Optix sets out on a quest with her friends to find a lost sibling.
Optix, a military mare met purely out of coincidence in Conquest of the Mark of the Dragon, wants to- needs to- find her lost sibling.
Equestria is seemingly becoming more and more dangerous as time goes by, and the need for Optix to find her lost sister has grown ever-more intense.
She needs to take action. Now.
Join the story from Optix' perspective as she and the group explores her past, and uncover new things in between. This story occurs just weeks after Light's Darkest Form.
The light of mid night shone upon the rusted mess of the junkyard located just west of Ponyville. Underneath the entire junkyard was a hangar, and around the actual premises was several structures, ranging from workshops, shacks, and tracks to test vehicles and weapons. Just on the outside of the fence lining the perimeter was a sign that had a name upon it’s face: “Optix.”
Just on the shooting range, Optix had an assortment of prototype weapons she crafted from rusted metal and garbage lined on a rotted table. In her hoof was Torttingham’s Special Whiskey-- the special stuff, as she would refer to it as.
She took a large swig of the rough beverage from its rectangular bottle. Once the brown liquid disappeared, she twisted the cap back on and placed the bottle on the head of a dummy. In her blurred shaky vision, she retrieved her Colt 57 pistol from her holster, and aimed with a trembling hoof. Once she was sure she just might actually hit the target, she took the shot, and with luck, she shattered the glass.
“Heh, still a good shot even when piss drunk.”
She unloaded her pistol and placed it in the holster. After taking a look at the ex-target with a proud smirk, then turned to walk to her shack at the base of the yard. Once she came upon the rotted door, she opened the door and went inside.
The shack was a sort of bathroom, but it was perhaps the cleanest area of her property. There was a shattered mirror just above the sink. She stared into her reflection through the cracks and sighed. “Where did she go…?” After a minute of staring, she went to go relieve herself, and made her way to her hangar, where a small cargo plane still under development was held. Her living quarters was located inside, featuring a bedroll and some basic bedroom furniture.
Upon her dresser was a burned photo of her and another filly that had remarkably similar colors holding Optix in a loving hug. She placed the photo back on its rightful place, and allowed a small frown to express itself. “I’ll find you. I promise.”
Optix took off her outfit and equipment, leaving her naked form behind. She slid into the bedroll and clicked a remote to shut off the industrial lights mounted to the ceiling, then drifted to sleep. In her final thoughts, the same filly came to her mind.
Optix awoke within the early morning of sunday, June nineteen, twenty sixteen. The time was a earlier-than-usual six o’clock, and any subsequent minutes after her emerging from her slumber seemed to drag on, if only because of her throbbing headache. She usually never got headaches from her drink-sleep habits, but today seemed different.
Optix, rubbing the morning from her eyes, stood from her bedroll and glanced at the very same picture from last night. She then quickly scanned her room before landing on her plane that was still work-in-progress.
We’re flying there. Fuck the train.
She made her rounds about the hangar with a hobble due to her injuries on Dragon Isle, retrieving her equipments and eventually deciding to strap her haunches to a wheelchair. Once she gathered her things, she made her way towards the door.
I need everypony’s help with this. Gather everyone at the palace then give ‘em the run-down.
With her objective set in place, she began her trek to the palace with her two moveable hooves.
-->><<--
The slight winds of Ponyville only marginally disturbed Optix’ long, luxurious golden mane. The wheels on her haunches squeaked as she kept a steady pace.
The town seemed unusually quiet today. Of course, there were days when the town wasn’t quite so active, and given that it was still early morning, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to most that everyone was asleep.
Usually that weird ass mailmare is movin’ around at this time though…
She came upon the hefty doors to the palace, and gave it a knock. When there was no answer, she knocked harder. The process continued until…
“W-who’s there?” A tired Twilight sounded from the other side of the door.
“It’s Optix, Snarkle. Open up.”
The door slowly creaked open, revealing a bag-eyed purple alicorn. “O-Optix…? What are you~ahhh… doing here so early?”
The military mare only seemed to be annoyed by the inquiry. “I got something I need your help with. Everyone’s help, actually.”
Twilight answered her with a drawn-out yawn. “Listen… I’m sure everyone doesn’t wake up as early as you you know. Let’s wait a couple of hours at least…”
“This is important. I’m sure you can risk a few hours of sleep over it.”
“That depends… what’s got you… all jumpy…?”
“My missing sister.”
Twilight seemed to become slightly more energized. “Your sister…?”
“Yup. Been missin’ for years.”
“I’m sorry…”
Optix trotted inside, unhooked herself from the wheelchair, and sat on a nearby sofa as Twilight shut the door. “Don’t be sorry. We’re gonna do something about it right now. I don’t care how long it takes.”
“But I don’t know where to start to help you.”
“You’ll find out soon. Get the others-- we’re gonna have a meeting.”
Sensing the tension in her voice as well as the severity of the situation, Twilight merely nodded and went out to gather her friends.
-->><<--
Everyone was gathered around the large table in the throne room. Derpibra, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were afloat in the air while everyone else sat in their respective thrones or any other seats within proximity.
“So, I’m guessing we got another sick adventure planned?” Derpibra smiled confidently.
“That may be subjective.” Rarity said. “By the looks of Twilight and Optix, this one won’t be as thrilling as the others.”
“Really?”
“Oh, what’s the matter Optix?” Fluttershy asked in her subtle, cute tone.
“My sister… my little ass sister, out there, Celestia knows what’s happening to her right now.”
Twilight looked at Optix sympathetically. “We understand how you feel Optix. We can-”
“To hell you understand!” Optix shouted. “She could be suffering! She could be dead! Have you lost anyone special to you!? Huh!?”
“I have.” A voice sounded from the far side of the room.
“Starlight?” Everypony said.
“I lost not one, but multiple ponies who actually meant something to me.” Starlight sat in a vacant throne. “I know I have you girls, and I’ve been reunited with Sun Burst, but all those ponies back at that small town, I left them all…”
“Starlight…” Twilight tried to form a response, but ultimately fell silent.
“I don’t even have a family, not anymore. I understand your situation from my own personal experiences, Optix.
Optix gave her an expression of belief. “Y-yeah, I guess. But being able to sympathize with me won’t get shit done. We need action, and none of you know where to even start.”
“I’m sure we can find out, right?” Derpibra asked.
“The only place to start is Trottingham. That’s where I grew up with my family. But… they were separated a long time ago. Ain’t nothing left in the house…”
“We can find something. I know we can. For your sister, we will-”
“Don’t even fucking start.”
“Huh?”
“That’s what friends always say. ‘We can do this’ and ‘We can do that’. Fuck outta here.”
“You think I’m lying?”
“No, it just feels… pointless. We’re aren’t gonna find anything anyways. Shouldn’t have even bothered you all about it, come to think of it.”
“Ya’ll jus’ gonna give up on yer sis’ like that?” Applejack asked. “That ain’t like you, to give up on somethin’.”
“When I put all the ideas together, it makes no sense.” Optix said. “We know nothing, and we can’t begin to know anything.”
“Hey,” Derpibra started. “I have the Blessing of Dragons, a dragon spell that makes things happen out of coincidence for me.”
“So?”
“So, that means if, what Magnus said was true, we can just-so-happen to run across a lead to your sister. And, we aren’t inexperienced ya’ know. We fought dragons, queens wanting to take over an empire, what can’t we handle? All you need to do is have a bit of faith in you and your friends.”
“You got a point, but why trust that dragon? Weren’t we supposed to kill him?”
“Yeah, but I feel that not everything he said was false. Tell you what, if this spell doesn’t work, I owe you a drink. Deal?”
“Imma need it to drink down whatever shitty emotions I get if it doesn’t. Deal.”
The stallion and mare shook hooves.
“Cool. So are we taking the train?”
“No, we’re flying there.”
“But we don’t have tickets.”
“Don’t need ‘em. I got a small cargo plane under construction right now. I could have it ready in a few hours with some help. Twilight, Rarity, come with me. Rest of you, buzz off until we’re ready.”
The three mares were casting Welding spells towards the metal sheets to add them to the plane. Sparks of metal and magic scattered about through the air as they worked.
“So, Optix darling?” Rarity began. “How have you ever managed to build a hangar in such an… unorthodox location?”
