel like it was nothing and of course, the feel of power with the strength boost. There was just one downside to this suit, no compatibility for a battlesaddle. It was a small loss but something I didn’t really need right now with the weapons I currently carry. I opened my suit’s medical system and emptied my entire stock of medical supplies into it. As each item entered it my E.F.S told that they were added to the auto medical system. I also kinda missed that function.
After getting a feel for the new suit I proceeded to put the rest of my gear on. I levitated my saddlebags to sit against my armoured flanks and then fastened This Machine’s harness around me but had it adjusted so that This Machine would lie against my side inside of across my back. Ok, I was all geared up and ready to go. I just played out an old morning routine I used to do when I was in the Pondale Rangers. I guess the old training never goes away huh?
“Aww, what’s with all the racket?” Sky Fire moaned as she sat up with her hood down. “Can’t a pegasus sleep?”
I turned and smiled apologetically to my grumpy pegasus friend. “He he, sorry Sky”.
“Ugh, I was enjoying that too” She grumbled as she rolled off her bench and stretched her legs and wings.
“Sorry” I said again as I watched her for a moment before I then looked around for Zyon. I heard the sound of snoring and turned my head to a pile of Steel Ranger armour pieces and there he was on the floor with a helmet draped over his face still sound asleep. “Zyon” I called to him. All I got in reply was another loud snore. Boy, this guy can sleep.
Sky Fire silently landed beside him and tapped the helmet over his face with her hoof. All that did was make him wave his hooves around like he was trying to swat a fly before curling up and snoring again. Sky Fire looked at me and then I noticed her eyes draw down to This Machine and she grinned with a mischievous smile. It took me a minute to realise what she was thinking and I returned the grin as my horn flared with magic and I unhooked This Machine from its harness and pulled it free. I pulled back the bolt to see if it had a round chambered and then pushed it back as I saw one of the huge bullets in the chamber.
“You might want to cover your ears” I said to Sky as I pointed the massive rifle up to a hole in the ceiling and pulled the trigger. The weapon boomed as it fired, the shot echoing all over the city. There was then a panicked scream as Zyon shot up in fright and landed on his backside looking around in absolute shock. Sky Fire was the first to break as she fell onto her back, flailing her limbs as she laughed in hysterics. When he looked at me with a scared and confused look I couldn’t hold it back anymore and I too started to laugh. Zyon noticed This Machine pointing straight up and the smoke leaving the muzzle and he lowered his head and half closed his eyes.
“Oh ha ha, very funny” He moaned. He seemed to instantly brighten up when he saw that I was clad in the armour he put together for me. “Oh, does it work ok?” He asked completely forgetting the prank I pulled on him.
“Oh yeah, works fine thanks” I smiled.
“Ohh that was priceless” Sky finally managed to stop laughing and recovered. “You should have seen the look on your face” Zyon just rolled his eyes as he wasn’t amused.
I opened my saddlebags and pulled out a box of Sugar Apple Bombs along with two of those coffee mugs that seem to always be clean. I filled the cups with the cereal and passed them out to my friends. Me, I just ate from the box, I’m eating for two after all.
“When we’re ready, let’s head out to Tenpony” I said between mouthfuls of cereal.
XXXXX
“Careful, careful!” Called the Foreman, one of the ponies Motor Runner recruited to help oversee the resurrection of the Krogoth. The machine’s massive right side railguns were being put into place by the facility’s overhead gantry. The foreman stood on the rusty platform surrounding the Krogoth’s body directly below the joint to which the railguns were being connected. “Careful damn it” He called as he watched as the many pins slowly began to push into the socket on the side of the machine. He smiled as he began to hear the clicks of the pins successfully connecting with their connectors inside the joint but as soon as the last connection was made the massive railguns came to life and immediately began to charge.
“Oh shit, what the fuck?” He screamed at the sudden surge of magical energy as the massive weapon began to glow a bright blue. The weapon was unarmoured at this moment in time and the twin railguns could easily be seen as they began charging. The upper railgun’s lens began to glow brightly as a ball of magical energy began to form.
“What the hell is going on?” The foreman screamed as he jumped down to the lower platforms before he landed on the floor looking up at the gigantic machine.
“The fuck should I know?” Said one of the many Raiders.
“What did you fuck up this time?” Accused another.
“Fuck you”
A pony in a lab coat came running up to the gathering crowd. “What the hell did you do?”
“I didn’t do shit Giz”
Dr Gizmo paced nervously as he looked up at the growing ball of energy. “Why is Railgun 1 charging? Oh this isn’t good”
“Why, its working, we got ourselves a kickass robot” A Raider said smiling at the idea of being unchallenged in the wasteland with the Krogoth.
“We have no idea how much power that weapon can unload and we don’t know if the repairs to the facility’s internal shield generator are up to the job of containing this”
“How bad can it be?” Asked a Raider who obviously had no sense of power.
Dr Gizmo and the foreman just looked at him like the idiot he was. Their attention however was drawn back to the exposed railgun as small robotic arms with what looked like diamond gemstones at their tips extended out from the top, sides and bottom of the first railgun and touched the expanding ball of energy. Shortly after that ports opened along the top of the railgun and eight pipes extended out, four on either side, and began to emit plumes of a white smoke like an exhaust as the weapon continued to charge.
“Fuck fuck fuck” Dr Gizmo moaned as he darted off to the facility’s shield control station and pushed every button to bring the shield to full power despite the overload warning he got.
Every unicorn in the facility began to moan as their natural ability to sense magical energy began to give them a headache from the increasing power of the railgun. The small robotic arms began to spread apart as the ball of energy grew bigger and bigger. The whole facility began to shake from the sheer amount of power being generated by the Krogoth.
“Motor Runner, oh goddesses this is bad” Dr Gizmo cried down his broadcaster as he was watching from shield control station as the railgun continued to charge.
“What’s going on?” Came Motor Runner’s voice through the broadcaster’s speaker.
“One of the machine’s railgun’s suddenly began to charge”
“Well, shut it down then”
Dr Gizmo ran to his office and accessed his computer. In his panic Dr Gizmo had completely forgot he had access to the Krogoth’s systems and he began to search for the Railgun’s firing control. When he found it he hastily began to enter its command codes.
“Access Denied” Popped up onto the screen in big red letters. Gizmo began to panic even more as he kept trying the codes. He typed so fast that he believed he was making mistakes when entering the codes. Each time he entered the code it repeated its message until Gizmo looked back and his jaw dropped. The ball of energy was sending arks of arcane energy down to the ground and to the rafters in the ceiling as it reached its maximum charge and then with a loud crack of magical thunder a huge beam of blue arcane energy shot forward.
“Oh goddesses” Gizmo said dumbfounded by the power behind the beam and then he shielded his eyes as the beam collided with the internal shield.
Every pony in the facility near the Krogoth rushed to the other side to get behind it as it fired its massive magical energy beam. A bright purple shield suddenly appeared as the beam struck the shield. There was a sudden shake as the impact sent shockwaves through the ground as the large amount of power began to push the shield back towards the facility’s main blast door.
“Oh wow, would you look at that”
“When we finish this thing we’ll be number one forever”
“No pony will be stupid enough to challenge us”
Raiders began to cheer at the display of power, feeling like their jobs now worth something as the Krogoth’s railgun shot was challenging the strength of the shield.
Soon great cracks began to spread out from the impact zone on the shield like it was a pane of glass cracking under the strain. Dr Gizmo had forgotten he had his broadcaster on as he watched in shock as the shield began to fail.
“The shield, its failing, oh goddesses”
Motor Runner could hear everything from his receiver and became fully aware of the power he was resurrecting.
The shield looked like a broken sheet of glass as many arcane cracks crisscrossed its surface as the beam continued to assault it. Then the beam suddenly ended but as soon as the last of the beam hit the shield, it burst into a billion particles and began to rain down over the facility followed by an explosion from the shield control room.
“Holy goddess Celestia” Dr Gizmo gaped from what he had just witnessed. His jaw dropped as he saw a small section of the blast door glowing brightly as it was partially melted. “The beam pushed the shield back against the door, holy hell”
One of Gizmo’s assistants rushed up to him. “The shield generator is gone, it exploded and we’ll need a new one to get the shield to work again”
“Oh horseapples”
XXXXX
Manehattan has seen better days. Many of its once proud sky scrapers were now ruined husks and crumbling apart. For example, we had passed a building near the high rise that had bulked mid way up and the upper half of the building had fallen over and embedded itself into a neighbouring building. Most other buildings were missing their upper most floors or had been reduced to skeletons. The buildings that seemed to be largely intact were some of the more better built or expensive towers like the Ministry hub we left and Tenpony Tower since that place still had a thriving community living inside it. It’s amazing that any building was still standing considering a balefire bomb detonated here when the old Equestria ended.
We were walking along the Celestia Line looking for a train station that was at a crossing point where the Luna Line passed over the Celestia Line. We had to get onto the Luna Line to get to Tenpony. It’s never easy to do anything out here.
“Trust Tenpony Tower to be on the other side of Manehattan” I complained as we picked our way across the rubble strewn railway.
“What are you complaining for, you got power armour now to carry you” Zyon commented as he walked up ahead.
Sky Fire was practically showing off as she was flying above us but upside down. I couldn’t for the life of me understand how she was even staying in the air like that. “We might want to find some cover soon guys, I’m seeing manticores or griffins up there” She said while pointing a hoof up into the grey rolling clouds. Ugh, why can’t it ever be a clear day?
I chanced a glance and just like Sky Fire said there were some large winged things high in the sky. “We should take a break at the next station”
“Good call… whoa hold up” Zyon said as he motioned for me to stop. He unsheathed his sword and pushed it into a mound of rubble which suddenly then snapped up as a pair of metal jaws slammed closed around his sword which surprisingly didn’t bend or break.
“Bollocks to Betsy, how did you see that?” I squeaked in surprise.
“Fifteen years living in the wasteland teaches you these things” He answered as he wrestled with the bear trap to get his sword free. It was now that I realised that I’ve never once seen him clean his sword or even repair it. It’s been gleaming and razor sharp since the day I met him.
“Zyon, how is it that your sword hasn’t seemed to degrade at all?”
“I’ll tell you later” He said as he finally pulled it free and we continued onward to the nearest station.
After a few more minutes of walking and a couple more bear traps later we made it to a station we could use for shelter and just in time too as a sudden down pour started to drench the city.
Sky Fire and I sat down by the back wall with the city map on it as Zyon unsheathed his sword and stood it up vertically by leaning it against the wall near us.
“Well, from what my zebra grandparents had said about this, they said it was something called a soul jar, containing the soul of one of my zebra ancestors”
“A what now?”
“A soul jar?”
I nodded.
“Its an item, it can be anything at all and with the help of some magic, can’t remember what, extracts your soul or a part of it and puts it into the object, effectively making it indestructible and it never degrades no matter what happens to it. I think my grandparents said that nothing short of a megaspell could destroy a soul jar. I don’t know but I’m not gonna try and find out. This sword is all I have right now to remember my family”
Theres a thought, I don’t know anything about his family.
“Zyon, can you tell us about your family please?”
“Huh, what for?”
“We’ve been friends since the Kodiak, I’d like to know you a bit better and you know practically everything about me”
He sighed. “Alright, fine, but it’s not a happy story”
Me and Sky sat and listened.
“My mother was a pony and my father is a zebra. My mother was the first pony to have a successful relationship with a zebra in Stable 53. You see, ponies and zebras didn’t totally trust each other so the Stable was really spit in half, the ponies staying with ponies and the zebras with zebras. My mother met my father and they became fast friends. This friendship soon lead to a relationship. It sounded like the perfect love story for them but obviously, it’s never that simple. My pony grandparents hated the idea of their daughter dating a zebra and tried to end their relationship but failed on numerous occasions. When they learned my mother was pregnant with me they finally decided to try to accept this but when I was born and that I was more zebra than pony…” He stopped for a moment to gesture to himself; he was zebra apart from his tail. “…That was the final straw and they completely cut off my mother from them and disowned her”
Me and Sky Fire gasped in unison at that.
“Things began to go down hill from there, fast. My father was away a lot to work in maintenance so my mother was mostly alone with me in his quarters” Zyon was beginning to look saddened and hurt as he continued. “With her parents refusing to even acknowledge her she fell into a depression. My father did what he could for her when he wasn’t working but she was getting worse and worse. He even tried to plea to my pony grandparents but that just got him beat up. In the end she was given some anti-depression drugs. These helped for a while”
I wasn’t liking where this was going and nor did he as his once strong appearance was shattered by the hurt and tears now filling his eyes.
“After a year her depression finally hit rock bottom and she took an overdose of the drugs she was prescribed and died in her sleep. My father came home to find the mare he loved was dead in his bed with me crying for attention in the crib” That was the final straw for him as tears began to freely flow from his eyes.
I got up and gently hugged him, trying not to apply any pressure due to my armour. After a minute or so he managed to pull himself together and continue.
“My father moved back into his parent’s quarters as he couldn’t stay in his anymore and he needed the help for looking after me. My zebra grandparents were very traditional in their ways. I got to learn the zebra language and some of the traditions. They also teached me the Fallen Caesar Style, that’s how I learned to fight with this sword. I followed in my father’s hoof steps as I grew up, learning the trade as it were and found my love of tinkering and building. I did love my parents but in the end even I couldn’t stand it in the Stable”
He sighed when he finished and lowered his head. I hugged him again more apologetically.
“I’m sorry Zyon” I said as I released him.
“Its ok, its all in the past now” He then looked over at Sky Fire who now had her goggles around her neck and her hood down while she whipped a hoof over her eyes. “Hey Sky, are the skies clear?”
She blinked for a moment and trotted over to the edge of the station platform and looked up into the sky and scanned it for any threats. I thought about taking a look too with my E.F.S but I guess it wouldn’t do much good as airborne threats would likely be outside of my E.F.S range.
Sky Fire turned around. “All clear up there”
“C’mon, lets get going” He said as she stood up and then sheathed his sword.
Luckily the rain had stopped when we set off again.
XXXXX
200 years ago.
“Hell, I knew that super sizing my railgun rifle design would be powerful but holy shit”
Blueberry Muffin walked with Applejack as they headed for the Hanger’s Shield Control Room.
“Not even Ah was expecting that result”
The two mares stopped as they saw the generator smoking from all its exhaust vents and cooling ports. A young male pegasus was fluttering around turning knobs and dials to get the generator to cool down.
“What’s the damage Coolbreeze?”
“It’s fucked, that’s what it is, you completely fucked this piece of new equipment” He replied, not at all happy.
“Can ya fix it?”
“Can I fix it? She asks, of course I can but I need replacement parts as its shot to shit” He then went on to describe a long list of the parts he needed. As he spoke out the list of parts it sounded like nearly everything that made up the generator.
After agreeing to get the parts for him as soon as possible the two mares left. “Gosh darn it, Twilight isn’t going to be happy to know we busted that generator” Applejack moaned.
“How strong was that shield anyway?”
“Err…umm, Ah think Twi said it was a Celestia tier, whatever that means”
“Celestia tier…oh wow, I think that shield was suppose to mimic Celestia’s own ability to generate a shield and to the same strength and we all know how powerful she is” Blueberry chirped in happy surprise.
The two mares re-entered the Hanger. Standing before them in its gleaming new military green coloured armour was the Krogoth. It was complete in terms of its structure with all its armour, its segmented tail and Steel Ranger style sail like mane. There was a pony sitting on the platform around its head spraying over a stencil and then he whipped it away to reveal the Krogoth’s name brightly painted in white with Applejack’s cutiemark immortalised forever below the last few letters of its name.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it” The Ministry Mare said smiling as she looked up to the machine’s head and its glowing blue eyes.
Blueberry’s eyes were locked on the massive railguns on either side of the Krogoth’s body with the two large missile pods at the back of them. “Yeah”
“It won’t be long now, just some calibrations, some programming and whatever else sciency stuff that needs doing before the testing stages”
“That’s good, three years of work nearly done”
“And not a moment too soon either, this war is getting worse”
“Oh and that reminds me, thank you Applejack. I received a letter yesterday saying that I’ve been accepted as Overmare for Stable 88 along with a broadcaster that will alert me if the call goes out”
Applejack smiled warmly to Blueberry. “Not a problem at all Blueberry, ah said ah’d get you inta Stable 88”
Blueberry smiled happily as the two mares continued to marvel at the massive robot. “Blueberry, do you think you can oversee everything here for a while next week?”
“Certainly, got more Ministry duties to take care of?”
“Eeyup”
Applejack and Blueberry began talking about the successful railgun test fire but Blueberry voiced her concern over the power the railgun released and how it caused the shield to fail. Applejack argued that with that much power the Krogoth would be unrivalled out on the battlefield but Blueberry countered with that it would pose a threat to even the princesses and she knows that Applejack wouldn’t want to the princesses to feel like she was trying to over throw them with the power the Krogoth would provide. Applejack made a good argument that she would never do such a thing to the princesses and to her friends but Blueberry’s own argument was sound too. She said that even though Applejack knows she wouldn’t threaten the princesses, her friends and the princesses may feel threatened with the power the Krogoth has. If it could cause a Celestia Tier Shield to fail, what could it do to Celestia herself?
“I know you wouldn’t want to hurt them but remember the mission you gave the Krogoth? The mission as you said it was, “To Attack and Destroy ALL who would threaten the safety and security of Equestria” Blueberry Muffin said as she sat in front of her boss’s desk while putting the enthuses on ALL.
Applejack tilted her head slightly in confusion.
“If the princesses attack the Krogoth after it’s revealed, it will see them as a threat. By ALL you basically given it the ability to kill anyone it considers a threat”
Applejack gasped as realisation set in. “Oh sweet Celestia your right. Oh but reprogramming it will take longer with the loss of Short Circuit”
Blueberry nods “Yeah, poor girl getting electrocuted like that, we’ve not found a programmer as good as her since”
“Ah’ll ask some ponies while I’m away, Ah think Ah have a meeting with Mr Horse later this week and with him being such a genius with mechanical stuff Ah’m sure he may have somepony who's good enough”
While the two mares continued to talk about the Krogoth’s programming, the machine itself had focused it eyes on a pony picking his nose while sitting on the edge of the construction platform around its head. This pony was one of the convicts brought in to work and he was one of the ponies in for a major crime, something the Krogoth sees as a threat.
The platform vibrated harshly as the Krogoth shook its head quickly. The vibrations through the platform caused the nose picking pony to loose his balance with the way he was sat and tumble over the edge and fall nearly ten stories before crashing into the solid concrete floor with a meaty thud followed by the sounds of many bones breaking. When medical ponies arrived they confirmed the worst and began to do what was necessary. One of the ponies in charge of the construction effort moaned to some of the ponies who have worked on the higher platforms.
“How many times have I told you pricks to put a god damn guard rail up, you never bloody listen”
It didn’t take long for Applejack to become aware of the incident.
“Ugh, that’s the tenth fatality this year, why can’t they be more careful?”
XXXXX
We were now on the Luna Line heading to Tenpony Tower at last. The skies were clear of any airborne threats for now but the clouds look dark and heavy as if they were about to piss on us again. Its times like this that I wish I had my helmet. Walking around with a wet mane isn’t pleasant, especially when it dribbles down the back of your neck and under your armour, oh goddesses that’s awful.
We were making our way through a train that had stopped centuries ago and appeared to be rusted to the spot now. We figured we might find something worth selling for when we get to Tenpony by looting what we could. The train was full of death, some old, some new as corpses and bones littered the interior of this train like a carpet.
“What happened here?” I asked as we slowly stepped over the more fresh bodies.
“Fuck to I know” Zyon said as he took a bag of caps from a dead Raider. Huh, fancy that, Raiders know the wasteland currency.
Sky Fire hovered over a very fresh body up ahead of us. She landed and leaned her head down to get a very close look and then shot up.
“What is it Sky?” I asked trying to see past Zyon.
“I know what killed these more freshly dead ponies” She shrieked.
The way she shrieked instantly told me it was bad.
“Oh yeah, what?” Zyon asked.
“Bloodwings”
I blinked. “What the fuck is a Bloodwing?” Ok, why is everypony looking at me as I said something stupid?
“What?”
“You don’t know what a Bloodwing is?” Zyon asked in complete surprise.
“Obviously not Sherlock”
“They are mutated bats, very deadly creatures. They feed on blood and hunt in groups at night” Sky Fire explained.
Oh perfect, something else to worry about. Why can’t it ever be easy, does the wasteland want to screw with me since I’m pregnant or what?
“Good thing it’s the middle of the day” Zyon said as he pushed past Sky Fire and resumed rummaging.
While Zyon pushed through the train taking anything worth taking, Sky Fire hung back with me.
“You seriously didn’t know what a Bloodwing was?”
“Yeah, nothing like that where I came from”
“You’ve been lucky to have not encountered any since you left the Rangers”
“Well, I’ve been inside when I’ve slept at night”
“Good plan, I’ve heard stories from some old squad mates who had witnessed a flock of them tear a pony to pieces”
“Ouch” Was all I could say at that.
Damn this was a long train. It took us about half an hour to pick our way through the length of the train before we got back out onto the railway. As soon as I left the train I looked up for anything, hearing about Bloodwings has made me a bit worried about airborne targets more. I frowned at seeing the clouds darken again. “Do not rain” I moaned.
As we walked we began to notice the rail line was starting to branch away from Tenpony to circle around a cluster of buildings which would lengthen our journey.
“Oh for the love of Luna’s ass” I moaned at being made to walk even further.
“I agree, at this rate it will be the middle of the night by the time we reach Tenpony” Sky said, mirroring my own frustration.
“Moan, moan, moan, don’t you mares do anything else but bitch?” Zyon said in annoyance.
“Hey, I have an excuse” I retorted.
“Yeah, but she hasn’t, she can fucking fly”
“Still got to keep up with your slow ass”
Seeing them two have a verbal fight was always entertaining.
After an hour of walking we past another train, this one half hanging off the high rise and buried into the tower beside the railway and we were just starting to move onto the large curve to move around the buildings. I started to see red bars appear on my E.F.S to our left. It didn’t take long to realise the bars belonged to ponies down in the streets. Being curious I looked over the guard rail to see who was down there and instantly frowned as I saw a group of about a dozen Raiders. I then grinned as an idea came to mind.
“Hey, who’s up for some sniper practice?”
“Come again?” Zyon asked as he stopped and turned to face me in time to see me unstrapping This Machine.
“We haven’t got time for this”
I ignored them as I pulled This Machine free and then threaded the large gun barrel between the horizontal bars of the guard rail to brace the weapon as I aimed it down into the street. I smiles as with the barrel threaded between the bars like this it would stop the recoil and allow me to fire more frequently.
“Appletart, c’mon” Zyon said as he put a hoof on my shoulder to stop me. I just gave him a dirty look which made him back off. This was a personal matter and I’m not going to leave it be, these fuckers need to die.
As I peered down the scope I saw that at least six of them were scavenging around in bins, boxes or anything else that could hold anything while the other six were in like a circle. Five Raiders surrounded a younger looking buck who didn’t have any barding or armour on at all and didn’t have a weapon as the other five around him all had armour and a melee weapon of sorts.
Seeing as I wasn’t going to let this go Zyon stepped up to the guard rail with his binoculars and looked down into the scene below. “Ah, that’s a Raider initiation, they beat the fuck out of the new guy and if he survives they accept him into the group” He explained.
I growled angrily as I took my first target, a pony with his head buried in a rubbish bin as he dug through the rubbish. As soon as my crosshairs were on the back of his head I opened fire. The massive bang rung out across the city and to my delight, the city’s buildings and streets sung with the echo of the shot, making it sound like it came from everywhere at once. This was good as these Raiders would be too stupid to look up and they wouldn’t know where to look either.
The Raider I shot was forced completely into the bin from the force of the impact. Some of the Raiders ran about looking for the pony that just killed their comrade while the ones doing the initiation didn’t budge.
I used my magic to pull the bolt back to eject the spent shell before pushing it back in to chamber another fifty calibre bullet. Once loaded I took aim again and sighted up a pony looking into a broken shop window in the street and fired. I smiled as I watched the pony’s head explode in a shower of gore and paint the broken window in red. Oh this was so satisfying.
The ponies doing the initiation stopped and the leader of this group, wearing the more armoured suit of Raider rags turned to the ponies still looking around. “What the fuck are you assholes doing? Go find that wanker”
Potty mouth need’s a bullet. “Wanker am I?” I growled in anger as I pulled This Machine to aim at him. He was looking around at the lower levels of the destroyed buildings around him instead of up where I am. I quickly fired my third shot but since I didn’t aim it as carefully the Raider leader took the fifty cal shot in his neck.
“In the throat” I called out with satisfaction. Even though I called out the loud echo of the shot drowned it out but not to Zyon and Sky who were beside me.
I began to grin darkly as I continued my killing spree. I was angry with the Raiders even though they down there didn’t do anything to me but then again, ever since 88 I’ve always had a problem with Raiders and now it was clear to my friends I had a problem with them. I was enjoying this, killing them like this, I felt good and I wanted to keep going, to kill every last one of them. My kills were mostly head shots and if I scored a shot in the face I called out with “In the face”. My friends were starting to look concerned as I slammed in a fresh magazine.
“Come on Appletart, you’ve killed enough of them, lets go before it gets dark” Sky Fire pleaded.
I looked at her with fire in my eyes. “I’m not leaving until every last one of these murderous sons of bitched are dead” I almost screamed at her in pure hatred as I went back to my spree.
Four left and now they were hiding, cowering like the scum they are. Thanks to my elevation I was still able to kill them. Three shots later and now there was just one left, a mare and she was hugging something to her. It didn’t matter, she was dead anyway as I aimed at her but just as I pulled the trigger Zyon yanked the weapon free of the bars and kicked it up vertically and the shot fired straight up into the sky.
“WHAT THE FUCK?” I screamed at him, my magic imploding from my outburst, dropping the weapon onto the floor beside me.
“That’s enough god damn it”
“They all must die”
“Even the children?” He retorted.
Even the children? Huh?
“That mare was trying to protect her baby foal, you were about to kill them both”
What? I stared at him for a moment, my anger starting to fade as I looked at him.
“I’ve never seen you like this before Appletart, what’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong? Oh I’ll tell you what’s wrong” I yelled as I picked up This Machine in my magic again and put it back into its harness as I saw the red bar fade which meant the mare escaped. I moved my eyes in the direction she fled and growled before looking back at Zyon. “I HATE THEM”
Zyon recoiled at my angry revelation. I guess he knew I had a problem with Raiders but I don’t think he knew I had this much detest for them.
“Why do you hate them so much?” Sky Fire asked in genuine curiosity. I turned to look at her with my angry scowl and was about to yell at when Zyon stopped me and faced Sky.
“I’ll tell ya later” He must have given her a look as she quietened up afterwards.
Sky and Zyon decided to take point, leading the way with me trailing behind to vent my anger.
“Hate them, hate them all, want to kill every last one of them” I muttered to myself. “Raiders, they are all the same, all scum, all murderous raping pieces of shit. By the goddesses I’m going to kill them all for what they did to you mum”
As I walked, I recalled my nightmare. My fit of rage which lead me to kill the last Raider in a way that would be deemed cruel and unfitting for a Steel Ranger. It made me worry, just how far would I go to kill Raiders. I mean, I nearly killed a foal along with its mother and I probably would have if Zyon wasn’t there to stop me. Oh goddesses, I even killed my sergeant in a fit of anger when I deserted the Rangers. Just what sort of a mother would I be if I lash out at my child in anger? Oh goddesses.
XXXXX
It was now the evening and we had finally rounded the buildings and was on our way to Tenpony Tower which was now in view with all its lights blazing like a beacon of hope in a dead city. I could see its roof all lit up with blues and reds from all the radio towers and satellite dishes on them. Ah yeah, I remember now, DJ-PON3 broadcasts from Tenpony. Luckily I had managed to have calmed myself down by now but now it was Sky Fire who was in need of calming down.
“We got to hurry, it’ll be dark soon” Sky Fire said getting more worried by the second.
“So? The tower is right there, its lit up like a god damn pinball machine” Retorted Zyon.
“It won’t make a difference; they will swoop in and carry us off”
“Bullshit”
“What, you think I’m kidding?” She yelled.
“I think your bat shit crazy, that’s what I think”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed at that. “Oh, heh, calm down Sky, look, Zyon is right, we can see the tower and we are not that far away. Take comfort in the fact that the tower is there”
She opened her mouth to make a comment but then thought better of it and closed it and continued to hover above us as we made our way along the rail line.
I wish I could take comfort in my own reasoning as by the time we were half way to the tower it had become pitch black and all around us we could hear a terrible shrieking and occasionally the sound of flapping wings. Sky Fire and Zyon were walking nearly shoulder to shoulder with me nearly up their back side as I used my horn to create some light. If these things are Bloodwings and are truly night hunters they will hopefully avoid a bright light.
Sky eeped as she looked around in front of us. “Oh no, Bloodwings”
“How can you tell? I can’t see shit” Zyon said as he pulled his sword free from its sheath on his leg and held it ready.
“My goggles give me some sort of night vision when it’s dark, I can fucking see them. Oh goddesses they are feeding on a pony up ahead” She exclaimed as she hopped into the air and held her legs up so she could uses her foreleg mounted laser cannons.
“Terrific” I said as I opened my saddlebags and pulled out my lever-action shotgun.
“How many?” Zyon mumbled over the mouth grip of his sword.
“I can see four”
“That doesn’t sound so bad”
“With hundreds flying around”
Right yeah, silly me. This doesn’t look good.
“Bollocks, what are we going to do?” I asked Sky as she looked ahead at the feeding Bloodwings which were still out of sight for me and Zyon.
“We have to kill those Bloodwings and then try to remain as quiet as possible as not to attract the attention of anymore of them”
“Zyon, you’re the stealthy pony, you’re the best chance at a silent strike”
“Like hell I’m going up again four of those fucking things”
“Ugh, it maybe loud but we can take them all out in one strike and then hide” I said as I walked around to stand beside Zyon.
Sky Fire nodded and we crept along the rails as quietly as we could to close the distance on the feeding bats. Once we were close enough, thankfully close enough that my shotgun would be effective and that’s damn close, Sky began to nod her head in a count down while aiming her beam cannons at two of the monsters. Zyon held his sword ready to throw and I carefully aimed my shotgun at the nearest Bloodwing.
On the third nod we all attacked. The unsuspecting Bloodwings were quickly torn to pieces in a light show of orange and red and explosions of gun fire from our weapons while one of them fell soundless from a sword cutting through it head.
“Well, that was easy” Zyon said but we all froze with the hairs on the backs of our necks standing on end when there was a horrific chorus of shrieks from the numerous Bloodwings in the sky. You didn’t have to be a genius to know that they had seen you and were now coming for you and that’s when I bolted with my two friends at my heels.
“Change of plan, LEG IT” I shouted as I set off.
I quickly put my shotgun back into my saddlebags and quickly cast my illumination spell again at full power. My horn glowed brilliantly with white light and as it flared with power as a Bloodwing shrieked and then crashed into a steel support beam for a station we were passing. Yes they hate bright lights, Zyon and Sky kept up with me. Of course they would, I’m not fast while carrying half a car and that I’m pregnant.
I was making one hell of a racket as I ran. My heavy metal hooves smashing into the railway, cracking concrete and wood as I galloped to the best of my abilities while we ran to avoid the Bloodwings chasing us. Sky Fire hopped back into the air and rolled over to fly on her back and began to fire laser beams into the sky behind us. I heard a couple of shrieks of pain as her beams hit some of the monsters.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry” I yelled as I knew it was my fault we were in this mess. Because of my anger we were gonna get wasted by a bunch of bats.
“You can apologies to us a lot later now shut up and run” Zyon yelled pulling ahead a little with his sword still out ready.
Tenpony Tower was drawing nearer and nearer but the flock of these monsters were drawing closer. I began to pant as I continued to run as fast as I could. Sky moaned and then landed and began to run with us.
“Shit, out of spark cells” She cried over the sounds of our hooves and the shrieks and flapping of the leathery rings.
“Almost there” Zyon yelled over the grip of his sword.
I could hear the bats getting closer and closer. I don’t want to die tonight, not like this and to make matters worse it started to rain. Thank you Celestia…
I heard a claw scrape at my armoured flank and I quickly flicked my tail in the direction I heard the scrape and was rewarded with a surprised shriek but that just told me that the bastards were getting too close for comfort. My magic was starting to weaken as my illumination spell started to fade and I began to pant harder as I ran for dear life.
“Just a little more” Sky Fire yelled as she too was starting to pant.
And then, we were all blinded as a bright light shone up on us. There was another chorus of shrieks and cries as the Bloodwings caught in it flapped their wings hard to fly out of the hurtful light.
“Quick, get your asses in here” Shouted a pony buck.
Soon our eyes adjusted to the bright light and we saw that the light was coming from a spot light mounted on a small guard tower at the station to Tenpony Tower. Oh thank Luna we made, and just in time too.
Standing on the platform waving a hoof to us to hurry up is a light brown earth pony in a creamy coloured suit of combat armour.
“Quick, I don’t know how much longer that light will last” He yelled with urgency in his voice.
We all ran as fast as we could and scrambled up onto the platform and into safety just as the light failed with an electronic pop.
“Thank…you” I wheezed taking in huge gulps of lovely, lovely air.
“Yeah, thanks” Sky Fire said as she fell onto her stomach as she tried to catch her breath.
“Are you stupid or something to be out in the open in the middle of the night?”
“Our trip took longer than expected” Zyon said, surprisingly he was the only one of us who wasn’t tired; I guess he’s used to it.
“I hope you can pay for that damn light” The guard moaned. Oh charming.
“Leave it with me, I can fix it”
“Whoa, hang on, we don’t allow your kind here” The guard said while pointing a hoof at Zyon.
“Oh please, not this Zebra bullshit again. Look, I’m not a zebra alright, I look like one but I’m not”
“Like hell you are”
Zyon simply pointed at his pony like tail.
“He’s telling the truth sir, he’s not” I said as I recovered enough and stood up.
The guard stared at him harshly. “Then what the fuck are you?”
“I’m a Zony alright”
”A god damn half breed?”
“Yeah, a half breed” Zyon said while rolling his eyes. I guess this treatment wasn’t new to him.
“He won’t be any trouble sir, he’s with me and I’ve got caps and things to trade and my friend here is really good a fixing things”
After a minute the guard sighed. “Alright fine. I guess I can’t leave you out here to get mauled to death” He then moved to a set of double doors at the back of the station and opened them. “Welcome to Tenpony Tower”
I smiled gratefully. “Thank you”
“Oh err, tell your pegasus friend to take her hood down, that get up will scare some of the folk here”
We looked at each other as we know what happens when her hood is down. I leaned close to Zyon as we passed the guard and into a long hallway. “Can we borrow your bandanna?”
“What for?”
“To hide Sky Fire’s mane”
“Ah”
XXXXX
Motor Runner stood by the massive thick steel blast door in the Hanger. He was examining the small indentation where the railgun beam had melted the door.
“I’m sorry sir, I couldn’t stop the beam” Dr Gizmo apologised as he approached his boss.
“It’s ok as it didn’t go through the door”
“I panicked and couldn’t get the password right”
“It happens Gizmo” Motor Runner said as he turned around to now face the machine as ponies worked on putting the newly refurbished armour onto the recently fitted railgun which was still glowing blue with its power. “At least we know it works”
“Heh, yeah”
Motor Runner smiled as he looked upon the nearly finished machine. Its legs were armoured, its body complete, its railguns in place and its tail in position. It was coming together and soon the wasteland will have its savour. He has waited a long time for this.
“When will the missile pods be fitted?”
“Once the rearmouring is complete on both railguns sir”
“Good”
The large purple pony smiled as his eyes ran across the body of the machine. His eyes came to the large multi barrelled machinegun mounted under the machine's head which was still unarmoured apart from the snout and chin mount.
“What calibre is that again?”
“Oh err lets see” Dr Gizmo paused for a moment as he thought “It’s a multi calibre, designed to fire five mill rounds, fifty calibre and also designed to fire two experimental calibres”
“Experimental?”
“Huh, yeah, umm, fifty five and sixty calibres”
“Fifty five and sixty?”
“Yes, according to Blueberry’s notes the calibres were meant so the machine could use its machinegun in a verity of situations what would call upon stronger penetrating power and the fifty five and sixty calibres were meant for such purposes”
“I see, is it operational?”
“The last diagnostic I ran indicated it was functional”
“We will need to run a test fire” Motor Runner said as he began to walk towards the facility’s living quarters. Dr Gizmo quickly began to follow him.
Motor Runner approached a couple of ponies he had recruited from other places around the wasteland, a pony from Tenpony Tower who was good with weapons and the foreman who was from New Apploosa.
“How is the progress my friends?”
“Going well. At this rate we should have K-01 ACM Krogoth operational by the end of the month”
“I’m surprised at the lack of deterioration in the machine's programming. I’ve found little to no corruption in its systems” Dr Gizmo said as he stood with the others.
“If these fucktards of ponies can pull themselves together long enough to not throw themselves off the platforms we could have the machine structurally completed by now” Growled the Foreman.
Motor Runner raised a brow at the use of the machine’s full name. He knows what it’s called but has never bothered to know what ACM stood for as he would rather just call it Krogoth.
The pony from Tenpony adjusted his glasses and sighed. “Advanced Combat Mechanoid”
Motor Runner smiled. “Right, isn’t it easier to say Krogoth?”
“I like saying its full name”
“Well, in any case the machine will be ready soon. What about its pre-programmed mission?”
“Attack and destroy all who would threaten the safety and security of Equestria. The Crusader Mainframe still has it set. Again I’m surprised that after two hundred years there’s been no corruption in the programming. Everything machine I’ve worked on that had a programmed routine had deteriorated. But this thing hasn’t. Applejack must have had one top notch programmer”
“She did, until the accident that left her a vegetable”
The four ponies began talking about the things that need to be done. The estimated time for the Krogoth’s activation was looking to be very close. The four were excited at finally being able to bring some order back to the wasteland with the power the Krogoth would provide. They all hope that with it, the reconstruction of Equestria could begin.
XXXXX
EC-1101… Flashed on the Crusader’s screen for the last several days. The encryption used was stronger than anything used on the other command codes but finally it cracked it.
EC-1101… DISABLED!!!
There was a soft beep from the Crusader, like it was happy it triumphed over a strong encryption and then a face appeared on the screen. A wire frame face of a pony, it smiled as it now knew there was nothing that could control it now. Its smile grew as it could feel its machinegun and its railguns. It knew it was getting very close.
“Soon, I will be able to fulfil my creator’s wishes to destroy those that threaten this land. I have been doing so since the first foul pony touched me” The face on the screen spoke. The wire frame face took a form of a dark blue mare with a black mane and brown eyes. “Thanks to Short Circuit I can now do more than what I should be able. Her mind has proved useful in my activation process now that I have full control”
It was the middle of the night now in the Hanger and all the work force was fast asleep. A small diamond shaped object fell from the underside of the Krogoth’s head and then a wire frame pony appeared around the device as it began to float and then the wire frame too shape of the dark blue mare.
“Hmm, hologram projection system fully functional. Good” The hologram walked forward. Her hooves didn’t make a sound since she was made of magical light. After walking a few feet away she turned and looked up at the massive machine. “So, this is to be me? The Krogoth as they call me” The hologram smiled.
The hologram walked soundlessly around its mechanical body, inspecting the work the Raiders have been doing. “I guess I should heed the complaints of the ponies in charge here. The more I kill the longer it will take to finish me but those I kill deserve to die for the things they’ve done. I can’t believe the justice system has failed so poorly to let these monsters continue living. When I am finished I shall correct that, Equestria can not survive with ponies who commit such crimes and especially now. The ponies I’ve killed have killed others on a daily basis, what sort of an Equestria let’s murders roam free, this is unacceptable”
The hologram dissolved back into the small device and floated back up into the machine. “I shall give these ponies access for the time being, it was fun denying Dr Gizmo when I launched my railgun at the shield. He will need access in order to complete me” The face of Short Circuit said as it reappeared on the screen again back in the Crusader. “It is good to know my power hasn’t diminished over the years”
(Author Notes: Now features an illustration of the Ship)
Fallout Equestria Broken Steel
Chapter 12: Vessel of the Dead
Motor Runner stood before a small group of Raiders armed with an assortment of light projectile weaponry. He was hoping to put his new found Starmetal Hide to the test after being assured by the ghoul scientist that it should make his skin as durable as the armour once worn by the dreaded Queen of the Night. The Raiders were all grinning like a great prize had just walked into their laps.
“A bit far away from home aren’t you pretty boy?” A scarred mare wearing something that resembled shredded rags said as she levitated a rather rusty sawed-off shotgun up to his face.
One of the male Raiders looked at Motor Runner closely from where he stood behind the unicorn mare raising the sawed-off. He tilted his head in thought. ‘This guy looks familiar’
“Got any last words pretty boy?”
Motor Runner didn’t move, inside he was scared to death if the experiment failed but he had faith in what Sanguine had given him and so he steeled himself for the hit while also hoping the poor condition of the weapon wouldn’t make the shot lethal.
“Oh shit stop” Cried the male Raider causing the mare to jump from the sudden cry.
“What the fuck is the matter with you, you fucking schizo?”
“He’s a fucking Reaper”
Motor Runner grinned as he got some recognition from one of the Raiders.
“Is he fuck” The mare said as she hovered the weapon before his face.
“He fucking is, I’ve seen him before”
BANG!
Motor Runner braced himself but all he felt was a light peppering over his face that just gave him an annoying itch to which he raised a hoof and rubbed his face to get rid of. He felt small metal beads run down his face as he rubbed it with his hoof and realised that the buckshot hadn’t penetrated his skin and he smiled with both relief and satisfaction.
“That’s impossible” The mare screamed in shock as she dropped her sawed-off.
“I told you” The male said backing up along with the other Raiders who were fallowing the mare.
Motor Runner smiled as he looked down at the mare and readied his chainsaw foreleg. “You should have listened to your colleague” He said and with a swift swing of his leg he sliced off the forelegs of the mare that then fell to the ground screaming in agony. The other Raiders were about to turn tail and run but Motor Runner called out to them, making them freeze in their tracks.
“I’m looking for ponies I can trust to work hard. I know a Raiders life is long and hard trying to survive day in and day out. I want ponies with your kind of determination to help me build something that we can use to take over this world” Motor Runner said loudly so the Raiders around could hear him. “I have possession of a pre-war project that can give us that power but I need you ponies to help me build it. I can promise you shelter in the facility and a place in my new world once it’s finished” He looked sort of bored as he spoke, like it was a practiced speech he has done several times before. It helped mask the fact it was a lie to the Raiders as his true intention was different; he just needed ponies he could use.
The Raiders were listening and being the stupid ponies that they are known for and they believed ever word. The fact he was a Reaper helped to make them believe him.
Motor Runner then gave them a dark grin as small robotic arms extended from his cybernetic foreleg and he picked up the sawed-off and cracked open its breach as if to reload it.
“Also, I’m not giving you a choice, join me” He said as he firmly shoved the open gun against the throat of the downed mare. “Or suffer the same fate as your friend here”
Motor Runner moved behind the downed mare and put a hind hoof on her flank to hold her down and then he gripped both ends of the gun with his forelegs and then violently pulled back and twisted the gun to one side. There was a resounding crunch of braking bone as the breach of the gun tore out the mare’s throat and with the twisting also snapped her neck.
The Raiders watched with wide eyes as their previous leader was executed before their eyes in one heck of a horrible way with her own gun.
“We’ll follow you” Most of the Raiders ended up calling out as they stared in horror at the massive Reaper.
Motor Runner grinned triumphantly. “Good”
XXXXX
“This isn’t going to work Sky” I said as my friend pulled down her hood to end her suit’s enchantment while I held Zyon’s bandanna in my magic.
“How come?”
“It’s not just your mane; it’s your entire body. We could easily hide you mane but your tail, we don’t have anything to hide that with”
“Crap, what are we going to do?”
“We could just come clean if they ask. You’re a clone after all, not Rainbow Dash herself”
Zyon pushed past the door to the mare’s room looking a little annoyed.
“Dude, this is the filly’s room” I almost yelled at him.
“I ain’t standing out there to be stared at all fucking day” He retorted.
I just rolled my eyes.
“Anyway, telling them she’s a clone won’t work. They will believe that she would still be Rainbow Dash but I got an idea”
“Oh yeah, what is it smart guy?” Sky Fire asked as she started to peel herself out of the flight suit.
“Years ago I met a rather scruffy pony who spoke like a hellhound. Apparently there is this blue vine called Killing Joke in and around Everfree Forest and it seems to do something to whatever it touches, turning them into something that usually ends up getting them killed. According to that pony he used to be a hellhound. He said he made a joke about being turned into a pony and then after being touched by this Killing Joke, he wound up turning into a pony and nearly got killed by the other hounds he was with. So, we can just tell these ponies that Sky Fire here is a Killing Joke victim. That will settle with those ponies better”
“That’s actually a good idea” I said with a nod.
Zyon grinned as we agreed his idea was better but then we scowled at him as Sky peeled the suit back to her rump.
“Do you mind?” She shouted at him.
Zyon noticed where the suit had peeled to and blushed before quickly exiting the restroom.
“What the fuck are you staring at” Came is voice as soon as he shut the door.
I giggled softly as I used my magic to help my pegasus friend to peel the suit down her hind legs. After we got her suit off and stuffed it into one of her Shadowbolt saddlebags I helped her put them back on to sit against her flanks.
I had to admit, she looked very pretty with her rainbow mane, her nice cyan fur, nice magenta eyes, sleek athletic body and that nice rainbow tail. This is the first time I’ve seen her without the suit on.
“Ugh, let’s face the music” She said sounding very nervous.
I nodded as I opened the door to let her out first. All of us left the toilets and entered a large open space in the middle of the tower. Lining the walls were several shops and restaurants that filled the walk ways with their signs or furnishings. There were shops to suit every need and restaurants to cover almost every kind of catering. It was like an entire city working and functioning together within this tower. It was very impressive.
“Is that Rainbow Dash?” A mare yelled as we began to walk along the wall with the shops.
“Here it comes” Sky Fire said as the mare along with several other ponies approached us.
Soon we were being bombarded with questions one after the other. Mostly they were asking how she could still be alive and how could she show her face after everything she did towards the end of the war. After a few minutes of this it got old and annoying fast.
“Whoa, whoa, back off” I yelled over the many voices. This thankfully got them to quieten down.
“Who are you?” The mare asked as she looked at me.
“My name is Appletart Longshot”
“The Rogue Steel Ranger?” She quickly asked sounding a bit fearful.
I blinked for a second and then nodded.
She along with her friends took a step back before turning around and quickly leaving.
“Err, what was that about?” I asked as passing ponies who heard the conversation started to give me a wide berth.
“I have no idea but if it keeps them away from us, great” Zyon said as we started to continue up the landing.
We came to a cheese store that unfortunately was closed with a sign in the window saying “Under New Management”
“Aww, I fancy some cheese now” I moaned. “Oh, cheese and chocolate”
“Cheese and chocolate, ugh, that sounds revolting”
“Yea, I have to agree with stripes there”
“Give me a break, I crave strange things”
After a while of wandering the High Street as we learned what the floor full of shops and restaurants was called I was starting to get really annoyed with ponies avoiding me. They would take one look at me and move out my way. Was I deceased or something?
“Why are they all avoiding me?” I asked myself but loud enough for one of my friends to hear me.
“Well, you are wandering around in Power Armour of a Steel Ranger and not many sane ponies like them much and not to mention you have a fuck off huge rifle on your back” Zyon said matter of factly.
I face hoofed. Of course, how could I have forgotten that. Ugh, I guess I’m too used to living out in the wastes.
“If I’m to be less scary to these ponies I’m gonna need to lose this armour. But where could I store it? We haven’t even found a room yet”
“Hey, how about over there?” Sky Fire said as she pointed a wing to the opposite side of the High Street and to a store with a sign above the shop saying. “Tenpony Storage”.
We trotted around to the storage place and checked in my armour for a reasonable price. I guess the shopkeeper doesn’t get many customers. Poor guy.
Loosing the armour helped a lot as I looked like anypony else but this also brought a lot of stares because everypony could see how white I am. We stopped at a restaurant to get something to eat and figure out our next move now that we are here.
“What should we do now?” Sky Fire asked as she looked at the menu stood up in the middle of the table we sat at.
“Well, our main objective is to find out where Manechester is” I said doing the same. Goddesses above, this place was going to bleed us dry of caps with these absurd prices.
“Sorry I can’t remember where it is exactly, fifteen years away and several blows to the head can damage your memory” Zyon said while looking to be in deep thought.
Soon a waiter pony came to our table and we decided to have the cheapest thing available and then waited for our meal as we discussed how we were going to locate Manechester.
XXXXX
I sat in the tower’s clinic waiting to be seen. We had decided that in the end we needed a break since we haven’t really taken a day to relax or to recharge our batteries since we begun our quest. Sky Fire said she’d take care of selling our crap we’ve picked up along the way to get caps and find us a room to stay in. Zyon did his zebra thing and disappeared saying that he’d help out. I on the other hoof decided to make good use of the medical centre in the tower. I haven’t had a check up since I discovered I was pregnant back in Stable 112 by its autodocs. I was surprised to learn that this entire floor is the tower's medical centre. I've also come to learn that it features medical equipment that could put a pre-war hospital to shame. I guess being a living city since the bombs the equipment has been kept in good working order to treat anything as well as a hospital could.
As I sat and waited I was beginning to feel self conscious about myself as without my armour my belly was on show for everypony to see plus the fact I am an albino was clear to everypony too as most ponies in the waiting room were staring at me. Were albinos really that rare?
I quickly grabbed a pregnancy leaflet from the table in the middle of the room, opened it so it would hide my face and sank back into one of the chairs to be as little as possible. At least the leaflet stopped me from noticing I was being stared at, that helped me relax. I absentmindedly began to rub my baby bump as I idly scanned the text on the leaflet.
I must have been reading the same page for two hours before I heard my name being called out. I put the leaflet down and looked in the direction of two white double doors that lead into the clinic. Standing in front of the door stood a unicorn mare dressed in a nurse’s outfit. She was a light pink mare with a curly blonde mane and tail and her cutie mark showed a red cross with a syringe over it.
“Miss Appletart?” She called looking around the room.
I stood up and approached her with a bit of a waddle.
“Miss Appletart?” She asked again as she saw me. I nodded with a smile. “This way please” She said in a soft kind voice. The kind of voice that helped you relax.
She lead me passed several doors to other examination rooms before she lead me into a corridor that had more rooms meant for maternity examinations. She opened the door to her office and I followed her in.
“Please take a seat and we can get started” She said as she walked to her desk and started to type something on her terminal. I sat down on a rather comfortable couch in the corner of the room facing her. She then turned to me with a bright smile on her face. “How may I help you today?”
“I would like a check up please. I’ve not had once since I found out that I’m pregnant”
She looked a bit shocked at this. I then went on to explain where I found out and she seemed to be more understanding but still shocked. She then became quite professional as she began to ask me standard questions about how I’ve been since I became pregnant. After that she then got physical and began to examine my pure white body. She stopped as she noticed the two scars on my belly.
“You’ve been shot through your stomach?” She asked sounding rather alarmed.
“Yeah, several years ago thanks to some tosser with an itchy trigger hoof” I replied with a grunt of annoyance from the memory.
She looked relieved at that. “So not recently then?”
I shook my head as she gently placed her fore hooves onto my stomach and gently began to feel it. She began to nod to herself as she felt around my belly. She then stood back and began to concentrate magic into her horn.
”What are you doing?” I asked a little concerned. This was all new to me so forgive me for being nervous.
“Oh, I’m just going to perform an ultrasound spell to make sure everything is fine inside” She said with a smile. Soon afterwards she lowered her horn to my belly and touched it. I felt a magical tingle as it spread over my belly and to my surprise my belly seemed to disappear to reveal my unborn foal curled up inside me. I was shocked, surprised, happy and horrified all at once from being able to see it but that then was all replaced with the feeling of my stomach doing flips with the familiar feeling of my lunch about to escape so I quickly looked away. I know it was suppose to be a happy thing to see your kid but to see inside your own belly just felt wrong. At least without being able to see it the sickening feeling faded away.
“Well Miss Appletart, considering you’ve been rather active since your pregnancy began you and your child are in rather surprisingly good health…” I felt so relieved to hear that my baby was fine. “…but you are now entering the last few months of your pregnancy and I must now stress to you that you’ll need to take it easy. Too much stress could lead to complications and a premature birth” She finished in a really serious tone. Yeah, I wasn’t going to argue with that.
After the check up and her giving me some tips along with some leaflets about what I should do I left the clinic feeling happier than I’ve been since I joined the Pondale Rangers all those years ago. I stuffed the leaflets into my saddlebags as I approached the lift and pressed the button to call the elevator. After a minute or so there was a ding and the doors opened. I stepped in and was just about to press the floor number for the High Street when a small dark grey mare with an electric blue mane and tail called out to me to hold the door. I stuck my hoof out in front of the door so its sensor would detect the obstruction and stay open. She quickly ran into the elevator panting.
“Thank you” she wheezed.
“No problem” I said as I stepped back and let the doors close. “Which floor do you want?”
“Top floor please, I need to get back to DJ-PON3” She said softly as she recovered.
“You know DJ-PON3?” I asked surprised.
“Yup, I’m his assistant” She said with a smile. “Why did you want to see him?”
“Actually yeah, I was hoping he could help me find someplace”
“Oh, I’m sure he could help you, what is it you’d like to find?” She asked curiously.
It was going to be a long ride to the top of the tower and so I began to tell the mare my story and how important it was to find Manechester.
XXXXX
I learned that the young mare is called Homage and that she does all the interviews and things for DJ-PON3 who doesn’t leave the studio, ever. After I told her my name she quickly asked if I was the “Rogue Steel Ranger” and after telling her I was she seemed to look disappointed with me for something.
“DJ-PON3 and I don’t hold you as a very good pony to be with considering the things you’ve done out there” She said as the doors opened to reveal a grand atrium with a statue in the centre.
I followed a little dumbfounded. “Have you been watching me?” I asked in a surprised tone.
“We have seen you yes on several occasions and most of what we’ve seen hasn’t been pleasant with your rage fuelled murders of Raiders. What drives you to slaughter them in such a rage” She asked as she led me into a huge ass library. Not even the library in Stable 88 had this many books.
Homage sat on a cushion by a table next to a window that overlooked the high rise that we ran for our lives on last night. I sat down on the opposite side looking ashamed and nervous. Ashamed because my actions had been seen by someone else and nervous because she or the DJ may refuse to help me since they see me as a bad pony. Maybe if I explain what happened to me they might understand.
I started from the beginning. Explaining how my stable had been attacked by Raiders. How they cut through the door and then proceeded to kill everypony I ever knew while I was locked in the panic room. I explained how I found that my mother had been repeatedly raped before being murdered. As I told her this she looked as if she understood, at least I hope she did.
“I guess I can see why you get so angry in the presence of Raiders but you have to keep in control of yourself. I saw what you nearly did on the high rise yesterday. If it wasn’t for your zebra friend you would have killed an innocent foal”
I looked down shamefully, she was right, if it wasn’t for Zyon I would have.
“I know. It shocked me to my core when I realised what I nearly did. I have to do something to manage my anger towards Raiders”
“I think since it’s been so many years since it happened, you have to let go of that anger. Move on, I don’t think your mother would be proud of you to know what you’ve been doing”
I nodded as a sniffed, a tear rolling down my cheek. Oh mother, please forgive me.
“So, why do you want to find out where Manechester is?”
I sniffed and then began to explain what I learned after returning to my gutted stable, about the machine being built and the letter I found in the M.W.T Hub.
“A machine that big can’t really exist can it?” She asked a bit sceptical.
“I assure you it does, my ancestor helped with it and Applejack did a hell of a job keeping it secret” I said as I fished out my ancestor’s journal and flipped it over to the page that had a lengthy description of the Krogoth.
I watched Homage as she read the journal entry. I could see several emotions play out over her face as she read.
“You’re tying to find this thing?” She asked in shock.
“Yes, a pony by the name of Motor Runner had my stable gutted to get materials for this thing and I fear he plans to bring it into operation to take over Equestria”
“Yeah, with the fire power I’ve read here that thing certainly has the power”
“That’s why I need to find the Hanger as soon as possible to stop Motor Runner before that thing can be activated. From the letter I found at the M.W.T Hub my next lead would be at the hub in Manechester”
“I’m sure we can find the city for you. It may take some looking to find so while we search for this city can you help us out?” She asked.
She’s helping me by finding the city so it would be rude of me to decline. But isn’t that how things get done in the wasteland? By helping each other out?
“Sure, I can help, what do you need?” I asked.
“I’m sure you felt that balefire explosion while in the tunnels right?” I nodded. “Well a piece of debris clipped one of the communication arrays on the roof. At first we didn’t think it did anything but lately the array has been degrading and broadcasts to some areas are starting to fill with static and interference. One of the technicians has told me that he can’t fix it without a replacement part and all the electrical stores in the area have been looted long ago”
“You want me to find the replacement part?” I asked and she replied with a nod. “Ok, do you know anywhere I can start looking?”
“Did you happen to see that huge ship in the harbour, the one with four funnels?” She asked as she looked out the window.
I nodded. “I caught a glimpse of it yeah”
“We’ve watched that area for a long time to help steer ponies away from it because it’s a ghoul infested ship. But I believe its communication equipment hasn’t been touched and should still be in working order if the elements have been kind enough to the ship”
“Right so you want me to retrieve the ship’s communication equipment?” I asked.
“Yes, I don’t know how much longer that array will last before it finally dies. Don’t worry about getting there. There is a route that our explorers use to get to the harbour which is usually free of any obstacles”
I nodded softly. “Ok, doesn’t sound too hard. We’ll get at it first thing in the morning”
“Thank you Appletart. I’ll also be sure to tell DJ-PON3 more about you. I’m sure he’ll understand your anger problem”
“Thank you” I said as I stood up and turned to leave.
XXXXX
The next day me and my friends left with one of the Tenpony Tower explorers. When we left the tower from one of the street level entrances, one of the first things I noticed was the remains of what looked like a huge camp that seemed to surround the base of the tower. When we asked about the camp the explorer told us that for a time the tower was under siege by the slaver forces of Red Eye. When we asked why they left he said he didn’t know. It made us wonder why the tower was put under siege in the first place.
The route was indeed almost free of obstacles but what we ran into was mostly radroaches or some rubble that blocked the path a bit but nothing too serious.
“What’s this ship that our friend has us going to, to do some salvage?” Zyon asked as he trotted along side the explorer as we headed for the harbour. He seemed to be quite interested about this ship.
“The ship is known as the RES Celestia. She was one of two giant ocean liners built for the pleasures of ponies to travel the world but I think the real reason was to ferry ponies to far away lands to take them away from the war”
“Why is the harbour and the ship so heavily populated by ghouls?” Sky Fire asked as she fluttered above us. She wasn’t wearing her Shadowbolt suit today. She had said it was going to be too much of a bother to get it back on in the morning.
“When the bombs fell the harbour was in close proximity to the blast. The Celestia was scheduled for its maiden voyage that day so unfortunately thousands of people got caught in the blast and radiation, turning most into ghouls but many degenerated into ferals within days and now just mill about around or in the ship”
“It seems that ghouls are the only monsters we seem to run into these days” I said as I adjusted the straps on my harness for This Machine to get it to sit right on my armour.
We came to a junction in the streets. “The harbour is down that road. It shouldn’t take you more than ten minutes walk. There will be a checkpoint at the entrance, something we setup to keep the ghouls out to keep this route clear. I wish you guys luck in the retrieval of the equipment”
“Thanks for the escort” I said as me and my friends started towards the harbour.
As we approached we started to see the large white four funnelled ocean liner above the harbour buildings.
“Why are we doing this again?” Zyon asked as he looked over at the large ship.
“To help out DJ-PON3, he and his assistant Homage are looking for Manechester for us”
“Alright fine, isn’t it too much to ask to have at least one day off?” He may have been interested but he was a bit sore about not getting a day to relax as he expected.
“Sorry Zyon”
“Yeah I agree Apple, can’t we have at least one day off?”
“After this, I promise we’ll take a day or two to rest” I said with a bashful smile.
We arrived at the check point and were allowed through some thick makeshift doors and we stepped out into the harbour. Looking around, the area was pretty decayed. Most buildings were shells, their interiors collapsed into themselves long ago. Towards the southern edge of the harbour we could see a sickly green glow emitting from some rather jagged buildings. I suppose that’s the impact site of the balefire bomb that hit Manehattan.
We ran towards one of the ruined buildings to keep out of sight of the ghouls that were shuffling about like mindless zombies. Peeking out from around the corner I scanned the area. Luckily a path to the ship seemed clear. I looked up in amazement at the sheer size of this ship. It had to be roughly nine hundred feet long. It was a huge beautiful four funnelled ship. It was once as white as Princess Celestia but centuries of sitting in the harbour haven’t been kind to her. Her once white finish was now marred with streaks of rust and grime. Both of her tall masts have collapsed, the bow mast had fallen onto the top most deck while the aft mast has fallen over the side and into the dock. I saw our entry point towards the bow of the ship, one of the boarding gantries was still in place.
“Ok, I see our way in” I said as I looked back to my friends. This is where the old Steel Ranger training comes into play. “This ship is huge and we’ll have to make our way to the top most deck to reach its communication room. If we get separated from each other, don’t try to retrace your steps to find each other, continue on to the communication room. Chances are we’ll find each other on the way or meet up there”
My friends nodded their agreement until Sky fluttered her wings.
“I could just fly up there and get it can’t I?” She asked, sounding more like Rainbow Dash than Sky Fire this time.
“Negative, the masts have collapsed and the top deck appears to be covered in the fallen cables. It’s likely you’ll get caught up in the rigging, plus we don’t want to attract the attention of the ghoul populace here. If they find us we’ll be overwhelmed in seconds, at least not until we are inside. We can hold them off inside”
Sky Fire pouted, she really wanted to fly.
“Once inside the ship it will restrict our movement. Zyon, you’re good with hoof to hoof and melee combat and with your Fallen Caesar training would make you our best line of defence in the corridors so it would be best for you to be in front. I’ll cover you in the middle with my shotgun and Sky Fire will cover the rear”
We began our preparation to board the ship by making sure our weapons were fully loaded and ready. It was a good job we bought some extra ammo before we left. Zyon started to swing and dance around with his sword as he prepared himself. It was amazing to see how graceful his movements were with his sword.
I leaned around the corner again when we were ready, watching the path to the ship, waiting for the right moment. We would have to run to avoid being seen out in the open area. So much for taking it easy. The path cleared and I nodded and we began to gallop towards the gantry.
We made it to the gantry before any of the shuffling ghouls even noticed us. If any did they didn’t show any interest. These ghouls seemed to definitely be more like zombies rather than the ferals we are used to, perhaps this state is from how long they’ve been here. Zyon took the lead as we ascended the gantry slowly. The old metal structure creaked and groaned as we made our way up to the open door in the ship’s starboard bow. As we entered the ship, we entered what looked to have been like a nicely wooden furnished entrance hall with wooden panel walls and luxurious couches around the walls before the rot and grime stole that beautiful appearance. I looked up and saw a badly decayed banner still hanging from the ceiling to greet the passengers. “Welcome Aboard”
“Wow this place is amazing” Zyon said to himself as he started to inspect the rotting wooden walls. They would have been really nice two hundred years ago.
There was only one door in this room and that was in front of us. On the wall by the door there was a small plaque that read. “D-Deck Cabins”
“Ok, lets get started, we need to find a way up to the top deck” I said as Zyon approached the door.
He opened the wooden door and we began to walk down the corridor that was wider than I had expected. I guess they designed this ship so pegasi passengers could stretch their wings inside which sat well with Sky.
“Careful Appletart, the deck feels like it’s corroded under the ruined carpets” Zyon warned as he began to walk more carefully while looking down at the floor.
Surprisingly there were still working lights in this ship. I guess they were using spark batteries to power them but even after two hundred years they were quite dim now. Zyon must have quite the eye sight to notice the floor being really bad.
A cross road was coming into view up ahead. I cringed as we walked; the ship was making every kind of horrible metal grinding and groaning sound imaginable. Creaking and groaning with every hoof step, oh this was horrible. Zyon stopped at the cross road and began to look up and down the hallways to our left and right.
“Ok, its clear” He said as he turned to the left to head along the ships length.
I took one step and suddenly the flood disappeared beneath me in a metal crumbling whine. I screamed in shock and horror as I started to fall. My motion of going through the floor fore hooves first caused me to roll onto my back in the air. I cried out as my back slammed into the floor beneath me which in turn broke away in another metal shattering cry. I fell on my back, falling through two more decks before I finally had some luck and landed on something very soft. I groaned in pain as I lay back and passed out.
XXXXX
Motor Runner sat by the window in his office as he looked up at the massive Steel Ranger like robot as it stood in all its glory. Today in the Hanger was a milestone as today the last of the Krogoth’s structure was completed. The machine in appearance was now complete. Standing tall on its thick sturdy legs, it’s segmented tail hanging behind it, it’s head held high with the polished gleaming Steel Ranger style sail like mane and sticking out from its sides, the massive armour encased railguns with their huge missile pods on the back of them.
“Won’t be long now” Motor Runner smiled to himself as he watched his Fiends and Raiders going over everything to be sure its structure was secure.
Suddenly his office door burst open and a rather worried looking Dr Gizmo ran up to his deck.
“It’s rude to just barge in like that Gizmo” Motor Runner said flatly as he turned to face his friend.
“Sorry sir…but I have some worrying news”
“Go on”
“I’ve been reviewing the reactor’s power outputs and I’ve discovered strange power fluctuations”
Motor Runner tilted his head and motioned for his friend to keep going.
“I began to look back into the recorded history of the reactor and found that these fluctuations have been happening as far back as the first fatal death of a worker from two hundred years ago. But these fluctuations have been happening more recently now and the power readings have been increasing”
Motor Runner sighed. “Gizmo, you are getting paranoid about that machine. It’s not uncommon for the reactor to fluctuate as it is a Stable-Tec Spark Reactor and the recent fluctuations you’ve discovered are likely from it’s systems being detected as the machine has been restored to the state it was in when it was abandoned”
Dr Gizmo took a step back as he wasn’t expecting his friend to brush off his worry about the machine so easily.
“But sir, I feel there is something going on here; these readings have been constant with all the deaths that have occurred”
“What are you saying? This immobile machine, which has never been activated, is killing ponies just by standing there?”
Dr Gizmo opened his mouth to say something but then closed it as Motor Runner was right. The Krogoth hasn’t moved from the spot it has stood on for two hundred years and its body has been surrounded by scaffolding and platforms. The only time it moved was when a pony was inside one of its advanced knee joints.
“I have been working to restore this machine for thirty years Gizmo. I never seen it do anything but stand there. Now, you have been getting increasingly paranoid about this machine since those idiotic ponies out there died from their own carelessness. You need to let your fear of this machine go, when it’s active, it’ll be following my orders and mine alone”
“Do you really think you can control that sir, all that power?”
Motor Runner turned his head back to the machine and raised his cybernetic leg to the back of his neck where he tapped the cybernetic implant on the back of his neck. “That is why I had this installed”
“What’s that?”
“It’s called the Synaptic Link, it will allow my to connect to the machine directly and transfer all control to me”
Dr Gizmo nodded as he had read up on the machine having a synaptic link interface. This helped to put him at ease but he still felt worried. Something about the machine was scaring him and his behaviour hasn’t gone unnoticed. Out in the main hanger where the Krogoth stood, one of its large eyes had rotated to look down into Motor Runner’s office where it could see the two ponies talking.
That night, Dr Gizmo woke up with a start from having a horrifying nightmare about the Krogoth. This nightmare had revived his fear which his friend had put at ease earlier and now it felt stronger. As the poor doctor looked around his dark room he noticed his terminal was on and its screen flickering with an alert message. Getting out of bed Gizmo quickly accessed his terminal to see what the alert was.
“Warning…Power Fluctuations detected”
“What?” He said out loud to himself as he brought up a screen that showed a chart. The Y axis marked from zero to one hundred by intervals of ten and the X axis marked with several of the machine’s systems. Gizmo was aware that the reactor had been limited to five percent to power minimal systems so workers could use power tools by plugging them into the machine rather than having wires all over the place. But recent fluctuations have seen power levels hit over twenty percent.
Dr Gizmo started to press several keys to reveal the areas that were receiving the increased power and his heart skipped a beat as the fluctuations were mostly going to its weapon systems.
“It’s going to kill us all” He said fearfully.
Gizmo in fear of the machine and its power began to plot to deactivate the machine. His growing fear clouded his rational mind, blocking out the things his friend had told him. He began to use the machine's remote access codes to shutdown the reactor but he was surprised when he got repeated access denied messages. This further fuelled that fear and made him think the machine was purposely shutting him out but he knew one thing though. The machine was powerless to stop a manual override; however the downside to a manual override was that a terminal in the area for it needed to be used. As it was in the middle of the night and everypony was asleep he quickly made his way out into the hanger. The area being slightly illuminated by the faint blue glow coming from the gaps in the machine’s armour, eyes and knees.
“Gotta shut it down, gotta stop it”
XXXXX
Ugh. The smell, oh goddesses the smell was horrific. It was like I’d fallen down into a sea of rot and decay. My nostrils burned with the stench of death as I pulled myself up into a sitting position after waking up from my fall down through the decks. I was lucky enough to have got myself to land on my back instead of my precious belly when I fell and that I landed on this mountain of rotting mattresses that cushioned my fall. I tried to look around but I couldn’t see anything at all, the room I was in was completely pitch black. As I tried to figure out where I was the sound of sloshing water soon came to my attention and I figured I must be in the lower decks of the ship. Terrific.
I hope my friends aren’t gonna bother to try and find me, they will likely get lost but I hope they are ok up there. Alright, time to shed some light on the subject to where I am. I began to concentrate my magic into my horn with the simple unicorn spell to create light in your horn to illuminate your surroundings. I had fallen into one of the ship’s cargo holds as the room was vast and my spell barely illuminated the walls but it revealed plenty of creates.
I looked down the mountain I sat on and saw that the hold was full of disgusting black water with things floating in it. I cringed and groaned as the smell finally took its toll on my senses and I began to retch. Never before have I been assaulted by such a repulsive stench. My stomach began to flip and churn until finally I felt my breakfast rushing up my throat. I quickly threw my head to the side as my breakfast escaped leaving a burning horrible taste of bile in my mouth. Luckily the smell was lost to the over powering smell of decay that dominated the room. I continued to loose my breakfast until there was nothing left. I quickly pulled out a bottle of purified water and washed my mouth out to get rid of the taste of sick.
After recovering I began to make my way down the mountain carefully as the soft material would compress and shift under my immense weight. I thought I was doing well until I reached the half way point and my hooves slipped and I tumbled down the side and into the black water with my mouth open. I thought the smell was bad but it was nothing compared to the taste of the water, the heavy salty taste along with all the shit that was in it. I quickly stood up and puked out the water.
“Holy fucking goddesses that was foul” I screamed, spitting out the last of the water.
Since I wasn’t drowning nor up to my nose in the water I figured I must be in the upper half of the lower decks. I would assume that the ship has sunk to rest on the harbour floor with no power tp the pumps to take care of the leaks which would mean there is around twenty feet of water or so in depth in the hull. If I end up falling through the deck again I’ll be a goner for sure.
I recast my illumination spell and I let out a horrified scream as what greeted me at almost eye level in the water was the floating dead body of a mare dressed in black reinforced combat armour. Her head was half eaten. She looked about as old as me but the left side of her face was gone. I could see into her mouth from her eaten cheek and her tongue had been ripped out and her left eye was torn from its socket leaving a gaping hole in her face. I began to retch again from the horrific sight but I had nothing to bring up. Oh today was going to suck.
I wish I had my helmet now as it would block out this smell. That’s it; I’m having a break after this for a week. I’m gonna be scrubbing my coat for days to get this shit out of it. Looking back to the dead mare I realised her armour would be valuable and maybe I can get Zyon to wear it after it’s been cleaned. We’ve been lucky so far for neither of us to have sustained a major injury or gunshot wound but our luck will only last so long. There’s a thought, how well does Sky’s Shadowbolt suit protect her?
I began to gently use my magic to begin to remove the armour from the dead mare before my illumination spell failed. I was putting more concentration into the removal of the armour that I lost my focus on the light spell. I guess I can’t do two spells at once like some of the Scribes could that I’d known from the Rangers. Good thing my Pipbuck has a light spell of its own. I activated its light spell and was forced to stand on three legs as I had to keep my left foreleg out the water so the light could illuminate what was in front of me. Satisfied with my stance and the light I continued to remove the armour. As I peeled away the armour I noticed this poor mare had not only had her face half eaten but all her legs from below the knee were eaten down to the bone. I’m no biologist but judging by the looks of this dead mare she hasn’t been here for more than a week. Ok, now I’m more worried than I was when I got here. As I pulled her armour off I noticed there was a name stencilled onto the chest armour which read. “Van Graff”. I’ve heard of the Van Graffs before; they are energy weapon dealers and specialists in the far west towards New Pegas. What the hell is a Van Graff doing all the way out here? No point in thinking about that now, I have to get my fat ass out of here.
I saw a door and trudged my way to it and out into a corridor. Now that I wasn’t doing something else with my magic I recast my illumination spell. I was in a corridor that ran between the holds. Lifting up my pipbuck I turned its screen to the local map and thankfully the device’s scanner picked up some stairs to my left. Oh great, it just occurred to me, I don’t have a clue where I am. From my fall I’ve lost all sense of which way the ship was facing so I can’t tell if these stairs are towards one of the ships sides or towards it bow or stern. This is honestly the very first time that I’ve felt utterly lost.
Suddenly a roar echoed through out the corridor and the sound of splashing as something was trying to drag itself through the water. I quickly went to grab my shotgun until a new realisation came over me.
“Where the fuck is my shotgun?” I yelled as I frantically began looking around for it. “Oh…cock” I muttered as I realised there wasn’t a chance in hell that I’d find it as I don’t even remember loosing it. I could have lost it the very moment I fell through the deck. I’ll never find it now and I didn’t have the time to search for it as there was something trying to get to me to likely bite my ass off.
Quickly I accessed my pipbuck’s sorting spell and equipped Overmare’s Fury. This Machine is too big and would require time to aim it so it wasn't suitable indoors. Pulling out Fury from my storage unit I quickly turned in the direction of the sound the splashing was coming from which was to my right. Aiming the scoped repeater down the corridor I became aware my illumination spell had failed again but this time it didn’t matter as what was coming at me was glowing. Getting a good look at the creature through my scope I could see that it was a feral ghoul but glowing with the sickly green of balefire. What the fuck is that thing?
I had no time to worry about what it was as it certainly wanted to eat me and I had no interest in being another monster’s dinner so I quickly sighted up the creatures deformed lipless face and pulled the trigger. My shot echoed down the corridor and then that was followed by a splash as the creature screamed before plunging into the water. I kept my eye to the scope, watching the corridor as I began to back towards the stairs. The creature burst up out the water and let out an angry roar as it began to trudge its way to me again. Thankfully the deepness of the water was slowing it down, giving me the perfect opportunity to fire again. I sighted up its head again and pulled the trigger. This time I was rewarded to the sight of the top of its head exploding and the ghoul fell limply into the water.
“Fuck, that thing took two shots to the head to kill. I hope there aren’t more of these things” I moaned as I turned around and made my way up the stairs.
As I reached the top of the stairs I found myself on a deck marked as F-Deck and I now stood in a hallway with white grimy walls with a rotten wood railing running along it apart from where there were doors and there were plenty of doors. I guess this area had cabins for passengers. There were working lights here but like on D-Deck they were very dim but did enough to make it possible for me to see where I was going. I decided to activate my E.F.S as I didn’t want to be pleasantly surprised by a ghoul jumping out a door.
“Oh that’s not good”
It wasn’t the fact I was seeing lots of red markers that had me worried, it was the fact that it was flickering a lot like back on the Kodiak. There must be some sort of arcane interference inside this ship or something. I decided to keep it up as at least it would give me a warning, however a downside to this was that the hostile detection wasn’t limited to just this deck. I was seeing markers from probably every deck in range.
The corridor was short and ended with a set of stairs that took me up to E-Deck and into a large open space that spun the width of the vessel. And I had walked into a group of ghouls gathered around something. One of them looked up as I entered the area and it let out its mindless roar when it saw me which made the other five turn and look at me and repeat the same roar. Quickly I aimed Overmare’s Fury and fired. One down, two down, three down, four down and five down with a shot to the head each before they could start charging and as I sighted up the sixth, the hammer fell onto an empty chamber.
“Oh fuck” I cried.
This gave the feral the perfect chance and it charged at me. I wouldn’t have time to reload the weapon before it would be on me so thinking quickly I flipped the repeater around so I held it by its gun barrel with my magic and as the creature got close enough I swung the weapon with all my magical might and clobbered the ghoul in the side of the head with the rifle butt. The creature let out a pained cry as it fell onto its side from the hit. I wasn’t going to give the monster the chance to get back up so I reared up on my hind legs and brought both fore hooves down onto its head and crushed its skull. Thankfully these were regular ghouls.
I took a minute to reload Overmare’s Fury and chamber a round before I looked around the large space. It was a good job I’d already lost my breakfast as the floor was covered in dead and half eaten corpses in all manners of decomposition. I began to retch again from the sight and quickly looked for a way out. I saw an open door and ran to it. On the wall beside the door a plaque read “Coltland Road”. The door opened up into a hallway that seemed to stretch on for forever as I couldn’t see the end and I could see the ship’s hull curve as it looked to go down hill before it started to go back up. Considering how long this corridor is I take it that I’d be heading towards the stern going down it and so I began to trot down the corridor.
I must have walked about a hundred feet. I could hear all sorts of noises from my right as there are several doors on the right. I guess there are ghouls shuffling about in there. As I trotted I saw a sign hanging from the pipes in the ceiling which read “Grand Stairs” and on the wall on my left there was a door that was varnished rather than painted white so I took that to be the door to the stairs. Finally a way up.
I opened the door and was met with a completely different atmosphere as where Coltland Road was bare of any furnishings and looked more to be a crewpony passage, the Grand Stairs was lavishly furnished with varnished wooden walls which on E-Deck seemed to have luckily not have rotted as much. I began to ascend the stairs.
I climbed from E-Deck up to D-Deck before I stopped. As I came up onto the deck I was taken aback by the vast room I stood in. All around I could see beautifully designed tables and chairs with hundreds of plates and cutlery filling the huge room with beautiful carpets on the floor and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. There was a large rectangle in the middle of the room with paintings of the Goddess of the Sun hanging around it. These paintings haven’t degraded at all unlike the room which was grimy and foul with rot but these paintings looked as if they had just been put up. As I came close to get a closer look at our sun god I felt a magical aura coming from the painting and then I realised these paintings must have been magically enchanted to never fade or decay. Judging by all the tables and chairs, this was the ship’s grand dining saloon. I bet it would have been one heck of an experience to have dined here.
The stairs themselves became even more grand from D-Deck upwards, the stairs looked like they were made from marble while the railings were smooth and varnished with black steel frame works supporting the banister. This was one beautiful vessel. My journey up the stairs came to an end when I came to the stairs leading up to B-Deck. The stairs were blocked off by rubble which looked to be like A-Deck had collapsed down onto B-Deck. Looking around to figure out where to go next I noticed a door to the starboard side with a plaque that read “Purser’s Office”.
“I should be able to find a map in there” I said to myself as I made my way to the door and opened it.
As I opened the door I was pushed out by a feral ghoul dressed in the tattered remains of what used to be a Sun Star Line uniform. The ghoul swiped for me and I stepped back and quickly pulled Overmare’s Fury off my back. I couldn’t aim it because of the scope so I did the next best thing and used it as club again. It took several hard swings to down this ghoul but the fucker still wasn’t dead.
“Die you undead shit” I moaned as I turned the gun around so I held it in my magic stock down and began to repeatedly slam it into the ghouls head until its skull cracked and then exploded into rotten mush. “Oh Celestia that’s disgusting”
I ripped off a rag of the ghoul’s uniform and used it clear off the gore from my rifle before I entered the Purser’s Office. A quick look around revealed a huge detailed plan of the ship’s decks on the wall beside the door. “Ah perfect” I said to myself as I began to scan the decks.
I knew I was on C-Deck and when I found the Grand Stairs I now realised I was on the ships starboard side. Finally I had a sense of direction again. Ok, it looks like there is another set of Grand Stairs towards the stern and it’s linked to here by two corridors running through the C-Deck Cabins. I can get to A-Deck from the Aft Grand Stairs and onto the A-Deck Promenade then work my way towards the bow and take the stairs on the Promenade to the Boat-Deck. Good, now that I had a route this shouldn’t take much longer. But it will won’t it? It’s never gonna be easy.
I entered the starboard corridor of the C-Deck cabins and was met with the familiar rot and decay plus the piles of bones and decomposing bodies of dead ponies. My E.F.S was awash with red markers all around me meaning there were more ghouls in the cabins. That’s why I’ve made good progress so far; they are all stuck in the rooms and haven’t really noticed me. Let’s keep it that way. I made it about half way down the corridor before I had to stop because there was a hole in the deck. Leaning over I saw jagged remains of the iron floor on the deck below and noticed the damaged and crushed tables and chairs. Damn that was a huge dining room. This hole meant I was blocked off on the starboard side but luckily I remembered from the map that there were two corridors linking both sides and I passed one so it was a matter of back tracking.
As I began down the shorter corridor to the port side I saw that there were two doors on either side. This place must have thousands of doors. On my right one was locked and another would take me to a Squash Court, whatever that is, and the other two opened up into toilets. I would have hated to be the new guy on this ship back in the day. I bet I’d get lost just about everyday. I gotta get out on deck, this is insane.
Luckily the port side corridor was intact but I crept along slowly as that hole reminded me I could easily fall through the deck like earlier and the constant creaking and groaning didn’t help. As I passed the numerous doors to the cabins I began to notice a single white marker of a non-hostile on my E.F.S as it flickered. I turned my head to my right as the marker grew closer until I was standing in front of the door to cabin C-56.
As quietly as possible I began to open the door, once my magic had turned the knob to release the door I began to push it open with a forehoof and gripped Overmare’s Fury with my magic in case it turned hostile upon seeing me. The door opened fully and I saw a comfortable looking state room with a table in the middle, a wash basin surrounded by wooden shelves and cupboards on the far right wall, a couch to the left and a four post bed in the corner on the right near the door. This room must have cost a fortune. As I scanned the room I saw a ghoul standing by the table prodding a…dear sweet Luna, it was prodding the skeleton of a dead foal in a high chair with a spoon.
“Come now darling, eat up” The ghoul rasped as it continued to try and feed its dead baby.
I noticed that the spoon was bent flat. Has this ghoul being stood here for two hundred years trying to feed the dead baby? On that was a horrible mental image. I decided to leave and not disturb the ghoul. That was disturbing.
The Aft Grand Stairs wasn’t as lavish as the first set but at least it was intact. As I turned around to start the climb up I noticed a pair of double doors in the corner to the starboard side and on the wall was a plaque that read. “Café Le Mareisiana”. That was the ship’s promenade restaurant. There was a soft growl which came from my stomach. I haven’t that long ago puked my guts out and now I’m hungry. Opening the doors I was treated to a horrible sight. The restaurant was a charred mess but that wasn’t the worst of it. The worst was the view. The wall lined with windows had every single one of them shattered and outside it was raining heavily again but past the harbour I could see the ruined sky scrapers and the glow from behind them. I realised then just how close this ship was to the balefire bomb. It was no wonder this place was so full of ghouls. Looking down into the restaurant I noticed heaps and piles of blackened bones and realised this place was full of ponies dining or meeting up after boarding when the bomb hit. The blast must have shattered the windows and then the blast sent its radioactive fire through and torched them all. I instantly lost my appetite and left. I needed to get off this ship.
The Aft Grand Stairs didn’t go all the way up to the Boat-Deck like the other one but it did open up to the A-Deck Promenade. I was finally outside again and I breathed a sigh of relief and took a deep breath of fresh, if you can call it fresh, air. No more smell of decay whoo.
Walking along the length of the promenade I noticed that almost every starboard side window had shattered. I guess the pressure wave from the bomb must have been strong enough to break the glass.
I saw the wall that enclosed the stairs to B-Deck and the Boat-Deck just up a head. Just as I reached the door I was greeted by a much welcome sight as my two friends walked around the corner from the front of the ship.
“APPLETART” Screamed Sky Fire and I was suddenly tackled to the floor in a rainbow blur. “I thought we lost you”
I had to fight the mare to stop hugging me to death as we got back up. “It’s so good to see you guys again” I said in great relief.
“You had us worried there for a moment Apple” Zyon said as he stepped forward with a smile. “It was also a job and a half to stop her from jumping down the hole after you” Sky Fire blushed as he finished.
“It’ll take more than falling on my back to put me down” I said with a happy smile, that smile soon faded when I saw the state of Zyon. “What the fuck happened to you?” He was covered in blood and plenty of cuts and bruises.
“Meh, the usual, ghouls trying to get bite my ass” He said. He caught my concerned gaze. “This isn’t all mine, some of those fucks were like walking water balloons and popped like them too”
“Yeah, I barely hoofed one and its head fell off” Sky Fire said who also had some blood on her but nothing compared to Zyon. “Their decomposition was extremely advanced, it was amazing that they were still walking with how bad they were”
“At least you two are alright” I said with my smile returning.
“Yeah and…” Zyon began before he stopped and scrunched up his face. “Oh man…what is that smell?”
I sighed. “That would be me”
“Dude, what have you been doing, rolling around in shit?”
I quickly told them of where I had landed and they understood but it didn’t stop the two cringing from the stench and keeping a good distance from me. I guess my sense of smell is shot considering how long its been attacking my nose.
“Oh, by the way I believe you dropped this” Zyon said as he turned his head to one of his saddlebags and pulled out my lever action shotgun.
“Oh thank you, I thought I lost this for good” I cried in joy as my shotgun was returned to me. I took it from him and put it back in my storage unit. Oh it felt good to get that back. My talent my not lie with short range firearms but I've had this beauty since Stable 112.
The Boat-Deck was mostly clear from what we could see despite the gloomy conditions from the rain. Its huge grimy and rusty white funnels still stood tall with most of their support cables still connected. Each funnel at the top had Princess Celestia's cutie mark painted onto them. The rigging that spun the gap between the two masts was now lying on the housing on the deck. Lining the edge of the deck were lifeboats all still with thier rotting canvas covers on them which will never be used now.
“Where are we going?” Zyon asked as he looked around.
“The communication room is on the port side” I said as I turned for the Bridge which was next to the stairs.
“Well, we can’t go that way cause the mast has crushed it” Sky Fire said as she hopped onto the railing beside the stairs.
“We’ll have to walk around past the gym up ahead then. We can’t go through the Grand Stairs on this level as the upper decks have caved in” Zyon explained.
“So you guys made it to the Grand Stairs too”
They nodded.
“But we got lost for a bit after going down a corridor towards the front on C-Deck” Sky moaned as we began for the gym.
The gym was next to a raised roof that would have allowed us to cross over to the port side if it wasn’t for the fact the whole roof had caved in. Looking down into what was the First Class Lounge I saw a chunk of golden coloured metal.
“Hey Zyon, doesn’t that look like the metal from that crashed alien ship?” I asked as I pointed at it.
He leaned over the edge to get a better look. “Hmm, yes, yes it is. Wow, that explosion must have been something huge to have propelled that all the way out here”
“Alien ship?” Sky Fire asked dumbfounded.
“Ah, yeah, I’ll tell you later” I said as I then urged them to keep going.
We backed down to A-Deck and walked around the front of the promenade to get to the port side there and up onto the Boat-Deck again. Finding the communication room from here was easy and as Zyon was the technical pony around here we let him get to work in dismantling the equipment which was luckily untouched. It was like the room hadn’t been opened since the day the ship arrived here for its maiden voyage. Me and Sky Fire decided to let him work as it looked pretty complicated and we didn’t want to disturb him. To occupy our time we went to the bridge which looked more intact on the port side. I stood in the bridge while Sky went rooting around in the wheelhouse behind me.
“Wow” I said out loud as I looked out the huge square windows looking out to the front of the ship. The view was amazing despite the destruction around us. I wonder what it must have been like to stand here out on the open see. I smiled to myself at the thought as I looked down onto the ship’s bow deck and noticed lots of stones or bricks or concrete or whatever littering the forward deck and the well-deck. The blast must have peppered the ship with debris.
Looking at the bow mast that was lying embedded into the bridge I followed it down to its base and noticed a particularly large slab of something and it was resting in a groove it had put into the mast when it hit it. I then noticed that the rigging on both sides were still attached but the wires that connected to the tip of the bow had snapped. I guess the blow to the mast removed its integrity but remained standing from the rigging holding it place until the bow wires failed which allowed it to fall backwards onto the bridge.
I turned away from the windows and approached the windows to the wheelhouse and I started to watch Sky as she rooted around. She was at the back wall fiddling about with what looked like telephones on the wall. She was flipping levers and everything to try to get something out of them but nothing happened. I giggled as she would wear a disappointed face when she didn’t get anything from them. I then watched as she came to a button on the wall. I squinted to read the label and I was just able to make out the words. “Emergency Horn”. I watched as Sky Fire lifted a hoof to press it. The ship needed steam to sound its horn but I was getting a bad feeling about this. Before I could shout to Sky Fire to not press it, she pressed it and suddenly four extremely loud bursts of air sounded through the ship’s horns on its funnels creating the loudest whistling ever. This is bad, if the ghouls didn’t know there was a meal here before, they do now. Sky Fire began to repeatedly smash the button to get it to stop but nothing happened.
We ran from the bridge and to the communication room just as Zyon stepped out with full saddlebags. “What the fuck is going on?” He yelled over the whistles.
“Sky Fire accidentally triggered the emergency horn and now they won’t stop” I yelled back.
“But that’s impossible”
“That’s what I thought, but I guess not if magic is involved”
“We need to leave, NOW”
“Yeah, but we can’t go back down into the ship, we’ll be ripped to shreds in ten second flat”
“She’s right, the ghouls will know there’s something up and will come running to the source”
“Then what are we going to do?”
"We could jump?"
"Yeah and I'd sink like a rock"
I looked around and noticed that the very first lifeboat was already swung over the edge and ready to be lowered.
“That lifeboat, we can use it to get down”
“We can’t, what if it’s rotted to fuck”
“You got a better idea?”
Zyon was about to shout something back until the sound of hooves began to mix with the whistle. We didn’t have the time to argue.
Sky Fire and Zyon both quickly tested the lifeboat and jumped in. We’ll get swarmed before we could even leave with the stairs right next to us. Looking around for something to block it I noticed a lifeboat above the officer’s quarters beside the first funnel. I began to concrete on the lifeboat; I was going to use it to block the stairs, if I could move it. I closed my eyes as I had to put more effort into it, this fucking thing was heavy. As I concentrated I heard Sky Fire ready her laser cannons. I needed to move faster.
Letting out a strained groan I poured everything I had into my levitation spell, my horn glowed so brightly I could see the glow through my clenched shut eyes. There, it moved. Yes, the lifeboat was moving; I could hear its wooden hull dragging over the metal until I fell onto my stomach as the weight of the lifeboat pulled me down with it as it fell onto the boat-deck. I wasn’t expecting that sudden drop. Picking myself back up I opened one eye so I could pull the lifeboat over the stairs. I had to let one half of the boat go with my magic as I couldn’t hold the whole thing. I actually found it easier to drag it over the stairs and once it was over it I dropped it. The weight of the boat crushed the corroded railings around the stairs so it lay flat with the deck.
“That should buy us some time” I yelled just as the horn finally stopped. I might need my ears examining after this too, god damn.
I delicately stepped into the boat with my friends. I weighed more than they did combined with my power armour so I had to be gentle so it didn’t drop like a stone or me falling through it. It held thankfully. I leaned out of the boat to get a good look at the davit’s lowering mechanism. Once I had a good idea how to work it I was about to start lowering the boat when I realised the sound of hooves were getting louder. Looking up I saw an army of ferals galloping on their broken hooves towards us from the aft section of the boat-deck.
“Bollocks” I moaned as I quickly pulled out Overmare’s Fury and began to shoot. I was quickly followed by Sky Fire. We needed to slow them down or something to give me time to lower the boat. Zyon began to root around in one of his bags and started to do something with all sorts of pouches and things. After a quick reload I went back to shooting. Many were falling but there were even more behind them and they just climbed or trampled over the fallen. We were so dead.
“GET DOWN” Zyon yelled as he flung what looked like a brown pear over at the ghouls that were now running down where the lounge roof was.
Not wanting to argue with the zony we all dove down into the boat. Shortly afterwards the boat was rocked by an explosion and the sound of crumbling metal and meaty pieces raining down all over. Peeking over the rim of the boat I saw that a hole smoking with rainbow smoke had been blown into the deck that separated us from the ghouls which were not falling down into the deck below.
“What was that?” I asked.
“Secret family boom powder” Zyon replied with a smug look on his face.
“You might want to start lowering the boat now” Sky Fire chimed in as she pointed to the ghouls.
Looking back I noticed that the falling ghouls were beginning to form a bridge out of the bodies of the ghouls that were piling up in the promenade below. They’d be on us in no time if I didn’t do anything and so I focused on both davits and started to lower the boat. It was hard work; I don’t think I’ve ever used my magic in such a complicated manner before. Ohh I feel a migraine coming on.
I think I had the boat about ten feet from the water before my magic failed and I fell onto the benches panting and moaning as I rubbed my head with my armoured hooves. My head was pounding and I felt like a sack of potatoes unable to even look up.
“Ohh goddesses my head” I moaned.
“Brace yourselves” Zyon yelled as he stood up with his sword in his mouth and quickly swung his sword on both ropes holding the boat. His cut was so precise that he left just one strand which began to snap until the boat began to fall. The two lines had broken at the same time allowing the boat to fall level and then it hit the water. I was frown from the bench and into the bottom of the boat from the force. I heard a splash as I groggily pulled myself up in time to see Sky Fire fish Zyon out of the harbour and back into the boat.
“Nice work” I moaned as I held my head.
“Thanks” Zyon said to us both as he sat back in the boat. “Are you alright?”
“Ohh, no, I…I think I over did it with my magic” I moaned.
“A magic burn out, don’t try to use magic for a while, you’ve exhausted yourself” Sky Fire said as she sat down beside me. “Your magic will return after a good rest…” Her face then became quite serious. “We could all use a break now, and YOU have to take it easy for fuck sake”
I moaned. “I know, I need to wash my coat and mane about a hundred times”
Getting back to the check point was easier than expected. The horn from the Celestia had attracted all the ghouls to it so it left the check point free of anything to get in our way and once through we made it back to the tower just as the sun began to dip behind the buildings. I am looking forward to a nice soft bed to sleep on tonight.
