> Project Apocalyptica: P.U.N.K. > by Jumping Jack > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue Act > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prologue 5 Years After the Luridium Plague Incident ~~~****~~~                 New Ponyville. A small haven of both pony and machine. Each working their part to aid one another as per tradition. Winter Wrap Up had just finished. The Princess of Friendship watched from the balcony of a castle in the middle of the village, having concluded her secondary rounds of a list in her magic, ticking each box in concentration. This year’s Wrap Up has been harrowing. Cloudsdale’s Weather machine has been acting up as of late, as stated by one of her friends. She had flown to and back to check on the damages. When she had arrived, she noticed the robots acting… stranger than usual. The purple alicorn frowned when her friend, a cyan pegasus in a rainbow mane, rubbed her muzzle in frustration.                 “These darn robots keep screwing everything up!” she exclaimed in annoyance. The purple alicorn rubbed her chin as she studied the robots that were stuttering in their movements. The on-site weather pegasi were scrambling to repair at least four of the robots working the wind turbines. To her, the alicorn took note of the working robots and mechanical limbs working the stations and the ones that were hesitant in their movements and or stuttering in reply to a command. The alicorn thought long and hard, not realizing the confused look she was being given by the pegasus.                 “Uhh, hello? Earth to Twilight?” the mare waved a hoof in her face, causing the alicorn to blink and look at her.                 “H-huh? Oh, sorry, Rainbow Dash.” She said sheepishly. The pegasus, Rainbow Dash, groaned when she caught site of a small puff of smoke and burning wires when the repair crew had tried to repair a component. The robot jittered before leaning forward and the lit eyes dimmed.                 “Geez. And here I thought we were working alongside them!” She sighed. “Not having to clean up their little moments.” Twilight frowned at this.                 “Rainbow Dash, how can you say such a thing?” Rainbow Dash arched a brow. “Robots and androids are citizens as well. They gladly offered to help with the Winter Wrap Up. And besides, you know how machines are in the winter.” The pegasus rubbed her head and shrugged.                 “Not really. This is more of your line of work, egg head.” Twilight rubbed her chin again before trotting over to a fizzled out robot. The repair crew stepped back to let the alicorn examine the downed machine. The mechanical creature had the structure of a pegasus, but the hide was mainly made up of metal, bolts and gears on the inside. A bit of a downgrade compared to the androids. But what made them unique were the capabilities to do arduous tasks willingly. In some cases, robots are asked to be given a command.                 But when Twilight signed off on the papers for the pet project the princesses themselves passed through the nations, she wasn’t expecting the mechanical denizens to suddenly activate and willingly help. She had studied up on mechanical science before hoof. Taking note each and every little detail about AI programming and functions. And when they suddenly showed up one day in Ponyville, they completely threw her expectations out the windows.                 It took a while for the citizens of Ponyville to accept this change. When some have offered to aid, they were given suspicious looks of disgust and hate. And Twilight was uncertain of how to go about it. She had heard about the advancing technology in Canterlot. In fact, the very inventor of these second class citizens was originally from Ponyville. But when she heard the sudden demand for them had increased, the inventor wanted to state that they are here to aid in the suffering times of Equestria. And deciding to use the gifts given to them by Princess Celestia and Luna, he found a way to create a utopia within two years.                 And when the inventor himself showed her what their certain programming can do for them, she found it a lot easier to maintain their standing. It eventually reached to a point where she and her friends helped the robots adapt to their new home and soon showed its’ residents that they were to be trusted. And it had remained that way for years.                 The robot fizzled again, making a popping sound that engulfed Twilight in smoke. She waved a hoof, coughing before looking back at the robot. She turned to one of the repair ponies.                 “How long have they’ve been acting like this?” She asked. The pegasus mare rubbed her hard hat as she spoke.                 “They only recently started. We’ve never had trouble with them before. But this is getting to the point where it’s just getting out of hoof.” The alicorn rubbed her chin again in thought.                 “Are you sure it isn’t just the weather in here? Have they’ve been seen in too much humidity? In freezing temperature? Or near wet surfaces?” The mare rubbed her own chin.                 “Umm… well…” It was a stallion that spoke for her as he trotted up to them.               “When they first arrived here, I saw no signs of them ever having break down near any of those conditions.” He looked at the robot and frowned. “Come to think of it, they didn’t seem to mind the weather at all. And we do daily routine check-ups on them to make sure the conditions haven’t altered anything.” Twilight nodded. Of course, there was another reason as to why they might be acting like this. But she had to make sure. She looked to the mare and smiled.                 “Mind if I borrow your tools?” she asked. The mare was confused by this at first. She then nodded and gave her the hardhat and utility belt. Twilight donned the hat and taking a screwdriver, began digging into the back panel, holding her breath in from the smoke rising from the robot. As this went on, Rainbow Dash tapped her hoof impatiently. Rainbow Dash had gotten back after a briefing from the Wonderbolts for their performance that is going to be in the Summer Sun Celebration in a few months. As she was just settling in back to her home and wanted an easy day of just re-reading Daring Doo, she received a message from her terminal.                 The little contraption was bizarre to the mare. And when her friend Twilight had accepted this space age technology into Ponyville, she had trouble remembering what keys do what. Thankfully, Twilight had simplified it for her and all she had to do was press one button. The white text on the black background changed to an inbox. It was a message from Scootaloo.            >Rainbow Dash. I kind of need your help with a certain problem.                 The mare arched a brow. Didn’t Scootaloo get a job as a Weather Coordinator? She scrolled through the text with another key.                 >Winter Wrap Up is nearing and we have been getting strange stutters in the turbines. Not only that, the robots that offered to aid us have been acting strange. Do you think you can come here and assess the problem?                 Rainbow Dash cocked her head in confusion. Did Scootaloo ask for help in a mechanical situation? She sighed. ‘Squirt, you do realize I’m not the mare to do that?’ But she digressed. Taking a brief moment to stretch her wings, she quickly took off from the ground, the winter air flying past her. When she arrived at the Weather Factory, A young teen pegasus in orange hide and purple mane greeted the mare with a hug, in which Rainbow Dash happily returned, before looking at the mare.                 “What’s the problem, Squirt?” she asked. Scootaloo furrowed her brows and motioned with a wing at her to follow. As the two trotted down the hallway, Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic of her previous work background. Of course, that doesn’t mean she helped from time to time. But being a Wonderbolt fills up your schedule more than she thought. And as they entered the lobby, Rainbow Dash could already tell the damages. Two of the robots that were stationed at the turbine seemed to stutter in their movements. Scootaloo sighed.                 “They’ve been acting like that two days ago. I don’t know what the deal is with them.” Rainbow Dash rubbed her chin.                 “Did you tell the repair ponies?” she asked. Scootaloo nodded.                 “Even they don’t know what’s wrong. We’ve tried everything. But if this keeps up, Winter Wrap Up is going to be delayed.” Rainbow Dash got a closer look at the robot. It turned to her, causing her to shrink back a bit.                 “Greetings, Wonderbolt. H-h-how may I help you?” it asked cheerfully in a stutter. Rainbow Dash arched a brow. If she recalled, these robots do have a mind of their own.                 “Erm, my friend here says that something maybe wrong with you guys. Is… everything okay?” she asked. The robot tilted its’ head, making a small hum in its movements.                 “E-e-everything is okay with me! All functions are working at e-e-e-githy perCEnt.” It tipped forward a bit, its voice deepening at the word percent. The way it talked unnerved the pegasus mare. Even Scootaloo furrowed her brow in worry.                 “I think we need Twilight’s help with this.” She said rubbing the back of her head. And that is where they stand now. As Twilight continually explored the inside of the downed robot, Rainbow Dash sighed and looked over to see Scootaloo trying her best to help another struggling robot. She did notice one thing about their strange behavior. Their eyes seemed to change from yellow to red in seconds as they stuttered. Her brain was sending off signals that told her something bad might go down.                 She looked back to her friend. “Hey Twilight.” The alicorn was still stuffed into the robot’s back panel.                 “Mhm?” she hummed in response.                 “Doesn’t this seem like something out of a Daring Doo novel?” Twilight furrowed her brows as she seemed to have thought she found the problem, only to sigh in defeat and back out.                 “Rainbow Dash, now is not the time to be talking about Daring Doo. We will discuss that matter once we figure this out.” She replied. Rainbow Dash nodded her head.                 “Right! But… I mean what if it might be the case?” Twilight continued to examine the robot. “I mean… it might make sense.” Twilight chuckled a bit before responding to her friend.                 “Rainbow Dash, please. If the robots wanted to rebel, they would have done so long ago. They’ve proven otherwise. And even the whole continent is half machine aided anyway.” She smiled at her. “Equestria has never seen an increase in it’s economy in years! This is practically a big step to a utopia we can look forward too.” Rainbow Dash frowned.                 “But isn’t New Canterlot still suffering from the riots over there?” she asked. Twilight nodded in thought.                 “They are slowly going back to what they once were, but the Luridium Plague was five years ago, Dash.” She waved a small hoof wiggle at her. “I doubt that is the case with them. These robots don’t even have Luridium. They are powered by Solarium and Lunarium.” Rainbow Dash arched a brow. All this sciency stuff is making her head hurt. She rubbed her muzzle.                 “So remind me again why I shouldn’t worry about machines?” she asked. Twilight frowned before turning to the downed robot.                 “There is nothing to be afraid of. All those sci-fi movies we’ve been watching has gotten to you.” Rainbow Dash snorted.                 “I’m not scared of machines! I’m just worried about the fact they might pull something without us knowing.” She said quickly. Twilight gave a skeptical smile at her before turning back to the robot… and realizing that it was standing up and looking at her. She balked and stepped back when the robot’s eyes suddenly dimmed on.                 “H-h-hello, Princess!” it greeted cheerfully. Rainbow Dash lowered herself, ready to move. “Isn’t it a bright and b-b-b-beautiful day?” Even the other pegasi around them backed away slowly. Something wasn’t right about this. It sent a lot of vibes throughout the lobby. Twilight arched a brow.                 “Winter is still… going on?” she replied a bit nervously. The robot leaned back and chuckled.                 “Oh, Princess. You truly are too kind. I-I-I cannot believe that a princess is before me! Can I o-o-offer you some assistance?” Twilight rubbed her chin again. The behavior was indeed strange. The robot’s AI were self-controlled. They basically had a mind of their own in sense. But she couldn’t help but notice the eyes changing color every time they stuttered.                 “Is everything okay with you?” Twilight asked. The robot gestured, its’ movements in steady pace.                 “Of course! No problems here and I am running at s-s-s-sixty percent capacity. As per usual!” Rainbow Dash arched a brow.                 “Wasn’t it eighty before?” The room had gone silent while the machined continued to talk.                 “Eighty percent! That is p-p-p-precisely the amount me and my kind run at.” Rainbow Dash rubbed her head.                 “So… what about the other twenty percent?” The robot chuckled again.                 “Twenty percent is dedicated to following my pro-pro-programming.” It then spazzed a bit before it suddenly leaned forward, making a strange noise as it did. The lights in its eyes dimmed again. Twilight and Rainbow exchanged glances. As if on cue, the robot suddenly blipped and rightened itself. The eyes were green now. Twilight arched a brow and waved a hoof in front of it. It made no motion of following. They looked up from the robot, hearing more hums. The robots had acted like they had shut down, only to spring back up and their eyes green. Rainbow Dash felt a chill go down her spine.                 “Twilight?” she asked nervously. The robot then looked at Twilight. It’s voice still cheerful.                 “Hello, Princess! I’m afraid that something has breached the facility. I’m sorry, but I must ask that you be escorted to safety.” It said. Twilight arched a brow.                 “Breach? Safety?” Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Twilight.                 “Twilight, are you sure they-“ that was when the robot’s eyes changed red and gently pushed Twilight aside, causing Rainbow Dash to back away as it stepped towards her.                 “Threat has been noticed. I must ask you cease your assault or be removed from the facility.” Rainbow Dash found herself backed up against a wall.                 “W-what’s going on!?” Twilight asked in surprise at the sudden change. The robot then extended a mechanical hoof out to the peagasus and it seemed to separate into a claw. It then grabbed her by the neck and applied pressure. Twilight gapped in horror as she saw her friend’s eyes bulge a bit from the pressure.                 “Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo called from afar. The young mare was quickly galloping over to her. But a robot nearby her suddenly had its’ eyes change red and stop the mare in her tracks. She backed away, only to see that she and her co-workers being surrounded.                 “Your resistance is futile. Harming the princess is a vile act and action must be taken.” Twilight sputtered.                 “B-but wait! I’m not in any danger! Stop it!” She rushed over to the robot that had grasped her friend, who was struggling to break free by pounding at the limb with a hoof. Twilight pulled on the hoof as hard as she could, but to no avail. “Please! Let her go!” she grunted as she struggled to help her friend. There were screams now. She looked in horror as the robots had either cornered or pinned the pegasi that were on the ground level. The ones in the sky, however, were either trying to help their friends or escape.                 “Princess, you are in danger. I must ask you leave the premise.” The robot said cheerfully. Twilight saw the cyan pegasus change to a dark blue. She was gasping for breath. Twilight grit her teeth. She had no choice. She aimed her horn at the limb and fired a beam at it, causing the hoof to break apart at impact. Rainbow Dash fell to the floor, coughing as she rubbed her neck. The robot then turned its attention to the princess. “Warning. Any more hostile attempts towards Zillex and its properties are to be eliminated.” Twilight balked.                 “Zillex!?” she gasped. ‘But… how can it be?! I thought the Luridium Plague was five years ago! And these robots have been here before that time too! So why are they acting like that incident five years ago?' The alicorn lost her train of thought when she saw Rainbow Dash rise and growl at the robot.                 “Dammit! Of all of the-“ She looked and gapped. “Scootaloo!” Twilight looked to see that the group Scootaloo was with being apprehended by the robots. The young mare looked fearful as a robotic claw reached for her. Without so much as a thought, Rainbow Dash unfurled her wings and took off like a bullet. She rammed into the robot and slammed it against the wall, causing it to spark and crackle. She had destroyed its chassis, but it remained standing.                 Rainbow Dash quickly helped the mare up before they backed away as the robots turned on them. Twilight darted her eyes in thought. She had to do something! ‘Come on, think! There has to be a way!’ she tried her best to remember passage after passage of robotic learning. That was when a passage came to her mind. ‘But... having to do something like that would mean…’ She looked to the chaos in the lobby. If the robots here were being affected, it might be affecting everywhere else!                 That was when she noticed something strange out of the corner of her eye. One of the pegasus workers was galloping in the opposite direction of where everypony else was going. In fact, the worker had just entered through the door labeled:                 Weather Factory Server Room                 Twilight looked quickly to her friends, seeing them surrounded again. Scootaloo ducked behind Rainbow Dash who stood her ground, eyeing the robots in challenge. Twilight closed her eyes, her horn glowing. In a blink of an eye, she was right by their sides. She made sure to put her magic around them as she closed her eyes again and found herself along with the mares right by the door. The robots seemed to have their eyes go yellow, as if signaling their confusion. Twilight quickly moved them into the room and closed it, making sure they hadn’t been spotted.                 “What the hay is going on!?” Rainbow Dash growled in disgust. “I knew I couldn’t trust them!” Scootaloo looked at Twilight.                 “Do you know what’s going on?” she asked, a little shaken by the encounter. Twilight shook her head.                 “I-I’m not sure. But for some reason, they are acting like the robots from the Luridium Plague.” Scootaloo balked.                 “But, wasn’t that five years ago? We’ve had them in our society for years! How can they be acting like that when they don’t have a single ounce of Luridium in them?” Twilight rubbed her chin in thought. She then looked down the hall, remembering the worker that had escaped down here.                 “I’m not sure. But I think we can find our answers somewhere further in.” Scootaloo then looked around, seeing a case with a strange looking alien device in it. She trotted over and took the small hammer, breaking the glass and pulling down the device. She almost stumbled at how big it was.                 “What are you doing, Scoots?” Rainbow Dash asked with a frown. She turned and held up the device to the pegasus.                 “This is an EMP rifle. This should help us in the server room without having to harm anymore robots or damaging the equipment.” Rainbow Dash arched a brow and took it in her hooves. She reached around and locked a hoof in the hole, feeling the small button of a trigger. She hovered above the ground, holding the rifle down on stand-by.                 “Are you sure about this?” she asked Scootaloo. Scootaloo nodded.                 “They provided us with these just encase something did happen.” So Twilight was right about one thing. Despite being years in harmony with the machines, society still had a long ways to go to trust them. But in any case, right now the situation called for extreme measures. That robot that had almost strangled Rainbow Dash had no intention of letting her go. And she was almost guilty that she had blown off the hoof of the robot.                 These were considered people! And she had just harmed one! While her conflicted moral struggled with her, they trotted down (with Rainbow Dash hovering next to them) the hall and entered into the server room. Rows and rows of glowing lights and beeping sounds reached their ears as they continued down. Rainbow Dash every now and then held up the rifle and aimed it down, making use of its scoping function to spy anything she can’t see. That was when she noticed something sticking out from a corner. It looked like the tip of a tail.                 “Whose there!” she called out, startling the alicorn out of her thoughts. They looked and heard something clattering along with what sounded like hoof steps quickly galloping away. Rainbow Dash quickly followed after, forcing the alicorn and the young mare to gallop after her. They followed a hallway that lead to a set of stairs leading up. It seemed that whoever took off, escaped up them. And that is what they did. Following the stairs, they found themselves on the roof of the weather factory. Overhead was the machine that created the windy breezes and dispensing clouds at the same time.                 Rainbow Dash was quick to spot the worker who was galloping to a hover chariot pad.                 “Stop right there!” she shouted. The worker stopped and suddenly pulled out another alien like device. It hummed to life and a beam of solar energy grazed the pegasus mare’s ear. She hissed a little in pain at the burning sensation, but shrugged it off and aimed the rifle at the worker. The gun hummed to life and a beam of electricity shot out, pelting the worker in the hide. The worker’s body spazzed, dropping the device.                 Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo rushed over as the worker crumpled to the ground. Twilight used her magic to remove the hard hat and gasped. It was a pony. No, not just any pony. The mechanical eyes gave it away. It looked at her, motionless and expressionless. Rainbow Dash snorted.                 “Android.” Twilight was baffled. An android? Here? What is an android doing here in Cloudsdale? Androids weren’t designated in Cloudsdale due to them not having the proper functions and abilities to hover over clouds to get to certain areas. This is because of the Luridium as the base for power. It overheats like mad when they try to make even the most basic movement. That is why Lunarium and Solarium are used in conjunction to even it, the Solarium used to absorb the heat and the Lunarium to cool it off. But to think an android… here of all places! What is going on?                 “W-what is an android doing here?” Scootaloo asked in shock. Twilight rubbed her chin, examining the android closer.                 “Uhh, Twilight? You sure you want to be that close to it?” Rainbow Dash asked. Twilight was certain. And when she removed the worker’s coat, she spotted the false cutie-mark on the flank. A Z pattern in a circle.                 “Zillex?” Scootaloo arched a brow. “I thought Zillex Corp. was shut down?” Rainbow Dash adjusted the EMP rifle in her hooves as she spoke.                 “Maybe they are back and trying to send a message?” she asked. Twilight looked at her quizzically. Rainbow Dash returned her look. “What? It just seems like something out of a Daring Doo novel.” Twilight continued to furrow her brows in thought. She didn’t doubt her friend at all. In fact, she was pretty sure she was on to something.                 “You… might be right, Rainbow.” She said, causing Rainbow Dash to smirk a little before changing it to confusion. “There are just so many questions that follow after words though. Like, why did they mention Zillex? I was told that the robots we were given weren’t Zillex affiliated, but have a mind of their own.” She began pacing. “And more importantly, there isn’t an ounce of Luridium that could have caused them to act like that.” She rubbed her chin. “Perhaps we should talk to Doc about this. He probably knows what might be wrong.” Rainbow Dash sighed.                 “So, we are heading to New Canterlot then?” Twilight nodded.                 “Yes. If we can figure out what is wrong with them from the Doc himself, we might find a way to prevent another Plague.” Rainbow Dash balked in surprise when the android suddenly stood up, as if possessed. Twilight caught her friend’s look and turned just in time for the android to latch a claw hoof around her, putting her in a choke hold. Rainbow Dash aimed the EMP rifle at the android, only to have the android keep the alicorn in view.                 “You better let her go before something worse than an electrical discharge happens.” The android arched a brow.                 “Negotiation. If you let me walk out of here free of harm, I will do the same for your friend here.” Twilight shifted, trying to break free, only to have the android hold on tighter. “Suggestion. If you do not want anything to happen to her, you will let me go and act like nothing has happened.”                 “Please, what makes you think you won’t just let us go scot free?” Rainbow Dash growled, her hoof brushing the trigger.                 “Response. We are unaffiliated with Zillex. We are only carrying out our directive.” Twilight tried her best to adjust the grip of the android around her neck as she spoke up.                 “U-unaffiliated? Then, what were those robots saying about Zillex?” The android remained stoic as it responded.                 “Explanation. Zillex has been terminated along with the projects affiliated to the group. We, however, are unaffiliated and belong to a different group.” Twilight arched a brow, shifting a little.                 “What group?”                 “I cannot say. I can however explain to you that we are tasked with eliminating any remains of Zillex and its’ properties.” Twilight shifted again.                 “But… none of those robots are with Zillex! Why did you make them go crazy?” she asked.                 “Argument. I did not make them go crazy. Their AI bugged out due to constant stress on the personality board.” Rainbow Dash arched a brow.                 “In English please?” The android shifted his hostage.                 “Translation. The robots that were tasked in aiding the facility has been exposed to constant use in weather conditions that altered their personality.” Rainbow Dash frowned.                 “That doesn’t excuse you from acting the way you are now.” she aimed the rifle up. “Now let her go or else.” The android cocked a head.                 “My scanners indicate you are trying to bluff. Your heart rate is increasing.” Twilight could see it. The sweat forming on Rainbow Dash’s brow. That was when she gave her a look of understanding. Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at the look, signaling she understood. Twilight smiled before closing her eyes and a loud pop sounded. The android seemed puzzled by this… and then spazzed when am EMP bolt hit him in the sleek hide.                 Twilight had blinked next to the pegasus, who had fired off the shot at the same moment. The android then fell forward, sizzling from the electricity. Rainbow Dash let out a sigh of relief before smiling at Twilight.                 “Close call.” She said. Scootaloo smiled at the cool pegasus before seeing something in the corner of her eye. Before any of them could register what had happened, a pegasus somehow appeared before them, a strange looking glowing stick that seemed to resemble a blade. And not only that, he looked at Twilight with a small evil smile. Twilight looked confused at first. And then her eyes widened.                 Scootaloo looked blankly at Rainbow Dash. Even Rainbow Dash herself took a moment to register. And that is when her body shot a course of pain through her. Blood splattered on both the mare, the alicorn and the pegasus. Laying before them was a cyan foreleg and a wing. Rainbow Dash fell forward in a bloody heap.                 “Rainbow Dash…?” Scootaloo said suddenly. Twilight blinked once, seeing her friend lying on the ground in shock. Rainbow Dash looked at her right foreleg that was rolling away from her, a small blood trail forming as it did. Her wing laid next to her. The pegasus stood up and looked at Twilight judgmentally.                 “This is the price you pay for your interference. And she won’t be the first.” The pegasus trotted over to Rainbow Dash’s leg and kicked it off of the roof, sending it falling through the clouds. “The princesses will know their mistake and pay for it. Mark my words, Princess of Friendship. Interfere anymore and we will not hesitate next time.” This was so… surreal for the alicorn. In a blink of an eye, Rainbow Dash had suddenly become injured and it took a moment for them to realize what had just happened. And when they did, Rainbow Dash let out a scream of pain.                 The pegasus looked down at the defeated android before spatting and taking off into the sky like a speeding bullet. Twilight couldn’t understand what the pegasus meant. What interference? And what did he mean by making the princesses pay for their mistakes? And as the scream of her friend writhing in pain echoed into her mind, she found herself staring back into the grey clouds overhead of her castle.                 That moment had changed her life. And that was two weeks ago. Her hoof gripped the railing of her castle balcony tightly as the thought of Rainbow Dash in pain came back to her. She felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Hate for another pony. Hate at the fact she had failed to be the friend Rainbow Dash needed. What can she possibly do? Princess Celestia and Luna are still being bombarded with conspiracy theorists and politics about the invading nation of Neighpon.                 And Princess Cadence and Shining Armor have their hooves full in trying to redirect war support to aid the defending nations. And when news have gotten out that a spy from Neighpon had sabotaged the weather factory in Cloudsdale, riots erupted. And with the weather factory down, winter was still in the process of being wrapped up. Every now and then, the sun would shine through the holes in the clouds, but with nothing to tame the weather and the pegasi struggling to herd the clouds and the riots, Princess Twilight soon noticed the decrease in crops.                 The door opened, startling the princess as a small purple dragon entered the room. Well, she wouldn’t consider him small anymore, but to her, he will always be her number one assistant.                 “I hope I’m not bothering you.” The dragon said as he walked over with a cup of tea on a tray. Twilight sighed.                 “You’re fine, Spike. I just… have a lot on my mind.” She said. Spike put down the tray on the table before furrowing his brows in worry.                 “It’s about that incident again?” he asked. Twilight said nothing. Spike rubbed his arm. “Do you… want to talk about it?” Twilight said nothing as she levitated the cup of tea from the tray and over to her.                 “I don’t know, Spike… Did I do something wrong?” she asked. Spike walked over to her and put a reassuring claw on her shoulder.                 “You didn’t do anything wrong. Things are just stressful at the moment and you being a princess and all is weighing onto you.” Twilight took a small sip from the cup before looking back out of the balcony. Spike thought that he might have said the wrong thing. So he quickly tried another option. “I mean, Rainbow Dash doesn’t blame you. She still thinks she looks a little bit cooler with that robotic hoof and all.” He nickered. “You should have seen the way she talked about how she could easily manipulate her pattern with ease with the new wing.”                 Twilight continued to take a small sip before sighing sadly.                 “I just feel like there could have been something I could have done to avoid all of it.” Spike returned her sigh.                 “Look, why don’t you take a break away from the castle for a few days. Catch some fresh air. Maybe catch up on sleep. Or… you know… read up on your books?” Twilight looked at him quizzically. Spike coolly leaned against the balcony rail. “Don’t worry about the castle. I’ll keep it neat and tidy as usual. You won’t be taking any audience requests. Just have the rest of the few days to yourself and your friends.” Twilight rubbed her chin in thought.                 “I-I don’t know, Spike. Are you sure that may be the problem?” Spike brushed his claws against his scaly hide before looking at it.                 “Positive! Now quit being such a downer and have some fun!” He quickly turned Twilight around and led her to the castle door. “Rainbow Dash has been dying to show you her new tricks by the way.” Twilight looked worriedly at the dragon.                 “O-okay, if you say so.” She said. ~~~oooOOOooo~~~                 >Spike did his best to make sure I was still mentally stable. But how can you, after seeing your friend in so much pain? So much agony? And you just stood there and watched it happen while you let the one responsible escape? I never forgave myself, no matter how hard I tried.                 A figure tapped another key in the dust ridden terminal.                 >Entry 45: Rainbow Dash seemed to be recuperating better than I had anticipated. Her new cybernetic enhanced hoof and wing seemed to not only make her capable of preforming more daring aerial maneuvers, but she brags left and right about how much cooler she looked. And while I agree that she is pretty cool for having to get over the trauma, I still worry that she might end up not being around.                 The entry seemed to cut off there. The figure in a futuristic looking suite with glowing blue lights at the limb joints leaned back on the crystal chair. The stallion had just finished up his second day of reading the entries. He was expecting a little bit more from the Castle of Friendship.                 ‘But the place is so damn huge, I can’t even find the way into the chambers at all! How the hell am I going to pay off my debt to Scavenger if I can’t find it?’ The stallion thought. His ears twitched when he heard something humming down one of the halls. He quickly reached for a solarium rifle and darted his eyes, trying to pin point the location of the sound. ‘Great, and now the security decides to wake up?’                 He has heard tales about the ruins of the Castle of Friendship. The place having been abandoned for over three hundred years laid tall but decrepit in the middle of the destroyed village. The stallion spent an hour trying to sneak through the machines that had recently taken up residence in the houses. And while having arrived at the Castel’s inner lobby, he had to quickly break line of sight from turrets that had lined the pillars.                 Having escaped into a server room, he took a moment to catch his breath before exploring the place. Some of the servers seemed to have been hit with EMP, while some of them remained active. He had found a terminal that seemed to be a personal favorite of the late princess that had once ruled over the place. Which was strange for the stallion. He would have thought the princess would have a personal terminal in her quarters.                 He waited again, hearing the steady hum of mechanical hoof steps. He quickly strapped the rifle to a saddle clip meant for those without magic to carry the weapon. The sound was getting closer. He bit his lip, the sweat forming on his brow. Where can he possibly hide? If he exited the room, he might get blasted by the turrets. If he stayed here, the Castle’s guardian will definitely slaughter him without thought. The Castle’s guardian, a strange looking hybrid that he has heard has no rhyme or reason for slaughtering any unwanted guests in the castles.                 While most scavengers deem it is just a myth, reports have stated seeing a rustic robot android more unique in design than its residence. Quick like lighting, fierce as a battle unit and unyielding as a bulk unit. The thought is enough to make the most armature of scavengers tremble in fear. But that didn’t stop him from adventuring in. The Castle is rife with danger, however, as soon as he stepped in. He had barely gotten past the first pillar when the security kicked on.                 ‘Three hundred years and counting.’ He thought as the humming hoof steps became closer. He had no choice. He bolted away from the terminal and ducked behind the table that held said terminal. And just in the nick of time too. The humming sound stopped as the guardian entered the room. A sleek looking design, but aged with rust. Its red eyes scanning the room. The stallion peeked out slightly. He noticed the hybrid moving its head away from his spot. Its visor displaying symbols and words. He ducked back when it quickly looked his way.                 He held his breath in with a hoof. He was terrified. The legends were true. If such a thing existed to keep out unwanted guests, then this castle definitely had something worth of value. He heard the hum again and peeked back out. He could see behind the rust marks indicating that the hybrid had seen its fair share of battles. However, it seemed to signify as well that it always came out victorious. The hybrid again scanned the room before it turned and walked out. The stallion saw the swish of its long tail with a blade hook at the end of it.                 He let out a quiet sigh of relief. He peeked back out and saw the coast was clear. He quietly moved over the destroyed rubble and debris as he made his way to the door where he had entered.                 Thankfully, during his day of reading through the entries, he had found a deactivate turret program. And as he walked out with a small smile of victory, he couldn’t help but think something was wrong. This place was a scavenger’s heaven! But why is it so barren when you enter?                 ‘Don’t forget, most places like this are writhed with danger. So there has to be something worth of value here. He took one step out of the server room, not realizing the glowing red eyes that watched him do so. He stopped and slowly looked back, seeing the hybrid leaning coolly on the wall on its hind hooves. Its red metallic eyes glaring at him.                 “Couldn’t make it any more obvious.” It rasped metallically. Before the stallion could register what to do, its’ tail whipped around and the blade sang through the air. The hybrid pushed itself off of the wall and landed on all fours before walking past the stallion. It had nothing more to say. It had done its’ duty. The stallion watched the hybrid walk down the hall, its tail swaying threateningly around with each step. The stallion’s eye twitched slightly.                 “H-huh?” he had noticed that he was suddenly looking at the hybrid upside down. The stallion couldn’t think anything. He could only register one thing. He had died. And as the head of the stallion rolled into the server room and his body left behind, spurting small wells of blood at the neck, stumbled and fell over, the hybrid made its way up a flight of steps before entering a door leading to a room where six destroyed crystal chairs circled around a crystal like table. The hybrid took a step forward to the table and a map appeared. It looked at the map quickly before switching it over to a screen that displayed the temperature.                 Temperatures reading over five hundred degrees and counting as it goes on flashed on the robot’s visor. It then changed the screen to view the surroundings of the castle. Destroyed houses covered in sand and dirt. It took a moment to take in the view. Sand. Sand and dirt as far as it could see. Its’ visor flashed red and a metallic voice spoke to it.                 “Warning. Intruders spotted entering Road Alpha. Advance M0K units to pacify.”                 The hybrid connected itself to the table’s camera system. It watched as a group of ponies, and what appeared to be a griffon leading them in specialized suites to combat the heat, advance onto the ruin. They were packing more heat than the temperature right now. But the hybrid swished its tail speculatively. Maybe it can finally die this time? It didn’t know what to expect and waited patiently for the group to enter into the ruins. Yes. Perhaps they are the ones who can finally end it all. Maybe. Just maybe this old pony can find peace finally.                  > Act 1-Chapter One: Expedition > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Act I: P.U.N.K. ~~~****~~~ Expedition         New Equestria. An underground haven those who have escaped four hundred years of conflict in solitude. The caves and tunnels expanded as much of Equestria’s underground mines and facilities branched out. Some could say that they continue to dig into the underground, hoping to find more habitable spaces and hopefully more resources. But that is hard to come by when you are struggling to get by with only mushrooms and small puddles of dirty water that happen to seek their way into the underground.         Times are tough in this society. And Candlejack knew it better than anypony. In fact, he had to basically steal from vendors in order to survive the harsh metallic streets of New Europa. The pegasus mouthed the name. New Europa, the section of the underground marked NE-10. Or more commonly known by those in the higher sections as ‘Gravel Pit’. A fitting name for a section that is slowly crumbling down around itself. Most of the citizens have moved to NE-8, which happened to be a more manageable environment. However, it still was a decrepit place of living.         And as the young pegasus stallion thought back to his times as an urchin, he probably would have thought he might have had it better by being nothing but a street bum. Not having to worry about listening to ponies rant. Drink all the booze he can milk from the pity of bigots. Sleep anywhere he wanted and whenever he wanted too. It seemed like a simple life at the time. And at the ripe age of ten, he found it to be a haven. Not having to deal with adults tell him what to do. Can play for as long as he wanted and not be told off about it.         Find the smallest spaces he can crawl into and just sleep for hours upon hours. Life seemed like a haven then. But that was where the fantasy ended and the reality kicked in. It was tough to even get a measly scrap of cooked mushrooms. Not only that, when he had been caught by the local city’s farmers of Mud Carrots, he never had to run so fast in his life. He even got away with a part of his tail intact when one of them decided to chase him off with a Lunarium shotgun.         He yelped when the cold tingly feeling of the beam shot past him and grazed his tail. Dropping only two of the three Mud Carrots, he quickly flapped his wings and took off, dodging another beam that came close to him. A ‘flying rat’ was all he could manage to hear from the farmer as he landed clumsily on the roof of a vendor. The neon sign buzzed loudly as he shook away the daze and sighed. Looking at his meal, only half of a Mud Carrot, he casually brushed off the mud bits and chewed down.         A sour and tangy taste made him tear a little. Mustering his strength, he plopped the last of it into his mouth and chewed, trying his best to ignore the disgusting taste of mud. His stomach didn’t agree with him and he rubbed it, trying to ease the pain. He looked around, making sure no pony was watching. He gave a small grunt as he felt his stomach ease out the pain. Taking a moment to adjust himself, he stood up and brushed his rear with a tarp that happened to be used as a cover base to keep out the mud grubs.         Nasty little buggers that tear away at anything plant wise. Having feeling relieved of his tension, he quickly took off and landed gently on the ground, trotting away from the vendor who seemed oblivious to the young colt. He peeked out of the alley and looked to his left. The busy scavenger market as lively as ever. He looked to his right. The dark corridor of the subdivision of the section laid cold and lonely. His stomach growled again. The Mud Carrot was a no brainer to the colt now.         He looked down the corridor, eyeing it. ‘Maybe they might have something worthwhile.’ A brilliant idea at the time to him. That was until he had stumbled upon a junk yard. He had never seen so much treasure in one spot! It was almost like an expedition. And that is what he had thought. Donning a metal rusty pot for a helm and strapping on a chariot hubcap and two spatulas he found in the pile to his body, he was ready to dive in. And treasure was indeed he found!         Climbing up a pile, he reached in, seeing something shiny that had caught his eye. When he pulled it out, he was in awe at the wonder. He had never seen anything like it! The metal like stick had a strange looking tip. It looked like a ball of some kind with a symbol. Cocking his head in wonder, he couldn’t help but notice that the ball had something moving inside it. And whenever he shook it, there was words that seemed to follow:         Try Again.         Having no clue as to what it meant, the colt dropped it, having found something else to sate his curiosity. It was a poster. And not just the neon posters you find that advertise. No, this was a poster that even the Solar Empire and the Lunar Republic themselves didn’t have. The poster had three pegasi in strange looking clothes. Faded words read:         Be ome a Wonderbolt T  y! Joi  the EAF!         The name ‘Wonderbolt’ came out as something of a mystery to the colt. What is a Wonderbolt? And why did they look… strange? Definitely not the mane styles of today’s society. And not only that, the suites they wore didn’t seem anything like the Expedition teams that were sent above ground. In any case, it was something that intrigued him. Taking a quick look around, he spotted a leather sack that seemed to have found itself in the pile through unknown occurrence. Plucking it from the top of a bent sign and stuffing the poster in the sack, he wondered what else he could find.         What seemed like minutes turned to hours for the young colt as he dove in and out of piles of junk and scrap. He found that if he dug deeper, he could find even more valuable trinkets. Some that even seemed as old as New Equestria itself. Having moved on from the recent pile with his treasure, he couldn’t help but notice something stick out of the next pile. It was a small box. Dropping the sack where he stood and walking over, he couldn’t help but feel… entranced. Almost as if it was calling to him.         He slowly reached out a hoof. Locking it around the box, he pulled. It didn’t budge. The colt frowned and pulled again. Taking his other hoof and planting his hind hooves into the pile, he pulled even more, grunting as the box remained firmly stuck. The colt backed away, taking a moment to catch his breath. Rubbing his chin, he had a small thought occur to him. He trotted over to his treasure pile and dug through the trinkets. He pulled out the strange metal stick with the word ball at the tip and went back over to the box. Heaving the stick in, he pushed against it.         The metal creaking at the colt who tugged at it with all he could muster. And with a loud pop, the box clattered to the ground along with the colt who stumbled at the sudden release. And when the box landed, it opened and a soft melody played. The colt looked up from the ground and over to the box. It was a nice melody. Slow and yet, something about the way the box played made the colt feel at ease. He stood up and brushed himself off, walking over to the box. And as the box played the haunting melody, the colt sat and listened.         The little alicorn pony in the box danced and spun to the song. It’s expression blank. But to the colt, he felt that the statuette was crying. And he could imagine it. This song. It was meant for somepony. To ease the pain or sorrow. And when the music stopped and the statuette halted its’ dance, the colt blinked away the trance. A strange feeling overcame the colt. And unbeknownst to him was the danger that loomed over him. Seeing the shadow, he turned and gaped.         The pile was falling. Metal and junk clattered and screeched as the colt scrambled to get out of the way, only to trip on the music box. The colt covered himself with the box under him as the metal and scrap fell on top of him. The colt kept his eyes closed, waiting for the sound of metal to stop screeching. And when the dust settled, he opened them.         Thankfully, he was only bruised on the side. And when he tried to stand up, he found himself falling back into the ground. He furrowed his brows and looked back, seeing his hind leg pinned underneath a stray metal plate. He grunted, pulling again. Swearing quietly to himself, he used his free hind hoof and kicked the metal plate. It didn’t budge. His stomach growled, reminding the colt that he had spent too much time admiring his surroundings than eating.         Pulling his leg again, he stopped when he heard something. He strained his ears to listen. It sounded big. And noisy. That was when the colt had the realization. Junk yards usually have bulk units to control the buildup. And as he feared the worst, a bulk unit rolled into view above a pile of scrap and metal. Its loud tractor like engine rang loudly throughout the junk yard. The colt struggled to free his hoof. But to no avail. He kept trying to pull, however, as he noticed the massive bulk unit grinding close by.         “Come on, let go of me!!” The colt said to himself in frustration as he kicked the metal plate again. He shrunk back when the massive wheel of the bulk unit grazed by his muzzle. It continued forward, only to stop and then reverse. The colt looked on in horror. He was going to get crushed. He prayed. He prayed that he would do anything. Anything for some pony to help him. What the colt didn’t notice was a tall slender figure lifting up the pile he was stuck under and scoop him up.         The colt yelped when the creature quickly climbed up a junk pile in time to avoid getting crushed. The colt found himself dumbfounded by the sudden creature carrying him up the pile. Finding them out of sight and safe from the bulk unit, the colt was gently placed on the ground. The colt looked up to his savior. The slender like creature stood up on two slender limbs and wore a tattered shawl. It looked down at him with yellow round eyes. The colt cocked his head slightly, causing the creature to follow suite, making a small hum in the process.         “W-who are you?” the colt asked, still shaken by the close call. The shawl moved, revealing a slender like limb with strange stubs at the tip. It held one stub to itself before a metallic noise of garbled static screeched to life. The colt couldn’t understand what it meant. But he remembered himself stating in his mind that he would do anything for anyone to help him. And that is exactly what this creature did for him.         He was hesitant. He looked down at his hooves, seeing the small box he had unintentionally grabbed when he was carried up. The colt lifted the box to the creature, a sign of his gratitude. But the creature looked at him. It’s round eyes studying the gesture. It then bent on one mechanical knee and gently gave the box back to the colt. As it did, the box popped open and the melody began playing. They watched, entranced by the haunting lullaby and the dancing statuette. Studying the movement of the lone alicorn spinning on two hooves with the other two outstretched. The colt hadn’t realized.         Realized how important his life was at that time until he stared death in its face. The colt found a strange feeling overcame him. He felt something cold trail his cheek. The creature sat down and scooped the colt under a mechanical arm covered by the tattered shawl. And they sat there. Listening to the lullaby that played before them. That day changed his life. More than he thought.         And eight years later, he found himself sitting here in a sewer. The smelly, foul water rushing by him through the cages. The stallion was accompanied by only a small pile of moldy hay and a close to breaking bucket that housed something even fouler than the water. Sitting in this cell gave him time to think a lot of things. ‘How many days has it been?’ he asked himself. ‘Well, the moment they walk through is the moment I’ll know.’ His ears twitched, hearing what sounded like a metal door slamming shut. ‘Perhaps a little more sooner than I thought.’ Hoof steps. And from the sound of it, a lot of weaponry too. But there was one distinct sound he heard that struck him. Almost like cloth flapping in the wind. Or whatever you would call wind in the underground. The pegasus didn’t raise his head, hiding his dark expression under his bangs as he saw the hooves of what appeared to be three ponies stand before his cell.         “Are you Candlejack?” a stern sounding voice asked. The pegasus didn’t respond. His cage was struck with the butt of a spear that had a humming blue beam forming the tip.         “Hey, flying rat! You speak to our commanding officer when asked too!” another voice said with disgust. The stallion said nothing. “Should I teach you a lesson in respect?” No response. “Alright, punk, you asked for it.” The stallion’s ears twitched at the sound of the cage door opening and the guard strolling in with his spear at the ready.         “Fool.” He heard the stern sounding voice say. At that moment, the stallion’s instincts kicked in. He quickly batted the spear to his side and rushed forward, punting a forehoof under the guard’s chin. It was enough to have the guard ease his grip on the spear. The stallion gripped the spear, twisted and yanked it out of the grip. He brought it around skillfully and locked the non-beam end of the spear under the guard’s hooves and tripped him. The guard yelped in surprise and before he knew it, the stallion was on him, the non-beam end of the spear aimed at his neck. He caught sight of the other guard rush in when the stern voice shouted:         “Cease!” They did. The stallion looked at the figure. The young and handsome looking unicorn stallion in a vanilla colored hide that was covered by a suite and cape and a neatly trimmed blonde mane and tail stood in the cell. His blue piercing eyes judging the pegasus’s orchid colored eyes. Candlejack waited. Studying the stallion’s look. And then, the stallion spoke: “You are indeed what I am looking for.” Candlejack eyed the stallion.         “Sorry, I don’t roll that way.” He retorted. The stallion shook his head.         “You misunderstand my meaning. Here, walk with me and I will tell you.” Candlejack arched a brow. He looked at the pinned guard under him. “They will not harm you. I only mean to talk.” The guard looked at his commanding officer quizzically before taking his stern look as a sign of “don’t-buck-it-up-more-than-you-have”. Candlejack tossed the spear aside and walked over to the stallion, who walked next to him as they made their way down the sewer. As they passed, Candlejack noticed the cells occupied with poorly hygienic ponies. Each cell consisting of either a lone soul or a group of them.         He felt a bit squeamish when he noticed that in one particular cell, a certain act was going on that made him feel angry at the stallion next to him. He couldn’t do anything for the poor mare as her cellmate moved on her. He was a prisoner too. As they passed the horrible act going on in the cell, they stopped in front of a metal door. One of the guards went to open it and they ascended the stone steps.         “A pony of few words, I take it?” the stallion next to him asked. Candlejack didn’t look at the pony before responding.         “I don’t need to talk to get my point across.” He said venomously. He would have thought they would have helped her in that cell. But they continued on as if nothing was happening. And he had hoped the tone in his voice made it clear as to what they passed hadn’t gone unnoticed.         “We become the monsters when we give into the temptation. Both of them are just as much.” Candlejack spat.         “By what right?” he asked coldly. The stallion remained stoic in his response.         “By right of the Equestrian Round Table.” What a load of bull, the pegasus thought. The Equestrian Round Table. A group that is above the doings of the Solar Empire and the Lunar Republic. In fact, both of those factions branch from the ERT themselves. And the very pony walking next to him as they made their way down a tunnel with more cells and prisoners, is the very pony behind it all. Or at least, the heir of it.         Candlejack walked next to them as they made their way over a rickety metal walkway. Prisoners below them worked non-stop with old and rustic looking pickaxes. Their price for freedom. But for Candlejack? No, his freedom was something different. And spending more time in that cell made him want to embrace that very freedom. In fact, he was curious as to when they reached a hall, they took a left instead of a right. Surely, the gallows were the opposite direction? They do know where their own execution places are, right? The confused Candlejack eyed the ponies around him. Something wasn’t right.         “I can tell what you are thinking.” The stallion suddenly said. Candlejack said nothing, not even looking at the pony who addressed him. “I can assure you, I only mean to talk.” He reached back with his magic and pulled out a small tablet. The tablet blipped to life and he levitated it to the pegasus for him to see. Candlejack arched a brow.         By request of Brilliant Mane, heir to the Round Table, prisoner ID 14115 is to be relieved of all charges and be set free as a citizen to our society.         Candlejack was almost tempted to ask, but thought better of it. Brilliant Mane lowered the tablet before speaking.         “Will you hear me out?” Candlejack said nothing as he waited for the pony to speak. Taking it as a green light, Brilliant Mane spoke. “Excellent. I have a proposition for you.” Brilliant Mane smiled. “I want you to partake in a certain expedition. Spelunking if you will.” Candlejack knew better. He has heard about the supposed ruins of the underground society before the new advanced sections started branching out. Some say that the residents disappeared and while others say that they still remain there, guarding the precious salvage they house. If he was being asked to partake in an expedition that is ordered by the very pony who runs the place, then it was something that involved his life for.         ‘But on the other hoof, I can just stay in here and rot like the sorry excuse of a pony I supposedly am.’ He thought. He looked at the pony. He was smiling. ‘Dammit, he knows I have no choice.’ Taking Candlejack’s look as another defeat, Brilliant Mane nodded.         “Do not worry. You will be provided the necessary preparations before digging in. However, I do expect one thing from you.” Candlejack arched a brow. “Results. Fail to bring me it and it’ll be more than you rotting in a sewer. Perhaps that little abode you call a home near the junk yard?” Candlejack narrowed his eyes angrily.         ‘You better expect that to come back and bite you in the ass.’ He thought coldly to the stallion. With that, the stallion and his guards left Candlejack standing in front of the entrance of the prison he was housed in. ~~~****~~~         “So, it is just as bad as I thought.” A zebra mare said to Candlejack as she sat a pot of boiled beans in a can in front of him. Candlejack chewed casually at the bland tasting food. ‘Better than the shit they fed me in the sewer. If any at all.’ Candlejack swallowed before speaking.         “Hey, as long as I’m scot free to do whatever the hell I want, then so be it.” He said matter-of-factly. The zebra sighed and sat in the small stool across from the rickety small dining table. A dome lamp with a dimming bulb hung overhead, providing a small amount of light in the small house. And while, it wasn’t much, it was home nonetheless.         “And that is particularly why you were in prison.” She said with a bored expression. Candlejack shrugged as he chewed another spoon full of beans.         “I was only in there for a few months.” He said between bites. The zebra shook her head.         “A year. Candlejack, do you realize how much we worried?” she asked. Candlejack stopped himself in the middle of a bite. The spoon tantalizingly close. He then sighed and put the spoon down into the bubbling beans.         “Is this going to be another one of your ancient ancestor talk?” he asked. The zebra frowned.         “Only because it seems you can’t get it through your thick skull.” Candlejack took a bit of offense.         “Hey, my thick skull saved me multiple times from head trauma!” The zebra arched a brow.         “You call having a neon sign drop on you as having your thick skull save you?” Candlejack took a moment to process this.         “Okay, maybe it sounded better in my head. But it wasn’t my fault the vendor wouldn’t hand over the scrap!” The zebra looked bored again as she retorted.         “Only because you stated that having him ‘jedi mind trick you’ out of bolts is a sin above all sin.” Candlejack waved the spoon at her.         “You never know! In today’s society, we might have telepathic earth ponies. It’s only a matter of when.” The zebra sighed.         “Jack, please just listen to me.” Candlejack lowered his spoon, averting his gaze. He knew what was going to come next. ‘Guilt trip city’. “You were lucky DD saved you from the Scrapper. You are lucky to even be out and about! You may have been a street urchin, but you have a home now. And we’ve been doing our damnedest to make sure you still have a home.” She motioned around the small space. “And I know you have thought of ways to try and find us suitable living space. But that is the thing. Today’s society isn’t all fantasy.”         The zebra put a reassuring hoof on the pegasus’s. “It’s time to wake up, Jack. You’re not a kid anymore. And as much as I prefer you to remain a child, life doesn’t treat us such.” Candlejack sighed.         “I know, Zelori. You don’t have to keep telling me.” The zebra raised a skeptical brow. But Candlejack quickly spoke. “I understand what you mean. Really, I do. And I owe you both a debt of gratitude that I can never seem to repay.” That was when the zebra mare smiled.         “You have already repaid it in full, Jack. You are my brother. And being the oldest, I have to look out for you. Me and DD both.” She made him look into her green emerald eyes. “Know that even though I may be far or out of ear…” Candlejack finished it for her.         “I will always watch over you from the heavens.” He sighed as the zebra gave a nod of approval.         “My ancestors are smiling down on you, Jack. Their wisdom is wise as well as powerful. If all hope is lost, think back to what I have said.” Candlejack gave a defeated look. Zelori patted his cheek and smiled. “Now then, I believe DD has required some assistance of you.” Candlejack quietly nodded as Zelori picked up her finished can and dumped it into a stained sink. The pegasus stood up and quietly exited the building through an open doorway.         As he stepped out, he looked up to the cave ceiling. Stalagmites loomed overhead dangerously. He thought back to the time when he met Zelori. A young mare older than he was. And when the slender mechanical creature named DD brought in the crying colt, Zelori smiled at him kindly and offered him a can of beans. The colt looked at it confusedly, awed by the sudden gesture. He looked up to see the zebra mare nod at him. He immediately planted his muzzle into the can and chewed, tears streaming from his face at the taste.         While bland, he had found it better than the Mud Carrot he had earlier. The zebra mare laughed softly as Candlejack rose his head, only to find his muzzle stuck to the can. He gave a quick tug of the can, only to find again that it was firmly stuck on him. Using all his hooves and laying on his back, he tugged again. Zelori trotted over and with such skill and grace, twisted the can once and it popped off of his muzzle. The colt looked in awe at the mare.         “What is your name?” she asked. The colt wiped his muzzle and sniffed before speaking.         “C-Candlejack.” he said. The zebra mare arched an amused brow.         “An odd name. Why are you called that?” she asked. The colt shrugged.         “Dunno.” The mare smiled again.         “Where are you parents?” The look he gave to her told her otherwise. “A troubling thought?”         “I don’t really want to talk about it…” he said sadly. DD hummed and garbled. Zelori chuckled.         “That is to be remain known, DD. But I think we can help you get back on your hooves.” She said. The colt cocked a head in confusion. Did the mare understand the creature? But it was after that came next. Zelori and DD showed the colt a grand tour of their little abode. While the house was a lonely little stack of metal sheet walls and a downed power line connecting to the house’s generator that provided the light, it was the yard that made it special for them.         A place where they can scavenge around, finding small little decorations here and there to add to the house. The colt found himself wondering every now and then as they explored a spot where the bulk units had trouble getting into, of course with the robot’s and Zelori’s supervision. As he dug through a pile he deemed worth looking into, he noticed a shadow loom over him.         He turned to see DD lug something across its’ back. It brought a sack around and laid it gently on the ground for the colt. It was his precious treasure he had acquired before being trapped in the pile. He dug through and found all his trinkets in place. He looked up at the robot and smiled.         “Thanks!” he beamed. DD patted his head softly, giving a small happy garbled hum. They spent hours looking through piles and piles of junk. Zelori smiled when she saw Candlejack emerge from a pile with a bent Groucho Marx. Followed by DD, who emerged with a colorful wig and a red ball on its’ face. It pressed the red ball and it made a honking nose that made the mare and the colt burst out laughing along with DD’s stuttering hums.         As the hours went by, Candlejack found himself having more fun than he could imagine. Much better than roaming the streets. And while Zelori and DD did their best to make sure the colt was well taken care of while they searched for his parents, they found themselves always hanging out and playing. Eventually, the search was a forgotten memory and Candlejack couldn’t have been happier to be sleeping along with a pony he could call a sister and a slender robot he could call a parent.         Candlejack, as he thought back to the simpler times, found himself wandering down to a small little metal shack. It had a small burning lantern inside and a tall slender looking robot hunched over a workbench. He quietly entered and knocked on the metal wall. DD looked up from its’ work and greeted him with a hum.         “Hey, DD, Whatcha’ working on?” DD gestured with a limb as it spoke with its’ usual garbled voice. Zelori had told him that DD was a Cleaner Unit who was tasked with cleaning up any stray debris or junk in the junkyard. Apparently, spending years as the yard’s keeper, its voice box ended up being damaged when a large metal slab nicked it as it tried to flee. Thankfully, it got away with its head. Now it could only communicate through garbled hums and gestures.         But Candlejack didn’t mind it not one bit. He trotted over to the tall robot as DD scooched to the side to let the pegasus see its’ creation. Candlejack arched a brow.         “What is it?” he asked, tapping it with a hoof. It seemed familiar. And when he tapped it again, the strange metal box blipped to life and a familiar melody played. It took him completely by surprise. DD hummed proudly. “You… fixed it?” DD gave a happy hum. Candlejack smiled and looked back at the box. The very object that started his friendship with the tall robot. Now better and improved. The music notes played harmoniously instead of the previous stuttering.         Candlejack remembered when he was devastated that the music box had suddenly broke. The statuette of the alicorn stuttered and popped off of the box, DD looked at the box and to the distraught colt. Candlejack wasn’t sure where it went after that. Who would have thought the old Cleaner Unit was fixing it all this time? DD held up the box, examining it’s handiwork before lowering it to Candlejack. He didn’t know what to say. The design of the box was slimmer now and seems durable enough to withstand even the most devastating shock.         Candlejack smiled and placed it on the workbench. “Thanks, DD. It means a lot.” The robot gave a cool like motion as it hummed happily. “Oh, didn’t Zelori say you needed my help?” DD rubbed a stub against its’ robotic round head. It then made a gesture as if an idea had struck before it scanned the room. Candlejack ducked when a long limb brushed overhead as the robot dug through scrap and metal. It then pulled out a small sack and handed it to the stallion.         Candlejack remembered this sack as well. The very thing he used to collect his treasures. Candlejack arched a brow and looked at DD, realizing that it had also put on a colorful wig and honked the red ball on its’ face. While the sudden change in appearance made him smile, Candlejack shook his head before handing the sack back to it.         “Don’t you think I’m a little old to be dumpster diving?” he asked, trying his best not to make it sound like he wasn’t in the mood. Of course Candlejack wanted to go dumpster diving! The sheer possibility of what he could find was still great. But after having left prison, he wasn’t sure what to think. DD cocked its’ round head. It noticed his sad look. DD made a small hum that told the pegasus it knew. Candlejack sighed.         “I’m sorry, DD. I don’t mean to shoot you down. It’s just that after everything that has happened, I don’t think even a good ol’ garbage bath would help.” DD rubbed its round chin with a stub before humming at another idea. Candlejack quickly stood aside as DD crawled out of the shack and motioned for him to follow. Candlejack arched a brow before following.         Candlejack had to quickly trot to keep up with the long steady pace of the robot. As the robot began climbing a pile, Candle Jack unfurled his wings and took off ahead of it. He landed casually on the top as DD reached him and sat down. Candlejack wasn’t sure what the Cleaner Unit was doing. And seeing as it made no motion, Candlejack sat down and followed its’ gaze.         It took a moment for him to realize that they were overlooking the entire section. The distant bulk units casually drifting through piles of metal and scrap. The small neon signs that indicated the positions of the vendors. Small little advertisement posters hanging decrepitly on walls of metal sheet walls that were houses and apartments. While they live in a society underground where technology was an uncommon occurrence, Candlejack took in the view and smiled.         He couldn’t have found a better place to call home. And as the two sat there, admiring the tranquility of the quietness, Candlejack couldn’t help but think that maybe he could live in this fantasy. Just one more time. As he scanned the area, he found the round open area where Zelori had taken him one day to do something a little different than dumpster diving.         She said that it would help better increase his chances if he was ever found without help. And that was when she showed him the arts of her people. It consisted of standing on his hind hooves and using his forehooves as a means of defense. He never could understand why standing on your hind hooves as a part of the technique, but she said that if he could find the balance within him, he will have no trouble at moving. It was harrowing for him. Zelori did her best to tell him how to stand on his hind hooves. He could only manage to stand up for a minute through constant practice. But it would always end with him falling flat on his side, back or front.         Thankfully, he wasn’t a lost cause. In the brief minutes he could stand, he can dish out a few moves. He even tried them on Zelori. And while the mare toyed with him at his attempts, she smiled as he managed to find a partial bit of his balance. And from then on, the colt found himself constantly practicing after a good three hours of dumpster diving. DD clapped happily as Candlejack showed him the moves Zelori taught him.         Candlejack smiled and looked up at the serene robot. The view may not have been much, but he was pretty sure he wanted to see what DD wanted to show him. And as he looked back to scan the area, he noticed seeing a group of ponies in their Lunarium powered suites scaling a junk pile. Even DD noticed it. Candlejack frowned.         ‘Time already?’ he thought. ~~~****~~~         “We are here to escort Candlejack for his parole.” One of the guards stated to a frowning Zelori. Candlejack and DD rounded the corner, catching the guards by surprise by the sudden tall slender robot. Candlejack eyed the guards.         “Well, I’m here. So get on with it.” He stated coldly. DD gave a sad garbled hum. Candlejack looked up and smiled at the robot. “Don’t worry, DD. I’ll be fine.” However, he wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. None of them knew. And Zelori furrowed her brows worriedly at her adoptive brother.         “Jack.” she started. He nodded.         “I know, I know. I’ll keep in mind what you’ve said. As annoying as it is.” He gave a small playful smile to her. But Zelori didn’t return it. She watched as Candlejack was led away from them. DD garbled again sadly.         “He’s grown up, DD. We don’t need to treat him like a child anymore.” She said. DD garbled sadly. Zelori sighed in response. “That may be true, but Candlejack still has a lot to learn. And I fear that the small amount of experience we have taught him won’t be enough.” DD rubbed a stub on its’ round head. It then put a mechanical limb on her shoulder, forcing her to look surprised at the robot. “DD, you surely can’t suggest?” DD garbled again, hugging the zebra mare.         Zelori found herself baffled. She clearly thought DD must be a little loose in the wires. But the gesture was enough to show its’ resolve. “I-if you want me too… but what about you?” she asked. DD pat her head and gave a garbled happy hum. She looked sadly at the robot before looking back to the distant figures of Candlejack and the guards. She then gave a serious look before nodding to the robot. DD watched the mare quickly trot gracefully down the junk yard and over piles of metal and scrap. The robot slumped a little before turning back and heading down to the small shack.         It was hesitant at first. But reaching in and feeling for the sleek box, it pulled it out and examined it. Making sure that it was happy with its work, it turned it on and the melody began playing. DD set it down on the ground and sat quietly, watching the small statuette of the alicorn spin on the box as it played the haunting lullaby. It was time. It had to let go eventually. Both of them were grown up. As much fun as it had with them, not everything lasts forever. And DD knew this. It always knew this.         And if it remembered what Zelori had once said: “The memories we forge are the ones we experienced. We may be far or out of ear, but know that I will always be watching you from the heavens.” And on this day, if anypony was to take a stroll through the junk yard, either be it curiosity or adventure, they would certainly hear the haunting lullaby. A sign that was more than just a box with gears. But they wouldn’t know it. Only those that have forged the memories with it know. > Act-1 Chapter2: Somnus Apocalyptica > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Somnus Apocalyptica         Candlejack frowned. When Brilliant Mane mentioned spelunking, he knew better than to have thought it would be life risking. And he was right. The gear they provided him was heavy and all around uncomfortable. The bulges under his suite depicted his wings as they moved and shifted uncomfortably under it. Not only that, the hoof gauntlets and boots they made him wear were bulky enough that he felt even more weighed by them than the chest plate.         And now that he took a good look, he noticed the others that had volunteered wore suites that were a bit lighter than the one he had. They lined up as they waited to be given their weapons for protection. A Solarium carbine as the primary, a Lunarium energy pistol and a solarium knife that had the blade no bigger than his hoof. Donning the helm, Candlejack waited patiently as the pony in front of him decided to go with the rifle instead of the carbine, which was odd to both him and the supplier. But the helmeted guard remained quiet as he went to stand next to the others ready to explore.         Candlejack counted no more than thirteen that had volunteered (making him the fourteenth to being forced volunteered). Being the last to acquire his gear, the supplier smirked and took away the carbine from him in mid-giving.         “Sorry, we appeared to have run out of carbines. But there are plenty more pistols and a knife for you.” Candlejack narrowed his eyes through the visor. Of course, why wouldn’t they? They all knew a prisoner was forced to partake. And they had heard he had lived in the junkyard. So why not torment the weak? But he digressed and holstered the pistol and knife. Being underprepared, he was ready to partake.         He looked to see that Brilliant Mane was watching from afar in a tent that housed a table and crates. Guards left and right meddled about the site. He then looked down to the tunnel, seeing a metallic door at the end. They were to descend into the depths and from there, find the ruin and retrieve whatever they could find valuable. Brilliant Mane then used his magic to project his voice over them.         “Attention! I do appreciate your valor and bravery in this expedition! I want you all to know that the moment you step in, you will lose all communications with the outside! But fear not! Let Celestia’s light shine your path and Luna’s shroud to protect you from the danger! When you return victorious, I will see to it that your pay will be doubled!” He darted his eyes sternly at the group. “This is a dangerous operation. And I know that some of you are afraid to find what is down there. But Equestria has never feared from danger. You will be cautious. You will be quick. And most of all, you will survive.”         Candlejack frowned again. Brilliant Mane put a hoof to his chest and shouted: “Long Live Equestria!” Twelve of the fourteen followed the gesture and repeated before a sound of a buzzer and a green light shone.         “Goddesses speed, gentle-colts. Do your nation proud.” And with that, Brilliant Mane watched the group turn and enter the tunnel. All except one. Candlejack narrowed his eyes judgingly at the stallion, who returned it. Candlejack then turned and trotted after the group. Entering the lift, the group shifted uncomfortably. Candlejack tapped his hoof patiently, hearing the small clunking his boots were making. He was told that the boots were designed to help them aim their carbines. Basically, almost making them stand on their hind hooves to take aim. It was considered a weight to steady them, but light enough to where they can strafe and move.         Such an uncommon occurrence this technology was. At least, to NE-10. The sections above NE-5 have a more common use of technology than those that rarely see it. The only technological thing Candlejack can think of was DD and the neon signs that advertised shops. Or the occasional Lunar and Solar guard that tended to patrol the section (due to either disobedience or slacking off). But the pegasus sighed quietly, watching as his visor displayed his suite in the top left corner with the words "OK" that lined the limbs, torso and head. On the far right top corner was a little compass stating that they were facing north east.         As the lift descended, Candlejack took the time to study his group. Some were eager to fight for their nation, while some shifted nervously. There was one, however, that he was unaware of, who was watching him from the back of the lift. The lift stopped suddenly, causing Candlejack’s insides to rise a little. With a loud metal screech, the door opened and their visor’s helmet lights kicked on. Holding their carbines above and to the side of their heads (except for Candlejack who remained without one) the group advanced.         Candlejack has never been outside of NE-10. And when they entered into another tunnel with green lights that marked the way, he was in awe at the sight. Gems and crystals left and right were imbedded into the walls. Some were protruding from the ceilings and walls. One of the guards whistled.         “I heard they found a crystal mine. But this is just incredible.” He said through their built in communication device in their helms.         “Stay focused. We don’t know what to expect down here.” The lead one said. Candlejack felt saddened. If the underground wasn’t such a dangerous place, he probably would have found more treasure outside of NE-10. And as they passed a colorful looking crystal, he stopped and leaned in to get a closer look. It sparkled brilliantly at him. He slowly raised a hoof to touch it, only to be startled at the sudden pat on his shoulder. He turned and noticed one of the volunteers shake his head at him. The pony then quickly trotted over to the group who were scanning the area with their carbines pointed out in every direction. Candlejack glanced back at the crystal before sighing and trotting after them.         What seemed like minutes turned to hours. The green lights seemed to go on for miles. And by the time they had reached the entrance to the ruins, most of the group was ready to call it quits. Candlejack found a good vantage point on top of a stalactite and scanned the horizon. The ruin was massive. Its block like metallic structure was illuminated by the vague light the crystals gave off.         “What is that?” one of the ponies below noticed.         “It seems to be a bunker.” Another stated. A bunker? A sudden feeling overcame the pegasus. It wasn’t what he had intended, but the sheer thought of it was exponential. And the little kid in him was dying to find out more. His fantasy of treasure and riches was abruptly cut off when the lead one barked.         “Alright, listen up. We had sent an expedition team inside before hoof. As it turns out, most of them didn’t come back. So, we are to back them up. Find any survivors you can and any valuables they have. Signal with your helms of your locations and we will try and get to you as quickly as possible.” He shifted his carbine and trotted down the slope. Candlejack watched the group slide down the slope, noticing that one of them was looking at the bunker just as cautiously as he was. Following suite, Candlejack felt himself shiver. As the block like structure loomed overhead, he found himself grinning.         “So, what exactly are we to expect, danger wise?” A mare asked. The lead went over to a panel and pressed a few buttons on it before the door suddenly screeched to life, alarms blaring.         “Something I hope we never have to see. Stick close and don’t lose sight of each other.” And with that, the group advanced, unaware to them that they were being carefully watched at every move. ~~~****~~~       Candlejack was amazed at how sturdy the place was. When they had entered, it was almost what he had expected. Dark, gloomy and all around ready for exploration. Of course, that didn’t sway his mind of the possible dangers that this place might hold. The lead didn’t say it, but whatever had went down with the previous expedition team didn’t end so well. The group covered the bases before stating the all clear to move forward. Candlejack drew his Lunarium energy pistol and waved it left and right, testing it to see if it was going to be a nuisance or not. And while, not the most ideal protection, it did give him that sense of safety.         And as they went further and further into the bunker, they found themselves in what appeared to be a lobby.         “What kind of bunker has a facility inside it?” one of the ponies asked as two of them went over to a humming terminal sitting on an oval desk. While they busily worked over it, Candlejack found himself trotting away from the group and over to a pile of metallic crates. Curious as to how these massive metal boxes had gotten in here, he couldn’t help but notice something sticking out of one of them. Curiosity had gotten the better of him. And as one of the ponies watched him carefully, unaware to him, Candlejack gave a good tug and a loud clatter of metal and debris sounded. He backed away when he saw something that made his heart race.         “Oi, prisoner! What the hell do you think you are doing?” one of the guards stated, marching over to him. Candlejack looked confusedly at the pony, who looked down at the pile. Spotting what made Candlejack’s heart race, he leaned in to get a closer look. The skeletal looking metallic figure remained lifeless. But it wasn’t only that that made him fearful. It was the fact that the lower half was mechanical and the upper half was that of a pony. “What the hell is that?” One of the ponies trotted over and pushed aside Candlejack, causing him to back away slightly.         “By the goddesses. That’s an android!” Candlejack cocked his head. ‘Android?’ “And from the looks of the design, this is pre-war!” Candlejack found this baffling. A pony that is machine and flesh? The thoughts of DD came back to him. He shook his head dismissively.         ‘I highly doubt DD is one.’ He thought. Besides, they said this was pre-war.         “Hey, Buck. You might want to take a look at this.” one of the mares over by the terminal spoke. The lead walked over and looked on in the terminal.         “A surveillance system?” He looked at the two. “Bring it up. The one that is more recent specifically.” Candlejack awkwardly made his way to look over their shoulders. He saw the terminal light up and a small box with a strange red blinking dot at the top next to the letters R-E-C displayed over a moving image.         “This is further into the bunker. Hall B-1.” The mare said. He watched as he saw two ponies enter the room. Both of them bearing the same expedition suites they wore. One was hunched over, catching his breath while the other quickly went to a panel and quickly pressed it. As the door was closing, it suddenly stopped, causing them both to back away and aim their carbines. Candlejack squinted his eyes. It was faint, but there. A hoof was stopping the door. Then another hoof. And then another hoof.         “What the hell…” one of the mares said in horror as the door was forcefully opened and in rushed what seemed to be a swarm of limbless ponies. The two fired on them, only to no avail as they were swarmed by the advancing creatures. One of them went down in a dog pile while the other was smacked straight into the camera, causing the feed to be lost. The lead stood up and pulled a small lever on his carbine, making it hum.         “Now we know what to expect.” He looked to the two who were still discussing the body of the mechanical pony. “Get ready to move out!” the two stiffened and saluted to him.         “A-are you sure about this, cap’n?” one of the mares asked. The lead nodded.         “We are in a pre-war bunker with what appears to be rogue androids. Keep an eye out. Don’t let your guard down. We have a new objective.” He trotted over to another metallic door. “Find whatever the expedition team before us failed to retrieve and bring it back to the top. I am having you paired in twos. Keep an eye on each other and don’t get separated.” He motioned for one of the mares to follow him while the rest buddied up. Candlejack awkwardly stood there, waiting to see if one of them would. Fortunately, it seemed that the silent pony walked towards him.         Without so much as an exchange of words, the pony nodded to him and held out a hoof. Candlejack arched a brow before hesitating to shake it. Partnered up and ready to move, the two followed the group as they traversed further. When they reached a four way hall, the lead pony motioned for them to split up, four down one hall, another four down another and leaving Candlejack and the other to take another hall. Making their way down the hall, they descended the steps at the end and found themselves in what appeared to Candlejack to be a living area. He looked at the panel and carefully pressed a big button that made the door hiss and open.         The stallion shivered again, not of fear, but of curiosity. What could he possibly find down here that nopony else thought existed? And as he stepped in, unsure of what awaited him, the lights in the room suddenly blinked on. Candlejack let out a silent gasp. The room was spacey. Much bigger than the living space in the junkyard. He rubbed his helmeted chin in thought, scanning the room.         The room had a long red velvet sofa that partially surrounded a destroyed glass table. The walls were bland and rusty. However, he did notice some posters here and there. One of them read:          Mind your manners! A friendly bunker is a successful bunker!         On the poster was what appeared to be a pony with black eyes that seemed to have a piece of it missing while smiling and winking with an outstretched hoof with stubs. How strange. Why draw a pony with stubs that he only saw on DD? And now that he got a closer look, he noticed that the pony in the poster had a certain slit at the joint. Was this an android? Candlejack looked to see the silent pony scanning the room as well.         “Do you have any idea what this place is?” Candlejack asked the pony. The pony shook his head in response. Candlejack continued his exploration. He found two doors. One that lead down a small hall way with four doors that lined both sides of the wall and another that lead to a strange small tiled room. He instantly recognized the sink. But it was the strange bowel that seemed planted into the wall that caught his interest.         If it wasn’t for the stains and the cracks, he probably would have guessed that it was kept cleaner than most things down here. Finding nothing else to sate his curiosity in the room, he went down and explored the small hall. The doors opened as he walked by, stopping to look in. Holes formed the walls with what appeared to be sheets and a strange white looking square. He went to the unusal designed holes and put a hoof on it, testing it. The texture was soft and silky. Going over to the white square. He picked it up and squeezed it. He cocked his head, feeling the texture to be soft and… fluffy. Perhaps a little too fluffy. So fluffy, in fact, the more he squeezed it, the more he found himself nuzzling it under his chin with a smile. So soft and comfortable.         He looked to see the silent pony eyed him questioningly, causing him to flush under his helm and put the fluffy square back on the sheets. As he did, the pony suddenly was on him, pushing against the wall and putting a foreleg on his neck.         “W-what the hell is you-“ The pony held up a hoof to the helm in a shushing motion. Candlejack arched a brow quizzically before he heard the sound. It sounded like hoof steps. And not just any steps. These hoof steps had a steady humming pace to them. The pony released his grip and the two quietly peeked out of the door. The door leading to the lobby was closed, yet, they could hear a distinct sound of clattering coming from the other side. The pony held up the carbine slowly, making it hum to life. Candlejack took out his pistol and pulled back on the top, making it hum quietly. The two sidled against the wall, making the door open with a hiss.         They peeked out and saw that the room was still untouched. But whatever was in here left a strange blue trail leading into the small tiled room. As much as his brain was sending him alerts, Candlejack was curious as to what was in there. And without thinking, he found himself slowly moving towards it, unaware of the pony trying to reach out to stop him. He could hear it as he got close. A gurgling sound and what also sounded like humming in movements. Peeking in, he saw the figure of a pony. But not just any pony. This pony was missing skin, revealing mechanical like wires and structures underneath. He noticed the head twitching slightly.         Candlejack narrowed his eyes and aimed the pistol at it. But, he couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger. Not because this looked like a pony. No, he was curious if anything. What did it look like? What was it doing? Could it probably communicate? And before he could think anything else, the head turned, glaring at him with a red eye.         “I-i-i-intruder.” It suddenly spoke in a metallic stutter. “Security underway. P-p-please remain where you a-a-a-are.” It turned fully, making Candlejack back away. Another feeling overcame him. One that made him shiver. What could this place possibly house? And if this creature is only a fraction of what it has to offer, then what’s to say that nothing else isn’t worth of value? He looked to the couch. ‘Maybe I can find a way to get that back up to the junkyard.’ And as he thought this, he didn’t notice the pony suddenly aiming the carbine at him.         “Identity unknown. Preparing to remove from the facility.” It let out a screeching sound that made Candlejack’s bones rattle. And before he knew it, the creature was on him. The pony took aim, but found it difficult to line up the shot. Candlejack wrestled with the creature, finding that its’ strength greatly overpowered his. Fortunately, the suite’s bulky weight like boots on his hind legs kept him from being sent sailing across the room. Another feeling overcame him. Excitement. And without thinking, he quickly locked a hoof around the decrepit android’s skeletal hoof and twisted. He found it easy to turn. And with all his might, he pulled. The android went with the motion and sailed over the sofa. With a loud clang against the metal walls, the android sparked.         “Warning. Any more d-d-d-damages to Zillex and its’ properties is a crime and a-a-a-action must be taken.” Zillex? What’s Zillex? The name struck the stallion as odd. But more importantly, the creature actually responded to being damaged. His heart was aflutter. This place was just dying to be explored. However, his excitement was short lived when the silent pony fired a burst shot of solarium bullets into the android. It spluttered as white looking liquid splattered against the wall. It now remained lifeless. Another feeling overcame him that made him frown.         “Now why did you do that?” he asked the pony suddenly. The pony eyed him questioningly. Candlejack went over to the body and poked it with his pistol. “I wanted to hear what else it had to say.” His ears twitched again as he heard more sounds of steady humming. He peeked out of the doorway and saw down one side of the hall. Multiple red glowing eyes swayed in the darkness. And they were heading their way. Candlejack rubbed his chin and looked at the pony. “I wonder if they know what this Zillex is.” He said. The pony slumped before quickly galloping over to him and taking hold of his gauntlet hoof, forcing him to follow.         They raced down the hall, looking back to see that the red eyes were very much gaining on them. And what Candlejack saw baffled him. Skeletal androids that resembled ponies of all gender appeared to be clawing for them, echoing the same word over and over:         “Intruder. Intruder.” Candlejack and the pony turned down the hall. The pony then tipped over a locker to block off the advancing androids. They only managed to make it halfway down when the creatures turned and rammed into the locker, sending it sailing down the hall. Of course, as it did, some of the androids tripped over it, causing them to act like a living wave. The pony stopped and grabbed hold of Candlejack, tossing him into a room before jumping in after him. The pony took aim at the panel and fired off a burst round. The panel sparked and crackled as the door closed shut.         They took a moment to catch their breaths. Candlejack looked at the door, hearing the sounds of the passing androids. When the sounds faded, Candlejack brushed himself off before looking at the pony.         “That was… err… pretty quick thinking back there.” He said. The pony looked at him before going to remove his helm. Only, it wasn’t a he as Candlejack originally thought. In fact, he was surprised to see that the pony underneath wasn’t even affiliated to them. No, this pony was none other than his sister.         “Something you lack in.” Zelori said sternly. Candlejack balked.         “What the hell? Since when were you a part of the ETG?” he asked. Zelori rubbed her muzzle in frustration.         “I’m not a part of them, I just happened to...” she stopped and averted her eyes as she continued. “Acquire a suite.” Candlejack gave her a bored expression.         “And you say I’m a terrible liar.” He caught her stern look. Candlejack then sighed. “So, why are you here? I thought I was the only one that was forced to volunteer?” Zelori adjusted the carbine in her hoof before speaking.     “I’ve joined to make sure that you wouldn’t cause any trouble.” Candlejack arched a brow.         “So, you think acquiring a suite and disguising yourself as a volunteer is a form of making sure I’m not causing any trouble?” Candlejack smirked. “Then what about you and the method you used to acquire the suite? Wouldn’t that put you on the trouble list too?” Zelori frowned.         “Necessary risks are to be taken to ensure survival.” Candlejack nickered softly.         “So much for ancestral wisdom.” Zelori narrowed her eyes at him.         “And what was all that wanting to hear more?” she asked. Candlejack stopped and rubbed the back of his helmeted head.         “I was… errr… curious.” He said. Zelori shook her head.         “And you were well aware of the fact that it was a rogue machine?” Candlejack felt himself flush at this.         “I-I was well aware of it! I just wanted to… you know… see how it reacted.” Zelori sighed dejectedly.         “We were right about you being reckless. Which is why DD asked me to watch over you.” Candlejack arched a brow.         “DD asked you? Why?” Zelori eyed her adoptive brother judgingly.         “Perhaps you should ask DD yourself.” Candlejack frowned. ‘Way to be a helpful sis, sis.’ Zelori looked around the room. “We need to return to the others.” She put her helmet back on and trotted past him. He hadn’t noticed it, but the room they were in was surprisingly small. Fortunately, there was a tall blast door behind him. Trotting next to Zelori, the two stood in front of the door, eyeing it. Candlejack felt that feeling come back to him. It made him itch all over. Ignoring the scratchy feeling, Zelori pressed the button on the panel and the door hissed open.         The room was dark. Using their helmet lights, they scanned the area.         “This seems to haven’t been touched in centuries.” Zelori stated in awe. Candlejack eyed strange bulky terminals with blacked out screens and dials lining the wall. Zelori stopped to examine one of the terminals, carefully turning a dial once. When nothing happened, she went to the next one. Her curiosity as great as her brother’s. And as for Candlejack, he was still in awe at the abandoned technology when he suddenly clunked into a wall that made him back away and rub his helmet at the impact.         He couldn’t quite make it out as his helmet’s light shone back at him. But if that was the case, he could safely assume it was a mirror of some kind. Or… maybe not? When he put a hoof to his darkened reflection, it didn’t feel like a mirror surface. Zelori looked over to him, not realizing that her hoof had brushed a switch. When it clicked, the room around them suddenly hummed and the terminals blinked on. Zelori backed away, her carbine at the ready while Candlejack let out a small gasp. The surface he was touching wasn’t a mirror. It was a window. And when the dim light clicked on, he saw through the window something he had never dreamed that he would ever see.         On the other side of the window was a tall and wide cylindrical pod that seemed to bubble to life. Emitting a soft glowing green hue, the pod appeared to dispense into small little tubes that seemed to connect to a strange bulky device that had glowing colorful lights. Candlejack couldn’t make heads or tail of what tube goes to where. As the pod continued to dispense itself into the tubes, the terminal in front of Zelori blinked once and a symbol of a prism appeared.         “Greetings, adventurers. Are you the ones who reactivated me?” Candlejack and Zelori exchanged glances before Candlejack spoke.         “What… are you?” he asked. The prism seemed to blur when the metallic deep voice spoke.         “I am an artificial intelligence designed by my creator, Dr. Trottingheim. Designation ID 4-P0C-41YP7-IC4. Or as my creator commonly calls me, Apocalyptica.” Apocalyptica? What kind of name was that? Candlejack rubbed his chin in thought.         “What do you mean by that name?” Candlejack asked.         “I do not understand what you mean.” Apocalyptica responded. Zelori narrowed her eyes.         “Your name. Why does your creator call you that?” Candlejack reiterated.         “I am not sure what it means myself. But I can tell you that I am designed to keep records and ensure the export and import of Luridium is to be safely sought out and executed to the highest degree.” Candlejack arched a brow.         “Luridium?” He asked.         “Luridium. A material that was found as a solid, but can be malleable to form either a gas or liquid. It is more commonly used as energy supply for Zillex properties and its products. A safe, eco-friendly material used in conjunction with Solarium and Lunarium.” Candlejack narrowed his eyes.         ‘That name again.’ Zelori caught his look before taking her turn in speaking.         “Apocalyptica. You say you are an artificial intelligence. Are you really a robot?”         “Negative. I am a product of numeric codes and values. An idea spawned from the mind of my creator, Dr. Trottingheim.” Zelori arched a brow.         “So, did this pony used to live here?” she asked. Apocalyptica seemed to change its prism to a triangle.         “Negative. I am detecting that this is the last designation where I am stored. My files indicate that there are many more facilities, such as this one, scattered throughout the continent.” It seemed to turn into a question mark symbol. “Odd. My systems state I have been currently inactive for over one hundred and fifty-two thousand, five hundred and seventy years. Please, tell me what I have missed?” Again, the two siblings exchanged glances.         “For over four hundred years?” Zelori stated in bafflement. Candlejack arched a brow. Sometimes, Zelori scared him at how quick she is to figure most things out. The zebra mare rubbed her chin. “Apocalyptica. I have a question to ask.” The symbol turned to a prism again.         “I will be pleased to answer your questions.” It said. Zelori didn’t sugar coat it one bit.         “The androids that were housed in this bunker. Do you know what went wrong with them?” she looked around. “And more importantly, do you happen to know exactly what a previous team of ponies like us had found, but failed to retrieve?” It turned the prism into a strange line that made wave like motions before turning back into the prism.         “Answer. The androids that were employed here along with Zillex employees were powered by Luridium. My files have indicated that most of the androids here are offline and non-functional. However, it appears the security system has been activated for quite some time only recently. As for the recent expedition team, I have a recording dating back to two weeks before today showing a group of ponies in similar suites entering the facility.” It turned the symbol into a circle. “It appears that whatever happened to the androids that once were employed here have a corrupt program in their systems, causing them to go into uncontrollable violence.”         “What is a program?” Candlejack asked. Zelori shushed him.         “A program is a design that allows for AI, like myself, to run executable files that allow us to monitor specific objectives or execute any form of audio or media. However, most of the androids that are affiliated to Zillex Corporation have a personality chip that allows them to act and think like one of you.” Candlejack found this fascinating. He then looked to the pod and motioned to it.         “So, what exactly is that tube like thing in there?” Apocalytpica turned back into a prism.         “That is a vat of Luridium in its natural and pure state. The lines connecting to the vat run throughout this facility, giving power to it. And not only that, it also has a use to creating more powerful equipment than the ones you are carrying.” Candlejack arched a brow.         “Do you know where we can find them?” he asked. Zelori eyed her brother questioningly, making him respond with a shrug. “What? We were tasked with finding anything valuable and retrieve it.” Apocalyptica turned into a triangle again.         “Most of the facility has been locked down due to a quarantine. I will override the alarm and that should unlock the room where you will find your objective.” Candlejack smirked.         “Sounds like a plan then.” He said as he trotted over to the door.         “I do have one favor to ask. If you would take the time?” the AI suddenly spoke. Candlejack looked back to the terminal.         “Well, if you help me, I help you. Fair's fair.” He said, causing Zelori to arch a brow at him.         “It pleases me to hear that. I am downloading myself into a chip. If you can take me to the server room, I will grant access not only to your objective, but to the whole facility. I will also deactivate the androids currently roaming the facility. While they may be corrupted, the kill command is still on stand-by.” Candlejack cocked the pistol, making it hum to life.         “Well then, let’s go.” ~~~****~~~         It was much worse than they had thought. Apocalyptica remained dormant inside of the helmet of Candlejack, being guided by the AI in the process, while firing back at the advancing androids. They kept echoing the same word over and over:         “Intruder. Intruder.” Candlejack took aim and pressed the trigger. He only managed to fell three of them. ‘Out of a hundred to go.’ He swore quietly. When they rounded a corner, as per Apocalyptica’s instructions, Zelori turned, using her boots to help her stand and opened fired at the androids. She managed to fell five of them. But the rest continued to advance. Landing back on all three (her fourth holding her carbine above and to the side of her head) she quickly galloped after Candlejack, who was waiting for her through a doorway.         