“Me and my family used to run with a spec ops group called the EO, or Equestrain Operative. My parents were signed into the army of Equestria back in the days when there was war, and the EO didn’t like that very much.”
“Why would that be?”
“Because they love keeping their kind on a leash. They’re afraid information about them might get leaked. Can’t say they were wrong. Just look at me right now. Anyways, after my parents left, the EO wanted to cut me from my work and hold me in a contract to keep my mouth shut. But, of course, I refused.”
“Why did you refuse?”
“Because those assholes were up to something, and I wanted no part of it. I’ve been hearing so crazy shit coming from the offices, so I wasn’t trusting them. Some shit about the princess and assassinations. They knew I had sensitive information, and so they put a bounty on my head, including my parents and my younger sister, all because they knew I could share info with them.”
“Wow… how did you and your sister get separated after that?”
“We had our last stand in a townhouse in Trottingham. But, when shit started looking bad, I told her to run, and I fought them off myself, but just barely. Ain’t never seen her since. I moved out to Ponyville because there were too many eyes. I had no choice. I couldn’t search for her afterwards because they never gave me the chance to look for her. They… kept assaulting me.” Optix’ beam of magic welding the metal increased in intensity. “I will make those bastards pay!” After her spell calmed down, it left behind a patch of red on the metal, accompanied by steam.
Twilight casted a Frost spell to cool the metal. “We will bring them justice-- after we save your sister.”
“Thanks a lot.” A determined smile came to Optix’ muzzle. “I’m glad to have bastards like you for friends, especially after being alone for the past couple years.”
“It’s what we do. But, I do have to ask too-- what is your sister’s name?”
“Sniper Bullet.”
“That’s not a name you hear everyday.”
“Ain’t it?”
The beams of magic slowly disappeared, afterwards the mares marvelled at their work for the past few hours. The plane still had a rusty finish, but it appeared to be flyable at the very least.
“Looks like it’s ready to go.” Optix said.
“Wait, isn’t it general protocol to test things like this first?” Twilight asked, sounding slightly worried.
“Yeah.” Optix jumped into the pilot seat and threw on a stray flight cap. “This’ll be the test run.”
“But,” Twilight retrieved a textbook on aerodynamics from her saddlebags. “The facts here clearly state that-”
“Don’t even pull that big brain stuff on me princess.”
“Huh?”
“My weapons, vehicles, and gadgets aren’t built from raw facts-- they’re built from ambition, blood sweat n’ tears. Now, let’s fly.”
“...Point taken.” Geez, don’t let me tick her off. She seems short-tempered today. But, given the circumstances, I can understand why. She usually isn’t this bossy, thankfully.
“Ey! Stop standing around and help me move this thing!”
“Er, sorry!”
“And Rarity! Could you round up everyone and bring them to the runway?”
“But of course darling!” The white unicorn trotted out of the open hangar.
“Optix, I was wondering for a while now,” Twilight began. “Why’d you only want unicorns in here?”
“More magic, more productivity. Less ponies, less accidents. Simple. Keep everyone else that isn’t useful out, then we have more working space.”
Harsh but efficient. “I understand.”
“Good. Once Rarity gathers up everyone, we can fly this bird.”
“I still don’t understand how you can be so certain this thing will fly. Its made completely out of garbage!”
“Hey, if I can make a grenade out of a mug, tea bags, and a fork, I’m sure I can make a few metal plates fly. Ain’t that hard when you understand aerodynamics. And, I had to teach myself that.”
Twilight’s eyes widened beyond their normal cartoonish look.
“Exactly. Now, strap up.” Optix threw the alicorn a flight cap.
Twilight placed the cap firmly but comfortably on her head. “Perfect fit.”
The plane’s engine roared, the propellers spun to a blur, and the potentially unreliable scrap metal rattled. The exhaust was spewing black smoke not unlike that of a train.
Everyone within the cargo plane coughed and sputtered before the smoke began to clear up.
“Heh.” Optix chuckled. “I wonder if planes get smog checks, ‘cause this thing could use one hell of a check up. Is everyone strapped in?”
“Yeah.” Rainbow Dash answered. “But, why am I in the plane? Can’t I just fly there? I’m sure I’m faster than this thing.”
“If you wanna fly all those hours, be my guest Skittle.”
“Skittle?”
Optix tied her cracked goggles around her eyes and hit the throttle. The plane stuttered at first, but eventually began to lift off. “Hahahaha! Its alive! Its alive!! And you said it wouldn’t work!”
Twilight smirked, rolling her eyes.
The contraption rattled and sputtered in the air as it flew. In its wake was a scratchy melody from the engine’s operation.
“Its loud, but it works!”
“Optix,” Fluttershy called above the winds. “The plane is scaring me…”
“What? Speak up Flutter!”
“I said the plane is scaring me.”
“Huh!?”
“Nevermind.”
“Hey!” Twilight shouted. “Optix, what is this thing running on!? I don’t remember you putting fuel in this plane!”
“It runs off of my magic! Don’t worry, if worse comes to worst, you can power it, or maybe even Derpibra can!”
“Nice to know!”
“So we’re headed off to Trottingham right!?” Derpibra called.
“Yup! Need me to explain what we’re doing again!?”
“No, just a recap on where we’re headed, that’s all!” He poked his head out of the cockpit and his tongue began flailing about. “Woohoo!”
“Hey, get your head straight! You know how dangerous that is?”
“Danger’s my middle name!” He replied happily.
“Hey, that’s my line!” Rainbow shouted.
“Too bad, had to steal it that time!”
Well, at least the ride won’t be boring. Optix thought. Probably irritating if these bastards don’t keep quiet though.
-->><<--
The time was approaching afternoon now, and the silent city, at least when compared to Los Pegasus and Manehattan, was within sight.
Not too far now. Don’t worry sis, we’re coming.
“Oi, is that the town up ahead?” Gaffold asked.
“Yup.” Optix answered.
“Wait,” Twilight started. “Does Trottingham have runways?”
“Nope.”
The plane began to lower as the pilot went for a landing just on the outskirts of town.
“Optix! I don’t think this is legal!” Twilight’s mane flailed about as her pupils dilated.
“Hang on tight! Apparently this thing ain’t so good at landing!”
Surprisingly enough, the plane came to a (relatively) smooth landing, suffering only a few bumps and occasional scratching of the wings, but otherwise unharmed in any substantial way. The plane eventually became to rattle and sputter to a stop, and the propellers slowed from their afterimage speed to a complete halt, silencing the engine.
“Everyone still got their heads on?” Rainbow Dash asked.
The passengers all nodded and agreed in a daze. They all exited the cargo plane and marvelled at Trottingham that was just ahead of them.
Optix turned over to Twilight. “So, was that a successful flight or what?” She asked with a confident smile.
“I have to say- your ability to make piles of garbage fly is astounding, putting it lightly.”
“Thank you.” Optix feigned a blush. “Alright, now we just gotta start lookin’ for my ol’ sis. Where to start…?”
Derpibra raised his hoof. “I got an idea!”
“Alright, what’cha got?”
“I play RPG games a ton, and from what I can tell, we should head towards a tavern and ask about stuff from around town. That always worked out in Skyrim.”
“Derpi, I’m pretty sure we don’t use taverns anymore.” Twilight said.
“Then let’s try a bar. It’s the closest thing to a tavern we got.” Optix said.
“We’re going to ask drunk hooligans for precise information?” Rarity scoffed. “I’m sorry darling, but I doubt we will have any progress with that- they will hardly be sober enough to tell us their names. Trottingham is known to have some heavy drinkers…”
“Well, at least we got a place to start. I know about some shady bar of too the west of town. Called ‘Trotty’s Beer Keg’. Fools always gossiping over there.”
“Alright. And Optix, before we go…”
“Huh?”
“You sure no pony will think some random cargo plane sitting on the edge of town is suspicious?”
Maybe those damned agents will. Ain’t no better place to put it. “It’s a normal thing. Let’s just stick to alleyways and stay off the roads. Never know who could be watching.”
“Good idea. Welp, to Trotty’s we go.”
Everyone marched off to the west of town, ready to begin their search.
“This place is bigger than I thought it would be.” Derpibra was surprised at how clean the alleyways were. “And the alleys are sparkling, and spacious! I imagine that even living back here wouldn’t be so bad.”