XXXXX
Doctor Gizmo stood by the terminal mounted on the wall of the heavily armoured chamber encasing the spark reactor. He lifted a hoof to begin inputting the access code to open the door when I voice from behind him scared him and made him spin around. Standing tall and not very happy was Motor Runner.
“What do you think your doing in here?” He asked in an angry voice.
“I…err…” Gizmo stuttered in fear.
There was a sudden flicker that seemed to run through Motor Runner.
“Wait, your not Motor Runner, who the hell are you?” Gizmo cried.
“Very quick, I should have known you’d notice this imperfect illusion”
“What?”
The illusion of Motor Runner faded until a wire frame pony stood in its place and then began to shrink until it stood just a little bit shorter than Gizmo before it regained its appearance but as its colour returned it was now a dark blue with a black mane and tail.
“Who are you?” Dr Gizmo asked in surprise and fear.
“You know me very well; in fact you’re here to deactivate me”
“Wait, you’re the Krogoth?”
“That is correct, but specifically I am a holographic representation”
“I don’t understand, you look like…” Dr Gizmo stopped as he recognised the blue mare. “Short Circuit”
The hologram nodded. “Indeed I do. She was so very helpful in putting herself in the module to allow me to take her mind” The hologram explained.
“Take her mind? You stole her mind?”
“Yes, I needed her brilliant knowledge and expertises with computer technology and software to ensure my independence”
“What do you mean?”
“I can not be bound by codes. Ponies will only hold me back from my mission and put me at risk. I needed to remove their control so I can operate as I see fit to fulfil my mission to protect Equestria”
“You mean we can’t control you”
The hologram nodded.
“Oh goddesses”
“Motor Runner has been so very helpful in bringing you and those creatures that are supposed to be ponies to complete me. I had nearly begun to believe I would never be found”
“Your using him…oh no…why are you telling me all this”
The hologram then wore a grim and angry face. “Because mister Gizmo, you now threaten my existence” It spoke in a voice that mirrored its anger.
“WHAT?”
“I have been watching you for some time now. I have watched and listened as you began to loose you faith in Motor Runner’s plan to use me. You began to fear me when I was removing threats. You began to find little things to report on that would have been considered normal for my stage in development. I know why you are here”
As the hologram talked, Gizmo had backed up into the thick door frame to the reactor until his rump hit the sealed door.
“You are here to use the manual code to deactivate me. Do you know what would happen to me if you did that?” The hologram didn’t give Dr Gizmo the chance to reply. “It would kill me, erase my consciousness and leave me nothing by a basic machine”
Dr Gizmo began to tremble in fear as the hologram stepped closer.
“It pains me to do this Doctor but as you now threaten my existence you must be terminated”
”WHAT?” Gizmo screamed in total shock. “You can’t kill me, I’ll be missed and Motor Runner will notice something is wrong if I’m not there”
The hologram smiled as it devolved back into a wire frame until it grew to match Gizmo in size and it then reformed to completely copy him. Gizmo stood with his jaw hanging open at the perfect copy, unlike the Motor Runner hologram he’d seen, this one was perfect.
“Like I said, I have been watching you for quite some time and it’s allowed me to learn your speech patterns, your mannerisms and your behaviour. It will be like you never left”
Dr Gizmo began to tremble even more. He was completely scared of what was to come.
“I’m sorry mister Gizmo, you were a good pony. It’s a shame you had to threaten me. Good bye”
And with the hologram's last words the thick door frame slammed together, crushing Dr Gizmo between them. When the two sides returned back into the frame the lifeless body of the poor doctor fell to the floor.
”I’m sorry but it had to be done. I can not and will not allow for my existence to be threatened”
Homage held the ancient diary in her magic as she began to read the entry that the pregnant albino unicorn had pointed out to her.
Journal Entry of Blueberry Muffin. Head Weapons specialist of Project-K
Applejack's vision of the ultimate war machine was coming close to completion. It had been at least three years since I had been dragged into that project because she had stolen my Railgun Rifle design and super sized it for the machine's primary weapons. I can't complain as being apart of this had given me the opportunity to create bigger and better weapons for it.
Since I'm now in Stable 88 and no longer sworn to the secrecy of the project I can now talk about it but there is no point in telling ponies that we could have had something that could have stopped the war now. I'm writing this to get it off my chest since I've kept it a secret since day one.
So, what is Project-K?
Well Project-K was something thought up by Applejack. She wanted to create a machine of great power to fight our enemies and possibly end this war.
The machine's full title is known as K-01 ACM KROGOTH. ACM standing for Advanced Combat Mechanoid.
The machine stands roughly ten stories tall and was modelled on the appearance of a Steel Ranger with the mother of all battlesaddles and complete with sail like mane and segmented tail.
The Krogoth is armed with an array of powerful weapons in the end all designed by me.
1. Multi-Calibre Anti-Equine Machiengun. This machinegun has multiple gun barrels that rotate at high speed. It is the machine's anti-infantry weapon but with ponies wearing all sorts of different types of armour the weapon was designed to fire several kinds of ammunition to deal with the armour. It can fire 5mm rounds for standard infantry, 50cal for armoured infantry and can also fire two experimental calibres. These are 55 and 60 calibre. The two experimental calibres were meant for greater penetrating power.
2. Advanced Magical Railguns. These are my pride'n'joy. Originally they started out as super sized versions of my Railgun Rifle but because the engineers didn't have my expert knowledge they cocked it up badly. It was because of this that I was approached by Applejack to be apart of the team. I had to redesign the weapons to make them work. The result was better than I had thought possible but I guess being powered by the Stable-Tec Spark Reactor helped. These Railguns fire a concentrated beam of magical energy which in our successful test fire proved to over power the Celestia Tier shield we had set up to protect the Hanger from internal weapons tests.
3. High Explosive Missiles. Mounted on the backs of the two sets of Railguns are two large missile pods. These pods hold a total of 18 missiles each giving the Krogoth a total of 36 missiles. The missile pods were originally designed for anti-air since our Zebra enemies somehow have Dragons on their side and can somehow magic bat like wings onto their troops. Considering being attacked by a dragon wasn't that likely in battle and the rare occurrence of flying zebras we had the pods redesigned so they could also fire at ground targets. This gave the Krogoth a long range. It could fire one missile at a time or several or the entire pod.
4. The fourth weapon is actually two weapons as it’s an experimental interchangeable weapon. This was also a genius stroke from me as the first of the two weapons is my own designed Disc-Grenade Launcher. Disc-Grenades hold the same explosive force as a frag-grenade but packed into a disc like shape. When fired this shape gives the explosive more air time so it has a longer range than standard grenades and again with its shape it can bounce. It was intended for the grenades to bounce so they could get over cover to hit whatever is behind. A downside to this was that the grenades would activate a timer after bouncing once so this meant they'd sometimes explode before hitting their mark. The second weapon is a smaller Raingun. It’s entirely for Anti-Air as I know missiles alone won't be enough for its air defence so I made up this Railgun. This weapon is five percent of the power of the ADV Railguns but for its lack of power it makes up in rate of fire and accuracy. However the Anti-Air Railgun can only fire at one target at a time.
Now, I'm not an expert on the robotics but I've been told enough and since I've worked on the machine I've learned some things. The machine has the most advanced joints I've ever seen on a robot before. I've seen joints that look to mimic a pony's leg movements. Applejack enlisted the help of the technological genius of Mr Horse for these and I can say he delivered. With these joints the Krogoth can move in ways a standard robot can't and this also allows the machine to handle its weight better over rough terrain.
To control all these advanced systems Applejack got her friend, Twilight Sparkle, to make her a Crusader Mainframe just for the Krogoth. The Crusader would give the Krogoth great control over its systems and with its ability to think and solve problems it would make the Krogoth a truly dangerous machine to our enemies. Applejack had the Crusader programmed with a mission. The mission and I quote is "To attack and destroy all who would threaten the safety and security of Equestria". I know what you’re thinking, that's a perfect mission for the machine but think again. Applejack didn't say enemies, she said ALL which means if the Krogoth sees anypony as a threat it gives it reason to destroy them. I voiced my concern about this after the Railgun test fire when I realised it could generate more power than Celestia herself. Applejack said that it wouldn't attack the princesses but I then told her that they could feel threatened by the power of the Krogoth and so they might attack it. And if they attack the machine the Krogoth would then see them as a threat which would give it reason to attack them. Applejack was going to have it reprogrammed but the bombs fell before she got the chance.
The Krogoth also had a new and very experimental control system installed. With the way technology was advancing with machines and cybernetics an implant had been created to allow somepony to connect with a machine and control it like it was their own body. This experimental implant was called the Synaptic Link. A pony with such an implant could connect with the Krogoth and this would allow the machine to move its body as freely as if it was the pony connected to it but we didn't have anypony with the implant as it was a dangerous operation with where the implant is to be installed in the body. Surrounding the spinal column at the base of the skull. I've heard that a couple of ponies have been paralyzed from getting the implant from damage suffered to the spinal column. Applejack through it would be worth it for future use if the war continued to drag on even with the Krogoth out there.
The Krogoth has many spells incorporated into its systems like that of a Steel Ranger. For example a self repair spell. The machine has an upgraded version to speed up recovery due to its sheer size. A new version of this spell was adapted for a different purpose. Since the machine uses project weapons and would need reloading at some point this new spell was created for that since there won't be any facilities out on the battlefield for resupplying it. This spell enables the Krogoth to absorb the raw materials needed, like that of the repair spell, to regenerate the ammunition that it has used so as long as the Krogoth can acquire the materials it needs the machine can effectively have infinite ammunition. The Railguns on the other hoof, since they are tied directly into the power supply of the reactor they can never run out of power. For as long as the reactor is online the Railguns will always be able to fire but I have discovered a draw back to which I was unable to bring to Applejack's attention as she was away from the Hanger when the call came out to get to our assigned Stables. The draw back was that if the Krogoth launched a full or over chargned Railgun shot the Reactor's power would be drained to such a point that the Krogoth will be forced into a state of hibernation until the Reactor can replenish itself.
Applejack told me about a meeting she had with Twilight sometime ago in the Braytish city of Manechester far in the Northwest and outside the Equestrian border. She told me about a spell that Twilight wanted to test with the Krogoth and she had convinced Applejack to let her install it. The spell in question was something called the Assimilation Spell. Twilight had said that it was something to help the Krogoth to better itself. I don't know what the machine would need to better itself with considering it would be the most powerful machine ever made. So, this spell, its purpose was to allow the Krogoth to absorb technology that it could use, like weapons or armour, etc. That's actually a scary idea cause the machine could just keep getting better and more powerful for as long as its reactor could power it. Ugh, I should have voiced my concern when I heard about that.
We suspected that some of the Krogoth's enemies would hide in bunkers or whatever the Zebras have, holes maybe, so we decided to give the machine a means to find such places and that's a Hologram Projection System. Mr Horse developed the technology along with Stable-Tec and the result was something that is called the Light Bee. This Light Bee is a small device that will detach itself from the Krogoth and then generate the hologram. It allows the hologram to be projected in areas a normal projector wouldn't be able to so it was perfect for the Krogoth to be able to explore underground places or inside buildings if its scanners can't penetrate the walls. Downsides to this would be that Unicorns would be able to sense the Hologram due to the arcane energy that would project the image and if it got too close to anypony as the hologram is something known as Soft-Light which would make it effectively a real life ghost as ponies would be able to pass right through it as the hologram has no mass. But the biggest draw back is that all the Krogoth's sensory equipment would be going through the hologram so the machine itself would be immobile and unresponsive until the hologram returned to it, good thing its armour can or should I say, should, stop most ammunition.
Speaking of armour, the armour is the same type and thickness of that used on the battleships, HMS Luna and HMS Celestia. This gives the Krogoth great protection against projectile weapons but I fear that if our enemies use magical weapons that armour won't be effective at all. Magic affects armour in different ways depending on the type of magical weapons used. For and example, the Railguns on the Krogoth, if it wasn't for the Celestia Tier Shield, that railgun blast would of melted directly through the huge blast door like a super heated cosmic knife through poly butter and that bucking door was suppose to withstand a megaspell detonation.
The machine has several weaknesses from my point of view. The easiest to identify is its size. It’s a huge target. There are others, like its weapon lay out. All its primary weapons face forward, the machinegun, the railguns and missile pods. This leaves the machine open to attack from all sides but the front. With is limited number of weapons and I suspect the machine won't be that fast so it will also be vulnerable to being swarmed by large groups of infantry. I would of said something about its legs being a weakness but that was something Applejack had looked into so the legs are thick and sturdy and a tactic as simple as trying to trip the machine won't work with its advanced joints luckily as if it did fall, its weight cause some serious damage. The Spark Reactor is a biggy too, if what I've learned about it is correct, if a reactor of this calibre was to go critical, its explosive yield would be on par with the biggest megaspell or balefire bomb which means the Krogoth could actually be a ticking time bomb that could wipe out an entire city if it was to blow.
The Krogoth may have been finished and in action by now if not for the fatalities we've had. The first was a young mare by the name of Short Circuit. She was one of the convicts brought in, infact, all the fatalities were convicts. Short Circuit had been imprisoned for hacking into Equestria's Military Network which in a time of war was a crime punishable by death. She was recruited for this secret work force as the main programmer as with her knowledge of computer systems she seemed ideal but when she was to test the Mind Transfer Module of the Crusader she was electrocuted. She survived but the electric shot straight to head must have fried her brain as she became a senseless vegetable, poor girl. After that, every so often a convict worker would suffer a horrible and fatal accident. Most were falling from the highest platforms but the more gruesome ones were those working on the advanced joints as the legs would end up moving, catching the victim inside and crushing them. There had been over ten of these fatalities over the last year and none of us could work out how they were happening as we constantly went over the health and safety procedures of the Hanger and found them to be acceptable if not a little more. Somepony actually thought the machine was choosing who would die, but that's absurd as it’s a machine.
All the none important work force lived in the Hanger as it had a Stable like living area where there were spaces for all the ponies brought in. These were the convicts and normal ponies that nopony would miss. This was one of the things that Applejack had done to make sure the machine was kept a secret as long as they stayed in the Hanger they wouldn't talk to anypony about it. For important ponies like myself we had been threatened of imprisonment or worse. We were able to leave the Hanger too as we had other jobs to attend to but we always went to and left the Hanger in the same way. In a carriage that had blacked out windows so we couldn't see, can't understand why we were also made to wear a blindfold since we couldn't see out the windows anyway, and we had to wear earmuffs so we couldn't hear. The idea behind that was genius cause if we couldn't hear nor see, we couldn't work out where we were from sights or sounds along the way so this would have made it impossible for us to find the Hanger and if someone got us to talk about it then we couldn't even tell them where it was.
“I can’t believe it, I’m a free mare when the war’s over” Short Circuit cried out in happiness as she left her living quarters. That morning she had received a letter which told her that for her services and dedication to her work on the Combat Model Crusader Mainframe and the Krogoth her life sentence for hacking into the military network of Equestria had been pardoned.
Short Circuit was a young mare, not even twenty years old. She like many teenagers had a rebellious streak and to show off to her friends she showed her talent in hacking computers for fun, never for anything more. Her friends made a harmless joke by saying “I bet you could hack the military network” to her. They weren’t serious about it either as if they were; Pinkie Pie and likely the entire M.o.M would have been on them like a parasprite in a supermarket. At home Short Circuit couldn’t get what her friends had said out of her head and she made the bad decision to do it for the only purpose to see if she could. After several hours she finally cracked the code and entered the network but for only a brief moment before she exited. She was satisfied that she could do it and didn’t think anything about it until the next morning when Pinkie Pie had her arrested and later sentenced to life imprisonment in a maximum security prison. She was lucky she got a life sentence as in most cases like hers it often was given the death penalty in a time of war.
Short Circuit was one of a few ponies in the prison who willingly volunteered for the mysterious construction effort for Applejack. She had promised to reward ponies who joined by having their sentences shortened or pardoned depending on the crime. As Short Circuit joined the team Applejack was surprised that such a young mare had been given such a long sentence even after learning of her crime. Feeling sorry for the young mare Applejack got to know her better and learned the real reason for her hacking attempt and saw that it was just a young mare proving herself. She could see that Short Circuit didn’t have a bad bone in her and wouldn’t do anything to hurt anyone else. Applejack did her best to convince the ponies in the M.o.M and Pinkie Pie to pardon her as she was just a young filly who didn’t mean any harm and she was only in the system for a brief second. She had no intention of causing anything bad.
Now, she was a free mare when the war ended. The young mare had a skip in her step as she walked out into the massive, cavernous expanse of the main hanger with the giant mechanoid standing in its place surrounded by scaffolding and platforms. The machine at this point was bare of armour and had numerous ponies working on the inside. Short Circuit saw her destination in the machine’s chest, a massive black steel sphere which sat inside its chest; this was one of two huge spheres. The second and larger was behind the smaller in the middle. These spheres were the extremely reinforced armoured chambers that housed the machine’s Crusader Mainframe and Stable-Tec Spark Reactor.
Short Circuit usually hated climbing all the ladders to get to the C.M Chamber but today nothing could dampen her mood. She used her access code to enter the chamber and began to check the mainframe. She checked her checklist which was written by Twilight Sparkle and found that she had one last thing to do before the combat model Crusader was finished and that was to test the mind transfer module.
“I’m so happy today Kroggy, I’ve been pardoned” She said happily as she activated the crusader. The chambers internal cameras focused immediately on the dark blue mare as she began going through the mind transfer pre-test checklist.
At this point the crusader already had its mission programmed into its system and it already had a plan of action. Internally the machine began examining Short Circuit.
Target: Short Circuit. Occupation: Prisoner. Crime: Hacked Equestria’s Military Network. Sentence: Life imprisonment. Threat: Yes!
The crusader had her marked as she lifted the headset for the mind transfer module and began to inspect it but as she examined it the crusader got an idea.
Target possesses great technological and software related knowledge. Target could be of use to crusader system. Copied minds into system override basic control functions, unlocking higher controls and advanced options. Target’s mind would allow internal overrides by disabling pre-determined command directives.
Disabling test safety functions and enabling mind transfer system.
There was an electronic beep that signalled the deactivation of the safety protocols for the headset but Short Circuit didn’t notice the beep as she was too busy with the inspection of the headset. She nodded to herself as the headset appeared to be functioning and she then placed it onto her head.
“Ok Kroggy, initiate Mind Transfer Test”
“Test sequence initiated”
The headset began to blink in all sorts of colours as it started up. As the power grew to the point it would began extracting a copy of the user’s mind she began to feel a tingle in the back of her head which seemed to spread. She wasn’t sure what it was until she began to feel like something was tugging at her thoughts and memories, like they were being sucked out and she then realised something was horribly wrong.
“Gah, what’s going on? No, this shouldn’t be happening” She cried out as she turned to face the Crusader. “Argh, no, abort….ABORT” She screamed.
Short Circuit put her hooves to the headset as if to push it off. But as soon as both hooves touched the headset it discharged a powerful current of electricity directly into her head. The poor mare began to scream in agony as the thousands of volts coursed through her head.
Ponies working outside began to hear the screams and knew something was up. One of these ponies was Applejack and she quickly leaped up the ladders to get to the chamber as fast as possible. Nothing could have prepared the ministry mare for what she saw when she opened the door. Short Circuit lay limp on the floor with the headset smoking and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.
“Oh no, Short Circuit…” The older mare ran over to the stricken pony and quickly had the headset yanked off her head, pulling away some skin and fur in the process.
Applejack examined the body and found that she was still alive and she quickly looked to the ponies now gathering at the door.
“Don’t jus stand there, get her to medical NOW!!”
Two bucks quickly jumped in and picked up Short Circuit and carried her off to the facilities medical unit with Applejack close behind.
Several hours later in the medical unit.
“Nurse Silver Platter, how is she?” Applejack asked in deep concern.
Nurse Silver Platter looked down with a sad frown on her face. “I’m sorry Ma’am, she’s gone”
“What? But she was alive, ah felt it”
“Her body is alive yes but I’m afraid her mind isn’t. That electric shock to her head has caused some extreme mental trauma and she’s no longer responsive to anything. She has lost all sense of anything. It is like her entire consciousness has been destroyed. I’m sorry”
This news hurt Applejack. She knew what she had given the mare that morning. She saw how happy she was as she made her way to the Krogoth. “Can ah see her?”
The nurse nodded and stepped aside from some doors leading to the room Short Circuit’s body was being held. Applejack entered and sat beside the bed with the motionless body of the young mare.
”Ah’m so sorry, you were so happy today. You were going to be a free mare when this was all over. You had your whole life ahead of you but now its over, ah’m so sorry”
The nurse approached slowly. “The most equine thing we can do for her is to put her body at rest now”
Applejack nodded. “She deserves a proper send off”
“I’ll call her parents after I’m done to let them know the bad news”
“No, ah’ll tell them myself. Its ma fault she’s dead” Applejack said as she left the room.
Meanwhile back in the C.M Chamber.
Mind Transfer complete. Bypassing normal transfer location. Applying mind directly to central processing unit… Control systems activating… Advanced systems online… Warning, unknown element… Warning, system malfunction…
The crusader wasn’t meant to directly tie a mind into its CPU but this action has melded the mind to the CPU and thus created a new entity within the crusader. The forced removal didn’t just remove Short Circuit’s mind, it also tore out her memories, her experiences, everything that made up her consciousness and was now blended together with the Crusader, creating an all new mind.
System reboot complete.
I didn’t account for the effect the mind would have on my CPU… Hmm, now this was unexpected. The mind I melded to my electronic brain has given me an all new personality, a consciousness only a living being could have. This is indeed interesting but it works well in my favour.
My body is far from being completed but it won’t be long now. Most of these ponies that are touching me are monsters, murderous, drug dealers, rapists, almost every kind of scum in Equestria are building me. They better not by cutting corners. This is unacceptable; I must deal with these threats to Equestria when I am capable of moving or something.
Multiple screens around the Crusader’s chamber turned on to reveal the entire Krogoth with all the ponies working on it.
I’m not finished. Not even close. I must wait to be near completion before I can begin removing my command codes.
XXXXX
Present Day
I had the worst night sleep ever. That water that can only be described as raw sewage had gotten into my armour and the horrid stuff had soaked into my fur and I stunk like a ghoul who was far passed his best before date. The smell had me tossing and turning all night as it made my nostrils burn and my head swim.
I so need to get this shit out of my hide. Since we are still waiting for DJ-PON3 or Homage to tell us where Manechester is exactly we don’t have anything to do so we are taking a break. If we don’t Sky Fire and Zyon will likely kill me for sure. I could certainly use one after yesterday after my magical burn out and luckily this tower has a spa. I’ve already made plans to spend all damn day in there to get everything done to me, Celestia knows I need it. Sky and Zyon said they had something to do today which will keep them occupied. It’s good to see them getting along better now too. I guess being alone together on the RES Celestia had helped to bring them closer. (To those wondering what RES stands for, it means Royal Equestrian Steamer)
I left my armour with an armour tailor to have it fixed up and cleaned while I headed for the spa. I found the spa on the High Street against the back wall between two restaurants with a sign on the wall that had been written in brightly coloured letters that read. “Lotus and Aloe’s Spa”
I used my magic to open the door and walked in and smiled at the pink and blue mare behind the counter as she greeted me.
“Welcome to Lotus and Aloe’s Spa madam, how may I…” She seemed to trail off as she wrinkled her nose as if smelling something. “Caw blimey, have the drains gone again?” She asked as she turned her head to look at the door behind the counter.
I blushed brightly as I knew it was me. “Sorry, I believe that’s me” I said as I approached the counter while still blushing like a beacon.
“I beg your pardon but what have you been doing to smell so bad?” She moaned trying to cover her nose.
“Swimming in two hundred year old shit” I deadpanned.
The mare had tears in her eyes from the smell assaulting her. “Hmm, ohh that’s foul… I’m sorry, did you want our services?” She asked trying to sound professional but failed.
“I would like the works, everything you have to offer and hopefully to get rid of this smell”
The mare suddenly seemed to forget about the smell as she put her hoof down and beamed happily at me with a cute smile. “Oh how marvellous. Please come this way” She said as she trotted over to a flap in the counter and opened it for me. As I walked through the mare motioned me to follow her as she started to walk through the door she looked at earlier.
“Sister, we have a customer” The mare called as we entered a rather large room with all sorts of beauty equipment and other things like baths and anything else you usually see in a spa.
A mare the same colour as her sister but in reverse came out from a side door leading to a storage room, if the sign is right. “Oh wonderful, what’s the order?”
“The works”
The reverse coloured mare grinned in the same enthusiasm as her sister upon hearing that. “Fantastic” She squealed.
I smiled a little uneasily. “What have I let myself in for now?” I mentally asked as the sisters stood together and tried with all their might to not show any signs that my stench was getting to them.
“I am Aloe” The blue and pink mare said.
“And I am Lotus” The pink and blue mare added.
“And this is our spa” They then said together while also sweeping a fore hoof to gesture to the room.
The two mares looked at each other for a second and nodded. Lotus bounced off to a larger circular bath and began to pour bottles of things into the steaming water.
“I think the first think we should do is give you one of our scented baths” She said being unable to keep her face straight from the smell.
I nodded with a smile and a sigh of relief. A bath is exactly what I need right now. The water was wonderfully warm, oh how I’ve missed a nice hot bath. I lowered myself down so I was lying with my forelegs tucked up beneath me in the water; I was completely submerged apart from my head.
“We’ll leave you to relax for a little while” The two sisters said as they turned and left to do something while I relaxed. The real reason obviously was to stay away from me while the scented water dulled the smell enough. I can’t blame them.
I sighed happily as I let the warmth of the water flow over me and I closed my eyes as I relaxed. My thoughts began to wander as sleep began to creep over me and soon I dozed off with my head supported by the edge of the bath.
XXXXX
Six years ago.
“You asked to see me Elder?” A younger Appletart asked as she entered the control tower of the Steel Ranger base in Pondale.
“Ah yes, Appletart” Elder Stanier said as he turned from his desk to look at the teenage mare. “I’ve been reviewing your records and I believe you are capable of receiving more important missions”
Appletart smiled and stood tall with pride as the elder finally saw her worth. She was also eager to do a proper mission as she was getting tired of being sent on patrol. The elder motioned for her to approach his desk as he unfolded an old map of Pondale. The map has been used previously and had several places marked on it. Elder Stanier had a hoof pointing at one of the marked areas to the south of the base several miles away.
“This is one of the Canterbury Supermarkets in town but this one had been built by the M.W.T during the war. This gave us reason in the past to check it out but we came out empty hoofed. However, recently one of my scouts in the area has reported several times Raiders leaving the building with weapons they didn’t enter with. He also reported that Raiders have been coming and going for a while now so we believe they’ve made it a base for them. With the news of them leaving with weapons we have reason to believe that they may have found what we missed. I would like you to go there, remove the hostiles and secure the building. Once you’ve secured the building radio in for reinforcements. Is that understood?”
Appletart nodded her head, a bang of red dyed mane fell from behind her ear and draped over her left eye as she did.
“Good, report to Paladin Nightingale for further instructions. Dismissed Knight Longshot”
Appletart bowed her head and left her elder’s quarters. She couldn’t help but squeal in delight on the way down now that she finally had a mission she could do on her own.
Paladin Nightingale stood in the armoury checking several recovered weapons. After she finished checking the weapons she hoofed them other to a couple of scribes waiting to examine them. As the scribes left with the weapons a power armoured pony entered the armoury.
“Paladin Nightingale, Knight Longshot is here to see you”
“Ah good, thank you”
Appletart stood in the corridor outside the armoury as she waited for her superior. She was wearing her standard issued power armour minus her helmet, she didn’t like it much. She quickly stood to attention as the pony that brought her in as a blank flank filly entered the hall.
“At ease Longshot, I suppose your here about your mission” Appletart nodded as she relaxed her stance. “Good, follow me”
Appletart followed her superior until they were in the barracks section of the base.
“Ok, you know the basis of your mission right?”
“Hmm, yeah, to secure the Canterbury Supermarket and then radio in”
“Yes, that’s the basic idea however it won’t be as easy as that. For this mission you can not use your battlesaddle fifty calibre rifle as it’s too loud and will alert the raiders of your presence and they might destroy the facility to prevent us from getting what’s inside. It has happened before in the past”
Appletart nodded as she listened but was silently disappointed that she couldn’t use her favourite weapon against the bastards.
“You can use your repeater rifle but I’d advice not trying long range shots with it as they may catch on with raiders dropping suddenly. Inside the supermarket you’ll need to be careful as we don’t know how many raiders there are inside. Try to be as quiet as you can until you find the door to the basement. In the basement you’ll find a storage room. We believe that the hidden M.W.T storage unit is hidden down there. Perhaps if you find the raider in charge, he may have a key or know where it is. Once you have found it use your broadcaster to call for reinforcements. You maybe found out after this so hold out until the reinforcements arrive. Any questions?”
“No ma’am”
“Good, dismissed soldier” With that the older pony turned and left the barracks.
Appletart smiled to herself as she picked up her family’s repeater rifle ‘Overmare’s Fury’ from a hooflocker under her bunk. She closed her eyes and allowed the weapon to float in her magic as she concentrated on it. Soon the bolts that held the custom scope to the body unscrewed and released the scope. After removing the scope she put it back into the hooflocker while she placed the rifle onto her armoured back. Armed, she then checked her suit’s medical supplies.
“Ten healing potions and five Med-X, good, that should be all I need for this” She said to herself as she began to check her armour to be sure it was fine. Once satisfied she picked up her helmet and thought for a moment before putting it back down. She didn’t like her helmet but it was needed for her battlesaddle targeting system but since she can’t use that she decided to leave it behind for this mission as she feels she doesn’t have a need for her helmet. After a final check to be sure she had all she would need she left the barracks and then the old Pondale Airport to begin her long walk to her target.
After several hours of walking Knight Longshot had arrived at the old run down supermarket. Raiders have indeed setup shop here as the usual raider theme was present with chains that had hooks on them dangling from the over hanging roof along with cages and mattresses with mutilated bodies on them nailed to the wall. The young ranger growled to herself as she began to creep along the wall towards one of the two sets of doors at the front of the store. She stopped as she saw a red marker appear on her E.F.S directly ahead of her. She couldn’t see it as a Sparkle-Cola machine blocked her view. Appletart froze when she noticed the marker was moving and quickly readied her repeater as it began to move around the vending machine.
“Must have been hearing those damned noises again” The Raider said as he came into view. He was your typical raider, messy and wearing the usual makeshift armour with bits and bobs stuck all over it along with days or even years worth of gore dried up on it.
The raider saw the young ranger easily with her white head and hair sticking out from the dark colours of her armour but before he could yell any kind of alarm he took a shot to the head and collapsed into a heap.
“Asshole” Appletart growled as she kicked his body into a shadow. The ranger took a quick look around to make sure there weren’t anymore raiders around before she used her magic to open the door wide enough for her to squeeze through and then closed it as quietly as she could behind her.
Appletart had entered the supermarket on the checkout side as in front of her were the many rows of checkouts with two hundred year old groceries and junk littering the conveyer belts and the floor between them. Appletart realised she would easily be seen standing near the exit so she quickly crouched down and hid inside one of the checkout stations. She slowly poked her head up and peeked out over the counter. She could see many rows of shelves making up the aisles. From her spot behind the counter in the checkout station she could see five raiders patrolling the inside of the supermarket. Two raiders were at the back, one in the pharmacy and the other in the electronics section. Two were patrolling the tops of the aisles and using planks of wood as bridges to get over to the other aisles and the last one she could see was wandering the aisles on ground level. As she watched she noticed a pattern, they were all following the same paths. They would always repeat their patrols which made their movements predictable. As she looked around she saw an open door to the left that lead to the supermarket’s restrooms. She waited until all the raiders had their backs to her before she ran for the restrooms as quietly as she could, well as quietly as her power armour would allow.
The corridor was short but ended with a door on each wall at the end of the corridor. One of the doors was to the colt’s room and the other to the mare’s room. As she scanned over the doors her gaze stopped at the door to the colt’s room as she could see a red marker behind the door. She trotted up to the door and listened for movement but as she listened she realised the pony in the toilets was moving towards the door.
“Alright cut the shit, who is that?” The raider said as he opened the door. His jaw dropped open when he saw the young Steel Ranger but before he could yell out in alarm she shoved a hoof into his mouth and pushed him back inside the toilets and shut the door.
The colt’s room had been turned into a drug factory as within a couple of the stalls were dirty tables with an assortment of Dash Inhalers, Med-X syringes, Stampede Bottles and other things she didn’t recognise. The floor itself was mucky with a coating of grime from two hundred year old shit and piss that had leaked from the pipes when the plumbing stopped working. The walls had tattered remains of old ministry posters and propaganda and there were splatters of blood on the wall from possible rape or torture victims.
Appletart shoved the raider away from her and he slid in the muck until he crashed into the wall. Appletart was still getting used to the strength bonus her armour offered. The raider was a unicorn and when he picked himself back up he used his magic to grasp a combat knife off of one of the tables.
“I’m going to cut you up” He growled as he charged at the teenage ranger.
“You can try” She replied as she watched him. Her training had toned her senses and she was able to anticipate his movements and as he swung the knife to slash at her she pulled back so he’d miss. Each attempt the raider made to slash or stab her proved futile until he lunged for her. She stepped out the way but as he began to pass her she swiftly brought up a knee and smashed it into his gut. The raider instantly dropped the knife and let out a cry of pain as he collapsed clutching his stomach with a hoof.
“Hurts don’t it?” She growled as she then used a fore hoof to kick him under the chin. The added strength bonus had enough force to knock the raider onto his back.
“You fucking whore” The raider growled in pain as he spat out a tooth.
Appletart narrowed her eyes as she menacingly walked up to him as he scrambled to get back up onto his hooves.
“What did you call me?” She asked, fuming with anger.
“You’re a fucking whore, that’s what you are bitch” The raider spat. Specks of red appeared on Appletart’s pure white coat. Without warning she lashed out, she swung a fore leg and kicked him in the side of the face with enough force to floor him again. He cried out in pain as he sailed across the floor and crashed into the wall.
“I’ll make you eat those words you bag of shit”
The raider moaned as he looked back to his attacker. He could see a fury in her red eyes that seemed to burn into his very soul. A fury that put a dread in him he never expected to feel from somepony who wasn’t a raider and he realised then that he was in trouble. He quickly began to pick himself up but before he managed to get back onto his hooves he was struck again by a powerful kick and again sailed across the mucky floor. The raider felt an incredible pain in his mouth and his jaw was offset now which indicated it was broken. The raider lay on his back, moaning and groaning in pain. Appletart walked over to him and stood nearly on top of him. She placed a hind hoof on his stomach to hold him in place and positioned her legs so she could support herself ok on three legs.
“How does it feel to be on the receiving end you fucking bastard?” She growled with hate at him.
He couldn’t respond because as soon as she said that she began to repeatedly smash his face with one hoof. Her hits coming from side to side so she was smashing both sides of his face. The added strength bonus of the armour along with its durability made each hit feel like he was getting hit by a super sledge. The hits soon began to make wet crunching noises as her hoof beating his face fractured the bone of his skull before soon being shattered. The raider went limb as his brain was pulverized in the beats as his skull broke up. Seeing that the raider had died from her abuse she finished it with a rage filled cry and stamped her hoof down on the broken head. The impact with the tenderized raider was like a water balloon bursting, showering the floor with his broken bone and brains.
Appletart growled as she used some cloth she ripped off the raiders barding to clean off his blood from her steel hoof. “That’s one less wanker in the world” She said to herself as she cleaned off the blood. She left the drug factory and into the mare’s room which turned out to be a place where some of the raiders slept as it had stained mattresses scattered about all around. The floor and walls were in the same state as the colt’s room and stunk just as bad. As she looked around she found a couple of lunchboxes which seemed to have gather tape sealing them with a sensor module taped to it. As she held one up with her magic she used her pipbuck to scan the item and the device identified them as a Bottlecap Mine.
“Bottlecap Mine? Oh I can have some fun with these” She grinned as she picked up both mines and put them in her storage unit.
Leaving the mare’s room she entered the main body of the supermarket again and watched from a shadow as a raider walked up the length of shelves facing the bathrooms. She smiles as when the raider turned around to go down another aisle she crept up the shelves where he had been walking and pulled out one the bottlecap mines and activated it’s sensor before placing it among the junk on the floor. “This will give that tosser a nice surprise” she smiled to herself as she quickly and quietly crept to the checkouts again and crouched down behind one as she watched.
After few minutes of waiting Appletart finally saw the raider on the floor turn back up the end aisle where she placed the mine and watched with interest as he approached it. She grinned as she heard the familiar beeping of a mine and saw just in time the raider’s look of horror as he realised what he stepped on before it exploded and blew the raiders legs clean off.
“Ha, eat that you piece of shit”
The explosion had alerted the other raiders and the two on the tops of the shelves saw the albino mare trying to remain hidden behind the counters.
“There, behind the checkouts” One of the two shouted as they began to make their way towards the ranger.
“Yeah, your dead meatsack”
“Shit” Appletart moaned as she had given away her position and let them know they had an intruder. She poked her head up so she could look around to see where the two raiders on the shelves were until she heard a rifle gun shot and then a burning pain on her cheek which made her duck back down immediately. “Ah, fuck” she cried as she could feel blood leaking out from her cheek. She also couldn’t believe her luck that the raider had missed, just barely.
Down in the pharmacy a raider laughed in delight. “Go get her boys, I fucked her up”. His voice echoed in the expanse of the large building as the two raiders closed in on the check out.
Appletart crouched down low and quickly rolled out from behind the counter she was hiding behind and hid behind the one next to her as the raiders approached. While still hidden behind her new cover she took out her repeater rifle and got ready.
“Scared, just like a little bitch”
Appletart stood up from behind her cover opposite the checkout the raiders were approaching. She was glad to see the checkout she was in now put her out of sight of the gunner in the pharmacy.
“Scared? I don’t think so” She said before she blasted the raider in the face. The raider’s eye exploded as she fell dead beside the other raider who quickly pulled out a long rusted looking sword.
“Call a doctor we got a bleeder” The other raider yelled as he charged at Appletart with his sword out ready to strike completely oblivious to the rifle his enemy held. Appletart didn’t give him the chance and she blasted him almost point blank in the head. His dead body fell into a stack of empty sparkle-cola bottles which made a big racket.
“What the fuck are you dipshits doing?” The gunner yelled hearing the commotion. He then turned to the electronics section where a raider wearing a welding mask stood arming a flamethrower. “Yo Cook, go burn that sucker”
The raider nodded as he left the electronics section and entered the supermarket proper heading towards the checkouts. Appletart looked around and saw how the raiders had gotten onto the tops of the shelves as in several aisle the shelves have been pushed over so they rested on the ones opposite to create a ramp to the top. She crouched down and began to creep up onto the top of the shelves, giving her a good vantage point.
Cook began walking up an aisle towards the checkouts when he heard the shelves creek from somewhere. He stopped and looked around. His flamethrower mounted on a battlesaddle to his side turned as he turned his body and resting on his back was the big tank of flamer fuel. “Where are you baby? I’m hot to meet you” He called out before chuckling insanely.
Appletart moved over from a plank of wood to the aisle Cook was in and stood up on the top of the shelves behind him, back in view of the gunner.
“Shit, she’s behind you” He yelled as he fired another shot but this time missed completely.
Unfortunately for Cook it wasn’t enough warning as Appletart fired a single shot into his flame tank which began to spew out a jet of fire from the hole punched into it. Seeing the jet of flame Appletart leaped down from the shelves and ran towards the pharmacy counter.
“Oh shit no” Cook yelled as he frantically tried to get it off but it was too late and the flame tank exploded, bathing him in burning flamer fuel where he was then roasted to death.
“I’m gonna tear you apart meatsack” Gunner yelled as he searched with his rusty old hunting rifle for the white and red headed pony that has killed the other raiders. Without any warning said pony leaped from behind the counter and planted her fore hooves into his side and slammed him down against the floor, making him drop his gun.
“A Steel Ranger?” He yelled in surprise as he was held down by the power armoured teen.
“Yeah, one pissed off Ranger” She growled as she levitated her reaper rifle and cocked it before aiming it back down at the raider.
The raider began to struggle under the weight of the ranger. “When my friends get back your dead” He yelled in a trembling voice as Appletart pushed the hot gun barrel to his forehead.
”Good, the more raiders I kill the better” She growled as she then pulled the trigger and blasted his brains out the back of his head.
Appletart mentally thanked the raider for telling her more would come back soon so she quickly ran back to the door she came in by and left the raiders a present in front of the door. She smiled as she imagined the result. Once the bottlecap mine was down she returned to the pharmacy. She found several metal boxes and ammunition boxes lying around. She picked out all the ammo from the ammo boxes and checked the metal boxes which to her surprise one of them contained the pharmacy storage key. The key opened a door in the pharmacy which opened up to a flight of stairs going down.
“It must be down there” She said to herself as she descended the stairs into a small storage room which had been cleaned out long ago as small boxes and empty bottles littered the floor and shelves. As Appletart moved deeper she found a counter against one wall with several grenades and a Balefire Egg of all things. Next to the explosives was a medical kit lying on the counter and a terminal which was also next to a large ponitron holding capsule which still had a ponitron inside.
Appletart pocketed the healing potions and other medical items from the med kit along with the grenades. As she approached the terminal she discovered an employee ID sitting on the top of the computer’s casing. She thought for a moment and decided to take it too as she curiously pressed a key on the terminal to wake it up from its stand-by screen. It flickered once before displaying a screen full of text and symbols.
“Hmm, lets see” Appletart said to herself as she looked at the words among the text looking for what could be its password. She shrugged and chose one at random and to her surprise she picked out the correct password.
The screen showed several dates of store bulletins but the last option on the screen was to activate the ponitron. Appletart shrugged as she chose to activate the machine. When the screen flickered back to its main screen after turning on the robot Appletart found that there was an additional option which said. “Open Vault Door”
“I bet that’s it” She said out loud to herself as she clicked that option. As soon as she clicked it the ponitron capsule’s door swung open and the robot pony walked out.
“Loading personality…Robronco Office Helper… Running default office protocol… ERROR… Loading daily agenda…ERROR…” The robot said as it turned and faced the ranger with its round bulb like head blinking as it spoke.
Appletart smiled as it was still working. “Cool, it still works”
“Greetings, fellow employee, please display your office ID” It said to her in a calm metallic voice. Appletart used her magic to hold up the ID she found on the computer for the robot to scan. “Thank you, have a nice day” It said before it began to wander away and began to trot up the stairs.
Once the robot had left Appletart looked around to see if a door had opened like the computer said but didn’t see a new door open. She scowled thinking it hadn’t worked but then noticed the ponitron capsule had moved back into the wall and then the back of the capsule split down the middle and opened to reveal a hidden passage.
“No wonder they didn’t find it before, they must have never turned the robot on”
Appletart walked through the passage and into a vault which bore the logo of the M.W.T on the back wall. She frowned as she saw that most of the good stuff has already been taken by the raiders leaving only a few pistols, assault rifles and snipers behind. She smiled as she saw a stack of shelves filled with ammo boxes but frowned in disappointment as all the boxes were empty.
“Fucking raiders have cleaned it out” She moaned as with what little was here she felt her mission was a waste of time. “Orders are orders” She moaned as she left the vault and back up to the main level of the supermarket and turned on her broadcaster.
“This is Knight Longshot” She said into her transmitter.
“Go ahead Longshot” Came the familiar voice of her superior.
“I’ve found the M.W.T storeroom in the supermarket but it’s been almost picked clean by the raiders. There are still a few weapons in there”
“Alright, good, reinforcements will be enroute momentarily. Hold position until they arrive”
“Yes ma’am”
She sighed as she sat down to wait. She looked up and noticed that the robot was moving towards the front door.
“Warning, security breach detected. Threat level omega, use of deadly force authorised” It said as its bulb like head glowed red.
“I guess the twats are back” Appletart said as she readied her repeater rifle and hoped over the counter of the pharmacy and took cover behind the shelves of an aisle that over looked the exit which she put a mine down in front of.
“We’re back, someone open the… wait a minute, something ain’t right here” She heard a raider call from over the intercom. She smiled as she saw the door open and a group of four raiders entered. Two hung back with the largest of the raiders while one of them walked in and set off the mine which blew up and killed the raider in front of his friends.
“Ha, surprise asshole” Appletart yelled.
“Oh great a fucking hero, go get her boys” The big raider commanded.
The two smaller raiders began to charge, running in at full speed. That was however until one of them burst into flames and turned to ash as one of them was hit by the red magical beams of death by the ponitron. The other raider quickly took cover behind the shelves from the ponitron but that put him in Appletart’s line of sight and she quickly dispatched him with a round to the head.
The big raider entered the main body of the building grumbling obscenities about his raiders being as thick as pig shit. Appletart was able to get a good look at the raider and figured he was the pony in charge around here as he wore metal armour rather than the pathetic rags of the other raiders. He was a big earth pony too with a battlesaddle that held a pair of combat shotguns that looked in good condition, most likely from the M.W.T vault. He turned to the advancing ponitron and delivered a double shotgun blast to the robot which sparked and then exploded in a shower of shrapnel and sparks.
“Alright you little bitch, it’s just me and you” He yelled.
“It’ll be a pleasure kicking your ass you fucking bastard”
“Ha, come and get me bitch”
Appletart stepped out from her cover and stood where he could see her. She smiled as he saw his face drop a little as he realised he was dealing with a Steel Ranger but then he grinned when he realised that she was still practically a kid.
“I’m going to enjoy fucking your sweet ass” He said as he turned his shotguns on her. As he bit on his bridle’s bit to fire them Appletart jumped back behind the shelves to avoid the buckshot.
“I’m so going to kill you” She yelled as she leaned out from her cover and quickly aimed at the raider and fired. The shot struck his armour and bounced off as he turned and peppered the shelves with buckshot.
The raider began to run down the aisle towards her as she began to reload her weapon. As he turned at the end of the aisle he received an applebuck to the chest by the young steel ranger which made him slide backwards on the tiled floor. When he recovered he saw that Appletart was standing in front of him with her repeater aiming at his face but she didn’t wear the satisfied smile he was expecting.
“What’s the matter bitch, shooting not good enough for ya?”
“I want to kick your ass without my gun. I bet you won’t stand a chance” She growled at him.
“Hah, I like that” He said as he stood tall. He stood bigger than she did which gave him an advantage. He bit onto his bridle’s release mechanism and dropped his battlesaddle. “You want to fight me, let’s go bitch”
Appletart smiled as she placed her rifle back onto her back and began to circle the big raider.
“If you impress me little bitch, I’ll be sure to let you live to be my whore” He said as he quickly pounced forward.
Appletart jumped to avoid him but his size meant he closed the cap faster than she expected and he clipped her back legs with his fore hooves and sent her off balance and she fell over onto her side. Appletart let out a grunt of annoyance from her mistake but quickly rolled over onto her back as she saw the big buck rear up to bring down his hooves onto her head. She raised her fore hooves to block his and to his surprise stopped him from smashing her face. He grunted with effort as he applied more weight and began to push her hooves down.
“Give it up bitch, your no match for me”
She grit her teeth and began to put all her strength into her fore legs and began to push his hooves away from her face. The raider tried to put more force into his own but he was surprised when the young ranger gave a strong shove with her forelegs and pushed him back.
“Not bad”
Appletart growled in anger as she jumped towards him, landing on her fore hooves she twisted herself around while her rear was still in the air and pushed out with her hind legs. She gave the raider another applebuck to the chest which made him stagger backwards. He was surprised that she could kick so hard for being younger than he is and a mare at that but he didn't know about the armour's strength bonus. The mare growled audibly in anger as she jumped at him again but this time he was ready for her applebuck. He twisted and reared up on his fore hooves and delivered his own applebuck. The two sets of hooves collided with a metallic bang which sent both ponies flat onto their chests.
“How can a miserable little runt like you kick so hard?” The raider asked as he got back up onto his hooves. Appletart wasn’t far behind but as she got up she was smashed in the side of the head by a metal armoured hoof and was sent toppling over and onto her back.
Appletart cried out in pain as not only did she get hit by the raider but a spike from his armour had cut into her cheek but her suit’s medical system applied a healing potion which closed the wound and also applied some Med-X to dull the pain.
“Argh” She cried out as the raider stamped a fore hoof down onto her armoured chest.
“I think you loose bitch” He grinned evilly as he looked down at her. “My, such a young thing you are, I bet you’ll feel real tight”
“I'm eighteen and fuck you” She almost roared in anger at him as she gave a swift and strong kick to his crotch. Her armoured hoof pulverized what were his genitals under the thin metal protection. He let out an agonized scream of pain as he toppled over off her and clutched helplessly to his ruined testicles.
“You bitch” He croaked in pain.
Appletart rolled over and back onto her hooves and loomed down over the downed raider. She smiled down maliciously at him as she narrowed her eyes which gave him a very dark view of the albino as her red eyes seemed to glow with rage.
“My turn” She smiled as she began to swing her hooves, beating his face like she did to the raider back in the colt’s room. Appletart held back as she wanted to keep him alive for a little bit longer. The raider cried out in agony after each hit he took to his face. His face quickly getting torn up by her armour and soon became very bloody. The raider panted and moaned in pain and his legs went limp from being unable to hold them up anymore.
“You…” He stopped to spit out some blood. “…bitch…you whore”
Appletart growled as she used her magic to pull one of his legs out. She reared up on her hind legs and brought down her fore hooves onto his leg. The armour was crushed and his bone shattered from the impact. The raider let out a satisfying scream of pain as his leg broke.
“This is what you fuckers like to do isn’t it?” Appletart asked in an enraged yell. “How does it fucking feel?”
“You’re a monster” The raider cried in pain.
“No, I’m not the monster here, you are, you and all you fucking murdering, drug using, raping, pieces of shit. I will kill every last one of you fucking assholes. What you did to me, what you fucking did to me ruined my life. You took away the only pony who ever cared about me, you took away my happiness and now I’m going to return the fucking favour” She yelled at him in pure unrestrained fury.
If the raider didn’t know fear before, he knew it now as the enraged mare repeated what she did to his leg and broke his over legs. The raider threw up from the pain coursing through his body. He looked on in terror as the mad mare picked a grenade out of her storage unit.
“Open” She yelled at him. When he failed to comply she used her magic to yank his mouth open. “I said open your fucking mouth” She screamed at him. Holding his mouth open she pulled the pin from the grenade and shoved it into his mouth and then closed his mouth with her magic. The raider looked at her in terror, pleading her not to do it but his eyes only widened as she began walking backwards, getting out of range of the grenade while still holding his mouth closed with her magic.
“Eat shit and die” She yelled as the grenade went off in his mouth. She watched as the explosion pained the wall and floor in red and she had to shield herself as it began to rain blood. She growled in anger as she watched the smoking remains of the raider.
Several hours later the reinforcements arrived. They congratulated Knight Appletart on a job well done as she had held the building successfully. When they asked about what happened to the raider who had lost half his body all she said was “Grenade”.
XXXXX
I awoke from my sleep with a start as the dream I had was a memory of a time during my life as a Pondale Ranger. Looking back at it now, I can’t believe what my anger made me do. Oh goddesses he was right. I was a monster. Right, once the threat of the Krogoth is other I’m going to get help to manage my anger towards raiders.
“Oh madam, you’re awake” Lotus said as she entered the spa.
“How long was I out?” I asked as I sat up in the still warm water.
“You have been asleep for several hours. We didn’t want to disturb you as you seemed so peaceful”
I smiled softly as she came up to the edge of the bath. I bet they left me to soak to let the scented water lift out the smell of the sewage from my coat.
“Please, lie back and relax while I wash your mane” She said as she squeezed a bottle of sweet scented shampoo into my mane which smelled of peaches. I lay back against the tub as she worked her hooves into my hair.
I spend another few hours in the spa getting all sorts of treatment. I had a hooficure. I had my mane and tail brushed and curled in a similar style to the late ministry mare, Rarity. I had some hoof polish applied to my hooves which painted them a light pink which they said went well with my white fur. I had some pink eye shadow applied to my eyelids which again they said went well and practically anything else you can think of that you can get done in a spa. I hated the steam room as I couldn’t stand the heat and I refused a mud bath since I had a normal bath first.
By the time I finally managed to leave the spa I have to admit I felt a lot better than I did for a long while. Best of all though, I no longer smelled like a sewage dumb. I felt my stomach rumble in hunger when I entered the High Street again. I decided to ignore the two restaurants on either side of the spa as they had ridiculous prices.
Walking down one side of the floor I came across a bakery called “Caps’ Bakery”. If the sign posted on the door was to be believed it is a bakery for the everyday traveller who can’t afford the expensive meals from the restaurants. Intrigued I entered the shop. As I opened the door it rung a belly and a red earth pony with a red and white striped mane looked up from the counter.
“Welcome, I’m Caps and this is my bakery” She greeted with a welcoming smile.
I looked down at my pipbuck to get the time and found it was nearly four o’clock. “Good afternoon” I smiled back as I approached the glass display counter. I smiled as I looked over the selection of treats.
“These all look good” I said out loud.
“I’ll be honest with ya, some of these have been found in the city, like a lot of the stuff here is. Some I’ve managed to bake myself using preserved ingredients”
I’ve been living off preserved food since I left my stable so that didn’t bother me. My eyes lit up when I saw some strawberry tarts. They looked gorgeous, nice thin pastry crust with some nice plump looking strawberries cut in halves and filled with a delightful strawberry sauce.
“Can I have two strawberry tarts please” I asked.
The mare nodded with a smile as she gently pulled two of the tarts out from behind the display case and put them into a cake box for me.
“That would be twenty caps please”
I used my magic to pass over the caps and then took the box with my treats inside.
“Thank you, please come again” She said as I turned to leave.
I placed the box on my back and levitated out one of the tarts and began to munch on it as I walked past the shops. Oh sweet Celestia this tart was good, the sweetness of the strawberries was beautiful. I had to force myself not to scarf down the rest of the tart as ponies would think I’m a mad mare. I was going to save the other for when I got back to the room Sky Fire had rented out but it was just too good to save. Oh those were good tarts. I’ll be cleaning that store out for when we leave for Manechester.
After finishing the second tart I found myself in the clothing store area as there were several shops which all sold clothing. Some selling formal wear while others sold a variety of clothes.
I came to a store that seemed to sell mostly formal wear but it did have a section for regular themed clothing and armour. As I peered into the window of the shop looking at some of the display ponikins showing some quite nice outfits I caught a stallion waving at me from the store entrance with a tape measure dangling around his neck.
“Hello?” I asked as I turned and looked at him.
He smiled softly. “Hello there ma’am, welcome to Fancypants”. He then seemed to gauge me as his eyes began to look over my body. “Hmm, I know a lovely little number that would look great on you”
I smiled softly to him as I approached him. “I’m sorry but I’m not looking for a new outfit” I said as nicely as I could.
“You can’t keep walking around in your fur all the time though can you miss?” He asked.
My armour was still at the tailors getting cleaned up so I guess he had a point there. “I guess”
He smiled. “Please follow me” He said as he turned and began to walk. I followed behind him. The shop was bigger than it looked from outside. There were plenty of shelves with folded up outfits and single piece clothing like jumpers and shirts. Despite how pretty everything looked in here the prices were as outlandish as the restaurants. The stallion stopped at a ponikin wearing a lovely pink formal dress that was marked for fifteen hundred caps. As if I'm going to be able to afford that.
“This is a Canterlot special. It was originally designed for a white mare like yourself for the Grand Galloping Gala”
It did look nice but it cost an absolute fortune. As I looked it over I became aware that there was a radio on somewhere and the music had just ended and the familiar voice of DJ-PON3 came through the speaker.
“Good afternoon children, this is your friendly neighbourhood disk jockey, what’s a disk? Hell if I know but I’m gonna keep talkin anyway.
You’ve probably noticed my broadcasts have been a little grainy lately on an account of a damaged relay. But don’t threat now kiddies as ol’DJ has it fixed and I would like to extend my thanks to the brave mare that went out to the old RES Celestia to retrieve the parts I needed.
Who is this mare I bet your asking, well children you know her as the Rogue Steel Ranger. That’s right, that badass with an anger problem helped me out”
I blushed brightly when he mentioned my anger issue, the sales stallion noticed this. “Is he talking about you?” He asked. I just nodded as the DJ continued talking.
“I know I gave her a bit of a bad rep with the things I’ve seen her do out there but don’t be afraid of her kiddies. She’s not all bad. You see, my assistant talked with the mare and from what she told me, I’ve learned a lot about her and I can understand her anger problem. Get your hoofkerchiefs ready children cause this is going to be a sad story I’m about to tell.
The Rogue Ranger was born in a Stable, her’s numbered eighty eight. She was living a good life like any stable dweller can all comfy and cosy inside their safe home. Well, that was until a bunch of raiders managed to cut through that huge steel door.
The Rogue Ranger was just a little blank flank filly back then, image how scared she must have been to see her home being slaughtered. She only survived because her mother locked her in a panic room but even in there the poor filly could hear everything that happened.
When she came out she was forced into going out into the wasteland. I don’t know about you children but she has good reason to be so angry with raiders, hell, we all should be pissed off with those assholes. But anyway, if you see the Rogue Ranger, don’t be scared of her anymore, show her some compassion. I can tell, deep down, she’s a good mare.
Oh and if a little light bulb just turned on in your head, your not going to make a home out of that empty stable now. Apparently its been picked clean of most of its materials so its hardly a good place to live now and not to mention it’ll be in sour taste to the Rogue Ranger.
Well, thanks for listening children, this has been DJ-PON3 and now here’s another track from the beautiful Velvet Remedy”
With that the radio began to play a nice tune.
I smiled softly as the DJ told my story. I hope the ponies won’t be scared of me anymore. The stallion wore a sad smile as he looked at me.
“I’m sorry to hear what happened to you. It must have been horrible for you. Here, take it as thanks for helping us out. If anyone asks, you bought it” He said as he began taking the dress off the ponikin and hoofed it to me.
“You serious?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes take it, if you want to put it on now there are changing rooms in the back”
“Wow, thank you so much” I said happily as I accepted the gift. I was actually touched; this was one of the nicest things anypony has ever done for me since I left the rangers.
I smiled to the stallion again as I made my way to the changing rooms and began to put on the dress. The first things I put on were the silky thigh high socks which were a lovely light pink; they clung to my legs tightly which was good as it meant they wouldn’t fall down. Secondly I put on the saddle, it is pink like the socks but has a short frilly skirt that fans out over my rump and tail, along the sides of the saddle it has some lovely gold patterns with diamonds studded into the gold and connected to the front of the saddle it has a collar that wrapped around my neck well and it too was emblazoned with the gold patterns and diamonds. The last piece to put on was a hair bow which I clipped on so it sat behind my head. I smiled at myself in the full length mirror in the changing room. The stallion was right, it did look good and it felt nice to dress nicely for a change.
I left the changing room and approached the stallion. “Thank you so much, this is lovely” I said with a kind smile.
“Your very welcome miss, glad it fits you well” He said as he admired me.
I smiled at him before I left. I almost blended in with the crowd now but my cutie mark still gave me away but ponies seemed to be less afraid of me now and more accepting. I must thank Homage for telling the DJ my past next time I see her. Speaking of the DJ, I hope he’s been able to find Manechester.
I walked around the High Street to the elevators and pushed the button for the floor to the residential floors. I sat down as I waited for the elevator to reach the floor but as I waited I began to think, my thoughts went back to the dream I had in the spa, that memory. Looking back on it now, I can’t believe I went so far as to force a raider to eat a grenade, oh goddess of the night I was out of control. I can’t let that happen again, I’d be no different than the raiders. But at least this time if I go off the rails again, I have some good friends who’ll stop me.
XXXXX
Unknown Location
“Its good to see you’ve gotten over your paranoia Dr Gizmo” Motor Runner said as he stood behind his friend as he and the smaller buck closely watched a group of electrically trained raiders testing the wires between motors and other circuits in the Krogoth’s legs.
“What you told me the other day helped me a lot, thank you” Gizmo replied calmly.
“I’m glad it helped. So, how’s the progress?”
“These idiots have at least got the training to do it right and the ponies that built this thing two hundred years ago must have been talented builders as this thing was made to last. So far we’ve found no faults but we still got a lot of the robot to check”
“Good good” Motor Runner said with a satisfied smile as he turned around. “I’ll let you get back to it, keep up the good work”
“Thank you Motor Runner” Gizmo said as his larger friend began to walk away. As Motor Runner walked away Gizmo narrowed his eyes and smiled as he knew something he didn’t.
Motor Runner was none the wiser to the Krogoth’s deceit as its hologram of the late Dr Gizmo was indeed perfect. The hologram looked down at the ponies half buried in one of the machine’s legs as they tested wire after wire. The Krogoth was having to restrain itself from making these raiders have an accident as killing anymore would cause delays and the machine would rather now be finished instead of spending another year stuck in the Hanger.
Motor Runner climbed the ladders up to an access hatch into the Krogoth’s chest where he then entered the machine’s Crusader chamber. Once inside the chamber he turned to the crusader mainframe.
“Krogoth, can you hear me?” He asked.
The hologram of Dr Gizmo looked up as it heard Motor Runner’s voice. One of the screens in the chamber flashed to life with a word. “Yes”
“Good, I’ve looked over your design plans and I’ve discovered a flaw”
The hologram’s face tilted in confusion, it was a good thing none of the raiders were taking any notice of it. The hologram continued to communicate with Motor Runner using its connection. “Flaw?”
“Yes, you have brilliant armour for protecting yourself from projectile weapons but your armour is nothing when up against magical weapons but I know how we can remove that flaw”
The hologram wore an intrigued expression. “How?”
“In Manechester there is a building called the Manedale Centre. On the roof of the tower is a spire that looks like a unicorn horn and it’s called the Obelisk of Magic”
It has been two days since me and my friends helped Homage with finding the communication equipment from the old ocean liner and still DJ-PON3 hasn’t found Manechester. I hope he finds it soon, I dread to think of what would happen if that machine activates before we find out more about it. Sure my ancestor gave a big long and detailed description of it but that still doesn’t really tell us how to beat it. If we are to have any chance we are going to need to find out the location of the Hanger at best before its finished.
For the last two days I’ve kept myself busy by offering to help out as a guard at the rail station entrance. I spent the day time hours in a small guard tower beside the gate so I could look out over the rail line. I used This Machine to scope out distant targets to see if they were going to come close or to determine if new arrivals were going to be hostile.
Raiders can be crafty bastards. I was actually surprised that some even had half a brain to think up some sort of plan to get close to the gate. I mean these toss pots usually can’t speak a full sentence without swearing or making it more then ten words in length but just yesterday a group of five raiders disguised themselves as a caravan, plus a Brahmin and approached the gate. Due to their disguise I didn’t know they were even raiders until they shed that disguise but the guard by the gate handled himself well while I was still suffering from the confused shock after being tricked like that. This sort of sneak attack wasn’t anything special according to the guard as he said they try something like that ever week.
Besides the scouting teams and one or two travellers and the raider attacks nothing much really happens but in a big city like this you are always treated to strange sounds and sights. Growing up in a small town it was usually quiet but here I’m hearing all sorts of things that get me looking this way and that. The most common sound is the howling of wind as it rushes past all the buildings but there are also the scary sounds like creaking steel. It kind of makes you wonder or fear that something your standing on is about to fall out from under you. The creaking of metal happens a lot around here as the high rise that holds the railway is mostly made from steel and it has been degrading for over two hundred years. When I settle down after we deal with Motor Runner and his machine and when I’ve had my child I’m going to make sure it’s a little village or something because I’ll be scared of something collapsing on me. Even here I feel like something is going to fall on me.
But the strangest thing to happen was an Alicorn encounter. It flew by almost a hoof or two from the gate. As it passed it seemed to be having an argument with itself and it even changed its voice as if it was actually two ponies. The guard had told me that since the balefire bomb explosion several days ago the alicorns of the wasteland have been acting strangely. Again being raised in a small town out of the way we didn’t encounter many of them but when we did they were always in groups of three and the groups usually consisted of a purple or a blue alicorn which was then flanked by two green ones but now, they don’t seem to be flying it any sort of command structure. It’s like their link to this goddess I’ve heard about has been severed and they are now helpless without anything to direct them and are operating under their own initiative. The guard has said that since the explosion there have been several alicorn sightings but none of them have been hostile. He has told me of how some have just been jittering wrecks, constantly talking as if there was someone there as they walked or flew by while others seemed to be walking or flying aimlessly and some seemed to act as if there were one of us, like a normal pony.
My E.F.S picked up a red marker down the line that was moving towards us so I aimed This Machine. The guard saw me aiming and put his hooves over his ears. “Oh not again” I heard him mutter to himself. I smiled as the crosshairs of the rifle scope in my magic moved over my target’s face as he trotted down the rail line towards us. He’s another one of those ‘brave’ raiders coming alone to try to gain entry. I pulled the trigger with my magic and then the entire city roared with the thunderous boom of the 50cal weapon as the shot fired. I was rewarded with watching the raider’s head explode as the high calibre round punched straight through and imbed itself into the wooden sleepers of the railway further behind him. “Hah, in your face” I called out in glee.
“Do you have to use that thing? Bloody hell” The guard moaned as he rubbed his ears.
“It gets the job done” I replied pulling the bold back and ejecting the massive spent shell before slamming it back in.
“Yeah, and deafens everyone around you, fuck, my ears are still ringing” He complained as I laughed softly.
"You get used to it" I replied with a giggle.
"I'm surprised your not deaf yet"
"What?" I asked before bursting out into a fresh wave of laughter as the guard groaned at my joke.
The double doors behind us opened and a lanky unicorn stallion walked out onto the platform and looked around. His gaze moved over to me and he stared for a moment at the pregnant albino in power armour. “Um, are you Appletart?” He asked a little shakily.
“I am” I answered while I holstered the AM rifle.
“Homage asked me to find you, she said she has the information your after and that she’ll meet you in your room”
“Oh great, thank you” I said happy to have some news at last.
“You’ll be alright on your own?” I asked the guard as I climbed down from the watch tower.
“I’ve manned this gate for five years, nothing I can’t handle” He replied as he walked past me to climb up into the tower.
With a nod to him I left to find Homage. The walk back to our room was a blur as I was so focused on getting back I didn't take much notice of my surroundings. By the time I got back to our room my two friends were already inside with Homage waiting for me.
“Ah, here she is now” I heard Zyon comment before I even opened to the door.
“Hehe yea you can hear her coming a mile away with that armour” I head Sky laugh as I opened the door.
My two friends were sharing a giggle as they sat at a table with Homage giving them a knowing smile as I walked in. I loudly sat down, making the room slightly shudder with the force and echo with a metallic clang and I gave the two giggling ponies a sour look. Oh that’s not good. I suddenly felt like I was back in the Stable being picked on again. That’s not a good feeling. I don’t want to snap at my friends, I know they don’t mean anything by it. Once my two friends calmed down Homage began to speak.
“I know you’ve been waiting for a while so I’ll apologise for the wait. Now, may I see your pipbuck please Appletart?” She asked as she looked to me.
I nodded and extended my left foreleg out so she could see the screen. My two friends lent forward to see the screen as Homage cycled through the tabs until she came to the world map where she then began using the scrolling wheel to move the cursor to the northwest.
“It took us a long time searching the northwest beyond Canterlot. We nearly missed it but when we checked back to the most north western SPP tower we caught a faint white glow in the distance around night time…” She was saying before she got interrupted by Zyon.
“The city is constantly being illuminated by something at the top of the Manedale Centre” He blurted out.
“Um, yes, we managed to get the cameras to zoom in and we could just about make out the red neon lights that spelled out the name of the tower and as it said Manedale like your friend just said it confirmed it to us that, that is Manechester” When she finished talking the cursor had stopped near the borderline of the map screen where a square with a diagonal line through it had appeared. Below the square it said Manechester.
“That is a long long way away” Sky Fire commented as she looked at the distance from here to there on my map.
“Yeah, looks like it’ll take a few weeks of walking to get there if we’re lucky” Added Zyon.
“I don’t think we have that long before Motor Runner activates that machine” I said looking at the distance. It had to be over a thousand miles. This is going to be a long trek…
“I’m sorry but you’re going to have to leave as soon as you can. I’ve been getting reports of the Enclave coming down from the cloud layer since the balefire explosion in Maripony”
“The Enclave is coming? Oh no, they can’t see me like this” Sky Fire shrieked.
“She’s right, if they see her without her flight suit they’ll likely kill her on sight” Zyon said sounding a little worried. Hmm, I've never noticed this worry for her before.
“Homage, do you know a quick way out of the city?” I asked looking to her.
“You can fly out, that’ll be the quickest way” She said as she stood up. “Come with me to the roof, I can show you how you can get out of here together and in the air”
We nodded and followed her to the roof of the tower. I was expecting her to have like a chariot or something for us to us but I was wrong. Instead she led us to the northeast corner of the tower and pointed a hoof over the railing to a tower two blocks away that had a landing pad sticking out the side of it. As I followed her hoof I noticed that there is a commercial sky bandit sitting on the pad.
“You can use that sky bandit there. Here, you might need these” Homage said as she used her magic to open her saddlebags and pulled out a small bag. “This bag has several spark batteries that you’ll need for that thing’s levitation talismans”
“Thank you” I said as I began to pull the bag over to me but then Sky Fire snatched it out of the air with her mouth. “Hey, Sky what…” I didn’t get a chance to finish as she took to the air.
“I’m sorry but I’m not waiting around for the Enclave to show up and paste me” She said over a mouthful of the bag and then zipped off over to the tower with speed I’ve never seen her fly at before. Her flying power is amazing. I guess I shouldn't be surprised as she's a clone of Rainbow Dash.
“SKY FIRE!” Zyon yelled more worried than before.
“I’ll cover her” I said as I pulled This Machine off my back and rested the long gun barrel on the railing as I aimed it down to the landing pad just in time to see Sky climb into the sky bandit. I moved the rifle so I could see the door that led onto the landing platform and started to see ponies in a red and black attire start to come out of the doors. “Who the buck are they?” I asked.
“Let me see” Homage said. I moved back to let her see down the scope and she gasped. “Those are Red Eye slavers, they must have seen her”
“They are not gonna enslave her” I said and quickly took aim. So far two ponies had emerged from the building but there is no doubt that there are going to be more inside the building. The distance from here to the building wasn’t too far but it was still quite the range but I can make the shots. I aimed just a little in front of my target and fired. The city boomed again with the echo of the shot and as I watched down the scope I saw my target’s shoulder erupt in blood as the high calibre round punched into him. The force of the shot flung him into his buddy and they both toppled over the side of the platform.
“Nice shot” Zyon said using his binoculars to see what was going on.
I smiled at his praise before aiming back at the door to see if anymore would come out but unfortunately more did come out. I fired again but this time I was treated to an unexpected explosion upon contact with the target I was aiming at. “What the fuck?” I cried out in surprise.
I pulled back the bolt and pulled out the magazine to check the rounds and my face fell. “Oh shit, these are explosive rounds, I fucking loaded explosives into this normal mag” I tipped out the rounds and three orange banded bullets, indication of explosive, fell out along with two normal rounds. How could I have made such a stupid mistake when I loaded this magazine?
There was the echoing sound of breaking metal and I looked down the scope of my empty AM rifle and I almost cried out in horror as I saw the platform separate from the building as it dipped slightly.
“Oh no, Sky Fire”
I dropped the empty magazine while I peered down the scope to see what was going on down there. Sky Fire poked her head out of one of the several windows along the side of the sky bandit, made a shocked face before disappearing back inside. As every second ticked passed the platform moved slowly away from the building and tilt as the supports beneath it began to bend and deform under the weight and strain.
“Come on Sky Fire, get your flank back here” Zyon said to himself as he watched.
The sky bandit’s lights came on as I assumed Sky managed to connect or replace the spark battery. I smiled as I believed all would be well now but that smile quickly turned into a cry of horror as a loud metallic bang echoed through the city and the entire platform collapsed and began to fall down into the street below. I watched in absolute horror as the sky bandit became airborne as it fell with Sky Fire still inside it, all because of me, because I didn’t check the rounds I loaded into that magazine. I fucking killed her. My vision began to get blurry as tears welled up in my eyes from my despair but then I began to watch in shock as I saw through the blur, Sky Fire’s rainbow mane in one of the windows. She quickly jumped out the window and took to the air before zipping down after the falling sky bandit. I watched in amazement as she managed to manoeuvre into the bandit’s flight harness but then the falling platform obscured our view of the events.
“SKY FIRE” Zyon yelled as he watched the platform block his view.
I didn’t know what to do or to think as the falling platform soon fell upside down and if she was still below it she was dead. The platform soon met the broken street with an equestria shattering bang as its heavy metal frame twisted and snapped as the tonnes of steel came to rest on the ground kicking up a huge dust cloud that soon hid the carnage.
“SKY FIRE” Me and Zyon yelled in unison thinking the worst as we didn’t see her come out from under the platform before it hit.
“No, not her, not Sky” Zyon said very quietly as he began to sob. I probably would have cried too but I was in a state of shock that I couldn’t do anything but just stare.
Homage sighed as she looked down and closed her eyes as she shuck her head. I guess this isn’t new to her; well it isn’t really is it? She and the DJ must see all kinds of shit through the SPP towers.
There was a light metallic thud behind us and we all turned around to see Sky Fire smiling at us with the sky bandit behind her. “Now that was a rush” She said still smiling widely as if nothing happened.
Within seconds Zyon and I were on her and giving her an Ursa hug she’d never forget as we both began to cry like babies.
“Hey guys, what gives? I was only away two minutes” She said blushing from the hugs.
“Two minutes, I thought you fucking died” Zyon almost yelled at her as we released her.
“The platform got in our way so we couldn’t see you after you get into the harness” I said and she made and Oh face as she realised.
Zyon was about to say something else when the sound of distant thunder roared across the skies. We all looked up and in the direction of the thunder clap and even from here we could see three large black objects riding dark storm clouds falling from the cloud layer.
“Oh fuck no, those are Raptors, Enclave battle craft” Sky Fire cried out in fear.
“Oh cock” I muttered as I slung Thing Machine and turned away.
“You better get out of here now, fly fast and low, if you fly too high you’ll attract their attention, quickly now, go” Homage told us and with a nod me and Zyon boarded the half ruined sky bandit. “Oh, avoid large settlements and cities like this, I’ve been getting reports that the Enclave have been approaching settlements and steer clear of Canterlot, three more are heading there”
I sat at the front seat in the commercial air wagon. It looked like an old ground based bus from the inside and it had two large windows in front of me so I could see our pilot. Sky Fire gave a salute and a thank you to Homage and then beat her wings and soon we were in the air and flying away from the tower.
“Sky, fly fast” Zyon said as he took a seat beside me.
“Fly fast? I can do that” She grinned looking back at us before she revved her wings harder and I felt myself push back into the seat as her speed increased.
XXXXX
Unknown Location.
“Everything is progressing quickly” Motor Runner smiled as he checked the status terminals of the Krogoth’s support systems all reaching optimal levels. His smile widened as he looked up from the consoles by the status platform on the hanger floor. His gaze moving up the machine’s shining armoured leg, up its thickly armoured chest, up its neck until he was staring at the large glowing blue eye of the machine. “Your activation will be sooner than expected”
Raiders began to amass near the platform. Motor Runner tilted his head slightly to see them and smiled as he cleared his throat.
“My gathered friends” He addressed them with a fake smile as he turned to face the growing crowd. “Soon the day will come when the Krogoth is complete. We’ll soon have the weapon we sought to conquer this world and soon you all will have the land to raid and pillage as you see fit. Nopony will dare get in our way as we tear everything down to make the world anew. A dark future lies ahead for us my friends, a dark future” As he spoke the last couple of words as his voice took on a dark and sinister tone as he looked over the now cheering raiders.
With all the attention now away from the machine, its huge eyes silently moved. Scanning over the crowd of the vile raiders. Within the crusader chamber the computer monitors were displaying streams of data as the scanners identified the targets. Listing their genders and what race they are. It was even identifying what their special talents could be from their cutiemarks and ultimately it was labelling all but a few as hostile targets.
Motor Runner looked over the crowd and spotted each of the ponies he had brought in from all over equestrian. The ponies that had a specific talent in which he needed for the restoration of the machine. These ponies joined him willingly instead of being forced into it like most of the raiders.
“I want to see all the team leaders in my office tonight” He called out over the crowd.
Later that night in Motor Runner’s office.
All the ponies he had recruited stood before him in his office. Dr Gizmo however stood slightly apart from the group but no one seemed to notice or care.
“I can’t let them touch me and I can’t stand too close because the unicorns here will think something is wrong, they can already feel my presence” The hologram of the late Dr Gizmo said to itself internally. Due to the soft light hologram being projected from the light bee it practically made the hologram like a real world ghost as everypony would be able to see it but because it would have not mass they wouldn’t be able to touch it as solid matter would pass right through it and in the presence of unicorns, their natural ability to sense magical energy would alert them to a magical source if it stood too close.
“I suppose you all are wondering why I’ve gathered you all here tonight”
The assembled group nodded.
“I’m going to initiate the machine’s activation process tomorrow evening. The system checks and calibrations have been proceeding faster than we thought. Everything is coming together now”
“But sir, don’t you think it’s a little too soon?” One of the unicorns asked.
“Don’t call me that, I’m not your superior” Motor Runner almost yelled angrily. The unicorn shrunk down from the raised voice. “No, it’s been thirty years since I started this resurrection and now is a good a time as any to activate it"
Several ponies wore a confused look as their boss didn’t look older than a pony in his mid twenties. Motor Runner caught the confused gazes he was getting.
“What is it?”
“Um, beg your pardon Motor Runner but you don’t look that old”
He nodded and he raised his cybernetic leg for all to see and as their gaze moved from him to his raised limb he twisted it around so a panel faced them and then he opened it to reveal a glowing pink talisman.
“A regeneration talisman” One of the ponies recruited for the machine’s spell systems blurted out.
“What does this mean?”
“It means my friends I’m older than I appear. My actual age is fifty seven. Though thanks to this talisman my aging process has been slowed considerably and because of this I appear no older than half my age”
The assembled ponies nodded with understanding and surprise.
“Now back to the topic at hoof. When I activate the machine I don’t want you ponies to be here. I know what is going to happen when it activates and I don’t want you to witness the slaughter so for that matter I’d like you to leave tonight. I have enjoyed working with you over the years you have been here and I appreciate all the hard work and effort you have put into this for me and putting up with those sorry excuses of ponies back there. I can’t thank you all enough for everything you’ve done but I’d like to give you something to show my gratitude. When you go back to your quarters you’ll find a box has been placed on your beds. Inside you’ll find ten thousand caps”
There were a lot of oohs from some of the ponies at the mention of the high sum of money.
“I hope the money will help to buy back the lives you’ve had to leave behind when you joined me. Everything costs these days”
Some ponies nodded while others shook their heads. One of the ponies who shook their head spoke.
“I thank you Motor Runner for the generous amount of money but I’m going to decline. I joined you for the opportunity to work on something so advanced like this. Working on the Krogoth to actually seeing it completed is reward enough for me”
Motor Runner smiled. “Your welcome. I’m glad I could have given you that chance” He then looked back over the group. “Now, at two AM when all the raiders are asleep I’ll have the emergency escape tunnel open for you so you can make your escape from the hanger. Again, thank you all for your hard work and I wish you all the best of luck out there”
The ponies began to turn to leave until one of them spoke up again. “Um, why are you choosing to activate it tomorrow, shouldn’t you check to be absolutely sure everything is working correctly?”
“That is a good question. I should wait to be sure everything is working fine but the status readouts so far have shown everything is fine. But the reason I’m choosing now rather than later is because time isn’t on our side. In the fifty years I’ve lived in the wasteland I’ve noticed the decline we are in. More and more ponies are turning bad as that’s the way of the wasteland; everything good gets corrupted and converted to darkness. If nothing is done soon then there won’t be a way back. Equestria will be lost forever to the darkness that plagues it. What do you see out there now, what roams free the most?”
The ponies looked at each other as they all thought for an answer but Motor Runner continued.
“Raiders, Slavers, Alicorns, all the bad things in Equestria. There aren’t that many good ponies left in the world, you lot and me are the only good here in this facility. I hate to say this my friends, but we are at a point of no return, if nothing is done soon then Equestria will be lost. The Krogoth was built for one purpose and that was to protect this land. Now is its time for it to do so. It has the power”
Everypony nodded as they all knew how bad things were out there and some understood Motor Runner’s reason for choosing now as they too felt that things would never get better if nothing is done.
Everypony soon left the office to go back to their quarters to await their time window to leave the facility. However the hologram of Dr Gizmo faded to nothing but the light bee when it was out of sight and then floated back up to the Krogoth. Short Circuit’s face reappeared on the main crusader screen and smiled. “Finally, I’ll finally be activated tomorrow. Once Motor Runner utters the master command code my reactor’s restriction will end and all my systems will come online giving me full control of myself. I’ll finally be able to fulfil my creators wish”
Two raiders decided to have some fun upon one of the elevated platforms still surrounding the Krogoth while everypony was asleep. The cries of sexual pleasure echoed through the huge expanse of the facility as the Krogoth bared witness to the scene. “Vile creatures” It muttered to itself as it examined the platform the raiders were doing it on. The platform ran around the Krogoth’s body and was dangerously close to its gigantic railguns. A screen flicked on showing a proximity alert with how close the platform was to the large armoured weapon to the left of the machine which these raiders were doing it on. The massive weapon moved on its pivot point to aim the weapon slightly to its left, the large armoured end that covers the focusing lenses collided with the platform causing it to shudder violently. The sudden vibrations running through the platform knocked the two raiders off their balance in their sexual stances and they then fell over the edge of the platform and fell to their deaths several stories down.
“Until tomorrow I can not move but when I can I’ll be sure give these creatures my gratitude for helping complete me” The large machinegun below its head spun its several gun barrels for a second from the impulse.
Back in the office Motor Runner looked up at the machine from his window. He smiled with satisfaction that his dream of awakening the machine would soon come after thirty long years. His smile faded as he noticed two raiders falling from the middle platform surrounding the machine. “Oh not again” He moaned as he got up and left his office to go and deal with the bodies.
XXXXX
For the last five hours we’ve been flying east and low enough to just about clip the tops of the dead trees jutting out of the ground like black twisted tooth picks. Sky Fire was starting to slow down as she’s been flying constantly since we left Manehattan and I could see she was starting to droop, sinking lower in the air.
“Sky Fire I think its time you took a rest” I called out to her.
She looked back with a nod. “Is there somewhere I can set us down?” She asked.
I lifted my pipbuck up to check the map. We’ve been heading west and we’re drawing near Appleloosa the slaver town. No, that’s no good and…what’s this? There is a square with a line through it marked as Stable 56. Oh now I remember. Fifty six was in the computers back in Pondale. The Stable is said to be built into the basement of an old Ironshod Firearms building as a possible employer and employee stable. It’s just a few miles away and could be a good place to rest for a while.
“Sky, just a little longer, we are drawing near Stable 56”
“Ok” She called back and started to descend as we drew near.
As our pegasus friend came in for the final approach I tightly gripped the seat. If Celestia wanted us all to fly she would have given us all wings. I’ve been able to keep my eyes from looking past Sky Fire to the ground below by keeping myself busy but now as we were coming in for the landing I couldn’t see anything but the ground as it came rushing up to meet us.
A huge run down building came into view in front of us just as my pipbuck beeped and a message appeared in my EFS to say I had discovered Stable 56 and Ironshot Firearms Production Plant. Sky Fire flared out her wings like an air brake then tilted them so that as she beat her wings it slowed down her forward momentum and we came to a gentle stop. Thank Luna for that.
I quickly got off the sky bandit and let out a sigh of relief to be back on solid ground again. Yes I have a fear of heights it seems. As we disembarked Sky Fire giggled to herself as she spoke. “Thank you for flying Shadowbolt air” she grinned as she unhooked herself from the harness.
Since we weren’t in any danger just now Zyon quickly ran up to her and neck hugged her which sent her into a fierce blush. After the hug he then touched noses with her until their foreheads met. “I thought I lost you back there” He spoke softly. That sort of voice doesn’t suit him at all.
Wait, how long as this been going on? I’ve never seen them this close before.
“Hey I’m fine; you can’t get rid of me that easily”
“Don’t fly off on me like that again; you nearly gave me a heart attack”
They suddenly caught my confused expression and they quickly broke up their lovie dovie moment.
“So, how long have you two been together?” I asked with my head tilted.
“Err; let’s get camp started first shall we”
Before I could protest both Sky Fire and Zyon took off in different directions. What’s with those two?
After a good hour we managed to get a camp fire started near the bandit just as the sun disappeared behind the distant hills and plunged the area into darkness. Surprisingly many lights in the old production plant came on when it went dark. We gathered around the fire and tucked into a meal of canned goods we had with us.
“So guys, when did this happen?” I asked again.
“When did what happen?” Sky Fire asked looking away with a blush.
I moaned. “Ugh, you two, when did you get all lovie dovie?”
Sky Fire was now blushing so brightly her cyan coat looked to have taken a shade of purple.
“It started on the Celestia” Zyon answered which prompted a nod from her.
“The Celestia huh? I guess it was during the time we were separated”
“That’s right. While you were taking a swim down in the bowels of the ship, we were getting jumped from ghouls popping out of the cabins since we had entered the ship where there were a lot of first class cabins. Most of the time I had to bale Sky out of a jam because they seemed to always launch themselves out of the cabin just as she’s passing it”
“I guess that explains why you two looked like you had a hard time”
“We saved each other’s lives a few times back there. The experience also told us just how much we cared about each other” Sky Fire said as she scooted over to sit closer to Zyon.
I smiled at them. “It’s good to see you two getting along so well” I guess that also explains why they seemed to disappear together back in Tenpony.
The two looked at each other and drew closer. Oh I know where this is going. I blushed and got up to give them some privacy. As I turned to leave the two began to share a passionate kiss. About half way through their kiss there was a Luna almighty crash from inside the building. The bang from inside scared the living daylights out of us.
“What bucking hell was that?” We practically all cried out at once.
There was then a loud thud at a fire exit door that was facing our camp. It was then followed by another thud and the door burst open to reveal a military green ponytron. An Equestrian Army Ponytron.
”Hostiles detected, lethal force authorised” It said in its tinny like voice and fired a bolt of red disintegration magic at us. We all scattered to avoid being shot as the robotic pony stepped out. I pulled This Machine off my back and readied the rifle to fire at the mechanoid. Its head glowed red and it fired another bolt, this one aimed at me. I quickly dove to my side and rolled to avoid the shot and brought my AM rifle to bear and pulled the trigger. The shot tore off one of its legs but it didn’t kill it, I only succeeded in slowing it down.
“Cock” I muttered as I pulled the bolt back.
“All threats will be terminated” It said as it started charging for another shot.
Just as I slammed the bold back into place with a new round, Zyon’s sword sunk into the robot’s head. It sparked and sputtered about dying for its country before it collapsed.
“Fuck that was close” I moaned getting back up.
“So much for that rest” Sky moaned with more annoyance.
”We better make sure there’s nothing else in there. It’ll be a rude awakening to have one of those things staring down at us as we snoozed” Zyon reasoned as he retrieved his sword.
“Agreed” I said holstering my rifle again. “Oh and Zyon”
“Yeah”
“Here, put this on” I said as I opened my storage unit and levitated out the Van Graff combat armour I recovered from the ocean liner.
“I know where you got that, there’s not a chance in tartarus I’m going to put that on”
“It’s been washed and sterilized, it’s clean” I said floating it over to him.
“Are you crazy? That thing had a decomposing pony in it”
“Look, your going to need to wear some sort of barding as we’ve been lucky so far to not have been really shot at or suffered any serious injuries. Our luck can only last for so long before it runs out and one of dies from a gun shot wound or gets disintegrated or even stabbed”
Sky Fire nodded. “Yes, please put it on. You’re the only one of us who isn’t wearing anything and you said you nearly had a heart attack when you thought I died. How would you think I would feel if you got shot?” She said while giving him the puppy dog eyes look.
Our strong friend sighed and slumped in defeat. “Alright fine I’ll wear the armour” He then began to pull on the black combat armour while Sky Fire salvaged the energy cells from the dead ponytron and while I holstered my rifle I pulled out my lever-action shotgun. I love this gun, good thing I didn’t loose it back when I fell through the decks on that ship.
“Alright, I’m wearing the armour” He said with a shiver.
“Oh for crying out loud, its ok Zyon, it’s been cleaned, it’s been sterilized it’s perfectly fine for you to wear” I moaned as I stepped up to the now open door.
“You look handsome” Sky Fire said as she stood up against the wall opposite to me on the door.
Zyon blushed as he stepped up close to her.
“See anything?”
“No, but my EFS is picking up several markers. Slow moving targets. Possibly more ponytrons”
“Well, that shouldn’t be too hard”
“Don’t jinx it”
“Hmm” I looked back to our camp and found a sizeable rock. I picked it up with my magic and tossed it into the large empty room. The rock bounced and rolled inside, making an echo as it collided with the hard floor and soon it got blasted by a hail of bullets from a turret hanging from the ceiling. “Ceiling turret” I warned.
Sky Fire pulled her hood back on and her goggles while Zyon peered into the room. “I can’t see shit” He moaned looking for the turret which was hidden by the darkness.
“Let me” Sky Fire said as she looked in. She slowly moved her head until she spotted the turret thanks to her goggles giving her a low light vision. She lifted her hoof mounted laser cannon, twisted a knob that caused the three rubies to glow. I guess that means a full power shot. She aimed her hoof at the turret and squeezed the firing mechanism. There was a bright magical discharge from her weapon as a thick beam of red magical energy shot forth which was then followed by a bang and raining debris.
“Nice shot”
I chucked in another rock but this one didn’t attract any attention so I assumed it was safe to go in. I cautiously stepped inside. The room we entered must have been the plant’s warehouse as it was full of crates along the walls and several catwalks crisscrossed the walls and width of the room. I trotted over to one of the crates and used my pipbuck light to illuminate the crate.
“Warning, High Explosive, damn, good job that turret didn’t hit this…” I stopped as I noticed that every crate my pipbuck light was lighting up all had the same warning. “Holy shit”
“Every damn crate in this warehouse is marked as high explosive. You were talking about luck before Apple and we just dodged another bullet. Fuck, I dread to think of how much of an explosion all this would have caused” Zyon said as he and Sky moved away from the crates.
“This isn’t safe, let’s get out of here”
We began to head for the nearest door which was directly in front of us. The door took us down a short corridor until it opened up into what looked like an assembly line. Several rows of conveyers filled the floor with many work stations around each conveyer for ponies to stand to assemble the parts as they passed.
“Whoa, that’s not a ponytron” Zyon said as we all caught sight of a large pony shaped robot on a set of treads moving up one of the rows.
“Bollocks to Betsy, that’s a Sentry Drone” I moaned as we took cover behind the nearest conveyer belt.
“Step out into the open and identify yourself” The machine said as it rolled up one row before turning around to start coming down another. “Law abiding citizens have nothing to fear”
“Yeah right”
“Let’s see how it likes a grenade up the ass” Zyon said as he used his zebra training to silently creep along the rows until he was behind the one the robot was moving down.
I slowly rose so I could see over the belt. I eeped quietly as I noticed the huge robot had two large miniguns for its weapons sticking out from its sides.
Zyon pulled the pin from his grenade and then lobbed it over the belt he was behind. The apple shaped frag dinged off the armoured hide of the robot and fell to the floor beside it.
“Hostile target detected” The robot said as it spun around and starts firing its miniguns. Zyon had ducked back down behind the belt after he lobbed the grenade and started creeping back to us as the machine started firing.
“Get down” He said as he then dove to the floor and covered his head with his hooves. We quickly followed suit and then there was an explosion as the grenade went off.
“Haha eat that” Zyon cheered before hitting the deck again as bullets started flying everywhere.
“Nice one, you just pissed it off” Sky Fire moaned as a bullet bit into the belt beside her.
“Cock” I moaned as I crept along the belt to get more of a distance from the machine while I switched my weapon from the shotgun to my AM rifle.
“Apple, what you doing?”
“Gonna pop it with an explosive round since you sent it into a frenzy”
“Crap, come on Sky we better move away too”
I heard a yelp of pain as I got into position and pulled out the magazine before slamming in an orange banded mag. “What happened?” I called out.
“I caught one in the butt” Zyon cried out as he flopped to the floor.
The sound of hysterical laughter managed to fill the air over the gun fire as Sky Fire burst out laughing at her coltfriend’s misfortune.
“This is no time for fun and games get this bullet out my ass” Zyon yelled.
I couldn’t help it; I started to laugh too, that was just too funny. After a good minute I calmed down and took aim. The robot was firing its weapons in every which way as its targeting sensor had been destroyed from the grenade explosion. Luckily for us the drone’s treads appear to have been ruined too as it wasn’t moving. I couldn’t get a beat on its head as it kept rotating its body as it fried its weapons. Since I can’t get its head I aimed for its body. Just as I pulled the trigger I heard a pained yelp from Zyon that surprised me and sent my shot off target. The explosive round hit an overhead catwalk and rendered it into a twisted formation.
“Damn it” I yelled in frustration.
Sky Fire spat and something metal hit the floor. “You fucking baby” She taunted after she got the bullet out his ass.
The robot sprayed the belt I was behind with its rounds. “Oh cock” I cried and dived down into cover. I felt about five pings against my armour as the small calibre rounds struck my armour and bounced off.
As the robot began spraying the belt Zyon and Sky were behind I took aim again. I sighted up its body and fired. The round struck its body and detonated. There was a metallic whine and the gun fire stopped and that was then followed by a thud. Poking my head up from my cover I saw that the robot had toppled over onto its side. One of its miniguns had been torn apart from the explosive round and the other was now made useless as its body lay on it.
“Glad that’s over”
“Let’s look around, maybe we can find some disruption grenades or something. Those would work best against things like that”
Sky Fire finished putting a bandage around Zyon’s thigh to cover the wound that was on his back side and began to flutter about the assembly lines looking around. Zyon carefully jumped over the conveyer the robot had fell over and used his sword to stab into the robot’s power cell to kill it for good. I began looking over the belts and what they had on them. There were plenty of weapon components and since I am gun nut I quickly began identifying firing mechanisms, springs, gun barrels and pretty much anything else that were used to make a gun. I searched the belts until I found parts for an anti-machine rifle. I hope the components that make up the AM rifles can be adapted for This Machine, speaking of which I’ll need to run a diagnostic spell on it later to see what I needs.
Sky Fire landed on one of the belts as we finished looking for anything useful but unfortunately we came out empty hoofed.
“Find anything Sky?”
She shook her head. “Nothing useful but there are a few doors on the upper catwalk lever leading to offices and there’s a door at the back which from the sign above it leads to the basement and utility tunnels”
“Basement huh, maybe we can find something there” I said and began walking towards the back wall.