The androids were right on her tail. Candlejack fired on them, falling two that were about a hoof’s reach to Zelori. Zelori then dived in, rolling to her hooves before standing and firing at the panel. With a crack, the panel sparked and the door closed, catching one of the androids at the torso in the process. It metallically rasped a growl as it tried to claw at them with a skeletal hoof. Candlejack took aim and fired point blank into the android’s head. With a splatter of white looking liquid and the jolt of the android’s body, it remained lifeless and the door closed fully, cutting the creature in half. Taking a moment to catch their breath, Candlejack looked over to Zelori and they exchanged a small smile.         “We have arrived.” Apocalyptica said in Candlejack’s ear. He looked around, seeing that the room was filled with bulky looking machinery. “There should be a Master Terminal straight ahead. Plug me in and I will get to work.” Candlejack nodded and motioned for Zelori to follow. The two traversed through the room before reaching what looked to be an even more complex looking terminal. Candlejack reached back into his helm and pressed the little chip slot, making the chip Apocalyptica was in, pop out.         Taking the chip, Candlejack placed it into a slot that he thought looked similar to the slot his helmet had. The terminal blinked to life and the prism shimmered into view.         “Accessing facility Master Control Program. Requesting override.” There was a brief moment of silence. “Request granted. I have full access of this facility now. Oh my.” Zelori arched a brow.         “Oh my?” Zelori asked.         “I’m detecting a video feed that had recently been recorded thirty minutes ago. It appears that similar ponies in your suites are… well… no longer around.” The two exchanged glances.         “Put up a feed.” Candlejack said.         “As you wish.” The terminal brought up a box. This recording had audio. But they could see it. Four ponies rushing down a hall. The feed blinked, showing a different angel of them running down the hall. That was when one of the ponies had their helmet knocked off of their heads, revealing a mare. She had a fearful look in her eye. One of the ponies stopped and looked back. The mare held out a hoof.         “Help me!” she cried. The helmeted pony looked back quickly to the fleeing group before shaking his head.         “You’re on your own.” He said breathlessly. He took off.         “W-wait! Please! Don’t leave me here!” She turned and gaped. “N-no! Stay back! Stay back!”         “Intruder. Intruder.” Candlejack grit his teeth angrily. The mare was soon dog piled by a group of androids. It was hard to tell, but the way their hooves were moving, the poor mare was being ripped apart. All they could see out of the pile was the mare’s hoof twitch spastically before going limp. The camera feed blinked again, showing the remaining three running down the hall. They stopped inside a room, taking a moment to catch their breath.         “I think we lost them.” The one that had ditched the mare said tiredly.         “B-by the goddesses. What the hell is going on?” one of them stated. “I knew that we were going into something dangerous. B-but I thought that…” one of the ponies took off his helmet and tossed it aside before speaking.         “That what? That this mission would be easy? That we would go home scot free?” He then grit his teeth and angrily batted his helmet away. “Damn you, Brilliant Mane!” That was when they stopped. It was distinct, but there. The strange slurping sound. The stallion that batted his helmet away cocked his head.         “W-what is that?” he asked. Without any warning, Candlejack noticed something descend quickly from the ceiling. It latched around the stallion’s neck. He screamed as he was suddenly lifted up into the ceiling, struggling to break free. The slurping sound got louder as the other two made their way over to the door they had entered. Candlejack saw that whatever had gotten ahold of the stallion muffled his cries for help. He winced when he heard a bone sickening crunch and the stallion’s body stiffened before going limp. The slurping continued and they watched as the stallion’s body slowly ascend into the ceiling, bobbing slightly.         As for the other two. They quickly opened the door and found themselves backing away when the same androids they were being chased by entered the room.         “Intruder. Intruder.” The stallion fired off two shots before an android batted it away and extended a skeletal like claw hoof at his neck. The other pony decided to bolt in the opposite direction, only to have a similar long flesh like tongue descend onto the pony, knocking off her helmet and latching around her neck. She gasped for air desperately. But the androids didn’t like whatever had ahold of her get away. And when two of them gripped the hind legs of the mare, there was the sound of bone and flesh ripping and tearing.         Zelori looked grimly, her grip on her carbine tightening as the mare’s upper half ascended to the ceiling and the lower half of her was ripped apart by the androids. That left the strangled stallion. He did his best to kick away from the grip. But, with a quick little motion of her claw like hoof, another sound of bone crunching and the stallion went limp. Candle Jack waved his hoof.         “I’ve seen enough.” He said darkly. Apocalyptica canceled the feed.         “I am sorry to see you in such state at the site of your friends. But I will fulfill my part of the deal. Activating, kill code.” The terminal brought up a bar that filled up all the way in a blink of an eye. “Kill code active. You are free to walk through the facility without worry.”         “I don’t think the facility is all clear.” Zelori stated, clearly disgusted by what she saw. “There is something probably more dangerous than the androids in here. I’d rather you let us access the room so we can get out of here.”         “Of course. The room I directed you to is, in fact, just beyond this room. However, I am detecting an organic lifeform that has taken residence. I recommend caution.” Zelori cocked her carbine before nodding to Candlejack.         “Let’s be done with this.” Candlejack couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty. ‘And all because I had to use that bulk unit and steal Lunarium, only to have not known I had ran a pony over in the escape.’ Candlejack walked sadly after Zelori before Apocalyptica stopped him.         “Candlejack. I must thank you and your sister for reactivating me.” Candlejack looked tiredly at the terminal. “As a sign of gratitude, I will tell you about a certain project that my creator has left for me to instruct. And while, I have not seen it come to fruition, there is a way to start it up again.” Candlejack arched a brow.         “What project?” he responded.         “A project that my creator deemed ‘the last saving grace for equianity’. A project dedicated to not only saving your species, but a project that can bring Equestria back to what it originally once was.” Candlejack rubbed his chin.         “You mean, New Equestria? Whatever happened to the old Equestria?” Apocalyptica turned to a triangle.         “’Old’ Equestria, as you call it, was a land that once was a utopia for both flesh and machine. They lived together in peace through harmony. The very idea of my creation. But… it appears that my files indicate that the necessary facilities to activate the project have gone offline. If you ever find yourself above ground. Please. Activate the facilities. I will remain here in the meantime.” Candlejack rubbed the back of his helmeted head.         “I’ve… never really been to the outside.” Apocalyptica turned back into a prism.         “I can tell. However, if you return with the Luridium equipment in the next room over to your superiors, it would surely grant you a step to reaching the outside.” Candlejack sighed.         “You make it sound like it’s going to be a long and harrowing task.” He said.         “It is. But my calculations state that within four years of this very day, you will be granted access to the outside world. And when you do, please keep in mind my request?” Candlejack again rubbed his helmet.         “Err… sure? I don’t see why not.” Apocalyptica turned into a circle.         “It again pleases me to hear you say that. I will look forward to your endeavors, Candlejack. Your future is bright.” And with that, Candlejack trotted over into the room, giving a tired look to the waiting zebra mare by the door. Entering into the room, they looked on in awe at the room. It was small, but there were strange looking alien like devices with glowing green hues.         “These must be the Luridium equipment.” Candlejack said. His ears twitched again when he heard what sounded like contorted breathing. He took out his pistol and aimed over to his left, causing Zelori to follow suite. They stopped and lowered them, however, when they saw the very pony that had led them into this expedition. The stallion was bloodied from head to hoof in what looked like a mix of white and red stains.         “Damn androids…” he rasped heavily. He looked to the two and his eyes widened. “You… you think you have… the better of me?” He slowly stood up, using the wall for support. His pupils dilated and he donned a wide grin. “Hehe…heh… you are wrong… you are nothing but machines!” He reached back for his carbine and drew it up, aiming at them. Zelori immediately stepped in front of Candle Jack. “You think… you can get away… acting like us?” he slumped, still aiming the carbine. “Bullshit!” he then gave another raspy chuckle. “You’re not taking me… I have won… I have always won!” He laughed manically before suddenly turning the carbine into his mouth and pulled the trigger before they could react.         The stallion’s head exploded into giblets and a sickening sound followed after. The body fell to its’ side, leaving the two baffled ponies to process what they had just witnessed. Candlejack blinked and looked down at himself. He hadn’t realized that some of the blood from the stallion had splattered onto his suite. The two remained silent that time, quietly grabbing what they could of the Luridium equipment and exiting the room. Thankfully, the halls were clear of androids. And as they walked down the hall, passing the bloodied battle of the cornered ponies, they exited the bunker and followed the lights back to their home. > Act 1-Chapter 3: Invasion > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion 4 years later ~~~****~~~         New Equestria. Nothing has ever changed much in the four years that had gone by. Four years too long. And as the young pegasus stallion thought this from the balcony of a two storied apartment in section NE-5, he couldn’t help but feel that something may have changed at least a little bit. At least, he had hoped. After that incident in the bunker four years ago, Candlejack felt that to him, it might have. The neon streets of NE-5 glowed brightly from afar. The city practically a safe haven for those that need not worry about the dangers the underground had. Protected by the sheer grace of Brilliant Mane is his subjects.         The thought made him despise the stallion even more. Brilliant Mane. The sole bastard that has been tormenting Candlejack for four years. Expedition after expedition. Almost as if each and every mission he has been sent on has been nothing but a failure. ‘But no, it never was a failure. At least… we haven’t failed.’         “Can’t sleep?” a voice said gently from behind him. He looked to see Zelori lean over the balcony railing next to Candlejack. Candlejack said nothing and looked back out to the streets. They were quiet. For a while, the two adoptive siblings watched the lights shine brilliantly. It was almost like a dream. If it wasn’t much of a struggle to at least keep this dream.         “Was this all really something to be fighting for?” Candlejack said suddenly. Zelori took a sip from her cup of tea.      “Are you referring to where we are now? Or are you referring to Brilliant Mane?” the zebra mare asked. Candlejack slumped a little.       “Just this in general…” he said. “It’s so… surreal.” Zelori smiled before taking another sip. “That solely depends on you, my dear brother.” Candlejack frowned. ‘Not much help, are you?’ but he digressed. The two remained quiet again. They had spent a harrowing four years of expeditions. Each one a life and death situation. Each time were casualties. And yet, each time there were victories. The two didn’t think it until now, but they are lucky to be alive. And every expedition they have returned from had always been a success despite the tragedies. Zelori eyed her brother worriedly. “Does the title still bug you?” Candlejack sighed.       “Oh no, definitely not a bother.” Candlejack said with a sudden sarcastic perkiness. “I mean, who would have thought a title that refers to us as practically suspicious?” Zelori nodded.      “So I have heard from the denizens. Most believe us to be suspicious of each returning expedition.” Candlejack snorted angrily. The title they had acquired over the years was given to them by Brilliant Mane himself. Candlejack remembered standing on the podium in section NE-1. The section that housed the ERT. A place of nobility and where society has not a single care for the sections below it. And yet, the people of the lower sections believe with all their being in their new heir. And as their heir and light of hope waved proudly with a smile at his subjects who had gathered before him, Brilliant Mane turned to a stoic Candlejack and Zelori.     “People of New Equestria! We are here on this very day, to honor two brave souls. Their deeds of valor strike hope in these trying times!” He scanned the crowd of nobles and middle class citizens. “They have been daring. Relentless. Always facing the danger of the threat ahead of them while remaining vigilant in their tasks. They are the shields to your hope! And they have inspired me as well!” he turned to the two, the cue for them to step forward. And they did. Candlejack scanned the crowd, hoping to spot one individual among them.      Seeing as he couldn’t, he returned to looking straight ahead, just as he was told too. Zelori glanced quickly at her brother, remaining stoic, but worried at the same time.      “Let it be known, that they have done everything they can to ensure victory. Carrying their team’s hopes and dreams along with them! They, my people of New Equestria, are the ones who will carry us to a new dawning era! And with them, I do proudly release the burden of the titles to them.” He held out a hoof to them. “Will you accept this title?” Candlejack said nothing. He found himself shivering. Not in excitement. No, this was far more than that. It was tempting, just to lay him out on the ground here and in front of thousands of ponies. And with each cheering from the crowd, Candlejack couldn’t help but think back to the teams they have been assigned too.        Each pony of their teams suffering harrowing fates one after another. Some were fathers. Mothers. Kids that were dreaming big. He and Zelori had listened to each and every one of their hopes and dreams. And it made him sad. Sad that they had a much bigger ambition than he had. All he ever wanted was to spend quality time diving into piles of garbage. Finding the next cool trinket he can claim as his own. The constant sounds of the humming scrappers in the distance as his white noise for him to sleep through. The smell, while a second sense to him, was practically a haven. Nothing compared to the smell of the junkyard. And while, they have moved up in this society, both of them longed to return home.     Candlejack remained stoic. Hiding the unbending hate he had for this moment as he smiled and shook the stallion’s hoof. The crowd ringed in his ear. Cheers that would probably had made any other pony feel proud to have done their nation a service. But Candlejack and Zelori didn’t care about that. And having to find themselves moving into a spacey two storied apartment in their new designated section, Candlejack felt something new in his life. Something that left him hollow and empty. But he could never find out what was the cause. As he returned to himself and looked back into the dark lit room of their new living quarters, the answer was obvious.    The kind and noisy garbled hum was the only thing that appeared to be missing. Candlejack pulled himself away from the railing and walked towards the door.     “Heading out again?” Zelori said without as much as a glimpse to her brother. Candlejack stopped and looked over his shoulder, eyeing his sister questioningly. She knew about his little “night outings”. A recently new habit he had found himself partaking almost every night after that incident. “Don’t stay out for too long. We have another expedition tomorrow.” Candlejack turned, giving a disgusted sigh before walking out and closing the door. Zelori lowered her head to peer into her half-finished tea.    “My ancestors are smiling down on you, Jack. Why can’t you see that?” the mare told herself. She looked to see her adoptive brother’s figure make his way down the stone steps and heading straight for the bustling city that is NE-5. ~~~****~~~         The bustling city of NE-5. While not as calm and collected as the other sections, this part of New Equestria was the go to for everypony to drown out their troubles. The seven sins were strong in this section. And it was one where Candlejack felt like he belonged too. Passing the local vendors and street markets, the streets were as lively as ever. Ponies of all kinds, male, female and mixed, mingled about. And the more Candlejack pony watched, the more he noticed that most of the residents here have some sort of limb that was unlike any he had seen.         Some had the metallic looking sleek limbs on either one, two or all of their legs. Some even had it on their bodies or on their heads. And some had the full deal. And as Candlejack made his way through the bizarre crowd of ponies to reach his destination, a small pub that had a neon sign with three X’s and a mare kicking her hind leg back and forth while leaning suggestively against the building’s wall, he stopped, seeing familiar looking ponies come out of the pub. A Solar and Lunar guard exited with small green bottles in their hooves. In the middle of them was a petite looking mare who was also stumbling with them.         They were laughing and having the time of their lives. ‘Probably a bit more once they reach wherever they are going.’ Candlejack thought sourly. The site of seeing them happy, however, brought that hollow feeling back again. Candle Jack entered the pub and was greeted with ear pulsing music. The pub was dark with only the accompaniment of a violet and white light. And the more Candlejack went further in, the more the pub expanded. And with the more expanded pub came with more ponies. And those ponies were having the time of their lives too.         The DJ bobbing his head to the music with flashing lights as a crowd of ponies on the glowing illuminated tiles danced away. Above the ponies were cages. Four to be exact. Two of them had mares dancing and swaying on poles inside while the other two had stallions inside. They too were grinding on the poles. Candlejack felt at home here. Or so he thought. This place did its’ damnedest to drown out the hollow feeling. He quietly made his way to the bar, traversing the mingling crowd that was outside of the dance floor.         He passed by a small booth where a well-groomed stallion was surrounded by at least four mares. He made a sexual joke that made the mares laugh and giggle. Candlejack felt the feeling become even stronger the more he neared the bar. The barkeep, a pretty looking mare with a long electric like mane and neon white hide (probably the lightning Candlejack had thought) smiled at him. He studied her, seeing the eyes look him up and down.         “Electric Light for your troubles?” the mare asked with a smirk. Candlejack shook his head.         “The strongest you have.” The mare nodded and went into the back of a store room, quickly scanning the drinks on the shelves before finding what he had asked for. Bringing the bottle around, she brought out two shot glasses and poured them into the cups. Candlejack arched a brow at the mare amusedly.         “Shouldn’t you not be drinking on the job?” Candlejack asked with a smile. The mare returned it before taking a shot.         “Frankly, I would like to hear what you have in mind.” She said. Yes, a rather pretty mare. Candlejack took a shot of the strawberry tasting drink before the mare refilled them. The mare studied him. But Candlejack remained challenging. The mare poured another, they took a shot. Another. And another. And another. Candlejack found his vision beginning to blur. He took another shot, unaware that the mare had stopped on the third shot. “So, now that you are loose and relaxed, I would like to her what kind of stories New Equestria’s P.U.N.K. leader has to tell?”         Candlejack swayed a little. Clearly, he wasn’t seeing the mare correctly. But he shook it off and spoke.         “Pha! A dumb title if you ask me. What’s so great about it?” Candlejack slumped. “That bastard thinks he can get away with giving me that title? I’ll show him!” The mare started wiping her countertop before giving an amused smile at him.         “I don’t know. It kind of fits you, don’t you think?” Candlejack poured himself another glass before taking the shot.         “Whadda’ mean?” he slurred. The mare poured him another.         “I mean, you do live up to it. Handsome. Brave. Daring. Ready to face the challenge of a good expedition.” Candlejack took another shot and found the taste to suddenly be bitter.         “Handsome, I’ll give you that. Brave? Probably. Daring? Mostly. Ready to face a challenge.” He looked her over and down to her flank, spying her martini glass cutie-mark. “You bet your martini ass I am.” The mare gave an amused smile before pouring another. His last shot. Candlejack took it and smiled. “Perhaps I can show you how daring and brave I can be? It’s not everyday I find somepony who knows good taste in drink.” The mare gave a small laugh.         “Easy there, Casanova. I’m still on the job.” She bit her lip. “Of course, not that I am not interested.” Candlejack found a new feeling out his hollowness. Perhaps a little more excitement than he had planned tonight. Candlejack eyed her as she moved to put away the drink. He gave a small drunk hiccup before turning to watch the ponies on the dance floor bob away to the DJ’s music. Something about the pulse pounding beat made him tap his hoof along with it. And as he watched this, he spied another mare in the corner.         This one was also a pretty one. And when he noticed her, the mare met his gaze. She gave a small flirtatious smile towards him. Of course, being drunk, Candlejack was unaware of the stallion that was supposedly trying to score her. He turned back to see the bar keep mare busy with another customer down the counter. The chattering of the ponies drowned out for him and he fell into a trance like state at the thoughts of him and the barkeep.         He noticed her looking his way, a touch of red on her cheek before focusing back on her customer. ‘I’m ready to face any challenge alright.’ He thought with a smile. That was when he was suddenly turned around on the stool and forced to look straight into a stallion’s green colored eyes.         “I’m talking to you, punk!” he growled. Candlejack blinked once before squinting his eyes.         “Do I know you?” he asked. The stallion forced Candlejack off the stool and shoved him over, making him stumble a bit. Regaining his balance, Candlejack couldn’t help but grin. ‘Oh yeah. A challenge I’m going to have.’         “I’m going to teach you a lesson on who to look at.” The stallion said, cracking his neck. The mare next to him gave a frown.         “Neon, please. You’re embarrassing me.” She said sourly. Candlejack eyed the mare and gave her a smile, which she returned with a bite of her lip. That made the stallion fume. Candlejack felt a hard strike across his cheek that made him stumble. The ponies around them witnessed it and looked on speculatively. Candlejack rubbed his sore cheek before spitting out newly formed blood.         “What’s your problem? I can’t help but eye a pretty mare. If anything, most mares like a compliment or two.” He said. The stallion didn’t like the interested look the mare gave him. And this time, Candlejack’s instincts kicked in. Years of Zelori’s training and four more were paying off. The stallion reared back with a hoof and swung, only to have Candlejack quickly catch it and lock a hoof around it. The stallion wrestled with his hoof, but found him to be unmoving. Which took him completely by surprise.         In that moment of hesitation, Candlejack took the opportunity. He twisted, the sound of bone crunching. The stallion yelped in pain and found himself struggling to stand upright. But Candlejack held on. Something about this stallion couldn’t help but remind him of a certain pony he hated. The image of Brilliant Mane’s smile appeared to him on the stallion’s face. Another feeling overcame him. One that made him grit his teeth angrily.         “Do you have any idea what it’s like to come back from an expedition?” he said suddenly and coldly. The stallion looked confused as Candlejack applied pressure to the leg. “Of course you don’t. You just sit high and dry all day on your ass, thinking that everything is going to be okay. That the expedition teams will always come out victorious. Opening up new opportunities for this piece of shit nation.” Candlejack applied more pressure, making the stallion grit his teeth in pain. “Let me get one thing straight. You have no idea what it’s like. But I know. I know full well what those expeditions are capable of.”         “L-let go of me!” the stallion cried in pain. But Candlejack held on, the anger burning in his eyes.         “Oh no. You need to know.” The face of that stallion he hated ever so much. The thought of him in sheer pain he was putting into it made him giddy. “I risk my life everytime you send me on one of those things. And you just write it off and take credit. So that way you can live happily without worry of the exact possible danger.” The stallion tried to stand upright, but only to fall back onto his side as Candlejack applied more pressure, the sound of more bones cracking. The stallion tried pulling away, but Candlejack still held on.         “Y-you’re a psycho!” he stated. Candlejack chuckled a little.         “Oh no. I haven’t even started counting the heads yet. But you know what they say.” He grinned at the stallion. “There is always a first, eh?” He then brought the stallion in and grabbed him by the scuff of his hide. “So piss off.” Candlejack heaved the stallion over his shoulder and the pony went sailing into the parting crowd. The stallion stood up, only to find that he was having trouble standing. Candlejack spat before eyeing the crowd. Some were giving him worried looks while most were excited to see a pony get hurt.         His gaze fell to the mare behind the counter. She furrowed her brows disappointedly at him. He sighed, feeling the hollowness come back. He then looked to see the mare that the stallion was hitting on eye him suggestively. He rubbed the back of his head before shrugging. ‘Guess it wasn’t such a total loss.’ He found himself smiling and wrapping a wing around the pretty mare before stumbling out of the pub.         He couldn’t remember much after that. The drinks muddled his thoughts. But the feeling of pure bliss and soft moaning in his ears and the tender caress of the mare’s hooves on his fur hide was a pleasant feeling for him. And what seemed like minutes that went by made the hollowness fade. When they had settled down, Candlejack found the blackness all too comforting. ~~~****~~~         Candlejack awoke to the sound of an alarm. He looked around groggily, trying to find the source of it. When he did, he stopped the alarm and looked at the time. The time read six in the morning. He took a deep breath, feeling his brain pound his head. He sat up on the bed, rubbing his spiked mane and yawning. He took a moment to blink away the tiredness before narrowing his eyes at the touch of something soft. He looked to his right to see a lump in the sheets. Curiosity struck him and he pulled back the cover, revealing a bubblegum colored unicorn mare in a long blond mane.         He sniffed once. The smell that greeted him was that of alcohol and bodily fluids. He let out a quiet sigh before silently sliding out of the bed. And as the mare snoozed quietly with a smile on her expression, Candlejack tiphoofed his way over the room and to the door. ‘Another night of debauchery is another success.’ He thought as he opened the door. Making sure the noise of the door hadn’t woken the mare up, he closed it with a soft click and turned to grasp his bearings.         He was certainly in an apartment building. However, the setup was not the one he was used too. Candlejack made his way down the hall before realizing that he was utterly clueless as to where he was going. It took him a good few minutes before finding the door that led to the stairs. Making his way out of the building, he was greeted again with the lively streets of NE-5. Taking a moment to grasp his bearings again, he found that he hadn’t traveled far in his “drunken” state. The neon sign down the road that depicted the suggestive neon mare was distant, yet clear.         Heading in the opposite direction, he found himself thinking back to another simpler moment. His first crush. It was a strange occurrence to him. And it wasn’t until three expeditions later that he met the mare of his eyes. After having finished up debriefing with his newly assigned crew, he found himself wandering the streets of NE-3 while Zelori was away to visit DD in NE-10. Candlejack found it odd to have suddenly stumble upon a workshop. He looked at the neon sign overhead:         Heaven Tibesti’s Scrapwork         Candlejack arched a brow at the name. ‘How many more odd names can I find?’ he thought. Curious, he trotted over to the booth. He could hear the distinct sound of a saw blade in the back. He pressed the small bell on the counter of the booth.         “’Ah’ll be there in a tick!” a voice with a strange accent called out. Candlejack rubbed his chin. ‘What kind of accent is that?’ And what’s more odd, he couldn’t help but notice the strange looking contraptions displayed inside. They were bulky, tall and had wheels. Almost like a chariot, but slimmer in design. In fact, one seemed to have caught his eye. A bi-wheeled sleek black looking chariot that had pipes protruding the back in an odd fashion. The excited feeling came back to him. ‘I wonder what it does.’ He thought.         And without realizing it, he found himself looking straight into the face of a cream colored freckled mare in a red mane. She smiled, her orchid colored eyes meeting his. Something about the way she smiled at him, however, was intriguing. So intriguing, in fact, he had forgotten how to speak.         “Well, howdy. Haven’t seen you aroun’ these parts.” She said. Candlejack found it hard to create words.         “Uh wha-ha-say-um…” was all he could muster. The mare giggled.         “’Ah take it vocabulary isn’t yer’ forte?” she asked with an amused brow. Candlejack felt his face suddenly feel hot, making him shift uncomfortably.         “I-I usually don’t have this much trouble…errr… finding words.” He said. Why was his heart beating rapidly? This feeling was indeed new to him. The mare leaned against the counter and propped a hoof on her cheek.         “So, how can ‘ah help you?” she asked. Candlejack rubbed the back of his head, giving her his best smile he could manage.         “Oh, uh… just taking a look around is all.” He said. She arched a questioning brow at him.         “Well, a booth vendor doesn’t have much ta’ sight see.” She said in a bored manner. The sudden change in expression made Candlejack feel strange. He thought the smile suited her better. He quickly darted around the workshop before landing his gaze onto the sleek looking bi-wheeled chariot.         “W-well, I do have one question to ask.” He said. He felt relieved when the mare’s smile returned. “That… ummm…” He pointed to the contraption. “What exactly is that?” The mare followed his gaze before beaming.         “Ah, she catches yer’ fancy?” The way she had said that made Candlejack’s heart beat even faster than before. ‘What is this mare doing to me?’ he thought painfully. And when the mare turned, he found himself speechless. Her mane was in a ponytail. His curiosity mixed with this feeling made him choke a bit before clearing his throat. “That, my friend, is my latest creation.” Candlejack arched a brow.         “Creation?” he asked. The mare nodded.         “Yeup. Been workin’ on her fer’ two years.” Two years, huh? Candlejack found this interesting. “She has a built in Lunarium engine. A Solarium powered headlight and motor. As fer’ the fuel, it runs at that recent material they had recovered from an expedition two years ago.” Candlejack perked up at this. Luridium? It made him excited to hear that he had influenced a creation. Especially to a mare who, for some reason, he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of. The way she eyed the contraption. Her orchid colored eyes and those tiny displaced freckles on her cheek. The strange metallic smell she gave off, signaling her constant work over the devices.         It made him happy. The mare waved a hoof at him with a confused look, making him blink back to earth.         “You alright there, sugar?” she asked. Candlejack did his best to keep his wings from unfurling.         “Just… uhh…” he quickly looked around and spotted strange looking plates on the walls. “What are those!” he said suddenly, quickly pointing to the plates. The mare smiled.         “Just a little side hobby of mine.” She said. “Nothin’ too fancy.” Candlejack rubbed the back of his head.         “I… would like to hear about it.” He said. The mare arched a brow.         “Oh, well it’s like ‘ah said. Nothin’ too fancy.” She bit her lip in thought. “A-are ya’ sure?” she asked. Candlejack found himself smiling and nodding. The mare returned his smile. “Well, alright. As long as you are intending to buy somethin’.” And bought something he did. And as he listened to the mare talk happily about how the process of creating a plate takes, Candlejack found himself intently listening to every little detail. The mare definitely knew what she was talking about. And she calmly answered each of Candlejack’s questions to the best of her knowledge.         Not realizing the time, the mare suddenly remembered that she had to fill an order and apologized for having to cut the conversation off.         “Are you… I mean.” Candlejack started. “Are you going to be sticking around long?” The mare turned and smiled.         “’Ahm open 24/7.” She said.         “O-oh, great! Then… I guess I’ll see you around?” the mare nodded.         “As long as you intend ta’ buy somethin’, then you are always welcome.” And with that, she donned a strange looking helmet before going back to a bulk like machine with a saw blade. The loud noise of the blade cutting into the metal drowned out the sigh of relief Candlejack gave. And every so often, he had found himself stopping by the workshop, finding himself asking more questions to the mare, who calmly answered them with her smile that made his heart beat.         Candlejack had a new feeling that time. And it was strange that he found the mare talking to be more intriguing than her explaining the details of her work. Of course, that didn’t dissuade Candlejack from legitimately asking questions about the bi-wheeled chariot. Its design had one wheel out front with a long like metal railing connecting to the seat while another bigger wheel was surrounded by the back of the seat and the strange looking pipes lining on both sides of the back wheel.         And for a while, Candlejack felt that the two had hit it off pretty well. She even remembered his name. And her name was pretty obvious to him, but he received a strange amused look from the mare when he had asked for her name.         “It clearly states my name.” she said as she looked up to the sign. Candlejack felt like he had said something wrong that made him feel embarrassed. But the mare laughed it off. And Candlejack couldn’t have felt anymore happier than he was. Of course, that didn’t stop Zelori from hogging into his business. She eventually found out about him seeing the mare, causing her to ask amusing questions and receiving strange responses from her brother.         “She definitely has struck your interest, my dear brother.” Zelori said one day when they had sat to talk about it. Candlejack shifted uncomfortably.         “W-what do you mean?” he asked. Zelori took a sip of her tea.         “I take it you don’t know what love is?” she asked. Candlejack cocked his head at the word.         “Love?” he asked. Zelori smiled at him.         “It is a feeling we hold to those we deem close. A feeling that is strong and… complicated.” She winked at him. “What you feel for the mare is something that you enjoy feeling around her. You feel it is necessary to hold her close to your heart.” Candlejack put a hoof to his chest. The thought was strange. He loved her? What exactly did it mean? Zelori chuckled at her confused and flustered sibling. “Candlejack, if you feel it is too much of a burden, tell her how you feel. But do be expecting a reaction when you do.” Candlejack looked at her questioningly. “Love is, like I said, a complicated feeling. It can be a pleasant emotion. But it can ensue the most confusing of reactions. I am just forewarning, when you do express that feeling to the one you want to tell it too, expect the answer to change that feeling.”         “Change the feeling?” he asked. Zelori nodded.         “This is not wisdom my ancestors bestow upon me. This is me telling you, because I love you. You are my brother and I do not wish for anything to come to harm you.” Candlejack bowed his head, feeling even more confused. Zelori loves him? Did she love him like he does the mare? Or was it something meant to be something else? “Do you understand what I am saying?” Candlejack nodded slowly. Zelori smiled. “Good. Now then, I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you what to do next.” Candlejack nodded. He felt his excitement rise. And not only that, he also felt another feeling. Something he doesn’t have outside of expeditions. Confidence.         But he wanted to tell this mare. Tell her exactly what he felt. Yes, he will tell her. And he would brace himself for the answer. Zelori said it will change the feeling. And he was hoping that it would be a pleasant one. He found himself soaring through the air, low enough that he wasn’t breaking the sky limit. He spotted Heaven’s workshop and descended.         Landing gracefully in front of the store, he happily rang the bell. He waited. He waited for what seemed like two minutes. When the mare didn’t respond, he furrowed his brows and pressed the bell again. No response. And now that he realized the sudden no response, the workshop was also eerily quiet. He twitched his ears, hearing something from inside the shop. It sounded like breathing.         Candlejack looked around, making sure no pony was watching before climbing into the booth.         “Hello? Heaven?” he asked. The breathing was getting louder. He squinted his eyes, seeing that the workbench he usually found her in to be empty. Yet, it seemed like it was recently messed with. His ears twitched again when he heard the breathing coming from further in. He quietly made his way over the metal sheets and peered into a doorway that had the sign above it reading:          Employees Only         Candlejack furrowed his brows worriedly. Was something wrong with Heaven? He quietly made his way into the back before reaching a hall that had three doors. Two of them were closed, but one was slightly ajar. He could hear the breathing from inside. Stepping as quietly as he could, he made his way to the door and peeked in. What he saw was something that made his heart sink dramatically.         Heaven was laying on a bed. There was another pony on top of her. The stallion grunted with a dumb smile on his face while Heaven panted, holding onto him. Something wasn’t right about this at all. And the feeling that hit him was like a tidal wave. Yet, what he didn’t realize was the door suddenly opening fully, causing the stallion and Heaven to quickly look at him in surprise.         “C-Candlejack!? What are ya’ doin’ back here!?” Heaven shouted in surprise. The stallion was immediately shoved off of her and Heaven marched over to the door. “Get out!!” Candlejack was confused. Before he could process anything, Heaven looked at him angrily before slamming the door in his muzzle. He rubbed it slowly, backing away. What had he just witnessed? Candlejack looked at the door. He then turned and walked quietly out of the booth, finding the back entrance and making his way down the street.         He didn’t know what to think. Who was that pony on her? What was he doing? And why did it look like she was enjoying it?  Candlejack had another feeling overcome him. A feeling that made his heart tighten in his chest. He looked back to see the quiet ambience of the light that lit up the workshop. Without another word, he took off, that feeling never leaving him as he did.         Candlejack snapped back to present day when he found himself staring at his reflection in a window. He studied himself. Something about him has changed greatly. Something that made him act this way. These strange feelings that kept coming and going. And when he had returned home to Zelori that day, he didn’t say anything. He remembered washing his face in the sink.         “So, how did it go?’ Zelori asked from the doorway. Candlejack took another hoof full of tap water and splashed himself. He then turned and smiled at her.         “It went pretty well.” He said. Zelori smiled.         “I am glad things went well. What did she say?” Candlejack felt the feeling come back. Seeing Heaven angry and slamming the door in his face.         “She wanted to remain friends.” He said without thought. But he knew better. And from that day henceforth, whenever he decided to pay her a visit, she would refuse service to him and give him a disgusted look. Taking it as she has had enough, she made it clear she didn’t want to see him ever again. Which Candlejack found himself happily obliging too. But then… why did it hurt so much? He felt a hoof tap him on the shoulder that snapped him back to reality. He looked away from his reflection and saw Zelori looked at him questioningly.         “I hope you haven’t forgotten about our expedition?” she said. Candlejack rubbed his head.         “Of course not. You know me.” He said with a smile. Zelori shook her head.         “Gone for the night and I find you wandering the streets like a stray puppy.” She studied him. “At least you seem a little less tense than when you left.” Candlejack stretched his wings.         “Well, a good drink every now and then helps ease the tension.” Zelori gave a skeptical look, making Candlejack shift uncomfortably. “L-look, can we just drop it and get on with this? The sooner we get this expedition out of the way, the better.” Zelori watched him walk down the road in a sigh. Zelori looked back to see the distant night pub.         “The stray puppy I knew long ago is gone.” She said to herself before following after him. ~~~****~~~         Candlejack and Zelori found themselves back in their expedition suites. However, these suites were modified to their preference. Zelori’s, a lightweight for quick movement and a Solarium rifle for far range support. A rapid fire Luridium pistol (one of the recent and new equipment supplied to those who are high ranking). And a retractable Lunarium staff. Candlejack, however, was geared for more combat than support. A lightweight suite with partially bulky gauntlets and weight boots. Thankfully, this suite had wing support, so he was able to stretch his wings at will. And being that the case, the material used for his suite was also light for ease of aerial support (not that it was necessary underground).         He was equipped with a Lunarium carbine and a Lunarium pistol. His close quarters, however, acted more like a Solarium baton than anything. But it was perfect for him to use up close. And being the daring fighter he is against the rogue machines, he figured he would need more room to evade. Behind them were newly recruited spelunkers. Candlejack and Zelori remained quiet while their team chatted amongst themselves. Their speech to them was what they had expected.         ‘Straight from training.’ They thought. They could only hope that it pays off than their previous team. They didn’t show it, but they had a feeling the reaper was with them again. Waiting to torment them both. But what Candlejack wasn’t entirely expecting was when one of the spelunkers was suddenly up close and squinting her eyes at his suite. Candlejack looked to her and then to Zelori, who returned his questioning look.         “What does P.U.N.K. stand for?” she said suddenly, tapping her hoof on his chest that had his title embedded. Candlejack rubbed the back of his head.         “Just a… title.” He said. The young spelunker cocked her helmeted head.         “Yeah, but what does it mean?” she asked.         “It labels him as a pony that hasn’t been killed in the line of duty.” One of the other spelunkers said. “”I was there when they were granted that title. It’s an acronym for Pony Unit Never Killed.” The mare rubbed her chin.         “Never killed? Why’s that?” Candlejack wasn’t sure if this mare really had no idea or if she was intentionally trying to start something. Candlejack sighed and looked up and over to the tunnel. They had gathered by one of the excavation tunnels in the western area of NE-3. Having practically spelunked most of the ruins around the lower sections, it was time Brilliant Mane thought that exploring the more dangerous ruins in dangerous terrain. And what no better expedition crew to enter first and risk themselves other than P.U.N.K.? And as that very pony that looked forward to another successful expedition from the two, he held out a hoof and gave his usual speech. And while this went on, Candlejack couldn’t help but twitch his ear at the sound of something metallic hit metal. Zelori heard it too as well as did the expedition team.         They turned to the metal blast door that led out to their expedition site. Candlejack darted his eyes at the metal door. Another soft clang. Zelori cocked her rapid fire pistol and held it up slightly. Brilliant Mane narrowed his eyes at the sudden alertness and looked to the door. Another clang.         “W-what is that?” the mare asked. Candlejack took up his carbine and cocked it, following Zelori’s example. Taking a moment, the team followed suite. Multiple hums of their gear coming to life. Another clang. Candlejack held up his free hoof, using his boots to help him stand and give the order.         “Back away from the door!” he ordered. They did. And as they retreated a ways back, a loud screeching sound reached their ears. The door suddenly bent. Candlejack squinted his eyes, seeing a skeletal hoof piercing the durable metal door. ‘No freakin’ way!’ he thought with a grit of his teeth. Years of expeditions has prepared him for the worst. He was used to rogue androids and robots in the ruins he has explored. And while, he felt it satisfying to plant his pistol in between their eyes, he was well aware of the brute strength they are capable of. However, despite knowing how strong an android can be, he wasn’t really sure how strong they could be.         And now he knew. He knew full well how strong they could be. Another hoof pierced the door. Then another. And another. Each hoof bending the metal, making it scream with every ounce of force they could muster. One of the hooves retreated and was replaced with a glowing red eye. Candlejack noticed the mare that had asked him about his title shiver in fear. Biting his lip in hesitation, he put a hoof on her shoulder, making her jump.         “When they break through, run for it. In fact, do so now.” He said to her in a whisper. The mare looked at him, the fear still in her eyes. He looked at her sternly now. “That is an order. Now do it.” The mare suddenly dropped her carbine and bolted away from the group, causing the others to look at the fleeing mare questioningly. Brilliant Mane had watched this. And he studied the pegasus. “That goes for the rest of you.” He said suddenly. Zelori watched her brother, studying his posture.         Upright, taking charge and acting like a true veteran. Something she couldn’t help but smile about. However, the screeching metal door forced her to stand and aim.         “I cannot guarantee your lives. If you feel that you have too much to live for. Too much left unfinished. Then beat it. This work isn’t for you.” He didn’t mean for it to sound like he thought they were incapable. And while this may be partially true to him, he was right in a sense. These ponies were straight out of training. They didn’t know what to expect. And taking his words to heart, all but two suddenly dropped their gear and bolted away from them. Candlejack eased slightly at this, but seeing the two that didn’t flee, he could only hope that they intend to know the consequence.         And when he turned to look back, the door was suddenly denting more and more. One of the androids managed to slip through the slits they created and bent up. Zelori, however, took aim and felled the creature.         “Cease your assault.” One of the androids from behind the door said as it clawed its’ way in. “Any more damages to Zillex and its’ properties is a crime and action must be taken.” This sentence echoed throughout them. Candlejack grit his teeth and looked to Zelori. Taking his look as a sign, she nodded and suddenly galloped on all threes away from the door with Candlejack following suite. The two that had wanted to stay and fight looked at their fleeting figures in confusion. And in that moment of hesitation, they hadn’t noticed that more and more androids were crawling their way through the holes they had created.         And Candlejack feared the worst. He did his best to ignore the sudden screams of help from the two that stayed behind. ‘They never listen…’ he thought. Brilliant Mane watched this from where he stood.         “Sir! We need to evacuate!” one of the Solar guards stated. Without as much of a single word uttered, Brilliant Mane turned and allowed himself to be led away from the breached blast door.         ‘This is more troublesome than I had thought.’ The stallion thought to himself. He then put a hoof on one of the guard’s shoulder. “Alert every able body in NE-3. I do not care if they are off duty. I need everypony to be at the ready. We have been breached.” He turned to another. “Sound the alert. Evacuate the people to the lower sections.” He turned to see Candlejack’s and Zelori’s fleeting figures. “The flying rat is more clever than I had anticipated.” > Act-1 Chapter 4: Deserted Equestria > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deserted Equestria         The alarm has gotten out. It blared throughout the city section. And as Candlejack and Zelori galloped up to one of the supply posts not too far from the invading androids, they quickly gathered what they could for ammo. Zelori arched a brow, seeing a small plastic box with a heart symbol on it. Opening it, she found two stimpaks and what appeared to be some sort of gel tube. Taking a quick glance at the instructions for it, it appeared to be a burn and cooling remedy for those who may have been struck by the Solarium and Lunarium. Pocketing it into her suite’s expedition bag, she tossed one of the stimpaks to Candlejack, who arched a brow as he caught it in his hooves.         She then furrowed her brows and then tossed the second stimpak at him, causing a vein in him to twitch.         “The hell are you trying to imply!?” he snapped. Zelori ignored him and looked to the city. The alarms were blaring loud and far. A voice on the intercoms above:         “Code red. Door E-3 has been breached. All citizens evacuate to the nearby checkpoint. Repeat. Door E-3 has been breached. Please, evacuate to the nearby checkpoints. It is highly recommended you do not stay in one place.” The voice kept repeating the message. But the two estranged siblings could hear it clearly. The citizens further in were panicking. Zelori looked to Candlejack.         “We need to help the citizens evacuate.” She said. Candlejack sighed before nodding and putting the stimpaks into his expedition bag. Zelori looked at him questioningly, the sigh clearly stating his protest. Candlejack gave a small hoof wiggle at her.         “I’m fine with helping the citizens. But the ETG? They need to fend for themselves.” He said. Zelori wasn’t sure about her sibling’s thought. And while, she was against the ideals of the Equestrian Round Table, she felt that they should at least try something to aid in the evacuation. Zelori rubbed her chin.         “I have an idea. But I need you to promise me one thing before I tell you.” Candlejack looked at her with a smile before making a hoof motion across his chest.         “Cross my heart.” He said with a smirk. Zelori put both her hooves onto his shoulders, forcing him to look her in the eyes.         “Promise me. That you will not get yourself killed. Your life won’t end here. You will continue to live. You will fight and you will survive. Promise me this.” Candlejack studied her look. Another feeling came over him. One that he always seemed to feel when Zelori asked him of such a thing. Candlejack sighed before patting his sister’s hooves reassuringly.         “We’ve made it this far. It wouldn’t hurt to live just a little bit longer.” He said. Zelori hugged him, forcing Candlejack to change his reassurance. Candlejack returned the gesture before they pulled away and she looked at him worriedly.         “We will split up and round up any wandering citizens. I’ll take downtown while you check the outskirts. And remember. No matter how far or out of ear I am…” Candlejack finished it for her.         “I will always watch over you from the heavens.” Zelori smiled before turning and galloping down into the city. Candlejack bowed his head in guilt.         ‘Dammit, and here I was hoping just to end it all.’ His eyes widened at an idea. He then smirked slightly. ‘Perhaps, I can.’ ~~~****~~~         Zelori galloped down the street, rushing past the panicking citizens as they ran with anything they could manage to carry to the checkpoint. A massive crowd gathered by one of the checkpoints, the ponies nearly stomping over one another to get by while the Lunar and Solar guards did their best to quell them. Zelori narrowed her eyes at the crowd, spotting families and friends being pushed and shoved aside. She grit her teeth when a mother got separated from her filly.         ‘This is getting out of hoof.’ She thought. That was when the crowd started screaming. She looked to see a swarm of glowing red eyes advance down a street.         “This cannot continue.” They echoed. “Cease all hostilities.” A group of the ETG lined up and took aim, firing onto the androids. Most of them fell, but some managed to quickly spring from the swarm and in a blink of an eye, found themselves overrunning the defense group. The crowd started morphing towards the gate. It had barely opened to let through another family. She snapped out of her daze when something loud and hollow land next to her. She looked to see a helmet. She gaped, seeing that the helmet wasn’t fully empty. The cracked visor displayed a frightened look of the recent wearer.         Her ears twitched at the sound of garbled static coming from the helmet.         “Defense Team Alpha 2. Respond! What is the current situation over at checkpoint A-2?” Zelori bit her lip, hesitant at first before picking up the helm. The voice came through again. “Alpha 2! What is going on over there!?” Zelori pressed the button on the side of the helm.         “Checkpoint A-2 has been overrun.” She said in a shaky breath. “Repeat. We have lost A-2.” There was garbled static before the voice spoke again.         “Dammit! Get all able bodies to protect the rest of the checkpoints! Let no android through!” Zelori was about to respond when she suddenly stopped and looked down at the ground. Something was off. And she soon knew why. Looking at the advancing swarm as they descended upon the crowd, a loud steady thumping sound reached them. She looked and squinted her eyes. She found herself staring in awe when a familiar machine burst over a shop, crushing it in the process. A bulky, giant tractor like machine with saw blades at the front and an exhaust at the top. A junk scrapper. She noticed that there were androids clambering on it, echoing the same line: “Cease all hostilities.”         Zelori dropped the occupied helmet to her hooves. “How can this be possible?” she asked herself. She then looked over to the city. “Candlejack!” Without another word, she left the panicking citizens to their demise, certain that there was nothing she could have done. Making her way down the road further, she noticed that some of the androids had made it in the downtown area.         And not only that, she could see the bloody fates they have left behind in their wake. She stopped in the center of a circle lot. The branching pathways extended long and dark. And each one occupied by blood and rogue androids.         “Momma!” a small voice called out. Zelori looked to see a group of ponies running into a store. Probably to barricade themselves in until rescue showed. But there was the problem. Rescue was nowhere to be found here. And as she watched the fleeing ponies enter into a store, the filly with them had tripped and fallen. The mother looked at her child.         “Anna Belle!” the mother called out. A gruff looking stallion put a hoof on her shoulder, stopping her from going any further.         “There’s nothing we can do for her! Get inside before those things get you!” he stated. The mother looked to her daughter. And then to the nearing androids as they echoed the sentence. Zelori watched stoically as the mother looked to her daughter and bite her lip.         “I love you.” She said to the frightened filly before she turned and rushed into the store. The stallion was the last to go in, closing it shut as the androids clambered onto the store. The filly found herself surrounded by the androids.         “No! Momma, don’t go!” she cried out. She looked fearfully up as an android stood over her.         “Cease all hostilities.” It said metallically. It extended a hoof to the filly, claws protruding from the tip. The filly curled into a ball, fearful of what to do next. And then the filly heard the sound of metal being struck with a beam. The android spluttered and fell to its’ side, crackling in electricity as it did. Zelori rushed forward, her retractable staff at the ready. And using it as a leverage to hop over the group of androids and land gracefully on her hind hooves, she quickly spun the staff, swinging it as the androids got close.         Stabbing into an android, she pushed, sending it to the ground. She then lifted her lower half, carrying herself around it, using her boots to collide into another advancing android. She quickly drew her rapid fire pistol, pelting three more androids, causing them to crumple into a white bloodied heap. She then unhooked the staff from the downed android, crushing the head with her boot before rushing over to an android that had dared to reach for the filly. Never has Zelori let out a roar of anger in her life. The ones climbing the store turned their attention to her.         “Cease your assault.” They echoed. But Zelori refused. Instead, she spun her staff and stabbed into the android’s head, ripping it off before flicking it off of the tip. The androids rushed her, claws at the ready. She spun on one hind hoof and leaned back, the claw grazing her chin. Supporting herself on one forehoof, she lifted her hind hoof up, smacking the android’s chin before she let herself gently fall onto her back, her staff locked in her leg and spinning, cutting the androids that advanced on her.         Felling the creatures, she quickly kicked herself up from the ground and aimed her pistol, burst firing at the ones that had her surrounded. And with each swing of her staff, with each fire from her pistol, she felt her anger rise. All sense of wisdom left her mind, only to be replaced with recklessness. She gave one final cry before slicing the android in half at the midriff. The half skeletal creature crumpled to the ground. Zelori took a moment to catch her breath before spinning her staff and making it retract into its’ holster. Taking a quick look around, she found that not a single trace of functioning android was anywhere to be seen.         She had done it. She looked over to see the filly, staring at her with a fearful look. She shrunk back and shivered, covering her eyes and muzzle with her hooves. Zelori, however, felt the anger leave her and replaced it with relief. She smiled and held out a hoof to the filly. The filly looked up at her, tears streaming. But the look she gave her was awe. A look she couldn’t help but remember a young colt giving her that same expression. The filly hesitantly took it and Zelori helped her up.         The store’s door then burst open and the mare that was the filly’s mother rushed out, bearing a nailed 2x4. Zelori aimed her pistol in reaction, but didn’t fire.         “Get away from her!” she shouted. The filly even seemed to duck behind Zelori at the sudden outburst. Zelori glanced down at the fearful filly before looking the mother squarely in the eye.         “Do you care for your loved one?” she asked. The mare waved the 2x4 at her, gritting her teeth.         “I’ve already lost too much! I refuse to let that happen again!” the mare stated, the anger clear in her eyes. But anger wasn’t the only thing Zelori noticed. The board wavered in the mare’s magic. She was afraid. Zelori frowned.         “That is not the answer I was looking for.” She said calmly. “Do you care for your loved one?” The mare took a shaky step forward.         “J-just leave us be! Haven’t you ETG’s done enough? I…” she wavered again before looking at Zelori. “I won’t let you take her away from me!” Zelori pressed her trigger slightly, pelting the board and causing it to fly out of the mare’s magic grip. It clattered to the floor, a charred marking indicating where it had struck. The mare backed away slowly.         “Then own up to it.” Zelori said coldly, keeping her expression stoic. “If you truly wish to make it out of here.” She looked to the filly. “Together.” She looked back to the mare. “Then prove yourself. Not just to her, but to yourself.” Zelori looked to the filly and smiled at her. The filly slowly stepped away from her, tears falling on her cheeks again before running to her mother, hugging her foreleg. The mother was baffled. Tears streamed from her own. She held her daughter, the guilt clearly displayed. Zelori then looked past her to the ponies coming out of hiding.         “How were you able to take them out like that?” the gruff stallion asked her with sheer admiration of the mechanical corpses at his hooves. Zelori didn’t answer him, but instead, made a suggestion.         “There should be a supply depot for expeditions nearby. I will take you there. Then, I will see to it that you are at a stable checkpoint. After that, you are on your own.” She said, holstering her pistol and trotting down the road. Things were more dire than she had thought. It has only been thirty minutes in and already ponies have started to lose their faith in themselves. She can only hope that Candlejack was faring better. ~~~****~~~         Candlejack galloped down an empty road. He had made sure that each building he passed had no pony inside. But that wasn’t all he was looking for.         ‘Now, if I recall, there should be… aha!’ He stopped in front of a building. It was a shop that has been known to dedicate black market deals to the ETGs. He trotted up to the door and tested it. Locked. He cocked his head in thought. ‘How am I supposed to get this open?’ He asked himself in contemplation. These type of buildings are usually under lock and key. No way in or out except for the front. His ears twitched when he heard steady hums from down the road. He looked to see androids clambering buildings, breaking whatever they could manage to get ahold of or deem a threat. Candlejack rubbed his chin. And then beamed as he remembered how they managed to get in here the first place.         He walked out to the middle of the street and put a hoof to his teeth, whistling. He caught the attention of three androids. He quickly unfurled a wing and smirked challengingly.         “Cease all hostilities.” They echoed before advancing on him. Candlejack trotted up and stood in front of the door, motioning with a wing to come and get him. One of the androids rushed towards him, claw hoof extended. Candlejack quickly sidestepped, batting the android’s hoof slightly and causing it to aim into the door. With a loud scream of metal, the android pierced it, finding itself stuck. As it continued to casually try to pull itself out, the other two bounded towards him. Candlejack sidestepped just in time, avoiding a decapitation. His helmet flew off and he had a claw like mark on his cheek.         He winced at the stinging sensation before quickly dodging another swipe. Candlejack danced around the androids. Using his boots to plant into the ground and causing him to stand, he stopped a claw hoof from going any further with his gauntlet foreleg. He then quickly tossed his and the android’s foreleg up, causing it to rear back. Candlejack ducked, spun and gave a powerful buck into the chest. The android crackled at the impact, its’ chassis dented. However, it shrugged it off and looked at him before repeating the same sentence.         Candlejack looked past the android and saw that the one that had stuck itself in the door managed to free itself by cutting away at it. Smiling at the opportunity, Candlejack brought out his pistol and shifted his head slightly to the side as an android’s claw hoof grazed his other cheek. The momentum carried the android further and it stabbed into the dented chassis. Candlejack aimed and fired off two shots, each striking the heads. The excited feeling came back to him. ‘Why were they echoing the same sentence over and over?’ Candlejack thought as the other android who had clawed at the door repeated the phrase.         “So, tell me. What do you mean by hostilities’?” he asked the android. He waited as the android swayed towards him.         “Cease all hostilities. This cannot… continue... this.... must… free them.” It said suddenly. Candlejack’s eyes widened at the sudden change of tone. The android seemed to stop and twitch a little before continuing. “Cannot… continue. Must… free… them…” It held out a claw hoof to him. But something about the way it did wasn’t out of sheer killing intent. Candlejack saw the eyes suddenly go from red to a metallic hazel. “Free… them… Free… them…Cannot… continue…” it then blinked. Something that Candlejack didn’t think they could do. And when it did, it seemed to take on an expression of terrified confusion. It looked at its’ claw hoof before looking down at itself.         Part of the skin had holes, revealing the skeletal structure connected with wires and gears. Then, it did something completely unexpected. Candlejack covered his ears when it suddenly reared back and screamed. Looking out from one eye, Candlejack watched with quiet interest at the sudden reaction. The scream, however, caught the attention of the nearby androids that were ransacking the nearby buildings. Candlejack looked around, seeing dozens of red eyes focus on them. Taking it as a sign to get moving, Candlejack quickly rushed past the screaming android and into the building.         His eyes darted the dark shelves, seeing if he could find anything worth using. He hopped behind a counter and dug through the shelves. Pocketing a couple of stimpaks and gels, he looked and saw something that made him grin bigger than ever. It was a small looking metallic apple. In fact, there wasn’t just one, but three of them. Picking up one, he noticed a small fine print label:         Zap Apple. Press stem and wait three seconds. If you are still holding this over three seconds, we are not responsible for any limb loss or injury. - Zap Apple Co.         Out of curiosity, he examined the object. Then, he pressed the stem. It beeped once. Twice. Candlejack realized his mistake and quickly tossed it out the door. On the third beep, it made a loud ringing sound and he felt himself being blasted back at a sudden spark of energy. Thankfully, his boots kept him from being sent off his hooves. But he couldn’t say the same for the androids however. When he had tossed it out, the apple had popped around the screaming android, which was being quickly overrun by others.         The electricity traveled, causing the swarm of androids to suddenly spaz. And when they did, he had to cover his ears at the constant screaming the creatures made. He uncovered his ears when the androids crumpled to the ground, their bodies twitching at random. Candlejack whistled in admiration before turning and pocketing the other two before galloping out of the store and making his way down further.         When he arrived at a street, he looked down it and noticed ETG fighting off androids that were advancing on them. He frowned, watching as the two did a surprisingly good job at holding out. However, no matter how well they were managing, it always seemed like an android was there to take the place of the one that had fallen. He darted is eyes in thought.         ‘Should I? Or shouldn’t I?’ he asked, patting his expedition bag and feeling the small lump of the Zap Apple. Thinking he probably might as well, he turned to reach in, only to stop and look up.          Heaven Tibesti’s Scrapwork         Candlejack was hesitant now. He glanced to the two fighting ETGs and then back at the booth. He could remember the painful feeling of being rejected by the mare he had once loved. But, did he really want to never see her again? ‘What if she still thinks I’m a creep?’ he thought. He bit his lip, his thoughts struggling with his rapidly beating heart.         We need to help the citizen’s escape.         Zelori’s words ran through his mind. He furrowed his brows before nodding to himself. Trotting over to the booth and looking in, he noticed the sleek looking bi-wheeled chariot still on display. However, something about it seemed different this time around. It had more cover on it and it seemed like it was carefully painted and decaled. However, that wasn’t his main concern. Hopping into the booth, he found it to be eerily quiet. The thoughts of that moment came back, the humming ambiance of the light over the workbench. When he took a step forward, he heard what sounded like a crash and a scream. His heart sunk.         He quickly bolted over the scrap metal sheets on the floor and turned the corner into the workshop. He stopped. Heaven was being lifted up by the neck by a strange looking android. Heaven pounded away at the android’s metallic arm. Candlejack quickly pulled out his pistol and fired at it, pelting it in the head. It didn’t flinch. Or even make a motion of acknowledgment. In fact, it seemed like his bullet didn’t put a single dent in it. He looked at his pistol and tossed it aside, pulling out his carbine.         Standing to take aim, he fired, the burst rounds pelting the metallic hide of the android. It turned its head to look at him now, seeing the red eyes stare him down. The android then dropped the mare and turned to face him. The android was something he had never seen before on his expeditions. It was bulky, sleek in design and it was nothing but metal. But that wasn’t all he noticed. It also had a strange looking weapon on its back. It had multiple barrels in a circular like manner and had a chain connecting to the barrel. He glanced to see Heaven in a stunned state before shrinking back into a corner when the android started shifting.         The weapon on its back moved down its’ side with a loud hum and it gripped a handle. The barrel spun and lit up. Candlejack held up a foreleg, feeling whatever came out of it graze him multiple times. He then dove to the side and planted himself against the wall. The weapon still firing, chipping away at his cover. He winced, feeling the stinging burns of the weapons ammunition. These weren’t Solarium or Lunarium rounds. ‘What kind of rounds are they?’ he thought to himself. He was dead curious.         In fact, he couldn’t help but feel a little left out in firing the gun. He pat his expedition bag and smirked. He quickly peeked out, seeing the rain of fire halt. The android’s weapon clicked for a bit before something on its back dispensed. The chain connected to the gun fell and a new one took its place. He looked past the android, seeing the frightened Heaven.         “Get to cover!” he shouted. Heaven blinked once and looked at him in confusion. “Do it!” he shouted again. Heaven balked and looked around desperately. Candlejack watched when she crawled under another workbench that happened to be in the corner. ‘It’ll have to do.’ He quickly pulled out the Zap Apple and pressed the stem. He waited, watching the android close a lid. ‘One.’ It then cocked the lever on the side. ‘Two.’ The barrel spun. ‘Three.’ Bolting out of cover, Candlejack tossed the Zap Apple. It popped in between them, forcing Candlejack against the wall. He felt his body tingle all over and fell to the ground, his muscles making him twitch.         But, he had done it. The android sizzled and crackled before stumbling forward and crashing on the ground with a hum. Candlejack felt his heart beat faster. This feeling hurt, however. He groaned in pain when his muscles tightened on him. Before he knew it, Heaven rolled him over and jammed a stimpak into his chest. Candlejack felt his body suddenly ease and he sighed with relief. Heaven stood up, shaken by the confrontation, and sat down on her haunches, baffled by what she had witnessed.         Candlejack took a moment, coughing for air before pushing himself off of the ground and looking at her.         “T-thanks…” he rasped. Heaven nodded slowly, shivering.         “C-Candlejack? Is that you?” she asked with a shuddering breath. The pegasus found himself unable to speak. Another feeling had hit him. One that made him shift uneasily and choking his words. He then gave her his best smile he could manage. ‘What am I doing?’ he thought to himself. He was relieved she was okay. But still, something about this felt… strange. Heaven took a moment to process this before furrowing her brows at him. “What are ya’ doin’ here?” Candlejack rubbed the back of his head.         “Erm… on an… expedition?” he replied in more of a question than an answer. Heaven looked at him questioningly. Candlejack wasn’t sure what to make of this. Usually, he would have no problems in taking down an android on an expedition. But he was either by himself or with Zelori. And while, they had aided their team to the best of their abilities, it was always them that returned. But this situation was different. Heaven wasn’t a part of an expedition. In fact, he had almost forgotten that the androids had invaded part of section NE-3.         “You uh…. seem no worse for wear.” Candlejack said hesitantly. Heaven sighed and hugged herself, still shivering. ‘Smooth, Candlejack.’ He thought. He then perked up, hearing the sound of a yell. Heaven heard it too and quickly stood up. Candlejack reloaded a fresh clip into his carbine and cocked it. He made his way quietly out of the workshop and peeked over the booth. The two ETG’s were still holding out, but one had seemed to be injured. The other, however, remained standing and firing at the advancing creatures.         Candlejack balked when he noticed that one of the androids had acquired a Solarium carbine. He watched, studying the way the creature held it. It didn’t have to stand. In fact, it held it in one claw hoof and aimed. The ETGs quickly crawled behind a booth as the burst fire from the carbine pelted one on the suite covered hide. She yelped before ducking back and putting a hoof to her helm.         “Delta B team requesting backup! I repeat! We are pinned down here!” There was a pause before the mare swore loudly and fired onto the advancing creatures. Candlejack rubbed his chin before his eyes fell to the sleek looking bi-wheeled chariot. He trotted over, causing Heaven to arch a brow.         “How do I start it?” Candlejack asked suddenly as he hopped on it. The design of the interior made him lean forward, locking his forehooves over the handlebars. Heaven balked.         “Wha? You are not drivin’ her!” she protested. Candlejack looked at her sternly.         “Do you rather want to stay here and be fodder for them?” he asked. He felt a little bad for speaking to her like this. But he really didn’t know what to do at this point. He had to get back to Zelori. Not much else he can do here. ‘Besides, they seem to be holding out alright.’ Heaven bit her lip, looking out of the booth.         “B-but what about those things? What if they come after us?” she asked. Candlejack smirked and reached back, pulling out a Zap Apple.         “I’m well prepared.” He replied. Heaven was hesitant again. She then sighed and trotted over to him and hopping onto the seat, wrapping her forelegs around his chest. He did his best not to have his wings unfurl before looking down at the dials in front of him. Heaven pointed a hoof to one particular one.         “Turn that one and then press that button.” She said. Candlejack did. And he smiled when it roared to life and he felt it jar his body. He felt his excitement increase. He had always imagined himself riding one of these things.         “And then I just turn this handle, right?” He asked, remembering what Heaven had told him before the incident. He twisted it downward and Heaven’s eyes widened.         “Y-yes but, I have ta’ open the garaaaaaaaAAAAAAHHH!!” Candlejack floored it. And when the chariot moved, it crashed through the wall of the booth and he quickly turned the handles, making it skid across the street with its’ back wheel. His heart was beating faster now. He couldn’t have been any more happier to suddenly be driving this thing. He looked to see that the noise of the chariot caught the attention of some of the androids.         “Unlicensed auto chariot. Present identification or cease.” They echoed. The ETGs behind the booth looked to see them, their hopes rising. Candlejack arched a challenging brow before revving the chariot. He had their full attention now.         “Hold on.” He told Heaven. The mare didn’t need to be told twice. She was already holding on, her mind racing with panicked thoughts of her having to suddenly keel over from her rapidly beating heart. Candlejack ignored the frightened mare before kicking down the pedal and leaning forward, the chariot bolting. Picking up speed, he narrowed his eyes as an android had stood in his way. The creature was pinned underneath the front wheel and Candlejack moved over it, the back wheel skinning the android and crushing it. He grit his teeth, seeing his only way out being guarded by more of them.         He skid to a halt, Heaven holding on for dear life, before pulling out his carbine and firing. As he did this, he hadn’t realized he was still holding down on the handle. Trying to keep his balance as the chariot spun, the carbine fired, striking true on the androids. Each falling one by one. He eased the pressure on the trigger and let go of the handlebar, balancing the chariot with one hind leg and looking confusedly at his unintentional work.         The androids that had surrounded him laid crumpled on the ground. He then looked over his shoulder to see the ETGs give him a look of shock. The ETG mare then retracted her visor and smiled at him.         “Think that thing has more seats?” she asked. Candlejack studied the ETGs. They were pretty wounded. And they seemed like they were on the verge of running out of ammo. Candlejack looked forward and saw the red glowing eyes of the androids appearing over the buildings. He then looked to see a shaken Heaven shrink behind him, her grip tightening around his chest. Candlejack gave the mare a stoic look before revving the chariot and turning down the street. “W-what? Hey! Don’t leave us here! We need support!” the ETG balked. But Candlejack had already drove the chariot halfway down the street.         ‘You’ll manage.’ He thought quietly. Heaven looked at him with a mix of shock and confusion.         “Y-ya’ aren’t goin’ ta’ help them?” she asked.         “They are ETG. They were trained specifically for this reason. If they can’t do what they are trained to do, then they have failed their duty.” He replied to her.         “But aren’t ya’ one o’ them?” she asked, looking at his partially torn expedition suite. Candlejack shook his head.         “I never said I was one of them.” He replied stoically. This was true. And while Heaven tried to process this, Candlejack glanced back, seeing the ETGs retreat behind the booth and firing onto another fresh wave of androids. ‘Besides, I have other plans.’ And one that involved a Zap Apple and a certain pony he hated. ~~~****~~~         An hour has passed. Zelori had did her best to round up who she could. What started out as a small group became a small crowd. As she fell any android that got in her way, much to the awe struck citizens at her skill, she had managed to save at least a dozen ponies and foals. She led them up a rocky hill where she had seen another checkpoint that had been perfectly guarded. And she soon found out why.         “Not another step forward!” an ETG from above the checkpoint called out, causing the five that patrolled the bottom line up and aimed at them. The ponies behind her shifted slightly, uncertain about the sudden halt. “You have no business being here!”         “Business?” Zelori arched a brow. “If I recall, I am tasked with escorting civilians to stable checkpoints. As per request by Brilliant Mane himself.” She said. The ETG above the checkpoint narrowed his eyes.         “I’m sorry. But by order of the Equestrian Round Table, this checkpoint is specifically designated for the high class.” He nodded. “And Brilliant Mane has already retreated behind the checkpoint. You must find another stable checkpoint that is properly citizen labeled.” Zelori looked back to see the shocked looks of the citizens.         “Don’t bull shit us! Let us through! We are citizens!” the gruff stallion said. Murmurs of agreement erupted from the crowd. The ETGs took aim.         “This is your last warning! Find a properly assigned checkpoint! Or we will shoot!” the ETG stated. The crowd quieted when they heard the sound of a loud roaring sound from behind them. Zelori turned and saw a small sleek looking chariot ride into the crowd, making them part to desperately get out of the way. Zelori narrowed her eyes as she saw Candlejack with a mare holding onto him for dear life. He stopped in front of her and smiled.         “I finally got my dream vehicle!” he smirked. Heaven balked.         “Hey! Ya’ didn’t even pay fer’ it!” she growled. Zelori looked to the mare and smiled, causing Heaven to suddenly shift uneasily. “Err… can ‘ah help you?” Zelori said nothing before turning to scold her brother.         “Reckless to the end. Have you’ve even found anyone out in the outskirts?” she asked. Candlejack sighed and shook his head.         “Just the one. But everything else was already android territory.” He explained. Heaven slid off the seat, her legs wobbling as she did her best to stand upright.         “H-have ya’ even gotten yer’ license yet?” she rasped as she realized she was on solid ground. Candlejack arched a brow.         “What’s a license?” he asked. Zelori rubbed her muzzle with a sigh before looking to see the ETGs still aimed at them. Candlejack followed suite.         “I won’t warn you again! Head to the designated checkpoint or we-“ Candlejack smirked.         “Frankly, I feel as if you are disobeying a direct order from Brilliant Mane himself.” He retorted. The ETG shook his head.         “Negative! Brilliant Mane has already been escorted to safety by the Equestrian Round Table.” As the ETG said this, Candlejack tapped his forehoof against his hind leg in thought. ‘Seems like they are being the stubborn prick heads like usual.’ He then looked down at the chariot and then to his wings. He smirked, Zelori catching it.         “What are you planning?” She asked immediately upon seeing it. Candlejack unfurled his wings.         “Everypony, step aside and remain that way!” he ordered. Murmurs of confusion erupted before Candlejack revved the chariot and spinning it to turn back down the road. Zelori watched as her sibling sped down the road, causing the crowd to react quickly. Feeling like he had gained enough distance, he turned the chariot and revved it.         “The hell is that kid doing?” one of the ETGs asked. Zelori’s mind was racing. What was the idiot thinking!? Candlejack revved the chariot again and took off, the motor roaring as he gained speed. He then pulled back, causing the chariot to pop up onto the back wheel. He then let go of the handlebars and planted his hooves onto the front of the chariot guard. Bringing his wings in, he kicked off when the chariot crashed into the cement barrier the ETG have erected around the checkpoint.         Time slowed for them. They watched in awe as Candlejack catapulted over the barrier, the chariot crashing and rolling into the ground, causing the ground ETGs to move out of the way, and he unfurled his wings. He shifted his position, gliding up with his hooves out in front of him… and aimed straight at the one ETG on top. The guard didn’t have time to register this when Candlejack tackled him and they rolled. Candlejack, however, positioned himself so he could stand the guard and then planted his foreleg under the ETG’s neck.         “Wh…what?” was all the ETG could say before Candlejack smirked and delivered a hefty hoof punch across the ETG’s helm, knocking him out in the process. Zelori was stunned by this, but quickly snapped out of it and drew out her staff. While the front ETGs were looking on at the spectacle, she threw the staff around one of the ETG’s neck and choked her out. The ETG went limp from the lack of oxygen and was laid aside. The crowd took that as an opportunity and they took it. Storming the barricade, the ETG didn’t have time to react when the crowd descended on them, tying them up.         Candlejack watched his handiwork play out before turning to see the switch that opened the checkpoint. With a loud screech of metal and alarms blaring, the checkpoint door opened and the crowd cheered. He looked down as the crowd advanced through the grinding gate. His eyes fell to Zelori. She studied him before sighing and giving a small smile. Candlejack returned it before turning to the other side of the gate and seeing section NE-4 expand before him. It was almost similar to NE-3, however, this section had more apartments and streets. The middle class section as they called it.         He looked to the knocked out ETG. The ETG’s helm crackling with static. Candlejack heard a garbled voice from it.         “…repeat. Brilliant Mane has given the notice for every able ETG to quarantine the section!” Candlejack gave a sly smile before taking off the ETG’s helm and pressing the button on the side of the helm.         “Roger. Has Brilliant Mane been safely evacuated?” he asked. There was static for a brief moment.         “Affirmative. Brilliant Mane has retreated behind gate E-7. Commence crowd pacification until more word is given from him.” Candlejack felt his heart beat rapidly. Victory is ever so close for him. He pressed the button, trying his best to keep his smile from getting out of control.         “Roger that.” He said. He dropped the helm and flew down to where Zelori stood. The zebra was watching with quiet interest at Heaven, who was shakily looking at the scratched chariot.         “My… my work…” she rasped weakly. Candlejack arched a brow before walking over to her. Heaven fell to her haunches and sighed. “Are ya’ happy now?” she asked. Candlejack rubbed the back of his head.         “More along the lines of ‘being even’.” He said. Heaven shot him a glare.         “So, that’s what that was all about? The fact that you were out ta’ get me?” she asked coldly. Candlejack shook his head.         “Never once thought about it.” He said coolly. Heaven suddenly stood up and delivered a hefty hoof punch across his cheek, causing a brow to arch from Zelori. Candlejack stumbled a bit, but stood and rubbed his cheek.         “Bein’ even? Is that what ya’ call it?” She jabbed a hoof into his chest. “You are the one who thought it would be smart ta’ just waltz in on me and my colt-friend?” Candlejack felt the hollow feeling come back.         “I didn’t know he was.” He said stoically. Heaven’s anger was clear.         “An’ ya’ just so happen ta’ think ‘Ah didn’t have one!?” She spat. “’Ah seen the way ya’ been lookin’ at me ever since you walked up ta’ my booth! ‘Ah thought it was cute at first, but then ya’ kept comin’ over, getting’ me ta’ talk about my hobbies!” She jabbed another hoof at him. “Ya’ only bought one thing from me an’ ever since, ya’ just wanted ta’ hear me drabble on things that have no business with credits!” She pointed to herself. “’Ah could care less about yer’ wildest fantasies of me! But in the end, it never should have mattered to ya’! I only wanted credits! An’ then ya’ started askin’ about my motorchariot and ‘Ah figured you were interested in buyin’ it!” She gave a sly smirk. “So, ‘Ah thought ‘Ah would play along!”         Candlejack gave her a bored look. And while the hollow feeling remained, he found it amusing to see the mare rant. But the mare insulting him wasn’t his main concern. He was smiling. And Zelori narrowed her eyes at him. She was confused by the sudden outburst of the mare, who she now realized was the crush of her sibling. But Candlejack wasn’t making any gestures towards her that seemed he cared. Even Heaven frowned angrily at him at the smile.         “Ya’ think this is funny to ya’!? My colt-friend can’t get over the fact that ya’ walked in on us an’ he thinks that ‘Ahm goin’ behind his back!! But of course ya’ wouldn’ happen to know it ‘cus you are just only in it fer’ yer’ damn chance to drive my chariot!” She motioned to the scratched chariot. “’Ah poured sweat, blood an’ tears into it! An’ ya’ just go an’ wreck it!” Candlejack trotted over to the chariot and pulled it up. He turned the dial and pressed the button, hearing it sputter a bit before roaring to life.         “Seems to work fine enough.” He said with a shrug. Heaven was furious.         “Don’ get smart ass with me, boy!” she spat. He smirked and looked to Zelori.         “Yo, sis. Wanna’ take out the ETG directly?” he asked. Zelori arched a brow. Heaven balked.         “Are you ignoring me?!” she stated. Zelori looked to the mare. She hadn’t thought it at first. But this mare might have been the sole cause for him going out at night and leaving with mares that she knew were no good. Zelori sighed before trotting over to the chariot and hopping on to the back. Heaven balked again.         “W-what are ya’ two doin?!?” she stated. Candlejack revved it, giving her a smile.         “Going to go end our suffering once and for all.” He said before turning and flooring the chariot. Heaven was speechless. Never in her life has she met ponies of such caliber. And while the two sped down the road towards the gate, they were unaware of a lone slender figure having watch over them from the top of a building. ~~~****~~~         Brilliant Mane watched from the front of the gate. He darted his eyes, seeing the section NE-3 fall to the invasion of the androids. He remained stoic as his mind raced with thoughts.         ‘It seems I have gotten careless.’ He quietly sighed. ‘But… this is an opportunity in disguise. The AI told me so.’ He couldn’t help but turn his calm expression to a cold one. ‘It even stated the casualties I we will have to deal with. But if it is right about one thing…’ His ears twitched when he heard the sound of a roaring engine from afar. ‘Is that it has high hopes for him.’ As if on que, a sleek scratched looking bi-wheeled chariot rolled into view. On it was a pegasus and a zebra. They looked at him, the zebra with her stoic demeanor. But the pegasus… Their eyes met. He grinned widely at Brilliant Mane. ‘Apocalypitca… is that what you had in mind?’ Brilliant Mane couldn’t help but smile softly. ‘An opportunity to strike down the sole cause of our suffering.’ Brilliant Mane stood as ETGs suddenly lined up in front of him, aiming their carbines and rifles at the two.         Candlejack eyed the line. ‘To end our suffering.’ Candlejack thought. Brilliant Mane narrowed his eyes at the stallion.         ‘To rid this world of the plague it has and rebuild anew.’ Brilliant Mane and Candlejack studied each other, waiting to see who would strike first. And yet, at the same time, they both had a thought.         ‘To save this dying world, we must enter into the valley of death. And it’ll all start here.’ Zelori’s grip tightened around Candlejack. Brilliant Mane looked over his shoulder and nodded to the guard. The ETG then pulled a lever and the gate screeched loudly.         “I had high hopes of you, Candlejack.” Brilliant Mane shouted over the screeching metal. Candlejack smirked.         “I’m touched.” He retorted. Brilliant Mane shook his head.         “You had an opportunity. You could have lived happily with your family. You could have not worried about the dangers our underground utopia has.” Candlejack snorted.         “Utopia is cutting it short. I’d say ‘hell’ is more like it.” Brilliant Mane narrowed his eyes again at the stallion.         “And you think taking me down will just end it all? You do realize that if I do die, there will be others to take my place.” Candlejack tapped his hind leg with his forehoof.         “I don’t plan on just killing you. I plan to end it all. ETG has been around long enough. We aren’t blind to the fact that we are running out of oxygen down here.” Candlejack shrugged. “In fact, I’m pretty sure what the outside has to offer won’t be anything like it is down here.” Brilliant Mane arched a brow.         “Is that so? And you deem killing me and escaping to the outside is another step to move forward in society?” Candlejack smirked.        “Apocalyptica seems to think so.” Brilliant Mane sighed.         “And you believe the ancient AI more than the ones that have sheltered you from its dangers? The outside world will not be kind to you. It will throw everything it has to break you. And before you realize that the mistake is a big one, it will eat you alive.” Candlejack snorted.         “Better than suffocating down here. You and I both know that the android invasion wasn’t just an incident. It’s a wake-up call.” Zelori remained silent as she studied her brother’s actions. “If I didn’t think it, I probably would have just followed your every order around and pretend nothing is going to happen.” Candlejack then frowned. “We are leaving here, Brilliant. And you can’t stop us.” Brilliant Mane couldn’t help but smile.         ‘Perhaps I underestimated the flying rat. Apocalyptica was right about his will for freedom. But… is he truly the being the AI claims him to be?’ Candlejack arched a brow at the contemplating stallion.        ‘What is he planning?’ he thought. He eyed the ETGs again. They were itchy on the trigger. Brilliant Mane then shot a forehoof out to his side from his cape.         “Open the gate.” He ordered. The ETGs took a moment to look at one nother. “That is an order.”        “B-but sir?” one of the ETGs started. But Brilliant Mane dismissed the protest.         “Let them go. If they cannot abide by our laws here, then surely they will perish either way.” Brilliant mane looked to the two. “Heed my words, you two. Doing this means you have already come to terms with your consequences. You will not only be leaving your home, but everyone you cared for behind.” Candlejack couldn’t help but laugh. Zelori watched silently as her brother laughed higher. He then stopped and grinned at him.         “Then you better heed mine.” He drew out his pistol and aimed it at him, causing the ETGs to return the gesture. “Your downfall will lead to your blood on my hooves. And when that time comes, I hope you have already made amends with your own consequences.” Brilliant Mane studied the stallion.         ‘To think that a prisoner would so carelessly throw his own life away like this. What did he find down there in the ruins?’ Candlejack felt Zelori tap his shoulder.         “Jack. Are you certain about this? You do realize there is no turning back from this.” she said. Candlejack smirked again.         “Zelori, if I wasn’t so sure, I wouldn’t have dragged you and DD along for the ride. You and I both know what the ETG is doing. You saw it yourself. Those expeditions weren’t just go in and retrieve.” Of course, Zelori knew this. But her main concern was the action that her sibling is taking to ensure they never return. She could only hope to keep him out of too much trouble. And when Candlejack revved the chariot, Brilliant Mane turned and walked towards the gate. Candlejack frowned and pulled out the Zap Apple. With a loud screech of the wheel and the roar of the motor, the chariot sped forward.         ETGs dove out of the way. Candlejack pressed the stem and narrowed his eyes. ‘One.’ Brilliant Mane made no motion to move out of the way. ‘Two.’ Zelori remained stoic as they sped by the stallion. Time seemed to slow for them. She looked to see Brilliant Mane glancing at them. His expression was that of acceptance. He knew. He knew what he was going to do. ‘Three.’ Candlejack tossed the Zap Apple back behind them and it landed in front of Brilliant Mane.        ‘So be it. But know that my influence isn’t exclusive to down here. I will see you again, Candlejack.’ Time sped up and a loud pop of electricity spread throughout the ETG. Their screams muffled by their helms. Candlejack sped the chariot into the tunnel, his expression grim. He glanced back, seeing a silhouette of a stallion in a white cape covered in his own blood look to them. Candlejack grit his teeth.         ‘Dammit, nicked him.’ He thought. ~~~****~~~         The tunnel rumbled. The explosion from the Zap Apple seemed to cause the cave to crumble around them. Candlejack didn’t let go of the handle. Zelori used her staff to bat away at the rocks that came dangerously close to nicking them. Candlejack’s eyes widened when he saw the light at the end. Freedom was ever so close. He then balked when a rock rolled into their path. The chariot flipped over, catapulting them both over. Candlejack and Zelori went rolling with the chariot. Shaking off the daze, Zelori looked to see that Candlejack had been pinned by the chariot. He struggled to break free, only to find that his hind leg was caught in the wheel and a rock.         “Dammit! Let go!” he growled. Zelori sidestepped a rock that had fallen next to her. She quickly rushed forward and jammed her staff under the vehicle. Grunting as she tried to lift it, the rock kept it in place. Candlejack tried to life with his back, but another rock came falling down and pelted them, causing the vehicle to become even more stuck. Zelori’s mind panicked. She kept pushing down, trying to lift the rock. Then, as if the heavens had answered her prayers, she felt the vehicle and the rocks lift. Candlejack felt himself becoming free. And then blinked in confusion when he and Zelori were suddenly scooped up and started moving above the ground.         The light neared. They were close. The tunnel still rumbled. Candlejack looked up, his eyes widening in surprise by the slender like robotic figure in a tattered shawl sprinting down the tunnel. It gave a worried garbled hum before it heaved both of them forward. They rolled and the figure was struck with a rock. They rolled to a stop and Candlejack quickly stood up, looking over to the tunnel         “DD!” he called out. The slender robot frantically tried to push aside the rock, but more kept falling on top of it. Zelori and Candlejack rushed forward, only to have DD hold out a slender limb towards them. Candlejack wanted to reach out, but he noticed that DD hadn’t reached for them. Instead, it tossed something. A sleek, black looking box. Candlejack stopped and caught it in his wing, stepping back when he came close to be crushed by a rock. He looked, his surprise turned to shock. DD garbled at them. It stuttered for a bit, its’ eyes dimming with everytime it tried to push aside the rock. The tunnel rumbled again.         “Jack!” Zelori said, putting a hoof on her brother’s shoulder. But Candlejack didn’t want to move. He wanted to help. DD was hurt and needs help. But he saw it. The look DD gave him. It wasn’t sadness, nor happiness. DD looked to the two baffled ponies, garbling a cool like tone. The tunnel rumbled again, furiously this time. The rocks fell one by one, piling on top of the robot. Candlejack couldn’t hear anything. Zelori was calling to him, but her voice was drowned out by the tunnel. Candlejack then felt himself being turned around and galloping towards the light. They both dove into an opening, the tunnel exploding into dust. Zelori and Candlejack coughed the dust away before turning back to see the tunnel entrance was covered by rock and debris.         “DD….” Candlejack shivered, his hollow feeling increasing into a sorrow. Zelori was sharing the emotion as well. Both of them remained silent, their thoughts cluttered with scenarios on how it might have gone better. But Candlejack had already struck the first hammer. The steps before them laid out and he had already nailed a piece into place. However, it was one he had no intentions of involving. He sat on his haunches, dumbfounded. He then felt a lump in his wing. He blinked and shifted it onto his hoof. He examined it. The craftsmanship was carefully in play. DD had made small adjustments to the box.         And when he tapped it, the melody began playing. A hologram of the alicorn now a moving puppet. It danced and spun with the music, displaying DD’s work has been a success. But Candlejack didn’t think so. It was a hollow victory. One of many he believed himself to face. And he knew this. He knew what was at stake in trying to leave. He had talked about it. Shared it with those closest to him. Zelori found herself unable to think clearly. Instead, she sat next to him, wrapping a foreleg around him and bringing him in close. At that moment, Candlejack felt himself transgressing back into a colt.         And as the melody played, Candlejack shivered. His heart sank heavily into his chest. He gripped the box tighter in his hoof, watching through blurred vision at the dancing alicorn. What they didn’t realize was that the room around them lit up. They had entered into what appeared to him as another bunker. But behind them blinked a familiar prism.         “It is great to see you two again.” The deep metallic voice of Apocalyptica greeted. Zelori looked over her shoulder, eyeing it coldly. “Oh, it appears I have interrupted something. Is this what you ponies call a ‘moment’?”  It then changed into a triangle. “Is that a music box playing?” Candlejack gripped the box tighter. “What a soothing sound. I’m sorry if the trouble has been too great.” Candlejack stood up suddenly and turned to look at the screen. It displayed over head on a huge screen.         “It’s over, Apocalyptica… We are free now…” he said. Apocalyptica changed back into a circle.         “Indeed. And it pleases me to see you all in good health.” Candlejack bit his lip, drawing blood. ‘It doesn’t know…’ Zelori stood up.         “May nature guide you to rest.” She said before turning to the screen. “We are ready…” Apocalyptica changed back into a prism.         “Four years it has been since I have tasked you both. And in those years of your expeditions, I have guided you. Led you to the chance of being free.” Candlejack said nothing, his grim expression covered by his bangs. “You have made it this far. But I have just begun. This project to save your home. This land. It has to be seen through. It is what my creator wanted. What the land wants. To save a dying civilization from another incident.” Zelori and Candlejack remained silent.         “What… are we to expect outside?” Zelori asked suddenly. Apocalyptica suddenly blinked into an image. It was covered in static, but every now and then, an image of what appears to be a bunker surrounded by rocks and a path leading away from the door buzzed in. The image faded and Apocalyptica returned.         “I’m afraid the camera feed is corrupted. However, I expect that my data for the project to be housed in the facilities scattered around the land. If we are to see this project through, I will need both of you to aid me. If not for ourselves, then the betterment of Equestria.” Candlejack and Zelori remained silent, causing Apocalyptica to turn into a static line. It then blipped and changed back into a prism. “It appears that temperatures are reading off the charts. If you are to continue forward outside, I recommend wearing these.” The locker to the left of them hissed open. A shelf extended forward, displaying strange looking suites.         “These suites are specially designed to combat the temperatures of the outside. I recommend you wear them if you are to not burn out.” Candlejack and Zelori exchanged glances before silently ditching the torn expedition’s suites and putting on the futuristic looking equipment. Retrieving their items from the expedition bags and putting them into the suites built in bags, they were ready to venture forth. They stood in front of a blast door. The door then screeched with a loud metallic scream. The rust falling in specks at the movement.         “I wish you both luck. I would start by heading west of the bunker. There is a small settlement where you can probably find someone to give you proper directions. I’m afraid I can’t be much help, but I will promise to see you again when you reactivate the facilities.” Candlejack and Zelori remained quiet as they took a step forward. Candlejack shielded his eyes through his visor at the sudden blinding light overhead. He was in awe. The path led down and expanded into nothingness. Nothing except for sand. Sand and dirt as far as he could see.         They had made it outside. But it is only a question of what they will face in this new world. The world above ground that was known as Equestria. > Act-1 Chapter 5: Aurora.EXE > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aurora.EXE         Detrot. What was once a haven for those looking to drown their sorrows and live a simple life, is now a place divided. The outskirts, or more commonly known to the citizens as The Subdivision, is a scavenger haven. Crumpled buildings rotting with sand and stone concrete. But inside these once habitable ruins lies treasures that can make one rich. However, that is if they know where to look. And a lone figure was doing just that. Her body covered by a tattered body cape meant to protect her from the sun's harmful rays.         And yet, something about this figure was uncanny. She looked like a pony, which she knows. However, she knew that she wasn’t entirely flesh. And while her design was sleek and her mane long and silky, her eyes were dark, illuminated by the neon light blue that were her irises. And with each steady movement she made through the ruined streets of the Subdivision, her eyes scanning each pile of debris and metal she passes that were lit up through her metal finding program, her hums with each step were the only thing accompanying her.         