“You wouldn’t understand.” Gaffold said. “I lived on the streets of Manehattan. They were slightly less clean, but still unenjoyable. All those rats…”
“Really? Dang, I didn’t know…”
“Don’t worry about it.” Gaffold kicked a rare out-of-place can to the side. “My past is naught. We’re making our real past right now, so let’s just focus on that.”
“Aye-aye captain.”
The alleyways were only slightly darker than the city itself, and featured small shops ranging from liquor stores and snack shops decorated with neon signs. The setup reminded Derpibra of Los Pegasus.
“Optix? Can we stop for a pack of gummy worms?” His stomach growled furiously. “I haven’t eaten since I woke up…”
“Is now really the time to be trying to snack up?”
“Please…!?”
The soldier grunted. “Fine. Just don’t take forever.”
Not a minute later, the gray stallion came back with two packs of his favorite snacks. He tore a pack open and began munching them down happily.
“You’re gonna tear up yer stomach with those those being yer first meal ya’ know.” Applejack cackled.
“That’s okay. I got plenty of applesauce to get rid of my impending stomach ache.”
The farmer blushed, feeling as if that was a sort of innuendo. Derpibra was always the one to make questionable statements...
Why is he lookin’ at me like that?
“Happy mister gummy?” Optix teased.
“Uh huh. Okay, let’s keep moving.”
Walking at a steady, observative pace, the group came to the end of the alleyway that lead onto a sidewalk. Taxi carriages roared down the street as the light for them to walk was readying itself to turn green. Across the street was the very bar the party was searching for.
Derpibra placed a hoof into the street, and a carriage rolled by, almost running him over. “Wow, busy street.”
“That’s dangerous! What did you hope to accomplish with that?” Rarity questioned.
“Relax, I’m a pegasus.” He flared his wings apart into a cascade of gray feathers, and leaped across the busy traffic. “See? Easy!”
Rainbow Dash leaped across with him, and Optix teleported with them. Twilight grunted and repeated their action, taking all but Rarity with her.
“Rarity? You rejected my magic.” Twilight said, annoyed.
“We mustn’t do things to attract attention.” Rarity replied as the light turned green and the carriages screeched to a stop. “We must cross, like regular civilians.” She maintained a certain poise as she crossed the road with a slight sway of her hips. “We must cross- like ladies. Well, except for Derpibra and Gaffold, obviously not mares.” She giggled.
“Whatever you say, miss elegance.” Rainbow snorted.
“Anyways,” Derpibra interrupted. “Is that the bar up ahead?”
“Yup.” Optix replied. “Let’s see if this idea of yours holds the water.”
As they approached the bar, it more-and-more began to look like something reminiscent of a building in Appleloosa. Western windows, an old wooden construction, and a giant frothy wood and metal mug next to the establishment’s name “Trotty’s Beer Keg”.
“Looks like my kinda place.” Applejack said.
“Want me to buy you a drink?” Derpibra offered.
“Only if they got apple cider.”
“Heh, I’ll check for ya.”
“Are you two done stroking each other?” Optix asked.
“Hehe, yeah, sorry.”
Upon entering the bar, the group took notice in the walls lined with shot glasses and the room itself furnished with wooden stools and pool tables. Dart boards were about the walls, and grizzly stallions were apparently playing some form of poker around the place.
Derpibra was the first to approach the mare working as the bartender. She had a brown coat, a blonde mane, and gray eyes. Her mane was done into a ponytail and so was her actual pony tail. She donned an apron that partially covered her beer mug cutie mark.
“Hey.” The bartender greeted. “Welcome to Trotty’s. We got a Cherry Jubilee special today. Wanna try it?”
“Nah, I don’t drink.” Derpibra sat on a sturdy wooden stool in front of his attendant. “Me and my pals came here to get some info on somepony.”
“Number one gossip space in town. What’cha need?”
Optix stepped up to the counter. “Lookin’ for a lil’ filly, nay tall and nay wide. Seen her?”
“Optix? Is that you?”
“Hell yeah, Stella Artois.”
“You used to come around so often! What happened to you for the past couple of years?”
“It’s a long story that I can’t discuss right now. We can play catchup later, but I’m looking for my sister. You seen her?”
“Sniper Bullet? Heard she’s been up to no good lately. She’s known as ‘The Vigilante’ on the streets. She usually hangs around town at this time.”
So that means she hasn’t been captured by them. Sweet! So there’s still time. “Awesome. Hey, maybe when I’m not so busy, we can grab a drink together and actually play catchup the right way, eh?”
“Yup. Well, can’t hold you here. I know you got things to do. Catch you later?”
“Yeah.”
Right before the group left the door, Derpibra trotted back in and asked Stella, “Hey, got any Apple Cider?”
“Yes. But I thought you said you don’t drink.”
“Yes, but the lady does.” He pointed to Applejack, cocking a brow with a small smile.
“Ah, I see. One cup comin’ up. That’ll be ten bits.”
“Hardly a dent in the bank. Here ya go.”
Stella retreated to the back room to prepare his order.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Applejack blushed.
“You only deserve the best.” He leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, but a mug shattered into the back of his head.
“Disgusting! Take that nonsense somewhere else! Filth…” A voice sounded from just down the counter.
“Ow ow ow ow! Hey pal, what was that for…!?”
At the end of the table was a turquoise earth-pony stallion with the most ridiculous sky-blue mane style. It was spiky on one side, smooth on the other. The rest of it on the backside seemed like Mane-iac’s hairstyle, just not as long. He had ice gray eyes and a shattered ice heart as a cutie mark.
“You’re a fool…”
Derpibra got up and galloped to him. “Why’d you throw that at me?”
“No one wants to see that despicable behavior here. Can’t a stallion go out of his house without seeing such things?”
“What? Me treating my mare nicely?”
The crowd of ponies began gathering around the two stallions.
“Mares don’t deserve kindness! She will shatter you like the rest of them!”
“Don’t say that about AJ!” Derpibra went for a punch, but the mysteriously aggressive stallion caught it.
“W-what…?”
“Don’t you dare think you can harm the great Ice Breaker!”
“What’s going on out here!?” Stella came rushing out with Derpibra’s order.
“Stop this, right now!” Twilight demanded.
Ice Breaker launched a gust of chilling wind into Derpibra, sending him flying into another table. Mugs and hard liquor flew about the room and shattered. “Gah! Gr… you’re a tough cookie. Alright, let’s have some fun.” The lazy-eyed stallion transformed into a Super Saiyan and stood tall.
“So, you turned into a purple maned stallion.” Ice Breaker laughed. “Hahaha! I don’t know what this change is supposed to bring.
“Don’t underestimate a Super Saiyan!” He dashed forward and grabbed his opponent, and smashed him into a nearby stool.
“Hmph, maybe you aren’t as useless as I thought.” On his forehooves, he thrusted upwards with his haunches and launched Derpibra into a ceiling fan.
The gray stallion crashed onto the floor and the fan crashed onto his head. Tiny shards of light bulbs scattered about the floor. Hey got up, giggling silently. “You aren’t bad. But I’m only just getting started!” He bulked up his muscles, transforming into his favorite form, Super Derpibra. Then, he began to charge charge straight for Ice Breaker, but before he could, Applejack dashed in front of him.
“Stop! Both of ya!”
He came to an abrupt stop and relaxed himself. “Applejack, he said you didn’t need respect.”
“That’s his opinion. Now, can we not tear up the joint? We’re on a mission here.”
He grunted. “Okay, okay.” He sized down and his mane faded from purple back to red. He looked at Stella sheepishly. “Hehe… sorry about the mess.”
Twilight casted Levitation and fixed whatever was repairable.
“It’s fine. Honestly, a lot of fights like that happen. And, at least someone bothered to clean it up. But hey, that was some crazy moves you both had there. I swear, ponies get weirder everyday…”
“It’ll probably get worse honestly. I’ve been experiencing the same thing lately.” He turned his attention to Ice Breaker. “Hey… sorry for the, erm, little skirmish we had there.”
“Hmph.”
“You’re a lot stronger than you look.”
“If not stronger.” Twilight added. “Where did you get that strength from? You are just an earth pony, right?”
“Don’t inquire about my powers. They are of none of your concern.”
The alicorn gasped.