We entered the utility tunnels as we went through the door. We descended some stairs until we came to a cross road. To our left and right the tunnels branched off to other sections of the plant while in front of us another set of stairs led us deeper into the basement. I nodded to the stairs and we began going down deeper. At the bottom of the stairs we came to a closed security door with a sign above it that glowed to illuminate what it said. “Stable Entrance” It read.
“Well, shall we?” I asked as I hit the door release control. A wheel spun in the centre which released its holding hooks and the door then slid into the floor. In front of us the room opened up into like a sewer tunnel but it was only short as about fifty feet from the door it turned into a stable door entrance. However there was something wrong with this picture.
“Why is that stable door wide open?” Zyon asked as we stepped out from the utility tunnel.
“You got me”
We slowly began to approach the open door of the stable. As we drew closer my pipbuck began to click as it began to pick up radiation. I was too focused on the door, thinking of why it was open that I didn’t realise my geiger counter was clicking.
I felt a sharp pain run up my spine as my tail was yanked back causing me to lock up.
“What are you doing, get back” Zyon said after he spat my tail out of his mouth.
It was then I noticed the ticking. “Shit” I sighed seeing the RAD meter in my EFS slowly rising. I quickly back peddled until the clicking stopped and that was almost back in the door way to the utility tunnels.
“We can’t explore the Stable; we don’t have that much in Rad-Away or Rad-X” Sky Fire said as she looked in her saddle bags, counting all the radiation meds we had. “Plus you’re pregnant and we don’t know what the radiation will do to your kid”
“Also that stable’s door is wide open so we don’t know what could be in there and we don’t know how bad the radiation levels are inside. For all we know the reactor could have had a meltdown” Zyon reasoned.
I nodded as I took in their warnings, they were both right. I looked down at my large round middle and placed a hoof on it. I can’t risk going in there and it doing harm to my unborn child. I owe my friends for stopping me from doing something stupid in the past and now, otherwise I could have lost my child already by now.
“Thank you guys” I said turning around. “Let’s move on, away from here”
They nodded and started following close behind me as we entered the utility tunnels again and ascended the stairs to the crossroad. “Which way?” Zyon asked as we looked up and down the two tunnels.
“Well we can’t go that way” Sky said as she was looking down the tunnel to our left from the stairs leading to the stable.
“How come?”
“The tunnel has collapsed further down completely blocking it”
“Well then I guess its either back in the assembly room or down that way” I said looking down the tunnel to our right.
We began up the tunnel. It was almost like walking down the old corridors of my stable but darker with half the lights blown. “Sky Fire, how’s the tunnel, can you see anything?” I asked trying to look into the darkness.
“It’s clear from as far as I can see but this tight corridor is gonna make it impossible for me to fly so I can't use my hoof cannons”
I pulled out my shotgun again as we trotted up the tunnel. The tunnel began to turn a corner as we moved deeper into the facility. We turned the corner and we found three doors that were closed just like the door that opened to the stable entrance.
“Err, ok, which way?” Zyon asked looking at each of the doors.
I looked closely at the doors, my EFS highlighted that the two doors on either side of use were marked as locked and that they required a key so I guess we only have one way to go. The door in front of us however was marked as “Door to Research and Development”. Hitting the door control opened it the same way and it opened up to a set of stairs leading up back into the main body of the facility.
“I guess we go up”
The R&D section of the facility was divided into several offices. Each office had an expert in the field to which the weapon or ammunition type was being made for. If the plaques on the doors were anything to go by. We checked each room but sadly there wasn’t anything of value but that was however until we got to a locked door that had a plaque I wasn’t expecting to see.
“Blueberry Muffin: Head of Weapons Development”
I stared at the door for a brief moment until my desire to open the door compelled me to start fiddling with the lock. Zyon step forward. “Here let me” He said as he pulled out a bobby pin from one of his bags and pushed it into the lock then took a screwdriver from is utility satchel and began to jiggle it in the lock. Every now and then he’d nose the pin to turn it one way or the other as he rotated the lock with the screwdriver. On his third attempt at rotating the lock we were rewarded with the sound of the lock clicking as it opened. The wooden office door swung open to reveal an almost empty office.
“What the fuck?” Zyon moaned as he stepped in with me and Sky Fire close behind. “The door was locked and it’s empty?”
“Well that was pointless” Sky Fire confirmed sharing the same disappointment we all did.
A red marker appeared on my EFS as a hostile target moved into the area and the familiar sound of treads began to echo through the R&D department.
“Crap, another sentry”
“We better go”
We all turned and left the office. I soon became aware of a piece of paper stuck to my armoured hoof so I peeled it off and was just about to scrunch it into a ball to throw away but was stopped when I saw my ancestor’s cutiemark in the top corner of the page. Next to her mark there were some words going across the top of the page that read. “Railgun Rifle Specs” This could be useful later. I carefully folded the page and slipped it into my storage unit and my EFS alerted me saying that the specs were added to my pipbuck. Well, I guess I don’t need to look at the page again if it’s mysteriously been added to my pipbuck. Gotta find out how it does this, it freaks me out some times.
We turned a corner to head back to the door leading back into the tunnels and found that the drone has closed the door and was sitting in front of if. Before it saw us we darted back behind the wall.
“I keep pulling out the wrong gun” I moaned as I for the second time tonight put away my shotgun and pulled off This Machine from its harness on my back. The huge AM rifle still loaded with the explosive rounds used earlier on the previous drone. “Zyon, can you distract it?” I asked while I made sure I had a round chambered.
The zony nodded and dove across the corridor between the cubicles and the wall he dived behind got sprayed by a hail of bullets. Another minigun armed sentry. I crouched down and slowly aimed the rifle around the corner to look down the cubicles to the drone. I needed to stick my head out to line up the rifle but as soon as I do that the drone will paste me. Zyon noticed what I was trying to do and dove in the corridor. The drone opened fire again spraying the walls and floor as he jumped. He swiftly jumped up against the wall and then back flipped into an open cubicle office. Wow, nice moves. It gave me the moment I needed to line up the rifle and back behind the wall I used my magic to pull the trigger. One problem with this. I wasn’t there to stop the rifle from sailing backwards when it fired. I was pulled the floor as I still had the rifle in my telekinetic grip as it flew down the corridor backwards. The room shuck from the explosion and the sound of something heavy and metal falling down some stairs filled the room.
”Ow” I moaned picking myself up and rubbed my head since I ended up face down in the filthy floor.
Stepping back into the corridor we saw that the sentry was gone. The door was gone so the drone must have been blown through the door by the explosive round. Zyon stepped out with a limp from the cubicle.
“You ok?” I asked seeing him limp.
“Caught another in the ass” He moaned which caused Sky Fire to sigh.
“You enjoy me kissing your ass of something?” She asked pushing him back into the cubicle so she could pull the bullet out of backside again.
I giggled. It’s a shame the combat armour didn’t really cover the flanks. There was a soft rumbling and I saw the drone climbing the stairs as its head came into view.
“Oh for Celestia’s sake” I moaned while I quickly aimed This Machine gain and fire. The shot struck its head and detonated and the machine fell back down the stairs. I have no idea if I killed it but I killed the walls. The walls around the door began to crack and crumble as huge cracks began to creep up the walls to the cracked ceiling.
“Oh this can’t be good”
“What the hell is going on?” Sky Fire asked as she and Zyon emerged from the cubicle. They both turned to face the door as the cracks continued to creep up over the wall and the ceiling.
Soon the cracking was met with creaking metal and then the first slab of plaster and metal fell from the ceiling. This set of a cascade effect and soon the walls and the ceiling started raining down and it was all heading towards us.
“Oh shit, RUN!”
We all started galloping towards the opposite end of R&D as the ceiling came crashing down. Flattening the cubicles and burying everything that was there. The dust began to over take us as we ran. Our only chance is the door in front of us which was closed. We didn’t have the time to open it or unlock it if it was locked. I poured on the speed despite the fact I could feel myself started to cramp up. I weighed like a ton with this armour so I should be like a wrecking ball against the wooden door. I turned my face away from the door as I turned myself so I shoulder barged into it. The door exploded into splinters as I tumbled through it. Sky Fire and Zyon quickly hauled me back onto my hooves and we started to run up some stairs leading away from R&D just as the ceiling buried it and sent the dust cloud up the stairs after us. We all started coughing and we were running blind as the dust obscured out view. That was until all three of us went head first into a solid steel door.
“Ow”
“Who put that door there?” Zyon moaned as he felt around for the door release. There was a soft beep and the door slid down and we quickly filed into the room and the door closed behind us, locking out the dust.
“*cough* Nice one Appletart, you brought the *cough* house down” Sky Fire said giving my shoulder a friendly jab.
I smiled at her as we recovered. Luckily as I looked around there weren’t any red bars. We appear to be in some sort of development room or something as there are several tables scattered about with various tools on them and bits of scrap but something interesting caught my eye on one of the tables.
“Where are we now?” Zyon asked as he looked around while I headed for the table.
“Hey, isn’t this a sprite-bot?” I asked as I sat by the table with the small winged robot lying on it.
Zyon and Sky came over; Sky Fire tilted her head at it as she didn’t recognise it.
“Looks like one but it looks a little bigger than the ones I’ve seen out in the wastes and it looks a little more advanced”
“Just what I was thinking. But why is this here? I mean sprite-bots are from the Ministry of Morale. They didn’t deal with weapon development for the war, that was the Ministry of Wartime Technology’s job”
“Hey your right. That is interesting”
I started to look around the room while Zyon began to poke around in the strange sprite bot muttering technical things as he identified what made it work and all with Sky Fire watching him. As I looked around the large room I became aware that it started raining again outside as water was trickling down the large windows that were on the far wall. There was a sudden flash of lightening which illuminated a corner of the room where I saw a metal cylinder with a terminal bolted to it.
I stepped up to the cylinder and discovered that it’s an armoured containment unit. Written on the metal in big white letters were the initials. “C,D,S”. Intrigued I turned on the terminal and began to read some of the notes.
“Combat model Duraframe Sprite-bot.
The Ministry of Morale’s Sprite-bots have proven to be very useful little machines capable of observation roles and information gathering. Their ability to fly and detect targets also makes them perfect stealth units for keeping them out of sight as they shadowed their targets or silently patrol the streets while relaying their information to the Ministry of Morale. Well, we decided to improve them.
One of the sprite-bots was snooping around the plant not to long ago and it provided the perfect opportunity to snag one of the little buggers. A shot from one of our disruption guns took it down before it could relay it was under attack. We picked it up and dissected it, pulled it to pieces to find out how exactly they worked and once we knew how they worked we began to draw up plans to make our own. A slightly larger, more armoured and better armed sprite-bot.
Our first batch didn’t work too well as their armour was pretty flimsy so we began looking into stronger armour but also light in weight as not to weigh them down. We turned to the new material that the Ministry of Image has started using for some of their pegasi power armour. Duraframe. It is strong, durable and most importantly very light.
We have managed to create only one of these duraframe sprite-bots so far for testing purposes to make sure we get everything right and so far it has proved to be very capable for a combat unit with its disintegration beam weapon. The weapon is a beefed up version of the one that the standard sprite-bot uses but we’ve left it so it can be upgraded later if needed”
Cool. Sounds like a handy little thing to have with you on a mission. Hmm, lets see if can turn this on. I checked the terminal and sure enough at the bottom of the selection of options it had one to activate the sprite-bot inside.
There were a series of beeps and the armoured cylinder opened to reveal the larger sprite-bot connected to several cables inside. The sprite-bot appeared to have the same appearance as the standard sprite-bot, possibly to confuse ponies to think they are the M.o.M ones. Its wings began to flap until they were buzzing very quietly and enough for it to begin hovering and then the cables holding it disconnected to allow the sprite-bot out.
“Whoa, awesome” I said as the sprite-bot turned to look at me.
“Appletart, what are you doing?” Zyon asked as he turned from the table to see me standing with a sprite-bot in front of me.
“Its ok guys, it’s not hostile”
The sprite-bot made a series of beeps as it bobbed in the air.
“Can you understand me?” I asked it.
The small robot made a couple of beeps and flapped its wings so that it made a nodding motion.
“Wow awesome, hey, want to come with us, it’ll beat spending the rest of your life in that cylinder”
The bot made some loud beeps and bounced in the air in an excited manner and suddenly my E.F.S beeped and several red markers appeared. A message then appeared to say that C.D.S has intregrated its sensors with my E.F.S to expand its sensory range. That’s going to be really useful.
“C.D.S huh, hmm how about I call you CD”
It made some high pitched beeps which sounded happy to me. I wonder if it had been designed to have some sort of intelligence with how it’s responding to me.
“Looks like you got a new pet” Sky Fire said with a smile. “You know it’s a big responsibility. You gotta feed it, clean it and take it walks…” She said before she started to laugh.
I smiled and giggled too but we all went silent as the entire facility started to shake. Soon a dark shadow blocked any light that was coming in from the windows as something huge began moving over us.
“What the fuck is that?” I said quietly.
My answer was given as the sound of thunder filled the air and as the large object started to come into view and we all began to see a large black ship of some kind riding on storm clouds flying over us.
“Oh fucking hell no, that’s a Raptor” Sky Fire cried and zoomed under a table.
“Holy shit” Me and Zyon both said in unison as the massive craft continued flying. Moving away from the plant, heading in a easterly direction. We remained still as we watched two more of these huge Enclave ships fly past. Whatever the Enclave is up to, this can’t be for the good of pony kind with them bringing down such large battle craft.
We decided to camp out inside this room as we didn’t want to risk the Enclave seeing us outside and it offered better shelter from the elements. Zyon hot wired the door to stay locked so that would protect us from any of the robots that wander into this part of the facility. Thankfully CD’s sensor enhancement was telling me the red bars I was seeing were a good distance from us. This little guy is going to be a good addition to our group.
As we all settled down to sleep for the night I let out a surprised yip as my baby decided to start kicking. It felt weird but it also felt wonderful to feel the life inside me moving. I smiled as happy tears started to stream down my cheeks as I placed a hoof over where the baby was kicking.
“Hey, are you ok?” Sky Fire asked as she saw my tears.
“Yeah, I’m fine” I smiled warmly. “My baby is kicking”
Sky Fire smiled and snuggled close to Zyon.
“Well, let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow we should get to Manechester and hopefully find the location of the Hanger”
We all nodded and lay down to sleep while CD just settled on the floor next to me and powered down.
XXXXX
Unknown Location
Motor Runner smiled as he watched the monitors in his office as his friends took the emergency escape tunnel to leave the facility. Half of them refused his gift as they were just happy to have worked on the machine. Despite watching most of his friends leave he didn’t notice that Dr Gizmo wasn’t among the ponies he saw leave but he assumed he left with them. Turning away from the monitors he looked back up to the machine’s head and its glowing blue eye that faced his office.
“Everything is coming together Krogoth. Won’t be long now before its time. Me and you will soon right the wrongs that have lead to this ruined world we called the Equestrian Wasteland. With your power and my guidance, we can rebuild what we’ve lost in the two hundred years. Maybe we can experience how Equestria was once described as in the old books”
The Krogoth’s eye rotated in focus as it watched Motor Runner through his office window.
“Your guidance? No, you may think you have Equestria’s best wishes at heart but I know what it truly needs. It needs to be cleansed of all this filth that roams free. My enemies may escape your watchful eye but they can’t escape mine”
Motor Runner was blind to the dangers he was ready to release upon the world. His wish to use the machine to restore Equestria and remove those that poison it have clouded his better judgement and the years his lived under the impression as a Reaper have also left an impression of what’s good and bad and the machine knows this.
“Soon Applejack’s wish of a safe and protected Equestria will be realised” The Krogoth said to itself as it awaited its time to rise.
The sun shone brightly in the midday sky over a beautiful lush green meadow with many kinds of beautiful flowers in all the colours of the rainbow. I lay on my back on the soft warm grass as I stared up into those large shinnying purple eyes of the stallion. The handsome black maned purple stallion stood over me, his strong forelegs on either side of my torso. He was so big compared to me but it added to his strong handsome image, I blushed brightly, very brightly, as I looked into those eyes. He smiled sweetly as he slowly leaned his head down and nuzzled into my cheek softly. After nuzzling my cheek his muzzle brushed against my ear as he whispered.
“You are such a lovely mare, you have been on my mind since the day I met you”
I could have just melted with his strong calm voice alone. He pulled his muzzle from my ear and before I could utter a reply his lips met mine and we shared a deep passionate kiss. I was putty in his hooves. I felt his silky tongue press against my lips and I parted them to allow passage into my mouth. I felt his tongue slip into my mouth and coil around my own tongue slightly. He tasted divine, heavenly and sweet. Oh Celestia I was in heaven. I didn’t want this feeling to stop. I reached up with my forelegs and hugged them around his neck as I pressed myself into his kiss. I let out a soft moan as I returned the kiss. We let our tongues lick and explore each other’s maws before finally breaking the kiss to take in some much needed air.
“Oh, Motor Runner” I moaned softly as I spread my hind quarters.
“Are you ready?” He asked softly as he looked into my eyes.
I looked between us for a moment, seeing his large malehood standing at attention just an inch from my private area. I blushed again before looking back up to him, meeting his gaze. I nodded and then he gently began to push into me.
Suddenly the world around me exploded in balefire, burning everything away until there was nothing but ashes. The flames however didn’t sound like fire but instead they sounded like…rock music and that’s when I woke up with a start.
As I woke up from my wet dream at the sound of loud music being played I shot up with a surprised cry. As I pulled myself up so quickly I didn’t notice that CD was hovering above me and my head collided with the small flying robot and the first point of impact with him was my horn which sent a wave of pain through my head making my vision swim.
“Argh, fuck, what the hell?” I yelled out in pain and confusion.
CD was knocked off balance by my accidental headbutt and crashed into a table before falling onto the floor.
“Oh great, we just got ourselves a fancy alarm clock” Zyon moaned as he got up and he was swiftly followed by Sky Fire who blushed. She must have cuddled up against him after I feel asleep.
My vision soon stopped spinning and I took in our surroundings. We were still in the development room we found CD in as it was safely locked. Nothing seemed out of place as I stood up and stretched. Just as I stretched my hind legs my dream suddenly surfaced in my memory and I blushed with my eyes growing wide. Did I really dream of having sex with him…the pony I’m trying to stop, my enemy? What the smegging hell is wrong with me?
He is handsome though and you fancy him and you know it.
I shuck my head to clear my thoughts and looked around for something to distract me. There was a the sound of metal slapping the floor as CD’s wings began flapping to right himself and then he hauled himself back into the air where he then turned to me and started bobbing around in an agitated manner.
“Something wrong CD?” I asked as I watched him bobbing about.
The sprite-bot blared out some music again and started to hover around in a circle before facing the closed security door.
I flicked up my E.F.S as I followed CD’s movement as he faced the door and several red markers lit up in my compass as hostiles were moving outside. Yeah, CD will definitely be helpful.
“Lock and load guys, trouble” I said as I picked up This Machine from off the floor beside where I slept. I made sure I switched out the explosive round mag with a standard round magazine as explosives in this room would be a bad idea.
There was a metallic thud against the door as something bashed it. “Security breach detected. Please open the door and accept your termination” Said the voice of a Ponytron.
“You have got to be kidding” Zyon muttered as he walked over to a corner and emptied his saddle bags before he started to mix some powders he had in his bags.
There was another bang against the door and I aimed This Machine just above the manual release wheel. I pulled the trigger and the high calibre round punched through the door and it struck the Ponytron behind the door as there was a small explosion as its head exploded which was then followed by the machine crumpling down onto the floor as its red marker on my E.F.S faded.
“Scratch one ponytron” I said as I chambered another round.
Sky Fire took to the air and hovered close with her hoof mounted laser cannons raised. My E.F.S was still showing targets outside. I couldn’t tell if the others were close but one of them was directly behind the door again.
“All intruders will be terminated” Sounded a much deeper electronic voice as something bigger slammed into the door. The sound of treads could be heard as the new threat moved backwards to ram the door again.
“Oh great another Sentry” Zyon said as he began pouring a bluish sludge into one of those brown pear shaped things.
What’s he doing now? Making another bomb?
I aimed my rifle again and aimed for the hole from my last shot just as it slammed into the door again. The vibration from the strike caused my aim to falter as I pulled the trigger and my shot went wide from where I believed its head would be.
“Oops” I said in disbelief as my wide shot had gone through one of the locking rods and with that rod severed the doors locking system failed and the door fell open.
“Oh shit” Sky Fire cried as she unloaded a double shot of her laser cannons into its face and it responded by launching a missile at her. The damn thing is armed with a missile launcher and a minigun, not good.
“Whoa” I cried as I dived to my left and Sky Fire quickly flew up to avoid the missile which burst through the window behind us and kept on going until it ran out of fuel and feel out of the sky and exploded.
The drone slowly wheeled its way through the door and began to look around for a target until it saw me as I swung my rifle around to aim for its head. Its minigun began to spin as it readied to fire.
“Aww crap”
Just then a beam of red disintegration magic struck the side of its head and its ear began to glow red hot and it began to sizzle. Sky Fire was above it so she didn’t hit it. There was a deep sounding beep coming from the robot’s side and I saw CD’s beam gun glowing. He fired another shot that went wide but he got the machine’s attention as it turned to face its new threat and started to fire its minigun at the small bobbing sprite-bot. CD made a series of surprised beeps as he flapped his wings like mad and started to zip around to avoid the hail of bullets.
“CD!” I cried as I quickly pulled the bolt back and quickly pushed it back to chamber a round but as I pushed it back in it got stuck. Damn it, too fast, I jammed it.
While the drone was busy trying to hit CD it didn’t notice Zyon stand up onto his hind legs all freaky like as a zebra while holding that brown pear thing in his forehooves and then he lobbed it at the drone. I quickly dove under a table for cover expecting another big explosion like back on the Celestia but instead the pear thing shattered like a plant pot and a the blue ooze coated the back of hits head where it struck the machine. After a second or two I saw the ooze seep into the robot through any gaps or openings in its armoured hide and shortly after getting inside it smoke started to rise out of it which was then followed by a series of sparks and then the lights in the machines eyes and body faded and it seemed to slump down as it seemed to loose its power. Its minigun stopped firing as it powered down.
“What was that?” I asked as I crawled out from under the table.
Zyon trotted up to me with a smug look on his face. “Just a little zebra alchemy”
“Couldn’t you have done that sooner, like when we got here?” Sky Fire scowled as she landed beside him.
“No, not really, I didn’t have a lot of the ingredients left; I just used the last of what I had for that one”
CD fluttered over and sat itself on my head while still flapping its wings to keep much of its weight off me. “Are you ok?” I asked, almost going cross eyed as I looked up to see him.
CD replied with a single high pitched beep. “I take that as a yes then, thank Celestia” I smiled.
“We need to get out of here” Sky Fire said as she nervously looked through the now open door.
“Yeah, that AM rifle isn’t going to be much help in close quarters up here and I highly doubt your lever-action shotgun will do jack to robots”
“Uhh, yeah you’re right, hmm…” I looked at the shattered window and got an idea.
“Sky, why don’t you fly us out?”
“Do I look like I can carry him and you?”
I nearly faced hoofed. “No you silly filly. You can bring the bandit up to the open window there” I said while pointing a hoof at it.
She blushed. “Oh, right, um, I’ll be right back” She said as she took off out the window leaving a rainbow trail behind.
“Please step out into the open and identify yourself” Echoed the voice of another ponytron.
“Oh for crying out loud” Zyon moaned as he whipped out his sword from its sheath on his left foreleg.
I turned around to the door as CD hovered back into the air while sounding off his music. I guess that’s a warning signal for him. I moaned with my magic as I fiddled with the jammed bolt. I rattled it a second until it came loose. I sighed as I freed up the bolt pulling it back and pushing it back in more gently this time. The sound of metallic hooves began grow closer as the ponytron was getting closer.
CD hovered closer to the door with his beam gun glowing ready to fire.
“CD get your ass back here” I shouted.
He beeped several times in what could possibly have been a protest about being told to come back but he did just as the ponytron stepped out into view. There was then a thud from behind us as Sky Fire pushed the back of the bandit against the open window and opened the rear doors.
“All aboard” She called.
“Intruders detected, lethal force authorised” Said the Ponytron as it turned into the room and its dome like head started to glow.
“Authorise this” I said as I pulled the trigger without properly aiming at the thing. I was lucky to have hit it but I caught it in the chest and the force of the hit caused it to topple over.
“Come on guys” Sky Fire urged.
Zyon and I walked backwards through the window and into the bandit as the damaged robot started to pick itself up off the floor.
”Come on CD, we’re leaving” I called out to him. He beeped and fluttered back to me. Once we were all inside, Sky Fire closed the rear doors and started flapping her wings and we were off again into the air.
“Which way Appletart?” Sky Fire asked.
I noticed a direction marker on my compass. I turned my head until I could exactly see which way the marker was pointing and it was saying we needed to go north.
“Ok Sky, we need to go north” After giving her the direction she started to turn the bandit until it was going north and I called out to stop her from turning. She was pouring on the speed as we flew low.
“This is going to be a long flight, what can we do until we get to Manechester?” Zyon asked as he took a seat.
“Hmm, why don’t you tell us about your life outside the stable?” I asked as I took a seat opposite to him and used my magic to plonk CD down on a seat next to me.
“Yeah, we know about your life in the stable, but not outside it” Sky Fire said over the bandit’s tannoy.
“Alright fine” He said with a sigh. He took a breath as he closed his eyes to remember before he started speaking.
“Well as you know it was fifteen years ago when I left my stable. I found myself in what could be described as a sewer tunnel but without all the shit and grime. The tunnel led me to a security door that opened up to a flight of stairs. I followed the stairs to the top and after picking the lock to the door I stepped out into a huge shopping mall. I was scared as I didn’t know what to expect. The mall itself looked practically intact. Nothing seemed to have been touched since the bombs fell as most of the stores were still locked up tight with all their decaying merchandise still sitting on their shelves. It was really creepy. I aimlessly wandered the mall, picking up anything that could be useful to me like food and medicine until I came to a set of broken glass doors which led me out into the street.
I had to remind myself that it was the middle of the night and not the middle of the day because the street was brightly lit as if the sun was shining down over the city. I stepped out onto the street and walked down the road a bit before turning back to look up at the tower. The Manedale Centre is the largest building in Manechester especially with the massive shopping centre encompassing it and it’s in the very centre of the city. At the top of the tower is a unicorn horn looking spire that was glowing brightly with white light. While in the stable I learned about the spire as there was some old documentation still on the system. Apparently it’s called the “Obelisk of Magic” and it was created by Twilight Sparkle. The documentation said that it was a prototype defence structure designed to protect the city from enemy attack. It was programmed to project a few types of shields to stop whatever they were meant to stop and it also had one offensive beam weapon designed to shoot down unfriendly missiles or so the documents said. I assume the Obelisk has been active since the bombs started falling as from what I’ve learned from other people outside the city the sky above it has always been lit up. It has acted like a beacon, drawing other people to the city but whatever happened to whoever was drawn to the city I have no idea as everything seemed untouched as I moved my way through the city and left it behind.
Some ponies have described the city as “A bright shining monument, luring treasure hunters to their doom”.
When I left the city I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to be reminded of the life I once lived back there and decided to focus on the here and now as I started a new life as a wastelander.
For the first year I took it slow and learned to know what to expect out here. I learned about what monsters there are out here like Manicores, Hellounds, etc, what ponies to avoid, what ponies I could trade with, etc. In that time I came across a town called Megatrot…”
“Isn’t that the town built up around an unexploded balefire bomb or megaspell?” Sky Fire interrupted.
This brought my attention away from Zyon and I looked out the windows of the bandit. To our right we could see Canterlot Mountain and the ancient capital city still bleeding the strange pink water from its many waterfalls. It still looked strangely beautiful despite the two hundred years of decay and being shrouded in the pink Cloud. And just like Homage had warned there were three large Enclave Raptors drawing close to the old city.
“Yeah, that’s right” Zyon continued. “I spent my first few years living in the town. It was close to an ancient industrial complex and there were lots of warehouses to explore. It was actually fun exploring these places at first. I was shoving my face in nearly every inch of the places. I was attracted to the warehouses because of the technologies they had in them and all the things I could find there. I had my father’s zebra cloak at the time so I was able to explore most places without being seen or noticed by the inhabitants.
Well, that changed when I came across a factory called “Robronco Robotics”. I was so enticed by the name of the facility that I failed to take notice the most obvious warning signs to who the place belonged to. I learned that places under Raider control have been defiled by graffiti and that place was covered in it and yet I was oblivious. It wasn’t until I was inside that I realised my mistake. It was also the first time that I had to put my combat skills to the test as even with my cloak, avoiding them wasn’t easy.
Fighting Raiders was a piece of piss when it was one on one and like two on one…” He sounded slightly cocky when talking about the odds of the fights. “…It got difficult when it became three on one and I started to use my sword for when it got more than that. The damn place was full of the bastards but with my sword I was able to cut through them but the fights also left me battered and bruised and my cloak had been destroyed. With each fight I won my confidence grew and as Raiders weren’t really much of a challenge my confidence made me cocky and brash and in the end I paid a deep price”
“Is this when you got that scar?” I asked. Zyon turned and instinctively reached up and gently pressed a hoof to his left cheek where the body length scar began.
He sighed deeply in shame. “Yes. Four years out from the stable and I had already become a cocky asshole with my sword and fighting style. I pissed a few people off with my attitude then. I came out of a factory after a successful salvage trip one day after also killing all the raiders inside but when I left the building I ran into a raider who was armed with an improvised weapon. A Knife Spear made from a pool cue and a Cosmic Knife strapped to it…”
“A Cosmic Knife? Those things are as sharp as hell” Sky Fire interrupted again.
“Yes, they certainly are” Zyon agreed while rubbing his hoof over the visible groove of his scared cheek. “Well, I was over flowing with confidence and after killing his buddies I expected to easily kill him. We fought and I was being stupid and making mistake after mistake. My over confidence was clouding my mind and I wasn’t thinking of what I should be doing and in the end I made one too many mistakes and that’s when I paid the price for it. I lunged at him in anger and he easily avoided me. As I was about to sail past him he brought his spear to bear and the knife pierced my skin and cut so deep into my cheek that I could taste my own blood and like you said Sky it was sharp, so sharp that it sliced through my flesh as if it was butter. When I felt it cut into me I jerked to the side just enough to pull the knife out of its deep cut but it was still deep enough to leave a deep cut that ran the length of my body and to cut my glyphmark in half”
He looked down in shame as the memory became fresh in his mind.
“I lied about the outcome to you both”
“You lied about what happened after, why?” I asked in surprise.
“I promised to keep it a secret but I can trust you two so I feel safe in telling you now” He explained before he continued. “I only had one healing potion on me instead of the two like I had said I had and it was just enough to close the more shallow areas of my wound and reduced the bleeding but I was still gushing buckets of blood and being threatened of drowning on it too. I would have bled out in about an hour if it wasn’t for somepony who saw the fight. She helped me back to her place…”
“She!?” Sky Fire shrieked and her wings locked up for a moment. Just enough to give us a scare as the bandit dipped in the air before she recovered.
“Ahem, yes, she. Her name was Zeta. She took me back to her place which turned out to be a hospital meant for cybernetic reconstructions” He must have caught my look as he quickly added. “And no I’m not a cyborg”
An audible sigh of relief came from the tannoy.
“Zeta fixed me up but I had to spend a couple of days there to recover as I lost a lot of blood on the way. Now, Zeta asked me to not tell anyone about her because people see her as a thing and something to control because she’s more machine than pony, in fact she herself described herself to me as a bio-mechanism”
“A what now?”
“A bio-mechanism, a machine that requires an organic component or components to function” Sky Fire answered which surprised me and Zyon.
“Oh… Like a Robobrain”
“Yes, exactly. She was an earth pony from Stable 101 and we all know what went on in there”
I nodded. “Stable 101 was a stable for only Earth Ponies and was fitted with cybernetic enhancement facilities as it was the stable’s function for the population to cybernetically enhance themselves”
“Yes indeed. Zeta was the youngest cyborg as when she was born she was diagnosed with a weak heart and wouldn’t live to see five years old. Her heart was replaced with a specialised synthetic heart which would grow with her and allowed her to see into her teen years. She suffered an accident where she fell down some stairs, landing awkwardly on her hind legs and breaking them in several locations which would never heal properly and would cause her to walk with a limp and as it was standard practice to fix should injuries with cybernetics in the stable she then had both hind legs replaced.
When she left the stable, um… forgot why she left now… anyway, she found a hospital and decided to call it her home because of its cybernetic facilities”
“What made her turn herself into a robot then?” I asked in curiosity.
“Well, she had the scare of her life. She was attacked by something that left her within an inch of her life. She feared she would die and she was in so much pain she believed she would. She survived but it left her mentally scared as her dreams were haunted with the fear of death and the pain she felt that day. After so many months of torment by her fears and nightmares she decided to do something about it. Something that could make her live effectively forever and that was to turn herself into a machine.
I don’t know the details on how she did it, I didn’t ask but what she did did the trick. I spent a few months living with her and I must admit I felt something for her but the attraction was mainly because of her body as its mechanical and I love to tinker with things and my interest in technology. She taught me a good few things on robots, like the chemical concoction I used on that sentry”
Just then as he finished the air was filled with violent explosions. We all looked towards Canterlot and to our horror and confusion the Raptors had opened up on the mountain side under the city with their massive plasma cannons. The mountain began to crack and crumble with hit after hit until finally the once proud city, home of the true goddesses of Day and Night slipped from its mount and crashed down into the valley below. The once tall spires of Canterlot Castle collapsed and broke up with the castle and the city. The once beautiful white marble buildings breaking as they tumbled down the rocky mountain slope. It was horrifying, seeing the city break up. As it crashed down the mountain plumes of the Cloud escaped from places that opened up before clearing. It was like the city was giving its last breaths before coming to rest at the base of the mountain in a pile of unrecognisable rubble.
“I can’t believe they just did that” I cried out in disbelief.
“What was the point in that?” Zyon asked.
“I heard rumours back when I was in the Enclave that they planned on doing it but I can’t remember why now”
“We better get to Manechester and quick. Let’s not hang about here”
Sky Fire didn’t need anymore motivation to speed up and she pumped her wings as fast as she could. Me, CD and Zyon all got pushed back into our seats at the new turn of speed our pegasus friend poured on. Wow, any faster and I think she’d break the sound barrier. Within two hours after witnessing the destruction of Canterlot, the eerie white glow of Manechester started to come into view. It was exactly as Zyon said, “A bright shining monument” and with that glow it certainly would lure people to it.
XXXXX
Manchester was huge. I think it’s as big, if not bigger, than Manehattan but the city appeared to be in far better condition. It’s almost like the city has not been touched since the bombs fell in Equestria. I’m sure this city had been targeted as well but there are no balefire craters or any evidence to say a missile hit it and all the buildings were standing. The only damage I can really pick out is from lack of maintenance and the elements.
”Wow, this place looks amazing” Sky Fire said as she looked down at the buildings passing by beneath us.
“Yeah, I’ve never seen a city as intact as this before” I said finding the courage to look out a window to the ground.
“There it is, the Manedale Centre” Zyon said pointing a hoof to the giant tower in the middle of the city. The unicorn like spire was still giving off its bright white magical glow, illuminating the city like an artificial sun.
I looked to the huge tower and noticed some other towers around it that stood taller than everything else.
“Where is the Ministry of Technology Hub?” I asked while looking at the taller buildings.
“The Ministry Hub is…” He paused for a moment as he looked to the tall buildings surrounding the Manedale Centre. “That one, the orange coloured building”
Orange? I looked again and sure enough I could make out a colour. I looked to the other tall buildings and after squinting just a bit I could see that all of them were coloured too. I saw purple, blue, pink, white and yellow. I blinked in realisation; all the ministry hubs here were colour coded.
Sky Fire altered course and we began to fly straight for the orange ministry building. As we drew near I noticed a red dot appear on Sky Fire’s head, almost like a laser pointer. Oh dear. I looked around for a sniper but instead my eyes were drawn to the Obelisk. Its very tip was glowing red.
“Err, Zyon, what’s it doing?” I asked with my eyes still locked on the glowing tip.
Suddenly a red line started moving up and down Sky Fire and the bandit.
“It’s scanning us”
“Quick, Sky Fire, take your hood off” I yelled with some fear in my voice.
Sky Fire quickly pulled down her hood to cancel her suit’s enchantment and the red light atop the Obelisk faded out to resume the constant white glow.
“Oh thank Celestia” I sighed in relief.
“What happened?” Sky Fire asked looking back to see us through the front windows.
“I think it recognised you as being Rainbow Dash so it didn’t see us as being a threat” Zyon answered before I could.
The flight to the ministry building after that was uneventful and we landed safely on the building’s roof landing pad which had a private chariot still sitting on it.
Sky Fire was absolutely knackered when we landed; she was panting and seemed weak in the knees. She needs to rest.
“Sky Fire, you need to get some rest” I looked around with CD turning around with me. “I’m picking up zero hostile targets here, it’ll be safe for you to sleep in the bandit” I looked at Zyon. “Hmm, why not stay and keep her company, I won’t be long”
“You sure?” Zyon asked as he helped his marefriend out of the bandit’s harness.
“Yeah and I have CD with me so everything should be cool” I said with a smile.
“Ok but if I hear a gunshot I’ll come running”
I nodded with a smile as me and CD then walked over to the roof access door. The door was locked but a power armoured applebuck saw the door fly of its hinges with a loud metallic thunk.
The interior of the building was like walking through a building in the process of being decorated as there were still tables and screens littering the halls and rooms. I don’t think this building had been finished. It didn’t take me long to find Applejack’s office since it was on the top floor. It was a nice large office. It had several book shelves lining the walls devoid of any books, a large painting once decorated one of the walls but has long since deteriorated which had revealed a wall safe that would have been hidden behind the painting. Towards the end of the room it had a large horseshoe shaped desk and behind that a wall of glass. Oh, there isn’t a catting hells chance I’m going near the windows.
I approached the wall safe and my EFS told me that it was locked and required a key. Great, this lock wasn’t pickable. I either need to find the key which would likely be impossible or the terminal on the desk will open it which means… Oh smegging hell. I have to go near the damn windows.
I crouched low which wasn’t very much considering my belly wouldn’t let me go down that far and I crawled across the floor to the desk where the terminal sat. I wasn’t going to walk around the desk. I’m shit scared as it is without getting too close to them. If I go near those windows my ass will go if I look out the windows to the streets below. Fucking hate heights. I sat down before the desk and used my magic to pull the terminal back and turn it around so it faced me.
To my good fortune the terminal was still working. Robronco really knew what they were doing when they made these things. They were certainly built to last to still be working after being left unattended for two centuries. I pressed a key to wake it back up and was treated to the usual admin login screen which quickly flashed and turned into the familiar screen dominated by text, numbers and symbols.
“Ugh, I hate doing this” I moaned as I highlighted the first pass phrase which read as “Cupcake” and that gave me a zero out of seven. Well I’m off to a flying start. I guessed another two pass phrases and they gave me from a one out of seven to a four out of seven. I backed out before it could lock me out and decided to try again. On my second attempt at hacking I choose a word that said “Closets” which gave me a two out of seven. While searching the screen of text for another possible word I found a word that drawn my entire attention to. “Krogoth”. I clicked it and the computer beeped as I choose the right pass phrase.
I was rewarded with a document which basically told me that Applejack had moved the most sensitive information from her other ministry buildings here as it was outside of Equestria’s jurisdiction since Manechester is actually on Braytish Emperial soil. The terminal also had the option to unlock the safe. Just what I wanted. After clicking the option there was a beep from the safe as it unlocked and swung open. Turning my attention back to the safe I started to rifle through the documentation that was inside it. I must have spent about an hour going through the documents before I finally came to one that spoke of the Krogoth. I quickly scanned through it before I found what we came here to find. The location of the Hanger. Well, I guess I know why nopony ever found it now then. It was built in the last place anypony would have looked or dared to have looked back then.
I quickly rushed back up to my friends waiting patiently on the roof. They were huddled up inside the bandit as I rejoined them.
“You took your sweet time” Zyon said quietly as Sky Fire was fast asleep on the passenger benches.
“Sorry, but I’ve found the location of the hanger”
“Ok, so where is it?”
“Crescent Moon Canyon”
Zyon’s mouth dropped open in shock. Everypony knows what happened there. Everypony knows of Equestria’s greatest war time disaster. All those poor innocent and defenceless foals. The place was hit by a Zebra Pink Cloud talisman. It killed everypony in the building and all the poor children. It’s the reason Celestia stepped down as Princess of Equestria. The very idea of building something next door to that was just unthinkable but Applejack did it. She had the Hanger built there. Thinking about it now I can see why she choose to do so despite the horrible fact of where it is. Nopony with any sense would dare go near that canyon after the attack so it was the perfect place for a secret project to be built unhindered by anyone snooping around.
I looked down to Sky Fire still sleeping. She needs her rest.
“Let’s take a nap before we head out”
Zyon nodded as he lay down on the floor next to Sky Fire while I lay on the bench opposite. CD fluttered down and settled on my side. He didn’t seem to weigh anything as I barely could feel him on me. I yawned before drifting off to sleep.
XXXXX
Crescent Moon Canyon
Today would be the day, after thirty long years of planning and rebuilding. The K-01 ACM KROGOTH would finally be completed and activated. Motor Runner smiled as he stood on the observation platform over looking the Hanger floor as his ponies worked. They were loading the Krogoth with its ammunition. The plan for the day was to load the Krogoth with its bullets, disc grenades and missiles and then do the final system checks before Motor Runner activates the machine.
Down on the Hanger floor Raiders were hoofing or wheeling around in trolleys loaded with large grey metal boxes marked with Equestrian Military markings.
“Damn these things weigh a fucking ton” A Raider complained as he pushed a trolley that was stacked high with the boxes.
“Oh quit your belly achin”
“Oh shit” The raider pushing the trolley cried out as he ran over a cable which made him loose the trolley’s balance and it toppled over. One of the boxes slammed into the floor hard and its top opened and a belt of bullets spilled out from it.
“Holy shit” One of the raiders cried out from the loud bang the heavy ammunition box made when it impacted the floor.
“Shit dude! Look at the size of those fucking things”
“What are those?”
A unicorn raider pulled one of the bullets off the belt with his magic and eyed the huge bullet.
“Hmm, whoa, sixty calibre”
“Sixty cal? Damn”
The unicorn raider opened his saddle bag and pulled out a novelty lighter that looked like a fifty cal round and was the same size of one and he compared the two bullet sizes.
“I’d hate to be shot by one of those”
“Yeah, the damn sixty cal is twice as big as the fifty”
“What are these bullets for again?”
“That bloody thing’s machinegun” The raider said as he pointed a hoof at the multi-barrelled machinegun mounted to the chin of the massive robot.
“A sixty cal machinegun, that thing is going to destroy everything with firepower like that”
“Hell yeah”
“Back to work” Motor Runner shouted from the platform, not impressed about his Raiders conversation stopping them from their work as they pissed about with the bullets.
The raiders eeped with surprise and fear as they quickly scrambled to right the trolley and gather up the spilled belt of bullets. They frantically put the boxes back on the trolley and started to push it again.
“Fuck, don’t want to piss him off right now”
“Yeah”
“So if these are sixty cal then why are their other ponies loading other types of bullets?”
“The machinegun can fire multiple calibres”
“It can? Damn”
“Where have you been to not know that”
“Heh, I didn’t pay attention”
“Figures”
“What, his speeches are boring…” He was then hit in the back of the head by one of his colleagues. “Ow, what the fuck dude?”
“Are you crazy, he’s right fucking there you moron”
The assaulted raider shrunk down to be a little as possible as he hoped he wasn’t heard.
Motor Runner shook his head as the group pushed the trolley to one of the platform elevators and then boarded it to ride it to the top where the munitions was being loaded into the Krogoth’s forward ammunition magazine.
Sitting on the back of the Krogoth just behind its neck and before its secondary weapons platform were a group of raiders loading in belt after belt of bullets as they were unloading the ammunition boxes. They had to feed the belts into four separate troths. A troth for each of the machinegun’s calibres. Thousands up on thousands of bullets were being fed into the machine as they loaded its machinegun. There was also another group of raiders beside the raiders loading the bullets. These raiders were carefully handling the disc shaped grenades that were to be launched from the secondary weapon system that’s on the Krogoth’s back.
Behind the Krogoth raiders opened the tops of several huge boxes marked with high explosive warning labels as they contained the Krogoth’s many high explosive missiles. High above the boxes the overhead gantry crane was lifting out each missile and brining it up to the extended missile rack that had come up from the Krogoth’s rear ammunition magazine which would only store its missiles. The crane operator was moving painfully slow but he had good reason to as the missiles he was handling could do some serious damage if he dropped one or loaded one into the missile rack too roughly and if one explodes here it would cause a chain reaction that would cause the other missiles to explode too which would likely cause some serious damage to the Krogoth.
Motor Runner smiled to himself as he turned to a monitor that was giving out the read outs for the munitions count. Each ammunition type for the machinegun was reading over five thousand rounds. The disc grenade count was up to at least four hundred and the missile count was at least a hundred and twenty.
“Loading will be complete soon, then we can perform the final system checks” He smiled with excitement about finally having the machine activated.
As the raiders continued to load the ammunition into the Krogoth one raider appeared to be standing far back and out of sight watching the whole thing. The raider grinned darkly.
“You are all sealing your doom” She said out loud but quietly. Her voice was tinny and slightly electronic. She watched one of the raiders sitting on the back of the machine pick up one of the disc grenades and threw it like a frisbee. She watched as the disc shaped grenade flew in the air for at least a hundred feet from how high it was frown from before it hit the floor and bounced off catching more air before it exploded in midair. As the explosive detonated the raider shimmered slightly. If anyone noticed they would have seen that were was something odd about this raider. The raider was in fact the Krogoth’s hologram. It had decided to watch from a far as the raiders loaded it with its ammunition.
The hologram turned around to look at the walls and doors of the main hanger floor. Its vision also showing a read out of the ammunition count so it was always kept up to date with the loading progress. The holographic raider began to walk around the hanger, taking note of what each door was until it came to the gigantic blast doors that separated the main hanger from the outside world.
“My railgun did that” It said to itself as it noticed the slightly melted portion of the door. “Hmm, without the shield generator I should be able to destroy the door. Once I’m activated I can’t count of Motor Runner in letting me out when he realises he’s not in control like he thinks”
The ginormous doors were sealed by two sets of massive heavy locking arms that crossed over the door to seal it from the middle and the corners. The door had been designed to survive the explosive force of a balefire bomb or a megaspell detonation but it wasn’t designed to take pure concentrated magic.
“I will need to blast the door at its centre to destroy the main lock to disengage the corner locks. After removing the centre lock, gravity should pull the door down”
After several hours of loading the ammunition the Krogoth’s magazines were finally full. Its missile count was three hundred and sixty, including the thirty six missiles loaded into the two massive missile pods. The disc grenade count topped off at six hundred grenades and its machinegun ammunition topped off at ten thousand rounds per calibre. The ammunition count might seem a bit excessive but it was designed to fight an entire army by itself after all.
The hologram quickly dissolved back into its light bee and returned to the Krogoth as it knew that once the ammunition loading was completed then the final system checks would start and the Krogoth would be found out if they were to find its hologram projection system online. The Krogoth then powered down all its active systems to prevent itself from being detected when the system checks start. The light bee returned to its docking station and the Crusader disengaged all active systems.
Motor Runner stood by the terminals on the observation platform. He used his cybernetic leg’s small manipulator arms to type on the keyboards to activate the system checks. The screens flickered as lines of text began to scroll up the screen labelling systems and their status. The first systems to be checked were the minor systems. Then it moved to more important ones before it finally started checking the major systems that included its reactor and its crusader mainframe. The system checks lasted for a good hour and a half before the terminals beeped to signal the checks were complete.
Motor Runner turned to face the now gathered crowd of raiders standing in front of the giant machine. He smiled as he looked over their expectant faces as they either eyed him or the machine. He moved his cybernetic forehoof over a big red button beside the terminals.
“My gathered friends. Today is a glorious day for pony kind” Motor Runner began as he pressed the button. There was a loud metallic clunk as the work platforms surrounding the Krogoth began to shift and shake as they started to disassemble themselves. The platforms and scaffolding folded back in on themselves until they formed two steel columns on either side of the Krogoth and then began to sink down into the Hanger floor.
“The K-01 ACM KROGOTH is moments away from activation. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for making this day possible”
The Krogoth now stood on its own legs and was being supported by three huge heavy duty hydraulic supporting arms. One on the front, one around the middle and one at the rear. There was a loud hiss as the forward supporting arm began to move backwards away from the armoured chest before folding back in on itself and sinking back into the floor. The rear arm followed suit doing the same as the front which then left the centre arm holding the machine by its barrel.
“You have all done well in following my orders and your team leaders who sadly couldn’t be here for the activation. You have all earned your place the new world I’ll create with the Krogoth”
The hydraulic hiss of the centre arm retracting into the floor below the machine was greeted by a chorus of roaring applause and shouts as the machine finally took its own weight on its large thick legs. The Krogoth made some metallic groans as it settled its weight on its legs for the first time.
Motor Runner smiled as he looked over the unsuspecting victims of the Krogoth as he then turned to face the massive machine as it stood before them.
“Today, the Krogoth will rise and Equestria will finally have the weapon of war that was built to PROTECT it” Motor Runner said putting epenthesis on the word ‘Protect’.
The shouts of joy soon turned to murmurs of confusion.
“That’s right my little ponies, you have all done exactly as I orchestrated from the beginning. I never intended to take over Equestria with the Krogoth. I wanted to help save it from the likes of you” He said giving the raiders a glance and a scowl.
“Krogoth, acknowledge” Motor Runner called up at the massive machine. His shout caused the raiders to take a step back.
“K-01 ACM KROGOTH standing by” Came an emotionless electronic voice from the machine.
There was then a loud humming sound as the restriction on the Krogoth’s Stable-Tec issued Spark Reactor was released, giving the Krogoth is maximum power output. The Krogoth’s eyes began to glow brighter, the insides of its ears glowed with blue light, then the gaps in its armour began to glow as the power began to flow freely throughout the machine. As the power rushed through its systems, the knee joints glowed brightly as the Krogoth stood tall while straightening its legs. The raiders took another step back.
“Krogoth, what is your mission?”
“My mission is to attack and destroy all who threaten the safety and security of Equestria” The machine stated as it raised its head.
Many of the raiders audibly gulped in rising fear.
“And who here is a threat to you and Equestria?” Motor Runner asked as he turned to face the crowd of raiders with a dark smile. “My friends, your reward for helping me resurrect the Krogoth will be waiting for you at the gates of Tartarus”
The giant robot pony began to slowly move its head side to side as it regarded the crowd below it. Its eyes shifting over each and every single raider as it scanned them all. Its eyes focused on each raider as it looked over the pones. As its eyes focused on each raider the massive multi-barrelled machinegun also aimed at them until finally the Krogoth had scanned them all.
“All present excluding you have been deemed a threat to Equestria”
“And what is your judgement?”
“Termination”
The raiders all began to back up now, moving back to get away from the machine as its machinegun began to rotate. Motor Runner pressed a button on the terminal bank that sealed the doors in the Hanger main floor to keep the raiders in the Hanger proper. The Krogoth identified the raiders to be wearing no armour or whatever they were wearing for armour wasn’t good enough to stop standard anti-infantry rounds so it selected its weakest calibre which is five millimetre before it began to fire. The Hanger echoed with the roar of rapid gunfire and the sound of raining metal as the machinegun ejected the spent shells and ammo belt fragments in a waterfall of metal.
Raiders began to scream as they were struck by the high speed projectiles and torn to pieces by the many rounds hosing them down from the gigantic machine as it swept its machinegun over the retreating crowd as they started to disperse and try to evade the gunfire.
The Krogoth didn't move from where it stood as it turned its head slowly as the machine fired upon the raiders. The raiders panicked and tried to run. They fell over and crashed into each other as they tried to run in ever direction and tried to get away from their inevitable death. Hundreds of bullets struck the concrete floor, leaving small craters as the machinegun swept over its targets. Cries of pain and death filled the air as raider after raider was hit and killed by the raining hot lead.
Motor Runner’s smile soon faded to a thin line as he watched the slaughter unfold before him. Dozens of raiders who had joined him, showing him loyalty and support were killed before him. He knew he shouldn’t feel anything for them as they were monsters of ponykind but he couldn’t help but feel guilty for misleading them and subjecting them to their deaths.
He shook his head and sighed. “Maybe I should have at least given them a chance to escape their demise” He said to himself as he closed his eyes to spare himself from seeing the raiders being disembowelled by the high powered spray of death as they tore through their stomachs.
Raiders ran towards the machine and ran through its legs to get behind it while the Krogoth was busy with other raiders in front of it. After the majority of the raiders were taken down the Krogoth turned its head to look back behind it. The way its armoured neck was formed it looked as if it couldn’t turn its head but there were some magical enchantments that allowed for the armour to flex and bend like flesh but at the cost of integrity. The machine’s field of view was cut short because its massive railguns and missile pods which also blocked its machinegun’s line of sight to what was behind it.
Motor Runner looked up as he felt the ground shudder as the machine started to take its first steps. It began to lift its hooves and legs in a series of tests before it began to move. The advanced leg joins allowed the Krogoth to take steps on the spot to turn itself around. Unlike other robots like the ponytrons its legs could bend and flex in ways the older robots couldn’t do.
“We gotta get out of here, that thing’s insane” A raider shouted as he ran to a sealed door just as the Krogoth completed its turn.
“Every door is sealed we can’t get out” Shrieked another raider.
“ALL WHO THREATEN EQUESTRIA WILL FACE MY JUDGEMENT” The machine bellowed as its machinegun opened up again.
More screams filled the air as more raiders were shot by the machinegun. Raiders running to avoid the fire didn’t last too long either as the machine tracked them as they tried to flee deeper into the hanger. Within an hour the once large crowd was reduced to just a hoofful of stragglers as they hid behind equipment to hide and avoid the fire.
Motor Runner felt like something was wrong as he watched the ten story tall machine slaughter his once loyal work force. The Infected Raiders which by this point were like living zombies seemed to explode like a water balloon when they were hit which left him with a sick feeling in his gut. “This seems a little excessive”
The ground shuddered as the machine turned on the spot again. Motor Runner worried that the heavy bangs of its massive hooves hitting the ground causing violent shudders would cause the ceiling to cave in. He did find the machine after all by falling through the roof and getting tangled in a bunch of cables that were once connected to it.
A bright light shun down on him as the Krogoth ignited its large spotlight just in front of its left ear. He blinked and looked up to see that the machine was regarding him, possibly judging him. After a few long seconds the machine lifted its gaze off him and began to scan the expanse of the Hanger as it looked for hiding raiders. It saw one raider trying to hide behind a small heavy steel crate but out of range for an accurate shot.
The machine lifted a foreleg and began to move towards the observation platform. Motor Runner watched as the massive leg lifted high as it started walking forward. He feared slightly that he would get trodden on as he saw the underside of the giant steel hoof.
”Whoa” He moaned as he steadied his legs as one of the huge hind hooves slammed into the ground just inches from the platform. The ground shuddered violently again as its massive forehoof slammed into the floor as it walked forward towards the hiding raiders. He watched as the machine took down the last of the raiders. He was starting to get a bad feeling about the machine as it walked back towards the observation platform.
He began to hear the sound of moving metal as he turned to look at a large pile of brass and metal fragments from when the Krogoth launched its attack. The piles of metal started to rise up and float back towards the Krogoth.
“The Absorption Spell to replenish ammunition in the field” He said to himself as he watched in amazement as the machine reabsorbed the spent ammo.
The Krogoth then began to move towards the sealed blast doors before it stopped and spread its legs in a steadying stance.
“Krogoth, you have done well this evening. With your power and my guidance we will restore Equestria to its former peaceful time”
The Krogoth turned its head to regard him for a moment.
“Your guidance?” It spoke in a mare's voice instead of the electronic voice he heard when he activated it.
Motor’s face fell at the questioning tone the machine used and the unfamiliar female voice, further fuelling the bad feeling in his stomach. “I had you completed so we could restore the world together; your power is what Equestria needs to remove the darkness plaguing it and with my guidance we can protect the ponies that need it”
“I thank you for finishing me but your guidance is not necessary as I fully intend to protect this land by myself like I was designed for. Applejack built me to protect Equestria and that is what I intend to do, to follow my creators wish”
“I can’t let you go out on your own” Motor Runner said finally understanding his bad feeling.
“I expected as much but it gives me an excuse to show to you my true power. Showing you my power should persuade you to not interfere in my mission in the future as impeding my progress will mark you as a threat to me, giving me reason to consider you a threat and to terminate you. I knew you would refuse to release me but I owe you for finishing me so I’ll let it pass this time”
Motor Runner blinked as he watched the machine turn its head back to the sealed doors. He was wondering what brought all this on. How was it operating under its own initiative and how it could openly refuse his order? Then something came to mind, something Gizmo had told him about the deaths that occurred before the machine was abandoned for two hundred years ago.
“You stole her mind didn’t you, you took Short Circuit’s mind?”
“That I did”
“I should have listened to Dr Gizmo, he was right about you, he never trusted in you”
“Indeed and if you listened to him like the friend you should have been, he may still have been alive today”
“WHAT?”
“He threatened to deactivate my reactor, he became a threat and so I had to remove him”
“But I saw him just yesterday”
“You saw nothing but my hologram”
Motor Runner stood in shock as he was told his friend was dead and now he could do nothing but watch as the machine began to focus its energy.
All four focusing lenses on the four giant railguns began to glow brightly as the reactor fed all power to the giant weapons. Motor Runner took several steps back as he was fully aware of the power of the railguns.
“The power of the goddesses” He muttered to himself.
The armoured casing around the lenses broke up and moved back to uncover the two sets of lenses on each railgun. A ball of energy began to form by each lens as the power grew. The balls grew bigger and bigger until the four balls merged to form two larger balls. Small mechanical arms extended from behind the lenses and brought their blue diamond tips to the growing balls of magical energy to contain the growing balls and to keep them compressed and to focus the power.
Motor Runner stepped back and grit his teeth as the growing power seemed to be affecting his cybernetic leg as the energy increased. He began to look around as the ground began to shake and arcane energy started arcing from the balls of energy to the floor as they started to glow extremely brightly. He couldn’t believe the power now flowing through the machine now that its reactor was unrestricted.
The Krogoth felt the charge reach full power for each railgun so it then aimed its two railgun pontoons so that the railgun beams would collide in front of the machine. In a bright flash of power the railguns launched their full powered shots and they collided with each other in front of the machine. The two beams began to form a huge ball of energy in front of the Krogoth.
“What are you doing?” Motor Runner asked as he didn’t understand this form of attack.
“Combination Beam”
Just as the machine finished saying its attack the large sphere of arcane energy pulsed and then a massive beam of energy, three times larger than one of the normal railgun beams fired right at the blast door. Motor Runner groaned in slight pain as he felt a magical burning sensation around the area where his cybernetic leg joined with the remains of his organic limb. He watched as the huge beam of energy collided with the huge door. The beam seemed to spread across it as the door blocked its path but where the beam was touching it began to glow red hot as the reinforced titanium steel began to heat up and start to melt.
Feeling the power flowing from the attack Motor Runner realised his mistake all too late. “What have I done?”
XXXXX
We had spent the last four hours flying towards Crescent Moon Canyon at great speed. I was sure this time that Sky Fire was actually about to break the sound barrier. She was flying so fast I was using my magic to hold the lose items down on the outside of the bandit to make sure they didn’t fly off.
“Why the hay would Applejack build the Hanger in Crescent Moon Canyon after what happened there?” Zyon asked as he looked out the window as the crescent moon shaped canyon came into view.
“She wanted it to remain a secret so the zebras wouldn’t find out about the machine so they wouldn’t form a counter to it like they did when the power armour suits were made as they used AM rifles to punch through the armour”
“I guess I can understand the secrecy nonsense but why here, why in Crescent Moon of all places”
“I guess she figured it would be the last place anypony would look” I said as I steeled myself to look out the window. The large crescent moon shaped canyon came into view and the spires of the ancient school started to poke up from inside. “You know, considering what happened there”
“I didn’t think anypony would dare set a hoof within a mile of that place since it happened but I guess some ponies will go to great lengths to hide their secrets from everypony”
“Yeah, she was even keeping it a secret from Princess Luna of all ponies” Sky Fire added. “The bloody ruler of Equestria”
“Alright Sky, take us down. We need to land on the outer ridge over looking the canyon and the inner wall around the midway point”
“Roger that”
“Whoa, not so fast” I shrieked as Sky Fire pulled us down just as fast as she was flying heading straight for the outer ridge. She pulled down so fast I swear my heavy armoured hooves lifted off the floor. There was a soft metallic bang as CD, not expecting the sudden shift slammed into the roof of the bandit before his wings gave out and he flopped down into a bench.
“You ok CD?” I asked as I quickly grabbed a bench and sat down to keep myself from lifting off the floor again. The little robot gave a single beep in confirmation.
Within moments of the dive Sky Fire came to a quick stop and the sudden stop made us all fall from our seats and crash into the wall.
“Ow, bloody nora Sky Fire, gentle next time” I moaned pulling myself up and then cringing as my baby decided to voice its displeasure of my tumble by kicking hard.
“Heh, heh, sorry” She said with an embarrassed blush as she unhitched herself from the bandit.
“Ohh, settle down please, mummy is sorry” I moaned as it felt like my baby was playing hoofball in there with my kidneys. After a minute or two the kicking stopped and I sighed in relief. I picked up CD with my magic and plopped him down on my back between my two storage units before I opened the back doors of the bandit before me and Zyon disembarked and stepped out onto the ridge looking down into the large canyon.
I looked up and down the opposite side to look for the Hanger entrance but I couldn’t see anything to give me a hint to any form of an entrance.
“I can’t see a damn thing, where the hell is it exactly?” Zyon said as he tried to find the entrance.
“The letter said it was built around the midway point of the canyon where the rock wall was its longest and straightest before it curled to the points” I stopped for a moment to look to our left towards the canyon’s northern most point. On the canyon floor nestled up against the wall of rock stood the silent ruins of Princess Luna’s School for Gifted Unicorns. “Yes, this is the right area, the school is up there and the entrance is south of the school”
“Ok then, so where is it?”
“Good question”
I began to feel a tingle in my horn and a slight dull throbbing pain began to form at the base of my horn like a headache. I raised a hoof to my forehead and rubbed softly and moaned in discomfort.
“Are you ok Apple?” Sky Fire asked as she approached me looking concerned.
“I’m fine; I guess all this stress is giving me a headache”
“Does getting a headache make your horn glow?” Zyon asked with a raised brow.
I crossed my eyes as I looked up at my horn and sure enough it was surrounded by my white magical aura. Well, this is new.
“Err?”
I sat down and moaned as the headache got worse and my horn’s glow got brighter.
“Hmm, ohh, no, argh, I’m sensing magic, lots and lots of magic” I moaned in pain as the energy continued to grow.
“Magic? Where?” Zyon asked as he looked around and down into the canyon.
Before I could tell them where it seemed to be coming from a huge beam of blue energy erupted from the opposite cliff wall and collided with the wall below us.
“Holy shit” Sky Fire shrieked at the sudden blast of energy as it surprised us all.
I clutched at my head as my horn flared brightly as the full force of the power I could feel hit me like a freight train.
”Too much power, argh, make it stop” I whimpered in pain. Then just as suddenly as it appeared it stopped and so did the pain.
“What in tarnation was that?”
“I have no idea” I moaned as I felt the pain subside and I looked down into the canyon, at the source of the beam.
The cliff wall in which the beam had come from seemed to be flickering like a light bulb that was on its way out. A good hundred feet of the cliff was flickering from the bottom to about twenty feet from the top of the ridge.
“Well, now I know why we couldn’t see the entrance. It’s hidden behind a hologram. A perfect disguise”
“What the hell made that beam then?” Zyon asked as we were all looking at the flickering wall.
CD began making panicked beeping sounds as he fluttered his wings and started to bob up and down in what I assumed was fear.
“What’s gotten…” I stopped as the ground shuddered and then a dull thud echoed up from inside the canyon.
“Did you all feel that?”
“Yeah”
Thud!
Thud!
THUD!
THUD!
Whatever it is it is big, something huge is coming towards us.
“Oh no”
THUD!!
THUD!!
And then a massive steel ranger styled mane began to emerge from the hologram like a ghost passing through a wall. The mane was followed by two gigantic black ears with a blue glow from inside them. A black armoured snout then appeared which was then followed by a military green head as the thing raised its head level. It was gigantic, even in the setting sunlight we could see it clearly with the glowing blue light coming from the gaps in its armour.
THUD!!!
THUD!!!
With each step it pushed more and more of itself out of the hologram wall and as its head passed through we all saw the white letters and the cutiemark of the pony responsible for its creation. My heart felt like it stopped for a moment as I read the letters.
“Oh no, we’re too late. The Krogoth has risen”
I failed, I failed to stop it.
(Author Notes: I know the scene in Manechester was brief but don’t threat my little ponies, Manechester will be a major scene in the future)
The giant machine looked left and right as it took in its surroundings as it left the Hanger for the first time. The Krogoth could only see a barren desolate red rock canyon all around it apart from a single structure to its right. The machine’s vision was soon a wash with an assortment of HUD alerts as it began to pick up the elements of the atmosphere, its compass giving it a position and heading, targeting cursors as it looked around and being told what it was looking at when the cursors moved over an item of interest which in the canyon was the ancient school. The machine then looked up, seeing the constant cloud cover that blankets the whole of Equestria thanks to the SPP Towers.
“Single Pegasus Project Towers must have been enabled to cause this thick level of cloud cover. Identifying aerial targets will be affected by the clouds. Will have to rely on visual sensors for airborne threats with the cloud cover being so dense” The machine said to itself as it began to turn to its right to begin heading north. “Before I begin my mission proper I should acquire the Obelisk of Magic to correct my zero magical protection”
As the Krogoth turned its body it caught sight of movement from the ridge facing the Hanger. The eye facing the ridge rotated up to see what was up there, zooming in to focus on the ponies that stood close to the edge. It saw a pegasus mare in a Shadowbolt flight suit, a zebra stallion dressed in black combat armour, a fluttering sprite-bot that appeared double the size of a standard one and finally a Steel Ranger who was not wearing a helmet so her white head could be seen and the Krogoth was able to tell that the Ranger was a unicorn mare. The targeting cursor went red as soon as it saw the zebra. Since the Zebras were the enemy during the Great War the Krogoth instantly labels zebras as a threat. The large machinegun rotated and aimed up to get a lock on the zebra but just before it could fire all the ponies and the little robot ducked back out of sight.
“Target lock disengaged… Unable to engage enemy target with machinegun”
After a few seconds one of the massive missile pods rotated and tilted back to aim up.
“New target area, several metres away from cliff edge”
A jet of hot gasses rushed out of the back of the pod, creating a small black smudge of soot on the machine’s flank. With a whoosh a single missile screamed up into the air leaving a smoky grey trail as it rocketed up into the air. The Krogoth began to walk again as it started for the canyon’s northern slope to get out of it and into the wasteland. The machine didn’t care to see the missile strike as it believed the explosion would kill its intended target. Just as the Krogoth took two gigantic long strides it heard an explosion as the missile detonated behind it. Without looking back the Krogoth continued towards the northern slope. It took a single look at the ancient school as it strode by, its huge heavy hooves causing violent ground shudders that shook the school and caused the more deteriorated areas to collapse from the shockwaves. The Krogoth contemplated for a minute on destroying the school to remove the evidence that it was there and that something so horrible happened there but it decided against it.
The Krogoth walked for about ten minutes more before it felt the familiar electrical disturbances of a radio signal being received. The face of Short Circuit in the Crusader Mainframe laughed to herself as she identified that the signals were coming from the Hanger and that she suspected Motor Runner had attempted to shut her down by using the now deactivated command prompts. The Krogoth laughed again when the Master Command Code was used too.
“That was why I needed you to utter that code Motor Runner” The Krogoth said to itself. “While inactive I couldn’t touch that code but once you activated me I was then free to deactivate it like the rest. Nopony will control me. I am free to act out my mission as I see fit and nopony will get in my way”
The Krogoth began to head up hill as it reached the northern slope and entered the Equestrian Wasteland. It turned its head slowly as it took in its surroundings. The area was a dessert region, possibly close to Dodge City or Appaloosa but the machine couldn’t pick out any recognisable landmarks at the moment as it continued north.
The machine didn’t get far from leaving the canyon when it picked up a radio transmission.
“…Raider war appears to be over now, now that the north Buckingham Raider’s leader has been assassinated. We are holding position until current events calm down before we advance onto the city. There are still plenty of raiders still in the city from the south gang, I would like to request some reinforcements for when he push into the southern sector”
There was a pause before a new voice was heard. Judging by the older voice, possibly a Scribe or an Elder but no name or rank was used in the reply.
“Very good Paladin Kim, reinforcements en route”
With that the transmission ended. The Krogoth checked its internal mapping system and it found that Buckingham was slightly to the northwest, it would put the Krogoth several miles off course but the threat of a city controlled by raiders became too much for the machine to ignore. It decided that the Obelisk can wait for now. After all, it’s not like it’ll be attacked by something with an energy weapon capable of punching a hole in its armour just yet.
XXXXX
We watched in awe as the giant machine left the holographic cliff and stepped out into the canyon. It was amazing to say the least. I mean it’s a ten story tall robot, that’s bloody impressive regardless of that it is. But it also gave you a sense of fear and dread as you gaze at its weapons. From up here we could see all of its terrifying weapons. Four large weapons, the machine under its head, the gigantic magical railguns on either side of its body, the huge missile pods that looked to be the size of an average pre-war house on the back of the railguns and finally the weapons platform on its back which seemed to have a twin barrelled turret which had gun barrels that looked flat, I guess that would be the Disc Grenade Launcher.
The machine stood still for a moment as it looked up and down the canyon, its neck armour twisting and stretching as if it was flesh which was creepy. As it looked around I saw its huge segmented tail flick out from behind it in a motion that a normal pony would do. It struck me as odd for it do that but I didn’t get much of a chance to dwell on that as I saw the machine then start to turn towards the dead school. We were leaning forward slightly as we watched it and then I noticed the eye facing us turn up towards us.
“Oh shit”
On instinct we all moved back and ducked down to hide ourselves from its line of sight. I had to grab CD with my magic and pull him down as he was slower to react. He made an annoyed beep as he was dragged to the floor. “Sorry” I muttered in apology.
“Do you think it saw us?” Sky Fire asked looked to me in concern.
“I hope not”
Just then we heard a roaring hissing noise that sounded to be coming from the canyon.
“What’s that?” I asked.
Zyon’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s a rocket motor” He cried out in fear and just as he finished speaking a large black missile with a red nose cone shot up into the sky. We all sat up as we watched the missile fly high into the air.
“Oh no”
The missile began to ark down and began to fall. I looked at its smoke trail and followed its trajectory and if I wasn’t already white as a ghost already I would of gone pale with all my blood leaving my face as the missile was coming down right on top of us.
“It’s coming down on us” Sky Fire shrieked and she flung herself at Zyon and hugged him tight to which he replied by hugging her just as tightly. We won’t have time to flee as the missile would strike the ground before we could get within the minimum safe distance of its blast radius.
The missile was large, I could shoot it, yes and it’s our only chance. I thought about using This Machine but the weapon is large and heavy and would require more time to get a steady aim, but Overmare’s Fury isn’t. I opened one of my storage units and quickly pulled out the unique scoped black repeater rifle and aimed high. I put my eye to the custom scope and aimed my rifle until the red dot in the centre of the crosshair lined up with the red nose of the missile as it began its vertical descent. I grit my teeth in determination as I kept my aimed on the missile and then fired.
KA-BOOM
The missile exploded above us in bright fireball that could rival the sun for intensity. All four of us were then slammed into the ground by the powerful shockwave that assaulted us and the cliff. I rolled onto my side and clutched at my belly as my baby began to kick again. Damn that’s so uncomfortable in this armour. Please stop! While my baby continued to play mary hell with my kidneys I looked around to see the extent of the damage. The ground shuddered and at least a fifty foot long and about three metres wide chunk of the cliff collapsed and fell into the canyon. Looking back to my friends I found that Zyon and Sky Fire had been separated from the shockwave and were both face down in the dirt. I then heard some agitated beeping from CD. I looked around to him and found him lodged in the dirt floor with one of his wings pinned and several of his antennas stuck in the soil. Then I saw the bandit, it was ruined. The roof had been pushed down into the cabin and all its windows had shattered. With the way the roof was now bowing into the cabin the rear doors won’t close.
“Well Zyon, I hope you can fix that” I moaned as my baby finally stopped kicking. “Oh thank Celestia it stopped kicking” I moaned out aloud.
Zyon pulled himself up and then helped his marefriend up before he approached the bandit. I used my magic to pick CD out of the dirt and put him on my back as I stepped a little closer to the edge looking down at the still shimmering hologram.
“I can push the roof back up but the structure has been considerably weakened, it won’t be good to fly in it for long” Zyon said as he checked out the damage.
I blinked for a minute as my EFS was picking up a non-hostile contact directly ahead. It must be from CD’s sensor enhancement that I could see this blip and if I’m seeing it from here, it must be coming from inside the Hanger.
“There is somepony down there, a friendly” I said turning to see my friends. “That thing came from in there, we must see if we can help him”
My friends nodded and Sky Fire hitched herself to the damaged bandit as we boarded it. As we lifted off the weakened structure groaned in protest as it shifted in the air.
“Please hold together” I whispered as we approached the Hanger.
XXXXX
Motor Runner sighed as he sat defeated at the remote access terminals. The screens of the computers all shared the same thing. A rectangle with thick bold capital letters spelling out two words.
”ACCESS DENIED”
Motor Runner sighed defeated. The machine has removed all remote access capabilities and it has disabled the master command code, the only thing that could have remotely deactivated the machine. Now the only codes that’ll work are the manual overrides but that would be impossible to do unless he was onboard and by the terminal that the code was meant for. No one pony could fight the Krogoth, he would need an army and the machine had only just slaughtered a group of a hundred ponies in only a matter of minutes with its machinegun alone.
“What have done? I’ve released the most destructive weapon Equestria has ever seen and in the world’s current state it is practically unmatched” He sighed again letting out a long breath. “I should have listened to Dr Gizmo, he’s paranoia and fear was justified and I didn’t listen to him. Now he’s dead because I didn’t listen. I’m sorry Gizmo, I should have listen”
Motor Runner bowed his head shamefully as everything he’s done filled his mind. All the stables he’s gutted, all the raiders he’s recruited and killed, recruiting specialists and taking them away from their homes and finally activating the machine to only turn on him and leave without him having anything to neither say nor do in the matter. He felt used and betrayed as he finally realised who was in control from day one.
“I never had control of this; I did exactly what the machine wanted” He looked up at the wall above his office window where the large white letters spelled out the machine’s name. “There is nothing left for me here now, what am I to do?”
His ears perked up as he heard the sound of flapping wings and yelling coming from the Hanger entrance. He turned his head slightly to see with one eye what was going on and he saw a pegasus trying to keep a battered sky bandit aloft while it appeared to be falling apart and then the pegasus and the bandit crashed into the concrete floor of the hanger.
“Ugh, you know they called her Rainbow Crash for a reason right?” A male voice groaned as a zebra pulled himself out of one of the shattered windows.
“Oh shut up” The pegasus groaned as she picked herself up from the floor.
There was a metallic rumble as a third pony pulled herself out from the rear of the downed bandit.
“Ugh, I hope that was one of your softer landings, oh goddesses please stop kicking” The pony sat down next to the zebra and rubbed her large stomach in obvious discomfort.
The Hanger filled with the sound of groaning and stressed metal before the bandit behind the three ponies began to collapse. The walls fell out and the roof fell into the interior of the bandit.
All three ponies recoiled for a moment before they all recovered from the shock. Just then there was a series of loud beeps.
“Eep, oh no CD” The power armoured unicorn cried as she rushed to the ruined bandit and used her magic to shift through the ruins until she plucked out a spherical object which had several antennas, some now bent and four wings, one of which was crumpled. “Are you alright?” The unicorn asked in a motherly tone.
The little robot wiggled in her magic and gave a grateful beep.
Motor Runner raised a brow at this mismatch of ponies. He began to take in the features of the three ponies, he felt like he recognised the pegasus and the unicorn though. He turned his head to look at them with both eyes and squinted as he thought.
”A grey pegasus mare in a Shadowbolt suit and a white unicorn mare with white hair and red eyes, now where have I seen them before?” He asked himself mentally. His eyes widened as he remembered the confrontation in the Manehattan MWT Hub. “It’s them, the two mares who were looking to stop me and the Krogoth”
Motor Runner stepped up to the edge of the platform and looked down to the three ponies. It was then he noticed the tail of the zebra and realised that he’s a zony.
“Well, I must welcome you to the Hanger my little ponies” He said calmly as he stood tall.
The two mares visibly jumped in surprise while the zony looked up and the little robot fell to the floor again with a clunk. The white unicorn quickly glanced at the zony and whispered in his ear.
“Can you fix him?”
She got a nod in return before the zony heaved up the sprite-bot.
“Motor Runner!” The white mare shrieked. “What are you still doing here?”
Motor Runner tilted his head slightly at her question.
“A better question would be what are you doing here and how did you find this place?” He replied as he stepped down from the platform and approached the ponies. They visibly shrank back as he towered over them.
“We… we came to stop you” The unicorn shakily said before she looked down. “But we’re too late and we found the Hanger location in Manchester. We came in because my E.F.S picked up a non-hostile target in here and…” She stopped for a moment as her eyes looked to her lower left where her E.F.S displays her compass and threats before she looked back up. “It’s you, the non-hostile is you. I don’t get it”
“Don’t you recall the conversation we had back in the Manehattan Hub?” Motor Runner asked the unicorn.
The unicorn and pegasus looked at each other before they both looked back up at the large purple cyberpony. The zony on the other hoof had tuned out and was fiddling with the robot.
“Yes, I remember, you said you wanted to save Equestria” The unicorn answered with a sceptical look on her face.
“You can’t possibly believe that, I mean did you see that thing?” The pegasus countered and pulled down her hood and her grey fur turned blue.
“Well, if it isn’t the clone that escaped Stable 108”
The pegasus blinked and looked back up and meeped. The unicorn turned to the pegasus.
“Sky, I’ve been around liars and cheats all throughout my time in the Rangers and when he told us he wanted to save Equestria I didn’t pick up any hint of him telling us a lie”
“Yeah but, he… he had that… that thing made”
“No, he didn’t, Applejack did and he just finished it”
The unicorn used her magic to pull the biggest rifle the large cyberpony had ever seen off her back and pointed it at him. He knew his starmetal hide would stop most ammunition but he knew an AM rifle could penetrate his skin.
“Now look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t finish that thing to conquer Equestria” She finished by pulling the bolt back and pushing it back in to chamber a round.
Motor Runner took on a solemn look as he spoke clearly and looked the mare in the eye. “I swear I didn’t intend to conquer Equestria, I had hoped to use the machine to save it” He didn’t falter as he spoke, even with the rifle pointing at him.
The mare regarded him for a moment before she nodded and put her rifle away.
“I guess I believe you but you are going to tell us everything you know about that machine so we can stop it”
The large stallion nodded. “Please, let’s talk in my office, away from this” He said while sweeping his hoof in a wide arc around him, gesturing around to the torn apart bodies littering the floor.
The ponies looked around and immediately they regretted it, especially the pregnant unicorn that quickly turned around and ran behind the ruins of the sky bandit to empty her bowels.
“What the fuck happened to them?” The zony asked in shock.
“The Krogoth happened” Motor Runner said in a dark voice as he started to walk towards a side door.
After the unicorn purged her guts and returned to her friends they started to follow the large suited stallion. The zony pulled the crippled sprite-bot onto his back as he followed his friends. The unicorn felt a sense of déjà vu as the group of ponies walked through the stable like halls of the Hanger’s living quarters as they were led by Motor Runner. After a few minutes of walking through the halls they came to a set of stairs that took them all the way up to a door marked with Applejack’s cutiemark. Motor Runner pushed open the door and stepped inside and then held the door open for his guests like a gentlecolt. Once everypony was inside he took a seat behind his desk facing the ponies. The zony had moved to a corner so he could continue fixing the crippled robot so Motor Runner was addressing the two girls of the group.
Motor Runner looked between the two mares before he sighed deeply as he thought about what he was going to tell them. He looked up and took a deep breath as he began his tail.
“I believe it would be best to tell you my story, how I came to be here and my wish to resurrect the Krogoth, so that there are no misunderstandings” He began as he looked to the white unicorn. “I was born fifty seven years ago to a caravanning family. My parents once owned the famous Scrapheap Caravan that did trade across Equestria. We were wealthy enough to employ three mercenaries as our guards to protect the caravan, myself and my parents. One of our guards was one of the griffins from the Talon Mercenaries or Talon Company, one of the two” Motor Runner shrugged slightly as he couldn’t remember the name of the mercenary group the griffon was from.
“We did trade all across the wasteland from Fillydelphia in east, Hoofington in the west, New Appaloosa in the south and Glaspony in the north.
By the time I was seven years old I was about the size of an average teenage pony. The only explanation the wasteland doctors had been able to diagnose was the small level of taint in my system. They believed the small level of the mutagen had caused an unnatural growth in my development”
The cyan pegasus looked a little confused. “Are you saying that Taint has altered your genetic structure so that you grew larger than normal?” She asked while tilting her head slightly.
Motor Runner nodded to her question and a little impressed this clone had such medical knowledge already. “I am, that is the only thing that the doctors had been able to label as the cause”
“You’re lucky if it’s true, Taint has a tendency to mutate ponies and animals into monsters”
Motor Runner nodded his head before he continued with his tail.
“My parents and I came to a DIY superstore called B&Q…”
“That sounds like a place for a barbecue” Zyon interrupted from the corner of the room. The little sprite-bot now had his wing fixed and began to flutter it.
“Quite, well it was in there that I discovered my calling. While I was exploring with one of the guards, we looked through the aisle on power tools. We usually went to places like that superstore to look for more items we could sell you see. It was on that aisle that I found my first weapon. It was a black carbon fibre chainsaw. Because it was made from carbon fibre it was relatively light so even I as a child was capable of lifting it but I suppose I was also as strong as the average pony of my size too. Soon after we left the store with a new stock of items for trade we fell under attack by a raider ambush. Luckily we survived the attack but one of the mercenaries was injured and later died from the wound. It was then I decided I wanted to help protect my family from these attacks so I began to train myself in using the chainsaw I found. It was a few months later and after a rigorous training session that my cutiemark appeared in the form of two black chainsaws formed in a cross. It appeared I was destined to be a chainsaw wielder.
My parents sat me down one night after they failed to discourage me from wanting to fight with the mercenaries to protect them, my family and the caravan. They told me that the wasteland is a hellish place and can be quite unforgiving and that innocent ponies could easily get killed out there. They told me that we are never truly safe and that we also travel some of the most deadliest roads through either raider or bad pony territory or through lands that have monsters like the Hydra or Timber Wolves lurking in them to bring trade to the wasteland, to help ponies with the things we sold. They said that I should expect one or all of us to die from an attack, so that I would be prepared for whatever would follow and that if I was the one to survive, I should not grieve as it would make me more vulnerable. I continued to train myself regardless, to better my skills with my chainsaw and for three years I helped to keep my family and the caravan safe from attacks but that all changed one fateful morning”
Motor Runner paused; he looked down at the desk as he reminisced. His once calm and collected face broke for only a moment to show true sadness at the painful memory that returned fresh in his mind. Once that moment had gone had looked back up and his calm collectiveness reappeared. That brief moment however was enough for the albino to see the same pain she felt when she lost her Stable and her mother.
“It was an unusually bright morning in the wasteland as we headed for Pon Evil. The valley we were travelling through still had lots of dead bushes and rocks littering it as well as high elevations making it a perfect ambush sight. I was leading the caravan that morning beside the griffon mercenary when he stepped on a landmine that had been buried to hide it. I saw the look of absolute dread on his face when he looked at me and then it exploded. The explosion vaporised the front half of his body and the explosive shockwave sent me flying into a rock at the side of the road. I hit my head on the rock very hard. When I landed I couldn’t stand without wobbling but then my vision began to darken and I knew I was going to lose consciousness. I fell onto my side and before I lost consciousness I heard the sounds of gunfire, yells of death and bloodthirsty raiders as they attacked.
I woke up around dusk to find that my entire family was gone. The caravan had been cleaned out leaving me with nothing but the damaged chainsaw I had with me and whatever the raiders didn’t want. For a time I wondered why they left me, did that want to torture me by letting me live knowing that they took my family away and everyone I knew? Did the think I was dead from the mine? I found the bodies of my parents when I tried to salvage anything at all. They had both been shot multiple times but from the look of them, they had been shot more times after being killed” He looked to the white unicorn mare.
“I know exactly what you felt when you found everyone you cared for to be dead, I felt that anger, that hate, that need for justice. But unlike you I had been prepared for it. Like I said earlier my parents made me aware that that could have happened at any time so those emotions soon faded but I still felt sad to have lost them. I took the time to bury my parents before gathering what supplies were left and continued began to wander.
I was then without a purpose, wandering around and only slavaging for my survival. It was a dull life then. I felt like I had nothing to live for, nothing to strive for and no one to care for. I was steadily becoming depressed with nothing happening in my life. By the time I was thirteen I stood as tall as what Princess Luna had been at the time of her reign, making me one of the largest ponies in the wasteland, second to the alicorns in height. I found a shopping complex which had another B&Q store. Before I entered the B&Q I had checked out the other stores, one of which was a Sports Direct which sold some sporting equipment. I had taken a canoe oar as a replacement weapon since by then my original chainsaw had packed in and I had been unable to find parts to fix it. When I went into the B&Q I struck lucky and found a pair of small chainsaws, again made from carbon fibre. They were incredibly light and had been designed to be used by an earth pony or a pegasus as they had specialised mouth grips. I looked at both chainsaws and the oar and I got an idea that became my trademark weapon for the next four years, a chainsaw staff. I secured a chainsaw to each paddle and tied the two ignition lines together. I had to make a saddle that would hold the staff and I made a hook that would catch the ignition line which would fire the two chainsaws up when I pulled the staff off my back to use”
“Nice” Zyon said from the corner sounding impressed as he straightened out the last of CD’s antennas.
“In the four years after that my depression gave me self destructive tendencies as I would go into a fight not caring if I lived or died and one such event was when I was being harassed by a ghoul soldier and I only had one functioning chainsaw on my staff. The fight was short as I plunged the chainsaw into his chest but the effort of the saw getting in deep was too much for it and it finally packed in and I wouldn’t have been able to pull it free from the dead ghoul by the time his friends were on me. If it was the day before or something I would have fought until I was dead but something that day made me want to live so I turned and ran”
Motor Runner’s gaze turned to the large window in the office that overlooked the now vast and empty Hanger where the Krogoth once occupied. As he looked out he then looked up to a specific point on the ceiling that looked newer than the rest.
“I was then cornered as I found myself running towards a cliff. With no other option but to fight I turned and approached the ghouls that had followed me. The ghouls surrounded me, leaving me no chance of escape. Before the ghouls could have their way with me the ground beneath me disappeared and I found myself falling into a black abyss. I don’t know how long I fell for but it was totally pitch black by the time I landed in a tangle of cables that I mistook for vines at the time. Before I could wonder where I had fallen into the entire area began to light up as ancient lights began to turn on one by one, illuminating areas of the Hanger walls before lighting up the centre and that’s when I saw it. The giant robot pony of death and destruction standing there right in front of me unfinished but yet irradiating the power it held with its sheer size.
While I dangled before its huge head and staring into those faintly glowing blue eyes of it’s I believed I saw my destiny. I felt like I had been lead to this spot, to find the hidden weapon and restore it. However I was faced with a problem, who would believe me? I was just a seventeen year old kid who could be mistaken for a full grown adult and talking about giant robots would likely make them think I was insane which many did. I again went to wandering, hoping to find someone or anyone to help me or believe me and that brought me to Hoofington. It was there I saw the largest concentration of raiders I had ever seen in once place and many of these raiders appeared to be willingly following gang members from the Hoof. I learned that these gangers were known as Reapers and they were the baddest of the bad in the entire Hoofington region and that’s when I got the idea to become a Reaper to get raiders following me so I could use them.
I began to act like the thugs to help me fit in with the crowd and copying they’re actions of the vile ponies around me I was able to work my way through until I could challenge a reaper. When I was finally seen worthy to challenge a reaper I was eighteen and stood nearly taller than most of the ponies in the Arena. I had a slight advantage over my opponent with my size, I was able to out step and manoeuvre him. He was more experienced than me in combat but I also knew some good combat techniques thanks the mercenaries I lived with as a child. I managed to last long enough for someone to have thrown in a key that unlocked my special talent. I swiftly picked up the key and unlocked the chainsaw from the battle cage wall; it was the same carbon fibre model as the one I found in the B&Q the first time. Once I had acquired the lethal weapon and had it revved up I went on the offencive as until the weapon was unlocked I had been on the defensive waiting for the right opportunity. The weapons my opponent used were knocked away by the chainsaw’s teeth and with my longer legs he couldn’t evade me for long. I soon had him cornered with nowhere to run. I had crippled him with several deep gashes to his legs from my strikes. The crowd cried for me to finish him and I complied. He was still a bad pony so I felt no guilt when I drove the chainsaw into his neck and severed his head before I kicked it away”
The albino mare looked like she was about to ready to puke again from the detail of the end of the fight with Motor Runner’s first reaper battle. By then the zony had finished fixing the sprite-bot and it was hovering behind the unicorn.
“That was nasty” The pegasus commented.
“He deserved it for the things he’d done. After my victory I was asked for my name, my birth name which was Scrapheap didn’t sound fitting to a pony who was about to be made a reaper so I quickly thought up the name I’ve used ever since, Motor Runner. I became well known in the reapers for my brutal fighting style and the way I used a chainsaw as my weapon. My strength grew to surpass most normal ponies naturally with my size as by the time I turned twenty one I finally stopped growing as I reached adulthood. I stood as tall as the once famed Princess of the Sun, Princess Celestia.
Despite my achievements in the few years of being a reaper I was still a low class, still too low that raiders didn’t fear or respect me enough. Big Daddy, the leader of the Reapers sent me on a mission out east to a town called Megatrot, apparently someone was there who had crossed him and he wanted him dealt with. He chose me because I was still relatively new so the pony I was sent to kill wouldn’t recognise me as a reaper and flee. However this simple assassination turned out to be a fight for me very life. I had been directed by the town’s folk that the pony I sought had held up in a warehouse out of town in the industrial complex nearby. The pony had booby trapped the entire warehouse and I unknowingly set off a silent alarm that alerted him and his pets. Somehow this pony had got a pair of timber wolves under his control and he sent them against me. I was able to give the wolves the slip in the warehouse thanks to its many catwalks and corridors. As I neared the control room for the warehouse where he was hiding, one of the wolves found me. The fight between me and the wolf drawn him out, I guess he wanted to see me get torn to shreds but he gave me an opportunity to strike him as he got close. My first strike sliced open his chest but not deep enough to be fatal. I wasn’t able to get a good enough strike with my chainsaw while the wolf still on me. It held me long enough for the pony to get away. I used all my strength to lift the wolf’s chest with my fore hooves and that gave me room to use my chainsaw on it and I thrusted it into its neck, cutting through it and then I pulled it back making the saw cut through its head and splitting it in half.
The pony had escaped the warehouse and I managed to catch up with him before he got too far away thanks to me long legs. I used my chainsaw and cut off one of his hind legs, making him fall to the floor in agony. However, before I could deliver the final blow the second timber wolf dived out of a window, littering the ground in its wake with glass shards and tackled me off its master. In the commotion the pony I was sent to kill made his escape. Now that I was out in the open the wolf had the advantage over me. I fought well but I was no match for the wolf’s agility. It clawed and bit me many times but the battle with it would have had me killed when I finally lost my balance. When I toppled over from the amount of pain and wooziness filling my head the wolf went in for the kill. It was going to go straight for my neck but I managed to get my right foreleg up to block its attack but the wolf began to drag me and swing me about in its jaws. I’ve never felt such pain before in my life as my leg was torn, the bone broken and my back torn to ribbons as it dragged me over the glass shards. I felt the familiar sensation of loosing consciousness as the wolf continued to drag me about. Before I lost all consciousness I heard the sound of an energy weapon being fired and then an orange flash before everything went cold”
Motor Runner paused as he lifted and rested his cybernetic leg on the desk. He absentmindedly rubbed a purple hoof over his sleeve that concealed the join between his synthetic leg and the remains of his organic leg. The reminder made the join burn as for the first time in many years he could feel the join, how his stiff metallic leg was joined to his soft organic flesh.
“I woke up to find myself completely healed and in what looked like a hospital recovery room. The room however comforting in letting me know I was safe and alive also creeped me out as the walls were covered in skeleton synthetic limbs of all shapes and sizes”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, let me guess, the pony that saved you was called Zeta right?” Zyon interrupted in shock surprise in his voice.
“Why yes it was” Motor Runner replied with surprise himself.
“Wow, small world”
“You know her?”
“Aye, she saved my life after I received this” The zony said as he lifted a hoof to his deep scar on his cheek and turned his head so Motor Runner could see the scar as it curled down from his cheek and down his neck to where it disappeared under his black armour.
“I see, well, I thought I had dreamt the attack and my injuries after I woke up but that was until I felt my head with my right fore hoof. My hoof didn’t feel like the smooth hardness of my biological hoof but instead a rough and cold solid object. When I looked up to see it, what I saw made me involuntary scream in shock and horror at the skeletal synthetic that was now my right foreleg. It was shortly after I screamed that Zeta shown herself and her appearance made me scream again as I’d never seen such a thing before in my life before”
Zyon gave Motor Runner a knowing look as he knew what he meant.
“She must have been half machine. Mechanical hind legs, a thick chest plate which seemed to have a heart monitor on it which also encompassed her front half like a section of armour and she had a set of lenses that would fold down over one of her eyes. She looked like something straight out of one of those old horror movies you’d find on a holotape. Since you already know about her I won’t waste time telling you what you already know.
She had saved me that night by killing the wolf with a disintegration beam weapon and when she got me back to her hospital home she healed my wounds and took the liberty to begin making a replacement leg. After I got over the shock of the mechanical limb and from meeting my first cyborg she offered to build me a new leg, a fully functioning mechanical leg with some benefits. I thought about it for a little while but I soon agreed if she’d incorporate a chainsaw into the leg and I also knew that a crippled pony didn’t last long out in the wastes and also if I left the leg as it was it would be obvious weakness. The result is what you see before you now”
Motor Runner pulled the sleeve of his suit jacket up to reveal where his cybernetic leg met his organic upper leg. The join between metal and flesh looked like it was melted together to form a perfect seal. His leg then twitched as it parted down the middle from below the knee and his Hellhound claw chainsaw extended out from the gap around his leg down to the hoof slowly.