One would question why a mare would be wandering around the Subdivision without any form of protection. But to her, she felt she didn’t need it. She had no trouble scouring the ruins and avoiding the dangers that littered it. She quickly ducked behind a dumpster that had seen better days when her scanners picked up something hostile ahead. She waited, her breath non-existent. The ground beneath her rumbled in a slow steady quake. The dangers that were in the Subdivision were considered “Lost Residents”, a name that was always intriguing to her.         Aside from the purpose of finding salvage and scrap, she was also exploring this place more out of sheer curiosity. Her personality chip allowing her to think freely of her actions and expressions. And she narrowed her eyes, waiting patiently as the rumble grew louder. Her scanner detected the hostile rounding the corner. Optic nerves allowed her to zoom in. She could see them. Small tiny scavenger units hopping over debris in a carefree manner. Aiding them was a giant bulk unit. The pony like robots grouped together, their beeps and hums loud and clear.         “Big brother.” The tinier units rasped metallically in an echo. The bigger one rolled on tractor like hooves, the ears fuming out smoke. It’s dimly lit yellow eyes scanning the area. It stopped, its engines roaring faintly as its head moved. The little units bounded up and down as they clambered the debris. The lone figure watched from the shadows, studying a way around them. The tiny scavenger units hopped on a concrete pile and a compartment on their back opened. A long arm connected by a claw at the tip reached in.         The other units followed suite, but in different areas. The metallic mare frowned slightly. ‘Finding alternate routes.’ Her thought program told her. Symbols and lights flashed in her sights. A small square displaying an area map around her. Circles formed over what looked like random places on the map. They were immediately crossed out with an X before one circle stood out to her. It was in fact, right beside her. She looked to her left, seeing the ruined building. Above her was an open hole in the wall.         ‘Best route found. Caution to proceed.’ The mare slid a fore hoof out of her body cape and held it out to her side. She then blinked and looked to her hoof, eyeing it in confusion. The tips of her hooves were stuttering. She brought her hoof in and examined it. The claw stubs were jammed. Her hoof protesting against her will. She remained stoic as she placed her hoof against the dumpster. With a quick strike of her other hoof, the claw stubs broke free. Moving them in a wave like motion, testing to see if they are stable, she dug into the concrete wall, her other hoof resembling the one she had freed.         With a quick hop and a spring forward, she climbed the side with ease and crawled into the hole. Despite the sun bearing high overhead, increasing the temperature above five hundred degrees (according to her built in thermostat), the building was dark. Only a small beam of light from the sun lit the way from the destroyed windows. She activated her optic lights, illuminating the area in a light blue hue. The room was in a mess.         Chairs and tables littered in no particular angles or against one another. Burnt specs of paper and metal rust littered the floor. She scanned the area, reading that there were no hostiles on this floor. The red dots on her map in the top right of her HUD were small, but they depicted the threats outside. She walked forward, her movements humming in a steady pace. Her metallic hoofsteps echoed through the ruin. Her scanners were picking up metal and scrap, but she ignored it and kept walking, her gaze more interested in the architecture.         Something about this place made her feel as if she was walking through a part of history. ‘Who were the ponies that used to work this place?’ She had thought. ‘What did they do here? Was it something they enjoyed? Or was it something they loved to hate?’ She studied the wall, seeing destroyed and cracked picture frames. Whatever had laid dormant in them must have long been decayed. She then fell her eyes onto a whiteboard.         She cocked her head, seeing dried out ink on the board:         Profits for Solarium:         Year 1: 400b quartz         Year 2: 367b quartz         Year 3: 234m quartz         The last option was circled and a line was drawn next to it, connecting to a sentence:         Massive drop in pay. Somepony is getting fired for this.         She wasn’t sure what to understand about the sentence, but the chart depicted an increase steadily rising before it took a dramatic drop before increasing slowly. She dismissed it for now, having to turn her gaze back down the hall. Some halls and doorways were blocked off by the crumbling ceiling. But she was able to find her way to the other side of the building. She reached for the doorknob, her claw like hoof grasping it. Before she could do anything else, the knob popped off and the door fell forward with a loud creak and landed with a loud clunk. She arched a brow before looking at the knob and tossing it aside before stepping in.         This room had terminals inside. A row of them lined up symmetrically to the walls. She scanned the room. All the terminals were either destroyed or stripped for parts. She frowned quietly, sensing that somepony had already been through here and had a field day with the terminals. Although… one seemed to strike her curiosity. Her ears twitched to a faint hum and click of a terminal. It sounded like it was buried underneath the debris. She released her claw stubs and dug in, lifting the heavy debris aside with ease. She felt herself smile as she found a terminal humming alive on its side.         Pulling it out and letting the debris she held drop with a loud crack of metal and concrete, she placed the terminal on the desk and studied it. It was dented, but the humming it made told her it was still kicking. The keypads were small to use her whole hoof, but big enough for the tips. However, she found it more easier to use her claw like stubs to tap away at it. She scrolled the files, finding only summaries for Solarium and Lunarium export and import. However, she did find a personal log file that may have belonged to the previous pony assigned to this terminal. She tapped a key and read through the first report:         >Things couldn’t have gone from worse to utter shit. Stock Market is pissed at the sudden decrease in import of Solarium and it seems he is out for blood. I wouldn’t blame him if I was in his shoes. He practically lost millions of bits due to a stupid bug in our system. The repair bots told us that they tried everything they could, but he wouldn’t hear another word of it. I guess our IT team got lucky this time around.         She scrolled to the next one:         >This is hell! I can’t even seem to catch a break without Stock Market looking down my back! He practically threatened to dock our pays if we don’t fix this bug soon. I could practically give two shits about this. He doesn’t know what I know. And I think it is high time his little secret got out.         She narrowed her eyes, seeing an email report:         >To PR Department         >You know better than to have declined the issue. I have the proof right here in this document. All you had to do was read it. But it seems you won’t even listen to a concerned employee.         The next report was a response:         >To Makinroy of IT         >We are not responsible for employees neglecting to inform their higher ups about their issues. If you want something done, take this complaint to the actual Complaints Department.         The reports seemed to end there. The sleek metallic mare frowned. She was expecting more out of this exploration. However, it appeared to be just an employee having a bad week in the office. She scrolled through the terminal again, seeing if there was anything she missed. Unfortunately, the heat in the building seemed to make the terminal crackle before popping on her in a burst of smoke. She stoically looked around, spotting the doorway leading out.         As she stepped out, mimicking a sigh of disappointment, she stopped and stiffened. Her HUD was flashing red. She looked to her right and she saw the sun being blocked by a looming figure. A giant red eye peering in through the window, the red light shining on her. She darted her eyes, seeing that her options out were blocked by debris. She looked back to the door she had exited, only to balk when she saw a small scavenger unit look at her red eyes.         “Big… Brother…” it rasped metallically. More red eyes lit the room. How had her scanners not pick them up!? She racked her head, making her HUD static a bit before seeing that the map was displaying a warning:         Threats detected. Proceed with caution.         ‘Thanks for nothing.’ She growled. The shadow looming over her moved. She looked back to see the bulk unit back up, a beeping sound accompanying it. When it stopped, the muzzle fumed with steam out of the nostrils. The mare’s map was finding a best route to take to avoid this. However, being cornered, she grit her metallic white teeth in frustration. ‘Time to create a route.’ She thought when the map couldn’t’ find any available route. The bulk unit whistled before the tractor like hooves tore the dirt and sand up. The mare stood in front of the doorway, glancing to see the scavenger units creeping up on her.         The bulk unit moved forward, intending to ram into the building. The scavenger units sprang forward. The mare, however, hopped quickly to the side as the bulk unit rammed into the building, crushing the scavenger units. The mare’s body cape flapped at the impact as she moved forward, bounding up the body of the bulk unit, her claw stubs digging into the metallic chassis. Having reached the top, she quickly galloped gracefully over the head of the bulk unit and jumped onto the building’s roof. The bulk unit rumbled as it backed up.         The mare quickly turned and bounded towards the edge of the roof. With one good hop, she heaved herself up and over onto the next building.         “Big… sister….” The bulk unit groaned and the compartments on its side opened. Scavenger units crawled out of it and hopped onto the roof.         “Big brother…. Big brother…” they echoed. The mare neared the edge and came to a halt. Peering over, she looked to see the long drop underneath her. Which was an inconvenience to her when she glanced back to see the scavenger units hop over to the roof she was on and surround her.         “Are you proud… big brother?” they echoed. The mare bit her lip, drawing white blood from it. ‘I… I am uncertain if I should…’ she struggled with the thought. But she had to use it. It was the only way she can make it out of here. Her HUD flashed with a prompt:         Activate 4UR4?: >No      Yes         She swiped her hoof, moving the arrow over to the ‘yes’ and tapping it. Her HUD flashed with long lines of statuses, but at the same time, she could feel the program run through her. She had always found it a mystery as to why she has this unknown program with-in her. And discovering upon accident, she had blanked out at first. And when she came too, the danger she was in at the time was nowhere to be seen. But this time, she was aware. And she was ready. Her irises glowed brightly and her mane and tail glowed as well. This program was a mystery to her indeed. But she is certain of one thing. She could rely on it to aid her.         And when a scavenger unit sprang forward, the mare lashed out her claw hoof in blinding speed and hooked the neck of the unit. She heaved forward, shoving it into the ground and latching the wires and metal, she pulled out her hoof. The scavenger unit crackled with electricity and spazzed.         “AhhhhHHHAHHAaaAH… It…. Hurts…” it said as it twitched underneath her. The scavengers looked on, their eyes changing color to yellow. The mare held up the hoof, wires and metal dangling loosely in her claws. Her expression stoic. The units seemed to get over their confusion before rushing at her all at once. The mare took two gallops forward and ducked as a unit sprang over her. She dug her claws into the scavenger unit and sliced its metallic insides out. The other two units sprang at her as the one she had fallen landed and rolled off the side of the roof.         The mare quickly held out both hooves to her side and hooked their necks. They struggled to break free from her grasp, extending the excavation arms they were built in with lash out. But she quickly moved and shifted her head and body as the arm claws tried to land true. She winced, feeling that one of the claws grazed her side and tearing off a bit of her protective cape. A white gash on her side signaling that it had struck. She then spun and heaved one of the units away, tearing the neck in the process before planting the other in the ground.         The one she had pinned under her claw hoof lashed at her with the arm. But she quickly caught it in her other claw hoof and she struggled to force the arm downward. The scavenger unit doing its best to fight back.         “S-scared… don’t want… to die…” it rasped metallically. The mare remained stoic, studying the robot. It made no expression of any kind. However, seeing the arm fight against her grip was a sign that told her otherwise. But this program wasn’t designed for mercy. And she definitely didn’t want this to come back and bite her in the ass. She then widened her eyes angrily before digging her claw hoof into it’s neck. The unit gurgled a bit before the mare took the arm and pierced its head. It went limp under her, the light dimming from its eyes.         Taking a moment to claw her hoof out of the robot’s neck, her ears twitched at the sound of a roar. The bulk unit had rounded the building and lined itself up. It fumed at the nostrils again before the tractor like hooves dug up the dirt sand again. This time, the mare was ready. She faced the unit and quickly galloped forward and jumped. Time slowed as the mare soared across the gap. As the bulk unit rushed by her, she dug her claw hoof in and latched on. Time sped up and the unit rammed into the building.         It dug itself a little further in than she had expected, but ignoring the rebar that had grazed her and tearing up her cape, she stuck her other hoof in and climbed up to the back of the unit. Her eyes scanning the back, her target sensor picked up an energy reading from a small compartment. The Solarium core lit up on her screen right next to the Lunarium core. She ignored the groaning protest of the bulk unit as she dug in and ripped the compartment off. She then dug her claw hoof in, hooking the cores and ripping them out.         It crackled with electricity and a loud groan of pain emitted from the bulk unit.         “So much… pain… big sister… why…?” The mare squinted her eyes slightly before looking at the cores in her claw hoof. The amber and sapphire like cores glowed brightly. She then crushed them both, feeling the energy disperse through her. She felt her body tingle a bit before digging another claw in and slid down the side. The loud humming sound signaled the defeat of the massive unit. The mare let go of the side and fell quite a bit before landing on the cement, cracking it underneath her. Her HUD flashed again.         Impact Compensation. Solarium and Lunarium core absorbed. Beginning repairs.         Her body tingled again. She looked to see her cuts and gash seal up as if they were being sewn together. She also found this to be an intriguing part of her functions. She was able to absorb the energy from Solarium, Lunarium and Luridium. However, she deems that the first two were much more appetite friendly than the latter. Luridium always seemed to mess with her. However, despite the worrisome effects, she found herself maintained and fully functional.         The program deactivated and now her usual curious self again, she looked back to the bulk unit. She then smiled when she noticed that the bulk unit dropped enough of the material she was tasked to look for. Gathering what she could and stuffing them into her saddlebag, she began making her way back towards the exit of the Subdivision. However, she stopped, her map suddenly picking up blue dots. She narrowed her eyes and quietly but quickly stuck to the shadows as she neared the blue dots.         They were moving slightly, but it was strange to see friendlies here. Usually, the scavenger ponies would just shoot you on site. She rounded the corner and peeked out. She studied the figures. They were wearing suites designed to explore the outer areas of the Subdivision. However, they seemed… exhausted. In fact, she couldn’t help but stare in awe as one of the figures was standing on two hind hooves and lugging another pony in a suite over the shoulders. It appeared the second one was limp. She watched with quiet interest as the figure put one hoof out in front of the other.         She had never seen a pony walk on two hooves before. She then winced when she saw the suited pony fall forward and the one on its shoulder rolled a couple feet away. The second made no motion. The one that had dropped did her best to push herself off of the dirt sand. She was able to crawl just a bit before reaching out to the second suited pony. That was when the figure went limp and fell to the ground.         The mare darted her eyes in thought. ‘How odd. A pony that walked on her hind hooves? And more interestingly enough, they are unarmed.’ She quietly stepped out of the shadows and over to the figures. Her scanners analyzing them. One was indeed a female and the other a male. However, both of them appeared to be slowly losing their vitals. She picked up on their heart beats, seeing the line slowly rise and fall. She scanned the female one.         Scanning scavenger database… Error.         Non-existent background check. Action required.         She cocked her head, intrigued more. She then looked to the male one and scanned.         Scanning scavenger database… Error.         Non-existent background check. Action required.         She was in awe. ‘These two aren’t from around here?’ her HUD beeped again and this time, a different scanning was taking place. She frowned. ‘Dammit, of all the times for my basic program to scan… wait…’ it was scanning the male. A list displayed before her.         Compatible match found. Scanning…          Information found.          Age: 22  Species: Pegasus  Job Affiliation: Unknown   Likes: Unknown   Dislikes: Unknown.  DNA is required for further information.         If an android could blush, she did. 'DNA?' She looked to the unconscious pony in the suite. Her basic programming had gotten to her again. But this time… it appeared to have found a…         “Match? But… how?” She quickly blinked out of her confusion before her ears twitched at the sound of another steady rumble. She grit her teeth before looking at the two. ‘Something about this is… odd. But I can’t just leave them here like this. I need to figure out what is going on. And more importantly…’ she looked to the unconscious pegasus in the suite. ‘Why did my breeding program pick him?’ ~~~****~~~         The ruins of Detrot. While, not a place to write home about, it was a habitable space for scavenger ponies and units alike. And the sleek white mare sat in a chair while a gruff and elderly looking buck fiddled with her hoof claw stubs with tools and gadgets. A soldering mask over him while he repaired her hoof. And as the buck was doing this, she was looking over to the two unconscious ponies on the sofas. The old buck was surprised to see the mare trot up to his place with two ponies he had never seen before. And the suites they have worn were especially ancient. So ancient, in fact, she was surprised when the buck told her they had walked quite a ways with the AC unit busted.         She couldn’t help but feel giddy. Not only did one of them walk in on two hind hooves, it appeared that they were strong willed enough to survive the heat. And she was glad she was able to get them back in time. They had suffered from heat exhaustion. They were lucky nothing attacked them in the state they were in. And when they were in the AC confine of her home, she took the liberty of removing their helms.         She was in more awe than she thought her personality chip could register. The one that had walked in on two hind hooves was a zebra mare, no more than twenty-five years of age. The other was a young pegasus stallion with a white spiked mane. She hesitated at first to remove his helm. But mustering away her embarrassment, she removed his helm and felt a little relieved. Her scanners indicated that his physical health was in good conditioning. In fact, both of them were in good health.         However, their mental health on her scanners indicated abnormal levels. Which increased her curiosity even more. The buck pulled back out and dusted off her hoof, pulling up the helm and admiring his work.         “Welp, yer’ all set ta’ go!” he said with a toothy grin. The mare lifted her hoof and tested her claw stubs. They were no longer stuttering. She smiled and looked to the elder buck.         “Thank you, father.” She said. The buck rubbed his nose with a foreleg proudly.         “Think nothin’ o’ it. Jus’ doin’ me job!” The vanilla buck with a balding red mane and thick sideburns in overalls rubbed his chin. “Speakin’ o’. Where exactly dija’ find ‘em?” The mare shifted slightly.         “I… was exploring the Subdivision.” She said. The buck sighed and shook his head.         “Aurora, Oi told ya’ specifically the dangers o’ that place. What in Trotland’s buttered hole were ya’ doin’ over there that was so important?” The sleek white mare in a blue silky long mane registered a guilty expression.         “I was looking for materials you needed for the Condition Antenna.” She said. The buck rubbed his chin again.         “Aye, tis true oi needed the parts. But ya’ didn’ hafta go out an’ get ‘em.” He snorted. “Oi was goin’ to let that Pastel feller go instead.” He growled quietly. “Oi don’ like the lad eyein’ me only daughter.” Aurora giggled softly before patting the buck’s cheek.         “Do not worry, dear father. He is a nice stallion at heart. But you know full well that he is out not just for me.” She said. The buck smiled before patting her metallic sleek hoof.         “Oi know. Is jus’ hard tryin’ ta’ keep this place runnin’ and the mayor constantly breathin’ down me back.” Aurora kissed the top of his head before smiling.         “Perhaps I shall make dinner tonight. You just rest for now. I expect an all-night work tomorrow on the antenna.” She said. The buck smiled before spinning on his stool and shifting the metal scrap on his workbench. When he did, the zebra mare suddenly jolted up, startling both the mare and the buck.         “Jack… Where is Jack?” she said suddenly, looking around. She then fell her gaze onto the unconscious stallion. She gave a sigh of relief before wincing and rubbing her head. “Where… am I?” Aurora and the buck exchanged a quick glance before the buck gave a toothy grin.         “Welcome back ta’ da’ livin’!” he said heartily. The zebra mare looked to them, her eyes bearing caution. That caution then turned to surprise.         “Who are you?” she asked. The buck gave a hearty laugh before rubbing his muzzle and speaking.         “Names Truffelton. Oi’m the mechanic o’ this joint! An’ this ‘ere is me lovely daughter Aurora.” He said, nodding to the mare. The zebra’s eyes studied the mare, making her shift uncomfortably. The zebra then bolted out of the sofa and reached behind her.         “Android! Here!?” she stated. She then blinked in confusion and looked over her shoulder. She was unarmed. And Aurora noticed the sudden heart rate increase on the mare. The buck frowned.         “Aye, she’s an android. But she ain’t jus’ an android.” He smiled proudly at her. “She’s me angel o’ me life.” The zebra arched a brow.         “Angel?” she asked. The buck nodded before frowning.         “And ye bes’ watch yer’ manners. It was thanks ta’ her that ya’ are still walkin’ this earth.” The zebra mare took a cautious step back, the uncertainty clear on her face. Aurora registered a sad look.         “I’m sorry if this is sudden, but I had happened to find you both wandering the outskirts of the Subdivision.” Aurora stood up and smiled at her. “My registration ID is 4U120124. Or in simpler terms, you can call me Aurora.” The zebra narrowed her eyes suspiciously towards her before looking to the unconscious stallion. She walked over and put a hoof to his head.         “He’s burning up…” she said. Aurora studied the two. Who were these two? And why did they intrigue her so much? And more importantly. She felt a bit of red touch her cheek, seeing her basic programming activating. She shook her head furiously before looking to the mare.         “He must be suffering heat fever.” She said. The zebra arched a questioning brow at her. “It’s similar to what you would call a ‘common cold’ but more along the lines of excessive exposure to heat.” The zebra looked worriedly at the stallion.         “Is there any way to cure it?” Troffelton laughed.         “O’ course there is a way. She said tis like the common cold. But instead o’ pills an’ cold medicine, we use…” Aurora trotted over to a cabinet and pulled down a plastic box, using her claw like stubs to grip it. This caught the zebra’s interest before Aurora turned and held up the box.         “A special coolant pack.” She popped open the plastic box and pulled out a red looking pouch. The zebra watched as Aurora shook it and the pouch inflated. “It consists of crushed Lunarium crystals that melt into a cooling liquid. Similar to an ice pack.” She trotted over, her steady movements unnerving to the zebra, before she placed the pack gently on the stallion’s forehead. They noticed the small relief of his pain stricken face ease. Aurora read his vital signs stabilizing. And she smiled at this. Something about the stallion peacefully sleeping made her feel giddy. She then blinked in confusion and frowned, deactivating her annoying basic programming.         The zebra sighed, slumping a little. She must have been on full alert all this time. And when she sat down on the sofa, she put a hoof to her head and leaned back, closing her eyes. Aurora furrowed her brows before turning.         “I’ll go ahead and get dinner started.” She said, trotting past the buck and into another room. Troffelton rubbed his chin, seeing the zebra mare ease a little.         “Oi’m curious now. Jus’ who are ya’?” The zebra mare made no motion of looking at him before speaking.         “Zelori.” She said. Troffelton smiled.         “Oi bet ye from Zebrica, am oi right?” he said. Zelori looked at him now, a questioning brow displayed.         “Zebrica? How do you know Zebrica?” she asked. Troffelton puffed his chest out proudly.         “Oi’m no stranger when it comes ta’ travelin’. Oi been all over ta’ continent afor’ settelin’ ‘ere.” He winked. “Even been ta’ Zebrica.” Zelori darted her eyes in thought before sighing.         “No, I am not from Zebrica. But my ancestors are.” She said. Troffelton rubbed his chin again.         “Really now? The Last Migration oi take it?” Zelori narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the buck.         “And you know this, how?” she asked. Troffelton smiled.         “Well, oi’m glad ya’ asked! Ya’ see, ‘ere in Equestria, people o’ all kind mingle about in ta’ world!” he said. Zelori furrowed her brows. She wasn’t sure if she was going to regret this or not. However, she remained calm and listened. It was interesting to hear the old buck speak about Equestria.         How it once was a place that was filled with luscious grass, trees and flora. How everything wasn’t all dirt and sand. Buildings were tall and brilliant during the post-industrial era. A place where any creature could call home. The way the buck described it, Zelori couldn’t help but smile at the thought. ‘Perhaps, maybe I can gather more information about this place.’ She then looked to the stallion. ‘But I don’t want to let Candlejack out of my sight just yet.’ Troffelton caught the worried look from the mare and he smiled a toothy smile.         “So, what’s ta’ lad’s story?” he asked. Zelori shook her head.         “It’s best I not say. He really doesn’t like it when ponies know about his personal business.” she said.         “Then I bet ya’ both are closer than me an’ moi’ gut ‘ere if that be ta’ case.” He said, slapping his bulging belly. Zelori arched a brow again at the buck. ‘What an odd pony.’ She thought. Zelori then eyed the door Aurora had went through. She could see the mare move about on the other side. She could see it, however. An android with a cutie-mark. And one that wasn’t particular to the ones she had faced in her expeditions. Instead of the Z like pattern surrounded by a circle, this was a blue heart with a barcode striking across it.         “So, what’s the story about the android?” Zelori asked. Troffelton frowned slightly, making it clear to her that she didn’t like her referring to his ‘angel’ as an android. But if she wanted to get anywhere, she had to know.         “Me daughter is me pride an’ joy. Took care o’ her fer’ twenty-two years and countin’.” He said. ‘Twenty-two?’ Zelori rubbed her chin.         “How old is she exactly?” she asked. Troffelton returned the gesture.         “Not rightly sure. Found ‘er in the scrapyard over yonder.” He smiled. “Oi was frankly getting’ too old ta’ be runnin’ aroun’ the scrapyard. Me ol’ bones don’ work like they used ta’. So, oi’ figured oi’ build a personal assistant ta’ help aroun’ the house.” He had a tear fall down his cheek. “Little did oi’ know that oi’ had brought an angel ta’ life. Been a carin’ like daughter an’ treatin’ ‘er like so ever since.” Zelori displayed more than interest. She couldn’t help but feel a bit of guilt. She looked to Candlejack.         ‘So, he too has found a pony that changed his life.’ She then looked around the room before standing up and cracking her neck. Troffelton arched a brow. “I apologize if this may seem sudden. But I would like to know exactly where I am. You… wouldn’t mind giving me a tour of the place?” Troffelton smirked.         “Now that, oi can gladly do.” He then looked around and shambled over to a locker. He reached in and withdrew a belted vest with pockets. He motioned for the zebra mare to take it, which she hesitantly did, before reaching in and pulling out another one. Zelori watched as the buck clipped the vest over his hide and adjusted it so it would fit over his gut. Zelori then followed suite, adjusting the vest to make sure that it was well fitted to her needs. She then caught a cape in her hoof. “Ya’ don’ hafta worry ‘bout burnin’ up ‘ere. This place be protected by o’ Conditioner Antenna.” He said. Zelori arched a brow.         “A Conditioner Antenna?” she asked. Troffelton smiled proudly.         “Aye. The big ol’ lookin’ metal tower in ta’ distance. It spreads o’ aura that’ll keeps places like Detrot from burnin’ up! I’ll show ye’ on ta’ tour.” He motioned to the stallion. “An’ don’ ye’ worry ‘bout the lad. Me daughter will watch over ‘im.” Zelori furrowed her brows, copying the concerned look he gave suspiciously over to the stallion. Clearly, both of them were hesitant in leaving them behind. However, Zelori found it strange to trust this buck’s words. And she wanted to be fully prepared. As one of her ancestral wisdoms have taught her ‘Knowledge is power.’ ~~~****~~~         Candlejack tossed and turned. His head was aching, but he couldn’t wake up. His thoughts were forcing him to keep himself sleeping. The thoughts of DD being crushed by the rocks haunting him. He replayed it over and over in his head. Thinking of ways that he could have probably done better. ‘If I wasn’t so damn reckless, I could have… no… I should have…’ Images of him and DD exploring the junkyard came back to him. A memory showed him mimicking the robot in a dirtied bed sheet he had found in one of his explorations. Using it as the tattered shawl, he mimicked every movement he could. DD and Zelori found this questionable, but amusing at the same time. And when DD bounded up a pile of junk, Candlejack frowned before looking back at his wings. He flapped them, the rhythm off key. He had managed to fly once, but that was out of sheer panic to get away from being shot at.         DD looked down, giving a worried garbled hum. It was about to make a motion when it spotted Zelori looking out from the porch of the small junk house and shaking her head with a smile. DD rubbed its head with a stub before looking down, seeing Candlejack struggle to fly. An idea struck the robot. Turning and bending down, gathering up a metal pole and rope, the robot threw together what it could and made a fishing like pole. Using a bent pole to form a hook that could fit around the colt, DD lowered the pole and while Candlejack was distracted in trying to concentrate in getting the right rhythm, DD hooked him under his belly. However, it kept it there, waiting patiently for the colt to get the rhythm down.         When it and Zelori noticed the colt getting the rhythm down, DD slowly lifted the colt up. Candlejack blinked and looked back, seeing him lifting up with his wings flapping. He beamed and went to extend his forehooves out, only to stop and blink confusedly as he came face to face with DD. The colt kept his wings flapping, but he soon noticed the rope and hook keeping him afloat.         He frowned slightly before turning to face a chuckling DD. And yet, Candlejack felt like DD had taught him something. And everyday during his explorations and Zelori’s lessons, DD helped him understand his lacking ability to fly. The hook and rope being his “training wheels”. Eventually, he managed to lift himself up off the ground and was soon flying over piles of junk, going to and fro and able to swerve and avoid collisions. The only other problem he had was landing however. And when he flew back and tried to land, he found himself losing his footing and rolling comically straight into a junk pile next to an amused Zelori.         The image ended, causing Candlejack’s head to ache. He tossed and turned again before forcing his eyes open and jolting up, flinging a red looking pouch off of his head and against the wall. He looked around quickly, his breathing heavy. Realizing he was in an unfamiliar place, his mind went full red alert. The place seemed like a mess. But he could make out one thing that was familiar to him. A workshop in the corner. His ears twitched when he heard clattering coming from the next room over. Candlejack took a moment to steady his heartbeat before maintaining a stoic look and sliding off of the sofa. He quietly crept towards the workshop. He looked around, seeing if he could find anything for offense.         Spotting a monkey wrench, he unhooked it and gave a test swing. Heavy, but blunt. Perfect for head trauma. He then crept back to the door, leaning against the wall and leaning in to hear. There was humming coming from the other side. Candlejack furrowed his brows. The humming sounded familiar. His eyes widened.         ‘Android.’ He thought. He was confused. This place was empty and looked messy. However, it seemed an android had made a home here. Whatever was going to happen next, he wanted to get the drop on it. He quietly opened the door, sliding in through the small gap. He peeked over, seeing that it was a sleek white mare. Indeed an android. But… one he wasn’t familiar with. This one seemed like it was brand new. Its design completely flesh like, looking exactly like a pony. Even the mane and tail were silky enough to make it look real. But what gave it away were the black like slits at the joints and the dark eyes illuminated by a neon blue hue.         And not only that, it was actually humming a small tune. It dug through a cabinet and pulled out a strange looking small sack. Candlejack noticed the hoof like claw holding onto it before it was placed neatly down on the counter and the android went to work at a chopping board. Candlejack felt the sweat form from his brow. This android was acting like any normal pony would.         ‘No… no she isn’t real… she’s just a tangled mass of wires and bolts… nothing more…’ he thought to himself. Taking a quiet deep breath, he quickly crept up and readied the monkey wrench. Only to stop and realize the android had stopped cutting. She had dropped the knife and a hoof like claw gripped it before she spun and swung the blade at him. Candlejack immediately reacted by bringing the monkey wrench in front of him, blocking the knife from advancing any further.         He then quickly followed it up by wrapping a foreleg around the android’s foreleg and twisting, causing the knife to fall from her grasp. He smirked victoriously before realizing that the android had brought her other free hoof claw around and gripped his foreleg. She twisted, causing him to yelp in pain. The android then followed up by knocking the monkey wrench from his hoof locked around it and shoulder bashed him away. He had planted his hind hooves into the ground, expecting the weight of his boots to keep him from flying.         However, he quickly realized that he wasn’t even in a suite. He sailed through the air and crashed into the wall, knocking down pots and pans. The android took a step forward before her eyes widened.         “O-oh!” she said suddenly. Candlejack shook away the daze and looked confusedly at the android. He then furrowed his brows. Uncertain of what to do.         ‘Dammit, I’m cornered. What can I do?’ he looked around desperately trying to find a means of defense. He then looked down at the pots and pans beneath him. The android quickly shook her head and held out a hoof, the claw stubs retracting into them.         “W-wait! I didn’t mean to-!” she ducked when a pan sailed towards her. It clattered against the wall. Candlejack stood, smiling now that he had an arsenal of weapons. He then proceeded to hurl them one by one. The android frowned before dodging one. Then another. “Please! I can explain!” she said, furrowing her brows worriedly at the stallion. He hurled another, forcing her to duck again. She popped out her claw stubs again and held up a hoof, catching another pan before dodging another. Candlejack was quickly running out of ammo.         ‘Crap! This thing is good!’ He darted his eyes, spotting something on the top of the wall. It looked like a Solarium rifle. He grinned before bolting to it. The android balked when the stallion suddenly pulled it down and took aim, standing on two hooves.         ‘He can stand on his back hooves too!?’ the android thought with interest. She then realized the weapon he had and her look went from curious to dead serious.         “Let’s see how good you are dodging sun infused bullets!” he said with a wide victorious grin. He pressed the trigger and time slowed. The android narrowed her eyes. She then lifted up her pan she had caught and the solar beam bounced harmlessly off of it as time sped up. Candlejack was dumbfounded. The pan sizzled a bit. The android then shifted it slightly, showing her stoic look. Her gaze then fell to the clock over the stallion’s head. She wasn’t sure when Troffelton would be back, but she might as well hurry up and get dinner started. Her basic program activated again and she sighed in defeat.         ‘Alright, you stubborn program. Let’s see how great my match is at making dinner.’ Candlejack shook away his dumbfounded look before gritting his teeth.         “Dammit! You won’t get the better of me! I will show you I’m not one to be toyed with!” He cocked the ball point lever, making the rifle hum again before firing. He repeated the process in quick succession. The android, however, moved the pan, bouncing the beams harmlessly off of the black exterior. She noticed the pan turning red now. She quickly tossed the pan, pirouetting in the process. Candlejack grit his teeth as he cocked the lever again and fired. His last bullet.         The android took the opportunity. As the pan landed on the stove, the force caused a bowl and a few vegetables to fly. The android quickly grabbed the bowl. Time slowed as the android brought the bowl around, scooping the beam and the vegetables in the air before quickly flipping the bowl and placing it down. It burned red hot. The smell of cooked vegetables reaching Candlejack’s nose and making his stomach growl slightly. He wasn’t sure what the android was doing, but the dance wasn’t going to trick him one bit. He flipped the rifle and charged, bringing it around. The android caught it and quickly yanked it out of his grip before dropping it. Candlejack went forward still, planting into the counter.         When he did, the cabinet rattled, causing a sack of sand flour to tip over and sprinkle into a baking bowel. The android casually strolled over to the other side of the cabinet. Candlejack felt the sweat form on his brow.         ‘It’s reaching for a weapon! I have to act fast!’ Candlejack spied the knife he had forced it to drop. He reached, locking his hoof around it before bringing it up and swinging. When he did, the android pulled back, tossing dirt covered onions into the air. The force in which Candlejack swung cut the onions in half. The android quickly moved, graceful on her metallic sleek hooves, catching them and juggling them. Candlejack cocked his head in confusion. He then shook it, growling. ‘This thing is toying with me! I won’t let it think so!’ He grinned.         “Fancy moves. But I’m not an idiot to your android ways!” he said. The android arched a brow as she juggled them in her hooves. Her expression was stoic when she replied.         “Depends on what way you want it.” She smirked slyly. Her basic programming forcing her speech to alter. “Do you want it dry?” she tossed the onions at him. Candlejack balked before swinging the knife, cutting the onions again. “Or perhaps, play a little in the water.” Candlejack arched a brow as the android had somehow walked past him during the onion juggling. The tap water in the sink soaking the onions. “I’m not picky. But I prefer it if you would decide quickly. The heat is running out.” Candlejack quickly moved to the side, gaining some space between him and the android.         “What are you talking about!?” He pointed the knife at her. “I’ve killed plenty of your kind! Although… you’re not stark raving mad?” Candlejack rubbed his chin before shaking away the idea. “Doesn’t mean you won’t be yet.” The android stirred the onions in the sink with her hoof before plucking them out of the now dirt filled water and trotting over to the bowl.         “But I’m not the one causing a mess in my kitchen.” She then gave him a flirtatious glance. “Or maybe, you prefer it to be rough.” Candlejack was confused by this gesture. He then frowned and brought the knife in, ready to move.         “What nonsense are you blabbering about?” The android licked her lips. Candlejack couldn’t’ help but notice that the tongue was strangely white. The smell of the onions and the cooked vegetable suddenly reached his nostrils. And in doing so, his stomach growled. The android smirked as she quickly flipped the bowl over along with the steaming vegetables. She tossed the onions in and stirred a bit with a bent spoon before putting them in the baking bowel. Candlejack’s stomach growled again.         Now that he thought it, perhaps the android was seeing through his moves because he hadn’t eaten anything in a few hours. ‘That must be it! I’m slow in my reactions because I am hungry!’ He looked to the android, seeing her stir the brown looking flour and vegetables. He licked his lips and the android caught it.         “Well, you have been a help in getting it ready.” She then eyed him suggestively, looking over her shoulders. “But are you truly ready for the main course? I’ll let you have a taste, if that will sate your appetite?” Candlejack was tempted by the smell of the cooking vegetables. He then blinked once before shaking away his hunger.         “N-no! I won’t slack off here! I still have a head to collect!” he said. The android narrowed her eyes.         ‘What is this stallion then? A bounty hunter? A scavenger? He definitely is pretty skilled with his hooves. But it seems my advances aren’t working.’ She then frowned and eyed the active program. She was frankly getting annoyed with it. The way it altered her speech made her feel like she had lost control of herself. Candlejack noticed the struggling look and smirked.         ‘Time to go in for the kill!’ he twirled the knife around his hoof skillfully before rushing at her. Finally deactivating the program, the android noticed the stallion rushing. She quickly shifted her position slightly and felt the blade brush past her cheek. She then shot a claw hoof out to grip his foreleg and brought him forward… head first into the stove. Candlejack started seeing little Candlejacks as he slumped to the ground and the stove popped open with a ping. The android carefully placed the bowel in and closed the door, turning an egg like timer and propping her hoof against her cheek. She looked down to the dazed stallion.         ‘He certainly seems capable in a fight. And he’s not bad looking either. But… why does it think this pony is a suitable match?’ She then blinked and looked around, seeing the mess the stallion had committed. She rubbed her chin before coming to a sudden realization. ‘The way he fought… the way he strategized his movements… his confusion at my advances… This stallion…’ A sudden dread came over her. ‘Is a total idiot!’ > Act-1 Chapter 6: Taste of the Wastes > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Taste of the Wastes The sun shone high overhead. Thankfully, the body cape had a hood that Zelori made good use of. Troffelton had stated that the Conditioner Antenna disperses a cooling aura of energy over a certain mile radius. The one in the distance covers at least ten miles. Detrot was supposedly three miles east of the tower that was facing north. However, Zelori couldn’t help but adjust the hood over herself, shielding herself from the rays.         Despite the antenna cooling the area off, that didn’t stop the sun’s rays from piercing through. Zelori learned as the old buck took her down a busy street was that, the antenna didn’t exactly cover the whole area. There were some pockets where the dangerous heat would pierce through, creating a pocket that will severely burn those that wander through it unprotected.         “There is no cure fer’ ye if ye do happen on one unprotected.” Troffelton stated, his look grim. “Tis why scavengers, bounty hunters and the NDS wear them fancy suites loik ta’ one ye an’ ta’ lad wore.” Zelori rubbed her chin as they stopped in front of a booth. The tarp laid out beneath a covered up creature, who Zelori couldn’t tell if it was pony nor robot as it wore goggles and a face mask, that looked up to them. It silently moved its’ shawl over its wares. Zelori narrowed her eyes, seeing strange looking metallic boxes with wires, stimpaks, gels and supposedly bullets for Solarium, Lunarium and Luridium gear.         However, what Troffelton had said caught her interest in one particular subject. “The NDS?” she asked. Troffelton opened his mouth to say something when the creature suddenly hissed and scooped up its’ supplies before standing up and dumping the contents in a box. It looked back to them, suspicious of their intent. Troffelton rubbed his chin.         “Best oi tell ya’ over atta’ pub.” He stated before shambling off down the road. Zelori arched a brow before looking to the creature. It continued to stare at her, wondering what she was planning to do. When Zelori gave a quiet sigh, she turned and followed the buck. While the vendors haggled and mingled about, both metallic and pony, Zelori couldn’t help but notice most of the booths bearing strange gadgets, scraps, supplies and other miscellaneous junk.         Troffelton and Zelori stopped in front of a saloon looking building. Zelori narrowed her eyes at the building, studying its’ architecture. It has clearly seen better days. The black scorch marks signaling where the sun appeared to strike more. Thankfully, this building seemed to be made of concrete and partial metal. Her gaze then fell to a sign where it showed a cartoonish mare, winking suggestively down at her in a strange looking attire:         Bannered Mare         Troffelton smiled at the puzzled zebra mare before giving her a hearty pat on the back, making her stumble forward a bit.         “Bawhaha! No worries, lass. Tis but a harmless pub. An’ me personal favorite!” Troffelton shambled up the steps, Zelori watching quietly.         ‘A very odd and loud pony.’ She thought with a slightly annoyed frown. As she entered into the pub with the buck, her ears that were protruding the hood twitched. A strange melody spreading through the pub. It wasn’t any like the pulse pounding soothing to hardcore music that went on in New Equestria. No, this one seemed simpler. A box no taller than the pony behind it. His hooves moving over a white pad. However, it wasn’t holographic of any kind. Zelori watched with quiet interest as the pony strummed the keys, pressing them down into the box itself and bringing forth a melody that was… surprisingly catchy to her. However, whenever music was played, ponies were usually cutting a rug on the dance floor.         She arched a confused brow when none of the ponies were doing just that. Instead, they were gathered around tables. She noticed each pony wore a suite or a certain protective barding with tattered shawls and capes to protect them from the heat. She balked slightly, seeing Troffelton shamble his way over to a bar. She quickly trotted forward, adjusting her hood to make sure she wouldn’t draw any attention to herself. And while, she did get suspicious glances and arched brows making her a little hesitant in calling out, none of them made a move. And as she passed, they went back to whatever it was they were doing.         Zelori eased a little, but her mind was on full alert. Troffelton took a stool, creaking as he did, before knocking on the counter.         “Bar Keep! Yer’ finest ale!” he bellowed. Zelori furrowed her brows in worry as she quickly glanced behind her, seeing the buck had caught the attention of a few ponies. However, they seemed to just smirk slightly and turn their attention back to their companions or game. Zelori couldn’t help but find herself… intrigued by these ponies. New Equestria could definitely learn a thing or two about self-respect. ‘But that would be a long time to go.’ She frowned sadly. ‘Perhaps, by the time it is settled, it might be too late for them.’         She couldn’t help but think back to that certain day. The day she and Candlejack stumbled upon a file in a terminal that had been housed in a recent abandoned facility belonging the ETG. They had apparently left it due to certain technical failures. And while, nothing too threatening other than a few giant roaches and a creature that was dubbed a “Barnacle” that become its recent residents, she thought back, remembering how she and Candlejack had entered a room with a line of terminals, either on or off, illuminate the room. Zelori and Candlejack spread out, eyeing the terminals.         They and their team were tasked in retrieving data that had been so carelessly left behind by an incompetent researcher. And as Candlejack sat at a terminal, scrolling through it, he had come across a log file. Curiosity struck him:         >Research on the new material that has been officially dubbed “Luridium” has been going rather smoothly. We predict that within a few weeks, we can export this material and create a new form of energy. The Solarium and Lunarium materials down here were getting to the point of being obsolete anyway. Even these wretched boxes had been acting up because the material used to power them have been, what I would call, having a hiccup.         He scrolled through the log, unaware of the certain danger above him. As he read, he suddenly narrowed his eyes when he heard something wet and sloppy made a faint sound. He suddenly found it hard to breath as a fleshy like rope wrapped around his neck. He felt himself being lifted up, pulling on the flesh like coil around his neck.         Zelori quickly aimed, but couldn’t press the trigger. She couldn’t quite see what had gotten ahold of him. She looked around her sibling’s surroundings, seeing if she could spot anything. Fortunately, Candlejack had reached for a Soalrium knife that was holstered onto his suites foreleg gauntlet, he quickly locked a hoof around the flesh and gave a good hack at it.         A loud screeching sound reached their ears. And with a final good heave, the knife finally sliced the tongue. Candlejack fell to the floor and quickly scrambled out of the way, ducking as the flesh like tongue flailed about. Zelori was about to check the condition of her brother, when her visor was suddenly splattered with red liquid. It even smelled awful too. And then she realized that her helm was being melted.         She quickly pulled her helmet off and threw it aside, watching as the helmet morphed into the ground. She backed up, ducking behind a metal table to avoid the flailing tongue and acid like blood. Candlejack noticed it as well and quickly took cover under a desk. He darted his eyes to the ceiling. He then saw it. A pulsing red pile of flesh hanging above him. It retracted its tongue and let out a screech. He then saw razor sharp like teeth where the tongue had escaped too. He grit his teeth, pulling out his pistol and taking aim.         Firing onto the creature, it took three Solarium bullets before it twitched and gurgled. Candlejack suddenly gagged when a foul stench belched from the creature. And when it did, a red liquid pelted the table next to him where the terminal was. He gaped, seeing the terminal melt along with the table.         “Dammit, the data!” he exclaimed. But it was too late. In a matter of seconds, the terminal and the table had morphed into the ground, the keypad now a smoldering liquid. Candlejack and Zelori took a moment to catch their breath, doing their best to ignore the pungent smell. They then looked up to see the creature hang loosely. It then fell and landed in between them with a sickening splat. They studied the alien like creature.         “The hell is that thing?” Candlejack rasped, rubbing his neck. Zelori narrowed her eyes. She then gasped in shock.         “Jack… this creature is…” Candlejack narrowed his eyes. There was no doubt about. This was the same creature that had mysteriously dragged a stallion and half a mare into the ceiling. They looked up, Candlejack using his helm’s light to scan the ceiling. He then flashed over another creature. And then another. And another. They gurgled and clicked as the light shined past them. Most of the room was a minefield of them! Candlejack bit his lip and sighed.         “Guess this retrieval expedition is a no go.” He said. Zelori narrowed her eyes at the creatures. Candlejack then patted her shoulder. “Let’s go report this. And… hope that our team didn’t fall victim to these things.” They trotted out of the room and back the way they came. It was, however, as Candlejack feared. Realizing the creatures rested on the ceiling, they did their best to keep an eye out and where they stepped.         They had passed a hallway. Candlejack hadn’t noticed, but Zelori did. She balked, seeing down a hall a lone Lunarium carbine. She quickly looked up in horror at the sight of dangling hind legs and colorful tail protruding from another one of the creatures. It made a sickening slurping noise, the tongue aiding the unfortunate prey into its gullet. She felt her blood boil. There was nothing she could have done. And when she bowed her head, Zelori felt something heavy pat her back. She snapped out of her thought and found Troffelton arching a worried brow at her. She looked, her expression mixed with confusion and relief.         “Ye seem a wee bit stressed, lass. Care fer’ a pint?” the buck held up a metal mug with a strange smelling golden liquid. The bubbles forming at the top. However, despite the alcohol reaching her nostrils, she couldn’t help but ponder this. ‘Perhaps… a small sip or two wouldn’t hurt.’ She didn’t realize it herself how stressed she was until she took a seat and studied the liquid. Taking a deep breath, she leaned back and chugged, completely taking the buck by surprise. The liquid burned in her throat. She slammed the tankard down and coughed a bit, wiping her muzzle. Troffelton gave a hearty laugh.         “Bawhahaha! Ya’ got guts, lass! Oi can admire a stomach that can handle a pint or two.” Zelori winced, feeling the liquid still burning her throat. However, the after taste was almost strangely similar to an apple. She arched a brow and studied the tankard.         “What… did I just consume?” she asked. Troffelton smiled and took two big gulps of the alcohol before slamming it down and waving it around.         “Bar Keep! ‘Nother round o’ Spiked Apple Cider fer’ the lass! Aha! And me gullet as well!” The stallion chuckled.         “Comin’ up, chief.” He said. The pony took their tankards and refilled it before sliding them down the counter. Zelori casually caught it in her hoof and furrowed her brows. Troffelton, however, took another few gulps before slamming it down. The cider almost completely consumed. The sight of it made Zelori hesitant in consuming the liquid. However, the proud look he was giving her almost felt a bit reassuring. She took a deep breath again before gulping down the drink. This time, it wasn’t as bad as it was the first time. ~~~***~~~         Aurora hummed a small tune as she tidied up the kitchen. Placing the rifle back into its place, she looked and moved around the tied up Candlejack on the metal chair. The stallion was still unconscious after being forced face first into the stove. Aurora felt a little bad about her combat program activating the moment she spotted the lone red dot on her optic map sneaking up behind her. And when she realized it was the stallion after tossing him into the wall, she quickly tried her best to get the stallion to listen to her.         However, the way the stallion grinned victoriously at every move he made was confusing for her.         ‘He acted like he was winning every time.’ She brought up her memory feed, replaying the footage of her countering the pegasus’s every attempt of assault. And while, the image of the running breeding program mixed with the combat program at the same time on the HUD was disorienting, she enhanced the footage, studying each expression and every movement he made carefully. He is skilled, that she was certain. However, she paused at the footage of him standing low on two hind hooves, aiming the rifle at her. She studied the posture.         ‘Perfectly balanced at the midriff. Careful placement of his hooves…’ She then fast forwarded the footage, pausing at him casually standing low on two hind hooves with the knife locked in his foreleg. ‘Balanced swinging stance. Perfect for switching and pivoting… reflexes… where have I’ve seen this…?’ She then brought up another box on her visor, digging through her memory of paragraphs of fighting techniques. A long list was quickly scanned before it stopped and a style was highlighted:         Shaolin Zebra Art         ‘Zebra fighting technique?’ She didn’t need to bring up a memory footage of a certain zebra mare that had accompanied him. And as she did, she looked to see the stallion stir from his slumber.         “Urgh… H-huh? Where am I?” Candlejack wanted to rub his aching head, but found he couldn’t move his legs. Or his entire body for that matter. He was able to move his head, however. He furrowed his brows worriedly before looking at the android. His expression turned sour.         “I am glad to see you have awakened.” Aurora said nonchalantly. Candlejack spat.         “Well… guess my luck was about to run out anyway…” He bowed his head. Aurora gave him a stoic look before turning and trotting over to the counter, stirring the bowl before pouring the contents into a smaller one. “So? What brutal way do you have in killing me?” Aurora glanced over to him before sticking a spoon in and using her claw like hoof to carry the bowl over to the table. She sat it down and Candlejack eyed it. He then gave a small raspy chuckle. “I see… melting my insides with that strange substance?” Aurora arched a brow in confusion.         ‘Is this stallion for real?’ she thought to herself. She remained stoic as she sat down on another metal chair, crossing a hind leg over another and propping her cheek onto a hoof, stirring the bowl with a spoon. Candlejack grinned. She narrowed her eyes. ‘That same victorious grin again…’         “Then go ahead… feed me the acid substance.” He then looked at her, a victorious look on his face. “And then I can spit it back out at you.” Aurora looked unamused as she lifted the spoon up and hovering it over to him. Candlejack clamped his mouth shut, turning his head. Aurora frowned slightly. She moved the spoon to him, but he moved his head. And again. And again. Each attempt at trying to feed the stallion was nothing but a waste of time. Aurora then brought her other free forehoof and popped her claw stubs out.         Candlejack’s eye twitched slightly, realizing that the liquid might not only be the thing that would kill him this day. He did his best to keep his mouth shout, clenching his eyes shut and moving his head away. Aurora quickly pinched his muzzle, the tips digging in and forcing Candlejack to yelp a little. And when he did, the android quickly shoved the spoon into his mouth. Candlejack wanted to spit it back out, but the android quickly latched her claw around his muzzle, forcing him to keep his mouth closed.         “Chew.” She said with a bored expression. Candlejack, mouthful of the substance, gave a muffled protest. The android clenched down harder. “Chew.” She repeated. Candlejack felt his heart race. He closed his eyes tightly, waiting for the inevitable melting of his mouth. The android then rubbed his muzzle, forcing him to chew. And when he bit down on something crunchy and sweet tasting, he opened his eyes in confusion. A brief pause, their eyes studying one another.         ‘This taste… it doesn’t taste like acid.’ But then again, he wouldn’t really know what acid would taste like. And when the sweet crunchy taste was followed by a euphoria of other tastes that blended together harmoniously, he found himself perking up a bit and chewing. He then swallowed. The android kept her claw like hoof on his muzzle, pinching him again and causing him to yelp in protest.         “H-hey, wait! What are you-?” he was given another mouthful of the sweet tasting substance. The android closed his muzzle quickly again, causing him to chew before repeating the process. On the fourth pinch, she finally pulled himself away and frowned at the android. “Stop it! I yield!” he said quickly as the android made an attempt to grab his muzzle again. Aurora scanned the stallion’s vitals. The hurried pace of the line was eased. However, it was still at the cautious level. Aurora, however, arched a brow and hovered the spoon in front of him.         Candlejack shifted slightly, wanting to stretch his muscles. But the rope that bound him to the chair made it impossible. He then looked at the bowl, seeing more of the sweet tasting substance. And now that he was eased a little, the smell was very tantalizing. Candlejack heard his stomach growl, catching a raised brow from the android. He felt his face go hot before shifting again.         “U-umm… can I…?” Aurora hovered the spoon to him. It was in reach. His mouth watered and he licked his lips. He opened his mouth and leaned forward. And when he bit down, the android shifted the spoon slightly away from him, making him miss. Candlejack blinked once before eyeing the android mare. She remained stoic as she held the spoon in front of him. He furrowed his brows before attempting another bite. The android moved it away again. Candlejack frowned, seeing her expression unchanged.         He then bit down again, missing. And again. And again. On the fifth attempt her groaned in frustration.         “What do you want from me!?” he snapped. Aurora put the spoon down into the bowl before propping her cheek against her claw like hoof, a stub tapping her cheek slightly in thought.         “I want you to apologize.” She said suddenly. Candlejack arched a brow.         “Come again?” he asked. Aurora motioned to the kitchen.         “You made a mess in my kitchen. Tossing my pans around and then…” she glared at him. “Pulling my father’s rifle on me.” She held up the spoon again in her other hoof. “I only fed you so that way you could muster enough energy to apologize. So… apologize.” Candlejack was baffled.         ‘An android is asking me to apologize!?’ Candlejack mimicked her stoic expression. “Frankly, your kind has given me enough trouble as is. So, I don’t know what you are expecting of me.” Aurora narrowed her eyes at the stallion.         ‘He’s referring to more androids? So, he’s no stranger to my kind either. No wonder he was bent up on killing intent. However, why did he assume I was a threat?’ Her memory process brought back up the feed of her dropping the knife and turning it on him. ‘Oh…’ Candlejack noticed the self-realization displayed on her face. However, now that he thought about.         This android was acting entirely different than the ones underground. While the ones he fought were brain dead and had no rhyme or reason for bloodshed, this one seemed to think ahead of time. And not only that… He eyed her body, seeing the sleek white design. His gaze then fell onto her cutie-mark. His eyes widened, seeing that the decal was completely different to the ones underground. Aurora caught the stallion eyeing her and she stiffened, feeling her breeding program activate.         She then gave a quiet breath and stirred the spoon in the bowl. Candlejack eyed her again, arching a brow in confusion. Aurora brought up the spoon, the substance dripping from the tip. She then slowly licked the bottom of the spoon, her tongue brushing it gently. She glanced to see the stallion give her a questioning look. She then murred slightly, moving her tongue around the spoon before sliding it in and sucking. After brushing it inside her mouth against her tongue a couple of times, she opened her mouth slightly and slid the spoon out.         Candlejack shifted slightly. Something about the android and these motions made him uneasy. Why was she suckling the spoon like that? His curiosity got the better of him and he watched as the android mare stirred the spoon again and rose it, making the substance dip back in, but slimy enough to keep the spoon glistening. She brushed her tongue under it again and a small drop of the substance fell onto her lap. She took one of her claw stubs and slowly brushed the substance off of her leg. Making sure the stallion was focused on her stub, she rose it up to her and licked it. Once. Twice. Thrice. She then started suckling her stub before smacking her lips and pseudo dispensed saliva left her as she pulled her hoof away.         Candlejack cocked his head. The android’s motions were still confusing. But there was one thing that struck him odd.         “Umm… I thought machines and liquid don’t mix.” He said. Aurora smiled flirtatiously before speaking.         “That is because I am equipped to… “simulate” the experience.” Candlejack frowned slightly.         “But, android’s don’t eat anything… right?” he asked. Aurora stopped and blinked once. Candlejack returned the expression. “What’s wrong?” Aurora dropped the spoon on the ground, realizing what she had done. No, the breeding program had already deactivated. It was another registered feeling. One that was sending errors flashing on her screen.         Error. Error. Unknown substance consumed.         Activate “Purge” sequence…         Purging commencing in 3… 2…         Aurora stood up and quickly rushed to the sink, leaning her head in.         1…         Candlejack winced, hearing the android vomit out the sweet tasting substance. He then looked over to the bowl, his stomach growling. Taking a quick glance at the vomiting android, he shifted himself, moving the chair along with him. Facing the bowl finally, he took a deep breath and dove his muzzle in, lapping up the soup. Never in his life had he tasted anything so remarkably delicious! ~~~****~~~         Taking a moment to collect herself, Aurora finally untied the stallion, watching the pegasus chow away at the soup. Thankfully, the pegasus didn’t attempt to attack when he was released. He was too busy with digging his muzzle into dinner. She then furrowed her brows, glancing at the clock.         ‘Father should have been back by now…’ The zebra mare came back up to her. She then gave a quick glance towards the stallion before looking back at the clock. ‘Maybe there was more to them than I had thought. And if that mare returns without him…’ she felt her claw stubs scrapping the glass table. Candlejack winced and covered his ears with his hooves.         “That hurts, you know?” he frowned. Aurora looked at him confusedly before realizing she had cracked the glass. She had a touch of red illuminate her cheeks. Another expression that Candlejack found fascinating. He then rubbed his chin.         ‘Perhaps this is a new model one. The one’s I’ve met in New Equestria were… well… decrepit.’ He then noticed the android looking at the clock. “Expecting somepony?” he asked. The android was silent for a moment before nodding slowly.         “Father and that friend of yours should have been back by now.” She said. Candlejack arched a brow.         ‘Zelori? What is she up too?’ He was about to dig into the bowl again when he realized he had completely lapped up the last of it. He glanced back to the worried android. ‘Perhaps I can find some common ground with it?’ He frowned. ‘But… how shall I approach this?’ He then beamed at an idea.         “Hello world! I am Candlejack, what is your name?” Aurora looked at the stallion questioningly, making him shift uneasily again. ‘Okay… maybe not the right course to take.’         “My registration ID is 4U120124. Or as my father calls me… Aurora.” She said. Candlejack rubbed his chin.         ‘Aurora? Another strange name…’ Aurora looked at the clock again and bit her lip. Clearly, she was displaying worry to him. He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. ‘I hope I won’t regret this… but I’m curious to know more about this android.’ Candlejack stood up, stretching his wings before looking to her. “Err… wanna’ go find them?” Aurora eyed him questioningly at first before glancing back at the clock. She then sighed and stood up, trotting out of the kitchen and over to the locker. She opened one, realizing that her usual attire seemed to be missing. She then glanced to the torn and tattered body cape.         She tossed it over her, making sure it was fitted to her needs before looking around. She spotted a jumpsuit. Remembering that it used to belong to Troffelton years back before she was found by him. She tossed him the suit, making him catch it in his hoof before looking confusedly at her.         “The outside may be protected by the Condition Antenna. But that doesn’t mean the rays are still harmful. It’s best if you remain clothed and protected.” She said as she adjusted the cape’s hood over her. Candlejack took a moment before tossing the dirtied jumpsuit on. It has clearly seen better days. And it definitely was a little bit too big on him. However, with a quick roll up of the sleeves, he was raring to go. Aurora gave him a shawl that she wrapped around him. Equipped to combat the heat, they stepped out and Candlejack had to shield his eyes at the blinding light above.         Candlejack was surprised at how lively the place was. Despite seeing most of the buildings in poor condition, booths and vendors were displayed as far as he could see down the cracked cement road. Aurora looked both ways before deciding to take a left. Candlejack followed close behind her.         “Aurora!” A voice called out. They looked to see a vendor waving at her. The pony intrigued Candlejack’s curiosity. His hoof was strangely mechanical. But it was functioning just as it would like those with cybernetic enhancements underground. Aurora smiled.         “Hello, Jolly Rancher.” Aurora said. The pony, Jolly Rancher, smiled.         “On another shopping spree for the chief?” he asked. Aurora shook her head.         “Actually, I am trying to look for him. Do you probably know where he might be?” she asked with a rub of her chin. Jolly Rancher chuckled before using his magic to tinker with a small contraption.         “Perhaps at the ol’ Bannered Mare. The usual spot.” Aurora beamed.         “Thank you.” They waved good-bye to each other before she turned and trotted down the road. Candlejack matched her pace and trotted next to her. Every booth they had passed, Aurora was either greeted or waved at.         “You seem to know everyone here.” He stated as they passed a strange looking covered creature with goggles. Aurora smiled.         “Because my father is very well known to the community. He’s practically done everypony here a favor and in return asked to only live a peaceful life at home. And when he found me and decided to call me his daughter, I was soon doing chores and other tasks to help rebuild this place.” Candlejack smirked slightly.         “Probably taught you those reactions too.” He guessed. Aurora shook her head.         “That was a combat program I was built in with. It activates whenever a hostile is deemed just that. A hostile.” She said. “It was something I had when I was found. And when father rebuilt me, he installed some more components that he found during his salvage run.” She frowned. “I sometimes wonder where most of these programs come from, however.” Candlejack arched a brow. “Most of these programs I have were already built in when I was found. There is one, however, that he had installed that I can’t seem to figure out.”         “Is it that one that made you eat that soup?” he asked. Aurora flushed a little.         “N-no. That was another program that was built into me that I… have trouble trying to delete. It’s another program.” She stopped and frowned, making Candlejack turn to her. “It tends to run when I deem it necessary to activate… but it has no properties that I can look up on. It’s like…” she sighed. “It makes me feel… cold.” Candlejack rubbed his chin.         ‘A program that makes an android cold?’ He then narrowed his eyes. “Speaking of, how are you doing those expressions?” he asked. Aurora gave him a stoic look in return. “I mean, the ones I’ve met always were…” he tried finding the right words. “Dead.” Aurora shook her head.         “I have a built in personality chip that registers my feelings and expressions.” She explained.         “So, you are only mimicking the expressions based on a proper variable?” he asked, the question taking the android completely by surprise.         ‘Perhaps, not as idiotic as I thought.’ She sighed. “I guess you can put it that way.” She looked up now, seeing the cartoonish mare winking suggestively down at them with a strange attire. Candlejack studied the building. His ears twitched when he heard cheering and a strange form of music playing inside. Aurora trotted forward, causing him to balk a little and follow her. When they entered through the swinging doors, Candlejack looked on in awe at a sight he didn’t think he would ever see.         “’Bawhahaha! C’mon, everypony! Pints on ta’ house!” Troffelton bellowed as he sat on a counter and swinging his hooves around with a metal tankard in his hoof. But that wasn’t what caught his interest. Candlejack had the biggest grin on his face, trying his best not to laugh. While the ponies around them were cheering and swaying with the music along with the cheering Troffelton, in the middle of the circle was Zelori, a tankard in her hooves, as she was tap dancing with her hind hooves to the rhythm of the music. Aurora sighed before giving a slight smile.         “That’s my father.” She said. Candlejack watched with amused interest as his adoptive sister kicked her hind legs up, clacking her hooves together, laughing stupidly as she twirled and tapped away. Candlejack then couldn’t help but smile.         ‘At least she is learning how to ease up a bit.’ But despite the sight being entertaining, he couldn’t help but worry a little. ‘Usually, she only drinks on occasions. And even then it’s not that much.’ Whatever Troffelton convinced her to do in drinking, as he soon found out, four tankards of golden brown liquid, it had worked. Zelori laughed as two ponies joined in, copying her hoof steps to the music before she power slid over to the crowd and took another gulp of the alcohol, erupting cheers. When she pulled back from the drink, she blinked once, realizing she had slid up to the hooves of Candlejack, who gave her an amused smile.         “My brother!” she bellowed happily, swaying a bit.         “Already making friends, I see.” He said. Zelori shook her head and wrapped a hoof around him.         “Nope! Jus’ havin’ the time of my life!” She leaned on him. “Yous’ like drink, right? Have a pint!” She held the tankard up to him. Candlejack was tempted, but thought better of it. Usually, he was the drunk one and her the sober one. ‘Time to return the favor, I guess.’ He thought. He gently pushed it away before wrapping a hoof around her, supporting her from stumbling.         “I’ve think you’ve had enough, sis.” he said. Zelori swayed, laughing stupidly as he looked to see Aurora do her best to ease the old bellowing buck.         “Bawhaha! Me daughter! Me perfect little angel! Did oi ever tell ya’ how much ya’ are a sweet little filly?” Aurora gave a small chuckle before patting the buck’s back.         “Many times.” She said. Candlejack looked to her and smiled. He was almost… envious. Aurora caught his look and smiled. “Perhaps, we should call it a night.” She suggested. The pony behind the bar smiled.         “You can have one o’ the rooms upstairs. They both brought enough business in that I wouldn’t mind letting a free night’s stay.” He said, tossing Candlejack a strange looking card. He skillfully caught it in his teeth and peered over his muzzle to look at it. It was a stained looking card, but the bar line remained untouched. “Just pick a room that doesn’t have a red light on the lock. And make sure the heater is on. It’s going to freeze again.” Candlejack arched a brow.         “Fweeze?” he asked through grit teeth. Aurora steadied the buck over to them.         “When the sun goes down, the nights are practically like an ice age.” She explained. “Lunarium is what keeps the equipment at perfect temperature levels during the day. But Solarium is used to keep it the same at night.” She smiled. “Solarium heaters are used to combat this. You don’t want to freeze over inside and out.” With that, she helped the stumbling buck out of the pub, leaving the merriment to continue with the others. Zelori slumped a little, laughing stupidly.         Candlejack furrowed his brows, realizing that he had forgotten to ask. ‘I guess I’ll ask her tomorrow.’ He thought. Helping the stumbling zebra mare up to the room and sat her on the bed, she gave a studying look at him through one lazy eye.         “Jack… may I ask you somethin’?” she began.         “Hmm?” Candlejack replied while he looked around the room, taking in the peeling wallpaper and stained bed. He frowned, flipping the bed over and realized that either way, he was going to be sleeping on a dirty bed. Of course, he wasn’t a stranger to sleeping in dirt. There were a few occasions where he would be taking naps on a bed that he had found that so happened to be surrounded by junk, making it into a natural like room.         He remembered admiring the area. It was spacey and not much other than the usual scrap and junk. Testing the bed, he found it to be pretty comfy. He then blinked once and looked over to see a belongings chest. Curious, the adolescent went over to it. Digging it out and opening it, he cocked his head, seeing stacks of magazines with mares on them. Even more stranger to the adolescent, he pulled one out and read the title:         Play-colt Magazine         He squinted his eyes, studying the cover. A mare stared back at him. Vanilla hide, black silky mane and very pretty violet eyes. He read the words over her:         Lingerie speaks about how her fashion wardrobe makes her a hit with the colts.         Now that he got a closer look, he suddenly felt his cheeks burn when he noticed the mare exposing her “tender” spot. He remembered Zelori teaching him about the anatomy of both mares and colts. And yet, the adolescent felt something… strangely intriguing. So intriguing, in fact that his wings suddenly unfurled. But he remained focused, studying the image.         The mare also wore some colorful looking striped socks and had a big pink bow in her mane. She even had eye shadow on her. A very pretty mare indeed. Candlejack looked around, seeing the coast clear. He then opened the magazine and found more images along with paragraphs about multiple mare’s “interesting lives”. He eventually found a page where something unfolded before him. He turned the magazine and felt a tingly sensation.         It was a poster of another looking mare that was lying on her back, suggestively smiling at him and her hind legs high in the air over her, her tail hanging loosely over a bed.         “Candlejack?” he heard Zelori’s voice, causing him to balk and quickly looked around, desperately trying to find a way to hide it. Instead, he tossed the magazine back in the box and closed it, sliding it into a pile of junk and sitting down on the bed, his back turned as Zelori rounded the corner. She smiled. “There you are. Dinner is ready.” She then arched a brow, seeing the adolescent nod towards her but not turning to face her. “Is everything alright?”         Candlejack wiggled a hoof at her nonchalantly.         “Yup, everything fine here. I’ll uh… be with you in a moment.” He said quickly, giving her his best smile he could manage. Zelori rubbed her chin before shrugging.         “Very well.” Candlejack waited, making sure the zebra mare was out of sight. He then quickly pulled out the chest and opened it, spying the mags laying on top of each other. Each cover bearing colorful mares in interesting positions. He felt himself smile a bit. ‘I’ll come back for them later.’ He had thought to himself. Candlejack blinked again, finding himself back in the room of the pub. He looked to see Zelori sway a little.         “Did you hear me?” she asked with a slur. Candlejack rubbed the back of his head.         “Oh… uh… what did you say?” he asked. Zelori suddenly dipped forward. Candlejack quickly caught her and laid her down on the bed.         “I jus’ wanted to say how great it is to have you as my brother.” She held out her hooves to the ceiling, swaying them. “I mean, for a long time, I could jus’ care less about the Equestrian Table Round and jus’…” she took a moment to find the words. But she apparently lost them and slumped, her hooves planting and sprawled on the bed. Candlejack smiled and patted her head.         “I’m sure you’ll tell me tomorrow. Right now, we need to gather as much info we need before venturing out.” Candlejack sighed. ‘And maybe learn a thing or two about Apocalyptica’s motive.’ Candlejack couldn’t help but feel that they may have made a mistake. Brilliant Mane could have been telling them the truth. That they would have been safer there than out here. But yet, it seemed like no pony here had any bad intentions. At least, what he could see. Of course, that didn’t sway the fact that some of the residents here were uncanny themselves. He quietly walked towards the boarded window that illuminated the room a bit with the sun’s rays shining through.         He peeked through the slants of the boards, watching the ponies down below trot on by. Each pony that walked by were interesting, to say the least. Each wore something that he couldn’t help but feel made them unique in some way. He sighed quietly before looking back over to the snoozing zebra. Has it really only been a few hours? It almost felt longer than that since they had stepped outside.         Apocalyptica did warn them about the possible dangers. And when they had ventured forth, following the helm’s built in compass, they found themselves wandering through the desert. Or… so he had thought. He had heard that deserts were extremely barren in nature. And while, signs showed him true, there were some things they had passed that both he and Zelori were interested in. They had passed towering crumbly buildings. Some leaning, some decayed and some that looked like it was riddled with bullet holes from bullets.         And as they went further on, Candlejack noticed that his suite started smoking. He looked back to see the pistol that was holstered in was burning red. He quickly tossed it out, wincing as the hot metal hissed at his touch. Zelori followed suit not long after. However, the weapon she had on her combusted into fire. They were baffled by the sudden disarming. And now wandering the cracked half buried street to a city they could make out in the distance unarmed, they cautiously made their way.         An hour has passed and the heat began to be unbearable. Candlejack and Zelori dragged their hooves over the dirt covered sand, panting with each step. Zelori wiped her helm’s top, trying to fake her mind out to wiping the sweat forming on her brow. Another hour passed. The city within reach. However, Candlejack suddenly felt his vision blur and pass out. Zelori quickly rushed to his side and put a hoof gauntlet on his neck.         He was still breathing, however, slowly now. Zelori bit her lip, the panic increasing her temperature. She willed herself through it and tossed Candlejack over her back. She continued on. With Detrot now looming over head, she found her on the verge of passing out. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she decided to keep herself from tiring out, she would stand on two hind hooves and continue forward. It had worked for a time.         But as soon as she made it past the first block, she had tripped, losing her balance and causing Candlejack to roll away from her. She grit her teeth, struggling to will herself up again. Only managing to crawl a few inches, she suddenly felt her body give out on her, exhausted from the heat. The last thing she could remember through blurring vision and pounding headache was a lone tattered figure stepping out of the shadows and looking at them. She could see it. Metallic neon blue eyes. Eyes that she knew what they belonged too. The very enemies they have faced for years on expeditions.         She was uncertain about what to do. And for once, she had prayed to Gaia. Prayed that if anything were to happen, she would hope Candlejack would be alive and well. The blackness welcomed her. And as the day turned to night over the quiet desolate city of Detrot, the Conditioning Antenna in the distance changed from a calming blue to a bright amber aura. Candlejack nodded off to sleep near the window, unaware of the advancing danger outside of the town.         A loud hovering chariot being accompanied by three others. On them were ponies with half machine like parts. One, however, was unique in every way. Being more machine than pony. One red eye scanned the quiet streets. Wearing a tattered duster and a red scarf with a desperado hat, the robotic pony scanned the area, a cursor picking out places to ransack. He glanced back to the ponies behind them.         They too, wore tattered attire, however, they were decaled to look like skulls on their helms. Spikes and chains littered them, Luridium weapons aimed above their heads.         “We are goin’ to be sleepin’ well tonight, boys.” The robotic pony metallically rasped. The ponies behind him whooped and cheered as they sped their chariots down the street, stopping at booths and scooping salvage, scraps and components into their bags, tossing them onto their chariots before moving down to the next one. The one eyed robot pony scanned again, his cursor landing onto a lone building. It appeared to be a scrap worker’s hut. And probably littered with loot.         He stepped off his hovering bi-wheeled chariot and trotted over to the place. He reached for the doorknob, claw like stubs testing it. Locked. He rubbed his chin before suddenly pulling out a revolver like Luridium pistol and blasting the door open. He darted his eye, seeing if the noise woke anypony up. To his surprise, the bellied pony in a red balding mane snored loudly on the sofa. Seeing that nopony else was in sight, he quietly entered. Spotting the pony’s workbench, he dug through it, plucking what he can that he deemed were worthy scraps. His eye landed on a locked safe next to it. He looked back to see if the pony had woken up.         The pony just snorted and turned. The robot pony then smirked to himself. ‘Gullible oafs.’ He thought as he used his claw stubs to pick the lock. It took him a few tries, but when he heard the click and the door opening, he chuckled to himself.         ‘We’re in.’ he thought victoriously to himself. He reached in, finding more scrap and metal. But he smiled even more to himself as he pulled out a satchel of little tiny engraved bolts with a Z like pattern on the head. He had hit the jackpot. Not only was this going to be an easy raid, but the riches they were going to sell was going to make them millions of these bolts. He then stopped and furrowed a mechanical uni-brow. He couldn’t help but hear that the snoring wasn’t going on. He turned to see a looming figure of the pony look down at him with a rifle aimed at him.         “Oi hope ye got what ya’ came ‘ere fer’. ‘Cus it’ll be yer last, Deadeye.” He said. The robot pony, Deadeye, chuckled.         “Well, ain’t you a hero of the day. And you know my name too. I’m honored.” The pony replied. “I take it you must be this town’s mechanic for the antenna.” The pony narrowed his eyes.         “Aye, tis me life’s work.” He said. Deadeye nodded.         “Well then, I hope you have an apprentice. Because they are going to need another one.” The pony glared at the robot. Deadeye then quickly reached behind him. But the pony pulled the trigger first. Silence. The pony arched a brow and looked at the rifle. He clicked it again. He then slid the cartridge out and balked. No ammo. But… he could have sworn it had some. He always kept it loaded.         Deadeye took advantage and tackled the buck. His strength quickly overpowering the pony. The pony, however, gave two good slugs to Deadeye’s metallic face. But Deadeye returned the favor with a more brutal method. Taking a claw hoof, he swung, slicing the buck’s throat. The pony gurgled, struggling to hold his neck.         “Aww, poor thing. Like a little puppy without an owner.” He then pulled out his pistol. “This is where your story ends, mechanic. I hope the town will learn not to mess with Deadeye and his gang. And with no pony to fix the antenna, it’ll be ripe for the taking.” The pony couldn’t say anything. Deadeye quickly brought the pistol up and fired, causing the buck’s head to explode on impact. Blood splattered the walls and the body went limp. Deadeye stood and adjusted his hat, unaware of the second resident that was recharging in the room upstairs.         Hearing the noise, Aurora booted out of her sleeping state and looked at her map. She could see red dots moving through the town. She quickly unhooked herself from the bed and rushed down the stairs. She then stopped and her eyes widened.         “No…” she said with a shaky breath. She rushed over to the body, scanning it.         Troffelton “Father” Pint         Age: 78         Job Alignment: Mechanic         Likes: Aurora, tinkering with machines, alcohol.         Dislikes: Anything harming his daughter.         Status: Deceased.         She read the last word over and over again. ‘No… no it can’t…’ She blinked out of her stunned state, hearing the sounds of hovering chariots zoom by with the whooping and cheers of the ponies. She quickly sprinted out and looked down the road, using her optics to zoom in. She spotted the fleeing ponies. And one that she knew all too well. The criminal database registered him as a wanted criminal.         Montague “Deadeye” Claws         Age: 60 (Based on creation date.)         History: Murder. Theft. Vandalism. Prejudice.         Reward: Alive > 40,000blts Dead > 2,000blts         Aurora’s personality chip registered a burning hate. She found herself thinking of scenarios in where she can handle the situation. However, the scenario prediction was always her ending up badly damaged even with the unknown program. She felt herself shiver. ‘He will pay… he will definitely pay… but how can I do this without injury?’ She thought to herself, trying her best to forget the image of her father laying bloodied on the floor. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t believe it. As much as her programs and personalities told her otherwise, she wanted to disprove them.         She grit her teeth, feeling something cold run down her cheek. She had created a tear. She wasn’t sure how she was able to dispense it without activating the function for it. It just… happened. She ran her scenarios through again, the image of her father making it hard to come to a conclusion. She then widened her eyes, her memory feed bringing back up the stallion standing on his hind hooves and aiming a rifle at her. She had no other choice. She wanted to end Deadeye’s reign. But she wouldn’t do it alone. She rushed back into the workshop, trying her best to ignore the body of the once bellowing pony she had called a father.         She tossed on her body cape and galloped back out, her movements graceful and steady as she made her way down to the Bannered Mare. There will be heads rolling this night. And she wanted to make sure of it. She wasn’t sure what was compelling her to think this. And while she was designed for combat as well, her personality chip was registering hate, revenge and sadness all at once. Something she found hard to ignore.         She wants blood. And she will have help in the process. She just needed to find some way to convince them. She felt more of the uncontrolled tears leave her as she galloped. Her thoughts racing with the memories of her and the pony she had once called a father. > Act-1 Chapter 7: Laws > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laws Zelori awoke in the dead of night. Her head pounding in protest. She groaned slightly before groggily sitting up, realizing she was in a bed. She looked around the dim room and spotted Candlejack sitting and sleeping against the wall. The young pegasus stallion snoozed quietly. She took a moment to blink away the tiredness and rubbing her head. She then twitched her ears, hearing a loud popping sound and the sounds of something speeding by. She slid out of bed, doing her best to keep herself from sitting back down as the blood rushed to her head. ‘Never in my life have I drank so much…’ She shivered a bit, feeling the chill in the room wake her slightly. She smiled. ‘In all honesty it was… really nice.’ She assured herself. Troffelton definitely was a very odd pony. She had to thank him for the drinks. But onto other matters. She dragged her hooves over to a boarded window and peeked out of it. She had to squint her eyes to see. Troffelton, as she remembers, told her that on nights, the temperature begins to drop dramatically, turning the desert into a desert ice age. The sand doesn’t freeze over, but whatever is causing the strange weather at night affected the sand in some way. She noticed it glowing a dim light blue hue. She strained her eyes, seeing what looked like fleeting figures in the distance kicking up the sand. She then noticed a caped figure galloping down the road. She arched a brow, seeing the sleek white android gracefully galloping up and into the hotel. ‘What is she doing at this hour?’ Zelori thought to herself. She looked over to Candlejack before deciding to shake him. “Jack? Jack!” she whispered. Candlejack stirred before opening his eyes tiredly at her. “Zelori?” he asked, rubbing his eyes. “What time is it?” Zelori shook her head. “I don’t rightly know. But I have a feeling we might be in for something.” Candlejack arched a brow at her. If Candlejack knew his sister, which he seems to regret most of the times, is that she tended to go on instincts. She calls it “huntress instincts” due to her ancestral background of being descendent to Zebrica hunters. And as ridiculous as it sounds, the times they were on expeditions and she had those instincts, it had saved them both many times. And when Candlejack was about to ask what was wrong, there was a knock on the door. “Candlejack? Are you in there?” a voice called. The two exchanged glances, realizing that it was the android’s voice. “What does she want?” Candlejack asked. Zelori narrowed her eyes at the door as the android knocked again. “Jack, she may have saved us, but that doesn’t rule out the fact that she is one of those mechanical terrors in the bunkers.” She said. “We are still uncertain about our course of action. We still don’t know the individual that will point us to the facility. And even then, we are poorly prepared. We need more info before continuing.” Candlejack rubbed his chin, sighing as the knock sounded again. He stood up and trotted over to the door. He went to reach for it when the door was suddenly blown off its hinges, scooping up Candlejack and slamming him against the wall. He saw little selves again. Zelori was surprised by the sudden intrusion before reaching back in instinct. She then stopped and swore something in Zebra before looking to Aurora, who had a hoof extended out. The android blinked once before looking at her hoof. “I was intending to push it open. But I guess that works too.” She said. Candlejack shook away the daze and kicked the door off of him before hopping to his hooves, growling. “The hell do you want?” he asked. Aurora remained stoic as she spoke. “I am in dire need of assistance.” She said. The siblings exchanged glances again. “I’m… sorry?” Candlejack asked. Aurora sat down, registering a sad look. “I… I must apologize if this is so sudden. But I have ran many simulations in my mind, but have come to a conclusion that I may be irreparable if I am to take it on alone.” Candlejack rubbed the back of his head. “Simulations?” he asked. Aurora nodded. “Correct. You see, there is a criminal that has been terrorizing this part of Detrot for years. Murdering. Stealing. Vandalizing.” Candlejack perked at this. “Oh?” he said. Zelori studied the android and her brother. While they are no stranger to criminals, it appears that even above ground has its’ own fair share of problems. But usually, ponies wouldn’t bat a second eye towards that problem and basically leave you to your devices. It was strange to have to be confronted about a criminal problem, let alone by the very thing they had made a living of killing through expeditions. And as for her brother, she was curious as to why it had caught his interest. But then again, if she knew her brother (and she does), it would be that he had one thing that always made it a pain to keep him self-aware. His curiosity of the unknown always brought him close to danger and probably even death if she wasn’t there acting as his shadow. However, Candlejack was thinking something entirely different. ‘So, this place has its own criminals. I wonder if any of them know where the facility is.’ Candlejack, being the curious pony, had once came across a criminal ring during his time in the prison sewer. He had accidentally stumbled into a middle of a fight club that had criminals of all kinds combating against each other to the bloodied death for a chance to eat a good portion of scrap and food that were used as bets. He had partook in some of the fights, feeling the adrenalin rushing through him as he was being dealt blows, but able to dish it out a lot harder, thanks to the personal training he had with Zelori. It’s how he was able to survive without getting shanked and eating well enough. Of course, that made some ponies wanting a chance at him. But in the end, despite the bloodied lips, swollen eye and cheeks, he would come out victorious. And yet, he has made some valuable allies with them too. And returning back to present day, he couldn’t help but think that maybe if he proved himself in a fight, they might come to respect him and ally with him. ‘Putting the N in New Equestria, as they say.’ But he then quickly noticed Aurora bowing her head. “Will you aid me?” Zelori looked to her brother, Candlejack returning the look before sighing. “What is it that you need?” he asked. A look of hope registered on the android’s face. However, she remained stoic as she spoke. “I want you to help me kill Deadeye.” She said. Again, they exchanged glances. Killing a pony? That was something that seemed way easier than their ties to the underground went. However, seeing ponies die before them in every expedition, even having to kill a couple of them that had wanted to go AWOL, was something they had never hoped of ever doing again. They were only asked to go in, explore and retrieve anything that is deemed valuable and return it back to the ETG. “Pass.” Candlejack said flatly. Aurora cocked her head in confusion. “Sorry, but you’re going to have to find somepony else to help you with blood on your hooves. We’ve already had plenty in our lives.” He said. Aurora looked at him, the hope fading from her expression. ‘W-what? But… doesn’t that mean they have killed ponies before?’ Of course, Aurora herself has never really killed ponies herself. The only thing she had really killed were the rogue machines in the Subdivision and pesky sand sprites. But to kill a living being such as a pony? She remembered somewhere in the very back of her data bank, she had read a manual that only had three laws for her to follow. The first law came up and displayed on her screen: A robot may not injure a pony or, through inaction, allow a pony to come to harm. She narrowed her eyes. Her brain working through a loop hole. ‘Deadeye isn’t exactly a pony. And while, I am asking for them to go through something that is dangerous, the way the pony attacked was something that was deemed worthy of it being capable of itself. But… why are they rejecting me?’ Candlejack sighed. “Look, we appreciate you nursing us back to health. But we have something else to worry about than a criminal problem.” Aurora looked at him, her jaw hanging open. She couldn’t believe this. Her only chance of getting revenge and the very pony was rejecting her offer. “I’m sorry, but I’m in no mood for killing anypony tonight.” Aurora clenched her jaw, her claw stubs suddenly springing out and clawing the ground, ripping the wood. Zelori shifted slightly in uneasiness. “But… you must… you are the only one I can turn too.” She said. Candlejack arched a brow. “The only one? The way the vendors were stock piled, it seemed like they could have fended them off perfectly.” She shook her head. “Deadeye isn’t just anypony. He is a criminal who has a price on his head.” She looked to see if that had caught his attention. It only raised more eyebrows. Time for the second option. “He ransacks vendors and steals to his liking. He is no better than the vendors we deal with it.” Candlejack wiggled a hoof at her. “Sounds like the town’s problem. Not ours.” He replied. Aurora registered anger. Candlejack frowned. “Why are you so adamen-.?” He couldn’t finish when Aurora suddenly blurted out in anger. “Because the bastard killed him!!” This caught them both by surprise. An android had registered an emotion that they didn’t think they were capable of. They looked at her, brows furrowing now. Aurora grit her teeth, bowing her head. “I want revenge… I want to see his head on a pike!” Candlejack frowned sourly now. “I’m not killing anypony. And that’s final.” He said. He stretched his wings and motioned to Zelori. “We might as well and see if the late nighters have any more info of the general area. Better start now while we are ahead.” Zelori nodded to Candlejack. The pegasus walked past the android, only to be stopped when she locked her hoof on his. She squeezed it, not too hard, but more out of desperation. Candlejack noticed it as well. He then widened his eyes in surprise, seeing the sleek mare dispense tears. Her expression grim and angry. She had no control over her tears at the moment. In fact, Aurora wasn’t sure what was causing her to act like this. But this went against it. She wanted somepony dead. But she had no chance of standing against him. Zelori was ready to move, preparing to strike if the android ended Candlejack here and now. But it didn’t come. “Please…” she rasped in a painful metallic voice. “You have to help me… he killed my father… the only pony who didn’t treat me like… like a harlot.” Candlejack arched a brow in confusion. This was so bizarre on so many levels. And he was still certain he didn’t want to kill anypony right now. Zelori eyed the two, studying the mixed emotions. She then sighed. ‘He’s just so damn clueless, if not, curious.’ She thought. But she felt he had already come to a conclusion. She then balked, remembering that her creator was Troffelton. ‘Wait… this Deadeye killed him?’ She looked to the android mare, her expression grim. “Very well.” Zelori said suddenly. Both Candlejack and Aurora looked at her in confusion. “Zelori? You can’t be serious about aiding a machine to kill a pony.” He retorted. Aurora shook her head. “While logic states he is one. He is not entirely flesh.” She said. “He is a rogue robot who had developed a criminal personality. And since robots are more mechanically inclined to free personality then my kind, he made it his sole decision without anypony telling him otherwise.” She said. Candlejack rubbed his chin. “Wait… a robot? So… not a pony?” Aurora nodded slowly. “Okay, but that still doesn’t justify why you think we are capable of helping you.” Aurora gripped his hoof again, making him curious at her resolve. “Because you have learned the Shaolin Zebra Art. You are more capable when it comes to a fight. And his gang ranges from twenty to twenty-four.” Candlejack balked. That’s way too many ponies for just three of them. And if she is making it sound like it is entirely different to what they are familiar with, this could spell trouble. “I am sorry if this is a sudden request… but I am in dire need of your help. Will you help me?” Candlejack sighed. “Alright fine, but I won’t guarantee anything is going to go our way.” He said. “The moment things look bad, we pull out. No ifs, ands or buts.” Zelori felt a little relieved at this. Aurora found herself smiling slightly. “So… where exactly can we find them?” he asked. Aurora brought up her database and scanned through the records. “His last known location is in an abandoned Luridium facility north of here.” She said. Candlejack perked up. ‘Facility?’ He rubbed his chin, smirking slightly. ‘Wow, and to think I was going to pass this up.’ Zelori caught his look and smiled now. Candlejack shifted uneasily, the grip Aurora had on his hoof eased, but tightened in reassurance. Aurora blinked once before letting go. “I apologize if I was so forward. But I had no other choice.” Candlejack smiled at her. “Well, now that you bring up something, I can’t really pass it up now. Plus, we will probably learn a bit more when we do find this ‘Deadeye’.” He smirked. “Where do we gear up?” Aurora adjusted her cape hood before motioning for them to follow. “This way.” She said. ~~~****~~~ When they had arrived at the workshop, all three of them looked grimly at the bloodied corpse. Realizing that it was indeed the body of Troffelton, both started to have mixed emotions. And when Aurora took the bed sheet she had used to cover the drunk pony during his day of debauchery, she dispensed more tears that were out of her control. She then remained stoic as she walked over to the workshop lockers and opened them. She drew out the suites they had worn and studied them. “We were able to repair the AC unit for the suites. However, I doubt these will provide much protection against bullets. But they will protect you from the pockets and the outer aura of the Condition Antenna.” She said. Candlejack and Zelori nodded before taking the suites and putting them on. And when Candlejack put on his suite and adjusted it, he spotted the Solarium rifle next to the blood spot. He balked in surprise. He remembered using it in retaliation against Aurora. And he remembered he had used the full round. He bit his lip, the guilt and anger rising through him. He had stated he didn’t want any blood on his hooves. But it seems that even the reaper followed them up here. And this time, forced him to do something unintentionally. ‘Dammit all…” he hissed to himself quietly. Zelroi walked over and picked up the rifle, studying it. “It seems he had tried protecting himself without any ammunition. Was he just intending to scare this ‘Deadeye’ off?” she asked. Aurora shook her head. “Deadeye isn’t one to scare off. He doesn’t hesitate to kill and my father knew this.” she said. Candlejack felt the guilt rise in him when he caught sight of Aurora glancing at him. ‘Dammit all!’ he grit his teeth. Aurora walked over behind the workshop counter and withdrew amber glowing cartridges. Zelroi reloaded the rifle and pulled the lever, the gun humming to life. Zelori wasn’t aware of the understanding between the android and Candlejack. In fact, Candlejack was certain that Aurora had also asked for him due to being responsible for his death. She was out for revenge and she was going to get it, one way or another. But Aurora made no motion about the situation and instead pulled out a pistol for Candlejack. He took it with no exchange of words before pulling back the top, making it hum. “How far away is the facility?” Aurora brought up her map and scanned it. The square cursor enlarged an area. “Ten kilometers from here.” Zelori rubbed her chin. “And if we go on hoof, he probably might have already left.” Aurora rubbed her chin before looking back behind her and seeing a door that led out to the back. The two followed her as she stepped out into a place they couldn’t help but inflict home sickness for them. The piles of junk and scrap littered the backyard. Aurora went over to a shack looking structure before pressing a button and the metal door screamed loudly as it opened. Candlejack and Zelori gaped in awe. A four wheeled rustic looking motor chariot that had two seats. Aurora took the driver’s side and pressed a button, making it roar to life. The two exchanged glances before trotting over and hopping on, Zelori taking the passenger seat and Candlejack hopped on, hanging onto the side of where Aurora was. The android didn’t wait and floored it. Candlejack and Zelori held on tightly as the chariot bounced and turned, ramming into a metal fence before screeching as the android quickly turned it again. She shifted levers and floored it again, the glowing blue sand being kicked up and they raced down the street. She found a street that led out of Detrot and down a cracked road. The cold wind blowing past them as the bounced on the cracks of the street. Candlejack couldn’t help but find himself admiring the view. The crumbly buildings that leaned and were partially sunk into the sand and dirt made him wonder what their original purpose was for. When they rounded a building, they could see a tall metallic antenna emitting a light amber hue around it. “That must be the antenna.” Zelori said as she scanned the horizon, seeing distant ruins, but nothing else otherwise. Aurora took them off road and they barreled down a hill, causing the two to hold on for dear life. “Aurora, I know you are in a rush, but if you go in guns blazing, we are probably going to get killed before we even take one step in.” Candlejack said as he kept himself from falling off. Aurora ignored him, however. Her personality chip registering only anger. Candlejack grit his teeth and put a hoof on her shoulder. This caused her to stiffen and her breeding program to activate. ‘Dammit, not now!’ She suddenly came to a screeching halt and Candlejack had forgotten to hold on. He barreled forward and rolled down the hill. He hit the side of a crumbled building and hissed as the impact reached him through his helmet. He rubbed his head before standing up. Blinking once and looking to his left, he arched a brow, seeing a pony dressed in a similar but more high-tech version of his suite. The helmet decaled to look like a skull. Even said pony was startled by the sudden pony rolling into his sight. Zelori hopped out and took aim when the skull helmeted pony unslung a carbine and was ready to aim at the intruder. However, Candlejack was quick to react and delivered a hoof punt to the side of the pony’s helmet. This caused the pony to stumble. Candlejack then quickly drew out his pistol and fired straight into the pony’s helmet. However, while the beam did strike the helm and scorched it, the pony was still standing and retaliated with his own gunfire. Candlejack remained close and strafed the pony before locking a hoof around the gun and pulling the pony forward. He then quickly stood up on his hind hooves and spun on one, extending the other. He planted the hoof into the back of the pony’s helmet and he kept it there when the pony was forced face first into the side of the building. Candlejack accidentally exerted too much force. The wall cracked as well as the visor of the pony. Aurora studied the way Candlejack moved. She began recording the way he fought. She was right about his skill. But to see it work out? He wasn’t even displaying that victorious smile he had. Which was confusing for the android. She then glanced at Zelori, who had the rifle aimed but didn’t pull the trigger. Instead, she shifted the rifle over to her right, scanning the area. Her scope fell onto what looked like camp fire in one of the buildings. She could see ponies gathered around it, their attire almost similar to the one Candlejack had knocked out. Aurora scanned the area again, her map suddenly displaying red dots. “It appears we have attracted attention.” She said. “Gee, I wonder how?!” Candlejack suddenly snapped. He let go of the pony and the dazed pony slumped on the ground. He looked around, seeing movement in the buildings. The attention they had attracted by their unintentional interaction took cover in the buildings. Their weapons primed and ready. “Well, well! It seems we have company!” a voice shouted. All three looked around their surroundings. The voice echoed from somewhere they couldn’t pin point. “So, are you being good little ponies and giving us everything you have? Or perhaps provide us some entertainment?” Aurora scanned the buildings. She could only highlight the tops of their helmets. She then frowned. “Negative! We are here to kill Deadeye!” she said suddenly. Zelori and Candlejack face hoofed. Laughter erupted. It rose, making it hard to pinpoint exactly where they were. Candlejack narrowed his eyes, seeing movement in one of the buildings. He then looked to the dazed pony on the ground and smirked at an idea. And as Zelori and Aurora continued to figure out where to pinpoint the voices, they continued to talk down on them. “You!? Want to kill Deadeye!?” the voice laughed. “Hey everyone, they think they can kill Deadeye!!” More laughter. The voice then took a serious tone, but remained threatening. “If you think you can, then by all means! But you are going to have to get through us first!” The two arched a brow. “You see, we got a good thing going here! And Deadeye made us a promise that he is fully intending to keep! Hell, in fact he is already going to make us rich with these fancy new equipment from that factory!” “What do you mean?” Aurora asked. Zelori was uncertain about the android’s constant asking of questions. She had thought the android would have a plan if she had asked for them. But clearly, the android had no idea what to do. ‘So much for getting out of here alive.’ Zelori thought through grit teeth. She then blinked once and looked over to where Candlejack was… or once was. Even Aurora noticed it. And she had bought enough time. The voices continued to laugh and not too far away in a building that over looked them, four ponies in similar skull attire casually sat around the area. They didn’t feel the need to do anything. They were sure that the three stupid ponies had entered into the center of them without any awareness of where they were going. And the one that was calling out to them laughed, hunching over and wiping a tear from his unhelmeted head. The pony sported a strange looking mohawk mane, his scarred eye hurting at the waterworks. He then blinked once, seeing a shadow suddenly zip by him. “Huh?” was all he could say when something heavy landed on him and a shadow zipped in. None of the ponies were ready. They were certain they had the upper hoof. But standing in the middle of them was a pegasus. He smirked under his visor, standing on two hind hooves, which took them even more by surprise. The pony with the mohawk looked to see his dazed companion before looking over, seeing the wings. “A [spoilers]bucking[/spoilers] pegasus!?” he shouted in confusion. Candlejack took aim and fired, turning on his hooves. The carbine pelted the ponies in the room. And when they fell into bloodied heaps, Candlejack turned to face the Mohawk pony. He took aim and fired. However, the pony quickly brought up his dazed companion, using him as a shield. It had worked, causing the pegasus to arch a brow. The pony tossed the now dead pony at him. Candlejack shoved the body aside and was suddenly tackled. Candlejack quickly brought up the carbine to block a glowing green knife. Candlejack smirked again and head-butted the pony. The pony stumbled back and Candlejack kicked himself up off the ground. He then flipped the carbine in his hooves and took a batting position. “Batter up!” he shouted before bringing the carbine around and hitting the pony in the face. The pony stumbled and found himself teetering on the edge of the cracked building. It was a long drop. But Candlejack trotted over and smiled. He plucked the knife from the pony and then tapped him lightly. The pony fell, a yell from him and a loud splat on the cement ground suddenly caused mass confusion amongst the bandits. And when some looked to see what had happened, their heads suddenly exploded into giblets. Down below, Zelori took aim and had followed her brother’s figure into the building. She then took aim around the next building and saw the movement. She pressed the trigger again and a loud humming thump sounded and sped through the air. The bullet struck true as another pony fell into a bloodied heap. Candlejack quickly galloped out of the cracked hole in the wall and took off, aiming straight for another building. And as he did, voices erupted into surprise. “Shit! They have a pegasus!” one shouted before having his head blown off by the passing Candlejack with the pistol. “What!? How!?” another stated. Candlejack furrowed his brows. Of course, he would be surprised as they were if a flying pony suddenly came out of nowhere and attacked them. But why were they making it sound like they haven’t seen one in their entire lives? A pony had taken aim and followed the pegasus with a rifle. As he was about to pull the trigger, he couldn’t help but feel something was off. He could hear it, the steady hum of movements. He looked down at the building and saw a sleek white android in a tattered body cape quickly bounding up the side of the building with claw stubs. “An android!?” he stated in surprise, causing the ponies behind to be on alert. But Candlejack made a pass and fired on them, having realized Aurora was advancing on them. He looked to see Zelori by the chariot, following him and taking out any of the ponies he had missed in his fly by. Confusion and shock was all the bandits could register. They had thought they had the upper hoof. They thought they could take it all without much effort. But seeing their numbers dwindling by the minute, some of them began to lose moral. Who were these ponies? And why were they taking them out without much effort? The one who had thought this saw in the moon’s light a pony with wings ascend and hovered there. The pony could have sworn that the pony was none other than an angel of death, sent in by the reaper to finally gather them for the many sins they have committed. However, this was not the case to Candlejack. He took aim with the pistol and fired, the pony’s head leaning back before crumpling on his side. The pony with the rifle from afar grit his teeth, seeing that his companions behind him had fallen to the pegasus, looked back and took aim at the hovering pony. But a white chassis blocked his view. He looked and backed away in fear. The android yanked the gun away, the neon blue iris being the only thing illuminating the dark silhouette. Then, he saw it. The blue eyes turning red. Run Program: 4U124.EXE. Code: E-14B-1 The unknown command overriding Aurora’s three laws, allowing her to turn the rifle on the pony with one hoof claw and pulled the trigger. The pony crumpled to the ground. The red eyes scanned the area before turning to look back at the hovering pegasus. Candlejack looked over to see the eyes of Aurora. He narrowed them at her. He couldn’t help but think back to the androids he had killed. Each one bearing similar eyes. And when Zelori looked to see Aurora’s eyes glowing from inside the broken corner of the building, she took aim, seeing the rifle in her claw hoof. Candlejack was ready to move. Zelori’s hoof brushing the trigger. However, Aurora took aim and looked past the pegasus. She then pulled the trigger and Candlejack heard the bullet beam zip by and strike a pony that had took aim on him from the top of the building. Zelori lowered the rifle, seeing Candlejack turn to look at the passing bullet. The pony rolled her head and fell forward, rag dolling before colliding with the cement ground. Aurora scanned the map. The red dots were no longer around. Only hers and the two other blue dots. Aurora slung the rifle on her back and bounded down the building before landing on the cement ground, cracking it underneath her hooves. Candlejack landed next to Zelori and they watched the android trot over to them. There was a brief pause. And then, a strange feeling hit Candlejack. He had her all wrong. And while, there was still much to learn of the outside, he was glad to know that for once, an android wasn’t out to kill them. And Zelori knew this as well. Aurora returned a smile and looked down the road, the two following suite and seeing a bright glowing green building with tall exhaust pipes protruding from the back. “Why is it glowing green?” Candlejack asked, eyeing the surrounding. “That is the Luridium. When it reacts to the cold, it gives off a glow.” She was searching her database, looking up information about Luridium. As she did and explained to them the properties of Luridium and how it can be used to make energy in all four forms, they kept a keen eye out for any more of the bandits. They had managed to take surprise at least eight of them. That only leaves the rest that might be holed up in the facility. When the facility was in view, Aurora’s map flashed red. She stopped and motioned for them to take cover. Splitting up to hide inside the rubble and buildings, they remained silent, watching as a group of bandits rounded the corner. “…can’t wait to tell the boss this!” one of the bandits stated with a wide grin under his visor. “To think that Zillex Corp. is looking to strike a deal with us. All the bolts and fame we could ask for.” One of the bandits hissed and smacked him over the helmet, causing him to wince and rub the spot. “You idiot! Zillex is clearly trying to bring out Deadeye!” the mare barked. “Think about it! Why would Zillex send a damn android and her goons to tell us about striking a deal? Do you not realize that none of them are ponies?” “Damn machines. Think they can do whatever the hell they want! I swear, it’s thanks to them that we can hardly get any loot out of places!” Candlejack peeked out from behind the rubble. He rubbed his chin in thought. ‘Did they mention Zillex?’ he furrowed his brows more. ‘Seems that Zelori’s instincts were right again.’ Without realizing it, he had crept out of cover and followed them from the shadows. Zelori balked in surprise at this. ‘What is the fool doing now!?’ she thought with panic. Aurora watched silently, trying to understand the motive of the pegasus. She then decided that he probably was onto something and crept along in the shadows. Zelori let out a quiet sigh before following them from her own shadows. The bandits followed a road, discussing the matter and unaware of the three that were stalking them. Candlejack overheard them talking about how Zillex was leading them into a trap, saying that the bolts they were offering were fake. They knew that they were a wanted gang, and they felt that Zillex was just out to recruit more ponies to their cause. But to them, being in Deadeye’s gang meant having the freedom they so rightfully deserved. And this angered Aurora as she listened to them. Freedom to steal and murder as they please? She couldn’t help but have her memory bring back the images of Troffelton. No, they won’t have their freedom any longer. She will make sure of that. They rounded another corner and the facility stood high on top a rocky hill with a winding dirt path. Candlejack, Aurora and Zelori emerged from their shadows and took cover behind boulders. They looked, Aurora scanning the area. She found herself highlighting some ponies on her map. “It appears they have four snipers on the roof of the facility. The rest seem to be patrolling the perimeter.” Aurora said. Candlejack rubbed his chin. The snipers were indeed a problem. He looked around the surrounding. He then beamed, seeing a building they had passed that seemed a perfect view point for taking them out. He tapped on Zelori’s shoulder and pointed over to the building. “Think you can cover us from up there?” he whispered. Zelori looked to the building and furrowed her brows. “Jack, are you certain about this?” she asked. Candlejack nodded. Zelori studied her brother, who was focused on looking over to the facility. She then looked to Aurora, the android still scanning the area. She put a hoof on her shoulder, causing her to snap out of her scanning and look to her. “Aurora… I know that there is still much to trust about you… but please… make sure my brother doesn’t do anything reckless.” She squeezed the android’s shoulder slightly, the texture feeling a mix of flesh and wired muscles. But the gesture was more of a reassurance. Aurora registered the command and nodded. “Affirmative. I will protect Candlejack from his stupidity.” She said. Candlejack had a vein twitch. “I can hear you both, you know.” He hissed with a frown. And with that, Zelori trotted away from them, heading to the building that Candlejack had specified. Candlejack then looked to Aurora and nodded to her before they both dashed out of cover and made their way up the hill, Candlejack flying up it while Aurora bounded up the hill with her claw hooves. Reaching the top, they both quickly ducked behind a horizontal pipe that was protruding from the ground. The snipers were scanning the area. And one of the skull decaled ponies was sitting on the other side of the pipe they had ducked behind. Candlejack rubbed his chin, seeing the pony strike a match and putting it up to a cigarette. He took a pull before blowing it out and sighing. Aurora, her eyes still red, gleamed for a brief moment before she latched the pony from behind with her claw. “What the-?” the pony didn’t get to say anything else when Aurora grabbed the pony by the neck and taking a stub, sliced the throat. Candlejack watched stoically as the pony bled out. Aurora looked to him. “Perhaps, this plan will work.” She said as she removed the pony’s helm. Candlejack arched a brow. Aurora stripped the pony of his suit barding and gave it to him. “I will act as your prisoner. That way, I can get in close to Deadeye.” Candlejack looked at her questioningly. ‘Prisoner?’ He looked to the barding before frowning slightly. ‘It might work… but why am I to act a guard?’ He thought about what he should act as while he threw the suite on, shivering at the sudden cold that had washed over him. Fully dressed to look like one of the bandits, Aurora stood up. She then turned and walked in view, catching the attention of the snipers. However, Candlejack came up the flank and placed the pistol to her head. “It’s alright guys!” he suddenly called out. The bandits patrolling looked down at them. “I caught this little treasure down by the entrance. Says she is willing to tell Deadeye where he can find the treasure of a life time.” One of the ponies walked over and eyed them. “What’s this about treasure?” she asked. “I know of a certain location that houses bolts and components that will help expand anypony’s empire.” She glanced at Candlejack. “And it appears I have no choice but to tell Deadeye’s gang.” The pony rubbed her helmeted head. “Hmm… You don’t seem to be that Zillex goon.” She then nodded. “Let them in! Tell Deadeye he is expecting company!” They couldn’t see it, but they could bet that the mare was grinning wickedly underneath. The gates to the facility opened and Candlejack led Aurora through, being escorted by the pony. He glanced around nervously, seeing the bandits eye them as they passed. One of the bandits whistled. “Nice piece of a mare you dragged in.” he whooped. Laughter erupted. But Aurora remained stoic. Candlejack felt the sweat form on his brow. They were led into the facility and down a catwalk. Reaching a set of spiral stairs leading to the factory ground, they followed the pony around a giant crane base and a crusher. Reaching an opening, Candlejack gaped a bit, seeing a glowing green pod with green bubbling liquid. But there wasn’t just one. There were three in total. Each one taking up a corner. The pony stopped them. Candlejack, in his wondering gaze, caught sight of movement up above them and behind the pods. But he could see them, the bandits gathered around the area, watching them enter. The pony walked over to the railway. Taking position next to the side of the stairs, there was suddenly cheering that had erupted. The two ponies watched a figure descend the steps. A desperado hat covering the pony’s face. A red bandanna and a tattered duster covered the pony’s hide. Aurora scanned the pony, seeing an image bringing up a wanted picture of the very pony she had set out to kill. Candlejack, however, felt his curiosity peak even more. It peaked a little too much, however. He felt himself grinning in excitement. And when the pony lifted his head and revealed one glowing eye, he shivered. ‘A robot.’ He thought, remembering what Aurora had said. ‘Is he similar to DD?’ He then frowned and thought otherwise. This was a criminal. One that he was asked to kill. And seeing the hate displaying through the android’s stoic expression, he couldn’t help but feel a bit… conflicted. “Well now. My boys say you have a location that has ‘treasure of a lifetime’.” He looked at the android. “And you being an android, I bet you were ‘told’ to seek me out.” Aurora narrowed her eyes. “Negative. I was careless in my exploration that I ended up being outnumbered and outgunned.” She said. “And one of your boys decided to bring me to you as I promised a location of treasure that will help expand your empire.” She looked to Candlejack, disguised as one of the bandits behind her. “And being an android, he took advantage of my programming and forced me to give the location.” She twitched a little, her breeding program activate. But she quickly deactivated it in annoyance before turning back to face the robot pony. The robot pony rubbed his chin with a claw stub before looking over to Candlejack. The pegasus felt his heart beat faster. The nervousness mixed with excitement made him shiver a bit. He was dead curious to see if this pony was indeed the same type as DD or a different model entirely. But catching Aurora’s look made him ignore the thought and focused on the matter at hoof. Despite his curiousness, he was still in danger of his cover being blown. So instead, he decided to play the part. And he did by bringing up a hoof and smacking Aurora on her flank cheek, cupping it and all. The android stiffened in surprise, her breeding program activate again. “You bet, boss. This little beauty spilled all her secrets and many more to me. So I figured, why not share it to the boss himself?” he said, putting on his best mug grin. He then glanced at Aurora, seeing her expression suddenly change from stoic to a more… suggestive look. And she was looking directly at him. Deadeye looked at the two before tipping his hat. “Then I reckon you might as well spill it, gal. Or do you want my boy here to force more out of you?” Aurora bit her lip slightly, trying her best to ignore the breeding program running mixed with her combat program. “I-I know exactly where it is.” She gasped a little when Candlejack found her skin like texture to be odd. He then realized what he was doing and quickly withdrew his hoof from her flank cheek and look over to Deadeye. Aurora was doing her best to shut off the unnecessary program, but it kept bringing prompts up that she struggled to deny. Deadeye waited patiently for the android to speak. When the program decided to calm down, she made a quiet sigh of relief before continuing. “I-it is in the Subdivision of Detrot.” She said. Deadeye hummed metallically in thought. “You certain?” he chuckled. “Me an’ my boys scoured that place to and fro.” Aurora looked at him stoically. “The Subdivision is ripe with unexplored ruins. Most don’t bother or attempt, but only have the rogue machines dis-sway them. I happened to sneak past a J4K41 unit that happened to be stationed in the area.” Deadeye perked at the mention of J4K41. Candlejack was curious as to what Aurora was pertaining too. Thankfully, Deadeye seemed to sate his curiosity slightly. “A Jackal? In the Subdivision?” This even erupted surprise from the bandits. “Why, if a Jackal unit is in the Subdivision, then clearly the area it is guarding must be ripe with riches.” He shook his head and nodded to Candlejack. “I was planning on killing you if this was a waste of time. But I can see that your…” he eyed the android. “’Methods’, have swayed her to come clean.” Aurora had a touch of red on her cheek, the program dangerously close to activating. But she denied it and continued to maintain her focus. Candlejack had no idea what they were implying, but he couldn’t help but smile. “No problem, boss. Err… quick question.” He said. Aurora shot him a glare, but he ignored it. “You wouldn’t happen to remind me err… what exactly you are planning to do?” The room was silent. But Candlejack quickly spoke up. “I mean… once we raid the Subdivision and take out the Jackal?” Deadeye hummed again before shrugging. “Well, do what we always do. Bask in the glory and reap the rewards. And if we manage to get the Jackal’s head, we would be a gang to be reckoned with.” He said. This erupted cheers in the crowd. Candlejack was even more dead curious now. But then, he saw Aurora slightly shook her head at him. She had noticed something on her map. Out of the two blue dots surrounded by a mass of red, she couldn’t help but notice seeing another blue dot nearby. It seemed Zelori had followed them in. And sitting on top of the catwalk, blending into the shadows and taking aim with her rifle, she moved the scope over the head of Aurora. She frowned slightly, seeing Aurora glance her a look that told her otherwise. She then aimed the reticle over Deadeye’s head. Candlejack was clueless as to what was going on. Deadeye waved them away. “Now then. We strike at mornin’. Feel free to do whatever you want with her. She’d probably fetch a pretty bolt on the black market for parts.” Deadeye turned and walked up the stairs. Aurora felt her anger rise again. She had to strike now. Candlejack noticed Aurora staring at Deadeye. And then, in a blink of an eye, Candlejack withdrew his pistol and aimed at the nearest bandit. Time slowed. The bandit looked at him in stock surprise. A loud thump of the pistol and the beam pierced the visor. Deadeye stopped and looked over his shoulder, seeing the mare’s head roll before crumpling to the ground. Zelori, from the shadows, took aim and in quick succession, fired the rifle and felled three bandits that were lined up one by one. Confusion and surprise was all that they could muster. And Deadeye watched with sudden interest as his boys began crumpling to the ground in a bloody heap. And not only that, he noticed the sleek white android lunging at him. “Figured as much.” Deadeye said before time sped up and he quickly strafed as the android brought the hoof claw down into the metal. Deadeye back trotted away before stopping and looking at the android. Aurora, her eyes an intimidating red, remained on the bandit leader. “But then again, it isn’t so much as a guess with you androids.” He tapped his metal head with a claw stub. “Free mind and all.” Aurora pulled out her claw hoof out of the metal and clenched it. Deadeye chuckled and motioned for her to bring it. “Let’s dance.” Candlejack strafed around a bandit that had rushed him with a glowing amber knife. He withdrew his own knife and bounced it off of the bandit’s. A loud cracking sound emitted from the impact. Zelori took aim after falling another bandit. Her ears twitched slightly as her sense picked up a small hoof step. She quickly moved to the side as a glowing amber knife… no… this was bigger than the knife, swung down where she stood. And when the spike wearing mare hit the railing of the catwalk, it suddenly creaked and tipped, sending both of them rolling downward. Zelori rolled to her feet while the mare landed on her back. She quickly rolled over to her side, however, before Zelori could aim. The rifle was sliced at the barrel. And Zelori would have been nicked too, if she didn’t lean back in time. The mare stood up and rushed her. Zelori danced around the swings before landing a forehoof into her helmet, causing her to stumble. Zelori then stood up on her two hind hooves and crouched low, her fore hooves positioned out in front of her. The mare regained her posture before rushing her again. This time, Zelori was ready. The mare swung and the zebra mare spun on her hooves, moving around her before jabbing her sides. The mare yelped at a strange feeling of being stung multiple times coursed through her. But Zelori didn’t stop there. She followed it up by swiping under the mare’s hooves, causing her to fall face flat into the steel floor. The blade leaving her grip. Zelori shot a hoof out, catching the glowing blade and spinning it around her forehoof before jabbing it into the mare’s back. The mare gurgled before going limp. Zelori looked over to see Candlejack still colliding with the bandit’s knife, not managing to get a single hit in. She then glanced between the blade and her brother before she pulled it out and rushed over. “Jack!” she called out. Candlejack looked over, wrestling with the bandit’s own knife. He then smirked as he saw the blade soaring through the air. He then let himself fall back, planting his hind hooves into the bandit’s chest and causing the bandit to stumble back… straight into the sailing blade. It pierced the helmet and the bandit fell forward. Candlejack then rolled out of the way and reached to pull it out, seeing two bandits rush at him. Taking the glowing blade, he swung, lifting himself with the force and causing him to stand on his hind hooves. He then brought it back around, slicing downwards. The bandits were confused as the pegasus was suddenly behind them. Their heads then rolled off from their shoulders. Zelori rushed over and shoved Candlejack aside, spotting a lone sniper that had entered at the wrong time. He quickly took aim at the pegasus before pulling the trigger. Candlejack stumbled and Zelori groaned in pain as the bullet beam grazed her back. Zelori grit her teeth, ignoring the burning pain in her back before picking up one of the dead bandit’s pistol and returned fire. The bandit ducked before returning it back. Zelori tried to move, but the pain made it difficult. Again, she was grazed, but this time on her hoof. The pistol flew out of her grip. Zelori stumbled onto her sides and brought her hoof into her chest, writhing in pain. Candlejack balked before quickly grabbing the pistol in mid-fall and with a quick spin on his hoof, returned fired and pelted the bandit in the head. The bandit crumpled to the ground and Candlejack immediately rushed to his sister, helping her up. Zelori groaned again as she tried to walk on her hoof, but found it immensely painful. Candlejack patted his suite’s saddle bag and pulled out the gel. Popping the cap off, he smeared the gel on her hoof and watched with surprised interest as the gel quickly began replacing the missing hair on her forehoove’s wrist. Zelori shivered as she felt the cool tingly feeling coursed through her. What was once pain was now numbing. Candlejack’s ears twitched when he heard metal being scratched and screaming. He looked up to see Aurora and Deadeye on top of a catwalk. Claw hooves dangerously lashing at each other. Deadeye ducked back when Aurora swiped a claw at him. He then quickly dashed in and with a clenched claw, slugged Aurora in the chassis. Aurora felt her pain sensors signal to her where she had struck and forcing a reaction to it. She stumbled back, coughing. Deadeye chuckled. “You’re pretty good for acting like a pony.” Deadeye said. Aurora grit her teeth, her eyes gleaming red as she galloped forward with surprising speed. Deadeye danced around her hoof swings as he continued. “Do you understand what you are really feeling right now? What is going on through your mind? Are you certain these feelings are yours? Or are they just a program?” Aurora unclenched a claw hoof and brought it down, piercing the catwalk. Deadeye swiped a claw, striking her across the cheek and drawing white blood. Aurora pulled out the claw and rushed him. Deadeye caught her strike before shoving her down to his side and slugging her again. Aurora stumbled back, her sensors registering loss of air. “You see, that’s what makes us different. We robots have a free mind unlike you androids.” He shrugged as Aurora recovered from the strike. She dashed up to him again and this time shifted her strike. Deadeye leaned back as the claw ripped his bandanna scarf. Aurora tossed it aside before suddenly pivoting on her hooves and extending a hind leg. The strike landed onto the robot’s cheek. With a tumble, Deadeye found himself being shoved onto the railing. He wrestled with Aurora, preventing a claw hoof from reaching him. She felt her anger rise even more. The metal creaking underneath them. “Do you know what you are feeling right now? That is what we call ‘anger’. You clearly believe that whatever I have done to threaten you, you are upset and want to seek out justice.” He chuckled as he began slowly pushing Aurora back. The android growled slightly as she did her best to fight back. “Anger is what ponies deem a feeling most unpleasant some may argue. But anger has driven most ponies to the point of where they feel the need to spill blood.” Aurora could tell the robot was smiling when he said this. “However, it is quite unusual for a ‘puppet’ to go against the three laws. Or maybe you have just gone rogue from the network?” Aurora found herself suddenly with a burst of energy. She pushed back. “I don’t give a damn about the laws!” Aurora growled. “You killed somepony who I… I…” she faltered a bit. Unfortunately, this allowed Deadeye to retaliate and quickly shove her off, bucking her with his hooves in the process. Aurora stumbled back and Deadeye quickly drew out his revolver like pistol and aimed at Aurora. Time slowed as she looked to see the trigger pressed. She moved her head back, causing her entire body to flip back as the bullet grazed her chin. Time sped as she suddenly found herself hanging on the catwalk. She looked down to see the fall being a treacherous dive into a vat of Luridium. The boiling bubbling green liquid being used to power this plant made her furrow her brows worriedly. Deadeye chuckled as he peered over the railing. “Hmm… So you’re that doll that that mechanic built?” he rubbed his chin with a claw stub. Then, he looked to the vat of Luridium and he chuckled again. “Let me ask you something. Do you know what the Luridium Plague is?” Aurora looked up at him, wondering where he was going with this. “It was an event long ago where both android and robots who were exposed to Luridium to suddenly go bat shit insane. And yet, the Luridium was used in tangent to you androids. Defying the three laws in place, they killed without holding back.” Aurora grit her teeth. She then noticed a figure zip up behind him. But she remained stoic and focused on him. “Luridium was used for energy and other means. Solarium and Lunarium was used as a chargeable substance, but balancing out which caused a lot of material consumption. So I would consider myself lucky to not have built in Luridium.” He shrugged. “No hard feelings for your corruption. Robots were more of the second class than androids anyway.” He then stepped on her claw stubs that had her hanging from the catwalk. He twisted his hooves, causing her pain sensors to register. “You won’t die from the Luridium. But you would lose all sensibility as a puppet. Then perhaps, I’ll find a way to use you as my secret weapon.” He nodded at this idea. “A fine addition to the team, wouldn’t you say?” “I’d say you’re full of shit.” A voice said. He turned to see a hovering pegasus with a beam sword in his hoof. Deadeye made a balking motion. “A pegasus?!” Candlejack looked at Aurora and then to the robot. Without so much as a thought, Candlejack propelled himself with his wings and came close to decapitating the robot. Deadeye ducked and looked to see Candlejack turn and toss the beam sword up. Deadeye looked on in confusion before realizing that he was no longer stepping on the android’s claw stubs. In fact, said android sprang up from the catwalk, flipping once and catching the sword before landing behind Deadeye and roared in anger as she slashed downward. There was a brief pause. Deadeye looked at her, giving a metallic rasp. Aurora looked at him coldly. Deadeye then looked to see his left metal fore hoof was cut along up to the side of his face. He then stumbled back, leaning over the railing and then plummeting into the vat of Luridium. Aurora breathed heavily, the sensors registering a mixed emotion. She had won. But was it really a victory? The very pony she had called a father had died to this pony. And she had went out of her way to return the favor. And yet… it felt… hollow. Candlejack watched with a studying look at the android, seeing her drop the beam sword and fall back on her haunches. Candlejack’s interest piqued again. It was almost like the moment when he found that screaming android. It was amazing to see the sudden change of expression from something that was bent on killing. But this change wasn’t a sudden surprise. This one was more sad. Followed by the sound of a metallic squeak as the android bowed her head, dispensing water that trailed down her cheek. > Act-1 Chapter 8: Wanted > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wanted A towering skyscraper. One that has been built long after the incident that has thrown the land into nothing but a world of hate, vengeance, death and misery. The tower itself, a giant Conditioning Antenna that spreads as far as the still flowing Neighagra Falls and Canterlot. Below, a haven for denizens of all kinds. A utopia built under one nation and rule. All are welcome. And a lone figure, a dark unicorn stallion with a wavy black mane and tail and obsidian eyes, looked down on top of the tower’s balcony. A suite that has been specially tailored for the pony. Everyday clothing you would see during the pre-war era. However, modified to withstand the harmful rays and overbearing cold of the weather. He watched below, the denizens moving to and fro about their days. Indeed, life was simplistic here in this utopia his ancestors had created. The dangers of the Wasteland covered up and out of sight with a sturdy wall said to withstand even a sand wyrm’s advance. And if to expect an attack from above, Luridium ballistae lined the tops. The wall itself, a sixty kilometer block constructed of non-rustic materials and a sturdy sleek design. The utopia expanded far as the stallion could see. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in himself at the sight. A step forward into a better future. He had remembered what his great grandfather had said on the day of his passing. The young colt, clueless to the world around him, found meaning in his life when he had taken over the company. Ruling an empire and a utopia was more than he had bargained for. And at the young age of ten, the colt found it difficult to handle the adults arguing over the long expansive table. However, being guided by his caring android servants and having the best security one can have, the colt felt no danger to his position. And when it fell to him to quall the argument, he had simply stated: “And I’m the colt here?” the table grew silent, each pony throwing him judging looks. The colt, sitting on a stack of books thanks to his android maid standing beside his chair on his left, kicked his hind legs casually under the table. One of the ponies cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses. “Apologies, Master Macarole. But it is has come to our attention that this situation has yet to be handled.” Macarole swayed slightly, humming softly in thought. “And do forgive us for… being hesitant. But to discuss matters to such a mind of your age, I believe that I speak for all of us here that your grandfather must have found a… err… mature heir?” Macarole frowned at this. “I’m mature enough to know that adults arguing like foals over a toy block is annoying.” He said. This caught the mare by surprise at the response, but she maintained her composure. It was another that had blurted out. “By the late Goddesses, your grandfather was a fool!” The table grew silent again and looked at the middle aged buck who had slammed his hoof down onto the table. “Correct me if I am wrong, but having a child take over the company and rule over Artellia is incomprehensible!” Macarole eyed the buck. One of the other bucks from further down called out. “While the sudden outburst is unnecessary, I have to agree. A child taking the position as Emperor is just… uncanny.” Another spoke up. “I second that!” murmurs erupted. Macarole, however, looked bored at the adults and clicked his tongue. ‘Typical adults. Always looking down on their superiors.’ He then looked to his right. Another android. However, her design was sleek black and her long neon green mane and irises made her an intimidating figure. In fact, if he could remember exactly, this android is captain to his ancestor’s company of security. A battle android built with everything meant for combat. Ruthless, quick and nimble. And more surprisingly enough, this android had been deemed unique by his grandfather. “She is the next line of security for this company. A B-D55 model. Designed for combat and equipped with a smart AI and personality that will make her seem like a normal pony. The first of her kind and probably the only guardian Zillex needs.” Of course, Macarole found it hard to call her by her model ID. Instead, he had found a different name for her. He had remembered stumbling into the archives in his studies on hospitality and found a file dubbed: Astrology’s Science. Curiosity hit him and reading upon paragraph after paragraph, he found it fascinating to think that they had gone so far as to almost achieve space flight. And yet, there was one section that he found even more interesting than the science behind comets and stars. A spectacle that had long been extinct. A phenomena that was called the “Northern Lights”. Or back then, just simply called Aurora Borealis. And it was the perfect name for her. “Borealis.” Macarole whispered over the arguing adults. The android shifted slightly, signaling to him that she was listening. “I’m bored. Can we hurry this up? I want to get back into finishing up the next chapter to Particle Mare.” Borealis, the sleek black android mare, smirked. “If you insist, Master.” She said. She then held up her forehoof and taking her other hoof, opened a panel on her leg and tapped a few buttons with a claw stub. With a quick swipe of her claw tip, a small beeping sound emitted and both Macarole and Borealis looked back to see the chairs the adults were sitting at suddenly spring to life with claws. “W-what in the?” the buck that had blurted out was suddenly bucked back into the chair and the claws kept him in place. The same thing happened to the rest. Macarole smiled. He had always enjoyed the show Borealis put on when disposing of annoyances. “What is the meaning of this!?” another called out. The android mare maid had rolled up a cart with a steaming pot of tea and began pouring it into a cup. She stepped back and bowed as Macarole took the cup and blew on the top of it before taking a sip. Sweet and hot just the way he liked it. Borealis spoke up. “The matter of deciding who should be the next Emperor has long been decided. If you do not wish to accept this, then please file a complaint.” A compartment in front of the ponies opened up and a blank touch screen tablet was brought up. It had one sentence on it: Awaiting Voice Complaint The ponies looked nervously at one another before looking to the child and his servants. Macarole took another sip of tea and the androids remained stoic. “Y-you can’t do this to us! We are the only ponies keeping this company alive!” the buck called out. Borealis shook her head. “Correction. You are just liabilities that have aided this company greatly. However, we have heard about a recent… new management that has taken over.” The buck suddenly looked surprised at the mare. “W-what!? H-how can you…?” Borealis remained stoic as she tapped another button on her leg panel. The tablet in front of them changed. Voice Complaint Recorded. One moment while we process your complaint… Complaint deleted. Thank you for taking the time to use Zillex services. A fee will be charged to your account and any further complaints will result in further use of your fee increase. Thank you and have a nice day. The buck was baffled and looked to see the android smile. “Ciao.” Borealis said before tapping another button. A panel behind the chairs opened up, revealing a sleek slide. Without a moment of hesitation, the chairs suddenly leaned back and the claws let go of the ponies. All that was heard before the compartments closed were the screams that quickly turned into echoes. Macarole finished his tea and placed it on the cart. He then turned the chair and hopped off of it before happily trotting out of the room with his two servants and hummed a tune from the recently new Particle Mare digital audio book. “Would Master Macarole allow us to set up a dinner in bed?” the maid android asked. Macarole shook his head. “Not this time. In fact, have all my appointments rescheduled for next week.” He looked to Borealis, beaming at the android mare. “It’s a Particle Mare-athon going on! C’mon, Borealis! You have to stay up and listen with me!” Borealis remained stoic as she responded. “A tempting offer. But I have to remain on duty to our security.” She said. Macarole frowned. “Can’t you let the SCP run it for a while? A week without you won’t be a disaster waiting to happen.” Borealis glanced at the young colt. Her thought program registering amusement. ‘Give him time.’ She had thought. She then brought up a memory file of a task long ago. A buck, almost similar to the young colt if he were older, looked at Borealis with kind eyes. “My grandson will rule this land with an open mind and heart. He has everything we need for the next step into the future. Combat Unit B-D55. You are tasked in making sure that no harm comes to him until he is old and unwilling to walk. You will protect him as if your life depended on it. This is a command that cannot be overwritten. Do you understand?” A slight garble was followed. The buck smiled. “In time he will learn what it means to grow up. But for now, let him live his childhood for a bit longer.” Borealis blinked and then smiled at the colt. “Very well. I will send a command to the SCP.” Macarole laughed and hugged her foreleg. “You’re the best!” he cheered. He then broke into a gallop down the hall, entering into a spacious room that looked complexed and vintage. Borealis watched the colt take off and smiled slightly. “Pardon me, mistress.” The maid android spoke up. Borealis turned to the Service Unit. “I fear that the actions that were taken upon them may have cost us valuable resources.” Borealis looked unamused by this. “And this concerns a servant android because?” The maid bowed. “I mean no disrespect, mistress. I apologize for my sudden opinion. I will take the necessary actions as to not have it happen again.” Borealis sighed quietly before tapping a claw stub on the sleek tiled floor. The stallion’s thoughts was soon interrupted when the sliding door leading into his office opened and in walked the very same sleek black android accompanied by androids that bore no unique designs. The only thing different about them were the ID’s given to them on their flanks. “Master Macarole. I do believe I have something that you will want to look at.” Borealis said with a stoic expression. Macarole nodded and smiled. “You are always welcome to share it, Borealis.” Borealis nodded to one of the generic androids and it stepped forward. Its eyes suddenly displayed footages of a certain ruined Luridium factory. “One of our sprite-drones had picked up on activity in this vicinity.” The footage changed to display images of skull themed suited ponies gathering by the edges of the ruined buildings. Macarole rubbed his chin. “Isn’t this the supposed place where this ‘Deadeye’ had taken refuge in?” he asked. Borealis nodded. “Yes sir. We have confirmed reports from one of our scouts that has went undercover report back with intel relating to Deadeye’s whereabouts.” Macarole smiled. “Splendid! And did he accept my offer?” he asked. Borealis shook her head. “Negative. The gang turned down our offer. However…” she seemed to hesitate. Something that was very rare for her. And Macarole knew her better than any Zillex property in Artellia. He smiled. “Do not be afraid to speak your mind, Borealis.” He said. The soothing voice of the stallion made the android ease a little. She then nodded to the android displaying the footage. It rearranged the images until another image showed up. One that Macarole couldn’t make head or tails of. It was an image of a black silhouette zipping by the sprite-drone. Not too close, but close enough. The android then brought up another footage. This one showed a blurred image of something tan and white climbing up the side of a building. The last image showed a figure that was down next to a motor chariot, taking cover behind it as colorful beams seem to pelt the vehicle. “Err… What exactly am I looking at?” Macarole asked. Borealis frowned and trotted over to the android. With a quick slap of her claw hoof on the back of the android’s head, the android suddenly spurred to life and clicked once. The images had been filtered to high quality. Macarole looked on at the images with awe. Even Borealis had to do a little double take. The images showed three ponies. The one hiding behind the motor chariot appeared to be a zebra mare. She was looking down the scope of a Solarium rifle and firing back. The next image showed an android who had a strikingly similar look to Borealis, however with a different color. And the last one was a pony in a suite. And not just any pony in a suite. This suite had wings protruding from it. “Is… that…” Macarole asked. Borealis studied the images, furrowing her brows. “A pegasus?” Indeed, there was no doubt. The wings weren’t modified metal or scrap. It had flesh and actual feathers. The two were in awe at these images. Macarole broke the silence. “A pegasus… this far out from Sanctuary?” Borealis rubbed her chin with a claw stub. She then started scanning her database on the particular images of the ponies. Her screen flashed with errors: Unknown Individual. Require further analysis. “Sir. It appears these three do not appear in any records of any kind.” Borealis said. Macarole rubbed his chin. “Really? What about the wings? Scan the wings and see where they originate.” Macarole found himself being a kid again. To think that a pegasus was this far out. This is indeed a rare find. Borealis did her best to use every scanning program she had available to her at the moment. But again, nothing came up. However, it did pick up small traces of soil. “We have picked up nothing relevant other than fresh soil that can only be found underground.” Borealis stated. And then, she blinked in realization. Macarole eyed her patiently as her mind ran through files after files that date during the start of the post-war. “Master. It can be assumed this pony came from underground.” Macarole arched a brow. “Underground?” he asked. Borealis lifted up a foreleg and tapped on the buttons. “Correct. Years ago, after the incident that lead up to the phenomena dubbed “The Big Bang”, a part of Equestria had escaped underground to avoid conflict. Over half the denizens that escaped the war lived for a hundred years underground until they decided to brave the outside. Which is where we are today. However, those accustomed to the underground remained that way in seclusion.” Macarole trotted over to his desk and sat in it, propping his hooves out in front of him in thought. “So, this pegasus is from the underground. Why is it flying around a place that Deadeye deems a safe haven?” Borealis looked to the generic android and flicked its ear. The images changed to inside the facility. It showed a skull helmeted pegasus, in which Macarole assumed was the same one, skillfully caught in a still frame of what appeared to be a fighting stance. Interestingly enough, the pegasus was standing on the hind hooves. Even Borealis found this intriguing. Her eyes copying the data into her own memory bank. The image then switched to the zebra mare using a Luridium Saber against a spiked pony, using the same stance as the pegasus. “And what about this one? Is she a part of any of the clans or is she a black sheep?” Borealis scanned, only to frown in annoyance at the error that was brought up. “Unknown. However, once again, traces of underground soil on the fur depicts she is also a resident of the underground.” The android stated. “Two?” Macarole said, but not in the form of a question. Two underground ponies duking it out with Deadeye’s gang? He then eyed the third image. A sleek white android that strikingly looked similar to Borealis. He narrowed his eyes and enhanced the image. “What about the android? What is her ID? Is she another lost Zillex relic? Or is she one of the local androids of the lesser towns?” Borealis scanned again. The cursor moved to the flank, enlarging the blue heart with a barcode striking through it. Deciphering the code, it read the ID. “Sir. This android does have an ID. However, it is unaffiliated with Zillex or any known android in the lesser towns.” Borealis said. She then balked as the ID was displayed on her screen. Macarole also found this a rare sight and his interest rose. “What? What is it?” he asked, feeling his inner child sing with joy. “I-I… I can’t believe this…” Borealis said. She remembers why she was named Borealis to the stallion. But to think that this android… “Her ID states her as a breeding model. However, it appears she has been modified with combat programs and a self-aware personality chip. And her ID is…” Macarole tapped his hooves eagerly. The anticipation was killing him. “Speak, Borealis! Do not be afraid!” Macarole demanded. The sudden outburst made her hesitate even more. But she sucked it up and took a deep breath. “Her ID number is 4U120124. Simplifying the code brings up the name…” “Aurora…” Macarole finished. What coincidence. To think that this android, who is strikingly similar to Borealis, would be also named Aurora. Macarole grinned wider than he had thought. He then stood up and cleared his throat. “Borealis. This is rare find and a bigger coincidence if I have ever had the chance to look upon! We must strike at once! Find these individuals and bring them to Artellia. I want to have a personal discussion with them.” Borealis didn’t know how to respond to this command. But the memory of the old buck replayed in her head and she sighed before bowing. “It shall be carried out.” She said. The android turned and trotted out of the room, dismissing the rest of the androids. Macarole chuckled softly before turning to face the window looking out to Artellia. ‘The underground is very much alive? Then they must know about it.’ ~~~****~~~ The factory remained still. As if every activity that was once a part of it had ceased entirely. Only the sound of boiling Luridium could be heard from the vats that lined under the catwalks, each connected to a tube that appeared to be heading underground. Zelori winced as she limped over to Candlejack, who had lightly kicked the corpse of one of the bandits. His expression displayed confusion, causing Zelori to look at him and then to the corpse. The corpse before them had oil spilling from the head and spurting out of where Zelori had pierced through the helm. She looked around, seeing to her surprise that the bandits weren’t even ponies. Metal wires, bolts, gears, everything machine like was strewn about. They didn’t realize it, but every bandit they had slaughtered was made to look like a pony. The siblings looked up from their confusion and over to Aurora, who was dragging her hooves tiredly over to them. Her energy had been half charged when the attack happened. She was surprised that she was able to fulfill her own revenge with hardly any scratches. But the amount of energy that the program consumed was beyond expectation. She could feel her joints delaying with each step she took. She stopped and looked down at her hooves, seeing the bandana that Deadeye had on him. Next to it was the very weapon used in murdering her father. Aurora picked the gun up with her claw hoof and looked over to the two siblings. “You neglected to mention that neither of these ponies were… ponies.” Candlejack said with a frown as he lightly kicked the dead corpse next to him. Aurora slumped a little. “I was uncertain whether he had ponies aiding him or machine.” She said. Zelori rubbed her chin. “And yet, these aren’t androids either. Are you saying we took out a gang of robots?” she asked. Aurora nodded. “It appears so.” She said. Candlejack couldn’t help but feel relieved. He had seen too many in his times of expeditions. But then again, he couldn’t help but feel… conflicted. He wasn’t sure where the feeling came from, but in any case, he now had the android’s full attention. “So, now that we repaid the debt, I think it’s time you repaid yours.” He said. The android sat down on her haunches and nodded. “Very well. I will answer to the best of my knowledge.” Zelori eyed her brother. Candlejack took a deep breath. “This facility… do you know what it is?” he asked. Aurora started scanning through the network for any information the stallion had asked for. Her optic HUD brought up many pages and images. She frowned and made a swiping motion with one of her claw stubs to delete the unnecessary info. When the text stopped scrolling and enlarged an image and an article, the android mare began reading: “This facility, in particular, is a minor power plant that houses Luridium energy. This facility dates back to pre-war as a means to power energy to Detrot and its’ outer living societies.” She said. The two listened intently, trying to test their brains to lock down as much info needed. It made some sense at first to them. But eventually, the android began giving side information that wasn’t necessary to what they had intended. Candlejack found himself drifting away from the android’s words and began scanning the area. Despite the mix of oil and parts that consumed the air they breathed currently, he found himself itching all over. This place was giving him bad vibes for sure. But they came here for another reason. When Aurora finished up her “long-story short” explanation of the facility, she noticed the stallion itching himself as he looked over to the vat Deadeye fell in. Her scanners started showing the sibling’s health signs being slightly unstable. “Perhaps we should leave this place.” She turned to the vat of bubbling Luridium. “While a viable power source, it has been known to cause unusual side effects on both machine and ponies if exposed long enough to it.” Zelori looked to her brother. “Jack, we still don’t-.” she began. “I know, I know.” He looked to Aurora. “Is this place currently shut down?” Aurora frowned, her scanners not picking up much of anything. “I am afraid I do not know.” She frowned a little more. “I will correct this missing info error post haste.” The two watched silently as the android stiffened and remained motionless. They waited a good amount of time to see if anything would happen. Unfortunately, the blank look the android was giving made them assumed she had “crashed.” “Welp, she’s been a good source of info. Wanna’ activate this place?” Candlejack asked Zelori while stretching his wings. The two split up. Zelori taking the low ground while Candlejack took the high ground. The bubbling Luridium underneath the stallion made him itch all over. He imagined himself accidentally falling into the vat, his skin and fur melting away from him. He shivered at the thought and pressed on. He eventually reached an open doorway that lead into what looked like a control room. A bulky set up of dials, lights and buttons remained silent and still. Candlejack scanned the panels. Catching site of a button behind a glass case, he beamed and opened it, ignoring the warning displayed over the case. Down below, Zelori made her way over to a door that seemed to lead into the offices. She moved through the cubicles, keeping an eye out for anything of interest. She turned the corner and furrowed her brows, seeing what appeared to be a metallic corpse. The unmoving robot appeared to be dressed in torn and tattered pre-war clothing. The terminal it was sitting at hummed idly awake. ‘How can things like this still be active?’ she asked herself. She moved aside the robot, letting it clatter to the floor before looking over the terminal. The screen blinked on and a text wrote itself out: >I cannot wait to return to my loving wife and child. It feels like so long since I have seen them. Zelori arched a brow and scrolled through the files. It appeared to be a personal terminal. One that belonged to a Mr. Calico Wright. Zelori found the name odd as well as her curiosity piquing. She scrolled through the personal memos, starting from the first one that seemed to have been made centuries back: >The wife was reluctant to see me off. She stated: “Calico. If you miss our daughter’s recital at the end of the week, don’t expect any dinner on the table.” Of course, she was only teasing. Fourteen years of marriage is more than enough to know that I am not like the others. That I truly belong here with everypony else. Zelori scrolled down more. >It was a harrowing first week here at the plant. The ponies worked effortlessly to keep Sundew happy. A tough mare. But one that I know will lead our team to be Zillex’s best and brightest. I just hope my dear Orchid Field is faring better. Another entry. >It’s been six months now and I’ve been hearing that Zillex has taken a strange turn of events. The Princesses have confronted the sole creator of Zillex and tried to shut him down. We haven’t heard much, other than that he was arrested for unlicensed activity with Neighpon. However, Sundew seemed more stressed than my own personality chip can process. I hope this means we can finally take the long needed vacations that seem lack here in the plant. Zelori furrowed her brows and looked at the mechanical corpse. Was this the robot’s terminal? But that wasn’t all that seemed bizarre to her. She scrolled through more. >I’ve had one of our employees come up to me and asked: “Calico, why are you the only one that seems to care about this place? You’ve already reached shift leader. There is not much a robot like yourself can do.” I could pick up small traces of alcohol on his breath. I just told him: “Metallic hooves are the same as flesh. I am just like you and all the rest.” That didn’t seem to sit well with him. And ever since, I’ve been finding myself glancing over my back and seeing the others shoot glares. Oh, my dear Orchid. How I long to return to you. She scrolled through more. The memos left behind depicted more than just employee jealousy. It eventually got to the point where the zebra mare began questioning. ‘In all sense, this pony… reminds me a lot of DD.’ She scrolled to the last entry: >It seems this is the last day the plant remains active. Everypony seemed ready to return home. And I know I am eager to await the embrace of my wife. I’ve been receiving letters from her by an unusual pegasus courier. She seems harmless enough. All that’s left is receiving the word of leave. I cannot wait to return to my loving wife and child. It feels like so long since I’ve seen them. She noticed a strange looking paper clip symbol on this memo. Opening it, it was another memo that belonged to the robot. >I don’t understand. I’ve been disconnected from the network I was assigned too. This would worry me if I wasn’t more worried about the sudden rumors of sabotage at the Weather Factory. I tried contacting a friend of mine who worked there, but I received no response. And not only that, it seems that there is also a rumor of another possible sabotage right here in this very plant. I’ll be putting in my resignaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa The message ends there. Zelori rubbed her head in confusion. What had happened here? Zelori took a quick moment to glance around. The eerie lighting and destroyed cubicles gave off an all too familiar vibe. Suddenly, a loud blaring noise rang through her ears. Zelori balked at the sudden noise and quickly rushed back out to where Aurora had been standing. The android seemed able to move as she turned to the zebra before looking up to the bubbling vats of Luridium. “What is happening!?” Zelori asked, her voice being partially drowned out by the alarm. “A meltdown.” Aurora said without any hint of worry. Zelori frowned. “Then we need to get out of here. Where’s Jack?” Aurora looked over to the upper catwalks and noticed the stallion rushing out of a doorway. He looked down and shrugged at them before noticing the Luridium vats beginning to bubble. ‘Well, that can’t be good.’ He thought. Candlejack flew down to the two while Zelori and Aurora galloped towards the exit. Making their way outside, they rushed past the broken buildings and debris. A siren could be heard in the distance. Aurora took the drivers side of the auto chariot while Zelori took the passenger, leaving Candlejack to hop onto the side and hang on while Aurora brought the machine to life and floored it. With a loud screech and a roar, they took off away from the facility, the alarm echoing in the distance. Candlejack looked back to the facility as they sped away. He couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. He had thought that doing that would activate the facility, not cause it to meltdown. ‘Apocalyptice isn’t going to be happy about this.’ he thought with a frown. ~~~~****~~~~ They had made it. Arriving at Detrot, they had already noticed a big difference. The residents stood outside, looking around to pinpoint the distant siren. When they saw the auto chariot pull up in front of the workshop, Aurora narrowed her eyes as she saw ponies inside the house. Not only that, ponies were gathered when they had pulled up. The three hopped out the chariot and made their way through the crowd. Aurora was the first to make it at the front door. However, she was immediately stopped by a pony in a high tech looking suite. “Let me through.” She said. The pony shook his head. “Restricted area. Please move on or I will be forced to detain you.” He said. “I live here with my father, Troffleton.” She said. The pony narrowed his eyes through his visor. “Are you saying you’re the daughter of Chief?” he asked. Aurora nodded, registering a sad look. “I’m sorry. But right now is not the best time. You see, the chief is…” the pony hesitated to find the right words. But Aurora knew already. “I know. Deadeye killed him.” She said. She withdrew the revolver she had and showed it to the pony. He immediately balked. “What?! Are you saying you… you killed... Deadeye?” he asked. Candlejack and Zelori remained in the front of the crowd, but the murmurs erupted, causing them to overhear some. “How in the hell did she pull that off??” one asked another. “Deadeye is really dead?” “But Deadeye always had plans for attacks.” “I don’t buy it!” one voice shouted out. Everypony turned and stepped aside as two ponies walked through the crowd. One appeared to be a middle aged unicorn buck. The other, a younger looking earth stallion with wavy orange mane with blue highlights and a grey coat. He looked worriedly over to Aurora, who seemed unimpressed. “Aurora! I heard what happened. Are you alright?” the stallion asked as he made his way over to her and held her hoof into his. Aurora blinked once in confusion. “All functions are working as expected to performance.” She responded, frowning slightly at the small warning symbol that had popped up on her HUD stating that she had come into contact with minor Luradiation. The stallion sighed and smiled. “I’m glad you are okay. But the chief…” he bowed his head. “I’m sorry. I heard the noise, but I didn’t expect Troffelton to be caught up in it.” Aurora pat the stallions hoof in reassurance and smiled. “I appreciate the gesture, Pastel.” She then returned to her stoicism and looked back at the pony guarding the door. “Can I please go in? I want to…” she found herself faltering. The pony shook his head. “I’m sorry, but by order of the NDS, I cannot allow a civilian to enter the scene.” He said. Zelori narrowed her eyes at the pony. She remembered asking about the NDS. They are Detrot’s security! Always “lookin’ out for ta’ people” and wot not. Really, they be jus’ nuisances dat’ stick their muzzles where ‘e don’ belong. Bes’ ta’ keep out o’ trouble with the loiks o’ ‘em. Candlejack, however, had a different impression. ‘Figures that the ETG kept their above ground secret.’ He growled slightly. He glanced at Aurora, seeing the sad look she was registering. He hummed quietly to himself in thought. Despite being the very thing he made a habit of killing, he couldn’t help but think that she acted all too closely like an actual pony. His conflicted thoughts came back when an image of DD flashed through his head. He nodded to himself before taking a step forward. “And by what right do you have in keeping a relative from seeing the deceased?” he said, suddenly catching the attention of the crowd. Some were surprised gasps while others were nervous glances. He wasn’t sure why everypony was suddenly on edge, but he was more focused on the guard. Aurora studied the stallion as the guard arched a brow. “Are you new to this town?” the guard asked. Candlejack smirked. “Yup, just rose from the ground.” He said. The pony was confused but pressed on. “Then I must ask you please refrain from any more outbursts. Go about your business.” he said with a dismissal wave of his hoof. Candlejack shook his head. “Sorry, but I need more convincing than that.” Zelori bit her lip worriedly. ‘Jack, please don’t.’ she thought. The guard seemed unimpressed. “If you do not comply, I will be forced to detain you.” He said. Again, Candlejack remained unmoved. “So you are just going to turn away the daughter of the very pony that is keeping your society alive from the weather.” “It’s for her own good. And something street rats need to stay out of.” Zelori sighed. Candlejack just couldn’t refuse to butt heads with authority. She was about to step forward to break it up, when she noticed the guard’s visor suddenly light up, causing the pony to look surprised before turning into a small grin. “So, where did you get that suite?” he asked. Candlejack blinked in confusion. “Huh? I plucked it off of one of Deadeye’s ponies.” He said. The pony chuckled. “Really? Cus’ the network is saying something entirely different.” Candlejack arched a brow. Suddenly, he found himself being surrounded by NDS. Each one holding a weapon at him. This took the crowd by surprise. Candlejack furrowed his brows. “Candlejack. Age twenty-two. Race is pegasus.” The crowd erupted into more murmurs. “He’s a pegasus!?” “What’s a pegasus doing this far out from Sanctuary?” “Damn pure-wing!” “Quit hogging the weather you pure-wing!” Candlejack was utterly baffled at the sudden out roar. Zelori quickly moved forward, only to suddenly be pushed aside as the crowd began swarming in on him. Candlejack was surrounded by both guards and the citizens. “I bet he was the one that killed the chief!” one shouted. “Murderer!” “Saboteur! Stay away from our Condition Antenna!” “Cut his wings!” Candlejack felt something hard strike him across the helm. The helm fell off, revealing a very confused looking stallion. ‘What the hell is going on?’ Candlejack thought. Aurora darted her eyes worriedly at the crowd. She glanced at Pastel, seeing the same spiteful look. The guard continued. “Wanted for crimes against authority. Murder. Vandalism. Theft. Rape and abuse of power.” Candlejack balked at the charges. “What the buck are you talking about!? I’ve would never do any of that!!” He then blinked once. “Well, I’ll give you the vandalism and theft. But everything else is just false charges!!” Zelori face hoofed. ‘You idiot.’ Before she could attempt anything, Candlejack was suddenly piled on by the guards. Before he knew it, he was suddenly tied and constricted by a beam like tether. He couldn’t move his hooves or his wings. And despite the amount of struggle he was putting in, the guard picked him up and started dragging him away. “This is abuse of power!! I’m innocent!! Let me go!!” Candlejack shouted. “Get out of here, pure-wing!” “Let this be a lesson to never buck with us again!” “Murderer! Rapist! Thief!” The crowd started chanting this as the stallion was being dragged away. Aurora felt Pastel put a hoof around her shoulders in comfort. “Did that pony do anything to you? If he did, I swear by the late goddesses.” He said, the anger clear in his eyes. Aurora remained stoic and shook her head. “Negative. In fact, the pegasus’s aid was a big help and he…” she felt herself smiling. “He stood up for me.” She whispered this, causing Pastel to look worriedly at her. “You must be exhausted. You can rest at my place. I’m sure this is all too much for you.” Aurora ignored the pony and looked over to Zelori, who seemed to be struggling with her thoughts. She walked over to the zebra mare and put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. “Zelori.” She said. The mare looked at her, looking exhausted. “We will help him clear this up. But for now, we must rest if we are to do so.” She found herself scanning through multiple scenarios. “We will free him. Besides…” she smiled at her. “I owe him more than my gratitude.” Zelori sighed and rubbed her muzzle. “Very well. But whatever it is you are planning, I want in.” she said. The android mare looked at her stoically. “I’ve already lost somepony important. I don’t want to lose another.” Aurora smiled and looked over to the auto chariot. “Then I have an idea.” ~~~~****~~~~ Candlejack gave a bored sigh. ‘I never thought I would be arrested above ground as well. Life really does have it out for me, doesn’t it?’ he thought. He looked through the metal bars. The NDS were using a pre-war jail cell that seemed to be in surprisingly good condition, considering the cell he was in looked like somepony had a field day with their bowels. He looked past the metal bars and saw one of the guards that had tossed him in the cell playing with a small panel on his suite’s gauntlet. He could hear small arcade like beeping and tunes. Curious as to what he was doing, Candlejack tapped on the bars. “Errr… what are you doing?” he asked. The guard ignored him. Candlejack frowned. “Err… excuse me?” The guard didn’t seem to acknowledge him. But he continued. “I was wondering if maybe I can go to the bathroom?” The guard chuckled and looked over his shoulder. “You’re in it.” He said before going back to the small panel on his gauntlet. Candlejack groaned a little. “Then perhaps you would fill me in on why I am really being charged with.” The guard looked over to him, the earth pony growling. “How about shut yer’ trap and wait until you are picked up?” he snapped. Candlejack arched a challenging brow. “Picked up, eh? Let me guess… Brilliant Mane?” The guard returned him a confused gesture. “I don’t know any Brilliant Mane. Now shut it! I’m in the middle of a raid.” Candlejack rubbed his chin as the pony went back to what he was doing. ‘There has to be a way I can get him to talk.’ However, the amount of thinking Candlejack did didn’t help him at all. He leaned against the bars and sighed, looking out of the small window. The sun had just appeared over the horizon. The stallion stared at the wall, imagining himself suddenly running at the wall and punching it so hard and without much effort. The wall crumbling away. The sense of freedom in his hooves. Not to mention, seeing Zelori on the other side and smiling at him. He then blinked once out of his trance. “Wait, Zelori?” he asked, seeing his sister move away from the window. He could hear the sound of something heavy clamping on the other side of the wall. And with a loud roar of an auto chariot, Candlejack balked when the wall suddenly began to crumble. “Hey, I told you to shut up!” the guard shouted from the other side. On the other side of the wall, Zelori made sure the metallic clamp was fastened again and nodded to Aurora, who quickly floored the auto chariot. With the sound of screeching metal and cement, the wall gave away. This got the guard to suddenly turn in annoyance, only to have it quickly change to surprise. “What in the…” Candlejack smiled and turned to the guard. “Well, it’s been fun. Tell Brilliant Mane that he needs better guards on his payroll.” To rub it in, Candlejack gave the ETG salute before turning and bounding up the pile of cement and sand. Candlejack hopped onto the chariot and grinned victoriously. Zelori quickly took the passenger side and nodded to Aurora. The android floored it again and they quickly sped down the road. “Shit!” the guard held up his hoof gauntlet. “We have a rat out of the hole. I repeat. A rat is out of the hole. Suspect taking off on an auto chariot. Requesting Jumpers!” Down the road, Candlejack laughed and pat Aurora on the back. “I never thought an android would go against the law.” He said. Aurora shook her head. “I must apologize, but we are not out of the woods just yet.” She said. Zelori arched a brow. “While now we are considered criminals, I still have one task that I need to do before I can officially… leave.” Candlejack and Zelori exchanged glances. “In the meantime, I want you both to keep the unwanted company off of us.” Zelori furrowed her brows before peeking out of the passenger seat. Aurora had picked up the warning on her HUD. And when the siblings looked behind them as they sped down the barren road, they could see some of the areas behind them distort. With a sound of thunder and a quick flash, they were suddenly being chased by four more auto chariots. However, these seemed to be in different design. Candlejack could make out a unicorn at the top of the vehicle and sitting behind what appeared to be an all too familiar weapon. The image of the strange android in Heaven’s workshop came back to him. “What the hell are those!?” Candlejack shouted over the rushing wind. “They are a part of the Artellia Security Service. Most ponies refer to them as ‘Jumpers’.” Candlejack couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle. “She said ass.” He said to himself with a childish smile. Zelori cocked the Solarium rifle and aimed. “Focus, Jack. Here they come!” she said. Candlejack wiped a tear from his eye before looking to Aurora. “Have anything heavy?” he asked. Aurora nodded and pressed a button on the panel. Candlejack felt himself suddenly being grasped by a claw as the auto chariot began to change shape. A similar weapon rose from inside the chariot along with a seat that the claw placed Candlejack in. Aurora peeked over to see Candlejack give the same victorious smile and cracked his neck. “Alright, buckers. Show me what ya’ got!” he shouted. > Act-1 Chapter 9: Manic the Mechanic > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manic the Mechanic A wakening nightmare. The smell of blood caked on the walls. A buck hunched over a table, ranting quietly to himself. It was hard to make out what he was saying. But to the young filly trapped behind the metal bars, unable to move, it was something she remembered all too well. As much as she wanted to protest, the buck had made sure she wouldn’t fight back. For as long as she could remember, the buck had suddenly developed a strange interest in black magic. A book he had found on one of his ruin expeditions held a surprising amount of research on this magic. And being the dedicated shut in researcher, he spent countless hours trying to perfect it. Even if it meant the cost of his own kin. The buck was no more than a silhouette to her. But a small puff of black smoke that crawled off of the table and over to her, made her panic rise. ‘No… no please don’t…’ she had thought. The paralyses made all forms of movement restricted. ‘Momma… help me…’ The buck suddenly slammed on the table, yelling a primal roar. “No, no, no, NO! This will not do! Why must it resist!?” The buck shifted over the table, opening the book with his magic that was placed on the left of his side. “I’ve done everything this damn book has described! So why!? Her blood refuses to accept it!!” She could hear the buck crying now. “I need her back! So why!?” he turned to the small filly trapped behind the cage bars. “Why do you resist!? Do you not want to see her again!?! What kind of daughter does this to her own father!?” He breathed heavily and stomped over to the cage, hitting it hard. “Mom…ma.” The filly managed, her sight beginning to blur. How many days has it been since she had been down here? She had lost all sense of time. Hunger and exhaustion had kicked in. “Please… my daughter…” the buck suddenly wept. “Everything will be alright. I just need more of your blood. Then maybe, it will be satisfied enough.” The buck’s horn glowed and the filly heard something being dragged off of the table. She could see through her blurred vision a long syringe. The filly’s heart rose into more panic. So much, in fact, that the paralyses seemed to start to wear off. She crawled away, huddling in the corner. The buck clicked his tongue. “Tch, of all the times for it to wear off now.” The buck then put a reassuring hoof on the cage. “My daughter. Do not be afraid. I know that deep down I’m so close to bringing her back. You just need to hang on a little bit longer.” The filly felt something grip her hooves and she was jolted forward and dragged over to the buck. The filly grunted in protest, the panic increasing. “N-no! Dad please! I don’t want to do this anymore! Please!!” She said, her voice squeaking in fear. The buck had dragged her to the bars and quickly jabbed the needle in her neck. She choked as she felt the paralyses re-enter her body. “Now then. Be a good little girl and give daddy more of your blood. Do not fret. I know I am close to this. I just know it!” He levitated the book over to him and scanned it over. A look of realization struck him. The filly looked on, her expression glued to fear. The buck smiled. “Oh! So that’s what I’ve been doing wrong.” He chuckled and waved the book. “It all makes sense now. I don’t need a fraction of her blood. I need as much as I can gather.” The filly saw the syringe being put down and something else take its’ place. A primal tool that seemed old and beyond the point of repair. However, its edges were still razor sharp. “Forgive me, my daughter. This will not kill you. I don’t… want to lose you as well… I only just need a bit more blood.” The filly wanted to scream. She wanted somepony to save her. ‘Somepony… anypony…’ she couldn’t move. The tool creeped into the cage and hovered over her. ‘Help me…’ The tool lowered down onto her and in a blink of an eye, the filly jolted out of her bed, kicking the sheets off. Her breath heavy and the sweat forming on her. She looked around her room. The room gave off a small glowing purple hue. Parts and scrap scattered on walls and on the tables. Prototypes she has made when she was younger were displayed and lined against the walls. But that was not what she was fearful of. She could hear the blade cutting into flesh. She dropped her ears and covered them, crying quietly to herself. This nightmare was all too real. But of course, she had lived it more times than she can count. The filly remained in her bed, clutching her stomach at the sudden nauseous feeling overcoming her. “Somepony… help me…” she wept quietly. ~~~****~~~ The sun shone high overhead. The sounds of chittering sand sprites echoed throughout the suburban outskirts. What were once homes now remained bare foundations. And yet, Candlejack felt giddy. He had finally got to try out a beast of a weapon. And it aided them greatly in the escape. The Condition Antenna towered over them, a metal beast that can be seen from Detrot. The three looked up to the towering metal beast. “So, this is the very thing that your father kept well maintained?” Zelori asked, baffled by the sheer height. Aurora nodded and looked behind her to the auto chariot. The vehicle may have been rusted and worn down for as long as she could remember. But the Jumpers had done a tremendous amount of damage to it. She was surprised that the engine hadn’t blown out on them during the chase. And while Candlejack was having the time of his life firing the Solarium gatling gun, Zelori was the one to pick off the Jumpers. She was in awe as Candlejack created openings as he returned fire on them. She even noticed that he was funneling them into Zelori’s line of sight. And when he did, Zelori wasted no time in pelting the drivers. Never in her life has she seen ponies achieve something with so much ease. However, when the last of the Jumpers retreated, that was when the auto chariot couldn’t take much more of the pressure and thus began overheating. They had to travel the rest of the way on hoof. Aurora reigned herself and dragged the chariot along while the siblings kept close eyes on their surroundings. It took them an hour to finally reach the antenna. Aurora trotted back to the trunk of the chariot and withdrew a strange cylindrical part. The alien like part was exactly what the antenna needed. She furrowed her brows sadly as she looked at the piece. Remembering the countless times she has come here with Troffleton to repair it. She could remember him explaining to her how it should be kept up and where certain parts need to go. “Now, this piece is a roight beauty, me angel. Remember that ya’ hafta’ carefully draw out the part. Then, ye’ line up ta’ new one and jus’ jam it in there. An’ ye’ be roight an’ ready ta’ go.” Candlejack studied the android as she thought this. His curiosity piquing even more. ‘So, they don’t really have any bloodlust. They can be caring too? Heh, she seems okay so far. But I wonder…’ Aurora then nodded to herself and trotted forward. “Watch the chariot. I’ll be back. I promise.” She said. The siblings exchanged glances before nodding to her. “Not like the chariot is going anywhere anyway in the state it is in.” Candlejack replied. Aurora quietly registered a sigh before trotting up to a small lift. Pressing a red button, the lift ascended the tower at a decent pace. When she arrived at the top, a small square catwalk was the only thing that could be stood on. Stepping off the lift, she made her way around and stopped in front of what looked like a circuit box. Opening up the panel, she could see the buttons and dials lighting up. One particular light was an orange one over what was the place she needed to replace it. She grabbed hold of the handle and turned, hearing it hiss before pulling it out and setting it aside. She read the label over the hole: Property of Arcane Science and Robotics Corp. Please handle with great care by order of Twilight Sparkle. Survallience is being monitored 24/7. Aurora held up the part and with a quick push, she shoved the alien like cylinder in and turned it. The sound of a hum reached her and the antenna began changing from a dim blue hue to a brightly blue aura. Down below, the siblings felt a strange sense of ease and calming as the antenna’s aura waved through the area radius it was meant to cover. Aurora smiled and closed the panel. ‘Father… I’m sorry I couldn’t be the daughter you saw me as… I just…’ her smile faltered. ‘I guess… I really hoped I was.’ Aurora headed back down with the lift and trotted over to the siblings. Candlejack arched a brow, seeing the android register a depressed expression. “Everything alright?” The android nodded softly before retaining a stoic expression. “Great! So now that we failed in getting the Luridium factory up and running, I guess we need to figure out exactly where the others are and hope we can get those back online.” Aurora cocked her head. “Forgive me for asking. But why are you planning on reactivating abandoned Luridium factories?” Candlejack wanted to say, but thought better of it. “It’s a… well… something to do out here I guess.” He said. Zelori nodded. “Frankly, I don’t think my brother had any plans other than that.” She said. Candlejack looked at her with confusion. Aurora looked to the chariot. “If that is what you had planned, then we need our means of transportation fixed. While traveling on hoof is okay, I believe your suites were only meant to combat the heat for a few hours.” She explained. Candlejack sighed. “Well that’s a bummer. Where can we go to fix it?” Aurora scanned her map. The square scanning the area they were in. The map then zoomed out and marked a location that was about one mile from where they were. “The nearest town is a small community about a mile east.” She brought a small dossier of the town that was registered in the network. A small town, population of five hundred. She blinked once and smiled. “This town is also known for having a very young and skilled mechanic in the area. Reports are showing that this pony had fixed obsolete equipment and upgraded most of the town’s electric appliances and AC units.” Zelori arched a brow. “How young is this mechanic?” she asked. Aurora scanned the dossier, but found no information about it. “Unfortunately, the file doesn’t say.” Candlejack stretched his wings, shifting them around the spiked harness on the suite he currently wore. The suite was hindering most of his movement than he had thought. And now that he had thought about it, he remembered the question he was going to ask her. As Aurora reigned herself again and they started to trot down the road, Candlejack spoke: “So… what kind of model are you? You are pretty skilled in combat. Are you a battle type model or…” Aurora scanned her information. “My AI is a prototype chip that has been installed since my creation. Based on my creation date, I am at least three hundred and twenty two years old in pony standards. However, my model also appears to be a prototype build. A breeding unit mixed with combat compatibilities.” Candlejack arched a brow. “A breeding unit with combat capabilities? What, are you some sort of walking kick ass sex doll?” Zelori struck him hard over the helm, causing him to hiss in pain. Aurora registered a sad expression. “Based on the information, it was my intended purpose to “appease” the male audience. However…” she wasn’t sure how to feel about the blank information. “It appears that I have no record of testing.” Candlejack rubbed his chin. “No testing, huh?” He wasn’t aware of the unintentional curious smile that spread across his face. He was interested in learning more about the android being different to the others he had faced. However, Zelori and Aurora were picking up different vibes. Zelori frowned and Aurora flushed brightly, seeing her breeding program activating again. “Jack. May I remind you that we are currently on the run as well.” She said. Candlejack shrugged. “Not the first time. I wasn’t expecting the ETG to just appear suddenly.” He said. Zelori shook her head. “And this is why I had gathered information ahead of time while you were butting heads with authority.” She replied. Candlejack furrowed his brows at her. “Those ‘ETG’ look a likes were called NDS. New Detrot Security. They are a branch of security drafted and positioned to be the guards of the Detrot area.” She made a gesture over to nowhere in particular. “Every town we come across may have some sort of security set up. Which is why you must not let your habits get the better of you.” She looked to Aurora. “And I mean all of your habits.” Candlejack frowned. “I don’t know what you are implying, but I’m perfectly fine the way I’ve been.” He itched his foreleg. “If anything, the ETG are responsible for me acting out against them. If they weren’t so obsessed in trying to keep the shit hole that is New Equestria being habitable, then maybe I wouldn’t be out to get them.” Zelori sighed. “Please, Jack. Why can’t you just listen to me for once?” Candlejack sighed. ‘Because you are just going to be using your ancestors as an excuse.’ He thought, reading his sister’s thoughts exactly. However, before she could say anything, her ears twitched and looked ahead. Catching the notice, Candlejack followed her gaze and blinked once as they noticed something small and metallic rolling down the road and heading towards them. However, they could hear some sort of garbled music coming from the sphere. As it got closer, they could hear the music playing clearly now. Something that was unfamiliar to them. Aurora, however, picked up the song immediately and a file popped up. “Beyond the Sea?” she asked. The music stopped suddenly and a voice came through. “Good morning my sensational apostles! It’s ya’ boy, Record Scratch, bringing you the new and latest in technological news! And boy, do I have some exciting news for you today!” There was a brief pause. “Now, you know Artellia? The main attraction and the eighth wonder of Equestria? Well, it turns out that Artellia is planning on expanding its borders! But then you must be thinking: “But Record Scratch. Isn’t Artellia big enough already?” He chuckled. “Well, let me tell you, my friends. Aretllia is announcing its first ever expansion for those that do not have homes. That’s right, an entire section dedicated to those that have no homes!” The three ponies exchanged glances as the voice continued. “’But Record Scratch. Aren’t those ponies just a waste of space?’ Now, I may be a big believer in equality. And even I can see the problem. However, Zillex is generously donating a big sum of their bolts to aid in the development. That’s right! Zillex is going to be making it a place with cheap rent, jobs and other necessities! A place in Artellia. To make it truly equal! Now that, my friends, is what I’m all about. And I know that some of you don’t believe in it. But I am not just any pony. Now then, I’m sure you all are wondering what’s been going on outside of the giant sleek walls of paradise.” The pony cleared his throat. “Well, my apostles. I can tell you that weather is extremely high as per usual and the nights are long and cold. And that is all for the news…” There was another pause. “Is what I would have said if you asked me that. However, there has been some… interesting things going on that all started about yesterday. You see, I’m not much about superstition. Cus’ here in a world of science and technology, you wouldn’t think twice about anything supernatural at all. However, when you hear rumors about a group of certain ponies that appear out of nowhere and utterly mows down an entire gang of bandits, then that is something I would just laugh at… if we weren’t in a place of technology.” “While by all accounts this pony wasn’t alone, but this certain pony definitely made an impression. So quickly, in fact, that the network registered him as an unknown affiliate to Artellia. No other information has been given, other than a code name that had been recently released that dubs him as P.U.N.K.” there was a chuckle. “An interesting code name, my apostles. I guess that this pony has had his fair share of battles. So I guess taking on Deadeye was something that was probably a breeze.” There was a slight pause before the voice seemed to lessen the excited tone to a more serious one. “Again, I am a big believer of equality. And well… when all is said and done, I guess some heroes are not all black and white.” Candlejack rubbed the back of his helm at the strange spherical contraption. “Erm, so I am not the only one worried that this thing is talking about us, right?” he asked. Aurora, however, was already scanning the databases. “The voice belongs to a disc jockey by the name of Record Scratch. A decedent of musical ambition. He supplies Equestria with news and reports about the ins and outs of the world.” The two siblings looked at her. “His followers range well over twenty thousand. It even states that Record Scratch has been given full freedom to express opinion by order of Artellia and Zillex.” Candlejack balked. “Wait, he’s getting paid to express news and opinions?” he asked. Aurora nodded. “He also has ties to the higher ups in Artellia.” She stated. Candlejack rubbed his chin and smirked. ‘Maybe this pony would be a great way to start looking.’ He thought. “Now remember. The wastes are no place for day dreamers. Ponies are risking their lives every day to ensure the preservation of our ancestor’s relics and the recollection of the past. And while there are some out there that want to exploit them, know that not all hope in this land is lost. And I believe that the first step has been taken in ensuring that Equestria could be what it once was. Thank you so much, it’s ya’ boy Record Scratch, signing off for now. Here’s some electro swing for your cause by a good friend and upcoming musician, White Light.” The three ponies arched brows as the spherical like object started playing a catching swing like beat with a mix of electro in it. But that wasn’t what caught Aurora off guard. She hadn’t realized it until now that they watched the spherical object roll up to them and then stop while the news was going on. Her ears twitched at the sound of beeping. Before she could react, however, the spherical object suddenly split apart and all three felt the surge of electricity. Their legs gave out on them and they fell to the cement road. Candlejack grunted in pain as he tried to stand himself up. He looked over to see Aurora looking at him with a dead like expression while Zelori remained motionless. “Zel…ori…” he rasped. He started writhing on the ground. He looked up, his vision blurring. But he could see it. He hadn’t noticed it at first, but there was a figure approaching them. It was big, bulky and was walking on two metal claw like legs. It stomped in front of him and it let out a hiss. Another sound followed. One that was somepony moving off of the hulking creature and landing in front of it. He couldn’t make out the rest as his vision began to fade. ‘Dammit.’ ~~~****~~~ The young filly sighed tiredly as she looked over her desk of blueprints. She had spent half the morning trying to keep herself from going back to sleep. Her matter materializer created a soothing aroma of ground coffee and sugar. The materializer was a brilliant contraption she had made. All thanks with a little help of science, sweat and a hint of magic. The magic being mainly more science with atoms. The contraption could materialize anything she wanted, so long as she could input the right ingredients. Taking a small sip of the coffee, the filly sighed and scanned the blueprint. The grid like paper displaying ideas and a picture for a suite she had wanted to create for a long time. And when the NDS came to her door and asked to fill out an order of her up and coming research (while supplying her with a good sum of bolts in the process) the filly went straight to work, locking herself in her room. ‘Getting this new suite to present to Zillex is such a pain though.’ She frowned to herself in thought. ‘I don’t even know where to get the parts. Let alone, have the time to go out and look for it.’ She felt herself drifting from her thoughts and her eyes fell heavily. However, that split second of vulnerability brought back flashes of that nightmare. She gasped awake and shook her head furiously. Taking the coffee, she took a big gulp of it and coughed as the hot liquid trailed down her throat. There was a knock on her door. “Hey, sis. Do you think you can help me out here?” a voice said from the other side. The filly groaned, rubbing her pounding head. “Go away, White. I’m in the middle of an order.” She shouted back. “But it is really important!” the voice of her brother came through again. She growled quietly and went over to her door. The metal like door slid open and the filly leaned against the edges, the coffee in her hoof. She arched a tired brow at the young grey unicorn stallion with an electric mane with neon green and blue highlights and electric eyes. He returned her hostile look with a worried one. “Is everything okay? You look like hell.” The filly clicked her tongue. “What do you want?” she asked a little more coldly than she wanted. The stallion tapped his hooves bashfully. “Erm… my record table broke again.” The filly sighed and bowed her head tiredly. “Dammit, White. I can’t keep fixing your damn table. Why don’t you just get a new one? The things old as Equestria itself!” she retorted. Weeks of restless nights has taken a big toll on her. “But, I don’t even know how it keeps breaking!” the stallion protested. The filly frowned. “If you weren’t acting like a complete moron and ‘dropping them beats’ then maybe you could have a decent working piece of crap.” White kicked his hoof against the ground. “But… how can I get my name out there if I don’t have my table ready? I have a performance coming up in a week and I need to be ready for it.” He said. The filly sighed. “White, I have an order to Artellia to fill out which is going to take me a week of hardly any sleep. I don’t have time to fix something that is already on the verge of dying.” White frowned. “Manic, please just do me this favor? I promise I won’t break it by the end of the week.” The young filly clicked her tongue again. “It won’t last a minute.” She blinked once through her tired eyes and saw the pouting face her brother was giving. She scrunched her muzzle disappointingly. Despite being tired, how can she really say no to the only pony she has left in her life? As much as White annoyed her with small things that keep getting broken under his care, he was still her brother. And ever since the incident, he’s been the only one really taking care of her. No pony else would do that for her. The flashes of the nightmare came back and she shook her head furiously again, groaning. “Fine! I’ll fix the damn table. Just put it against the wall next to the door and I’ll fix it when I have my break.” White smiled. “Best sister ever! Oh, and I already took the liberty of doing just that.” He said with a motion to the run down record table that has definitely seen better days lying next to her door. Manic arched a brow. “Wait a minute, you knew I wouldn’t-“ she looked back to see her brother already trotting off down the stairs. “H-hey, where the hell do you think you are going!?” White waved a hoof at her. “I appreciate this sis. I’m going to do a bit of shopping and then probably check up on the performance set up. Ciao!” he said. Manic sputtered. “But I… you… wait!” she heard the door close and she sat down on her haunches, rubbing her temples. “Sneaky bastard.” She sighed and looked at the record table next to the door. ‘Why does he insist?’ She took a moment to gather herself before examining the table. The record table had dinks and marks on it that showed how much the stallion uses it. She brushed the tattered surface and squinted her eyes. She gasped, seeing a small plaque embedded in the middle: *Joyeux anniversaire, ma petite lumière. Manic understood the language. There was one pony that spoke this language fluently as well as Equine. But… why couldn’t she remember the face? This mare… She felt the exhaustion creep up on her and she leaned against the opposite wall. Why couldn’t she remember? Her thoughts were interrupted by a floating ball with spider like limbs. “Good morning, madam. Longue nuit?” the floating ball asked. Manic picked up a piece of scrap and tossed it at the robot butler. The scrap bounced harmlessly off of the exterior. “Shut up, Clockworth.” She said tiredly. “Pardon moi, madam. But I am scanning your mental psyche and it iz currently in unstable levels. Perhaps, a break from ze workshop will be beneficial, no?” Manic sighed and rubbed her muzzle. “Why does everpony insist I need a break? I’m on a tight schedule.” She said. Clockworth gave a small proper bow. “I apologize, madam. But your mother wouldn’t be ‘appy with me if I were to let your mind go… how do you say… crazy?” it replied. Manic growled at the robot. “*D'accord, bien. Je viens juste de me retirer.” She replied tiredly. ‘Dammit, and here I was hoping to have an easy day.’ The flash of the nightmare came back and she quickly banged her head against the wall. Ignoring the surprised motion of the robot butler and the slight bump she had, Manic stood up and entered her room, tossing on a suite she had tailor made for herself. Not too heavy. Fits like a glove and almost like wearing nothing at all. But if she was going for a break outside of the town, then she needed some sort of means to protect herself and the materials she planned to excavate from the nearby ruin. And heading out of the house and around back, she opened a garage door and smiled as a hulking figure of a robot stomped out. It stood on two bipedal claw legs and had a long protruding beak. She beamed at the creation she had made. Her first ever created walking, mobile mini HQ. ‘Equipped with impact pistons to prevent shocks. A hard exterior that is heat, cold and Luridium resistant as well as small little jets at the side of the legs for those long jumps and careful descents. And not only that, it looks cute to boot!’ She had made the blue print of one of her favorite birds. She remembered seeing the creature in a book titled: The Wildlife of Equestria. It was a thesaurus of the extinct wildlife that had once roamed Equestria before the Big Bang. She had turned to the page with avian like creatures. One stood out for her, however. A bird that had been called a “Kiwi Bird”. She found a video about it and was soon infatuated with the look of the bird. With new inspiration and pulling an all-nighter, she was proud to see the hulking figure of a kiwi bird like design come to life. ‘I call it the KB-G1. Or to put it simply, Kiwi Bot.’ She climbed up the side and hopped into a cozy little seat she had installed. Locking ahold of the handles, the Kiwi Bot hummed to life. The filly piloted the bot out into the open, covering her eyes at the bright sun that had creeped over the horizon. She stretched and felt her bones cracking in protest. The filly sighed and pressed a few buttons on the panel in front of her. The bot withdrew its claws and replaced them with small thick rubber wheels. “Alright, Kiwi Bot. We are going for a little walk. It’s been a while since I took you out.” She heard the bot hum happily before switching over to auto pilot and following the coordinates Manic had put in. The filly kicked back and drank her coffee while enjoying the cool breeze rush past her. She and Kiwi Bot took the “scenic” route, as Manic likes to call it. While going off road was dangerous, it was better than having to deal with the traffic that some bandits and NDS set up. The filly let her mind wonder as the hours passed. Manic felt herself falling asleep again, only to have Kiwi Bot wake her up with a sudden halt. She rubbed her head. “What’s wrong?” she asked. The bot hummed worriedly. Manic looked at the panel and saw words being translated to her: >There are signs of conflict up ahead. Advising caution. Manic chuckled. “You’re worried about something like that? Knowing what’s out here, it’s probably just some traveling merchants getting attacked by pesky sand-sprites.” The words retyped: >Unfortunately, the conflict seemed to be near the Condition Antenna. Manic took a moment and re-read it through her mind. ‘Conflict over by the Condition Antenna? There is nothing special about it other than it supplying proper temperatures. What could possibly…’ Manic blinked once. “Kiwi, switch over to the news.” She stated. The bot complied and the voice of Record Scratch came on. “A fine morning to you apostles. Or I would say if it weren’t for some terrible news.” Record Scratch sighed sadly before continuing. “Many of you know about the Third Expedition. The first ponies to explore and set up everything to where we are now. Well… I am afraid that the last member of that expedition had passed away late last night. Troffleton, a single buck and one of the many brilliant minds that took the first step into new society was murdered by the ruthless bandit leader, Deadeye.” There was a sigh. “Troffleton lived a life surrounded by friends and comrades he has met over the years. He even settled down to start a family. And yet, with a series of unfortunate events that claimed his wife and only child, Troffleton retired to a small HUB at the borders of Detrot.” Manic balked. ‘No way… Troffleton is… dead?’ Manic furrowed her brows and listened in more. “A simple life he has made for himself. Working as the mechanic and sole caretaker of the Condition Antenna that surrounds the area of Detrot. And now, with no pony as an apprentice to take up the mantle, we are left with a harrowing choice. Should we just up and abandon the ponies of Detrot? Or go out of our way and provide them with a place of refuge? I can’t say but I… what in the?” Manic blinked in confusion. It was rare for the DJ to suddenly go off script. But she soon found out why. An aura washed over her, giving her a feeling of calm mind and body. She shivered and smiled at the pleasant feeling. “Well… I’ll be damned. It seems that even though times are looking down for us, not all hope appears to be lost. Who would have thought that somepony actually went out of their way to fix the antenna?” There was a small hum of interest. “Perhaps, I can gather a bit more information. Stay tuned, my apostles! Yours truly is going to do some freelance snooping. In the meantime, how about a bit of the classics? This is ya’ boy, Record Scratch, signing off for now.” The radio garbled into a small tune of a pony singing about going beyond the sea. Manic rubbed her chin and looked back to the panel. >Operator. I detect three vital signs coming up on our position. It appears they are towing an auto chariot. ‘Three? And an auto chariot?’ She pressed more buttons and dials. Kiwi Bot’s beak opened and a small spherical like object dispensed. “The trap drone will see if they are something else. Better safe than sorry.” She didn’t show it, but the thought of one of her idles having been murdered last night left an awful taste in her mouth. ‘Can this day get any worse?’ Manic ordered Kiwi Bot to hide behind a pile of crumbled rubble and debris. She waited a good while before hearing the sound of the trap drone exploding. She quickly piloted Kiwi Bot over to the sound, bounding gracefully over the destroyed cement. She slowed the bot down and saw three ponies on the ground. The auto chariot one of the ponies was towing looked like it had seen better days than her brother’s record table. However, what struck her odd were the ponies. Two were lying unconscious while the last one was writhing in pain. Seeing the pony struggle made her furrow her brows. ‘This one seems strong…’ she said. She hopped out of the Kiwi Bot and watched as the pony looked up at her before going limp. Manic rubbed her chin. “Kiwi. Do a scan on them.” She ordered. The bot’s wings ejected from the sides and hovered over to the downed ponies. The eyes scanning a purple beam over them. When they were finished, Manic opened up a panel on her suite’s hoof gauntlet and read the information. She arched a surprised brow. Kiwi hummed worriedly. “I-I’m fine, Kiwi. But… the scans show no signs of these ponies in the network.” She looked over to the one below her and went to remove the helm. And when she did, she balked when the pony shifted slightly, exposing something she had never thought she would ever see in her life. “A… pegasus?” She looked to the other two. Removing the helm of the other, she gasped at the sight of a young zebra mare. The last one, however, caught her curiosity. A beautiful looking pony with a neon blue mane and eyes staring blankly ahead. “An android too?” Manic looked over the panel on her hoof gauntlet again and furrowed her brows. The scans may not have picked up information on them. It did, however, pick up a minor trace of Luradiation on them. Not only that, their vitals appeared to be unstable and dropping slowly. The filly bit her lip. ‘These ponies… what are they doing out here in the state they are in?’ She felt conflicted. She knew that anypony from out of town were not to be trusted. However, no information given and the aura washing over her couldn’t have been a coincidence. But there was no doubt. These ponies came from the direction of the antenna. ‘Are they the ones responsible for the repair?’ She looked to the smoking auto chariot. Luridium marks singed the paint and exterior. Not only that, the equipment they had on them were completely out of date. As she was thinking this, she suddenly had a flash of the nightmare followed by a scream. Kiwi Bot hummed worriedly and let the filly lean against it as she stumbled a little. Rubbing her pounding head away, she looked back at the downed ponies. She sighed. “Kiwi. Load them up in the chariot and let’s haul them back for a decontamination.” She sniffed once and scrunched her muzzle disgustedly. “And probably a sun bath too.” ~~~~****~~~~ Macarole sat behind his desk, a panel opened in front of him. The latest chapter of Particle Mare has been released and he was ever excited to finally figure out that Particle Mare herself having a sister that was created by an arch rival to her creator. The confrontation, the action, the speeches. Everything screamed Particle Mare. And he was very excited to see the author making her go back to what she was intended for. He admits that the last few chapters were… disappointing. But in any case, it was a nice seeing the old Particle Mare back. While halfway reading through another action scene, his door to his office slid open and in walked Borealis. Macarole smiled. “Borealis! Come in! I’m just about done with the latest chapter of Particle Mare.” He said. Borealis smiled and entered. ‘Nice to see his interest in the series hasn’t diminished.’ She thought. But that was not she was here for. She gave a salute. “Master. We have an update on those three ponies that you were interested in.” she said. Macarole smiled and clapped his hooves. “Excellent! Please, show me what you have.” He said. Borealis tapped a button on her hoof panel and a floating spherical objet with a strange bug eye design and tiny legs dangling under it floated out from behind her. It gave a metallic purr before suddenly projecting images in front of the stallion. Macarole smirked, feeling his inner child increasing in excitement. The images were cropped and enhanced during the motion blur, revealing an auto chariot being shot at and returning fire at the Jumpers. “NDS had detained one of them for a brief period of time before the other two broke him out. While fleeing the scene and the town, the Jumpers we had assigned to Detrot took action.” She sighed. “But as you can see, they were…” the images flickered, revealing three of the four Jumper vehicles flipping over or exploding. “Eradicated.” Macarole smiled. “Interesting. To best one of our own militia with just sheer instincts? These three are really making me hungry for their interactions.” He said. Borealis remained stoic. However, she questioned the motive of the stallion. “And not only that, master. It appears that they had also repaired the antenna around the Detrot area.” Macarole tapped his hooves in thought as she continued. “Our drone spotted them leaving the area before…” she hesitated. Macarole smirked. “Please, my dear. You mustn’t let our faults prevent you from telling me. If anything, our faults are proof that we are ever so close in perfecting them for future endeavors.” Borealis eased a little before nodding. “Erm… the last place we’ve seen them was near the border between Detrot and Filly Delphia. After that, we had some unknown interference and lost the signal.” Macarole arched an amused brow. “Did they know they were being followed?” he asked. Borealis shook her head. “Negative. The drone’s cloaking has been stable and active ever since the Deadeye scouting.” Boeralis blinked in confusion when Macarole suddenly built up into a laugh. Taking a moment to collect himself, he gave her a wide grin that she was all too familiar with. “This is excellent news, Borealis. You have been doing a splendid job!” he said. Borealis remained stoic. But for some reason, her personality chip was registering something that she didn’t think it could have. What was this feeling? It wasn’t something she was used too or have done before. In any case, Borealis nodded. “Now then, I think it is time to unveil our next course of action.” He stood up and walked over to the window overlooking the sprawling city of Artellia. “The construction of the lower class area has been a receiving all around positive reports. And we have our own talented DJ for that.” There was a knock on the door. Borealis turned to see a flame colored earth pony stallion with a flaming spiked back mane and wearing a pre-ware hoodie that had a cute design of a graphic pony with electric colored mane and wearing vinyl shades on a silhouette of the pony. “And speak of the devil.” “You wanted to see me?” the pony asked, seeing Borealis and giving her a cool smile. “Indeed I did, Record Scratch.” Macarole motioned to a seat in front of his desk. The pony took it and kicked back. “I’ve got to say.” Record Scratch spoke as he looked around the office. “You’re old man was quite the collector. I never thought one of my own sponsors would invite me in here.” Macarole smiled. “I must apologize for the sudden invitation. But I have a bit of information to share. A… scoop if you will.” Record Scratch perked up a bit. “Oh?” he replied. “Of course, if you are willing to go through with leaving the safety of Aretllia.” He said. Record Scratch shrugged. “Not the first time I’ve left.” He said. Macarole nodded. “Yes, I do recall you being an… illegal before becoming a sensation.” Record Scratch didn’t show it, but the mention of it stung like a bug bear. He knew as far as politics and secret organizations go, he has seen his fair share of exposition to matters involving him and his past snooping. ‘Hell, I’m just glad that I still have my neck in place.’ He thought before sighing. “Alright, I’m in.” Macarole nodded. “Quite the adventurer. Now then, I want you to find these three.” The sprite drone hovered over and displayed the images. “I want you to gather as much information as possible on them. I can tell you that two of them come from the underground while the third is an unregistered android. Also, the former are from the underground.” Record Scratch studied the images, his curiosity getting the better of them. ‘Ponies unregistered in the network and one of them is a pegasus this far out?’ He looked past the images to see a grinning Macarole. The stallion gave off so many bad vibes to the young DJ that is made him shiver a bit. However, he wasn’t getting paid to hear him out. Record Scratch leaned forward. “I’m listening.” Macarole chuckled. “Perfect.” He said. Borealis watched the two discuss the matter. A flash of the image of her creator telling her about Master Macarole’s childlike demeanor. She was happy to be praised by the pony. And yet, she couldn’t help but worry at the same time. ‘This pony is going to be the savior of Equianity. But…’ She zoomed in on the images of ponies in the auto chariot. ‘Perhaps I need a checkup before heading out… I’m sure this next mission will go as planned.’ > Act-1 Chapter 10: Parts and Recreation > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parts and Recreation Systems Energy Levels Recharged. Rebooting… System Reboot successful. Debug mode engaged. Scanning for programs… Programs found and fixed. Launching movement protocols… ERROR. Cannot detect connected limbs. Please place brain functions to nerve functions… Running TMP.EXE… Success. Hello, world. Her vision picked up a signal feed. Aurora found herself unable to move anything. It was like all functions were completely forgotten. However, she was only able to register her vision, communication and partial movement of her optics. Taking a moment to scan her surroundings, she found herself noticing a figure hunched over a table. Whoever was in the room with her was also talking to herself. “Wow. A prototype model. That’s rare.” The voice said. It sounded young and very exhausted. “Clockworth, do you have the part I asked for?” “Right here, madam.” A metallic voice with an unusual accent spoke up. Aurora watched a long spider like robotic limb reach out while the pony sitting at the desk took the device and small sparks flew when she placed the device in… her body. Aurora blinked in confusion and glanced down. ‘W-what? My…’ She scrunched her muzzle in a panic. How can this be possible? How is she functioning without a body? She tried looking around, but found it hard to even turn her head. She frowned slightly. ‘What is going on? Am I being scavenged for parts?’ Aurora registered more panic. ‘Oh no, no, no, no! I don’t want to be scrapped again!!’ She looked around. ‘I have to do something… but how can…’ Her eyes fell to a familiar looking weapon. The revolver she had taken off of Deadeye. She stuck her tongue out, trying to reach it. Realizing what she was doing, she gave a silent sigh and glanced at the busy working pony. Humming in thought, she came to an idea. She moved her head from side to side, rocking the pedestal she was on. Beaming when she shifted just a little bit, the android mare rocked again. ‘Almost there… just a little… bit… further!’ she faced the revolver now. She tried her best to bend her head down and reach for it, her tongue licking the handle. Unfortunately, the gun was batted away when she tried to clamp it in her teeth. ‘Ah, buck!’ The gun fell and clattered to the floor. And when it did, a loud thump emitted and struck something hard in the room. “What the!?” the pony working at the bench stated in surprise. She looked up from Aurora’s body and looked to Clockworth. The spider like floating robot suddenly collapsed to the floor, a hole where the bullet had pierced the robots shell. Aurora gave a worried look. ‘Whoops.’ The pony removed the welding mask, revealing to Aurora’s shock, a young grey filly. Her expression seemed… disappointed. The filly lightly tapped the robot and sighed. “And this is why I wanted to upgrade you with more sturdier materials.” She said nonchalantly. Aurora glanced nervously around the room, seeing the filly turn to her and arched a brow. “Huh, I must have accidentally hit the backup power button.” Aurora looked at the filly with a worried look. “W-who are you?” she asked. The filly rubbed her chin. “Displaying panic, confusion and worry? Your personality chip must be a self-aware one.” She shrugged. “Guess that makes sense as to why I found this.” She held up a strange black looking box. Aurora balked. “H-hey, that’s my black box! Put it back!” she shouted. The filly arched another brow along with an amusing smirk. “What, this old thing? Hell, this thing can’t even function right. I’m surprised you didn’t even blow up from the inside. This thing was practically on the verge of doing so. Oh, which reminds me.” The filly kicked away from the table and over to another desk. “I took the liberty of scrounging around your data banks.” Aurora balked again. “W-why!? Why would you do that!?” The filly smirked. “Because I just can’t refuse browsing through other ponies stuff. But you really aren’t a pony, so it’s okay in a sense.” She said. Aurora shook her head as best as she could, wobbling a little. “N-no! Please don’t look through anymore! I don’t want any pony finding out that I li-!’ she bit her tongue and scrunched her muzzle again, dispensing pseudo sweat. The filly chuckled. “Oh please. There is nothing wrong with you.” She tapped her hoof, displaying a small sly smile. “I hear 50 Shades of Metal had a very juicy scene in it.” Aurora flushed brightly. “N-no! That’s not mine! It’s a err… relic I found and thought I would err… preserve it, yeah!” She said, trying her best to hide the shame. The filly laughed now. “Hey, I’m not judging. Everyone has their kinks. Yours is a… well…” She looked over to the disassembled body of Aurora. “Bit more of a walking kink.” Aurora didn’t know how to respond. The shame was just too much. ‘Please just delete all of my functions here and now.’ The filly stretched and looked at the clock next to the table. “Time flies when you are digging around a prototype model with a blank testing record.” She smiled at Aurora. ‘How bizarre. She’s acting like a normal pony. Most androids would just stare blankly and respond with simple answers.’ She giggled quietly. ‘That’s kind of cute.’ Aurora blinked in realization and looked around. Her expression turned grim. “What did you do to the other two?” she asked. The filly shrugged. “I had Kiwi Bot load them into a quarantine box. Trust me. The stuff I found on them was just…” she stuck her tongue out disgustedly. Aurora cocked her head. “Let’s just say, lice isn’t the only thing I found on them. Anyways, I’m more curious about you.” The filly tapped on a terminal that was scanning what appeared to be a picture of Aurora’s body. “ID is 4U120124. Model is a prototype hybrid breeding and combat unit designed at a redacted and unknown location.” The filly narrowed her eyes. “It also says here that your error log is filled with jammed functions. Your vitals are in a peculiar state of being alive and dead.” The filly turned back to her. “So just what are you, really?” Aurora shook her head, trying to gather what she can about herself. But only blank slates and logs appeared. “I… cannot determine that. I’ve always wondered why I can never figure that out. Why some of my programs activate by themselves or most of my functions just give out at inopportune times.” The filly beamed. “I think I can tell you why.” She said. Aurora looked at her confusedly. The filly kicked off from the table and over to her body. Sliding her hoof into a strange looking skeletal gauntlet that had a prong at the end, the filly moved the device into the chassis and dug around a bit before pulling out a glowing blue crystal. Aurora registered surprise. She wasn’t sure what she was seeing. “W-what is that? And what is it doing inside my body?” she asked. The filly slid her hoof out, plucked the crystal from the prong and tossing it into the air, catching it skillfully on her hoof. “This, my dear Wattson, is not Lunarium. It’s a different kind of material that was thought to be exhausted in Equestria. They say it originates with mysterious magical powers.” She sighed. “Too bad it’s only a legend. Most ponies would kill for these.” She smirked and placed it on the desk. “Which is why I am planning on selling it.” Aurora balked again. “W-what?” she sputtered. “B-but… that came from my body!! What if I can’t function without it!?” she stated. The filly took a moment, pretending to think before shrugging. “Well, we will never know. Now then. I’m going to check up on the other two “contagions” and see if they mutated yet.” The filly hopped off of the chair and trotted over to the door. Aurora wobbled more, trying to get herself to move. “H-hey! Don’t just leave me like this!! Come baaaaAACK!!” Aurora moved a little too far forward and ended up falling off the side of the table. Her head bounced and rolled over to the bed, eventually finding herself staring back out from under the bed and frowned when she came to a stop. She gave a defeated sigh. ‘Just what the hell is wrong with that filly?’ she thought in annoyance. ~~~~****~~~~ Zelori found herself thinking back to a much simpler time during her days as a filly in New Equestria. Being accepted by the job system to be a junk yard care taker, she felt something she hadn’t thought she could feel in years. Happiness. While it may be strange as to why somepony would claim happiness while working at a junkyard, she didn’t mind. But this wasn’t the case. Starting her first day of work, she was given a pad with a list of things to do. And without any hoof holding, they lead her into the junkyard and then just left. Zelori took a couple of hours to wander the area to get her bearings. Once she did, she went straight to work. Being alone to go about her business, she found her mind at ease. ‘Take one pile of junk, move it over to the pathway of the bulk scrappers. Make sure every pile is checked for any unwanted propaganda and pieces of slander. Simple enough for her. However, spending more hours doing so, she found herself getting hungry. She didn’t pack much for lunch. Just a can of beans she had been holding onto for a while. Luckily, she found a small Solarium hot plate. Using it in tangent with the dirty water she had found in left over bottles, she let it boil and hummed to herself. Her parents had always told her when she was younger that she had been born of proud hunters. And young Zelori knew so. And when it was time for her to leave them and begin a new life alone, she took the knowledge of survival to good use. She smiled and warmed herself with the small heat the plate emitted. Making sure that the beans were nice and boiled, she took a metal spoon she had found and scooped the meal into her muzzle. Bland and boring. Simplicity at its’ finest. Taking another spoonful, she stopped and twitched her ears. She looked over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes. No sign of anything appearing out of the blue. Her instincts now kicked in, she returned to her meal, unaware of a pair of glowing yellow eyes watching her from a nearby pile. Her eyes darted all over to where she can look. Catching notice of a silhouette moving behind another pile, she placed the can down and stood up. She listened closely, trying to pinpoint any small noise. All was quiet. Not a single sound was being made. Not even the distant hums of the bulk scrappers could break the concentration. She listened closely. Clank Zelori immediately tossed the spoon over towards where she heard the sound of movement. The spoon hit a sheet scrap, knocking it down along with the pile of junk. She heard a painful garbled cry and the scrambling of hoof steps. Zelori immediately bolted, following the sounds of scrambling hooves. Or… maybe not hooves? The rhythm was unusual to her. Nothing like a pony would make. Zelori could see the silhouette now. A tall figure fleeing over a pile of junk. Zelori, with quick reflexes and graceful agility, bound up the pile and tackled the creature on the way down. The two tumbled down the pile and rolled to a stop at the bottom. Zelori stood up and readied herself, facing the creature that had watched her. She arched a brow when she saw a tattered shawl huddled at the base of the junk. Underneath it was a round spherical head with two big yellow eyes looking back at her. “Just who are you? And why are you watching me?” she asked. The creature said something. Or at least, it tried too. But only a garbled hum came out and the creature made a surprised gesture to its throat. Zelori watched with careful eyes, ready to move if it tried anything. However, the creature lowered the collar of the shawl, exposing nothing but a skeletal like body and a sliced bit of wires connected to a small box. Zelori cocked her head in confusion. ‘What kind of creature is this?’ Zelori balked when the creature suddenly stood up. It towered over her like a colossus. The young zebra filly backed away, ready to move. However, the creature held up a strange hoof to her. This hoof had small jointed stubs. They twitched slightly, causing the creature to hum worriedly before getting the right gesture. A small wave. Zelori was confused as to what it was trying to do. It kept waving. After a few more waves, the creature then pointed to itself, emitting a garble. Zelori watched as the creature bent down and drew something in the compost. The creature drew two simple letters: “DD?” Zelori spoke up in a question. The creature hummed happily and made a waving gesture again. As it did, a loose piece of tin escaped the pile and bounced off the creature’s head, causing it to rub it confusedly. This made Zelori giggle, however. To think, that this would be the start of a long friendship that she had hoped would never cease. And it felt just like that. DD had shown her a small run down shack built poorly out of scrap and metal. Someplace for her to sleep and find shelter. It stood in a corner on a hill away from the busy areas of the junkyard. No bulk scrappers could even make it up the hill, so there was no worry of being crushed. Zelori spent her years under the care of the tall robot. Learning the ins and outs of the areas. She was impressed that the creature used certain detours to get around the scrappers. And then, it decided to introduce her to treasure hunting. While examining a pile she deemed would be good to move, DD had suddenly burst from the pile, startling the filly. It let out a garbled cheer before donning a strange looking wig. The mane stretched out over the filly. Zelori was baffled at the sight. And then, DD struck a cool pose. Zelori did her best not to burst out laughing. But the wig was just too much for her. The growing bond between the two continued to increase. Indeed, it was a simpler time for her. And she had thought it would last so much longer. To make things even better, she had never thought of adopting a brother. And when the gentle giant brought in a crying pegasus colt one day into the shack, Zelori couldn’t help but feel the need to protect this pony. Something about the colt gave off all too familiar vibes. ‘This pony… I wonder what his destiny has in store for him?’ And she knew that deep down, as the colt began growing and learning from his mistakes, that she was leading him onto the right path of judgment. And ever since, she had dreamed of just living a simple life with these two she can call a family. The sound of a door opening snapped her back to reality. She stood up and rubbed her pounding head. She felt itchy all over. Scratching her leg, she looked around to see herself in a strange white room. Her instincts kicked in and looked over to the opening of the room. She couldn’t see it, but there was no denying the sound. A barrier between here and freedom. ‘Where am I?’ she asked herself. She then balked and looked around. “Jack? Jack where are you!?” “Are you talking about Mr. Drool over here?” a voice asked from the other side. Zelori cocked her head when she looked to see a young grey filly in a jumpsuit. The filly held a mug in her hoof. The aroma coming from it made Zelori’s head stop pounding for a brief moment. The filly smirked and looked over a tablet. “Patient Zero-one. Zebra mare of twenty-five. Descendent of hunters. No affiliates to any known clans.” The filly chuckled. “Are you some sort of blacksheep?” Zelori narrowed her eyes. ‘What is going on here? Why is there a filly asking these questions?’ The zebra remained stoic as she spoke. “Before I can speak, I must ask who you are. And why do you have us imprisoned?” The filly arched a brow. “Prison? Oh no, I’m not one to take prisoners. I’m more of a “catch and release” type warden. The name’s Manic. Prodigy mechanic and soon to be up and coming Aretilla’s GM Mechanic.” Zelori returned the answer with a confused expression. The filly burst out laughing. “Oh, please. I was lying about the up and coming. I just need to give them the okay. But I’ve just been so busy I don’t have time for it.” What was the filly going on about? Zelori walked over to the barrier and tapped it with a hoof. When she did, the barrier became noticeable for just a brief moment. “As for being in the room? Well, you two have a lot of unhygienic things going on.” The filly tapped the pad with her elbow hoof before continuing. “Nest of lice on the fur and mane. Strong odor as if you’ve been playing in trash. Bad breath and a minor amounts of Luradiation causing unstable vital signs.” Manic made a disgusted face. “Why do ponies don’t ever clean themselves up?” Zelori arched a brow. “What are you talking about?” she asked. Manic shrugged. “Well, just little things that I extremely hate on other ponies. So, I’m taking the liberty of cleaning both of you up. A sunbath, cleaning of the teeth and probably sticking a drill in your heads to poke around your brains.” Zelori blinked. “A what now?” The filly pressed a button on the tablet and before Zelori could react, a long metal tube with a helmet at the end of it descended from a hidden panel above her. Inside the helm was a sharp needle like drill that wasted no time in poking the zebra’s head. Zelori was about to protest when the needle struck trough her skull and poked her brain. It felt… tingly. Zelori was unable to move, her face glued to the expression as if she had been told a major surprise. The filly looked at the tablet and tapped a few prompts before the screen switched over to a chart. While the scans went to work, she looked over to the next box that held the unconscious pegasus. The pony drooled on the floor, sleeping soundly. Manic frowned. ‘Did the shock really just put him to sleep?’ Manic saw the drool creeping across the floor and she gave a disgusted look. She tapped on the barrier. “Hey, Mr. Drooling in my containment box. Wake up!” To her surprise, the pony jolted slightly awake before yawning and sitting up. He rubbed his spiked mane tiredly before looking around. “What time is it?” he asked. It was strange. Seeing the room he was in was a bit of a confusing transition. He could have sworn he was walking along with Zelori and Aurora to a small town. He balked at the thought and stood up now. “W-wait… Zelori? Aurora? Where are you?!” he asked. The filly groaned and rubbed her muzzle. ‘Why do I have a feeling this pony is going to annoy me so much?’ she thought. Candlejack finally noticed the filly and arched a brow. “A kid?” he asked. Manic frowned. ‘Yup, totally annoying.’ She cleared her throat, trying to come off as professional. “Good afternoon! I am your judge, jury and executioner.” She said. Candlejack rubbed his chin. “Another prison?” The filly shook her head. “Not really. I’m just keeping you contained until I figure out if both of you are trouble while doing a brain check and clean up.” Candlejack itched his leg before replying. “So, mind if I ask where the others are?” Manic shrugged. “Beats me.” She lied. Candlejack frowned and glanced past her. He spotted a similar box he was in. In it was Zelori, looking surprised and drooling a little at the muzzle. Candlejack arched a brow and saw the helmet on her. He felt something prick his head and his eye was twitching subtly that the filly didn’t notice the sudden change in expression. Manic yawned loudly and looked at the pegasus, seeing the helm having planted on him without his notice. Manic trotted over to a terminal, tapped a few buttons and brought up a blank document. >Day 1 of the containment. I had managed to retrieve three unconscious ponies that have too many unknown variables. While I am curious to see what they are and the stories to tell, I caught them in poor health, hunger and unhygienic state. The two I have contained have unstable brainwaves and the third one is still currently being dissected for more information. In the meantime, I will record my findings here and see if they are as interesting as I deem them to be. The filly sighed tiredly. The image of the nightmare suddenly flashed back at her, causing her to shake her head furiously and look over to the two. Their dumbfounded expressions while the helms probed their minds made her feel…conflicted. Manic shut her eyes and shook her head softly this time. ‘No, Manic. These ponies might be dangerous. They are contaminated and need to be tested for any signs of the plague.’ The filly took a big gulp of the coffee before going back to the terminal. Pressing a few more buttons, the terminal now read: [i>Commencing “Purge” sequence. Beginning lather and washing. Up next: Oral Cleaning. Later: decontamination of Luradiation. Finally: Scan and eliminate Psi-Co tumors and/or cleanse system of Psi-Co consumption. Manic sighed with a relief. At least now she won’t have to worry about dragging any possible health risks with her. There was a knock on the door and Manic frowned. ‘Dammit, what does he want now?’ Manic trotted over to the door and it slid open, revealing a set of stairs. Reaching the top, she unlocked the door with a wave of her hoof panel and it opened to reveal somepony she wasn’t expecting. “Hello, little mechanic~!” the mare greeted in a sing song tone. Manic was nervous. She had never thought this mare would acknowledge her. But then again, when her brother’s mare-friend is a popular song idle to most of the adolescents and foals in the community, Manic felt stranger than usual around her. “G-G-Glitter! Err… what a uh… pleasant surprise!” Manic said tapping her hooves bashfully. ‘Omigoshomigoshomigosh, this can’t be happening!!’ The mare, Spotlight Glitter, is a pretty young unicorn mare. Her posture spoke confidence. Her presence elegance. And her personality outgoing. Indeed this mare with the long lashes and eyeshadow, the bubblegum pink neatly groomed coat and her yellow and violet highlighted mane was a big hit for the young audience. And one of Manic’s favorite song idles. The mare smiled and gave a small hoof wave. “Indeed, a pleasure. I am sorry to bother you on such a short notice, but do you happen to know where White Light went?” Manic, in her increasing excitement, leaned coolly against the door edge. “My dumb brother of mine? Said he was checking up on his set up.” Manic gave her her best cool smile she can manage. Glitter giggled before speaking. “Always the worry wort when it comes to performances. Oh, I am also here about the ‘special’ favor of mine?” she returned the filly’s cool smile, causing Manic to completely forget for a brief moment of what she was asking. “Favor? Oh, you mean that uhh… yeah I have it in my workshop.” She replied. Glitter clapped her hooves happily. “Perfect! Is it ready?” she asked. Manic pushed herself off a little too quickly, causing her to stumble a little. Thankfully, she pretended to act like she meant to do that before walking past her. “Of course! I think you will be happy with the results. Please, right this way!” she said. Glitter and Manic walked away from the basement lab, the filly pressing a button on her tablet and locking the door. While the purge process went on, Manic lead the mare into the house and up to her room. She stopped and turned to Glitter, giving her a sheepish smile. “Err…. Pardon the mess. I’m currently in the middle of an order.” Glitter smiled. “You must be very talented if Zillex is coming to you for your work. I bet your parents must be proud of you both.” She said. Manic turned and opened the door. “Ehehehe… yeah… parents...” Ignoring the comment, her and the mare entered the room, unaware that a certain android pony had noticed them enter. Aurora remained quiet and watchful as the two made their way to a desk. Manic pressed more buttons on her tablet. The desk opened at the middle and a small pedestal rose from it, bearing at the tip a barreled cosmetic item. Manic cleared her throat. “I give you the Spectacle Show-stopper. A nifty universal lip gloss that can change color with just a quick tap of the base. Also, it comes with a neat little defense mechanic for when you find yourself in trouble. A laser that acts like a taser, giving you enough time to run away from any of those good for nothing stalkers!” Glitter gave Manic a small worried smile. “Oh, well it’s umm… very creative. Buuut, I don’t think my stalkers would do anything extreme. They are young after all.” She said. Manic rubbed her chin and smiled. “Ah, well then if that doesn’t suite you, then how about this!” she pressed another button on her tablet. The lip gloss descended into the table and the same pedestal came back out with a different cosmetic item. “A small pocket mirror that can register your look and then creates a beauty hologram on you, making beyond recognizable!” Glitter giggled slightly. “But I am not trying to hide my looks. I want the world to see me, Spotlight Glitter, in all her glory! I want to wow the audience with my dazzling charm and beauty! I want the world to hear my euphoria!” Spotlight Glitter struck one of her many famous poses that were well known around the area. Manic beamed excitedly. ‘So awesome!’ Manic cleared her throat again. “Well, then if that is what you want, then how about… uhh…” she didn’t seem to have anything on her. ‘Crap! I only made two things that I thought would fit her well for the performance!! Oh crap, what do I do!?!’ her eyes darted the room. Her gaze then fell onto the glowing crystal next to the disassembled android body. She smiled and trotted over to the table, plucking the crystal and holding it up to show the mare. Manic noticed the intrigued ‘ewww’ she emitted and cheered in her mind. “How about this rare gem? I err… found it in one of my explorations for parts.” Glitter’s eyes sparkled with the crystal in pique interest. “Oh my! This is a very beautiful crystal. What on earth is it?” Manic rubbed the back of her mane, uncertain how to answer. “Oh, urr… this is a… piece of the Harmony Tree.” Glitter balked. “Harmony Tree? You mean the ancient legend about a lone tree that was the only thing to have survived during the Big Bang, but then suddenly disappeared and only leaving its fragments behind? That Harmony Tree?!” Manic was stunned that the mare knew exactly what it was. In fact, the more Manic looked at it, she could see her reflection staring back at her. A rainbow like phenomena was created when she turned to examine the other side of the crystal. ‘Now that I say it… why was this in the android?’ Manic furrowed her brows before looking past the crystal and seeing Glitter reaching a hoof out to it. “It’s beautiful…” she said, entranced by the small crystal. Manic couldn’t’ help but feel excited that she had caught the mare’s interest. “Are you sure I can have this? I think it would look great in the new outfit I had designed.” Manic, again, was uncertain. “Uhh… I guess?” she replied with uncertainty. Glitter scooped the filly into a hug and nuzzled her cheek happily. “Oooh, you made me the happiest mare alive!” she said. Manic could swear that she had died and went to heaven. Manic watched as Glitter levitated the crystal up next to her. “Thank you so much. And do tell your brother not to forget our date at seven. We have a lot to discuss.” Manic gave a salute. “I’ll make sure the idiot remembers.” Glitter waved to the filly before trotting out of the room happily. Manic sighed and looked over to the desk that held the blueprints for the suite she was ordered to create. She then looked back to Aurora’s body. ‘Oh well. I mean, it’s just a legend anyway. I doubt a piece of the Tree of Harmony found its’ way into an android on its own. But I also wonder where exactly did it come from.’ Manic thought about this for a little bit before shrugging. ‘Oh well. Might as well get started on fixing my dumb brother’s table. I sear, he is going to be breaking something even more and it definitely won’t be his passion for music. Aurora watched the hooves of the filly trot out of the room. As much as it was annoying to end up under the bed, she felt a little surprise. Aurora has heard about a young mare that had quickly become a big hit on Record Scratch’s radio, Apostle and Secrets. Aurora picked up the voice feed and read the information: Spotlight Glitter Age: 18 Sex: Mare Profession: Music, singing and dancing. Short Description: On the way to being Equestria’s number one sensation on radio music. Aurora blinked out of her info reading when she heard the door to the room open again. Aurora peeked out, seeing that the pony that had entered the room was entirely different. A cloak and hood covered the pony’s face. Aurora watched quietly as the cloaked pony looked around the room and then began to dig through the desks. The pony swore quietly under his breath before looking back to the bed. Aurora balked and quickly rolled her head deeper under the bed. Hiding behind what looked like a box of toys meant for a foal, the pony bent down and scanned the bed. Aurora listened closely to the steady breathing. The pony clicked his tongue. “Dammit. It seems the filly is clever than I had anticipated.” Aurora heard something click quietly along with a garbled voice. The pony withdrew from looking under the bed and put a hoof to the cloaked ear. “Not yet, sir. The filly seems to have put the prints somewhere else.” There was a pause. “Very well.” The pony stopped and cut the communication with whoever quickly. Aurora rolled slightly just enough to peek back out. To her shock, she saw the pony press something on his foreleg and in a blink of an eye, vanished into thin air. The door opened as soon as the pony did, showing Manic walking back in and pushing an old record table with her head. Manic wiped the sweat from her brow and sighed. “Damn thing is heavy. How the hell does he carry this around?” Manic asked herself. She then blinked and looked around, furrowing her brows. Aurora saw something shimmer past the filly and out the door, unaware to the filly. Aurora frowned. ‘What is going on?’ Manic then caught sight of the android’s head and smirked. “Enjoying your new home?” she said. Aurora balked in surprise at the sudden address. “Oh, err… I uh… a desert roach knocked me off?” Aurora gave the filly her best smile. Manic rubbed her head. ‘I didn’t think an android could lie.’ She giggled slightly before pushing the record table over to a desk, walking over to the bed and picking up the android. “You are a strange android. But then again, it is a prototype AI. I’m surprised you lasted this long with it.” Aurora cocked her head slightly. “Lasted? My functions have been perfectly normal ever since I could remember.” Manic arched a sly brow. “Troffleton’s work says otherwise.” Aurora wanted to say something in return, but found herself registering a sad look. Manic hummed in thought before looking back to the android’s body. She smiled. “Say… how would you like to be my little assistant? I could use an android with information on ruins.” Aurora arched a brow in reply. “Digging around the video logs, most of them are you just exploring ruins outside of Detrot.” She coughed a little. “And uhh… some “interesting” fun time VRs with yourself and your stories.” Aurora’s white metallic hide changed to a bright pink. ‘Great, not only do I not have my body… this filly knows my secrets… please just delete me now.’ Manic chuckled. “Oh, relax. If anything, erotica is a popular genre in today’s society. It’s just strange seeing an android ‘enjoy’ it in her own way.” The filly placed the android’s head on a circular collar panel and Aurora felt a strange surge of energy. A portable charging station. “So, are you up for a little ruin digging? I need to find some parts to fix my dumb brother’s record table.” “B-but what about my body? I can’t explore ruins without my body.” Aurora protested. Manic shook her head and clipped her head along with the portable charging station to her suite’s utility belt. “You and your ‘friends’ are still a threat.” Manic rubbed her mane. “I mean, you all were contaminated with Luradiation. You were lucky enough I separated your brain functions from the nerve network. Do you know what Luridium does to an android like you?” Aurora opened her mouth to speak, but quickly shut it. As much as she hated to admit it, the filly was right. The warning prompts kept showing up on her screen that was showing her contaminated with Luradiation. She has heard of the certain side effects to machines that were affected by Luridium. An image of Deadeye flashed through her feed, causing Aurora to question this now. ‘If I was exposed to Luridium… how long was Deadeye exposed to it?’ While the android scanned information on an event called ‘The Luridium Plague’, Manic quickly trotted out of her room and down the steps. Making her way through the spacious abode, Manic walked over to the separate garage and opened it. Kiwi Bot emerged from within and hummed happily. Manic hopped in and pressed the buttons and dials on the panel. “Alright, Kiwi. We are going to do some exploring. And this time, we have a guest.” She said. The avian bot hummed in response. >Is that an android head? “Details, details.” Manic said. “C’mon. There is a spot I think would be great for searching.” Aurora couldn’t face the filly, but she spoke nonetheless: “Where are we going?” she asked. Manic shrugged. “Dunno. But it is something I had been scouting out for a while. I think now is a good time to see what I can scavenge from it.” She said. ‘And hopefully, get the things I need to fix up everything. I swear, my schedule has just been a total cluster buck.’ Aurora remained silent as the filly piloted the bot through the streets and off onto a non-beaten path. However, the android couldn’t hide her excitement. Grinning widely at the possibilities of what she can find, Aurora also created a small list of what to keep track of: >List of things: 1. Gather information about the filly and her town. 2. Get body back. 3. Find and rescue Candlejack and Zelori from containment. 4. Explore ruins for more information about pre-war events and discover what the unknown command means. All was set. It was just a matter of time before things were in motion. And unbeknownst to them was a figure, watching them speed down the desert road. A glowing tri-goggle zoomed in on them. Underneath the figure's shawl mask, a smile spread widely across the face. > Act-1 Chapter 11: The Last Migration > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Last Migration Manic yawned loudly as Kiwi Bot traveled the non-beaten path. Aurora, clipped to the utility belt of the filly, registered a bored look. She really wished she had her body right now. Exploring a ruin sounded fun. But, she would prefer it if she was able to explore on her own whim. It was strange to have been completely overwhelmed by a filly. And out here in the wastes, a sad fact that most of the children born into the world today undergo some form of traumatic experience with no guidance. There have only been a few cases where children have lived non-broken lives. It made Aurora wonder if this filly is one of those ponies. Mustering up the courage, she finally spoke: “So… who are you, exactly?” The filly kicked back in her seat as she replied. “Who wants to know?” Aurora frowned slightly at this. “I’m just curious. I mean, we had just left town and were already being chased by A.S.S. And when we thought we were out of the clear, in rolls a strange device that took us out without much effort.” Manic chuckled. “I designed that baby to have enough kick to disable anypony or machine, but still not enough to rightfully ‘kill’ in a sense.” Aurora frowned again. ‘That answers one question.’ Shaking her head, Aurora replied. “Then, you must have some experience with the outside forces.” Manic rubbed her chin. “Well, other than sandstorms and lunar eclipses, yeah, I’ve had my fair share of danger.” Manic pressed a few buttons on the panel. “After all, I’m a mechanic. I need to scavenge around for parts and such. I can’t get anything done without the proper material.” The filly beamed suddenly. “And lo and behold, we are here.” Aurora tried turning her head to get a better look. However, being clipped to the utility belt made it difficult to even do so. But the filly seemed to unclip her head and place her onto of the dashboard of the bot. Aurora gasped in awe. They stood on top of a rock pile. Below them expanded a spacious area. In the middle of it was a massive square like complex that reached four stories. This place seemed indeed a jackpot of all trades. Manic tapped a few more buttons on the panel and Kiwi Bot descended the pile and rolled along the sand. “No pony knows about this place.” The filly rubbed her head. “I think so anyway.” Aurora was too baffled to respond. She registered excitement and a wide grin spread across her face. Manic caught this, however, and arched an amused brow. “Now then.” She said, turning Aurora around. Aurora registered from excitement to a little disappointment from being turned around. She wanted to scope out the place. Explore every little nook and cranny. But of course, this filly has her by the neck. “Do you have any idea what it is?” Aurora studied the filly, expecting her to answer her own question. With no response, Aurora sighed and scanned the data base. Thankfully, she was still connected to the network and able to gather as much info as she needed. It didn’t take but even a few seconds before Aurora found the info needed. “What we are seeing before us is a structure known as an apartment complex. It is a building that housed a number of ponies and their families when they had no expenses to buy a simple residence. These complexes ranged from small structures to what we see now. As for this particular structure, it appears to be one designed specifically to house a lot of ponies.” Aurora frowned, seeing missing information. “It appears, however, that I cannot find the exact number of individuals that lived here or what its’ main purpose is other than living expenses.” Manic rubbed her chin and smiled. “An apartment complex, eh? And totally ripe for the taking.” Aurora cocked her head. “Err… are you sure this place hasn’t been touched?” she asked. Manic nodded. “Eighty percent positive.” She said. Aurora slumped her head a little. ‘That’s not a good percentage.’ “I say so because I’ve been staking this place out for a while. Everyday on my breaks, I would scout the perimeter and look for any signs of scavenger activities.” Manic hummed slightly before continuing. “Thankfully, I saw no signs of any Jackals in the area. So we are free to explore with the possible danger of rogue machines and or bandits.” Aurora hadn’t thought of possible housing of Jackal units or Mock units either. As for bandits? They may have probably already taken refuge from their own spree. In any case, this place was dying to be explored. Manic chuckled. “You have this grin on your face.” She said. Aurora blinked once and blushed. “O-oh I uh… just…” Manic pet the android’s head. “No worries. Now that I am properly equipped, I finally get to see what this place has in store. C’mon, Kiwi. Times-a wasting.” The bot hummed in approval before loudly stomping across the sand. Aurora hopped her head around and stared in awe as the complex grew closer. The very presence of this complex created vertigo for them, despite the excitement. Four stories seemed a lot bigger than they had anticipated. Manic moved Kiwi to trial the side of the complex, hoping to spot a way in. Aurora noticed an opening in the second story at the corner of the complex. “How about there?” Aurora stated, trying to point with her muzzle. Manic nodded and pressed a few buttons on the panel. Kiwi crouched and Aurora heard a faint sound of exhausted fire. To the android’s surprise, the bulky bot seemed to hover in the air a bit before lifting up and over to the opening. Reaching inside, the bot landed hard on the ground, causing a loud echo to emit throughout the still and abandoned ruin. Manic waited for a bit to see if it had alerted anything. To her relief, no sign of movement. As the filly turned on the eye lamps, Aurora did her best to take in the sights as much as possible. To her disappointment, the room they were in seemed to be just as barren. A lone bed that has been dirtied beyond recognition and a char mark that showed that its’ material had caught on fire. No posters. No furniture. Just a simple, lone destroyed bed. “Let’s keep going.” Manic said as she piloted the bot over to another hole in the wall. This one lead out to a hallway that had been greeted by a dark abyss. The eye lamps did their best to expose as much as possible. Peeling wall paper, littered hall with burnt papers and tipped over display tables with cracked stained vases were all that was visible. Manic tapped Aurora on the head, making her optic sights to fuzz a little. “So then. With that built in map, do you think you can possibly find out where I should start looking?” Aurora frowned. “The map only shows what’s around me.” She looked at her HUD. The map was appearing to her as a grid. “If I had my entire body, then perhaps I would have enough power to fully map out the place.” Manic frowned. “Well damn. Then I guess we have to see what we can find out of this place.” And with that, the filly moved the bot deeper into the dark abyss of a hallway. Every room they had passed showed no signs of previous residents. ‘Good. That means that nopony had checked this place yet. But it’s so massive! Where can I even start?’ As the filly thought about this, Aurora noticed something interesting. She zoomed in down the hall and with the limited power she had, highlighted the object of interest and saw a hanging poster with strange symbols tracing down it. She couldn’t quite make out what it meant, but her info scanning picked up its’ origins. “Neighpon?” she said, not realizing that she had said it a little too loudly. Manic arched a brow. “Oh?” she said. Aurora hopped to turn her head to face the filly, her stoic look meeting her questioning expression. “I’m not sure. But there is a poster that appears to be Neighsian in origin.” Aurora said. Manic rubbed her chin in thought. “Hmm… let’s see if there are any more signs.” She said. ‘If this android is right, then this place is definitely rich with materials.’ Manic felt herself humming happily as they continued on. Aurora had did her best to make sure she took in everything they had passed by. And as the day went on, they had covered at least two entire sections of the complex. Each room they had checked yielded, if anything, small bits of material that she was looking for. But it was enough to satisfy her curiosity. But Aurora wanted to explore more of the place. And seeing the android protest in a strange way, Manic sighed. “Alright, fine. But don’t expect me to pick up any stray junk you think is ‘valuable’.” Aurora squeed before hopping back around and facing forward. Manic piloted the bot away from the sections they had explored. And to both their surprise, the more they traveled further in, the more they realized that there were signs of previous residents. In fact, one room they had entered displayed both skeletal and mechanical corpses that were scattered about. Manic felt goosebumps. Aurora, however, remained excited. “Oh wow! This place must have been much more lively than I had thought!” she said. Manic did her best not to shiver. “Uhh… if you think skeletons are lively, then you really need to get your personality chip checked.” Aurora scanned the room while she replied. “Isn’t that what mechanics are for?” she asked. Manic blinked once and looked at the android head. This android… Manic continued the move down the complex, gaping in awe when they suddenly turned the corner. It appeared to be a gymnasium like room. However, everywhere they looked had oriental designs and decorations. Almost as if there was a small town of Neighsans living here at one point. But the more Aurora scanned the skeletal corpses, she realized that hardly any of them were mechanical. “Wow… I wonder what this place really was back in the day.” Aurora marveled. Manic frowned and looked around. She pressed a few buttons on the panel and Aurora blinked once, seeing the bot’s wings expand and detach from the side and hovered in front of them. They then proceeded to hover around the room, a blue grid scan on everything they hovered past. Manic smiled. “A full run of the room will probably tell us.” Her eyes then spotted a terminal humming to life on a desk. A skeletal corpse sat behind it, slouching forward. Manic hopped out of the bot, taking Aurora with her under her foreleg and trotted over to the humming box. Placing the android next to it, Manic pushed aside the skeletal corpse, letting the poor soul clatter to the floor, before sitting on the chair and tapping into the terminal. It had timed out some few hundred odd years ago. Manic raised her right foreleg and opened a panel on her suite. Extending a cable, the filly plugged the cord on its’ side and went to work on cracking the password. Aurora cocked her head slightly in question as to the action of the filly. However, her own curiosity made her bite her tongue and let the filly work. She did ask one question though: “So… what is it like having to explore almost every ruin at your leisure?” Manic didn’t look at the android as she replied. “More trouble than it’s worth.” Aurora felt her hopes dim a little. “O-oh…” Manic now looked at the android and gave her a studious look. The filly sighed. “Well… if you really must know, being a mechanic by trade, I have to do so in order to fulfill orders by Artellia.” She said. Aurora arched a brow. “Why are Artellia officials all the way out here?” Aurora furrowed her brows. “I can understand them having A.S.S. stationed at the ready in certain areas. But why representatives?” Manic shook her head. “Not sure. But if I don’t bother to do so, I lose the income and a chance at getting out of my stupid town.” Manic faltered at this. Aurora was now even more curious about the filly. “You don’t like the place you reside in?” Manic remained quiet for a bit before sighing. “W-well… I just…” she bit her lip and clicked her tongue. “You know what? Nevermind. I don’t need to tell you anything.” She furrowed her brows at the android. “For all I know, you are probably just another one of Zillex’s spies.” Aurora shook her head as best she could. “I do not belong to Zillex. My registration ID is entirely unique and unaffiliated.” She said. Manic frowned. “But that still doesn’t exclude the fact you had a piece of the Tree of Harmony in you.” Aurora cocked a brow this time. What was this filly trying to say? “About that. I didn’t know a piece such as that resided inside my chassis. I was hoping you would fill me in.” Manic chuckled. “A know it all computer is asking me to fill her in. That’s rich.” Manic caught the studious eyes of the android. The filly rubbed her head in response. Going back to working the panel, she couldn’t ignore the look she was getting from the head. As much as she wanted to avoid talking about anything other than work, this android is unusually questioning. ‘Aren’t all androids supposed to know what goes on with ruins such as these? I brought her along so she might help out spotting things of value. Not explore out of sheer curiosity.’ Her panel blipped, signaling that the program had finally cracked the password. The terminal blinked on. Manic smiled and went to work on downloading the data. Realizing that she was being ignored, Aurora hopped to turn her head to face the terminal. Seeing the data being transferred, Aurora couldn’t help but notice something blink on her mini map. She arched a brow and studied it. ‘Weren’t there two green dots earlier?’ she thought to herself. Indeed, when the filly had activated those wing drones, they appeared on her map as green dots. Aurora glanced at the filly who was preoccupied with the data. The filly suddenly frowned and sighed. “Well, data is complete. There is one file, however, that it won’t let me access too.” Manic hummed quietly before looking at Aurora. She couldn’t help but notice the android looking worried. She smiled. “But maybe… you can help me out here.” Aurora blinked again in confusion. “Beg your pardon?” Manic unplugged the cable and grabbed ahold of Aurora. Manic moved Aurora’s head around and brushed aside the back of her mane. “W-wait! I didn’t consent to this!!” Manic stuck the cable into a port at the back of Aurora’s neck and the android stiffened. Manic placed her head back on the table and pressed a couple of buttons on her hoof panel and Aurora felt a strange surge of energy enter her. ~~~oooOOOooo~~~ Aurora found herself suddenly standing in front of the complex. The building looking… different than usual. Almost as if it had suddenly regressed back to its’ original glory. To her surprise, she noticed a walkway being lined with trees and flowers. Almost as if this place had been taken care of like the next Garden of Eden. ‘Where the hell am I?’ she thought. She looked down at herself and noticed that she had her body back. However, she looked a little bit… see-through. But despite the transparent self, she found herself wondering back to the awe that was the complex. Trees, flowers and the sound of chirping in the distance told her that there were birds as well. She was in awe. She had heard stories and tales about how Equestria was like back before the Big Bang. But to see it now, despite the ghost like transparency, she almost felt as if she was a part of this place. “A-are you sure about this, Rarity?” a metallic voice spoke behind her. Aurora turned and saw two ponies trotting up to the complex. One was a very beautiful mare with a snow white coat and curled purple mane. She smiled at the pony next to her, a strange looking android pony that had a fauxhawk charcoal mane and a granite painted coat. What was strange was that the android was wearing a purple and black vest and collared shirt with a tie to match. “Oh, I’m sure dear. Zecora told me about this place and they could really use the help.” She winked playfully at the pony. “And I made sure to put in a good word with the owner of the place. He does owe me for that little ‘mishap’ of a business attire for a meeting.” The mare, Rarity as Aurora thought, suddenly looked behind her and waved. “Oh, Spikey dear! Do please be careful! I need those to be in tip top presentable fashion!” Aurora looked past the ponies and saw a pile of gift wrapped boxes swaying and tilting with each step of whoever this Spike was. Aurora got her answer when she noticed a dragon like face peek out from behind the boxes. “N-no worries, Rarity.” Spike said with. “You just… go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you! Eventually…” Rarity and the android turned to walk up to the complex’s doors. “Spike is such a sweetheart for agreeing to help me with this order.” The android smirked. “I bet he’ll probably do anything if you ask him too.” Rarity chuckled and the two entered. Aurora looked to see a small dragon carefully make his way towards the door. However, Aurora was much more interested in the two ponies that had entered the store. Leaving the struggling dragon to his own devices, Aurora went to reach for the door, only to have her hoof slip through it. She stumbled and blinked once, looking down at herself. ‘Oh right.’ She thought. Aurora caught sight of the two ponies and quickly caught up to them in a trot. They stopped in front of a counter where a mare in a bun mane worked at a terminal. She looked up and smiled. “Welcome! How may I be of assistance?” the mare asked. Rarity smiled. “Good afternoon. My friend, Tom here, has an appointment for a job assistance here in the refugee camp.” She said. The mare looked at the android and the android returned a bashful smile and a wave. “Is it for a job or volunteer assistance with the refugees?” she asked. Rarity rubbed her chin. “Well, we were hoping to get a word in with Limelight. I told her I would be bringing someone with a reliable work schedule.” Tom nodded along with her. Aurora studied the two. These ponies seemed familiar. But she couldn’t remember where. The mare behind the counter tapped away at a terminal and hummed. “It appears that Limelight’s schedule is currently filled today. I’ll let her know about your visit. In the meant time, if you are looking for volunteer work, I could point you down the hall and to your right should be the gymnasium.” Rarity smiled. “Thank you, dear. Come along, you two!” Rarity said as she trotted in the direction they were pointed too. Tom looked over to the door and Aurora followed his gaze. Spike had trouble getting through the door. And when he finally did, he almost lost his balance. Fortunately, the dragon seemed spry enough that he regained his footing and balanced the boxes before following after Rarity. Tom looked to the mare behind the counter and cleared his throat. The mare looked up. “Yes?” she asked. “I err… don’t mean to be a bother. But do you happen to know anypony by the name of Xi that lives here?” Tom rubbed his mane with a blush. “I-I mean, a zebra buck that is about as fit as a stallion?” the mare rubbed her chin in thought before smiling. “Yes, I do believe we have.” She tapped a few keys. “He likes to call himself Master Xi, if I am not mistaking. You’ll probably find him in the gymnasium with the other refugees. He’s been working hard to make sure that everypony there is taken care of.” Tom smiled. “Thanks.” He said before trotting after the distant figures of Rarity and Spike. Aurora found herself suddenly being dragged along. She wasn’t moving. It was as if a magical force had grasped her and pulled her along for the ride. The area around her suddenly flickered and Aurora found herself standing in the gymnasium. This place was packed with zebra. Both stallion, mare and foals laid closed together in either big groups or in small. Aurora found herself sitting behind a table with a draped curtain over it and the familiar looking boxes that Spike had brought it laid next to her. On her other side sat Rarity, Tom and Spike. In front of them was a family of zebra chatting away with them. With whatever business they were finished with, Tom turned to Rarity. “So, isn’t RD supposed to be here? I heard that she was going to be here to sign autographs.” He asked. Rarity nodded. “She will be. Knowing her, she is probably finishing up Wonderbolt briefings before heading over here.” Rarity giggled. “She can never resist boasting for her fans.” Spike chuckled. “Yeah, especially if she was the one that helped these refugees.” Spike sighed. “It’s weird, ya’ know. Seeing the aftermath of the Roam retaliation to Neighpon. It must be difficult when your resources are suddenly dwindled and more focused on the war effort.” The mood seemed to darken a little. But Rarity wasn’t going to let that happen. “Yes, in any case. I am glad that we are able to open up a place for them. Not only is Canterlot and the Crystal Empire chipping in and offering jobs to them, Twilight is also busy with helping escort any more refugees.” Rarity sighed. “One of these days, that young princess regality is going to either be a shining example or a total train wreck. The poor dear has been working herself to the bone after that incident in Cloudsdale.” They suddenly quieted, the mood turning even more dark. Aurora was transfixed that she was suddenly reliving in the past and found it rather hard to take in. Now she remembered who these ponies were. They aided in the Last Migration’s refugee camps. Hearing about their exploits in ensuring the war between Neighpon and Roam hadn’t dwindled the morality of its’ people. And now that she looked more, she noticed that some of the ponies here weren’t really zebra. In fact, she could tell by the strange looking cutie-marks branded on their flanks. The telltale sign of a Neighsian. ‘Incredible…’ Aurora marveled to herself. To relive the past and even be exposed to its’ events. This was something entirely unexpected to her. She hadn’t even thought about scanning the files into her VRs. Whatever made the filly decided this must have been risky at the same time as genius. Suddenly, Tom stood up and excused himself. Aurora watched the android, her curiosity piquing even more. Leaving Rarity and Spike to discuss another matter pertaining to their friends, Aurora followed Tom. Seeing the android make a sudden turn in the gymnasium, she stopped when Tom greeted an older looking zebra buck. “Master Xi?” Tom asked. The old buck turned. “Eh? What do you want?” The buck squinted his eyes at the android, getting a bit too close, much to the android’s uncomfortable invasion of space. The buck suddenly opened his eyes and Aurora noticed them slightly glazed. However, they showed a sign of recognition. “Oho! Well if it isn’t Tom. A pleasant surprise to see you here.” Tom nodded and smiled. “Indeed. Err…. How are things over at the temple?” Master Xi brushed his long beard that seemed to almost touch the ground as he replied. “My pupils are faring better than I had anticipated. Their recuperation is a big step in them learning the ways of the Shaolin.” The buck shrugged with a small chuckle. “Albeit with a few of your cybertechy limbs.” The two were interrupted when a small zebra filly and a young unicorn colt with a strange brand on his flank came up to them. “Papa Xi! Papa Xi! Can you read us a story?” the filly asked. “One where you bested the dragons in their own games? I like that one!” the colt beamed. Master Xi chuckled and pat the head of the filly. “I’ll be with you all shortly. I would like to catch up with one of my pupils.” He said. The two seemed to frown slightly. Aurora noticed Tom registering guilt. This came as a shock to her. ‘Does this android have a self-aware personality chip as well?’ she thought. She got her answer when Tom suddenly smiled and pat Master Xi’s back. “Come on, old buck. Don’t leave me out of the fun too.” Master Xi smiled tiredly at the android. “Well…” he looked at the two. “How would you like brother Tom to act out the scenes with me?” The two smiled excitedly at him. “Yay! Come on, we got to tell the rest!” the colt told the filly. The two galloped happily away and into the crowd. Tom and Master Xi watched them with smiled on their faces. “The minds of the future. I wonder what their true destines hold?” Master Xi sadi with a stroke of his beard. Tom chuckled. “Well, their religion states otherwise. But that doesn’t mean their destinies have to stop there. Right?” Tom arched a cool brow at the buck, who returned it with a loud guffaw. “Correct, my bright pupil. Let us go, shall we?” Master Xi began to walk forward, only to stop when he realized Tom didn’t follow. Aurora looked to see Tom rubbing his foreleg bashfully. “Err… Master Xi. I’ve been meaning to ask…” The buck turned and smiled to him. “Do you think maybe I-?” Aurora waited for the android to finish. However, she noticed something seemed off. It was like the whole world suddenly froze for her. Suddenly, Aurora felt something tug on her. ‘W-what’s going on!?’ she panicked. Aurora found the world around her suddenly start crumbling into small specks before increasing in volume. She then felt a strong pull on her and she was lifted up and away from the scene. ~~~oooOOOooo~~~ When Aurora came too, she noticed that she was suddenly looking at the room sideways. She felt herself being dragged and hugged into the forelegs of the young filly. Manic was breathing quietly, but her state of panic told the android that something was definitely off. “Manic? What’s wron-?” Manic quickly put a hoof over Aurora’s muzzle and shushed her. Aurora saw the filly peek out slightly before ducking back quickly. Aurora hadn’t noticed it at first due to the disorienting state of which she was forced out of. But regaining her senses and her surroundings, she noticed that she was back in present day. It was almost disappointing to see the place she had just came from suddenly take a drastic dark turn. However, that wasn’t her sole worry. Her map had picked up a red dot that was very close by their own dots. They remained quiet. Both of them hearing the sound of hoofsteps scuffing the ground. Aurora couldn’t help but notice Manic’s heart rate increasing more quickly than she had anticipated. Aurora looked worriedly at the frightened filly. Was this her first time dealing with danger? Didn’t she state that she explored ruins before and dealt with danger? She even said she was well prepared. So why is she suddenly freaking out. Manic gulped quietly and peeked slowly back out. She caught sight of a shimmer through the door way. Aurora couldn’t find a good view, so instead, she whispered. “Manic, you have a plan on getting out of here?” Manic looked at the android, fright clearly displayed on her face. “Manic!” Aurora whispered a little more loudly. Manic quickly covered her muzzle again. “Shut up! I’m trying to think!” Manic whispered back. This isn’t good. Aurora could tell the filly was having trouble trying to think of a solution. And based on the sound of the armor and suite the intruder was making, they were clearly survival gear. However, when Manic peeked back out, Aurora saw what she was hiding from. The pony was dressed in black camo and many belts and buckles displayed the amount of survivable aspects of the equipment this pony had. However, what caught her eye was the glowing tri-goggles. It seemed to move by itself, as if switching sights. The pony was examining Kiwi Bot. Aurora noticed sparks quickly coming out of the bot. It had been disabled. Aurora had to think of something. No way was she going to be lost inside this place without a body. Her look turned stoic and she looked at the filly. “Manic, listen to me.” Aurora whispered. Manic was trying her best to keep her breath under control. She wasn’t sure if the filly heard her, but she kept going. “You have to remain calm. Hesitation will only get you killed.” Aurora glanced around. She beamed when she saw a hole in the wall that seemed just about the right size for a filly to squeeze through. “Manic, there!” Manic looked at the android worriedly before following her gaze. The hole was open at the bottom of the wall. But it led to another room. “We’ll come back for Kiwi. For now, we have to make sure we don’t get disabled.” Manic looked at the android, her eyes furrowing before nodding. “O-okay. I can do this.” Manic took a quiet deep breath before quietly making her way to the hole. Getting down on her stomach, she placed Aurora on the other side and she slid her body through. And just in the nick of time too. As the filly got her hind hooves in and out of sight, the pony looked behind the desk she was hiding behind. Manic quickly scrambled to her hooves and clipped Aurora to her utility belt before creeping along the wall. The room they had escaped too was unusually dark. Manic crept through the room, muttering to herself. “This is why I wanted to get out of here! But nooo, somepony wanted to explore out of sheer curiosity. You ever hear the saying curiosity killed the cat?” Aurora frowned. “There is a reason why I wanted too. And if I had my body, we could probably had finished it quicker.” Aurora retorted. Manic snorted. “Oh yeah, because I want a luradiated android to suddenly go bat shit insane on me.” Aurora tried to shake her head in response, but the small bounces from the filly made it difficult too. “You could have just fixed it. You’re a mechanic, right? Soon to be GM Mechanic of Artellia?” Manic groaned. “I don’t need an android to remind me of my achievements! I can give two shits about the position. It just comes down to money. Bolts make this world go round now. But I’ve been doing fine by myself.” Manic almost stumbled over a chair, but quickly regained her footing and stopped the chair from falling over. “In any case, I’m not too inclined to trust a pegasus, a zebra and an android that are possible threats! Hell, I’m probably doing the world a favor by keeping you all contained and isolated!” “Then perhaps I can assist with that.” A voice said, startling the filly. She backed away and tripped over the chair she had previously stepped over. A pair of tri-goggles stared down at her. The glow turned from a bright green to a bright red. “Nickname Manic. Prodigy mechanic and soon to be GM Mechanic in Artellia.” The pony chuckled. “And my next big paycheck.” The pony looked around and whistled. “Nice place you scouted out. Surprised that hardly anything is living in here.” The two watched as the pony unslung an alien like Lunarium rifle. “Well, I’m sure it wouldn’t mind another corpse.” Aurora heard Manic’s heavy panicked breathing. ‘A bounty hunter then? But why a filly?’ Aurora glanced around, hoping to spot a way out. Before she could find anything, however, Manic quickly dove to the side as a loud thumping sound emitted in the room. Manic crawled under the desks, ignoring the cold sting of the graze she had gotten on her side. Aurora looked back and gapped. Most rifles with Lunarium and Solarium are just simple bullets that mimic high heat or freezing temps. But on impact, they are supposed to dissolve. Whatever rifle this pony was carrying, the Lunarium bullet appeared to freeze where it had impacted, turning the unfortunate chair into an ice block. Manic didn’t take time to look back, however. The filly scrambled under the desks, squeezing through the undersides. ‘I have to get out of here!’ she thought in panic as the pony turned and took aim. She yelped when the bullet came close to striking her noggin. Fortunately, she ducked in time and the wall suddenly had an icicle sticking out of it. Aurora did her best to scan for the best route out of danger. But the grid on the map was proving to be less helpful. Aurora did, however, notice an opening to the left of the filly. “Left!” Aurora shouted. “What!?” Manic cried out, ducking as another shot grazed her. “Just trust me!!” Aurora said through grit teeth. That graze had her worried for the filly’s safety. Manic wasted no time and bolted to the left, finding herself in a dark hallway. She took another left and galloped down the hallway, jumping over tipped over debris and furniture. The spastic movement made it difficult for the bounty hunter to get a good lock on her. Clicking his tongue, the pony scanned the area. Manic breathed heavily, the panic once again clear on her face as she bolted down the hall and taking a sharp right. She had no idea where she was going. But she was hoping it would be away from the pony. “Take a right!” Aurora said. Manic did. “Through those doors!” The filly followed through. When she burst through the doorway, she found herself standing in what appeared to be a lobby. Manic looked around desperately. "W-where do I go now?” she asked, her breath leaving her. Aurora bit her lip. “I-I don’t know? I can’t really see from the side.” She stated. Manic quickly unclipped the android’s head and held her up. Aurora took a brief moment to get her surroundings. It was strange. Having to live through the VR, she couldn’t help but notice the path they had took was the opposite direction as in the VR. Aurora looked around and noticed another pathway that seemed clear of danger. “Through there.” She pointed with a motion of her head. Manic quickly cantered into the hallway and made her way down. As she did, they could hear the hoofsteps of the bounty hunter not too far off. Manic picked up her speed and quickly burst into a room. Not taking the time to gather her surroundings, she shut the door and quickly took cover behind a curtain that had a hospital bed behind it. Just to be sure she was completely out of sight, she crawled under the bed and hugged Aurora’s head close to her chest. Aurora could hear the fast paced beating of the filly’s heart. “Manic, breath. Take a few deep breaths and remain calm. You are going to make it through this.” Aurora said, trying her best to reassure the filly. Manic did as she was told. Finding herself at a reasonable quiet breathing pace, they remained quiet, their ears straining to listen to the noise that the bounty hunter was subtly making. What felt like hours turned to minutes as the door they had entered in through burst open and the bounty hunter aimed the alien like gear and scanned the room. The goggles switching sights as the bounty hunter walked into the room. Aurora felt the filly apply pressure as she hugged the android’s head tightly. Thankfully she had no existing breath, otherwise she would have probably suffocated. Digressing the point, Aurora was in a position where it was hard to tell exactly where the bounty hunter was searching. The bounty hunter made his way, tip-hoofing through the room and quietly pulled the first curtain aside. Nothing. Moving to the next one, he did the same thing. Nothing. Again to the one next to it. Nothing. That came down to the last one in the room. Manic held her breath as best she could, quietly letting out breaths as the bounty hunter pulled open the curtain. The two heard the sound of the gun thumping and a loud creaking of ice forming. Manic shut her eyes tightly, reciting in her mind a prayer to the goddesses. All was quiet. All except for the sound of the bounty hunter’s rifle humming to life. The bounty hunter switched sights on his goggles. He noticed that there was something laying in the bed. When he pulled the curtain back and fired off the round, his bolt missed whatever was laying there. Taking a few moments, he switched sights again and saw a skeletal corpse laying on the bed. It appeared to be laying back, as if in a restful slumber. The bounty hunter hummed in thought before turning to look back at the door. His ears twitched. He could have sworn he heard something outside the room. And just when he was about to look outside the room, the door suddenly clicked open and the bounty hunter aimed the rifle, only to stop and lower it as a figure of an android moved into the room. The android appeared to be worn down, as if years of rust and exposure to heat made it unbearable to move with each step. It was levitating a half destroyed clipboard next to it as it stepped and looked at the bounty hunter. “I’m sorry, sir. Visiting hours are over. Please come back tomorrow.” It said metallically. The bounty hunter studied the android. Probably back then, it was a nursing model made to aid in recovery of veterans and the sickly. The pony made no movement but did step aside. Manic peeked out quietly from underneath the bed. The android made her way past the bounty hunter before standing next to the skeletal corpse. “Good afternoon, Sunny Sprinkles. How have you’ve been?” There was a brief moment of silence. The android giggled a little. “Oh, what a cute little drawing! May I ask who is that?” More silence. The android chuckled and scanned the clipboard. “He must sound like a very kind pony to do that for you.” There was a brief pause before the android spoke again. “Well, good news. In about a week from now, you’ll be up and walking and able to play with all your little friends! Isn’t that exciting?” Suddenly, the android made a loud cracking sound as a spark of electricity made her stiffen and change her speech to a solemn and remorseful tone. “Doctor Springdale. I have an update on our patient.” The android flipped through destroyed and rotten papers. Manic could see the pieces and specks falling from the board. “The poor dear is soon to have surgery and during one of her CAT scans, we err… spotted another tumor.” The android made a sad sigh before continuing. “I was so looking forward to her playing with her friends. Even they were asking about her.” More pause. “Yes, sir. I’ll inform the surgeon.” The android registered a worried look. “Oh the poor dear. May Celestia’s sun shine down on her this da-.” There was a loud thump and the android suddenly jolted and fell to her side. Manic covered her muzzle in horror as the cold staring face of the android met hers. White blood pooling from where the bolt had struck. However, the enchanted bolt appeared to be freezing the blood. Manic scooted back a little as to avoid the icing of the liquid that almost touched her suite. The bounty hunter sighed. “Damn things are always creepy.” The bounty hunter then holstered his rifle and put a hoof to his ear. “Put me on the line with my client.” There was a brief pause. “This is Toxic Star. I lost sight of the target. She had disappeared into the ruins of a complex.” Manic’s ears moved to the side at the sound of a quiet voice. “I understand… Very well, I will retreat for now and wait until the filly exposes herself.” The bounty hunter chuckled. “Besides, I checked her schedule. This was supposed to be her lunch break.” The bounty hunter, Toxic Star, nodded before looking back at the android and kicked the body lightly. “’May Celestia’s sun’. What utter bullshit.” And with that, Toxic Star turned and quietly exited the room. Taking a moment to release the held breath the filly hadn’t realized she was holding, she quietly slid out from under the bed, avoiding the frozen pool of nano-blood. Aurora and Manic looked at the android corpse. Indeed, the centuries haven’t been too kind on her model. Rust forming, paint peeling, part of her wires and components showing. And that’s where the remorse ended. “An android that was working here?” Manic whispered, unsure of the bounty hunter still nearby. Aurora looked at the medical android. She wondered what it was like to take care of the patients here. She then looked at the skeletal corpse. Whatever poor soul died on this bed appeared to be no more than a filly. Manic gulped and quietly crept out from behind the curtain. “We need to get back to Kiwi. I can remove that sapper, but I need you to guide me back there.” Aurora looked at the panicked filly. Her expression stoic, she nodded. Making sure the coast was clear before stepping out of the room, Aurora guided the filly back through the lobby and down the hall. Taking a few turns here and there, they finally arrived back at the place where they had stopped. Kiwi Bot was tipped over, the lights in its’ eyes flickering as a strange square like device was clamped onto its side sparked and hissed. Clipping Aurora to her utility belt, the filly took a screw driver and jammed the tool’s tip into the clamps and carefully wiggled it out. With a small pop and a crack, the sapper fell to the floor. Manic picked it up and frowned, examining the device. “How strange…” she said. Aurora rolled her eyes. “Perhaps you can worry about it when you get back to safety?” Manic looked at the android, her expression of that of disappointment. “And now the dumb android wants to go back to the workshop. Hell, if it wasn’t for your curiosity, we would have probably been back by now and I could…” her eyes suddenly widened in realization. “Oh, shit.” Aurora blinked once in confusion. “What? What did you remember?” she asked. Manic pocketed the device and hopped back on the bot, pressing a few dials and activating the bot. >Urgh. I feel like I have gone to Tartarus and back. “Save the expressions for later, Kiwi. We gotta’ get back now.” Manic pressed a few buttons and turned a couple of dials, making the bot hum to life and stomp through the room. >Is everything alright, Madame? “Just get us back! I want to be as far away from this place as possible!” Aurora remained quiet as the filly piloted the bot back the way they came, keeping eye and careful awareness in case they ended up bumping into the bounty hunter. Fortune favored her and they made it back to the one hole of the room leading back out into the desert world of Equestria. As the bot hopped down and suddenly transformed into a tank like figure, the filly sped across the wide open area, unaware of the one pony that had hunted them looked on as they did. Toxic rubbed his helmet. ‘Well. Time for plan b.’ ~~~***~~~ Arriving back at the filly’s two storied abode, Manic parked the bot outside of a garage and quickly hopped out, rushing to the door and opening it. Trotting down the stairs, Aurora balked when they entered into a spacious area with two giant containment boxes. It was hard to tell what was going on in them as the barrier was fogged over. The filly rushed over to the terminal and looked to see a bar saying complete. Pressing confirm on the prompt, there was a loud sound of the machine turning off. Aurora watched as the containment boxes suddenly vacuumed up the fog to reveal two ponies inside each one. “Candlejack? Zelori?” Aurora asked, her confusion clear across her face. Manic looked over to see the brain prodding helm unclamp from the two and ascend into the ceiling. The two siblings swayed a bit before shaking away the pounding headache. “Urgh… that was like an enema to the head.” Candlejack stated as he shook off the daze. Manic watched quietly as the two ponies recuperated from their disorientation. Once they did, they immediately glared at the filly. “Hey you! Just what the hell are you trying to pull!?” Candlejack slammed on the barrier, only to be zapped and shot back. Zelori looked down at herself. “I feel… different.” She said. Manic cleared her throat. “Well then. Glad to see that the extensive prodding of your brains didn’t cause brain damage.” She looked at Candlejack, implying that there may have been a big chance on the poor sod. Something about this pony gave off uncomfortable vibes. Like a stray cloud had suddenly appeared over him and drenched the pegasus in a never ending fall of unfortunate events. And yet, despite the setback of his actions against the barrier, he jumped up to his hooves and brushed a foreleg under his muzzle with a sniff. “So then. Now that we have the cleaning and data gathering out of the way, I bet you want something to eat?” Manic turned back to the terminal and pressed a few buttons. The containment boxes shot a mechanical arm out and the ponies immediately stood on their hind hooves, much to the filly’s surprise. The ponies had expected another brain prodding device and had elicited a stance the filly was unfamiliar with. They cautiously watched as the arm slithered down in front of them and aimed down at their hooves. A small blue grid hummed and materialized a tray of steaming food. When it was done, the arm slithered back up and vanished in the dark abyss of the compartment. The two stared at the tray, as if they were expecting it to suddenly explode on them. Manic cleared her throat and motioned with a hoof. “Dig in.” she said. Candlejack and Zelroi cautiously eyed their trays. Sitting down on their haunches, the filly watched as the two took a few moments to test their food for anything dangerous. Manic sighed and shook her head. “I promise you, it isn’t rigged with diseases or explosives.” She seemed to puff out her chest in pride as she explained the next part. “I happen to have created a matter materializer that can create anything I tell it too.” She then rubbed her mane. “Err… with the exception that I need blueprints for it. But recipes and such aren’t hard to come by.” Zelori eyed the filly when suddenly, the sound of munching and licking reached their ears. Candlejack hadn’t realized how hungry he had been ever since they left Detrot. Planting his muzzle into the food, he was surprised to taste another mixture of euphoria in his mouth. He pulled back, his cheeks puffed to show his mouth full of food before munching happily and licking his lips. “Mmm! Whath is thith?” he asked as food crumbs escaped his mouth. Manic cringed as the food crumbs pelted the barrier, making it sizzle. The sight of the pony talking with his mouth full made her feel the coffee she had earlier come back up. Taking a brief moment of respite, she put on her best smile. “It is hay rice and beans mixed with a hay burger wheat.” She said. Candlejack, swallowing his food, planted his muzzle back in and chewed away happily. Zelori, however, had only taken a small bite of it and frowned. Manic cocked her head slightly. “You don’t like it?” Zelori looked at the filly. “I’m more concerned about where we are and what you are planning to do with us.” She said. Manic beamed and clapped her hooves together. ‘She must be the brains of the two! Somepony I can gather info about!’ Manic trotted over to her containment box, trying her best to ignore the pegasus creating a food bath in her containment box. Sucking up her disgust, she responded. “Well, I’m glad you asked. You see, I have you in containment for… safety reasons. I had to contain you both due to your exposure to luradiation and possible threat to my home. Both hygienic and collateral wise.” Zelori arched a brow. “Hygiene? There is nothing wrong with our health.” She stated. Manic opened her hoof panel and scrolled through the list of data that had been collected from the two. “You say that. But the tech says you both had lice all over your fur. You had poor dental hygiene and bad breath. Haven’t had a bath in… years.” Candlejack from the other side of the containment breach perked up at this. “Does a garbage bath count?” he asked, swallowing his food whole and coughing at the poor judgement. Manic frowned. “No, it doesn’t. In fact, the state of mal nutrition you both have states that you have been feeding on nothing but expired beans and food pastes. Lack of protein, vitamins and others are minimal, if not any, are present. I’m more surprised that you two can even function a word based on how badly your health is. Have you two lived under a rock for years or what?” Candlejack chuckled. “Funny you should say that. We are from New Equestria.” He said. Manic arched a brow. “New Equestria? The underground civilization that had been abandoned for centuries?” she asked. Zelori arched a brow. “What makes you think it is abandoned?” she asked. Manic rubbed her chin in thought. “Just the fact that everyone above ground, if that’s the case, state that the expeditions had caused the underground to be obsolete and uninhabitable.” Manic looked at the android head at her utility belt. “Are they telling the truth?” Aurora, who had been quiet this entire time, spoke up. “I am uncertain myself. I had only met them recently on the outskirts of Detrot. They were wearing obsolete suites and had suffered heat fever. But the suites appeared to be none I am familiar with.” Manic hummed in thought. Candlejack then spoke up. “Aurora? What happened to the rest of you?” he asked. Aurora remained stoic as she responded. “I have appeared to have been corrupted by luridium and had to be separated from my body as to avoid any more corruption to my programming.” She said. Manic nodded. “That brings me to my next question. The luradiation I had picked up on all three of you were dangerously close to yellow levels. What field did you go through to gather that much?” The room was quiet. But Manic noticed that the android and the zebra mare were eyeing the containment box with the pegasus in it. Candlejack rubbed his mane, feeling it to be soft and groomed to a more definite spike style than usual as he created a small nervous grin. “I err… may have caused a meltdown at a luridium factory.” He said. Manic wanted to be surprised by this. However, the vibe the pony was giving off told her that it shouldn’t have been one. Her surprise was more towards the factory part. “Just what in the hell were you three doing at a luridium factory? Those places are unstable and dangerous.” She asked. Zelori remained quiet as did Candlejack. They weren’t certain if they should really tell a young filly about their objective while they were out here. Taking a deep breath, Candlejack spoke. “Kicking ass. A group of robot bandits had taken refuge and we were… hired to clear them out.” He said. It wasn’t far from the truth. But Candlejack didn’t want to tell the filly the whole reason. ‘Perhaps these ponies up here don’t need to know what goes on down below. Its best things stay where they are. What happens in New Equestria, stays in New Equestria.’ Manic frowned. “Wait, you’re stating that you’re from the underground, yet you were hired to take out a group of robot bandits. Not accounting the fact that you caused a meltdown, do you think I’m some sort of dumb foal?” Candlejack blinked once in confusion. ‘Damn, loopholes are a bitch.’ Candlejack gave her his best smile. “I… think you’re… a reasonable filly?” he said with a small squee. Manic eyed the pegasus before looking at his wings. She looked back at the panel on her hoof. “Aside from that, no sign of Psi-Co consumption either. Which is great considering that the bad state of health, Psi-Co would have really messed up your systems entirely.” Candlejack cocked his head. “Psi-Co? What’s that?” he asked. Manic continued to look at the panel, but made a rotating motion with her free hoof. “It’s a drug that is mixed with healing properties and actual chemicals. Supposed to be the pre-war medicinal Deus Ex Machina of its’ time, but now it is a black market drug for Pseudos.” Candlejack rubbed his chin in thought. “Pseudos?” Manic frowned. The pegasus’s questions were starting to get as annoying as Aurora’s curiosity. The filly groaned. “It’s a term to define those that aren’t really their specific race anymore. Take for example an earth pony. Say they don’t want to be an earth pony anymore. With a certain dosage of Psi-Co, not only do they get the modified benefits, but they can change their race appearance too. Now that earth pony can either be a unicorn with a base property of magic or a pegasus with hardly any flying time.” Zelori spoke up. “Sounds like something that shouldn’t be played with.” She said. Manic nodded. “You and a few hundred others back when the thing was created centuries ago. While it did prove to be beneficial to those in the wars, that didn’t stop chem addicts from exploring its properties and exploiting its benefits for personal gain. Now the drug is all over the place and in many forms. Kind of like a certain Luridium Plague incident that happened.” Aurora chimed in. “Luridium is different than the properties of Psi-Co.” she said. Manic nodded. “Luridium is considered Psi-Co for the mechanical denizens. Am I correct?” Aurora remained quiet, but nodded as best she could. “In any case, knowing that the drug wasn’t in your systems, you both are now with a clean bill of health.” She smirked. “And don’t thank me. Thank me! Clean teeth, clean body and clean systems, you are free to do whatever you want.” Candlejack and Zelori eyed the filly. “So… we are free to go?” Candlejack asked. Manic laughed. “Oh no. I still think you two are big threats. Unless you can prove otherwise, you will remain here under my care until I deem you no longer threats.” The filly stretched. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an order to complete.” She frowned. “And a dumb brother’s table to fix.” Candlejack frowned. “You think this thing can hold us?” he said. Manic chuckled. “I’d like to see you try. And as amusing as it sounds, I’ve wasted enough time. Ciao!” With that, the filly trotted up the stairs to the exit. Candlejack caught Aurora’s look. The android mouthed to him a sentence: “I will keep an eye on her.” And with that, the two siblings were left to their own quiet breathing. ~~~****~~~ Later that night, Manic was hunched over a table. Doing her best to avoid any form of sleep, she worked away at White’s record table. Aurora’s head was placed back on the charging pedestal. The android watched quietly as the filly worked away. However, despite the amounts of coffee she had materialized to keep herself awake, her state of mind began wandering to incoherent speeches. Aurora strained her ears to listen in on them. “… Damn thing is such a pain in the ass. Why does my brother think music is so great? The stuff he makes is awful! It’s like griffon talons scratching glass. Speaking of griffons, I wonder if that shipment of scones have come in? I should check later.” The filly hissed in pain and shook her hoof before going back into the table. “What’s so great about this thing anway? I understand it was a birthday gift, but still, does it really matter anymore? I mean, she’s no longer around and I… I…” Aurora watched as the filly suddenly placed the tool she was using to the side and sighed tiredly. “I miss her too… asshole…” There was silence. The filly stretched and took another swig of her coffee. However, Aurora watched with slight amusement as the filly suddenly leaned back and the coffee cup fell from her grip. The cup bounced on the ground and rolled away as the last bit of coffee seeped out. The filly snored loudly. Aurora watched quietly as the filly’s sleeping body suddenly twitch and she sprang back to life. Wiping her muzzle, the filly shook her head furiously. “N-no! Sleep is for the weak! I have to get this finished now or I’ll… I’ll… I…” The filly tipped forward, her head placing gently against her crossed forelegs on the table. Snoring a bit more quietly now, the android studied the filly. It appeared that she had finally found the quiet embrace of slumber. And as soon as Aurora was about to command her own systems to rest, the door to the filly’s room opened. Aurora remained stoic, pretending to act as if she had finally put her systems to sleep. A cloaked figure suddenly slithered into the room and looked around. The hood draped over the muzzle, making it hard for Aurora to figure out who was underneath it. The figure quietly walked over to the table she was at and examined the desk. The pony picked up her pedestal and twist and turned, as if examining a careful priceless piece of art. Taking note of the quick glimpse of the face, she couldn’t help but wonder why this particular pony was invading. The pony placed the pedestal back down and Aurora watched as the pony crept towards the filly’s work area. Examining the work, the pony then reached for the record table and opened a small compartment on the side of it. Extending a hoof, the pony withdrew a green crystal from the cloak and quietly placed it inside. Turning to the filly, the pony whispered something to her before adjusting the cloak’s hood and quietly trotting out of the room. With the room now quiet aside from the small hums the filly’s matter materializer was creating, Aurora frowned. ‘How odd. Perhaps I should look into this more.’ Aurora looked down at her neck and looked over to her disassembled body on a desk. ‘Of course, I would need my body to do so.’ What seemed like minutes turned to hours. And the android was beginning to register boredom. She suddenly beamed. ‘Perhaps I can finally finish that VR!’ Taking a moment to gather her data, she finally found the file that was recent in her list of “personal erotic” VRs. Aurora blushed a little. ‘Maaaaybe I should put it in a different folder.’ Wasteing no time, the android did just that and played the VR. ~~~oooOOOOooo~~~ Aurora found herself back in the spectral body. Realizing that she had appeared in a different part of the VR, she looked around to see if the ponies of interest were around. The hallway she was in looked strangely different from the one she had lead the filly down. But that didn’t account the fact that there were activities going on. She looked up to see a small banner over the hall. It read: Happy Birthday Sunny Sprinkles! The banner was decorated with foal like drawings of stick ponies and flowers. Aurora trotted down the hall, seeing that the rooms she had passed were occupied with colts and fillies of all kinds. Aurora watched as a group of foals playing tag ran down the hall towards her, laughing in utter joy at the game. She noticed that Zebra, Neighsians, Griffons and Equin were in on the game. ‘This place must have been a haven for everypony.’ Aurora thought. As the kids ran through her, ignoring her ghost like appearance, she turned to see a familiar room. One that Manic had to take cover in. She peeked inside and saw a familiar looking android. Tom was sitting next to a bed, a book in his hoof. There were a few other colts and fillies gathered around. Aurora phased through the door and walked slowly over to the festivity. “Brother Tom! What happens next!?” One of the colts raised a hoof. Tom smiled and looked back in the book. “Well, Little Miss wandered the woods, following the rock trail that was left behind by her sister. She remembered that if they were ever separated, the sister would leave a trial for the younger one to follow. And then, once she neared the forest’s edge, she heard something moving in the bushes.” The foals gasped and whispered to one another, the anticipation of the story clearly gripping them in a net of suspense. Aurora watched with a smile on her face as the android looked at the filly laying on the bed. A colorful looking filly no less. Her bright yellow coat and lemon striped mane expressed the joy she had displayed on her face. A small stuffed Ursa was being hugged by her. Her magenta eyes staring in wide anticipation for the next scene. Tom continued. “Fear and worry struck Little Miss. Her eyes darting for any possible route for escape. And then…” Tom leaned in, smirking in a teasing way as the colts and fillies leaned in with him. “As if time had slowed down just for a brief moment… out from the bushes came…” With a quick leap up, he suddenly tickled the filly in the bed “The horrifying Tickle Monster of Legend, ready to tickle her senseless!” He chuckled as the filly screamed with laughter. The colts and fillies seemed to laugh along with him. Aurora watched the exchange with amusement. Tom sat back down and continued to read: “With a quick instinct, she avoided the Tickle Monster’s many tickle feathers as she ran out of the forest and down the hill back to her home. There, she called to her sister.” Tom put on a high pitched voice but in a faked panic. “Sister! Sister! I am being chased by the Tickle Monster of Legend!” Tom then changed the pitch of his voice to an older but wiser one. “Do not fret, my dear sister. For we are protected by the charm of our grandfather. The monster cannot leave the forest, for it fears our goddesses warming embrace.” Tom switched to the younger high pitched voice. “But sister! Can it not come out at night?” he switched again. “Nay it cannot’, replied the older sister. ‘Tis a creature that dwells in the forest and only knows the forest. If it were to venture out of unknown territory, the night mother’s embrace will surely banish its’ presence.’” Tom read in his normal voice. “With the ease of her sister’s words, Little Miss happily entered her safe haven of her home. That night, with the protection and watchful eye of the nightmother, the Tickle Monster of Legend did not venture any further, but instead, went back to its lair, hoping to search for its’ next foalish victim to wonder into its grasp. Little Miss slept soundly in the embrace of her sister, the worry leaving her as the two lived happily ever after.” Tom closed the book. “The end.” The colts and fillies clapped their hooves together and cheered. Tom seemed to blink once at the clock over the doorway and stood up. “Oh no! I am about to miss Rainbow Dash’s signing!” The foals looked at the scrambling android as he quickly packed his saddle bags and tossed it on him. “Aww… do you really have to go?” The filly with the stuffed Ursa asked. Even the foals at the foot of the bed seemed sad too. Tom looked at them, a look of happiness and calm. Aurora was impressed by the android’s dedication to be a brotherly figure to them as the android spoke. “Oh, I’m not leaving just yet. Buuut…” He looked ahead and waved. “Excuse me, nurse!” Aurora looked to see a familiar android enter the room. The nurse android smiled. “I hate to be a bother, but do you think maybe my friends here can be excused to see Rainbow Dash?” The android hummed in thought. “I am not certain. Sunny Sprinkles is due for a CAT scan in about three hours and-.” Tom suddenly picked up the filly and put her on his back. The filly smiled and hugged the android. “It won’t take but an hour. I’ll be sure to have her back then.” He looked at the others. “C’mon, all. Time to go visit the most awesomest pony you have ever met!” The filly on his back hugged him. “I doubt she is as awesome as you!” she said. Tom seemed to blush a little. But taking it as a cue, the android trotted past the nurse android, who was looking at him in stunned awe. “I-I… but… wait!” the nurse called out. But the herd of colts and fillies moving down the hall ignored her and continued on. Aurora followed closely, watching quietly as Tom entertained the children as they made their way out into the lobby and down the hall to the gymnasium. Of course, a herd as big as theirs definitely caused a few heads to turn. But none seemed too bothered by it. In fact, he seemed to have gathered the interest of some of the non-patients children and followed the herd. Arriving at the gymnasium, the ponies inside were baffled when the place was suddenly filled with laughing and playing children. Tom watched, unaware of the ghostly presence of Aurora standing next to him. She watched as Tom and the filly on his back moved through the crowd. Reaching a certain table, Aurora noticed a few ponies behind it. A yellow pegasus with a pink mane and shy demeanor was sitting next to a very confident looking cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane. Aurora noticed some small bits of cybernetic enhancements. A mechanical leg and wing. Next to her was an orange Pegasus mare with a purple mane that was casually working away at something. Taking a closer look, it appeared to be a toy. The ponies looked up to see Tom trot over with children, causing smiles to spread across their faces. "Popular as usual, Tom." The cyan pegasus said with a smirk. Sunny Sprinkles beamed and stared at the Pegasus in star struck awe. "No way... it's really Rainbow Dash." The pegasus puffed her chest out proudfully and nodded. "You bet, kid! Your friendly neighborhood Rainbow Dash! In the flesh!". She then chuckled abbot and held up her mechanical hoof. "More or less." The kids suddenly gathered around the table, grabbing their parchments and holding them up to her. Rainbow Dash seemed to be a bit baffled by the crowd. But she played it with a cool smile and began signing away. The yellow pony next to her giggled. "It's amazing that you had gathered so many of the kids, Tom." She said. Tom rubbed his mane with a small blush. "Well, what can I say? I enjoy the company." Tom replied. The orange pegasus smiled and fixed the toy she was working on. "And company definitely loves you. I have to say, Time Turner really did a good job on you." Tom again felt embarrassed. "Speaking of, have you've heard from Twilight?" Tom asked. The yellow pegasus nodded. "Oh yes. In fact, once we are done here, she wants us all to head on over to the castle." She said. Tom looked over to the crowd of children that had lined up to have their casts and parchments signed by Rainbow Dash. He smiled and looked back to the pony. "Hey, Fluttershy. Is that Sanctuary of yours still up and running?" The pegasus, Fluttershy, giggled. "Oh, it should always be running. After all, it's Mother Nature expanding on it." She put a hoof to her chest in a petite manner. "All the cute little critters are having the time of their lives." Tom smiled. "So... I've been meaning to ask. Do you think...?" Tom faltered. Fluttershy cocked her head. "Is everything alright?" She asked. Tom sighed and shook his head with a smile. "I...should probably tell you all when we get to the castle." Tom blinked and looked down to see Sunny Sprinkles holding her stuffed Ursa to him. The filly fidgeted nerveously. "Erm... umm... Brother Tom. I want you to have Slappy... if that is okay?" She looked up to the android, who blinked again in confusion. "Your favorite teddy? But why?" He asked. Sunny Sprinkles fidgeted again. "W-well... I think you are super nice and always reading me bedtime stories when you can. I just want to return the favor." Tom chuckled softly before sitting on his haunches and placing a gentle touch on the bear. "You know, Slappy is really lucky to have a friend like you." He said. The filly gapped. "Really?" She asked. Tom nodded. "Oh I know so. In fact, Slappy wanted to thank you for being the best friend he could ever have. And I also want to thank you, Sunny." He gently clasped the hooves of the filly with her stuffed Ursa and moved it to her chest. "For being the best friend an android like me could have." Sunny looked at the android before squeezing the stuffed Ursa tightly. Tom rubbed his chin and then beamed. He turned to the table and pulled off a parchment. Aurora watched as the android skillfully drew himself on the parchment along with Sunny riding on top of a smiling Ursa. Finished with his design, he turned to the filly and gave it to her. "Let this be a momento of our friendship. Is that okay?" He asked. Sunny beamed and nodded happily before trotting over to her friends. Tom smiled and looked to Fluttershy, his expression suddenly turned to worry as he saw the pegasus about to cry. "Fluttershy? Are you okay!?" Tom asked. Fluttershy sniffles and wiped a tear with a smile. "I-I'm fine." She said. Tom sighed and smiled. "Twilight would be so proud. You have definitely come a long way, Tom." Aurora smiled and waited for more words to be said. However, time seemed to have froze for her. She looked around and balked when she noticed a prompt on her vision. VR ended. Aurora felt herself being dragged up into the air as the world slowly began to crumble around her. ~~~oooOOOOooo~~~ Aurora found herself back in the room of Manic. She blinked once and looked around. The filly was no longer on the seat. Instead, she was twitching one hoof in the air as she rolled over to her side on the ground. Aurora couldn't help but think back to that moment with Tom and the filly. 'That pony... seems really nice to have as a friend.' Aurora hummed in thought. 'I wonder if...' she looked at the filly and smiled again. 'Perhaps tomorrow.' Aurora took a moment to deactivate some prompts before going into sleep mode. With the room now quiet, the android remained quiet and motionless, unaware of the filly' struggling expressions as the nightmare returned to her. > Act-1 Chapter 12: Unusual Troubles > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unusual Troubles Manic awoke to the sound of something crashing from outside her room. Jolting up and scrambling over a bit of clutter on the floor, Manic took a few moments to catch her breath. Shaking away the pounding headache of a nights work, the filly groaned and groggily stood up. She looked over to Aurora, who appeared to be unmoving. Taking a quiet moment, she heard what sounded like moving and whispers. They were faint, but there. The filly grabbed a wrench in her teeth and quietly crept up to her door. Bracing herself, she opened the door and hopped out, wrench at the ready. Nothing. She looked around. Everything seemed to be where it was. However, her ears twitched at the sound of something moving to her side. As she turned to look, the door next to her room opened and out stepped the most prettiest of mares she has ever had the honor of working for. Spotlight Glitter daintily trotted out of the room and was adjusting her mane. She looked to be wearing a casual pre-war dress that was neatly primed and cleaned. Which was surprising considering that most pre-war outfits were technically beyond saving due to exposure to sun and stains.  Spotlight smiled when she saw the filly mechanic. "Hello, little mechanic~!? she cooed. Manic rubbed the back of her mane, the star struck feeling hitting harder than the coffee she had last night. Playing it cool, she leaned against the wall and spat the wrench out. "Spotlight! Did you need something?" she asked. Spotlight giggled and looked back to the room with a coy smile. "I've already gotten what I've wanted and a few more." The mare stretched almost in a cat like stance. "In any case, I've been meaning to ask you." Manic tried her best not to fan-girl. "How would you like to be the opening speaker for my show?" Manic stared gapingly. Her words stuttered. "M-m-me? Sp-speak for you? Oh, I p-possibly couldn't!" she said, shrinking back into the wall. Spotlight cocked her head. "Are you sure? I'll even mention about your work. You've already gotten Aretilla officials coming to you for work. It'll be great advertisement for both of us!" she said, clopping her hooves together. "Aaaaand, you'll even get to be the one to design my stage!" Manic was dumb founded. "D-d-design the stage? B-but I thought White already had that handled?" Spotlight hummed with a smile. "He's a little bit out of commission and hadn't had time to think about it. Mainly my fault. But I feel that if you were to design it, it'll be the best performance I could have ever dreamed of!" Manic looked at her, studying the pretty mare's intent. It didn't sound like a set up. And how can she resist one of her idols? Manic beamed and nodded. "Alright, I'll do it!" She blinked and rubbed her mane, smiling sheepishly. "Err... but do give me a bit of time. I'm almost finished with my work and fixing my brother's record table." Spotlight giggled in response. As she did, the door behind her opened and out came a disheveled White Light. He had a look that told the filly something magical had happened to him. Spotlight brushed her tail under his chin and smirked slyly at him.  "Hey babe. Already rested?" White Light seemed to follow the movement of her tail as it brushed under him. White Light only nodded, his smitten look telling her otherwise. Spotlight leaned against him. "Then perhaps you would be so kind as to do a little bit of shopping with me?" Manic watched, seeing Spotlight manipulate her brother's disadvantaged state. It worked. "Perfect! There is this cute dress that I think would look great with the crystal Manic gave me. Would you kindly be a dear?" White Light shivered happily. "S-sure thing." He sighed. Spotlight pecked his cheek and trotted past Manic.   "I'll stop by later and check up on the design. I can't wait to see what you have come up with little mechanic~!" And with that, the mare trotted down the steps. Hearing the door to the house slide open and close, Manic turned to the still smitten pony. She frowned.   "I take it you didn't really do shopping yesterday?" Manic asked.  "Isn't she incredible?" White said with a sigh of happiness. He then suddenly snapped out of his smitten state and looked at the filly. "Oh what? No, I did." He said, sliding a hoof through his disheveled mane. Despite his efforts in trying to fix it, the mane remained a total mess. Manic arched a skeptical brow.  "Oh really? Then how come the fridge is still short on supply?" she asked. White furrowed his brows.  "Huh, guess we drank all that ale than I had anticipated." He said. Manic shook her head with a disapproving sigh.  "Look, just do what you want. But if it gets in the way of my work, I'll make sure that everything in your room is set to go off if you make even a squeak." The filly entered into her room and threw on her saddle bags. White peered in.  "Where are you going? Out on another ruin exploration?" Manic shook her head.  "Picking up the slack my brother clearly can't do unless told by Spotlight." White frowned. "If I wanted a Harsh Whinny, I would definitely turn to you." Manic ignored him and looked over to the sleeping android head. Tapping Aurora, the android found her systems rebooting. When they did, she spurred awake and blinked once. "Morning." She said, registering a yawn. Manic arched a brow. "Yawning? You're not even a whole robot." Aurora puffed her cheek out. "My model and make is meant to resemble pony behavior." She pouted. Manic groaned and rubbed her muzzle.  "Alright, alright!" Manic grabbed the android's head and clipped it to her utility belt. "Where are we going?" Aurora asked as the filly trotted out of her room. "Shopping." She said. "But first, I need to check on those two." White furrowed his brows again. "Manic." He said. Manic flicked an ear, signaling that she was listening but didn't want to turn and look at him. "You have ponies contained again, don't you?" Manic now turned and gave him her best innocent smile. "Moi? You know I don't do that anymore." Aurora wasn't sure if her systems were glitched or not, but she could have sworn a halo had suddenly appeared above the filly. White sighed.   "Just... don't get too carried away." Aurora watched as the exchange suddenly turned a grim dark mood. Manic's expression was darkened by her mane.  "Just mind your own business." she said coldly. White frowned. "You know I'm just trying to-." Manic looked over her shoulder, her face branding anger and annoyance. "Just shut up!" Manic suddenly bolted into a gallop down the stairs. "Manic! Manic!!" White called out. Aurora bounced against the filly's side as they made their way out the back and the filly slowed her movement. "Asshole." She whispered under her breath. Heading towards the garage, she descended the steps and entering the room, the lights turned on. What she wasn't expecting, however, was the two ponies suddenly on their hind hooves. One of the hind hooves was crossed over the other and one foreleg was leveled evenly with their stomach and the other was high over their head. It was bizzare to see the pegasus in the stance. The zebra, however, seemed natural for the filly. "What the hell are you two doing?" she asked. As she did, the two seemed to read each other and change stance in a slow meditated manner. "We are looking upon our minds. Focusing on our chakra and channeling it throughout our body." Zelori said, her eyes still closed in calm thought. "Basically. Meditating." Candlejack summed it up, his expression calm. Manic snorted in annoyance. "No kidding. How are you even able to stand on your hind hooves?" she asked. Aurora chimed in. "They've practiced Zebra Shaolin. It requires a lot of balance, endurance and focus. It isn't a traditional martial art as it was created during a time of war." Zelori seemed to nod to this. "My ancestors practiced the art along with their heritage. While not the preferred method for zebra, it has proven to be one that we had accepted in our sirkel van kennis." Manic rubbed her chin. "Sirkel van kennis? What's this zebra mumbo jumbo? I've never heard of a sirkel van kennis." Zelori and Candlejack changed stances. "Gaia is mother earth. We live off of her and respect her in her return for the gifts she gives us. Through Gaia, we are given knowledge that we accept into a circle. One that we pass down to generations. It is tradition from my homeland." Manic smirked. "If I didn't know better, I would have thought you were a part of the clans. But clearly, using the style means you are a black sheep." Zelori now opened her eyes and looked at the filly all the while changing stances. "I do not belong to a clan. Any clans that my ancestors had derived from are with Gaia or separated beyond the point of isolation. I would not be surprised if zebra heritage was scattered throughout Equestria." Manic yawned. "More than you would think." She said as she stretched. Zelori wasn't showing it, but her curiosity on the other clans definitely has been bugging her. "Other clans... does that mean that there are more zebra living above ground? I wonder what they practice now?" Disbanding the thought, Zelori changed stances. Manic sighed and tapped on her hoof panel. The same slender arm came down and materialized breakfast. Hot cakes with butter and syrup. The smell was tantalizing that Candlejack licked his lips and sat back down on his haunches. Zelori remained in her stance. "Well, I'll be out for a bit. I'll be back later to check up on you two. Manic said. "Just a moment." Zelori spoke. Manic looked at the zebra mare as she exhaled and sat down on her haunches. "You've said that as long as we prove we aren't a threat that you would let us go. I was wondering if you had anything in mind that can show you?" Manic rubbed her chin. She hadn't really thought about it. Being busy with other things made it difficult to keep track of what and what not to do. Of course, she remembers saying to the two that unless proven otherwise, they will remain a threat. An idea had struck her. "As a matter of fact, I do." She turned to the terminal and pressed a few buttons. Candlejack raised his head from stuffing his face full of hot cakes that he didn't notice the arm coming down from above him. The two suddenly had a collar collapsed around their necks and the side wall dispensed a jump suite. "You two are going to prove yourselves that you aren't a threat. That collar around your neck is an arcanotech shock collar. It is connected to read your actions and thoughts. If you do anything that has hostile intent, the magic inside it will dispense electricity that will practically fry your insides. I call it, the Dog Collar. As long as you remain passive and doing your job, then you shouldn't worry about your insides being electrocuted." Candlejack brushed the collar and frowned. "So... what exactly do you mean 'no hostile intent'?" he asked. Manic frowned. "It should be pretty obvious, but to dumb it down for the idiot, just don't do anything stupid and you will live." Candlejack smirked, as if he had come to a brilliant idea while sliding into the jumpsuit.  "Ah, okay. So don't be a Brilliant Mane. Easy." He said. Zelori rolled her eyes at this while the filly arched a brow, mouthing the name "Brilliant Mane?" under her breath. Candlejack then looked at Aurora, who was clearly lost in thought and was remaining silent. "Hey, Aurora." The android blinked out of her thoughts and glanced his way. "When you get the chance, think you can do a bit of snooping around town?" Aurora looked at him stoically. "The best I can do is scan with my optics. I'm incapable, at the moment, of free movement." Candlejack rubbed his chin in thought. "Hey Maniac." "Manic." The filly retorted. "Do you think maybe you can get our android's body fixed and all? With her to help with the work, we can probably show you that we are more than capable of no hostile intent." Manic frowned. "Yehuh, good luck pal. I don't trust the android as much as I trust your poor judgement. I'm just bringing her along for some insight on a few things." The filly then rubbed her chin in thought. "Hmm... on second thought... maybe it would be a good idea to have another maid to keep the place clean." Aurora blinked in confusion. "Maid?" she asked. Manic smiled.  "Well, since you 'accidentally' shot my previous one. I figure you can take his place and clean up the house. No harm, no foul. I already got rid of the luradiation and already looked through all your -ahem- 'personal entertainment' files and programs." Aurora turned a touch of pink. "This is great! Not only do you get to pay up for the damages, I get to have an actual servant android! Today must be a great day" Candlejack arched a brow. "I take it something good happened this morning?" he asked. He could recall back when he and Zelori would wake up in New Equestria and there will be some days where something good would come their way and it would always be a good day all the way through. Lately, that hasn't been the case for them. But a pony can dream, can't he? Manic played it cool and dismissed the comment with a wave of her hoof. "Pssh, please. All my days are pretty good." She said. Aurora replied to the comment with a skeptical brow. The filly ignored it and trotted over to the exit. As she did, the containment barrier hummed in a descent and the two walked out of it. Candlejack stretched almost like a cat with his wings outstretched. "Now then. You are going to do a little backyard clean up. I've been meaning to get Clockwork to do it, but I've just been so busy that I hadn't ordered him to do it." Leading the two out of the garage and into the open backyard with clutter everywhere, the two had to shield their eyes as the bright sun had just finished climbing over the horizon. Manic turned to them. "So, what I want you two to do is basically organize the clutter. I want one pile where junk is and the other with anything valuable that I can sell. And remember," she motioned to the broken fence that marked the perimeter of the yard. "You leave or do anything hostile, those collars will ensure you don't walk out of here at all. Ciao!" Manic then turned and trotted out of the side gate and closed it, tossing a smug look over to them before disappearing around the corner. The two siblings exchanged glances and looked at the massive piles of junk and clutter covering most of the yard. "How in the hell did they manage this?" Candlejack asked. ~~~****~~~ Manic trotted down a hill. Aurora was surprised to see how far out the filly was. Practically, they were the little lone house up on the hill. The rest of the filly's town laid before her as a suburb. Aurora tried her best to get most out of the view. The houses were neatly lined side by side, following the road. However, she noticed that the houses were transformed into something similar to that out of a 1950's movie. How odd that a place living in today could resemble how ponies back then lived. What surprised her even more was the signs and billboards that advertised shops, clubs and other places that sold strange pieces and parts that Aurora had never seen before. Classy with a bit of alien technology. Nothing wrong with that, she guessed. But it still piqued her curiosity. The suburb continued to trail the road as they went further in. And as they did, the houses seemed to be expanded into workshops, complexes and motels. But what even struck her as curious was one shop that seemed to be designed around Neighponese culture. A little antique shop that displayed samurai and shogun Equin armor. Hoof brushed paintings with their strange symbols and letterings. And most importantly, the store next to it appeared to be an arcade with similar Neighponese style. A banner over the store read: The New Particle Mare Game on sale now for 400blts. Now for home consoles and terminals. In fact, Aurora was even more surprised to see that this was the first stop Manic arrived at. Entering the arcade, the light blue and neon pink glows of the signs and machines chimed colorfully in her ears. Manic headed down the ramp, past a life size statue of a confident looking android mare in blue skin tight attire. Her foreleg extended to show a cannon aimed ahead and a small robo canine companion at her hooves. The filly turned and passed the area where Aurora could see to be the arcade area. She saw young adolescents tapping away at the buttons on the many machines that lined the walls. There even appeared to be a competitive scene further in as she heard the cheering shouts and jeers of ponies. Manic, however, ignored the festivities and went further in. Reaching a doorway that had a plaque over head, Aurora saw similar Neighponese writing. By her guess, it must have been a library. Shelves lined in rows after rows of books and comics. The few ponies that were in here were glancing over the selections, picking them out and flipping through them before putting them back and going on to the next. There was one corner where a meek little mare in belts and buckles sat in a corner, reading a comic that looked like it was in the form of a book. "What is this place?" Aurora asked. Manic beamed. "Paradise!" she exclaimed. "The best thing to ever happen in our lives." Aurora was confused by the sudden enthusiasm. The filly took a few moments and browsed the selection of books. Finding one she thought interesting, she pulled it down and began reading it. Aurora noticed her reading the story in reverse. "Aren't you supposed to be reading left to right?" she asked. Manic laughed a little loudly than she should have. "Oh nonono. My dear uncultured android, these type of 'books' don't work that way." The filly pulled one of them and began glancing through it. Aurora could make out pictures with dialogue bubbles. Based on the amount of dialogue she saw, it seemed to be about a young mare who was given a strange outfit that came to life with her blood and transformed her into a badass with a pair of blades that were strangely similar to everyday utensils. While the logic behind it was farfetched, the android couldn't help but feel that the idea wasn't as bad as it sounded. The filly, however, snorted in disgust and placed it back. "The novel was better than the anime anyway." She said. Aurora blinked. "What's an anime?" she asked. Manic unclipped the android and held her up to see the mass collection of the books. "You really need to get out more." She said. Aurora puffed her cheek slightly. "I would if I had my body. And I do get out." Manic smirked. "Because exploring ruins for erotic novels is a healthy hobby." Aurora turned a cherry red in response. "I-I don't only go for those! I find other things!" she protested. Manic raised a skeptical brow. "Look, I'm not judging you on your kink. In fact, I think they have an aisle where they have 'the good stuff' with them." Aurora looked at the filly worriedly. "The good stuff?" she said slowly, uncertain about the intention. The filly trotted over to another aisle. One that was labeled for eighteen and up. Manic browsed the shelves and beamed. "Oh, if you think 50 Shades of Metal was a classic. Then you have got to read the Clocktower Society." She said. She pulled out a book and already, Aurora was losing her white sleek color in return for red at just the cover. It showed a mare laying on a red velvet heart shaped bed on her belly, wearing black leather and buckles as she blushed happily with an ecstasy stare at the stallion in a colorful mask that was bent over her and clasping the mare's neck. The title above the two intimate ponies read: Sun Priest and the Dainty Flower Manic smirked slyly as the reaction from the android made her pull out a couple more. The book was the same title, had the same two ponies, but as the volumes were pulled out, she saw that the roster of the dom's slaves grew. A griffon, zebra, unicorn, pegasus, thestral. Manic looked around the area and placed the android down in a corner. She opened the first volume and placed it down on the floor in front of the android. "W-what is going on!? What are you doing?!" she stated in protest. Manic waved to her. "I have to go talk with the clerk about a new volume of The Courier's Tears." She sighed. "A severely underrated manga that should definitely have more spotlight." The filly suddenly had a tear escape her and she sniffed. "Oh, my little Tagami. You will find your sister! You just have to be strong... be strong!" Aurora sputtered as the filly walked away sniffling. "W-wait! Don't just leave me here! What am I... supposed... to do...?" She slowly faltered and looked at the magazine in front of her. She bit her lip. The shame was just too much. And not only does a filly know about her interests, she wasn't sure if she should just play it off and turn around to face the corner. 'But... that mare seemed like she was having a lot of fun...' Aurora bit her lip even more, the thought struggling on her mind. She looked left. Then right. Giving into the curiosity, the android scooted closer and turned the page with her muzzle. She was transfixed and shocked as her color turned from red to a dark crimson. The first scene already was "The good stuff". And it got better as she went on. ~~~****~~~ Candlejack wiped a sweat from his brow. Wasting no time in getting started to prove to a filly, the siblings made quick work of one of the piles. Being in the junkyard for almost their entire lives, the keen eyes of both picked out valuable metal and scrap compared to junk and garbage. Candlejack stood on top of a pile, peering over to see the endless vast distance of sand. "Is above ground really all barren?" he asked to his sister, who was down below at a different pile and tugging away at a bit of metal. Breaking the piece free, the zebra tossed it to the side and continued digging in. Thankfully, the jumpsuits had protection for their flacks against the partially smoldering heated metal. "We have only seen ruins that looked unappealing to the denizens." Zelori said as she picked up a statuette of a lavender unicorn pony and examined it. "I'm more curious as to what information we can gather before moving on." Candlejack sat down, using his tail to best protect his rear end from the heated metal. "Kind of hard to do that when you are being held at the neck by a filly." He brushed the collar. "You hardly see these types of things in New Equestria." This was true. While most of the underground runs on solarium and lunarium constructs, these were made entirely out of luridium with a hint of unicorn arcane magic. They weren't strangers to these types of magical devices either. The collars reminded them all too much of a certain expedition that quickly got out of hoof. A bunker that seemed to be catered to only unicorns made it extremely difficult to get anywhere! And since they only had one pony who was a unicorn on their team, they had only managed to make it in as far as the lobby before half the team had set off rune traps and strange archaic floating gem like creatures they had dubbed "Fireflies" due to them shooting out streams of arcane fire. Candlejack had to be treated with most of their personal gels and stims. Zelori was the lucky one out of the bunch. To have made it out with hardly any scratches proved just how reliable of a partner in crime she was. It almost made Candlejack have a twinge of envy. He couldn't say the same for the rest of the team. Once again, they were the only two to have made it out alive. The unicorn apparently had been caught in a surge of magic that it caused him to suddenly vanish into thin air. With no way back into the bunker with any idea of magic and unicorns being in scarce supply underground, the whole expedition was considered “abandoned” and left to rot. The thought brought back a sudden hatred to the pegasus all of a sudden. The very same pony that ordered the expedition in the first place. Zelori noticed the look and sighed. "Jack. Is there something bothering you about Brilliant Mane entirely?” she asked. The pegasus looked to her and blinked in confusion, realizing that the zebra had already tore down the pile and organized it with unusual neatness. He rubbed the back of his mane. "Just the usual shtick of seething hatred for the guy. Nothing much of importance." He said, causally playing with a small piece of metal. Zelori furrowed her brows and motioned to the pile. "Then if it is nothing important, we have a filly to impress." Candlejack sighed and nodded. The thought of being leashed by a filly was just downright confusing as it was humiliating. 'Oh hey, you must be new in town. What's that? A strangely sadistic filly put death collars on you and now you can't go anywhere unless you prove otherwise? How sad. Enjoy your stay!' Candlejack nonchalantly kicked away what he assumed was just a piece of sheet metal. However, he wasn't expecting for the whole pile to suddenly give way under him. With a surprised yelp and a loud crash, Zelori immediately turned around, brandishing what appeared to be thin but long pipe in the form of a staff. Candlejack shook away the little selves and looked to see himself tangled in a bit of metal fencing. Zelori trotted over to him, the pipe resting on her shoulder as she stared in awe. "By Gaia's grace..." she muttered. Candlejack arched a brow and looked over to where she was gazing. He couldn't quite make heads or tails of what they were looking at. It was a small metal cage. It was bent and rustic beyond repair. But that wasn’t what appeared to be the shocking part to her. Candlejack noticed a broken and splintered table. But it was clear as to what was etched into the wood. "What exactly is so scary about a symbol?" Candlejack asked her. Zelori wavered a bit before casually helping Candlejack out of the entanglement. "My ancestors believe in Gaia and all its' gifts that she gives us. In return, we respect it." Candlejack nodded. "Riiight? You said this already?" Zelori returned the nod. "My ancestors practice the respect for Gaia. And back during a time of when everything was equal, there were times where some things we had to touch only if we were left with no other choice. A forbidden voodoo art that were thought long since unpracticed during the time of the three nations combining." Candlejack frowned and rolled his hooves casually. "Alright? And?" Zelori frowned and put her hooves on his shoulders. "Jack, this is something I will only tell you once. If I speak anymore of this, I will be damned forever by Gaia herself." Candlejack furrowed his brows. He knew Zelori was always uptight when it came to ancient traditions by her ancestors. But suddenly freaking out about a strange symbol did have him partially intrigued. Candlejack put a reassuring hoof on his sister's. "You made it this far. Don't let it stop you now." He smirked. Zelori bit her lip and struggled with a thought. Coming to a conclusion, she finally spoke. "This form of voodoo is one of dark magic. Evil incantations and forbidden dances to wake the spirits of the dead. A practice that involved living beings to stir the deceased. In more modern terms, it is called necromancy." Candlejack rubbed his chin with his free hoof, the other being still restrained by a fence. "Necromancy?" Zelori nodded. "It is a term that even the most knowledgeable and creditable voodoos, witchdoctors and unicorns explore. Outlawed entirely, the use of such a thing is death itself." Zelori turned to the table. "Using this magic means you are willing to give up your soul in exchange for playing with death and his entourage. However, failing to take the necessary precaution of protection of your own soul, the art has dire consequences for the one performing it." She looked solemnly and made a motion of a zebra prayer Candlejack had seen her do many a times before an expedition. The pegasus then had a thought. "Do you think maybe some time ago, this filly practiced it?" he asked. Zelori gave a worried look. "A filly is not capable of doing such. Unless they are touched by an object encased in dark magic or have received the kiss of death in a premonition, a child using such magic is an instantaneous loss of their soul. Death will just collect it and put it on his shelf for other unfortunate souls to play with." Candlejack frowned. "Perhaps we need to gather information on our captor first before anything else. If this filly has somehow managed to use necromancy, and if you say it is as bad as it sounds, then perhaps this filly is entirely the maniac I made her out to be." Zelori sighed and suddenly looked exhausted. "I wonder if that android has been faring better." She said. ~~~****~~~ Manic returned from the counter with a few bought ramune and noticed that the android's head in the corner was suddenly piled up next to with mangas. Seeing the vast amount instead of the ones she picked out, she was curious as to how the android managed it. "How long have you've been reading those?" she asked, a little hint of worry on her expression. "It has only been ten minutes and already I have memorized at least four hundred thousand, six hundred and seventy five pages worth of this 'manga' as you refer to the term." Aurora responded, her eyes spastically darting through the page before a quick motion of her muzzle turned said page. Manic arched a brow. Reading quick glimpses of the titles, the android had apparently already finished the BDSM manga and few more eroge before the titles began drifting into romance and action mangas. The filly was mildly impressed with the android's taste in "love and war" esque stories. Which lead to her next question. "How in the hell did you pull all these books? I only picked out a few and already they are buried under a pile of smut and lemons." Aurora continued to scan the pages, turning it with a flick of her muzzle. "The assistance of those around me proved to be fruitful. In exchange, I provided them with some intel on their favorite pop idols and topics of interest in their lives." Manic blinked once. "So... you just counseled bribed young minds for free info in exchange for more leather and straps?" Aurora finished the book she was on and closed it, using her teeth to grab the book and move it aside before moving on to the next one. "In more methodical terms. Yes." Manic sighed. "Alright, come on. I think you damaged enough minds already." She said as she picked up the android. The android suddenly registered shock and surprise. "W-wait! Can I just read the last part? I need to find out what happens to Charlie and his ties to the dragon botherhood! The princess is in dire need of his help and-!" Manic clipped the android to her utility belt. "No. We are going to do the rest of the shopping." She said with a stern glare. As the filly turned from the piled mess, the android bit her lip, hastily making a desperate attempt at a bribe. When a thought came to mind, she stated: "P-perhaps I can tell you more info about Spotlight! Did you know that she is currently looking for ponies to aid her in traveling? She wants to do a tour and she is willing to find somepony to design her stages! She is even dating a DJ who is going to be hosting a rave party in a few days!" Manic snorted. "Oh really? Tell me. What else does my brother's mare-friend have to offer that she didn't already offer me?" Aurora balked. "W-wait... the DJ is your brother!!?" The android had several ponies hissing at her. They were still technically in a library. Manic trotted casually out of the store and adjusted her saddle bags, pulling out a strangely formed glass bottle with a blue round tip. Peeling off the wrap with her teeth and spitting to the side, she took a white cap and poked out the center piece with her tongue. Swishing her mouth around, she spat out the outer cap and went to apply pressure to the top. A loud pop and a small hiss of escaping carbonation reached her ears and she took a quick swig. "More importantly, did you know that they have been dating for over two years now? They have done plenty of duo performances in that time. Oh, aaand they were voted in 'Wasteland's Time' as the most likely to succeed couple." Aurora watched as the "paradise" became smaller and smaller. Registering a sad expression, the android quickly fell silent and watched the passing ponies and shops. She was amazed that every house here had been modified in someway. And not only did she notice the extensive housing. She noticed that a majority of this place’s denizens were no more in their late teens and early twenties. This irked Aurora for some reason. "Where is everypony's parents?" she asked. Manic hummed in thought as she took another quick swig. "That is a question we get asked often. Frankly, we could care less." Aurora eyed the filly. Manic sighed. "Alright, miss curious-about-death-ruins. If you really want to know why a majority of us are kids, then I should at least shop and talk." Aurora waited for the filly. During the time she had explained, they had reached five stores and walked away with groceries and personal wants. The filly told her that long ago, their society started as a group of late night gatherings. Most of the ponies derived from the outskirts of Detrot, and in some cases from Detrot themselves, that would gather together. The previous gathering practiced going over the Goddesse's Rites and other incremental "drink the mysterious liquid that may or may not be poison." Being in a cult back then was indeed a popular subject with the minors. Eventually, the cult society developed into a small community, teens, foals, couples and in some cases, adults; would gather together and preform chants and religious statements to the late princesses centuries back. "If you ever wondered into town and noticed most ponies bringing up the goddesses, that is usually the norm. The cult leader was obsessed with the powers of the goddesses and their beliefs in a peaceful equestrian world that he deemed it a necessity to bring in the young and naive into the circle and speak the voices of the sun and moon goddesses." Manic said as she took another swig. "So... you are a community of religious cultists?" Aurora asked. "Were. I was just a foal born into this goddess damned world when the cult was disbanded. Now the community they had built became a safe haven for the adolescent and immature. Of course, even though most ponies know about our 'society', we are still friendly enough to do businesses." She snorted in disgust. "But of course, ponies with dark histories are always going to be looked down upon. The only reason we haven't died out is because of traveling samaritans and traders." Aurora hummed in thought. "But... even that can’t be enough to sustain this place. I mean, I understand running on power with gems and luridium. But how are you able to keep it all going?” Manic smirked slightly. "Easy. When you are the town's only prodigy mechanic, business gets interesting." She slumped a little. "And not to mention tiring as well." Aurora balked. "Wait... you have been keeping this place up and running!?" she asked. Manic shook her head. "I've only contributed a small amount. Aretilla are the ones that were kind enough to provide protection and enough supply for us. So long as I and a few other bright minds here provide certain entertainment and necessities to Aretilla." She smirked. "Consider us a small form of Akihabara. In Equin, of course." Aurora's pique interest nipped at her again. 'A society of post-cultists is now a small pinnacle of Aretilla's entertainment? But wait..." Aurora glanced up at the filly. "What about the cult? If they truly disbanded, surely there must be at least some ponies that still follow it." Aurora noticed her comment striking a strange reaction out of the filly. But as quickly as it appeared, the reaction was gone and replaced with a small smile. "Who says we still don't? Sure, the cult may be disbanded, but that's what the radio show run by Record Scratch is for. He doesn't call us 'Apostles' for nothing." Manic took another swig, emptying the last of the sugar carbon soda and tossed it aside, leaving the bottle to spend a few hundred years to melt into the sand. She continued: "Equestria's religion was mainly princesses that raised the sun and moon. And of course, they were also the demographic point of politics and such. Now the Aretilla is pretty much a metropolis dedicated to the old ways, making sure that ponies don't forget their origins." Aurora was baffled. This community of adolescents was just a small fraction of keeping Equestria alive. And to think that her father belonged to the expedition that basically made it a habitable place. Seeing as the filly appeared to be just window shopping at this point, the android finally spoke up about her problem. "Err... I hope this doesn't come off as rude. But I was wondering..." she started. Manic flicked an ear to tell her that she was listening while her gaze wandered to the nearby shops. "Do you think... maybe you can get rid of a few programs I have on me?" Manic blinked once. "Programs?" she asked. Aurora tried her best to nod. "Well... one in particular." She turned a bright pink. "There is this program that I've had ever since I can remember. It has this annoying tendency to activate in... 'circumstances' that alter my way of speaking and actions." Manic rubbed her chin. Her look told the android she knew what she was talking about. "That prototype breeding program, right?" Aurora said nothing but bowed her head in shame. Manic chuckled. "Well, I have to make sure it won't bug you out. But yeah, I can." Aurora registered a hopeful look. "Under one condition." The look changed to worry. "You let me install a few other programs that could prove beneficial to both parties. Aurora cocked a brow. "Beneficial?" The filly nodded. "You want that basic program gone, no biggie. In return, there are a few programs I want to install that will allow me to have access to a few... let's say 'opportunities' that most ponies don't get the luxury for." Aurora bit her lip. The thought struggling on her mind processor. 'On one hoof, I let a filly prod into my own systems and install some possible damaging programs that could potentially bug me out for the rest of my life. On the other, I can avoid all those possible damages but have to deal with that damn program.' Aurora sighed. 'It's not like I have lived with it for as long as I can remember. But it gets tiring eventually. I want to see the world for my own choices.' The filly waited for the android to finish her struggling thoughts before finally speaking. "Alright. I'll let you install some programs. But please... make sure that it doesn't have any possible damaging side effects." Manic shrugged. "I'm no programmer. But I know someone who you can talk too to relieve your worries. I can guarantee that you will be fine with these programs. After all... I do need another maid." Aurora saw a mischievous smile spread widely across the filly's face. 'Oh boy...' she thought. ~~~****~~~ Candlejack was partially amused by his sister. The more they dug through piles, the more artifacts that were onced used in necromancy they found. It got to the point where Zelori left the rest of the work to Candlejack while she sat in a crisscross, held her hooves onto her knees and began chanting strange words in zebra. Of course, Candlejack paid no mind as this usually happens when Zelori couldn't handle the stress and takes a moment to gather her thoughts. But having to be the only one to move the stuff used for necromancy into the junk pile, he couldn't help but feel that she may have been taking it a little too overboard. "You know, from the looks of it, these things haven't been used in years. I doubt whatever 'dark energy' used before is around anymore. You said it yourself. Messing with these things need extra precaution." Candlejack waited for Zelori to say something. But the constant muttering of the chant increased in volume as if she was purposefully trying to drown out any thoughts on dark magic. 'Geez, in a world where technology is run by magic, it shouldn't be an issue.' The stallion thought. While scientific facts state about the common properties of the three main crystal gems that use to power and balance out every technological advancement, the solarium and lunarium materials were bestowed upon them through the power of Celestia and Luna while luridium was a crystal discovered to have malleable properties, including magic. Candlejack sighed and went to break down the table, placing his forelegs on it and rearing back before crushing down on it. With a loud satisfying wooden crack, the table crumbled. However, when Candlejack stepped back to admire his work, he couldn't help but twitch his ears at the sounds of an escaping whisper. Zelori shivered and opened her eyes. "Jack. Are you finished with the table?" she asked. Candlejack nodded. "More or less. It would have helped if somepony actually gave a hoof here." "I will not come into contact with Samedi himself." Candlejack felt a small twinge of annoyance reach him. "Then at least help me break it down! You hate this shit, so why don't you just destroy it?" he asked. Zelori sighed and rubbed her temples. "You cannot destroy dark magic. Only disperse it. My mother told me that items blessed with Samedi's touch cannot be so easily erased." Candlejack's annoyance grew a little. With a slight twist of the splintered wood, the table broke more, creating more whispers reaching his ears. "Perhaps you should just go back to your chanting. I'll take care of the rest by myself." He growled. Zelori did just that. Turning back around, she continued on with her chanting. 'Dammit. I hate it when she does this... huh, what's this?' Candlejack spotted a strange book locked under metal and debris. Shifting them aside, he pulled it out and examined it. A dark leather book. No graphic cover art or anything made it stand out. No, that isn't what made it stand out. It was the fact that in high temperatures, the book hadn't even the slightest hint of a burn mark. Candlejack brushed the cover, feeling the strange texture of the leather. He flipped open the book and turned to no page in particular. He rubbed his mane, trying to make sense of the strange notes and scribbles that were immediately dominate than the book's actual writing. "More blood required for the ritual... Have to find a way to get buffalo hide... Skin a griffon of his beak and talons?" Candlejack turned a page and saw one page covered in entire scribbles. I cannot seem to convince the griffon traveler to sell me some of his hide that he had smuggled. It is entirely necessary if I am to bring her back. Tonight, I am going to take what I can and continue the ritual. Long may be the black nights of my days, I will not rest until I am embraced in her light again. Candlejack moved down the page: Just a quick mental note. DO NOT try and convince the zebra antique dealer. That damned stripe nearly kicked my head in. I guess I am going to have to take what I can tonight. And this time, I will not do it alone. Candlejack's ears suddenly perked up. Despite reading the passages, he couldn't help but feel he was being watched. Zebra instinct kicked in almost immediately and he turned to look over his shoulder. What he wasn't expecting was to see a unicorn in a neon green and black electric styled mane looking at him from behind the fence. He looked over to see Zelori still chanting. The fence opened and the unicorn made his way over to him. "Err... pardon me for interrupting. But I've been hearing this strange chanting back here and was wondering where it was coming from?" Candlejack studied the unicorn. He appeared to be no more than a couple years younger than him. But in response to the question, Candlejack looked over to his sister. The unicorn followed and arched a brow. "Is everything okay with her? "Just a bit of PTSD ancestral nightmares. Who are you?" Candlejack stated in a matter-of-factly tone. The unicorn smiled. "Oh, I'm sorry. The names White Light. I live in this house. I take it your my sister's contained 'pets'." He said with a small hoof wiggle. Candlejack arched a brow. "That maniac is your sister?" he asked. White nodded. "Yeah. Sorry if she's putting you through this. She has a tough time trusting ponies much." White rubbed his chin and studied Candlejack. "You're a pegasus, aren't you?" Candlejack opened on wing and smirked. White seemed a little surprised. "So, you really are from Sanctuary." "Okay, what is it with everypony sounding like I'm a lost bird?" Candlejack asked, now turning to face the stallion. White rubbed his mane and gave a sheepish smile. "S-sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. It's just that... pegasi don't usually go this far out." Candlejack snorted. "At least you make it sound like you have met some. Why is that?" White looked the stallion over again before turning to Zelori. Her chanting had stopped and she had one eye opened and staring at the unicorn. White smiled. "You guys must have been working hard out here. Come inside. I'll get you both something to drink, then we can talk." Candlejack looked over to Zelori, who returned the look back. He then smiled. "Well, it's good to see somepony with some decency. Names Candlejack. That mageiachaliphobiac is Zelori." White chuckled. "Well, let me be the first to say welcome to our quiet little town. It's not much, but we do get by." He then blinked once and raised a hoof at the collars. A small sly smile crossed his face. "Ah, she got you with the old 'exploding collar' bluff huh? She means well, I can promise you that." With a quick motion of his hoof, the collar seemed to come undone and drop to the floor. Candlejack couldn't help but seem a little disappointed. He was certain these were indeed archaic in design. White went over and undid Zelori's collar. "Come on. I'll get lunch started." The two siblings couldn't help but ease their tension a little. While a surprise to see somepony trusting them without any idea what they are capable of, they were glad they can at least finally sit down and catch their breath. Now free of their binds, they have just got to get Aurora back together and they can be off on their merry way. Sliding the book under his wing, Candlejack and Zelori trotted after the unicorn, unaware of a pair of eyes watching them from inside one of the neatly stacked piles. > Act-1 Chapter13: A Problem for Two > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Problem for Two When Manic arrived back home, saddlebag full of groceries and a stoic android head, she immediately balked and dropped the one bag she was holding in her teeth to the ground. She couldn't believe her eyes. Sitting on the partially burnt sofa and peeling leather chairs on the sides sat White, Candlejack and Zelori. The three were occupied with a friendly discussion and a stomach full of these noodles that Candlejack couldn't help but take an immediate liking too. Slurping some up and smacking his lips, Candlejack beamed.   "Wow, so all you had to do was boil them in water, add the flavor packets and then just stir? These things are incredible!" White chuckled. "Yeah, it's not much. But it does get us by." He then noticed his sister, making a small squeak from her throat in shock as to what she was seeing. "Oh hey, sis. I hope you don't mind, but I kind of used the last of our ramen reserves." Manic shook her head furiously and her angry expression made them look at her. "What. The. HELL!!!" She tossed aside the saddlebags and groceries and marched up to her brother, biting down on his ear and dragging him away and out of sight. Hissing in pain, White rubbed his ear when the filly let go and turned on him. "Do you have any idea what you have done!?" White frowned.   "They seem pretty harmless to me." He retorted. Manic waved her hoof to dismiss the comment. "They are a high risk threat to our community. For goddesses sakes they know zebra fighting styles!! What's to say they don't turn around and use it on us!?" White sighed. "You know, it's not polite to hold ponies against their wills. Dangerous or not." Manic felt her mind jump and her eye twitch at the response. "Ha-bu... What kind of logic is that!!?" The siblings remained quiet in the living room as the filly continued on. Aurora quietly studying the confrontation. "I picked up luradiation on them! They are probably mutants for all I know!!" White looked sternly at the filly. "They told me that you held them in a containment box and cured them of any possible health risks. Do you think they could possibly harm an entire community of adolescents?" The unicorn DJ began pacing. "Let me remind you that both of us bring in money to support one another. In return for that money, we are given protection. The A.S.S. may not show themselves, but they are constantly monitoring our community. Just last week we had a couple of no good bandits trying to steal from us and they swooped in as if from nowhere and dealt with them before anypony could know what was going on." Manic shook her head. "Buck the A.S.S.! They are just lazy mercs with nothing better to do than prowl at night and confiscate things they have no business with." "The... 'business' is them taking any relics of our previous history away from us." Manic got low, as if ready to pounce on him like a timberwolf. "You and I both know damn well what the cult has done. It's the reason they disbanded." He stopped himself and sighed in frustration. "Look, we will talk about this later. Right now, we have guests and it's rude to discuss personal matters in front of them." Manic huffed and spat to the side. "No way! They are going back into that containment grid! I will not let them kill anyone or steal anything!" On the other side, the siblings exchanged glances and nodded to one another. "Oi, Maniac." Candlejack called.   "It's MANIC!!!" The filly shouted back.   "Whatever. Can you just sit down and enjoy this... what do you call it... ramen?" Zelori nodded. Manic gave a frustrated groan and turned to her brother.   "Fine then. I am going to arm myself in my room. While you are getting your throat slit, I'll be ready to take them out!" White shook his head.   "You are taking this way too out of hoof." He said. But the filly was already cantering furiously up to the stairs. "Manic!! Come on, sis!" The door to the filly's room slid shut and there was silence. White gave a tired sigh before sitting back down and rubbed his ear. "I apologize for my little sister. Like I said, she has trouble trusting ponies." Zelori took a sip from her tea and hummed in thought. "Perhaps. But the filly isn't wrong either." She said. White took a small slurp of his ramen. "Oh?" Candlejack folded a wing to himself.   "Well... where should we start? From where we come from, we belong to a group known as P.U.N.K." White rubbed his chin. "Punk?" he asked. Zelori nodded. "A title that was bestowed upon for our... 'achievements'." She said, making the word "achievements" sound all too disgusting. Candlejack continued. "Long story short, a pony I hate gave us the title and now we are stuck with it. And despite us leaving the place, it seems that we continue the 'achievements' in a way that we seem to have no other option of doing." White hummed. "So... what you're saying is that you've had your fair share of blood spilling." He said. The two nodded. "We are not pleased by it. But in some situations, we had no choice." Candlejack chuckled a bit. "You know that android head your sis is carrying around? Well, she basically hired us to help her take out a group of bandits that attacked her town. In fact, I think it was just the other day too." White remained quiet as he listened. However, the moment Candlejack brought up bandits, his look went from interest to shock. "So... you're bounty hunters?" Candlejack shook his head. "Nope. Just ponies trying to move on in life." The pegasus looked up to where the filly had disappeared too. "At least, I had hoped. But what can ya' do when a filly with a brain prodding device drills into your head in order to comatose you and give you a full clean bill of health?" White balked. "She drilled into your heads!?" he exclaimed. Candlejack rubbed his chin. "Well, it was technically like a pinch of a needle. But yeah, we had our brains poked." White was stunned at how casually the stallion explained it. As if he acted this was everyday ordeals. Zelori spoke after a quick sip of her tea. "However, while she doesn't trust ponies. She did flush our systems of health risks. For that, I am grateful for." Candlejack sniffed. "Says you. I miss the comforting smell of garbage on the fur. It's like swimming in a cloud." The pegasus blinked. "Err... well the metaphor would make sense if we knew what a cloud looked like." White cocked a brow. "Wait. How can you not know what a cloud is? A pegasus should be very familiar with them. Especially if they came from Sanctuary." Candlejack frowned. "Okay, what is with all this 'Sanctuary' crap? And why do you make it sound like it's heaven on earth?" White blinked once. "You really don't know?" Candlejack felt his annoyance creep back. "Just cut the crap and tell me already. I hate being beaten around the bush." White studied the stallion. Realizing the pegasus wasn't joking, he sighed. "Well, if you must know, 'Sanctuary' is basically what it says in the name. An Elysium where the pegasi live in quiet peace." White leaned forward, and propped his hooves under his chin. "No pony really knows where Sanctuary really stays. It just seems to move on its' own at times. But every now and then, most ponies see pegasi wandering away from the place, stating that they just wanted to find something new in their lives." The unicorn made a motion in the air. "Many ponies had tried their damndest to get into the place, just to see what it had to offer. But the city in the sky sits on top of cloud ballistas and furious turbulence to throw off even the most skillful flyers. And if those don't get you, the Sanctuary's own guards called 'Valkyries' will descend and shoot you out of the air on sight." Candlejack frowned. "That doesn't sound very sanctuary to me." He said. White shook his head. "But that's the reason! The pegasi that had left the place state that it is a place where technology, magic and flora coincide! Flora! Do you know what that is!?" Zelori took another quick sip before speaking. "It's a term we use in respect to Gaia. The very thing mother earth blooms." White nodded. "Green pastures. Orchard trees. Everything that are practically scarce here are in sheer numbers up there! It's like centuries of stock piling done right!" White pointed to Candlejack's wings. "It's why the pegasi race gets so much hate down here when they leave! Hell, a team of Pseudos tried to bypass their defense systems, but even that didn't work! It's like they have more advancement in technology and are leaving us in the dirt! Somepony who lived through the defense system stated that their systems only attack non-pure bred pegasi.' Candlejack furrowed his brows. 'So that's why they called me "pure wing". Yeesh, and I thought ETG get the brunt end of derogatory terms." Candlejack noticed the unicorn stallion staring at him. "What?" White furrowed his brows. "So... are you a pure bred?" Candlejack rubbed the back of his mane. "I'm not sure? I mean, I didn't really ask the folks if I was." While Candlejack slurped up more of the noodles, he couldn't help but catch the slight curiosity in Zelori's eyes. He ignored it and continued. "I mean, I think I am one. But I don't really give two shits about who is and who isn't." Zelori spoke. "That explains why you keep getting your flank handed too by androids and arcane technology." "S' not like you don't have the same thing happen to you!" Zelori smirked. "At least I conserve my healing resources." "We get a lot of them just by exploring the bunkers!" "But you quickly go through them because you are so gullible enough to walk into a trap." "That's what guns are for!" "Guns mean nothing if you don't have instinct." "Whatever. I can at least hold my own." Zelori shook her head. "Probably. But unless you find some way to have a bigger bag to stock pile those stims, it won't matter if you are instinctive or not." Candlejack sighed. "You're difficult to talk to sometimes." "You know I love you." White suddenly laughed. The two looked at him with confusion. Taking a moment to collect himself, the unicorn wiped a tear from his eye. "S-sorry. It's just that you two seem like you have a strong bond in order to argue like that." He sighed. "If only I can say the same with my sister." Zelori finished the rest of her tea and set the cup down. "Do please explain. I am curious about the young mind." White sighed. "Well... where should I start?" He took a moment to think. Opening his eyes out of thought, he finally spoke. "Ma petite lumiere." Candlejack arched a brow. "Come again?" White looked at him. "It means my little light. It's a term that me and my sis heard often from our mother." He smiled. "Everytime we went to bed or had nightmares that awoke us, she would hold us to her chest and say it over and over again. Of course, being foals, we didn't think what it really meant. Our mother sometimes stayed at home while dad worked the mechanic store." He looked over and his magic levitated a picture of four ponies. The familiar desert background behind them, the four stood in front of what looked to be a poorly built workshop. "Our dad was a genius when it came to auto chariots and other mechanical things. It's no surprise that that passed onto Manic. As for me... well my mother had a fascination with music. She kept a big collection of vinyl records dating back all the way when Lady Octavia began going gold with her classical albums. She even collected Dj-Pon3's own albums and even the co-op duos that Octavia and Pon3 collaborated in. And not only that, she collected the old time classicals too. Like Beethoofen, Arpeggio, Amodeus, the works." The stallion smiled, brushing a hoof over a gathering of dust on the face of a smiling and very pretty looking unicorn mare.   Her snow white coat and long wavy black mane sported under and over a pre-war Rarity dress. Her sapphire eyes showed kindness that Candlejack didn't even think was possible. Next to her was a purple colored unicorn stallion with a chrome colored mane. He had a leg wrapped around the mare and was giving the camera a tired smile. At the foot of their hooves was a young unicorn colt with a wavy neon black and green stripped mane, smiling confidently while his foreleg was wrapped around a tiny looking filly. Candlejack assumes that the starry eyed filly is Manic.   It looked so surreal. To see this family smiling and looking as if they were ready to take on the world. It must have been nice to have this small moment. Candlejack felt a twinge of envy come back to him. Ignoring the feeling as quickly as it had come, Candlejack rubbed his chin. "You had a wavy mane back then?" White chuckled. "Like I said. Mom was into the classics." His smile suddenly shot downward. "And before we knew it, she passed away." Zelori gave the colt a small reassuring smile. "It must have been hard for you all." She said. White nodded. "Dad was devastated. After her passing, he spent most of his nights in his workshop. I take it the grief was still very much on his mind and was trying to find a way to get it off of him." He looked up to where Manic had disappeared too. "Manic was no more than four when she passed. Our dad had told her that she had gone to a different place. And for a while, Manic always thought that she would be back one day." Candlejack noticed the stallion's look turn grim. "And then... about four years ago... something terrible happened." The two siblings exchanged glances and then back to the stallion. "Dad went through a pretty dark time after mom died. Countless nights awake in his workshop. Massive alcohol consumption." He sniffed disgustedly. "Maybe at some point, a little bit of Psi-Co here and there. But in any case, dad was a total utter wreck. Business began slowing down and soon it got to the point where he had to close up shop and left it to be judged by Equestria's weather." The stallion leaned forward, his eyes closed in thought. "With the main source of income no longer flowing, we soon began growing into a state of poor spending. Me and Manic hated seeing dad in the state he was in. So, we took it upon ourselves to try our best to get the bolts back into our hooves. I took up throwing late night raves and gigs and Manic worked countless hours over a bench and created many things I didn't even think dad would have thought of."   The stallion opened his eyes, a serious look and tone replaced the calm exterior. "And then, when we thought that we were getting back into peaceful living. Something... snapped in dad." Zelori furrowed her brows. Candlejack knew what she was thinking. They had seen what was in the backyard. They might now have a good enough answer to her worries. "One day, dad brought home a book and a few other trinkets. We didn't think twice about it due to us being busy with our current situations. However, during the nights, we began to hear these strange chants. Manic one night looked out her window and screamed. I had rushed in and I saw her curling under her bed. I asked her what was wrong and she exclaimed 'Momma was just outside my window!'." The two siblings listened intently. "I thought she was just having a nightmare. And I went to check the window to reassure her, I noticed something glowing in the small garage shack. A vile and sickly looking green light. After calming Manic and making sure she was safe and sound asleep, I decided to investigate. Making sure my dad had walked out of the shack and locked it, I plucked the key when he wasn't looking and entered into the place." His look darkened and he suddenly began to shiver. Hate displayed across his face now. "What I saw was something I couldn't comprehend at first. But I knew damn well what was going on. Seeing mom in the window wasn't just a nightmare afterall." "As time went, I began watching every night from my window, seeing dad enter in and out with more trinkets and a weird glow around him made me want to do something to stop this madness. But... I was scared to see what would happen if I did." White leaned forward, suddenly looking exhausted. "More nights later, I noticed that Manic wasn't doing one of her daily all-nighter works. Checking in on her, I noticed she was nowhere to be seen. But seeing out the window and the glowing green hue told me something terrible had happened." "I rushed outside and before I could get any closer, I heard a scream." His eyes suddenly teared as he kept his silent anger in check. "My heart jumped and I rushed forward, bucking open the door and seeing to my utter horror of my sister." The stallion grit his teeth. "The bastard caged her and had drew blood from her. From the looks of it, he had drawn so much from her that she was as pale as the souls floating around dad. I can remember clearly him turning around and laughing. A laugh of sheer insanity. He stated over and over again 'Look son! Look! I brought her back! We can finally be a family again!'." The stallion closed his eyes again. There was a long silence. The two siblings remained quiet. They had heard enough to know what was going on. Zelori leaned forward. "Your father succumbed to Samedi's art. A price he paid dearly with his life." White sighed. "That he did. I made sure of it myself." He held up his hooves. "And when I did, everything just went silent. Almost as if the souls of the damned retreated back into the book. With my dad no longer alive at my hooves, I dragged Manic out of the place and with the help of Clockwork, we did our best to make sure she was taken care of." White rubbed his temples. "I should have acted a little more sooner... If I had known he would have gone this far, I probably would have saved him." Zelori reached a hoof out and put it on his shoulder. The stallion looked at her, seeing her kind eyes reassure him. "Your mother's soul is at rest. I can promise you this. As for your father." She adverted her eyes. "I can only say that I hope he has come to terms with his sin and isn't a part of death's entourage." Candlejack suddenly perked up and reached behind him. "Wait, you mentioned a book. Could it be this one?" He held it up and the stallion immediately stood up. "Where did you get that!?" he stated quickly. Candlejack motioned to the backyard. "Found it where you found us. It's weird. Almost as if the sun and heat hadn't scorched it to a crisp." The stallion suddenly batted away the book out of his hoof. It clattered to the side and the stallion was suddenly on top of Candlejack, his hooves locked under the collar of his jumpsuit. "How much did you read??" he asked. Candlejack shrugged. "Not sure. It was just a bunch of scribbles." He said. The stallion shook him. "How... much!!?" Candlejack looked at the stallion, his eyes calm and collected. "Only one. But I only read the side notes." White tossed him back and hissed. "One too many!! You shouldn't have even picked it up in the first place!!" The unicorn looked over to the book. "I could have sworn that the sun would burn it alive... how is it still looking brand new!?" Zelori's turn to speak. "Perhaps a small bit of dark magic encases the book. A ward, in a sense." She rubbed her chin as she studied the book with suspicious eyes. "I'm not sure how to disperse it. I've only been told the steps. Perhaps we should consult an expert." Candlejack nickered. "And yet you were ranting on about this shit minutes ago." Zelori snapped at him. "Jack, this is serious! If this place is cursed due to a fool who thought he can play death, then we not only have to worry about this household. But the entire community!" Candlejack sighed and stood up, stretching his wings. "You know, you make it sound way worse than it should. But if it would get you to stop chanting, then I guess I'm all for looking for an expert." He looked at White. "Any ideas who might be?" White thought for a moment. He then beamed. "The antiques dealer! He may know exactly what to do!" Zelori nodded and plucked a cane from the wall. The vintage wood hooked the book and she skillfully held it up. White emptied the contents of one of the grocery bags and Zelori plopped the book inside it. With the threat of dark magic contained in a brown plastic bag, the three quickly trotted out of the house and down the hill. ~~~****~~~   Aurora was amazed at how quickly the young filly worked. She had placed her head back on the pedestal and went over to the bench with her body. Taking a seat and plucking a few tools from the side box, she went straight to work. However, with the confrontation of her brother, she could tell that the filly was really just trying to vent off fumes. Once the filly was done with a few tweaks, she then opened her hoof panel and went straight to work on the programs. Aurora felt a twinge of worry come back to her. 'Maybe I shouldn't have gone through with this.' she thought as she watched the filly work. Aurora then stiffened when she noticed a prompt pop up. It was bizarre to see something being worked around inside her without her control. There were too many prompts coming and going that the android found herself having trouble keeping up. "There. Done." Manic said suddenly with a huff. Aurora looked over to the filly as she closed her hoof panel and sighed tiredly, propping her head on her hooves. Is... everything okay?" Aurora asked. Manic took a moment, taking a small deep breath before peeking out from her hoof and looking over to the android head. "None of your business." she growled. Aurora furrowed her brows worriedly at the filly. She suddenly had a thought. Remembering the android at the complex, she bit her lip before speaking. "Ummm... if it is not too much of a bother... I would like to know... what inspires you to work so hard on everything?" Manic was quiet, her face buried in her hooves. Thinking that the filly had decided not to answer her, Aurora made a sigh and was about to go back to looking ahead when the filly muttered. "Come again?" Manic sat up and turned to face her in her stool. Her expression solemn. "Can you... not tell anypony?" she asked. Aurora thought back to Tom again and with a smile, she nodded. Manic opened her mouth to speak, but stopped herself and slumped down tiredly in her stool. "Well... for the longest time, I thought I was just helping in keeping this place around." Aurora cocked her head slightly. "The town or the home?" she asked. "Both." Manic slid out of the stool and moved over to her. "I mean, yeah I create things for Aretilla. My work has been sold almost everywhere and the income has been great. But my brother..." she sighed. "I love him. I do. But sometimes, he is a total idiot. I mean, freeing two dangerous ponies that could kill us at anytime and he thinks it's rude to keep them contained? It's not like we live in a place where bandits and pirates are a common thing." Aurora hummed quietly. "Perhaps your brother has a much better reason?" she asked. Manic picked up the android's head and sighed. "It's mainly momma." She said. Aurora watched as the filly went from tired to exhausted in a matter of seconds. "She was the one that introduced him to the whole DJ thing. She was a pretty big music collector back in her 'vagabond' days. She had a studio museum where she once lived. She thought that by exposing ponies to the classics that we could remember what we were all about back then." Aurora looked worriedly at the filly. It's no surprise that almost all ponies and creatures living now had forgotten what Equestria was back in the days. And being her creation date as far back as before the Big Bang phenomena and not remember any of it other than the date she was created, it was also another reason why she developed a pique curiosity in exploring ruins.   The thought of adventure and discovery is very exciting and she enjoyed the thrill of finding something new but in reality, pre-war designed. Of course, it wasn't without its' dangers. She had fended off and hidden from residents in most of the ruins she had explored. But in the end, it was well worth the effort. Aurora gave a reassuring look at the tired filly. "Your mother sounded very adventurous and brave to have to go through all the dangers to find vinyl records." She said. Manic turned her head. "I guess..." Manic trotted over to the android's upright siting body. Placing the head at the top and twisting, Manic opened the panel, checking to make sure the connection was working. With a pleasant bleep of her panel, she closed it and looked at her. "All finished. I managed to get rid of some programs that served no purpose and replaced them with the ones I deemed beneficial. So it may be a little weird to get used too.” Aurora held up her foreleg and tested to see if everything was working properly.   With a quiet noise, her hoof claws sprang up and she moved them in a wave like pattern before clenching them and going to the next one. She then accessed her HUD. She immediately saw a difference in her optics. Everything seemed crisp and clearer. Her mini map was actually displaying her cursor and a blue dot representing the filly. 'Wow... she is incredible. But... I have to know...' Manic watched the android scan through her own systems, seeing the worried look displayed "If you are wondering about the breeding program, I hate to say it but I can't really remove it." Aurora looked at the filly, a look of defeat displayed. "It's part of your base programming. It is also a prototype build and I don't want to touch that part. Unless you want some damages to your system and possible bugs. But... there was one thing I did find that I found strange." Aurora knew what was coming next. The only other strange thing she knew was that command. "I found an encrypted command. It seems to have been installed about a few days prior to your creation." She rubbed her chin. "And from how careful it was installed inside you, it seemed like it was also being hidden. Whoever installed it did it long ago and Troffleton may have missed it." Aurora sighed. She was bummed that the filly couldn't remove the program. But the command was just as much a mystery to her. Another reason for exploring ruins. What luck would it be if she actually found the place she was created from and the command's point of origin? She was pulled out of a scrap yard by Troffleton, that she could remember. But everything prior to her creation was a blank. Aurora sighed. "Thanks anyway..." Manic arched a brow. "I'm more curious as to why you want it gone other than the reasons you gave me." Aurora looked at the filly and held up her hoof. "For as long as I can remember, the program kept scanning the males that I come across and kept shoving possible 'mates'. The only one that seemed to have a one hundred percent capability is Candlejack." She suddenly found herself turning a touch of red and quickly followed up. "B-but I mean, I just met the pony. I don't really know who he is and what he has done other than that he and Zelori were... escaping something." Manic arched a brow. "Escaping something? What from?" Aurora shook her head. "I'm not sure. And I don't want to be rude and ask. But they can't hide those looks." She looked at Manic. "I picked up brain wave patterns being in unstable levels from both of them. Yet they act like reasonable ponies. It's almost like they were running from something." She put a hoof to her chin in thought. "But I can't pick up why and what from." Manic's eyes went wide a little before bowing her head and rubbing her foreleg. "Running, huh? I think I can understand that." Aurora watched the filly move back to another bench and curled a hoof around a small portrait. It showed two grown ponies, a young colt and a bundle wrapped filly. "It's kind of funny, if that's the case. My brother is over it. But me?" she gave a raspy chuckle. "I still have nightmares about it." Aurora slid off the workbench and over to the filly. Seeing the happy family caught in the still frame, Aurora put a reassuring hoof on the filly's shoulder. Taking a second glance, she noticed that one of the grown pony's face was torn off. "Is that your father?" she asked. Manic winced before placing it back and sighing. "Yes and no..." Aurora watched the filly struggle with internal thoughts before facing her. "I... the nightmares I have are about him." She pushed the small portrait away and looked at it as she continued. "Believe it or not, I wasn't all... bitchy. I was happy. My father owned a mechanic shop. Momma played with music. And me and my brother were happily playing with the small toys they made for us. It was a simple time. One that seemed like... I can never have again." She shivered and hugged herself. "When momma passed away, my dad suddenly snapped and fell into a state of depression. With no way of paying the bills, me and my brother decided to use our talents to use and bring back the income. It seemed innocent at first, but we were so busy with work that we didn't realize the... 'things' he was bringing home." Aurora saw the filly's brainwaves suddenly become unstable. Her heart rate increasing slightly. The filly continued. "One night, I was taking a break from my work when I began hearing strange whispers. I figured it was just the insomnia playing with me and ignored it. But then the whispers escalated and drew me away from my bed. Then..." Aurora gave a worried look as the filly's breathing began to pick up. "Then before I knew it, some of my things... started moving on their own. I panicked and was backing away when I heard my... my name being called out." The filly shivered more and the breathing continued. Aurora saw the unstable levels increasing more. Aurora wrapped a hoof around the filly. "Breath, Manic. Take a moment and breath. Don't rush yourself." Manic did as she was told, steadying her breathing and Aurora saw the levels decrease a bit. "I... I turned around and then I saw... momma..." Aurora rubbed the filly's back as the levels suddenly jumped again. She put her hooves to her head and girt her teeth. "I... I-I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There was momma... outside my window... calling to me. But she looked... different. She... s-she...." The filly squeaked and Aurora had a prompt pop up.   Warning. Individual's psyche level reaching critical. Advise caution. Ignoring it, Aurora suddenly pulled the filly closer to her, stroking her mane with care. That seemed to work just a little bit. But the filly was now wrapped around the android's chassis and shivering uncontrollably. "I didn't know what to do... I couldn't say anything... I mean... I thought I heard a scream..." She gripped the android tighter. "I didn't realize it was me screaming until my brother rushed in and started comforting me." Manic shivered more, but the tender caresses of her mane and the comforting hug by the android, Manic seemed to ease a little more. The filly remained quiet for a time until she managed to catch her breath and pull away from Aurora. "The last thing I remember about that time was me blacking out. When I came too I... wasn't sure what I was doing anymore." The filly hugged herself again, her eyes looking away and finding the ground a lot more interesting. "My work schedule was slowed and I couldn't get stuff done in time. I suffered backlashes from my clients and my brother was too busy with his music playing that I eventually got tired of it all." "And that is how you are today?" Aurora asked. The filly sighed. "Maybe... I don't know... I mean, the last thing I can recall is that I was waking up inside a metal cage with my dad ranting about something." She rubbed her temple. "I... don't remember anything else after that. But those nightmares I keep having..." she shivered. "My dad was a prick..." Aurora rubbed her chin slightly in thought. "Perhaps maybe a walk around the town can help? I've found that doing so eases the minds of ponies." Manic looked at the android tiredly. "Nah. Walks for me only make me contemplate more about these things." More silence. Aurora then stood up and smiled.   "Perhaps I will make dinner tonight." She said. Manic blinked in confusion. "What?" Aurora trotted over to the door. "You left the groceries by the front door. I'll pack them away and see what I can get started." Manic opened her mouth to say something, but the android was already walking out of the room and down the stairs. Manic arched a brow. 'This android... is very weird.' A genuine small smile escaped her before she stood up and turned to a clutter workbench. Taking a brief moment to look at the portrait on the other bench, she rubbed her mane and took a seat on the stool. She then rubbed her chin in thought. An idea came to her and replaced the small smile into a mischievous grin. ~~~****~~~ Candlejack and Zelori were impressed as they traveled through the suburbs. To see the houses renovated into small shops and homes was something they didn't think could be possible up here. Candlejack even felt that twinge of envy come back to him. 'If only New Equestria was like this...' Digressing the thought, he looked back ahead as he and Zelori followed the unicorn DJ down the road and up to a two storied home that had been renovated with sheet metal and tarps. "Here we are. The antiques dealer." White said. They trotted up to a door and the unicorn stopped and turned, looking a tad bit sheepish. "Errr... just a head ups. I didn't want to say anything, but... me and the antiques dealer have a... bad history. So, don't be too surprised if he out right refuses our plea." Candlejack and Zelori exchanged glances before nodding to him. "No worries, we'll come up with something to get him to help." Candlejack said with a smile. White noticed Zelori catch a small suspicious glance from her that was directed to her brother. But as quickly as it came, it vanished. With that being said, White turned and opened the door. As they entered, Candlejack and Zelori wrinkled their noses at the smell of old relics and probably something that had died somewhere in the store. The store, being a little bit cramped for its own good, was still something to marvel at.   The first thing that caught Candlejack's eyes was a display mannequin that was donning a strange looking set of armor. Immediately breaking from the two to go explore, he got a closer look at the plaque:   Armor of the Shogun. Armor worn during the war of the three nations of Neighpon. This armor represented leadership, bravery and the many opponents that have fallen victim to its glorious and intimidating host.   Candlejack rubbed his chin with a small smirk. A little further ahead, White and Zelori reached a counter and the zebra mare tapped a bell. There was no response. Zelori looked at the display cases behind the counter. Small trinkets, accessories and pre-war oddities that stood out if it were brought out into the world of today. But of course, most of these might not even be the real things, but replicas of what was once long lost in the old world.   White studied two wooden masks hanging over head. "No matter how many times I've came to this place, it always creeped me out." Zelori followed the gaze of the stallion and noticed the masks. She then smiled. "Ahh... traditional Zebra homeland greetings." She said. White cocked a brow. "Greeting?" he asked. Zelori nodded and motioned towards the masks. "From what I have been told and what I have studied, that mask speaks 'hello'. And the other one 'welcome'." White rubbed his chin in thought. "So, I take it you are from the Zebra lands then?" Zelori hummed in thought. "It is a pleasant thought indeed. One that I find myself having trouble escaping. However, I do not really come from there." She picked up a small ragdoll of a very poorly made pony and examined it. "My ancestors were, however. My mother and father told me before I set out on my own that the Zebra lands was something as much a miracle as the Manifest Destiny. However, its once beautiful lands now remain a constant reminder of a great war that partook in the country." White balked. "You don't mean..." "The Last Migration." A voice said, startling the two. They saw an old zebra buck step out from behind one of the display cases. Zelori narrowed her eyes, seeing the many scars that ran from the zebra's face to his chest and body. One eye glazed over and an abnormal flesh wound on his muzzle revealed a small row of teeth that were yellowed and crooked. The sight was scary to behold if they were probably foals. But Zelori had faced her fair share of "scary" in the many bunkers she and Candlejack had to partake in. White gave a small sheepish smile. "Err... Mr. Yaba! A pleasant umm... surprise." White cleared his throat. "You uh... seem no worse for wear." The old zebra buck shambled his way over to them, narrowing his eyes at the stallion who shrunk back at the surprisingly tall zebra. "I thought I told you that if I see you or your family's faces, I will bring the A.S.S. into this." White held up his hooves. "I know, I know! I'm not here for trouble. I was just showing around a couple of uhh... tourists!" He said as he motioned to Zelori. "You see, she heard about your store and the owner behind it and was wondering what uhh... experience you had during the second expedition." Zelori glanced sideways at the stallion. The zebra buck snorted. "I doubt one of the blacksheep from the clans decided to hunt me down for my tales." The zebra studied her. "Hmmm, but you aren't really from the clans. Nor are you really from the homelands." The buck leaned forward and sniffed. His nose wrinkling in mock surprise. "A recent sun bath too. I doubt this little filly has seen anything beyond the walls of Aretilla." Zelori frowned, taking that as an insult more than an ignorant assumption. "You are right." She said coldly. "I am not from the clans or from the homelands. But my ancestors are from the homelands." The buck eyed her challengingly. "I do not come from Aretilla. And I have taken the steps for survival." The buck snorted again. "Bah, what do you know? You were probably living under a rock for all I know!" White was a little surprised by this. "Huh... and I thought zebra knew everything." Zelori sighed. "Only if they are not ignorant of the ways of our ancestors. Wisdom is one thing. Reading the stars and predicting true outcomes of the future? A tall tale." The buck nodded. "The fool who thought we are sages of the future was probably high on Illusion Herbs." White frowned. "Well, that's a little disappointing." Zelori put down the ragdoll. "It is unwise to assume something like that. You'd best rethink your options." White shrunk back a bit. "O-okay, I get it. Ix nay on the stripe-aye." The buck walked around the counter and propped himself behind it. "Speaking of. What are you really here for?" the buck frowned. "And I know it isn't about the expeditions." "Hey Zelori, check this out!" a voice said. The three looked and the buck was in utter shock and horror. There stood a pony, wearing the armor of the shogun and dancing around in it and laughing as he looked at himself in the mirror. "This armor is pretty sick! I almost feel like I can take on the world with this thing!" Zelori knew her brother all too well. Too well, in fact, that the look the antique owner was making made her sigh and step aside. 'You are on your own on this one.' She thought as she moved White to the side. "You..." the buck rasped. Candlejack adjusted the helm on his head before striking a pose and grinning uncontrollably. "Look great in this? Yeah, you are right. Buuuut it could do with a bit of polishing. How much do you think it sells for?" The zebra buck was suddenly looming over the pegasus. Candlejack blinked once and turned, flinching at the sheer height of the creature before him. However, he couldn't help but had a small flash of an image of an android of similar proportions pegging him with a strange gun in Heaven's workshop. "What are you doing!?!" Yaba bellowed. Candlejack shrunk a little.   "Erm... just taking in the sights and view." He grinned weakly. He didn't think a pony this big would actually exist. And he thought Strong Hoof was bigger than anypony else. 'Geez, he even looks like he went through a grinder. Strong Hoof has luck on his side I guess.' Old prison brawler aside, Candlejack took off the helm and casually put it on the dresser. However, Yaba stood up on two legs, increasing the height and making Candlejack feel even more smaller than he should. With one big curling of a foreleg around the stallion, the zebra held him up and began shaking him. "You dare touch something you have no power over!?! You ignorant @#$% of a @&#$%!!!" the zebra's bellowing stripped him of the armor and it clattered to the ground. Candlejack was stunned. Such words he has never heard of. And it only increased as the zebra continued. "You @%$#& are always coming in here and strutting your @%#&$ around, ignorant of years of @#$%#@& hard work and risks!!! @$#%& like you need to burn in the fires of Gaia's wrath and @#%& mares to feel like you are just the biggest ass@#$%# in the whole of Equestria!!!" Candlejack's ears were ringing and his disheveled appearance and mane was something of an unpleasant feeling. And not only that, with every new word Candlejack heard, the grip on the zebra tightened until it was hard to breath. Candlejack struggled to free his hooves. 'Have to... get out... before... death...' he thought. He could have sworn he heard something crack somewhere on his body. Finally freeing a hoof, he placed a hoof tip on the joint of the buck and with a few slight twists, the zebra suddenly yelped in the middle of his ever increasing swears, letting go of the stallion and causing more swears to take its place. Candlejack stumbled as he landed and unfurled his wings out, ready to use the speed to get out of danger. Unfortunately, his wing tipped over a vase and it shattered against the ground. Yaba's eyes widened and his face turned an immediate color of red, his yellowed teeth grinding against one another so loudly that Candlejack had to drop his ears to his head to drown out as much as possible. Not too far from the conflict, White and Zelori watched. White leaned in and whispered.   "Shouldn't you probably help him?" he asked, a look of bewilderment displayed. Zelori found looking at a piece of china to be more interesting "There is one thing you should know about my brother. He will never learn his lesson unless in conflict." She knew this out of experience with the pony. She saw it mainly when she was teaching him the zebra arts. While she had worried that it would affect him negatively, she found that it was proven fruitful and the colt would just brush it off as if it was nothing. "And besides, at least the owner is taking it out on someone else and not you." White wasn't sure how to respond to this. Candlejack balked and ducked as the buck tried to grab him again. Crawling out from under the hulking zebra, he quickly bolted over to a display case and hid behind it. "Uhh, Zelori. A little help, please?" he said as the zebra turned and scrapped a threating hoof on the floor. Zelori sighed. "Jack. Please explain to the zebra why we are here." Candlejack balked again. "What!? The guy is trying to kill me!!" he retorted as he shifted his position as the zebra moved towards him.  "Perhaps. But it was your fault for provoking this reaction. So now, it is up to you to fix it." Candlejack slumped a little. 'Right. Problems. Fix it myself. Why is it always me though?' Because you are a sad pony with nothing better to do than provoke others. 'Thanks moral compass.' Candlejack retreated from his defense to another display case. More colorful swears escaped the zebra as the anger in his eyes remained on the stallion. "Ummm.... Listen, Mister..." "Yaba." White finished. "Umm... perhaps we could talk this over?" Candlejack retreated again, using a display mannequin to block the oncoming anger. "Umm... if that is okay with you? I mean, you seem like a pretty decent guy." Candlejack forced a weak smile. The buck kept swearing, as if his entire vocabulary had been replaced. Candlejack looked around, desperate to find a way to stop the buck. His eyes fell on the brown bag next to White. An image of Zelori freaking out about the symbol came back to him and he smirked. Candlejack shoved the mannequin at the buck, causing him to catch it as he dove for the bag. White and Zelori moved aside as Candlejack reached in and the buck charged. Diving after the pegasus, Yaba extended his hooves, ready to kill. Candlejack felt the cold hard leather. Pulling it out, he held up the book. "The power of Samedi compels you!!" He shouted. Albeit, it was something he didn't think of himself to ever say, but it did cause a reaction out of the zebra. In fact, a strange one indeed. Candlejack had closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable. When nothing happened, he peeked out with one eye and noticed the buck in mid pounce and hover there in shock. Landing on his hooves, the buck growled. "That book... where did you get it...?" he asked coldly. Candlejack stood up, shaking the book lightly. "That's what we want to know." He said, the sweat forming on his brow. Mr. Yaba looked at the book and then over to White. The unicorn gave him a sheepish grin. "I err... have been meaning to return it after the incident." He said. Mr. Yaba studied the three. He then sighed and snatched the book from Candlejack, making the stallion flinch and back away. But Mr. Yaba examined the book. "And after all these years, not a single scratch. Necromancy is powerful indeed." He looked at White. "Your father was a fool to steal this from me. I hope his soul pays the ultimate price for playing with death." White bowed his head shamefully and kicked his hoof. "I-I know... and I should have done something... but he was my dad... what was I supposed to do?" he asked. Mr. Yaba went behind the counter, placing the book in front of him. "Prevent it from ever happening. I do not care if you had to hurt your father for it. All I know now is that this monstrosity has been returned to its' rightful place." His look turned grim. "And it appears that the book had been accepted of blood. Your... sister's, if I am not mistaking." White balked. His shock quickly turning to anger. "How do you..." Mr. Yaba looked at the stallion. "Your assumption on zebra being gypsies is as farfetched as what I am about to say. We may not predict future outcomes, but our wisdom tells us possible choices. And the possible choices after your mother died was either you or your sister." White took a moment to grasp what he was saying. Candlejack and Zelori exchanged glances as the stallion came to a shocking conclusion in his mind. "You... knew he was going to use it on Manic?" he rasped. Mr. Yaba looked sternly at the pony. "You knew where your father was getting his trinkets. Yet, you didn't bother to ask me." White shook his head slowly. 'B-but... you were..." Mr. Yaba shook his head. "I may have been angry with you destroying my priceless antiques with your music. But after seeing the book gone from my wares and seeing the pony who made off with it, I could only assume the choices he made. And seeing as you were out of the house that fateful day, I could only know the next choice." White grit his teeth and banged on the table, causing Candlejack to duck behind Zelori out of fear of the zebra suddenly rampaging through the store. But when nothing happened and the looks of intent glares at one another proved otherwise, Candlejack eased a little. "You bastard... You knew!!" White shouted. "Process of elimination. Something my people are good at." Mr. Yaba sighed. "Your family is cursed and there is nothing I can do for you." White slumped his head. "So... you are just going to let us suffer then? Let my little sister suffer the torture of having those nightmares? Of seeing mom that night?" He got low and his voice spit poison. "All because I didn't come to you, you are just going to let my sister suffer that fate? She's been secluding herself to her room ever since. I hardly ever get the time to have a proper dinner with her! She spends all day and night working over projects with only thirty minutes of sleep a day!" Mr. Yaba dismissed with a wave of a hoof. "Then your father shouldn't have played with death. Now get out of my sight. And take the damn pseudo with you." He motioned to Candlejack. "If I ever catch you or your sister within eyesight of this store, I will get the A.S.S. to resolve the matter." White swiped his hoof over the table, knocking over the book and having it clatter to the ground. "*Visser, vieux baiser!" White shouted. Mr. Yaba arched an unamused brow at the stallion. "My sister has suffered long enough and I need answers now!! Or so help me, the pegasus wearing your armor and breaking a vase will not be the only thing causing more of your flesh to peel off." Candlejack couldn't help but smile at this. An idea had come to him. "You know, White. You are right. What about a pegasus that can... I don't know... do something el- whoops!" Candlejack purposefully shot out a wing and knocked over another mannequin with a different set of armor in place. A loud metal clatter caused the buck to twitch his eye. "Oh clumsy me. That must have been priceless. Oh well. I guess we aren't welcomed anymore. Let's just- whoa!" Candlejack again purposefully let himself trip over the mannequin and onto a display case, knocking it over and causing a domino effect on a few other antiques. "Stop this!! What are you doing!?!" the buck roared. Candlejack smirked and picked himself up off the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry. How much did that cost? I mean, if it is priceless, it shouldn't be worth anything right? So no harm no foul?" The zebra buck stood up and pointed. "Don't you even..." Candlejack did. Catching something that seemed high on a pedestal, an old pot with strange slithering serpents for handles, sung harmoniously to him. Trotting over, Candlejack reached out a hoof. "Wow, so pretty... Since it is priceless, I can go ahead and touch it, yeah?" As he did, Candlejack cheekily tapped the pot, making it tip. The zebra buck roared again. "Alright, enough!!! What is it that you want!? I'll help you!! Just stop breaking everything you touch!!" Candlejack gave an approving nod and looked to the stunned stallion. Zelori, however, was giving a disapproving shake of her head. 'Oh well, two beats one as they say.' He thought. Backing away from the pot, Candlejack motioned. "Well then, you have his full attention now." White blinked once before turning to the buck. "Mr. Yaba, please... I need answers. If not for me or my family, then maybe for your own conscience? I know you are just trying to live quietly here and I know that the other adolescents give you trouble every now and then. But please... just help me on this. It's for my sister's sake." Mr. Yaba studied the stallion before looking over to Candlejack. Candlejack yawned and stretched, shifting his wing over to the pot and making it clear. The buck sighed. "Fine. If you want my help, I must ask something else in return." White nodded. "Anything for my sis to sleep peacefully again." Mr. Yaba looked at the others. "Then perhaps you all wouldn't mind a small trip. If you want to know the origin of the book and its contents, I know exactly the place." ~~~****~~~ Spotlight Glitter trotted up to the house. Her magic projected umbrella shielding her from the rays of the sun. She knocked twice on the door. She waited a good minute before knocking on the door again. Only this time, the silent response was replaced with the sound of somepony talking inside. "...Relax. It's not that big a deal. If anything, you would be a hit with the teens." The door opened and Manic peeked her head out. She suddenly closed the door when Spotlight gave a small wave, arching a brow at the sudden reaction. Hearing more murmurs from inside, she waited patiently for the door to open again. As she was about to knock on the door again, it opened and Manic leaned against it coolly. "Hey Spotlight. 'Sup?" she said. Spotlight gave her a smirk in return. "I appreciate you taking the time to act casual around me. Goddesses knows I can use somepony to just have a simple conversation with." Manic blinked once before looking at her confusedly. "I err... what?" Spotlight giggled. "It's nothing. Is your brother here? I had asked him to do some shopping with me and I haven't heard from him." Manic scoffed. "The idiot is probably out partying with his other friends. Have you checked all the usual places?" Spotlight nodded. "I have. It is strange. He usually is on time with our shopping dates." Manic sighed. "Yeah well, I could care less if the idiot is out there trying to act like the hot shot of the town." Spotlight smirked. "Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" Manic balked and shook her head furiously with a blush. "N-no way! Me? Jealous of him!? Hah! I don't need to party to get where I am going." Spotlight furrowed her brows. "And that is... the position in Aretilla, is it not?" Manic opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it. "Err... well you see..." "Manic, I know that you are avoiding the position." Manic winced. Hearing that from her idol was indeed a slap across the cheek. Spiritually in a sense. Manic sighed and pushed away from the doorway, allowing Spotlight to enter and dispel her umbrella. Once inside, Spotlight was surprised when another pony she didn't recognize enter in the room, balancing a tea kettle and cups on a tray on her head. Her movements were unusually steady and humming with each step she took.   But that wasn't all that took her by surprise. The outfit the pony was wearing was indeed... peculiar. However, the outfit may seem a little ridiculous, it couldn't hide the fact that this pony was an android. Which caused Spotlight to squee a little. "Oh, what a cute maid outfit!!" she squealed. Aurora placed the tray down and blushed a little in embarrassment. 'How did I let a filly talk me into this?’ she thought to herself as she began pouring the tea. Manic took a seat in one of the peeling leather chairs. Manic took the cup and sipped. Scrunching her muzzle at the bitter taste, Manic tapped her hoof on the table to grab Aurora's attention. "Maid! I would like a much better tasting elixir. Perhaps, the ramune in the fridge, if you don't mind." Aurora studied the filly. "But the tea is-." Manic waved a hoof. "Is the maid speaking out of line? Go fetch it for me or else I will activate one of the more... 