“Hmph. What does it matter to you anyway?”
“I was just interested in that peculiar strength you have.”
“Sure. You’re likely just feigning interest. I’m not accepting it, not one bit.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Nice fight.” Derpibra butted in. “You had me going there. Hey, um… I gotta ask…”
“What is it?”
“Why do you hate mares so much?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
Derpibra sighed. “Fine, fine. So, do you hang around here often?”
“No. I spend most of my time in my home.”
“Doing what?”
“None of your business. Stop asking me mundane questions.”
“Hold up- got one more for you.”
Ice Breaker gave a disgruntled sigh. “What?”
“Do you know anything about ‘The Vigilante’?”
“She frequents this district on Sundays. Usually spray-painting walls or doing other idiotic activities. No one knows her by her real name.”
“Maybe you would like to help us search for her? She’s believed to be related to Optix here.”
“And why in blazes would I waste my time assisting any of you?”
“Because you’re a nice stallion that would help somepony find their sister, I hope?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He scoffed. “I am considerate to no one.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t mind helping the Princess of Friendship?” Twilight inquired.
“Yes, I do mind. I do not care for whether or not you are a princess. Give me one reason why I should even lift a hoof in your favor.”
“Well, you are an earth pony that can cast magic. Derpibra is just like you, except he’s a pegasus. In Ponyville, we live in a palace that has an extensive library for research notes and other documents that me and other ponies have been constructing on this topic. Maybe you’d find that interesting? At least, if you decide to come with us to Ponyville.”
Ice Breaker meditated on the idea for a brief moment, weighing the cons and pros. “...Fine. I will assist you, but if you all prove to be useless to me, I will be quite upset- more than usual. And, I’m not helping you because I’m nice, it’s because I’m getting something out of this.”
“You won’t be disappointed. I’m glad you accepted us.”
“Tsk.”
Derpibra retrieved his order for Applejack’s Apple Cider and ran his hoof through her mane. He had to show some level of restraint around Ice Breaker, or else another fight might occur.
Such an unorthodox fashion to earn a new (perhaps temporary) ally. Rarity thought. Who knows what mystical energy this earth pony holds for us. Not to mention I’m also slightly scared of him too, considering he hates mares. And of course, he’s been invited into a group full of them except for two. I hope he doesn’t do anything crazy. Derpibra, you find the strangest ways to befriend individuals, do you not?
Down the street sounded an increasingly audible ambience of what would be considered an engine roaring, followed by the clopping of hooves and wooden wheels with sirens.
“Wait a second…” Optix burst through the door of the bar to momentarily witness a beater pickup zoom by in a afterimage flash, followed by carriages with sirens filling the otherwise soft atmosphere with obnoxious noises. “That truck looks familiar!” She sprinted down the street and took off around the corner.
“Optix! Wait up!” Derpibra surged his magic and dashed in pursuit. Everyone followed, with Ice Breaker being the last to catch up.
Optix being the farthest ahead, she engulfed herself in a magical aura and soared even faster towards the truck that was speeding at an alarming rate.
The filly looked back and pulled out what seemed to be a type of submachine gun, but hesitated to fire as she recognized who she was. Lowering her weapon, she pushed the truck to full throttle. The chase was approaching an intersection, but three of the four roads were under maintenance- the only road open being the one on the right.
She used the E-brake after slowing down to drift around the corner. The tires screeched wildly as the rear of her pickup slid out into a wider turn. When she dominated the corner, she straightened out her vehicle and went full throttle once more.
Woah, when did she learn to drive like that? Optix thought, smiling. Heh, she was always a hard prey to catch. Man, playing tag with her was hell.
Continuing her pursuit, she noticed the vehicle slowing down until it took a left on a two-way street. Then, in a matter of seconds, it pulled into a run-down garage.
Optix landed in front of a security door guarding a dark wooden door in its wake. She opened the entrance and walked inside, and shortly after everyone managed to catch up and follow her inside.
The door locked behind them, and a short shadowy figure came to light. The only flickering light bulb in the garage beaming into the center of the space, giving the entire circumstance a more dramatic feel.
“Is that you?” The figure sounded, with a comforting light voice. “Sister?” She removed her tattered hood from her head to reveal a filly that was almost a carbon copy of Optix, except she had a large scar across the bottom of her left eye, and a much, much longer mane. Her cutie mark seemed similar in context to Optix’ mark as well, but it was a cog instead of a wrench.
“Hey you little squirt.” Optix pulled her younger sister into a warming embrace. “It’s been a couple years now. You nine yet?”
“Yep. Good to see you back big sis.”
Everyone cooed over the lovely reuniting sight, except for Ice Breaker, of course.
“You really need to cut that mane down. Its way too long.”
“You’re crazy. I love my hair. Yours isn’t exactly short either.”
“Its manageable though.”
“So is mines. So, are these ponies you friends?”
“Yup. That’s Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship.”
“Hey there.”
“And that’s Fluttershy.” Optix leaned into Sniper’s ear. “Be careful around her, she gets scared easily.”
“That’s Gaffold. He doesn’t talk much compared to us.”
“Hey.”
“That’s our mascot, Derpibra.”
“Wait, Mascot?”
“He’s a little funny looking.” Sniper said.
“It’s his specialty.”
“Hey!”
“And that’s Ice Breaker. Uhm, be careful ‘round him, he’s the strong silent type, and he’s a bit grumpy today.”
Ice Breaker remained silent, choosing to respond with a slight frown.
“And yeah, that’s the group for ya.”
“Well, if you didn’t know already, I’m Sniper Bullet. And well, damn, I didn’t think you would get a Princess to look for me. How’d you meet these guys anyway?”
“It was a bit of a coincidence.” She winked at Derpibra. “It’s one hell of a story. I’ll tell you about it later. So, how’d you come about being a Vigilante?”
“To be honest with you, I just started doing stuff. When you left, I vented my anger by doing random stuff around town that started pissing everyone off, then I started realizing it was pretty fun. The cops don’t really like me though, especially since they got nothing on me. Ha!”
“Wow, you’re a little troublemaker aren’t ya?”
“You’re proud of that?” Derpibra asked. “Kinda weird ya know.”
“It runs in the family. My parents weren’t angels either.”
“I would say that’s not very believable, but…”
“It is believable, isn’t it?”
“Y-yeah, I guess. Hey, Bullet?”
The filly was digging into the hood of her pickup. “Yup?”
“What’s with the truck?”
“It’s Optix’ ride that she was forced to leave behind when she left Trottingham. At the time it wasn’t finished, so I fixed it up.”
“You kept it… for all these years?” Optix asked. “How did you manage to not get caught up with the EO agents driving that thing around?”
“They couldn’t catch me. Hehe, this thing is too much. You left it at our parents’ place, by the way.”
“Thanks for keeping it.”
“Anything for my big sis.”
“So,” Derpibra started. “What exactly is this pickup? It reminds me of a Ram.”
“It is. A 2008 Ram 1500, extended cab running a v6 3.7 liter displacement engine with a single turbo, 6 speed manual transmission with a Rear Wheel Drive drivetrain. Oh Celestia this thing is sexy, both in and out.”
“You said all of that off the top of your head?”
“Yep, pretty easy.”
“Does anyone have any idea what she just said?” Rainbow Dash whispered in Twilight’s ear.
“Among all the things I study, cars happen to be something I don’t look into very often, especially since they aren’t very mainstream in Equestria.”
“Dang. She’s speaking a whole ‘nother language. I was hoping you could translate?”
“Sorry Rainbow, I don’t know everything.”
“Alright,” Optix began. “Thank you all for helping me find my sis. Honestly, that was easier than I thought. But now we gotta find out where my parents are. Bullet, fire up the car.”
“Rodger.”
“Are we going to your parents’ place first?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Uh huh. They left some stuff back there that we can use. They told me not to try and find them until I needed to. Now’s the time.”
The truck roared as the engine kicked to life.
“And, there’s plenty of things there that I can use to tell a story about my ol’ self. I bet that’s what you all are interested in too, eh?”
Everyone nodded.
“Wait,” Twilight began, fitting herself into one of the seats. “Isn’t the police outside?”
“Nah. They probably called off the investigation by now. But, I guess we should stick around for a few hours ‘till they’re gone.”
“Agreed. It seems too risky going out right now.”