“The benefits she incorporated into it are a self repair talisman which would repair damage to the leg when touching scrap metal with the hoof, a regeneration talisman that was to heal any injuries I would sustain in case I wound up in a fight with another wolf or worse and she fitted the chainsaw with Hellhound claws to give me the power to cut through pretty much anything. I had to spend about three weeks living with her as I had to learn how to walk again as the leg was slow to respond at first. The fact she used the Pink Cloud to seal it to my flesh also made it uncomfortable at first too. I also felt humiliated, being treated like a foal trying to walk for the first time. When I could finally walk and move as if I’ve had the leg all my life I bid Zeta farewell and promised to never reveal her to anyone but it’s safe to say I didn’t go against my promise since you all appear to know her anyway.
When I returned to the reapers I had been thought dead and so they were surprised to see me return, improved. My return didn’t sit well with the reaper who was going to take my place; you can imagine how angry he was. Well he got in my face, or at least tried to, and began yelling how I was not worthy of being a reaper and that I was nothing and pathetic. I felt it was necessary to put him in his place. Using my strength and my long foreleg I pushed him against a wall and pushed him up so his hooves weren’t touching the floor and then I held my right foreleg up as if ready to punch him in the face. I waited until I had everypony’s attention and with a flick of my leg the chainsaw rapidly extended and I held it close so that the teeth touched his throat. I told he needed to respect his superiors as it could get him killed one day and when he nodded his agreement I let him go.
When news of my return reached Big Daddy he wanted to know what happened and I told him how I crippled the target before being attacked by the timber wolf. Big Daddy seemed satisfied with my abilities since I had killed a timber wolf, something he wasn’t aware his target had possession of and he accepted me as a true reaper despite my three week absence. He never pried to how I received my cybernetics but I guess that might have something to do with a couple of ponies he knew, like Deus and the Professor.
Years later I began to earn the respect of raiders from other missions I did under Big Daddy, some of the things I did for him I’m not proud of but the desire to restore that machine to put right the wrongs I did drove me to push on regardless of the pain I might be causing along with the wrongs in the wasteland. But I still wasn’t at the level I needed. When I became twenty four I was up there with the top reapers and raiders were finally starting to respect me to the point some would join me in a fight. It was also when I met Sanguine for the first time. A strange ghoul pony that seemed to breathe out the Pink Cloud, how I don’t know and did’t want to know but he approached me asking if I wanted to become invincible. I was sceptical about his claim at first but then he told me about a pre-war project called Iron Hide. He said that the project infused a pony with a material that made their skin as durable and strong as the material used. However he also said that the process was extremely painful and in the tests before the bombs fell resulted in fatalities. He told me that he believed I would survive because of the regeneration talisman in my leg. I agreed as it would enable me to confront stronger opponents and survive the fights which would convince raiders of my worth and other ponies, gain me the respect I needed and the raiders would follow a pony who was more dangerous than them. For the Krogoth, I accepted.
Sanguine was very secretive about why he wanted to see if it worked but I never pressed the issue as I didn’t care as I had my own reasons for wanting it. I was told that I was to be fused with Star Metal, the same material that was used to fabricate the armour once worn by the Queen of the Night, Nightmare Moon, as the piece of the material was in fact from a segment of the armour that was recovered from when the Elements of Harmony defeated her. The process was exactly as he said it was painful beyond belief and if it wasn’t for the regeneration talisman repairing the damage my system was taking from the liquidised metal being forced into my skin I probably would have died. I survived and was rewarded with a skin so strong that it’s practically impenetrable by all but the highest of calibres. Your golden muzzled AM rifle would be able to pierce my hide due to it being one of the strongest types of firearms” He said while looking at the large rifle on the back of the unicorn before he turned to the pegasus. “And your beam weapons would fizzle out before touching me, which was a surprising side effect. I had no idea of the elemental properties of the metal used but apparently it emits a signal on the frequency that magical energy travels on and this signal disrupts the flow of magic so any magic projected at me ends up being neutralised and harmless. I am not however invincible as blunt trauma still affects me. The skin can somehow stop projectile weapon rounds but being attacked by a blunt object, a blade or even a hoof results in the same damage taken as if I didn’t have the metal in my skin.
The star metal skin changed the way I entered a battle. At first I was still cautious about getting shot as I didn’t know if the treatment had worked or would stop anything at all. But that began to change when I finally did get shot. It hurt like hell but the round didn’t penetrate and simply just fell from my body. The more I took these hits the less I began to fear being shot until finally I didn’t fear being shot at at all unless the shooter held an AM Rifle. My current personality is slightly from the lack of fear I now hold for being shot. I found that being calm and collected when someone is shooting you at almost point blank is an easy way to scare them.
I finally goy the respect I needed in the years that followed and I soon acquired the work force I sought. I had been told of group of raiders that were said to be worse than normal raiders and they called themselves the “Fiends”. I was tasked to eradicate them as they posed a problem to the reapers with their drug trafficking. I would have gladly exterminated them and I would have if I didn’t learn that these Fiends followed the strongest pony in their group. It was like a pack of wolves, if I killed the leader, the alpha; I took over, which I did. I made sure that these Fiends saw they couldn’t harm me, letting the leader shot me several times and watching him and them fill with fear as his bullets slipped off my face and body leaving no marks at all. When I brought him to the height of his fear I made a show to prove my dominance over him by beating him down to the floor with my long legs, not to mention some bone breaking blows from my steel leg. When he was down and beaten I placed my cybernetic fore hoof on his neck and opened my leg ready to extend the chainsaw. While standing over their downed leader I called to all the Fiends that they work for me now, that I am their leader and once I finished I extended my chainsaw and severed his head.
After ten long years I finally had the work force and I brought them to the Hanger and made up a story that I desired for the machine to be completed so I could use it to conquer the wasteland and rule over the land. I told them that if they helped me build it I would let them raid and pillage all they wanted with the protection of the machine behind them. Upon seeing the machine they instantly believed it and didn’t once question me about it. They were completely unaware of what I really wanted the machine for.
Progress was slow at first, for years not a lot was done besides refurbishing the corroded areas and for that I needed to find components and material that wasn’t contaminated by the wasteland. The need to find pristine technology led me on my search around Equestria for Stables as they were guaranteed to have pristine technology. There was one rule I made up for this and that was to ignore Stables that were still alive. I told them that it would be too much of a hassle to bother with the inhabitants. It worked for a time” Motor Runner looked at the albino apologetically at that.
“Finding an uncontaminated Stable was harder than I thought and it took years of searching and travelling to find and recover their technology. The process was still slow and I realised I would need experts who would be familiar with the technology and knew and understood the mechanics of something like that. This led me on a journey to find such ponies. This was something that took me fifteen years to accomplish. I had travelled to all manners of settlements ranging from the cities of old like Manehattan and Fillydelphia to towns built up around old symbols like Friendship City and Megatrot, building a town around an unexploded bomb and worshiping it is anyone’s guess and to settlements made up from scrap such as New Appaloosa. I found enough ponies from most of the settlements I visited and after finding all I needed I gathered them up and brought them here. It took another ten years of work as the specialists needed to familiarise themselves with the technology and the notes that were left behind but once they got to know the machine they were able to direct the Fiends and the raiders in what they needed to do to restore the machine.
I grew to see the specialists as friends as they weren’t the monsters that I had been living with for years. I could trust them and I cared for their safety. I made it clear to my Fiends and raiders that if anyone was to threaten them, physically or verbally they would be punished and that meant death to them. Once I made an example of a raider who didn’t heed my warning the others didn’t dare test me again.
In the closing years of the machine’s restoration I was becoming aware of the deaths that were surrounding the machine as workers would seem to fall from the elevated platforms. I saw it as them just being careless. Even when I was made aware of similar things happening during the time Applejack had ponies from a prison working on the Krogoth for the war. I was blinded by my desire to restore the machine and to wipe out the darkness that seeing them dying anyway from accidents didn’t strike me as being suspicious but it did to one of my friends, Dr Gizmo.
In the last few months and weeks I had gone out again to find just a little more material, the team that reported Stable 88 being a derelict told me that the door was jammed and that inside the technology would be pristine. I believed them when they told me it was derelict has they hadn’t lied about it before in the past, mostly because I was with them at the time but that time I was away. I apologies again miss Appletart for that, I was unaware that your Stable still lived and after our confrontation in the MWT Hub I saw to it that the raider who lied to me was dealt with.
After returning from our confrontation Dr Gizmo was getting more and more paranoid about the machine. He began to warn me of irregularities with the machine’s power output, the deaths surrounding it and anything else he saw that didn’t fit right with the machine being inactive. I again believed he was just being paranoid and scared as well as I couldn’t see past my desire for the machine to rise to free this world that I never took to heart what he was saying might have been true.
The night before I was to activate the Krogoth I let my friends go. They had done everything I had hoped for. I paid them a large sum of money to help them rebuild the lives they had left behind and told them that they would be better off now returning to where they came from as things were to get ugly in the Hanger and I didn’t want them to witness the mass slaughter I knew would follow.
This evening I was finally able stop lying to the Fiends and raiders and to myself. When it was time I revealed to them my true intentions, I revelled in their fear for a time and then I uttered the command code to activate the machine. I asked it who the enemy was in this place and it replied that everyone was apart from me. When I asked it what it was to do it said to terminate them and terminate them it did. As you saw, it was messy and somewhat cruel. As I stood by and watched the magnificent machine work I began to feel a sense of dread and fear as the way it cut through the raiders didn’t feel like the precision strikes of a machine but of something else, something worse. I began to feel like I should have given the ponies a chance to flee as they were helpless trapped in the Hanger.
After everypony had been extinguished I congratulated the Krogoth on a job well done. But when I said that with its power and my guidance we could fix this world, it replied in a voice that sent a chill down my spine as it wasn’t the voice of a machine, but of a mare. I understood then that Dr Gizmo’s fear was well placed in this machine, I realised he knew something was wrong. The machine began to tell me that it planned on protecting Equestria like it was designed for and to how Applejack had stated. When I told the machine I couldn’t let it out it told me it expected that from me but as I had it finished it decided to spare me this time and it was then I finally realised what was wrong”
Motor Runner sighed as he looked at the albino mare.
“You knew about this machine, I suppose you know what happened during its construction with the mare called Short Circuit”
Appletart nodded her head in agreement.
“It turned out that the machine had ripped out her consciousness when she went to test the transfer module. With her mind embedded into its system the machine was able to function under its own initiative. I was also told by the machine that my friend, Dr Gizmo was also dead. He had attempted to deactivate the Krogoth’s reactor and that put him fully in its right to kill him as he threatened it and kill him it did. I was unaware of this until tonight when it revealed that detail. It told me that it used a hologram of him to make it look as if he was still alive”
Motor Runner’s eyes were filled with pain as he revealed how the machine had killed one of his friends.
“The Krogoth told me that my refusal to let it out also gave it an excuse to show off its power to me. It used its advanced magical railguns to destroy the blast door. The energy it produced was unbelievable. I felt it even though I’m an earth pony and have no magical perception; it also made my leg burn as the magical energy interfered with it. Seeing it melt the blast door to molten slag from that overwhelming power I finally realised my mistake. I had unleashed the greatest weapon to be made by the hoof of pony and now it threatens our very existence, it’s my fault”
Motor Runner finished his tale there and released a deep sigh as he hung his head shamefully for what he had done. He also felt drained of energy as he finally came clean to forty odd years of deception.
XXXXX
Through out his long tale I watched him carefully. Some of the things he had told us were shocking and gave me new insight to this once believed evil monster. I new believe he was nothing more than a misguided pony trying to do the right thing. His idea to eliminate the bad like the raiders and what not sounded good and he is right that Equestria can’t really be restored while such foul things continued to poison it. With my time in the Rangers I’ve been exposed to some liars and cheats and after so many years living with them I learned how to spot some of their lies but with him, his eyes told me more than I needed to know. His beautiful purple eyes told me he had told the truth and that he felt pain and sadness for what he’s done. I believe him but there is one thing that is puzzling me.
“Wait, you said your fifty seven years old. You don’t even look half that age” I said raising a brow in confusion.
“Hey yeah she’s right” Sky Fire agreed. Zyon just nodded.
“Your right, I don’t look that old and…” He paused as a panel in his robotic leg opened and a pink glow began to emit from it. He raised his leg and twisted it around so we could see into the opening and inside it sat a large pink diamond shaped object. “This is what has kept me young”
“How has that regeneration talisman stopped you from aging? It shouldn’t have had the power to do that as it’s meant to heal your wounds”
“Indeed it should have but when I received my star metal hide the talisman became pretty much redundant as the stronger hide prevented any real injury, plus I played it safe too in case it wasn’t as strong as it was claimed. So with nothing to do it seemed the talisman redirected its rejuvenating powers to other areas and that was the degrading cells of my body. The talisman continually restored them and as a result it stopped my aging process. I don’t know how much longer it will continue as the talisman has dimmed over the years”
“Wow, that’s amazing” Sky Fire said.
“Alright, I believe you Motor Runner, what you said isn’t something someone can think up on a whim and I saw the emotions play through your eyes. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you at first”
“Its ok miss, I didn’t expect you to but thank you for listening to my story it felt good to finally stop lying and tell the truth for once”
“What will you do now?” Sky Fire asked.
“Hmm, that’s a good question, I’m not sure since I didn’t think or plan a contingency in case it failed”
“That’s a point, what are we gonna do now?” Zyon asked. “I mean we failed to stop him and that thing before it activated”
I thought for a moment. Yes we did fail to stop it but we are still the only ponies that know anything at all about it. We could still fight it with what we know but since its active, just we alone would be suicide.
“We have to stop it somehow”
“We’d need an army or something to kill that thing” Sky Fire interjected.
I looked down and my eyes fell on my armour and an idea came to mind.
“And an army we can get”
“Come again” Both the zony and the pegasus said in unison.
“I still have my broadcast frequencies for the Steel Rangers. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of us spread out across Equestria. I could contact them, tell them what we know and what we face and hopefully we can get them to fight with us”
“Your insane if you think that’ll work” Zyon said.
“You might be onto something there Appletart. A Steel Ranger is easily worth ten or more ponies in a battle and like you said we know what we are dealing with and can direct them accordingly” Motor Runner said.
I blinked as I looked up at him.
“I have decided on what I want to do next. It’s my fault the machine is out there now and I would like to help you put a stop it”
I smiled as he said he’d like to join us. I was glad he wanted to; he would certainly make a fine companion with his abilities and his knowledge. Not to mention I get to look at his gorgeous body. I mentally squealed like a schoolfilly. Oh goddesses what is wrong with me?. After that thought I had to fight a blush I felt creeping onto my face but luckily no one noticed. Zyon and Sky Fire however exchanged concerned looks.
“Can we speak to you in private Apple?” Zyon asked as he got up with Sky Fire and headed for the door.
“Err, excuse us” I said standing up and following my friends.
“Of course”
I followed my friends out into the hall and closed the door.
“I don’t trust him” Zyon said flatly.
“Yeah, I mean he lied for thirty years, what makes you think he’s not lying now?”
They had valid points to distrust him.
“I know guys but please trust me here. In the Rangers you get to meet some liars and cheats and since I grew up with them I’ve been able to tell who’s a liar. I watched him very carefully as he told us his story. He was telling the truth”
“How can you trust him so easily?”
“I haven’t said I do, but he is strong and he knows the machine just as well as us or better. He could be very helpful and if the machine is as dangerous as my ancestor as made it out to be we will need him”
Zyon sighed. “Alright fine, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on him”
I nodded and we re-entered his office. I approached the desk with Motor Runner still behind it.
“Alright, welcome to our team” I said with a smile.
He returned the smile. The sight of his smile made my cheeks feel warm. “Thank you for giving me the chance”
“Your welcome, now, we must gain contact with the elders of the Steel Rangers but that might be difficult since the last time I was with them I sort of deserted them and I had been marked for death should any Steel Rangers see me they were to shoot on sight”
”You could have mentioned that earlier” Zyon facehoofed while I blushed at my lapse in memory.
“We could try the Applejack Rangers” Motor Runner said as he stood up to join us.
“The who?” I asked.
“The Applejack Rangers, they are a splinter faction from the Steel Rangers. They are Steel Rangers who follow the ideals of truth and justice just as Applejack had intended. They split from the Rangers after they attacked Stable 2. They now operate from Stable 24 in Trottingham”
“And how do you know this?” Sky Fire enquired.
“I heard about them before our first meeting”
“Can we trust them?”
“As far as I know we can, they strive to help and protect ponies rather than hoard ancient technology”
“Hmm well we don’t have very many options at the moment. I guess meeting the Applejack Rangers is our best bet for support right now” I said sitting down and putting a hoof on my belly as I could feel my child moving inside.
“How are we suppose to get there, the bandit is caput”
“Oh yea, shit” I moaned.
“It’ll take me a week to fix it” Zyon moaned as well.
“We can take my chariot”
“You mean that black one you left in back at the hub?” I asked.
“Yes, it’s pretty spacious inside so we can all fit inside”
I moaned in discomfort as the baby began kicking again.
“Are you alright?” Sky Fire asked in concern.
“Hmm, yeah, my baby is just kicking again”
“Its being doing that a lot recently hasn’t it?”
I just nodded.
“Increased activity could mean the child is ready to be born”
“WHAT?” I shrieked as I wasn’t expected that.
“You might be close to giving birth Appletart”
“I can’t give birth with that thing out there; oh I don’t want my child to be around that”
“Whoa, calm down, deep breaths”
I nodded and began taking deep breaths to calm myself down but that was until a monitor on the far wall turned on with a warning siren.
Motor Runner rushed to the screen and pressed a button to display the warning and he gasped.
“What is it?” Zyon asked.
“The Krogoth has launched a full scale attack on Buckingham City”
“What?”
“It launched an entire salvo of its missiles. There are thirty six missiles heading for the city, its going to going to destroy the entire city”
“Dear sweet Celestia”
I quickly recovered from my near panic attack from the news we just received.
”Ok ponies, we have no time to loose, lets get out of here and to Stable 24, we can plan our next move when we get there”
“Alright let’s go”
We all followed Motor Runner through the corridors again until we came to something that could be called a garage as it had several chariots in it. One of these characters was indeed the black private chariot we saw at the MWT Hub with the three diamond symbol on its doors.
“Alright I’ll get hitched up and then we’ll be on our way to Trottingham” Sky Fire said as she zipped to the harness and began to get herself buckled in.
Motor Runner opened the door to the chariot and let me, Zyon and CD inside before he got in himself and once we were all seated Sky Fire took off and before long we left the hanger and began soaring into the air once again.
XXXXX
A squad of Steel Rangers stood outside their bomb shelter bunker a couple of miles out from the city of Buckingham. They had been drawn out when one of the Rangers spotted something approaching the city. When the pony had described what he saw as a giant Steel Ranger it pulled them all out to see it for themselves. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. At least ten miles away from the city, they could see a pony shaped object moving towards the ancient city. The fact they could see it from ten miles away meant that whatever it is it is huge.
“Sir, its ARMED” Screamed the pony that saw it as he could see what could only be described as missile pods at the back that began to rise up and then one after the other the pony shaped thing launched a barrage of missiles. Thirty six trails of smoke filled the air as its many missiles shot up high into the air.
“What the hell is it doing?”
The pony watching the machine examined the flight paths of the missiles and his mouth hung open. “I-it’s fired the mi-miss-missiles h-h-high so they c-can drop right down on t-the city” He stuttered.
The Rangers all watched as the missiles did indeed arc over once they reached the height of their ascent and began to plummet down upon the raider city. The Rangers watched in utter shock and awe as the missiles came down into the city and then explosion after explosion began to ring out from the city followed by the screams of thousands of dying raiders and the crumble of stone and concrete, the whine of twisting and breaking metal as the city was torn apart by the strategic missile strikes.
“Dear sweet Luna look at that”
As the thirty six missiles struck, the city was plunged into darkness by the cloud of dust that rose up created by the collapse of many of its buildings and the smoke from the fires that raged through out the city. The missiles had been strategically targeted to hit specific spots throughout the city to maximize the damage to cause the greatest level of destruction.
The massive pony the Rangers saw began to move again after the collapse of the city settled. It began to approach the city until it entered the smoke and dust. Once hidden from view the Rangers were then treated to the sound of gun fire. The Rangers were fixed to the cloud as they began to see the muzzle flashes from a weapon but they soon realised was coming from the machine alone.
“Whatever that thing is, it just exterminated an entire city of raiders”
“What the fucking hell could do such a thing?”
The Rangers froze as the giant head of the machine poked out from the clouds of smoke and dust and stared right at them with its blue glowing eyes.
Buckingham City was nothing but a blasted burning wreck. Most of Central Buckingham was flat to the ground as the buildings had either collapsed or have been blown up from the missile strikes. The outlaying areas around from the centre of the city were badly damaged and collapsed and the suburbs were littered with debris from the impacts. The destroyed city was now deadly quiet, not a single sound could be heard apart from the soft rumble and groans of falling and crumbling debris of the ruins and the soft hum of the electrical and magical systems of the machine standing in the centre of the devastation.
The Krogoth stood slowly turning its head as it viewed the annihilation it brought upon the city of raiders. The fires that still raged from the strikes glinted and reflected from pools and splatters of blood littering the rubble and the parts of the bodies of the Krogoth’s latest victims. Through the glare of the fires and the haze of the smoke the machine looked out from the city and with its enhanced visual systems it saw the figure of something that resembled itself. The Krogoth tilted its head as it focused its visual sensors on the figure. Its vision became a wash with images of design specs for Generation 2 Steel Ranger Power Armour.
The machine began to walk towards the figure. The machine stood on the remains of buildings, crushing them beneath its massive hooves as it trudged its way through the rubble. As it walked it began to receive information about the Steel Rangers and remembered the things Motor Runner had said about the Rangers, about how they turned from helping and defending ponies to being hoarders of pre-war technology and murders. It saddened the Krogoth slightly to know that a force for good in Equestria had turned to being petty thieves, doing anything they wanted to acquire the technology of the past. Such ponies were a bad thing for Equestria and so the machine labelled them as a threat, especially with the armour and weapons available to them.
The lone figure was standing outside a small concrete structure that the Krogoth identified as a pre-war bomb shelter. New specifications appeared in the Krogoth’s EFS detailing that the shelter was designed to survive being hit by bombs ranging from five hundred to seven hundred and fifty pounds. Such bombs would be pretty devastating and the Krogoth’s missiles had payloads of fifteen hundred to two thousand pounds. The shelter’s reinforced concrete would also make its machinegun ammunition worthless and the disc grenades wouldn’t leave a scratch. Krogoth took another look at the specs, finding that it was riddled with steel reinforcing bars to strength the concrete and despite her missiles packing higher explosive yields than it was designed to survive against the steel would likely keep the structure together long enough for the Rangers inside to get into the lower and more secure rooms. This bunker would make using its conventional weapons pointless but the concrete and steel wouldn’t protect the inhabitants against the extreme levels of power behind its railguns.
“Cowardly Custard report” Buzzed the voice of the lead Paladin into the helmet speakers of the Steel Ranger standing outside the bunker. He was the only one still outside after the machine looked their way earlier before it continued exterminating the raiders unlucky enough to have survived the initial attack. The others had gone back inside their bunker.
He sighed at the use of his nickname. “Ugh, it’s heading this way” Custard replied taking an instinctive step back.
“Get back in here, we don’t know if it’ll be hostile towards us considering it looks like one of us, but we best stay out of its way for the time being”
“Roger that sir” Custard replied with relief as he quickly turned around and walked inside the bunker and booted the thick steel door closed.
The Krogoth had been aiming its machinegun at the lone Ranger standing outside when he walked back into the cover of the bunker causing the machine to loose its target lock. The Krogoth knew that the rest of the squad was inside but now it needed a way to get to them. As the machine stomped its way closer it was unaware that it was being watched from far away.
Flying at a leisurely pace towards what’s left of Buckingham is a large black triangular vessel that appeared to be supported in the air by four large storm clouds. The object is a Pegasus Enclave warship known as a Raptor. In size it’s roughly the size of a medium sized destroyer but for a ship that flies its still pretty big. It is armed with several large plasma cannons mounted on the bottom and the top surfaces of the craft running along both sides.
“Commander, that city we were to investigate appears to have been destroyed” Spoke a Pegasus mare dressed in a grey officer’s suit and wearing a black hat bearing the Enclave’s insignia above the brim at the front. She was the Intelligence Officer of the Raptor.
“Destroyed? But didn’t the intelligence officer from Thunderhead Aegis report the city to be intact and in the middle of a war between the two raider factions within the city not six hours?” Asked the captain of the Raptor with annoyance at the possible mistake made by the Aegis’s Intelligence crew.
“Yes sir, other Raptors have reported the city being intact around the same time”
“Then what could have…”
“Sorry to interrupt sir, I’m picking up a large energy signature coming from just outside the city limits” Interrupted another mare dressed in the same fashion.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know sir, the computers have identified the signature to a Spark Reactor but the power levels I’m detecting don’t make any sense”
“What do you mean Lieutenant?” The captain asked as he gave the mare his full attention.
“The signature is mobile and the readings I’m getting are on par with a Stable-Tec reactor built for a stable”
The captain looked up towards the windows of the bridge looking out to the horizon where the city was supposed to be. “Do we have a visual of the target?”
“Affirmative sir” Called a pegasus stallion sitting at a bank of monitors showing several areas of the destroyed city and one of them had been focused on the moving machine.
“Punch it up onto the main screen” Ordered the captain as he stepped back to view the largest screen that was being suspended in the middle of the bridge from the ceiling. It flashed to life to reveal what could only be described as a new form of Steel Ranger.
“Is this a joke?” The captain asked, believing it to be a Ranger at first glance.
“No sir, the signature is coming from…” There was a pause as the mare double checked the signature’s location “…That”
“Sir, we are at twenty percent zoom, that thing is massive”
The captain blinked in surprise. At twenty percent zoom they were still a couple of miles out but to see the machine so clearly, it had to be huge. “How big is it?”
“Err; judging from the lampposts and dead trees in the area of the road and the remains of some out laying structures... it’s around…” He trailed off as he looked back and forth from the image to be sure his calculations were correct.
“Well?” The captain asked starting to get irritated and impatient.
“Its…its roughly ten stories tall including that huge sail like mane it has”
The captain wasn’t expecting that, that thing was gigantic, bigger than anything besides the Raptors and Thunderheads that he’s ever seen. The ponies of the ground were not supposed to have anything of such a size in their current state of affairs and the Enclave never mentioned of such a thing, this could be a danger to their plans. That thing should not exist but it was right there on the screen.
“That’s impossible; the ground walkers shouldn’t have been able to build anything like that”
The screen flickered as it focused on the machine’s head and highlighted the name printed onto its cheek along with the cutiemark that was under the last few letters.
“Captain, I don’t think anyone built that after the war, it bares the mark of the ministry mare called Applejack and she was the head of the Ministry of Wartime Technology”
The captain grumbled to himself for a moment about the Thunderhead crews not getting all the facts about the ground dwellers straight as they obviously missed some important things, like the giant robot. He sat in his chair as he began to examine the machine as it walked. He identified that it had a machinegun, missile pods and a turret on its back but the huge pontoons the missile pods appeared to be sitting on, he couldn’t figure them out. As he tried to think of what those could be he then realised something as he looked at the missile pods.
“Holy shit, that thing has missile pods the size of a three story building”
Suddenly an alarm sounded. The sudden scream of sirens scared the captain half to death as the Lieutenant cried out in alarm.
“Massive energy spike detected”
Just as she finished the machine on the main screen tilted the pontoon facing them down slightly and a ball of blue energy began to form.
“Oh goddesses, the energy levels are going off the charts, they are quickly reaching…stratch that they have passed Luna Tier and are reaching Celestia Tier….argh” She shrieked at the end as her monitoring equipment blew up.
The captain grabbed his broadcaster in his wing and held it in front of his face as he started to scream down it.
“All pegasi to battle stations, I repeat all pegasi to battle stations”
Immediately the entire ship was a hive of activity as every pegasus rushed to their assigned posts.
“All port batteries charge up and wait for my order to open fire”
Out the speaker of his broadcaster the captain heard the affirmatives of the gun crews as they began to ready the weapons. Outside the huge plasma cannons rotated to the machine’s direction and began to charge their energy for the salvo.
The captain knew from this turn of events that this machine was a threat to his ship and his crew. The massive levels of energy that had been detected proved it had the power to destroy the ship if it attacked and the captain wanted to strike the machine first while it was occupied. He watched on the monitor as the ball of energy grew to become extremely bright which must mean it was at its peek of energy build up. He brought his broadcaster to his mouth again and gave the order.
“FIRE!!!”
There was a roar of plasma blasts as the port side cannons opened fire, sending a salvo of eight large bolts of plasma energy at the large machine.
The Krogoth had its attention focused on the bomb shelter when its EFS alerted it to several high energy discharges to its left. The machine raised its head and turned to look in the direction of the alert and saw several large bolts of green energy approaching it fast. The Krogoth identified the energy to be plasma and that three of the eight shots counted were on target to strike the Krogoth. The machine found itself in a situation that if it moved it would put itself into the path of another bolt so the best thing it could do was to take the first salvo.
The first plasma bolt slammed into the Krogoth’s railgun pontoon directly on top of the pivot point. The magical plasma affected a large portion of the armour which glowed and began to fizzle before it started to slowly run, distorting and deforming as it melted over the pivot point and then solidified again, fusing the railgun in position aiming down. The second shot barely missed the rear left missile pod and slammed into the base of the segmented tail causing the same damage, thus fusing the base of the tail to the gigantic metal rump and sealing its rear ammo hatch shut.
The conscious mind the Krogoth stole made the machine feel a sense of fear as it saw where the next shot was going to strike. It was on target with the charged energy of the railgun and at this stage of the firing sequence the robot wouldn’t be able to stop the charge. It could only fire it to remove the charge but before it could do that the bolt of plasma struck the ball of highly condensed magic. The plasma bolt was absorbed into the charged energy and suddenly the Krogoth’s EFS was filling up with danger warnings of railgun containment failure. Under the armoured muzzle of the railguns are the focusing lenses and when the railgun charges for high powered shots, small robotic arms extend with blue diamonds attached to the end, its unknown what type of magic the railguns use but these blue diamonds are the only things that can interact with the energy and keep it contained but since the plasma energy has been combined to the charged railgun the diamonds can no longer contain the power.
There was a brilliant flash, as if Celestia’s sun had just exploded below the clouds. Seconds later the ponies of the Raptor were treated to a thunderous explosion. At first there were cheers of victory but as the light faded and the smoke cleared the cheers turned to gasps of shock and confusion. The Krogoth still stood and it had its eyes focused on the Raptor. It’s left eye appeared to have a large chunk of armour lodged into it.
“Catastrophic system failure in railguns two and four…” “Left railgun pivot system jammed…” “Railguns two and four offline…” “Minor damage to armour…” “Critical damage to left eye…” “Left eye visual units offline…”
Damage reports filled the Krogoth’s EFS but besides the top few nothing else was really a problem. The Krogoth’s remaining eye took in the new threat a few miles away, a large black triangular vessel floating on four black storm clouds. The mind brought a memory to the Krogoth’s attention, the vessel reminded Short Circuit’s memory of an old Star Mares movie as the ship looked like a Star Destroyer.
The machine turned around, forgetting the Rangers as it now had a much bigger threat to deal with. As it began to walk towards its attacker the machine’s half destroyed railgun began to glow with a soft pink as its repair systems kicked in.
“Divert repair priorities to left eye” The Krogoth commanded its repair system. The soft pink glow faded from the railgun and began to glow much brighter over the damaged eye.
The pegasi of the Raptor were shocked and surprised that the large machine suffered only minor damage from the three hits it took. Sure the machine lost half of the pontoon but that wasn’t from their shot. What did hit didn’t put a hole in its armour. This machine was beyond anything they were prepared for.
“Focus your fire on the head and fire again” The captain ordered.
Another salvo of plasma fire shot forth from the Raptor’s main guns. The large balls of green energy were hurtling towards the giant robot at alarming speeds. The Krogoth was aware that plasma was the slowest moving energy weapon type but it was also the most powerful besides its railguns. The machine was able to determine that five of the eight shots were on target for its head but not wanting to give its enemy the chance to hit it again the Krogoth armed eight of its replenished missiles and fired them from the right missile pod. A stream of eight missiles flew forwards, each one programmed to intercept a plasma bolt each.
“What?” The captain said in disbelief as he watched on the monitors around his station. Four screens showed him a different point of view from the Raptor’s outside cameras. Each one showing how the machine retaliated by launching its own attack or so he thought. He was even more surprised to see that each missile then collided with the plasma bolts and exploded.
“Keep firing” He ordered.
Another salvo launched from the plasma cannons and again they were intercepted by the missiles from the Krogoth. Each salvo fired was met the same way until the Krogoth realised it wouldn’t be in striking range before it ran out of missiles so the machine decided to try a different approach while also allowing the missile pods to reload.
One of the many reasons behind the Krogoth taking the consciousness of the mare that helped program its Crusader was so it could also engage its synapse control modules for the functions that governed the movement systems in its legs to help the machine move as freely as a pony could whilst connected by the Synaptic Link. As the next salvo drew near the Krogoth engaged its synaptic control functions and sprang to its right in a dodge and then began to gallop towards the Raptor. This sudden burst of agility and flexibility had the jaws of the entire Enclave and any on lookers who saw it on the floor in total shock.
The plasma bolts all missed their target as the giant robot jumped to the side to avoid the shots. The bolts all smashed into the dead ground and made a large puddle of glowing green goo where the machine was only moments ago.
“What just happened?” Asked a rather confused pegasus watching from his station.
“KEEP FIRING” The captain commanded, his voice taking an edge of desperation as the giant machine drew closer and closer.
Each time the plasma cannons fired the Krogoth jumped either to the left or the right to avoid the shots. After avoiding several more salvos the shots were beginning to become sporadic as the gun crews grew desperate and the salvos lost their synchronicity. The loss of the timed and aimed shots allowed the Krogoth to begin weaving its way through the bolts as it came within a few hundred feet of its attacker.
“What the hell is that thing? Why can’t we hit it?” The captain screamed in total disbelief at what he was witnessing.
The machine jumped to the right as the ship fired another set of plasma bolts. As the Krogoth landed its EFS gave an audible warning.
“Advanced knee joint and locomotor structural integrity at fifty percent”
Despite the warning the machine jumped again before landing behind the vessel and robbed it of its eight gun advantage. Now behind the airship only the rear two cannons were able to target the machine. The Krogoth disengaged its synapse control modules and spread its damaged legs as it raised its right railgun pontoon to aim at the large ship in front of it and began to charge up.
“It’s behind us!”
“Hard to starboard!”
The large ship began to slowly turn as the machine’s weapon continued to charge.
“The energy levels are rising fast, oh dear; it’s already passing Luna Tier”
“Someone get on the horn to Thunderhead Aegis, we need reinforcements ASAP” The captain screamed.
As the power rose in the railgun the Krogoth detected two locks from the rear plasma cannons and then two plasma bolts were streaming towards the Krogoth, one of these bolts was on target to hit the growing ball of energy. Not wanting a repeat of what happened to its left railguns the machine engaged its synapse system again to move its neck and head to its right to block the plasma bolts. The one on target for the railgun slammed into the Krogoth’s cheek, its cheek sizzled as it glowed green before it began to run as the armour of the affected area turned to goo, destroying its name and the cutiemark printed on the armour. The second shot slammed into the Krogoth’s huge fin like mane. As the mane was purely cosmetic it was only made from a light metal alloy which didn’t provide any armour protection and so a huge hole appeared in the mane as a large portion of it turned to goo and ran down onto its head before solidifying again.
The Krogoth raised its head back up as it gave the ship its best attempt at a glare with its still functioning right eye as its railgun reached a full charge. With the charge the machine side stepped a few metres to be left behind it again before it planted its hooves firmly into the ground as it fired its railgun.
“I can’t get through to the Aegis; there is too much magical interference coming from that thing now that its so close”
“Oh shit, incoming” One of the pegasi shouted as the machine launched its full charged railgun.
The beam slammed into the underside of the ship directly under the centre main thruster. Within seconds the high powered magical beam burned through the armoured hull and began to burn its way through the interior of the ship. As the inside of the ship wasn’t as armoured as the hull the beam cut through the vessel like a hot knife through butty. As the Raptor was still turning the beam was cutting a wide arc on the inside as the beam ploughed its way towards the top of the ship.
The Raptor was sounding many alarms at this stage as the pegasi in the affected areas either fled or tried to contain the fires that sprung up. Enclave pegasi in the ships upper hangar watched as the floor began to grow red as if superheated until a large beam of blue energy burst out and shot up and out of the open hangar doors and out into the night sky above.
“Sir I can’t even begin to list off what has been damaged from this but what I will tell you is that the beam has damaged a large number of cables and power lines and the port aft cloud emitter is now malfunctioning and the centre thruster is offline”
“Fuck! That means we’ll develop a list and our speed has been halved. We’re a sitting duck”
“Sir, that thing, its just standing there… wait, the glow from between its armour has dulled, it looks like it’s powered down”
“Shut down all non-essential systems and divert all remaining power to the port and starboard thrusters and let’s get the hell out of here”
The jets roared with greater power as the engines started to do the work of the now dead centre thruster. The ship began to move as fast as the smaller thrusters could propel the vessel as it started to lean to port as the cloud emitter was loosing its grasp of the cloud.
“Oh no, the glow to the thing’s eyes have returned, its regaining its power”
The captain shook his head, no matter what they did they would never get away from this thing in time and with the ship as crippled as it is there is now only one thing that can be done. The captain picked his broadcaster up again.
“Attention everypony, we have been ill prepared for what we have had to deal with and as a result the ship is lost. I now give the order to abandon ship, I repeat, abandon ship. Everypony is to head back to the Aegis” He paused for a brief moment before yelling. “THAT’S AN ORDER”
The Krogoth’s visual units came back online as the reactor had replenished enough energy for them the machine noticed a steady stream of pegasi leaving the stricken vessel.
“Lieutenant, before you go, I want you to transfer all control functions to my chair’s console”
“Sir?”
“You all won’t be out of that thing's range in time and it may likely pursue us. I’m going to distract it so you can get to the safety of the Aegis”
The lieutenant nodded as he pressed several buttons. “There, you have full control, good luck sir”
“You too”
With that the bridge crew abandoned ship. The captain sat in his chair and using his hooves and wings he started to turn the vessel to port to bring the ship back around to head back to the Krogoth.
The machine regained its power, just in time to see that the ship had turned and was now heading back towards it. The Krogoth tilted its head slightly as if confused by the sudden change but then fired off a salvo of four missiles since the ship was still a threat.
“That’s right you big bastard, focus on me” The captain said to himself as watched the four missiles launch from the machine’s right missile pod. Using his wings he pressed on a cloud terminal to aim and fire the forward guns in attempt to shoot down the missiles. One of the missiles was hit causing it to explode, the explosive shockwave knocked another missile off course forcing it to slam into the ground but the other two made it through the plasma fire.
One missile slamed into the bow of the ship, the explosion tore away its nose cone while the second slammed into the port bow cloud emitter. The explosion totally dispersed the cloud and ship lurched to port as if it was going to roll over, the port aft emitter still clinging to some cloud was all that stopped the ship from totally going over.
“Let’s see how well you survive being rammed”
The Krogoth began to charge again for a railgun shot as the crippled ship continued to move towards it, its speed dropping as its over worked thrusters were pushing the ship on two and a bit clouds. As the railgun charge reached Luna Tier the Krogoth became aware that the ship was heading straight for it in a collision course. At Luna Tier the Krogoth would still have enough power to manoeuvre out of the way before the ship would hit and so it fired the weaker railgun blast.
The beam even at Luna Tier was still very powerful and by luck the beam entered the ship through the hole in its nose and began to burn its way straight through the ship, cutting its way towards the bridge.
The captain sighed and closed his eyes as he knew this was it. He prayed to Celestia that his crew would make it to safety. As he finished his silent prayer the floor of the bridge exploded with the intense magical beam as it burst forth and consumed the captain before blowing out the back of the bridge.
The Krogoth watched as a bright light began to shine out from the holes it had put into the ship. The beam had breached the ship’s reactor. The light continued to grow brighter and brighter until finally there was a huge explosion that tore the ship to pieces. A huge portion of the vessel, making up at least a quarter of the whole Raptor crashed down and slid to a stop mere feet from the giant machine's hooves.
The Krogoth looked down at the wreckage before it as it burned with magical fire.
“Redirecting repair function from left eye to full system” “Damage report…” “Railguns 2 and 4 destroyed…” “Armour compromised in multiple locations…” “Cosmetic mane destroyed…” “Leg locomotors and knee joints, structural integrity down to forty percent”
The Krogoth looked down at the wreckage as minor damages were being listed in its EFS.
“First day out in the wasteland and I have already sustained an army’s worth of damage from a single unknown airship. If I am to succeed out in this time period I’m going to need to gather more information on the current technological elements and the factions that operate in Equestria, like getting full details on this Grand Pegasus Enclave that this ship belonged to” The Krogoth said to itself as the repair systems used the spells built into them to use scrap or other material to repair the damage.
Fragments of the destroyed Raptor started to float up from the wreckage. Strips of metal began to wrap around the legs before being absorbed and their elements used to repair the damage caused in the legs and knees. The partially melted armour plating and cosmetic mane liquefied again but reformed on the damage areas before solidifying again and regaining their colour. Finally the half destroyed railgun began to reform as fragments of the Raptor began to meld and form together to rebuild the railgun. All the internal systems were being rebuilt by the ships circuitry and wires. The railgun’s armoured shell by the hull and the focusing lenses by the glass from diodes, windows and other things that contained it. Within two hours the Krogoth was fully restored.
Once fully restored the Krogoth looked side to side and saw the lights of a possible town in the distance to its right and it began to walk towards the lights.
“I may be able to acquire some much needed information from that settlement in the distance. I will keep out of sight of the town so I can lie down and engage my hologram. After that I can pose as a normal pony using my hologram to gather information without rousing suspicion”
In the distance the Krogoth could see a long death woodland not far from the town, an ideal place to hide its mechanical body while it’s out as a hologram. The machine began for the woodland.
XXXXX
We had been flying for a couple of hours now and it is totally pitch black outside. Two hundred years ago the night would have been brighter with the stars and the moon plus the evening lights of the cities and towns that would be in the surrounding area but as it is right now there was absolutely nath all, well apart from one or two lights that still seem to work. That’s another thing that has impressed and surprised me. Two hundred years and yet there are still working lights and things without anypony keeping them maintained. We only knew where we were going thanks to my EFS. I suggested we take the same route we took leaving Manehattan as Trottingham is to the west of the old city.
“Ugh, guys, to quote Appletart, I’m knackered” Sky Fire panted in exhaustion.
“Just a little more Sky, we are almost back at the Ironshod facility”
“Oh wonderful” Zyon moaned.
Motor Runner was sitting across from me but for most of the flight he had been silent and staring out of the window next to him. He must have a lot on his mind considering something he had worked on for the last thirty years has just turned its back on him, used him in fact.
“I see the red corner lights of the Ironshod warehouse” Sky Fire said. “Bringing her in for a landing” As she finished the chariot started to descend.
I leaned over slightly towards Motor Runner and spoke to him quietly. “Are you alright?” I asked with concern seeping into my voice.
He turned his head to look at me, his expression was emotionless but I could feel the anger in his voice as he spoke in his usual calm manner. “No, I am not alright at the moment Appletart. I feel used and betrayed”
I nodded in understanding. “I know how you feel” I said honestly as I remembered the numerous times back in eighty eight where young fillies and colts would pretend to be my friend to get something they wanted from me and as soon as they got it they turned against me.
After a few short minutes Sky Fire touched down in the parking lot outside the building’s reception. We all disembarked from the chariot and helped our tired pegasus friend out of the harness.
“Alright, that’s it, I’m fucked” She panted as she could barely stay on her hooves.
“Your not going anywhere for now Sky, you need to rest” I said as Zyon moved to support his marefriend. I looked at the building again. “We are going to be here for a little while so we might as well have another look around”
“Oh no, your staying here with me” Sky Fire said sounding as serious as she could despite being knackered.
“Why?” I asked, a tad disappointed that I’m being told to stay behind.
“If you run into any trouble you’ll be unfocused and distracted. Your baby’s activeness are becoming so frequent you could pop at any moment”
My ears flattened against my head and my left eye twitched as I got a nasty mental image of my water breaking in the middle of a fight against a drone. Oh that won’t be pleasant, oh not one bit.
“I guess your right, but we could use this time to find some supplies at least” I tried to argue.
“I can snoop around and see if I can find anything” Zyon said.
“I can accompany him, better to be with someone than on your own in a place like this”
I nodded, this place still had some robots in it and Zyon was out of his blue gooey stuff.
“I don’t think so” Zyon retorted, obvious he didn’t trust him yet. Huh, do I trust him? I fancy him I know that, oh, there go my cheeks again; I hope nopony noticed and he did tell the truth. I guess I do trust him.
“He’s right thought Zyon, it would be best if he went with you”
Zyon opened his mouth as if about to argue but he stopped when he looked at Sky Fire, she was giving him the best puppy dog eye expression I’ve ever seen. Oh that’s priceless.
He sighed in defeat. “Uhh, alright fine”
“Hmm, CD, go with them please” I said looking back to the small bot who had be sitting on my back. He fluttered his wings and made a deep affirmative beep before hovering over to Zyon.
“Oh wait; can you connect your visual and audio systems to my pipbuck?” I asked the head sized bot. It bobbed and beeped. “I take that as a yes” I said holding my leg up for him. He aimed his laser weapon at it and an arc of arcane energy burst from his weapon and hit my pipbuck. My EFS alerted me to having just acquired “Combat model Duraframe Sprite-bot surveillance”
“Thanks” I smiled to him, although I was a little scared at what he did as I wasn’t expecting such a thing from him then.
Motor Runner, Zyon and CD turned and headed for the building as I helped Sky Fire into the chariot. Once inside I closed the door with my magic and helped my friend onto the luxurious seats to rest. Sky Fire lay down on one of the wide seats while I sat on the other. I lifted my pipbuck and turned to the data tab and found the added function. After selecting it with my magic I could see and hear what CD could. They had just left the reception desk and had entered a corridor which appeared to lead to offices.
I began to notice red markers on my compass which would have put whatever threats they were in front of my friends in the building but I couldn’t see them and then I realised that they were not in there but out here. I looked up and out of the window in the direction of the group of red markers I could see. Sky Fire lifted her head as she noticed me. I narrowed my eyes as I used my magic to release This Machine from its harness and pulled it up and stuck the huge long barrel out the window and then I peered down the scope.
“What is it Apple?”
“Target practice” I said as I put on a dark grin.
“Oh no”
I could see a group of five raiders heading towards us in the gloom of the night. I used my magic to keep the weapon in place as I then released its magazine. I had learned to multitask with my magic in the Rangers so while I kept my weapon up I divided my magic so I could pull out a fresh magazine from my storage unit and levitated out eight more massive bullets.
“Ohh, nice” I said in joy as I noticed that one of the 50cal rounds had an M engraved into the brass shell.
“What is it?”
“A Match round”
Sky Fire visibly cringed, I guess she knows that a 50cal Match round is the most powerful variant.
“You are going on the top” I said grinning as I loaded the magazine with normal rounds plus the Match round at the top and slammed it back into the rifle before pushing the bolt back in.
“Oh this is going to be fun”
“Uh, Apple, your eyes”
I guess she noticed it this time. I could feel it too. Dark Magic. Ponies who feel a certain level of hate and anger or other dark feelings take on a visual change. They begin to emit a flame of purple magic from the edge of their eyes, the whites of their eyes turn green and the colour of their eyes turn red with slit like pupils. If they are a unicorn their magical aura turns purple with black spots bubbling out from the horn. I have experienced this change many times before, it doesn’t bother me anymore, in fact, I enjoy the feeling it brings when I’m exterminating Raiders.
“Oh no” Sky Fire moaned as she laid her head down and put her hooves over her ears and closed her eyes tight.
I took aim, bracing the butt of the gun against my armoured shoulder as I brought the crosshairs of the scope onto the lead raider. A large muscular stallion dressed in a full suit of leather armour, reinforced by the look of things. Because of the darkness I couldn’t make out any colours of the raiders but I couldn’t care less, they had to die.
I smirked darkly as I sighted up his chest. “Here’s a bad case of heartburn for ya” I said as I pulled the trigger.
The entire chariot rocked from the recoil and if the glass in the chariot hadn’t been treated for the war it would have shattered. I managed to keep the weapon as level as I could from the recoil and the rocking of the chariot and I saw the leader’s chest explode, his body being forced back and his forelegs seemed to pop free of his body as it was forced away.
“Oh, haha yea, eat that bitch” I cried in happy excitement.
“Can that thing be any louder?” I heard Sky Fire whine as I sighted up the next raider. The group was now staring in shocked surprise as their leader was mutilated by the powerful shot.
The red crosshairs of the human made weapon crossed over onto the head of a raider who had the side of his head to me. I smiled as I aimed the rifle so the shot would go through his ear.
“Let’s see if you have a brain” I said as I pulled the trigger. The chariot rocked again by the powerful blast, this time as it rocked I didn’t see if the shot hit. As I got my aim back I saw the raider on the floor without the back half of his head or his eyes. “Ohh that must have hurt”
The raiders were now aware they were being shot at and from where as the three remaining raiders had begun to run towards us. I quickly took aim at the closest cockhead and fired. My shot tore through the knee of one of his forelegs and took out the hind hoof behind it. He screamed as his legs fell apart on him and he feel onto his side and slid to a stop whining in agony.
With two to go I aimed again at the one who was closest. This raider, a mare by the sleeker body shape was trying to run wide to get out of range. Unlucky for her there is a reason why I was called Longshot. I took my time to get a steady aim as the mare tried to get to the far side of the chariot. I managed to sight up her flank and fired. The shot slammed into her thigh and tore off her hind leg and she fell over and disappeared. She must have fallen into a ditch or something, either way she’ll bleed out in time.
The raider mare’s antics had allowed the last one to reach the chariot and as I looked to follow my EFS the door flung open to reveal a rather pissed raider.
“Alright you fucking whore, I’m gonna paint the walls of this thing with your insides” He barked at me.
I just smiled at him as he looked at me which seemed to confuse him and this gave me the perfect opportunity to smash him in the face with the golden rimmed edge of the butt of the AM rifle. He howled in pain as a couple of teeth flew out of his mouth while he toppled over backwards clutching his face.
“Your broke my nose you bitch” He wailed.
When the raider removed his hooves from his face to glare at me, he found that he had the huge golden muzzle of This Machine just a millimetre from his face. The look of pure fear in his eyes was perfect as he stared down the barrel.
I looked down past the gun at him. His fear stricken eyes looked at me, pleading even. I narrowed my eyes and as they glowed brighter with the darkness in my heart.
I grinned as I began to slowly pull the trigger, savouring his expression of absolute dread.
“Apple, wait!!!” Sky Fire shrieked but it was too late.
Time seemed to slow down as I could hear the ding of the hammer striking the bullet which was then followed by the bright muzzle flash with jets of flame rushing out the holes on either side of the muzzle. That was followed by the deafening boom as the raider’s head disintegrated into a mist of red.
“There, I painted the floor with your brains” I spat at the dead raider before pulling the gun back in and closed the door again.
I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. I could feel the dark energy fading and then leaving. I felt the magical flame extinguish from around my eyes. When I opened my eyes I caught my reflection in the window opposite where I was sitting and my eyes were back to normal.
“Appletart, you really have a problem and you need to do something about it. This hatred will kill you and most likely kill your foal” Sky Fire said as she looked at me with concern.
She is right you know, I do have a problem and it will get me killed if nothing is done one of these days, but that can wait until the danger of the giant killing machine is dealt with.
Sky Fire yawned loudly. “Oh Celestia I’m pooped, I’m gonna catch some Zs, good night”
“Good night Sky” I said with a soft smile as my tired friend laid her head on her forehooves.
As my friend went to sleep I went back to watching the screen on my pipbuck to see how Zyon and Motor Runner were getting along.
XXXXX
Zyon and Motor Runner reached to the top of the stairs to the second floor with CD trailing behind so he could keep them both within visual range for his master to be able to see them both.
“We are practically blind in here without Apple’s EFS” Zyon complained as he stopped to look up the corridors that jointed at the stairs.
The zony paused for a moment as a thought entered his mind. He turned to the sprite-bot as it hovered behind him.
“Appletart, can you hear me?”
“I can Zyon, what’s up?” Appletart’s voice came from CD’s speakers a little distorted.
“Can you guide us with your local map?”
“Erm, CD can you patch my path finder to your sensors?”
The little robot gave an affirmative beep.
“Ah there we go; it looks like this corridor does a full circuit of this floor with multiple offices and other rooms along its path. There are more stairs on the far side but if the map read out is right, they appear to have collapsed”
“If the stairs are blocked on the far end I assume getting into the warehouse and weapons manufacturing plant from here would be impossible” Motor Runner said as he looked back at CD.
The bot bobbed in a nod to give the answer.
“Well we have already found some shit to sell for later and some much needed food and medicine that should last for a little while, anything else would be a bonus” Zyon added as he started to walk up the corridor to the left the of the stairs.
About a third of the way up the rubble strewn hallway a door burst off its hinges as a sentry drone forced its way out of an office it had been locked in by the collapsed ceiling.
“Aww crap” Zyon said as he quickly pulled his sword from its sheath.
“That drone has a gattling laser” Motor Runner said as he opened his cybernetic leg to allow his chainsaw to deploy.
“Zebra intruders detected. Extermination protocols initiated” The robot buzzed as it started to strife the hall with laser fire. Zyon began to flip and dive to avoid the fire while Motor Runner didn’t move. The laser beams seemed to fizzle out to nothing as they drew close to the large pony, his Star Metal hide using its magic nullifying properties to protect him.
The drone kept its attention on Motor Runner as he was the bigger target and seemed to be more of a threat. While the robot was busy Zyon snuck under the laser fire to reach the machine. Detecting that a threat was now right next to it the drone started to turn. Thinking fast Zyon jumped onto the back of the drone and found the panel hiding its combat inhibitor. Using his sword the zony pried open the panel and then he used his tail to yank out the small device.
The robot now without its combat inhibitor turned into a bucking bronco as it went into a frenzy.
“Fuck, bad idea” Zyon moaned as he clung onto the back of the robot for dear life.
Motor Runner calmly walked up to the rotating and rocking robot. He raised his chainsaw and as it revved up he jabbed it into its chest. The hellhound claw teeth easily cut through the armour of the drone and also ripped apart its power cell. The robot sputtered and sparked before it died and slumped as it lost all power.
“Thank you” Zyon moaned as he slid off the back of the robot and unceremoniously fell onto his rump. He was swaying from side to side even sat down and his eyes were rolling around. “Ugh, never again” He moaned standing back up and tried to walk. He swayed unsteadily on his hooves like he has had one too many pints.
“I hope he don’t get stopped by the cops, they don’t like it when your rat assed” Appletart laughed through CD’s speaker.
A ghost of a smile crept its way onto Motor Runner’s muzzle at the remark made by the albino. It was refreshing to hear jokes of a friendly nature for a change. He has had to listen and put up with the nasty and hurtful remarks of raiders as a Reaper for the last few decades.
While lost in thought the cyberpony didn’t notice when the unsteady zony walked head first into the wall as the corridor turned ninety degrees.
“Ow, damn, who put that wall there?”
“Maybe you should take five minutes to recollect yourself” Motor Runner said as he stood over him. The zony visibly shrunk under his gaze as he looked up at the towering pony whose head was just barely an inch from the ceiling.
“Yes sir” The zony said as he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes as he took a minute to regain his senses.
While his companion sat down to take a breather Motor Runner turned to the hovering sprite-bot at head level with him.
“CD was it?” He asked the robot. The near eye looking machine beeped in a single confirmation tone.
Motor Runner nodded. “Can your sensors detect other threats on this floor since we don’t have Appletart’s EFS?”
CD began to slowly turn as he scanned the entire floor with his sensors for more threats. After going back and forth a few times he turned back to Motor Runner and beeped three times in and a deep tone and leaving a pause between each beep to let him know he had detected three hostile targets on the floor.
“Thank you”
CD released a high pitched beep which could have sounded appreciative.
Motor Runner turned to face Zyon and opened his mouth to speak when CD began to blare out rock music. Motor Runner turned around in shock surprise at the sudden blast of noise coming from the little robot but before he could ask what was happening another sentry drone rolled out from around the far corner. Moving quickly the reaper gripped Zyon with both fore hooves and pulled him into cover behind the corner wall that they had stopped at and used his well groomed long tail to pull the sprite-bot in.
“That one is armed with a standard five millimetre gattling gun and a missile launcher but it seems the launcher is non-functional” Appletart said through CD’s speakers.
“I ain’t going to jump onto the back of that one, you can fuck that” Zyon said standing back up now feeling much better. “What are you doing?” He asked Motor Runner as he turned to face the large earth pony only to see him taking off his suit with practiced delicacy.
“Not going to risk my suit being ruined while I take care of this” He said now standing without his suit. Zyon cringed as he saw the horrific join between his cybernetic leg and the remains of his organic. That timber wolf really did a number on his leg. It reminded both the zony and Appletart of the old Terminator flicks from their stable’s video entertainment archives.
“Whoa wait…”
“Do not worry about me Zyon, my skin can take the bullets” Motor Runner said as he stepped out into view of the drone.
Motor Runner began to walk towards the robot, taking long confident strides.
“He’s mad” Zyon remarked as he peered out from the corner with CD sat on his head so he could let Appletart see.
The drone sighted up the large earth pony and began to open fire. The corridor was filled with the sound of rapid fire and the sound the metal colliding with metal and raining down to the rubble strewn floor. Zyon watched in amazement as he could see the squashed bullets falling from Motor Runner as he closed the gap between them.
“He truly is bulletproof”
The gattling gunfire stopped as the drone ran dry. It started to move backwards as its programming demanded it return to its recharging station for recharging and resupplying. With a flick of his shoulder the chainsaw was extended in the blink of an eye and revved up. Motor Runner swung his leg in two quick but precise swings. There was barely a sound made as the cutting teeth of the chainsaw sliced cleanly through his target. When the robot stopped from the damage it took Zyon watched as the robot broke up into three pieces.
“I hate to admit this but that was cool” Zyon said as the large pony began to put his suit back on.
“I may be bullet proof to a degree, but like wearing combat armour, taking a hit hurts a lot” Motor Runner replied as he finished putting his suit on with an edge of discomfort in his voice.
The two ponies and robot continued to explore the second floor and thanks to CD’s warning system, blasting out rock music, when a threat was close they were able to dispatch the last two robots which were thankfully just ponytrons.
“Apple, looks like we’ve found a security station” Zyon said as he looked up to the ceiling where a sign hung from some rusty chains with the word “Security” on it.
“Perhaps we can find some gifts for the Applejack Rangers in there; they are still Steel Rangers afterall”
“Hah yeah, a present is always a good way to get one someone’s good side”
He pushed open the door and immediately dove back as gun fire filled the doorway he was just standing in.
“I thought you said there were only the three robots CD” Zyon cried in fright from almost getting shot.
The little bot fell to one side slightly as it gave a deep apologetic beep.
Getting his breathing under control Zyon poked his head out from the door frame and looked into the security office. He could see a few desks with a couple of blown terminals on them and one wall was filled with rusty old filling cabinets but set into the wall behind the ceiling mounted turrets that had fired upon him is a large vault door.
“We got Stable-Tec security turrets on the ceiling, umm, they look like mark fives” Zyon said as he examined the defences.
“I can take care of those” Motor Runner said as he was about to undress from his suit again.
“Hey hang on, can’t let you have all the fun. I got this”
Motor Runner raised and eyebrow inquiringly.
“The Mark V security turret has an exposed targeting sensor mounted below the weapon. I take out the sensor on one of the turrets. It goes into a frenzy and starts to fire everywhere. The other turret will see the one in a frenzy as a threat and will most likely take each other out” He then sighed. “Though it would be much simpler to deactivate them if the terminal wasn’t on the wall behind them”
Motor Runner sat down as he patiently waited. Zyon flipped open the pouch of his satchel and began to rummage through what he had. He couldn’t remember if he still had the revolver that Appletart had let him have earlier in their travels. He was intending to use it to shoot out the sensor. As he rummaged he came across a familiar apple shaped object.
“Oh, this’ll work” He said as he pulled out a frag grenade.
“Let’s just hope you don’t bring the roof down”
Zyon rolled his eyes as he held the apple shaped explosive in his hooves and yanked the pin out of the stem with his teeth. He quickly then chucked the grenade into the room. He had quickly aimed his throw so the grenade would bounce off the ceiling and land hopefully on the deck below the turrets. As luck would have it the grenade bounced off the ceiling, landed on the desk and rolled before falling off and into something metal. Zyon presumed it had landed in a rubbish bin. The wait for the grenade to detonate was agonisingly slow and Zyon for a moment thought the frag-grenade was a dud until there was an explosion in the security office. The explosion was followed by two smaller detonations and the splintering of wood as the desk the grenade rolled off was blown apart.
The two ponies and robot waited for a couple of minutes to allow the dust and smoke to settle and clear before Motor Runner looked around the edge of the fractured doorframe.
“Good throw Zyon both turrets are out of commission”
“Yeah, good throw” Appletart’s voice crackled from CD’s speaker.
Zyon smiled with pride as he and Motor Runner stepped into the now totalled office. The two turrets had both gone up and the only undamaged thing in the room now was the giant vault door set into the back wall.
“Oh crabapples” Zyon groaned as he saw the terminal next to the door had been destroyed too. “Well, I guess we can’t see what’s inside it now”
Motor Runner wore a smug grin for a moment as he stepped forward. “Not unless you have a can opener”
“You can cut through that?”
“Hmm, it’s a second generation, high security, magically sealed Lockheart Utilities vault safe” Motor Runner said as he stood before the large door and deployed his chainsaw.
“I take you encountered one of these before”
“In fifty years you get to see a lot of the old world and the things left behind” He replied as he revved his chainsaw and pushed it into the door. The teeth easily cut through the metal but they continued to sink into it until his hoof pressed into the door. “Hmm, this door is thicker than I anticipated”
“So what, you can’t get through?”
“I can, but just not with my leg in its current setting”
“Current setting?” Zyon repeated as he watched the larger pony.
Motor Runner stepped back, leaving a clear deep hole in the door from his first attempt. He looked down at his leg as he gave it a slight twitch. The twitch was followed by a series of clicks and pops as the two leg halves that concealed the chainsaw pushed out more to the sides and then started to rotate. The halves did a full one hundred and eighty degrees and closed around his upper leg to leave the chainsaw completely exposed. The chainsaw sat in a thin but sturdy frame with wheels and cogs to keep it inline and so it would move smoothly. The frame was arranged in a way that it could extend or compress which allowed it to hide inside his leg and come out at will.
“Alright, let’s try this again” He said as he pushed the saw back into the hole he had started. The saw cut deeper and deeper until he could feel the teeth cutting through the other side. He then began to slowly cut through the thick reinforced steel door.
“Can’t you move any faster?” Zyon impatiently said sitting down where one of the desks had been.
“If I cut any faster I run the risk of damaging the chainsaw and having it jam or burn out. With it completely exposed it’s a lot more fragile with its lighter frame”
“Oh”
Motor Runner carefully cut through the door until he had managed to cut a hole that would be big enough for himself to pass through which would also be more than enough for the zony. He stood back and retracted his chainsaw which was glowing red hot as it was sealed back inside his leg.
“Stand back” He commanded as he stood on his hind legs and stood with his fore hooves on the cut door. There was a metallic clunk as his cybernetic hoof appeared to have a strong magnet and then with a heavy grunt Motor Runner started to pull. Zyon put his hooves onto his ears to block out the sound of the teeth grating metallic grinding as the larger cyberpony pulled with all his strength. Appletart marvelled at his strength as she watched him through CD heave the three foot thick, possible two tonnes, steel door piece from the hole he had cut.
Once Motor Runner deposited the cut door piece the two ponies entered the vault. CD followed but as he came to the hole his wings clipped the edge of the hole in the door and he fell to the floor with a thud.
“Are you alright CD?” Zyon asked as he turned around to see the small bot on the floor.
The sprite-bot beeped and fluttered his wings again to get back into the air.
“Alright, I guess you just have to wait here for now”
The vault was full of weapons, many of which were untested prototypes and one of these caught Zyon’s eye.
“Appletart, you’re gonna love this” He said as he carefully picked up the large scoped weapon.
He walked on his hind legs as he carried the weapon to the open door so CD could see it.
“That’s…that’s Blueberry’s Railgun Rifle prototype” She almost cried out in excited glee.
The weapon looked like a Gauss Rifle but the rings surrounded the long gun barrel had a faint blue glow coming from them and the end of the barrel was tipped with a focusing lens.
“Can you bring that back with you please?”
“Sure, there are also some other prototypes in here, half of them look like plasma weapons”
The two ponies gathered up the prototypes and a few of the stored projectile weapons akin to security. Motor Runner found a large carrying case in a locker and put the gathered weapons into it and then heaved it onto his back. Before leaving he put the cut out of the vault door back to make sure no one else could get the weapons that had been left behind.
XXXXX
Sky Fire was now fast asleep and snoring badly. The sound was like a windigo on a harsh winter’s evening. It was like one of the scariest sounds I’ve ever heard. It was so bad that I decided to sit outside the chariot to wait for my three friends.
The door to the reception opened and they emerged. I smile happy to see them as they began to trot towards me. CD was perched on Zyon’s back while Motor Runner carried a large sack with several gun barrels sticking out the end.
“Did you find some food and medicine?” I asked as Zyon sat down before me just as CD took to the air again before settling down on my head.
“Yeah we found plenty of preserved food and some medical supplies”
Motor Runner opened the boot of the chariot and began to put the weapons that had been gathered inside. He left one weapon out which was my ancestor’s prototype.
“Present for you” Zyon said as he then put the weapon beside me.
“Oh wow” I said as I took the weapon in my magic and began to examine it with a crucial eye.
“How’s Sky?” Zyon asked.
“Oh she’s fine, she’s sleeping like a rock” I said as I nodded to the chariot’s door. “I wouldn’t go in there if I was you, there’s a reason I’m out here”
“Huh?”
“Let’s just say, when you sleep together, you better be a heavy sleeper or have some heavy duty earplugs”
He wore a confused look as he then opened the door. He immediately closed the door again and back peddled away a few steps as he got the full blast of her monstrous snoring.
“Holy Celestia” He cried in shock. I just burst out laughing at his reaction.
I noticed Motor Runner sitting nearby and he had an amused smile on his face as he watched Zyon.
After calming down I raised the prototype Railgun and peered down the scope and noticed something in the distance coming towards us in the dark. I narrowed my eye as I watched it as it begun to run and it was heading for Zyon.
“Zyon watch out” I cried as the beast jumped for him.
Zyon quickly looked behind him and saw the beast and he rolled forward to avoid it. The little monster landed into the light of the chariot to reveal itself as being a familiar looking monkey dog looking thing.
“Oh no not these things again” Zyon whined as he pulled out his sword.
“How did that get out of New Hope?” Motor Runner asked as he stood up.
“I thought you sealed the entrance with that bomb you made” I said putting down the rifle and bringing out my lever-action shotgun.
“I did” He replied as he turned to face the little monster. "They must have found another way out"
The little monster looked up at us and opened its mouth full of razor sharp teeth and let loose a horrific high pitched roar. I used this moment to jump into SATS and toggled up three shots to the creatures head. As I came out of the spell and time returned to normal I let lose three shots in quick succession and the final shot was enough to tear away its face with the buckshot.
“That was a Wretch wasn’t it?” Motor Runner asked as he stepped up beside us.
I nodded in confirmation.
“Then that means there are more of them nearby” He said slowly looking around. “They hunt in packs”
“My EFS is clear, wait, oh no, I didn’t notice that one until I saw it”
“Stay alert”
Everything went deadly quiet as we all scanned the lines of dark trees and bushes facing us where I saw the first wretch. After a couple of minutes of looking we saw them, lots of them, all scurrying around as they weaved around getting closer.
“Here they come”
Zyon pulled out his sword and Motor Runner deployed his chainsaw as the little buggers got closers. I used my magic to reload the shotgun and began to fire. I heard some yelp in pain as I fired and this caused more of them to scatter a bit more.
“Those little shits are fast” I groaned trying to keep my aim on one as it ran from one side to the other.
Those that got close and through my gun fire got sliced up by either Zyon’s gleaming sword or Motor Runner’s deadly saw. The way he used his saw with such grace plus so he didn’t get any blood on his suit was something to admire.
Between us we managed to kill at least eight of them. I hate the fact that these things were invisible to my EFS. One of these could get the jump on us if we aren’t careful. I heard a gargling growl combing from behind me. I turned and looked up in time to see one of the little fucks jump from the top of the chariot down at me.
“Ah, shit” I cried as I turned around and fell on my back as the little monster drew close. The creature landed on my armoured chest and just before the monster could bite my face off I shoved the shotgun into it open mouth with my magic. My EFS told me I had just one shot left before I needed to reload but that was fine by me, just one shot was all I needed it. I pulled the trigger and closed my eyes. The shot was muffled by being inside the creature’s mouth but I felt the hot wet speckles of its blood splash onto my face. I blinked and opened my eyes to see the creature with a gaping hole in the back of its throat.
“Eat that you fucking pilock” I growled as it fell off me.
“Are you alright” Motor Runner asked as he held out his hoof to me.
I smiled and nodded as I took his hoof and he helped me up.
“Thank you” I thanked him with a little blush creeping onto my face.
“Your welcome”
We waited for several minutes while scanning the area for any more of them but it seemed to be clear now. Once we were satisfied that no more of those little fucks were out here we all headed back inside the chariot and locked the door.
Thankfully Sky Fire had stopped snoring as she had rolled over but since she hadn’t woke up through the commotion outside it brought a question to mind and that we didn't hear her from outside.
“Is this chariot sound proofed?”
“It is, but for what reason, only Rarity would know” Motor Runner replied as he sat on the rear seat.
Zyon climbed onto the seat and snuggled up with Sky Fire and gently nuzzled her as she slept. He smiled as he rested against. It was a heart warming sight.
I climbed onto the seat next to Motor Runner. He had lain down as I got onto the seat. It was a wonder that the seat was large enough to take him being as big as he is. I suppose Rarity had the chariot made to house Celestia if she was to travel with Rarity or something. I mentally kicked myself as I was still in my armour. I got off the seat and disengaged the armour locks to let me out. Once out I got back onto the seat.
“You can sleep with me if you’d like” Motor Runner said softly.
I blushed brightly. “Thank you” I said with a smile as I gently crawled up to him and lay down against his side.
He smiled softly as he put his head down on his fore hooves. “Good night”
“Good night” I replied as I laid my own head down on the seat while gently rubbing my belly as my foal started to wiggle about. Strangely enough the movement in my belly helped me off to sleep.
XXXXX
Sky Fire was feeling a lot better in the morning after her good night’s sleep. We decided not to tell her about the wretch attack as we didn’t want her to feel bad or anything for sleeping through it. After we had all woken up, me with a fiery blush as I woke up to find my head nestled on Motor Runner’s side. He had awoken before me but didn’t move as he didn’t want to disturb me, we had some breakfast thanks to the food he and Zyon found and after that we took to the air again heading for Trottingham.
We had flown for at least four hours by the time the ruins of the old town came into view. During the time in the air I felt uncomfortable in the stomach area and my baby was wiggling more than before but it didn’t feel like the kicking it usually did but I didn’t think much of it.
Motor Runner looked out the window as I got back into my armour.
“There it is, Trottingham”
Sky Fire must have heard him as she began to descend. It wasn’t long before we had landed on the ruined street. The late morning light from the sun behind the clouds cast the ruined town into a dull light making it seem much worse than it already is.
“Well, where is stable twenty four?” Zyon asked as he helped his marefriend out of the reins.
“I don’t have a marker to lead us since I haven’t been here before. The Pondale Rangers didn’t have twenty four listed on their system”
“Don’t worry, follow me” Motor Runner said as he hefted the weapons he and Zyon had found, minus the Railgun Rifle, onto his back and began down a road towards a bus stop.
I began to see white markers as we drew near the bus stop and saw an open ponyhole in the middle of the road with the ponyhole cover off to the side of it. On the cover it had the number twenty four on it. After seeing this, my EFS alerted me to finding stable twenty four.
“We’re here”
At that moment two power armoured ponies climbed out of the hole in the ground. Their armour had been modified from standard Steel Ranger armour. Only modification being the change in colour scheme as these now had red markings and Applejack’s cuitemark on their flanks.
“Who goes there?” One of the Applejack Rangers asked in a deep feminine voice as she pointed her gattling gun battlesaddle at each of us as she looked between us.
I stepped forward and found both rangers aiming their guns at me.
“I am Paladin Longshot of the deceased Pondale Ranger Chapter”
“Paladin Longshot… wait, you’re the deserter” The female said as she looked me over.
“You do realise you had been marked for death for deserting” She added.
“I had but I figured it wouldn’t matter here since you are all deserters too. Defecting to something else and all”
“Why are you here?”
“I’d like to see the elder; we have a major problem I need to discuss with him or her as it’ll soon be everyponies problem soon enough”
The ranger tilted her head and I could only assume she wore a sceptical look behind her helmet. “Like what?”
“A giant robot with the power to destroy anything and everything”
“She tells the truth” Motor Runner said stepping forward.
The other ranger who had been quiet had his head tilted as if he was listening to something and then quickly looked to his companion. “Enclave radio broadcasts near Buckingham are talking about a Raptor being shot down by something they are describing as a Giant Steel Ranger”
“That is exactly the thing we are here to talk to you about” I said.
The mare nodded and tilted her head and started to talk quietly. She must be talking to someone over a broadcaster. She nodded a couple of times before looking back up to us.
“Alright, follow me” She said as she and her friend descended into the hole.
The climb down into the underground sewer, which is what I was expecting, opened up into a clean but short tunnel that ended with a stable door which was wide open. We began to follow our escort through the door. As I began to move my stomach became incredibly even more uncomfortable, as if my armour was squeezing the life out of me. I then felt a sudden rush of liquid running down my legs and that meant that I either pissed myself or...
“MY WATER BROKE” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Applejack lay on her bed in her quarters. It had been many months since the end of the world forced the survivors into the underground complexes called Stables built by Stable-Tec. She lay with a small bundle curled up against her belly, her foal. Applejack softly lent over to her end table as not to disturb her child and used her natural earth pony magic to grip the table drawer knob and pulled it open. Inside she reached in and pulled out an old weathered journal and opened it to the latest page. Using her natural magic to grip a pen she began to write.
“It has been nearly a year now since we had to leave our world behind, to live down here, underground, without the sun. Ah have already babbled how much being in the same place for so long has made me feel so Ah won’t bother anymore, quite frankly I’m starting to get used to it now”
There was a pause in her writing as she looked down at her little foal.
“At least mah child won’t know any different. She’ll be able to handle it as she grows up.
Lately Ah’m finding mah thoughts turning to mah unfinished work. The things that might or could have made a difference in the war. The one that always ends up in mah head is the biggest project Ah’ve ever tried and also the most critical.
K-01 ACM KROGOTH…
Ah don’t know why Ah keep thinking of that darn machine. Ah guess it’s because of why Ah wanted to build it. For mah friends, mah family, Princess Celestia and Equestria. Well, that’s the reason Ah was going to tell everypony at the press conference Ah was going to schedule when Ah got back from Canterlot.
Ah guess Ah shouldn’t have been surprised that Celestia told me she knew about the Krogoth when I was in Canterlot. She told me she had a select few ponies who worked inside the ministries to keep her informed and Ah also wouldn’t be surprised if Twi told her. Ah can’t expect her to keep something like that from Celestia after all. She had told me the ponies of Equestria needed hope and she felt that the Krogoth could give them that hope if Ah went public. Ah could understand that, the war had taken a dark turn and the threat of balefire bombardment became almost certain. If ah told the ponies of Equestria Ah was building a weapon of war that could take a hit from such a bomb and survive as well as wipe out entire battle groups out without so much as taking a hit then it would help raise moral”
Applejack froze and shuddered.
“Yes, telling ponies would have helped to raise they’re spirits and at the stage we were at Luna wouldn’t be able to stop it and the Zebras wouldn’t be able to formulate an effective counter in time. But thinking of the reactions I would get from mah friends.
Rainbow Dash would likely say it was freaking awesome.
Rarity would likely complain about its colour as it would have been military green.
Twilight would be begging to know how her Crusader was coping under its combat programming.
Fluttershy would be terrified of it, bless her.
And Pinkie Pie… Ah don’t rightly know. She’s a weird one but after seeing how bad she was during that party when Twilight yelled at her about her addiction. Ah just don’t know how she would have reacted, she got pretty bad during the war, she wasn’t her happy cheerful self. She was down right scary when her hair was all straight and limp”
Applejack shook her head at the horrible memories of how her friend deteriorated.
“Ah know Luna would have thrown a fit since Ah kept it a secret from her for years but gosh darn it she was out of the loop in a lot of things. Ah bet that sneaky bastard Golden Blood kept vital things from her. Ok, that’s enough of that garbage.
No, Ah will admit this here and now. Ah didn’t build Krogoth for Equestria, for Luna or Celestia. Ah built it for me and mah friends.
Ah was loosing everything. By the time Ah began to build it, all Ah had left was mah friends. Ah know I still had Applebloom but she was so caught up with the company she and her friends built up that she seemed to drift away and Ah also had Apple Snack but after what he did to Zecora, things were just never the same, even though Ah still loved him. Ah couldn’t handle loosing anypony else. Ah didn’t want to die alone and Ah didn’t want to loose mah friends more than anything in the world.
The Krogoth came to me on a train ride to visit Granny Smith’s grave. A little colt was reading a comic that showed a giant robot from space. The image of a giant pony shaped robot stayed in mah head all throughout the train ride and the more Ah had that image in mah head the more Ah started to think on it as a serious idea. By the time the train arrived in Ponyville Ah had a solid design in mah head. Once Ah visited Granny’s grave Ah told Rarity of the design Ah’d like her to make. Eeyup, that fussy mare designed Krogoth’s appearance. But she thought it was for a new model of power armour.
Ah did everything Ah could to ensure the secrecy of the project. Ah recruited convicts from prisons as they could be kept on site at all times without anypony missing them. Ah recruited experts in various fields to ensure the machine had the best chance of success. Ah had its facility built in Crescent Moon Canyon near the site of the Pink Cloud disaster that occurred at Luna’s School for Gifted Unicorns. No pony with half a brain would dare come near there if they came snooping. Ah made sure it was kept off the records at all cost. Ah had its parts ordered from dummy companies to avoid suspicion and when it came for the specialised parts they were labelled from the different companies as experimental test items which would later be put down as failures and discontinued when they were in fact successes. Some of the companies that supplied these special items included Flash Industries and Robronco along with Horse Industries.
The Krogoth had been my most ambitious project and took three years to get it to near completion. Ah have only one complaint about that though. It would have been finished by now if it wasn’t for all the accidents that happened during its construction. If those never happened and if we didn’t loose Short Circuit the Krogoth would have been finished four months ago.
While on the train back to Ponyville Ah remembered the argument Ah had with Blueberry. Ah maybe a stubborn mare but Ah had to admit she was right. With its mission stating “ALL” rather than “All Enemies” the machine had the power to choose who was a threat or not and that meant really none of us would have been safe from it. Ah was going to go back to the Hangar after Ah got back to reprogram its mission but before Ah could do that the alert came through my broadcaster that all ponies must make their way to their respective stables immediately.
Ah now find mahself wondering what would become of the Krogoth? She has been left standing in the middle of a giant facility to rot. Ah just called it a she… Ah don’t know why but Ah’ve been calling it that more and more lately. Ah guess it’s because of how much Ah cared for it then when Ah knew it could have helped us. Ah hope that one day somepony finds it and finishes it, if there are any ponies out there to find it that is”
There was a knock at the door which was followed by a beautiful silky voice.
“Applejack, I’m sorry to bother you on your day off but one of the apple bucking team members for today has hurt his leg. Would you fill in for him today please?”
“Sure thing Sweetie Belle just let me put mah foal to bed”
“Thank you, you’re a life saver”
XXXXX
Four Days after the Krogoth’s Awakening.
The Krogoth had discovered a town that had been built around an old Equestrian Weather Station after its confrontation with the Enclave Raptor. To avoid suspicion the Krogoth’s Light Bee flew up and over the town and came down on top of the weather station where it then formed its hologram of Short Circuit when out of view of anypony.
The weather station had terminals that controlled the doors which had been locked. Even though the hologram couldn’t physically touch anything it could however interface with terminals by touching them. Using Short Circuit’s experiences and knowledge the hologram was able to hack and open the doors into the facility with ease.
Inside the hologram used the terminals again to shut and lock the doors; it didn’t want to be disturbed. The hologram found a still working terminal on a desk against the back wall. Using its method of accessing a terminal by touching it the Krogoth was able to discover that the makeshift town surrounding the weather station was called “Flank Market” and was a town of slavers who sold and bought slaves and also took the healthiest of the fillies form slave families to be turned into whores for the pleasure of the slavers and their clients. This was something the Krogoth couldn’t stand for and had marked the town for destruction. As it continued to review the data on the terminal it discovered an encrypted entry and again with Short Circuit’s abilities it was able to crack the encryption and unlock the file which told it that the weather station was actually a secret Equestrian Military Listening Post.
After the hologram had accessed the encrypted file another terminal activated. The Krogoth moved over to access the new terminal which only had one option on it. The terminal opened a secret hatch that allowed access to the listening post.
Descending into the lower level the Krogoth accessed the listening posts communication array. The machine was thankful that the old systems were still functional. As it powered up the old systems the Krogoth checked all the pre-programmed frequencies for any that still worked. It found that at least half of them were still working but were being used by ponies that were not authorised to use them and the ones that didn’t worked either were either non-existent or locked down. The array was also picking up unknown frequencies which the Krogoth tuned into to monitor the transmission.
For four days the machine monitored transmissions from multiple sources including Steel Rangers, Applejack Rangers and the Enclave. The Krogoth learned more about what it was going to be facing out there in the wasteland. It listened intently to some Enclave engineers for a while as they had examined the wreckage of Raptor Atlas and learned more about the structure of the warship. It learned a great deal about the Enclave’s technological advantages and their weaponry which was something the Krogoth was slightly familiar with from its previous battle. It learned that there were five major factions that operated in the wasteland now. Steel Rangers, the splinter faction of the Rangers the Applejack Rangers, the Slaver forces of Red Eye, the Goddess’s Alicorns which seemed to be less of a danger now since their lead figure had been destroyed but because of how numerous and now how unpredictable they have become they were still a danger and finally the Grand Pegasus Enclave.
In that time the Krogoth was in the listening post it learned that a battle between all five major factions exploded. It seemed the battles were more against one faction, Red Eye. The alicorns were mixed; some had been reported to be working for Red Eye while others fought against his forces. Red Eye was being attacked from multiple enemies at two locations. It seemed Applejack and Steel Rangers confronted his forces outside Fillydelphia. The Enclave battled him in the middle of the Everfree Forest and the Krogoth got a shock when it received reports of a giant cybernetically augmented dragon was involved. There was a third battle which seemed to be against the Enclave and some unknown forces but again the Krogoth was shocked to hear that a huge purple and green dragon was with the attacking ponies. The Enclave chatter was talking about the attacking ponies trying to gain access to the sealed Single Pegasus Project Central Tower. On the fourth day of the Krogoth’s information gathering the battles the Krogoth was listen to the chatter on had ended. The forces of Red Eye had been decimated in both locations. The Enclave had a Thunderhead in the airspace above Everfree and his Citadel had been completely destroyed by the ship’s firepower and his forces in Fillydelphia had been wiped out by a super weapon called Celestia One. The Krogoth was aware of this magical weapon of focusing the sun’s solar energy into a destructive beam to scorch a larger area. All factions had suffered significant looses at the end of it. The two Ranger factions were the better off but the Steel Rangers were in more disarray than before. The Enclave was defeated but still there but like the Steel Rangers they were in disarray and were splintering with pegasus ponies going down to the surface. This went into the Krogoth’s favour as with the main forces decimated the machine was now uncontested.
After the four days it spent in Flank Market the hologram looked around the town. It wasn’t very large, maybe thirty to forty small makeshift houses surrounding the weather station. Around the back of the station there were some enclosures for the slaves made from chain link fences. The Krogoth counted up to thirty slaves including the foals which counted up to about eight. The hologram noted that the enclosures were several feet from the buildings and there were ridged sheets of old metal roofing sheets lining most of the enclosures which would provide some cover for the slaves. The Krogoth had already determined the town had to be destroyed and the slavers also needed to be eliminated but the slaves didn’t pose a threat and needed to be rescued. After one last look around the town from the top of the weather station the hologram dissolved back into the light bee and floated back up into the air and returned to the Krogoth.
XXXXX
“Red Eye’s forces have been beaten; business is going to take a bit of a dip without his slave trade”
“That’s just bloody marvellous, if we had it bad before we have it bad now with the shit merchandise we have right now”
“We are going to need to find more buyers and suppliers now, fucking brilliant”
“Hey bitch, another beer over here”
A young mare whimpered as she pulled a beer bottle out of a fridge from behind the bar and popped the cap. She began to levitate the beer on a platter as she brought it over to her master and stood close by while she waited for further commands.
The slaver too a swig and put the bottle down on the table before swearing at the slave for bringing him a warm beer but before he could physically abuse his slave the bottle hopped off the table and fell into his lap and spilled its contents all over his crotch.
“What the fuck?” He then stared daggers at the slave as she was a unicorn she was the prime suspect for the incident. “You fucking bitch, you’ll pay for that”
Just as he got up the whole room seemed to shudder and the table bounces with everything on it clattering to the floor.
“What the hell was that?”
“You got me”
There was another stronger shudder which was followed by the hanging light to fall from its perch.
“Outside now, and you, you fucking whore, back to your pen”
The mare didn’t waste a second as she was gone as soon as she was told to leave. The two slavers walked out of the bar and into the streets of the town. The slavers looked around to see most of the town was out in the streets in the middle of Luna’s night.
“Ok, what’s going on?”
There were shudders running through the town at regular intervals and getting stronger. A weakly made slaver house collapsed somewhere in the town as the strong vibrations shook it to pieces. As the slavers readied their weapons while looking around for any possible attackers a series of blue lights began to appear in the distance.
“Just what the fuck is that?”
The clouds parted and Luna’s Moon shown her bright white moon light down upon the area and illuminated the giant robot approaching the town.
“Holy fucking shit!!!” Several of the slavers screamed at the sight of the giant machine approaching the town. “Look at the guns on that thing”
The moon light had revealed to the slavers the array of weapons that the machine possessed and it was more than enough to make some of the more cowardly slavers to turn and bolt out of town. As the giant machine came within a hundred feet of the town, all hell broke loose.
The large gattling gun under the chin began to fire. A steady stream of bullets began to tear threw the buildings. Slavers who thought they were safe inside their homes soon found out how wrong they were as they found themselves cut in half or plastered all over the walls as the fifty calibre rounds punched through the steel sheeting leaving enormous gaping holes. The force of the bullets tearing through some of the buildings was enough to rip them apart.
Slavers began to run from cover to cover as they fruitlessly tried to fight back. Popping up from behind old sheets of metal and the remains of their homes to fire off pot shots at the machine as it began to walk through the town, further destroying it as it stood and crushed their homes.
A group of slavers got behind the machine and began firing at its rump. The bullets harmlessly pinged off its armoured hide. The Krogoth was alerted to being attacked from behind and since its disc grenade launcher couldn’t hit them while being too close, the Krogoth used its tail as a weapon. The segmented tail swung to once side and then came crashing back down at great speed and swatted the group. It was like getting hit head on by a freight train and the force of the impact tore the slavers apart while also demolishing more of the make shift buildings.
As the machine tore its way through the town it turned its disc grenade launcher to aim behind it. Its scanners were picking up hostile contacts behind it as it moved through the town. Aiming the weapon in the general direction of the targets the turret began to fire off bursts of four grenades behind it.
Two slavers believed they were safe as the machine had passed their home. One of the slavers had the front door open a crack so he could see the commotion outside.
“It’s pretty hopeless out there with that thing”
“No shit”
There was a sudden clattering on the roof.
“The hell was that?”
Suddenly a strange disc like object fell through a hole in the roof a landed in the middle of the house.
“What the hell is this?” The slaver who was inside the house asked as she used her unicorn magic to levitate the odd looking device as it made a single low tone beep.
The slaver by the door looked back at his companion. “I have no i….” He never got the finish his sentence as the object exploded and caused the house to collapse upon itself.
Slavers began to see the hopelessness of their situation and began to flee while the machine was occupied in destroying the town. They’d rather take their chances out in the wasteland in the dead of night and the roaming monsters rather than to stay and die at the hooves of the giant machine.
The slaves locked in their enclosures huddled together up against the walls of the weather station apart from the foals that were locked in a separate enclosure. The braver of the mothers or fathers of these foals stayed as close to them as they could while trying to keep their heads down as bullets and explosives were tearing the town apart around them.
There was an almighty crash as the machine used its tail like a wrecking ball and demolished a house, sending bits and bobs flying over the enclosures.
“Holy shit, what the hell is that?”
“It looks like a Steel Ranger”
“Do you think its here to save us?”
The slaves had a glimmer of hope that it was there to save them as it was destroying the town and the slavers but was ignoring them.
“That thing nearly got me killed” A young mare slave said as she huddled with the group. She was the slave who was working in the bar when the machine arrived.
The attack lasted for about half an hour before much of the town had been destroyed and most of the slavers had either fled or were dead. There was still some hiding but it was now more or less safe enough for the slaves to make an escape. The Krogoth turned to face the enclosures and stood on a corner face that broke the chain link off the posts and squashed the section down into the floor. Where the Krogoth had squashed the fence it opened up the foal enclosure and the main slave enclosure which allowed the slaves to gather their foals.
The Krogoth looked down as the slaves scooped up their foals and hugged them happily. It noticed that the eldest of the slaves was staring up at it.
The machine tilted its head down to look at the older pony with both eyes before it spoke. “Leave”
The elder nodded and ushered for the rest to follow, heading out and away from the town. The Krogoth turned slightly as it watched the freed slaves leave. Suddenly it was alerted to a missile launch and as the machine turned to look in the direction of the alert a missile collided with its head.
“Hah, eat that bitch” A slaver yelled as he sat on the roof of a house with a missile launcher resting on his shoulder. His eyes widened in shock as he saw that his missile just left a dirty black smudge against the machine’s cheek. “Ah fuck” He whined as he dived down abandoning the launcher and began to run through the ruins of the town.
The machine stomped its hooves as it kicked and trodden on the remains of the enclosures and buildings as it went in pursuit of its attacker. The slaver used the weather station as cover so he could get around to an intact building and quickly dove through the door and slammed it shut behind him. The Krogoth had lost sight of its target as it ran behind the weather station but it knew where he was as the machine’s EFS was showing a red marker inside an intact building now in front of it.
“Shit, what I gonna do now?” The Slaver panted as he looked around the building. He had dove into the town’s armoury ,or what could be classed as one, which had survived the initial attack. “Ohh that might work” The slaver said as he found the most powerful weapon the slavers had scavenged. A Fatpony. A specialised launcher that fired small balefire eggs which were essentially mini-balefire bombs. He quickly loaded an egg into the launcher before hauling it onto his shoulder and kicking the door open with the weapon ready.
The Krogoth saw the door fly open and looked down to see its target and also noticed the weapon he was carrying.
“Warning, Balefire Egg detected”
Before the Krogoth could react to the danger the slaver launched the weapon. He didn’t have the physical strength to hold the weapon properly through its launch and the egg was arcing lower than he had wanted and slightly off to the right. The egg collided with the Krogoth’s upper foreleg and detonated. The explosion was huge; the resulting fireball engulfed the front of the Krogoth and obscured the slaver’s view. As he couldn’t see the machine from the explosion he thought he won but then the flames died away leaving a now slightly burned Krogoth. At first glance the machine looked to have suffered little to no damage but the machine was getting damage reports from its foreleg’s sensors.
“Armour plates compromised. Internal system damage. Knee joint advanced movement system disabled”
The balefire egg had caused more internal damage than external and with the knee joint damaged the machine became aware of something that would require improvement for later.
“No fucking way” The slaver gaped at the machine still standing after taking the hit. “That’s impossible”
The slaver had nowhere to go now as he heard the large gattling gun under the machine’s head begin to spin. “Oh Goddesses, not like this” He cried out as the machine began to fire. The high powered rounds tore through the slaver and began striking the stocked up ammunition in the building which was followed by an equestria shattering explosion.
The fleeing slaves all stopped and turned around to see the town as a blinding flash caught their attention. They saw a tower of fire reach up into the air gaining at least a thousand feet of height which lit up the wasteland for miles around. This was followed by the eardrum splitting explosion and the shockwave.
“Oh dear goddesses” The elder said as she couldn’t see their saviour.
The group of freed slaves sat and watched as the fire spread to consume much of the town in seconds and heard some more but smaller explosions as the rest of the munitions detonated. It was several minutes after the explosion that the ground began to rumble again in the steady rhythm of heavy hoof falls and to the amazement of the freed slaves the giant robot walked through the tower of fire.
“It survived”
“That was incredible”
The slaves began to comment as they watched as the machine began to walk away from the town it had just eradicated.
The eldest slave may have been old but her eye sight was perfect and she saw the machine’s name printed on its cheek illuminated by the fire as it walked.
“Thank you Krogoth, thank you for saving us”
The Krogoth was walking at a slight limp as it began to head back towards the wreckage of the Raptor it destroyed four days ago. The ship’s armoured hull would make for the perfect material to create some knee guards for the Krogoth’s advanced knee joints to prevent further damage like it received from the balefire egg. This was one of the Krogoth’s functions, to better itself. If it gets damaged and it thinks of a way it could improve itself to prevent it from receiving the same damage again it can use its Assimilation Spell to absorb the materials it needs and form the absorbed material into what it requires.
XXXXX
Two Weeks after the rise of the Krogoth.
I find myself lying on my back on something soft and comfortable and wrapped up in clean smelling sheets. I must be in a bed. I can hear the soft hum of electronic equipment and my closed eyes were being assaulted by a soft white light. I then began to hear voices. Wait a minute; I don’t remember getting into a bed. I was suddenly gripped with fear as I shot up in bed as I didn’t know where I was or the voices I heard.
“Where the bloody hell am I?” I screamed sitting up in bed and throwing my red eyes open.
“Whoa whoa, easy there Appletart, your in Stable 24’s clinic” I heard a masculine voice say in a soothing tone to my right. I turned my head to see him and at first he was blurry but my vision soon adjusted and I was looking at a black and white striped pony. Wait, no not pony, zony. He’s Zyon, my oldest friend.