'amusing' programs." Aurora wasn't sure what she meant by it. But the look the filly was giving made her aware that her entire decency is on the line. Aurora found herself crossing her hooves and doing a curtsey in response. "As you wish." She said. The filly cleared her throat and frowned at her. "We went over this, maid. What do you say when you address me?" Aurora did her best to ignore the slight nip at her thought process. "As you wish... madam." She said. Aurora walked steadily out of the room and into the kitchen. Spotlight was amused by this. "Well, now I am even more curious as to what you have been up too." Manic rubbed the back of her mane in response. "Well... I am just about done with the order and need to find a way to ship it off. But I also have a few other things I need to work on and I don't have the time to do it. I also want to get to work at that stage design too. So, I have a little help." She motioned to the android in the kitchen. "My own personal maid android. Pretty nifty, if I might add." Unbeknownst to the filly, Aurora had tuned her receiving volume a little bit higher in order to hear what was going on while she worked. Dinner was still in the making and she had almost left the pot boiling more than it should. "Oh, magnifique! I always dreamed of having my own personal assistant." Manic perked. "R-really?" she asked. Spotlight nodded. "Oh yes. I hear that Prance has still maintained its vintage despite the incident. I would love to go there one day." She sighed. "A mare can dream, can't she?" Manic wasn't sure how to respond, so she just nodded. "Anyway, you still haven't answered my question." Manic took a moment before shrugging. "I really don't know. He probably went to show those two mutants the town." She snorted in disgust. "Fine by me if they just mug him and leave him to rot. Serves him right for being a total idiot." Spotlight frowned. "Manic, why do you spite your brother? He is only looking out for you." Manic remained quiet. She was hoping to avoid this conversation entirely. 'Dammit, White. You should have gone with her to go shopping.' Spotlight waited for the filly to respond. Seeing as she wasn't getting one, she continued. "White may be a little... well... clumsy. But his heart is in the right place. He dreams of moving to the city and taking you with him so that way you can live a better lifestyle than what you are currently living in." Manic frowned. "Pssh, the town is nothing but a death trap. If the mayor can't take the time to fix up all the ramshackle housing and loose metal, that place is waiting to fall down on somepony." Spotlight shook her head. "He was talking about Aretilla." Manic again remained quiet. "Aretillia is the metropolis of opportunity! He even has gotten into contact with one of his friends there and he agreed to help with the situation. So, why do you think White deserves such spite?" Manic wasn't really liking the way this conversation was going. As much as she admired Spotlight, she hated being questioned on personal matters. 'But what can I do? She's dating my brother and she can see right through me.' Suddenly, a flash of the nightmare shot through her and she quickly shook her head. "I... I don't really want to leave..." Spotlight looked worriedly at the filly. "Why not? From the way White described it, you both need a change of space. It is also very healthy for a filly your age to go out and see more of the world." "And that's just it." Manic retorted. "The world is a living shit hole and everywhere you look, somepony wants you dead or just wants to use you before robbing you of everything. Virginity included!" Spotlight was taken a little aback by the sudden outburst. But standing her ground, she frowned and stomped her hoof. "While yes, the world is an unsavory place. That is why most ponies keep to the roads in order to prevent themselves from anymore danger! Aretillia is only a few miles east of here and the road is being safe guarded by their security service!" Manic scoffed. "Like the A.S.S. does any better. They are just out for a good time and could care less about our community." Aurora had to hoof it to the mare. She remained calm and collected, but firm and strong. She continued. "This pessimism isn't healthy for a filly your age. You need to start accepting the positive sides of things! They vastly outnumber the cons!” Manic sighed. "Are we done yet? Because I need to get back to work." Manic slid off the seat and stomped over to the stairs. "Maid, I'll be in my room. Just bring dinner to me and leave it by my door. Don't bother knocking either." Aurora sighed. "As you wish." She said. There was a brief pause. Aurora groaned. "Madam." And with that, the filly entered her room and secluded herself to her work. Spotlight sighed and took a sip of her tea. Aurora turned the timer on and let the solarium stove cook the contents before wiping her hooves on a stained rag and entering the room. "It's as White claimed it to be. Manic isn't the little filly I once knew." She said. Aurora cocked her head slightly. "Once knew? You mean you two know each other before the whole pop idol thing?" Spotlight giggled. "You could say that I was her 'big sister' idol. I attended the same music class with her brother. Seeing his passion for creating it and mine for singing it, we began hanging out a lot more. Their mom was a nice mare. Sweet and caring, but had that little stern sass when it came to trouble. She even tutored me on my vocals." Aurora took a seat across from her. "You must have looked up to her." She said. Spotlight gave a small nod. "Of course. And whenever their father would be at work and she would be giving the tour of the musical museum, I would be the one to baby sit them." Aurora couldn't help but smile. "Baby sit White too?" she asked. Spotlight gave a sly smirk. "Frankly, he has gotten himself in more trouble than his sister. But the two always went out of the way for one another. It's an unusual relationship with most siblings. Something that is rare nowadays. It makes me jealous to see them get along. I've always been an only child and I hated the attention my parents were giving me." She brushed a hoof on the cup's lip and made a circling motion, causing it to sing a single note. "I guess I kind of envied them for a time. And then, two years later, White finally confessed and we soon became a thing." Aurora propped her hoof under her chin. "Must be nice to know that one of your favorite idols and best foal sitter is dating your older brother." She said. Spotlight smiled. "And what about you?" Aurora found the response to not compute with her response list. Well, except for one word. "What?" Spotlight put the cup down. "I know that you are an android. But if I can recall, you are considered a second class citizen. You have the same rights as we do. So, I am asking about your own lifestyle. Do you have somepony to admire? To love in return?" Aurora again found the questions to be odd. "I'm not sure what you are getting at." She casually popped an index claw stub out and tapped her chin in thought. "Hmm... but with admiring, I would have to say my father." Aurora smiled. "He rebuilt me to the best of his abilities. When I was activated, He completely skipped the boot up sequence and immediately began calling me his daughter." She blushed a little. "Although sudden, I think he was under the influence of alcohol. But I didn't mind. He showed me what he does and how to do it. And soon, I began to think that I could have really been his actual daughter. The android's look faltered. "And... just a few days ago... he was murdered by a terrible pony." Spotlight gasped and put a hoof to her chest. "Oh no... I am so sorry..." she said. Aurora shook her head. "It's okay. I know he only wanted what was best for me. Even though I am... not really his true daughter." Spotlight blinked. "Oh?" Aurora bit her lip. "Well... I... was cleaning one day and I found this recording..." she sighed and shook her head again. "I don't really want to talk about it..." Spotlight smiled reassuringly. "It's okay. He must have been a great pony to have kept seeing you as one." Aurora nodded. I hope so as well." There was suddenly a loud banging coming from upstairs. The two stood up quickly and Aurora immediately began scanning the map. "What was that?" Spotlight asked. Aurora darted her eyes, listening intently for any more sounds. For a brief moment there was nothing. And then... she started hearing whispers. "Manic..." she said suddenly. Bolting for the stairs, Aurora reached the door tried getting it to open. Spotlight cantered up the stairs. "Is everything alright? Manic? Can you hear me?” she shouted. Aurora suddenly turned and with as much force she could muster, she bucked the door. Bending under the force, she bucked again and the door flew off its' hinges. A strong gust of wind shot out of the room, almost blowing them off their hooves. Spotlight screamed. Aurora looked inside to see the room in utter chaos. Bits, scraps and pieces of technology was floating around the room. Creating a small funnel of flying electronics. Aurora saw a prompt pop up:   Anomaly detected. Proceed with caution. 'An anomaly?' she asked herself. This was a first for her. But taking one hoof step inside, she was pegged across the cheek with a wrench. Remaining unmoved other than her head moving with the force of impact, Aurora took another step forward. An eerie glow was coming from inside the torrent of devices. The whispers increasing with each step. Aurora ducked and avoided as much as she could. Finally reaching the source, she gaped in surprise as to what she saw. In the middle were two ponies. One she recognized as Manic. The filly looking pale and wide eyed in fear and shock, her mouth open as if she was screaming. The other was something that made Aurora's vision static a bit. But she could hear it. The whispers were faint. The distortion quiet. And descending from the ceiling was a pale, pupiless unicorn pony. Her figure almost skeletal and her mane matted and falling apart. The distortion was becoming clearer as her vision began increasing in static. The words reaching her ears: What have you done to me? Why am I cursed to live like this? This isn't what I wanted... So alone... So scared... Manic couldn't move. The fear pinning her to her spot. The ghoulish pony took one shambling step forward.   My daughter... why have you done this to me?... Your blood... your... blood... The pony then suddenly reared back, the devices flinging wildly around Manic's room. A loud piercing scream. You killed me!!! The devices clattered together, now a giant ball of fritzing and out of control electronics. With a loud angry scream, the ghoulish pony released the amounts of electronics, Aurora reaching out as the heavy machinery descended on the filly. > Act-1 Chapter 14: Something Strange This Way Comes > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Something Strange This Way Comes Candlejack felt the cold sting of a sharp blade creating a nasty gash on his cheek. The young adolescent stumbled, his body screaming in pain. The crowd erupted into cheers. Thieves, killers, murderers and drug dealers gathered in the middle of what they called "The Pit". A very cliché name if you had asked Candlejack. But it definitely was appropriate considering the sewer prison was just that. Candlejack grunted in pain, feeling his legs give out. He painfully looked to his side, seeing a tall pony with a muscular build and a mane cut that was just peach fuzz. A scar trailed down the pony's face and cheek. The side effect of the many times this pony had tried to escape, only to wind up catching the side of a Solarium lance and a massive bludgeoning to his head by the ETG. And yet, despite that, this pony grinned triumphantly, goading the crowd into more cheers. The razor sharp hoof claw glinted with the pegasus's blood. Candlejack wanted to call it quits. He wanted to just lay there and let his miserable defeat speak for itself. But a strange sensation came over him. One that he still couldn't describe to this day. Was it just foolish thinking that worked out in the end? Or was it adrenaline kicking in at max? Or maybe... the thrill of the fight had finally crawled into him. In whatever case it was, Candlejack found himself grinning and shakily stood up. The muscular earth pony turned to look at him, his matted and stained brown coat and black eyes studying the tiny pegasus. "Still want some more, flesh bag?" the pony challenged, his voice deep and raspy. Candlejack finally managed to climb to his hooves before spitting out freshly formed blood and wiping his muzzle. "It was just a lucky shot..." he said with a small grin. The pony arched a brow before cracking his neck and readying himself. "Alright then. The next one won't be as lucky." "Get him, Strong Hoof!" a pony cried out. "Show that flesh bag whose boss!" another cried out. Candlejack frowned when the crowd began chanting "Down with the flesh bag!" over and over. He clicked his tongue, ignoring the jolt of pain when he did. "Typical cutthroats." He rasped. Candlejack swayed a little as he pushed himself off of the wall. Before he knew it, he was suddenly feeling the stinging sensation again, only this time, the feeling was accompanied by something cold sliding into his side. Candlejack choked and looked down to see the hoof claw at his side. The blood flowing when Strong Hoof pulled it out. There was no force or anything applied to the attack. It was just a simple slide it in and pull it out. But it was enough to cause Candlejack to fall to his side. Beaten and mangled, he definitely wanted to just die right then and there. New Equestria has quickly started to annoy him. Its citizens. Its monarchy. Its government. Everything about it was just so... shit. 'There has to be a better place than here...' he thought tiredly, his vision beginning to blur. 'Maybe... the light will help me find it?' his ears were ringing and his breathing slow. Suddenly, his blurred vision noticed something. A small rustic and grey looking syringe was all he could make out. But he knew what it was. He had seen the previous combatants use this as a drug to keep themselves high and under control. This was more than just a stimpak. It was called "Ambrosia" to the druggies. Very rare stuff that they say had been stolen from an export deal with the above ground. Slowly reaching out to it, his hoof crawled through the filth in order to reach it. Finally clasping it, he brought it in and hunched himself, hoping that the feigned death would be enough to fool them. The muffled cheering told him that the match was over and Strong Hoof was basking in his next kill. 'No... not yet...' Candlejack thought to himself. 'I won't die here... Not in this shit hole of a place!' He jabbed the needle in his chest and gasped, eyes widening at the sudden course of energy and new found strength flowing through him. His body ignored the pain, the ringing in his ears faded, the blurred vision clearing. Not only that, he felt a tingly feeling on his side. Whatever this "Ambrosia" is, it had an immediate kick. One that Candlejack wanted to take full advantage of. Jumping to his hooves, his smile wide and maniacal, Candlejack cantered forward, flapping his wings once to propel himself up just enough to plant his forelegs on the distracted pony's back. Heaving himself onto the back, Candlejack quickly reached for the hoof claw that was being held in the air and with a sudden twist of his body and hooves that were locked around it, a bellowing yelp and a surprised gasp from the crowds told Candlejack that his opportunity was indeed what he had expected. With another twist of his body, Candlejack managed to spin and flip the massive muscular pony over his hooves and onto his back. A sleight of hoof unhooked the claw and without even bothering to put it on, Candlejack held the bloodied weapon at the neck of the pony. His hoof locked around one of the blades, creating a fresh cut that trickled blood onto the pony. Strong Hoof was stunned at the sudden turn of events. Candlejack breathed heavily, the drug still fresh in his veins. The maniacal smile now turned to a triumphant one. However, the pegasus wasn't done. The Pit was all about blood, broken bones and two ponies beating the crap out of each other. And while Candlejack had a sheer amount of wounds created by this pony, there was hardly a single one on his opponent. Locking his other hoof around the hoof straps, Candlejack brought the blade a little further down. And with a quick push of his new found strength, the claw dug into the pony, deeper than it should have. The next thing that made Candlejack grin was the accompanying scream that followed. Such satisfaction that he didn't think he would ever feel. Candlejack, however, wasn't entirely satisfied. He pulled the blade out and reared back again, the blade hovering over his head. With a loud roar, Candlejack brought the hoof claw down into the pony again. Only this time, Strong Hoof was quick to react and caught him in mid-strike. "Argh!! Bastard, take it easy!! You win!!" he yelled. Candlejack slobbered a bit, his face in sheer anger. He struggled against Strong Hoof, only to see that his efforts were only making him lose this new found energy he had. Candlejack then let himself be disarmed, forcing Strong Hoof to let go, only to have Candlejack bring his foreleg back and struck hard against Strong Hoof's muzzle. The pony groaned as another strike hit true. And again. And again. And again. Over and over and over. Each strike inflicted onto Strong Hoof was making Candlejack laugh a little insanely. Such energy. Such satisfaction. 'By the divine goddesses yes!! This is amazing!!' Candlejack was about to deliver another when somepony stopped him in mid strike. The new interruption pissed the stallion off, turning his blood thirsty anger onto the new pony. However, the stoic face that he met eyed him as Candlejack felt something prick his neck. Candlejack felt the energy and strength leave him, the pain that was inflicted on him coming back as a tidal wave of agony and numbness. "It's over, kid. You won." The stallion said to him. Candlejack stumbled and fell to his side, his breathing was rasp and his whole body screaming out in pain. All he could muster was a groan. "Dammit, Shiv. You snuck the flesh bag some Ambrosia?" the massive pony said, trotting over to him as if the stab to the chest was nothing but a bruise. However, Candlejack could see the work he put into on the pony's muzzle. Strong Hoof snorted once and spat blood out, his look narrowing at the young stallion. The earth pony next to him, one that was in a darker grey coat and a black as night mane and blue eyes shrugged. "Kid needed an edge. Besides, even without it, he did take you off guard for a good minute." He said. The pony grunted. He wasn't too happy about being beaten by a smuggler and his "bet". "No honor among thieves." Strong Hoof said. "Never truer words spoken, Strong Hoof." Shiv responded nonchalantly. Candlejack remained on the ground, too tired to even move a muscle other than his eyes. "I have to say though. Despite being new to Ambrosia, he took it pretty well. Didn't suffer a heart attack after the first few seconds." Strong Hoof grinned suddenly. "Only because I don't give them the few seconds to have it last." Shiv shrugged. "I dunno. You were pretty caught up in the moment." The pony smirked. "If I didn't know it, you were annoyed at the pony jumping around on two legs." Strong Hoof frowned. "About that. How did you even manage to do that? I swear, I've never seen a pony try to brawl on two legs. Even though it's mainly when they lock together in a tug-o-war, to see you move casually around the place without so much as losing your balance. I have to give you kudos." Candlejack only replied with a tired groan. Shiv smirked again. "Hey, Moonshine. Give this kid 'the refresher'. I think he deserved it, don't you all agree?" Candlejack wasn't aware that he had a crowd not too far off murmuring quietly to one another. A pony appeared next to him. A very pretty mare. While as dirtied and matted as the rest of them, Candlejack could tell that this widowmaker definitely is an eye catcher. With the right grooming of course. But since that is lacking here in this shithole of a prison, she had no other choice but to let the smell and filth cling to her. The mare sported a sapphire coat and a straight mane that covered one of her piercingly cold yet pretty green eyes. "Not bad, kid. You'll fit in just right here." Moonshine said with a small quirky smile as she dug into her tail and withdrew a flask. Candlejack was uncertain about accepting a drink from a hired assassin that has bedded with her targets and snuck poison into their drink when they weren't looking. A very common practice of assassination. But one that definitely worked out for her until she was ratted out by one of her "over needy" clients that tried to shimmy his way under her tail, only to have her outright kill the pony in public by bashing his head in repeatedly with her hoof. When the earth pony mare held his head up and tipped the flask in, Candlejack prepared for the worse. Only... there was something strange about the taste. No flavor. Refreshing. And almost as if it had come out of a lunarium freezer. Candlejack found himself sitting upright, wiping his muzzle and arching a brow. "What... was that?" he rasped, wincing as he tried to shift his wings only to hear a pop and a crack. The mare smirked. "Water. Plain and simple." She said. Candlejack couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at this. 'Wait, what are you thinking?! You want an assassin to poison you!?' he shook his head of the thought and winced when the pain came back. Strong Hoof leaned against the cobblestone wall and grinned. "Have to say. I didn't think you would out right stab me. That's usually Shiv when he's trying to set an example." Shiv cast him a sideways glance. "Somepony needs to show that they aren't to be bucked with. And I say this kid here has proven just that. So, instead of calling him flesh bag. How about... Death Wing?" Moonshine flinched. "Really? How edgy can you be in names?" she asked in mock sarcasm. Shiv looked at her stoically. "Then what do you have in mind?" Moonshine hummed in thought before coming to an idea. "Death Wing." She said with a smile. That caused a strange reaction from Shiv. One that made Strong Hoof bellow out in laughter. "Aye, you know Moonshine only wants the last words." Shiv sighed and rubbed his muzzle. Moonshine, however, beamed at another thought. "Or maybe, how about just Jack?" she said. Shiv arched a brow. "What makes you say that?" Moonshine shrugged. "Well, he jumped around a lot. Almost like that game of jumping jacks. And his name has Jack in it. So I just figured, why not Jack?" Strong Hoof snorted in agreement. "And don't forget that if Jack gets jacked up, expect to be the fool later." Moonshine pointed at him. "Ahh, like a jester! Perfect!" The two hoof bumped and Shiv let out a quiet sigh of annoyance. "Well, then it is settled. Welcome to our underground society, Jack. We hope that your hooves draw blood and your teeth razor sharp." Candlejack was baffled. All he wanted was food. He didn't expect to just suddenly be given a name and a place in the circle of cutthroats that ruled the place. ~~~oooOOOooo~~~ Aurora shot out a hoof, her claw stubs extending as they grabbed ahold of Manic's jumpsuit. Pulling her back as the heavy devices landed where she once sat in horror, Aurora found it hard to pinpoint exactly where she was going. The static in her vision and the white noise in her ears were creating so much interference. Whatever this "anomaly" was, it was angry and wanting blood. Aurora felt something hard strike her on the back of the head, causing her to register a grunt of pain and stumble forward. "Manic!! Are you alright!?" A voice called over the increasing static. Aurora swayed a bit, the blunt strike sending pain signals throughout her body. "Manic! This way!!" Spotlight called out over the gale of electronics. Aurora felt a tug on her hoof. Being pulled along by the filly, who had seemed to snap out of her stunned state, Aurora looked back, seeing the static in her vision completely blur out. But as it did, she heard a small voice whisper. The sin must be paid by blood. And thus his blood shall be paid. And just like that, the room began to calm. The devices clattered to the floor and the anomaly had vanished into a peeling wisp. Aurora's vision came back as crisp as it had been when the filly worked on her. The three stared in awe at the mess. Spotlight pulled the filly into her chest and stroked her mane, seeing the terrified filly tremble. With a quick sniffle, Spotlight gave a small smile. "I'm glad we were able to get to you in time." She said. Aurora darted her eyes around the room. Hesitant to step forward, she held out a hoof to the room. "W-wait! What if it isn't gone?" Spotlight stated. Aurora blinked once and pulled her hoof back. This feeling that was forced into her. It felt so surreal. Of course, it wasn't the first time she had been angry. But this wasn't just anger. Her self-aware chip was picking up a lot of mixed emotions. Sadness, guilt, betrayal. She put a hoof to her chest as if in a small prayer. 'This is... an awful feeling.' She thought. ~~~****~~~ Candlejack covered the flank. His head bowed in thought. Why did that memory come back to him? It felt so long ago, but it made him feel a little... what's the word he was looking for? Candlejack shook his head. 'No, that place needs to burn. Ponies shouldn't live like that." He thought. And you think they deserve a better place up here? Candlejack frowned. 'They deserve a better life period.' And yet, here you are, walking this desolate world, acting like nothing is going to go wrong. You really are a sad pony. "I didn't ask for your opinion." Candlejack said aloud. "What was that?" Candlejack looked to see White look back with Zelori. They had walked quite a ways from the community. The zebra buck covered the front, guiding them. He stated that as long as they follow him, they can avoid the pockets that pierced through the cooling aura. And so far, no pony has combusted... yet. Candlejack shook his head of the thought before responding. "Nothing. Just talking to myself." Zelori eyed the pegasus worriedly before looking ahead. White cocked a brow. "In any case. That about sums up what happened after the fact." White sighed and bowed his head. "I figured the weather would just burn it alive. But as you can see, the book still remains looking brand new." Yaba nodded. "The dark magic it has been containing is what's keeping it alive. Dispersing it would be... difficult." Zelori rubbed her chin. "But wouldn't the magic just come back?" she asked. Yaba shook his head. "I said difficult. Not impossible. Dark magic can be entirely erased. If you know what you are doing and what you are looking for." He looked up to the cloudless sky. "The outlawed practice maybe a forbidden art. But through creation must come destruction. Nothing is perfect. In this case, dark magic can be erased. However, to do so requires a lot of sacrifices. What created it was easy. But whoever created the art made sure that it would be difficult to destroy." He looked over his shoulder as he continued. "There was a time when my ancestors had practiced this art. It was to ensure that the spirits of the damned would not come to rob us of our foals and create safety amongst our kin." Zelori was intrigued to hear about this buck's knowledge of necromancy. So much, in fact, that her question was something that was entirely expected. "Are you from the clans?" she asked. Yaba smirked. "The clans are just sorry excuses for keeping our ancestor's traditions alive. I do not belong to them. I belong to Gaia." Zelori was in awe at this response. However, her curiosity was getting the better of her. "So... what exactly are the clans?" Mr. Yaba looked back ahead as he replied. "The clans are many. Yet few are active in today's modern time. Those that stay true to our ancestors have created small communities in Oasis. Others that have accustomed to today's time reside as gangs and entrepreneurs to Aretilla and its surrounding communities. But there is only one clan that remains true to Gaia. And it is the one that I belong too." Zelori leaned forward, her interest piqued. The zebra buck grinned widely, the exposed melted flesh stretching. "Myself." The answer disappointed Zelori. "I-I don't understand." Zelori asked, a little taken aback by the response. Yaba nodded. "Which is why I assumed you were just a filly fresh from the womb. And I was right in a sense. You have much to learn of Gaia's ways. In order to be with her, you must understand her. Hear her voice and carry out her wills. In return, she asks you respect the gifts she has given." The buck snorted and frowned. "But as you can see, Gaia has been tainted and wildlife has... mutated from what it originally was." He shrugged. "At least the tribes are quiet." "Tribes?" Zelori asked. "The buffalo. Surprisingly enough, there are some that have survived for years. The flocks. Griffons that have onced despised each other are now a species dedicated to kinship and loyalty. They reside in their fallen kingdom of Griffonstone. The tribes. Buffalo that retain their stance in the herd grounds. They prefer to live in the Badland's canyons as the flora there grow enough to satisfy them. The clans. Zebra that have come to terms with today's world and yet try to remain true to their ways of Gaia. However, with most, they decided to hypocrisies themselves with fame, fortune and an iron hoof. "Then you have the bloodkins." White perked up. "You mean the dragons?" He beamed. "I heard that the Dragonlands are dangerous, but the promise of riches and fortunes are tremendous!" Yaba snorted. "That is a rumor. While most expeditions have resulted in the loss of many, those that have walked out of there were granted wealth beyond their imagination." He sighed. "At least, only one pony had said that before he went stark raving mad at the delusion." White arched a brow. "You make it sound like he was just lying." Yaba nodded. "He stated that he was promised wealth beyond his imagination. Yet, he walked out of there with empty hooves. Whatever happened to the poor sod, it was enough to drive him mad to the point where he ended up jumping into the Barren Sea and into the maws of a sand wyrm." Zelori rubbed her chin. "Interesting. And what other tales does this world have?" she asked. Yaba shrugged. "I've only accompanied the Second Expedition until they decided to go their separate ways. We were dedicated into creating safe roads, areas and marking places for the Third Expedition to make habitable." "So what happened to make your face all screwy?" Candlejack suddenly spoke up. Yaba snorted angrily before responding. "The acid of a sand wyrm is something not to boast about." Candlejack winced. "I wasn't going to imply it. It just seems that you have your fair share of battles to tell." Yaba growled a little. "Indeed. This place isn't for those that are naive and wet under the ears. Which is why I must advise caution for the place I am about to take you too." Candlejack gave a small hoof wiggle. "I'm not too worried. But go ahead." Yeah right. Mr. Yaba eyed the stallion before continuing. "The place is an abandoned church of the sisters." He looked up to the sky again. "The two that have rose the sun and moon years ago. A church dedicated to them and their ways." He glanced sideways to White. "A place where a certain cult had resided in before being disbanded." White bowed his head shamefully. "While ten years have passed ever since, things change quickly then you think. If we are to challenge the dark magic, we must first purify it in a place with the sister's touch. The Church of the Eclipse." Candlejack hummed in thought before sighing. "So, just who are the two sisters then? You say they raised the sun and moon like they were goddesses. Kind of sounds similar to The Church of Solis and The Church of Artemis." Candlejack wasn't too familiar with religion. But having the ETG divided between Solar and Lunar guards was just uncommon for him. And even then, the churches made it a big deal to invoke their practices or remain a heretic and judged by Tartarus himself. Yaba, however, cocked a brow at him. "Solis and Artemis?" "They are a group from where we come from. Two religions unified under a single banner, but have different practices. You would be given the blessings of the Sun father or the Night father and be left to a life in their embrace. Or be branded a 'heretic' and marked by their society as a lost lamb." Candlejack snorted. "If you ask me, they should keep their bibles to their noses and not into others." He said. Yaba frowned. "So, you are not a part of this... blasphemous religion?" Candlejack casually waved a hoof. "I'm an agnostic by heart." Zelori rolled her eyes. "In any case. You referred to it as 'blasphemous'. Why is that?" Yaba grinned. "It's best I show you. If your religions are conspired differently to that of the sisters, then maybe you will have a different opinion once you know exactly who they are." Candlejack blinked. "You mean... we are actually going to see them?" Yaba shrugged. "More or less." He beamed and trotted forward. "And here we are." He stopped and let the three trot up beside him. The three gapped in awe. The building before them was massive. The church, a remnant of what it once was, lined with partially destroyed or crumbled pillars with etched in drapes of the sun and the moon in a on and off pattern. The building had definitely seen better days. It divided into three wings. The left side had a roof that caved in and the right side had what appeared to be a makeshift look out. The center, however, had a tall tower with a cracked bell hanging over head. The windows that lined its two stories were either boarded up or sealed off completely. The patios of the wings were blocked off by dirt and sand that gathered over the years of decay. One of the walls looked like it had caved in and a sand dune covered it up. But that wasn't what enticed them. Before they saw the building, they saw the statues. Decrepit and cracked, the statues of two alicorns reared proudly on pedestals. However, one of the statues was shorter than the other. Its head and mane laid shattered at the base of the pedestal, the horn cracked to a stub along with its' right foreleg and its' partially destroyed left wing. The other, a taller one, was missing one wing and part of the alicorn's mane and tail lay shattered at the base. The sand buried whatever missing pieces that had fallen off. But Candlejack pieced together what it would look like in his head. Two alicorns rearing proudly together, their horns locked in an embrace of power. The five ponies trotted down the hill and Candlejack noticed a plaque as they walked around the decrepit statue: Our goddesses of the sun and moon. Pr**nce** Cel***ia and P***cess Lu** Most of it was hard to make out. As if the plaque was fading away along with the statue. But just nearing the statue gave him a chill down his spine. Something about what it was previously, definitely had struck mixed emotions into many ponies. But the emotion he was feeling was something more than just a powerful haunting memory of a place dedicated to them. Something told him that at some point in life, these goddesses existed. And the sheer thought of powerful beings ruling the land... shook him to the core. 'Geez, the sisters seem more intimidating than the fathers.' He thought. Trotting to catch up with the rest of the group, they stopped and admired the entrance. Two tall oak doors that were marked and splintered with the years of decay and abuse of the weather. The same could be said for every inch of the walls holding the place up. "Be ready for anything. For all we know, a Jackal may have taken residences of the place." Yaba said as he reached for the doors. With a loud creak and groan of the door, the five stepped inside. The lobby was littered with decayed paper and the red velvet carpet was torn and melting into the splintered floor boards. However, upon entering and moving through the entrance, they rounded a corner and through a pair of smaller looking doors that were broken to a half. A gasp of wonder left Candlejack. On both sides of the trailing velvet carpet that lead up to a wide podium were long benches lined perfectly symmetrical. Candelabra stands lined each row of seats, the melted wax showing signs of constant use. Above them was a balcony with more benches lined perfectly symmetrical. Draped over the balcony was a flag that was entirely different than the ones from outside. It was a picture of two alicorns circling an object in the middle. Years of abandonment made it faded and the stitching coming undone. As they traveled down the long and straight path down the rows of benches, Candlejack did a complete three-sixty degree turn to take in as much as he could. Despite the decrepit environment, he could tell that there were some additions to the place. There were lockers lining the walls that seemed to be falling apart on one another. Whatever lied dormant in them was no longer existing. The podium was also blocked off by a pile of sandbags and pointy looking wooden fencing. But when Candlejack saw the podium, his eyes immediately fell to the stained glass windows. On the left was a mosaic design of a flowing maned midnight alicorn. Her horn pointing and releasing a magical beam off into the wall. The right one was similar, but depicted a regal white alicorn in a flowing mane of green and pink. She too was releasing magic from her horn off into the wall. But the center stained glass was much more in depth than the side ones. A mosaic pattern of colors showing a grassy hill, ponies cheering for joy as the sister's magic collided onto a being. This being may have been a pony, but something about it was... off. The pony had strange black lines on the joints and the pony had a fauxhawk mane. Surrounding the pony was a golden circle with a star in the middle of where the pony resided. The star's points had colorful looking gems inside it. A purple star, a red lightning bolt, a balloon, a gem, an apple and a butterfly. "Whoa..." Candlejack breathed. "Amazing, isn't it?" Yaba said as he marveled at the stained glass windows. "The right alicorn. Princess Celestia. She rose the sun and ruled Equestria's ponies for millennia. The left, her younger sister and princess of the night and dreams. Princess Luna. Together, there powers combined to show their unity." He waved a hoof over to the middle window. 'Combined with the power of the Elements of Harmony, this pony was lucky enough to have been bestowed the power to become a messiah to the war. He united ponies. Brought them together in a successful attempt of friendship. For he was the second pupil of The Princess of Friendship." "The Princess of Friendship?" White asked. Yaba nodded. "Some say she had vanished during the war of Neighpon. But rumor states that she had merely retreated into the powers of the Elements along with the other bearers in order to preserve the balance of the world from fading. With the princesses gone, no pony knew what would have happened next." "The Big Bang?" White asked again. Yaba remained quiet. "Perhaps. But again, I wasn't a part of the Third Expedition. Once my duty was completed, I retired to a quiet life." He frowned. "Or so I had thought." White shrunk back a little with a sheepish smile. He then blinked once. "Wait, the Second Expedition? How old exactly are you?" Yaba snorted angrily. "I've lost count. But I can tell you this, I've been around the bush longer than when Aretilla was just but a mere sanctuary with a terrible over-population problem." He sighed. "We do everything for them and in return they treat us like ancient relics. The nerve." Candlejack trotted past them, catching their looks. He squeezed his way past the fencing and over the sandbags before reaching the top of the podium. "Incredible..." he whispered. Zelori eyed her brother with caution. She knew his curiosity was dangerous enough to get himself nearly killed. And the buck did warn them that anything can go in this place. "I do not mean to be rude. But aren't we here to handle a necromancy problem?" Zelori asked. Mr. Yaba hmphed in agreement. "Indeed. We must find the altar of the sun and moon. Their churches were separated to those who followed one or the other. If we say the prayer to the two, we should be going into step two to ridding the problem." He looked to White. "And your sister will be spared once we have completed the steps." White gave him a serious look. "Of course." He said. Mr. Yaba trotted past him. "There is a time where ponies must prove themselves. You may have found your destinies, but have you really understood it? With any luck, maybe you can finally figure that out." White didn't respond. He knew what the buck was talking about. "Time to man up, then." He said. He looked back to see Candlejack looking at the window. He narrowed his eyes. Something was indeed off about it. And as if on cue, the window shattered and Candlejack balked as a figure zipped through. Time slowed. The glass raining down around him as if a wonder was taking place. Before he knew it, Candlejack felt something hard strike him in the chest and he went sailing with the figure on top of him. Zelori snapped to and readied herself. White and Yaba backed away as Candlejack groaned in pain as the figure stood up over him. A tri-goggled pony dressed in a black espionage attire. His goggles trained on the unicorn DJ. "It was a real pain trying to find the right moment to strike. But I guess they wouldn't mind if I sin just a little bit longer." The figure glanced over his shoulder to look at the windows. He made a motion with his hoof over his muzzle and chest. "Forgive me, oh goddesses, for the sin I am about to commit. May your shining embrace wake this land again." Zelori dashed to the front, standing in a bi-pedal position and aiming her hooves at the figure. "Who are you!?" she stated. The pony turned and shrugged. "Just a pony trying to survive everyday ordeals. That's usually how it goes here anyway. But if you really want to know." He pointed to White. "I'm here for the brat." White backed away. "M-Me? Why?" he asked. The pony cocked his goggled head. "Your little sister owes somepony a great deal. One that she backed out of. It is time for her to return it back. But it seems that she cannot be convinced through reasonable means. So I figured, why not take the brother and force her to give it up." White grit his teeth, the anger displayed on his face. "You better back off from her..." he growled. The pony chuckled lightly. "Ah, kids these days. Always finding their place in this shit hole of a world. But you do know how we work, don't you?" White darted his eyes in thought. He then gasped. "W-wait! Who hired you!? What does my sister owe!?" The pony rubbed his chin in mock thought. "Something that belongs to my client. He hates it when somepony doesn't give him what he wants. So, he sends me to claim it." The pony reached back and an alien looking weapon hummed to life. "And that is what I intend to-" The pony wasn't expecting a gut punch. It was quick and the feeling instant. The pony hunched over, dropping the weapon, his goggles facing the maniacal grin of the stallion he had thought was downed. "How about you shut the hell up!" Candlejack said. He grabbed ahold of the collar of the pony's suite and head-butted him. His goggles flew off and the pony grunted in pain, stumbling off of him. But Candlejack quickly swiped a hind leg underneath the disgruntled pony, causing him to fall to his side. Jumping to his hooves, Candlejack was immediately on him. "Zelori! Help them with that problem! I'll keep him distracted. Make sure the kid and his sister are safe!" he said as he delivered two good hoof punches to the pony's muzzle. Now that the goggles were off, Candlejack noticed a pair of slit yellow eyes looking back at him with anger. Candlejack had his hoof caught before he could deliver a third strike and he was shoved off of the pony. The pony looked to see the retreating figures of the three. Zelori looked back, a worried expression towards the pegasus before she turned and covered the flank. "Dammit! I'm not done with you yet!!" The pony scrambled to his feet, but Candlejack bit down on the pony's mask. He brought the pony around and bucked him in the side, causing the attacker to sail into the benches, moving them as he did. The pony stood up, rasping in pain. Candlejack arched a brow. He wasn't new to the species. He just found them a little odd at times. And thestrals were no different. The bat like pony rubbed his muzzle and spat out the blood. Candlejack stood up into a bi-pedal stance and bobbed a little. The thestral arched a brow before giving a sideways glance. He growled. "You'll regret this moment..." he hissed. Candlejack smirked and taunted by wiggling his hoof to bring it. The thestral held up a hoof and Candlejack heard the faint sound of a pop. It was quick and he almost didn't see it in time. Candlejack shifted to his side as something whistled past his ear and impaled into the wall behind him. The thestral balked in surprise before gritting his teeth, bearing the two sharp fangs. The thestral reached back and plucked something from his utility belt. With a quick flick of his hoof, the device hummed to life. A small little blade. But the edges lined with a glowing blue hue. The thestral hissed before rushing at him. ~~~****~~~ Zelori, White and Yaba galloped down the beaten hallway of the left wing. White looked back to the door they had entered. He was surprised at how long the hallway was. The rooms and doors they had passed were either caved in, boarded off or cluttered beyond recognition. But there was signs of ponies having renovated the place. Makeshift boards and catwalks made the hallway feel a little more cramped than it should. Zelori nodded to him before he turned back around and saw Yaba buck open a pair of oak wooden doors that lead to a small room that wasn't as breathtaking as the entrance. But it was used as something else entirely. Medical beds laid spastically around the room and covers that were taken from the once hanging curtains that covered the windows as a way to separate the beds. The three took a moment to catch their breaths. "I think we are clear for now." Yaba said as he peeked through the oak doors he had bucked open. White shook his head. "What about Candlejack? We have to do something to help him!" Zelori put a hoof on his shoulder. "He can handle one pony. For now, let us focus on the task at hoof." She looked at Yaba. "Do you know exactly where this alter is?" Mr. Yaba frowned and darted his eyes before nodding to her. "It also seems that we are a little late." He said. Zelori arched a brow before looking behind her. She balked at the sight that stood over her. It was an alter alright. Offerings gathered at the base of a rearing alicorn. Wilted stems of what were once flowers lined in dirtied stained vases on opposite sides of the alter. However, that wasn't what surprised her. What surprised her was the decorations of the statue of the Night Mother. Bones and flesh. And from the looks of it, recent too. White felt his ramen come back to him. "A-a-are those... ponies!?" he exclaimed. Mr. Yaba looked grimly at the sight. Who or what that decorated the statue as it was definitely had a twisted mindset. Where the statues eyes were was indeed actual eyes. The statute looked disgruntled, a colorful quilt of pony hides draped over the body. The wings were laced in entrails that were blackened and rotten beyond recognition. Even the horn tip of the statue was a bright white of a recent de-horned unicorn. Zelori darted her eyes cautiously around the room. Her sense were telling her they weren't alone. And as if the reassure her instincts, there was the sound of whispering. Quiet, but loud enough for them to hear. "Who dares to trespass the Night Mother's presence?" White gulped loudly and shivered. "W-w-we just wanted to... ask for a blessing..." "We do not offer blessings to sinners. Offer us everything or begone from our sight. Zelori cocked a brow. " So, if we don't give you everything we have, you will just let us out of here?" "Offer us everything or begone from our sight. We do not tolerate sinners." The whispers erupted into echoed laughs. White shrunk close between the two zebra that looked around the room, trying to pinpoint the voices. "You call us sinners. Yet you pretend to act as the Night Mother." Zelori said suddenly. "Are you certain that isn't a sin itself?" The laughing stopped and replaced by hissing. "Do not speak out of line, naysayer!! Offer us everything or leave!!" Zelori narrowed her eyes. She then looked at the statue. Something about it was off. And she wasn't thinking the amount of pony flesh that decorated it. No... this was something else entirely. Studying the statue as quickly and analytically as possible, she then fell to the horn at the top. She couldn't help but notice the unicorn horn glowing. It was strange that a unicorn horn could still function without the pony present. But she doubted that was the case. If anything, the horn was being... manipulated. "White, use your magic on the statue's horn." She said. White balked. "W-what!? You want me to touch somepony's broken off horn!?" he exclaimed. The hissing was getting louder to the point where their voices were being drowned out. "That is precisely what I am asking!!" she shouted over the loud hissing. White bit his lip. "B-but that belonged to somepony..." he muttered to himself. Mr. Yaba put a hoof on his shoulder, causing him to shrink a little at the touch. "If you want to save your sister, you must be prepared for the sacrifices. Man up." He said. White winced. He looked hesitantly at the decorated statue. He closed his eyes, giving into the pressure and reached out with his magic. The hissing suddenly began to stutter. As if a broken record was going off. "W-wait! What are you doing?! Stop that!!" Zelori looked stoically at the statue. Shifting her hoof slightly, she hooked a piece of rubble and with a quick flick, the pebble like rubble shot through the air and vanished into the darkness. "Yeeow!! Who did that!!?" Zelori frowned slightly before shifting over to a rock and did the same thing. This time, there was a grunt of pain and the horn on the statue broke off and clattered to the floor. When it did, the room suddenly had an instant chill. Zelori focused on this feeling. Concentrating on where the flow of magic was returning too. Her eyes widened and she looked up above. A makeshift catwalk from the previous residents of this place. But it was clear to her senses. Flicking another rock, the piece of rubble struck true at a weak spot in the rickety catwalk and with a loud groan, the catwalk gave way and a surprised yelp followed quickly after. Dust rose in the air, making it hard to breath. Waving it away, they looked to see a disgruntled hooded pony at the bottom of the wreckage. Based on the pained voice coming from the pony, Zelori could safely assume it was a mare. She immediately rushed over and bit down on the pony's hood. The pony struggled. "H-hey! Gerroff!!" she grunted. Zelori dropped and pinned the pony, forcing the hood off of her. She balked at the sight of a very young mare. No more than an adolescent teen. The mare sported a magenta colored coat and a velvet stripped mane and violet eyes. She was very pretty despite the dirt and grime on her. Zelori looked sternly at her. "Do you realize what you have been playing with?" she asked. The mare shrunk a bit at the glaring mare. "I-I-I don't know what you are talking about! I swear, the statue was like that when I got here!" she whimpered. "What are you even doing here in the first place!?" White asked, a little surprised and disgusted that this young mare had been playing with pony flesh and bones. The mare shivered. "I-I only stumbled upon this place! I heard i-it belonged to a cult my grandmother was a part of! I just wanted to see what it looked like!" Zelori sniffed once and frowned. "I doubt that is the case. That look and smell is all too familiar." She moved off the mare and allowed her to stand up. The mare did so hesitantly. "L-Look, I don't want no trouble! I just want to be left alone!' Zelori looked at the two. White was still showing signs of mixed confusion and disgust while Mr. Yaba was examining the statue, as if trying to picture it before the decorations. Zelori motioned to the statue. "Are you the one responsible for this?" she asked. The mare quickly shook her head, sticking her tongue out in disgust. "N-no! I would never skin anything! Let alone a... a pony..." she looked at the statue. "It was like that when I arrived here." White frowned. "And yet, you had no problems playing a unicorn's horn." He said. The mare blushed shamefully. "I-I swear, I didn't mean anything bad by it. I-I'm not good with magic anyway!" White shook his head and stomped towards the pony, making her shrink back. "That's no excuse!! You should be ashamed of yourself, not as a unicorn, but a pony in general!" The mare whimpered. Zelori's ears twitched at the sounds of stuggle coming from down the hall. The others heard it too. "W-what was that!?" The unicorn mare asked, ducking behind Zelori. Zelori rubbed her muzzle in frustration. 'As if things couldn't get anymore complicated.' She glared at the mare. "You." The mare squeaked. "You are to remain with us. If I catch you escaping, I will not hesitate to put you to sleep." The mare lost all color. But she nodded her head furiously. Zelori looked to Mr. Yaba. "I do believe we came here for a reason." The zebra buck nodded and withdrew the black book from the brown bag that was hooked on his side. Holding up the book, the mare gasped. "T-that book!" she stated. But catching the eye of the glaring zebra mare, she immediately shrunk back and quieted. Mr. Yaba then began chanting something in zebra. White and Zelori watched as the buck held the book high, his chanting turning back into Equish. O' sisters of the land, You who bring day and night, Let this object know the powers Of your glorious might.   The magic contained within its' depths, Be released upon thy soul. And be blessed in returned By the light of our foals. The room was silent. But the atmosphere was different than before. By brilliant sun. By glorious moon. Let them bear witness And release a swoon.   Unleash this power, That it holds in its grasp. So that it may retain It's once rightful past. There was a cold wind that blew through the room. Once that made White, Zelori and the mare shiver. But as quickly as it came, the room's atmosphere was back to normal. White looked around, a confused brow raised. "Err... was that it?" he asked. Mr. Yaba lowered the book, muttering a small prayer before putting the book back into the bag. "The Night Mother is not pleased by her defecation. I am afraid that it will be a little more difficult to gain her blessing." White shook his head slowly. "So... wait. The book can't be blessed by Princess Luna because somepony decided to decorate her with flesh and entrails?" Mr. Yaba rubbed his chin. "In more methodical terms, yes." White snorted angrily. "Great. What a waste of time. Candlejack is distracting a bounty hunter and we came all this way for nothing." Mr. Yaba frowned. "The price of playing with Death's entourage is a great one, youngling. I am afraid your family may have to deal with the curse." White waved a hoof in dismissal. "Buck that! I'm not going to let some divine bitch tell me that I can't save my sister!" Mr. Yaba frowned again. "You best watch your tone around the Night Mother." White snorted. "Oh bullshit! It's a freakin' statue for goddess sake!" He turned to the statue. "Ya' hear that, Night Mother!? That's right, I'm calling your bullshit!! You are just a two bit wanna-be princess who isn't appreciated anymore! Get with the times! You are a forgotten piece that doesn't have any rights to this world!! So you can go shove that broken horn of yours up your sorry flank!!" Zelori winced. The room's atmosphere felt a little darker than usual. So much, in fact, that Zelori couldn't help but feel a disturbance targeting the swearing unicorn. "White, I must ask that you please calm down." Zleori said as she took a step forward. The room's cold nature picked up more. "No! I didn't touch a bucking unicorn horn for the sole purpose of being rejected!! I don't need your blessings! I'll find another way to get rid of the dark magic! So you can just rot with the rest of this place like the sad lonely piece of rubble you are!" That did it. White gapped. The lit candles suddenly flickered. White yelped when he saw the eyes that occupied the statue's sockets look at him before levitating out along with the bones and flesh that decorated the statue. As if some dark invisible force began piecing together the parts. The bones formed together into equine structures. The two eyes occupied one of the skulls and the rest were given the pelts and hides of the quilt. Zelori and the mare cantered over to Mr. Yaba and the retreating DJ unicorn as the bones clattered to life. "N-n-n-no way... so this is necromancy!?" the mare exclaimed in shock. She put a trembling hoof to her head. "I-I've been studying the wrong profession." Zelori frowned. "No time to dwell on this. We have to leave. This whole operation is a bust." Mr. Yaba, White and the mare retreated back to the door, only to have it shut on them. However, Mr. Yaba, being the sheer brute he is, turned and bucked the door off its' hinges. Zelori made sure they made it through before following after them, flicking a rock at one of the skeletal ponies on the way out. There was a loud screech and the skeletons galloped after them. ~~~****~~~ Candlejack ducked a swing from the thestral, following with a good hoof punch to the pony's muzzle. With a grunt of pain, the pony flapped his bat like wings once to gain some distance away from the pegasus. He hissed. "Damn you! Just what the hell are you!? And how are you able to read my every move!?" he asked. Candlejack smirked, wiping freshly formed blood on his muzzle after a recent few hits to it from the thestral. While the bounty hunter has more bruises and cuts, Candlejack himself hadn't been entirely too cautious. There were a few times in their exchanges where the thestral managed to get in and gave him a good strike. But despite it all, he remained on his two legs, bobbing in place, grinning challengingly at the angry thestral. The podium was littered with the many tools the thestral had tried to attempt on the pegasus, only to be disarmed in more ways than one. 'I can't believe this pony is actually fending for his own against me!' the thestral thought. 'This bastard...' his ears suddenly perked up and he looked over. Candlejack heard it too. The sound of many hoofsteps heading their way. Mr. Yaba burst through the door they had retreated too. "Back already?" Candlejack asked, a little confused. Mr. Yaba was soon followed after by a hooded pony and White. White stopped and looked at him. "We have to leave! Now!" He shouted. Candlejack and the bounty hunter exchanged glances. But as if to answer their own questions, Zelori bolted out of the hall. And she wasn't alone either. Before she could move away from the door, something shot out and landed on her. Zelori grunted in pain and let herself roll in order to toss the skeletal like pony off of her. Candlejack balked in surprise at the sight. This wasn't something he had anticipated. It looked similar to the androids he had faced many times. But this one had... actual bones and flesh. "What in the..." Candlejack said. "By the Night Mother's moon..." the thestral breathed. He then blinked once and turned around, backing away as something clattered behind him. One of the skeleton ponies had descended from the second story balcony and took a few intimidating steps forward. Candlejack hopped back, seeing two more landing behind him. He and the thestral were back to flank as more of the skeletons descended and surrounded them. Zelori grit her teeth as she found the skeleton pouncing on her. She shifted sideways and locked her hooves around the neck of the creature. With a quick tug, the skeleton's neck bone ruptured and it screeched in pain. It went limp and Zelori dropped the creature, making it plop disgustingly as it hit the ground. She heard the screeching coming from further down. Zelori turned and moved towards the entrance, only to stop and turn back when she heard the sound of bone and flesh moving as one. The broken neck bone mended itself and by some dark force, the head popped back on and the creature hissed, clearly not happy about having its' neck snapped. "Buck me with a thousand horns..." Zelori groaned. It was one of the very few cases where Zelori would just outright do in a time of exasperated frustration. Candlejack cast a sideways glance at the thestral. The thestral returned it. Together, the two moved. Candlejack punted the chin of one of the skeletons, spun and bucked with one leg in a sideways motion at another skeleton. Both the skeleton's heads were knocked clean off. Candlejack noticed one of the skeletons stumbling towards him, a tag in by the thestral. Candlejack shot out his hoof and cloth-lined the creature, switching spots with the thestral who immediately flew through the air. With a quick forward spin, the thestral's lunarium dagger hummed and cracked on contact with the flailing skeleton in the air. Candlejack slid under one of the skeletons and locking both hooves at the hind legs of the creature, he rose up and picked the creature off of the ground, flipping it in the air and bucking it towards the thestral, who proceeded to hook the flying disgruntled creature, brought it around in a circle and tossed it over to another pair of skeletons. The bones shattered to pieces and clattered all over the podium. Candlejack finished off the other two with two quick jabs at one, forcing it back and with a quick flap of wings, rose up off the ground and twisted his body, extending a hind leg and colliding it with the sides of the creature's skulls together, sending their heads careening down the decayed velvet carpet. The two backed into one another. Making sure their assailants were down, the two then turned on each other. However, the thestral caught Candlejack off balance and pounced on him, planting the lunarium dagger under his neck. Candlejack grit his teeth, feeling the burning cold sting of the blade. The thestral narrowed his eyes and before he could decide anything, the sound of bones clattering together made him look away. Candlejack took the advantage and moved the dagger away, socking the thestral in the muzzle and forcing him to back off. "Argh! I've had enough of this!" The thestral took off, hovering in the air a bit. "Mark my words, pure wing. You cross the Night Mother again and I will ensure she is pleased with you and your 'friends' head's on a platter!" Candlejack, noticing the skeletons slowly forming back together, smirked at the bat pony. "Aww, love you too pal. Can't wait to hear from your client about your failure." He said, waving his hoof in a farewell motion. The thestral growled. "It is far from over, pure wing. You have my undying pledge to that!" And with that, the thestral took off, zipping through the shattered stained glass window and disappearing from sight. Candlejack frowned, looking around as the skeletons were near completion. "Well this has been an interesting day..." Candlejack fell back on all fours and with two bounds of a gallop, he jumped over the fencing and landed gracefully on the carpet, picking up his speed as the skeletons were beginning to focus him. Zelori was waiting at the entrance for him, bucking a skeleton away before letting him through. She shut the door and nodded to them. The six ponies galloped out of the chapel and up the hill. Candlejack looked back, seeing the decrepit statue of the two alicorns. For some reason, the shorter one appeared to have lost a bit more of its' body than previous. Only the bottom half remained with the hind legs while the torso planted itself in the sand, shattered. 'To think these ponies existed one time... guess I was right to go agnostic.' he thought, thinking back to the stained glass windows. And with the chapel, now abandoned and uninhabitable, to any wandering adventurer's beware. For The Church of Eclipse will forever remain haunted by the damned. > Act-1 Chapter 15: The Cult of the Eclipse > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Cult of the Eclipse White suddenly was on the mare, pinning her to the ground and growling at her. The mare shrunk under him, terrified by the sudden attack. "Just what in the hell are you trying to play at!? It's bad enough skinning ponies. But raising the dead!? That is just low as you can go!!" The mare shivered. "I-I swear, I didn't do any of that!! I wasn't lying when I said I wasn't good with magic! Let alone, Necromancy!" Zelori looked sternly at her. "Even so, you shouldn't have been around that place. Do you want your soul to be displayed and used by other ponies when you pass?" The mare curled under the DJ. "I-I-I swear! All I was trying to do was s-s-study up on the cult my grandmother was apart of!" White remained angry, but his brows rose in question. "Cult? What kind of cult? And it better not be what I think it is." He said. The mare was hesitant. Candlejack rubbed his mane and sighed. "Alright, lay off the kid, kid. You won't really get anywhere just by being a total ass." The mare looked over to him while the DJ balked. "Just what are you talking about!? She almost killed us with those skeletons! Do you think somepony of that caliber should just be walking around?" Candlejack snorted. "I could say the same for you and your sister. Whatever that brat has done, it put both you and her under the scope of a rifle. Do you honestly expect me to think that you two really think you can make it in this place without so much as being aware of your actions?" White eyed him cautiously while Zelori raised a brow that nipped Candlejack with annoyance. The stallion sighed. "What I'm trying to say is that no pony here is innocent of anything. And that seems to be a common case despite the few days we have been up here. It's like walking into a hotel and expecting food and services only to find that they keep the beds untidy and the rooms unclean." White arched a brow now. "I... what?" he asked. Candlejack trotted over to him, forcing him to back away a little before he held out a hoof to the young adolescent. "She probably didn't realize the situation she was dealing with is what I'm really saying. So let's just give her some space and let her speak." He then looked sternly at her. "I doubt she can really make it back without walking into the pockets of intense heat. So there is no point in running." The adolescent was stunned. She eyed his hoof before taking it and being helped up. She looked him square in the eye, her cheeks a tad red. She then blinked and fidgeted. "Err... y-you're right." She said with a small sigh. "I was lucky enough to have made it here without combusting into ashes. And when I arrived, I was just entranced by what I saw." She nodded over to the direction of where the church had been. A tall sand dune blocking their view of it. "I eventually went in and explored the place, realizing that it was indeed the spot where the cult used to meet at." She looked over to the DJ who was eyeing her suspiciously again. "The Cult of the Eclipse." Candlejack stroked his chin in thought. "And I assume this cult is the very same cult that you were a part of?" He then looked to White, who rubbed his foreleg and adverted his eyes. Candlejack shook his head. "So, explain why you think it was a good idea to study necromancy and the cult?" The adolescent shrunk again. "U-uhh... well..." she bit her lip, hesitant if she wanted to continue any further. But meeting the orchid eyes of the stallion, she flushed. "I was... curious as to what the cult really did back in the days." She kicked the sand, creating a small dust cloud before continuing. "My grandmother said that they would gather with all the others and go over sermons and speeches about the princesses. How they used to be the saviors and goddesses for a millennia. How Princess Luna watched the dreams and sleeping ponies while Celestia rose the sun and partook in most of the conflicts that plagued them during their uprising." Candlejack smiled. "Sounds pretty neat. But that can't all there be to it, is there?" The adolescent blushed again, trying her best to calm her rapidly beating heart around the pegasus. "W-well you see... the cult may have talked a lot about the princesses. But there... was one thing my grandmother talked to me about." She glanced towards the unicorn DJ. "In her dementia, she stated that the dark magic used in rituals for the princesses weren't intended for them. And afterwords, she said strange things had happened to the cult when one of those ponies decided to bring in this magic they had dubbed 'Necrotics'." Mr. Yaba frowned. "A drug? I don't recall that ever being relevant to necromancy, let alone the cult." He said. The adolescent mare rose her hoof up. "That's what I'm trying to figure out." She said. Candlejack frowned. "So why were you studying necromancy in the first place? That seemed like something your grandmother would tell you not to do if she made it sound like it was a bad thing." The mare kicked her hoof bashfully. "I-I... well..." The mare sighed and bowed her cloaked head. "Remember when I said I wasn't good with magic?" The four waited patiently for her to finish. "I... the only magic I could ever do was change my voice projection and alchemy. I mean, projecting your voice does have advantages, but... is that really all a unicorn can do?" She tapped her hooves together. "Unicorns know the basic magic. Telekinesis, the art of moving objects with your mind. It's a second nature for every unicorn. But I..." she seemed to have faltered and teared a little. "The only thing I can really do is know potions, herbs and their effects. My mother is a medicine mare in Aretilla." White balked. "Aretilla? You are from Aretilla!?" The unicorn shook her head. "Not entirely. I was born there, but my father and mother... had their disagreements. When my dad wanted to refuse living a life underneath sprite-drones, Zillex Security and the A.S.S. muscle they have on speed dial, he decided to file papers for leave and we ventured out." She rubbed her foreleg. "That's all I'm going to say... the rest is..." I don't really wanna' talk about." White was about to speak up when Candlejack held out a wing to stop him, causing the mare to flinch at the sudden movement. "I can understand that. In any case, you still didn't answer my question." Candlejack remained stoic. "Why do you think it was a good idea to study necromancy?" The mare bit her lip, failing to stand her ground as her heart rate increased when the stallion got a little closer out of curiosity. Candlejack thought this mare was a little out of the ordinary. Assuming he knew exactly what he thought was "ordinary" here. But he had a hunch that this mare might be a little clue as to getting what he wanted. For that, his mind remained silent and focused on trying to gather as much information as possible. The mare gave in, moving a little closer to Candlejack, who cocked a brow in confusion at the sudden advancement. "I just thought that maybe learning necromancy would be a good way of finding out who I am. But maybe... perhaps I should start looking a little more closely." Zelori suddenly bit Candlejack's ear and drug him away from the crowd. Hissing and rubbing his ear as she let go, he turned on her with a frown. "What the hell, Zelori?" Zelori arched a stern brow in response. "She is much too young to be in that situation." Candlejack snorted and waved a hoof. "I don't understand what you mean, but dammit, I am trying to gather information. Isn't that what we agreed on back in Detrot?" Zelori rubbed her muzzle in frustration. "And what makes you think flirting with a teen can help us with that? May I remind you that your habits need to be kept under control." Candlejack rolled his eyes in annoyance. "What habits? The only thing I"ve ever done was-." "Being curious?" Zelori finished for him. Candlejack smiled and pointed a hoof at her. "Exactly!" Zelori face-hoofed. "My brother. I am only going to say this once and I do not want to repeat myself. Is that clear?" Candlejack smirked. "Hit me." He said. Zelori obliged by quickly striking a hoof over Candlejack's head, causing him to hiss again in pain and rub his sore spot. "It was an expression!!" "Curiosity is as much a vice as it is a virtue. I want you to keep that curiosity in check. Treat this place as if it were an expedition." Candlejack shook his head. "No way, Z! You are missing the bigger picture here." He expanded a wing and motioned over to the vast expanse of the desert. "This place is just dying to be picked! Perhaps we can find another house up here." He cleared his throat and motioned towards the three ponies looking as if they were trying to understand what was going on. "Company excluded. This is a chance for us to start a new life! No more ETG! No more expeditions! We are free to do what we want! And so..." He smirked and beat his hoof to his chest once. "I plan on picking every nook and cranny I can find worth of value." Zelori made a small motion that made Candlejack flinch and retreat a bit. "C'mon, sis! You hated that place as much as anypony! Brilliant Mane can suffocate in there with his cronies and we are free to do what we want without his watch!" The zebra gave a tired sigh. "It seems you are also forgetting where you came from." She retorted. Candlejack arched a suspicious brow. "There are ponies down there that deserve a better life as well. And who was that pony that told me that over and over during his drunken depression?" Candlejack stiffened. 'Crap... cornered..." he thought dreadfully. No escaping the nail now. "Exactly. The way you treated the adolescent is not really out of curiosity. It was pity and acceptance. She is as much a stray as when DD had found you." She nodded to the three who were watching intently. "Company included." She put a reassuring hoof on his shoulder that Candlejack mistook for another strike over his head. Easing when it wasn't the case, he met Zelori's eyes. "I know we have taught you better than what you are being now. All those expeditions can take a toll on anypony. Including me." She sighed. "I don't ever want to witness the fate of my brother like all those others that we have seen. DD... may its soul rest... only wanted to see you smile. And all I want for you is to have a better life and lead a proper example of it." Candlejack rubbed his foreleg. "But I..." he said. Zelori hugged him. "Being a leader isn't just a sole responsibility of managing those. It's putting your faith and doing your best to make sure that you all come out on top." Candlejack darted his eyes in thought before Zelori pulled away from him and trotting over to the three. Mr. Yaba suddenly found the two teens ducking behind him, witnessing the aggressive reaction Zelori had displayed towards Candlejack. But she only smiled. "Now then, I believe we will discuss this more at the mechanic's place. Perhaps then we can figure out what to do about this dark magic's reign on the youths." She glanced over her shoulder, seeing Candlejack stroke his chin in thought and then beamed at a silent idea that came to mind. He then trotted back over and flapped his wings once. "Perhaps we should ask the ex-cultists." He looked to White. "You were probably young when the cult disbanded. But I bet that some of the cult leaders and generals might still be living around here. If we can get their insight, then maybe we might find another way in dealing with the ghosts." White sighed and rubbed his mane. "Well... it was bound to happen eventually..." he motioned for the group to follow. "C'mon. I know exactly where we should start. But do keep in mind, they won't be happy. They spent a decade trying to bury any remains of the cult." Candlejack smirked. "We can handle a few retired generals." He said. White shook his head. "I wasn't talking about the cult leaders. I was talking about A.S.S." ~~~****~~~ Aurora, Spotlight and Manic walked through the market area of the community. They figured after that incident, Manic really needed to get out of the house. Aurora eyed the filly, who was bowing her head and twitching at every move in her peripherals. There was at one point when they had lost track of the filly and asked around. When one pony motioned behind them, they turned to see her standing in front of an old antique shop. Manic darted her eyes, contemplating whether she wanted to go in or not. "Manic, hun. Are you okay?" Spotlight asked as the two trotted up to her. Manic said nothing and looked at her tiredly. Aurora noticed the filly's brain waves at unstable levels. Clearly, she wasn't okay. Aurora thought back to that encounter. Her personality chip registering all kinds of negative emotions from the anomaly. It made her feel... sick. Never had she experienced anything like it. M0K units and other things she can manage. But how can she even begin to comprehend the supernatural? She wasn't equipped to understand nor combat it. But for some reason, she ignored the logical aspect and assumed that whatever was going on was indeed an "anomaly". Something that was out of the ordinary and had unusual grasp of powers. And living in a world where machine and magic coincide, anything could happen. Manic turned and entered into the antique shop. Her mind muddled with thoughts and flashes of her nightmare. She just wanted to curl into a corner and hopefully no pony would find her. Manic figured if she can lose the two in the shop and sneak out, she might be able to accomplish that. 'I'm so tired... so very tired...' she thought as they entered. The shop was quiet. No pony had seemed to walk in here for years. In fact, some of the display cases seemed like they were moved, as if a struggle had occurred. Aurora took one step forward and lightly stepped on something metallic. Looking down, she could see pieces of armor scattered throughout the store. "Oh dear. I hope Mr. Yaba is okay." Spotlight said. Aurora studied a jar of eyeballs. Apparently labeled as "Newt Eyes". The eyes looked back at her. Turning her head and missing the moment when the eyes suddenly blinked as one, Aurora moved over to the next display. A shelf full of oddities and trinkets. Old necklaces and brooches lined the shelves. There was one brooch that was labeled "Alicorn Amulet". Aurora plucked it in her hoof claw and examined it. This amulet must have been very powerful in its time. Her scans showing no trace of magic whatsoever. Putting it back, she looked over to see Manic glancing nervously around the store. She gapped, a flash image of Tom appearing. She smiled and went over to the filly. "Find anything you like?" she asked. Manic said nothing and continued to act like she was interested in a small piece that looked like it belonged on the foreleg. Aurora watched as the filly tapped her hind hoof rapidly as she put it back and continued on browsing. The android frowned worriedly. "Manic? Do you want to express what's on your mind?" Manic shook her head. "Nothing to concern yourself about." She said. Aurora rubbed her chin and beamed at an idea. "But I have to be worried for madam's health. It is my duty to make sure you are comfortable." She said, doing a courteous bow by crossing her forelegs and bowing. Manic blinked in response. "Very funny." She said with a tired frown. Aurora stood up and smirked. "Then perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me? I'm sure whatever you have on your mind, I can keep a secret." She pointed at the filly. "You do have control of my programming anyway. You can just delete this conversation whenever you want. Just, don't hold it all in, it's unhealthy. You are a growing filly and it's natural to go through these changes." Manic arched a brow. "What are you talking about?" she asked. Aurora tapped her hoof claw stub under her chin. "Well, puberty makes ponies feel all kinds of feelings. Your body is going through changes and you are confused by the sudden outbreak of pimples and going through a heat cycle. It's okay to have these. It shows you are growing. There are ways to ensure that you are well protected under these conditions as well as certain herbs and stuff to help you keep it under control." She gave a sly smirk. "Perhaps a colt catches your fancy?" Manic was mortified by this thought. "Or maybe a filly is your preference? Again it is okay. So long as you don't hold it all in." "Just shut up already! What the hell are you talking about!?" Manic exclaimed, her face a tad cherry color. Spotlight overheard the conversation and caught the small mischievous glint in the android's eyes. She smirked. "Hun, when you finally find that special somepony, you will understand entirely." She put a hoof to herself as she continued. "Why, when I went through puberty, there were a few things even I didn't understand. The same with your brother. But eventually, through teenage hormones and angst, we found a way to keep it under control. So please, don't hold it in. It is unhealthy for a lady such as yourself to keep it bottled up." Manic fell to her stomach and covered her face with her hooves as best as possible. But there was no escaping the sudden burning feeling in her cheeks. "I don't give a crap about that!! I'm not ready for that kind of thing and I don't want to start now!!" she exclaimed. Aurora clicked her tongue. "But madam. If you do not express your rebellion like every other teen has always done, then you will surely not be able to find a colt or mare to spend time with." Manic shook her head. "Just shut up about that! I don't care about no colt nor a filly!" she stood up, growling at them. "I don't know what's going on with you two, but I am getting tired of wherever this confrontation is going! If you want to know what's on my mind? Fine!" She turned in a huff and took a moment to calm herself. She then sighed when she was ready. "For the longest time... I thought I was responsible for her death." The two exchanged glances before looking back to the filly. "When momma passed, we were told by one of the A.S.S. that found her. Mangled, horribly beaten. Almost as if somepony had a sheer hatred for her. I don't understand who would, but before she passed, she and I had... well..." Her eyes started welling up. But Aurora wanted to follow Tom's example. Sitting down next to the filly and putting a reassuring hoof around her, the filly continued. "Momma and I had a disagreement. I... really don't know if it was puberty or not. But it was after I had gotten my cutie-mark." She leaned against the android, nuzzling at the feel of warm and soft texture of her maid outfit on her chassis. "I wanted to show her that I had gotten it. My brother and father were proud of me, so why shouldn't she? But... when I did show her... she was under the influence of alcohol." Aurora stroked the filly's mane. "She stated in her drunken stupor that somepony had it out for her. That they wanted her out of the picture. And when she turned to see me, she suddenly stood up and frowned disappointingly at me. She said 'Quit strutting your ass around like it is a badge of honor. You don't deserve any kind of special treatment for a sorry excuse like you." Spotlight gasped. "Oiseau said that? B-but... that isn't like her!" Manic nodded. "That's something I am still trying to figure out. But when she had said it, I protested that everypony else was happy for me and how come she wasn't. She thought I was a no good strumpet who deserved every pounding of a stallion against consent." Spotlight was mortified. "No... no I refuse to believe Oiseau said that." She said. Aurora caught the brain waves of the pop idol increasing. The anger clear on her face. "How can she say that to her only daughter!?" Manic remained motionless in the android’s embrace. "I just figured she was too drunk to understand her own grasp of vocabulary. But I wanted to tell her that I had gotten my cutie-mark and she insulted me for it. Then, we started arguing after that. I don't think momma remembered what she said to me and was trying desperately to figure it out when I showed signs of disapproval towards her." She rasped a chuckle. "Didn't help that I was too stupid and stubborn enough to not tell her. But I just felt... that she deserved to be treated as such since she was so mean to me." Manic rested her head tiredly on the android. "And when she passed... I felt like I did something to make her leave... I... I was the one that made dad go insane. I was the one that killed momma. I... was the one responsible for where we are now." Aurora looked to Spotlight, who was darting her eyes. She then nodded to herself and suddenly pulled Manic to face her, grasping her shoulders. "Manic, you listen to me now. None of this is your fault. It was a series of unfortunate events. Your mother loved you. She always told me how bright of a child you were. How you always made your father proud with your little inventions. How you managed to fix her old record player. How you practically made their home more tolerable to the weather. They were thankful for you. Both of them were proud to have you as a daughter." She looked sternly at the stunned filly. "Your brother knows this too. He was jealous of you that you always seemed to get their praise more than he did. But when you fixed his broken record table and his obsolete gaming console, he was wrong about having you as a sister. They loved you more than anything!" Manic shook her head slightly. "But... that sounds like they only loved me for fixing their things..." Spotlight shook her head. "Nonsense. That broken record player Oiseau loved so much. She was planning on selling the thing. And when you fixed it, she was impressed you brought back something that was on the verge of no return. Do you still have that wrench she bought you after the fact?" Manic eyed Spotlight. She sniffled a bit. "I-I use it for fixing up Kiwi Bot and machines." Spotlight smiled and hugged the filly. "That right there should tell you more than enough that she cared. She knew your passion for inventions and robotics would lead you to greatness. And when I heard you were accepted to be the new GM Mechanic for Aretilla, I'm sure if your parents would have heard it, they would have been just as proud." Manic stiffened at the mention of her title. Did her idol just praise her for it? No way that a star like Spotlight would even care for such a thing being so busy. Manic was speechless. "M-momma..." she hiccupped. The tears streamed down her cheeks. The sound of the door opening made them look to see a pony walk in. Aurora cocked her head, seeing that it was a very muscular zebra that had a scar and flesh wound on his muzzle and face. He looked through a glazed eye at the ponies before him. "Spotlight Glitter. To what honor do I have for you to be in my presence?" he then looked down to see the teared filly. She wiped her face and muzzle. The zebra arched a brow. "It is not everyday I see a child cry in my store." Spotlight stood up and bowed courteously. "Mr. Yaba! Looking as well as ever." She said with a smile. Mr. Yaba snorted proudly. "Such manners. I wish every brat on this street followed your example." He said. He then looked over to see the maid dressed android. "I don't mean to be frank, but that outfit shows off more than the legs, my dear." Aurora balked, her cheeks turning crimson. She brushed her bottom piece, making sure that it would cover whatever was exposed. Mr. Yaba sighed, causing Spotlight to look worriedly at the buck. "Is everything alright, Mr. Yaba?" she asked in a very polite tone. Aurora had to hoof it to the pop idol. She seems to have everypony's number in her hoof. Mr. Yaba trotted behind his counter. "That troublesome brat and his friends are difficult to manage." Manic blinked once. "You mean... my brother?" she asked. Mr. Yaba eyed the filly. "Yes, your brother is once again causing more trouble than he is worth." He frowned and looked at Spotlight. "You are certain you want to spend your life with him? I'm sure there are plenty of others that are more than capable of protecting you." Spotlight giggled. "I appreciate the thought, but White isn't really a bad pony. In fact, I've been meaning to ask have you seen him?" Mr. Yaba nodded. "I had just left his presence." He snorted. "That damn brat and that pegasus threatened my product in order for us to go to an abandoned church to get a prayer from the sisters." Aurora, Spotlight and Manic exchanged glances. "Why on earth did he want to go to that old place? It certainly can't be about the cult, can it?" Spotlight asked. Mr. Yaba nodded. "It is now. Realizing that it is going to take more than prayers to solve your 'ghost' problems, the boy took it upon himself to meet up with the previous cult leaders in order to figure out how to destroy that book." Manic blinked in realization. "A book?" she asked. Mr. Yaba narrowed his eyes. "A familiar memory, is it not?" he asked her. Manic had another flash of the nightmare. Her father holding the book in his magic. She shook her head and suddenly looked serious. "What did my brother find? And where is he now?" she asked. Mr. Yaba tapped his hoof on the counter. "On his way to speak to Mortimer Monocle as we speak." Manic darted her eyes in contemplation before turning on her hooves and marching to the door. "Manic?" Spotlight asked. The filly put a hoof on the door before looking over her shoulder to them. "I'm going to help him find out how. I want to put it all behind us. I want to... help momma find peace." Aurora smiled at this. It is amazing as to how pony's can suddenly find the determination to put their thoughts into actions. It made her feel a little envious at the thought. Ignoring the breeding program that had come up when the buck had entered (a big zero percent of chance) she stood up and trotted over to the filly. Spotlight smiled and bowed courteously again to the zebra. "Thank you very much, Mr. Yaba. I hope I can count on you to help with the set up for the stage tonight?" Mr. Yaba nodded. "You have my muscle, my dear." He said with a toothy flesh smile. And with that, the three trotted out of the store. Mr. Yaba sighed quietly and looked over to a small framed picture. The image faded, but it reminded him how he acted back then. As much as he hated to admit it, the unicorn and his entourage made him miss his old comrades. "To what I wouldn't give to relive those times again." ~~~****~~~ White lead Candlejack, Zelori and the mare who had told them her name was Starbreeze, down another road after seeing Mr. Yaba off. It was much more quiet down this road than the central part of the suburbs. A cul-de-sac with the houses at the end were renovated with metal scraps and anything technological in A/C. White took them to the center house and knocked on the door. They waited a few moments awkwardly before the door suddenly slid open and a young colt peeked his head out. "Who is it?" he asked. White smiled. "Light Feather. It's White. Is your grandpa home?" he asked. The colt, a grey coated unicorn pony with an orange and blue colored mane, perked up and smiled. "White!" he said. White ruffled the colt's mane with a smile before nodding. "The one and only." He said. Light Feather trotted happily in place. "Oh gosh, I can't believe it's you! Are you here to teach me more of those sick DJ drops?" he asked. White chuckled. "Not today. I was wondering if your grandpa was home." Light slumped. "Aww, are you really here for him?" he asked, puckering his lip in a pout. White gave him a cool look. "C'mon now. I gave you front row seats. What's better than seeing your very own DJ up close?" "Or better yet, have the DJ talk to you right now." Candlejack spoke up. Light Feather suddenly ducked behind the doorway and peeked out. "W-who are they?" He asked. White shrugged. "Just some ponies I am showing around the town. They mean no harm." He smirked towards the pegasus. "My sister made sure of that." Candlejack winced while Zelori did her best to avoid eye contact. They won't admit to being captured by a filly and then had their brains literally poked at. There was too much pride and dignity lost in that moment. But changing back to the topic, White put his hoof to his chest. "I figured, since I showed them everything else, why not show them my number one fan's house? After all, they say you save the best for last, right?" That seemed to do it. The colt was starry eyed before smiling and getting low, his tail swaying in the air. "I'll go get him! Be right back!" He suddenly turned, cantering away from the door while shouting. "Grandpa! Grandpa! DJ White wants to see you!" The door slid closed and Zelori snickered. "Reminds me of somepony I know whenever he got starry eyed." She glanced at Candlejack, who saw the bent and rustic mail box to be more interesting than the constant prodding at his pride. White shrugged. "Everypony here just wants to live a peaceful life. We do what we can to make sure everypony is happy." He smiled. "Even the ones who haven't been a part of the Eclipse." The door slid open and an old buck with a metal cane ambled out of the house with the young colt laughing as he went to stand next to White. The mint green buck with a white disheveled mane and reading glasses studied the group. "Well, I'll be. If it isn't White Osieau. I've heard a lot of praise from my grandson about you." White rubbed his mane awkwardly at the compliment. "I have to thank you for giving him the chance to enjoy his life." He grinned. "I bet young Manic is at that point in her life too. My grandson seems to take quite a liking to both of you." White rubbed his chin with a grin. "Really now?" Candlejack and Zelori saw a mischievous glint in the pony's eye. He then turned to Light Feather. "So, my sister strikes your fancy, huh?" Light Feather cocked his head in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked. White brushed his hoof against his chest. "Well, I don't mean to brag, but Manic says that she has had her eyes on somepony for quite a while now." He cast a sideways glance, seeing the colt perk up. "O-oh, really? Umm... did she say who?" he asked. Candlejack could sense the anticipation. Zelori eyed her brother suspiciously. "You better not be thinking what I think you are thinking." Zelori whispered to him. Candlejack chuckled. "Me? Noooo. I definitely don't want to embarrass the brat about her love life. Definitely not that." Zelori could have sworn she saw a halo pop up over his head when he said it. White leaned forward. "She didn't give much detail. Buuuut she did say it was a pretty happy unicorn colt." Light Feather fidgeted a little. "Huh... okay then." Zelori sighed. "If it is not spilling blood, it's damaging pride." She said quietly to herself. The buck then looked past them and saw Starbreeze slowly shrinking behind them. "You there!" he said. The adolescent squeaked and stiffened. "That cloak... where did you get it?" All eyes were on her. The mare slowly turned her head, giving them her best smile. "I-I-It... belonged to my grandmother?" she said, hesitant if it was the correct answer. The old buck narrowed his eyes before darting them around. "Ahh, of course. That cloak belonged to your grandmother who was a traveler, correct?" The mare blinked in confusion. "N-" she then caught his look. He was smiling. His kind old green eyes looking at her. But it was also something else. Candlejack narrowed his eyes. This buck was telling her something. And he grinned as he knew what was going on. Candlejack cracked his neck before speaking up. "Why yes. We found her heading down the road leading to Detrot. Thought she was going to die of exhaustion. Poor soul has been walking for days." He put a wing over her, making her flush brightly and adjust her cloaked head. But Candlejack shot a look that told the buck he understood, much too a flustered confusion of the mare and the suspicious understanding from the zebra mare and the DJ. The buck turned and waved a hoof to his grandson. "Come along, Light. Let us get a pot of tea started. And perhaps some lunch as well." He motioned for them to follow. "Please, come in. It's been too long since I've had company to talk too." The colt cantered into the house next to White, who was trotting casually along and helping the old buck into the house. Candlejack looked stoically at Zelori, who was darting her gaze between the two. "C'mon, Zelori. It's rude to turn away the elderly." He said as he trotted ahead. Zelori gave a once more quick glance at the young mare who seemed to be struggling with a thought. 'I hate it when he does this.' she thought with a frown before leading the mare in with the rest of them. Improvising is another habit the pegasus had developed. And she worried that one day, that improv will get him killed. ~~~****~~~ The house is a cozy little place. Not much for decorations other than old world stuff. The walls lined with veteran memorabilia and the place had a unique vintage for being something technologically developed. The cool A/C breeze never felt so welcoming to the ponies. Candlejack unfurled his wings as to air out the burning itch that seemed to irritate his side. They entered into a small living room. A metal coffee table surrounded by peeling leather sofas and couches. Which were quickly preoccupied by the ponies that soon turned the cramped living space to a more claustrophobic state. Candlejack sat down with the mare, only to have Zelori take a seat in between them. The mare seemed a little upset by this gesture, but Zelori figured it was for the better that this adolescent doesn't fall victim to the oblivious stallion that was admiring the old display case with porcelain dishes and statuettes. "Flutter! We have guests!" the buck called out. There was a brief moment before a pretty yellow mare in a bee colored mane appeared from a bedroom. The mare had her mane tied in a ponytail, one that immediately caught the attention of Candlejack. Her chrome colored eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my. That is quite a lot of guests." She said. Light Feather trotted up to her and the mare smiled before petting his head and moving behind the kitchen counter. "I guess I'll get lunch started then." She met the staring orchid eyes of the pegasus. She returned it with a friendly smile before opening the fridge and ducking her head in it. "Now then." The buck said, making Candlejack blink out of his stunned state and focusing on the conversation. "I would like to ask what you are doing with a cloak like that?" All eyes focused on the mare, who shrunk again in her seat. "W-well. My grandmother used to own this cloak." She locked a hoof around the edge and lifted it up. "I mean... it's a little rugged. But it protects me enough from the rays." The buck stroked his chin before looking grim. "Do you want to know why?" Everypony leaned in on interest. The buck took a deep breath before speaking. "I know you all aren't here for a meet and greet. But to avoid any..." he looked to Zelori and Candlejack. "Unwanted attention. I must ask that you please strip yourselves of your suites." The two estranged siblings exchanged glances. "Umm... okay then?" Candlejack said. He stood up and unzipped the jump suite, pulling it off of him with his wings while Zelori was quick and graceful in removing hers. Their bodies fully exposed, the buck studied them and sighed in relief. "I'm sorry about the precaution. But I had to make sure you weren't branded with the heathen's mark." Candlejack felt the cool breeze on his coat to be welcoming. He sat back down and gave a small hoof wiggle. "Meh, it's okay. The suites were a little too tacky if you asked me." White smirked. "Manic did have a terrible fashion sense when it came to stuff like that." Zelori sat back down in between them, glancing to see the mare suddenly bleed from the nose. She quickly caught her look and wiped it. The buck sighed tiredly. "So... The Cult of the Eclipse. Are you here to tell me that they have returned?" White shook his head. "Actually... it has to deal with my own family. Particularly my sister." The buck studied him as he continued. "You see... ever since mom died and dad... well... vanished. It has always just been me and her after that. But the things we have seen from our father... it left a big scar on her." He reached into his saddle bag and withdrew the book. The room became colder than it should. Candlejack shivered a bit and was tempted to put the suite back on. "Manic has been sleeping poorly and I worry that the toll on pulling all-nighters while trying to avoid her sleep is going to kill her." Light Feather balked. "Manic is going to die!?" The mare behind the counter looked worriedly at them. But White continued. "I hope not. She's been through too much already to have a fate end her so early." He frowned and looked at the book. "We've been to the church." The buck was quiet. He then leaned forward, balancing his head on her cane and hooves. "So you have. And what did you find there?" Candlejack pointed at the mare. "Somepony and a whole lot of skeletons that came to life." Candlejack rubbed his chin. "I never thought fighting the undead would be pretty fun, now that I think about it." He caught the stern look from Zelori and he quickly changed his thoughts. "Buuut, the undead coming to life was indeed a danger for everypony. Aside from the bounty hunter out to get White and the brat." The buck suddenly stood up. His look grim and stern as he eyed the stallion DJ. "Family history of necromancy and wanted by bounty hunters. Something tells me you did more than your fair share of trouble." White returned his look with a frown. "If I wanted to put me and my sis in danger, I wouldn't be going to the lengths of trying to destroy this thing." He said as he levitated up the book. The buck eyed him. "And what makes you think destroying the Necronomica will solve that?" Starbreeze balked. "I thought that book looked familiar!!" she blurted. She quickly flushed as the many eyes focused on her. "Err... s-sorry..." The buck shook his head. "You have every right to call it out." He clicked his tongue. "I was a fool for even allowing such a thing be placed upon the cult since the leader before me decided to put it in the sermons with the princesses." He rubbed his muzzle. "The Cult of the Eclipse was dedicated, proud members and followers of the sisters. Their power were far greater than us mortals and we wanted to tell the world that their grace and power had no bounds." He then growled at the book on the table. "At least, that was the teachings when I was a colt. But as I quickly became a general and spent more years at the gatherings, I began to see the change of my brothers and sisters." He looked out the window, pulling back the curtain with his cane. "Their eyes weren't unique. Only a sickly green. Their minds entranced in the power of dark magic. That was when they began the volunteered sacrifices." He bowed his head. "I... I stood by and let it happen. That poor... poor filly... she had no ideaâ€..." The room's atmosphere indeed turned dark. "I did everything I could to try and steer those that haven't been influenced back into the graces of our goddesses. But Cult Leader Constance was hell bent on making sure that this magic would spread throughout the cult. He was drunk with power and his sermons were utter nonsense." He turned to face White. "You are smart to come to me, boy. I... do not have anything that can help destroy it. But I do know a way to make sure that the dark magic no longer affects you and your sister." He was hesitant at first as he picked up the book in a shaky hoof. "I never thought I would see it resurface. Where has it been all this time?" Candlejack rubbed the back of his mane. "I err... found it when I was cleaning the backyard." That elicited strange looks from the buck. Candlejack soon found himself shrinking into the couch when the buck towered over him. "Did you read any of it?" he asked. The stallion was a little disturbed by the sudden hostile tone. "Err... only a few paragraphs. But it was all gibberish to begin with. Somepony had basically scratched out the original writing and wrote over it." The buck was quick to respond. "Melancholy." He looked to White. "Your father was tempted by its power." White balked. "H-how do you know my father was responsible?" the buck glinted threatingly at the book. "Because I heard that Mr. Yaba had his store broken into when he was the one that volunteered to keep the book under lock and key." Zelori rubbed her chin. "But accepting dark magic for my people is a curse. What made him decide that?" The buck sighed tiredly. "Because he was the one along with his expedition team that helped my grandfather from an illness that I never thought would have a cure. Mr. Yaba has done so much for this town." He grinned. "He may not look it, but the buck is older than you think. It's why he gets sentimental around our new generation." Zelori was baffled. "Impossible... has he achieved the grace of Gaia?" The buck shrugged. "I am afraid you are going to have to ask Mr. Yaba yourself. He doesn't like talking about his personal life. But in any case, he was there when the A.S.S. suddenly raided a gathering one night. One that I was lucky enough not to partake in as I was helping out my daughter handle the house during her seven month pregnancy." His expression darkened. "I heard from one of our scouts that the church had been abandoned and anypony that had fought against them were apprehended." He looked to White. "After that, the cult disbanded and we remained quiet about it for a decade. Your sister was born not long after along with my grandson." White darted his eyes. This must have been a little too much for him to gather. Candlejack rubbed his chin. "So, after the cult disbanded, Mr. Yaba secured the book before A.S.S. can get their hooves on it. I take it that kind of power shouldn't fall under them?" the buck nodded. "How astute. Aretilla may be a HUB for opportunity. But it is as corrupt as any other society out there. Especially with Zillex holding the reigns." 