“Yeah. Alright everyone, we’re camping here for maybe two hours before we head out. Cops should be gone by then.”
Everypony was sitting patiently within the messy garage, waiting for the two hour mark. So far, only a single hour passed, and sounds of sirens and chatting police still sounded from outside.
“There’s still police outside darling.” Rarity said, disappointed in her tone.
“Wow.” Optix said. “They’re sticking around for a bit too long. You’d think they would thin out by now.” She flipped and tossed a wrench in one of her forehooves to keep her mind busy.
“Yeah, it sucks.” Sniper sighed. “And I can’t even work on the truck or else I’ll be making too much noise. Great. Silent, and bored. You know, that doesn’t sit very well with me.”
“I know. We got another hour, so I’m sure we can tough it out.”
“Hey Bullet?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Mm?”
“Is this your garage? Or did you just randomly park in here?”
“Nope, it’s mines. I claimed this empty place just after Optix left. I needed a hideout and a place to repair and upgrade my weapons and tune vehicles. Cops still never found it yet, and it’s right under their muzzles! Heh, idiots.”
“What did you do to get the cops all riled up?”
“Spray-painting walls, the occasional stickup…”
“You stickup stores?” Fluttershy asked in her low tone. “That’s not very nice…”
“Hey, when you’re underaged and can’t get a damn job or own property, you gotta find a way to eat somehow. I ain’t proud of it to be honest, but I didn’t hurt anybody at all, so at least give me credit for that. I only want to kill if they deserve it, and I’m glad I haven’t found anyone like that yet. Nobody deserved what I did so far, but I guess I keep doing it because of the adrenaline rush? It is kinda fun, honestly.”
“Well, at least you regret something. You usually don’t.” Optix responded sarcastically. “When you do something, it’s a done deal.”
“Yeah, the spray painting and stuff like that. I regret the robberies I had to do. The toilet paper tossing is the fun part.”
“Our parents would be kinda mad with you. They aren’t straight-up troublemakers. They just did things they weren’t proud of ‘cause they had to. And you being proud of TP’ing pony’s houses and other buildings? Oh boy, what would they say…”
“‘Bullet!” Sniper put on her best mocking voice. “‘Go to your room! You lose your toolbox for a week!’ Or something like that. Ah, those were the days. With them being gone, being sent to my room by them seems like a better way to spend time than now…” Her expression softened, looking rather depressed now. “But-but then… it happened.”
“There was no other way for you to escape without me staying behind.”
“No, not that. It was after you left. About a month later.”
“What was it?”
Sniper squinted her eyes to hold back tears, and was only partially successful. “...No, nevermind. I’ll tell you once we go to the house.”
“Hey, I’m your big sis. You can trust me and my friends here.”
“I-I know. I just need some time to figure out how to explain it.”
“It’s cool.” Optix held her sister tightly. “If it’s that bad, you don’t have to tell me right away.”
Tears finally began to run down Sniper’s cheeks as her breathing slightly upped in pace. She struggled to keep herself from completely letting herself cry, as she had adopted the same ‘Tough Mare’ complex from her sister, but deep down she was still a filly.
Her voice finally sounded, vibrating Optix’ chest as she cried nigh uncontrollably.
“I missed you so much Optix. I miss our Mom and Dad too…”
“We’ll find them. They can’t be outside of Equestria, right?”
“No!” Sniper retorted. “We won’t find them… ever. They couldn’t have just disappeared, not for all these years and not come back! You’ll understand why…”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“You will see… Derpi, check to see if they cops are gone yet.”
The gray striped stallion rushed over to a stained yellow window and peered through it. “I don’t hear, or see anything. I guess they left earlier than expected.”
“Alright, we’re going. Get in, all of you. We don’t have time to waste.”
Everyone did as instructed, and Sniper sat in the driver’s seat. She fired up the engine once more, and opened the garage door with a remote. Pulling out, she clicked the remote again, shutting the rusted sheet of metal used as an entrance. The tired went into a burnout as she floored it. With a flash of Optix’ magic, the pickup went from its rusted finish to a dark gray, and the licence plate changed from ‘OPTIX’ to ‘SNIP3R”.
“That should keep ‘em from immediately recognizing us. But then again, we are the only ones in town that drives an actual car.” Optix said, slightly annoyed.
“It doesn’t matter.” Sniper responded sharply. I don’t care about those cops anymore.”
After which, the group stayed silent for the rest of the trip to the house, located just further west of town.
The vehicle grumbled to a stop right in the driveway of a home that seemed to be larger than every other home surrounding it. In fact, the only buildings that were any larger were the occasional skyscrapers piercing the still bright blue sky. Even though the sun still hung high, there was an almost eerie sense of emptiness surrounding the once occupied home-- the feeling was pronounced more than normal in the most unusual sense.
The home itself has been deserted-- lacking maintenance for years. The wooden finish of the home was beginning to rot, and just from the outside one could tell (And smell) that the property was vacant, and likely experiencing a bit more than just rotting floorboards. But, concerning how Optix and her sister, including what one may be able to assume about their family, perhaps this was normal for them?
“Is it?” Derpibra asked. He stepped out of the pickup with his wings flared, giving them a stretch.
“Kind of,” Optix responded as she exited the vehicle. “but even my parents had a bit of respect for their garbage house. It never got this bad before.”
“So, they had clean garbage? What…?”
Optix signed. “If that’s what you wanna call it.”
“So, this is the establishment?” Asked Gaffold. “Looks charming.”
“It isn’t the prettiest, but it’s one helluva house from the inside.” The military mare walked slowly up to the door, being quite observative of the exterior of the building. The home brought with its surprisingly bearable stench a strong intertwined scent of nostalgia to her as well. “Ah shit, it’s been two years, probably more since I been here. Feels good to be back home.” Once the door was before her, she crouched down and searched through the welcome mat. She found nothing. “There it is.”
“Where what is?” Asked Derpibra. “There’s nothing there.”
“Or so you think.” She pushed down on a concrete rectangle that was part of the pattern for the walkway up to the door, making it invisible. The front door slid open, revealing a mechanical door with rusted gears on its face. The cogs struggled to move, merely locking back into place with each attempted movement, but after some seconds they began to spin, and the metal safe-door grinded open.
“Talk about home security.” Twilight peered into the mechanical workings of the block of metal serving as a door. “I never seen such an… extreme safety measure before, if it wasn’t for a bank.”
“Gotta be prepared for anything Twi.” She motioned for everypony to follow inside. The doors closed behind them, and the nostalgic musk for Optix and Sniper Bullet and the not-so-nostalgic plain stench became ever stronger for everyone inside. “You know, this place actually used to be a townhouse, but my parents became known for building and fixing things, so after a while, I’d say, one year, that they completely purchased this place.”
“You mean, they didn’t build it themselves?” Gaffold cackled. “Doesn’t seem like your parents to purchase property. I wagered you all were the do-it-yourself types.”
“They are, but me and Bullet took it to heart. Sometimes we buy parts to things to build it ourselves, but most of the time we just find the parts instead.”
“Interesting. By the way, out of interest… what was the first thing you’ve ever built?”
“I’d be happy to show you. I built this one before Bullet was even born.” Optix trotted up to a nearby door that appeared to lead to a bedroom. She opened the door and took in her old room smell. Compared to the rest of the home, this room seemed to be the most well-kept of the spaces introduced so far. The walls were painted a faded gray color with a single window parallel to the door. There was a single dresser, a single bed with gold-plaid covers flanked by a lamp. There was also one closet door, presumably where she may have hidden her gadgets.
“I didn’t have the chance to grab all my stuff from here before I was practically kicked out of Trottingham. Bullet, did you keep all my junk here?”
“Yeah. I knew you cared about all your things, so I lived here on my own just so I can watch over everything.”
“Damn, you’re the best sister a mare could have. But what’s with the garage across town though? Isn’t it a bit far?”
“Yeah, but it never hurts to have multiple bases in one area, does it?”
Optix smiled brightly. “And you took my tactical training seriously too? Well I be. I never thought you would actually hold down multiple bases at once.”
“It isn’t that hard when no one can track you. You can move anywhere you want if that’s the case.”