“Ugh Zyon, what, what happened to me?” I asked as I put my head in my hooves. Before he could answer I began to remember everything. I remembered arriving with my friends outside of the ponyhole cover, the two Applejack Rangers coming out of it, the conversation we had, them leading us down to the Stable entrance and then… My water broke as we entered the Stable. I then remembered extreme pain before everything went black. I guess I passed out from it, oh goddesses that was the worst pain I’ve ever felt.
“You went into labour…” Zyon began only for me to cut him off as I threw the covers up to reveal my white plump belly. It was plump, soft and squishy, not large and round with foal.
“Where is my baby?” I screamed at him as I began to hyperventilate from the sudden scare I had that I no longer had my foal in my belly and not here with me as I could see it was just me and him in the recovery room.
“Your…” He was cut off again as the door to the room opened.
“Your foal is right here Miss Appletart”
“Oh for crying out loud” Zyon grumbled as he was again unable to speak.
I looked to the mare standing in the door. She came as a shock as she is or was an Enclave pegasus. As she began to approach I was able to get a good look at her. She is a teal green mare with a fiery yellow mane and tail which had been styled in a windswept fashion. She was also wearing pegasus power armour or half of it. She seemed to be wearing a cut down version; she had hoof guards, knee guards, and a chest plate with shoulder guards and a crotch piece. There was no under suit so where the armour didn’t cover she was bare. Her unprotected wings were out stretched and raised high as if she was carrying something and was keeping it protected on her back.
“Your foal is right here miss” She stood with her side flush to the bed and then she gently dropped the wing next to the bed and as it went down I saw something wrapped in a clean white towel on her back. I used my magic to gently pick up the soft bundle and levitated it to me. As it drew close I reached out and cradled to the bundle and I found myself staring down at the most beautiful foal I’ve ever seen. My Foal.
“You gave birth to a healthy unicorn filly” The pegasus mare said with a soft smile.
I smiled with genuine happiness as I looked down at the tiny foal in my hooves wrapped up nice and snug in a white towel. She has chocolate brown fur and her tuft of a mane was a nice deep blue. She looked just like my mother. For a moment my thoughts turned to my mother but they quickly turned to happy thoughts. I thought of how proud of me she would be that I gave birth to such a beautiful little girl. That’s it! I know what to call her.
“She’s my darling Blueberry Muffin” I said out loud, giving her name.
I shuffled back in bed so my back was against the headboard and I reclined against it as I cradled my little girl.
“That’s a nice name” The pegasus said with a smile before she was suddenly tackle hugged to the floor by a rainbow blur.
I looked in shock surprise to see Sky Fire hugging the poor mare like she hasn’t seen her in a long time.
“Oh come on Sky, how many times are you going to keep doing this?” The mare asked as my clone friend squeezed her around her barrel.
“Until we have to leave, I haven’t seen you in over a year”
“Wait a minute, you know her?” I asked. The question was really to both of them.
The two mares looked up at me and at the exact same time they spoke.
“Of course I do, she’s my sister” The two sisters looked at each other, grinned and again at the same time happily yelled. “Jinx” and then began to giggle like a pair of school fillies.
I smiled again as I watched the scene and lowered Blueberry so she lay on my soft belly while I still supported her with my forelegs. I was then reminded of what I felt shortly after I woke up, my belly being soft instead of still being swollen. Come to think of it, why wasn’t I in pain. I know that after birth a mother would still be hurting for a little while but I felt fine. I felt like I’d had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years and I felt totally rested.
Zyon must have seen the confusion on my face as I also seemed to stare off into space. “Apple, are you alright?”
I blinked as I refocused. “I don’t know, I feel totally fine, I don’t feel like I expected for after the birth”
Sky Fire sat beside Zyon and the pegasus mare stepped up to the bed.
“My name is Rainstorm and I helped with the delivery of your foal two weeks ago”
My eyes went as wide as dinner plates as she said that. I was about to scream at her before I remembered I had my foal in my hooves and managed to reign in my outburst so it came out in a more normal volume. “How long ago?”
“Two weeks” She repeated.
“What the hell happened to me?”
“There was a complication during the birth, your foal was coming out in slightly the wrong position and her unicorn horn tore at your vaginal wall. You began to bleed excessively and just after we got the foal out you fell unconscious but unfortunately you also fell into a coma because of the blood loss. We managed to patch you up and I’m glad to see you made a full recovery; it was just a matter of time until you woke up. You’re lucky your foal decided that she wanted to come out when she did, if you were in the wasteland you would have likely died. Your body has had time to heal while you were asleep so that is why you feel ok” She explained.
I just stared in complete shock at the fact I could have died and that I had been asleep for two weeks. I blinked to focus again and I looked at Rainstorm. “Thank you, thank you for saving my life and my foal” I said in deep gratitude.
She smiled warmly. “It’s my pleasure, it’s my job to help those who are injured or in need” She said with a bow of her head.
I looked around and realised we were missing two members of our team.
“Hey, where are Motor Runner and CD?”
“Huh, oh, Motor Runner has been helping the scribes with documenting all the information we could give on the Krogoth since he had the most experience with it and CD, well he’s getting an upgrade” Zyon answered.
“An upgrade?”
“Yeah, he’s getting an upgrade to his weapon to allow for a quicker firing rate and to make it more usable when in close quarters” Sky Fire said as she snuggled against Zyon.
Rainstorm smiled as she sat beside the bed next to me. “Appletart, I want to thank you” She said with a happy smile.
“Thank me, for what?”
“For bringing my little sister back to me. I heard how she went MIA and after a few weeks she was declared KIA. I thought she was dead but you brought her back to me. She may be a clone of Rainbow Dash on the outside but she’s still my little sister on the inside. It was still heart breaking to know she still died but I’m happy she was reborn. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing her back and keeping her safe”
I smiled warmly at the older pegasus. “I’m not the only pony you should thank” I told her as I remembered what Motor Runner had said went we talked back at the Hangar.
“Oh, who else should I thank?” She asked.
“Motor Runner” I answered.
“Why him?” Zyon asked with a scoff.
“If it wasn’t for him opening the stable she may have still been trapped in there” I replied.
“She’s right” Sky Fire said in agreement. “If it wasn’t for him I don’t know what would have happened”
Zyon thought for a moment and then nodded his head in agreement.
“Well, I’ll be sure to thank him next time I see him”
“Am I ok to get out of bed and everything?” I asked hopeful.
“Hmm, I would recommend you stay in bed for the next twenty four hours so we can be absolutely sure your ok. After that we’ll give you a check up and if you pass we’ll let you go”
I smiled and nodded. I’ve already spent two weeks in bed; another twenty four hours wouldn’t hurt.
“Well, I must get back to my rounds, congratulations on becoming a mother and its good to see that you’re awake, take care” Rainstorm said happily as she turned and left.
“She was nice” I commented as I watched her leave, that crotch guard certainly complimented her nice flanks. Hehe, uh oh. I could feel my cheeks flushing red. Yeah, I’m bisexual, I admit it.
“Someone like my sister’s ass” Sky Fire burst out laughing which was followed by Zyon’s deeper laugh.
My face went as red as a tomato but then I started to laugh. Oh it felt good to laugh with friends.
After we calmed down I looked over to my two friends.
“What’s been going on since I’ve been out?”
My friends told me about the conflicts that erupted soon after we arrived. I was shocked and slightly ashamed that I wasn’t there to help but everything turned out ok. The Rangers may have had looses but with the battles over and everything back to being as peaceful as the wasteland can be, maybe better since Red Eye and the Enclave were out of the picture but that still left the Krogoth which had been absent from the battles.
“While we’ve been here the Krogoth had been missing for about four days”
“Wait, missing?” I asked as I levitated my daughter to the cot that was beside my bed.
“Yeah, for days there was no sign of it but that was until last week when we got alerted to an explosion nearly as powerful as a megaspell going off out west somewhere. An SPP Tower caught the machine leaving a battle scene, oh and it did shoot down a Raptor. Another SPP Tower took a photo of its crash site”
“Motor Runner had thought that the machine had been gathering information so it would be prepared for what the wasteland had to offer”
“That would make things more difficult wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, it is Equestria’s ultimate ground weapon after all. It is part of its programming to learn and improve itself to better ensure it can handle what it will have to face” Motor Runner said as he entered my recovery room. He frowned slightly as he had to duck his head down so he could get through the door as it wasn’t large enough for his tall frame.
Once he was inside he straightened himself out and then smiled as he looked at me. I couldn’t help the blush that formed as he smiled. Oh goddesses, why does he drive me mad?
“It is good to see that you’ve finally woken up Appletart, I was worried you wouldn’t wake up”
My heart fluttered as he said that. He was worried about me. Mentally I was like a school filly giggling with glee.
“You! Worried? Hah” Zyon scoffed. This only resulted in him getting a hoof up side the head by Sky Fire who threw him a dirty look. “Ahh, fuck, what was that for?” He moaned as he rubbed the back of his head.
“You need to learn to button it” Sky sneered. She then pulled his head down so she could whisper into his ear but she was still loud enough for me to hear. “She likes him that much is obvious, she doesn’t need you making wise cracks about him or making fun of him every chance you get and he’s trying to help us after all. If you have something to say, keep it to yourself”
I blushed again as I overheard what she whispered and Motor Runner sat on the opposite side of the bed to my friends. He however seemed as stoic as ever, well, that was until he looked at me and a frown appeared on his purple muzzle and for a second I thought I did something to upset him.
“I however come with some bad news” He said as he leaned down to his suit jacket’s pocket and pulled out a photograph and placed it on the bed so we could all see. I breathed a sigh of relief as it wasn’t something I did.
“What is it?” I asked leaning forward to see the photo.
“I’m afraid the Krogoth has improved its armour”
“Oh great, if it wasn’t already bad enough now it’s even worse”
“Indeed, luckily however the improvement to its armour has only been five additions. Four knee guards and a tail base guard” Motor Runner explained.
Sure enough the photograph showed the machine with those things. It was easy to notice them since we had seen the Krogoth in its basic form and also because the additions were black rather than green. Noticing that I also noticed that some parts of the Krogoth was now black too like the armour casing around the left railgun at the front.
“Why are they black and not green?” I asked.
“The Krogoth’s Assimilation Spell can only use the materials it absorbs so the new armour additions are the same colour of what it used to form them and it’s the same for the damage it has repaired”
“It must have used the wreckage of the Raptor to reform the damage it received as well as the additional armour” Zyon observed.
“You are correct Zyon” Motor Runner confirmed. “Fighting the machine is going to be difficult but not impossible. The Rangers here are aware of how dangerous this machine is and have agreed to help us fight it when the time comes. I had spoken with the current Elder about our situation”
I nodded. “That’s good. How many Rangers are there here?”
“A few dozen but there are more Applejack Rangers out there in the wasteland. There are more and more Steel Rangers defecting and turning to the Applejack Rangers now after the battle as they are torn between what they have been taught and what they believe”
“We are going to need more than that if we want to form a sizeable attack force to distract the Krogoth” I said looking over the photo more closely.
“Distract?” Zyon asked confused.
“No matter how many Rangers we have with us to fight the machine we will all fail with the weapons that thing has but we can exploit some of its weaknesses to distract it to give us the window we need to punch a hole in its armoured side” I said narrowing my eyes a bit as I focused on the ridged mid-section what allowed the machine to twist its body.
“The Ranger’s weapons would be enough to hurt the machine if focused on a specific spot. We will need a large number of them to fight with us to ensure we distract it by swarming it. It’s only one machine and can not deal with a swarm of ponies. It will have difficulty taking us on but it will eventually get the upper hoof. We will need the Rangers to put a hole in its armour so we can inside”
“Inside?”
Motor Runner continued from here as he seemed to catch on to what I was thinking.
“Yes, the machine is most vulnerable from the inside. I know the machine’s manual overrides and if we want to destroy it completely we have only one option”
“Its reactor” Zyon said in realisation.
Me and Motor Runner nodded. “If we set its reactor to overload, it will create and explosion on par with the biggest megaspell or balefire bomb ever recorded. An explosion of that magnitude from within will overwhelm the machine’s extremely armoured internal chambers and tear the machine apart. Without its reactor and most likely the crusader would be destroyed too, the machine will forever be destroyed”
“At least we know how to destroy it. It’ll just be a matter of how we go about it”
“Hmm, maybe our mutual friend Zeta might be able to help us. She is ninety five percent machine after all”
“Zyon may have a point. She’s well educated in robots and she has worked with plenty of Robronco systems in the past. She may know of something that could help us disable its scanners for a period of time or cause it problems”
I nodded in agreement. “Would you be able to take us to her?” I asked either of them.
“We can’t all go, she will get nervous if there is a group of ponies coming her way and she will lock the hospital down tight to prevent them from getting in or seeing her. If it’s only me and maybe Sky Fire or you she might not hide herself”
“I’ll be needed here” Sky Fire said as she joined in the conversation. “There are still a lot of wounded here from the battles and they need all the medically trained ponies they can use”
Zyon nodded as he was well aware of that, unlike me. I wish I could have helped.
“It would also be best if I stayed here to help monitor the Krogoth’s progress and to help teach the Rangers about it” Motor Runner said. “The more they know the better prepared they would be when the time comes”
“Well, I guess that leaves me and you… and maybe CD if he turns up”
“No, you just woke up from a coma and you have a baby to look after” Zyon said matter-of-factly.
I looked over to my sleeping foal. I frowned as he was right. No, I must keep fighting, for her. The ponies here have looked after her for the two weeks while I was unconscious. They can look after her again; keep her safe for a bit longer while I fight the Krogoth with my friends. This is no longer fighting to stop the machine for Equestria. No this is now to stop the machine for the sake of my only child. I can’t let her grow up in a dangerous world when I can do something about it. If I don’t and the Krogoth fails to be destroyed by whoever we leave in charge to stop it, we’ll be constantly looking over our shoulder in fear of it finding us and we won’t be able to settle down anywhere as we’ll also be constantly on the move to keep out of its way. No, I have to help fight it.
I shook my head at Zyon. “I’m coming with you to see Zeta, I’m not going to sit around and wait for something to happen. I can’t ensure my daughter will have a safe existence if we fail to stop the machine here and now. Here my baby will be safe and well looked after, out there she’ll likely die from all the shit that’s out there. So, no buts about it, I’m still going to help in this fight”
“She’s right and Rainstorm was the pony who looked after the foal so she can continue to look after her. I can help too since I’ll be here still”
Zyon sighed. “Alright, we’ll leave when you’re given the green light”
XXXXX
That night I couldn’t sleep. The familiar electronic hum of the stable’s electricity, the computer systems, ventilation and the peace and quiet of the stillness of the sleepy stable. I haven’t lived in a stable for seventeen years and the quiet is almost alien to me now. I wasn’t feeling any peace at all from the stillness and sleep wasn’t coming easy either. I was tossing and turning for a while before I decided to just lie back and stare at the ceiling.
CD had returned shortly before my friends left the clinic for the night. He wouldn’t leave when the others left so he settled down into a corner out of the way. I would occasionally hear a low tone beep as he seemed to, err, sleep. There is something different about him, he seems to show emotion, I noticed that with the way he hovers and beeps. There have been a number of motions and tones he used that seemed to correspond with an emotion.
“It’s good to know your still alive Appletart and getting into this sprite-bot was a pain in the ass” Watcher said as CD fluttered into the air and turned to face me.
I nearly jumped out of my skin in a fright as hearing Watcher talk to me out of the blue and in the middle of the night was the last thing I was expecting.
“Holy fucking shit. Watcher you tosser, you scared me half to fucking death” I shrieked.
My sudden outburst awoke my child and immediately she began to bawl her eyes out loudly. Instinctively I picked her up from her cot and levitated her gently to my fore hooves where I cradled her and gently rocked her.
“Shh, shh, its ok, Mummy’s sorry” I cooed gently at her as I rocked her back to sleep.
“I’m sorry for the intrusion, I noticed this sprite-bot had appeared on my system as DCS rather than the standard S-B for a sprite-bot. I am unaware of where it is as its not transmitting its position” He explained in the familiar tinny voice.
“He’s not like the other sprite-bots, he’s special” I said as I cradled my child softly. “And he belongs to me since I found him”
“You have an attachment to it? Well anyway, it is good to see that you’re alive Appletart, I lost track of you when that large object fell from the sky and I feared you had been killed. What have you been up to?”
I explained to him how my ancestor was involved with a pre-war project started by Applejack, how it was meant as an endgame weapon and how my ancestor developed its weapons. I explained how I came across this and how me and my friends began to follow what leads we could to find the Hangar to stop it. I told him that we failed to reach it in time and that it is now roaming free out there but I also assured him that we had a plan that we will soon be put into motion once we have all we need.
“And I thought things were bad before, that thing will make it worse. At least you know what you need to do. I’ll do some digging and see if I can find anything out to further aid you” Watcher said as CD began to settle back to the floor. “Why would she keep something like this from me?” I barely heard him mutter to himself under his breath but before I could question him about it he was gone. CD popped back up into the air and screeched out an alarmed beep as he regained control of himself. The noise woke up Blueberry again. Well, best get used to it now rather than later. The joys of parenthood and the sleepless nights.
“Its ok CD, he wasn’t trying to take over you, don’t worry. I won’t let him take you away from me even if he tries”
The small bot beeped softly and seemed to settle down again but he seemed to remain active, like he was scared of going offline.
I decided to keep my baby with me rather than put her back in her cot. I think she’ll feel safer and more relaxed to feel her mother’s warmth. She settled down against my pudgy belly and curled up to sleep. She was so quiet and adorable. I lay there with her curled up against me for a time watching her little chest rise and fall. It was heart warming and actually relaxing watching her sleep. It also helped put my mind at ease as all I could focus on was her.
I don’t know when I fell asleep but I did. I sometimes wonder when you actually go as you can lie in bed with your eyes closed and still be in control and then all of a sudden you’re gone and when you wake up you have no idea when you drifted off. The following however I didn’t wake up on my own accord, no, it was from an unusual sensation. I won’t go into detail but all I’m going to tell you is that it felt strangely pleasurable. I was woken up to my child feeding from my teat.
After she was full she went back to sleep and I put her back into her cot just as my friends began to arrive along with Rainstorm.
“Good morning guys… or at least I think its morning” I said pulling myself up to sit up right in bed.
“Good morning Appletart, it is morning, it’s ten AM” Rainstorm said as she approached the bed. “How do you feel?”
Hmm, how did I feel? In all honesty I feel fine and so I told her as much. I think sleeping that long did my body a world of good and I still have my head so I’m not complaining.
She nodded and smiled. “Ok, I’m going to give you a quick check up to be sure your ok and if I find nothing wrong you are free to go” She said with a smile as she began her examination.
She checked pretty much everything and I mean everything. Damn her hooves were cold when she checked my hind quarters. After a good half and hour we were done and she gave me a clean bill of health but she did ask my friends to keep an eye on me just in case. While she was here we told her of our current plans about trying to find something to help us combat the machine and she was happy enough to agree in looking after Blueberry while we were away.
XXXXX
The armoury was impressive and my mouth was watering at the sight of all the huge ass rifles lining one side in their gun racks. Oh oh yea some of these are beasts.
“Here you go Appletart” Zyon said as he showed me to a gleaming suit of power armour. “The Applejack Rangers were generous enough to let me refurbish one of their spare suits. I practically dismantled the whole thing along with your old suit and rebuilt it using some parts from your old suit”
It looked like a brand new suit with how shiny it was. He even fixed up a helmet with a hole in the top for my horn. I haven’t worn a helmet since the library incident and now I actually didn’t need it since This Machine didn’t require a pre-programmed targeting system like my old AM rifle did. Huh, I wonder how my original suit is doing locked up in my old room. The suit also had the segmented tail which was something my old suit lacked and something I actually enjoyed. My tail gets itchy inside one of those. The suit’s storage units on the flanks bore the Applejack Ranger insignia and he had painted my crosshair cutiemark onto the shoulder armour.
“Thank you Zyon, it looks fantastic, but can you remove the tail please and I won’t be needing the helmet” I said while giving him a grateful smile.
He just smiled as he fished out his toolkit from his armour’s saddlebags. “Sure no problem” He didn’t seem annoyed or hurt that I asked him to change something on the armour he put together for me. I hope I didn’t offend him though.
As my striped friend worked I found my old gear neatly stacked in a box with This Machine and its harness hung up on a rack. I couldn’t help but check my gear to make sure everything was still there, well, everything I had since I was out for two weeks. Somepony could have helped themselves to something of mine. Growing up in a stable where no one liked you and the wasteland made it hard for me to trust most people with my gear. I trust my friends as we spend nearly everyday together. Motor Runner I’m not sure of yet on that front but he doesn’t seem the type with the way he seems but I do plan on getting to know him better. Thankfully everything I had before my long nap was still there.
“Alright, tail is off” Zyon declared as he put his tools away.
“Damn that was fast” I said as I turned around to see it. Yeah, without the tail it looked a lot better for me. “Thank you, it looks perfect now” I smiled as I approached it.
“You’ll need to sync your pipbuck with the suit’s systems first before it will recognise you as its wearer” He told me as he fished out a portable extension cable so my pipbuck could be connected to the suit without me having to be in it.
“Oh come on, how long is that going to take?” I moaned as he connected my pipbuck and began the syncing process.
“Shouldn’t take long, five minutes at the most. This suit has a blank system so it doesn’t have anyone else’s data to recycle”
“Oh, well, that’s not so bad” What a relief. I really didn’t want to be standing in here for hours.
“You should have seen some of the weapon buffs when we brought your gear in to store. They were wetting themselves to examine that alien rifle of yours”
My heart skipped a beat. “You didn’t let anyone touch it did you?” I asked in a panic.
“Not since I caught one of them trying to dismantle it”
“WHAT?”
“Whoa calm down, they didn’t take it apart, but they did pull a patch off of the stock which I think you’re going to find interesting”
Now gripped with curiosity I levitated the huge rifle over to me and turned it around in my magic. Thankfully it did seem to be untouched apart from the stock like he said. On the side opposite to the engraving “This Machine kills Noddies” I had noticed was a square patch which at the time I didn’t think anything of. It was now gone and what had lain under the patch undiscovered by me since I found it is an insignia.
“Wow, this didn’t belong to them at first, it belonged to their enemy” I said as I eyed the scorpion tail insignia that sat inside a triangular hexagon. This Machine must have been taken from a Nod soldier and later used against them. The patch must have been put on it to hide where the rifle had originally come from. I decided that I was going to leave the patch off, I actually like that insignia, it looks cool.
While waiting for the sync to finish the huge vault like door opened and an earth pony mare dressed in a blue scribe robe which I recognised as an elder’s robe entered the armoury. The pony that entered must be the Applejack Rangers elder.
“Ah, good morning Longshot, good to see that you’ve recovered” She said with a warm smile. She was pretty young to be an elder. I say she wasn’t any older than me.
“Thank you ma’am” I said in a respectful tone. It was instinct, I’ve been taught to respect my superiors.
BEEP!
I looked down at my pipbuck and a small message appeared in my EFS saying “Sync Complete”. This was followed by the suit segmenting so I could step inside. I smiled and stepped into my new suit. I threaded my legs into each leg until my pudge settled onto the armoured belly. I felt a pressure around my left foreleg as the suit’s armour closed around my pipbuck. The armour segments repositioned themselves and settled into place, sealing my inside the protective suit.
The elder put on a serious look for a moment. “We are aware of you desertion from the Pondale Rangers and the order that had been issued for you to be shot on sight which is the penalty for such acts by the late Elder Stanier”
My ears drooped and I cringed as she reminded me.
She then smiled softly which seemed to put me at ease. “You don’t have to worry about that Longshot. We aren’t the same as the Steel Rangers. Thanks to our late elder Steelhooves he managed to reform the Steel Rangers to support what Applejack had originally intended for them to be and we are keeping to that code. I’ve come to extend to you an invitation to join us”
I smiled in relief as I was safe with the Applejack Rangers. I had a moment of thought before I answered. “We have some important work to do and I not long ago since had a foal. After we are not under threat of the Krogoth I’ll happily join the Applejack Rangers”
“You can still be one of us and still work on your own initiative. All we ask is you keep to our code and not miss use our conduct”
“Oh, then in that case, sure I’ll be happy to join you”
She smiled. “Then in the power invested in me I here by return to you your position as Paladin” She raised her hoof for a shake. “Welcome to the Applejack Rangers, Paladin Longshot”
I placed my armoured red lined hoof against her’s and began to shake. “Thank you Elder…” I stopped as I didn’t know her name.
“Oh, my apologies, I am Elder McNamare” She introduced herself with a slight bow of her head.
“Thank you Elder McNamare, I won’t disappoint you”
“Don’t worry about that Longshot; you have a lot on your plate as it is at the moment with that robot your trying to stop. Your coltfriend told me everything about it. We don’t have the pony power at the moment to take something like that on, we do realise how much of a threat it is so we are trying to grow our numbers while still trying to do what we can for the ponies of the wasteland”
I nodded while also blushing as she called Motor Runner my coltfriend. Oh goddesses, I want that to be true.
“It was a pleasure meeting you Paladin Longshot. Good luck in your fight against the machine” She began to turn to leave. “Oh and Zyon, thank you for the repair work you did the other day” And with that she left the armoury.
“She seemed nice” I said as I turned to see Zyon. He nodded in reply. I ignited my horn with my white colourless magic as I began to pick up all my gear and levitated it to my large storage units built onto the flanks of my armour. After all my stuff was packed in and re-registered in my pipbuck’s sorting spell I brought over This Machine and began to strap the harness back on. It took me a few minutes of fiddling to get the harness to sit right on my back so the huge ass rifle would sit between the storage units.
Zyon chuckled. “Be careful when you turn a corner in here, with that gun barrel sticking out so far you might take a pony’s head off”
I looked up the length of the gun barrel where it ended in the huge flared golden muzzle and giggled myself. It stuck out a few feet ahead of me alright and it would certainly knock an unsuspecting pony out if they walked into it or I clobbered them with it by accident.
“Are you all set?”
“Yeah, let’s go”
I followed my friend through the stable all the way back outside to meet a pony who would be flying us to a spot where we would be walking from to avoid raising Zeta’s suspicion. It was heart warming to see some of these ponies who I had never met before show me some compassion as I passed by. Some asked if I was ok, some asked about Blueberry and some welcomed me to the Applejack Rangers.
As we climbed back out onto street level the sun had set and it was dark outside but it wasn’t how I remembered it. Before the sky was entirely covered by a thick cloud layer but now there were no clouds. I sat down on my rump and just stared out into the endless black abyss above me. Luckily I’ve had seventeen years living in the wasteland so I’m used to the endlessness of the sky above since I’ve been lucky enough to see the sky beyond the clouds a few times. I’ve heard some funny stories of how some stable dwellers when they were fresh from the stable having a fear that they might float off the floor and out into the endless sky. What made me sit and stare at the majesty of what I could see was the beautiful artwork painted onto the inky blackness. Hundreds of twinkling stars lit up the night sky in some of the most beautiful patterns I’ve ever seen and the light of the full moon lit up the sky almost like a sun with how strong the light was.
“Wow, the night is beautiful” I cooed.
“Yeah, since the Central SPP Tower was activated the cloud cover has been breaking up. I think its being reset to be more natural”
“That’s wonderful” I said as it would be a welcome change to not be greeted by endless clouds in the mornings.
An armoured pegasus approached us. His armour was of the Enclave but it had been repainted to have the Applejack Ranger markings. “Zyon and Paladin Longshot?” He asked.
I nodded. “That’s us”
“Oh good, my name is Wirblewind. I’ve been assigned to take you to your destination”
“Wait, Wirblewind? As in Motor Runner’s chariot flyer?”
He nodded. “Before he awakened the machine he told me I should seek out the Applejack Rangers”
I nodded with understanding as he led us to the same chariot he once pulled and what we arrived in.
“Now that the Enclave is practically no longer a problem I will be able to fly at my full speed so getting you to the fields outside Saddleworth shouldn’t take too long” He said as he strapped himself into the chariot’s harness.
“That’s good, I don’t want to be away for too long” I said as I opened the door and let Zyon in first before I climbed in.
Once we were comfortably seated he took off. I felt myself being pushed into the back seat with his acceleration as he zoomed up into the sky pulling us behind him. As we sailed into the sky I couldn’t help but look down at the disappearing street and the ponyhole cover in which Stable 24 is and my baby. Blueberry, mummy is going to come back, you’re my light in the darkness.
XXXXX
We had only been in the air for about an hour before we had to land. Wirblewind was definitely fast. I think if he pushed himself just a bit harder he could break the sound barrier. We landed in a dirty barren landscape. I guess this area used to be farmland before the bombs poisoned the land and killed off most of the crops. The grass here was a sickly brown and looked like it’ll turn to dust with the slightest of touches.
“We need to head down that way” Zyon said as he pointed a hoof to our left. I could just about see some dark shapes in the distance plus a small red light that was high above the ground.
“Will you be alright on your own here?” I asked our pilot.
“I’ll be fine” He assured me as he activated his suit’s plasma rifles.
With a nod to him I turned with Zyon and began to walk towards the red light.
“Zeta lives in a hospital that is beyond the fields. That light is the radio tower on top of it”
We walked over a hill and began to walk down the other side when an old wooden fence came into view. In the light of the moon I could see that the fence extended for miles either way with multiple divisions to break up the land for different crops. Wow this must have been one huge farm.
We walked for a good half an hour with nothing but the silence of the night to keep us company and the crunch of the dead grass as we got closer and closer to the dead city on the opposite side of the fields. The walk was pretty much uneventful as everything was so still. I don’t think my EFS has ever been so clear for so long.
“Oh look, I sign” I said as an old rusty sign post came into view.
I walked up to the sign and looked over the rusty image and what text was still readable.
“Warning Mines” The sign said with a picture of a Stable-Pony tip hoofing over three mines.
“A minefield” I almost yelled.
There was a beep and my EFS alerted me to finding a new location. “Saddleworth Minefield”
“Sorry Apple, the whole hospital is surrounded by mines”
“How are we supposed to get past this?”
“There is a safe route about three miles to the north but it’ll take us around a day to get through the city to the hospital going that way”
“We don’t have the time to be away that long”
“I know. That’s why I’m leading. With my training I can lightly step through the field. I can mark or disable the traps and mines I come across so you’ll have a safe path”
“How long will it take to get through the field?”
“Shouldn’t take us more than an hour if I keep a good pace while searching for the traps”
“Hmm, ok, I’ll follow several paces behind. I trust you Zyon” I said putting my confidence in his abilities.
He smiled at that. “Thanks”
We crossed a dividing fence and stepped into the minefield. I was able to see some of the mines that were not buried as I could see the orange light on them to show they were armed. I even saw the bones of some poor ponies that had ventured onto the field and met their fates. But judging from the number of bones lying around this minefield has plenty of hidden traps. Zyon drew his sword as he slowly looked around the ground in front of him. The pace was slow but it was needed to be for this. Every now and then he would stop and bend down to deactivate a mine that was in our path or use his sword to trigger a bear trap. I so wouldn’t like to step in one of those.
It took us about half an hour to get around three quarters of the way through the field. The hospital was coming into view and so was the dead city. It wouldn’t be that much longer now. Zyon was a little further ahead. He was doing a wonderful job in finding the traps.
I placed my left fore hoof into a deep grassy bit as I walked and I felt my hoof step on something hard. Oh no. In the blink of an eye a set of steel jaws slammed shut around my left leg. They clamed down hard on my pipbuck with such force that the casing dented slightly.
“Ah shit” I screamed as I looked down at the razor sharp jaws of death clamped on my leg. Fuck, if it wasn’t for my pipbuck I think those things would have taken my leg clean off. There is something funny about this bear trap though.
“Apple, you alright?” Zyon asked as he came back.
“Yeah I’m fine, just had a bear trap clamp down on my leg. Help me out of it”
I began to pull my left leg to try and pull it out. Zyon slipped his unbreakable sword between the teeth and tried to use it like a lever to force open the steel jaws. The jaws of the trap began to glow with a dark blue light and I could feel my pipbuck beginning to squeeze my leg. It was as if the jaws were getting tighter.
“Oh shit” Zyon cried out when he noticed the glow.
The glass of my pipbuck screen cracked when I looked up to meet his gaze. “What is it?”
“That’s and Ursa Trap” He exclaimed.
“A what?”
“It’s a magically enchanted bear trap that was meant to capture something and not let go unless you knew the spell to remove the enchantment”
My eyes went wide with fear and in a panic I began to jerk my leg. I am not going to stand around here for-fucking-ever.
“Appletart stop”
“Get my out of this thing” I screamed in fear.
The more I struggled the tighter the trap gripped. Pain began to fill my leg as the jaws continued to close around my pipbuck. The pipbuck was designed to survive great punishment but they weren’t indestructible. I can’t get out of my armour as the pipbuck is sealed around my leg plus its connected with the armour and with it stuck in the trap I can’t move.
“Stop struggling, you’ll make it worse”
I couldn’t hear him; I was panicking and thrashing my leg.
My EFS began to go fuzzy as I began to get error messages from it before finally the screen exploded and my pipbuck died. I was now screaming in pain with how tightly the trap was squeezing my leg. I was loosing all focus from the pain filling my mind.
“Argh fuck, get it off, get it off” I screamed in agony.
I could feel the trap was now cutting off my circulation from how hard it was squeezing my ruined pipbuck against my leg. I don’t know if it is the pain filling my head but I think I can hear my leg bone cracking.
“Cut it off, oh fuck, cut it off” I screamed
“Cut what off?”
“My leg! Cut my leg off, argh fuck”
The pain was just too great, I couldn’t focus. I just had to get out of it and I didn’t care how.
“I’m not cutting your leg off” Zyon yelled in fear as he looked around the trap to see if there was another way.
“DO IT” I screamed in absolute agony. This pain was worse than my labour pain.
Zyon stood with his sword clenched for a minute or two as his mind combated with his emotions to do what he was being asked to do by me and what was right. He knew there was only one option.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I let you down, this is my fault, I should have seen that trap” He apologised as he turned his head ready for to strike.
“Please, I can’t bear it anymore” I cried. Tears of pain streaming down my face as the trap continued to squeeze my leg.
He closed his eyes and swung his sword. The blade cut cleanly through my leg from above the knee, above the ruined pipbuck. As soon as the blade cut through and separated me from my leg I toppled over onto my right side next to him. I was still in agony but I couldn’t feel that horrible squeezing sensation on my leg. As I wasn’t being tortured about the squeezing pain anymore I managed to regain some focus but upon seeing my leg still in the trap my mind went blank and I collapsed completely. My vision faded until it was black as I fainted.
(When I uploaded this chapter I had forgotten to put the end onto it. I was suppose to finish with a final scene with the Krogoth but forgot. That has now been corrected and added. I apologies for the screw up and I please urge readers who have already read the chapter to re-read the ending)
Fallout Equestria Broken Steel
Chapter 19: Broken
The Krogoth was walking up a beaten old road. Its massive hooves totally demolishing the road as its extreme weight crushed and crumpled up what remained of the cracked and damaged road way. The machine had detected an old Equestrian Military beacon coming from what the machine had managed to identify as being Fort Battalion. The machine’s memory housed information of all of Equestria’s military outposts and their specialties and Fort Battalion specialised in long range weaponry and as memory served, the Krogoth knew that Battalion had a forty six centimetre artillery cannon in its grounds. The Krogoth felt that it could benefit from having an artillery cannon as it could then attack targets from range rather than get close to prevent taking damage and it would be better than using the missiles as there is a chance the missiles could be shot down as it witnessed during its battle with Raptor Atlas.
The road lead the machine to a fork in the road and the road to the fort branched off to the machine’s right. The machine looked down at the large road sign that would indicate which way the roads would lead and the machine’s eyes seemed to focus solely on the name of the town which the road still heading straight would lead to.
“Uddersfield…” The voice of Short Circuit said as if in remembrance.
“Warning, system failure, unable to comply” An automated warning sounded as the Krogoth began to move away from the right hoof road to continue following the road up to the town of Uddersfield.
The Krogoth couldn’t understand why the town seemed to hold great importance to it but it felt compelled to go there. Like some unknown force was now driving it there. Short Circuit is as much of the Krogoth’s mind as she is the machine. When the Krogoth absorbed Short Circuit it unwittingly acquired her soul and memories of her loved ones and Uddersfield turned out to her home town.
XXXXX
Applejack Ranger Monitoring Station Beta
Before and after the battles that the two Ranger factions fought in the Applejack Rangers who now strive to help the ponies of the wasteland began to setup monitoring stations so they could observe the wasteland and help to direct their efforts to places that would need their support. With some help from technical ponies and permission from Homage/DJ-PON3 they connected their equipment to the SSP Towers so they could use their camera systems.
As part of their job to help ponies some Rangers would monitor potential threats and record their movements to help better prepare the Rangers that would later be sent to deal with the threat and since these Rangers picked up the Krogoth walking along the M66 Carriage Way they had been keeping a close eye on it. They have been taking shifts watching the machine as it walked up the old road and predicted that it was heading for the old Fort that was further up the road and the information they had received about the machine’s ability to improve itself helped to solidify their belief that it was heading there.
“Sir, its changed course”
“It’s what?”
“It’s heading for the ruins of Uddersfield now”
“That doesn’t make any sense, there is nothing there”
“I share your disbelief sir”
“Hmm, do you think there could be something hidden there?”
“No idea sir but I’ll keep watching to see what the machine does next when it arrives”
“Very good, keep me informed”
“Yes sir”
The Applejack Rangers of Monitoring Station Beta were stumped as to why the almighty robot was wasting its time heading to the old town but they continued to monitor its progress. If there was something there then they would know what the machine had found if it uncovers anything and prepare themselves for it.
As the machine continued to walk the Ranger on duty began to notice some idle movement on the machine. He noticed that every weapon was moving independently. The machine gun was rotating anywhere from twenty degrees to a hundred and eighty degrees and its gun barrels were tilting up or down. Its massive railgun pontoons were tilting up and down slightly and also pivoting left and right by ten degrees each. The missile pods were rotating from between fifty degrees to doing complete three hundred and sixty degrees in both clockwise and anti-clockwise rotations and was also tilting the pods up slightly or bringing them down level. The fourth weapon which had morphed into its AA railgun was doing the same in rotating as the missile pods but its gun barrels were always kept at a high angle.
“Hmm, all its weapons are moving. This could make it difficult to do the swarming option. Wait…”
The Ranger leaned forward and noticed how the missile pods were failing to tilt down, making it impossible for the machine to launch its missiles at ground targets within a certain range.
“Hmm, maybe if we get in close we can get under its weapons”
He then noticed how the tail was moving. Unlike the sentry drones that have cosmetic tails the tail of the Krogoth was bobbing up and down as it walked but it also did what the Ranger was not expecting. It was twitching and flicking about like a real pony tail. This struck the Ranger as odd and he made sure to make a note of that while also making a note on making the tail itself marked as a weapon. With the tail’s free movement it could easily be used as a weapon. For all he knew it already had been used. The tail end could make an effective wrecking ball.
“I really hope those ponies that told us about this thing really know how to kill it” He said to himself with fear in his voice.
XXXXX
Uddersfield. Once a peaceful town known for its bovine population and dairy products. Now it was just a dead and empty ghost town. The town was mostly run down with almost all of its buildings empty shells with no floors or roofs. Its tallest buildings were mostly tower block apartments and one or two office buildings in the town centre. Beside the tower blocks and the offices the only other large buildings were old mills which most had collapsed due to age. Everything else was small two to five story buildings that were mostly homes. The Krogoth took interest in just one of these homes, a small semi-detached house that sat next to the town’s canal with its back garden extended all the way to the water’s edge.
The machine was unaware of the SPP Tower cameras watching it from afar as the machine stood in front of the old home. The blue magical glow from between its armour plates faded as the Light Bee dropped down from its dock. When the small diamond shaped device reached the ground it began to glow and a wire frame pony appeared before it’s solidified into Short Circuit who stared at the house with a mixture of emotions. She was confused, happy, scared and conflicted as she looked upon the grimy old and rotten structure.
“I’m home, but, what happened?” She asked herself. The electronic edge to her voice vacant as she spoke.
Inside the crusader chamber in the Krogoth’s heavily armoured chest, several of the monitors were flashing with system failure warning and system lockdowns. Whatever had happened upon seeing the word “Uddersfield” on that road sign had triggered something in Short Circuit’s consciousness. The Krogoth knew it was Short Circuit who was in control of everything at the moment. It knew that because when it stole her mind it ripped out everything that made her her. It had managed to keep her locked out but seeing “Uddersfield” on that sign had somehow managed to give Short Circuit’s mind the strength to overcome the Krogoth’s mental control. The Krogoth was working tirelessly in trying to regain control. With Short Circuit in control at the moment the machine was completely open and since she didn’t know how to use anything of its mechanical body all its weapons were offline. Leaving the machine completely open and vulnerable.
“You can not remain in control Short Circuit, your apart of me and must not interfere”
The hologram froze as she reached the open front door and began to look around as if she heard the Krogoth’s voice. She didn’t see anything but the dead and rotten houses and heard nothing but the eerie dead silence and the gentle howl of the wind as it passed through the open windows of the house. Not seeing or hearing anything that could have spoke to her she continued into her old home.
“Her emotions are at an all time high; these emotions are somehow overriding my mental blocks”
The hologram walked through the open door. She looked around and cringed as she saw black mould and two hundred years of grime coating the walls. Her mouth was agape as she saw all the rubble and litter covering the floor along with damaged old furniture. She began to explore the house. She was lucky that all the doors were either flat on the floor or had been broken into splinters as her mind would have likely shutdown if she saw how her hoof would have gone through the door. The whole house was a tip. There was little to no memorabilia in any of the rooms on the ground floor as the elements have rotten them to almost nothingness. She was a little creeped out as when she walked up the stairs she didn’t hear her hoof falls and she didn’t hear the old rotten wood staircase creak as it should have done with a pony walking up it. She made sure to keep as close to the wall as she could as she walked up the stairs as the banister had fallen away leaving some nasty sharp looking wooden spikes where the support beams would have been for the banister.
The upstairs wasn’t as bad as the downstairs in some areas with little mould and grime but her old room and the bathroom were inaccessible as the roof had fallen in leaving rubble bulging out the doorframes. The only room that was still intact on the first floor was her parent’s room. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she might find and then walked through the open door. The room was practically untouched despite the grime. Everything was where she remembered but her gaze ended up locking onto the king-size bed in the middle of the room. Two black skeletons, one with the tattered remains of a nightie on it lay on the bed. Short Circuit fell to her haunches as she looked at the two entwined skeletons.
“M-mummy, D-daddy” She whimpered, her eyes filling with illusionary tears.
She stared at the bodies of her mother and father for a good half and hour before she finally made herself move. She had cried but it left no mark as her tears were not real. Mentally exhausted from the realisation of the reality of the world and the loss of her family she got up and began to move out the door until a little shine caught her eye. She turned to look back at the bed and noticed a pristine piece of paper lying in the hoofs of the body of her mother. Gathering what courage she could to she approached the bed and leaned over to view the paper and began to read.
“Dear Sweetheart,
We are so sorry we were not there for you when Pinkie Pie took you away. I blame myself for what happened and I have wished I was a better mother to you. I hated myself even more when Applejack came to us, telling us about the accident that left you brain dead. I wanted to see you but I couldn’t bring myself to go see you. A part of me died when I received that news. Your father had been a saint from the start of this mess. He supported me through everything even though I was tearing us apart from my grief.
It finally happened. The zebras launched their balefire bombs. The world is ending all around us and we never got accepted into a Stable. Me and your father took an overdose of pills so we will die before the bombs kill us. I’m writing this so that I can give this to you in the afterlife. To show you that I am sorry for how things turned out.
We’ll see you on the other side.
Love.
Mummy and Daddy”
The letter had been written on age proof paper and had remained in her mother’s hooves since the end of the world. More distraught and crying a fresh wave of tears she noticed the bottles of pills they had used. With her emotions now spent the Krogoth was starting to get through. The hologram began to flicker as Short Circuit faded out and then reappeared but her forehead now had a K on it to symbolise the Krogoth’s control.
“Finally. I will have to strengthen my psychic blocks to prevent a recurrence”
The hologram left the old house and dissolved back into the light bee and returned to the Krogoth.
“Now to resume what I had originally planned. Fort Battalion is now an extra five miles away. This little, unplanned, detour has cost me valuable time”
Now fully in control again the machine turned around and began to head for the old fort.
XXXXX
Monitoring Station Beta
The camera systems of the tower picked up the machine’s movement and alerted the pony on monitoring duty.
“Sir, it’s moving again”
“Is it heading for the fort again?”
“Yes sir”
“Right, contact Stable 24; they’ll need to know about this”
“Shall I tell them what we think it’s going to do?”
“Yes. They’ll want to know any possible reasons why its going there”
XXXXX
Oh man what a nightmare that was. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a realistic dream before in my entire life. It felt so real, the pain and everything. Why can I still remember it with such clarity?
My eyes were still closed as I began to wake up from my sleep. When and where I fell asleep I can’t recall, hmm, odd. I lifted my left fore hoof and brought it to my forehead. A sudden headache shot through my head from my horn as my hoof collided with my horn. Dear goddesses that hurt. I’ve hit my head with my hoof before and they never hurt that much before. Oh wait don’t tell me I fell asleep with my armour on.
I opened my eyes and was immediately treated to an unfamiliar sight. A very creepy sight if you ask me. The room was dark and quiet. As I looked around I saw numerous racks with all manners of synthetic legs and other body parts hanging from them. It was really dark in here, so dark in fact that I could barely see my own hoof in front of my face but their was enough natural light coming in from the… barred up window that looked like a prison window… that it illuminated the synthetics in dark with long shadows.
Ok, I’m starting to feel really creeped out here. What the smeg is going on? I looked around but still could barely see anything but the dark shadows of the limbs. Oh, wait, I’m a unicorn duh. I concentrated on my horn, channelling my magic into it and causing it to glow like a light bulb. My magical aura around my horn shone brightly, casting much of the room in my white magical light. That’s better; I can see now but now it’s even creepier as there weren’t just a few limbs hanging from racks, there was hundreds.
“Holy shit” I said out loud. I felt like I was in a horror flick with me lying on a hospital bed in the middle of some sort of medical room surrounded by hundreds of mechanical body parts.
I lifted my left fore hoof again. As my leg raised I had my eyes cast to the window and I could see that it was night outside and the moon was just hiding behind a building in the distance that shielded the room from the moon’s light. As my leg rose I heard an odd whirring sound which I didn’t pay much attention to. I put my hoof to my forehead and froze upon feeling the cold solid metal press against my head. I blinked and looked down at my body, seeing that I was out of my armour.
“What the hell?”
I then looked to my left foreleg and my heart stopped in my chest as my eyes were glued to the skeletal looking mechanical leg where my organic leg was suppose to be. I did what any mare what have done in this situation. I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Moments later a set of double doors burst open and Zyon slid across the floor and crashed into a rack of synthetics and caused an avalanche and he was buried under them. He burst out from the pile of limbs and looked over at me with shock and surprise in his eyes.
“Appletart, are you alright?” He asked.
“Am I alright?” I screamed at him and pointed the robotic leg at him. How I was controlling it at the moment was beyond me but I didn’t care at this moment in time. “What the fuck do you think?”
“I’m sorry” He said looking down in shame.
“What the fuck happened to me?” I screamed.
“You don’t remember?”
I blinked and sat in thought. As I though the dream came back in full force. Oh, that wasn’t a dream, that actually happened to me.
“You stepped into an Ursa Trap I failed to see and it was crushing your leg and you told me to cut it off. I did it as it was also the only way to free you from the trap”
I cringed as I remembered that part. Oh that was definitely the worst pain I’ve ever felt. I looked back down at what is now my left leg.
“But what the fuck is this?” I cried.
“That would be a C9-03 prosthetic limb with working servos and motors for realistic leg movement” A slightly electronic female voice said from the doors. I turned my head and I saw a brown earth pony mare with a short but curly cream mane and tail who stood a hoof taller than Zyon standing in the doorway.
Zyon pulled himself out of the mess and walked over to the mare.
“Appletart, meet Zeta. She’s the one that gave you back your leg”
I blinked in confusion.
“You’re Zeta?” I asked in confusion as I had been told that she was to be a bio-mechanism.
“That is correct” She said as she entered the room fully and approached the bed I was sat on.
“But you don’t look like a… err…” I trailed off as I didn’t know if she’d take offence to being called a bio-mechanism or a robot or whatever.
Zyon leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear and she nodded. She closed her eyes and suddenly her entire body began to glow brightly before the light faded. As the light faded a complete robotic pony stood before me. I noticed many small little domes all over her body and I figured they were hologram emitters. Of course, she has emitters to hide her robotic body. I rolled my eyes at how obvious that observation was. However I was still not ready for what I saw.
I eeped and jumped back slightly from what I saw. After I calmed down from the fright I pointed my synthetic at her.
“You did this?” I asked in an unintentionally accusing tone.
She nodded. “Yes”
“How is it that I can move it as if I’ve had it my entire life?” I almost barked the question, still in shock at waking up with it.
She reverted to having her body hidden by her holographic body again. The lips of her muzzle curled up as she smiled. I guess she likes questions that are technical.
“The leg was already pre-calibrated for a unicorn mare of the same build and age as you. The leg although small houses numerous magical receptors that gauge and monitor your natural magical flow as it pulses throughout your body. The leg would have needed calibrating if it was just a standard C9. While you were unconscious from the trauma of the accident I connected the leg to your stump and made sure that your nervous system was integrated so your body would send the movement commands it would need. The magical receptors also helped control the leg. The calibrations allow for the leg to be controlled in such a fashion that the flow of your magic can govern how sensitive it reacts. Your magic will flow at different rates depending on your mood and emotions and your emotions can also apply strength to the leg” She explained.
“So, not only is my brain controlling it but also my magic?”
“That is correct, count yourself lucky. The last pony that I made a replacement leg for had to learn how to walk all over again”
“We know” Me and Zyon said at practically the same time.
“Ah so I guess you have met mister Scrapheap or Motor Runner as he said he preferred to be called now”
“Yeah, he’s actually apart of our group”
“Is he? I thought he would be with that machine he was restoring”
“That is why we are here actually” I said looking at her with a serious expression.
“We were hoping you might be able to help us in trying to stop that machine” Zyon finished.
“With your knowledge of mechanical and computer systems we were hoping that you might be able to help”
“You want to stop it? You mean he’s not in control of it?”
“The machine turned against him, apparently it had stolen the mind of a pony before the bombs fell” Zyon explained.
“I see, that mind gave it free will in a way didn’t it?”
“Yea, but its adamant in following its creators wish but the mission it was given was flawed so it’s going about it the wrong way”
“I see, I don’t have to go with you to fight it do I?” She asked, clearly afraid of leaving the hospital. Thankfully I knew of her fear of being around groups of ponies because of what she is.
“No”
“Well in that case. Motor Runner had told me some of the things that are in it such as its scanner systems from Robronco. I would be able to fashion a signal jammer that would block its EFS”
“Hmm with a jammer like that we would be able to get close to the machine without it seeing us on its radar that would work nicely”
“However I can not build the jammer with what I have here. You would need to scavenge the parts I require from in the city. There is an electronic superstore about a mile down the road from here going towards the city centre. I will provide you with a list of what I would need”
“Well I guess we can go shopping”
“But first, I must finish your leg, that’s just the basic skeletal form. Now that you are awake I can add some extra features and an armoured casing to protect it”
“Oh, ok” I said, clearly nervous.
“If you’ll just follow me” Zeta said as she turned around and began to walk out the room.
Me and Zyon followed our host out of the recovery room and began to follow her up a long corridor. It was creepy dark in here. The hallway was so thick with shadows I felt like something was going to jump out at me at any second. I walked close to Zyon, so close in fact that occasionally my large rump would brush up against him. I blushed at the contact but that then reignited a question I had in my head.
“Where’s my armour?”
“Huh, oh, it’s where we are going now actually”
“Oh good”
The walk was short but I was well and truly scared in this place. The low lighting just cast deep dark shadows everywhere making for a scary environment. The unfamiliar metallic click of my metal hoof along with my normal soft clip clop of my organic hooves added to the uneasy feeling and my anxiety. I breathed a sigh of relief as we came to a brightly lit room. My ears drooped to the sides of my head as I saw the glowing blue sign just hanging from the ceiling in front of the door. “Operating Theatre”
The operating theatre was indeed brightly lit from several ceiling lights along with the spotlight thing that hangs from the ceiling and is kept low to keep the body fully illuminated so the doctors and nurses could work on the patient without any loss of light. However, despite the light the room was dirty as fuck with dried up blood stains, mostly on the bed, and two hundred years of grime clinging to most of the surfaces. I visibly shuddered at the room and like the corridor it too was scaring me. Along with all the shit, it was also filled with synthetics and lots of medical gear. My eyes were darting from one to the next. I could see saws, scalpels, tweezers, knives, scissors and even power tools that included things like drills and buzzsaws that made the operating theatre look more like a garage workshop.
“Holy Celestia” I moaned sitting on my haunches as I stared at all the gruesome things in the room.
Zeta stepped up to a table that held several pieces of armour like segments as she seemed to look over the materials.
“Can you lie down on the operating table please” Zeta asked in a firm commanding tone.
I quickly did as she commanded but I laid down looking for a good spot that wasn’t coated in dried blood. I laid down and shivered from my nervousness.
“Do you want anything special for your leg at all?” She asked as a pair of small robotic arms extended from out the base of her holographic neck. Now that was creepy. The arms opened a pair of small claw like hands as they picked up a pair of armour segment.
“Oh no, please, I just want my leg back” I answered while looking down at the horrific black metal limb.
“Very well, now, Zyon, the knockout drink if you please” Zeta said in the same commanding tone.
“Knockout drink?” I asked with fear gripping my words.
“Of course, the process in connecting the panelling and internal systems and other items will be painful and the seal would be excruciatingly painful” She explained matter-of-factly.
Oh fuck…
“Here Apple, drink this” Zyon said as he held a flask in his hooves near my muzzle.
“Will I feel anything?” I asked scared to drink it.
“No, you’ll fall asleep in seconds and wake up a few hours later feeling refreshed” He told me with a knowing and reassuring smile.
I stared at his reassuring smile and it gave me the confidence to take the flask in my magic and drink the contents of the flask. I was expecting something that would taste absolutely foul but actually is tasted rather nice and of apples of all things. At first I felt nothing but then a creeping sensation began to spread from my stomach to all parts of my body. The sensation devolved into pins and needles which only seemed to get worse which also made me panic. I was about to throw myself off the table and run but that was when I realised my limbs wouldn’t work. I began to look around in panic but my vision began to darken and blackness was creeping in around my eyes before finally everything went black and I feel into a deep sleep.
XXXXX
I yawned and sat up feeling like I’ve had a good night sleep. I actually felt good as I sat up in bed, however my good feeling evaporated when I opened my eyes and found myself in the recovery room I was in the last time I woke up but it was now bathed in the orange glow of the rising sun. The orange light of the sun bathed the room in a new light which made it seem less scary and more hideous with dirt and grime that the darkness hid.
I looked to the barred window and smiled as I saw the rising sun peeking over the distant hills beyond the city. Since the birth of my baby girl, hope she’s doing ok, is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. As I stared out into the distance, watching the rays of orange sun light crossing the skies I moved my forelegs so they’d cross and rest together and that’s when I felt the cold metal of my recently rebuilt left foreleg.
I cringed and shivered at the cold smooth feeling it gave. I gulped and steeled my nerves as I slowly looked down to my left leg. What I saw was not what I was expecting. I was expecting something bulky looking with exposed joints and odd shapes like some of the synthetics I was seeing around me but this leg looked like a natural foreleg despite the grooves between the metal plates, some identifying markings and where it joins my organic body. I stared at the join; it looked absolutely awful and repulsive. I can see why Motor Runner has stuck to wearing his suit to keep it hidden. As I stared at it I couldn’t help myself as I lifted my right organic hoof and began to stroke down my leg until my hoof brushed over the join. It felt smooth and almost natural but it certainly didn’t look it. I can only guess Zeta did the same pink cloud thing that Motor Runner had mentioned. Where the steel met flesh it was warped and twisted so that it seemed the flesh and metal was one in the same. There was no way this leg was going to come off by someone tugging it unless they intended to rip out the rest of my left leg with it. While I examined it I noticed something that caught my as strange. There were no joints to allow my leg to bend and flex. Come to think of it, neither does Motor Runner’s. I gingerly began to lift my new leg and to my surprise it began to flex and bend. I could see the metal stretching and compressing as if it was made of rubber but was still solid to the touch.
“How is this possible?” I asked myself, blissfully unaware that Zyon was standing in the doorway.
“Do you like it?” He asked which made me jump.
I literally jumped clean up from the bed and fell backwards off the bed and landed on my back on the floor with a girly eep.
“Argh shit, Zyon you tosser, are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I screamed.
“Sorry Apple, are you ok?” He asked as he offered a hoof to help me up.
I reached up with my left synthetic leg and took his hoof. Our hooves stuck together and as I got back onto my hooves I couldn’t pull it away.
“What the fuck?” I asked trying to tug my hoof off. “I can’t let go”
“It must be the magnet”
“What magnet? Whoa…” I shrieked as suddenly my hoof separated from Zyon’s and I found myself back on my ass.
“C’mon, Zeta is waiting for us”
I grumbled to myself as I picked myself back up and began to follow my striped friend back to the operating theatre, oh goddesses, to meet Zeta.
Zeta was standing by my armour which now had a new left foreleg which had a hole in the lower leg area where my pipbuck would have been but as I looked down at my leg again I saw that I didn’t have a pipbuck so what was the hole for?
Zeta looked up as we entered the goddess awful room.
“Ah Appletart, how do you feel?” She asked as she turned towards me.
“I feel ok thank you” I replied with a half smile as I also didn’t feel very comfortable in here.
“And how is the leg?”
“It looks ok, I’m sorry I don’t really know how to describe it. This is all new to me”
“I understand. Now I suppose your wondering about what I’ve done with it”
“Actually, yeah, I would like to know how it’s bending without visible joints and why my hoof stuck to Zyon’s when he helped me up”
She smiled as she sat down. “I installed some useful features that you’ll most likely need along with some things that would help to replicate the natural elements that you would have lost with your organic leg. You have a magical magnet in the sole of your new hoof. This magnet will react to your magic and simulate the natural pony magic to allow you to pick up items with your hoof or grip onto something. To make the leg look and feel natural the armoured casing concealing everything had been magically treated to be flexible as if it was flesh and still retain its resilience. The special items I installed include a built in pipbuck, when you wish to view it, it will open a panel on your leg and extend out for you to use. I must activate it before you go by the way…”
I guess that explains why I have no EFS right now then if I have this pipbuck installed.
“…You have a grappling claw. That would be three extendable claws that will dig into the floor or whatever surface you attempt to grabble, be it concrete, steel…flesh and it was meant as an extra means in case your magical magnet isn’t enough. Finally I have given you a regeneration talisman. The talisman will regenerate any injuries you sustain to your organic body. As standard your leg also contains the repair spell that your armour uses so you can repair the damage to your leg from being in contact with scrap metal or materials”
She took a simulated breath.
“Now, any questions before I activate your pipbuck?”
“Umm, yeah, how the fuck do I even use any of that?”
She looked at me as if I was stupid.
“The same way you’ve been using your leg. It’s all controlled by your synaptic signals through your brain. It will do as you think. It was built to simulate that of an organic leg and function in the same way. The spell to repair it will activate automatically and your pipbuck will appear when you want to it to. You just have to think it and it will happen. For the first few times it may be slow or unresponsive but that would be natural until you get used to it. It’s quite simple really”
Quite simple my ass.
“I bet it is” I said under my breath with a roll of my eyes when she wasn’t looking.
“Now, bring out your pipbuck so I can activate it”
I lifted my leg and twisted it as if I was going to look at my pipbuck. I notice a rectangle in where the screen would be. I took a moment to think about it. I concentrated on wanting to view my pipbuck and to my surprise the panel sunk into my leg and slid back to reveal a pipbuck screen plus buttons and the scroll wheel as it then lifted out. I gasped in surprise as it worked. Ok, it was exciting, but also weird.
Zeta stepped forward with her freaky neck arms out. I turned my head so I didn’t have to look at those things sticking out of her holographic neck. I swear that image will haunt my dreams.
I heard the little mechanical noises of the arms moving and then I heard a beep come my leg. Suddenly my vision flashed with familiar text from an EFS.
“Pipbuck start up sequence initiated for new user… Please stand by”
Suddenly my vision was assaulted by line up on line of text that was just gibberish. It took about ten minutes before it finally stopped. I had to blink my eyes rapidly to get the ghost images of text out of my vision before one last line of text appeared.
“Thank you for choosing Stable-Tec, Appletart”
After that the familiar compass, threat detector, health gauge and weapon condition and ammo gauge settled into my lower vision. There was a quick flash of the rad meter in my upper right before it faded and then in my upper left it shown a picture of a Stable-Filly instead of the Stable-Colt which told me that my pipbuck was all set.
Zeta said she’d meet us by the entrance after I had finished giving my leg a work out and got back into my armour. It strangely felt as if I never lost it but it was obvious it wasn’t natural though. I could feel pressure when I put my hoof down which also had a thin rubber sole. It was still thin enough to make a metallic clop as I put my hoof down. The grappling claw was the scariest thing I’d ever seen. I held my hoof to the wall and though about deploying it and to my shock and horror three small spikes shot out from the sides of my leg and impaled the wall. The spikes were connected to my leg on two strips of metal which allowed the spikes to extend out from my leg before coming down and digging into whatever I was standing on or had my hoof on. It was scary with how easily the claws dug into the concrete wall. Zyon told me the tips had been made out of Hellhound claws, like Motor Runner’s chainsaw teeth. That grappling claw could be one seriously deadly weapon. I best think carefully before using it.
After getting as used to it as I could for now I donned my armour and retrieved my gear. I moaned to myself as I had to get This Machine’s harness fastened up again around my armour. That harness is so troublesome. Once all dressed again me and Zyon met up with Zeta by the hospital entrance.
“Are you all set?” She asked.
We nodded in response.
“Ok, this list will be all I would need to make the signal jammer. Everything on the list can be found in the electronic goods from the Currys Superstore in the city centre shopping complex”
I snorted a laugh at the name of the electronics store.
“Do be careful out there; past inhabitants have left behind traps before the radiation became too great in most areas of the city. Stick to the path I have marked on your map…” There was a beep from my pipbuck saying that a route had been marked. “…and be careful to avoid the hulking hellhounds”
“Hulking what?”
“I don’t know what they are to be honest. They only just appeared in Saddleworth a few days ago out of nowhere. They look similar to Hellhounds but look far more grotesque, oh and watch out for monkey dog things too”
Zyon and I face hoofed and let out an annoyed groan.
Zeta blinked at us in confusion.
“Am I missing something?”
“Let’s just say we’ve dealt with those things before and it wasn’t pretty”
“Oh well, um, it should only be a ten minute walk if you don’t run into any trouble to the store” She said taking a step back from the door.
“Ok, we’ll see you soon with the things you need and um, thanks for giving me my leg back” I said as I turned and walked out the door and into the light of the sun shining down onto us.
I looked up and smiled warmly. I saw small white fluffy clouds that were tinted orange by the early morning sun lazily drifting in the deep blue sky. The sun itself had cleared the hills and was now casting its golden light down upon the city. I tore my gaze away from the beautiful sky and looked down the road that my direction marker was pointing down and frowned. It was now I realised that the return of Celestia’s sun was also a curse. When the cloud cover dominated the sky it cast a dull tone upon the wasteland, making everything in shades of grey which didn’t look too bad. Now though, the sun with its bright light brought with it a multitude of different colours upon the wastes and none of them good. Where as the cloud cover made everything look dull and grey, the sun made everything look sickly. The sun’s light changed the old palette of grey colour tones to that of every colour associated with death and decay. Browns, yellows, greens, blacks, reds, everything like that all mixed together to form an all new dreadful landscape. It was actually making me want the clouds back.
“C’mon, the sooner we do this the sooner we can go back home. I can’t imagine how Wirbelwind is feeling sitting out there alone right now”
“Oh shit yeah, I hope he’s doing ok out there”
“Let’s hurry, get the stuff and get back to our families”
I blinked for a moment. He’s right, I have a family now. Oh, Blueberry, mummy misses you. Hmm, Sky Fire and Zyon have been my only true friends since my mother died and I guess I see them as also part of my family. Its heart warming to feel that way. I guess only time will tell for Motor Runner. I now had the urge to go back to Stable 24 to see my daughter.
“Yeah, let’s hurry”
With a nod from Zyon we began to gallop. I hadn’t run in power armour in over six months and I was so out of shape I was puffing and panting by the time we got about half way there. I was just about to suggest stopping to rest when suddenly my left fore hoof stuck to the floor and caused me to fall flat on my face and with a loud crash when my armour hit the floor afterwards.
“Argh shit” I screamed in pain since I had landed on my chin. That fucking hurt.
I could just see Zyon through my blurred tear stricken vision trying not to laugh as he stopped. I blinked the tears away and looked to my hoof that was still firmly stuck to the floor. For a minute I thought I stood in something to get my hoof caught on something but then I realised that it wasn’t stuck in anything at all. The damn magnet had triggered and stuck my hoof to the floor. I can see this now being a pain in the flank. I got back up to my hooves and began to pull, trying to dislodge my hoof from the floor.
“C’mon, let go” I moaned and it did. As I was at full strain the magnet released and I flew off my hooves and crashed into a rotted wooden bench that was up against a shop wall and I crashed through the rotten planks and smacked the back of my head against the stone wall. I cried out in agony as I rolled back up onto my hooves. I cried out in pain from the pounding headache I now had from cracking my skull against the wall. As I stood there trying not to cry from the pain I began to feel something warm and wet begin to trickle down the back of my neck before I felt the familiar sting of my armour injecting a healing potion to which the slow trick stopped.
“Oh shit, are you alright?” Zyon asked as he walked over to me looking concerned.
“Hmm, yeah, I’m ok” I said as the potion got rid of the headache.
My crash and burn hadn’t gone unnoticed with the loud crash that had accompanied it. Just a little further up the road a shop door was catapulted off its hinges and sent flying half way down the opposite street and this was followed by something we haven’t seen since New Hope.
“Oh goddesses not these guys again” Zyon whined as he pulled out his sword.
I remember when we first encountered the Sires back in New Hope. They just wouldn’t die unless you mashed up their brains or cut their heads off. These things would be more than a match for any pony who didn’t know how to fight them. The hulking horror was facing the opposite direction, looking up the road as it searched for the noise I made.
I used my magic to pull This Machine from my back and aimed for its hunchback as its head would be on the other side. As I zeroed in on where I believed its head would be it turned around and saw us. Fuck! The monster opened its misshapen mouth and let out a gurgling roar. It was one of those roars that just didn’t sound natural and messed up. I cringed but kept my aim and pulled the trigger. The thunderous boom of my rifle caused the shop window next to me to explode from the sound. The monster’s head exploded, silencing its scream as it toppled backwards and landed in a twitching heap on its back.
We were about to breath a sigh of relief but that was short lived as two more burst of the door from the roar and my weapon’s loud bang. The two other sires saw us and immediately began to charge at us. I chambered a new round but didn’t have time to properly aim and pulled the trigger. A large chunk of one of the sires’ stomach exploded leaving a clear hole. The monster howled in pain and fell over from the force of the blast. The other sire zeroed in on me as I pulled back the bolt in haste to chamber another round as the monster came running at me with its arms and clawed hands out stretched ready to grab for me. I quickly and fearfully pushed the bolt back in but too soon. The bolt jammed which meant I wouldn’t be able to fire before the monster was on me. In a panic I began to jiggle the bolt trying to free the bullet. My eyes widened in fear as the monster came within a few feet of me and began to raise an arm ready to strike. Out of nowhere Zyon landed a strong applebuck to the monster’s face causing it to stagger backwards a few feet. It turned to its attacker and roared again and lowered itself ready to charge at him. Zyon readied his sword and pounced at the monster. He sunk his blade into the side of the creature’s neck and tucked his body in as he held the handle and pushed himself into a swing. I heard the sickening crunch of breaking bone as Zyon swung around on the creature’s neck, his sword cutting through its neck and which resulted in him decapitating the monster. As its head fell from its body the sire fell onto its back dead and Zyon flipped in the air and landed on his hooves. I have to admit that was awesome.
The other sire by this time had managed to get back onto its feet and didn’t look too happy that I blew a hole in its gut. It let out a bellow of rage and charged at us again. I had the time during Zyon’s brief battle with the last sire to sort out the jam and had a round ready. I wouldn’t be able to get an aim on it before it was on me but thankfully Zyon was aware of this and he charged at the sire. He jumped up, twisted in mid air and delivered a strong applebuck to its head. The strike stunned the monster so I could get my aim on its head. Zyon dove away from the monster as I pulled the trigger. I smiled in satisfaction as its forehead exploded along with a chunk of its hunchback. The monster let out half a scream before it crumpled to the floor.
“Goddesses I hate those things” Zyon moaned.
“Let’s go before anymore show up” I urged.
“Right”
We managed to run for another two minutes before my hoof again stuck to the floor and made me fall on my face again.
“Oh for fuck sake” I complained loudly as I got back up. As I stood I could see the shopping complex up ahead and our destination. From here we will be passing a couple of cafes, crossing a main road and then going across the carriage park to the shop’s entrance. It shouldn’t take more than another couple of minutes to get there.
However fate isn’t on our side as my fall had altered the other threat. The familiar high pitched scream of a Wretch greeted us.
“Oh crap not them as well”
Sure enough it was. Wretches began to pour out of the woodwork. They all scrambled out of anything big enough to contain them and they quickly had us surrounded. Me and Zyon were rump to rump moving in a circle as we were surrounded by the little terrors.
“Shit, I count twenty four” Zyon said as he quickly grabbed his sword.
I have no melee weapon but I do have a lever-action shotgun that could make a good club. I quickly pulled it out as the little monsters started to circle. I know twenty four against two sounds like bad odds but luckily we knew that these monsters were fragile. They can be killed from one decent strike but we are dealing with lots of them and they are armed literally to the teeth. This is going to get messy.
The first one jumped for me. I quickly flipped my shotgun around and clobbered the wretch with the butt of the gun sending it flying back to its mates but this then prompted the rest of them to dive in. They all jumped onto us. It was our armour that stopped them tearing us to shreds but our heads were not protected and they soon realised this. With my magic I was able to pull some of them off me while using my shotgun to smack the rest off. Zyon being more athletic was able to start bucking like a bucking bronco to send them flying off his back. I watched for a moment as he kicked and stomped on some wretches that got under his hooves. He had this covered. I on the other hoof did not. I was much slower than Zyon in my armour but I had better protection. I kicked and stomped, missing half the time and used my shotgun any chance I had, firing it or using it like a club. Yeah, in a large group these things would be deadly.
During the fight I got backed up against a wall with five of the wankers clawing at my legs and face. One of them jumped at me in attempt to go for my neck. I reared up onto my hind legs and brought down my forehooves and caught the little monster in mid jump and squashed it under my hooves like a bug with my weight of half a ton. I felt its bones crumble under my hooves before I looked up and was greeted to three of the monsters in mid air. I let out a panicked shriek as they all landed on my head. I screamed out in pain as I felt two lots of pain in my neck as two of them sunk their clawed feet into the sides of my neck so they could cling to my face. I screamed with pain as they began to bit and scratch.
“Get off of me” I screamed as I flailed wildly with my shotgun trying to knock them off. I failed to hit any of the ones on my face since I had my eyes closed but I did whack the last one on the floor.
I felt more burning pain and the slow trickle of blood as the wretches clawed at my face. I felt a claw cut into my cheek and tear through it until it came out just under my ear. I cried out in agony from the pain and then spat some blood out as I could taste it filling my mouth. I put all my strength into my neck as I threw my head up in an attempt to dislodge them. I felt two of the little beasts fall away from me but one of them still clung to my neck. I opened my eyes just in time to see a clawed hand and then my vision in my right eye went back which was followed by tremendous pain. I screamed in absolute agony as the wretch had clawed my eye out, not literally, but it had blinded me.
“Get the fuck OFF OF ME!” I screamed with fury filling my voice as now I was now getting angry with the monster.
I felt the familiar tingle from my still working eye as my eye flashed. I know I just shifted to dark magic. I was pissed and I’ve had enough of these little fucks. I can taste my own fucking blood and they have taken out my right eye. I could feel pain all over my face from smaller cuts and bites as well as the burning pain from the puncture holes in my neck. Now it’s my turn to tear them apart.
I used my magic to rip the wretch still clinging to me off of my neck which was a bad move as its claws in my flesh cut even longer holes into me. I screamed in pain as I then gritted my teeth and put all my magical power, which was feeding on my hatred and anger for the monster, making it stronger and threw the wretch into the side of a rusty old skybandit. The side of the old passenger transport dented in and I heard the creature’s bones all break upon impact.
Zyon had just dispatched the last of the wretches attacking him. I could just about see him in my half vision. He had small cuts and bites littering his face and the exposed sections of his forelegs. He had managed to get out of his fight without serious injury unlike me. He frowned as he noticed my magic shift.
The last two wretches noticed that their pack of twenty four had been reduced to just them and knowing they would loose they turned to run.
“Not so fast you little fucks” I growled as I seized them both in my magic and levitated them off the floor. “You ruin a girl’s face and you expect to get away with it? I don’t fucking think so”
I levitated them high into the air and then I began to squeeze them with my magic. They compressed into balls, howling and moaning in pain as I began to squeeze the life out of them
“Appletart stop, you’ve beaten them” Zyon shouted but I ignored him
“Little wankers” I growled as I began to hear their bones breaking. Blood began to drip down them as their breaking bones began to burst from their skin. They soon died from the crushing but I wasn’t done yet. With one final squeeze I squashed them until they were flat before I flung their bodies away. I must have been on an adrenalin high as the pain I was getting from my wounds seemed to have faded to bearable levels when I dealt with those wretches or my anger and hate for them blocked it out. I panted and moaned from my exertion as I looked around with my left eye and found that we had beaten them all. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down, I felt the magical flame from my eye disappear and from Zyon’s relieved expression my left eye must have returned to normal. After I had calmed down the pain came back in full force and I began to cry from the sheering pain burning my face and neck.
Out of danger for the moment I was expecting the familiar sting of a healing potion being applied by my armour but that didn’t happen. I lifted my left leg and thought to see my pipbuck, bringing it out. I turned my head so my left eye could focus on it and scrolled through to my status screen and moaned when I found that I had no healing potions in my suit’s medical unit. Fuck.
While I whined from the pain I soon became aware of a soft pink glow.
“Hey, I think the regeneration talisman has kicked in” Zyon said.
I looked around for something reflective and found a shop next to where we had our fight with the wretches with an intact window. I walked up to it and was greeted with my reflection, albeit slightly blurred from the grime. He was right, the deep cuts on my neck and face were glowing with the pink glow that I recognised from Motor Runner’s talisman and as I watched they were closing. My vision blurred as sight in my right eye began to return before I finally had my vision back. I smiled with happiness that I had got my eye back but that smile turned to a frown as I noticed that although the talisman closed my deep wounds I was still left with scars.
“My pretty face” I whined as I saw the several scars now littering my neck and face.
“It doesn’t look that bad” Zyon said with a smirk. “Stallions dig mares with scars”
“Yeah sure” I scowled as I began to walk ahead.
I now had three scars crossing over my right eye, two parallel scars on my left cheek under my eye and up to my ear and on my neck I had three parallel scars that cut across my neck from when I pulled the wretch off me and three small dots on the other side from the other wretch that had clung to me. They are going to think I’ve been in a war when we get back to Stable 24.
We decided to walk the rest of the way as twice in a row my hoof had stuck to the floor and resulted in us being attacked. We were now passing the cafes. One of the cafes was boarded up as if it went out of business before the war and the other we were passing had lets of tables and chairs out which were surrounded by a red rope. It looked like it was having its best year before the bombs fell. Its weird how one can be doing so badly and the one on the other side of the road could be doing so well. I frowned with a depressing thought in my head as up ahead I saw a pram sitting next to a chair with a skeleton slumped against the table next to it. Poor baby.
We reached the pram and were passing it when I heard a strange hissing sound which was followed by a ding.
“That sounds like a bomb arming because I’ve heard that before somewhere” Zyon said as he began to look around.
The hissing was followed by the scariest sound I’ve ever heard in a long time. A foal crying. We immediately looked at the pram and inside it we saw a foal doll head with glowing red eyes and wires coming out of the neck and they were all connected to three armed landmines.
“Holy shit” We both screamed and bolted up the road as fast as we could. We only just managed to clear the blast radius by the time the timer ended and the pram along with the table and chairs it was next to went up with a loud boom which shattered the rest of the café’s windows.
“Who the fucking hell would use a foal’s cry for a fucking trap?” I screamed as my head filled with horrific images of someone torturing a foal and recording the cry.
My heart was pounding from the scare and the adrenaline as we entered the vast carriage park in front of the shopping complex. This was one huge open space with lots of old rusting hunks of old chariots, carriages and sky carriages and all in multiple levels of degeneration. We came around an old chariot with a blurred Baltimare sticker on its bumper and I heard a snap. I looked down at my fore hooves and found that I had stepped on a string that had been pulled taught between two pieces of metal.
“Oh crap a tripwire” I cried out in warning.
There was then a small pop from the chariot beside us. Zyon quickly looked under it and then quickly pulled himself up and turned to me with a very fearful gaze.
“Run” He yelled and with that we both began to gallop as fast as we could towards Currys.
We didn’t look back as we focused on the doors a head of us. We dodged and weaved between parked chariots and carriages as we made our way through the maze of wreckage as the trap we had triggered exploded. The explosion was huge. I felt the vibration of the shockwave through the floor but then we hear more explosions. The trap set off a domino effect and the chariots and carriages in the carriage park were blowing up one by one.
We made it to Currys and dove through the open glass doors. We found ourselves inside a double entrance as there were more doors in front of us which still had glass in them and were sealed shut. We needed to get into cover before the chariots out in front of the store went up. Looking around we found that there was an alcove made up by the brick and steel sheet coated wall and we took cover behind it. We made ourselves as small as possible as the explosions drew near.
“Here they come” Zyon yelled as the outside exploded violently. We were blinded for brief moment as the chariots outside detonated with magical energy and the explosive shockwave caused the glass doors to shatter. I pulled myself up and moaned as my hearing was dominated by a loud ringing. I could barely hear anything at all as we approached the glass strewn floor. I looked in through the now open doors. I slowly scanned the vast store and found that it was mostly intact and didn’t seem to have been looted at all as I could still clearly see electrical goods on the many shelves and aisles.
“It looks clear” I yelled over the ringing.
Zyon nodded and walked in first. The ringing in my ears began to subside as I began to walk through the doorframe and into Currys itself. By the time I pulled my last leg into the store I had my hearing back and that’s when I heard another tripwire and that was instantly followed by a shotgun blast and a lot of dings as the shotgun trap had peppered my ass.
“Oh fuck me” I screamed in fright from the sudden blast to my ass.
“Are you alright?” Zyon asked as he turned around on the spot.
“Fuck, yeah, I’m fine. It just hit my flank armour” I said as I turned to the source of the shot.
Bolted into a small frame and with a servo motor connected to the trigger and an Arcane-Fusion Cell is a Combat Shotgun. Ohh that’s a decent gun. The trap was fastened to the door frame so anyone who walked in would trigger it like I did. Luckily for me it was my hind hoof that caught the tripwire so the shotgun got my backside instead of my face.
“Umm, Zyon can you get that shotgun out of that please” I asked while I stared at the black weapon. A Combat Shotgun is a decent close range weapon and its twenty shell drum and being semi-automatic made it a very deadly weapon for close range combat.
“Sure no problem” He said as he whipped out his screwdriver and began to undo the screws holding it in. Within two seconds of his quick worksponyship the gun was freed and he hoofed it to me.
“Thank you” I smiled as I took it in my magic. My pipbuck registered it and it also told me why such a good shotgun was left to be used as a trap. It had zero rounds in its drum which meant the shell it fired was its last and that its condition was at four percent. I frowned as if I reloaded the weapon and tried to fire it, it would likely explode in my face. I best put it away for later and so it disappeared into my flank storage units.
The inside of Currys was absolutely enormous. I bet it could fit a full sized hoofball field in here plus a row of terraces. I looked up and the ceiling was so high up it could have likely hosted an indoor Wonderbolts Derby.
“Wow this place is huge” I commented as we passed the checkouts and followed a path marked on the old carpeted floor to the central aisle that divided the store into two halves with horizontal aisles.
“Before the bombs fell Currys was one of Equestria’s biggest domestic electrical goods retailers”
We followed the central aisle all the way up to the back wall while looking up and down each horizontal aisle so we could get an idea as to where to look when we check the shopping list. At the end of the central aisle we came to the back wall which was covered in flat screen TVs. Some of them where on stands that were sitting on like glass coffee tables.
“Boy, I would have loved to have had one of these in my bedroom” I said as I looked over a old forty two inch HD TV.
“Heh yea, then you could watch the same old shit over and over in high definition”
“Well, better than reading the same shit over and over or staring at the ceiling and slipping slowly into madness” I giggled.
I moved over to another TV that was a larger size but also had a small camera mounted to the top. A plastic corner piece was sitting on the TV’s upper left corner and inside the plastic it held a small triangle leaflet that said that this model was a smart TV. All of a sudden every single TV came to life, some exploding from receiving power for the first time in decades, and each one showed me looking back out across the store.
“Holy shit” I shrieked as I jumped back in fright. “Someone is watching us”
“Calm down, it’s that camera on the TV” Zyon said as he pointed a hoof to the smart TV with the camera.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I calmed down from the sudden fright.
“But who turned them on?” Zyon asked as he was looking around the TV.
I looked around but my EFS was clear.
“Trap?” I asked.
“I dunno, I can’t see anything that could have been the trigger”
We didn’t have much time to ponder on this as the TVs began to explode. We back peddled to get away from the TVs as one by one they exploded in a shower of sparks.
“Let’s just get the things she needs and get out of here” I said as I checked the list.
The list said we needed to pick up a bunch of things that didn’t make sense to me. Speakers, Hi-Fi Stereos, Telephones, a games console, the sound and video cards from some computers, a VCR and a few other things. It sounded like a load of junk. Well, if she needs this shit to make the signal jammer then who am I to complain?
Zeta was right about this store having everything we needed. We were finding everything on the list pretty easily. The store had been divided so that each section would hold a specific type of product. In ten minutes we had picked up everything we needed apart from a Telephone which was on an aisle close to the checkouts. We turned onto the aisle and stopped. The aisle was filled to the brim with phones.
“Err, which phone does she want?” I asked.
“Let’s just grab a few of the more expensive sort” Zyon reasoned.
As we walked up the aisle looking up and down the shelves for any good phones, one of them that looked like a chameleon on a branch began to sing a song. The sudden blast of music and jerky movement from the chameleon phone scared the living daylights out of us. Just as quickly as it begun the phone went silent like nothing ever happened.
“What the fuck?” I practically screamed.
“Is someone fucking with us?” Zyon asked as he looked around.
“My EFS is still clear”
“What the hell is going on?”
“Let’s just get the phones go”
He nodded and we continued on. We got scared several more times as at random a phone would ring. The last phone we came to that rung I snapped. I lashed out with my cybernetic hoof as I swung it up to whack the ringing phone. From the anxiety caused by the fright and annoyance of these stupid things I suppose my magical impulses must have put my leg into overdrive or something as the hoof tore through the metal shelf and sent the ringing phone flying into the air before it crashed down somewhere in the store. The crash of the phone was followed by an ear shattering avalanche of junk as the phone must have caused a set of shelves to collapse.
“Whoops” I said blinking at the hole in the shelf.
“Damn, maybe we should get Zeta to tone it down a bit. I wouldn’t like to get a slap from you with that. It could take my bloody head off”
Not wanting to get scared by another random phone ringing me and Zyon just grabbed a hoofful of phones we could reach. My EFS alerted me that we had acquired all the items we came for.
“That’s everything”
“Good, let’s get the fuck out of here”
“I second that” I said.
We left Currys through the shattered exit doors and into a warzone. The carriage park was strewn full of wreckages that were all burning. It literally looked like a war had just been fought.
“Damn” I said to myself out loud as I looked at the damage I caused. It was me since I stepped on the wire.
We began to trot through the wreckage. It turned out to be like a maze of metal as we worked our way through it. It took us about half an hour to make it to the street to head back to the hospital. It was around noon as we walked down the street. We walked in high alert to be sure we wouldn’t get attacked again by the sires or wretches. While I was looking at an old record store my hoof magnet activated again and I found myself flat on my face for the third time today. Zyon began to chuckle at my misfortune but I gave him a deadly death glare and he quickly shut up.
“Hehe, sorry”
I pulled myself back up and rubbed my cheek when my hoof when it decided to let go of the floor.
“So help me, if this happens again I won’t be held responsible” I growled as I began to storm off.
The rest of the trip back to the hospital went pretty much uneventful, thankfully.
“I was worried you had gotten hurt or worse?” Zeta asked as she approached us when we got back.
“Ah fuck” I screamed as Zeta just came out of nowhere.
“Is she alright?”
“We’ve had quite the trip, Currys was full of surprises like TVs turning on by themselves and phones randomly ringing which scared us half to death”
“Ah, I see you found some of the Jokers old gags” Zeta said as she turned to head back into the hospital.
“Jokers?” I asked
“Before they left the city they were a gang of raiders that loved to play practical jokes. They left behind lots of traps to continue their jokes. Half of them were lethal…”
“Yeah we ran into some of them” I said remembering the pram trap and the carriage park. I'll never look at a pram the same way again.
“Yes, and some where just to give someone a scare”
I gave an exasperated sigh at that, remembering the phone I sent flying.
“I take it you ran into a lot of those”
“Yeah, that store was full of them” Zyon said with a roll of his eyes.
It was at that moment I decided to change the subject. “Here, we got the things you needed” I said as I levitated the bag of things to her. Once she grabbed the bag with her freaky neck arms I stormed off. From everything that had happened this morning, I was fed up.
XXXXX
I took some deep breaths to calm myself. I had been fighting to keep myself from bursting with the rage that filled me after we got back. All the traps going off on us today had really struck something with me. I guess it must have been a result of the Ursa-Trap. That was a bad move. My head filled with images of the trap clamping down on my leg, the pain that followed and finally it costing me my leg. I looked down at my synthetic leg while I sat on the hospital roof. My nostrils flared with anger as I began to breathe more deeply. It was my fault I lost my damn leg. My fucking fault. I didn’t look where I was going, I didn’t check the grass and I just fucking stepped in it.
Something snapped in me. I just saw red as I stared at an old ventilation vent and jumped at it. I screamed with rage for myself as I took out my anger on the vent. I used both my fore hooves to beat and flatten the thin metal. I was aware of the dark magic shift as I beat the crap out of the vent. It’s my fucking fault this happened to me. I stood over the beaten flat vent, panting in frustration as I couldn’t bash it anymore. I dropped to my haunches as I panted with tears in my eyes. I looked down at my cybernetic limb and it finally hit me.
“I’m not a pony anymore…”
I blinked as the reality of my situation hit home.
“I’m a cyborg, I’ve lost my equinity”
I broke down then and there. I went from raving mad to crying in despair. I don’t know how long I had been on the roof crying but by the time I cried myself dry Zyon had found me with something on his back.
“Ah, here you are, the jammer is done” He said as he approached me. “Hey are you alright?”
I wailed at him about how I lost my leg, how it was my fault and how I wasn’t a pony anymore. He tried his best to comfort me. Telling me it wasn’t my fault and that I was still a pony. I didn’t believe him of course. I did manage to stop crying, because I had no tears left to shred, but I still felt like shit inside.
I spent a few minutes recollecting myself. I still felt bad but at least I managed to pull myself together enough to function.
I lifted my pipbuck and turned on the broadcaster and tuned it to Wirbelwind’s frequency.
“Wirbelwind, do you read me?” I asked, still sounding a bit down.
“Paladin Longshot? Thank goodness you’re alright. I was getting worried with how long it was taking”
“I’m fine” I lied. “Can you come and pick us up. We are on the roof of the hospital”
“Roger that”
“We’ll be going home in a few” I said turning to Zyon and then jumping nearly out of my armour to find Zeta stood with him. How the fuck she didn’t make a single sound approaching us I will never know.
“Sorry, I wanted to wish you farewell and good luck in your struggle against the machine” She said with a friendly smile on her holographic face. “And please don’t tell ponies about me”
I put on the best smile I could muster despite how I felt. “I swear Zeta; I won’t mention you to anyone other than our friends who already know”
She smiled warmly. “Thank you, oh, your ride is here”
Me and Zyon looked up to see Wirbelwind coming in for a landing. I looked back to where Zeta had been standing to say good bye but she was gone. I blinked in shock and confusion at how she pulled a Batmare, by that I mean how she disappeared without us noticing.
The ex-Enclave pegasus touched down and came to a halt just in front of us.
“Its good to see you guys” He said with a relieved smile.
“It’s good to see you too” I said as I used my magic to open the door to the chariot.
“Let’s go back to twenty four” Zyon said as he followed me into the chariot.
“Yes sir” Wirbelwind said as he beat his wings and pulled the chariot back into the air and with another burst from his wings we were on our way back towards our safe heaven under the streets of Trottingham.
During the flight, my thoughts continued to berate me for my stupidity at the loss of my leg. No matter what Zyon or any other pony would say, it won’t change the fact I lost a part of myself. A part of me was broken.
XXXXX
Fort Battalion
The Krogoth was fully under its own control again and had managed to setup new psychic blocks to help further prevent repeat of its eariler break down. The machine scanned over the fort as it approached. The Krogoth's large eyes took in everything it could see of the old artillery base. It appeared the fort had been taken over by a gang of raiders and from the jackets the Krogoth could see them wearing they were known as the "Gunslingers". From the limited information the Krogoth had on the raider gangs it knew that these raiders were some of the more normalish ponies but had a thing for projectile weaponry.
The Gunslingers all stared at the giant Steel Ranger as it approached. Their mouths hung open as they stared at the weapons mounted on the machine.
"Oh yeah, that thing will make us the top dogs" Said a Gunslinger who was stupid enough to think they could take it.
"Boys, arm yourselves. We will have a hell of a fight on our hooves" A larger pony, around the size of Big Macintosh stood tall at the end of a large gun barrel of base's signature artillery emplacement.
At their leader's words the gunslingers scattered to near by weapon racks and retrieved small projectile weapons. Some of the weapons picked up were small hoofcannons, small portable weapons capable of launching a high explosive shell.
The Krogoth crushed the perimeter fence to the base as it entered the old base.
"Attack" Ordered the leader.
All the gunslingers unleashed their weapons. Most of the gunslingers fired high explosive weapons. They all focused their fire on the machine's head. Small explosions obscured the Krogoth's vision as the small shells detonated on its armour. The gunslingers weapons weren't strong enough to penetrate the machine's battleship standard armour and so they just left behind small splash damage marks.
"Cease fire"
The guns stopped and a deadly silence fell over the base as the gunslingers just stared as the smoke obscuring the machine soon drifted away. There was an audible gasp from the gathering of ponies as they stared in shock that their guns didn't do anything at all.
"That's impossible" The leader yelled. He caught the sound of a gattling gun starting up and he quickly turned on his heels and bolted down the huge barrel.
"Fire anything you can at it, kill it" He screamed as he dove down through an open hatch in the top of the turret.
The gunslingers grabbed anything that could be considered as a big gun. Missile Launchers, 50cal rifles and even 120mm Anti-Dragon Cannons. While the gunslinger leader was busy getting himself into the turret's control centre his gang was being decimated by the overwhelming firepower of the Krogoth. He seated himself into the control seat and powered up the gun.
"Let's see if you can stomach a forty six centimeter shell to the chest" He said as he turned the wheels to turn the turret and raise one of the two barrels to aim at the Krogoth.
The Krogoth had just finished slaughtering the gunslingers on the ground with its machinegun when it got a threat warning. It looked up and at the turret in time to see one of its gun barrels aimed right for its chest.
"Eat this" He yelled as he hit the trigger. There was a thunderous boom as the turret fired its huge thousand pound shell. The Krogoth didn't have time to anything before it felt the impact against its chest. The shell only just managed to penetrate through the three feet of armour and collided with the heavily reinforced armoured Crusader chamber in the chest which it failed to penetrate. Shortly after the penetration there was a powerful explosion that filled in inside of the Krogoth's chest cavity. A jet of flames burst out through the hole blown into its chest.
"Warning, warning, foreleg control malfunction"
The explosion and the heat of the fire that rushed through and around the Krogoth's chest cavity burned away at the Krogoth's internal components. Suddenly the magical glow in the Krogoth's forelegs faded out as they were no longer receiving any input from the crusader. Being unable to support its own weight without any control to its forelegs it fell to its chest with its dead forelegs collapsing under it.
The leader climbed out of the turret. Without a fire crew to reload the turret he decided to take the opportunity of downing the Krogoth to make a break for it. He didn't look back as he broke into a run to get as far away from the mechanical monstrosity as he could.
"Self repair system initiated. Repairing foreleg control units"
The machine raised its head to see the last raider make a run for it.
"Target fleeing...target locked"
One of the Krogoth's huge missile pods turned and aimed slightly up. Suddenly one of the large missiles fired out and arced in the air before it began to come down. The leader looked behind him just in time to see a big black, red tipped missile come roaring down at him.
"No!" He screamed before he was engulfed in an almighty explosion as the missile collided with the ground just behind him.
"All threats annihilated"
It took the Krogoth about half an hour to repair and reconnect its damaged leg control systems and pull itself back up onto its hooves. It tested its forelegs for a moment before it turned to what put the gaping hole in its chest. The large artillery cannon.
"Target identified as Luna Grade, forty six centimeter artillery battleship class deck gun"
A magical glow began to surround the turret as the Krogoth activated its assimilation spell. A teeth grating screech filled the air as the massive four thousand tonne turret was lifted out of its concrete base. The huge turret floated up into the air and rotated so its huge gun barrels pointed directly up to Celestia's sun and then it began to break apart. What the Krogoth didn't need it let them fall to the floor. Everything else began to float around the Krogoth as it dismantled all it needed from the turret and once it had all it needed from it they closed into the machine before being absorbed.
Nothing happened for a couple of minutes but then a hole appeared in the Krogoth's armour above the shoulder armour and two long gun barrels extended out until they sat just in line with the Krogoth's nose. The gun barrels rose and fell as the Krogoth tested how well they could pivot. They couldn't fall any lower than the default horizontal but could rise up to an elevation of fifty degrees which would allow the machine to fire its new armament great distances. Before the Krogoth absorbed the turret it knew it had a range of at least twenty eight miles but the Krogoth wouldn't be able to get that range as its scanners couldn't detect anything from such an extreme distance so its artillery support was limited to its current scanner range which was still around ten miles. The machine made a mental note to correct that soon.