'That name again... so they really do exist.' There was a knock on the door. The bee colored mare smiled. "I'll get it." She said. She trotted down the short hallway, only for them to hear a scream and a loud clatter. Everypony except for Candlejack stood up. Before anypony could move, three ponies in strange glowing suites entered. One of them held a solarium knife in her magic under the mare's neck. "Sorry to barge in. But we have been told that there may have been a secret gathering here. You all wouldn't happen to know about that, would you?" one of the helmeted ponies asked. Light Feather stood up. "Mom!" he cried. "Stay back, Light. Just do what they say.” She said, trying desperately to ease her neck away from the knife. "Smart mare. Now, would anypony care to oblige us?" the pony motioned. "Search the place. Leave no stone unturned. Anypony that moves will be in violation of the law of accordance with Aretilla." The pony shoved the mare forward and the buck quickly hugged her with the colt hugging her foreleg. The pony then focused on Starbreeze, who quickly shrank back into her seat. "You! The one in the cloak. Remove it!" Starbreeze hesitated. "Now!!" the pony took a few intimidating steps forward, only to be stopped by Candlejack with a wing held up between them. "Hey now. What gives you the right to barge in without being uninvited?" He asked. Zelori eyed her brother quietly. But she quickly shifted in a ready subtle stance. The pony held the knife under his chin. "Wanna try me again, boy!?" the pony hissed. Candlejack glanced at the solarium knife before back at his reflection on the pony's helm. "Not really. But if you are going to be rude about it, then I see no problems returning the favor." He then smirked and held up a wing. An obscene gesture was skillfully made by him. That caught the pony by surprise and in a blink of an eye, Candlejack snatched the knife out of the pony's magic grasp and to the utter shock of everypony except Zelori, he pierced the helmet of the pony. The blade searing into the visor and the pony screamed in pain as Candlejack let go and watched the pony stumble over the coffee table. One of the suited ponies cantered quickly out of the kitchen, only to suddenly be tripped by Zelori and had his sides jabbed. The pony couldn't move. The paralyzes from the strikes restricted even blinking. The last one that was about to enter the bedroom cantered out after hearing the noise, only to have Zelori stand up in a bi-pedal stance, kicking up the rifle and spinning it in her hoof, she dashed forward and brought the butt of the gun across the pony's helm, making him stumble. Candlejack was quick to follow up by getting in low, punting the pony's chin and locking his hoof around the pony's helm and shoving his face to the floor, the pony's body following afterwards. Confused, the pony that had the solarium knife pulled it out, revealing the searing hole that was probably her now missing eye, glared at them. "You dare defy Aretilla?!" Candlejack smirked. "More like question why you think you can strut your asses around and take things that aren't yours." He then looked stoically at her. "Or threaten innocents. Mercs or not, I will gladly take you all on." He shrugged. "Basically, I've had it with corrupt authority. And I'm really not in a good mood right now." The suited mare balked. "What are you..." she then quickly put a hoof to the side of her helm. "We have a code pure on our hooves. I repeat! Code pur-!" Before she could finish, a loud thunk sounded and the mare suddenly fell to the ground. The old buck stood over her, cane in the air. With the dust settled, the buck hugged his daughter and grandson. White and Starbreeze were baffled. White arched a brow. "You sure you think it is a good idea to attack the A.S.S.!?" he asked in a panic. "He can strip me of my cloak anytime~." Starbreeze swooned a little. Candlejack kicked the downed mercenary lightly, taking a quick look at the suite. "Stuff is pretty high tech. I could have sworn they almost looked like ETG." Zelori rolled her eyes. "And that is the sole reason why you attacked them?" Candljeack shrugged. "I was in the mood to stab something. So I did." Zelori face hoofed. She wasn't sure what spurred Candlejack on other than ETG look a likes and possible anarchy towards authority. Usually, he would just act all snarky and witty before attacking. This one was during the attack. "D-dad... what should we do? Flutter asked. "They are bound to notice some of their crew missing! They will bust down everypony's door and will threaten for answers!" The buck hummed in thought before looking at the pegasus. "You there. What is your name?" Candlejack dusted himself off before speaking. "Candlejack. But if you want, you can just call me Jack." The buck stroked his chin. "Jack, huh... then you wouldn't mind doing me a small favor." He put a hoof around the mare. "For the sake of my family and everypony here?" Candlejack eyed them before looking to Zelori. "Well, we made it this far. Can't let it stop us now. What is it?" the buck nodded to the downed ponies. "We need to make it look like they did a routine search. And we need to make it look convincing." Zelori sat the downed pony at their hooves against the wall. Candlejack smirked. "I know that look all too well, gramps." The buck returned his smirk. "Then by all means." Zelori wasn't sure what understanding her brother had of the situation. But she knew one thing. This society is in danger of corrupt protection and need to be helped. White and Starbreeze watched as the two moved the ponies and hog tied them with spare cable ties that the mare had in a drawer. Not sure for what as Candlejack thought, but it was enough to do the job. Stripping the two of the ones that weren't damaged, the two slid into the suites. Candlejack frowned as he tried to wiggle his wings. "I kinda wished they had pegasi style. I'm tired of having to cut a hole in the clothes.” Zelori snickered. "Bear with it, my dear brother. For we not done quite yet." This was true. As much as CandleJack hate to admit, a job is a job. And it is never done unless somepony is put six feet under or swindled out of trust. But doing it for free? Well, not entirely. The price was a more moral choice. And right now, Candlejack wholeheartedly believed that his morals were on the right track. > Act-1 Chapter 16: Aretilla Security Service > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aretilla Security Service   Aurora, Spotlight and Manic made their way into a cul-de-sac. Manic stopped and scanned the area. Spotlight put a hoof to her chin as she hummed in thought. "So the cult leaders live here?" Aurora asked. Spotlight nodded. "This part of the area is constantly monitored by A.S.S." she said. "Shows how badly they want to bury it." Manic snorted. "I wouldn't be surprised if they have this place rigged with bugs and explosives." She said. Aurora spotted ponies walking out of one of the houses. She recognized White. With him was a cloaked pony and two ponies in glowing suites. Manic spotted them and frowned. "Seems they got caught red hoofed." She said. Spotlight furrowed her brows. "Oh White..." she said. Aurora studied the two. Their body language was unusual. They were tempted to go in and intervene. But there was hesitation as well. A flash image of Tom appeared and she blinked once before nodding to herself. She trotted past the two. "Huh? W-wait, Aurora!" Manic stated as she held out a hoof to stop her, only to stop and watch as the android made her way towards them. Spotlight and Manic exchanged glances before following behind her. Just as she figured. They have stated their annoyances with A.S.S. and it was clear that even though they hated the services they provided, they were scared to even voice their opinions. She then recalled back when Candlejack suddenly stepped up to the NDS and stated their stubbornness to let her see her father. 'Why am I doing this?' she asked herself. 'Candlejack... Tom... are you both really ponies that see the world differently?" Her steps remained steady, despite the sudden feeling of dread that was creeping up on her. 'I hardly know Candlejack... but he hardly knew me and stated that he has killed many of my kind... yet he defended me?' She felt her chip register a confused and strange emotion. 'And Tom... he was different back then to those ponies. But he showed kindness I didn't think any machine was possible of.' This was true for her up to this point. Having explored the outskirts of Detrot, she has hidden from and fought off many machines that were rogue. It made her question if these machines really were considered citizens back then. And the many she had dismantled, she didn't find hardly any luridium on them. It was like they had just one day decided to go rogue. Just like Deadeye. She then changed her stoic expression to a determined one. 'I'll save those two. One way or another.' One of the suited ponies noticed Aurora approaching and was about to wave when the other stopped his hoof and motioned around them. This caused her to raise a brow in confusion. "Err... halt! Who dares to... uhh... advance upon the ass err... I mean A.S.S.?" the voice said. Aurora recognized it. "Candlejack?" she asked. Candlejack shook his head. "You have me wrong! I am not this Candlejack you speak of!" he said. Inside the suite, Candlejack began to form sweat. 'Crap, what is she doing here of all times!?' Aurora rubbed her chin before looking at the other one. Assuming it was Zelori, the suited pony nodded before putting a hoof on the other. "We are done here. No need to trouble anymore. Let us report the info back to HQ." she said. White and the cloaked pony were confused as to what was going on, but when White saw Manic, he beamed. "Oh hey, sis." he said with a wave. Manic frowned as she stepped around Aurora. "Really? You are being escorted by A.S.S. and you are greeting me like nothing is happening?" she asked. White rubbed the back of his mane, the sweat forming on his brow. "Oh uh... well... you see I..." Well this was awkward. No pony was expecting to see the other. Aurora watched the uneasiness between the ponies before noticing a mare canter out of the house. Her pallet resembling a bee. "Excuse me, sir!" she called out. Candlejack turned to face her as she quickly held out a small looking tablet. "You dropped your tablet." Underneath the helm, Candlejack smiled and took it in his hoof. "Why thank you Mrs. Flutter." She smiled. "It's Miss. And I can't thank you enough for doing this." Candlejack smirked. "Ever thought about modeling or something?" he asked. She blinked in confusion. "Huh?" Candlejack shrugged. "I was kind of referring to your mane." She batted her ponytail mane. "Oh, I was cleaning house and since I don't have time for a mane cut, I just tied it back." Candlejack hummed in thought before smiling. "Looks great though. And don't worry. We'll make sure that your family is safe." She gave a friendly smile. "Thank you. And do be careful you two." And with that, she cantered back into the house, leaving Candlejack waving to her. Zelori, however, put a hoof on his shoulder, making him stiffen. "Jack. We need to focus. If you really want to help them, we have to act like A.S.S." She said. Candlejack shrugged. "Aww, c'mon, Zelori. The A.S.S. could use a bit more friendliness in their units." He then turned before pushing the two ponies ahead. "Sorry for the trouble! No signs of a cult meeting here. Just ponies enjoying simple conversation with one another. You all have a nice day." With that, Candlejack and Zelori trotted past them. Aurora watched them disappear around the corner before turning to White in confusion. "What was that all about?" she asked. White darted his head around before motioning to them to follow. "Not here. We'll talk back at home.” He said in a low voice. Manic snorted. "It better be a good excuse to have to go to hell and back for a damn prayer." White balked and was about to say something before shaking his head. "I promise, I won't leave any details. But we are out in the open. Let's get going before they realize the group they sent in got downed by those two." Spotlight blinked. "Say again?" White shrugged. "Just saying how beautiful you are looking today, babe." The cloaked pony followed White leaving the other three to exchange glances before trotting after them. ~~~****~~~ Candlejack and Zelori trotted down further into the community. Being disguised as the A.S.S., they were indeed shot with glares and nervous looks. Candlejack chuckled to himself. "I almost feel like we can do a little more harm to their reputation if we just act all intimidating." He said. Zelori shook her head. "Focus, Jack. We are not trying to cause trouble. We are trying to find where they are stationed." Candlejack sighed and nodded. It wasn't much info to go on. Thinking back to the interrogation, the one pony he had basically burned out an eye with a solarium knife spat at him when he removed the helm. Her eye was closed, but there was indeed flesh peeling and rashes from the strike. She growled at them, wincing in pain as the feeling of being burned and stabbed coursed through her. "Keep it up and I bet the third degree burn won't be the only thing crippling you today." He said with a small smile. He must have made it a little more unsettling than he had thought as the mare's eyes widened a bit before she snorted in disgust. "Lousy pure-wing! Your kind doesn't deserve to be roaming all high and mighty!" Candlejack shrugged. "Lucky for me I don't know who they are exactly. So I wouldn't give two sense on it. Speaking of... what made you think attacking an old buck and his family out of assumptions was an honorable thing to do?" The mare bit back. "I ain't sayin' nothin'!" she barked. 'So much professionalism for military grade badasses.' He thought sarcastically with a frown before shrugging quietly. 'Oh well. Means they are easier to break when pride is on the line.' Zelori tightened the cable tie around the ponies before stepping over them and slipping into the body suite before the armor suddenly contracted to her body. She brushed a small speck of dust off before turning to them. "Then maybe you wouldn't mind if we borrow your tech." she said. Candlejack smiled and grabbed the solarium knife that he put on the counter and tossed it in the air before skillfully catching it and twirling it on the face of his forehoof. "I have to say. Much better than ETG standards." He said. The mare balked. "ETG?!" she suddenly bit her lip and adverted her eyes. However, it wasn't enough to not catch the threatening looks from the siblings. The ponies watching didn't think that three letters was enough to change the atmosphere. It almost made the presence of the Necronomica a cold breeze. Candlejack smiled. "Hmm... been a while since I've seen that kind of expression. It's usually when I was in a unit that was too good for their own ego and wanted to extort credits for their drink." She tried her best not to meet his gaze. But she couldn't seem to avoid the orchid eyes of the pegasus. Something about this pony was more than a threat. His entire embodiment felt like a physical promise. And when Candlejack waved the knife to point at them, she immediately flinched. Zelori sighed. "Jack, we need them alive. Put aside the thought of the Round Table for now and focus." Candlejack clicked his tongue and spun the knife again on his hoof joint. "I know that. Just thought it would be interesting to hear how ponies from above ground know about an underground government." That did it. The look the mare gave was more than surprise. The understanding was plain as day. Something that Candlejack wanted to exploit to the ends of the earth. But keeping his temper in check, Candlejack stepped aside as his sister walked up to them. "Where are you located?" she asked. The mare bit her lip, sweat forming on her brow. Zelori remained stoic. "Who is your commanding officer?" She waited again. She never thought that she and Candlejack would be doing another interrogation in their lives. Having gone through it themselves to implementing it on others against their will, Zelori was sick of having the past catch up to them. But they had to know. These ponies in this community wanted to never truly forget what they were. How else can anypony learn from their mistakes if it is buried from them? 'How ironic...' she thought. But the mare continued to say nothing. Until Candlejack "accidentally" missed the rhythm of his finesse and the knife hummed through the air before hissing as it pierced the floor in front of her. "Whoops." Candlejack said with a shrug. The mare broke. "A-alright! I-I'll tell you!" she stated. Candlejack looked disappointedly at her. "Tch. Badasses my ass." He hissed in annoyance. The mare winced as Zelori plucked the knife out and placed it on the counter. "Then please, do tell." She said. The mare grit her teeth, ashamed of herself for giving in so easily. But these ponies were something she wasn't entirely equipped to deal with. And it was painfully obvious. "We don't have an HQ here. Just a monitoring station that is a few clicks east of here." She winced. The talking was making the burning feeling increase. So much that she groaned when it hit her again. Zelori looked to Candlejack, who arched a brow at her. "We need her talking." She reminded. The pegasus bowed his head. "Alright, fine. Does anypony have cooling gel?" he asked looking over to the sitting ponies. Flutter nodded before trotting over to a shelf in the kitchen and withdrawing a small wrinkled tube. She passed it to Zelori who immediately applied the remedy and the mare eased in her slight writhing. Her rash vanishing and the hair that was missing grew back at an unnatural but original state. But her eye was still closed. That was something no remedy would fix. "Now then. Exactly what does this station monitor other than possible cult meetings?" Zelori asked. The mare took a moment before speaking. "We also retain radio feedback to and from Aretilla." Candlejack rubbed his chin. "Updating through radio waves. How many antennas are there out here?" he asked. The mare shrugged. "Probably thousands. Most are likely not working. But some are valuable to maintain. Like the one in Detrot." Candlejack smirked. "Well, better than the one that is the eye sore in New Equestria." He said. This caused a nervous reaction out of the mare. But Candlejack did his best to ignore it. Zelori continued. "So you update Aretilla on the events of this community. You monitor the place like you have complete control of the area. But this is a community of adolescents and young adults. You really think anything interesting will take place here?" the mare growled. "Mole ponies are best left under the rock. That's all I'm going to say." Candlejack laughed suddenly. The mare winced when the pegasus walked over to her. "Mole pony. That's a new one. So then... from what I hear about the ponies above had great tasting flesh. I wonder if that is true?" Candlejack brushed a wing under his chin. "They always say there is a first for everything." Zelori shot him a look. But the mare seemed to be dragging herself slightly away on her side in fear. "Hey sis. I wonder how great hog roasted mare taste like?" "Jack..." Zelori replied. "I mean, it may take a while and of course we have to bear with the screaming. But eventually, she'll cook nicely." "Jack!" Zelori barked. Candlejack shrugged. "What? I'm just saying. Ponies make assumptions and I just roll with it." He then winked at the mare, making her curl at the wall. "N-no! Don't roast me! I don't taste good!" she stated. Candlejack snorted in disgust again. "Wow, and I thought ETG were paranoid pricks." Zelori hummed in thought before looking over to the pony. "So, what is so interesting that a group of hired mercs are sent to watch this place over? Surely it isn't paranoia of possible influence of the cult. Your raid years ago handled that situation." The mare balked. "How do you..." she caught the small smirk from Candlejack before quickly quieting. "We are out of the rock. Now continue." Zelori stated with stoicism. The mare bowed her head again. "W-we had questioned a group of adolescents that were playing 'cultists' and they stated that there is a possible chance that the cult might be gathering together again." She faced the gaze of the zebra mare. "We spent years trying to make sure that wouldn't happen again. The ponies that were sacrificed to their blind ways of the princesses was just disrespectful and inequine." Candlejack arched a brow. "You thought it was blasphemy?" he asked. The mare bowed her head again and shook it. "A.S.S. are tied to one religion and that is the guidance of our goddesses. The Cult of the Eclipse may have followed that path once, but after hearing about disappearances and strange practices in necromancy, Zillex and Aretilla gathered as much muscle as they could and stormed the place. I was just a rookie back then, but from what I saw in that church... I couldn't even..." Monocle, the mint green buck, looked sternly at the mercenary. "You made the right choice in stopping their practices. But some of us weren't on board with it." He shambled over to them. "I did everything I could to prevent it from happening. But the influence of dark magic was just too much for one old buck to handle." He sighed and looked over to his daughter tiredly. The mare went over and hugged him. "I was just concerned for my family." Candlejack's look went grim. 'Damn... this is a predicament.' He looked back to the mare cowering on the ground. He was hoping that the mare would do something that would give him every right to sock her one. Probably burn another eye out. But seeing as the mare had no trouble spilling the beans and getting a small bit of insight on the event, he was left with one thing. "The previous cult leader..." Zelori looked at him. "Jack?" Candlejack turned to Monocle. "Gramps. How well did you know Constance?" he asked. The buck eyed him. "A quiet and stubborn old buck. But loyal to the ways of the princesses." He rubbed his chin. "Or so I thought." He put a hoof around his grandson. "I wasn't there when the raid happened. But I was there when the book first came to us. One of our scouts stated he got it off of a strange robot merchant. Said that it would promise great insight into the sister's teachings. And Constance, having being inaugurated to the position when the previous cult leader passed from heat stroke, we had noticed a... change in our ways." He nodded to the book that laid on the coffee table. "Everything was fine for the first few days. And then, we began to notice Constance locking himself into his room. He hadn't eaten or slept in days. The only times he would come out is when we would begin our usual sermons and knighting into our cult. But I should have known when he started calling in a few of our brightest minds into his room." He sighed. "One of my foalhood friends who had joined the cult at the same time I did was the first I notice the change in behavior. He began to twitch at every small sound and mutter quietly under his breath. "Then came another of our brother. Then a sister. Then another sister. Then another brother and sister. At least a fraction of our cult had been called in and each one began exhibiting strange behaviors." His look darkened. "I then caught my friend wandering the halls, as if he was lost. But I could see it. The sickly green that replaced those hazel eyes. As if under a trance, I found him tripping over himself as he made his way up to the bell tower. "I followed after him and before I could do anything when I reached the top, he shouted to the sky 'I go forth, in the name of our princesses! Long live The Sun and Night mothers!'." His eyes started tearing and the two ponies hugged him tightly. "He then... plummeted to an early grave." Candlejack and Zelori remained silent as the buck sobbed a little. Taking a moment to wipe his eyes, the buck was led to a chair and he was sat gently into it before continuing. "I was a fool for taking a long time to realize he needed help... my help. "Constance then called me into his office and shared in my grief. His words sweet as honey yet cold as the night wind." He then growled. "Then he showed me the accursed book. He had apparently read through half of it and started to spout nonsense. I then... felt myself being called. Sweet words to lull me into a false sense of security. And I looked to a beautiful muse hovering over his desk where the book was. She was... enticing. And my mind in a state of grief wanted comfort." He rasped a chuckle. "Funny what an old mind like mine can think of at a time like that. I don't know what came over me, but I fought against the spell of the muse and it emitted this loud shrill that had me bucking out of the chair and bursting down the door. "I ran as fast as I could, leaving the church and making my way back home to where I called my daughter to barricade the doors and windows. We spent a couple of nights in solitude before I was ready to face the cult again. The behaviors had continued, but Constance seemed to be playing patiently with mine. He implemented the sacrifices around that time too and I noticed my daughter was next in line. I spent that day with her, sun infused buckshots at the ready. That was when the word of the raid happened and I... I never felt so conflicted in my life..." Monocle slumped into his seat while Flutter tenderly stroked her father's hoof. Candlejack darted his eyes in thought before turning to the stunned A.S.S. merc. "So then... did you slaughter them or detain them?" the mare bit her lip. But Candlejack wasn't feeling too polite this time. He walked over and put a hoof sharply on her neck and applied pressure. The mare choked. "Tell me... now." She struggled under him, gasping for breath. Zelori put a hoof on his shoulders and he lessened the pressure. The mare coughed. "We... detained... them... shot the ones... that attacked us..." Candlejack leaned in. "Did you happen to detain Constance?" he asked. The mare nodded quickly, struggling for breath again. She coughed and lurched when Candlejack removed his hoof and smiled. "Thank you for your time." With a quick strike across the muzzle with his flack, the mare slumped and fell limp. Knocked out and motionless, Candlejack looked towards the stunned ponies. "We don't need compromising. We will keep them here for the time being while I and Zelori go find Constance." White nodded. "I'll go with you." Candlejack shook his head. "Eenope." He said. White frowned. "I want to save my sister from this fate. If Constance has a way of ending the curse, then I want to know!" Candlejack shot him a glare that instantly shot fear into the unicorn. "You are going to ensure your brat of a sister doesn't do anything stupid to interfere with this plan. We will gather the info from Constance." Candlejack had a thing for putting ponies in line, as much as he hated having to get cold towards them. But how else was he going to keep his conscious sane if every little pony he has to manage falls under him like so many others have? He especially didn't want this pony to suffer a tragic fate like his parents. He then looked to Starbreeze, who trembled a little out of nervousness. "You know a little more on the topic of necromancy. I want you stay behind with them and ensure nothing supernatural happens." She balked. "W-what? B-b-but I'm not equipped to face necromancy! I've only studied it!" Candlejack smiled and went to put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder, causing her to blush at the invasion of space. "Which is why you are more capable of dealing with it." He then looked to the buck. "We will do this favor. But only if you can keep these ponies here for a bit." He rubbed his chin. "I'll find a way to get them to forget this chance meeting." That made the mercenary mare shiver in fear. When Candlejack turned, Starbreeze held his hoof to stop him. He looked at her in confusion. "Err... Jack? You don't mind me calling you Jack, right?" Candlejack gave a cool smile in response. She fidgeted. "Just... be careful okay? For... my sake?" Candlejack chuckled a bit. "I'm a P.U.N.K. I technically come out scathed or not but still living. We got this." Zelori rolled her eyes in annoyance. The mare seemed to give a nod of approval, but if she knew her brother, the advance was totally over his head. 'I'll keep that ignorance a bliss then.' She thought as she put the helmet on while Candlejack slipped into the suite. Candlejack snapped back to reality as they had trotted quite a good ways away from the community. He stopped and scanned the area. "Err... she said a few clicks east. We... are heading the right direction, right?" he asked Zelori was also scanning the area. His ear twitched when he heard something crackle in his ear. "Unit S-05, report." There was a crackle of static. The two exchanged glances before Candlejack put a hoof to a button on the side of the helm. He cleared his throat. "Urm... Unit S-05 reporting." He said. "S-05. Is everything okay? We couldn't get any video feed." That made Candlejack's heart skip a beat. Even Zelori stiffened. What luck they had right now. Candlejack maintained his composure. "Apologies, erm... command. Solar rays must be interfering with the feedback." They waited. "Damn. This weather definitely is becoming a nuisance. Report back to base. We will get your update there." Candlejack gave a quiet sigh of relief. "Roger. S-05, out." Candlejack slumped. "Buck me, what utter luck." Zelori nodded in agreement. Candlejack then brought out the tablet. "There has got to be a way to get back to the base..." He turned on the screen and began tapping away at the strange pictures on the tablet. He beamed when he spotted a map app and tapped it open. Thankfully, the tablet was marking a locations and the words read "Command". Candlejack laughed a little. "At this rate, we might even sway the A.S.S. from not having to monitor this place." Zelori shook her head. "Even so, remember the last time we had a stroke of luck like that?" Candlejack pointed at her with a smirk. "That streak of avoiding arcane traps was indeed good on our part. But I swear that golem wasn't my fault." Zelori frowned. "We were the only ones left at that point, Jack. P.U.N.K.... remember?" Candlejack sighed. "Right, right. Title is a bitch and a half. In any case, we shouldn't waste anymore time. They will get suspicious if we don't report back." With that, the two made their way, following the map to their next destination. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, as they say. ~~~****~~~ The monitoring station was indeed a little more out of the way than they had originally thought. Candlejack and Zelori had hiked a sand dune and saw a small rectangular building that looked a little well-kept than the distant ruins. A tall satellite dish was overlooking the area. Barbed fences and a gate that responded to an auto chariot that appeared to have been leaving. Based on the bulk and size of the auto chariot, something big was being transported. But that wasn't the main concern. When the siblings advanced down onto the fenced area, one of the station guards spotted them from the front of the gate and he landed in front of them, catching Candlejack's mock interest at the slightly larger wingspan than his. The guard was wearing a harness that was attached to his glowing alien like suite with a solarium rifle connected to the bit. Something that was used for those who couldn't get the hang of standing bi pedal and aiming a weapon. In either case, the wings are what Candlejack was more interested about. He smirked under his helm. "Nice wings." He said. The guard made a motion with them in a salute. "Keep the sarcasm to a minimum." He said with a small chuckle. "What's the update?" Candlejack rubbed his helmeted chin. "Aren't we supposed to report to command instead of a stationed guard?" he asked. The pony rubbed his helmeted head. "Oh, I know. I'm just so bored that I want to know what is going on." He snorted. "This place hasn't been getting much action as of late. The only thing we do is just throw our muscle around and intimidate those that want to 'regress'. But I digress." The two exchanged glances before Zelori spoke. "We should report to command. Just to be safe." She said. The guard pointed at them. "R-right! I'll uh... just be here and wait... like usual..." he said. The two trotted past him. Making sure they were out of ear shot, Candlejack leaned in to whisper. "Well that was interesting..." he said. Zelori nodded. "I didn't think A.S.S. was dying for some action." She glanced back behind her. "Let's hope that they aren't going to find something to do to beat that boredom." Candlejack snickered. "Perhaps they will get so bored that they will just die of it." Zelori shook her head and Candlejack sighed. "Yeah, you're right. Wishful thinking and it isn't possible. But a stallion can dream, can't he?" They were saluted by the two stationed outside the door to the building. Returning it before heading on in, Candlejack was disappointed to realize how boring they took it. For once, he sympathized with the guard outside. This place was more entertaining than watching a Mud Grub sleeping in the roots. And when they entered into the only door that was in the building, they were instantly blinded by the many colorful monitors displayed. A small group of ponies were quiet and tapping away at the keyboards. Candlejack even could have sworn he heard the quiet whispering of a mare stating her frustration to relaying a command from one of the scouts. The two descended the steps and up the walkway. Standing in the circular end was a mare dressed in a much sleeker looking suite than the rest of them. She glanced over her shoulder and smirked. Candlejack felt a small nip in his head. The mare may have looked rough with her serious looking hazel eyes and stern look. Her plum purple coat and cream colored mane did bring out the prettier side. Candlejack saluted. "Sir." He said. The mare looked back to the monitors in front of her. "Status report?" she asked. Zelori spoke. "No sign of any trouble. Rumored cult meeting was a fluke. Only a visit of friends and family." The mare sighed. "As usual... Thank you, you may return to your duties." Candlejack spoke up. "So... how come nothing is happening?" Zelori shot him a look under her helm. The mare looked back over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?" Candlejack motioned to the quiet group. "I mean... we're just monitoring a community of adolescents. You would think that by now that they wouldn't just rebel against us." The mare turned fully. Candlejack's suspicions were correct. There was a small tiny horn poking out of the earth pony's like build. 'So these must be what Pseudos are like? Funny.' "If you are referring to cult activity, you have just investigated it yourself." She tapped her head. "Frankly, I wouldn't mind joining the scouting team or hunting team. But damn me, this job does suck at times." She snorted. "I agree that kids don't get into as much trouble as before. But even then, it's like we had just finished up any remaining traces of the cult. But Aretilla is still paranoid of any activity and want us to continue monitoring the area. The only thing that can keep us sane from this boring job is the radio show that the DJ hosts. "But even then, the DJ seemed to have taken a small vacation from the show 'cus all we ever get now are just repeats of old news." Candlejack shrugged. "Must be tough." The mare suddenly squinted her eyes. "Wait a minute... what happened to the third one that was in your team?" Zelori bit her lip. She knew they had stalled too long. Candlejack shrugged. "Heard something was bothering her eye, so she told us to go on ahead while she finds some eye drops." He chuckled. "Amazing what a solarium knife can do to flesh." The mare balked and before she knew it, the stallion suddenly socked her across the muzzle, sending her stumbling into the lower area. The ponies stationed at the monitors suddenly stood up and backed away to see what was happening. Zelori face-hoofed her helmet. 'Jack, you better hope that your boredom isn't going to get us killed.' But this wasn't entirely the case to Candlejack. Was it PTSD or just plain out right hate for anything authority? In his mind, he just wanted to spice up these ponies lives. But to do so, he was hoping to get something a little more out of it. Something that probably retains to a certain cult. He was deadly curious about the past. And with this station having a direct line to Aretilla, they can probably find some files on any possible conversations about the cult. Candlejack hopped down and pinned the mare under his hoof by the neck, making her choke and struggle under him. She attempted a swipe at his tender area, but Candlejack deftly stepped to the side where she wouldn't be able to. He plucked the pistol from her side and tossed it over to Zelori, who skillfully caught it and aimed at the nearest pony. "Move." She said sternly. The stallion balked and did as he was told, Zelori herding the ponies into one side of the room. "Remove the comms. Toss them over to me." She darted her eyes at them. No pony moved. She then let off a warning shot at their hooves, making them yelp and quickly toss the comms off and over to her. She stepped on them when they did and nodded to Candlejack. "Thanks, sis! Now then... He removed his hoof and the mare lurched forward, coughing. But Candlejack bit her by the ear and dragged her over to the rest. She spat at him when he let go. "Bucking bandits! How did you manage to take down three of our scouts?!" she barked. Candlejack removed his helm and gave her a challenging smirk. "Well, like I said. When you don't expect a solarium knife in your eye, that definitely causes a lot of confusion." The mare growled and looked over to Zelori. The pistol subtly moving between the ponies held hostage. Candlejack moved over to one of the monitors and began scrolling through the files. "You won't get out of here alive! This place is made from the tough hooves of Aretilla. You are being monitored of this action right now!" Candlejack shrugged. "I could really care less about more of you showing up to teach us a lesson. Now that I think about it... that sounds like a lot of fun." He grinned to himself, making the mare suddenly shiver at the disturbing expression. Zelori then looked over to him. "Jack, you want to be certain about this?" She was questioning his judgment more than what he was actually doing. Candlejack was focused on scrolling through the files. "Just curious as to what happened to the cult and probably find out more about its' leaders while we are at it." He beamed when he found a file that red Aretilla Relay. Scrolling through it, he frowned when it was just constant "Everything Normal" response with the occasional report of possible vandalism, bandit trouble and the... Candlejack arched a brow. "Young filly charged with property damage on misfire of projected missile?" he said. He looked over to the mare, who returned it with a glare. "I ain't telling you shit!" she hissed. Zelori read Candlejack's mind and she whipped her across the muzzle. Both sides were bleeding now and she spat out a bloodied tooth. "You're going to have to do a lot better than-." Zelori fired off a shot right into her foreleg. The mare screamed and writhed, clutching her now burnt leg into her chest and curled. The ponies huddled together, shivering in fear. Zelori remained stoic. She couldn't let them try anything funny while Candlejack was busy with whatever he was doing. She vowed to keep him safe. And if that meant regressing back to tactics in ETG, then so be it. Candlejack sighed. "So... this particular filly... I take it... was being monitored for a while." He scrolled through the document. "Day thirty five. Unleashed a rogue robowolf into Mrs. Fannypack's backyard and left her traumatized at the sudden kill command that ended both the robot and the cat. Day fifty. Filly was responsible for a high concentrated reading of luridium activity and when confronted, told us that she was testing the effects on a pair of Pseudos in her containment boxes. Results were conclusive as both scientific to research and unauthorized inequine treatment." He frowned. "Who's the real bad guy there?" The mare heaved in her breaths as she rasped. "Piss off! That filly... cost us more resources... than the bucking raid!" Candlejack rubbed his chin. "The raid that left a few questions unanswered? You call us bandits, but when you think about it... you're really just stealing their past. All we ever done was steal lunarium." "And that resulted in your arrest with the ETG." Zelori said. Candlejack made a distressed emotion. "It was more about accidentally killing somepony. But a year in prison definitely can change your outlook in life." Zelori narrowed her eyes. 'Jack...' She remained quiet after that. He then scrolled through more of the files about the filly causing trouble and damages that she apparently refused to pay up for. 'That explains the debt... perhaps I can find someway to clear her of the charges.' Taking the time to find a way to do that, he was suddenly stopped by the sudden pop up of a prompt. Unauthorized access to database. Please input password to continue. Candlejack nodded to Zelori, who then aimed the gun at the ponies, causing them to huddle even more together. "Clearance. Now." She said sternly. No pony moved. The commander glared. Zelori returned it before placing the pistol right between her eyes. "Now!" The commander growled and rasped her words, nursing her leg. "F-L0-CK004." she said. "All capitalized." Candlejack put in the password and it blipped to confirm it. He smirked and went back to looking over the files. Zelori eased back a bit, but then suddenly, one of the ponies hit her across the helm with a heavy utility wrench. She groaned and stumbled, causing the commander to sock her across the visor and let the ponies pile on her. The commander rushed Candlejack. Before he knew what was happening, the mare struck him hard on the cheek. He stumbled before being shoved and bucked in the chest that sent him careening into the monitors. He shook away the daze and looked to see the commander quickly type something in. He saw a prompt that stated the files being backed up and deftly plucked a USB from the side with her sickly purple magic. One of the ponies stumbled out of the fray with Zelori and bit onto the drive before cantering out of the room. Candlejack found himself grinning and stood up. The commander readied herself, only to look back when she heard the sound of a loud thump and a scream. Zelori had thrusted the barrel of the weapon into the chest of one of the ponies and it pierced right through her. The mare fell to her side and Zelori shoved the other three off before quickly killing the three with a single shot to their heads. The commander looked back and gaped to see Candlejack rearing up in a bi-pedal stance and within a single bound, he wrapped his legs around the neck, tossed her to the side and making her stumble before he planted the forehoof into the back of the mare's head and into the monitors. With a loud crack of electricity, the mare gyrated and screamed as the volts of the electronics coursed through her. Candlejack removed his hoof and the mare went limp, her body only twitching as the electricity zapped her. The two nodded before cantering up the walkway and down the hall. The saw the pony that had escaped trying desperately to put in the code to leave the building. He balked when he saw them galloping towards him. Remembering what the code was now, the door opened and he dove right through. The guards outside were shocked to see a pony dive out of the place. Especially with a gaping burnt hole in the back of his head. Zelori had fired off a shot and struck true when the pony dove out. The guards reacted a little too slowly. Candlejack, remembering exactly where they were positioned, took a hold of the pistol and dove out, rolling to face them and shot them both in the helm. They screamed before falling limp to the ground. Candlejack looked to see the other patrolling guards spot the activity and took aim. Candlejack picked up the USB and with Zelori, took cover behind a metal crate, falling an A.S.S. who was taking a smoke break around it. Zelori picked up the rifle and cocked it, making it hum to life. Candlejack pocketed the USB and smirked at her. "Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Zelori shot him a glare. "We need to have a long talk about your methods of acting." Candlejack shrugged. "I think I did pretty good up until I realized how dull this place was." "Boredom is not an excuse!" Zelori peeked out and returned fired. She grazed a couple and fell one. Ducking back into cover, Candlejack frowned and looked over to the building. He then noticed it was smaller than the main one. But the sign above it was clear as day. Detainment Center Candlejack tapped Zelori's shoulder and motioned towards it. "Since stealth is no longer an option. Let's say we even the odds?" Zelori eyed him suspiciously before looking at the building. She sighed. "If they decide to use black magic on us, I have you to blame for me not being blessed by Gaia." The stallion smiled. "I'm sure Gaia has a different opinion about nature right now." With that, the two rushed out of cover, using their bi-pedal bounding to quickly close the open space that was between them and the building. Candlejack could hear one of them shout. "Are they running on two hooves!?" Reaching the building, Candlejack bucked it open with a good kick of his hind hoof, startling a pony behind the counter. The pony behind the counter was a cute looking mare. But looks were instantly shot out of the window. The mare's head exploded when Candlejack fired and her body slumped back. Candlejack and Zelori entered, Zelori covering the flank and shutting the door. "We don't have much time, Jack. Make it snappy!" Candlejack moved over to the body and pushed it aside before digging through the desk. Finding a strange looking card, he picked it up and tried it on the reader. With a pleasant beep, the door opened and he entered into a hallway that had cells on both sides. Each one had at least four to five ponies sitting in them. Each looking starved or miserable. Some looked like age hasn't been too kind on them. Ten years must be quite an unforgiving time in the cell. Candlejack was lucky he only got one year in prison. But seeing the bi-pedal standing pony enter into the room, they immediately backed away from the cages. Candlejack made his way down to the middle and looked in each cell. "Which one of you is Constance?" he asked. No pony spoke. But he did see them suddenly look over to an old buck that looked rugged. His ribs showing through his brown coat and sickly green mane shagging. A beard that resembled a nest covered whatever rugged expression was hiding it. He looked up and Candlejack narrowed his eyes. Meeting the gaze of this pony felt unnerving. And when he saw the small purple tendrils wiggling from the sides of his green and purple fiend like eyes, he could tell that he had found the right one. "And who might you be?" he rasped. Candlejack fell on all threes, holding the pistol in his other hoof and remained stoic as he replied. "Names aren't important right now." Constance chuckled. "And yet, you barge in asking for mine. To what honor do I owe the informality?" Candlejack waved the card over the cell and it opened. The ponies inside hugged the cage walls. But Constance remained where he was. "Years of regret and possible necromancy charges that I'm willing to overlook for information. Specifically pertaining to a book that happened to fall into the hooves of an unfortunate family." Constance's alien eyes widened. "Necronomica? It still lives?" Candlejack nodded and looked over to see Zelori firing back. Based on the sound of beam fire, they were nearing the building. "And I'm willing to overlook the cult's sacrifices and dark dealings if you can tell me exactly how do we kill it?" Constance darted his eyes in thought. He then narrowed them onto Candlejack. "You... seem like you are on the verge of breaking." Candlejack arched a brow before aiming the pistol at him. "Spare me the sermon and get on with it. I doubt the princesses will ever forgive me for the acts I have done today." He smirked. "And I'm willing to test any theories you all seem to be making right now." Some of the ponies looked clueless. But Candlejack could tell they were trying to process the situation. Gunfire. A pony aiming a gun and demanding Constance to tell them how to kill a book of dark magic. He opened the cell... for what reason? Candlejack's mind was quiet about that last one. But his orchid eyes remained glued to the pony's corrupted eyes. Constance smiled. "Those eyes... how brightly they burn. But how cold and dark they remain. I can see it... your destiny." Candlejack fired off a shot, grazing the pony's cheek. "You done yet? Because I'm about ready to go off on ponies. Been having a good streak going and I feel like I want to keep it that way." Constance lowered his head. "Cloptuu neighrava nickter." He said. Candlejack arched a brow. "It's the mantra that the book reacts too. I... used it to change my subject's loyalties to my own." He nodded to the ponies around him, who seemed to still be processing the situation. "A strange verse. But one that seems to be the epicenter of it all." Candlejack frowned. "Do you believe it can stop the magic?" he asked. Constance nodded. "It reacts to it in ways you couldn't even imagine. It brings those souls that were lost to the void and allow them to live again." Candlejack shook his head. "You see, I would believe that, if I wasn't an agnostic and I had a sister that was dead sense on the whole dark magic thing. Also, there is a filly that would really love to sleep." He smirked. "So what's it going to be? Are you going to help us end this whole thing or am I going have to tear through the undead to get your sorry ass to confess your sins?" Constance was laughing. It unnerved the pegasus. Constance eyed him now. "Oh yes... your destiny is an interesting one. I would love to see it play out. A shame... Death has a much keener interest in you that it would allow you to keep living the way you do." Candlejack spat. "I give two shits about death right now. So hurry up. Get ready to run for cover and if you even think about running off... my aim is much sharper than an AI's programming process." Constance smirked and looked to his followers. "Come, my loyal subjects. She calls to us." Candlejack proceeded to unlock the rest of the cells and lead the disgruntled ponies to the front. He looked at most of them and saw that they would have a small chance of living. But dead or alive, he couldn't care. Constance was the priority. Zelori withdrew from the window, a few grazes and scratches from the infused bullets nicking her. She nodded to Candlejack and she bucked open the door, sending it off its hinges and pinning two of the guards that were about to breach. The prisoners funneled out, stampeding the two unfortunate ponies under them and scattered, causing the guards to cease fire. It was enough opportunity for Candlejack and Zelori to rush out with them and took aim at the mercs. Pseudos fell left and right in the confusion. Some of the cultists grabbed the fallen weapons and fired back while a few were downed by stray fire. Candlejack, Zelori and Constance took cover. Candlejack peeked out and noticed the remaining guards had took cover by a nearby garage of where their auto-chariots were parked. A couple of them fired from cover, making him duck back and rub his chin in thought. "Those chariots are our get-away. But they seem to be taking refuge in it. If we can get them without damaging the vehicles, then we can get you back to the suburbs." Candlejack frowned. "Under the supervision of us of course. You guys even think about trying to influence the young and naive, we won't hesitate to kill you in front of the town." Zelori shook her head. "I have a better idea. The filly's containment grids. If we can hold them there, not only will their influence be secluded, we can probably get some more info out of them." Constance chuckled. "The brave and the bold. Very well. I don't want to fall here, so I wouldn't mind the safety of a containment gird to be more... comfy than a poorly kept cell." Candlejack smiled. "No worries. It has brain poking devices and all you can eat buffet. You will definitely feel at home." Candlejack looked over to the remaining cultists that were still able to fight while the others were being treated by those that didn't want to be involved in the outcome. The A.S.S. mercs continued to fire from behind cover, but Candlejack nodded and they dashed out of cover. Using two hooves to close the gap quickly, he dove to his side and fired, landing on the half buried cement driveway and falling the remaining guards. Two of them got caught trying to advance on him in CQC, but found themselves being shoved to the wall and being opened to fire from the pegasus. The dust settled and Candlejack signaled the all clear. The cultists quickly came out of cover and surprised Candlejack with some hotwiring skills that some of them had. The vehicles roared to life. Zelori trotted over to them, only to stop and see a strange yellow port-a-potty open and the guard they had met outside the gate adjust his suite before stopping and looking at her. He then looked past her to see his fallen comrades. He then slowly backed away into the port-a-potty and closed it, the little lock going from vacant to occupied. Zelori looked back to see Candlejack roll up in a chariot with Constance buckled in the back. "I prefer a bi-wheeled one, but this will do I guess." He said. Zelori hopped in and Candlejack looked back to Constance. "Can we trust your goons to make it as far as the suburbs without diverging from the path?" Constance reassured him with a smile. "My followers are loyal to me. And it calls to us. We will finally be able to return to it. And as payment for your aid, we will help you save this family from its' grasp. By the princesses divine light, you have my word." Candlejack and Zelori exchange glances. "You can shoot them to make sure they don't diverge." He said to her. Zelori reloaded the rifle and cocked it, a hum reaching their ears. Candlejack then turned the wheel and pressed the pedal. With a loud roar of the motor and loud screech of tire against sand, Candlejack moved the vehicle and rammed into the gate, knocking it down. The rest of the vehicles were piled in by the cultists, wounded and battered but alive and followed them. Candlejack frowned. 'I hope I'm still swooning lady fortune. Because by the everlasting flank of our so called goddesses, I will not be sleeping well tonight.' ~~~****~~~ Borealis studied the monitors as a mare with a neatly trimmed mane showed her what she had picked up. "This was received just moments ago." she said. Borealis narrowed her eyes. The images were inside one of the monitoring stations near Detrot. It showed two ponies in similar armor as the rest being held hostage. There was a video playback that Borealis had ordered the mare to play. It showed one of the ponies suddenly being piled on by the researchers and the commander bucking aside the stallion. Seeing her backing up the files and having a stumbling researcher gallop out of sight, she widened her eyes to see the two make quick work of them. The pony had made his way out, but not before getting pelted as he dove out by the zebra. The video then switched to outside where the ponies proceeded to take on the guards. Eventually, the video showed them breaking out the detained cultists and using them as a means of escape. "It seems The Cult of the Eclipse is back in session..." Borealis said. She then trotted away and over to another monitor. It clicked to life and the handsome face of Master Macarole smiled at her. "I take it our... 'interests' have been busy?" he asked her. Borealis bowed and opened her hoof panel, transferring the images and video to him. On the other side, Macarole opened up the images and video, having it displayed to share. Macarole leaned back in his chair and grinned. "So then, gentlecolts. Do we have an agreement?" He turned to face the window that over looked Aretilla. Only, this time it was displaying the many darkened avatars in tile screens. "Don't bullshit on this, Macarole! If this info about these two are conclusive, then maybe I will think about it." a voice said. Macarole sighed. "And here I was hoping the reward would be worth the effort." Another voice chimed in. "Hot damn! I wouldn't mind grabbing that bolt stack! I'll be sleeping like the next Duke of Maretonia!" Macarole grinned as a mutter of voices merged into a jumbled reply. Macarole had enjoyed the discussion of a game. The rules? They are to bring the two to him and be rewarded generously with half of the cut of the bolts in the funds. They could send anypony they wanted, their best or weakest or probably themselves. Bring as much arsenal they can manage. Hell, probably send an army. Just as long as they are brought back alive and to him. "Keep in mind, if I happen to have my agents capture them, then the chance is lost. But you will all be given a small split of the reward for your participation." One of the avatars made a bashing sound. "Buck that! I'm in it to win it! My Jumpers will take care of them, no problem!" "Hah! Good luck! Remember those Jumpers they wasted in their escape? If anything, my children will see to it they are captured!" "Pssh, your thestrals can't even handle the sun. Get lost!" "Well, I will be sending my best men to detain them! That stallion is such a cutie!" "Keep your nethers in check, Princess! It's bad enough your are getting rutted right now as we speak!" "You best bite that tongue!" Macarole held up his hooves. "Gentlcolts, gentlecolts! We are all professionals here. When the game is on, then you can decide who should be eliminated and who shouldn't." The chaotic exchange of verbal abuse continued. However, Macarole grinned when he noticed one of them that hadn't talked when he showed them the images and video. He quickly enlarged the avatar and muted the rest. "Is something the matter?" There was no response. "You have been quiet in this discussion. Do those ponies strike you familiar?" There was another brief moment of saying nothing before a voice spoke through. "He will not hesitate to kill." the voice said. Macarole smiled. "Then I expect that you will be playing your deck carefully?" he asked. The voice was quiet again before speaking. "I know it first hoof how capable he is. I will keep in touch, Macarole." Macarole nodded and smiled as the avatar vanished. 'The game is on, gentlecolts... let's see who can catch the game and display them proudly on their mantle?' He dismissed the many avatars on his screen and brought up an live video feed of Borealis's stoic expression. "Borealis, my dear. Care to join me for a night of Particle Mare? I hear this weeks episode is going to be uncensored with the passionate scene of her and the young professor. You love romance, don't you?" Borealis blinked once. "Romance isn't a registration I am familiar with, nor have I had the time to explore." she replied. "But I will see you once I am done relaying information to the stations." Macarole nodded and dismissed the feed, leaning back in his chair. "Hmhm... That pegasus and the zebra... you will submit to the ways of Aretilla." > Act-1 Chapter 17: The Eclipes's End > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Eclipse's End Aurora, Spotlight, Manic, Starbreeze and White sat in the living room. Everypony was quiet. Each glancing at each other awkwardly as the minutes turned to hours. Eventually, Manic spoke up in a quiet mumble. "They've been gone for quite a while now..." she said. They just looked at her before nodding silently. Aurora checked her clock HUD at the bottom left. The pixel sun was setting over a mountain and the moon was slowly peeking out from the other side. She then twitched her ear at the sound of distant humming. She stood up, causing the rest to look at her confusedly. "I am picking up auto chariot activity." She checked her map, enlarging it. Spending the days as just a head and being taken around the community by the filly, her map had took the liberty of mapping out the place for her. And she spotted two familiar green dots accompanied by blue dots behind them. She trotted out of the house, making the rest follow her out of curiosity. Spotlight narrowed her eyes and scanned the horizon. She could make out a lot of sand being kicked up. But they could hear it now. The loud roars of the motors that were always accompanied by auto chariots. White dropped his ears and panic took over. "Do... d-do you think they got arrested and now they are coming for us?" he asked. Manic snorted. "Great, just what we needed today. More time wasted." She turned and trotted over to the fence leading to the backyard. But White stopped her before she could continue. "Manic, no. We will not be facing the A.S.S. We will talk to them like civilized ponies. We don't want them to think we are hostile and a part of this cult rumor." She arched a brow in response. "Yeah, you have fun with that. I, for one, don't want to deal with them." She smirked and waved to the others. "Anypony want to hunker down in a bunker I built? It's got a years' worth of supplies and stuff." No pony said anything. Manic shrugged. "Fine, more for me." She opened the fence, only to stop and glance over her shoulder. The roars were louder now and she could see four auto chariots jumping over a sand dune. She grimaced when she saw one of the leading chariots sitting two A.S.S. ponies. But the ones that were following them were... different. Aurora walked forward and stopped in their path. The chariots slowed down and the leading one came to a stop just a few inches away from Aurora. The android studied the two. She only smiled when she saw one of them remove his helm and a quirky smile was returned to her. "Sup?" Candlejack greeted. "Welcome back." She said, watching the two hop out while the others rolled up in front. White balked when he saw the slightly malnutrition ponies stumbling out of the chariots. "W-what is this!?" he exclaimed. Manic furrowed her brows while the two mares glanced nervously at each other. White turned to Candlejack, his expression clear with anger. "You were supposed to gather information about our predicament! Not free the ones that caused it!!" Candlejack shrugged. "A.S.S. wasn't complying. So we had to take drastic measures." Zelori tossed off the helm and sighed. "I apologize, young one. My brother can get carried away and when he is not entertained, he easily gets into more trouble..." she wasn't happy about what they had went through. But Candlejack grinned and walked over to help one of the older looking bucks out of the chariot. "Oh relax, everypony. We are just doing a quick prison transfer. One that is guaranteed to help us in the long run." He pat the buck on the back, who nodded to him and looked over to White. White got low, ready to attack if anything happened. This buck... he knew him. This was the same buck that caused the whole thing to spiral out of control. But the buck smiled. "White... it has been years since I've seen you and your family. My how you've grown." He then looked past him and over to Manic, who was hugging the fence. Her expression as a mix of worry and anger. "And this must be your little sister that you were excited to have. She is definitely growing up to be quite the mare." This made Manic cringe in disgust. What was even more unnerving was the buck's eyes. "Hey, Constance. Keep your freak show eyes off my sis." White growled, walking in front of his view. Constance smiled and nodded. "Of course, White. I mean no disrespect to the young filly. In fact, I haven't recalled seeing another pony in years other than these two that aided our escape." Manic suddenly roared. "YOU SAVED THESE ASSHOLES!?!?" Everypony looked to her. Manic breathed heavily, her face steaming red. "You... had... one job... Candlejerk!" Candlejack arched a brow. Well that was a new one he hasn't heard before. But the stallion frowned. "It's rude to shout in front of guests." He said. Manic stomped her hoof. "Bullshit!! I can see the blood on your hooves!!" She motioned to Candlejack's hoof gauntlets, making the stallion look at them and wiggle it. The dried crimson glistening in the setting sun. "You slaughtered the A.S.S. in your sorry excuse of making things right!! And don't even think of bullshitting it!!" She bucked open the fence and turned. "Now I have to ensure that everypony here needs to be protected by them! Thanks for making my job any-bucking easier, Jackass!" Again, this was a new one for him. Candlejack frowned. "Manic, just take a breather and listen to me." He said. But the filly barked back. "No!! You practically doomed us!! Aretilla is going to send their biggest muscle at us and we are just a community of adolescents!! You just killed us!!" White trotted over to her and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Manic, please relax. Look, we will find someway to deal with it, but right now, I need you to breath." Manic batted his hoof away. "This is all your fault!!" She shouted. "If you hadn't sent them on this wild goose chase to stop our mother from haunting me, then we wouldn't have bothered to stir the hornets nest!!" She huffed and turned. "I can't believe you sometimes! Are you this much of an idiot!?" Spotlight frowned. "Dear, that is unnecessary." Manic shot a glare at her. "No, I'm done! I've had it with this! For all my life, I've been tormented by everypony here!! If it isn't going to be Aretilla slaughtering my career with corrupt politics, it's definitely going to be the bounty hunters they send after me. And if it isn't that, it's going to be the souls of the damned!" There were tears welling up through her anger. "Just once!! Just once!! I would love to not be the universe's target... I want to be a normal filly... I want to make friends, but even I can't seem to do that!" No pony spoke. White looked worriedly at her. "Manic..." he said. But the filly turned, whipping her tail across his muzzle. "Buck you, White! And buck... everything!" She stomped through the fence into the backyard, disappearing around the corner. White bowed his head before glaring at Candlejack. "Thanks a lot, Jack." Candlejack sighed and rubbed his mane. "Is everypony done bitching? Because I would like to put my insight on this." No pony seemed interested, but Candlejack stated anyways. "Sure, I may have gotten over board there. But how are we actually going to be able to stop all this if we have the A.S.S. keeping tabs on us?" White narrowed his eyes. "Think about it." Candlejack looked between everypony. "A.S.S. has spent a decade trying to bury any remains of the cult. It's obvious they don't want it coming back to bite them on the ass. But that's the thing! How can you all learn from your mistakes if you are just going to allow them to be buried?" He kicked a small rock before nodding. "If there is one thing I learned in a year of prison, it's that you choose your cards carefully. Playing the wrong hoof could lead to many things unsavory. So I made a gamble." He glared at Constance. "And I'm putting my own life at risk for this gamble. It's going to go one way either way. Somepony is going to end up dead." He looked to Aurora. "Aurora, can you look through this?" Candlejack withdrew a small USB. Aurora took it in her hoof claw and examined it. "That is a drive that holds Manic's years of damages towards A.S.S. If we can find a way to wipe it all out, she won't have to worry about bounty hunters coming for her." White looked skeptical. "Wait... A.S.S. are the ones that have been sending bounty hunters after us?" Candlejack nodded. "I managed to look through the files before things got out of hoof. Your sister is as much guilty in dooming this community. Illegal testing of missiles. High levels of luradiation. Imprisoning ponies against their wills for the sake of science. She even cost millions in property damages." He shrugged. "And A.S.S. has been putting it off for years. It was only recently that they decided to send bounty hunters after her because she refused to pay for the damages." White darted his eyes in thought. He then balked in realization before falling to his haunches. Spotlight put a hoof around him. "I... are you for certain? Manic... put herself in danger?" Zelori sighed. "The tactics was subtle in retrieving as much information as we could. We risked it for the entire purpose of ensuring that the info they had on her wouldn't get out." She looked to Candlejack, who nodded. "Based on what you all have told us about the A.S.S. they are a stubborn bunch. Tough shit and muscle being thrown around. And they have connections all around. So, we need to ensure that this info is only exclusive to the Detrot area. Which is where Aurora comes in." he smiled at her. The android studied the pegasus. She frowned slightly as the prompt on the breeding program obscured her view. Dismissing it quickly, she nodded. "Very well. I will dig through the files and see if it traces back to S.C.P. If it is exclusive info, then we can erase the info and Manic will be cleared of all charges." Candlejack rubbed his mane. "And if it isn't?" Aurora tapped her other foreleg and a compartment opened. Sliding the USB in, she closed it before speaking. "Then if anything, we can use it to disband the A.S.S. in this area for illegal extortion of bolts." Zelori snorted. "The latter is out of the question then." Candlejack nodded. "Great! Now onto the next plan. Ensuring these ponies are well fed and contained." White looked at them. Constance bowed. "I can assure you, my power over influence is only to these selected individuals. I cannot do anymore harm than a sandsprite." White furrowed his brows. "I... still don't think we should be keeping them around. And I'm pretty sure there was another way that you could have done this... but..." Candlejack smirked. "I aim to please. Even if it means going the extreme." White sighed and rubbed his temples. "Just... please make sure that no pony knows about this? Let alone, bring anymore attention than you have already?" Candlejack stretched. "Then let's get them moving. Oh, and maybe Manic can salvage parts from the auto chariots." Candlejack hopped into one and started it. The group went to work. ~~~****~~~ Having herded the auto chariots into the back yard that now had plenty of room thanks to the siblings taking time to organize the piles of scrap and junk, they began leading the cultists down into the garage where the containment boxes resided. They were spacey enough to house most, if not, all of them. However, to ensure proper comfort, Candlejack and Zelori had separated them. Constance had his own exclusive VIP containment box. White went over to the terminal and began taking a moment to understand Manic's written code. Smiling when he saw the materializer asking for recipe inputs, he typed in the ingredients. The cultists watched in amazement as a slender tube arm descended. It seemed to take into account the amount of ponies inside and began to materialize a steaming hot bowl of rice and mixed beans. Without so much warning, they scarfed the food down like their lives depended on it. Some had tears welling in their eyes, stating that it had been years since they had a proper meal. The materalizer even was kind enough to give some second helpings while Constance smiled amusedly at his subjects. He then looked to Candlejack. "Thank you. You're kindness will not be taken for granted." Candlejack snorted. "Meh. This is just an ultimatum. Things are starting to get serious from here on and I want to handle it now rather than later." Constance chuckled. "You are not very modest, are you?" Candlejack smirked. "Modesty is overrated anyway. When you live in a world unbound by law, don't expect everything to go your way." Constance's eyes glinted. "I see..." Candlejack frowned at him. "Don't get any ideas, pal. I plan on taking down both the cult and A.S.S.'s influence on this community." Constance hummed. "If you believe that is the correct choice, I am in no position to tell you otherwise. May the Princess's bless you on your crusade against the unjust." Candlejack sighed and looked over to Zelori and Aurora. He then spotted Starbreeze watching the activity from one of the containment boxes. He trotted over to her and tapped her shoulder, making her look up and blush. 'Ohmigosh he is so close!' she squeaked at the response. Candlejack arched a brow. "Is... everything okay with you?" Starbreeze turned to face him. "Y-yes! I'm fine! I umm... just wasn't expecting today to be... well..." she looked to the cultists. Candlejack glanced between her and the ones inside the boxes. He then nodded. "Yeah. Things are going to get a little more serious now. So, I want you to stay here and gather as much information from them." Starbreeze balked. "W-what?" Candlejack unfurled a wing and used it to lead Starbreeze over to Constance. She eyed the old buck wearily. "You have more experience in the undead. So if you and him can get chummy and have him tell us how to burn the Necronomica without it backfiring, it will be a big help." Starbreeze was speechless. Constance hummed. "The Necronomica isn't an entity to be trifled with, dear. But if you are interested in her ways, I will be happy to preach." Candlejack frowned and tapped the glass. "Don't think you are going to be alone with her." He looked to Zelori. "Sis. You keep an eye on the activity down here. Make sure they don't taint this kid's mind with dark magic. I expect you to use whatever zebra mumbo jumbo to fight it off." Zelori nodded, unholstered the rifle and making it hum to life. Candlejack nodded to Starbreeze with a smile. "You are important in this part. So milk everything you can." Starbreeze smiled at him, nodding. "I won't let you down! Then maybe we can get dinner afterwords?" Candlejack rubbed his chin. "Well, food is important too. Okay then. Dinner it is." Starbreeze motioned triumphantly before realizing what she had suggested and agreed too. 'Oh... my...' Her thoughts raced with fantasies of the pegasus. However, Candlejack was already trotting over to Zelori and Aurora, furrowing his brows worriedly at Starbreeze. "Please ensure she doesn't do anything reckless." He said to Zelori. She shifted her position with the rifle. "We made it this far. I won't let it stop us now." She said with a small smile. Candlejack beamed at this before turning to Aurora. "Alright, Aurora. You and I are officially going to be working together! And if you are going to be a part of my team, then think of this as your initiation." Aurora looked stoically at him. "I was not aware this was a test to affiliate myself with criminals." She said. Candlejack grimaced. "I... can't really blame you for that statement." Aurora studied her HUD as she replied. "But after breaking you out of jail and aiding in an escape, I am as much responsible as a criminal in itself." Candlejack smiled. "It's fun, trust me." Zelori snorted. "Do not influence anymore ponies than we have today." She said. Candlejack shrugged. "At least, some agree." Aurora watched as Candlejack trotted past her. She contemplated this before following after him. ~~~****~~~ Spotlight and White were standing in front of a hangar like garage. The metal door closed to the public. Spotlight knocked on the metal door. "Manic, sweetie. Please come out. We just want to talk." She said. White knocked on it. "C'mon, sis. Look, I know things haven't been going our way. And I'm sorry if I spurred that fire on, but you can't keep secluding yourself like this. It's unhealthy for you!" There was no response. White sighed and rubbed his foreleg with his other foreleg. "I just... I just want to see my own sister smile again..." Spotlight hugged him sadly, trying her best to reassure him. Candlejack and Aurora trotted over to them. White glared at him. "What do you want?" Candlejack frowned. "Alright, buck up, kid. You really want to leave yourself vulnerable to the world?" he said. White growled. "I don't need to listen to any sorry excuse you have for doing this. You were supposed to gather information, yet you just went ahead and murdered innocent ponies and freed the ones that have killed so many!" White gently pushed Spotlight aside and stomped over to him. "Do you think your morals are right? That everything is given to you on a platter?" Candlejack chuckled. "That's funny coming from you. I am just doing my part in ensuring everypony is handled." White pointed over to the garage. "Then how come my sister is no longer talking to anypony? How come she hasn't laughed or smiled? I bet everything on your help and so far, the hoof I've dealt has been bad.” He sighed. "If you really want to help us. Get my sister out of her abyss and make her smile again. That is all I ask. She is too young to be going through this and she needs to see the world for the positives." Candlejack studied the stallion. He then looked to Aurora. "Rip it open." He said. White balked as Aurora nodded and trotted over to the garage. "W-wait! What are you doing?! Stop!!" he shouted. But it was too late. Aurora popped out her hoof claws, stabbed into the bottom of it and with ease, bent the metal up and revealed a shocked Manic who was kicking back in the cockpit of a robotic bird like robot. She tossed aside the manga she was reading and sat up right. "What the hell!!? Can't a filly be left alone!?" She glared at Candlejack. "Why don't you buck off already! I am getting tired of seeing your jerk face around!" Candlejack shrugged. "Still have unfinished business with you. I need your insight on something." He asked. "You want my insight? Here's my insight." She tapped a few buttons on her panel and the beak of the bot shot out in blinding speed. However, Aurora seemed to have predicted this and held out a hoof, clamping her claws over the projectile. The impact caused the sand to kick up, forcing Spotlight and White to shield their faces. When the wind of the impact blew away the sand, Candlejack was still standing in the same spot, arching a brow at Aurora who was looking stoically with her one hoof claw clamped around the projectile. "Violence is unnecessary I believe." She said. Manic growled. "Maid! Don't side with this pony! Did you forget that I installed programs in you that I will not hesitate to use if you do not comply!" Aurora shook her head and flipped the beak before stabbing it into the sand. "I have not forgotten. I am concerned for madam's safety. And as your maid, it is my duty to ensure you are within reasonable care." She walked up to the bot, Manic gritting her teeth. "And I insist madam should refrain from harming guests. Now please, let us discuss some matters before madam's health deteriorates." Manic sighed and crossed her hooves. "I'm not moving." Candlejack rubbed his chin and smiled. "You're right. You don't have too. Because you are going to build something with that bot of yours." Manic snorted. "I'm not going to do anything. You can't make me." She said. Candlejack sighed. "Alright. I understand. But if you want to keep being stubborn without realizing that I have taken the liberty of retrieving your criminal charges towards A.S.S. and have an android that can delete the exclusive data from going into Aretilla's criminal database. Then good luck with the countless bounty hunters on your head." Manic eyed him. "I was also thinking about selling the data to the highest bidder. How much do you think ponies will pay to know that a young filly is a prodigy mechanic and have the blackmail to get her to do whatever they want?" Manic glared. "You wouldn't..." she growled. Candlejack smirked challengingly. "Oh really? You're claiming that towards somepony who just broke out a group of cultists still affected by a book and practically left this community defenseless. Face it, I'm the threat you made me out to be when we first met. So that makes you fully responsible for letting me out of the containment box and allowing me to walk around." He shot out his wings and displayed them. "Who do you think is the real bad guy here?" Manic wanted to protest. She wanted to deck this pony's face to New Fillydelphia and back. But he wasn't wrong either. Despite everything that has happened, Manic was also responsible for risking her home. "Dammit all..." she bit her lip before sighing in defeat. "Fine. Fine. But don't think I have fully forgiven you." Candlejack smiled and waved a hoof slightly. "I wasn't looking for forgiveness. Just cooperation. Now then, Aurora will handle deleting the data, but she requires a terminal to do so. Once the data is deleted, I need you to strip the auto chariots for parts. I want you to build me a much better chariot. With a few requests here and there mixed in." Manic puffed her cheek and glared. She will find a way to get back at this pony. But for now, she was partially curious as to what this pony was thinking. The way the stallion turned this situation around... it was almost as if he had thought about it ahead of time. 'But... there is no way somepony is that clever.' She grimaced in disgust when the stallion went to pick his nose with a wing, only to tickle something inside him and sneezed. 'Ugh...' ~~~****~~~ Manic plugged Aurora into a terminal along with the USB. Candlejack, now taking the time to study his surroundings, he couldn't help but notice the partially revealing outfit Aurora wore. Candlejack studied it, the dirtied black and white frills capturing her figure perfectly. Aurora noticed this and felt a small burn on her cheeks. The prompt of the program occasionally asking her to "put on a show", but she dismissed it. It was starting to become second nature to deny the request. The stallion caused it to activate more than the stallions back home. She couldn't help but remember when she almost lost herself entirely and "entertained" a stranger with a dance. When she noticed her compromising position, she quickly got off from dancing on the stallion, ignoring the extra bit that her performance had caused and avoided the outside for a while. Aurora fidgeted when Candlejack wouldn't stop staring at her. "P-please stop staring..." she said suddenly. Candlejack blinked. "What?" Aurora blushed, her cheeks turning more cherry by the second. "I-I would appreciate it if you wouldn't stare at me like that..." Candlejack shrugged and then focused his attention to the bot he was leaning against. Aurora had a strange sense to let the stallion keep staring at her. But she was having trouble trying to keep the progress bar on deleting the data to be halted by the program. Even Manic caught notice of this and frowned. "Now I really wish I had found a way to get rid of that thing." She said. White and Spotlight were sitting on a tattered and torn sofa next to the table. White arched a brow. "Rid of what?" Manic snickered. "This android is a total mare. In more ways than one." Aurora blushed entirely now. "M-Manic!!" she stated. White cocked his head. "Really? I don't recall androids having genitalia. I thought they were ambiguous with looks." Aurora flared brightly. Manic waved a hoof at him. "Well, true. But she seems to be a special case. Funny thing is, she's a virgin too." Aurora balked. "C-can we please focus on deleting the data!" She whimpered when she caught the sly smile from the filly. 'I wish I could just delete my AI entirely...' She noticed Candlejack not paying attention to the conversation and felt a small relief from this. "A mare, huh?" he said suddenly. Aurora stiffened and was suddenly blasted with prompts. Manic furrowed her brows and tapped on the keyboard. "Aurora, please refrain from doing any of these things." She said. Aurora nodded quickly, her face steaming. What was even happening!? What caused this to suddenly spiral out of control!? 'Goddesses, if you are still watching over us, please end this pony's entire existence..." she whimpered. The minutes turned to hours. Manic stretched and looked over to see White sleeping quietly and kicking back while Spotlight snuggled up to him and was snoozing quietly with him. She looked over to see Candlejack doing pushup with his wings. She was slightly surprised to see him lifting his entire body off the ground with only his wings. He inhaled and exhaled with each movement. The sweat forming on his brow from what appeared to be a workout for quite a while. Aurora was mesmerized by this, taking in his straining face as he apparently reached his resting point. He lifted his wings, catching himself in a hoof stand before letting his body drop and standing on all fours. He rolled his neck and shifted his wings, feeling the burn tingle on his sides. "How's it coming along?" Candlejack said as he suddenly took a stance on two hooves and bobbed slightly in place. With random quick jabs, Manic went back to look at the screen. "Well, if somepony wasn't so entranced with the other pony, then the progress should have ended about an hour ago." She eyed the android who was giving a quirky smile at the stallion. She then blinked at the realization that she was being addressed and blushed. "I-I can't seem to prevent it from happening. Everytime I deny it, it pops back up thirty minutes later." Manic sighed and looked to Candlejack. "Hey Candlejerk. Want to help speed up the process?" she asked. Candlejack looked at her and smiled with a nod. "Sure. Anything to get this to go faster. I want to hurry up and get started with the next thing." He said. Manic nodded and motioned at the android. "Can you sate her fantasy with a kiss or something? Her breeding program keeps getting in the way." Aurora steamed again. Candlejack rubbed his chin. "Huh... never kissed a robot before. Guess there is always a first for everything." Aurora balked. "W-what!? You can't mean to go through with this!!?" she said. Manic sighed. "Look, we've been at this for two hours. I want to get started before Aretilla realizes that their monitoring station has been compromised." Candlejack arched a brow. "You certain if I indulge her fantasy that it will go by faster?" he asked. Manic was having trouble trying to keep herself together. It was a mix of truth and curiosity. She hasn't seen a pony planting one on an android. But she just wrote it off as science sake and speeding up the process. If the program would be satisfied with it, then it will leave them alone. Aurora, however, was racing with thoughts of panic as the stallion walked towards her. She couldn't move from her spot. She would risk having stop the process entirely. But at the same time, she wanted to retreat from the stallion. But... 'Wait... maybe the filly is onto something then. Why am I getting freaked out about this? I mean... I just met the pony. So it shouldn't really mean anything. He doesn't even look like he is interested in this in the slightest either." She calmed herself, still blushing. 'Alright, Aurora. For the sake of hurrying this up, I will comply to this.' She saw a prompt pop up and with hesitation, she accepted it. She stiffened and felt herself suddenly feeling attracted to the pony. Candlejack was amazed at how quickly the android went from being stoic, to panicking to suddenly looking a bit suggestive. Candlejack took a deep breath. The two leaned forward, their lips close to touching. There was suddenly a blip on the terminal and Manic beamed. "Alright! It worked!" she shouted. Candlejack looked over and smiled, leaving Aurora to suddenly halt. Their lips hadn't connected. "Well, how does it feel to be a free filly?" he asked. "Err... without the bounty hunters. The undead part I'm still trying to figure out." Manic frowned. "I still haven't forgiven you." She said. White and Spotlight stirred from their slumber and with a yawn and a stretch, they looked tiredly over to them. "What did we miss?" White asked. Manic sighed. "We got one problem out of the way. Just need to do another request." She suddenly glared at Candlejack who was already making his way to one of the auto chariots. "It's going to be a long day. Why don't you just go home?" Spotlight smiled. "I appreciate the concern, Manic. But I want to support you one hundred percent of the way." White nodded. "Besides, I still have to ensure that you are still okay with... 'assisting' with the enemy." Manic snorted. "Don't you have to go over the preparations for your rave tonight?" White took a moment to think about this before balking in shock. "Aw, shit! I forgot!" White turned to Spotlight. "I had planned to meet with a friend of mine later and I have to be there!" Spotlight smiled. "Alright, babe. But please becareful on your way." She said. White shook his head. "You are coming with me! He's been dying to meet you in person." Spotlight wasn't sure how to react. "O-oh?" White suddenly took her hoof and pulled her away from Manic, who watched a little spitefully as her brother dragged her idol away. She ruffled her mane before turning to see the android looking a bit... disappointed? "Aurora? You don't need to keep yourself connected. I will need your help." She said. Aurora looked over to her. Unplugging herself from the terminal, she stood up and seemed to drag her hooves over to the filly. Manic grimaced. 'Yeesh. Don't know why she is disappointed about it.' ~~~****~~~ The night began and the air became cold. Candlejack with Aurora's help brought out a solarium generator to combat the cold nip. Manic, ordering them to place it in a particular space where it can keep them warm while they work, sighed tiredly and swayed a little in her steps. Candlejack noticed this. Removing a gem device from the auto chariot’s engine, he wiped his hooves on a dirtied rag and arched a brow at her. "You okay?" he asked. Manic didn't reply. She only shot him a look of "don't push it". But Candlejack kept pressing. "Look, I doubt ghosts are going to attack you while there are others here with you. You can sleep and we will keep a look out." He said. Manic snorted. "It's not the ghosts I'm worried about." She muttered. Candlejack frowned. "Then those nightmares?" Manic sighed. "What's it matter to you anyway? You practically killed us all, so why even bother?" Candlejack shrugged. "Just want to hear a dead pony's last words." He said. Manic growled at him. "I want to end your miserable life." "Heh, I'm not ready to be killed yet." He replied. Manic looked at him tiredly. "Why do you do that?" she asked. Candlejack blinked once at her. "Why do you laugh at death even though you are walking on its' line? It's just waiting for you to fall. So why keep fighting it?" Candlejack rubbed the back of his mane. "Excuse me for the edginess here, but frankly death thinks I'm an amusing puppet." He said. Manic looked skeptically at him. "Edgy doesn't even begin to describe you." She retorted. Candlejack laughed heartedly. Manic was confused by this. "Yeah? And I take it I can't compare to yours?" he asked with an amused smile. Manic was suspicious, but kept her ground. "I'm not edgy." She said. "Reading those mangas definitely beg to differ." "It's a hobby!" "Sounds like a fun one, but seems very influential on young minds." "I'm ten!" "And I'm twenty-two. Doesn't mean I can't be a kid every now and then." "You are missing the point!" "What, that you create wonders of the world and yet want to prevent it from getting it into the wrong hooves so you let mercenaries and bounty hunters after you and your brother?" "That's not-!" Candlejack shot her a glare. "Not what? That you practically spent your filly hood developing harmful and damaging experiments? Put pony's lives at stake all for the sake of science? Corrupt politics doesn't even begin to describe how your career in Aretilla is going to turn out." Manic was baffled. "W-what the... how... you... huh?" Candlejack snorted. "I may not have the best ideas or morals. But I ain't stupid. I learned that the hard way." Manic was again skeptical. "Oh, that's funny. How can you learn not to be stupid?" "Roll with it." He said blatantly. Manic arched a brow. "Roll with it?" Candlejack nodded. "You are a damn bright filly, Manic. Just by hearing your achievements from your brother and seeing first hoof what you are capable of, you can definitely show up a few ponies that deserve the punishment." Candlejack motioned to the auto chariot he salvaged from. "I bet you can build a cannon that can bring back life. It's just a matter of time! But you can't reach something like that if these things are going to keep hindering you." Manic was stunned. She grit her teeth before barking back. "S-shut up! Don't think those compliments will make me forgive you! And creating something like that is nigh impossible!" Candlejack sputtered and pointed to the garage. "Impossible? Just look at what you have created in your years!" Candlejack then pointed at himself. "Me? All I can do is fight and be snarky. I've let other ponies die under my leadership. All because I was scared of what would happen. P.U.N.K. isn't just a title, it's a freaking death sentence! You are better than I am, Manic." Manic, again was stunned. “You had every right to be pissed off at me. Because I was scared of what would happen if we didn't get back alive with that info! Hell, I bet half those mercenaries were family ponies! And I just slaughtered them like nothing!" Manic shrunk back, her ears dropping as Candlejack walked towards her. Putting his hooves on her shoulders, he forced her to stare into his stern and stoic orchid eyes. "I'm not asking for forgiveness, Manic. Because I have already stepped away from it years ago! But you... you still have a chance. And I plan on exploiting that so that way you can never end up like the sorry excuse of a pony like me and Zelori." Manic shuddered a breath. "Z-Zelori too?" she asked. Candlejack grit his teeth and nodded. "Zelori too... and I was the reason she did it. She thinks I don't know, but like I said, I ain't stupid." Aurora, who was rummaging through an auto chariot, remained quiet as she listened in on the conversation. "So buck up, kid. Because this world is going to throw everything it has at you. And ponies like me can't save you from the abyss. You have something that we and they don't have. You can laugh." Manic was speechless. Candlejack sighed and trotted away from them. "C'mon, we need to finish this up." Suddenly, there was a loud scream coming from the garage. Aurora hit her head on the hood of the auto chariot in reaction but remained stoic. "Trouble." She said. Her map showed a dozen red dots underneath that were slowly vanishing. There was the sound of gun fire. Candlejack, Aurora and Manic galloped over to the garage. ~~~****~~~ Candlejack, Aurora and Manic arrived downstairs at a horrifying sight. The containment boxes were splattered in blood. Zelori was gritting her teeth, trying to comfort the shaken Starbreeze. "What the hell happened!?" Candlejack asked. Zelori looked over to Candlejack, her color leaving her. "J-Jack... I'm sorry I..." she said. Starbreeze whimpered and curled up closer to Zelori. Candlejack went over to the terminal and opened up the containment boxes. As they opened, Candlejack winced and covered his nose at a foul smell that came out. "Ugh! What the hell... Aurora? Can you check what this smell is?" Aurora stiffened a bit, her mind racing through a database. With her nostril sensors picking up the smell and making her slightly sick in the process, the fast scanning pages stopped. "It appears to be phosphor." She said. Candlejack frowned. "Really? I doubt something like phosphor can cause ponies to spontaneously combust." He said. Manic shook her head, holding a hoof over her nose and muzzle. "Mixed with the right chemicals, it can be used as an explosive. It also smells like turpentine too." "It's Samedi..." Zelori said. They looked over to her. She was still caressing the shaken mare. "That... there was a mare. She was standing right there." Zelori pointed to where Candlejack stood. "She... had this very angry look on her. After she appeared, the cultists started... chanting." Candlejack trotted over to the box that Constance was in. Any remains of the pony was splattered or slowing sliding down the walls. He then balked when he saw a message written in blood. The sin must be paid in blood. Candlejack rubbed his chin before turning to face Zelori. "Anything else?" Zelori shook her head. "It just... happened so suddenly. I fired off a shot to try and silence the crowd... but they kept on chanting when the mare suddenly vanished and... well..." She motioned to the boxes. "They ended up... like that..." Candlejack bucked the side of the containment box. "Dammit! Did we even get anything on how to kill the Necronomica?" Zelori looked at Starbreeze. "Jack..." she needs to recove-." Candlejack dismissed it with a hoof. "No, buck that! This needs to end now! What did Constance tell you before he died?!" Zelori grit her teeth, the color still leaving her. She bowed her head. "The Necronomica... it grows in power with everypony that comes across it. It has been exposed to many. It cannot be destroyed..." Candlejack growled. "There has to be more than that!! What else did he say?!" "Jack." Aurora began. But Candlejack shot her a glare. "Back off, Aurora." He looked back to Zelori. "There is a message on the wall in the box where Constance was. 'The sin must be paid in blood.' What does that mean?!" Zelori bit her lip, the blood trailing down it. "Jack... please..." she said. Candlejack growled again before spitting to the side. "What. Does. It. Mean." He stated. Zelori couldn't look away from his cold unforgiving eyes. Candlejack looked like he was on the verge to go on a murder spree. Zelori placed her head to the wall and closed her eyes. Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she spoke. "The mare that killed them stated the same thing before leaving. I... I do not understand what it really wants. It took the cultists." Manic shivered and shrunk. "M-momma is here?" Manic whimpered. Candlejack looked between the two. He then looked at Aurora, who was looking stoic as usual, but showing concern at the same time. "Aurora, do a scan. If you can pick up any traces of anomalies, I want to know." Aurora looked at him. "What are you planning to do?" she asked as she watched Candlejack trot over to the stairs. He stopped at the bottom and glanced over his shoulder. "To put an end to this once and for all." He continued forward and made his way over to the garage. White's saddlebag laid dormant in the corner. Digging through it, he felt the leather skin cover of the book and pulled it out. Just a plain old book. No design or anything. Inside is the rambles of a mad pony. And beneath that is the book's true language of the dead. He put the book under his wing and stiffened. He heard the sound of clattering and hissing. He looked over to a pile that was next to the garage. Without warning, the pile exploded. Candlejack reacted by backflipping with a flap of his free wing for boost and landed with a slide. What took his previous spot was a skeleton. Or... one that he was familiar with. The skeleton's eye sockets were glowing green and had black tendrils wiggling on the side. Candlejack took his stance and frowned. "And this is why you don't play with the dead, Constance." He then smirked and made a motion with his wing. "I'm going to finish what your muse started." The skeleton screeched and all around Candlejack, the ground exploded. The once living cultists, now hallow and husks of bone and flesh, hissed and swayed around the pegasus. One of the skeletons hissed and lunged at Candlejack. He reacted by hooking a foreleg over the extended skeletal one and jabbed on the bony muzzle, making the skeleton stumble back. Two more rushed him. But Candlejack was quick to react. Blocking one swing and countering with a jab, he then back into the one that got behind him, used his shoulder to straighten out the skeletal body, spun around with a hoof across the muzzle before grabbing the skeleton by the head and bringing it down on his hind knee. A loud crack of bone breaking reached his ears as the skeleton reared back before falling to the ground. Candlejack then focused on another that was coming up behind him. Catching a skeletal hoof under his foreleg, he elbowed the creature in the ribs, forcing them to cave in before taking the caught hoof, rolling around the skeleton and planting a hoof down over its' back. Candlejack pulled with all his might, grunting when he succeeded in ripping out the skeleton's hoof from its' socket. It fell to the ground in a clatter of bones. Candlejack began wielding the skeletal hoof like a club and grinned. "Batter up, buckers!" he cheered. The remaining skeletons rushed him, hissing venomously. Candlejack, in an amazing display of balance, finesse and acrobatics, the skeletons soon began to clatter to the ground. With a bob and a weave, he dashed behind a skeleton that had thought to use a metal pole for a weapon, only to look confused when the pegasus was nowhere in his sight. It turned to suddenly get a boney muzzle full of skeletal foreleg and its' head flew right off. It landed in front of the one skeleton that didn't move. Candlejack breathed softly, the fight barely taking a toll on him but gave quite the workout. He tossed aside the bone foreleg and motioned a rude gesture at the skeleton. "Is that all ya' cultists got?" He then smirked. "What's the matter, Constance. Do I have your bones rattled?" Constance made it hard to tell what his response is with the grinning skeletal smile. He then held up a familiar book and cocked his head. Candlejack blinked and looked back at his wing. He groaned. 'I guess I got carried away and it fell out.' He saw Constance open the book and hiss. "Cloptuu Neighrada. Knickto." It screeched. The clouds suddenly darkened and the blue shining moon was engulfed. The glowing blue sand turning an ash gray. Candlejack shook his hooves and bobbed in place, rolling his neck. He looked over to see the others gallop out of the garage and stare in awe. "Jack!" Zelori called out, heading over to him. She took a stance next to him. "What happened?" Candlejack nodded to the now floating skeleton being surrounded by a sickly green light. "Let's just say, Constance didn't get very far in hell." Aurora held out a hoof to both a stunned Starbreeze and Manic. "Wait here. I will aid the others." She said. She then galloped over to them and readied herself, hoof claws drawn. Constance hissed and green mist began crawling across the ground. Candlejack shivered as he felt the cold grow. His breath now visible more than what the night offered. Manic gasped, seeing that the ponies were slowly being covered in frost. She looked around, spotting the solarium generator. She grit her teeth before galloping over to the machine. "M-Manic, wait!" Starbreeze called out. But Manic slid to a halt in front of the generator. She shivered as the cold began reaching her. Through shaking hooves, she fumbled at the dial before taking the starter line and pulling once, twice, thrice. The generator roared to life and she felt the relief of warmth overcome her. She looked back to see that Candlejack, Zelori, and Aurora shivering less. Constance's eyes glared evilly. Candlejack wiped his muzzle before leaning into a sprint on his two hindlegs. In three quick bounds, he kicked off the ground, rearing back and swung his forehoof out. Constance rasped a skeletal chuckle as his hoof collided with a loud thunk and shot him back. Candlejack hissed and shook his hoof. Constance rose his hoof up into the air and the skeletons that Candlejack beat began reassembling back together. Candlejack slumped. "Geez. And I was starting to think killing undead was fun. But now I'm seeing a whole new different light." Zelori suddenly was next to Candlejack, striking down a skeleton that had lunged at him before taking a hind hoof and crushing the skull. Aurora used her claw hoof to hook the ribs and tore them out before batting aside the skeletal creature. She looked over took one of the skulls and heaved it hard over to Constance. The skull shattered harmlessly off of the barrier that had been erected around the pony. "A ward." She said. Candlejack frowned. "Why do unicorns use cheap magic to help them?" Zelori didn't take her eyes off the skeleton as she spoke. "The same reason you use your wings as a means of getting around." Candlejack slumped. "That definitely helps in this situation..." "Everypony!" a voice shouted. They looked back to see a giant robotic bird stomp out of the garage. Behind the cockpit was a stern looking Manic. She glared spitefully at the skeleton. "Get behind me." She said. Zelori gave her a worried look. "Manic, you'll be hurt." She said. Manic shook her head. "No! I'm done running! I'm done with this whole undead zombie bullshit! I want some sleep! And I want my goddess damned life back!" Candlejack smiled. "I'm not complaining." He said. The three cantered behind the filly. Readying her Kiwi Bot, she pressed a few dials and buttons before gripping the handles. With a quick click of metal and whirring of gears and machines, a big barrel of a weapon extended on both sides of where the wings rose at even horizontal level. "Hey, undead douchebag!" Manic called out. Constance glared at her, the skeletal minons reassembling themselves before facing her. "Eat luridium infused lead!" the barrels whirred and spun before blasting into a blinding green muzzle flash. The bullets ripped and tore through the skeletons, breaking them into even more pieces. Constance shielded himself as the bullets pelted his barrier. Manic kept firing. "Jack! When the barrier breaks, grab the book and say the words!" Candlejack arched a brow. "But that won't stop them from coming back!" Manic glanced down at her dashboard and smirked. "Trust me on this. It's time to end this now!" Candlejack studied the filly's resolve. The same feeling he had when Aurora confronted him at the hotel. Candlejack climbed on top of the wing and readied himself, nodding to the filly. "Jack?" Zelori said. Candlejack looked back at her and grinned. Aurora watched the zebra mare sigh quietly before smiling softly. Indeed, an odd pair of siblings. Manic kept the pressure on. However, she was unaware of the skeletons that weren't in the line of sight. Three of them rushed her, but Aurora's map pointed them out and in quick succession, she shattered their skulls into the ground. Zelori fought off the ones flanking on her side. Manic felt the sweat drop form her brow. The barrier was holding steady. Until a small crack could be seen. Candlejack's eyes widened, as if a predator sense kicked in. He took off and time slowed. The ward shattered around Constance. He hissed angrily before chanting the spell to create it again. However, before he could finish the first word, he gapped in surprise when he saw a maniacal grinning pegasus grab the book and brought his lower half in. Planting both hind hooves into the skeleton's face, he kicked off of it and a loud shockwave shook the other's to the core. Constance fell to the ground and watched as the pegasus hovered in the air. Manic looked at her dashboard, waited a bit and then pointed. "Now! Say the words!" she cried out. Candlejack opened the book to no particular page and chanted. "Cloptuu Neighrada Knickto!" his voice echoed through the yard. There was a rumble in the ground. Manic motioned for the two to hop on as she began to activate the bot's hovering function. Lifting off the ground, the ponies looked as the ground began to crack and open into a burning chasm. The skeletons screeched as some of them fell in while the others tried to escape. However, those that tried to escape were then grabbed by shadowy limbs. "Go back to hell and be Death's bitch." Manic growled. Constance screeched angrily, making a beeline for the filly. But Candlejack zipped up in front of him and spun with a hind leg out, punting the skeleton back. When Constance landed, shadowy limbs grabbed him. He struggled to break free, but to no avail. Constance reached a hoof out, clawing the air as if desperately trying to call to the ponies. But they watched sternly as the skeleton got his just dessert. The limbs, in a burning green fire, melted the skeleton into the ground and before they knew it, all was quiet. The ground closed back up and the clouds departed to reveal the night sky once again. Manic brought the bot down lightly. Candlejack remained in the air as he looked at the book. It seemed to sizzle and smoke, as if the power it once had had been fully drained. He then looked confusedly at the filly. "I-is it over?" a whimpering voice asked. They looked to see Starbreeze creep out of the garage. Zelori hummed in thought before looking at the filly. Everypony was dying to know why this had worked. Manic exhaled and leaned back in her seat. Her eyes closed and pointed at the dash board. "Witching hour. I didn't realize how late we have been staying up. But I read up on the paranormal and figured I'd give it a shot." Aurora cocked her head. "You gambled that it would work?" she asked. Candlejack suddenly smirked mischievously. "I guess reading all that manga wasn't such a bad thing as I thought." He said. "It's a freakin' hobby, Candlejerk!" Manic snapped. Candlejack this time gave her a genuine smile. Manic studied the pegasus before returning it and placing her head tiredly against the seat. "So... since we can't destroy the Necronomica... how can we get rid of the ghosts?" she asked. Candlejack rubbed his chin. "I bet there is another way to cleanse the house. But the book? I have an idea on how to handle it." ~~~****~~~ Mr. Yaba whistled to himself. Trotting down the street, he looked up to the sky and squinted his eyes. "Huh... pretty sure the clouds were acting funny earlier." He said with a shrug. Whisteling again, he trotted up and began fumbling through his keys. He then stopped and looked down. At the bottom of his door was a brown bag. Mr. Yaba looked suspiciously at it first. Looking both ways before leaning in cautiously. He read the small tag that was connected to the handles: To Mr. Yaba. With love. Candlejack and CO. Mr. Yaba snorted. "Damn brats... they better not be..." He dug through the bag and stopped. Slowly pulling out a book, Mr. Yaba studied it. The familiar texture, the familiar design. The Necronomica remained quiet with only the faint whispers of the damned. Mr. Yaba frowned and dumped the book back into the bag. Trotting into his store, he opened up a safe that was behind his counter and tossed the bag in. Shutting the safe and locking it, he dusted his hooves off before whistling the same tune and getting ready to open his store.