Optix swung the creaky closet door open to be gifted the sight of her closest possessions. It almost brought a tear to her eye. “I forgot I even had half of these things.” She pulled out a hatchet that had batteries and wires, duct tape and such strapped to it. “When the hell did I ever make this thing? Is it some kind of electric axe?” She flipped the switch on the end of the haft and the modified weapon sparked to life. “You know, now it’s starting to come back to me… this is my Tactical Combat Axe.”
“What’s tactical about having an axe that shocks the mess out of you?” Derpibra asked.
“It neutralizes the target, and doesn’t leave much of a mess behind.”
He gulped.
She replaced the axe in her saddlebag. “Not what I was looking for though. It was… this!” She retrieved a pistol that seemed very primitive in design, bearing about the same modifications as the axe. “It’s a laser pistol. Well, sort of. A few mods to the receiver using battery packs, wires, and some magnets and oh boy does this thing pack a punch. It super charges the bullets instead of making actual lasers, more or less.”
“That was the first weapon you made?” Gaffold inquired.
“Yeah, but it’s really old. Prolly won’t work too well without some heavy maintenance.”
“Sis?” Sniper called. “We aren’t here to show off your fancy gadgets. What about the stuff Mom and Dad left behind?”
“Oh, right. What the?”
“Huh?”
“Look at this thing!” She pulled out a flashlight. “I’m sorry, but this is too good to pass up.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s a lightsaber!” With a flip of the switch, a green beam erected from the flashlight, and made a familiar whirring noise as she swung it around.
“How did you make that?” Gaffold asked.
“Easy. Just need a flashlight and a hoof-ful of diamonds.”
“How would that even work?”
“Honestly, I forgot how I made this thing function. Crazy shit though right?”
“Optix…” Sniper growled.
“Okay, okay. Just trying to lighten up the bad mood you got there. Alright, ‘nuff foaling around. To the basement!”
The group exited the bedroom, Optix shutting the door behind them. They ventured down the hallway, observing the walls as they spotted holes and tears in the faded tan wallpaper.
A roach was visible crawling up the wall next to a window at the end of the path. Derpibra shrieked.
“Ah! Ugh! Kill it!”
“No…” Fluttershy spoke timidly. “Leave it alone.”
“Don’t you see how big that thing is!?”
“Quite the ugly creature that thing is.” Gaffold said.
The roach disappeared within a hole in the ceiling.
Derpibra dashed and hid behind Fluttershy. He fearfully poked his head above her back with wide eyes. “Flutters, if you see more of those big things, please do that thing where you talk to them and tell them to go away…?”
Applejack cackled. “Ah, quit ya worrying’ Derpi. It won’t harm ya.”
“Hey, I know I’m kinda strong, but I can’t handle stuff like that. They have too many legs for my taste. No. Thank. You.”
“Dragons, but not roaches? Am I the only one that thinks that’s a ‘lil weird?”
“Hey, dragons are cool okay? They actually look nice, and friendly sorta.”
“Can we move on?” Sniper said.
“Yes. Let us not stray for too long.” Gaffold advised.
Just outside the window appeared a pigeon with orange tail feathers and a rough hair style. It roosted on the windowsill and appeared to be staring right at Derpibra.
“Hey, it’s Pidgy!” He opened window and the animal landed on his back. Closing the window, he then gave the bird a light pat. “When did you get here?”
She stared at him blankly.
“No answer? Okay. Uhm, let’s move on, shall we?”
Taking a right, the group stopped at a cracked wooden door. Optix twisted the knob and the gateway creaked open, seemingly loose on its hinges, revealing an egress cloaked in darkness. What could be made out was that there was a staircase leading down, but more than half of it disappeared under the dark.
Twilight casted Illumination, pushing back the dark. At the bottom of the flight of steps was yet another door, this one being made of metal, and chained.
They trotted down the narrow staircase in single file, with Optix being the first to reach the entryway.
“That’s quite the edgy door.” Derpibra said.
“You gotta make sure everything is safe. And besides, our parents wouldn’t leave anything behind for us without locking it up tight.” She placed her hoof onto a screen pad, made to recognize and register hoofprints. The aged gateway responded with a swift snap of a tumbler, and it opened with minimal difficulty. This door revealed a dark room that had a faint smell of mold, and brought with it an unnatural chill.
“Why must every part of this townhouse be so dank?” Gaffold questioned. “I’ve seen a number of things in my time, but this seems… odd.”
“Chillax Goldie.” Optix said. “Our basement was always like this from what I can remember. Just watch your step, dunno what could be down here. Rats, roaches…”
Derpibra hid behind Applejack.
The farmer pony chuckled. “Don’t get so jumpy Derpi. Alright, let’s see what down here.”
“Can’t you make that spell brighter?” Gaffold questioned Twilight. “Seems this cellar is larger than expected.”
“On it.” The spell shined even brighter, covering every corner of the room. “Optix, isn’t there any light switches in here? I don’t exactly want to use up all my magic. You did say we never know what we may find down here.”
“Nope, lights are shot. Don’t worry, I don’t think we’ll be here too long.”
“I hope so. I don’t know if you knew this, but horns actually do get rather hot under continuous spell casting after a while.”
“After you welded that plate onto my plane?”
“I said after a while. Horns are built to resist that type of magic, but they aren’t immune.”
“Tell me again why we’re down here…” Ice Breaker said.
“Hey, you finally speak!” Derpibra cheered.
“Quiet you. Hey, child, what are we looking for?”
“It’s Sniper Bullet, adult.” She retorted.
“Hmph. Can’t believe I allowed myself to be convinced by that purple alicorn to come here.” He grumbled. “That library better be useful or else…”
Optix stumbled over something black and furry. She looked down only to see it was a rat that obstructed her hoof.
“Gah!” Derpibra jumped back.
“Aw, isn’t he cute?” Fluttershy scratched the rat’s chin.
“Are you mad!?”
The rat scurried off into a hole in the wall, squeaking and chirping until its voice faded away into a faint echo, eventually disappearing.
Observing what could be seen under the influence of Twilight’s magic, Optix observed the room in an indolent manner, taking into account any signs of what the group came for. “Bullet, you have any idea where the stuff our parents left behind is down here? You were here for the past couple years right?”
“Mostly on the run from guards and those agents. But yeah, I was here whenever I had the chance.” She pointed to her left, to a rotting drawer. “The stuff is over there.”
“Good looking squirt.” Optix trotted through the inconspicuous puddles and layers of dirt as she made her way to the drawer in question. Just before the wooden structure, it bore with it a smell not too far off from the rest of the surrounding room. “Nostalgia never smelled so great.”
“You have a weird taste for smells.” Derpibra said.
“That’s because you never lived in garbage like I do.”
“Yeah, but even then, this place smells kinda rancid.”
“You’re surprised?” With a straight hoof, Optix chanced the furniture, but it wouldn’t budge. “Let me guess: It’s locked.” She looked sidelong from it, and discovered a highly mechanical lock. “Yup. Bullet, got a key?”
The filly scratched the back of her head. “Eh… no.”
“Well I be damned. Alright, scatter. We gotta find that thing.” She observed the lock. It was a mass of cogs and chains, with only a single hole, presumably for a key. “Shit. I ain’t never seen this lock before. When did this even get here?”
Sniper Bullet was rummaging through a pile of slightly moist cardboard boxes within the corner of the basement. “I dunno. I don’t remember it being there before.”
“That’s weird. Hey, Twi!”
“Yes?”
“See if you can crack that lock. I know for sure I can’t snap that thing even if I try.”
“On it.”
“Derpi!” Optix called.
“Yeah?”
“You and everyone else look through the containers in here. Bound to be something in here somewhere.”
“Yeah. I’ll look around.”
Everyone scattered about, searching under tables and crates.
Alright, let’s get to work. He thought, before cracking his hooves and taking his corner.
Derpibra found a desk that appeared to bear cabinets. With only a slight hesitation of his hoof, he pulled the door open. To his relief, nothing was inside-- nothing alive at least. He reached inside and pulled out a badge that held Optix’ picture. The badge itself has long since dulled, but the photo seemed relatively okay in comparison.
He observed the once mighty medallion, on its face bearing the military mare’s name.
Hm… looks like some kind of service badge. Has the abbreviation “EO” on it. Wait, but isn’t Optix against the EO?
“Optix?”
“Yeah? Find anything?”