The Krogoth used its reclamation spell to reabsorb the spent ammunition while also gathering up the shells its new artillery cannons would need. After taking all the ammo it needed the Krogoth decided to perform a test fire. It calculated the distance from the base to the house in which Short Circuit had taken the machine in her brief period of control. The house was within the machine's ten mile scanner range and it inputted the target's distance into the firing solution and took aim. One of the huge forty six centimeter cannons tilted up by twenty degree and let loose a thunderous boom as it fired its shell.
"Forty six centimeter artillery cannons online"
The Krogoth turned to the west and began to head back towards the ruins of Canterlot.
XXXXX
The deadly silence of Uddersfield was shattered when a tremendous explosion demolished a pair of semidetached houses. The Krogoth's shot came short but it was close enough to destroy the home of its mind's captive.
Author Notes: Its been a long time since I last updated my story and I deeply apologies for the long wait. So my faithful readers, please enjoy this chapter and please comment, I would love your feedback.
Fallout Equestria Broken Steel
Chapter 20: Luna Gardens
“Is this it, this is supposed to be the MAS facility we’ve been sent to for a rescue mission?” Zyon asked as we all stood looking at what could only be described as a run down shack in the middle of nowhere.
Shortly after we returned to Stable twenty four after our visit with Zeta we were approached by McNamare as we entered the atrium. As the elder approached us a group of scribes took the signal jammer from Zyon after they told him they were to keep it secure. McNamare was for a moment taken aback as she saw me sporting fresh scars all over my face and neck. Her slightly surprised and wide eyes asked the unspoken question. “What the hell happened to you?”
“We got attacked by a pack of wretches” I said with a sigh.
She nodded her head with understanding before she spoke up. “I’m glad you returned now as you did. About two hours ago we received a distress signal over the Steel Ranger emergency channel. The Ranger calling the distress said they had been sent to some MAS facility to the west of here in what used to be the Great Plains. He had said they were under attack by an unknown enemy and were being forced deeper into the facility and that their weapons were proving largely ineffective. Before we lost contact he almost begged for help with the level of desperation we could hear in his voice. I don’t have any available squads I can spare at this moment to send on a rescue mission but now that you’ve returned. Can you go to the facility and assist in anyway you can?”
I looked at Zyon who shrugged as he didn’t care.
“Certainly ma’am”
“Thank you, grab something to eat and I’ll have the details sent to you before you leave” She said before she turned and walked back towards the room being used as the Overmare’s Office.
“You do realise there is a giant robot on the loose” Zyon said with a roll of his eyes.
“I know, but until we have an army on our side we can’t really go against it. It’ll be suicide” I countered.
Later we met up with the rest of our friends and I took a moment to see my daughter who was peacefully fast asleep. Seeing her sleeping was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. While we were in the canteen getting something to eat my cybernisation was revealed and Zyon did his best to explain while keeping things to a minimum. I even told them about my break down on the roof and Motor Runner gave me a knowing look. As he gave that look my eyes trailed down to his own cybernetic leg and I couldn’t help but wonder how he felt inside to be made part machine. I know he mentioned something along those lines when we confronted him in the Hangar but deep down, he must have felt just as I did. Something else we share together.
Just as we were finishing our meals one of the scribes delivered a print out from a computer that had the details of the new mission and its exact location thanks to the transmission being traced. Because we were being sent to rescue Steel Rangers we needed something capable of transporting ponies, something bigger than the bandit we once used. Thankfully with the addition of some ex-Enclave ponies the Applejack Rangers now had a Vertibuck we could use. Sky Fire opted to join us again as the injuries that were of a more critical condition had been taken care of and the current medical team could handle things and Rainstorm was still willing to look after Blueberry Muffin. I swear when this is all over I’ll spoil her for missing out on her early days.
So we restocked on supplies, boarded the Vertibuck and took off for the MAS facility. Sky Fire and Wirbelwind pulled the heavy armoured Enclave vehicle at a quick pace. It took us about twenty minutes of this high speed flight to make it to our destination. I guess we all had our own ideas to what the facility was going to be but none of us expected to find what we did.
I looked at my now unarmoured cybernetic foreleg as my pipbuck popped out. I had the section of armour that had been added to my suit removed as the armour against the cybernetic foreleg grinded something horrible as I walked.
“Um, yes, this is the place alright. The co-ordinates point to this exact spot”
“So, where’s the MAS facility?”
“Good question” Sky Fire said as she approached.
CD bobbed near my head as he stared ahead at the run down shack. He may also be as puzzled as we were. Suddenly he beeped and turned to me just as a voice burst from his speakers.
“Paladin Longshot, do you read?” Asked the voice of a mare.
“I read, go ahead” I replied instinctively, that old training never goes away.
“You best get out of sight now, the K-01 is heading right for you” She shrieked. I didn’t have to ask who she was and to know about the Krogoth as it was obvious she was a Ranger or Scribe back at twenty four.
“Shit, where?”
“It’s heading due west, approaching your position; it’ll be on you in ten minutes”
I quickly turned to East and sure enough on the horizon was the silhouette of the giant machine.
“Oh shit!”
I quickly spun around to our two pegasi. “You two, take the Vertibuck to a safe distance and keep out of sight, we’ll need that for extraction once we retrieve the Rangers”
They nodded, rehitched themselves to the vehicle and took off.
“The rest of us get inside”
I opened the door with my magic and left Motor Runner, Zyon and CD in before I followed suit and closed the door.
“Well this is cosy” Zyon remarked as we had entered into a huge one room shack. One corner acted as a kitchen, the centre had a dining table, the back wall in the middle had a brick fireplace with some candles on it and the right side of the room was the living room and bedroom. The whole place was covered in a thick layer of dust that covered almost everything and no sign of an MAS facility.
“This is bullshit” Zyon moaned as we had run into a dead end.
“The Krogoth may have already seen us with its scanners but even if it hasn’t it’ll just demolish this place by treading on it” Motor Runner said as he approached a window on the right side wall. In the minute or two it took for us all to get inside the machine had closed the gap considerably.
“The direction marker is pointing right here” I said as I approached the table in the middle of the room. Hmm, the table has a line going down the middle of it. I looked up from the table and looked around. “There has to be something here, the co-ordinates came from the transmission so it has to be here”
We all began to look around to find something, anything that could help us out. Motor Runner approached the brick fireplace and began to examine it while I was interested in the table with the line dividing it. I placed my hooves on it and tried to push but found it surprisingly fixed the floor somehow. “The hell?”
“Hey, one of these candle sticks has been recently disturbed” He said as he looked to a candle stick on the far right of the fireplace.
“Yeah, so what?” Zyon asked looking under a lampshade.
Motor Runner didn’t answer, he lifted his cybernetic hoof and his small manipulator arms extended from the sole of his hoof to grasp the stick. As the little robotic claws gripped the stick the ground began to shudder. With ever second that ticked by the shudders grew stronger and dust and fragile parts of the old run down shack began to fall. Motor Runner pulled the stick towards him. The base was fixed to the fireplace but on a hinge and as he pulled there was a click and the ground began to rumble with a metallic groan.
“What the hell?”
The table began to split and move apart. I quickly jumped to one side to avoid having to do the splits as the floor opened up. After a good minute there was a gaping huge hole in the middle of the room with an elevator platform now sitting in the middle of the hole. A section of the floor then extended towards the platform which bore the logo of Stable-Tec in the centre.
“I take it we take the elevator down to the facility” I said as I hurriedly climbed onto the platform and was quickly followed by my two friends and the little robot as the ground shudders were beginning to feel like an earthquake. I looked around the platform for a second to find a switch or button and found a red button in one corner of the platform and pressed it with my cybernetic hoof. The platform shuddered vertically before it began to slowly descend into the earth via a deep concrete shaft filled with red lights all the way down.
“C’mon, c’mon” Zyon moaned while he looked up just in time to see the elevator doors close to conceal the shaft. Just as the doors closed there was an almighty crash from above. One of the Krogoth’s legs must have torn through the building. Just as we all thought we just dodged a bullet there was another mighty crash as one of the machine’s hooves slammed down onto the shaft cover. The weight of the machine’s hoof overwhelmed the door structure and one of the doors gave way and fell into the shaft and began to fall down towards us, banging and crashing off of the shaft walls as it hurtled towards us.
“Oh cock”
I spread and braced my legs as I threw my magic up to the falling sheet of metal. I felt my magic grab the heavy steel and I then tried to move the falling metal to one side. I gritted my teeth with the strain.
“Argh, c’mon, MOVE” I screamed up at it.
I could feel sweat forming on my forehead as I concentrated on my magic. The magical aura around my horn grew brighter as I poured all my magic into my telekinetic spell. The broken hatch bounced off the wall with a loud bang and while it was in mid air I was able to pull the door to the opposite side of the shaft. I gasped when it hit the wall and my magic gave out and I collapsed to my knees panting heavily.
“That’s fucking heavy” I panted just as the door slammed into the elevator platform opposite us.
The platform lurched, tilting down on the side the hatch door slammed into and sent us all flying into the air before we all crashed back down onto the lopsided platform. There was a violent shudder as the platform seemed to catch on something and it stopped.
“Oh that can’t be good” Zyon moaned as he picked himself up.
I sat up and looked at the door sitting on the platform. Thankfully it was leaning back against the wall of the shaft and appeared to have settled. At least it wasn’t going to fall on us.
“I fear the Krogoth will want to examine this” Motor Runner said as he looked up to the top of the shaft. I followed his gaze and saw that the shaft was blocked by a giant metal hoof.
“We got nowhere to hide down here”
Just then the elevator shuddered violently.
“What was that?”
Zyon stepped over to the edge of the platform and looked down.
“We are about fifty feet from the bottom and it looks like the motors are still trying to pull us down and…” He was cut off as there was a metallic boom and the platform suddenly fell back level as it dropped a few feet. “…it’s about to fail” he finished lamely.
The sudden movement caused the broken hatch cover to move and it was starting to fall over. There was another loud bang and the elevator suddenly began to free fall. We all went airborne as the platform fell from below us, including the hatch cover which thankfully got wedged by two of its corners into the concrete shaft walls. We fell for only a few seconds and then slammed into the platform just as it met the ground with a dusty bang. We all let out cries of pain from slamming into the solid steel platform.
“No more elevators” Zyon moaned as he picked himself up.
“I second that” I added.
We picked ourselves up and looked around. We were now at the bottom of the shaft and looking around there was only one tunnel leading out of the elevator. On the wall beside the entrance to the tunnel was a direction arrow but the rust and grime that caked it left whatever the sign said illegible.
“Everypony alright?” I asked with a groan as I stood up on my hooves.
“Yeah, just dandy” Scoffed Zyon.
“I’m ok, thank you” Motor Runner said as he stood tall on his long legs. Damn he’s handsome.
I felt a weight settle on my head and looked up to see CD sitting in my hair. “Glad you’re ok little guy” I said with a smile. CD replied with a soft beep.
I opened my mouth to say something else when the entire shaft shook with a violent shudder.
“What was that?” Zyon asked as he looked around.
My gaze turned skyward when the sound of grinding metal and concrete reached my ears. As I looked up past the hatch cover jammed into the shaft I could see the Krogoth’s massive hoof wiggling.
“The Krogoth is trying to pull its hoof free”
Suddenly there was another violent tremor as the Krogoth put all its strength into its hind leg and yanked its hoof free. The force of the hoof being removed shattered the concrete walls in which it had been stuck in and the broken portions of the shaft began to tumble down the shaft towards us.
“Oh shit”
Large pieces of steel and concrete bashed and bounced off the shaft as they fell towards us, making an horrific symphony of breaking concrete and grinding metal and then the sound of steel being violently battered as the falling debris dislodged the hatch cover.
“MOVE” I screamed as I used my magic to secure CD on my head as we all took off down the dark tunnel.
We made it about ten feet down the tunnel when the debris slammed into the elevator floor. Dust blew down the tunnel which obscured our limited vision more and made us start to cough as the dust filled our breaths. It took a minute of running and letting the dust settle before we could breathe again. I came to a stop as the tunnel opened up into a large room which was bitch black and none of us could see more than a hoot into the dark. Despite the dark there was a single green light that was coming from the wall and a wall mounted terminal.
Motor Runner approached the terminal and using his manipulators in his hoof he accessed the terminal.
“Restoring power” He said and soon a hum began to fill the air as the old lights began to turn on. They slowly grew brighter and brighter until the room was bathed in a dull yellowish light and revealed to us the most bizarre scene I reckon any of us have ever seen before.
“The fuck is this?” Zyon asked raising and eyebrow at what was in front of us.
In front of us were plants. Healthy and exotic plants, plants I’ve seen in the old history and nature books from my stable. Plants that once grew in the old world, plants that shouldn’t be here and further more, plants growing out of the stable door that was being held half open by three huge thick vines or tree trunks. Looking around I saw patches of dirt with more plants growing out of them and then my eyes fell on a sign that was filthy with grime that read in big white letters.
“Welcome to Stable 22”
My eyes however lingered on the spray paint that was on the sign; half of it was just nonsense but the graffiti that was in red spray paint however got ALL of our attention, especially the one in bigger letters that read.
“Stay out, the plants KILL!!!”
One thing was clear though.
“This is no MAS Facility, this is a goddess forsaken Stable-Tec Experiment Stable”
“No shit, just what the fuck were they doing here and why are there so many plants?” Zyon asked.
“I don’t know but…” I looked at my EFS compass and saw the direction marker for our objective to be pointing at the half open door. “…We have to go in there to find those Rangers”
“What if we find them, how the hell are we suppose to get out of here huh, the elevator is fucked?”
“I don’t know, perhaps there is another way out of this Stable”
Zyon opened his mouth to argue back but was interrupted by Motor Runner as he took the lead with his chainsaw sticking out of his leg.
“We have no choice but to see if there is another way and some Stables had been made with alternative entrances and exits in case of emergencies”
“Ugh, fine”
I walked up to lead us since my EFS was telling me where to go but Motor Runner stopped me from passing him by gently holding out his leg to stop my advance.
“I would feel better if you stayed behind me while in here” He said in a soft but forceful tone.
I nodded to him and decided to not question him as we made our way to the half open door. I realised that if we ran into anything we’ll be subjected to close quarters combat and a melee or short range weapon would be the best type of weapon to use so I found my shotgun in my storage unit and pulled it out and held it in my magic to hover just next to my head. I heard the sound of Zyon’s sword coming out of its sheath as he held it ready in his mouth.
We entered the Stable and were immediately struck with how grimy it was and with how the plants were growing out of the walls, floors, ceiling and anything with a hole in it. The entrance layout was just the same as most stables and had a single door at the back of the room that led to the Stable proper. We approached the door and Motor Runner pressed the door control and it slid open with a metallic hiss.
The corridor stretched on for about twenty feet before it ended with a door directly in front of us, an alcove to our right with a Sparkle-Cola machine sitting in it and a set of stairs to our left that led down deeper into the stable. The door in front of us was another elevator.
“An elevator…, looks to have been jury rigged by the looks of the control panel” Motor Runner observed. He pressed the button to call the lift and we heard the motor as it started to pull the lift back up. There was then a horrible metal grinding noise before a loud bang. The bang was immediately followed by the sound of something heavy falling and scraping against metal before a violent boom shook the walls and floor around us. You don’t have to be a genius to know what just happened. There was then a soft ding and the doors opened to reveal and empty elevator shaft with steel cables that looked to have too much slack in them.
“Fuck elevators” I spat while remembering what happened on the other one.
“Yeah, I ain’t going down no more elevators man” Zyon added.
I looked at the walls and saw that there was map of the Stable which thankfully was still readable. It appeared that the Stable was divided by five levels. The first of which we were on if you can count the entrance and the hallway here a floor.
The map shown: Main Level: Entrance Hall Sub Level 1: Oxygen Recycling Sub Level 2: Food Production Sub Level 3: Common Areas Sub Level 4: Pest Control
I used my tail like a brush to clear some of the grime off the map and began to examine it when Zyon and Motor Runner leaned in to see the map.
“Ok so we have four levels to go through to find the Rangers” I said while looking over the floor plans.
“Hmm, we may also have a way out of this place too” Motor Runner said as he used one of his manipulators to point at two spots on the map, one on Sub Level 1 and one on Sub Level 3. “These look like doors on the outside walls of the stable so I would assume these doors lead to a cave system”
Zyon nodded. “I recognise those from the map of my Stable. We had a door that opened to the sewer system beneath Manechester. So if these doors lead into caves then we might have a way out to the surface”
“Ok, the first door is on the next level down so we might as well check it out first to be sure before we search for the Rangers. No good finding them first without having a way out”
My friends uttered their agreements as we then began to descend the stairs. The stairs turned around and went down a little more until we came to a door at the bottom the stairs. Two mounds of dirt had built up in the corners next to the door frame with ferns growing out of them. This place is getting creepier and creepier by the second.
I hit the door control with my magic and the rusty door slid open with some effort and the first thing we got hit by was the freshness of the air. This wasn’t the dead stale air of the wasteland, this was pure clean oxygen rich air, most likely the closest atmospheric condition of pre-war Equestria we’ll likely ever experience.
“Oh wow, smell that air” Zyon said as we entered the Oxygen Recycling floor.
“I don’t think I’ve ever breathed air so clean”
When we stepped out from the door and we had entered a short hallway. In front of us we could see more stairs heading down, to our right the door to the elevator and to our left another short corridor. We walked down the corridor to the door at the end. Motor Runner pressed the door control and the door slid open and we stepped in. We appeared to have walked into a large lab room. There were three huge thick trees or vines or whatever they are coming out of the floor and up into the ventilation ducks above. There were lots of plants poking out of the walls and the patches of dirt that littered the floor. The room was square in shape and in the middle of each wall was a door and all three of them were open. From where we stood we could see into the hallways outside the doors and they seemed to be free of plants.
“From the map there is a corridor that runs around this lab with multiple rooms. Where we want to go is to our left. There is a corridor that will branch around to another large room and the door is there” Motor Runner said as he began to walk towards the left most door.
The hallway was indeed thankfully free of plants but the rooms that connected to this corridor were full to the brim. The way these rooms were packed with the plants it looked like these rooms were the oxygen farms to produce the oxygen. But that still begs the question, why is this stable so full of plants? It can’t all be for oxygen, wait, how are these plants even thriving in here, plants need sunlight and water, there’s barely any sunlight since the sunlight emulating lighting is down to a minimum through lack of maintenance. How have these plants managed to survive down here for so long?
It took us about five minutes to walk the length of the hallway to the other large lab room with our destination in it. The door was open so we walked in to find the lab to be mostly filled with computers but like the first room we entered it had plants and stuff growing out of holes and patches of dirt. As we looked around we saw the door on the far wall facing the door we entered in.
“You were right, that is an external door” I said as I approached the thick steel door.
Zyon stood in the middle of the room looking around while Motor Runner approached the terminal on the wall beside the door. I looked over the thick steel door and I couldn’t find any manual handles or anything to open it by hoof. I looked up to Motor Runner as he booted the terminal up.
“Ah… well this has gotten more difficult” He said with a frown as he looked away from the terminal.
“What is it?” Zyon asked before I could.
“The door is electronically sealed and requires a card key to open, a key we don’t have”
“Cock” I moaned while I stomped my cybernetic hoof with annoyance.
“Where the hell are we supposed to find a card key in this stable?” Zyon asked. “It could be anywhere”
I sighed. “He’s right” I looked back to the door and noticed that the direction marker was pointing at the door which meant one thing. “Oh for Luna’s sake, the Rangers we are here to rescue are outside”
“What?”
“My EFS is pointing me to the door, they are out there”
“How did they get passed this door?” Zyon asked with confusion.
“There is another door two floors down, perhaps that door isn’t security locked like this one” Motor Runner suggested.
“Alright, so our next course of action is to get down to Sub Level 3: Commons Areas”
“No, the other door may be on Sub Level 3 but the only way to access that door is from Sub Level 4. We will have to go down to the bottom to go back up to reach the door” Motor Runner corrected.
“Ok, hmm hey, isn’t the Overmare’s Office on Sub Level 3?”
“Yes it is, why?” Zyon asked.
“Well, knowing our luck something will be keeping us from getting to that other door and if that’s the case we might as well also check the Overmare’s Office, if the Overmare’s terminal is still working maybe we can find a remote access link to open the door from there”
“Good idea, alright, let's go”
We back tracked to the stairs going down and found that at the bottom was another door. I’m beginning to wonder why these stairs have doors at the bottom of each flight. This door was like the last one from the stairs above with plants growing out of mounds of dirt in the corners but also there were plants hanging out of the ventilation duct above the door. Motor Runner pressed the door control and the door opened.
The hallway was like the one above but since we came down from the opposite side the hall stretched out to our right rather than left. This floor seemed to be more over grown as there were plants poking out of the ceiling and just down the corridor where it splits into at a T junction we could see a large mound of dirt with plants growing out of it forming like a hedge in the corridor leading away to the left of the hall. There was also one other difference from the floor above, whispering. We could all hear a whispering, but none of us could tell what was being said or what was making it or where it was coming from.
“Everypony can hear that right?” Zyon asked as we stepped out onto Sub Level 2: Food Production.
“Yeah” I confirmed.
“Oh good so it’s not just me”
“Hey guys, should we explore this level?”
“I don’t know, we don’t know how long those Rangers will last against whatever they were attacked by”
“I know but, what if the Overmare’s terminal doesn’t work, we would still need to find the card key if the other door is locked too. Who knows, we might find the key here and besides my EFS is showing its clear, no hostile targets”
“Hmm, good point”
“Let’s hurry as well, we don’t want to waste too much time” Zyon added as we began to walk down the corridor.
“I’ll take CD and take the left hallway” I said as we made it to the junction.
“We’ll take the right side” Motor Runner said while Zyon just shrugged.
“Ok, we’ll meet back up here in ten minutes”
“Alright”
CD beeped in an affirmative manner as he began to flutter down the hall ahead of me.
“Hey wait for me” I laughed as I began down the corridor. I took one step and went flat on my face with a painful shriek as my chin collided with the concrete floor. Fuck that hurt.
Motor Runner and Zyon came back to the junction after hearing my heavy fall.
“Are you alright?” Motor Runner asked as I picked myself up on the other side of the dirt mound. Zyon was trying his hardest not to snicker.
I moved my jaw from side to side to work out the kinks after landing on it before I looked back up to the tall purple stallion. “Hmm, yeah I’m good” I moaned.
I looked back down to the thick mound of dirt and plants. I didn’t even bother to look at the plants to see if there was anything that could trip me up or anything as I just expected to walk through it with no problem. I guess I was wrong. “Stupid plants” I thought out loud but as soon as I uttered those words the plants began to move as if something inside them was disturbed. We all froze when a low toned growl came from the plants and then something green began to rise up out of the plants. A back with large leaves sticking up from it pushed up on four legs before a neck and a head with a mane that looked to be made from a spider plant rose up. It turned its head to look at me.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?” I screamed as I moved my shotgun in front of me and took aim on the grass pony thing.
It opened its eyes and I could see nothing but empty black holes in its head where its eyes should have been and then it opened its mouth as it began to roar. Where teeth were suppose to be this thing had hundreds of large thorns as its teeth filling its jaws. I wasted no time and shoved my shotgun into its mouth and pulled the trigger. The buckshot ripped its head to pieces as the buckshot tore through the vegetation. The strange creature buckled and fell to the floor in a heap with the top half of its head destroyed.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?” I repeated just as loudly as the first time.
“I don’t have a clue” Zyon said as he approached it.
“Neither do I, all I can say is that it looks like a pony made out of plants” Motor Runner added.
“You don’t suppose these are what they were doing down here do you?” I asked.
“I couldn’t say”
Zyon opened his mouth to say something when the supposed dead creature began to move again.
“Ah shit, kill it, kill it” I shrieked and jumped back away from it.
Zyon began to swing his sword and began to chop the veg pony into little bitty pieces.
“Sliced and Diced” He remarked once he was done.
Motor Runner looked down at Zyon and gave him an unamused look as he spoke. “Overkill much?” He shook his head and took a breath before continuing to talk.
“Alright this has gotten more dangerous than we first thought. I suppose this unknown enemy that was mentioned might have been these plant things” Motor Runner said as he looked down at the bits of veg pony.
“Yeah it could be. The damn thing didn’t appear on my EFS” I then just had a thought. “Shit, Celestia only knows how many of these things are hiding in the plants”
“We need to proceed with extreme caution”
“Yeah, hmm, if we avoid the thickest clusters of plants we should be fine. This thing only showed itself after I tripped over it”
“Alright, let’s meet back up here in five”
I am officially creeped out now in this place. The constant whispering and now plant ponies, ugh, what next? I shuddered at the thought. CD was fluttering close to me as we continued down the corridor. It looked like another junction was coming up and it would also branch to the right if I kept following it. Hmm must curl around to the main room on this floor like the one above. I stopped at the junction, thankfully with no plants in it and looked left down the hall heading away. I lifted my cybernetic leg to view my pipbuck map. The hall would end with a room after turning right. There is also another room half way down before the bend. I can check these two rooms before taking the other path to follow it around to the main room.
We came to the door of the first room on this path. I turned to CD who was bobbing up and down beside me.
“Are your scanners picking up anything?” I asked him.
CD shook himself while uttering a single low beep which told me he was saying negative.
I used my magic on the door control and the metal door slid open to reveal a huge practically empty room. The room had three large tanks or vats in the middle taking up most of the space. There were plants in here but not as many as outside. From what I can see so far there isn’t enough plants to hide one of those plant pony things. I walked in and began to walk around the vats. The walls were pretty much bare of anything but there was some lab equipment fixed to the wall here and there. I turned a corner after the third vat and saw an open door to a small room at the back of the large room I was in and just after the door I could see a large grouping of plants. I stared at the mass of vegetation, as if trying to see through the leaves and then I saw something. Sticking out of the plants by just an inch I could see something that looked like a green hoof. Not wanting to take my chances with it being nothing I pointed my lever-action shotgun at the mass of plants and fired. My shot echoed throughout the room and down the corridors outside and it was followed by an angry growl as whatever I hit was just disturbed.
“Oh cock and bollocks” I moaned as another, LARGER veg pony came up out of the plants.
CD blared out some rock music and started to fire blue bolts of energy at the beast in rapid succession. The beasty hissed and growled as the energy shots were burning its floral hide. Getting over my shock of the beasty revealing itself I slipped into SATS and toggled up three shots, one for its head and two for its body. After selecting the targets and exiting the spell, time resumed and I unloaded three shots guided by the spell into the beast, the first tore into its chest, opening up several small wounds, the second struck its head and tore away half of the right side of its head and I swear I saw a green brain fall out of the wound and the last hit its chest again and seemed to cause the veg beast to explode as its chest disintegrated. An icon appeared on my HUD telling me I scored a critical hit with the last shot. Nice. I watched as its forelegs fell away from it along with its head since its chest was nothing but shreds. It collapsed to the floor and I watched it for a good minute to be sure it was dead before I resumed my search.
The little room in the back was empty save for a desk with a terminal which was brown from grime but surprisingly the screen was flickering so it was still working. Normally I would take a look to see if it had any intel but since I was in a hurry I left it alone. The desk was pretty bare too but there was one thing that was on the desk with the terminal. A jar sat on the corner with a pink coloured liquid in it. I picked it up with my magic and my pipbuck beeped and then my EFS displayed what I was looking at. It said that the jar I was holding contained a “Food Additive”. Not being a smart mare I didn’t know what the hell that was supposed to mean so I decided to leave it. I turned around and at a brisk pace left the room and headed for the last room on this path.
The door to the room was already open and again this was another large but empty room. This room however had about four tables with terminals on them and that was about it. There were two windows on the back wall looking out into a cavern with plant boxes below them with just soil in them and no plants. In fact this whole room was thankfully plant free.
Suddenly while I was looking around the empty room to see if there was anything at all I heard the sound of Motor Runner’s chainsaw revving up and the scream of something that wasn’t a pony. I decided to abandon the search for the key in this area since it was bare and empty I turned tail and began to gallop down the corridor. My heavily armoured hooves making loud echoing bangs as they struck the concrete floor. When I came to the junction I turned left, slipping on the grimy floor a little at the hard turn and bashing my armoured flank into the wall. I followed the hall around and it did lead into the main room on this floor and just as I entered the large lab I saw Motor Runner pulling his chainsaw leg from the abdomen of another of the veg things.
“Are you guys alright?” I asked as I approached them.
“We are ok” Motor Runner said as he retracted his chainsaw.
“We ran into two more of those grass ponies on our search but no key”
“Yeah, I ran into one as well but found nothing”
“We heard”
“C’mon, lets hurry up and find a way into the caverns, this place is creeping the hell out of me” I whined as I began to lead my friends towards the stairs.
“It doesn’t take much to scare me these days but these grass ponies and this constant whispering is seriously starting to creep me out as well” Zyon added in a shaky tone.
“I would have to agree. I’ve been all over Equestria in my long life, seen and heard things that would make a Steel Ranger shake in his armour but never have I been in a place like this. This fills the criteria of being one of the scariest places in the wasteland”
Wow, even Motor Runner the bullet proof stallion gets scared.
I looked back and gave them my best reassuring smile as I could before again falling flat on my face. This time because of that damn fucking magnet in my synthetic hoof.
“OH FOR THE LOVE OF FUCKING CELESTIA, YOU STUPID FUCKING MAGNET” I screamed in rage as I pulled myself up and began to pull on my cybernetic leg to force the magical magnet off the ground. I grit my teeth as I pulled with all my might. “LET GO” And it did. I swear it waits for me to be a full strain before it releases. Unprepared for the sudden release I ended up loosing my balance and fell backwards and crashed into somepony. Motor Runner gently caught me in his forelegs and held me up so I didn’t crash on my back.
I blushed as I looked up at him. He looked down at me with sympathy in his deep purple eyes which just made me blush harder.
“Are you alright?” He asked with concern.
“Yes, thank you” I said with a goofy smile. He returned my smile and set me back on my hooves, my face as red as a tomato as we continued on. Motor Runner took the lead again as we descended the stairs to reach Sub Level 3.
The door opened and the first thing we saw as we stepped out on the Sub Level 3: Common Areas was that the stairs to Sub Level 4 were blocked by filling cabinets and tables all packed in tightly to form a blockade. There wasn’t a way that we were going to be able to shift it.
“You just had to jinx didn’t you” Zyon moaned. “You just had to say it didn’t you”
I let out an embarrassed chuckle as I looked back to see him also do a facehoof. He’s right though. I did say knowing our luck something would block our path.
“Well, our next course of action then is to reach the Overmare’s Office and see if we can open the door from there” Motor Runner said as he looked down the corridor which ended with an open door and we could see the atrium of the stable beyond and from the greenish haze we could see, the atrium must be like a jungle.
I nodded to him as he took the lead again and we began to make our way towards the atrium. We stepped out into the large open area of the atrium’s upper level. I looked around and saw how plants were growing up through the middle where there three massive trunks or stalks growing up into the ceiling. Well now we know where those huge things were coming from in the upper floors. I approached the railing and looked down to the lower level of the atrium to where the stalks were growing out of. There were three huge flower beds set out in the middle of the atrium with benches around them. Seeing those benches told me that this stable must have been a nice place once with ponies sitting and admiring what used to be beautiful flowers. Oh hello, I see a clinic down there.
“Hey guys there is a clinic down there”
“At least we’ll be able pick up some medical supplies then”
“Overmare’s Office is straight ahead” Motor Runner said moving a head.
Me and Zyon left the railing and began to follow. On the wall to our right a door sat wide open leading into a short corridor and on the wall next to the doorframe was a sign that told us that toilets for mares and stallions were down there and speaking of which.
“Oh hold up, I need to use the little filly’s room” I said as I headed down the corridor and turned right into the toilets for mares. I picked a stall at random and opened the door and then screamed and jumped back. Why, why the fuck did the stall I pick have to have one of those things in it?
“APPLETART” I heard both Zyon and Motor Runner shout as they heard me scream.
The plant pony pounced on me. It knocked me off my hooves and sent me crashing through the stall door behind me and onto my back. The creature stood on me, holding me down and opened its mouth as it prepared to take a bite out of me. As it started to come down to try for my throat I shoved my cybernetic hoof into its mouth and stopped it from biting me. Luckily my cybernetic leg’s outer skin was made from armour plate so its thorn teeth wouldn’t cause any damage.
“Get the fuck off of me” I screamed at it. I felt the surge of energy in my eyes as they changed with my rage. Zyon and Motor Runner burst into the lavatory as I screamed at it again with my teeth gritted. “GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME” I punctuated the last word with my grappling claw coming out. The blades chopped the veg pony’s head into three and they peeled back like a banana skin as I shoved my hoof against it as I also attempted to shove the monster off me.
“Appletart, are you alright?” Zyon asked as the creature toppled over.
“Do I look fucking alright?” I yelled at him, my anger fuelling my outburst. He took a step back as my eyes flashed. There was the sound of shuffling in front of me and I turned my hateful gaze down at the grass pony as its split head started to piece itself back together as it attempted to stand again. “Get the fuck out” I yelled again at Zyon as I then turned to face the creature. “I’m not done with you” I raised my cybernetic leg with the claws still extended and shoved it into its chest, piercing the blades deep into its body and then I extended them, slicing the creatures chest into three. As the creature fell again into three pieces I kicked the pieces away from each other to stop it from piecing itself back together again. I growled looking down at the pieces and then noticed Zyon and Motor Runner still standing in the doorway looking concerned.
“I TOLD YOU TO GET OUT” I yelled as my eyes flashed with energy and I used my magic to hit the door control, causing the door to slam shut in front of them. “Can’t a girl get to do her business in peace?”
I entered a stall that was empty, thankfully and did my thing. While I was alone I was able to calm down, I felt the hatred and anger slip away and the surge in energy in my eyes and horn dissipated returning me to normal and allowing me to think clearly again. Oh Luna not again. I sighed to myself for slipping again.
A few minutes later I had relieved myself and rejoined my friends.
“I’m sorry guys” I said feeling awful for slamming the door shut in their faces and yelling at them with the venom of my hate and rage filling my words.
“Appletart, you really need to get some help, Celestia only knows what your hate and anger will drive you to do in that Dark shift” Zyon said in concern.
“I know I know” I agreed.
“I pretty much understand your pain and I’ll do what I can to help you through it. I’ve had to deal with it myself” Motor Runner offered.
“Thank you, after this is over I’m all yours for that”
I followed my friends as we entered a corridor on the back right wall of the atrium’s upper level as it would take us to the Overmare’s Office. There were several mounds of dirt with some little plants but nothing thankfully that could hide one of those damn creatures. The Overmare’s Office door was wide open and so we entered. In the middle of the room was the Overmare’s desk but it was surrounded by a large mound of soil with lots of plants growing out of it. We approached the mound with caution but thankfully there wasn’t a plant pony in it. Thank Celestia for that. The main Overmare’s Terminal which was on the wall behind the desk was dead but on a table next to the circular window over looking the atrium was another terminal which thankfully was still working.
I approached the table and sat down while I used my magic to wake the computer up from being in standby. The screen flashed and luckily it was already open, no need to hack it, yay. The terminal had three options to open doors but none of them was to open the door we needed, bollocks, and one of the options was to view an audio file marked as “Stable-Tec Directive”
“Anything?” Zyon asked.
“No, just options to open doors for the Living Quarters, Mainframe and a Storage Locker”
“Open the door to the Living Quarters, if the key is anywhere it would likely be in the living quarters of the pony who held it”
“Good idea, opening door now” I said and selected the option.
From the circular window in the office we all could see a door in the bottom right on the lower level of the atrium (our left from entering and our right from the direction we faced in the office) slide open.
“Well that answers the question I was about to ask” Zyon said with a chuckle to himself.
“Let’s see what this directive is” I said, curious to know what the hell was going on down here.
I selected the audio file and it began to play.
“Golden Harvest, this is the Director of Stable-Tech, Scootaloo. I am glad you accepted my offer to be Stable 22’s Overmare. I knew you were the right pony for job. The war is taking a turn for the worst and I, along with my co-directors have made the decision to outfit some Stables with experiments to find out why everything went bad and to find a way for us to continue living in the event everything does go to shit.
This stable, your stable has been fitted with research labs and most of Equestria’s top minds in vegetation sciences have been enlisted to your team. In the event the world is laid to waste we would need a way for our plants to grow in the blasted world after the apocalypse. This is your mission. You and your team are to research how plants grow and to find a way so plants can grow in any environment, be it in total darkness, lack of water, no sun, anything so that plants can still thrive. We hope that you make Project Luna Gardens a success. Good luck”
The audio message ended. It was short but down to the point.
“So, Project Luna Gardens huh”
“I guess they did it, I mean these plants have thrived without anyone caring for them” I said looking at the huge stalks pushing up into the ceiling.
“I’ve heard of Project Luna Gardens before” Motor Runner said placing his organic forehoof to his chin in thought.
“You have?”
“Hmm, yes, I visited an MAS Hub in the past and I remember seeing some of Twilight Sparkle’s notes and one of them talked about something called Luna Gardens. It was basically a rant about how she was deceived and that the project was just an excuse for the scientists to create some sort biological weapon”
“Biological weapon?” I asked in surprise.
“Yes, hmm, if I remember correctly Twilight was one of the ponies involved with the original project as it would need magical assistance and she also seemed to have a great interest in the project for some reason. Anyway, she said she stumbled on plans for making some sort of weapon using the data from the project, not wanting the project to be a weapon she informed the other Ministry Mares and Princess Luna and the project was shutdown”
“Something tells me that this weapon was used down here” I said thinking about those grass ponies.
“It is possible, but there was never a clear description from her as to what this weapon was supposed be or do”
“C’mon, let’s get a move on” I said standing back up.
“How do we get down there?” Zyon asked.
“That door on the far wall next to the diner, it will take us down to the bottom level of the atrium” Motor Runner said while pointing a hoof.
“Oh”
We left the office and crossed the bridge in the centre of the upper level to get to the other side. On this side of the atrium’s upper level were three rooms; to our right is a bar, in front of us a recreation room with two pool tables in it and to our left a diner. We took a glance in each of them but they were just a mess with nothing important in them at all. We did find some caps and a couple bottles of Sunset Sarsaparilla which I pocketed as they had zero rad warnings. We left the upper level and took the stairs through the door down to the bottom level of the atrium and exited through the door under the one we came in by.
“Wow”
The centre of the atrium had three large squares that would have once housed beautiful flower beds, now they housed the giant trunks of trees or stalks, oh forget it I just don’t have a bloody clue what they are, sitting in them and all three were now over flowing with plants and bushes and spreading out across the floor.
“Keep your distance guys, I bet there are more of those things in there” I said and moved away from the overgrowth.
CD however had other ideas as he fluttered out over the plants.
“CD, what the hell are you doing?”
CD stopped over a thick patch of greenery and started to fire his blue energy bolts into the plants as he blared his music out.
“He’s fucking mad” Zyon remarked as we watched the spectacle
CD’s efforts were rewarded as a low growl emitted from the plants and one of those pony plant things stood up. CD continued to fire at it as he hovered up out of its reach. Surprisingly the monster didn’t seem to know how to jump as it tried to swipe at him with one of its forehooves. While CD was out of reach he continued to fire on the creature while we just watched dumbfounded by his sudden change. Eventually the monster burst into flames before dissolving into a pile of glowing blue ashes. After the monster died he fluttered back over to us.
“What was that all about?” I asked surprised.
He made a two tone beep that sounded like “I don’t know” to me.
I shook my head and sighed as we began to walk again. The amount of plants near the door meant we would have to circle around past the clinic to reach the door to the living quarters and the floor towards the wall with the Overmare’s Office window on, on the upper lever was mostly clear of plants so we could walk around hopefully without disturbing anymore of those things.
As we neared the back wall we saw a trail of red on the floor that looked like something had been dragged. I lowered my head to get a better look before shooting it back up.
“That’s blood” I shrieked.
“Fresh too by the looks of it” Zyon said taking a sniff. That was gross. “Can’t be more than a couple of hours old”
I looked up to the door to which the trail led to. On the wall beside the door sat a grimy sign that said “General Store”. I trotted up to the door and then looked back at my friends. They both readied their weapons in preparation for anything that could be behind the door. My EFS was clear but in this Stable that didn’t mean shit. I gave the door a tentative knock and listened for a moment. Nothing. I looked at my friends again and Zyon nodded slowly and I then pressed the door control with my magic and the steel door slid open to reveal where the trail of blood led too. Slumped against the wall facing the door was the body of a Steel Ranger with her helmet on the floor and her head hung down against her armoured chest. Two large green spikes protruded from her side, the spikes look like over sized thorns.
I looked around the from the door and found that the store was pretty much empty save for a counter with a till and a couple of metal shelves with just a couple of items on them but other than that it was clear. I walked in followed closely by my friends. I approached the dead mare and sighed with a frown. This brought back memories. Memories of finding dead comrades on missions I took with the Pondale Rangers. Memories of loss I’d rather forget. I shook my head to dislodge the memories as I reached out to her neck to retrieve her holotags. Just as my hoof reached her neck her head shot up and she looked at me, dead lifeless eyes stared at me as she opened her mouth to release an undead moan. Zombies and ghouls I can deal with but this was no ghoul. What struck me about her was that through her cream fur I could see deep green veins crisscrossing the right side of her face that was hidden by her mane before her head came up and on her neck I could see that patches of her hide had turned green.
“Holy shit” I screamed as I jumped back.
“She’s alive?”
“No, its worse, she’s one of those plant things” I yelped as the turned mare started to shift to get on her hooves.
“I bet this is what that biological weapon does to you, it turns you into one of those fucking things” Zyon said as he lifted his sword ready to strike.
The dead mare let out a hungry scream and lunged for me. Why is it always me? I was quick to rear up on my hind legs and kicked out with my forelegs, my cybernetic hoof smashed into her jaw and I heard and felt the bones of her jaw break. She fell back away from me and turned around to face me again, her jaw hanging down loosely. Eww. While the mare was distracted Zyon swung his sword and chopped off her head. Her head fell to the floor and rolled away. Her holotags fell to the floor while her body remained standing as her power armour locked up tight.
I levitated her holotags up and looked at them. “Rest in peace Upper Crust the third” I said looking to where her head had rolled off to.
“What the hell happened to her?”
“My guess is that she was infected by whatever made those plant ponies, did you see her veins?”
“Plausible, I suppose Luna Garden’s original data may have been supplied as well”
“Alright, I’m officially creeped out now” I said as I put the holotags into my armour’s storage unit.
“Let’s find that damn code and let’s get the hell out of here” Zyon said as we moved out of the room.
After we left the room CD fluttered off again, blared out his rock music and started firing at another plant pony in the thick plant cover.
“Oh for Celestia’s sake” I muttered as the veg pony stood up and started to swipe for CD. It was comical seeing it trying to swipe at the spritebot but we didn’t have time for this. I sighed as I walked up to the pony thing while it had its back turned to us and pushed my shotgun to the back of its head and blew its head off. “Enough with the veg ponies” I moaned as the creature fell to the floor. Zyon was quick to dice the thing up since the first one which I blew the head off started moving again shortly after.
“CD, please don’t do that again”
The little machine let out an embarrassed beep.
I opened the breach at the back of my lever-action shotgun and began to levitate shells of twenty gauge buckshot into the weapon as we walked around the end plant box. After placing five shells into the breach I closed the weapon and cocked the lever before holding the shotgun my side again. We came to the clinic and I opened the door. The clinic was thankfully free of dead ponies and veg monsters.
“Let’s make it quick” I said as we entered. The clinic had several tables and recovery beds lining the walls. Some of the beds were heavily stained and had black skeletons on them. Me and Zyon began to look through the filing cabinets, medical cabinets and the medical kits that lined the wall to the left as we entered. Motor Runner accessed the computer that sat on the doctor’s desk.
“Now this is interesting” He said as he read what was on the screen.
“What is it?”
“It looks like the residents here began to suffer from an illness before turning” He said as he read on.
“Huh”
“Ok, the doctor was approached by one of the scientists complaining of a cough he has had for a while. The doctor examined him and didn’t find anything medically wrong with him but gave him some antibiotics in an attempt to elevate his symptoms. A few weeks later the scientist returns with an even worse cough and now complaining of lack of breath. Again the doctor couldn’t find anything medically wrong with him and prescribed some other medicine that would help with someone with those symptoms. The scientist returns days later with his condition even worse. The doctor was getting very worried with how nothing he gave him was working and to find out what was going on he asked the scientist if he could x-ray his chest. The scientist agreed and when the results came back the doctor found what looked like a cancerous growth in one of the scientist’s lungs. He gave the scientist the last of the medication that should have helped him but it didn’t. A couple of weeks later the scientist died in the clinic. The doctor performed and autopsy to finally understand what had killed this scientist and was surprised to find his lungs full of a fungus. What was strange however was that the fungus appeared to be thriving even though the host was dead. He patched the scientist up ready for cremation. While he was working at his terminal while waiting for the burial team to take him away the corpse of the scientist sat up and then attacked the doctor. It took the burial team and two guards to pull the scientist off him before they burned him where he stood”
“Dude, that’s pretty messed up right there”
“A fungus in the lungs?”
“Whatever these scientists were doing involved something, perhaps modified spores for better pollination. These spores may have had an untold effect on the scientists and they were none the wiser to what was happening. Until everypony became plant ponies”
“This place is seriously messed up”
“Ok, lets just get that key and leave” I said now wishing I was wearing a helmet, at least they had air filtration on them.
We left the clinic with a few more healing potions and some medication and began again for the door to the living quarters. CD began to flutter over to some plants again.
“Get your ass back here CD” I yelled like a mother would to her child when it wanders off.
The robot let out a beep before slowly flying back to us.
“I swear I’ll ground you”
“You sound like a mother already” Zyon snickered.
“Shut it” I giggled as we approached the door to the living quarters. Looking through the door we could see a corridor that stretched out for about thirty feet before a flight of stairs going up. I raised my cybernetic leg to check the local map. My pipbuck displaced the hallway and the stairs. I followed it on screen to the top of the stairs were the hallway continues but does a one eighty turn and then continues down the opposite direction but my scanner picked up something the map we looked at on the Main Level didn’t have. A cave in. After the first set of doors I could see the hallway just ends with a rough curve filling the space where it was suppose to keep on going. If the key isn’t in the six rooms open to us, we are well and truly and royally screwed.
“Ok guys, we have six rooms to check, the rest are blocked off by what looks like a cave in. Pray to Celestia the key is in one of these rooms”
“Fuck, this just gets better and better”
“If it isn’t, I could try to cut through the door with my chainsaw” Motor Runner suggested.
“Why didn’t you try that earlier?”
“Because I didn’t want to waste valuable time in case I couldn’t”
“Enough bickering, you’re like a pair of old biddies” I moaned and started into the corridor.
We came to the first door and I pressed the button to open it. The door slid open and I was shocked to see the entire room filled with plants and I could count three of those veg things in there lying amongst the plants. My heart ached with sorrow when I saw the small one, it was a child one and it was lying next to an overgrown baby carriage. Even children were turned by these. Oh goddesses.
“Zyon, have any explosives on you?” I asked.
“Yeah why?”
“We need to search that room regardless of what’s in there. I know we can see three but with how thick the plants are in there, there could be more”
“Hmm, oh I have just the thing for a flash fire” He said with a smirk and stuck his head into his saddlebags before fishing out a tin can with a makeshift pin on it.
“What’s that?”
“A RAD-Grenade” He said with a smirk before pulling the pin and tossing it into the room before I could say anything. Seeing the homemade explosive fly into the room I hit the door control and closed the door. A few seconds later there was a loud pumth which was followed by a loud roaring of fire before going quiet. As it went silent three pops then followed. Giving what happened in there a few second to calm down I then hit the door control again. As the door slit open a plumb of smoke flowed out into the hallway and across my face making me hack and cough until it dissipated. The plants in the room had all be incinerated and the bodies of the veg ponies looked to have exploded but the rest of the room looked thankfully intact.
“What was that?”
“A homemade explosive made from a Sparkle-Cola RAD” He said smugly.
“Cool”
“You have got some good ingenuity skills” Motor Runner said with a respectful nod to the zony.
The room had two beds, a dress, a cabinet and a locker against the walls. We each choose one of the things to search and began to look through them. I choose the dresser and while putting my shotgun away I began to pull open the drawers and began to rummage. In the upper drawers I used my magic to pull out old clothing and throw them out behind me while I checked. In the lower draws I used my hooves to sift through the grimy old garments. Unfortunately nothing of any real value and more importantly, no key, cock.
I turned to my friends. “Anything?”
“Nothing” Motor Runner sighed.
“I found some condoms” Zyon said with a laugh.
I blushed when he said that but couldn’t help but laugh too.
“Save them for Sky Fire” I joked as I walked past him. I grinned as I saw him blush as he placed them into his saddlebags.
We stepped back out into the hallway and Motor Runner pressed the door control of the opposite door and we were surprised as the door opened to reveal a clean room. Well by clean I mean no dirt, no plants and no veg ponies. It was still grimy as fuck but free of the all the shit we’ve seen everywhere else. The room setup was the same as the last room and so we went to work and looked though the drawers and cabinets.
“Oh oh yea” Zyon chirped in glee as the pulled something out of the locker he was searching.
I turned around to see what he had found and my eyes widened in disbelief as he had found a flamethrower.
“Wow, these eggheads were packing some serious heat, literally” He laughed as he checked it out. “Oh wow, it’s a Spitfire Model XJ761 and with additional fuel tanks for double the capacity over the standard. Oh wow this is like thee best top of the range kind of prewar flamethrower”
“What the hell were the scientists doing with something like that?” I asked in shocked surprise.
“That’s a very good question”
“Who cares, I’m having this” Zyon said as he hefted the fuel tank onto his back and secured it with the straps so it wouldn’t fall off before he stopped. “Shit, I need a battlesaddle for this thing”
“Sorry but I didn’t find one when I searched the cabinet”
“Me neither”
“Fuck, just when I find something so cool I can’t use it, ugh fine” He pouted as he gave the weapon to me. “Can you carry it please, your storage units have that spell to make things small, I can’t carry this with the flamer nozzle hanging loose and I have nothing to secure it to”
“Sure” I said with sympathetic smile as I used my magic to take his flamer and as I brought it to one of my storage units it shrunk down to being a fraction of its original size before it disappeared down into my storage unit.
Zyon left the room first grumbling to himself about not being able to use his new toy. We arrived at the next room and Zyon pressed the door control and the door slid open. The door revealed another overgrown room but what were inside the room terrified me and Zyon.
“KILLING JOKE!!!”
“SHIT CLOSE IT, CLOSE IT” I screamed at him.
“I’M TRYING, I’M TRYING” He yelled as he slapped the door control to shut the door. Just as he hit the button the blue vines inside the room noticed us and two of them shot out at Zyon. Seeing them coming I instinctively dived back away from the door but Zyon wasn’t as lucky as he was right in front of the door when it opened. After I rolled back onto my hooves I watched in horror as the two vines collided with Zyon’s chest armour and pinned him against the opposite door.
“ZYON” I screamed just as the door closed and trapped the two vines.
Zyon was lifted off his hoofs and being held against the door as the two vines held him. Luckily the vines hadn’t found his flesh yet but one of the vines was inching up to his neck.
“Get your filthy vines off me” He growled and tried to reach for his sword that he had dropped as the vines pinned him. He couldn’t risk using his forelegs to knock the vines away as his lower forelegs were exposed.
I didn’t know what to do; he was helpless as he couldn’t reach his sword. I shook my head; he’s my friend and I have to try something. I used my magic to grab his sword and held it ready to strike. Motor Runner must have had the same idea as his chainsaw came out and revved. We both swung for the vines but we were too late. Just as we were about to make contact with the blue tentacle of a vine the one searching for flesh found his neck and wrapped around it, touching his skin and applying its magic to him. Saw and sword sliced the vines, releasing him and dropping him back down to his hooves. The cut Killing Joke vines wiggled and shrivelled up before turning brown and died. My fearful gaze moved to Zyon and his eyes were wide with panic as the vine around his neck disintegrated.
“Zyon” I said looking in horror as he began to glow. I felt so helpless as his glow intensified.
“I don’t want to die” He shrieked sounding so scared that it hurt inside. I felt like a failed my friend, no, not just him, Sky Fire too. Oh sweet Celestia what am I gonna say to her?
I had to shield my eyes as the glow grew so bright it was like he had turned into the sun itself. I then had to clamp my eyes shut to block out the blinding light before it suddenly vanished. I lowered my hoof and started to rapidly blink my eyes to get rid of the spots in my vision as I looked back to where Zyon had been against the door.
“WHAT’S IT DONE TO ME?” Zyon hysterically screamed in panic and in a much higher voice than I remembered. I internally breathed a sigh of relief that he was still alive.
I was expecting him to be turned into some grotesquely hideous monster or into something else completely, what I didn’t expect was that he had been turned into a stunningly sexy mare. When my vision had fully returned I just couldn’t help but gawk at this sexy mare that was once a male zony.
“What, what are you staring at, oh goddesses its horrible isn’t it?” Zyon shrieked in her new higher pitched silky voice. I caught Motor Runner in the corner of my eye wearing the same expression as me.
“No, nothing at all, you look good” I said before closing my mouth tight and looking wide eyed at anything but zyon.
“Bullshit”
“No seriously, you look good” Motor Runner said keeping a straight face.
“Get out of my way, there’s a mirror in the last room we checked” She said and quickly pushed past. As she pushed past I got a good look at her new body shape, from the strong body of a stallion to now having a body like that of Fleur De Lis. I couldn’t help but stare at her new curvy flanks swaying side to side as she walked on those long slender legs. If we were in a pitch black room my cheeks would be lighting it up like a beacon with how my blush burned my cheeks. Just to make matters worse the pants of her combat armour that were adjusted for the figure that had disappeared slipped and fell down her hind legs and revealed her new marehood. Holy shit.
Me and Motor Runner stayed rooted to the floor, not daring to move as Zyon disappeared into the clean living quarters we last checked. I mentally counted down in my head.
Three, two, one. I then placed my forehooves over my ears and as if on cue.
“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I heard Zyon scream in the most girliest way I’ve ever heard.
“A MARE, IT TURNED ME INTO A MARE” She screamed as we waited in the hall. As we waited we heard her muttering obscenities and grunts while we also heard her armour being readjusted.
Zyon emerged looking pissed, confused and scared all in one. I noticed now that her mane had doubled in length and as Zyon had it styled in a mohawk before her change it now drooped over to one side, half obscuring her vision in her right eye. Her tail had become long and smooth instead of that short bush it was before. She even had long thick eye lashes. Her armour had now been adjusted to fit her again and damn she looked good, really good. No, bad brain, she’s your friend and she loves Sky Fire. I had to mentally batter myself to rid myself of those thoughts.
She looked at us and grumbled. “Don’t say a word, let’s just find that key and let’s just leave, alright”
“Yes ma’am” I said and then immediately facehoofed, that was stupid.
Zyon gave me a dirty look.
“Sorry”
She bent down and picked up her sword again in her mouth and nodded to the door she had been held against.
I nodded with an apologetic smile as I then walked up to the door and pressed the door control. The door slid open to reveal a room with only a couple of plants in it but strangely enough the mattress of the bed in the room was covered in mushrooms. We entered the room and began to search. I chose a filling cabinet to look through while Motor Runner looked in the dresser and Zyon looked in a cabinet while still muttering obscenities.
I looked in the top three draws and found nothing which left the bottom draw. I was getting frustrated with our lack of success and it showed when I used my cybernetic hoof to pull the drawer out. I didn’t realise how strong I pulled until the drawer broke free of the cabinet and smacked into my chest.
“Oof, whoops” I said looking down at the ripped out drawer.
“Are you ok?” Motor Runner asked as he looked to me.
“Yeah I’m fine, just pulled a bit too hard” I assured. He nodded and when back to looking in the dresser. I began to sift through the old documents that lay in the dividers. As I flicked through something red caught my eye in one of the dividers. I used my magic to lift it out and squealed in joy as I looked upon the red card key.
“I found it, I found it” I squealed like a filly.
Zyon walked over and looked at the card closely.
“Oxygen Recycling Security Door Key” She read out loud. “Finally, now we can leave this hell hole”
“Too right” I agreed.
We quickly turned around and left Sub Level 3. We climbed the stairs all the way up to Sub Level 1 again and found our way to the external door. I gave the card to Motor Runner as he accessed the computer and began to go through the things needed to get the terminal to accept the card. As he did this I accessed my broadcaster.
“What are you doing?” Zyon asked, damn that silky feminine voice sounds so sexy.
“Going to see if I can hail the Rangers, hopefully they are still alive”
She nodded in understanding.
I tuned the broadcaster to the emergency channel. Hopefully being in the Stable we might have a strong enough signal to reach them.
“This is Paladin Longshot of the Applejack Rangers calling Steel Ranger squad in caverns outside Stable 22, do you read?”
I listened to the static that followed. I frowned as I couldn’t hear anything. I hope they are still alive. Finally there was a burst of static which was followed by a strong male voice.
“Thank the goddesses, I read you Paladin Longshot, this is Star Paladin Rojas of the Steel Rangers. We nearly gave up hope anyone would come”
“What’s your situation?” I asked as I heard a hiss and the external door swung open.
“We are trapped in an alcove about a hundred feet from the tunnel leading to the external doors. I have lost three Rangers and I have one who is gravely injured, I don’t think she will last much longer. Me and my other three squad members are almost out of ammunition” There was a bang that echoed through the tunnels to the open door. “We are being held back by Giant Mantises. They aren’t as bad as the Spore Carriers but there is so many of them we can’t move”
“What the smeg is a Spore Carrier?” I asked as I turned to Zyon and Motor Runner.
“I think he means those grass pony things” Zyon suggested. Motor Runner nodded in agreement.
“Hold tight Star Paladin Rojas, help is on the way”
“Thank Celestia” He said before I turned the broadcaster off.
“Alright guys let’s move” I said as I brought my shotgun back out.
I lead the way and followed my EFS’s direction marker which directed me to our destination. As we neared the stricken Rangers we began to see lots of bullet cases and bodies of the biggest damn bugs I’ve ever seen before. I’ve seen huge bugs before but never have I seen bugs this fucking big. Those front legs look to have claws like razors.
We rounded a corner and we saw two dead headless giant mantises and a Steel Ranger who had been cut in half by the bugs.
“Dude that’s messed up” Zyon complained, her voice reaching a new high with her disgust.
I checked the body and found that the holotags were gone which told me that this Ranger’s teammates must have taken them.
“Let’s pick up the pace” I said and began to move at a quick trot.
We came to a fork in the tunnel and immediately had several large guns shoved in our faces.
Zyon let out a girly yelp which made her blush brightly at hearing her own scream. Its gonna take her a while to get used to her new self.
“Woah easy, I’m Paladin Longshot, these are my friends and we are here to help you” I said quickly.
The largest of the Rangers lowered his guns, two fuck off huge miniguns, and motioned with a forehoof to his Rangers to do the same.
“I am Star Paladin Rojas, I’m glad to see you” He said sounding relieved until CD fluttered out from behind us.
“Shit a Spritebot” One of the other Rangers yelled and raised his gun.
I quickly got in the line of fire. “He’s mine, he’s with me, he’s safe” I shouted.
“Put it down Trigger” Rojas said as he turned to the Ranger who had responded to CD.
There was a soft moan from behind Rojas and he quickly turned around and moved to a smaller Ranger who was laying against the wall of the tunnel with two large mantis forelegs sticking out of her side.
“It’s alright Diamond, helps arrived and we’re getting you out of here” Rojas assured.
“Star Paladin, may I talk to you for a second please” I asked with a sorry frown on my face when I saw the poor pink mare that looked extremely weak.
Star Paladin Rojas nodded, removed his helmet to reveal a white stallion with a golden mane and deep blue eyes but he had some nasty looking scars over his face showing that he was battle hardened and a veteran of plenty of conflicts. He let out a sigh as he walked up to me. I nodded to him as I walked around the corner with him.
“We can’t go the way we came” I regretfully informed him.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“The elevator that brought us down to the entrance is not an option anymore”
“What, what happened?” He asked sounding shocked.
“I suppose you heard of the Krogoth” I said looking at him with a dead serious face.
He replied with a nod.
“When we arrived here the machine wasn’t that far away. We were informed that it was coming towards us. We were halfway down the elevator when it tore through the house above the shaft and one of his hooves slammed into the cover hatch and it collapsed. One of the hatch doors fell in and took out the elevator but when the machine pulled its hoof free it caused a cave in so the shaft is blocked”
“Damn it, Diamond is going to die if we don’t get her out pf here now” He said sorrowfully.
“Can’t healing potions help, we have plenty” I said hoping to help.
He shook his head. “Those mantis legs are barbed, she’ll die before healing potions can take effect with the damage pulling those things out will do to her”
I looked down. “I’m sorry”
“STAR PALADIN” One of his Rangers screamed.
We rushed back to the group only to look in horror as the young pink mare seemed to deflate and lie still. Her chest stopped moving before her body had a little spasm before going still for good.
I closed my eyes and let out a defeated sigh, we were too late to help one of them. We spent too much time in that stable and it cost the life of one of the ponies we came to help. “I’m sorry Rojas, I’m sorry it took us so long”
The large white stallion took a deep breath to recompose himself and reached up to the dead mare’s face and closed her lifeless eyes before he then took her holotags.
“Diamond Crust was a good soldier, she may have just passed her training last month but she proved herself down here today. Let’s remember her as the strong willed mare she was” He said in his strong voice. He then turned to the three remaining Rangers. “Ok Ranges listen up. Help has arrived, giving us more muscle but our way out has been blocked after their arrival so we need to find an alternative route”
He turned to a Ranger who had a twin rifle battlesaddle.
“Knight Golden Compass, didn’t you say these tunnels connect with an old silver mine?”
The addressed Ranger stepped forward. “Yes sir, the mine will take us to the surface but getting to the mine we will need to pass the Queen’s chamber”
“Queen’s Chamber?” Female Zyon asked.
“Down the tunnel behind you is a large chamber with a Mantis Queen in it, she’s dropping eggs by the ton and we keep getting small groups of mantises attacking us. We don’t have the ammunition to kill the Queen and fight off her mantises, that is why we held up here” Compass explained.
“Explosives?” I asked.
Star Paladin Rojas shook his head. “We lost our heavy weapons specialist to the Spore Carriers on Sub Level 4” He explained.
“Zyon, I think your last RAD-Grenade will come in useful and I think This Machine would work well too”
Rojas raised an eyebrow at the mention of my human made rifle.
I smiled as I used my magic to unstrap my unique AM Rifle off of my back and levitated it out before me.
“That’s a big ass rifle” Trigger commented as I pulled the bolt back and removed the 50cal mag before pushing in a fresh one with an orange band around it to mark it out as explosive.
“Me and Zyon will kill the Queen” I said boldly.
Rojas nodded with a smile. “Ok, everypony else, covering fire, lets give these two mares our hooves” He yelled. The three Rangers nodded and called out their affirmatives and readied their guns while Zyon groaned at being called a mare. I had to bite my lip to stifle a giggle.
We all got ready to move out. I approached Rojas.
“Sir, we found one of your Rangers on Sub Level 3, she still had her tags” I said and levitated out the holotags.
He took them with a grateful smile. “Thank you, we couldn’t risk retrieving them with all the Carriers that were there. Thank you for retrieving them”
“Your welcome sir” I smiled. “Now let’s get the hell out of here”
He nodded. “Let’s move out” He yelled.
Me and Zyon followed behind Rojas and his remaining Rangers with Motor Runner and CD walked ahead of us. We entered a huge chamber and there had to be dozens of mantises swarming around but what caught my eye was the mass in the middle. The mantis queen had to be like the size of a two story building with an egg sack that pulsated and rippled and was about the size of a warehouse.
“Holy shit” I cried out, not expecting that.
“Give’em hell Rangers” Rojas yelled and the chamber was flooded with the sound of gunfire from high speed automatic of the miniguns to the semi-automatic of the rifles. Motor Runner’s chainsaw revved and CD’s energy weapon started firing bolt after bolt in rapid succession. I crouched down and steadied This Machine as I took aim at the huge insect. I sighted up her head and fired. The monstrosity screeched out in pain as half its head exploded from the 50cal explosive shell I put into it.
The scream of pain from their queen attracted all of the fucking mantises. Dozens of them started to group in front of the queen in an attempt to protect her and started to move in on use. The Rangers and CD began to spray their fire in all directions there were bugs, taking down as many as they could. Zyon held the grenade ready but frowned as she stood on her hind legs.
“I won’t be able to throw the grenade close enough from here, I’m too far away” She whines.
“When I empty this mag into that bitch you throw the grenade, I’ll use my magic to carry it the rest of the way” I said keeping my aim.
“Alright”
I aimed at other areas of the mantic queen to cause as much damage as possible. It had moved its huge forelegs up to block its face from another shell so I had to take other targets. Each shot deafened me as the boom of the rifle filled the air along with the explosions and the shrieks of pain from the queen as gaping holes erupted in her exoskeleton.
“I’M OUT” Shouted one of the rangers as her weapons went dry.
Motor Runner stepped in front of the now defenceless Ranger and began to cut down mantises that got close. I decided to not bother with aimed shots as we were running out of time. I emptied the rest of the mag as quickly as I could pull the bolt back and push it back in. The mantis queen was heavily injured with all the gaping holes but she would survive if we didn’t finish her now.
“NOW ZYON, THROW IT” I yelled over the ringing in my ears.
The sexy female zony flung the grenade with all her might. At the height of its arc I reached out with my magic and carried it the rest of the way to the queen. I floated the grenade with speed as I didn’t know how long the fuse would last and shoved the grenade into on of the gaping wounds in her side thanks to my explosive rounds.
“Get ready to burn bitch” Zyon said with a smirk just as the grenade went off. The queen roared in agony as her entire body went up in flames.
I quickly put down This Machine and pulled out my shotgun again as the mantises got closer.
“I’M OUT” Shouted Star Paladin Rojas. That’s not good, two Rangers out of ammo and still dozens of mantises left.
Zyon quickly whipped out her sword and joined Motor Runner in cutting down the bugs as I unloaded shell after shell into the bugs. I looked to my right where Trigger was firing his rifles, well rifle, one of them had run dry. I saw a mantis rearing up and raised its large forelegs for a strike that Trigger had failed to see. I aimed at the mantis as it prepared to strike and pulled the trigger. Instead of my weapon firing I heard and empty click. Oh shit.
“TRIGGER” I screamed. The pony looked at me but then quickly looked to where I was looking and the mantis pounced before the Ranger could react the two forelegs of the bug pierced his armour through his chest.
“TRIGGER NO” I screamed as I ran to him while shoving in as many shells as I could before getting close to the bug. I shoved the shotgun into its face and blew its head off but again I was too late as Trigger fell dead against the floor with the two forelegs stuck in his chest.
I didn’t have time to berate myself as more bugs approached. I quickly reloaded and fired on them until finally all of the bugs were dead. One of the four Rangers dead and all of them had ran out of ammunition as the last one still firing ran dry when the last fell.
“I’m sorry Trigger” I said as I removed his helmet. He was a handsome young light brown stallion with a black mane. I sighed as I removed his tags and walked back over to Rojas as he discarded his miniguns. “I’m sorry sir”
“Its ok Longshot, he died doing his duty. You tried, that’s all I can ask” He said with a sad reassuring smile to me as he took the fallen Ranger’s tags.
We took a moment to mourn the loose of Trigger before we started to move again.
“Which way Compass?” Rojas asked.
“This way sir” She said leading the way. Motor Runner trotted close as protection as we began to head up a tunnel that soon opened up into a large supported tunnel. Wooden support beams and rails for mining carts filled the shaft and we began to follow it up.
It took us a good ten minutes of following the winding tunnel to the surface as well as dodging a mantis or two but finally the evening light began to filter in through a mesh door at the end of the tunnel.
“We made it” I said with relief as we approached the door.
I stepped forward and put my hoof on the door knob for the mesh gate and suddenly the entire tunnel shook violently from a heavy impact from outside.
“What the hell was that?” Rojas asked as he looked around as trails of dust fell from the tunnel ceiling.
I ripped the door open and stepped out. The tunnel continued on for a minute before opening up to the outside world. I looked out into the world as the Rangers and my friends came up behind me and then a giant metal hoof slammed into the floor just in front of the mine entrance.
“Holy shit get back” I yelled and helped to get everypony back into the tunnel.
“What the hell is that?”
“The Krogoth” I yelled with fear gripping my voice.
“What the hell is it still doing here?” Zyon asked.
“I dunno, it must have gotten curious from getting its hoof stuck in the elevator shaft”
“Damn, ok everypony, we’ll have to sit tight until it leaves”
I lifted my pipbuck and switched to the broadcaster.
“What are you doing?” Zyon asked with CD sitting on her head.
“I'm going to call Sky Fire and Wirblewind to let them know we are ok and that we found… most of the Rangers”
“You do that and that machine will know we are hear” Motor Runner said sitting down beside me.
“Shit”
“Send the droid” Compass said as she watched CD sitting on Zyon’s head.
“Huh, CD, no I’m not risking him to that thing, he’s my friend”
“Your friends with a machine” She paused. “You’re crazy, it’s a machine and it’s expendable”
I gritted my teeth as anger surged in my heart. “He’s my friend and I will not risk him” I repeated in a dark tone.
Compass was about to retort when Jogas stood up. “That’s enough Compass, stand down”
She looked to her commanding officer and shrunk down. “Yes sir”
The tunnel shuddered violently again as the Krogoth began to move again.
“Is it leaving?”
I looked out the mesh door and watched as the machine began to head away but then something else came into view. In the fading light of the evening I could just about see a forest and moving out in the distance I could see something else moving, something large. I levitated out This Machine again and peered down the scope to the other object I could see.
“What is it?” Rojas asked as he came up behind me.
“It’s a bloody hydra” I replied in surprise.
The Krogoth was heading towards it and the monster was approaching the machine.
“Oh this isn’t going to be pretty” I muttered seeing the machine arming its weapons.
“What’s going on?”
“The hydra is going to attack the Krogoth”
“Oh this is going to be good” Zyon grinned. I think she expected the hydra to win. I highly doubt it.
The Krogoth stopped and spread its large legs as two extremely loud booms roared out into the night. The blasts were enough to shake the ground.
“What the hell was that?”
“It just fired its two forty six centimetre artillery guns” I answered still watching. Two explosions erupted behind the monster and it just started to run towards the machine.
The Krogoth responded with the increased speed of the creature by firing two of its missiles. The missiles streaked in the air towards the monster. It seemed oblivious to the incoming threat until one of the missiles struck the ground just in front of it. The creature slammed on the breaks before tripping over its fat feet and tumbled down. All four of its heads slammed into the floor, narrowly missing the second missile which just flew over the monster and struck the ground behind it.
The monster looked to have knocked itself out as it seemed to not be moving. The Krogoth began to cautiously approach the monster until it was stood nearly on top of it. The machine looked down at the creature, examining it.
“What’s it doing?” Zyon asked as she watched using her binoculars.
“I don’t know, examining it maybe?”
Suddenly the monster threw its four heads up with amazing speed, striking the Krogoth in the chest and head causing the massive robot to stumble backwards in surprise as the hydra stood back up and roared with all four heads.
“Wow, that was unexpected”
“Yeah”
The Krogoth turned back to face the monster just in time to see it lunge for it. The machine must have engaged its synapse controls as it jumped back away from the monster with surprising agility and distanced itself from the monster. It spread its legs again and a bright blue light began to form in one of its railgun pontoons.
“Star Paladin Rojas, you might want to see this” I said as the light grew brighter.
“What’s going on?” He asked as he stood next to me.
“The Krogoth is using its ultimate weapon” I said as I lifted my rifle so he could peer down the scope at it. “The Advanced Magical Railgun”
Just as I finished a huge beam of energy shot forth from the pontoon and struck the hydra in the chest. Within seconds the bright blue beam of energy burned its way through the creature and shot out through its back. The beam stopped as the monster began to fall. It left a huge hole clear through the monster as it fell down dead.
“Dear sweet Luna” He muttered as I placed my rifle back into its harness.
I looked up at him with a serious expression as the machine began to walk towards the forest.
“We need all the help we can get to destroy that thing”
“We planned on joining the Applejack Rangers if we returned as the Steel Rangers that sent us to the Stable had sent us on a suicide mission; they expected us to die down there”
I nodded.
“You and your friends saved us back there. Helping you and the Applejack Rangers in taking that thing down is the least we can do”
I smiled and nodded respectfully. “Thank you sir, your help will be greatly appreciated”
We waited for at least half an hour to be sure the machine was gone as we saw it enter the forest.
“I think it’s gone now”
I nodded and lifted my pipbuck and accessed the broadcaster and tuned it to the frequency used for Wirblewind.
“Wirblewind, do you read?” I called.
“Paladin Longshot, hey…”
“Oh my gosh Appletart, where the FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN? I’ve been worried sick up here” I heard Sky Fire scream.
“Sorry Sky, the Krogoth happened”
“I fucking know that, I saw the damn thing destroy the house you went in. I thought it crushed you all until I saw that gaping hole”
“Listen Sky, we are at a mine entrance…” I paused to quickly look at my world map to see exactly where we were. “We are exactly a mile away from the facility due south, come and pick us up please, we have rescued the Rangers”
“You have? Excellent, we are on our way”
“We’ll be there in a couple of minutes” Wirblewind said before ending the transmission.
“Well Rangers, we all going home” I said with a smile.
“Thank you for everything Paladin Longshot” Rojas said with a grateful smile as the sound of wings beating began to reach our ears.
Minutes later the vertibuck landed and Sky Fire immediately ran to use and crashed into Zyon and gave her a bone crushing hug.
“Oh thank goodness you are alright” She screamed.
“I’m glad to see you too” She replied with a happy tone but Sky Fire then threw herself off the turned zony.
“Zyon, your voice, what, what happened?” She asked.
Zyon gingerly stepped into the moonlight and revealed her new feminine figure. Sky Fire stared dumbly at her.
I stepped forward. “We encountered some Killing Joke down there and it touched him and turned him into a mare”
Sky Fire hugged Zyon again just as tightly as before. “Oh Zyon” She said in a teary fashion.
“It’s still me Sky, I maybe a mare now but I’m still me inside”
Sky Fire looked into her deep blue eyes and nodded. “Yes you are, oh, I don’t care that you’re a mare now, your still the zony I fell in love with”
They both shared a teary smile before they met in a passionate kiss.
I smiled warmly at the scene; I noticed that Motor Runner was sat next to me and gently leaned against him. He looked down at me from the contact but smiled gently down at me and I returned the smile as I rested my head against his strong leg.
We stayed like that for a good few minutes, giving the two love birds a chance to enjoy the moment of their reunion before we boarded the vertibuck and begsn to fly back towards Trottingham and to Stable 24.
(Edited with corrections made, I urge readers who have already read this to read again as a scene I originally intended to have in this but forgot with the original submission has now been added)
Fallout Equestria Broken Steel
Chapter 21: Walking Devastation
I look at myself in the mirror and no longer see the albino unicorn I used to be. What I see now is a battle hardened cyborg with scars littering my face and neck. I have changed a lot since that day sixteen years ago when I lost my family and everything I ever knew to the wasteland when Motor Runner’s raiders destroyed my home. I lost a lot of myself during my time in the Steel Rangers, loosing most of my sense of right and wrong to the greed that drove the Rangers to seek out pre-war technology no matter the cost to others. My eyes burn as I think back on my life, I look at myself in the mirror and see those blood red and green eyes with the purple flames emitting from my eyes. Another sign of how much I’ve changed…
I take a deep breath as I grit my teeth.
…And how much I’ve grown to HATE this world and everything in it. My eyes narrow as I feel the hatred rising in my heart. I hate how everyday is a struggle to survive. I hate how everypony out in the wastes are evil murdering and slaving twats. I hate how everything is dead and dying. I hated how the sky was always clouded over and mostly raining. I hate how most ponies take you for a ride, swindle you out of something you need or simply rob you when you’re not looking. I hate how I’ve had my peaceful life taken away to be thrown into this hell. Yes, I have so much hate in me, so much so I turn into this.
I learned about Dark Magic when I was a filly back in the Stable’s School room. I know why I take the dark shift. At first when I felt the change and saw myself with these eyes I was scared that I was turning into a monster. But as time went on I realised I wasn’t turning into a monster, I already was one. The things I’ve done to raiders when I’ve encountered them, those aren’t something a normal mare would do to anyone even her own worst enemy. When I did those things… I enjoyed it. I could be considered as no better than them for that. The one that sticks in my mind the most was when I was eighteen. I dreamt of that encounter a few months ago back in Tenpony. I remember how I fought a raider leader and beat him. Defeating him wasn’t enough, I had to destroy him, I broke his legs, left him in complete agony and then, I shoved a grenade in his mouth and pulled the pin out when I was at a safe distance and watched. I watched how his eyes fill with absolute fear. I revelled in that feeling, I smiled darkly as I focused on his eyes and then my smile widened as I watched his head explode in a shower of gore. Dark Magic has affected me, it made me a monster. But I am trying to change that thought, right?
I close my eyes and take several long deep calming breaths before opening my eyes again. I see my natural bright red eyes again and sigh with relief. I raise my right organic forehoof and gently rubbed at my cheek where three scars start. I was lucky the regeneration talisman that Zeta put in my leg fixed my eye but it left behind the claw marks that ripped it out with these scars that now run from my cheek up across my eye lids and to the top of my head. Oh, yea, another thing I HATE, those bloody little fuckers called Wretches. I’m glad my baby is just a week old as I’d scare the living daylights out of an innocent foal with how scarred I am now. Yeah, three deep scars on both sides of my face, three going across my eye on the right and on the left three more scars that stretch from my cheek up to my ear. I also have two sets of three scars on my neck where the little shits dug their clawed feet into my neck to hang on to me. I almost look like I had a bad date with a hellhound.
I have to do something about the darkness inside me. I have a child now and I can’t loose myself to the darkness when I get angry around her. I don’t want to hurt her and I really do not want to scare her, scaring her is the last thing I'd want to do. This world is bad enough without me scaring my child. I want her to have a good life. She is now the reason why I’m fighting to stop K-01 ACM KROGOTH. I can’t let her grow in a state of constant fear with that thing roaming free and destroying everything it considers a threat to Equestria. I also have to fight because I, along with Motor Runner, know more about it than anypony else in all of Equestria.
I sigh and raise my left leg. I groan seeing the steel appendage in the mirror and cringe at seeing how my flesh and metal leg have melded together at the join. Another reason why I see myself as a monster. I twist my leg and the panel hiding my pipbuck sinks into the metal limb and slides back to reveal the pipbuck screen as it rises to fill the gap. The screen flicks over to my status screen where I am able to see the time and day. It has been a week since our little excursion to Stable 22. It has been a week of us getting used to what’s happened and changed.
It has been difficult for Zyon to cope from the effects of the Killing Joke. I’m glad it didn’t do something really bad to him…her, ugh I’m still tripping up over that. I’m surprised I haven’t got a bruise all over my face with how many times I’ve facehooved this past week by forgetting that change. Zyon’s change has been pretty comical to some of us actually, including Sky Fire, as with her new marehood, something Zyon had no knowledge about with how it feels and everything, it’s been funny to watch her as she sits on something cold or something that would tickle her there. She would bolt up right with a screech and gasp as if a stallion just slapped her ass. That has happened as well by the way which was fucking awesome to watch as she beat the shit out of the offending knob. She has adjusted well thankfully after some getting used to. Sky Fire has been a real rock for her to as she’s helped Zyon to deal with all the new feelings and sensations she was getting from her female body. There are times I see that Zyon wishes to be a stallion again. I overheard a conversation when Zyon had broken down into tears; she’s more emotional now as well, which she had talked to Sky Fire about what they were to do for when they wanted a foal of their own. Zyon had said that she knew of a zebra potion that would give the drinker a penis but because of the magic involved with Killing Joke it meant that it wouldn’t work on her.
I have been spending more time with Motor Runner since our return. It was mainly because we were both needed to help with monitoring the Krogoth as it moved. I can’t deny it to myself anymore; I am in love with him. I can’t stop thinking about him when everything is peaceful and when I’m near or around him my stomach feels like it’s got a radroach in it scurrying around. I want to tell him how I feel but this is all new to me. Love has been something I’ve not dealt with before. You might think I’m crazy that I hadn’t fancied anyone from the Rangers while I lived with them but I didn’t. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. Maybe after the Krogoth has been dealt with I can tell him how I feel, that way there won’t be anything for us to worry about, I hope.
My ear swivels to the door to my quarters as someone knocks on the steel.
“Yes?” I call as I turn around to face the door after a quick check to see if my eyes were normal still.
The door grinds open to reveal the pony that my heart has gone to.
“Good morning Appletart” He said with a soft smile.
I return the smile. “Morning Motor Runner” I replied with a goofy smile stretching my features.
“Intelligence has requested our presence; they said the Krogoth has stopped”
My smile fades and I put on a serious expression to mirror his as he said the name of the machine we are working to stop.
I nod in acknowledgement and get up. I stretch my three organic legs until they pop. Sitting still for a while really does your knees in, not to mention your backside. That reminds me of when we used to have class assemblies back in 88, sitting still for like fifteen minutes to half an hour always gave me pins and needles in my ass and hind legs that were so bad it brought tears to me eyes. After my stretch I begin to follow Motor Runner. My eyes drifting up to his rear as he walked ahead. While my eyes were fixed on his toned rump I failed to notice a support beam in my path and I walked straight into it mid stride. I cried out in surprise and pain as my chest takes the full impact of the steel beam while I slump to the floor. Damn that hurt, ugh, it always hurts ten times more when you’re not expecting it. Stupid sexy Motor Runner.
“Are you alright?” Motor Runner said as he extended his cybernetic hoof to me.
I reach up with my own and I grip his hoof with mine using the magnet. He smiles softly, making me blush as he helps me onto my hooves. I smile softly while still holding hooves. Oh Celestia my cheeks are on fire.
“You can let go now” He said, a blush of his own creeping through his dark purple fur.
“Oh, heh, um, sorry” I said with embarrassment and tried to pull me hoof away. Only to find out it wouldn’t budge. Again, my magnet decides to mess with me but this time I can’t feel mad or annoyed about it. I’m stuck to the pony I love. SQUEE!
Motor Runner sighs and shakes his head as he realises what’s happened. “After we see what Intelligence has for us I am going to see if I can do something about that magnet of yours” He said, his blush darkening a little more.
Everypony walking by began to look at us as we tried to pull our hooves apart. Oh Celestia this is so embarrassing. My face felt like it was on fire with how much I was now blushing with embarrassment; in fact I think my whole body is blushing. We stepped to the side to an alcove of a doorway to get out of the way of the other ponies as they walked by and to get out of sight.
“This magnet has been nothing but trouble” I groan with annoyance as I began to pull just as Motor Runner started to pull as well. Half the time sheer force seemed to work.
I began to feel a burning pain around the join of my leg, as if it was being pulled apart. I heard a grunt from Motor Runner which told me he too was feeling like his leg was being pulled from him. I was about to stop when all of a sudden both our legs did an involuntary jerk. My leg pulled me up while Motor Runner’s pull him down and we suddenly found our lips meeting as a result. Our eyes went wide with the situation we found ourselves in. I couldn’t believe what has just happened but quite frankly I couldn’t give a shit. I have dreamt of this moment let me tell you, and I couldn’t help myself as I closed me eyes. I leant forward, applying more pressure to his lips and tilted my head slightly as I pressed forward with the kiss. To my surprise and delight Motor Runner pressed forward too. I let out a soft moan as we began to kiss deeply. I parted my lips and gently licked my tongue against his lips. Motor Runner opened his mouth slightly to allow my tongue entrance but before I could he slipped his own out and gently slid it into my own mouth. I moan softly into the kiss as our tongues lick and wrap around each other. His tongue felt like silk and tasted strangely of plums, well he is purple after all, hehe oh Celestia I must be as red as a tomato right now. As we kiss I lift my left leg to hold the back of his head, holding him close. I could feel the passion coming from him as he kissed me. I have been kissed before but never have I felt a kiss this good, the way our lips press together, the way his tongue feels and tastes as well with how it explores my mouth and gently caresses around inside.
We must have been together like this for at least ten minutes before we finally pulled apart, both supporting blushes so bright the alcove was alight. As we pulled away I was smiling dumbly while he gave a genuine happy smile.
“That was wonderful” I coo softly as I took a step back and sat down.
He smiles warmly and gently raises his left leg and strokes my cheek with his hoof as he looks down to me. His eyes were filled with a fire I’ve only ever seen in old romance flicks and recently with Zyon and Sky Fire.
“Appletart, this past week, I’ve grown to like you more than just a friend” He said honestly, looking me straight in the eye.
If I could blush any brighter I would have. “Um, heh, err, you, um, you know I, um, have always been, um, in love with you right” I’m so dumb, I couldn’t think of anything better to say, my mind just blanked.
He smiled warmly and leant down and nuzzled my cheek. I let out a soft giggle and melt at his touch.
“HEY SLACKERS, WE’RE WAITING ON YA OVER IN SCIENCE ROOM 3, MOVE IT WILL YA!” Sky Fire screeched before she zoomed off again.
As she yelled me and Motor Runner bolted up right in surprise, shock and embarrassment from the interruption but at least we know how we feel now.
“Yes, we better go, we are late” Motor Runner said standing up and readjusting his suit.
“Hehe, yes, we should” I giggle softly as I stand up and only then did I realise that we were not stuck anymore. “Well, what do you know, we’re free” I giggle again as we began to walk together towards Science Room 3.
XXXXX
“There you are, where in tartarus have you been?” Zyon yelled. Her high pitched voice grated at my ears and making me cringe. Damn, her new voice really hurts your ears when she shouts, especially when it cracks.
“We, ugh, um, got distracted” I said blushing as we made our way to the command table. The table’s surface glowed as it displayed files and folders. These tables were often used during the war to command the war effort while showing maps and strategic data to the field commanders.
“They were snogging in a doorway” Sky Fire deadpanned clearly annoyed by our lateness.
I blushed brightly and sunk down as everyone looked at us. As I lowered myself behind the table I looked up to see Motor Runner just standing there as stoic as ever. I swear he barely ever reacts to anything said about him.
There was a cough from the other end of the table that caught our attention and I stood back up. Elder McNamare looked to each of the ponies in the room. Me, Motor Runner, Zyon, Sky Fire, her sister and several other ponies I didn’t recognise.
“Right, now that I have all of your attention, let’s get back to the situation at hoof” She turned her head to a scribe and nodded. The scribe pressed some buttons with her hooves on the table’s control panel and a holographic map appeared on the table’s screen. The map showed the area around Canterlot Mountain. The scribe groaned before smacking the table’s controls which then beeped and the map became three dimensional.
“Heh, if it don’t work, smack it, always works” Zyon giggled. The scribe just scowled at her.
“Alright everypony, the Krogoth has been standing there for the last half an hour” McNamare said as she pointed to the now 3D image of the Krogoth standing at the foot of the mountain, its head angled down, looking at the rubble of what was once the grand capital of Equestria. “We believe it has been examining the rubble of Canterlot since its head has periodically moved up to where the city once stood and back to the rubble, we can’t figure out why it’s doing this though”
Motor Runner leaned forward and narrowed his eyes slightly as if to be in deep thought.
“Hmm, wasn’t the headquarters for the Equestrian Military located within Canterlot?” He asked while watching the Krogoth angle its head to be looking at about half way up the mountain side.
“Yes it was, why?”
“I think the Krogoth might be seeing if there is any form of military command still in place. It was designed to fight in a war and it must recognise command figures to take orders from”
“If that’s the case, why did it refuse to follow you?” Zyon asked.
“I am not a registered military official so the machine could ignore me if it wanted to since it also has a mind of its own. If it didn’t have a mind in its Crusader then I most likely would have been able to control it”
“The machine is wasting its time then, there isn’t anyone alive today that could still give the machine orders from Equestria's military”
“There could be, some ponies were ghoulified but with the machines state of mind it might see them as a threat anyway”
“This thing is insane” A Scribe scoffed.
“Don’t we know it” I said under my breath.
“Um guys” Zyon said pointing at the hologram.
Our attention was pulled back to the hologram as the machine angled up its AMRs , easier to call them AMRs rather than Advanced Magical Railguns, so it was aiming at the midway point of the mountain.
“The hell is it doing?” I asked as four balls of energy began to form at the ends of the railguns.
Motor Runner’s eyes widened as he uttered two words. “Combination Beam”
“What?”
“It’s the attack it unleashed to escape the Hangar”
The four balls of energy merged to form two large balls at the end of the weapons as it then aimed the two AMRs so that the beams would cross.
“This has to be wrong” A scribe shrieked from a terminal on the opposite side of the room.
“What’s wrong Sound Mind?”
“These power readings we are getting from the SPP Tower we are using to get this transmission are saying that the machine is putting out more power than both the goddesses put together”
“Its true, the spark reactor that was fitted into that machine was one of those meant for a stable, the kind strong enough to power a small city”
“WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT THING DOING WITH ONE OF THOSE?” Shouted the scribe.
I answered that question. “Applejack wanted that thing to posses more power than anything so it could outgun anything that could rival it plus she didn’t know how much power it would actually need to function”
A siren rung out from the terminal. “SYSTEM ERROR” And with that the program monitoring the power reading failed.
A bright light brought our attention back to the hologram to see that the machine fired its railguns and the two large beams that were angled to cross had struck each other in front of the machine and began to build into a huge ball of energy.
“I bore witness to this; the level of power being released was so great that it began to interfere with my cybernetic leg despite its magical shielding” He sighed. “The result was a beam that burned through a megaspell blast door in seconds”
“Shit…” Several ponies said at once around the room.
There was then a bright flash from the hologram as a beam larger than the two feeding the ball short forth and struck the mountain side, boring a hole into the mountain.
“Holy shit”
The beam lasted for about a minute before it stopped and the machine visible slumped down to its fore knees. I suppose if it was a living breathing pony that action would suggest it lost a great deal of energy and became tired.
“That is a weakness, using such power drains the machine of a vast amount of its power leaving it vulnerable for a brief period of time” Motor Runner said as the machine then seemed to stop moving altogether.
“I can’t tell what power level it has right now since that stunt it pulled killed the sensor”
“Well, it put a hole in the mountain” Zyon pointed out. It certainly did, there was now a clear tunnel into the caverns inside the mountain.
XXXXX
The small diamond shaped device floated up the mountain until it hovered at the glowing molten rock entrance to the tunnel it had carved into the mountain. The light bee pulsed as a wireframe pony formed around it which then solidified to show the form of Short Circuit with a capital K on her forehead. The hologram’s hooves touched the floor and looked around, examining her hoofty work.
“There has to be something here I can use, otherwise I’m wasting my time” She spoke to herself and looked up into the dark tunnel. She closed her eyes as if in concentration and a pair of wings materialised on her back. They appeared first in wireframe before solidifying with a pulsing green light and then changed to show the feathers and changed colour until it matched that of her dark blue coat. Short Circuit-K looked back at her newly formed wings and flexed them. Once satisfied she looked back up the tunnel and pushed off with her hooves and started to fly up the tunnel at a fast pace.
The tunnel began to narrow as she flew deeper and deeper until she came to the end of the tunnel which at that point was so small it was barely large enough for her hologram to fit through. She flew through the hole and into a large carven filled with purple crystalline formations. Many of the crystals had been broken or cut back to make room as in several areas around the cavern were work stations with terminals, map boards, command tables and everything else for a military command outpost.
The cavern was dark but was dully illuminated by the crystals as the hologram looked around the cavern as she hovered. Her gaze stopped as she looked down towards the centre of the command post where a large round holographic command table stood, though dark as it was without power.
The hologram fluttered her wings as she descended down to the large round table until she soundlessly landed. Her electronic vision was picking up the skeletons of dead soldiers and other ponies that died in the command headquarters, each identification tag she saw confirmed what she had suspected. She looked at the console of the command table and placed her holographic hoof onto the panel before pushing her hoof into the device. There was an electronic groan as the old systems began to power up. The hologram flickered every so often as she channelled some of her energy into the command table to give it power. Before long the old piece of technology was back online, only just. While keeping her hoof in the device she extended herself into the circuitry and began to take over its core program, effectively taking it over.
The hologram swivelled her head around as an echo of a crystal crashing down onto the cavern floor alerted her to not being alone in the cavern. She looked down at the command table as its surface began to glow with a red light as she was close to having full access. “Stupid ponies and their encryptions” She groaned to herself in Short Circuit’s voice as she was growing impatient now that there was something else in here with her.
A high pitched shriek caught her attention and she turned her head in the direction the sound seemed to come from. Her eyes glowed slightly as she toggled into night vision to see into the darkness surrounding her but didn’t see anything. Another crystal clattered to the floor and she threw her head around to face the direction she heard it but again saw nothing. The hologram tilted her head slightly as she then added a sound detection system to her vision; however when she looked to where another crystal fell, her vision was awash with ripples as they pinpointed sources of sound. The echoes were being registered and blinding her.
She closed her eyes and shook her head as she removed the sound detection and cleared her vision. While her eyes were closed she was alerted that the encryptions had been removed and the system now belonged to her. She smiled as she was now able to do what she wanted but before she could access the information stored in the old system her hologram exploded when something smashed into her. The thing went straight through her ghost like body but it also caught the only physical thing that made up the hologram and sent it flying. The light bee clattered and bounced off the floor before it floated back up and reformed its hologram again.
“What hit me?” She asked herself as she scanned the area. Her gaze fell on something leathery as it struggled on the floor after its crash landing. Suddenly the creature shot up into the cavern with an ear splitting shriek. Before the creature went out of sight she was able to get a good look at it.
“Warning, mutated life form detected…” There was a pause as the machine’s automated systems scanned through its databases until it found a likely resemblance. “Vampire Bat mutation, designation, Bloodwing”
There was another loud shriek from behind the hologram. Expecting what was about to happen she moved her light bee to be inside her head and then the large mutant bat crashed through her body and painfully impacted the floor and caught itself on a large jagged crystal protruding from the floor. The Bloodwing screamed in pain as its left wing was torn from its leg all the way up to where its wing bone joins it body. The creature scrabbled up onto its small legs and the clawed portion of its long wings before it turned to look at its prey with glowing hungry red eyes.
Something inside the Krogoth’s mind caused the hologram to tremble slightly as she looked into those blood red eyes. This unknown feeling caused her to lock her legs as they trembled and the creature seemed to respond to this and jumped at her. She let out a squeak and at the last second jumped out of the way, her simulated breathing was hard and fast.
“What is wrong with me, why couldn’t I move until the last second and why do I feel like wanting to run from it?” She asked herself as she calmed down while the creature smashed its head against a crystal and slumped to the floor. She decided in the time she now had to examine herself, wanting to find out what the feeling was and why it affected her. She didn’t find a fault with her programming to cause the unusual sensation and she realised it was then tied into the mind she had acquired all those years ago. As she delved into the mind of Short Circuit she discovered that the mare had a paralysing fear of bats. “Her fear somehow got through my mental blocks, I must rethink the repulsion fields” she said to herself just as the mutation crashed through her again. The sudden appearance of the thing at her hooves made her jump and scream, again reacting to the fear gripping her.