“Some kinda badge. Look.” He flashed it in her direction.
“That’s my service badge for the EO. I used to work for them, but they did some shit that they’ll regret. That’s why I left-- I left because I feel they had something to do with my parent’s disappearance.”
Interesting. Maybe I should hold on to this thing. Might look nice on my wall. He deposited the badge in the saddlebag that Twilight gave him on his first visit to Ponyville.
Looking off to his right, he spotted Rainbow Dash checking some of the higher shelves in the room.
“Hey Derpi? Come help me check these crates out.” The Rainbow mare requested.
“Sure.” His wings carried him to the higher shelves. He had a selection of about five battered crates to search through. He randomly chose the one to the farthest left, and began his search.
He opened the wooden flap, revealing a stock of dusty piles of styrofoam. He tossed the foams over his shoulders as the pile began to recede down the box. Once the floor of the container became visible, a strange object was found within.
A cylinder of glass, with two caps of metal on either side, outfitted with wires at its center.
“Optix, what’s this thing?”
She squinted her eyes. “Eh… never seen that thing before. Probably a contraption that my parents built ages ago. Twi, big brain? You know what that is?”
“Let me see…”
Derpibra used his magic to levitate the strange object over to Twilight.
“Hmm… Optix, no way…!”
“What?”
“This is a flux capacitor! These are extremely rare in Equestria! These are the types of things you see in Sci-fi movies.”
“Isn’t that what ponies use to warp to different planets?” Derpibra asked.
“Yes! Or… at least it is a component of a warp drive. How did you know?”
“There’s this video game I play called Destiny that has that sort of thing. I’ll tell you all about it when everyone is not so tense.”
“I would be interested to. But yes, assuming it works, we might be able to make Equestria’s first Jumpship!”
Optix snorted. “Maybe. But let’s focus on what we need to-”
“FOUND IT!” Shouted Pinkie Pie.
“You found the key?”
“Yuparooni!”
Twilight deposited the strange device in her bag. “Good job Pinkie. Let’s try the key then.”
The party pony slipped the key in and the rotating cogs began to turn clockwise, then locked in place. The chains fell to the floor with a heavy thump, kicking up dust.
“Alright, let’s see what’s in this thing.” Optix pulled out the wooden platform, revealing a document protected by a case. She carefully lifted the glass away, leaving the bare paper exposed. She picked it up, and her eyes ran across its face. Her eyes grew wider with every word she read.
“Our dearest daughters…
They know of our invention, something to further Equestria. The ability to travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Something that I, your father, have been working on since I was in grade school. The Optix Special Grade Flux Bullet Drive, or the OSGFBD-1.0. Your mother always thought I was crazy for attempting something for so long, and often times saw me becoming stressed with the project, just as often suggesting I should stop. But I remained adamant. Now, it is mostly complete. But it is only part of the puzzle. Optix, as your father, Calibre, I relinquish to you the rights of my drive. Finish it. Be the first to bring Equestria to space.”
“That’s what that thing was. A long finished piece to the puzzle that my father wanted to complete. Damn… but why me? I don’t know much about quantum physics or whatever it’s called. I only know enough to make lasers fly out of things.” Optix felt a hoof rest on her shoulder. She turned to see that it was Twilight’s.
“That’s why you have friends. We can help you finish what your father couldn’t.”
“Thanks Big Brain. But one thing isn’t right though.”
“Hm?”
“The letter doesn’t explain what happened to him or mother.”
“Did you check the back?”
She glanced the back end of the page, but found nothing but white. “We spent all this damn time cracking this shit open… did any of you find any other documents?”
Everyone shook their heads except for Ice Breaker.
“Hold up. I haven’t seen you do a damn thing since you been here.”
“I helped you find your sister. That is what I agreed to. I am not at all obligated to help you find your parents. That is your affair, not mines.”
“You really are a heartless bastard. Only reason your ass helped me find my sis is because Twilight offered you a place in her library.”
“You’re not entirely deficient.” He scoffed. “You have a brain under all of that cavlar you’re wearing.”
“You better watch yourself when you sleep.”
“FOUND IT!”
“Pinkie, this place echoes. Stop screaming please?” Rarity noted.
“Whoopsie. Anyhow, I found a one of those other papers!”
Optix gave her a strange look. “Where did you find that?”
“Under the bookcase!”
“But how did you lift that…? Ah, nevermind. What does it say?”
“Me and your mother, Scopera… they found us. Locked in the basement, no way out. We will fight with our last bits of strength. We type this with our old typewriter…
We don’t know what they’ll do to us now that we gunned down so many of their stallions and mares. But it’s like we are an army of two, against millions. We won’t survive. They will take us.
We love you Optix. Promise us one thing, one final time: take care of your younger s”
The rest of the letter was stained by aged blood.
“The letter stopped there.” Pinkie said depressingly. “I-I’m sorry…”
“There’s no way… they didn’t… it can’t…!” Optix began to have trouble breathing. She unhooked herself from her wheelchair and fell to her forehooves. She took out her light machine gun and used it to crawl.
“What are you doing?” Derpibra asked with a worried tone.
“This. Will. Not. Go. ON! I will murder them all! They killed them, they took them! They left two little girls as orphans! Sons of bitches!”
“Don’t go out there like that! Your hooves still haven’t recovered from Dragon Isle!”
“I don’t give a fuck! I will kill them all, with, or without you!”
Derpibra went to pick her up, but she shoved him back with her magic.
“You. Assholes! I won’t have this… none of it! You all will die!”
“Optix… stop.” Fluttershy reached out to the crippled mare, but she was met at gunpoint.
“Come any closer, and the Harmony you all share will be discord.”
Fluttershy, tears in her eyes, stepped down, allowing the mare to crawl through the door and out to the truck. She fired up the engine and roared down the road, leaving the group stranded.
“Should we go after her?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yes!” Twilight said. “We need to stop her before she does something that might get her killed!”
An office structure, branded with the logo of an arrowhead, the Equestrian Operative building, rested in the center of Trottingham, made almost entirely of glass.
Just down the road, the pickup roared as it approached ever closer to the headquarters of the dastardly group. A parking lot featured to its right, she pulled in and stopped with a screech of her tires. She opened the car door and flashed her horn with a devil’s grin, causing her to levitate just above the ground as she stepped out. Retrieving her machine gun, she chambered the first bullet and threw on her helmet.
I’ll make them pay… they will pay! I didn’t think they’d be a match for my parents… but what does it matter now? They won’t be able to match me!
She was out for blood.
Optix, with a smug look, made her way to the front of the building with her weapon in hoof. The glass swivel doors were guarded by two stallions clad in black formal suits reinforced by kevlar pads.
“Halt.” The guard warned. “All weapons must be checked and relinquished to the custody of the Equestrian Operative while visiting.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You do know who I am right…?”
“...? No.”
“I’m Optix, the Death Bringer.”
“Wait… that name… you used to work with us! You have quite the bounty…”
“Yeah, and I will claim yours.” She brought the gun barrel to his lower jaw and pulled the trigger. A cascade of red fell across her face, the smell, the taste of her vengeance beginning to take root… “Your life was the price.”
The guard to the right of the glass door drawn her pistol, but just before she could manage a shot, she already had a bullet between her eyes. Her now lifeless body collapsed onto the cold, dense concrete with a stream of red to follow.
Optix’ cachinnations were loud and maniacal, the smell of her claimed prey drove her sense of revenge to an all-time high. She charged into the building, with muzzle flashes and the sounds of bullet casing hitting the floor to follow.
“Optix!” Derpibra and the pursuing party shouted towards the aggressor, but she didn’t even acknowledge them. They landed from their flight just on the threshold of the glass building now riddled with bullets. The group of ponies looked around with a sense of dread, seeing just how the chaos began.
“We ‘ave to stop her!” Applejack said. “No tellin’ what she’ll do if we don’t!”
“You’re right AJ,” Derpibra agreed. “But what’s gotten into her? Bullet, you said she had an anger issue?”
“Yeah, but she never acted out this badly before. Not to mention that I don’t even remember her ever having this much power before. But we can’t linger around forever. What should we do Derpi? Are we going in with you?”
“No. Stay out here and help the citizens move along. I’ll stop her myself, if I can.”
“Okay, but, don’t kill her, please. She’s gonna be tough to beat into submission, but please try.”
“I couldn’t stomach killing her even if I tried. Don’t worry, I’ll do whatever I can. Just clear out anyone from the street. This is going to get pretty crazy.”
Derpibra rushed into the declining building, and found himself in the lobby. Blood stained the walls, and injured or even dead ponies littered the once-sparkling tile floors. Bulletholes decorated the walls, and fires burned away at the structure. “Celestia… how much damage can one mare do?” He muttered.
“Help… me…”
“Hm?” He looked down to see a mare caught under some rubble and burning wood. “Hold on, i’ll get you out!”
“Please! I’m being crushed…”
He ran to her side, spotting a large wooden beam and tiles piled onto her. Since the beam was the closest to the top, he lifted that off and continued down to the rubble. After the tiles and sediments were removed, he propped her over his shoulder. “Can you walk?”
“My legs are sore, but I’m alright.”
“What happened in here? Did anyone else survive?”
“No, she gunned them all down, all the agents. The innocents in here were spared, but was hurt from the aftermath. Most of us made it out, but who knows what’s going on now.”
“Where did she go? Did you see her?”
The mare coughed violently from the smoke. “She went upstairs… that’s all I know.”
“Thanks. I’ll put an end to this. Just get out of here before this place crumbles.”
“What about you?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make it out.”
“Celestia bless you!” The mare trotted out from the door.
Upstairs… alright. Let’s go.
He made his way down the sultry hallway until he reached an elevator shaft, with it’s doors wide open. He poked his head through and looked upwards, seeing that the final floor wasn’t too far above. Right when he was ready to take flight, he heard a terrible metallic screech, signalling that an elevator was flying straight down. He yanked his head back, and only the afterimage of the contraption came to before a deafening crash was heard from below. That was too close.
He flared his magic then soared through the shaft before reaching the highest floor. He landed in a private office on level seven that had a clear overlook of Trottingham. The office seemed to bear a former look of luxury before Optix found her way to it.
The mare in question held a stallion by an enchanted hoof, and he struggled helplessly. She held her bloodstained pistol to his chest. “P-p-please! Mercy! I have a family! Don’t kill me… my children won’t have a father to come home to if you do…!”
“And you didn’t think of that when you murdered my parents!? You took what was left of my family from me, Senator Delegron? Now, the hunter knows how it feels to be hunted. But hey, at least your kids still has their mother, right?” She pulled the trigger several times, pouring lead into him before she tossed him from a nearby window. “How dare him, giving me that bullshit excuse. Like I care.”
“Optix!” Derpibra shouted.
She frowned. “So, you followed me here, even when I told you not to…” She aimed her weapon for his forehead. “Why!? Why not let me carry out my mission!?”
“I had no choice! This will solve nothing, you just going on a bloody rampage! If anything, you’ll just have yourself become an even bigger target to other branches of this company!”
“Good! Hahahhahaha! Let them come for me! I will kill them all!!”
“I can’t let you throw yourself into danger so carelessly Optix. You’ll be fighting a whole army on your own!”
She snickered. “So? Don’t you get it pea-brain? My real home is on the battlefield, surrounded by destruction, death, and the ability to decide someone else’s fate, with one pull of the trigger! The power, the dominance! The smell of the blood of my prey… it’s exhilarating! When everyone bends to my power, my hoof, it’s fucking delicious!”
“You’ve gone mad Optix! Can’t you see what you’ve done? You making yourself a bigger target is doing the same to your sister too! You made a promise to your parents to protect her didn’t you? Stick to it!”
“That is what I’m doing! I’m getting rid of the threat… once and for all!”
The sound of somepony clapping sounded from the corner of the room. “Impressive show. And here I thought you wouldn’t amount to anything.”
“I-Ice Breaker?” Derpibra gasped.
“Optix, your ability to kill is reassuring. You aren’t weak like I thought you were, though perhaps you aren’t so much formidable as me.”
“You better shut up, you twit. Who’s to say I won’t use my impressive ability to kill on you!?”
Ice Breaker chuckled. “Tsk tsk, that’s no way to treat a friend, right?”
She snarled at him.
“Derpibra, this mare has lost her composure. I’d say she’s at no point of return.”
“H-how did you- weren’t you outside with the others?”
“Irrelevant. Just know that she may not be all that she’s cracked up to be. She may be able to kill, but she is still a mare, and deserves to die like one.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I dare you to kill me!” She shrieked. “You know nothing of struggle you asshole! I’ve been in hiding, lived like trash, and without family! Those were the longest two years of my life! Living in constant fear, always looking over my shoulder! I couldn’t even feel comfortable in my own house! Not here, not Ponyville, not anywhere!”
“Oh, spare us your sob story.” Ice Breaker said bluntly. “What we see now is a killer, a psychopathic maniac. What you try to portray on the outside is but an optical illusion now. Regardless of what you did, you will likely face execution because of how many murders you committed. For what amount of forgiveness do you expect of such a heinous crime?”
She merely growled.
“My point exactly. And, honestly, now you’ll really have to say goodbye. Not that I’m depressed about it.”
“Ice Breaker, shut up already!” Derpibra snapped. “You antagonizing her isn’t going to help anything. I’ll deal with you myself if you don’t stay quiet!”
“Then what do you propose we do stallion? You don’t seriously expect to help this criminal? You’d be labelled an accomplice to murder if you do. At least be smart about it for Celestia’s sake.”
“I don’t care.” He turned to face Optix. “Listen, I know why you did this, we all do, but now you’re on Equestria’s Most Wanted list. I’ll make sure you disappear. Take your truck and your plane and get out of here. Go to another country next to Equestria or farther maybe.”
“But what about Bullet?”
“Don’t worry about her. We will keep her safe. We will keep your promise to your parents true.”
The stained mare headed for the door, but she looked back. “Will me meet again?”
He looked down briefly. “If we’re lucky.”
Before she stepped out, she tossed her Colt 57 towards him for him to catch. “Keep it. My first pistol I made since I started my service in the army years ago. I don’t need it anymore. Use it to remember me.” After that, she disappeared down the hall.
Derpibra observed the pistol, noting that it had a bulky design and covered with dried bloodstains. Her name was engraved into the grip, and was built with an extended magazine that stretched from it’s bottom, but strangely it had no ammunition. He figured she was using magical bullets to fire it.
“Well?”
“Oh, right. Let’s get out of here.” The duo dove from the building into a stack of leaves to break their fall. They then made their way down the road to spot Twilight and the others gathering up civilians. “Is everyone alright?”
“Eeyup.” Applejack replied. “Should be everyone here. Where’s Optix?”
“She’s far from us now. I don’t know where she went after she left, but we’ll find her again. But for now, let’s get out here. I’ll explain more on the way back. We’ll need to catch a train since she took the truck and the plane.”
“Sounds like a good plan Derpi. Alright everypony, let’s saddle up.”
“You did what?” Twilight asked, presumably for the second time.
“I let her escape.” Derpibra said blankly.
“Listen, if someone finds out you let her go, you’re toast.”
“You don’t say?” He said sarcastically. He got up and walked towards a nearby window of their royal train cart, courtesy of Twilight’s rank as princess. “But I couldn’t bring myself to kill her or even bring her in. She had her reasons, and we all know the EO are a bad bunch. They took her parents and drove her crazy.” He turned back around, and approached the listening ponies. “You know what she told me? She had no friends before us. She lived in constant fear, in dirt and garbage. She was paranoid, and never seemed quite normal. That probably explains why she always stinked of whiskey.”
“That’s what she said?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Geez, there really was a lot more to her than sailor talk and alcohol. I wouldn’t have ever guessed it.”
“She told me one last thing that was kinda disturbing. She said her real home was on the battlefield, with death and destruction and being able to decide whether or not someone lives, that the power she has is “Bucking delicious”. That’s some sadistic stuff.”
“Indeed.” Rarity replied. “To think she would have suffered so much in the past years. Poor darling. Where do you think she has gone?”
“I wouldn’t know, but if the magic that Magnus gave me remains true, maybe one day we’ll get lucky.”
The pegasus sat down only slightly further away from his group.
I had to send you off, like you did when you left behind your sister. Neither of had a choice in how we leave behind the ones we love. But, we’ll meet again Optix, wherever to may be…