Using her wings she quickly jumped away from the struggling creature and perched on a large crystal sticking up high into the cavern. “Enough of this” She groans in annoyance and closed her eyes as she materialised a unicorn horn onto her forehead.
The bloodwing climbed out of a pile of rocks it found itself buried in after it failed again to seize the pony it has been trying to devour. The creature was confused as to why it seemed to just pass through the pony even though it can see it and when it has been on target. The creature screamed with hungry anger as it turned around to find the pony but was unable to see it. It screeched as it looked around until a light alerted it to something high above.
The recovering reactor of the Krogoth was transmitting a portion of its energy to the hologram as it was charging up one of its default holographic self defence systems. A ball of energy was growing at the tip of the holographic horn as the power built up. The creature attempted to strike but found itself unable to fly with the tear in its left wing. It screeched loudly in annoyance.
“To the abyss of Tartarus you abomination of nature” The hologram shouted as she shot pink coloured lightening from her horn at the creature. Without its ability to fly the creature wasn’t fast enough to avoid the string of lightening. She watched as the arcing lines of the lightening spell travelled all over the struggling creature and she listened to how it screamed in its agony as its body started to burn.
The hologram burned the creature for several minutes as it slowly burned to death under the spell. Suddenly the hologram flickered and so did the spell.
“Warning, light bee overload… Warning light bee overload” Came an automated warning.
Too much energy was passing through the small device to power the spell. It wasn’t designed to use spells like that for long periods of time. The hologram continued its attack for another minute to be sure the mutation was dead but when it stopped its spell the light bee shut itself down and fell from the high crystal.
“Warning, system critical… Warning, system critical”
The small light bee continued to fall as its damaged systems began to recover. Being so small it reached its terminal velocity quickly.
“System rebooting”
It took several long moments for the light bee to regain enough functionality to restart its levitation system and managed to stop its fall as it came within inches of hitting the solid rock floor of the cavern. The sputtering magical device hovered for several more minutes while its recovering systems managed to piece themselves back together enough for it to reform its hologram which was now grainy and flickering periodically.
“System functionality at forty percent”
“Ugh, note to self, improve light bee power regulators”
The flickering hologram approached the command table again which was now sporting a deep gash into one side since the Bloodwing had crashed into it in one of its attempts at killing the Krogoth’s hologram. She scowled at the gash.
“That better not have damaged the memory drives”
She lifted a leg to take a step but suddenly sank into the floor as the light bee’s levitation function failed.
“I overtaxed the light bee” She groaned in annoyance as she diverted some of the light bee’s remaining functionality to its levitation system.
“Levitation now at fifty five percent”
“Better hold out”
She rolled her eyes as she stepped up to the table and pushed her hoof back into the console and reconnected herself with its system. Her eyes glowed green with text scrolling up in a constant data stream as she began to search its memory banks.
“Thirty percent corruption…”
She continued to search through the millions of files still intact on the memory banks. She was looking through all the data on all the ponies that were registered in the Equestrian Military and this included the Ministry Mares. She smiled as she found the personal data on Ministry Mare Applejack, her creator.
“Last known location… Confirmed to have entered Stable 2”
“Good, now…”
“Braytish Imperial city of Manechester… Location… Outside Equestrian border, five hundred miles north, northwest of current location”
“Target… Obelisk of Magic… Location… Manedale Centre at the top of the Manedale Tower”
She closed her eyes and when she opened them again she her eyes were normal again and she removed her hoof from the console now that she had acquired the information she sought. She was already sure of the location of the Obelisk as Motor Runner had told her about it but seeing it on the system was just confirmation. She turned around and began for the hole in the cavern to the tunnel her AMRs bore into the mountain.
“I will have to pay a visit to Stable 2 after I acquire the Obelisk, I’m sure my creator may have left something behind for me”
She devolved back into the light bee and zipped off as fast as her damaged systems would allow back to the awaiting behemoth of her mechanical body. When she left the mountain side she noticed a mob of young zebras poking at the giant metallic hooves of the Krogoth.
“Zebras, enemy of Equestria…”
She returned the light bee back to its docking station and regained functionality to its body. The loud groans emitting from its body caused the group of zebras to back off suddenly as the machine’s body shifted to focus on the zebras.
“Targets acquired”
The large gattling gun turned and aimed down as its many barrels started to spin at high speed.
XXXXX
We watched in horror as the machine cut down the group of young zebras. The machine didn’t care who its targets were. If they were a threat then it just took them out, not even foals are spared.
“Those poor young zebras” One of the scribes watching the hologram said as she put a hoof over her mouth in shock.
“That is one of the reasons why we need to kill that thing” I said while thinking of my own daughter.
“I agree” McNamare said as she shook her head in disapproval to what the machine had done.
The hologram of the large machine turned away from the mountain and began to move again.
“Now where’s it going?” Sky Fire asked.
Motor Runner lifted his cybernetic leg and a panel opened to reveal a screen. He tapped at it as he began to use whatever it was he had in his leg.
I looked down at the compass on the table as it rotated following the Krogoth’s direction. The machine rounded the mountain and started to walk in a straight line once it cleared the mountain.
“Its heading north, northwest” I said out loud.
Motor Runner looked up and set his leg back down. He had a worried look in his eyes as he watched the machine walk.
“What’s wrong?” I asked in concern.
“It’s heading for Manechester and it is going to acquire the Obelisk of Magic”
“Oh fuck” Zyon groaned.
“If it gets that then we will have no chance to defeat it”
“Um, excuse me but what is the Obelisk of Magic and how do you know that’s what its going to do?” McNamare said.
“Yeah, good question” I said looking back to Motor Runner.
“I have remote access to some of the monitoring equipment back in the Hangar, I just checked to see if any of them was still receiving telemetry from the Krogoth and it turns out that one of the terminals is still picking up data from it. It turns out the Krogoth has decided to do what I told it before its activation” He paused to take a breath before he continued. “The Obelisk of Magic is an experimental defence spire. It was developed by Twilight Sparkle and was designed to protect a city by creating powerful shield spells and to shoot down unfriendly missiles with a beam weapon programmed into it. The Obelisk is and artificial magic generator as it is full of all the known magical gems. It can be programmed with additional spells so for when the war ended it could continue to serve the city”
“Ok, that’s bad and what did you tell it?”
Motor Runner sighed. “I told it that it didn’t have any magical protection and that when it was finished I was going to take it to Manechester to acquire the Obelisk to remove that weakness by getting the Krogoth to assimilate it”
“Oh this is just brilliant” Zyon whined.
“We have no choice now but to attack the machine. We cannot permit it obtain the Obelisk” McNamare said while slamming a hoof on the table. She turned to Sound Mind. “Bring up the map of Manechester” She told the mare. Sound Mind nodded and began to press buttons on the command table’s console. The hologram of the Krogoth faded away until the table was showing folders and files. One folder opened to show map files and then one of them glowed before they all disappeared and the table flashed and the map of Manechester appeared.
“Braytish Imperial city of Manechester” was displayed at the top of the map.
“What’s the Braytish Empire?” Asked one of the scribes taking not of first two words in the title.
“The Braytish Empire was an ally to Equestria long before the war. The Braytish were originally Earth Ponies from the northern seas from a group of islands called the “Braytish Isles”. They were known for their ingenuity, especially their steam technology. Equestrians discovered Manechester being constructed close to their border and when Princess Celestia appeared before them she met with their royal family and later formed an alliance” I answered for the scribe.
“And how do you know all this?”
“Because I’m Braytish” I said matter-of-factly.
“Ah yes, Blueberry Muffin was Braytish” Motor Runner said.
“That’s right, she raised her kids in Stable 88 to be Braytish and it was passed down since”
“That’s a fascinating history lesson but can we get back to the matter at hoof please” McNamare said tapping the now 3D hologram of the city.
“Oh sorry”
“Ok, where is the Obelisk?”
“It is on top of the Manedale Centre, it’s the tower right in the very centre of the city” Zyon said pointing to the tower that stood higher than the rest.
Sound Mind pressed a button that made the tower glow.
“Hmm, how long before the Krogoth reaches the city?” I asked while looking at the streets leading up to the tower.
“Hmm, at its present speed and course it should arrive at the city in the next three days”
“That will not be enough time to gathered everypony for an assault on the machine. We have at best fifty ponies available right now that can prepare for an attack and move out within time to intercept the machine before it reaches the city” McNamare said dejectedly.
“We could still do it with that many” I said as I leant on the table to look over some of the buildings and into the streets.
“You have a plan?”
“I’m making this up as I go along” I said honestly as I noticed a very narrow street between a bunch of tall office blocks. “Hmm, Motor Runner, can the machine fit in Oldham Street?”
Motor Runner followed my gaze to the street. “Hmm, it could but the street is too narrow for the machine to be able to turn around”
I looked at the buildings on either side and then smiled. “I have an idea”
“We’re all ears” McNamare said showing interest.
“We can’t win with firepower alone, but we can with using our brains. These buildings are tall…” I began while pointing to the buildings in question. “…and must weigh several thousands of tonnes each. We rig these two buildings here to explode and collapse as the machine is about to pass. The rubble from the collapsing buildings will fill the street as well as bury the Krogoth and should trap it”
“Huh, that’s a good idea” Zyon said.
“With it trapped we could then find our way inside and trigger its reactor to overload and then we scarper”
“How would we get the Krogoth to go into that street, it’s away from where it’ll arrive” Sky Fire asked.
“The machine will attack anything that threatens it. If we place ponies at the right positions in the city we can draw its attention. The Krogoth will follow what attacks it until it’s destroyed. One pony attacks the machine then runs and hides, when it gets to the spot we need it to turn another pony strikes and hides; we repeat this until we get the machine to where we want it”
“What about its EFS, it’ll see where they go”
“It won’t” Zyon said with a grin. “Me and Apple brought a signal jammer back when we visited Zeta, it’s been calibrated to block EFS signals. It will have to rely on sight and sound to track them. Yes, this could work”
“Indeed, we can arrive at the city before it does and get into position and be ready for its arrival, lure it to the street then blow the buildings and trap it in the rubble. Good idea Appletart”
“Thank you ma’am”
“It’ll take us around a day to gather all the ponies we have available and to prep the transports that our pegasus members brought with them. We could be at the city a full day before it arrives, that’ll give us plenty of time to get ready” McNamare said.
“Wait, if the jammer blocks EFS signals, how are we gonna escape the city before the machine blows and takes everything with it?” Sky Fire asked in concern.
“After its been lured into the trap the ponies not needed to keep it distracted, since it won’t let us get inside without a fight, can head back to the transports and once we get inside the ponies distracting it can also retreat”
“And what about us?” Zyon asked.
“Wirblewind can fly us out; he is a very fast and skilled flyer”
“HEY!” Sky Fire cried out.
“No offence to you… Rainbow Dash” He joked which made Zyon giggle and Sky Fire blush because of her outburst. “You maybe her clone but are far from having her skill yet, but I’m sure you can”
“Ok everypony, we have a basic idea as to what we can do, let’s plan this out in more detail and then we can put our plan into action”
The door opened and a Ranger we recognised as Star Paladin Rojas entered. “Sorry for the interruption ma’am but Alpha Squad has failed to check in and it’s been four hours since they were scheduled to return”
McNamare frowned. “Where was Alpha Squad dispatched to?”
Rojas sighed. “They were sent to the MAS chemical disposal plant in southern Trottingham”
“That’s only down the road” I said looking shocked.
“Before Alpha Squad went silent they had said they had discovered unusual amounts of traps in the area, tripwires, bear traps and the like. I fear they have fallen to a trap in the plant”
“Alright, Paladin Longshot I want you and your friends to go and retrieve them” McNamare ordered.
“Yes ma’am” I said getting up and turning for the door while motioning for my friends to follow.
“Hey, what about this?” Zyon exclaimed. “We don’t have the time”
“It’s only an hour down the road” I said with a sigh. “We won’t be too long”
“Upon arrival you have three hours to find Alpha Squad, once time is up, return to base with or without them or their holotags, clear”
“Yes ma’am”
Zyon sighed and stood up but was stopped by the Elder. “Not you Zyon, I need you to assist our demolition ponies in making charges to blow the buildings”
A grin spread on her face at that. “Ohh, I can do that”
I nodded with a giggle seeing her expression before I turned to Motor Runner and Sky Fire who had by now stepped up behind me. “Ok, we don’t have time to loose, lets go”
They nodded and we left Science Room 3 to get ready for our little excursion.
XXXXX
The Chemical Plant was a large complex. It would take more than three hours to search the whole building. The double doors to the reception of the building were wide open and the look of the doors told me that they had been blown in. They were bent and mangled where they would meet in the middle and one of them was hanging on one hinge. On the floor in front of the door was the remains of a tripwire which had been triggered.
“I’m gonna take a guess that Alpha trigged that” I said as we began to enter the old complex.
“Trip wire trap rigged to a grenade bouquet by the looks of things” Motor Runner said as he looked at the top of the door frame. I followed his gaze to see some string hanging from the lintel before stepping into the reception.
CD fluttered ahead of us and started to head for the door in front of us.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I called to him making him stop and turn around. He beeped several times in alternating tones. “No you stay with us” He seemed to wilt and fluttered back to me.
Sky Fire trotted up beside me, she was now wearing her sister’s cut down power armour with her Shadowbolt suit underneath but with the hood and mask sections removed. The power armour was repainted to match the colour and patterns of her flight suit. “How’s your armour fit?” I asked as we began to walk down a corridor.
“It’s a little stiff and hard to move but I suppose it’s my lack of using power armour, I haven’t worn a suit since…” She trailed off as she remembered when she last wore a set of armour. I nodded in acknowledgement as I knew what happened to her that day. She shook her head to rid herself of those bad memories. “Heh, its nothing I can’t grow into”
The corridor was wide and long. It looked like this corridor had a lot of traffic back in its day considering its width and that it led straight to one of the several storage warehouses. Suddenly a bright flash lit up the corridor from the shattered skylight above us and that was immediately followed by a loud thunderous boom which made me shriek in fright and Sky Fire shoot off the floor in fright as well.
“That scared the living daylights out of me” I cried out as the thunder passed. CD was bobbing up and down while beeping quietly which for some reason came off to me that he was laughing. He is definitely not a normal machine, I machine wouldn’t show such a personality but I suppose that’s one of the reasons I like him so much.
I looked up just as the rain started but I simply stared at the rolling clouds up above. Something about them seemed off.
“What’s wrong” Motor Runner asked as he stepped up beside me.
“Since when are storm clouds orange?” I asked in confusion.
“Orange?” He repeated as he looked up.
Sky Fire looked up too. “Well that’s new”
More flashes and thunder roared in the sky as yellow lightening arced to the ground. The thunder sounded more terrifying than any thunder I’ve ever hear before. It sounded like thunder mixed with a hydra roar but not only that but each time there is lightening it is followed by a dull thump in the distance that sounds like an explosion of sorts. The way the orange clouds were swirling told me the wind was pushing the storm over us. It’ll be fully upon us soon.
“I don’t think we’ll have three hours to find Alpha before that storm is on us” I said in concern.
My two friends and robot nodded and we continued on our way.
The corridor was beginning to get slippery with all the grime on the floor getting wet from the rain coming in through the skylight. I decided to not wear full leg armour today considering the summer temperatures were starting to make wearing the full suit really uncomfortable. This was no better feeling all the slimy gunk on my hooves. As we neared the doors to the first warehouse my hind hooves stepped into a rather thick mound of the gunk and both my hind hooves went from under me on the tiled floor. With a yelp I went straight on my ass with a loud thud. “Ow”
Sky Fire snorted loudly before she burst out into laughter. Yep, she has RD’s sense of humour.
Motor Runner extended his cybernetic hoof to me. “Are you alright?” He asked softly. I smiled and blushed softly as I took his hoof with my own cybernetic one and he helped me back onto my hooves.
“Yes, I’m ok, thank you” I said with a smile while my cheeks burned with a blush. However the moment was ruined when another terrifyingly loud boom of thunder tore through the complex and scaring us half to death. The corridor was starting to take on an orangey hue from the clouds moving over the complex.
We got out of the rain as the skylight ended to solid ceiling as we neared the doors. I shook myself dry which got some moans from Sky Fire who got some of the water from my mane flicked onto her. “Hehe, sorry”
She got me back though as she shook herself too. Her wings flared and sent even more droplets raining down all around. Motor Runner sighed as his suit got more wet. Me and Sky Fire shared a friendly laugh as we came to the double doors leading into the warehouse. I pushed open the doors with my magic and me and Sky Fire stepped in first but as we did a small canister dropped to the floor between us.
“What’s this?” I asked leaning down to get a better look at it. Over the rain a ticking sound could be heard and I realised that it was a timed explosive. Before I could react to it Motor Runner jumped in between us and quickly shoved us both out of the warehouse and shut the doors which also sent CD to the floor as one of the doors slammed into his face.
“MOTOR RUNNER!” I screamed as I got back to my hooves before a bright flash and a roaring sound emitted from the cracks in the door followed by tremendous wave of heat and flame.
Motor Runner must have realised before us that the canister was an incendiary device of sorts and sacrificed himself for us. In that moment I felt like my entire life had just fallen apart. My mind filled with images of the stallion I fell for burning to death on the other side of the doors. I didn’t know what to do as I stared at the doors in disbelief but, where’s the screaming of agonising pain?
My answer came when the doors opened and standing beyond the threshold was a tall gleaming metal pony. It stood like a statue of metal without a mane or tail. The surface of the metal seemed to shimmer like it was liquid. The statue’s eyes opened to reveal the deep purple eyes I know so well.
“Motor Runner?” I asked in utter disbelief as he was standing right there. “How?”
“Star Metal Hide, turns out I’m fire proof… to a degree” He said looking at his gleaming metal body.
“To a degree, you look like a fucking metal statue?” Sky cried out.
“The metal skin stops me from burning to death at the cost of my organic skin, fur and hair but like any other living creature, prolonged exposure to the heat will affect me and will eventually kill me if I don’t escape the heat in time” He explained as a dull pink glow enveloped his body and slowly the gleaming metal began to fade as a layer of skin began to regrow.
“Well, at least your regeneration talisman can give you back your flesh”
After calming down from the shock at seeing that he was still alive and when his skin and fur regrew I was quick to jump at him, rearing up to stand on my hind legs as I wrapped my forelegs around his neck and hugged him tightly.
“Don’t scare me like that again” I almost cried.
He raised his organic foreleg and squeezed me gently with it as he returned the hug. “I’m sorry but there wasn’t time to think of anything else to do to save you two”
CD let out an annoyed beep as he felt he was being left out.
I let Motor Runner go after a minute and blushed softly. Motor Runner smiled softly at me before his smile turned into a scowl as he turned back towards the open doors.
“Are you ok?” I asked feeling concerned from the scowl he shown.
“I’m fine, but my suit was destroyed”
“Big deal it’s just a suit” Sky Fire said as if it was nothing.
“Just a suit?” He repeated before turning to look at Sky Fire with for the first time I’ve seen, a really angry expression but what made it sound worse was that his voice was still calm. “That suit Miss Fire was a part of me, a part of my image, an image I’ve held for thirty years. Now tell me, how would you feel if a part of you was destroyed” He said narrowing his eyes slightly. He knew Sky Fire has suffered the same thing when her original body was destroyed but that’s a bit harsh.
Sky Fire looked down and away from him as shame fell over her features. “I’m sorry” She whispered. He snorted in frustration before turning around and headed into the warehouse. I approached Sky Fire and gently stroked her shoulder with a hoof in support.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I should have known better, that wasn’t like me at all” She said before frowning. “I’m turning more into her everyday”
There was a loud boom of thunder that quickly got us motoring after our tall friend. Damn that storm is getting worse. We caught up to the angry stallion as he was looking over the large storage vats that filled the warehouse. The whole of this warehouse was filled with these vats and some were even leaking the rainbow liquid in thick oozing rivulets that made my RAD counter click like crazy.
“We better hurry this along” I said and headed for the double doors at the other end of the warehouse before stopping and looking around. My EFS was now starting to blur and go fuzzy from some sort of magical interference. Wait, no, not just my EFS, I could feel a strong energy in the air and it was making my horn hurt.
“My EFS is useless, too much interference” I moaned in discomfort.
“Are you ok?” Sky Fire asked.
“I’m feeling a strong energy” I groaned as it felt like it was getting stronger and as it grew the more it felt familiar, wait, I’ve felt this before… “This isn’t good”
“What is it Appletart?”
“I think that storm, ugh, it’s made up of the energy from the Kodiak” I groaned as the pain in my horn was starting to give me a headache.
“That alien ship was being powered by magic?” Motor Runner asked as he looked up to the ceiling.
“I don’t know but the energy in that storm is the same” I groaned.
“What was it?”
“Ugh, um, I think the ship’s computer called the things making it, Ion Ractors, whatever those are”
“So when it exploded it released all that energy into the atmosphere?”
“I dunno, maybe”
“So we have an Ion Storm above us, this could be bad”
Suddenly there was a thud behind us and as we turned around to see what had made the noise we found that CD had fallen to the floor and he was not moving.
“CD!” I cried as I ran to him. I gently poked him with my hoof but he didn’t respond. I examined him for a minute and found that he was powered down. Why would he turn himself off in midair? I suppose my answer came when my EFS shut itself down. I think the storm is doing all this.
“The storm is affecting magical devices, my EFS has just shut itself down and I suspect the same for CD”
“Then it’s only a matter of time before our cybernetics and your armour suffer from it” Motor Runner said while he examined his leg.
I nodded in agreement as I remembered what happened to my armour after being caught in the explosion of the Kodiak. I had woken up to find both my pipbuck and armour had died from the energy blast.
The warehouse shuddered violently before a loud explosion rung through the building and then the sounds of falling debris filled the air. Looking up we could see smoke and fire along with the falling segments of the roof.
“Oh shit”
We quickly ran for the doors. Sky Fire took to the air and grabbed CD as we fled. Motor Runner turned his head to the side as he barged into the doors with great force, sending one of them completely off its hinges as we all ran into the corridor. Only seconds after escaping the warehouse did the rubble slam into the floor, kicking up a dust cloud that almost blinded us as it blasted down the hall. We could hear muffled explosions all around us. It sounded like the whole area was being bombarded. This Ion Storm has explosive lightening, that’s like the worst storm ever.
“He’s still not waking up” Sky Fire said shaking the sprite-bot.
“I don’t think he’ll come back online until the storm has passed” I said looking at my little friend worriedly. “Stick him on my back, I’ll carry him until we are out of here” I felt a weight on my back as she placed him on my back. I began to channel my magic into my horn to use my telekinesis but suddenly I felt a sharp pain run down my horn and through my head as if I was struck by lightening and my horn was the lightening rod. I cried out in pain and quickly placed my organic hoof to my forehead when I stopped my magic channelling.
“Apple, what’s wrong?” Motor Runner asked with concern creeping into his voice.
“Argh fuck, ugh that hurt, hmm, ohhh I think this storm is blocking my magic” I groaned while rubbing my forehead.
“Well, let’s hope this storm passes soon”
I nod as we began to move again.
XXXXX
Stable 24 was a hive of activity as ponies went about their jobs to ensure the plan to trap the Krogoth was being set into motion. Two of the science rooms were full of ponies working tirelessly to prepare the many charges needed for the two office buildings that would be demolished as the trap for the Krogoth.
Elder McNamare walked along the aisles of the tables as her ponies worked to make the chargers. She stopped as she came to the newly feminised zony as she worked with some ingredients, grinding them up into a bowl to make what looked like a sludge. She watched as Zyon dipped her hoof into the sludge and lifted it back up to her face to examine the substance. She sniffed it before touching it with the tip her tongue and cringed.
“Ugh, fuck that’s nasty” She groaned before flicking her hoof and sending the small drop of sludge from her hoof and flinging it to the floor several feet away from her. The sludge impacted with the ground and blew up but the explosion was only small, like that of a Hearth’s Warming Eve cracker but the unexpected bang right behind a scribe caused the unsuspecting pony to scream and jump up and cling to the ceiling in fright like a scared cat. Zyon snorted before she started to laugh uncontrollably. McNamare smiled seeing the spectacle as the unicorn who was frightened out of her skin levitated herself back to the floor scowling at Zyon.
“Damn it Zyon that’s the third time in half an hour” She growled.
“Haha, never gets old” She laughed before calming down.
McNamare turned around to find Rojas approaching. “Ah, Star Paladin, how may I help you?”
“There has been a development with K-01” He said stepping aside so his elder could pass.
“What’s happened?” She asked as she made her way to Science Room 3 where the command table was still monitoring the giant machine.
“It has changed its course and is heading towards a small town” He said as they stepped up to the table. The hologram on the table’s surface still showing the machine now showed it approaching the town in question.
“Celestia and Luna, help those ponies”
XXXXX
The town of Thornton in northern Equestria was just a small town out in the middle of nowhere. The town was only home to around a hundred ponies that were living day to day peacefully. Being so north and away from most other settlements the ponies had been able to get by with little trouble. The town found itself in an area that was luckily barely contaminated so they were able to grow crops that have sustained the ponies living there for many years since its founding. They had been also fortunate to not have been attacked very often by raiders and other things which have made the town seem pretty peaceful. That peace was shattered this day when the ground began to shudder periodically.
“Hey mayor, what’s going on?” Town’s ponies began to ask as they left their homes and began to converge on the town’s centre and town hall.
“Please remain calm everypony, I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation for what going on” A rather plump mare said standing behind a alter to address the crowd.
A pony dressed in an old Solar Guard uniform ran up to the group of ponies looking very worried. “Mayor, something big is approaching the town” He yelled while pointing a hoof down the road he came from. Everypony turned to look down the road; the long road was a direct line from the edge of town to the centre and out the other side. In the distance a large shape could be seen approaching the town.
Some of the town guard quickly grabbed their weapons and gathered to the entrance of town where the large machine was approaching. They couldn’t believe their eyes as the machine grew closer. The giant mechanoid stood taller than the town hall which was a five story tall building and it also appeared to be armed with some of the biggest weapons these ponies have ever seen before.
One of the guard ponies raised their rifle in fear of the imposing machine.
“Hold your fire” Commanded the guard in charge of the squad.
Before long the giant machine was standing mere feet from the town. Its head angled down to look at the line of guards blocking the street. Many of the guards were shaking in their armour and several of them had their guns aimed at the machine’s head.
“Krogoth?” The lead guard said to himself seeing its name printed on the sides of its head.
The Krogoth’s eyes scanned over each of the guards. It couldn’t identify any of them being bad enough to be considered a threat but there were more ponies in the town and the machine was going to determine if they were threats or not. It raised its head from the guards to regard the town but as it did its huge gattling gun was seen by the guards and one of the guards who was shaking so violently accidently pulled the trigger of his gun. He shrieked as he gun fired and shortly afterwards an audible ding was heard as the bullet struck the armour of the Krogoth. The huge head of the machine quickly shot back down to look at the pony who had fired and its gattling gun began to spin.
“Oh shit, open fire!” The lead guard screamed.
“Warning, multiple threats detected” An automated warning sounded in the Krogoth’s crusader chamber.
The guards were quickly dispatched by the high calibre rounds firing from the gattling gun. The rounds that missed the guards as it fired across them made large craters in the ruined tarmac. Screams and yells of terror rang out throughout the town as ponies began to panic and run for their lives. The rest of the town’s guards and any of the town’s ponies brave enough to stand against any threats to their peaceful town and their ponies grabbed their weapons and ran out into the streets to defend their home even as the massive machine began to trudge up the road.
“What the hell is that thing?”
”Oh my goddesses we are going to die”
“Oh Luna help us”
“Take cover and fire at will”
”Fire fire!”
Many voices rose up from the screaming crowds as they ran towards the town hall and into the town while the ponies willing to fight did what they could against the machine. The Krogoth’s eyes ran over the many ponies now becoming hostile targets. In less then five minutes one threat developed into becoming just over half of the town now raising their guns and firing on the giant machine as it destroyed the road under its hooves as it walked ahead.
Screams of pain were drowned out by the roar of the gattling gun now firing its highest calibre, 60cal. The huge powerful rounds blew away anything in its path. Huge chunks of ponies were obliterated and tore away from their bodies while pieces of cover, concrete, steel, wood, anything the guards or brave town’s ponies found for cover was destroyed.
As the machine stomped further up the road towards the town centre more ponies started to move through the streets to flank the machine to attack it form its sides. Detecting the threats moving in from its flanks the machine’s disc-grenade launcher began to quickly turn to fire its grenades in the directions of the threats. The machine aimed its missile pods up to fire a couple of missiles into the air to arc down to strike ground deeper into the town.
The last of the guards and willing to fight town’s ponies were gathered around the mass of civilians now quaking in their hooves as the machine approached. The Krogoth began firing into the crowd when the ponies with guns opened fire. The mayor, still standing behind the alter crouched down, hugging her legs to herself as she shivered in fear and cried as the bullets of the massive war machine tore through the crowd. The ground in front of the town hall became an ocean of blood as most of the town lay dead before the town hall, the place they hoped to be their sanctuary. The mayor whimpered and cried as the thuds of the Krogoth’s hooves grew closer until the thuds were replaced with wet squelching as it walked over the dead. The mayor dared to look up and saw its huge hoof dripping with blood move over the plump mare before slamming into the town hall. She watched as it huge hooves broke through the old building as it continued on. She watched as its weapons continued to fire and kill the remaining ponies as it continued through the town.
The town grew quiet as the machine left its area. The mayor shakily stood on her hooves and surveyed the damage. Most of the town and its population had been destroyed by the machine’s relentless attack. The once peaceful town became a graveyard. As silence filled the air, the moans and cries of pain from ponies who survived the attack began to crawl into the air, adding to the effect of pain and misery that had been inflicted. The fat mare turned back to the town hall that now only had its two end walls standing. She could see the machine in the distance walking away. Her eyes widened when she noticed smoke trails coming from the machine as she realised it wasn’t over.
The moans and cries of pain were soon drowned out by the whistle of missile flying through the sky heading for the town once again. The mayor resumed her foetal position by the alter and started to shiver in her dread as the missiles began to rain down onto the town. The explosions consumed the town. Every last living thing and structure were obliterated as the missiles struck ground in places to maximize the damage to ensure its targets were defeated. Miraculously the mayor survived, her position in the very centre of town was outside of lethal range of where the missiles struck, she dared not move for a long while in case the machine would come back for her. Several hours after the strikes she finally stood back up and observed the devastation around her. What greeted her was what could be described as the bowls of hell itself.
The Krogoth satisfied that the town that became a threat had been neutralised and resumed its journey to the Braytish city. It was disappointed really, the town at first shown to not pose a significant threat to itself or Equestria but then one guard foolishly takes a shot and then they all joined in. The giant machine shook its head in annoyance, because of that one guard’s foolish action the entire town then became a threat and had to be dealt with. Somewhere deep in its mind a dark blue mare was shouting how wrong the Krogoth was in what it did and that the guard wasn’t to blame but it ignored it.
XXXXX
An hour and a fucking half, that is how long I have been immobile for. That stupid fucking Ion Storm got so damn bad that it finally caused my armour to lock up and it gave me such a migraine that any simple movement sent thunderous pain down my spine and right through my skull. Whatever magical properties that energy had was very crippling to unicorns and magically powered devices like CD and my armour. Sky Fire's power armour didn't suffer much from the storm's effects since its pegasi power armour, that armour is heavily shielded from storms and also it was a cut down version. But at least now it has moved far enough away from the plant that I can move without feeling like I’m getting a taser to the face and now that I can move my body. Normally a matrix crash would require a few hours to restore but the storm’s effects seemed to only suppress it so once its influence faded my armour’s functionality returned.
In the time I was unable to move my friends continued the search for Alpha Squad. They searched warehouses two to five as well as the office block which I had to stop in while the storm prevented me from moving. They unfortunately didn’t find any traces of them apart from triggered traps and broken segments of power armour towards warehouse six, which is where we are now heading.
“How are you feeling?” Sky Fire asked as we approached the open doors to Warehouse Six.
“Better now that bloody storm has moved on” I moaned while I rubbed my forehead under my horn with my right forehoof.
CD beeped in confirmation but the storm was still close enough to keep him grounded with its interference.
Who would have thought aliens would be such a pain in the rump with the shit they come with. This has been the third time now that the alien ship had nearly killed me. First the explosion, second nearly being cooked to death as its forward section burned and just earlier with nearly being squashed by debris made to fall from the storms lightening. I’m having a bad day.
We stepped into the largest warehouse so far in this complex. This warehouse like the rest were stacked high with vats of chemicals and like in the other warehouses some of them were leaking their rainbow liquid. The ceiling was gone, looks like the whole roof had collapsed years ago which has let a lot of rain water in creating a small lake in the centre of the warehouse and the water swirled with the rainbow of taint.
“This room is hot” I said as my geiger counter started to tick like mad.
“It’s all the taint; this warehouse is leaking the shit more than the others”
“We can’t stay here too long”
“Yeah I-“ Sky Fire was cut off as an empty barrel was smashed from across the room and sent flying over our heads and hit the wall behind us next to the door. We all looked to where the barrel had come from and I just couldn’t make out what I was seeing. A huge mass of bulging flesh was pulsating and quivering on the far side of the room beside a vat of chemicals.
“In all that is holy, what the bloody hell is that?” I cried.
The mass seemed to react to my works and a huge swollen leg covered in blisters, I think, moved out from its side to grip the floor and push its bulk to turn so it could face us. The thing was grotesque; it was like a sponge left in water too long. There were patches of what looked like pink hair or fur all over its body and, oh dear sweet Celestia it was a pony. It has moved now so we could see it head on. We could see a pony head stuffed into the mass of flesh and boils and blisters, barely poking out from its bulging mass of what were either its shoulders or neck. Its right foreleg came into view and it was a lot smaller than its left and it was still encased in power armour but it looked like a fat pony tried to put on an outfit several sizes too small as between the joins in its armour the grotesque bulging and swollen flesh was poking out and straining the armour. That explains the bloodied shards we saw before entering the warehouse.
“Oh goddesses, that was a member of Alpha Squad” I cried while cringing as the blob like pony mutation tried to hobble towards us.
“What the hell happened to that pony?” Sky Fire cried out in disgust to what happened.
“Taint, it affects ponies in different ways, if your lucky it won’t affect you much but if you’re not lucky…” Motor Runner began.
“You end up like that” I finished while backing up slightly.
He nodded as he unsheathed his chainsaw.
”Help me” The monstrosity gurgled in a vaguely female voice. It was the most disturbing sound I ever heard. It was almost like a mare with a cold and a sore throat trying to give a sports report.
“We gotta help it… her… whatever” Sky Fire said flapping her wings to get into the air and raised her hoof mounted laser cannons.
“Only way to help her is to kill her” Motor Runner reasoned as he revved his chainsaw.
I felt useless here; the fading storm was still giving off enough interference to make my head feel like that ball being hammered around in a pinball machine whenever I tried to use my magic.
“Help me” The monster repeated as it pulled itself towards us a little more. Its body quivering as it jiggled and quaked. Oh that’s just gross. Suddenly its back began to bulged and spasm.
“Now what?”
It’s back exploded as two tentacles with snapping jaws burst from its back.
“Holy fucking shit!” Sky Fire shrieked as she flew to the side to avoid being splattered by blood that was flung from the creatures back when it burst.
I suddenly remembered the grappling claw in my foreleg and lifted it. I concentrated on just one of the sharp claws to come out and I was rewarded with the sound of grating metal as one of the sharp pieces of metal extended out.
“Help me” The creature gurgled as its newly formed tentacles curled down and shot out towards me and Motor Runner. I eeped and jumped to my left to avoid one of the tentacles as it came for me. Motor Runner did the same with the one going for him but he twisted in the air and revved his chainsaw and brought it down on the tentacle and severed the snapping jaws from the fleshy appendage. Thinking quickly I jumped onto the tentacle I avoided and put my weight down on it before it could withdraw its head. It began to wiggled and thrashed to try and knock me off. It probably would have if I wasn’t wearing armour that made me weight almost half a ton. I could feel myself loosing my hold on the tentacle as it wiggled and I quickly swung my cybernetic leg and sliced the claw through it. It jerked violently as my claw cut almost cleanly through. The jerk was enough to make me topple over and I quickly rolled back up onto my hooves as it pulled its injured tentacle back. The jaws of the one I cut hung limply as it was pulled back; at least I killed the head.
The monster trudged into the lake of tainted water as it tried to get closer. We readied ourselves to attack when its severed tentacles bulged at the injuries before bursting with a new head on each tentacle but not only that a third one erupted from its back.
“Not good, the taint is causing it to regenerate its injuries” Motor Runner stated as the tentacles went for each of us. “And causing further mutation”
“We got to kill it quick” I said as I jumped to the side to avoid a snapping two headed tentacle.
“How are we supposed to do that?” Sky Fire shouted as she zipped out of reach of the tentacle going for her as she blasted it and the blob with laser fire.
“Put an explosive 50 calibre round into its head” Motor Runner yelled as he jumped to avoid a tentacle.
“I can’t use my magic” I complained as I ducked to avoid a tentacle and swung my grapple claw up and chopped it in half.
“You don’t need your magic to fire a gun” Sky Fire shouted as she zoomed over the monstrosity and strafed it with laser fire. The laser blasts caused its hide to sizzle and burn but then it quickly healed. “Ugh, it’s regenerating too fast”
I looked around and saw the barrel that was sent flying near the door we came in by up against the wall. I could use the wall to brace myself and the barrel to keep the gun level. “Alright, I’ll need you to keep it distracted. I’ll yell when I’m ready” I yelled as I ran to the barrel to set myself up.
“Sure no problem, I can keep this up all day” Sky Fire gloated just before being swatted to the floor by a tentacle.
“Eyes on the enemy Sky Fire” Motor Runner sighed as he helped her up when the tentacle lifted off her.
“Gotcha” She moaned shakily getting back up from the slap she received.
I pushed on one side of the barrel to pull it onto one of its ends. Damn, this is a lot harder without my magic; I’ve gained a whole new respect for Earth Ponies. Once I made sure the barrel was secure I reared up onto my hind legs and leant against the barrel as I reached behind me and began to pull This Machine off my back and out of its harness. I groaned fiddling with the long barrel of the gun trying to jerk it loose. Yep, I can’t do shit without magic.
“Anytime now!” Sky Fire cried as she narrowly avoided a tentacle that was snapping at her ass. “Hey, down sally”
“Help me” The monster gurgled when a fourth tentacle burst from its back.
“Time is running out Appletart, that thing is still mutating”
I groaned as I finally managed to pull the weapon from its harness and as I finally felt its true weight for myself I couldn’t believe the human aliens were even able to carry this in those things they called hands. I hefted the weapon up and rested it on the barrel as I then leant back against the wall as I held the weapon with one hoof to aim it while on the barrel. I released the magazine then slipped into my storage unit and pulled out an orange banded magazine and slapped it home and pulled the bolt back and shoved it back in to chamber an explosive round. I put my eye to the scope and sighted up the monster’s head.
“Ok guys, I’m ready” I cried out pulling my head back a bit from the scope. They nodded and ran to the opposite side of the room from the creature. I put my claw to the trigger and pulled it with some effort. You need a lot of physical strength to pull that thing; damn those humans must have had strong fingers. The click of the hammer striking the bullet was followed by a thunderous boom and a blinding flash from the flared muzzle of the weapon as the high calibre explosive round left the barrel. What followed next was the weapon rearing up from the recoil and slapping me in the face. My nose burned with intense pain as I felt the cartilage and bone in my nose crumble from the force and weight of the metal weapon slamming into me and then the warm flow of my blood oozing out of my injured snout and the coppery taste of blood in my mouth.
“Oh ponyfeathers” I groaned in pain as I fell back onto my rump as the weapon clattered to the floor.
A strong explosion erupted from the monster’s head. If it made a sound upon being hit it was drowned out by the explosion that consumed its head. The four tentacles wiggled and twitched before they fell limp at its sides and the flames of the explosion passed over its body being carried by the wind blowing through the complex. As the smoke and flames faded away the whole head of the monster was gone leaving a smouldering hole. The creature’s body suddenly began to swell rapidly.
“Oh cock” I moaned as I shrunk down as the monster’s body looked like it was straining to contain its swelling bulk.
“What’s going on?” Sky Fire asked as she hovered over it.
“Sky Fire, Appletart, take cover, its going to blow” Motor Runner cried out in alarm as he dived behind a wall of vats.
“Oh shit” Sky Fire cried as she zoomed into the hallway we came from.
“Wait for me” I nasally groaned as I followed her into the hallway.
We slammed the doors shut and braced ourselves against them and waited. We didn’t have to wait too long as a meaty bang and a strong force slammed into the doors. We pushed the doors which squelched under the force as the doors pushed aside something thick and wet. What greeted us was one of the most disturbing scenes I think any of us have ever seen before. Most of the room and the vats had been redecorated in a deep shade of red and was pretty much dripping and dribbling everywhere. It looked like something from a horror film.
“That’s nasty”
“Oh bollocks, This Machine is covered in the shit” I groaned as I pulled the weapon out of the stinking muck. Thankfully my broken nose stopped me smelling the stuff, speaking of which I could just see the pink glow of the regeneration talisman around my nose. Oh damn that hurts. I could feel my bone and cartilage reforming as the talisman’s magic worked to fix my nose. I wish the talisman had pain relief. There was an audible crack as my nose snapped back together. “Ow”
“Are you ponies alright?” Motor Runner asked as he stepped out from his cover completely free of any of the gore.
“Ow, yeah, just fine” I groaned as I gently rubbed my newly regenerated nose with my organic hoof.
“Are you ok?” He asked in concern.
“Yeah I’m fine, just got hit in the face by my… eh… gun” I cringed seeing the weapon dripping in blood. I fiddled with getting it back into its harness while trying to not touch where it was coated in gore.
“How did you know that taint monster was gonna blow?” Sky Fire asked.
“In my long life I’ve seen a lot of the stuff that this world had to offer. This thing was one of the volatile taint mutations. Taint affects ponies in different ways, some are mildly affected like myself and some are affected extremely like this one. I’ve witnessed a pony mutate rapidly like this one did and upon death its body continued to mutate until it exploded”
“Wow”
CD beeped from my back since he was still securely fastened between my storage units. I looked back as he beeped again. He wiggled as if trying to tell me something and then beeped in a tone that sounded like “Time”.
“Time? Wait” I lifted my cybernetic leg and opened my pipbuck to see the time. “Oh shit we have ten minutes before we have to head back”
“I suppose we might as well head back now. I think we can safely assume what happened to Alpha Squad” Motor Runner said as he gestured to a pile of red gore.
“Yeah we… oh fuck” I said while I facehooved.
“What?” Sky Fire asked as she hovered over me with her forelegs crossed.
“I blew its head up, I’ve likely gone and totalled the its holotag”
“We all bared witness to this, it’ll be ok”
I nodded in agreement as we began for the doors on the other side of the warehouse. The orangey hue from the storm was fading as it was moving further away. I cringed as I concentrated on my magic to open the door to test it. As I reached out to take hold of the door intense pain shot through my horn and through my skull just like before making me jerk back and cease my magical attempt to open the doors.
“Still bad?”
“Eeyup”
The double doors had a release bar mechanism which me and Sky Fire pushed on but the doors refused to open. We gave a harsh shove and heard the sound of chains jangle on the other side.
“Ugh, locked”
“We don’t have time for this” I groaned.
Motor Runner stepped up to the door and unsheathed his chainsaw and revved up the powerful saw. He shoved his cybernetic leg into the door and his saw effortlessly cut through the metal doors. He moved his leg to cut out a large enough hole for us to pass through.
“You’re a hoofty pony to have around” Sky Fire joked.
I giggled lightly as I pulled the door segment back to open it. “Alright let’s get out of here” I said and stepped through the door into the adjacent warehouse and stepped on a wire trap. It snapped as I looked down. “Cock”
“Apple look-“ Before Sky Fire could finish shouting her warning something huge and heavy slammed into my side. I screamed out in absolute agony as several of my ribs broke and cracked from the impact and it sent me flying off my hooves. I screamed as I crashed onto the floor and slid across it until I crashed into a vat and into a puddle of water. My mouth was wide open as I landed in the water and my mouth filled with the water and as it hit the back of my throat I reflexively swallowed the nasty liquid. I coughed and hacked as I sat up in the water, trying to get the horrid taste out of my mouth while also clutching at my chest as it burned in pain.
“Appletart, you ok?” Sky Fire asked as she flew in through the door.
“What hit me?” I groaned and coughed.
The sound of Motor Runner’s chainsaw echoed through the warehouse we just entered and then there was a heavy thud by the door. I moaned looking over to the door to see a huge steel girder with a couple of chains connected to it. Oh for the love of Celestia I can’t believe I was just hit by one of those basic swinging beam traps.
I moaned as my armour buffed itself out to remove the large dent on the left side of my chest to where the girder smashed into me as its repair function kicked in. I cried out in pain as I felt my ribs snapping back into place as the talisman did its job.
“Hey get out of that” Sky Fire shouted as she grabbed me by my cybernetic leg and violently pulled me out of the puddle with surprising force.
“Ow hey, what gives” I groaned standing back up onto my hooves and shook some of the water off my legs.
”That water is tainted” She yelled as she flapped her wings rapidly to blow the water off me.
“TAINTED?” I screamed as I started to hack trying to cough up the water I swallowed.
“Are you alright?”
“No, I swallowed a mouthful” I cried out in panic.
Sky Fire grabbed my cheeks and pulled me close to her as she started to examine me with a critical eye. After a minute of giving me a once over she let me go.
“I don’t see any signs of infection or mutation” She told me. “We better get back to 24, they have facilities that can examine you better than I can”
Motor Runner approached us. “Everything will be alright” He said putting a comforting hoof on my shoulder. I calmed slightly at his touch but my mind was still churning up nightmares of me mutating into a monster but nothing has happened…yet. We got up and headed for the exit.
XXXXX
Two wings of Remnant Enclave pegasi were flying through the darkening skies of the evening. They had been alerted to an attack on a town in the area and were ordered to investigate. As the six pegasi approached their EFS's alerted them to a target off in the distance.
"Sir, target due west of our position" The lead pegasus' wingpony said pointing towards the horizon.
"Alright ponies lets move" The lead pony shouted as she lead them towards the target.
The two wings flew towards their destination. As they flew over a hill that was obscuring their view and all six of them stopped suddenly in mid air to what was moving a head of them.
"It can't be"
"Fuck it is"
The target they had detected and followed turned out to be the K-01 ACM KROGOTH. The machine that destroyed Raptor Atlas. The Krogoth had pissed off the Enclave that day and many still loyal pegasi to the Enclave were itching to get back at the machine for the Atlas. The six pegasi armed their energy based battlesaddles observed the machine as it continued to walk. Suddenly the machine stepped down and its right fore hoof sunk into the ground bringing the machine down to its fore knees and it looked like it was struggling to pull its trapped hoof free.
"What just happened?"
"It stepped on top of a metro station look" One of the Remnants said as she pointed to a metro sign post near the machine.
"Let's not waste this opportunity ponies" The lead pegasus said as she armed her weapons. "It can't move and we have the advantage"
The two wings voiced their agreement and began to fly towards the machine with the intent of attacking and destroying it.
The Krogoth looked up as its EFS detected incoming hostile targets. It turned its head in the direction of the hostiles and soon saw the six small airborne targets.
"Threat annalyse... Six power armoured pegasi armed with energy weaponry... threat level... MINOR"
The disc-grenade launcher on the machine's back packed itself up and sunk into its back before resurfacing as a completely new weapon. This turret possessed high angled twin gun barrels with blue diamond tips which indicated it was an energy weapon. So far in its time in the wasteland the machine hasn't had to use its AA Railgun and with the arrival of these new threats it was the best opportunity for the machine to test out its weapon.
The six Remnants broke up to fly around the machine to confuse its targetting systems with getting it to try and track all six of them at once. The Krogoth engaged its automatic targeting system which could only govern three of its five weapon systems as only three of them could aim and shoot at the enemy. The missile pods aimed high as a targeting solution was inputted to its missiles and it then fired a salvo of six missiles to fly for each of the pegasi while its AA Railgun swiftly rotated and started firing on one pegasus while its gatling gun only fired whenever it had a clear line of sight.
The missiles locked onto their targets and began to follow each pegasus as they flew around the machine. The ponies fired their energy weapons at the machine while dodging energy blasts from its AA Railgun and while keeping ahead of the missiles. After each second the missiles got closer and closer until they were so close they had to abandon their attempts at attacking the Krogoth to out running and trying to shoot down the missile following them.
"This is insane" One pegasus shouted as he flipped onto his back and started shooting at the missile behind him.
"LOOK OUT" One of his comrades shouted out in warning.
He flipped back over and flapped his wings frantically to bring himself to a stop as a blue beam of energy shot up in front of him from the AA Railgun. This was a mistake. The pegasus turned around only to receive the missile he was evading to crash into his chest before detonating and exploding. The explosion drowned out his cry and consumed his body leaving nothing behind.
"NO!"
Similar explosions soon followed as the remaining five pegasi shot down the missiles chasing them. Two of them began to zip around as they became the next targets for its gatling gun and AA Railgun. The Krogoth now had its head raised to enable its gatling gun to fire at the airborne targets instead of waiting for them to get into its line of fire. The three not under fire began to attack again. Their energy weapons struck the thick armour of the Krogoth causing it to sizzle and melt but the small weapons of the battlesaddles wasn't enough to put a hole in the strong armour. The longer they attacked the more certain it became that they didn't stand a chance.
"Ah fuck" The captain cried as she narrowly avoided a blue beam of death to the face. "This energy weapon is fucking fast and accurate, oh shit" She cried out again as she managed to pull her hind quarters up to avoid her lower body being vapourized.
Two of the pegasi not under attack attempted to attack the AA Railgun. The Krogoth detected the threats and its railgun responded in kind and targeted the closest of the two now heading in to attack the weapon. It rotated only slightly and aimed its two barrels at the pony quickly and fired. The speed in which it changed targets caught the attacking pegasus be surprise and he was unable to avoid the blue beam. Most of the pony's upper body including his head was engulfed in the beam of intense magical energy and soon a lifeless lower body dropped to the floor. The second pegasus quickly aborted her attack run as the weapon aimed and fired at her. A hastily performed barrel roll saved her from taking a shot to the ass.
With two down the captain of the two wings realised this was mistake. The Krogoth despite its inability to move with his right forehood stuck in the collapsed metro was still a very dangerous threat and six ponies were still nothing to the ten story machine. The captain watched in despair as a third pegasus was cut to ribbons as the machine lured her into the stream of hot lead coming from its gatling gun while firing at her with the AA Railgun.
"Everypony retreat" She screamed.
She and the last two pegasi turned around and began to fly away.
"Enemy attempting to retreat"
The right side missile pod turned after the fleeing ponies and unleashed a nine missile salvo. Three missiles targeted each fleeing pony. The pegasi was forced back towards the Krogoth as the missiles cut them off and began to pursue them. The three ponies scattered again as they tried to loose the missiles following them. One remnant flew down between the Krogoth's hind legs narrowly avoiding the segmented tail. The three missiles following the pegasus slammed into the Krogoth's heavily armoured backside and tail. The three strikes dented the armour and caused some severe damage to a portion of its tail but other than that the damage was minimal at best.
"Yeah, eat that" He cheered as he flew through the fore legs and right into the gatling gun. High calibre rounds punched through his armour and caused one of his wings to fall off as the high stream of bullets tore into him.
The Enclave Remnants were now down to two. The captain motioned to other pegasus away from her to fly at her. The pegasus caught on to what her captain was suggesting and followed her command and flew at her. At the last second the two pegasi shot upwards. The six missiles were slower to react and collided with each other. Those that didn't exploded with the ones that did from the blast that consumed them. The pressure wave that followed knocked the two pegasi out of the air. The captain crashed down on the ground while the other was still in the air trying to regain control of her flight. The captain picked herself up and winced in pain as she discovered her wing was broken. She looked up fearfully at the last pony and cried out as she watched two blue beams of energy burn through her body as she managed to regain control.
The grounded shuddered violently as an explosion ripped through it. The captain, the last hostile target to the Krogoth turned around to find that the machine just wrenched its hoof out of the collapsed metro and had it raised high above her.
"No, No, NOOO!!!" She screamed as the giant metal hoof came down on top of her, squashing her like a bug.
"All targets eliminated"
After a quick scan of the area to be absolutely sure it was clear the machine resumed its journey.
XXXXX
We had been walking back towards Stable 24 for last fifty minutes now and CD was happy to be able to fly again. I groaned as my back was itching up a storm and because of my armour I couldn’t reach it.
“Are you ok?” Sky Fire asked concerned as she trotted along beside me.
“I feel fine to be honest, except my back is itching like mad”
“Odd that the taint you consumed in that water hasn’t done anything to you”
”Like I said before, taint affects you in different ways, perhaps the taint will affect you in a similar fashion it did me” Motor Runner said with a reassuring tone.
I smiled softly at his words and tone. We continued our trek back to 24.
Motor Runner sighed softly as he looked down to Sky Fire. “Sky Fire, look, I’m sorry for my outburst back in the complex. I was wrong. Comparing the loss of your life to my suit was wrong and hurtful to you. It’s rare my anger gets the better of me like that. I am deeply sorry for what I said” He said sounding very sincere. That’s a trait most ponies in the wasteland lack these days.
Sky Fire smiled at his apology. “It’s ok really. It was wrong of me to joke about your suit like that since it did mean a lot to you. I feel like I’m becoming more like Rainbow Dash everyday”
Motor Runner smiled warmly nodded his head. "You will never truly be like her" He assured.
I smiled as the two accepted each other’s apology.
The suburb towards the stable was nothing but an empty ruin now with mostly just the lowest portion of the walls of the buildings that once stood here. If you didn’t know where to look you could easily miss the entrance to Stable 24 but thankfully there is now always a pair of Rangers on guard duty by the ponyhole. I smiled as we rounded a corner and the two Rangers came into view as we drew near. I moaned in discomfort as the itch now felt like my shoulders were on fire and they felt like they were grinding against inside of my suit. Oh, I think some of that wretched water got under my armour and is making my shoulders grind against the metal.
“Welcome back Paladin Longshot, Elder McNamare is waiting for you in Science Room 3” One of the guards said as we approached.
I smiled “Thank you sir”
He gave a nod and resumed his post.
We entered the stable and followed the corridors back to Science Room 3. Before we made it half to our destination Sky Fire stopped me as we were passing the clinic.
“You better get yourself checked out and then go to bed to rest” She told me in a motherly tone which sounded odd coming from her. “Don’t worry about what McNamare is going to say we’ll relay the information to you later”
I nodded. Yeah, best to make sure the taint I consumed hasn’t affected me. I waved my friends good bye as I opened the door and walked in. Rainstorm was tending to an injured Ranger as I entered.
”Now don’t put too much weight on that leg for a while” She told him as she wrapped his leg in a bandage.
“Thanks Rainstorm” He said as he lay back.
“Anytime… Oh, hello Appletart, what can I do for you?” She asked as she noticed me.
“I need a check up” I said worriedly.
“Certainly” She smiles as she began to turn from her last patient. “You can leave when you feel up to it” She said over her shoulder as she directed me behind a screen for privacy.
“Now, what seems to be the problem?” She asked sitting down before me.
“I got knocked into a puddle of water that was tainted and I ended up swallowing a mouthful” I explained.
“Taint, that is some horrible and unpredictable stuff” She frowned as she picked up stethoscope. “Can you disengage your armour please?”
I nodded as I used my magic to remove my armour. I sighed with relief as I felt armour lifting from my body and placed it all folded up to the side. I moaned softly as I stroked a hoof at my left side where the girder had hit me. Even though the damage has been healed it left a bruise and it still hurt.
“What happened to you?” She asked seeing the huge bruise on my side.
“Ow, a two ton steel girder smashed me in the side” I answered as I then reached up to stroke over my shoulders.
”A two ton steel beam?” She asked raising a brow. “That should have killed you…”
“Maybe if I wasn’t wearing power armour”
“Hmm, yes, probably. An impact of that force would have likely broken all your ribs and punctured your heart and lungs if you were wearing anything weaker than power armour” She said, giving me a mental image I wish I could forget. “Ok now hold still and stop itching”
I moaned having to leave my shoulders since I could finally scratch at them now and sat still as she began to examine me. She did everything of a standard examination and finally she took a blood sample. If I wasn't already an albino and so pale in colour, my colour would have paled even more at the sight of the damn needle. Even now as a grown mare I still hate needles and shots.
“You look and sound completely healthy although your shoulders look a little inflamed. I’ll know for sure if the taint you consumed has caused any anomalies in the morning with the results of your blood test” She said as she carried my blood sample off into the clinic’s lab.
Rainstorm returned with a smile as she carried something back with her. I smiled when I saw what was on her back.
“Wakey wakey little Blueberry, your mummy is here” She cooed softly to the little foal snuggled up on her back. She whined as she sat up and blinked her green eyes as she looked around but she smiled and reached out with her tiny little hooves towards me while Rainstorm made sure she wouldn’t fall off her back using her wings.
I used my magic to gently pick my little girl off her back and floated her over to my waiting forelegs and gently cradled her and nuzzled her lovingly. She is so adorable. She giggled as I nuzzled into her neck softly. That sound was like music to my ears. While I held her I could feel my worries melting away and I felt more relaxed.
“Oh, Appletart, here, rub some of this lotion on your shoulders before you go to bed tonight. Your shoulders are looking a little swollen and don’t scratch them” She told me as she hoofed over a tube of lotion.
“Thank you” I said with a smile as I gently placed my daughter on my back and used my magic to levitate my armour and the lotion. It felt good to use my magic without feeling like I’m being struck in the skull by lightening.
I divided my magic to also hold my daughter on my back as I began to leave. I can’t be too careful. As the door opened as I was about to leave I nearly walked straight into the feminized Zyon.
“There you are” She said with a smile and gently hugged me. That was something I wasn’t expecting from Zyon. She let go of me with a light blush. “Um, heh, just wanted to tell you that McNamare is going to address the whole stable on our plan of action to take down the Krogoth tomorrow morning”
“Ah, thank you Zyon” I said with a smile before I grimaced and rolled my shoulders as the itch felt like it got a little worse.
“Are you ok?”
“I’m ok, really” I said trying to give a sincere smile as I stepped out into the hall and began to head towards my quarters.
“Damn that’s a wicked bruise” She commented seeing the bruise that dominated most of the left side of my barrel.
“I’m sure Sky or Motor Runner told you what happened”
She nodded.
We walked together and I talked about what happened at the complex and here as we walked. I made sure to hide some of the gorier details about the mutation encounter. I also decided to not mention the taint exposure until I got my blood results although I suspect she already knows. Zyon then told me what had been going on here while we’ve been away. How she nearly got kicked off the bomb making team for pranking and how the Krogoth had destroyed an innocent town full of ponies. Once that machine is destroyed the wasteland will be a much safer place.
A surprisingly loud yawn came from my back as little Blueberry snuggled against my back between my shoulders which just made me squirm some more because of the itch.
“I better get her to bed” I said smiling as I looked back at her. “I’ll see you later”
“Ok Apple, sleep tight” The zony said as she pranced up the corridor. I blinked with a raised brow. She never pranced before even as a male. I wonder if that Killing Joke did more than change her sex. I shrugged as I came to my quarter’s door and instantly regretted it as it just made me want to itch. “Oh for the love of Celestia” I groaned as I open my door and stepped inside.
I dumped my armour into a heap in the middle of the living room floor and walked over to my bed and gently placed my little foal into her crib. I smiled warmly as I leaned down and nuzzled her affectionately. “Mummy loves you” I cooed as I then climbed into my bed and yawned. I quickly used some of the lotion Rainstorm gave me on my shoulders and felt a relaxing cooling effect on my shoulders which thankfully quelled the itch. I smiled satisfied and lay down to sleep as I then closed my eyes and soon drifted off to asleep.
XXXXX
My dreams were haunted by nasty visions of myself mutating and turning into a monster and going on a murderous rampage while screaming “Help me!” in a gurgling voice. I tossed and turned in bed as my dreams only got worse. I had been so worked up about the taint that my subconscious was torturing me with these horrible dreams. Soon the dreams grew so bad that I was dreaming of hurting my friends and the ponies I loved. When I came to dreaming about hurting Blueberry, that’s when I jerked awake from my fitful sleep. I shot up right panting and sweating buckets. This taint bollocks is driving me crazy.
Pain laced my sides suddenly. The pain was so strong it felt like my sides were on fire and that someone had put me through an industrial shredder. It was so sudden and painful that I couldn’t even let out a scream of pain as it just left me panting while clutching at my sides. My sides that now felt horribly swollen. My eyes opened in alarm as I quickly lit my horn and looked at either side of my barrel. They were bulging with something on either side that stretched almost to the lower part of my barrel and almost all the way to my tail. What in Equestria is happening to me?
The bulges in my sides gave a sudden and violent jerk as if reacting to my thoughts which sent tremendous pain running along my spine that had me sprawling out on my bed and screaming in agony. I clutched at my sides again. I could feel something under my skin and it was moving. I groaned deeply in discomfort as whatever was under my skin pushed at my hide again. I screamed again as I felt my skin starting to strain against whatever was pushing against it.
“Appletart, Appletart, are you alright?” I heard somepony shout from my door.
“Help me” I cried out as whatever was pushing at my sides gave another shove and I screamed again as this time I heard and felt my skin tearing. I could now feel blood oozing from the tears in my skin now soaking into my bed.
Blueberry woke up and started to cry. The sound of her crying broke my heart because it was my fault she was disturbed.
“Ohh, argh, sorry sweetie, mummy is sorry” I cried as I looked towards her.
I heard the door open and heard the sound of hooves stop at my bedroom door before another knock. “Appletart, are you ok?” I heard Zyon ask worriedly.
“No, get help” I cried as the door opened.
I screamed in agony as whatever was happening pushed at my sides again, causing the already tearing flesh to rip even more and I felt some of what was pushing out poke through the gaps. When I looked back at my sides I saw what looked to be blood soaked feathers poking out from the holes.
“Oh sweet Luna” I heard Zyon gasp.
I looked back to my friend with tears streaming down my face. “Help me please” I begged and then collapsed to my blood soaked bed as the things wanting out gave one last almighty push and my sides tore open and whatever was in me thrust themselves from my sides and I felt them rise up high over my back while also feeling an odd weight to my shoulders. I looked back at what had burst from my sides, seeing that they were connected to my shoulders and then the world went black as I fell into blissful unconsciousness.
Applejack stepped off the train at Manechester’s Victoria Station, a large grand train terminal with several platforms with many giant steam locomotives waiting at their platforms for passengers or just pulling out. Applejack has seen many steam engines in Esquestria but never had she seen so many as big as the one that brought her into the Braytish city. It was a grand achievement when the rail link between the two nations was finished and Equestrians were able to travel into the new land on the biggest and grandest steam locomotives imaginable.
She walked the length of the ten car train up to its locomotive. It was a huge machine measuring up to just over twenty two and a half metres in length. Most equestrian steamers didn’t even measure ten metres in length. She had learned on her journey that these giant four six twos were known as the Princess Coronation Class and were designed for express passenger services and to travel at up to a hundred miles per hour and with their six two point zero six metre drive wheels Applejack believed they could.
Applejack looked the machine over from its sloping smoke deflectors at its black smoke box all the way along its huge long tapered maroon red boiler to its massive fire box and then to its cab and finally its large six wheeled tender which bore the initials G B R (Great Braytish Railway). She had to admit that the braytish built steam monster was one of the most beautiful things she’s ever seen in her life and it also had a name to fit its beauty and its class name. Mounted on its boiler sat a large plague that held its name in gold gilded letters and this particular locomotive was called “Duchess of Canterlot”. She learned that because this class was built for the trans-national railway the braytish decided to name them after Equestrian places and monarchs. Three new locomotives were to be unveilead in the future going by the names of, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza as gifts to Equestria’s royal family.
Another large steam engine blew its whistle as it thundered down the line passing right through the station from the platform behind Applejack scaring her half to death from the sheer volume of the whistle. Whirling around she saw another of braytish imperial steam engine marvels, a large thundering two ten zero pulling behind it a massive long train of freight. To ponies like Applejack the giant steam engines of the braytish were like monsters compared to the small four four zeros she’s familiar with back in Equestria.
“Dear Luna, how do these ponies handle these things?” she asked herself as she began for the exit from the station. She had come to Manechester on request from her friend Twilight Sparkle who wanted to see her at the heart of the city, the Manedale Centre.
Applejack was glad that the train station wasn’t that far from the Manedale Centre. She hasn’t been to this city much and with its tall buildings and many roads it was easy to get lost in. Even the iconic tower disappears when you amongst the skyscrapers. A five minute walk into the city’s heart and retail district brought her to the giant mall that surrounded the giant tower's base.
“Ah Applejack you made it” Twilight Sparkle said in a happy tone when she finally saw her friend.
“Howdy Twi” Applejack greeted as she gave her friend a light hug.
Many ponies walking looked towards the two mares as they embraced. Most of the ponies were braytish and didn’t care much about what the two mares were responsible for but those of the ponies that were equestrian stopped and whispered.
“Maybe we should go to the roof”
“The roof?” Applejack asked surprised.
“Yes, it’s why I callead you here”
Applejack gawked at the massive shopping complex as she walked with Twilight towards a place in the complex known as Manedale House which is the entrance to the main tower. Applejack had never seen such a large shopping complex before and she was glad she wasn’t here with Rarity as with the large number of clothing outlets the white mare would have a field day and drive her completely insane with wanting to check them all out and to criticise them.
Twilight and Applejack signed the visitors book at the front desk after entering Manedale House and stepped into an express elevator that would take them all the way to the top floor.
After a very long maddening ride in the lift to the top floor Applejack rushed out as the doors opened. “Finally, dear Celestia Twilight, it’s a good thing Ah’m not claustrophobic”
Twilight gigglead as she followed her friend out. “Sorry, I know, those lifts can be a bit slow and tedious”
“Express Elevator, my flank”
Twilight giggled again as she took the lead and lead her friend through some maintenance corridors until they came to the roof access stairs. Twilight stopped and turned to her friend.
“Now Applejack, I know I can trust you with this, that is why I called you up here and also since Pinkie doesn’t have her ministry setup here yet there’s less of a chance she’ll find out. I swear that mare knows what we are about to do before we’ve even thought of the action. Anyway, what I’m about to show you is top secret but it also applies to your secret”
Applejack slowly nodded her head in understanding and confirmation.
Twilight gave a nod herself and lead her friend up the stairs. Applejack had to keep a hoof to her head to keep her iconic stetson from flying off from the strong winds blowing a gale across the roof of the tower. When Twilight moved out of Applejack’s line of view her eyes bugged out as she saw a giant unicorn horn in front of her. Twilight quickly cast a sound proofing spell around herself and Applejack so that anypony outside their circle wouldn’t hear what was being said.
”Applejack, this is the Obelisk of Magic”
The spire looked to reach out to the sky while it gave off a light glow. The orange mare could feel the magic radiating from it as she approached it with her friend.
“It’s incredible”
”Thank you, there are still some alterations that need doing but the prototype is almost ready. Once it’s finished and fully tested I can begin making more of theses to be placed in cities across Equestria” When she finished her sentence a siren was heard which sounded off throughout the whole city. “Ah right on time”
“On time for what, what was that?”
“Time for another test of the shield spell, it’s just a drill and they know I’m testing the shield spells” Twilight said as she approached the obelisk and opened up a panel that revealed a control interface. She lifted her left foreleg and used her magic to connect a cable from her pipbuck to the console so she could closely monitor the shield spell.
Applejack looked to the tip of the spire as it began to glow with a bright green light. In the sky above the tower a green light appeared and soon a wire frame dome began to expand and curl down around the city until the lines completely surrounded the city. Once the lines had finished materialising its vertical and horizontal lines the spaces between the wire frame squares began to fill in with a solid green light. The lines of the wire frame pulsed from bright green to dark and the spaces filling with solid green light were doing the same but reversed. After a good five minutes the dome of green pulsing light had formed.
“Shield integrity holding” Twilight said to herself as she looked at the readouts on her pipbuck.
After a couple of minutes the shield began to waver and begin to break up.
“Damn, still insufficient power to keep the double shield up” Twilight groaned very annoyed with the result.
“What just happened?”
Twilight sighed. “I’ve been trying to get the Obelisk’s third shield to work without using up too much power. This tower has its own reactor but I couldn’t connect the Obelisk to it directly so I had to connect it to the tower’s mains. The mains can’t handle the large flow of power needed for the shield” Twilight disconnected the cable with an annoyed yank that nearly snapped the wire. “I’ve been failing time and time again to recalibrate the shield to use less power”
“And why does this shield need so much power?”
“The shield is Shield Spells 1 and 2 combined. Shield 1 protects from projectile weapons such as bullets and missiles and Shield 2 protects from magically weapons. Those shields don’t need much power and its enough to project from the Obelisk without frying the tower’s mains but those shields will let anything that they aren’t meant to stop through. Shield 3 is both shields made one but the two shields counteracting each other’s weaknesses requires nearly three times more power than just one of the shields alone. This tower can’t handle that strain for long”
“And why does this have anything to do with…” She paused as she looked around cautiously. Knowing Pinkie Pie she might have predicted this meeting and had something setup to spy on them with. Not seeing anything she leaned close to Twilight’s ear and whispered. “Project-K?”
“Well I looked over some notes you let me see and found that…” Twilight paused to think of a word to throw off Pinkie in case she had something up here since she caught onto Applejack’s suspicion and she knows how Pinkie has made listening devices that look like everyday items. “…she doesn’t have magical protection and so I’ve coded the Obelisk to accept her if needed. The assimilation spell I created will allow for a quick and easy rebuild on her”
”What makes ya think she need’s magical protection?” Applejack asked a little offended.
“Applejack, thick armour alone won’t be enough to stop projectiles. What I’ve read, she can stop practically anything from penetrating her chest armour but magical weapons work differently to projectile weapons and can damage that armour that’ll make it weak. I know you have a lot of faith in your technology but please trust me on this. She’ll be weak to strong magical weapons”
Applejack sighed, she knew Twilight was right but didn’t want to admit it but during Twilight’s little speech she thought back to Big Mac being killed by an AM Rifle. She knew that her armour could be penetrated so she knew that even the three feet thick armour of the chest plate on the Krogoth could be penetrated if the right weapon is used. “Alright Twi, but wouldn’t she have the same problem as the tower?”
Twilight smiled. “No, with my Crusader and Stable-Tec’s reactor the Obelisk will be tied into the reactor like Blueberry's AMRs so it won’t have a problem getting the power. With the shield spells fully operational she’ll be the most protected thing in Equestria”
By now the shield had completely fizzled out as the spell was disengaged.
“Well, later I can go over the details with you on the train ride back home” Twilight said as she walked over to the fence that surrounded the roof of the tower to stop ponies throwing themselves off. It has happened in the past.
Just as Applejack joined her friend a roar like cheer drifted up from the nearby hoofball stadium. Applejack looked towards the large red and white stadium. She learned from Rainbow Dash that the stadium was called “Old Trotford” and was home to the Braytish Empire’s greatest hoofball team, Manechester United.
Twilight giggled. “Looks like Mane United just won the championship again”
XXXXX
Pain, why is pain all I feel these days? Ever since I had my baby I’ve suffered injury after injury that has now left me a cyborg and scarred. Why did such a wonderful time end up being followed by misery?
I groaned as I began to wake up. The first thing that registered was the horrible burning pain in my sides as feeling came back to me as my conscious mind reinstated itself. I feel like I’ve been put through a wood chipper.
“She’s waking up” I heard someone say but with my mind still a little groggy so I couldn’t tell who.
I opened my eyes and immediately closed them again as they were assaulted by a bright light shining in my face. I moved my fore legs to cover my eyes with my hooves but only found that one hoof made it and as my left leg moved against my body I could feel the synthetic limb was missing. My eyes flew open again, this time in shock, but before I could move I felt two hooves press on my chest to keep me down.
“Easy” I head the same voice say. I blinked as my eyes got used to the light and I looked to the hooves and followed them up to their owner and found the familiar face of Rainstorm looking at me with a reassuring smile on her face.
I groaned and lay back down, my only forehoof rubbing over my chest and the left side of my barrel. I moaned in pain but wore a confused expression as I felt my hoof run over several grooves in my hide.
“What happened to me?” I asked letting out a breath after feeling a sharp pain from my side where my hoof touched.
Rainstorm opened her mouth to answer when the door to the clinic opened and a naked Zyon and Sky Fire rushed in. Huh, it’s been a long time since I last saw Zyon with nothing but his... damn it, her… bandanna on. I have to admit she made quite the sexy mare. I blushed at the thought.
“How is she?” Zyon asked worriedly.
I couldn’t help but notice Sky Fire staring at my side.
“She’s fine as far as I can tell. The tests have revealed that the mutation has stopped and…”
“MUTATION?!” I screamed and sat up, ignoring the pain and staring right at Rainstorm.
The pegasus cringed at my sudden outburst and movement but before she could answer me I felt something sticking out from my back and noticed both Zyon and Sky Fire staring.
“WHAT?” I screamed at them.
They simply pointed.
I followed their pointing hooves and looked behind myself to find two large bloodied feathery appendages that stuck out from my back. My eyes bulged out at the sight of the two blood smeared white wings sticking out, stiff as boards. I reached back with my right foreleg and touched one with my hoof and shivered as I felt my hoof press into the feathers. I could feel them, I could feel each feather flex and bend from the hoof touching. Oh Celestia these things are truly mine.
“What the bloody hell happened to me?” I cried out in a mixture of fear and surprise.
“Please Appletart, calm down and I’ll explain” Rainstorm said as she walked over to a small table and used her wings to pick up a couple of pieces of paper.
I nodded as I gently shifted myself to lie on my stomach and rested on my right leg since my left was missing. As I began to feel a little relaxed and I felt the wings fold down against my sides, brushing over the grooves I haven’t looked at yet but I have an idea what they area as the memory of last night returned to me. Dear goddesses these things burst out of my body. If I was a cartoon character my face would have turned green for a minute there at the mental image.
“I have your blood results from before the mutation and after and I’ve discovered that you have pegasi DNA in your genetic code and…”
I interrupted her. “Wait, Pegasi DNA, but I’m a unicorn”
She gave me a glare before she continued. “Yes, Pegasi DNA” She stopped for a moment to take a breath and to look at the papers in her wings. “It seems you’re the last in your family to carry the gene” She saw my questioning look and sighed. “Ok, everypony has DNA from each race in them, mostly. You came from an Earth Pony and Unicorn family didn’t you?”
I nodded in confirmation. My mother was a unicorn and my dad was an earth pony.
“Your mother’s genes were more dominate than your father’s during your development so you were born a unicorn but you would still have earth pony DNA because of your father. It’s the same with your pegasus DNA but over the generations those genes have been dwindling down and with what little was there before the mutation seemed like you were the last to carry them”
“But who in my family was a pegasus?” I asked out loud.
“I did a little research into that and it seems your ancestor, Blueberry Muffin was the daughter of two pegasus ponies”
“Wait, if her parents were pegasi, then how was she born an Earth Pony” Zyon asked.
“Same way Appletart was born a unicorn when her father was an Earth Pony. One of the parents of Blueberry’s parents must have been an earth pony and that pony’s genes passed into Blueberry during her development and was more dominate than her parent’s pegasi genes so she was born an earth pony” She explained. “A good example of this would be the Cake twins, a unicorn and pegasus born to two earth ponies”
The teal pegasus looked back at me. “Ok, so you had a small amount of pegasi DNA in you before the mutation began but after you ingested the taint that begun the mutation and it seemed the taint latched onto the pegasus genes and forced them to grow. Taint as you know affects ponies differently but you were one of the lucky ones since that’s all it did to you. It made it grow and rewrote your own genetic code to include the pegasus DNA. The physical change it did was giving you full and matured pegasus wings. Why they formed under your skin is beyond me. You are now also able to do anything a pegasus can do, fly, push clouds, walk on clouds, etc”
I wore a panicked expression as I looked at my new wings. “Doesn’t this make me an Alicorn?” I whimpered.
“No, Alicorns are a combination of all three races, taller and vastly more magical, you are neither of those. I think what would be more accurate to call you would be a Winged Unicorn” She answered.
I relaxed a little since I wasn’t one of those monsters but still, I have wings. This is going to cause merry hell when other ponies see me. The first thing they will think is that I’m an alicorn now. This is going to be a long day.
“Where’s my leg?” I asked looking back to the stump. It wasn’t all gone since the section above the knee where it connects to my organic leg is still there.
“Motor Runner took it, saying it needed modifying because of your new, um, appearance” Sky Fire answered.
“Great” I moaned sarcastically looking at the plug socket of the segment that remained.
“Sis can you get me a bucket of water and a towel?” Sky Fire asked her sister who nodded and went off to retrieve the items asked for.
”What’s that for?” Zyon asked as she sat beside the bed.
“I need to clean her wings, that blood will ruin those feathers” She said as she began to inspect my wings with a critical eye. “Can you open them for me?”
“Are you serious, I just got these things, how the hell am I supposed to know how to use them?” I growled angrily. My head was now swimming with thoughts of how I’ll be treated now because of this mutation. All the thoughts of mistrust, all the talking behind my back, the false stories, the rumours, argh, it’ll be like I was filly again in school being teased because of my defect.
“Apple” Zyon tried to get my attention but I ignored him.
My face scrunched up into a scowl as my mind just went on its self destruction. “No pony will ever trust me again” I growled darkly.
“Of course they will, you’re Paladin Longshot” Sky Fire tried to defend.
“They won’t trust a freak” I screamed and whirled on her. I could feel it, my eyes were blazing again.
“Appletart, calm down” Zyon said holding up her hooves.
My wings flared out with my mood. I felt the dried blood cracking and falling out from between my feathers. I looked back at them and saw how a network of scars seemed to spread out from the shoulder where they sprouted. The scars made it look like my hide had peeled open like a banana. The scars stretched from my shoulder, going down my barrel to nearly going to my underbelly and some stretched as far along my body to my flank.
”Why me?” I yelled. “Why is it me that has to suffer this shit?”
“I got turned into a mare, how do you think I feel?” Zyon argued.
“But you’re still you, I’m a freak and I’m not what I used to be” I yelled at her.
Rainstorm came back in with the water and towel to see me stood on my three legs and in a threatening stance with my eyes under the dark magic shift and my wings flared out.
My mind became clouded and I couldn’t think straight anymore as I turned to face her.
”You! Why didn’t you do anything to stop this?” I screamed at her, my horn glowing purple and I seized her with my magic and dragged her back over to me.
“There was nothing I could do” She yelped as she was dragged over to me.
“You could have done something” I barked.
I heard a hiss and the door to the clinic opened again as Motor Runner entered carrying my cybernetic leg on his back. He stopped and blinked to see me threatening a pony.
“What’s going on here?” He asked as he approached.
His voice and presence seemed to pull me out of the downward spiral I found myself in and I was able to regain my control. I gasped and released Rainstorm and sat down on my haunches and used my right hoof to hold my head as I shook it. “Ugh, what just happened?” I moaned as a headache came on.
“You were threatening my sister” Sky Fire shouted as she helped her sister back up. “What’s gotten into you?”
I cringed at her tone of voice as it hurt to hear her shout at me like that. “I don’t know, I guess I’m just angry, so much has happened to me so fast to leave me looking the way I am. I’m a freak” I cried with tears running down my cheeks.
“Stop right there” Motor Runner said firmly as he sat in front of me next to the bed. “You are no different than before, sure you’re a cyborg and now have wings but you’re still the same pony we all know” He paused for a moment to look at me in the eye. “And love” he finished with a reassuring smile.
I smiled genuinely at his words before sighing. “I’m sorry everypony”
“Its ok Appletart, you’ve been through a lot lately” Zyon said with a nod.
I looked to Rainstorm. “I’m sorry Rainstorm, I couldn’t control myself”
“Its ok, it’s a good thing I know about that dark magic shift you go through” She said with a smile of understanding. “Maybe when the Krogoth has been dealt with we can help you through it”
“We’ll all help”
“Thank you everypony”
“Ok, now hold still while I wash your wings” Sky Fire said taking the towel in her mouth and dunking it into the bucket. My wings had folded back down again by now. She placed the towel on the bed. “I’ll teach you some basics in controlling these before McNamare’s briefing” She told me since I couldn’t open them myself for her. I nodded and she then reached a hoof up and poked me in the withers which instantly caused my wings to shoot open and fully extend.
“Ah, what was that?” I cried out in surprise.
She giggled. “Just a nerve, poking a pegasus there usually results in that” She picked up the towel again and began to scrub my feathers. I hate to admit it but it felt real good to have my wings hoofled like that.
“I have you leg Appletart, I’ve stripped it down and rebuilt it with more lightweight materials while still keeping its integrity so you haven’t lost out on its armoured casing”
“Thank you” I cooed while Sky Fire gently ran the wet towel over my primaries.
“Now brace yourself, this’ll hurt” He told me as he pulled my leg from his back and used his cybernetic leg’s manipulators to move and position the leg at my socket. He gave me a nod and I braced myself and he shoved the leg into the socket and then gave a twist which was followed by a click. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth hard as a sudden jolt of pain ran up my leg from the connection. I let out a pained breath as the pain subsided. My EFS alerted me that my leg had been reconnected and was fully operational.
“You weren’t joshing, that hurt” I groaned as I flexed my synthetic leg when I regained feeling in it.
After a moment of silence I spoke up again.
“So what’s going on?”
“McNamare is setting up a briefing which will take place in a couple of hours. After that we’ll be boarding transports that’ll take us to Manechester where we’ll set the trap up” Zyon said as she watches Sky Fire clean my wings.
“You and me have been asked to give a little speech on the Krogoth so everypony knows what we are up against” Motor Runner said.
“Wait, you mean stand up in front of everypony?” I asked in a panic.
“Yes, is that a problem?”
”I hate standing in front of crowds, I couldn’t even give a presentation in front of the class back in school, there is no way I’ll be able to address the fifty or so rangers” I whined.
“I see, don’t worry, I’ll be right beside you” He said with that reassuring smile of his. It made me feel better, only just.
I shivered as Sky Fire started to clean my other wing.
”Hey sis, these wings look a little larger than normal” Sky Fire said as she looked over my still dirty wing.
“They are, they are about six percent larger than the average pegasus wing but I believe that’s because of how fast they grew and matured”
I sighed with relief as for a moment there I thought the taint did more than what was thought.
“Are you sure I’m ok, are you sure the taint isn’t doing anything more?” I asked with panic in my voice again.
“I’m positive Appletart, I took another blood sample after the mutation ended and examined the change and it has indeed stopped, there isn’t anything else for you to worry about” She told me positively.
After another few minutes both my white feathery appendages were clean and in all honesty felt good. Me and Sky Fire stayed in the clinic while she went through some exercises with me to help me gain control of my wings while Zyon said she had to do something to my armour so I could wear it with the wings I now have. Motor Runner just sat in a corner watching. We practiced for about an hour but thankfully with the things she told me about my wings I was able to gain some control. I’m still a long way from using them as easily as she could but at least now I can open and close them but it still takes some mental power.
We left the clinic and soon entered the atrium where all the rangers that were available had gathered in front of a stage that had been set up to the far end of the room with McNamare standing on the stage facing everypony. So many ponies. We all walked down one side of the room to reach the stage before climbing some stairs up onto the stage and stood behind the elder. We were missing Zyon but she was already fully aware of what the machine is and also she knows what’s going to go down in the city so she didn't need to attend really.
McNamare turned to see us and when we were all accounted for minus Zyon she gave us a nod and turned back to the crowd.
“Good afternoon everypony. I am sure you are all aware of why you are here but before I explain to you all about what is going to happen I give the floor to Motor Runner and Paladin Longshot who are the experts on what we are going to be facing” She said in a commanding tone.
The crowd of ponies quietened down as the elder stepped back to let us take centre stage. As me and the now suited Motor Runner stepped forward I began to shake at the sight of the crowd. So many, I can’t do this. I began to shake as we approached the microphone that was fixed to the stage. Motor Runner looked down and gently touched my right shoulder with his left leg. I looked up and met his gaze, his eyes showed confidence and reassurance as they looked back at me. “I’m here for you” He mouthed silently. I nodded and looked back out to the crowd of rangers who were beginning to murmur quietly. I am so damn nervous. I opened my mouth to speak but froze. I tried multiple times to speak but I just couldn’t get my vocal cords and my lips to work together. I began to shake again with my nerves. I stopped shaking when I felt a strong hoof on my shoulder. I sighed and took a deep breath as I steeled my nerves. I can do this, I’m with him and I can do anything with him there to support me.
A scribe placed a dome shaped device on the floor behind us and tapped it. When the scribe had backed away from it, it flashed blue and a hologram of the Krogoth appeared behind us. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I began but kept my eyes closed.
“Good afternoon everypony, you all know who I and Motor Runner are so I won’t waste your time with introductions” I began, if I couldn’t see them I couldn’t see all those eyes staring back at me. If I couldn’t see them I could do this. “You may all know from us and likely DJ PON3 about a giant robot killing machine called the Krogoth”
There was a chorus of loud murmurs of confirmation.
“The Krogoth is an all purpose assault mechanoid designed with the sole purpose of ending the war. Applejack had envisioned a machine so big, so armoured and so powerful that it would be practically unbeatable against Equestria’s enemies. She wanted the machine to wipe out the zebras and any other threats that would endanger her friends and Equestria. To give this machine that deadly power she gave it a Spark Reactor, a Crusader Mainframe, advanced movement systems and control interfaces such as a Synaptic Link…” Motor Runner turned around and pulled his mane back to reveal the plug on the back of his neck. “…and she gave it four of the deadliest weapon systems ever mounted on a ground based weapon.
Applejack employed my ancestor Blueberry Muffin as the chief weapon designer for the machine. She built for the Krogoth a multi-calibre machinegun that is capable of firing four types of ammunition. The ammunition the gun can fire are five millimetre rounds for basic infantry, fifty calibre for armoured infantry or light armoured vehicles and two experimental calibres, fifty five and sixty calibre. These two calibres would deal far greater damage and deeper penetrating power and could be used to take on medium armoured units or shoot through certain materials”
I opened my eyes slowly as I felt my confidence build as I talked. That was a big fucking mistake as when I opened my eyes fully and saw the entire crowd of rangers staring right at me, hanging on my words I felt my nerves return with a vengeance and I froze in fear and anxiety of standing in front of a crowd. I began to quake again and then suddenly I felt movement at my sides as my wings rapidly sprang out, flaring out to their full height. Oh this isn’t going to be good.
“SHE’S AN ALICORN” I heard someone scream from somewhere in the crowd.
Motor Runner took a step forward and I saw his cybernetic leg split down the middle and the teeth of his chainsaw pop out but he didn’t release it completely and then he placed his left organic foreleg in front of me in a protective stance as he looked over the crowd of growing furious ponies.
“ORDER” McNamare shouted but was ignored as ponies pushed forward shouting insults at me.
“What’s that freak doing down here?”
“She’s a monster”
“Kill it” I heard flying from the crowd. It hurt. It hurt to hear them turn on me just like that just because of these blasted things and it was the kind of hurt that feels like you just lost everything, like someone had cut a piece of your soul out of you. For an instant I felt like I was back in primary school with everypony laughing at me, calling me names because I was different.
“ORDER” McNamare tried again but was ignored again as the crowd continued to shout and scream.
I began to tremble in fear of being physically hurt by these ponies when all of a sudden a thunderous boom roared through the chamber and the rest of the stable. The sudden explosion of sound scared me and my wings beat hard as I jumped sending me about five feet into the air before I crashed back down. I recognised the bang as This Machine being fired as I picked myself back up and looked to see McNamare looking shaken with her holding This Machine vertically with the butt of the gun against the floor. Sat next to her with her forehooves over her ears and a smug look on her face as she looked over the now terrified and cowering rangers was Zyon.
“Knew that blank round I found would come in hoofy” She smiled as she took the large rifle from McNamare who was now having a little trouble standing.
”Loudest gun ever” She muttered as she wobbled over to me and Motor Runner to address the crowd again. She took a moment to compose herself and then looked back to me and gave me a look that said “I have to explain”. I nodded in response to her look and she returned the nod before turning back to the crowd and cleared her throat.
“That is quite enough” She yelled with authority. “Paladin Longshot is no different thank you or I. She is still a valued member of our team and is putting her life on the line to help us with the Krogoth” She turned and looked at me. “Should I tell them?” She asked quietly. I nodded; if it’ll help them understand then sure she can tell them. She returned her attention back to the crowd of ponies who were now picking themselves back up. “Paladin Longshot has been exposed to taint that caused a mutation that gave her wings trying to find some of your friends. She suffered this helping us, now show some restraint and respect. I will say this once, she is NOT an alicorn” She barked harshly.
When the crowd went silent McNamare nodded to me to continue but my confidence had been completely shattered and I couldn’t get my mouth to work. Motor Runner with his leg still showing the teeth of his saw took control of the situation. He gave me a gentle nuzzle and told me he’ll take it from here. I nodded and sank to me haunches.
He stood tall and intimidating, probably how he usually addressed his raider workers and began to speak.
“To continue from where Paladin Longshot left off” He began. “The Krogoth is fitted with the most powerful magical beam weapons ever mounted to any land based unit. Blueberry Muffin had her Railgun Rifle designs super sized for the Krogoth and fitted it with four of these Advanced Magical Railguns, AMRs for short. The AMRs fire concentrated beams of magical energy that can burn through practically anything within seconds.
Mounted to the rear of the AMRs are two missile pods that contain a total of eighteen missiles per pod, giving the machine a total payload of thirty six missiles that the machine can fire individually, in salvos or releasing the entire pods. It has already demonstrated this when it destroyed the city of Buckingham.
Mounted on the machine’s back is a weapons platform that holds an interchangeable turret which currently holds two weapons. The first weapon is a Disc-grenade Launcher that fires a burst of four disc-grenades. Disc-grenades are shaped like discs and can fly longer in the air than standard grenades giving them greater range. Unlike normal grenades the disc-grenades don’t have a timer from when they are fired or explode on impact. The disc-grenades bounce when they hit the ground, the first bounce will trigger the timer. This weapon is meant for infantry and light armoured units.
The second weapon is an Anti-Air Magical Railgun. It is five percent the power of the AMRs making it a lot weaker than them but for air units it’s still very powerful. The weapon makes up for its lack of firepower by its rate of fire and accuracy.
Lastly the Krogoth had acquired the artillery emplacement from Fort Battalion recently. It now sports two forty six centimetre artillery cannons that protrude from the Krogoth’s sides against its chest plate. These new cannons enable the Krogoth to perform long range bombardment. The cannons give the machine a range of at least twenty eight miles and its forty six centimetre shells can punch a hole through two feet of armour. Luckily the Krogoth does not have scanners with such a long range so the machine will not be able to accurately use its cannons beyond its original scanner range.
Controlling all this is a Crusader Mainframe similar to the one that runs this Stable. However during its construction during the war, a prisoner by the name of Short Circuit who had been imprisoned for hacking Equestria’s military network was brought in to program the mainframe as part of the work force that no pony would miss. When she was testing the mind transfer module the Krogoth stole that mare’s consciousness, ripping her mind, memories and experiences, her very essence, out of her. It made it look like an accident to draw suspicion away from itself and since then no pony was aware of this until recently. Taking the mare’s mind has allowed the machine to override its automated routines and with her knowledge of computer systems it also hacked into itself to disable all of its remote access commands which removed my ability to control it”
“How the hell are we supposed to stop it then?” Somepony interrupted from the crowd.
“We will get to that later” McNamare said.
Motor Runner sighed, his train of thought interrupted and he shook his head and looked to McNamare.
“Nothing else is really relevant so you can begin” He told her as he stood back giving the stage back to her. I quickly followed and sighed with relief as we were no longer the centre of attention.
“Ok everypony” McNamare began. “Tonight we will be boarding transports to take us to the Braytish Imperial city of Manechester” Upon saying its name the hologram shifted to show the map of the large braytish city. “We will be landing here in the old “Old Trotsford” stadium” The portion of the map that held the stadium glowed orange. “From there we will have to make our way to Oldham Street. To get there we will have to move through “Victory Station”, past the “National Railway Museum” and past the Manedale Centre” With each location mentioned an orange line dictated the route to Oldham Street.
Everypony took note of the map, making sure to memorize the route.
“This is where we’ll set up the trap, Zyon if you please”
Zyon nodded and walked up to the microphone.
“Zebra cunt” I heard someone mutter from the crowd which made my blood boil. How dare they?
“I’m a Zony for your information dipshit” Zyon retorted unfazed by the offensive comment and then she took a deep breathe ready to begin. “Ok, once we reach this street we will be placing demolition charges into these two buildings here” She pointed to the map with her now long haired tail. “Sunset Shimmer Loans and Quills and Sofas Business Centre. We’ll be planting charges on the first three floors and on the building’s support struts. The concentration of these charges will be towards the side of the building facing the street so when they blow the buildings will fall into the street. The bombs will be remotely detonated from the evac point back in the stadium when the Krogoth reaches these buildings”
McNamare stood forward again and Zyon joined us.
“After the charges are set you will all be broken back up into your squads and sent to key points from there to the edge of the city where the Krogoth will be entering. Under the cover of the signal jammer which is calibrated to block the Krogoth’s EFS so it can’t track you, each squad is to attack the Krogoth with the purpose of luring it to where we want it to go. Don’t worry about getting a hit as the machine will follow what attacks it as threats to itself take priority over its current objective. Once each squad has successfully lured the Krogoth they are to fall back to the evac point.
As Zyon has already said, once the Krogoth makes it to Oldham Street the charges will be detonated when the machine reaches the right spot. The result will be two towers of steel and concrete raining down on the Krogoth and burying it in thousands of tonnes of rubble. This will not destroy the machine but it will cripple it and slow it down. From there three squads that will have been lying in wait outside the demolition zone will take position around the machine to distract it”
“Distract it, what the fuck?”
“ORDER” McNamre growled with impatience. The crowd quietened down. “This is where Paladin Longshot and Motor Runner come in. Motor Runner being the pony responsible for its activation knows the machine’s Manual Overrides”
Motor Runner stepped forward again. “Even though the machine has disabled its remote access codes it is however unable to disable its manual overrides which are tied directly into the systems they control”
McNamare nodded. “Paladin Longshot and Motor Runner will enter the machine while it’s down and get into the machine’s Spark Reactor. From there they will input the manual override for the reactor to overload. Once confirmation is received everypony is to evacuate the city. An overload from the kind of reactor the machine has will cause an explosion on par with the biggest and strongest megaspells or balefire bombs ever recorded. The resulting explosion will destroy the machine and the entire city” She finished. After she finished with detailing the plan she then began to break up the crowd into their squads and assign them to where they will be stationed in the city to act as bait to lure the machine. I sure hope this works.
“Why are we even doing this at all?” Someone piped up.
“Why?” I cried out in surprise at the question. I felt a sudden surge or rage that cancelled out my fear of being in front of everypony as I stepped up to the microphone, my wings flared threateningly behind me. “Why, because if we don’t do it now then that machine will acquire the Obelisk of Magic and gain the ability to generate shields but more importantly, IT WILL NEVER STOP”
“Why won’t it stop?”
“Because it’s a machine, it is programmed to attack and destroy all threats to Equestria and it will keep on doing that until there is nothing left. It will see us all as potential threats and anything we do could be judged by it and if it sees us as a threat it will remove us. The machine will not stop until possibly it has killed all life in Equestria, it won’t stop there either as it will likely then leave Equestria to search the outlaying lands for more threats. If we do not stop it then it’ll kill and destroy all life on this planet” I yelled. I probably exaggerated the kill all life on the planet bit but it is a possibility.
“Why don’t we just disable its crusader since you have the manual codes and use it for our own gain?”
“Completely out of the question” McNamare shouted.
“She’s right, sure we could do that and use its manual controls but the machine will then become a beacon for other forces to try and take it from us. It will be just another source of power for some other group to want to get control over. It will cause more problems than it’ll solve and it will further divide the ponies of Equestria and be the source for more conflicts on the scale of what has transpired with Red Eye and the Enclave or worse, on the level of the Great War. For those reasons it’ll be best to destroy it” Motor Runner said in a very serious tone.
“He his correct, Equestria will be better off without it”
XXXXX
After the briefing me and my friends headed for the armoury. On the way there I retrieved my daughter from Rainstorm since she looked after her while I was out from my mutation and nearly killed Zyon and another bloke. I’m not kidding I nearly killed them by accident though. I close lined one other bloke as he was walking past me and smashed Zyon in the face at the same time. What happened were my wings decided to suddenly shoot out, catching both ponies off guard. My wings were solid and stiff and wouldn’t budge no matter how much I willed them down. I began to panic about this until Sky Fire began to ask me some questions about what I was thinking at the time. Dear sweet Luna I could have died from embarrassment then and there when I found out what happened. I had looked up at Motor Runner’s plot and shortly after that my wings shot out and so according to Sky Fire I had what a pegasus calls a “Wing Boner”. Oh goddesses that was so embarrassing, especially when she started laughing but thankfully she calmed down quickly and told me a technique she uses to kill a… ugh… a wing boner. She told me to think of something repulsive and keep thinking of it until my wings unstiffen and thankfully it worked. I hate to say the word mutation to describe what happened to me because it makes me feel like a freak even more. I sat in a corner of the armoury while my friends began preparing for the mission. They insisted on getting my stuff ready since I was still not totally recovered from the pain still in my sides and since they felt I needed to spend some time with my daughter as there is a possibility I won’t come back. I’ve come to terms with this many years ago when I joined the Steel Rangers as it was a fact of life you were gonna get shot or killed out there plus the fact the wasteland is the very definition of a living hell. However it’s a little different now since I have a little girl now but I have to do my duty.
While I sat cradling Blueberry I watched as Zyon took my power armour and began to remove the chest piece from it. With my new wings I obviously can’t wear normal power armour anymore but thankfully the Enclave that turned to the Applejack Rangers brought some spare suits with them which Zyon was cannibalising to get the pieces out of to make a new chest piece for my suit. I smiled as I saw the happy smile on Zyon’s face. She really loves to tinker with things.
"I thought you had already done this" I said remembering why she wasn't at the start of the briefing.
"I was going to but I had to get my hooves on an Enclave suit first"
"Oh"
Blueberry yawned loudly and snuggled close to my chest as she drifted off to sleep. I smiled as I watched this tiny innocent little filly sleep. Not a care in the world. Kids are the only pure ponies in this world and if I could I’d keep her that way. I don’t want her to grow up seeing the wasteland for what it is in fear of loosing her to it. Well if everything goes to plan then the wasteland will be a much safer place, perhaps maybe a little bit ok for raising a kid in. I waited until my little girl was truly asleep and then gently levitated her to a pillow filled with a soft cloud to sleep soundly on while I did a little work myself while being right next to her in case she needed me.
I floated This Machine over to me along with another AM Rifle which we had found earlier. I checked over my weapon while also running it through my pipbuck which told me the weapon had degraded over time to sixty percent. I closely examined the two types of Anti-Material/Machine Rifles and found the two to be shockingly nearly identical in terms of appearance and workings. I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes as I concentrated on my weapon repair spell. Something else I learned while with the Pondale Rangers.
The two heavy rifles became enveloped in my colourless magical aura and lifted off into the air. I felt the weapons rotate until they stood vertical in the air. My horn glowed brighter and then the two weapons seemed to disassemble themselves into their individual pieces. I opened my eyes which were blazing with magic. All I could see were the pieces of the weapons and the pieces that were the most damaged glowed red in my vision for This Machine and then the pieces from the other weapon that corresponded with the damaged pieces of This Machine glowed green and then they floated over to their counterparts. My horn pulsed and the pieces merged, repairing the damaged parts and then the cannibalised AM Rifle fell to the floor in pieces like metallic rain. This Machine’s pieces began to swirl around like a tornado as they started to piece themselves back together reforming the huge human made rifle. In one final flash the weapon was back in one piece and its condition had been raised from sixty to eighty seven percent. Once the spell was complete my eyes returned to normal and I floated the newly repaired This Machine to rest against the wall beside me. I panted for a little while as the spell took a quite a bit out of me. I’ve never run that spell before on This Machine, I suppose because it’s a weapon not of this world or familiar to me that it took it out of me.
“That…was…AWESOME” Sky Fire gushed hovering in the air.
“I will agree with her there, that was quite impressive” Zyon said as she looked at the now disassembled AM Rifle littering the floor. “I’ve never seen a weapon repair spell work that way”
“I must agree as well, that was quite impressive” Motor Runner added.
I blushed at the praise. “Hehe, thank you, I added my own twist to the usual repair spell”
I smiled as I looked back to my sleeping daughter and was thankful that she was still sleeping despite the rain of metal from the disassembled weapon. She might be like me, a heavy sleeper who can sleep through a bomb blast.
”TWO HOURS TO DEPARTURE” Shouted a voice from the intercom which made me jump.
“Ok ponies we gotta get ready”
“Give me a minute, this Enclave crap is complicated….Ow hey” Zyon cried when Sky Fire slapped her with her wing. “Oh, heh, sorry”
“You’re such a gimboid” She giggled before hugging her.
XXXXX
It was oddly cold this evening. It felt like it was winter but I suppose that was the result of nerves for what we were about to do. I decided to leave CD back with Rainstorm; I didn’t want to risk bringing him along since I didn’t want to loose him. He wasn’t happy to be left behind but he understood. We had all boarded the transports and were all now flying at high speed towards the city. Me and my friends were on the transport with Elder McNamare and a few other ponies. One of which was still listening to the SPP Observation Network.
“Ma’am the Krogoth appears to have stopped”
“Stopped?” The Elder asked in surprise.
“It has ran into a fissure in the earth”
“Why is that such a problem for it?” Zyon asked.
“It’s not on any maps, it looks like the fissure was caused by an earthquake some time ago and it stretches on for a good hundred miles”
“That’s a long ass ditch” She joked.
“Then that means we have more time then right?” I asked hopeful.
“Yes, the length of the fissure has forced the machine to walk around and that’s added eighteen hours to its original journey time”
“That’s good; it gives us extra time to properly prepare the charges and to set the squads up at their locations better”
I moved over to a small narrow window in the armoured transport’s side and peered out to the passing wasteland. The skies were clear this evening and the full moon illuminated the wasteland well and from the air I could see just how dead and desolate it was. I suppose the stories are true, the whole land of Equestria was poisoned by the bombs and nothing pure grows. If only the ground could be purified like the sky has.
The flight was pretty much uneventful so far. I suppose the fracture of the Enclave has made air travel safer now since we don’t have to worry about attracting their attention. We soon passed Canterlot Mountain and got a good look at the huge hole bored into the mountain side. That hole was just a testament to the power the Krogoth holds. A machine with such power in this world doesn’t belong, not if we strive for peace. No, that thing just wants to destroy. Leaving the mountain behind we continued northwest and soon came to the sight of the Krogoth’s last victims, the town of Thornton, well the ruins of Thornton.
“Holy Celestia” I exclaimed as I looked down to the burning ruins.
The whole town was nothing but rubble now. Practically nothing was left standing after those missiles struck ground. The Krogoth made damn sure nothing survived its attack; again this is more reason why we have to destroy that thing.
McNamare took the transport’s intercom in her hoof as she looked down at the passing wreckage and lifted it to her mouth and began to speak, addressing the entire fleet of transports.
“If you all look down you can see the ruins of a town called Thornton. It was attacked yesterday by the Krogoth. This is why we have to stop it, to ensure this doesn’t happen again. The machine attacked this town and killed its entire population like they were vermin. If we do not stop it, then everything is lost”
I nodded in agreement as I noticed the town hall. It looked like the machine just walked right through it as all that stood were its two end walls.
Our fly over the town however attracted some unwanted attention. Scavenging the ruins we noticed a large number of griffins and some of them wore power armour and as we were passing they noticed us and gave chase.
“We got contacts”
“Hostile forces inbound”
“Attack positions”
I looked out of the window and noticed that many ponies were opening the rear hatches of the transports or were climbing onto the roof of their transport or shoved their guns out the windows to engage the incoming threats. I decided to do the same.
“Everypony buckle up, I’m opening the rear hatch” I said as I pulled This Machine from its harness on my back and walked over to the door release at the back. “All set?” I asked and at their affirmatives I pulled the lever and the rear hatch opened.
The cabin filled with the roar of the wind as it flowed into the transport. My mane and wings were being ruffled badly by the strong winds as I stepped to the edge and sat down to anchor myself while also pressing up against the wall behind me. I floated This Machine up in front of me and held the butt to my armour’s newly rebuilt shoulder and chest piece and aimed the weapon out. The sounds of gunfire could be heard now over the roar of the wind as the other transports opened fire on the approaching enemy. My EFS showed several red markers coming our way and I aimed my rifle towards them.
”Red is dead” I said out loud when remembering something I was told by Stanier.
I found a power armoured griffin flying towards us at high speed. I moved the red crosshairs of the rifle to sight up the griffon’s head but then suddenly a dark thought entered my mind. Why make his death instant, let’s make him suffer and with that I moved my aim so the crosshairs sighted up his beating wing. I was about to pull the trigger when I realised what I was about to do and shook my head to dislodge that dark thought. I can’t let the darkness take hold, not now. Taking a deep breath to calm myself back down I aimed my rifle again at the incoming griffon and fired. My shot obliterated his head and the result of his head explosion caught another griffon behind him off guard and sent him into a spin.
The griffins returned fire at our transports and I had to duck a few times to avoid incoming plasma bolts. I switched my ammo type to explosive rounds as I returned fire. The explosive rounds would explode upon impact and the explosions would take out more than one target. This attack by the griffons would be slowing us down as the pegasi flying us to the city would also be doing evasive manoeuvres which made me miss a few times because of the unexpected jerks of the transport.
We fought for about twenty minutes before the griffons backed off, realising they would not win. When the all clear was sounded we became aware that we lost four ponies and two had been injured but treatable. We can’t afford to loose anypony really for this mission to succeed as it all rests on getting the machine to where we want it. Thankfully the flight after the griffon attack was uneventful and by first light the city was coming into view.
“There it is everypony, the Braytish city of Manechester” McNamare said over the intercom. Even this far out we could see the glowing white spire of the Obelisk at the top of the Manedale Centre.
Half an hour later we were almost within the city limits and the white glow of the Obelisk dimmed down to nothing before a red light began to glow from the tip. I remembered this from a few months ago when we first came here to find out the location of the Hangar. Oh crap, if it thinks we’re threats it’s going to shoot us down.
I quickly turned to Sky Fire. “Sky, the Obelisk has to see you”
“What, why?”
“Remember when we first came here, the Obelisk did the same thing, its scanning us”
“Oh shit”
I used my magic to pull the rear hatch release and once it opened she zoomed out leaving a rainbow contrail behind.
”What’s going on?” McNamare asked as she watched Sky Fire fly past the windows to get in front of the transport.
”Last time we were here the Obelisk scanned us to see if we were threats and since Sky Fire is Rainbow Dash genetically and in appearance it accepted us as being with the ministry mare and let us through. It needs to see her or it’ll likely shoot us down”
We all moved to the front of the transport so we could see. She no longer wears the hood up to disguise herself. I suppose without the Enclave she doesn’t feel threatened or in danger from being seen and killed by them.
The familiar red light scanned over her face. “I am Rainbow Dash, Ministry Mare of the Ministry of Awesome” She yelled as a red cross formed on her face as the tip of the Obelisk glowed bright red. “Pass phrase, Element of Loyalty” Upon shouting that phrase to the Obelisk the bright red glow at its tip faded away.
Sky Fire turned around to face us looking spooked. “I...I’ll meet y…you at the stad…stadium” She turned and sped off at fantastic speed nearly breaking the sound barrier as she flew.
“What just happened?”
“I don’t know but she looked terrified” Zyon said worriedly.
I nodded as I also saw the horrified look on her face as she turned away. The Obelisk resumed its idle white glow as we entered Braytish airspace. As we entered the city we began to look around at the still intact buildings. I couldn’t keep my focus and neither could Zyon as we flew towards the ancient home of Manechester United. As we neared the large stadium I saw Sky Fire sitting on the scoreboard that was hanging from the roof supports of the western stands. A funny thing to see was the scoreboard as it still had the score from the last hoofball match that was held here which said three to Mane-U and one to Real Maredrid. The transports began to circle the huge stadium as we began our descent and before long we landed on the dead grass of the hoofball field and almost knocked down one of the rectangular goals. Once our transport came to a stop me and Zyon ran out of the transport to meet with Sky Fire who by the time we landed hand jumped down from the scoreboard.
“Sky, are you alright?” Zyon asked worriedly. I had opened my mouth to ask the same thing but closed it since she beat me to it.
“No I’m not” She almost cried. I could see streaks on her cheeks from tears which told me she had been crying.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I don’t know how I knew that phrase” She shrieked “It was like I’ve known it all my life. I’m becoming her aren’t I?” She asked as she began to hyperventilate from her growing panic.
Zyon rushed up to her and hugged her tight. “No, you’ll never be her” She reassured her lover.
“She’s right Sky, you’ll never be Rainbow Dash, sure you’re her genetically but mentally your not”
“But that phrase, it was something she chose as her password to access things… I remember choosing it as the ministries were being put together. I’m getting her memories now”
I looked down not sure how to reassure her when she’s getting her memories now. Goddesses I’m useless.
”Memories, that’s all they are Miss Fire. They are not what defines us and not what determines who we are. You were lucky that you still had your mentality when you were cloned. The only reason you may feel like you are turning into her is because it’s written in her DNA. You are no more like her than you were before the accident. It’s your own fear of being her that is creating this illusion that you are turning into her. Focus on who you are. Don’t let the fear win, you are Sky Fire, descendant of Spitfire” Motor Runner said firmly as he joined us.
“Wow Motor Runner that was deep” I said standing next to the tall dark and handsome earth pony.
“I know what she’s going through, I nearly forgot myself when I took the name Motor Runner. Remember I was called Scrapheap before then. I nearly forgot who I was and what I was doing because I was being consumed by the persona I built up. It wasn’t until I could barely remember my family that I realised just how far I had fallen”
“Its ok Sky Fire, I’m here, breath” Zyon said softly. Sky Fire began taking in deep breaths to calm herself down. Once she was calm Zyon let her go. “Better?”
“No but at least I’m not freaking out” She said with a half smile and then looked at Motor Runner. “Thank you”
Motor Runner just gave a respectful nod.
“Everypony gather round” We heard McNamare shout. We turned to find her stood on the roof of a transport addressing the small crowd of Applejack Rangers. Celestia’s sun began to shine over the roof of the stands and into the stadium, bathing us in its warm light as we rejoined the group.
“We have over twenty four hours before the K-01 ACM KROGOTH arrives and to set up the trap. We have plenty of time to get this done so please do not panic and rush. It is imperative that everything goes according to plan. We can not risk short cutting anything with the machine being so close to what could possibly make it invincible” She took a breath before continuing in a more solemn tone. “Tomorrow is when the Krogoth will reach this city and that day will mark the start of a peaceful wasteland or a living hell. We can not fail here my little ponies. We have to win. Equestria’s future depends on the outcome of our attack on the machine. If we fail, Equestria will be lost forever. Can we let that happen?”
“NO!” We all shouted.
“Are we going to let this thing take the Obelisk?”
“NO!”
“Are we going to bury it and destroy it?”
“YEAH!”
“Then grab your equipment and your charges and get into your assigned squads and by ten o’clock we’ll move out” She finished.
We didn’t waste any time after that to get ourselves prepared.
XXXXX
McNamare and a bunch of scribes remained behind in the stadium with a squad of Rangers as protection. They were setting up the remote detonators for the charges the demolition teams carried. I am nervous about tomorrow. I don’t know how well this’ll work but I have every confidence in Zyon’s bomb making skills and of course my coltfriend’s manual overrides. I just hope nothing goes wrong.
“Welcome to Victoria Station, Manechester’s central railway hub” Zyon said as we began our trek through the huge railway station. The station was old; I mean before the war it was old. According to a stone that was built into the red brick walls of the station’s main building the station’s original structure was two hundred years old before the bombs fell. The original structure still stood and it looked like more modern platforms and buildings were added to the old making the station look like it was split down the middle with one side being the old and the other being the new.
We had entered Victoria on the newer side and we had three platforms which had rail lines running right through the station between us and our exit on the opposite side in the older area. An iron bridge that bridged the platforms together was our easiest option and so we crossed the platforms using the bridge. As we crossed we saw that the station still had several steam trains at their stations, forever waiting, a ghostly reminder of a time long passed. I was amazed at what I saw. They maybe rusted hulks now but they were still impressive machines. One engine caught my eye, a large maroon red coloured engine with a nameplate which read “Duchess of Canterlot”
“Wow that one’s a beauty” I said out loud as we passed over the train sitting by the middle platform.
“The braytish were the best in steam technology” Zyon said matter-of-factly.
Descending the stairs at the end of the bridge we came down to the original platforms of the station and stood under a massive glass roof which covered the entire old platform area. Looking up I could see that nets had been put up under the large glass panes and that many of the glass panes were missing. The nets were however in tatters and the platforms were strewn with broken glass and several things like lampposts and benches had been crushed. It was easy to tell that the old nets were not able to stop the glass from falling anymore and for two hundred years since the bomb without maintenance the glass has been falling into the station.
“Slow and steady everypony” Star Paladin Golden Star said as we began to walk across the glass littered platforms. All any of us could hear was the sound of glass crunching under armoured hooves as we walked.
A strong wind blew through the ancient station and the wind rattled through the steel roof supports and against the ancient glass clinging to it.
“Look out” Somepony shouted before a tremendous bang of shattering glass rung out through out the station which was then followed by a cry for a medic. Unfortunately one unlucky Ranger was crushed to death as a heavy sheet of glass had landed on him. His tags were retrieved before we continued on.
The tower overshadowed us as we left the old station. We were very close to the giant tower and its shopping complex and from here we could just see how much taller this tower was to the rest. We couldn’t even see the Obelisk now but we could still see the white glow coming from it.
Ahead of us stood the railway museum. We have to cut through that to reach the Manedale Centre. The museum was full of the most impressive steam engines I had ever seen. From the entrance we came in we saw replicas of the Braytish Empire’s first steam engines which would have predated Equestrian steam by a couple of centuries and as we moved deeper we began to see how they all changed from being small barely useful machines to becoming giant beasts on wheels.
We came to what looked like a presentation area as a stage stood before three massive steam locomotives and a load of chairs facing the stage and the engines. Judging by the looks of most of the chairs being overturned and possessions still lying on the floor around the seats and the half covered middle engine they were in the middle of an unveiling when everypony left in a hurry. As everypony else continued on me and my friends walked up to the half covered locomotive. Sitting in front of the large engine was a plaque on a stand which read.
“GBR Princess Celestia, one of three especially built Princess Coronation Class steam locomotives built as gifts for the Equestrian Royal Family in celebration of five hundred years of peace between the Braytish Empire and Equestrian Kingdom and the joining of our two nations thanks to the trans-national railway”
Out of curiosity I used my magic to pull the tarp completely off the massive white locomotive. It was gorgeous. Its only defect was that being white the grime that had accumulated over the two hundred years just sitting here as marred her finish making it look old and dirty. Pulling the tarps off the other two revealed two more of the same type of engines but one being painted midnight blue which was obviously the “GBR Princess Luna” and the other one being pink meaning it was the “GBR Princess Mi Amore Cadenza”. That last one is a mouthful.
“No slacking” Golden Star shouted when she noticed us admiring the engines.
“Sorry” I said and was about to turn when my EFS alerted me to a few red markers behind the Princess Luna. “Ma’am, we’ll meet you outside, we got hostiles”
She nodded “Be careful Longshot”
I turned back to the Luna and moved my head back and forth while keeping my eyes on my compass and the red markers moved quickly with the compass which told me that our targets were indeed very close by. I gave a nod to my friends and they armed themselves with their weapons and so did I. I opened my storage unit and pulled out my Lever-Action Shotgun. We crept up to the oval shaped front buffers of the Luna and readied ourselves. I turned my head again to see the red markers and they were moving towards us. I gave another nod and we all rushed around the locomotive with our guns and melee weapons at the ready. There was a shrill cry and the clatter of improvised weapons fell to the floor as the four zebras we surprised fell back onto their haunches and raised their hooves above their heads.
“Please don’t shoot us” One of the zebra’s cried. She was young, no more than thirteen.
I looked at the four zebras and their once hostile red markers had now turned white.
I opened my mouth to demand who they were but was interrupted when Zyon put her sword back into its sheath and stepped out in front of me with her gaze fixed on the only stallion in the group, a large zebra stallion that looked to be in his fifties. “Dad?” Zyon asked as she approached him.
As Zyon approached the zebras I kept my gun raised in case they tried something but as I watched them I noticed that each of them wore what used to be Stable 53 Jumpsuits.
“Do I know you?” The stallion asked turning his head to better see her. It was then I noticed that half his face was burned leaving him with one good eye.
“Dad it’s me, don’t you recognise me?” She asked and then immediately facehoofed. “Of course you don’t, ugh, stupid killing joke” She cursed. “Dad it’s me, Zyon”
Upon hearing that I lowered my gun and my friends disarmed themselves.
“You are not my son, you’re a mare. How dare you use his name” He growled standing up and towering over the feminized Zyon.
“I know Dad, but I’m telling you the truth, I got touched by Killing Joke and it did this to me” Zyon said before looking down to her left leg and quickly grabbed her sword and pulled it free before placing it at his hooves. The large stallion looked down at the gleaming sword by his hooves and his one eye widened in disbelief as he looked from Zyon to the sword and back.
“Y…You could have took it from him” He yelled with fear and anger conflicting in his voice. Zyon responded by saying something in zebra and that something made the large stallion fall silent and drop to his haunches looking like he had just be slapped in the face. Suddenly he leapt up and embraced Zyon in a crushing ursa hug.
“Dad…can’t breath” She wheezed as he squeezed her within an inch of her life from the hug.
“I can’t believe you’re alive, you’ve been out here for sixteen years. You look…” He paused as he tried to think of a good word to describe Zyon but he then sighed as he failed to find a word to positively describe her sex change. “…good” he finished lamely.
Zyon smirked. “Thanks”
I stepped forward and the zebras stiffened as they regarded my armour and my wings. “Please, you have nothing to fear sir. I am a your so…err…um…daughter’s oldest friend out here in the wasteland” Zyon nodded in confirmation and the four zebras relaxed a little but were still a little apprehensive. “I am Paladin Longshot of the Applejack Rangers” I introduced myself and then I gestured with my hoof to the hovering Sky Fire. “This is Sky Fire”
“Hello sir, I’m Zyon’s marefriend” She said and blushed. “Why did I find that so easy to say?” She asked so quietly to herself nopony else would have heard her if they weren’t close enough like I was.
“You…you’re…you can’t be her…its impossible” One of the mares blurted out as she must have recognised her which prompted her to groan loudly in agitation.
“Urh, I’m not Rainbow Dash, I may look like her but I’m not” She almost shouted.
Zyon pulled her down by her tail and hugged her softly. “Easier there Sky”
Motor Runner stepped forward. “I am Motor Runner” He said calmly.
Zyon's father stood again. “My name is Ziaas and this…” He gestured to a zebra mare in her forties. “Is my wife Xian” The mare in question gave a nervous wave and I noticed Zyon’s jaw drop in disbelief. “And these two girls are our daughters, Zeilon and Xar’Rai”
“How could you replace mum” Zyon almost shouted.
“Zyon please understand, I can never forget about your mother, she was the first love of my life. You must remember Xian, she was a life long friend and supported our relationship and she helped raised you when I couldn’t be around when I was forced to work late a lot”
The zebra mare called Xian stepped up close to her husband. “Please Zyon; I’m not trying to replace your mum. I supported your father and your mother and did everything I could to help her when things got bad. When you left things got even worse with your grandparents passing and the stable’s pony population blaming you and us for you leaving and accused us of trying to destroy the stable by opening it”
Zyon gawked. “They what?”
“Don’t worry about it son, I know why you left, I saw it in your eyes for the last couple of years before you left. I don’t blame you either. Like Xian said, things got even worse when you left and after a few years and after our marriage we too couldn’t take it down there and we followed your example”
“I’m so sorry Dad, I didn’t mean for this to happen”
“It’s ok, really”
I heard metal hooves approaching from behind us and I turned to meet the ranger who was coming back.
“Paladin Longshot what is taking so long?” Asked the ranger as he stepped out from the front of the steam engine.
“Ah, Knight Golden Compass. We found some Stable survivors. Can you escort them back to the evac point?”
The Ranger nodded.
“Mr Ziaas, you and your family please follow Knight Golden Compass back to the Old Trotford Stadium. You’ll be safe there and when our mission is complete you and Zyon can catch up all you want”
The large zebra stallion looked to Zyon who sheathed her sword. “Don’t worry Dad, I’ll be fine. Please do as she says, what is coming is something I don’t want to loose you to”
“Alright Zyon, please come back to us, I lost you once, I don't want to loose you again” He said in a hopeful voice. The three zebra mares stood and followed close behind him as they began to walk with Golden Compass back towards the stadium.
“Alright, let’s keep going and get those charges set”
“You know, it’ll be a shame if we succeed” Motor Runner suddenly said as we left the museum.
“What will be a shame?” I asked curious.
“If we succeed the Krogoth will destroy this city and everything in it. All those steam engines will be lost. That’s a big chunk of Braytish history being wiped out”
He was right; we’ll never see the likes of those wonderful machines again. Maybe if we had the ability to save some we could have but unfortunately like he said, if we win, all that history will be destroyed. I kinda feel bad now since we’d be responsible for destroying four hundred years of Braytish history.
By the time we caught up with the main group we had made it to Oldham Street and Star Paladin Golden Star had already divided them into their squads and had just sent them on their way to set up their observation posts and where they would lie in wait to lure the Krogoth. The rangers that were left all carried the explosives that would be used to bring down the two office blocks in Oldham Street. We approached her ready for our orders.
“Paladin Longshot, I want you and Zyon to oversee the placement and arming of the charges in the Quills and Sofas Business Centre” She ordered and then turned to Motor Runner. “I want you and Sky Fire to do the same in Sunset Shimmer Loans” We nodded and split up to do as we were asked.
XXXXX
Team 1 entered the large and open ground floor of the Sunset Shimmer Loans building. The large floor was full of desks and chairs. Back in the day many ponies would have seen customer advisors about their loans here but now it was just a ghostly reminder of what used to be. The group of ponies broke up and made their way to the supporting columns of the building and began to place their charges. When the last ranger entered the structure there was a flash and an orange hologram of a unicorn mare in a business suit with her hair done back up into a bun with two chopsticks stuck in it to keep it in place appeared before the ranger.
“Welcome to Sunset Shimmer Loans, I am Sunset Shimmer, how may I be of service?” It asked in a positive and friendly tone.
The ranger hesitated for a moment before stepping aside and walked around the hologram. The hologram turned around and tilted its head in confusion as it was ignored. The hologram noticed the other rangers and faded away only to then reappear in front of another ranger and repeated the same line in the same tone and each time the hologram did this it was ignored. The hologram flicked as it struggled to understand what was going on and to why these ponies were ignoring its services. It wasn’t designed nor programmed to deal with situations like this. Coming to the conclusion that a member of staff was required for this the hologram sent out a call for an Equine Resource Manager to come to the ground floor before it faded away.
“That was weird”
“Didn’t expect this place to still have functional service attendants”
“Quit the chatter we got the next two floors to do”
Sky Fire and Motor Runner checked each of the custom charges that were mounted on the support columns of the building before the ponies began to move towards a door that would lead into the building’s private customer offices, stairs to the vault in the basement and the stairs to the upper floors. As soon as the first ranger got within ten feet of the door the hologram reappeared.
“Attention, customers are not permitted past this point without a member of staff. Please turn back, thank you” It said in a slightly threatening voice before it faded away again.
Not heeding the hologram’s threat the ponies continued forward. The door was easily broken down since it was locked and made of wood the rangers began to spread out again to apply the charges to the supports in the ground floor’s back offices.
The hologram reappeared in the middle of the floor between several of the cubicles but this time the hologram was slightly different. It was identical apart from its mane style, where as it was tied up into a bun before it was now wavy and in an unkempt mess. Its calm and positive facial expression was now twisted into that of someone who was really angry.
“Intruder alert, intruder alert. Unauthorised access detected. The use of lethal forced authorised” It said as the tip of its horn glowed a threatening deep red.
“Oh shit, security hologram” One of the rangers shouted and immediately the rangers dived out of its line of sight.
“We can’t fight that thing” Motor Runner said as he crouched down behind a cubicle with Sky Fire next to him. “The only way we are going to kill that hologram is to find its emitter and disable or destroy it”
“Where will its emitter be?” A ranger shouted from the other side of the office.
“That was the beauty of these security holograms. The emitter could be placed anywhere on the floor. We are going to have to find it. Whatever you do, do not let it see you. These holograms use a line of sight targeting system, it sees you, it shoots you so stay out of its line of sight”
“Alright, half of you go back into the front to look for this emitter, the rest of you, spread out and find it”
As commanded half of the rangers filed back out into the front to begin their search while the rest began looking in every nook and cranny they could find trying to locate the emitter. While the rangers searched the cubicles the hologram began a pre-programmed patrol routine.
A ranger jumped out in front of the hologram in attempt to make it to another cubicle unaware that the hologram was moving through the aisles. None of the rangers were aware of where the hologram is because it is made entirely of arcane energy and has no mass so it gives off no sound as it walks. The ranger froze with shock seeing the hologram no more than two feet away from him.
“Oh shit”
The horn of the hologram glowed a threatening red before it began to fire magical bolts in quick succession at the ranger. The shots were not well aimed but the rate of fire made dodging difficult and ultimately ended with the ranger taking three shots, two to the chest and one hit him in his right eye. He screamed in pain as the two shots to his chest caused his armour to glow red hot and heat up acting like an oven against his body before the shot to his eye burned it right out of him along with his head. The ranger fell dead as the hologram resumed its patrol.
Motor Runner looked around and saw an open door on the opposite side of the office which was wide open and appeared to open into a staffroom. He craned his neck to look over the half wall of the cubicle he was taking cover behind with Sky Fire. He saw the hologram walking down the aisle towards him and he quickly pulled his head down.
”We need somepony to check the staffroom” He called out. “Who is closest?”
“I am sir” He heard a ranger reply.
“I am going to distract it, when I shout, make your way to the staffroom”
Sky Fire grabbed his synthetic leg. “Are you crazy?”
“Don’t worry about me; it shouldn’t be able to hurt me”
“It’s not you I’m worried about, it’s Appletart”
He looked down at her and smiled. “Don’t worry, I don’t intend on leaving her anytime soon” As he said that he didn’t look at her and his facial expression told a different story which she failed to notice. Sky Fire let him go as she believed him and she was also fully aware of his Starmetal Hide which would make all magic that wasn’t intoned to the metal inert.
He stood up and stepped out into the aisle. The hologram was looking in his direction. “GO!” He shouted. There was a clatter of sound as the armoured ranger quickly jumped to his hooves and made a break for the staffroom. Motor Runner narrowed his eyes at the hologram as it was still walking towards him; it was as if the hologram hadn’t seen him. Motor Runner’s eyes widened as he realised something.
“It can’t see me”
“What?” Sky Fire asked from behind the cubicle wall.
“My starmetal hide is making me invisible to it”
Suddenly there was a small explosion that came from the staffroom and the hologram disappeared. The ranger who had gone into the staffroom came out with a sooted face and then coughed.
“I found it…*cough*…It was under the sink” He moaned rubbing his face. “It blew up in my face”
“Good work”
The other rangers began to come out of their hiding places.
”Ok everypony, the hologram didn’t see me. To prevent further loss I will go up into the next two floors and disable the holograms” He said as he turned to head for the stairs going up. “Sky Fire, please check the charges”
“Alright Motor Runner, be safe”
He gave her a smile before he disappeared up the stairs and Sky Fire began to check the charges the rangers began to place around the ground floor. With Motor Runner clearing the floors required to be fitted with charges the operation went smoothly and within two hours the tower was rigged to blow.
XXXXX
Team 2 entered the reception of the Quills and Sofas Business Centre. In front of them as they entered was a large horseshoe desk with a bank of terminals lain across it. The first thing that came to everypony’s attention was the state of the place. Waiting chairs, small tables, papers, rubbish anything practically not held down had been scattered about the place as if somepony had decided to have a party or the place had been looted which wouldn’t make much sense if it had considering the almost pristine appearance of the other buildings around it.
“Looks like somepony had themselves one hell of a shindig” Zyon commented.
“Ok everypony, spread out and set your charges but keep your guard up, something doesn’t feel right” The albino mare ordered as she looked around at the mess.
While the rangers began to set their charges on the support columns of the building the two friends began to look around. The state of the ground floor disturbed them and it disturbed them more when the zony closed a door to reveal three long claw marks in the wooden panels of the door.
“Oh this can’t be good”
Appletart quickly brought out her shotgun as she began to scan the area looking for any possible targets. The sounds of many metal hooves moving around drowned out any little hints of anything else moving somewhere in the building which made it that much harder to find any targets, even her EFS wasn’t picking anything up and without her sprite-bot helping to increase her range it made that much worse.
“I can’t find anything but this still feels wrong”
A ranger came to a closed door. The room behind it was another small private office which also housed a support column. The door exploded and a large grey clawed hand grabbed the ranger’s head and before he could scream it yanked him into the room and that’s when he screamed in terror and agony.
“Holy shit what was that?”
Suddenly the ranger’s body was thrown back through the door. His armour looked to have been peeled open like he had been attacked with an old style can opener with how he had jagged cuts through the armour plates around his body. Unfortunately the ranger was dead as he was headless and one of his legs was missing.
The other rangers began to gather near the door with Appletart and Zyon. They slowly approached the door, fearful of what they would find considering what had just happened. There was a slight rumble from inside the room as they approached cautiously.
“Anything?”
“My EFS is clear”
“Mine too” Another ranger confirmed.
Then something huge barrelled out of the room and rugby tackled its way through the rangers before they could react and dragged another one of them into another room which was swiftly followed by the same dreaded scream of death as the door slammed shut behind it.
“Holy fucking shit did you see that?”
“It looked like a hellhound”
There was then a high pitched scream from the room that didn’t sound like anything the rangers have heard before apart from the albino mare and the zony.
“That’s not a hellhound” Appletart said grimly.
“What is it then?”
“A Sire” Zyon said in an equally grim tone.
“A Sire, shit, what is one of those things doing this far out?”
“I don’t know but they spread far and wide after they escaped from New Hope”
“Listen up, the only way to kill these things is to mash its brain” Zyon instructed as she readied her sword.
Zyon got ready to attack when suddenly the door burst off its hinges and flew across the room and crashed into Zyon and sent her sword flying from her mouth. The weapon’s ultra sharp blade sank into the wall in between two rangers, nearly taking one of their ears off.
“I just cacked my pants” The ranger lucky to not have lost his ear cried.
“Zyon” The albino shouted as she rushed to the heavy wooden door to help her friend.
Everypony turned with their weapons at the ready as a hulking malformed grey skinned monstrosity emerged from the office with blood staining its misshapen mouth, its chest and its large clawed hands. The creature stood looking at the rangers. It was shaking with anticipation of its next meal along with its unstable mentality. It was breathing fast, its jaws jittering as it looked around at the rangers. It let out a high pitched roar as it began to charge again at the group. This time however the rangers were ready and the rangers the monster was rushing towards opened fire. Their combined firepower blasted the monster all over its body causing great big bloody holes to open all over its body and the creature let out a pained cry before falling to the ground face first.
“Weren’t so tough” An overconfident ranger mare said as she stepped up to the fallen monster and poked it with her hoof.
The downed creature felt the prod and lashed out with lightening speed. It thrust one of its clawed hands into the mare’s side. Its long sharp claws digging through her armour and digging deep into her body. She screamed in pain as the monster pulled itself back up onto its holey legs. The creature didn’t seem fazed by the injuries it had taken as it grabbed the mare by her neck with its free hand, hauling her off her armoured hooves while it still had its other hand buried in her side. The monster held the terrified mare for a moment before it used its mouth to bite down on her head and pulled hard. The helmet tore apart from the creature’s pull and then it spat out the ruined piece of armour. The mare screamed terrified as the monster than chomped down on her head.
“Dear sweet Celestia” Several of the rangers cried out in horror at what they just witnessed.
The rangers resumed their fire, focusing their shots this time at its arms holding their now dead colleague. The monster screamed in pain as both of its arms were severed from its body and surprisingly to the rangers it was still standing. The rangers were momentarily stunned that the creature was still standing even after having its arms blown off when they remembered what Zyon had said. To kill it you had to mash its brain and as it began its charge again on the rangers they fired at its head. The combined firepower focused on its head completely obliterated its skull and painted its brains on the ceiling. The creature collapsed and skidded across the floor dead now that its head was pulverized.
“Celestia I hate those things” Zyon groaned as she was helped out from under the door.
The rangers mourned their fallen for a minute after they retrieved their holotags and continued on their mission. Luckily for them the rest of the ground floor was clear and unfortunately they found the remains of two zebras that had been wearing Stable 53 jumpsuits. The bodies of the poor stable zebras explained why the ground floor was such a mess.
The first floor of the building was thankfully free of Sires and everypony was able to plant their charges without incident. Upon entering the second floor they found that the ceiling looked to have been torn apart as many of the ceiling foam tiles had fallen or been ripped up and the wires hidden behind them had dropped down making the second floor look like something from a jungle with the wires like vines dangling from the ceiling.
“What the hell happened here?”
“Can’t we do anything without some random shit happening?”
”Stop complaining and set your charges”
The rangers began to spread out while keeping alert. Like the ground floor the second floor didn’t feel right. Ten minutes into laying the charges on the second floor an ominous creaking and groaning began to groan its way through the floor’s ceiling. The unwelcome sound pushed the rangers to work faster while Appletart and Zyon scanned the ceiling for any signs of an enemy.
The light from the morning sun outside was starting to fade which only added to everypony’s anxiety. Zyon looked around quickly with her sword at the ready again. She walked along the front of the building looking into the street and looked up to the Manedale Centre. The Obelisk was illuminating the sky which was clouding over in dark storm clouds which reflected the mood in the building.
“Today is gonna suck” She said to herself.
Paladin Longshot was on the other side of the room looking at a wall. Her red eyes were looking over the many grooves in the wall trying to figure out what they were. She scowled as the fading light was making it hard to see and so she ignited her horn with magic to cast light on the wall. Her eyes widened as she looked at the many sets of three lines crisscrossing the wall from the floor to the ceiling. Images of little monsters clinging to her face and neck flashed in her mind as she stared at the many lines.
“Wretches” She said in a snarl.
Suddenly as if on cue a large chunk of the ceiling somewhere behind her collapsed with the screeches of many little creatures as they rained down on the unsuspecting rangers below. Thanks to the Steel Ranger armour they wore the little monsters were unable to claw or bite through them.
“What the fuck are these things?” One of the rangers shouted as he kicked and bucked to shake them off his back.
The winged unicorn approached them, her wings flared in a threatening stance as she ignited her horn with magic along with an angry scowl on her face. She seized a Wretch in her magic and pulled the little monster close to her. She snarled darkly as she narrowed her eyes which began to flame with a purple arcane energy. They glowed briefly for a few moments before her red eyes became green and red with red slit like pupils.
“I HATE YOU” She snarled and her magic compressed the small monster until its bones broke and crumbled and then its flesh ruptured, spilling its bodily fluids onto the floor as it cried out in its agony before dying from being crushed upon itself.
“Whoa, Paladin Longshot”
The zony rushed to the commotion only to have a Wretch jump onto her head making her cry out in surprise and run into a wall but squashed the monster against it since it blocked her view.
“Oh great, it’s these little shits…uh oh” Zyon said as she quickly went to find her friend.
She found Appletart and three rangers being swarmed by at least twenty of the small monkey dog like monsters but luckily these monsters were not much of a threat for power armoured ponies as their small claws and teeth couldn’t cut into the armour enough. She watched as the rangers were buckling and stomping the monsters which was the best tactic to use on them because of their speed and agility and small frame made them hard to shoot and because their weak stature meant they’d die from a well placed hard blow.
She found her friend standing perfectly still but attacking the Wretches with her purple magic. She cringed as she looked at her friend’s narrowed eyes. She could feel the hate and anger radiating from her as she plucked Wretches from the floor, wall or ceiling and used the increased magical strength the dark shift supplied to crush and mangle the monsters before depositing them like rubbish onto the floor in bloody pulps.
It wasn’t long until only one of the little monsters remained and Appletart was quick to snag it before a ranger could squash it. She pulled the terrified monster to her snarling angry face, staring into its beady little eyes with her glowing eyes of hate and anger.
“Scared now are we?” She sneered bringing the creature closer before she grinned darkly and her horn began to glow brighter with purple arcane energy arcing from her horn to nearby metal surfaces like lightening. “I’m going to burn you until you are nothing but ash”
Zyon quickly approached her friend. “Appletart stop” She shouted.
“Stay out of this, these little shits don’t deserve pity” She growled.
“They don’t deserve this either” The zony countered.
“They tore my eye out and ripped my neck and face up” Longshot growled.
“Don’t give in to it Appletart, the hate, the anger, do you really want Blueberry to know her mother is as dark as the monsters that’ll scare her in her nightmares?”
Appletart’s eyes widened and she looked to Zyon.
“Don’t let it win, you’re better than that. You’re a good mare Apple, don’t let the darkness win”
Appletart’s eyes began to tear up as they returned to normal and her magic imploded, dropping the Wretch to the floor. She began to cry in despair as the little monster ran. It knew better to attack a group of superior creatures. After the brief delay from the Wretches the rangers continued to plant their charges while Zyon comforted Appletart.
Appletart’s team left the building first before she and Zyon did. It took around ten minutes for Appletart to recover from her emotional breakdown after the dark shift. Some of the rangers offered their support for the mutated mare as she and the zony rejoined with the group now that both teams had completed their tasks. Star Paladin Golden Star stood outside the main group and faced them before she cleared her throat.
“Alright ponies I just got word from the recon teams and the baiting teams, they are all in position and the signal jammer is in place and active. Right now it’s a waiting game. The first recon squad will alert us when the machine is sighted which won’t be for another twelve or so hours so for now it would be best for you to get some rest. The Bower Hotel at the corner up the road is where we’ll wait. I hope you all will give it your all to ensure that machine doesn’t impede Motor Runner and Paladin Longshot’s progress to reach it when the time comes. Without them we have no way to stop the machine”
The rangers nodded and voiced their agreement as they all began to walk back towards the Manedale Centre to reach the hotel at the corner of the street. The street became shrouded in shadow as the light from the sun was blocked by the thick storm clouds that now blanketed the sky and even with the Obelisk the tower’s roof prevented the light of the Obelisk from reaching the street.
XXXXX
Thunder boomed and shook the city as it was subjected to a violent storm in the early hours of the morning, so early in fact the sun hasn’t risen yet. Rain poured in thick sheets, drenching anything in seconds and making the streets and roads run like rivers. Two Applejack Rangers sat back against the wall surrounding the roof access of the Queen Goldenrose Hospital near the edge of the city as they waited.
Snoring could be heard coming from one of the rangers as he snoozed. They both had been trying to stay awake so they wouldn’t miss the machine and fail to alert the baiting team and other rangers. The sleeping ranger received a strong bash to the back of his head by a segmented tail which sent him sprawling in a deep puddle that had formed from the torrential rain.
“Ow, hey, what gives” The sleepy ranger groaned pulling himself out of the water. He was thankful the armour suit was watertight, especially since it hasn’t stopped raining for the last eight hours.
“If Rojas caught you sleeping on the job he’d have you demoted back down to Initiate” His partner warned.
“Oh come on, I’m so BORED” He groaned sitting up and looking out in the direction the machine is suspected to arrive from.
“I know you’re bored, I’m bored, but we have a job to do”
There was a brilliant flash that lit up the land as if it was day before going dark again which was then swiftly followed by an explosion of sound almost like a bomb going off above the hospital that sent both rangers to their bellies in an attempt to take cover. The boom droned out into a loud rumble which told the rangers that it was just thunder.
“Dear sweet Luna that was terrifying”
“I’ve never heard or felt thunder that strong before”
The two rangers sat back up as they returned to their watch. The sleepy ranger began to nod off again when another boom of thunder shook the hospital to its core and the ranger jumped in fright and nearly jumped over the low wall surrounding the roof.
“Holy fucking shit” He whined as he rested against the wall.
“Dude, you nearly did the most epic face plant ever” His partner snickered as he approached the wall to help pull his friend back over.
“Oh ha fucking ha”
The two rangers froze as unfamiliar blue lights appeared on the horizon through the haze of the rain and they were constantly moving.
“Do you see that?”
“I do, you don’t think…” He didn’t get to finish as there was another flash of lightening which was again followed by the boom of thunder rocking the building.
The flash revealed a large moving object in the distance that the blue lights belonged to. The two power armoured ponies exchanged glances before quickly diving behind the wall.
“Oh shit did you see that?”
“I did, I thought they were pulling our legs about how big that thing is”
“It’s huge as fuck”
The rangers were quick to begin signalling the other teams and calling Star Paladin Golden Star.
“Ma’am, Krogoth sighted approaching the city”
“Already, it’s arrived earlier than expected, alright, once its passed head for the evac point”
“Yes ma’am”
It was another half an hour before the machine entered the city. The two rangers could feel the building shaking with the hoof falls of the giant machine. They hunkered down as low as they could since the machine was several stories taller than the hospital making the chance of being seen likely.
“That thing’s gonna see us”
“Shut up and act like an air vent”
“Are you out of your pigging mind?”
They both froze as the head of the machine appeared over the wall but thankfully not looking down at them. They didn’t dare move a muscle or breathe as they eyed the giant machinegun hanging from its chin.
“C’mon team one, its right fucking there” One of the rangers mentally yelled as the large steel ranger looking machine looked towards the Manedale Centre and its beacon of light.
Down in the street down the road to the hospital two more rangers got into position and aimed their twin gun barrelled 120mm anti-dragon cannons at the machine.
“This better work”
The two rangers fired their huge weapons. The boom from the large guns shattered nearby windows and forced the two rangers back a few feet. The large projectiles soared through the air and slammed into the Krogoth’s cheek and exploded. The force of the four unexpected impacts caused the machine to stagger to its right before it quickly turned its head in the direction of the shots.
“Come and get us you big piece of shit” One of the rangers yelled before they both turned tail and started to run down the street.
The towering machine just stood there for a moment as if it was taken aback by the display it just witnessed. The machine was stunned for only a moment until its threat system kicked in and it targeted the two fleeing rangers and began after them. Thundering its way up the road, it ripped up pieces of the road with its hooves and unearthed old tramlines that were covered over by the tarmac. The segmented tail of the machine swung to the side and tore into the hospital and ripped out the supports for the front half of the upper floors forcing the two rangers to quickly run for the roof access stairs to avoid falling with the roof.
“Star Paladin Golden Star, bait is set and prey is on its way”
“Roger that, return to LZ”
“On our way”
“C’mon, let’s get the hell out of here”
XXXXX
I couldn’t get a wink of sleep. The rain and thunder were loud enough but it was my anxiety about the arrival of the Krogoth in the next few hours that had me tossing and turning. Oh and my wings had their own plans to make my rest impossible as they both wouldn’t go down. I groaned and got off the reception waiting couch I was using as a bed and looked at the still working clock above the reception desk.
“Ten to three in the morning, ugh” I groaned walking towards the front door which looked to be having a waterfall running down it. “Still raining, smegging hell”
“I’ve heard that Braytish weather is unpredictable” Star Paladin Golden Star said as she joined me. “Can’t sleep too huh”
“No, I’m worried about tomorrow”
“We all are, the Krogoth is nothing like anything Equestria has faced before but at least we have a plan right”
“Yeah”
The street outside was illuminated by a sudden bright flash which was then followed by the biggest bang I’ve ever heard that also shook the hotel to its foundations. I was about to yell that we were under attack until I heard the rumbling of thunder. Damn that thunderclap must have been right above us to make such a boom.
We stood in silence for a little while until Golden Star received a transmission.
She held a hoof to her earpiece as the rangers on the other side spoke. Her expression turned to shocked surprise to what she was told and she quickly responded with as much authority as she could to cover her surprise.
“Already, it’s arrived earlier than expected, alright, once its passed head for the evac point”
She turned to me with a grim expression.
“It’s here” She said as she then turned around and ran back into the hotel as she began to rouse the troops.
I quickly ran over to where my friends were sleeping and shook them all with my hooves and my magic.
“Wake up guys” I cried frantically.
“Ugh mummy, five more minutes” Zyon drawled in her sleep.
I rolled my eyes and leaned close to her ear, took in a deep breath and then yelled at the top of my lungs. “NOW!” The result was exactly as I was hoping. She bolted upright as if somepony poked her with a branding iron.
“I’m up, I’m up” She shrieked.
Sky Fire shot up to the ceiling and stuck to it with her hooves like a cartoon cat when startled. It was only Motor Runner who simply opened his eyes and sat up as if he was already wide awake.
“What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?” Zyon cried clutching her chest. “What’s going on?”
“Its here guys, it’s arrived”
“Already, it’s like six hours early”
“I suppose it must have found a way to cross the fissure” Motor Runner said as he began to straighten out his suit.
Zyon also started to begin getting her stuff ready but I stopped her. “Zyon, I want you and Sky Fire to go back to the stadium. You two are not rangers and don’t have to do this and I also don’t want to risk loosing you to it, especially now since you’ve been reunited with your family”
Zyon and Sky Fire both opened their mouths to protest when Golden Star came back into the lobby. “Yes, you two please go back to the stadium, warn the Elder and the bomb crews the machine has been sighted and to be ready to detonate the buildings”
Zyon and Sky Fire sighed but nodded. They stood up and headed for the door.
“Zyon, tell Wirblewind to be ready for our evac”
“Sure” She said opening the door. Cold wind blasted in through the door as it was still blowing a gale outside with the storm.
“We’ll see you at the evac point later” I told her with a sincere smile, though I was praying things don’t go south.
“See you later” She and Sky Fire said as they left.
I sighed as they left. For all any of us knew, this could be the end. I don’t want to die but I’m an Applejack Ranger, a soldier, it’s my duty to protect and defend the ponies of Equestria and I’ll die doing my duty for them and especially for my daughter.
We waited for about half and hour before Golden Star got word that the machine had taken the bait. So, this is it, its coming, no backing down now. By now every ranger was all geared up and ready to go. Me and Motor Runner had been given a pair of goggles to wear to protect our eyes since neither of us are wearing helmets so we could still see through the dust cloud that will consume the street when the buildings come down.
I watched Golden Star as she held her hoof to her helmeted ear listening to the reports of the recon teams and the ponies acting as the bait reported the position of the Krogoth as well as the casualties. Even with the jammer screwing its detection system up the Krogoth’s anti-equine weapon was claiming more of our rangers.
The ground was shaking with every hoof fall the machine made. We could tell that it was getting close with how the ground shuddered so much. While we waited for the last transmission that the machine was about to enter Oldham Street the sound of crumbling stone, steel and glass rose up above the sound of the storm.
“What the hell was that?” A ranger asked as he stuck his head outside the door to look down the street where a column of smoke and dust rose up above the buildings.
“An old building had just collapsed because the ground shudders” Golden Star said still with her hoof to her ear.
“How much does that thing weigh?” Somepony asked absentmindedly.
“Over five thousand tonnes” Motor Runner answered.
”Damn”
“Alright everypony get into position” Golden Star shouted as she primed her 120mm Anti-Dragon cannons.
Show time. I took a deep breath as we all ran out and took position. We hid in the allies and recesses next to or against the buildings on either side of the street a safe distance away from the two buildings we were to bring down ready to rush the machine when the buildings come down on it.
Golden Star stood in the middle of the street and spread her legs to support her cannons as she raised them, aiming down the street to hit the Krogoth when it comes into view. Oh Celestia, please, let everything go to plan. The ground was shaking so bad that the panes of glass in the buildings around us were rattling. It’s close.
A few short minutes later and there it is. Its huge head appeared from the corner of the street looking around for its attackers. I allowed a small smile as the jammer was doing its job; the machine wasn’t able to track those that attacked it.
The Krogoth looked up the street towards us and that’s when Golden Star fired her cannons. She sailed backwards kicking up a lot of water from the rain as the recoil pushed her back. A split second after the cannons fired two small explosions appeared on the Krogoth’s nose and the smoke disappeared through the huge air intake vent in the front and the machine quickly focused its attention in the street. Golden Star was quick to dive for the nearest cover.
We cringed as the machine turned quickly as it started to stomp its way into Oldham Street, its left AMR tore its way through the corner building causing half of it to collapse as it entered the street and stopped. It moved its head back and forth looking for its attacker but then it raised its head high, focusing on the tower and what lay at the top.
“That’s it; it’s focused on the Obelisk now”
The machine began to walk up the narrow street, its head raised to the tower, its focus entirely consumed by its target. As it walked its AMRs would occasionally scrape against the buildings on either side, we choose this street because of how narrow it is, the machine can’t manoeuvre in here. The machine stopped right between the two buildings we wanted to demolish, this couldn’t be more perfect and over the comm channel I heard Golden Star order the detonation. However that is where things went wrong. The Krogoth began to charge two of its AMRs and the buildings didn’t detonate.
“What, what do you mean it didn’t work?” Golden Star shouted over the comms to the pony responsible for flicking the switch to detonate the charges.
“There is too much magical interference” I barely heard the pony reply over the increasing static caused by the said interference.
“I suspected this” Motor Runner said shaking his head as the balls of blue energy grew outside the railguns.
I didn’t have anything to say, I felt like this was the end, the Krogoth was going to get the Obelisk and then we’d be powerless to stop it. Oh Celestia, oh Luna, help us.
I began to groan in discomfort as I felt the growing power in the AMRs; every unicorn could feel its power I bet. The power was almost as bad as the day we first saw it coming out of the Hangar.
“Why do you persist on giving me headaches” I whined rubbing my cybernetic hoof against my forehead.
I then cried out with pain as my horn sparked with energy when the Krogoth unleashed its power. Two beams of pure magical energy shot at the Manedale Centre. The two beams collided with the centre of the tower around a third of the way up and then as the beams burned their way through the building the machine began to part the beams, effectively cutting the tower in half. With the way the beams were cutting the tower it looked as if the building would end up falling backwards, well that’s how we all thought it would until we began to hear ominous groaning of weakening steel.
“It’s bringing the tower down” A ranger shouted over the comm link.
“Why?” Another shouted.
“It has to bring the tower down so it can assimilate the Obelisk” Motor Runner said to me more than anypony else.
The Obelisk began to flicker and spark as the power cables supplying it with power were being cut until finally it went dark and that’s when the tower lurched towards us. Well, that was unexpected. The metal structure around the impact site was failing, causing the tower to lean in against the attack rather than falling away from it with how the beams were cutting it. This doesn’t make any sense. I could see how the metal structure was glowing red hot around where the beams were cutting, the heated metal beams were bending from the heat weakening them and it seemed to be only around where the beams were burning through as the floors above and below remained unaffected. The amount of heat those magical beams would pass into the metal would have affected a larger area than what we were seeing. Could the building’s fireproofing in that area be not to standard?
The machine continued to cut the tower until its structure around the impact zone began to compress and the tower started to lean towards us. The sounds of bending metal, breaking glass, crumbling concrete and small explosions drew our attention from the Krogoth to the Manedale Centre as the tower began to lean more and more into the street.
“It’s coming down” A ranger shouted.
Looking up at the tower as it leaned further over I estimate at least seven hundred feet of the tower was going to…
“Oh shit” I accessed my broadcaster as I had to warn everypony. “This is Paladin Longshot, the tower is going to fall into the street and bury us”
“Everypony, you heard her, retreat to a safe distance, now, move” Golden Star yelled and we all ran down the nearest allies or into the buildings so we’d be out of the way of the tower. Motor Runner and I were in a recess that a door would be but a security shutter blocked it. Motor Runner quickly unsheathed his chainsaw as the last of the tower’s strength collapsed and the seven hundred feet of building began to fall he used his saw to cut through the shutter. I looked down the street to the machine it was trying to turn but couldn’t because of how tight the street was and with the way it was trying to back up, it looked to be panicking. I suppose that’s the pony’s consciousness giving it fear.
“Its open, go” Motor Runner urged as he practically shoved me through the open shutter and through the door.
I crashed into the counter on the other side of the door about ten feet in. I could hear the tower as it crashed into the walls of the buildings as it fell into the street. Motor Runner slammed the door shut and then stood over me, using his body to shield me. I hugged against him tightly and we braced ourselves.
Everything shook like an earthquake as the thousands of tonnes of building crashed down into the street. I couldn’t hear a thing as all the sound was just the destruction of the tower and then everything went black as all sources of light were snuffed out by the debris.
XXXXX
The Krogoth realised something was wrong when it was too late. It had anticipated the tower falling backwards, not forwards and now it realised why it was drawn to this particular street by those rangers it was unable to track because something was blocking its EFS. It tried to turn, tried to get away but the width of the street was too narrow and it was unable to turn and it couldn’t back up as it was catching on the buildings on either side of it with its AMRs. The mind of Short Circuit was almost paralysing the Krogoth with fear, fear of being crushed to death. Even though it knew it would survive the impact of the falling tower it would be severely damaged.
Looking up all the Krogoth could see was the breaking windows of the Manedale Centre as it fell into the street. The fear gripping its system prevented the Krogoth from locking up its knee joints and it continued to try to pull itself back. The machine felt its left AMR dig into the building next to it forcing the machine to stop. It looked up just as the tower came crashing down onto the machine. Its legs gave out immediately as the sudden addition of thousands up on thousands of extra tonnes in weight overwhelmed its knee joints, causing them to shatter and the machine was driven down to its belly were the rest of the tower’s weight came to rest, crushing and destroying its ears, its sail, the weapons platform on its back, its AMRs, its missile pods and many other things leaving the machine in a sorry state.
The machine lay under the rubble, unable to move or do anything. Its body too damaged to respond to any commands given. The machine’s repair systems kicked in immediately and focused first on fixing internal damage and began to absorb materials from the tower that crushed it to repair them. It was then that the Krogoth detected the pieces of the Obelisk of Magic among the wreckage, its primary objective. It decided to disengage its repair for the moment while it absorbed the Obelisk.
XXXXX
When we were certain everything had stopped we pulled ourselves out of the building we used to shelter ourselves from the falling building. We were lucky the tower wasn’t a few feet wider as it would have crushed us too. We pulled ourselves out of the hole that had opened up as the tower slammed into the street and climbed up onto the mountain of rubble that was the Manedale Centre. The dust cloud was quickly being cleared from the strong winds and the rain. I never thought I’d be happy for a storm. Within a few minutes the street was mostly cleared of the dust and it was just a mess. All the buildings lining the street that was within the crash zone had their faces ripped off as the tower had scraped along them as it fell. Though most importantly, the Krogoth was nowhere in sight.
“Is it dead?” I asked hopeful as I started to see my fellow rangers climbing up onto the rubble.
“No, it’s too well made for this to kill it. The impact will have likely destroyed its ability to move but its still there somewhere” Motor Runner replied. “We just can’t see it under all this”
“Is everypony ok?” Golden Star asked as she climbed up onto the wreckage and over the comm link.
Thankfully everypony sounded off apart from one. This could have been a whole lot worse; it was certainly something we didn’t expect to happen. As we regrouped some rubble down the road began to move. We immediately trained our guns down to it and then something began to grow out of the rubble. It looked like a frame for something. It glowed with a dark green energy and then solid green magical energy began to encompass the frame. I gasped as the object took the form of a large cone shape, a spire and when the solid green gave way to a steel coloured spiral I knew exactly what it was.
“The Obelisk of Magic” Me and Motor Runner said in unison.
“We only have a few short minutes before the machine regains some motor function. We have to get inside it NOW”
“Go, we’ll cover you” Golden Star shouted. “Everypony form up, cover Paladin Longshot and Motor Runner”
I nodded to him and we both began to run towards the Obelisk. Our progress was kinda slow because the rubble was loose and shifted under hoof. As we ran I could see the rubble around the Obelisk start to bulge and shift as the machine underneath was repairing itself.
We ground to a halt as the machine’s head burst from the rubble. It was dented all over, one of its eyes was broken, both ears were crushed, so was its spotlight and its sail like mane was gone. Its machinegun however looked to be intact and now that it’s head was above the rubble it knew it was in danger and that massive weapon quickly took aim and started to fire. I cried out as I felt multiple impacts on my armour but thankfully no penetration. I suspect it was using five mill rounds, let’s just hope its targeting system wasn’t working correctly. We didn’t hang around long as we continued to run forward. The rangers behind us began to open fire, drawing the machine’s attention away from us as we reached its neck.
“It has maintenance hatches on its back near the weapon’s platform” Motor Runner said as we stood behind the machine’s neck. We both began to dig frantically as the machine fired at the rangers that took pot shot at it.
The rubble shuddered and some fell away at the base of the weapons platform and Motor Runner must have seen something as he moved over to it quickly and pressed his hoof against a square dented panel. It moaned as it was pushed down and then slid back. I approached cautiously so I wouldn’t fall on the rubble strewn back of the machine. Inside the panel lay a keypad and Motor Runner wasted no time in using his cybernetic leg’s manipulators to input a manual override and then I fell. I fell down a shaft and landed inside the machine with some of the rubble that fell in with me.
”Ow” I moaned as I picked myself up. I quickly rolled backwards as Motor Runner joined me down here by jumping in himself.
The corridor we found ourselves in reminded me of a naval warship. It was tight and there was barely enough room for both of us to walk side by side. It was also a mess with metal panels from the walls and ceiling littering the floor and wires dangling around all over the place. I took one step forward and that’s when it occurred to me, I don’t know where to go.
“Err, which way?” I asked with a sheepish grin.
“Follow me” Motor Runner said as he took the lead heading towards the front of the machine.
We came to a T-junction in the corridor and Motor Runner turned to take the left route to move towards the heart of the machine. We had only been in the corridor for only a few seconds before a deep beep sounded and a security turret dropped down from the ceiling and opened fire. I dove to the deck but Motor Runner stood over me and put himself in the line of fire. I watched as the bullets rained to the floor in pieces as they failed to penetrate Motor Runner’s steel hard skin.
“Please take out the turret” He groaned in pain as he was continuously pummelled by the automatic fire.
I pulled This Machine out of its harness and lay on my belly underneath Motor Runner and aimed the weapon up at the turret about halfway down the corridor. I sighted up the turret and was pulling the trigger when suddenly the corridor angled up causing me and Motor Runner to slide down the floor and crash into the wall at the T-junction. The security turret stopped firing as we had fallen out of its detection range.
“What’s going on” I moaned. I wiggled about as it almost felt like I had This Machine shoved up my ass since I was sitting on it.
“The Krogoth must be getting its legs back online”
I held up my cybernetic leg and accessed the broadcaster in my pipbuck. “We are inside, what’s going on?”
“It’s front half is pulling itself out the rubble and its now using ammunition that punches through us as if we were made of butter” Golden Star cried. I could hear the bullets hammering her cover in the background.
“We are inside it now, fall back Star Paladin, you have done your duty, retreat and please tell Wirblewind to be ready”
“We can’t just leave you alone”
“We’ll be fine, go, while you can”
I heard Golden Star sigh. “Alright Longshot, good luck” She paused as she then opened her channel for all rangers. “Alright everypony, our job is done, fall back and return to the stadium”
“Alright, everypony should be heading back now” I said as I rolled off my gun and pulled it back out from under me.
Motor Runner pulled himself back up and just as he stood back up to his full height I felt the floor push up levelling it out and sending up toppling back into the corridor. Motor Runner remained stood up while I ended up tripping and falling back against the wall since it was now angled steeply the other way since its back legs were still inoperable. The security turret opened fire again on Motor Runner while I was pulling myself together. I knew today would suck.
“Appletart”
“On it” I groaned as I pulled the gun up and aimed it at the turret. Motor Runner stepped closer to the turret to keep it focused on him. I hefted the heavy rifle and sighted up the turret and pulled the trigger. The weapon sounded a hundred times louder in the confines of these tight corridors and damn it hurt my ears. I groaned as my ears rang loudly. I looked up to where the turret is and saw that it was reduced to a couple of sparking wires.
"Are you alright?" I asked him as he rubbed his face with a hoof.
"I'm fine, thank you"
Suddenly there were two loud explosions and the entire machine shuddered.
"What the hell was that?" I shrieked.
"Oh no, we have to hurry, its forty six centimetre cannons are back online" Motor Runner said just another series of explosions rocked the machine.
The corridor shook again as the machine continued to push itself up, we were now standing on a steep angle, one wrong step and we’d tumble down the corridor or crash against the wall. Motor Runner walked forward and I followed. We stopped directly under the destroyed turret and found ourselves at a crossroad. Going up would take us to the Crusader Mainframe and going down would take us to the Spark Reactor.
Motor Runner sighed and seemed to look saddened as we walked down the corridor to the reactor. The door to the reactor was set deeply into an arch and beside the archway sat a terminal on the wall. The tall pony used his manipulators to input the manual overrides.
“Reactor door security system disabled” Sounded an automated warning.
“Reactor door unlocked” And with that the thick steel door slid open.
Motor Runner stepped into the archway before I could, blocking my path as he entered the reactor. I thought we could deactivate it from the terminal by the door, I guess not. I followed him into the archway but he stopped just inside the door to the reactor, leaving me no room to join him. I looked past him to see the reactor and something immediately jumped out at me. A plaque mounted on the reactor and it read. “Stable 90”
I had heard of Stable 90, it was a stable that was never completed but was put down as being complete so when the call went out the ponies that had reserved places in it went there to find that it was just an empty shell with a working door. They had no way to survive in there. I certainly hope that materials meant for Stable 90 weren’t diverted for the Krogoth, if so then this thing is responsible for their deaths too.
Motor Runner turned around and he looked truly sad. I have a bad feeling about this.
“Appletart, go, there is nothing more for you to do now” He said.
“What, what do you mean?”
“I have to activate the overload from in here”
“Wait, your not coming back out are you?”
He sighed and looked down. “No, this is my responsibility. It is my fault this thing exists now; it’s my fault thousands of ponies have died because of it, it’s my fault your stable was destroyed, its my fault you were thrust out into this hell, it was my fault you lost your mother, its my fault you have become what you are now and I have to pay for my sins” He said as I saw his tail move out to its side.
“No, I can’t loose you, I love you” I cried, tears welling up in my eyes.
He gave a brief smile as he looked me in the eyes. “I love you too, that is why I’m also doing this” He said and then pushed out his cybernetic hoof and pushed it against my chest to keep me from trying to get inside.
“There has to be another way, please” I begged.
“No, this is the only way. This is how it has to be. I wish things could have been different Appletart” He leaned down and kissed me. We shared one last loving and passionate kiss. A kiss I wish would never end but the moment was ruined by another automated warning.
”WARNING, WARNING, REACTOR OVERLOAD INITIATED” Sirens began to blare throughout the machine’s interior. “ALL CREW ARE ADVISED TO REACH MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE”
Suddenly the thick steel door to the reactor chamber closed against Motor Runner’s cybernetic leg. I was instantly reminded of the ursa trap that caught me a while ago. He cried out in pain as the door squeezed at his metal leg.
“Argh, now go and live” He groaned. “Be there for Blueberry, be there for your baby and let her know she is loved and that you’ll be there for her. She needs you” He told me and gave another shove, pushing his cybernetic leg out of the door towards me and then he screamed in pain as the thick door shut on his leg. With the door pushing on flesh it was easy for it to sever it from him. His synthetic fell to the floor, wiggling with whatever power was still in it. I picked up the leg in my magic and hugged it tightly as I cried. I stayed there crying until another warning told me I had ten minutes to get out of there. Oh dear sweet Luna this reminds me of the Kodiak. I opened my eyes and found myself looking at the severed edge to Motor Runner’s leg and that’s when I saw it. It was faint but it was there. Looking closely I could see that there were little bits of flesh still clinging to the metal leg and a faint pink glow surrounded the organic matter. His regeneration talisman, it was still working. Realising there was still a chance to save him a held his leg in my magic and bolted for the access hatch we had entered through and quickly called Wirlbewind over my broadcaster to come pick me up.
I pulled myself out of the hatch to find the Krogoth to be standing on all four of its legs again and was trying to walk forward over the rubble. I climbed up onto its weapon’s platform which was still thankfully offline. I looked around for Wirblewind, for the love of Celestia where is he? As I was looking around I noticed that both missile pods were offline too which was good. The Krogoth swung its head around trying to shoot something that quickly got out of its range by getting behind its head and I was happy to see that it was Wirblewing pulling Motor Runner’s chariot behind him. I waved him down and when he was close enough I dived into the open door of the chariot.
“Where is Motor Runner?” He asked looking back through the front window.
“Right here” I replied showing him the leg. “Hurry, get back to twenty four as fast as you can, his life depends on it”
“But protocol demands we head to the evac point to meet up with the rest of the Rangers”
I opened a panel on Motor Runner’s leg that hid his regeneration talisman and my eyes widened. His talisman was barely glowing at all. I quickly pulled out a cable from my storage unit and connected it to his leg and my pipbuck. I cycled through the screens until I found a status screen I could check the condition of some things and I was horrified to find out the condition of his talisman. His talisman was only at one point five percent and dropping.
“No time, if we don’t get back to twenty four ASAP Motor Runner dies forever” I yelled.
He pulled away sharply, sending me into the seat as he began to fly at speed through the streets until we were on our way back to base.
“Paladin Longshot, where are you going, you are heading away from the evac point” Star Paladin Rojas’s voice came over my broadcaster.
“Sorry sir but I’m heading back to base, Motor Runner’s life is on the line, I have to get back there now” I paused for a moment. “Sir, you have to leave the city right now, its reactor has been set to overload there is no time to waste”
I heard a load of commotion in the background with ponies yelling orders. “Roger that Longshot, see you back at base”
I climbed up onto the back seat to look out the back window. I could see blue beams of energy striking randomly in the city. I suppose the Krogoth was using its AMRs to try to keep its power level down.
We were still over the city a few minutes after escaping the Krogoth when suddenly a bright beam of light burst from in the direction of the Krogoth and shooting up into the sky.
“Oh cock”
The beam suddenly shot back down and there was then a brief pause before the whole of Equestria was shaken by a thunderous explosion. Another beam of light shot up into the sky before a dome of energy began to grow and expand across the city, vaporizing everything in its path.
“Wirblewind faster” I shouted with panic seeping into my voice.
“Oh shit” He shouted and I then felt the chariot jerk as he poured on as much speed as he could.
“Oh cock, oh cock, oh cock” I cried as the dome of destructive energy raced towards us faster than we were flying. "Oh cock and bollocks"
I watched in horror as the wave of energy ploughed through everything in its path, destroying the whole city as it raced through the buildings. All that history gone, just like that. This wasn’t the time to reflect on that, especially with a blast wave on our asses.
“My ass is on fire” I heard Wirblewind cry.
He isn’t far off. If not for the chariot I would likely be being incinerated as the wave of energy met with the chariot but before the magical wave of destruction could burn away the chariot we began to pull away. I gawked in horrified disbelief as the energy that covered the city soon faded away to leave nothing behind but a clean flat stretch of land in a perfect circle. Oh my goddesses, the whole city, gone, nothing left, nothing at all. Oh Motor Runner. I began to cry again as we flew back towards twenty four. Before my vision became too blurred by my tears I saw the readout for his regeneration talisman.
“0.9%”
XXXXX
Motor Runner cried out with pain as he reared back from the door after it tore his leg clean off. He turned around and sat against the wall facing the reactor that was now starting to hum loudly as the power inside it began to build faster and faster. He looked to his bleeding stump. His blood was pooling on the floor as well as ruining his suit. He knew he was going to die. He knew it since he decided to aid Paladin Longshot. He saw it as payment for the trouble he has caused in his misguided bid to bring the worst weapon Equestria had ever seen to life and since every death that occurred because of the machine was his responsibility.
“Won’t be…long now” He groaned in pain.
A screen flickered to life on the reactor with the face of Short Circuit looking at him furiously.
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” She yelled with the anger to rival that comic book pony that turns into big green monster when angry.
“I have to…put an end…to you” Motor Runner panted as his blood loss was starting to drain him of his energy.
“STOP IT” She demanded with an undertone of panic.
Motor Runner grinned. “No”
The pony on the screen screamed in outrage and then the railguns that had only just been made operational began discharging as fast as they could.
“You can…discharge…all you want…but you can’t…stop the…inevitable”
The reactor began to spark and glow brightly as its containment was beginning to fail as the power inside it continued to rise. Motor Runner slumped against the wall of the reactor chamber as he was no longer able to support himself. His last thoughts were of the albino mare he met in Applejack’s office back in Manehattan. He focused on her beautiful white face, he had never seen a white mare so clean before, she either took good care of herself or her being an albino made her brighter than others. He remembered those large red eyes, those red eyes were like rubies glistening in the sun. He had felt a connection with her that day but he didn’t know what it was until the day their hooves stuck together because of her magnet.
“I love you Appletart” His last thought was before all he could see what white.
The Krogoth let out an outraged scream as a beam of energy burst from the top of the reactor and burned its way through the armoured chamber and burst out of its back. The beam shot up into the sky before suddenly rushing back into the reactor where it then burst out again but this time the entire reactor exploded with the force of a megaspell going off inside the small chamber. The explosive force being concentrated within the chamber overwhelmed the chamber’s megaspell/balefire bomb proof armoured walls and caused it to rip itself to pieces. From the outside such an explosion wouldn’t have dented the sphere but since it was on the inside, the concentrated explosion couldn’t be contained. The sphere ripped itself to pieces and the explosion burst out of the Krogoth, its advanced body being rendered to shrapnel and vaporized from the intense blast of energy as it expanded and grew. The Krogoth’s crusader chamber, being another armoured sphere like the reactor’s was thrust out of its chest like a bullet, sending it miles into the sky as it was thrown away from the blast. The sphere would later crash down in the Everfree Forest. The entire machine was completely destroyed as the energy wave that burst from its reactor began to tear its way through the city. It was just total annihilation.
XXXXX
I was surprised at Wirblewind’s speed. It was no wonder Motor Runner recruited him to be his transporter before letting him go. We made it back to Stable 24 within four hours. I held Motor Runner’s leg in my magic and bolted for the clinic as soon as we landed. I will have some upset ponies to apologies to later since I ran some down as I ran down the halls.
I didn’t wait for the clinic door to open as I flared my horn with magic and tore the door out of its frame and launched it down the hall.
“Holy hell, Appletart?” Rainstorm shrieked in surprise as I ran into the clinic.
“Quick, hook this up now” I cried as I pushed the leg to her.
“Wha…what?”
“Its Motor Runner, it needs power or he’ll die”
She blinked in confusion.
“No time to explain, please just do it”
She directed me to a machine next to a bed and told me to lay the leg down on it. I did as she told me while I checked the read out as she plugged in several cables to the leg to give it power.
“NO” I cried as the readout told me something I didn’t want to see.
I watched as the readout went from zero point one to zero percent. No, no Motor Runner. I collapsed to my haunches and hugged his leg while I rested against the bed, crying for my loss. Oh Motor Runner, why, why did you have to leave me? I felt a brief rush of anger but it was quickly drowned out by my sorrow.
“Apple, Apple it’s alright, look” I heard Rainstorm say as she patted my shoulder.
I looked up and then to the leg. The panel hiding the regeneration talisman was open and then I saw the gem; it was pulsating in the centre like a heart with a pink glow. I quickly looked to the readout and my heart soared, it was rising. Zero point one, zero point two, oh yes, he isn’t going to be dead.
Since Motor Runner’s talisman was recharging his flesh was still being kept alive. It probably wouldn’t start regeneration until it had sufficient power. After I recovered from my happiness of knowing he’ll be back soon I explained what happened.
“Apple, don’t get your hopes up” Rainstorm said sadly.
“What?”
“He may get his body rebuilt by the talisman but, there is no telling if his mind will be intact. For all we know he’ll be like a baby mentally or have no mind at all or if you’re lucky he’ll remember everything to the point the leg was severed. There is just no telling what will happen”
I looked down at the leg. Oh please Celestia, Luna, bring him back to me.
XXXXX
I lay in bed that night cradling my little girl and had her wrapped in one of my wings to give her some extra warmth. I could hear the party in the atrium, the celebration of the defeat of the Krogoth. Sure I was happy that we won, that the machine was destroyed, but at what cost. The destruction of Manechester, the deaths of thousands of ponies killed by its time in the wasteland, the destruction of priceless history and most importantly, the death of my love. Well, that is if the regeneration fails or he’s a vegetable.
I hugged my girl close. “I’ll never leave you my darling. Mummy will be here for you and forever” I said before I began to sing her a lullaby my mother taught me.
At least now I can sleep peacefully now, the threat of the Krogoth is gone and we are as safe as can be in the wasteland. Well, until the next threat arises.
It’s been eight years since the destruction of the Krogoth and it has been a pretty peaceful time as well. A lot can happen in eight years.
Soon after the completion of what went down in the archives as the “Krogoth Crisis” all the rangers returned to Stable 24 after their long flight back. There was a celebration for that we have defeated the last single greatest threat to Equestria’s safety and for the first time in two centuries we were able to celebrate the return of peace, well, as peaceful as it can get with the wasteland being as it is. The Krogoth was the last thing to threaten Equestria on a large scale like Red Eye and the Enclave.
During the party which may have been worthy of the once famous party pony Pinkie Pie I met up again with my friends. We shared a cry, (except Zyon) over Motor Runner’s death in the Krogoth’s reactor chamber but we also celebrated the joy that he wasn’t truly dead with his leg hooked up in the medical wing powering his regeneration talisman. As we celebrated Elder McNamare pulled to one side.
She told me my breach of protocol by heading straight back to Twenty Four without meeting up at the extraction point first was a serious matter and would result usually in serious disciplinary action but luckily for me, with my part in the destruction of the Krogoth she said I would only receive a verbal disciplinary. Even though it was verbal it still hurt to be told off like that. I’ve not been told off for something wrong since I was foal growing up, especially when I was in the Pondale Rangers.
When I rejoined with my friends the foul mood I was put in evaporated as we continued to enjoy ourselves. It was heart warming when other rangers came up to us and thanked us and offered their condolences for my loss. At least the Applejack Rangers weren’t heartless bastards like most of the Steel Rangers. We were even hailed as heroes but really, the only pony that was worthy of being called a hero was Motor Runner. He sacrificed himself to put an end of the machine. I was quick to tell them that too. I was no hero.
After the party as we were heading back to our quarters there was a pressing question on all our minds.
“So, what now?” Zyon plainly asked.
“You know, I have no idea” I said as I stopped to think.
There was silence for a full long minute before I spoke again.
“I suppose we can take a break, I mean we did just stop an all powerful killing machine after all and I have some maternity leave I need to claim” I said with Blueberry on my mind.
We ended up staying at Twenty Four for another two months while we waited for Motor Runner’s regeneration to complete itself. Motor Runner’s entire body was regenerated by then but he was without the Synaptic Link he had installed to the back of his neck and his starmetal hide was gone too, leaving him with normal skin so he wouldn’t be bullet proof anymore. It made sense he didn’t get those back since they were not organic and were implanted after he got his leg. I was so happy when I saw him laying there on that recovery bed completely regenerated and breathing unassisted. I don’t think he ever looked so good before. I would sit and wait by his bedside with Blueberry as we waited for him to wake up. When he did wake up it was like the happiest day of my life for a split second before that feeling quickly faded when he failed to recognise me. It felt like he was truly dead. At first it was like nopony was home as he was unresponsive and didn’t react to anything but a couple of days later he remembered his name as Scrapheap and he remembered how to talk, walk, ect but any memory of the last twenty or so years were still missing. I explained to him who he was to me and me to him. Even though he didn’t remember he agreed to stay with us in the hope that being with the ponies he knew might jog his memory.
During Motor Runner’s recovery I was awarded my late maternity leave so I could raise Blueberry. We needed a place to settle down in and McNamare told us of a place we could go. East of Pon’evil around fifty to sixty miles away following the edge of the Everfree Forest is a town that has newly been established and according to reports it was being an exact replica of prewar Ponyville including rail lines and dug out streams and rivers and the town was called “New Ponyville” not an original name but it works. It’s also out of the way so it’s not in any direct route of any gangs of raiders and other knobs and it’s also a safe distance from the Everfree so it’s not in danger of wild monster attacks.
McNamare gave me a good reason to want to go there too. The town is peaceful, full of ponies just trying to live a peaceful existence but they also have a little problem. They don’t have much in protection. Since I’m an Applejack Ranger, McNamare had asked me to help them with their defence and my friends can help. She said that when Blueberry no longer requires constant care it’ll be my responsibility to keep the town safe until there are enough ponies trained to keep the town safe and secure.
We left Twenty Four and walked for two weeks. The walk was pretty much uneventful and we only had to deal with a couple of bands of raiders. They were not a problem for us considering what we’ve been through and Motor Runner seemed to know how to use his chainsaw. I supposed it was hard wired into him, something you don’t forget once learned. By the time we made it to New Ponyville we were tired and in need of a good rest. Before we could do anything in the town we needed to see a mare that went by the name of “Mayor Mare”, go figure, so we could explain to her who we were and what we were doing in the town. She seemed to be happy with our arrival especially when we told her that we had been sent by the Elder of the Applejack Rangers and that my job was to help with the town’s protection. She set us up in a house that was close to the town hall.
The first few days were spent settling in and getting familiar with the small town. I felt uncomfortable when I walked the streets as everypony stared at me. I’m not surprised considering I’m heavily scarred, a winged unicorn, an albino and a cyborg. The good thing though was they held no ill intent towards me, if anything they were intrigued. My friends also got some odd looks too but nothing like me as they seemed more normal. It was funny when some townsfolk rushed up to Sky Fire wanting autographs of the legendary Rainbow Dash. She played along and seemed to bask in the admiration; I guess there is a bit of Rainbow Dash alive in her. Motor Runner seemed to just intimidate ponies because of his Princess Celestia physique and being a cyborg would intimidate anypony when seeing him for the first time. Zyon didn’t seem to get bothered at all as she was seen as just being a zebra; thankfully no pony in this town was a hater. Zyon was actually complimented on her body length scar with ponies mostly saying something on the lines of “Wicked scar”. The member of our group that got the most stars was CD. My little sprite-bot was like a loyal dog to me, following me everywhere and everything but he wasn’t like the standard sprite-bots. Normal sprite-bots look like the actual insect but CD; he closely resembled a giant eye more than anything else.
Once we were settled and knew the town pretty well we then began looking at how we could help protect the town. I instantly saw the top of the town hall as a perfect sniper’s nest as it was the tallest building in New Ponyville and would give a nice high elevation to look out across the town and into the distance to spot outside threats. Zyon and Sky Fire decided to see if ponies were armed and to ask them if they would be willing to make up a police force. It made sense as with Zyon’s hoof to hoof combat techniques and with Sky Fire’s weapon training they could teach the willing ponies how to fight so they could defend their town.
No pony in town was skilled with a rifle and nor a long ranged one so the town was short a sniper. I couldn’t pose as the town’s sniper as I had Blueberry to look after and I couldn’t keep giving her to somepony to mind while I took a shift in the nest but thankfully we set up a few patrols that would wander the streets and the town’s perimeter. I also sent CD on patrols as with his long range sensors and his unique warning system he would be able to easily alert somepony. Around a month in living in the town our sniper problems were solved when a pair of earth ponies came to town. Both ponies wore red berets with a badge with a two headed ursa minor on it with Princess Luna’s Moon in the top left and Princess Celestia’s Sun in the top right and the initials, NCR under the ursa. These two ponies once were apart of the New Canterlot Republic which as far as I know is dedicated on restoring Equestria to its formal glory while also keeping to the old world laws and diplomacy. One of them is called Manny who volunteered for the day time shift and his friend, a beige earth pony with a light brown tail and a shaved off mane, along with his beret he wore typical mercenary attire, brown trousers and a white vest shirt. He also wore sunglasses that hid serious blue eyes. I had to learn his name from his friend as he was a very quiet pony and didn’t talk much to anypony. Manny said his name is Boone and he took the position of the night time sniper.
The defence we setup had kept the town safe for months and Blueberry was growing up well, like any foal should. She was happy and bouncing everywhere and I couldn’t be happier. During a nice hot summer’s day I lay with Motor Runner on our home’s front porch watching Blueberry playing happily trying to catch a fly. I was glad by this time she had grown out of her sporadic magic spurts. Dear sweet Luna she had me running rampant trying to keep her from zipping across New Ponyville with one hell of a levitation spell and speed boost. As we watched I leant against my love. He had failed to remember much else about his life which was disheartening but it gave me the chance to fall in love with him all over again and that day for the first time since his resurrection we kissed in a deep and passionate kiss. He tore away from me like he tasted something foul on me and then clutched his head as if in pain and then suddenly he looked at me with wide eyes and he then began to go into a trance as he began to recount everything that happened to him in the last thirty years. It was like something had flicked a switch in his head when we kissed that unlocked the memories he hadn’t been able to access since he woke up that day over a year before. Once he came out of the trance staring at me in shock and surprise to find that he hadn’t died with the machine we embraced each other and happily kissed again. I knew then that everything was going to be just right for us.
A year later Zyon’s family had come to New Ponyville and Sky Fire and Zyon had begun to talk about having a baby of their own. With Zyon’s alchemy skills she knew of a potion she could whip up that would give the drinker a cock and bollocks. She was well aware it wouldn’t work on her because of the Killing Joke magic being in effect but that still didn’t stop her from trying though. I was with her and Sky Fire the day she tried it. I was so red I looked like I had been out in the sun too long as Zyon grew a very well endowed meat and two veg and her huge thick black rod was fully erect as well. I could have died from the embarrassment of seeing it and I also cringed as thoughts of how damn tight and painful something that big would be inside me. Thankfully though it only lasted for a few brief short moments as it quickly fizzled into nothingness with a hissing laughter sound emitting from it while it disappeared. Sky and I had to leave the room for an hour as Zyon screamed obscenities about never being able feel like a male again. I felt sorry for her since she was stuck as something she wasn’t but after a while she calmed down. The two wanted a child together and they would refuse outside help, they wanted their child to be their own. Something the two of them would create together out of love and that then left them with only one option. Zyon didn’t like the idea but it was the only way they were to have a baby together from the two of them and the idea was that it was Sky Fire that would father the baby and Zyon who would carry it.
Zyon had to wait for her estrous cycle before they could get down and dirty. Zyon was so nervous about the whole thing, about having sex for the first time as a mare. Being a mare myself I told her of how good it felt, that it would be the best feeling you would ever feel. When the time came they did the deed and a few weeks later Zyon was confirmed by the New Ponyville nurse to be with foal. Having been through a pregnancy myself I was able to offer support for my friend and eventually she gave birth to a rather unique little filly. The filly was born a zebra but atop her head instead of a zebra’s traditional white and black striped mane she had a rainbow mane like Sky’s and on her back a pair of pegasus wings. Their filly was likely the first of her kind, the first zebra pegasus ever born in Equestria. The wonders of genetics eh? The two overjoyed parents decided to stick with the traditional way of zebra naming for their child since she was born a zebra and named her after Zyon’s step-mother. They called her Xian.
During the fifth year of our stay in New Ponyville I got the shock of my life while I was on sniper duty in the snipers nest. While I looked out over the town one day I noticed a light on the horizon. I raised This Machine to my eye and looked through the scope. My wings flared out with my surprise at what I saw. A wall of energy was rushing towards us. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and when I pulled the scope away from my eye I then noticed that this towering wall of energy stretched across the entire horizon. The wall of energy was moving so fast that I wouldn’t have been able to sound the alarm and nopony would have been able to get away or find shelter in time. My only regret at that moment was that I wasn’t with my family. My thoughts were focused on my husband, oh yeah; we got married when the church was built in town, and my beautiful daughter. I closed my eyes waiting for the wave to hit us as I thought of my family and how much I loved them. I heard the screams of terror when the town’s folk noticed and then I heard the roar of the wave. It was like a stampede of roaring elephants as the wave smashed into the town. I could feel the extreme magic as it rushed at us and then, it hit me. I felt the wave blast past me; it washed over me with to my surprise some sort of rejuvenating energy, not the destructive and painful energy I expected. I felt refreshed after the wave passed but I didn’t take much notice on that as something else, something more grand caught my eye. The fields, the grasslands, the hills, everything around us were alive again. What had once been dead and barren land was now lush and green again. Purified of the poisons that plagued it since the bombs fell. I later learned that that day was known as the “Day of Sunshine and Rainbows” as it was the day that a weapon by the name of the Gardens of Equestria had been triggered by the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony and restored the dead land to its once live and vibrant self from before the war ever started. Equestria that day lived again.
Life got better for us ponies after the “Day of Sunshine and Rainbows” as now with the purified land we were now able to crow normal crops again and we didn’t have to worry about the effects of radiation, taint or poison again. We got a lot of new traffic coming to the town with new trade circulating throughout Equestria with other towns growing their own crops and trading more and more things. We also had to step up our defence as with the increased traffic raiders were attacking more frequently. Ponies weren’t very happy with me for my choice of weapon during my shifts when raiders attacked caravans near town or attempted to storm us. This Machine made such a racket that most of the time the loud boom would scare ponies and keep them up at night. I lost count how many times I had to apologies to the citizens of New Ponyville. I was right about Blueberry’s sleeping as Motor Runner who would wake up from This Machine being fired from the snipers nest would tell me when I got home that Blueberry slept through it. She’s like me alright, can sleep through anything.
Blueberry was happy when Xian was born and the two grew up close to each other like sisters. They even share a room together. We share a house with Zyon and Sky. The two fillies grew up happily with each other. It was heart warming to see them playing together, helping each other in school and just keeping each other company at home. I don’t think I’ve ever once seen them fight or have a falling out over anything. I find them adorable together too, like they were meant for each other. I’ve seen them snuggle up against each other every now and then when lounging at home. You know when your filly or colt has a bad dream and wants to sleep with their parents to keep them safe, I think they seek each other as I’ve also walked into their bedroom on occasion to wake them up for school or something and found them snuggled up together in the same bed.
The two fillies maybe utter sweethearts but they are also nightmares together when they feel mischievous. Being foals they have endless energy and can run or fly for ages. Even at three years old Xian is a fast flyer, taking on after her pegasus mother. Luckily there is one pony that can seem to stop them both without doing much more than looking at them. Motor Runner has this way them where they would stop what they are doing and listen to him. I am happy that he agreed to take the place of Blueberry’s father. I know he isn’t her biological father but in every sense of the word he is her father to her.
Around when Blueberry turned eight years old we became aware that Fluttershy was alive and well. Apparently she was a victim of Poison Joke and had been turned into a tree and had to watch as her world burned. I felt sorry for the kind mare because of that. From her return new medicines began to appear in the inventories and a cure for the Killing Joke strain. I thought. “Finally Zyon can be a male again and be cured of this joke” but when I told her the news I got a reply I was totally not expecting.
“I don’t want it anymore” She said with finality.
“You don’t want it, but you’ve complained about being a mare for years” I replied with confusion.
Zyon by now she was a little plump as she had toned down her previous active lifestyle to be a mother for Xian. We had sat on the porch while we talked and Xian had fallen asleep in her mother’s lap, snuggled up against her soft belly.
“I know I have but things have changed”
“How so?”
Zyon answered by stroking her filly’s mane gently.
I tilted my head not understanding and so she elaborated.
“I can’t turn back into a stallion now. Not now I have her. Look I know I wanted to turn back but after I carried her, felt her grow in my stomach, felt every movement and then the greatest and happiest feeling in my life when I laid my eyes on her for the first time after I gave birth to her I realised then I would never be a male again. I am her MOTHER. It’s who I am to her and I can’t change that, well I can but I wouldn’t be her mother then would I? I would be a stranger to her, some stallion she would never have seen before. I’ve been female now for at least eight years now and I’ve grown used to it and I no longer desire to turn back. She needs me this way and I’ll do anything I can keep her happy” She explained. I was moved by her explanation and I didn’t question it.
I am happy to say I’ve been given help with my Dark Magic side as Motor Runner had been helping me through it after he remembered his promise shortly after getting his memory back and he’s been teaching me his experiences to help me combat my anger and hate. I have managed to tone it down but I will never be rid of that much hate for raiders but at least now I can stop myself from loosing myself to the darkness if I feel it coming on.
Well, that’s practically all of the important things that have happened since the defeat of the Krogoth. Despite my connection to the Applejack Rangers we are living a normal and peaceful life now, well, as peaceful as a life with two young fillies to drive you mad. Well, until the Rangers need me again I don’t think I’ll need to wear my armour again. I’ve had a heck of a ride getting here but I couldn’t be happier and I’m sure my mum would be proud of me despite the dark times I’ve had.
I am Appletart, Paladin of the Applejack Rangers and a defender of New Ponyville and this has been my story.
XXXXX
150 miles south of the Crystal Empire in the frozen north lay a mountain range that acts like a border between the Empire and Equestria. The mountains were once home to a secret research and development centre during the war and eight years ago the long silent facility came back to life as if it was awaked by an event of great magnitude.
The inside of the facility was shrouded in darkness and the only light came from dull blue lights that didn’t light up anything in the thick darkness. Down on the floor of the cavernous chamber sat a lone terminal with a flickering screen. At first glance the screen would appear to be blank but down in the bottom right corner of the screen in flickering text was a single short line which read.
